Passus xviijus / decimus octauus &c et iijus / tercius de dobet
Wolleward and weetshoed . wente I forþ after
As a recchelees renk . þat of no wo roughte
And yede forþ lik a lorel . al my lif-tyme
Til I weex wery of þe world . and wilned eft to slepe
And lened me to a lenten . and longe tyme I slepte
And of cristes passion and penaunce . þe peple þat of-rauȝte
Reste me þere and rutte faste . til Ramis palmarum
Of gerlis and of Gloria laus . gretly me dremed
And how Osanna by . Organye . olde folk songen
Bare-foot on an Asse bak . bootles cam prikye
Wiþ-outen spores oþer spere . spakliche he lokede
As is þe kynde of a knyght . þat comeþ to be dubbed
To geten hym gilte spores . or galoches y-couped
¶ Thanne was feiþ in a fenestre . and cryde a fili dauid
As dooþ an heraud of armes . whan Auentrous comeþ to Iustes
Olde Iewes of Ierusalem . for ioye þei songen
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini
¶ Thanne I frayned at Feiþ . what al þat fare bymente
And who sholde Iuste in Ierusalem . Iesus he seide
And fecche þat þe fend claymeþ . Piers fruyt þe Plowman
¶ Is Piers in þis place quod I . and he preynte on me
This Iesus of his gentries . wol Iuste in Piers armes
In his helm and in his haubergeon . humana natura
That crist be noȝt biknowe here . for consummatus deus
In Piers paltok þe Plowman . þis prikiere shal ryde
For no dynt shal hym dere . as in deitate patris
¶ Who shal Iuste wiþ Iesus quod I . Iewes or Scrybes
¶ Nay quod he þe foule fend . and fals doom and deeþ
Deeþ seiþ he shal fordo . and adoun brynge
Al þat lyueþ and lokeþ . in londe andT in watre
¶ Lif seiþ þat he lieþ . and leieþ his lif to wedde
That for al þat deeþ kan do . wiþ-Inne þre daies
To walke and fecche fro þe fend . Piers fruyt þe Plowman
And legge it þer hym likeþ . and Lucifer bynde
And forbete and adoun brynge . bale deeþ for euere
O mors ero mors tua
¶ Thanne cam Pilatus with muche peple . sedens pro tribunali
To se how doghtiliche deeþ sholde do . and deme hir boþeres right
¶ The Iewes and þe Iustice . ayeins Iesu þei weere
And al þe court on hym cryde . crucifige sharpe
Tho putte hym forþ a pilour . bifore Pilat and seide
This Iesus of oure Iewes temple . haþT Iaped and despised
To fordoon it on o day . and in þre dayes after
Edifie it eft newe . here he stant þat seide it
And ȝit maken it as muche . in alle manere poyntes
Boþe as long and as large . bi lofte and by grounde
¶ Crucifige quod a Cachepol . I warante hym a wicche
¶ Tolle tolle quod anoþer . and took of kene þornes
And bigan of kene þorn . a garland to make
And sette it sore on his heed . and seide in enuye
Aue raby quod þat rybaud . and þrew reedes at hym
Nailed hym with þre nailes . naked on þe roode
And poison on a poole . þei putte vp to hise lippes
And beden hym drynken his deeþ yuel . hise daies were ydone
And if þat þow sotil be . help now þi-selue
If þow be crist and kynges sone . com down of þe roode
Thanne shul we leue þat lif þee loueþ . and wol noȝt lete þee deye
¶ Consummatum est quod crist . and comsede for to swoune
Pitousliche and pale . as a prison þat deieþ
The lord of lif and of light . þo leide hise eighen togideres
The day for drede wiþ-drouȝ . and derk bicam þe sonne
The wal waggede and cleef . and al þe world quaued
Dede men for þat dene . come out of depe graues
And tolde why þat tempeste . so longe tyme durede
For a bitter bataille . þe dede body seide
Lif and deeþ in þis derknesse . hir oon fordooþ hir ooþer
Shal no wight wite witterly . who shal haue þe maistrie
Er sonday aboute sonne risyng . and sank wiþ þat til erþe
¶ Some seide þat he was goddes sone . þat so faire deide
Vere filius dei erat iste
And some seide he was a wicche . good is þat we assaye
Wher he be deed or noȝt deed . doun er he be taken
¶ Two þeues also . þoled deeþ þat tyme
Vp-on a croos bisides crist . so was þe comune lawe
A Cachepol cam forþ . and craked boþe hir legges
And þe armes after . of eiþer of þo þeues
Ac was no body so boold . goddes body to touche
For he was knyȝt and kynges sone . kynde foryaf þat tyme
That noon harlot were so hardy . to leyen hond vp-on hym
¶ Ac þer cam forþ a knyȝt . wiþ a kene spere ygrounde
Bifore Pilat and ooþer peple . in þe place he houed
Maugree his manye teeþ . he was maad þat tyme
To take þe spere in his hond . and Iusten wiþ Iesus
For alle þei were vnhardy . þat houed on horse or stode
To touchen hym or to tasten hym . or taken doun of roode
But þis blynde bacheler . baar hym þoruȝ þe herte
The blood sprong doun by þe spere . and vnspered þe knyȝtes eiȝen
¶ Thanne fil þe knyȝt vp-on knees . and cryde hym mercy
Ayein my wille it was lord . to wownde yow so soore
He sighed and seide . soore it me aþynkeþ
For þe dede þat I haue doon . I do me in youre grace
Haue on me ruþe riȝtful Iesu . and riȝt wiþ þat he wepte
¶ Thanne gan Feiþ felly . þe false Iewes despise
Callede hem caytyues . acorsed for euere
For þis foule vileynye . vengeaunce to yow falle
To do þe blynde bete hym ybounde . it was a boyes counseille
Cursede caytif . knyghthood was it neuere
To mysdo a deed body . by daye or by nyȝte
The gree ȝit haþ he geten . for al his grete wounde
¶ For youre champion chiualer . chief knyȝt of yow alle
Ȝilt hym recreaunt rennyng . riȝt at Iesus wille
For be þis derknesse ydo . his deeþ worþ avenged
And ye lurdaynes han ylost . for lif shal haue þe maistrye
And youre fraunchise þat fre was . fallen is in þraldom
To haue lordshipe in londe . ne no lond tilye
But al barayne be . and vsurie vsen
Which is lif þat oure lord . in alle lawes acurseþ
Now youre goode dayes arn doon . as daniel prophecied
Whan crist cam of hir kyngdom . þe crowne sholde cesse
Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum cessabit vnxio vestra
¶ What for feere of þis ferly . and of þe false Iewes
I drow me in þat derknesse . to descendit ad inferna
And þere I sauȝ sooþly . secundum scripturas
Out of þe west coste . a wenche as me þouȝte
¶ Cam walkynge in þe wey . to helleward she loked
Mercy highte þat mayde . a meke þyng wiþ-alle
A ful benigne burde . and Buxom of speche
¶ Hir suster as it semed . cam sooþly walkynge
Euene out of þe Est . and westward she lokede
A ful comely creature . truþe she highte
For þe vertue þat hire folwede . afered was she neuere
¶ Whan þise maydenes mette . mercy and truþe
Eiþer asked ooþer . of þis grete wonder
Of þe dyn and of þe derknesse . and how þe day rowed
And which a light and a leme . lay bifore helle
Ich haue ferly of þis fare . in feiþ seide truþe
And am wendynge to wite . what þis wonder meneþ
¶ Haue no merueille quod mercy . murþe it bitokneþ
A maiden þat highte Marie . and moder wiþ-outen felyng
Of any kynnes creature . conceyued þoruȝ speche
And grace of þe holy goost . weex greet wiþ childe
Wiþ-outen wem . in-to þis world she broȝte hym
And þat my tale be trewe . I take god to witnesse
¶ Siþ þis barn was ybore . ben xxxti / þritti wynter passed
Which deide and deeþ þoled . þis day aboute mydday
And þat is cause of þis clips . þat closeþ now þe sonne
In menynge þat man shal . fro merknesse be drawe
The while þis light and þis leme . shal Lucifer ablende
For patriarkes and prophetes . han preched her-of ofte
That man shal man saue . þoruȝ a maydenes helpe
And þat was tynt þoruȝ tree . tree shal it wynne
And þat deeþ adownT brouȝte . deeþ shal releue
¶ That þow tellest quod Truþe . is but a tale of waltrot
For Adam and Eue . and Abraham wiþ oþere
Patriarkes and prophetes . þat in peyne liggen
Leue þow neuere þat yon light . hem alofte brynge
Ne haue hem out of helle . hold þi tonge mercy
It is but a trufle þat þow tellest . I truþe woot þe soþe
For he þat is ones in helle . out comeþ he neuere
Iob þe prophete patriark . repreueþ þi sawes
Quia in Inferno nulla est redempcio
¶ Thanne Mercy ful myldely . mouþed þise wordes
Thoruȝ experience quod she . I hope þei shul be saued
For venym fordooþ venym . and þat preue I by reson
For of alle venymes . foulest is þe scorpion
May no medicyne helpe . þe place þer he styngeþ
Til he be deed and do þerto . þe yuel he destruyeþ
The firste venymouste . þoruȝ venym of hym-selue
¶ So shal þis deeþ fordo . I dar my lif legge
Al þat deeþ fordide first . þoruȝ þe deueles entisyng
And riȝt as þoruȝ gile . man was bigiled
So shal grace þat bigan . make a good sleighte
Ars vt artem falleret
¶ Now suffre we seide Truþe . I se as me þynkeþ
Out of þe nyppe of þe North . noȝt ful fer hennes
Rightwisnesse come rennynge . reste we þe while
For he woot moore þan we . he was er we boþe
¶ That is sooþ seide Mercy . and I se here by Sowþe
Where pees comeþ pleyinge . in pacience ycloþed
Loue haþ coueited hire longe . leue I noon ooþer
But he sente hire som lettre . what þis light bymeneþ
That ouer-houeþ helle þus . she vs shal telle
¶ Whan Pees in Pacience ycloþed . approched ner hem tweyne
Rightwisnesse hire reuerenced . by hir riche cloþyng
And preide pees to telle hire . to what place she wolde
And in hire gaye garnementz . whom she grete þouȝte
¶ My wil is to wende quod she . and welcome hem alle
That many day myȝte I noȝt se . for merknesse of synne
Adam and Eue . and oþere mo in helle
Moyses and many mo . mercy shul haue
And I shal daunce þer-to . do þow so suster
For Iesus Iustede wel . Ioye bigynneþ dawe
Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus & ad matutinum leticiaC
¶ Loue þat is my lemman . swiche lettres me sente
That mercy my suster and I . mankynde sholde saue
And þat god haþ forgyuen . and graunted me pees & mercy
To be mannes meynpernour . for euere-moore after
Lo here þe patente quod Pees . In pace in idipsum
And þat þis dede shal dure . dormiam & requiescam
Leuestow þat yond light . vnlouke myȝte helle
And saue mannes soule . suster wene it neuere
That Adam and Eue . and alle þat hem suwede
Sholden deye down-righte . and dwelle in pyne after
If þat þei touchede a tree . and þe fruyt eten
¶ Adam afterward . ayeins his defence
Freet of þat fruyt . and forsook as it weere
The loue of oure lord . and his loore boþe
And folwede þat þe fend tauȝte . and his felawes wille
Ayeins Reson and rightwisnesse . recorde þus wiþ truþe
That hir peyne be perpetuel . and no preiere hem helpe
For-þi lat hem chewe as þei chosen . and chide we noȝt sustres
For it is botelees bale . þe byte þat þei eten
¶ And I shal preue quod Pees . hir peyne moot haue ende
And from wo in-to wele . mowe wenden at þe laste
For hadde þei wist of no wo . wele hadde þei noȝt knowen
For no wight woot what wele is . þat neuere wo suffrede
Ne what is hoot hunger . þat hadde neuere defaute
¶ If no nyȝt ne weere . no man as I leeue
Sholde neuere wite witterly . what day is to meene
Sholde neuere riȝt riche man . þat lyueþ in reste and ese
Wite what wo is . ne were þe deeþ of kynde
¶ So god þat bigan al . of his goode wille
Bicam man of a mayde . mankynde to saue
And suffrede to be sold . to se þe sorwe of deying
The which vnknytteþ alle care . and comsynge is of reste
For til modicum mete with vs . I may it wel auowe
Woot no wight as I wene . what ynogh is to mene
¶ For-þi god of his goodnesse . þe firste gome Adam
Sette hym in solace . and in souereyn murþe
And siþþe he suffred hym synne . sorwe to feele
To wite what wele was . kyndeliche andT knowe it
And after . god Auntrede hym-self . and took Adames kyndeC
To wite what he haþ suffred . in þre sondry places
Boþe in heuene and in erþe . and now til helle he þenkeþ
To wite what alle wo is . and what is alle ioye
¶ So it shal fare by þis folk . hir folie and hir synne
Shal lere hem what langour is . and lisse wiþ-outen ende
Woot no wight what werre is . þer þat pees regneþ
Ne what is witterly wele . til weylawey hym teche
¶ Thanne was þer a wight . wiþ two brode eiȝen
Book highte þat beaupeere . a bold man of speche
By goddes body quod þis book . I wol bere witnesse
That þo þis barn was ybore . þer blased a sterre
That alle þe wise of þis world . in o wit acorden
That swich a barn was ybore . in Bethleem þe Citee
That mannes soule sholde saue . and synne destroye
And alle þe elementz quod þe book . her-of beren witnesse
That he was god þat al wroȝte . þe wolkne first shewed
¶ Tho þat weren in heuene . token stella cometa
And tendeden itT as a torche . to reuerencen his burþe
The light folwede þe lord . in-to þe lowe erþe
¶ The water witnessed þat he was god . for he wente on it
Peter þe Apostel . parceyued his gate
And as he wente on þe water . wel hym knew and seide
Iube me venire ad te super aquas
¶ And lo how þe sonne gan louke . hire light in hir-selue
Whan she seiȝ hym suffre . þat sonne and see made
¶ The Erþe for heuynesse . þat he wolde suffre
Quaked as quyk þyng . and al biquasshed þe roche
¶ Lo helle myȝte nat holde . but opnede þo god þolede
And leet out Symondes sone . to seen hym hange on roode
And now shal Lucifer leue it . þouȝ hym looþ þynke
For gigas þe geaunt . wiþ a gyn haþT engyned
To breke and to bete adoun . þat ben ayeins Iesus
And I book wole be brent . but Iesus rise to lyue
In alle myȝtes of man . and his moder gladie
And conforte al his kyn . and out of care brynge
And al þe Iewene Ioye . vnioynen and vnlouken
And bileue on a newe lawe . be lost lif and soule
¶ Suffre we seide truþe . I here and see boþe
How a spirit spekeþ to helle . and biddeþ vnspere þe yates
Attollite portas &c
¶ A vois loude in þat light . to lucifer crieþ
Prynces of þis place . vnpynneþ and vnloukeþ
For here comeþ wiþ crowne . þat kyng is of glorie
¶ Thanne sikede Sathan . and seide to hem alle
Swich a light ayeins oure leue . lazar out fette
Care and encombraunce . is comen to vs alle
If þis kyng come In . mankynde wole he fecche
And lede it þer hym likeþ . and lightliche me bynde
Patriarkes and prophetes . han parled her-of longe
That swich a lord and light . sholde lede hem alle hennes
¶ Listneþ quod lucifer . for I þis lord knowe
Boþe þis lord and þis light . is longe ago I knew hym
May no deeþ hym dere . ne no deueles queyntise
And where he wole is his wey . ac ware hym of þe perils
If he reueþ me my riȝt . he robbeþ me by maistrie
For by right and by reson . þe renkes þat ben here
Body and soule beþ myne . boþe goode and ille
For hym-self seide . þat Sire is of heuene
If Adam ete þe Appul . alle sholde deye
And dwelle wiþ vs deueles . þis þretynge he made
And he þat Sooþnesse is . seide þise wordes
And siþen I seised . Seuene hundred wynter
I leeue þat lawe nyl noȝt . lete hym þe leeste
¶ That is sooþ seide Sathan . but I me soore drede
For þow gete hem wiþ gile . and his Gardyn breke
And in semblaunce of a serpent . sete vp-on þe Appultree
And toldest hire a tale . of treson were þe wordes
And so þow haddest hem out . and hider at þe laste
It is noȝt graiþly geten . þer gile is þe roote
For god wol noȝt be bigiled . quod Gobelyn ne byiaped
We haue no trewe title to hem . for þoruȝ treson were þei dampned
¶ Certes I drede me quod þe deuel . lest truþe wol hem fecche
Thise þritty wynter as I wene . haþ he gon and preched
I haue assailled hym with synne . and som-tyme y-asked
Wheiþer he were god or goddes sone . he yaf me short answere
And þus haþ he trolled forþ . þise two and þritty wynter
And whan I seiȝ it was so . lepynge I wente
To warne Pilates wif . what done man was Iesus
For Iewes hateden hym . and han doon hym to deþe
I wolde haue lengþed his lif . for I leued if he deide
That his soule wolde suffre . no synne in his sighte
For þe body while it on bones yede . aboute was euere
To saue men from synne . if hem-self wolde
And now I se wher a soule . comeþ hiderward seillynge
Wiþ glorie and with gret light . god it is I woot wel
I rede þat we fle quod he . faste alle hennes
For vs were bettre noȝt be . þan biden his sighte
For þi lesynges Lucifer . lost is al oure praye
¶ First þoruȝ þe we fellen . fro heuene so heiȝe
For we leued on þi lesynges . ylorn we haue Adam
And al oure lordshipe I leue . a-londe and a-watre
Nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras
¶ Eft þe light bad vnlouke . and Lucifer answerde
What lord artow quod Lucifer . Quis est iste
¶ Rex glorie . þe light soone seide
And lord of myght and of man . and alle manere vertues . dominus virtutum
Dukes of þis dymme place . anoon vndo þise yates
That crist may come In . þe kynges sone of heuene
¶ And wiþ þat breeþ helle brak . with Belialles barres
For any wye or warde . wide opned þe yates
¶ Patriarkes and prophetes . Populus in tenebris
Songen seint Iohanes song . Ecce agnus dei
Lucifer loke ne myȝte . so light hym ablente
¶ And þo þat oure lord louede . in-to his light he laughte
And seide to Sathan . lo here my soule to amendes
For alle synfulle soules . to saue þo þat ben worþi
Myne þei ben and of me . I may þe bet hem cleyme
And þouȝ Reson recorde . and riȝt of my-selue
That if heT ete þe Appul . alle sholde deye
I bihiȝte hem noȝt here . helle for euere
For þe dede þat þei dide . þi deceite it made
Wiþ gile þow hem gete . ageyn alle reson
For in my paleis Paradis . in persone of an Addre
Falsliche þow fettest . þyng þat I louede
¶ Thus ylik a Lusard . wiþ a lady visage
Thefliche þow me robbedest . andT þe olde lawe graunteþ
That gilours be bigiled . and þat is good reson
Dentem pro dente & oculum pro oculo
Ergo soule shal soule quyte . and synne to synne wende
And al þat man haþ mysdo . I man wole amende
Membre for membre . by þe olde lawe was amendes
And lif for lif also . and by þat lawe I clayme it
Adam and al his issue . at my wille her-after
And þat deeþ in hem fordide . my deeþ shal releue
And boþe quykne and quyte . þat queynt was þoruȝ synne
And þat grace gile destruye . good feiþ it askeþ
So leue I noȝt lucifer . ayein þe lawe I fecche hem
But by right and by reson . raunsone here my liges
Non veni soluere legem . set adimplere
¶ Thow fettest myne in my place . ayeins alle resoun
Falsliche and felonliche . good feiþ me it tauȝte
To recouere hem þoruȝ raunsoun . and by no reson ellis
So þat þoruȝ gile þow gete . þoruȝ grace it is ywonne
Thow lucifer in liknesse . of a luþer Addere
Getest bi gile . þo þat god louede
¶ And I in liknesse of a leode . þat lord am of heuene
Graciousliche þi gile haue quyt . go gile ayein gile
And as Adam and alle . þoruȝ a tree deyden
Adam and alle þoruȝ a tree . shul turne ayein to lyue
And gile is bigiled . and in his gile fallen
Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit
¶ Now bigynneþ þi gile . ageyn þee to turne
And my grace to growe . ay gretter and widderT
That art doctour of deeþ . drynk þat þow madest
¶ For I þat am lord of lif . loue is my drynke
And for þat drynke today . I deide vp-on erþe
I fauȝt so me þursteþ ȝit . for mannes soule sake
May no drynke me moiste . ne my þurst slake
Til þe vendage falle . in þe vale of Iosaphat
That I drynke riȝt ripe Must . Resureccio mortuorum
And þanne shal I come as a kyng . crouned wiþ Aungeles
And haue out of helle . alle mennes soules
¶ Fendes and fyndekynes . bifore me shul stande
And be at my biddyng . wher-so-euere me likeþ
And to be merciable to man . þanne my kynde askeþ
For we beþ breþeren of blood . but noȝt in baptisme alle
Ac alle þat beþ myne hole breþeren . in blood and in baptisme
Shul noȝt be dampned to þe deeþ . þat is wiþ-outen ende
Tibi soli peccaui &c
¶ It is noȝt vsed in erþe . to hangen a feloun
Ofter þan ones . þouȝ he were a tretour
And if þe kyng of þat kyngdom . come in þat tyme
ThereT feloun þole sholde . deeþ or ooþer Iuwise
Lawe wolde he yeue hym lif . if he loked on hym
And I þat am kyng of kynges . shal come swich a tyme
Ther doom to þe deeþ . dampneþ alle wikked
And if lawe wole I loke on hem . it liþ in my grace
Wheiþer þei deye or deye noȝt . for þat þei diden ille
Be it any þyng abouȝt . þe boldnesse of hir synnes
I do mercy þoruȝ rightwisnesse . and alle my wordes trewe
And þouȝ holy writ wole þat I be wroke . of hem þat diden ille
Nullum malum impunitum &c
Thei shul be clensed clerliche . and wasshen of hir synnes
In my prisone Purgatorie . til parce it hote
And my mercy shal be shewed . to manye of my breþeren
For blood may suffre blood . boþe hungry and a-cale
Ac blood may noȝt se blood . blede but hym rewe
Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui
¶ Ac my rightwisnesse and right . shul rulen al helle
And mercy al mankynde . bifore me in heuene
For I were an vnkynde kyng . but I my kynde helpe
And nameliche at swich a nede . þer nedes help bihoueþ
Non intres in Iudicium cum seruo tuo
¶ Thus by lawe quod oure lord . lede I wole fro hennes
¶ Tho þat me louede . and leued in my comynge
And for þi lesynge lucifer . þat þow leighe til Eue
Thow shalt abyen it bittre . and bond hym wiþ cheynes
Astroth and al þe route . hidden hem in hernes
They dorste noȝt loke on oure lord . þe boldeste of hem alle
¶ Manye hundred of Aungeles . harpeden and songen
Culpat caro purgat caro . regnat deus dei caro
¶ Thanne pipede pees . of Poesie a note
Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus Post inimicicias &[c]T
¶ After sharpe shoures quod pees . moost shene is þe sonne
Is no weder warmer . þan after watry cloudes
Ne no loue leuere . ne leuer frendes
Than after werre and wo . whan loue and pees ben maistresC
Was neuere werre in þis world . ne wikkednesse so kene
That ne loue and hym liste . to laughynge ne brouȝte
And Pees þoruȝ pacience . alle perils stoppeþ
¶ Trewes quod Truþe . þow tellest vs sooþ by Iesus
Clippe we in couenaunt . and ech of vs clippeT ooþer
And leteþ no peple quod pees . parceyue þat we chidde
For inpossible is no þyng . to hym þat is almyghty
¶ Thow seist sooþ quod Rightwisnesse . and reuerentliche hire kiste
Pees and pees here . per secula seculorum
Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi Iusticia & pax osculate su[nt]T
¶ Truþe trumpede þo . and song Te deum laudamus
And þanne lutedeT . in a loud note
Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum &c
¶ Til þe day dawed . þise damyseles dauncede
That men rongen to þe resurexion . and riȝt wiþ þat I wakede
And callede Kytte my wif . and Calote my doghter
And bad hem riseT and reuerence . goddes resurexion
And crepe to þe cros on knees . and kisse it for a Iuwel
For goddes blissede body . it bar for oure boote
And it afereþ þe fend . for swich is þe myȝte
May no grisly goost . glide þere it walkeþT
For þow gete hem