Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 20

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Passus .xxus. de visione & primus de Dobest

W20.1Thanne as I wente by þe wey · whan I was thus awaked
W20.2 Heuy chered I yede · and elenge in herte
W20.3 I ne wiste wher to ete · ne at what place
W20.4 And it neghed neiȝ þe noon · and wiþ nede I mette
W20.5 That afrounted me foule · and faitour me called
W20.6 Kanstow noȝt excuse þee · as dide þe kyng and oþere
W20.7 That þow toke to þi bilyue · to cloþes and to sustenaunce
W20.8 And by techynge and by tellynge · of Spiritus temperancie
W20.9 And þow nome namoore · þan nede þee tauȝte
W20.10 And nede ne haþ no lawe · ne neuere shal falle in dette
W20.11 For þre þynges he takeþ · his lif for to saue

W20.12 That is mete whan men hym werneþ · and he no moneye weldeþ
W20.13 Ne wight noon wol ben his boruȝ · ne wed haþ noon to legge
W20.14 And he cauȝte in þat caas · and come þer-to by sleighte
W20.15 He synneþ noȝt sooþliche · þat so wynneþ his foode

W20.16 And þouȝ he come so to a clooþ · and kan no bettre cheuyssaunce
W20.17 Nede anoon righte · nymeþ hym vnder maynprise

W20.18 And if hym list for to lape · þe lawe of kynde wolde
W20.19 That he dronke at ech dych · er he for þurst deide
W20.20 So nede at gret nede · may nymen as for his owene
W20.21 Wiþ-outen conseil of Conscience · or Cardynale vertues
W20.22 So þat he sewe and saue · Spiritus temperancie

W20.23 For is no vertue bi fer · to Spiritus temperancie
W20.24 Ne974Spiritus Iusticie · ne Spiritus fortitudinis
W20.25 For Spiritus fortitudinis · forfeteþ ful ofte
W20.26 He shal do moore þan mesure · many tyme and ofte
W20.27 And bete men ouer bittre · and some of hem to litel
W20.28 And greue men gretter · þan good feiþ it wolde

W20.29 And Spiritus Iusticie · shal Iuggen wole he nel he

W20.30 After þe kynges counseil · and þe comune like
W20.31 And Spiritus prudencie · in many a point shal faille
W20.32 Of þat he weneþ wolde falle · if his wit ne weere
W20.33 Wenynge is no wysdom · ne wys ymaginacion
W20.34Homo proponit & deus disponit · and gouerneþ alle goode vertues
W20.35 Ac nede is next hym · for anoon he mekeþ
W20.36 And as lowe as a lomb · for lakkyng of þat hym nedeþ
W20.37 Wise men forsoke wele · for þei wolde be nedy
W20.38 And woneden in wildernesse · and wolde noȝt be riche

W20.39 And god al his grete Ioye · goostliche he lefte
W20.40 And cam and took mankynde · and bicam nedy
W20.41 So nedy he was as seiþ þe book · in manye sondry places
W20.42 That he seide in his sorwe · on þe selue roode
W20.43 Boþe fox and fowel · may fle to hole and crepe
W20.44 And þe fissh haþ fyn · to flete wiþ to reste
W20.45 Ther nede haþ ynome me · þat I moot nede abide
W20.46 And suffre sorwes ful soure · þat shal to Ioye torne
W20.47 For-þi be noȝt abasshed · to bide and to be nedy
W20.48 Siþ he þat wroȝte al þe world · was wilfulliche nedy
W20.49 Ne neuere noon so nedy · ne pouerer deide
W20.50Whan nede haþ975 vndernome me þus · anoon I fil aslepe
W20.51 And mette ful merueillously · þat in mannes forme
W20.52 Antecrist cam þanne · and al þe crop of truþe
W20.53 Torned it vp-so-doun · and ouer-tilte þe roote
W20.54 And fals sprynge and sprede · and spede mennes nedes
W20.55 In ech a contree þer he cam · he kutte awey truþe
W20.56 And gerte gile growe þere · as he a god weere

W20.57 Freres folwede þat fend · for he gaf hem copes
W20.58 And Religiouse reuerenced hym · and rongen hir belles
W20.59 And al þe Couent forþ cam · to welcome þat tyraunt
W20.60 And alle hise as wel as hym · saue oonly fooles

W20.61 Whiche foolis were wel leuere · to deye þan to lyue
W20.62 Lenger siþ Lenten · was so rebuked
W20.63 And as976 a fals fend Antecrist · ouer alle folk regnede
W20.64 Saue977 þat were mylde men and holye · þat no meschief dradden
W20.65 Defyed alle falsnesse · and folk þat it vsede
W20.66 And what kyng þat hem conforted · knowynge hem any while
W20.67 They cursed and hir conseil · were it clerk or lewed

W20.68 Antecrist hadde þus soone · hundredes at his baner
W20.69 And pride it bar · boldely aboute
W20.70 Wiþ a lord þat lyueþ · after likyng of body
W20.71 That kam ayein conscience · þat kepere was and gyour
W20.72 Ouer kynde cristene · and Cardynale vertues

W20.73 I conseille quod Conscience þo · comeþ wiþ me ye fooles
W20.74 In-to vnite holy chirche · and holde we vs þere
W20.75 And crye we to kynde · þat he come and defende vs
W20.76 Fooles · fro þise fendes lymes · for Piers loue þe Plowman
W20.77 And crye we to al þe comune · þat þei come to vnitee
W20.78 And þere abide and bikere · ayeins Beliales children

W20.79 Kynde / Conscience þo herde · and cam out of þe planetes
W20.80 And sente forþ his forreyours · Feueres and Fluxes
W20.81 Coughes and Cardiacles · Crampes and tooþaches
W20.82 Rewmes and Radegundes · and roynouse scabbes978
W20.83 Biles and bocches · and brennynge Agues
W20.84 Frenesies and foule yueles · forageres of kynde
W20.85 Hadde ypriked and prayed · polles of peple
W20.86 That largeliche a legion · loste hir lif soone

W20.87 There was harrow and help · here comeþ kynde
W20.88 Wiþ deeþ þat is dredful · to vndo vs alle

W20.89 The lord þat lyued after lust · þo aloud cryde

fol.125v

W20.90 After Confort a knyght · to come and bere his baner
W20.91 A-larme a-larme quod þat lord · ech lif kepe his owene
W20.92 And þanne mette þise men · er Mynstrals myȝte pipe
W20.93 And er heraudes of Armes · hadden discryued lordes
W20.94 Elde þe hoore · þat979 was in þe vauntwarde
W20.95 And bar þe baner bifore deeþ · bi riȝt he it cleymede

W20.96 Kynde cam after · wiþ many kene soores
W20.97 As pokkes and pestilences · and muche peple shente
W20.98 So kynde þoruȝ corrupcions · kilde ful manye

W20.99 Deeþ cam dryuynge after · and al to duste passhed
W20.100 Kynges and knyghtes · kaysers and popes
W20.101 Lered and lewed · he leet no man stonde
W20.102 That he hitte euene · þat euere stired after
W20.103 Manye a louely lady · and lemmans of knyȝtes
W20.104 Swowned and swelted · for sorwe of hise980 dyntes

W20.105 Conscience of his curteisie · to kynde he bisouȝte
W20.106 To cesse and suffre · and see wher þei wolde
W20.107 Leue pride pryuely · and be parfite cristene

W20.108 And kynde cessede þo · to se þe peple amende
W20.109 Fortune gan flatere þanne · þo fewe þat were alyue
W20.110 And bihighte hem long lif · and lecherie he sente
W20.111 Amonges alle manere men · wedded and vnwedded
W20.112 And gaderede a greet hoost · al agayn Conscience

W20.113 This lecherie leide on · wiþ a Ianglynge chiere
W20.114 And wiþ pryuee speche · and peyntede wordes
W20.115 And armede hym in ydelnesse · and in heigh berynge
W20.116 He bar a bowe in his hand · and manye brode arewes
W20.117 Weren feþered wiþ fair biheste · and many a fals truþe

fol.126r

W20.118 Wiþ hise vntidy tales · he tened ful ofte
W20.119 Conscience and his compaignye · of holy chirche þe techeris
W20.120 Thanne cam Coueitise · and caste how he myȝte
W20.121 Ouer-come Conscience · and Cardinale vertues
W20.122 And armed hym in Auarice · and hungriliche lyuede
W20.123 His wepne was al wiles · to wynnen and to hiden
W20.124 Wiþ glosynges and wiþ gabbynges · he giled þe peple

W20.125 Symonye hym sente · to assaille Conscience
W20.126 And preched to þe peple · and prelates þei hem maden
W20.127 To holden wiþ Antecrist · hir temporaltees to saue
W20.128 And cam to þe kynges counseille · as a kene baroun
W20.129 And kneled to Conscience · in Court afore hem alle
W20.130 And garte good feiþ flee · and fals to abide
W20.131 And boldeliche bar adoun · wiþ many a bright Noble
W20.132 Muche of þe wit and wisdom · of westmynstre halle
W20.133 He Iogged981 to a Iustice · and Iusted in his eere
W20.134 And ouer-tilte al his truþe · wiþ tak þis vp amendement
W20.135 An982 to þe Arches in haste · he yede anoon after
W20.136 And tornede Cyuyle in-to Symonye · and siþþe he took þe Official
W20.137 For a Mantel of Meneuer · and983 made lele matrymoyne
W20.138 Departen er deeþ cam · and deuors shapte

W20.139 Allas quod Conscience and cryde þo · wolde crist of his grace
W20.140 That Coueitise were cristene · þat is so kene a fightere
W20.141 And boold and bidynge · while his bagge lasteþ

W20.142 And þanne lough lyf · and leet daggen hise cloþes
W20.143 And armed hym anhaste · wiþ984 harlotes wordes
W20.144 And heeld holynesse a Iape · and hendenesse a wastour
W20.145 And leet leautee a cherl · and lyere a fre man
W20.146 Conscience and his985 counseil · he counted at a flye986

W20.147 Thus relyede lif · for a litel fortune
W20.148 And prikeþ987 forþ wiþ pride · preiseþ he no vertue
W20.149 Ne careþ noȝt how Kynde slow · and shal come at þe laste
W20.150 And kille alle erþely creatures · saue conscience oone
W20.151 Lyf lepte aside · and lauȝte hym a lemman
W20.152 Heele and I quod he · and heighnesse of herte
W20.153 Shal do þee noȝt drede · neiþer deeþ ne elde
W20.154 And to forȝyte sorwe · and ȝyue noȝt of synne

W20.155 This likede lif · and his lemman fortune
W20.156 And geten in hir glorie · a gadelyng at þe laste
W20.157 Oon þat muche wo wroȝte · Sleuþe was his name
W20.158 Sleuþe wax wonder yerne · and soone was of age
W20.159 And wedded oon wanhope · a wenche of þe Stuwes
W20.160 Hir sire was a Sysour · þat neuere swoor truþe
W20.161 Oon Tomme two tonge · atteynt at ech enqueste988

W20.162 This Sleuþe was war of werre · and a slynge made
W20.163 And threw drede of dispair · a dozeyne myle aboute

W20.164 For care Conscience þo · cryde vp-on Elde
W20.165 And bad hym fonde to fighte · and afere wanhope

W20.166 And Elde hente good hope · and hastiliche he shifte hym
W20.167 And wayued awey wanhope · and wiþ lif he fighteþ
W20.168 And lif fleiȝ for feere · to phisik after helpe
W20.169 And bisouȝte hym of socour · and of his salue he hadde
W20.170 He989 gaf hym gold good woon · þat gladede his herte
W20.171 And þei gyuen hym ageyn · a glazene howue

W20.172 Lyf leeued þat lechecraft · lette sholde Elde
W20.173 And dryuen awey deeþ · wiþ Dyas and drogges990

W20.174 And Elde auntred hym on lyf · and at þe laste he hitte

fol.127r

W20.175A Phisicien wiþ a furred hood · þat he fel in a palsie
W20.176 And þere dyed þat doctour · er þre dayes after
W20.177 Now I se seide lif · þat Surgerie ne phisik ·
W20.178 May noȝt a myte auaille · to mede991 ayein Elde
W20.179 And in hope of his heele · good herte he hente
W20.180 And rood forþ to a992 reuel · a ryche place and a murye
W20.181 The compaignye of confort · men cleped it som-tyme

W20.182 And Elde anoon after me · and ouer myn heed yede
W20.183 And made me balled bifore · and bare on þe croune
W20.184 So harde he yede ouer myn heed · it wole be sene euere

W20.185 Sire yuele ytauȝt Elde quod · I · vnhende go wiþ þe
W20.186 Siþ whanne was993(c) þe wey · ouer mennes heddes
W20.187 Haddestow be hende quod · I · þow woldest haue asked leeue

W20.188 Ye leue lurdeyn quod he · and leyde on me wiþ Age
W20.189 And hitte me vnder þe ere · vnneþe myȝte994 ich here
W20.190 He buffetted me so995 aboute þe mouþ · þat out my teeþ he bette996
W20.191 And gyued me in goutes · I may noȝt goon at large
W20.192 And of þe wo þat I was Inne · my wif hadde ruþe
W20.193 And wisshed ful witterly · þat I were in heuene
W20.194 For þe lyme þat she loued me fore · and leef was to feele
W20.195 On nyghtes namely · whan we naked weere
W20.196 I ne myghte in no manere · maken it at hir wille
W20.197 So Elde and she sooþly · hadden it forbeten

W20.198 And as I seet in þis sorwe · I sauȝ how kynde passede
W20.199 And deeþ drogh neiȝ me · for drede gan I quake
W20.200 And cryde to kynde · out of care me brynge
W20.201 Lo Elde þe hoore · haþ me biseye
W20.202 Awreke me if youre wille be · for I wolde ben hennes

fol.127v

W20.203If þow wolt be wroken · wend in-to vnitee
W20.204 And hold þee þere euere · til I sende for þee
W20.205 And loke þow konne som craft · er þow come þennes
W20.206 Counseille me kynde quod I · what craft is best to lerne

W20.207 Lerne to loue quod kynde · and leef of alle oþere

W20.208 How shal I come to catel so · to cloþe me and to feede

W20.209 And þow loue lelly quod he · lakke shal þee neuere

W20.210 Mete ne worldly weede · while þi lif lasteþ

W20.211 And þere by conseil of kynde · I comsed to rome
W20.212 Thoruȝ Contricion and Confession · til I cam to vnitee
W20.213 And þere was Conscience Conestable · cristene to saue
W20.214 And bisegede sooþly · wiþ seuene grete geauntz
W20.215 That wiþ Antecrist helden · harde ayein Conscience

W20.216 Sleuþe wiþ his slynge · an hard assaut he made
W20.217 Proude preestes coome with hym · mo þan a þousand
W20.218 In paltokes and pyked shoes · and pisseris longe knyues
W20.219 Coomen ayein Conscience · wiþ Coueitise þei helden

W20.220 By Marie quod a mansed preest · of þe March of walys997
W20.221 I counte namoore Conscience · by so I cacche siluer
W20.222 Than I do to drynke · a drauȝte of good ale
W20.223 And so seiden sixty · of þe same contree
W20.224 And shotten ayein wiþ shot · many a sheef of oþes
W20.225 And brode hoked arwes · goddes herte and hise nayles
W20.226 And hadden almoost vnitee · and holynesse adown

W20.227 Conscience cryede help Clergie · or ellis I falle
W20.228 Thoruȝ inparfite preestes · and prelates of holy chirche

fol.128r

W20.229Freres herden hym crye · and comen hym to helpe
W20.230 Ac for þei kouþe noȝt wel hir craft · Conscience forsook hem
W20.231 Nede neghede þo neer · and Conscience he tolde
W20.232 That þei come for coueitise · to haue cure of soules
W20.233 And for þei are pouere parauenture · for patrymoyne þei faille
W20.234 They wol flatere and fare wel · wiþ998 folk þat ben riche
W20.235 And siþen þei chosen chele · and cheitiftee pouerte
W20.236 Lat hem chewe as þei chose · and charge hem with no cure
W20.237 For lomere he lyeþ · þat liflode moot begge
W20.238 Than he þat laboureþ for liflode · and leneþ999 it beggeris
W20.239 And siþen freres forsoke · þe felicite of erþe
W20.240 Lat hem be as beggeris · or lyue by Aungeles foode

W20.241 Conscience of þis counseil þo · comsede for to laughe
W20.242 And curteisliche conforted hem · and called in alle freres
W20.243 And seide sires sooþly · welcome be ye alle
W20.244 To vnitee and holy chirche · ac o þyng I yow preye
W20.245 Holdeþ yow in vnitee · and haueþ noon enuye
W20.246 To lered ne to lewed · but lyueþ after youre reule
W20.247 And I wol be youre boruȝ · ye shal haue breed and cloþes
W20.248 And oþere necessaries ynowe · yow shal no þyng faille
W20.249 Wiþ þat ye leue logik · and lerneþ for to louye
W20.250 For loue lafte þei lordshipe · boþe lond and scole
W20.251 Frere Fraunceys and Domynyk · for loue to be holye

W20.252 And if ye coueite cure · kynde wol yow teche
W20.253 That in mesure god made · alle manere þynges
W20.254 And sette hem at a certein · and a siker nombre
W20.255 And nempnede names newe · and noumbrede þe sterres

W20.256 Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum · et omnibus eis &c

W20.257 Kynges and knyghtes · þat kepen and defenden

W20.258 Han Officers vnder hem · and ech of hem a certein
W20.259 And if þei wage men to werre · þei write hem in noumbre
W20.260 Alle oþere in bataille · ben yholde Brybours
W20.261 Pylours and Pykeharneys · in ech a place y-cursed
W20.262 Wol no man tresore1000 hem paie · trauaille þei neuer so soore1001

W20.263 Monkes and Moniales · and alle men of Religion
W20.264 Hir ordre and hir reule wole · to han a certein noumbre
W20.265 Of lewed and of lered · þe lawe wole and askeþ
W20.266 A certein for a certein · saue oonliche of freres

W20.267 For-þi quod Conscience by crist · kynde wit me telleþ
W20.268 It is wikked to wage yow · ye wexen out of noumbre
W20.269 Heuene haþ euene noumbre · and helle is wiþ-oute noumbre
W20.270 For-þi I wolde witterly · þat ye were in þe Registre
W20.271 And youre noumbre vnder Notaries signe · and neiþer mo ne lasse

W20.272 Enuye herde þis · and heet freres to go to scole
W20.273 And lerne logyk and lawe · and ek contemplacion
W20.274 And preche men of Plato · and preue it by Seneca
W20.275 That alle þynges vnder heuene · ouȝte to ben in comune

W20.276 And yet he lyeþ as I leue · þat to þe lewed so precheþ
W20.277 For god made to men a lawe · and Moyses it tauȝte
W20.278Non concupisces rem proximi tui

W20.279 And yuele is þis yholde · in parisshes of Engelonde
W20.280 For persons and parissh preestes · þat sholde þe peple shryue
W20.281 Ben Curatours called · to knowe and to hele
W20.282 Alle þat ben hir parisshens · penaunce to enioigne
W20.283 And sholden ashamed1002 in hir shrift · ac shame makeþ hem wende
W20.284 And fleen to þe freres · as fals folk to westmynstre
W20.285 That borweþ and bereþ it þider · and þanne biddeþ frendes
W20.286 Yerne of forȝifnesse · or lenger yeres loone

Ac while he is
W20.287 Ac while he is in westmynstre · he wol be bifore
W20.288 And maken hym murie · wiþ ooþer mennes goodes

W20.289 And so it fareþ with muche folk · þat to þe freres hem shryueþ
W20.290 As Sisours and executours · þei wol ȝyue þe freres
W20.291 A parcel to preye for hem · and make hem-self murye
W20.292 Wiþ þe residue and þe remenaunt · þat oþere men biswonke
W20.293 And suffre þe dede in dette · to þe day of doome

W20.294 Enuye herfore · hatede Conscience
W20.295 And freres to philosophie · he fond þanne1003 to scole
W20.296 The while coueitise and vnkyndenesse · Conscience assaillede
W20.297 In vnitee holy chirche · Conscience held hym
W20.298 And made pees porter · to pynne þe yates
W20.299 Of alle tale-telleris · and titeleris in ydel
W20.300 Ypocrisie and he · an hard assaut þei made1004
W20.301 And woundede wel wikkedly · many a wys techere
W20.302 That wiþ Conscience acordede · and Cardynale vertues

W20.303 Conscience called a leche · þat koude wel shryue
W20.304 To go1005 salue þo þat sike ben · and þoruȝ synne ywounded
W20.305 Shrift shoop sharp salue · and made men do penaunce
W20.306 For hir mysdedes · þat þei wroȝt hadde
W20.307 And þat Piers were ypayed · redde quod debes

W20.308 Some liked noȝt þis leche · and lettres þei sente
W20.309 If any surgien were þe segge · þat softer koude plastre
W20.310 Sire leef to lyue in lecherie · lay þere and gronede
W20.311 For fastynge of a fryday · he ferde as he wolde deye

W20.312 Ther is a Surgien in þis sege · þat softe kan handle
W20.313 And moore of phisik bi fer · and fairer he plastreþ
W20.314 Oon frere Flaterere · is phisicien and surgien

W20.315 Quod Contricion to Conscience · do hym come to Vnitee
W20.316 For here is many a man · hurt þoruȝ ypocrisye

W20.317 We han no nede quod Conscience · I woot no bettre leche
W20.318 Than person or parisshe preest · penitauncer or bisshop
W20.319 Saue Piers þe Plowman · þat haþ power ouer hem alle
W20.320 And Indulgence may do · but if dette lette it

W20.321 I may wel suffre seide Conscience · syn ye desiren
W20.322 That frere flaterere be fet · and phisike yow sike

W20.323 The frere her-of herde · and hiede faste
W20.324 To a lord for a lettre · leue to haue to curen
W20.325 As a Curatour he were · and cam with hise lettres
W20.326 Boldely to þe bisshop · and his brief hadde
W20.327 In contrees þer he coome · confessions to here
W20.328 And cam þere Conscience was · and knokked at þe yate

W20.329 Pees vnpynned it · was Porter of vnitee
W20.330 And in haste askede · what his wille were

W20.331 In faiþ quod þis frere · for profit and for helþe
W20.332 Carpe I wolde wiþ contricion · and þer-fore cam I hider

W20.333 He is sik seide Pees · and so are manye oþere
W20.334 Ypocrisie haþ hurt hem · ful hard is if þei keuere

W20.335 I am a Surgien seide þe segge · and salues kan make
W20.336 Conscience knoweþ me wel · and what I kan do boþe

W20.337 I praye þee quod Pees þo · er þow passe ferþer
W20.338 What hattestow I praye þee · hele noȝt þi name

W20.339 Certes seide his felawe · sire Penetrans domos

W20.340 Ye go þi gate quod Pees · by god for al þi phisik
W20.341 But þow konne som ooþer1006 craft · þow comest nouȝt her-Inne
W20.342 I knew swich oon ones · noȝt eighte wynter hennes
W20.343 Coom in þus ycoped · at a Court þere I dwelde
W20.344 And was my lordes leche · and my ladies boþe
W20.345 And at þe laste þis lymytour · þo my lord was oute
W20.346 He saluede so oure wommen · til some were wiþ childe

W20.347 Hende speche heet · Pees · opene þe yates
W20.348 Lat in þe frere and his felawe · and make hem fair cheere
W20.349 He may se and here · so it may bifalle
W20.350 That lif þoruȝ his loore · shal leue coueitise
W20.351 And be adrad of deeþ · and wiþ-drawe hym fram pryde
W20.352 And acorde wiþ Conscience · and kisse hir eiþer ooþer

W20.353 Thus þoruȝ hende speche · entred þe frere
W20.354 And cam in-to Conscience · and curteisly hym grette

W20.355 Thow art welcome quod Conscience · kanstow heele þe sike
W20.356 Here is Contricion quod Conscience · my cosyn ywounded
W20.357 Conforte hym quod Conscience · and tak kepe to hise soores
W20.358 The plastres of þe person · and poudres biten to soore
W20.359 He lat hem ligge ouer-longe · and looþ is to chaunge hem
W20.360 Fro lenten to lenten · he lat hise plastres bite

W20.361 That is ouer-longe quod þis Lymytour · I leue I shal amende it
W20.362 And gooþ and gropeþ Contricion · and gaf hym a plastre
W20.363 Of a pryuee paiement · and I shal praye for yow
W20.364 For al þat ye ben holden to · al my lif-tyme
W20.365 And make yow my lady · in masse and in matyns
W20.366 As frere of oure Fraternytee · for a litel siluer

W20.367 Thus he gooþ and gadereþ · and gloseþ þere he shryueþ
W20.368 Til Contricion hadde clene foryeten · to crye and to wepe

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W20.369And wake for hise wikked werkes · as he was wont to doone
W20.370 For confort of his confessour · Contricion he lafte
W20.371 That is þe souerayneste salue · for alle kynne synnes
W20.372 Sleuþe seigh þat · and so dide pryde
W20.373 And comen wiþ a kene wille · Conscience to assaille

W20.374 Conscience cryed eft · and bad Clergie helpe hym
W20.375 And also Contricion · for to kepe þe yate

W20.376 He lyþ and dremeþ seide Pees · and so do manye oþere
W20.377 The frere wiþ his phisyk · þis folk haþ enchaunted
W20.378 And plastred hem so esily · þei drede no synne

W20.379 By crist quod Conscience þo · I wole bicome a pilgrym
W20.380 And walken as wide · as þe world lasteþ
W20.381 To seken Piers þe Plowman · þat pryde may destruye
W20.382 And þat freres hadde a fyndyng · þat for nede flateren
W20.383 And countrepledeþ me Conscience · now kynde me avenge
W20.384 And sende me hap and heele · til I haue Piers þe Plowman
W20.385 And siþþe he gradde after Grace · til I gan awake1007(c)

Explicit hic Dialogus Petri Plowman

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