The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 9: The B-Version Archetype of <hi rend="it">Piers Plowman</hi>

The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 9: The B-Version Archetype of <hi rend="it">Piers Plowman</hi> William Langland Edited by John Burrow and Thorlac Turville-Petre Technical Editors: Daniel V. Pitti and Cindy Girard Graduate Research Assistants John Ivor Carlson, Erin Kelly, Britta Rowe, Christine Schott, and Timothy L. Stinson. Computer Consultants and Programmers Shayne Brandon, Cynthia Girard Published for the Medieval Academy of America and The Society for Early English and Norse Electronic Texts (SEENET) by Boydell and Brewer Ltd. Cambridge ISBN (individual use) 1 84384 ????? (institutional use) 1 84384 ????

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2011

SEENET A.11?

Latin French German Editor Hoyt N. Duggan New header created and structure reorganized. Incipit liber de Petro Plowman In a somer seson · whan soft was the sonne I shope me in[to]Bx.P.2: into: In the absence of R in Bx.P.1-124 and 1.142-2.41, we are obliged to rely on F for alpha readings. This is problematic, partly because of F's eccentricity, and more importantly because its text is evidently contaminated from A. (See Introduction III.10.) We have therefore been very cautious in adopting readings from F, but have accepted F in agreement with A when it offers a superior text, and also taken the agreement of F with AC against beta as evidence in favour of the F reading. In this line, although L has in, the agreement of CrWHm (and M revised) with F insecurely establishes into, which is confirmed by Ax (into a shroud) and Cx. shroudes · as i a shepe were In habite as an heremite · vnholy of workes Went wyde in þis world [·] wondres to here Ac on a May mornyng · on Maluerne hulles Me byfel a ferly · of fairy me thouȝte I was wery forwandred · and went me to reste Vnder a brode banke · bi a bornes side And as I lay and lened · and loked [o]nBx.P.9: on: As with into in l. 2, the reading of MCrWHm and F is supported by Ax. LCO have in, G vpon. Cx rewrites. þe wateres I slombred in aBx.P.10: in a: The reading of LMCO is challenged by CrWHmG in-to a and F into. A mss. read variously on a, in a, a, into a, into. There is no equivalent in Cx. slepyng · it sweyuedBx.P.10: sweyued: This is probably the beta reading, supported by LCO, and probably original M, where swei... (three or four letters erased) has been altered to sweyed, in line with beta2 and GF. See MED sweiven, "whirl, sweep", a rare verb cited elsewhere only from Patience and Cleanness. But the noun sweuene in the next line might have given rise to the reading. The variant sweyed is MED sweien v.(1), "sound", or the commoner v.(2), "move along (of water)." There is the same variation in Ax. so merye [¶]Bx.P.11-40: ¶: L has no paraphs on fol. 1r because of the decoration running down the left margin, but it has blank spaces before ll. 11, 23, 25, 31 and 40. Thanne gan I to meten · a merueilouse sweuene That I was in a wildernesse · wist I neuer where As I bihelde in-to þe est · an hiegh to þe sonne I seigh a toure on a toft · trielichBx.P.14: trielich: So LWG and original M. A scribes also have trouble with the adverb (from adj. trie), and Cx rewrites. ymaked A depe dale binethe · a dongeon þere-Inne With depe dyches & derke · and dredful of sight A faire felde ful of folke · fonde I there bytwene Of alle maner of men · þe mene and þe riche Worchyng and wandryng · as þeBx.P.19: þe: So beta, supported by the P family of C, but F's this is supported by the X family. worlde asketh Some put hem to þeBx.P.20: þe: Dropped in GF. There is the same variation between to þe and to in AC. plow · pleyed ful selde In settyng and inBx.P.21: in (2): So LHmCG; dropped in others. There is the same variation in AC. sowyng · swonken ful harde And wonnen that [þese]Bx.P.22: þese: F has support from AC. All other manuscripts omit it. wastours · with glotonye destruyeth [¶] And some putten hem to pruyde · apparailed hem þere-after In contenaunce of clothyng [·] comen disgised [¶] In prayers and inBx.P.25: in (2): Agreement of LMCOF is good support for Bx, but it is not in Ax or Cx. penanceBx.P.25: penance: The plural of WHmF is probably prompted by prayers; C mss. are similarly split, but Ax has sg. For variation with and without <-s>, see note to Bx.14.211. · putten hem manye Al for loueBx.P.26: loue: Beta2 (CrWHm) and GF have the loue. AC mss. are split. of owre lorde · lyueden ful streyte In hope forto haueBx.P.27: forto haue: Beta2 (CrWHm) and G read to haue after. This is also the reading of two A mss. Cx is revised. · heueneriche blisse As ancres and heremites · that holden hem in here selles And coueiten nought in contre [·] to kairenBx.P.29: kairen: So LMGOF, supported by Ax and Cx; CrWHm regularly alter to carien; e.g. Bx.4.23, 5.310. aboute For no likerous liflode · her lykam to plese [¶] And somme chosen chaffare · they cheuenBx.P.31: cheuen: In all three versions the present tense varies with the past. LMGOF support the present for Bx. the bettere As it semeth to owre syȝt · that suche men thryueth And somme murthes to make · as mynstralles conneth And geten gold with here glee · synneles I leue AcBx.P.35: Ac: So LWHm, with GF's regular substitution of But. MCrCO have As. A mss. split between Ac and But. Cx has no equivalent line. iapers & iangelers · Iudas chylderen Feynen hem fantasies · and foles hem maketh And han here witte at wille · to worche ȝif þei sholde That Poule precheth of hem · I nel nought preue it here Qui turpiloquium loquitur · &cBx.P.39: &c: The absence of the b-verse in L, original M, Cr1C (F misses the line) suggests that the English completion was added to the Latin phrase from other versions. WHmG is luciferes hyne is Ax; O's is lucifers knaue (which is added in Cr23) is Cx. A later hand has added est seruus diaboli in M. [¶] Bidders and beggeres · fast aboute ȝede With her bely and her baggeBx.P.41: bely ... bagge: The distributive sg. as in LM is supported by Cx; A mss. vary. F misses the line. · of bred fulBx.P.41: of bred ful: Presumably an error in beta or Bx for AC bretful. ycrammed Fayteden for here fode · fouȝten atte ale In glotonye god itBx.P.43: it: Supported by LMHmCO though omitted by CrWG and Ax (Cx rewrites). F's reversed a-verse also omits it. For a parallel, see Bx.4.81. wote · gon hij to bedde And risenBx.P.44: risen: Cx has ryseþ. F's rysen vp is Ax. with ribaudye · tho roberdes knaues Slepe and sori sleuthe · seweth hem eure ¶ Pilgrymes and palmers · pliȝte[n]Bx.P.46: pliȝten: The form could represent the past tense or the present. LMO with pliȝted take it as past, in line with the verbs in ll. 48-61, but the form receives no support from Ax or Cx. hem togidere To seke seynt Iames · and seyntes in rome Thei went forth in here wey · with many wise tales And hadden leue toBx.P.49: to: MGOF's for to has limited support from A mss. and none from Cx. lye · al here lyf after Bx.P.50-54: These five lines are omitted in F by eyeskip from after to after. I seigh somme that seiden · þei had ysouȝt seyntes To eche a tale þat þei tolde · here tonge was tempred to lye More þan to sey soth · it semed bi here speche ¶ Heremites on an heep · with hoked staues Wenten to walsyngham · and here wenches after Grete lobyes and longe · that loth were to swynke Clotheden hem in copis · to ben knowen fram othere And shopen hem heremites · here ese to haue ¶ I fonde þere Freris [·] alle þe foure ordres PrechedBx.P.59: Preched: AC have the pres. part., as W, and Hm by correction. Schmidt (1995), 363 explains the source of what is presumably an error in Bx as "the unexpectedness of a participle in a sequence of preterites". þe peple · for profit of hem-seluen Glosed þe gospel · as hem good lyked For coueitise of copis · construed it as þei wolde Many of þis maistresBx.P.62: maistres: The reading also of Ax, meaning "learned professional theologian" (Kane, 2005), cf. Bx.13.25. The retention of the pl. form maistres in L suggests that Freris was an interlinear gloss in beta, but not present in alpha. Cx's explanatory revision "Mony of þise maistres of mendenant freres" (RK.P.60) might imply that the gloss was in his exemplar. [·] mowe clothen hem at lykyng For here money andBx.P.63: and: Beta2 (CrWHm) has and her. AC show the same variation. marchandise · marchen togideres For sith charite haþ be chapman · and chief to shryue lordes Many ferlis han fallen · in a fewe ȝeris But holychirche and hijBx.P.66: hij: The form in L, original M, and WC is necessary for alliteration. See Introduction IV.1. · holde better togideres The moste my[s]chiefBx.P.67: myschief: In L the line is marked for correction. on molde · is mountyngBx.P.67: mountyng: F has mountynge. The beta reading is mountyng wel, though GO share the reading vp with AC. We suppose, with Schmidt (1995), 364, that Bx dropped vp, and beta supplied the adverb for the metre. F's final -e compensates for the omission of the adverb, avoiding the x / x / x b-verse rhythm, but there is no reason to suppose it represents Bx. See note to l. 104. faste ¶ Þere preched a Pardonere · as he a prest were Brouȝte forth a bulle · with bishopes seles And seide þat hym-self myȝte · assoilen hem alle Of falshed ofBx.P.71: of (2): LMWHmCO in agreement with Cx; CrGF have and or and of. A mss. vary in the same way. fastyng · of vowesBx.P.71: vowes: LMCrCO in agreement with Cx; others have auowes. A mss. vary in the same way. ybroken ¶ Lewed men leued hym wel · and lyked his wordes Comen vp knelyng · to kissen his bulles He bonched hem with his breuet · & blered here eyes And rauȝte with his ragman · rynges and brochesBx.P.75: F follows this with two lines not supported by AC. Thus þey geuen here golde · glotones to kepe And leneth [it]Bx.P.77: it: Supported by AC as well as by sense. Omitted by LC and original M, presumably taking the verb as leueth, "believe": see F's be-leven on. such loseles · þat lecherye haunten Were þe bischop yblissed · and worth bothe his eres His seel shulde nouȝt be sent · to deceyue þe peple Ac it is nauȝt by þe bischop · þat þe boy prechethBx.P.80: F follows this with a line not supported by AC. For the parisch prest and þe pardonere · parten þe siluer That þe porailleBx.P.82: poraille: Not elsewhere in the poem. O expands to pore porayle to explain the word; M perhaps originally read pore peple, which is the reading of Ax and Cx. F's pore men seems a typical avoidance of a difficult word, as is Cr's pouerty. However, the reading of Bx lacks alliteration in the b-verse. of þe parisch · sholde haue ȝif þei nere ¶ Persones and parisch prestes · pleyned hem to þe bischop Þat here parisshes were pore · sith þe pestilence tyme To haue a lycence and leueBx.P.85: leue: LC have a leue, induced by a lycence. A few AC mss. have the same error. · at London to dwelle And syngen þere for symonye · for siluer is swete ¶ Bischopes and bachelers · bothe maistres and doctours Þat han cure vnder criste · and crounyng in tokne And signe þat þei sholden · shryuen here paroschienes Prechen and prey for hem · and þe pore fede Liggen inBx.P.91: in (1): Supported by Cx. Beta2 and G have at, perhaps influenced by the same phrase six lines above. Lines 87-210 are not in A. London · in lenten anBx.P.91: an: "and". See Introduction V.3.1. The form has been corrected in L in the line above. elles Somme seruen þe kyng · and his siluer tellen In cheker and in chancerye · chalengen his dettes Of wardes andBx.P.94: and (1): LMCrCG, and so likely to be beta. WF have and of, which is probably the Cx reading. HmO have of. wardmotes · weyues and streyuesBx.P.94: F's additional line is from A (KProl.95). ¶ And some seruen as seruantz · lordes and ladyes And in stede of stuwardes · sytten and demen Here messe and here matynes · and many of here oures Arn don vndeuoutlych · drede is at þe lasteBx.P.98: An entirely different line referring to Sarum Use replaces this and the next line in F. Lest crist in constorie · acorse ful manye I parceyued of þe power · þat Peter had to kepe To bynde and to vnbynde · as þe boke telleth How he it leftBx.P.102: it left: This word-order is supported by Cx. wiþ loue · as owre lorde hight Amonges foure vertues · þe best of alle vertuesBx.P.103: þe best of alle vertues: Beta alliterates aa/xa with /f/ + /v/ alliteration. F's reading, most vertuous of hevene, might represent alpha. See KD, p. 180, for discussion. It could be that the Cx b-verse, most vertuous of vertues (RK.P.131), was also Bx, with alpha and beta taking different action to avoid the repetition. Þat cardinales ben called · & closyngBx.P.104: closyng: We have retained L's spelling, though final -e as in MWHm would improve the metre; see Duggan (1988), 143 and n. 58, and for the disyllabic ending in Hoccleve, see Burrow (1999), liii. F characteristically rewrites to avoid the short b-verse. Among C mss., X has and closyng ȝates thare, P has and closynde yates. ȝatis Þere crist is inBx.P.105: in: WHmF have in his, not supported by Cx. kyngdome · to close and to shutte And to opne it to hem · and heuene blisse shewe Ac of þe cardinales atteBx.P.107: atte: "at the", as usual in L. The reading of LMHmCF establishes this as Bx, even though at in CrWGO is the Cx reading. Courte · þat cauȝt of þat name And power presumedBx.P.108: presumed: Beta has pa.t. (or ppl.) following from cauȝt in l. 107. F's present tense appears to have support from Cx, but in Cx this follows from cauȝt han. in hem · a Pope to make To han þ[e]Bx.P.109: þe: Beta has þat, but F is supported by Cx. power þat peter hadde · inpugnen I nelle For in loue andBx.P.110: and: WF have and in, not supported by Cx. letterure · þe eleccioun bilongeth For-þi I can and can nauȝte · of courte speke more ¶ Þanne come þere a kyng · knyȝthod hym ladde Miȝt of þe comunes · made hym to regne And þanne cam kynde wytte · and clerkes he made For to conseille þe kyng · and þe comune saue ¶ The kyng and knyȝthode · and clergye bothe Casten þat þe comune [·] shulde hem-self fynde ¶ Þe comune contreued · of kynde witte craftes And for profit of alleBx.P.119: of alle: LCrWCO, and probably beta, but MHmGF drop alle. There is no help from the revised line in Cx. We retain copy-text. þe poeple · plowmen ordeygned To tilie and [to] trauaileBx.P.120: to trauaile: All mss. have this second to except LCO. For the same pattern with initial "to", cf. Bx.2.83-4, 5.134, etc. This passage is dropped in C. · as trewe lyf askeþ Þe kynge and þe comune · and kynde witte þe thridde Shope lawe & lewte · eche [lyf]Bx.P.122: lyf: So F. Although the reading could derive from two lines above, it is probable that non-alliterating man is a substitution in beta. to knowe his owne ¶ Þanne loked vp a lunatik · a lene þing with-alle And knelyng to þe kyng · clergealy he seyde Bx.P.125: R begins with this line. Crist kepe þe sire kyng · and þi kyngriche And lene þe lede þi londe · so leute þe louye And for þi riȝtful rewlyng · be rewarded in heuene ¶ And sithen in þe eyre an hiegh · an angel of heuene Lowed to speke in latyn · for lewed men ne coude Iangle ne iugge · þat iustifie hem shulde But suffren & seruen · for-thi seyde þe angel Sum Rex sum Princeps · neutrum fortasse deinceps O qui iura regis · cristi specialia regis Hoc quod agas melius · iustus es esto pius Nudum iusBx.P.135: ius: Alpha picks up vis (in the sense "force") from the line below (where it means "you wish", from volo), and it is an easy minim error. Beta is supported by Cx. a te · vestiriBx.P.135: vestiri: Alpha has vestire, but beta is supported by most C mss. vult pietate Qualia vis metere · talia grana sere Si iusBx.P.137: ius: Alpha again has vis. See note to l. 135. nudatur · nudo de iure metatur · Si seritur pietas · de pietate metas · ¶ Thanne greued hym a Goliardeys · a glotoun of wordes And to þe angel an heiȝ · answeresBx.P.140: answeres: All mss. except LR have the past tense following greued, though both MHm probably shared the present before correction. Lines 139-45 are not paralleled in Cx. after Dum rex a regere · dicatur nomen habere Nomen habet sine re · nisi studet iura tenere · ¶ AndBx.P.143: And: LRC only; others omit. Although this is strong evidence for Bx, it could of course be coincidental error. þanne gan alle þe comune · crye in [a]Bx.P.143: a: "one". R probably represents alpha, obscured by F's rewriting. Beta's omission loses the sense, "one line", referring to Bx.P.145. vers of latin Bx.P.144: The line is omitted by alpha. The passage differs in Cx. To þe kynges conseille · construe ho-so wolde Precepta Regis · sunt nobis vincula legis · ¶ Wiþ þat ran þere a route [·] of ratones at ones And smale mys withBx.P.147: with: W has mid, an interesting case of scribal improvement to the alliteration. Cx also has with. Cf. Bx.1.117 and note. hem [·] mo þen a þousande And comen to a conseille · for hereBx.P.148: here: LMCOR supported by Cx. comune profit For a cat of a courteBx.P.149: courte: The reading of LCO and alpha is obviously right and supported by Cx. Beta2 (CrWHm), joined by G, read contree, either a simple misreading or avoidance of a politically sensitive reference. M's contre is a correction, but apparently just a respelling. · cam whan hym lyked And ouerlepe hem lyȝtlich · and lauȝte hem at hisBx.P.150: his: omitted in F and also Cx. wille And pleyde wiþ hem perilouslych · and possed [hem]Bx.P.151: hem (2): Supported by alpha (though F switches to first-person pronoun in both instances in the line), as well as by MCO. Cx includes hem in a revised b-verse. aboute For doute of dyuerse dredes · we dar nouȝte wel loke And ȝif we grucche ofBx.P.153: grucche of: "complain about". Alpha drops of, but beta is supported by Cx. his gamen · he wil greue vs alle Cracche vs or clowe vs · and in his cloches holde That vs lotheth þe lyf · or he lete vs passe Myȝte we wiþ any witte · his wille withstonde We myȝte be lordes aloft · and lyuen at owre ese ¶Bx.P.158: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. The line is at the top of the page in R. A raton of renon [·] most renable of tonge Bx.P.159: L has an otiose paraph. The line is at the top of the page. Seide for a souereygne · help to hym-selueBx.P.159: hym-selue: Skeat (1886) translates: "`Said for a sovereign remedy for himself'; i.e. as far as himself was concerned". Alpha's hem alle is suspiciously easier, and credits the rat with a community spirit which he probably does not deserve. The line is not in Cx. I haue ysein segges quod he · in þe cite of london Beren biȝes ful briȝte · abouten here nekkes And some colers of crafty werk [·] vncoupled þei wenden Boþe in wareine & in waste · where hem leue lykethBx.P.163: leue lyketh: So LCOR. F altersleue to the superlative, best; beta2 and G corrupt to the common phrase. CrWG switch to the past tense both here and in the previous line; the M corrector alters both verbs from present to past. And otherwhile þei aren elles-where · as I here telle Were þere a belle on here beiȝ · bi Ihesu as me thynketh Men myȝte wite where þei went · and awei renne And riȝt so quod þat ratoun · reson me sheweth To bugge a belle of brasse · or of briȝte syluer And knitten [it]Bx.P.169: it: LCGO omit, and M adds. Probably lost by beta and supplied by individual scribes. Cx also reads hit. on a colere · for owre comune profit Bx.P.170: The line is lost in beta2 (CrWHm) and G. And hangen it vp-on þe cattes hals · þanne here we mowen Bx.P.171-72: Alpha omits two lines as a result of eyeskip. Where he ritt or rest · or rennethBx.P.171: renneth: Y has the C reading rometh, by contamination or coincidence. to playe And ȝif him list for to laike · þenne loke we mowen And peren in his presence · þer-while hym plaie liketh And ȝif him wrattheth be ywar · and his weye shonye ¶ Alle þisBx.P.175: þis (1): Beta is supported by the X family of C, alpha's þe by the P family. route of ratones · to þis reson þei assented Ac þo þe belle was ybouȝtBx.P.176: ybouȝt: Beta2 and G read (y)brouȝt. The P family of C have the former, most of the X family the latter. · and on þe beiȝe hanged Þere ne was ratoun in alle þe route · for alle þe rewme of Fraunce Þat dorst haue ybounden þe belle · aboute þe cattis nekke Ne hangen [it]Bx.P.179: it: Omitted by LG and added in M, but supported by Cx. As in l. 169 it was probably lost by beta and supplied by individual scribes. aboute [his]Bx.P.179: his: Beta has þe cattes, but the alpha reading is supported by Cx. hals · al Engelonde to wynne And helden hem vnhardy · and here conseille feble And leten here laboure lost · & alle here longe studye ¶ A mous þat moche good · couthe as me thouȝte Stroke forth sternly · and stode biforn hem alle And to þe route of ratones · reherced þese wordes Thouȝ we [had] culledBx.P.185: had culled: Beta2 (CrWHm) and G have the present tense, other beta mss. the past, and alpha the pluperfect, as does Cx. þe catte · ȝut sholde þer come an-other To cracchyBx.P.186: cracchy: As in Cx. M alters to cacche, the reading of beta2, G and F. vs and al owre kynde · þouȝ we croupeBx.P.186: croupe: The various spellings of the verb may all be understood as past tense, "crept". vnder benches For-þi I conseille alle þe comune · to lat þe catte worthe And be we neuer so bolde · þe belle hym to shewe For I herde my sire seyn · is seuene ȝere ypassed Þere þe catte is a kitoun · þe courte is ful elyng Þat witnisseth holiwrite · who-so wil it rede Ve terre vbi puer [est rex]Bx.P.192: est rex: The order in HmOR and Cx; reversed in others. Scribes tend to copy quotations in the form with which they are familiar. &c For may no renke þere rest haue · for ratones bi nyȝte Þe while he caccheþ conynges · he coueiteth nouȝt owre caroyne But fet hym al with venesoun · defame we hym neuere For better is a litel losse · þan a longe sorwe Þe mase amonge vs alle · þouȝ we mysse a schrewe For many mannusBx.P.198: mannus: The gen. sg. of LMCR is supported by Cx against the plural of others. malt · we mys wolde destruye And also ȝeBx.P.199: ȝe: LMW + alpha; among C mss. the P family has ȝe and the X family þe. route of ratones · rende mennes clothes Nere þ[e] cat of þ[e]Bx.P.200: þe ... þe: So HmGF and Cx; MCrW have þe ... þat, reversed in R; LO have þat ... þat. No certainty is possible. courte · þat can ȝow ouerlepe For had ȝe rat[ones]Bx.P.201: ratones: The form in alpha and G, supported by Cx against rattes in others. ȝowre wille · ȝe couthe nouȝt reule ȝowre-selue I sey [it]Bx.P.202: sey it: R is supported by Cx. F has sey þis, and beta drops it. for me quod þe mous · I se so mykel after Shal neuer þe cat ne þe kitoun · bi my conseille be greued Ne carpyng of þis coler · þat costed me neure And þouȝ it costeBx.P.205: coste: Beta's had coste is not supported by Cx. me catel · biknowen it I nolde But suffre as hym-self wolde · to do asBx.P.206: do as: F's slen what shows his propensity to correct alliteration. The line is rewritten in Cx. See Schmidt (1995), 364-5. hym liketh Coupled & vncoupled · to cacche what thei mowe For-þiBx.P.208: For-þi: The beta reading. R has For, F has &. The line is not in AC. vche a wise wiȝte I warne · wite wel his owne ¶ What þis meteles bemeneth · ȝe men þat be merye Deuine ȝe for I ne dar · bi dere god in heuene ¶ Ȝit houed þere an hondreth · in houues of selke Seriauntz it semed · þat serueden atte barre Plededen for penyes · and poundes þe lawe And nouȝt for loue of owre lorde · vnleseBx.P.214: vnlese: LR, so good evidence for Bx. Formally a different verb from vnlose (MED vnlesen v.(2) and unlosen). A mss. also vary, but Cx (RK.P.164) has the latter. At Bx.17.142 the reading is vnlosen. here lippes onis Þow myȝtest better mete mysteBx.P.215: myste: So alpha + WG and the X family of C. Other mss. supply þe, as the scribe of O does. A mss. are split. · on maluerne hulles Þan gete a momme of here mouthe · [er]Bx.P.216: er: LMCO support for but suggests this is the reading of beta, though comparison of AC versions suggests that the choice lies between alpha er and til in beta2 and G. The X family of C has the former, but most A mss. read til, as does the P family of C. We suppose til arises by contamination or coincidence. monoy [be]Bx.P.216: be: So beta2, GOF (R has hem by), against were in LMC. Ax seems to have be (K.P.89); the P family of C also have be, though the X family probably read wer (RK.P.166). shewed ¶ Barones an burgeis · and bonde-men als I seiȝ in þis assemble · as ȝe shul here after Baxsteres & brewesteres · and bocheres manye Wollewebsteres · and weueres of lynnen Taillours and tynkeres · & tolleres in marketes Masons and mynours · and many other craftes Of alkinBx.P.223: alkin: The beta reading has force in a list of labourers, but it is challenged by alpha's alle, shared by Z (Bodley 851). AC versions do not have the line. libbyng laboreres · lopen forth somme As dykers & delueres · þat doth here dedes ille And dryuen forth þe dereBx.P.225: dere: The choice is not obvious. The fact that L has dere and that M's longe is a correction (apparently of a shorter word) suggests the possibility that beta1 derives longe by contamination with A or by coincidental error. Alpha is uncertain: F's fayre day has no support, but R's here dayes here is supported by Cx her days. See Donaldson (1955), 197. We retain copy-text by default. day · with dieu vousBx.P.225: vous: So Bx, though omitted by CrWG, Ax and the P family of C. saue dame Emme · [¶]Bx.P.226: Alpha and W here start a paragraph (the line is at the top of the page in M). Cokes and here knaues · crieden hote pies hote Gode gris aBx.P.227: a: "and", as also at Bx.7.104, 8.53, 13.88 etc. See MED a conj. geesBx.P.227: gris ... gees: this order has the support of LMC + alpha, but is challenged by AC. · go we dyne go we ¶ Tauerners vn-til hem · tolde þe same White wyn of Oseye · and wynBx.P.229: wyn (2): Beta reads red wyn, making explicit the contrast with White wyn in the a-verse. Alpha omits the adjective (R's b-verse, though defective, is also that of the P family of C), as do the AC versions. of Gascoigne Of þe Ryne and ofBx.P.230: of (2): Beta is supported by AC. þe Rochel · þe roste to defye Bx.P.231: The line is omitted in WF. It is in AC. Al þis seiȝ I slepyng · and seuene sythes more Passus primus de visione What this montaigne bymeneth · and þe merke dale And þe felde ful of folke · I shal ȝow faire schewe A loueli ladi of lere · in lynnen yclothed Come down fram a castel · and called me faire And seide sone slepestow · sestow þis poeple How bisi þei ben · aboutenBx.1.6: abouten: The variation is between trisyllabic abouten in L, unrevised M, C and alpha, and alle aboute in corrected M, CrWHmG. Both are metrical, the former supported by Ax and Cx. þe mase Þe moste partie of þis poeple · þat passeth on þis erthe Haue þei worschip in þis worlde · þei wilneBx.1.8: wilne: G has kepe from Ax. no better Of other heuene þan here · holde þei no tale ¶ I was aferd of her face · þeiȝ she faire were And seide mercy Madame · what is þis to mene [¶]Bx.1.12: ¶: The paraph in WHm is supported by the new line-group in R (the paraph and first word are lost). Þe toure vpBx.1.12: vp: CrF have vpon, WHmG have on. Prepositional vp is not uncommon, but usually altered to vpon by W and later texts: e.g. Bx.9.109. Though it is certainly Bx, it is not here supported by AC mss. þe toft quod she · treuthe is þere-Inne And wolde þat ȝe wrouȝte · as his worde techeth For he is fader of feith · fourmedBx.1.14: fourmed: LMCOR, so Bx. Others read and formed (WF), that formede (HmG), and former of (Cr). Cr shares the reading of Cx. A mss. vary between and fourmide and that formed. ȝow alle Bothe with fel and with face · and ȝaf ȝow fyue wittis Forto worschip hym þer-with · þe while þatBx.1.16: þe while þat: LMCR, contested by WHm whil þat. Ax and the P family of C have whyle or whyles; the X family has þe whiles. ȝe ben here And þerfore he hyȝte þe erthe · to help ȝow vchone Of wollen of lynnen · of lyflode at nede In mesurable manere · to make ȝow at ese ¶ And comaunded of his curteisye [·] in comune þree þinges Arne none nedful but þo · and nempne hem I thinke And rekne hem bi resoun · reherce þowBx.1.22: þow: Supported by LWCR, against ȝe in CrHmOF and in M as an addition. In ll. 13-19 Holychurch addresses her remarks to the world at large; here and in the next lines she directs her attention to Will. Ax supports þow; Cx rewrites. hem after That one is vesture · from chele þe to saue And mete atteBx.1.24: atte: "at the" (see Bx.19.110, 487, etc.). Supported by LMCR, though Ax has at, as do CrWHmGOF. mele · for myseise of þi-selue And drynke whan þow dryest · ac do nouȝt out of resoun That þow worth þe werse · whan þow worche shuldest ¶ For loth in his lifdayes · for likyng of drynke Dede bi his douȝtres · þat þe deuel lyked Delited hym in drynke · as þe deuel wolde And lecherye hym lauȝt · and lay bi hem boþe And al he witt it wynBx.1.31: wyn: LG and alpha, with beta2 and MC reading þe wyn. Most A mss. have the former; Cx has the latter. · þat wikked dede InebriamusBx.1.32: Inebriamus: ROC correct to the subjunctive, "Let us get him drunk". C mss. vary similarly. eum vino · dormiamusque cum eo Vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen Thorw wyn and þorw women · þere was loth acombred And þere gat in glotonye · gerlis þat were cherlis For-þi drede delitable drynke · and þow shalt do þe bettere Mesure is medcyne · þouȝ þow moche ȝerne It is nauȝt al gode to þe goste · þat þe gutte axeþ Ne liflode to þi likam · [þat lief is to þi souleBx.1.39-40: LMWHmC dropped the b-verse of l. 39 and the a-verse of l. 40 through eyeskip on likam. M is later corrected. Cr dropped l. 39 altogether; FG dropped l. 40. Leue not þi likam ·] for a lyer him techeth That is þe wrecched worlde · wolde þe bitraye For þe fende and þi flesch · folweth þeBx.1.42: folweth þe: WHmG omit þe, as do Ax and Cx. Bx perhaps picked it up from the previous line. to-gidere This and þat see[th]Bx.1.43: seeth: The beta reading is supported by Cx (RK.1.39), though alpha has sueth (F sewe). Ax has instead shendith. þi soule · and seith it in þin herte And for þow sholdest ben ywar · I wisse þe þe beste ¶ MadameBx.1.45: Madame: F's interjection A is in agreement with AC. Probably it is derived from an A text. mercy quod I · me liketh wel ȝowre wordes Ac þe moneye of þis molde · þat men so faste holdeth kepeth Bx.1.46: holdeth / kepeth: Beta agrees with Ax; alpha's kepeth is in agreement with Cx. See Introduction II.2. Telle me to whom MadameBx.1.47: Madame: This is secure for Bx, though it is not in either Ax or Cx. Its position in the line is uncertain. It is likely enough, as KD argue (p. 168), that it is caught up from two lines above. As in that line, F's agreement with Ax may reflect contamination, as Schmidt (1995), 365, suggests. · þat tresore appendeth ¶ Go to þe gospel quod she · þat god seide hym-seluen Tho þe poeple hym apposed · wiþ a peny in þe temple Whether þei shulde þer-with · worschip þe kyng Sesar And god axed of hem · of whome spake þe lettre And þe ymage ilyke [·] þat þere-inne stondeth CesarisBx.1.53: Cesaris: Of those that have a genitive, LOR have the Vulgate form (Matt 22.21), while M and beta2 (CrWHm) have Cesares. þei seide [·] we sen hym wel vchone ¶ Reddite cesari quod god · þat cesari bifalleth Et que sunt dei deo · or elles ȝe done ille For riȝtfulBx.1.56: riȝtful: The adjective seems clearly the Bx reading, but W shares the adverb with Ax and Cx. The latter is superior in sense; possibly an independent correction in W. reson · shulde rewle ȝow alle And kynde witte be wardeyne · ȝowre welthe to kepe And tutour of ȝoure tresore · and take it ȝow at nede For housbonderye & hijBx.1.59: hij: The plural in beta, referring to Reason and Kind Wit, probably represents Bx. Alpha, taking the reference to be to Kind Wit alone, alters to the singular, with fem. in R (perhaps as alpha), masc. in F as in AC. If Bx had read he, it would be difficult to understand that causing confusion. · holden togideres [¶]Bx.1.60: ¶: The paraph in WHm is supported by a new line-group in alpha. Þanne I frained hir faire · for hym þat hirBx.1.60: hir (2): LMCO and alpha, as in AC. Beta2 and G have me. made That dongeoun in þe dale [·] þat dredful is of siȝte What may it be to meneBx.1.62: be to mene: Schmidt (1995), 365, suggests GF's bemene is from AC versions. · ma-dame I ȝow biseche ¶ Þat is þe castel of care · who-so cometh þerinne May banne þat he borne was · to body or to soule Þerinne wonieth a wiȝte · þat wronge is yhote Fader of falshed · and founded it hym-selue Adam and Eue · he egged to ille Conseilled caym · to kullen his brother Iudas he iaped · with iuwenBx.1.69: iuwen: CrG and alpha have Iewes or þe Iewys. There is some variation in AC, but iuwen is probably archetypal in all three versions. siluer And sithen on an eller [·] honged hym afterBx.1.70: hym after: The variation hym-selue as in WF is also in A. The b-verse is revised in C. He is letter of loue · and lyeth hem alle That trusten on his tresor · bitrayeth he bytrayed aren Bx.1.72: bitrayeth he/bytrayed aren: The beta reading is essentially that of Cx, he bytrayeth. Alpha's reading bytrayed aren is shared with Ax. G's reading is presumably contaminated from an A source (Schmidt (1995), 365). sonnest ¶ Thanne had I wonder in my witt · what womman it she Bx.1.73: it/she: Beta agrees with Ax; alpha's fem. pronoun is in agreement with Cx. were Þat such wise wordes · of holywrit shewed And askedBx.1.75: asked: F alone has halsede, probably by contamination from A; see Schmidt (1995), lxiii. C mss. have halsede or halsnede. The verb does not occur elsewhere in the poem, and it was perhaps obsolescent. hir on þe hieȝe name · ar heoBx.1.75: heo: The form is secure for Bx, with LMR support. þennes ȝeode What sheBx.1.76: she: R alone has the form he. See also l. 87 and note to l. 77. were witterli · þat wissed me so faire ¶ Holicherche I am quod sheBx.1.77: she: R again has he, as in the previous line. The form is not necessary for the alliteration. · þow ouȝtest me to knowe I vnderfonge þe firste · and þe feythBx.1.78: þe feyth: The apparent agreement of Hm and F recorded by KD, þe feyþ þe, is not significant, since Hm's reading results from a misdivision of feythe. tauȝte And brouȝtestBx.1.79: brouȝtest: Bx idiomatically lacks the subject pronoun, added in CrHmGOF, bringing them into line with AC versions. me borwes · my biddyng to fulfille And to loue me lellyBx.1.80: me lelly: Reversed in alpha. Beta is supported by Ax. Cx rewrites. · þe while þi lyf dureth ¶Bx.1.81: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. The line is at the bottom of the page in R. Thanne I courbed on my knees · and cryed hir of grace And preyed hir pitousely · [to]Bx.1.82: to: Omitted by beta. Alpha is supported by Ax and Cx, though the addition of to before an infinitive is a common scribalism. prey for my synnes And also ken[n]eBx.1.83: kenne: L has kende, with the line marked for correction. me kyndeli · on criste to bileue Bx.1.84: The line is attested by beta and Ax, but omitted in alpha and Cx. That I miȝte worchen his wille · þat wrouȝte me to man Teche me to no tresore · but telle me þis ilke How I may saue my soule · þat seynt art yholden ¶ Whan alle tresores aren tried quod she · trewthe is þe best I do it on deus caritas · to deme þe soþe ItBx.1.89: It: Alpha's Þat it has no support from AC. is as derworth a drewery · as dere god hym-seluen ¶ Who-soBx.1.90: Who-so: The beta reading, but alpha has He (R) or He þat (F). Ax supports beta; in C the P family begins For who, the X family has For he. is trewe of his tonge · & telleth none other And doth þe werkis þer-with · and wilneth no man ille He is a god bi þe gospel · agrounde and aloft And ylike to owre lorde · bi seynte lukes wordes Þe clerkes þat knoweþ þis · shulde kenne it aboute For cristene and vncristne · clameþ it vchone ¶ Kynges & kniȝtes · shulde kepe it bi resoun Riden and rappe downBx.1.97: down: This varies in all three versions with adoun, though Ax has the former and Cx the latter. · in reumes aboute And taken tran[s]gressores · and tyen hem faste Til treuthe had ytermyned · her trespas to þe ende And þat is þe professioun appertly · þat appendeth forBx.1.100: for: So LCR, which is good evidence for Bx. But AC have the obvious to, as in all other mss. knyȝtes And nouȝt to fasten a fryday · in fyue score wynter But holden wiþ him & with hir · þat woldenBx.1.102: wolden: G's alliterating asketh is from Ax. Cx rewrites. al treuthe AndBx.1.103: And: The beta reading is supported by AC against alpha's Ne. neuer leue hem for loue · ne for lacchyng of syluer ¶ For dauid in his dayes · dubbed kniȝtes And did hem swere on here swerde · to serue trewthe euere And who-so passed þat poynte · was apostata in þe ordre ¶ But criste kingene kynge · kniȝted ten Cherubyn and seraphin · suche seuene and an othreBx.1.108: an othre: The reference is to the ten orders of angels at Creation; see the comprehensive note in Skeat (1886), ii. 24-5. Beta2 and R (perhaps additionally confused by preceding and) miss the point and drop an, but AC support an othre. And ȝaf hem myȝte in his maieste · þe murger hem þouȝte And ouer his mene meyne · made hem archangeles Tauȝte hem bi þe Trinitee · treuthe to knowe ToBx.1.112: To: Beta has the support of Ax against alpha's And. Nevertheless, the latter may be the better reading: "God taught them to know truth and be obedient". be buxome at his biddyng · he bad hem nouȝte elles ¶Bx.1.113: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. The line is at the bottom of the page in R. Lucifer wiþ legiounes · lerned it in heuene [Til]Bx.1.114: Til: Alpha is supported by Ax against beta's But for. Bx lost the preceding line, "And was þe louelokest of siȝt aftir oure lord" (K.1.110), leaving the argument that Lucifer learned obedience until he lost it. Beta rewrote to avoid nonsense. See Donaldson (1955), 208-09. he brake buxumnesse · his blisse gan he tyne And fel fro þat felawship · in a fendes liknes In-to a depe derke helle · to dwelle þere for eure And mo þowsandes wiþBx.1.117: wiþ: As at Bx.P.147, W alters to myd to create the standard alliterative pattern, on the model of Bx.4.79. The line is not in AC. See also Bx.17.243. him · þan man couthe noumbre Lopen out wiþ Lucifer · in lothelich forme For þei leueden vpon hym · þat lyed in þis manere Ponam pedem in aquilone · et similis ero altissimoBx.1.120: et ... altissimo: R omits, and F loses the line. Beta is supported by Cx. · ¶ And alle þat hoped it miȝte be so · none heuene miȝte hem holde But fellen out in fendes liknesse · nyne dayes togideres Til god of his goodnesse · gan stable and stynte And garte þe heuene to stekye · and stonden in quiete ¶ Whan thise wikked went out · wonderwiseBx.1.125: wonderwise: Beta2 has in wonderwise, as does the P family of Cx in a revised line. þei fellen Somme in eyre somme in ertheBx.1.126: eyre ... erthe: The versions vary, with Ax having the order of most beta mss., and Cx the order as in MO and alpha. The beta order is more logical. · & somme in helle depe Ac lucifer lowest [·] lith of hem alle For pryde þat he pult outBx.1.128: pult out: The West Midlands form pult appears only in LCr, while R has the spelling pelt. Ax has put out as do the remaining B mss; Cx has pokede. MED pilten v., 3(b) glosses the phrase pult out as "exhibit (pride), display", though records no other instance of this sense. In Bx.8.97 LR again read pulte/pelte against pull or putte in other B witnesses. See also note to Bx.15.66. · his peyne hath none ende And alle þat worche with wronge · wenden hijBx.1.129: hij: Only LC, though M's þei is a correction. See Introduction IV.1. shulleBx.1.129: Alpha has a new line-group here. After her deth-day · andBx.1.130: and: Supported by AC against alpha's to. dwelle wiþ þat shrewe Bx.1.131: W and alpha have a paraph here.Ac þo þat worche wel · as holiwritt telleth And enden as I ere seide · in treuthe þat is þe best Mowe be siker þat her souleBx.1.133: soule: Beta2 and G have the plural, and M is altered to that reading. Ax supports the distributive sg. · shal wende to heuene Þer treuthe is in Trinitee · and tronethBx.1.134: troneth: Alpha has non-alliterating saue. Beta's b-verse reproduces Ax; Cx rewrites. hem alle Bx.1.135: Alpha has a new line-group here.For-þi I sey as I seide ere · bi siȝte ofBx.1.135: siȝte of: Alpha's b-verse is defective; beta is supported by Ax. The line is repeated at Bx.1.210. þise textis Whan alle tresores arneBx.1.136: arne: Beta's form is supported by most A mss. Cx revises. ytried · treuthe is þe beste Lereth it þisBx.1.137: it þis: So LWCO. M is corrected to it ye; CrHm read on thys; GF have thys ye, and R this. The variation reflects a Bx error, since AC read it þus. lewde men · for lettred men it knowen Þat treuthe is tresore · þe triest on erþe ¶ Ȝet haue I I haue Bx.1.139: Ȝet haue I/I haue: The beta reading is that of Ax, whereas alpha (and Cr) is Cx. no kynde knowing quod I · ȝet mote ȝe kenne meBx.1.139: ȝet mote ȝe kenne me: Presumably R represents alpha, and F repairs the alliteration. For some reason A mss. have much trouble with this b-verse, and C mss. only slightly less, though there the X group has the beta reading we take to be Bx, while the P group has ȝe mot kenne me, as does W here. better By what craft in my corps · it comseth and where Bx.1.141: This is the last line of the Lansdowne fragment of R; the Rawlinson ms. begins with Bx.2.42. On editorial policy where R is lacking, see note to Bx.P.2. ¶ Þow doted daffe quod she · dulle arne þi wittes To litel latyn þow lernedest · lede in þi ȝouthe Heu michi qu[od]Bx.1.143: quod: The quotation is repeated in this form at Bx.5.452. In both cases alpha's quod for beta's quia is also the wording in Cx. See Alford (1992), 35-6. sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem ¶ It is a kynde knowyng quod heBx.1.144: he: "she". · þat kenneth in þine herte For to louye þi lorde · leuer þan þi-selue No dedly synne to do · dey þouȝ þow sholdest This I trowe be treuthe · who can teche þe better ¶ Loke þow suffre hym to sey · and sithen lere it after For thus witnesseth his worde · worcheth þow þere-afterBx.1.149: The line is lost by beta2 (CrWHm) and G. It is in Ax but not Cx. For trewthe telleþ þat loue · is triacle of heuene May no synne be on him sene · þat [þat spise vseth]Bx.1.151: þat þat spise vseth: F's inverted order is metrical, and perhaps authorial, with K.7.137 þat no werk vsiþ (alliterating on /n/) providing a parallel. Even so, it may be a scribal sophistication, and this is one of the occasions where R is sorely missed. The line is not in AC. And alle his werkes he wrouȝte · with loue as him liste And lered it Moises for þe leuest þing [·] and moste like to heuene And also þe plenteBx.1.154: plente: "fullness"; and cf. the proverb "peace maketh plenty" which may have influenced the Bx scribe. Cr's plant may have been taken from his C ms.; it is probably also Ax. See Adams (1991), 7-15. of pees · moste precious of vertues ¶ For heuene myȝte nouȝte holden it · it was so heuy of hym-self Tyl it hadde of þe erthe · yetenBx.1.156: yeten: "eaten". See Schmidt (1995), 366. Cr's yoten it-selue (MED yeten v.3, "poured out") is the reading of Cx. his fylle ¶ And whan it haued of þis folde [·] flessh & blode taken Was neuere leef vpon lynde · liȝter þer-after And portatyf and persant · as þe poynt of a nedle That myȝte non armure it lette · ne none heiȝ walles ¶ For-þi is loue leder [·] of þe lordes folke of heuene And a mene as þe Maire is · bitwene þe kyng and þe comune Riȝt so is loue a ledere · and þe lawe shapeth Vpon man for his mysdedes · þe merciment he taxeth And for to knowe it kyndely · it comseth bi myght And in þe herte þere is þe heuede · and þe heiȝ welle ¶ For in kynde knowynge in herte · þere a myȝte bigynneth And þat falleth to þe fader · þat formed vs alle Loked on vs with loue · and lete his sone deye Mekely for owre mysdedes · to amende vs alle And ȝet wolde he hem no woo · þat wrouȝte hym þat peyne But mekelich with mouthe · mercy he bisouȝte To haue pite o[n]Bx.1.173: on: MCrHmGO as well as F (= alpha?) are supported by AC versions against of in LWC. Yet the latter might be Bx; cf. l. 177 for a similar case, and note that MCrHmGOF have pity on for pity of in Bx.5.260. þat poeple · þat peynedBx.1.173: peyned: A mss. have predominantly pinede (MED pinen), as do MHmF, whereas C mss. have paynede (MED peinen), but the verbs were often confused. hym to deth ¶ Here myȝtow see ensamplesBx.1.174: ensamples: The singular of WCGF varies with the plural in all three versions. For the argument that the plural is "more exact", see Schmidt (2008), 316. · in hym-selue one That he was miȝtful & meke · and mercy gan graunte To hem þat hongen him an heiȝ · and his herte þirled ¶ For-thi I rede ȝow riche · haueth reuthe ofBx.1.177: reuthe of: The beta reading, as in LMWCO. HmCrG have the more usual ruthe on (as in Bx.4.110, 112, 5.523, 14.180, 15.11), agreeing here with AC, by coincidence or contamination. F has mercy on. þe pouere Thouȝ ȝe be myȝtful to mote · beth meke in ȝowre werkes ¶ For þe same mesur[e]Bx.1.179: mesure: LMWCGO (hence beta) have the plural, but CrHmF have sg., as AC. The plural is presumably a beta error, since the word is sg. in the Latin, l. 181. þat ȝe mete · amys other elles Ȝe shullen ben weyen þer-wyth · whan ȝe wende hennes Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis · remecietur vobis · ¶ For þouȝ ȝe be trewe of ȝowre tonge · and trewliche wynne And as chaste as a childe · þat in cherche wepeth But ifBx.1.184: if: Dropped by MF, but supported by Cx. A mss. vary. ȝe louen lelliche · and lene þe poure [Of] suchBx.1.185: Of such: Of is easily lost, as in beta. F is supported by AC. goed as god ȝow sent [·] godelich parteth Ȝe neBx.1.186: ne (1): Dropped by MCrGF, but supported by AC. haue na more meryte · in masse ne in houres Þan Malkyn of hire maydenhode · þat no man desireth ¶ For Iames þe gentil · iugged in his bokes That faith with-oute þe faiteBx.1.189: þe faite: G reads dede, F has fewte, and in M the definite article is inserted by the corrector. The article in this phrase is more easily lost than added, and beta probably had it. Ax is without the article; Cx is divided, though the best representatives of the X family have it. We follow copy-text. · is riȝteBx.1.189: riȝte: F's omission of the word may represent Bx, but the b-verse is corrupt in any case. The AC reading is is feblere þan noȝt. no-þinge worthi And as ded as a dore-tre · but ȝif þe dedes folwe Fides sine operibus mortua est &c ¶ For-thi chastite with-oute charite · worth cheyned in helle It is as lewed as a laumpe · þat no liȝte is Inne ¶ Many chapeleynes arne chaste · ac charite is awey Aren no men auarousereBx.1.195: no men auarousere: G's non herder is by contamination from AC. F's non for beta's no men may be from A, but may represent Bx. þan hij · whan þei ben auaunced Vnkynde to her kyn · and to alle cristene Chewen here charite · and chiden after more Such chastite wiþ-outen charite · worth cheyned in helle ¶ Many curatoures kepen hem · clene of here bodies Thei ben acombred wiþ coueitise · þei konne nouȝt out crepe nouȝt don it fram hem Bx.1.200: nouȝt out crepe: Beta has nouȝt don it fram hem, with G's not cry ovte an independent improvement or indebted to AC, which both have variously not crepe out and not out crepe. This supports F's out crepe (omitting nouȝt by oversight), though it may be by contamination. So harde hath auarice · yhasped hem togideres And þat is no treuthe of þe trinite · but treccherye of helle And lernyng to lewde men · þe latter for to deleBx.1.203: for to dele: The beta reading, though G omits for, aligning it with most A mss. F has to leve synne. C rewrites. ¶Bx.1.204: ¶: L's paraph is shared only with C, but the line is at the top of the page in M (which marks paraphs only with a blank space). For-þi þis wordes [·] ben wryten in þe gospelBx.1.204: Because of the short line, scribes misplaced the punctus. Only L has it awkwardly after ben. We follow MWCO. Date & dabitur vobis · for I dele ȝow alle And þat is þe lokke of loue · andBx.1.206: and (2): Clearly the beta reading, supported by the X family of C. CrGF have þat (M is revised to that reading), as does Ax and the P family of C. Again, F may be alpha or an A reading. lateth oute my grace To conforte þe careful · acombred wiþ synne ¶ Loue is leche of lyf · and nexte owre lorde selue And also þe graith gate · þat goth in-to heuene For-þi I sey as I seide · ere by þeBx.1.210: by þe: G's alliterating by syght of thes is supported by AC, but is derived by contamination and is not Bx. See KD p. 154, Schmidt (1995), 366. Alpha also omits siȝte of in the same b-verse at Bx.1.135. textis Whan alle tresores ben ytryed · treuthe is þe beste Now haue I tolde þe what treuthe is · þat no tresore is bettere I may no lenger lenge þe withBx.1.213: þe with: In omitting the phrase G again shows contamination from A. · nowBx.1.213: now: Supported by Ax though omitted by F and replaced by but in G. Cx is rewritten. loke þe owre lorde Passus secundus de visione vt supra Ȝet I courbed on my knees · and cryed hir of grace And seide mercy Madame · for Marie loue of heuene That bar þat blisful barne · þat bouȝte vs on þe Rode Kenne me bi somme crafte · to knowe þe fals ¶ Loke vpponBx.2.5: vppon: Beta shares the C reading. F's on is the A reading. þi left half · and lo where heBx.2.5: he: O anticipates the appearance of Mede in l. 8; hence sche, so that her in l. 6 is perhaps feminine in O, whereas it is plural in other mss. A mss. vary, with masc., fem. and pl. standeth Bothe fals and fauel · and hereBx.2.6: here: "their"; clearly Bx. Ax has hise, referring to fals. Cx rewrites the b-verse, but has here in its following line. feres manye ¶ I loked on my left half · as þe lady me taughte And was war of a womman · wortheliBx.2.8: wortheli: G's wonderslyche is from A or C. yclothed Purfiled with pelure · þe [purest on]Bx.2.9: purest on: F shares this reading with Ax, whereas Cx revises to non puyrere on. The non-alliterating beta reading fynest vpon may of course be a Bx error. erthe YcrounedeBx.2.10: Ycrounede: Beta has support from Ax; F's addition of And is supported by Cx and may represent alpha. with a corone · þe kyng hath non better Fetislich hir fyngres · were fretted with golde wyreBx.2.11: golde wyre: G's rynges is from A. Cx rewrites. F omits the line. And þere-on red rubyes · as red as any glede And diamantz of derrest pris · and double manere safferes Orientales and ewages · enuenymes to destroye ¶ Hire robe was ful riche · of red scarlet engreyned With ribanes of red golde · and of riche stones Hire arraye me rauysshed · suche ricchesse saw I neuere I had wondre what she was · and whas wyf she were ¶ What is þis womman · quod I so worthily atired ¶ That is Mede þe Mayde quod she · hath noyed me ful oft And ylakked my lemman · þat lewte is hoten And bilowen hireBx.2.22: bilowen hire: "made herself pleasing to" (MED biloven); cf. Bx.6.233 where LMR have the -w- form. Both KD and Schmidt emend to bilowen h[ym], "slandered him" (MED bilien v.(2)). A has And lakkide my lore to lordis aboute (K.2.17); Cx has And lakked hym to lordes þat lawes han to kepe (RK.2.21, who emend), with ylow on my lemman in the previous line. to lordes · þat lawes han to kepe In þe popis paleys · she is pryue as my-self But sothenesse wolde nouȝt so · for she is a bastarde ¶ For fals was hire fader · þat hath a fykel tonge And neuere sothe seide · sithen he come to erthe ¶Bx.2.27: ¶: Only LM indicate a new paragraph here. WHmCF have a paraph in the line above. And Mede is manered after hym · riȝte as kynde axeth Qualis pater talis filius · bonusBx.2.28: bonus: LMWF treat arbor as masc.; the others alter to the more usual feminine. At RK.10.244b the X family of C similarly have bonus. F's expansion of the Latin is not supported. arbor · bonum fructum facit I auȝte ben herre þan she · I cam of a better ¶Bx.2.30: ¶: L's paraph is supported by a new line-group in M. Mi fader þe grete god is · and grounde of alle graces O god with-oute gynnynge · & IBx.2.31: & I: F has & y am, as does Cx but in the a-verse. his gode douȝter And hath ȝoue me mercy · to marye with my-self And what man be merciful · and lelly me loue Shal be my lorde and I his leef · in þe heiȝe heuene ¶ And what man taketh Mede · myne hedBx.2.35: hed: MO read lif. Presumably this is coincident error in a common phrase. Nevertheless, Cx reads my lif y dar (or dar y) wedde. Cf. Bx.18.162, I dar my lyf legge. dar I legge That he shal lese for hir loue · a lappeBx.2.36: lappe: This must be the Bx reading, with Cr taking lippe from a C text. The P group of C have lappe, the X group lippe. MED cites lippe n.(2), "a little bit", only from Langland. Probably lappe is a scribal substitution of an easier word, as again at RK.11.224 where two mss. read lappe in the same context. It is likely enough that the word developed the sense "small piece"; see MED lap(pe, 3. of caritatis How construeth dauid þe kynge · of men þat taketh MedeBx.2.37: F has revised the line to improve the alliteration, though the reversal in the b-verse might represent alpha. The line has no parallel in AC. And men of þis molde · þat meynteneth treuthe And how ȝe shal saue ȝow-self · þe Sauter bereth witnesse Domine quis habitabit in tabernac[u]lo tuo &c ¶ And now worth þis Mede ymaried · toBx.2.41: to: F's reading probably represents alpha, and is supported by Cx. Beta must be al to since it has the support of LMCO, though al is subsequently erased in M. Beta2 reads vnto. a mansed schrewe Bx.2.42: Here R resumes. To one fals fikel tongeBx.2.42: tonge: The beta reading has support from RK.2.6 over alpha's of tonge. · a fendes biȝete Fauel þorw his faire speche · hath þis folke enchaunted And al is lyeres ledyng · þat she is þus ywedded ¶ To-morwe worth ymade · þe maydenes bruydale And þere miȝte þow wite if þow wolt · which þei ben alle That longeth to þat lordeship · þe lasse and þe more Knowe hem þere if þow canst · and kepe þiBx.2.48: þi: So LCR, and probably M before correction. It seems likely that other scribes filled out a short line with þou þi or wel þi. AC read kepe the fro hem alle. tonge And lakke hem nouȝt but lat hem worth · til lewte be iustice And haue powere to punyschen hem · þanne put forth þi resoun ¶ Now I bikenne þe criste quod she · and his clene moder And latBx.2.52: lat: Probably R's at represents alpha, interpreted by F as that. C mss. have Acombre neuere thy Conscience or And acombre thow .... no conscience acombre þe · for coueitise of Mede ¶ Thus left me þat lady · liggyng aslepe And how Mede was ymaried · in meteles me þouȝte Þat alle þe riche retenauns · þat regneth with þe false Were boden to þeBx.2.56: þe: Beta is supported by Ax and the X family of C, while R's þis (F has his) is supported by the P family. bridale · on bothe two sydes Of alle maner of men · þe mene and þe riche To marie þis maydeneBx.2.58: maydene: The form varies with mayde throughout; there is no equivalent line in AC. Although MED has separate entries, they are different forms of the same word and are listed together by Wittig (2001). · was many man assembled As of kniȝtes and of clerkis · and other comune poeple As sysours and sompnours · Shireues and here clerkes Bedelles and Bailliues · and brokoures of chaffre Forgoeres and vitaillers · and vokates of þe archesBx.2.62: After this F adds a line that is obviously scribal. I can nouȝt rekene þe route · þat ran aboute mede ¶ Ac symonye and cyuile · and sisoures of courtes Were moste pryue with Mede · of any men me þouȝte Bx.2.66: Alpha has a paraph here.Ac fauel was þe first · þat fette hire out of boure And as a brokour brouȝte hir [·] to be with fals enioigned Bx.2.68: Beta2 has a paraph (a paragraph in Cr), as does R.Whan symonye and cyuile · seiȝ here beireBx.2.68: beire: Genitive of bo, synonymous with boþere in MWO and bethere in R. wille TheiBx.2.69: Thei: Alpha has And, continuing the subordinate clause, but contradicting this syntax with a paraph before the following line. Cx has Thei. assented for siluer · to se[i]Bx.2.69: sei: Falsely corrected to se in L. as bothe wolde Bx.2.70: Here and at l. 73 WHm and alpha have a paraph.Thanne lepe lyer forth · and seide lo here a chartre That gyle with his gret othes · gaf hem togidere And preide cyuile to se · and symonye to rede it Thanne symonye and cyuile · stondenBx.2.73: stonden: The past tense as in MF is also a minority form in AC. forth bothe And vnfoldeth þe feffement · þat fals hath ymakedBx.2.74: F omits the line. And þus bigynneth þes gomes · to greden ful heiȝ Sciant presentes & futuri &c · ¶ Witeth and witnesseth · þat wonieth vpon þis erthe Þat Mede is ymaried · more for here goodis Þan for ani vertue orBx.2.79: or (1): HmCGO read of. The line is not paralleled in AC, though C alters to a line with the same structure, Then for holynesse oþer hendenesse oþer for hey kynde (RK.2.84). fairenesse · orBx.2.79: or (2): LCrWCG and alpha. The parallel line in Cx would give some support to MO or for. any free kynde Falsenesse is faine of hire · for he wote hire riche And fauel with his fikel speche · feffeth bi þis chartre To be prynces in pryde · and pouerte to dispise To bakbite and to bosten · and bere fals witnesse To scorne and to scolde · and sclaundere to make Vnboxome and boldeBx.2.85: Vnboxome and bolde: Beta's order is supported by Cx against alpha's reversal. · to breke þe ten hestes ¶ And þe Erldome of enuye · and wratthe togideres With þe chastelet of chestBx.2.87: chest: i.e. "strife". Supported by Cx against alpha's non-alliterating gestes. · and chateryng oute of resounBx.2.87: resoun: Again supported by Cx. Alpha's reading is probably R's tyme. F rewrites the b-verse to alliterate on /j/ in a-verse. Þe counte of coueitise · and alle þe costes aboute That is vsure and auarice · alle I hem graunte In bargaines and inBx.2.90: in (2): The key witnesses LMR are supported by CrWCO. It is omitted by most C mss. brokages · with al þe borg[h]eBx.2.90: borghe: L writes borgthe. of theft ¶ And al þe lordeship of lecherye · in lenthe and in brede As in werkes and in wordes · andBx.2.92: and (2): So LMCGOR. Yet CrWHm have and in as the X family of C; F has in as the P family. waitynges with eies And in wedesBx.2.93: wedes: The reading of beta; C mss. divide between wedes and woldes. R's wedynges is probably alpha's misreading influenced by the general context, although F offers the attractive and appropriate variant wenyngis, glossed "hopes" by Schmidt (1995). and in wisshynges · and with ydel thouȝtes There as wille woldeBx.2.94: and: The line is marked for correction in L. Original wolde and has been revised by the addition of ne before wolde and the subpunction of and, giving the reading of C. A couple of C mss. have the same reading. Possibly the supervisor intended the correction of wermanship instead, though it is not an uncommon spelling and is repeated at this point in the C text by X. · [and] wermanship failleth ¶ Glotonye he gaf hem eke · and grete othes togydere And alday to drynke · at dyuerse tauernes And there to iangle and toBx.2.97: to (2): Supported by Cx against omission in WHmG. iape · and iugge here euene-cristene And in fastyngdayes to frete · ar ful tyme were And þanne to sitten and soupen · til slepe hem assaille Bx.2.100-03: There is disagreement about number in this passage. Alpha switches to the sg. in l. 100 with a burgh swyne and hym. In l. 101 alpha is joined by LWCGO in his, against hyr in CrHm and corrected M. In 102 alpha + LMCO have hym against pl. hem in CrWHmG. In the a-verse of 103 all mss. except CrHm have sg. he, while in the b-verse beta has pl. here while R has his and F þe. Meanwhile, in the parallel but rewritten passage in Cx, there is also a switch in number, with pl. pronouns throughout except in RK.2.108 (=Bx.2.103), For a leueth be lost when he his lyf leteth. It looks as though scribes made rather ineffective attempts to rationalise number. We follow copy-text, partly on the grounds that it is the least consistent. And bredun as burgh-swyn · and bedden hem esily Tyl sleuth and slepe · slyken his sides And þanne wanhope to awake hym so · with no wille to amende For he leueth be lost · þis is here last ende ¶ And þei to haue and to holde · and here eyres after A dwellyng with þe deuel · and dampned be for eure Wiþ al þe purtenauncesBx.2.106: purtenaunces: L and alpha have the aphetic form (initial a- is deleted in R). Other beta mss. vary, as do C mss. of purgatorie · in-to þe pyne of helle Ȝeldyng for þis þinge · at one ȝeres ende Here soules to sathan · to suffre with hym peynes And with him to wonye withBx.2.109: with (2): Alpha has in; beta probably has with, though MCO read in. Probably this is reversion to the commoner phrase, as in Bx.19.203, though of course this parallel could also be cited in support of in. Ax has "Þere to wone wiþ wrong" (K.2.71). wo · whil god is in heuene ¶ In witnesse of which þis Bx.2.110: which / þis: Beta is supported by Ax and by the alliteration, but alpha's non-alliterating þis is undoubtedly also the Cx reading. þing · wronge was þe first And Pieres þe pardonere · of paulynes doctrine Bette þe bedel · of Bokyngham-shire Rainalde þe Reue · of RotlandBx.2.113: Rotland: Rutland, according to beta. Alpha's Rokeland, also a variant in a few A mss., is Rockland in Norfolk. sokene Munde þe Mellere · and many moo other In þe date of þe deuel [·] þis dede I asseleBx.2.115: I assele: This must be Bx, though HmC ys aseled is the AC reading. Bi siȝte of sire symonye · and cyuyles leue ¶ Þenne tened hym theologye · whan he þis tale herde And seide to cyuile · now sorwe mot þow haue Such we[d]dyngesBx.2.119: weddynges: LC have wendynges, but the line is marked for correction in L. to worche [·] to wratthe with treuthe And ar þis weddyng be wrouȝte · wo þe bityde ¶ For Mede is moylere · of amendes engendrethBx.2.121: engendreth: Agreement of LR (together with C) indicates that this is an error in Bx, with the obvious correction made by other scribes. A spelling such as engendrit as in some A mss. could have caused the error in Bx. And god grauntethBx.2.122: graunteth: COF have past tense. There is the same variation in A. to gyf · Mede to treuthe And þow hast gyuen hire to a gyloure · now god gyf þe sorwe Th[e]Bx.2.124: The: Alpha is supported by Ax against beta's Thi. tixt telleth þe nouȝt so · treuthe wote þe sothe For dignus est operarius · his hyre to haue And þow hast fest hire to fals · fy on þi lawe For al by lesynges þow lyuest · and lecherouse werkes Bx.2.128: Alpha has a paraph.Symonye and þi-self · schenden holicherche Þe notaries and ȝee · noyeth þe peple Ȝe shul abiggen it bothe · bi god þat me made Wel ȝe witen wernardes · but if ȝowre witte faille That fals is faithlees · and fikel in his werkes And [as]Bx.2.133: as: Alpha is supported by AC against beta's was. a bastarde ybore · of belsabubbes kynne And Mede is moylere · a mayden of gode And myȝte kisse þe kynge · for cosyn an she wolde ¶ For-þi worcheth bi wisdome · and bi witt also And ledeth hire to londoun · þere lawe is yshewed If any lawe wil loke · þei ligge togederes And þouȝ Iustices iugge hir · to be ioigned withBx.2.139: with: Supported by Ax against CrWHmG to. Cx rewrites. fals Ȝet beth war of [þe]Bx.2.140: þe: Alpha's article is supported by AC. The line in L is an addition by another scribe. weddyng · for witty is truthe And conscience is of his conseille · and knoweth ȝow vchone And if he fynde ȝow in defaute · and with þe fals holde It shal bisitte ȝowre soules · ful soure atte laste ¶ Here-to assenteth cyuile · ac symonye ne wolde Tyl he had siluer for his seruise · and also þe notaries ¶ Thanne fette fauel forth · floreynes ynowe And bad gyle toBx.2.147: to: So LMCrWCR, hence Bx. HmGOF have go, the reading of Ax and the P group of C, presumably by coincident variation or contamination. Crowley "improves" with go in Cr3. gyue · golde al aboute And namelich to þe notaries · þat hem none neBx.2.148: ne: Supported by LWCR, but dropped in others. It is not in most AC mss. faille And feffe false witnes · with floreines ynowe For heBx.2.150: he: Established for Bx by LRF and probably original M, as well as AC. The referent is unambiguously plural in MW (witnesses), sg. in L (contrast witnesses Bx.9.77), and ambiguous in other mss. may mede amaistrye · and maken at my wille ¶ Tho þis golde was gyue · grete was þe þonkynge To fals and to fauel · for her faire ȝiftes And comen to conforte [·] fram care þe fals And seiden certis sire · cesse shal we neuere Til Mede be þi wedded wyf · þorw wittis of vs alle For we haue Mede amaistried · with þorw Bx.2.156: with / þorw: The beta reading is supported by most A mss.; alpha's thorȝ, though it may have been picked up from the previous line, is also the reading of Cx. owre mery speche That she graunteth to gon [·] with a gode wille To Londoun to loke · ȝif þat þeBx.2.158: ȝif þat þe: So LMCOF. Beta2 and G drop þat, R drops þe. A mss. vary similarly; Cx has if. lawe wolde Iugge ȝow ioyntly · in ioye for euere ¶ Thanne was falsenesse fayne · and fauel as blithe And leten sompne alle segges · in schires aboute And bad hem alle be bown · beggeres and othere To wenden wyth hemBx.2.163: hem: Referring to Fals and Favel. Beta's reading is shared with Ax and the P family of C. Alpha and the X family have hym. Beta seems more appropriate. to westmynstre · to witnesse þisBx.2.163: þis: A mss. similarly split between þis and þe. The line is not in C. dede ¶ Ac þanne cared þei for caplus · to kairenBx.1.165: kairen: So LM + alpha; other scribes substitute the easier carien, as also at Bx.P.29, 4.23, 5.310. Note, however, that Ax also has carien. hem þider And fauel fette forth þanne · folus ynowe And sette Mede vponBx.2.166: vpon: GF read on, as does Ax; R has vppe. a schyreue · shodde al newe And fals sat on a sisoure · þat softlich trotted And fauel on a flatereBx.2.168: flatere: So LF. MED distinguishes between flatour (OF flatour) and flaterer (from the verb). · fetislich atired ¶ Tho haued notaries none · annoyed þei were For symonye and cyuile · shulde on hire fete gange ¶ Ac þanne swore symonye · and cyuile bothe That sompnoures shulde be sadled [·] and serue hem vchone And lat apparaille þisBx.2.173: þis: FG omit, and R reads þe. A mss. also vary, but most support beta. prouisoures · in palfreis wyse Sire symonye hym-seluen · shal sitte vpon here bakkes ¶ Denes and suddenes · drawe ȝow togideres Erchdekenes and officiales · and alle ȝowre Regystreres Lat sadel hem with siluer · owre synne to suffre As [de]uoutrieBx.2.178: deuoutrie: The alliterating alpha synonym for beta's easier auoutrie. There is no parallel line in AC, although Cx has deuoutours at RK.2.187. R again has deuoutrie at Bx.12.86. MED does not record either de- form otherwise, but note OED devoterer, with an instance from 1550. and deuoses · and derne vsurye To bere bischopes aboute · abrode in visytynge ¶ Paulynes pryuesBx.2.180: pryues: "parties to suits" (Alford (1988), 120-1). GF's peple is an A reading. · for pleyntes in þe consistorie Shul serue my-self · þat cyuile is nempned And cartesadel þe comissarie · owre carte shal he lede And fecchen vs vytailles · at fornicatores ¶ And maketh of lyer a l[a]nge carteBx.2.184: lange carte: Wittig (2001) lists the spelling lange once in each of the three versions, for this line only. WR always elsewhere have longe, and presumably the archetypal scribes recognised this as a technical expression for the longa caretta, a "four-wheeled military cart" (Galloway (2006), 278). · to lede alle þese othere As [fobberes]Bx.2.185: fobberes: "cheats". Alpha's reading has support from Cx fobbes (related to fobben vb.). Beta's Freres is much easier; most A mss. have folis. and faitours · þat on here fete rennen Bx.2.186: W and alpha have a paraph here.And thus fals and fauel · fareth forth togideres And Mede in þe myddes · and alle þise menBx.2.187: men: LCrWHmR supported by Cx. G has the Ax reading meyny. Oddly, the disparate group MCOF have oþere. after ¶ I haue no tome to telle [·] þe taille þat hem folweth Of many maner man · þat on þis molde libbethBx.2.189: The line is lost in beta2 and G. Ac gyle was forgoer · and gyed hem alle ¶Bx.2.191: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. The line is at the bottom of the page in R. Sothenesse seiȝ h[e]mBx.2.191: hem: The beta reading is probably hym, though CrWG and alpha have the plural, supported by AC. wel · and seide but a litelBx.2.191: a litel: Apparently Bx, though omission of a in MCrWG is shared with Cx and most A mss. And priked his palfrey · and passed hem alle And come to þe kynges courte · and conscience it tolde And conscience to þe kynge · carped it after ¶ Now by cryst quod þe kynge · and I cacche myȝte Fals orBx.2.196: or (1): Alpha reads other / eyþir, with R alone reading other for the second or. AC mss. vary in both instances. fauel · or any of his feres I wolde be wroke of þo wrecches · þat worcheth so ille And don hem hange by þe hals · and alle þat hem meynteneth Shal neure man ofBx.2.199: of: Secure for Bx, in L, original M, C and R. The variants of þis (corrected M, CrW), on (OF), on thys (G) and vpon (Hm) may be prompted by the oddity of the phrase man of molde, as well as by l. 189 above. A mss. vary, but Cx has on þys. molde · meynprise þe leste But riȝte as þe lawe wil loke · late falle on hem alle ¶ And comanded a constable · þat come atte furst To Goo Bx.2.202: To / Goo: Beta shares To with Ax; alpha's Goo is also Cx. Cf. the variants in Bx.2.147 above. The direct speech of "Goo atache ... I hote" is attractive; perhaps it suggested itself as an authorial or scribal improvement. attache þo tyrauntz · for eny thyngeBx.2.202: thynge: Presumably an error, but undoubtedly Bx. AC have tresour. I hote And fettereth fast falsenesse · for enykynnes ȝiftes And gurdeth of gyles hed · and lat hym go no furthere And ȝif ȝe lacche lyer · late hym nouȝt ascapen Er he be put on þe pilorye · for eny preyere I hote And bryngeth Mede to me · maugre hem alle ¶ Drede atte dore stode · and þe dome herde And how þe kynge comaunded · constables and seriantz Falsenesse and his felawschip · to fettren an to bynden Þanne drede went wiȝtliche · and warned þe fals And bad hym flee for fere · and his felawesBx.2.212: felawes: F's feerys is probably from A. It is also the reading of Cx which however avoids the pun on fere by altering the a-verse to And bad falsenesse to fle (RK.2.222). alle ¶ Falsenesse for fere þanne · fleiȝ to þe freres And gyle doþ hym to go · agast for to dye Ac marchantz mette with hym · and made hym abide And bishetten hym in here shopeBx.2.216: shope: The distributive sg. is supported by LMCOR. Ax has the plural; C mss. vary. · to shewen here ware AndBx.2.217: And: Ax is without it, as are CrWHmG; it is the reading of Cx. apparailled hym as a prentice · þe poeple to serue ¶ Liȝtlich lyer · lepe awey þanneBx.2.218: þanne: i.e. "from there". Both beta and alpha forms represent MED thenne adv.; cf. LALME 4.262. Lorkynge thorw lanes · to-lugged of manye He was nawhere welcome · for his manye tales Ouer al yhowtedBx.2.221: yhowted: "shouted at". Beta2 has yhonted, an easy error, though supported by AC. On Crowley's revisions here, see Hailey (2007), 152-4. · and yhote trusse Tyl pardoneres haued pite · and pulled hym in-toBx.2.222: in-to: This must be Bx, supported by the X family of C, despite MHmF support for the Ax reading to. house They wesshen hym and wyped hym · and wonden hym in cloutesBx.2.223: cloutes: Hm and alpha have clothes. A mss. vary; Cx has cloutes, though five C mss. read clothes. And sente hym with seles · on sondayes to cherches And gaf pardoun for pens · poundmel aboute ¶ Thanne loured leches · and lettres þei sent Þat he sholde wonye with hem · wateres to loke Bx.2.228: W and alpha have a paraph.Spiceres spokeBx.2.228: spoke: The form speken in CrWGR is also past plural; cf. Bx.15.285 for a clear instance, where L also has speken. [to]Bx.2.228: to (1): The alpha reading is also that of Cx; A mss. divide. The beta reading with is likely to have been influenced by the line above. hym · to spien here ware For he couth o[n]Bx.2.229: on: Both Ax and Cx agree with alpha here against beta's of. here craft · and knewe many gommes ¶ Ac mynst[r]alles and messageres · mette with hym ones And helden hym an halfȝereBx.2.231: an half: Beta is challenged by alpha half a. Cx has no article; A mss. vary between all three possibilities. · and elleuene dayes ¶ Freres with faire speche · fetten hym þennes And for knowyng of comeres · coped hym as a frere Ac he hath leue to lepe out · as oft as hym liketh And is welcome whan he wil · and woneth wyth hem oft ¶ Alle fledden for fere · and flowen in-to hernes Saue Mede þe Mayde · na moBx.2.237: mo: R has man, as do four A mss. durst abide Ac trewli to telle · she trembled for [fere]Bx.2.238: fere: Beta's reading drede is also that of four A mss., but the others have fere, as do alpha and Cx. And ekBx.2.239: ek: The beta reading is supported by Ax against alpha's also. Cx has bothe. wept and wronge · whan she was attached Passus tercius de visione vt supra Now is Mede þe Maide · and namo of hem alle With bedellus & wiþBx.3.2: wiþ (2): Supported for Bx by LR and WHmC, against MCrGOF (F reverses the half lines). Yet neither Ax or Cx repeats the preposition (Cx has Thorw Bedeles). bayllyues · brouȝt bifor þe kyng The kyng called a clerke · can I nouȝt his name To take Mede þe mayde · and make hire at ese I shal assaye hir my-self · and sothelichBx.3.5: sothelich: Beta supported by AC though the word (meaning "openly, plainly"? or "effectively"? as glossed by Kane (2005)) causes some problems in all versions. R's couthliche is presumably the alpha reading, improved by F to sotilly. See Hanna (1996), 227. appose What man of þis [worlde]Bx.3.6: worlde: R's reading is supported by AC. The beta reading molde is prompted by the common alliterative formula, just as F alters man to wyȝe for the same consideration. Alliteration may fall on What. · þat hire were leueste And if she worche bi myBx.3.7: my(1): Omitted by beta2 and some A mss.; C rewrites. witte · and my wille folwe I wil forgyue hir þis gilte giltes Bx.3.8: gilte / giltes: Though beta and Ax have the sg., alpha and Cx have the pl. Hanna (1996), 228, regards this as "a possible product of Langlandian revision". · so me god help ¶ Curteysliche þe clerke þanne [·] as þe Kyng hight Toke Mede bi þe Middel · and brouȝteBx.3.10: brouȝte: F's alliterating mente has no parallel in any version. Cx rewrites the b-verse. Following this line, F alone has a line without support from other versions. hir in-to chaumbre A[c]Bx.3.11: Ac: R is supported in the less obvious reading by the X family of C. The P family omits the conjunction. Beta and F (where the beginning of the line is revised) read And, as do some A mss. (varying with But, Ac, Þan). Kane (2005), in a subtle entry for ac, glosses "moreover" here. þere was myrthe and mynstralcye · Mede to plese [¶]Bx.3.12: ¶: In L the paraph is indicated by cc, but not inserted. The line is at the top of the page. They þat wonyeth [at]Bx.3.12: at: The reading of MG + alpha is supported by Ax. Cx rewrites. westmynstre · worschipedBx.3.12: worshiped: So LR and CrHmCO. C mss. and A mss. also divide between past and the easier present. hir alle Gentelliche wiþ ioye · þe Iustices somme Busked hem to þe boure · þere þe birde dwelled To conforte hire kyndely · by clergise leue And seiden mourneBx.3.16: mourne: MHmO have mourne þow, a minor variant in all three versions. nought Mede · ne make þow no sorwe For we [wil]Bx.3.17: wil: The omission in L, original M, and CO is probably a beta error corrected in other mss. wisse þe kynge · and þi wey shape To be wedded at þi wille · and where þe leue liketh For al conscience caste · [and] craftBx.3.19: caste and craft: AC support beta's word-order against alpha's, and alpha's and against beta's or. as I trowe ¶ Mildeliche Mede þanne · mercyed hem alle Of þeire gret goodnesse · and gaf hem vchone Coupes of clene golde · and coppis of siluer Rynges with rubies · and ricchessesBx.3.23: richesses: As a romance loan ending in a sibilant, alpha's reading without -s can also be a pl. form. See notes to Bx.3.101, 10.90, 223, 227, 19.73, etc. manye The leste man of here meyne · a motoun of golde Thanne lauȝte þei leue · þis lordes at Mede ¶ With that comen clerkis · to conforte hir þe same And beden hire be blithe · for we beth þine owne Forto worche þi wille · þe while þow myȝte lasteBx.3.28: þow myȝte laste: Hm's thy lyfe lasteth is the reading of some A mss. For þow myȝte CrG have we moune / we may, the reading of the P family of C. [¶]Bx.3.29: ¶: Though L has no paraph, the scribe leaves a blank line, and WHmC have the paraph. In R the left margin is cropped. Hendeliche heo þanne · bihight hem þe same To loue ȝowBx.3.30: ȝow: Only LR switch to direct address with this line. M probably did too originally, though the corrector altered to hem, the reading of all other B mss., and also of AC. See note on ȝowre in the next line. Cr's additional line is from C (RK.3.33). lelli · and lordes to make And in þe consistorie [at]Bx.3.31: at: CrHmOR, supported by AC, against atte and at þe in LMWCG and in þe in F. (In L the form atte consistently represents "at the".) But cf. Bx.P.107n. courte · do calle ȝowreBx.3.31: ȝowre: Beta2 and G continue with the 3rd person pl., as does Ax. Cx has ȝoure. names Shal no lewdnesse lette · þe leode clerkes Bx.3.32: leode / clerkes: The beta reading (alliterating aa/aa) is shared with Ax, but alpha's clerkes is shared with Cx (alliterating aa/xa), though Cx has the sg., whence Cr's clerke. þat I louye That he neBx.3.33: ne: Beta is supported by AC against alpha's omission. worth first auanced · for I am biknowen Þere konnyng clerkes · shul clokke bihynde ¶ Þanne come þere a confessoure · coped as a Frere To Mede þeBx.3.36: þe: Beta is supported by AC against R's þis and F's þat. mayde · he mellud þis wordes And seide ful softly · in shrifte as it were Theiȝ lewed men and lered men · had leyne by þe bothe And false[hede]Bx.3.39: falsehede: (For the spelling cf. Bx.5.300.) R's falsede presumably represents alpha (with F reading Fals) and is supported by AC. Beta reads falseness. (F's variants þey and fyftene are from A.) haued yfolwed þe [·] al þis fyfty wyntre I shal assoille þe my-selue · for a seme of whete And also be þi bedeman · and bere wel þi message Amonges kniȝtes and clerkis · conscience to torne ¶ Thanne Mede for here mysdedes · to þat man kneled And shroue hire of hire shrewednesse · shamelees I trowe Tolde hym a tale · and toke hym a noble Forto ben hire bedeman · and hire brokour alsBx.3.46: hire brokour als: G's hyr bavd after is contamination from A. ¶ Thanne he assoilled hir sone · and sithen he seyde We han a wyndowe a-wirchyng wil sitten vs [ful]Bx.3.48: ful: Only L has wel. heigh Woldestow glase þat gable · and graue þere-inneBx.3.49: þere-inne: R's þere merits consideration, since it is the reading of some A mss. and of Cx. Hanna (1996), 228, suggests the reading þere-inne arose from dittographic attraction, þ'in þi-n|ame. þi name Siker sholde þi soule be · heuene to haue Bx.3.51-62: In place of these twelve lines in beta, alpha has three lines garbled from two lines of A (K.3.50-1). C has the expanded passage from B, but rewrites Bx.3.50-1 as RK.3.53-4. The Bx archetype may have had the cancelled A lines which had been rendered illegible, with an expanded passage on a separate sheet, followed by beta but for some reason not available to alpha. Or alpha's exemplar may have lost the passage by eyeskip from one paraph to the next. On the other hand Hanna (1996), 316 n.26, suggests that the omission "may be an outright case of shocked scribal censorship with partial restoration", pointing out that "the memorial quality of this reading [in alpha] implies quite precisely that the archetypal scribe had no direct access to a manuscript version of A" (217). [¶]Bx.3.51: ¶: The paraph is attested by alpha and WHmC and an indented line in Cr. It is the first line on the leaf in L, where a paraph is sometimes missed, as on the previous leaf (Bx.3.12). Wist I that quod þat wommanBx.3.51: þat womman: MCr's þe womman could be correct, since it is supported by Ax. Cx rewites. · I wolde nouȝt spare For to be ȝowre frende frere · and faille ȝow neure Whil ȝe loue lordes · þat lechery haunteþ And lakkeþ nouȝt ladis · þat loueþ wel þe same It is a frelete of flesche · ȝe fynde it in bokes And a course of kynde · wher-of we komen alle Who may scape þe sklaundre · þe skaþe is sone amended It is synne of seueneBx.3.58: seuene: So LMC; beta2 and GO have þe seuene. Cx has as of seuene. · sonnest relessed ¶ Haue mercy quod Mede · of men þat it haunte And I shal keure ȝowre kirke · ȝowre cloystre do maken Wowes do whitten · and wyndowes glasen Do peynten and purtraye · and paye for þe makynge That euryBx.3.63: eury: The beta reading, supported by Cx. Alpha's vch a finds some support in A mss. segge shal se[e]nBx.3.63: seen: Alpha is supported by Ax and by the X family of C; the P family has see and seye. On grounds of sense, seen is preferable to beta's seyn. · I am sustre of ȝowre housBx.3.63: of ȝowre hous: Beta is supported by Ax and by the derived of ȝoure ordre in Cx against alpha's weak to ȝow alle. ¶ Ac god to alle good folke · suche grauynge defendeth To writen in wyndowes · of here wel-dedes On auenture pruyde be peynted þere · and pompe of þe worlde For cristBx.3.67: crist: The reading of all except R, whose god might have been picked up from l. 64, although it is also the reading of Cx (the passage is not in A). K-D argue, perhaps rightly, that R's reading is original, and that F's agreement with beta is the common variation of a more explicit reading (p. 168 and n. 89). knoweþ þi conscience · and þi kynde wille AndBx.3.68: And: As in the previous line, R's reading without And is unique in B mss. but it is the reading of the P family of C (the X family conflate this line with the previous). Here F has Boþe þe for And þi. þi coste and þi coueitise · and who þe catel ouȝte ¶ For-þi I lere ȝow lordes · leueþ suche werkes To writen in wyndowes · of ȝowre wel-dedes Or to greden after goddis men · whan ȝe delen doles An auenture ȝe han ȝowre hire here · and ȝoure heuene als Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra · Lat nouȝte þi left half · late no rathe Wyte what þow worchest · with þi riȝt syde For þus bit þe gospel · gode men do here almesse ¶ Meires and maceres · that menes ben bitwene Þe kynge and þe comuneBx.3.78: comune: F regularly has comounys with its political implications (see MED communes), e.g. at Bx.P.115, 117, 118, 121, 143, usually joined by Cr. Here F is joined by GO. [·] to kepe þe lawes To punyschen onBx.3.79: on: Beta supported by Ax and the P family of C, against alpha's vppon and the X family. pillories · andBx.3.79: and: F's & on may be from A. Yet C mss. have and on or and vppon. pynynge stoles Brewesteres and bakesteres · bocheres and cokes For þise aren men onBx.3.81: on: Alpha again reads vppoun; A mss. divide between on and of (as in HmC); Cx rewrites. þis molde · þat moste harme worcheth To þe pore peple [·] þat parcel-mele buggen ¶ For theyBx.3.83: For they: Beta is supported by Ax against alpha's & or And also. poysoun þe peple · priueliche and oft Thei rychen þorw regraterye · and rentes hem buggen With þat þe pore people [·] shulde put in here wombeBx.3.85: wombe: The distributive sg. is supported by AC. For toke þei on trewly · þei tymbred nouȝt so heiȝe Ne bouȝte non burgagesBx.3.87: burgages: The plural is supported by AC against the sg. in alpha (F bargayn). · be ȝe ful certeyne ¶ Ac Mede þe Mayde [·] þe Maire hath bisouȝte Of alle suche sellers · syluer to take Or presentz withoute pens · as peces of siluer Ringes or other ricchesse · þe regrateres to maynetene ¶ For my loueBx.3.92: loue (1): Beta is supported by Ax and by Cx (RK.3.119), against alpha's lord, perhaps substituted to avoid repetition. quod that lady loue [·] hem vchone And soffre hem to selle · somdele aȝeins resoun ¶ Salamon þe sage · a sarmoun he made For to amende Maires · and men þat kepen lawes And tolde hem þis teme · þat I telle thynke Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera &cBx.3.97: Alpha's version of the quotation, omitting the last two words, is not supported by AC. Amonge þis lettered ledes · þis latyn is to mene That fyre shal falle and berne · al to blo askes The houses and þeBx.3.100: þe: Omitted by Beta2 and G, but supported by AC. homes · of hem [þat]Bx.3.100: þat: Omitted in L, although a corrector's mark appears in the margin. desireth Ȝiftes or ȝeresȝyues · bi-cause of here officesBx.3.101: offices: As a romance loan ending in a sibilant, alpha's form may represent a distributive sg. or a plural. See note to l. 23. There is no parallel in AC. ¶ The kynge fro conseille cam · and called after Mede And ofsent hir alswythe · with seriauntes manye ThatBx.3.104: That: W's agreement with Ax on And is presumably coincidental. brouȝten hir to bowre · with blisse and with ioye ¶ Curteisliche þe kynge þanne · comsedBx.3.105: comsed: R has the present, presumably by attraction to melleth, yet it agrees with Ax. The verb is past tense in the rewritten passage in Cx. to telle To Mede þe mayde · melleth þise wordes Vnwittily womman · wrouȝte hastow oft Ac worse wrouȝtestow neure · þan þo þow fals toke But I forgyue [þe]Bx.3.109: þe (1): Omitted in L and added in W. Supported by AC. þat gilte · and graunte þe my grace Hennes to þi deth-day · do so namoreBx.3.110: The short b-verse of beta is expanded variously in G, R and F. Ax has do þou for Bx do. ¶ I haue a knyȝte conscience · cam late fro biȝunde Ȝif he wilneth þe to wyf · wyltow hym haue ¶ Ȝe lorde quod þat lady · lorde forbedeBx.3.113: forbede: LCrCGOF are supported by Ax; WHm read forbede it, and M is corrected to that reading. R's b-verse is that found in Cx. It may therefore represent alpha, and an authorial revision to avoid metrical demotion of the verb. However, since F agrees with beta, R's reading is more probably attracted to the b-verse of l. 121 below. elles But I be holely at ȝowre heste · lat hange me sone ¶ And þanne was conscience calde · to come and appiere Bifor þe Kynge and his conseille · as clerkes and othere Bx.3.117: W and alpha have a paraph.Knelynge conscience · to þe kynge louted To wite what his wille were · and what he do shulde ¶ Woltow wedde þis womman quod þe kynge · ȝif I wil assente For she is fayne of þi felawship · for to be þi make ¶ Quod conscience to þe kynge · cryst it me forbede Ar I wedde suche a wyf · wo me bityde For she is frele of hir feith · fykel and fykel Bx.3.123: fykel / and fykel: fykel is the beta reading, despite Hm; supported by Ax. R's and fykel is the alpha reading (F has & fals), supported by Cx. of here speche And maketh men mysdo · many score tymes Truste of hire tresore · treiethBx.3.125: treieth: CrWG have betrayeth, a reversion to the commoner form. AC are not parallel here. ful manye Wyues and widewes · wantounesBx.3.126: wantounes: MED records this as a spelling of wantonness, and cf. the CrHm spellings of the word at Bx.12.6. she techeth And lereth hem leccherye · that loueth hire ȝiftes Ȝowre fadre she felled · þorw falsBx.3.128: fals: Beta is supported by Ax, though three mss. agree with alpha's variant faire. The common proverb "Fair behest maketh a fool glad" (MED bihest(e 1b.(b)) may have prompted the reading. Cf. Bx.11.62 and 20.118 for faire beheste. biheste And hath apoysounde popis · [ap]peiredBx.3.129: appeired: Alpha and most beta mss. read and (ap)peired, but L, original M, and C are without and, as is Ax, which suggests that scribes supplied it for a smoother reading. Most beta mss. have the aphetic form of the verb, but appeired is the form in alpha + Hm, supported by Cx and the majority of A mss. R's present tense may represent alpha, since it is shared with Cx. holicherche Is nauȝt a better baude · bi hym þat me made Bitwene heuene and helle · [and]Bx.3.131: and (2): R's reading appears to represent alpha. It is supported by most A mss. (though five have in) and the X family of C (the P family has alle). The apparent illogicality of the expression (what lies between heaven, hell and earth?) perhaps prompted beta to revise to in and F to revise to þey men al erthe sowhte. Schmidt (1995) and Kane (2005) interpret and as "if". erthe þough men souȝte For she is tikil of hire taile · talwis of tongeBx.3.132: tonge: Beta reads hir tonge, prompted by the parallel of hire taile, but alpha's omission of the pronoun is paralleled by many A mss. and by Cx. As comune as a cartwey · to eche a knaue þat walketh To monkes toBx.3.134: to (2): R's and to may represent alpha (cf. F), joined by Cr. Beta seems to have the support of AC, though some mss. have and. mynst[r]alles · to meseles in hegges Sisoures and sompnoures · suche men hir preiseth Shireues of shires · were shent ȝif she nere For she doþ men lese here londe · and here lyf bothe She leteth passe prisoneresBx.3.138: prisoneres: R has prisons again at Bx.7.30 (together with most B mss.), 14.180 and 186, and 15.190 (together with LM). See MED prisoun, n. 7. All three versions have both variants here. We follow copy-text. · and payeth for hem ofte And gyueth þe gailers golde · and grotes togideres To vnfettre þe fals [·] fle where hymBx.3.140: hym: Supported by most AC mss. against the plural in MC. lyketh And takeþ þe treweBx.3.141: þe trewe: Alpha has trewthe, perhaps rightly, but cf. notes to ll. 155 and 247. There is similar variation in A and C mss. The X family of C has treuthe, with the P family reading trewe or improving to þe trewe. bi þe toppe · and tieth hymBx.3.141: hym: MWG have plural (cf. l. 140). The sg. is supported by A and the X family in C. faste And hangeth hymBx.3.142: hym: MCrWG have plural (cf. ll. 140-1). The sg. is supported by A and the X family of C. for hatred · þat harme dede neure ¶ To be cursed in consistorie · she counteth nouȝte a russheBx.3.143: russhe: The reading is supported by AC against bene in beta2 and G. Langland repeats the phrase at Bx.11.450. For she copeth þe comissarie · and coteth his clerkis She is assoilled as sone · as hir-self liketh And may neiȝe as moche do · in a moneth one[s]Bx.3.146: ones: Alpha, supported by Ax and the X family of C, against the probable beta reading one. As ȝowre secret seel · in syx score dayes For she is priue with þe pope · prouisoures it knoweth For sire symonye and hir-selue · seleth hireBx.3.149: hire: LMWCOR, supported by Cx, against þe. A mss. split. bulles ¶ She blesseth þise bisshopes · þeiȝe þey be lewedBx.3.150-51: R's conflation into one line represents loss in alpha, which F makes good by invention. Prouendreth persones · and prestes [she]Bx.3.151: she: Alpha, despite the disruption, retains the pronoun, supported against beta by AC. meynteneth To haue lemmannes and lotebies · alle here lif-dayes And bringenBx.3.153: bringen: The infinitive is supported by most A mss., but Cx has bringeth as does beta2. forth barnes · aȝein forbode lawes There she is wel with þe kynge · wo is þe rewme For she is fauorable to þeBx.3.155: þe: Beta2 and GF are without the article, treating fals as a personification. This is attractive and appropriate, and has the support of Ax and the P family of C. However, the most reliable B mss. (LMR) and CO read þe fals, with the support of the X family of C. Cf. þe fals in l. 140 above, and the note to l. 141. fals · and fouleth trewthe ofte ¶ Bi ihesus with here ieweles · ȝowre þe Bx.3.156: ȝowre / þe: The beta reading ȝowre is shared with Ax; alpha's þe is shared with Cx. iustices she shendeth And lith aȝein þe lawe · and letteth hym þe gate That feith may nouȝte haue his forth · here floreines go so þikke She ledeth þe lawe as hire list · and louedayes maketh And doth men lese þorw hire loue · þat lawe myȝte wynne Þe mase for a mene man · þouȝ he mote hirBx.3.161: hir: A Bx error, dropped by GF, presumably by contamination from AC or on grounds of sense. The verb mote, "litigate", is intransitive. eure Lawe is so lordeliche · and loth to make ende With-oute presentz or pens · she pleseth welBx.3.163: wel: CrR have ful, perhaps by alliterative attraction, though it is shared with Cx and half the A mss. fewe ¶ Barounes and burgeys · she bryngeth in sorwe And alle þe comune in kare · þat coueyten lyue in trewthe For clergye and coueitise · she coupleth togideres Þis is þe lyf of that lady · now lorde ȝif hir sorwe And alle that meynteneth here men · meschaunce hem bityde For pore men mowe haue no powere · to pleyne hem þouȝ þei smerte Suche a maistre is Mede · amonge men of godeBx.3.170: F drops this line. ¶Bx.3.171: ¶: The paraph is in beta, with an enlarged rubricated capital in F. The margin is lost in R, and the line is at the bottom of the page. Thanne morned Mede · and mened hire to the kynge To haue space to speke · spede if she myȝte ¶ The kynge graunted hir grace [·] with a gode wille Excuse þe ȝif þow canst · I can namore seggen For conscience acuseth þe · to congey þe for euere ¶ Nay lorde quod þat lady · leueth hym þe worse Whan ȝe wyten witterly · where þe wronge liggeth There þat myschief is grete · Mede may helpe And þowBx.3.179: þow: So beta and Ax; alpha has þat þow, reflected in Cx þat. With þat þow, Mede refers back to the previous line. knowest conscience · I cam nouȝt to chide Ne depraue þi persone · with a proude herte Wel þow wost wernard · but ȝif þow wolt gabbe Þow hast hanged on myne half · elleuene tymes And also griped my golde · gyueBx.3.183: gyue: FG and gyue is from AC. For pp. gyue, cf. Bx.2.151. it where þe liked And whi þow wratthest þe now · wonder me thynketh Ȝit I may as I myȝte · menske þe with ȝiftes And mayntene þi manhode · more þan þow knoweste ¶ Ac þow hast famed me foule · bifor þe Kynge here For kulled I neuere no kyngeBx.3.188: kynge: Mede is answering the accusation of Bx.3.128. Beta reads as AC; alpha's kniȝt perhaps avoids a dangerous topic. · ne conseilled þer-after Ne dede as þow demest · I do [it] onBx.3.189: do it on: "refer it to" (MED don 6(f)), as in Bx.1.88. The lack of the object in LMC suggests a beta error made good in other mss. It is in Ax. þe kynge ¶ In normandye was he nouȝte · noyed for my sake Ac þow þi-self sothely · shamedest hym ofte Crope in-to a kaban · for colde of þi nailles Wendest þat wyntre · wolde haue lasted euere And draddest to be ded · for a dym cloude And hiedest homeward · for hunger of þi wombe ¶ Wiþ-out pite piloure · pore men þow robbedest And bere here bras at þi bakke · to caleys to selle There I lafte with my lorde · his lyf for to saue I made his men meri · and mornyng lette I batered hem on þe bakke · and bolded here hertis And dede hem hoppe for hope · to haue me at wille Had I ben Marschal of his men · bi Marie of heuene I durst haue leyde my lyf · and no lasse wedde He shulde haue be lorde of þat londe · aBx.3.204: a (1 & 2): We follow copy-text and CRO (M has been altered in the second case) against the in of most other mss. in all three versions. The archetype is not determinable, but preservation of the less usual form (contrast Bx.2.91) in the two most reliable mss. is at least a guide. lengthe and a brede And also Kyng of þat kitthe · his kynne for to helpe Þe leste brolle of his blodeBx.3.206: blode: Supported by AC against alpha's non-alliterating lond. · a barounes pere ¶ Cowardliche þow conscience · conseiledest hym þennes To leuen his lordeship · for a litel siluer That is þe richest rewme · þat reyne ouer-houeth ¶ It bicometh to a kynge · þat kepeth a rewme To ȝiue Mede to men · þat mekelich hym serueth To alienes and to alle men [·] to honoure hem with ȝiftes Mede maketh hym biloued · and for a man holden Bx.3.214: WHm and alpha have a paraph, as do W and alpha for l. 216 and W and R for l. 218. Cf. note to l. 222.Emperoures and Erlis · and al manere lordes [Thorw]Bx.3.215: Thorw: Alpha has firm support from AC against beta's For. ȝiftes han ȝonge men ȝoumen Bx.3.215: ȝonge men / ȝoumen: These are perhaps just forms of the same word (see MED yong man and yeman). Beta has the former, agreeing with Ax. Alpha has the latter, agreeing with Cx. · to [ȝerne]Bx.3.215: ȝerne: A metathesised form of renne, as in OE, used for the alliteration but frequently altered by scribes. Here beta and Ax have the non-alliterating form, while alpha and Cx have ȝerne. and to ride The pope and alleBx.3.216: alle: LMCOR, as Cx; CrWG supply the, Hm his. Ax has wiþ his. prelatis · presentz vnderfongen And medeth men hem-seluen · to meyntene here lawes SeruauntzBx.3.218: Seruauntz: Beta2 (CrWHm) + G have Sergeauntz, which is a corrected reading in M, as does the P family of C. Otherwise AC agree on seruauntz. for her seruise · we seth wel þe sothe Taken Mede of here maistre[s]Bx.3.219: maistres: The distributive sg. of LOF, though generally to be preferred, is not supported by AC. · as þei mowe acorde Beggeres for here biddyngeBx.3.220: biddynge: Alpha's beggynge is not supported by Ax; Cx rewrites. · bidden men Mede Mynstralles for here murthe · mede þei aske Bx.3.222: W and alpha have a paraph here, as do W and R at ll. 224 and 226.Þe kynge hath mede of his men · to make pees in londe Men þat teche chyldren · craue of hem mede Prestis þat precheth þe poeple · to godeBx.3.224: to gode: "to (adopt) good behaviour" (rather than an inflected form of "God", which is not found in L). It is supported by AC against alpha + Hm to/of god, though in AC Asken mede begins the next line. asken mede And masse-pans and here mete · at þe mele-tymes Alkynnes craftyBx.3.226: crafty: Supported by AC against craftes in CrWG. men · crauen Mede for here prentis Marchauntz and Mede · mote nede go togideres No wiȝte as I wene · with-oute Mede may libbe ¶ Quatȝ þe kynge to conscience · bi criste as me thynketh Mede is worthiBx.3.230: worthi: Beta has wel worthi, probably to beef up the alliteration, but the adverb is not supported by AC. Ax has the a-verse as in R; Cx improves the alliteration by adding me thinketh. · þe maistrye to haue ¶ Nay quod conscience to þe Kynge · and kneled to þe erthe There aren two manere of Medes · my lorde [bi]Bx.3.232: bi: Alpha has support from Ax against beta's with. Cx rewrites. The phrase does not recur, though cf. Bx.3.15. ȝowre leue Þat one god of his grace · graunteth in his blisse To þo þat wel worchen · whil þei ben here The prophete precheth þer-of · and put it in þe sautere Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo Lorde who shal wonye in þi wones · andBx.3.237: and: Alpha omits; there is no parallel in AC, and nothing to choose between the variants. with þine holi seyntes Or resten onBx.3.238: on: The reading of LM + alpha; others have in. Notice that two lines above F quotes the Vulgate, "in monte sancto eius", memory of which may have prompted the reading of other mss. þi holy hilles · þis askethBx.3.238: asketh: Alpha has past tense; there is no parallel in AC, though the present has the support of the surrounding context. dauid ¶ And dauyd assoileth it hym-self [·] as þe sauter telleth Qui ingreditur sine macula · & operatur iusticiam Tho þat entren of o colour · and of on wille And han wrouȝte werkis · with riȝte and with reson And he þat neBx.3.243: ne: So LCOR; omitted by beta2 and GF. vseth nauȝte · þe lyf of vsurye And enfourmeth pore men · and pursueth treuthe Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram & munera super innocentem &c ·Bx.3.245: F omits the line. And alle þat helpeth þe innocent · and halt with þe riȝtful Withoute mede doth hem gode · and þe trewtheBx.3.247: þe trewthe: R's þe trewe must be alpha (F has trew men). There is no parallel in AC. Cf. Bx.3.141n. helpeth Suche manere men my lorde · shal haue þis furst Mede Of god at aBx.3.249: a: CrHm read her, with M altered to that reading. F has his and GO omit. grete nede · whan þei gone hennes [¶]Bx.3.250: ¶: The paraph, certainly appropriate, is recorded in WHmC and alpha. There is an other Mede mesurelees · þat maistres desireth To meyntene mysdoers · Mede þei take And þere-of seith þe sauter · in a salmes ende In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt [·] dextera eorum repleta est muneribus And he þat gripeth her golde · so me god helpe Shal abie it bittereBx.3.255: bittere: FGO bitterly is easier and perhaps from A; R expands to ful bitter. For the same a-verse see Bx.18.418, where FGO again have bitterly. · or þe boke lyeth ¶ Prestes and parsones · þat plesynge desireth That taketh Mede and mone · for messes þat þei syngeth Taketh here mede here · as Mathew vs techeth Amen amen recipiebantBx.3.259: recipiebant: There is variation in the form of the verb in all three versions (as at K.3.64a). The Vulgate has receperunt. mercedem suam · ¶ That laboreres and loweBx.3.260: lowe: Beta, as against alpha and Hm lewed. A mss. vary similarly. The a-verse Laboreres and lowe folke is repeated at Bx.5.223 (K.5.135, RK.6.227), where there is similar variation in A but not in BC. folke · taketh of her maistres It is no manere Mede · but a mesurable hire Bx.3.262: WHm and R have a paraph.In marchandise is no mede · I may it wel avowe It is aBx.3.263: a (1): Dropped in alpha, but supported by AC. permutacioun apertly · a penyworth for an othre ¶ Ac reddestow neuere Regum · þow recrayed Mede Whi þe veniaunce fel · on saul and on his children God sent to saul · bi samuel þe prophete Þat agag of amaleke · and al his peple aftre Shulde deye for a dede · þat done had here aldres ¶ For-þi seid samuel to saul · god hym-self hoteth TheBx.3.270: The: Undoubtedly Bx; LWM follow it with punctuation in response to the line-break between verb and object. HmO have The to. AC instead have To. For discussion see Duggan (1987), 47. · be boxome at [my]Bx.3.270: my: Alpha, against beta's his, which arises by attraction to the pronoun of the b-verse and ignoring the shift to direct speech. The line is revised from Ax, with alpha reading as Cx. Further support for alpha's my biddynge is provided by the source, in which Saul says to Samuel after his disobedience: "Peccavi quia praevaricatus sum sermonem Domini et verba tua" (1 Kings 15.24). biddynge · his wille to fulfille Wende to amalec with þyn oste · and what þow fyndest þere slee it Biernes and bestes · brenne hem to ded Wydwes and wyues · wommen and children Moebles and vnmoebles · and al þat þow myȝte fynde Brenne it bere it nouȝte awey · be it neuere so riche For mede ne for mone · loke þow destruye it Spille it and spare it nouȝte · þow shalt spede þe bettere ¶ And for he coueyted her catel · and þe kynge spared Forbare hym and his bestes bothe · as þe bible witnesseth Otherwyse þan he was · warned of þe prophete God seide to samuel [·] þat saul shulde deye And al his sede for þat synne · shenfullichBx.3.282: shenfullich: The word causes problems to scribes of all versions. Neither the adj. or adv. occurs elsewhere in the poem. endeBx.3.282: ende: The past tense in alpha and Hm occurs in isolated mss. in the other versions. Such a myschief Mede made [·] saul þe kynge to haue That god hated hym for euere · and alle his eyres after ¶ The culorum of þis cas · kepe I nouȝte to sheweBx.3.285: shewe: LMCOR, supported by AC, against telle of Beta2 (CrWHm) and G; F has expowne. There seems no explanation for the variation. An auenture it noyed men · none ende wil I make For so is þis worlde went · wiþ hem þat han powere That who-so seyth hem sothesBx.3.288: sothes: Pl. noun, or less probably adverb. WG's soþest is easier and prompted by sonnest in the b-verse, although it is the reading of Cx. Galloway (2006), 362, cites other versions of the saying. · is sonnest yblamed ¶ I conscience knowe þis · for kynde witt me itBx.3.289: me it: LHmCRF (and unrevised M); it is differently placed in other B mss. and omitted in C and most A mss. tauȝte Þat resoun shal regne · and rewmes gouerne And riȝte as agag hadde · happe shul somme Samuel shal sleen hym · and saul shal be blamed And dauid shal be diademed · and daunten hem alle And one cristene Kynge · kepen hem alleBx.3.294: hem alle: Before correction L read alle, and M may have had the same, revised to hem echone in line with Cr. R has hem alle, as do all others except F which alters inventively. Bx is in error (as several times in these lines), repeating the end of the previous line. AC read vs ichone. ¶ Shal namore Mede ·Bx.3.295: LR punctuate after Mede, having regard to alliteration; others punctuate after maistre, paying more attention to rhythm. The phrase as she is nouthe replaces Ax on erþe, with a metrical revision in Cx. be maistre as she is nouthe Ac loue and lowenesse · and lewte togederes Þise shul be maistres on molde · treuthe to saue ¶ And who-so trespasseth ayein treuthe · or taketh aȝein his wille Leute shal don hym lawe · and no lyf elles Shal no seriaunt for hereBx.3.300: here: Even if not strictly grammatical, this is clearly Bx, as in L, original M, HmOC and R. CrWG have corrected to his, followed by the corrector of M. Most AC mss. read þat. seruyse · were a silke howue Ne no pelure in his cloke · for pledyng atte barre Mede of mys-doeres · maketh many lordes And ouer lordes lawes · reuleth þe rewmes ¶ Ac kynde loue shal come ȝit · and conscience togideres And make of lawe a laborere · suche loue shal arise And such peesBx.3.306: pees: So alpha, supported by Cx; beta adds the article. Ax does not have this or the succeeding lines to the end of the passus. amonge þe peple · and a parfit trewthe Þat iewes shal wene in here witte · and waxen wonder glade Þat Moises or Messie · be come in-to þis erthe And haue wonder in here hertis · þat men beth so trewe ¶ Alle þat bereth baslarde [·] brode swerde or launce Axe [o]ther hachet · or eny wepne ellis Shal be demed to þe deth · but if he do it smythye In-to sikul or to sithe · to schare or to kulter Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres &c Eche man to pleye with a plow · pykoys or spade Spynne or sprede donge · or spilleBx.3.316: spille: Alpha has non-alliterating lese. Beta is supported by Cx. hym-self with sleuthe ¶ Prestes and parsones · with placebo to hunte And dyngen vpon dauid · eche aBx.3.318: eche a: LMCR and O (corrected), against eche WHmG or euery CrF. The line is not in AC. day til eue Huntynge or haukynge · if any of hem vse His boste of his benefys · worth bynome hym after Shal neither kynge ne knyȝte [·] constable ne Meire Ouer-lede þe comune · ne to þe courte sompne Ne put hem in panel · to don hem pliȝte here treuthe But after þe dede þat is don · one dome shal rewarde Mercy or no mercy · as treuthe wil acorde ¶ Kynges courte and comune courte · consistorie and chapitele Al shal be but one courte · and one baroun be iustice ThanneBx.3.328: Thanne: Undoubtedly Bx. Cx reads That. worth trewe tonge a tidy man · þat tened me neuere Batailles shal non be · ne no man bere wepne And what smyth þat ony smyt[hie]Bx.3.330: smythie: Cx supports alpha's subjunctive. LC's smyteth has no support. · be smyte þer-with to dethe Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium &c · ¶ And er þis fortune falle [·] fynde men shal þe worste By syx sonnes and a schippe · and half a shef of arwes And þe myddel of a mone · shal make þe iewes torneBx.3.334: torne: Alpha + G, supported by Cx, against beta's to torne. And saracenes for þat siȝteBx.3.335: þat siȝte: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's þe siȝte þere-offe. · shulle synge gloria in excelsis &c For Makomet & Mede · myshappe shal þat tyme For melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe ¶ Also wroth as þe wynde · wex Mede in a while I can no latyn quod she · clerkis wote þe sothe Se what salamon seith [·] in sapience bokes That hijBx.3.341: hij: The form is supported by LMCR against þei in others. See Introduction IV.1. þat ȝiueth ȝiftes · þe victorie wynneth & mocheBx.3.342: moche: So LMCO + alpha, supported by Cx, against moost in beta2 (CrWHm) and G. worschip hadBx.3.342: had: CrHmF have the expected present tense. The form in the other mss. may be understood as an absolute past participle: "With much honour gained" (Mustanoja, (1960), 559). þer-with · as holiwryt telleth Honorem adquiret qui dat munera &c ¶ I leue wel lady quod conscience · þat þi latyne be trewe Ac þow art like a lady · þat redde a lessoun ones Was omnia probate · and þat plesed here herte For þat lyne was no lenger [·] atte leues ende Had [she]Bx.3.348: she: The reading is obviously correct and supported by Cx, but here and in the next line the reading of L is ȝe and M's original reading is altered to she. This suggests that beta had an ambiguous form for she, perhaps even ȝe, recorded in Gloucs. and Worcs. (LALME, 4, 8). loked þat other half · and þe lef torned [She]Bx.3.349: She: See note to previous line. shulde haue founden feleBx.3.349: fele: CrG have fel, as in three C mss. wordis · folwyng þer-after Quod bonum est tenete · treuthe þat texte made Bx.3.351-58: A series of lines that alliterate irregularly in Bx. The lines are omitted or heavily revised in C. F makes several b-verse improvements for the sake of alliteration, but they cannot be regarded as derived from Bx. F's reading in 352 is an easy substitution of seyȝe for loked; ȝee takyn nout þe ende in 353, and þat ȝe to me pitte (356) are inspired by 358 which F omits. F also omits l. 357. ¶ And so ferde ȝe madame · ȝe couthe namore fynde Tho ȝe loked on sapience · sittynge in ȝoure studie Þis tixte þat ȝe han tolde · were gode for lordes Ac ȝow failled a cunnyng clerke · þat couthe þe lef haue torned And if ȝe seche sapience eft · fynde shal ȝe þat folweth A ful teneful tixte · to hem þat taketh Mede And þat is animam autem aufert accipientium · &c · And þat is þe taille of þe tixte · of þat þat ȝeBx.3.358: ȝe: Beta2 (CrWHm) + G read she, and M is altered to that reading, evidently ending Conscience's speech at l. 354, with the remainder as a narrator's comment. There is no parallel in AC. F omits the line. schewed Þat þeiȝe we wynne worschip · and wiþ medeBx.3.359: mede: Alpha's me is clearly an error. haue victorie Þe soule þat þe soude taketh · bi so moche is bounde Passus quartus de visione vt supra Cesseth sei[de]Bx.4.1: seide: The past tense in alpha and Hm is shared with AC. þe kynge · I suffre ȝow no lengere Ȝe shal sauȝtne for-sothe · and serue me bothe Kisse hir quod þe kynge · conscience I hote ¶ Nay bi criste quod conscience · congeye me for euereBx.4.4: for euere: This is secure for Bx, though A has rather, as does beta4, with F reading rather sone, presumably by contamination or by anticipation of the next line. The three best mss. of the X family of C have are, "sooner", but all others have rather. But resoun rede me þer-to · rather wil I deye ¶ And I comaunde þe quod þe Kynge · to conscience þanne Rape þe to ride · and resoun þow fecche Comaunde hym þat he come · my conseille to here For he shal reule my rewme · and rede me þe besteBx.4.9: Following this line, O (supported by Cr23C2Y) has the line "Of Mede & of moo oþere . & what man schal hir wedde", adopted from AC but absent from Bx. And acounte with þe conscience · so me cryst helpe How þow lernest þe peple · lered and lewedeBx.4.11: lered and lewede: The reading of R (= alpha?) supported by Cx, and by seven A mss. Beta includes the definite article twice, presumably in response to a short b-verse. F has boþe ... & þe. ¶ I am fayne of þat forwarde · seyde þe freke þanne And ritte riȝte to resoun · and rowneth in his ere And seide as þe kynge baddeBx.4.14: seide ... badde: F has tolde hym as þe kyng seide. Cx has sayde for both verbs. Ax has Seide ... sente. · and sithen toke his leue ¶ I shal arraye me to ride quod resoun [·] reste þe a whileBx.4.15: L omits punctuation, and its position varies in other mss. W and alpha have it after resoun, MO after ride. And called catoun his knaue · curteise of speche And also tomme trewe tonge · telle me no tales Ne lesyng to lawȝe of · for I loued hem neuere And sette my sadel vppon suffre · til I se my tyme And lete warrok itBx.4.20: it: The reference is to the saddle securely fastened with girths. This is clearly the reading of Bx. Burrow (1990), 139-44, calls the text "hopelessly confused", and discusses the possibility of taking vppon in l. 19 as an adverb. Galloway (2006), 381 considers this further. Beta2 and GF smooth by altering it to him, as in AC. wel · with witty wordes gerthes And hange on hym þe heuy brydel · to holde his hed lowe For he wil make wehe · tweyeBx.4.22: tweye: The form is supported by LMR; see Adams (2000), 176. er he be there ¶ Thanne conscience vppon his caple · kairethBx.4.23: kaireth: Sound support from LM and alpha against the form carieth in beta2 and G. For the same variation, see Bx.P.29, 2.164, 5.310. forth faste And resoun with hym ritte · rownynge togideres Whiche maistries Mede · maketh on þis ertheBx.4.25: erthe: The reversed word-order in alpha is an error; both the alliterative scheme and the order in the revised line in Cx support beta. ¶ One waryn wisdom · and witty his fere Folwed hemBx.4.27: hem: The attestation of LMO + alpha, with support from AC, guides choice of this reading over CrWHmG hym. faste · hauedBx.4.27: haued: It looks as though Bx lost for þei before haued. The obvious omission is corrected, perhaps partly on the basis of Ax, in all but the two most reliable mss., LR. Note, however, that M, also independent at this stage, expands to for he, probably by conjecture. The line is marked for correction in L. to done In þe cheker and atBx.4.28: and at: The reading of Bx is uncertain. L's and at has support from R's atte, and LR agreement is usually decisive. However, MGF have and, which could be the archetypal reading, expanded differently by other scribes. Yet Beta2 and CO are supported by Ax with and in (the line is not in C), and also by the same a-verse in Bx.P.93 (and RK.P.91). þeBx.4.28: þe (2): Not in MHmF. Most A mss. have neither instance of þe in the line. Cf. the same a-verse in Bx.P.93 (without either article) and RK.P.91 (where readings vary). chauncerie · to be discharged of þinges And riden fast for resoun [·] shulde rede hem þe besteBx.4.29: Following the punctuation of CO + alpha. L has nothing and MWHm punctuate after shulde. For to saue hem for siluer · fro shame and fram harmes ¶ And conscience knewe hem wel · þei loued coueitise And bad resoun ride faste · and recche of her noither Þere aren wiles in here wordes · and with Mede þei dwelleth There as wratthe and wranglyng is · þere wynne þei siluer ¶ Ac þereBx.4.35: þere(1): "where"; beta2 and F have where. is loue and lewte · þei wil nouȝte come þere Contricio & infelicitas in vijs eorum &c Þei ne gyueth nouȝte of god · one gose wynge Non est timor dei ante oculos eorum For wot god þei wolde do more · for a dozeine chickenes Or as many capones · or for a seem of otes Þan for loue of owre lorde · or alle hise leue seyntes For-þi resounBx.4.42: resoun: Alpha omits, losing the alliteration. lete hem ride · þo riche bi hem-seluen For conscience knoweth hem nouȝte · ne cryst as I trowe [¶]Bx.4.44: ¶: Alpha's paraph finds support from the paragraph in Cr. And þanne resoun rode faste · þe riȝte heiȝe gate As conscience hym kenned · til þei come to þe Kynge ¶ Curteisliche þe kynge þanne · come aȝein resoun And bitwene hym-self and his sone · sette hym on benche And wordeden wel wyseli · a gret while togideres ¶ And þanne come pees in-to parlement · and put forth a bille How wronge aȝeines his wille · had his wyf taken And how he rauisshed Rose · Reginoldes loue And Margarete of hir maydenhode · maugre here chekis Bothe my gees & my grys · his gadelynges feccheth I dar nouȝte for fere of hymBx.4.54: hym: Only WHm have hem (theym G). There is the same variation in A mss. · fyȝte ne chyde He borwed of me bayard · heBx.4.55: he (2): Thus beta, against alpha + CrHm and. Most A mss. have the alpha reading, as does the P family of C, but the X family has the beta reading. We follow copy-text. brouȝte hym home neure Ne no ferthynge þer-fore · for nauȝteBx.4.56: nauȝte: LM + alpha give this strong support for Bx against ought in all other mss. AC also have nouȝt. I couthe plede He meyneteneth his men · to morther myne hewen ForstallethBx.4.58: Forstalleth: So beta and Ax; R has He forstalleth, and F & to for-staleþ (sic). Cx begins the line with And. my feyres · and fiȝteth in my chepynge And breketh vp my bernes doreBx.4.59: bernes dore: So LWHmR, against berne dore in MCrF, and berne dores in GO. AC vary similarly. · and bereth aweye my whete And taketh me but a taile · for ten quarteres of otesBx.4.60: of otes: Agreement of LR (together with WCO) suggests that this is perhaps the Bx reading, though since Ax and Cx have otes only, this could equally represent Bx. And ȝet he bet me þer-to · and lyth bi my Mayde I [am]Bx.4.62: am: LC have nam but all others are supported by AC. (M originally had ham, with h altered to n). The alliteration of the line is on /h/ and vowel, not /n/. Cf. Bx.5.424, 443. nouȝte hardy for hym · vneth to loke ¶ The kynge knewe he seide sothe · for conscience hym tolde Þat wronge was a wikked luftBx.4.64: luft: "evil person". This unusual nominal use (MED lift adj. 3(b)) provokes confusion and avoidance among the scribes. Cx simplifies to man. · and wrouȝte moche sorweBx.4.64: wrouȝte moche sorwe: Perhaps Cx inherited R's word order, muche sorwe wrouȝte, altering sorwe to wo for the alliteration. ¶ Wronge was afered þanne · and wisdome he souȝte To make pees with his pens · and profered hym manye And seide had I loue of my lordeBx.4.67: my lorde: Cr and Alpha omit, losing the alliteration. This heavy a-verse is Ax, but Cx drops þe kynge. þe kynge · litel wolde I recche Theiȝe pees and his powere · pleyned hymBx.4.68: hym: HmR have hem (G theym). A mss. are split; Cx rewrites as he pleyne(de). The more obvious pl. suggest that powere was understood as "supporters" (so Kane (2005), s.v.), rather than "legal power" (so Alford (1988), 199). eure ¶ Þo wanBx.4.69: wan: So LCR, as well as the parallel a-verse in A (K.4.53); Kane (2005) glosses "profited". M is corrected to wente, the reading of the other B mss. See Adams (2000), 181. F omits this and the next three lines. wisdome · and sire waryn þe witty For þat wronge had ywrouȝte · so wikked a dede And warned wronge þo · with suche a wyse tale Who-so worcheth biBx.4.72: bi: Supported by Ax against the variants by my in MO and my in C. wille · wratthe maketh ofte I seye it bi þi-selfBx.4.73: þi-self: So LO + alpha. The a-verse means "I say that with reference to you". M is altered to my-self, the reading of CrWHmCG and some A mss., on the basis of the phrase recorded in Bx.4.139, where it means "I give it as my own opinion". · þow shalt it wel fynde But if Mede it make · þi myschief is vppe For bothe þi lyf and þi londe · lyth in his grace ¶ Thanne wowed wronge · wisdome ful ȝerne To make his pees with his pens · handi-dandi payed Bx.4.78: WHm and R have a paraph.Wisdome and witte þanne [·] wenten togideres And toke Mede myd hem [·] mercy to winne ¶ Pees put forþ his hed · and his panne blody Wyth-outen gilte god it wote · gat I þis skaþe Conscience and þe comune · knowen þe sothe ¶ Ac wisdom and witte · were about faste To ouercome þe kynge · with catel ȝif þei myȝte ¶ Þe kynge swore bi crist · and bi his crowne bothe Þat wronge for his werkis · sholde wo þolye And comaunded a constable · to casten hym in yrens And late hym nouȝte þis seuene ȝere · seen his feet ones ¶ God wot quod wysdom · þat were nauȝte þe beste And he amendes mowe make · late meynprise hym haue And be borwgh for his bale · and biggen hym bote And so amende þat is mysdo · and euermoreBx.4.92: euermore: The beta reading, supported by AC. þe bettere ¶ Witt acorded þer-with · and seide þe same BettereBx.4.94: Bettere: The beta reading, supported by AC against alpha's Þat bettere. is þat bote · bale adoun brynge Þan bale be ybette · & bote neuere þe bettere ¶ And þanne gan Mede to me[k]enBx.4.96: meken: The alpha reading, supported by AC against beta's mengen, which nevertheless makes good sense, "get involved" (MED 3(c)). here · and mercy sheBx.4.96: she: Clear support as Bx, though not in Ax or most C mss. bisought And profred pees a present · al of pure golde Haue þis man of me quod she · to amende þi skaþe For I wil wage for wronge · he wil do so namore ¶ Pitously pees þanne · prayed to þe kynge To haue mercy on þat man · þat mys-did hym so ofte For he hath waged me wel · as wisdome hym tauȝte And I forgyue hym þat gilte · with a goode wille So þat þe kynge assent · I can seye no bettere For Mede hath made m[yn]Bx.4.105: myn: The alpha reading, supported by AC against beta's me. amendes · I may namore axe ¶ Nay quod þe Kynge þo · so me crystBx.4.106: cryst: So beta, against alpha's non-alliterating god. In Ax the b-verse is so god ȝiue me blisse (K.4.91); in Cx the line is revised to Nay by crist quod þe kyng for Consiences sake (RK.4.99). helpe Wronge wendeth nouȝte so awaye · arst wil I wite more For loupe he so liȝtly · laughen he wolde And efte þe balder be · to bete myne hewen But resoun haue reuthe on hym · he shal rest in my stokkes And þat as longe as he lyueth · but lowenesse hym borwe ¶ Somme men redde Resoun þo · to haue reuthe on þat schrewe And for to conseille þe Kynge · and conscience after That Mede moste be meynpernour · resoun þei bisouȝte ¶ Rede me nouȝte quod resoun · no reuthe to haue Til lordes and ladies · louien alle treuthe And haten al harlotrye · to heren itBx.4.117: it(1): So LCO and alpha, as well as the X family of C; erased in M, in line with beta2 + G, together with the P family of C. or to mouthen it Tyl pernelles purfil · be put in here hucche And childryn cherissyng · be chastyngBx.4.119: chastyng: "chastisement" (MED chastiinge); clearly Bx, with HmF chastised the easier reading though also that of Ax. Cx has chasted. with ȝerdes And harlotes holynesse · be holden for an hyneBx.4.120: an hyne: lit. "servant", in context something of small consequence. R replaces it with nauȝte, F with vanyte. Beta is supported by Ax but Cx revises. For discussion see Galloway (2006), 405-6; Turville-Petre (2006), 233-4. Til clerken coueitise be · to clothe þe pore and to fedeBx.4.121: to fede: Despite the scribal tendency to add to with an infinitive, the agreement of LR (+ CO) suggests that this is Bx, with other scribes dropping to from a b-verse that is already heavy. There is no parallel in A, and C is revised to be cloth for þe pore (RK.4.114). And religious romares · recordare in here cloistres As seynt Benet hem bad · Bernarde and Fraunceys And til prechoures prechyng · be preued on hem-seluen Tyl þe kynges conseille · be þe comune profyte Tyl bisschopes baiardes · ben beggeres chambres Here haukes and her houndes · helpe to pore Religious · ¶ And til seynt Iames be souȝte · þere I shal assigne That no man go to Galis · but if he go for euere And alle Rome-renneres · for robberes ofBx.4.130: of: So LMCOR, supported by Ax, revised in C. byȝende Bere no siluer ouer see · þat signe of kynge sheweþ Noyther graue ne vngraue · golde noither siluer Vppon forfeture of þat fee · who-so fynt hymBx.4.133: hym: i.e. "if anyone catches him". Beta2 corrupts to it; A mss. vary between the two pronouns, while C mss., although split between hym and hem, effectively support Bx. at Douere But ifBx.4.134: if: The agreement of LR and CrWCGO would suggest that this is from Bx, though MHmF without it are paralleled by AC. it be marchaunt or his man · or messagere with lettres Prouysoure or prest · or penaunt for his synnes ¶ And ȝet quod resoun bi þe Rode · I shal no reuthe haue While Mede hath þe maistrye · in þis moot halle Ac I may shewe ensaumples · as I se other-while I sey it bi my-self quod he · and it so were That I were kynge with crowne · to kepen a Rewme Shulde neuere wronge in þis worlde · þat I wite myȝte Ben vnpunisshed in my powere · for peril of my soule Ne gete my grace [þorw]Bx.4.143: þorw: Alpha's preposition is supported by AC against beta's for. giftes · so me god saue Ne for no Mede haue mercy · but mekenesse it makeBx.4.144: make: Alpha (with CrHm) has the past tense. A mss. are similarly split, and C rewrites. ¶ For nullum malum þe man · mette with inpunitum And badde nullum bonum · be irremuneratum ¶ Late ȝowre confessoure sire Kynge · construe þis vnglosed And ȝif ȝe worken it in werke · I wedde myne eres That lawe shal ben a laborere · and lede a-felde donge And loue shal lede þi londe · as þe lief lyketh ¶ Clerkes þat were confessoures · coupled hem togideres Alle to construe þis clause · andBx.4.152: and: This has the support of LR and WHmC, though F reads al and MCrGO omit, presumably reacting to its oddity. In both A and C the b-verses are quite different. for þe kynges profit Ac nouȝte for conforte of þe comune · ne for þe kynges soule ¶ For I seiȝe mede in þe moot halle · on men of lawe wynke And þei lawghyng lope to hire · and lafte resoun manye ¶ Waryn wisdome · wynked vppon Mede And seide Madame I am ȝowre man · what-so my mouth ianglethBx.4.157: iangleth: Alpha + WHm have subjunctive, which may be right, but the indicative is not uncommon in such expressions. See Mustanoja (1960), 468, and cf. "what-euere þe boke telleth" (Bx.5.495). The line is not in AC. I falle in floreines quod þatBx.4.158: þat: So beta, against alpha's þe. Either could be Bx. See KD, p. 143. freke · an faile speche ofte ¶ Alle riȝtful recorded · þat resoun treuthe tolde And witt acorded þer-with · and comended his wordes And þe moste peple in þe halle · and manye of þe grete And leten mekenesse a maistre · and Mede a mansed schrewe ¶ Loue lete of hir liȝte · and lewte ȝitBx.4.163: ȝit: Beta is supported by Cx against wel in Hm and alpha. lasse And seide it so heiȝe [·] þat al þe halle it herde Who-so wilneth hir to wyf · for welth of her godis But he be knowe for a kokewolde · kut of my nose ¶ Mede mourned þo · and made heuy chere For þe moste comune of þat courte [·] called hire an hore Ac a sysoure and a sompnoure · sued hir faste And a schireues clerke · byschrewed al þe route For ofte haue I quod heBx.4.171: he: F takes the form to be feminine, referring to Mede, and MHm alter to she, but the reference is obviously to the sheriff's clerk. · holpe ȝow atte barre And ȝit ȝeue ȝe me neuere · þe worthe of a russhe ¶ The kynge called conscience · and afterwardes resoun And recorded þat resoun [·] had riȝtfullich schewed And modilichBx.4.175: modilich: In L a corrector has added <w> to read mowd-. vppon Mede · with myȝte þe Kynge lokedBx.4.175: Alpha's b-verse is perhaps a response to the clumsy reading of Bx, as recorded by beta. Cx patches to "many tyme lokede" (RK.4.167). And gan wax wrothe with lawe · for Mede almoste had shent it And seide þorw ȝowre lawe as I leue · I lese many chetes Mede ouer-maistrieth lawe · and moche treuthe letteth Ac resoun shal rekene with ȝow · ȝif I regne any while And deme ȝow bi þis day · as ȝe han deserued Mede shal nouȝte meynprise ȝow · bi þe Marie of heuene I wil haue leute in lawe · and lete be al ȝowre ianglyng And as mosteBx.4.183: moste: There seems nothing to choose between beta and alpha's alle except the scribal tendency to exaggerate. There is no parallel line in AC. folke witnesseth welBx.4.183: wel: R's a-verse presumably represents alpha, with F's as alle wyȝes witnesse an effective attempt to improve the alliteration. · wronge shal be demed ¶ Quod conscience to þe kynge · but þe comune wil assent It is ful hard bi myn hed · here-to to brynge it Alle ȝowre ligeBx.4.186: lige: In omitting the adjective, R probably represents alpha, with F attempting to improve alliteration, as in l. 183. Beta is supported by AC. leodes · to lede þus euene ¶ By hym þat rauȝte on þe rode · quod resoun to þe kynge But if I reule þus ȝowre rewme · rende out my guttes Ȝif ȝe bidden buxomnes · be of myne assente ¶ And I assent [quod]Bx.4.190: quod: Support is strong from alpha + HmGO, together with Ax. M's seith is a correction. On the other hand, the alliterative pattern would support seith as in LCrWC. In C the line is rewritten to alliterate on /w/ (RK.4.183). þe kynge · by seynte Marie my lady Be my conseille comen [·]Bx.4.191: L misplaces the punctuation after clerkis. of clerkis and of erlis Ac redili resoun [·] þow shalt nouȝte ride fro me For as longe as I lyue · lete þe I nelle ¶ I am aredyBx.4.194: aredy: LMOR have this form; Cr has redy (as does Ax); WHmCGF have al redy. quod resoun · to reste with ȝow euere So conscience be of owreBx.4.195: owre: M's yowre is paralleled in a number of A mss. conseille · I kepe no bettere And I graunt quod the kynge · goddes forbode [he]Bx.4.196: he: R shares this reading with Ax. Both F (with þou) and beta (with it) miss the reference to Conscience. faile Als longe as owre lyf lastethBx.4.197: lasteth: There is no particular reason to prefer alpha's subjunctive form. For not very precise parallels, cf. Bx.6.295, 20.211. · lyue we togideres Passus quintus de visione vt supra The kyng and his knightes · to the kirke wente To here matynes of þe day · and þe masse after Þanne waked I of my wynkynge [·] and wo was with-alle Þat I ne hadde sleped sadder · and yseiȝen more Ac er I hadde faren a fourlonge · feyntise me hente That I ne myȝte ferther a foot · for defaute of slepynge And sat softly adown · and seide my bileue And so IBx.5.8: so I: Omitted by R, but F has y bablede so, and beta is supported by Ax. The line is not in Cx. babeled on my bedes · þei brouȝte me a-slepe ¶ And þanne saw I moche more · þan I bifore tolde For I say þe felde ful of folke · þat I bifore of seyde And how resoun gan arrayen hym · alle þe reume to preche And with a crosse aforBx.5.12: afor: On five occasions alpha and random beta mss. read the preposition as byfor; the others are Bx.5.23, 16.46, 17.311, 20.130. Probably this is regression to the commonplace, since afor is uncommon in the poem. Only in 12.91 does it have support from both branches. At 14.145 the adverb reads afore in beta, but tofore in alpha. þe kynge · comsed þus to techen ¶ He preued þat þise pestilences · wasBx.5.13: was: LMCOR have this as the plural form. It is also the form in Cx (RK.5.115) and some A mss. For parallels see Bx.13.368, 17.11, 19.47, 19.96. for pure synne And þe southwest wynde · on saterday at euene Was pertliche for prydeBx.5.15: pryde: Beta adds pure (from l. 13); alpha is supported by AC. · and for no poynt elles Piries and plomtrees · were puffed to þe erthe InBx.5.17: In: Alpha begins the line with And in, but AC support beta. ensample ȝe segges · ȝeBx.5.17: ȝe segges ȝe: WHm have þat ȝe segges. F's we is also the reading of Cx (RK.5.119). A mss. show considerable variation. shulden do þe bettere Beches and brode okes · were blowen to þe grounde [And]Bx.5.19: And: Dropped in beta, but supported by AC. torned vpward her tailleBx.5.19: taille: As often, the distributive sg. is to be preferred. In this case alpha is supported by AC. · inBx.5.19: in: Dropped by alpha, but supported by AC. tokenynge of drede Þat dedly synne ar domesday · shal fordon hem alle ¶ Of þis matere I myȝte · mamely ful longe Ac I shal seye as I saw · so me god helpe How pertly aforBx.5.23: afor: See note to Bx.5.12 for variation with byfor. þe poeple · resoun ganBx.5.23: gan: Strong support from LMR against bigan. F's word-order improves the alliteration of the b-verse, but cannot be archetypal. No doubt the order in Bx is a reminiscence of l. 11. The line is not in the other versions. to preche ¶ He bad wastoure goBx.5.24: go: Only R has to, which is, however, the reading of the X family of C. worche · what he best couthe And wynnen his wastyng · with somme manere crafteBx.5.25: crafte: Ax also has the sg. ¶ AndBx.5.26: And: Clear support from LMR and HmCO, against He in CrWGF. A mss. vary, but Cx has He, possibly the source for CrG by contamination. preyed peronelle · her purfyle to lete And kepe it in hir cofre · for catel at hire nede ¶ Thomme stowue he tauȝte · to take two staues And fecche filice home · fro wyuen[e] pyneBx.5.29: wyuene pyne: Having lost -e (OE -ena), beta adds the article to correct a short b-verse. A few AC scribes do the same. ¶ He warned watt · his wyf was to blame ÞatBx.5.31: Þat: Also the A reading. WHm For is also the C reading (RK.5.133). hire hed was worth halue markeBx.5.31: halue marke: LCrCG include the indefinite article, and M is corrected to include it. But alpha and WHmO are without it, as is Cx. Ax has a mark. · hisBx.5.31: his: CrWHmF have and his, as also do AC. But probably Bx omitted and, since it is not attested by LR and CGO. In M it is first added by the corrector and then deleted. hode nouȝteBx.5.31: nouȝte: The reading nouȝte worth looks suspiciously scribal. Six A mss. omit worth, as do all except one of the C mss. But attestation for Bx is uncertain: only HmG and R omit it. We follow the readings of R throughout this line. a grote And bad bette kut · a bow other tweyne And bete betoun þer-with · but if she wolde worche Bx.5.34: WHm and alpha have a paraph, though it is not particularly appropriate.And þanne he charged chapmen · to chastenBx.5.34: chasten: The form supported for Bx by LR and CrCG, as well as Cx and five A mss. Others have chastisen. her childeren Late no wynnynge [forweny hem]Bx.5.35: forweny hem: Beta has hem forweny. The word-order of alpha is uncertain, since R omits the pronoun, but F's for-wayne hem is the order of AC. · whilBx.5.35: whil: R alone has þe while, though it is in the X family of C. þei be ȝonge Ne for no pouste of pestilence · plese hem nouȝte out of resoun ¶ My syre seyde so to me · and so did my dame Þat þe leuere childe · þe more lore bihoueth And Salamon seide þe same · þat sapience made Qui parcit virge odit filium Þe Englich of þis latyn is · who-so wil it knowe Who-so spareth þe sprynge · spillethBx.5.42: spilleth: Alpha includes the pronoun he, but beta is supported by Cx. The line is not in A. his children ¶ And sithen he preyedBx.5.43: preyed: Evidently the beta reading, supported against the variants by AC. prelatz · and prestes togideres Þat ȝe prechen to þe peple · preue it on ȝowre-seluen And doth it in dede · it shal drawe ȝow to good If ȝe lyuen as ȝe lerenBx.5.46: leren: This varies with lerne also in A, but is supported by Cx. vs [·] we shal leue ȝow þe bettere ¶ And sithen he radde Religioun · here reule to holde Leste þe kynge and his conseille · ȝowre comunes appayre And ben stuwardes of ȝowre stedes · til ȝe be ruledBx.5.49: ruled: An obvious substitution in Bx for alliterating stewed, "governed", in AC. bettre ¶ And sithen he conseilled þe kynge · þeBx.5.50: þe (2): This is secure for Bx, though beta2 his is the Cx reading (RK.5.180). comune to louye It is þi tresore if tresoun ne wereBx.5.51: ne were: R's loss of ne suggests that alpha may have read nere, as in F, which would be a little less clumsy. The line is not paralleled in AC. · and triacle at þi nede [¶]Bx.5.52: ¶: The parallel with the paraphs for lines 43, 47 and 50 also beginning And sithen supports the paraph recorded in WHmCOR (with a new line-group in M). And sithen he prayed þe pope · haue pite on holicherche And er he gyue any grace · gouerne firste hym-selue ¶ And ȝe that han lawes to kepe · late treuthe be ȝowre coueytise More þan golde or otherBx.5.55: or other: M and beta2 (CrWHm) drop other, but it has support from LCHm and alpha. The line is not in AC. gyftes · if ȝe wil god plese For who-so contrarieth treuthe · he telleth in þe gospel That god knoweth hym nouȝte · ne no seynte of heuene Amen dico vobis nescio vos · ¶ And ȝe þat seke seynte Iames · and seintes of Rome Seketh seynt treuthe · for he may saue ȝow alle Qui cum patre & filio · þat feire hem bifalle Þat suweth my sermon · and þus seyde resoun ¶ Thanne ran repentance · and reherced his teme And gert wille to wepe · water with his eyen ¶ Peronelle proude-herte · platte hir to þe erthe And lay longe ar she loked · and lorde mercy cryed Superbia ·Bx.5.67: The beta scribes have Latin titles for the sins in the main hand in the margin, and marked out by rubrication from other marginal annotations, but the alpha scribes do not have them. And byhiȝte toBx.5.67: to: Supported by Ax (K.5.47) and Cx (RK.6.5) against MO vn-to. hym · þat vs alle made She shulde vnsowen hir serke · and sette þere an heyre To affaiten hire flessh · þat fierce was to synne Shal neuere heiȝe herte me hente · but holde me lowe And suffre to be myssayde · and so did I neuere But now wil I meke me · and mercy biseche For alBx.5.73: al: Dropped by alpha, but supported by AC and alliterating. þis I haue · hated in myne herte ¶ Þanne lecchoure seyde allas · and on owre lady he cryed Luxuria · To make mercy for his mis-dedes · bitwene god and his soule With þat he shulde þe saterdayBx.5.76: þe saterday: R's on þe day probably represents alpha. Beta is supported by Ax and alliteration. · seuene ȝere þere-after Drynke but [with]Bx.5.77: with: Alpha is supported by A and C (RK.6.174); elsewhere (e.g. Bx.4.79) Langland uses myd to provide alliteration. For discussion of this variation, see note to Bx.7.26. þe doke · and dyne but ones Inuidia ¶ Enuye with heuy herte · asked after scrifte And carefullich mea culpa · he comsed to sheweBx.5.79: shewe: R has schrewe, F has shryue, but beta is supported by Ax. The line is revised in Cx. He was as pale as a pelet · in þe palsye he semed And clothed in a caurimaury · I couthe it nouȝte discreue In kirtel and kourteby · and a knyf bi his syde Of a freres frokke · were þeBx.5.83: þe: Beta is supported by the majority of A mss., but six read his with alpha. forsleues And as a leke haddeBx.5.84: hadde: Beta2 (CrWHm) read þat hadde, supported by the majority of A mss., though four omit þat. It is more probably supplied than dropped. The line is not in Cx. yleye · longe in þe sonne So loked he with lene chekes · lourynge foule ¶ His body was to-bolle for wratthe · þat he bote his lippes And wryngy[ed]Bx.5.87: wryngyed: R (= alpha?). A has wroþliche he wroþ his fest (K.5.67) and C reads A wroth his fuste vppon wrath (RK.6.66). Apparently Bx misunderstood the pun (wroth from writhen, and wrath), and substituted the past tense of wringen. Beta's wryngynge he ȝede is an expansion. Elsewhere in B the past tense of wring is wrong, as in F here. with þe fiste · to wreke hym-self he þouȝte With werkes or with wordes · whan he seighe his tyme Eche a worde þat he warpe · was of an addres tonge Of chydynge and of chalangynge · was his chief lyflode With bakbitynge and bismer · and beryng of fals witnesse Þis was al his curteisye · where þat euere he shewed hymBx.5.92: F entirely rewrites the line with much more emphatic alliteration. W omits. Lines 91-5 are not in AC, and lines 96-121 are not in C. ¶ I wolde ben yshryue quod þis schrewe · and I for shame durst I wolde be gladder bi god · þat gybbe had meschaunce Than þouȝe I had þis woke ywonne · a weye of essex chese ¶ I haue a neighbore neyȝe me · I haue ennuyedBx.5.96: ennuyed: The spellings anoyed, noyed, enuyed are all forms of "annoyed". hym ofte And lowen on hym to lordes · to don hym lese his siluer And made his frendes ben his foon · thorw my false tonge His grace and his good happes · greueth me ful sore Bitwene m[eyne] and m[eyne]Bx.5.100: meyne and meyne: We take R's reading ("retinue") to represent alpha, supported by Ax hym & his meyne. F thus revises, perhaps partly on the basis of A; beta regresses to the commonplace. · I make debate ofte Þat bothe lyf and lyme · is lost þorw my speche ¶ And whan I mete him in market · þat I moste hate I hailse hym hendeliche · as I his frende were For he is douȝtier þan I · I dar do non other Ac hadde I maystrye and myȝte · god wote my wille ¶ And whan I come to þe kirkeBx.5.106: kirke: Hm and alpha have non-alliterating cherche. See Introduction IV.1. · and sholde knele to þe Rode And preye for þe pople · as þe prest techeth For pilgrimes and forBx.5.108: and for: Support from LR and CrWCO, though MHmG lack for. F instead lacks and, as in Ax. palmers · for alle þe poeple after Þanne I crye on my knees · þat cryste ȝif hem sorwe Þat bar awey my bolle · and my broke schete ¶ Awey fro þe auter þanne ·Bx.5.111: The alpha scribes punctuate the line before þanne. turne I myn eyghen And biholde how [H]eleyneBx.5.112: Heleyne: F perhaps notices the unlikelihood of Envy envying a woman's coat, and substitutes Hervy. Initial H- is presumably archetypal: Ax has the male name, Heyne (cf. Bx.5.114-15). · hathBx.5.112: hath: Alpha's hath on is not supported by Ax. Following this line F adds rather a vivid line. a newe cote I wisshe þanne it were myne · and al þe webbe after ¶ And of [his]Bx.5.114: his: Bx alters the coatwearer from male (Ax has Heyne) to female Heleyne, and faces scribes with a problem, which they deal with characteristically. Beta and F revise to mennes, but R copies his exemplar regardless, ignoring the inconsistency. Ax also reads his, but there is nowhere evidence that R is contaminated by an A text. See notes to ll. 115 and 116. lesynge I laughe · þat liketh myn herte A[c]Bx.5.115: Ac: There is the same common variation with But in A mss., with three reading And, as beta does here. for h[is]Bx.5.115: his: Again R follows his copy-text, and on this occasion F is content to do the same, whereas beta logically replaces with her, "their". Ax again reads his. wynnynge I wepe · and waille þe tyme ¶Bx.5.116: ¶: The inappropriate paraph is in LR, with a new line-group in M, and so is apparently a Bx error. And deme [men]Bx.5.116: men: Again R is supported by A, with F supplying the object hem instead. Since beta already has a plural referent, men is unnecessary and is therefore dropped. þat hij don ille · þere I do wel worse Who-so vndernymeth me here-of · I hate hym dedly after I wolde þat vche a wyght · were my knaue For who-so hath more þan I · þat angreth me sore And þus I lyue louelees · lyke a luther dogge That al my body bolneth · for bitter ofBx.5.121: of: Probably R's in represents alpha (F has ys). Ax supports of. my galle ¶ I myȝte nouȝte eet many ȝeres · as a man ouȝte For enuye and yuel wille · is yuel to defye May no sugre ne swete þinge · asswage my swellynge Ne no diapenidion · dryue it fro myne herte Ne noyther schrifte ne shame · but ho-so schrape my mawe ¶ Ȝus redili quod repentaunce · and radde hym to þe beste Sorwe of synnes · is sauacioun of soules ¶ I am sori euere sory Bx.5.129: sory / euere sory: Beta agrees with Ax, while alpha's euere sory agrees with Cx. quod þat segge · I am but selde other And þat maketh me þus megre · for I ne may me venge Amonges Burgeyses haue I be · dwellynge at Londoun And gert bakbitinge be a brocoure · to blame mennes ware Whan he solde and I nouȝte · þanne was I redyBx.5.133: redy: R has aredy which may be right. It is the Cx form (RK.6.97). The passage Bx.5.131-89 is not in A. To lye and to loure on my neighbore · and to lakke his chaffareBx.5.134: chaffare: Alpha's ware presumably arises by eyeskip from l. 132, where F actually reads to lakke mennys ware. For the reverse situation see l. 209 and note. Cx is rewritten. I wil amende þis ȝif I may · þorw myȝte of god almyȝty Ira · ¶ Now awaketh wratthe · with two whyte eyen And nyuelynge with þe nose · and his nekke hangynge ¶ I am wrathBx.5.138: wrath: Alpha's wrothe is perhaps here the adjective, "I am angry"; alternatively it is the adjective used as a noun (see MED wroth), as in R's spelling in l. 136. The X family of C also has this form. quod he · I was sum-tyme a frere And þe couentes Gardyner · for to graffe ympes On limitoures and listres · lesynges I ymped Tyl þei bere leues of low speche · lordes to plese And sithen þei blosmed obrodeBx.5.142: obrode: Dropped by alpha, but supported by alliteration. · in boure to here shriftes And now is fallen þer-of a frute · þat folke han wel leuere Schewen her schriftes to hem · þan shryue hem to her persones ¶ And now persones [han]Bx.5.145: persones han: "Now that parsons have perceived" (as in beta2 and G), rather than, with the word-order in CO and alpha, "Now have parsons perceived". Either order could be Bx. L drops the auxiliary, while M drops the phrase, and persons han is added above the line in another hand. The line is not in AC. parceyued · þat Freres parte with hem Þise possessioneres preche · and depraue freres And freresBx.5.147: freres: Alpha drops the word, but the following line refers to the peripatetic activity of friars. fyndeth hem in defaute · as folke bereth witnes That whan þei preche þe poeple · in many placeBx.5.148: place: This is probably the beta form. As a romance loan ending in a sibilant, it may be singular or plural. aboute I wrath walke with hem · and wisse hem of my bokes Þus þei speken of spiritualteBx.5.150: spiritualte: Beta2 (and M by correction) and GR supply my, by contamination with the next line. It makes no sense here. See note on l. 151. · þat eyther despiseth other Til þei be bothe beggers · and by my spiritualteBx.5.151: by my spiritualte: Hm and alpha drop my, by confusion with the previous line. F, observing nonsense, revises to by almesse. libben Or elles alle riche [·] and riden aboute I wrath rest neuere · þat I ne moste folwe This wykked folke · for suche is my grace ¶ I haue an aunte to nonne · and an abbesseBx.5.155: abbesse: R is supported by Cx. Beta's addition of bothe and F's of eek are responses to the unusually light b-verse. Hir were leuere swowe or swelte · þan soeffre any peyne I haue be cook in hir kichyne · and þe couent serued Many monthes with hem · and with monkes botheBx.5.158: bothe: R's alse probably represents alpha (F rewrites), but beta is supported by Cx (RK.6.131). I was þe priouressesBx.5.159: priouresses: LMR and Hm have this form of the genitive, whereas other mss. have the unmarked form, as do most C mss. potagere · and other poure ladyes And made hem ioutes of iangelynge · þat dame Io[n]eBx.5.160: Ione: So MCrO and alpha, as well as C mss. It is the usual feminine form of the name in Middle English. was a bastard And dame Clarice a kniȝtes douȝter · ac a kokewolde was hire syre And dame Peronelle a prestes file · Priouresse worth she neuere For she had childe in chirityme · al owre chapitere it wiste ¶ Of wykked wordes I wrath · here wortes I-madeBx.5.164: I-made: Past tense; MED imaken. The prefix recorded in LOR makes the b-verse regular. Til þow lixte and þow lixte · lopen oute at ones And eyther hitte other · vnder þe cheke Hadde þei had knyues bi cryst · her eytherBx.5.167: her eyther: "each of them". LMWR include the genitive pronoun. had killed other ¶ Seynt Gregorie was a gode pope · and had a gode forwit Þat no Priouresse were prest · for þat he ordeigned Þei had þanne ben infamis þe firste dayBx.5.170: þe firste day: Dropped by M, G (in a rewritten line) and O to shorten a long a-verse. Cr replaces with two invented lines. The line is not in AC. · þei can so yuel hele conseille ¶ Amonge monkes I miȝte be · ac many tyme I shonye For þere ben many felle frekis · my feres to aspye Bothe Prioure an supprioure · and owre pater abbas And if I telle any tales · þei taken hem togyderes And do me faste frydayes · to bred and to water And amBx.5.176: And am: R's ȝeet, "furthermore", may be right, even though not in F. It gives good sense and has some support from Cx Ȝut am I. chalanged in þe chapitelhous · as I a childe were And baleised on þe bare ersBx.5.177: ers: Beta is confirmed by Cx. R initially read hers, altered to the euphemism bak by the correcting hand. F also reads bak. · and no breche bitwene For-þi haue I no lykyng · with þo leodes to wonye I ete there vnthende fisshe · and fieble ale drynke Bx.5.180: Alpha has a paraph.Ac otherwhile whan wyn cometh · whanBx.5.180: whan (2): So LMR and G; W has þanne, the others read and or omit. I drynke w[el]Bx.5.180: wel: Beta's repetition of wyn gives weaker sense, though wel is repeated in the following line. Perhaps both alpha and beta are making up for a loss in Bx, since Cx has late instead (RK.6.160). at eue I haue a fluxe of a foule mouthe · wel fyue dayes after Al þe wikkednesse þat I wote · bi any of owre bretheren I couth it in owre cloistre · þat al owreBx.5.183: owre (2): The distribution of variants is odd here. LM, the two most reliable beta witnesses, are joined by CrW with owre; the other mss., including F, have þe, except for G with your and R which has nothing. It may be that R is faithfully copying a Bx error, with other scribes supplying the obvious omission. Cx has þe. couent wote it ¶ Now repent þe quod Repentaunce · and reherce þow neure Conseille þat þow cnowest · bi contenaunce ne bi [speche]Bx.5.185: speche: Alpha's reading is obviously correct and supported by Cx. And drynke nouȝte ouer-delicatly · ne to depe noyther Þat þi wille bi cause þer-of [·] to wrath myȝte torne Esto sobrius he seyde · and assoilled meBx.5.188: me: Here and in l. 189 Cr has third person pronouns in line with Cx, and M is altered to the same readings. after And bad me wilne to wepe · my wikkednesse to amende Auaricia · ¶ And þanne cam coueytise · [I can]Bx.5.190: I can: Alpha's word-order is supported by AC. hym nouȝte descryue So hungriliche and holwe · sire henriBx.5.191: henri: There is reasonable support for this as Bx from LR and CG, and possibly M before correction, but AC have heruy, agreeing with WHmOF. Although F may have derived the correction from A, it is difficult to see how the other three mss. got it, although Bennett (1972), 163 quotes a parallel from Skelton, possibly an indication that Hervy was a traditional name for a miser. hym loked He was bitelbrowed · and baberlipped also With two blered eyghen · as a blynde hagge And as a letheren purs · lolled his chekes Wel sydder þan his chyn · þei chiueled for elde And as a bondman of his bacoun · his berde was bidraueled With [his]Bx.5.197: his: Alpha's reading is in agreement with Cx against beta's indefinite article. hode on his hed · a lousi hatte aboue And in a tauny tabarde · of twelue wynter age Al totorne and baudy · and ful of lys crepynge But ifBx.5.200: if: Beta has if þat; AC agree with alpha. a lous couthe · l[epe]Bx.5.200: lepe: Comparison with AC suggests that R represents Bx, with F and beta expanding an uncomfortably short line. A mss. show considerable variation in the b-verse, and Cx offers a desperate repair: But ȝif a lous couthe lepe y leue it as y trowe (quoting Skeat C.7.204). þe bettre [H]eBx.5.201: He: Whether masc. or fem., alpha's reading is supported by AC. sholde nouȝte walk[e]Bx.5.201: walke: Beta's haue walked follows on from its reading of the previous line. Alpha's infinitive is supported by AC, which, however, have wandre. on þat welcheBx.5.201: welche: "Welsh cloth", the reading of LR and AC, but mistranscribed or avoided by the other B scribes. · so was it thredebare ¶ I haue ben coueytouse quod þis caityue · I biknowe it here For some-tyme I serued · symme atte stile And was his prentis ypliȝte · his profit to wayte Bx.5.205: WHm and R have a paraph.First I lerned to lye · a leef other tweyne Wikkedlich to weye · was my furst lessoun To wy and to wynchestre · I went to þe faire With many manere marchandise · as my Maistre me hiȝte Ne had þe grace of gyle [·] ygoBx.5.209: Only LW punctuate the line after ygo. amonge my wareBx.5.209: ware: A good example of the superiority of LMR (joined by F here), supported in this reading by AC, against chaffare in other beta mss. (i.e. beta1). See Adams (2000), 176, and for the same variation see l. 134. It had be vnsolde þis seuene ȝere · so me god helpe ¶ Thanne drowe I me amonges draperes · my donet to lerne To drawe þe lyser alonge [·] þe lenger it semed Amonge þe riche rayes · I rendred a lessoun To broche hem with a bat-nedleBx.5.214: bat-nedle: The form in L and alpha, with M corrected to the majority beta form, paknedle. Adams (2000), 181. A mss. have the same variation, with the majority reading p- (K.5.126).The P family of C also has p-, but the X family has b-, and plaited is revised to bande so that the line alliterates on /b/ (RK.6.218). MED lists only this instance for bat-nedle. · and plaited hem togyderes And put hem in a presse · and pynedBx.5.215: pyned: "subjected to stress" in the presse, which is apparently a stretching frame. Schmidt (1995), 72, glosses "tortured". The reading is supported by LW and alpha against the easier and less appropriate pynned, glossed as "kept fastened" in Kane (2005). A mss. vary, but Cx has pynned. hem þerinne Tyl ten ȝerdes or twelue · tolledBx.5.216: tolled: LM and alpha, supported by AC; other scribes supply hadde. MED v.(1) interprets tollen as "stretch out to" (OE *tollian), while Kane (2005) glosses "tease, coax". It varies with tolde in A; in C the X family reads tolde, the P family has tilled. out threttene ¶ My wyf was a webbe · and wollen cloth made She spak to spynnesteresBx.5.218: spynnesteres: Alpha has the sg. A mss. are split, but Cx has the plural. Athlone adopts the sg. in all versions. · to spynnen it oute Ac þe pounde þat she payed by · poisedBx.5.219: poised: A variant of peised, though given a separate entry by MED. a quarterBx.5.219: quarter: Beta has quateroun (MED quartroun), but alpha is supported by AC. more Than myne owne auncere · who-so weyȝed treuthe ¶ I bouȝte hir barlyBx.5.221: barly: Though all B mss. except for R read barly malte, R is supported by AC. We assume that the easy addition was made by beta and F, with R as usual reproducing his exemplar. · she brewe it to selle Peny ale and podyng ale · she poured togideres For laboreres and forBx.5.223: for (2): Not in MCrCOF, or in most AC mss. low folke · þat lay by hym-Bx.5.223: hym-: LWHmR have sg.: "was set aside on its own", So in Cx, while A mss. vary with the plural. The odd use of hym to refer to a barrel of ale (cf. Cr it) perhaps confused scribes.selue ¶ The best ale lay in my boure · or in my bedchambre And who-so bummed þer-of · bouȝte he bouȝte Bx.5.225: bouȝte / he bouȝte: Beta, without the pronoun, agrees with Ax; alpha and Cx, add the pronoun he. it þer-after A galoun for a grote · god wote na lesse And ȝit it cam in cupmel · þis crafte my wyf vsedBx.5.227: vsed: Beta's past tense is supported by AC. Rose þe regratere · wasBx.5.228: was: Beta's past tense is supported by AC. hir riȝte name She hath holden hokkerye · al hire lyf-tyme ¶ Ac I swere now so the ik · þat synne wil I lete And neuere wikkedliche weye · ne wikkeBx.5.231: wikke "dishonest". So LMW. Particularly in context, the wikked of alpha and others is likely to be a scribal substitution. A mss. exhibit some uncertainty over the word; the line is not in C. chaffare vse But wenden to walsyngham · and my wyf als And bidde þe Rode of bromeholme · brynge me oute of dette ¶ RepentestowBx.5.234: Repentestow: Representing the past tense, as more "properly" in WHmR. (See MED repenten for pa.t. repente). C mss. show the same forms. In Bx.5.453 WHm again "improve" to Repentedestow, falsely on that occasion. LM (= beta?) treat the verb as reflexive, but þe is not in R (= alpha?) or C. HmF include þe but drop the subject pronoun. For a similar set of variants see Bx.5.453 and note. The passage Bx.5.234-308 is not in A. euere quod repentance · neBx.5.234: ne: Another example of LMR presenting a superior reading, here agreeing with Cx. See Adams (2000), 176. The syntax is, however, odd. restitucioun madest ¶ Ȝus ones I was herberwed quod he · with an hep of chapmen I roos whan þei were arest · and yrifledBx.5.236: yrifled: The form, though unmetrical (x x / x x / x), is supported by LR. here males ¶ That was no restitucioun quod repentance · but a robberes thefte Þow haddest betterBx.5.238: better: Although most mss. have be better, LR and original M give secure evidence for Bx, with be in the b-verse governing both worthy and hanged. Bx might have lost be in this context, with other scribes restoring it conjecturally, just as the M corrector did. Adams (2000), 183 judges this instead to be an accidental omission in RL. Cx revises the a-verse to "Thow wolt be hanged heye þerfore" (RK.6.238). worthy · be hanged þerfore Þan for al þat · þat þow hast here shewed ¶ I wende ryflynge were restitucioun quod he · forBx.5.240: quod he for: Probably in response to the length of the line, MHmGF drop quod he, while CGO drop for. The line is not in AC. I lerned neuere rede on boke And I can no frenche in feith · but of þe ferthest ende of norfolke ¶ Vsedestow euere vsurie quod repentaunce · in alle þi lyf-tyme ¶ Nay sothly he seyde · saue in my ȝouthe I lerned amonge lumbardes · [a lessoun and of iewes]Bx.5.244: a lessoun and of iewes: The word-order in alpha is alliteratively correct, and R's reading is shared with Cx. Beta simplifies; F revises. To wey pens with a peys · and pare þe heuyest And lene it for loue of þe crosse · to legge a wedde and lese it Suche dedes I did wryte · ȝif he his day breke I haue mo maneres þorw reragesBx.5.248: rerages: Alpha's regages is an obvious error. · þan þorw miseretur & comodat ¶ I haue lent lordes · and ladyes my chaffare And ben her brocour after · and bouȝte it my-self Eschaunges and cheuesances · with suche chaffare I dele And lene folke þat lese wol · a lyppe at euery noble And with lumbardes lettres · I ladde golde to Rome And toke it by taille hereBx.5.254: here: R alone reads þere, presumably by anticipation. Lines 247-51 and 254 have no parallel in AC. · and tolde hem þere lasse [¶]Bx.5.255: ¶: The line is at the top of the page in L, and the rubricator presumably missed the paraph which is in WHmC and alpha, with a new line-group in M, to mark the opening of the speech. Len[t]estowBx.5.255: Lentestow: L's present tense Lenestow is not supported by Cx. euere lordes · for loue of her mayntenaunce ¶ Ȝe I haue lent lordes · louedBx.5.256: loued: Alpha alone has quod he, but it is not in Cx. CrHmOF supply the subject pronoun that, as in Cx, but its omission, supported by LMWCGR, is idiomatic. me neuere after And haue ymade many aBx.5.257: a: Not in COR, but in Cx. knyȝte · bothe mercere & drapere Þat payed neuere for his prentishode · nouȝte a peire gloues ¶ Hastow pite on pore men · þat mote nedes borwe ¶ I haue as moche pite ofBx.5.260: of (1): The reading of LR and WC, against on, likely to have been prompted by the phrase in the previous line. pore men · as pedlereBx.5.260: pedlere: Alpha has þe pedlere, which is perhaps over-specific. For want of guidance from other versions, we follow copy-text. hath of cattes Þat wolde kille hem yf he cacche hem myȝte · for coueitise of here skynnes ¶ Artow manlyche amonge þi neiȝbores · of þi mete and drynke ¶ I am holden quod he as hende · as hounde is in kychyne Amonges my neighbores namelich · such a name ich haue ¶ Now god lene neure quod repentance · but þow repent þe rather Þe grace on þis grounde · þi good wel to bisette Ne þine [v]sueBx.5.267: vsue: This is the initial spelling in L, then corrected to ysue. R and possibly uncorrected M share the word, against heires in all others mss. except F with houswif! R spelling vssue explains F's reading as an attempt to make sense of vssue via hussie. Schmidt (1995), lxvii-iii, supposes this is shared error in LR; and see Adams (2000), 181-2. We take it to represent the reading of Bx, despite the fact that Cx has heyres, by error or revision. after þe · haue ioye of þat þow wynnest Ne þi excecutours wel bisett · þe siluer þat þow hem leuest And þat was wonne with wronge · with wikked men be despended For were I frere of þat hous · þere gode faith and charite is I noldeBx.5.271: nolde: Beta shares this reading with the P family of C, against alpha's wolde nouȝt. At RK.7.202 the P family again has nolde, as do all B mss. (Bx.5.578) against ne wol(d) in the X family. cope vs with þi catel · ne owre kyrkeBx.5.271: kyrke: Alpha has the non-alliterating cherche. amende Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce of þyneBx.5.272: of þyne: Well supported by LMCOR, though omitted by beta2 and GF, presumably because of its metrical clumsiness. The C reviser's text evidently had the phrase, for the line is rewritten as Ne take a meles mete of þyn and myn herte hit wiste (RK.6.289). LC, confused by its clumsiness, punctuate before the phrase; MOR punctuate after it. [·] bi my soule heleBx.5.272: bi my soule hele: Clearly Bx, despite its lack of alliteration. Beta2 and G have so God my soul help, with W increasing alliteration by altering the verb to saue. For þe best boke in owre hous · þeiȝe brent golde were þe leues And I wyst wytterly · þow were suche as þow telle[st]Bx.5.274: tellest: L has telleth, though the line is marked for correction. Following this line CO have the line Or elles þat I kouþe knowe it by any kynnes wise, and it is supplied in Cr23. It is the first of four spurious lines recorded by CO in this passus; see notes to Bx.5.308, 342, 580. Seruus es alterius · cum fercula pinguia queris Pane tuo pocius · vescere liber eris · ¶ Thow art an vnkynde creature · I can þe nouȝte assoille Til þow make restituciounBx.5.278: restitucioun: Only R adds quod repentaunce as a second alliterating stave in the a-verse. The Bx reading without it seems to have been the basis for the revision in C alliterating on ymad ... myhte ... men. · and rekne with hem alle And sithen þat resoun rolle it · in þe regystre of heuene That þow hast made vche man good · I may þe nouȝte assoille Non dimittitur peccatum · donecBx.5.281: donec: Perhaps alpha and Cr alter the reading to nisi on the basis of a well-known maxim of canon law; see Alford (1992), 46. In Bx.17.316, RK.6.257a and RK.19.290a the quotation is in many mss. abbreviated to Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c. (the form recorded in the Speculum Christiani), with some mss. expanding to donec.... and others to nisi.... On this occasion the former is marginally more appropriate than the latter ("until" vs. "unless"; cf. l. 278 Til). Not in AC. restituatur ablatum &c ¶ For alle þat hathBx.5.282: hath: LMR have the sg., "everyone who has", smoothed to the pl. after alle in other mss. See next line. of þi good · haue god my trouthe IsBx.5.283: Is: LMR continue with the sg., as does F, although rewriting the line. Many C mss. have Is here, though they have the pl. in the previous line. hold[ynge]Bx.5.283: holdynge: "obliged". R's curious pres. ppl. form, revised out by F, must represent alpha, since it is also the form in the X family of C. Indeed R's whole line is reproduced by that family. See next note. at þe heighe dome · to helpe þe restitueBx.5.283: restitue: Beta has to + infinitive, but R is supported by Cx. And who-so leueth nouȝte þis be soth · loke in þeBx.5.284: þe: Beta supported by Cx, against R's a. F has four unsupported lines in place of this one. sauter glose In miserere mei deus · where I mene treuthe Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti &cBx.5.286: The line that follows this in alpha, Þere is no laborere wolde leue with hem . þat knoweth peres þe plowman, appears to be spurious. Its reference to peres þe plowman who has not yet been introduced "relates the immediate discussion to a consideration earlier and subsequently expressed" (KD, p. 193). ¶ ShalBx.5.287: Shal: Alpha begins For schal, tying this line to the added line preceding it. There is no parallel for this passage in AC. neuere werkman in þis worlde · þryue wyth þat þow wynnest Cum sancto sanctus eris · construe me þat on englische ¶ Thanne wex þatBx.5.289: þat: Beta, against alpha's þe. We follow copy-text. shrewe in wanhope · and walde haue hanged himself Ne hadde repentaunce þe rather · reconfortedBx.5.290: reconforted: R (= alpha?) loses alliteration with conforted (as do HmG independently). F repairs with reersyd. hym in þis manere Haue mercye in þi mynde · and with þi mouth biseche it For goddes mercye is more · þan alle hise other werkes Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius &c ·Bx.5.293: The Latin line is only in LMOR. It is translated in l. 292 above (which KD exclude), but that does not seem sufficient explanation for other mss. to lose it. For the first eius (as in the Vulgate) R reads domini, which gives a precise translation of l. 292 and may be right. The verse is quoted again as Bx.17.325, where both R and F read domini. ¶ And al þe wikkednesse in þis worlde · þat man myȝte worche or thynke Ne is no more to þe mercye of god · þan in þe see a glede Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei · est [quasi]Bx.5.296: quasi: Omitted in L and added in M, but in all other B and C mss. For the source see Alford (1992), 47. sintilla in medio maris ¶ For-þi haue mercy in þi mynde · and marchandise leue it For þow hast no good grounde · to gete þe with a wastel But if it were with thi tonge · or ellis with þi two hondes For þe good þat þow hast geten · bigan al with falsehede And as longe as þow lyuest þer-with · þow ȝeldest nouȝte but borwest ¶ And if þow wite neuere to whiche · ne whom to restitueBx.5.302: restitue: The form is supported by Cx (RK.6.344) against GR restitute and CrF restore. See l. 283. Bere it to þe bisschop · and bidde hym of his grace Bisette it hym-selue · as best is for þi soule For he shal answere for þe · at þe heygh dome For þe and for many mo · þat man shal ȝif a rekenynge What he lerned ȝow in lente · leue þow none other And what he lent ȝow of owre lordes good · to lette ȝow fro synneBx.5.308: The line following this in CO is obviously scribal, to compensate for the error his goode for owre lordes goode. Gula · ¶ Now bigynneth glotoun · for to go to schrifte And kaires hym to kirke-ward · his coupe to schewe ¶ Ac Beton þe brewestere · bad hym good morwe And axed of hym with þat · whiderward he wolde ¶ To holicherche quod he · forto here masse And sithen I wil be shryuen · and synne namore ¶ I haue gode ale gossib quod she · glotown wiltow assaye Bx.5.316: W and alpha have a paraph here to mark the start of direct speech.Hastow auȝte in þi purs · any hote spices ¶ I haue peper and piones quod heBx.5.317: he: We preserve copy-text's form for "she". It was beta, though, not alpha, since it is the original form in M, and also survives in CrCG (by misunderstanding?). · and a pounde of garlike A ferthyngworth of fenel-seed · for fastyngdayes ¶ Þanne goth glotoun in · and grete othes after Cesse þe souteresse · sat on þe benche Watte þe warner · and his wyf bothe TymmeBx.5.322: Tymme: The probable source of the variants Tomme and Symme. A and C mss. vary similarly; see note to Kane's A Version, p. 443. þe tynkere · and tweyne of his prentisBx.5.322: prentis: The plural form of a romance loan ending in a sibilant. Hikke þe hakeneyman · and hugh þe nedeler Clarice of cokkeslane · and þe clerke of þe cherche Bx.5.325-6: We follow the order of alpha; beta reverses the two lines. Line 325 is not in Ax; Cx has the alpha order, although adding a line between these two. [SireBx.5.325: Sire: Alpha begins And sire, but without support from Cx. Piers of Pridie · and Peronelle of Flaundres Dawe þe dykere [·] and a dozeine other] A ribibour a ratonere · a rakyer of chepe A ropere a redyngkyng · and Rose þe dissheresBx.5.328: dissheres: See MED disheresse. Alpha supposes it is genitive of dishere, and so adds douȝter. AC have disshere. Godfrey of garlekehithe · and gryfinBx.5.329: gryfin: Both this and R's grifyth are forms of Welsh Gruffudd. Ax and the P family of C have the former, while the X family has the latter. þe walsh And vpholderes an hepe · erly bi þe morwe Geuen glotoun with glad chere · good ale to hansel ¶ Clement þe cobelere · cast of his cloke And atte to þe Bx.5.333: atte / to þe: Beta's atte is the reading of Ax (K.5.169). R's to þe is the reading of Cx (RK.6.377). new faire · nempnedBx.5.333: nempned: The reading of R. Beta and F (by convergence?) add the pronoun he, but it is not supported by AC. it to selle Hikke þe hakeneyman · hitte his hood after And badde bette þe bochere · benBx.5.335: ben: Alpha's to ben is found in some AC mss. on his side Þere were chapmen ychose · þis chaffare to preise Who-so hauethBx.5.337: haueth: WHmO have the past tense, as in AC. þe hood · shuldBx.5.337: shuld: M has shal, though it is an addition above the line; R has schul, which is probably present tense, though LALME 4, 41, records examples of this as a past-tense form. AC have the past. haue amendes of þe cloke ¶ [Þo]Bx.5.338: Þo: The reading of R (= alpha, with F glossing as Þan.) Beta reads Two. Choice is difficult, since A and C mss. also have both readings, with Tho the majority A reading, and Two the majority C reading. Perhaps scribes felt the lack of a subject; note that F supplies a pronoun. risen vp in rape · and rouned togideres And preised þeseBx.5.339: þese: So beta and the X family of C, but alpha's þe is the reading of Ax and the P family. We follow copy-text. penyworthes · apart bi hem-selueBx.5.339: hem-selue: Original M, Hm and alpha have hym-, as do a few C mss. Þei couth nouȝte bi her conscience · acorden in treuthe Tyl Robyn þe ropere · [arise] þe southeBx.5.341: arise þe southe: R's nonsensical b-verse explains the attempts by F and beta to correct it, but it is a corruption of Cx aryse they bisouhte (RK.6.387). Ax has was red to arisen (K.5.178). See KD, p. 90; Hanna (1996), 217. And nempned hym for a noumpere · þat no debate [w]ereBx.5.342: were: The reading of HmGR, and probably the alpha reading (F rewrites). It agrees with the majority of A mss. and all C mss. but one. Beta's nere is perhaps due to alliterative attraction.Bx.5.342: Following this line, a non-alliterating line occurs in Cr23 and OC. ¶ Hikke þe hostellere · hadde þe cloke In couenaunte þat Clement [·] shulde þe cuppe fille And haue hikkes hode hostellere · and holde hym yserued And who-so repented rathest · shulde arise after And grete sire glotoun [·] with a galoun ale ¶ Þere was laughyng and louryng · and let go þe cuppe And seten so til euensonge · and songen vmwhile Tyl glotoun had yglobbed · a galoun an a Iille His guttis gunne to godlyBx.5.351: godly: The form is supported for Bx by LMR, and 11 C mss. have -d- forms. See MED gothelen, and the variants for Bx.13.95, where LR again have god(e)le. · as two gredy sowes He pissed a potel · in a pater noster while And blew his rounde ruwet · at his rigge-bon[es]Bx.5.353: rigge-bones: Scribes vary in treating one or both parts of the compound as appositive or genitive. Most AC mss. support rygbones. ende That alle þat herde þat horne · held her nose after And wissheden it had be wexed · with a wispe of firses ¶ He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde · er he his staffe hadde And þanne gan he goBx.5.357: go: The infinitive without to, as in LMC and alpha, is supported by Cx and most A mss. · liche a glewmannes bicche Somme-tyme aside · and somme-tyme arrere As who-so leyth lynes · forto lacche foules ¶ AndBx.5.360: And: R's Ac has no support from AC, and may be picked up from l. 364. whan he drowgh to þe dore · þanne dymmed his eighen He trembledBx.5.361: trembled: The word is supported for Bx by LR, with the M corrector revising to stombled in line with beta1 to make better sense in context. The word that lies behind this must be the rare verb thromblede, "tripped", as in the X family of C, which causes confusion in all versions. OED needlessly divides thrumble into two verbs, though it is true that the predominant sense recorded is "to crowd in, to jostle". The line in L is marked for correction, but probably this refers to an for and. on þe thresshewolde · an threwe to þe erthe Clement þe cobelere · cauȝte hym bi þe myddel For to lifte hym alofte · and leyde him on his knowes Ac glotoun was a gret cherle · and a grym in þe liftynge And coughed vp a caudel · in clementis lappe Is non so hungri hounde · in Hertford-schire Durst lape of þeBx.5.367: þe: LMR against þat or þo in other mss. (F rewrites). But Cx has þat. leuyngesBx.5.367: leuynges: R has the sg., as does Cx, and may be right. See next note. · so vnlouely [it]Bx.5.367: it: Supported by MHm and alpha as well as Cx. Presumably other beta scribes altered to plural in concord with the plural subject. See MED hit 4a(b) for its use as the grammatical subject relating to an abstract plural. smauȝte ¶ With al þe wo of þis worlde · his wyf and his wenche Baren hymBx.5.369: hym (1): Beta has hym home, but alpha is supported by AC. to his bedde · and brouȝte hym þer-inne And after al þis excesse · he had an accidie Þat he slepe saterday and sonday · til sonne ȝede to reste Bx.5.372: A paraph would be appropriate here, but only WR have one.Þanne waked he of his wynkyng · and wiped his eyghen Þe fyrste worde þat he warpe · was where is þe bolle His witteBx.5.374: witte: The reading of all B mss. except wif in CrW and revised M. Ax has wife, but Cx has His wyf and his inwit. See Schmidt (1995), 371, who suggests that Bx corrupted the reading represented in Cx. gan edwite hym þo · how wikkedlich he lyued And repentance riȝte so · rebuked hym þat tyme ¶ As þow with wordes and werkes · hast wrouȝte yuel in þi lyue Shryue þe and be [a]shamedBx.5.377: ashamed: CrHmO and alpha have the prefix, as do the equivalent lines in AC (K.5.206, RK.6.422). There are only two other examples of either form: Bx.3.191 shamedest, and Bx.20.284 ashamed. þer-of · and shewe it with þi mouth ¶ I glotoun quod þe gome · gylti me ȝelde [Of]Bx.5.379: Of: In the absence of F which misses the line, the presumed alpha reading which is also that of Cx. The passage Bx.5.378-89 is not in A. þat I haue trespassed with my tonge · I can nouȝte telle how ofte Sworen goddes soule [and his sydes]Bx.5.380: and his sydes: R is supported by the X family of C. The P family drops the pronoun as does F, while beta omits the phrase altogether. · and so [help me god]Bx.5.380: so help me god: Alpha's word-order is also that of Cx. M's agreement, with selpe me god, is probably coincidental. Otherwise beta, having lost the second alliterating stave in the a-verse, brings the noun forward so that the line alliterates on /g/ rather than /s/. and halidom Þere no nede neBx.5.381: ne: Dropped by beta2 (CrWHm), and GF. C mss. vary. was · nyne hundreth tymes ¶ And ouer-seye me at my sopere · and some-tyme at nones Þat I glotoun girt itBx.5.383: it: LR and WHmG, but omitted in MCrCO (F rewrites as vp a-geyn). The line is not in C. vp · er I hadde gone a myle And yspilte þat myȝte be spared · and spended on somme hungrie Ouerdelicatly on fastyng-dayes · drunken and eten bothe And sat some-tyme so longe þere · þat I slepe and ete at ones For loue of tales in tauernes · to drynke þe more I dynedBx.5.387: to drynke þe more I dyned: R and F are flummoxed by the sense. Bennett (1972) translates the line: "I dined in taverns, where I could hear tales, in order to satisfy my thirst more easily". Lines 386-89 have no parallel in AC. And hyed to þe mete er none · whan fastyng-dayes were ¶ This shewyng shrifte quod repentance · shal be meryte to þe ¶ And þanne gan glotoun greteBx.5.390: grete: HmR have to grete. · and gret doel to make For his lither lyf · þat he lyued hadde And avowed fastBx.5.392: fast: The idiomatic use of infinitive without to is found in LRG and original M. Nevertheless, Ax has to faste. Donaldson (1955), 198, takes faste as adverb. There is no parallel in C. See Adams (2000), 182. · for hunger or for thurst Shal neuere fisshe on þeBx.5.393: þe: Supported by LR only. AC mss. are split. fryday · defien in my wombe Tyl abstinence myn aunte · haue ȝiue me leue And ȝit haue I hated hir · al my lyf-tyme Accidia ¶ Þanne come sleuthe al bislabered · with two slym[ed]Bx.5.396: slymed: The form in alpha and many C mss., with beta adopting the commoner form slymy. The passage Bx.5.396-453 is not in A. eiȝen I most sitte seyde þe segge · or elles shulde I nappe I may nouȝte stonde ne stoupe · ne with-oute aBx.5.398: a: HmC and alpha drop the article. C mss. are split (RK.7.3). stole knele Were I brouȝte abedde · but if my taille-ende it made Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse · ar I were rype to dyne Bx.5.401: Alpha has a paraph.He bygan benedicite with a bolke · and his brest knocked And roxed and rored · and rutte atte laste [¶]Bx.5.403: ¶: The paraph in WHmC (with a new line-group in M) and alpha marks the speech-opening. Cf. l. 255. What awake renke quod repentance · and rape þe to shrifte ¶ If I shulde deye bi þis dayBx.5.404: day: Alpha adds quod he, as in the P family of C. Beta reads as the X family. Schmidt (1995), 372, argues that the phrase is required for its liaison alliteration on /d/. Cx has a revised b-verse. · me liste nouȝte to loke I can nouȝte parfitly my pater noster · as þe prest it syngeth But I can rymes of Robyn hood · and Randolf erle of Chestre Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady · þe leste þat euere was made ¶ I haue made vowesBx.5.408: vowes: This is the form of Cx, against avowes in WHmF. fourty · and forȝete hem on [morwe]Bx.5.408: on morwe: O, F (= alpha?) and corrected M have this form, which receives support from Cx amorwe(n). R has uniquely or morwe, C has at morwe, LCrWHmG supply the definite article. I parfourned neure penaunce · as þe prest me hiȝte Ne ryȝte sori for my synnes · ȝetBx.5.410: ȝet: F supplies soþly for the alliteration of the b-verse, which Cx rewrites. was I neuere And ȝif I bidde any bedes · but if it be in wrath Þat I telle with my tonge · is two myle fro myne herte I am occupied eche day · haliday and other With ydel tales atte ale · and otherwhile in cherchesBx.5.414: cherches: Beta2, G and alpha have the sg., but the plural is supported by Cx. Goddes peyne and his passioun · ful selde þynke I þere-on ¶ I visited neuere fiebleBx.5.416: fieble: There is no support for alpha's non-alliterating seke. Cx agrees with beta. men · ne fettered folke in puttes I ha[dd]eBx.5.417: hadde: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's present tense. leuere here an harlotrie · or a somer game of souteres Or lesynges to laughe [of]Bx.5.418: of: Alpha is supported by Cx, though in a revised line in which the phrase to lauhen of comes finally (RK.7.22). · and belye my neighboreBx.5.418: neighbore: LM and alpha agree on the sg. (though F has another noun). ÞanBx.5.419: Þan: Beta's conjunction (supported by Cx) is necessary to the sense. al þat euere Marke made · Mathew Iohan & lucas And vigilies and fastyng-dayes · alle þise late I passe And ligge abedde in lenten · an my lemman in myn armes Tyl matynes and masse be do · and þanne go to þe freres Come I to ite missa est · I holde me yserued I [am]Bx.5.424: am: Alpha and Cx against nam, probably beta. nouȝte shryuen some-tyme · but ifBx.5.424: if: LR and beta2 (CrWHm) and Cx, but omitted by MCGOF. sekenesse it make Nouȝt tweies in two ȝere · and þanne vp gesse I s[ch]ryue me ¶ I haue be prest and parsoun · passynge thretti wynter Ȝete can I neither solfe ne synge · ne seyntes lyues rede But I can fynde in a felde · or in a fourlonge an hare Better þan in beatus vir · or in beati omnes Construe [it] clause[mel]Bx.5.430: it clausemel: Beta's oon clause wel is prompted by the unusual compound, "clause by clause". KD omit it, on the grounds that it lacks a referent (p. 186). Note that the L scribe left spaces for oon and wel which were later written in, suggesting that he was unable to read or make sense of his copy. Cx rewrites, blending Bx.5.430 and 432 as one line, RK.7.34. · and kenne it to my parochienes I can holde louedayes · andBx.5.431: and: Alpha reads or. Cx has and in a revised line. here a Reues rekenynge Ac in canoun ne in þeBx.5.432: þe: LMR and G, but omitted in others. Cx's revised line offers no evidence. decretales · I can nouȝte rede a lyne ¶ Ȝif I bigge and borwe itBx.5.433: it (1): Despite the auȝt of beta2 (CrWHm) and G, Bx appears to have read it, and shares the reading with the X family of C. The P family has the more specific ouht. · but ȝif it be ytailled I forȝete it as ȝerne · and ȝif men me it axe Sixe sithes or seuene · I forsake it with othes And þus tene IBx.5.436: tene I: So beta; the phrase is reversed in alpha. C has haue y tened and so offers no grounds for choice. trewe men · ten hundreth tymes ¶ And my seruauntz some-tyme · her salarye is bihynde Reuthe is to here rekenyngeBx.5.438: rekenynge: So LM and alpha, supported by the X family of C. Other B mss. and the P family add the definite article. · whan we shal rede acomptes So with wikked wille and wraththe · my werkmen I paye ¶ Ȝif any man doth me a benfait · or helpeth me at nede I am vnkynde aȝein his curteisye · and can nouȝte vnderstonde it For I haue and haue hadde · some-dele haukes maneres I [am]Bx.5.443: am: The form is supported by Cx. LMO have nam. Cf. ll. 424, 459. nouȝte lured with loue · but þere ligge auȝte vnder þeBx.5.443: þe: Alpha omits, as does the P family of C. The X family, however, has the article. thombe ¶ The kyndenesse þat myne euene-cristene · kidde me farnere Sixty sythes I sleuthe · haue fo[r]ȝete it sith In speche and in sparynge of speche · yspilte many a tyme Bothe flesche & fissche · and many other vitailles Bothe bred and ale · butter melke and chese Forsleuthed in my seruyse · til it myȝte serue noman ¶ I ran aboute in ȝouthe · and ȝaf me nouȝte to lerne And euere sith beBx.5.451: be: So LR and original M. The M corrector inserts haue, in line with other mss. (haue I in WHmO). Cx includes haue I be in a reordered a-verse. beggere · for my foule sleuthe Heu michi qu[od]Bx.5.452: quod: For the same quotation see Bx.1.143. In both cases alpha's quod for beta's quia is also the form in Cx. See Alford (1992), 35-6. sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem ¶ Repentest þeBx.5.453: Repentest þe: The reading of alpha and Cx. LM presumably record the form of beta, Repentestow þe, which the other witnesses simplify by dropping the reflexive pronoun. Cf. the variants at Bx.5.234, where we again follow alpha and Cx. nauȝte quod repentance · and riȝte with þat he swowned Til vigilate þe veille · fette water at his eyȝen And flatte it on his face · and faste on hym criede And seide ware þe framBx.5.456: fram: CrWO read for, and CrW punctuate after þe (1), taking for as a conjunction. AC mss. are divided. wanhope · wolde þe bitraye I am sori for my synnes · sey soBx.5.457: so: LM and alpha, thus secure for Bx, but AC are without it. to þi-selue And bete þi-selue on þe breste · and bidde hym of grace For is no gult here so grete · þat his goodnesse [i]sBx.5.459: is (2): Supported by AC against L, corrected M, and W nys. See ll. 424 and 443 for LM's preference for the negative forms of the verb. In l. 474 M alone has the negative. more ¶ Þanne sat sleuthe vp · and seyned hym swithe And made avowe to-fore god · for his foule sleuthe Shal no sondaye be þis seuene ȝere · butBx.5.462: but: MHmR have but ȝif, as in the X family of C, but not in Ax. F omits the line. sykenesse it lette Þat I ne shal do me er day · to þe dere cherche And heren matines and masse · as I a monke were Shal none ale after mete · holde me þennes Tyl I haue euensonge herde · I behote to þe Rode And ȝete wil IBx.5.467: And ȝete wil I: Beta is supported by Ax. The a-verse is rewritten in C (RK.6.309). R's reading, What I nam, apparently represents alpha, revised by F. ȝelde aȝein · if I so moche haue Al þat I wikkedly wan · sithen I wytte hadde ¶ And þough my liflode lakke · leten I nelle Þat eche man shalBx.5.470: shal: Alpha and HmGO; the presumed beta reading is ne shal in LMCrWC, but with little support from AC. Cf. ll. 424, 443, 459 for the preference for an extra negative. haue his · ar I hennes wende And with þe residue and þe remenaunt · bi þe Rode of chestre I shal seke treuthe arst · ar I se Rome ¶ Robert þe robbere · on reddite lokede And for þer was nouȝte where-of [·]Bx.5.474: All except L punctuate the line after where-of. he wepeBx.5.474: wepe: LM and alpha use the strong form of the past tense. (In M it is respelt.) Contrast l. 484, where all mss. have the weak form. swithe sore Ac ȝet þe synful shrewe · seyde to hym-selue Cryst þat on caluarye · vppon þe crosse deydest Tho dismas my brother · bisouȝte ȝow of grace And haddest mercy on þat man · for memento sake So rewe on þis robbereBx.5.479: þis robbere: Certainly Bx, though F has me Robbere, and Hm is altered to that reading. Most mss. of A have þis Robert, though four A mss. and the P family of C have me Robert, while the X family has simply Robert (K.5.241, RK.6.321). See Schmidt (2008), 351. · þat reddere ne haue Ne neuere wene to wynne · with crafte þat I [kn]oweBx.5.480: knowe: The reading of alpha, Ax and Cx (from where Cr derives it). Beta has owe. But for þi mykel mercy · mitigacioun I biseche Ne dampne me nouȝte at domesday · for þat I did so ille ¶ What bifel of þis feloun · I can nouȝte faire schewe Wel I wote he wepte faste · water with boþe his eyen Bx.5.485: The line is omitted by alpha, but it is in AC. And knowleched his gult · to cryst ȝete eftsones Þat penitencia his pyke · he shulde polsche newe And lepe with hym ouer londe · al his lyf-tyme For he had leyne bi latro · luciferes aunte ¶ And þanne had repentaunce reuthe · and redde hem alle to knele For I shal biseche for al synful · owre saueoure of grace To amende vs of owre mysdedes · and do mercy to vs alle ¶ Now god quod he þat of þi goodnesse · gonne þe worlde make And of nauȝte madest auȝte · and man moste liche toBx.5.493: to: LR and WHmCO, but not in MCrGF or most C mss. (RK.7.123). Bx.5.489-528 are not in A. þi-selue And sithen suffredest [hym]Bx.5.494: hym: Beta reads for, but alpha is supported by Cx. to synne · a sikenesse to vs alle And al for þe best as I bileue · what-euere þe boke telleth O felix culpa o necessarium peccatum adeBx.5.496: peccatum ade: The word-order ade peccatum in MGO is also recorded in four C mss. &c [¶]Bx.5.497: ¶: The paraph has support from WHmCR. For þourgh þat synne þi sone · sent was to þisBx.5.497: þis: Better supported for Bx than þe in MCrG. F omits, as does Cx. erthe And bicam man of a mayde · mankynde to saue And madest þi-self with þi sone · and vs synful yliche Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitudinem nostram Et alibi qui manet in caritate · in deo manet & deus in eo ¶ And sith with þi self sone · in owre sute deydest On gode fryday for mannes sake · at ful tyme of þe daye Þere þi-self ne þi sone · no sorwe in deth feledest But in owre secte was þeBx.5.505: þe: Alpha has þat. Without a parallel in C, we follow copy-text. sorwe · and þi sone it ladde Captiuam duxit captiuitatem ¶ Þe sonne for sorwe þer-of · les syȝteBx.5.507: syȝte: So LHmCG and alpha, and secure for Bx. M (corrected) and CrWO read light; if this is an error picked up from the following line, as the alliterative pattern suggests, it nevertheless became Cx. for a tyme Aboute mydday whan moste liȝte is · and mele-tyme of seintes Feddest [þo]Bx.5.509: þo: Alpha's reading is supported both by sense ("at that time fed ...") and by Cx. with þi fresche blode · owre forfadres in derknesse Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris · vidit lucem magnam Bx.5.511: WHm and R have a paraph.And thorw þe liȝte þat lepe oute of þe · lucifer [it]Bx.5.511: it: R's reading of the b-verse is supported by Cx, which revises the a-verse to avoid the syntactic difficulty (what does it refer to?), which is smoothed in different ways by beta and F. blent And blewe alle þi blissed [þennes]Bx.5.512: þennes: Alpha's adverb is included in the revised line in C. · in-to þe blisse of paradise ¶ Þe thrydde daye after · þow ȝedest in owre sute A synful Marie þe seighe · ar seynte Marie þi dame And al to solace synful · þow suffredest it so were Non veni vocare iustos · set peccatores ad penitenciam ¶ And al þat Marke hath ymade [·] mathew Iohan and lucas Of þyne douȝtiestBx.5.518: douȝtiest: LM and alpha have the superlative; a good example of the superiority of LMR in representing Bx. All except four C mss. also have the superlative. See Adams (2000), 177. dedes · were don in owre armes Verbum caro factum est et habitauit in nobis Bx.5.520: WHm and R have a paraph.And bi so moche [it]Bx.5.520: it: Alpha's reading, supported by Cx against beta's me. semeth · þe sikerere we mowe Bydde and biseche · if it be þi wille Þat art owre fader and owre brother [·] be merciable to vs And haue reutheBx.5.523: reuthe: Alpha's mercy is obviously a substitution. on þise Ribaudes · þat repente hemBx.5.523: hem: Most beta mss. have hem here, but we do not include here since it is not supported by Cx. On the other hand the adverb would easily be dropped from the phrase, and it pertinently foreshadows in þis worlde, on which see note. sore Þat euere þei wratthed þe in þis worldeBx.5.524: in þis worlde: The inclusion of the phrase, omitted by alpha, gives the usual alliterative pattern. It may, however, represent beta's desire to emphasise here, added in the previous line. It is not in the heavily revised line in C. · in worde þouȝte or dedesBx.5.524: dedes: The plural is supported by LWR. The rest have sg., as does C in a revised line. ¶ Þanne hent hope an horne · of deus tu conuersus viuificabis [nos]Bx.5.525: nos: Dropped in beta (supplied in CrG); supported by Cx. A prayer from the Mass; see Alford (1992), 50. And blew it with Beati quorum · remisse sunt iniquitates Þat alle seyntes in heuene · songen at ones Homines & iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus &c · ¶ A thousand of men þo · thrungen togyderes Criede vpward to cryst · and to his clene moder To haueBx.5.531: To haue: Since beta's reading is supported by Cx, alpha (= R?) must have offered a defective a-verse rewritten by F. grace to go with hem [·] treuthe to seke ¶Bx.5.532: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. Ac þere was wyȝte non so wys · þe wey þider couthe But blustreden forth as bestes · ouer bankes and hilles Til late was and longe · þat þei a lede mette Apparailled as a paynym · in pylgrymes wyse He bare a burdoun ybounde · with a brode liste In a withewyndes wise · ywounden aboute A bolleBx.5.538: bolle: Beta is supported by AC against alpha's bulle (K.6.7, RK.7.164). and a bagge · he bare by his syde An hundreth of ampulles · on his hatt seten Signes of [a-sise]Bx.5.540: a-sise: i.e. Assisi, on which see Skeat (1886), 101. This is R's reading alone, but probably represents alpha. F rewrites, and beta has synay. Most A mss. have the beta reading, but a few (including Bodley 851 (Z)) refer to Assisi instead. Cx has syse. The reference to synay in l. 545 may have prompted beta's reading here; alternatively alpha may record an authorial revision. [·] and shelles of galice And many a cruche on his cloke · and keyesBx.5.541: keyes: Alpha has the definite article, but it is not supported by AC. of Rome And þe vernicle bifore · for men shulde knowe And se bi his signes · whom he souȝte hadde ¶ Þis folke frayned hym firste · fro whennes he come ¶ Fram synay he seyde · and fram owre lordes sepulcre In bethleem and in babiloyne · I haue ben in bothe In ermonye in alisaundre · in many other places Ȝe may se bi my signes · þat sitten on myn hatte Þat I haue walked ful wyde · in wete and in drye And souȝte gode seyntes · for my soulesBx.5.550: soules: MHmG and alpha have the uninflected genitive, as in Ax and most C mss. For the same expression, again with variation of the genitive form, see Bx.10.265, 11.239, 12.44. helth ¶ Knowestow ouȝteBx.5.551: ouȝte: CrF have not / nawht. a corseint · þat men calle treuthe Coudestow auȝteBx.5.552: auȝte: LMWR and revised Hm, so presumably Bx, repeated from the line above. A few A mss. include the word, but it is not in C. The repetition perhaps prompted the other B scribes, CrCGOF, to drop it. wissen vs þe weye · where þat wy dwelleth ¶ Nay so me god helpe · seide þe gome þanne I seygh neuere palmere · with pike ne with scrippe Axen after hym er [·] tilBx.5.555: er til: MF drop er and CO drop til. L's mispunctuation of the line suggests why scribes found one or other otiose. Ax has er only; C mss. divide between er and but. now in þis place [¶]Bx.5.556: ¶: The line is at the top of the page in L, and the rubricator presumably missed the paraph which is in WHmC and alpha, with a new line-group in M. Peter quod a plowman · and put forth his hed I knowe hym as kyndely · as clerke doþ his bokes Conscience and kynde witte · kenned me to his place And deden me suren hymBx.5.559: hym(1): Alpha's plural recognises the two characters of the previous line, but receives no support from AC. sikerly · to serue hym for euere Bothe to sowe and to sette [·] þe whileBx.5.560: þe while: In dropping þe, MGF have the reading of Ax; the other mss. have the Cx version. I swynke myghte I haue ben his folwar · al þis fourtyBx.5.561: fourty: LM and alpha, against fifty in other mss. Support from AC again demonstrates the superiority of this set of mss. See Adams (2000), 177. wyntre Bothe ysowen his sede · and sued his bestes With-Inne and with-outen · wayted his profyt I dyke and I delue · I do þat [he]Bx.5.564: he: Alpha has some support from the parallel b-verse of K.6.33: & do what he hiȝte. The line is not in C. Beta's treuthe is likely to have been picked up from l. 567. hoteth Some-tyme I sowe · and some-tyme I thresche In tailoures crafte andBx.5.566: and: In the absence of AC parallels, R's in remains a possibility as the less obvious reading. tynkares crafte · what treuthe can deuyse I weue an I wynde · and do what treuthe hoteth ¶ For þouȝe I seye it my-self · I serue hym to paye Ich haue myn huire [of hym]Bx.5.569: of hym: Alpha's phrase, omitted by beta, is supported by AC. wel · and otherwhiles more He is þe prestest payer · þat pore men knoweth HeBx.5.571: He: Beta has He ne, but it is not supported by Cx or by most A mss. with-halt non heweBx.5.571: hewe: Clearly beta's reading, though avoided by CrG, and revised by Hm. Alpha has men. See variants at Bx.4.109 for similar avoidance. The majority A reading is hyne; C mss. have hewe and higne. his hyre · þat he ne hath it at euenBx.5.571: at euen: Presumably alpha corrupted to a none, understood by R as "anon" and very characteristically improved by F to soone. Though Ax has the same b-verse as beta, Cx drops þat he ne hath it. He is as low as a lombe · and loueliche of speche And ȝif ȝe wilneth to wite · where þat he dwelleth I shal wisse ȝow witterly · þe weye to his place ¶ Ȝe leue Pieres quod þis pilgrymes · and profered hym huire For to wende with hem · to treuthes dwellyng-place ¶ Nay bi my soules [perel]Bx.5.577: soules perel: The reading of R (= alpha?), with support from AC which both read bi þe perel of my soule. The beta reading was probably the commonplace soule(s) helth (cf. Bx.5.550 and note), with helth lost in CO, possibly as a result of misunderstanding an endingless genitive. On this assumption, F dropped perel, perhaps to accentuate alliteration on /s/. quod pieres · and gan forto swere I nolde fange a ferthynge · for seynt Thomas shryne Treuthe wolde loue me þe lasse · a longe tyme þere-afterBx.5.579: þere-after: Supported for Bx by LR and WHm and Cr (therfor after), although other mss. omit þere. But either Bx itself or LR and beta2 may have added the word to improve an unmetrical (x / x / x) b-verse, since there is no support from AC. Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel · þis is þe weye thiderBx.5.580: CO follow this with a line that is certainly spurious. ¶ Ȝe mote go þourgh mekenesse · bothe men and wyues Tyl ȝe come in-to conscience [·] þat cryst wite þe sothe Þat ȝe louen owre lorde god · leuest of alle þinges And þanne ȝowre neighbores nexte · in non wise apeyre Otherwyse þan þow woldest · he wrouȝte to þi-selue ¶ And so boweth forth bi a broke · beth buxum ofBx.5.586: of: Alpha's of þi is not supported by Ax. Cx rewrites the b-verse. speche Tyl ȝe fynden a forth · ȝowre fadres honoureth Honora patrem & matrem &c · Wadeþ in þat water [·] and wascheth ȝow wel þere And ȝe shul lepe þe liȝtloker · al ȝowre lyf-tyme And so shaltow se swere nouȝte · but if it be for nede And namelich an ydel · þe name of god almyȝti ¶ Þanne shaltow come by a crofte · but come þow nouȝte þere-Inne [Þe]Bx.5.594: Þe: Alpha's reading is supported by Cx, although A mss. split between this and beta's reading That. We take into account the scribal tendency to emphasise. crofte hat coueyte nouȝte · mennes catelBx.5.594: mennes catel: Another very characteristic example of the practices of the two alpha scribes. It appears that R represents alpha in reading men, and F rewrote inventively, no doubt puzzled by the non-scriptural imputation of homosexuality. ne her wyues Ne none of her seruauntes · þat noyen hem myȝte Loke ȝeBx.5.596: ȝe: R alone (= alpha?) has þow (F rewrites), but it is supported by AC. However ȝowre in the b-verse in all B witnesses suggests that a-verse ȝe is also Bx. The odd, apparently random, switching to the sg. in Piers' speech, when he is speaking to the group, is a feature of all three versions. Ax matches Cx except at K.6.52 (sg.) = RK.7.212 (pl.) = Bx.5.585 (sg.). But Bx differs from the other two versions with pl. in Bx.5.596-7 and 604 (despite the surrounding sg.). breke no bowes þere · but if it be ȝowre owne ¶ Two stokkes þere stondeth · ac stynte ȝe nouȝte þere They hat stele nouȝte ne slee nouȝte [·] stryke forth by bothe And leue hem on þi left halfe · and loke nouȝte þere-after And holde wel þyne haliday [·]Bx.5.600: L misplaces the punctus after heighe. heighe til euen Thanne shaltow blenche at a bergh · bere no false witnesseBx.5.601: Following this line F alone has a rather competent line. He --- Bx.5.602: He / ---: Beta and Ax have the pronoun, but R and Cx are without. F smooths to It. is frithed in with floreines · and other f[e]esBx.5.602: fees: So WHmCG and alpha supported by Cx as well as most A mss. LMCrO have foes, which may be a beta error. many Loke þowBx.5.603: þow: Alpha has ȝe, and R has ȝoure soules in the b-verse (F rewrites). Beta is supported by AC. See the note to l. 596, and note the plural in the next line. plukke no plante þere · for peril of þi soule ¶ Þanne shal ȝe se sey soth · so it be to done In no manere ellis nauȝte · for no mannes biddyng ¶ Þanne shaltow come to a courte · as clere as þe sonne Þe mote is of mercy · þe manere aboute And alle þe wallis ben of witte · to holden wille oute And kerneled with crystendome · [þat] kyndeBx.5.609: þat kynde: "that essential substance, distinctive feature" (of the courte). All B mss. apart from R have man kynde, but R has the reading of AC. Both beta and F made the easy error. to saue Boterased with bileue so · or þow beest nouȝte ysauedBx.5.610: ysaued: Though the prefix creates two long dips in the b-verse (x x / x x / x), it is supported by LMR (and Hm has be-). Some C mss. have it also. ¶ And alle þe houses ben hiled · halles and chambres Wit[h]Bx.5.612: With: L has Wit, with the line marked for correction. It is the same at Bx.20.119. no lede but with loue · and lowe speche as bretheren Þe brugge is of bidde wel · þe bette may þow spede Eche piler is of penaunce · of preyeres to seyntes Of almes-dedes ar þe hokes · þat þe gates hangen on ¶ Grace hatte þe gateward · a gode man for-sothe Hys man hatte amende ȝow · for --- Bx.5.617: for / ---: Beta and Ax have the conjunction, but alpha and Cx are without it. many manBx.5.617: man (2): LM and alpha, supported by AC. The other mss. have the plural. him knoweth Bx.5.618: Alpha has a paraph.Telleth hym þis tokene · þat treuthe wite þe sothe I parfourned þe penaunce · þe preest me enioyned And am ful sori forBx.5.620: for: So beta and Ax, but alpha and some C mss. have, less expectedly, of. Cf. Bx.5.410, 457. my synnes · and so I shal euere Whan I þinke þere-on · þeighe I were a pope ¶ Biddeth amende ȝow meke him · t[o]Bx.5.622: to: MGO and alpha, against til in LCrWHmC. Although there is total support in favour of to from AC, that cannot in this case determine the reading of Bx. Some mss., notably HmCrGF, commonly have to when others have til in the sense "to", but R is not generally among them. See Bx.9.88, 10.390, 11.390, 17.149, 18.69, 18.417 (where alpha has to), and 19.429. In Bx.5.144 R has til (2x) against to in others; in 5.632 CO have til against to in others. his maistre ones To wayue vp þe wiket · þat þe womman shette Tho Adam and Eue · eten apples vnrosted Per euam cuntis clausa est · & per mariam virginem [iterum] patefacta estBx.5.625: iterum patefacta est: Alpha has iterum, beta has patefacta est, and Cx has both. The line is not in A. See Alford (1992), 51. ¶ For he hath þe keye and þe clikat · þouȝ þe kynge slepe And if grace graunte þe · to go in inBx.5.627: in in: So the best beta mss., LM, but the second in is almost inevitably lost in all others including R (F omits the line). Half the A mss. and the majority of C mss. are also without it. þis wise Þow shalt see in þi-selue · treuthe sitte in þine herte In a cheyne of charyte · as þow a c[h]ilde were To suffre hym and segge nouȝte · aȝein þi sires wille ¶ Ac bewar þanne of wrath þeBx.5.631: þe: So LWHmGR, but not supported by AC, and presumably a result of false division in Bx (wraþþe as in O > wraþ þe). Note, however, that wrath can be reflexive, and that Schmidt (2008), 360-1, adopts the reading. · þat is a wikked shrewe He hath enuye to hym · þat in þine herte sitteth And pukketh forþBx.5.633: forþ: Omitted by alpha (and part of a correction in L), but supported by most A mss. and by Cx, as well as by sense. pruyde [·] to prayse þi-seluen Þe boldnesse of þi bienfetes · maketh þe blynde þanne And þanne worstow dryuen oute as dew · and þe dore closed Kayed and clikated · to kepe þe with-outen Happily an hundreth wyntre · ar þow eft entre Þus myght þow lesen his loue · to late wel by þi-selue And neuere happil[i]che efte entre · but grace þow haue ¶ Ac þere ar seuene sustrenBx.5.640: sustren: Beta is supported by AC. R's ȝiftes probably represents an alpha error, smoothed by F to seruauntys. · þat seruen treuthe euere And aren porteres of ouer Bx.5.641: of / ouer: Beta and Ax have of, but R and Cx have ouer. F reads at. þe posternes · that to þe place longeth Þat one hat abstenence · and humilite an-other Charite and chastite · ben his chief maydenes Pacience and pees · moche poeple þei helpeth Largenesse þe lady · heoBx.5.645: heo: Probably the h- form is Bx, here and in the next line. In both cases R has he(o) and M is altered to she, the form in other mss. (AC omit the pronoun). Elsewhere in L heo is preserved in lines alliterating on /h/: Bx.1.75, 3.29. See Introduction IV.1. let in ful manye Heo hath hulpe a þousande outeBx.5.646: OF punctuate this line of uncertain structure before oute. It has no parallel in AC. · of þe deueles ponfolde ¶ And who is sibbe to þis seuene · so me god helpe HeBx.5.648: He: R has Heo and F rewrites. Ax has He and Cx omits the pronoun. is wonderliche welcome · and faire vnderfongen And but ifBx.5.649: if: Omitted by MCrF, and by nine A mss. (the line is not in C). ȝe be syb · to summe of þise seuene It is ful harde bi myne heued quod PeresBx.5.650: quod Peres: Not in AC, dropped in G by contamination, and anticipated in the previous line by F. · for any of ȝow alle To geten ingonge at any gate þere · but grace be þe more ¶ Now bi cryst quod a cutpurs · I haue no kynne þere NeBx.5.653: Ne: The form is supported by LM and alpha and AC against Nor in others. I quod an apewarde · bi auȝte þat I knowe ¶ Wite god quod a wafrestreBx.5.654: wafrestre: Ax has waferer, as do MGO, but Cx has the female. · wist I þis forBx.5.654: for: R omits, and F is essentially the same. Some mss. of the other versions agree with alpha, but Ax and the X family of C have the beta reading. sothe Shulde I neuere ferthere a fote · for no freres prechyng ¶ Ȝus quod Pieres þe plowman · and pukked hem alle to gode Mercy is a maydene þere · hath myȝte ouer hemBx.5.657: hem: Omitted by WHmCGO, but supported by AC. alle And she is syb to alle synful · and her sone also And þoruȝe þe helpe of hem two · hope þow none other Þow myȝte gete grace þere · biBx.5.660: bi: Omitted by MWG, and treated as the second element of therby in CrC. The word is not in AC. The phrase bi so means "provided that", as at Bx.11.76, 12.183. so þow go bityme ¶ By seynt Poule quod a pardonere · parauenture I be nouȝte knowe þereBx.5.661: knowe þere: Alpha instead reads welcome. Neither reading is compelling: beta's is prosaic, but on the other hand welcome is not elsewhere used to end a line. The line is not in AC. I wil go fecche my box with my breuettes · and a bulle with bisshopes lettres [¶]Bx.5.663: ¶: The usual paraph at the start of a speech is supported by WHmC and alpha. By cryst quod a comune womman · þi companye wil I folwe Þow shalt sey I am þi sustre · I ne wot where þei bicome Passus Sextus de visione vt supra This were a wikked way · but who-so hadde a gyde That wolde folwen vs eche a fote · þus þis folke hem mened Bx.6.3: WF have a paraph and R starts a new line group.Quatȝ Perkyn þe plouman · bi seynt Peter of Rome I haue an half acre to erye · bi þe heigh way Hadde I eried þis half acre · and sowen it after I wilBx.6.6: wil: The reading of LR and C. The past tense is to be expected after Hadde, and so wolde is more likely to be scribal. Ax probably has the latter, as do most C mss., but XYJ have wol. wende with ȝow · and þe way teche ¶ Þis were a longe lettynge · quod a lady in a sklayre What sholde we wommen · worche þere-whilesBx.6.8: þere-whiles: So LM and alpha; see MED ther-whiles. Other mss. have þe while(s), the AC reading. Adams (2000), 177. ¶ Somme shal sowe [þe]Bx.6.9: þe (1): Dropped in L, but supported by all B mss. except M, which has the plural noun. sakke quod Piers · for shedyng of þe whete And ȝe louely ladyes · with ȝoure longe fyngres Þat ȝe han silke and sendal · to sowe whan tyme is Chesibles for chapelleynes · cherches to honoure ¶ Wyues and wydwes · wolle & flex spynneth Maketh cloth I conseille ȝow · and kenneth so ȝowre douȝtres Þe nedy and þe naked · nymmeth hede how hijBx.6.15: hij: LM. R records the reduced form a (its reading hym in the next line suggests the scribe took it as a sg.). Other mss. have þei. liggeth And casteth hem clothes · for so comaundeth treuthe For I shal lene hem lyflode · but ȝif þe londe faille Flesshe and bred bothe · to riche and to pore As longe as I lyue · for þe lordes loue of heuene ¶ And alle manere of men · þat þorw mete and drynke lybbeth Helpith hym to worche wiȝtliche · þat wynneth ȝowre fode ¶ Bi crist quod a knyȝte þo · he kenneth vs þe best Ac on þe teme trewly · tauȝte was I neuere Ac kenne me quod þe knyȝte · and bi cryst I wil assaye ¶ Bi seynt Poule quod Perkyn · ȝe profre ȝow so faire Þat I shal swynke and swete · and sowe for vs bothe And oþer labour[er]esBx.6.27: laboureres: The misspelling (presumably an otiose abbreviation) is corrected by most beta mss. (visibly in G) to laboures. The Hm corrector alters the line to make sense, and F revises similarly. R copies faithfully, as usual. do for þi loue · al my lyf-tyme In couenaunt þat þow kepe · holikirkeBx.6.28: kirke: On alpha's non-alliterating cherche see Introduction IV.1. and my-selue Fro wastoures and froBx.6.29: and fro: Support from LR and beta2 (CrWHm) + G against and. AC mss. vary similarly. wykked men · þat þis worlde struyeth ¶ And go hunte hardiliche [·] to hares and to foxes To bores and to [b]ockesBx.6.31: bockes: "bucks". Beta has the easy error brockes, "badgers", perhaps anticipating br- in the b-verse. R (= alpha?) is supported by AC; F rewrites. · þat breketh adown myne hegges And go affaite þ[i]Bx.6.32: þi: So also Cx. Only LCrG have the definite article. faucones · wilde foules to kille For suche cometh to my croft · and croppeth my whete ¶ Curteislich þe knyȝte þanne · comsed þise wordes By my power Pieres quod he · I pliȝte þe my treuthe To fulfille þis forward · þowȝ I fiȝte sholde Als longe as I lyue · I shal þe mayntene ¶ Ȝe and ȝit a poynt quod Pieres · I preye ȝow of more Loke ȝe tene no tenaunt · but treuthe wil assent And þowgh ȝe mowe amercy hemBx.6.40: hem: Beta's reading is more satisfactory in sense and metre, yet alpha's men receives some support from C's a-verse And when ȝe mersyen eny man (RK.8.37), where it is needed for the alliteration. · late mercy be taxoure And mekenesse þi mayster · maugre medes chekes And þowgh pore men profre ȝow · presentis and ȝiftis Nym it nauȝte an auenture · [þow]Bx.6.43: þow: Alpha is here supported by AC. The pl. forms in ll. 38, 39, 40 and 42 are also in Cx (but Ax has sg.); F alters to sg. throughout, and R alters to pl. in 41. mowe it nauȝte deserue For þow shalt ȝelde it aȝein · at one ȝeres ende In a ful perillous place · purgatorie it hatte ¶ And mysbede nouȝte þi bonde- men man Bx.6.46: -men / -man: Beta has the Ax pl. while alpha has the sg. as Cx. · þe better may þow spede Þowgh he be þyn vnderlynge here · wel may happe in heuene Þat he worth worthier sette · and with more blisse Amice ascende superius For in charnelBx.6.50: in charnel: R probably represents alpha with the amusing error in a chanel, "gutter", sensibly revised to in a chapel by F. a[t]Bx.6.50: at: LMHm have atte, which represents "at the" in L (see Bx.P.107, 3.31, 6.55, etc.). CrWGR have at, which has some support from C's At churche in the Charnel. chirche · cherlesBx.6.50: cherles: Supported by C and by alliteration against alpha's clerkes. ben yuel to knowe Or a kniȝte fram a knaue þere · knowe þis in þin herte And þat þow be trewe of þiBx.6.54: þi: Beta is supported by Ax and the X family of C against alpha's omission. The P family reads hys. tonge · and tales þat þow hatie But if þei ben of wisdome or of witt · þi werkmen to chaste Holde Holde nauȝt Bx.6.54: Holde / Holde nauȝt: Beta agrees with Ax, against Holde nauȝt in alpha and Cx. with none harlotes · ne here nouȝte her tales And nameliche atte mete · suche men eschue For it ben þe deueles disoures · I do þe to vnderstande ¶ I assente bi seynt Iame · seyde þe kniȝte þanne Forto worche bi þi wordes · þe while my lyf dureth ¶ And I shal apparaille me quod Perkyn · in pilgrimes wise And wende with ȝow I wil · til we fynde treuthe ¶ And cast on meBx.6.61: me: Although attested only by LR, it is more likely to have been lost than added, and has support from the Cx third-person version, caste on hym his clothes (RK.8.58). However, Adams (2000), 183, sees me as "random convergence". my clothes · yclouted and hole My cokeres and my coffes · for colde of my nailles And hange myn hoper at myn hals · in stede of a scrippe A busshel of bredcorne · brynge me þerinne For I wil sowe it my-self · and sitthenes wil I wende To pylgrymage as palmers don · pardoun forto haue ¶ Ac who-so helpeth me to erie · or sowen hereBx.6.67: here: Good support from LMR and WHm, strengthening the alliteration of the b-verse, though dropped in CrGOCF. A and C have different b-verses. ar I wende Shal haue leue bi owre lorde · to lese here in heruest And make h[y]mBX.6.69: hym: Alpha's sg. is supported by AC over beta's plural. mery þere-mydde · maugre who-so bigruccheth itBx.6.69: bigruccheth it: So LMCrW, and so probably beta. The X family of C has bigruchen hit, but the P family is without hit, as are beta4 and F (in Hm it appears to have been erased). Scribes may have been uncomfortable with two unstressed syllables at line-end. In R and Ax the pronoun precedes the verb. We follow copy-text. ¶ And alkyn crafty men · þat konne lyuen in treuthe I shal fynden hem fode · þat feithfulliche libbeth ¶ Saue Iakke þe iogeloure · and Ionet of þe stues And danyel þe dys playere · and denote þe baude And frere þe faytoure [·] and folke of his ordre And Robyn þe Rybaudoure · for his rusty wordes Treuthe tolde me ones · and bad me tellen it after Deleantur de libro viuencium [·] I shulde nouȝte dele with hem For holicherche is hote [·]Bx.6.78: The line is punctuated after hote in MCrC and alpha, after hem in LWO. The former is supported by the alliterative pattern. of hem no tythe to [aske]Bx.6.78: aske: The reading of R is supported by AC. That F agrees with beta take makes the Bx reading uncertain, but it is an easy error, typical of F in increasing the alliteration, especially in a line where the pattern puzzles some scribes, and indeed it is found as a minor variant in both A and C mss. Quia cum iustis non scribantur They ben ascaped good auenture · nowBx.6.80: now: So LM and alpha, supported by AC. god hem amende ¶ Dame worche whan tyme is · Pieres wyf hiȝte His douȝter hiȝte do riȝte so · or þi dame shal þe bete His sone hiȝte suffre þi souereynes · to hauen hauen Bx.6.83: to hauen / hauen: Beta includes to as Ax, which alpha and Cx omit. her willeBx.6.83: The line alliterates aaa/xx, which prompts OR to punctuate the line after suffre (which F drops), disregarding the syntactic break after souereynes. Deme hem nouȝte for if þow doste · þow shalt it dere abugge Late god yworth with al · for so his worde techeth ¶ For now I am olde and hore · and haue of myn owen To penaunce and to pilgrimage · I wil passe with þiseBx.6.87: þise: The demonstrative, which seems preferable in terms of sense, is supported by L (but not M), by CrW (but not Hm), by R (but not F). AC mss. vary in the same way. other For-þi I wil or I wende · do wryte my biqueste Bx.6.89-91: These three lines in beta are set out as two in alpha, divided after soule and dropping for so I bileue. AC set the lines as beta. In dei nomine amen · I make it my-seluen He shal haue my soule · þat best hath yseruedBx.6.90: yserued: LCGOR, and so Bx. But M and beta2 have deserued, as does A. C rewrites the b-verse. it And fro þe fende it defendeBx.6.91: Beta's version of the a-verse is confirmed by AC. · for so I bileue Til I come to his acountes · as my cred[e]Bx.6.92: crede: Alpha's form is supported by AC. me telleth telleth Bx.6.92: me telleth / telleth: Beta reads as Ax, while alpha and Cx omit me. To haue a relees and a remissioun · on þat rental I leue ¶ Þe kirke shal haue my caroigne · and kepe my bones For of my corne and catel · heBx.6.95: he: In a clear example of sophistication, CrW alter to she, but the following lines confirm the masculine. craued þe tythe I payed it hym prestly · for peril of my soule For-thy is he holden I hope · to haue me in his masse And mengenBx.6.98: mengen: F adds me by contamination from AC. in his memorye · amonge alle crystene ¶ My wyf shal haue of þat I wan · with treuthe and nomore And dele amonge my douȝtres · and my dere children For þowgh I deyeBx.6.101: deye: Beta's present is supported by AC, though a few mss. in all versions have the past. Cf. l. 123. to-daye · my dettes arBx.6.101: dettes ar: R's sg. is also the reading of the X family of C. quitte I bare home þat I borwed · ar I to bedde ȝede ¶ And with þe residue and þe remenaunte · bi þe Rode of Lukes I wil worschip þer-with · treuthe bi my lyue And ben his pilgryme atte plow · for pore mennes sake My plow-[p]oteBx.6.106: -pote: Alpha has support from AC (K.7.95, RK.8.64), though in all three versions the second element of the compound is also recorded as fote, bat, and staf. MED, recording no other instance, supposes the implement is probably "to remove earth adhering to a plow, or to chop roots" (plough, 1c (e)). Kane (2005) glosses as "ploughman's staff used to give added thrust to the coulter". shal be my pyk-staf · and picche atwoBx.6.106: atwo: Beta's reading is also that of Cx, though two mss. have at (as R) and two away (as F). Though Kane's A text has putte at, both verb and preposition vary widely, though no ms. has atwo. þe rotes And helpe my culter to kerue · and clense þe forwes ¶ Now is perkyn and [þ]isBx.6.108: þis: The X family of C agrees with R. Most A mss. and the P family of C share F's reading þe. We suppose that Bx þis is a slightly more likely source than þe of beta's his. pilgrymes · to þe plowe faren To erie þis halue acre · holpyn hym manye Dikeres & delueres · digged vp þe balkes Þere-with was perkyn apayed · and preysed hem faste Other werkemen þere were · þat wrouȝten ful ȝerne Eche man in his manere · made hym-self to done And some to plese perkyn · piked vp þe wedes ¶ At heighe pryme peres · lete þe plowe stonde ToBx.6.116: To: R's And ȝeed to must represent alpha (cf. F), but it has no support from AC. ouersen hem hym-self · and who-so best wrouȝte He shulde be huyred þer-after · whan heruest tyme come ¶ And þanne seten somme · and songen atte nale And hulpenBx.6.119: hulpen: There is no support for R's ho helpen to. erie his half acre · with how trolli lolliBx.6.119: F's additional line is unusually amusing as well as metrical, but it has no parallel in any version of the poem. ¶ Now bi þe peril of my soule quod Pieres · al in pure tene But ȝe arise þe rather · and rape ȝow to worche Shal no greyne þat groweth · glade ȝow at nede And þough ȝe deyeBx.6.123: deye: As in the parallel l. 101, R has the past tense, but it is not supported by AC. for dole · þe deuel haue þat recch[e]Bx.6.123: recche: Alpha's subjunctive is supported by AC. ¶ Tho were faitoures aferde · and feyned hem blynde Somme leyde here legges aliri as suche loseles conneth And made her mone to pieres · and preyde hym of grace For we haue no lymes to laboure with · lorde ygraced be ȝe ¶Bx.6.128: ¶: The paraph is recorded in LR and marked by a space in M. Ac we preye for ȝow pieres · and for ȝowre plow bothe Þat god of his grace · ȝowre grayne multiplye And ȝelde ȝow ofBx.6.130: of: Beta2 (CrWHm) and G have for, as do a few AC mss. ȝowre almesse · þat ȝe ȝiue vs here For we may nouȝte swynke ne swete · suche sikenesse vs eyleth ¶ If it be soth quod pieres þat ȝe seyne · I shal it sone asspye Ȝe ben wastoures I wote wel · andBx.6.133: and: R's omission is not supported by Ax. R has three unique readings in this line. treuthe wote þe sothe And I am his olde hyne · and hiȝte hym to warne Which þei were in þis worlde · his werkemen appeyredBx.6.135: appeyred: GR have the present (F has wolde a-peyre). The parallel line in A, Suche wastours in þis world his werkmen distroyeþ (K.7.124), is too different to offer support. ¶ Ȝe wasten þat men wynnen · with trauaille and with tene Ac treuthe shal teche ȝow · his teme to dryue Or ȝe shal ete barly bred · and of þe broke drynke But if he be blynde [or]Bx.6.139: or (1): There is no support for L's and in any version, though note that and probably underlies the correction or in M. broke-legged · or bolted with yrnes He shal ete whete bred · and drynke with my-selue Tyl god of his goodnesse · amendement hym sende Bx.6.142: Hm and alpha have a paraph.Ac ȝe myȝte trauaille as treuthe wolde · and take mete & huyre To kepe kyne in þe felde · þe corne fro þe bestes Diken or deluen or dyngen vppon sheues Or helpe make morter · or bere mukke afelde ¶ In lecherye and in losengerye · ȝe lyuen and in sleuthe And al is þorw suffrance · þat venjaunce ȝow ne taketh ¶ Ac ancres and heremytes · þat eten but at nones And namore er morwe · myne almesse shul þei haue And of myBx.6.150: of my: LM and alpha. Beta2 (CrWHm) and G drop my; CO drop both words. This passage is not in AC. catel to copeBx.6.150: cope: LMR and CO, with F revising to kouere. Beta2 (CrWHm) and G read kepe. For the collocation with catel, "provide resources for clothing", see Bx.5.271. hem with · þat han cloistres and cherches Bx.6.151: WHmCF have a paraph.Ac robert renneaboute · shal nouȝte haue of myne Ne posteles but þey preche conne · and haue powere of þe bisschop They shal haue payne and potage · and make hem-self at ese For it is an vnresonable Religioun · þat hath riȝte nouȝte of certeyne ¶ And þanne gan a wastoure to wrath hym · and wolde haue yfouȝte And to Pieres þe plowman · he profered his gloue A Brytonere a braggere · a bostedBx.6.157: a bosted: As one word in all except CrCGOF. Presumably not all scribes recognised this as "he threatened" but took it as an unparalleled compound verb. Ax has he bostide. RK.8.152 records abostede, but it is questioned by Kane (2005) s.v. pieres als And bad hym go pissen withBx.6.158: with: Beta supported by AC. Alpha tones down the vulgarism. his plow · for-pyned schrewe Wiltow or neltow · we wil haue owre wille OfBx.6.160: Of: Alpha probably read And of. Beta is supported by Ax, but alpha by the X family of C; the P family has Boþe. þi flowre and of þi flessche · fecche whan vs liketh And make vs myrie þer-mydeBx.6.161: þer-myde: M is joined by HmCG with þere-with. The half-line is repeated from l. 69 where HmC have the variation. Ax has -wiþ, but the best C mss. read -myde. See note to Bx.7.26, and cf. 15.144. · maugre þi chekes ¶ Thanne Pieres þe plowman · pleyned hym to þe knyȝte To kepe hym as couenaunte was · fram cursed shrewes And fro þis wastoures wolueskynnes · þat maketh þ[is]Bx.6.164: þis (2): R represents alpha since F drops the line, and is supported by Cx (RK.8.158) against beta's þe. G also has þis. worlde dere For þo waste and wynnen nouȝte · and þat ilke while Worth neuere plente amonge þe poeple · þer-whileBx.6.166: þer-while: So LMC, and probably beta. R, which may be right, has þe while in line with other mss.; F reads while. Cx has and. Cf. 6.8n. my plow liggeth ¶ Curteisly þe knyȝte þanne · as his kynde wolde Warned wastoure · and wissed hym bettere Or þow shalt abugge by þe lawe · by þe ordre þat I bere ¶ I was nouȝt wont to worche quod wastour · and now wil I nouȝt bigynne And lete liȝteBx.1.171: liȝte: Alpha with Hm have the adverbial form liȝtly, but beta has the form recorded in AC and elsewhere in the poem. of þe lawe [·] and lasse of þe knyȝte And sette Pieres at a pees · and his plow bothe And manaced pieres and his men · ȝif þei mette eft-sone ¶ NowBx.1.174: Now: Supported by AC, despite alpha's omission. by þe peril of my soule quod Pieres · I shal apeyre ȝow alle And houped after hunger · þat herd hym atte firste Awreke me of þise wastoures quod he · þat þis worlde schendethBx.6.176: schendeth: Plural, as schende(n) in alpha. ¶ Hunger in haste þo · hent wastour bi þe mawe And wronge hym so bi þe wombe · þat [al wattered] his eyenBx.6.178: We adopt R's b-verse, which is that of AC, and conforms to the standard alliterative pattern, though it is unmetrical (x x / x x / x). If R reproduces alpha, this leaves the question of how F shares the beta reading. In fact four A mss. have the same reading as beta, and five more have the same noun-verb word-order omitting bothe. Either F is contaminated, or else the scribe independently corrupted to the easier reading ("prose order", KD, p. 168 n. 89) just as some A scribes did. He buffeted þe Britoner [·] aboute þe chekes Þat he loked like a lanterne · al his lyf after He bette hem so bothe · he barste nere here guttes Ne hadde Pieres with a pese lof · preyed hunger cesseBx.6.182: cesse: Beta has to cesse, and it may be right, but to is perhaps supplied to fill a short b-verse. Cf. 3.334, but for a counter-example cf. 1.82. AC have preyed hym beleue. They hadde ben doluen bothe · ne deme þow non other Suffre hem lyue he seyde · and lete hem ete with hogges Or elles benes and bren · ybaken togideres Or elles melke and meneBx.6.186: mene: "inferior" (MED mene adj.(1), 3(a)). But CO and alpha have meyne which, in R at least, is used only as a spelling of MED meine n., "household"; cf. meine 1(b) ~ bord, referring to a more humble table. MED does not record the compound meine-ale. The line is not in AC and is rejected by KD. ale · þus preyed pieres for hem ¶ Faitoures for fere her-of · flowen in-to bernes And flapten on with flayles · fram morwe til euen That hunger was nouȝt hardyBx.6.189: hardy: Beta has so hardy, but alpha is supported by Cx. A mss. are split. · on hem forto loke For a potful of peses · þat peres hadde ymaked [¶]Bx.6.191: ¶: The paraph is in WHmC and alpha. In LM the paraph was easily missed since the line is at the top of the page in both. Though evidently Bx, it is inappropriate in splitting 190 from 191. An heep of heremites · henten hem spades And ketten here copes · and courtpies hem made And wenten as werkemen · with spades and with schoueles And doluen and dykeden · to dryue aweye hunger ¶ Blynde and bedreden · were botened a þousande Þat seten to begge syluer · sone were þei heled For þat was bake for bayarde · was bote forBx.6.197: bote for: So beta and Cx (line not in A). R has bote to. many hungry And many a beggere for benes · buxome was to swynke And eche aBx.6.199: eche a: Supported by LR and WCO, against eche in others. A standard variant; cf. Bx.3.318n, 5.89, etc. The line is not in AC. pore man wel apayedBx.6.199: apayed: Supported by LR and CrWHm, against paied in others. · to haue pesen for his huyre And what pieres preyed hem to do · as prest as a sperhauke And þere-of was peres proude · and put hem to werke And ȝaf hem mete as he myȝte aforth · and mesurable huyre ¶ Þanne hadde peres pite · and preyed hunger to wende Home in-to his owne erdBx.6.204: erd: The form in LR and original M, from OE eard. Beta2 (CrWHm) and revised M have yerd, from OE geard. · and holden hym þere For I am wel awroke nowBx.6.205: now: Supported by LMOC and alpha, but omitted by beta2 (CrWHm) and G, as also (coincidentally?) by Cx. The line is not in A. · of wastoures þorw þi myȝte Ac I preye þe ar þow passe · quod Pieres toBx.6.206: to: Alpha may be right with þo to, creating a long dip, as G does independently with vn-to. A and C have two different versions of the b-verse. hunger Of beggeres and of bidderes · what best be [to]Bx.6.207: be to: L alone drops to. Most C mss. have the subjunctive as in beta; most A mss. have the phrase as in F, though five have R's order. done For I wote wel be þow went · þei wil worche ful ille For myschief it maketh · þei beth so meke nouthe And for defaute of her fode · þis folke is at my wille [It]Bx.6.211: It: All other mss. have Þey, but R is supported by AC. For the formal it as equivalent to "they", see Mustanoja (1960), 132-3; and cf. Bx.6.56, where GF again read þei for it. are my blody bretheren quod pieres · for god bouȝte vs alle Treuthe tauȝte me ones · to louye hem vchone And to helpen hem of alle þinge · ay as hem nedeth And now wolde I witen of þe · what were þe best AnBx.6.215: An: "and". how I myȝte amaistrien hem · and make hem to worche ¶ Here now quod hunger · and holde it for a wisdome Bolde beggeres and bigge · þat mowe her bred biswynke With houndes bred and hors-bred · holde vp her hertis Abate hem with benes · for bollyng of her wombe And ȝif þe gomes grucche · bidde hem go swynkeBx.6.220: go swynke: For the idiom, cf. 5.24 go worche, 7.104 gon faiten, 9.143 go shape. Alpha has go and swynke; the same variation is found in AC. Bx.6.221: The line is dropped by alpha. It is attested by AC. And he shal soupe swettere · whan he it hath deseruid ¶ AndBx.6.222: And: R has Ac, which may be right. There is the same variation in AC. if þow fynde any freke · þat fortune falshed Bx.6.222: fortune / falshed: An interesting case. Alpha's false or falshed is clearly an error in view of fals men in the next line. And yet it was presumably the basis for Cx, which reads þat fals men han apayred and drops the next line. Beta shares fortune with Ax. hath appeyred Or any maner fals men · fonde þow suche to cnowe Conforte h[e]mBx.6.224: hem: Beta probably had hym, as in LCrWHm, with MGO correcting. (Note HmO man in the line above.) AC have the plural, as in alpha. with þi catel · for crystes loue of heuene Loue hem and lene hem · so lawe of god techeth Alter alterius onera portate And alle maner ofBx.6.227: maner of: R omits of. AC scribes vary, though the most authoritative of C also omit. men · þat þow myȝte asspye That nedy ben and nauȝty · helpe hem with þi godis Loue hem and lakke hem nouȝte · late god take þe venjaunce Theigh þei done yuel · late þowBx.6.230: þow: Only in LR; dropped by other scribes perhaps on the basis of l. 85. Presumably it carries the alliteration of the b-verse. The line is not in AC. Adams (2000), 183. god awortheBx.6.230: aworthe: The rare form is supported by LMR. Michi vindictam & ego retribuam · And if þow wil be graciouse to god · do as þe gospel techeth And bilowBx.6.233: bilow: As at Bx.2.22, LMR presumably reproduce the spelling of Bx. F wrongly takes the verb to be formed on lowen, "be humble". The Latin of the next line makes it clear that it means "make (yourself) loved" (MED biloven), and beta1 reads biloue. The line replaces K.7.212 Make þe Frendis þermid. Adams (2000), 178. þe amonges low men · so shaltow lacche grace Facite vobis amicos de mamona iniquitatis ¶ I wolde nouȝt greue god quod piers · for al þe good on grounde Miȝte I synnelees do as þow seist · seyde pieres þanne ¶ Ȝe I bihote þeBx.6.237: þe (1): Alpha's god is not supported by AC, but cf. l. 285. quod hunger · or ellis þe bible lieth Go to Genesis þe gyaunt · þe engendroure of vs alle In sudore and swynkeBx.6.239: and swynke: Alpha has and in swynke and beta's reading is uncertain. Ax has the reading adopted here, and Cx has a Latin line (altered from Genesis) in the form In sudore & labore (or vice versa). · þow shalt þi mete tilye And laboure for þi lyflode · and so owre lorde hyȝte And sapience seyth þe same · I seigh itBx.6.241: it: Omitted in R (= alpha?) but supported by Ax. in þe bible Piger pro frigore · no felde noldeBx.6.242: nolde: This seems to be the beta reading (M is corrected), with alpha reading wolde, probably the reading of Ax. Either could be Bx. tilye And þerfore he shal begge and bidde · and no man bete his hunger ¶ Mathew with mannes face · mouthe[th]Bx.6.244: moutheth: Alpha's present tense is that of Ax, and is supported by C's Mathew maketh mencioun (RK.8.246). Beta's past tense may be unconscious substitution of -thed for -theth. þise wordis a besaunt Þat seruus nequam had a namBx.6.245: nam: Alpha has man, and beta probably here had the spelling nam rather than Mnam, which WHmC have corrected from Luke 19.24 and from ll. 247-8. Cf. the spelling variants there. The gloss besaunt which appears in LMWHm and as a variant in CrG must have been in beta. · and for he wolde nouȝte chaffare He had maugre of his maistre · for euermore after And binam [hym]Bx.6.247: hym: Not in L and added in M, so probably absent in beta. Other beta scribes make an obvious correction. his Mnam · for he ne woldeBx.6.247: ne wolde: Ax has nolde, which carries the alliteration, but it is supported for Bx only by MG. worche And ȝaf þat Mnam to hym · þat ten Mnames hadde And with þat he seyde · þat holicherche it herde He þat hath shal haue · and helpe þere it nedeth And he þat nouȝt hath shal nouȝt haue · and no man hym helpe And þat he weneth welBx.6.252: wel: Alpha has for and loses the alliteration. Beta has the support of Ax and the X family of C, though the P family omit wel to. to haue · I wil it hym bireue ¶ Kynde witt wolde · þat eche a wyght wrouȝte Or in dykynge or in deluynge · or trauaillynge in preyeres Contemplatyf lyf or actyf lyf · cryst wolde menBx.6.255: men: So LMR; beta1 has þei and F has we. AC are different. wrouȝte Þe sauter seyth in þeBx.6.256: þe: Alpha has a, which could be right, since there are several Beati omnes psalms. There is similar variation in A mss. psalme · of beati omnes Þe freke þat fedeth hym-self · with his feythful laboure He is blessed by þe boke · in body and in soule Labores manuum tuarum &c · ¶ Ȝet I prey ȝow quod pieres · parBx.6.260: par: The spelling in LWR (and abbreviated in MCG). See note to Bx.8.11. charite and ȝe kunne Eny leef of lechecraft · lere it me my dere For somme of my seruauntz · and my-self bothe Of al a wyke worche nouȝt · so owre wombe aketh ¶ I wote wel quod hunger · what sykenesse ȝow eyleth Ȝe han maunged ouer-moche · and þat maketh ȝow grone Ac I hote þe quod hunger · as þow þyne hele wilnest Þat þow drynke no day · ar þow dyne somwhat Ete nouȝte I hote þeBx.6.268: þe (1): Supported by Ax, but R omits, as does Cx. · ar hunger þe take And sende þe of his sauce · to sauoure with þi lippes And kepe some tyl soper tyme · and sitte nouȝt to longe AriseBx.6.271: Arise: So LMR supported by alliteration and Ax; F has But a-ryse, the others And ryse, evidently misinterpreting A as "And". vp ar appetit · haue eten his fulle Lat nouȝt sire surfait [·] sitten at þi borde Leue him nouȝt for he is lecherous · and likerous of tonge And after many manere metes · his maw is afyngred ¶ And ȝif þow diete þe þus · I dar legge myne eres Þat phisik shal his furred hodes · for his fode selle And his cloke of calabre · with alle þeBx.6.277: þe: Alpha omits; A mss. vary similarly. knappes of golde And be fayne bi my feith · his phisik to lete And lerne to laboure with londe · for lyflode is swete [Þer aren mo morareres þan] lechesBx.6.280: Þer aren mo morareres þan leches: We take R to represent a corrupt Bx. We suppose that B read as A does: Þer arn mo liȝeris þan lechis (K.7.257). The nonce word morareres resulted from dittography of mo. F's moraynerys (from moreine, "death"?) is a desperate attempt to make sense of this. Beta's revision to For morthereres aren mony leches is more radical and more sensible. The line is rewritten in C. See Schmidt (1995), 375. · lorde hem amende Þei do men deye þorw here drynkes · ar destine it wolde ¶ By seynt Poule quod pieres · þise aren profitable wordis Wende now hunger whan þow wolt · þat wel be þowBx.6.283: be þow: R reverses and F alters. A few C mss. agree with R. euere For þis is a louely lessoun · lorde it þe forȝelde ¶ By-hoteBx.6.285: By-hote: GF's I hoote is an A reading, introduced to correct the omission of I in Bx. god quod hunger · hennes ne wil I wende Til I haue dyned bi þis day · and ydronke bothe ¶ I haue no peny quod peres · poletes fortoBx.6.287: forto: LR and CrCO, challenged by to in MWHmG. Cx has the former, Ax the latter. We follow copy-text. bigge Ne neyther gees ne grys · but two grene cheses A fewe cruddes and creem · and an hauer cake And two loues of benes and bran · ybake for my fauntis And ȝet I sey by my soule · I haue no salt bacoun Ne no kokeney bi cryst [·] coloppes forto maken Ac I haue percil and porettesBx.6.293: porettes: So beta and F; R has sg. porett. A mss. vary similarly; Cx revises to poret plontes. · and many kole plantesBx.6.293: kole plantes: Probably R queynte herbes represents the alpha b-verse, which F alters to alliterate. Beta is supported by Ax; Cx revises to improve the alliteration. And eke a cow and a kalf · and a cart mare To drawe afelde my donge · þe while þe drought lasteth And bi þis lyflode we mot lyue · til lammasse tyme And bi þat I hope to haue · heruest in my croft And þanne may I diȝte þi dyner · as me dere liketh [¶]Bx.6.299: ¶: The paraph in HmW and alpha is appropriate here. Alle þe pore peple þo · pesecoddes fetten Benes and baken apples · þei brouȝte in her lapp[e]Bx.6.300: lappe: We prefer the distributive sg. of R, supported by Cx and the A witnesses TDCh. Chibolles and cheruelles · and ripe chiries manye And profred peres þis present · to plese with hunger ¶ Al hunger eet in hast · and axed after more Þanne pore folke for fere · fedde hunger ȝerne With grene poret and pesen · to poysoun hungerBx.6.305: hunger: Beta2 (CrWHm); G (corrected) and F read hym. This is an agreement by coincidence or contamination with Ax. The line is not in C. þei þouȝte Bx.3.306: Alpha has a paraph.By þat it neighed nere heruest · neweBx.6.306: newe: Again W (with F here) has a reading which is probably not Bx but agrees coincidentally with another version. & newe is the reading of Cx and of five A mss. corne cam to chepynge Þanne was folke fayne · and fedde hunger with þe best With good ale as glotoun tauȝte · and gerte hunger go slepe ¶ And þo wolde wastour nouȝtBx.6.309: wolde wastour nouȝt: Beta is supported by AC against alpha's wolde no wastour. werche · but wandren aboute Ne no begger ete bred · þat benes Inne were But of coket orBx.6.311: or (1): R has or of; for which AC offer no support. clerematyn · or elles of clene whete Ne none halpeny ale · in none wise drynke But of þe best and of þeBx.6.313: and of þe: LR + beta2 (CrWHm), as the X family of C. The P family omits of þe, as F. Ax omits of, as MG and O corrected. brounest · þat in borgh is to selle ¶ Laboreres þat haue no lande · to lyue on but her handes Deyned nouȝt Deyned Bx.6.315: Deyned nouȝt / Deyned: See MED deinen v.(1) & (2) for the two related verbs meaning "condescend, see fit" and "disdain". In beta it is the former, in alpha, omitting nouȝt, the latter. Ax supports beta, but it seems clear that Cx supports alpha (with X significantly adding noȝt as a correction). The only other use in the B text is Bx.10.82, recorded only in alpha, in the sense "condescend" in F (deyneþ not vs to here), but in R in the sense "disdain" (deyneþ his heres to opne)! In the corresponding line in C, some mss. read deyneth nat vs to here, but as many omit nat (RK.11.59). to dyne a-day · nyȝt-olde wortes May no peny-ale hem paye · ne no pece of bakoun But if it be fresch flesch other fische · fryed other bakeBx.6.317: Alpha runs this and the next line together, omitting the b-verse of l. 317 and the a-verse of l. 318. And þat chaude orBx.6.318: or: WHmG have and, supported by AC. We rely on LM, and suppose that G is likely to be contaminated and the reading of the WHm ancestor coincidental. In the absence of alpha, certainty is impossible. plus chaud · for chillyng of hereBx.6.318: here: R may be right with sg. his, which is the reading of four A mss. and the X family of C. mawe Bx.6.319: Only LM have a paraph, and it is not particularly appropriate. And but ifBx.6.319: but if: So LR and CrWG; others drop if (M is rewritten). AC vary similarly. he be hieghlich huyred · ellis wil he chyde And þat he was werkman wrouȝt · waille þe tyme Aȝeines catones conseille · comseth he to iangle Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento ¶ He greueth hym aȝeines god · and gruccheth aȝeines resoun And þanne curseth he þe kynge · and al his conseille after Suche lawes to loke · laboreres to greue Ac whiles hunger was her maister · þere wolde none of hemBx.6.326: none of hem: In A the b-verse reads wolde þere non chide; C reverses the first two words, ther wolde non chyde, with the P family omitting ther. Despite the variations, none of the B mss. exactly matches any of these. chyde Ne stryue aȝeines his statut · so sterneliche he loked ¶ Ac I warne ȝow werkemen · wynneth while ȝe mowe For hunger hidewardBx.6.329: hideward: There is no need to emend L's spelling, since hideward is not uncommon. See MED. In the other example in Bx.18.313, all scribes including L use the regular spelling, although in the C version of the line (RK.20.341) three mss. including X have hidward. · hasteth hym fasteBx.6.329: faste: Alpha's ful faste is not supported by AC. He shal awake with waterBx.6.330: water: A good example of R blindly following his exemplar, and F rationalising to make sense. · wastoures to chaste Ar fyue [ȝere]Bx.6.331: ȝere: We suppose that beta omitted the word and that HmO supplied it by conjecture. A mss. generally have the word, though oddly five omit it; C revises to fewe ȝeres. Alternatively, it is possible that the riddling fyue was AB, with scribes making what must have seemed an obvious correction. be fulfilled · suche famyn shal aryse Thorwgh flodesBx.6.332: flodes: R's sg. has some support from A mss. andBx.6.332: and: LWHm have and þourgh. The variant is also found in AC. foule wederes · frutes shul faille And so sayde saturne · and sent ȝow to warne Whan ȝe se þe sonne amys · and two monkes hedes And a Mayde haue þe maistrie · and multipliedBx.6.335: multiplied: The past participle (i.e. "and everything increased eightfold") is in LM and alpha, though it is a correction in M. Probably the other scribes took it as an imperative. bi eight Þanne shal deth withdrawe · and derthe be iustice And dawe þe dyker · deye for hunger But if god of his goodnesse · graunt vs a trewe Passus septimus de visione vt supra Treuthe herde telle her-of · and to peres heBx.7.1: he: Omitted in CrHmGO and inserted in L. The support of MWC and alpha establishes it for Bx, though it is omitted in AC. sent To taken his teme [·] and tulyen þe erthe And purchaced hym a pardoun · a pena & a culpa For hym and for his heires · for euermore after And bad hym holde hym at home · and eryen his leyes And alle þat halpe hym to erie · to sette or to sowe Or any other myster · þat myȝte pieres auaille Pardoun with pieres plowman · treuthe hath ygraunted ¶ Kynges and knyȝtes · þat kepen holycherche And ryȝtfullych in reumes · reulen þe peple Han pardoun thourgh purgatorie · to passe ful lyȝtly With patriarkes and prophetes · in paradise to be felawesBx.7.12: felawes: The plural is supported by LMG and alpha. ¶ Bisshopes yblessed · ȝif þei ben as þei shulden Legistres of bothe lawesBx.7.14: bothe lawes: So alpha and WHmCr (beta2), supported by Ax Bisshopis þat blissen & boþe lawes kenne (K.8.13). However LM and beta4 (GOC) read bothe þe lawes, which could be right. · þe lewed þere-with to preche And in as moche as þei mowe · amende alle synful Aren peres with þe apostles · þusBx.7.16: þus: LM and alpha, against þis in others. pardoun Piers sheweth And at þe day of dome · atteBx.7.17: atte: "at the", as in all beta mss. except M with at. R also has at, with F reading on. MR could be right. Ax reads instead at here deis. heigh deyse to sytte ¶ Marchauntz in þe margyne · hadden many ȝeres Ac none a penaBx.7.19: none a pena: Beta is supported by Ax; alpha's no pena is shared with the X family of C; the P family has a pena. & a culpa · þe Pope noldeBx.7.19: nolde: Following the negative in the a-verse, Bx has a second negative in the b-verse, either nolde in beta or wald nauȝt (F wille not) in alpha. Many A mss. also have nolde. C mss. have wolde or nolde depending on whether they include or omit no in the a-verse. hem graunte For þei holde nouȝt her halida[y]Bx.7.20: haliday: The distributive sg. of M and alpha is more likely to have given rise to the plural than vice versa. AC show similar variation. · as holicherche techeth And for þei swere by her soule · andBx.7.21: by her soule and: Replaced in alpha by ofte, but supported by AC and by alliteration. so god mosteBx.7.21: moste: Omitted by M and alpha, but supported by AC. hem helpe Aȝein clene conscience · her catel to selle ¶ Ac vnder his secret seel · treuthe sent hem a lettre That þey shulde bugge boldely · þat hem best likedBx.7.24: liked: The beta reading, against the present in alpha. Cx supports the past tense; A mss. are divided. In the context of present-tense verbs, the past tense is more likely to have given rise to the present. And sithenes selle it aȝein · and saue þe wynny[n]geBx.7.25: wynnynge: Beta's distributive sg. is shared with most A mss., while most C mss. have alpha's plural. And amende mesondieux þere-[with]Bx.7.26: þere-with: The alpha reading is supported by the AC versions. Beta's þere-myde is perhaps prompted by the alliteration. For similar variation in this situation, cf. Bx.5.77 and note, 6.67 (= RK.8.68), 6.161 (= K.7.145 and RK.8.155), 15.144. There appears to be no settled pattern. · and myseyse folke helpe And wikked wayes · wiȝtlich hemBx.7.27: hem: Supported for Bx by LMHmO and alpha; dropped in others. Yet Ax has to; Cx rewrites. amende And do bote to brugges [·] þat to-broke were Marien maydenes · or maken hem nonnes Pore peple and prisounes · fynden hem here fode And sette scoleres to scole · or to sommeBx.7.31: somme: Omitted in alpha, but supported by Ax and required by alliteration. other craftes Releue Religioun · and renten hem bettere Bx.7.33: Alpha has a paraph.And I shal sende ȝow my-selue · seynt Michel myn archangel Þat no deuel shal ȝow dere · ne fere ȝow in ȝowre deying And witen ȝow fro wanhope · if ȝe wil þus worche And sende ȝowre sowles in safte · to my seyntes in ioye ¶ Þanne were Marchauntz mery · many weptenBx.7.37: Marchauntz mery · many wepten: Beta is supported by AC against alpha's manye marchauntz . þat wopen. for ioye And preyseden Pieres þe plowman · þat purchaced þis bulle [¶]Bx.7.39: ¶: The spacing in LM indicates that a paraph was intended, as in WHmC. Men of lawe lest pardoun haddeBx.7.39: hadde: The line ended here in alpha, with F filling out this line, and both RF independently supplying a b-verse for the next line. [·] þat pleteden for Mede For þe sauter saueth hem nouȝte · such as taketh ȝiftes And namelich of innocentz [·] þat none yuel neBx.7.41: ne: Supported by LWCrG and alpha against omission in others. kunneth Super innocentem munera non accipiesBx.7.42: The Latin line, omitted by alpha, appears in A. The passage is revised in C. Bx.7.43: The paraph in WHmC is perhaps prompted by the Latin line above, though R also begins a line group.Pledoures shulde peynen hem · to plede for such anBx.7.43: an: "and". Cf. l. 46. helpe Prynces and prelates · shulde paye for her trauaille A regibus & pryncipibus erit merces eorum ¶ Ac many a iustice an iuroure · wolde for Iohan do more Þan pro dei pietate · leue þow none other Bx.7.48: WHmC begin with a paraph, and R begins a new line group, as at l. 43.Ac he þat spendeth his speche [·] and spekeþ for þe pore Þat is Innocent and nedy · and no man appeireth ConfortethBx.7.50: Conforteth: Alpha begins And conforteth, but beta is supported by Ax. hym in þat cas · with-oute coueytise of ȝiftes And scheweth lawe for owre lordes loue · as he it hath lerned Shal no deuel at his ded-dayBx.7.52: ded-day: LCGR have this form, though the usual form is deþ-day. Cf. l. 127. · deren hym a myte Þat he ne worth sauf and his sowle · þe sauter bereth witnesse Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo &c · ¶ Ac to bugge water ne wynde · ne witte ne fyre þe fierthe Þise foure þe fader of heuene · made to þis folde in comune Þise ben treuthes tresores · trewe folke to helpe Þat neuere shal wax ne wanye · with-oute god hym-selue ¶ Whan þei drawen on to deyeBx.7.59: on to deye: LMWCrG have the verb; HmO and R have the noun deþ. F's to þe deþ is also the reading of Cx. Drawen to (þe) deþ is common (MED drauen 3b (a)), but note Cleanness 1329 drawes to dyȝe. · and Indulgences wolde haue H[is] pardoun is ful petit · at h[is]Bx.7.60: His ... his: In the a-verse R shares the sg, with beta4, but only R has the sg. in the b-verse. However Cx has the sg. in both cases. (Ax also has a sg. pronoun, but the context is different, K.8.59.) The plural pronouns are obviously attracted to the pronouns of the surrounding lines, providing the motive for beta and F independently to rationalise. partyng hennes Þat anyBx.7.61: any: Omitted only by R, but it is not in Cx. Ax supports the reading of all other mss. Mede of mene men [·] for her motyng taketh ȜeBx.7.62: Ȝe: Beta is supported by Ax against alpha's Þe. (KD report R's Þe and þe in this line as Ȝe and ȝe.) legistres and lawyeres · holdeth þis for treuthe Þat ȝif þat I lye · Mathew is to blame For he bad me make ȝow þis · and þis prouerbe me tolde Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines · facite eis ¶ Alle lybbyng laboreres · þat lyuen with her hondes Þat trewlich taken · and trewlich wynnen And lyuen in loue and in lawe · for her lowe hert[e]Bx.7.68: herte: Alpha's distributive sg. is supported by many A mss. There is no parallel in C. Cf. l. 20, 10.420. Haueth þe same absolucioun · þat sent was to peres ¶ Beggeres ne bidderes · ne beth nouȝte in þe bulle But if þe suggestioun be soth · þat shapeth hemBx.7.71: hem: R's hym is also the reading of the X family of C; the P family and Ax support beta's plural. to begge For he þat beggeth or bit · but if he haue nede He is fals with þe fende · and defraudeth þe nedy And also he gilethBx.7.74: gileth: R's reading is supported by AC. The form is less common than bigileth (elsewhere only 20.125 in Bx, where HmO read bi-). We assume that beta and F alter to the commoner form, as on several other occasions in this passage. þe gyuer [·] ageines his wilBx.7.74: wil: Quite possibly a miswriting for wille, as in all except LCrG, and as the word is always otherwise spelt in L. Cable (1988), 54, argues on metrical grounds that the difference is substantive. For if he wist he were nouȝte nedy · he wolde ȝiue þat an other Þat were more ned[ier]Bx.7.76: nedier: For alpha's double comparative, cf. e.g. Bx.11.165 (passage in alpha only) and 15.206. M here reads nediere with -ere erased. þan he · so þe nediest shuld be hulpe Catoun kenneth menBx.7.77: men: Beta2 and GO read me. The line is not in AC. þus · and þe clerke of þeBx.7.77: þe (2): Established for Bx by LM and alpha, but omitted by beta1. stories Cui des videto · is catounes techyng And in þe stories he techeth · to bistowe þyn almes Sit elemosinaBx.7.80: elemosina: LM and alpha against elemosina tua in others. See Alford (1992), 54. F follows with a line of its own. The passage to l. 96 is not in AC. in manu tua donec studes cui des ¶ Ac Gregori wasBx.7.81: was: R has is; F rewrites. a gode man · and bad vs gyuen alle Þat asketh for his loue · þat vs alle leneth Non eligas cui miserearis · ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipere Quia incertum est pro quo deumBx.7.84: deum: This is clearly the Bx reading. M corrects deum to deo, in line with the reading of WHmG. For the quotation see Alford (1992), 54-5. magis placeas ¶ For wite ȝe neuere who is worthi · ac god wote who hath nede InBx.7.86: In: R has Alle in, and F For in. hym þat taketh is þeBx.7.86: þe: Omitted by alpha, perhaps correctly. treccherye · if any tresoun walke For he þat ȝiuethBx.7.87: ȝiueth: KD (p. 145) explain alpha's ȝift as "variation through misreading of an -eth suspension". It might also be noted that MED yeven records syncopated forms ending -th and -t. ȝeldeth · and ȝarketh hym to reste And he þat biddeth borweth · and bryngeth hym-self in dette ForBx.7.89: For: Alpha's Forthi perhaps anticipates Bx.7.92. beggeres borwen euermo · and her borgh is god almyȝti To ȝelden hem þat ȝiueth hem · and ȝet vsure more Quare non dedisti peccuniam meam ad mensam vt ego veniens [& cetera]Bx.7.91: veniens & cetera: So M. L ends veniens cum vsuris exigerem, but the variant readings suggest that scribes expanded an abbreviated quotation from Luke 19.23. Alford (1992), 55. · ¶ For-þi biddeth nouȝt ȝe beggeres · but if ȝe haue gret nedeBx.7.92: gret nede: Established for Bx by LMR as well as beta2. The others omit the adjective. For who-so hath to buggen hym bred · þe boke bereth witnesse He hath ynough þat hath bred ynough · þough he haue nouȝt elles Satis diues est qui non indiget pane ¶ Late vsage be ȝowre solace · of seyntes lyues redyng Þe boke banneth beggarie · and blameth hemBx.7.97: hem: Omitted by beta4. F rewrites. in þis manere Iunior fui etenim senui · et non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius &cBx.7.98: semen eius &c: So LW; M ends with derelictum &c, R with iustum. CrHmCOF complete the verse from Psalm 36.25, ... nec semen eius querens panem &c. Evidently scribes expanded a familiar quotation, as in l. 91. ¶Bx.7.99: ¶: The paraph in LWHm (with a new line-group in M), though not alpha, is appropriate. For ȝeBx.7.99: ȝe: AC have third person in this passage (K.8.72-3, RK.9.167). Bennett (1972), 221, explains that the following lines "represent an attempt to return to the original theme from which 71-88 [Bx.7.75-97] (new in B) are a digression. The digression has involved the use of the 2nd person, which is retained up to 94, though the original 3rd person forms are kept in 93 [Bx.7.103]". Though all B mss. have second person here, except for F which alters to beggeres, the situation is more complicated than Bennett suggests, since scribes altered to bring the pronouns into line. See notes to ll. 100, 103, 104. lyue in no loue · ne no lawe holde Many of ȝowBx.7.100: of ȝow: As in the previous line, F alters, reading man, and consequently adopting sg. womman in the b-verse. See next note. ne wedde nouȝt · þe wommenBx.7.100: wommen: The plural is supported by LMR as well as CrG. A mss. vary (K.8.73); Cx has the plural in a revised line (RK.9.168). þat ȝe with delen But as wilde bestis with wehe · worthen vppe and worchen And bryngeth forth barnes · þat bastardes men calleth Or þe bakke or some bone · he breketh in hisBx.7.103: he ... his: Beta has sg. pronouns, but alpha has plural. A mss. have his bak, his bon and his ȝouþe, but rather oddly many have þei rather than he at the beginning of the b-verse. Cx brings the pronouns into line with the surrounding plurals. ȝouthe ABx.7.104: A: "And". sitthe gon faiten with ȝoureBx.7.104: ȝoure: Beta represents Bx's half-hearted attempt to put the passage into the second person; see note to l. 99. O and alpha resolve the difficulty by altering back to third person, thus aligning with AC. fauntes · for euermore after Þere is moo mysshape peple · amongeBx.7.105: amonge: WMO and alpha have the form in -es. Either could be Bx. AC mss. also vary. þise beggeres Þan of alle maner men · þat on þis molde walketh [Þo]Bx.7.107: Þo: R only, but supported by AC. F adds For, while beta has And þei. þat lyue þus here lyf · mowe lothe þe tyme Þat euere he was manBx.7.108: he was man: Beta2 reads þei were men, but this is not supported by Ax. wrouȝt · whan he shal hennes fare ¶ Ac olde men & hore · þat helplees ben of strengthe And women with childe · þat worche ne mowe Blynde and bedered · and broken her membres Þat taketh þis myschiefBx.7.112: þis myschief: The sg. is established for Bx by agreement of LMR (F myssese) and Ax, though Cx has the plural. mekelych · as meseles and othere Han as pleyne pardoun [·] as þe plowman hym-self For loue of her lowe hertis · owre lorde hath hem graunted Here penaunce and here purgatorie · here [vp]onBx.7.115: vpon: In AC the b-verse reads vpon þis pur erþe. Bx has lost the alliterating adjective. R retains vpon, the alpha reading which F garbles, while beta reads on. þis erthe ¶ Pieres quod a prest þo · þi pardoun most I rede For I [shal]Bx.7.117: shal: Alpha's reading expressing necessity (cf. most in the line above) is more appropriate than the volition expressed by beta's wil. Most A mss. support alpha. Cx has can (RK.9.282). construe eche clause · and kenne it þe on englich ¶ And pieres at his preyere · þe pardoun vnfoldeth And I bihynde hem bothe · bihelde al þe bulle Al in two lynes it lay · and nouȝt a leef more And was writen riȝt þus · in witnesse of treuthe Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam Qui vero mala in ignem eternum · ¶ Peter quod þe prest þo · I can no pardoun fynde But dowel and haue wel · and god shal haue þi sowle And do yuel and haue yuel · hope þow non other ÞatBx.7.127: Þat: LM and alpha, supported by Ax. Other beta mss. have But. Lines 127-52 are not in C. after þi ded-dayBx.7.127: ded-day: LCG have this form, though the usual form is deþ-day. Cf. note to l. 52 where R also has the form. · þe deuel shal haue þi sowle ¶ And pieres for pure tene · pulled it atweyne And seyde si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis · non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es ¶ I shal cessen of my sowyng quod pieres · and swynk nouȝt so harde Ne about my bely-ioye · so bisi be namore Of preyers and of penaunceBx.7.132: penaunce: For variation with and without <-s>, see note to Bx.14.211. · my plow shal ben her-after And wepen whan I shulde slepe · þough whete bred me faille ¶ Þe prophete his payn ete · in penaunce and in sorwe By þat þe sauter seith · so dede other manye Þat loueth god lelly · his lyflode is ful esy Fuerunt michi lacrime mee · panes die ac nocte ¶ And but if Luke lye · he lereth vs bi foulesBx.7.138: bi foules: "(instructs us) by birds"; so beta, anticipating ll. 142-3. Alpha's line means "Unless Luke lies or teaches us to be fools", which cannot be the sense intended. Schmidt accepts beta's he in place of alpha's or, and alpha's foles in place of beta's foules, and this indeed makes sense in reference to Luke's fool as the man who tells his soul to rest now he has laid up treasure for it: "Dixit autem illi Deus: Stulte, hac nocte animam tuam repetunt a te. ... Nolite solliciti esse animae quid manducetis" (Luke 12.20, 22, abbreviated in l. 140). See Schmidt (1995), 376-7. It is worth noting, however, that leren is followed by a to infin. in the closest parallel "alle he lered to be lele" (Bx.19.256). A is no help, with the variant readings by foules, by birdes, be folis, to ben foles. We retain copy-text. We shulde nouȝt be to bisy · aboute þe worldes blisse Ne solliciti sitis · he seyth in þe gospel And sheweth vs bi ensamples · vs-selue to wisse Þe foules onBx.7.142: on: Choice is difficult. The LM reading is generally reliable for beta. R's of may represent alpha, but F has in as do the remainder of the beta mss. The situation is further complicated by the apparent corruption of Bx; the gospel has volatilia caeli (Matt. 6.26), which Ax translates as foulis in þe firmament (K.8.115), suggesting that on þe felde is a Bx error prompting scribes to improve. We follow copy-text. þe felde · who fynt hem mete atBx.7.142: at: Supported by LMWCOR against the repetition of in in CrHmF, even though A mss. have either in or a. wynter Haue þei no gernere to go to · but god fynt hem alle ¶ What quod þe prest to perkyn · peter as me þinketh Þow art lettred a litel · who lerned þe on boke ¶ Abstinence þe abbesseBx.7.146: þe abbesse: Lost in alpha but supported by Ax and necessary for the alliteration. quod pieres · myne abc me tauȝte And conscience come afterward · and kenned me moche more ¶ Were þow a prest pieres quod he · þow miȝte preche where þow sholdestBx.7.148: sholdest: The beta reading. R's woldest is perhaps easier; F revises. Ax has þe likide. As deuynour inBx.7.149: in: G and alpha have of, perhaps rightly. Cf. of diuinite Maistres (Bx.15.396). There is no parallel in Ax. deuynyte · with dixit insipiens to þi teme ¶ Lewed lorel quod Pieres · litel lokestow on þeBx.7.150: þe: Supported by Ax. R's þi is perhaps prompted by þi in the same position in the line above. bible OnBx.7.151: On: Beta is supported by Ax against R's And (F rewrites). salomones sawes · selden þow biholdest EcceBx.7.152: Ecce: The reading of all A and most B mss. OF "correct" to Eice (KD mistranscribe MR as Eice). For this line from Prov. 22.10, "Eiice ['eject'] derisores ...", see Alford (1992), 57. derisores et iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c ¶ Þe prest and perkyn · apposeden eyther other And I þorw here wordes awoke · and waited aboute And seighe þe sonne in þe south [·] sitte þat tyme Metelees and monelees · on Maluerne hulles Musyng on þis meteles · [a]Bx.7.157: a: "on": Since AC read a myle wey, we conjecture that R's a my wey, supported by M's on my way, represents the corrupt Bx, understood as and my waye by most scribes, and characteristically expanded by F to as y my way. my waye ich ȝede Many tyme þis meteles · hath maked me to studye Of þat I seigh slepyng · if it so be myȝte And also for peres þe plowman · ful pensyf in herte And which a pardoun peres hadde · alle þe peple to conforte And how þe prest impugned it [·] with two propre wordes Ac I haue no sauoure in songewarie · for I se it ofte faille Catoun and canonistres · conseilleth vs to leue To sette sadnesse in songewarie · for sompnia ne cures ¶ Ac for þe boke bibleBx.7.166: þe boke bible: This rather odd expression, altered by HmCGOF, is confirmed by Cx and paralleled by Bx.10.93, though Ax reads þe bible. · bereth witnesse How danyel deuyned · þe dremesBx.7.167: dremes: Some A mss. have the sg. as in WHmR. The X family of C has the plural, the P family has dremels (as in l. 169). of a kynge Þat was nabugodonosor · nempned of clerkis Daniel seyde sire Kynge · þi dremelesBx.7.169: dremeles: "dream-vision" (sg. or pl.). A word only recorded in Langland. As in Bx.13.14 (where F is absent), CrHmCF corrupt to dremes. bitokneth Þat vnkouth knyȝtes shul come · þi kyngdom to cleueBx.7.170: cleue: LMGO against easier cleyme in beta2 and C, and hence the beta reading. Alpha has reue, but the sense of cleue is continued in departed in the next line, and confirmed by Daniel 5.28, "divisum est regnum tuum". Yet all A mss. except one have cleyme. Probably the comparative difficulty of cleue (MED cleven v.(2), 4, "break up, dismember") led scribes to alter it. The line is not in C. Amonges lowere lordes · þi londe shal be departed And as danyel deuyned [·] in dede it felle after Þe kynge lese his lordship · and lower men it hadde ¶ And ioseph mette merueillously · how þe mone and þe sonne And þe elleuene sterres · hailsed hym alle Bx.7.176: W and Alpha here have a paraph.Þanne Iacob iugged · iosephes sweuene Beau filtz quod his fader · for defaute we shullen I my-self and my sones · seche þe for nede ¶ It bifel as his fader seyde · in pharaoes tyme Þat ioseph was iustice · egipte to loken It bifel as his fader tolde · his frendes þere hym souȝteBx.7.181: þere hym souȝte: R has the order hym þere souȝte, and F has sowtyn þere. In Cx the equivalent b-verse is hym for nede souhte (RK.9.316). And al þis maketh me · on þis meteles to þynke ¶ And how þe prest preued · no pardoun to dowel And demed þat dowel · indulgencesBx.7.184: indulgences: CR's indulgence may also be plural. See note to Bx.3.23 and variants in l. 209. passed Biennales and triennales · and bisschopes lettres And how dowel at þe day of dome · is dignelich vnderfongen And passeth al þe pardoun · of seynt petres cherche ¶Bx.7.188-96: ¶: O omits the paragraph. Now hath þe pope powere ·Bx.7.188: RM punctuate the line after pardoun, reflecting uncertainty over the very heavy b-verse which F abbreviates. pardoun to graunte þe peple With-outen eny penaunce · to passen in-to heuene Þis is owre bileue · as lettered men vs techeth Quodcumque ligaueris super terram · erit ligatum et in celis &c · And so I leue lelly · lordes forbode ellis Þat pardoun and penaunce · and preyeres don saue Soules þat haue synned · seuene sithes dedly Ac to trust to þise triennales · trewly me þinketh [It]Bx.7.196: It: Alpha's resumed subject is perhaps more likely to have been lost than added. A and C also vary, though It is supported by the X family of C. is nouȝt so syker for þe soule · certis as is dowel ¶ For-þi I rede ȝow renkesBx.7.197: renkes: Alpha has no difficulty with the seven other instances of renk. · þat riche ben on þis erthe Vppon trust of ȝowre tresoure · triennales to haue Be ȝe neuere þe balder · to breke þe x hestes And namelich ȝe maistres · mayres and iugges Þat han þe welthe of þis worlde · andBx.7.201: and: Alpha supported by AC over and for in LMWHmCr. wyse men ben holden To purchace ȝow pardoun · and þe popis bulles At þe dredeful dome · whan ded shullen riseBx.7.208: rise: LW and alpha, against arise in others. Most C mss. have the former, most A mss. the latter. And comen alle bifor cryst · acountisBx.7.204: acountis: Alpha begins the b-verse with and, but this is not supported by AC. to ȝelde How þow laddest þi lyf here · and his lawes keptest And how þow dedestBx.7.206: dedest: Beta's past tense is supported by AC against alpha's present. day bi day · þe dome wil reherce A pokeBx.7.207: poke: For R's form pouhȝ see MED pough(e, but both forms derive from OE pohha. R's less common form is paralleled among A mss. by V powhe, and among C mss. by X pouhe. ful of pardoun þere · ne prouinciales lettres Theigh ȝe be founde in þe fraternete · of alle þe foure fyue Bx.7.208: foure / fyue: Ax supports beta and F with foure, but R has fyue. Here and twice elsewhere (RK.8.191, 9.344, 15.80) Cx refers to the five mendicant orders (the usual four plus the crutched friars). Probably R represents a revision, with F reverting to the more usual number of orders. ordres And haue indulgences double-folde · butBx.7.209: but: Alpha is supported by AC against beta's but if. dowel ȝow help I sette ȝowre patentes and ȝowre pardou[n]Bx.7.210: pardoun: The sg. is supported by Cx; L's plural is the result of a later correction. F omits the line. [·] at one pies hele ¶ For-þi I conseille alle cristene · to crye god mercy And Marie his moder · be owre mene bitwene Þat god gyue vs grace here · ar we gone hennes Suche werkes to werche · whileBx.7.214: while: Beta is supported by Ax and the P family of C. The X family, however, has þe while as alpha. we ben here Þat after owre deth-day · dowel reherce At þe day of dome · we dede as he hiȝte Passus octauus de visione & hic explicit & incipit inquisicio prima de dowel Thus yrobed in russet · I rowmed aboute Bx.8.2: F omits the line. Al a somer sesoun · for to seke dowel And frayned ful oft · of folke þat I mette If ani wiȝte wiste · where dowel wasBx.8.4: was: alpha's subjunctive were is not supported by AC. at Inne And what man he miȝte be · of many man I axed ¶ WasBx.8.6: Was: LMWHm begin a paragraph here. Alpha instead begins And was (R) or But þere was (F), but beta is supported by AC. neuere wiȝte as I wentBx.8.6: as I went: R's in þis worlde is also the reading of Cx, and so could possibly represent a revision, but F has the beta reading. Schmidt (1995) conjectures that R's reading is contaminated from Cx or is "a coincidental substitution of a familiar phrase" (377). The latter seems likely. · þat me wisse couthe Where þis lede lenged · lasse ne more ¶Bx.8.8: ¶: The paraph is in LR (M has a line-space). Tyl it bifel on a fryday · two freres I mette MaistresBx.8.9: Maistres: Alpha begins And maistres, without support from AC. of þe Menoures · men of grete witte I hailsed hem hendely [·] as I hadde lerned And preyed hem parBx.8.11: par: LMWG; HmOF have pur (though in fact abbreviated in all except WHm). MED treats various forms as the same word (s.v. par prep.), and all scribes in all versions vary freely. CrCR have for, but this is not supported by AC. Cf. Bx.6.260, 13.30. charitee · ar þei passed forther If þei knewe any contreBx.8.12: contre: Alpha's courte is a misreading; beta is supported by AC. For the reverse error see Bx.P.149. · or costes asBx.8.12: as: Perhaps a little more pointed in its reference to friars than alpha's þer. AC have instead costes aboute. þei went Where þat dowel dwelleth · doth me to wytene Bx.8.14-17: These four lines omitted in alpha are not paralleled in Ax but are in Cx. Here the omission can be accounted for as a result of homeoarchy (dowel and dwelle 8.13, 17) and skipping a paraph. ¶Bx.8.14: ¶: In the absence of alpha, the paraph is only in LC, with a line-space in M. For þei ben men onBx.8.14: on: The LM reading (supported by G) generally secures beta and hence Bx (in the absence of alpha). However, of in beta2 and CO is also the reading of Cx. We retain copy-text. þis molde · þat moste wyde walken And knowen contrees and courtes · and many kynnes places Bothe prynces paleyses · and pore mennes cotes And dowel and doyuel · where þei dwelle bothe ¶ Amonges vsBx.8.18: Amonges vs: F has the Ax reading Marye, and its b-verse is also from A. For other lines in this passus which suggest F's contamination from an A text, see notes to ll. 25, 28, 38, 43, 45, 49, 74, 76, 78, 79, 87, 100-05, 106, 109, 121, 124. quod þe Menours · þat man is dwellyng And euere hath as I hope · and euere shal here-after ¶ Contra quod I as a clerke · and comsed to disputen And seide sothliBx.8.21: seide sothli: The reading of LM is supported by Cx. The other beta mss. add a pronoun object. R has no pronoun and loses the alliteration by omitting sothli. F drops the line. Since both LM place the punctuation after sepcies (R is without punctuation here), that is probably beta or archetypal error. sepcies · in die cadit iustus Seuene sythes seith þe boke · synneth þe riȝtful And who-so synneth I seyde · doth yuel as me þinketh And dowel and do yuel · mow nouȝt dwelle togideres Ergo he nysBx.8.25: nys: LMW against is in other mss. AC mss. vary similarly. We retain copy-text. nauȝt alwayBx.8.25: alway: F's alwey at hoom is the AC reading. · amonge ȝow freres He is otherwhile ellis-where · to wisse þe peple ¶ I shal sey þe my sone · seide þe frere þanne How seuene sithes þe sad man · on þeBx.8.28: on þe: LM and alpha, against on a in beta1. F's word-order is that of AC. day synneth By a forbisene quod þe frere · I shal þe faire shewe ¶ Lat brynge a man in a bote · amydde aBx.8.30: a (3): LR supported by AC, against þe in other mss. brode water Þe wynde and þe water · and þe bote waggynge Maketh þe man many aBx.8.32: many a: CrOR have many, as do AC. tyme · to falle and to stonde For stonde he neuere so styf · he stombleth ȝif he moeue Ac ȝit is he sauf and sounde · and so hym bihoueth For ȝif he ne arise þe rather · and rauȝte to þe stiereBx.8.35: stiere: The beta reading, vs. alpha (and Hm) sterne. Both words mean "rudder", and are used to translate "clavus" in Prov.23.34 from which the friar's example comes. Neither is used elsewhere in the poem. See MED ster(e n.(2) and stern(e n.(2). A mss. also vary. Þe wynde wolde wythBx.8.36: wyth: R's and is probably alpha, altered for sense to on by F. Beta is supported by Ax. þe water · þe bote ouerthrowe And þanne were his lyf loste · þourgh lacchesse of hym-self ¶ AndBx.8.38: And: F's Ryght is from Ax. þus it fallethBx.8.38: falleth: GF's fareþ is the AC reading. quod þe frere · bi folke here on erthe Þe water is likned to þe worlde · þat wanyeth and wexeth Þe godis of þis grounde aren like ·Bx.8.40: Scribes vary in their placement of the punctus before or after aren like, responding to the awkwardness of the line. The hesitation is visibly expressed in M, with a punctus elevatus erased before the phrase and inserted after it. to þe grete wawes Þat as wyndes and wederes · walwethBx.8.41: walweth: The LM reading, which is therefore likely to represent beta. It is supported by Ax and the better C mss. against walketh in alpha and four mss. of C. KD, 154 and n. 73, argue that in context walweth is "an easier reading"; nevertheless it is a rarer word. The primary sense of walken is "roll about" (MED walken v.(1), 1) rather than "go on foot" (3a). For the same variation see Bx.9.56. aboute Þe bote is likned to owre body · þat brutel is of kynde Þat þorugh þe fende and þiBx.8.43: þi: LR, and so presumptively Bx. But choice is difficult. F has oure, perhaps from the previous line but also the reading of Cx, while the other beta mss. have þe, the reading of Ax. We follow copy-text. flessh · and þe freleBx.8.43: þe frele: The beta reading. F has þe false, which is the Ax reading. R has þis frele, the reading also of Cx. Possibly R's reading is a revision. We follow copy-text. worlde Synneth þe sadman · a day seuene sythes ¶ Ac dedly synne doth he nouȝt · for dowel hym kepithBx.8.45: kepith: F has the AC reading helpiþ. And þat is charite þe champioun · chief help aȝein synne For he strengtheth man to stonde · and stereth mannes soule [Þat]Bx.8.48: Þat: The alpha reading is also that of Ax. Lines 46-56 are rewritten in Cx. þowgh þiBx.8.48: þi: LMCO and alpha, supported by Ax, against þe in WHmG. body bow · as bote doth in þe water Ay is þi soule sauf · butBx.8.49: but: LMR are supported by Ax against but if in the others. þi-selfBx.8.49: þi-self: M reads þou þi-seluen as does Ax; WCr alter the word-order to þow wole þi-selue to the detriment of the alliteration. woleBx.8.49: Following this line, F introduces a line from A (K.9.45). Do a dedly synne · and drenche so þi souleBx.8.50: soule: R alone has selue, perhaps from the previous line, though it is the reading of all but three A mss. God wole suffre wel þi sleutheBx.8.51: sleuthe: Alpha and Hm read soule, perhaps picked up from 49-50. F revises to make sense of this. The line is revised from Ax. · ȝif þi-self lyketh For he ȝaf þe to ȝeresȝyue · to ȝeme wel þi-selue And þat is witte aBx.8.53: a (1): "and" (LM). See note to Bx.P.227. KD, pp. 193-4, take Bx And þat is to be an interpolation, and their emendation makes much clearer sense of to ȝeresȝyue "(wit and free will) as a gift". Hence the variants two ȝeresȝevis in CrF and a yeresȝyue in WG in l. 52. In M, wit is a correction, possibly of with a fre wille. fre wille · to euery wyȝte a porcioun To fleghyng foules · to fissches & to bestes Ac man hath moste þerof · and moste is to blame But if he worche wel þer-with · as dowel hym techeth ¶ I haue no kynde knowyng quod I · to conceyue alle [þi]Bx.8.57: þi: Alpha agrees with Ax against beta ȝowre. Cx has this speche. wordes Ac if I may lyue and loke · I shal go lerne bettere Bx.8.59: W and alpha here supply a paraph, and also (see next note) have quod he, recognising that the speaker has changed. It may be, therefore, that the paraph was added to Bx to make this clear.I bikenne þe cryst cryst quod he Bx.8.59: cryst / cryst quod he: Alpha and WHm are supported by quod he in Cx, making clear that the friar is the speaker rather than Will. However, most beta mss. are supported by Ax. R's plural pronoun is presumably an error, though indeed there are two friars. · þat on þe crosse deyde And I seyde þe same · saue ȝow fro myschaunce And ȝiue ȝow grace on þis grounde · good men to worthe ¶ And þus I went wide-where [·] walkyng myne one By a wilde wildernesse · and bi a wode-syde Blisse of þ[e]Bx.8.64: þe: Though this is the reading of most mss., LHmR give strong support to þo. However the birds have not been previously mentioned, and þe is supported by AC (but see next note). briddes · [abide] me [made]Bx.8.64: abide me made: Alpha's reading is obviously correct, since beta's brouȝte me aslepe sends the dreamer to sleep too early. Alpha is supported by Ax (made me abide) and Cx (RK.10.63). Beta's reading, anticipating l. 67, is puzzling, since the line is identical to K.9.58. The passage in A reads: Blisse of þe briddes made me abide And vndir a lynde vpon a launde lenide I me a stounde To lerne þe laies þat [var. þat þe] louely briddes [var. foulis] maden Blisse of þe [var. þise] briddis brouȝte me a slepe (K.9.55-8). And vnder a lynde vppon a launde · lened I a stounde To lythe þe layes · þ[e]Bx.8.66: þe (2): The reading of alpha. The beta reading is uncertain, since LCrWGO have þo against þe in MHmC. The latter has some support from A mss. (see previous note); Cx is revised. louelyBx.8.66: louely: Lost in alpha, but supported by AC and necessary for the alliteration. foules made Murthe of her mouthes · made me þere to slepe Þe merueillousest meteles · mette me þanne Þat euer dremed wyȝte · in worlde as I wene ¶ A moche man as me þouȝteBx.8.70: me þouȝte: R drops me, anticipating the identification as Thought. F replaces the phrase with he was. Beta is supported by AC. · and lyke to my-selue Come and called me · by my kynde name Bx.8.72: WHmC and alpha have a paraph to mark Will's question. Cf. ll. 59, 73.What artow quod I þoBx.8.72: þo: Omitted only by R, though Cx and many A mss. also omit, so it is perhaps added by beta and F. · þat þow my name knowest Bx.8.73: W and alpha have a paraph to mark Thought's answer.Þat þow wost wel quod he · and no wyȝte bettere ¶ Wote I what þow art  Bx.8.74: what þow art: F's who art þou is the AC reading. ·Bx.8.74: The punctus elevatus after art in LMOR and F (rather than his usual virgule) must be archetypal, perhaps to indicate the question. LMO also have a punctus following þought. On Hoccleve's use of the punctus elevatus to mark this sort of question, see Burrow (2002), 184-5. þought seyde he þanne I haue suwed þe þis seuene ȝere · sey þow me no rather ¶ Art þow thought quod I þo · þow couthest me wisseBx.8.76: wisse: F's telle is the reading of Ax. Where þat dowel dwelleth · and do me þatBx.8.77: þat (2): The beta reading, where alpha has hym. AC have neither pronoun. We follow copy-text. to knowe ¶ Dowel and dobet · and dobest þe thridde quod heBx.8.78: quod he: F's placement of this after Dowel is that of Ax. Aren three faire vertues · and beth nauȝte fer to fyndeBx.8.79: The line that follows in F only is from A (K.9.71). Who-so is trewe of his tonge · and of his two handes And þorugh his laboure or þorughBx.8.81: þorugh (2): Clear support for Bx from LMWHmR. It is not in Ax. Cx rewrites. his londe · his lyflode wynneth And is trusti of his tailende · taketh but his owne And is nouȝt dronkenlew ne dedeignousBx.8.83: dedeignous: CF have the aphetic form deygnous, and R subpuncts initial de-. The best X family mss. of C have dedeynus, but the P family and Ax have deynous. · dowel hym folweth ¶ Dobet doth ryȝt þus · ac he doth moche more He is as low as a lombe · and loueliche of speche And helpeth alle men · after þat hem nedeth Þe bagges and þe bigurdeles · he hath to-brokenBx.8.87: to-broken: WCO have to-broke which improves the metre of the b-verse. There is the same variation in C mss. HmGF have broke(n), as do A mss. hem alle Þat þe Erl auarous · helde and his heires AndBx.8.89: And: Beta's And þus is not supported by AC. with Mammonaes mone · he hath made hym frendes And is ronne in-toBx.8.90: in-to: The reading of LM and alpha, with support from some A mss. and the best C mss. of both families. Religioun · and hath rendred þe bible And prechethBx.8.91: precheth: Beta4 and R have the past tense, but AC support the present. to þe poeple · seynt Poules wordes Libenter suffertis insipientesBx.8.92: insipientes: Several C mss. share with alpha the spelling incipientes (as if from incipio). · cum sitis ipsiBx.8.92: sitis ipsi: Reversed in alpha. Ax quotes only the first two words of the verse; many C mss. omit the second clause. sapientes And suffreth þe vnwise · with ȝow forto libbe And with gladde wille doth hem gode · for so god ȝow hoteth ¶ Dobest is aboue bothe · and bereth a bisschopes cro[c]eBx.8.95: croce: "crosier", the reading of MO and alpha (OFr croce), to be distinguished from cross (OE and ON from Irish) in other mss. The description is clearly that of a crosier rather than a cross. In Bx.15.598, however, the bishop's crosse is presumably a pectoral cross, unless a pun is intended on crosse in 15.608. Is hoked on þat one ende · to halie men fro helle A pyke is on þat potente · to pulteBx.8.97: pulte: The reading in LOR (MED pilten), the source of putte or pul in other mss. There is the same variation in C mss. (RK.10.95). adown þe wikked Þat wayten any wikkednesse · dowel to tene Bx.8.99: R has a paraph (F drops the line).And dowel and dobet [·] amonges hem ordeigned Bx.8.100: to reule hem bothe: The b-verse (beta only) is defective in alliteration and metre, and is presumably corrupted from K.9.98-9, Corounid on to be kyng & be here counseil werche / And rewele þe reaum. Bx has reversed the positions of the parallel lines 100 and 105 (= K98 and 91). The reversal is retained in Cx, which however repairs the alliteration by completing this line to kull withoute synne (RK.10.101).Bx.8.100-05: Alpha as represented by R is here deficient, omitting through eyeskip from kynge to kynge five lines present in beta, so omitting 100b-105a. The lines in beta are a revised version of Ax, K.9.91-8, omitting 9.93 and 95, and replacing 9.98 with 91. F repairs the gap from his A text, thus: F.6.96 And þus dowel . & dobet . & dobest þe thrydde. (K.9.97) F.6.97 Haue crowne oon to be kyng / & be here conseyl wirche (K.9.98) F.6.98 & to rewle al þe rewhme / be reed of hem alle. (K.9.99) F.6.99 & be non oþir-wyse / but as þey þre wille assente. (K.9.100) F.6.100 For if þat dowel or dobet / dyden a-geyn dobest. (K.9.92) F.6.101 & weryn vn-buxum to don his byddyngge / & bown to do Ille. (K.9.93) F.6.102 Þanne sholde þe kyng come / & comawnde hem to presoun. (K.9.94) F.6.103 & pitte hem þere in penawnce / with-oute pite or grace. (K.9.95) The lines are rewritten in Cx. To croune one to be kynge [·] to reule hem bothe Þat ȝif dowel or dobet [·] did aȝein dobest Þanne shal þe kynge come · and casten hem in yrensBx.8.102: yrens: Ax has presoun, which is also F's reading. See note to ll. 100-05. And but if dobest bede for hem · þei to be þere for euere ¶ Thus dowel and dobet · and dobest þe thridde Crouned one to be kynge · to kepin hem alle And to reule þe Reume · bi her thre wittesBx.8.106: bi her thre wittes: F again follows Ax (K.9.99). Cx follows Bx, despite the defective alliteration. And none other wise · but as þei thre assented ¶ I thonked thouȝt þo · þat he me þus tauȝte Ac ȝeteBx.8.109: ȝete: Lost in R, but supported by AC. sauoureth me nouȝt þi seggyng · I coueite to lerneBx.8.109: I coueite to lerne: Bx has evidently conflated two lines in A, which F restores (K.9.102-3). How dowel dobet and dobest · don amonges þe peple ¶ But witte conne wisse þe quod þouȝt · where þo thre dwelle Ellis wote I none þat can · þat now is alyue ¶ Þouȝte and I thus · thre days we ȝeden Disputyng vppon dowel · day after other And ar we were ywarBx.8.115: were ywar: R 's order war were may be right, since it is that of Ax as well as the X family of C. Beta and F are in line with the P family. We follow copy-text. · with witte gan we mete He was longe and lene · liche to none other Was no pruyde on his apparaille · ne pouerte noyther Sadde of his semblaunt · and of soft chiere I dorste meue no matere · to make hym to iangle But as I bad þouȝt þo · be mene bitwene AndBx.8.121: And: Also the reading of Cx. F's To follows Ax. put forth sommeBx.8.121: somme: Supported by AC against R's his. purpos · to prouen his wittes What was dowel fro dobet · and dobest fram hem bothe ¶ Þanne þouȝt in þat tyme [·] seide þise wordes WhereBx.8.124: Where: R interprets this as Whether, which, in this case, it is not. dowelBx.8.124: dowel: F's dowel & may be from Ax, but it is also the Cx reading. dobet [·] and dobest benBx.8.124: ben: Lost in alpha, with F recasting to make sense. It is added above the line in M, suggesting the possibility that the omission was a Bx error, with beta scribes making the obvious correction. in londe Here isBx.8.125: is: R (= alpha?) loses this, and F rewrites. wille wolde ywyte · ȝif witte couthe teche hym And whether he be man or [no] manBx.8.126: no man: L's man is obviously an error, though it may represent confusion in beta or Bx, with other scribes repairing. Alpha and C have no man; most beta mss. have womman. The line is not in AC. · þis man fayneBx.8.126: fayne: Dropped in Hm and beta4, and erased in M. wolde aspye And worchen as þei thre wolde · þis is his entente Passus nonus de visione vt supra & primus de Dowel Sire dowel dwelleth quod witte · nouȝt a day hennes In a castel þat kynde made · of foure kynnesBx.9.2: kynnes: Alpha's non-alliterative maner is not supported by AC (K.10.2, RK.10.219) þinges Of erthe and eyre is itBx.9.3: is it: The order is reversed in HmOF. AC also vary. made · medled togideres With wynde and with water · witterly enioyned Kynde hath closed þere-Inne · craftily with-alle A lemman þat he loueth · like to hym-selue Anima she hatte · ac enuye hir hateth A proude pryker of Fraunce · prynceps huius mundi And wolde winne hir awey · with wyles and he myȝte ¶ Ac And Bx.9.10: Ac / And: The beta reading is Ac, supported by Ax. Alteration to And in CrC is characteristic (cf. Bx.9.17, 57 etc.). But here the alpha reading is also And, and it is in turn the reading of Cx. kynde knoweth þis wel · and kepeth hir þe bettere And hath doBx.9.11: hath do: So LMR and GO, as in Ax and most C mss.; beta2 and CF have the simple present tense, as in some of the P family of C. hir with sireBx.9.11: sire: So AC, though omitted by alpha. dowel · isBx.9.11: is: Certainly Bx, though omitted by GOF and AC. duke of þisBx.9.11: þis: So AC. R has þe and F þat. marches Dobet is hir damoisele · sire doweles douȝter To serue þis lady lelly · bothe late and rathe Dobest is aboue bothe · a bisschopes pere Þat he bit mote be do · he reuleth hem alle Anima þat lady · is ladde bi his leryngeBx.9.16: lerynge: The beta reading (though M is a correction), with the late texts CrG altering as usual to lerneing. But alpha also has lernyng. The better C mss. have leryng. ¶ Ac þe constable of þat castel · þat kepeth al þe wacche Is a wys kniȝte with-al · sire Inwitte he hatte And hath fyue feyre sones · bi his first wyf Sire sewel and saywel · and herewel sire herewel Bx.9.20: herewel / sire herewel: Beta is supported by Ax, but alpha's addition of sire is also in Cx. Beta alliterates aaa/bb, alpha aaa/abb. þe hende Sire worche wel wyth þine hande · a wiȝte man of strengthe And sire godfrey gowel · gret lordesBx.9.22: gret lordes: Beta's plural is supported by AC against the sg. in alpha. for-sothe Þise fyueBx.9.23: fyue: F's sixe is from A; it includes the constable. Cx has five. ben sette · to saue þis ladyBx.9.23: þis lady: Alpha drops lady, with F rewriting the b-verse. Cx for to saue Anima may offer slight support for R's reading. (Ax reads to saue þe castel.) anima Tyl kynde come or sende [·] to saue hir for euereBx.9.24: saue hir for euere: Agreement of beta and R confirms this as the Bx reading even if corrupt. F's kepen hire hym-selue is the AC reading, taken by F from his A ms. ¶ What kynnes thyng is kynde quod I · canstow me telle ¶ Kynde quod witte is aBx.9.26: a: Clearly established for Bx, though omitted by Cx and most A mss. KD record it as omitted in MR, but in both it is erased. Misunderstanding in Bx may have been caused, or further compounded, by reading creatour as creature (as in HmCO), though the spelling of the two words is often confused; see MED creatour and creature. creatour · of alle kynnes þinges Fader and fourmour · of al þat euere was maked AndBx.9.26: And: Beta1 reads And þat is, supported by Ax. M reads And þis is. But L originally agreed with R before correcting to the beta1 reading. F rewrites the a-verse. Cx rewrites as The which is. þe gret god [·] þat gynnynge had neuere Lorde of lyf and of lyȝte · of lysseBx.9.29: lysse: Alpha spoils alliteration with blisse, as does the corrector in M. The two late texts CrG adopt the easier reading to avoid the obsolete synonym. and of peyne Angeles and al þing [·] aren at his wille Ac man is hym mosteBx.9.31: hym moste: Alpha reverses, but beta's order is supported by AC. From here to the end of the passus C is rewritten or heavily revised. lyke · of marke and of schafte For þorugh þe worde þat he spake · wexen forth bestesBx.9.32: F follows with three unique lines, the third of which is based on K.10.34, and omits Bx.9.33. Dixit & facta sunt id est adamBx.9.34: id est adam: This gloss appears above the line in LM, and was incorporated into the text in CrHmF. It was therefore presumably a feature of the archetypal text. In R man is a correction in a second hand, perhaps indicating the scribe's confusion. ¶ And made man likkest · to hym-self one And Eue of his ribbe-bon · with-outen eny mene For he was synguler hym-self · andBx.9.36: and: R (= alpha?) omits, and F has he. The passage is not in AC. seyde faciamus As who seithBx.9.37: seith: CrCGR have subjunctive sey. The line is not in AC. more mote here-to · þan my worde one My myȝte mote helpe · now with my speche Riȝte as a lorde sholde make lettres · and hym lakked parchemyn Þough he couth write neuere so wel · ȝif he had no penne Þe lettre for al þe lordship · I leue were neuere ymaked ¶ And so it semeth bi hym · as þe bibleBx.9.42: bible: Beta4 has book. telleth Þere he seyde [·] dixit & facta suntBx.9.43: dixit & facta sunt: (Psalm 148.5), repeating l. 33. L punctuates after dixit, but the punctuation after seyde in other mss. is more appropriate. F's faciamus hominem ad ymaginem &c (Gen.1.26), is from A (K.10.41a), where it follows the line equivalent to Bx.9.53. Cf. also Bx.9.36. He moste worche with his worde · and his witte shewe And in þis manere was man made · þorugh myȝte of god almiȝti With his worde and werkemanschip · and with lyf to laste And þus god gaf hym a goost · of þe godhed of heuene And of his grete grace [·] graunted hym blisse And þat is lyf þat ay shal last · to al [his]Bx.9.49: his: Lost in beta though independently restored by W on grounds of sense (Cr adds our instead). Alpha is supported by Ax. lynage after And þat is þe castel þat kynde made · caro it hatte And is as moche to mene · as man with a soule And þat he wrouȝt with werke · and with wordeBx.9.52: worde: Alpha's his word(es) is not supported by Ax. bothe Þorugh myȝte of þe maieste · man was ymaked ¶ Inwit and alle wittes [·] closed ben þer-inne For loue of þe lady anima · þat lyf is ynempned Ouer-al in mannes body · heBx.9.56: he: "she". See Introduction IV.1. walketh and wandreth AcBx.9.57: Ac: Supported by LO and alpha (since F alters to his usual But), and by Ax (K.10.45). After this line AC offer only sporadic correspondences with Bx until l. 191. in þe herte is hir home · and hir moste reste Ac Inwitte is in þe hed · and to the herte heBx.9.58: he: Omitted by CrR. loketh What anima is lief or loth · he latBx.9.59: lat: The variants confirm this as a form of "leads". hir at his wille For after þe grace of god · þe grettest is Inwitte ¶ Moche wo worth þat [wiȝte]Bx.9.61: wiȝte: Though not an unusual word, wiȝte is sporadically replaced by man (e.g. Bx.P.208 (R), 5.118 (F), 8.53 (Hm), 8.73 (O)). Alpha's alliterative pattern is aaa/xa (on /w/); beta's man gives the standard alliterative pattern aa/ax (on /m/). Cx does not help to establish the reading, but indicates dissatisfaction with whatever it was, reversing the b-verse: "And moche wo worth hym þat inwit myspeneth" (RK.10.175). · þat mys-reuleth his Inwitte And þat be glotouns globbares · her god is her wombe Quorum deus venter est For þei seruen sathan · her souleBx.9.64: soule: The reading of LMR is enough to establish Bx against the more obvious plural in other mss. Cf. the distributive sg. again in the next line. shal he haue Þat liueth synful lyf here · her soule is liche þe deuel And alle þat lyuen good lyf · aren likeBx.9.66: like: The agreement of LR supports this against like to in beta1. Both locutions are used elsewhere. M originally read vnto, corrected to to, and F has lyk after. god almiȝti Qui manet in caritate in deo manet &c ¶ Allas þat drynke shal for-do · þat god dere bouȝte And doth god forsaken hem · þat shope [hem]Bx.9.69: shope hem: Beta's he shope gives an unmetrical b-verse (x x / x x / x), and the alpha reading is syntactically difficult enough to have generated it. However, KD, p. 143, ascribe the alpha reading to "parallelism induced by preceding forsaken hem". to his liknesse Amen dico vobis nescio vos · & alibi et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorumBx.9.70: & alibi et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum: This (Psalm 80.13) is not in alpha: in fact F drops both quotations. It finds it way into Cx at this point (RK.10.165a). ¶ Foles þat fauten Inwitte · I fynde þat holicherche Shulde fynden hem þat hemBx.9.72: hem (2): Not in R (F is different). faute[th]Bx.9.72: fauteth: So CGO and R. LMW have the past tense, but the present seems required by sense. · and faderelees children And wydwes þat han nouȝte wher-with · to wynnen hem her fode Madde men and maydenes · þat helplees were Alle þise lakken Inwitte · and lore bihoueth ¶ Of þis matere I myȝte · make a longe tale And fynde fele witnessesBx.9.77: witnesses: The form in alpha and CGO is also plural. See note to Bx.2.150. · amonges þe foure doctours And þat I lye nouȝt of þatBx.9.78: of þat: Lost in alpha, and F further abbreviates to make sense of the omission. I lere þe · luke bereth witnesse ¶ Godfader and godmoder · þat sen her godchildren AtBx.9.80: At (1): The alpha reading is uncertain. myseise and atBx.9.80: at (2): Not in MCGOF. mischief · and mowe hem amende Shal haue penaunce in purgatorie · but ȝif þei hem helpe For more bilongeth to þe litel barne · ar he þe lawe knowe Þan nempnyng of a name · and he neuere þe wiser Bx.9.84: CO and alpha have a paraph.Shulde no crystene creature · crien atte ȝate Ne faille payn neBx.9.85: Ne ... ne: Alpha has And ... and. potage · and prelates did as þei shulden A Iuwe wolde nouȝte se a Iuwe · go iangelyng for defaute For alle þe moeblesBx.9.87: moebles: HmR nobles is a good example of coincidental error. on þis molde · and he amende it miȝte ¶ Allas þat a crestene creature · shal be vnkynde tilBx.9.88: til: So LWHmR against to in others. an other Sitthen Iuwes þat we iugge · Iudas felawes AytherBx.9.90: Ayther: Alpha's reading was evidently that of R, with F making a typical attempt to repair the line. See KD p. 142. of hem helpeth other · of þat þat hymBx.9.90: hym: Beta2, G and F repeat hem from the a-verse. nedeth Bx.9.91: Alpha has a paraph.Whi nel we cristene · of cristes good be as kyndeBx.9.91: kynde: The M corrector uniquely adds willed at the end of the line, perhaps to correct the alliterative pattern. See Duggan, YLS 1 (1987), 66. As Iuwes þat ben owre lores-men · shameBx.9.92: shame: R (= alpha?) has to schame, with F altering to It is shame. to vs alle Þe comune for her vnkyndenesse · I drede me shul abye ¶ Bisschopes shul be blamed · for beggeres sake He is worse þan Iudas · þat ȝiueth a iaper siluer And biddeth þe begger go · for his broke clothes Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda · qui patrimonium cristi minus distribuit // & alibi Perniciosus dispensator est · qui res pauperum cristi inutiliter consumit He doth nouȝt wel þat doth þus · ne drat nouȝt god almiȝty NeBx.9.100: Ne: Beta2 and F repeat He from the previous line. loueth nouȝt salamones sawes · þat sapience tauȝte Inicium sapiencie timor domini · ¶ Þat dredeth god he doth wel · þat dredeth hym for loueBx.9.102-03: Beta4 abbreviates these two lines and runs them together. And nouȝt for dredeBx.9.103: And nouȝt for drede: Alpha is derived from the previous b-verse. of veniaunce · doth þer-foreBx.9.103: doth þer-fore: Following on from its error in the a-verse, alpha reads to do. þe bettere He doth best þat with-draweth hym · by day and bi nyȝte To spille any speche [·] or any space of tyme Qui offendit in verboBx.9.106: verbo: This is probably Bx since it is the reading of LR and probably original M, corrected to vno in conformity with James 2.10. Beta1 also has vno, while F includes both words, vno verbo. The reading verbo is presumably Langland's adaptation of the quotation for the context, with some scribes reverting to the biblical text. (The line in L is marked for correction, perhaps significantly.) The quotation also occurs at Bx.11.326, where no ms. has verbo. While verbo must have been present in Bx, it may alternatively have been in the form of an interlinear gloss to vno. See Donaldson (1955), 198-9; Schmidt (1995), 379-80; Burrow (2003), 191-2. in omnibus est reus ¶ Lesyng of tyme · treuthe wote þe sothe Is moste yhated vpBx.9.108: vp: Supported by LCR and original M. For prepositional vp, cf. Bx.5.425. erthe · of hem þat beth in heuene And sitthe to spille speche · þat spyreBx.9.109: spyre: "offspring", as in L, beta4 and R, evidently puzzled other scribes. is of grace And goddes gleman · and a game of heuene Wolde neuere þe faithful fader · his fithel were vntempred Ne his gleman a gedelyng · a goer to tauernes ¶ To alle trew tidy men · þat trauaille desyren Owre lorde loueth hem and lent · loude other stille Grace to go to hemBx.9.115: to hem: R has to hem tille and F has hem to. The reversal could be right. · and agonBx.9.115: agon: "earn". W restores the more "correct" form ofgon (OE ofgan). her lyflode Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono ¶ Trewe wedded libbing folk · in þis worlde is dowel For þei mote worche & wynne · and þe worlde susteyne For of her kynde þeiBx.9.119: þei: Alpha has the form he. See Introduction IV.1. come · þat confessoures ben nempned Kynges and kniȝtes · kayseres and cherlesBx.9.120: cherles: F's clerkys is the A reading (K.10.137). Maydenes and martires · out of o man come Þe wyf was made þe weyeBx.9.122: weye, "man, husband". Perhaps only F understood the word, for the usual spelling in L and elsewhere is wye. However C mss. regularly spell it wey(e). · for to help worche And þus was wedloke ywrouȝt · with a mene personeBx.9.123b-26a: Alpha omits as a result of homoarchy (And þus was wedloke ywrouȝt 123a, 126a). First bi þe faderes wille · and þe frendes conseille And sytthenes bi assent of hem-self · as þei two myȝte acorde And thus was wedloke ywrouȝte · and god hym-self it made In erthe þe heuene isBx.9.127: þe heuene is: The syntax of the a-verse, "the heaven (of wedlock) is on earth", puzzled alpha (þere / here heuen is) and CrW (and in heuene). M is altered to CrW's reading. · hym-self was þeBx.9.127: was þe: WCF have bereþ, attracted to the common collocation (Bx.2.39, 7.53, 7.93, etc.). witnesse ¶ Ac fals folke [and]Bx.9.128: and: Alpha is supported by Ax (K.10.139). faithlees · theues and lieres Wastoures and wrecches · out of wedloke I trowe Conceyued ben in yuelBx.9.130: yuel: Certainly the Bx reading, though Ax has alliterating cursid. tyme · as caym was on Eue Of such synful shrewes · þe sauter maketh mynde Concepit in doloreBx.9.132: in dolore: The beta reading is that of Cx (RK.10.212a) while alpha (and Hm by correction) have dolorem, as do some A mss. (K.10.150). The adaptation of scriptural dolorem (Job 15.35, Psalms 7.15) on the model of l. 130 in yuel tyme suggests scribal hypercorrection in alpha, as demonstrated directly in Hm. See Alford (1992), 61-2. et peperit iniquitatem &c And alle þat come of þat caym [·] come to yuel ende For god sent to seem · and seyde bi an angel Þyne issue in þyne issue · I wil þat þei be wedded And nouȝt þi kynde with caymesBx.9.136: caymes: Alpha has caym, but the possessive is supported by Ax (K.10.158). · ycoupled ne yspoused ¶ Ȝet someBx.9.137: some: The reading of Bx; Cr has Sem on the basis of l. 134, and M is corrected to that reading. aȝein þe sonde [·] of owre saueoure of heuene Caymes kynde & his kynde · coupled togideres Tyl god wratthed forBx.9.139: for: The reading of L, beta2 and R; it is perhaps harder than MGOF with, which however has some support from Ax was wroþ wiþ (K.10.161). her werkis · and suche a worde seyde Þat I maked man · now it me athynkethBx.9.140: athynketh: LMCO. It may have given rise to R's þinketh and the commoner forþynkeþ as in WHmCrGF. The form is secure at Bx.18.92. Yet Ax has forþinkeþ (K.10.164). We follow copy-text. Penitet me fecisse hominem ¶ And come to Noe anon · and bad hym nouȝt lette Swithe go shape a shippe · of shides and of bordes Þiself and þi sones three · and sithen ȝowre wyues Buske ȝow to þat bote · and bideth ȝe þer-inne Tyl fourty dayes be fulfilde · þat flode haue ywasshenBx.9.146: ywasshen: Beta is supported by AC against alpha's Iwasted. Clene awey þe cursed blode · þat caym hath ymaked ¶ Bestes þat now ben · shulle banne þe tyme Þat euere þat cursed caym · come on þis erthe Alle shal deye for his dedes · bi dales andBx.9.150: and: So M and R (=alpha?), supported by Ax and most C mss. against and bi in L and beta1. F drops the line. hulles And þe foules þat fleeghen · for[th]Bx.9.151: forth: L has for. with other bestes Excepte oneliche [·] of eche kynde a couple Þat in þiBx.9.153: þi: R has þis (F omits the line). Ax has þe; Cx supports beta. shyngled shippe · shul ben ysaued Here abouȝt þe barne · þe belsyres gultes And alle for her forfadres · þei ferden þe worse Þe gospel is here-ageine · in o degre I fynde Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & pater non portabit iniquitatem filij &cBx.9.157: & pater non portabit iniquitatem filij &c: Ezek. 18.20. Alpha abbreviates. We follow copy-text, though it is quite likely that Bx ended the quotation at patris, as Cx does, and as at Bx.10.119. · ¶ Ac I fynde if þe fader [·] be false and a shrewe Þat somdel þe sone · shal haue þe sires tacches ¶ Impe onBx.9.160: on: So beta, though Hm has vpon, C in and G off. Alpha has vp-on. The line is not in AC. an ellerne · and if þine apple be swete Mochel merueile me þynketh · & more of a schrewe Þat bryngeth forth any barne · but if he be þe same And haue a sauoure after þe sire · selde seestow other Numquam colligitur de spinis vuasBx.9.164: colligitur de spinis vuas: So LM and R, therefore Bx. F has the Vulgate reading "colligunt de spinis uvas" (Matt. 7.19). Other scribes correct to a grammatical reading in which vua is subject of colligitur (beta2 and corrected M), or vuas object of colligimus (CGO). · nec de tribulis fycus [¶]Bx.9.165: ¶: There is no paraph in L, but the line appears at the top of the leaf and the rubricator probably missed it. WHmR have a paraph and M a line break. And þus þourw cursed caym · cam care vppon erthe And al for þei wrouȝt wedlokes · aȝein goddis wille For-þi haue þei maugre forBx.9.167: for: Supported by LMR. Other mss. have of. here mariages · þat marye soBx.9.167: þat marye so: R has as men maryen now; F rewrites. her childeren For some as I se now · soth forto telle For coueitise of catel [·] vnkyndeliche ben wedded As careful concepcioun [·] cometh of suche mariagesBx.9.170: of such mariages: R's to þat mariages presumably represents alpha, with F altering for sense. As bifel of þeBx.9.171: þe: Beta is supported by Ax (K.10.185) against alpha's þat. folke · þat I bifore of tolde id est boni id est bonas Bx.9.172-3: Both lines are omitted in alpha skipping from paraph to paraph (though R has an erased line after l. 171). They are not present in Ax but are transmitted to Cx (RK.10.254-5). See Hanna (1996), 217. ¶Bx.9.172: ¶: The paraph, in L alone, is perhaps not archetypal, yet eyeskip from paraph to paraph would account for the loss of ll. 172-3 in alpha. See Burrow (2010), 24-6. For goode shulde wedde goodeBx.9.172: goode (1) and (2): Glossed id est boni and id est bonas above the line in LM in the main hand, suggesting that this was a feature of beta. Although the line is not in alpha, we take this to be derived from Bx and include the glosses in the text. Cf. the gloss above l. 34. · þough hij no good hadde I am via & veritas seith cryst · I may auaunce alle ¶ It is an oncomelyBx.9.174: an oncomely: L originally wrote an comely, but the line is noted for correction and then corrected. F also has an komely. M omitted the adjective altogether, then correcting a to an vncomely above the line. couple · bi crystBx.9.174: cryst: Alpha has Ihesus, but beta is supported by Ax and by the alliteration. as me þinketh To ȝyuen a ȝonge wenche · to an olde feble Or wedden any widwe · for welth of hir goodis Þat neuere shal barne bere · but ifBx.9.177: if: As in LCrWCOR, though omitted by MHmG (F rewrites) and Ax. it be in armes Many a peire sithen þe pestilence · han pliȝt h[e]mBx.9.178: hem: L's form hom is perhaps a miswriting; the scribe uses it nowhere else. togideres Þe fruit þat þei brynge forth · aren foule wordes In ialousye ioyeles · and ianglyng on beddeBx.9.180: The line is omitted by alpha, but is in AC. Haue þei no children but chesteBx.9.181: cheste: "strife". Beta is supported by AC and alliteration against alpha's synonym iangelynge. · anBx.9.181: an: "and". choppyngBx.9.181: choppyng: "striking". So LCGO. CrW read clappyng and Hm carpynge. M is revised to chidynge, Alpha was probably even more confused, since R has gaying (sic), and F omits altogether. AC have choppes. hem bitwene Bx.9.182-4: Beta's readings of these lines on the Dunmow flitch are supported by AC. Lines 182b-4 in RF are clearly scribal replacements. Perhaps they were damaged in alpha and were invented independently by R and F, but this is unprecedented behaviour for R. Furthermore, although they are independent, there are enough similarities to suggest a common original. 182b to fecche hom here bakon (R), & fecche þere bakoun (F) must be alpha, and it signals the disruption. 183 is quite different in the two mss., but similarities in 184 are þus þei lyuen in (R), lyven þus in (F), and þe deuel (R), þe develys (F). Bx.9.182: The paraph, in LC only (with a new line-group in M), interrupts the argument. And þough þei don hem to donmowe · but if þe deuel help To folwen after þe flicche · fecche þei it neuere And but þei bothe be forsworne · þat bacoun þei tyne ¶ For-þi I conseille alle crystene · coueite nouȝt beBx.9.185: be: MCrR read to be. AC mss. vary similarly, but while Ax is perhaps the latter, Cx is certainly the former. wedded For coueitise of catel · ne of kynrede riche Ac maydenes and maydenes · maccheBx.9.187: macche: Beta, supported by Ax. F's marye probably reflects dissatisfaction with alpha's synonym make (as in R), yet it is the reading of Cx. ȝow togideres Widwe[r]s and widw[e]sBx.9.188: Widwers and widwes: Alpha's word-order has the support of Ax and the P family of C, though the X family has beta's order. · worcheth þe same For no londes but for loue · loke ȝe be wedded And þanne gete ȝe þe graceBx.9.190: þe grace: Alpha has grace. In the absence of a parallel in AC, this could be right, but þe is easily lost after ȝe. of god · and good ynogh to lyue with Bx.9.191-9: These nine lines are omitted in alpha. They are not in Ax, but are transmitted to Cx. The cause of the omission is not obvious. KD, p. 68, suggest eyeskip from maner ... man 191 to man and womman 200, but this is unconvincing, especially as man 191 is their emendation and not Bx. More probably alpha jumped from the paraph at 191, since at the point of resumption alpha (but not beta) has a paraph. ¶ And euery maner seculer [·] þat may nouȝt continue Wysly go wedde · and war hym fro synne For leccherye in likyng · is lymeȝerde of helle Whiles þow art ȝonge · and þi wepne kene Wreke þe with wyuynge · ȝif þow wilBx.9.195: wil: For this subjunctive form in L, cf. Bx.6.232. The other beta witnesses have the indicative. The line is not in A, and the b-verse is revised in C. ben excused Dum sis vir fortis · ne des tua robora scortis Scribitur in portis · meretrix est ianua mortis ¶ Whan ȝe haue wyued bewar · and worcheth in tyme Nouȝt as Adam & Eue · whan caym was engendred Bx.9.200: Alpha has a paraph.For in vntyme trewli · bitwene man & womman Ne shulde no bourde on beddeBx.9.201: bourde on bedde: "fun in bed". Beta's reading is the basis of the RF variants, and is supported by AC bedbourd (K.10.203; RK.10.290). be · but if þei bothe were clene Bothe of lyf andBx.9.202: and (1): L has & and in error. of soule · and in parfyte charitee Þat ilke derne dede [·] do noman sholdeBx.9.203: sholde: Beta has ne sholde, but Cx supports alpha (though F is revised) without ne. A mss. are divided. Beta needs to lengthen the b-verse as a result of placing the punctuation after do rather than before it. See Smith (2008), 90-1. And if þei leden þus her lyf · it likedBx.9.204: liked: The LR reading, supported by F's wold lyke against the present tense of other mss. The line is not in AC. god almiȝti For he made wedloke firste · and him-self it seide Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionemBx.9.206: propter fornicacionem: Omitted in alpha, but beta is supported by Cx. ¶Bx.9.207: ¶: The paraph is in LWHm, with a new line-group in M. In R the line is at the foot of the page. And þei þat oþergatis ben geten · for gedelynges ben holden A[nd]Bx.9.208: And: Alpha is supported by AC against beta's As. false folke fondelynges · faitoures and lyars Vngracious to gete goode · or loue of þe poeple Wandren and wasten · what þei cacche mowe Aȝeines dowel þei don yuel · and þe deuel serue And after her deth-day · shulle dwelle with þe sameBx.9.212: þe same: Beta is supported by Ax. R (= alpha?) repeats þe deuel from the previous line, with F, here Mayster, varying the expression. Cx has instead dwellen shollen in helle. But god gyue hem grace here · hem-self to amende Bx.9.214-17: Lines omitted in alpha, skipping from Dowel to dowel and from paraph to paraph. Once again they are not in Ax, but are transmitted to Cx. Compare the same situation in Bx.9.172-3 and 191-9. In all three instances skipped paraphs are involved. ¶ Dowel my frende is ·Bx.9.214: Scribes have understandable uncertainty about the placing of the mid-line punctus. to don as lawe techeth To loue þi frende and þi foo · leue me þat is dobet To ȝiuen and to ȝemen · bothe ȝonge and olde To helen and to helpen · is dobest of alle ¶ And [þus is] dowelBx.9.218: And þus is dowel: Alpha's word-order is supported by Cx. Ax has Þanne is dowel. to drede god · and dobet to suffre And so cometh dobest of bothe · and bryngeth adoun þe mody And þat is wikked wille · þat many werkeBx.9.220: werke: Beta's distributive sg. is supported by Ax. shendeth And dryueth away dowel · þorugh dedliche synnes Passus decimus de visione & secundus de dowel Thanne hadde witte a wyf · was hoteBx.10.1: hote: Alpha has called (R) or klepid (F), but beta is supported by AC (K.11.1; RK.11.1). dame studye Þat lene was of lere · and of liche bothe She was wonderly wroth · þat witte me þus tauȝte And al starynge dame studye · sternelich seyde Wel artow wyse quod she to witte · any wysdomes to telle To flatereres or to folis · þat frantyk ben of wittes And blamed hym and banned hym · and badde hym be stylle With suche wise wordes · to wissen any sottes And seyde noli mittere man · margerye perlis Amanges hogges þat han · hawes at wille Þei don but dryuele þer-on [·] draffe were hem leuere Þan al þe precious perre · þat in paradys wexeth I sey it bi suche quod she [·] þat sheweth bi her werkes Þat hem were leuer londe · and lordship on ertheBx.10.14: on erthe: Alpha reads here, but beta is supported by Ax. The line is rewritten in Cx. Or ricchesse or rentis · and reste at her willeBx.10.15: In this passage F omits ll. 15 and 21-2, and supplies two spurious lines after l. 25. Þan alle þe sothe sawes · þat salamon seyde euere ¶ Wisdome and witte now [·] is nouȝt worth a carse But if it be carded with coueytise · as clotheres kemben hereBx.10.18: here: Omitted by alpha and CGO, perhaps to lighten a heavy b-verse. It is supported by Ax and the X family of C, though the P family also omit it. wolle Who-so can contreue deceytes · anBx.10.19: an: "and". conspire wronges And lede forth a loue-day · to latte withBx.10.20: to latte with: R's and letten þe may be right; Ax has to lette þe treuþe, and cf. K.3.146 & lettiþ þe treuþe. On the other hand, "to hinder truth with (the loveday)" makes excellent and slightly more difficult sense, and seems to be the basis of the revision in Cx: "And lette with a loueday treuthe and bigile" (RK.11.17). treuthe He þat suche craftes can · to conseille is clepid Þei lede lordes with lesynges · and bilyeth treuthe ¶ Iob þe gentel [·] in his gestes witnesseth Þat wikked men þeiBx.10.24: þei: Omitted in HmCGOF, though Hm probably included it before erasure. The line is not in AC. welden · þe welthe of þis worlde And þat þei ben lordes ofBx.10.25: of (1): Hm and R (= alpha?) have in; F rewrites. The line is not in AC. eche a londe · þat oute of lawe libbeth Quare impij viuunt bene est omnibus qui preuaricantur & inique agunt ¶ Þe sauter seyth þe same · bi suche þat don ille Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo optinuerunt diuiciasBx.10.28: diuicias: Omitted in alpha. C mss. end with peccatores or habundantes. Lo seith holy letterrure [·] whiche lordes beth þis shrewes Þilke þat god mosteBx.10.30: god moste: So LG and alpha. M has moost good god; O has god most good which is the reading of Cx. See next note. gyuethBx.10.30: gyueth: Alpha and C have greueth, which loses the sharp contrast with the b-verse. There seems to have been some confusion in Bx since, in revising the line for Cx, the poet had a text with both verbs, and recast to Tho þat god most goed ȝeueth greueth most riht and treuthe (RK.11.25). Schmidt restores B by including both verbs, but the resultant a-verse seems impossibly heavy; see Schmidt (2008), 386-7. It may be that Bx wrote greueth, corrected to gyueth (in the margin?), with alpha following one and beta the other. · leste good þei deleth And moste vnkynde to þe comune · þat moste catel weldeth Que perfecisti destruxerunt · iustus autem &c · Harlotes for her harlotrye · may haue of her godis And iaperes and iogeloures · and iangelers of gestes ¶ Ac he þat hath holy writte · ay in his mouth And can telle of Tobye · and of þe twelue apostles Or prechen of þe penaunce · þat pilat wrouȝt To Ihesu þe gentil · þat Iewes to-drowe Litel is he loued · þat suche a lessoun scheweth Or daunted or drawe forth · I do it on god hym-self ¶ But þo þat feynen hem folis · and with faityng libbeth Aȝein þe lawe of owre lorde · and lyen on hem-selue Spitten and spewen · and speke foule wordes Drynken and dryuelen · and do men for to gape Lickne men and lye on hem · þat leneth hem no ȝiftes Þei conne namore mynstralcye · ne musyke men to glade Than Munde þe mylnere · of multa fecit deus Ne were here vyle harlotrye · haue god my treuthe Shulde neuere Kyng ne kniȝt · ne chanoun of seynt Poules Ȝyue hem to her ȝeresȝiue · þe [worth]Bx.10.50: worth: Alpha is closer to the Ax reading value (whence perhaps GO), and the alliteration aaa/xx is satisfactory. Beta's ȝifte is prompted by alliterative attraction to ȝeresȝiue; for the collocation see Bx.3.101 and 13.195. The line is not in Cx. of a grote ¶ Ac murthe and mynstralcye · amonges men is nouthe Leccherye [and]Bx.10.52: and (1): Supported by Ax, but lost in L and (coincidentally?) in CrW. losengerye · and loseles tales Glotonye and grete othes · þis murtheBx.10.53: murthe: Secure for Bx. Both M and F alter for the alliteration. Ax has a different b-verse. þei louieth ¶Bx.10.54: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. Ac if þei carpen of cryst · þis clerkis and þis lewed Atte mete in her murthesBx.10.55: murthes: The plural is secure for Bx, though beta2 shares the sg. with Ax. · whan mynstralles ben stille Þanne telleth þei of þe trinite · a tale other tweyne And bringen forth a balled resoun · and taken Bernard to witnesse And putten forth a presumpsioun · to preue þe sothe Þus þei dryuele at her deyse [·] þe deite to knowe And gnawen god with þe gorge · whan her gutte is fulleBx.10.60: gutte is fulle: So LR, and probably M before correction. AC read guttis fullen, "are full", as do WHm. ¶ Ac þe careful may crye · and carpen atte ȝate Bothe afyngred and a-thurstBx.10.62: a-thurst: CrW alter to a-furst for the alliteration; it is the dominant form in C mss., while A has a different a-verse. The collocation with afyngred is repeated at Bx.14.174, where most mss. have A-fyrst. · and for chele quake Is none to nymen hym nereBx.10.63: nere: Presumably the meaningless Bx reading is a corruption of Ax in ne, which the M corrector adopts by conjecture or contamination as In nor. This and the next line are rewritten in C. · his noye amendeBx.10.63: amende: It is likely that F and beta supply to before amende in the b-verse to make some sense of the line, and that R's omission (as in Ax) represents Bx. But heonBx.10.64: heon: "shout out" (MED heuen v.(3)); the reading of L, beta4 and alpha. The commonplace variant hunten in Beta2 (CrWHm), with M corrected to that reading, is less appropriate. on hym as an hounde · and hoten hym go þennes Litel loueth he þat lorde · þat lent hym al þat blisse Þat þus parteth with þe pore · a parcel whan hym nedeth Ne were mercy in mene men · more þan in riche Mendinantz meteles · miȝte go to bedde God is moche in þe gorgeBx.10.69: gorge: Alpha has the pl., but beta's sg. is supported by AC (K.11.44; RK.11.39) · of þise grete maystres Ac amonges mene men · his mercy and his werkis And so seith þe sauter · I haue yseyeBx.10.71: yseye: For the same b-verse see Bx.11.455. it ofte Ecce audiuimus eamBx.10.72: eam (1 & 2): So AC against alpha's eum. At Bx.15.511 (R only), R again has eum. See Alford (1992), 64, and Schmidt (1995), 443. in effrata · inuenimus eam in campis silue Clerkes and other kynnes menBx.10.73: other kynnes men: So beta, with alpha dropping kynnes. Ax has kete men, while Cx has knyhtes. Perhaps alpha reproduces Bx which has avoided the rare adjective kete, with beta then supplying the alliteration. · carpen of god faste And haue [hym]Bx.10.74: hym: Not in LHm. Easily lost, of course, and four A mss. omit it, as does the X family of C. moche in þe mouthe · ac mene men in herte ¶ Freres and faitoures · han founde suche questiouns To plese with proude men · sithen þe pestilence tyme pestilence Bx.10.76: pestilence tyme / pestilence: Alpha omits tyme. Beta is supported by Ax; however Cx reads pestelences. Cf. l. 81 below. And prechen at seint poules · for pure enuye of clerkis Þat folke is nouȝte fermed in þe feith · ne fre of her goodes Ne sori for her synnes · so is prydeBx.10.79: is pryde: Beta's word-order is supported by Cx. Lines 77-110 are not in A. waxen In religioun and in alle þe rewme · amonges riche & pore Þat preyeres haue no power · þ[is] pestilence[s]Bx.10.81: þis pestilences: Beta has þe pestilence, presumably understanding the noun as sg., although the form can also represent the plural (see MED pestilence). Alpha and Cx have the demonstrative article followed by an unambiguous plural. Cf. l. 76 and note. to lette Bx.10.82-3: These two lines are in Cx. KD, p. 66, suggest that beta dropped them through eyeskip (Þat ... Þat); censorship is another possible explanation. [For god is def now-a-days . and deyneth not vs to hereBx.10.82: not vs to here: The readings diverge in the b-verse. Most unusually, F is supported by Cx, and so we adopt its reading. It must be observed, however, that R offers the less commonplace reading. In F deinen has the sense "condescend"; in R it means "disdain". See MED deinen v.(1) & (2) for these two related verbs, and cf. note to Bx.6.315. The most authoritative C mss. read deyneth nat vs to here (i.e. deinen (1)) but as many omit nat (i.e. deinen (2)), allowing for the possibility that Bx was also without not. Þat gerlesBx.10.83: gerles: R only. F's gystys is probably a misreading. Cx has gode men instead. for here gyltes . he for-gryntBx.10.83: for-grynt: "grinds to pieces". The compound is not recorded in MED; Cx has togrynt. hem alle] And ȝette þe wrecches of þis worlde · is none ywar bi other Ne for drede of þe deth · withdrawe nouȝt her pryde Ne beth plentyuous to þe pore · as pure charite wolde But in gaynesse and inBx.10.87: in (2): LCrWHmR; others omit. C mss. divide similarly. glotonye · for-glotten her goode hem-selue And breken nouȝte to þe beggar · as þe boke techeth Frange esurienti panem tuum &c · And þe more he wynneth and welt · welthes & ricchesseBx.10.90: ricchesse: The form may be sg. or plural. For other examples see notes to Bx.3.23, 19.73. AndBx.10.91: And: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's Euere as he. lordeth in londes · þe lasse good he deleth ¶ Thobye te[ch]ethBx.10.92: techeth: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's telleth. ȝow nouȝt so · take hede ȝe riche How þe boke bibleBx.10.93: boke bible: For the expression, altered by CrHm, beta4 and F, see Bx.7.166 and note. · of hym bereth witnesse Si tibi sit copia habundanter tribue · si autem exiguum illud impertir[e] [libenter stude]Bx.10.94: impertire libenter stude: Alpha's form of the infinitive verb is supported by most C mss., and the order of the last two words is that of Cx. Alford (1992), 64, quotes the last three words in the verse from Tob.4.9 in the form impertiri stude libenter, as in beta. Who-so hath moche spene manliche · so meneth Thobie And who-so litel weldeth · reule him þer-after For we haue no lettre of owre lyf · how longe it shal dure Suche lessounes lordes shulde ·Bx.10.98: LWCR punctuate after shulde; MHmO after lordes. F rewrites. Lines 95-110 are not in AC, and ll. 111-45 are not in C. louie to here And how he myȝte moste meyne [·] manliche fynde Bx.10.100: Beta has a paraph, but it interrupts the argument.Nouȝt to fare as a fitheler or a frere ·Bx.10.100: LMWOF punctuate the line before forto, with forto supplying the long dip in the b-verse. CrHmGR have to instead. forto seke festes Homelich at other mennes house[s]Bx.10.101: houses: LF have house, probably in error, though possibly derived from the OE unchanged plural; see MED. Elsewhere both scribes use the marked plural. · and hatyen her owne Elyng is þe halle [·] vche daye in þe wyke Þere þe lorde ne þe lady [·] liketh nouȝte to sytte Now hath vche riche a reule · to eten bi hym-selue In a pryue pa[r]loure · for pore mennes sake Or in a chambre with a chymneye · and leue þe chief halle Þat was made for meles · men to eten Inne And al to spare to spille · þat spende shal an other ¶ I haue yherde hiegh men [·] etyng atte table Carpen as þei clerkes were · of cryste and of his miȝtes And leyden fautes vppon þe fader · þat fourmed vs alle And carpen aȝeine clerkes · crabbed wordes Whi wolde owre saueoure suffre [·] suche a worme in his blisse Þat bigyled þe womman · and þe man after Þorw whiche wyles and wordes · þei went[en]Bx.10.115: wenten: Only LCr have went; WHmG have wente, the others wenten. The second syllable avoids a b-verse stressed x / x / x. See Introduction V.3.5. to helle And al her sede for here synne · þe same deth suffred ¶ Here lyeth ȝowre lore · þise lordes gynneth dispute Of þat ȝeBx.10.118: ȝe: So LMOR against þe in CrWHmCGF, which misses the switch back to reported speech. clerkes vs kenneth · of cryst by þe gospel Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris &c · Whi shulde we þat now ben · for þe werkes of Adam Roten and to-rendeBx.10.121: to-rende: LW (to-rent Hm); the most probable origin of the variants rende MCGOF, to reade Cr, and to-reue R. · resoun wolde it neuere Vnusquisque portabit onus suumBx.10.122: portabit onus suum: Alpha has the order honus suum portabit cited by Alford (1992), 64, from Gal.6.5. &c Suche motyues þei moeue · þis maistres in her glorie And maken men in mysbileue · þat muse moche on her wordes ¶ Ymaginatyf her-after-ward · shal answere to ȝowre purpos ¶ AugustyneBx.10.126: Augustyne: The form of the name in Bx is not determinable. As at l. 485, LM (so beta?) have the full form, but alpha has the more usual Austyn. Ax has a quite different line with the short form. Cf. note to l. 485 below. to suche argueres · he telleth hemBx.10.126: he ... hem: The two words are omitted by WCGO. Cr omits hem. þis teme Non plus sapere quam oportet Wilneth neuere to wite · whi þat god wolde Suffre sathan [·] his sede to bigyle Ac bileue lelly · in þe lore of holicherche And preye hym of pardoun · and penaunce in þi lyue And for his moche mercye · to amende ȝow here Bx.10.133: Hm and alpha have a paraph.For alle þat wilneth to wyte · þe weyesBx.10.133: weyes: The reading of LCrWHm and alpha, as well as the Ax reading. M, joined by GO and a 16th-century A ms., have the reading whyes (cf. whi in 135). The adoption of the latter reading by K (see K, pp. 163-4), KD and Schmidt is a classic case of modern sensibilities overcoming the logic of attestation. Contrast Bx.12.238, where the noun whyes is secure, despite variants. of god almiȝty I wolde his eye were in his ers · and his fynger after Þat euere wilneth to wite · whi þat god wolde Suffre sathan · his sede to bigile Or iudas þe iuweBx.10.137: þe iuwe: Alpha supported by Ax against beta's to þe iuwes. · ihesu bytraye Al was as [he] woldeBx.10.138: he wolde: Alpha supported by Ax against L's þow wolde, which the other beta scribes correct to þow woldest. · lorde yworschiped be þow And al worth as þow wolte · what-so we dispute ¶ And þo þat vseth þis hauelounes · to blendeBx.10.140: blende: "mislead". Cr, beta4 and F have the related verb blinde. mennes wittes What is dowel fro dobet · now def mote he worthe Sitthe he wilneth to wyte · whiche þei ben [alle]Bx.10.142: alle: Referring to the triad including dobest as in l. 145 below. Alpha is supported by Ax against beta's bothe, which does, however, logically follow from the previous line. But if he lyue in þe lyf · þat longeth to dowel For I dar ben his boldeBx.10.144: bolde: Dropped by alpha, but supported by Ax. borgh · þat dobet wil he neuere Þeigh dobest drawe on hym [·] day after other ¶ And whan þat witte was ywar [·] whatBx.10.146: what: Beta's reading has support from Cx, what studie menede (RK.11.81). Alpha's reading, how dame studie tolde, loses the b-verse alliteration which in Ax how his wif tolde (K.11.93) is carried by the noun. dame studye tolde He bicome so confus · he couth nouȝte loke And as doumbe a[s] deth · and drowe hym arrere ¶ And for no carpyng I couth after · ne knelyng to þe grounde I myȝte gete no greyne · of his grete wittis But al laughyng he louted · and loked vppon studye In signe þat I shulde · biseche hir of grace ¶ And whan I was war of his wille · to his wyf gan I loute And seyde mercy madame [·] ȝowre man shal I worthe As longe as I lyue · bothe late & rathe Forto And forto Bx.10.156: Forto / And forto: Beta's reading is that of Ax (K.11.102) while alpha's And forto is that of Cx (RK.11.88) worche ȝowre wille · þe while my lyf dureth With þat ȝe kenne me kyndely · to knowe what is dowel ¶ For þi mekenesse man quod she · and for þi mylde speche I shal kenne þe to my cosyn · þat clergye is hoten He hath wedded a wyf · with-Inne þis syx monethes Is sybbe to þe seuene artz · scripture is hir name Þei two as I hope · after my techyng Shullen wissen þe to dowel · I dar [wel]Bx.10.163: wel: R's reading, which carries the alliteration, is that of Ax. That F agrees with beta in reading it probably indicates independent substitution, since the R scribe rarely corrects for alliteration. The line is not in C. vndertake ¶ Þanne was I also fayne · as foule of faire morwe And gladder þan þe gleman · þat golde hath to ȝifte And axed hir þe heighe weye · where þat clergye dwelte And telle me some token quod I · for tyme is þat I wende ¶ Axe þe heighe waye quod she · hennes to suffre Bothe wel & wo · ȝif þat þow wolt lerne And ryde forth by ricchesse · ac rest þow nauȝt þerinne For if þow couplest þe þer-with · to clergyeBx.10.171: clergye: R's odd cherche probably represents alpha, with F varying further. Beta is supported by AC. comestow neuere ¶ And also þe likerouse launde · þat leccherye hatteBx.10.172: hatte: Beta's reading is confirmed by Ax against is hote in alpha. Leue hymBx.10.173: hym: So LMHmR and Ax; unsurprisingly altered to it in other B mss. on þi left halue · a large myle or more Tyl þow come to a courte · kepe wel þi tonge Fro lesynges and lither speche · and likerouse drynkes Þanne shaltow se sobrete · and symplete of specheBx.10.176: speche: Beta is supported by Ax against alpha's berynge. Þat eche wiȝte be in wille · his witte þe to shewe And þus shaltow come to clergye · þat can many þinges ¶Bx.10.179: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. In R the line is at the foot of the page. Saye hym þis signe · I sette hym to scole And þat I gretteBx.10.180: grette: The unambiguously past tense form is supported for Bx by LMOR. Ax has grete as does the P family of C, but the X family has grette. wel his wyf · for I wrote hir many bokes And sette hir to sapience · and to þe sauter gloseBx.10.181: glose: Hm (as well as BmBoCot) has the ppl. glosyd; this cannot be archetypal, even though AC both have sauter yglosid. Cf. Bx.5.284. Logyke I lerned hir · and many other lawes And alle þe musouns in mu[si]ke · I made hir to knowe ¶ Plato þe poete · I put hym fyrste to boke Arestotle and other moo other Bx.10.185: other moo / other: Beta has the former, alpha the latter. Beta's reading is that of Ax, while alpha's is that of Cx. · to argue I tauȝte Grammer for gerles · I garte first wryteBx.10.186: wryte: M and Beta2(CrWHm) add to, as do a few mss. in all three versions. And bette hem with a baleis · but if þei wolde lerne Of alkinnes craftes · I contreued toles Of carpentrie ofBx.10.189: carpentrie of: The Bx reading is also that of Cx. GF have the reading of Ax, carpenteris &. kerueres [·] and compassed masouns And lerned hem leuel and lyne · þough I loke dymme ¶Bx.10.191: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. Ac theologie hath tened me · ten score tymes The more I muse þereInne · þe mistier it semeth And þe depper I deuyne · þe derker me it þinketh It is no science for-sothe · forto sotyleBx.10.194: sotyle: Beta's reading is that of Ax, while the b-verse is rewritten in Cx. Alpha's reading sauȝtele (MED saughtelen) means "become reconciled, settle". Inne A ful lethy þinge it were · ȝif þat loue nere Ac for it let best by loue · I loue it þe bettre For þere þat loue is leder · ne lacked neuere grace LokeBx.10.198: Loke: R's Love probably reflects an alpha error which F rewrites for sense. þow loue lelly · ȝif þe lykethBx.10.198: þe lyketh: Alpha's þow thenke is an easy error, but (coincidentally?) it is shared with Ax (K.11.144), which itself is deficient in alliteration. The line is revised in Cx as Lerne for to louie yf þe like dowel (RK.11.132). dowel For dobet and dobest · ben of loues kynne ¶ In other science it seyth · I saye it in catoun Qui similatBx.10.201: similat: The spelling of L and alpha is found also in mss. of A. Lines 200-31 are not in C. verbis velBx.10.201: vel: Alford (1992), 64, quotes the line from Cato with nec, the reading of M (corrected from vel) CrHmCGO and most A mss., but LWR and original M establish Bx (at the expense of Cato's meaning). corde est fidus amicus Tu quoque fac simile · sic ars deluditur arte Who-so gloseth as gylours don · go me to þe same And so shaltow false folke [·] and faythlees bigyle Þis is catounes kennyng · to clerkes þat he lereth Ac theologye techeth nouȝt so · who-so taketh [gome]Bx.10.206: gome: "notice". R's rare word is a synonym of beta's ȝeme and F's heede (MED gome n.(4)). Cf. Bx.17.13, where R again has gome, supported in that case by C. He kenneth vs þe contrarye [·] aȝein catones wordes For he bit vs be as bretheren · and bidde for owre enemys And louen hem þat lyen on vs · and lene hem whan hem nedeth And do good aȝeines yuel · god hym-self it hoteth Dum tempus [est]Bx.10.211: est: The alpha reading is supported by the majority of A mss. where the same quotation is given at a later point (K.11.245a). Alford (1992), 64 cites the Vulgate as habemus, to which beta corrects. operemur bonum ad omnes maxime autem ad domesticos fidei ¶ Poule preched þe peple [·] þat parfitnesse loued To do good for goddes loue · and gyuen men þat askedBx.10.213: asked: Beta has the past tense, (though HmGO have the present); alpha has the present. The past is perhaps slightly less obvious, but it may have been prompted by the verbs of the previous line, just as the present might have been suggested by the next line. There is nothing in AC to correspond until l. 220. We follow copy-text. And nameliche to suche · þat suethBx.10.214: sueth: "conform to"; cf. Bx.17.113, as suwen owre werkis. G and alpha less appropriately have scheweth. owre bileue And alle þat lakketh vsBx.10.215: vs (1): Beta must have had vs twice in the a-verse, though beta2 (CrWHm) dropped the second. Alpha has the second but not the first. or lyeth vs · owre lorde techeth vs to louye And nouȝt to greuen hem þat greueth vs · god hym-self for-badde it Michi vindictam & ego retribuam For-þi loke þow louye · as longe as þow durest For is no science vnder sonne · so souereyne for þe soule [¶]Bx.10.220: ¶: The paraph is in WC and alpha. In L, which lacks the usual line-space, the scribe's paraph marker is unrubricated. Cf. ll. 260, 265. Ac astronomye is hardeBx.10.220: harde: Alpha's reading without an article is supported by Ax against beta. þynge · and yuel forto knowe Geometrie and geomesye [·] isBx.10.221: is: Supported by Ax against beta2 (CrWHm) so. ginful of speche Who-so thenketh werche with þo two · thryueth ful late For sorcerye is þe souereyne boke · þat to þ[o] scienceBx.10.223: þo science: This is the R reading, in substance that of F also. The noun is an unmarked plural (see l. 227 below, and variants at Bx.13.132 and 15.49). It may also be the reading of beta; note that Hm alters it by adding -s, while other beta scribes, apart from W, probably take it as sg. and so misread the plural determiner as þe. Ax also has the demonstrative pronoun, but the noun is sg., þat science. The plural is more appropriate in context. longeth ¶ Ȝet ar þere fybicches in forceres · of fele mennes makyng Experimentz of alkamyeBx.10.225: alkamye: We keep the form of copy-text, even though the form in Bx and Ax presumably had the extra syllable, as M's Alkenamye. See MED alkamie. · þe poeple to deceyue If þow þinke to dowel · dele þer-with neuere Alle þise scienceBx.10.227: science: Plural; see note to l. 223. I my-self · sotiled and ordeyned And foundedBx.10.228: founded: Beta is supported by Ax against alpha's (by-)fond. hem formest · folke to deceyue ¶ Telle clergye þise tokenes · and [to]Bx.10.229: to: Alpha's rather awkward preposition is necessary to the alliteration, and was dropped by beta. There is no Ax parallel. scripture after To conseille þe kyndely · to knowe what isBx.10.230: to knowe what is: Beta's wording of the b-verse is supported by the exact parallel of Bx.10.157. Cf. also Bx.15.2. dowel ¶ I seide graunt mercy madame · and mekeliche hir grette And went wiȝtlich [my] weyBx.10.232: my wey: Beta has awey, but alpha (R only, since F misses the line) is supported by Ax And wente wiȝtly my wey, as well as Cx Tho wente y my way (RK.12.134). With miȝteliche for wiȝtliche, R creates alliteration on /m/, but without support from AC. · with-oute more lettynge And til I come to clergye · I couthe neuere stynte [I]Bx.10.234: I: Only R breaks the series of initial And, but it is supported by Ax and the X family of C; the P family reads And ich. gret þe good man · as [þe good wif]Bx.10.234: þe good wif: Again R is the only witness to the reading of Bx, supported both by alliteration and by Ax (Cx has a different b-verse). Probably F revised to avoid the repetition of both good and wif, and beta perhaps picked up studye from a gloss. me tauȝte And afterwardes þe wyf · and worshiped hem bothe And tolde hem þe tokenes · þat me tauȝte were Was neuere gome vppon þis grounde · sith god made þe worlde Fairer vnder-fongen · ne frendeloker at ese Þan my-self sothly · sone so he wist Þat I was of wittis hous · and with his wyf dame studye I seyde to hemBx.10.241: hem: M and beta4 have hym, but cf. l. 236. The line is not in AC. Lines 241-313 have no parallel in A, and C is heavily revised. sothely · þat sent was I þider Dowel and dobet · and dobest to lerne ¶ It is a comune lyf quod clergye · on holycherche to bileue With alle þe artikles of þe feithe · þat falleth to be knowe And þat is to bileue lelly · bothe lered and lewed On þe grete god · þat gynnyng had neuere And on þe sothfaste sone · þat saued mankynde Fro þe dedly deth · and þe deueles power Þorwgh þe helpe of þe holy goste · þe whiche goste is of bothe Three [propre]Bx.10.250: propre: Yet again R is the only witness to the reading of Bx. All other mss. have dropped the alliterating adjective; F fills out the short a-verse in the usual manner. There is no parallel in AC. persones · ac nouȝt in plurel noumbre For al is but on god · and eche is god hym-selue Deus pater deus filius · deus spiritus sanctus God þe fader god þe sone · god holigoste of bothe Maker of mankynde · and of bestes bothe ¶ Austyn þe olde · here-of heBx.10.255: he: L is supported by alpha against omission in other beta mss. The passage is revised in C; the line without he appears at RK.11.146, but the b-verse, this time with he, is repeated at RK.11.152. See Adams (2000), 183. made bokes And hym-self ordeyned · to sadde vs in bileue Who was his autour · alle þe foure euangelistes And cryst clepid hym-self so · þe ewangelistesBx.10.258: ewangelistes: R's euaungeliez is pl. of MED evangelie, "gospel". F has the sg. There is no AC parallel. bereth witnesse Ego in patre & pater in meBx.10.259: me (1): So alpha, and also the P family of C. Beta and the X family correct this very familiar quotation from John 14.9-10 to me est. The line is dropped by beta2 (CrHmW). & qui [me viditBx.10.259: vidit (1 & 2): R's less classical spelling is actually that of the pre-Clementine Vulgate text edited by Wordsworth and White (1911), as well as most C mss. · patrem meum vidit]Bx.10.259: patrem meum vidit: Alpha's word-order is also that of Cx. [¶]Bx.10.260: ¶: The paraph is in WC and alpha. In L, which lacks the usual line-space, the scribe's paraph marker is unrubricated. Cf. ll. 220, 265. Alle þe clerkes vnder cryst · ne couthe þis assoille But þus it bilongethBx.10.261: bilongeth: Beta is supported by Cx against longeth in GO and alpha. to bileue · to lewed þat willen dowel For had neuere freke fyne wytte · þe feyth to dispute Ne man had no meriteBx.10.263: merite: Beta is supported by Cx and by the Latin quotation in the following line. Alpha has mercy. · myȝte it ben yproued Fides non habet meritum vbi humana racio prebet experimentumBx.10.264: prebet experimentum: R omits the last two words from Gregory's Homily. C mss. break off at different points. After this line B is without parallel in AC until Bx.10.314. [¶]Bx.10.265: ¶: L has an unrubricated paraph marker, MW have a line-space but no paraph. HmC and alpha have paraphs. Cf. ll. 220, 260. Þanne is dobet to suffre · for þi soules helth Al þat þe boke bit · by holycherche techyng And þat is man bi þi miȝte · for mercies sake Loke þow worche it in werke · þat þiBx.10.268: þi: So beta; R's þis points to the ensuing quotation. F has þe. worde sheweth Suche as þow semest in syȝte · be in assay yfounde Appare quod es velBx.10.270: vel: Alford (1992), 65, quotes this commonplace with the alpha reading aut. esto quod appares And lat no-body be · bi þi beryng bygyledBx.10.271: bygyled: Hm and alpha have be bygiled. But be suche in þi soule · as þow semest with-oute ¶ Þanne is dobest to be bolde · to blame þe gylty Sithenes þow seest þi-self · as in soule clene Ac blame þow neuere body · and þow be blame-worthy Si culpare velis · culpabilis esse cauebis Dogma tuum sordet · cum te tua culpa remordet God in þe gospel · grymlyBx.10.278: grymly: Beta2 and F share the reading greuously. repreueth Alle þat lakken any lyf · and lakkes han hem-selue Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui trabem in oculo tuo &cBx.10.280: Beta breaks off the quotation (Luke 6.41) which alpha completes. The wording is something between Matt. 7.3 and Luke 6.41. Why meuestow þi mode for a mote · in þi brotheres eye Sithen a beem in þine owne · ablyndeth þi-selue Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo &c Whiche letteth þe to loke · lasse other more ¶ I rede eche a blynde bosarde · do bote to hym-selue For abbotes and for prioures · and for alle manere prelates As parsones and parissh prestes · þat preche shulde and teche Alle manereBx.10.288: manere: So LCrWGR. The M corrector adds of to come into line with HmCOF. Cf. ll. 286 and 299. men · to amenden by here myȝte This tixte was tolde ȝow · to ben war ar ȝe tauȝte Þat ȝe were suche as ȝe seyde · to salue with othere For goddis worde wolde nouȝt be bosteBx.10.291: boste: Though nonsensical, LR share the reading, indicating a corruption in Bx. The L scribe subsequently made the obvious correction to loste, thereby bringing his text into agreement with all other mss. See Introduction V.3.6. · for þat worcheth euere If it auailled nouȝt þe comune · it myȝte auaille ȝow-seluen ¶ Ac it semeth nowBx.10.293: now: Probably R represents alpha's no, which F unreflectingly expanded to not. That M originally wrote not is presumably coincidental. sothly · to þe worldes syght Þat goddes wordeBx.10.294: worde: R has the plural; F omits. worcheth nauȝte · on lered ne on lewede But in suche a manere as Marke ·Bx.10.295: Beta (or possibly Bx) misplaced the punctuation to follow manere, as in LWC. In OR punctuation correctly precedes meneth, while MF have it twice. meneth in þe gospel Dum cecus ducit cecum ambo in foueam cadunt ¶ Lewed men may likne ȝow þus · þat þe beem lithe in ȝowre eyghen And þe festu is fallen · for ȝowre defaute In alle manere men · þourgh mansed prestes Þe bible bereth witnesse [·] þat alle þe folke of israel Byttere abouȝte þe gultes · of two badde prestes Offyn and Fynes · for her coueytise Archa dei myshapped · and ely brake his nekke ¶ For-þi ȝe corectoures claweth her-on · and corecteth fyrst ȝow-seluen And þanne mowe ȝe [man]lyBx.10.305: manly: Beta's saufly alliterates rather unconvincingly on /s/, and F improves on this with soþly in the a-verse and seiþ in (for made) in the b-verse. Both avoid R's difficult adverb, which Kane (2005) glosses "boldly, w. confidence". MED manli adv.(1), gives no instance of this sense, though "strongly" is close. Possibly MED mainli, which seems to have been used as a loose intensifier, is relevant. seye · as dauid made þe sauter Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis · arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam · ¶ And þanne shal borel clerkes ben abasched · to blame ȝow or to greueBx.10.307: or to greue: Alpha has lost the last three words of the line. And carpen nouȝte as þei carpen now · and calle ȝow doumbe houndes Canes non valentes latrare And drede to wratthe ȝow in any worde · ȝowre werkemanship to lette And be prestiore at ȝowre prayere · þan for a pounde of nobles And al for ȝowre holynesse · haue ȝe þis in herte Bx.10.313-25: These thirteen lines are in alpha only. Lines 314-21 are in Ax (K.11.204-10); ll. 314-15, 317-24, revised in places, are moved to a different context in Cx (RK.5.146-55). Eyeskip from the paraph recorded by R at l. 313 to that at l. 326 is the most likely explanation. See Burrow (2010): 25-6. KD, p. 66, point to homeoteleuton (al...-nesse...herte, al...-nesse...lerne). We have altered R's spelling to that of L. [¶ Amonges riȝtful religiouse · þis reule shulde be holde GregorieBx.10.314: Gregorie: F begins Seynt Gregory, but R is supported by AC. þe grete clerke · and þe good pope Of religioun þe reule · [he]Bx.10.315: he: F is supported by Ax against omission in R. reherceth in his moralesBx.10.315: morales: Moralia. R is supported by Ax against F's bookis, though Cx also refers to them as bokes (RK.5.146). And seyth itBx.10.316: it: R is supported by Ax. in ensaumple · [þat]Bx.10.316: þat: F receives some support from Ax, þat þei shulde do þe betere. R has for. þei shulde do þere-after Whanne fisshes failen þe flode · orBx.10.317: or: R is supported by Ax; Cx revises. þe fressh water þei deyen for drouthe · whanne þei drie ligge Riȝt so quod Gregori · religioun rollethBx.10.319: rolleth: This seems to be alpha's reading, replaced in F by the partly synonymous trollyþ, "wander" (cf. Bx.18.305). It is, however, an error for roileth, "totter, flop" (so Kane (2005)) in either Bx or alpha, and the line is suspiciously short. This and the following line in alpha expand one line in the other versions. Ax has: Riȝt so be religioun it roileþ (one ms. rolleþ) and steruiþ; Cx has Ryht so religioun roteth and sterueth (RK.5.150). Sterueth and stynketh · and steleth lordes almesses þat oute of couent and cloystre · coueyten to libbe For if heuene be on þisBx.10.322: on þis: R is supported by Cx against F's in. erthe · and ese to anyBx.10.322: ese to any: C mss. have eny ese to þe (or for) (RK.5.152). soule It is in cloistre or in scole · be manyBx.10.323: many: R is supported by Cx. F alters to fele to increase alliteration. skilles I fynde For in cloistre cometh [no]Bx.10.324: no: R's obvious omission is confirmed by Cx. man · to chide ne to fiȝteBx.10.324: chide ne to fiȝte: R's b-verse word-order is supported by Cx. But alle is buxomnesse þereBx.10.325: þere: F omits. The line is not in AC. and bokes · to rede and to lerne] ¶ In scole þere is [skile · and] scorne but if [he]Bx.10.326: skile and scorne but if he: R evidently represents alpha, mangled by F. If right, the reading involves a play on skilles three lines above in l. 323. Beta, on this argument, having lost skile and, added a clerke in place of he. The alliteration is weaker, though KD p. 132 n. 9 cite l. 323 as evidence that /sk/ can alliterate with /k/. Cx revises this and the next line to In scole is loue and louhnesse and lykyng to lerne (RK.5.155). lerne And grete loue and lykynge · for eche of hem loueth other Ac now is religioun a ryder · a rowmerBx.10.328: rowmer: F's rennere is the A reading. bi stretes A leder of louedayes · and a londe-bugger A priker on a palfray · fro manere to manerBx.10.330: manere to maner: Cf. Ax toune to toune (K.11.213), Cx places to maneres (RK.5.159). An heep of houndes at his ers · as he a lorde were And but if his knaue knele · þat shal his cuppe brynge He loureth on hym and axethBx.10.333: axeth: Both F and Hm supply alliteration; the line is not in Ax and rewritten in Cx. hym · who tauȝte hym curteisye Litel had lordes to donn · to ȝyue londe fram her heires To Religious þat haue no reuthe · þough it reyne on here auteres ¶ In many places þer hij persones ben · be hem-self at ese Of þe pore haue þei no pite · and þat is her [pure]Bx.10.337: pure: Beta omits, but alpha is supported by Cx and the b-verse alliteration. charite Ac þei leten hem as lordes · her londe lith so brode ¶ Ac þere shal come a kyng · and confesse ȝow religiouses And bete ȝow as þe bible telleth · for brekynge of ȝowre reule And amende monyales · monkes and chanouns And putten hem to her penaunce · ad pristinum statum ire And Barounes with Erles beten hem · þorugh beatus virres techynge Þat here barnes claymen · and blame ȝow foule Hij in curribus [et]Bx.10.345: et: Omitted by LM, so perhaps supplied by other beta scribes on the basis of the Psalm. hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt &c ¶ And þanne Freres in here freitoure [·] shal fynden a keye Of costantynes coffres · in which is þe catel Þat Gregories god-children · han yuel dispended ¶ And þanne shal þe abbot of Abyndoun · and alle [his]Bx.10.349: his: Dropped in L. issu for euere Haue a knokke of a kynge · and incurable þe wounde ¶ That þis worth soth seke ȝe · þat oft ouer-se þe bible Quomodo cessauit exactor · quieuit tributum · contriuit dominus baculum impiorum et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga insanabili &c ¶ Ac ar þat kynge come · cayme shal awake AcBx.10.354: Ac: The common Ac/And/But variation, with LMHmR attesting to Ac. Lines 354-401 are not in C. dowel shal dyngen hym adoune · and destruyen his myȝte Þanne is dowel and dobet quod I · dominus and kniȝthode ¶ I nel nouȝt scorne quod scripture · but if scryueynes lye Kynghod ne knyȝthod · by nauȝt I can awayte Helpeth nouȝt to heueneward · one heres ende Ne ricchesse riȝt nouȝt · ne reaute of lordes ¶ Poule preueth it inpossible · riche men haue heuene Salamon seith also · þat syluer is worst to louye Nichil iniquius quam amare peccuniam And caton kenneth vs to coueiten it ·Bx.10.363: In MCF the punctuation follows nauȝt. nauȝt but as nede techethBx.10.363: as nede techeth: LMCrWHm represent beta, with CO reading as it nedes and G corrupting further to vs nedithe. Beta's phrase receives some support from Bx.20.9. KD reject R (= alpha?) at pure nede on the grounds that it is "more emphatic" (p. 144). The line is not in AC. Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam And patriarkes and prophetes · and poetes bothe Wryten to wissen vs · to wilne no ricchesse And preyseden pouerte with pacience · þe apostles bereth witnesse Þat þei han heritage in heuene · and bi trewe riȝte Þere riche men no riȝte may clayme · but of reuthe and grace ¶ Contra quod I bi cryste · þat can I repreue And preue it bi Peter · and bi poule bothe Þat is baptized beth sauf · be heBx.10.372: he: MGOF have the plural following the plural ben for is in their a-verse. riche or pore ¶ Þat is in extremis quod scripture · amonges saracenes and iewes Þei mowen be saued so · and þat is owre byleue Þat an vncristene in þat cas · may crysten an hethen And for his lele byleue · whan he þe lyf tyneth Haue þe heritage of heuene · as any man crystene ¶ Ac crysten men with-oute more · may nouȝt come to heuene For þat cryst for cristen men deyde ·Bx.10.379: The position of the line-break causes uncertainty, so that L has a punctus after men and a punctus elevatus after deyde. WHm have the former punctuation, MCrCO and alpha the latter, which we follow. and confermed þe lawe Þat who-so wolde and wylneth · with cryste to aryse Si cum cristo surrexistis &c · He shulde louye & lene · and þe lawe fulfille Þat is loue þi lorde godBx.10.383: þi lorde god: For a precise parallel see Bx.5.583. Since F omits the line, R's word-order may represent alpha. Lines 378-89 have no parallel in AC. · leuest aboue alleBx.10.383: alle: Cr and beta4 have al thyng. And after alle crystene creatures · in comune eche man other And þus bilongeth to louye · þat leueth to be saued And but we do þus in dede · ar þe daye of dome I[t]Bx.10.387: It: A corrector has noted the omission of <t> in L. shal bisitten vs ful soure · þe siluer þat we kepen And owre bakkesBx.10.388: bakkes: "clothes", as observed by the L scribe who writes above it id est panni. M has a different gloss: id est vestes. þat mothBx.10.388: moth: Alpha has mote which F makes sense of with great imagination.-eten be · and sen beggers go naked Or delyte in wyn and wylde foule · and wote any in defaute For euery cristene creature [·] shulde be kynde til other And sithen hethen to helpe · in hope of amendement God hoteth bothe heigh and lowe [·] þat no man hurte other And seith slee nouȝt þat semblable is · to myne owen liknesse But if I sende þe sum tokne · and seith non [m]ecaberisBx.10.394: mecaberis: WHmCG and alpha, supported by Ax (K.11.254). L and G have been altered to necaberis (and CrO more grammatically to necabis); M is altered to occides. See Luke 18.20: "non occides, non moechaberis", i.e. "Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery". Langland has confused moechari with necare, "to slay". See Skeat (1886), 2.160; Alford (1992), 68-9. IsBx.10.395: Is: CO have I, and M is altered to that reading. slee nouȝt but suffre · and al for þe beste [For Michi vindictam & ego retribuam]Bx.10.396: The quotation from Rom. 12.19 is omitted in beta but supported by Ax (K.11.255). For I shal punysshenBx.10.397: punysshen: Alpha's omission of hem is supported by Ax. in purgatorie · or in þe putte of helle Vche man for his mysdedes · but mercy it lette ¶ Þis is a longe lessoun quod I · and litel am I þe wyser Where dowel is or dobet · derkelich ȝe shewen Many tales ȝe tellen · þat theologye lerneth And þat I man made was · and my name yentred In þe legende of lyf · longe er I were Or elles vnwritenBx.10.404: vnwriten: "not recorded", as in AC (K.11.263; RK.11.207). MGOF have writen. for somme wikkednesse [·] as holywrit wytnessethBx.10.404: wytnesseth: So beta; alpha has telleth, probably picked up from l. 410 below. Ax has as witnessiþ þe gospel; Cx has as holy writ shewith (RK.11.207). For the same b-verse as in beta, see Bx.11.416; for that as in alpha, see Bx.1.130, 3.342, etc. Nemo ascendit ad celum nisi qui de celo decendit ¶ [And]Bx.10.406: And: R only, since F substitutes For and beta omits. Ax and the X group of C support And, but the P group omits it. I leue it welBx.10.406: wel: Beta adds quod I (in CGO it follows lord), but there is no support from AC. bi owre lorde [·] and on no letterure bettere For salamon þe sage · þat sapience tauȝte God gaf hym grace of witte · and alle hisBx.10.408: his: Alpha omits, perhaps rightly. The b-verse is rewritten from Ax. In Cx it is instead and of goed aftur (cf. F's & of alle goodis after). godes after [To reule þe reume · and riche to make]Bx.10.409: Beta omits the line. In Ax the line reads For to reule his reaum riȝt at his wille (K11267); Cx has To reule alle reumes and ryche to make (RK.11.212). F may therefore be right with his rewme, or it may be contamination from the A tradition. He demed wel & wysely [·] as holy writte telleth Aristotle & he · who wissed men bettere Maistres þat of goddis mercy · techen men and prechen Of here wordes þei wissen vs · for wisest inBx.10.413: in: Beta reads as in, possibly rightly, but Cx, with a different a-verse, has and wisest in here tyme. This use of as in is not well exemplified in the poem; perhaps the closest is Bx.15.609: ferme as in þe faith. here tyme And al holicherche · holdeth hem bothe ydampned ¶ And if I shulde worke bi here werkes [·] to wynne me heuene Þat for her werkes and witteBx.10.416: witte: Alpha reads here witt, supported by a majority of A mss.; beta is however supported by Cx. We follow copy-text. · now wonyeth in pyne Þanne wrouȝte I vnwysely · what-so-euere ȝe preche ¶ Ac of fele witty in feith · litel ferly I haue Þough her goste be vngraciouse · god for to plese For many men on þis molde · more sette here hert[e]Bx.10.420: Cx supports beta's men in the a-verse and alpha's herte in the b-verse, which may be regarded as generic sg. or as an unchanged pl. of part of the body. Cf. Bx.7.68. Even so, alpha's unmarked form needs to be seen in the context of its sg. man in the a-verse. Lines 418-43 are not in A. In good þan in god · for-þi hem grace failleth At here moste myschief · whan þei shal lyf lete As salamon dede and such otherBx.10.423: dede and such other: Alpha reads and other dede, losing the alliteration. There is no parallel in AC. · þat shewed gret wittes Ac her werkes as holy wrytte seyth · was euere þe contrarye For-þi wyse witted men · and wel ylettred clerkes As þei seyen hem-self · selden done þer-after Super cathedraBx.10.427: cathedra: C mss. split between abl. cathedra (in the X family) and acc. cathedram (in the P family). The Vulgate has the latter (Matt. 23.3), although the former is more "correct" (with abl. denoting rest). moysy &c · ¶ Ac I wene it worth of many · as was in Noes tyme Þo he shope þat shippe · of shides andBx.10.429: and: This is probably the beta reading, with CrW and alpha reading and of. C mss. also split, with the X family having the beta reading, while the P family has that of alpha. We follow copy-text. bordes Was neuere wriȝte saued þat wrouȝt þer-on · ne oþer werkman elles But briddes and bestes · and þe blissed Noe And his wyf with his sones · and also here wyues Of wriȝtesBx.10.433: wriȝtes: The line is lost (presumably by eyeskip from l. 430) by beta4 and added in M. Beta2 has wightes. þat it wrouȝte [·] was none of hem ysaued ¶ God leneBx.10.434: lene: As usual, this is indistinguishable in L and other mss. from the easier leue, as recorded in CrF. G alters to leve. Cf. Bx.5.265. it fare nouȝt so bi folke · þat þe feith techen Of holicherche þat he[r]berwe is · and goddes hous to saue And shelden vs fram shame þer-inne · as noes shippe did bestes And men þat maden it · amydde þe flode adreynten Bx.10.438: Alpha has a paraph.Þe culorum of þis clause · curatoures isBx.10.438: curatoures is: The b-verse as in beta is the reading of Cx. to mene Þat ben carpenteres holykirkeBx.10.439: kirke: R's non-alliterating form cherche may represent alpha, as at Bx.5.106, 271, etc., inspiring F to rewrite. See Introduction IV.1. to make · for crystes owne bestes Homines & iumenta saluabis domine · &c · Bx.10.441-3: These three lines are preserved in alpha only. The first is in Cx, and ll. 442-3 are revised as RK.11.250, with a new line added. We have revised R's spellings to those of L. [At domes-day þe deluuye worth · of deth and fyreBx.10.441: fyre: R's line is supported by Cx against F's revisions. R has feer as a spelling for "fire" at Bx.3.99. at ones For-þi I conseille ȝow clerkes · of holy chercheBx.10.442: cherche: It may seem obvious that, as at l. 439, Bx had kirke for the alliteration. However, Cx has churche in a line alliterating on /w/, suggesting that Langland revised the line to improve the alliteration of Bx. þe wriȝtes Worcheth ȝe asBx.10.443: as: R's line is verbose and clumsy throughout, here reading werkes as. We take werkes to be an addition to strengthen alliteration and follow F, while recognising the slightness of the evidence. In Cx the line reads: Worcheth ȝe wrihtus of holy churche as holy writ techeth (RK.11.250). ȝe se writen · lest ȝe worth nauȝt þerinneBx.10.443: worth nought þerinne: F's worth ydrenkled, "are drowned", is more emphatic. Cf. F's reading at l. 437, suggesting that Bx might have read worth adreynte or similar. Again it is impossible to be confident of either reading.] ¶ OnBx.10.444: On: Alpha begins For a (R) or for on (F), but beta is supported by AC. gode fridaye I fynde · a feloun was ysaued Þat had lyued al his lyf [·] with lesynges and with thefte And for he biknewe on þe crosse · and to cryste s[h]rof hym He was sonnere saued · þan seynt Iohan [þe]Bx.10.447: þe: Lost in LHm, but supported by AC. Baptiste And orBx.10.448: or (1): "before". See spelling variants. Adam or ysaye · or eny of þe prophetes Þat hadde yleine with Lucyfer · many longe ȝeres A robbere was yraunceouned · rather þan þei alle With-outen any penaunce of purgatorie · to perpetuel blisse ¶ Þanne Marye Magdaleyne · what womman dede worse Or who worse [dede]Bx.10.453: worse dede: R (and cf. F) is supported by alliteration and by Ax dede wers. C rewrites. þan dauid · þat vries deth conspired Or Poule þe apostle · þat no pitee hadde Moche crystene kynde · to kylle to dethBx.10.455: Alpha omits the line. AC have it without Moche (K.11.290; RK.11.268). C mss. vary, incorporating an abbreviated version of the line into the previous line, as in X: Poul þe apostel no pite ne hadde cristene peple to culle to dethe. And benBx.10.456: Hm begins with rewritten And ȝit been; all others have And now ben except LR that omit the adverb, and F which reverses the order. The omission is almost certainly an error, since the adverb is in Cx, but the combined testimony of LR implies that it was an omission in Bx, with other scribes correcting by conjecture or contamination. See Adams (2000), 184. þise as souereynes · wyth seyntes in heuene Þo þat wrouȝte wikkedlokest · in worlde þo þei were ¶ And þo þat wisely wordeden · and wryten many bokes Of witte and of wisdome · with dampned soules wonye Þat salamon seith I trowe be soth · and certeyne of vs alle S[unt]Bx.10.461: Sunt: Beta's Sine or Siue is an obvious misreading. Alpha is supported by Cx and the source (Ecclesiastes 9.1). Lines 462-71 have no parallel in AC. iusti atque sapientes · & opera eorum in manu dei sunt &c ¶Bx.10.462: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. Þere aren witty and wel libbyng [·] ac her werkes ben yhudde In þe hondes of almiȝty god · and he wote þe sothe Wher forBx.10.464: Wher for: "whether for". Beta2 and G mistake this as Wherefore, and CrW drop loue. loue a man worth allowed þere · and his lele werkes Or elles for his yuel wille · &Bx.10.465: &: L initially read or, corrected to &. Beta2 has and for. enuye of herte And be allowed asBx.10.466: as: R has for; F rewrites the line. he lyued soBx.10.466: so: Dropped by Cr and beta4 (O has þere). · for bi lyther men knoweth þe gode ¶ And wherby woteBx.10.467: wote: So LR, and probably M before correction to conform to CrW wiste. Hm may also have had wote before revision. men whiche is whyte · if alle þinge blake were AndBx.10.468: And: Alpha probably read Or, altered by F to For. who were a gode man · but if þere were some shrewe For-þi lyue we forth with litherBx.10.469: lither: Beta2 reads other and loses alliteration. men · I leue fewe ben gode For qant oportet vyent en place · yl nyad que pati And he þat may al amende · haue mercy on vs alle For sothest worde þat euere god seyde · was þo he seyde nemo bonus [¶]Bx.10.473: ¶: The paraph is in WHmR, with a new line-group in M. In L, which lacks the usual line-space, the scribe's paraph marker is unrubricated. Clergye þo of crystes mouth · commended was it litel For he seyde to seynt Peter · and to suche as he loued DumBx.10.475: Dum: Beta2 alters to Cum, but Cx supports the others. steteritis ante Reges et presides &c · Þough ȝe come bifor kynges · and clerkes of þe lawe Beth nouȝte abasched · for I shal be in ȝoure mouthes And ȝyue ȝow witte atBx.10.478: at: L is supported by alpha; all others have and. The line is revised in Cx. wille · and kunnynge to conclude Hem alle þat aȝeines ȝow · ofBx.10.479: of: Alpha omits, though F has a different object for alliteration's sake. Though this is attractive, it might be noted that the verb disputen is elsewhere used transitively only at Bx.10.260; it is usually ~ with. crystenedome disputen ¶ Dauyd maketh mencioun · he spake amonges kynges AndBx.10.481: And: Cx supports beta against R Al and F Þere. miȝte no kynge ouercome hym · as bi kunnyng of speche But witte ne wisdome · wan neuere þe maystrye Whan man was at myschief · with-oute þe more grace ¶ Þe doughtiest doctour · and deuynoure of þe trinitee Was augustynBx.10.485: augustyn: As at l. 126 above, the form of the name in Bx is not determinable. LMG (so beta?) have the full form, but alpha has the more usual Austyn. Both AC have the abbreviated form. We follow copy-text. þe olde · and heighest of þeBx.10.485: þe (2): AC do not support R's hem. foure Sayde þus in a sarmoun · I seigh it writen ones Ecce ipsi idiotiBx.10.487: idioti: Bx and most A mss. make the fools masculine, though CrCGOF correct to feminine. rapiunt celum · vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur · And is to mene to englissh men · more ne lasse Aren none rather yrauysshed · fro þe riȝte byleue Þan ar þis cunnynge clerkes · þat conneBx.10.490: conne: Beta has the support of Ax against alpha's knowe. many bokes ¶Bx.10.491: ¶: The paraph is in LW (in M the line is at the top of the page). Ne none sonner saued · ne sadder of bileue Þan plowmen and pastoures · & poreBx.10.492: pore: W and beta4 read oþere and lose the alliteration. comune laboreres Souteres and sheperdes · sucheBx.10.493: suche: So LR and Cr, as well as the majority of A mss. Others have added and. lewed iottesBx.10.493: iottes: A nonce word, variously recorded as iottes and iuttes by A and B scribes. It may be the same word as modern jot, "small amount". Percen with a pater noster [·] þe paleys of heuene And passen purgatorie penaunceles · at her hennes-partyng In-to þe blisse of paradys · for her pure byleueBx.10.496: Here ends comparison with A. Þat inparfitly hereBx.10.497: here: This line is obviously defective in R, which uniquely drops here. In the b-verse R's loss of eke may represent alpha, since F rewrites. Lines 497-501 are not in C. · knewe and eke lyued ¶ Ȝee men knowe clerkes · þat han cursedBx.10.498: þat han cursed: R alone has cursen. þe tyme Þat euere þei couth or knewe more · þan credo in deum patrem And pryncipaly herBx.10.500: her: So beta; alpha might equally be right with þe. pater noster · many a persone hath wisshed ¶ I se ensamples my-self · and so may many an other Þat seruauntes þat seruen lordes · selden falle in arrerageBx.10.502: arrerage: Beta is supported by Cx. F regularly reads rerage; cf. esp. Bx.11.133, 135 (final position), 138, 14.117. But þo þat kepen þe lordesBx.10.503: þe lordes: R has lordes; F has here. The line is not in C. catel · clerkes and reues Riȝt so lewed men · & of litel knowyngBx.10.504: knowyng: Alpha reads kunnynge. Cx has vnderstondyng in a revised line (RK.11.299). Selden falleBx.10.505: falle: So alpha, supported by Cx; beta reads falle þei. so foule · and so fer in synne As clerkes of holikirkeBx.10.506: kirke: Beta2 and GR alter to chirche and lose alliteration. · þat kepen crystes tresore Þe which is mannes soule to saue · as god seith in þe gospel Ite vos in vineam meam Passus undecimus Thanne scripture scorned me · and a skile tolde And lakked me in latyne · and liȝte by me sheBx.11.2: she: Scripture is female in Bx.10.160-1. Alpha reads he, either as the feminine pronoun or taking Scripture as a male personification. Cx omits the pronoun (RK.11.162). Though she is clearly female in l. 4, in l. 110 Scripture is referred to as he by GOCF. sette And seyde multi multa sciunt [·]Bx.11.3: MHmO and alpha treat this as a standard alliterative line with medial punctuation. & seipsos nesciunt Þo wepte I for woBx.11.4: wo: Supported by alliteration and Cx against alpha's sorwe. · and wratth of her speche And in a wynkyng wratth · wex [til] I [was]Bx.11.5: til I was: R's reading is taken to be alpha and Bx. In the a-verse the form wratth is pretty clearly a Bx error (prompted by the previous line) for warth, "entered, fell", where Cx has I warth (RK.11.165). We assume that beta rewrote the b-verse, supposing that the a-verse meant something like "in an angry sleepiness" or "in a sleepy anger". The b-verse in Cx is quite different. F rewrote the whole line and added another five, avoiding the dream within a dream by waking Will up and sending him swiftly back to sleep again. aslepe A merueillouse meteles · mette me þanneBx.11.6: mette me þanne: Alpha's me tydde to dreme has less satisfactory alliteration. Surprisingly, the verb tiden is never used in the poem. [For]Bx.11.7: For: Alpha's reading is confirmed by Cx (RK.11.166). I was rauisshed riȝt þere · andBx.11.7: and: R's reading for, though not supported by F, may be Bx, since it is paralleled by the X family of C. The P family has no conjunction. fortune me fette And in-to þe londe of longynge · alloneBx.11.8: allone: Beta and F are supported by the X family of C, although the P family as well as two of the X family (YU) support R's & loue. For the collocation of love and longing, see MED longing(e (1) (b) and (c). Either reading could easily have given rise to the other. she me brouȝte And in a myroure þat hiȝt mydlerd · she mad me to biholde Sitthen she sayde to me · here myȝtow se wondres And knowe þat þow coueytest · and come þer-to par-aunter ¶ Þanne hadde fortune folwyng hir [·] two faire damoyseles Concupiscencia carnis · men called þe elder mayde And coueytise of eyes · ycalled was þat oþer Pryde of parfyte lyuynge · pursued hem bothe And badde me for my contenaunce · acounte clergye liȝte ¶ Concupiscencia carnis · colled me aboute þe nekke And seyde þow art ȝonge and ȝepe · and hast ȝeres ynowe For to lyue longe · and ladyes to louye And in þis myroure þow myȝte se · myrthesBx.11.20: myrthes: Beta2's myȝtes has no support from Cx. ful manye Þat leden þe wil to lykynge · al þi lyf-tyme ¶Bx.11.22: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. Þe secounde seide þe same · I shal suwe þi wille Til þow be a lorde and haue londe · leten þe I nelle Þat I ne shal folwe þi felawship · if fortune it lyke He shal fynde me his frende · quod fortune þer-after Þe freke þat folwedBx.11.26: folwed: Alpha's present tense might equally represent Bx. C has a different line, with present-tense liketh. my wille · failled neuere blisse ¶ Thanne was þere one þat hiȝte elde [·] þat heuy was of chere Man quod he if I mete with þe · bi Marie of heuene Þow shalt fynde fortune þe faille ·Bx.11.29: R places the punctuation after fortune, thus alliterating aa/ax rather than aaa/xx. at þi moste nede And concupiscencia carnis · clene þe forsake Bitterliche shaltow banne þanne · bothe dayes and niȝtes Coueytise of eyghe · þat euere þow hir knewe And pryde of parfyt lyuynge · to moche peril þe brynge ¶ Ȝee recche þe neuere quod recchelesnes · stode forth in ragged clothes Folwe forth þat fortune wole · þow hast wel fer t[o]Bx.11.35: to: MHmCGO and alpha, supported by Cx, against til in LCrW. Cf. Bx.9.88, 11.83. elde A man may stoupe tymesBx.11.36: tymes: LMHmR have the plural, presumably representing Bx, though the regular adverbial expression is time enough, "soon enough"; see MED time n.(2), 8c(c). The other B mss. and most C mss. have the regular singular. See Adams (2000), 179. ynow · whan he shal tyne þe croune ¶ Homo proponit quod a poete [þo]Bx.11.37: þo: Alpha is supported by Cx (RK.11.303). · and plato he hyght And deus disponit quod he · lat god done his wille If trewthe wil witnesse it be wel do · fortune to folwe Concupiscencia carnis · ne coueityse of eyes Ne shal nouȝt greue þe gretlyBx.11.41: gretly: So beta and Cx, but it is hard to explain why alpha might have replaced it with graythly, "quickly, readily". Yet the only other occurrence of graythely in B is Bx.18.298, where it causes the scribes no difficulty. · ne bigyle þe but þow wolt [¶]Bx.11.42: ¶: The paraph is in WHmC and alpha, with a line-space in M. In L, which lacks the usual line-space, the scribe's paraph marker is unrubricated. Ȝee farewel phippe quod fauntelte [·] and forth gan me drawe Til concupiscencia carnis · acorded [til]Bx.11.43: til: In beta the verb acorded is used most unusually with direct object; alpha has the prepositions til (R) and with (F). For acord with cf. Bx.20.304, 354. Cx supports R. alle my werkes ¶ Allas eye quod elde · and holynesse bothe Þat witte shal torne to wrecchednesse · for wille to haue his lykyng Bx.11.46-9: Omitted by alpha, an easy case of eye-skip, with the same a-verse in ll. 46 and 50, both lines beginning with a paraph. F then also omits ll. 50-1. It is worth noting that Bx.11.47-52 are absent from C, and this may also be attributable to eye-skip. ¶ Coueityse of eyghes · conforted me anon after And folwed me fourty wynter · and a fyfte more Þat of dowel ne dobet · no deyntee me neBx.11.48: ne (2): LM only (alpha is absent). þouȝte I had no lykynge leue me if þeBx.11.49: þe: LMW; Hm has thu and Cr has ye. leste · of hem auȝte to knowe ¶Bx.11.50: ¶: The paraph is in LR only (F is absent). Coueytyse of eyes · cam ofter inBx.11.50: in: GOR have in my. The line is not in Cx. mynde Þan dowel or dobet [·] amonge my dedes alle Coueytise of eyes [·] conforted me ofte And seyde haue no conscience [·] how þow come to gode Go confesse [þe]Bx.11.54: þe: LF omit, but supported by Cx. to sum frere · and shewe hym þi synnes For whiles fortune is þi frende · Freres wil þe louye And fe[tt]eBx.11.56: fette: R (= alpha) with F misreading as sette. MED fetten notes that "in the ME and Early MnE period fetten is gradually replaced by fecchen", whence beta's reading. Cx has instead festene (RK.12.8). At Bx.18.344 R has fecchest for Bx fettest. þe to her fraternite · and for þe biseke To her priour prouyncial · a pardoun forto haue And preyen for þe pol bi pol · ȝif þow be peccuniosus [P]enaBx.11.59: Pena: Alpha is supported by Cx. Presumably beta's Set pena is an attempt to link the quotation more closely to the argument. Alford (1992), 72. pecuniar[i]a non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis ¶ By wissynge of þis wenche I [dede]Bx.11.60: dede: The choice of reading is difficult. R is supported by Cx. We therefore suppose that beta corrupted to wrouȝte by alliterative attraction, while F coincidentally included wrowhte in a rewritten a-verse, again prompted by the alliteration. · here wordes were so swete Tyl I forȝat ȝouthe · and ȝarnBx.11.61: ȝarn: "ran", the form regularly used for alliteration, which HmR lose with ran. Cf. Bx.3.215 and note. in-to elde And þanne was fortune my foo · for al hir faire biheste And pouerte pursued me · and put me lowe And þo fonde I þe Frere aferde · and flyttynge bothe Aȝeines owre firste forward · for I seyde I nolde Be buryed at her hous · but at my parissh cherche For I herde onys · how conscience it tolde Þat þere a man were crystened · by kynde he shulde be buryed Or where he were parissheneBx.11.69: parisshene: Alpha adds the indefinite article. There is no parallel in C. · riȝt þere he shulde be grauen And for I seyde þus to freres · a fool þei me helden And loued me þe lasse [·] for my lele speche Ac ȝet I cryed on my confessoure [·] þat helde hym-self so kunnyng By my feith frere quod I · ȝe faren lyke þise woweres Þat wedde none wydwes · but forto welde here godis Riȝte so by þe Rode · rouȝte ȝe neuere Where my body were buryed · bi so ȝe hadde my siluer Ich haue moche merueille of ȝow · and so hath many anotherBx.11.77: another: R's other has support from CrCGO. The line is not in C, and is rejected by KD. Why ȝowre couent coueyteth · to confesse and to burye Rather þan to baptise barnes · þat ben catekumelynges Baptizyng and burying · bothe ben ful nedeful Ac moche more merytorie · me þynke[th]Bx.11.81: þynketh: Only L has þynke. it is to baptize For a baptized man ·Bx.11.82: L's placing of the punctuation after man has the support of MCR, suggesting a Bx error. Beta2 (CrWHm) and OF correct by placing it after may. may as maistres telleth Þorugh contricioun come · toBx.11.83: to: R has til, and F has into. þe heigh heuene Sola contricio &cBx.11.83: &c: HmCGO extend the "common saying" (Alford (1992), 72) by adding delet peccatum. In beta (LMCrWHmO) the Latin follows the English on the same line, either as part of the line (MCr) or separated from the English with a space, in L (boxed in red), W (boxed in red preceded by // to indicate an omission), Hm (with caret to indicate omission), and O (which commonly sets Latin quotations in the right margin, underlined in red). In alpha the Latin is given a separate line. Compare l. 85, where it is clear that Bx treats the Latin as the first part of the line. See note to 11.85. · ¶ Ac a barne with-oute bapteme · may nouȝt so be saued Nisi quis renatus fueritBx.11.85: CGO extend the quotation (from John 3.5) but LMCrWR show that Bx took the four Latin words as the start of the English line. Cf. 11.83. loke ȝe lettred men · whether I lye or do nouȝte Bx.11.86: Hm and F have a paraph and M has a line-space.And lewte [þo]Bx.11.86: þo: Alpha's reading has some support from the parallel line in Cx: And thenne louhe leaute for y loured on þe frere (RK.12.23). loked on me · and I loured after Bx.11.87: A paraph would be appropriate here to mark the beginning of direct speech, but it is supported by WR only. In the next line it has stronger support from WHm and alpha, and in l. 89 from W and alpha. W is much more regular than other scribes in paragraphing speech, and his testimony therefore carries less weight.Wherfore lourestow quod lewte · and loked on me harde Ȝif I durste quod I amonges men · þis meteles auowe Ȝe bi peter and bi poule quod he · and takeBx.11.89: take: The imperative is supported by the crucial witnesses LMR, as well as G. Others have the easier past tense. See Adams (2000), 179. hem bothe to witnesse Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo · set publice argue illos ¶ Þei wol alleggen also quod I · and by þe gospel preuen Nolite iudicare quemquam · ¶ And wher-of serueth lawe quod lewteBx.11.93: lewte: Cx does not support R's addition of þanne. · if no lyf vndertoke it Falsenesse ne faytrye · for sumwhat þe apostle seyde Non oderis fratremBx.11.95: All scribes except F incorporate the Latin quotation into the line. Cf. 11.85. · and in þe sauter also seithe dauid þe prophete Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis &c It is licitum for lewed men · to segge þe sothe If hem lyketh and leste · eche a lawe it graunteth Excepte parsones and prestes · and prelates of holycherche It falleth nouȝte for þat folke · no tales to telle Þough þe tale were trewe · and it touched synne ¶ ÞingeBx.11.102: Þinge: Alpha may have started the line with A (F) or Ac (R), but neither is supported by Cx. þat al þe worlde wote · wherfore shuldestow spare AndBx.11.103: And: Clearly the Bx reading, though probably an error for To as in WHm and also Cx. reden it in Retoryke · to arate dedly synne Ac beBx.11.104: be: HmF add thu, as does the P family of C. neuere-more þe fyrste · þe defaute to blame Þouȝe þow se yuel sey it nouȝte fyrste · be sorye it nere amended No þinge þat is pryue · publice þow it neuere Neyther for loue laudeBx.11.107: laude: R has lakke, anticipating the b-verse, while F rewrites. Cx has labbe it out, "blurt it out", for laude it nouȝt. it nouȝt · ne lakke it for enuye Parum lauda vitupera parcius ¶ He seith sothe quod scripture þo · and skipte an heigh & preched Ac þe matere þat she meued · if lewed men it kneweBx.11.110: if lewed men it knewe: R's b-verse lewed men it knowe probably represents corruption in alpha (cf. F). Cx supports beta. Þe lasse as I leue · louyen it þei wolde [Þe bileue [of] þat lordBx.11.112: of þat lord: The line is recorded only in alpha, though evidently the a-verse has been corrupted, perhaps simply by omitting of as in R. Cx reads of oure lord (RK.12.44). . þat lettred men techeth] ¶ This was her teme and her tyxte · I toke ful gode hede Multi to a maungerye · and to þe mete were sompned And whan þe peple was plenere comen · þe porter vnpynned þe ȝate And plukked in pauci priueliche · and lete þe remenaunt go rowme ¶ Al for tene of her tyxte · trembled myn herte And in a were gan I waxe · and with my-self to dispute Whether I were chosen or nouȝt chosen · on holicherche I þouȝte Þat vnderfonge me atte fonte · for one of goddis chosne For cryste cleped vs alle · come if we wolde Sarasenes and scismatikes · and so he dyd þe iewes O vos omnes scicientesBx.11.123: scicientes: Evidently the Bx (and probably Cx) spelling for the more formally correct sicientes. venite &c And badde hem souke for synne · sa[ue]Bx.11.124: saue: Beta has saufly, but Alpha's word is supported by the X family of C; the P family has sauete in a rewritten b-verse. Kane (2005) glosses saue RK.12.56 as "decoction of herbs taken internally fig.". See MED save n.(1). at his breste And drynke bote for bale · brouke it who-so myȝte ¶ Þanne may alle crystene come quod I · and cleyme þere entre By þe blode þatBx.11.127: þat: G, Alpha and a few C mss. omit. he bouȝte vs with · and þorugh baptesme after Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit &c For þough a crystene man coueyted · his crystenedome to reneyeBx.11.129: reneye: Beta, supported by sense and by Cx against alpha's receyue. Riȝtfulliche to renye · no resoun it wolde ¶ For may no cherle chartre make · ne his catel selle With-outen leue of his lorde · no lawe wil it graunte Ac he may renne in arrerage · and rowmeBx.11.133: rowme: R repeats renne; F has rayke. Cx supports the verb as in beta, and the omission of so as in alpha, added in beta to fill out a short line. fro home And as a reneyed caityf [·] reccheleslyBx.11.134: recchelesly: The L corrector assumes omission of a verb, and supplies gon, while Beta2 (CrWHm) repeats rennen from the previous line. Alpha has corrupted the a-verse (R has he renneth for a reneyed), and it appears likely that Cx has to make sense of a corrupted exemplar, since the line becomes As a recheles caytyf or reneyed as hit semeth (RK.12.65). aboute Ac Resoun shal rekne with hym · Bx.11.135-6: As a result of eyeskip on mid-line with hym, beta drops 135b and 136a. Alpha is supported by Cx.[and rebuken hym at þe laste And conscience a-counte with hym ·] and casten hym in arrerage And putten [hym]Bx.11.137: hym: The omission in LMC suggests that the pronoun may have been lost in beta. It is supported by both alpha and Cx. after inBx.11.137: in: LM and beta2 (CrWHm) have in a, but the article is not in alpha or Cx. prisone · in purgatorie to brenne [And]Bx.11.138: And: Beta drops And, but alpha is supported by the X family of C. The P family reorders the a-verse. for his arrerages rewarden hym þere · [riȝte]Bx.11.138: riȝte: R supplies the Bx reading. The alliterating adverb is supported by Cx. F rewrites the b-verse. to þe daye of dome But if contricioun w[o]lBx.11.139: wol: LR give strong support for wel, which could be right ("happily", etc.). More probably both scribes mistake wol come for a spelling of welcome (see MED), and in L the line is marked for correction. Cx revises the line. come · and crye bi his lyue Mercy for his mysdedes · with mouth orBx.11.140: or: Well supported for Bx, though and in WHmF is also the reading of Cx. with herte ¶ Þat is soth seyde scripture [·] may no synne lette Mercy alle toBx.11.142: alle to: Alpha's may al was perhaps the basis for Cx, which has the a-verse Mercy þat he ne may al amende. However, the syntax is lette to amende "prevent from amending". amende · and mekenesse hir folweBx.11.142: and mekenesse hir folwe: R (= alpha?) muddles through with þat mekenesse he folweth, but Cx supports the b-verse as in beta. For þey beth as owre bokes telleth · aboue goddes werkes Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius ¶ Ȝee baw for bokes quod one · was broken oute of helle Hiȝte troianus had ben a trewe knyȝte · toke witnesse at a pope How he was ded and dampned · to dwellen in pyne For an vncristene creature [·] clerkis wyten þe sothe Þat al þe clergye vnder cryste · miȝteBx.11.149: miȝte: Evidently Bx lost ne, required for sense and supplied by beta2 (CrWHm), as in Cx (RK.12.79). me cracche fro helle But onliche loue and leaute · [of]Bx.11.150: of: So alpha, against beta's and. The sense is supported by Cx as in my lawes demynge, which also sets Trajan's love and integrity in relation to his justice. my lawful domes ¶ Gregorie wist þis wel · and wilned to my soule Sauacioun for [þe]Bx.11.152: þe: Alpha, dropped by beta, but supported by Cx. sothenesse · þat he seigh inBx.11.152: seigh in: Beta, supported by Cx, against R's seith of. my werkes And after þat he wepte · and wilned me were graunted Grace wyth-outen any bede-byddynge · his bone was vnderfonge And I saued as ȝe mayBx.11.155: may: Probably R's now is a misreading of an alpha form mowe. se · with-oute syngyng of masses ByBx.11.156: By: Probably dropped by alpha, with F patching. Alpha may have stumbled over the non-expression of the subject pronoun "that" in the next line (where F again patches). loue and by lernyng [·] of my lyuyng in treuthe Brouȝte me fro bitter peyne · þere no biddyng myȝte ¶ Lo ȝe lordes what leute did · by an Emperoure of Rome Þat was an vncrystene creature · as clerkes fyndeth in bokes Nouȝt þorw preyere of a pope · but for his pure treuthe Was þat sarasene saued · as seynt Gregorie bereth witnesse Wel ouȝte ȝeBx.11.162: ȝe: Beta, supported by Cx, against alpha's þe. lordes þat lawes kepe · þis lessoun to haue in mynde And on troianus treuth to thenke · and do treuthe to þe peple Bx.11.164-74: Beta omits these 11 lines, perhaps due to eyeskip from paraph to paraph. KD p. 66 suggest an implausible series of homeoarchy. 11.172 is in R alone. The passage is not in C, although Bx.11.171-2 lies behind RK.12.97. R's spellings have been altered to those of L. [¶ Þis matir is merke for mani of ȝow · ac men of holy cherche Þe legend[a]Bx.11.165: legenda: RF write legende, but cf. Bx.11.229 and 15.280. sanctorum ȝow lereth · more larger þan I ȝow telle Ac þus lele loue · and lyuynge in treuthe PulteBx.11.167: Pulte: From pilten (cf. RK.11.206) rather than pullen, pace Kane (2005). Cf. Bx.1.128, 15.66. oute of pyne · a paynym of rome Yblessed be treuthe · þat so brakBx.11.168: so brak: F reverses the word-order. helle ȝates And saued þe sarasyn · fram sathanas and his power Þere no clergie ne couthe · ne konnynge of lawes Loue and leute [·] is a lele science For þat is þe boke blessede · of blisse and of ioye God wrouȝt it and wrot hit · with his oneBx.11.173: one: R's on is his usual form of "one". F has owne. fynger And toke it moyses vpon þe mount · alle men toBx.11.174: to: F supplies an object it, perhaps rightly. lere] [¶]Bx.11.175: ¶: Since we suppose that the beta scribe skipped from one paraph to another, we insert the paraph supplied only in R and Hm. In L the line is at the top of the leaf.Lawe with-outen loue quod troianus [·] leye þere a bene Or any science vnder sonne · þe seuene artz and alle ButBx.11.177: But: In L the corrector has added if, but it is without support. þei ben lerned for owre lordes loue · loste is alle þe tyme For no cause to cacche siluer þere-by · ne to be called a mayster But al for loue of owre lorde · and þe bet to loue þe peple For seynte Iohan seyde it · and soth aren his wordes Qui non diligit manet in morte ¶Bx.11.182: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. In R the line is at the top of the page. Who-so loueth nouȝte leue me · he lyueth in deth-deyinge And þat alle manere men · enemys and frendes Louen her eyther other · and lene hem as her-selue Who-soBx.11.185: Who-so: Alpha begins For ho-so, obscuring the parallel with l. 182. lenethBx.11.185: leneth: Alpha's leueth (also Cr) is not approprate to the argument that follows. nouȝte he loueth nouȝte · [oure lorde]Bx.11.185: oure lorde: The reading is very uncertain since it is attested by R alone. Possibly R altered Bx god for the sake of alliteration, but that would be very untypical behaviour. More probably beta read god, coincidentally adopted by F. These lines are not in C. Perhaps reflecting the lack of b-verse alliteration with the reading god, all scribes except W, beta4 and R punctuate after each nouȝte. wote þe sothe And comaundethBx.11.186: comaundeth: O and Alpha have the past tense. Either alpha or beta could be right. eche creature · to confourme hym to louye And souereynelyche pore poeple · and here ennemys after For hem þat hateth vs · is owre meryte to louye And pore peple to plese · here prayeres may vs helpe For owre ioye and owre [Iuwel]Bx.11.190: Iuwel: KD's conjecture, proposed on p. 184, is persuasive as the reading of Bx, and fits the alliteration on /j/. R's nonsensical euel can hardly have been prompted by the commonplace hele, helthe of beta and F, but is more likely to be a misinterpretation of an alpha spelling iuel. If so, then beta and F misunderstood or objected to the rare use of "jewel" to refer to Christ. The closest parallel is Pearl 795; cf. also Bx.18.447. · IhesuBx.11.190: Ihesu: Alpha has is ihesu, but Ihesu is subject of pursueth in the next line. cryst of heuene In a pore mannes apparaille · pursueth vs euere And loketh on vs in her liknesse · and þat with louely chere To knowen vs by owre kynde herte · and castyng of owre eyen Wheþer we loue þe lordes here · byfor owreBx.11.194: owre: Strong support from LMR and CO, against þe in beta2 and GF. lorde of blisse ¶Bx.11.195: ¶: Only LR have a paraph. And exciteth vs bi þe euangelye · þat when we maken festes We shulde nouȝte clepe owre kynne þer-to · ne none kynnes richeBx.11.196: kynnes riche: Probably "rich of any sort", translating Luke 14.12 "vicinos divites". R may have confused with kine-riche, "kingdom", or interpreted as "rich kin", following kyn (Luke's "cognatos") in the a-verse. Cf. also GO, and F's apparent difficulty with the b-verse. It is noteworthy that Cx, which has knyhtes in the a-verse, has none kyne ryche, "no rich kin" in the b-verse (RK.12.103). Cum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare amicos Ac calleth þe careful þer-to [·] þe croked and þe pore For ȝowre frendes wil feden ȝow · and fonde ȝow to quite Ȝowre festynge and ȝowre faire ȝifteBx.11.200: ȝifte: Clearly beta, though beta4 (CGO) has plural, as does alpha. · vche frende quyteth so other ¶ Ac for þe pore I shal paye · and pure wel quyte her trauaille Þat ȝiueth hem mete or moneye · and loueth hem for my sake [¶ God myȝte riche haue made . alle men if he wolde]Bx.11.203: God myȝte riche haue made alle: We suppose that F represents alpha and also Bx, in a line that is lost in beta. We take F's a as "have". R is defective in sense, though KD's emendation based on R is attractive: "Alle myȝte god haue maad riche men if he wolde". Lines 202-6 are not in C. [Ac]Bx.11.204: Ac: So R. Having lost the previous line, beta drops the co-ordinating conjunction. F as usual alters to But. for þe best ben somme riche · and somme beggers and pore For alle are we crystes creatures · and of his coffres riche AndBx.11.206: And: R has As, but it is not supported by Cx. bretheren as of o blode · as wel beggares as erles For [at]Bx.11.207: at: Alpha is supported by Cx (RK.12.109). caluarye of crystes blode · crystenedome gan sprynge And blody bretheren we bycome þere · of o body ywonne As quasi modo geniti · and gentil men vche one No beggere ne boye amonges vs · but if it synne made Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati &c ¶ In þe olde lawe · as [þe]Bx.11.212: þe (2): Alpha is supported by Cx. Beta is probably filling out a short b-verse. In Cx, this whole line becomes the a-verse, and the next line the b-verse, dropping vchone. lettre telleth Mennes sones · men called vs vchone Of adames issue and Eue · ay til god-man deyde And after his resurreccioun · Redemptor was his name And we his bretheren þourgh hym ybouȝt · bothe riche and pore For-þi loue we as leue [children]Bx.11.217: children: Alpha, supported by Cx; beta repeats bretheren from the previous line. shalBx.11.217: shal: Strong support for Bx from all except WCrF, which omit as in Cx. · and vche man laughe vpBx.11.217: vp: LMCR, against on GOF and of WHm. The b-verse is revised in Cx. other And of þat eche man may forbere · amende þere it nedeth And euery man helpe otherBx.11.219: other: Alpha adds here, but Cx supports beta. · for hennes shal we alle Alter alterius onera portate And be we nouȝte vnkynde of owre catel · ne of owre kunnynge neyther For noetBx.11.222: noet: Supported by LMCOR against woot in others. This passage to l. 237 is not in C. no man how neighe it is · to be ynome fro bothe For-þi lakke no lyf other · þough he more latyne knowe Ne vnder-nym nouȝte foule · for is none with-oute fauteBx.11.224: faute: So LMCrCGO. Curiously the word is only used once in the three versions, at Bx.10.111 (where F reads defawte). In contrast, defaute, as in WHm and alpha, is common, though generally in the senses "lack, hardship". We follow copy-text. For what-euere clerkis carpe [·] of crystenedome or elles Cryst to a comune woman seyde · in comune at a feste Þat fides sua shulde sauen hir [·] and saluen hir of alleBx.11.227: alle: So LCrHmR; MGC read hire, while WOF omit. synnes ¶ Þanne is byleue a lele helpe [·] aboue logyke or lawe Of logyke ne of lawe [·] in legenda sanctorum Is litel allowaunce madeBx.11.230: litel allowaunce made: Although we adopt beta's a-verse, alpha's phrase litel alowed has a parallel in Bx.14.335 For lordes alloweth hym litel. · but ifBx.11.230: if: Omitted by G and alpha. There are plenty of parallels for either reading. bileue hem helpe For it is ouerlonge ar logyke · any lessoun assoille And lawe is loth to louye · but if he lacche syluer Bothe logyke and lawe · þat loueth nouȝte to lye I conseille alle crysteneBx.11.234: crystene: For independent scribal addition of men in this a-verse, cf. Bx.9.185. The a-verse is repeated at Bx.7.211 and 15.360. · cleue nouȝte þer-on to sore For sum wordes I fynde ywryten · were of faithes techyng Þat saued synful men · as seynt Iohan bereth wytnesse Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis ¶Bx.11.238: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. For-þi lerne we þe lawe of loue · as owre lorde tauȝte And as seynte Gregory seide · for mannes soule helthe Melius est scrutari scelera nostra · quam naturas rerum ¶ Why I moue þis matere · is moste for þe pore For in her lyknesse owre lorde · ofte hath ben yknowe Witnesse in þe Paske-wyke · whan he ȝede to Emaus Cleophas ne knewe hym nauȝte · þat he cryste were For his pore parailleBx.11.245: paraille: So LR. C mss. vary. However, cf. l. 252 where (in the absence of F) R alone has the aphetic form. · and pylgrymes wedes Tyl he blessed and brak · þe bred þat þei eten So bi his werkes þei wisten · þat he was Ihesus Ac by clothyng þei knewe hym nouȝte · ne bi carpynge of tonge ¶Bx.11.238: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. And al was ensample [for-sothe]Bx.11.249: ensample for-sothe: R's reading, doubtfully adopted on the basis of Cx ensample sothly. The adverb supplies a second alliterative stave for the a-verse. Beta has in ensample, although M shares the reading of F without in. · to vs synful here Þat we shulde be low · and loueliche of speche And apparaille vs nouȝte ouer-Bx.11.251: ouer-: Supported by LMR and WHm (C has to), but dropped by CrGOF.proudly · for pylgrymes ar we alle And in þe apparaille of a pore man · and pilgrymes lyknesse Many tyme god hath ben mette · amonge nedy peple Þere neuere segge hym seigh · in secte of þe riche ¶ Seynt Iohan and other seyntes · were seyne in pore clothynge And as pore pilgrymes · preyed mennesBx.11.256: mennes: In alpha men is object of preyude, "begged men (for their) goods", and is so expanded by F. godis Ihesu cryste on a iewes douȝter alyȝte · gentil woman þough she were WasBx.11.258: Was: R (F drops lines 257-8) repeats A, "she" from the previous line, as does Hm sche, but Cx is without it. a pure pore mayde · and to a pore man wedded ¶ Martha on Marye magdeleyne · an huge pleynte she made And to owre saueour self · seyde þise wordes Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solaBx.11.261: sola: So LM and F (R truncates after cure), together with some C mss. The accusative solam is expected, as in other mss. ministrare &c ¶Bx.11.262: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. And hastiliche god answered · and eytheres wille folwed Bothe Marthaes and Maries · as Mathew bereth witnesse Ac pouerte god put bifore · and preysed it þe bettre Maria optimam partem elegit · que non &cBx.11.265: non &c: LMCrW end at this point; R stops after elegit, while the others continue auferetur ab ea. C mss. show the same variation, though the X family ends with non &c. ¶Bx.11.266: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. And alle þe wyse þat euere were · by auȝte I can aspye PreysenBx.11.267: Preysen: Only MW have the past tense, following on from were in the previous line. However, it must be observed that Cx also has the past. See next note. pouerte for best lyf · if pacience it folweBx.11.267: folwe: W continues with the past tense, as do six C mss. Alpha's wolde/welde is presumably a misreading of folwede; two C mss. have the same curious reading. And bothe bettere and blisseder · by many folde þan ricchesse AlthoughBx.11.269: Although: The reading of LM and alpha and the X family of C. Other beta mss. have And though. See Adams (2000), 179. it be soure to suffre · þere cometh swete after As on a walnot with-oute [·] is a bitter barke And after þat bitter barke · be þe shelle aweye Is a kirnelle of conforte · kynde to restore So is after pouerte or penaunce · pacientlyche ytake [M]akethBx.11.274: Maketh: Beta begins For it maketh, but the clause without subject as in alpha is supported by Cx. a man to haue mynde in gode · and a grete wille To wepe and to wel bydde · wher-of wexeth mercy Of which cryst is a kirnelle · to conforte þe soule And wel sykerer he slepyth · þe [segge]Bx.11.277: segge: Beta's man is a straightforward example of the substitution of an easier reading. Cx supports alpha. þat is pore And lasse he dredeth deth · and in derke to be robbed Þan he þat is riȝte ryche · resoun bereth wytnesse Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris ¶Bx.11.281: ¶: The paraph in L is supported by WF. Alþough salamon seide · as folkeBx.11.281: folke: Presumably on this occasion alpha has adopted the easier reading; cf. l. 277. From here to l. 301 there is no parallel in C. seeth in þe bible Diuicias nec paupertates &c Wyser þan salamon was · bereth witnesse and tauȝte Þat parfyte pouert was · no possessioun to haue And lyf moste lykynge to god · as luke bereth witnesse Si vis perfectus esse · vade & vende &c Bx.11.287: MWHmC would support a paraph here, but it is not particularly appropriate and not supported by alpha.And is to mene to men · þat on þis molde lyuen Who-so wil be pure parfyt · mote possessioun forsake Or selle it as seith þe boke · and þe syluer dele To beggeres þat gone and begge · and bidden good for goddes loue ¶ For failled neuere man mete · þat myȝtful god seruedBx.11.291: serued: Despite beta2 (CrWHm), beta probably has the past tense and alpha the present. Either could be right: the past following on from failled, or the present anticipating seith and the verbs in ll. 293 and 295. As dauid seith in þe sauter · to suche þat ben in willeBx.11.292: Following this line, alpha evidently had the half line With eny wel or wo, reproduced by R. F makes a full line by coupling it with l. 292b which he has replaced by a half-line of his own. To serue god godeliche · ne greueth hymBx.11.293: hym: MCr and alpha have pl. hem. We follow copy-text. no penaunce Nichil inpossibileBx.11.294: inpossibile: Alford (1992), 75, quotes the proverb in this form. Alpha, with difficile instead, may have known another form. The Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs, p. 463, cites Heywood (1546) "Nothing is impossible to a willyng hart", and Fergusson (1641) "Nothing is difficile to a well willit man". volenti Ne lakketh neuereBx.11.295: neuere: R has noyther; F drops the line. lyflode · lynnen ne wollen Inquirentes autem dominum · non minuentur omni bono [¶]Bx.11.297: ¶: The rubricator in L misses the paraph since the line is at the top of the page. It is supported by WHmRF and a line-space in M. If prestes weren parfytBx.11.297: parfyt: Both KD and Schmidt adopt alpha's wise for the sake of the alliteration, although Schmidt (1995) considers that alpha gives "less good sense" (p. 386). However, the parallel line in Cx (following a divergence from B of 190 lines) is Vch a parfit prest to pouerte sholde drawe (RK.13.100), which precedes the line parallel to Bx.11.302. Perhaps Bx syluer is an error picked up from that line for pens. Parfit priesthood is a favourite concept of Langland's; cf. ȝif presthod were parfit (Bx.15.566). · þei wolde no syluer take For masses ne for matynes · nouȝte her mete of vsureres Ne neither kirtel ne cote · þeigh þey for colde shulde deye And þei her deuor dedeBx.11.300: dede: Dropped in alpha, but necessary for the sense, which leads F to revise. · as dauid seith in þe sauter Iudica me deus & discerne causam meam Spera in deo speketh of prestes · þat haue no spendyng syluer Þat ȝif þei trauaille trewlich · and trusten in god almiȝti Hem shulde lakke no lyflode · noyther wollen ne lynnenBx.11.304: wollen ne lynnen: WHm reverse the nouns, as in the nearly identical l. 295, thus no doubt correcting a Bx error. Cx, which only uses the line once, has lynnen ne wollene, to alliterate aa/ax. And þe title þat [ȝe]Bx.11.305: ȝe (1): The reading of R, and also of W's text, but significantly not of the catchword, which has the beta reading þei. W's reading is thus an enlightened correction, and it is the Cx reading. F revises, but keeping the second person. take ordres by · telleth ȝe ben auaunced Þanne nedeth nouȝte ȝowBx.11.306: nouȝte ȝow: This appears to be the order in beta, reversed to the commonplace in MW; alpha perhaps had ȝow nouȝt as in R. We follow copy-text. Cx omits the pronoun, and replaces take with alliterating nyme. to take syluer · for masses þat ȝe syngen For he þat toke ȝow ȝowre tytle · shulde take ȝow ȝowre wages Or þe bisshop þat blesseth ȝow · if þat ȝe ben worthy ¶ For made neuere kyngeBx.11.309: kynge: LHm read no kynge. Hm subsequently erases the no before knygth. no knyȝte · but he hadde catel to spende As bifel for a kniȝte · or fonde hym for his strengthe It is a careful knyȝte · and of a caytyue kynges makynge Þat hath noBx.11.312: no: Alpha's noþer may equally be right. The P family of C have the beta reading, the X family the alpha. londe ne lynage richeBx.11.312: riche: Omitted by alpha, but supported by Cx. · ne good loos of his handes Þe same I segge for sothe · by alle suche prestes Þat han noyther kunnynge ne kynne · but a croune one And a tytle a tale of nouȝte · to his lyflode atBx.11.315: at: Beta2 (CrWHm) adds his. Cx ends the line as hit were. myschief He hath more bileue as I leue · to lacche þorw his croune Cure ·Bx.11.317: The syntactic punctuation after Cure is recorded in LMWOF. þan for konnyng · or knowen for clene of berynge I haue wonder & why · and wher-fore þe bisshop Maketh suche prestes · þat lewed men bytrayen ¶ A chartre is chalengeable · byfor a chief iustice If false latyne be in þa[t]Bx.11.321: þat: L has þa; the line is marked for correction. lettre · þe lawe it inpugneth Or peynted parenterlinarie · parcelesBx.11.322: parceles: In beta2 (CrWHm) and F the b-verse begins or, but this is not supported by Cx (RK.13.119). ouer-skipped Þe gome þat gloseth so chartres · for a goky is holden ¶ So is it a goky by god · þat in his gospel failleth Or in masse or in matynes · maketh any defaute Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus &c And also in þe sauter · seyth dauyd to ouerskippers Psallite deo nostro psallite quoniam rex terre deus israel psallite sapienter Bx.11.329: LR do not have a paraph here, but it might be added on the basis of MWHmCF.Þe bisshop shal be blamed · bifor god as I leue Þat crouneth suche goddes kniȝtes · þat conneth nouȝt sapienter Synge ne psalmes rede · ne segge a messe of þe day Ac neuer neyther is blamelees · þe bisshop ne þe chapleyne For her eyther is endited · and þat ofBx.11.333: of: Beta2 (CrWHm) alters to is; F has ys be. ignorancia Non excusat episcopos · nec idiotes prestes ¶ Þis lokynge on lewed prestes · haþ don me lepe fram pouerte Þe whiche I preyse þere pacyence is · more parfyt þan ricchesse ¶ Ac moche more in metynge þus · with me gan one disputeBx.11.337: Instead of this line F has nine lines in which Will wakes, and falls asleep again in the line corresponding to l. 338. And slepynge I seigh al þis · and sithen cam kynde And nempned me by my name · and bad me nymen hede And þorw þe wondresBx.11.340: wondres: So beta. R has wordes, presumably reproducing alpha, which F improves to worchynge. of þis worlde · wytte for to take And on a mountaigne þat mydelerd hyȝte · as me þo þouȝte I was fette forth · by ensaumples to knowe Þorugh eche a creature and kynde · my creatoure to louye I seigh þe sonne and þe see · and þe sonde after And where þat bryddes and bestes · by here makeBx.11.345: make: CrWGF have makes, as does the P family of C. þeiBx.11.345: þei: Well supported for Bx, but omitted by WGOF and by the P family of C. ȝeden Wylde wormes in wodes · and wonderful foules With flekked fetheres · and of fele coloures Man and his make · I myȝte [se bothe]Bx.11.348: se bothe: R is supported by Cx. Pouerte and plente · bothe pees and werre Blisse and bale · bothe I seigh atBx.11.350: at: Beta2 (CrWHm) has al at, not supported by Cx. ones And how men token Mede · and mercy refused ¶ Resoune I seighe sothly [·] suen alle bestes In etyng in drynkynge · and in engendrynge of kynde And after course of concepcioun · none toke kepe of other As whan þei hadde ryde in rotey-tyme · anon riȝte þer-after Males drowen hem to males · a-mornynges bi hem-self And in euenynges also · ȝe[de]Bx.11.357: ȝede: In the absence of F which omits ll. 355-7, R represents alpha and also Bx. On the evidence of L, beta read ȝe, which scribes "corrected" to þe (or misread ye), and lost the alliteration. Beta2 (CrWHm) then smoothed by adding the verb ben. See Schmidt (1995), 387. For alliteration of ȝede with vowels, cf. Bx.20.136 etc. The line is rewritten in Cx. males fro femeles Þere ne was cow ne cowkynde · þat conceyued hadde Þat wolde belwe after boles · ne bore after sowe Bothe horse and houndes · and alle other bestes Medled nouȝte wyth here makes · þat with fole were ¶ Briddes I bihelde · þat in buskes made nestes Hadde neuere wye witte · to worche þe leest I hadde wonder at whom · and where þe pye lerned To legge stykkesBx.11.365: stykkes: Beta includes the definite article: Cx Lernede to legge stikkes gives slight support to alpha's omission. · in whiche she leytheBx.11.365: she leythe: An interesting example of how a minor alpha error (lenth for leith), faithfully reproduced by R, has prompted F to make sense (but the wrong sense). F interprets a as "in" rather than "she", takes the additional minim in lenth (for leith) as a spelling of "length", and sensibly supposes bredeth to be an error for breede, "breadth". and bredeth Þere nysBx.11.366: nys: Alpha's is no might equally be right; it is shared by C mss. (a few have nys no). wriȝte as I wene · shulde worche hir neste to paye If any masoun made a molde þer-to · moche wonder it were ¶ And ȝet me merueilled more · manyBx.11.368: many: Probably R represents the alpha reading, with F adding of to complete the construction with merueilled. For the same reason most beta mss. add how (though G also has off). Cx supports R with merueylede more mony of þe briddes. other briddes Hudden and hileden · her egges ful derne In mareys and mores · for men sholde hem nouȝt fynde And hudden here egges · whan þei þere-fro wente For fere of other foules · and for wylde bestis ¶ And some tr[e]denBx.11.373: treden: Alpha's present tense is supported by Cx. her makes · and on trees bredden And brouȝtenBx.11.374: brouȝten: Beta is supported by Cx. R repeats the verb bredde from the previous line. forth her bryddes so · al aboue þe grounde And some bryddes at þe bille · þorwgh brethynge conceyued And some kauked I toke kepe · how pekokes bredden Moche merueilled me · what maister þei hadde And who tauȝte hem on trees · to tymbre so heigh Þere noither buirn ne beste · may her briddes rechen ¶ And sythen I loked vponBx.11.380: vpon (1 & 2): Both in the a-verse and in the b-verse, the readings of LMWR support this as Bx, though Cx has on for both, as do other B mss. (Hm has vpon and yn.) þe see · and so forth vpon þe sterres Many selcouthes I seygh · ben nought to seye nouthe ¶ I seigh floures in þe fritthe · and her faire coloures And how amonge þe grene grasse · grewe so many hewes And somme soure and some swete · selcouthe me þouȝte Of her kynde and [of]Bx.11.385: of (2): R is supported by Cx. Beta evidently dropped it (added in Cr); F rephrases the a-verse. her coloure · to carpe it were to longe ¶ Ac þat moste moeued me · and my mode chaunged Þat resoun rewarded · and reuled alle bestes Saue man and his make · many tymeBx.11.388: tyme: Variation between many tyme / tymes / a tyme is unpatterned, except that alpha shows a tendency to prefer tymes, as here: e.g. Bx.13.4, 14.4, and (in the same b-verse) 20.26 (where R is out). There is the same variation in AC (e.g. K.8.150, 9.29; RK.4.167, 22.26, etc.). Here, though the majority of C mss. have tymes, seven have tyme (RK.13.181). and ofte No resoun hem folwed · and þanne I rebukedBx.11.389: This and the following line are defective in Bx. In Cx the lines read: Resoun reulede hem nat, noþer ryche ne pore / Thenne y aresonede resoun and ryht til hym y sayde (RK.13.182-3). F's line presumably represents an intelligent revision for the alliteration; the reading rewlyþ for folwed must be contamination from C or coincidental, picking up rewlede two lines above. Resoun · and riȝte til hym-seluen I seydeBx.11.390: In this defective line the punctuation follows Resoun in LMCrWOR, with R adding a second punctuation after hym; HmC punctuate after right, creating an aa/bb line. F again revises for the metre. I haue wonder of þe quod I · þat witty art holden Why þow ne suwest man and his make · þat no mysfait hem folwe ¶ And resoun arated me · and seyde recche þe neuere Whi I suffre or nouȝt suffre · þi-self hast nouȝt to done Amende þow it if þow myȝte · for my tyme is to abyde Suffraunce is a souereygne vertue · and a swyfte veniaunce Who suffreth more þan god quod he · no gome as I leue He miȝte amende in a Minute-while · al þat mys-standeth Ac he suffreth for somme mannes good · and so is owre bettre Bx.11.400-11: These 12 lines have been lost in beta, probably as a result of eyeskip from one paraph to the next, as so often. Lines 403-09 are paralleled in Cx. We follow R, with spellings altered to those of L. There are many differences in F's version. [¶ Holy writt quod þat wye · wisseth men to suffre Propter deum subiecti estote omni creature Frenche men and fre men · affaiteth þus her children [B]eleBx.11.403: Bele: F is supported by Cx (RK.13.203). vertue est soffrance · mal dire est pety veniance Bien dire et bien soffrer · fait lui soffrant a bien venir For-þi I rede [þe] quodBx.11.405: þe quod: R is without þe and F without quod. In the b-verse F has þou rewle for R's rewle. The X family of C has Forthy quod Resoun y rede thow while the P family has ... rede þe. reson · reule þi tonge bettere And ar þow lakke my lyf · loke þowBx.11.406: þow (2): R has if þow where F has þyn, perhaps influenced by þy tunge in the previous line. Cx's loke ho is to preyse, though different, lends support to R's nominative but not to the conjunction. be to preyse For is no creature vnder criste · can formen hym-seluen And if a man miȝte [·] make hym-self good to þe poepleBx.11.408: With evident corruption in both mss., it is impossible to recover Bx. If R reproduces alpha, F has improved by picking up lakles, "without fault", from the following line to replace goed to þe poeple. F suggests that the punctuation should follow miȝte rather than make as in R. If so, Bx may have read simply And if a man miȝte · make hymself good, with alpha expanding a short line. Cx rewrites with much the same sense: And if creatures cristene couth make hemsulue (RK.13.208). Vch a lif wold be lakles · leue þow non other Ne þow shalt fynde but fewe · fayne for to here Of here defautes foule · by-for hem rehersed] ¶Bx.11.412: ¶: The paraph (following the gap in beta) is in LR, with a new line-group in M. Þe wyse and þe witty · wrote þus in þe bible De re que te non molestat nolyBx.11.413: noly: R has nolite. C mss. vary between noli, nolite and noli te (RK.13.196a). certare Bx.11.414: Only LR are without a paraph here.For be a man faire or foule · it falleth nouȝte forto lakke Þe shappe ne þe shafte · þat god shope hym-selue For al þat he [wrouȝt]Bx.11.416: wrouȝt: Alpha's reading carries the alliteration. This passage is not in C. was wel ydo · as holywrit witnesseth Et vidit deus cunta que fecerat et erant valde bona ¶Bx.11.418: ¶: Following the Latin line, only LW have the paraph. It is perhaps not archetypal. And badde eueryBx.11.418: euery: R has to vch a; F has ech. creature · in his kynde encrees Al to murthe with man · þat most woo tholyeBx.11.419: tholye: Infinitive dependent upon most, "must". O and Alpha take most to mean "most", but this gives weak sense. In fondynge of þe flesshe · and of þe fende bothe For man was made of suche a matere · he may nouȝt wel astert ÞatBx.11.422: Þat: Beta has Þat ne, but alpha is supported by Cx. some-tymesBx.11.422: tymes: L is supported by R against tyme in other mss. C mss. are divided. The -s form of sometimes is rare and late in Middle English; in L it occurs again only at Bx.13.323. See Adams (2000), 184 and note to l. 388. hym bitit · to folwen his kynde Catoun acordeth þere-withBx.11.423: þere-with: Beta is supported by Cx. · nemo sine crimine viuit ¶ Tho cauȝte I coloure anon · and comsed to ben aschamed And awaked þer-with · wo was me þanne Þat I in meteles ne myȝte · more haue yknowen And þanne seyde I to my-self · and chidde þat tyme Now I wote what dowel is quod I · by dere god as me þinketh And as I caste vp myn eyghen · one loked on me and axed Of me what þinge it were · ywisse sire I seide To se moche and suffre more · certes quod I is dowel ¶ Haddestow suffred he seyde · slepyng þo þow were Þow sholdest haue knowen þat clergye can · and conceiuedBx.11.433: conceiued: The variants kend and contreued in beta2 are not supported by Cx. more þorughBx.11.433: þorugh: As in Cx, against bi in CrHmGF. resoun For resoun wolde haue reherced þe · riȝte as clergye saide Ac for þine entermetyng · here artow forsake Philosophus esses si tacuisses ¶Bx.11.437: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. Adam whilesBx.11.437: whiles: R has þe whiles, as does the X family of C. he spak nouȝt · had paradys at wille Ac whan he mameled aboute mete · and entermetedBx.11.438: entermeted: MCGO add hym. Cx rewrites. to knowe Þe wisdom and þe witte of god · he was put fram blisse And riȝt so ferde resoun bi the · þow withBx.11.440: þow with: Beta2 (CrWHm) and CF add thy. Cx rewrites as for thy rude speche. rude speche Lakkedest and losedest þinge · þat longed nouȝt [þe to] doneBx.11.441: nouȝt þe to done: In beta the b-verse probably ends nouȝt to be done, though WO have noȝt to doon and W adds the pronoun þe. W's reading is also that of alpha, "which was not appropriate for you to do", which gives stronger sense than beta's reading. We adopt R's b-verse with its less usual word-order, although we recognise that þe may be an alpha addition. The line is not in Cx. Þo hadde he no lykynge · forto lere þe more ¶ Pruide now and presumpcioun · par-auenture wole þe appele That clergye þi compaignye · ne kepeth nouȝt to sueBx.11.444: to sue: Alpha sometimes avoids the verb: cf. Bx.10.214, 11.352, 392. Here he revises the line, adding in before þi and ending efte to sitte. [For]Bx.11.445: For: Alpha's reading is supported by Cx. shal neuere chalangynge ne chydynge · chaste a man so sone As shal shame and shenden hym · and shape hym to amende For lat a dronken daffe · in a dyke falle Late hym ligge loke nouȝte on hym · til hym lest to ryse Bx.11.449-51: As a result of eyeskip (mid-line hym þanne 449 and 451), beta drops ll. 449b-451a. The lines are in Cx (RK.13.236-8). For þough resoun rebuked hym þanne [· reccheth h[e]Bx.4.449: he: F is supported by Cx against R's hym. neuere Of clergie ne of his conseil · he counteth nouȝt a rusche OrBx.11.451: Or: Dropped by F. Cx begins To blame hym or to bete. for to bete hym þanne] · it were but pure synne Ac whan nede nymeth hym vp · for doute lest he sterue And shame shrapeth his clothes · & his shynes wassheth Þanne wote þe dronken daffe · wherfore he is to blame ¶ Ȝe seggen soth [by my soule]Bx.11.455: by my soule: Alpha's phrase is also Cx. quod I · ich haue yseyne it ofte Þere smitte no þinge so smerte · ne smelleth so [foule]Bx.11.456: foule: The reading of R alone, but it is supported by Cx. F rewrites the b-verse, with the sense "upsets no-one so greatly". Beta's soure is a simple misreading; G, additionally misreading the verb, adopts an appropriate adverb. As shame þere he sheweth him · for euery man hym shonyethBx.11.457: for euery man hym shonyeth: Cx supports beta's verb with vch man shoneth his companye, which is perhaps a revision for the sake of the alliteration. Alpha is quite different from either with no man loueth his felachippe, though one might note that "fellowship" is a synonym of "company". Why ȝe wisse me þus quod I · was for I rebuked resoun ¶ Certes quod he þat is soth · and shope hym forto walken And I aros vp riȝt with þat · and folwed hym after And preyed hym of his curteisye · to telle me his name Passus duodecimus I am ymagynatyf quod he · Idel was I neuere Þouȝe I sitte bi my-self · in sikenesse neBx.12.2: ne: So LMR, defining neuere. The and of most other mss. is an obvious easier reading, defining the a-verse. See Adams (2000), 179. in helthe I haue folwed þe in feithe · þis fyue and fourty wyntre And many tymes haue moeued þe · to þinke on þine ende And how fele fernȝeres are faren · and so fewe to come And of þi wylde wantounesse · þo þow ȝonge were To amende it in þi myddel age · lest miȝte þe faylledBx.12.7: faylled: L and beta2 (CrWHm) have the past subjunctive, "were to fail", which is perhaps less obvious than the present faile of all other mss. There is no parallel in C for Bx.12.4-61. In þyne olde elde · þat yuel can suffre Pouerte or penaunce · or preyeres bidde Si non in prima vigilia · nec in secunda &c Amende þe while þow myȝte · þow hast ben warned ofte With poustees of pestilencesBx.12.12: pestilences: Alpha's penaunce(s) is a curious error. [·] with pouerte and with angres And with þise bitter baleyses · god beteth his dere childeren Quem diligo castigo Bx.12.15-16: Alpha omits two lines. And dauid in þe sauter seith · of suche þat loueth Ihesus Virga tua & baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt &c Al-þough þow stryke me with þi staffe · with stikke or with ȝerde It is but murth as for me [·] to amende my soule And þow medlest þe with makyng[e]Bx.12.19: makynge: Alpha has the sg. and all beta mss. except M have the plural. There is a parallel with the John But ending of A, presumably derived from this line, And for he medleþ of makyng he made þis ende (K.12.109). · and myȝtest go sey þi sauter And bidde for hem þat ȝiueth þe bred · for þere ar bokes ynowe To telle men what dowel is · dobet and dobest bothe And prechoures to preue what it is · of many a peyre freres ¶ I seigh wel he sayde me soth · andBx.12.23: and: R's ac may represent alpha, with F substituting and, in coincidental agreement with beta. somwhat me to excuse SeidBx.12.24: Seid: Alpha begins And seide, to the detriment of the syntax. catoun conforted his sone · þat clerke þough he were To solacen hym sum-tyme · asBx.12.25: as: Alpha has and, though in a rewritten b-verse in F. I do whan I make Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis · &c · ¶Bx.12.27: ¶: The paraph is in LWHm only, perhaps prompted by the preceding Latin line. And of holy men I herdeBx.12.27: herde: Alpha has the present tense, which may be correct. quod I · how þei otherwhile Pleyden þe parfiter · to be in many placesBx.12.28: places: R's a place may represent alpha. F rewrites. AcBx.12.29: Ac: Not in R; F has Nou. if þere were any wight · þat wolde me telle What were dowel and dobet · and dobest atte laste Wolde I neuere do werke · but wende to holicherche And þere bydde my bedes · but whan ich eet or slepe ¶ Poule in his pistle quod he · preueth what is dowel Fides spes caritas &Bx.12.34: &: Not in alpha. The text cited by Alford (1992), 78-9, has it; the Clementine Vulgate (I Cor. 13.13) is without it. maior horum &c Feith hope and charitee · andBx.12.35: and (2): Following the Latin of the previous line, this is dropped in alpha. alle ben good And sauen men sundry tymes · ac none so sone as charite For he doth wel with-oute doute · þat doth as lewte techeth Þat is if þow be man maried · þi make þow louye And lyue forth as lawe wole · whileBx.12.39: while: Variation between while and þe while is common in this position; e.g. Bx.1.16, 10.156, 19.342. ȝe lyuen bothe ¶Bx.12.40: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. Riȝt so if þow be Religious · renne þow neuere ferther To Rome ne to Rochemadore · but as þi reule techeth And holde þe vnder obedyence · þat heigh wey is to heuene ¶ And if þow be [mayde &]Bx.12.43: mayde & to marye: R's reading means "a maid and (due) to marry", which has more point than beta's mayden to marye, and underlines the contrast with l. 38. F confirms alpha's mayde, but simplifies the construction. to marye · and miȝte wel contynue Seke þow neuere seynt forther · for no soule helthe For what made Lucyfer · to lese þe heigh heuene Or salamon his sapience · or sampson his strengthe Iob þe Iewe his ioye · dere he it abouȝte Arestotle and other mo · ypocras & virgyle Alisaundre þat al wan · elengelich ended ¶Bx.12.50: ¶: The paraph is in LC, with a new line-group in M. Catel and kynde witte · was combraunce to hem alle Felyce hir fayrnesse · fel hir al to sklaundre And Rosamounde riȝt so [·] reufully bysette Þe bewte of hir body · in badnesse sheBx.12.53: badnesse she: Alpha's badd vse is probably avoidance of a noun rare at this date, though strikingly Langland uses neither the noun badnesse nor the adjective bad elsewhere. dispended Of many suche I mayBx.12.54: I may: For support for beta's order in this position, cf. Matrymonye I may nyme (Bx.16.71). rede · of men and of wommen Þat wyse wordes wolde shewe · and worche þe contra[r]ye Sunt homines nequam bene de virtute loquentes ¶Bx.12.57: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. And riche renkes riȝt so · gaderen and sparen And þo men þat þei moste haten · mynistren it atte laste And for þei suffren & se · so many nedy folkes And loue hem nouȝt as owre lorde bytte · lesen her soules Date & dabitur vobis &c · Bx.12.62-6: Omitted in beta. The first three lines are in Cx (RK.14.17-18a). KD, p. 66, very plausibly suggest the omission was caused by homeoteleuton (soule(s) ll. 60, 65, followed by a Latin line). We alter the spellings of R to those of L. [So catel and kynde witte · acombreth ful many Wo is hym þat hem weldeth · butBx.12.63: but: As F and Cx. R has but if. he hem w[e]lBx.12.63: wel: As F and Cx. R has wil. dispende Scienti & non facienti variis flagellis vapulabitBx.12.64: In part loosely based on Luke 12.47. Alford (1992), 79, quoting the form of the citation adopted by Schmidt and KD from the P family of C, does not note the closer parallel in James 4.17, "Scienti igitur bonum facere et non facienti, peccatum est illi". Based on this, F has added bonum, but it is not included in R or in mss. of C. Sapience seith þe boke · swelleth a mannes soule Sapiencia inflat &c] ¶ And ricchesse riȝt so · but if þe Rote be trewe Ac grace is a grasse þer-[fore]Bx.12.68: þer-fore: Alpha is supported by Cx and by sense against beta's þer-of. For the sense of grasse, "healing herb", see MED gras n. 2(b). · þo greuaunces to abate Ac grace ne groweth nouȝte · but amonges lowe PacienceBx.12.70: Pacience: R begins Of pacience. F drops the line, which is not in Cx. and pouerte · þe place is þere it groweth And in lele lyuynge men · and in lyf-holy And þorugh þeBx.12.72: þe (1): Not in R. F rewrites. gyfte of þe holygoste · as þe gospel telleth Spiritus vbi vult spirat &c Clergye and kynde witte · comth of siȝte and techynge As þe boke bereth witnesse · to buirnes þat can rede Quod scimus loquimur quod vidimus testamur Of quod scimus cometh clergye · [a]Bx.12.77: a: Beta evidently interpreted the indefinite article as a form of and. Alpha is supported by the revised line in Cx (RK.14.34). connynge of heuene And of quod vidimus cometh kynde witte [·] of siȝte of dyue[r]se peple Ac grace is a gyfte of god · and of gret loue spryngeth Knewe neuere clerke how it cometh forth · ne kynde witte [his]Bx.12.80: his: "its", referring to Grace and following on from it. R represents alpha, misunderstood by F. Beta has þe. weyes Nescit aliquis vnde venit · aut quo vadit &c Ac ȝit is clergye to comende · and kynde witte bothe And namely clergye for crystes loue · þat of clergye is rote For Moyses witnesseth þat god wrote · for to wisse þe peple In þe olde lawe as þe lettre telleth · þat wasBx.12.85: þat was: R (= alpha?) drops þat; F rewrites. Alpha's reading is quite possibly right, but it is ambiguous, appearing to mean "The Jewish Law was in the Old Law", whereas the line has to mean "In the Old Law, which was the Jewish Law". þe lawe of iewes Þat what woman were in auoutrieBx.12.86: auoutrie: R has the unusual deuoutrie which may be right. See note to Bx.2.178. The line is not in Cx. taken · were sheBx.12.86: were she: Dropped by Cr and beta4. On WF where she see KD, p. 183. riche or pore With stones men shulde hir stryke · and stone hir to deth Bx.12.88: Alpha omits the line, as a result of homeoteleuton. (Note that R's form of "death" in l. 87 is dede). A womman as we fynden · was gulty of þat dede Ac cryste of his curteisye · þorw clergye hir saued For þorw [crystes] carectusBx.12.90: crystes carectus: Beta has instead the clumsier carectus þat cryst wrot. It is perhaps more likely that beta was influenced by l. 84 above than that alpha was prompted by l. 100 below. The line is not in Cx. · þe iewes knewe hem-seluen Gultier as afor god · and gretter in synne Þan þe woman þat þere was · and wenten awey for schame Þe clergye þat þere was · conforted þe womman Holykirke knoweth þis · þat crystes writyng sauedBx.12.94: saued: Beta2 (CrWHm) has saued hire, and M is corrected to that reading. F has hire savede. Cf. l. 89. So clergye is conforte · to creatures þat repenten And to mansed men · myschief at her ende ¶ For goddes body myȝte nouȝte be of bred · with-outen clergye Þe which body is bothe · bote to þe riȝtful And deth and dampnacioun · to hem þat dyeth yuel AsBx.12.100: As: R's Ac may be taken as alpha (F has But as often). The sense is "just as Christ's writing both comforted the woman and revealed her to be guilty". But correlative bothe is oddly placed. crystes carecte conforted [·] and bothe coupable shewed Þe womman þat þe iewes brouȝte · þat Ihesus þouȝte to saue Nolite iudicare et non iudicabimini &c Riȝt so goddes body bretheren · but it be worthily taken Dampneth vs atte daye of dome · as [dede] þe carect[e]Bx.12.104: dede þe carecte: We follow alpha in the word-order and the sg. noun. Beta has reverted to unmarked order, spoiling the metre. For sg. carecte, "writing", altered to pl. by some scribes, cf. l. 100. þe iewes For-þi I conseille þe for cristes sake · clergye þat þow louye For kynde witte is of his kyn · and neighe cosynes bothe To owre lorde leue me · for-þi loue hem I rede For bothe ben as miroures · to amenden owre defautes And lederes for lewed men · and for lettred bothe ¶Bx.12.110: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. For-þi lakke þow neuere logyke · lawe ne his custumes Ne countreplede clerkes · I conseille þe for eure For as a man may nouȝt se · þat mysseth his eyghenBx.12.112: eyghen: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's siȝte. Namore can no klerke · but if he cauȝt it first þorugh bokes Al-þough men made bokes · god was þe maistre And seynt spirit þe saumplarye · and seide what menBx.12.115: men: Alpha and O have man, as in the next line, but Cx agrees with beta. sholde write And riȝt as syȝte serueth a man · to se þe heighe strete Riȝt so le[r]ethBx.12.117: lereth: So alpha, supported by Cx (RK.14.49). Beta's ledeth makes excellent sense. letterure · lewed men to resoun And as a blynde man in bataille · bereth wepne to fiȝte And hath none happ with his axe · his enemye to hitte Namore kan a kynde-wittedBx.12.120: kynde-witted: "with innate intelligence". R's kende wedded presumably represents alpha, with F rewriting as lewid to make sense. man · but clerkes hym teche Come for al his kynde witte · to crystendome and be saued Whiche is þe coffre of crystes tresore · and clerkes kepe þe keyes To vnlouken it at her lykynge · and to þe lewed peple ȜyueBx.12.124: Ȝyue: Beta is supported by Cx. The readings of RF reflect confusion in alpha. mercy for her mysdedes · if men it wole aske Buxomelich & benygneliche · and bidden it of grace ¶ Archa dei in þe olde lawe · leuites it kepten Hadde neuere lewed man leue · to leggen honde on þatBx.12.127: þat: Evidently the Bx reading supported by Cx, though MCGO have þe and F rewrites. chest But he were preste or prestes sone · patriarke or prophete Bx.12.129-39: Beta drops 11 lines, presumably skipping from paraph to paraph. Cx has parallels for all except ll. 131-2. We alter the spellings of R to those of L. [¶ Saul for he sacrifisedBx.12.129: he sacrifised: R's a-verse is supported by Cx. · sorwe hym bitydde And his sones also · for þat synne myscheued And many mo other men · þat were no leuites Þat with archa dei ȝedenBx.12.132: ȝeden: For alliteration of ȝede with vowels, see Turville-Petre (1980), 314, and cf. e.g. Bx.11.357, 20.136, and 16.178 "And ȝede forth as an ydiote · in contre to aspye", which also has the mute stave in. KD instead adopt F's wentyn and the b-verse order (based on F) worship and reuerence. There is no parallel in Cx. · in reuerence and in worship And leyden honde þer-on to liften it vp · and loren her lif afterBx.12.133: The line is not in the P family of Cx. In the X family it reads: "And all lewede þat leide hand þeron loren lyf aftir" (RK.14.63). Alpha clearly had and before loren, spoiling the construction. For-þi I conseille alle creatures · no clergie toBx.12.134: to: R is supported by Cx against F's yee. dispise Ne sette shorteBx.12.135: shorte: R is supported by Cx against lyght in F. be here science · what-so þei don hem-selue Take weBx.12.136: we: F omits, but R is supported by Cx. her wordes at worthe · forBx.12.136: for: F omits, but R is supported by Cx. here witnesseBx.12.136: witnesse: A plural form (see MED), as unambiguously spelt by F. C mss. split, but the most authoritative have witnesses. Cf. Bx.2.149, 9.77 (and note), 12.280 (and note). be trewe And medleBx.12.137: medle: Both F and Cx omit R's ne, but in other respects R's line is supported by Cx. F rewrites for the sense. we nauȝt muche with hem · to meuen any wrathe Lest cheste chasenBx.12.138: chasen: Cx has the line as in R, but with chaufen "inflame"; chasen is surely an alpha or Bx error. vs · to choppe vche man other Nolite tangere christos meos &c] ¶ For clergye is kepereBx.12.140: kepere: So beta. R has kynge and kepere, F has keye & kepere. Cx rewrites the line. [·] vnder cryst of heuene Was þere neuere no knyȝte · but clergye hym made Ac kynde witte cometh [·] of alkynnes siȝtes Of bryddes and of bestes · of tastes of treuthe and of deceytes ¶ Lyueres to-forn vs · vseden to markeBx.12.144: marke: Alpha's make is obviously wrong. Beta is supported by Cx. Þe selkouthes þat þei seighen · her sones for to teche And helden it an heighe science · her wittes to knowe Ac þorugh her science sothely · was neuere no soule ysaued Ne brouȝteBx.12.148: brouȝte: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's bouȝte. by her bokes · to blisse ne to ioye For alle her kynde knowynges · comeBx.12.149: come: Past tense plural; cf. the form cam in alpha and also C mss. but of dyuerse sightes ¶Bx.12.150: ¶: The paraph is in LW with a new line-group in M. Patriarkes and prophetes · repreuedBx.12.150: repreued: Alpha's present tense is clearly wrong; Cx supports beta. her science And seiden her wordes ne her wisdomesBx.12.151: wisdomes: Though R has the sg., Cx supports beta's plural. · [w]asBx.12.151: was: Alpha's alliterating verb is supported by Cx; the P family have ne was, as of course Bx might have had. but a folye As to þe clergye of cryst · counted it but a trufle Sapiencia huius mundi · stulticiaBx.12.153: stulticia: MWCGF correct the quotation by adding est, as in Cx. The medial punctuation, unusual for a non-metrical Latin line (though cf. l. 164), is recorded in LMCrHmF. apud deum Bx.12.154-64: These 11 lines are lost in alpha, jumping from one Latin line to another, and possibly from paraph to paraph, though only WHm record a paraph at l. 154. The lines are paralleled in Cx, apart from ll. 159 and 164. For þe heihe holigoste · heuene shal to-cleue And loue shal lepe out after · in-to þis lowe erthe And clennesse shal cacchen it · and clerkes shullen it fynde Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem ¶ He speketh þere of riche men riȝt nouȝt · ne of riȝt witty Ne of lordes þat were lewed men · but of þe hexte lettred oute Ibant magi ab oriente &c ¶ If any frere were founde þere · Ich ȝif þe fyue shillynges Ne in none beggares cote · was þat barne borne But in a burgeys place · of bethlem þe best Set non eratBx.12.164: erat: Beta2 (CrWHm) adds ei in line with the source; see Alford (1992), 80. locus in diuersorio [·] & pauper non habet diuersorium ¶ To pastours and to poetes [·] appiered þatBx.12.165: þat: So LM. Choice is difficult, since the other beta mss. read þe, as does Cx, while alpha reads an. LM agreement nearly always establishes the beta reading. Perhaps Bx þat was rejected by other beta scribes and by alpha because it has no antecedent. aungel And bad hem go to bethlem · goddis burth to honoure And songeBx.12.167: songe (1): R and the P family of C have syngen. a songe of solas · gloria in excelsis deo Bx.12.168-9: Beta drops 2 lines, both in Cx, perhaps skipping from paraph to paraph. We alter the spellings of R to those of L. [¶ Riche men rutte þo · andBx.12.168: and: R is supported by Cx against F's þat. in here reste were Þo it shon so to shepherdesBx.12.169: R's a-verse is supported by Cx. · a shewer of blisse] ¶Bx.12.170: ¶: The paraph is in beta only, following its loss of text. See note to ll. 168-9. ClerkesBx.12.170: Clerkes: Alpha's addition of And is not supported by Cx. knewe it wel · and comen with here presentz And deden her homage honourabelyBx.12.171: honourabely: L miswrites the word. · to hym þat was almyȝtyBx.12.171: CGO follow with a spurious line. Why I haue toldeBx.12.172: tolde: So evidently beta, though CGO add þe. R also has þe, probably representing alpha (F alters to told þis tale). Most C mss. have þe, though ms. X is without it. It seems easier added than lost. al þis · I toke ful gode hede How þow contraryedest clergye · with crabbed wordes How þat lewed men liȝtloker · þan lettred were saued Þan clerkes or kynde-witted men · of crystene peple ¶ And þow seidest soth of somme · ac se in what manereBx.12.176: what manere: R offers an extreme example of his willingness to reproduce his exemplar with whanere. F makes sense of it. Take two stronge men · and in themese caste hem And bothe naked as a nedle · her none sykerBx.12.178: syker: The agreement of L, original M and R is sufficient to establish Bx. Others (including M) make the obvious correction to sikerer, "stronger" (MED siker 2 (b)), though see KD p. 179, who conjecture an original reading sadder. Cx has instead heuegore, "heavier". See Adams (2000), 179. þan other Þat one hath connynge and can [·] swymmen and dyuen Þat other is lewed of þat laboure · lerned neuere swymmeBx.12.180: swymme: LWR; as often, scribes tend to add the infinitive marker to. In C the X family has it, but the P family is without. Which trowestow of þo two · in themese is in moste drede He þat neuere neBx.12.182: ne (1): As in LWCO, but not in MCrHmG and alpha. It improves the alliteration, yet may not be Bx. Cx revises to alliterate on /s/. dyued · ne nouȝt can of swymmynge Or þe swymmere þat is sauf · bi so hym-self lyke Þere his felaw flet forth · as þe flode lyketh And is in drede to drenche · þat neuere dede swymme Bx.12.186: Alpha drops the line, which is supported by Cx. Its loss is easily accounted for if Bx had the paraph that is recorded only by L (though MW have a line-space). See Burrow (2010), 25. ¶ Þat swymme can nouȝt I seide · it semeth to my wittes ¶ Riȝt so quod þe Renke [·] resoun it sheweth Þat he þat knoweth clergye [·] can sonner aryse Out of synne and beBx.12.189: be: CrR have he be. It is not supported by Cx. sauf · þough he synne ofte If hym lyketh and lest · þan any lewed lelly For if þe clerke be konnynge · he knoweth what is synne And how contricioun with-oute confessioun · conforteth þe soule As þow seest in þe sauter · in psalmeBx.12.193: psalme: The odd sg. is certainly Bx; it is the reading of LMR (and F), though M corrects to the more obvious plural. Cx has the plural. one or tweyne How contricioun is commended · for it caccheth awey synne Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & quorum tecta sunt &cBx.12.195: &c: Alpha adds peccata. The familiar verse from Psalm 31.1 is quoted in part several times; cf. Bx.13.56, 14.103. Cx ends with iniquitates. · And þis conforteth vch a clerke · and keuerethBx.12.196: keuereth: Supported by Cx (and sense) against alpha's kenneth. hym fram wanhope In which flode þe fende · fondeth a man hardest Þere þe lewed lith stille · and loketh after lente And hath no contricioun ar he come to shryfte · & þanneBx.12.199: þanne: Beta has support from Cx against alpha's omission. can he litel telle AndBx.12.200: And: WHm + F have But. Although this reading is preferable and is supported by Cx, it is unlikely to be the Bx reading. as his lores-man leres hym · bileueth & troweth And þat is after person or parisch prest · and parauenture [bothe]Bx.12.201: bothe: Beta drops, and WO expand a short b-verse. Alpha is supported by Cx, which, however, indicates that Bx broke the line too early. Cx reads paraunter bothe lewede / To lere lewede men ... (RK.14.123-4). Vnconnynge to lere lewed men · as luk bereth witnesse Dum cecus ducit cecum &c · ¶ Wo was hym marked · þat wade mote with þe lewedBx.12.204: Alpha drops the line, which is preserved in Cx. Wel may þe barne blisse · þat hym to boke setteBx.12.205: to boke sette: Beta is supported by Cx and by the alliterative pattern against alpha's sette to scole. Þat lyuynge after letterure [·] saued hym lyf and soule Dominus pars hereditatis mee [·] is a meri verset Þat has take fro tybourne · twenti stronge þeues Þere lewed theues ben lolled vp · loke how þei be saued Þe thef þat had grace of god · on gode fryday as þow spekeBx.12.210: speke: Past tense 2nd sg. (cf. CrCG), misunderstood as present by WHmO. Cx reads toldest. Was for he ȝelte hym creauntBx.12.211: creaunt: MR read recreaunt. Cx has the shorter form. to cryst on þe crosseBx.12.211: on þe crosse: Not in Cx, but certainly in Bx, perhaps as a gloss. CrHmF adopt different ways of shortening the line. For the same phrase see l. 234. · & knewleched hym gulty Bx.12.212: The line is dropped in alpha. W strengthens the alliteration. Cx has And god is ay gracious to alle þat gredeth to hym (RK.14.133). And grace axed of god · and he is euer redy Þat boxomeliche biddeth it · and ben in wille to amenden hem Bx.12.214: Hm and alpha start a new paragraph here.Ac þough þat þef had heuene · he hadde none heigh blisse As seynt Iohan and other seyntes · þat asseruedBx.12.215: asserued: Supported for Bx by LR and the majority of C mss. against the common deserued of other B witnesses. See Adams (2000), 184. hadde bettere Riȝt as sum man ȝeue me mete · and sette me amydde þe flore Ich haue mete more þan ynough · ac nouȝt so moche worship As þo þat seten atte syde table · or with þe souereignes of þe halle But sitte as a begger bordelees · bi my-self on þe grounde So it fareth bi þat feloun · þat a gode fryday was saued He sitte neither with SeyntBx.12.221: Seynt: Alpha drops the word, but it is necessary for the alliteration and supported by Cx. Iohan · SymondeBx.12.221: Symonde: R begins the b-verse with ne perhaps correctly (F rewrites). In C the X family has it, the P family is without. ne Iude Ne wyth maydenes ne with martires [·] [ne]Bx.12.222: ne (3): In this case the support for R's ne is stronger (cf. previous line). Though F and Cx revise, they share the ne at the start of the b-verse. confessoures ne wydwes But by hym-self as a soleyne · and serued on þeBx.12.223: þe: Lost by beta2 (CrWHm). erthe For he þat is ones a thef · is euermore in daungere And as lawe lyketh · to lyue or to deye De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu And forto seruen a seynt · and such a thef togyderes It were noyther resoun ne riȝt · to rewarde botheBx.12.228: bothe: Following R, supported by Cx (RK.14.148). MF substitute hem, while all beta mss. apart from M have hem bothe. aliche ¶Bx.12.229: ¶: The paraph is recorded by LW, with M starting a new line-group. And riȝt as troianus þe trewe knyȝt · tildeBx.12.229: tilde: Beta2 (CrWHm) has the easier dwelte. nouȝt depe in helle Þat owre lorde ne had hym liȝtlich oute · so leue I þe thefBx.12.230: thef: Alpha, reproduced by R, misread þe þef and lost the noun; F repairs. be in heuene For he is in þe lowest of heueneBx.12.231: lowest of heuene: "lowest part of heaven"; so LWHmR and the X family of C. MCrCGO omit of, as does the P family. · if owre bileue be trewe And wel loselycheBx.12.232: loselyche: Commentators take this as a form of MED losli(e, "loosely", interpreting "precariously" (Kane (2005)). It is clear that some scribes also took it this way (so CG lowselyche, F loosly), but the careful beta2 spelling loselly suggests instead derivation from losel, "worthless person", as in Bx.P.77, 10.52, 15.142. C scribes had considerable difficulty with the word, the majority taking it as a form of loveli. he lolleth þere · by þe lawe of holycherche Quia redditBx.12.233: Quia reddit: The beta reading; beta2 (CrWHm) begins Qui, and M is altered to that reading. Alpha, represented by R, begins And reddite, which may be right, since Cx has Et reddet. The injunction is phrased variously throughout the Bible: see Alford (1992), 80. vnicuique iuxta opera sua &c ¶ A[c]Bx.12.234: Ac: The alpha reading, as in R, with F altering to But as usual. It is supported by Cx. why þat one thef onBx.12.234: on: Beta, together with F, against R's vpon. Choice is difficult, since C mss. also vary, but Cx probably had vpon. þe crosse · creaunt hym ȝelt Rather þan þat other thef · þough þow wolde appose Alle þe clerkes vnder cryst · ne couthe þe skil assoilleBx.12.236: assoile: Beta supported by Cx, against alpha's telle. Quare placuit quia voluit [¶]Bx.12.238: ¶: The paraph, though not in L, is recorded in beta2 and alpha. And so I sey by þe · þat sekest after þe whyes And aresonedest resoun · a rebukyng as it were Bx.12.240-3: The syntax makes it clear that alpha's order is right. Beta reverses it through eyeskip from it were in l. 239 to it were in l. 241, supplying skipped 240-1 after 242-3. Only Bx.12.242 is in Cx (RK.14.158). [And willest of briddes and ofBx.12.240: of (2): Omitted by CrCGO and supplied in L, but supported by MWHmR. bestes · and of hire bredyng toBx.12.240: to: Dropped in HmCGO. knowe Why somme be alowe and somme alofte · þi lykyng it were And of þe floures in þe fryth · and of her feire hewes Where-of þei cacche her colouresBx.12.243: coloures: Beta's pl. follows from hewes in the previous line, though alpha has the sg. There is no parallel for Bx.12.243-82 in Cx. · so clere and so briȝte] And of þe stones and of þe sterres · þow studyest as I leue How euere beste or brydde · hath so breme wittes ¶ Clergye ne kynde witte [·] ne knewe neuere þe cause Ac kynde knoweth þe cause hym-selue · no creature elles He is þe pyes patroun · and putteth it in hire ere Þat þere þe þorne is thikkest · [þere]Bx.12.249: þere (2): The repetition as in alpha clarifies the syntax and provides b-verse alliteration, though without it the pattern aaa/bb would be satisfactory. to buylden and brede And kynde kennedBx.12.250: kenned: The past tense is supported by LMWR; cf. the next line. þe pecok · to cauken in swich a kynde And [kynde]Bx.12.251: kynde: Easily lost before kennede in beta, especially in the context of the punning kynde in the previous line. It provides alliteration for the a-verse. kenned Adam · to knowe his pryue membres And tauȝte hym and Eue · to hylien hem with leues ¶ Lewed men many tymes · maistres þei apposen Why Adam neBx.12.254: ne: Supported by LMWR. hiled nouȝt firste · his mouth þat eet þe apple Rather þan his lykam alow · lewed axen þus clerkes Kynde knoweth whi he dede so · ac no clerke elles Ac of briddes and of bestes · men by olde tyme Ensamples token and termes · as telleth þis poetes And þat þe fairest foule · foulest engendreth And feblest foule of flyght is · þat fleegheth or swymmeth And þat isBx.12.261: þat is: WHm drop is, and Cr drops both words. þe pekok & þe pohenne proude ·Bx.12.261: In LMR the punctuation follows pohenne proude. In beta2 and O the punctuation precedes proude riche, while C drops proude. There is better support for proude as qualifying pohenne in an aaa/xx line. The usual word-order in Middle English is adj. + n. + adj. rather than adj. + adj. + n. riche men þeiBx.12.261: þei: Dropped in WHm. bitokneth For þe pekok and men pursue hym · mayBx.12.262: may: R's ne may could be alpha, since F has he may, but note that Cr adds he. nouȝte fleighe heighe For þe traillyng of his taille · ouertaken is he sone And his flesshe is foule flesshe · and his feet bothe And vnlouelich of ledene · and laith for to here ¶ Riȝt so þe riche [·] if he his ricchesse kepe And deleth it nouȝt tyl his deth-day · þe tailleBx.12.267: taille: "tally", with a pun on "tail". M is altered to conform to Beta2. M also adds is, which improves the syntax but is not Bx. of al sorwe Riȝt as þe pennes of þe pecok · paynedBx.12.268: payned: M alters to the expected present tense, in line with CrW, and OF also have the present, but the past is supported by LHmCGR. hym in his fliȝte So is possessioun payne · of pens and of nobles To alle hem þat it holdeth · til her taille be plukked And þough þe riche repente þanne · and birewe þe tyme Þat euere he gadered so grete · and gaf þere-of so litel Þough he crye to cryst þanne · with kene wille I leue His ledne be in owre lordes ere · lyke a pyesBx.12.274: pyes: The M corrector adds chiteryng to bring the text in line with Beta2 (CrWHm). Clearly the Bx b-verse (attested by LR, original M, as well as CGO) is too short. F rewrites. Schmidt (1995), 389, conjectures misdivision between ll. 273-4, with I leue beginning l. 274 and the a-verse ending be. And whan his caroigne shal come · in caue to be buryed I leue it flaumbe ful foule · þe folde al aboute And alle þe other þer it lyth · enuenymedBx.12.277: enuenymed: p.ppl., with "are" understood. The reading of LCrR and probably original M, subsequently corrected to the easier present tense of all other mss. þorgh his attere By þe p[o]feetBx.12.278: pofeet: The L scribe writes the word correctly and then alters it to profeet. is vnderstonde · as I haue lerned in auynet E[x]ecutoures fals frendes · þat fulfille nouȝt his wille Þat was writen and þei witnesseBx.12.280: witnesse: A noun, sg. or pl., "they as witness(es)". R is unambiguously plural. See note to Bx.12.136. · to worche riȝt as itBx.12.280: it: So beta, against alpha he. See KD, p. 146, who explain it as referring to "the actual testamentary document". wolde Þus þe poete preues ·Bx.12.281: W shows understandable uncertainty over the placing of the half-line break, with punctuation after both preueþ and pecok; LMR support the former. þat þe pecok for his fetheres is reuerenced Riȝt so is þe riche · bi resoun of his godis ¶ Þe larke þat is a lasse foule · is more louelich of ledne And wel awey of wenge [·] swifter þan þe pecok And of flesch by fele-folde · fatter and swetter To lowe-lybbyng men · þe larke is resembled ¶ ArestotleBx.12.287: Arestotle: Alpha begins For aristotel. We follow copy-text. þe grete clerke [·] suche tales he telleth Bx.12.288: Only L has a paraph.Thus he lykneth in his logykBx.12.288: logyk: Beta is supported by the alliteration and by Cx; alpha has glosinge. · þe leste foule oute And where he be sauf or nouȝt saufBx.12.289: sauf (2): CrCGOF omit, but it is supported by Cx (RK.14.192). · þe sothe wote no clergye Ne of sortes ne of salamon · no scripture can telle Ac god is so good I hope · þat sitth he gaf hem wittis To wissen vs weyes þere-with · þat wissenBx.12.292: wissen (2): A spelling of "wish", influenced by (and punning on) wissen in the a-verse. vs to be saued And þe better for her bokes · to bidden we ben holden Þat god for his grace [·] gyue her soulesBx.12.294: soules: Beta's plural is supported by Cx. reste For lettred men were lewed menBx.12.295: men (2): Omitted by CGOF, but supported by Cx. ȝut · ne were lore of herBx.12.295: her: Beta only, since R has þe and F omits. Cx probably reads þo clerkes. bokes ¶ Alle þise clerkes quod I þo · þat on cryst leuen Seggen in her sarmones · þat noyther sarasenes ne iewes Ne no creature of cristes lyknesse · with-outen crystendome worth saued ¶ Contra quod ymagynatyf þo · and comsed for to loure And seyde saluabitur vix iustus in die iudicij ¶Bx.12.301: ¶: The paraph is recorded by LR only. Ergo saluabitur quod he · and seyde namore latyne Troianus was a trewe knyȝte · and toke neuere cristendome And he isBx.12.303: is: Since this is omitted in R and inserted in L, it is possible that the ellipsis is Bx; however the verb is in Cx. sauf so seith þe boke · and his soule in heuene [Ac]Bx.12.304: Ac: R (= alpha, F has But as usual) is supported by the X family of C (most of the P family omit the conjunction). Schmidt (1995), 457, argues that it "has the force of Sed in scholastic debate (`but) now'". However, it might have been picked up from l. 307. For discussion of the passage see Burrow (1993), 13-14. þere is fullyng of fonte · and fullyng in blode shedyng And þorugh fuire is fullyng · and þat is ferme bileue Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens sed illuminans &c · ¶ Ac trewth þat trespassed neuere · ne transuersedBx.12.307: transuersed: Though most beta mss. have trauersed, the form in LCr and alpha is also in many C mss. and is the Cx form at RK.3.446. The two verbs are of the same ultimate origin. aȝeines his lawe But lyue[d] as his lawe t[auȝte]Bx.12.308: lyued ... tauȝte: Alpha's past tense is supported by Cx. · and leueth þere be no bettere And if þere were he wolde amende · and in suche wille deyeth Ne wolde neuere trewe god · but [trewe]Bx.12.310: trewe (2): Beta drops the adjective and F rewrites; R is supported by Cx. treuth were allowed And where it worth or worth nouȝtBx.12.311: The a-verse is supported by LMR, with minor variations in the other mss. Where and were are both forms of "whether" as in W; see MED whether adv. & conj. C mss. vary similarly, with the P family reversing the order of worth nouȝt. · þe bileue is grete of treuth And an hope hangyng þer-inne · to haue aBx.12.312: a: Supported by LWHmR. Cx rewrites the b-verse. Mede for his treuth For deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam · suis hoc est fidelibus Et alibi si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis Þe glose graunteth vpon þat vers · a gret mede to treuthe And witt and wisdome quod þat wye · was somme-tyme tresore To kepe with a comune · no katel was holde bettere And moche murth and manhod · and riȝt withBx.12.318: with: Schmidt adopts R's mid for alliteration; see Schmidt (2008), 412. It would be easy to suppose that this was independently altered by F and beta, but Cx has þerwith following a different a-verse. þat he vanesched Passus terciodecimus And I awaked þere-with · witles nerehande And as a freke þat f[e]reBx.13.2: fere: "bold" (MED fer adj.(2)). R's reading is likely to represent alpha, and is the basis for F's misunderstanding a-feerd. Beta has instead revised to fre which is no more apposite. Bx has presumably corrupted feye, "doomed to die", as in Cx (and BmBo), alluding to the opening of the previous passus. were · forth gan I walke In manere of a mendynaunt · manyBx.13.3: many: L, Beta2 and F have many a, but MR are supported by Cx. ȝere after And of þis metyng many tymeBx.13.4: tyme: See note to Bx.11.388. C mss. split between tyme and tymes. · moche þouȝt I hadde First how fortune me failled · at my moste nede And how þat elde manaced me · myȝt we euere meten ¶Bx.13.7: ¶: The paraph is supported by LCR alone. And how þat freris folwed · folke þat was riche And folke þat was pore · at litel prys þei sette And no corps in her kirkeȝerde · ne in her kyrke was buryed But quikke he biquethe hem auȝte · or shulde helpe quyte her dettes And how þisBx.13.11: þis: LMWHm are supported by Cx. R has þus. coueitise ouercome · clerkes and prestes And how þat lewed men ben ladde · but owre lorde hem helpe Þorugh vnkonnyng curatoures · to incurable peynes Bx.13.14-20: Alpha skips a paragraph and loses seven lines. Lines 14-16 and 19-20 are paralleled in Cx (RK.15.17-19, 21-3). ¶ And how þat ymagynatyf · in dremeles me tolde Of kynde and of his connyng · and how curteise he is to bestes And how louynge he is to bestes · on londe and on water Leneth he no lyf · lasse ne more Þe creatures þat crepen · of kynde ben engendred And sitthen how ymagynatif seyde [·] vix iustusBx.13.19: iustus: Apparently dropped in beta2 and inserted at the end of the line by Hm, though O has it in the same position. Cf. Bx.12.300. saluabitur And whan he had seyde so · how sodeynelich he passed ¶ I lay down longe in þis þouȝte · and atte laste I slepte And as cryste wolde þere come conscience · to conforte me þat tyme And bad me come to his courte · with clergye sholde I dyne ¶Bx.13.24: ¶: The paraph is supported by LR, with a new line group in M. And for conscience of clergye spake · I come wel þe rather And þere I say a maistre · what man he was I neste Þat lowe louted · and loueliche to scripture ¶ Conscience knewe hym wel · and welcomed hym faire Þei wesshen and wypeden · and wenten to þe dyner Bx.13.29: C and alpha here have a not inappropriate paraph.Ac pacience in þe paleis [·] stode in pilgrymes clothes And preyde mete forBx.13.30: for (1): With support from LMCrHmCR, this seems undoubtedly to be the reading of Bx, and thus altered independently by WGOF to alliterating par / pur. Cf. the almost identical a-verse Bx.6.30 (and note) with the same range of variants, and Bx.6.260. In C mss. the P family also has for in place of the X family's pur, but this is in the b-verse where the alliteration is not structural (RK.15.32). charite · for a pore heremyte ¶ Conscience called hym in · and curteisliche seide Welcome wy[e]Bx.13.32: wye: L's originally correct reading was altered to wyel ȝe. go and wasshe · þow shalt sitte sone ¶ Þis maister was made sitte · as for þe moste worthy And þanne clergye and conscience · and pacience cam after ¶ Pacience and I [·] were put to be m[ett]esBx.13.35: mettes: Beta has substituted synonymous macches, but alpha is supported by Cx. Cf. l. 49. And seten by owre-selue [·] at a syde borde ¶ Conscience called after mete · and þanne cam scripture And serued hemBx.13.38: hem: HmR's hym is not supported by Cx. þus sone · of sondry metes manye Of austyn of ambrose · of alleBx.13.39: of alle: Beta2 has and of, but it is not supported by Cx. þe foure euangelistes Edentes & bibentes · que apud eos sunt Ac þis maister ne his man · no manere flessh eten Ac þei eteBx.13.42: ete: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's hadde. mete of more coste · mortrewes and potages Of þat men mys-wonne · þei made hem wel at ese Ac her sauce was ouer soure · & vnsauourely grounde In a morter post mortem · of many bitter peyne But if þei synge for þoBx.13.46: þo: LWGR supported by the better C mss., against þe in other BC mss. soules · and wepeBx.13.46: and wepe: Supported by Cx against alpha's with many. salt teres Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effunderitis · ea que in delicijs comeditis · in tormentis euometis [¶]Bx.13.48: ¶: The paraph is recorded by WHmC and alpha, with a line-space in M. Conscience ful curteisly þo · comaunded scripture Bifor pacience bred to brynge · and me þat was his m[ett]eBx.13.49: mette: As at l. 35, beta reads macche, but alpha is supported by Cx. He sette a soure lof to-for vs · and seyde agite penitenciam And sith he drough vs drynke · diaBx.13.51: dia: Clearly the Bx reading, with M altering to the more obvious diu, the reading of GOF. Some C mss. including X also have dia. Schmidt (1987), 92, supposes a pun (ME dia, "drug", as in Bx.20.173). Perhaps, therefore, it might be interpreted "a concoction whose chief ingredient is persevering" (cf. MED dia-). Note Cr's diaperseueraunce as one word. perseuerans As longe quod [he] as ly[f]Bx.13.52: he as lyf: R's reading (F reverses) is supported by Cx against beta's I as I lyue. · and lycame may dure Here is propre seruice quod pacience · þer fareth no prynce bettere ¶Bx.13.54: ¶: Although the paraph is not particularly appropriate, it is evidently Bx, supported by LWR and a line-space in M. And þanne he brouȝt vsBx.13.54: vs: Supported by LMWR, but dropped by others in an unusually long a-verse. forth a mees ofBx.13.54: a mees of: Dropped by beta4 and altered by the Hm corrector. other mete · of Mise[r]ere mei deus And he brouȝte vsBx.13.55: vs: Dropped by R; The line is not in C. F, understandably dissatisfied with this and the next line, rewrites them to bring them closer to Psalm 31.1-2, and so is no use in determining alpha. of Beati quorum [·] ofBx.13.55: of (2): R has and of, and vir his for virres. F rewrites. beatus virres makyng EtBx.13.56: Et: R's And, possibly supported by F's &, deserves serious consideration, although Et is part of the quotation from Psalm 31.1. In R this is a new dish; in beta it is all part of the same dish. There is no parallel in C. quorum tecta sunt peccata [·] in a dissh Of derne shrifte dixi [·] and confitebor tibi Brynge pacience some pitaunce · pryueliche quod conscience ¶ And þanne had pacience a pitaunce [·] pro hac orabitBx.13.59: orabit: Beta adds ad te, in line with the Vulgate (once again the Second Penitential Psalm, 31.6), but alpha's omission is supported by Cx. Alpha sets the Latin as a separate line, as does beta4 (CGO), which takes ybroughte from C to fill out the English line. omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno And conscience conforted vs · and carped vs mery tales Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies ¶Bx.13.62: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. Pacience was proude [·] of þat propre seruice And made hym muirth with his meteBx.13.63: mete: R has mene, an alpha error which F revises to mowht for sense. Cx supports beta. · ac I morned euere For þis doctoure on þeBx.13.64: þe: HmR have þis, but it is not supported by Cx. heigh dese · dranke wyn so faste Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum [And]Bx.13.66: And: R is supported by Cx. Following the Latin line, beta adds a paraph and begins He. F, with the same motivation, begins Þey. he eet many sondry metes · mortrewes and puddynges Wombe cloutes and wylde braune · & egges y-fryed with grece Þanne seide I to my-self so ·Bx.13.68: In Bx the punctus follows so, though it makes better sense to take it as "in such a way that" as in CO. F has þat for so. pacience it herde It is nouȝt foure dayes þat þis freke · bifor þe den of poulesBx.13.69: poules: R uniquely has seynt poules, as does the P family of C in a completely revised line. Preched of penaunces · þat poule þe apostle suffred In fame & frigore · and flappes of scourges Ter cesus sum & a iudeis quinquies quadragenas &c · ¶Bx.13.73: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. In R the line is at the top of the page. Ac o worde þei ouerhuppen · at ech aBx.13.73: a: Good support for Bx from LMWR. Others omit. tyme þat þei preche Þat poule in his pistel · to al þe peple tolde Periculum estBx.13.75: est: Alpha drops the verb. The form of the citation in F is the same as in some of the P family of C and in Upland's Rejoinder 329. R's version is unique. in falsis fratribus Holywrit bit men be war · I wil nouȝt write it here OnBx.13.77: On: This appears to be beta's reading, and perhaps alpha's too, despite the reading In of CrWR. englisch an auenture · it sholde be reherced to ofte And greue þere-with þat good men benBx.13.78: þat good men ben: L and alpha; other beta mss. drop men, while beta2 simplifies to goode men. · ac gramarienes shul rede Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat [·]Bx.13.79: The punctus after custodiat is supported by MWHm, and by RF which additionally break the line at this point. In L vnusquisque ... dicitur is overwritten in a post-medieval hand. quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus ¶ AcBx.13.80: Ac: Dropped by alpha, but supported by Cx. I wist neuere freke þat as aBx.13.80: a: Not in R; both F and Cx rephrase. frere ȝede · bifor men on englissh Taken it for herBx.13.81: her: WHmGF and the M corrector pedantically replace with the sg. Cx also has the sg., but the referent frere is ycald prompts it in this case. teme · and telle it with-outen glosynge ÞeiBx.13.82: Þei: R begins Ac þei (F But þey), not supported by Cx. prechen þat penaunce is · profitable to þe soule And what myschief and malese · cryst for man tholed Ac þis goddes gloton quod I · with his gret chekes Hath no pyte on vs pore · he perforneth yuel Þat he precheth heBx.13.86: he (2): The beta reading, supported by the P family of C. Alpha has and, so that this line completes the previous line: "he performs badly what he preaches", as in many of the X family of C. An original a could have been understood as either "he" or "and". See Schmidt (1995), 390. preueth nouȝtBx.13.86: nouȝt: Dropped by alpha, but necessary for the sense. · to pacience I tolde And wisshed witterly · with wille ful egre Þat disshes aBx.13.88: a: "and". See note to Bx.P.227. dobleres · bifor þis ilkeBx.13.88: ilke: R omits, while F rewrites to correct the alliteration. Perhaps Bx was as R, with beta "improving" a defective b-verse. Cx rewrites as "with alle þe deyntees aftur" (RK.15.90). doctour Were moltoun led in his maw · and Mahoun amyddes I shal iangle to þis Iurdan · with his iustBx.13.90: iust: Kane (2005) appositely glosses iust-wombe as "pot-belly". See MED iuste n. Alpha iuysty makes an adjective of it, as do a couple of C mss.-wombe To telle me what penaunce is · of which he preched ratherBx.13.91: rather: Probably R's reading þere ay represents alpha, of which F's euere is a revision. The line is not in C. Pacience parceyued what I thouȝt · and [preynte]Bx.13.92: preynte: "winked admonishingly"; see Burrow (2002), 103-05. Though this reading is in neither beta nor alpha, conjecturing it as the reading of Bx explains the variants and restores alliteration. Beta substitutes the synonym wynked and alpha conveys the same sense with bad. The word is used again in l. 119 and Bx.18.21. See Introduction V.3.3. on me to be stille And seyde þow shalt se þus sone · whan he may no more He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche · and puffe at ech a worde And þanne shullen his guttis godeleBx.13.95: godele: For the form in LR see note to Bx.5.351. · and he shal galpen after For now he hath dronken so depe · he wil deuyne sone And preuen it by herBx.13.97: by her: Beta is supported by Cx. R has here, the omission perhaps representing alpha, which F corrects to in þe. pocalips · and passioun of seynt Auereys Þat neither bacoun ne braune · blanmangereBx.13.98: blanmangere: Alpha's ne blaumanger is supported by the X family of C, beta's omission by the P family. We retain copy-text. ne mortrewes Is noither fisshe no flesshe · but fode for penaunte[s]Bx.13.99: penauntes: Alpha's plural is supported by Cx. And þanne shal he testifye of a trinitee · and take his felawe to witnesse What he fonde in a freyel · after a freres lyuyng And but if þe fyrst lyneBx.13.102: lyne: So LM + alpha. Beta1, perhaps encouraged by lyuyng and leue, must have read the word as lyue, leading Beta2 to alter if þe to he, "unless he first live" to make a modicum of sense. O alters his exemplar's lif to leef, so by coincidence or contamination arriving at the Cx reading (RK.15.103). be lesyng · leue me neuere after And þanne is tyme to takeBx.13.103: take: Kane (2005) glosses "seize", which does not seem quite appropriate. Perhaps the sense is "address" (MED taken v. 39b (a)). In any case OR alter to easier talke, the reading of the P family of C, and F rewrites. · and to appose þis doctoure Of dowel and ofBx.13.104: of (2): So LMR and CrC, dropped by others. C mss. vary. dobet · and if dobest be any penaunce ¶ And I sete stille as pacience seyde · and þus sone þis doctour As rody as a rose · rubbedBx.13.106: rubbed: Evidently the beta reading, and probably also Bx, since R has robbed. If so, Hm's rudded and F's gan rody are picked up from the adj. rody in the a-verse. But Cx has rodded (RK.15.107), which could represent MED rudden, "rub", or ruden, "redden". Possibly, then, Bx also had rodded, interpreted as synonymous with the much commoner verb rubben. See Schmidt (2008), 414. his chekes Coughed and carped · and conscience hym herde And tolde hym of a trinite · and toward vs he loked ¶ What is dowel sire doctour quod I · is do[best]Bx.13.109: dobest: Alpha, supported by Cx, against beta's repetition of dowel. Cf. l. 104. any penaunce ¶ Dowel quod þis doctour · and [dranke after]Bx.13.110: dranke after: R's reading is supported by Cx and he dronke aftur. Scribes reacted to the short b-verse, with both F and beta expanding in different ways. Do non yuel to þine euenecrystene · nouȝt by þi powere ¶ By þis day sire doctour quod I [·] þanne be ȝe nouȝt in dowel For ȝe han harmed vs two · in þat ȝe eten þe puddyng Mortrewes and other mete · and we no mussel hade AndBx.13.115: And: "if"; so R, supported by Cx. F substitutes If as at Bx.4.139, 5.93 etc.; beta reads And if. ȝe fare so in ȝowre fermorie · ferly me þinketh But chest be þere charite shulde be · & ȝongeBx.13.116: ȝonge: Dropped by CrCGOF to shorten a long line. R divides the line into two at the caesura. childern dorste pleyne I wolde permute my penaunce with ȝowre · for I am in poynte to dowel ¶ Þanne conscience [ful]Bx.13.118: ful: Alpha supported by Cx. Dropped by beta. curteisliche · a contenaunce heBx.13.118: he: Good support from LM and alpha as well as Cx. made And preynte vpon pacience · to preie me toBx.13.119: to (2): Firm support from LM, beta2 and R. However the word is dropped in Cx. be stille And seyde hym-self sire doctour · and it be ȝowre wille What is dowel and dobet · ȝe deuynours knoweth ¶Bx.13.122: ¶: The paraph at the start of the speech is in beta and F. Dowel quod þis doctour · doBx.13.122: do: Cx also has imperative in a revised line (RK.15.124). Cf. R dos and F ys to doon. as clerkes techeth And dobet is he þat techeth · and trauailleth to teche other And dobest doth hym-self so · as he seith & precheth Qui facit et docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum ¶ Now þow clergye quod conscience [·] carpest what is dowel I haue seueneBx.13.127: seuene: It is not certain that Bx had the numeral. R omits it and the L corrector supplies it in the margin, though it is in M and F. Perhaps it is most likely that L and R coincidentally omitted it; see Adams (2000), 184. The line is not in Cx. sones he seyde · seruen in a castel Þere þe lorde of lyf wonyeth · to leren hymBx.13.128: hym: i.e. the Lord of Life. So LMR; see Schmidt (1995), 391. what is dowel ¶ Til I se þo seuene · and my-self acorden I am vnhardy quod he · to any wyȝt toBx.13.130: to (2): Alpha omits, perhaps rightly. The line is not in Cx. preue it For one pieres þe ploughman [·] hath inpugned vs alle And sette alle sciences at a soppe · saue loue one And no tixte ne taketh [·] to meyntene his causeBx.13.133: M omits the line. But dilige deum · and domine quis habitabit &c And seith þat dowel and dobet [·] aren two infinites Whiche infinites with a feith [·] fynden oute dobest Which shal saue mannes soule · þus seith piers þe ploughman ¶ I can nouȝt her-on quod conscience · ac I knowe wel pieres He wil nouȝt aȝein holy writ speken · I dar wel vndertake Þanne passe we ouer til piers come · and preue þis in dede Pacience hath be in many place · and par-auntre cnowethBx.13.141: cnoweth: The beta2 reading mouthed is distinctly odd. Þat no clerke neBx.13.142: ne: Omitted by alpha. can · as cryst bereth witnesse Pacientes vincunt &c A[t]Bx.13.144: At: "in response to". LWHm read Ac, probably representing beta, though CGO share alpha's At, and M is corrected to that reading. ȝowre preyere quod pacyence þo · so no man displese hym Disce quod he doce · dilige inimicos Disce and dowel · doce & dobet Dilige and dobest · þus tauȝte me ones A lemman þat I loued · loue was hir name With wordes and with werkes quod she · and wille of þyne herte Þow loue lelly þi soule [·] al þi lyf-tyme And so þow lere þeBx.13.151: þow lere þe: R's muddled to lere and probably represents alpha, further misunderstood by F. to louye · for þe lordes loue of heuene Þine enemye in al wyse · euene-forth with þi-selue Cast coles on his hed · [of]Bx.13.153: of: R is supported by beta2 and by the corrected reading of M. Beta perhaps read and, with beta2 independently altering for sense. Cx has of in this line, but three lines below has "Conforte hym with thy catel and with thy kynde speche" (RK.15.145). Pearsall (2008), 256, refers to Ancrene Wisse (ed. Millett 7.293-301) for the interpretation of the carbones ardentes of Rom. 12.20 as the fire of love. al kynde speche Bothe with werkes and with wordes [·] fonde his loue to wynne And lay on hym þus with loue · til he laghe on þe And but he bowe for þis betyng [·] blynde mote he worthe ¶ Ac for to fare þus with þi frende · foly it were For he þat loueth þe lelly · lyteBx.13.158: lyte: L's form is supported by R. Neither scribe has the form elsewhere. of þyne coueitethBx.13.158: coueiteth: Beta is supported by Cx (RK.15.153). Alpha's desireth avoids the repetition in the following line (dropped in C). Kynde loue coueiteth nouȝte · no catel but speche With half a laumpe lyne in latyne · ex vi transicionis ¶ I bere þere-inne aboute · fast ybounde dowel In a signe of þe saterday · þat sette firste þe kalendare And al þe witte of þe wednesday · of þe nexte wyke after Þe myddel of þe mone [·] is þe miȝteBx.13.164: is þe miȝte: WHm confuse the issue with as þe nyght. On the "middle of the moon" riddle, see Galloway (1995), 68-105, and Bx.3.334. of bothe And here-with am I welcome · þere I haue it with me ¶ Vndo it lateBx.13.166: late: Alpha has and late. The passage Bx.13.159-82 is rewritten in C. þis doctour [sen]Bx.13.166: sen: The L scribe alters this to deme, in line with beta1, thus correcting the alliteration. But alpha reads se, which is more probably the reading of Bx than coincidental error. · ifBx.13.166: if: Alpha has where, "whether". dowel be þer-inne For bi hym þat me made · miȝte neuere pouerte Miseise ne myschief [·] ne man with his tonge Colde ne care [·] ne compaignye of theues Ne noither hete ne haille · ne non helle pouke Ne noither fuire ne flode · ne fere of þine enemy Tene þe eny tyme · and þow take it with þe Caritas nichil timet Bx.13.174-82: These nine lines are omitted by beta, skipping from one short Latin line to the next. Lines 179 and 181 are also omitted in F. The passage is rewritten in C (RK.15.165-9). [And eke haue god my soule · and þow wilt it craue Þere nys neither emperour ne emperesse · erl kynge ne baroun Pope ne patriarch [·] þat pure reson ne shal make ÞeBx.13.177: Þe: "thee". In F it appears more comfortably in the previous line before make. maister of alle þo men · þorugh miȝt of þis redeles Nouȝt þorugh wicche-crafte but þorugh wit · & þow wilt þi-selue Do kynge and quene · and alle þe comune after Ȝyue þe alle þat þei may ȝiue · as þe forBx.13.180: as þe for: "as to you who are". F's as þou for gives the sense "since you are (the best guardian)". best ȝemere And as þou demest wil þei do · alle here dayes after Pacientes vincunt &c ·] [¶]Bx.13.183: ¶: The L scribe wrote a paragraph marker which the rubricator missed because the scribe did not leave a line-space. The paraph is in WHmC and alpha. It is but a dido quod þis doctour · a dysoures tale Al þe witt of þis worlde · andBx.13.184: and: Beta is supported by the X family of C. Alpha's ne, which makes the meaning clearer, is supported by the P family of C. wiȝte mennes strengthe Can nouȝt confourmen a pees · bytwene þe pope and his enemys Ne bitwene two cristene kynges · can no wiȝte pees make Profitable to ayther peple · and put þe table fro hym And toke clergye and conscience · to conseille as it were Þat pacience þoBx.13.189: þo: Beta2 has þou, and M revises to that reading. moste passe · for pilgrimes kunne wel lye ¶ Ac conscience carped loude [·] and curteislich seide Frendes fareth wel · and faire spake to clergye For I wil go with þis gome · if god wil ȝiueBx.13.192: ȝiue: LMW, and so probably beta's form, with other beta mss. and alpha altering to gyue as a result of alliterative attraction. me grace And be pilgryme with pacience · til I haue proued more ¶ What quod clergye to conscience · ar ȝe coueitouse nouthe After ȝeresȝyues or ȝiftes · or ȝernen to rede redeles I shal brynge ȝow a bible · a boke of þe olde lawe And lere ȝow if ȝow lykeBx.13.197: ȝow lyke: So beta, while alpha has ȝe liken. Elsewhere the verb is always constructed as impersonal with a dative pronoun. · þe leest poynte to knowe Þat pacience þe pilgryme · parfitly knewe neuere ¶ Nay bi cryste quod conscience to clergye [·] god þe forȝelde For al þat pacience me profreth · proude am I litel Ac þe wille of þe wye · and þe wille folkeBx.13.201: wille folke: LC, original M and R, so secure for Bx. Other scribes have wille of folke, repeating wille of from the a-verse, and M is altered to bring it in line with beta2. But wille is the adjective wil, "wandering" (so R's spelling), so that the line means "But the wilfulness of this man (the Doctor) and of the errant folk here". Note that MED wil adj. records the spellings will and wille. See Burrow, N&Q (2008), 124-5. here Hath moeued my mode · to mourne for my synnes Þe good wille of aBx.13.203: a: Alpha's vch a / euery makes poorer sense. wiȝte · was neure bouȝte to þe fulle For þere nysBx.13.204: nys: Supported by LWR against is in other mss. no tresore þerto · to a trewe wille ¶ Haued nouȝt [Marie]Bx.13.205: Marie: Omitted by beta. Alpha is supported by the alliterative pattern (aaa/xx). Magdeleigne more · for a boxe of salue Þan zacheus for he seide · dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus And þe pore widwe [·] for a peire of mytes Þan alle þo that offreden · in-to gazafilacium ¶ Þus curteislich conscience · congeyde fyrstBx.13.209: fyrst: Omitted by GO, and (presumably coincidentally) by M. þe Frere And sithen softliche he seyde · in clergyes ere Me were leuer by owre lorde · and I lyue shulde Haue pacience parfitlich · þan half þi pakke of bokes ¶ Clergye toBx.13.213: to: So LHmCO and probably uncorrected M. CrWG have easier of, but the phrase means "offer no farewell to". This sense of take, usually followed by a dative pronoun, is common in the poem, e.g. Bx.1.57, etc. Alpha's and/ne is ruled out by the next line, where the speaker must be Clergy. See Schmidt (1995), 392. conscience · no congeye wolde take But seide ful sobreliche · þow shalt se þe tyme Whan þow art wery for-walked · wilne me to consaille ¶ Þat is soth seydeBx.13.216: seyde: So LMR and CrHm. The others have quod, perhaps by semi-alliterative association with Conscience, or picked up from l. 222. conscience · so me god helpe If pacience be owre partyng felawe · and pryue with vs bothe There nys wo in þis worlde · þat we ne shulde amende And confourmen Kynges to pees · andBx.13.219: and (2): Beta's reading makes better sense than alpha's of, which leads to alpha's addition of And at the beginning of the next line. al-kynnes londes · Sarasenes and surre · and so forth alle þe iewes Turne in-to þe trewe feith · and in-til one byleue ¶ Þat is soth quod clergye · I se what þow menest I shal dwelle as I do · my deuore to shewen And confermenBx.13.224: confermen: "strengthen in faith"; R (= alpha) repeats conformen, "make agree", from l. 219, as does G. fauntekynes · and other folke ylered Tyl pacience haue preued þe · and parfite þe maked ¶ Conscience þo with pacience passed · pilgrymes as it were Þanne had pacience as pylgrymes han · in his poke vittailles Sobrete and symple speche · and sothfaste byleue To conforte hym and conscience · if þey come in place Þere vnkyndenesse and coueytise is · hungrye contrees bothe ¶Bx.13.231: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. And as þei went by þe weye · of dowel þeiBx.13.231: of dowel þei: Beta's b-verse is supported by Cx, although alpha's and of dowel goes smoothly with the next line. carped Þei mette with a mynstral · as me þo þouȝte Pacience apposed hym fyrste · and preyed hymBx.13.233: hym (2): LMR, so secure for Bx, but possibly an error. Others drop the repeated hym, although F includes it in a revised b-verse. Cr follows Cx with the simplified prayed he should tel. he sholde hem telle To conscience what crafte he couthe · an to what contree he wolde ¶ I am a mynstral quod þat man · my name is actiua vita Alle ydel ich hatye · for of actyf is my name A wafrere wil ȝe wite · and serue many lordes And fewe robes I fonge · or furred gounes Couthe I lye [and]Bx.13.239: and: Alpha is supported by Cx. do men laughe · þanne lacchen I shulde Other mantel or money [·] amonges lordes mynstralles Ac for I can noither tabre ne trompe · ne telle none gestes Farten ne fythelen [·] at festes ne harpen Iape ne ioglyBx.13.243: iogly: C mss. split between this and alpha's iangele. · ne gentlych pype Ne noyther sailly ne saute · ne synge with þe gyterne I haue none gode gyftes · of þise grete lordes For no bred þat I bryngeBx.13.246: brynge: Beta's present tense has support from Cx in a rewritten line. forth · saue a beneson on þe sonday Whan þe prest preyeth þe peple · her pater noster to bidde For peres þe plowman · and þat hym profite wayten And þat am IBx.13.249: þat am I: Beta4 and R have, less satisfactorily, the standard word-order. F has (by coincidence or contamination) for me, as does Cx (RK.15.213) which follows more smoothly from the previous lines, "prays ... for me". actyf · þat ydelnesse hatye For alle trewe trauaillours · and tilieres of þe erthe Fro mychelmesse to mychelmesse · I fynde hem with wafresBx.13.251: wafres: M is corrected to my wafres to bring the text in line with CrW. ¶ Beggeres and bidderes · of my bred crauen Faitoures and freres · and folke with brode crounes I fynde payne for þe pope · and prouendre for his palfrey And I hadde neuere of hym · haue god my treuthe Noither prouendre ne parsonage · ȝut of the popis ȝifte Saue a pardoun with a peys of led · and two pollis amyddeBx.13.257: amydde: The form is attested by LMCR, against amyddes in beta2 and GOF. Hadde icheBx.13.258: iche: This is the only example of this spelling in L. "I" is elsewhere spelt ich, and "each" is ech(e). The former sense is very obviously intended, but the odd confusion of scribes may suggest a Bx reading iche, or ech(e) as in CG, giving rise to F's euery. a clerke þat couthe write · I wolde caste hym a bille Þat he sent me vnder his seel · a salue for þe pestilence AndBx.13.260: And: Alpha drops. þat his blessyng & his bulles · bocches miȝte destroye In nomine meo demonia eici[e]ntBx.13.261: eicient: L has the present, as M perhaps did before correction, suggesting a beta error. & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt And þanne wolde I be prest to [þe]Bx.13.262: þe: Not in LHm, and supplied in M by the corrector. It is therefore likely that it was lost by beta. peple · paste for to make And buxome and busy [·] aboute bred and drynke For hym and for alle his · fonde I þat his pardoun Miȝte lechen a man · as I bileue it shulde For sith he hath þe powere · þat peter hym-self hadde He hath þe potte with þe salue · sothly as me þinketh Argentum & aurum non est michi quod autem habeo tibiBx.13.268: tibi: Alpha has hoc tibi, as does O, in line with the Vulgate. C mss. split. do in nomine domini surge & ambula ¶ Ac if miȝte of miracle hym faille · it is for men ben nouȝt worthy To haue þeBx.13.270: þe (1): Alpha's no is not supported by Cx. grace of god · & no gylte of þe pope ForBx.13.271: For: Dropped by R, but supported by Cx. may no blyssyng done vs bote · but if we wil amende Ne mannes masse make pees · amonges cristene peple Tyl pruyde be purelichBx.13.273: purelich: Alpha's priueliche is not supported by Cx (RK.15.229). fordo · and þatBx.13.273: þat: Dropped by MCrWF, and replaced by alle in R, but supported by Cx. þourgh payn defaute ¶ For ar I haue bred of mele · ofte mote I swete And ar þe comune haue corne ynough · many a colde mornyng So ar my wafres ben ywrouȝt · moche wo I tholye ¶ Alle Londoun I leue · liketh wel my wafres And lowren whan þei lakken itBx.13.278: it (1): Alpha has hem, as do CrW. It is likely that W, at least, was prompted to adopt the plural for grammatical concord and to avoid the repetition of it. The passage from Bx.13.274-90 has no parallel in C. · it is nouȝt longe ypassed Þere was a carful comune · whan no carte come to toune With [bake]Bx.13.280: bake: Dropped by beta to the detriment of the alliteration. bred fro stretforth · þo gan beggeres wepe And werkmen were agaste a litel · þis wil be þouȝte longe In þe date of owre dryȝte · in a drye apprile A þousande and thre hondreth · tweis [twenty]Bx.13.283: twenty: This does not alliterate and is a Bx error (the events occurred in 1370); LR correct to the obvious thretty. This is a rare instance where LR have corrected rather than copy an obvious mistake. M and Hm both realise the error and correct in different ways. Numerals are easy to confuse and easy to correct. & ten My wafres þere were gesen · whan chichestre was Maire ¶ I toke godeBx.13.285: gode: Beta has the standard phrase; for that reason alpha's grete might be preferred. We follow copy-text. kepe by cryst · and conscience bothe Of haukyn þe actyf man · and how he was yclothed He hadde a cote of crystendome · as holykirke bileueth Ac it was moled in many places · with many sondri plottes Of pruyde here a plotte and þere a plotte [·]Bx.13.289: The placing of the punctus causes scribes problems. M has it after each plotte, as though first inserting it too early; HmCO and crucially R have it after the second (hence aaa/xx); LCrW have the second plotte in the b-verse (aa/ax). of vnboxome speche Of scornyng and of scoffyng · and of vnskilful berynge As in aparaille and in porte · proude amonges þe peple Otherwyse þan he hath · with herte orBx.13.292: or: R has and; F, understandably puzzled by the line, rewrites the b-verse, as does C, withynne or withouten (RK.6.31). syȝte shewynge Hym wil[n]yngeBx.13.293: wilnynge: R's reading is perhaps slightly preferable to beta's willynge on grounds of sense ("with him being keen that"). It also has support from the parallel line in Cx (RK.6.32), and from the variants at l. 305, where some scribes corrupt to willynge. Mustanoja (1960), 115, quotes this instance of the absolute construction. F corrupts to wenynge. þat alle men wende · he were þat he is nouȝte For-why he bosteth and braggeth · with many bolde othes And in-obedient to ben vndernome · of any lyf lyuyng And so syngulere by hym-self · as to syȝte of þe poepleBx.13.296: Only L + alpha preserve 296b and 297a, all others (including M) skipping from hymself (296) to hymself (297). Both lines are in Cx. Was none suche as hym-self · ne none so po[p]e-holyBx.13.297: pope-holy: Probably beta read pompe-holy (as do a few C mss.), corrected by several scribes. Yhabited as an hermyte · an ordre by hym-selue Religioun sanz reule · and resonable obedience Lakkyng lettred men · and lewed men bothe In lykyng of lele lyf · and a lyer in soule With Inwit and withBx.13.302: with (2): Not in alpha or Cr. outwitt · ymagenen and studye As best for his body be · to haue a b[ol]deBx.13.303: bolde: Alpha's reading is obviously preferable to beta's (?) badde (written over an illegible erasure in L). name And entermeten hym ouer al · þer he hath nouȝt to done Wilnyng þat men wende · his witte were þe best Bx.13.306-12: Seven lines are omitted by beta; 306-8 and 310 are represented in revised form in Cx (RK.6.42-6). There seems no obvious reason for omission, though KD, p. 66, suggest resumption at the wrong point prompted by to loken on (308) and on to loke (315). [Or for his crafty kunnynge · or of clerkes þe wisest Or strengest on stede · or styuest vnderBx.13.307: vnder: R is supported by Cx against F's gyrt with. gerdel And louelokest to loken on · and lelest of werkes And non so holy as he · ne of lif clennere Or fairest of feytures · of forme and of shafte And most sotyl of songe · other sleyest of hondes And large to lene · loosBx.13.312: loos: "repute". R has losse, listed by MED as a possible spelling of los n.(2), but R elsewhere spells it as los (Bx.11.311) and loos (Bx.13.471) so may here have misunderstood the word as "loss". F's looþ (in a-verse) perhaps suggests that alpha had the form loos. þere-by to cacche] And if he gyueth ouȝte poreBx.13.313: pore: All except LR have to pore. gomes · telle what he deleth Pore of possessioun [·] in purse and in coffreBx.13.314: coffre: Beta evidently misplaced the punctus after purse, prompting the addition of bothe in all mss. except LR. (F omits the line.) It is significant that M shares the beta1 error. And as a lyon onBx.13.315: on: R's omission could be right but is not supported by F, which has it after the verb. to loke · and lordeliche of speche ¶ Baldest of beggeres [·] a bostour þat nouȝt hath In towne and in tauernes · tales to telle And segge þinge þat he neuere seigh · and for soth sweren it Of dedes þat he neuere dyd · demen and bosten And of werkes þat he wel dyd · witnesse and seggen Lo if ȝe leue me nouȝt · or þat I lye wenen Axeth at hym or at hym · and he ȝow can telle What I suffred and seighe · and some-tymes hadde And what I couth and knewe · and what kynne I come of Al he wolde þat men wiste [·] of werkes and ofBx.13.325: of (2): Alpha omits. wordes Which myȝte plese þe peple · and praysen hym-seluen Si hominibus placerem cristi seruus non essem Et alibi nemo potest duobus dominis seruire ¶ Bi criste quod conscience þo · þi best cote haukyn Hath many moles and spottes · it moste ben ywassh ¶ Ȝe who-so toke hede quod haukyn · byhynde and bifore What on bakke and what onBx.13.332: and what on: Probably the beta reading, though MC drop and, and GO drop what. Alpha also drops what. Bx.13.329-39 have no parallel in C. body half · & by þe two sydes Men sholde fynde many frounces · and many foule plottes [¶]Bx.13.334: ¶: In L the scribe indicated the paraph but forgot to leave a line-space, so the rubricator missed it. It has support from WCR. And he torned hym as tyte · and þanne toke I hede It was fouler by felefolde · þan it firste semed It was bidropped with wratthe · and wikked wille With enuye and yuel speche [·] entysyng to fyȝte Lyinge and la[kk]yngeBx.13.338: lakkynge: Alpha's reading is greatly preferable to beta's laughynge on grounds of sense. · [a]Bx.13.338: a: R only, but apparently alpha since F expands to & with a. Beta thus interpreted Bx a as "and". Cf. note to l. 88 above. The b-verse "a tongue eager to chide" defines lakkynge. leue tonge to chyde Al þat he wist wykked · by any wiȝte tellen it And blame men bihynde her bakke · and bydden hem meschaunce And þat he wist bi wille · tellen it watteBx.13.341: watte: LMWCG, hence the beta reading, with CrHmO and alpha reading to watte. The parallel b-verse in Cx is RK.6.71, tolde hit wille aftur, rather than RK.6.70, to watekyn he tolde hit. And þat watte wiste · wille wiste it after And made of frendes foes · þorugh a false tonge Or with myȝte of mouthe [·] or þorugh mannes strengthe Auenge[d]Bx.13.345: Auenged: Despite lack of support from other B mss., R's past tense is preferable on grounds of syntax, and is supported by Cx. Hence frete is also past tense, as in Cx. me fele tymes · other frete my-selue Wyth-inne as a shepster shere · I shrewedBx.13.346: I shrewed: Interpreted by Skeat and MED shreuen as past participle, but this is syntactically impossible. Kane (2005) and Schmidt (1995) take ishrewed as past tense, but MED does not record a verb ishrewen. See F's rewriting, and cf. Cx past tense shrewed (RK.6.75). men & cursed Cuius maledictione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius labor & dolor & alibi filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutus ¶Bx.13.349: ¶: The paraph is in beta only, following the Latin lines. Þere is no lyf þat I louyeBx.13.349: I louye: KD, p. 148, argue for the CrW reading me loueth, but it cannot be Bx. · lastyng any while For tales þat I telle · no man trusteth to me And whan I may nouȝt haue þe maistrye · [swich]Bx.13.351: swich: The spelling of F probably represents Bx. R misread as which. Beta apparently misread as with, though CrW have such (by conjecture?) and MHm are both visibly altered to that reading. The Cx reading is also such. L retains the spelling swich only in Bx.15.17. malencolye I take Þat I cacche þe crompe · þe cardiacle some-tyme Or an ague in suche an angre · and some-tyme a feure Þat taketh me al a twelf-moneth · tyl þat I dispyse Lechecrafte orBx.13.355: or: So LR. Clearly an error for of, with the obvious correction (supported by Cx) made by all other scribes. owre lorde · and leue on a wicche And segge þat no clerke ne can · ne cryste as I leue To þe souter of southwerke · or of shordyche dame emme And segge þat no goddes worde · gaf me neuere bote But þorw a charme had I chaunce · & my chief hele ¶ I wayted wisloker · and þanne was itBx.13.360: it: F has he, emphasising that I in the a-verse refers to Will. R's I is perhaps prompted by the alpha reading myn for his in the next line. soiled With lykyng of lecherye · asBx.13.361: as: A number of scribes (Hm, beta4 and R) have the easier and. by lokyng of hisBx.13.361: his: Alpha's myn is obviously an error, suggesting a muddle over the speaker here. See note to l. 363. eye For vche a mayde þat he mette · he made hir a signe Semynge to synne-ward · and some-tyme he gan tasteBx.13.363: In F, ll. 361-8 are in the first person, as they are in Cx where they are part of the confession of lechery (RK.6.176-84). In this line F's & summe y gan is a C-text reading and suggests contamination. Aboute þe mouth or bynethe · bygynneth to grope Tyl eytheres wille waxeth kene · and to þe werke ȝeden As welBx.13.366: wel: Beta has wel in anticipating the following line, but alpha is supported by Cx (RK.6.182). fastyng-days & frydayes · and forboden nyȝtes And as [lef]Bx.13.367: lef: Beta's wel is prompted by the preceding line. Alpha is supported by the alliteration and Cx. in lente as oute of lente · alle tymes ylyche Suche werkes with hem · wasBx.13.368: was: We retain L's plural form, though other mss. have were. See note to Bx.5.13 and Introduction V.3.1. neuere oute of sesoun Tyl þei myȝte namore · and þanne had merye tales And how þat lechoures louyen · lauȝen an iapen And of herBx.13.371: her (1): Not in F or R, which begins Or herlotrie. Bx.13.370-8 have no parallel in C. harlotrye and horedome · in her elde tellen ¶ Thanne pacience parceyued [·] of poyntes hisBx.13.372: his: All except LR supply of (added in M), but his cote is subject of was in the following line: "his coat was grimy with stains". cote Was colmy þorw coueityse · and v[n]kynde desyrynge More to good þan to god · þe gome his loue caste And ymagyned how · he it myȝte haue With false mesures and mette · and with false witnesse Lened for loue of þe wedde · and loth to do treuthe And awaited þorwgh whi[ttes] [·] wey[es]Bx.13.378: whittes weyes: R's spelling whittus weyus suggests the cause of confusion in beta: Bx presumably had the spelling <wh> for /w/ (as sometimes in SW), preserved but perhaps not understood as "wits" by R, and desperately altered to which by beta, who consequently understood wey as "way". R has his usual spelling weye, "man". For once, F gets it more or less right. to bigile And menged his marchaundyse · and made a gode moustre Þe worste with-in was · a gret witte I lete hit And if my neighbore had anBx.13.381: an: Alpha is supported by Cx (RK.6.262). Beta anticipates any in the b-verse. hyne · or any beste elles More profitable þan myne · many sleightes I made How I myȝte haue it · al my witte I caste And but I itBx.13.384: but I it: LMW, so beta, supported by the X family of C (the P family has Hm's order). R omits it and F rewrites. had by other waye · atte laste I stale it Or pryuiliche his purse shoke · vnpiked his lokkes Or by nyȝt or by day · aboute was ich euere Þorwgh gyle to gadren [·] þe good þat ich haue ¶ Ȝif I ȝede to þe plow · I pynched so narwe Þat a fote londe or a forwe · fecchen I wolde Of my nexte neighbore · nymen of his ertheBx.13.390-1: Alpha loses the b-verse of 390 and the a-verse of 391. And if [I]Bx.13.391: I: Dropped by L, though the line is marked for correction. ropeBx.13.391: rope: "reaped" (MED repen v.(1)); the past tense is supported by Cx. ouer-reche · or ȝaf hem red þat ropenBx.13.391: ropen: Cr and alpha have repen, which may also be a pa.t.pl. form. ToBx.13.392: To: Supported by Cx against And in MCrCGO. seise to me with her sykel · þat I ne sewe neure ¶ And who-so borweth of me · abouteBx.13.393: aboute: A spelling of abouȝte, "bought, paid for", preserved by LGR and altered by the correctors of MHm. It was evidently misunderstood as "about" by F, who revised. þe tyme With presentes priueliche · or payed somme certeyne So walde he or nouȝt wolde heBx.13.395: he (2): Omitted by WR. For nouȝt wolde he, beta4 and F have he nolde. · wynnen I wolde And bothe to kyth and to kyn · vnkynde of þat ich hadde ¶ And who-so cheped my chaffare · chiden I wolde But he profredBx.13.398: profred: CGO and rewritten Hm add me. to paye · a peny or tweyne More þan it was worth · and ȝet wolde I swere Þat it coste meBx.13.400: me: In beta only; alpha may be right to omit. The line is not in C. moche more · swore manye othes ¶ In halydayes at holicherche · whan ich herde masse Hadde [I]Bx.13.402: I: LR, the two best witnesses, coincidentally omit the pronoun, which is necessary for the sense and supported by Cx (RK.6.273). The line is marked for correction in L. neuere wille wot god · witterly to biseche Mercye for my mysdedes · þat I ne morned more For losse of gode leue me · þan for lykamesBx.13.404: lykames: So R, supported by Cx; all other mss. have my lykames, following on from my mysdedes in the previous line. giltes As if I had dedly synne done · I dred nouȝt þat so sore As when I lened and leued it lost · or longe ar it were payed So if I kydde any kyndenesse · myn euen-cristene to helpe Vpon a cruel coueityse · my [conscience]Bx.13.408: conscience: Alpha's reading corrects the aa/bb alliteration of beta's herte. The line is not in C. gan hange And if I sent ouer-see · my seruauntz to Bruges Or in-to Pruslonde my prentys · my profit to wayten To marchaunden with monoye · and maken her eschaungesBx.13.411: eschaunges: Alpha has chaunges, but beta is supported by Cx. Miȝte neuere me conforte · in þe mene-tymeBx.13.412: tyme: Confirmed by Cx. Beta2 has while. Noither messe ne matynes · ne none manere siȝtes Ne neuere penaunce perfourned · ne pater noster seyde Þat my mynde ne was more · on my gode in a doute Þan in þe grace of god · and his grete helpes Vbi thesaurus tuus · ibi & cor tuum Bx.13.418-27: These lines are omitted by beta. Probably the scribe skipped from one paraph to the next, though alpha does not record the expected paraph at 418 following the Latin line. Lines 420 and 422 have some parallel in the C text, but are there transferred to the confession of Gluttony (RK.6.428 and 430). [Ȝet glotounBx.13.418: glotoun: R's reading is surprising enough to have prompted F's revision to þat goome. Compare the other sins attributed to Hawkin: lechery (361), covetousness (373), sloth (426), though they are not personified as here. On the other hand R's glotoun is possibly a reminiscence of Bx.5.319 and 10.53, "Glotonye and grete othes". with grete othes · his g[ar]nement hadde soyled And foule beflobered it · as with fals speche As þere no nede ne was · godes name an ydel Swore þere-by swithe ofte · and al byswatte his cote And more mete ete and dronke · þen kynde miȝt defie And cauȝte sekenesse sum-tyme · for my [surfai]tesBx.13.423: surfaites: R's forfetes is a misreading of alliterating surfetys, as in F. ofte And þanne I dradde to deye · in dedlich synne Þat in-to wanhope he w[or]theBx.13.425: worthe: R's wrathe could be a metathesised form but is probably an error (cf. Bx.11.5). F revises to synonymous wente. · and wende nauȝt to be saued Þe whiche is sleuthe so slow · þat may no sleightes helpe it Ne no mercy amenden · þe man þat so deyeth] ¶ [Ac]Bx.13.428: Ac: Dropped by beta following the loss of text. For Ac which, F has Þese. R is supported by Cx (RK.7.69). which ben þe braunches · þat bryngeth a man to sleuth His womanBx.13.429: His woman: Evidently the Bx reading, recorded in LR, original M, and CG. Beta2 and F recognise it as nonsense and so emend by conjecture; O, Is whanne a man, has the reading of the P family of C, by conjecture or contamination (RK.7.70). In C these lines are transferred to the confession of Sloth. morneth nouȝte for his mysdedes · ne maketh no sorwe AcBx.13.430: Ac: The reading of LO and probably original M, while G has its usual substitution But. The others have And (Ne in F). Cx has The. penaunce þat þe prest enioigneth · perfourneth yuel Doth none almes-dede · dret hym of no synne Lyueth aȝein þe bileue · and no lawe holdeth Vch day is haliday with hym · or an heigh ferye And if he auȝte wole here · it is an harlotes tonge Whan men carpeth of cryst · or ofBx.13.435: of (2): Dropped by CGOF, but supported by authoritative C mss. of both families. clennesse of souleBx.13.435: soule: The sg. is supported by Cx. He wexeth wroth & wil nouȝte here · but wordes of myrthe Penaunce andBx.13.437: and (1): As in Cx. pore men · and þe passioun of seyntes He hateth to here þere-of · and alle þat it telleth Þise ben þe braunches beth war · þat bryngeth a man to wanhope Ȝe lordes and ladyes · and legates of holicherche Þat fedeth fol[e]-sagesBx.13.441: fole-sages: "wise fools, jesters". R is supported by Cx (RK.7.82). Beta reads foles sages, i.e. a pl. noun followed by an adj. with a French pl. inflection (Mustanoja (1960), 277). F has folis sage. · flatereres and lyeres And han likynge to lythen hem · to do ȝow toBx.13.442: to (3): GR omit, as does Cx, but GR are unmetrical (x / x /) whereas Cx is expanded to x / x x x / by the addition of in hope. Perhaps, though, Cx has preserved the reading that Bx has dropped, leading beta and F to add to for the metre. So Schmidt (1995), 392. lawghe Ve vobis qui ridetis &c And ȝiueth hem mete and Mede · and pore men refuse In ȝowre deth-deyinge · I drede me soreBx.13.445: sore: Beta adds ful, but Cx is without it. Lest þo thre maner men · to moche sorwe ȝow brynge Consencientes & agentes pari pena punienturBx.13.447: punientur: Alpha has puniendi sunt, but beta is supported by Cx. Alford (1992), 86, quotes beta's form. Bx.13.448: WHmR here have a paraph.Patriarkes & prophetes · and prechoures of goddes wordes Sauen þorw her sarmounBx.13.449: sarmoun: Beta2 has the more obvious plural, as does the P family of C. · mannes soule fram helle Riȝt so flateresBx.13.450: flateres: Here, as elsewhere (and in C mss.) the form varies with flaterers. Cf. l. 477 below. We follow copy-text. and foles · aren þe fendes disciples To entice men þorw her tales [·] to synne and harlotrye Ac clerkes þat knowen holywryt · shulde kenne lordes What dauid seith of suche men · as þe sauter telleth Non habitabit in medio domus mee · qui facit superbiam quiBx.13.454: qui (2): Beta has & qui, but this is supported neither by Cx nor the Vulgate. F drops the last phrase. loquitur iniqua Shulde none harlote haue audience · in halle ne in chambresBx.13.455: chambres: CrWGF have the sg., as does Cx. Þere wise men were · witnesseth goddes wordes Ne no mysproude man · amonges lordes ben allowed Bx.13.458-76: This block of 19 lines is omitted by beta. The lines are pretty well exactly reproduced in C (RK.7.96-113), usually supporting R over F. [¶ Clerkes and kniȝtes · welcometh kynges mynstralles And for loue of [her]Bx.13.459: her: F is supported by Cx against R's þe. lorde · litheth hem at festes Muche more me thinketh · riche men shulde Haue beggeres byfore hem · þe whiche ben goddes mynstralles As he seyth hym-self · seynt Iohan bereth witnesse Qui vos spernit me spernit For-thi I rede ȝow riche · atBx.13.464: at: Evidently the reading of alpha, but not in Cx. reueles whan ȝe maketh For to solace ȝoure soules · suche minstralles to haue Þe pore for a fol-sage · syttynge at þeBx.13.466: þe (2): So F; R has þe heyȝ; perhaps rightly, but perhaps an uncharacteristic addition, since Cx has þy. table And a lered man to lere þe · what oure lorde suffred For to saue þi soule · fram sathan þin enemy And fithel þe with-out flaterynge · of gode friday þe storyeBx.13.469: storye: Cx has feste. And a blynd man for a bourdeoure · or a bedrede womman To crie a largesse by-for oure lorde · ȝoure gode loos to shewe Þise thre maner mynstralles · maketh a man to laughe And in his deth-deyinge · þei don hym grete conforte Þat bi his lyue lythedBx.13.474: lythed: So R, against F's he lystned. But the X family of C has lened and the P family loueþ. hem · and loued hem to here Þise solaseth þe soule · til hym-selue be falle In a welhopeBx.13.476: welhope: Alpha or Bx has presumably lost for a wrouhte so as in Cx, leading F to expand. · amonges worthi seyntes] [Þere]Bx.13.477: Þere: "where". Alpha is supported by Cx. Following the loss of the preceding passage, beta has Ac with a paraph. flateres and foles [·] þorw her foule wordes Leden þo þat loue[d]Bx.13.478: loued: Alpha's past tense is supported by Cx's probable reading lythed, though some mss. of the P family have the present. hem · to luciferes feste With turpiloquio a lay of sorwe · and luciferes fithele Thus haukyn þe actyf man · hadde ysoiled his cote Til conscience acouped hym þere-of · in a curteise manere Whi he ne hadde wasshen it · or wyped it with a brusshe Passus quartus decimus I Haue but oneBx.14.1: one: L and alpha. Other mss. (including M) add hool, which KD (but not Schmidt) adopt on the basis that this is Haukyn's best cote (Bx.13.329). With the exception of the b-verse of l. 32, lines 1-42 have no parallel in C. hatere quod haukyn · I am þe lasse to blame Þough it be soiled and selde clene · I slepe þere-inne on niȝtes And also I haue an houswyf · hewen and children Vxorem duxy & ideo non possum venire Þat wolen bymolen it many tymeBx.14.5: tyme: G and alpha have tymes. See note to Bx.11.387 where there is the same variation. · maugre my chekes ¶ It hath ben laued in lente · and oute of lente bothe With þe sope of sykenesse · þat seketh wonder depe And with þe losse of catel · loth forto agulte God or any gode man · bi auȝte þat I wisteBx.14.9: F rewrites to repair the alliteration. And was shryuen of þe preste · þat gaue me for my synnes To penaunce pacyence · and pore men to fede Al for coueitise of my crystenedome · in clennesse to kepen it ¶ And couthe I neuereBx.14.13: neuere: Alpha has nouȝt. by cryste · kepen it clene an houre Þat I ne soiled it with syȝte · or sum ydel speche Or þorugh werke or þorugh wordeBx.14.15: þorugh worde: CGO omit þorugh, but it motivates alpha's non-alliterating thouȝt. F has þoruh in the b-verse. · or wille of myn herte Þat I ne flober it foule · fro morwe tyl eue ¶ And I shal kenne þe quod conscience · of contricioun to make Þat shal clawe þi cote · of alkynnes filthe Cordis contricio &c Dowel wasshenBx.14.20: wasshen: Beta2 and O supply shal (added by the M corrector) on the basis of ll. 18 and 22. it and wryngen it · þorw a wys confessour Oris confessio &c Dobet shal beten it and bouken it · as briȝte as any scarlet And engreynen it with good wille · and goddes grace to amende þe And sithen sende þe to satisfaccioun · for to so[nn]enBx.14.24: sonnen: "dry in the sun" after dyeing it, rather than beta's much easier sowen, "sew". Alpha's verb is sparsely cited in MED, but it is more appropriate for the process of cleaning. it after Satisfaccio dobestBx.14.25: Following this F has two extra lines. KD adopt the first on the grounds that it is "pre-archetypal" (p. 172). ¶Bx.14.26: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. In R the line is at the top of the page. Shal neuere mysteBx.14.26: myste: Presumably a Bx error for myske, "dirt" (MED mix). Beta2 alters to chyste / cheeste, "quarrelling". bimolen it · ne moth after biten it Ne fende ne false man [·] defoulen it in þi lyue Shal none heraude ne harpoure · haue a fairere garnement Þan haukyn þe actyf man · and þow do by my techyng Ne no mynstral be more worth · amonges pore & riche Þan Haukynnes wyf þe wafrere · w[hic]h isBx.14.31: which is: KD accept that alpha's reading is archetypal, but argue that "from the poor sense of wif (why should her clothes be compared with those of heralds and harpers?) this is unoriginal" (p. 187), and so emend wif to wil. Like beta, which reads with his, KD miss the significance of ll. 3-4, where Hawkin's wife is an aspect of activa vita. actiua vita ¶ And I shal purueye þe paste quod pacyence · þoughBx.14.32: þough: Alpha reads þouȝ þow, but beta is supported by the b-verse in Cx (RK.15.234). no plow erie And floure to fede folke with · as best be for þe soule Þough neuere greyne growed · ne grape vppon vyne AlleBx.14.35: Alle: Indirect object of fynde; WF supply prepositions. þat lyueth and loketh · lyflode wolde I fynde And þat ynough shal none faille · of þinge þat hem nedeth We shulde nouȝt be to busy · abouten owre lyflode Ne solliciti sitis &c [·] volucres celi deus pascit &c [·] pacientes vincunt &cBx.14.38: We separate the three quotations by punctuation. MR separate the first two by punctuation and the second and third by a line-break, but L runs the line on without punctuation. F ends with scitis. ¶ Þanne laughed haukyn a litel · and liȝtly gan swerye Who-so leueth ȝowBx.14.40: ȝow: R has ȝow noþer; F in a revised line has eyþir of ȝow. Perhaps alpha had ȝow either, i.e. either Conscience or Patience. Schmidt (1995) adopts yow either from alpha as "more precise" (p. 393). We retain copy-text. by owre lorde · I leue nouȝte he be blissed ¶ No quod pacyence paciently · and out of his poke hente Vitailles of grete vertues · for al manere bestes And seyde lo here lyflode ynough · if owre byleue be trewe For lente neuere was [þere]Bx.14.44: þere: Supported by R alone, since F rewrites the line and beta drops the word, but C mss. have either here or more commonly þere (RK.15.238). lyf · but lyflode were shapen Wher-of or wherfore · [and]Bx.14.45: and: Beta has or, though O reads &. F loses the line, but R's and is supported by Cx. where-by to lybbe ¶ Firste þe wylde worme · vnder weet erthe Fissch to lyue in þe flode · and in þe fyre þe crykat Þe corlue by kynde of þe eyre · moste clennest flesch of bryddes And bestes by grasse and by greyne · and by grene rotis In menynge þat alle men · myȝteBx.14.50: myȝte: Misunderstanding the syntax (þe same, "similarly"), scribes add do (MCrGOF) or se (C), but LWHmR are supported by Cx. þe same Lyue þorw lele byleue and loue · as god witnesseth Quodcumque pecieritisBx.14.52: pecieritis: Beta adds a patre. The P family of C reads patrem, the X family omits as does alpha. Biblical texts vary; see Alford (1992), 87. in nomine meo &c & alibi Non in solo pane viuit homo set in omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei ¶ But I loked what lyflode itBx.14.54: lyflode it: Beta is supported by Cx (though in a b-verse) against alpha's þat liflode. was · þat pacience so preysed And þanne wasBx.14.55: was: LWCG read was it, as in Cx, supplying a Bx omission preserved in MO before correction and in alpha. Cr has it was and Hm þat was. a pece of þe pater noster · fiat voluntas tua ¶ Haue haukyn quod pacyence · and ete þis whan þe hungreth Or whan þow clomsest for colde · or clyngest for dr[outh]eBx.14.57: drouthe: The alpha reading is supported by Cx against beta's drye. However, the latter is a good reading (cf. Bx.5.549), and it is possible that the alpha reading is a revision. [And]Bx.14.58: And: R (=alpha?) is supported by Cx, though beta omits and F has Þere. shal neuere gyuesBx.14.58: gyues: "shackles". Cx supports beta. Alpha substitutes non-alliterating feytoures, "deceivers"; presumably this was a misreading of a gloss feteres, "fetters" in Bx. For another case of a gloss being included in the text, cf. note to Bx.15.25. þe greue · ne grete lordes wrath Prisone ne peyne · for pacientes vincunt Bx.14.60: L's paraph is unsupported except for the line-space in M.Bi so þat þow be sobre · of syȝte and of tonge In etynge and in handlyng · and in alle þi fyue wittis Darstow neuere care for corne · ne lynnen cloth ne wollen Ne for drynke ne deth drede · but deye as god lyketh Or þorw honger or þorw hete · at his wille be it For if þow lyuest after his lore · þe sho[r]ter lyf þe betterBx.14.65: better: Alpha has leuere, perhaps by alliterative attraction; beta is supported by Cx. Si quis amat cristum mundum non diligit istum ¶ For þorw his breth bestes wexenBx.14.67: wexen: L's forms are inf. wax(en), pr. 3 sg. wexeth, waxeth, pr. pl. wexeth, pa. sg. wex, pa. pl. wexen, woxen, ppl. waxen, woxen. The readings of other beta mss. confirm that wexen is here past tense, as is ȝeden. R has the present; the most authoritative C mss. have the past. · and abrode ȝeden Dixit & facta sunt &c · Ergo þorw his breth mowen · men & bestes lyuen As holywrit witnesseth · whan men segge her gracesBx.14.70: graces: Beta's plural is supported by Cx. Aperis tu manum tuam · & imples omne animal benediccione ¶ It is founden þat fourty wynter · folke lyued with-outen tulying And oute of þe flynte spronge þe flode · þat folke & bestes dronke And in Elyes tyme · heuene was yclosed Þat no reyne neBx.14.75: ne: Omitted by MHmF and the P family of C. rone · þus rede menBx.14.75: rede men: This word-order is supported by Cx against the reversal in MF. in bokes Þat many wynt[er]Bx.14.76: wynter: There is the usual variation between the marked and unmarked forms of the plural. Here Cx supports CrR. men lyueden · and no mete ne tulyeden [¶]Bx.14.77: ¶: WHmR have a paraph here which in L has slipped to the next line. Seuene slepe as seith þe boke · seuene hundreth wynter And lyueden with-oute lyflode · and atte laste þei woken And if men lyued as mesure wolde · shulde neuere-moreBx.14.79: more: Although in alliterative position, this is omitted by all C mss. as well as by beta4 and F presumably by coincidence in a revised b-verse. be defaute Amonges cristene creatures · if crystes wordes ben trewe Ac vnkyndnesse carestia maketh · amonges crystene peple And ouer-plente maketh pruyde · amonges pore & riche Ac mesure is so moche worth · it may nouȝte be to dere For þe meschief and þe meschaunce · amonges men of sodome Wex þorw plente of payn · & of pure sleuthe Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuitBx.14.86: R ends the quotation at panis, and F omits altogether. Lines 81-110 have no parallel in C. For þei mesured nouȝt hem-self · of þat þei ete and dronke Diden dedly synne [·] þat þe deuel lyked So vengeaunce fel vpon hem · for her vyle synnes Þei sonken in-to helle · þoBx.14.90: þo: So LM and F, but R joins the others with þe. Either could be a substitution for the other. citees vchone ¶ For-þi mesure we vs wel · and make owre faithe owre scheltroun And þorw faith cometh contricioun · conscience wote wel Whiche dryueth awey dedly synne · and doth it to be venial And þough a man myȝte nouȝte speke · contricioun myȝte hym saue And brynge his soule to blisse · byBx.14.95: by: LCr + alpha; MW substitute for and others drop. For the idiom by so, "provided that", cf. Bx.11.76. so þat feith bere witnesse Þat whiles he lyued he bileued · in þe lore of holycherche Ergo contricioun feith and conscience · is kyndelich dowel And surgienes for dedly synnesBx.14.98: synnes: Apparently beta, though CrHm agree with alpha on the sg. We follow copy-text. · whan shrifte of mouth failleth ¶ Ac shrifte of mouth more worthy is · if man be i[n]licheBx.14.99: inliche: R reproduces alpha, as shown by F's error with (for within). MO also have ynlich, presumably a scribal restoration since other beta mss. have iliche. contrit For shrifte of mouth sleeth synne · be it neuere so dedly Per confessionem to a prest · peccata occiduntur Þere contricioun doth but dryueth it doun · in-to a venial synne As dauid seith in þe sauter · et quorum tecta sunt peccata Ac satisfaccioun seketh oute þe rote · and bothe sleeth and voideth And as it neuere had ybe · to nouȝt bryngeth dedly synne Þat it neuere eft is seen ne sore · but semeth a wounde yheled ¶ [Ȝe]Bx.14.107: Ȝe: Alpha only, but an opening discourse-marker that is characteristically Langlandian; cf. l. 113 below, Bx.11.145 etc. where woneth charite quod haukyn · I wiste neuere in my lyue Man þat with hym spake · as wyde as I haue passed ¶Bx.14.109: ¶: The paraph at the start of the speech is in beta and F. Cf. l. 107 above, and l. 111 below. Þere parfit treuthe and pouere herte is · and pacience of tonge Þere is charitee þe chief chaumbrereBx.14.110: chaumbrere: The form chambre in MHmCG and alpha could represent Bx, corrected by other scribes. See note to laborere in l. 338. [·] for god hym-selue ¶ Whether pacien[c]e pouerteBx.14.111: pacience pouerte: This, rather than paciente pouerte in LCrWO, is likely to be the beta reading, as in CG and MHm before correction. Scribes were understandably puzzled, not realising that Pacience is a term of address (as in l. 292). Evidence that W's exemplar may have read pacience is that W nowhere else spells paciente with final /e/. On this analysis, alpha, equally puzzled, added and, to read pacience and pouerte. Yet alpha's reading has support from Cx, pouerte and pacience (RK.15.277). quod haukyn · be more plesaunte to owre driȝteBx.14.111: driȝte: The difficult word is misread by C and glossed by G and alpha. Cx has instead "plese more god almyhty". Þan ricchesse riȝtfulliche ywonne · and resonablelich yspendedBx.14.112: yspended: Beta2 alters to dispended. ¶ Ȝe quis est ille quod pacience · quik laudabimus eum Þough men rede of richchesse · riȝt to þe worldes ende I wist neuere renke þat riche was · þat whan he rekne sholde Whan itBx.14.116: it: L's agreement with R against the easily adopted he (as in the b-verse) in the other beta mss. would be secure for Bx except that Cx reads he drow to þe deth. F omits the pronoun. See Introduction V.3.2. drow to his deth-day · þat he ne dred hym sore And þatBx.14.117: þat: The beta reading, but easily lost as in MGR. atte rekenyng in arrerage fel · rather þan oute of dette ¶ There þe pore dar plede · and preue by pure resoun To haue allowaunce of his lorde · by þe lawe he it cleymeth Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde · of riȝtful iugge he axeth And seith lo briddes and bestes · þat no blisse ne knoweth And wilde wormes in wodes · þorw wyntres þow hem greuest And makest hem welnyegh meke · and mylde for defaute And after þow sendest hem somer · þat is her souereigne Ioye And blisse to alle þat ben · bothe wilde and tame Þanne may beggeres asBx.14.126: as: So L, corrected M, CrW. Certainly a more meaningful reading than and in beta4 and alpha, and supported by the X family of C, though some of the P family also have and. bestes · after bote waiten Þat al her lyf han lyued · in langour and in defaute But god sent hem some-tyme · some manere ioye Other here or elles-where · kynde wolde it neuere For to wrotherhele was he wrouȝte · þat neuere was ioyeBx.14.130: was ioye: The word-order is supported by alliteration and Cx, against the reversal in Hm and alpha. shaped ¶ Angeles þat in helle now ben · hadden ioye some-tyme And diues in deyntees lyued · and in douce vye Riȝte so resoun sheweth · þat þoBx.14.133: þo: Beta2 has, less appropriately, þe. Lines 133-40 are not in C. men þat were richeBx.14.133: þat were riche: The phrase is lost in alpha. F repairs. And her makes also · lyued her lyf in murthe ¶ Ac god is of a wonder wille · by þat kynde witte sheweth To ȝiue many men his mercymonye · ar he it haue deserued Riȝt so fareth god by some riche · reuthe me it þinketh For þei han her hyre here · anBx.14.138: an: "and". The fact that the form is also in M may indicate that it is beta's. heuene as it were And isBx.14.139: is: "it is". Dropped by beta2 and F, and erased in M. gret lykyng to lyue · with-oute laboure of body And whan he deyeth ben disalowed · as dauid seith in þe sauter Dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt And in an other stede also · velud sompnum surgencium domine in ciuitate tua & adBx.14.142: & ad: Scribes have corrected this familiar quotation (Psalm 72.20). F reads sompnium, "dream", in place of sompnum, "sleep", and adds ymaginem, both as in the Vulgate. Alpha's ad for beta's & ad is probably a similar correction. Cx ends the quotation at surgencium. nichilum rediges Allas þat ricchesse shal reue · and robbe mannes soule Fram þe loue of owre lorde · at his laste ende ¶ Hewen þat han her hyre aforeBx.14.145: afore: Alpha has to-fore and Cx byfore. See note to Bx.5.12. · aren euermore nedy And selden deiethBx.14.146: deieth: Beta adds the pronoun he, but R (F rewrites) is supported by Cx in postponing the subject until the b-verse. out of dette · þat dyneth ar heBx.14.146: he: Beta supported by the X group of C, while alpha's plural has support from the P group. The plural is probably prompted by the previous line. deserue it And til he haue done his deuor · and his dayes iourne For whan a werkman hath wrouȝte · þanne may men se þe sothe What he were worthi for his werke · and what he hath deserued And nouȝt to fonge bifore · for drede of disalowynge ¶ So I segge by ȝow riche · it semeth nouȝtBx.14.151: nouȝt: Lost by alpha making nonsense; F rewrites the b-verse to improve the sense. þat ȝe shulle Haue [two] heuene[s]Bx.14.152: two heuenes: Alpha is supported by Cx. Probably beta misunderstood the sense of a line which causes scribes problems in other respects also. It involves an unusual disjuncture after the first stress: "(You shall not) have two heavens: (one) in your present existence and (another) in heaven afterwards". In Cx the line is simplified by dropping the b-verse: "(You shall not) have two heavens in return for your present existence" (RK.16.9). inBx.14.152: in: Though R's for is shared with Cx, it makes no sense in the context of the line as in Bx. ȝowre here-beyngBx.14.152: here-beyng: Only recorded here and in C by MED, her adv. 7(a). Beta2 and G corrupt to here beryng (? OED harbouring), prompting W to guess at here dwellyng. · and heuene her-afterBx.14.152: her-after: This is perhaps Bx, though it could have been prompted by here in the a-verse. WGR have þere-after. Riȝt as a seruaunt taketh his salarye bifore · & sitth wolde clayme moreBx.14.153: R (reproducing alpha) divides the line at the end of the unusually heavy a-verse, but is left with an impossibly short line. F therefore expands freely. Hm divides at the same point as alpha, and then fills out the following line independently. Alpha's huire for beta's more anticipates Bx huyre in l. 154. The passage up to l. 169 is dropped in C. As he þat none hadde · and hath huyreBx.14.154: huyre: Alpha's heuene is a consequence of its muddle in the previous line. atte laste It may nouȝt be ȝe riche men · or matheu on god lyeth De delicijs ad delicias · deficile est transireBx.14.156: transire: Alford (1992), 89, quotes Jerome in support of this reading rather than ascendere in alpha, who still has his eye on heuene. ¶Bx.14.157: ¶: The paraph, following the Latin line, is in beta and F. Ac if [ȝ]eBx.14.157: ȝe: LMCrGF þe is an easy misreading. It may, however, represent Bx, with WHmCOR making an obvious correction. riche haue reuthe · and rewarde wel þe pore And lyuen as lawe techeth · done leute to alleBx.14.158: alle: All beta mss. except L have hem alle (referring to the poor) but alle is probably the alpha reading, as in R, with F expanding a short b-verse to his brothir. On M's agreement with beta1, see Introduction III.2. Criste of his curteysie · shal conforte ȝow atte laste And rewarde alle dowble ricchesse · þat reuful hertes habbeth And as an hyne þat hadde · his hyre ar he bygonne And whan he hath done his deuor wel · men doth hym other bounte Ȝyueth hym a cote aboue his couenaunte · riȝte so cryst ȝiueth heuene Bothe to riche and to nouȝte riche · þat rewfullichBx.14.164: rewfullich: Cf. l. 160. Alpha adopts the easier reading riȝtfullich. lybbeth And alle þat done her deuor wel · han dowble hyre for her trauaille Here forȝyuenesse of her synnes · and heuene blisse after Bx.14.167-71: These five lines are lost in alpha, jumping from Ac to Ac and paraph to paraph. ¶ Ac it nys but selde yseyn · as by holy seyntes bokesBx.14.167: bokes: M shares the error liues with O. Þat god rewarded double reste · to any riche wye For moche murthe is amonges riche · as in mete and clothyng And moche murthe in Maye is · amonges wilde bestes And so forth whil somer lasteth · her solace dureth [¶]Bx.14.172: ¶: An appropriate paraph, recorded by WHm and alpha. AcBx.14.172: Ac: Alpha must have had this reading, though R omits it. F has (as usual) But. beggeres aboute Midsomer · bredlees þei soupe And ȝit is wynter for hem worse · for wete-shodde þei gange Afyrst sore and afyngred · and foule yrebuked And arated of riche men · þat reuthe is to here Now lorde sende hem somer · and some manere ioye Heuene after her hennes-goynge · þat here han suche defaute For alle myȝtest þow haue made · none mener þan other And yliche witty & wyse · if þe welBx.14.179: þe wel: In L the scribe has first written þi followed by five letters; the /i/ has been altered to /e/ followed by wel and a punctus. There can be little question that L's original reading was þi wille as in MCGOF. Rather doubtfully we follow L's corrected reading, supported by beta2 (CrWHm) and R, on the grounds that þe wel was more likely to have been mistaken for þi wille than vice versa. Cx revises the b-verse and offers no guide. hadde lyked Bx.14.180: Alpha's paraph is not appropriate.And haue reuthe on þise riche men · þat rewarde nouȝte þi prisoneresBx.14.180: prisoneres: For R's form prisones, see note to Bx.3.138 and l. 186 below. Here and elsewhere we follow copy-text. Lines 180-209 are not in C. Of þe good þat þow hem gyuest · ingrati ben manye Ac god of þi goodnesse · gyue hem grace to amende For may no derth ben hem dere · drouth ne weet Ne noyther hete ne haille · haue þei here hele Of þat þei wilne and wolde · wanteth hem nouȝt here ¶ Ac pore peple þi prisoneres · lordeBx.14.186: lorde: R has lore, either as a spelling of lorde as at Bx.5.407, 18.61, or as the ppl. "lost". Perhaps the form represents alpha, since F supposes it to be a verb, reading lyȝn, "lie". Note also the addition of final /d/ in O's lord. in þe put of myschief Conforte þo creatures · þat moche care suffren Þorw derth þorw drouth · alle her dayes here Wo in wynter tymesBx.14.189: wynter tymes: Alpha has wyntres tyme. In the same a-verse in C at RK.9.78, the X family has beta's reading, the P family has wynter tyme. Cf. somer tyme in the next line. · for wantyng of clothes And in somer tyme selde · soupen to þe fulle Conforte þi careful [·] cryst in þi rycheBx.14.191: ryche: Beta2 corrupts to rychesse, and M is altered to that reading. For how þow confortest alle creatures · clerkes bereth witnesse Conuertimini ad me & salui eritis ¶ Þus in genere of his genitriceBx.14.194: in genere of his genitrice: "by the very nature of his nobility". Alpha must have had alle his, as R, but beta copies apart from L have neither word. · Ihesu cryst seyde To robberes and to reueres · to riche and to pore [To hores to harlotes . to alle maner poeple]Bx.14.196: The line is in alpha only, beta missing the second line beginning To. For to (2) F has & to, possibly correctly, since R uniquely drops & in the parallel position in the line above. F's b-verse is, however, rather meaninglessly inclusive. Þow tauȝtest hem in þe Trinitee · to take baptesme And be clene þorw þat crystennynge · of alle kynnes [synnes]Bx.14.198: synnes: Dropped by L after kynnes. W alone has the sg. AndBx.14.199: And: "if". Alpha underlines the sense with And if, adopted also by CrW. In M a word is first inserted and then erased. vs fel þorw folye · to falle in synne after Confessioun and kne[w]lechyngBx.14.200: Confessioun and knewlechyng: Reversed in alpha. [·] & crauyng þi mercy Shulde amende vs as many sithes · as man wolde desire AcBx.14.202: Ac: Beta2, C and alpha have And. if þe p[ouke]Bx.14.202: pouke: Beta's pope is an odd error, especially in view of l. 205. KD, p. 147 suggest "a preferred villain substituted". wolde plede here-aȝeineBx.14.202: here-aȝeine: Alpha has þere-aȝeine, adopted also by G. · and punyssh vs in conscience HeBx.14.203: He: Either Christ, or more probably "the one affected". R's Ho is perhaps an alpha error, altered by F to We for the sense. shulde take þe acquitance as quik · and to þe qued schewe it Pateat &c per passionem domini And putten of so þe pouke · and preuen vs vnder borwe Ac þe perchemyn of þis patent · of pouerte be moste And of pure pacience · and parfit bileue Bx.14.208: The paraph in W and alpha is not adopted.Of pompe and of pruyde · þe parchemyn decorreth And principaliche of alle peple · but þei be pore of herte Ellis is al an ydel · al þat euere we writen Pater nostresBx.14.211: Pater nostres: CrCGOR have the singular. Cx has preyeres (RK.16.38). and penaunceBx.14.211: penaunce: Here and elsewhere, romance loans ending in a sibilant may be unchanged in the plural, hence frequent variations between penaunce and penaunces, e.g. Bx.P.25, 7.132, 15.153, 16.39. Here Hm and alpha have the marked plural, as does the X family of C. It is worth observing that of 44 instances of penaunce from the C text in Wittig's Concordance, 16 are emendations of penaunces in the X family. · and pilgrimageBx.14.211: pilgrimage: CrWG have the plural, as do most C mss. See Bx.15.189 and 19.387 for a similar situation. to Rome ButBx.14.212: But: "unless". Beta is supported by Cx. R has And; F begins With in a rewritten a-verse. owre spences and spendyngBx.14.212: spendyng: R has oure spendynge, as the X family of C. sprynge ·Bx.14.212: The punctuation follows sprynge (aaa/xx) in LR and probably in original M, though there another punctus appears before springe, as in other mss. (aa/ax). of a trewe welleBx.14.212: welle: The obviously superior reading is supported by Cx over wille in CrWCO (G corrects). Elles is al owre laboure loste · lo how men writeth In fenestres atte freres · if fals be þe foundement For-þi crystene sholde ben in comune riche · none coueitouse for hym-selue ¶ For seuene synnes þatBx.14.216: þat: Dropped in CO, and postponed to the b-verse in WGF. Cx has þat in both positions. þere ben · assaillen vs euere Þe fende folweth hem alle · and fondeth hem to helpe Ac wiþ ricchesse þ[o] ribaude[s]Bx.14.218: þo ribaudes: Alpha, supported by Cx, referring to the sins. Beta has þat Ribaude referring to the devil. · rathest men bigyleth For þere þat richesse regneth · reuerence[s]Bx.14.219: reuerences: i.e. expressions of deference. Alpha has the plural, as do the best C mss. Beta's form might be construed as plural without ending, as often with romance loans ending in a sibilant. See note to l. 211. folweth And þat is plesaunte to pryde · in pore and in riche AndBx.14.221: And: Beta supported by the X family of C against alpha's Ac/But. The P family has no conjunction. þe riche is reuerenced · by resoun of his richchesse Þere þe pore is put bihynde [·] and par-auenture can more Of witte and of wysdom · þat fer [w]eyBx.14.223: fer wey: R only, since the line is lost in F, but supported by Cx against beta's fer awey. Neither phrase occurs elsewhere in the poem. is better Þan ricchesse or reaute · and rather yherde in heuene For þe riche hath moche to rekene · and riȝte softeBx.14.225: riȝte softe: Corruption in beta2 leads CrW to invent and Hm to correct. Perhaps beta2 read ofte, and lost the word in the next line. walketh Þe heighBx.14.226: heigh: Alpha and G repeat riȝt from the previous line. Beta's a-verse is as in Cx. waye to heuene-ward · oft ricchesseBx.14.226: ricchesse: Beta against alpha's riche. The b-verse is rewritten in C. letteth Ita possibileBx.14.227: possibile: "It is as (ita) possible for a rich man etc." Quoted in this form also in RK.11.201a. MW alter to impossibile, in view of Matt. 19.23 which has "quia dives difficile ...". diuiti &c ¶ Þere þe pore presethBx.14.228: preseth: Beta is supported by Cx. Alpha has precheth (R) or procheth (in both cases <p> with abbreviation). bifor þe richeBx.14.228: þe riche: Certainly Bx, though Cx omits, as does F by contamination or coincidence. · with a pakke at his rugge Opera enim illorum sequntur illos Batauntliche as beggeres done · and baldeliche he craueth For his pouerte and hisBx.14.231: his (2): Omitted by MCGO, as in the P family of C. (F loses ll. 229-31). pacience · a perpetuel blisse Beati pauperes · quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum ¶ AndBx.14.233: And: Alpha has Ac (F But); C mss. have And or Also. Cf. l. 221. pryde in ricchesse regneth · rather þan in pouerte [Or] in þe Maister [or]Bx.14.234: Or ... or: Beta has Arst ... þan, but alpha is supported by Cx. Beta supposes that the master would have more pride than his man, but Skeat (1886), ii, 211 explains that by man Langland refers to "the arrogant manners of the retainers in a great household". in þe man · some mansioun heBx.14.234: he: Omitted by R, but supported by Cx. hath Ac in pouerte þere pacyence is · pryde hath no myȝte Ne none of þe seuene synnes · sitten ne mowe þere longe Ne haue powere in pouerte · if pacyence it folwe For þe pore is ay prest · to plese þe riche And buxome at his byddyng · for his broke loues And buxomenesse and boste · aren euer-more at werre And ayther hateth other · in alle manere werkes Bx.14.242: A paraph might be expected here, as for the other sins, but only WCF have one.If wratthe wrastel with þe pore · he hath þe worse ende For if þey bothe pleyne · þe pore is but fieble And if he chyde or chatre · hym chieueth þe worse Bx.14.245-55: These eleven lines are lost in beta, probably by eyeskip from And if 244 to ¶ And if (in beta only) 256. Cx is closely parallel except for the last two lines, and generally supports R over F. [For lowelich he loketh · and loueliche is his speche Þat mete or money · of other men mote asken Bx.14.247: The paraph in F marks the introduction of gluttony.And if glotonye greue pouerte · he gadereth þe lasse For his rentes wolBx.14.248: wol: R has ne wol. Cx has neither ne in the a-verse nor no in the b-verse. nauȝte reche · no riche metes to bugge And þouȝ his glotonye be to gode ale · he goth to cold beddynge And his heued vnhiled · vnesily ywrye For whan he streyneth hym to strecche · þe strawe is his shetesBx.14.251: shetes: Cx supports R's plural. So for his glotonye and his grete sleuthe · he hath a greuous penaunce Þat is welawo whan he waketh · and wepeth for colde And sum-tyme for his synnes · so he is neuere merye Withoute mornynge amonge · and mischiefBx.14.255: mischief: The b-verse in Cx, "so meschief hym folleweth" (RK.16.78) offers no support to F's myche myschef. to bote] ¶ And [þouȝ]Bx.14.256: þouȝ: Alpha is supported by Cx against if in beta. coueitise woldeBx.14.256: wolde: Only L + alpha, but supported by Cx "wolde with þe pore wrastle". cacche þe pore · þei may nouȝt come togideres And by þe nekke namely · her none may hente other For men knoweth wel þat coueitise · is of a kene wille And hath hondes and armes · of a longe lengthe And pouerte nis but a petit þinge · appereth nouȝt to his naule And louely layke was it neuere · bitwene þe longe and þe shorte And þough auarice wolde angre þe pore · he hath but litel myȝte For pouerte hath but pokes · to putten in his godis Þere auarice hath almaries · and yren-bounde coffres And whether be liȝter to breke · lasse boste itBx.14.265: lasse boste it: M alters its reading to agree with CrW; Cx supports the other mss. maketh A beggeres bagge · þan an yren-bounde coffre ¶ Lecherye loueth hym nouȝt · for he ȝeueth but lytel syluer Ne doth hym nouȝte dyne delycatly · ne drynke wyn oft Bx.14.269-70: The lines are in beta only, but supported by Cx. Perhaps alpha censored them, though KD, p. 68, suggest eyeskip from A...stuwes 269 to And...suwe 271. A strawe for þe stuwes · it stode nouȝt I trowe Had þei noneBx.14.270: none: Cx has alliterating noen haunt. We suppose that Bx or beta lost haunt, with L preserving the reading none, beta1 altering to no þing for sense, and G further altering to noght. If so, then M is perhaps dependent on beta1. but of pore men · her houses wereBx.14.270: were: All beta mss. except L read stoode, perhaps repeated from the previous line. Cx loses the b-verse. vntyled ¶ And þough sleuthe suwe pouerte · and serue nouȝt god to paye Mischief is his maister · and maketh hym to thynke Þat god is hisBx.14.273: his: Omitted by R and misplaced by F, but supported by Cx. grettest helpe · and no gome elles And [he is]Bx.14.274: he is: The reading of R alone, but supported by Cx (RK.16.97). The beta reading, as in L, original M, and HmGOC, appears to have been his. CrWF make an obvious correction to he his, and this is followed by the M corrector. The sense is that Poverty is a servant in God's retinue. seruaunt as he seith · and of his sute bothe And whereBx.14.275: where: "whether", the spelling of LR. he be or be nouȝte · he bereth þe signe of pouerte And in þat secte owre saueoure · saued al mankynde For-thi al poreBx.14.277: pore: CrCGO have pouertie, influenced by l. 275. Cx supports pore. þat paciente is · may claymen and askenBx.14.277: may claymen and asken: The b-verse does not alliterate. Cx has instead of puyr rihte may claymen. After her endynge here · heuene-riche blisse ¶ Moche hardier may he axen · þat here myȝte haue his wille In londeBx.14.277: In londe: F's reading suggests that R's In lorde is an alpha error. and in lordship · and likynge of bodye And for goddis loue leueth al · an lyueth as a beggere And as a mayde for [a]Bx.14.282: a (2): R is supported by Cx against omission in all other B mss. mannes loue · her moder forsaketh Hir fader and alle her frendes · and folweth hir make Moche is suche a maydeBx.14.284: suche a mayde: LMHmCO are supported by Cx (RK.16.107). Alpha reads þat mayde, G drops suche, and CrW reflect a corrupt exemplar anticipating more in the following line. to louie · of hymBx.14.284: hym: Cx has a man to carry the alliteration. þat such one taketh More þan a mayden is · þat is maried þorw brokage As bi assent of sondry partyes · and syluer to bote More for coueitise of good · þan kynde loue of bothe ¶ So it fareth bi eche a persone · þat possessioun forsaketh And put hym to be pacient · and pouerte weddeth Þe whichBx.14.290: Þe which: Supported by Cx against R Which and Cr Such. is sybbe to god hym-self · and so [neighe is pouerte]Bx.14.290: so neighe is pouerte: This is the reading of R and presumably of alpha, which F attempts to clarify by altering pouerte to þat persone. Beta is quite different, so to his seyntes, which makes superficial but inappropriate sense and can hardly have given rise to alpha. The readings of this b-verse and that of the next line suggest that Bx was damaged or unclear. Cx has a rather feeble repair: "The whiche is syb to Crist sulue and semblable bothe" (RK.16.113), and drops the next line. ¶ Haue god my trouthe quod Haukyn · ȝe preyse faste pouerteBx.14.291: ȝe preyse faste pouerte: Beta's b-verse at least makes sense but it lacks alliteration. R, presumably representing alpha, is nonsense, and F skilfully rewrites. It may be that Bx read ȝe herie faste pouerte, with preyse as a gloss to avoid confusion with "hear", a gloss then incorporated by the scribes. It may be also that Bx was only partly legible; see previous note. What is pouerte pacienceBx.14.292: pacience: R only, but supported by Cx, where Actyf is addressing Patience. F drops the word and beta has with pacience. quod he · proprely to mene ¶Bx.14.293: ¶: The paraph in LWHm introduces four Latin lines. Paupertas quod pacience · est odibile bonum Remocio curarum · possessio sine calumpnia · donum dei · sanitatisBx.14.294: sanitatis: CrWC and original M have erroneous sanitas, as again at l. 326; R anticipates semita. mater Absque solicitudineBx.14.295: solicitudine: O and Alpha have the error solitudine, as again at l. 331. Many C manuscripts have the same error. semita · sapiencie temperatrix · negocium sine dampno Incerta fortuna · absque solicitudine felicitas · ¶ I can nouȝt construe alBx.14.297: al: Dropped by Hm and beta4, but supported by Cx. þis quod haukyn · ȝe moste kenneBx.14.297: kenne: Scribes add me (WR) or alter to telle (Hm) or say (beta4). þis on englisch Bx.14.298: MWHmCF mark the start of Patience's speech with a paraph or line-space.In englisch quod pacyence it is wel harde · welBx.14.298: wel (2): Lost by CrHmG who move the punctuation to follow pacyence. F also loses the word and expands the b-verse. to expounen Ac somdel I shal seyne it · by so þow vnderstonde Pouerte is þe first poynte · þat pryde moste hateth Thanne is it good by good skil · al þat agasteth pryde Riȝte as contricioun is confortable þinge · conscience wote wel And a sorwe of hym-self · and a solace to þe sowle So pouerte propreliche [·] penaunce and ioye Is to þe body [·] pure spiritual helthe Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum Bx.14.307: Alpha has a paraph which beta more logically postpones to l. 308.And contricioun confort [·] & cura animarumBx.14.307: CGO add þe second, no doubt incorporated from a marginal note. But cf. l. 314. ¶ Selde sitte pouerte · þe sothe to declare OrBx.14.309: Or: CrW read For, and M is altered to that reading. Hm takes Or as to be Latin, so writes horas justicie in display script. Many C scribes are puzzled by the syntax at this point. as iustyce to iugge men · enioigned is no poreBx.14.309: enioigned is no pore: The b-verse has been lost in alpha, with F patching. Ne to be aBx.14.310: a: Dropped by beta2 and G, as by some C scribes. Maire [ouer]Bx.14.310: ouer: Probably alpha as in R, misread as on in F. It has support from Cx against beta's aboue. men · ne mynystre vnder kynges Selden is anyBx.14.311: any (1): Beta supported by Cx. R's nonsensical enemye presumably reproduces alpha, revised to þe by F. pore yput · to punysshen any peple Remocio curarum Ergo pouerte and pore men · parfornen þe comaundement Nolite iudicare quemquam þe þriddeBx.14.314: þe þridde: Supported by all B mss., though not in Cx and quite possibly incorporated from a marginal note. Cf. l. 307. ¶ Selde is pore [riȝt]Bx.14.315: pore riȝt: Alpha is supported by Cx and alliteration over beta's any pore, picked up from l. 311. riche · but of [his]Bx.14.294: his: Omitted by all except R (rephrased in F), but supported by Cx. riȝtful heritage Wynneth he nauȝt with weghtesBx.14.316: weghtes: Alpha must have had wittes as in R but revised in F. C mss. show some confusion, the majority reading wihtes, "weights", but with variants including wittes, whittus and whites (RK.16.130). fals · ne with vnseled mesures Ne borweth of his neghbores · but þat he may wel paye Possessio sine calumpnia · ¶ Þe fierthe [it]Bx.14.319: it: Omitted by all except R, but it is in the most reliable mss. of C, and easily lost. Cf. ll. 324, 327, 334, 338, 342, where R again uniquely reads it. is a fortune · þat florissheth þe soule Wyth sobrete fram al synne · and also ȝit more It affaiteth þe flesshe · fram folyes ful manye A collateral conforte · crystes owne ȝifte Donum dei ¶ Þe fyfte [it]Bx.14.324: it: Omitted by all except R; cf. note to l. 319. C mss. have instead Ȝut is hit or Ȝut hit is. is moder of helthe [·] a frende in alle fondynges And for þe la[w]d[e]Bx.14.325: lawde: The range of variants suggests that this spelling (as in CR) or possibly laude was the reading of Bx. Schmidt (1995), 394, plausibly proposes that it was an error for lowe, "humble people". Most beta scribes suppose the intended reading to be lande, but GO take it as the northern spelling of lewde. F's lawe presumably means "law" rather than "low", which is lowe, lowh, lowhȝ. Cx rewrites (RK.16.138) euere a lecheBx.14.325: a leche: Alpha's a-liche / y-lyche, though adopted by KD, is an obvious error. In its rewritten line Cx has of foule eueles leche. · a lemman of al clennesse SanitatisBx.14.326: Sanitatis: For the error Sanitas in CrWC and uncorrected M and G, cf. l. 294. mater ¶ Þe sexte [it]Bx.14.327: it: Omitted by all except R; cf. note to l. 319. Most C mss. have it. is a path of pees · ȝe þorw þe pas of altoun Pouerte myȝte passe · with-oute peril of robbyng For þere þat pouerte passeth · pees folweth after And euere þe lasse þat he bereth · þe hardyer heBx.14.330: he (2): R drops and Cx rewrites. The line is lost in F. is of herte For-þi seith seneca · paupertas est absque solicitudineBx.14.331: solicitudine: See note to l. 295. semita And an hardy man of herte · amonge an hepe of þeues CantabitBx.14.333: Cantabit: Cr and alpha have the imperfect in error. (KD and Schmidt wrongly record Cantabit as F's reading). paupertas coram latrone viator ¶ Þe seueneth [it]Bx.14.334: it: Omitted by all except R; cf. note to l. 319. Most C mss. have it. is welle of wisdome · and fewe wordes sheweth For lordes alloweth hym litel · or lysteneth to his reson He tempreth þe tonge to treuthe-ward · [þat]Bx.14.336: þat: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's easier and. no tresore coueiteth Bx.14.337: The Latin tag (from l. 295) is recorded only in beta and is not in C. Sapiencie temperatrix ¶ The eigteth [it]Bx.14.338: it: Omitted by all except R; cf. note to l. 319. Most C mss. have it. is a lele laborereBx.14.338: laborere: The form has strong support for Bx from LCr and alpha, though Cx has labour. MED labour 6 gives the sense "laborer", with examples almost entirely from A mss, and it is quite a frequent variant in all three versions. Cf. flateres for flatererers in Bx.13.450 and 477, and MHmCG + alpha chambre for chaumbrere in Bx.14.110. · and loth to take more Þan he may wel deserue · in somer or in wynter And if [he]Bx.14.340: he (1): Omitted in L, where the line is marked for correction. chaffareth he chargeth no losse · mowe he charite wynne Negocium sine dampno ¶ The nyneth [it]Bx.14.342: it: Omitted by all except R; cf. note to l. 319. Most C mss. have it. is swete to þe soule · no sugre is swettere For pacyence is payn · for pouerte hym-selue And sobrete swete drynke · and good leche in sykenesse Þus lered me a le[r]edBx.14.345: lered (2): Alpha supported by Cx. To avoid the repetition, beta adopts lettred, while a number of C mss. have, oddly, lewid. man · for owre lordes loueBx.14.345: loue: Supposing an omission, WCr and F add of heuene on the model of Bx.6.19, 13.151, etc. Cx ends lordes loue seynt Austyn (RK.16.153), taking up the first words of the following line. Seynt austyn a blissed lyf · with-outen bysynesseBx.14.346: bysynesse: CrW add ladde to complete the b-verse, and M is corrected to that reading. Cx redivides ll. 345-7, so that this line becomes "A blessed lyf withoute bisinesse bote onelyche for þe soule" (RK.16.155). For body and for soule · absque solicitudine felicitas Now god þat al good gyueth · graunt his soule reste Þat þusBx.14.349: þus: Beta2 has þis, but Cx reads þus. fyrst wrote to wyssen men · what pouerte was to mene ¶ Allas quod haukyn þe actyf man þoBx.14.350: þe actyf man þo: Lost in alpha. These lines to the end of the passus are not in Cx. · þat after my crystendome I ne hadde ben ded and doluen · for doweles sake So harde it is quod haukyn · to lyue and to do synne Synne suwethBx.14.353: suweth: Alpha's error scheweth prompts F to rewrite. vs euere quod he · and sori gan wexe And wepte water with his eyghen · and weyled þe tyme Þat euere he dede dede · þat dere god displesed Swowed and sobbed · and syked ful ofte Þat euere he hadde londe or lordship · lasse other more Or maystrye ouer any man · mo þan of hym-self I were nouȝt worthy wote god quod haukyn · to were any clothes Ne noyther sherte ne shone · saue for shame one To keure my caroigne quod he · and cryde mercye faste And wepte and weyled · and þere-with I awaked Passus quindecimus finit dowel & incipit dobet Bx.15.1-14: The lines have no parallel in C. Ac after my wakyngBx.15.1: wakyng: R's walkynge is an obvious error. · it was wonder longe Ar I couth kyndely · knowe what was dowel And so my witte wex and wanyed · til I a fole were And somme lakked my lyf · allowed it fewe And leten [me]Bx.15.5: me: Dropped by beta, though supplied on grounds of sense by CrW and inserted by the M corrector. for a lorel · and loth to reuerencen Lordes or ladyes · or any lyf elles As persones in pellure · with pendauntes of syluer To seriauntz neBx.15.8: ne: The beta reading against and in alpha. to sucheBx.15.8: suche: R adds and; F reads swiche men followed by an erasure. · seydeBx.15.8: seyde: The M corrector inserts I in line with CrWHm. nouȝte ones God loke ȝow lordes · ne louted faire Þat folke helden me a fole · and in þat folye I raued Tyl resoun hadde reuthe on me · and rokked me aslepe Tyl I seigh as it sorceryeBx.15.12: sorcerye: R has of sorserie; F has a syght of sorseryȝe. were · a sotyl þinge with-al One with-outen tonge and teeth · tolde me whyder I shulde And wher-of I cam and of what kyndeBx.15.14: and of what kynde: Beta4 omits of, and F has simply kendely. R drops the whole phrase and rewrites as two lines. · I conIured hym atte laste If he were crystes creature · for crystes loueBx.15.15: for crystes loue: Beta2 presumably lost the phrase. CrW patch with anoon, Hm with leue. Here comparison with Cx recommences (RK.16.166). me to tellen ¶ I am crystes creature quod he · and crystene in many aBx.15.16: a: Dropped by R only, though it appears to be the Cx reading. place In crystes courte I-knowe wel · and of his kynne a partye Is noyther peter þe porter · ne poule with hisBx.15.18: his: The beta reading with which F agrees, supported by the P family of C. R's þe has the support of the X family, and could be right. fauchoune Þa[t] wil defende me þe dore · dynge ich neure so late At mydnyȝt at mydday · my voice [is so]Bx.15.20: is so: The reading of alpha, CrHm, and Cx. Other beta mss. reverse the word-order. yknowe Þat eche a creature of his courte · welcometh me fayre ¶ What ar ȝe called quod I in þat courteBx.15.22: quod I in þat courte: The word-order is reversed in MHm and beta4. The line is not in Cx. · amonges crystes peple Bx.15.23: WHmR have a paraph.Þe whiles I quykkeBx.15.23: quykke: CrW read quykne, but Cx has quyke (RK.16.183). Hm and beta4 have quyk was yn. þe corps quod he · called am I anima And whan I wilne and wolde · animus ich hatte And for þat I can and knowe · called am I mensBx.15.25: mens: R, presumably reproducing his exemplar as usual, adds thouȝt, set out as a gloss between punctus. Cx misunderstood it as part of the line, so that most mss. read mens thouhte or mannes þouȝte. And whan I make mone to god · memoria is my name And whan I deme domes · and do as treuthe techeth Þanne is racio my riȝt name · resoun an englissh And whan I fele þat folke telleth · my firste name is sensus And þat is wytte and wisdome · þe welle of alle craftes And whan I chalange or chalange nouȝte · chepe or refuse Þanne am I conscience ycalde · goddis clerke and his notarie And whan I loue lelly · owre lorde and alle other Þanne is lele loue my name · and in latyn amor And whan I fl[e]eBx.15.35: flee: L's flye may represent the beta reading, also in CO; M's flee is a correction. But Cx supports alpha and beta2. fro þe flesshe · and forsake þe caroigne Þanne am I spirit specheles · andBx.15.36: and: L and alpha only, but supported by Cx. spiritus þanne ich hatte Austyn and ysodorus [·] ayther of hem bothe Nempned me þus to name · now þow myȝte chese How þow coueitest to calle me · now þow knowest alleBx.15.39: alle: W adds for at the beginning of the b-verse and drops alle. G also drops alle, but it is in Cx. my names Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur · dum viuificat corpusanima est · dum vult animus est · dum scit mens est · dum recolit memoria est · dum iudicat racio est · dum sentit sensus est · dum amat amor est · dum negatvel consentit consciencia est · dum spirat spiritus estBx.15.40: L sets this as two lines, F as six and R as ten. Cf. Bx.15.124. ¶ Ȝe ben as a bisshop quod I · al bourdynge þat tyme For bisshopes yblessed · þeiBx.15.42: þei: Dropped in MCGO, but supported by most C mss. bereth many names Presul and pontifex · and metropolitanusBx.15.43: metropolitanus: Alpha has metropolanus, as in eight C mss., including X. It may, therefore, be an archetypal error. And other names an hepe [·] episcopus & pastor ¶ Þat is soth seyde he · now I se þi wille Þow woldest knowe and kunne · þe cause of alle her names And of myne if þow myȝtest · me þinketh by þi speche ¶ Ȝe syre I seyde [·]Bx.15.48: With the short a-verse, the placing of the punctus causes scribes uncertainty. WR put it after seyde; F reads y for by and puts it after that. In HmO it follows so; in M it follows man. LC omit it. by so no man were greued Alle þe sciencesBx.15.49: sciences: COR have the plural without ending. vnder sonne · and alle þe sotyle craftes I wolde I knewe and couth · kyndely in myne herte ¶ Þanne artow inparfit quod he · and one of prydes knyȝtes For such a luste and lykynge · lucifer fel fram heueneBx.15.52: F alone adds a line after this. Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo ¶ It were aȝeynes kynde quod he · and alkynnes resoun Þat any creature shulde kunneBx.15.55: kunne: Alpha and Cr have kenne in the sense "know" (MED kennen v.(1), 3), but Cx supports beta. al · excepte cryste one Aȝein such salomon speketh · and dispiseth her wittes And seith sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprim[a]turBx.15.58: opprimatur: R is supported by Cx in the present subjunctive, "let him be overwhelmed". Beta has the present indicative, while F corrects to the future as in the Clementine Vulgate (Prov. 25.27). See Schmidt (1995), 395. a gloria Bx.15.59: WHmCF begin the line with a paraph, with a line-space in M.To englisch men þis is to mene · þat mowen speke & here Þe man þat moche hony e[et]Bx.15.60: eet: Beta's eteth is indisputably present, but alpha's eet, which is supported by Cx, is probably past tense. Cf. Bx.5.386, 6.303, 13.66, etc. · his mawe it engleymethBx.15.60: it engleymeth: Most C mss. support beta against alpha's is/mote be englaymed. And þe more þat a man · of good mater hereth But he do þerafter · it doth hym double scathe Beatus est seith seynt Bernard · qui scripturas legit Et verba vertitBx.15.64: verba vertit: This order, which is reversed in Hm and alpha, is supported by Cx (RK.16.223). in opera · fullich to his powere Coueytise to kunne [·] and to knowe scienceBx.15.65: science: WF understand this as plural, and write sciences as in Cx. Cf. l. 49 note. PulteBx.15.66: Pulte: "thrust", the reading of LR and M before correction. As at Bx.1.128, 8.97, other scribes adopt easier Putte. But Cx has Potte. out of paradys · Adam and Eue Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloriamBx.15.67: gloriam: The form cited by Alford (1992), 92-3. Beta 2, corrected O and some C scribes alter to gloria, taking it as the expected ablative. spoliauit And riȝte as hony is yuel to defye · and engleymeth þe mawe Riȝt so þat þorw resoun [·] wolde þe rote knowe Of god and of his grete myȝtes · his gracesBx.15.70: graces: HmCGOF have the more obvious singular. The line is rewritten in C. it letteth For in þe lykyng lith a pryde · and aBx.15.71: a (2): Lost by beta2 and F. lycames coueitise Aȝein crystes conseille · and alle clerkes techyng That is non plus sapere quam oportet sapere [¶]Bx.15.74: ¶: A paraph is warranted by the syntax and supported by MWHmC and alpha. Freres and fele otherBx.15.74: fele other: It is possible that beta (apart from G) has added fele (not in alpha) to "improve" the alliteration, but obscuring alliteration on /m/. But Cx has the word in a revised line (RK.16.231). maistres · þat to þeBx.15.74: þe: Omitted by WOF. lewed men prechen Ȝe moeuen materes inmesurablesBx.15.75: inmesurables: Post-positional French adjectives may have a plural inflection, altered by CrWF. (Mustanoja (1960), 277.) MED citations suggest that the negative prefix is more commonly vn-, as in WG and alpha. Cx rewrites the line. · to tellen of þe Trinite Þat ofte tymes þe lewed peple · of her bileue doutenBx.15.76: Alpha drops the line, perhaps as a result of the repeated bileue in l. 77. Cx revises (RK.16.233). Bettere byleue were monyBx.15.77: Bettere byleue were mony: "It would be better for many doctors to drop such teaching". This is the reading of LCrHm, and probably that of M before correction, but it caused considerable confusion. The lack of alliteration suggests the line is corrupt. If it is authorial, Langland is presumably punning on the noun bileue (l. 76) and MED bileven v. (1), "abandon", which some scribes take as MED bileven v. (2), "believe". The M corrector rearranged the words as Bettre were many doctours . bileu{..}, but subsequently alters the last word to leue, giving the reading "Bettre were many doctours leue suche techinge", which makes good sense. W hits on a similar reading. R (= alpha?) alters were to by and drops such in the b-verse. F revises in his usual uncompromising manner. The line is not in Cx. · doctoures such techyng And tellen men of þe ten comaundementz · and touchen þe seuene synnes And of þe braunches þat burgeouneth of hem · and bryngeth men to helle And how þat folke in folyes · myspenden her fyue wittes As wel freres as other folke · folilich spenenBx.15.81: spenen: LR (and CrC) agree against spenden in other mss., which is no doubt prompted by myspenden in the line above. However, Cx has spenden. The two verbs (MED spenden and spenen) have the same origin and mean the same thing. In housyng in haterynge · in toBx.15.82: in to: Perhaps "in displaying too arrogant a learning". So alpha; beta has and in to. Cx has in. hiegh clergye shewynge More for pompe þan for pure charite · þe poeple wote þe sothe Þat I lye nouȝt loo · for lordes ȝe plesen And reuerencen þe riche · þe rather for her syluer Confundantur omnes qui adorant scul[p]tilia · & alibi Vt quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium Go to þe glose of þe verse · ȝe grete clerkes If I lye on ȝow to my lewed witte · ledeth me to brennynge nota de fratribusBx.15.90: nota de fratribus: In L this is in the scribal hand and boxed in red. Since it is also in M, it is probably at least beta. For as it semeth ȝe forsaketh · no mannes almesse Of vsureres of hores · ofBx.15.91: of (3): R has and; F has & of. The line is not in C. auarous chapmen And louten to þis lordes · þat mowen lene ȝow nobles Aȝeine ȝowre reule and Religioun · I take recorde at Ihesus Þat seide to his disciples · ne sitis [acceptores personarum]Bx.15.94: acceptores personarum: Beta reverses the order, but alpha is supported by Cx. ¶ Of þis matere I myȝte · make a longeBx.15.95: longe: Alpha probably read grete, as R, with F increasing the alliteration by altering to mychil. There is no guidance from C. bible Ac of curatoures of crystene peple · as clerkes bereth witnesse I shal tellen it for treuth sake · take hede who-so lyketh ¶ As holynesse and honest[e] [·] oute of holicherche spredeth Þorw lele libbyng men · þat goddes laweBx.15.99: lawe: Alpha has the plural. There is no parallel line in C. techen Riȝt so out of holicherche · alle yueles spredeth There inparfyt presthod is · prechouresBx.15.101: prechoures: Beta is supported by Cx (RK.16.247). Alpha reads and prechoures, perhaps anticipating l. 105. and techeres AndBx.15.102: And: Beta2 has I, but this is not supported by Cx. se it by ensample [·] in somer tyme on trowes Þere somme bowes ben leued · and somme bereth none Þere is a myschief in þe more · of suche manere bowes Riȝt so parsones and prestes · and prechoures of holy chercheBx.15.105: cherche: R's plural has no support from Cx. [Is þe]Bx.15.106: Is þe: R is supported by Cx. Beta alters to Þat aren to correct the syntax; F rewrites. The form is can be used for the plural (as at Bx.16.241), but here presumably agrees with rote rather than the nouns in the previous line. rote of þe riȝte faith · to reule þe peple AcBx.15.107: Ac: The common variation between Ac ~ But ~ And. The better C mss. support Ac. þere þe rote is roten · reson wote þe sothe Shal neure floure ne frute · ne faire leef be grene Bx.15.109: Alpha and Hm have a paraph, and in L the line is at the top of the page where it is sometimes missed.For-þi wolde ȝeBx.15.109: ȝe: Alpha has þe, as does the P group of C. Cf. l. 111 ȝowre, altered by F to here. lettred leue · þe leccherye of clothynge And be kynde as bifel for clerkes · and curteise of crystes goodes Trewe of ȝowre tonge · and of ȝowre taille bothe And hatien to here harlotrye · and [a]uȝtBx.15.112: auȝt: R's b-verse depends on wolde ȝe ... hatien, so "hate under any circumstance to take tithes", and presents aaa/ax alliteration. Beta's nouȝt depends, perhaps less plausibly, directly on wolde ȝe: "if you would not take tithes" (to is used when the auxiliary is separated from the infinitive, as here; see Mustanoja (1960), 522). In beta the pattern is aaa/xx. F rewrites. Cx simplifies the line (RK.16.260), with a couple of scribes even so misunderstanding the syntax and adding a negative. to vnderfonge Tythes of vntreweBx.15.113: of vntrewe: Obviously better than CrW but of trewe and G + alpha of trewe. Perhaps the mistake is prompted by l. 111 Trewe in the context of the syntactic difficulty shown by the readings in the line above. Cx revises (RK.16.261). þinge · ytilied or chaffared ¶Bx.15.114: ¶: The paraph in LHm and alpha (line-break in M) evidently represents Bx, yet the sentence beginning at l. 109 with a series of conditionals must be completed here in the main clause. Lothe were lewed men · but þei ȝowre lore folwed And amenden hem þat mysdonBx.15.115: mysdon: Bx means "(those) who do wrong amend themselves", but could be misunderstood to mean "amend those who do wrong". R's reading þei misdon makes it clearer that hem is reflexive, "amend themselves of what they do wrong". Cx clarifies with amenden (hem) of here mysdedes (RK.16.263). · more for ȝowre ensamples Þan forto prechen & preue it nouȝt · ypocrysie it semeth For ypocrysie in latyn · is lykned to a dongehulBx.15.117: dongehul: Cf. "a donghel besnewed" (Aȝenbit of Inwit, 81/9-10, translating Somme le Roi). Alpha's dongoun misses the allusion. Þat were bysnewed with snowe · and snakes wyth-inne Bx.15.119: The paraph in L and the line-space in M are clearly not appropriate, and may represent a beta error.Or to a wal þat were whitlymed · and were foule wyth-inneBx.15.119: The line is lost in HmCG, through eyeskip on wyth-inne. Riȝt so many prestes · prechoures and prelates Ȝe aren enblaunched with bele paroles · and with clothesBx.15.121: and with clothes: So R. Cx has and with bele clothes. To repair the archetypal loss of the repeated bele, beta lengthens the b-verse with also and F supplies alliteration. Ac ȝowre werkes and ȝowre wordes þere-vnder · aren ful [wol]uelichBx.15.122: woluelich: Evidently R has the alpha reading, for which F substitutes foxly. Beta misreads as vnlouelich. Cx has an entirely different line, but it ends as wolues (RK.16.271). ¶Bx.15.123: ¶: The paraph is recorded by LR only. Iohannes crysostomus · of clerkes speketh and prestes Bx.15.124: Set as four lines in L, nine in R and three in F. Cf. l. 40. Sicut de templo omne bonum progrediturBx.15.124: progreditur: Alpha anticipates procedit. · sic de templo · omne malum procedit Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit · tota floret ecclesia · si autem corupt[a]Bx.15.124: corupta: Since this is the form in alpha and most C mss., it is presumably archetypal. Beta corrects to coruptum, referring to sacerdocium rather than ecclesia, as in Alford (1992), 93. fuerit · omnium fides marcida est · Si sacerdociumBx.15.124: sacerdocium (2): Alpha has sacerdos. fuerit in peccatis · totus populus co[n]uertitur ad peccandumBx.15.124: peccandum: Alpha has peccatum. Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam · inteligis quod vicium habet in radice Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum · & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum ¶ If lewed men wist · what þis latyn meneth And who was myn auctor · moche wonder me þinketh But if many aBx.15.127: many a: MR have the equally common construction without a. Cx has no parallel for ll. 125-32. prest bere · for here baselardes and here brochesBx.15.127: baselardes ... broches: Reversed in R (= alpha?). A peyreBx.15.128: peyre: The idiom is supported by LCGR (cf. Bx.12.22). The others have peire of. bedes in her hande · andBx.15.128: and: Alpha has or. a boke vnder her arme Sire Iohan & sire Geffray · hath a gerdel of syluer A basellarde or a ballokknyf · with botones ouergylte Ac a portous þat shulde be his plow · placebo to segge Hadde he neure seruyse to saueBx.15.132: saue: R reads haue (which could be right), while F abbreviates the long a-verse. syluer þer-to · seith it with yvelBx.15.132: yvel: The reading of L and alpha, and so presumably Bx. Schmidt (1995) translates with yvel wille as "with a bad grace". The phrase occurs elsewhere in the sense "malice". KD adopt wyth ydel wylle in other beta mss., which Kane (2005) glosses "perfunctorily", though there are no parallels. O's for spendyng at ale is an inspired invention simplifying a puzzling line. As Skeat explains it, the priest expects to be paid for saying a mass in addition to (þer-to) the Placebo, so that Hadde he neure means "If he did not have". wille Allas ȝe lewed men · moche lese ȝe on prestes Ac þinge þat wykkedlich is wonne · and with false sleigthes Wolde neuere witteBx.15.135: witte: Scribes are puzzled, with W substituting þe wit and Hm þe wylle. CGO revise further. For witte of witty god, "the wisdom of wise God", Cx reads oþerwyse god. Langland seems to mean that since good men should not benefit from goods obtained wickedly (ll. 112-13), wicked men must enjoy them. of witty god · but wikked men it haddeBx.15.135: hadde: Alpha reads maked, but beta is supported by Cx. Þe which aren prestes inparfit · and prechoures after syluer Sectoures and sudenes · somnoures and her lemmannes Þis þat with gyle was geten · vngraciouslich is spendedBx.15.138: spended: R has spened, agreeing with the X family of C. Cf. l. 81 note. So harlotes and hores · ar hulpen with such goodis AndBx.15.140: And: R (= alpha) has Ac (with F reading But as usual). Cf. the variants at ll. 107, 131 etc. The line is not in Cx. goddes folke for defaute þer-of · forfaren and spillen ¶ Curatoures of holykirke · a[nd]Bx.15.141: and: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's as, which, however, gives good sense. clerkes þat ben auerouse Liȝtlich þat þey leuen · loselles it habbeth Or dyeth intestate · and þanne þe bisshop entreth And maketh murthe þere-with · and his menBx.15.144: men: Support for meyne comes from HmF alone. Lines 143-62 are rewritten in C. bothe And seggen he was a nygarde · þat no good myȝte asspare To frende ne to fremmed · þe fende haue his soule For a wrecched hous he helde · al his lyf-tyme And þat he spared and bispered · speneBx.15.148: spene: The form in LMR. For variation with spende, cf. ll. 81, 138, 149 and 340. we in murthe ¶ By lered by lewed · þat loth is to spendeBx.15.149: spende: Cf. the previous line. In this case only R has spene. Þus gone her godes · be þe goste faren Ac for good men god wote · gret dole men maken And bymeneth good mete-ȝyueres · and in mynde hauethBx.15.152: haueth: Alpha has hem haueth, which may be right. There is no parallel in C. quid est caritasBx.15.153: quid est caritas: Written in the right-hand margin in the main hand in LM, so probably beta. In prayers and in penauncesBx.15.153: penaunces: For variation of the plural with and without <-s>, see note to Bx.14.211. · and in parfyt charite ¶ What is charite quod I þo · a childissh þinge he seide Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli · non intrabitis in regnum celorum With-outen fauntelte or foly · a fre liberal wille ¶Bx.15.157: ¶: The paraph in LW (with a new line-group in M) marks the start of Will's speech. Where shulde men fynde such a frende · with so fre an herte Bx.15.158: Alpha and Hm mistake this as the beginning of Will's speech, with a paraph here rather than at l. 157. But the line is certainly notable. A later annotator in L writes: "nota the name of thaucto[r]". R has "Longe Wylle" in display script in red in the right margin; in M a later annotator has scribbled "longe will". I haue lyued in londe quod IBx.15.158: I (2): Beta2 reads he. · my name is longe wille And fonde I neuere ful charite · bifore ne bihynde Men beth mercyable · to mendynantz & to pore And wolen lene þere þei leue · lelly to ben payed ¶Bx.15.162: ¶: The paraph is in LM only and may be spurious. WHmCF have a paraph at l. 164 instead. Ac charite þat poule preyseth best · and most plesaunte to owre saueoureBx.15.162: owre saueoure: Evidently beta, despite WCr's oure lord. Alpha presumably had R's god. AsBx.15.163: As: Beta2 has Is, and M is altered to that reading. The word is dropped by CG and is not in Cx. non inflatu[r]Bx.15.163: inflatur: Perhaps beta had the error inflatus, retained by L and corrected in M. non [est]Bx.15.163: est: Not in L and added in M and Hm, again suggesting that beta was perhaps in error. ambiciosa non querit que sua sunt I seigh neuere such a man · so me god helpe That he ne wolde aske after his · and otherwhile coueyte Þinge þat neded hymBx.15.166: neded hym: Supported by Cx against alpha's reversal and the present tense in CGO. nouȝt · and nyme it if he myȝte ¶ Clerkis kenne me þat cryst · is in alle places Ac I seygh hym neuere sothly · but as my-self in aBx.15.168: a: Alpha omits. The line is not in Cx. miroure [Hic]Bx.15.169: Hic: M and alpha are supported by Cx against It in L, Ita in CGO, and omission in beta2. In 1 Cor. 13.12 the word is nunc. in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem And so I trowe trewly · by þat men telleth of charite It is nouȝt championes fyȝte · ne chaffare as I trowe ¶ Charite quod he ne chaffareth nouȝte · ne chalengeth ne craueth As proude of a peny · as of a pounde of golde And is as gladde of a goune · of a graye russet As of a tunicle of tarse · or of trye scarlet He is gladde with alle gladde · and good ty[l] alle wykked AndBx.15.177: And: Alpha has He. Lines 177-87 are rewritten in C. leuethBx.15.177: leueth: R clearly reads leueth (though not recorded by KD), and F's beleviþ supports this as alpha's reading. Cr has leueth and in G lenithe is altered to levithe, as is to be expected in these late texts. In all other beta mss. it is impossible to determine whether the reading is u or n (though it looks more like u in O). Our transcriptions followed KD in reading leneth (though with a note of caution in W). We should probably have followed Skeat, who read L as leueth, with a note glossing it "believes; answering to let it soth" (l. 180). and loueth alle · þat owre lorde made Curseth he no creature · ne he can bere no wratthe Ne no lykynge hath to lye · ne laughe men to scorne Al þat men seith he let it soth · and in solace taketh And alle manere meschiefs · in myldenesse he suffreth Coueiteth he none erthly goodBx.15.182: good: Alpha has godes. · but heuene-riche blisse ¶ Hath he any rentes or ricchesse · or any riche frendes ¶ Of rentes ne of ricchesse · ne reccheth he neuere For a frende þat fyndethBx.15.185: fyndeth: The evidence supports this as the Bx form in this line against R's monosyllabic fynt, whereas Bx evidently had fynt in the next line. hym · failled hym neuere at nede Fiat voluntas tua [·] fynt hym euer-more And if he soupethBx.15.187: soupeth: Only MCGO have subjunctive soupe. et[eth]Bx.15.187: eteth: The present tense is required by the sense. L's ette must be past, and R's eet (= alpha?) may be. See note to l. 60 above. Hm and beta4 have he eteþ. but a soppe [·] of spera in deo He can purtreye wel þe pater noster · and peynte it with auesBx.15.188: aues: Beta's plural is supported by Cx (RK.16.323). And other-while is his woneBx.15.189: is his wone: LMHm (R drops his). CrW, beta4 and F have he is woned, but Cx has his wone is. · to wende in pilgrymageBx.15.189: in pilgrymage: Only LM have in, though this is the Cx reading. Bx clearly had sg. pilgrymage, though WCF have the plural, as does Cx. See Bx.14.211 and 19.387 for a similar situation. Þere pore men and prisonesBx.15.190: prisones: The form has good support for both Bx and Cx. See note to Bx.3.138. liggeth · her pardoun to haue Þough he bere hem no bred · he bereth hem swetter lyflode Loueth hem as owre lorde biddeth · and loketh how þei fare ¶ And whan he is wery of þat werke · þanne wil he some-tyme Labory in aBx.15.194: a (1): In LR only, though Cx has þe. lauendrye · wel þe lengthe of a myle And ȝerne in-to ȝouthe · and ȝepliche s[eche]Bx.15.195: seche: Alpha is supported by Cx (as well as sense) against beta's speke. Pryde with al þe appurtenaunceBx.15.196: appurtenaunce: The choice is between this and alpha's purtenaunce. This could represent the plural, as MCrWGF unambiguously do. C mss. have the same variation. · and pakken hem togyderes And bouken hem at his brest · and beten hem clene And leggen on longe · with laboraui in gemitu meo And with warme water at his eyghen · wasshen hem after AndBx.15.200: And: Beta is supported by the X family of C, but alpha's omission has support from the P family. þanne he syngeth whan he doth so · & some-tyme seith wepyng Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies ¶ By cryst I wolde þat I knewe hym quod I · no creature leuere ¶ With-outen helpe of Piers plowmanBx.15.203: plowman: MR have þe plowman; F drops the two words. Cf. l. 206. Lines 202-24 are heavily revised in C, with few parallels. quod he · his persone seestow neuere ¶ Where clerkes knowen hym quod I · þat kepen holykirke ¶ Clerkes haue no knowyng quod he · but by werkes and bi wordes Ac piers þe plowman · parceyueth more depper ÞatBx.15.207: Þat: This odd reading, supported by L and alpha, evidently puzzled the scribes. M is altered to What, the reading of beta2, while CGO have Where. There is no parallel in C. is þeBx.15.207: þe: Lost in alpha, prompting F to alter wil to why. wille and wherfore · þat many wyȝte suffreth Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum For þere ar ful proude-herted men · paciente of tonge And boxome as of berynge · to burgeys and to lordes And to pore peple · han peper in þe nose And as a lyoun he loketh · þere men lakketh his werkes ¶ For þere ar beggeres and bidderes · bedmen as it were Loketh as lambren · and semen lyf-holy Ac it is more to haue her mete · [on]Bx.15.215: on: Alpha's reading gives the required sense. LMCrW suggest that beta had with, although Hm and beta4 have in. such an esy manere Þan for penaunce and parfitnesse · þe pouerte þat such taketh ¶ Þere-fore by coloure ne by clergye · knowe shaltow hym neuere Noyther þorw wordes ne werkes · but þorw wille one And þat knoweth no clerke · ne creature inBx.15.219: in: Beta probably had in, altered by beta2 (the line is omitted by Hm) to the more usual on. F also reads on, though R has the unusual form an. erthe But piers þe plowman · petrus id est cristus For he ne isBx.15.221: ne is: LM. In practice there is no distinction between this and nys in WHmR. We follow copy-text. nouȝte in lolleres · ne in lande-leperes hermytes Ne at ancres þere a box hangeth · alle suche þei faiten Fy on faitoures · and in fautores suos Bx.15.224: Alpha has a paraph.For charyte is goddis champioun · and as a good chylde hende And þe meryest of mouth · at mete where he sitteth Þe loue þat lith in his herte · maketh hym lyȝte of speche And is compenable and confortatyf · as cryst bit hym-selue Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &cBx.15.228: R alone has the word-order as in Cx. Perhaps beta and F reverted to the Vulgate order, since it was a well-known quotation used as an antiphon on Ash Wednesday. See Alford (1992), 94. Bx.15.229: Hm and alpha have a paraph. In L the line is at the top of the page where a paraph is sometimes missed.For I haue seyn hym in sylke · and somme-tyme in russet Bothe in grey and in grys · and in gulte herneys And as gladlich he it gaf · to gomes þat it neded ¶ Edmonde and Edwarde · eyther were kynges And seyntes ysette · [so]Bx.15.233: so: Alpha's alliterating reading means "so much did they practice charity". Beta's tyl makes no sense, prompting the reading for in CrW, and the alteration to that reading in MHm. KD and Schmidt (1995), 396, oddly conjecture stille, though the latter has an elaborate explanation. charite hem folwed ¶ I haue seyne charite also · syngen and reden Ryden and rennen · in ragged wedes Ac biddyng as beggeres · bihelde I hym neuere Ac in riche robes · rathest he walketh Ycalled and ycrimiled · and his crowne shaueBx.15.238: Following this beta4 has an additional line. It is not in C. And in a freres frokke · he was yfounde ones Ac it is ferreBx.15.240: ferre: Though beta2 and F have fern, which might be considered difficilior (it occurs nowhere else in any version), Cx has fer in a revised a-verse. agoo · in seynt Fraunceys tyme In þat secte sitthe · to selde hath he be knowenBx.15.247: knowen: Clearly the Bx reading. Unusually, W's founde is shared with Cx, presumably by coincidence. ¶ Riche men he recomendeth · and of her robes taketh Þat with-outen wyles · leden her lyues Beatus est diues · qui &c ¶ In kynges courte he cometh ofte · þere þe conseille is trewe Ac if coueityse be of þe conseille · he wil nouȝt come þer-Inne In courte amonge iaperes · he cometh butBx.15.247: but: LMGR are supported by Cx against noȝt but. selde For braulyng and bakbytyng · and beryng of fals witnesse ¶ In þe constorie bifor þe comissarie · he cometh nouȝt ful ofte For her lawe dureth ouer-longe · but if þei lacchen syluer And matrimoigne for monye · maken & vnmaken And þat conscience and cryst · hath yknitte faste Þei vndon it vnworthily · þo doctours of lawe [¶ Amonges erchebisshopes and oþer bisshopes · and prelates of holy chercheBx.15.254-8: These five lines are lost by beta, skipping from one paraph to the next. Lines 254 and 257 are distantly related to RK.16.366-7. We follow R, with spellings altered to those of L. Comparison with Cx begins again with l. 290 and then l. 297. Forto wonye with hem · his wone was sum-tyme And cristes patrimoigne to þe pore · parcel-mele dele Ac auarice hath þe keyes now · and kepeth for his kynnesmen And for his sectoures & his seruantz · & somme for hereBx.15.258: here: The kinsmen's. F's hise weakens the point. children] ¶Bx.15.259: ¶: The paraph is in beta, following its loss of text. See note to ll. 254-8. Ac I ne lakke no lyf · but lorde amende vs alle And gyue vs grace good god · charite to folwe For who-so myȝte mete with hym · such maneres hym eyleth Noyther he blameth ne banneth · bosteth ne prayseth Lakketh ne loseth · ne loketh vp sterneBx.15.263: This is transposed with the following line in beta4. Craueth ne coueiteth · ne crieth after more In pace in idipsum dormiam &c ·Bx.15.265: The Latin line is lost in alpha. CrHmG extend the verse. It is repeated at Bx.18.191-2. Þe moste lyflode þatBx.15.266: þat: Supported by LWHmR. he lyueth by · is loue in goddis passioun Noyther he biddeth ne beggeth · ne borweth to ȝelde Misdoth he no man · ne with his mouth greueth ¶ Amonges cristene men · þis myldnesse shulde laste In alle manere angres · haue þis at herte Þat þough þei suffred al þis · god suffred for vs more In ensample we shulde do so · and take no veniaunce Of owre foes þat doth vs falsenesse · þat is owre fadres wille For wel may euery manBx.15.274: wel may euery man: Beta's word-order gives a better alliterative pattern than alpha's. wite [·] if god haddeBx.15.274: hadde: Dropped by G and alpha. The b-verse means "if God had followed his own wishes". wolde hym-selue Sholde neuere Iudas neBx.15.275: ne: Alpha, reading þe (R) or þat (F), takes no account of the following line. iuwe · haue Ihesu don on Rode Ne han martired peter ne Poule · ne in prisoun holden Ac he suffred in ensample · þat we shulde suffre also And seide to suche þat suffre wolde · þat pacientes vincunt ¶ Verbi gratia quod he · and verrey ensamples manye In legenda sanctorum · þe lyf of holy seyntes What penaunce and pouerte · and passioun þei suffred In hunger in hete · in al manere angres Antony and Egidie · and other holi fadres Woneden in wildernesse · amonge wilde bestes Monkes and mendynauntz · men bi hem-selue In spekes anBx.15.286: an: "and". The attestation of MCr and R (as well as beta4) favours omitting LWHmF in. spelonkes · selden speken togideres Ac noyther antony ne Egidy · ne hermite þat tyme Of liouns ne of leoperdes · no lyflode ne toke But of foulesBx.15.289: foules: Alpha includes the definite article, perhaps rightly. We follow copy-text. þat fleeth · þus fynt men in bokes Excepte þat Egydie · after an hynde cryede And þorw þe mylke of þat myldeBx.15.291: mylde: F omits, while R has meke, perhaps prompted by its spelling melke for "milk". best · þe man was susteyned A[c]Bx.15.292: Ac: The sense seems to call for R's reading, against beta's And. F omits. day by day had he hir nouȝt · his hunger forto slake But selden and sondrie tymesBx.15.293: tymes: See Bx.12.36. Alpha's form is possible. Discussed by KD, p. 143. · as seith þe boke and techeth ¶ Antony adayesBx.15.294: adayes: The form does not occur elsewhere in the poem. Alpha has on a day. We follow copy-text. · aboute none-tyme Had a bridde þat brouȝte hym bredBx.15.295: bred: R probably represents alpha, with punctuation after hym and the addition of his before bred (F has his later in the line). Either could be right, though b-verse alliteration on by is perfectly good. · þat he by lyued And þough þe gome hadde a geste · god fondeBx.15.296: fonde: "provided for". Alpha's fedde is likely to be scribal. Cf. l. 299. hem bothe ¶ Poule primus heremita · had parrokedBx.15.297: parroked: Cx (RK.17.13) does not support alpha's addition of in. hym-selue Þat no man miȝte hym se · for mosse and for leues Foules hym fedde · fele wynteres with-alle Til he founded freres · of austinesBx.15.300: of austines: There is liaison alliteration on /f/ which F improves by altering to of fraunces. ordre Poule after his prechyng · panyers he made And wan with his hondes · þat his wombe neded Peter fisched for his fode · and his felawe andrewe Some þei solde and some þei sotheBx.15.304: sothe: Past tense, from MED sethen v. (1). W sode is merely a variant spelling. Alpha has the easier eeten, but beta is supported by Cx. · and so þei lyued bothe And also Marie Magdeleyne · by mores lyued andBx.15.305: lyued and: Alpha's omission of the verb is attractive following lyued in l. 304, but beta has support from Cx. dewes Ac moste þorw deuocioun · and mynde of god almiȝty I shulde nouȝt þis seuene dayes · seggen hem alle Þat lyueden þus for owre lordes loue · manye longe ȝeresBx.15.308: manye longe ȝeres: Beta and Cx. Alpha's b-verse is repeated from l. 284. Ac þere ne was lyoun ne leopart · þat on laundes wenten Noyther bere ne bor · ne other best wilde Þat ne fel to her feet · and fauned with þe taillesBx.15.311: tailles: R's singular has no support from Cx. And if þei couth han ycarped · by cryst as I trowe Þei wolde haue fedde þat folke · bifor wilde foules Bx.15.314-15: Two lines lost by beta. The whole passage is heavily revised in C, and there is no trace of these lines. We follow R, with spellings altered to those of L. [For alle þe curteisye þat bestes kunne · þei kidde þat folke ofte In likkyng and in lowynge · þere þei on laundes ȝede] Ac god sent hem fode bi foules · and by no fierse bestes In menynge þat meke þinge · mylde þinge shulde fede As who seith religious · ryȝtful men shulde fyndeBx.15.318: fynde: WF pick up fede from the previous line. And lawful men to lyfholy men · lyflode bryngeBx.15.319: brynge: WF have sholde brynge, repeating the construction of the previous two lines. And þanne wolde lordes and ladyes be · loth to agulte And to take of her tenauntz · more þan treuth wolde Fonde þei þat Freres · wolde forsake her almessesBx.15.322: almesses: LWHm mark the plural form. The form of the other scribes can also be understood as plural. There is similar variation in the parallel line in C (RK.17.47), though most scribes have the unmarked form. And bidden hem bere it · þere it was yborwed For we ben goddes foules · and abiden alwey Tyl briddes brynge vs · þat we shulde lyue by For had ȝe potage and payn ynough · and peny-ale to drynke And aBx.15.327: a: i.e. "one", as is clearer in alpha. "And one main dish of just one kind". messe þere-mydde · of o manere kynde Ȝe had riȝt ynough ȝe Religious · and so ȝowre reuleBx.15.328: reule: Alpha substitutes non-alliterating ordre. me tolde NunquamBx.15.329: Nunquam: Supported by Cx. F's Numquid, which makes much better sense, is a correction in line with the Vulgate (Job 6.5). dicit Iob rugi[e]tBx.15.329: rugiet: The Vulgate's future tense is supported by alpha and Cx. on[a]ger cum [habuerit herbam]Bx.15.329: habuerit herbam: Beta reverses the word-order, but alpha's order, which is that of the Vulgate, is supported by Cx. · aut mugiet boscum ante plenum presepe steterit · brutorum animalium natura te condempnat ·quia cum eis pabulum comune sufficiatBx.15.329: brutorum ... sufficiat: Alpha omits but it is in Cx. · ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua ¶ If lewed men knewe þis latyn · þei wolde loke whom þei ȝeue And auyse hem bifore · aBx.15.331: a: "a period of". Alpha and GO omit. Lines 331-71 offer few parallels with C. fyue dayes or sexe Or þei amortesed to monkes · or chanouns her rentes Allas lordes and ladyes · lewed conseille haue ȝe To ȝyue fram ȝowre eyres · þat ȝowre ayeles ȝow lefte And ȝiuethBx.15.335: ȝiueth: CrWF supply the object it. to bidde for ȝow · to such þatBx.15.335: such þat: MCr and alpha have (slightly easier?) such as. ben riche And ben founded and feffed eke · to bidde for other ¶ Who perfourneth þis prophecye · of þe peple þat now lybbeth Dispersit dedit pauperibus &c If any peple perfourme þat texte · it ar þis pore freres For þat þei beggen abouten · in buildynge þei speneBx.15.340: spene: The form in LMO, but alpha and others have spende. See notes to ll. 81, 148. Beta2 and CF add it. And on hem-self sum · and such as ben her laboreres And of hem þat habbeth þei taken · and ȝyue hem þat neBx.15.342: ne: Beta2 omits, puzzled by the irony. habbeth ¶ Ac clerkes & knyȝtes · and comuneres þat ben riche Fele of ȝow fareth · as if I a forest hadde Þat were ful of faire trees · and I fonded and caste How I myȝte mo þer-inne · amonges hem sette Riȝt so ȝe riche · ȝe robethBx.15.347: robeth: "provide robes for" (as in L, corrected M, WC) but with a pun on the phrase "rob the rich". Already puzzled by the ironic tone earlier in the passage, other scribes write robbeth, leading F to alter ryche to not ryche. See l. 351. þat ben riche And helpeth hem þat helpeth ȝow · and ȝiueth þere no nede is As who-so filled a tonne [ful]Bx.15.349: ful: Called for by the alliteration, though preserved only in R. Alpha also has ful in the b-verse, replacing fressh in beta. · of a fressh ryuer And went forth with þat water · to woke with themese Riȝt so ȝe riche · ȝe robethBx.15.351: robeth: See note to l. 347. and fedeth Hem þat han as ȝe han · hem ȝe make at ese ¶Bx.15.353: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. Ac Religious þat riche ben · shulde rather festeBx.15.353: feste: Alpha picks up the weaker fede from l. 351. beggeres Þan burgeys þat riche ben · as þe boke techeth Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare Item [idem]Bx.15.356: idem: i.e. "from the same source again" (viz. Peter Cantor; see Alford (1992), 96). It is omitted by beta. peccatoribus dare · est demonibus immolare Item monache si indiges et accipis pocius das quam accipisBx.15.357-8: These lines are omitted in alpha. Si autem non eges & accipis · rapis Porro non indiget Monachus · si habeat quod nature sufficit For-þi I conseille alle cristene · to confourmen hem to charite For charite with-oute chalengynge · vnchargeth þe souleBx.15.361: þe soule: R omits. And many a prisoneBx.15.362: prisone: For the variation with prisoner see note to l. 190. fram purgatorie · þorw his preyeres he delyurethBx.15.362: he delyureth: Alpha has instead is deliuered, which could be right. Bx.15.363: A paraph as in Hm and alpha would be appropriate.Ac þere is a defaute in þe folke · þat þe faith kepeth Wherfore folke is þe feblere · and nouȝt ferme of bilieue As in lussheborwes is a lyther alay · and ȝet loketh he lyke a sterlynge Þe merke of þat mone is good · ac þe metal is fieble And so it fareth by some folke now · þei han a faire speche Croune and crystendome · þe kynges merke of heuene Ac þe metal þat is mannes soule · with synne is foule alayed Bothe lettred and lewede · beth allayed now with synneBx.15.370: The line is dropped by CGF. That no lyf loueth other · ne owre lorde as it semeth For [what]Bx.15.372: what: Omitted by beta, but alpha is supported by Cx (RK.17.86). þorw werre and wykked werkes · and wederes vnresonable Wederwise shipmen · and witti clerkes also Han no bilieue to þe lifte · ne to þe lore of philosofres ¶ AstrymyanesBx.15.375: Astrymyanes: L has the same spelling in l. 386, but in Bx.19.250 has astronomyenes. The forms probably reflect Bx; cf. R's spellings. C mss. have similar variation. alday · in her arte faillen Þat whilum warned bifore · what shulde [bi]falleBx.15.376: bifalle: R's unique reading is supported by Cx. All other B mss omit the prefix, but it should be noted that F shows a tendency to alter bifalle to falle: Bx.7.179, 8.8, 11.309. after Shipmen and sheperdes · þat with shipp & shepe wenten Wisten by þe walkene · what shulde bityde As of wederes andBx.15.379: and: Alpha has and of. The line is not in C. wyndes · þei warned men ofte Bx.15.380: A paraph as in WHm and alpha would be appropriate.Tilieres þat tiled þe erthe · tolden her maistres By þe sede þat þei sewe · what þei selle miȝte And what to leue and toBx.15.382: to (2): The reading of LM and alpha supported by Cx. Beta1 has what to. lyue by · þe londe was so trewe Now failleth þe folke of þe flode · and of þe londe bothe Sheperdes and shipmen · and so do þis tilieres Noither þei kunneth ne knoweth · one cours bi-for an other Astrymyanes also · aren at her wittes ende Of þat was calculed of þe [c]lementBx.15.387: þe clement: Alpha drops the article; beta reads þe element. The right reading is certainly that of Cx (RK.17.107), þe clymat (MED climat, "a region of the earth"). Beta replaced the corrupt Bx with much easier and non-alliterating þe element, "the weather". Alpha drops the definite article to make some sense: "calculated by [Pope?] Clement". At this date clement can only be a proper name; cf. Bx.5.344, 365 (in both cases R has small <c> but F a capital). It is possible, too, that Bx itself read þe clemet correctly and was differently misinterpreted by alpha and beta. · þe contrarie þei fynde Gramer þe grounde of al · bigyleth now children For is none of þis newe clerkes · who-so nymeth hede Þat can versifye faire · ne formalich enditenBx.15.390: The line is omitted by beta2. Cx has it. Ne nouȝt on amonge an hundreth · þat an auctour can construe Ne rede a lettre in any langage · but in latyn or in englissh Go now to any degre · and but if gyle be mayster And flaterere his felawe · vnder hym to fourmen MocheBx.15.395: Moche: Alpha adds And, but the sense is better without it: "It will surprise me greatly if Guile isn't in command and Flatterer working under him amongst everyone". wonder me thynketh · amonges vs alle Doctoures of decres · and of diuinite Maistres Þat shulde konne and knowe · alkynnes clergye And answere to argumentz · and also to a quodlibet I dar nouȝt seggen it for shame · if suche weren apposed Þei shulde faillen inBx.15.400: faillen in: LMG and alpha, supported by Cx against faillen of in beta2 and CO. her philosofye · and in phisyk bothe Wher-fore I am afered · of folke of holikirke Lest þei ouerhuppen as other don · in officesBx.15.402: offices: The form without ending in MWGF may also be plural. Cf. note to Bx.3.101. & in houres AcBx.15.403: Ac: Good support from LMR, with the usual variants And and But. ifBx.15.403: if: R has þouȝ, which may be alpha and may be right. It probably lies behind F's þey oon hippe ... (þey is F's usual form of "though") and is included in C which reworks as two lines (RK.17.118-19). þei ouerhuppe as I hope nouȝte · owre byleue suffisethBx.15.403: suffiseth: Either beta englishes the Latin or alpha supplies the Latin equivalent in anticipation of l. 405. Cx in a reworked line has the English form, altered by one scribe to sufficit. As clerkes in corpus cristi feste · singen & reden Þat sola fides sufficit · to saue with lewed peple ¶ And so may sarasenes be saued · scribes and iewes Allas þanne but owre loresmen · lyuen as þei leren vs And for her lyuynge þat lewed men beBx.15.408: be: L and alpha punctuate after be, the others after men. · þe lother god agulten For sarasenes han somwhat · semynge to owre bileue For þei loue and bileue · in o parsone almiȝty And we lered and lewede · in on god bileueth Bx.15.412: The line is omitted by beta as a result of eyeskip from the identical b-verse of l. 411. We follow R as usual. F begins the line And so, which is perhaps scribal emphasis. For R's on, F has in, as in the previous b-verse. The repetition might be an argument for or against. Lines 406-15 have no parallel in C. [Cristene and vncristene . on one god bileueth] AcBx.15.413: Ac: LR only. Cf. note to l. 403. one Makometh · a man in mysbileue Brouȝte sarasenes of surre · and se in what manere Þis Makometh was a crystene manBx.15.415: a crystene man: The alliterating noun is supported by L and alpha, but alpha is without the article, perhaps rightly. Beta1 seems to have read a cristene, as MWHm, though CrGO drop the article and C has pa. ppl. cristend. Cx, in a different line, has a man ycristened (RK.17.165). · and for he moste nouȝte be aBx.15.415: a (2): The variation is unpatterned: LWCOR have the article, but the others are without it. pope In-to surre he souȝte · and þorw his sotil wittes Daunted a dowue · and day and nyȝte hir fedde Þe corne þat she cropped · he caste it in his ere Bx.15.419-20: Two lines omitted by alpha, through eyeskip on ere. The lines form the basis of RK.17.174-5. And if he amonge þe poeple preched · or in places come Þanne wolde þe coluer come · to þe clerkes ere Menynge as after meet · þus Makometh hir enchauntedBx.15.421: enchaunted: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's chaunted. ABx.15.422: A: "And". See note to Bx.P.227. dide folke þanne falle on knees · for he swore in his prechynge Þat þe coluer þat come so · come fram god of heuene AsBx.15.424: As: Supported by the syntax over alpha's And. messager to Makometh · men forto teche And þus þorw wyles of his witte [·] and a whyte dowue Makometh in mysbileue · men and wommen brouȝte Þat lered þere and lewedBx.15.427: lered þere and lewed: The reading of LR, and possibly M's original version. F revises lered þere to leernede men; Hm (corrected) reverses the adjectives; beta4 drops þere, and CrW have lyued þo þere and lyue, with M altered to that reading. A further difference is that alpha punctuates after lewed. In Cx the line reads: And on his lore thei lyuen [or leuen] ȝut, as wel lered as lewed (RK.17.182). ȝit · l[e]uenBx.15.427: leuen: Only L has lyuen. There is some evidence that beta used the form leuen also for "live", causing some scribes to hypercorrect; cf. notes to ll. 571 and 615. on his lawes ¶ And sitth owre saueoure suffred · þe sarasenes so bigiled Þorw a crystene clerke · acursed in his soule AcBx.15.430: Ac: LR (F has but as usual). See note to l. 413. Lines 429-513 are not paralleled in C. for drede of þe deth · I dar nouȝt telle treuthe How englissh clerkes a coluer feden · þat coueityse hatte And ben manered after Makometh · þat no man vseth treuth ¶ Ancres and hermytes · and monkes and freres PerenBx.15.434: Peren: "become equals with". Alpha takes this as a noun, upsetting the syntax. to apostles · þorw her parfit lyuynge Wolde neuere þe faithful fader · þat his ministres sholde Of tyrauntz þat teneth trewe men · taken any almesse But done as Antony did · dominik andBx.15.437: and: Alpha has or. Fraunceys Benet &Bx.15.438: &: Alpha again has or. Bernarde · þe which hem firste tauȝte To lyue bi litel & in lowe houses · by lele mennes almesseBx.15.439: almesse: Beta's reading may be prompted by the same word at the end of l. 436. On the other hand, alpha's synonym fyndynge may have its origin in visual similarity with lyuynge at the end of l. 440, together with fynde in l. 441 (so KD, p. 143). KD opts for beta's reading, Schmidt (1995) for alpha's. Grace sholde growe & be grene · þorw her goodBx.15.440: good: Alpha picks up lele from the previous line, thus losing alliteration. lyuynge And folkesBx.15.441: folkes: HmC and alpha have the sg. sholde fynde · þat ben in dyuerse sykenesse Þe better for her byddynges · in body and in soule Her preyeres and her penaunces · to pees shulde bryngeBx.15.443: brynge: Alpha has hem brynge, anticipating the object of l. 444. Alle þat ben at debate · and bedemen were trewe Petite & accipietis &c Bx.15.446: Hm and alpha record a paraph.Salt saueth catelBx.15.446: catel: Beta2 and F add the definite article or personal pronoun. · seggen þis wyues Bx.15.447-514: These lines are omitted by F. Vos estis sal terre &c · Þe heuedes of holicherche · and þei holy were Cryst callethBx.15.449: calleth: R's past tense is both easier and less appropriate. hem salt · for crystene soules Et si sal euanuerit · in quo salietur AcBx.15.451: Ac: So LMHmOR. See note to l. 413. fressh flessh other fissh · whan it salt failleth It is vnsauory for soth · ysothe or ybake So is mannes soule sothly · þat seeth no good ensaumpleBx.15.453: ensaumple: R has the aphetic form saumple. Of hem of holycherche · þat þe heigh weye shulde teche And be gyde and go bifore · as aBx.15.455: a: Omitted by R. good baneoure And hardy hem þat bihynde ben · and ȝiue hem good euydence ¶ Elleuene holy men · al þe worlde torned In-to lele byleue · þe liȝtloker me thynketh Shulde al maner men · we han so manye Maistres Prestes and prechoures · and a pope aboue Þat goddes salt shulde be · to saue mannes soule ¶ Al was hethenesse some-tyme · Ingelond and wales Til Gregory gerteBx.15.463: gerte: R's and grete is much inferior. clerkes · to go here andBx.15.463: here and: Beta4 and R have and to, losing the emphasis on England and Wales. preche Austyn at Caunterbury · crystened þe kyngeBx.15.464: kynge: R's addition of þere may be a consequence of the loss of here in the previous line. And þorw myracles as men may rede · al þat marche he torned To cryst and to crystendome · and crosse to honoure And fulled folke fasteBx.15.467: faste: Possibly a beta addition, since R omits it. · and þe faith tauȝte More þorw miracles · þan þorw moche prechynge As wel þorw his werkes · as withBx.15.469: with: MCrHm repeat þoruȝ from the a-verse. his holy wordes And seyde hem what fullynge · and faith was to mene ¶ Cloth þat cometh fro þe weuyng · is nouȝt comly to were Tyl it isBx.15.472: is: So LMR. Others have the subjunctive as all copies have at l. 476. fulled vnder fote · or in fullyng stokkes Wasshen wel with water · and with taseles cracched Ytouked and ytented · & vnder tailloures handeBx.15.474: hande: R and corrected Hm have the plural, less appropriately. And so it fareth by a barne · þat borne is ofBx.15.475: of: M and beta2 have of a. wombe Til it be crystened in crystes name · and confermed of þe bisshop It is hethene as to heueneward · and helpelees to þe soule ¶ Hethene is to mene after heth · and vntiled erthe As in wilde wildernesse · wexeth wilde bestes Rude and vnresonable · rennenge with-out [k]eperesBx.15.480: keperes: The reading of R. Beta probably read creperes, as LGO, altered to cropers in M, beta2 and C, in order to make some sort of sense. Of course animals are not restrained by "cruppers". It is difficult to see how beta's reading could have derived from the commonplace "keeper". It may be that crepere has some technical sense not recorded; for example, in Morte Arthure 3667 it seems to refer to a grapnel. KD p. 146 rather implausibly suggest that "the r was induced by the alliteration". ¶ Ȝe [mynnen]Bx.15.481: mynnen: Only MW preserve the Bx reading, with other scribes avoiding or misreading a word that was mainly northern by this time. It never occurs in L nor elsewhere in Bx, though KD conjecture it four times. It is used twice in C (RK.17.210, 19.233) with similar variants. wel howBx.15.481: how (1): GR have whate, avoiding the repetition. matheu seith · how a man made a feste He fedde hem with no venysoun · ne fesauntes ybake But with foules þat fram hym nolde · but folwed his whistellynge Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt &c And wyth calues flesshe he fedde · þe folke þat he loued Þe calfe bytokeneth clennesse · in hem þat kepeth lawes ¶Bx.15.487: ¶: The paraph is in LC, with a new line-group in M. For as þe cow þorw kynde mylke · þe calf norissheth til an oxe So loue and lewte · leleBx.15.488: loue ... lele: R's version of the line, doth loue & lewte and lele, is equally probable. men susteyneth And maydenes and mylde men mercy desiren Riȝt as þe cow calf · coueyteth swete mylke So don riȝtful men · mercy & treuthe Bx.15.492-505: These 14 lines are omitted by beta, jumping to the next paraph. Since F omits ll. 447-514, and furthermore there is no parallel in Cx, we are here entirely dependent upon R. [And by þe hande-fedde foules · [i]sBx.15.492: is: R has his, probably as a spelling for is rather than an error. folk vnderstonde Þat loth ben to louye · with-outen lernynge of ensaumples Riȝt as capones in a court · cometh to mennes whistlynge In menynge after mete · folweth men þat whistlen Riȝt so rude men · þat litel reson conneth Louen and byleuen · by lettred mennes doynges And by here wordes and werkes · wenen and trowen And as tho foules to fynde · fode after whistlynge So hope þei to haue · heuene þoruȝ her whistlynge And by þe man þat made þe feste · þe maieste bymeneth Þat is god of his grace · gyueth al men blisse With wederes and with wondres · he warneth vs with a whistlere Where þat his wille is · to worschipen vs alle And feden vs and festen vs · for euere-more at ones] ¶ Ac who beth þat excuseth hem · arenBx.15.506: aren: Beta has þat aren, but the syntax is much better without, as in R: "those who excuse themselves are parsons". persounes and prestes Þat heuedes of holychercheBx.15.507: holycherche: R's plural is less appropriate. ben · þat han her wille here With-oute trauaille þe tithe del · þat trewe men biswynkyn Þei wil be wroth for I write þus · ac to witnesse I take Bothe Mathew and Marke · and Memento domine dauid [Ecce audiuimus e[a]mBx.15.511: eam: The line is lost in beta, so R, reading eum, is the sole authority for citing the Psalm "Memento Domini" (131.6). It was previously cited at Bx.10.72, where alpha again has eum for beta's eam as in the Vulgate. See note there, and for explanation of the reference in that line see Schmidt (1995), 443. in effrata &c ·] What Pope or prelate now · perfourneth þat cryst hiȝte Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate & c · ¶ Allas þat men so longe · on Makometh shulde byleue So many prelates to preche · as þe Pope maketh Of Nazareth of Nynyue · of Neptalim and damaske Þat þei ne went as cryst wisseth · sithen þei wil aBx.15.517: a: A good example of the superiority of LR. The other beta scribes took this to be a reduced form of "have". F realised it was the article, clarifying the sense by altering to þe. In Cx (RK.17.191) it is also revised to þe, perhaps again for the sake of clarity. name Bx.15.518: L, starting a new leaf, begins with an inappropriate paraph.To be pastours and preche · þe passioun of Ihesus And as hym-self seyde · soBx.15.519: so: Omitted by WGF preceding to. Hm omits the line. to lyue and deye Bonus pastor animam suam ponit & c And seyde it in sauacioun · of sarasenes & other ForBx.15.522: For: As KD point out (p. 146), the alpha variant To cristene and to vncristene makes poor sense. crystene & vncristene · cryst seide to prechoures Ite vos in vineam meam · And sith þat þis sarasenes · scribes & Iuwes Han a lippe of owre byleue · þe liȝtloker me thynkethBx.15.525: me thynketh: Supported by Cx (RK.17.253) against alpha's it semeth. Þei shulde torne who-so trauaille woldeBx.15.526: trauaille wolde: Beta2 have trauailed, and M is altered to that reading, but Cx agrees with LCGO and alpha. · to teche hem of þe Trinite Querite & inuenietis &c Bx.15.528-67: These forty lines are in beta only. Adams (2002), 118-22, discusses alpha's omission here and beta's loss of ll. 575-92, positing that the passages were on opposite sides of an inserted leaf in Bx, and the alpha and beta scribes each failed to incorporate one side of the leaf. KD argue that distinct from this is a major dislocation of text that antedated the losses in alpha and beta, and they move Bx.15.568-97 to precede 528 (pp. 176-8). ¶ It is reuth to rede · how riȝtwis men lyued How þei defouled her flessh · forsoke her owne wille Fer fro kitth and fro kynne · yuel yclothed ȝeden Badly ybedded · no boke but conscience Ne no richchesse but þe Rode · to reioyse hem Inne Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri &c · ¶ And þo was plente & pees · amonges pore & riche AndBx.15.535: And: The reading Ac in Hm, though tempting, is in the hand of the reviser, who has erased one line to write in this line and the next. In any case, Cx has And (RK.17.200). now is routhe to rede · how þe red noble Is reuerenced or þe Rode · receyued for þe worthier Þan crystes crosse þat ouer-cam · deþ and dedly synne ¶ And now is werre and wo · and who-so why axeth For coueityse after crosse · þe croune stant in golde Bothe riche and religious · þat Rode þei honoure Þat in grotes is ygraue · and in golde nobles For coueityse of þat crosse · men of holykirke Shul tourne as templeres did · þe tyme approcheth faste ¶ Wyte ȝe nouȝt wyseBx.15.544: wyse: Beta2 and G have ye wise, but Cx is without the pronoun (RK.17.210), though in a revised a-verse. men · how þo men honoured More tresore þan treuthe · I dar nouȝt telle þe sothe Resoun & riȝtful dome · þoBx.15.546: þo: Supported by most C mss. against þe in beta2. Religious demed Riȝt so ȝe clerkes · for ȝowre coueityse ar longe Shal þei demen dos ecclesie · and ȝowre pryde depose Deposuit potentes de sede &c · ¶ Ȝif knyȝthod & kynde wytte · and comune conscienceBx.15.550: comune conscience: This must be the beta reading; the line is not in alpha. Cr and W, understanding the knighthood / commons pairing, take comune as a noun, so following it with by conscience, and M is altered to that reading. Presumably beta is a corruption of the reading of Cx, Ȝif knyhthoed and kynde wit and þe comune and conscience (RK.17.216) which adds a kind-wit / conscience pairing. Togideres loue lelly · leueth it wel ȝe bisshopes Þe lordeship of londesBx.15.552: londes: W adds youre here and drops ȝow in the next line. · for euere shal ȝeBx.15.552: shal ȝe: Reversed by beta4. Cx has lese ȝe shal for euer (RF.17.218). lese And lyuen as leuitici [·] as owre lorde ȝow techeth Per primicias & decimas ¶ Whan costantyn of curteysye · holykirke dowed With londes and ledes · lordeshipes and rentes An Angel men herde · an heigh at Rome crye Dos ecclesie þis day · hath ydronke venym And þo þat han petres powere · arn apoysoned alle ¶ A medecyne mote þer-to · þat may amende prelates Þat sholden preye for þe pees · possessioun hem letteth Take her landes ȝe lordes · and let hem lyue by dymes If possessioun be poysoun · & inparfit hem make Good were to dischargen hem · for holicherche sake And purgen hem of poysoun · or more perile falle ¶ Ȝif presthod were parfit · þe peple s[h]olde amende Þat contrarien crystes lawe · and crystendome dispise For al paynymBx.15.568: paynym: Only L has the distributive sg., but it is supported by the X family of C (RK.17.255). Alpha is now present. prayeth · and parfitly bileuethBx.15.568: and parfitly bileueth: Beta's b-verse is supported by Cx. Alpha's to on persone to helpe looks like censorship, as in the next line. In þe holy grete godBx.15.569: In þe holy grete god: Cx has In þe grete god. Again alpha objects to allowing so much to pagan beliefs. · and his grace askenBx.15.569: asken: Beta's pronoun is not supported by Cx. And make her mone to makometh · her message to shewe Þus in a faith lyuethBx.15.571: lyueth: So LCr and alpha, with HmG both altering to leue-, the reading of MWCO. Cx supports lyueth. Schmidt (1995), 397, considers that there is a pun with leueth implied in the b-verse: "believe in a false intercessor". Cf. note to l. 427. þat folke · and in a false mene And þat is routhe for [þe]Bx.15.572: þe (1): Although only in R, C mss. have either þe or þo. riȝtful men · þat in þe Rewme wonyen And a peril to þe pope · and prelatisBx.15.573: prelatis: R has to prelates. F omits the line and Cx rewrites it. þat he maketh Þat bere bisshopes names · of Bedleem & [of]Bx.15.574: of (2): This was perhaps not in beta since LMW lack it, but alpha has support from the revised line in Cx, of Ninue and of damaske (the X family omits and). babiloigne Bx.15.575-92: These 18 lines are lost in beta, probably (as KD suggest, p. 66) through eyeskip (bere bisshopes names 574, bisshopes ... bereth þe name 591-2). The lines are in Cx (RK.17.262-78). See note to Bx.15.528-67. The text is based on R, with spellings altered to L's forms. [Whan þe hieȝe kynge of heuene · sent his sone to erthe Many miracles he wrouȝte · man for to turne In ensaumple þat men shulde se · þat by sadde resoun Men miȝt nouȝt be saued · but þorw mercy and grace And þorw penaunce and passion · and parfit byle[ue]Bx.15.579: byleue: R's byle is an obvious miswriting. And bycam man of a mayde · and metropolitanusBx.15.580: metropolitanus: F adds after, but it is not in Cx. And baptised and bishinedBx.15.581: bishined: "illuminated". Not especially uncommon, but evidently C scribes were confused, perhaps because of the weak form of the past tense. Most have bisshoped. · with þe blode of his herte Alle þat wilned and wolde · with InwitteBx.15.582: Inwitte: R is supported by Cx against F's wit. byleue it Many a seint sithen · hath suffred to deyeBx.15.583: to deye: So alpha, but Cx has deth also. Al for to enf[e]rmeBx.15.584: enferme: A few C mss. have enforme, "teach", as in R, but the best have enferme, "strengthen" (RK.17.271), lending support to F's ferme. þe faith · in fele contreyes deyedenBx.15.584: deyeden: R's past tense is obviously right, and confirmed by Cx. In ynde and inBx.15.585: and in: F is without and, and may be right. Most C mss. have it, but a few do not. See next note. alisaundre · in ermonye inBx.15.585: in (4): So F, supported by most (and the most reliable) C mss. Yet others have and or and in, as R does. See previous note. spayne In delfol deth deyeden · for hire faith sakeBx.15.586: The line is entirely rewritten in Cx. In sauacioun of þe faith · seynt [thomas]Bx.15.587: thomas: The name has been erased in R, as in several C mss. was martired Amonges vnkynde cristene · for cristes loue he deyede And for þe riȝt of al þis reume · and al reumes cristene Holy cherche is honoured · hieȝliche þorw his deyinge He is a forbiseneBx.15.591: forbisene: R is supported by Cx. to alle bisshopes · and a briȝt myroure And souereyneliche to suche · þat of surrye bereth þe name] [And nauȝt to]Bx.15.593: And nauȝt to: Here beta resumes, but alpha's start of the a-verse is supported by Cx (RK.17.279). Beta's Þat represents smoothing after the omission. hippe abouteBx.15.593: aboute: Alpha adds here, but beta is supported by Cx. in Engelonde · to halwe mennesBx.15.593: mennes: Omitted by Hm and alpha, but supported by Cx. auteres And crepe [in]Bx.15.594: in: Beta omits, but alpha is supported by Cx. amonges curatoures · [and]Bx.15.594: and: Beta omits, though W adds it for the sense. Alpha is supported by Cx. confessen ageyne þe lawe Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam &c [¶]Bx.15.596: ¶: L omits an appropriate paraph here, recorded by WHm and alpha. Many manBx.15.596: man: The majority of C mss. support beta, but three have a man as alpha. for crystes loue · was martired [amonges Romaynes]Bx.15.596: amonges Romaynes: The reading of R alone, but supported by Cx. F revises to in grete roome, and beta has in Romanye. ErBx.15.597: Er: The beta reading was probably the nonsensical Er ar any LC, giving rise to Er any MCrWG, Er þan Hm and Er þan any O. Alpha is supported by Cx (RK.17.282). crystendome [were]Bx.15.597: were: The subjunctive as in alpha is supported by Cx. knowe þere · or any crosseBx.15.597: crosse: R's repetition of þere is not supported by Cx. honoured ¶ Euery bisshop þat bereth crosse · by þat heBx.15.598: he: R omits. Cx has a different b-verse. is holden Thorw his prouynce to passe · and to his peple to shewe hym Tellen hem and techenBx.15.600: techen: Alpha picks up non-alliterating schewen from the previous line. hem · on þe Trinite to bileue And feden hem with gostly fode · and [nedy folke to fyndenBx.15.601-04: Beta drops ll. 601b-604a, by eyeskip on gostly fode. We follow R, altering the forms to those of L. Up to l. 614 Cx is heavily revised. Ac ysaie of ȝow speketh · and ozias bothe Þat no man shuld be bisshope · but if he hadde bothe Bodily fode and gostly fode · to] gyue þere it nedeth In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum et ideo nolite constituere me regem · ysaie 3Bx.15.605: ysaie 3: The reference was in Bx, since it is preserved in L and alpha in the hands of the main scribes. Ozias seith for such · þat syke ben and fieble Inferte omnes decimas in oreum meum vtBx.15.607: vt: CrO add sit, as in Malachi 3.10. See Alford (1992), 99. cibus in domo mea ¶Bx.15.608: ¶: The paraph, following the Latin line, is in LWHmF. Ac we crystene creatures · þat on þe crosse byleuen Aren fermeBx.15.609: ferme: Alpha has for me (R) or formed (F). as in þe faith · goddes forbode elles And han clerkes to kepen vs þer-Inne · and hem þat shal come after vsBx.15.610: vs (2): Preserved in LMWR, but lost elsewhere. ¶ And iewes lyuen in lele lawe · owre lorde wrote it hym-selue In stone for it stydfast was · and stonde sholde eure Dilige deum & proximum · is parfit iewen lawe And toke it moyses to teche menBx.15.614: men: Alpha has non-alliterating it hem. · til Messye come And on þat lawe þei l[e]uenBx.15.615: leuen: LW and original Hm have lyuen, perhaps a beta error picked up from l. 611. The better C mss. have leue, though a number have lyue, some altering on to in to make better sense (RK.17.297). Cf. also ll. 427, 571. Beta adds ȝit, which makes very good sense (the Jews still live under mosaic law), but it is not in alpha or Cx. · and leten it þe beste Bx.15.616: L has a paraph and M a line-space, perhaps a beta error since a paraph is not appropriate.And ȝit knewe þei cryst · þat crystendome tauȝte [And]Bx.15.617: And: Dropped by beta, but included in Cx. for a parfit prophete · þat moche peple saued Of selcouth sores · þei seyne it ofte Bothe of myracles & meruailles · and how he men fested With two fisshes anBx.15.620: an: "and". fyve loues · fyue thousande peple And bi þat maungerye [þei]Bx.15.621: þei: More satisfactory as referring specifically to the Jews. Beta perhaps picks up men from l. 619. Cf. variants at l. 614. The a-verse is rewritten in C. miȝte welBx.15.621: wel: Dropped by CrGOF. se · þat Messye he semed And whan he luft vp lazar · þat layde was in graue And vnder stone ded & stankeBx.15.623: ded & stanke: Presumably R's reversal represents alpha, which F revises. Lines 623-32 are rewritten in C. · with styf voys hym called Lazare veni foras · Dede hym rise and rowme [·] riȝt bifor þe iuwes Ac þei seiden and sworen · with sorcerye he wrouȝte And studyeden to stroyen hym · and stroyden hem-self And þorw his pacyence her powere · to pure nouȝt he brouȝte Pacientes vincunt ¶ Danyel of her vndoynge · deuyned and seyde Cum [veniat sanctus sanctorum &c.]Bx.15.631: Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum & c.: Beta reverses the verb and subject and completes the familiar quotation used as a lesson in Advent. In Bx.18.113 where the prophecy is repeated, there is the same alpha/beta variation, except that beta has veniat sanctus. At RK.20.112a, despite considerable variation, it seems that Cx had this same form of the quotation. And ȝet wenen þo wrecches · þat he were pseudo-propheta And þat his lore be lesynges · and lakken it alle And hopen þat he be to come · þat shal hem releue Moyses eft or Messye · here maisteres ȝetBx.15.635: ȝet: Alpha has this at the beginning of the b-verse. Cx omits it. deuyneth ¶ Ac pharesewes and sarasenes · Scribes & GrekisBx.15.636: Grekis: WHm read Iewes, perhaps recalling ll. 406 and 524. Cf. Schmidt (1995), 398. Aren folke of on faith · þe fader god þei honouren And sitthen þat þe sarasenes · and also þe iewes Konne þe firste clause of owre bileue · credo in deum patrem omnipotentemBx.15.639: omnipotentem: Omitted by CrCGO (Cr also omits patrem), and by Cx, but it seems secure for Bx. Prelates of crystene prouynces · shulde preue if þei myȝte LereBx.15.641: Lere: CrW begin To lere, and M is altered to that reading. hem litlum & lytlum [·] & in ihesum cristum filium Tyl þei couthe speke and spelle · et in spiritum sanctum And re[d]enBx.15.643: reden: This seems undoubtedly the Bx reading, despite L's rendren, "recite". The reading of Cx is less certain: the X family has Recorden hit and reden hit, where the P family has rendren for reden, which does make good sense in this order, "remember and recite". Schmidt (1995), lxvii, 398, follows KD in adopting L's rendren, though has difficulty in explaining how it arose. it & recorden it · with remissionem peccatorum Carnis resurreccionem · et vitam eternam amen · Passus sextus decimus & primus de dobet Now faire falle ȝow quod I þo · for ȝowre faire shewyngeBx.16.1: F prefaces the passus with two lines in which the dreamer falls asleep again. Lines 1-27 are quite different in C. For haukynnes loue þe actyf man [·] euere I shal ȝow louye Ac ȝet I am in a were · what charite is to mene ¶ It is a ful trye tree quod he · trewlyBx.16.4: trewly: Alpha has treuthe. There is no close parallel elsewhere for either. to telle Mercy is þe more þer-of · þe myddel stokke is reuthe Þe leues ben lele wordes · þe lawe of holycherche Þe blosmes beth boxome speche · and benygne lokynge Pacience hatte þe pure tre · and poreBx.16.8: pore: Beta1 repeats pure. symple of herte And so þorw god and þorwBx.16.9: þorw (2): So LMW, and presumably therefore beta (note Hm misreads as pure), but other beta texts and alpha are without it, perhaps rightly. good men · groweth þe frute charite ¶ I wolde trauaille quod I þis tree to se · twenty hundreth myle And fortoBx.16.11: forto: Alpha and beta4 have to, which could equally be right. haue my fylle of þat frute · forsake al other sauleeBx.16.11: saulee: "food". L first wrote soule, as R, then added the gloss "id est edulium". Lorde quod I if any wiȝte wyte · whider oute itBx.16.12: it: R has þat it. groweth ¶ It groweth in [a]Bx.16.13: a: Omitted by L. gardyne quod he · þat god made hym-seluen Amyddes mannes body · þe more is of þat stokke Herte hatte þe erber · þat it in groweth And liberum arbitrium · hath þe londe to ferme VnderBx.16.17: Vnder: Alpha begins And vnder, perhaps as Bx. Piers þe plowman · to pyken it and toBx.16.17: to (2): Omitted by beta4 and F. weden it Piers þe plowman quod I þo · and al for pure ioye Þat I herde nempne his name · anone I swouned after And laye longe in a loue-dreme · and atte laste me þouȝte Þat Pieres þe plowman · al þe place me shewed And bad me totenBx.16.22: toten: Beta2 and C have to toten. on þe tree · on toppe and on rote With þre pyles was it vnder-piȝte · I perceyued it sone Pieres quod I · IBx.16.24: I (2): Dropped by MR. The punctuation separating the repeated pronoun is established as Bx by LWHmOF, with a comma in Cr. preye þe · whi stonde þise piles here ¶ For wyndes wiltow wyte quod he · to witenBx.16.25: witen: "guard", punning on wyte. Alpha substitutes non-alliterating kepen. it fram fallyng Cum ceciderit iustus non collidetur · quia dominus supponit manum suam And in blowyng tyme abite þe floures · but if þis piles helpe Þe worlde is a wykked wyndeBx.16.28: wynde: Alpha skips to wynde in the next line, dropping l. 28b and l. 29a. The lines are both in Cx in a revised form. · to hem þat woldenBx.16.28: wolden: All beta mss. except L have willen, but Cx has wolde (RK.18.31). treuthe Coueityse cometh of þat wynde · and crepeth amonge þe leues And forfret neigh þe frute · þorw many faire siȝtes ÞanneBx.16.31: Þanne: So beta. R has And while F rewrites the line. Cx also begins this line And, but begins the next line Thenne. Since this section of the passus is so heavily revised in C, it must be used with caution as evidence for Bx. with þe firste pyleBx.16.31: pyle: In this long line LR have double punctuation, after pyle and down (Cr has commas). F abbreviates radically. I palleBx.16.31: palle: "strike". Hm and beta4 have pulle, and F has call in its rewritten line. hym down · þat is potencia dei patris Bx.16.32: WHmC and alpha here have a paraph marking the transition from World to Flesh.Þe flesshe is a fel wynde · and in flourynge tyme Þorw lykyng and lustes · so loude he gynneth blowe Þat it norissheth nice siȝtes · and some-tyme wordes And wikked werkes þer-of · wormes of synne And forbiteth þe blosmes · riȝt to þe bare leues ¶ Þanne sette I to þe secounde pile · sapiencia dei patris Þat is þe passioun and þe power · of owre prynce Ihesu ÞorwBx.16.39: Þorw (1): Alpha has With. preyeres and þorwBx.16.39: þorw (2): Omitted by beta4 and F. penauncesBx.16.39: penaunces: For variation with and without -s, see note to Bx.14.211. · and goddes passioun in mynde I saue it til I se it rypen · & somdel yfruited And þanne fondeth þe fende · my fruit to destruye With alle þe wyles þat he can · and waggeth þe rote And casteth vp to þe croppe · vnkynde neighbores Bakbiteres breke-chesteBx.16.44: breke-cheste: "fomenters of quarrel". Beta2 misunderstands and writes breke þe cheste. R may represent alpha with the more transparent (though equally unique) compound brewe-cheste. F smooths to & boosteris. For the sense of the verb, cf. Bx.18.374, þe bitternesse þat þow hast browe. Cx drops the compound altogether. · brawleres and chideres And leith a laddre þere-to · of lesynges aren þe rongesBx.16.45: After this F adds a rather good line about false executors. And feccheth away my floures sumtyme · aforBx.16.46: afor: So beta. The reading byfore in CG and alpha is also that of Cx which always has byfore in place of afore (e.g. Bx.17.311, 20.130). See note to Bx.5.12 for support of beta's reading. bothe myn eyhen Ac liberum arbitrium · letteth hymBx.16.47: hym: HmR have hem, but the antecedent is þe fende. some-tyme Þat is lieutenant to loken it wel · by leue of my-selue Videatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum numquam remittetur &c Hoc est idem qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat · Ac whanBx.16.51: whan: Alpha's what is a misunderstanding of the syntax. þe fende and þe flesshe · forth with þe worlde Manasen byhynde me · my fruit for to fecche Þanne liberum arbitrium [·] laccheth þe thriddeBx.16.53: thridde: So L and alpha. All beta mss. except L read firste, though thridde is obviously correct (cf. ll. 31, 37) and supported by Cx (RK.18.50). This provides a clear example of agreement of M with beta1 in this part of the poem. plan[k]eBx.16.53: planke: So alpha. Beta reads plante, prompted, so KD (p. 146) suggest, by the flowers and fruit of ll. 46 and 52. Cx has the synonym shoriere. And palleth adown þe pouke · purelichBx.16.54: purelich: "entirely". Alpha has priueliche. þorw grace And helpe of þe holy goste · and þus haue I þe maystrie ¶ Now faire falle ȝow Pieres quod I · so faire ȝe discryuen Þe powere of þis postes · and her propre myȝteBx.16.57: myȝte: WHmF have the plural. Ac I haue þouȝtes a threveBx.16.58: threve: "multitude". Only here in the poem. HmF corrupt to þrowe. · of þis þre piles In what wode þei woxen · and where þat þei growed For alle ar þei aliche longe · none lasse þan other And to my mynde as me þinketh · on o More þei growed And of o gretnesse ·Bx.16.62: Only O places the punctus after grene where it would be expected. and grene of greyne þei semen ¶ Þat is soth seideBx.16.63: seide: All beta mss. apart from L alter to non-alliterating quod. Pieres [·] so itBx.16.63: it: GR omit. may bifalle I shal telle þe as tite · what þis tree hatte Þe grounde þere it groweth · goodnesse it hiȝte And I haue tolde þe what hiȝte þe tree · þe trinite it meneth And egrelich he loked on me · & þer-fore I spared To asken hym any more ther-of · and badde hym ful fayre To discreue þe fruit · þat so faire hangeth ¶ Here now bineth quod he þo · if I nede hadde Matrymonye I may nyme · a moiste fruit with-alle Þanne contenence is nerreBx.16.72: nerre: The forms neer and nere in other mss. may also be comparative; so Kane (2005), s.v. neer, ner prep. þe croppe · as calwey bastarde Þanne bereth þe croppe kynde fruite · and clenneste of alle Maydenhode angeles peres · and rathest wole be ripe And swete with-oute swellyng · soure worth it neuere ¶ I prayed pieres to pulle adown · an apple and he wolde And suffre me to assaye · what sauoure it hadde ¶Bx.16.78: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. And pieres caste to þe croppe · and þanne comsed it to crye [A]Bx.16.79: A: "He". Beta and F have And, but R is supported by Cx (RK.18.108) where the antecedent is Elde rather than Piers. wagged wydwehode · and it wepte after And whan [he]Bx.16.80: he: Alpha is supported against beta's it by Cx, which again begins the line A, "He". See previous note. meued Matrimoigne · it made a foule noyse ÞatBx.16.81: Þat: Support from LMOGR. Cr omits, WHm have And, and F has Þan. The line is omitted in C. I had reuth whan Piers roggedBx.16.81: rogged: "tugged, shook". R (= alpha?) oddly has rused, "drove", which F alters to the equally inappropriate rusched. · it gradde so reufulliche For euere as þei dropped adown · þe deuel was redy And gadred hem alle togideres · bothe grete and smale Adam & abraham · and ysay þe prophete Sampson and samuel · and seynt Iohan þe baptiste Bar hem forth boldely · no-body hymBx.16.86: hym: GOR and original M have hem, repeated from the a-verse. The sg. is supported by Cx (RK.18.114). letted And made of holy men his horde · in lymbo inferni There is derkenesse and drede · and þe deuel Maister ¶Bx.16.89: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. And Pieres for pure tene · þat o pileBx.16.89: o pile: Beta2 evidently had a pil as in W, misunderstood by CrHm as "apple". he lauȝte AndBx.16.90: And: LMGO and alpha, supported by Cx. Beta2 begins He. hitte after hym · happe how it myȝte Filius bi þe fader wille · and frenesse of spiritus sancti To go robbe þat raggeman · and reue þe fruit fro hym ¶ And þanne spakke spiritus sanctus · in Gabrieles mouthe To a mayde þat hiȝte Marye · a meke þinge with-alle Þat one Ihesus a iustice sone · moste iouke in her chambre Tyl plenitudo temporis · [tyme]Bx.16.96: tyme: So alpha and Cx. Beta alters to non-alliterating fully. comen were Þat Pieres fruit floured · and fel to be ripe And þanne shulde Ihesus iuste þere-fore · [&]Bx.16.98: &: With R's reading, supported by Cx, iuste þere-fore applies to both clauses: "Then Jesus would joust for it, and by judgement of arms [joust for] whether the devil or he himself should taste the fruit." Beta and F drop & which is simpler. bi iuggement of armes Whether shulde fondeBx.16.99: fonde: "test", i.e. "taste" (MED fonden 3). Established for Bx by L, original M and CR. Scribes were puzzled and altered (as M does visibly) to fonge. Cx has fecche. þe fruit · þe fende or hym-selue ¶ Þe mayde myldeliche þo · þe messager graunted And seyde hendelich to hym · lo me his hande-mayden For to worchen his wille · with-outen any synne Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi &cBx.16.103: &c: HmGF complete the quotation from Luke. Cx has just the first three words. And in þe wombe of þat wenche · was he fourty wokes Tyl he wex a faunt þorw her flessh · and of fiȝtyng couthe To haue yfouȝte with þe fende · ar ful tyme come And Pieres þe plowman · parceyued plenereBx.16.107: parceyued plenere: So beta. R (and alpha?) has parseyued þe plener; F has y parseuede in þat plener. Lines 107-17 are not in C. tyme And lered hym lechecrafte · his lyf for to saue Þat þowgh he were wounded with his enemye · to warisshe hym-self And did hym assaye his surgerye · on hem þat syke were Til he was parfit practisoure · [i]fBx.16.111: if: L's of is an obvious mistake. any peril fulleBx.16.111: fulle: The western spelling of "fell" in LHmR, and so probably in Bx. And souȝte oute þe syke · and synfulBx.16.112: synful: MOF have þe synful. bothe And salued syke and synful · bothe blynde & crokede And comune wommen conuerted · and to good torned Non est sanis opus medicusBx.16.115: medicus: The word must have been abbreviated in Bx, hence the variety of endings, including G's medicine. See next note for further uncertainties. set [male habentibus]Bx.16.115: male habentibus: Alpha's quotation is from Matt. 9.12 (see Alford (1992), 103). Beta was probably damaged, with the quotation ending in three minims (representing the first letter of male?) which LWHmCG transcribe as in. O reasonably guesses that in is for infirmis, while MCr solve the problem by dropping in. Bothe meseles & mute · and in þe menysoun blody Ofte he heled suche · he ne helde [it]Bx.16.117: it: The alpha reading. The omission in LMC suggests it was lost in beta but supplied by beta2 and GO. for no maistrye Saue þo he leched lazar [·] þat hadde yleye in graue Quatriduanus quelt · quykke did hym walke Ac as he made þ[at]Bx.16.120: þat: Alpha is supported by Cx þat miracle (RK.18.145) against beta's þe. maistrye · mestus cepit esse And wepte water with his eyghen · þere seyen it manye Some þat þe siȝte seyne · saide þat tyme Þat he was leche of lyf · and lorde of heigh heuene Iewes iangeled þere-aȝeyne · [þat]Bx.16.124: þat: R (F has þo þat) makes much better sense than beta's and. Lines 123-58 are thoroughly revised in C. iugged lawes And seide he wrouȝte þorw wicchecrafte · & with þe deueles miȝte Demonium habes &c ¶ Þanne ar ȝe cherles quod [ihesus]Bx.16.127: ihesus: Beta's obviously erroneous ich is likely to derive from the abbreviation ihc, as in R. F reads crist. · and ȝowre children bothe And sathan ȝowre saueoure · ȝow-selue now ȝe witnessen For I haue saued ȝow-selfBx.16.129: self: Beta follows this with seith cryst in order to clarify the speaker after the error in l. 127. · and ȝowre sones after Ȝowre bodyes ȝowre bestes · and blynde men holpen And fedde ȝow with fisshesBx.16.131: fisshes: Recalling Matt. 14, beta2 and F read two fisshes, and M is altered to that reading. · and with fyue loues And left baskettes ful of broke mete · bere awey who-so wolde And mysseide þe iewes manliche [·] and manaced hem to bete And knokked on hem with a corde · and caste adown her stalles Þat in cherche chaffareden · or chaungeden any moneye And seyde it in siȝte of hem alle · so þat alle herden I shal ouertourne þis temple · and adown throwe And in thre dayes after · edifye it newe And make it as moche other more · in alle manere poyntes As euere it was and as wyde · wher-fore I hote ȝow Of preyeres and of parfitnesse · þis place þat ȝe callen Domus mea domus oracionis vocabitur Enuye and yuel wille · [aren]Bx.16.143: aren: The reading of the B-text seems to have been alliterating arne, "ran", south-western past tense of rennen, as in Cx (RK.18.163). R's aren, "are", reproduces the corrupt Bx, altered to was by both beta and F, realising that a past tense is called for. See KD, p. 186. in þe iewes Thei casten & contreueden · to kulle hym whan þei miȝte Vche daye after other · þeire tyme þei awaited Til it bifel on a fryday · a litel bifor Paske Þe þorsday byfore [·] þere he made his [cene]Bx.16.147: cene: So alpha, where beta has maundee. Either could be a substitution of the other, but it is more likely that to increase the alliteration of an ax/ax line beta substituted the fairly common phrase made his maundee, "celebrated the Last Supper" (MED maunde n. (2) (b)). Langland uses neither word elsewhere. Sittyng atteBx.16.148: atte: "at the"; see note to Bx.P.107. sopere · he seide þise wordes I am solde þorw [sum]Bx.16.149: sum: "a certain one"; cf. Mark 14.18: "unus ex vobis me tradet". Beta alters to the unambiguous one, losing the alliteration. of ȝow · he shal þe tyme rewe Þat euere he his saueoure solde · for syluer or elles ¶ Iudas iangeled þere-aȝein · ac Ihesus hym tolde It was hym[-self]Bx.16.152: hym-self: Perhaps the beta reading was hym as in L and original M, with other scribes making the obvious correction. sothely · and seide tu dicis Þanne went forth þat wikked man · and with þe iewes mette And tolde hem a tokne [·] how to knowe with ihesus [Þe]Bx.16.155: Þe: Beta's And is repeated from the previous line. which tokne to þis day · to moche is yvsed Þat is kissyng and faire contenaunce · & vnkynde wille And so was with iudas þo · þat Ihesus bytrayed Aue raby quod þat ribaude · and riȝt to hym he ȝede And kiste hym to be cauȝt þere-by · and kulled ofBx.16.159: of: Beta has some support from Cx which has cauȝt of (RK.18.169). Alpha reads þoruȝ. þe iewes ¶ Þanne Ihesus to Iudas · and to þe iewes seyde Falsenesse I fynde · in þi faire speche And gyle in þi gladde chere · and galle is in þi lawghyng Þow shalt be myroure to manye [·] menBx.16.163: manye · men: Only in R does the punctuation separate the adj. from the noun, though this must be right. L's omission of punctuation may indicate uncertainty. In other beta mss. it follows myroure; in F it follows merour after. to deceyue Ac þe wors and þiBx.16.164: þi: So LCrWCG. Repetition of þe as in alpha and other beta mss. is the easier error and makes rather poorer sense. In a revised line Cx has thy wyles (RK.18.174). wikkednesse · shal worth vpon þi-selue Necesse est vt veniant scandala · ve homini illi per quem scandalum venit Þow I bi tresoun be ytake · atBx.16.166: at: This, the beta reading, may refer back to ytake, "captured at your wish", or forward "freely allow my apostles". Perhaps there is elision alliteration on at ȝowre. R has and instead; F has and þorgh. Cx has and to ȝoure will, which can only refer back. ȝowre owne wille Suffreth my postlesBx.16.167: my postles: Though other mss. have myn apostles, LR are supported by the X family of C. in pays · & in peesBx.16.167: in pays & in pees: These may be variant spellings of "peace" but with different senses, as Schmidt (2008), 437, suggests. Kane (2005) derives pays from OFr pais, "country", though MED does not record it. C mss. show similar confusion. gange OnBx.16.168: On: Alpha has In. a thoresday in thesternesse · þus was he taken Þorw iudas and iewes · ihesus was his nameBx.16.169: his name: The reading of all mss. except F, which has þan taken. KD, p. 185, conjecture an original (and archetypal) reading ynome, misread as a "pointless homoeograph", but Schmidt (2008), 437, argues for "the importance of the name of Jesus", and sees F's reading as induced by taken in the previous line. C is revised in this passage. Þat on þe fryday folwynge · for mankynde sake Iusted in ierusalem · a ioye to vs alle On crosse vpon caluarye · cryst toke þe bataille Aȝeines deth and þe deuel · destruyed her botheres myȝtes Deyde and deth fordid · and daye of nyȝte made ¶ And I awaked þere-with · & wyped myne eyghenBx.16.175: Following this line F invents two lines to end its Passus 12 and another to begin Passus 13. And after piers þe plowman · pryed and stared Estwarde and westwarde · I [w]aytedBx.16.177: wayted: L alone has awayted. There is variation in the parallel line in Cx (RK.18.180). after faste And ȝede forth as an ydiote · in contre to aspye After Pieres þe plowman · many a place I souȝte And þanne mette I with a man · a mydlenten sondaye As hore as an hawethorne · and Abraham he hiȝte I frayned hym first · fram whennes he come And of whennes he were · and whider þat he þouȝte ¶ I am feith quod þat freke · it falleth nouȝte [me]Bx.16.184: me: Omitted by beta. R's order is supported by Cx. to lye And of Abrahames hous · an heraud of armes I seke after a segge · þat I seigh ones A ful bolde bacheler · I knewe hym by his blasen [¶]Bx.16.188: ¶: At this and the next line a paraph is marked by WHm and alpha to begin two speeches. L has a paraph at l. 189 only. What bereth þat buirn quod I þo · so blisse þe bityde ¶ Þre leodes in o lith · non lenger þan other Of one mochel & myȝte · in mesure and in lengthe Þat one doth alle doth · & eche doth by his one Þe firste hath miȝte and maiestee · maker of alle þinges Pater is his propre name · a persone by hym-selue Bx.16.194-6: These three lines are omitted in F by eyeskip from hym-selue to hym-selue. Þe secounde of þat sire is · sothfastnesse filius Wardeyne of þat witte hath · was euere with-oute gynnyng Þe þridde hatte þe holygoost · a persone by hym-selue Þe liȝte of alle þat lyf hathBx.16.197: hath: Alpha loses the verb and muddles the a-verse. · a londe & a watre Confortoure of creatures · of hym cometh al blisse So þre bilongeth for a lorde · þat lordeship claymeth Myȝte and aBx.16.200: a: Omitted by WHmCO, but supported by Cx (RK.18.201). mene · to knoweBx.16.200: knowe: Omitted by alpha. Cx has se. his owne myȝte Of hym[-selue]Bx.16.201: hym-selue: The alpha reading carries alliteration and is supported by Cx against beta's hym. & of his seruaunt · and what suffre[th hem]Bx.16.201: suffreth hem: Whatever the b-verse means in alpha, it is supported by Cx against þei suffre in beta. See Schmidt (2008), 437. bothe So god þat gynnyng hadde neure · but þo hym good þouȝte Sent forth his sone [·] as for seruaunt þat tyme To occupien hym here · til issue were spronge Þat is children of charite · & holicherche þe moder Patriarkes & prophetes · and aposteles were þe chyldrenBx.16.206: chyldren: Alpha's barnes is an attractive reading, and it is easy to suppose that beta is repeating children in the previous line. But Cx also reads childrene. And cryst and crystenedome · and [alle]Bx.16.207: alle: Easily lost in beta. Alpha is supported by the X family of C, though the P family supports beta. crystene holycherche In menynge þat man moste · onBx.16.208: on: Cr and Alpha read in. Lines 208-27 are not in C. o god bileue And þere hym lyked & loued · in þre persones hym shewed And þat it may be so & soth · manhode it sheweth Wedloke and widwehode · with virgynyte ynempned In toknynge of þe Trinite · was taken oute of oBx.16.212: o: "one". In LHmCOR, but dropped by MCrWG and F (which reads mankynde). CrW reverse the word-order of the b-verse. man Adam owre allerBx.16.213: aller: "of us all", of which alþer in O is another form. The variants are interesting: Hm's aldre is ambiguous, though aldre-fader suggests "ancestor" (see MED eldre and eldre-fader). This is modernised by Cr as olde father. F reads forme fader. fader · Eue was of hym-selue And þe issue þat þei hadde · it was of hem bothe And either is otheres ioye · in thre sondry persones And in heuene & here · one syngulere name And þ[u]sBx.16.217: þus: The reading of all beta mss. except L þis. But possibly L preserves the beta reading since alpha has þat. is mankynde or manhede · of matrimoigne yspronge And bitokneth þe Trinite · and trewe bileueBx.16.218: Beta4 omits the line. ¶ Miȝte is [in]Bx.16.219: in: Beta's omission leads CrW to alter the noun Miȝte to the adjective Mighty. matrimoigne · þat multiplieth þe erthe And bitokneth trewly · telle if I dorste HeBx.16.221: He: Altered to the more "correct" form in beta2 and F. þat firste fourmed al · þe fader of heuene Þe sone if I itBx.16.222: it: As in LW and alpha, but unsurprisingly lost in the others. For if I it, CGO read is if I, and alter the b-verse accordingly. durst seye · resembleth wel þe wydwe Deus meus deus meus vt quid dereliquisti me Þat is creatour wex creature · to knowe what was bothe As widwe with-oute wedloke · was neure ȝete yseye Na-more myȝte god be man · but if he moder hadde So wydwe with-oute wedloke · may nouȝte wel stande Ne matrimoigne withoute moillerye · is nouȝt moche to preyse Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in israel &c Þus in þre persones · is perfitliche [pure]Bx.16.230: pure: So R (=alpha?); F rewrites as þorghȝ. R has support from Cx (is puyrlich bote o mankynde, RK.18.233), and improves the alliteration. Having dropped the third stave, beta misplaces the punctus, although since alpha does so as well it is probable that the misplacement was in Bx, thus encouraging the omission of pure in beta. manhede Þat is man & his make · & moillere herBx.16.231: her: Support from Cx shows as usual that agreement of L and alpha is sufficient to establish Bx. children And is nouȝt but gendre of oBx.16.232: o: Supported by LWCR as well as sense, although lost by MCrHmGOF. generacioun · bifor Ihesu crystBx.16.232: cryst: To shorten a long line, GF drop cryst and Cr drops in heuene. in heuene So is þe fader forth with þe sone · and fre wille of bothe Spiritus procedens a patre & filio Which is þe holygoste of alle · and alle is but o god Þus in a somer I hym seigh · as I satte in my porche I ros vp and reuerenced hym · & riȝt faire hym grette Thre men to my syȝte · I made wel at ese Wesche her feet & wyped hem · and afterward þei eten Calues flesshe & cakebrede · and knewe what I thouȝte Ful trewe tokenes bitwene vs is · to telle whan me lyketh Firste he fonded me · if I loued bettere Hym or ysaak myn ayre · þe which he hiȝte me kulle He wiste my wille by hym · he wil me it allowe I am ful syker in soule þer-of · and my sone bothe I circumcised my sone · sitthen for his sake My-self and my meyne · and alle þat male were Bledden blode for þat lordes loue · and hope to blisse þe tyme Myn affiaunce & my faith · is ferme in þis bilieue For hym-self bihiȝte to me · and to myne issue bothe Londe and lordship · and lyf with-outen ende To me and to myn issue · more ȝete he me graunted Mercy for owre mysdedes · as many tyme as we asken Quam olim abrahe promisisti & semini eius And sith he sent me to seye · I sholde do sacrifise And done hym worshipe with bred · and with wyn bothe And called me þeBx.16.257: þe: Dropped by all except L, beta2 and R. fote of his faith · his folke forto saue And defende hem fro þe fende · folke þat on me lenedenBx.16.258: leneden: "leaned". Cr unambiguously has leueden, and F has beleveþ (G is altered to leved). These three scribes regularly read "leave" for lenen in the sense "grant". The others may be read as <-u-> or <-n->, but "leaned" is fitting where Abraham is þe fote. See Schmidt (1995), 400. Þus haue I ben his heraude · here and in helleBx.16.259: F omits the next two lines. And conforted many a careful · þat after his comynge wayten And þus I seke hym he seide · for I [herde]Bx.16.261: herde: L omits; the corrector notes the omission. seyne late Of a b[ui]rnBx.16.262: buirn: So alpha for beta's inappropriate barne. þat baptised hym · Iohan Baptiste was his name Þat to patriarkes and toBx.16.263: to (2): Lost in beta4 and F. prophetes · and toBx.16.263: to (3): Lost in beta4. other peple in derknesse Seyde þat he seighBx.16.264: seigh: Beta is supported by Cx (and sense) against alpha's seyde. here · þat sholde saue vsBx.16.264: sholde saue vs: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's schal sauen hem. alle Ecce agnus dei &c · ¶ I hadde wonder of his wordes · and of his wyde clothes ForBx.16.267: For: Beta is supported by Cx (RK.18.270) against alpha's And. in his bosome he bar a thyng · [and]Bx.16.267: and: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's omission. þat he blissed euere And I loked onBx.16.268: on: Support from LMCGOR confirms this as the Bx reading, even though beta2 and F have in, as in Cx. his lappe · a lazar lay þere-Inne Amonges patriarkes and profetes · pleyandeBx.16.269: pleyande: The present participle ending varies suggestively. Alpha, and perhaps Bx, may have had -ende, as in F, miscopied by R as -ede. LALME records this in Gloucs as well as East Anglia. HmG have -eng(e), which is scattered but mainly south eastern. L's -ande, though often regarded as northern, is also found in London. See LALME, dot maps 345-8, and vol. 4, 105-7. togyderes [¶]Bx.16.270: ¶: The paraph marking direct speech is supported by WHmC and alpha. What awaytestow quod he · and what woldestow haue [¶]Bx.16.271: ¶: The paraph marking the change of speaker is supported by WC and alpha. I wolde wyte quod I þo [·] what is in ȝowre lappe ¶ Loo quod he and lete me se · lorde mercy I seide Þis is [a]Bx.16.273: a: Omitted in L. present of moche prys · what Prynce shal it haue [¶]Bx.16.274: ¶: The paraph marking the change of speaker is supported by WHmC and alpha. It is a preciouse present quod he · ac þe pouke it hath attached And me þere-[with]Bx.16.275: with: So alpha and Cx, and needed for the alliteration. Beta presumably had myde, altered as elsewhere to the commoner wyþ in HmCG (see Bx.6.69 and 15.324). quod þat [wy]Bx.16.275: wy: So alpha and Cx, and needed for the alliteration. Beta alters to man. · may no wedde vs quite Ne no buyrn be owre borwgh · ne bryng vs fram his daungere Bx.16.277: The line is omitted by alpha. It is in Cx. Oute of þe poukes pondfoldeBx.16.277: pondfolde: The form as in LWC is influenced by MED pound(e n. (2). · no meynprise may vs fecche Tyl he come þat I carpe of · cryst is his name Þat shal delyure vs some daye · out of þe deueles powere And bettere wedde for vs legge · þan we ben alle worthy Þat is lyf for lyf · or ligge þus euere Lollynge in my lappe · tyl such a lorde vs fecche Bx.16.283-6: These four lines are only in beta; alpha has three quite different lines, though beginning Allas, suggesting eyeskip following the word. Beta is supported throughout by Cx. KD explain it as "homoeoarchy" (Allas I ... I) with the spurious lines added to bridge the gap in sense (p. 68). ¶ Allas I seyde þat synne · so longe shal lette Þe myȝte of goddes mercy · þat myȝt vs alle amende I wepte for his wordes · with þat sawe I an other Rapelich renne forth · þe riȝte waye he went I affraynedBx.16.287: affrayned: The form is supported for Bx by LWCR. hym fyrste · fram whennes he come [W]hatBx.16.288: What: Beta begins the line And what. Alpha is supported by Cx, though notice that there the previous line begins And. he hiȝte & whider he wolde · and wightlich he tolde Passus septimus decimus et secundus de dobet I am spes [a spye] quod heBx.17.1: a spye quod he: Alpha's word-order is supported by Cx (RK.19.1). · andBx.17.1: and: Omitted by R, but supported by Cx. spire after a knyȝte That toke me a maundement [·] vpon þe mounte of synay To reule alle rewmes [þere-]withBx.17.3: þere-: Omitted by beta, but supported by Cx. · I bere þe writte here [¶]Bx.17.4: ¶: A paraph is indicated by MW and alpha. Is it asseledBx.17.4: asseled: The form is supported by Cx against CrWG enseled. I seyde · may men se þiBx.17.4: þi: Supported by LWHmR. MCrCGOF have þe. Cx is split. lettres [¶]Bx.17.5: ¶: The paraph is supported by WC and alpha. L misplaces it at the start of the following line. Nay he sayde I seke hym · þat hath þe sele to kepe And þat is crosse and crystenedome · and cryst þere-on to hange Bx.17.7-8: Beta's two lines are supported by the revised lines in Cx (RK.19.9-10). R reflects a corrupt alpha, conflating the two lines into one and adding a half-line for a smooth transition to l. 9: "And whan it is aseled so sathanas power schal last no lenger / And þus my lettre meneth". F typically fills out the orphan half-line: "& whan it ys a-selyd soo sathenas haþ lost his power / & þus myn lettre meneþ men mowe knowe yt alle". KD adopt F's expanded line. And whan it is asseledBx.17.7: asseled: Supported by Cx. CrWG again have enseled. so · I wote wel þe sothe Þat Lucyferes lordeship · laste shal no lenger [¶]Bx.17.9: ¶: The paraph is supported by WHmC and alpha. Late se þi lettresBx.17.9: þi lettres: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's þat lettre. quod I · we miȝte þe lawe knowe ¶ [A] plokkedBx.17.10: A plokked: So alpha. Beta begins Þanne plokked he, but is not supported by Cx. The form A, "He" (cf. F & he) is in C mss. and may represent Bx. See note to Bx.16.79. forth a patent · a pece of an harde roche Wher-on wasBx.17.11: was: L and alpha, supported by Cx, but altered to were in other beta mss. as elsewhere. Cf. Bx.5.13, 13.368, 19.47, 19.96. writen two wordes · on þis wyse yglosed Dilige deum & proximum tuum &c Þis was þe tixte trewly · I toke ful gode [gome]Bx.17.13: gome: "heed" (MED gome n. (4)), with citations from Robert of Gloucester and elsewhere. The reading of R, with F substituting easier keepe and beta the cognate ȝeme. In C gome has strong support, with ȝeme, kepe and hede as easier variants. Cf. Bx.10.206. Þe glose was gloriousely writen · with a gilte penne In hijs duobus mandatis [pendet] tota lexBx.17.15: pendet tota lex: This is R's order, as in most C mss., with the other B mss. correcting to the Vulgate order. See next note. & prophetiaBx.17.15: prophetia: "prophesy"; so LWHmR. The other mss. correct to prophete, "prophets", as in Matt. 22.40. ¶ IsBx.17.16: Is: LRF supported by Cx (though note that F consequently alters lawes to sg.). Other scribes correct to Ben. here alle þi lordes lawes quod I · ȝe leue meBx.17.16: me: Beta adds wel, but CrG and alpha and Cx are without it. he seyde And who-so worcheth after þis writte · I wil vndertaken Shal neuere deuel hym dere · ne deth in soule greue For þough I seye it my-self · I haue saued with þis charme Of men & of wommen · many score þousandes ¶ HeBx.17.21: He: Supported by Cx against WHm Ye. seith soth seydeBx.17.21: seyde: As in Cx. MO repeat the present tense. þis heraud · I haue yfounde it ofte Lo here in my lappe · þat leued on þat charme Iosue and Iudith · and Iudas Macabeus [A]ndBx.17.24: And: Beta begins Ȝe and, which is idiomatic but not supported by Cx. sexty þousande bisyde-forth · þat ben nouȝt seyen here ¶ Ȝowre wordes aren wonderful quod I thoBx.17.25: tho: Dropped by beta4 and F and by the majority of C mss. · which of ȝow is trewest And lelest to leue on · for lyf and for soule Abraham seith þat he seigh ·Bx.17.27: Puzzled by the alliterative pattern, CrWO punctuate after seiþ, with O having a second punctuation after seyȝ. holy þe Trinite Thre persones in parcelles · departable fro other And alle þre but o god · þus abraham me tauȝte And hath saued þat bileuedBx.17.30: bileued: G and alpha have the present, but beta is supported by most C mss. so · and sory for her synnes He can nouȝte segge þe somme · and some aren in his lappe What neded it þanne · a newe lawe to b[rynge]Bx.17.32: brynge: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's begynne. Sith þe fyrst sufficeth · to sauacioun & to blisse ¶ And now cometh spes and speketh · þat hath aspied þe lawe And telleth nouȝte of þe Trinitee · þat toke hym his lettres To byleue and louye · in o lorde almyȝty And sitthe riȝt as my-self · so louye alleBx.17.37: alle: MCrF have alle þe. The C text is revised. peple Bx.17.38-48: Eleven lines omitted by alpha, probably skipping a paraph. The C text is heavily revised, running parallel again from Bx.17.47. ¶ Þe gome þat goth with o staf · he semeth in gretter hele Þan he þat goth with two staues · to syȝte of vs alle And riȝte so by þe Rode · resoun me sheweth It is lyȝter to lewed men · a lessoun to knowe Þan for to techen hem two · and to harde to lerne þe leest It is ful harde for any man · on abraham byleue And welawey worse ȝit · for to loue a shrewe It is liȝtor to leue · in þre louely persones Þan for to louye and lene · as wel lorelles as lele [¶]Bx.17.47: ¶: The paraph is in WHmC, with a new line group in M. Alpha is not present. Go þi gate quod I toBx.17.47: to: Omitted by beta4, but supported by Cx. spes · soBx.17.47: so: MCr have for so, but this has no support from Cx. me god helpe Þo þat lerneth þi lawe · wilBx.17.48: wil: Supported by Cx against MCrHm wel. litel while vsen it [¶]Bx.17.49: ¶: Alpha resumes. The paraph is in alpha. In LM it has been missed at the top of the page. See note to ll. 38-48 and see Burrow (2010), 26. And as we wenten þusBx.17.49: þus: This is presumably the placement of the word in Bx, though CrF and Cx postpone it to the start of the b-verse. in þe weye · wordyng togyderes Þanne seye we a samaritan · sittendeBx.17.50: sittende: This form of the present ppl. is shared by LRF, and so is probably that of Bx. All mss. generally have -yng(e). L has -ende just three times, -enge once, -ande twice, and all these forms occur from Bx.16.269. R has -ende on the same three occasions, -ande once, and -ynde (a south-west midland form) once, in l. 52 below. M and W never have these forms. See variants at ll. 51 and 212 below. For distribution see LALME i, dot maps 345-9. on a mule RydyngeBx.17.51: Rydynge: F's Rydende may represent alpha, giving rise to R's Ryden. See note to l. 50. ful rapely · þe riȝt weye we ȝeden Comynge fro a cuntre · þat men called Ierico id est cristusBx.17.53: id est cristus: This is written in the margin by the main hand in LM, and at the end of the line in R. Hm has it in the margin in another hand. To a iustes in iherusalem · he chaced awey faste Bothe þe heraud and hope · and he mette at ones Where a man was wounded · and with þeues taken He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde · ne stere fote ne handes Ne helpe hym-self sothely · for semiuyf he semed And as naked as a nedle · and none helpe abouteBx.17.58: aboute: Beta adds hym, as does the P family of C, but alpha is supported by the most reliable X family mss. It is easier to see why the word was added than how it might have been lost. ¶ Feith had first siȝte ofBx.17.59: of: Again the C mss. are divided, with the best of the X family supporting beta, while the others have alpha's on. hym · ac he flegh on syde And nolde nouȝt neighen hym · by nyne londes lengthe ¶ Hope cam hippyng after · þat hadde so ybosted How he with Moyses maundement · hadde many men yholpe Ac whan he hadde siȝte of þat segge · a-syde he gan hym drawe Dredfully by þis day as duk · doth fram þe faucoun ¶ Ac so sone so þe samaritan · hadde siȝte of þis lede He liȝte adown of lyard · and ladde hym in his hande[s]Bx.17.66: handes: Alpha's rather more difficult plural is supported by Cx. And to þe wye he went · his woundes to biholde And parceyued bi his pous · he was in peril to deye And but ifBx.17.69: if: Dropped by CrWGF and the P family of C, but supported by the best of the X family. he hadde recourereBx.17.69: recourere: L's form is supported by R. Both LR follow the word with a punctus. · þe rather · þat rise shulde he neure [And breyde to his boteles . and bothe he atamede]Bx.17.70: The line, the last of a series beginning And, is lost in beta. R's wording is supported by Cx, with breyde to revised as vnbokelede. Wyth wyn & with oyle · his woundes he wasshed Enbawmed hym and bonde his hed · & in his lappe hym layde And ladde hym so forth on lyard · to lex cristi a graunge Wel six myle or seuene · biside þe newe market Herberwed hym at an hostrye · and toBx.17.75: to: The beta reading; alpha is without it. The line is revised in Cx. þe hostellere called And sayde haue kepe þis man · til I come fro þe iustes And lo here syluer he seyde · for salue to his woundes And he toke hym two pans · to lyflode as it were And seide what he speneth more · I make þe good hereafter For I may nouȝt lette quod þat leode · & lyarde he bistrydeth And raped hym to iherusalem-ward · þe riȝte waye to ryde ¶ Faith folwethBx.17.82: folweth: The agreement of LR is generally sufficient to secure the Bx reading, and the alteration to the past tense in all other mss. is easily explained as influence of the surrounding verbs. Nevertheless, Cx in a revised line (RK.19.80) also has folewede. after faste · and fonded to mete hym And spes spa[r]klichBx.17.83: sparklich: So alpha, a metathesised form of MED sprakli, and cf. sprak; a rare word, for which beta substitutes synonymous spaklich (MED spakli, and cf. spak and spake). Both are ON. See Bx.18.12 and note there. hym spedde · spede if he myȝte To ouertake hym and talke to hym · ar þei to toun come ¶ And whan I seyȝ þis I soiourned nouȝte · but shope me to renne And suwed þ[e]Bx.17.86: þe: So alpha, which is supported by the same a-verse in Cx against beta's þat. samaritan · þat was so ful of pite And graunted hym to ben his gromeBx.17.87: grome: It would be logical to adopt alpha's gome as difficilior, and that might be right. And yet gome appears 18 times in Bx, and is not a word avoided by either alpha or beta, whereas grome is used only here, where the sense "servant, attendant" is particularly appropriate, especially in view of the contrast with "friend" and "fellow" in the next line. There is no Cx parallel. · gramercy he seyde Ac þi frende and þi felawe quod he · þow fyndest me at nede ¶ And I thanked hym þo · and sithBx.17.89: sith: F adds þus, which KD adopt on metrical grounds (p. 173). But F lost elision alliteration on sith I by altering to sytthyn. The line is not in C. I hym tolde How þat feith fleigh awey · and spes his felaw bothe For siȝte of þe sorweful man · þat robbed was with þeues [¶]Bx.17.92: ¶: The paraph has been omitted from L at the top of the page, but is supported by MWHm and alpha. Haue hem excused quod he · her help may litel auaille May no medcyn [vnder]Bx.17.93: vnder: Alpha's reading is supported by Cx against beta's on. The readings are discussed by KD, pp. 111-12. molde · þe man to hele brynge Neither feith ne fyn hope · so festred ben his woundis With-out þe blode of a barn · borne of a mayde And be heBx.17.96: And be he: "And if he be"; supported by LWHm. The other beta mss. have And he be, where And means "If". Alpha loses he, necessary for the syntax. bathed in þat blode · baptised as it were And þanne plastred with penaunce · and passiounBx.17.97: passioun: Alpha adds the definite article, creating a b-verse with two long dips. of þat babi He shulde stonde and steppe · ac stalworth worth he neureBx.17.98: O has lost 17.98-354. Tyl he haue eten al þe barn · and his blode ydronke For went neuere wy in þis worlde [·] þorw þat wildernesse Þat he ne was robbed or rifled · rode he þere or ȝede Saue faith & his felaw · spes and my-selue And þi-self nowBx.17.103: now: All mss. punctuate after now, rather than after such. Cx has no parallel up to l. 127. · and such as suwen owre werkis ¶ For outlaw[e is]Bx.17.104: outlawe is: Misled by the lack of an article, beta misreads as pl. outlawes and F adds an. It is, however, to be taken as a proper name. See notes to next line. in þe wode · and vnder banke lotyeth And mayBx.17.105: may: The Bx reading is altered to pl. mowe(n) by MWHmCG following their misunderstanding of the previous line. Alpha naturally retains may, as does L, typically following his copy, and also Cr, for whom it was the standard sg. form. vch man se · and gode merke take[th]Bx.17.105: taketh: So alpha. Again it is likely that beta altered the sg. verb to pl. take, though it works very well as an infinitive. Who is bihynde and who bifore · and who ben on hors For he halt hym hardyer on horse · þan he þat is a-foteBx.17.107: a-fote: L's form is also that of R. For he seighBx.17.108: seigh: G and alpha have seith, but it makes poor sense. me þat am samaritan · suwen feith & his felaw On my caple þat hatte caro · of mankynde I toke it He was vnhardy þat harlotBx.17.110: vnhardy þat harlot: Alpha, copied blindly by R, skips from -har to har-, hence vnharlot. F makes sense of this with but an harlot. · and hudde hym in inferno Ac ar þis day þre dayes · I dar vndertaken Þat he worth fettred þat feloune · fast with cheynes And neure eft greue [g]omeBx.17.113: gome: In this case L's grome is shared only with C. The only other occurrence of grome in L is l. 87 above; see note there. · þat goth þis ilke gate Bx.17.114-26: Line 114 is only in alpha and ll. 115-26 are only in beta. The whole passage, Bx.17.104-26, is without parallel in Cx, which runs parallel again from Bx.17.127. [O mors ero mors tua &c]Bx.17.114: The line is only in alpha, and possibly not Bx. Cf. Bx.18.37. F expands the quotation. ¶ And þanne shal feith be forester here · and in þis fritth walkeBx.17.115-26: Twelve lines only in beta: alpha has skipped from paraph to paraph. And kennen outBx.17.116: out: Lost in beta4. For kennen out, "guide out", see MED kennen v. (1), 1b (c). comune men · þat knoweth nouȝte þe contre Which is þe weye þat ich went · and wherforth to iherusalem And hope þe hostelleres man shal be · þere þe man lith an helynge And alle þat fieble and faynt be · þat faith may nouȝt teche Hope shal lede hem forth with loue · as his lettre telleth And hostel hem and hele · þorw holicherche bileue Tyl I haue salue for alle syke · and þanne shal I retourneBx.17.122: retourne: WHm have synonymous turne. And come aȝein bi þis contree · and confort alle syke Þat craueth it or coueiteth it · and cryeth þere-after For þe barne was born in bethleem · þat with his blode shal saue Alle þat lyueth in faith · and folweth his felawes techynge ¶ A swete syre I seydeBx.17.127: I seyde: Supported by Cx. CrHmGF reverse the word-order. þo · wher I shalBx.17.127: I shal: So LWR; the others reverse the word-order. Cx is different. byleue As feith and his felawe · enfourmed me bothe In þre persones departable · þat perpetuel were euere And alle þre but o god · þus abraham me tauȝte And hope afterwarde · he bad me to louye O god wyth al my good · and alle gomes after Louye hem lyke my-selue · ac owre lorde aboue alle ¶ After abraham quod he · þat heraud of armes Sette fasteBx.17.135: faste: WHm read fully. þi faith · and ferme bileue And as hope hiȝteBx.17.136: hiȝte: Alpha's behiȝt avoids the repetition of the verb in the b-verse, but its usual sense in the poem, "vow, promise", is not appropriate here (cf. l. 131). þe · I hote þat þow louye Thyn euene-crystene euermore · euene-forth with þi-self And if conscience carpe þere-aȝein · or kynde witte oyther Or heretykes with argumentz · þin honde þow h[e]mBx.17.139: hem: So alpha supported by Cx, with beta presumably reading him, corrected by WHm. shewe For god is after an hande · yhere now and knowe it ¶ Þe fader was fyrst as a fyst · with o fynger fold[en]Bx.17.141: folden: The past ppl. as in alpha is supported by the revised line in Cx (RK.19.115), and by Bx.17.171. Tyl hym louedBx.17.142: hym loued: Clearly the beta reading, though Hm alters to hym lykede, which is also the reading of Cx. On impersonal uses of personal verbs see Mustanoja (1960), 436. MED does not record impersonal use of louen, but cf. Bx.16.209, hym lyked & loued; the WCr reading in 13.333, me loueþ as against I louye in others. Alpha may have had the same reading as beta, with R misreading as hym leued and F altering to he lyþed, perhaps (very oddly) influenced by the collocation lithe and lust (MED lithen v. (3)). and lest · to vnlosen his fynger And profre[d]Bx.17.143: profred: Beta has the infinitive, but alpha's past tense is supported by Cx. it forth as with a paume · to what place it sholde Þe paume is purely þe hande · and profreth forth þe fyngres To mynystre and to make · þat myȝte of hande knoweth And bitokneth trewly · telle who-so liketh Þe holygost of heuene · he is as þe paume Þe fyngres þat fre ben · to folde and to serue Bitokneth sothly þe sone · þat sent was til erthe ÞatBx.17.150: Þat: Alpha makes weaker sense with And (R) or & þorghȝ (F). The line in Cx is as beta's, but without Þat. toched and tasted · a[t]Bx.17.150: at: Beta is supported by Cx. Only L has atte, "at the". Alpha has and. techynge of þe paume Seynt Marie a Mayde · and mankynde lauȝte Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto &c Þe fader is þanne as a fust · with fynger to touche Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum &c Al þat þe paume parceyueth · profitable to fele Thus ar þei alle but one · as it an handeBx.17.156: hande: Supported by Cx and by alliteration. Alpha repeats fust from l. 153. were And þre sondry siȝtes · in one shewynge Þe paume for heBx.17.158: he: WF have it; R repeats þe paume. There is no parallel in Cx until l. 171. putteth forth fyngres [·] and þe fust bothe Riȝt so redily · reson it sheweth How he þat is holygoste · sire & sone preueth And as þe hande halt harde · and al þynge faste Þorw foure fyngres and a thombe · forth with þe paume Riȝte so þe fader and þe sone · & seynt spirit þe þridde HaltBx.17.164: Halt: W moves the verb to the end of the line; Cr does the same, also reversing the a- and b-verses, and M is revised to match Cr. al þe wyde worlde · with-inBx.17.164: with-in: Alpha reads with, and F adds to-gydres at line-end to make up for the loss. hem thre Bothe welkneBx.17.165: welkne: CrHmGF add the definite article. and þe wynde · water and erthe Heuene & helle · and al þat þere is InneBx.17.166: þere is Inne: L's word-order is supported by alpha. Þus it isBx.17.167: is: Dropped by Hm, beta4 and alpha. LW both clarify the syntax by punctuating after is. · nedeth no man · toBx.17.167: to: Attested by L and alpha, but dropped by others. trowe non other That thre þinges bilongeth · in owre lorde of heuene And aren serelepes by hem-self · asondry wereBx.17.169: were: All except L and alpha read were þei. The line is marked for correction in L, with the corrector perhaps supposing that a pronoun is missing. neure Namore þan [may an hande]Bx.17.170: may an hande: So alpha. Beta's possessive pronoun, myn hande may, anticipates the next line. [·] meue with-outen fyngeresBx.17.170: fyngeres: Following on from the a-verse, beta mss. apart from LHm add my. ¶ And as my fust is ful honde · yfolde togideres So is þe fader a ful god · formeour and shepper Tu fabricator omnium &c And al þe myȝte myd hym is [·]Bx.17.174: L omits the punctus, MCrHm punctuate after hym, but WC agree with alpha in putting it after is. in makyng of þynges ¶ The fyngres fourmen a ful hande · to purtreye or peynten Keruynge andBx.17.176: and: Alpha reads or, probably following the construction of the previous b-verse. The line is not in Cx. compassynge · asBx.17.176: as: Alpha (together with Cr) reads is, adopted by both KD and Schmidt without comment. crafte of þe fyngres Riȝt so is þe sone · þe science of þe fader And ful god as is þe fader · no febler ne no better Þe paume is purelich þe hande · hath power bi hym-selue Otherwyse þan þe wrythenBx.17.180: wrythen: Alpha's misunderstanding writen is shared with three C mss. (RK.19.142). fuste [·] or werkmanschip of fyngres For þe paume hath powere [·] to pu[l]tBx.17.181: pult: MED pilten, 3 "extend". R is supported by the X family of C, though as elsewhere most mss. alter to putte as beta does here. Cf. notes to Bx.1.128, 8.97, 11.167, 15.66. oute þeBx.17.181: þe (2): Beta reads alle þe, but alpha is supported by Cx. ioyntes And to vnfolde þe fusteBx.17.182: fuste: Beta has folden fuste, but Cx supports alpha. Beta, skipping from fuste to fuste, then drops the b-verse of l. 182, l. 183, and the a-verse of l. 184. [· for hym it bilongethBx.17.182: for hym it bilongeth: R's form of the b-verse (lost in beta) is supported by Cx. And receyue þat þe fyngres recheth · and refuse botheBx.17.183: bothe: Cx reads yf hym liketh. Whan he feleth þe fuste · andBx.17.184: and: So alpha. Beta's at (as in beta4) links 182a with 184b. The line is revised in Cx.] þe fyngres wille So is þe holygoste god · nother gretter ne lasse Þan is þe sire [or]Bx.17.186: or: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's and. þe sone · & in þe same myȝte And alle ar þei but o god · as is myn hande & my fyngres Vnfolden or folden · my fuste & myn paume Al is [it]Bx.17.189: it (1): Lost in beta. Alpha is supported by Cx, though several C mss. also omit it. but an hande · how-so I torne itBx.17.189: how-so I torne it: 189b and 190a are lost in beta mss. apart from LCr, skipping from hande to hande. The M corrector adds the missing words, which are in Cx. Ac who is herte in þe hande · euene in þe myddes Bx.17.191: Beta4 drops this line, and F loses 191b-196a through eyeskip. He may receyue riȝt nouȝte · resoun it sheweth For þe fyngres þat folde shulde · and þe fuste make For peyne of þe paume · powere hem failleth To clicche or to clawe · to clyppe or to holde ¶ Were þe myddel of myn honde · ymaymed or ypersshedBx.17.195: ypersshed: "pierced" (R has ypersed). The other beta mss. have perisshed etc., which MED percen lists as a variant spelling, though it seems more probable that scribes took it to be perishen. Lines 195b-8a are not in Cx. I shulde receyue riȝte nouȝte · of þat I reche myȝte Ac þough my thombe & my fyngres [·] bothe were to-shullenBx.17.197: to-shullen: This is evidently the beta reading, with M altering to the easier to-swollen in agreement with Hm and alpha. MED ?toshellen, "shatter", cites no other instances. And þe myddel of myn hande · with-oute male-ese In many kynnes maneres · I myȝte my-self helpe Bothe meue and amende · þough alle my fyngres oke Bi þis skil [he seide]Bx.17.201: he seide: Alpha is supported by alliteration and the reading of Cx against beta's me þynketh. · I se an euydence Þat who-so synneth in þe seynt spirit [·] assoilled worth he neure Noither here ne elles-where · as I herde telle Qui peccat in spiritu sanctoBx.17.204: in spiritu sancto: Bx has ablatives here and in l. 205, as does the X family of C, which other C mss. "correct" to accusative. See Schmidt (1995), 401, and cf. Bx.16.49. &c For he prikketh god as in þe paume · þat peccat in spiritu sancto For god þe fader is as a fuste [·] þe sone is as a fynger The holy goste of heuene · is as it were þe pawme So who-so synneth [aȝeins þe]Bx.17.208: aȝeins þe: Beta's in (with MWC adding þe) is a literal translation of ll. 204-05. Alpha is supported by Cx. seynt spirit · it semeth þat he greueth God þat he grypeth with · and wolde his grace quenche ¶ [For]Bx.17.210: For: Beta has And, but alpha is supported by Cx. to a torche or [to]Bx.17.210: to (2): Omitted by beta, but supported by Cx. a tapre · þe trinitee is lykned As wex and a weke · were twyned togideres And þanne a fyre flaumendeBx.17.212: flaumende: The unusual present ppl. form is shared by LR. See note to l. 50 above. · forth oute of bothe And as wex and weyke · and [warme]Bx.17.213: warme: Alpha's reading, supported by alliteration and by Cx. fyre togyderes Fostren forth a flaumbe · and a feyre leye So doth þe sire & þe sone · & also spiritus sanctus Bx.17.216: The line is omitted by WHm. Fostren forth amonges folke · loue & bileue Þat alkyn crystene [·] clenseth of synnes And as þow seest some-tyme [·] sodeynliche a torche The blase þere-of yblowe out · ȝet brenneth þe weyke With-oute leye or liȝte · þat þe macche brenneth So is þe holygost god · & grace with-oute mercy To alle vnkynde creatures · þat coueite to destruye Lele loue other lyf · þat owre lorde shapte Bx.17.224-50: These 27 lines are omitted by alpha, skipping from paraph to paraph. The passage as in beta is almost identical in Cx. ¶ And as glowandeBx.17.224: glowande: The -ande form of the present ppl. is used only once elsewhere in L, pleyande Bx.16.269. See note to l. 50 above. gledes · gladieth nouȝte þis werkmen Þat worchen & waken [·] in wyntres niȝtes As doth a kex or a candel · þat cauȝte hath fyre & blaseth Namore doth sire ne sone · ne seynt spirit togyderes GraunteBx.17.228: Graunte: L has the -eth ending of the present plural, but the infinitive (as in all other mss. and Cx) is required after doth. no grace · ne forȝifnesse of synnes Til þe holi goste gynne · to glowe and to blase So þat þe holygoste · gloweth but as a glede Tyl þat lele loue · ligge on hym & blowe And þanne flaumbeth he as fyre [·] on fader & on filius And melteth her myȝte in-to mercy · as men may se in wyntre Ysekeles in euesesBx.17.234: eueses: The form is supported by LMCrHm. WCG have euesynges, which is the form in C mss. [·] þorw hete of þe sonne Melteth in a mynut-while · to myst & to watre So grace of þe holygoste · þe grete myȝte of þe trinite Melteth toBx.17.237: to (1): L has in-to, picked up from l. 233. Cx supports to. mercy · to mercyable & to non other And as wex with-outen more · on a warme glede Wil brennen & blasen · be þeiBx.17.239: be þei: Supported by Cx against all in MCr. to-gyderes And solacen hem þat mayBx.17.240: may: Clearly an error for may not as in Cx (RK.19.203). In the absence of alpha, it is impossible to determine whether beta or Bx is responsible for the mistake. se · þat sitten in derkenesse So wole þe fader forȝif [·] folke of mylde hertes Þat reufulliche repenten · & restitucioun make In as moche as þei mowen · amenden & payen And if it suffice nouȝte for assetzBx.17.244: assetz: "reparation" (sg.). The form in CrHmC ending -eth is a variant spelling. · þat in suche a wille deyeth Mercy for his mekenesse · wil make good þe remenaunte And as þe weyke and fyre · wil make a warme flaumbe For to myrthe men withBx.17.247: with: Supported by Cx. CrW have myd. W alone has myd at Bx.P.147, 1.117, 15.261. · þat in merke sitten So wil cryst of his curteisye · and men crye hym mercy Bothe forȝiue & forȝete · & ȝet bidde for vs To þe fader of heuene · forȝyuenesse to haue ¶ Ac hew fyre at aBx.17.251: at a: Beta is supported by the X family of C, while the P family has of a. flynte · fowre hundreth wyntre Bot þow haue [tacche]Bx.17.252: tacche: Alpha is supported by Cx, with confusion among some scribes. MED tach(e n. (2), "tinder", has no other citations of the word. to take it with · tondre or broches Al þi laboure is loste · and al þi longe trauaille For may no fyre flaumbe make · faille it his kynde So is þe holy gost god · & grace with-outen mercy To alle vnkynde creatures · cryst hym-self witnesseth Amen dico vobis nescio vos &c · ¶ Be vnkynde to þin euene-cristene · and al þat þow canst bidden Delen & do penaunce · day & nyȝte euere And purchace al þe pardoun [·] of Pampiloun & Rome And indulgences ynowe · & be ingratusBx.17.261: ingratus: The X family of C generally supports this beta reading, while the P family supports alpha's ingrat. to þi kyndeBx.17.261: kynde: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's kynne. Þe holy goste hereth þe nouȝt · ne helpe may þe by resoun For vnkyndenesse quencheth hym · þat he can nouȝte shyne Ne brenne ne blase clere · for blowynge of vnkyndenesse Poule þe apostle [·] preueth wherBx.17.265: wher: "whether". I lye Si linguis hominum loquar &c For-thy beth war ȝe wyse men · þat with þe wo[r]ldeBx.17.267: worlde: The corrector has noted the error in L. deleth That riche ben & resoun knoweth · reuleth wel ȝowre soule Beth nouȝte vnkynde I conseille ȝow · to ȝowre euene-crystene For many of ȝow riche men · bi my soule men telleth Ȝe brenne but ȝe blaseth nouȝte · [&]Bx.17.271: &: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's omission of the word. þat is a blynde bekene Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit &c · ¶ Diues deyed dampned · for his vnkyndenesse Of his mete & hisBx.17.274: & his: So LMC. The reading is uncertain. The other beta copies have and of his, R has and, and F rewrites. C mss. are split between the two beta versions. moneye [·] to men that it neded Vch a riche I rede · rewarde at hym take And gyueth ȝowre good to þat god · þat grace of ariseth For þatBx.17.277: þat: WHmCG have þei þat (F þo þat). The P family of C also add a pronoun, with ȝe þat (RK.19.253). ben vnkynde to his · hope I none other But þei dwelle þere diues is · dayes with-outen ende Þus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie · þat quencheth as it were Þe grace of þe holy gooste · goddes owne kynde For þat kynde dothe vnkynde fordoth ·Bx.17.281: LWHmCG punctuate after fordoth, R after deth, while MF punctuate at both points. as þese cursed theues Vnkynde cristene men · for coueityse & enuye Sleeth a man for his moebles · wyth mouth or wyth handes For þat þe holygoste hath to kepe · þo harlotes destroyeth Þe which is lyf & loue · þe leye of mannes bodye For euery manere good man · may be likned to a torche Or elles to a tapre · to reuerence þe Trinitee And who-[so]Bx.17.288: who-so: LW have who, perhaps representing the beta reading, with MCr reading who þat. However HmCG and alpha and Cx agree on who-so. morthereth a good man · me thynketh by myn Inwyt He fordoth þe leuest lyȝte · þat owre lorde loueth ¶ Ac ȝut in many mo maneres · men offenden þe holygoste Ac þis is þe worste wyse · þat any wiȝte myȝte Synnen aȝein þe seynt spirit · assenten to destruye For coueityse of any kynnes þinge · þat cryst dere bouȝte Bx.17.294: The line is omitted in beta3 and beta4. How myȝte he axe mercy · or any mercy hym helpe Þat wykkedlich & willefullich · wolde mercy anynte Innocence is nexte god · & nyȝte and day it crieth Veniaunce veniaunce · forȝiue be it neuere That shent vsBx.17.298: vs (1): Dropped by alpha, but attested in Cx. & shadde owre blode · forshapte vs as it [semed]Bx.17.298: semed: Beta has were, but R is supported by most C mss., with a few reading semeth as in F. Vindica sanguinem iustorum Thus veniaunce veniaunce [·] verrey charite asketh And sith holicherche & charite [·] chargeth þis so sore Leue I neure that owre lorde [·] wil loue þat charite lakketh Ne haue pite for any preyere · þere þat he pleyneth ¶ I pose I hadde synned so · and shulde now deye And nowBx.17.305: now: Alpha's nouȝt is an obvious misreading, perhaps of archetypal nouthe. am sory þat [I]Bx.17.305: I: The placement of the pronoun is supported by Cx. However, it may not represent Bx. L omits it entirely, R postpones it to the b-verse, MWHm have it twice in the a-verse. It is possible that Bx omitted it, as in L. so · þe seint spirit agulte Confesse me & crye his grace · god þat al made And myldliche his mercy axe · myȝte I nouȝte be saued ¶ Ȝus seide þe Samaritan · so þow myȝte[st]Bx.17.308: so þow myȝtest: Construed with Þat in the next line: "in such a way that". Alpha is supported by Cx. Beta has so wel þow myȝte (subjunctive). repente Þat riȝtwisnesse þorwBx.17.309: þorw: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's to. repentance · to reuthe myȝte torne Ac it is but selden yseye · þere sothenesse bereth witnesse Any creature [be]Bx.17.311: be: Alpha supported by Cx. Beta is presumably trying to smooth a difficult construction. coupable · aforBx.17.311: afor: This is apparently the beta reading, with MCr and alpha regressing to the commonplace bifore as elsewhere. See note to Bx.5.12 for other examples. Nevertheless the reading of Bx is doubtful, since Cx has bifore. a kynges iustice Be raunsoned for his repentaunceBx.17.312: repentaunce: Beta, as in Cx. Lost by R (= alpha), with F repairing. · þere alle resoun hym dampneth For þere þat partye pursueth · þe peleBx.17.313: pele: "accusation". So L + alpha, supported by Cx's apele. Cr has plee, with M altered to that reading; the other beta mss. have nonsensical peple. is so huge Þat þe kynge may do no mercy · til bothe men acorde And eyther haue equite · as holywrit telleth Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c Þus it fareth bi suche folke · þat falsely al her lyuesBx.17.317: lyues: Alpha has the distributive sg., perhaps rightly. The b-verse is rewritten in Cx. Euel lyuen & leten nouȝte · til lyf hem forsake Bx.17.319-20: These two lines omitted by beta are supported by Cx (RK.19.293-4). [Drede of desperacioun · þanneBx.17.319: þanne: F's placement at the start of the b-verse is supported by Cx. dryueth aweyBx.17.319: awey: Supported by the P family of Cx; the X family is without it. grace Þat mercy in her mynde · may nauȝt þanne falle] Good hope þat helpe shulde · to wanhope torneth Nouȝt of þe nounpowereBx.17.322: nounpowere: "impotence", beta as Cx. Alpha mistakes it for nounper, "umpire". of god · þat he ne is myȝtful To amende al þat amys is · and his mercy grettere Þan alle owre wykked werkes · as holiwrit telleth Misericordia eiusBx.17.325: eius (1): So beta, supported by Cx and its source, Psalm 114.9. This may, however, be a correction, since alpha has domini, as previously in Bx.5.293 (where F is lacking). See that note. super omnia opera eius Ac ar his riȝtwisnesse to reuthe tourne · some restitucioun bihoueth Bx.17.327: The line is in beta only. It lacks b-verse alliteration. The revised line in Cx has suche as or suche þat for beta's hym þat. His sorwe is satisfaccioun [·] for hym þat may nouȝte paye ¶ Thre þinges þere ben · þat doth a man by strengthe Forto fleen his owne hous · as holy wryt sheweth Þat one is a wikked wyf · þat wil nouȝt be chastedBx.17.330: chasted: So LCR, supported by Cx. See again l. 341. The form (MED chasten) appears earlier than MED chastisen. Her fiere fleethBx.17.331: fleeth: Beta has fleeth fro. Alpha, with the transitive verb as two lines above, is supported by the X family of C, while beta shares the reading with the P family. hyr · for fere of her tonge And if his hous be vnhiled · and reyne on his bedde He seketh and seketh · til he slepe drye And whan smoke & smolder [·] smyt in his syȝte It doth hym worse þan his wyf · or wete to slepe For smoke & smolder · sm[er]tethBx.17.336: smerteth: Beta repeats smyteth from l. 334, or anticipates l. 355. Alpha is supported by Cx. his eyen Til he be blerenyedBx.17.337: blerenyed: The form (though misdivided in L) is supported by R's blereneyed. See MED blere-eied. or blynde · and [þe borre]Bx.17.337: þe borre: This is clearly the authorial reading, attested by Cx. MED burre n.(1), 2(b), "hoarsness", cites only this instance of the phrase. Beta's hors and alpha's cowȝhe avoid a difficult phrase, and F restores alliteration by adding a bold. in þe throte CoughethBx.17.338: Cougheth: R begins He, and F rewrites, but Cx supports beta. and curseth · þat cryst gyf h[y]mBx.17.338: hym: Beta probably read hem, corrected by MCG, but alpha is supported by Cx. sorwe Þat sholde brynge in better wode · or blowe it til it brende ¶ Þise thre þat I telle of · [þus ben]Bx.17.340: þus ben: So R. Beta has ben þus to, and F has þus ben to, with vnderstonde therefore infinitive rather than past ppl. In C the X family supports R, the P family supports F. vnderstonde The wyf is owre wikked flesshe · wilBx.17.341: wil: Only R omits the relative þat, which is partly prompted by the same b-verse in l. 330. Although a number of C mss. have þat, the best do not. nouȝt be chastedBx.17.341: chasted: LMCrCR supported by Cx. See note to l. 330. For kynde cleueth on hym euere · to contrarie þe soule And þowgh it falle it fynt skiles · þ[at]Bx.17.343: þat: LHm read þe, but sense requires þat, which is the reading of Cx. frelete it made And þat is liȝtly forȝeuen · and forȝeten bothe To man þat mercy asketh · and amende þenketh ¶ The reyne þat reyneth · þere we reste sholde Ben sikenessesBx.17.347: sikenesses: The form without -es in CrWCG may also be plural. & [other]Bx.17.347: other: The reading depends on R alone, with the support of Cx. sorwes · þat we suffren [ouȝte]Bx.17.347: ouȝte: Alpha is supported by the more reliable C mss., though many have beta's easier reading oft. Confusion is likely, since oft is a possible spelling of "ought" in south-western texts. See Jordan (1974), para. 196, remark, and para. 294. As Powle þe Apostle · to þe peple tauȝte Virtus in infirmitate perficitur &c · And þowgh þat men make · moche deol in her angre And [be]Bx.17.351: be: So alpha and Cx, but apparently lost by beta, and added on grounds of sense by beta2. inpacient in here penaunce · pure resoun knoweth Þat þei han causeBx.17.352: cause: Alpha repeats resoun from the previous line and loses the alliteration. to contrarie · by kynde of her sykenesse And liȝtlich owre lorde · at her lyues ende Hath mercy on suche men · þat so yuel may suffre ¶ Ac þe smoke and þe smolder [·] þat smyt in owre eyghenBx.17.355: Here O resumes. Þat isBx.17.356: is: R drops the verb and consequently drops the relative in the b-verse. Beta4 has Is for Þat is. LMF and beta2 are supported by Cx. coueityse and vnkyndenesse · þat quencheth goddes mercy For vnkyndenesse is þe contrarie · of alkynnes resoun For þere nys syke ne sori · ne non so moche wrecche Þat he ne may louye & hym lyke · and leneBx.17.359: lene: Cr has leue; the others are ambiguous. of his herte Goed willeBx.17.360: wille: Beta reads wille &, but alpha is supported by Cx. good worde · bothe wisshen and wil[n]enBx.17.360: wilnen: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's willen. Alle manere menBx.17.361: men: Lost in MCr, which read of. · mercy & forȝifnesse And louye hemBx.17.362: hem: MCr have hym. liche hym-self · and his lyf amende I may no lenger lette quod he · and lyarde he pryked And went away as wynde · and þere-with I awaked Passus duodevicesimus & tercius de dobet Wolleward and wete-shoed · went I forth after As a reccheles renke · þat of no wo recchethBx.18.2: reccheth: WG's past tense is not supported by Cx. And ȝede forth lyke a lorel · al my lyf-tyme Tyl I wex wery of þe worlde · and wylned eft toBx.18.4: to: Possibly not in Bx. It is added by the main scribe in L, omitted by R and by eight C mss. slepe And lened me to a lenten · and longe tyme I slepte And of crystes passioun and penaunce · þe peple þat of-rauȝteBx.18.6: þat of-rauȝte: As KD p. 176 argue, the line lacks sense in this position. They move it to follow l. 9, so that it depends upon dremed. Beta4 and F revise to make sense. It is not in Cx. Rested me þere and rutte faste · tyl ramis palmarum Of gerlis & of gloria laus · gretly me dremed And how osanna by orgonye · olde folke songen ¶ One semblable to þe samaritan · & some-del to Piers þeBx.18.10: þe (2): Dropped by HmCGOF and the P family of C. plowman Barfote on an asse bakke · botelees cam prykeBx.18.11: pryke: Cr and R (= alpha?) have the present participle as do many C mss. The infinitive after comen was becoming rarer; see Mustanoja (1960), 536-7. Wyth-oute spores other spere · sp[r]aklicheBx.18.12: sprakliche: As at Bx.17.83, beta reads spakliche. Here Cx supports alpha. he loked As is þe kynde of a knyȝte · þat cometh to be dubbed To geten h[y]mBx.18.14: hym: Only L has hem. gylte spores · orBx.18.14: or: This is confirmed as Bx by LMWHmR. Alerted by the unsatisfactory sense, F alters to on and beta4 to and. Cx also reads and. galoches ycouped ¶ Þanne was faith in a fenestre · and cryde a fili dauid As doth an Heraude of armes · whan aunturos cometh to iustes Olde iuwes of ierusalem · for ioye þei songen Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini ¶ Þanne I frayned at faith · what al þat fare be-ment And who sholdeBx.18.20: sholde: Dropped by R, but supported by Cx. iouste in Iherusalem · Ihesus he seyde And feccheBx.18.21: fecche: R's third person is not supported by Cx. þat þe fende claymeth · Piers fruit þe plowman Bx.18.22: A paraph, as in WHmC with a line-space in M, would be appropriate, but is not indicated in L or alpha.Is Piers in þis place quod I · & he preynte on me Þis ihesus of his gentriceBx.18.23: gentrice: (MED gentrise), as in Cx. CrHm and alpha substitute gentrie. · wole iuste in piers armes In his helme & in his haberioun · humana natura Þat cryst be nouȝt biknoweBx.18.25: biknowe: LW and alpha, against knowen or yknowe in others. However Cx has yknowe. here · for consumatus deus In Piers paltok þe plowman · þis priker shal ryde For no dynte shal hym dere · as in deitate patris [¶]Bx.18.28: ¶: The paraph marking Will's question is omitted in L but supported by WHmC and alpha and the line-space in M. Who shal iuste with ihesus quod I [·] iuwes or scribes ¶ Nay quod [faith but þe]Bx.18.29: faith but þe: So alpha supported by Cx. Beta has he þe foule. fende · and fals dome [to deye]Bx.18.29: to deye: So alpha supported by Cx. Beta has & deth. Deth seith he shal fordo · and adown brynge Al þat lyueth orBx.18.31: or (1): W and alpha read and, but this is not supported by Cx. loketh · in londe or in watere Lyf seyth þat he liktheBx.18.32: likthe: "is lying". Since this is the spelling in L and alpha, it was probably Bx's form of MED lien v.(2). Cf. Bx.5.165 lixte. See Adams (2000), 186. · and leyth his lif to wedde Þat for al þat deth can do · with-in þre dayes To walke and fecche fro þe fende · piers fruite þe plowman And legge it þere hym lyketh · and lucifer bynde And forb[i]teBx.18.36: forbite: "bite through". R's rather odd reading was rejected by other B scribes, who read forbete or for to bete, but it is supported by the P family and three of the X family of C. It reflects morsus tuus ero in Osee 13.14, quoted by F and many C mss. in the next line. See Barney (2006), 25, citing Schmidt (1995), 402. and adownBx.18.36: adown: Supported by Cx against doun in MCrHmG and alpha. brynge [·] bale deth for euere O mors ero mors tua ¶ Þanne cam pilatus with moche peple · sedens pro tribunali To se how doughtilich deth sholde do · & deme her botheres riȝte Þe iuwes and þe iustice · aȝeine ihesu þei were And al [þe]Bx.18.41: þe: LR have her, which is probably coincident error, since Cx has þe and there is no apparent reason for the other B scribes to corrupt. courte on hym cryde · crucifige sharpe [¶]Bx.18.42: ¶: A paraph is appropriate, although it is only in Hm and alpha. In L the line is at the top of the page where a paraph is sometimes missed. Tho put hym forth a piloure · bifor pilat & seyde This ihesus of owre iewesBx.18.43: iewes: Dropped by alpha, but wanted for the alliteration and supported by Cx. temple · iaped & dispised To fordone it onBx.18.44: on: MG and alpha have in anticipating in thre dayes, but this is not supported by Cx. o day · and in thre dayes after Edefye it eft newe · here he stant þat seyde it And ȝit maken it as moche · in al manere poyntes Bothe as longe and as large · [a-]loftBx.18.47: a-loft: R (= alpha) and Cx; F has on lofte. Beta's bi lofte anticipates by grounde. & by grounde ¶ Cru[ci]fige quod a cacchepolle · I warante hym a wicche Tolle tolle quod an other · and toke o[f]Bx.18.49: of: L's spelling o is probably a slip since the scribe does not use the form elsewhere. kene þornes And bigan of kene thorne · a gerelande to make And sette it sore on his hed · and seyde in envye Aue rabby quod þat RibaudeBx.18.52: þat Ribaude: Cx supports beta against R's þe ribaudes and F's þo rybawdis. Alpha's plural represents the two catchpoles. · and þrew redes at hym Nailled hym with þreBx.18.53: þre: F has fowre, which the R corrector writes in the margin without deleting thre in the text. Cx has thre. For the opposing views of whether Christ's feet were nailed together or separately, see Geoffrey Shepherd (ed.), Ancrene Wisse (London, 1959), p. 57. nailles · naked onBx.18.53: on: Supported by the P family of C, though the X family support R's vp-on. þe Rode And poysoun on a pole · þei put vpBx.18.54: vp: Not in R, nor in F in a recast line. Again C mss. are split, the X family supporting beta (RK.20.52). to his lippes And bede hym drynke his deth yuel · his dayes were ydone And ȝif þat þow sotil be · help now þi-seluen If þow be cryst & kynges sone · come downe of þe Rode Þanne shul we leue þat lyf þe loueth · and wil nouȝt lete þe deye ¶ Consummatum est quod cryst · & comsed forto swowe Pitousliche and pale · as a prisoun þat deyeth ÞeBx.18.61: Þe: Supported by Cx against Til (R), Tyl þe (F). lorde of lyf & of liȝte · þo leyed his eyen togideres Þe daye for drede with-drowe · and derke bicam þe sonne Þe wal wagged and clef [·] and al þe worlde quaued Ded men for that dyne · come out of depeBx.18.64: depe: Required for the alliteration and supported by Cx against alpha's here. graues And tolde whi þat tempest · so longe tyme dured For a bitter bataille · þe ded bodye sayde Lyf and deth in þis derknesse · her one fordoth her other Shal no wiȝte wite witterly [·] who shal haue þe maystrye Er sondey aboute sonne rysynge · & sank with þat til erthe Some seyde þat he was goddes sone · þat so faire deyde Vere filius dei erat iste · &c And somme saide he was a wicche · good is þat weBx.18.72: þat we: R omits both words, and F omits þat. Beta is supported by Cx. assaye Where he be ded or nouȝte ded · doun er he be taken ¶ Two theues also · tholed deth þat tyme Vppon a crosse bisydes cryst · so was þe comune lawe ABx.18.76: A: R (= alpha?) begins Ac a and F But a; there is no support from Cx, and it anticipates l. 78. cacchepole cam forth · and craked bothe her legges And her armes after · of eyther of þo theues Ac was no boy so bolde · goddes body to touche For he was knyȝte & kynges sone · kynde forȝaf þat tymeBx.18.79: tyme: Beta is supported by Cx. Alpha's synonym throwe, though not an uncommon word, is used nowhere else in the poem. Both KD and Schmidt adopt it. Þat non harlot were so hardy · to leyne handeBx.18.80: hande: R has an hand and F has plural hondys. The line is not in Cx. vppon hym ¶ Ac þere cam forth a knyȝte · with a kene spere ygrounde Hiȝte longeus as þe lettre telleth · and longe had lore his siȝte Bifor pilat & other peple · in þe place he houed Maugre his many tethe · he was made þat tyme To take þe spere in his honde · & iusten with ihesus For alle þei were vnhardy · þat houed on hors or stodeBx.18.86: stode: Alpha replaces with stede, not supported by Cx. To touche hymBx.18.87: hym (1): Dropped by Cr and alpha but supported by Cx. or to taste hym · or take hymBx.18.87: hym (3): Dropped by M and beta2, but supported by Cx. down of Rode But þis blynde bacheler [·] þa[t]Bx.18.88: þat: MCrW omit, LHm and beta4 have þanne (all except C before the punctuation). Beta has missed the construction alle (l. 86) ... But. Alpha is supported by Cx. bar hym þorugh þe herte Þe blode spronge down by þe spere · & vnsperedBx.18.89: vnspered: Alpha substitutes the non-alliterating and easier synonym opned. Cx reads as beta. þe kniȝtes eyen Þanne fel þe knyȝte vpon knees · and cryed [ihesu]Bx.18.90: ihesu: R (= alpha?) is supported by Cx. F has crist and beta hym. mercy Aȝeyne my wille it was lorde · to wownde ȝow so sore He seighed & sayde · sore it me athynketh For þe dede þat I haue done · I do me in ȝowre grace Haue on me reuth riȝtful ihesu · & riȝt with þat he wept ¶ Thanne gan faith felly · þe fals iuwes dispise Called hem caytyues · acursedBx.18.96: acursed: Alpha adds hem, making the verb past tense. Cx supports beta. for euere For þis foule vyleynye · veniaunce to ȝow alleBx.18.97: alle: WHmG read falle, perhaps prompted by the alliteration, or perhaps resisting the notion that all Jews were condemned; see Schmidt (1995), 402. The reading alle seems securely Bx, even though Cx (RK.20.97) also reads falle (P family) or bifalle (X family). WHmG may possibly be contaminated from a C text; see note to l. 394. To do þe blynde bete hym ybounde · it was a boyes conseille Cursed caytyue[s]Bx.18.99: caytyues: So alpha and Cx. Beta probably had the sg., presumably referring (obviously wrongly) to Longeus. M hesitates, first adding -s and then erasing; CrHmO make the obvious correction. · kniȝthod was it neuere To mysdo a ded body · by day or by nyȝte Þe gree ȝit hath he geten · for al his grete wounde ¶ For ȝowre champioun chiualer [·] chief knyȝt of ȝow alle Ȝelt hym recreaunt rennyng · riȝt at ihesus wille For be þis derkenesse ydo · deth worth [yvenkeshed]Bx.18.104: deth worth yvenkeshed: The alpha reading is supported by Cx against beta's his deth worth avenged. And ȝe lordeynes han ylost · for lyf shal haue þe maistrye And ȝowre Fraunchise þat fre was · fallen is in thraldome And ȝe cherles & ȝowre children · chieue shal ȝe neure Ne haue lordship in londe · ne no londe tylye But al bareyne be · & vsurye vsen Which is lyf þat owre lorde · in alle lawes acurseth Now ȝowre good dayes ar done · as Danyel prophecyed Whan cryst cam herBx.18.112: her: So L and beta4. Beta2 reads of hire, and M is corrected to that reading. The alpha reading is uncertain, with R þe and F to his. See next note. kyngdom · þe croune shulde [lese]Bx.18.112: lese: The beta reading is cesse, but since cesse is not a transitive verb, beta2 adds of, and M is corrected to that reading: "the crown (i.e. authority) of their kingdom should come to an end". L realises something is wrong, and leaves out the last word while waiting for further guidance. But cese is probably a beta error picked up from cessabit in the next line (only cited in beta), and alpha is right with lese. Cx rewrites the line. Cum veniat sanctus sanctorumBx.18.113: sanctorum: Beta completes the quotation with cessabit vnxio vestra. Cf. Bx.15.631 for the same variation. Cx also varies: the P family has the full quotation (RK.20.112a). ¶ What for fere of þis ferly · & of þeBx.18.114: þe: R's þo is not supported by Cx. fals iuwes I drowe me in þat derkenesse · to de[s]cendit ad inferna And þere I sawe sothely · secundum scripturas Out of þe west coste · a wenche as me thouȝte Cam walkynge in þeBx.18.118: þe: R's þat is not supported by Cx. wey · to helle-ward she loked Mercy hiȝt þat mayde · a meke þynge with-alle A ful benygne buirde · and boxome of speche ¶Bx.18.121: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. Her suster as it semed · cam softlyBx.18.121: softly: Supported by Cx. MW soþly is an odd misreading, with Cr worthely probably an attempt to make sense of that. walkyng Euene out of þe est · and westward she loked A ful comely creature · treuth she hiȝte For þe vertue þat hir folwed · aferd was she neuere ¶Bx.18.125: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. WhanBx.18.125: Whan: Alpha's And whan is not supported by Cx. þis maydenes mette · mercy and treuth Eyther axed other · of þis grete wonder Of þe dyne & of þe derknesse · and how þe daye rowed And whichBx.18.128: which: Alpha's swich is not supported by Cx. a liȝte and a leme · lay befor helle Ich haue ferly of þis fare · in feith seyde treuth And am wendyng to wyte · what þis wonder meneth ¶ Haue no merueille quod mercy · myrthe it bytokneth A mayd[e]Bx.18.132: mayde: CrG and alpha are supported by Cx against beta's mayden. þat hatte marye · and moder with-out felyng Of any kyn[de]Bx.18.133: kynde: "natural"; so alpha against beta's kynnes. The X family of C has kynde, the P family kynde of. creature · conceyued þorw speche And grace of þe holygoste · wex grete with childe With-outen wem · in-to þis worlde she brouȝt hym And þat my tale be trewe · I take god to witnesse Sith þis barn was bore · ben thretty wynter passed Which deyde & deth þoled · þis day aboute mydday And þat is cause of þis clips · þat closeth now þe sonne In menynge þat man shal · fro merkenesse be drawe Þe whileBx.18.141: while: MCrHmF read which, but Cx supports the others. þis liȝte & þis leme · shal Lucyfer ablende For patriarkes & prophetes · han preched her-of often Þat man shal man saue · þorw a maydenes helpe And þat was tynt þorw tre · tree shal it wynne And þat deth doun brouȝte · deth shal releue ¶ Þat þow tellest quod treuth · is but a tale of waltrot For Adam & Eue · & abraham withBx.18.147: with: GF read and. MCr drop and (2) and have it here. Cx supports with. other Patriarkes & prophetes · þat in peyne liggen Leue þow neuere þat ȝone liȝte · hem alofte brynge Ne haue hem out of helle · h[o]ldeBx.18.150: holde: L reads helde. þi tonge mercy It is but trufleBx.18.151: trufle: Beta has a trufle, but Cx supports R. F has the plural. þat þow tellest · IBx.18.151: I: Dropped by alpha, but supported by Cx. treuth wote þe sothe For þatBx.18.152: þat: WHmF add he, and the same mss. have he for it in the b-verse. Cx begins That thyng. is ones in helle · out cometh it neuere Iob þe prophete patriarke · reproueth þi sawes Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio ¶ Þanne mercy ful myldly · mouthed þise wordes Thorw experience quod [he]Bx.18.156: he: "she". The form in Cr and alpha; supported by Cx and required for the alliteration. See Introduction IV.1 and V.3.1. · I hope þei shal be saued For venym fordoth venym · & þat I proue by resoun For of alle venymes · foulest is þe scorpioun May no medcyne helpe · þe place þere he styngeth Tyl he be ded & do þer-to · þe yuel he destroyeth Þe fyrst venymouste · þorw ve[rtue]Bx.18.161: vertue: Alpha is supported by Cx. Beta repeats venym, not implausibly. of hym-self So shal þis deth fordoBx.18.162: fordo: Beta supported by Cx against alpha's do. · I dar my lyf legge Al þat deth dydBx.18.163: dyd: WHm take fordide from the previous line. In KD's listing of WHm agreements (pp. 38-9), over half occur in passus 17-19, indicating a different genetic relationship (beta3, so not including Cr) in the last part of the poem (see KD, p. 49). In passus 18 WHm agree in error at ll. 108, 209, 214, 222, 230, 256, 278, 338, 339, 441. furste · þorw þe deuelles entysynge And riȝt as þorw gyle · man was bigyled So shal grace þat bigan · make a good sleighteBx.18.165: sleighte: The sense is poor, and comparison with Cx suggests that Bx has lost a line after good, skipping to good in the line that follows (RK.20.164-5). KD supply "[end / And bigile þe gilour, and þat is good]". See Schmidt (1995), 402-03. G's end (shared with Y) is by conjecture or contamination. Ars vt artem falleret ¶ Now suffre we seyde treuth · I se as me þinketh Out of þe nippe of þe north · nouȝt ful fer hennes Riȝtwisnesse come rennynge · reste we þe while For he wote more þan we · he was er we bothe ¶Bx.18.171: ¶: The paraph marking the start of speech is in beta and F. That is soth seyde mercy · and I se here bi southe Where [cometh pees]Bx.18.172: cometh pees: R's order is supported by Cx. Beta and F reverse to prose order. playinge · in pacience yclothed Loue hath coueyted hir longe · leue I none other But he sent hir some lettre [·] what þis liȝte bymeneth Þat ouer-houeth helle þus · [he]Bx.18.175: he: The L scribe added an initial <s>, to agree with all other beta mss., but alliteration and Cx support alpha's form. See Introduction IV.1. vs shal telle ¶ Whan pees in pacience yclothed · approched nere hem tweyne Riȝtwisnesse hir reuerenced · for her riche clothyng And preyed pees to telle hir · to what place sheBx.18.178: she: In this case neither alliteration nor Cx supports alpha's he. Cf. notes to ll. 156 and 175. wolde And in her gay garnementz · whom sheBx.18.179: she: In this case neither alliteration nor Cx supports alpha's he. Cf. notes to ll. 156, 175 and 178. grete þouȝte ¶ My wille is to wende quod sheBx.18.180: she: Alpha has he. Cx rewrites. Cf. notes to ll. 156, 175, 178 and 179. · and welcome hem alle Þat many day myȝte I nouȝte se · for merkenesse of synne Adam & Eue [·] & other moo in helle Moyses & many mo · mercy shal haue Bx.18.184: The line is preserved in beta only; it is in Cx. And I shal daunce þer-to · do þow so sustre For ihesus iusted wel · ioye bygynneth dawe Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus · & ad matutinum leticia · Loue þat is my lemman · suche lettres meBx.18.187: me: R's he me has support from the X family of C, but the P family is without he. sente That mercy my sustreBx.18.188: my sustre: Dropped by alpha, but supported by Cx and by alliteration. & I · mankynde shulde saue And þat god hath forgyuen · & graunted me pees & mercy To be mannes meynpernoure · for euere-more after Lo here þe patent quod pees · in pace in idipsum And þat þis dede shal dure · dormiam & requiescam ¶ What rauestow quod riȝtwisnesse [·] or þow art riȝt dronke Leuestow þat ȝonde liȝte · vnlouke myȝte helle And saue mannes soule · sustre weneBx.18.195: wene: Alpha's wene þow is not supported by Cx. it neure At þe bygynnynge god · gaf þe dome hym-selue Þat Adam & Eue · and alle þat hem suwed Shulde deye doune-riȝte · and dwelle in p[e]yneBx.18.198: peyne: Alpha is supported by Cx and ll. 205, 208. Beta has pyne, "torment" (see MED pein(e and pine n.(1)). after If þat þei touched a tre · and þe fruiteBx.18.199: þe fruite: This seems undoubtedly the Bx reading, despite the lack of alliteration. Hm þe trees fruyt corrects the alliteration. F of þe frut is the Cx reading, presumably by coincidence, influenced by l. 201. eten Adam afterward · aȝeines his defence Frette of þat fruit · & forsoke as it were Þe loue of owre lorde · and his lore bothe And folwed þat þe fende tauȝte · & his felawes wille Aȝeines resoun IBx.18.204: I: The line is omitted by alpha, and beta mss. apart from L read and. The three best C mss. of the X family agree with L; other C mss. have and (RK.20.204). Schmidt (1995), 403, ascribes the error to "variation to the stock phrase, and misconstruction of the mood of recorde as imperative". Omission of I might be a Bx error, as at l. 208, with the correction conjectured by L, but such activity is untypical of the L scribe. riȝtwisnesse · recorde þus with treuth Þat her peyne be perpetuel · & no preyere hem helpe For-þi late hem chewe as þei chose · & chyde we nouȝt sustres For it is botelees bale · þe bite þat þei eten ¶ And [I]Bx.18.208: I: Easily lost (see l. 204), but the agreement of LR suggests it might be a Bx error with the obvious correction made by other scribes (note F has I for And I). shal pre[i]eBx.18.208: preie: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's preue. quod pees · her peyne mote haue ende And wo in-to wel · mowe wende atte laste For hadBx.18.210: had (1): Omitted by alpha (added in F). Cx supports beta. þei wist of no wo · wel had þei nouȝte knowen For no wiȝte wote what wel is · þat neuere wo suffred Ne what is hote hunger · þat had neuere defaute If no nyȝte ne were · no man as I leue Shulde wite witterly · what day is to mene Bx.18.215: L has an unrubricated paraph marker but no blank line. It is inappropriate and not supported by other mss. Possibly it was intended for l. 213, where WHmR have a paraph.Shulde neuere riȝte riche man · þat lyueth in reste & ese Wyte what wo is · ne were þe deth of kynde So god þat bygan al · of his good wille Bycam man of a mayde · mankynde to saue And suffred to be solde · toBx.18.219: to (2): Alpha reads and, but beta is supported by Cx. see þe sorwe of deyinge The which vnknitteth al kare · & comsynge is of reste For til modicum meteBx.18.221: mete: CrHmCGO and alpha have pa.t., as do a good many C mss. with vs · I may it wel avowe Wote no wiȝte as I wene · what is ynoughBx.18.222: is ynough: R's is nouȝte probably reproduces alpha, with F altering to make sense. Cx supports beta. to mene ¶Bx.18.223: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. For-þi god of his goodnesse · þe fyrste gome Adam Sette hym in solace · & in souereigne myrtheBx.18.224: myrthe: Cx supports beta against alpha's ioye, picked up from l. 230. And sith he suffred hym synne · sorwe to fele To wite what wel wasBx.18.226: was: Cx supports beta against alpha's is, which is perhaps again picked up from l. 230. · kyndelich to knowe it And after god auntred hym-self · and toke Adames kynde To wyte what he hath suffred · in þre sondri places Bothe in heuene & in erthe · & now til helle he þynketh To wite what al wo is · þat wote of al ioye ¶ So it shal fare bi þis folke · her foly & her synne Shal lere hem what langour is · & lisseBx.18.232: lisse: Supported by Cx (RK.20.243) and alliteration over GR's blisse. F loses l. 232b and l. 233a. with-outen ende Wote no wighte what werre is · þere þat pees regneth Ne what is witterly wel · til weyllowey hym teche ¶ Thanne was þere a wiȝte · with two brode eyen Boke hiȝte þat beupere · a bolde man of speche By godes body quod þis boke · I wil bere witnesse Þat þo þis barne was ybore · þere blased a sterre That alle þe wyseBx.18.239: wyse: Supported by Cx and alliteration over alpha's men. Did alpha understand it as wyes as in a few C mss.? ofBx.18.239: of: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's in. þis worlde · in o witte acordedenBx.18.239: acordeden: Cx supports the past tense as in LHmOR. That such a barne was borne · in bethleem [þe]Bx.18.240: þe: WR are supported by Cx. Without it the b-verse would have the metrical form x / x / x usually avoided. Possibly beta had dropped it and W restored it on metrical grounds. R presumably represents alpha, with F dropping the article. Citee Þat mannes soule sholde saue · & synne destroye And alle þe elementz quod þe boke · her-of bereth witnesse Þat he was god þat al wrouȝte · þe walkene firste shewed Þo that weren in heuene · token stella comata And tendeden hir as a torche · to reuerence his birthe Þe lyȝte folwed þe lorde · in-to þe lowe erthe Þ[e]Bx.18.247: Þe: Cx supports CrWO and alpha against Þat in LMHmC (G has Þat þe). water witnesse[th]Bx.18.247: witnesseth: Most C mss. support the present tense as in GO and alpha against the past tense in others. þat he was god · for he went on it Peter þe apostel · parceyued his gate And as he went on þe water · wel hym knewe & seyde Iube me venire ad te super aquas And lo how þe sonne gan loukeBx.18.251: louke: "lock". Alpha's spellings represent "look". Cx supports beta. · her liȝte in her-self Whan she seye hym suffre · þat sonne & seBx.18.252: se: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's mone. made The erthe for heuynesse · that he wolde suffre Quaked as quykke þinge · and al biquash[e]Bx.18.254: biquashe: Probably Langland wrote al biquashe þe roches (plural: "all the rocks shatter"; cf. "petrae scissae sunt", Matt. 27.51), as in the X family of C, al toquasch þe roches (RK.20.257), but Bx obviously read roche. Alpha reproduces the verb, presumably taking it as the third-person present sg. with assimilated -s ending, though the ending is nearly always -eth in the B tradition. Beta "corrects" the verb form by making it past, biquasht, influenced by the context of past-tense verbs (though G has byquassethe). The P family of C also has the past tense, toquasched, but retains the plural noun. þe roche Lo helle miȝte nouȝte holde · but opened þo god þoled And lete oute symondes sones · to seen hym hange on Rode And now shal lucifer leueBx.18.257: leue: Beta is supported by Cx against F's leese. R omits the word. it [·] thowgh hym loth þinke Bx.18.258-9: These two lines preserved only in beta are supported by Cx. For gygas þe geaunt · with a gynne engyned To breke & to bete [adown]Bx.18.259: adown: Cx supports MWHmCO. The line is lost in alpha. · þat ben aȝeines ihesus And I boke wil be brent · but ihesus rise to lyue In alle myȝtes of manBx.18.261: man: Alpha has a man. The line is not in Cx. · & his moder gladye And conforte al his kynne · & out of care brynge And al þe iuwen ioye · vnioignen & vnlouken And butBx.18.264: but: MCrF have but if, but the others are supported by Cx. þei reuerencen his Rode · & his resurexioun And bileue on a newe lawe · be lost lyf & souleBx.18.265: Beta4 has an additional line following this. It is patently scribal and is not in Cx. ¶ Suffre we seide treuth · I here & se bothe [A]Bx.18.267: A: So alpha, supported by Cx. Beta begins How a. spirit speketh to helle · & bit vnspere þe ȝatis Attollite portas &cBx.18.268: Alpha treats the two Latin words as the beginning of l. 269. In C four of the X group do the same, while four of the P group place them at the end of the previous line. A voice loude in þat liȝte [·] to lucifer cryethBx.18.269: cryeth: Beta4 has the past tense; Cx has saide. Prynces of þis place · vnpynneth & vnlouketh For here cometh with croune · þat kynge is of glorie [¶]Bx.18.272: ¶: The paraph is not in L, but is appropriate and supported by WHmC and alpha, and the line-space in M. Thanne syked sathan · & seyde to he[lle]Bx.18.272: helle: Alpha is supported by Cx. Probably beta was puzzled by the unusual personal use, which derives from the Gospel of Nicodemus, in which a devil is named "Inferus", generally translated as Hell (e.g. MED helle 1 (c)). Suche a lyȝte aȝeines owre leue · Lazar it fette Care & combraunce · is comen to vs alle If þis kynge come in · mankynde wil he fecche And lede itBx.18.276: it: that is, mankynde. Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's hem. þer [Lazar is]Bx.18.276: Lazar is: Alpha is supported by Cx. Beta's hym lyketh is probably sheer inattention rather than objection to the implication that Lazarus is in heaven. Cf. l. 421. · & lyȝtlych me bynde Patriarkes & prophetes · han parled her-of longe Þat such a lorde & a lyȝte · sh[al]Bx.18.278: shal: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's shulde. lede hem alle hennes ¶ Lysteneth quod Lucifer · for I þis lorde knowe Bothe þis lorde & þis liȝte · is longe ago I knewe hym May no deth [þis lorde]Bx.18.281: þis lorde: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's hym. dere · ne no deueles queyntise And where he wil is his waye · ac war hym of þe periles If he reue me [of]Bx.18.283: of: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's omission. my riȝte · he robbethBx.18.283: he robbeth: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's & robbe, though the subjunctive, parallel to reue makes excellent sense, making the whole line conditional, explaining the periles (sc. of lawlessness) of l. 282. me by maistrye For by riȝt & bi resoun · þ[e]Bx.18.284: þe: Beta2, C and alpha are supported by Cx against þo in LMGO. renkes þat ben here Bodye & soule ben myne · bothe gode & ille For hym-self seyde [·] þat sire is of heuene ȜifBx.18.287: Ȝif: Alpha begins Þat ȝif. The equivalent line in Cx has a different construction, beginning "That Adam and Eve" (RK.20.303). Adam ete þe apple · alle shulde deye And dwelle with vs deueles · þis þretynge he made And he þat sothenesse is [·] seyde þise wordes And [I] sitthen I-seisedBx.18.290: I sitthen I-seised: "I being then in possession", an absolute construction. This is R's reading, with F simplifying the presumed alpha reading. Beta has dropped I, probably taking ppl. I-seised as pronoun + past tense. Cx has instead we haen ben sesed (RK.20.309). · seueneBx.18.290: seuene: Alpha adds þise, but it has no support from Cx. hundreth wyntre I leue þat lawe nil nauȝte · lete hym þe leest ¶ That is sothe seyde Sathan · but I me sore drede For þow gete hem with gyle · & his gardyne breke And in semblaunce of a serpent · sat on þe appeltre And eggedest hem to ete · Eue by hir-selue And toldest hir a tale · of tresoun were þe wordes And soBx.18.297: so: Alpha's al-so is without support from Cx. þow haddest hem oute [·] & hider atte laste It is nouȝte graythely geten · þere gyle is þe Rote For god wil nouȝt be bigiled · quod Gobelyn ne bi-iaped We haue no trewe title to hem · for þorwgh tresoun were þei dampned Certes I drede me quod þe deuel · leste treuth wil hem feccheBx.18.301: The line that follows in beta4 is evidently scribal. It is added in the Crowley revisions, Cr2 and Cr3. ¶ ÞisBx.18.302: Þis: For numeral + wynter treated as sg. cf. Bx.3.39, 5.561, 18.305. Here CrWC "correct" it to pl. with Thise. þretty wynter as I wene · [he wente aboute]Bx.18.302: he wente aboute: Alpha is supported by Cx and alliteration against beta's hath he gone. & preched I haue assailled hym with synne · & some-tymeBx.18.303: some-tyme: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's some. [I] askedBx.18.303: I asked: Beta has the ppl. yasked, but alpha's pronoun + past tense is supported by Cx. Cf. l. 290. Where he were god or goddes sone · he gaf me shorte answere And þus hath heBx.18.305: hath he: Beta's word-order is supported by Cx against alpha's reversal. trolled forth · þis two & thretty wynter And whan I seighe it was so · slepyngBx.18.306: slepyng: Beta2 reads non-alliterative lepynge, and M is altered to that reading. Perhaps the scribe didn't know the story. I went To warne pilates wyf · what donesBx.18.307: dones: "sort of". For the form, see OED done ppl. a. (n.); Mustanoja (1960), 86. man was ihesus For iuwes hateden hym · and han done hym to deth IBx.18.309: I: Alpha begins And I, but beta is supported by Cx. wolde haue lengthed his lyf · for I leuedBx.18.309: leued: Alpha's present tense is not supported by Cx. ȝif he deyede That his soule woldeBx.18.310: wolde: Alpha has walde nauȝt, and Hm nolde. There is no equivalent line in Cx. suffre · no synne in his syȝte For þe body whil it on bones ȝede · aboute was euere To saue men fram synne · ȝif hem-self wolde And now I se where a soule · cometh hiderward seyllynge With glorie & withBx.18.310: with (2): Omitted by O and alpha, but Cx has it. grete liȝte · god it is I wote wel I rede we flee quod he · faste alle hennes For vs were better nouȝte be · þan biden his syȝte For þi lesynges Lucifer · loste is al owre praye Bx.18.318: W and alpha have a paraph, perhaps prompted by Firste.Firste þorw þe we fellen · fro heuene so heigh Bx.18.319-20: Beta loses 319b and 320a through eyeskip (lesynges ... lesynge). The X family of C does the same. For we leued þi lesynges · [we loupen oute alleBx.18.319: we loupen oute alle: Alpha only. R adds with þe, perhaps rightly, but it is unnecessary to the sense and metrically clumsy. Cx is revised. And now for thi last lesynge ·] ylore [haue we]Bx.18.320: haue we: Beta reverses to prose order. Cx is rewritten: þere losten we (RK.20.347). Adam And al owre lordeship I leue · alonde & a water Nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras ¶ Efte þe liȝte bad vnlouke · & Lucifer answeredBx.18.323-6: It seems evident that the quotations from Psalm 23.10 have become disordered in Bx. This would most easily have happened if at some earlier stage they were to the right of each line: Efte þe liȝte bad vnlouke · & Lucifer answered · quis est iste What lorde artow quod lucifer · þe liȝte sone seide · Rex glorie The lorde of myȝte & of mayne · & al manere vertues · dominus virtutum All B mss. agree on the arrangement of l. 324, with quis est iste as the b-verse. Evidently, despite some rearrangement by F, Bx.18.325 began with Rex glorie. As the b-verse R (= alpha?) amalgamates and abbreviates 325b with 326; F abbreviates still further. LWC have dominus virtutum to the right of 326; MCrHmGO have it as a line on its own (with Hm expanding); R has it to begin 327, and F drops it altogether. Cx does not include the Latin phrases (RK.20.359-61). What lorde artow quod lucifer · quis est iste Rex glorie · þe liȝte sone seide [Þe]Bx.18.326: Þe: So alpha and Cx. Beta's And appears to be a consequence of the disordering; see previous note. lorde of myȝte & of mayneBx.18.326: mayne: Supported by Cx. WR have man. · & al manere vertues · dominus virtutum DukesBx.18.327: Dukes: Alpha has the sg. The C mss. are also divided: the P group has the sg., the X group the plural. But l. 270 has Prynces, and this is supported by the source, the Gospel of Nicodemus, which has principes. of þis dym place · anon vndo þis ȝates That cryst may come in · þe kynges sone of heuene And with þat breth helle brakeBx.18.329: brake: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's braste. · with Beliales barres For any wye or warde · wide openeBx.18.330: opene: Alpha has the past tense verb, as does W and corrected Hm. The P family of C has the same, while the X family has the adjective. þe ȝatis ¶ Patriarkes & prophetes · populus in tenebris Songen seynt Iohanes songe · ecce agnus dei Lucyfer loke ne myȝte · so lyȝte hym ableynte And þo þat owre [lorde]Bx.18.334: lorde: Omitted by L. loued · in-to his liȝte he lauȝte And seyde to sathan · lo here my soule to amendes For alle synneful soules · to saue þo þat ben worthy Myne þei be & of me · I may þe bette hem clayme Al-þough resoun recorde [·] & riȝt of my-self That if þei ete þe apple · alle shulde deye I bihyȝte hem nouȝt here · helle for euere For þe dede þat þei dede · þi deceyte it made With gyle þow hem gete · agayne al resoun For in my paleys paradys · in persone of an addre Falseliche þow fettest þere · þynge þat I loued ¶ Thus ylyke a lusarde · with a lady visage Theuelich þow me robbedest · þe olde lawe graunteth Þat gylours be bigiled · & þat is gode resoun Dentem pro dente & oculum pro oculo Ergo soule shal soule quyte · & synne to synne wende And al þat man hath mysdo · I man wyl amende [it]Bx.18.350: it: Alpha has the pronoun, though F has it before the verb. R is supported by Cx in a slightly revised b-verse (RK.20.389). Note that in l. 352 beta has line-terminal it where alpha does not; see note there. Membre for membre · bi þe olde lawe was amendes And lyf for lyf also · & by þat lawe I claymeBx.18.352: clayme: Beta has clayme it, but the object is Adam in the next line. See note to l. 350. The line is not in Cx. Adam & al his issue · at my wille her-after And þat deth in hem fordid · my deth shal releue And bothe quykkeBx.18.355: quykke: M and beta2 have quykene, quikne (MED quikenen), but Cx supports the others. & quyte · þat queynte was þorw synne And þat grace gyle destruyeBx.18.356: destruye: "should destroy". Cr and alpha have the indicative. The line is rewritten in Cx. · good feith it asketh So leue itBx.18.357: it: L and alpha are obviously right and supported by Cx. Beta1 had I, which the M reviser corrects to thow, bringing it into line with G. nouȝteBx.18.357: nouȝte: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's neuere. lucifer [·] aȝeine þe lawe I fecche hem But bi riȝt & byBx.18.358: by (2): Not in beta4 or alpha. The X family of C has a second preposition (thorw) but the P family is without it, perhaps rightly. resoun · raunceoun here my lyges Non veni soluere legem · sed adimplere Þow fettest myne in my place · aȝeines alBx.18.360: al: Lost in R (= alpha), and F makes up for it by supplying ryght &. resoun Falseliche & felounelich · gode faith me it tauȝte To recoure hem thorw raunceoun [·] & bi no resoun elles So þat withBx.18.363: with: So L and alpha, supported by the X family of C. Beta1 anticipates þoruȝ, as does the P family of C. gyle þow gete · þorw grace it isBx.18.363: is: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's was. ywone Þow Lucyfer in lyknesse · of a luther addere Getest by gyle · þoBx.18.365: þo: Perhaps alpha's þinge is a recollection of the similar b-verse of l. 344, but the parallel might instead lead one to prefer it. There is no parallel in Cx. that god loued ¶ And I in lyknesse of a leode · þat lorde am of heuene Graciouslich þi gyle haue quytte · go gyle aȝeine gyle And as Adam & alle · þorw a tre deyden Adam & alle þorwe a tree · shal torneBx.18.369: torne: Beta adds aȝeine, providing vowel alliteration, and perhaps influenced by l. 372, but alpha is supported by Cx. to lyue And gyle is bigyled · & in his gyle fallen Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit Now bygynneth þi gyle · ageyne þe to tourne And my grace to growe · ay gretter & wyderBx.18.373: wyder: This must be the beta reading, though M originally repeated gretter, as in alpha. Cx has non-alliterating wyddore and wyddore (RK.20.400). Þe bitternesse þat þow hast browe · [now]Bx.18.374: now: Alpha is supported by Cx. The line is lost in W. brouke it þi-seluen Þat art doctour of deth · drynke þat þow madest ¶ For I þat am lorde of lyf · loue is my drynke And for þat drynke to-day · I deyde vpon erthe I fauȝte so me þrestesBx.18.378: þrestes: L and alpha share the very unusual -s inflexion, which may be a relict form. LALME's survey of the form covers the northern area only. ȝet · for mannes soule sake May no drynke me moiste · ne my thruste slake Tyl þe vendage falle · in þe vale of iosephath Þat I drynke riȝte ripe must · resureccio mortuorum And þanne shal I come as a kynge · crouned with angeles And han out of helle · alle mennes soules ¶ Fendes and fendekynes · bifore me shulle stande And be at my biddynge · where-so-eure me lyketh A[c]Bx.18.386: Ac: So R (= alpha), supported by Cx, with F altering to But as usual. to beBx.18.386: to be: Lost in alpha, with F repairing. Supported by Cx. merciable to man · þanneBx.18.386: þanne: R (= alpha?) postpones until after the noun (F has may not for þanne it). Beta is supported by Cx. my kynde itBx.18.386: it: Clearly Bx, though dropped in WO (F rewrites). It is also dropped in Cx. asketh For we beth bretheren of blode · but nouȝte in baptesme alle Ac alle þat beth myne hole bretheren · in blode & in baptesme Shal nouȝte be dampned to þe deth · þat is with-outen ende Tibi soli peccaui &c · It is nouȝt vsed inBx.18.391: in: The phrase in erthe, "on earth", is found in Bx.15.219 (but see variants) and 18.229. R alone has on and is probably a reversion to the usual phrase, but since Cx also has on it may be right. erthe · to hangen a feloun Ofter þan ones · þough he were a tretour And ȝif þe Kynge of þat kyngedome · come in þat tyme There þe feloun thole sholde · deth or otherwyseBx.18.394: otherwyse: Beta3 (i.e. WHm) and C2 read ooþer Iuwise, "another judicial punishment", and G has a muddled and corrected Iovnesse. Beta3's reading is clearly superior and, crucially, it agrees with Cx, but it can hardly be Bx. It is too difficult to be coincidental, so it must be derived by contamination, as G's is likely to be. There is very little evidence of beta3 deriving readings from Cx, though see note to l. 97, and see Schmidt (1995), 403. Cr, evidently puzzled, reads els, and M is corrected to that reading. Lawe wolde he ȝeue hym lyf · [and]Bx.18.395: and: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's if. he loked on hym ¶Bx.18.396: ¶: The paraph is in LHmF. And I þat am kynge of kynges · shal come suche a tyme There dome to þe deth · dampneth al wikked And ȝif lawe wil I loke on hem · it lithe in my grace Whether þei deye or deye nouȝte · for þat þei deden ille Be it any þinge abouȝte · þe boldenesse of her synnes I mayBx.18.401: may: L and alpha are supported by Cx against omission in beta1. do mercy þorw riȝtwisnesse · & alle my wordes trewe And þough holiwrit wil þatBx.18.402: þat (1): Dropped by alpha and G, but supported by Cx. I be wroke · of hem þat deden ille Nullum malum inpunitum &c Thei shul be clensed clereliche · & wasshen of her synnes In my prisoun purgatorie · til parce it hote And my mercy shal be shewed · to manye of my bretheren For blode may suffre blode · bothe hungry & akale Ac blode may nouȝt se blodeBx.18.408: blode (2): Alpha's his blode is not supported by Cx. · blede but hym rewe Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui Ac my riȝtwisnesse & riȝt [·] shal reulen al helle And mercy al mankynde · bifor me in heuene For I were an vnkynde Kynge · but I my ky[n]Bx.18.412: kyn: Beta repeats kynde from the a-verse. Alpha is supported by Cx. holpeBx.18.412: holpe: Cx supports the past subjunctive as in LG and alpha, against the present in others. And namelich at such a nede · þer nedes helpe bihoueth Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo Bx.18.415: The paraph in WHmCF, with the line-space in M, is prompted by the Latin line above, but is not in LR.Þus bi lawe quod owreBx.18.415: owre: MCr have þis, but the others are supported by Cx. lorde · lede I wil fro hennes Þo þat [I]Bx.18.416: I: Alpha supported by Cx. Beta with me harmonises the subjects of loued and leued. F goes about it in his inimitable way, with þei me be-leveden. loued · & leued in my comynge And for þi lesynge lucifer · þat þow loweBx.18.417: lowe: "lied". This 2 sg. form is shared with alpha. tilBx.18.417: til: Beta supported by Cx against alpha's to. Eue Thow shalt abye it bittre · & bonde hym with cheynes Astaroth and al þe route · hidden hem in hernes They dorste nouȝte loke on owre lorde · þe boldest of hem alle But leten hym lede forth what hym lyked · and lete what hym liste ¶ Many hundreth of angeles · harpeden & songen Culpat caro purgat caro · regnat deus dei caro ¶ Thanne piped pees · of poysye a note Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus · post inimicitias &c ·Bx.18.425: The "proverbial" verses (Alford (1992), 113) are abbreviated by the more reliable beta mss. and set out as one line. Beta4 agrees with alpha in including clarior est et amor and setting over two lines. Cx does not offer clear guidance: the X family sets as one line and all but four C mss. abbreviate by dropping post maxima nebula phebus (RK.20.451a). After sharpe[st]Bx.18.426: sharpest: Alpha's superlative is supported by Cx and translates maxima. shoures quod pees · moste shene is þe sonne Is no weder warmer · þan after watery cloudes Ne no loue leuere · ne leuer frendesBx.18.428: From this point R is defective until Bx.20.27. We do not always comment on an F variant if it has no support from Cx. Þan after werre & wo · whan loue & pees be maistres Was neuere werre in þis worlde · ne wykkednesse so kene ÞatBx.18.431: Þat: Most beta mss. have Þat ne, though CrC omit ne and it is erased in M. In the absence of R the alpha reading is uncertain, though F omission has the support of Cx (RK.20.457). See Schmidt (2008), 453. loue & hym luste [·] to laughynge neBx.18.431: ne: F reads he and Hm has it, but perhaps these may be supplied to fill out a short b-verse since Cx omits. See previous note. brouȝte And pees þorw pacience · alle perilles stoppedBx.18.432: stopped: M alters to the present, bringing it into agreement with WF. There is the same variation in C mss., but the majority have the past. F's addition of he has no support from Cx. Trewes quod treuth · þow tellest vs soth bi ihesus Clippe we in couenaunt [·] & vch of vs cusse other AndBx.18.435: And: Beta is supported by Cx against F's Ȝee. lete no peple quod pees · perceyue þat we chyddeBx.18.435: chydde: Only LCrW have the past tense. C mss. are divided: XYJ of the X family have the past, the others have the present. For inpossible is no þyng · to hym þat is almyȝty ¶ Thow seist soth seydeBx.18.437: seyde: LM against quod in the others. Choice is difficult. Is alliteration on /s/ (aaa/xx) or /r/ (xa/ax)? Most C mss. have quod, but XJ have saide. For other examples of such variation see Bx.4.190, 13.216 (seyde LMCrHmR, quod WCGOF), 16.63 (seide LRF, quod others), etc. In a-verses seith sothe quod occurs at Bx.11.107 and 11.453, seith soth seyde at 17.21. ryȝtwisnesse · & reuerentlich hir kyste Pees & pees here · perBx.18.438: per: CrG add omnia to the formula, as do a few C scribes. Since F is missing, the line is only in beta. secula seculorum Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi iusticia & pax osculate suntBx.18.439: F truncates the verse, but Cx has it in full. Treuth tromped þo & songeBx.18.440: songe: F adds to the alliteration with treblide. It has no support from Cx. · te deum laudamus And thanne luted loue · in a loude note Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum · &c ¶ Tyl þe daye dawed · þis damaiseles [carol]edBx.18.443: caroled: F's carolden is the reading of the X family of C; the P family agrees with beta's daunced. The latter is easier, and perhaps motivated by the alliteration. That men rongen to þe resurexioun · & riȝt with þat I waked And called kitte my wyf · and kalote my douȝter Ariseth & [go] reuerencethBx.18.446: go reuerenceth: Beta drops go, but F is supported by Cx. Most C mss. have reuerence, the infinitive or uninflected imperative plural. Imperative go may be followed by either (Mustanoja (1960), 476, 535). · goddes ressurrexioun And crepeth to þeBx.18.447: þe: L has þe the in error. crosse on kneesBx.18.447: to þe crosse on knees: Beta is supported by the X family of C. F (= alpha?) and the P family reverse the order. · & kisseth it for a iuwel For goddes blissed body · it bar for owre bote And it afereth þe fende · for suche is þe myȝte May no grysly gost · glyde þere it shadweth Passus vndevicesimus & explicit dobet & incipit dobest Bx.19.1: See Introduction V.3.2 for discussion of the relationship between Bx and Cx, and F and Cx, in this passus. Thus I awaked & wrote · what I had dremed And diȝte me derely · & dede me to [kirke]Bx.19.2: kirke: Doubtfully adopting the CrF reading as the minority form. On the distribution of kirke / cherche see Introduction IV.1. RK's text has kyrke, recording no variants, though in fact P (as printed by Skeat) has churche. To here holy þe masse · & to be houseled afterBx.19.3: Beta4 drops ll. 3b-4a. In myddes of þe masse · þo men ȝedeBx.19.4: ȝede: MCr and F have wente, but this is not supported by Cx. to offrynge I fel eftsones a-slepe · & sodeynly me metteBx.19.5: me mette: Supported by Cx against F's y drempte. We shall not regularly note such instances of F's unique variants. That Pieres þe plowman · was paynted al blody And come in with a crosse · bifor þe comune peple And riȝte lyke in alle lymes · to owre lorde ihesu AndBx.19.9: And: LWHm are supported by Cx. Other beta mss. drop it; F has A-non. þanne called I conscience · to kenne me þe sothe Is þis ihesus þe iuster quod I · þat iuwes did to deth Or it isBx.19.11: it is: Supported by the X family of C. The reverse order as in G and F (ys he) is supported by the P family. Pieres þeBx.19.11: þe: Omitted by F and the P family of C. plowman · who paynted hym so rede Bx.19.12: MWHmC here have a paraph.Quod conscience & kneled þo · þise aren PieresBx.19.12: Pieres: The beta reading, and clearly preferable on grounds of sense: "These are Piers' arms, but (ac) he who comes is Christ". This is confirmed by Bx.18.23-7. Perhaps quod contributes to aaa/xx alliteration, as again in l. 15 (aaa/bb). However, F's cristis is also the reading of Cx. RK, p. 123, suggest it is an error prompted by the alliteration; if so, F's reading is by coincidence or contamination. The alternative is that cristis is archetypal (if not original), corrected by beta. armes His coloures & his cotearmure · acBx.19.13: ac: Dropped in F to remove an illogicality created by the reading cristis in the line above. CrC have and, as does the P family of C. he þat cometh so blody Is cryst with his crosse · conqueroure of crystene ¶ Why calle ȝe hym cryst quod I · sithenes iuwes calle[d]Bx.19.15: called: With the past tense this refers to Bx.18.40-3. Hm and beta4 have past tense, as does Cx. Note also the past tense of F's named. The best beta mss. have the present tense as in the a-verse, and this might be a Bx error. hym ihesus Patriarkes & prophetes · prophecyed bifore Þat alkyn creatures · shulden knelen & bowen Anon as men nempned · þe name of godBx.19.18: name of god: As Cx. MCr read heiȝe name of, and F has name of þat Ientyl. IhesuBx.19.18: The Latin line that follows in F only is a variant of l. 82 and is not in Cx. Ergo is no name · to þe name of ihesus Ne none so nedeful to nempne · by nyȝte ne by daye For alle derke deuelles · aren adradde to heren it And synful aren solaced · & saued bi þat name And ȝe callen hym cryst · for what cause telleth me Is cryst more of myȝte · & more worth[ier]Bx.19.24: worthier: F's multiple comparative is supported by Cx (where a few scribes correct it) against beta's worthy. Cf. Bx.7.76. name Þan ihesu or ihesus · þat al owre ioye come of ¶ Thow knowest wel quod conscience · and þow konne resoun That knyȝte kynge conqueroure · may be o persone To be called a kniȝte is faire · for men shal knele to hym To be called a Kynge is fairer · for he may knyȝtes make Ac to be conquerour called · þat cometh of special grace And of hardynesse of herte · & of hendenesseBx.19.31: hendenesse: CO add bothe (Cf. F's also). Neither is supported by Cx. To make lordes of laddesBx.19.32: of laddes: Supported by Cx, against Cr or ladyes and HmGF and ladys. · of londe þat he wynneth And fre men foule thralles · þat folweth nouȝt his lawes ¶ The iuwes þat were gentil men · ihesu þei dispised Bothe his lore & his lawe · now ar þei lowe cherlis As wyde as þeBx.19.36: þe: Supported by Cx against HmGF. worlde is [·] wonyeth þere noneBx.19.36: þere none: As in Cx. Cr adds therin, supplied in turn by the M reviser. W reverses the order. L misplaces the punctuation to follow wonyeth. But vnder tribut & taillage · as tykes & cherles And þo þat bicome crysten · by conseille of þe baptis[m]eBx.19.38: þe baptisme: An obvious error in Bx, corrected in L to baptiste as in Cx. F smooths by dropping þe. Hm omits 38b-39a. Aren frankeleynes freBx.19.39: fre: OF as well as Cx have & fre. men · þorw fullyng þat þei toke And gentel men with ihesu · for Ihesus was yfolled And vppon caluarye on crosse · ycrouned kynge of iewes ¶ It bicometh to a Kynge · to kepe and to defende And conquerour of conquest · his lawes & his largeBx.19.43: KD, p. 133, scan this line aaa/bb, with two staves on conquerour; but its sense is also questionable. Schmidt (1995), taking the line to be dependent on l. 42, translates: "And (it befits) a conqueror to maintain and guard his laws and his munificence by virtue of his act of conquest" (p. 327). Yet it is only kings who, in the following ll. 46-7 "keep and defend" these people, as at Bx.20.258. The verbs are not applicable to a conqueror such as Christ here in ll. 50-62, for he carries "his laws and his munificence" into his newly conquered territory, binding some and freeing others at the Harrowing of Hell. It may be that something was lost at an early stage between 43a and 43b, leaving the line as it stands in Bx. Cx differs only by having his before conquest and the synonym layes for lawes. And so ded Ihesus þe iewes · he iustified & tauȝte hem Þe lawe of lyf · that last shal euere And fendedBx.19.46: fended: Supported by Cx against beta2 defended. framBx.19.46: fram: HmO have hem fro(m), G has ytt fro and F fram hem. This indicates that the pronoun was variously added to Bx by scribes who sensed an omission. Cx has hem fro. foule yueles · feueres & fluxes And fro fendes þat in hem wasBx.19.47: was: LF are supported by Cx. As elsewhere, other scribes alter to were. See note to Bx.17.11. [·] & fals bileue Þo was he ihesus of iewes called · gentel prophete And kynge of herBx.19.49: her: MCrF omit, but Cx has it. kyngdome · & croune bar of þornes ¶ And þo conquered he on crosse · as conquerour noble Myȝt no deth hym fordo · ne adown brynge That he ne arosBx.19.52: ne aros: So L as in Cx; MCrW have naroos, HmG ne ros, O no roos and CF aros. & regned · and rauysshed helle And þo was he conquerour called · of quikke & of ded For he ȝaf Adam & Eue · and other mo blisse Þat longe hadde leyne bifore · as lucyferes cherles Bx.19.56-9: These four lines from F were omitted in beta, perhaps skipping from one paraph to the next. They are essential to the narrative and are confirmed by Cx, which offers corrections at several points. [¶ AndBx.19.56: And: F's & þanne is not supported by Cx. toke [Lucifer the lothelich]Bx.19.56: Lucifer the lothelich: As in Cx. F has lotthly lucifer. · þat lorde was of helle And bonde [him] as [he is bounde]Bx.19.57: him as he is bounde: This is the reading of Cx (a few mss. omit him). F has the nonsensical his as his bondeman, though his might be emended to him. · with bondes of yren Who was hardier þanne he · hisBx.19.58: his: So Cx; F has þat his. herte blode he shadde To maken alle folke fre · þat folweth his laweBx.19.59: lawe: F has the plural, but Cx has sg.] ¶ And sith he [ȝiueth]Bx.19.60: ȝiueth: F's present is the reading of the X family of Cx and follows logically from folweth in the previous line. Beta's past tense, though supported by the P family, is perhaps prompted by its omission of lines 56-9, and he ȝaf in l. 54. For the appropriateness of the present "as referring to Christ's continuing grant of heaven to the just", see Schmidt (2008), 454. largely · alle his lele lyges Places in paradys · at her partynge hennes He may wel be called conquerour · & þat is cryst to mene ¶ Ac þe cause þat he cometh þus · with crosse of hisBx.19.63: crosse of his: So LWO. MCr have cros of þe, HmCG have cros of; F reads his cros of his. Cx is no guide, since the X family reads his cros and his and the P family croys and hus. passioun Is to wissen vs þere-wyth · þat whan þatBx.19.64: þat whan þat: So beta. Cx has þat whan; F just has whan. we ben tempted Þer-with to fyȝte & fendenBx.19.65: fenden: WHmF have defenden, as do a few C mss. Cf. l. 46. vs · fro fallyng in-to synne And se bi his sorwe · þat who-so loueth ioye To penaunce & to pouerte [·] he moste putten hym-seluen And moche wo in þis worlde · willenBx.19.68: willen: F and most C mss. have wilnen, perhaps correctly. & suffren ¶ Ac to carpe more of cryst · and how he come to þat name Faithly forto speke · his firste name was ihesus Tho he was borne in bethleem [·] as þe boke telleth And cam to take mankynde · kynges and aungeles Reuerenced hym [riȝt]Bx.19.73: riȝt: Lost in beta. F is supported by Cx and the alliteration. faire · with richesseBx.19.73: richesse: This may be sg. or plural. W and a few C mss. have the marked pl. form. See note to Bx.3.23. of erthe Angeles out of heuene · come knelyng & songe Gloria in excelsis deo &c ¶ Kynges come after · kneled & offred Mirre & moche golde · with-outen mercyBx.19.77: mercy: Evidently the reading of both Bx and Cx. Cr is naturally puzzled and alters to mede, as does the M corrector (overwriting muche gold). F, also dissatisfied, alters with-outen to with myche, and adds Ensens to complete the three gifts (as in l. 88). One C scribe, similarly motivated, begins Rechels Golde & myr. See Schmidt (2008), 454-5. askynge Or any kynnes catel · but knowlechyngBx.19.78: knowlechyng: So apparently beta, though MCr have knoweliche, and G has past tense as in Cx. F has þey knowlechid, possibly representing alpha. hym soeuereigne Bothe of sondeBx.19.79: sonde: Supported by Cx against londe in beta2. sonne & see · & sithenes þei went In-to her kyngene kyth · by conseille of angelesBx.19.80: conseille of angeles: Supported by Cx against F's kennynge of an angel. And there was þat worde fulfilled · þe which þow ofBx.19.81: þow of: As Cx. F's first þou is probably motivated by alliteration with ful-fyld. speke Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu For alle þe angeles of heuene · at his burth kneled And al þe witte of þe worlde · was in þo þre kyngesBx.19.84: kynges: Supported by Cx against F's þynges. Resoun & riȝtfulnesseBx.19.85: riȝtfulnesse: So LC. Though C mss. are split, this is evidently the reading of Cx. All other B mss. have riȝtwisnesse / rightuousnes, which may, of course, be right, even if not archetypal. In l. 90 below Riȝtwisnesse is secure and supported by Cx and it may have prompted scribes to adopt it here. See Schmidt (2008), 455. · & reuth þei offred Wherfore & whi · wyse men þat tyme Maistres & lettred men · Magy hem called ¶ That o kynge cam with resoun · keuered vnder sense Þe secounde kynge sitthe · sothlicheBx.19.89: sitthe sothliche: Cr has sothly sithens he, as does M, with he added as an alteration. F also has he, as does the P family of C, but the X family is without it. There is no metrical need for the pronoun, since -liche is disyllabic. offred Riȝtwisnesse vnder red golde [·] resouns felaweBx.19.90: F drops ll. 90b and 91a. Golde is likned to leute · þat last shal euere And resoun to riche goldeBx.19.92: riche golde: Clearly an error (since justice is likened to gold), but the reading of both Bx and Cx. F rewrites the a-verse and W drops the line altogether. Schmidt (1995) conjectures richels, "incense", calling this "one of the stronger indications that B1 was the basis of the C revision" (p. 405). · to riȝte & to treuthe The þridde kynge þo cam · [and] knel[ed]Bx.19.93: and kneled: F is supported by Cx. Compare the actions of the two other kings, also in past tense (ll. 88-9). The phrase cam knelyng is perhaps picked up from l. 74. to ihesu And presented hym with pitee · apierynge by myrre For mirre is mercy to mene · & mylde speche of tonge [Erthe]licheBx.19.96: Ertheliche: F is supported by Cx and by superior sense. Beta's Thre yliche, though possible, appears likely to be a misreading. honest þinges · wasBx.19.96: was: LF only, but supported by Cx. Other B mss. have were. For other examples of pl. was preserved by L and alpha, see l. 47 and note to Bx.17.11. offred þus at ones Þorw þre kynne kynges · knelynge to ihesu ¶ Ac for alle þise preciouse presentz [·] owre lorde prynce ihesus Was neyther kynge ne conquerour · til he gan toBx.19.99: gan to: Certainly Bx, though Cx has alliterating comsed. wexe In þe manere of a man · & þat by moche sleight As it bicometh a conquerour · to konneBx.19.101: konne: F's knowe is not supported by Cx. many sleightes And many wyles & witte · þat wil ben a leder And so did ihesu in his dayes · who-so had tyme toBx.19.103: had tyme to: Certainly Bx, though Cx has alliterating durste. telle it Sum-tyme he suffred · & sum-tyme he hydde hym And sum-tyme he fauȝte faste · & fleigh otherwhile And some-tyme he gaf good · & graunted hele bothe Lyf & lyme · as hym lyste he wrought As kynde is of a conquerour · so comsed ihesu Tyl he had alle hem · þat he fore bledde ¶ In his iuuente þis ihesus · a[t]Bx.19.110: at: L's atte represents "at the", which is supported here only by O. Cx has at. See the variants at l. 117. iuwen feste Water in-to wyn tournedBx.19.111: Water in-to wyn tourned: So beta. F has he turnede at the end of the previous line, with some support from Cx where the a-verse is Turned watur into wyn. Perhaps the standard prose order of F and Cx is more likely to be scribal, as argued by RK, p. 123. For the contrary view see Schmidt (2008), 455. · as holy writ telleth And þere bigan god · of his grace toBx.19.112: to: F's omission, shared with beta4, is not supported by Cx. dowel For wyn is lyknedBx.19.113: is lykned: F has y lykne, but this is not supported by Cx. to lawe · & lyf of holynesseBx.19.113: lyf of holynesse: This seems clearly the reading of Bx. However, W agrees with Cx on lifholynesse, which we must suppose is a coincidental variant. So Schmidt (2008), 455. And lawe lakked þo · for men loued nouȝt her enemys AndBx.19.115: And (1): F has But. This and other F variants in the line are not supported by Cx. cryst conseilleth þusBx.19.115: þus: The reading vs in beta4 is shared with a few C mss. including XY. F has þus vs. · & comaundeth bothe BotheBx.19.116: Bothe: Apparently beta, though omitted by WHmF to avoid the repetition. Most of the X family of C have it, though the others omit. to lered & to lewed · to louye owre enemys So atte festeBx.19.117: atte feste: WHm have at þat feeste, as do the majority of C mss. firste [·] as I bifore tolde Bygan god of his grace [·] & goodnesse to dowel And þo was he cleped & called [·] nouȝt holyBx.19.119: holy: This is the beta reading. Yet CrF have onely, and M is altered to that reading, agreeing with Cx. On the face of it, onely does not give appropriate sense, since Langland's scheme is that Jesus was not called Christ until he became a conqueror. Kane (2005) interprets onely as an adj. "peerless", but see Barney (2006), 121, who conjectures nouȝt cryst but onely Ihesu, "not Christ but rather Jesus". The sense of holy is straightforward, even if it reads like a line-filler, to introduce a long dip into the b-verse. For further discussion see Burrow (2009), 90-1. cryst but Ihesu A faunt[k]ynBx.19.120: fauntkyn: L's form fauntfyn shows the source of the error in beta, leading other scribes to interpret as faunt fyn. F agrees with Cx. ful of witte · filius marie ¶Bx.19.121: ¶: The paraph is in LM only. ForBx.19.121: For: Supported by Cx, though dropped by MCr and replaced by & in F. bifor his moder marie · made he þat wonder Þat she furste & formest · ferme shuldeBx.19.122: ferme shulde: F reverses the order, as does Cx. RK, p. 123, note this as "variation to prose order". bilieue That he þorw grace was gete · & of no gome elles He wrouȝt þat bi no witte · but þorw worde one After þe kynde þat he come of · þere comsed he dowel And whan he was woxen more · in his moder absence He made lame to lepe · & ȝaue liȝte to blynde And fedde with two fisshes · & with fyue loues Sore afyngred folke · mo þan fyue thousande Þus he conforted carfulBx.19.130: carful: Supported by Cx against CrF þe carefull. · & cauȝte a gretter name Þe whiche was dobet · where þat he went For defe þorw his doynges · & dombe speke [& herde]Bx.19.132: & dombe speke & herde: F supported by Cx (though mss. XYU have he for &). Beta has to here & dombe speke he made, imposing a more obvious order and perhaps not recognising speke as a past tense form. And alle he heled & halpe · þat hym of grace asked And þo was he called in contre [·] of þe comune peple For þe dedes þat he did · fili dauid ihesusBx.19.135: fili dauid ihesus: This word order is supported by Cx. For dauid was douȝtiestBx.19.136: douȝtiest: F and Cx supply the definite article. · of dedes in his tyme The berdes þoBx.19.137: The berdes þo: Supported by Cx against beta4 (þat for þo) and F's revision to avoid berdes. songe · Saul interfecit mille · et dauid decem milia · For-þi þe contre þere ihesu cam · called hym fili dauid And nempned hym of nazereth · & no man so worthi To be kaisere or kynge · of þe kyngedome of iuda Ne ouer iuwes iustice · as ihesus was hem þouȝte ¶ Where-ofBx.19.142: Where-of: F has Þerfore; Cx has Hereof. [hadde caiphas]Bx.19.142: hadde caiphas: So F and Cx. Beta reverses to prose order. enuye · & other of þeBx.19.142: other of þe: The beta reading; F has oþire konynge. Both could be additions to lengthen a short b-verse, since Cx has just other. iewes AndBx.19.143: And: F (and Hm) omit, but beta is supported by Cx. forto doun hym to deth · day & nyȝte þei casten KulledenBx.19.144: Kulleden: F and Cx begin with &, easily supplied for a smooth transition. hym on crosse-wyse · at caluarie on [a]Bx.19.144: a: CrHmF are supported by Cx. However, all could be independent additions. fryday And sithen buryden his body · & beden þat men sholde Kepen it fro niȝt-comeres · with knyȝtes yarmed For no frendesBx.19.147: frendes: Beta has the pl.; F shares the sg. with Cx. shulde hymBx.19.147: hym: So beta, though F and Cx have it as in the previous line. Cf. also l. 151. fecche · for prophetes hem tolde Þat þat blessed body · of burieles shulde riseBx.19.148: shulde rise: The word-order, reversed in WHm, is supported by Cx. For rise, Bx may have read arise as in MCr supported by Cx. F has vp ryse. And gone in-to galile · and gladen his apostles And his moder Marie · þus men bifore demedBx.19.150: demed: Secure for Bx, though Cx has deuyned. ¶ The knyȝtes þat kepten itBx.19.151: it: Supported by Cx. Beta4 reads hym, and Hm is altered to that reading, following on from l. 147. · biknewe[n]Bx.19.151: biknewen: F agrees with Cx. Beta, having lost the final syllable of the verb, provides the long dip by adding a pronoun, thus anticipating the clause of the next line. hem-seluen Þat angeles & archangeles · ar þe day spronge Come knelynge [·] to þeBx.19.153: þe: F and Cx have þat. corps & songenBx.19.153: & songen: In beta this is followed by cristus resurgens, but both F and Cx postpone the Latin to the start of the following line. F characteristically supplies konyngly to fill out a short b-verse and provide alliteration. But the caesura follows knelynge, though all B scribes take it to follow corps. This is the reading of Cx, with F providing crucial, if characteristically "improved" support. Our argument is that both F and beta reacted to the short line with its uncertain placement of the caesura: F added the adverb konyngly to provide b-verse alliteration, and beta took the Latin from the next line, dropping the detached b-verse of l. 154 as a consequence, perhaps taking it as a scribal gloss on the Latin. See note to next line. [Cristus resurgens · and he ros after]Bx.19.154: Cristus resurgens · and he ros after: See note to previous line. Beta has taken the Latin as the end of the line above, and perhaps assumed the English to be a scribal gloss, thus losing this whole line. But and he ros after is necessary to the narrative: "after that he rose, true man ...". F offers the reading of Cx with characteristic elaboration, extending the Latin quote and adding the adverb a-noon. For F's he, Cx reads it; see note to l. 151. Verrey man bifor hem alle · & forth with hem ȝedeBx.19.155: ȝede: In L the scribe has inserted he, bringing it into line with other beta mss. that have lost he in the line above, but Bx was probably without it, as suggested by the agreement of F and Cx. ¶ The iewes preyed hem peesBx.19.156: pees: F and Cx read of pees. In view of the variations of the b-verse in both F and Cx (see next note), we follow beta throughout the line. · & bisouȝte þe knyȝtesBx.19.156: & bisouȝte þe knyȝtes: F supplies alliteration with alle þo propre knyghtis, but this has no support from Cx, which reads & preyed þo knyhtes, suggesting that Bx may have avoided the repetition of the verb. Telle þe comune þat þere cam · a compaignye of his aposteles And bywicched hem as þei woke · & awey stolen it ¶ Ac Marie Magdeleyne · mette hym bi þe wey Goynge toward galile · in godhed &Bx.19.160: &: F and the X family of C repeat the preposition in, but beta and the P family omit it. manhed And lyuesBx.19.161: lyues: The adjectival gen. "alive" (only here in the poem) causes scribes difficulty, but it is supported by Cx. & lokynge · & sheBx.19.161: she: F has he for "she", as in the next line; see Introduction IV.1. The X family of C omit the pronoun. aloude cryde In eche a compaignye þere she cam · cristus resurgens Þus cam it out þat cryst ouer-cam · rekeuered & lyued Sic oportet cristum pati & intrare &c ·Bx.19.164-5: These two lines are omitted by F but are in Cx. For þatBx.19.165: þat: MWHmCO supply a second þat; only LCrG are without it (the line is lost in F). A few C mss. also have þat þat, but it seems clear that Cx had þat. wommen witeth · may nouȝte wel be conseille ¶ Peter parceyued alBx.19.166: al: Inserted by the L scribe and omitted by MCr, but supported by Cx. þis · & pursued after Bothe iames & Iohan · Ihesu forBx.19.167: for: Secure for Bx, but not in Cx. to seke Tadde & ten mo · with Thomas of ynde And as alle þise wise wyes · weren togideres In an hous al bishette · & her dore ybarred Cryst cam in & al closed · bothe dore & ȝates To peter & to his aposteles · and seyde pax vobis And toke Thomas by þe hande · and tauȝte hym to grope And fele with his fyngres · his flesshelich herte ¶ Thomas touched it · & with his tonge seyde Deus meus & dominus meusBx.19.176: Deus meus & dominus meus: CrF reverse the nouns to the order of John 20.28 perhaps as a correction of Bx. Cf. lorde ... god in the next line. Cx also has the Vulgate order. F's additional b-verse gives a good line, but has no support from Cx. Thow art my lorde I bileue · god lorde ihesuBx.19.177: F's b-verse is not supported by Cx. Þow deydest & deth þoledest · and deme shalt vs alleBx.19.178: F's variants are not supported by Cx. And now art lyuynge & lokyngeBx.19.179: F's a-verse is not supported by Cx. · & laste shalt euere ¶ Crist carped þanne · and curteislich seyde Thomas for þow trowest þis · & trewliche bileuest it Blessed mote þow be · & be shalt for euere And blessed mote þeiBx.19.183: þei: Beta evidently had þei alle, obscuring the parallel with the previous a-verse, but GF are supported by Cx. be · in body & in soule That neuere shal se me in siȝte · as þow dosteBx.19.184: doste: This must be the reading of Bx, though it does not alliterate. Cr reads hast, while O alone has seest, the reading of Cx, presumably by conjecture. Cf. l. 156 where Bx again seems to avoid repetition of the verb. nouthe And lellich bileuen al þis · I loue hem & blesse hem Beati qui non viderunt [& crediderunt]Bx.19.186: & crediderunt: Hm, beta4 and F are supported by Cx. It may be, of course, that scribes expanded beta's abbreviation of the quotation. ¶ And whan þis dede was done · dobest he tauȝteBx.19.187: tauȝte: Neither beta or F took sone is supported by Cx, which reads thouhte. But tauȝte makes excellent sense; see Burrow (2009), 93 n. 15. And ȝaf Pieres power · and pardoun he graunted To alle manereBx.19.189: manere: The majority of C mss. read maner of, as do CrCF, but the best texts of the X family read maner. F commonly expands to manere of, as in the following line. men · mercy & forȝyfnes Hym myȝte men toBx.19.190: Hym myȝte men to: LC are supported by the best mss. of the X family of C. Other scribes in both traditions take various actions to avoid a construction they fail to understand, as do KD (pp. 120-1) and RK (pp. 134-5). But ll. 188-90 mean: "He gave Piers power, and granted pardon, mercy and forgiveness to all sorts; [granted] him power to absolve men of all kinds of sins." For an interpretation of the archetypal reading see Barney (2006), 128. assoille · of alle manereBx.19.190: manere: F again has manere of, as do CrG, not supported by Cx. synnes In couenant þat þei come · & knewlecheBx.19.191: knewleche: The past tense in WHm is actually the reading of Cx, though a few C mss. have the present, as Bx clearly does. to paye To pieres pardon þe plowman · redde quod debes ¶ Thus hath pieres powere · be his pardoun payed To bynde &Bx.19.194: &: L alone has & to. C mss. are divided, with the X family reading & to. vnbynde · bothe here & ellesBx.19.194: elles: Agreement of LF, together with Cx, secures this as the Bx reading against elles-where in other B mss. And assoille men of alle synnes · saue of dette one ¶ Anone after an heigh · vp in-to heuene He went & wonyeth þere · & wil come atte laste AndBx.19.198: And: LG have And wil, without support from Cx. rewarde hym riȝte wel · þat reddit quod debet Payeth parfitly [·] as pure trewthe wolde And what persone payeth it nouȝt · punysshen he þinkethBx.19.200: Cx offers no support for F's b-verse. And demen hem at domes-daye · bothe quikke & dedBx.19.201: Again F has a unique b-verse, which is presumably designed to offer a more regular alliterative pattern. Þe gode to þe godhede · & to grete ioye And wikke[de]Bx.19.203: wikkede: The form in all mss. except L is supported by Cx. For similar variation with wikke, see Bx.5.231. to wonye · in wo with-outen ende [¶]Bx.19.204: ¶: The paraph is in WHmCF, and is entirely appropriate. Þus conscience of crist · & of þe crosse carped And conseilled me to knele þer-to · & þanne come me þouȝte One spiritus paraclitus · to Pieres & toBx.19.206: to (2): Not in F; beta has the support of most C mss. his felawes In lyknesse of a liȝtnynge · heBx.19.207: he: Omitted in some C mss., but none support F's &. lyȝte on hem alle Bx.19.208-11: F drops four lines through eyeskip on hem alle. The lines are in Cx. And made hem konne & knowe · alkyn langages [¶]Bx.19.209: ¶: In L there is an unrubricated paraph marker, missed because the scribe failed to leave a line-space. M has a line-space and HmC a paraph. I wondred what þat was · & wagged conscience And was afered ofBx.19.210: of: So beta (F out). Cx has for. the lyȝte · for in fyres lyknesse Spiritus paraclitus · ouer-spradde hem alle ¶ Quod conscience & kneled · þis is crystes messager And cometh fro þe grete god · &Bx.19.213: &: So beta, but dropped by F and Cx. grace is his name Knele now quod conscience · & if þow canst synge Welcome hym & worshipe hym · with veni creator spiritus ¶ Thanne songe IBx.19.216: Thanne songe I: Cx begins And y sange. F drops this and the following line. þat songe · andBx.19.216: and: Dropped by WHm, but supported by Cx. so did many hundreth And cryden with conscience · help vs god of grace And þanneBx.19.218: þanne: Dropped by F but supported by the X family of C. The P family begins Tho. bigan grace · to go with piers plowman And conseilled hym & conscience · þe comune to sompne For I wil deleBx.19.220: dele: Omitted by F, but supported by Cx. to-daye · & dyuydeBx.19.220: dyuyde: Supported by Cx against the variants in WHm and in F. grace To alkynnes creatures · þat kanBx.19.221: kan: LF supported by Cx and alliteration. Beta1 (including M) corrupts to han. h[is]Bx.19.221: his: F is supported by Cx. Beta alters to pl. her for concord, as do a few C mss. fyue wittes Tresore to lyue by · to her lyues endeBx.19.222: Beta4 omits 222b-231a by eyeskip. And wepne to fyȝte with · þat wil neure faille For antecryst & his · al þe worlde shal greue And acombre þe conscience · but if cryst þe helpe ¶ And fals prophetes fele · flatereres & glosers Shullen come & be curatoures · ouer kynges & erlisBx.19.227: erlis: F's knyghtis has no support from Cx. And pryde shalBx.19.228: pryde shal: F and Cx read þanne shal pryde. be pope · prynceBx.19.228: prynce: F and Cx read & prince. of holycherche Coueytyse & vnkyndenesse · cardinales hym to lede For-þi quod grace er I go · I wil gyue ȝow tresore And wepne to fiȝte with · whan antecryst ȝow assailleth And gaf eche man a grace · to gyeBx.19.232: gye: As in Cx. CrW have gide; beta4 reads go. with hym-seluen That ydelnesse encombre hym nouȝt · envyeBx.19.233: envye: F and Cx have ne envyȝe. ne pryde Diuisiones graciarum sunt &c · ¶ SomeBx.19.235: Some: Secure for Bx. The X family of C reads Som men, the P family To somme men (cf. Cr). he ȝaf wytte · with wordes to shewe Witte to wynne her lyflode withBx.19.236: The a-verse is revised in Cx, avoiding the repetition of witte. · as þe worlde asketh As prechoures & prestes [·] & prentyce of lawe Þei lelly to lyue · by laboure of tonge And bi witte to wissen other · as grace hem wolde teche ¶ And some he kenned crafte · & kunnynge of syȝte With sellyng & buggynge · her bylyfBx.19.241: bylyf: "subsistence". MCr, Hm (altered) and F read liflode. Many C scribes also have difficulty with the word. to wynne And some he lered to laboureBx.19.242: laboure: Beta drops 242b and 243a through eyeskip (laboure ... labour). F is supported by Cx. [· on londe and on water And lyue by þat labour] · a lele lyf & aBx.19.243: a (2): Omitted by beta4 and F, but supported by Cx. trewe And somme he tauȝte to tilie · to dyche & to theccheBx.19.244: thecche: Beta4 has hegge, F has þresche, both probably misreadings. Most C mss. read to teche and to coke, but some make the obvious correction of teche to theche. See KD, pp. 174-5; RK, p. 125. To wynne with her lyflode · by lore of his techyngeBx.19.245: Cx has an entirely different line here. And some to dyuyne &Bx.19.246: &: M's and to is shared with some of the X family of C. diuide · noumbres to kenne And some to compas craftilyBx.19.247: And some to compas craftily: Cx omits some and craftily. · & coloures to make And some to se & to saye · what shulde bifalle Bothe of wel & of wo · telle it or it felleBx.19.249: telle it or it felle: In Cx the b-verse is and be ywaer bifore. As Astronomyenes þorw astronomye · & philosophres wyse ¶ And some to ryde & toBx.19.251: ryde & to: Supported by the P family of C, while Hm and beta4 have ryde and summe to as in the X family. F's rekne & has no support. recoeureBx.19.251: recoeure: So L; cf. F's rekewre. See MED recuren (Lat recurare), formally different from MED recoveren (OFr), as in the other mss. · þat vnriȝtfullyBx.19.251: vnriȝtfully: Supported by Cx against wrongfully in W. The odd riȝtfully in Hm perhaps reflects puzzlement with the ironic reference to foluyles lawes in l. 253. was wonne He wissed hemBx.19.252: hem: Cx reads men. wynneBx.19.252: wynne: As in Cx, against to wynne in W, with to inserted in O. F omits the line. it aȝeyne · þorw wightnesseBx.19.252: wightnesse: Supported by Cx; misunderstood by HmC (wytnesse) and G (ryghtyovsnes). of handes Bx.19.253: L alone has a paraph at the top of the page. Presumably it was meant to precede And in the next line.And fecchen it fro fals men · with foluyles lawes [¶]Bx.19.254: ¶: The paraph, misplaced at the head of the previous line in L, is supported by WHm. Cf. the parallels in ll. 235, 240 and 251; though apparently not ll. 242 (W only), 244 and 246 (WHm only). And some he leredBx.19.254: lered: CrHmGF read lerned, a common variation; cf. e.g. Bx.1.148, 153, and l. 256 below. C mss. also vary. to lyue · in longynge to ben hennes In pouerte & in p[acie]nceBx.19.255: pacience: HmF are supported by Cx, though three C mss. read penaunce. The beta reading must be penaunce, so how did Hm come by the right reading? Both penaunce and pacience are frequently collocated with pouerte; cf. especially Bx.14.231 and 19.67. · to preye for alle crystene And alle he lered to be lele · & eche a crafte loue other And forbad hem alle debate · þat none were amonge hemBx.19.257: In Cx the line reads "Ne no boest ne debaet be among hem alle" (RK.21.251). For the suggestion of Cx revision here and in ll. 259-60, see Barney (2006), 143. Thowgh some be clenner þan somme · ȝe se wel quod grace Þat he þat vseth þe fairest crafte · to þe foulest I couth haue put hymBx.19.259-60: Replaced by one line in Cx: "That all craft and connyng cam of my ȝefte" (RK.21.253).Bx.19.259: Followed in F by four sanctimonious lines with defective alliteration. See KD, p. 223. Þinketh alleBx.19.260: alle: F has alle now. The line is omitted by beta4. quod grace · þat grace cometh of my ȝifte Loke þat none lakke other · but loueth alleBx.19.261: alle: Not in Cx. as bretheren ¶ And whoBx.19.262: who: Cx reads he. þat moste maistries can · be myldest of berynge And crouneth conscience kynge · & maketh crafte ȝowre stuward And after craftes conseille · clotheth ȝow & fede For I make Pieres þeBx.19.265: þe: GF are without it. C mss. vary. plowman · my procuratour & my reve And Regystrere to receyue · redde quod debes My proworBx.19.267: prowor: "overseer". Supported by Cx, though some scribes stumble over it. & my plowman · Piers shal ben on erthe And for to tulye treuthe · a teme shal he haue ¶ Grace gaue Piers a teme · foureBx.19.269: foure: W supplies of, as does the P family of C. gret oxen Þat on was Luke a large beste · and a lowe-chered And marke & mathew þe þrydde · myghty bestes bothe And ioigned to hem one Iohan · most gentil of alle Þe prys nete of Piers plow · passyng alle other ¶ AndBx.19.274: And: F has & ȝit; Cx has And sethe. grace gaue pieres · of his goodnesseBx.19.274: gaue pieres · of his goodnesse: The word-order in F, of his goodnesse / gaf peers is supported by Cx. It is perhaps a revision, but could be an error in Cx, or in beta influenced by l. 269. See RK, p. 123, who adopt the beta reading. foure stottis Al þat his oxen eryed · þey to harweBx.19.275: harwe: MCrF supply it, as do a couple of C mss. after On hyȝte Austyne · & ambrose an other Gregori þe grete clerke · & Ierome þe gode Þise foure þe feithe to teche · folweth pieres teme And harwed in an handwhile · al holy scripture Wyth two [aithes]Bx.19.280: aithes: This is the reading of Cx. MED eithe (OE egþe, "harrow") records no other instance. F preserves it in the form hayȝtes. Beta and some C mss. have the much easier synonym harwes, picked up from the verb in the previous line. þat þei hadde · an olde & a newe Id est vetus testamentum & nouumBx.19.281: nouum: F's addition of testamentum has no support from Cx. ¶ And grace gaue [Pieres]Bx.19.282: Pieres: Easily lost in beta. F is supported by Cx. greynes · cardynalesBx.19.282: cardynales: Beta supplies the definite article, but it is not supported by F or Cx. vertues And sewe itBx.19.283: sewe it: WHm alter to sew hem on grounds of concord; F reads he sew it. Neither has support from Cx. in mannes soule · & sithen heBx.19.283: he: Hm and beta4 omit as do some C mss., but Cx has it. tolde her names Bx.19.284: Only HmF mark a new paragraph here, corresponding to those at the other members of the numbered set, ll. 289, 297 and 306.Spiritus prudencie · þe firste seed hyȝte AndBx.19.285: And: Perhaps a beta error. F and Cx read less obvious Þat. who-so eet þatBx.19.285: þat: F's of þat frut has no support from C, though the P family has þat seede. · ymagyne he shulde Ar he did any dede · deuyse wel þe ende And lerned men a ladel bugge · with a longe stele ÞatBx.19.288: Þat: LMCrCG are supported by Cx against And in WHm, To in O, and For he in F. cast for to kepeBx.19.288: kepe: So Bx, though Cx has kele, "cool". a crokke · toBx.19.288: to (2): F and Cx read &. saueBx.19.288: saue: F repeats keepe to strengthen the aaa/xx alliteration, as do two C scribes. þe fatte abouen ¶ The secounde seed hiȝteBx.19.289: hiȝte: So Cx, against F's þat he sew was. O is absent from this line to l. 369. [·] spiritus temperancie He þat ete of þat seed · hadde suche a kynde Shulde neuere mete ne [myschief]Bx.19.291: myschief: i.e. starvation. Beta is understandably puzzled and replaces with mochel drynke. F is supported by Cx. · make hym to swelle Ne sholde no scorner ne scoldeBx.19.292: ne scolde: F and Cx omit, to the detriment of the alliteration. · oute of skyl hym brynge Ne wynnynge ne weltheBx.19.293: welthe: W's wele is not supported by Cx. Beta4 drops the line. · of wordeliche ricchesse Waste worde of ydelnesse · ne wykked speche meue Shulde no curyous clothe · comen on hys rugge Ne no mete in his mouth · þat maister Iohan spiced ¶ The thridde seed þat Pieres sewe · was spiritus fortitudinis And who-so eet of þat seed [·] hardy wasBx.19.298: was: The beta reading is supported by Cx. WHm have was he; F has he was. eure To suffre al þat god sent · sykenesse & angres Myȝte no lesynge[s] ne lyereBx.19.300: lesynges ne lyere: Only L has sg. lesynge, which could nevertheless be right. For ne, F reads of. C mss. have instead lyare with lesynges, though X and three other mss. have sg. lesynge. · ne losse of worldely catel Maken hym for any mournynge · þat he nas merye in soule And bolde & abydynge · bismeres to suffre And pl[e]yethBx.19.303: pleyeth: "plead in court", MED pleien v. (2), from ple. LCr playeth is a misunderstanding of the uncommon verb. F has the easier and unambiguous verb pleted. Cx has plede, which could be either present or past tense. See RK, p. 123 and n. 42; Barney (2006), 151. al with pacyence · & parce michi domine And coueredBx.19.304: couered: CrCGF have the present tense, but Cx has the past. hym vnder conseille · of catoun þe wyse Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique ¶ The fierthe seed þat pieres sewe · was spiritus iusticie And he þat eet of þat seed · shulde be euereBx.19.307: euere: Cx has euene. trewe With god &Bx.19.308: With god &: F's & of god is not supported by Cx. nouȝt agast · but of gyle one For gyle goth so pryuely · þat good faith other-while May nouȝte ben aspyed · forBx.19.310: for: Cx has thorw. spiritus iusticie ¶Bx.19.311: ¶: LWHm have a paraph, not entirely appropriately in the middle of the account of the fourth seed. That it was in beta at least is further suggested by M's misplacement of a paraph marker at the next line, which is at the top of the leaf. Spiritus iusticie · spareth nouȝte to spilleBx.19.311: KD, p. 119, and RK, p. 133, detect misdivision and padding in this and the next two lines in both Bx and Cx. Hem þat ben gulty · & forto correcteBx.19.312-13: Among C mss., X has "Hem þat ben gulty · and forto corecte the kyng / And the kyng falle in any a gulte", while P divides the line after corecte. Þe Kynge ȝif he falleBx.19.313: falle: F's a-verse has no support from Cx. See previous note. · in gylte or in trespasse For counteth he no kynges wrattheBx.19.314: F's a-verse has no support from Cx. · whan he in courte sitteth To demen as a domes-man · adradde was he neure Noither of duke ne of deth · þat he ne dede þeBx.19.316: þe: So LF and Cx. Dropped by beta1. lawe For present or for preyere · or any prynces lettres He dede equite to alle · euene-forth his powereBx.19.318: powere: Cx reads knowyng. ¶ Thise foure sedes pieres sewe · and sitthe he did hem harwe Wyth oldeBx.19.320: olde: F twice adds the definite article in the a-verse, without support from Cx. lawe and newe lawe · þat loue myȝte wexe Amonge þ[ise]Bx.19.321: þise: Uncertain. F is supported by Cx. LMCrCG have þe; WHm have þo. foure vertues · and vices destroye ¶Bx.19.322: ¶: The paraph is appropriate, though indicated in LM only. F begins &, but For is supported by Cx. For comunelich in contrees · kammokes & wedes Fouleth þe fruite in þe felde · þere þei growe togyderes And so don vices · vertues worthyBx.19.324: worthy: In Cx this reads forþi quod Peres, and it is clear that Bx has misdivided the line. F characteristically expands a short line. Quod Piers harweth alle þat kunneth kynde witte · bi conseille of þis doctours And tulyeth after her techynge · þe cardinale vertues ¶ Aȝeines þi greynes quod grace · bigynneth for to ripe Ordeigne þe an hous PiersBx.19.328: Piers: So Cx. Probably beta read quod Piers (picked up from the following line), retained by LMCr, with WHm making an obvious correction by dropping quod, and beta4 dropping both words. F moves Peers to the beginning of the line. · to herberwe in þi cornes ¶ By godBx.19.329: god: F misunderstands as genitive. Beta is supported by Cx. grace quod Piers · ȝe moten gyueBx.19.329: gyue: F and Cx read gyve me. tymbre And ordeyne þat hous · ar ȝe hennes wende ¶ And grace gaue hym þe crosse · withBx.19.331: with: F's & is not supported by Cx. þe croune of þornes That cryst vpon caluarye · for mankynde on pynedBx.19.332: on pyned: Beta is supported by Cx against F's kawhte. And of his baptesme & blode · þat he bledde on Rode He made a maner morter · &Bx.19.334: &: F omits; beta is supported by Cx. mercy it hiȝte And þere-with grace bigan · to make a good foundement And watteled it and walledBx.19.336: watteled ... walled: Reversed in MCr, without support from Cx. F rewrites the line. it · with his peynesBx.19.336: peynes: Supported by Cx against W's sg. and F's woundis. & his passioun And of al holywrit · he madeBx.19.337: made: Supported by Cx. F substitutes wroghte to alliterate with writ. a rofe after And called þat hous vnite · holicherche on englisshe And whan þis dede was done · grace deuised A carte hyȝte cristendome · to carye [home] pieresBx.19.340: home pieres: As in Cx. Beta drops home while F drops pieres (but supplies it in the next line), perhaps both simplifying for metrical reasons. sheues And gaf hym caples to his carte · contricioun & confessioun And made presthode haywarde · þe while hym-self went As wyde as þe worlde is · with pieres to tulye treuthe [And þe [londe] of bileue · þe lawe of holychirche]Bx.19.344: The line is preserved only by F, but it is in Cx. For londe as in Cx, F reads loore, but cf. londe of longynge Bx.11.8. F also supplies & to begin the b-verse, but Cx does not have it. There seems nothing to have prompted beta's omission, except that the line was at the end of the paragraph, so it may be an addition in C. ¶ Now is Pieres to þe plow · &Bx.19.345: &: Secure for Bx, but not in Cx. pruyde it aspyde And gadered hym a grete oest · to greuenBx.19.346: to greuen: So LMC, and presumably beta. W has for to greven, and Hm for greuyn. CrG, reading to greue him, misunderstand the construction with the object in the next line. F, making the same mistake, has greven hym. Cx reads simply greue(n), with a few mss. adding to or hym. It is likely enough that Bx read greuen, with scribes reacting to the short b-verse. he þinketh Conscience and al crystene · and cardinale vertues Blowe hem doune & breke hem · & bite atwo þe moresBx.19.348: þe mores: "roots". F rewrites the b-verse as & beetyn doun here maneres. The P family of C alters to rotes. And sent forth surquydou[re]sBx.19.349: surquydoures: "arrogant one" (for this form in F see MED surquidrous), which both F and Cx interpret as plural (but cf. l. 351), and so read sergawntys in place of seriaunt. Beta has the commoner form surquidous. See Schmidt (2008), 460. · his seriaunt of armes And his spye spille-loue · one speke yuel byhynde Þise two come to conscience · and to crystene peple And tolde hem tydynges · þat tyne þei shulde þe sedes That Pieres þere hadde ysowen · þe cardynal vertuesBx.19.353: In C, the X family begins That sire Peres sewe. The P family ends the previous line with sholde and therefore begins The seedes that syre Peers sewe, a satisfactory a-verse. Bx must also have been defective as a result of mislineation, and perhaps the a-verse read That Piers sewe, with beta and F expanding in different ways. See Schmidt (2008), 460. And Pieres berne worth broke · & þei þat ben in vnite Shulle come out &Bx.19.355: & (1): So beta and Cx. Dropped in F, so that conscience is a term of address rather than part of a group subject of Shal in l. 357. conscience · & ȝowre two caples Confessioun & contricioun · and ȝowre carte þeBx.19.356: þe: F has of; most C mss. omit. byleue Shal be coloured so queyntly · and keuered vnder owreBx.19.357: owre: So L and most beta mss. Cr has your, perhaps from the line above, while WF omit, perhaps to shorten a heavy b-verse. There is the same variation in C mss., with most reading oure. sophistrie Þat consci[ence]Bx.19.358: conscience: L reads conscioun, with the line marked for correction. Cx supports beta's version of the line; F tries to improve sense and alliteration. shal nouȝte · knowe by contricioun Ne by confessioun · who is cristene or hethen Ne no maner marchaunt · þat with moneye deleth Where he wynne wyth riȝteBx.19.361: riȝte: CrF follow this with or, but it is not in Cx. · with wronge or with vsure ¶ With suche coloures & queyntiseBx.19.362: & queyntise: Supported by Cx against MCr and coueityse and F y-peyntid. · cometh pryde yarmed With þe lorde þat lyueth after · þe luste of his body To wasten on welfare · and onBx.19.364: on (2): This is the beta reading, though W has in, as do most C mss., and G omits. F's b-verse wikkednesse he meyntiþ has no support. wykked kepyngeBx.19.364: kepynge: There is no support for W's lyuyng. Al þe worlde in a while · þorw owre witte quod pruyde ¶ Quod conscience to alle crystene þo · my conseille is toBx.19.366: to (2): Cx has instead we or þat we. F's b-verse is y conseyle þe to wende. wende Hastiliche in-toBx.19.367: in-to: Beta is supported by the P family of C, but F's to has support from the X family. vnyte · & holde we vs þere And preye we þat a pees were · in Piers berne þe plowman For witterly I wote wel · we beth nouȝte of strengthe Bx.19.370: O resumes. To gone agayne pryde · but grace were with vs ¶ And þanne cam kynde wytte · conscience to teche And cryde & comaunded · al crystene peple For toBx.19.373: For to: Secure for Bx; Cx begins To. deluen a dycheBx.19.373: a dyche: LMWG, and so presumably the beta reading, supported by the X family of C. HmCOF have instead and dike/dych (Cr and digge). The P family of C has and dike a deop diche. · depe abouteBx.19.373: aboute: Beta is supported by the X family of C. F's alle abowte is supported by the P family. vnite That holycherche stode in vniteBx.19.374: in vnite: This makes sense as a pun, "united". F's strong develops the sense of this, looking forward to l. 376 and adding alliteration with stoode. Cx reads instead in holinesse, alluding to the moat that is to be dug, but this is perhaps picked up from RK.21.380 (= Bx.19.392). · as it a pyle [were]Bx.19.374: were: L omits, with the line marked for correction. For Bx a pyle were, Cx reads were a pyle. ¶ Conscience comaunded þo · al crystene to delue And make a muche mote · þat myȝte ben a strengthe To helpe holycherche · & hem þat it kepeth ¶ Thanne alkyn crystene · saue comune wommen Repenteden & refused synne · saue they one And fals men flateresBx.19.380: flateres: The form in LF against flaterers in others, as also at Bx.2.168 and 13.450. See MED flatour. This line is not in Cx. · vsureres and theues Lyeres and questmongeresBx.19.381: Lyeres and questmongeres: Cx has instead A sysour and a sompnour. For questmongere see Alford (1988), 124. · þat were forsworen ofte Wytynge and willefully · with þe false helden And for syluer were forswore · sothely þei wist itBx.19.383: F's puzzling b-verse has no support from Cx. ¶ Þere nas no crystene creature · þat kynde witte hadde Saue schrewes one · suche as I spak ofBx.19.385: Cx drops this line. F characteristically expands a short line. That he ne halpe a quantite · holynesse to wexe Somme þorw bedes byddynge · and someBx.19.387: some: In beta and the P family of C, but not in F or the X family. þorwBx.19.387: þorw (2): Secure for Bx, but Cr and Cx have bi, carrying the b-verse alliteration. pylgrymageBx.19.387: pylgrimage: Only W has the plural. It is, however, the reading of Cx. And other pryue penaunceBx.19.388: penaunce: For variation with and without <-s>, see note to Bx.14.211. There is similar variation in C mss. MCr have peines. F reverses a- and b-verses. · and some þorw penyes delynge ¶ And þanne welledBx.19.389: welled: The reading walmede in F suggests that Bx might have had the form walled (MED wallen v.(1)), as in Cx. water · for wikked werkes Egerlich ernynge · out of mennes eyen Clennesse of þeBx.19.391: of þe: WHm repeat out of from the line above. comune · & clerkes clene lyuynge Made vnite holicherche · in holynesse to stondeBx.19.392: to stonde: So beta. Cx is without to, as Bx may have been, since in F the b-verse reads holylyche stoonde. [¶]Bx.19.393: ¶: The paraph is in WHm, with a line-space in M. I care nouȝte quod conscience · þough pryde come nouthe Þe lorde of luste shal be letted · al þis lente I hope Comeþ quod conscience · ȝe cristene and dyneth Þat han laboured lelly · al þis lente tyme Here is bred yblessed · and goddes body þer-vnderBx.19.397: þer-vnder: F, reading þere-Inne, is perhaps uncomfortable with the theological use, MED ther-under 2 (b). Grace þorw goddes worde · gaue PieresBx.19.398: Pieres: Cx has Peres the ploughman. power MyȝtesBx.19.399: Myȝtes: Beta2 and F begin And, with support from the P family of Cx. Though the noun is the more obvious sg. in CrCF, as in Cx, beta had the plural. to maken it · & men to ete it afterBx.19.399: to ete it after: Cx reads for to eten it. In helpe of her hele · onys in a moneth Or as ofte as þey hadden nede · þo þat hadde ypayed To pieres pardoun þe plowman · redde quod debes ¶ How quod al þe comune · þow conseillest vs to ȝelde Al þat we owen any wyȝte · arBx.19.404: ar: As in the P family of C. F's er þat has support from the X family. we go to housel ¶ That is my conseille quod conscience [·] & cardynale vertues [Or]Bx.19.406: Or: "Or, in other words, ...". F agrees with Cx on much the harder reading. Probably beta altered it, as do a few C mss. Beta has support for the rest of the a-verse. vche man forȝyue other · and þat wyl þe pater noster Et dimitte nobis debita nostra · &c · And so to ben assoilled · & sithen benBx.19.408: ben (2): Supported by most of the P family of C. Beta4 and F repeat to been, with support from the X family. Perhaps that is more likely to be scribal. houseled ¶ Ȝe bawe quod a brewere · I wil nouȝt be reuled Bi ihesu for al ȝowre ianglynge · withBx.19.410: with: Cx has aftur, as in the next line. F's form of the line is not supported. spiritus iusticie Ne after conscience by cryste · whil I canBx.19.411: whil I can: C mss. vary between y couth and for y couthe. F's b-verse is not supported. selle Bothe dregges & draffe · and drawe itBx.19.412: it: This is the beta reading; F's b-verse is too different to reveal alpha. O makes a sensible correction by dropping the pronoun (since the object is in the following line), and thereby agrees with Cx. Cf. l. 346 for a similar instance of scribes reading line by line. at on hole Þikke ale and þinne ale · forBx.19.413: for: Not in F. Cx has and. Perhaps both for and and are scribal expansions. þat is my kynde And nouȝte hakke after holynesse · holde þi tonge conscience Of spiritus iusticie · þow spekest moche an ydelBx.19.415: F rewrites the b-verse to increase the alliteration. ¶ Caytyue quod conscience · cursed wrecche Vnblessed artow brewere · but if þe godBx.19.417: þe god: F reverses to god þe, agreeing with the P family of C. helpe But þow lyue by loreBx.19.418: lore: F adds the definite article, as do some of the P family of C. · of spiritus iusticie Þe chief seed þat Pieres sewe · ysaued worstow neure But conscience þe comune fedeBx.19.420: þe comune fede: "feed the people". The beta reading (with GO corrupting fede to seede). Beta is supported by the P family of C. F's reading be þyn comoun foode makes good sense addressed to the brewer, but it is exactly paralleled in only one C ms. The X family is divided, with one group reading þy comune fode and the other be comune fode. KD and RK emend to be þy comunes; see the discussion in RK, p. 126, where they argue that the adj. comoun "did not seem to have been used in the exact sense required, namely `customary, day-to-day'". For further evaluation of the readings, see Barney (2006), 167. See notes to next line. · and cardynale vertues Leue itBx.19.421: it: F's me has no support from Cx. wel þei benBx.19.421: þei ben: The beta reading, referring to the people (comune, l. 420), treated as pl. also in l. 465. F has þou art addressed to the brewer, continuing the sense of its previous line. Cx's has instead we been, which avoids any difficulty. See note to l. 420. loste · bothe lyf & soule ¶ Thanne is manyBx.19.422: many: Among B mss. only L omits a, but L has the support of most C mss. man ylost [·] quod a lewed vycory I am a curatour of holykyrke · and come neure in my tyme Man to me þat me couthBx.19.424: to me þat me couth: F simplifies to þat cowde me, but beta is supported by Cx (although the P family drop the second me). telle · of cardinale vertues Or þat acounted conscience · at aBx.19.425: at a: Beta is supported by some C mss., where at is perhaps added to fill out a b-verse shortened by loss of the final phrase (see next note). However, Cx seems to have been without the preposition, as F. cokkes fether or an hennesBx.19.425: or an hennes: Omitted by F and some C mss., but in Cx. See previous note. I knewe neure cardynal · þat he ne cam fro þe pope And we clerkes whan þey come · for her comunes payeth For her pelure andBx.19.428: her pelure and: Lost in F, but supported by Cx. her palfreyes mete · & piloures þat hem folweth Þe comune clamat cotidie · eche a man toBx.19.429: to: WHmF have til, but it is not supported by Cx. other Þe contre is þe curseder · þatBx.19.430: þat: F shares the easier þere with the P family of C. Note repeated þere in the next line. cardynales come Inne And þere they ligge and lenge mosteBx.19.431: moste: In MCrCGO the punctuation follows lenge, with moste as adj. qualifying lecherye, but with the punctuation in LWHmF it is an adverb. · lecherye þere regneth Bx.19.432: Note that WHmCF have a paraph.For-þi quod þis vicori · be verrey god I wolde That no cardynal come · amonge þe comune peple But in her holynesse · holdenBx.19.434: holden: Supported by most C mss. against past tense helden in CrWCG. hem stille At Auynoun amonge iuwesBx.19.435: iuwes: Beta has þe iuwes, but the definite article is easily added and the generalised sense as in F and Cx is appropriate. · cum sancto sanctus eris &c Or in Rome as here rule wole · þe reliques to kepe And þow conscience in kynges courte · & shuldest neure come þennes And grace þat þow gredest so of · gyourBx.19.438: gyour: F's sholde be gyȝere is not supported by Cx. The P family has were gyour. of alle clerkes And PieresBx.19.439: Pieres: F moves with his newe plowh to the b-verse and adds plowman for the alliteration, but it is not in Cx. with his newe plow · & eke with his oldeBx.19.439: eke with his olde: F has þe olde (though with also in the a-verse). In C the X family has also his olde; the P family ends the line hus olde boþe. Emperour of al þe worlde · þat alle men were cristene ¶ Inparfyt is þat pope · þat al pepleBx.19.441: peple: L only, with all others adding þe. Quite possibly L dropped the article on the model of the previous b-verse. However, the X family of C is also without þe. Instead of peple, CrW read the world (cf. l. 440). shulde helpe And sendeth hem þat sleeth suche · as he shulde saue And wel worth piers þe plowman · þat [pur]suethBx.19.443: pursueth: Both Bx and Cx. In L it is altered by erasure to sueth. god in doyng Qui pluit super iustos · & iniustos at ones And sent þe sonne to saue · a cursed mannes tilthe As bryȝte as to þe best man · &Bx.19.446: &: Evidently the beta reading, though CrW agree with F and Cx in reading or, which is equally possible. to þe beste woman Riȝte so Pieres þe plowman · peyneth hym to tulye Bx.19.448-50: F omits these three lines. See note to l. 450. As wel for a wastour · & wenchesBx.19.448: & wenches: The beta reading (F out). Cx has or for a wenche. of þe stuwes As for hym-self & his seruauntz · saue he is firste yserued [So blessed be Pieres þe plowman · þat peyneth hym to tulye]Bx.19.450: This line from Cx (RK.21.437) is not in any ms. of B. We presume it must have been in Bx to account for the loss in F of ll. 448-50 by eye-skip on peers plowhman peyneþ hym to tylye. It is important to note that three C mss. make the same error. On this argument, beta retained ll. 448-9 but skipped the following line thinking he had already copied it. So KD, p. 90 ("omission caused by homoteleuton"). And trauailleth & tulyeth · for a tretour also sore As for a trewe tydy man · al tymes ylyke And worshiped be he þat wrouȝte al · bothe good & wykke And suffreth þat synful be · til some-tyme þat þei repente And god amende þe pope · þat pileth holykirke And cleymeth bifor þe kynge · to be keper ouer crystene And counteth nouȝt þough crystene ben · culled & robbed And fynt folke to fyȝte · and cristene blode to spille Aȝeyne þe olde lawe & newe laweBx.19.459: newe lawe: So beta; F reads þe newe, losing the alliteration. C mss. have several variants. · as Luke [bereth] witnessBx.19.459: bereth witness: For the b-verse exactly as in F and Cx, see Bx.9.78 and 11.285, and cf. 2.38, 7.93, 10.367, 11.236, 11.263 etc. which all end "X bears witness". Beta has þer-of witnesseth. Non occides michi vindictam &cBx.19.460: F's completion of the quotation is not supported by Cx. It semeth by so ·Bx.19.461: Scribes show uncertainty about the placing of punctuation, with L having it after both semeth and so, F after so and hym-selue, and HmGO after hym-sylf. Our punctuation follows WMC. hym-self hadd hisBx.19.461: his: OF add owne to fill out a b-verse shortened by mispunctuation; see previous note. It is not in Cx. wille That heBx.19.462: That he: Beta is supported by the P family of C with Þat he or Þat hym. F begins He; the X family begin He or Hym. ne reccheth riȝte nouȝte · of alBx.19.462: al: The reading of beta; F's b-verse is too much altered to be sure of the alpha reading. The X family of C does not have the word; the P group has al þe oþer, as does O. þe remenaunte And cryst of his curteisye · þe cardinales saue And tourne her witte to wisdome · & to weleBx.19.464: wele: The beta reading, supported by the X family of C. The P family has welþe, as do WF. For the reverse situation see l. 293. See RK, p. 126, who defend welþe on the grounds it is less likely in context. ofBx.19.464: of: Cx has instead for þe. F's b-verse is not supported. soule For þe comune quod þis curatour [·] counten ful litel Þe conseille of conscience · or cardinale vertues But if þei sow[n]eBx.19.467: sowne: "relate to". F is supported by Cx. L's sowe is a simple misreading or mistranscription; the other beta mss. have forms of the verb "see". The verb is not used elsewhere in the B-text. as by syȝte · somwhat to wynnynge Of gyle ne of gabbynge · gyue þei neuere tale For spiritus prudencie · amonge þe peple is gyle And alle þo faire vertues · as vyces þei semeth EcheBx.19.471: Eche: Beta is supported by the P family of C. The X family begins For vche, giving partial support to F's For euerey. man sotileth a sleight · synne toBx.19.471: to: F is supported by Cx. Beta reads forto for the metre, as do a few C mss., but synne is disyllabic. Cf. Bx.2.177, 18.241, and see Duggan (1990), 175. hyde And coloureth it for a kunnynge · and a clene lyuynge ¶ Thanne loughe þere a lorde · & by þis liȝte sayde I halde it ryȝte & resoun · of my reue to take Al þat myne auditour [·] or elles my stuwarde Conseilleth me by her acounte · & my clerkes wrytynge ¶Bx.19.477: ¶: Supported only by LM. With spiritus intellectus · they sekeBx.19.477: seke: Beta's reading makes excellent sense and provides ax/ax alliteration. F has tooken, which is the reading of the P family of C and a few of the X family, but the X family reading appears to be cote as in XYU, meaningless in context (for the verb, meaning "clothe", see RK.3.181). Others of the X family alter this to cutt or counte. Probably, then, toke is also a conjectural revision of a Cx error. It makes poor sense, and Kane (2005) unconvincingly interprets it as MED tuken in the sense "find fault with". For objections, see the discussion in Barney (2006), 181. þe reues rolles And with spiritus fortitudinis · fecche [it] I woleBx.19.478: fecche it I wole: Apparently the beta reading, though L loses it (the line is marked for correction), and W adds after. F's reading is fanciful, but perhaps indicates dissatisfaction with a short b-verse. Cx has fecche hit wolle he null he. Schmidt (1995), 408 argues that Bx might have lost the last phrase, with the line then conjecturally repaired. ¶ And þanne come þere a kynge · & bi his croune seyde I am Kynge with croune · þe comune to reule And holykirke & clergye · fro cursed men to defendeBx.19.481: to defende: Supported by Cx. The b-verse is shortened by OF (dropping to), and by WHm (reading fende / fonde). And if me lakketh to lyue by · þe lawe wil I take it Þere I may hastlokest it haueBx.19.483: hastlokest it haue: Although the P family of C follows the order of Hm, the variants of CrGF are not supported. · for I am hed of lawe ForBx.19.484: For: Evidently the reading of Bx, though W And agrees with Cx. ȝe ben but membres · & I aboue alle And sith I am ȝowre aller hed · I am ȝowre aller hele And holycherche chief help · & chiftaigne of þe comune And what I take of ȝow two · I take it atteBx.19.487: atte: "at the", as usual in L. C mss. have at þe, at and of (cf. MCr). techynge Of spiritus iusticie [·]Bx.19.488: L places the punctuation after I. for I iugge ȝow alle So I mayBx.19.489: I may: Reversed by MCr, but supported by Cx. baldely be houseled · for I borwe neuere Ne craue of my comune · but as my kynde asketh ¶ In condicioun quod conscience · þat þow konneBx.19.491: konne: The reading of most C mss. RK adopt the minority reading þe comune. defende And rule þi rewme inBx.19.492: in (1): Supported by Cx against the easier reading by in MCrHmO. resoun · riȝt welBx.19.492: riȝt wel: Supported by Cx against easier in riȝt HmF. & in treuth [Þat þou þine askyng haue ·]Bx.19.493: Þat þou þine askyng haue: "(and on condition) that you take what you want (in the way the law decrees)". Though this may seem acceptable as a restoration of the authorial B reading, it is harder to justify as the reading of Bx. However, the argument is this. The beta a-verse seems obviously scribal: it lacks alliteration, partially repeats the previous a-verse, and has no support from Cx, which has That thow haue al thyn askyng. This gives reasonable support for F's reading, except for non-alliterating lykyng. In fact the scribe has written the word over an erasure, and we suppose he substituted a synonym to avoid the repetition of asken in the b-verse. The reading of Bx may, of course, been exactly that of Cx, with F reordering and omitting al. See RK, p. 127. as þiBx.19.493: þi: CrOF have þe. C mss. are also split, with þe in the P family. lawe asketh Omnia tua suntBx.19.494: tua sunt: F and Cx reverse the order. ad defendendum set non ad depredandum Þe vyker hadde fer home · & faire toke his leue And I awakned þere-with · & wrote as me mette Passus vicesimus de visione & primus de dobest [And]Bx.20.1: And: F is supported by Cx (though otherwise F rewrites the line). Beta has Thanne as a more appropriate opening for a passus (as Bx.10.1, 11.1), but Langland often plunges in medias res; see especially Bx.13.1. as I went by þe way · whan I was þus awaked Heuy-chered I ȝede · and elynge in herte IBx.20.3: I: So beta, but F and Cx begin For I. RK, p. 123, reject the F + Cx readings of ll. 3, 7 and 9 as coincidental error, describing For here as a "more explicit substitution". See also l. 11. ne wiste where to ete · ne at what place And it neighed nyeghe þe none · & with nede I mette That afronted me foule · and faitour me called CoudestowBx.20.6: Coudestow: L is supported by F and Cx against Kanstow in other beta witnesses. nouȝte excuse þe · as dede þe Kynge & other Þat þow toke to þi bylyfBx.20.7: þi bylyf: So beta, though F's lyve by is also the reading of Cx. Athough the noun is a favourite of Langland's, it appears to have been obsolescent, and MED has no citations after c. 1300 apart from Piers Plowman. Scribes of C are particularly prone to avoid it; e.g. at RK.16.338 substitutions are liflode, lyvyng and breed. See note to Bx.19.241 (= RK.21.235), where bylyf is altered by MCrHmF to lyflode. See RK, p. 123. · to clothes and to sustenance As byBx.20.8: As by: "according to". LMCr are supported by the P family of C. WHmCGO read And, which makes poor sense.The construction is "excuse yourself that you took according to the teaching of spiritus temperancie". F has & þat was; the X family of C has Was, meaning "excuse yourself that what you took ... was by the teaching ...". techynge & byBx.20.8: by (2): Omitted by beta4, F and the P family of Cx. tellynge · of spiritus temperancie AndBx.20.9: And: "provided that" (so RK, p. 123). F and Cx also make good sense with & þat. þow nome namore · þan nede þe tauȝte AndBx.20.10: And: Supported by the X family of C; the P family omits. F's For has no support. nede neBx.20.10: ne (1): LWHmCG are supported by some of the X family of C. Other scribes omit. hath no lawe · ne neure shal falle in dette For þre thynges heBx.20.11: he: The reading of beta, though F and Cx read þat he. taketh · his lyf forto saue That is mete whan men hym werneth · & he no moneye weldeth Bx.20.13: L has an inappropriate paraph (the line is at the top of the page).Ne wyght none wil benBx.20.13: none wil ben: The beta reading, against F's þat wille ben. In C, ms. X reads þat now wol be, though others in the X family have none for now. The P family begins the line And wot that non wol be. his borwe · ne wedde hath noneBx.20.13: ne wedde hath none: Beta reading is preferable since alliteration is on /w/ not /n/. Yet F's ne no wed haþ is that of the X family of C; the P family reads noþer haþ wed. to legge And he cauȝteBx.20.14: cauȝte: i.e. "stole". Cx has present tense; F has caste. in þat cas · & come þere-to by sleighte He synneth nouȝte sothelich · þat so wynneth his fode And þough he come so to a clothe · and can no better cheuysaunce Nede anon-riȝte · nymeth hym vnder meynpryse And if hym lyst for to lape · þe lawe of kynde wolde That he dronke at eche diche · ar he for thurste deyde So nede at grete nede · may nymen as for his owne Wyth-oute conseille of conscience · or cardynale vertues So þat he suwe & saue · spiritus temperancie ¶ For is no vertue by fer [·] toBx.20.23: by fer to: F has by-fore, as do a few C mss. spiritus temperancie Neither spiritus iusticie · ne spiritus fortitudinis For spiritus fortitudinis · forfaiteth ful oft He shal do more þan mesure · many tymeBx.20.26: tyme: F has tymes, with similar variation among C mss. See note to Bx.11.387 for alpha's tendency to prefer tymes. & ofte And bete men ouer bitter · and somme [body]Bx.20.27: body: Here R resumes, to provide this reading, supported by Cx and alliteration. F has the plural. Beta reads of hem. to litel And greue men gretter · þan goode faith itBx.20.28: it: Dropped by HmCGO, as by the P family of C. wolde ¶ And spiritus iusticie · shal iuggen wol he nol he After þe kynges conseille · & þe comune lyke And spiritus prudencie · in many a poynte shal faille Of þat he weneth wolde falle · if his wytte ne were Wenynge is no wysdome · ne wyse ymagynacioun Homo proponit & deus disponit · & gouerneth alleBx.20.34: & gouerneth alle: In alpha the line-break occurs after alle; in beta it is after good vertues. Alpha's arrangement is supported as Bx and Cx by the P family of C, which has god gouerneth alle. The X family sets the Latin on its own, but then breaks the lines after hym and lombe. KD and Schmidt break after disponit, vertues, meketh. The problem is caused by the short line God gouerneth all good vertues, compounded by the replacement in Bx of God by &. Good vertues [and]Bx.20.35: and: R is supported by the X family of C against beta's Ac. F and the P family rearrange in different ways. nede is next hym · for anon he meketh And as low as a lombe · for lakkyng þatBx.20.36: þat: Alpha is supported by most C mss., though some have of þat, as in beta. hym nedeth [¶ For nede maketh nede · fele nedes lowe-herted]Bx.20.37: Beta omits the line, which Barney (2006), 202, suggests may be a late addition. R's form of the line is supported by the X family of C. [Philosophres]Bx.20.38: Philosophres: Though alpha is supported by Cx, beta has a good line, with Wyse men alliterating on /w/. Perhaps this is a case of revision, or alpha contamination from C. See notes to ll. 37 and 39. forsoke wel[th]eBx.20.38: welthe: Alpha is supported by Cx against wele in beta. · for þey wolde be nedy And woneden [wel elengly]Bx.20.39: wel elengly: Alpha's reading, supported by Cx, may be a revision of beta's in wilderness. · & wolde nouȝte be riche ¶ And god al his grete ioye · gostliche he left And cam & toke mankynde · and bycam nedy So [he was nedy]Bx.20.42: So he was nedy: R's order is supported by the X family of C; F's prose order, He was so needy, by the P family. Beta has So nedy he was. as seyth þe boke · in many sondry places Þat he seyde in his sorwe · on þe selue Rode Bothe fox & foule · may fleighe to hole & crepe And þe fisshe hath fyn · to flete with toBx.20.45: to (2): Alpha has or to, taking reste as a verb, but it is not supported by Cx or by sense: Kane (2005) glosses reste as "safety". reste Þere nede hath ynome me · þat I mote nede abyde And suffre sorwes ful sowre · þat shal to ioye tourne For-þi be nouȝte abasshed · to bydeBx.20.48: byde: Beta4 and R have bidde, as does the P family of C. The X family supports bide, which follows on from l. 46. and to be nedy Syth he þat wrouȝte al þe worlde · was wilfullich nedy Ne neuer none so nedy · ne pouerere deyde ¶ Whan nede had vndernomeBx.20.51: vndernome: All except OR have the object me, though it is inserted in M. In C it is in all mss. except XYU, the three most authoritative of the X family. Cf. l. 46, which probably prompted the addition. þus · anon I felle aslepe And mette ful merueillously · þat in mannes forme Antecryst cam þanne · and al þe croppe of treuthe Torned it vp-so-doune · and ouertilte þe rote And [made]Bx.20.55: made: Alpha supported by Cx. Beta omits. fals sprynge & sprede · & spede mennes nedes In eche a contre þere he cam · he cutte awey treuthe And gert gyle growe þere · as he a god were [¶]Bx.20.58: ¶: The paraph is in WHm and alpha. In L the line is at the top of the page. Freres folwed þat fende · for he ȝaf hem copes And religiouse reuerenced hym · and rongen here belles And al þe couent camBx.20.60: cam: Beta has forth cam, F has cam holly. Neither has support from C. R is supported by the X family of C; the P family has þo cam. · to welcome [a]Bx.20.60: a: R is supported by the most reliable of the X family of C. The reading is a little more difficult than þat, as in beta and F, as well as the P family of C. tyraunt And alle hise as wel as hym · saue onlich folis Which folis were welBx.20.62: wel: Omitted by alpha and the P family of C, but supported by the X family. [gladd]erBx.20.62: gladder: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's leuer. [·] to deye þan to lyue Lengore sith le[ute]Bx.20.63: leute: Alpha is supported by Cx. Beta read lenten, with the obvious error corrected in Cr, and visibly corrected in Hm by the revising hand. · was so rebuked And a fals fende antecriste · ouer alle folke regned And þat wereBx.20.65: were: Beta is supported by Cx. Alpha's we is an obvious error. mylde men & holy · þat no myschief dredden Defyed al falsenesse · and folke þat it vsed And what Kynge þat hem conforted · knowynge hem [gy]leBx.20.67: hem gyle: "them to deceive"? R probably preserves the Bx reading, where Cx has here gyle. Beta revises to hem any while to make better sense. They cursed and her conseille · were it clerke or lewed ¶ Antecriste hadde thus sone · hundredes at his banere And Pryde it bareBx.20.70: it bare: Clearly the reading of Bx as well as Cx. Hm, F and the P family of C all expand in different ways. See RK, p. 130 and n. 50. · boldely aboute With a lorde þat lyueth · after lykynge of body That cam aȝein conscience · þat kepere was & gyoure Ouer kynde crystene · and cardynale vertues ¶ I conseille quod conscience þo · cometh with me ȝe foles In-to vnyte holy cherche · and holde we vs there And crye we to kynde · þat he come & defende vs Foles ·Bx.20.77: The punctuation after Foles is in LWOF, and so is perhaps archetypal. fro þis fendes lymes · for Piers loue þe plowman And crye we [on]Bx.20.78: on: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's to. alle þe comune · þat þei come to vnite And þere abide and bikere · aȝein beliales children ¶ Kynd conscience þo herde · and cam out of þe planetes And sent forth his foreioures [·] feures and fluxes Coughes and cardiacles · crampes and tothaches Rewmes & radegoundes · and roynouse scallesBx.20.83: scalles: "skin diseases". W has scabbes, an easier reading, but it is also the reading of Cx. See RK, p. 121. Byles and bocches · and brennyng agues Frenesyes & foule yueles · forageres of kynde Hadde yprykked and prayed [·] polles of pepleBx.20.86: peple: MCrCGOF add the definite article, but it is not in Cx. LargelichBx.20.87: Largelich: Beta's Þat largelich is not supported by Cx. a legioun · leseBx.20.87: lese: Probably past, though R's lose is present. Cx has lees. her lyf sone ¶ There was harrow and help · here cometh kynde With deth þat is dredful · to vndone vs alle ¶ The lorde that lyued after lust · tho alowde cryde After conforte aBx.20.91: conforte a: R (= alpha) omits; F expands speculatively to make up the loss. knyghte · to come and bere his banere Alarme alarme quod þat lorde [·] eche lyf kepe his owne ¶ ÞanneBx.20.93: Þanne: So alpha, supported by Cx; beta has And þanne. mette þis men · ar mynstralles myȝte pipe And ar heraudes of armes · hadden descreued lordes Bx.20.95-6: Beta4 omits these two lines. ¶ Elde þe horeBx.20.95: hore: Beta is supported by Cx. F reads the rare horel, "fornicator", and R is apparently corrected to that reading. · he was in þe vauntwarde And bare þe banere bifor deth · by riȝte he it claymed Kynde come after [hym]Bx.20.97: hym: Alpha is supported by Cx; beta omits. · with many kene sores As pokkes and pestilences · and moche poeple shente So kynde þorw corupciouns · kulled ful manye ¶ Deth cam dryuendeBx.20.100: dryuende: Note that L and alpha have this form of the present participle. See note to Bx.17.50. after · and al to doust passhedBx.20.100: passhed: Beta is supported by Cx. F has daschede, and in R paschte is corrected to daschte. Kynges & Knyȝtes · kayseres and popes Lered ne lewed · he le[f]tBx.20.102: left: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's let. no man stonde That he hitte euene · þat euere stiredBx.20.103: þat euere stired: The wording of LWR is supported by Cx. after Many a louely lady · and lemmanes knyghtesBx.20.104: lemmanes knyghtes: "lover-knights". So R. Beta misunderstands and adds of. F rewrites, but its inclusion of hire could perhaps indicate that Bx read as Cx, which reads here lemmanes knyhtes. Swouned and swelted · for sorwe of dethes dyntes ¶ Conscience of his curteisye · to kynde he bisouȝte To cesse & suffre · and see where þei wolde Leue pryde pryuely · and be parfite cristene ¶ And kynde cessed tho · to se þe peple amende Fortune gan flateren thenne · þo fewe þat were alyue And byhight hem longe lyf · and lecherye he sent Amonges al manere men · wedded & vnwedded And gadered a gret hoste · al agayne conscience ¶Bx.20.114: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. This lecherye leyde on · withBx.20.114: with: Beta has with a, but alpha is supported by Cx. laughyng chiere And with pryue speche · and peynted wordes And armed hym in ydelnesse · and in hiegh berynge He bare a bowe in his hande · and manye blodyBx.20.117: blody: With support from LMCr, beta4 and R, this is presumably the reading of Bx. However, WHmF brode is also the reading of Cx, and is better in context. Schmidt (1995), 409, conjectures that Bx had the form blode, independently corrected by beta3 and F. arwes Weren fethered with faire biheste · and many a false truthe Wit[h]Bx.20.119: With: L's Wit is marked for correction, as at Bx.5.612. Beta has With his, but alpha without his is supported by Cx. vntydy tales · he tened ful ofte Conscience and his compaignye · of holi[kirke]Bx.20.120: kirke: Cr and alpha. Beta and Cx read non-alliterating cherche. See Introduction IV.1. þe techeres ¶ Thanne cam coueityse · and caste how he myȝte Ouercome conscience · and cardynal vertues And armed hym in auaryce · and hungrilicheBx.20.123: hungriliche: MED records R's vngriseliche as a unique instance. Presumably alpha had F's form vngryly, "hungrily", misread by R. lyued His wepne was al wiles · to wynnen & to hyden With glosynges andBx.20.125: and: Beta must have had and with (though beta4 drops with). Alpha presumably had and, as in R, supported by Cx, with F adding with. gabbynges · he gyled þe peple Symonye hym se[ude]Bx.20.126: seude: "followed" (MED seuen v.(1)). R is supported by Cx. The form was easily misread as sende (pa.t.) by both beta and F. See Schmidt (1995), 409. · to assaille conscience And preched to þe peple · and prelates þei hemBx.20.127: hem: Omitted by MCr. Cx is without it, following a different a-verse And presed on þe pope. See Barney (2006), 214, for discussion of the versions. maden To holden with antecryste · her temperaltes to saue And come to þe kynges conseille · as a kene baroun And kneled toBx.20.130: kneled to: Cx reads knokked. conscience [·] in courte aforBx.20.130: afor: Beta4 and alpha have before, as does Cx. For discussion of these variants, see note to Bx.5.12. hem alle And gart gode feith flee · and fals to abide And boldeliche bar adown · with many a briȝteBx.20.132: briȝte: Beta is supported by alliteration and Cx. Alpha has rede. noble Moche of þe witte and wisdome · of westmynster halle He iugged tilBx.20.134: iugged til: W has Iogged to, as does Cx. The sense of the verb is uncertain: see OED jug v.4, jag v., jog v; Kane (2005) s.v. iogged glosses "thrust his way". Bx may have misunderstood it as "judged", i.e. "condemned". a iustice · and iusted in his ere And ouertilte al his treuthe · with take þis vpBx.20.135: vp: Cx has on. amendement And [in-]toBx.20.136: in-to: Alpha and Hm; perhaps a little more appropriate than beta's to. C mss. are similarly divided: the P family agrees with beta. þe arches in haste · he ȝede anone after And torned Ciuile in-to symonye · and sitthe he toke þe official For a [menyuere mentel]Bx.20.138: menyuere mentel: Alpha is supported by Cx. Beta has mentel of menyuere. · he made lele matrimonye Departen ar deth cam · & [a]Bx.20.139: a: Dropped by beta, but alpha is supported by Cx. deuos shupte ¶ Allas quod conscience & cried þoBx.20.140: þo: Dropped by F and the P family of C. · wolde criste of hisBx.20.140: his: In Cx; dropped in R. grace That coueityse were cristene · þat is so kene [to fiȝte]Bx.20.141: to fiȝte: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's a fiȝter. And bolde and [a]bidyngBx.20.142: abidyng: So alpha and CrHmO, against bidyng in the others. C mss. are also split, with the X family and some of the P family reading abidyng. There is support for abidyng from the same a-verse in Bx.19.302. · [þe]Bx.20.142: þe: Not in beta, and Cx is also split, but alpha is supported by the best of both families of C. while his bagge lasteth ¶ And þanne lowgh lyf · and leet dagge his clothes And armed hym in haste · in harlotes wordes And helde holynesse a iape · and hendenesse a wastour And lete leute a cherle · and lyer a fre man Conscience and conseille · he counted it folyeBx.20.147: folye: Beta4 and R, supported by Cx. LMHm (hence beta?) have a folye, Cr at foly, W at a flye; F has but folye. ¶ Thus relyed lyf · for a litel fortune And prykedBx.20.149: pryked: Bx clearly has past tense, though W has the present, as do the most reliable C mss. forth with pryde [·] preyseth he no vertue [Ne]Bx.20.150: Ne: Beta has He (A in L), though Hm has and, and W has Ne, agreeing with alpha and Cx. careth nouȝte how kynde slow · and shal come atte laste And culleBx.20.151: culle: Supported by Cx against alpha's calle. alle erthely creatureBx.20.151: creature: LR and original M have the distributive sg. against the plural in others. Cx is also split. · saue conscience one Lyf leep asydeBx.20.152: leep asyde: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's curious reading seith occide. · and lauȝte hym a lemman Heel & I quod he · and hieghnesse of herte Shal do þe nouȝte drede · noyther deth ne elde And to forȝete sorweBx.20.155: sorwe: MCr read deþ from the line above. Cx has instead ȝowthe. · and ȝyue nouȝte of synne ¶ This lyked lyf · and his lemman fortune And geten in her glorie · a gadelyng atte laste One þat moche woBx.20.158: wo: Omitted by alpha. wrouȝte · sleuthe was his name Sleuthe wex wonder ȝerne · and sone was of age And wedded one wanhope · a wenche of þe stuwes Her syre was a sysour · þat neure swore treuthe One Thomme two tonge · ateynte at vch a queste ¶ ThisBx.20.163: This: Beta is supported by Cx. R has Þus and F omits. sleuthe wasBx.20.163: was: Beta4 has wex, but this is not supported by Cx. warBx.20.163: war: Cx has sley. of werre · and a slynge made And threwe drede of dyspayre · a dozein myle aboute For care conscience þo · cryed vpon elde And bad hymBx.20.166: hym: Omitted by alpha, but beta is supported by Cx. fonde to fyȝte · and afere wanhope ¶ And elde hent good hope · and hastilich he shifteBx.20.167: shifte: "got moving" (refl.). Cx has instead shroef. hym And wayued awey wanhope · and with lyf he fyȝteth And lyf fleigh for fere [·] to fysyke after helpe And bisouȝte hym of socoure · and of his salue hadde And gaf hym golde good woon · þat gladded h[er] herte[s]Bx.20.171: her hertes: Beta has his herte, following the sg. in the a-verse. R alone has the plural, but is supported by the best C mss., six of which also have here for his in l. 170. See next note. And þeiBx.20.172: þei: F alters to he, following the sg. pronouns of ll. 170-1. Schmidt (2008), 467, explains that the distinction is between the art of Fysyke and its practitioners. See previous note. gyuen hym agayne [·] a glasen houve Lyf leued þat lechecrafte · lette shulde elde And dryuenBx.20.174: dryuen: Alpha has to driue, as do some of the P family of C, but the rest omit to. awey deth · with dyasBx.20.174: dyas: "remedies". Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's dayes. and dragges ¶ And elde auntred hym on lyf · and atte laste he hitte A Fisicien with a forred hood · þat he fel in aBx.20.176: a (3): As in Cx. MCrC have þe (inserted in M). O omits. palsye And þere deyed þat doctour · ar thre dayes after Now I see seyde lyf · þat surgerye ne Fisyke May nouȝte a myte auaille · to medle aȝein elde And in hope of his hele · gode herte heBx.20.180: he: Omitted by R, but Cx has it. hente And rode so to reuel · a ryche place and a merye The companye of conforteBx.20.182: conforte: Beta4 corrupts to court. · men cleped it sumtyme And elde anone after [hym]Bx.20.183: hym: Alpha supported by Cx against beta's me. Beta fails to understand that the reference is to Lyf. · and ouer myne heed ȝede And made me balled bifore · and bare on þe croune So harde he ȝede ouer myn hed · it wil be seen eure ¶ Sire euel ytauȝte elde quod I · vnhende go with the Sith whanne was þe way · ouer menBx.20.187: men: L alone has the uninflected gen., but RK record the C reading as menne. hedes Haddestow be hende quod I · þow woldest haue asked leue ¶ Ȝe leue lordeyne quod he · and leyde on me with age And hitte me vnder þe ere · vnethe may ich here He buffeted me aboute þe mouthe · & bett out my [wange-]tetheBx.20.191: wange-tethe: Beta drops wange, though it is included in Cx, which has the b-verse as in R. Beta must have had & bett out my tethe as in LMCr, with variations in WHm and beta4. And gyued me in goutes · I may nouȝte go at large And of þe wo þat I was in · my wyf had reuthe And wisshed [wel]Bx.20.194: wel: R alone, but supported by Cx. Beta has ful, F has often. witterly · þat I were in heuene For þe lyme þat she loued me fore · and leef was to fele On nyȝtes namely · whan we naked were I ne myght in no manere · maken it at hir wille So elde and [he]Bx.20.198: he: "she". Only R has the h- form, but it is necessary for the alliteration and is supported by Cx. See Introduction IV.1. Beta reads she sothly, lengthening a short a-verse, but neither R or Cx has the adverb. F rewrites the a-verse. · [it hadden]Bx.20.198: it hadden: R's order is supported by Cx, altered to prose order in all other B mss. forbeten ¶ And asBx.20.199: as: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's was. I seet in þis sorwe · I say how kynde passed And deth drowgh nieghBx.20.200: niegh: MCrF have neer (from OE comparative), but it is not supported by Cx. me · for drede gan I quake And cried to kynde · out of care me brynge Loo elde þe hoore · hath meBx.20.202: me: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's my lif. biseyeBx.20.202: biseye: 'dealt with'; MED bisen 4(b). Supported by Cx against variants in CrGR. Awreke me if ȝowre wille be · for I wolde ben hennes ¶ Ȝif þow wilt ben ywroken · wende in-to vnite And holde þe þere eure · tyl I sende for þe And loke þow conne somme crafte [·] ar þow come þennes [¶]Bx.20.207: ¶: The paraph to mark the dreamer's words is in WHmC and alpha, with a line-space in M. Conseille me kynde quod I · what crafte [be]Bx.20.207: be: R's subjunctive is supported by Cx against is in beta. F rephrases. best to lerne [¶]Bx.20.208: ¶: In L the scribe left a line-space but the rubricator did not supply the paraph to mark Kynde's words. It is in WHmC and alpha, with a line-space in M. Lerne to loue quod kynde · & leueBx.20.208: leue: Alpha and Cr are supported by Cx in omitting of. Beta perhaps avoids the x / x / x rhythm of the b-verse, as F does by adding craftys. alle othre ¶ How shal I come to catel so · to clothe me and toBx.20.209: to (3): Supported by Cx, though dropped by HmGF and erased in M. fede [¶]Bx.20.210: ¶: Though lacking in LR and therefore somewhat doubtful, the paraph to mark Kynde's words is in WHmCF, with a line-space in M. And þow loue lellyBx.20.210: lelly: Beta adds quod he, but it is not in alpha or Cx. · lakke shal þe neure [Wede] ne wordly [mete]Bx.20.211: Wede ... mete: Alpha's order is supported by Cx. Note the spelling wordly for "worldly" in LR, perhaps archetypal. · whil þi lyf lasteth ¶ And þere by conseille of kynde · comsedBx.20.212: comsed: So R. Beta has I comsed, F has he comsede. In Cx the line reads: And y bi conseil of kynde comsed to Rome, though eight mss. move the pronoun to the b-verse. Evidently þere is a Bx error for I, the omission of which is supplied in the b-verse by all scribes except R. to rowme Thorw contricioun & confessioun · tyl I cam to vnite And þere was conscienceBx.20.214: conscience: Dropped in alpha; F patches. constable · cristene to saue And biseged sothly · with seuene grete gyauntz Þat with Antecrist helden · hard aȝein conscience ¶ Sleuth with his slynge · an[d]Bx.20.217: and: Probably an archetypal error for an. MCrCR have and, as do five C mss. including X (misreported by RK). All other scribes in both versions make the necessary and obvious correction to an; M is corrected by adding an. hard sautBx.20.217: saut: LHm and alpha are supported by Cx against assaut. Cf. variants at l. 301. heBx.20.217: he: LWHm and alpha supported by Cx. Other mss. omit. made Proude prestes come with hym [· passyng an hundreth]Bx.20.218: passyng an hundreth: Alpha is supported by Cx and alliteration against beta's moo þan a thousand. In paltokes & pyked shoes · & pisseres longe knyues Comen aȝein conscience · with coueityse þei helden ¶ By [þe]Bx.20.221: þe (1): In R only, but supported by Cx. MED cites no other examples of this form of the oath, though cf. by þe holy Marie etc. Marie quod a mansed preste · [was]Bx.20.221: was: Omitted by beta. Alpha is supported by Cx. of þe marche of yrlonde I counte namore conscience · bi so I cacche syluer Than I do to drynke · a drauȝte of good ale And so seide sexty [·] of þe same contreye And shoten aȝein with shotte · many a shef of othes And brode hoked arwes · goddes herte & his nayles And hadden almost vnyte · and holynesse adowne ¶ Conscience cryed helpe · clergye or ellis I falle Thorw inparfit prestes · and prelates of holicherche Freres herden hym crye · and comen hym to helpe Ac for þei couth nouȝte wel her craft · conscience forsoke hem ¶ Nede neghed tho nere · and conscience he tolde That þei come for coueityseBx.20.233: coueityse: Alpha misunderstands Nede's advice and adds no. · to haue cure of soules And for þei arn poure par-auenture · for patrimoigne hem failleth Thei wil flatre to fare wel · folke þat ben riche And sithen þei chosen chele · and cheytifteBx.20.236: cheytifte: As in LWR and Cx, though other beta mss. alter the noun to the adj. cheitif, and F reads chastite &. For the suggestion that poverte was a marginal gloss incorporated into the text in Bx and Cx, see RK, p. 136. pouerte Lat hem chewe as þei chese · and charge hem with no cure Bx.20.238-9: Two lines omitted by alpha but attested by Cx. The likely explanation for the omission is eyeskip from For (238) to For (240), suggesting that alpha's exemplar began l. 240 with For rather than Bx And (see note). For lomer he lyeth · þat lyflode mote begge Þan he þat laboureth for lyflode · & leneth it beggeres AndBx.20.240: And: Supported by Cx against alpha's For. sithen Freres forsoke · þeBx.20.240: þe: Beta is supported by Cx, though it is dropped by G and alpha. felicite of erthe Lat hem be as beggeres · or lyue by angeles fode ¶ Conscience of þis conseille þoBx.20.242: þo: Dropped by alpha and by some of the P family of C. · comsed for to laughe And curtei[s]lichBx.20.243: curteisliche: The line in L is marked for correction. conforted hem · and called in alle freres And seide sires sothly · welcome be ȝe alle To vnite and holicherche · ac on thyng I ȝow preye Holdeth ȝow in vnyte · and haueth none envye To lered ne to lewed · but lyueth after ȝowre rewle And I wil be ȝowre borghe · ȝe shal haue bred and clothes And other necessaries anowe · ȝow shal no thyng [lakke]Bx.20.249: lakke: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's faille, which is perhaps picked up from l. 234. For ȝow, F has ȝee as subject, as do a few C mss. R's þow is odd in context. With þat ȝe leue logyk · and lerneth for to louye For loue laft þei lordship · bothe londe and scole Frere Fraunceys and Dominyk · for loue to ben holy ¶ And if ȝe coueyteth cure · kynde wil ȝow te[ll]eBx.20.253: telle: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's teche. That in mesure god made · alle manere thynges And sette itBx.20.255: it: Supported by Cx against hem in CrWF. at a certeyne · and at a syker noumbre And nempned [hem]Bx.20.256: hem: Omitted by beta, but alpha is supported by Cx. See next note. names neweBx.20.256: newe: Not in Cx at all, and presumably a Bx error, since it makes poor sense in either position in the line. In Bx it was probably in the a-verse, prompting beta to drop hem to lighten a heavy verse, and alpha to move it into the b-verse to qualify numbred, with no better sense. · and noumbred þe sterres Qui numerat multitudinem stellarumBx.20.257: stellarum: Alpha evidently agreed with Cx in omitting & omnibus eis &c, and F struggles to complete the familiar quotation. ¶Bx.20.258: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F, following the Latin line. Kynges & knyghtes [·] þat kepenBx.20.258: kepen: Oddly, R's illogical past tense is supported by three of the best of the X family of C. It could therefore be archetypal error. and defenden Han officers vnder hem · and vch of hem certeyneBx.20.259: certeyne: WHmOF have a certein as in Cx, but LR and CrCG omit the article. This is evidently a Bx error, with scribes making an obvious correction, as the M scribe does visibly. And if þei wage men to werre · þei write hem in noumbre Wil no tresorere [taken] hem [wages]Bx.20.261: taken hem wages: Beta alters to hem paye, shortening a long a-verse but losing the alliteration. Alpha is supported by Cx. For hem R uniquely reads hym as in l. 259. In Cx this line is followed by Bote hy ben nempned in þe nombre of hem þat been ywaged (RK.21.261), necessary to complete the sense. Its loss in Bx causes WHm to move l. 261 to the end of the paragraph to follow l. 263, and C2 to invent a new line: but he kunne rekene ariȝt her names in his rollis. Cr, followed by revised M, more simply begins the line Or they wil, and F has Ellys wille. · trauaille þei neure so sore Alle other in bataille · ben yholde bribours Pilours and pykehernois · in eche a p[arisch]Bx.20.263: parisch: Beta has place, but alpha is supported by Cx. [a]cursedBx.20.263: acursed: MCrCGO and alpha are supported by Cx against ycursed in LWHm. ¶Bx.20.264: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. Monkes and monyals · and alle men of Religioun Her ordre andBx.20.265: Her ordre and: Presumably alpha dropped ordre, with R faithfully copying Her and as heraude, and F characteristically revising to make sense. her reule wil · to han a certeyne noumbre Of lewed and of lered · þe lawe wol and axeth A certeyn for a certeyne · saue onelich of freres For-þi quod conscience by cryst · kynde witte me telleth It is wikked to wage ȝow · ȝe wexeth out ofBx.20.269: out of: Beta and Cx. R's of on is probably the alpha reading, revised by F to ouer ony for sense. noumbre Heuene hath euene noumbre · and helle is with-out noumbre For-þi I wolde witterly · þat ȝe were in þe Registre And ȝowre noumbre vndre notarieBx.20.272: notarie: MCrWCO's gen. is not supported by Cx. sygne · & noyther mo ne lasse ¶Bx.20.273: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. Enuye herd þis · and heet freres goBx.20.273: go: LWC have to go, not supported by Cx. to scole And lerne logyk and lawe · and eke contemplacioun And preche men of plato · and preue it by seneca Þat alle þinges vnder heuene · ouȝte to ben in comune ¶ [H]eBx.20.277: He: So alpha and Cx. Beta begins And ȝit he. lyeth as I leue · þat to þe lewed so precheth For god made to men a lawe · and Moyses it tauȝte Non concupisces rem proximi tui And euele is þis yholde · in parisches of engelonde For parsones and parish prestes [·] þat shulde þe peple shryue Ben curatoures called · to knowe and to hele Alle þat ben her parisshiens · penaunceBx.20.283: penaunce: Probably plural; alpha has penaunces. For variation with and without <-s>, see note to Bx.14.211. There is similar variation in C mss. enioigneBx.20.283: enioigne: All except R read to enioigne, which has minority support from C mss. And be[n]Bx.20.284: ben: For once F probably represents alpha and is supported by Cx. R takes infin. ben as pres. pl. Beta clarifies with shulden be(n). ashamed in her shrifte · ac shame maketh hem wende And fleen to þe freres · as fals folke to westmynstre That borweth and bereth it þider · and þanne biddeth frendes Ȝerne of forȝifnesse · or lenger ȝeres leueBx.20.287: leue: The reading of LR and probably alpha (F's rewrite includes bleve), supported by Cx. Beta1 has loone, adopted by RK, p. 128, who explain the financial arrangement. For leue, "dispensation", see Alford (1988), 88. ¶ Ac whil he is in westmynstre · he wil be bifore And makeBx.20.289: make: Beta's infinitive is supported by Cx against alpha's maketh. hym merye [·] with other mennesBx.20.289: mennes: For R's gen. pl. men, cf. l. 187 and note. Some C scribes have the same form. goodis And so it fareth with moche folke · þat toBx.20.290: to: Alpha supported by Cx against beta's to þe (though Cr also has to). freres shryuethBx.20.290: shryueth: WOF have hem shryueþ, as do some of the P family of C. As sysours and excecutours · þei [shulBx.20.291: shul: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's wil. ȝeue] þeBx.20.291: ȝeue þe: The L scribe omitted the verb, and the omission was subsequently miscorrected. freres A parcel to preye for hem · & make hemBx.20.292: hem (2): R is supported by Cx against hem-self in beta. F rewrites the b-verse to pad it out, but that then involves rewriting the next line to avoid repetition. myrye With þe residue and þeBx.20.293: þe (1 & 2): The definite article is omitted by R in both cases, and the first of them is added by the corrector in M. F has both in a rewritten line. Cx drops þe residue and. remenaunt · þat other men biswonke And suffre þe ded in dette · to þe day of dome ¶ Enuye herfore · hated conscience And freres to philosofye · he fonde hem to scole The while coueytise and vnkyndenesse · conscience assailled In vnite holycherche · conscience helde hym And made pees porter · to pynne þe ȝates Of alle taletellers · and tyterers [a]nBx.20.300: an: So R, supported by the X family of C. Beta has in, F has of ydelte. In L the phrase is elsewhere always an ydel (Bx.5.592, 14.210, 19.415). ydel Ypocrisye and heBx.20.301: he: The h- form is necessary for the alliteration. Presumably Bx took it to be sg., but Cx understands that it must be plural and alters to they. · an hard sautBx.20.301: saut: LHmOR supported by Cx against assaut in MCrWCG. Cf. l. 217. F omits the line. þei made Ypocrysie atte ȝate · hard gan fiȝte And wounded wel wykkedly · many [a]Bx.20.303: a: CrW and alpha are supported by Cx. Most beta scribes omit it. wise techer Þat with conscience acorded · and cardinale vertues [¶]Bx.20.305: ¶: The paraph is in WHmC and alpha. In L the line is at the top of the page. Conscience called a leche · þat coude wel shryue GoBx.20.306: Go: The reading of LCrHmGOR and original M, supported by the X family of C, against To in CF and revised M, supported by the P family, and To go in W. See next note. salue þo þat syke [were]Bx.20.306: were: Alpha is supported by Cx against ben in beta, who takes Go as an indication of direct speech. · [and]Bx.20.306: and: CrWHm and alpha are supported by Cx, against omission in others. It is added in M. þorw synne ywounded Shrifte shope sharpe salue · and made men do penaunce For her mysdedes [·] þat þei wrouȝte hadden And þat piersBx.20.309: piers: So Bx. Cx has Peres pardon. were payed · redde quod debes ¶ Somme lyked nouȝte þis leche · and lettres þei sent Ȝif any surgien were [in] þe segeBx.20.311: in þe sege: "among the besiegers". Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's þe segge, "the man". (L is apparently corrected to þe sege.) · þat softer couth plastre Sire l[i]fBx.20.312: lif: Alpha (and CrHm) supported by Cx against beta's lief. However, beta's reading is attractive ("Sir Happy-to-Live-in-Lechery"), and is adopted by KD. to lyue in leccherye · lay þere and groned For fastyng of a fryday · he ferde as he wolde deye Bx.20.314: Only LR are without a paraph at this point. It aptly marks the start of Conscience's speech, otherwise unmarked. Perhaps Bx lacked it.Ther is a surgiene in þis sege · þat soft can handle And more of phisyke bi fer · and fairer he plastreth One frere flaterere [·] is phisiciene and surgiene Quod contricioun to conscience · do hym come to vnyte For here is many a man herte ·Bx.20.318: The punctuation is after herte in LHmORF, before it in MWC, and in both positions in G. Alliteration is on /h/ and the vowel. þorw ypocrisie ¶ We han no nede quod conscience · I wote no better leche Than persoun or parissh prest · penytancere or bisshop Saue Piers þe plowman · þat hath powere ouer alleBx.20.321: alle: G and alpha are supported by Cx. Beta has hem alle. And indulgence may do · but if dette lette it I may wel suffre seydeBx.20.323: seyde: CrHmF have quod, as does the P family of Cx. conscience · syn ȝe desiren That frere flaterer be fette · and phisike ȝow syke ¶ The Frere her-of herde · and hyed fasteBx.20.325: faste: MCrF add full to lengthen the b-verse. It is not in Cx. To a lorde for a lettre · leue to haue to curen As a curatour he were · and cam with his lettresBx.20.327: lettres: Beta's plural is supported by the P family of C, alpha's sg. by the X family. The sg. seems more logical in view of the sg. in the previous line; however that might have been a motive for altering the plural. We follow copy-text. Baldly to þe bisshop · & his brief hadde In contrees þere he comeBx.20.239: come: Beta has come in, but alpha is supported by Cx. · confessiouns to here And cam þere conscience was · and knokked atte ȝate ¶ Pees vnpynned it · was porter of vnyte And in haste asked · what his wille were In faith quod þis frere · for profit and for helthe Carpe I wolde with contricioun · & þerfore come I hider ¶ He is sike seide pees · and so ar many other Ypocrisie hath herte hem · ful harde is if þei keure [¶]Bx.20.237: ¶: The paraph to mark the surgeon's words is in WHmC and alpha, with a line-space in M. I am a surgien seide þe [frere]Bx.20.337: frere: Beta's segge increases the alliteration, but alpha is supported by Cx. · and salues can make Conscience knoweth me wel · and what I can do bothe I preye þe quod pees þo · ar þow passe ferther What hattestow I preye þe · hele nouȝte þi name ¶ Certes seyde his felow [·] sire penetrans domos [¶]Bx.20.342: ¶: The paraph to mark Pees's reply is in WHmCR, with line-spaces in MF. Ȝe go þi gate quod pees · bi god for al þi phisyk But þow conne [any]Bx.20.343: any: R is supported by Cx. Beta has somme, F has more. crafte · þow comest nouȝt her-Inne I knewe such one ones · nouȝte eighte wynter passed Come in þus ycoped · at a courte þere I dwelt And was my lordes leche · & my ladyes bothe And at þe last þis limitour · þo my lorde was out He salued so owre wommen · til somme were with childe [¶]Bx.20.349: ¶: The paraph is in WHm and alpha, with a line-space in M. Hende speche het pees [þo]Bx.20.349: þo: Omitted by beta, but alpha is supported by Cx. · opene þe ȝates Late in þe frere and his felawe · and make hem faire chere He may se and here [here] · soBx.20.351: here here so: F has er so after a revised a-verse; Beta has here so it. R is supported by Cx. may bifalle That lyf þorw his lore [·] shal leue coueityse And be adradde of deth · and with-drawe hym fram pryde And acorde with conscience · and kisse her either other [¶]Bx.20.355: ¶: The paraph is in WHmR, with line-spaces in MF. Thus thorw hende speche [·] entred þe frere And cam in to conscience · and curteisly hym grette Þow art welcome quod conscience [·] canstow hele sykeBx.20.357: syke: Alpha supported by Cx. Beta has þe syke. Here is contricioun quod conscience · my cosyn ywounded Conforte hym quod conscience [·] and take kepe to his sores The plastres of þe persoun · and poudres [ben]Bx.20.360: ben: So R, supported by Cx. However, beta and F read biten. This is attractive, though too emphatic for an unstressed position. It is probably picked up from l. 362. to sore [And]Bx.20.361: And: Again R alone is supported by Cx. Beta and F substitute the subject He, otherwise unexpressed. lat hem ligge ouerlonge · and loth is to chaunge hem Fro lenten to lenten · he lat his plastres bite ¶ That is ouerlonge quod this limitour · I leue I shal amende it And gothBx.20.364: goth: Beta and F read the easier goth and, as do a few C mss. mainly of the P family, but R agrees with Cx in omitting and. gropeth contricioun · and gaf hym a plastre Of a pryue payement · and I shal praye for ȝow For alleBx.20.366: For alle: Cx reads instead And for hem. Cr, beta4 and F agree on And, but Bx is clearly without it. þat ȝe ben holde to · al my lyf-tyme And make ȝow my ladyBx.20.367: make ȝow my lady: The reading is also that of Cx. For discussion of the crux see RK, p. 136; Barney (2006), 244, Schmidt (2008), 469. · in masse and in matynes As freresBx.20.368: freres: WHmO alter to the singular, to refer to my lady above. of owre fraternite · for a litel syluer ¶ Thus he goth and gadereth · and gloseth þere he shryueth Tyl contricioun hadde clene forȝeten · to crye & to wepe And wake for his wykked werkes · as he was wont to doneBx.20.371: to done: Cx has instead bifore. From here to the end of the poem there are significant differences between Bx and Cx. For confort of his confessour · contricioun he lafte Þat is þe souereynest salue · for alkyn synnes ¶ Sleuth seigh þat · and so did pryde And come with a kene wille · conscience to assaille Conscience cryde eft · and bad clergyeBx.20.376: and bad clergye: Cx has instead Clergie come. help hym And also contricioun · fortoBx.20.377: also ... forto: Cx has instead baed Contricioun to come to helpe. kepe þe ȝate [¶]Bx.20.378: ¶: The paraph is in HmCR, with line-spaces in WMF. He lith and dremethBx.20.378: and dremeth: Cx has instead adreint. seyde pees · and so do many other The Frere with his phisik · þis folke hathBx.20.379: hath: Alpha reads hath so, but beta is supported by Cx. enchaunted And plastred hem so esyly · þeiBx.20.380: plastred ... þei: In Cx this reads doth men drynke dwale þat men. drede no synne ¶ Bi cryste quod conscience þo · I wil bicome a pilgryme And walken as wyde · as alBx.20.382: al: Omitted by CrWOF, but apparently in Bx. Cx instead reads as þe world regneth. þe wordleBx.20.382: wordle: Not an error but a recognised spelling of "world". See note to l. 211. lasteth To seke Piers þe plowman · þat pryde m[yȝte]Bx.20.383: myȝte: Beta has may, but alpha is supported by Cx. destruye And þat freres hadde a fyndyng · þat for nede flateren And contrepleteth me conscience · now kynde me auenge And sende me happe and hele · til I haue piers þe plowman And sitthe he gradde after grace · til I gan awake [pass]us ijus de DobestBx.20.387: [pass]us ijus de Dobest: Written in the margin in LR, and so presumably Bx. See Introduction IV.2. Explicit hic dialogus petri plowmanBx.20.387: Explicit hic dialogus petri plowman: Supported by LMWGOC. See Introduction IV.2.