Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 13

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Passus xiijus &c

W13.1And I awaked þer-wiþ · witlees nerhande
W13.2 And as a freke þat fre were · forþ gan I walke
W13.3 In manere of a mendynaunt · many a yer after
W13.4 And of þis metyng many tyme · muche þouȝt I hadde

W13.5 First how Fortune me failed · at my mooste nede
W13.6 And how þat Elde manaced me · myȝte we euere mete
W13.7 And how þat freres folwede · folk þat was riche
W13.8 And folk þat was pouere · at litel pris þei sette
W13.9 And no corps in hir kirkȝerd · nor in hir kirk was buryed
W13.10 But quik he biqueþe auȝt · to769 quyte wiþ770 hir dettes
W13.11 And how þis Coueitise ouer-com · clerkes and preestes
W13.12 And how þat lewed men ben lad · but oure lord hem helpe
W13.13 Thoruȝ vnkonnynge curatours · to incurable peynes

W13.14 And how þat ymaginatif · in dremels me tolde
W13.15 Of kynde and of his konnynge · and how curteis he is to bestes
W13.16 And how louynge he is to briddes771 · on londe and on watre
leneþ he no lif

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W13.17 Leneþ he no lif · lasse ne moore
W13.18 The creatures þat crepen · of kynde ben engendred
W13.19 And siþen how ymaginatif seide · vix saluabitur
W13.20 And whan he hadde seid so · how sodeynliche he passed
W13.21 I lay doun longe in þis þoȝt · and at þe laste I slepte
W13.22 And as crist wolde þer com Conscience · to conforte me þat tyme
W13.23 And bad me come to his court · wiþ clergie sholde I dyne
W13.24 And for Conscience of Clergie spak · I com wel þe raþer
W13.25 And þere I seiȝ a maister · what man he was I nyste
W13.26 That lowe louted · and loueliche to scripture

W13.27 Conscience knew hym wel · and welcomed hym faire
W13.28 Thei wesshen and wipeden · and wenten to þe dyner
W13.29 And Pacience in þe Paleis stood · in pilgrymes cloþes
W13.30 And preyde mete par charite · for a pouere heremyte

W13.31 Conscience called hym In · and curteisliche seide
W13.32 Wel-come wye go and wassh · þow shalt sitte soone

W13.33 This maister was maad sitte · as for þe mooste worþi
W13.34 And þanne clergie and Conscience · and Pacience cam after

W13.35 Pacience and I · were put to be macches
W13.36 And seten bi oure-selue · at þe side borde

W13.37 Conscience called after mete · and þanne cam Scripture
W13.38 And serued hem þus soone · of sondry metes manye
W13.39 Of Austyn of Ambrose · and of þe foure Euaungelistes
W13.40Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt

W13.41 Ac þis maister nor772 his man · no maner flessh eten
W13.42 Ac þei eten mete of moore cost · mortrews and potages
W13.43 Of þat men myswonne · þei made hem wel atese

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W13.44 Ac hir sauce was ouer-sour · and vnsauourly grounde
W13.45 In a morter Post mortem · of many a bitter peyne
W13.46 But if þei synge for þo soules · and wepe salte teris
W13.47 Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effun-
deritis · ea que in delicijs comeditis in tormentis euometis

W13.48 Conscience ful curteisly þo · comaunded Scripture
W13.49 Bifore Pacience breed to brynge · and me þat was his macche
W13.50 He sette a sour loof toforn vs · and seide Agite penitenciam
W13.51 And siþþe he brouȝte vs drynke · Dia perseuerans
W13.52 As longe quod I as I lyue · and lycame may dure
W13.53 Here is propre seruice quod Pacience · þer fareþ no Prince bettre

W13.54 And þanne he brouȝte vs forþ · a mees of ooþer mete · of Miserere mei deus
W13.55 And he brouȝte vs of Beati quorum · of Beatus virres makyng
W13.56Et quorum tecta sunt peccata · in a dissh
W13.57 Of derne shrifte · Dixi & confitebor tibi
W13.58 Bryng pacience som pitaunce · pryueliche quod Conscience

W13.59 And þanne hadde Pacience a pitaunce · Pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno
W13.60 And Conscience conforted vs · and carped vs murye tales
W13.61Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies

W13.62 Pacience was proud · of þat propre seruice
W13.63 And made hym murþe wiþ his mete · ac I mornede euere
W13.64 For þis doctour on þe heiȝe dees · drank wyn so faste
W13.65Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum

W13.66 He eet manye sondry metes · mortrews and puddynges
W13.67 Wombe cloutes and wilde brawen · and egges yfryed wiþ grece

W13.68 Thanne seide I to my-self so · pacience it herde
W13.69 It is noȝt foure dayes þat þis freke · bifore þe deen of Poules

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W13.70 Preched of penaunces · þat Poul þe Apostle suffrede
W13.71In fame & frigore · and flappes of scourges
W13.72 Ter cesus sum & a iudeis quinquies quadragenas &c

W13.73 Ac o word þei ouerhuppen · at ech a tyme þat þei preche
W13.74 That Poul in his Pistle · to al þe peple tolde
W13.75Periculum est in falsis fratribus

W13.76 Holi writ bit men be war · I wol noȝt write it here
W13.77 In englissh on auenture · it sholde be reherced to ofte
W13.78 And greue þer-wiþ goode men · ac gramariens shul redde773

W13.79 Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat · quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus

W13.80 Ac I wiste neuere freke þat as a frere yede · bifore men on englissh
W13.81 Taken it for his teme · and telle it wiþ-outen glosyng
W13.82 They prechen þat penaunce is · profitable to þe soule
W13.83 And what meschief and male-ese · crist for man þolede

W13.84 Ac þis goddes gloton quod I · wiþ hise grete chekes
W13.85 Haþ no pite on vs pouere · he parfourneþ yuele
W13.86 That he precheþ he preueþ noȝt · to Pacience I tolde
W13.87 And wisshed ful witterly · wiþ wille ful egre
W13.88 That disshes and doublers · bifore þis ilke doctour
W13.89 Were molten leed in his mawe · and Mahoun amyddes
W13.90 I shal Iangle to þis Iurdan · wiþ his Iuste wombe
W13.91 To telle me what penaunce is · of which he preched raþer

W13.92 Pacience parceyued what I þouȝte · and wynked on me to be stille
W13.93 And seide þow shalt see þus soone · whan he may namoore
W13.94 He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche · and puffe at ech aworde
W13.95 And þanne shullen hise guttes goþele · and he shal galpen after
W13.96 For now he haþ dronken so depe · he wole deuyne soone

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W13.97And preuen it by hir Pocalips · and passion of Seint Auereys
W13.98 That neiþer bacon ne braun · blancmanger ne mortrews
W13.99 Is neiþer fissh nor flessh · but fode for a penaunt
W13.100 And þanne shal he testifie of þe Trinite · and take his felawe to witnesse
W13.101 What he fond in a frayel · after a freres lyuyng
W13.102 And but he first lyue be lesyng · leue me neuere after
W13.103 And þanne is tyme to take · and to appose þis doctour
W13.104 Of dowel and dobet · and if dowel774 be any penaunce
W13.105 And I sat stille as Pacience seide · and þus soone þis doctour
W13.106 As rody as a Rose · rubbede hise chekes
W13.107 Coughed and carped · and Conscience hym herde
W13.108 And tolde hym of a Trinite · and toward vs he loked

W13.109 What is dowel sire doctour quod I · is it775 any penaunce

W13.110 Dowel quod þis doctour · and took þe cuppe and drank
W13.111 Is do noon yuel to þyn euencristen · nouȝt by þi power

W13.112 By þis day sire doctour quod I · þanne be ye noȝt in dowel
W13.113 For ye han harmed vs two · in þat ye eten þe puddyng
W13.114 Mortrews and ooþer mete · and we no morsel hadde
W13.115 And if ye fare so in youre Fermerye · ferly me þynkeþ
W13.116 But cheeste be þer charite sholde be · and yonge children dorste pleyne
W13.117 I wolde permute my penaunce with youre · for I am in point to dowel

W13.118 Thanne Conscience curteisly · a contenaunce made
W13.119 And preynte vp-on pacience · to preie me to be stille
W13.120 And seide hym-self sire doctour · and it be youre wille
W13.121 What is dowel and dobet · ye dyuynours knoweþ

W13.122 Dowel quod þis doctour · do as clerkes techeþ
W13.123 And dobet is he þat techeþ · and trauailleþ to teche oþere
W13.124 And dobest doþ hym-self so · as he seiþ and precheþ

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W13.125Qui facit & docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum
W13.126 Now þow Clergie quod Conscience · carpest what is dowel
W13.127 I haue seuene sones he seide · seruen in a Castel
W13.128 Ther þe lord of lif wonyeþ · to leren what is dowel
W13.129 Til I se þo seuene · and my-self acorde
W13.130 I am vnhardy quod he · to any wiȝt to preuen it
W13.131 For oon Piers þe Plowman · haþ impugned vs alle
W13.132 And set alle sciences at a sop · saue loue one
W13.133 And no text ne takeþ · to mayntene his cause
W13.134 But Dilige deum · and Domine quis habitabit
W13.135 And seiþ þat dowel and dobet · arn two Infinites
W13.136 Whiche Infinites wiþ a feiþ · fynden out dobest
W13.137 Which shal saue mannes soule · þus seiþ Piers þe Plowman

W13.138 I kan noȝt her-on quod Conscience · ac I knowe wel Piers
W13.139 He wol noȝt ayein holy writ speken · I dar wel vndertake
W13.140 Thanne passe we ouer til Piers come · and preue þis in dede
W13.141 Pacience haþ be in many place · and paraunter mouþed
W13.142 That no clerk ne kan · as crist bereþ witnesse
W13.143Pacientes vincunt &c

W13.144 Ac youre preiere quod Pacience þo · so no man displese hym
W13.145Disce quod he doce ·dilige inimicos
W13.146Disce and dowel · doce and dobet
W13.147Dilige and dobest · þus tauȝte me ones
W13.148 A lemman þat I louede · loue was hir name
W13.149 Wiþ wordes and wiþ werkes quod she · and wil of þyn herte
W13.150 Thow loue leelly þi soule · al þi lif-tyme
W13.151 And so þow lere þe to louye · for oure776 lordes loue of heuene
W13.152 Thyn enemy in alle wise · euene-forþ wiþ þi-selue
W13.153 Cast coles on his heed · of alle kynde speche
W13.154 Boþe wiþ werkes and with wordes · fonde his loue to wynne
W13.155 And leye on hym þus with loue · til he lauȝe on þe

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W13.156And but he bowe for þis betyng · blynd mote he worþe
W13.157 Ac for to fare þus wiþ þi frend · folie it were
W13.158 For he þat loueþ þee leelly · litel of þyne coueiteþ
W13.159 Kynde loue coueiteþ noȝt · no catel but speche
W13.160 Wiþ half a laumpe lyne in latyn · Ex vi transicionis
W13.161 I bere þer-Inne aboute · faste ybounde dowel
W13.162 In a signe of þe Saterday · þat sette first þe kalender
W13.163 And al þe wit of þe wodnesday · of þe nexte wike after
W13.164 The myddel of þe Moone · as þe nyght777 of boþe
W13.165 And her-with am I wel-come · þer I haue it wiþ me

W13.166 Vndo it · lat þis doctour deme · if dowel be þer-Inne
W13.167 For by hym þat me made · myȝte neuere pouerte
W13.168 Misese ne meschief · ne no778 man wiþ his tonge
W13.169 Coold ne care · ne compaignye of þeues
W13.170 Ne neiþer hete ne hayl · ne noon helle pouke
W13.171 Ne779 fuyr ne flood · ne feere of þyn enemy
W13.172 Tene þee any tyme · and þow take it wiþ þe
W13.173Caritas nichil timet &c

W13.174 It is but a dido quod þis doctour · a disours tale
W13.175 Al þe wit of þis world · and wiȝt mennes strengþe
W13.176 Kan noȝt conformen a pees · bitwene780 and hise enemys
W13.177 Ne bitwene two cristene kynges · kan no wiȝt pees make
W13.178 Profitable to eiþer peple · and putte þe table fro hym
W13.179 And took Clergie and Conscience · to conseil as it were
W13.180 That Pacience þow most passe · for pilgrymes konne wel lye

W13.181 Ac Conscience carped loude · and curteisliche seide
W13.182 Frendes fareþ wel · and faire spak to clergie
W13.183 For I wol go wiþ þis gome · if god wol yeue me grace
W13.184 And be Pilgrym wiþ pacience · til I haue preued moore

W13.185 What quod Clergie to Conscience · ar ye coueitous nouþe
W13.186 After yeresȝeues or ȝiftes · or yernen to rede redels
W13.187 I shal brynge yow a bible · a book of þe olde lawe
W13.188 And lere yow if yow like · þe leeste point to knowe
W13.189 That Pacience þe pilgrym · parfitly knew neuere

W13.190 Nay by crist quod Conscience to Clergie · god þee foryelde
W13.191 For al þat Pacience me profreþ · proud am I litel
W13.192 Ac þe wil of þe wye · and þe wil of folk here
W13.193 Haþ meued my mood · to moorne for my synnes
W13.194 The goode wil of a wight · was neuere bouȝt to þe fulle
W13.195 For þer nys no tresour for-soþe781 · to a trewe wille

W13.196 Hadde noȝt Maudeleyne moore · for a box of salue
W13.197 Than zacheus for he seide · dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus
W13.198 And þe poore widewe · for a peire of mytes
W13.199 Than alle þo þat offrede · in-to Gazophilacium

W13.200 Thus curteisliche Conscience · congeyed first þe frere
W13.201 And siþen softeliche he seide · in clergies ere
W13.202 Me were leuere by oure lord · and I lyue sholde
W13.203 Haue pacience parfitliche · þan half þi pak of bokes

W13.204 Clergie of Conscience · no congie wolde take
W13.205 But seide ful sobreliche · þow shalt se þe tyme
W13.206 Whan þow art wery of-walked782 · wille me to counseille

W13.207 That is sooþ quod Conscience · so me god helpe
W13.208 If Pacience be oure partyngfelawe · and pryue with vs boþe
W13.209 Ther nys wo in þis world · þat we ne sholde amende
W13.210 And conformen kynges to pees · and alle kynnes londes
W13.211 Sarsens and Surre · and so forþ alle þe Iewes
W13.212 Turne in-to þe trewe feiþ · and in-til oon bileue

W13.213 That is sooþ quod Clergie · I se what þow menest
W13.214 I shal dwelle as I do · my deuoir to shewe
W13.215 And confermen fauntekyns · and ooþer folk ylered
W13.216 Til Pacience haue preued þee · and parfit þee maked

W13.217 Conscience þo wiþ Pacience passed · pilgrymes as it were
W13.218 Thanne hadde Pacience as pilgrymes han · in his poke vitailles
W13.219 Sobretee and symple speche · and sooþfast bileue
W13.220 To conforte hym and Conscience · if þei come in place
W13.221 There vnkyndenesse and coueitise is · hungry contrees boþe

W13.222 And as þe783 wente by þe weye · of dowel þei carped
W13.223 Thei mette wiþ a Mynstral · as me þo þouȝte
W13.224 Pacience apposed hym first · and preyde he sholde hem telle
W13.225 To Conscience what craft he kouþe · and to what contree he wolde

W13.226 I am a Mynstralle quod þat man · my name is Actiua vita
W13.227 Al ydelnesse ich hatie · for of Actif is my name
W13.228 A wafrer wol ye wite · and serue manye lordes
W13.229 And fewe robes I fonge · or furrede gownes
W13.230 Couþe I lye to do men lauȝe · þanne lacchen I sholde
W13.231 Ouþer mantel or moneie · amonges lordes or Mynstrals
W13.232 Ac for I kan neiþer taboure ne trompe · ne telle no gestes
W13.233 Farten ne fiþelen · at festes ne harpen
W13.234 Iape ne Iogele · ne gentilliche pipe
W13.235 Ne neiþer saille ne saute · ne synge wiþ þe gyterne
W13.236 I haue no goode giftes · of þise grete lordes
W13.237 For no breed þat I brynge forþ · saue a benyson on þe sonday
W13.238 Whan þe preest preieþ þe peple · hir Pater noster to bidde
W13.239 For Piers þe Plowman · and þat hym profit waiten
W13.240 And þat am I Actif · þat ydelnesse hatie
W13.241 For alle trewe trauaillours · and tiliers of þe erþe
W13.242 Fro Mighelmesse to Mighelmesse · I fynde hem wiþ my wafres

W13.243 Beggeris and bidderis · of my breed crauen
W13.244 Faitours and freres · and folk wiþ brode crounes
W13.245 I fynde payn for þe pope · and prouendre for his palfrey
W13.246 And I hadde neuere of hym · haue god my trouþe
W13.247 Neiþer prouendre ne personage · yet of popes ȝifte
W13.248 Saue a pardon wiþ a peis of leed · and two polles amyddes
W13.249 Hadde ich a clerc þat couþe write · I wolde caste hym a bille
W13.250 That he sente me vnder his seel · a salue for þe pestilence
W13.251 And þat his blessynge and hise bulles · bocches myȝte destruye

W13.252 In nomine meo demonia eicient & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt

W13.253 And þanne wolde I be prest to þe peple · paast for to make
W13.254 And buxom and busy · aboute breed and drynke
W13.255 For hym and for alle hise · founde I þat his pardoun
W13.256 Miȝte lechen a man · as I bileue it sholde
W13.257 For siþ he haþ þe power · þat Peter hym-self hadde
W13.258 He haþ þe pot wiþ þe salue · sooþly as me þynkeþ

W13.259 Argentum & aurum non est michi · quod autem habeo tibi do · in nomine domini surge & ambula784

W13.260 Ac if myȝt of myracle hym faille · it is for men ben noȝt worþi
W13.261 To haue þe grace of785 god · and no gilt of pope
W13.262 For may no blessynge doon vs boote · but if we wile amende
W13.263 Ne mannes masse make pees · among cristene peple
W13.264 Til pride be pureliche for-do · and þoruȝ payn defaute
W13.265 For er I haue breed of mele · ofte moot I swete
W13.266 And er þe commune haue corn ynouȝ · many a cold morwenyng
W13.267 So er my wafres be ywroȝt · muche wo I þolye

W13.268 Al Londoun I leue · likeþ wel my wafres
W13.269 And louren whan þei lakken hem · it is noȝt longe ypassed
W13.270 There was a careful commune · whan no cart com to towne
W13.271 Wiþ breed fro Stratford · þo gonnen beggeris wepe786(c)

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W13.272 And werkmen were agast alite787 · þis wole be þouȝt longe
W13.273 In þe date of oure driȝte · in a drye Aprille
W13.274 A thousand and þre hundred · twies twenty and ten788(c)
W13.275 My wafres þere were gesene · whan Chichestre was Maire
W13.276 I took good kepe by crist · and Conscience boþe
W13.277 Of haukyn þe Actif man · and how he was ycloþed
W13.278 He hadde a cote of cristendom · as holy kirke bileueþ
W13.279 Ac it was moled in many places · wiþ manye sondry plottes
W13.280 Of pride here a plot · and þere a plot of vnbuxom speche
W13.281 Of scornyng and of scoffyng · and of vnskilful berynge
W13.282 As in apparaille and in porte · proud amonges þe peple
W13.283 Ooþer-wise þan he hym789 haþ · wiþ herte or siȝte shewynge
W13.284 Hym willyng þat alle men wende · he were þat he is noȝt
W13.285 For-why he bosteþ and braggeþ · wiþ manye bolde oþes
W13.286 And inobedient to ben vndernome · of any lif lyuynge
W13.287 And noon so singuler by hym-self · ne so pomp-holy790
W13.288 Yhabited as an heremyte · an ordre by hym-selue
W13.289 Religion saunz rule · or791 resonable obedience
W13.290 Lakkynge lettrede men · and lewed men boþe
W13.291 In likynge of lele lif · and a liere in soule
W13.292 Wiþ Inwit and wiþ outwit · ymagynen and studie
W13.293 As best for his body be · to haue a badde name
W13.294 And entremetten hym ouer792(p) al · þer he haþ noȝt to doone
W13.295 Willynge þat men wende · his wit were þe beste
W13.296 And if he gyueþ ouȝt to pouere gomes · telle what he deleþ
W13.297 Pouere of possession in purs · and in cofre boþe
W13.298 And as a lyoun on to loke · and lordlich of speche
W13.299 Boldest of beggeris · a bostere þat noȝt haþ
W13.300 In towne and in Tauernes · tales to telle
W13.301 And segge þyng þat he neuere seiȝ · and for soþe sweren it
W13.302 Of dedes þat he neuere dide · demen and bosten
W13.303 And of werkes þat he wel dide · witnesse · and siggen
W13.304 Lo if ye leue me noȝt · or þat I lye wenen

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W13.305Askeþ at hym or at hym · and he yow kan telle
W13.306 What I suffrede and seiȝ · and som-tymes hadde
W13.307 And what I kouþe and knew · and what kyn I com of
W13.308 Al he wolde þat men wiste · of werkes and of wordes
W13.309 Which myȝte plese þe peple · and preisen hym-selue
W13.310 Si hominibus placerem · christi seruus non essem
W13.311Et alibi / Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire

W13.312 By crist quod Conscience þo · þi beste cote Haukyn
W13.313 Haþ manye moles and spottes · it moste ben ywasshe

W13.314 Ye who-so toke hede quod haukyn · bihynde and bifore
W13.315 What on bak and what on body half · and by þe two sides
W13.316 Men sholde fynde manye frounces · and manye foule plottes

W13.317 And he torned hym as tyd · and þanne took I hede
W13.318 It was fouler bi fele fold · þan it first semed
W13.319 It was bidropped wiþ wraþe · and wikkede wille
W13.320 Wiþ enuye and yuel speche · entisynge to fighte
W13.321 Lyinge and laughynge · and leue tonge to chide
W13.322 Al þat he wiste wikked · by any wight tellen it
W13.323 And blame men bihynde hir bak · and bidden hem meschaunce
W13.324 And þat he wiste by wille · tellen it watte
W13.325 And þat watte wiste · wille wiste it after
W13.326 And made of frendes foes · þoruȝ a fals tonge
W13.327 Or wiþ myȝt or with793 mouþ · or þoruȝ mennes strengþe
W13.328 Auenge me fele tymes · oþer frete my-selue
W13.329 Wiþ-Inne as a shepsteres shere · y-sherewed man794 and cursed

W13.330 Cuius malediccione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius labor & dolor795
W13.331Et alibi: Filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte · et lingua eorum gladius acutus796

W13.332 Ther is no lif þat me loueþ · lastynge any while

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W13.333For tales þat I telle · no man trusteþ to me
W13.334 And whan I may noȝt haue þe maistrie · swich malencolie I take
W13.335 That I cacche þe crampe · and þe Cardiacle som-tyme
W13.336 Or an Ague in swich an Angre · and som-tyme a Feuere
W13.337 That takeþ me al a twelue-monþe · til þat I despise
W13.338 Lechecraft of oure lord · and leue on a wicche
W13.339 And seye þat no clerc ne kan · ne crist as I leue
W13.340 To þe SoutereofSouthwerk · or of Shordych dame Emme
W13.341 And seye þat no goddes word · gaf me neuere boote
W13.342 But þoruȝ a charme hadde I chaunce · and my chief heele
W13.343 I waitede wisloker · and þanne was it soilled
W13.344 Wiþ likynge of lecherie · as by lokynge of his eiȝe
W13.345 For ech a maide þat he mette · he made hire a signe
W13.346 Semynge to synneward · and som-tyme he gan taste
W13.347 Aboute þe mouþ or byneþe · bigynneþ to grope
W13.348 Til eiþeres wille wexeþ kene · and to þe werke yeden
W13.349 As wel in fastyng-dayes and Fridaies · as797 forboden nyȝtes
W13.350 And as wel in lente as out of lente · alle tymes yliche
W13.351 Swiche werkes with hem · were neuere out of seson
W13.352 Til þei myȝte namoore · and þanne murye tales
W13.353 And how þat lecchours louye · laughen and Iapen
W13.354 And of hir harlotrye and horedom · in hir elde tellen

W13.355 Thanne Pacience parceyued · of pointes of þis cote
W13.356 That were798 colomy þoruȝ coueitise · and vnkynde desiryng
W13.357 Moore to good þan to god · þe gome his loue caste
W13.358 And ymagynede how · he it myȝte haue
W13.359 Wiþ false mesures and met · and wiþ fals witnesse
W13.360 Lened for loue of þe wed · and looþ to do truþe
W13.361 And awaited · þoruȝ which wey to bigile
W13.362 And menged his marchaundise · and made a good moustre
W13.363 The worste with-Inne was · a greet wit I let it
W13.364 And if my Neghebore hadde any hyne · or any beest ellis

W13.365 Moore profitable þan myn · manye sleiȝtes I made
W13.366 How I myȝte haue it · al my wit I caste
W13.367 And but I it hadde by ooþer wey · at þe laste I stale it
W13.368 Or pryueliche his purs shook · and799 vnpikede hise lokes
W13.369 Or by nyȝte or by daye · aboute was ich euere
W13.370 Thoruȝ gile to gaderen · þe good þat ich haue

W13.371 If I yede to þe Plowȝ · I pynched so narwe
W13.372 That a foot lond or a forow · fecchen I wolde
W13.373 Of my nexte Neghebore · and800 nymen of his erþe
W13.374 And if I repe ouer-reche · or yaf hem reed þat ropen
W13.375 To seise to me wiþ hir sikel · þat I ne sew neuere

W13.376 And who-so borwed of me · abouȝte þe tyme
W13.377 Wiþ presentes pryuely · or paide som certeyn
W13.378 So he wolde801 or noȝt wolde · wynnen I wolde
W13.379 And boþe to kiþ and to kyn · vnkynde of þat ich hadde

W13.380 And who-so cheped my chaffare · chiden I wolde
W13.381 But he profrede to paie · a peny or tweyne
W13.382 Moore þan it was worþ · and yet wolde I swere
W13.383 That it coste me muche moore · and so802 swoor manye oþes

W13.384 On haly-daies at holy chirche · whan ich herde masse
W13.385 Hadde I neuere wille woot god · witterly to biseche
W13.386 Mercy for my mysdedes · þat I ne moorned moore
W13.387 For losse of good leue me · þan for my likames giltes
W13.388 As if I hadde dedly synne doon · I dredde noȝt þat so soore
W13.389 As whan I lened and leued it lost · or longe er it were paied
W13.390 So if I kidde any kyndenesse · myn euencristen to helpe
W13.391 Vp-on a cruwel coueitise · myn herte gan hange

W13.392 And if I sente ouer see · my seruauntz to Brugges
W13.393 Or in-to Pruce-lond my Prentis · my profit to waiten

W13.394 To marchaunden wiþ moneie · and maken hire eschaunges
W13.395 Miȝte neuere me conforte · in þe mene while
W13.396 Neiþer masse ne matynes · ne none maner siȝtes
W13.397 Ne neuere penaunce parfournede · ne Pater noster seide
W13.398 That my mynde ne was moore · on my good in a doute
W13.399 Than in þe grace of god · and hise grete helpes
W13.400Vbi thesaurus tuus ibi & cor tuum

W13.401 Whiche ben þe braunches · þat bryngen a man to sleuþe
W13.402 He þat moorneþ noȝt for hise mysdedes · ne makeþ no sorwe
W13.403 And penaunce þat þe preest enioyneþ · parfourneþ yuele
W13.404 Dooþ noon almesse803 · dred hym of no synne
W13.405 Lyueþ ayein þe bileue · and no lawe holdeþ
W13.406 Ech day is haly-day with hym · or an heiȝ ferye
W13.407 And if he auȝt wole here · it is an harlotes tonge
W13.408 Whan men carpen of crist · or of clennesse of soules
W13.409 He wexeþ wroþ and wol noȝt here · but wordes of murþe
W13.410 Penaunce of pouere men · and þe passion of Seintes
W13.411 He hateþ to here þer-of · and alle þat it telleþ
W13.412 Thise ben þe braunches beþ war · þat bryngen a man to wanhope

W13.413 Ye lordes and ladies · and legates of holy chirche
W13.414 That fedeþ fooles sages · flatereris and lieris
W13.415 And han likynge to liþen hem · to do yow to lauȝe
W13.416Ve vobis qui ridetis &c
W13.417 And ȝyueþ hem mete and mede · and pouere men refuse
W13.418 In youre deeþ-deyinge · I drede me ful soore
W13.419 Lest þo þre maner men · to muche sorwe yow brynge
W13.420Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur

W13.421 Patriarkes and prophetes · and prechours of goddes wordes
W13.422 Sauen þoruȝ hir sermons · mannes soule fro helle
W13.423 Riȝt so flatereris and fooles · arn þe fendes disciples
W13.424 To entice men þoruȝ hir tales · to synne and to harlotrie

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W13.425 Ac clerkes þat knowen holy writ · sholde kenne lordes
W13.426 What Dauid seiþ of swiche men · as þe Sauter telleþ
W13.427 Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniqua804

W13.428 Sholde noon harlot haue audience · in halle nor805 in Chambre
W13.429 Ther wise men were · witnesseþ goddes wordes
W13.430 Ne no mysproud man · amonges lordes ben allowed

W13.431 Ac flateres and fooles · þoruȝ hir foule wordes
W13.432 Leden þo þat louen hem · to Luciferis feste
W13.433 Wiþ turpiloquio a lady806 of sorwe · and luciferis fiþele
W13.434 Thus haukyn þe Actif man · hadde ysoiled his cote
W13.435 Til conscience acouped hym þer-of · in a curteis manere
W13.436 Why he ne hadde whasshen807 it · or wiped it wiþ a brusshe

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