Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 11

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Passus vndecimus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

W11.59Set pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis

W11.60 By wissynge of þis wenche I wrouȝte · hir wordes were so swete

fol.61r

W11.61 Til I foryat youþe · and yarn in-to Elde
W11.62 And þanne was Fortune my foo · for al hir faire speche558           559(n)
W11.63 And pouerte pursued me · and putte me lowe           560(n)

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

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

W11.77 Ich haue muche merueille of yow · and so haþ many anoþer
W11.78 Whi youre Couent coueiteþ · to confesse and to burye
W11.79 Raþer þan to baptize barnes · þat ben Catecumelynges
W11.80 Baptizynge and buryinge · boþe beþ ful nedefulle
W11.81 Ac muche moore meritorie · me þynkeþ it is to baptize
W11.82 For a baptized man may · as þise maistres telleþ
W11.83 Thoruȝ contricion come · to þe heiȝe heuene
W11.84566(c)Sola contricio &c
W11.85 Ac barn wiþ-outen bapteme · may noȝt so be saued
W11.86Nisi quis renatus fuerit · loke ye lettred men · wheiþer I lye or do noȝt ·
W11.87 And lewte loked on me · and I loured after

W11.88 Wher-fore lourestow quod lewtee · and loked on me harde

W11.89 If I dorste quod I amonges men · þis metels auowe

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

W11.92 They wole aleggen also quod I · and by þe gospel preuen
W11.93Nolite iudicare quemquam ·

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

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

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

W11.110 He seiþ sooþ quod Scripture þo · and skipte anheiȝ and preched
W11.111 Ac þe matere þat she meued · if lewed men it knewe
W11.112 Þe lasse as I leue · louyen it þei wolde

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

W11.170 Who-so loueþ noȝt leue me · he lyueþ in deeþ-deyinge
W11.171 And þat alle manere men · enemyes and frendes           579(n)
W11.172 Loue hir eyþer ooþer · and lene hem as hem-selue           580(n)
W11.173 Who-so leneþ noȝt he loueþ noȝt · god woot þe soþe           581(n)
W11.174 Crist582 comaundeþ ech a creature · to conformen hym to louye           583(n)
W11.175 And souereynly þe pouere peple · and hir enemyes after           584(n)
W11.176 For hem þat haten vs · is oure merite to louye           585(n)

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W11.177And pouere peple to plese · hir preieres maye vs helpe           586(n)
W11.178 And oure Ioye and oure heele · Iesu crist of heuene           587(n)
W11.179 In a pouere mannes apparaille · pursued vs euere           588(n)
W11.180 And lokeþ on vs in hir liknesse · and þat wiþ louely chere           589(n)
W11.181 To knowen vs by oure kynde herte · and castynge of oure eiȝen           590(n)
W11.182 Wheiþer we loue þe lordes here · bifore þe lord of blisse           591(n)
W11.183 And exciteþ vs by þe Euaungelie · þat whan we maken festes
W11.184 We sholde noȝt clepe oure kyn þer-to · ne none kynnes riche
W11.185 Cum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare amicos
W11.186 Ac calleþ þe carefulle þer-to · þe croked and þe pouere           592(n)
W11.187 For youre frendes wol feden yow · and fonde yow to quyte
W11.188 Youre festynge and youre faire ȝifte · ech frend quyteþ so ooþer

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

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

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

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

W11.215 Thanne is bileue a lele help · aboue logyk or lawe

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

W11.224 Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis

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

W11.227 Melius est scrutari scelera nostra quam naturas rerum

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

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

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

W11.242 Seint Iohan and oþere seintes · were seyen in poore cloþyng
W11.243 And as pouere pilgrymes · preyed mennes goodes

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

W11.246 Martha on Marie Maudeleyne · anhuge pleynt made
W11.247 And to oure Saueour self · seide þise wordes

W11.248 Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solam ministrare

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

W11.314 And also in þe sauter · seiþ dauid to ouerskipperis
W11.315Psallite deo nostro psallite quoniam rex terre deus Israel psallite sapienter653(c)

W11.316 The bisshop shal be blamed · bifore god as I leue           654(n)
W11.317 That crouneþ swiche goddes knyȝtes · þat konneþ noȝt sapienter           655(n)
W11.318 Synge ne psalmes rede · ne seye a masse of þe day           656(n)
W11.319 And neuer neiþer is blamelees · þe bisshop ne þe Chapeleyn           657(n)

fol.65v

W11.320 For hir eiþer is endited · and that is Ignorancia           658(n)
W11.321Non excusat episcopos nec ydiot659 preestes
W11.322 This lokynge on lewed preestes · haþ doon me lepe from pouerte
W11.323 The which I preise þer pacience is · moore parfit þan richesse

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

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

W11.335 Man and his make · I myȝte boþe biholde
W11.336 Pouerte and plentee · boþe pees and werre
W11.337 Blisse and bale boþe · I seiȝ al atones
W11.338 And how men token Mede · and Mercy refused

W11.339 Reson I seiȝ sooþly · sewen alle beestes
W11.340 In etynge in drynkynge · and in engendrynge of kynde
W11.341 And after cours of concepcion · noon took kepe of ooþer
W11.342 As whan þei hadde ryde in Rotey-tyme · anoon riȝt þer-after
W11.343 Males drowen hem to males · amorwenynges by hem-selue
W11.344 And in euenynges also · þe males ben fro femelles
W11.345 Ther ne was cow ne cowkynde · þat conceyued hadde
W11.346 That wolde belwe after boles · ne boor after sowe
W11.347 Boþe hors and houndes · and alle oþere beestes
W11.348 Medled noȝt wiþ hir makes · þat wiþ fole were

fol.66r

W11.349 Briddes I biheld · þat in buskes made nestes
W11.350 Hadde neuere wye wit · to werche þe leeste
W11.351 I hadde wonder at whom · and wher þe pye lerned
W11.352 To legge þe stikkes · in whiche she leyeþ and bredeþ
W11.353 Ther nys wriȝte as I wene · sholde werche hir nestes to paye
W11.354 If any Mason made a molde þer-to · muche wonder it were
W11.355 Ac660 yet me merueilled moore · how many oþere briddes
W11.356 Hidden and hileden · hir egges ful derne
W11.357 In Mareys and moores · for men sholde hem noȝt fynde
W11.358 And hidden hir egges · whan þei þer-fro wente
W11.359 For fere of oþere foweles · and for wilde beestes

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

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

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

W11.373 Ac þat moost meued me · and my mood chaunged
W11.374 That Reson rewarded · and ruled alle beestes           662(n)
W11.375 Saue man and his make · many tyme and ofte           663(n)
W11.376 No Reson hem folwede · and þanne I rebukede           664(n)
W11.377 Reson / · and riȝt til hym-seluen I seyde           665(n)

fol.66v

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

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

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

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

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

W11.407 Haddestow suffred he seide . slepynge þo þow were
W11.408 Thow sholdest haue knowen þat clergie kan · & contreued moore þoruȝ Reson670(c)
W11.409 For Reson wolde haue reherced þee · riȝt as Clergie seide
W11.410 Ac for þyn entremetynge · here artow forsake
W11.411Philosophus esses si tacuisses

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

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

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

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

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

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