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 ?Ltftrarp of 0VQ auti)ors.
 
 THE VISION AND CEEED 
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 
 
 EDITED, 
 
 FROM A CONTEMPORARY MANUSCRIPT, 
 
 WITH A HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION, 
 
 NOTES, AND A GLOSSARY, 
 
 By THOMAS WRIGHT, M.A. F.S.A. &c. 
 
 Corresponding Member of the Imperial Institute of France, 
 Academie des Inscriptions et BoUes-Lettres. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 
 SECOND AND REVISED EDITION. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 REEVES AND TURNER, 196 STRAND. 
 
 1S87.
 
 
 SAISTA BAKliAKA 
 
 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION. 
 
 ^T is now thirteen years since the first edition 
 of the following text of this important poem 
 was published by the late Mr, Pickermg, 
 during which time the study of our old literature and 
 history has undergone considerable development, and it 
 is believed that a reprint at a more moderate price 
 would be acceptable to the public. Holding still the same 
 opinion which he has always held with regard to the 
 superior character of the manuscript from which this text 
 was taken, the editor has done no more than carefully 
 reprint it, but, in order to make it as useful as he could, 
 he has revised and made additions to both the Notes and 
 the Glossary. 
 
 The remarkable poem of The Vision of Piers Ploughman 
 is not only so interesting a monument of the English
 
 PREFACE TO THE SECOXD EDITION. 
 
 language and literature, but it is also so important an 
 illustration of the political history of our country during 
 the fourteenth century, that it deserves to be read far 
 more generally than it has been, and the editor "will 
 rejoice sincerely if he should have contributed by this new 
 edition to render it more popular, and place it within the 
 reach of a greater number of readers. Independent of its 
 historical and literary importance, it contains many beau- 
 ties which will fully repay the slight labour required to 
 master its partially obsolete language, and, as one of the 
 purest works in the English tongue as it existed during 
 the century in which it was composed, it is to be hoped 
 that, when the time shall at length arrive when English 
 antiquities and English philology and literary history are 
 at length to be made a part of the studies in our univer- 
 sities and in the higher classes of our schools, the work of 
 the Iklonk of Malvern, as a link between the poetry and 
 language of the Anglo-Saxon and those of modern 
 England, will be made a prominent text-book. 
 
 THOMAS WRIGHT. 
 
 14, Sydkey Steeet, Beompton, 
 Nov. 1855.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 (^i^^Si^HE History of the Middle Ages in England, 
 , as in other countries, represents to us a series 
 ,^7 of great consecutive political movements, co- 
 existent with a similar series of intellectual 
 revolutions in the mass of the people. The vast mental 
 development caused hy the universities in the twelfth 
 century led the way for the struggle to obtain religious 
 and political liberty in the thirteenth. The numerous 
 political songs of that period which have escaped the hand 
 of time, and above all the mass of satirical ballads against 
 the Church of Rome, which commonly go under the name 
 of Walter Mapes, are remarkable monuments of the intel- 
 lectual history of our forefathers. Those ballads are 
 written in Latin ; for it was the most learned class of the 
 community which made the first great stand against the 
 encroachments and corruptions of the papacy and the 
 increasing influence of the monks. We know that the 
 struggle alluded to was historically unsuccessful. The 
 baronial wars ended in the entire destruction of the popular 
 leaders; but their cause did not expire at Evesham ; they 
 had laid foundations which no storm could overthrow, not
 
 vi INTRODUCTIOX. 
 
 placed hastily on the uncertain surface of popular favour, 
 but fixed deeply in the public mind. The barons, who had 
 fought so often and so staunchly for the great charter, had 
 lost their power ; even the learning of the universities had 
 faded under the withering grasp of monachism ; but the 
 remembrance of the old contest remained, and what was 
 more, its literature was left, the songs which had spread 
 abroad the principles for which, or against which. English- 
 men had fought, carried them down (a precious legacy) to 
 their posterity. Society itself had undergone an important 
 change ; it was no longer a feudal aristocracy which held 
 the destinies of the coimtry in its iron hand. The plant 
 which had been cut off took root again in another (a heal- 
 thier) soil ; and the intelligence which had lost its force in 
 the higher ranks of society began to spread itself among 
 the commons. Even in the thirteenth century, before the 
 close of the baronial wars, the complaints so vigorously 
 expressed in the Latin songs, had begun, both in England 
 and France, to appear in the language of the people. 
 Many of the satirical poems of Rutebeuf and other con- 
 temporary writers against the monks, are little more than 
 translations of the Latin poems which go under the name 
 of Walter Mapes. 
 
 During the successive reigns of the first three Edwards, 
 the public mind in England was in a state of constant 
 fermentation. On the one hand, the monks, supported 
 by the popish church, had become an incubus upon the 
 country. Their corruptness and immorality were noto- 
 rious : the description of their vices given in the satirical 
 writings of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries exceeds 
 even the bitterest calumnies of the ajre of Rabelais or the
 
 INTRODUCTION. vii 
 
 reports of the commissioners of Henry the Eighth. ^ The 
 populace, held in awe by the. imposing appearance of the 
 popish church, and by the religious belief which had been 
 instilled into them from their infancy, were opposed to 
 the monks and clergy by a multitude of personal griefs and 
 jealousies : these frequently led to open hostility, and in 
 the chronicles of those days we read of the slaughter 
 of monks, and the burning of abbeys, by the insurgent 
 towns-people or peasantry. At the same time, while the 
 monks in revenge treated the commons with contempt, 
 there were numerous people Avho, under the name of 
 Lollards and other such appellations, — led sometimes by 
 the love of mischief and disorder, but more frequently by 
 religious enthusiasm, — whose doctrines were simple and 
 reasonable (although the church would fain have branded 
 them all with the title of heretics), — Avent abroad among 
 the people preaching not only against the corruptions of 
 the monks, but against the most vital doctrines of the 
 church of Kome, and, as might be expected, they found 
 abundance of listeners. On the other hand, a new politi- 
 cal system, and the embarrassments of a continued series 
 of foreign wars, were adding to the general ferment. In- 
 stead of merely calling together the great feudal barons to 
 lead their retainers to battle, the king was now obliged to 
 appeal more directly to the people ; and at the same time 
 the latter began to feel the weight of taxation, and conse- 
 
 1 See the " Apocalypsis Golise " and other pieces in the poems of Walter Mapes ; 
 the Order of Fair Ease in the Political Songs, and the Poems of Rutebeuf; and, 
 in English, the remarkable "Poem on the Evil Times of Edward 11." in the 
 appendix to the Political Songs. The Poem entitled the Order of Fair Else bears 
 some resemblance to the AMtaye de Thdeme of Kabelais.
 
 viii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 quently they began to talk of the defects and the corrup- 
 tions of the government, and to raise the cries, which 
 have since so often been heard, against the king's "evil 
 advisers." These cries were justified by many real and 
 great oppressions under which the commons, and more 
 particularly the peasantry, suffered ; and (as the king and 
 aristocracy were too much interested in the continuance 
 of the abuses complained of to be easily induced to agree 
 to an effective remedy), the commons began to feel that 
 their own interests were equally opposed to those of the 
 church, of the aristocracy, and of the crown, and amidst 
 the other popular doctrines none were more loudly or more 
 violently espoused than those of levellers and democrats. 
 These, though comparatively few, aggravated the evil, 
 by affording a pretence for persecution. The history of 
 England during the fourteenth century is a stirring pic- 
 ture ; its dark side is the increasing corruption of the 
 popish church ; its bright side, the general spread of 
 popular intelligence, and the firm stand made by the 
 commons in the defence of their liberties, and in the 
 determination to obtain a redress of grievances. 
 
 Under these circumstances appeared Piers Ploughman. 
 It is not to be supposed that all the other classes of society 
 were hostile to the commons. The people, with the char- 
 acteristic attachment of the Anglo-Saxons to the family 
 of their princes, wished to believe that their king was 
 always their friend, when not actuated by the counsels of 
 his " evil advisers ; " ^ several of the most powerful barons 
 
 - This sentiment was perpetuated in a numerous class of ballads, In wliicli 
 the monarch is represented .as thrown incognito among the lower classes, as
 
 INTRODUCTION. ix 
 
 stood forward as the champions of popular Hberty ; and 
 many of the monks quitted their monasteries to advocate 
 the cause of the reformation. It appears to be generally 
 agreed that a monk was the author of the poem of Piers 
 Ploughman; but the question, one perhaps but of secondary 
 importance, as to its true writer, is involved in much ob- 
 scurity.3 Several local allusions and other circumstances 
 
 listening to their expressions of loyalty and to the tale of their suiferings. See 
 the " Tale of King Edward and the Shepherd " in Hartshorne's Ancient Metrical 
 Tales; "The King and the Earlier," in Ritson's Pieces of Ancient Popular 
 Poeti-y; "The King and the Miller," and "King Edward IV. and the Tanner of 
 Taruwdrth," in Percy's Reliques ; &c. The eai'liest known form of this tale is the 
 story of" Henry II. and the Cistercian Abbot," printed from Giraldus Cambrensis 
 in the Reliquice Antiquim, vol. ii. p. 147. 
 
 3 It was at least a tradition early in the sixteenth century (for we have no 
 means now of ascertaining whether there were any substantial grounds for the 
 statement), that the author was named Robert Longlande (or Langlande), that 
 he was born at Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire, and that (after receiving his 
 education at Oxford) he became a monk of Malvern. I do not think, with 
 Tyrwhitt and Price, that the name Wil, given in the poem to the dreamer, neces- 
 sarily shows that the writer's "name was William ; and still less that the mention 
 of "Kytte my wif" and "Calote my doghter " (p. 395 of the present volume), and 
 of the dreamer's having resided at Cornhill, refer to the family and residence of 
 the author of the poem. If he were a monk (as appears probable by his intimate 
 acquaintance with tlie Scriptures and the Fathers), he would not be married. 
 Sir Frederick Madden discovered a very important entry in a hand of the fifteenth 
 century on the fly-leaf of a manuscript of Piers Ploughman in the liljrary of 
 Trinity College, Dublin, to the following effect—" Memorandum, quod Stacy de 
 Rokayle, pater Willielmi de Lauglond, qui Stacius fuit generosus, et morabatur 
 in Schiptone under Whicwode, teueus doraini Le Spenser in comitatu Oxon., 
 qui prcedictus WilHdmus fecit librum qui vacatur Pert/s Ploughman." — It would 
 perhaps be not impossible to trace the name and history of this Stacy de 
 Rokayle ; but till that be done, I do not think tliis memorandum ought to be 
 considered as overthrowing the old tradition relating to Robert Longlande. It 
 may be mentioned as a remarkable specimen of the patriotism of David 
 Buchanan, that he lays claim to tlie author of Piers Plouglimau as a Scotch- 
 man:— " Robertus Langland, natione Scotus, professione sacerdos, vir ex obscuris 
 ortus parentibus, plus admodum et iiigeniosus et zelo divinje glorife plenus ; 
 inter monachos Benedictinos educatus in civitate Aberdonensi, vir feque erat 
 in omni humaniore llteratura insigniter doctus, et in medicina admodum
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 seem to prove that it was composed on the borders of 
 "Wales, where had originated most of the great political 
 struggles, and we can hardly doubt that its author resided 
 in the neighbourhood of " ^Malverne hilles." We have 
 less difficulty in ascertaining its date. At IL 1735-1782, 
 we have, without doubt, an allusion to the treaty of 
 Bretigny, in 1360, and to the events which preceded it: 
 in the earlier part of this passage there is an allusion to 
 the sufferings of the English army in the previous winter 
 campaign, to the retreat which followed, and the want 
 of provisions which accompanied it, and to the tempest 
 which they encountered near Chartres (the "dym cloude" 
 of the poem). The "pestilences" mentioned at 1. 2497 
 were the great plague which happened in 1348-9 (and 
 which had previously been alluded to in the opening of 
 the poem, 1. 168), and that of 1361-2, — the first two of 
 the three great pestilences which devastated our island 
 in the fourteenth century. The south-western wind, 
 mentioned in 1. 2500, occurred on the fifteenth day of 
 January 1362. It is probable that the poem of Piers 
 Ploughman was composed in the latter part of this 
 year, when the effects of the great wind were fresh in 
 people's memory, and when the treaty of Bretigny had 
 become a subject of jtopular discontent.'* 
 
 clams, pium opus sermone vulgare scripsit cui imposuit, II Visionem Petri Aratoria, 
 lib. 1. II Pro conjugio sacerdotum. lib. 1. || Claruit anno Christi Redemptoris, 1309. 
 EcgnaiiteDavide Secundo in Scotia."— Dav. Buchanan, d« Scriptartiwis iScofis. MS. 
 Bill. Univ. Edin. 
 
 * We may mention another historical allusion in Piers Ploughman, which 
 seems to involve a chronological difficulty ; the dry April in the mayoralty of 
 John Chichester, 1. 85G7. It appears clear that this is an allusion to a remark- 
 able drought in the year 1351, which answers precisely to a calculation of the
 
 introduction: xi 
 
 The poem was given to the world under a name which 
 could not fail to draw the attention of the people. Amid 
 the oppressive injustice of the great and the vices of their 
 idle retainers, the corruptions of the clergy, and the dis- 
 honesty which too frequently characterised the dealings 
 of merchants and traders, the simple unsophisticated heart 
 of the ploughman is held forth as the dwelling of virtue 
 and truth. It was the ploughman, and not the pope with 
 his proud hierarchy, who represented on earth the Saviour 
 who had descended into this world as the son of the car- 
 penter, who had lived a life of humility, who had wandered 
 on foot or ridden on an ass. " While God wandered on 
 earth," says one of the political songs of the beginning of 
 the fourteenth century,^ "what was the reason that he 
 would not ride?" The answer expresses the whole force 
 of the popular sentiment of the age : " because he would 
 not have a retinue of greedy attendants by his side, in 
 the shape of grooms and servants, to insult and oppress 
 the peasantry." 
 
 At the period when this poem was first published, 
 England, in common with the rest of Europe, had been 
 struck with a succession of calamities. Little more than 
 twelve years had passed since a terrible pestilence had 
 swept away perhaps not less than one-half of the popula- 
 
 date given in the text, in which all the manuscripts that I have consulted agree 
 But the only year in which Chichester is said to liave been mayor was 13C8-9 
 according to some, or 1369-70 according to others. Stowe (as quoted in the note 
 on this passage) has altered the text of Piers Ploughman to suit the year in which 
 Chichester is known to have been mayor : yet there can be little doubt (even from 
 the allusion to the treaty of Bretigny) that the poem itself was composed before 
 that date, and therefore the same or another Chichester had probably been 
 mayor before. 
 s Political Songs, p. 240.
 
 xii INTRODUCTIOX. 
 
 tion." The lower classes, ill fed and neglected, perished 
 by thousands, while the higher ranks — the proud and 
 pampered nobility — escaped ; "he who was ill nourished 
 with unsubstantial food," says a contemporary writer, 
 " fell before the slightest breath of the destroyer ; to the 
 poor, death was welcome, for life is to them more cruel 
 than death. But death respected princes, nobles, knights, 
 judges, gentlemen ; of these few die, because their life is 
 one of enjoyment."^ It was the general belief that this 
 fearful visitation had been sent by God as a punishment 
 
 6 This terrible calamity was said by the astrologers to have been bronglit 
 abont by an eitraordinary conjanction of Saturn with the other planets, which 
 happened scarcely once in a thoasand years. An astrologer and physician, who 
 witnessed its effects, Symon de Covino, has left a Latin poem on the subject 
 under the title De Judicio Soils in Conrirti* SaXurni. in which he describes 
 Satom as indulging his malevolence towanls the human race by obtaining a 
 judgment against men for their sins. This opinion is alluded to in Piers Plough- 
 man, 1. 4163, 
 
 " And so seide Satume, 
 And sente yow to wama" 
 
 The influence of this planet was represented by astrologers as being peculiarly 
 noxious, as is expressed in the following old distich:— 
 
 " Jupiter atque Venus boni, Satumusque malignus, 
 Sol et 3Iercnrius cum Luna sunt mediocres. ' 
 
 7 " Qui male pastus erat fragili virtute ciborum, 
 Labitur euguo pereussus flamiue cladis : 
 Indeque Satumi vulgus, pauperrima turba. 
 Grata morte cadant, quia vivere talibus est mors. 
 Post quos lunares pereunt et mercuriales. 
 Et sic debilior succumbit in ordine primo : 
 Post alii tandem pestem secuntur eamdem. 
 Sed dea princijiibus et nobilibus. generosis, 
 Hilitibue, seu judicibas fera Parca pepercit. 
 Karo cailnnt tales, quia talibus est data vita 
 DulcU in hoc mundo, quam gloria laudat inanis." 
 
 Symon de Covino, in the BihUothfijue de I'EcoU da 
 Chartts, torn. ii. p. 230.
 
 INTRODUCTION. xiii 
 
 for the sins which had more particularly characterised the 
 higher orders of society ; yet instead of profiting by the 
 warning, they became, during the years which followed, 
 prouder, more cruel and oppressive, and more licentious, 
 than before. Another pestilence came, which visited the 
 classes that had before escaped, and at the same time a 
 tempest such as had seldom been witnessed seemed to 
 announce the vengeance of heaven. The streets and roads 
 were filled with zealots who preached and prophesied of 
 other misfortunes, to people Avho had scarcely recovered 
 from the terror of those which were past. At this 
 moment the satirist stepped forth, and laid open with 
 unsparing knife the sins and corruptions which provoked 
 them. 
 
 From what has been said, it will be seen that the Latin 
 poems attributed to Walter Mapes, and the Collection of 
 Political Songs, form an introduction to the Vision of 
 Piers Ploughman. It seems clear that the writer was well 
 acquainted with the former, and that he not unfrequently 
 imitates them. The Poem on the Evil Times of Edward II. 
 already alluded to (in the Political Songs) contains 
 within a small compass all his chief points of accusation 
 against the different orders of society. But a new mode 
 of composition had been brought into fashion since the 
 appearance of the famous " Koman de la Eose," and the 
 author makes his attacks less directly, under an allegorical 
 clothing. The condition of society is revealed to the 
 writer in a dream, as in the singular poem just mentioned, 
 and as in the still older satire, the Apocalypsis GoUcb; but 
 in Piers Ploughman the allegory follows no systematic 
 plot, it is rather a succession of pictures in which the
 
 xiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 allegorical painting sometimes disappears altogether, than 
 a whole like the Roman de la Rose, and it is on that 
 account less tedious to the modern reader, while the 
 vigorous descriptions, the picturesque ideas, and numerous 
 other beauties of different kinds, cause us to lose sight of 
 the general defects of this class of writings. 
 
 Piers Ploughman is, in fact, rather a succession of 
 dreams, than one simple vision. The dreamer, weary of 
 the world, falls asleep beside a stream amid the beautiful 
 scenery of Malvern Hills. In his vision, the people of the 
 world are represented to him by a vast multitude assembled 
 in a fair meadow ; on one side stands the tower of Truth, 
 elevated on a mountain, the right aim of man's pilgrimage, 
 while on the other side is the dungeon of Care, the 
 dwelling place of Wrong. In the first sections (passits) 
 of the poem are pictured the origin of society, the foun- 
 dation and dignity of kingly power, and the separation 
 into different classes and orders. In the midst of his 
 astonishment at what he sees, a fair lady, the personi- 
 fication of "holy church," approaches, to instruct the 
 dreamer. She explains to him the meaning of the diff'erent 
 objects which had presented themselves to his view, and 
 shows by exhortations and examples the merit of content 
 and moderation, the danger of disobedience (exemplified in 
 the story of Lucifer's fall), and the efficacy of love and 
 charity. In the midst of his conversation with his 
 instructor, a lady makes her appearance on the scene. 
 This is lady Mede, the personification of that mistaken 
 object at which so large a portion of mankind direct their 
 aim — the origin of most of the corruptions and evil deeds 
 in the world — not the just remuneration of our actions
 
 INTRODUCTION. xv 
 
 which we look forward to in a future life, but the reward 
 which is sought by those who set all their hopes on the 
 present. Holy Church now quits the dreamer, who is 
 left to observe what is taking place amid the crowd in 
 the field. {Passus II.) They all pay their court to lady 
 Mede, who, by the intermediation of Cyvyle, or the law, 
 is betrothed in marriage to Falsehood. The marriage is 
 forbidden by Theology, and Cyvyle agrees to carry the 
 cause to London for judgment, contrar}' to the desire of 
 Simony. Falsehood and Flattery bribe the lawyers to 
 aid the former in his suit, but their designs are baffled by 
 Conscience, at whose suggestion the king takes the lady 
 into his own custody, and drives away Falsehood and 
 his greedy followers. Mede soon finds favour at court 
 (Passus III), and especially with the friars, who are ready 
 to absolve her of all her sins for a proper consideration. 
 The king proposes to marry her to Conscience ; who, how- 
 ever, declines the match, and as a reason for his refusal 
 gives a very unfavourable picture of the lady's previous 
 life and private character, ]\Iede defends herself, and 
 accuses Conscience of thwartmg and opposing the will and 
 designs of kings and great people. The dispute becoming 
 hot, the king interferes and orders Mede and Conscience 
 to be reconciled and kiss each other. (Passus IV.) This 
 Conscience refuses to do, unless by the advice of Eeason ; 
 on whose arrival, Peace comes into the parliament to make 
 his complaint against the cruel oppressions of Wrong. 
 "Wrong is condemned, but Mede and the lawyers attempt 
 to get him off with the payment of a sum of monej^ The 
 king, however, allows himself to be guided by Reason and 
 Conscience, expresses his dissatisfaction that law is influ- 
 
 VOL. I. B
 
 xvi IXTRODUCTIOX. 
 
 enced by Mede, and his determination to govern his 
 realm by the counsel of Reason. 
 
 In a second vision {Passus V.), the dreamer is again 
 carried to the " field full of folk," wliere Eeason has taken 
 upon himself the character of a preacher, and, fortified with 
 the kmg's authority, induces the various classes of sinners 
 to confess and repent. The personification of the different 
 sins forms perhaps the most remarkable part of the whole 
 poem. The multitude being thus converted from their 
 evil courses, are persuaded by Repentance and Hope to set 
 out on a pilgrimage in search of Truth. In their ignorance 
 of the path which they must follow in this search, they 
 apply to a palmer who had wandered over a large portion 
 of the world in search of different saints ; but they find 
 him as little acquainted with the way as themselves. 
 They are helped out of this dilemma by Piers the Plough- 
 man, who, seeing them terrified by the difficulties of the 
 road, offers to be their guide, if they will wait till he has 
 sown his half acre. (Passus VI.) In the mean time all 
 the pilgrims who have strength and skill, are employed on 
 some useful works, except the knight, who undertakes, 
 in return for the support which he is to derive from the 
 ploughman's labours, to watch and protect him against 
 plunderers and foreign enemies. The peace of the labourers 
 is first disturbed by "Waster, who refuses to perform the 
 conditions by which the others are bound : the aid of the 
 knight being found inefficient against this turbulent gen- 
 tleman, the Plougliman is obliged to send for Hunger, who 
 effectually humbles him. This section of the poem is a 
 continued allusion to the effects of the famine and pesti- 
 lence, and a satire upon the luxurious and extravagant life
 
 INTRODUCTION. xvii 
 
 of our forefatliers in the fourteenth century. (Passus VII.) 
 Truth, hearing of the intentions of Piers the Ploughman 
 to leave his labours in order to serve as a guide to the 
 pilgrims in their journey, sends him a messenger, ex- 
 horting him to remain at home and continue his labours, 
 and giving him a *' pardon " which was to embrace all 
 those who aided him honestly, by their works, and who 
 should carry on their various avocations in purity of heart. 
 The writer here takes occasion to sneer at the " pardons " 
 of the pope, then so much in vogue ; a priest questions 
 the legitimacy of Piers' bull of pardon, and the alterca- 
 tion between them becomes so loud that the dreamer 
 awakes. The pardon of Piers Ploughman is granted to 
 those who do good works : the dreamer is lost in the 
 speculation on the question as to what the good works are, 
 and he becomes engaged in a new pilgrimage, in search 
 of a person who has not appeared before, — Do-well. 
 
 (Passus VIII.) All his inquiries after Do- well are 
 fruitless : even the friars, to whom he addresses himself, 
 give but a confused account ; and, weary with wander- 
 ing about, the dreamer is again overtaken by slumber. 
 Thought now appears to him, and recommends him to Wit, 
 who describes to him the residence of Do-well, Do-better, 
 and Do-best, and enumerates their companions and attend- 
 ants. (Passus IX.) The Castle of Do-well is an allego- 
 rical representation of man (the individual), in which lady 
 Anima (the soul) is placed for safety, and guarded by a 
 keeper named Kynde (nature). With Do-well, the repre- 
 sentative of those who live according to truth in honest 
 wedlock, are contrasted the people who live in lust and 
 wickedness, the descendants of the murderer Cain, who
 
 xviii IXTRODUCTIOX. 
 
 was begotten by Adam in an evil hour. (Pasms X.) "Wit 
 has a wife named lady Study, who is angry that her spouse 
 should lay open his high truths to those who are unini- 
 tiated — it is no better than " throwing pearls to swine, 
 which would rather have hawes." "Wit is daunted by his 
 wife's long lecture, and leaves the dreamer to pursue his 
 own suit. This he does with so much meekness and 
 humility, that the wrath of dame Study is appeased, and 
 she sends him to Clergy, Avith a token of recommendation 
 from herself. Clergy receives the pilgrim, and entertains 
 him with a long declamation on the character of Do-well, 
 Do-better, and Do-best, and on the corruptions of the 
 church and the monkish orders, in the course of which is 
 uttered the remarkable prophecy of the king who was to 
 " confess and beat " the monks, and give them an " incur- 
 able knock," which was after less than two centuries so 
 exactly fulfilled in the dissolution of the monasteries. 
 The wanderer confesses himself " little the wiser " for 
 Clergy's lecture, and by his pertness of reply merits a 
 reproof from Scriptura (Passus XL) In another vision 
 the dreamer is exposed to the seductions of Fortune, 
 whose two fair damsels, Concupiscentiacarnis and Co- 
 vetousness-of-the Eyes, persuade him to enjoy the present 
 moment, and lead him entirely from his previous pursuit. 
 He is only recalled from his error by the approach of Old 
 Age, and then he falls into the contemplation of a series of 
 subjects, the covetousness of the friars who gave absolu- 
 tion from motives of personal interest, predestination, &c. 
 Then Kynde, or Nature, came and carried him to a moun- 
 tain, which represented the world, and there showed him 
 how all other animals but man followed Reason ; and
 
 INTRODUCTION. xix 
 
 Imaginative came after, and told him that all his present 
 doubt and anxiety had been brought upon him for contend- 
 ing with Reason and suffering himself to be led astray by 
 Fortune. (Passus XII. ) The whole of the next section of 
 the poem is occupied with a long exhortation by Imagina- 
 tive, concerning God's chastisements, the merits of Charity 
 and Mercy, the greater responsibility before God of those 
 who are learned and cannot sin ignorantly, the difficulty 
 for the rich man to enter heaven. 
 
 (Passus XIII.) In another vision, Conscience meets 
 with the dreamer, and takes him to dine with Clergy. 
 Patience comes to the feast in beggar's weeds, but is seated 
 in the most honoiirable place at the table. A doctor of 
 the church is of the party, and distinguishes himself by his 
 gluttony ; and by discussing theological questions after 
 dinner. At length Conscience and Patience go on a pil- 
 grimage. In their way they meet with a minstrel, named 
 Activa Vita, or Haukyn the Active-man, with a coat 
 covered with spots of dirt, whom they question on his 
 mode of life. (Passus XIV. ) Haukyn the Active-man, the 
 representative of that class of people who neglect their 
 souls for their worldly affairs, excuses the dirtiness of his 
 apparel on the ground that he has none to change, and 
 that he has too many occupations to allow him time to 
 have it cleaned. Conscience and Patience teach him a 
 method to clean his coat, inform him where charity is to 
 be found, and recommend patient poverty to him, showing 
 him the advantage of poverty over riches. Haukyn's 
 repentance and lamentation for the neglect of his duties 
 awake the dreamer. 
 
 (Passus XV.) Amid his anxiety to know something
 
 XX IXTRODUCTIOX. 
 
 more certain of Do-well, the dreamer has another vision, 
 in "wliich Soul appears to him, and enters into a long rela- 
 tion of the corruptions and negligence of the clergy. 
 {Passus XVI.) Soul finally sends him to Piers the Plough- 
 man, who possesses the garden in which the tree of Charity 
 grows, and which is rented under him by Free-will Piers 
 explains to him the nature of the tree, and of the props 
 which support it ; and shakes down some of the fruit for 
 him. The allegory then changes, and we are introduced 
 to the birth and passion of the Saviour, as arising out of 
 the fruit of Charity, At this moment the dreamer awakes, 
 and therewith loses sight of Piers the Ploughman; in his 
 anxiety to find Piers, he meets with Faith, in the garb of 
 Abraham, who was in search of God, now incarnate, and 
 who waited for his passion in order to be delivered from 
 heU. (Fassus XVII.) Then comes Spes, or Hope, who 
 also was in search of the knight that was to vanquish the 
 evil one. As they go along the way towards Jerusalem to 
 the "justes," discoursing on the obligations of the old and 
 new law and the abrogation of the former, they meet with 
 a man who had been left helpless by thieves, wounded and 
 naked : Faith and Hope passed by without helping him, 
 but the Samaritan, who was also riding to the "justes," 
 descended from his horse, bound his wounds, and deposited 
 him in an inn at the grange named Lex Christi. The 
 Samaritan gives the dreamer a singular explanation of the 
 mysteries of the Trinity ; and, after having represented to 
 him the heinousness of sins against the different persons, 
 and the necessity of making reparation, he pursues his way 
 to Jerusalem. 
 
 (Passus X VIII.) The vision which forms the eighteenth
 
 INTRODUCTION. xxi 
 
 section ov ijossus, and in which the character of Piers tlie 
 Ploughman is identified with that of the Saviour, is entirely 
 occupied with an allegorical description of Christ's Passion, 
 and his descent into Hell. {Passus XIX.) In the next 
 section the history of Christ's passion and victor}'', and his 
 figurative representative Piers the Ploughman, is continued. 
 Grace, through Piers the Ploughman, descends upon the 
 people, and lays the foundation of the Church, which is 
 cultivated by Piers with his four oxen (the four Evange- 
 lists). Piers is attacked by Pride, who gathers a great host 
 to assail the Church. Conscience advises the people who 
 follow Piers (the Church), to take shelter in the strong- 
 hold of Unity, and make preparations for their defence. 
 By the counsel of Kind-wit and Conscience they dig a 
 great ditch around Unity. The measures of Surety are 
 embarrassed by the unreasonable opposition of some mem- 
 bers or parts of the community, who oppose Pier's 
 doctrine of restitution — the brewer will not repent of the 
 tricks which he puts on liis customers, the vicar adheres to 
 his simony, the lord will continue to oppress his tenants, 
 and the king will not be res-trained by his laws. (Passus 
 XX.) In the last section of the poem, the dreamer, after 
 having been accosted by Need, who preaches on the virtues 
 of temperance, has a vision of Antichrist, who comes 
 to attack the Castle of Unity. It must be remembered 
 that at this period many people supposed that Antichrist 
 was already on the earth, and that he was the cause of all 
 the evils with which mankind was then visited, so that this 
 last notion brought the allegory home to people's feelings. 
 The standard-bearer of Antichrist was Pride. Conscience 
 called Kynde, or Nature, to his aid, who brought an army
 
 xxii INTRODVCTIOX. 
 
 of diseases and pestilences. Death, one of his chief sol- 
 diers, made terrible havoc. At length Kynde ceased his 
 ravages; and a horde of enemies immediately arose against 
 Conscience, such as Fortune, Lechery, Covetousness, 
 Simony. Life, with his mistress Fortune, indulged in all 
 kinds of excess, until he was visited by Age and Despair, 
 who treated him very roughly. The dreamer, forsaken 
 by Fortune, and participating in the misfortunes of Life, 
 by the advice of Kynde takes shelter with Conscience in 
 the castle of Unity, which is threatened by an army of 
 priests and monks. At length this stronghold is endan- 
 gered by the entrance of Flattery, who is admitted in the 
 disguise of a Physician. Conscience, unable to retain 
 possession, embarks upon another pilgrimage in search of 
 Piers the Ploughman, and the dreamer awakes. This is 
 the conclusion of the poem. Whitaker thought that it 
 should have had a more consoling end ; but it must be 
 remembered that the writer of Piers Ploughman designed 
 to paint the world as it was, and to describe the numerous 
 obstacles which lay in the way of the improvement and 
 amelioration of mankind when he wrote. 
 
 While one member of the monastic order was thus 
 contributing by his satirical pen towards producing a re- 
 form among his countrymen, another monk was beginning 
 to preach in a still bolder manner against the popish 
 system. ThiswasJohnWycliffe, under whom the despised 
 lollards became an important sect. This attempt at reli- 
 gious reformation only formed part of tlie great movement 
 of the fourteenth century, which soon afterwards broke 
 out in the popular commotions of the reign of Richard II. 
 The writer of Piers Ploughman was neither a sower of
 
 INTRODUCTION. xxiii 
 
 sedition, nor one who would be characterised by his contem- 
 poraries as a heretic. The doctrines inculcated throughout 
 the book are so far from democratic, that he constantly 
 preaches the Christian doctrine of obedience to rulers. 
 Yet its tendency to debase the great, and to raise the 
 commons in public consideration, must have rendered it 
 popi;lar among the latter : and, although no single im- 
 portant doctrine of the popish religion is attacked, yet the 
 unsparing manner in which the vices and corruptions of 
 the church are laid open, must have helped in no small 
 degree the cause of the Reformation. Of the ancient 
 popularity of Piers Ploughman we have a proof in the 
 great number of copies which still exist, most of them 
 written in the latter part of the fourteenth century ; and 
 the circumstance that the manuscripts are seldom executed 
 in a superior style of writing, and scarcely ever ornamented 
 with painted .initial letters, may perhaps be taken as a 
 proof that they were not written for the higher classes of 
 society. From the time when it was published, the name 
 of Piers Ploughman became a favourite among the popular 
 reformers.® The earliest instance of the adoption of that 
 
 8 AVe have a very remarkable proof of the popularity of Piers Ploughman with 
 the lower orders (among whom probably parts of it were repeated by memory), 
 and of its influence on the insurrections of the peasantry in the reign of Richard 
 II., in the seditious letter of John Ball to the commons of Essex, preserved by 
 Thomas Walsingham {Hist. Anql. p. 275). I am not sure if "John Schep " may not 
 contain an allusion to the opening of the poem ; but the second passage, here 
 printed in Italics, refers evidently to Passus VI. and VII., and the third is an 
 allusion to the characters of Do-well and Do-best. 
 
 " John Schep sometime Seint Mary priest of Yorke, and now of Colchester, 
 graeteth well John Namelesae, and John the Miller, and John Carter, and 
 biddeth them that they beware of guyle in borough, and stand together in Gods 
 name, and biddeth Piers Ploirnum ijoe to his werke, and chastise well Hob the 
 robber, and take with you John Trewmau, and all his fellows, and no moe.
 
 xxiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 nanae for another satirical work is found in the Creed of 
 Piers Ploughman, printed also in the present volume, and 
 in which even the form of verse of the Vision is imitated. 
 
 In this latter poem, which was undoubtedly written by 
 a Wycliffite, Piers Ploughman is no longer an allegorical 
 personage — he is the simple representative of the peasant 
 rising up to judge and act for himself — the English saiis- 
 culotte of the fourteenth century, if we may be allowed 
 the comparison. When it was written, a period of great 
 excitement had passed since the age of Langlande, the 
 reputed author of the Vision — a period characterised by 
 the turbulence of the peasantry — which had witnessed 
 in France the fearful insurrection of the Jacquene, and 
 in England the rebellion of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw.^ 
 
 In Piers Ploughman's Creed it is the church simply, and 
 not the state, which is the object of attack. The clergy — 
 and more particularly the monks — are accused of having 
 falsified religion, and of being actuated solely by worldly 
 passions — pride, covetousness, self-love. The writer, 
 placing himself in the position of one who has just learnt 
 the first grounds of religious knowledge, is anxious to find 
 a person capable of instructing him in his creed, and with 
 this object he addresses himself to the different orders of 
 
 Jolin the Miller hath y-pround, smal. small, small. The kinps Sonne of heaven 
 Bhal )iay for all. Beware or ye be woe. know your fri'iule fro your foe. Have 
 ynougli, and say hoe: And do iciil and t>eit(r. a.ni\ flee sinne.and seeke peace and 
 holde you therin, and so biddeth John Trewman and all his fellowes." 
 
 3 T.^e mention of Wycliffe and of Walter Brute and other circumstances, fix the 
 date of Piers Ploughman's Creed with tolerable certainty in the latter years of 
 the reiftn of Richard II. It was probably written verj- soon after the year 1393, 
 the date of the persecution of Walter Brute at Hereford ; and from the particular 
 allusion to that person we may perhaps suppose that like the Vision it was written 
 ou the Borders uf Wales.
 
 INTRODUCTION. xxv 
 
 friars. He applies first to tlie IMinorites, who abuse the 
 Carmelites, and pride themselves in their own holiness. 
 Disgusted with their jealousies and self-sufiiciency, the 
 inquirer seeks the Preachers, or Dominicans ; amid their 
 stately buildings, and under their sleek and well filled 
 skins, he finds the same want of Christian charity : their 
 pride drives him to the order of St. Austin. The Austin 
 Friars, as well as the Carmelites, will only instruct him for 
 money, and, shocked at their covetousness, he continues 
 his wanderings, until at last he meets with a poor Plough- 
 man, in whom he finds the charity and knowledge after 
 which he has been seeking. The Ploughman enters into 
 a bitter attack on the vices of all the four orders of friars : 
 he describes their spirit of persecution, exemplified in the 
 case of Wyclifi"e and others, and their simony ; speaks 
 of Wycliffe and Walter Brute as preachers of the truth ; 
 and finishes by teaching the inquirer his simple creed. 
 
 The Creed of Piers Ploughman was written by one who 
 approved the opinions of Wycliffe, and it seems to have 
 been carefully proscribed. There does not appear to exist 
 any manuscript older than the first printed edition. 
 
 The great popularity of the Vision of Piers Ploughman 
 in the fourteenth century, and its political influence, are 
 proved by another close imitation, which was composed 
 immediately after the capture, and previous to the depo- 
 sition, of king Richard II. This poem also appears to 
 have been proscribed, and we have only a fragment left, 
 which was printed from an unique manuscript for the 
 Camden Society. It also is composed in alliterative verse, 
 and its meaning is rendered obscure by a confused alle- 
 gorical style. It was evidently written towards the Welsh
 
 XX vi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Eorder, perhaps at Bristol, which is mentioned in the 
 opening lines ; and it appears to have been intended as 
 a continuation of, or as a sequel to, Piers Ploughman, 
 which it immediately follows in the only manuscript in 
 which it is preserved. 
 
 Another early poem, of which the Ploughman is the 
 hero, was inserted in the works of Chaucer under the title 
 of the Ploughman's Tale. This, like the Creed, is free 
 from allegory ; and it differs from the others also in being 
 written in rhyme, and not in alliterative verse. The 
 Ploughman's Tale was probably written in the earlier half 
 of the fifteenth century.^*' It is a coarse attack on the 
 
 10 Different circumstances connected with tliis poem (which also appears to have 
 been proscribed, for we have no early manuscript of it) lead mo to suppose that 
 it was written in the reign of Henry IV., when the burning of heretics came into 
 fashion, which is alluded to in the following stanza :— 
 
 " Were Christ on earth here, eftsoone 
 
 These would damne him to die : 
 
 All his liestes they han for-done, 
 
 And saine his sawes ben heresie : 
 
 And ayenst his commaundements they crie, 
 
 And damne all his to be brende ; 
 
 For it liketh not hem such losengerie, 
 
 God almighty hem amend ! " 
 In another passage, the writer of this poem alludes to the Creed of Piers 
 Ploughman as though he were the author of it, and as a piece then known to 
 everybody. 
 
 "And all such other counterfaitours, 
 
 Cliauons, canons, and such disguised, 
 
 Been Gods enemies and traitours. 
 
 His true religion han foule despised. 
 
 Of/reres I liave told before, 
 
 In a makino of a Crcde ; 
 
 And yet I could tell worse and more, 
 
 But men would werien it to rede." 
 Perhaps, however, the writer only claims the authorship of the Creed in his 
 allegorical cliaractcr, as the representative of that class of satirical writers who 
 were then attacking the mouastic orders.
 
 INTRODUCTION. sxvii 
 
 different orders of tlie clergy, for tlieir pride, covetousness, 
 and other vices. Its versification has little merit ; and 
 there appears to be no good reason for inserting it among 
 the Canterbury Tales. 
 
 The A'ision of Piers Ploughman appears to have con- 
 tinued to enjoy a wide popularity down to the middle of the 
 fifteenth century. We hear nothing of it from that period 
 to the middle of the sixteenth, when it was printed by the 
 reformers, and received with so much favour, that no less 
 than three editions, or rather three impressions, are said 
 to have been sold in the course of one year. Another 
 edition was printed at the beginning of the reign of Queen 
 Elizabeth ; and it appears to have been much read in the 
 latter part of the sixteenth century, and even at the begin- 
 ning of the seventeenth. The name of Piers Ploughman 
 is not uncommon in the political tracts of that period." 
 
 The Poem of Piers Ploughman is peculiarly a national 
 work. It is the most remarkable monument of the public 
 spirit of our forefathers in the middle, or, as they are 
 often termed, dark ages. It is a pure specimen of the 
 
 11 We may enumerate the following as specimens of such works published in 
 the sixteenth century. Several similar publications appeared in the ceuturj- 
 following. 
 
 " Pyers Plowmans Exortation vnto the lordes, knights, and burgoysses nf 
 the parlyament house." 8vo. printed by Anthony Scholoker, in tiie reign of 
 Edward VI. 
 
 "Newes from the North, Otherwise called the Conference between Simon 
 Certain, and Pierce Plowman, faithfully collected and gathered by T. F. Student." 
 4to. London, John Allde, 1579. 
 
 "The Plowmans complaint of sundry wicked livers, and especially of the bad 
 bringing vp of children ; written in verse by R. B. printed for Hugh Corne, 
 15S0." 8vo. 
 
 " A goodlye Dialogue and dysputacion between Pyers Ploweman and a Popish 
 Freest, cocernynge the Supp .t of the Lorde." 8vo, without date.
 
 sxviii IXTRODUCTIOX. 
 
 English language at a period when it had sustained few of 
 the corruptions which have disfigured it since we have had 
 writers of " Grammars ; " and in it we may study with 
 advantage many of the difficulties of the language which 
 these writers have misunderstood. It is, moreover, the 
 finest example left of the kind of versification which Avas 
 purely English, inasmuch as it had been the only one in 
 use among our Anglo-Saxon progenitors, in common with 
 the other people of the Xorth. To many readers it will 
 be perhaps necessary to explain that rhyming verse was 
 not in use among the Anglo-Saxons. In place of rhyme, 
 they had a system of verse of which the characteristic was 
 a very regular alliteration, so arranged that, in every 
 couplet, there should be two principal words in the first 
 line beginning Avith the same letter, which letter must also 
 be the initial of the first word on which the stress of the 
 voice falls in the second line. There has, as yet, been dis- 
 covered no system of foot-measure in Anglo-Saxon verse, 
 but the common metre consists apparently in having two 
 rises and two falls of the voice in each line. These 
 characteristics are accurately preserved in the verse of 
 Piers Ploughman ; and the measure appears to be the 
 same, if we make allowance for the change of the slow and 
 impressive pronunciation of the Anglo-Saxon for the 
 quicker pronunciation of Middle English, which therefore 
 required a greater number of syllables to fill up the same 
 space of time. 
 
 We can trace the history of alliterative verse in England 
 with tolerable certainty. The Anglo-Normans first 
 brought in rhymes, which they employed in their own 
 poetry. The adoption of this new system into the English
 
 INTRODUCTION. xxix 
 
 language was gradual, but it appears to have commenced 
 in the first half of the twelfth century. It was, at first, 
 mixed with alliterative couplets : that is, in the same poem 
 were used sometimes rhyming couplets, which were sud- 
 denly changed for alliterative couplets, and then, after 
 awhile, rhyme was again brought in, and so on. Of this 
 kind of poetry we have four very remarkable examples, the 
 Proverbs of King Alfred, a poem which was certainly in 
 existence in the first half of the twelfth century ; ^^ the 
 Early English Bestiary ;^^ the Poem on the Delate 
 between the Body and the Sotd ; " and the grand work of 
 Layamon,^^ The following lines from the Bestiary may 
 serve as a specimen of the manner in which the two 
 systems are intermixed ; they form part of the account 
 of the spider : — 
 
 "Sanne »'enneS ge j-apelike, 
 for ge is ai redi, 
 mmeS anon to Se net, 
 and 7nme3 hem Sere, 
 titterlike ge hem bit 
 and here bunc wurSeS, 
 rfrepeS and ririnkeS hire Mod, 
 doS ge hire non oSer yod, 
 Inite fret hire Jille, 
 and dareS siSen stille.'^ 
 
 12 Printed in the Reliquice Anticjuce, vol i. pp. 17018S. On the date of tliis popm, 
 see the Biographia Britannica Literaria (by the editor of the present work), Anglo- 
 Saxon period, pp. 395, 386. 
 
 13 Printed in the Altdmtsche Blatter von Moriz Haupt und Heinrich Hoffmann, 
 vol. ii. pp. 99-120, and in the ReliquicE Antiquie, vol. i. pp. 208-227. 
 
 1* Discovered in a MS. at Worcester by Sir Thomas Phillipps, who published a 
 small edition of it, in folio, 
 li Kdited by Sir Frederick Madden, for the Society of Antiquariea.
 
 XXX IXTRODUCTIOX. 
 
 " Cethe^ande is a Jis 
 ge moste gat in water is ; 
 gat tu wuldes seien get, 
 gef Su it soge wan it jlet," etc. 
 
 This kind of poetry appears to have been common until 
 the middle of the thirteenth century ; after which period 
 we only find alliteration in songs, not used in simple 
 alliterative couplets, but mixed up in the same lines with 
 rhyme in an irregular and playful manner.^* But there 
 appears little room for doubting that during the whole of 
 this time the pure alliterative poetry was in use among 
 the lower classes of society ; and its revival towards the 
 middle of the fourteenth century appears to have been a 
 part of the political movement which then took place. In 
 this point of view, the poem of Piers Ploughman becomes 
 still more worthy of attention as a document of contem- 
 porary literary history. The old alliterative verse came so 
 much into fashion at this period that it was adopted for 
 the composition of long romances, of Avhich several still 
 remain." The use of this kind of verse was continued in 
 the fifteenth century, and was imitated in Scotland as late 
 as the time of Dunbar, but the later writers were evidently 
 unacquainted with the strict rules of this species of com- 
 position. 
 
 The Anglo-Saxons, who used this kind of verse only, 
 wrote their poetry invariably as prose. But the scribe was 
 in the habit of indicating the division of the lines by a dot. 
 
 1'' Many instances of this will be found in my Spicimens of 'Lyric Poetry, 
 composed in England in the reign of Edward the First (Percy Society Publi- 
 cation). 
 
 1' Such as William and the Werwolf, edited by Sir Frederick Madden; .the 
 Roiiuinuof Ji.rua<xUm: th-ii of AUxander ; &c.
 
 INTRODUCTION. xxxi 
 
 Among modern scholars a question has arisen as to the 
 propriety of printing the alliterative couplet in two short 
 lines, or in one long one. It appears to me that the mode 
 in which the dot is used in the manuscripts decides the 
 question in favour of the short lines. The manner in which 
 the alliterative couplet is intermixed with the rhyming 
 couplet in the poems of the twelfth and thirteenth centu- 
 ries (which also are written in the manuscripts in the same 
 form as prose), seems to me a strong confirmation of this 
 opinion ; at least in these last-mentioned cases, the verse 
 must have been considered as written in short lines. As 
 the scribes quitted the custom of writing poetry in their 
 manuscripts as prose, with the divisions of lines indicated 
 by dots, to adopt that of arranging them in lines as we do 
 at present, these short lines were found very inconvenient 
 because they were obliged either to waste a great deal of 
 parchment, or to write in several narrow columns. To 
 remedy this, they fell perhaps gradually into the custom of 
 writing the two parts of the alliterative couplet in one line, 
 always, however, marking the division by a dot. They 
 followed the same method with the shorter rhyming lines, 
 as is the case with the old English Metrical Romance of 
 Horn in a manuscript in the Harleian Collection. ^^ All 
 the alliterative poetry of the fourteenth and fifteenth cen- 
 turies is found written in these long lines, with the dot of 
 
 18 MS. Harl. 2253. In this mauuscript, and in several others which I have seen 
 the rhyming poems in short hues, whether in En^'lish, Latin, or French, are 
 arranged in this manner ; and I have met with instances in which part of a poem 
 has been arranged in this way, and otlier parts of the same poem have been arranged 
 in short lines, to suit the scribe's convenience. I have a strong impression of having 
 met with an early English manuscript in which a fragment of alliterative verse 
 was written in short couplets. 
 
 VOL. I. C
 
 xxxii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 division in the niiddla In the fifteenth century the 
 meaning of this dot appears to have been forgotten, and 
 the system of alliteration so far misunderstood, that the 
 writers thought it only necessary to have at least three 
 alliterative words in a long line, without any consideration 
 of their position in the line. I say at least, because they 
 not unfrequently inserted four or five alliterative words in 
 the same line, which would certainly have been considered 
 a defect in the earlier writers. It is my opinion, that a 
 modern editor is wrong in printing the verses of Piers 
 Ploughman in long lines, as they stand in the manuscripts, 
 unless he profess to give them as a fac-simile of the 
 manuscripts themselves, or he plead the same excuse of 
 convenience from the shape of his book. In either case, 
 he must carefully preserve the dots of separation in the 
 middle of the lines, which are more inconvenient than the 
 length of the lines, because they interfere with the punctua- 
 tion of the modern editor. If, as appears to be the case, 
 these dots are merely marks to indicate the division of the 
 couplet, their purpose is much better served by printing 
 the lines in couplets. The construction of the earlier 
 Anglo-Saxon verse, the analogy of the mixed rhyming 
 and alliterative verses of the semi-Saxon poems, and the 
 use of these dots in the middle of the lines in the manu- 
 scripts of Piers Ploughman, appear to me convincing 
 proofs that it ought to be printed so. I think moreover 
 that the alliterative verse reads much more harmoniously 
 in the short couplets than in the long lines. 
 
 The manuscripts of the Vision of Piers Ploughman are 
 extremely numerous both in public and in private collec- 
 tions. There are at least eiyht in the British Museum :
 
 INTRODUCTION. xxxiii 
 
 there are ten or twelve in the Cambridge Libraries ; and 
 they are not less numerous at Oxford. As might be ex- 
 pected in a popular work like this, the manuscripts are 
 in general full of variations ; but there are two classes 
 of manuscripts which give two texts that are widely 
 different from each other, those variations commencing 
 even with the first lines of the poem. One of these texts, 
 which was adopted in the early printed editions, is given 
 in the present volumes ; the other text was selected for 
 publication by Dr. Whitaker. The following extract, 
 comprising the first lines of the poem,^^ will show how 
 each text begins, and will enable those who possess 
 manuscripts of Piers Ploughman to ascertain at once to 
 which text they belong : — 
 
 Text I. Tkxt II. 
 
 In a somer seson In a som6 seyaon. 
 
 Whan softe was the Sonne, Whan softe was the Sonne. 
 
 I shop me into ahroudes Y shop into shrobbis 
 
 As I a sheep weere, As y shepherde were. 
 
 In habite as an heremite In abit az an ermite 
 
 Unholy of werlies. Unholy of werkes, 
 
 Wente wide in this world That wente forthe in the worle 
 
 Wonders to here, Wondres to hure, 
 
 Ac on a May morwenynge And sawe meny cellis 
 
 On Malverne hilles And selcouthe thynges. 
 
 Me bifel a ferly, Ac on a May morwenyng 
 
 Of fairye me thoghte. On Malverne huUes 
 
 I was wery for-wandred. Me by-fel for to slepe. 
 
 And wente me to reste For weyrynesse of wandryng, 
 
 Under a broode bank And in a lande as ich lay 
 
 By a bournes syde, Lenede ich and slepte, 
 
 And as I lay and lenede. And merveylously me mette. 
 
 And loked on the watres. As ich may yow telle. 
 
 I slombred into a slepj-ng, AI the welthe of this wordle, 
 
 It sweyed so murye. And the woo bothe. 
 
 19 Text I. is from the edition now offered to the public : Text II. from that edited 
 by Dr. Whitaker.
 
 XXXIV 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Tlianne pan I met*n 
 A merveillous swevene. 
 That I wa8 in a wiMemesse 
 Wiste I nevere where ; 
 And as I biheld in to the eest 
 An heigh to the sonne, 
 I seigh a toar on a toft, etc. 
 
 WjTikjnp as it were 
 
 Wyterly ich saw hyt. 
 
 Of truyth and of tricherye, 
 
 Of tresonn and of gyle, 
 
 Al ich saw slepyng. 
 
 As ich shal yow telle. 
 
 Eeteward ich behulde 
 
 After the sonne. 
 
 And sawe a tour as ich trowede, etc. 
 
 Be.side.s such variations as appear in the foregoing speci- 
 men, there are in the second text many considerable addi- 
 tions, omissions, and transpositions. It would not be easy 
 to account for the existence of two texts differing so much ; 
 but it is my impression that the first was the one published 
 by the author, and that the variations were made by some 
 other person, who was perhaps induced by his own poli- 
 tical sentiments to modify passages, and was gradually led 
 on to publi.sh a revision of the whole. It is certain that 
 in some parts of Text II. the strong sentiments or expres- 
 sions of the first text are softened down. We may give 
 as an example of this, the statement of the popular opinion 
 of the origin and purpose of kingly government : — 
 
 TEXT L 
 
 Thanne kam ther a kyng, 
 Knyghthod hyra ladde. 
 Might of the commanes 
 Made hym to regiie. 
 And thanne cam kynde wit. 
 And clerkes he made. 
 For to connseillen the kyng. 
 And the commune saye. 
 The kyrig and knyghthod, 
 And clergie bothe, 
 Casten that the commune 
 fiholde hem self fynde. 
 The commnne conrreved 
 Of kyude wit craftes. 
 
 Text II. 
 
 Thanne cam ther a kyng, 
 
 Knygbtod hym ladde. 
 
 The meche myghte of the men 
 
 Made hym to regne. 
 
 And thanne cam a kynde witte. 
 
 And cicrkus he made. 
 
 And concience and kynde wit. 
 
 And knyghthod to-gederes, 
 
 Caste that the comune 
 
 Sholde hure comunes fynde. 
 
 Kynde wit and the comune 
 
 Contrevede alle craftes, 
 
 And for moat profitable to the puple, 
 
 A plouh tLei gonne make,
 
 INTRODUCTION. xxxv 
 
 Anti for profit of al the peple Wit leil labour to lyve, 
 
 Plowmen ordeyned, Wyl lyve aud londe lasteth. 
 
 To tilie and to travaille, 
 
 As trewe lif asketh. 
 
 Tlie kyng and the commune. 
 
 And kynde wit the thridde, 
 
 Shopen lawe and leautf5, 
 
 Ech man to knowe his owene. 
 
 Nobody, I think, can deny that in this instance the 
 doctrine is stated far more distinctly and far more boldly 
 in the first text than in the second. In general the first 
 text is the best, whether we look at the mode in which the 
 sentiments are stated, or at the poetry and language. 
 
 As far as I have been able to examine the remaining 
 manuscripts of Piers Ploughman, at London and in the 
 Universities, I think that nearly two-thirds of those 
 which remain are of the fourteenth century ; and the 
 greater number, particularly of those written in the four- 
 teenth century, present what I have distinguished as the 
 first text, that given in the present volumes. I am by 
 no means inclined to coincide in the reasons which led 
 Dr. Whitaker to prefer the second text; if I were disposed 
 to admit, as barely possible (the supposition is quite a 
 gratuitous one), " that the first edition of this work ap- 
 peared when its author was a young man, and that he lived 
 and continued in the habit of transcribing to extreme old 
 age " (Pref)., I cannot agree with an editor in adopting 
 a copy which he believes to be " a faithful representation 
 of the work as it came first from the author," and which 
 not only abounds in words and idioms which he afterwards 
 altered, but which contains also " many original passages 
 which the greater maturity of the author's judgment in- 
 duced him to expunge."
 
 xxxvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 I know only of two manuscripts of the Creed of Piers 
 Ploughman, one in the British Museum (MS. Reg. 18, 
 B. XVII. ), the other in the Library of Trinity College, 
 Cambridge, both on paper, and AATitten long after the 
 date of the printed editions, from which they appear to 
 have been copied. 
 
 The first printed edition of the Yiriion was that of 
 Robert Crowley, in 1550; and it was so favourably re- 
 ceived, that there is reason for believing that no less than 
 three editions (or rather three impressions^) were sold 
 in the course of the year. It is clear that Crowley had ob- 
 tained an excellent manuscript ; the printer has changed 
 the orthography at witl, and has evidently altered a word 
 at times, but on the whole this printed text differs very 
 little from the one we now publish. 
 
 Three years after the appearance of the Vision, another 
 printer, Reynold Wolfe, published the first edition of the 
 Creed, in the same form as Crowley's edition of the 
 Vision."^ 
 
 After the stormy reign of Mary was past, in the begin- 
 ning of that of Elizabeth, the call for a new edition, and 
 
 20 The title of the second impression is. "The Vision of Pierce Ploughman, nowe 
 the seconde time inipriuted by Roberte Crowley, dwellyiipe in Elye rentes in 
 Holburne. Whereunto are added certayne notes and eolations in the merpyne 
 gevyiige light to the Header, Ac. Imprinted at London by Roberte Crowley, 
 dwellyng in Elye rentes in Holburne. TLieyereof ourLord M.D.L. Cum privilegio 
 ad imprimendum solum." 4to, 125 leaves. 
 
 21 The title consists merely of the words " Pierce the Ploughman's Crede," upon 
 a tablet in the midst of a wood-cut which had evidently been brought from the 
 continent. A facsimile of the must important part of the. cut is given in Mr. 
 Payne Collier's Bibliographical Catalogue of the Library of Lord Francis Egerton 
 p. 235. The colophon, on a separate leaf, is "Imprinted at London. By Reynold 
 Wolfe. Anno Domini >LD.Ii.llL" It consists of 10 leaves in 4to.
 
 INTRODUCTION. xxxvii 
 
 perhaps the destruction of many copies of the old one, led 
 the well-known printer Owen Eogers to reprint the Vision 
 and the Creed together.^- The impression was probably 
 large, for it is still by no means a rare book. It was evi- 
 dently much read during the reign of Elizabeth, and is not 
 uufrequently alluded to by the writers of that age. 
 
 'So other edition of this popular poem appeared, until 
 it was published by Dr. Whitaker, in 1813,^^ from a manu- 
 script then in the possession of Mr. Heber,^^ which con- 
 tained the second text, written in a rather broad provincial 
 dialect. This edition was printed in black-letter, in a very 
 large and expensive form. In 1814, a reprint of the old 
 edition of the Creed was published in the same form, as a 
 companion to the Vision. It is not generally known that 
 Dr. Whitaker projected an edition of the same text and 
 paraphrase which are given in his 4to edition, in 8vo, with 
 Roman type instead of black-letter. After a few sheets 
 had been composed, the design was abandoned, as it is 
 
 22 The title of this edition is, "The Vision of Pierce Plowman, newlye imprynted 
 after the authours olde copy, with a brefe summary of the principall matters set 
 before every part called Passus. Whereviito is also annexed the Crede of Pierce 
 Plowman, neuer imprinted with the booke before. II Imprynted at London, by 
 Owen Rogers, dwellyng neare vnto great Saint Bartelmewes gate, at the sygne 
 of the spred Egle. ^ The yere of our Lord God, a thousand, fy\'e hundred, thre 
 score and one. The xxi. daye of the Mimeth of Februarye. Cum privilegio ad 
 imprimendum solum." 4to. This edition is not foliated, or paged ; and it is 
 remarkable that it is as frequently found without the Creed, as with it. This 
 edition of the Creed is also sometimes found separate. 
 
 23 Writaker's edition bears the following title,— " Visio Willielmi de Petro 
 Plouhmau, Item Visiones ejusdem de Dowel, Dobet, et Dobest. Or, The Vision 
 of William concerning Piers Plouhman. and Tlie Visions of the same concerning 
 the Origin, Progress, and Perfection of Christian Life, &c. By Thomas Dunham 
 Whitaker, LL.D.,&c. 4to. London. Murray, 1813. 
 
 2< This manuscript was bought at Heber's sale for the British Museum, where 
 it is classed as Additloual MS. No. 10,574
 
 xxxviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 said, in favour of the larger form. A copy of the proof 
 sheets, formerly helonging to Mr. Haslewood, is now in 
 the possession of Sir Frederick ^Madden. I am told that 
 a rival edition was also begun, but not persevered in. 
 
 An attempt at a modernization, or rather a translation, 
 of Piers Ploughman, was made in the earlier years of the 
 present century, but only a few specimens appear to have 
 been executed. The following lines, which possess some 
 merit (though not very literal or correct), are the modern 
 version the author proposed to give of 11. 2847-2870 of 
 the poem. They were communicated to me by Sir Henry 
 ElUs. 
 
 " Next AvAEicE came : but how he look'd, to say, 
 Words do I want that rightly shall portray : 
 Like leathern purse his shrivell'd cheeks did shew. 
 Thick lipp'd, with two blear eyes and beetle brow : 
 In a torn threadbare tabard was he clad, 
 Which twelve whole winters now in wear he had ; 
 French scarlet 'twas, its colour well it kept. 
 So smooth that louse upon its surface crept." 
 
 It will be necessary, in conclusion, to say a few words 
 on the edition now offered to the public. "Without taking 
 into consideration the inaccuracies and imperfections of 
 "Whitaker's edition, its inconvenient size and high price 
 made it altogether inaccessible to the general reader; and 
 there appeared to be a wish for one in a more convenient 
 and less expensive form. At the same time it was desired 
 that a good text of a work so important for the history 
 of our language and literature should be selected. Dr. 
 Whitaker was not well qualified for this undertaking ; he 
 also labpured under many disadvantages ; he had access 
 to only three manuscripts, and those not very good ones ; 
 and he has not chosen the best text even of those. Unless
 
 INTRODUCTION. xxsix 
 
 he had some reason to believe that the book was originally 
 written in a particular dialect, he ought to have given a 
 preference to that among the oldest manuscripts "which 
 presents the purest language ; but we cannot allow that 
 manuscript to be chosen on a ground so capricious as 
 " that the orthography and dialect in which it is written 
 approach very near to that semi-Saxon jargon in the 
 midst of which the editor was brought up, and which 
 he continues to hear daily spoken on the confines of 
 Lancashire, and the "West Eiding of the county of 
 York." (Pref.) This could not have been the language 
 employed by a monk of Malvern, 
 
 The present editor has endeavoured, in the leisure 
 moments which he has been able to snatch from other 
 employments, to supply the deficiency as well, and in as 
 unassuming manner, as he could. He has chosen for his 
 text a manuscript belonging to the valuable library of 
 Trinity College, Cambridge (where its shelf-mark is B. 15, 
 17), because it appears to him to be the best and oldest 
 manuscript now in existence. It is a fine folio manuscript, 
 on vellum, written in a large hand, undoubtedly contempo- 
 rary with the author of the poem, and in remarkably pure 
 English, with ornamented initial letters. His object has 
 been to give the poem as popular a form as is consistent 
 with philological correctness. He has added a few notes 
 which occurred to him in the course of editing the text, 
 and which he hopes may render the meaning and allusions 
 sometimes clearer to the general reader, for whom more 
 especially they are intended. They might have been en- 
 larged and rendered more complete, if he had been master 
 of sufficient leisure to enable him to untertake extensive
 
 xl INTRODUCTION. 
 
 researches. But there are allusions, as well as words, in 
 both poems to which it would be difficult at present to give 
 any certain explanation. It has been thought advisable to 
 give in the notes the important variations of the second 
 text, from Dr. Whitaker's edition ; and a few readings are 
 added from a second mannscript in Trinity College Library 
 (R. 3, 14). The editor has hoped to add to the utility of 
 the book by a copious glossary. He has been unwillingly 
 obliged to leave a few words without explanation ; all our 
 early alliterative poetry abounds in difficult words. In 
 this point he has to acknowledge the kind assistance of Sir 
 Frederick Madden, whom no person equals in profound 
 knowledge of English glossography, and than whom no 
 one is more generous to advise and assist those who are in 
 need of his aid. To Sir Henry Ellis, who kindly lent him 
 his own manuscript notes on Piers Ploughman, the editor 
 also owes his grateful acknowledgments ; and he regrets 
 that at the time he received them the notes were already 
 so far printed as to hinder him from making as much use 
 of them as he could have wished. 
 
 London, June 1, 1842.
 
 c:T"v<=» T^jw-'vr^'^-^^s-,^ 
 
 THE VISION OF PIERS 
 PLOUGHMAN.
 
 THE VISION OF 
 PIEES PLOUGHMAN". 
 
 fj^ a somer seson 
 Whan softe was the soune, 
 I shoop me into shroudes 
 As I a sheep weere, 
 In habite as an heremite 
 Unholy of werkes, 
 Wente wide in this Avorld 
 Wondres to here ; 
 Ac on a ]\Iay niorwenynge 
 On Malverne hilles i 
 
 ^le bifel a ferly, 
 Of fairye me thoghte. 
 I was wery for-waudred, 
 And wente me to reste 
 Under a brood bank 
 By a bournes syde ; 
 And as I lay and lenede, 
 And loked on the watres, 
 I slombred into a slepyng, 
 It sweyed so murye. :
 
 2 THE VISION OF 
 
 Thanne gan I nieten 21 
 
 A merveillous swevene, 
 That I was in a wilJernesse, 
 Wiste I nevere where, 
 Aud as I biheeld into the eest 
 An heigh to the sonne, 
 I seigh a tour on a toft 
 Trieliche y-niaked, 
 A deep dale bynethe, 
 A dongeon therinne, 
 With depe diches and derke 
 And dredfuUe of sighte. 32 
 
 A fair feeld ful of folk 
 Fond I ther bitwene, 
 Of alle manere of men, 
 The meene and the riche, 
 Werchynge and wandrynge, 
 As the world asketh. 
 
 Some putten hem to the plough, 
 Pleiden ful selde, 
 In settynge and sowynge 
 Swonken ful harde, 
 And wonnen that wastours 43 
 
 With glotonye destruyeth. 
 
 And somme putten hem to pride, 
 Apparailed hem therafter, ^vj* 
 
 In contenaunce of clothynge 
 Comen degised. 
 
 In preires and penaunces 
 Putten hem manye, 
 Al for the love of oure Lord 
 Lyveden ful streyte, 
 In hope to have after 
 Hevene riche blisse ; 54
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 
 
 As ancres and heremites i 
 
 That holden hem in hire selles, 
 And coveiten noght in contree 
 To carien aboute, 
 For no likerous liflode 
 Hire likame to plese. 
 
 And somme chosen chaffare ; 
 Thei cheveden the bettre, 
 As it semeth to our sight 
 That swiche men thryveth. 
 
 And somme murthes to make, 
 As mynstralles konne, t 
 
 And geten gold with hire glee, 
 Giltles, I leeve. 
 
 Ac japeres and jangeleres, 
 Jndas children, 
 Feynen hem fantasies, 
 And fooles hem maketh, 
 And han hire wit at wille 
 To werken, if thei wolde. 
 That Poul precheth of hem 
 I wol nat preve it here ; 
 But Qui loquitur iurpiloquium 
 Is Luciferes hyne. 
 
 Eidderes and beggeres 
 Faste aboute yede, 
 With hire belies and hire bagges 
 Of breed f ul y-crammed ; 
 Faiteden for hire foode, 
 Foughten at the ale. 
 In glotonye, God woot, 
 Go thei to bedde, 
 And risen with ribaudie, 
 Tho Roberdes knaves ; j
 
 4 THE VISION OF 
 
 Sleep and sory sleuths 89 
 
 Seweth hem evere. 
 
 Pilgrymes and palmeres 
 Plighten hem togidere, 
 For to seken seint Jame, 
 And seintes at Rome. 
 They wenten forth in hire wey, 
 With many wise tales, 
 And hadden leve to lyen 
 Al hire lif after. 
 
 I seigh somme that seiden 
 Thei hadde y-sought seintes ; lOO 
 To ech a tale that thei tolde 
 Hire tonge was tempred to lye, 
 Moore than to seye sooth. 
 It semed bi hire speche. 
 
 Heremytes on an heep 
 With hoked staves 
 Wenten to Walsyngham, 
 And hire wenches after, 
 Grete lobies and longe 
 That lothe were to swynke ; 
 Clothed hem in copes, in 
 
 To ben knowen from othere ; 
 And shopen hem heremytes. 
 Hir e ese to have. 
 
 I fond there freres, 
 Alle the foure ordres, 
 Prechynge the peple 
 For profit of heniselve ; 
 Glosed the gospel, 
 As hem good liked ; 
 For coveitise of copes, 
 Construwed it as thei wolde. 122
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 5 
 
 Many of thise maistre freres 123 
 
 Now clothen hem at likyng, 
 
 For hire nioneie and hire marchaun- 
 
 Marchen togideres. [dize 
 
 For sith charite hath ben chapman, 
 
 And chief to shryve lordes, 
 
 Manye ferlies han fallen 
 
 In a fewe yeres ; 
 
 But holy chirche and hii 
 
 Holde bettre togidres, 
 
 The mooste meschief on molde 
 
 Is mountynge wel faste. 134 
 
 Ther preched a pardoner, 
 As he a preest were ; 
 Broughte forth a bulla 
 With many bisshopes seles, 
 And seide that hymself myghte 
 Assoillen hem alle, 
 Of falshede, of fastynge. 
 Of avowes y-broken. 
 
 Lewed men leved it wel. 
 And liked hise wordes ; 
 Comen up knelynge 145 
 
 To kissen hise bulles. 
 He bouched hem with his brevet, 
 And blered hire eighen. 
 And raughte with his rageman 
 Rynges and broches. 
 
 Thus thei gyven hire gold 
 Glotons to kepe, 
 And leveth in swiche losels 
 As leccherie haunten. 
 
 Were the bisshope y-blessed, 
 And worth bothe hise eris, 1:6 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 6 THE VISION OF 
 
 His seel sholde noght be sent 157 
 
 To deceyve the peple, 
 
 Ac it is noght by tlie bisshope 
 
 That the boy precheth ; 
 
 For the parisshe preest and the par- 
 
 Parten the silver, [doner 
 
 That the poraille of the parisshe 
 
 Sholde have, if thei ue were. 
 
 Parsons and parisshe preestes 
 Pleyned hem to the bisshope. 
 That hire parisshes weren povere 
 Sith the pestilence tynie, les 
 
 To have a licence and leve 
 At London to dwells, 
 And syngen ther for symonie ; 
 For silver is swete. 
 
 Ijisshopes and bachelers, 
 Bothe maistres and doctours. 
 That han cure under Crist, 
 And crownynge in tokene 
 And signe that thei sholden 
 Shryven hire parisshens, 
 Prechen and praye for hem, 170 
 And the povere fede, 
 Liggen at Londone 
 In Lenten and ellis. 
 
 Somme serven the kyng, 
 And his silver tellen 
 In cheker and in chauucelrie, 
 Chalangen hise dettes 
 Of wardes and of wardemotes, 
 Weyves and streyves. 
 
 And somme serven as servauntz 
 Lordes and ladies, 190
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 7 
 
 And in stede of stywardes 191 
 
 Sitten and denien ; 
 Hire messe and hire niatyns 
 And many of hire lioures 
 Arn doon un-devontliche ; 
 Drede is at the lasts, 
 Lest Crist in consistorie 
 A-corse ful manye. 
 
 I perceyved of the power 
 That Peter hadde to kepe, 
 To bynden and nnbynden, 
 As the book telleth ; 202 
 
 How he it lefte with love, 
 As oure Lord highte, 
 Amonges foure vertues. 
 The beste of alle vertues, 
 That cardinals ben called, 
 And closynge yates. 
 There is Crist in his kingdom 
 To close and to shette. 
 And to opene it to hem. 
 And hevene blisse shewe, 
 
 Ac of the cardinals at court 213 
 That kaughtc of that name, 
 And power presumed in hem 
 A pope to make, 
 
 To han that power that Peter hadde, 
 Impugn en I nelle ; 
 For in love and in lettrure 
 The election bilongeth, 
 For-thi I kan and kan naught 
 Of court speke moore, 
 
 Thanne kam ther a kyng, 
 Knyghthod hym ladde, 224
 
 8 THE VISION OF 
 
 Might of the communes 225 
 
 Made hym to regne. 
 
 And thanne cam kynde wit, 
 And clerkes he made, 
 For to counseilleu the kyng, 
 And the commune save. 
 
 The kyng and knyghthod, 
 And clergie bothe, 
 Casten that the commune 
 Sholde hemself fynde. 
 
 The commune contreved 
 Of kynde wit craftes, 236 
 
 And for profit of al the peple 
 Plowmen ordeyned, 
 To tihe and to travaille, 
 As trewe lif asketh. 
 
 The kyng and the commune, 
 And kynde wit the thridde, 
 Shopen lawe and leaute, 
 Ech man to knowe his owene. 
 Thanne loked up a hmatik, 
 A leene thyng with-alle, 
 And, knelynge to the kyng, 247 
 Clergially he seide : 
 
 " Crist kepe thee, sire kyng ! 
 And thi kyng-ryche. 
 And lene thee lede thi lond. 
 So leaut6 thee lovye. 
 And for thi rightful rulyng 
 Be rewarded in hevene." 
 
 And sithen in the eyr an heigh 
 An aungel of hevene 
 LoAved to speke in Latyn, 
 For lewed men ne koude 258
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 9 
 
 Jangle ne jugge, 259 
 
 That justifie hem sholde, 
 
 But sutfren aud serven ; 
 
 For-thi seide the aungel : 
 
 Sum rex, siwi j^i'inceps, 
 
 Neutrum fortasse deinceps ; 
 
 qui jura regis 
 
 Christi specialia regis, 
 
 Hoc quod agas melius, 
 
 Justus es, esto pius. 
 
 Nudum jus a te 
 
 Vestiri vult pietate ; 270 
 
 Qualia vis metere, 
 
 Talia grana sere. 
 
 Si jus 7iudatur, 
 
 Nudo de jure metatur ; 
 
 Si seritur pietas, 
 
 De pietate metas. 
 
 Thanne greved hym a goliardeis, 
 A gloton of wordes, 
 And to the aungel an heigh 
 Answerde after : 
 
 Du7n rex a regere 28I 
 
 Dicatur nonien habere/ 
 Nomen liabet sine re, 
 Nisi studet jura tenere. 
 
 Thanne gan al the commune 
 Crye in vers of Latyn, 
 To the kynges counseil ; 
 Construe who so wolde : 
 PrcEcepta regis 
 Sunt nobis vincula legis. 
 
 "With that ran ther a route 
 Of ratons at ones, 292
 
 10 THE VISION OF 
 
 And smale mees myd liem 293 
 
 Mo than a thousand, 
 
 And comen to a couuseil 
 
 For the commune profit ; 
 
 For a cat of a contree 
 
 Cam whan hym liked, 
 
 And overleep hem lightliclie, 
 
 And laughte hem at his wille, 
 
 And pleide with hem perillousli, 
 
 And possed aboute. 
 
 " For doute of diverse dredes, 
 
 "We dar noght wel loke ; 304 
 
 And if we grucche of his gamen, 
 
 He wol greven us alle, 
 
 Cracchen us or clawen us, 
 
 And in hise douches holde, 
 
 That us lotheth the lif 
 
 Er he late us passe. 
 
 Mighte we with any wit 
 
 His wille withstonde, 
 
 We mighte be lordes odofte, 
 
 And lyven at oure ese." 
 
 A raton of renoun, 315 
 
 Moost renable of tonge, 
 Seide for a sovereyn 
 Help to hymselve : 
 
 " I have y-seyen segges," quod 
 " In the cit6 of Londone, [he 
 
 Ecren beiglies ful brighte 
 Abouten hire nekkcs, 
 And somme colers of crafty werk ; 
 Uncoupled thei wenten 
 Bothe in wareyne and in waast 
 Where hemself liked. 326
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 11 
 
 And outher while tliei arn ellis- 
 As I here telle ; [where, 
 
 Were ther a belle on hire beighe, 
 By Jhesu, as me thynketh, 
 Men myghte witen wher thei wente, 
 And awey renne ! " 
 
 " And right so," quod that raton, 
 " Reson me sheweth, 
 To bugge a belle of bras, 
 Or of bright silver, 
 And knytten it on a coler 
 For oure commune protlt, 33s 
 
 "VXTier he ryt or rest, 
 Or renneth to pleye ; 
 And if hym list for to laike, 
 Thanne loke we mowen. 
 And peeren in his presence 
 The while him pleye liketh : 
 And, if hym wratheth, be war. 
 And his way shonye." 
 
 Al this route of ratons 
 To this reson thei assented. 
 Ac tho the belle was y-brought, 349 
 And on the beighe hanged, 
 Ther ne was raton in al the route, 
 For al the reaume of Fraunce, 
 That dorste have bounden the belle 
 About the cattes nekke, 
 Ne hangen it aboute the cattes hals, 
 Al Engelond to wynne. 
 Alle helden hem un-hardy. 
 And hir counseil feble ; 
 And leten hire labour lost 
 And al hire longe studie. 360
 
 12 THE VISION OF 
 
 A mous that muche good 36i 
 Koutlie, as me thouglite, 
 Strook fortli sternely, 
 And stood bifore hem alle, 
 And to the route of ratons 
 Keherced thise wordes : 
 
 " Though we killen the cat, 
 Yet sholde ther come another 
 To cacchen us and al oure kynde, 
 Though we cropen under benches. 
 For-thi I counseille al the commune 
 To late the cat worthe ; 372 
 
 And be we nevere bolde 
 The belle hym to she we ; 
 For I herde my sire seyn, 
 Is seven yeer y-passed, 
 Ther the cat is a kitone 
 The court is f ul elenge ; 
 That witnesseth holy writ, 
 WTio so wole it rede : 
 V(e ten'ce ubi piier rex est ! etc. 
 For may no renk ther reste have 
 For ratons by nyghte ; 333 
 
 The wliile he caccheth conynges, 
 He coveiteth noght youre caroyne, 
 But fedeth hym al with venj'son : 
 Defame we hym nevere. 
 For better is a litel los 
 Tlian a long sorwe, 
 The maze among us alio, 
 Theigh we mysse a sherewe ; 
 For many mennes malt 
 We mees wolde destruye, 
 And also ye route of ratons 394
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 13 
 
 Rende mennes clothes, 395 
 
 Nere tlie cat of that court 
 That can yow over-lepe ; 
 For hadde ye rattes youre wille, 
 Ye kouthe noght rule yow selve." 
 
 "I seye for me," quod the mous, 
 " I se so muchel after, 
 Shal nevere the cat ne the kiton 
 By my coiinseil be greved, 
 Thorugh carpynge of this coler 
 That costed me nevere 
 And though it hadde costned me 
 Bi-knowen it I nolde, [catel, 
 
 But suffren, as hymself wolde, 
 To doon as hym liketh. 
 Coupled and uncoupled 
 To cacche what thei mowe. 
 For-thi ech a wis wight I warne, 
 Wite wel his owene." 
 
 What this metels by-meneth, 
 Ye men that ben murye 
 Devyne ye, for I ne dar, 
 By deere God in hevene. 4i7 
 
 Yet hoved ther an hundred 
 In howves of selk, 
 Sergeantz it bi-semed 
 That serveden at the barre, 
 Pleteden for penyes 
 And poundes the lawe ; 
 And noght for love of our Lord 
 Unclose hire lippes ones. 
 Thow myghtest bettre meete myst 
 On Malverne hilles, 
 Than gete a mom of hire mouth,
 
 14 THE VISION. 
 
 Til iiioneie be shewed. 429 
 
 Barons and bur<^eises, 
 And bonde-men als, 
 I seigh in this assemblee, 
 As ye shul here after : 
 Baksteres and brewesteres, 
 And bochiers manye ; 
 Wollen webbesters, 
 And weveres of lynnen, 
 Taillours and tynkers, 
 And tollers in markettes, 
 Masons and niynours, 440 
 
 And many othere craftes. 
 Of alle kynne lybbynge laborers 
 Lopen forth somme, 
 As dikeres and delveres, 
 That doon hire dedes ille, 
 And dryveth forth the longe day 
 With Dieu save dame Emme. 
 
 Cokes and hire knaves 
 Cryden, " Hote pies, bote ! 
 Goode gees and grys ! 
 Gowe, dyne, gowe ! " 451 
 
 Taverners until hem 
 Trewely tolden the same, 
 A\^iit wyn of Oseye, 
 And reed wyn of Gascoigne, 
 Of the Ryn and of the Rochel, 
 The I'oo.st to detie. 
 [Al this I saugh slepynge, 
 And seve sithes more.] 459
 
 Passus Primus de Visione. 
 
 ;HAT this mountaigne by- 
 ineueth 4t>o 
 
 And the merke dale, 
 And the feld ful of folk, 
 I shal yow faire shewe. 
 
 A lovely lady of leere, 
 In lynnen y-clothed. 
 Cam doun from a castel 
 And called me faire, 
 And seide, " Sone, slepestow ? 
 Sestow this peple, 
 How bisie thei ben 
 Alle aboute the maze 1 471 
 
 The mooste partie of this peple 
 That passeth on this erthe, 
 Have thei worship in this world, 
 Thei wilne no bettre ; 
 Of oother hevene than here 
 Holds thei no tale." 
 
 I was a-fered of hire face, 
 Theigh she fair weere, 
 And seide, " Mercy, madame, 
 "What is this to meene ? " 
 
 " The tour on the toft," quod she, 
 " Truthe is therinne ; ■iss
 
 16 THE VISION OF 
 
 And wolde that ye wrouglite, 4S4 
 
 As his word techeth ! 
 
 For he is fader of feith, 
 
 And formed vow alle 
 
 Bothe with fel and with face, 
 
 And yaf yow fyve wittes, 
 
 For to worships hym therwith, 
 
 While that ye ben here. 
 
 And therfore he highte the erthe 
 
 To helpe yow echone, 
 
 Of wollene, of lynnen, 
 
 Of liflode at nede, 495 
 
 In mesurable manere 
 
 To make yow at ese ; 
 
 And comaunded of his curteisie 
 
 In commune three thynges, 
 
 Are none nedfuUe but tho, 
 
 And nempne hem I thynke, 
 
 And rekene hem by reson j 
 
 Reherce thow hem after. 
 
 " That oon vesture, 
 From cold thee to save ; 
 Aiid mete at meel 506 
 
 For mysese of thiselve ; 
 And drynke whan thow driest ; 
 Ac do noght out of reson. 
 That thow worthe the wers 
 "Whan thow werche sholdest. 
 
 " For Lot in hise lif-dayes. 
 For likynge of drynke, 
 Dide by hise doughtres 
 That the devel liked, 
 Delited hym in drynke 
 As the devel Avolde, 517
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 17 
 
 And leccherie liym lauglite, 51s 
 
 And lay by hem botlie, 
 And al he witte it the wyn 
 That wikked dede. 
 Inebriamiis eum vino, dormiamnsque 
 cum eo, ut servare possimus de 
 patre nostra semen. 
 
 Thorugh wyn and thorugh wom- 
 Ther was Loth acombred, [men 
 And there gat in glotonie 
 Gerles that were cherles. 
 
 " For-thi dred delitable drynke, 
 And thow shalt do the bettre. 530 
 Mesure is medicine, 
 Though thow muchel yerne. 
 It is nought al good to the goost 
 That the gut asketh, 
 Ne liflode to thi likame ; 
 For a liere hym techeth, 
 That is the wrecched world 
 Wolde thee bitraye. 
 For the fend and thi flesshe 
 Folwen togidere. 540 
 
 This and that seeth thi soule, 
 And seith it in thin herte ; 
 And for thow sholdest ben y-war, 
 I wisse thee the beste." 
 
 " Madame, mercy ! " quod I, 
 " Me liketh wel youre wordes ; 
 Ac the moneie of this molde 
 That men so faste holdeth, 
 Tel me to whom, madame, 
 That tresour appendeth." 550 
 
 " Go to the gospel," quod she,
 
 18 THE VISION OF 
 
 " Tlitit GoJ seide hymselven ; 552 
 Tho the poeple liyui apposede 
 "With a peny in the temple, 
 "Wheither thei sholde therwith 
 "NVorshipe the kyng Cesar. 
 
 "And God asked of hyra, 
 Of Avhom spak the lettre, 
 And the ymage was lik 
 That therinne stondeth. 
 
 " ' Cesares,' thei seiden, 
 ' "We seen it wel echone.' 
 
 " 'i?efZ(7jYe Ccesari,' quod God, 563 
 ' That Ccesari bifalleth, 
 Et quf.G sunt Dei Deo, 
 Or ellis 3'e don ille ; 
 For rightfully reson 
 Sholde rule yow alle, 
 And kynde wit be wardeyn 
 Youre welthe to kepe. 
 And tutour of youre tresor. 
 And take it yow at nede. 
 For housbondrie and hii 
 Holden togidres." 574 
 
 Thanne I frayned hire faire, 
 For hym that me made, 
 " That dongeon in the dale, 
 That dredful is of sighte, 
 "Wliat may it be to meene, 
 Madame, I yow biseche ? " 
 
 "That is the castel of Care ; 
 "WTio so comth therinne 
 May banne that he born was. 
 To bodi or to soule. 
 Therinne wonyeth a wiglit 5S5
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 19 
 
 That "Wrong is y-hote, 5S6 
 
 Fader of falsliede, 
 
 And founded it hymselve. 
 
 Adam and Eve 
 
 He egged to ille ; 
 
 Counseilled Kayni 
 
 To killen his brother ; 
 
 Judas he japed 
 
 "With Jewen silver, 
 
 And sithen on an eller 
 
 Hanged hymselve. 
 
 He is lettere of love, 597 
 
 And lieth hem alle 
 
 That trusten on his tresour ; 
 
 Bitrayeth he hem sonnest." 
 
 Thannehadde I wonder in my wit 
 "What womman it weere, 
 That swiche wise wordes 
 Of holy writ shewed ; 
 And asked hire on the heighe name, 
 Er she thennes yede, 
 "Wliat she were witterly 
 That wissed me so faire. eos 
 
 "Holi chirche I am," quod she, 
 " Thow oughtest me to knowe ; 
 I underfeng thee first. 
 And the feith taughte ; 
 And broughtest me borwes 
 My biddyng to fulfille. 
 And to loven me leelly 
 The while thi lif dureth." 
 
 Thanne I courbed on my knees, 
 And cried hire of grace ; 
 And preide hire pitously 6i9
 
 20 THE VISION OF 
 
 Preye for my sinnes, 620 
 
 And also kenne me kyndely 
 
 On Crist to bi-leve, 
 
 That I myghte werchen his wille 
 
 That wroghte me to man. 
 
 ' Teche me to no tresor, 
 
 But tel me this ilke, 
 
 How I may save my souls, 
 
 That seint art y-holden." 
 
 " Whan alle tresors arn tried," 
 " Treuthe is the beste ; [quod she, 
 I do it on Deus caritas, csi 
 
 To deme the sothe, 
 It is as dereworthe a drury 
 As deere God hymselven. 
 
 "Who is trewe of his tonge, 
 And telleth noon oother, 
 And dooth the werkes therwith, 
 And wilneth no man ille, 
 He is a God by the gospel 
 A-grounde and o-lofte, 
 And y-lik to oure Lord, 
 By seint Lidces wordes. 642 
 
 The clerkes that knowen this, 
 Sholde kennen it aboute, 
 For cristen and un-cristen 
 Cleymeth it echone. 
 
 "Kynges and knyghtes 
 Sholde kepen it by reson, 
 Riden and rappen doun 
 In reaumes aboute, 
 And taken tranxgvessores, 
 And tyen hem faste, 
 Til treuthe hadde y-termyned 653
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 21 
 
 Hire trespas to the ende. 654 
 
 And that is profession apertli 
 
 That apendeth to knyghtes ; 
 
 And naught to fasten friday 
 
 In fyve score wynter, 
 
 But holden with hym and with here 
 
 That wolden alle truthe, 
 
 And nevere leve hem for love 
 
 Ne for lacchynge of silver. 
 
 For David in hise dayes 
 
 Dubbed knyghtes, 
 
 And dide hem sweren on hirswerdes 
 
 To serven truthe evere ; m 
 
 And who so passed that point 
 
 "Was apostata in the ordre. 
 
 " But Crist kyngene kyng 
 Knyghted ten, 
 Cherubyn and seraphyn, 
 Swiche sevene and others 
 And yaf hem myght in his majestee, 
 The murier hem thoughte, 
 And over his meene meynee 
 Made hem archangeles ; ere 
 
 Taughte hem by the Trinitee 
 Treuthe to knowe ; 
 To be buxom at his biddyng, 
 He bad hem nought ellis. 
 " Lucifer with legions 
 Lerned it in hevene ; 
 But for he brak buxomnesse 
 His blisse gan he tyne, 
 And fel fro that felawshipe 
 In a fendes liknesse, 
 Into a deep derk helle, esr 
 
 VOL, I. R
 
 22 THE VISION OF 
 
 To dwelle there for evere ; ess 
 
 And mo thousandes myd hym 
 Than man kouthe nombre 
 Lopen out with Lucifer 
 In lotldiche forme, 
 For thei leveden upon hym 
 That lyed in this manere : 
 Ponampedem in aquilone, et similis 
 ero altissimo. [be so, 
 
 " And alle that hoped it myghte 
 Xoon hevene myghte hem holds, 
 But fellen out in fendes liknesse 699 
 Xyne dayes togideres. 
 Til God of his goodnesse 
 Gan stablisse and stynte. 
 And garte the hevene to stekie 
 And stonden in quiete, 
 
 "Whan thise wikkede wenten out, 
 In wonder wise thei fellen ; 
 Somme in the eyr, somme in erthe, 
 And somme in helle depe ; 
 Ac Lucifer lowest lith 
 Yet of hem alle, vio 
 
 For pride that he putte out. 
 His peyne hath noon ende. 
 And alle that werchen with wrong, 
 "Wende thei shulle, 
 After hir deth day 
 And dwelle with that sherewe. 
 
 " And tho that werche wel, 
 As holy writ telleth. 
 And enden as I er seide 
 In truthe, that is the beste, 
 Mowe be siker that hire soules 721
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 23 
 
 Shul wencle to hevene, 722 
 
 Ther treuthe is in trinitee, 
 
 And troneth hem alle. 
 
 For-thi I seye, as I seyde er, 
 
 By siglite of thise textes, 
 
 Whan alle tresors arn tried, 
 
 Truthe is the bests ; 
 
 Lereth it thise lewed men, 
 
 For lettred men it knoweth, 
 
 That treuthe is tresor 
 
 The trieste on erthe." [quod I, 
 "Yet have I no kynde knowync" 
 
 " Ye mote kenne me bettre, 734 
 
 By what craft in my cors 
 
 It comseth, and where." 
 
 " Thow doted daffe," quod she, 
 
 "Dulle are thi wittes ; 
 
 To litel Latyn thow lernedest, 
 
 Leode, in thi youthe." 
 Heumiclii! quia sterilem duxi viiam 
 juvenilem. [she, 
 
 " It is a kynde knowyng," quod 
 " That kenneth in thyn herte, 744 
 For to loven thi Lord 
 Levere than thiselve, 
 No dedly synne to do, 
 Deye theigh thow sholdest ; 
 This I trowe be truthe. 
 "VAHio kan teche thee bettre, 
 Loke thow sulfre hym to seye. 
 And sithen lere it after ; 
 For truthe telleth that love 
 Is triacle of hevene. 
 May no synne be on hym seene, 755
 
 24 THE VISION OF 
 
 That useth that spice, 756 
 
 And alle hise werkes be wroughte 
 
 With love as hym liste ; [thyng, 
 
 And lered it jNIoyses for the leveste 
 
 And moost lik to hevene, 
 
 And al so the plentee of pees 
 
 Moost precious of vertues ; 
 
 For hevene myghte nat holden it, 
 
 It was so hevy of hymself, 
 
 Til it hadde of the erthe 
 
 Eten his fille. 
 
 " And whan it hadde of this fold 767 
 Flesshe and blood taken, 
 Was nevere leef upon lynde 
 Lighter therafter, 
 And portatif and persaunt 
 As the point of a nedle, 
 That myghte noon armure it lette, 
 Ne none heighe walles. 
 
 " For-thi is love ledere 
 Of the Lordes folk of hevene, 
 And a meene, as the mair is [raune; 
 Bitwene the kyng and the corn- 
 Right so is love a ledere, 779 
 And the law shapeth, 
 Upon man for hise mysdedes 
 The mercyment he taxeth. 
 And for to knowen it kyndely 
 It comseth by myght, 
 And in the herte there is the heed 
 And the heighe welle ; 
 For in kynde knowynge in herte, 
 Ther a myght bigynneth ; 
 And that falleth to the fader 789
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 25 
 
 That formed us alle, voo 
 
 Loked on us with love, 
 
 And leet his sone dye 
 
 Mekely for oure mysdedes, 
 
 To amenden us alle. 
 
 And yet wolde he hem no wo 
 
 That wroughte hym that peyne, 
 
 But mekely with mouthe 
 
 Mercy bisoughte, 
 
 To have pite of that peple 
 
 That peyned hym to dethe. 
 
 " There myghtow sen ensample 
 In hymself oone, 802 
 
 That he was myghtful and meke, 
 And mercy gan graunte 
 To hem that hengen hym on heigh 
 And his herte thirled. 
 
 " For-thi I rede yow, riche, 
 Haveth ruthe of the povere ; 
 Though ye be myghtful to mote, 
 Beeth meke in youre werkes, 
 For the same mesures that ye mete, 
 Amys outher ellis, 812 
 
 Ye shulle ben weyen therwith 
 "Whan ye wenden hennes. 
 Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, 
 remetietur vohis. 
 
 " For though ye be trewe of youre 
 And treweliche wynne, [tonge 
 
 And as chaste as a child 
 That in chirche wepeth, 
 But if ye loven leelly 
 And lene the povere, 
 Swich good as God yow sent S23
 
 26 THE VISION OF 
 
 Goodliche parteth, 824 
 
 Ye ne have namoore merite 
 
 In masse nor in houres, 
 
 Than Malkyn of hire maydenhcde 
 
 That no man desireth. 
 
 "For James the gentile 
 Jugged in hise bokes, 
 That feith withouten the feet 
 Is right no thyng worthi, 
 And as deed as a dore-tree, 
 But if the dedes folwe. §34 
 
 Fides sine 02')eribns mortua est, etc. 
 "For-thi cliastite withouten charity 
 Worth cheyued in helle ; 
 It is as lewed as a lampe 
 That no liglit is inne. 
 Manye chapeleyns am chaste, 
 Ac charity is aweye ; 
 Are no men avarouser than hii 
 "Whan thei ben avaunced, 
 Unkynde to hire kyn, 
 And to alle cristene 
 Chewen hire charite, S46 
 
 And chiden after moore ; 
 Swiche chastite withouten charite 
 "Worth cheyned in helle. 
 
 "Manye curatours kepen hem 
 Clene of hire bodies ; 
 Thei ben acombred with coveitise, 
 Thei konne noght doon it from hem, 
 So harde hath avarice 
 Y-hasped hem togideres ; 
 And that is no truthe of the Trinite, 
 But tricherie of helle, 857
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 27 
 
 And lernynge to lewed men sss 
 The latter for to deele. 
 For-lhi thise wordes 
 Ben writeu in the gospel, 
 Date, et dahitur vobis, 
 For I deele yow alle, 
 And that is the lok of love, 
 And leteth out my grace, 
 To conforten the carefulle 
 A-combred with synne. 
 " Love is leche of lif, 
 And next oure Lord selve, 8G9 
 
 And also the graithe gate 
 That goth into hevene ; 
 For-thi I seye, as I seide 
 Er by the textes, 
 Whan alle tresors ben tried, 
 Treuthe is the beste. 
 
 "Now have I told thee what truthe 
 That no tresor is bettre ; [is, 
 
 I may no lenger lenge thee with, 
 Now loke thee oure Lorde." sro
 
 Passus Secundus de Visione, ut 
 supra. 
 
 i)ET I courbed on my knees, 
 And cried hire of grace, 
 And seide, "Mercy, madame, 
 For Marie love of hevene, 
 That bar that blisful bam 
 
 That bough te us on the rode, 
 
 Kenne me by som craft 
 
 To knowe the false." 
 
 " Loke up on thi left half, 
 
 And lo where he stondeth ! 
 
 Eothe Fals and Favel, 
 
 And hire feeres manye." sgi 
 
 I loked on my left half, 
 
 As the lady me taughte, 
 
 And was war of a womman 
 
 "Worthiliche y-clothed, 
 
 Purfiled with pelure 
 
 The fyneste upon erthe, 
 
 Y-corouned with a coroune, 
 
 The kyng hath noon bettre ; 
 
 Fetisliche hire fyngres 
 
 TTere fretted with gold wyr, 
 
 And theron rede rubies 
 
 As rede as any gleede, 903
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 29 
 
 And diamaundes of derrest pris, 904 
 And double manere saphires, 
 Orientals and ewages, 
 Envenymes to destroye. 
 
 Hire robe was ful riche, 
 Of reed scarlet engreyned, 
 With ribanes of reed gold 
 And of riche stones. 
 Hire array me ravysshed, 
 Swich richesse saugh I nevere ; 
 I hadde wonder what she was, 
 And whos wif she were. 915 
 
 " What is this womman," quod I, 
 " So worthili atired 1 " 
 
 " That is Mede the mayde," quod 
 " Hath noyed me ful ofte, [she, 
 And y-lakked my lemman 
 That Leautee is hoten, 
 And bi-lowen hire to lordes 
 That lawes han to kepe. 
 
 " In the popes paleis 
 She is pryvee as myselve ; 
 But soothnesse wolde noght so, 926 
 For she is a bastarde ; 
 For fals was hire fader 
 That hath a fikel tonge, 
 And nevere sooth seide 
 Sithen he com to erthe ; 
 And Mede is manered after hym, 
 Eight as kynde asketh 
 Qualis pater talis filius. 
 Bonus arbor honum frudrum facit. 
 
 " I oughte ben hyere than she, 
 I kam of a bettre ; 937
 
 30 THE VISION OF 
 
 My fader the grete God is 93s 
 
 And ground of alle graces, 
 
 So God withouten gynnyng, 
 
 And I his goode doughter, 
 
 And hath yeven nie mercy 
 
 To marie with myselve, 
 
 And what man be merciful 
 
 And leelly me love, 
 
 Shal be my lord and I his leef 
 
 In the heighe hevene. 
 
 " And what man taketh Mede, 
 Myn heed dar I legge, ow 
 
 That he shal lese for hire love 
 A lappe of caritatis. 
 
 " Howconstrueth David the king 
 Of men that taketh Mede, 
 And men of this moolde 
 That maynteneth truthe, 
 And how ye shul save yourself, 
 The sauter bereth witnesse : 
 Domine, quis habitahit in taberna- 
 culo tuo, etc. [maried 
 
 *' And now worth this Mede y- 
 Unto a maused sherewe, %i 
 
 To oon fals fikel tonge, 
 A fendes biyete ; 
 Favel thorugh his faire speche 
 Hath this folk enchaunteil. 
 And al is Lieres ledynge, 
 That she is thus y-wedded. 
 
 " To-morwe worth y-maked 
 The maydenes bridale, [wilt, 
 
 And there myghtow witen, if thow 
 Whiche tliei ben alle .m
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 31 
 
 That longen to that lorclshipe, 972 
 The lasse and the nioore. 
 Knowe hem there, if thow kanst, 
 And kepe thow thi tonge, 
 And lakke hem noght, but lat hem 
 Till leaut^ be justice, [worthe 
 
 And have power to punysshe hem, 
 Thanne put forth thi reson. 
 Now I bikenne thee Crist," quod 
 " And his clene moder, [she, 
 
 And lat no conscience acombre thee 
 For coveitise of Mede." sss 
 
 Tlius lefte me that lady 
 Liggynge a-slepe ; 
 And how Mede was y-maried 
 In metels me thoughte, 
 That al the riche retenaunce 
 That regneth with the false, 
 Were boden to the bridale 
 On bothe two sides, 
 Of alle manere of men 
 The meene and the riche ; 
 To marien this mayde 994 
 
 AVere many men assembled, 
 As of knyghtes and of clerkes, 
 And oother commune peple. 
 As sisours and somonours, 
 Sherreves and hire clerkes, 
 Bedelles and baillifs, 
 And brocours of chaffare, 
 Forgoers and vitaillers, 
 And advokettes of the arches ; 
 I kan noght rekene the route 
 That ran aboute Mede. 1005
 
 32 THE VISION OF 
 
 Ac Symonie and Cyvylle, looe 
 And sisours of courtes, 
 "Were moost pryvee with Made 
 Of any men, me thoughte. 
 Ac Favel was the firste 
 That fette hire out of boure, 
 And as a brocour broughte hire 
 To be with Fals enjoyned. 
 
 "Wlian Symonye and Cyvylle 
 Seighe hir bothe wille, 
 Thei assented, for silver, 
 To seye as bothe wolde. ioi7 
 
 Thanne leep Liere forth, and seide, 
 " Lo here a chartre ! " 
 That Gile with hise grete othes 
 Gaf hem togidere, 
 And preide Cyvylle to see, 
 And Symonye to rede it. 
 
 Thanne SjTnonye and Cyvylle 
 Stonden forth bothe, 
 And unfoldeth the feffement 
 That Fals hath y-maked, 
 And thus bigynnen thise gomes 102s 
 To greden fvd heighe : 
 Sciant prcesentes et futuri, etc. 
 
 Witeth and witnesseth, 
 That wonieth upon this erthe, 
 That Mede is y-maried 
 Moore for hire goodes 
 Than for any vertue or fairnesse, 
 Or any free kynde. 
 Falsnesse is fayn of hire, 
 For he woot hire riche ; 
 And Favel with his fikel speche 1039
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 33 
 
 Feflfeth by this chartre, i040 
 
 To be princes in pride 
 
 And poverte to despise, 
 
 To bakbite and to bosten, 
 
 And bere fals witnesse, 
 
 To scorne and to scolde, 
 
 And sclaundre to make, 
 
 Unbuxome and bolde 
 
 To breke the ten hestes. 
 
 And the erldoni of Envye 
 And Wrathe togideres, 
 With the chastilet of Cheste, 1051 
 And Chaterynge out of reson. 
 
 The countee of Coveitise, 
 And alle the costes aboute. 
 That is XJsure and Avarice, 
 Al I hem graunte. 
 In bargaynes and in brocages. 
 With al the burghe of Thefte, 
 
 And al the lordshipe of Leccherie 
 In lengthe and in brede, 
 As in werkes and in wordes, 
 And in waitynges with eighes, 1062 
 And in wedes and in wisshynges, 
 And with ydel thoughtes, 
 There as wil wolde 
 And werkmanshipe fayleth. 
 
 Glotonye he gaf hem ek, 
 And grete othes togidere, 
 And al day to drynken 
 At diverse tavernes, 
 And there to jangle and jape, 
 And jugge hir even cristen ; 
 And in fastynge dayes to frete 1073
 
 34 THE VISION OF 
 
 Er fill tyrae were, io74 
 
 And tlianne to sitten and soupeu 
 
 Til sleep hem assaille ; 
 
 And breden as burghe swyn, 
 
 And bedden hem esil}', 
 
 Til sleuthe and sleep 
 
 Sliken hise sydes, [hem so 
 
 And thanne wanhope to awaken 
 
 "With no wil to amende, 
 
 For he leveth be lost. 
 
 This is hir laste ende. ios4 
 
 And thei to have and to holds, 
 And hire heires after, 
 A dwellynge with the devel, 
 And dampned be for evere. 
 With alle the appurtinaunces of 
 
 purgatorie 
 Into the pyne of helle. 
 
 Yeldynge for this thyng, 
 At one dayes tyme. 
 Hire sonles to Sathan, 
 To suffre with hym peynes, 1095 
 And with hym to wonye with wo 
 "While God is in hevene. 
 
 In witnesse of which thyng, 
 Wrong was the firste. 
 And Piers the pardoner 
 Of Paulynes doctrine, 
 Bette the bedel 
 Of Bokyngham shire, 
 Reynald the reve 
 Of Rutland sokenc, 
 Maude the millere, 
 And many mo othere. 1107
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 35 
 
 In the date of the devel iios 
 
 This dede I ensele, 
 By sighte of Sire Symonie 
 And Cyvyles leeve. 
 
 Thanne tened hym Theologie, 
 Whan he this tale herde ; 
 And seide nnto Cyvyle, 
 "Now sorwe mote thow have, 
 Swiche weddynges to werche, 
 To wrathe with truthe ; 
 And er this weddynge be wroght, 
 Wo thee bitide ! 1119 
 
 " For Mede is muliere 
 Of Amendes engendred, 
 And God graunteth to gyve 
 Mede to Truthe ; 
 
 And thow hast gyven hire to agilour; 
 Xow God gyve thee sorwe ! 
 Thi text telleth thee noght so, 
 Truthe woot the sothe ; 
 For Dignus est operarius 
 His hire to have, 
 
 And thow hast fest hire to Fals, 1130 
 Fy on thi lawe ! 
 For al hi lesynges thow lyvest 
 And lecherouse werkes. 
 Symonye and thiself 
 Shenden holi chirche ; 
 The notaries and ye 
 Noyen the peple ; 
 Ye shul a-biggen it bothe, 
 By God that me made ! 
 
 " Wei ye witen, wernardes, 
 But if youre wit faille, 1141
 
 36 THE VISION OF 
 
 That Fals is feitlilees 1142 
 
 And fikel in hise werkes, 
 
 And was a bastarde y-bore 
 
 Of Belsabubbes kynne ; 
 
 And Mede is muliere, 
 
 A maiden of goode, 
 
 And myghte kisse the kyng 
 
 For cosyn, and she wolde. 
 
 " For-thi wercheth by wisdom, 
 And by wit also ; 
 And ledeth hire to Londone, 
 There it is y-shewed, 1153 
 
 If any lawe wol loke 
 Thei ligge togideres ; 
 And though justices juggen hire 
 To be joyned to Fals, 
 Yet be war of weddynge ; 
 For witty is Truthe, 
 And Conscience is of his counseil, 
 And knoweth yow echone, 
 And if he fynde yow in defaute 
 And with the false holde, 
 It shal bi-sitte youre soules ii64 
 Ful soure at the laste." 
 
 Herto assenteth Cyvyle, 
 Ac Symonye ne wolde, 
 Til he hadde silver for his service, 
 And also the notaries. 
 
 Thanne fette Favel forth 
 Floryns ynowe, 
 And bad Gile to gyven 
 Gold al aboute, 
 And namely to the notaries 
 That hem noon ne faille, 1175
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 37 
 
 And feffe false witnesses iire 
 
 With floryns ynowe, 
 " For tliei may Mede a-maistrye, 
 And maken at my wille." 
 
 Tho this gold was y-gyve, 
 Gret was the thonkyng 
 To Fals and to Favel 
 For hire faire giftes, 
 And comen to conforten 
 From care the false, 
 And seiden, " Certes, sire, 
 Cessen shul we nevere, iis7 
 
 Til Mede be tin wedded wif 
 Thorugh wittes of us alle ; 
 For we have Mede a-maistried 
 With oure murie speche. 
 That she graunteth to goon, 
 With a good wille, 
 To London, to loken 
 If the lawe wolde 
 Juggen yow joyntly 
 In joie for evere." 
 
 Thanne was Falsnesse fayn, ii98 
 And Favel as blithe, 
 And leten somone alle segges 
 In shires aboute. 
 And bad hem alle be bown, 
 Beggers and othere. 
 To wenden with hem to Westmyn- 
 To witnesse this dede. [stre 
 
 Ac thanne cared thei for caples 
 To carien hem thider. 
 And Favel fette forth thanne 
 Foles ynowe, 1209 
 
 VOL, I. F
 
 38 THE VISION OF 
 
 And sette ]\IeJe upon a sherreve 
 Shoed al newe. 
 
 And Fals sat on a sisour, 
 That softeli trotted ; 
 And Favel on a flaterere 
 Fetisly atired. 
 
 Tho hadde notaries none, 
 Anoyed tliei were, 
 For Symonye and Cyvylle 
 Sholde on hire feet gange. 
 
 Ac thanne swoor Symonye, 
 And Cyvylle bothe, 1221 
 
 That somonours sholde be sadeled 
 And serven hem echone, 
 And late apparaille thise provisours 
 In palfreyes wise, 
 Sire Symonye hymself 
 Shal sitte upon hir bakkes. 
 
 "Denes and southdenes, 
 Drawe vow togideres, 
 Erchdekenes and officials, 
 And alle youre registrers, 
 Lat sadle hem with silver 1232 
 
 Oure synne to suffre. 
 As avoutrye and divorses, 
 And derne usurie. 
 To here bisshopes aboute 
 A-brood in visitpige. 
 
 " Paulynes pry vees 
 For pleintes in consistorie, 
 Shul serven myself 
 That Cyvyle is nempned. 
 
 " And cart-sadle the commissarie, 
 Oure cart shal he lede, 1243
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 39 
 
 And fecclien us vitailles. 1244 
 
 At Fornicatores. 
 
 And maketh of Lyere a lang cart 
 To leden alle tliise otliere, 
 As freres and faitours, 
 That on hire feet rennen." 
 
 And thus Fals and Favel 
 Fareth forth togideres, 
 And Mede in the middes, 
 And alle thise men after. 
 
 I have no tome to telle 
 The tail that hire folwed ; 1255 
 
 Ac Gjde was for-goer, 
 And gyed hem alle. 
 
 Sothnesse seigh hem wel, 
 And seide but litel, 
 And priked his palfrey, 
 And passed hem alle, 
 And com to the kynges court, 
 And Conscience it tolde ; 
 And Conscience to the kyng 
 Carped it after. 1265 
 
 " Now, by Crist," quod the kyng, 
 "And I cacche myghte 
 Fals or Favel, 
 Or any of hise feeris, 
 I wolde be wroken of the wrecches 
 That wercheth so ille. 
 And doon hem hange by the hals, 
 And alle that hem maynteneth ; 
 Shal nevere man of this molde 
 Meynprise the leeste, 
 But right as the lawe wol loke, 
 Lat falle on hem alle." isre
 
 40 THE VISION OF 
 
 And comaunded a constable i278 
 That com at the firste, 
 To attachen tho tyrauntz, 
 " For any thyng I hote, 
 And fettreth faste Falsnesse, 
 For any kyunes giftes, 
 And girdeth of Gyles heed, 
 And lat hym go no ferther ; 
 And if ye lacche Lyere, 
 Lat hym noght ascapen 
 Er he be put on the pillory, 
 For any preyere, I hote ; ^239 
 
 And bryngeth ]\rede to me 
 jMaugree hem alle." 
 
 Drede at the dore stood, 
 And the doom herde, 
 And how the kyng comaunded 
 Constables and sergeauntz 
 Falsnesse and his felawshipe 
 To fettren and to bynden. 
 
 Thanne Drede wente wyghtliche, 
 And "warned the False, 
 And bad hym fie for fere, 1300 
 
 And hise felawes alle. 
 
 Falsnesse for fere thanne 
 Fleigh to the Ifreres, 
 And Gyle dooth hym to go, 
 A-gast for to dye ; 
 Ac marchauntz metten with hym 
 And made hym abide, 
 And bi-shetten hym in hire shoppes 
 To shewen hire ware, 
 Apparailed hym as apprentice 
 The peple to serve. 1311
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 41 
 
 Lightliche Lyere 1312 
 
 Leep awey tlianne, 
 Lurkynge thorugh lanes, 
 To-lugged of nianye. 
 He was nowher -welcome, 
 For his manye tales, 
 Over al y-honted, 
 And y-hote trusse, 
 Til pardoners hadde pite, 
 And pulled hym into house. 
 They -wesshen hym and wiped hym, 
 And wounden hjTa in cloutes, 1323 
 And senten hym with seles 
 On Sondayes to chirches, 
 And yeven pardoun for pens 
 Pounde-mele aboute. 
 
 Thanne lourede leches, 
 And lettres thei sente, 
 That he sholde wonye with hem 
 "Watres to loke. 
 
 Spycers speken with hj-m, 
 To spien hire ware ; 
 For he kouthe of hir craft, 1334 
 
 And knewe manye gommes. 
 
 And mynstrales and messagers 
 Mette with hym ones, 
 And helden hym an half-yeer 
 And ellevene dayes. 
 
 Freres with fair speche 
 Fetten hym pennes. 
 And for knowj-nge of comeres 
 Coped hym as a frere ; 
 Ac he hath leve to lepen out. 
 As ofte as hym liketh, 1345
 
 42 THE VISION. 
 
 And is welcome wlian lie wile, i346 
 And woneth with hem ofte. 
 
 Alle fledden for fere, 
 And flowen into hemes ; 
 Save Mede the mayde, 
 Ka-mo dorste abide. 
 Ac trewely to telle, 
 She trembled for drede, 
 And ek wepte and wrong, 
 "Whan she was attached. ,0== 

 
 Passus Tertius de Visione, ut supra. 
 
 'OW is Mede the mayde, 
 ■^ And na-mo of hem alia, 
 With bedeles and witli 
 baillies 
 Brought bifore the kyng. 
 
 The kyng called a clerk, 
 Kan I noght his name, 
 To take Mede the maide 
 And maken hire at ese. 
 " I shal assayen hire myself. 
 And soothliche appose, 
 What man of this moolde 
 That hire were levest. i367 
 
 And if she werche bi wit. 
 And my wil folwe, 
 I wol forgyven hire this gilt, 
 So me God helpe ! " 
 
 Curteisly the clerk thanne, 
 As the kyng highte, 
 Took Mede bi the myddel 
 And broghte hire into chambre ; 
 And ther was murthe and mynstral- 
 Mede to plese. [cie. 
 
 They that wonyeth in Westmyn- 
 stre 
 Worshipeth hire alle, i380
 
 44 THE VISION OF 
 
 Gentilliche with joye ; issi 
 
 The justices somme 
 
 Busked hem to the hour 
 
 Ther the burde dwellode, 
 
 To conforten hire kyndely, 
 
 By clergies leve ; 
 
 And seiden, "Mourne noght, Mede, 
 
 Xe make thow no sorwe ; 
 
 For we wol wisse the kyng, 
 
 And thi wey shape, 
 
 To be wedded at thi wille, 
 
 And wher thee leef liketh, 1392 
 
 For al Consciences cast 
 
 Or craft, as I trowe." 
 
 Mildely IMede thanne 
 !Merciede hem alle 
 Of hire grete goodnesse, 
 And gaf hem echone 
 Coupes of clene gold, 
 And coppes of silver, 
 Eynges with rubies. 
 And richesses manye ; 
 The leeste man of hire meynee 1403 
 A moton of golde. 
 Than laughte thei leve 
 Thise lordes at Mede. 
 
 "With that comen clerkes 
 To conforten hire the same, 
 And beden hire be blithe ; 
 "For we beth thyne owene. 
 For to werche thi wille, 
 The while thow myght laste." 
 
 Hendiliche heo thanne 
 Bi-hidite hem the same, 1414
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 45 
 
 To loven hem lelly, i4i5 
 
 And lordes to make, 
 
 And in the consistorie at the court 
 
 Do callen hire names ; 
 
 " Shal no lewednesse lette 
 
 The leode that I lovye, 
 
 That he ne worth first avaunced ; 
 
 For I am bi-knowen, 
 
 There konnynge clerkes 
 
 Shul cloli;ke bi-hynde." 
 
 Thanne cam ther a confessour, 
 Coped as a frere ; i426 
 
 To Mede the mayde 
 He meved thise wordes, 
 And seide ful softely, 
 In shrift as it were, 
 " Theigh lewed men and lered men 
 Hadde leyen by thee bothe, 
 And Falsnesse hadde y-folwed thee 
 Alle thise fifty wynter, 
 I shal assoille thee myself 
 For a seem of whete, 
 And also be thi bedeman, 1437 
 
 And here wel thi message 
 Amonges knyghtes and clerkes, 
 Conscience to torne." 
 
 Thanne Mede for hire mysdedes 
 To that man kneled, 
 And shrof hire of hire sherewed- 
 Shamelees, I trowe ; [nesse, 
 
 Tolde hym a tale, 
 And took hym a noble, 
 For to ben hire bedeman 
 And hire brocour als. i448
 
 46 THE VISION OF 
 
 Thanne he assoiled hire sooue, 
 And sithen he seide, 
 " "We have a wyudow in werchynge 
 "Wole sitten us ful hye, 
 Woldestow glaze that gable 
 And grave therinne thy name, 
 Syker sholde thi soule be 
 Hevene to have." 
 
 *' Wiste I that," quod that wom- 
 " I wolde noght spare [man, 
 
 For to be youre frend, frere, 
 And faile yow nevere, iiiiu 
 
 While ye love lordes 
 That lecherie haunten, 
 And lakketh noght ladies 
 That loven wel the same. 
 It is freletee of flesshe, 
 Ye fyndeu it in bokes, 
 And a cours of kynde 
 ^^Tierof we comen alls. 
 "VVho may scape sclaundre, 
 The scathe is soone amended ; 
 It is synne of the sevene ^47^ 
 
 Sonnest relessed. 
 
 Have mercy," quod Mede, 
 " Of men that it haunteth, 
 And I shal covere youre kirk, 
 Youre cloistre do maken, 
 Wowes do whiten, 
 And wyndowes glazen, 
 Do peynten and portraye, 
 And paie for the makynge. 
 That every segge shal seye 
 I am suster of youre house." i482
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 47 
 
 Ac God to alle good folk i483 
 Swich gravynge defendeth, 
 To writen in wyndowes 
 Of hir wel dedes, 
 
 An aventure pride be peynted there, 
 And pomp of the world ; 
 For Crist knoweth thi conscience, 
 And thi kynde wille, 
 And thi cost and tlii coveitise, 
 And who the catel oughte. 
 
 For-thi I lere yow, lordes, 
 Leveth swiche werkes ; 1494 
 
 To writen in wyndowes 
 Of youre wel dedes, 
 Or to greden after Goddes men 
 Whan ye dele doles, 
 On aventure ye have youre hire here, 
 And youre lievene als. 
 Nesciat sinistra quid facial dextra. 
 
 Lat noght thi left half 
 Late ne rathe 
 Wite what thow werchest 
 Yfith thi right syde ; 1505 
 
 For thus by the gospel 
 Goode men doon hir almesse. 
 
 Maires and maceres. 
 That menes ben bitwene 
 The kyng and the comune 
 To kepe the lawes, 
 To punysshe on pillories 
 And pynynge-stooles, 
 Brewesters and baksters, 
 Bochiers and cokes, 
 For thise are men on this molde 1516
 
 48 THE VISION OF 
 
 That moost harm wercheth 1517 
 
 To the povere peple 
 
 That percel-mele buggen ; 
 
 For thei enpoisone the peple 
 
 Pryveliche and ofte, 
 
 Thei lichen thorugh regratrie, 
 
 And rentes hem biggen, 
 
 With that the povere peple 
 
 Sholde putte in hire -wombe. 
 
 For toke thei on trewely, 
 
 Thei tymbred nought so heighe, 
 
 Ne boughte none burgages, i528 
 
 Be ye ful certeyne, 
 Ac Mede the mayde 
 
 The mair hath bi-sought 
 
 Of alle swiche selleris 
 
 Silver to take, 
 
 Or presentz withouten pens, 
 
 As pieces of silver, 
 
 Eynges or oother lichesse, 
 
 The regratiers to mayntene ; 
 
 "For my love," quod that lady, 
 
 " Love hem echone, 1539 
 
 And suflFre hem to selle 
 
 Som del ayeins reson." 
 Salomon the sage 
 
 A sermon he made. 
 
 For to amenden maires 
 
 And men that kepen lawes ; 
 
 And tolde hem this teme, 
 
 That I telle tliynke, 
 
 Ignis devorahit tahernacula eorum 
 qui lihenUr accipiunt munera, 
 etc. 1550
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 49 
 
 Among thise lettrede leodes 1551 
 This Latyn is to mene, 
 That fir shal falle and brenne 
 Al to bloo askes 
 The houses and homes 
 Of hem that desireth 
 Yiftes or yeres-yeves 
 By cause of hire offices. 
 
 The kyng fro the conseil cam, 
 And called after Mede, 
 And of sente hire as swithe 
 With sergeauntz manye, 1502 
 
 And broughte hire to boure 
 With blisse and with joye. 
 
 Curteisly the kyng thanne 
 Comsed to telle, 
 To Mede the mayde 
 He meveth thise wordes, 
 " Unwittily, womman, 
 Wroght hastow ofte, 
 Ac worse wroghtestow nevere 
 Than tho thow Fals toke. 
 But I forgyve thee that gilt, 1573 
 And graunte thee my grace ; 
 Hennes to thi deeth day 
 Do so na-moore. 
 
 " I have a knyght Conscience, 
 Cam late fro biyonde ; 
 If he wilneth thee to wif, 
 Wiltow hym have 1 " 
 
 " Ye, lord," quod that lady, 
 " Lord forbede it ellis ! 
 But I be holly at youre lieste, 
 Lat hange me soone." 1534
 
 50 THE VISION OF 
 
 And thanne was Conscience called 
 To come and appere 
 Eifore the kyng and his conseil, 
 As clerkes and othere. 
 
 Knelynge Conscience 
 To the kyng louted, 
 To wite what his wille were, 
 And what he do wolde. 
 
 "Woltow wedde this womman," 
 " If I wole assente? [quod the kyng, 
 For she is fayn of thi felaweshipe. 
 For to be thi make." ism 
 
 Quod Conscience to the kyng, 
 " Crist it me forbede ! 
 Er I wedde swich a wif, 
 Wo me bitide ! 
 For she is frele of hire feith, 
 Fikel of hire speche. 
 And maketh men mysdo 
 Many score tymes ; 
 Trust of hire tresor 
 Bitrayeth ful manye. 
 
 " Wyves and widewes 1607 
 
 Wantonnes she techeth, 
 And lereth hem lecherie 
 That loveth hire giftes. 
 Youre fader slie felled 
 Thorugh false biheste, 
 And hath enpoisoned popes, 
 And peired holy chirche. 
 Is noght a bettre baude, 
 By hym that me made ! 
 Bitwene hevene and helle, 
 In erthe thouLdi men soughte. lois
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 51 
 
 For she is tikel of hire tail, 1019 
 And tale-wis of hire tonge ; 
 As commune as a cartwey 
 To ech a knave that walketh, 
 To monkes, to mynstrales, 
 To meseles in hegges, 
 
 " Sisours and somonours, 
 Swiche men hire preiseth ; 
 Sherreves of shires 
 Were shent if she ne were ; 
 For she dooth men lese hire lond 
 And hire Hf bothe ; leso 
 
 She leteth passe prisoners, 
 And paieth for hem ofte, 
 And gyveth the gailers gold 
 And grotes togidres. 
 To unfettre the fals 
 Fie where hym liketh ; 
 And taketh the trewe hi the top 
 And tieth hem faste, 
 And hangeth hem for hatrede 
 That harm dide nevere. 
 
 " To be corsed in consistorie 1641 
 She counteth noght a bene ; 
 For she copeth the commissarie, 
 And coteth hise clerkes. 
 She is assoiled as soone 
 As hireself liketh ; 
 And may neigh as muche do 
 In a monthe one, 
 As youre secret seel 
 In sixe score dayes. 
 For she is pryvee with the pope, 
 Provisours it knoweth ; 1652
 
 52 THE VI SI OX OF 
 
 For sire Symonie and liirselve i653 
 Seleth hire bullos. 
 
 " She blesseth thise bisshopes, 
 Theigh thei be lewed ; 
 Provendreth persones, 
 And preestes maynteneth, 
 To have lemmans and lotebies 
 AUe hire lif daies, 
 And bryngeth forth barnes 
 Ayein forbode lawes. 
 Ther she is wel with the kyng, 
 Wo is the reaume ; i664 
 
 For she is favourable to fals, 
 And de-fouleth truthe ofte. 
 
 " By Jhesus ! with hire jeweles 
 Youre justices she shendeth, 
 And lith ayein the lawe, 
 And letteth hym the gate, 
 That feith niaynoglit have his forth, 
 Hire floryns go so thikke. 
 She ledeth the lawe as hire list. 
 And love-daies maketh. 
 And doth men lesethorugh hire love, 
 That lawe niyghte wynne 
 The maze for a mene man, 
 Though he mote hire evere. 
 Lawe is so lordlich 
 And looth to maken ende, 
 Withouten pre?entz or pens 
 She pleseth wel fewe. 
 
 " Barons and burgeises 
 She bryngeth in sorwe. 
 And al the comune in care 
 That coveiten ly ve in truthe ; lese
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 53 
 
 For clergie and coveitise i687 
 
 She coupleth togidres. 
 
 This is the lif of that lady ; 
 
 Xow Lord gyve hire sorwe ! 
 
 And alle that maynteneth hire men, 
 
 Meschaunce hem bitide ! 
 
 For povere men may have no power 
 
 To pleyne hem, though thei smerte. 
 
 Swich a maister is Mede 
 
 Among men of goode." 
 
 Thanne mournede Mede, 
 And mened hire to the kynge i698 
 To have space to speke, 
 Spede if she myghte. 
 
 The kyng graunted hire grace, 
 With a good wille, 
 " Excuse thee, if thow kanst ; 
 I kan na-moore seggen. 
 For Conscience accuseth thee, 
 To congeien thee for evere." 
 
 " Nay, lord," quod that lady, 
 " Leveth hyni the werse, 
 Whan ye witen witterly iro9 
 
 Wher the wrong liggeth. 
 Ther that meschief is gret, 
 Mede may helpe. 
 And thow knowest, Conscience, 
 I kam noght to chide 
 Ne deprave thi persone, 
 With a proud herte, 
 Wei thow woost, wernarde, 
 But if thow wolt gabhe, 
 Thow hast hanged on myn half 
 Ellevene tymes, 3720 
 
 G
 
 54 THE VISION OF 
 
 And also griped uiy gold, irm 
 
 Gyve it ■\vhure thee liked ; 
 And ^vlii thow wrathest thee now, 
 Wonder me thynketh. 
 Yet I may as I myghte 
 Menske thee with giftes, 
 And mayntene thi manhode 
 Moore than thow knowest. 
 
 "Ac thow hast famed me foule 
 Bifore the kyng here ; 
 For killed I nevere no kyng 
 Ke counselled therafter, 1732 
 
 Ne dide as thow demest 
 I do it on the kynge. 
 
 " In Xormandie was he noght 
 Noyed for my sake ; 
 Ac thow thiself soothly 
 8hamedest hym ofte, 
 Crope into a cabane 
 For cold of thi nayles, 
 Wendest that wynter 
 AYolde han y-lasted evere, 
 And dreddest to be ded 1:43 
 
 For a dym cloude, 
 And hyedest homward 
 For hunger of thi wombe. 
 
 " Withouten pit^, pilour, 
 Povere men thow robbedest ; 
 And here hire bras at thi bak 
 To Caleis to selle, 
 Ther I lafte with my lord. 
 His lif for to save. 
 I made his men murye, 
 And mournynge lette ; 1T54
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 55 
 
 I hatred hem on the bak, 1755 
 
 And boldede hire hertes, 
 
 And dide hem hoppe for hope 
 
 To have me at wille. 
 
 Hadde I ben marchal of his men, 
 
 By Marie of hevene ! 
 
 I dorste have leyd my lif, 
 
 And no lasse wedde, 
 
 He sholde have be lord of that lond 
 
 In lengthe and in brede, 
 
 And also kyng of that kith 
 
 His kyn for to helpe, iroe 
 
 The leeste brol of his blood 
 
 A barones piere. 
 
 " Cowardly thow, Conscience, 
 Conseiledest hym thennes, 
 To leven his lordshipe 
 For a litel silver, 
 That is the richeste reaume 
 That reyn over-hoveth. 
 
 " It bi-cometh to a kyng 
 That kepeth a reaume, 
 To yeve mede to men, 1777 
 
 That mekely hym serveth, 
 To aliens and to alle men, 
 To honouren hem with giftes ; 
 Mede maketh hym bi-loved 
 And for a man h olden, 
 
 "Emperours and erles, 
 And alle manere lordes. 
 For giftes han yonge men 
 To renne and to ryde. 
 
 " The pope and alle the prelates 
 Presentz underfongen, nss
 
 56 THE VISION OF 
 
 And niedeth men liemselven i7S9 
 To mayntene hir lawes. 
 
 " Sergeauntz for hire servyce, 
 We seeth wel the sothe, 
 Taken mede of hir maistres, 
 As thei mowe acorde. 
 
 " Beggeres for hir biddynge, 
 Bidden men mede. 
 
 " Mynstrales for hir myrthe, 
 Mede thei aske. 
 
 "The kyng hath mede of his men, 
 To make pees in londe. isno 
 
 " Men that teche children, 
 Craven after mede. 
 
 " Preestes that prechen the peple 
 To goode, asken mede, 
 And massepens and hire mete 
 At the meel-tymes. 
 
 " Alle kynne craftes men 
 Craven mede for hir prentices, 
 
 " ]\Iarchauntz and Mede 
 Mote nede go togideres. 
 !Xo wight, as I wene, isu 
 
 Withouten mede may libbe." 
 
 Quod the kyng to Conscience, 
 "By Crist ! as me thynketh, 
 jNIede is well worthi 
 The maistrie to have." 
 
 " Nay," quod Conscience to the 
 And kneled to the erthe, [kyng, 
 " Ther are two manere of medes, 
 My lord, with youre leve. 
 
 " That oon God of his grace 
 Graunteth in his blisse 1822
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 57 
 
 To tho that wel ■werchen, 1823 
 
 While thei ben here ; 
 The prophete precheth therof, 
 And putte it in the Sauter, 
 Domine, quis hahitahit in taherna- 
 culo tuo ? [wones, 
 
 " Lord, who shal wonye in thi 
 And witli thyne holy seintes, 
 Or resten in thyne holy hilles ? 
 This asketh David ; 
 And David assoileth it hymself, 
 As the Sauter telleth. 1334 
 
 Qui ingreditur sine macula et ope- 
 ratur justitiam. 
 " Tho that entren of colour, 
 And of one wille, 
 And han y-wroght werkes 
 "With right and with reson ; 
 And he that useth noght 
 The lyf of usurie, 
 And enformeth povere men, 
 And pursueth truthe. 
 Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad 
 usuram, et nmnera super innoc. 
 <itG. [cent, 
 
 "And alle that helpen the inno- 
 And holden with the rightfulle, 
 Withouten mede doth hem good. 
 And the truthe helpeth, 
 Swiche manere men, my lord, 
 Shul have this firste mede 
 Of God at a gret nede, 
 Whan thei gon hennes. [lees, 
 
 " Ther is another mede mesure-
 
 58 THE VISION OF 
 
 That maistres desireth, is57 
 
 To mayntene niysJoers 
 Mede thei take, 
 And therof seith the Sauter 
 In a salmes eude, 
 
 In quorum manihus iniquitates 
 sunt, dextra eorum repleta est 
 munerihus. 
 
 "And he that gripeth hir gold, 
 So nie God helpe ! 
 Shal abien it bittre, 
 Ur the book lieth. iscs 
 
 " Preestes and persons 
 That plesynge desireth, 
 That taken mede and moneie 
 For masses that thei syngeth, 
 Taken hire mede here. 
 As Mathew us techeth. 
 Ameri, Amen, redpiehant mercedem 
 suam. 
 
 " Thiat laborers and lowe folk 
 Taken of hire maistres, 
 It is no manere mede, as79 
 
 But a mesurable hire. 
 
 " In marchaundise is no mede, 
 I may it wel avowe, 
 It is a permutacion apertly, 
 A penyworth for another. 
 
 " Ac reddestow nevere Regum ? 
 Thow recrayed Mede, 
 "Whi the vengeaunce fel 
 On Saul and on his children ? 
 God sente to Saul 
 Ly Samuel the prophete, i890
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 59 
 
 That Agag of Amalec, isoi 
 
 And al his peple after, 
 Sholden deye for a dede 
 That doon hadde hire eldres. 
 
 "For-thi seide Samuel to Saul, 
 ' God hymself hoteth 
 Thee be buxom at his biddynge, 
 His wil to f ulfille ; 
 Weend to Amalec with thyn oost, 
 And what thow fyndest there sle it, 
 Burnes and beestes 
 Bren hem to dethe, 1902 
 
 Widwes and wyves, 
 Wommen and children, 
 Moebles and un-moebles, 
 And al thow myght fynde, 
 Bren it, here it noght awey, 
 Be it never so riche, 
 For mede ne for monee, 
 Loke thow destruye it, 
 Spille it and spare it noght, 
 Thow shalt spede the bettre.' 
 
 " And for he coveited hir catel, 
 A.nd the kyng spared, 
 Forbar hym and his beestes bothe, 
 As the Bible witnesseth, 
 Mother wise than he was 
 Warned of the prophete, 
 'jrod seide to Samuel 
 That Saul sholde deye, 
 A.nd al his seed for that synne 
 Shenfulliche ende. 
 Swich a meschief Mede made 
 Saul the kyng to have, 1924
 
 60 THE VISION OF 
 
 That God liated hj-m for evere, 1925 
 And alle hise heires after. 
 
 "The culorum of this cas 
 Ivepe I noght to telle, 
 On aventure it noyed men, 
 Noon ende wol I make, 
 For so is this ^vorld went 
 With hem that han power, 
 That who so seith hem sothest 
 Is sonnest y-blamed. 
 
 " Conscience knowe this, 
 For kynde wit it me taughte, losj 
 That Keson shal regne 
 And rea\;mes governe, 
 And right as Agag hadde, 
 Happe shnl somme, 
 Samuel shal sleen hym. 
 And Saul shal be blamed, 
 And David shal be diademed, 
 And daunten hem alle ; 
 And oon cristene kyng 
 Kepen hem alle. 
 
 Shal na-moore Mede 1941 
 
 Be maister, as she is nouthe ; t 
 
 Ac love and lowenesse ' 
 
 And leautee togideres, 
 Thise shul ben maistres on moolde 
 Truths to save. [truth e 
 
 "And who so trespaseth ayeii; 
 Or taketh ayein his wille, I 
 
 Leautt^ shal don hym lawe, 
 And no lif ellis ; 
 Shall no sergeaunt for his service 
 Were a silk howve, 1953
 
 PIEES PLOUGHMAN. 61 
 
 Ne no pelure in his cloke 1959 
 
 For pledynge at the barre. 
 Mede of mysdoeres 
 Maketh manye lordes, 
 And over lordes lawes 
 Ruleth the reaumes. 
 
 " Ac kynde love shal come yit, 
 And conscience togideres, 
 And make of lawe a laborer ; 
 Swich love shal arise, 
 And swich a pees among the peple, 
 And a perfit truthe, 1970 
 
 That Jewes shul wene in hire wit, 
 And wexen wonder glade, 
 That Moyses or Messie 
 Be come into this erthe, 
 And have Avonder in hire hertes 
 That men beth so trewe. 
 
 " Alle that beren baselarde, 
 Brood swerd or launce, 
 Ax outlier hachet, 
 Or any wepene ellis, 
 Shal be demed to the deeth, igsi 
 But if he do it smythye 
 Into sikel or to sithe, 
 To shaar or to kultour ; 
 Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres, 
 etc. 
 
 •' Ech man to pleye with a plow, 
 Pykoise or spade, 
 Spynne or sprede donge. 
 Or spille hymself with sleuthe. 
 
 " Preestes and persons 
 With Placebo to hunte, 1992
 
 62 THE VISION OF 
 
 And dyngen upon David 1993 
 
 Eclie day til eve. 
 
 Huntynge or haukynge 
 
 If any of hem use, 
 
 His boost of his benefice 
 
 "Worth by-nomen hym after. 
 
 Shal neither kyng ne knyght, 
 
 Constable ne meire, 
 
 Overlede the coniniune, 
 
 Ne to the court sompne, 
 
 Ne putte hem in panel 
 
 To doon hem plighte hir truthe ; 
 
 But after the dede that is doon 
 
 Oon doom shal rewarde, 
 
 Mercy or no mercy, 
 
 As truthe wole acorde. [court, 
 
 "Kynges court and commune 
 Consistorie and chapitle, 
 Al shal be but oon court, 
 And oon baron be justice. 
 Thanne worth Trewe-tonge a tidy 
 That tened me nevere ; [man, 
 
 Batailles shul none be, 2015 
 
 Ne no man here wepene ; 
 And what smyth that any smytheth. 
 Be smyte therwith to dethe. 
 Non levahit gens contra gentem 
 gladium, etc. 
 
 " And er this fortune falle, 
 Fynde men shul the worste, 
 By sixe sonnes and a shipe, 
 And half a shef of arwes, 
 And the myddel of a moone, 
 Shal make the Jewes to torne, 2020
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 63 
 
 And Sarzynes for that sighte 2027 
 Shul synge Gloria in excelsis, etc. 
 For Makometh and Mede 
 Mys-hapi^e shul that tyme, 
 For melius est honum nomen qiiavi 
 divitice mult(B" 
 Al so wroth as the Avynd 
 Weex Mede in a while, 
 " I kan no Latyn," quod she, 
 "Clerkes wite the sothe ; 
 Se what Salomon scith 
 In Sapience hokes, 203s 
 
 That thei that gyven giftes 
 The victorie wyniieth. 
 And moost worshipe hadde ther 
 As holy writ telleth : [with 
 
 Honorem adquiret qui dat niunera, 
 ^tc. [science, 
 
 "Leve wel, lady," quod Con- 
 " That thi Latyn be trewe ; 
 
 Ac thow art lik a lady 
 That radde a lesson ones, 
 
 Was omnia iDTohate, 2049 
 
 And that plesed hire herte ; 
 
 For that lyne was no lenger 
 
 At tlie leves ende. 
 
 Hadde she loked that oother half, 
 
 And the leef torned, 
 
 She sholdehave founden fele wordes 
 
 Folvvynge therafter, 
 
 Quod honum est tenete ; 
 
 Truthe that text made. 
 
 And so ferde ye, madame, 
 
 Ye kouthe na-moore fynde, 2ot!o
 
 64 THE VISION. 
 
 Tho ye loked on Sapience 2061 
 
 Sittynge in youre studie. 
 This text that ye han told 
 "Were good for lordes ; 
 Ac yow fayled a konnynge clerk 
 That kouthe the leef han torned. 
 And if ye seche Sapience eft, 
 Fynde shul ye that folweth, 
 A ful teneful text 
 To hem that taketh mede ; 
 And that is anirnam auteni aufert 
 accijneniiurn, etc., 20-2 
 
 And that is the tail of the text ; 
 Of that that she shewed, 
 That theigh we wynne worshipe, 
 And with mede have victorie, 
 The soule that the sonde taketh 
 By so muche is bounde." 2078 
 
 vkr iti 'iif il/ vkf 
 \tr vb \t/
 
 Passus Quartus de Visione, ut 
 supra. 
 
 ^ESSETH," seith the kyng, 
 LV|(^^ " I suffre yow no lenger ; 
 ^^^ _ Ye shul saughtne for sothe, 
 c::^,=£S(tJ» j^^^ serve me bothe. 
 
 Kis hire," quod the kyng, 
 
 •' Conscience, I hote." [science, 
 
 "Kay, by Crist!" quod Con- 
 " Congeye me er for evere, 
 But Eeson rede me therto. 
 Rather wol I deye." [the kyng, 
 
 "And I comaunde thee," quod 
 To Conscience thanne, 
 " Eape thee to ryde, 2091 
 
 And Eeson thow fecche ; 
 Comaunde hym that he come 
 My counseil to here, 
 For he shal rule my reaume 
 And rede me the beste, 
 And acounte with thee, Conscience, 
 So me Crist helpe ! 
 How thow lernest the peple, 
 The lered and the lewed." 
 
 " I am fayn of that foreward," 
 Seide the freke thanne, 2102
 
 66 THE VISION OF 
 
 And ryt right to Reson, 2103 
 
 And rouneth in his ere, 
 And seide as the kyng bad, 
 And sithcn took his leve. 
 
 " I shal arraye me to ryde," quod 
 " Eeste thee a while." [Reson, 
 
 And called Caton his knave, 
 Curteis of speche. 
 And also Tomme Trewe-tonge, — 
 " Tel me no tales, 
 Xe lesynge to laughen of. 
 For I loved hem nevere ; 2114 
 
 And set my sadel upon Suffre, 
 Til I se my tynie, 
 And lat warroke hym wel 
 "\^'ith witty-wordes gerthes, 
 And hange on hym the hevy brydel 
 To holde his heed lowe, 
 For he wol make ' wehee ! ' 
 Twies er he be there." 
 
 Thanne Conscience upon his 
 Carieth forth faste, [capul 
 
 And Reson with hym ryt, 2125 
 
 Rownynge togideres, 
 "Whiche maistries Mede 
 Maketh on this erthe. 
 
 Oon Waryn Wisdom, 
 And Witty his feere, 
 Fohved hym faste, 
 For thei hadde to doone [rye, 
 
 In th'escheker and in the chaunce- 
 To ben descharged of thynges ; 
 And riden faste, for Reson sholde 
 Rede hem the beste, 2130
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 67 
 
 For to save hem for silver 2137 
 
 From shame and from harmes. 
 And Conscience knew hem wel, 
 Thei loved coveitise ; 
 And bad Reson ryde faste, 
 And recche of hir neither, 
 "Ther are wiles in hire wordes, 
 And with Mede thei dwelleth ; 
 Ther as wrathe and wranglynge is, 
 Ther wj^nne thei silver ; 
 Ac where is love and leautee, 
 Thei wol noght come there. 2143 
 Gontritio et infelicitas in viis eorum, 
 etc. 
 
 " Thei ne yeveth noght of God 
 One goose wynge. 
 Non est thnor Dei ante oculos 
 eorum, etc. 
 
 "For woot God thei wolde do 
 For a dozeyne chicknes, [moore 
 Or as manye capons, 
 Or for a seem of otes, 
 Than for the love of oure Lord, 2159 
 Or alle hise leeve seintes. 
 For-thi Reson lat hem ride, 
 Tho riche by hemselve, 
 For Conscience knoweth hem noght, 
 Ne Crist, as I trowe." 
 And thanne Reson rood faste 
 The righte heighe gate. 
 As Conscience hym kenned. 
 Til thei come to the kynge. 
 
 Curteisly the kyng thanne 
 Com ayeins Reson, 2170
 
 G8 THE VISION OF 
 
 And bitwene hymself and his sone 
 Sette liyui on benclie ; 
 And wordeden wel wisely 
 A grot while togideres. 
 
 And thanne com Pees into par- 
 And putte forth a bille, [lenient. 
 How Wrong ayeins his wille 
 Hadde his wif taken, 
 And how he ravysshede Rose 
 Reginaldes loove, 
 And jNIargrete of hir maydenhede 
 Maugree hire chekes. 2is2 
 
 " Bothe my gees and my grys 
 Hise gadelynges feccheth, 
 I dar noght for fere of hem 
 Fighte ne chide. 
 He borwed of me Bayard, 
 He brouglite hym hom nevere, 
 Ne no fertliyng therfore, 
 For ought I koude plede. 
 He maynteneth hise men 
 To murthere myne hewen, 
 Forstalleth my feires, 2193 
 
 And fighteth in my chepyng, 
 And breketh up my bernes dore, 
 And bereth awey my whete, 
 And taketh me but a taill^ 
 For ten quarters of otes ; 
 And yet he beteth me therto, 
 And lyth by my mayde. 
 I am noght hardy for hym 
 XJnnethe to loke." 
 
 The kyng knew he seide sooth, 
 For Conscience hym tolde sm
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 69 
 
 That "Wrong was a wikked luft, 2205 
 And wroghte muche sorwe. 
 
 Wrong was afered thanne, 
 And Wisdom he soughte, 
 To maken pees with hise pens ; 
 And profred hym manye, 
 And seide, "Hadde I love of my lord 
 Litel wolde I recche, [the kyng, 
 Theigh Pees and his power 
 Pleyned hym evere." 
 
 Tho wente Wisdom 
 And sire Waryn the Witty, 2216 
 For that Wrong hadde y-wroght 
 So wikked a dede, 
 And warnede Wrong tho 
 With swich a wis tale, 
 " Who so wercheth by wille, 
 Wrathe maketh ofte ; 
 I sey it by myself, 
 Thow shalt it wel fynde ; 
 But if Mede it make, 
 Thi meschief is uppe. 
 For bothe thi lif and thi lond 2227 
 Lyth in his grace." 
 
 Thanne wowede Wrong 
 Wisdom ful yerne, 
 To maken pees with his pens, 
 Handy dandy payed. 
 
 Wisdom and Wit thanne 
 Wenten togidres, 
 And token Mede myd hem 
 Mercy to wynne. 
 
 Pees putte forth his heed, 
 And his panne blody, 2233 
 
 H
 
 70 THE VISION OF 
 
 " "Withoutcn gilt, God it woot, 2239 
 Gat I this scathe ; 
 Conscience and the commune 
 Knowen the sothe." 
 
 Ac ^^'isdom and "Wit 
 "Were aboute faste, 
 To overcomen the kj'ng 
 "With catel, if thei myghte. 
 
 The kyng swor by Crist, 
 And by his crowne bothe. 
 That "Wrong for hise werkes 
 Sholde wo tholie ; 2250 
 
 And comaundede a constable 
 To casten hym in irens, 
 And lete hym noght thise seven yer 
 Seen his feet ones. 
 
 " God woot," quod "Wisdom, 
 " That -were noght the beste ; 
 And he amendes nowe make, 
 Lat maynprise hym have. 
 And be borgh for his bale, 
 And buggen hym boote, 
 And so amenden that is mys-do 2201 
 And evere moore the bettre." 
 
 Wit acordcd therwith. 
 And seide the same, 
 " Bettre is that boote 
 Bale a-doun brynge. 
 Than bale be y-bet. 
 And boote never the bettre." 
 
 And thanne gan Mede to mengen 
 And mercy she bi-souglite, [hire, 
 And profrede Pees a i)resent 
 Al of pure golde : 2272
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 71 
 
 " Have this, man, of me," quod she, 
 " To amenden thi scathe, 
 For I wol wage for Wrong 
 He wol do so na-moore." 
 
 Pitously Pees thanne 
 Preyde to the kynge, 
 To have mercy on that man 
 That mys-dide hyra so ofte ; 
 " For he hath waged me wel. 
 As Wisdom hym taughte, 
 And I forgyve hym that gilt 
 With a good wille, 22S4 
 
 So that the kyng assente, 
 I kan seye no bettre ; 
 For Mede hath me amendes maad, 
 I may na-moore axe." 
 
 "i^ay," quod the kyng tho, 
 " So me Crist helpe ! 
 Wrong wendeth noght so a-wey, 
 Erst wole I wite moore. 
 For lope he so lightly, 
 Laughen he wolde ; 
 And eft the boldere be 2295 
 
 To bete myne hewen ; 
 But Keson have ruthe on hym, 
 He shal reste in my stokkes ; 
 And that as longe as he lyveth, 
 But lownesse hym borwe." 
 
 Som men radde Reson tho 
 To have ruthe on that shrewe, 
 And for to counseille the kyng, 
 And Conscience after ; 
 That Mede moste be maynpernour 
 Reson thei bi-soughte. 2306
 
 72 THE VISION OF 
 
 " Eeed me noght," quod Keson, 
 " No ruthe to have, 
 Til lordes and ladies 
 Loven alio truthe, 
 And haten alle liarlotrie, 
 To heron or to mouthen it. 
 
 "Til Parnelles purfille 
 Be put in hire hucche, 
 And childrene cherissynge 
 Be chastynge with yerdes, 
 And harlottes holynesse 
 Be holden for an hyne. 2318 
 
 " Til clerkene coveitise be 
 To clothe the povere and fede, 
 And religiouse romeris 
 Recordare in hir cloistres, 
 As seynt Beneyt hem bad, 
 Bernard and Fraunceis, 
 And til prechours prechynge 
 Be preved on hemselve. 
 
 " Til the kynges counseil 
 Be the commune profit, 
 Til bisshopes bayardes 2329 
 
 Ben beggeris chaumbres, 
 Hire haukes and hire houndes 
 Help to povere religious. 
 
 " And til seint James be sought 
 There I shal assigne. 
 That no man go to Galis 
 But if he go for evere ; — 
 And alle Rome renneres, 
 For robberes biyonde, 
 Bere no silver over see 
 That signe of kyng sheweth, 2340
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 73 
 
 Neither grave ne ungrave, 2341 
 
 Gold neither silver, 
 
 Upon forfeture of that fee, 
 
 Who so fynt it at Dovere, 
 
 But if he be marchaunt or his man, 
 
 Or messager vfith lettres, 
 
 Provysour or preest, 
 
 Or penauut for hise synnes. 
 
 " And yet," quod Reson, " by the 
 I shal no ruthe have, [Rode ! 
 
 "While Mede hath the maistrie 
 In this moot-halle. 2352 
 
 Ac I may shewe ensamples, 
 As I se outlier while, 
 I seye it by myself," quod he, 
 " And it so were 
 That I were kyng with coroune 
 To kepen a reaume, 
 Sholde nevere Wrong in this world, 
 That I wite myghte, 
 Ben unpunysshed in my power, 
 For peril of my soule, 
 Ne gete my grace for gif tes, 2363 
 So me God save ! 
 Ne for no mede have mercy. 
 But mekenesse it make ; 
 For nullum malum the man 
 Mette with inpimitum, 
 And bad iiullum honum 
 Be irremuneratum. 
 
 " Lat youre confessour, sire kyng, 
 Construe this unglosed ; 
 And if ye werchen it in werk, 
 I wedde myne eris, 2374
 
 74 THE VISIOX OF 
 
 That lawe shal ben a laborer 2375 
 And lede a-feld donge, 
 And love shal lede thi lond, 
 As the leef liketh," 
 
 Clerkes that "were confessours 
 Coupled hem togideres, 
 Al to construe this clause, 
 And for the kynges profit, 
 Ac noght for confort of the com- 
 Is'e for the kynges soule ; [mune, 
 For I seigh Mede in the moot-haUe 
 On men of lawe wynke, ssss 
 
 And thei laughynge lope to hire, 
 And left Reson manye, 
 "Waryn "Wisdom 
 TVynked upon Mede, 
 And seide, " Madame, I am youre 
 "What so my mouth jangle ; [man, 
 I falle in floryns," quod that freke, 
 "And faile speche ofte." 
 
 Alle rightfidle recordede 
 That Reson truthe tolde ; 
 And "^A'it acorded thenvith, 2397 
 And comendede hise wordes, 
 And the mooste peple in the halle, 
 And manye of the grete, 
 And leten Mekenesse a maister. 
 And Mede a mansed sherewe. 
 
 Love leet of hire light. 
 And leaute yet lasse, 
 And seiden it so heighe 
 That al the halle it herde, 
 "Who so •wilneth hire to wif, 
 For welthe of hire goodes, 2403
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 75 
 
 But he be knowe for a cokewold, 2409 
 Kut of my nose." 
 
 Mede mornede tlio, 
 And made hevy cliere, 
 For the mooste commune of that 
 Called hire an hore. [court 
 
 Ac a sisour and a sonionour 
 Sued hire faste, 
 And a sherreves clerk 
 Bisherewed at the route ; 
 "For ofte have I," quod he, 
 " Holpen yow at the barre, 2420 
 And yet yeve ye me nevere 
 The worth of a risshe." 
 
 The kyng callede Conscience, 
 And afterward Eeson, 
 And recordede that Eeson 
 Hadde rightfully shewed ; 
 And modiliche upon Mede 
 With myght the kyng loked ; 
 And gan wexe wroth with lawe. 
 For Mede almoost hadde shent it ; 
 And seide, " thorugh lawe, as I 
 I lese manye eschetes ; [leve ! 
 
 Mede overmaistreth lawe, 
 And muche Truthe letteth. 
 Ac Eeson shal rekene with yow, 
 If I regne any while, 
 And deme yow bi this day. 
 As ye han deserved. 
 Mede shal noght may n prise yow. 
 By the Marie of hevene ! 
 I wole have leaute in lawe. 
 And lete be al youre janglyng ; 2442
 
 76 THE VISION. 
 
 And as moost folk witnessethwel, 2443 
 "Wrong shal be denied." 
 
 Quod Conscience to the kyng, 
 " But the commune wole assente, 
 It is ful hard, by myn heed ! 
 Hertoo to brynge it, 
 Alle youre lige leodes 
 To lede thus evene." [rode !" 
 
 " By hym that raughte on the 
 Quod Reson to the kynge, 
 " But if I rule thus youre reaume, 
 Eende out my guttes, 2454 
 
 If ye bidden buxomnesse 
 Be of myn assent." 
 
 " And I assente," seith the kyng, 
 " By seinte Marie my lady ! 
 By my counseil commune. 
 Of clerkes and of erles ; 
 Ac redily, Reson, 
 Thow shalt noght ride fro me, 
 For, as longe as I lyve, 
 Lete thee I nelle." 
 
 " I am al redy," quod Reson, 
 " To reste with yow evere ; 
 So Conscience be of oure counseil, 
 I kepe no bettre." 
 
 "And I graunte," quod the kyng, 
 " Goddes forbode ellis ! 
 Als longe as oure lyf lasteth, 
 Lyve we togideres," 24T2
 
 Passus Quintus de Visione, ut 
 supra. 
 
 |HE kyng and hise knjghtes 
 To the kirke -wente, 
 ^jf To here matyns of the day 
 -"^ And the masse after. 
 
 Thanne waked I of my wynkyng, 
 
 And wo was withalle, 
 
 That I ne hadde slept sadder, 
 
 And y-seighen moore. 
 
 Ac er I hadde faren a furlong, 
 
 Feyntise me hente. 
 
 That I ne myghte ferther a foot 
 
 For defaute of slepynge. 
 
 And sat softely a-doun, 2435 
 
 And seide my bileve, 
 
 And so I bablede on my bedes, 
 
 Thei broughte me a-slepe. 
 
 And thanne saugh I muche moore 
 
 Than I bifore of tolde, 
 
 For I seigh the feld ful of folk, 
 
 That I bifore of seide, 
 
 And how Reson gan arayen hym 
 
 Al the reaume to preche. 
 
 And with a cros afore the kyng 
 
 Comsede thus to techen. 2496
 
 78 THE VISION OF 
 
 He preved. that tliise pestilences 
 "Were for pure synne, 
 And the south-westrene wynd 
 On Saterday at even 
 "Was pertliche for pure pride, 
 And for no point ellis ; 
 Pyries and plum-trees 
 W^ere puffed to the erthe, 
 In ensaumple that the segges 
 Sholden do the bettre ; 
 Beches and brode okes 
 Were blowen to the grounde, 2503 
 Turned upward hire tailes, 
 In tokenynge of drede 
 That dedly synne er domes-day 
 Shal for-doon hem alle. 
 
 Of this matere I myghte 
 Mamelen ful longe ; 
 Ac I shal seye as I saugh, 
 So me God helpe ! 
 How pertly afore the peple 
 Reson bigan to preche. 
 
 He bad Wastour go werche, 2519 
 • What he best kouthe, 
 And wjTinen his wastyng 
 With som maner crafte. 
 
 He preide Pernele 
 Hir purfil to lete, 
 And kepe it in hire cofre 
 For catel at hire nede. 
 
 Tomme Stowne he taughte 
 To take two staves, 
 And fecche Felice horn 
 Fro the wynen pyne. 2530
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 79 
 
 He warnede "Watte 2531 
 
 His wif was to blame, 
 
 For hire heed was worth half marc, 
 
 And his hood noght worth a grote ; 
 
 And bad Bette kutte 
 
 A bough outher tweye, 
 
 And bete Beton therwith, 
 
 But if she wolde werche. 
 
 And thanne he chargede chapmen 
 To chastizen hir children, 
 Late no wynnyng hem for-wanye 
 WTiile thei be yonge, 2512 
 
 Ne for no poustee of pestilence 
 Plese hem noght out of reson. 
 "My sire seide so to me, 
 And so dide my dame, 
 That the levere child 
 The moore loore bihoveth ; 
 And Salomon seide the same, 
 That Sapience made, 
 Qui parcit virgce, odit filium. 
 Tlie Englissh of this Latyn is, 
 "VVho so wole it knowe 2553 
 
 Who so spareth the spring, 
 Spilleth hise children." 
 
 And sithen he prechede prelates 
 And preestes togideres, 
 " That ye prechen to the peple, 
 Preve it on yowselve, 
 And dooth it in dede, 
 It shal drawe yow to goode ; 
 If ye leven as ye leren us, 
 "VYe shul leve yow the bettre." 
 
 And sithen he radde Reliction 2564
 
 80 THE VISIOX OF 
 
 Hir rale to holde ; 25« 
 
 •' Lest the kyng and his conseil 
 Youre comunes apeire, 
 And be strwardes of rouie stedes. 
 Til ve be ruled bettxe." 
 
 AJad sithen he counseiled the kyng 
 His commune to lovve ; 
 "It is thi tie we tresor. 
 And tryade at thy nede." 
 
 And sithen he preide the pope 
 Have pite on holy chirche. 
 And er he gyve any grace, ssre 
 
 GoTeme first hyniselve. 
 
 " And ye that han lawes to kepe, 
 Lat truthe be yonre coveitise, 
 3Ioore than gold outher giftes, 
 If ye wol God plese ; 
 For who so eontiarieth Truthe, 
 He telleth in the gospel. 
 That God knoweth hym noght, 
 Xe no seynt of hevene. 
 Amen dico col'i^ nes^io d.v. 
 
 •' And ye that seke seynt James, 
 And seyntes of Kome, 
 Seketh seynt Truthe, 
 For he may save yow aUe ; 
 Qui eum putre etjilio. 
 That fiuie hem bi-falle 
 That seweth my sermon." 
 And thus seyde Keson. 
 
 Thanne ran Repentaunce, 
 And rehervvvl his teme : 
 And garte AViUe to wepe 
 "Water with hise eighen. 2S«
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 81 
 
 Pernele Proud-lierte 2599 
 
 Platte hire to the erthe, 
 And. lay longe er she loked, 
 And "Lord, mercy !" cryde, 
 And hi-highte to hyni 
 That us alle made, 
 She sholde unsowen hir serk, 
 And sette there an heyre, 
 To aifaiten hire flesshe 
 That fiers Avas to synne. 
 " Shal nevere heigh herte me hente, 
 But holde I "wole me lowe seio 
 
 And suffre to be mys-seyd, 
 And so dide I nevere ; 
 And now I wole meke me, 
 And mercy biseche, 
 For al this I have 
 Hated in myn herte." 
 
 Thanne Lechour seide, "Alias!" 
 And on oure Lady he cryde, 
 To maken mercy for hise mys-dedes 
 Bitwene God and his soule ; 
 "With that he sholde the Saterday, 
 Seven yer therafter, 
 Drynke but myd the doke, 
 And dyne but ones. 
 
 Envye with hevy herte 
 Asked after shrifte, 
 And carefully viea culpa 
 He comsed to shewe. 
 He was as pale as a pelet, 
 In the palsy he semed ; 
 And clothed in a kaurymaury, 
 I kouthe it nought discryve, 2632
 
 82 THE VISION OF 
 
 In kirtel and courtepy, 2633 
 
 And a knyf by his syde ; 
 
 Of a freres frokke 
 
 "Were the fore-sieves ; 
 
 And as a leek that hadde y-leye 
 
 Longe in the sonne, 
 
 So loked he with lene chekes 
 
 Lourynge foule. 
 
 His body was to-bollen forwrathe, 
 That he boot hise lippes ; [fust, 
 And wryngynge he yede with the 
 To Avreke hymself he thoughte 2r,44 
 With werkes or with wordes, 
 "VVhan he seyghe his tyme. 
 Ech a word that he warpe 
 Was of a neddres tonge ; 
 Of chidynge and of chalangynge 
 Was his chief liflode, 
 With bakbitynge and bismere, 
 And berynge of fals witnesse. 
 
 "I woldeben y-shryve,"quod this 
 "And I for shame dorste ; [sherewe, 
 I wolde be gladder, by God ! 2055 
 That Gybbe hadde meschaunce, 
 Than though I hadde this wouke y- 
 A weye of Essex chese. [wonne 
 
 "I have a neghebore by me, 
 I have anoyed hyni ofte, 
 And lowen on hym to lordes 
 To doon hym lese his silver, 
 And maad his frendes be his foon 
 Thorugh ray false tonge ; 
 His grace and his goode happes 
 Greven mc ful soore. 2gch
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 83 
 
 " Bitwene manye and manye 2667 
 I make debate ofte, 
 That bothe lif and lyme 
 Is lost thorugh my speche. 
 And whan I mete hym in market 
 That I moost hate, 
 I hailse hym hendely, 
 As I his frend were ; 
 For he is doughtier than I, 
 I dar do noon oother ; 
 Ac hadde I maistrie and myght, 
 God woot my wille ! 2678 
 
 " And whan I come to the kirk, 
 And sholde knele to the roode, 
 And preye for the peple 
 As the preest techeth, 
 For pilgrymes and for pahneres, 
 For al the peple after, 
 Thanne I crye on my knees 
 That Crist gyve hem sorwe, 
 That beren awey my bolle 
 And my broke shete. 
 
 " Awey fro the auter thanne 2689 
 Turne I myne eighen, 
 And bi-holde Eleyne 
 Hath a newe cote ; 
 I wisshe thanne it were myn, 
 And al the web after. 
 
 "And of mennes lesyngel laughe. 
 That liketh myn herte ; 
 And for hir wynnynge I wepe, 
 And waille the tyme ; 
 And deme that thei doon ille, 
 There I do wel werse. 27oo
 
 84 THE VISION OF 
 
 "Who so under-nymetli me hero 2701 
 
 I hate hym dedly after ; 
 
 I wolde that ech a wight 
 
 Were my knave, 
 
 For who so hath moore than I, 
 
 Than angreth me soore. 
 
 And thus I lyve love-lees, 
 
 Lik a luther dogge ; 
 
 That al my body bolneth, 
 
 For bitter of my galle. 
 
 "I myghte noght ete many 3'eres 
 As a man oughte, 2712 
 
 For envye and yvel wil 
 Is yvel to defie. 
 May no sugre ne swete thyng 
 Aswage my swellyng ? 
 Ne no diapenidion 
 Dryve it fro myn herte ? 
 Ne neither shrifte ne shame, 
 But who so shrape my mawe?" 
 
 " Yis redily," quod Repentaunce, 
 And radde hym to the beste, 
 " Sorwe of synnes 2723 
 
 Is savacion of soules." 
 
 "I am sory," quod that segge, 
 " I am but selde oothcr. 
 And that maketh me thus megre, 
 For I ne may me venge. 
 
 " Amonges burgeises have I be 
 Dwellyng at Londono, 
 And gart bakbityng be a brocour 
 To blame mennes ware ; 
 Whan he solde and I nought, 
 Thanne was I redy 2734
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 85 
 
 To lye and to loure on nij^neghebore, 
 And to lakke his chaffare ; 
 I wole amende this, if I may, 
 Thorugh myght of God ahnyghty." 
 
 ]S"ow awaketh Wrathe, 
 With two white eighen ; 
 And nevelynge with the nose, 
 And his nekke hangyng. 
 ^^ " I am Wrathe," quod he, 
 " I was som tyme a frere, 
 And the coventes gardyner 
 For to graffen impes ; 2746 
 
 On lymitours and listres 
 Lesynges I ymped, 
 Til thei beere leves of lowe speche, 
 Lordes to plese, 
 
 And sithen thei blosmede a-brood 
 In boure to here shriftes ; 
 And now is fallen therof a fruyt, 
 That folk han wel levere 
 Shewen hire shriftes to hem, 
 Than shryve hem to hir persons. 
 
 "And now persons han perceyved 
 That freres parte with hem, 
 Thise possessioners preche 
 And deprave freres. 
 
 " And freres fyndeth hem in de- 
 As folk bereth witnesse, [faute, 
 That whan thei preche the peple 
 In many places aboute, 
 I Wrathe walke with hem, 
 And wisse hem of my bokes. 
 Thus thei speken of my spiritualte, 
 That either despiseth oother, 2768 
 
 VOL. I. J
 
 86 THE VISION OF 
 
 Til thei be bothe beggers 2769 
 
 And by my spiritualte libben. 
 Or ellis al riclie 
 And ryden aboute. 
 I Wrathe reste nevere, 
 That I ne moste folwe 
 This ■\vikked folk, 
 For swich is my grace. 
 
 "I have an aunte to nonne, 
 And an abbesse bothe ; 
 Hir hadde levere swowe or swelte, 
 Than suffre any peyne, 2780 
 
 " I have be cook in hir kichene, 
 And tlie coveut served 
 Manye monthes -with hem, 
 And with monkes bothe. 
 I "was the prioresse potager, 
 And othere povere ladies, 
 And maad hem joutes of janglyng, 
 That dame Johane was a bastard, 
 Anddame Clarice a knyghtes dough- 
 Ac a cokewold was hir sire ; [ter, 
 And dame Pernele a preestes fyle, 
 Prioresse worth she nevere, 
 For she hadde child in chirie-tyme, 
 Al our chapitre it wiste. 
 
 " Of wikkede wordes 
 I Wrathe hire wortes made, 
 Til ' thow lixt ' and ' thow lixt ' 
 Lopen out at ones, 
 And cither liite oother 
 Under the cheke ; 
 Hadde thei had knyves, by Crist 
 Hir either hadde kild oother
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 87 
 
 " Seint Gregory was a good pope, 
 And hadde a good forwit, 
 That no prioresse were preest, 
 For that he ordeyned ; [firste day, 
 They hadde thanne ben infames the 
 Thei kan so yvele hele conseil. 
 
 "Among monkes I myghte be, 
 Ac many tyme I shonye it ; 
 For there ben manye felle frekes 
 My feeris to aspie, 
 Bothe priour and suppriour 
 And oure pater abhas ; 2si4 
 
 And if I telle any tales, 
 Thei taken hem togideres. 
 And doon me faste frydayes 
 To breed and to watre, [hous 
 
 And am chalanged in the chapitre 
 As I a child were, 
 And baleised on the bare ers, 
 And no brech bitwene. 
 For-thi have I no likyng 
 With tho leodes to wonye. 
 I ete there unthende fisshe, 2S25 
 And feble ale drynke ; 
 Ac outher while whan wyn cometh, 
 Thanne I drynke wyn at eve, 
 And have a flux of a foul mouth 
 Wei fyve dayes after, 
 Al the wikkednesse that I woot 
 By any of oure bretheren, 
 1 coutlie it in oure cloistre. 
 That al oure covent woot it." 
 
 "Nowrepentethee,"cj[uodEepent- 
 " And reherce thow nevere [aunce.
 
 88 THE VISION OF 
 
 Counseil that tliow knowest 2837 
 
 By conteuaunce ne by right ; 
 
 And drynk iiat over delicatly, 
 
 Ne to depe neither, 
 
 That thi wille by cause therof 
 
 To wrathe myghte turne. 
 
 Esto sohrins," he seide, 
 
 And assoiled me after, 
 
 And bad me wihae to wepe 
 
 My wikkednesse to amende. 
 
 And thanne cam Coveitise, 
 Kan I hym naght discryve, 2S4S 
 So hungrily and holwe 
 Sire Hervy hym loked. 
 He was bitel-browed, 
 And baber-lipped also, 
 With two blered eighen 
 As a blynd hagge ; 
 And as a letheren purs 
 Lolled hise chekes, 
 Wei sidder than his chyn 
 Thei chyveled for elde ; 
 And as a bonde-man of his bacon 
 His herd was bi-draveled, 
 With an hood on his heed, 
 A lousy hat above, 
 And in a tawny tabard 
 Of twelf wynter age, 
 Al so torn and baudy, 
 And ful of lys crepyng. 
 But if that a lous couthe 
 Han lopen the bettre, [welthe. 
 
 She sholde noght hau walked on that 
 So was it thred-bare. 2870
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 89 
 
 " I have ben coveitous," quod this 
 " I bi-knowe it here, [caytif, 
 
 For som tyme I served 
 Symme-atte-Style, 
 And was his prentice y-plight 
 His profit to wayte. 
 
 "First I lerned to lye, 
 A leef outher tweyne ; 
 "Wikkedly to weye 
 Was my firste lesson ; 
 To Wy and to Wyncliestre 
 I wente to the feyre, 2882 
 
 With many manere marchaundise, 
 As my maister me highte. 
 Ne hadde the grace of gyle y-go 
 Amonges my chaffare, 
 It hadde ben unsold this seven yer, 
 So me God helpe ! 
 
 " Thanne drough I me among dra- 
 My donet to lerne, [piers, 
 
 To drawe the liser along, 
 The lenger it semed ; 
 Among the riche rayes 2393 
 
 I rendred a lesson, 
 To broche hem with a pak-nedle, 
 And playte hem togideres. 
 And putte hem in a presse, 
 And pyne hem therinne. 
 Til ten yerdes or twelve 
 Hadde tolled out thrittene. 
 
 " My wif was a webbe, 
 And woUen cloth made ; 
 She spak to spynnesteres 
 To spynnen it oute, 2904
 
 90 THE VISION OF 
 
 Ac the pound that she paieil by 2905 
 Peised a quatrou moore 
 Than luyn owene auncer, 
 Who so weyed truthe. 
 
 " I boughte hire barly-malt, 
 She brew it to selle, 
 Peny ale and puddyng ale 
 She poured togideres, 
 For laborers and for lowe folk 
 That lay by hymselve. 
 
 " The beste ale lay in my hour, 
 Or in my bed-chambre ; me 
 
 And who so bummed therof, 
 Boughte it therafter, 
 A galon for a grote, 
 God woot, no lesse ! 
 And yet it cam in cuppe-mele, 
 This craft my wif used. 
 Rose the Regrater 
 Was hire righte name ; 
 She hath holden hukkerye 
 Al hire lif tyme. 
 
 Ac I swere now, so thee ik ! 2927 
 That synne wol I lete, 
 And nevere Avikkedly weye, 
 Ne wikke chaffare use ; 
 But wenden to Walsyngham, 
 And my Avif als, 
 
 And bidde the Koode of Bromholni 
 Brynge me out of dette." 
 
 " Kepentedestow evere 1 " quod 
 Repentaunce, 
 " Or restitucion madest." [quod he, 
 
 " Yis, ones I was y-herberwed,"
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 91 
 
 " "With an lieep of chapmen, 293s 
 I roos whan thei were a-restc 
 And riflede hire males." 
 
 '* Tliat was no restitucion," quod 
 Repentaunce, 
 " But a robberis thefte ; 
 Thow haddest be the bettre worthi 
 Ben hanged therfore, 
 Than for al that 
 That thow hast here shewed." 
 
 " I wende riflynge were restitu- 
 cion," quod he, 2947 
 " For I lerned nevere rede on boke ; 
 And I kan no Frensshe, in feith, 
 But of the fertheste ende of North- 
 folk." [Repentaunce, 
 
 " Usedestow evere usurie 1 " quod 
 "In al thi lif tyme." 
 
 " Nay sothly," he seide, 
 " Save in my youth e 
 I lerned among Lumbardes 
 And Jewes a lesson. 
 To weye pens with a peis, 2957 
 
 And pare the hevyeste, 
 And lene it for love of the cros, 
 To legge a wed and lese it. 
 Swiche dedes I dide write, 
 If he his day breke, 
 I have mo manoirs thorugh rerages, 
 Than thorugh miseretur et commo- 
 
 " I have lent lordes [dat. 
 
 And ladies my chatfare. 
 And ben hire brocour after, 
 And bought it myselve ; 29fi8
 
 92 THE VISION OF 
 
 Eschaunges and chevysaunces 2969 
 "With swich chaffare I dele, 
 And lene folk that lese wole 
 A lippe at every noble, 
 And with Lumbardes lettres 
 I ladde gold to Rome, 
 And took it by tale here, 
 And tolde hem there lasse," 
 
 " Lentestow evere iordes. 
 For love of hire mayntenaunce ? " 
 
 " Ye, I have lent to Iordes, 
 Loved me nevere after, 2980 
 
 And have y-maad many a knyght 
 Bothe mercer and draper. 
 That payed nevere for his prentis- 
 Xoght a peire gloves." [hode 
 
 " Hastow pit^ on povere men. 
 That mote nedes borwe 1 " 
 
 " I have as muche pitd of povere 
 As pedlere hath of cattes, [men. 
 That wolde kille hem, if he cacche 
 
 hem myghte, 
 For coveitise of hir skynnes." 2990 
 
 " Artow manlich among thi 
 neghebores 
 Of thi mete and drynke ? " 
 
 " I am holden," quod he, " as 
 As hound is in kichene, [hende 
 Amonges my neghebores, namely, 
 Swiche a name ich have." 
 
 " ^ovf God lene thee nevere," 
 quod Repentaunce, 
 " But thow repente the rather, 
 The grace on this grounds 2999
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 93 
 
 Tlii good wel to bi-sette, 3000 
 
 Ne thyne heires after thee 
 
 Have joie of that thow wynnest. 
 
 Ne thyne executours wel bi-sette 
 
 The silver that thow hem Invest ; 
 
 And that was wonne with wrong 
 
 With wikked men be despended. 
 
 For were I frere of that hous 
 
 Ther good feitli and charity is, 
 
 I nolde cope us with thi catel, 
 
 Ne oure kirk amende, 
 
 Ne have a peny to my pitaunce, 3011 
 
 So God my soule save ! 
 
 For the beste book in oure hous, 
 
 Theigli brent gold were the leves, 
 
 And I wiste witterly 
 
 Thow were swich as thow tallest. 
 
 Servus es alterius, 
 
 Dum fercula pinguia qticei'is ; 
 
 Pane tuo potius 
 
 Vescere, liber eris. 
 
 " Thow art an unkynde creature, 
 I kan thee noght assoille, 3022 
 
 Til thow make restitucion 
 And rekene with hem alle ; 
 And sithen that Eeson rolle it 
 In the registre of hevene, 
 That thow hast maad ech man good, 
 I may thee noght assoile. 
 Non dimiititur peccatum, donee re- 
 stituatur ohlatam. 
 
 " For alle that han of thi good, 
 Have God my trouthe ! 
 Ben holden at the heisrhe doom 3033
 
 94 THE VISION OF 
 
 To helpe tliee to restitue ; [sooth, 
 And who so leveth noght this be 
 Loke in the Sauter glose, 
 In Miserere met, Deus, 
 Wher I mene trutho ; 
 Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti, etc. 
 Shal nevere werkman in this world 
 Thryve with that thow wynnest. 
 Cum sando sandus eris ; 
 Consti'uwe me this on Englisshe." 
 
 Thanne weex thatsherewein wan- 
 And wolde han hanged hyni; [hope, 
 Ke hadde Repentauuce the rather 
 Reconforted hym in this manere. 
 
 " Have mercy in thi mynde, 
 And with thi mouth biseche it ; 
 For Goddes mercy is moore 
 Than alle hise othere werkes. 
 And al the wikkednesse in this world 
 That man myghte werche or thynke, 
 Nis na-moore to the mercy of God, 
 Than in the see a gleede. 
 Omnis iniquitas quantum ad miseri- 
 cordiam Dei, est quasi scintilla 
 in medio maris. 
 
 " For-th i ha ve mercy in thy mj'nde. 
 And marchaundise leve it ; 
 For thow hast no good ground 
 To gete thee with a wastel. 
 But if it were with thi tonge, 
 Or ellis with thi two hondes. 
 For the good that thow hast geten 
 Bigan al with falshede, [with, 
 
 And as longe as thow lyvest ther-
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 95 
 
 Thow yeldest noglit, but borwest. 
 
 " And if tbow wite nevere to 
 Xe whom to restitue, [whiche, 
 
 Ber it to the bisshope, 
 And bid hyni of his grace 
 Bi-sette it hymself, 
 As best is for thi soule ; 
 For he shal answere for thee 
 At the heighe dome, 
 For thee and for many mo 
 That man shal yeve a rekenyng, 
 What he lerned yow in Lente, 30:9 
 Leve thow noon oother, 
 And what he lente y ow of oure Lordes 
 To lette yow fro synne." [good 
 
 Now bi-gj^nnetii Gloton 
 For to go to shrifte, 
 And karieth hym to kirke-warde 
 His coupe to shewe ; 
 And Beton the brewestere 
 Bad hym good morwe, 
 And asked at hym with that, 
 Whider-ward he wolde. 3090 
 
 "To holy chirche," quod he, 
 " For to here masse, 
 And sithen I wole be shryven, 
 And synne na-moore." [she, 
 
 "I have good ale, gossib," quod 
 " Gloton, woltow assaye 1 " [he, 
 
 " Hasto w ought in thi purs ? " quod 
 "Any bote spices?" [she, 
 
 " I have pepir and piones," quod 
 " And a pound of garleek, 
 And a ferthyng-worth of fenel-seed
 
 96 THE VISION OF 
 
 For fastynge dayes." 3102 
 
 Thanne goth Glotin in, 
 And grete othes after, 
 Cesse the souteresse 
 Sat on the benche ; 
 Watte the warner, 
 And his wif bothe ; 
 Tynime the tynkere, 
 And twej-ne of his prentices ; 
 Hikke the hakeney-man, 
 And Hughe the nedlere ; 
 Clarice of Cokkeslane, 3113 
 
 And the clerk of the chirche ; 
 Dawe the dykere, 
 And a dozeyne othere. 
 
 Sire Piers of Pridie, 
 And Pernele of Flaundres ; 
 A ribibour, a ratoner, 
 A rakiere of Chepe, 
 A ropere, a redyng-kyng, 
 And Kose the dyssheres ; 
 Godefray of Garlekhithe, 
 And Griffyn the "Walshe ; 3124 
 
 And upholderes an heep, 
 Erly by the morwe, 
 Geve Gloton with glad chere 
 Good ale to hanselle. 
 
 Clement the Cobelere 
 Caste of his cloke, 
 And at the newe feire 
 He nempned it to selle, 
 
 Hikke the hakenoy-nian 
 Hitte his hood after, 
 And bad Bette the bocher 3135
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 97 
 
 Ben on his syde. 3136 
 
 Ther were chapmen y-chose 
 This chaffare to preise, 
 That who so hadde the hood 
 Sholde han amendes of the cloke. 
 
 Two risen up in rape, 
 And rouned togideres, 
 And preised thise peny-worthes 
 A-part by hemselve ; 
 Thei kouthe noght by hir con- 
 Acorden in truthe, [science 
 
 Til Robyn the ropere su? 
 
 Aroos by the southe, 
 And nempned hym for a nounpere, 
 Tliat no debat nere. 
 
 Hikke the hostiler 
 Hadde the cloke, 
 In covenaunt that Clement 
 Sholde the cuppe fille, 
 And have Hikkes hood hostiler, 
 And holden hym y- served. 
 And who so repented rathest 
 Sholde aryse after, 3153 
 
 And greten sire Gloton 
 With a galon ale. 
 
 There was laughynge and lour- 
 And " lat go the cuppe ; " [ynge. 
 And seten so till even-song. 
 And songen umwhile, 
 Til Gloton hadde y-glubbed 
 A galon and a gille. 
 Hise guttes bigonne to gothelen 
 As two gredy sowes ; 
 He pissed a potel 3169
 
 98 THE VISION OF 
 
 In a patcr-noster while, siro 
 
 And blew his rouncle ruwet 
 
 At his rugge-bones ende, 
 
 That alle that horde that horn 
 
 Held liir noses after, 
 
 And wisshed it hadde been wexed 
 
 With a wispe of firses. 
 
 He myghte neither steppe ne 
 Er he his staf hadde ; [stonde, 
 
 And thanne gan he to go 
 Like a gle-mannes bicche, 
 Som tyme aside, 3isi 
 
 And som tyme arere. 
 As who so leith lynes 
 For to lacche foweles. 
 
 And whan he drough to the dore, 
 Thanne dymmed his eighen ; 
 He stumbled on the thresshfold, 
 And threw to the erthe. 
 Clement the cobelere 
 Kaughte hym by the myddel, 
 For to liften hym o-lofte ; 
 And leyde hym on his knowcs. 3192 
 Ac Gloton was a gret cherl, 
 And a grym in the liftyng, 
 And koughed up a cawdel 
 In Cleraentes lappe ; 
 Is noon so hungry hound 
 In Hertford shire 
 Dorste lape of that levynges, 
 So un-lovely thei smaughte. 
 
 With al the wo of this world, 
 His wif and his wcnche 
 Baren hym hom to his bed, 3203
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 99 
 
 And broughte hym therinne ; 3204 
 
 And after al this excesse 
 
 He hadde an accidie, 
 
 That he sleep Saterday and Sonday, 
 
 Til Sonne yede to reste. 
 
 Thanne waked he of his wynk- 
 And wiped hise eighen ; [yog? 
 
 The firste word that he warpe 
 Was " where is the bolle ? " 
 His wif gan edwyte hym tho, 
 How wikkedly he lyvede ; 
 And Eepentaunce right so 3215 
 
 Eebuked hym that tynie, 
 "As thow with Avordes and werkes 
 Has wroght yvele in thi lyve, 
 Shryve thee, and be shamed therof, 
 And shewe it with thi mouthe." 
 
 " I Gloton," quod the grora, 
 " Gilty tte yelde, [tonge, 
 
 That I have trespased with my 
 I kan noght telle how ofte ; 
 Sworen Goddes sonle, 
 And so me God helpe ! 8226 
 
 There no nede was, 
 Nyne hundred tymes. 
 
 "And over-seyen me at my soper, 
 And som tyme at nones, 
 That I Gloton girte it up 
 Er I hadde gon a myle, 
 An y-spilt that myghte be spared 
 And spended on som hungry ; 
 Over delicatly on fastyng-dayes 
 Dronken and eten bothe. 
 And sat som tyme so longe there,
 
 100 THE VISION OF 
 
 That I sleep and set at ones. 323S 
 For love of tales in tavernes 
 And for drynke, the moore I dyned; 
 And hyed to the mete er noon, 
 Whan fastyng-days were." 
 
 " This shewynge shrift," quod 
 Repentaunce, 
 "Shal be meryt to the." 
 
 And thanne gan Gloton greete, 
 And gret doel to make. 
 For his luther lif 
 
 That he lyved hadde ; 3248 
 
 And avowed to faste, 
 " For hunger or for thurste, 
 Shal nevere fyssh on Fryday 
 Defyen in my wombe, 
 Til abstinence myn aunte 
 Have gyve me leeve ; 
 And yet have I hated hire 
 Al my lif tyme." [bered, 
 
 Thanne cam Sleuthe al bi-sla- 
 With two slymy eighen ; 
 " I moste sitte," seide the segge, 
 " Or ellis sholde I nappe. 
 I may noght stonde ne stoupe, 
 jS"e withoute a stool knele ; 
 "Were I brought a-bedde, 
 But if my tail-ende it made, 
 Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse 
 Er I were ripe to dyne." 
 He bigan Benedicite with a bolk, 
 Ami his brest knokked, 
 And raxed and rored. 
 And rutte at the lastc. 32T0
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 101 
 
 " What, awake, renk ! " quod Re- 
 pentaunce, 
 " And rape thee to shryfte." 
 
 " If I sholde deye bi this day, 
 Me list nought to loke ; 
 I kan noght parfitlymy pater-noster, 
 As the preest it syngeth ; 
 But I kan rymes of Robyn Hood, 
 And Randolf erl of Chestre ; [Lady 
 Ac neither of oure Lord ne of oure 
 The leeste that evere was maked. 
 
 " I have maad avowes fourty. 
 And foryete hem on the morwe ; 
 I perfournede nevere penaunce 
 As the preest me highte ; 
 Ne right sory for my synnes 
 Yet was I nevere. 
 And if I bidde any bedes, 
 But if it be in wrathe. 
 That I telle with my tonge 
 Is two myle fro myn herte. 
 I am ocupied eche day, 
 Haly-day and oother, 3292 
 
 With ydel tales at the ale, 
 And outher while at chirche ; 
 Goddes peyne and his passion 
 Ful selde thenke I on it. 
 
 " I visited nevere feble men, 
 Ne fettred folk in puttes ; 
 I have levere here an harlotrye, 
 Or a somer game of souters. 
 Or lesynge to laughen at 
 And bi-lye my neghebores. 
 Than al that evere Marc made, 3303 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 102 THE VISION OF 
 
 Mathew, Joban, and Lucas. 3304 
 And. vigilies and fastyng-dayes, 
 Alle tliise late I passe ; 
 And ligge a-bedde in Lenten, 
 And my lemman in niyne armes, 
 Til niatyns and masse lie do, 
 And thanne go to the freres. 
 Come I to Ite, missa est, 
 I holde me y-served ; 
 I nam noght shryven som tyme, 
 But if siknesse it make, 
 Kouglit twyes in two yer, 3315 
 
 And thanne up gesse I shryve me, 
 
 " I have be preest and parson 
 Passynge thritty wynter, 
 And yet can I neyther solne ne 
 Is'^e seintes lyves rede ; [synge, 
 
 But I kan fynden in a feld, 
 Or in a furlang, an hare, 
 Bettre than in Beatus vir, 
 Or in Beati omnes, 
 Construe oon clause wel 
 And kenne it to my parisshcns, 
 I kan holde love-dayes, 
 And here a reves rekenyng ; 
 Ac in canon nor in decretals 
 I kan noght rede a lyne. 
 
 " If I bigge and borwe aught. 
 But if it be y-tailed, 
 I foryete it as yerne ; 
 And if men me it axe 
 Sixe sithes or sevene, 
 I forsake it with othes ; 
 And thus tene I trewc men 3337
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 103 
 
 Ten hundred tymes. 333s 
 
 " And my servauntz som tyme 
 Hir salarie is bi-hynde ; 
 Ruthe it is to here the rekenyng, 
 Whan we shul rede acountes. 
 So with wikked wil and wrathe, 
 My werkmen I paye. 
 
 " If any man clooth me a bienfait, 
 Or helpeth me at nede, 
 I am unkynde ayeins curteisie, 
 And kan nought understounden it ; 
 For I have and have had s^y 
 
 Som del haukes maneres, 
 lam noght lured with love, [thombe. 
 But ther ligge aught under the 
 
 "The kyndenesse that myn even 
 Kidde me fernyere, [cristene 
 
 Sixty sithes I Sleuths 
 Have foryete it siththe. 
 In speche and in sparynge of speche 
 Y-spilt many a tyme 
 Bothe fiessh and fissh, 
 And manye othere vitailles, 336O 
 Both bred and ale, 
 Buttre, melk, and chese, 
 For-sleuthed in my service 
 Til it myghte serve no man. 
 
 "I ran aboute in youthe, 
 And yaf me naught to lerne, 
 And evere siththe have I be beggere 
 For my foule sleuthe. 
 Heu micM! quia sterilem vitamduxi 
 juvenilem." [Repentaunce ; 
 
 " Repentedestow noght T' quod
 
 104 THE VISION OF 
 
 And right with that he swowned, 
 
 Til Vi<jilate the veille 
 
 Fette water at hise eighen, 
 
 And flatte it on his face, 
 
 And faste on hym cryde, 
 
 And seide, " Ware thee, for Wan- 
 
 Wolde thee bi-traye, [hope 
 
 ' I am sory for my synnes ' 
 
 Seye to thiselve, 
 
 And beet thiself on the brest, 
 
 And bidde hym of grace ; 
 
 For is ne gilt here so gret 3383 
 
 That his goodnesse nys nioore," 
 
 Thanne sat Sleuthe up, 
 And seyned hym swithe. 
 And made a vow to-fore God 
 For his foule sleuthe. 
 " Shal no Sonday be this seven yer, 
 But siknesse it lette, 
 That I ne shal do me er day 
 To the deere chirche ; 
 And here matyns and masse, 
 As I a monk were, 3394 
 
 Shal noon ale after mete 
 Holde me thennes. 
 Til I have even-song herd, 
 I ]ji-hote to the roode ! 
 And yet wole I yelde ayeiu. 
 If I so much have, 
 Al that I wikkedly wan 
 Sithen I wit hadde. 
 
 " And though my liflode lakke, 
 Leten I nelle, 
 That ech man ne shal have his,
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 105 
 
 Er I hennes wende ; [menaunt, 
 And with the residue and the re- 
 Bi the Kode of Chestre ! 
 I shal seken Truthe erst 
 Er I se Eome." 
 
 Eoberd the robbere 
 On ReddUe loked, 
 And for ther was noght wherof, 
 He wepte swithe soore ; 
 Ac yet the synfulle sherewe 
 Seide to hymselve, 
 " Crist, that on Calvarie 3417 
 
 Upon the cros deidest, 
 The Dysmas my brother 
 Bi-soughte yow of grace, 
 And haddest mercy on that man 
 For memento sake, 
 So rewe on this robbere 
 That reddere ne have, 
 Ne nevere wene to wynne 
 With craft that I owe ; 
 But for thi muchel mercy 
 Mitigacion I bi-seche, 3428 
 
 Ne dampne me noght at domes-day 
 For that I dide so ille." 
 
 What bi-fel of this feloun 
 I kan noght faire shewe ; 
 Wei I woot he wepte faste 
 Water with bothe hise eighen, 
 And knoweliched his gilt 
 To Crist yet eft soones, 
 That Pceneteiitia his pik 
 He sholde polshe newe. 
 And lepe with hym over lond 8439
 
 106 THE VISION OF 
 
 Al his lif tymo, 3440 
 
 For he hackle lejcn l)y Latro 
 Luciferis aunte. [ruthe, 
 
 And thanne hadde Repentaunce 
 And redde hem alle to knele ; 
 " For I shal bi-seche for alle synfulle 
 Our Saveour of grace, 
 To amenden us of ourc mysdedes, 
 And do mercy to us alle." 
 
 "Now God," quod he, " that of 
 
 thi goodnesse 
 Bi-gonne the world to make, 3450 
 And of naught madest aught, and 
 Moost lik to thiselve, [man 
 
 And sithen suffredest for to synne, 
 A siknesse to us alle. 
 And al for the beste, as I bi-leve, 
 What evere the book telleth. 
 felix culpa ! necessarium pec- 
 
 catum Adoe ! etc. 
 " For thorugh that synne thi sone 
 Sent was to this erthe, 
 And bicam man of a maide, 3401 
 Mankynde to save : 
 And madest thiself with thi sone 
 And us synfulle j'-liche 
 Faciamus liominem ad imaginem 
 
 nostram. Ft alibi. Qui vianet 
 
 in caritate, in Deo manet, et 
 
 Deus in eo. 
 " And siththe with thi selve sone 
 In oure secte deidest, 
 On Good-Fryday, for mannes sake, 
 At ful tyme of the daye, 3172
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 107 
 
 Ther thiself ne thi soue 3473 
 
 No sorwe in deetli feledest, 
 But in oure secte was the sorwe, 
 And thi sone it ladde. 
 Captivam duxit captivitatem. 
 
 "The Sonne for sorwe therof 
 Lees light of a tj'me, 
 Aboute mydday whan moostlightis, 
 And meel-tyme of seintes, 
 Feddest with thi fresshe blood 
 Oure fore-fadres in derknesse. 
 Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris, 
 vidit lucem magnam. 
 
 " And thorugh the light that lepe 
 Lucifer was blent. [out of thee 
 
 And blewe alle thi blessed 
 Into the blisse of paradys. 
 
 " The thridde day after 
 Thow yedest in oure sute, 
 A synful Marie the seigh, 
 Er seynte Marie thi dame ; 
 And al to solace synfulle 
 Thow suffredest it so were. 3495 
 Non vent vocare justos sed pecca- 
 tores ad posnitentiam. 
 
 " And al that Marc hath y-maad, 
 Mathew, Johan, and Lucas, 
 Of thyne doughty dedes 
 Was doon in oure armes. 
 Verbum caro factum est, et habita- 
 vit in nobis. 
 
 " And by so muche me semeth 
 The sikerer we mowe 
 Bidde and bi-seche, 3506
 
 \ 
 
 108 THE VISION OF 
 
 If it be thi wille, 3507 
 
 That art oure fader and oure brother, 
 Be merciable to us, 
 And have ruthe on thise ribaudes 
 That repenten hem here soore, 
 That evere thei wrathed thee in this 
 In word, thought, or dedes," [world, 
 
 Thanne hent Hope an horn 
 Of Deiis, tu co7ive}-sus vivijicabis, 
 And blew it with Beati quorum 
 Remissce sunt iniquitates, 
 That alle seintes in hevene' 3518 
 Songen at ones. 
 
 Homines et jumenia scdvahis, quem- 
 admodiim rmdtiplicasti miseri- 
 cordiam tuam. 
 
 A thousand of men tho 
 Thrungen togideres, 
 Cride upward to Crist, 
 And to his clene moder. 
 To have grace to go Avith hem 
 Truthe to seke. 
 
 Ac there was wight noon so wys 
 The wey thider kouthe, 
 But blustreden forth as beestes 
 Over bankes and hilles ; 
 Til late was and longe 
 That thei a leode mette, 
 Apparailled as a paynym 
 In pilgrymes wise. 
 He bar a burdoun y-bounde 
 With a brood liste. 
 In a withwynde wise 
 Y-wounden aboutc ; 3540
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 109 
 
 A boUe and a bagge 3541 
 
 He bar by his syde, 
 
 And hundred of ampuUes 
 
 On his hat seten, 
 
 Signes of Synay, 
 
 And shelles of Galice, 
 
 And many a crouche on his cloke, 
 
 And keyes of Rome, 
 
 And the vernycle bi-fore, 
 
 For men sholde knows 
 
 And se bi hise signes 
 
 Whom he sought hadde. 3552 
 
 This folk frayned hym first, 
 Fro whennes he come. 
 
 " Fram Syny," he seide, 
 " And fram oure Lordes sepulcre ; 
 In Bethlem and in Babiloyne, 
 I have ben in bothe ; 
 In Armonye and Alisaundre, 
 In manye othere places. 
 Ye may se by my signes, 
 That sitten on myn hatte, 
 That I have walked ful wide 3563 
 In weet and in drye, 
 And sought goode seintes 
 For my soules helthe." 
 
 " Knowestow aught a corsaint, 
 That men calle Truthe 1 
 Koudestow aught wissen us the wey, 
 Wlier that wye dwelleth ? " 
 
 " Nay, so me God helpe ! " 
 Seide the gome thanne, 
 " I seigh nevere palmere, 
 With pyk ne with scrippe, 3574
 
 110 THE VISION OF 
 
 Asken after hym er 3575 
 
 Til now in this place." 
 
 " Peter ! " quod a plowman, 
 And putte forth his hed, 
 "I knowe hym as kyndely 
 As clerk doth hise bokes ; 
 Conscience and kynde wit 
 Kenned me to his place, 
 And diden me suren hym sikerly 
 To serven hym for evere, 
 Bothe to sowe and to sette, 
 The while I swynke myghte. 35sfi 
 I have ben his folwere 
 Al this lifty wynter, 
 Bothe y-sowen his seed, 
 And suwed hise beestes, 
 Withinne and withouten 
 Waited his profit. 
 I dyke and I delve, 
 I do that Truthe hoteth ; 
 Som tyme I sowe, 
 And som tyme I thresshe ; 
 In taillours craft and tynkeris craft, 
 What Truthe kan devyse, 
 I weve and I wynde. 
 And do wliat Truthe hoteth, 
 For though I seye it myselfe, 
 I serve hym to paye ; 
 I have myn hire wel. 
 And outher whiles moore. 
 He is the presteste paiere 
 That povere men kuoweth ; 
 He ne withhalt noon hewe his liire, 
 That he ne hath it at even ; sgos
 
 riERS PLOUGHMAN. Ill 
 
 He is as lowe as a lomb, 3609 
 
 And lovelicli of speche ; 
 And if ye wilneth to wite 
 Where that he dwelleth, 
 I shal wisse you witterly 
 The wey to his place." 
 
 " Ye, leve Piers," quod thise pil- 
 And profred hym huyre, [grimes, 
 For to wende with hem 
 To Truthes dvvellyng-place. 
 
 "Nay, by my soules helpe !"quod 
 And gan for to swere, [Piers, 
 
 " I nolde fange a ferthyng. 
 For seiut Thomas shryne ; 
 Truthe wolde love me the lasse 
 A long tyme therafter ; 
 Ac if yow wilneth to wende wel, 
 This is the wey thider. 
 
 " Ye moten go thorugh Meke- 
 Both men and wyves, [nesse, 
 
 Til ye come into Conscience, 
 That Crist wite the sothe 
 That ye loven oure Lord God 363i 
 Levest of alle thynges. 
 And thanne youre neghebores next 
 In none wise apeire. 
 Other wise than thow woldest 
 He wroughte to tliiselve. 
 
 "And so boweth forth by a brook, 
 Beth-buxom-of-speche, 
 Til he fynden a ford, 
 Youre-fadres-honoureth, 
 Honora patrem et matrem, etc. 
 Wadeth in that water, 3542
 
 112 THE VISION OF 
 
 And Tvasshe yow wel therinne, 3643 
 
 And ye shul lepe the lightloker 
 
 Al youre lif tyme ; 
 
 And so shaltow se Swere-noght,- 
 
 But-if-it-be-for-nede,- 
 
 And-nameliche-on-ydel- 
 
 The-name-of-God-almyghty. 
 
 "Thanne shaltow come by a croft, 
 But come thow noght therinne ; 
 That croft hatte Coveite-noght- 
 Mennes-catel-ne-hire-"svyves,- 
 Ne-noon-of-hire-servauntz- 3654 
 
 Thal^noyen-hem-myghte ; 
 Loke ye breke no bowes there, 
 But if it be youre owene. 
 
 " Two stokkes ther stondeth, 
 Ac stynte ye noght there, 
 Thei highte Stele-noght and Sle- 
 Strik forth by bothe, [noght, 
 
 And leve hem on thi lift half, 
 And loke noght therafter, 
 And hold Avel thyn hali-day 
 Heighe til even. 3665 
 
 " Thanne shaltow blenche at a 
 Bere-no-fals-wituesse, [bergh, 
 
 He is frythed in with floryns 
 And othere fees manye ; 
 Loke thow plukke no plaunte there, 
 For peril of thi soule ; 
 Thanne shul ye see Seye-sooth,- 
 So-it-be-to-doonc,- 
 In-good-manere,-ellis-noght- 
 For-no-mannes-biddyng. 
 
 "Thanne shaltow come to a court
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 113 
 
 As cler as the Sonne ; 3677 
 
 The moot is of Mercy 
 
 The manoir aboute, 
 
 And alle the walles ben of Wit, 
 
 To holden Wil oute, 
 
 And kerneled wit Cristendom, 
 
 Mankynde to save, 
 
 Botrased with Bileef-so,- 
 
 Or-thow-beest-noght-saved. 
 
 " And alle the houses ben hiled, 
 Halles and chanibres, 
 With no leed but with love, 3688 
 And lowe speche as bretheren ; 
 The brugg is of Bidde-wel,- 
 The-bet-may-thow-spede ; 
 Ech piler is of penaunce, 
 Of preieres to seyntes ; 
 Of almes-dedes are the hokes 
 That the gates hangen on. 
 
 " Grace hatte the gatewarde, 
 A good man for sothe ; 
 His man hatte Amende-yow, 
 For many men hym knoweth ; 3699 
 Telleth hym this tokene, 
 That Truthe wite the sothe ; 
 ' I perfourned the penaunce 
 That the preest me enjoyned, 
 And am ful sory for my synnes, 
 And so I shal evere, 
 "Whan I thynke theron, 
 Theigh I were a pope.' 
 
 ' ' Biddeth Amende-yow meke hym 
 Til his maister ones, 
 To wayven up the wiket sno
 
 114 THE VISION OF 
 
 That the womman sliette, 3711 
 
 Tho Adam and Eve 
 Eten apples un-rosted. 
 Per Evam cunctis clausa est, et per 
 Mariam virginem patefada est. 
 
 " For he hath the keje and the 
 Though the kyng slepe. [cliket, 
 And if grace graunte thee 
 To go in this wise, 
 Thow shalt see in thiselve 
 Truthe in tliyn herte, 
 In a cheyne of charity 3722 
 
 As thow a child were, 
 To suflfren hym and segge noght 
 Ayein thi sires wille. 
 
 " And be Avar thanne of Wrathe- 
 That is a wikked sherewe ; [thee, 
 He hath envye to hym 
 That in thyn herte sitteth, 
 And poketh forth pride 
 To preise thiselven. 
 The boldnesse of thi bienfetes 
 !Maketh thee blynd thanne : 3733 
 And thanne woistow dryven out as 
 And the dore closed, [dew, 
 
 Keyed and cliketted, 
 To kepe thee withouten ; 
 Happily an hundred wynter 
 Er thow eft entre. 
 Thus mgyhtestow lesen his love, 
 To lete wel by thiselve, 
 And nevere happily eft entre, 
 But grace thow have. 
 
 "And ther are seven sustren 3744
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 115 
 
 That serven Truthe evere, 3745 
 
 And arn porters of the posternes 
 That to the place longeth. 
 
 " That 0011 hatte Abstinence, 
 And Humility another ; 
 Charite and Chastitd 
 Ben hise chief maydenes ; 
 Pacience and Pees 
 Muche peple thei helpeth ; 
 Largenesse the lady, 
 She let in ful manye, 
 Heo hath holpe a thousand out 
 Of the develes punf olde ; 
 And who is sib to thise sevene, 
 So me God helpe ! 
 He is wonderly welcome. 
 And faire underfongen. 
 And but if ye be sibbe 
 To some of thise sevene, [Piers, 
 It is ful hard, by myn heed ! " quod 
 " For any of yow alle 
 To geten in-going at any gate there. 
 But grace be the moore." 3757 
 
 " Now by Crist ! " quod a kutte- 
 *' I have no kyn there." [purs, 
 
 " Nor I," quod an ape-ward, 
 " By aught that I kan knowe." 
 " Wite God ! " quod a wafrestere, 
 " Wiste I this for sothe, 
 Sholde I nevere ferther a foot, 
 For no freres prechyng." 
 
 " Yis," quod Piers the Plowman, 
 And poked hem alle to goode, 
 " Mercy is a maiden there 3778
 
 116 THE VISION. 
 
 Hath myght over alle ; 3779 
 
 And she is sib to alle synfulle, 
 
 And hire sone also, 
 
 And thorugh the help of hem two 
 
 Hope thow noon oother, 
 
 Thow myght gete grace there, 
 
 So thow go hi-tyme," 
 
 "Bi seintPoul!" quod a pardoner, 
 
 "Peraventure I be noght knowe 
 
 there ; [vettes, 
 
 I wol go fecche my box with my bre- 
 
 And a bulle with bisshopes lettres," 
 
 " By Crist ! " quod a commune 
 womman, 
 " Thi compaignie wol I folwe ; 
 Thow shalt seye I am thi suster, 
 I ne woot where thei bicome." 3793 
 
 #<^-^
 
 Passus Sextus de Yisione, ut 
 supra. 
 
 " ^J^HIS were a wikkede wey, 
 ^'* ?=1 p^^^ But who so hadde a gyde, 
 ^^ That wolde fohven us ech 
 
 ^^ a foot ; " 
 Thus this folke hem mened. 
 
 Quod Perkyn the Plowman, 
 " By seint Peter of Rome ! 
 I have an half acre to erie 
 By the heighe weye ; 
 Hadde I eryed this half acre, 
 And sowen it after, 
 I wolde wende with yow, 
 And the wey teche." 3805 
 
 "This were a long lettyng," 
 Quod a lady in scleyre, 
 "What sholde we wommen 
 Werche the while ? " [Piers, 
 
 "Sommeshul so we the sak,'' quod 
 " For shedyng of the whete ; 
 And ye, lovely ladies, 
 With youre longe fyngres. 
 That ye have silk and sandel 
 To sowe, whan tyme is ; 
 Chesibles for chapeleyns, 
 Chirehes to hououre. 38i7 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 118 THE VISION OF 
 
 " "Wyves and widewes, 3sis 
 
 "WoUe and flex spynneth ; 
 Maketh cloth, I counseiUe yow, 
 And kenneth so youre doughtres ; 
 The nedy and the naked, 
 Xymeth hede how thei liggeth, 
 And casteth hem clothes, 
 For so comaundeth Truthe. 
 For I shal leven hem liflode. 
 But if the lond faille, 
 Flesshe and breed bothe 
 To riche and to poore, 3S29 
 
 As long as I lyve, 
 For the Lordes love of hevene ; 
 And alle manere of men [beth. 
 That thorugh mete and drynke lib- 
 Helpeth hym to werche AvigbtHche, 
 That wynneth youre foode." 
 
 " By Crist ! " quod a knyght thoo, 
 "He kenneth us the beste; 
 Ac on the teme, trewely, 
 Taught was I nevere ; 3840 
 
 But kenne me," quod the knyght, 
 "And by Crist I wole assaye ! " 
 
 " By seint Poul ! " quod Perkyn, 
 '• Ye prof re yow so fairs, 
 That I shal swynke and swete, 
 And sowe for us bothe, 
 And othere labours do for thi love 
 Al my lif tyme, 
 In covenaunt that thow kepe 
 Holy kirke and myselve 
 Fro wastours and fro wikked men 
 That this world destruyetli. sssi
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 119 
 
 And go hunte hardiliche 3S52 
 
 To hares and to foxes, 
 
 To bores and to brokkes 
 
 That breken doiin myne hegges ; 
 
 And so affaite thi faucons 
 
 Wilde foweles to kille ; 
 
 For swiche cometh to my croft, 
 
 And croppeth my whete." 
 
 Curteisly the knyght thanne 
 Comsed thise wordes ; 
 ' ' By my power, Piers ! " quod he, 
 " I plighte thee my trouthe, ssos 
 To fulfille this forwarde. 
 Though I fighte sholde ; 
 Als longe as I lyve 
 I shal thee mayntene." 
 
 " Ye, and yet a point," quod 
 " I preye yow of moore, [Piers, 
 Loko ye tens no tenaunt. 
 But Truthe wole assente ; 
 And though ye mowe amercy hem, 
 Lat mercy be taxour. 
 And mekenesse thi maister, 3sr4 
 Maugree Medes chekes. 
 And though povere men profre yow 
 Presentes and giftes, 
 Nyme it noght, an aventure 
 Ye mowe it noght deserve ; 
 For thow shalt yelde it ayein 
 At one yeres tyme. 
 In a ful perilous place, 
 Purgatorie it hatte. [men, 
 
 " And mys-bede noght thi bonde- 
 The bettre may thow spede j ssss
 
 120 THE VISION OF 
 
 Tliough lie Le thyn underlyng here, 
 
 Wei may happe in hevene 
 
 That he worth worthier set, 
 
 And with moore blisse. 
 
 Amice, ascende superius. 
 
 For in charnel at chirche 
 
 Cherles ben yvel to knowe, 
 
 Or a knyght from a knave there, 
 
 Knowe this in thyn herte. 
 
 And that thow be trewe of thi tonge, 
 
 And tales that thow hatie, 
 
 But if thei ben of wisdom or of wit 
 
 Thi werkmen to chaste. 
 
 Hold with none harlotes, 
 
 Ne here noght hir tales. 
 
 And namely at the mete 
 
 Swiche men eschuwe ; 
 
 For it ben the develes disours, 
 
 I do the to understonde." 
 
 " I assente, by seint Jame ! " 
 Seide the knyght thanne, 
 " For to werche by thi wordes 
 The while my lif dureth." 3908 
 
 " And I shal apparaille me," quod 
 "In pilgrymes wise, [Perkyn, 
 
 And wende with yow I wile, 
 Til we fynde Truthe ; 
 And caste on my clothes 
 Y-clouted and hole, 
 ^ly cokeres and my coffes, 
 For cold of my nailes ; 
 And hange myn hoper at myn hals 
 In stede of a scryppe. 
 A busshel of bred corn 3919
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 121 
 
 Brynge me therinne ; 3920 
 
 For I wol sowe it myself, 
 
 And sithenes wol I wende 
 
 To pilgrymage, as palmeres doon, 
 
 Pardon for to have. 
 
 And who so helpeth me to erie 
 
 And sowen here er I wende, 
 
 Shal have leve, by oure Lorde ! 
 
 To lese here in hervest, 
 
 And make hem murie thermyd, 
 
 Maugree who so bi-gruccheth it. 
 
 And alle kynne crafty-men, 3931 
 
 That konne lyven in truthe, 
 
 I shal fynden hem fode, 
 
 That feithfulliche libbeth. 
 
 " Save Jagge the jogelour, 
 And Jonette of the stuwes. 
 And Danyel the dees-pleyere, 
 And Denote the baude, 
 And frere the faitour. 
 And folk of hire ordre, 
 And Robyn the ribaudour 
 For hise rusty wordes. 3942 
 
 Truthe tolde me ones, 
 And bad me telle it after, 
 Deleantur de libro viventiwn, 
 I sholde noght dele with hem. 
 For holy chirche is hote of hem 
 No tithe to take ; 
 Qui cum justis non scrihantur ; 
 They ben ascaped good aventure, 
 God hem amende ! " 
 
 Dame Werch-whan-tyme-is 
 Piers wif highte ; 3953
 
 122 THE VISION OF 
 
 His doughter higlite Do-riglit-so,- 
 
 Or-thi-dame-shal-thee-bete ; 
 
 His sone higlite Suffre-thi-sove- 
 
 To-haveu-hir-wille,- [reyns- 
 
 Deme-hem-noght,-for-if-tliow-doost,- 
 
 Tbow-shalt-it-deere-abugge. 
 
 Lat God y-worthe with al, 
 
 Yox so his word techeth ; 
 
 For now I am old and hoor, 
 
 And have of myn owene, 
 
 To penaunce and to pilgrimage 
 
 I wol passe with thise othere. 3965 
 
 " For-thi I Avole er I wende 
 Do write my biqueste, 
 In Dei nomine, Amen, 
 I make it myselve ; 
 He shal have my soule, 
 That best hath deserved it ; 
 And fro the fend it defende, 
 For so 1 bileve, 
 Til I come to hise acountes, 
 As my Credo me telleth, 
 To have a relees and a remission, 
 On that rental I leve. 
 
 "The kirke shal have mycaroyne, 
 And kepe my bones ; 
 For of my corn and catel 
 She craved the tithe ; 
 I paide it ful prestly, 
 For peril of my soule. 
 For-thi is he holden I hope 
 To have me in his masse, 
 And mengen in his memorie 
 Amonges alle cristene. 3987
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 123 
 
 " My wif slial have of that I wan 
 Witli truthe, and na-moore, 
 And dele among my doughtres, 
 And my deere children ; 
 For though I deye to day, 
 My dettes are qnyte ; 
 I bar liom that I borwed, 
 Er I to bedde yede. [remenaunt, 
 
 " And with the residue and the 
 By the Rode of Lukes ! 
 I wol worshipe therwith 
 Truthe by my lyve, :^99 
 
 And ben his pilgrym atte plow, 
 For povere mennes sake. 
 My plow-foot shall be my pikstaf, 
 And picche a-two the rotes, 
 And helpe my cultour to kerve 
 And dense the furwes." 
 
 Now is Perkyn and hise pilgrimes 
 To the plow faren ; 
 To erie his half acre 
 Holpen hym manye ; 
 Dikeres and delveres 40io 
 
 Digged up the balkes. 
 Therwith was Perkyn a-payed, 
 And preised hem faste. 
 
 Othere werkmen tlier were 
 That wroghten f ul yerne ; 
 Ech man in his manere 
 Made hymself to doone. 
 And somme to plese Perkyn 
 Piked up the wedes. 
 
 At heigh prime Piers 
 Leet the plowgh stonde, 4021
 
 12i THE VISION OF 
 
 To over-sen liem hymself, 4022 
 
 And who so best wroghte 
 He sliolde be hired therafter, 
 "Wlian hervest tyme come. 
 
 And thanne seten somme, 
 And songen atte nale, 
 And liolpen ere this half acre 
 With " How, trolly lolly." 
 
 " Xow, by the peril of my soule !" 
 All in pure tene, [quod Piers, 
 
 " But ye arise the rather 
 And rape yow to werche, 4033 
 
 Shal no greyn that groweth 
 Glade yow at nede, 
 And though ye deye for doel, 
 The devel have that reccheth." 
 
 Tho were faitours a-fered, 
 Aiid feyned hem blynde ; 
 Somme leide hir legges a-liry, 
 As swiche losels konneth, 
 And made hir mone to Piers, 
 And jDreide hym of grace ; 
 " For we have no lymes to laboure 
 Lord, y-graced be the ; [with, 
 
 Ac we preie for yow. Piers, 
 And for youre plowgh bothe, 
 That God of his grace 
 Youre greyn multiplie, 
 And yelde yow for youre almesse 
 That ye gyve us here ; 
 For we may noght swynke ne swete, 
 Swich siknesse us eyleth." 
 
 "If it be sooth,"quod Piers, "that 
 I slial it soone aspic. [ye seyn,
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 125 
 
 Ye ben wastours, I woot wel, 4056 
 
 And Truthe woot the sothe ; 
 
 And I am his olde hyne, 
 
 And highte hym to warne, 
 
 Whiche thei were in this world 
 
 Hise werkmen apeired. 
 
 Ye wasten that men wynnen 
 
 With travaille and with tene ; 
 
 Ac Truthe shal teche yow 
 
 His teme to dryve, 
 
 Or ye shul eten barley breed, 
 
 And of the broke drynke. 4067 
 
 "But if he be blynd or broke- 
 Or bolted with irens, [legged, 
 
 He shall ete whete breed. 
 And drynke with myselve, 
 Til God of his goodnesse 
 Amendement hym sende. 
 Ac ye myghte travaille, as Truthe 
 And take mete and hyre, [wolde, 
 To kepe kyen in the feld, 
 The corn fro the beestes, 
 Diken or delven, 407s 
 
 Or dyngen upon sheves, 
 Or helpe make morter, 
 Or here muk a-feld. 
 
 " In lecherie and in losengerie 
 Ye lyven, and in sleuthe ; 
 And al is thorugh suffraunce, 
 That vengeaunce yow ne taketh. 
 
 "Ac ancres and heremites 
 That eten noght but at nones. 
 And na-moore er the morwe, 
 Myn almesse shul thei have, 40S9
 
 126 THE VISION OF 
 
 And of catel to kepe liem with. 4090 
 That han cloistres and chirches. 
 
 *' Ac Rohert Renaboute 
 Shal noght have of myne, 
 Xe postles, but thei preche konne 
 And have power of the bisshope ; 
 Thei shul have payn and potage, 
 And make hemself at ese, 
 For it is an unreasonable religion 
 That hath right noght of certain." 
 
 And thanne gau Wastour to 
 wrathen hym, 4100 
 
 And wolde have y-foughte ; 
 And to Piers the Plowman 
 He profrede his glove ; 
 A bretoner, a braggere, 
 A-bosted Piers als, 
 And bad hym go pissen with his 
 " For-pynede sherewe ! [plowgh, 
 Wiltow or neltow, 
 We wol have oure wille 
 Of thi flour and of thi flesshe, 
 Fecche whanne us liketh ; 4111 
 
 And maken us murye thermyde, 
 Maugree thi chekes." 
 
 Thanne Piers the Plowman 
 Pleyned hym to the knyghte, 
 To kepen hym as covcnaunt M'as 
 Fro cursede sherewes, [kynnes 
 
 And fro thise wastours wolves- 
 Tliat maketh the world deere ; 
 "For thowasten and wynnen noght, 
 And that ilke while [pep^e, 
 
 Worth nevere plentee among the
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 127 
 
 The while my plowgh liggeth." 4123 
 
 Curteisly the knyght thanne, 
 As his kynde wolde, 
 Warnede Wastour, 
 And wissed hym bettre, 
 " Or thow shalt abigge by the lawe, 
 By the ordre that I here ! " 
 
 " I was noght wont to werche," 
 quod "Wastour, 
 " And now wol I noght bigynne ; " 
 And leet light of the lawe, 
 And lasse of the knyghte ; 4133 
 
 And sette Piers at a pese, 
 And his plowgli bothe ; 
 And nianaced Piers and bis men, 
 If thei mette eft soone. [quod Piers, 
 
 " JSTow, by the peril of my soule !" 
 " I shal apeire yow alle ; " 
 And houped after Hunger, 
 That herde hym at the firste, 
 " A-wreke me of thise wastours," 
 
 quod he, 
 " That this world shendeth." 4143 
 
 Hunger in haste thoo 
 Hente ^Vastour by the wombe, 
 And wrong him so by the wombe, 
 That bothe hise eighen watrede. 
 
 He buffeted the bretoner 
 Aboute the chekes, 
 That he loked lik a lanterne 
 Al his lif after. 
 He bette hem so bothe, 
 He brast ner hire guttes ; 
 Ne hadde Piers with a pese loof 4154
 
 128 THE VISION OF 
 
 Preyed Hunger to cesse, 4155 
 
 They hadde be dolven, 
 
 Ne deme thow noon oother. 
 
 " Suflfre hem lyve," he seide, 
 "And lat hem ete with hogges, 
 Or ellis benes or bren 
 Y-baken togideres, 
 Or ellis melk and mene ale ; " 
 Thus preied Piers for hem. 
 
 Faitours for fere herof 
 Plowen into bernes, 
 And flapten on with flailes 4166 
 Fro morwe til even ; 
 That Hunger was noglit so hardy 
 On hem for to loke, 
 For a potf ul of peses 
 That Piers hadde y-maked. 
 
 An heep of heremytes 
 Henten hem spades, 
 And kitten hir copes, 
 And courtepies hem maked, 
 And wente as werkmen 
 "With spades and with shoveles 4i77 
 And dolven and dikeden, 
 To dryve awey hunger. 
 
 Blynde and bed-reden 
 "Were bootned a thousande, 
 That seten to begge silver, 
 Soone were thei heeled ; 
 For that was bake for bayarde, 
 Was boote for many hungry ; 
 And many a beggcre for benes 
 Buxum was to swynke ; 
 And eche a povere man wel a-paied
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 129 
 
 To have pesen for his hyre, 4189 
 
 And what Piers preicle hem to do, 
 
 As prest as a sperhauk ; 
 
 And therof was Piers proud, 
 
 And putte hem to werke, 
 
 And yaf hem mete as he myghte 
 
 And mesurable hyre. [aforthe, 
 
 Thanne had Piers pit4, 
 And preide Hunger to wende 
 Hoom unto his owene yerd. 
 And holden hym there ; 
 " For I am wel a-wroke 4200 
 
 Of wastours, thorugh thy myghte. 
 Ac I preie thee, er thow passe," 
 Quod Piers to Hunger, 
 ' ' Of beggeris and of bidderis 
 "VA^at best be to doone. 
 For I woot wel, be thow went, 
 Thei wol werche ful ille ; 
 For meschief it maketh 
 Thei be so meke nouthe, 
 ^nd for defaute of hire foode 
 This folk is at my wille. 4211 
 
 " Thei are my blody bretheren," 
 quod Piers, 
 " For God boughte us alle. 
 Truthe taughte me ones 
 To loven hem echone ; 
 And to helpen hem of alle thyng 
 Ay as hem nedeth. 
 And now wolde I wite of thee 
 What were the beste ; 
 And how I myghte a-maistren hem, 
 And make hem to werche." 4221
 
 130 THE VISION OF 
 
 " Here now," quod Hunger, 4222 
 " And hoold it for a wisdom ; 
 Bolde beggeris and bigge 
 That mowe hir breed bi-swynke, 
 Withhoundes breed and horse breed 
 Hoold up hir hertes ; 
 A-bate hem with benes, 
 For boUynge of hir wombes ; 
 And if the gomes grucche, 
 Bidde hem go swynke, 
 And he shal soupe swetter 
 "Whan he it liath deserved. 4233 
 
 " And if thow fynde any freke 
 That fortune hath apeired, 
 Or any manere false men, 
 Fonde thow swiche to knowe ; 
 Conforte hym with thi catel, 
 For Cristes love of hevene ; 
 Love hem and leve hem, 
 So lawe of God techeth, 
 Alter alter ius oner a portare. 
 
 " And alle manere of men 
 That thow myght aspie, 4244 
 
 That nedy ben and nought}', 
 Help liem with thi goodes ; 
 Love hem and lakke hem noght, 
 Lat God take tlie vengeaunce ; 
 Theigh thei doon yvele, 
 Lat God y-worthe. 
 Milii vindictam, et ego retrihuam. 
 
 " And if thow wilt be gracious to 
 Do as the gospel techeth, [God, 
 And bi-love thee amonges lewed 
 So shaltow lacche grace ; [men,
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 131 
 
 Facite vos aminos de Mammone ini- 
 qmtatii<" [Piers, 
 
 "I wolde noght greve God," quod 
 " For al the good on grounde. 
 Mights I synne-lees do as thow 
 Seide Piers thanne. [seist 1 " 
 
 * ' Ye, I bi-hote thee, "quod Hunger, 
 " Or elHs the Bible lieth ; 
 Go to Genesis the geaunt. 
 The engendrour of us alle : 
 In sudore and swynk 
 Thow shalt thi mete tilie, 4267 
 
 And labours for thi liflode, 
 And so oure Lorde highte. 
 And Sapience seith the same, 
 I seigh it in the Bible, 
 Piger i-^vce frigore 
 No feeld nolde tilie. 
 And ther f ore he shal begge andbidde. 
 And no man bete his hunger. 
 
 " Mathew with mannes face 
 Mouthed thise wordes. 
 That servus nequam hadde a mnam. 
 And for he wolde noght chaffare. 
 He hadde maugree of his maister 
 Evere moors after. 
 And by-nam hym his mnam, 
 For he ne wolde werche. 
 And yaf that mnam to hym 
 That ten mnames hadde ; 
 And with that he seide. 
 That holy chirche it herde. 
 He that hath shal have 
 And helpe there it nedeth ; 4289
 
 132 THE VISION OF 
 
 And he that noght hath shal noght 
 And no man hym helpe, [have, 
 And that he weneth -wel to have 
 I wole it hym bi-reve. 
 Kynde wit wolde 
 That ech a wight wroghte, 
 Or in dikynge or in delvyngc, 
 Or travaillynge in preieres ; 
 Contemplatif lif or actif lif 
 Crist wokle thei wroghte. 
 The Sauter seith in the Psalme 
 Of Beati om7ies, 4301 
 
 The freke that fedeth hymself 
 With his feithful labour, 
 He is blessed by the book 
 In body and in soule." 
 Lahores manmim tuarum, etc. 
 
 " Yet I preie yow," quod Piers, 
 " Par cliarite, and ye konne 
 Any leef of leche-craft, 
 Lere it me, my deere ; 
 For some of my servauntz, 
 And myself bothe, 4312 
 
 Of al a wike werche noght. 
 So oure wombe aketh." 
 
 " I woot wel," quod Hunger, 
 " What siknesse yow eyleth ; 
 Ye han manged over niuche, 
 And that maketh yow grone. 
 Ac I bote thee," (juod Hunger, 
 " As thow thyn hcle wilnest, 
 That thow drynke no day 
 Er thow dyne som what. 
 Ete noght, I bote thee, 4323
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 133 
 
 Er hunger thee take, 4324 
 
 And sende thee of his sauce 
 
 To savore witli thi lippes ; 
 
 And keep som til soper-tyme, 
 
 And sitte noght to longe, 
 
 And rys up er appetit 
 
 Have eten his fille. 
 
 Lat noght sire Surfet 
 
 Sitten at thi horde. 
 
 Leve hym ncght, for he is lecherous, 
 
 And likerous of tunge, 
 
 And after many maner metes 4335 
 
 His mawe is a-fyngred. 
 
 " And if thow diete thee thus, 
 I dar legge myne eris, 
 That Phisik shal hise furred hodes 
 For his fode selle, 
 And his cloke of Calabre, 
 "With alle the knappes of golde, 
 And be fayn, by my feith ! 
 His phisik to lete, 
 And lerne to laboure with lond, 
 For liflode is swete. 4346 
 
 For murthereris are manj'^e leches, 
 Lord hem amende ! [drynkes. 
 
 They do men deye thorugh hir 
 Er (lestynee it wolde." 
 " By seint Poul ! " quod Piers, 
 " Thise arn profitable wordes i 
 Wend now, Hunger, whan thow 
 That wel be thow evere ! [wolt. 
 For this is a lovely lesson, 
 Lord it thee for-yelde ! " 
 
 " Bi-hote God ! " quod Hunger, 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 134 THE VISION OF 
 
 " Honnes ne wole I -wende, 4358 
 Til I have dyned bi this day, 
 And y-dronke bothe." 
 
 " I have no peny," quod Piers, 
 " Pulettes to bugge, 
 Ne neither gees ne grys, 
 But two grene cheses, 
 A fewe cruddes and creme, 
 And an haver cake, 
 And two loves of benes and bran 
 Y-bake for my fauntes ; 
 And yet I seye, by my soule ! 4309 
 I have no salt bacon, 
 Xe no cokeney, by Crist ! 
 Coloppes for to maken. 
 
 " Ac I have percile and porettes, 
 And manye cole plauntes, 
 And. ek a cow and a calf, 
 And a cart mare 
 To drawe a-feld my donge, 
 The while the droghte lasteth ; 
 And by this liflode we mote lyve 
 Til Lammesse tyme. «8o 
 
 And by that, I hope to have 
 Hervest in my crofte, 
 And thanne may I dighte thi dyner, 
 As me deere liketh." 
 
 Al the povere pcple the 
 Pescoddes fetten, 
 Benes and baken apples 
 Thei broghte in liir lappes, 
 ChiboUes and chervelles. 
 And ripe chiries manye, 
 And profrede Piers this present 4391
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 135 
 
 To plese witli Hunger. 4392 
 
 Al Hunger eet in haste, 
 And axed after nioore. 
 Thanne povere folk, for fere, 
 Fedden Hunger yerne, 
 With grene poret and pesen, 
 To poisone hym thei thoghte. 
 By that it neghed near hervest, 
 And newe corn cam to chepyng ; 
 Thanne was folk fayn. 
 And fedde Hunger with the beste, 
 With goode ale, as Gloton taghte, 
 And garte Hunger go slepe. 
 
 And tho wolde Wastour noght 
 But Avandren aboute, [werche, 
 
 Ne no beggere ete breed 
 That benes inne were, 
 But of coket and cler-matyn. 
 Or ellis of dene whete ; 
 Ne noon halfpeny ale 
 In none wise drynke, [neste 
 
 But of the beste and of the brun- 
 That in burghe is to selle. 44u 
 
 Laborers that have no land 
 To lyve on but hire handes, 
 Deyned noght to dyne a day 
 Nyght-olde wortes ; 
 May no peny ale hem paye, 
 Ne no pece of bacone, 
 But if it be fresshe flessh outlier 
 Fryed outlier y-bake, [fisslie, 
 
 And that chaucl and plus chaud, 
 For chillynge of hir mawe ; 
 And but if he be heighliche hyred ;
 
 136 THE VISION OF 
 
 Ellis wole he chide, 4426 
 
 And that he was Aveikman "wroght 
 "Waille the tyme, 
 Ayeins Catons counseil 
 Comseth he to jangle. 
 Paupertatis onu.s yaiienier Jerre me- 
 mento. 
 
 He greveth hym ageyn God, 
 And gruccheth ageyn Reson, 
 And thanne corseth he the kyng, 
 And al his counseil after, 
 Swiche lawes to loke 4437 
 
 Laborers to greve. 
 Ac -whiles Hunger was hir maister, 
 Ther wolde noon of hem chide, 
 Xe stryven ayeins his statut, 
 So sterneliche he loked. 
 
 Ac I warne yow, werkmen, 
 Wynneth whil ye mows, 
 For Hunger hiderward 
 Hasteth hym faste. 
 He shal a-wake witli water 
 "Wastours to chaste ; 
 Er fyve be fulfilled, 
 Swich famyn shal a-ryse, 
 Thorugh Hodes and thorugh foule 
 Fruytes shul faille, [wedres 
 
 And so seide Saturne, 
 And sente yow to warne. 
 
 Whan ye se the sonne a-mys, 
 And two monkes heddes. 
 And a mayde have the maistrie. 
 And multiplie by eighte, 
 Thanne shal deeth with-drawe, 445a
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 137 
 
 And derthe be justice, 4460 
 
 And Dawe the dykere 
 
 Deye for hunger ; 
 
 But God of his goodnesse 
 
 Graunte us a trewe. 4464 
 
 f f f f f 
 
 1 1 i
 
 Passus Sejjtimus de Yisione, ut 
 supra. 
 
 ^KEUTHE herde telle her 
 ^^? And to Piers lie sente, 
 To makeu his teme 
 And tilien the erthe, 
 
 And purchaced hym a pardone 
 
 A poena et a culpa, 
 
 For hym and for hise heires, 
 
 For evere moore after, 
 
 And bad hym holde hym at home, 
 
 And erien hise leyes. 
 
 And alle that holpen hym to erye, 
 
 To sette or to sowe, 
 
 Or any oother mestier 44:7 
 
 That myghte Piers availle, 
 
 Pardon with Piers Plowman 
 
 Truths hath y-graunted. 
 Kynges and knyghtes, 
 
 That kepen holy chirche, 
 
 And rightfully in remes 
 
 Rulen the peple, 
 
 Han pardon thorugh purgatorie 
 
 To passen ful lightlj', 
 
 "With patriarkes and prophetes 
 
 In paradis to be felawe. 44S3
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 139 
 
 Bysshopes y-blessed, 44S9 
 
 If thei ben as thei sholde, 
 Legistres of botlie lawes, 
 The lewed therwith to preche, 
 And in as mucbe as thei niowe 
 Amenden alle synfulle, 
 Arn peres with the Apostles, 
 This pardon Piers sheweth, 
 And at the day of dome 
 At the heighe deys sitte. 
 
 Marchauntz in the margyne 
 Hadde manye yeres, 4500 
 
 Ac noon a poena et a culjja 
 The pope nolde hem graunte, 
 For thei hokle noght hir hali-dayes 
 As holy chirche techeth, 
 And for thei swere by hir soule, 
 And so God moste hem helpe, 
 Ayein clene Conscience, 
 Hir catel to selle. 
 
 Ac under his secret seel 
 Truthe sente hem a lettre. 
 That thei sholde buggen boldely 
 That hem best liked, 
 And sithenes selle it ayein, 
 And save the wynnyng, 
 And amende meson-dieux thermyd, 
 And mys-eise folk helpe. 
 And wikkede weyes 
 Wightly amende. 
 And do boote to brugges 
 That to-broke were, 
 Marien maydenes, 
 Or maken hem nonnes, 4522
 
 140 THE VISION OF 
 
 Povere peple and prisons 4523 
 
 Fynden hem hir foode, 
 
 And sette scolers to scole. 
 
 Or to som othere craftes, 
 
 Eeleve religion, 
 
 And renten hem bettre ; 
 
 " And I shal sende yow niy?elve 
 
 Seint Michel myn archangel, 
 
 That no devel shal yow dere, 
 
 'Ne fere yow in youre deying, 
 
 And witen yow fro wanhope. 
 
 If ye wol thus werche, 4534 
 
 And sende youre soules in saufte 
 
 To my seintes in joye." 
 
 Thanne were marchauntz niurie, 
 Manye wepten for joye. 
 And preiseden Piers the Plowman, 
 That purchaced this bulla. 
 
 Men of lawe leest pardon hadde, 
 That pleteden for Mede ; 
 For the Sauter saveth hem noght, 
 8wiche as take giftes, 
 And nameliche of innocentz 4545 
 That noon yvel ne konneth. 
 Super mnocentem raunera non ac- 
 cipies. 
 
 Pledours sholde peynen hem 
 To plede for swiche and lielpe ; 
 Princes and prelates 
 Sholde paie for hire travaille. 
 A regihus et principihus erit merces 
 ear am. 
 
 Ac many a justice and jurour 
 "Wolde for Johan do moore 4556
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 141 
 
 Than pro Dei pietate, 4557 
 
 Leve thow noon ootlier. 
 
 Ac he that spendeth his speche, 
 And speketh for the povere 
 That is innocent and nedy, 
 And no man apeireth, 
 Conforteth hyni in that caas 
 Withouten coveitise of giftes, 
 And sheweth lawe for oure Lordes 
 As he it hath y-lerned, [love, 
 
 Shal no devel at his deeth day 
 Deren hym a myte, 456s 
 
 That he ne worth saaf and his soule, 
 The Sauter bereth witnesse : 
 Domine, quis hahitabit in taherna- 
 culo tuo ? 
 
 Ac to hugge water, ne wynd, 
 Ne wit, ne fir the ferthe, 
 Thise foure the fader of hevene 
 Made to this foold in commune. 
 Thise ben Truthes tresores 
 Trewe folk to helpe, 
 That nevere shul wexe ne wanye, 
 Withouten God hyuiselve. 
 
 Whan thei drawen on to deye, 
 And indulgences wolde have, 
 Hir pardon is f ul petit 
 At hir partyng hennes, 
 That any mede of mene men 
 For hir motyng taketh. 
 Ye legistres and lawieres, 
 Holdeth this for truthe, 
 That if that I lye, 
 Mathew is to blame, 4590
 
 142 THE VISION OF 
 
 For he bad me make yow this, 4591 
 And this proverbe me tolde, 
 Quodcunque vultis ut faciant vohis 
 liomines, facite eis. 
 
 AUe libbynge laborers 
 That lyven with hir hondes, 
 That treweliche taken, 
 And treweliche wynnen, 
 And lyven in love and in lawe, 
 For hir lowe hertes 
 Haveth the same absolucion 
 That sent was to Piers. 4G02 
 
 Beggeres ne bidderes 
 Ke beth noght in the bulls, 
 But if the suggestion be sooth 
 That shapeth hem to begge. 
 For he that beggeth or bit, 
 But if he have nede, 
 He is fals with the feend. 
 And defraudeth the nedy ; 
 And also he bi-gileth the gyvere, 
 Ageynes his wille ; 
 For if he wiste he were noght nedy, 
 He wolde gyve that another 
 That were nioore nedy tlian he, 
 So the nedieste sholde be holpe. 
 Caton kenneth me thus. 
 And the clerc of stories 3 
 Cui des videto, 
 Is Catons techyng. 
 
 And in the stories he techeth 
 To bistowe thyn almesse. 
 Sit elemosina tua in manu tua, 
 donee studes cui des. mi
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 143 
 
 Ac Gregory was a good ruan, 4625 
 And bad us gyven alle 
 That asketh for his love 
 That us al leneth. 
 Non eligas cui miserearis, ne forte 
 prmtereas ilium qui meretur 
 accijjere. Quia incertum est 
 pro quo Deo magis placeas. 
 For wite ye nevere who is worthi, 
 Ac God woot who hath nede ; 
 In hyni that taketh is the trecherie, 
 If any treson walke. 4C36 
 
 For he that yeveth, yeldetli, 
 And yarketh hym to reste ; 
 And he that biddeth, borweth, 
 And bryngeth hymself in dette. 
 For beggeres borwen evere mo, 
 And hir borgh is God ahnyghty, 
 To yelden hem that yeveth hem, 
 And yet usure moore. 
 duare non dedisti pecuniam meam 
 ad mensam, ut ego veniam cum 
 %isuris exigere ? im 
 
 For-thi biddeth noght, ye beg- 
 But if ye have gret nede ; [geres. 
 For who so hath to buggen hym 
 The book bereth witnesse, [breed, 
 He hath y-nough that hath breed 
 
 y-nough, 
 Though he have noght ellis. 
 Satis dives est, qui non indAget pane. 
 
 Lat usage be youre solas, 
 Of seintes lyves redyng, 
 The book banneth beggerie, 4657
 
 144 THE VISION OF 
 
 And blametli hem in this manere : 4658 
 Junior fui, et jam senui, et non vicli 
 jusium derelictum, nee semen 
 ejus, etc. 
 For ye lyve in no love, 
 iSTe no lawe hokle ; 
 ]\Ianye of yow ne wedde noght 
 The "vvomman tliat ye with deele, 
 But as wikle bestes with ' wehee ! ' 
 Wortlien uppe and werehen, 
 And bryngen forth barnes, 
 That bastardes men calleth ; 46G9 
 Or the bak or som boon 
 He breketh in his youthe, 
 And siththe goon faiten with youre 
 For evere moore after. [fauntes 
 
 Ther is moore mys-shapen peple 
 Amonges thise beggeres, 
 Than of alle manere men 
 That on this moolde walketh. 
 And thei that lyve thus hir lif, 
 Mowe lothe the tyme 
 Tliat evere thei Avere men wroght, 
 Whan thei shal hennes fare. 
 Ac olde men and hore, 
 Than help-lees ben of strengthe, 
 And wommen with childe 
 That werche ne mowe, 
 Blynde and bed-reden, 
 And broken hire membres. 
 That taken thise myschiefs meke- 
 As mesels and othere, [liche, 
 
 Han as j'leyn pardon 
 As the plowman hymselve. 469i
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 145 
 
 For love of hir lowe hertes, 4692 
 Oure Lord hath hem graunteJ 
 Hir penaunce and hir purgatorie 
 Here on this erthe. 
 
 " Piers," quod a preest thoo, 
 " Thi pardon moste I rede; 
 For I wol construe ech clause, 
 And kenne it thee on Englisshe." 
 
 And Piers at his preiere 
 The pardon unfoldeth ; 
 And I by-hj'nde hem bothe 
 Biheld al the bulle, 4703 
 
 And in two lynes it lay, 
 And noght a leef more. 
 And was writen right thus, 
 In witnesse of Truthe : 
 Et qui bona egerunt, ihunt in vitam 
 
 eternam. 
 Qui vero mala, in ignem eternum. 
 " Peter," quod the preest thoo, 
 " I kan no pardon fynde, 
 But do wel and have wel, 
 And God shal have thi soule, 4714 
 And do yvel and have yvel, 
 Hope thow noon oother. 
 But after thi deeth-day 
 The devel shal have thi soule." 
 And Piers for pure tene 
 Pulled it a-tweyne, 
 And seide Si aiiihulavero in medio 
 
 umhrce mortis, non thneboniala, 
 
 quoniam tu mecnm es. 
 " I shal cessen of my sowyng," 
 
 quod Piers, 4725
 
 U6 THE VISION OF 
 
 "And swynkenoglit so harde, 472c 
 Ne aboute my bely joye 
 So bisy be na-moore ; 
 Of preieres and of penaunce 
 My plough shal ben herafter, 
 And wepen whan I sholde slepe, 
 Though whete-breed me faille. 
 
 "The prophete his payn eet 
 In penaunce and in sorwe, 
 By that the Sauter seith, 
 So dide othere manye ; 
 That loveth God lelly, 4737 
 
 His liflode is ful esy. 
 Fuerunt mild lacrimce mece panes 
 die ac node. 
 
 " And but if Luc lye, 
 He lereth us by foweles, 
 "VYe sholde noght be to bisy 
 Aboute the worldes blisse ; 
 Ne soUciti sitis, 
 He seith in the Gospel, 
 And sheweth us by ensamples 
 Us selve to wisse. 474s 
 
 The foweles in the feld, 
 Who fynt hem mete at wynter? 
 Have thei no gerner to go to, 
 But God fynt hem alle." 
 
 " What ! " quod the preest to 
 " Peter ! as me thynketh, [Perkyn, 
 Thow art lettred a litel : — 
 Who lerned thee on boke 1 " 
 
 "Abstynence the abbesse," quod 
 " Myn a.b.c. me taughte ; [Piers, 
 And Conscience cam afterward, 
 And kenned me muche moore." 47go
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 147 
 
 " "Were tliow a preest," quod he, 
 " Thou myghtest preche where thou 
 As divinour in divinity, [sholdest, 
 With Dixit insipiens to thi teme." 
 
 " Lewed lorel ! " quod Piers, 
 " Litel lokestow on the Bible ; 
 On Salomons sawes 
 Selden thow biholdest : 
 Ejice derism'es etjurgia cum eis, ne 
 crescant, etc." 
 
 The preest and Perkyn 
 Opposeden either oother. 4772 
 
 And I thorugh hir wordes a-wook, 
 And waited aboute, 
 And seigh the sonne in the south 
 Sitte that tyme, 
 Mete-lees and ruonei-lees 
 On Malverne hulles, 
 Musynge on this metels, 
 And my wey ich yede. 
 
 MAXY tyme this metels 
 Hath maked me to studie 
 Of that I seigh slepynge, 
 If it so be myghte, 
 And also for Piers the Plowman 
 Ful pencif in herte, 
 And which a pardon Piers hadde 
 Al the peple to conforte, 
 And how the preest impugned it 
 With two propre wordes. 
 Ac I have no savour in songewarie, 
 For I se it ofte faille ; 
 Caton and canonistres 
 Counseillen us to leve 4794
 
 148 THE VISION OF 
 
 To sette sadnesse in songeAvarie, 4795 
 For sompnia ne cures. 
 
 Ac for the book Bible 
 Bereth witnesse 
 How Daniel divined 
 The dreem of a kyng, 
 That was Nabugodonosor 
 Nempned of clerkes. 
 
 Daniel seide, " Sire kyng, 
 Thi dremels bitokneth 
 That unkouthe knyglites shul come 
 Thi kyngdom to cleyme ; isoo 
 
 Amonges lower lordes 
 Thi lond shal be departed." 
 And as Daniel divined, 
 In dede it fel after ; 
 The kyng lees his lordshipe, 
 And lower men it hadde. 
 
 And Joseph mette merveillously 
 How the moone and the sonne 
 And the ellevene sterres 
 Hailsed hyni alle. 
 
 Thanne Jacob jugged 4si7 
 
 Josephes swevene. 
 " Beau fitz," quod his fader, 
 " For defaute we shullen, 
 I myself and my sones, 
 Seche thee for nede." 
 
 It bifel as his fader seide, 
 In Pharaoes tyme, 
 That Jose]ih was justice 
 Egipte to loke ; 
 It bifel as his fader tolde, 
 Hise frendes there hym soughte, 
 And al this maketh me 4629
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 149 
 
 On this metels to thynke. 4S30 
 
 And how the preest preved 
 
 No pardon to Do-wel, 
 
 And demed that Do-wel 
 
 Indulgences passed, 
 
 Biennals and triennals, 
 
 And bisshopes lettres ; 
 
 And how Do-wel at the day of dome 
 
 Is digneliche nnderfongen, 
 
 And passeth al the pardon 
 
 Of seint Petres cherche. 
 
 Now hath the pope power 4S4i 
 Pardon to graunte the peple, 
 Withouten any penaunce 
 To passen into hevene ; 
 This is oure bileve, 
 As lettred men us techeth : 
 Quodcumque ligaveris super ter- 
 rain, erit ligatum et in ccelis, 
 etc. 
 
 And so I leva leelly, 
 Lordes forbode ellis ! 
 That pardon and penaunce 4S52 
 
 And preieres doon save 
 Soules that have synned 
 Seven sithes dedly ; 
 Ac to truste to thise triennals, 
 Trewely me thynketh, 
 Is noght so siker for the soule, 
 Certes, as is Do-wel. 
 
 For-thi I rede yow, renkes, 
 That riche ben on this erthe. 
 Upon trust of youre tresor 
 Triennals to have, 
 Be ye never the bolder 4sc-i 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 150 THE VISION. 
 
 To breake the .x. hestes ; 4S65 
 
 Aiid namely ye maistres, 
 i\leires and jugges, 
 That have the welthe of this world 
 And for wise men ben holden, 
 To purchace yow pardon 
 And the popes buUes. 
 At the dredful dome, 
 AVhan dede shuUe rise, 
 And comen alle to-fore Crist 
 Acountes to yelde, 
 How thow laddest thi lif here, 4srG 
 And hise lawes keptest, 
 And how thow didest day by day. 
 The doom wole reherce. 
 A poke ful of pardon there, 
 Ke provincials lettres, 
 Theigh ye be founde in thefraternite 
 Of alle the foure ordres. 
 And have indulgences double-fold, 
 But if Do-wel yow helpe, 
 I sette youre patentes and youre 
 At one pies liele. [pardon 
 
 For-thi I counseille alle Cristene 
 To crie God mercy, 
 And Marie his moder 
 Be oure meene bitwene, 
 That God gyve us grace here, 
 Er we go hennes, 
 Swiche werkes to werche 
 While we ben here. 
 That after oure deeth-day 
 Do-wel reherce 
 At the day of dome, 
 We dide as he liighte. 4S99
 
 Passus Octavus de Visions, et 
 Primus de Do-wel. 
 
 HITS y-robed in russet 49( 
 ;^? I romed aboute 
 Al a somer seson 
 For to seke Do-wel ; 
 
 And frayned ful ofte 
 
 Of folk that I mette, 
 
 If any wight wiste 
 
 Wher Do-wel was at inne ; 
 
 And what man he myghte be 
 
 Of many man I asked. 
 
 "Was nevere wight, as I wente, 
 
 That me wisse kouthe « 
 
 Where this leode lenged, 
 
 Lasse ne moore ; 
 
 Til it bi-fel on a Friday 
 
 Two freres I mette, 
 
 Maistres of the menours. 
 
 Men of grete witte. 
 
 I hailsed hem hendely. 
 
 As I hadde y-lerned, 
 
 And preide hem par charite, 
 
 Er thei passed ferther, 
 
 If thei knewe any contree 
 
 Or costes, as thei wente, 492
 
 152 THE VISION OF 
 
 " "Where that Do-wel dwelleth 4924 
 
 Dooth me to witene." 
 
 For thai be men of this moolde 
 
 Tliat moost wide walken, 
 
 And knowen contrees and courtes, 
 
 And many kynnes places, 
 
 Bothe princes paleises 
 
 And povere mennes cotes, 
 
 And Do-wel and Do-yvele 
 
 Wher thei dwelle bothe. 
 
 "Amonges us," quod the Me- 
 " That man is dwellynge, [uours, 
 And evere hath, as I hope, 
 And evere shal herafter." 
 
 " Contra," quod I as a clerc, 
 And comsed to disputen, 
 And seide hem soothly, 
 " Septies in die cadit just its." 
 
 Sevene sithes, seith the book, 
 Synneth the rightfulle ; 
 And who so synneth," I seide, 
 " Dooth yvele, as me thynketh ; 
 And Do-wel and Do-yvele 4916 
 
 Mowe noglit dwelle togideres. 
 Ergo he nys noght alwey 
 Amonges yow freres ; 
 He is outlier while ellis where 
 To wisse the peple," 
 
 " I shal seye thee, my sone," 
 Seide the frere thanne, 
 " How seven sithes the sadde man 
 On a day synneth ; 
 By a forbisne," quod the fvero, 
 " I shal thee faire shewe. 4957
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 153 
 
 Lat brynge a man in a boot 4953 
 Amydde the brode watre, 
 The wynd and the water 
 jAnd the boot waggyng 
 Maketh the man many a tyme 
 To falle and to stonde ; 
 For stonde he never so stif, 
 He stumbleth if he meve, 
 Ac yet is he saaf and sound, 
 And so hym bihoveth. 
 For if he ne arise the rather, 
 And raughte to the steere, 4969 
 
 •The wynd wolde with the water 
 The boot over throwe ; 
 And thanne were his lif lost, 
 Through lachesse of hymselve. 
 "And thus itfalleth,"quod thefrere, 
 " By folk here on erthe ; 
 The water is likned to the world 
 That wanyeth and wexeth ; 
 The goodes of this grounde am lik 
 To the grete wawes, 
 That as wyndes and wedres 4980 
 "Walketh aboute ; 
 The boot is likned to oure body 
 That brotel is of kynde. 
 That thorugh the fend andtheflesshe 
 And the frele vvorlde 
 Synneth the sadde man 
 A day seven sithes. 
 
 " Ac dedly synne doth he noght. 
 For Do-wel hym kepeth ; 
 And that is charity the champion, 
 Chief help ayein synne ; 4991
 
 154 THE VISION OF 
 
 For he stronglieth men to stonde,4992 
 
 And steeretli mannes soule, 
 
 And though the body bowe 
 
 As boot dooth in the watre, 
 
 Ay is thi soule saaf, 
 
 But if thow wole thiselve 
 
 Do a deedly synne, 
 
 And drenche so thi soule, 
 
 God wole suffre wel thi sleuthe, 
 
 If thiself liketh. 
 
 For he yaf thee a yeres-gyve, 
 
 To yeme wel thiselve, 5003 
 
 And that is wit and free-wil, 
 
 To every wight a porcion, 
 
 To fleynge foweles, 
 
 To fisshes and to beestes ; 
 
 Ac man hath moost therof. 
 
 And moost is to blame. 
 
 But if he werche wel therwith, 
 
 AsDo-wel hym teacheth." [(juod I, 
 
 " I have no kynde kuowyng," 
 " To conceyven alle youre wordes ; 
 Ac if I may lyve and loke, sou 
 
 I shal go lerne bettre." 
 
 " I bikenne thee Crist," quod he, 
 " That on cros deyde ! " 
 And I seide, " The same 
 Save yow fro myschaunce, 
 And gyve yow grace on this grounde 
 Goode men to wortlie ! " 
 
 A 
 
 ND thus I wente wide wher 
 Walkyng myn one, 
 wilde wilderuesse, 5024
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 155 
 
 And by a wodes side ; 5025 
 
 Blisse of the briddes 
 
 Broughte me a-slepe, 
 
 And under a lynde upon a launde 
 
 Lened I a stounde, 
 
 To lythe the layes 
 
 Tho lovely foweles made. 
 
 Murthe of hire mouthes 
 
 Made me ther to sleple ; 
 
 The marveillouseste metels 
 
 Mette me thanne 
 
 That ever dremed wight 5036 
 
 In world, as I wene. 
 
 A muche man, as me thoughte, 
 And lik to myselve, 
 Cam and called me 
 By my kynde name. 
 
 " What artow 1 " quod I tho, 
 " That thow my name knowest." 
 
 '' That thou woost Avel," quod he, 
 "And no wight bettre." 
 
 "Woot I what thow art r' 
 "Thought," seide he thanne ; 5047 
 "I have sued thee this seven yeer, 
 Seye thow me no rather." 
 
 " Artow Thought," quod I thoo, 
 " Thow koudest me wisse, 
 "Wliere that Do-wel dwelleth, 
 And do me that to knowe." 
 
 "Do-wel and Do-bet, 
 And Do-best the thridde," quod he, 
 " Arn thre fair vertues, 
 And ben noght fer to fynde. 
 Whe so is trewe of his tunge, 5058
 
 ir.6 THE VISION OF 
 
 And of his two handet!, 5059 
 
 And thorn gh his labour, or thorugh 
 His liflode wynneth, [his land, 
 And is trusty of his tailende, 
 Taketh but his owene. 
 And his noght dronklewe ne dedey- 
 L>o-wel hym folweth. [nous, 
 
 "Do-bet dooth right thus : 
 Ac he dooth niuche moore ; 
 He is as lowe as a lomb, 
 And lovelich of speche. 
 And helpeth alle men 5070 
 
 After that hem nedeth. 
 The bagges and the bigirdles, 
 He hath to-broke hem alle, 
 That the erl Avarous 
 Heeld and hise heires. 
 And thus with Mammonaes moneie 
 He hath maad hym frendes, 
 And is ronne to religion, 
 And hath rendred the Bible, 
 And precheth to the peple 
 Seint Poules wordes : 5O8I 
 
 Lihenter suffertis insipientes, cum 
 sitis ipsi sajnentes. 
 
 " And sutireth the unwise 
 "With yow for to libbe ; 
 And with gladwille dooth hem good, 
 For so God yow hoteth. 
 
 " Do-best is above bothe. 
 And bereth a bisshopes crosse, 
 Is hoked on that oon ende 
 To halie men fro lielle ; 
 A pik is on that potente, 5092
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 157 
 
 To putte a-dowu the wikked 5093 
 
 That waiten any wikkednesse 
 
 Do-wel to tene. 
 
 And Do-wel and Do-bet 
 
 Amonges hem han ordeyned, 
 
 To crowne oon to be kyng 
 
 To rulen hem bothe ; 
 
 That if Do-wel or Do-bet 
 
 Dide ayein Do-best, 
 
 Thanne shal the kyng come 
 
 And casten hem in irens, 
 
 And but if Do-best bede for hem, 
 
 Thei to be ther for evere. 
 
 " Thus Do-wel and Do-bet, 
 And Do-best the tliridde, 
 Crouned oon to the kyng 
 To kepen hem alle, 
 And to rule the reme 
 By hire thre wittes, 
 And noon oother wise 
 But as thei thre assented." 
 
 I thonked Thoght tho, 
 That he me thus taughte. 5115 
 
 " Ac yet savoreth me noght thi sey- 
 I coveite to lerne [ing ; 
 
 How Do-wel, Do-bet, and Do-best 
 Doon among the peple." 
 
 "But Witkonnewisse thee," quod 
 " Wher tho thre dwelle, [Thoght, 
 ElHs woot I noon that kan 
 That now is alyve." 
 
 Thoght and I thus 
 Thre daies we yeden, 
 Disputyng upon Do-wel 5126
 
 158 THE VISION. 
 
 Day after oother ; 5127 
 
 And ere we were war, 
 
 "With "Wit gonne we mete. 
 
 He was long and lene, 
 
 Lik to noon other ; 
 
 "Was no pride on his apparaille, 
 
 Ke poverte neither ; 
 
 Sad of his semljlaunt, 
 
 And of softe chere. 
 
 I dorste meve no niatere 
 
 To maken hym to jangle, 
 
 But as I bad Thoght thoo siss 
 
 Be mene bitwene, 
 
 And pute forth som purpos 
 
 To preven hise wittes, 
 
 "What was Do-wel fro Do-bet, 
 
 And Do-best from hem bothe. 
 
 Thanne Thoght in that tyme 
 Seide thise wordes : 
 " \\niere Do-wel, Do-bet, 
 And Do-best ben in londe, 
 Here is "Wil wolde wite, 
 If "Wit koude teche hym ; 
 And wlieither he be man or womman 
 This man fayn wolde aspie, 
 And wercheu as thei thre wolde, 
 Thus is his entente." 5153
 
 Passus Nonus de Visione, ut supra, 
 et Primus de Do-bet. 
 
 ^IRE Do-wel dwelleth," 
 
 [quod Wit, 5154 
 ]] " Noght a day hennes, 
 In a castel that Kynde made 
 Of four Icynnes thynges ; 
 Of ertlie and of eyr it is maad, 
 Medled togideres, 
 "With wynd and with water 
 Witterly enjoy ned. 
 Kynde hath closed therinue 
 Craftily withalle 
 A lemnian that he loveth 
 Lik to hymselve ; 5165 
 
 Anima she hatte. 
 Ac envye hir hateth, 
 A proud prikere of Fraunce, 
 Princeps liujus mundi, 
 And wolde wynne hire awey 
 With wiles, and he myghte. 
 
 " Ac Kynde knoweth this wel. 
 And kepeth hire the bettre, 
 And dooth hire with sire Do-wel, 
 Is duo of thise marches. 
 
 " Do-bet is hire damyselle, 
 Sire Do-weles dou^hter, 5i77
 
 160 THE VISION OF 
 
 To serven this lady leelly sirs 
 
 Bothe late and rathe. 
 
 " Do-best is above bothe, 
 A bisshopes peere ; 
 That he bit moot be do, 
 He ruleth hein alle. 
 Anima, that lady, 
 Is lad by his leryng, 
 Ac the constable of that castel, 
 That kepeth al the wacche, 
 Is a wis knyght withalle, 
 Sire Inwit he hatte, 5is9 
 
 And hathe fyve faire sones 
 Bi his firste wy ve ; 
 Sire Se-wel, and Sey-wel, 
 And Here-wel the hende. 
 Sire AVerch-wel-with-thyn-hand, 
 A wight man of strengthe. 
 And sire Godefray Go-wel ; 
 Grete lordes, for sothe. 
 Thise fyve ben set 
 To kepe this lady Anima, 
 Til Kynde come or sende 5200 
 
 To saven hire for evere." [quod I, 
 
 " What kynnes thyng is Kynde 1" 
 " Kanstow me telle '? " [tour 
 
 "Kynde," quod Wit, "is a crea- 
 Of alle kynnes thynges, 
 Fader and formour 
 Of al that evere was maked ; 
 And that is tlie grete God 
 That gynnyng hadde nevere, 
 Lord of lif and of light. 
 Of lisse and of peyne. 5211
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 161 
 
 Aungeles and alle thyng 5212 
 
 Arn at his wille ; 
 
 Ac man is hym moost lik 
 
 Of marc and of sliafte ; 
 
 For thorugh the word that he spak 
 
 Woxen forth beestes. 
 
 Dixit et facta su7it. 
 
 " And made man likkest 
 To hymself one, 
 And Eve of his ryb-bon, 
 Withouten any mene, 
 For he was synguler hymself ; 5223 
 And seide faciamus, 
 As who seith moore moot herto 
 Than my word oone, 
 My myght moot helpe 
 Forth with my speche. 
 Right as a lord sholde make lettres, 
 And hym lakked parchemyn, 
 Though he koude write never so wel, 
 If he hadde no penne, 
 The lettre, for al the lordshipe, 
 I leve were nevere y-maked. 5234 
 
 " And so it semeth by hym, 
 As the Bible telleth, 
 There he seide Dixit et facta sunt, 
 He moste werche with his word, 
 And his wit shewe. 
 And in this manere was man maad, 
 Thorugh myght of God almighty, 
 With his word and werkmanshipe, 
 And with lif to laste. 
 And thus God gaf hym a goost, 
 Thorugh the godhede of hevene, 5245
 
 162 THE VISION OF 
 
 And of his grete grace 5246 
 
 Graunted liym blissc, 
 
 And that is lif that ay shal laste 
 
 To al his lynage after. 
 
 And that is the castel that Kynde 
 
 Caro it hatte, [made, 
 
 And is as uiuclie to mene 
 
 As man with a soule ; 
 
 And that he wroghte with werk, 
 
 And with word bothe, 
 
 Thorgh myght of the magest^ 
 
 Man was y-maked. 5257 
 
 " Inwit and alle wittes 
 Closed ben therinne, 
 For love of the lady Anima, 
 That lif is y-nempned ; 
 Over al in mannes body 
 He walketh and wandreth. 
 And in the herte is hir hoom 
 And hir mooste reste. 
 
 " Ac Inwit is in the heed, 
 And to the herte he loketh ; 
 What Anima is leef or looth, 526S 
 He lat hire at his wille ; 
 For after the grace of God, 
 The gretteste is Inwit. 
 
 " Muche wo worth that man 
 That mys-ruleth his Inwit; 
 And that ben glotons glubberes, 
 Hir God is hire wombe. 
 Quorum deus venter est. 
 
 " For thei serven Sathan, 
 Hir sonles shal he have. 
 That lyven synful lif here, 5279
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 163 
 
 Hir soiile is lich the devil ; 52so 
 And alle that lyven good lif 
 Are lik to God almyghty, 
 Qui manet in caritate, in Deo manet, 
 etc. 
 
 "Alas ! that drynke shal for-do 
 That God deere boughte, 
 And dooth God forsaken hem 
 That he shoop to his liknesse. 
 Amen dico vobis, nescio vos. Et alibi : 
 Et climisi eos secundum desideria 
 eorum. 5291 
 
 "Fools that fauten Inwit, 
 I fynde that holy chirche 
 Sholde fyndenhem that hem fauted, 
 And fader-lese children, 
 And widewes that han noght wher- 
 To wynnen hem hir foode, [with 
 Madde men, and maydenes 
 That help-lese were, 
 Alle thise lakken Inwit, 
 And loore bihoveth. 
 
 " Of this matere I myghte 5302 
 Make a long tale. 
 And fynde fele witnesses 
 Among the foure doctours ; 
 And that I lye noght of that I lere 
 Luc bereth witnesse. [thee, 
 
 " God-fadres and god-modres. 
 That seen hire god-children 
 At mys-eise and at myschief, 
 And mowe hem amende, 
 Shul have penaunce in purgatorie 
 But thai hem helps. 5713
 
 164 THE VISION OF 
 
 Formoore bilongeth to the litel barn, 
 
 Er he the la we kuowe, 
 
 Than nempnynge of a name, 
 
 And he never the Aviser. 
 
 Sholde no cristene creature 
 
 Cryen at the yate, 
 
 Xe faille payn ne potage, 
 
 And prelates dide as thei sh olden. 
 
 A Jew wolde noght se a Jew 
 
 Go janglyng for defaute, 
 
 For alle the niebles on this moolde, 
 
 And he amende it myghte. 5325 
 
 " Alas ! that a cristene creature 
 
 Shal be unkynde til another ; 
 
 Syn Jewes, that we jugge 
 
 Judas felawes, 
 
 Eyther of hem helpeth oother 
 
 Of that that hem nedeth. 
 
 Whi nel we cristene 
 
 Of Cristes good be as kynde 
 
 As Jewes, that ben oure lores-men % 
 
 Shame to us alle ! 
 
 The commune for hir unkyndenesse, 
 
 I drede me, shul abye. 
 
 " Bisshopes shul be blamed 
 
 For beggeres sake. 
 
 He is wors than Judas, 
 
 That gyveth a japer silver, 
 
 And biddeth the beggere go. 
 
 For his broke clothes, 
 
 Proditor est prcelatus cum Juda, 
 qui patrimonium Cliristi mimis 
 distrihuit. Et alibi: Perni- 
 ciosus dispenscdor est, qui res
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 165 
 
 pauperum Ghristi inutiliter 
 
 consumit. 
 
 " He dootli noght wel that dooth 
 thus, 
 Ne drat noght God almyghty ; 
 He loveth noght Salomons sawes, 
 That sapience taughte. 
 Initium sapientice, timor Domini. 
 
 " That dredeth God, he dooth wel ; 
 That dredeth him for love. 
 And noght for drede of vengeaunce, 
 Dooth therfore the bettre. 
 
 "He dooth best that with-draweth 
 By daye and by nyghte, [hym 
 
 To spille any speche 
 Or any space of tyme. 
 Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est 
 reus. 
 
 " Lesynge of tyme, 
 Truthe woot the sothe. 
 Is moost y-hated upon erthe 
 Of hem that ben in hevene ; 
 And siththe to spille speche, 5369 
 That spicerie is of grace, 
 And Goddes gle-man, 
 And a game of hevene. 
 Wolde nevere the feithful fader 
 This fithele were un-tempred, 
 Ne his gle-man a gedelyng, 
 A goere to tavernes. 
 
 " To alle trewe tidy men 
 That travaille desiren, 
 Oure Lord loveth hem and lent 
 Loude outher stille '^'"^^ 
 
 VOL. I. O
 
 1G6 THE VISION OF 
 
 Grace to go to hem, 53Si 
 
 And of-gon hir litlode. 
 Inquirentes autem Dominum non 
 minuenter omni bono. 
 
 " Trewe wedded libbynge folk 
 In this world is Do-wel, 
 For thei mote werche and wynne, 
 And the world sustene. 
 For of hir kynde thei come 
 That confessours ben nempned, 
 Kynges and knyghtes, 
 Kaysers and cherles, 5392 
 
 Maidenes and martires, 
 Out of man come. 
 The wif was maad the weye 
 For to helpe werche ; 
 And thus was wedlok y-wroght 
 "With a mene persone, 
 First, by the fadres wille. 
 And the frendes conseille ; 
 And sithenes by assent of hemself, 
 As thei two myghte acorde. 
 And thus was wedlok y-wroght. 
 And God hymself it made 
 In erthe and in hevene, 
 Hymself bereth witnesse. 
 
 " Ac fals folk feyth-lees, 
 Theves and lyeres, 
 Wastours and wrecches. 
 Out of wedlok, I trowe, 
 Conceyved ben in yvel tyme, 
 As Caym was on Eve ; 
 Of swiche synfuUe sherewes 
 The Sauter maketh mynde : 5414
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 167 
 
 Concepit in dolore, et peperit ini- 
 quitatem, etc. 
 
 " And alle that come of that Cay m, 
 Come to yvel ende. 
 And God sente to Seem, 
 And seide by an aungel, 
 ' Thyn issue in thyn issue 
 I wol that thei be wedded, 
 And noght thi kynde with Caymes 
 Y-coui^led nor y-spoused.' 
 
 " Yet some, ayein the sonde 
 Of oure Saveour of hevene, bi^e 
 Caymes kynde and his kynde 
 Coupled togideres. 
 Til God wrathed for hir werkes. 
 And swich a word seide, 
 ' That I makede man 
 It me f or-thynketh. ' 
 Poenitet me fecisse hominem. 
 
 "And com to Noe anon, 
 And bad hym noght lette : 
 ' Swith go shape a ship 
 Of shides and of hordes ; 543^ 
 
 Thyself and thi sones. 
 And sithen youre wyves, 
 Busketh yow to that boot. 
 And bideth ye therinne, 
 Til fourty daies be fulfild. 
 That the flood have y-wasshen 
 Clene awey the corsed blood 
 That Caym hath y-maked. 
 
 " ' Beestes that now ben 
 Shul banne the tyme 
 That evere that cursed Caym 544s
 
 168 THE VISION OF 
 
 Cooni on this erthe ; 5449 
 
 Alle shul deye for liise dedes, 
 By dales and by hulles, 
 And the foweles that fieen 
 Forth with others beestes, 
 Excepte oonliche 
 Of ech kynde a couple, 
 That in tin shyngled ship 
 Shul ben y-saved.' 
 Here a-boughte the barn 
 The bel-sires giltes, 
 And alle for hir fadres 5460 
 
 Thei ferden the werse ; 
 The Gospel is her ayein, 
 In degr6, I fynde : 
 Filius non portabit iniquitatem XJCb- 
 tris, et 2)ater non portabit ini- 
 quitatem filii, etc. 
 " Ac I fynde if the fader 
 
 Be fals and a sherewe, 
 
 That som del the sone 
 
 Shal have the sires tacches. 
 
 " Impe on an ellere, 547i 
 
 And if thyn appul be swete, 
 
 IMuchel merveille me thynketh ; 
 
 And moore of a sherewe 
 
 That bryngeth forth any barn, 
 
 But if he be the same, 
 
 And have a savour after the sire ; 
 
 Selde sestow oother. 
 
 Nunquam colligitur de spinis uva, 
 nee de trihulis ficus. 
 " And thus thorugh cursed Caym 
 
 Cam care upon erthe ; 64S2
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 169 
 
 And al for thei wroghte weJlokes 5483 
 
 Ayein Goddes wille. 
 
 For-tlii have tliei maugre of hir ma- 
 
 That marie so hir children, [riages 
 
 For some, as I se now, 
 
 Sooth for to telle, 
 
 For coveitise of catel 
 
 Un-kj-ndely ben wedded ; 
 
 As careful concepcion 
 
 Cometh of swiche mariages, 
 
 As bi-fel of the folk 
 
 That I bifore of tolde, 5494 
 
 Therf ore goode sholde wedde goode, 
 
 Though thei no good hadde ; 
 
 ' I am via et Veritas,^ seith Crist, 
 
 ' I may avaunce yow alle.' 
 
 " It is an uncomly couple. 
 By Crist ! as me thynketh, 
 To yeven a yong wenche 
 To an old feble, 
 Or wedden any wodewe 
 For welthe of hir goodes, 
 That nevere shal barn here 5505 
 But if it be in hir armes. 
 INIany a peire, sitlien the pestilence, 
 Han plight hem tcgideres, 
 The fruyt that brynge forth 
 Arn foule wordes, 
 In jelousie joye-lees, 
 And janglynge on bedde, 
 Have thei no children but cheeste, 
 And clappyng hem bitwene. 
 And though thei do hem to Dun- 
 But if the devel helpe, [mowe,
 
 170 THE VISION OF 
 
 To fohven after the flicclie, 5517 
 Fecche thei it nevere ; 
 And but tlii bothe be for-swore, 
 That bacon thei tyne. 
 
 " f or-thei I counseille alle cristene 
 Coveite noght be wedded 
 For coveitise of catel, 
 Ne of kyn-rede riche ; 
 Ac maidenes and maydenes 
 Macche yow togideres, 
 "Wodewes and wideweres 
 Wercheth the same ; 5528 
 
 For no londes, but for love, 
 Loke ye be wedded, 
 And thanne gete ye the grace of God, 
 And good y-nough to lyve with. 
 
 " And every maner seculer 
 That may noght continue, 
 Wisely goo wedde, 
 And ware hym fro synne ; 
 For lecherie in likynge 
 Is lyme-yerd of helle. 
 Whiles thow art yong, 5539 
 
 And thi wepene kene, 
 Wreke thee with wyvyng. 
 If thow wolt ben excused. 
 Dum sis vir fortis, 
 Ne des taa rohora scortis ; 
 Scribitur in portis, 
 Meretrix est janua mortis. 
 
 " Whan ye ban wyved, beth war 
 And wercheth in tyme ; 
 Noght as Adam and Eve, 
 Whan Caym was engendred. 5550
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 1 7 1 
 
 For in un-tyme, trewely, 5551 
 
 Bitwene man and womman, 
 Ne shokle no bourde or bedde be ; 
 But if thei bothe were clene 
 Bothe of lif and of soule, 
 And in perfit cliarit^, 
 That ilke derne dede do 
 No man ne sholde. 
 And if tbei leden thus hir lif, 
 It liketh God ahnyghty ; 
 For he made wedlok first, 
 And hymself it seide : 5562 
 
 Bonum est ut unusquisque uxorem 
 suam habeat, jpropter fornica- 
 tionem. [geten 
 
 " And thei that other gates ben 
 For gedelynges arn holden, 
 As fals folk fondlynges, 
 Faitours and lieres, 
 Ungracious to gete good 
 Or love of the peple, 
 Wandren and wasten 
 What thei cacche mowe, 5573 
 
 Ayeins Do-wel thei doon yvel, 
 And the devel serve ; 
 And after hir deeth day 
 Shul dwelle with the same, 
 But God gyve hem grace here 
 Hemself to amende. 
 
 " Do-wel my frend is, 
 To doon as lawe techeth ; 
 To love thi frend and thi foo, 
 Leve me, that is Do-bet ; 
 To gyven and to yemen 5584
 
 172 THE VISION. 
 
 Bothe yonge and olde, 5585 
 
 To helen and to helpen, 
 Is Do-best of alle. 
 
 " And Do-wel is to drede God, 
 And Do-bet to suffre, 
 And so Cometh Do-best of bothe, 
 And bryngeth adoun the mody. 
 And that is -vvikked Aville 
 That many a werk shendeth, 
 And dryveth awey Do-wel 
 Thorugh dedliche synnes." 5595 

 
 Passvs Decimus de Visions, et 
 Secundus de Do-wel. 
 
 ^^.^HANNE hadde Wit a wif , 
 ^j; Was hote dame Studie, 
 That lene was of lere, 
 And of liche bothe ; 
 
 She was wonderly wroth 
 
 That Wit me thus taughte ; 
 
 And.al starynge dame Studie 
 
 Sterneliche loked. 
 "Wei artow wis," quod she to Wit, 
 
 " Any wisdomes to telle 
 
 To flatereres or to fooles, 
 
 That frenetike ben of wittes." 5607 
 
 And blamed hym and banned hym. 
 
 And bad hym be stille. 
 
 With swiche wise wordes 
 
 To wissen any sottes. 
 
 And seide, " Noli viittere, man, 
 
 Margery perles 
 
 Among hogges, that han 
 
 Hawes at wille ; 
 
 Thei doon but dryvele theron, 
 
 Draf were hem levere 
 
 Than al the precious perree 
 
 That in paradis wexeth. 5ci9
 
 Hi THE VIS I OX OF 
 
 I seye it by swiche," quod she, 5620 
 " That sheweth by hir werkes, 
 That hem were levere lond 
 And lordshipe on erthe, 
 Or richesse, or rentes, 
 And reste at hir wille, 
 Than alle the sooth sawes 
 That Salomon seide evere. 
 
 " "Wisdom and wit now 
 Is noght worth a kerse, 
 But if it be carded with coveitise, 
 As clotheres kemben hir wolle. sssi 
 Who so can contreve deceites 
 And conspire wronges, 
 And lede forth a love-day 
 To lette with truthe, 
 He that swiche craftes can 
 To counseil is cleped. 
 Thei lede lordes with lesynges, 
 And bi-lieth Truthe. 
 
 " Job the gentile 
 In his gestes witnesseth, 
 That wikked men thei welden 5t>42 
 The welthe of this worlds ; 
 And that thei ben lordes of ech a lond 
 That out of lawe libbeth. 
 Quare impii viviint, bene est omni- 
 bus qui proevaricantur et inique 
 agunt 
 
 "The Sauter seith the same 
 By swiche that doon ille : 
 Ecce ipsi peccntores abundantes in 
 soeculo ohtinuerunt dintias. 
 
 " Lo ! seith holy lettrure, 5658
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 175 
 
 TVhiche betli thise sherewes 1 5654 
 Tliilke that God gyveth moost, 
 Leest good thei deleth ; 
 And moost un-kynde to the coin- 
 That moost catel weldeth. [mune 
 Quae perfecisH destruxerunt, justvs 
 autem, etc. 
 " Harlotes for hir harlotrie 
 !May have of hir goodes. 
 And japeris and jogelours, 
 And jangleris of gestes. 
 
 "Ac he that hath holy writ 5665 
 Ay in his mouthe, 
 And kan telle of Tobye, 
 And of twelve apostles, 
 Or prechen of the penaunce 
 That Pilat wikkedly wroghte 
 To Jhesu the gentile, 
 That Jewes to-drowe ; 
 Litel is he loved 
 That swich a lesson sheweth, 
 Or daunted or drawe forth, 
 I do it on God hymselve. 5676 
 
 "But thoo that feynen hem foolis, 
 And with faityng Hbbeth, 
 Ayein the lawe of oure Lord, 
 And lyen on hemselve, 
 Spitten and spuen, 
 And speke foule wordes, 
 Drynken and drevelen. 
 And do men fer to gape, 
 Likne men, and lye on hem. 
 That leneth hem no giftes ; 
 Thei konne na-moore mynstralcie
 
 176 THE VISION OF 
 
 Ne musik men to glade, 56S8 
 
 Than Munde the millers 
 Of Multa fecit Dens. 
 Ne were hir vile harlotrye, 
 Have God my trouthe ! 
 Sholde nevere kyng ne knyght, 
 Ne chanon of seint Poules, 
 Gyve hem to hir yeres-gyve 
 The gifte of a grote. 
 
 " Ac murthe and mynstralcie 
 Amonges men is nouthe 
 Lecherie, losengerye, 5699 
 
 And losels tales, 
 Glotonye and grete othes, 
 This murthe thei lovyeth. 
 
 "Ac if thei carpen of Crist, 
 Thise clerkes and thise lewed 
 At mete in hir murthe, 
 "WTian mynstrals beth stille, 
 Thanne telleth thei of the Trinite 
 A tale outher tweye. 
 And bryngen forth a balled reson, 
 And taken Bernard to witnesse, 
 And putten forth a presumpcion 
 To preve the sothe. 
 Thus thei dryvele at hir deys 
 The Deitee to knowe, 
 And gnawen God with the gorge, 
 "\\Tianne hir guttes fullen. 
 
 "Ac the carefulle may crie 
 And carpen at the yate, 
 Bothe a-fyngred and a-furst, 
 And for chele quake ; 
 Is ther noon to nyme hym neer,
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 177 
 
 His anoy to amende, 5722 
 
 But hunten hym as an hound, 
 And lioten hym go thennes. 
 Litel loVeth he that Lord 
 That lent hym al that blisse, 
 That thus parteth with the povere 
 A percell whan hym nedeth. 
 Ne were mercy in meene men 
 Moore than in riche, 
 Mendinauntz mete-lees 
 Myghte go to bedde. 
 God is muche in the gorge 5733 
 Of thise grete maistres, 
 Ac amonges meene men 
 His mercy and hise werkes. 
 And so seith the Sauter, 
 I have seighen it ofte : 
 Ecce audivimus earn in Effrata, in- 
 venimus earn in campis silvce. 
 
 " Clerkes and othere kynnes men 
 Carpen of God faste, 
 And have hym muche in the mouth ; 
 Ac meene men in herte. 5744 
 
 " Freres and fai tours 
 Han founde swiche questions, 
 To plese with proude men, 
 Syn the pestilence tyme ; 
 And prechen at seint Poules 
 For pure envye of clerkes ; 
 That folk is noght f ermed in the f eith, 
 Ne free of hire goodes, 
 Ne sory for liire synnes ; 
 So is pride woxen, 
 In religion and in al the reme, 5755
 
 178 THE VISION OF 
 
 Amonges riche and povere, 5756 
 
 That preieres have no power 
 
 The pestilence to lette. 
 
 And yet tlie wrecches of this world 
 
 Is noon y-war by oother ; 
 
 Xe for drede of the deeth 
 
 With-drawe noght hir pride ; 
 
 Ke both plentevouse to the povere, 
 
 As pure chariti^ wolde ; 
 
 But in gaynesse and in glotonye 
 
 For-glutten hir good hemselve, 
 
 And breketh noght to the beggere 
 
 As the Book techeth : 
 
 Franrje esurie7iti imnem tumn, etc. 
 
 And the moore he wynneth and welt 
 
 Welthes and richesse, 
 
 And lordeth in londes, 
 
 The lasse good he deleth. 
 
 " Tobye telleth yow noght so, 
 Taketh hede, ye riche, 
 How the book Bible 
 Of hyni bereth witnesse. 
 Si tibi sit copia, abundanter trihue. 
 Si autem exiguum, illud impertiri 
 stude libenter. 
 
 "Who so hath muchc, spende 
 So seith Tobye ; [manliche, 
 
 And who so litel weldeth, 
 Rule hym therafter. 
 For we have no lettre of oure lif, 
 How longe it shal dure, 
 Swiche lessons lordes sholde 
 Lovye to here, 
 And how he myghte moost meynee
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 179 
 
 Manliche fynde. 5790 
 
 " Nought to fare as a fithelere or 
 
 For to seke festes [a frere, 
 
 Homliche at otliere mennes houses, 
 
 And hatien hir owene, 
 
 Elenge is the halle 
 
 Ech day in the wike, 
 
 Ther the lord ne the lady 
 
 Liketh noght to sitte. 
 
 Now hath ech riche a rule 
 
 To eten by hymselve 
 
 In a pryvee parlour, 58O1 
 
 For povere mennes sake, 
 
 Or in a chambre with a chymenee, 
 
 And leve the chief halle 
 
 That was maad for meles, 
 
 Men to eten inne. 
 
 And al to spare to spende 
 
 That spille shal another. 
 
 " I have y-herd heighe men, 
 
 Etynge at the table, 
 
 Carpen, as thei clerkes were, 
 
 Of Crist, and of hise myghtes ; 5512 
 
 And leyden fautes upon the fader 
 
 That formede us alle, 
 
 And carpen aye in clerkes 
 
 Crabbede wordes. 
 
 Why wolde oure Saveour suffre 
 
 Swich a worm in his blisse. 
 
 That bigiled the wommau, 
 
 And the man after, 
 
 Thorugh whiche wiles and wordes 
 
 Thei wente to helle. 
 
 And al hir seed for hir synne 5S23
 
 180 THE VISION OF 
 
 The same deetli suffrede. 5S24 
 
 " Here lyeth youre lore, 
 Thise lordes gynneth dispute, 
 Of that the clerkes us kenneth 
 Of Crist by the Gospel : 
 Films 71071 portabit iniquitatem pa- 
 tris, etc. 
 
 " Why sholde we that now ben, 
 For the werkes of Adam, 
 Roten and to-rende 1 
 Reson wolde it nevere. 
 Unusquisque portabit 07iussuiim, etc. 
 
 " Swiche motyves thei mene, 
 Thise maistres in hir glorie, 
 And maken men in mys-bileve 
 That muse niuche on hire wordes, 
 Ymaginatif herafterwarde 
 Shal answere to hir purpos, 
 
 " Austyn to swiche argueres 
 Telleth this teme : 
 Non 2'>lus sapere qioam oportet. 
 
 " Wilneth nevere to wite 
 Why that God wolde 5S4fi 
 
 SufFre Sathan 
 His seed to bigile ; 
 Ac bileveth lelly 
 In the loore of holy chirche, 
 And preie hym of pardon 
 And penaunce in thi lyve, 
 And for his muche mercy 
 To amende yow here. 
 For alle that wilneth to \\\tQ 
 The weyes of God ahnyghty, 
 I wolde his eighe were in his ers.
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 181 
 
 And his fynger after, 5S5S 
 
 That evere wilneth to wite 
 
 Why that God wolde 
 
 Suffre Sathan 
 
 His seed to bigile, 
 
 Or Judas to the Jewes 
 
 Jhesu bitraye. 
 
 Al was as thow woldest, 
 
 Lord, y-worshiped be the ! 
 
 And al worth as thow wolt, 
 
 "What so we dispute. 
 
 " And tho that useth thise hany- 
 To blende mennes wittes, [Ions 
 What is Do-wel fro Do-bet, 
 That deef mote he worthe, 
 Siththe he wilneth to wite 
 Whiche thei ben bothe, 
 But if he lyve in the lif 
 That longeth to Do-wel. 
 For I dar ben his bolde borgh, 
 That do-bet wole he nevere, 
 Theigh Do-best drawe on hym 
 Day after oother." 5Sso 
 
 And whan that Wit was y-war 
 What dame Studie tolde, 
 He bicom so confus, 
 He kouthe noght loke, 
 And as doumb as deeth, 
 And drough hym arere ; 
 And for no carpyng I kouthe after, 
 Ne knelyng to the grounde, 
 I myghte gete no greyn 
 Of his grete wittes. 
 But al laughynge he louted, osfli 
 
 VOL. I. p
 
 182 THE VISION OF 
 
 And loked upon Studie 5S92 
 
 In signe that I sholde 
 Bi-sechen liire of grace. 
 
 And whan I was war of his wille, 
 To his wif gan I loute, 
 And seide, " INIercy, madame, 
 Youre man shal I worthe 
 As longe as I Ij've, 
 Bothe late and rathe, 
 For to werche j'oure wille 
 The wliile my lif dureth, 
 "With that ye kenne me kyndely 
 To knowe what is Do-wel." 
 
 " For thi mekenesse, man," qnod 
 "And for thi mylde speche, [she, 
 I shal kenne thee to my cosyn 
 That Clergie is hoten. 
 He hath wedded a wif 
 Withinne thise sixe monthes, 
 Is sib to seven artz, 
 Scripture is hir name. 
 They two, as I hope, 
 After my techyng, 5914 
 
 Shullen wissen thee to Do-wel, 
 I dar it undertake." 
 
 Thanne was I al so fayn. 
 As fowel of fair morwe, 
 And gladder than the gle-man 
 That gold hath to gifte ; 
 And asked hire the heighe w^ey 
 Where that Clergie dwelte, 
 "And tel me som tokene," quod I, 
 " For tyme is that I wende." 
 
 " Aske theheighe wey," quod she,
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 183 
 
 " Hennes to Suffre- 5926 
 
 Both-wele-and-wo, 
 
 If that thow wolt lerne, 
 
 And ryd forth by Eichesse, 
 
 Ac rest thow noght therinne ; 
 
 For if thow couplest thee therwith, 
 
 To Clergie comestow nevere. 
 
 " And also the likerouse launde 
 That Lecherie hatte, 
 Leve it on thi left half 
 A large niyle or moore, 
 Til thow come to a court, 5937 
 
 Kepe-wel-thi-tunge- 
 Fro-lesynges-and-lither-speche- 
 And-likerouse-drynkes. 
 
 " Thanne shaltow se Sobretee, 
 And Sympletee-of-speche, 
 That ech wight be in wille 
 His wit thee to shewe ; 
 And thus shaltow come to Clergie, 
 That kan manye thynges. 
 
 " Seye hym this signe, 
 I sette hym to scole, 594s 
 
 And that I grete wel his wif, 
 For I wroot hire manye bokes, 
 And sette hire to Sapience, 
 And to the Sauter glose ; 
 Logyk I lerned hire, 
 And manye othere lawes, 
 And alle musons in musik 
 I made hire to knowe. 
 
 " Plato the poete 
 I putte first to boke, 
 Aristotle and othere mo 5959
 
 184 THE VISIOX OF 
 
 To argue I taughte. 596O 
 
 " Grammer for girles 
 I garte first to write, 
 And bette hem with a baleys, 
 But if thei wolde leme, 
 
 " Of alle kynne craftes 
 I contreved tooles, 
 Of carpentrie, of kerveres, 
 And compased masons, 
 And lerned hem level and lyne, 
 Though I loke dymme. 
 
 " Ac Theologie hath tened me 
 Ten score tymes ; 
 The moore I muse therinne 
 The mystier it seemeth, 
 And the depper I devyne 
 The derker me it thynketh. 
 It is no science, for sothe, 
 For to sotile inne ; 
 A ful lethi thyng it were. 
 If that love nere ; 
 Ac for it leteth best bi-love, 
 I love it the bettre. 5952 
 
 For there that love is ledere, 
 Ther iakked nevere grace. 
 Loke thow love lelly. 
 If thee liketh Do-wel ; 
 For Do-bet and Do-best 
 Ben of Loves kynne. 
 
 " In oother science it seith, 
 
 I seigh it in Caton : [amicus. 
 
 Qui simulat verbis, nee corde estfidus 
 
 Tu quoque fac simile, sic ars delu- 
 
 dltur arte. 5993
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 185 
 
 " Who so gloseth as gyloursdoon, 
 Go me to the same ; 
 And so shaltow fals folk 
 And feith-lees bigile. 
 This is Catons kennyng 
 To clerkes that he lereth. 
 
 "Ac Theologie techeth noght so, 
 Who so taketh yeme ; 
 He kenneth us the contrarie, 
 Ayein Catons wordes. 
 For he biddeth us be as bretheren, 
 And bidde for our enemys. 60.14 
 
 And loven hem that lyen on us, 
 And lene hem whan hem nedeth, 
 And do good ayein yvel, 
 God hymself it hoteth. 
 Dum tempus habemus, operemur 
 
 bonumadomnes, maxime auteni 
 
 ad domesticos fidei. 
 Poul preched the peple 
 That perfitnesse lovede, 
 To do good for Goddes love, 
 And gyven men that asked, 6015 
 And namely to swiche 
 As suwen oure bileve. 
 And alle that lakketh us, or lyeth, 
 Oure Lord techeth us to lovye. 
 And noght to greven hem that grev- 
 God hymself forbad it, [eth us, 
 Mihi vindictam, et ego retribuam. 
 
 " For-thi loke thow lovye, 
 As longe as thow durest ; 
 For is no science under sonne 
 So sovereyn for the soule. 6026
 
 186 THE VISION OF 
 
 " Acastronom3'e is an hardthyng, 
 And yvel for to knowe ; 
 Geometrie and geomesie, 
 So gynful of speche, 
 "VATio so thynketliAvercliew'itli tliotwo 
 Thryveth ful late, 
 For sorcerie is the sovereyn book 
 That to tho sciences bilongeth. 
 
 " Yet ar ther fibicches in forceres 
 Of fele mennes niakyug, 
 Experimentz of alkenamye 
 The peple to deceyve ; 6038 
 
 If thow thynke to do-wel, 
 Deel therwith nevere. 
 
 "Alle thise sciences I myself 
 Sotilede and ordeynede, 
 And founded hem formest 
 Folk to deceyve. 
 Tel Clergie this tokene, 
 And Scripture after, 
 To counseille thee kyndely 
 To knowe what is Do-wel." 
 
 Iseide, "Graunt mercy, madame," 
 And mekely hir grette ; 
 And wente wightly away 
 "Withoute moore lettyng, 
 And til I com to Clergie 
 I koude nevere stynte ; 
 And grette the goode man. 
 As Studie me taughte, 
 And afterwardes the wif. 
 And worshiped hem bothe. 
 And tolde hem the tokenes 
 That me taught were. coeo
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 187 
 
 "Was nevere gome upon this ground, 
 
 Sith God made the woiide, 
 
 Fairer under-fongen, 
 
 Ne frendlier at ese, 
 
 Than myself, soothly, 
 
 Soone so he "wiste 
 
 Than I was of Wittes hous. 
 
 And with his wif, dame Studie. 
 
 I seide to hem soothly 
 That sent was I thider, 
 Do-wel and Do-bet 
 And Do-best to lerne. [Clergie, 
 
 "It is a commune lyf," quod 
 " On holy chirche to bileve, 
 With alle the articles of the feith 
 That falleth to be knowe ; 
 And that is to bileve leUy, 
 Bothe lered and lewed, 
 On the grete God 
 That gynnyng hadde nevere. 
 And on the soothfast Sone 
 That saved mankynde 
 Fro the dedly deeth eoss 
 
 And devel's power, 
 Thorugh the help of the Holy Goost, 
 The which goost is of bothe, 
 Thre persones, ac noght 
 In plurel nombre ; 
 For al is but oon God, 
 And ech is God hymselve. 
 Deuspater, Deusfilius, Deus sjnritus 
 
 sanctus. 
 God the fader, God the sone, 
 God holy goost of bothe, 6094
 
 188 THE VISION OF 
 
 jNIakere of maukynde, 6095 
 
 And of beestes bothe. 
 
 "Austyn the olde 
 Herof made bokes, 
 And hymself ordeyned 
 To sadde us in bileve. 
 "Who -was Ins auctour 1 
 Alle the foure euvangelistes, 
 And Crist cleped hymself so, 
 The euvangelistes bereth witnesse. 
 
 " Alle the clerkes under Crist 
 Ne koude this assoille ; 6106 
 
 But thus it bi-longeth to bileve 
 To lowed that willen do-wel. 
 For hadde nevere freke fyn wit 
 The feitli to dispute, 
 Ke man hadde no merite, 
 Myghte it ben y-preved. 
 Fides non hahet merit urn, uhi hu- 
 mana ratio jJfcebet experimen- 
 tum. 
 
 "Thanne is Do-bet to suffre 
 For the soules helthe, 6ii7 
 
 Al that the book bit 
 Bi holi cherches techyng ; 
 And that is, man, bi thy myglit. 
 For mercies sake. 
 Loke thow werche it in werk. 
 That thi word sheweth, 
 Swich as thow semest in sighte 
 Be in assay y-founde. 
 Appare quod es, vel esto quod ap- 
 pares. 
 
 " And lat no body be 0128
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 189 
 
 By thi beryng bigiled, 6129 
 
 But be swicli in thi soiile 
 As thow semest withoute. 
 
 " Thanne is Do-best to be boold 
 To blame the gilty, 
 Sythenes thow seest thiself 
 As in soule clene ; 
 Ac blame thow nevere body, 
 And thow be blame worthy. 
 Si cidpare velis, 
 Culpahilis esse cavehis; 
 Dogma timm sordet, 6i40 
 
 Cum te tua culpa remordet. 
 
 " God in the Gospel 
 Grevously repreveth 
 Alle that lakketh any lif, 
 And lakkes han hemselve. 
 Qui consideras feshicavi in ocido 
 fratris tui, trabem in oculo tuo, 
 etc. 
 
 " Why menestow thi mood for a 
 In thi brotheres eighe, [mote 
 
 Sithen a beem in thyn owene cisi 
 A-blyndeth thiselve. 
 Ejice primo trabem in oculo tuo, 
 
 etc. 
 Which letteth thee to loke 
 Lasse outher more. 
 
 "I rede ech a blynd bosarde 
 Do boote to hymselve, 
 For abbotes and for prionrs, 
 And for alle manere prelates, 
 As persons and parisshes preestes 
 That preche sholde and teche 6102
 
 190 THE VISION OF 
 
 Alle maner men to amenden 6163 
 Bi hire myghtes. 
 
 " This text was told yow, 
 To ben y-war, er ye taughte, 
 That ye were swiche as ye seye, 
 So salve with othere ; 
 For Goddesword wolde noght be lost, 
 For that wercheth evere ; 
 If it availled noght the commune, 
 It myghte availle yowselve. 
 
 "Ac it semeth now soothly 
 To the worldes sighte, 6174 
 
 That Goddes word wercheth noght 
 On lered ne on lewed, 
 But in swich a manere 
 As Marc meneth in the gospel : 
 Dum emeus ducit ccecum, avibo in 
 foveam cadunt. 
 
 "Lewed men may likne yowthus, 
 That the beem lith in youre eighen ; 
 And the festu is fallen 
 For youre defaute, 
 In alle maner men, 6i85 
 
 Thorugh mausede preestes. 
 The Bible bereth witnesse 
 That the folk of Israel 
 Bittre a-boughte the giltes 
 Of two badde preestes, 
 Offyn and Fynes, 
 For hir coveitise, 
 Archa Dei mys-happed. 
 And Ely brak his nekke. [heron. 
 
 " For-thi ye corectours claweth 
 And corecteth first yowselve gi%
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 191 
 
 And thanne mowe ye safly seye, 6i97 
 As David made in the Sauter, 
 Existimasti inique quod ero tui 
 similis, arguam te, et statuam 
 contra facieni tuam. 
 
 "And thanne shul burel clerkes 
 ben abasshed 
 To blame yow or to greve, 
 And carpen noght as thei carpe now, 
 Ne calle yow doumbe houndes. 
 Canes non valentes latrare. [word, 
 And drede to wrathe yow in any 
 Youre werkmanshipe to lette, 
 And be prester at youre preiere, 
 Than for a pound of nobles. 
 And al for youre holynesse, 
 Have ye this in herte. 
 
 "In scole there is scorn, 
 But if a clerk wol lerne, 
 And gret love and likyng, 
 For ech of hem loveth oother, 
 
 "Ac now is Religion a rydere, 
 A romere aboute, 621s 
 
 A ledere of love-dayes, 
 And a lond-buggere, 
 A prikere on a palfrey 
 Fro manere to manere, 
 An heepe of houndes at his ers 
 As he a lord were. 
 And but if his knave knele 
 That shal his coppe brynge, 
 He loureth on hym, and asketh hym 
 Who taughte hym curteisie. 
 
 " Litel hadde lordes to doon, 6229
 
 192 THE VISION OF 
 
 To gyve lond from liire heires 6230 
 To religiouse, that han no routhe, 
 Though it reyne on hir auters. 
 
 " In many places ther thei ben 
 By hemself at ese [persons, 
 
 Of the povere have thei no pit6 ; 
 And that is hir charity. 
 Ac thei leten hem as lordes 
 Hire londes lyen so brode. 
 
 " Ac ther shal come a kyng, 
 And confesse yow religiouses, 
 And bete yow as the Bible telleth C24i 
 For brekynge of youre rule ; 
 And amende monyals, 
 Monkes and chanons, 
 And puten to hir penaunce 
 Ad Jurist 171117)1 statum ire ; 
 And barons with erles beten hem, 
 Thorugh Beatus-vii'res techyng, 
 That hir barnes daymen 
 And blame yow foule. 
 Hi in cu7rihus et hi in equis ipsi 
 ohligati sunt, etc. 6252 
 
 " And thanne freres in hir fray- 
 Shul fynden a keye [tour 
 
 Of Costantyns cofres, 
 In which is the catel 
 That Gregories god-children 
 Han yvele despended. 
 
 " And thanne shal the abbot of 
 Abyngdone, 
 And al his issue for evere. 
 Have a knok of a kyng. 
 And incurable the wounde. e203
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 193 
 
 " That this worth sooth, seke ye 
 That ofte over-se the Bible : 
 Quomodo cessavit exactor, quievit 
 trihutum, contrivit Dominus 
 haculum iminorum et virgam 
 dominantium ccedentium plaga 
 insanahili. 
 
 "Ac er that kyng come, 
 Caym shal awake. 
 But Do-wel shaldyngen hym adoun, 
 And destruye his myghte." [quod I, 
 
 " Thanne is Do-wel and Do-bet," 
 "Dominus and knyghthode." 
 
 " I nel noght scorne," quod 
 " But if scryveynes lye ; [Scripture, 
 Kynghod ne knyghthod, 
 By noght I kan a-wayte, 
 Helpeth noght to hevene-ward 
 Oone heris ende ; 
 Ne richesse right noght, 
 Ne reautee of lordes. 
 Poul preveth it impossible 
 Riche men to have hevene. 62S6 
 Salomon seith also 
 That silver is worst to lovye : 
 Nihil iniquius quam amare pecu- 
 
 niam. 
 And Caton kenneth us to coveiten it 
 Naught but as nede techeth, 
 Dilige denarium, sed parre dilige 
 
 formam. 
 And patriarkes and prophetes, 
 And poetes bothe, 
 Writen to wissen us 6297
 
 194 THE VISION OF 
 
 To wilne no richesse, 629S 
 
 And preiseden povertewith pacience; 
 The apostles bereth witnesse 
 That thei han eritage in hcvene, 
 And by trewe rights ; 
 Ther richemen no right mayclej^me, 
 But of ruthe and grace." 
 
 " Contra," quod I, " by Crist ! 
 That kan I repreve, 
 And preven it by Peter, 
 And by Poul bothe, 
 That is baptized beth saaf, G309 
 
 Be he riche or povere." [Scripture, 
 
 "That is m extremis" quod 
 "Anaonges Sarzens and Jewes, 
 They mowen be saved so, 
 And that is oure bileve, 
 That an un-cristene in that caas 
 May cristen an hethen ; 
 And for his lele bileve, 
 "Whan he the lif tyneth, 
 Have the heritage of hevene 
 As any man cristene. C320 
 
 " Ac cristene menwithoute moore 
 Maye noglit come to hevene ; 
 For that Crist for cristene men 
 Deide and conformed the lawe, 
 Tliat M'ho so wolde and wilneth 
 "With Crist to arise, 
 Si cum Uiristo siirexistis, etc. 
 He sholde lovye and leve, 
 And the lawe fulfillo. 
 That is, love thi lord God 
 Levest aboven alle ; essi
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 195 
 
 And after, alle cristene creatures 
 In commune, ech man oother ; 
 And thus bi-longeth to lovye, 
 That leveth be saved. 
 And but we do thus in dede, 
 At the day of dome 
 It shal bi-sitten us ful soure 
 The silver that we kepen ; 
 Andourebakkes that mothe-etenbe, 
 And seen beggeris go naked ; 
 Or delit in wyn and vvilde fowel, 
 And wite any in defaute, 6343 
 
 For every cristene creature 
 Sholde be kynde til oother, 
 And sithen hethen to helpe, 
 In hope of amendement. 
 
 " God hoteth heighe and lowe 
 That no man hurte oother ; 
 And seith, ' Slee noght that sem- 
 To myn owene liknesse, [blable is 
 But if I sende thee som tokene ; ' 
 And seith ' Non woechaberis. 
 Is slee noght, but suffre, 6354 
 
 And al for the beste ; [torie 
 
 For I shal punysshe hem in purga- 
 Or in the put of helle, 
 Ech man for hise mysdedes, 
 But mercy it lette.' " 
 
 " npHIS is a long lesson," quod I, 
 JL " And litel am I the wiser j 
 "Where Do-wel is or Do-bet, 
 Derkliche ye shewen. 
 Manye tales ye tellen 6364
 
 196 THE VISION OF 
 
 That Theologie lerneth ; 6365 
 
 And that I man maad was, 
 And my name y-entred 
 In the legende of lif 
 Longe er I were, [nesse. 
 
 Or ellis un-writen for som wikked- 
 As Holy Writ witnesseth : 
 Nemo ascendit ad ccelum, nisi qui 
 de coelo descendit. 
 
 "I leve it wel," quod I, "by oure 
 And on no lettrure bettre. [Lord ! 
 For Salomon the sage, 0371; 
 
 That Sapience taughte, 
 God gat hyni grace of wit, 
 And alle hise goodes after ; 
 He demed wel and wisely, 
 As Holy Writ telleth. 
 Aristotle and he, 
 Who wissed men bettre 1 
 Maistres that of Goddes mercy 
 Techen men and prechen, 
 Of hir wordes thei wissen us 
 For wisest as in hir tyme, 63S7 
 
 And al holy chirche 
 Holdeth hem botlie y-dampned. 
 
 " And if I sholde werche by hir 
 To Wynne me hevene, [werkes 
 
 That for hir werkes and wit 
 !Now wonyeth in pyne, 
 Thanne wroughe I un-wisly, 
 What so evere ye preche, 
 
 "Ac of fele witty, in feith, 
 Litel ferly I have, 
 Thoudi hir goost be un-f/racious 6398
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 197 
 
 God for to plese. 6399 
 
 For many men on this moolde 
 
 Moore setten hir hertes 
 
 In good than in God ; 
 
 For-thi hem grace failleth 
 
 At hir mooste meschief, 
 
 Whan thai shal lif lets. 
 
 As Salomon dide, and swiche othere 
 
 That shewed grete wittes ; 
 
 Ac hir werkes, as holy writ seith, 
 
 Were evere the contrarie. 
 
 For-thi wise witted men, 0410 
 
 And wel y-lettrede clerkes, 
 
 As thei seyen hemself, 
 
 Selde doon therafter. 
 
 Super cathedra Moysi, etc. 
 
 " Ac I wene it worth of manye, 
 As was in Noes tyme, 
 Tho he shoop that ships 
 Of shides and of hordes ; 
 Was nevere wrighte saved that 
 
 wroghte theron, 
 Ne oothir werkman ellis, 6421 
 
 But briddes, and beestes, 
 And the blissed Noe, 
 And his wif with hise sones, 
 And also hire wyves ; 
 Of wightes that it wroghte 
 Was noon of hem y-saved. 
 
 " God leve it fare noght so bi folk 
 That the feith techeth 
 Of holi chirche, that herberwe is, 
 And Goddes hous to save, 
 And shilden us from shame therinne, 
 
 VOL. I. Q
 
 198 THE VISION OF 
 
 As Xoes ship elide beestes ; 6433 
 Aiid men that maden it 
 A-mydde the flood a-dreynten. 
 The culorum of this clause 
 Curatoui's is to mene, [make 
 
 That ben carpenters holy kirk to 
 For Cristes owene beestes : 
 Homines et jumenta ^alvahis, Do- 
 mine, etc. 
 
 " On Good Friday I fynde 
 A felon was y-saved, 
 That hadde lyved al his lif 6444 
 "With lesynges and with thefte ; 
 And for he beknede to the cros, 
 And to Crist shrof him, 
 He was sonner y-saved 
 Than seint Johan the Baptist ; 
 And or Adam or Ysaye, 
 Or any of the prophetes, 
 That hadde y-leyen with Lucifer 
 Many longe yeres, 
 A robbere was y-raunsoned 
 Kather than thei alle, [torie, 
 
 AVithouten any peuaunce of purga- 
 To perpetuel blisse, 
 
 " Thau Marie Maudeleyne 
 What womman dide werse 1 
 Or who worse than David, 
 That Uries deeth conspired 1 
 Or Poul the apostle, 
 That no pite hadde 
 !Muche cristene kynde 
 To kille to dethe 1 
 And now ben thise as sovereyns 
 With seintes in hevene, 6467
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 199 
 
 Tho thatwroughtewikkedlokest 646s 
 In ■svorld tho thei were. 
 And tho that wisely wordeden, 
 And writen manye bokes 
 Of wit and of wisedom, 
 With dampned soules wonye. 
 That Salomon seith,I trowebe sooth 
 And certein of us alle : 
 Sunt justi atqiie sapientes et opera 
 eorum in manu Dei sunt, etc. 
 
 "Ther are witty and wel libbynge, 
 Ac hire werkes ben y-hudde (a-s 
 In the hondes of almyghty God, 
 And he woot the sothe, 
 Wherf ore a man worth allowed there, 
 And hise lele werkes, 
 Or ellis for his yvel wille, 
 And for envye of herte, 
 And be allowed as he lyved so ; 
 For by the luthere men knoweth 
 the goode, 
 
 "And wherby wiste men which 
 If alle thyng blak were ? [were Avhit, 
 And who were a good man. 
 But if ther were som sherewe ? 
 For-thi lyve we forth with othere 
 
 I leve fewe ben goode ; [men, 
 For quant oportet vient en place, 
 
 II riy ad (pie pati. 
 
 And he that may al amende, 
 Have mercy on us alle ! 
 For sothest word that ever Godseide 
 Was tho he seide Nemo bonu.t. 
 
 " Clergie tho of Cristes mouth 
 Comended was it litel ; 650i
 
 200 THE VISION OF 
 
 For he seide to seint Peter, 6502 
 
 And to swiche as lie lovede, 
 
 Cum steteritis ante reges et proe- 
 
 sides, etc. 
 Though ye come bifore kynges 
 And clerkes of the lawe, 
 Beth noglit abasshed, 
 For I shal be in youre monthes, 
 And gyve yow wit and wille, 
 And konnyng to conclude 
 Hem alle that ayeins yow 
 Of Cristendom disputen. 6513 
 
 " David maketh niencion, 
 He spak amonges kynges, [hym 
 And myghte no kyng over-comen 
 As by konnynge of speche, 
 But wit and wisedom 
 Wan nevere the maistrie, 
 Whan man was at meschief, 
 Withoute the moore grace. 
 
 "The doughtieste doctour 
 And devinour of the Trinitee 
 Was Austyn the olde, 6524 
 
 And heighest of the foure, 
 Seide thus in a sermon, 
 I seigh it writen ones : 
 Ucce ipsi idiotce irapiunt ccehmi, uhi 
 nos sapientes in inferno mer- 
 gimur. 
 
 " And is to mene to men, 
 ^loore ne lesse, 
 Arn none rather y-ravysshed 
 Fro the righte bileve, 
 Than are thise konnynge clerkes 
 That konne manye bokes. C536
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 201 
 
 " Ne none sonner saved, 6537 
 Ne sadder of bileve, 
 Than plowmen and pastours, 
 And otliere commune laborers ; 
 Souteres and shepherdes, 
 And otliere lewed juttes, 
 Percen with a pater-noster 
 The paleys of hevene, 
 And passenpurgatorie penaunce-lees 
 At her hennes partyng 
 Into the blisse of paradis, 
 For hir pure bileve, 654S 
 
 That imparfitly here knewe, 
 And ek lyvede. 
 
 " Ye men knowe clerkes, 
 That han corsed the tyme [moore 
 That evere thei kouthe or knewe 
 Than Credo in Deuvi pair em; 
 And principally hir pater-noster 
 Many a persone hath wisshed. 
 
 " I se ensamples myself, 
 And so may manye othere, 
 That servauntz that serven lordes 
 Selde fallen in arerage, 
 And tho that kepeu the lordes catel, 
 Clerkes and reves. 
 
 " Right so lewed men. 
 And of litel knowyng, 
 Selden falle thei so foule 
 And so fer in synne, 
 As clerkes of holy chirche 
 That kepen Cristes tresor, 
 The which is mannes soule to save, 
 As God seith in the Gospel : 
 Ite vus in vineam meam." esn
 
 .>»: 
 
 
 Passus Undecimus. 
 
 HANNE Scripture 
 p^ And a skile tolde, 
 
 scorned 
 
 -jj And lakked me in Latj'n, 
 
 ^^" And light by me she sette, 
 And seide ^' Multi tmdta sciunt 
 Et seipsos nesciunt." 
 
 Tho wepte I for wo 
 And wrathe of liir speche ; 
 And in a wynkynge wrathe 
 Weex I a-slepe. 
 A merveillous metels 
 Mette me thanne, 6583 
 
 That I was ravysshed right there, 
 And Fortune me fette, 
 And into the lond of longynge 
 Allone she me broughte, [erthe 
 And in a mirour that highte middel- 
 She made me to biholde. 
 " Sone," she seide to me, 
 " Here mj'ghtow se wondres, 
 And knowe that thow coveitest, 
 And come therto, peraunter." 
 
 Thanne hadde Fortune folwynge 
 Two faire damyseles ; [hire
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 203 
 
 Concuiy'iscen t ia-carnis esoo 
 
 Men called the elder mayde, 
 And Coveitise-of-eighes 
 Y-called was that oother. 
 Pride-of-parfit-lyvynge 
 Pursued hem bothe, 
 And bad me for my contenaunce 
 Acounten Ciergie lighte. 
 
 Concttjnscentia-carnis 
 Colled me aboute the nekke, 
 And seide, "Thow art yong and 
 And hast yeres y-nowe [yeepe, 
 
 For to lyve longe, 
 And ladies to lovye ; 
 And in this mirour thow myght se 
 Myghtes ful manye, 
 That leden thee wole to likynge 
 Al thi lif tyme." 
 
 The seoounde seide the same, 
 " I shal sewe thi wille ; 
 Til thow be a lord and have lond, 
 Leten thee I nelle, 
 That I ne shal f olwe thi felawshipe, 
 If Fortune it like." 
 " He shal fynde me his frend," 
 Quod Fortune therafter ; 
 " The freke that folwede my wille 
 Failled nevere blisse." [Elde, 
 
 Thanne was ther oon that highte 
 That hevy was of chere ; [thee, 
 " Man," quod he, " if I mete with 
 By Marie of hevene ! 
 Thowshalt fynde Fortune thee faille 
 At thi mooste nede, 6629
 
 204 THE VISION OF 
 
 And Concupiscent ia-carnis eeso 
 
 Clene thee forsake. 
 
 Bittrely shaltow banne thanne 
 
 Bothe dayes and nyghtes 
 
 Coveitise-of-eighe, 
 
 That evere thow hir knewe, 
 
 And Pride-of-parfit-lyvynge 
 
 To muche peril thee brynge." 
 
 " Ye, recche thee nevere," quod 
 Rechelesnesse, 
 Stood forthe in raggede clothes, 
 " Folwe forth that Fortune Avole, 664o 
 Thow hast wel fer til Elde ; 
 A man may stoupe tyme y-nogh, 
 "Whan he shal tyne the crowne. 
 
 "■ Homo p7rjpo7iit quod a poete, 
 And Plato he highte, 
 And Deus dispo7iit quod he, 
 Lat God doon his wille. 
 If Truthe wol Avitnesse it be wel do 
 Fortune to folwe, 
 Concupiscentia-carnis, 
 Ise Coveitise-of-eighes, 6651 
 
 Ke shal noght greve thee gretly, 
 Ne bigile, butif thowwoltthiselve." 
 
 " Ye, fare wel Phippe and Faun- 
 And forth gan me drawe, [teltee," 
 Til Concupiscentia-carnis 
 Acorded alle my werkes. 
 
 " Alas ! eighe," quod Elde 
 And Holynesse bothe, [nesse, 
 
 Tliat wit shal tome to wrecched- 
 For wil to have his likyng." 
 
 Coveitise-of-eighes cco2
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 205 
 
 Conforted me anoon after, eees 
 
 And folwed me fourty wynter 
 And a fifte moore, 
 That of Do-wel ne Do-bet 
 Ke deyntee me thoughte. 
 Ihaddenolikyng,levemeif thee list, 
 Of hem ought to knowe. 
 Coveitise-of-eighes 66"4 
 
 Com ofter in mynde 
 Than Do-wel or Do-bet, 
 Among my dedes alle. 
 
 Coveitise-of-eighes 6674 
 
 Conforted me ofte, 
 And seide, "Have no conscience 
 How thow come to goods. 
 Go confesse thee to som frere, 
 And shewe hym thi synnes ; 
 For whiles Fortune is thi frend 
 Freres wol thee lovye, 
 And fecche thee to hir fraternitee, 
 And for the biseke 
 To hir priour provincial 
 A pardon for to have, 6685 
 
 And preien for thee pol by pol, 
 If thow \)Q pecuniosus." 
 Sed pcena pecuniaria non suficitpro 
 spiritualibus delictis. 
 
 By wissynge of this wenche I 
 wroughte, 
 Hir wordes were so swete, 
 Til I for-yat youthe. 
 And yarn into elde. 
 
 And thanne was Fortune my foo, 
 For al hir faire speche ; 6G93
 
 20G THE VISION OF 
 
 And poverte pursued me, 6696 
 
 And putte me lowe. 
 
 And tho fond I the frere a-fered, 
 And flittynge botlie 
 Ayeins oure firste for-warde ; 
 For I seide I nolde 
 Be buried at hire hous, 
 But at my parisshe chirche. 
 For I herde ones 
 How Conscience it tolde, 
 That there a man were cristned 
 Be kynde he sholde be buryed ; 
 Or where he were parisshen, 
 Eight there he sholde be graven. 
 And for I seide thus to freres, 
 A fool thei me helden, 
 And loved me the lasse 
 For my lele speche, 
 
 Ac yet I cryde on my confessour, 
 That heeld hymself so konnyng ; 
 " By my feith ! frere," quod I, 
 "Ye faren lik thise woweris 
 That wedde none widwes ens 
 
 But for to welden hir goodes. 
 Right so, by the roode ! 
 Roughte ye nevere 
 Where my body were buryed, 
 By so ye hadde my silver. 
 
 " Ich have muche merveille of yow, 
 And so hath many another, 
 ^^^li youre covent coveiteth 
 To confesse and to burye, 
 Rather than to baptize barnes 
 That ben catecumelynges. 6729
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 207 
 
 Baptizynge and buryinge firso 
 
 Bothe beth ful nedefulle ; 
 
 Ac muche moore meritorie, 
 
 Me thyiiketh it is to baptize. 
 
 For a baptized man may. 
 
 As thise maistres telleth, 
 
 Thorugli contricion come 
 
 To the heighe hevene. 
 
 Sola contritio, etc. 
 
 Ac barn withouten bapteme 
 
 May noght so be saved. 
 
 Nisi quis renatus fuerit. 674i 
 
 Loke ye, lettred men, 
 
 Wheither I lye or do noght." 
 
 And Lewte loked on me, 
 
 And I loured after. [Lewtee, 
 
 " Wherfore lourestow ? " quod 
 And loked on me harde. 
 
 "If I dorste," quod I, "amonges 
 This metels avowe ! " [men 
 
 "Yis, by Peter and by Poul!" 
 quod he, 
 And took hem bothe to witnesse. 
 Non oderis fraires secrete in corde 
 tuo, sed publice argue illos" 
 
 " They wole aleggen also," quod I, 
 " And by the Gospel preven : 
 Nolite judicare quemquam." 
 
 "And wherof serveth lawe ? " 
 quod Lewtee, 
 " If no lif undertoke it, 
 Falsnesse ne faiterie, 
 For som what the apostle seide, 
 Non oderis fratrem. ertu
 
 208 THE VISION OF 
 
 And in tlie Sauter also 6762 
 
 Seitli David the prophete, 
 Exist imadi inique quod ero hii 
 similis, etc. 
 
 " It is licitum for lewed men 
 To sigge the sothe, 
 If hem liketh and lest, 
 Ech a lawe it graunteth ; 
 Excepte persons and preestes, 
 And prelates of holy chirche, 
 It falleth noght for that folk 
 No tales to telle, 6773 
 
 Though the tale be trewe, 
 And it touche synne. 
 
 " Thyng that al the world woot, 
 "Wherfore sholdestow spare 
 To reden it in retorik 
 To a-rate dedly synne 1 
 Ac be nevere moore the firste 
 Defaute to blame ; [first, 
 
 Though thow se yvel, seye it noght 
 Be sory it nere amended. 
 Xo thyng that is pryv6, C7S4 
 
 Publice thow it nevere ; 
 Neither for love preise it noght, 
 Ne lakke it for envye. 
 Parum landa, vitupera parcius." 
 
 " He seith sooth," quod Scripture 
 tho. 
 And skipte an heigh, and preched. 
 Ac the matere that she meved, 
 If lewed men it knewe, 
 The lasse, as I Icve, 
 Lovyen it thei wolde. 6794
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 209 
 
 This was hir teme and hir text, 
 I took ful good hede ; 
 Multi to a mangerie 
 And to the mete were sotnpned ; 
 And whan the peple was plener 
 
 conien, 
 The porter unpynned the yate, 
 And plukked in Pauci pryveliche, 
 And leet the remenaunt go rome. 
 
 Al for tene of hir text 
 Trembled myn herte ; 
 And in a weer gan I wexe, esos 
 And with myself to dispute 
 Wheither I were chosen or noght 
 
 chosen. 
 On holi chirche I thoughte, 
 That under-fonged me atte font 
 For oon of Goddes chosene. 
 For Crist cleped us alle, 
 Come if we wolde, 
 Sarzens and scismatikes, 
 And so he dide the Jewes. 
 vos omnes sitientes, venite, etc. 
 And bad hem souke for synne 
 Safly at his breste, 
 And drynke boote for bale, 
 Brouke it who so myghte. 
 
 "Thanne mayalle cristene come," 
 
 quod I, 
 *' And cleyme there entree 
 By the blood that he boughte us 
 And thorugh bapteme after, [with 
 Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit, 
 
 etc. 6826
 
 210 THE VISION OF 
 
 For though a cristen man coveited 
 His cristendom to reneye, 
 Rightfully to reneye 
 Ko resou it Avolde. 
 
 " For may no cherl chartre make, 
 Ke his catel sella, 
 Withouten leve of his lord ; 
 Xo lawe wol it graunte. 
 Ac he may renne in arerage, 
 And rome so fro home, 
 And as a reneyed caytif 
 Recchelesly rennen aboute. esss 
 And Reson shal rekene ■with hym, 
 And casten hym in arerage. 
 And putten hym after in a prison 
 In purgatorie to brenne, 
 For hise arerages reAvarden hym there 
 To the day of dome ; 
 But if Contricion wol come. 
 And crye, by his lyve, 
 Mercy for hise mysdedes, 
 With mouthe and with herte," 
 
 " That is sooth," seide Scripture ; 
 " May no synne lette 
 ]\Iercy al to amende, 
 And mekenesse hir folwe. 
 For thei beth, as oure bokes telleth. 
 Above Goddes werkes." 
 Misericonlia ejus super omnia opera 
 ejus. 
 
 " Ye, baw for bokes," quod oon 
 "Was broken out of helle, 
 Highte Trojanus, hadde ben a trewe 
 Took witnesse at a pope, [knyglit,
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 211 
 
 How he was dec! and dampned es6i 
 To dwellea in pyne, 
 For an uncristene creature ; 
 " Clerkes wite the sothe, 
 That al the clergie under Crist 
 Ne mj'ghte me cracche fro helle, 
 But oonliche love and leautee, 
 And my laweful domes. 
 
 " Gregorie wiste this wel, 
 And wilned to my soule 
 Savacion for soothnesse 
 That he seigh in my werkes ; 6S72 
 And after that he wepte, 
 And wihied me were graunted 
 Grace ; withouten any bene biddyng 
 His boone was under-fongen, 
 And I saved, as ye see, 
 Withouten syngynge of masses. 
 By love and by lernyng 
 Of my lyvynge, in truthe, 
 Broughte me fro bitter peyne 
 Ther no biddyng myghte." 
 
 Lo ! ye lordes, Avhat leautee dide 
 By an emperour of Rome, 
 That was an uncristene creature, 
 As clerkes fyndeth in bokes. 
 Nought thorugh preiere of a pope, 
 But for his pure truthe, 
 "Was that Sarsen saved. 
 As seint Gregorie bereth witnesse. 
 
 Wel oughte ye, lordes, that lawes 
 kepe, 
 This lesson to have in mynde. 
 And on Trojanus truthe to thenke.
 
 212 THE VISION OF 
 
 And do truthe to the peple. 6894 
 " La we, witliouten love," quod Tro- 
 " Ley ther a bene, [janus, 
 
 Or any science under sonne, 
 The sevene artz and alle. 
 But thei ben lemed for cure Lordes 
 Lost is al the tyme ; " [love, 
 
 For no cause to cacche silver therby, 
 Ne to be called a maister. 
 But al for love of oure Lord, 
 And the bet to love the peple, 
 For seint Johan seide it, 6905 
 
 And sothe arn hise Avordes. 
 Qui non diligit, manet in morte. 
 
 "\Mio so loveth noght, leve me. 
 He ly veth in deep deyinge ; 
 And that alle manere men, 
 Enerayes and frendes, 
 Love hir eyther oother. 
 And leve hem, as hemselve, 
 "Who so leveth noght, he loveth 
 God woot the sothe ! [noght, 
 
 Crist comaundeth ech a creature 
 To conformen hym to lovye, 
 And sovereynly the povere peple. 
 And hir enemj'es after. 
 For hem that haten us 
 Is oure merite to lovye, 
 And povere peple to plese, 
 Hir preieres maye us helpe. 
 And oure joye and oure heele 
 Jhesu Crist of hevene 
 In a povere mannes apparaille 
 Pursued us evere ; 6927
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 213 
 
 And loketh on us in liir liknesse, 
 And that with lovely chere, 
 To knowen us by oure kynde herte 
 And castynge of oure eighen, 
 Wheither we love the lordes here 
 Bifore the Lord of blisse ; 
 And exciteth us by the Euvangelie 
 That whan we maken festes, 
 We sholde noght clepe oure kyn 
 Ne none kynnes riche. [therto, 
 
 Cum facitis convivia, nolite invitare 
 canicos. ensg 
 
 " Ac calleth the carefulle therto, 
 The croked and the povere. 
 For youre frendes wol feden yow, 
 And fonde yow to quyte [gifte ; 
 Youre festynge and youre faire 
 Ech frend quyteth so oother. 
 
 "Ac for the povere I shal paie, 
 And pure Avel quyte hir travaille, 
 That gyveth hem mete or moneie, 
 Or loveth hem for my sake." 
 For the beste ben som riche, 6950 
 And some beggeres and povere. 
 For alle are we Cristes creatures, 
 And of his cofres riche. 
 And bretheren as of 00 blood, 
 As wel beggeres as erles. 
 For on Calvarie of Cristes blood 
 Cristendom gan sprynge. 
 And blody bretheren we bicomen 
 Of body y-wonne, [there 
 
 As quasi modo geniti, 
 And gentil-men echone ; 696i 
 
 VOL. I. B
 
 2U THE VISION OF 
 
 No beggere ne boye amonges us, 
 But if it synne made. 
 Qui facit peccatitm, serviis est j)ec- 
 cati. 
 
 " In the olde la we, 
 As holy lettre telleth, 
 Mennes sones 
 Men callen us echone, 
 Of Adames issue and Eve, 
 Ay til God man deide ; 
 And after his resurexcion 
 i?er:Ze???^^o?' was his name, [y-brought, 
 And we hisebretheren thorugh liym 
 Bothe riche and povere. [ren, 
 
 " For-thi love we as leva brethe- 
 And ech man laughe of oother ; 
 And of that ech man may forbere 
 Amende there it nedeth ; 
 And every man helpe oother, 
 For hennes shul we alle. 
 Alter alterius onera portate. 
 
 "And be we noglit un-kynde of 
 oure catel, 
 Ke of oure konnyng neither. 69S4 
 For woot no man how neigh it is 
 To ben y-nome fro bothe. 
 For-thi lakke no lif oother, 
 Though he moore Latyn knowe ; 
 Ke under-nyme noght foule ; 
 For is noon withoute defaute. 
 For what evere clerkes carpe 
 Of cristendom or ellis, 
 Crist to a commune womman seide, 
 In commune at a feste, cm
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 215 
 
 That fides sua sholde saveu hire, 
 And salven hire of synnes. 
 
 " Thanne is bileve a lele help, 
 Above logyk or lawe. 
 Of logyk or of lawe 
 In Legenda Sanctorum 
 Is htel alowaunce maad, 
 But if bileve hem helpe. 
 For it is over longe er logyk 
 Any lesson assoille ; 
 And lawe is looth to lovye. 
 But if he lacche silver. 7006 
 
 Bothe logyk and lawe, 
 That loveth noght to lye, 
 I conseille alle cristene 
 Clyve noght theron to soore ; 
 For some wordes I fynde writen, 
 That were of feithes techyng, 
 That saved synful men. 
 As seint Johan bereth witnesse. 
 Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, 
 7'emeHetur vobis. 
 
 "For-thi lerne we the lawe of 
 As oure Lord taughte, [love, 
 
 And as seint Gregorie seide 
 For mannes soule helthe : 
 Melius est scrufari scelera nostra, 
 quam naturas rerum. 
 
 •' Why I meve this matere, 
 Is moost for the povere ; 
 For in hir liknesse oure Lord 
 Ofte hath ben y-knowe. 
 Witnesse in the Pask wyke 
 Whan he yede to Emails ; 7023
 
 216 THE VISION OF 
 
 Cleophas ne knew hyni iioglit 7029 
 
 That he Crist were, 
 
 For his povere apparaille, 
 
 And pilgrymes wedes, 
 
 Til he blessede and brak 
 
 The breed that thei eten ; 
 
 So bi hise werkes thei wisten 
 
 That he was Jhesus, 
 
 Ac by clothjTig thei knewe hym 
 
 Ne by carpynge of tunge. [noght, 
 
 And al was in ensample 
 
 To us synfuUe here, 7040 
 
 That we sholde be lowe 
 
 And loveliche of speche, [proudly, 
 
 And apparaille us noght over 
 
 For pilgrymes are we alle, 
 
 "And in the apparaille of a povere 
 And pilgrymes liknesse, [man, 
 
 ]\lany tyme God hath ben met 
 Among nedy peple, 
 Ther nevere segge hym seigh 
 In secte of the riche. 
 
 " Seint Johan and othere seintes 
 "Were seyen in poore clothyng, 
 And as povere pilgrymes 
 Preyed mennes goodes. [lighte, 
 
 " Jhesu Crist on a Jewes doghter 
 Gentil womman though she were, 
 Was a pure povere maide. 
 And to a povere man y-wedded. 
 
 " ]\Iartha on jMarie Maudeleyne 
 An huge pleynt made, 
 And to oure Saveour self 
 Seide tliise wordes : 7052
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 217 
 
 Domine, non est tihi curce quod 
 soror mea reliquit vie solam 
 ministrare. 
 
 " And hastily God answerde, 
 And eitheres -wille folwed, 
 Bothe Marthaes and Maries, 
 As Mathew bereth witnesse ; 
 Ac poverte God putte bifore, 
 And preised that the bettre. 
 Maria ojjtimam jMi'tem elegit, quae 
 non, etc. 
 
 "And alle the wise that evere were, 
 By aught I kan aspye, 
 Preiseden poverte for best lif, 
 If pacience it folwed, 
 And bothe bettre and blesseder 
 By many fold than richesse. 
 For though it be sour to suffre, 
 Theraf ter cometh swete ; 
 As on a walnote withoute 
 Is a bitter barke, 
 And after that bitter bark, 
 Be the shelle aweye, 7os5 
 
 Is a kernel of confort 
 Kynde to restore. 
 
 " So is after poverte or penaunce 
 Paciently y-take ; 
 For it maketh a man to have mynde 
 In God, and a gret wille 
 To wepe and to wel bidde, 
 Wherof wexeth mercy, 
 Of which Crist is a kernelle 
 To conforte the soule. 
 And wel sikerer he slepeth, 7096
 
 218 THE VISION OF 
 
 The man that is povere, 7097 
 
 And lasse he dredeth deeth, 
 And in derke to ben y-robbed, 
 Than he that is right riche, 
 Reson bereth witnesse. 
 Pauper ego ludo, dum tu dives vie- 
 ditaris. 
 
 " Al though Salomon seide, 
 As folk seeth in the Bible, 
 Divltias nee paupertates, etc. 
 Wiser than Salomon was 
 Bereth witnesse and taughte 7i08 
 That parfit poverte was 
 No possession to have, 
 And lif moost likynge to God, 
 As Luc bereth witnesse : 
 Si vis perfectus esse, vade et vende. 
 
 " And is to mene to men 
 That on this moolde lyven, 
 Who so wole be pure parfit 
 Moot possession forsake. 
 Or selle it, as seith the Book, 
 And the silver dele 
 To beggeris that goon and begge 
 And bidden good for Goddes love. 
 For failed nevere man mete 
 That myghtful God serveth, 
 As David seith in the Sauter 
 To swiche that ben in wille 
 To serve God goodliche, 
 Ne greveth hym no penaunce : 
 Nihil in2>ossihile volenti. 
 Ne lakketh nevere liilode, 
 Lynnen ne wollen. 7i:io
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 219 
 
 Inquirentes autem Dominum non 
 minuentur omni bono. 
 
 "If preestes weren parifite, 
 Thei wolde ne silver take 
 For masses ne for matyns, 
 Noglit hir mete of usureres, 
 Ne neither kirtel ne cote, 
 Theigli thei for cold sholde deye, 
 And thei hir devoir dide, 
 As David seith in the Sauter : 
 Judica me, Deus, et decerne caiosam 
 meam. 7142 
 
 " Spera-in-Deo speketh of preestes 
 That have no spendyng silver, 
 That if thei travaille truweliche 
 And truste in God almyghty, 
 Hem sholde lakke no liflode, 
 Neyther lynnen ne woUen. 
 And the title that ye take ordres by 
 Telleth ye ben avaunced ; [silver 
 Thanne nedeth yow noght to take 
 For masses that ye syngen. 
 For he that took yow youre title, 
 Sholde take yow youre wages, 
 Or the bisshop that blessed yow, 
 If that jQ ben worthi. [knyght, 
 
 " For made nevere kyng no 
 But he hadde catel to spende 
 As bifel for a knyght. 
 Or foond hym for his strengthe. 
 It is a careful knyght, 
 And of a caytif kynges makyng. 
 That hath no lond ne lynage riche, 
 Ne good loos of hise handes. nn
 
 220 THE VISION OF 
 
 "The same I segge, for sotho, 
 By alle swiclie preestes 
 That han neither konnynge ne kyn, 
 But a crowne one, 
 And a title, a tale of noght, 
 To his liflode at his meschief. 
 He hath nioore bileve, as I leve, 
 To lacche through his croune 
 Cure, than for konnyng. 
 Or knowen for clene berynge. 
 I have wonder for why 
 And wherefore the bisshope 7i76 
 Maketh swiche preestes. 
 That lewed men bitrayen. 
 
 " A chartre is chalangeable 
 Bifore a chief justice ; 
 If fals Latyn be in the lettre. 
 The laAve it impugneth, 
 Or peynted parentrelynarie. 
 Or percelles over-skipped ; 
 The gome that gloseth so chartres 
 For a goky is holden. 
 
 " So is it a goky, by God ! risr 
 That in his gospel failleth, 
 Or in masse or in matyns 
 Maketh any defaut. 
 Qui o^fendit in uno, in omnibus est 
 reus. 
 
 " And also in the Sauter 
 Seith David to over-skipperis, 
 PsalUte Deo nostro, psallite, quo- 
 niam rex ierrce Deus Israel, 
 psallite sapienter. 
 
 " The bisshop shal be blamed
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 221 
 
 Bifore God, as I leve, [knyghtes 
 That crouneth swiclie Goddes 
 That konneth noght sapienter 
 Synge, ne psalmes rede, 
 Xe seye a masse of the day. 
 And never neither is blame-lees 
 The bisshope ne the chapeleyn ; 
 For hir either is endited, 
 And that is, ignorantia 
 Non excusat episcopos 
 Nee idiotes preestes. 
 
 " This lokynge on lewed preestes 
 Hath doon me lepe from poverte, 
 The which I preise ther pacience is 
 Moore perfit than richesse." 
 
 AC muche moore in metynge 
 thus 
 With me gan oon dispute ; 
 And slepynge I seigh al this. 
 And sithen cam Kynde, 
 And nempned me by my name, 
 And bad me nymen hede, 7219 
 
 And thorugh the wondres of this 
 Wit for to take. [world 
 
 And on a mountaigne that myddel- 
 Highte, as me thoughte, [erthe 
 
 I was fet forth 
 By ensamples to knowe 
 Thorugh ech a creature and kynde 
 My creatour to lovye. 
 
 I seigh the sonne and the see, 
 And the sond after ; 
 And where that briddes and beestes
 
 222 THE VISION OF 
 
 By hir makes j^eden ; 7231 
 
 "Wilde wormes iu wodes, 
 And wonderful foweles 
 With fleckede fetlieres 
 And of fele colours. 
 
 Man and his make 
 I myghte bothe biholde ; 
 Poverte and plentee ; 
 Bothe pees and werre ; 
 Blisse and bale bothe 
 I seigh al at ones ; 
 And how men token mede, 7242 
 And mercy refused. 
 
 Reson I seigh soothly 
 Sewen alle beestes, 
 In etynge, in drynkynge, 
 And in engendrynge of kynde ; 
 And after cours of concepcion, 
 Noon took kepe of oother [tyme, 
 As whan thei hadde ryde in rotey 
 Anoon right therafter 
 Males drowen hem to males 
 A-morwenynges by hemselve, 7253 
 And in evenynges also 
 The males ben fro femelles. 
 Ther ne was cow ne cow-kynde 
 That conceyved hadde, 
 That wolde belwe after boles, 
 Xe boor after sowe ; 
 Bothe hors and houndes, 
 And alle othere beestes, 
 Medled noght with hir makes 
 That with fole were. 
 
 Briddes I biheld 7264
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 223 
 
 That in buskes made nestes, 7265 
 
 Hadde nevere wye wit 
 
 To werche the leeste, 
 
 I hadde wonder at whom 
 
 And wher the pye lerned 
 
 To legge the stikkes 
 
 In whiche she leyeth and bredeth. 
 
 Ther nys wrighte, as I wane, 
 
 Sholde werche hir nestes to paye ; 
 
 If any mason made a molde therto, 
 
 Muche wonder it Avere. 
 
 Ac yet me merveilled moore, 
 How many othere briddes 
 Hidden and hileden 
 Hir egges ful derne 
 In mareys and moores, 
 For men sholde hem noght fynde ; 
 And hidden hir egges, 
 Whan thai therfro wente, 
 For fere of othere foweles, 
 And for wilde beestes. 
 
 And some troden hir makes, 
 And on trees bredden, 72S7 
 
 And broughten forth hir briddes so 
 Al above the grounde ; 
 And some briddes at the bile 
 Thorugh brethyng conceyved ; 
 And some caukede ; and took kepe 
 How pecokkes bredden. 
 Muche merveilled me 
 What maister hem made, 
 And who taughte hem on trees 
 To tymbre so heighe, 
 Ther neither burn ne beest 7298
 
 224 THE VISION OF 
 
 May hir briddes rechen. 7209 
 
 And sithen I loked upon the see, 
 And so forth upon the sterres ; 
 ]\Ianye selkouthes I seigh, 
 Ben noght to seye nouthe. 
 
 I seigh floures in the fryth, 
 And hir faire colours ; 
 And how among the grene gras 
 Growed so manye hewes, 
 And some soure and some swete, 
 Selkouth me thoughte ; 
 Of hir kynde and hir colour 7310 
 To carpe it were to longe. 
 
 Ac that moost meved me 
 And my mood chaunged, 
 That Reson rewarded 
 And ruled alle beestes, 
 Save man and his make ; 
 Many tyme and ofte 
 i^o reson hem folwede. 
 And thanne I rebukede 
 Reson, and right 
 
 Til hymselven I seyde : 7321 
 
 " I have wonder of thee," quod I, 
 " That witty art holden, [make, 
 "Why thow ne sewest man and his 
 That no mysfeet hem folwe." 
 
 And Reson a-rated me, 
 And seide, " Recche thee nevere ; 
 Why I suffre or noght suffre, 
 Thiself hast noght to doone. 
 Amende thow it, if thow myght, 
 For my tyme is to abide. 
 Suffraunce is a soverayn vertue.
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 225 
 
 And a swift vengeance. 7333 
 
 Who sufifrede moore than God?" 
 " No gome, as I leeve, [quod he ; 
 He niyghte amende in a minute while 
 Al that mys-standeth ; 
 Ac he suffreth forsommannesgoode, 
 And so it is oure bettre, 
 The wise and the witty 
 Wroot thus in the Bible : 
 De re quae te non molestat, noli 
 certare. 
 " For be a man fair or foul, 7344 
 It falleth noght for to lakke 
 The shap ne the shaft 
 That God shoop hymselve ; 
 For al that he dide was wel y-do, 
 As holy writ witnesseth : 
 Ut vidit De2is cunda quce fecerat, et 
 erant valde bona. 
 " And bad every creature 
 In his kynde encreesse ; 
 
 Al to murthe with man, 
 
 That moste wo tholie 7355 
 
 In fondynge of the flessh, 
 
 And of the fend bothe. 
 
 For man was maad of swichamatere, 
 
 He may noght wel a-sterte 
 
 That ne som tyme hym bitit 
 
 To folwen his kynde. 
 
 Caton a-cordeth therwith, 
 
 Nemo sine crimine viviV 
 Tho caughte I colour anoon, 
 
 And comsed to ben ashamed. 
 
 And awaked therwith. 73G6
 
 226 THE VISION OF 
 
 Wo was me thanne, 7307 
 
 That I in nietels ne myghte 
 Moore have y-knowen. 
 And thanne seide I to myself, 
 And chidde that tynie, [quod I, 
 " Now I woot what Do-wel is, 
 By deere God ! as me thynketh." 
 And as I caste up myne eighen, 
 Oon loked on me and asked 
 Of me, what thynge it were : 
 " Y-wis, sire," I seide, 
 " To se muche and suffre moore, 
 Certes," quod I, "is Do-weh" 
 
 " Haddestow suffred," he seide, 
 " Slepynge tho thow were, 
 
 Thow sholdest have knowen that 
 Clergie kan, 
 
 And contreved moore thorughreson. 
 
 For Reson Avolde have reherced thee 
 
 Right as Clergie seide. 
 
 Ac for thyn entre-metynge, 
 
 Here artow forsake. 
 
 Philosophus esses, si tacutsses 738s 
 " Adam, whiles he spak noght, 
 
 Hadde paradis at Aville ; 
 
 Ac whan he mamelede aboute mete, 
 
 And entre-metede to knowe 
 
 The wisedom and the wit of God, 
 
 He was put fram blisse. 
 
 "And right so ferdc Reson bi thee; 
 
 Thow with thi rude speche 
 
 Lakkedest and losedest thyng 
 
 That longed the noght to dooue. 
 
 Tho hadde he no likyng 
 
 For to lere the moore. 7400
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 227 
 
 " Pryde now and presumpcion V40i 
 Peraventure wol thee appele, 
 That Clergie thi compaignye 
 Kepeth noght to suwe. 
 Shal nevere chalangynge nechidynge 
 Chaste a man so soone, 
 As shal shame, and shenden hym, 
 And shape hym to amende. 
 For lat a dronken daffe 
 In a dyk falle, 
 
 Lat hym ligge, loke noght on hym, 
 Til hym liste aryse. 7412 
 
 Por though Keson rebuked hym 
 It were but pure synne. [thanne, 
 Ac whan nede nymeth hym up 
 For doute lest he sterve, 
 And shame shrapeth hise clothes, 
 And hise shynes wassheth. 
 Thanne woot the dronken daffe 
 "VVherfore he is to blame." 
 
 " Ye siggen sooth," quod I ; 
 " Ich have y-seyen it ofte, 
 Ther smyt no thyng so smerte, 
 Ne smelleth so soure, 
 As, shame, there he sheweth hym ; 
 For every man hym shonyeth. 
 Why ye wisse me thus," quod I, 
 " Was for I rebuked Reson." 
 
 " Certes," quod he, " that is sooth ; " 
 And shoop hym for to walken. 
 And I aroos up right with that. 
 And folwed hym after. 
 And preyde hym of his curteisie 
 To telle me his name. 7434
 
 ^^^' 
 
 Passits Duodecwius, etc. 
 
 A^NI Ymaginatif," quod he, 
 " Ydel was I nevere, 
 
 Though I sitte by myself, 
 
 In siknesse nor in helthe. 
 
 I have f olwed thee, in f eith ! 
 Thise fyve and fourty wynter, 
 And manye tymes have meved thee 
 To thynke on thyn ende, 
 And how fele fernyeres are faren. 
 And so fewe to come ; 
 And of thi wilde wantownesse 
 Tho tliow yong were, 7446 
 
 To amende it in thi middel age, 
 Lest myght the failled 
 In thyn olde elde, 
 That yvele kan sufifre 
 Poverte or penaunce. 
 Or preyeres to bidde. 
 Si non in prima vigilia, nee in se- 
 cunda, etc. 
 " Amende thee, while thow myght ; 
 Thow hast ben warned ofte 
 With poustees of pestilences, 
 "With poverte and with angres ; viss
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 229 
 
 And with thise bittre baleises 7459 
 God beteth his deere children. 
 Quern diligo, castigo. 
 
 " And David in the Sauter seitli 
 Of swiche that loveth Jhesus : 
 Virga tua et haculus tuus ipsa me 
 consolati sunt. [thi staf, 
 
 " Al though thow strike me with 
 With stikke or with yerde, 
 It is but murthe as for me, 
 To amende my soule. [kynges, 
 
 And thow medlest thee with ma- 
 And myghtest go seye thi Sauter, 
 And bidde for hem that gy veth thee 
 For ther are bokes y-knowe [breed, 
 To telle men what Do-wel is, 
 Do-bet and Do-best bothe, 
 And prechours to preven what it is 
 Of many a peire freres." 
 
 I seigh wel he seide me sooth ; 
 And som what me to excuse, 
 Seide Caton conforted me his sone, 
 That clerk though he were, 7481 
 To solacen hym som tyme, 
 As I do whan I make : 
 Interpone tuts inter clum gaudia ctiris. 
 
 "And of holy men I herde," 
 " How thei outher while [quod I, 
 Pleyden the parfiter, 
 To ben in manye places, 
 Ac if ther were any wight 
 That wolde me telle 
 What were Do-wel and Do-bet 7492 
 
 VOL. I. s
 
 230 THE VISION OF 
 
 And Do-best at the laste, 7493 
 
 AYolde I nevere do M'erk, 
 But wende to holi cliirche, 
 And tlier bidde luy bedes, 
 But ■whan ich ete or slej)e." 
 
 " Poul in his pistle," quod he, 
 " Preveth what is Do-wel : 
 Fides, spes, caritas, et major horum, 
 
 etc. 
 Feith, hope, and charitd ; 
 And alle ben goode, 
 And saven men sondry tymes ; 7504 
 Ac noon so soone as charite. 
 For he dooth wel withouten doute, 
 That dooth as lewt6 techeth ; 
 That is, if thow be man maryed, 
 Thi make thow lovye, 
 And lyve forth as lawe wole, 
 AVhile ye lyven bothe. 
 
 " Eight so if thow be religious, 
 Ren thow nevere ferther 
 To Eome ne to Rochemador, 
 But as thi rule techeth ; 7515 
 
 And hold thee under obedience, 
 That heigh wey is to hevene. 
 
 "And if thow be maiden to raarye, 
 And myght wel continue, 
 Seke thow nevere seint ferther 
 For no soule helthe. 
 For what made Lucifer 
 To lese the heighe hevene ? 
 Or Salomon his sapience. 
 Or Sampson his strengthe ? 
 Job the Jew his joye 7626
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 231 
 
 Ful deere a-boughte ; 7527 
 
 Aristotle and othere mo, 
 
 Ypocras and Virgile ; 
 
 Alisaundre, that al wan, 
 
 Elengliche ended. 
 
 Catel and kynde wit 
 
 Was combraunce to hem alle. 
 
 " Felice hir fairnesse 
 Fel hire al to sclaundre ; 
 And Rosamounde right so, 
 Reufulliche to bileve, 
 The beaute of hir body 7538 
 
 In baddenesse she despended. 
 Of manye swiche I may rede, 
 Of men and of wommen, 
 That wise wordes wolde shewe, 
 And werche the contrarie. 
 Sunt homines nequam bene de virtute 
 loqiientes. 
 
 " And riclie renkes right so 
 Gaderen and sparen, 
 And tho men that thei moost haten 
 Mynistren it at the laste. 7549 
 
 And for thei suflren and see 
 So manye nedy folkes, 
 And love hem noght asoure Lord bit, 
 Thei lesen hir soules. 
 Date et dabitur vobis. 
 
 "And richesse right so. 
 But if the roote be trewe. 
 Ac grace is a gras therof 
 Tho grevaunces to abate. 
 Ac grace ne groweth noght 
 Eut amonges lowe : 756O
 
 232 THE VISION OF 
 
 Pacience and poverte tsgi 
 
 The place higlite ther it growetli, 
 
 And in lele lyvynge men, 
 
 And in lif holy, 
 
 And thorugh the gifte of the Holy 
 
 As the Gospel telleth. [Goost, 
 
 Spiritus icbi vult sj^i'yaf. 
 
 " Clergie and kynde wit 
 Cometh of sighte and techyng ; 
 As the book bereth witnesse 
 To burnes that kan rede. 
 Quod schnus loquimur, quod vidimus 
 testamur. 
 
 " Of quod scimus cometh clergie 
 And konnynge of hevene ; 
 And of quod vidimus cometh kynde 
 Of sighte of diverse peple. [wit, 
 Ac grace is a gifte of God, 
 And of greet love spryngeth ; 
 Knew nevere clerk how it cometh 
 Ne kynde wit the weyes. [forth, 
 Nescit aliquis unde venit, aut quo 
 vadit, etc. tsss 
 
 " Ac yet is clergie to comende, 
 And kj' nde wit bothe ; 
 And namely clergie, for Cristes love 
 That of clergie is roote. 
 For Moyses witnesseth that God 
 For to wisse the peple [wroot 
 
 In the olde lawe, as the lettre telleth, 
 That was the lawe of Jewes, 
 That what wommau were in avoutrye 
 Were she riche or poore, [taken, 
 "With stones men sholde hir strike,
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 233 
 
 And stone hire to dethe. 7595 
 
 " A womman, as I fynde, 
 Was gilty of that dede. 
 Ac Crist of his curteisie 
 Thorugh clergie hir saved ; 
 And thorugh caractes that Crist 
 The Jewes knewe hemselve [wroot, 
 Giltier as a-fore God, 
 And gretter in synne, 
 Than the womman that there was, 
 And wenten awey for shame. 
 
 " The clergie that there was, 
 Conforted the womman. 
 Holy kirke knoweth this, 
 That Cristes writyng saved hire. 
 So clergie is confort 
 To creatures that repenten, 
 And to mansede men 
 Meschief at hire ende. 
 
 "For Goddes body myghte noght 
 Of breed, withouten clergie ; [ben 
 The which body is bothe 
 Boote to the rightfulle, T6i7 
 
 And deeth and dampnacion 
 To hem that deyeth yvele, 
 As Cristes caracte confortede. 
 And bothe coupable shewed, 
 The womman that the Jewes 
 
 broughte. 
 That Jhesus thoughte to save. 
 Polite judicare, et not judicabimini. 
 Right so Goddes body, bretheren. 
 But if it be worthili taken, 
 Dampneth us at the day of dome,
 
 234 THE VISION OF 
 
 As the caractes dide the Jewes. 
 
 " For-thi I counseille thee, for 
 Cristes sake, 
 Clergie that thow lovye. 
 For kynde wit is of his kyn, 
 And iieighe cosynes bothe 
 To oure Lord, leve me ; 
 For-thi love hem, I rede. 
 For bothe ben as mirours 
 To amenden oure defautes, 
 And lederes for lewed men 
 And for lettred bothe. ress 
 
 "For-thi lakke thownevere logik, 
 Lawe ne hise custumes ; 
 Ne countreplede clerkes, 
 I counseille thee for evere. 
 For as a man may noght see, 
 That mysseth hise eighen ; 
 Na-moore kan no clerk, [bokes. 
 But if he caughte it first thorugh 
 Al though men made bokes, 
 God was the maister, 
 And seint spirit the samplarie, r649 
 And seide what men sholde write. 
 
 " Right so ledeth lettrure 
 Lewed men to reson ; 
 And as a blynd man in bataille 
 Bereth wepne to fighte, 
 And hath noon hap with his ax 
 His enemy to hitte, 
 Xa-moore kan a kynde witted man, 
 But clerkes hym teche, 
 Come for al his kynde wit 
 To cristendom, and be saved, veoo
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 235 
 
 Which is the cofre of Cristes tresor, 
 And clerkes kepe the keyes 
 To uuloken it at hir likyng, 
 And to the lewed peple 
 Gyve mercy for hire mysdedes, 
 If men it wolde aske 
 Buxomliche and benigneliche, 
 And bidden it of Grace. 
 
 " Archa Dei in the olde la we 
 Levytes it kepten ; 
 Hadde nevere lewed man leve 
 To leggen hond on that cheste, 
 Eut he were preest or preestes sone, 
 Patriark or prophete. 
 For clergie is kepere 
 Under Crist of heveue. 
 Was ther nevere no knyght, 
 But clergie hym made. 
 Ac kynde wit cometh 
 Of alle kynnes syghtes, 
 Of briddes and of beestes, 
 Of tastes of truthe and of deceites 
 
 " Lyveris to-forn us 
 Useden to marke 
 For selkouthes that thei seighen, 
 Hir sones for to teche ; 
 And helden it an heigh science 
 Hir wittes to knowe. 
 Ac thorugh hir science sootlily 
 Was nevere no soule y-saved, 
 Ne broght by hir bokes 
 To blisse ne to joye ; 
 For alle hir kynde knowynges 
 Come but of diverse sightes. 7694
 
 23G THE VISION OF 
 
 "Patriarkes and propbetes reos 
 Eepreveden hir science, 
 And seiden hir wordes and hir wis- 
 Xas but a folye ; [domes 
 
 And to tbe clergie of Crist 
 Counted it but a trufle. 
 Sapientia hujtis vmindi stultitia est 
 apud Deinn. 
 
 " For the heighe Holy Goost 
 Hevene shal to-cleve, 
 And love shall lepen out after 
 Into the lowe erthe ; 7706 
 
 And clennesse shal cacchen it, 
 And clerkes shullen it fynde, 
 Pastores loquehantur ad invicem. 
 
 " He speketh there of riche men 
 Ke of right witty, [I'ight noght, 
 Xe of lordes that were lewed men, 
 But of the hyeste lettred oute. 
 Ihant magi ab oriente. 
 
 " If any frere were founde there, 
 I gyve thee fy ve shillynges ; 
 Xe in none burgeises cote 77i7 
 
 AVas that barn born ; 
 Ijut in a burgeises place 
 Of Bethlem the beste. 
 Sed 71071 erat ei locus in diversorio, et 
 pauper non liahet diversoriwn. 
 
 " To pastours and to poetes 
 Appered the aungel. 
 And bad hem go to Bethlem 
 Goddes burthe to honoure ; 
 And songe a song of solas, 
 Gloria in excelsis Deo ! 7723
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 237 
 
 " Clerkes knewen it wel, 7729 
 And comen with hir presentz, 
 And diden homage honurably 
 To hyni that was almyghty. 
 
 " Vfh-Y I have tolde al this, 
 I took ful good hede 
 How thow contrariedest Clergie 
 With crabbede wordes, 
 How that lewde men lightloker 
 Than lettrede were saved, 
 Than clerkes or kynde witted men 
 Of cristene peple ; 7740 
 
 And thow seidest sooth of somme, 
 Ac se in Avhat manere. 
 
 " Tak two stronge men. 
 And in Themese cast hem. 
 And bothe naked as a nedle, 
 Her noon sikerer than oother ; 
 Tliat oon hath konnynge and kan 
 Swymmen and dyven ; 
 That oother is lewed of that labour, 
 That lerned nevere swymme ; 
 "Which trowestow of tho two 775i 
 That is in moost drede ? 
 He that nevere ne dyved, 
 ]S^e noght kan of swymmyng 1 
 Or the swymmere that is saaf 
 By so hymself like, 
 Ther his felawe fieteth forth 
 As the flood liketh. 
 And is in drede to drench e, 
 That nevere dide swymme 1 " 
 
 " That swymme kan noght," I 
 " It semeth to my wittes." [seide,
 
 238 THE VISION OF 
 
 "Eight so," quod the renk. 7763 
 " Eeson it sheweth, 
 That he that knoweth clergie 
 Kan sonner arise 
 Out of synne, and be saaf, 
 Though he sj'nne ofte, 
 If hym Hketh and lest, 
 Than any lewed leelly. 
 For if the clerk be konnynge, 
 He knoweth what is synne, [sion 
 And how contricion withoute conf es- 
 Conforteth the soule ; 'ith 
 
 As thow seest in the Sauter, 
 In Salmes oon or tweyne, 
 How contricion is comended, 
 For it cacheth awey synne. 
 Beati quoi'um remi^sce sunt iniqui- 
 tates, et quartan teda sunt, etc. 
 
 "And this conforteth ech a clerk, 
 And covereth hym fro wanhope. 
 In which flood the fend 
 Fondeth a man hardest. 
 Ther the lewed lith stille, 7785 
 
 And loketh after lente, [to shrifte, 
 And hath no contricion er he come 
 And thanne kan he litel telle, 
 But as his lores-man lereth hym 
 Bileveth and troweth ; [preest, 
 
 And that is after person or parissh 
 The whiche ben peraventure 
 Unkonnynge to lere lewed men. 
 As Luc bereth witnesse : 
 Dum ctecus duett cacum, etc. 
 
 " Wo was hym marked 7796
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 239 
 
 That wade moot witli tlie lewed ! 
 
 Wei may the barn blesse that man 
 
 That hj'm to book sette, 
 
 That lyvynge after lettrure 
 
 Saveth hym lif and soule. 
 
 Dominus pars hereditatis mece, 
 
 Is a murye verset, 
 
 That hath take fro Tybourne 
 
 Twenty stronge theves ; 
 
 Ther lewed theves ben lolled up, 
 
 Loke how thei be saved. 
 
 "Thethef thathadde grace of God 
 On Good-friday, as thow spekest, 
 "Was for he yald hym creaunt to 
 
 Crist on the cros, 
 And knewliched hym gilty, 
 And grace asked of God, 
 That to graunten it is redy 
 To hem that buxomliche biddeth it, 
 And ben in wille to amenden. 
 Ac though that theef hadde hevene, 
 He hadde noon heigh blisse, 
 As seint Johan and othere seintes 
 That deserved hadde bettre. 
 
 "Rightas som man yeve me mete, 
 And a-mydde the floor sette me. 
 And hadde mete moore than y- 
 
 nough, 
 Ac noght so muche worshipe 
 As tho that seten at the syde table, 
 Or with the sovereynes of the halle ; 
 But sete as a beggere bord-lees 
 By myself on the grounde. 
 So it fareth by that felon 7S28
 
 240 THE VISION OF 
 
 That a Good-friJay was saved. 7S29 
 
 He sit neither with seint Johan, 
 
 Symond ne Jude, 
 
 Ne with maydenes ne with martires, 
 
 Confessoui's ne wydewes ; 
 
 But by hymself as a soleyn, 
 
 And served on erthc. 
 
 For he that is ones a thef 
 
 Is evere moore in daunger, 
 
 And, as lawe liketh, 
 
 To lyve or to deye. 
 
 De peccato propiiiaio, noli esse sine 
 
 metu. 
 And for to serven a seint 
 And swich a thef togideres, 
 It were neither reson ne right 
 To rewarde hem bothe y-liche. 
 
 " And right as Trojanus tlie trewe 
 Dwelte noght depe in helle, [knyght 
 That oure Lord ne hadde hym lightly 
 So level the thef be in hevene. [out, 
 For he is in the loweste of hevene, 
 If oure bileve be trewe ; 78oi 
 
 And wel loselly he lolleth there, 
 Ey the lawe of holy chirche. 
 Qui reddit unicuique juxta opera 
 sua, etc. 
 
 " And why that oon theef on the 
 Creaunt hym yaJd [cros 
 
 Rather than that oother theef, 
 Though thow woldest appose, 
 Alle the clcrkcs under Crist 
 Ke kouthe the skile assoille. 
 Quare placuit, quia voluit. 7S62
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAX. 241 
 
 " And so I seye by thee 7S63 
 
 That sekest after the whyes, 
 And a-resonedest Reson 
 A rebukynge as it were ; 
 And of the flonres in the fryth, 
 And of hire faire hewes, 
 Wherof thei cacche hir colours 
 So clere and so brighte ; 
 And wiliest of briddesandof beestes, 
 And of hir bredyng, to knowe, 
 Why some be a-lough and some a- 
 Thi likyng it were ; [loft, 
 
 And of the stones and of the sterres 
 Thow studiest, as I leve ; 
 How evere beest outher brid 
 Hath so breme wittes. 
 
 " Clergie ne kynde wit 
 Ke knew uevere the cause ; 
 Ac kynde knoweth the cause hym- 
 And no creature ellis. [self, 
 
 He is the pies patron, 
 And putteth it in hir ere 
 There the thorn is thikkest 7SS5 
 To buylden and brede. 
 And kynde kenned the pecok 
 To cauken in swich a kynde ; 
 And kenned Adam 
 To knowe his pryv6 membres. 
 And taughte hym and Eve 
 To helien hem with leves. 
 
 " Lewed men many tymes 
 Maistres thei apposen, 
 Why Adam ne hiled noght first 
 His mouth that eet the appul, tssr
 
 242 THE VISION OF 
 
 Rather than his likame a-logh ; 
 Lewed askeu thus clerkes. 
 
 " Kynde knoweth whi he dide so, 
 Ac no clerk ellis, 
 Ac of briddes and of beestes 
 Men by olde tyme 
 Ensamples token and termes, 
 As telleth the poetes ; 
 And that the faireste fowel 
 Foulest engendreth, 
 And feblest fowel of flight is 
 That fleeth or swymmeth ; Toos 
 
 And that the pecok and the pehen 
 Proude riche men bitokneth ; 
 Forthe pecok, and men pursue hym, 
 ]May noght flee heighe. 
 For the trailynge of his tail 
 Overtaken is he soone, 
 And his flessh is foul flessh, 
 And his feet bothe. 
 And un-lovelich of ledene, 
 And looth for to here. 
 
 " Right so the riche, 7919 
 
 If he his richesse kepe, 
 And deleth itnoght tilhis deeth-daj', 
 The tail of alle sorwe 
 Riglit so as the pennes of the pecok 
 Peyneth hym in his flight. 
 So is possession peyne 
 Of pens and of nobles, 
 To alle hem that it holdeth, 
 Til hir tail be plukked. [thanne 
 
 " And thougli the riche repente 
 And bi-rewe the tyme 7930
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 243 
 
 That evere he gaderecl so grete, T93i 
 
 And gaf therof so litel ; 
 
 Though he crye to Crist thanne 
 
 With kene wil, I leva, 
 
 His ledene be in oure Lordes ere 
 
 Like a pies chiterj'ng. 
 
 And whan his caroyne shal come 
 
 In cave to be buryed, 
 
 I leve it flawme ful foule 
 
 The fold al aboute, 
 
 And alle the othere ther it lith 
 
 Envenymeth thorugh his attre. 
 
 " By the po feet is understande, 
 As I have lerned in Avynet, 
 Executours false frendes 
 That fulfille noght his wille 
 That was writen and thei witnesse 
 To werche right as it wolde. 
 Thus the poete preveth that the pecok 
 For hise fetheres is reverenced, 
 Right so is the riche 
 By reson of hise goodes, 
 
 " The larke, that is a lasse fowel, 
 Is moore lovelich of ledene, 
 And wel a wey of wynge 
 Swifter than the pecok, 
 And of flessh by fele fold 
 Fatter and swetter ; 
 To lowe libbynge men 
 The larke is resembled. 
 
 "Aristotle the grete clerk 
 Swiche tales he telleth. 
 Thus he likneth in his logik 
 The leeste fowel cute, 7964
 
 244 THE VISION OF 
 
 And wheither he be saaf or noght 
 The sothe woot no clergie, [saaf 
 Xe of Sortes ne of Salomon 
 No scripture kan telle. 
 Ac God is so good, I hope, 
 That siththe he gaf hem Avittes 
 To wissen us weyes therwith 
 That wissen us to be saved, 
 And the bettre for hir bokes 
 To bidden we ben holden, 
 That God for his grace 
 Gyve hir soules reste. 7976 
 
 For lettred men were le wed men yet, 
 Ne were loore of hir bokes." 
 
 " Alle thise clerkes," quod I tho, 
 " That in Crist leven, 
 Seyen in hir sermons 
 That neither Sarsens ne Jewes 
 Ne no creature of Cristes liknesse 
 Withouten cristendom worth saved." 
 
 " Contra,'" quod Ymaginatif thoo. 
 And conised for to loure ; 
 And seide " Salvahitiir 79S7 
 
 Vix Justus in die jmlicii 
 Ergo salcabitur," quod he, 
 And seide na-moore Latyn. 
 
 " Trojanus was a trewe knyght. 
 And took nevere Cristendom, 
 And he is saaf, so seith the book, 
 And his soule in hevene. 
 For ther is fuUynge of font. 
 And fullynge in blood shedyng, 
 And thorugli fir is fullyng, 
 And that is fermu bileve. .-ono
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 245 
 
 Advenit ignis divinus non comhu- 
 
 rens, sed illuminans, etc. 
 "Ac Truthe that trespased 
 
 nevere, 
 Ne traversed ayeins his lawe, 
 But lyveth as his lawe techeth, 
 And leveth ther be no bettre ; 
 And if ther were, he wolde amende, 
 Aiid in swich wills deieth, 
 Ne wolde nevere trewe god. 
 But truthe were allowed, [worth, 
 And wheither it be worth or noght 
 The bileve is gret of truthe, sow 
 And an hope hangynge therinne 
 To have a mede for his truthe. 
 For Deus dieitur quasi dans vitam 
 
 ceternam suis, hoc est fidelihus. 
 
 Et alibi: Si amhulavero in 
 
 medio iimbroe mortis. 
 " The glose graunteth upon that vers 
 A greet mede to Truthe, 
 And wit and wisdom," quod that wye, 
 " Was som tyme tresor 
 To kepe with a commune, 8021 
 
 No catel was holde bettre. 
 And mx;che murthe and manhod ; " 
 And right with that he vanysshed. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 Pas^us Decimtis Tertius, etc. 
 
 ^^^T'KD I avraked ther-with S025 
 Wj^^M ^^'i^l^ss ner-hande, 
 ^ 7^ v5 -^^ ^^ ^ freke that fre were 
 ^^^^^^ Fortli gan I Avalke 
 In manere of a mendinaunt 
 Many a yer after, 
 And of this metyng many tyme 
 Muche thought I hadde. 
 
 First how Fortune me failed 
 At my mooste nede ; 
 And how that Elde manaced me, 
 Myghte we evere mete ; 8036 
 
 And how that freres folwede 
 Folk that was riche. 
 And folk that was povere 
 At litel pris thei sette ; 
 And no corps in hir kirk-yerde 
 Kor in his kirk was buryed, 
 But quik he biquethe aught 
 To quyte with hir dettes ; 
 And how this Coveitise over-com 
 Clerkes and preestes ; 
 And how that lewed men ben lad, 
 But oure Lord hem helpe, 8048
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 247 
 
 Thorugli un-konnynge curatours, 
 To incurable peynes. 
 
 Aiid liow that Ymaginatif 
 In dremels me tolde 
 Of Kynde and of his konnynge, 
 And how curteis he is to bestes, 
 And how lovynge he is to briddes 
 On londe and on watre. 
 Leneth he no lif 
 Lasse ne nioore. 
 The creatures that crepen 
 Of kynde ben engendred. soeo 
 
 And sithen how Ymaginatif seide, 
 Vix scdvabitur ; 
 And whan he hadde seid so, 
 How sode}Tiliche he passed. 
 
 I lay doun longe in this thoght, 
 And at the laste I slepte. 
 And as Crist wolde, ther com Con- 
 To conforte me that tyme, [science 
 And bad me come to his court, 
 With Clergie sholde I djme ; 
 And for Conscience of Clergie spak, 
 I com wel the rather. 
 And there I seigh a maister, 
 "\^liat man he was I nyste. 
 That lowe louted 
 And loveliche to Scripture. 
 
 Conscience knew hym wel, 
 And welcomed hym faire. 
 Thei wesshen and wipeden, 
 And wenten to the dyner. 
 And Pacience in the paleis stood 
 In pilgrymes clothes, 8082
 
 248 THE VISION OF 
 
 And preyde mete jjar charite soss 
 For a povere heremyte. 
 
 Conscience called liym in, 
 And curteisliche seide, 
 " Welcome ! wye ; go and wasshe ; 
 Thow shalt sitte soone." 
 
 This maister was maad sitte, 
 As for the mooste worthi. 
 And thanne Clergie and Conscience 
 And Pacience cam after. 
 
 Pacience and I 
 "Were put to he macches, so94 
 
 And seten hi oureselve 
 At the side horde. 
 
 Conscience called after mete ; 
 And thanne cam Scripture, 
 And served hem thus soone 
 Of sondry metes manye. 
 Of Austyn, of Amhrose, 
 And of the foure Euvangelistes, 
 Edeniis et hihentis quce, apud eos 
 sunt. 
 
 Ac this maister nor his man sios 
 No maner flesshe eten ; 
 Ac thei eten mete of moore cost, 
 Mortrews and potages 
 Of that men mys-wonne 
 Thei made hem wel at ese. 
 Ac hir sauce was over sour, 
 And unsavourly grounde 
 In a morter 2^ost mortem 
 Of many a hitter peyne. 
 But if thei synge for tho soules. 
 And wepe salte teris. sue
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 249 
 
 Vos qui peccata hominum comediti's, 
 
 nisi pro eis lacrimas et ora- 
 
 tiones effunderitis, ea quce in 
 
 deliciis comeditis, in tor mentis 
 
 evometis. 
 Conscience ful curteisly tho 
 Comaunded Scripture 
 Bifore Pacience breed to brynge 
 And me that was his macche. 
 He sette a sour loof to-forn us, 
 And seide, " aglte pcenife7itiam." 
 " As longe," quod I, " as I ly ve, 
 And lycame may dure." 
 " Here is propre service," quod 
 
 Pacience, 
 " Ther fareth no prince bettre," 
 And thanne he broughte us forth 
 
 a mees of oother mete, 
 Of Miserere mei, Deus, [quorum, 
 And he broughte us of Beati 
 Of Beatus-virres makyng. 
 Et quorum tecta sunt peccata in a 
 
 disshe, \tihi. 
 
 Of derne shrifte Dixi et confitehor 
 " Bryng Pacience som pitaunce," 
 Pryveliche quod Conscience, 
 
 And thanne hadde Pacience a 
 
 pitaunce. 
 Pro hac orahlt ad te omnis sanctus 
 
 in tempore oportuno. 
 And Conscience conforted us. 
 And carped us murye tales. 
 Cor contritum et humiliatum Deus 
 
 nan despicies. su
 
 250 THE VISION OF 
 
 Pacience was iiroud su7 
 
 Of that propre service, 
 And made hym niurthe with his 
 Ac I momede evere, [mete ; 
 
 For this doctour on the heighe dees 
 Drank wyn so faste. 
 Vce voibis qui 'potentes estis ad hi- 
 
 hendum vinum ! 
 He eet manye sondry metes, 
 Mortrews and puddynges, 
 ^Vombe-cloutes and wilde brawen. 
 And egges y-fryed with grece. 
 
 Thanne seide I to myself so 
 Pacience it herde, 
 " It is noght fours dayes that this 
 Bifore the deen of Poules [freke 
 Preched of penaunces 
 That Poul the apostle suifrede, 
 hi fame et frigore 
 And flappes of scourges." 
 Ter ccesus sum, et a Jucleis qxdnquies 
 quadragenas, etc. 
 
 Ac o word thei over-huppen 
 At ech a tyme that thei preche, 
 That Poul in his Pistle 
 To al the peple tolde : 
 Perieulum est in fcdsis fratrihus. 
 
 Holi writ bit men be war, 
 I wol noght write it here 
 In EngUsshe, on aventure 
 It sholde be reherced to ofte, 
 And greve therwith goode men, 
 Ac gramariens shul redde. 
 Unusquisque a fratre se custodiat,
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 251 
 
 quia, ut dicitur, periculum est 
 
 in falsis fratrihus. 
 Ac I wiste nevere f reke that as a 
 
 frere yede 
 Bifore men on Englisshe 
 Taken it for his teme, 
 And telle it withouten glosyng. 
 They prechen that penaunce is 
 Profitable to the soule, 
 And what meschief and male em 
 Crist for man tholede. 
 
 " Ac this Goddes gloton," quod I, 
 " With hise grete chekes, 
 Hath no pit^ on us povere, 
 He perfourneth y vele ; 
 That he precheth he preveth noght," 
 To Pacience I tolde, 
 And wisshed f ul witterly, 
 With wille ful egre, 
 That disshes and doublers 
 Bifore this ilke doctour 
 Were molten leed in his mawe, 
 And Mahoun amyddes. 8202 
 
 " I shal jangle to this jurdan 
 With his juste wombe, 
 To telle me what penaunce is, 
 Of which he preched rather." 
 Pacience perceyved what I 
 
 thoughte, 
 And wynked on me to be stille, 
 And seide, " Thow shalt see thus 
 
 soone, 
 Whan he may na-moore, 
 He shal have a penaunce in his 
 paunche, «2n
 
 252 THE VISION OF 
 
 And puffe at ech a worde ; S2i2 
 
 And tlianne shuUen his guttes go- 
 
 And he shal galpen after. [thele, 
 
 For now he hath dronken so depe, 
 
 He wole devyne soone, 
 
 And preven it by hir Pocalips 
 
 And passion of seint Avereys, 
 
 That neither bacon ne braun, 
 
 Blancnianger ne mortrews, 
 
 Is neitlier fissh nor flesshe, 
 
 But fode for a penaunt [Trinity, 
 
 And tlianne shal he testifie of the 
 
 And take his felawe to witnesse, 
 
 "What he fond in a frayel, 
 
 After a f re res lyvyng ; 
 
 And but he first lyve be lesyng, 
 
 Leve me nevere after. 
 
 And thanne is tyme to take, 
 
 And to appose this doctour 
 
 Of Do-wel and Do-bet, 
 
 And if Do-wel be any penaunce." 
 
 And I sat stille, as Pacience seide, 
 And thus soone this doctour, *>234 
 As rody as a rose, 
 Rubbede hise chekes. 
 Coughed and carped ; 
 And Conscience hym herde, 
 And tolde hym of a Trinity, 
 And toward us he loked. [quotl I, 
 
 " What is Do-wel, sire doctour?" 
 "Is it any penaunce?" 
 
 " Do-wel," quod this doctour. 
 And took the cuppe and drank, 
 " Is do noon yvel to thyn evon- 
 cristen 8215
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 253 
 
 Nought by tin power." [quod I, 
 
 " By this day ! sire doctour," 
 " Thanne be ye noght in Do-wel ; 
 For ye han harmed us two, 
 In that ye eten the puddyng, 
 Mortrews and oother mete, 
 And we no morsel hadde. 
 And if ye fare so in youre fermerye, 
 Ferly me thynketh, 
 But cheestebether charity sholdebe. 
 And yonge children dorste pleyne, 
 I wolde permute my penaunce with 
 youre, 8257 
 
 For I am in point to Do-wel." 
 
 Thanne Conscience curteisly 
 A contenaunce made, 
 And preynte upon Pacience 
 To preie me to be stille ; 
 And seide hymself, " Sire doctour. 
 And it be youre wille. 
 What is Do-wel and Do-bet, 
 Ye dyvynours knoweth." 
 
 " Do-wel," quod this doctour, 
 " Do as clerkes techeth ; 
 And Do-bet is he that techeth, 
 And travailleth to teche othere ; 
 And Do-best doth hymself so, 
 As he seith and precheth." 
 Qui facit et docuerit, viagnus voca- 
 hitur in regno coelorum. 
 
 "Now thow, Clergie," quod Con- 
 "Carpest what is Do-wel. [science, 
 I have sevene sones," he seide, 
 " Serven in a castel, 827s
 
 254 THE VISION OF 
 
 Ther the lord of lif wonyeth, S279 
 
 To leren what is Do-wel ; 
 
 Til I se tho sevene 
 
 And mj'self acorde, 
 
 I am un-hardy," quod he, 
 
 "To any wight to preveu it. 
 
 For oon Piers the Plowman 
 
 Hath impugned ua alle, 
 
 And set alle sciences at a sope, 
 
 Save love one ; 
 
 And no text ne taketh 
 
 To mayntene his cause, 8290 
 
 But Dilige Deum, 
 
 And Domine quis liahitahit. 
 
 And seith that Do-wel and Do-het 
 
 Arn two infinites, 
 
 Whiche infinites, with a feith ! 
 
 Fynden out Do-best, 
 
 Which shal save mannes soule ; 
 
 Thus seith Piers the Plowman." 
 
 " I kan noght heron," quod Con- 
 " Ac I knowe wel Piers ; [science. 
 He wol noght ayein holy writ speken, 
 I dar wel undertake. 
 Thanne passe we over til Piers come. 
 And preve this in dede. 
 Pacience hath be in many jjlace, 
 And peraunter mouthed 
 That no clerk ne kan. 
 As Crist bereth witnesse : 
 Patientes vincunf, etc." [tho, 
 
 ' ' Ac youre preiere," quod Pacience 
 " So no man displese hym. 
 Disce" quo he, " 2>oc'e, b3i2
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 255 
 
 Dilige inimicos. ssis 
 
 Disce, and Do-wel ; 
 Dace, and Do-bet ; 
 Dilige, and Do-best ; 
 Thus tauglite me ones 
 A lemman that I lovede, 
 Love was hir name : [quod she, 
 '• With wordes and with werkes," 
 " And wil of thyn herte, 
 Thow love leelly thi soule 
 Al thi lif tyme, 
 And so thow lere the to lovye, 
 For oure Lordes love of hevene, 
 Thyn enemy in alle wise 
 Evene forth with thiselve. 
 Cast coles on his heed 
 Of alle kynde speche, 
 Bothe with werkes and with wordes 
 Fonda his love to wynne ; 
 And leye on him thus with love, 
 Til he laughe on the. 
 And but he bowe for this betyng, 
 Blynd mote he worthe. ssss 
 
 " Acfor to fare thus withthifrend, 
 Folie it were. 
 
 For he that loveth thee leelly, 
 Litel of thyne coveiteth. 
 Kynde love coveiteth noght 
 No catel but speche. 
 With halfe a laumpe lyne, 
 In Latyn, Ux vi transitionis, 
 I here therinne aboute 
 Faste y-bounde Do-wel, 
 In a signe of the Saterday S346
 
 256 THE VISION OF 
 
 That sette first the kalender, S347 
 And al the wit of the "Wednesday 
 Of the nexte wike after, 
 The myddel of the moone, 
 As the nyght of bothe, 
 And herwith am I welcome 
 Ther I have it with me, 
 
 " Undo it, lat this doctour deme 
 If Do-wel be therinne. 
 For, by hym that me made ! 
 Myghte nevere poverte 
 Misese ne meschief, 8358 
 
 Ne no man with his tonge, 
 Coold ne care, 
 Ke compaignye of theves, 
 Xe neither hete ne hayl, 
 Ne noon helle pouke, 
 Ne fuyr ne flood, 
 Ne feere of thyn enemy, 
 Tene thee any tyme. 
 And thow take it Avith the. 
 Caritas nihil timet, etc." 
 
 " It is but a dido," quod this doc- 
 " A disours tale ; [tour, 
 
 Al the wit of this world, 
 And wight mennes strengths, 
 Kan noght conformen a pees 
 Bitwene and hise enemys, 
 Ne bitwene two cristene kynges 
 Kan no wight pees make 
 Profitable to either peple ; " 
 And putte the table fro hym. 
 And took Clergie and Conscience 
 To conseil, as it were, ssso
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. Tol 
 
 That Pacience tliow most passe, 
 For pilgrymes konne wel lye." 
 
 Ac Conscience carped loude, 
 And curteisliclie seide, 
 " Frendes, fareth wel ; " 
 And faire spak to Clergie, 
 " For I wol go with this gome, 
 If God wol yeve me grace. 
 And be pilgrym with Pacience, 
 Til I have preved moore." 
 
 " What ! " quod Clergie to Con- 
 " Ar ye coveitous nouthe [science, 
 After yeres-geves, or giftes. 
 Or yernen to rede redels ? 
 I shal brynge yow a Bible, 
 A book of the olde lawe, 
 And lere yow, if yow like. 
 The leeste point to knowe, 
 That Pacience the pilgrym 
 Parfitly knew nevere." [science 
 
 " iSTay, by Crist ! " quod Con- 
 To Clergie, " God thee for-yelde ; 
 For al that Pacience me profreth 
 Proud am I litel. 
 Ac the wil of the wye, 
 And the wil of folk here, 
 Hath meved my mood 
 To moorne for my synnes. 
 The goode wil of a wight 
 Was nevere bought to the fuUe. 
 For ther nys no tresour, for sothe, 
 To a trewe wille. 
 
 " Hadde noght Maudeleyne 
 For a box of salve, [moore
 
 258 THE VISION OF 
 
 Than Zaclieus for he seide S4i5 
 
 Dimidnim honorum meorum do 
 
 paupmhus ? 
 And the poore widewe 
 For a peire of mytes, 
 Than alle tho that offrede 
 Into gazophilacium ? " 
 
 Thus curteisliche Conscience 
 Congeyed first the frere, 
 And sithen softeliche he seide 
 In Clergies ere, 
 
 " Me were levere, by oure Lord ! 
 And I lyve sholde, 
 Have pacienee perfitliche, 
 Than half thi pak of bokes." 
 
 Clergie of Conscience 
 No congie wolde take, 
 But seide ful sobreliche, 
 " Tho"w shalt se the tyme 
 ^Vhan thow art wery of-walked, 
 "Wille me to counseille." 
 
 "That is sooth," quod Con- 
 " So "iHe God helpe ! [science, 
 
 If Pacienee be oure partjTig felawe. 
 And pryve with us bothe, 
 Ther nys wo in this world 
 That we ne sholde amende. 
 And conformen kynges to pees, 
 And alle kynnes londes ; 
 Sarsens and Surr^, 
 And so forth alle the Jewes, 
 Turne into the trewe feith, 
 And intil oon bileve." 
 
 " That is sooth," quod Clergie,
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 259 
 
 " I se what tliow menest ; 8449 
 
 I shal dwelle as I do, 
 
 My devoir to shewe, 
 
 And confermen fauntekyns, 
 
 And oother folk y-lered, 
 
 Til Pacience have preved thee, 
 
 And parfit thee maked." 
 
 Conscience tho with Pacience 
 Pilgrymes as it were. [passed, 
 
 Thanne hadde Pacience, as pil- 
 In his poke vitailles, [grymes han, 
 Sobretee and symple speche, 846o 
 And soothfast bileve, 
 To conforte hym and Conscience, 
 If thei come in place 
 There un-kyndenesse and coveitise is, 
 Hungry contrees bothe. 
 
 And as the wente by the weye, 
 Of Do-wel thei carped ; 
 Thei mette with a mynstral, 
 As me tho thoughte. 
 Pacience apposed hym first. 
 And preyde he sholde hem telle 
 To Conscience what craft he kouthe, 
 And to M'liat con tree he wolde. 
 
 •' I am a mynstrall," quod that 
 " My name is Adiva-vita ; [man, 
 Al ydelnesse ich hatie, 
 For of actif is my name ; 
 A wafrer, wol ye wite. 
 And serve manye lordes, 
 And fewe robes I fonge, 
 Or furrede gownes. 
 Couthe I lye to do men laughs.
 
 260 THE VISION OF 
 
 Thanne lacchen I sholde S4S3 
 
 Outlier mantel or moueie 
 
 Amonges lordes or mynstrals. 
 
 Ac for I kan neither taboure ne 
 
 ^Xe telle no gestes, [trompe, 
 
 Farten ne fithelen 
 
 At festes, ne harpen, 
 
 Jape ne jogele, 
 
 Ne gentilliche pipe, 
 
 Xe neither saille ue saute, 
 
 Ne synge with the gyterne, 
 
 I have no goode giftes S494 
 
 Of thise grete lordes. 
 
 For no breed that I brynge forth, 
 
 Save a benyson on the Sonday 
 
 "Whan the preest preieth the peple 
 
 Hir pater-noster to bidde 
 
 For Piers the Plowman, 
 
 And that hym profit waiten ; 
 
 And that am I actif. 
 
 That ydelnesse hatie ; 
 
 For alle trewe travaillours 
 
 And tillers of the erthe, 8505 
 
 Fro Mighelmesse to Mighelmesse 
 
 I fjnide hem with ray wafres. 
 
 "Beggeris and bidderis 
 Of my breed craven, 
 Faitours and freres, 
 And folk with brode crounes, 
 I fynde payn for the pope, 
 And provendre for his palfrey ; 
 And I hadde nevere of hym, 
 Have God my trouthe ! 
 Neither provendre ne personage
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 261 
 
 Yet of popes gifte, ssir 
 
 Save a pardon with a peis of leed 
 
 And two polles amyddes. 
 
 Hadde ich a clerc that couthe write, 
 
 I wolde caste hym a bills, 
 
 That he sente me under his seel 
 
 A salve for the pestilence, 
 
 And that his blessynge and hise 
 
 Bocches myghte destruye. [bulles 
 
 In nomine meo dcemonia ejicient, et 
 
 super oegros manus imponent, et 
 
 bene liabebunt. 8528 
 
 " And thanne wolde I be prest to 
 
 Paast for to make, [the peple 
 
 And buxom and busy 
 
 Aboute breed and drynke 
 
 For hym and for alle hise, 
 
 Founde I that his pardon 
 
 Mighte lechen a man. 
 
 As I bileve it sholde. 
 
 For sith he hath the power 
 
 That Peter hymself hadde. 
 
 He hath the pot with the salve, 
 
 Soothly as me thynketh. 
 
 Argentum et aunim non est mild ; 
 
 quod autem haheo tihi do : iri 
 
 nomine Domini surge et am- 
 
 hula. 
 
 "Ac if myghtof myracle hym faille, 
 
 It is for men ben noght worthi 
 
 To have the grace of God, 
 
 And no gilt of pope. 
 
 For may no blessynge doon us boote, 
 
 But if we wile amende, 8550 
 
 VOL. L u
 
 2G2 THE VISION OF 
 
 Ke mannes masse make pees 8551 
 
 Among cristeue peple, 
 
 Til pride be pureliche for-do, 
 
 And thorugh payn defaute. 
 
 For er I have breed of mele, 
 
 Oft moot I swete ; [y-nough, 
 
 And er the commune have corn 
 
 Many a cold morwenyng. 
 
 So er my wafres be y-wroght, 
 
 Muche wo I tholye, 
 
 " At Londone, I leva, 
 Liketh wel my wafres ; 8562 
 
 And louren whan thei lakken hem. 
 It is noght long y-passed, 
 There was a careful commune, 
 Whan no cart com to towne 
 With breed fro Stratforde ; 
 Tho gonnen beggeris wepe, 
 And werkmen were agast a lite ; 
 This wole be thought longe. 
 In the date of oure Drighte, 
 In a drye Aprille, 
 A thousand and thre hundred S5V3 
 Twies twenty and ten, 
 My wafres there were gesene 
 Whan Chichestre was maire." 
 
 I took good kepe, by Crist ! 
 And Conscience bothe. 
 Of Haukyn the actif man. 
 And how he was y-clothed. 
 He hadde a cote of Cristendom, 
 As holy kirke bileveth ; 
 Ac it was moled in many places 
 With manye sondry plottes ; 8584
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 263 
 
 Of pride here a plot, 85S5 
 
 And there a plot of unbuxome speche, 
 
 Of scomyng and of scoffyng, 
 
 And of unskilful berynge, 
 
 As in apparaill and in porte 
 
 Proud anionges the peple, 
 
 Oother wise than he hym hath 
 
 With herte or sighte shewynge, 
 
 Hym willyng that alle men wende 
 
 He were that he is noght. 
 
 For-why he bosteth and braggeth 
 
 \Yith manye bolde othes, 8596 
 
 And inobedient to ben undemome 
 
 Of any lif lyvynge ; 
 
 And noon so singuler by hymself, 
 
 Ke so pomp holy, 
 
 Y-habited as an heremyte, 
 
 An ordre by hymselve, 
 
 Religion saunz rule 
 
 Or resonable obedience, 
 
 Lakkynge lettrede men 
 
 And lewed men bothe 
 
 In likynge of lele lif, sdOT 
 
 And a Here in soule, 
 
 "With inwit and with outwit 
 
 Ymagynen and studie, 
 
 As best for his body be 
 
 To have a badde name, 
 
 And entremetten hym over al 
 
 Ther he hath noght to doone, 
 
 "Willynge that men wende 
 
 His wit were the beste. [gomes, 
 
 And if he gyveth ought to povere 
 
 Telle what he deleth, ssis
 
 264 THE VISION OF 
 
 Povere of possession in purs sfiig 
 And in cofre bothe. 
 And as a lyoun on to loke, 
 And lordlich of speclie, 
 Boldest of beggeris, 
 A bostere that noght hath, 
 In towne and in tavernes 
 Tales to telle, [seigh, 
 
 And segge thyng that he nevere 
 And for sothe sweren it, 
 Of dedes that he nevere dide 
 Demen and bosten 8630 
 
 And of werkes that he wel dide 
 Witnesse, and siggen — 
 " Lo ! if ye leve me noght, 
 Or that I lye wenen, 
 Asketh at hym or at hym, 
 iVnd he yow kan telle 
 What I suffrede and seigh 
 And som tymes hadde, 
 And what I kouthe and knew, 
 And what kyn I com of." 
 Al he vvolde that men wiste S64i 
 Of werkes and of wordes 
 Which myghte plese the peple, 
 And preisen hymselve. 
 8i hominihiis placerem, Christi 
 servus non essem. Et alibi: 
 Nemo potest duobus dominis 
 servire. 
 ' ' By Crist ! " quod Conscience tho, 
 " Thi beste cote, Haukyn, 
 Hath manye moles and spottes, 
 It moste ben y-wasshe." 8652
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 2G5 
 
 " Ye, who so toke hede," quod 
 " Biliynde and bifore, [Haukyn, 
 What on bak and what on body half, 
 And by the two sydes, 
 Men sholde fynde manye frounces, 
 And manye foule plottes." 
 
 And he torned hyni as tyd, 
 And thanne took I hede, 
 It was fouler bi fele fold 
 Than it first semed. 
 It was bi-dropped with wrathe 
 And wikkede wille, S664 
 
 With envye and yvel speche, 
 Entisynge to fighte, 
 Liynge and laughynge. 
 And leva tonge to chide, 
 Al that he wiste wikked 
 By any wight tellen it. 
 And blame men bihynde hir bak, 
 And bidden hem meschaunce. 
 And that he wiste by Wille 
 Tellen it Watte, 
 
 And that Watte wiste S675 
 
 Wille wiste it after, 
 And make of frendes foes 
 Thorugh a fals tonge, 
 Or with myght or with mouth. 
 Or thorugh mennes strengthe 
 Avenge me fele tymes, 
 Other frete myselve 
 Withinne as a shepsteres shere, 
 Y-sherewed man and cursed, 
 Cujus maledidione os plenum est 
 et amaritudine, sub lingua ejus
 
 2G6 THE VISION OF 
 
 lahor et dolor. Et alibi : Filii 
 liomimim, denies eorum arma 
 et sagittce, et lingua eorum 
 gladitis acntus. 
 " Ther is no lif that me loveth 
 
 Lastynge any while ; 
 
 For tales that I telle, 
 
 ^0 man trusteth to me. 
 
 And whan I may noght have the 
 
 Swich malencolie 1 take, [maistrie, 
 
 That I cacche the crampe. 
 
 And the cardiacle som tyme, sess 
 
 Or an ague in swich an angre, 
 
 And som t}Tne a fevere 
 
 That taketh me al a twelve monthe, 
 
 Til that I despise 
 
 Lechecraft of oure Lord, 
 
 And leve on a wicche, 
 
 And seye that no clerc ne kan, 
 
 K"e Crist, as I leve, 
 
 To the soutere of Southwerk, 
 
 Or of Shordyche dame Emme ; 
 
 And seye that no Goddes word 
 
 Gaf me nevere boote, 
 
 But thorugh a charme hadde I 
 
 And my chief heele." [chaunce 
 I waitede wisloker. 
 
 And thanne was it soilled 
 
 "With likynge of lecherie, 
 
 As by lokynge of his eighe. 
 
 For ech a maide that he mette 
 
 He made hire a signe 
 
 Semynge to synne-warde, 
 
 And some tyme he gan taste 8720
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 267 
 
 Aboute the mouth, or bynethe 872i 
 
 Bigynneth to grope, 
 
 Til eitheres wille wexeth kene, 
 
 And to the werke yeden. 
 
 As wel in fastyngdayes andFridaies 
 
 As forboden nyghtes, 
 
 And as wel in Lente as out of Lente, 
 
 Alle tymes y-liche. 
 
 Swiche werkes with hem 
 
 Were nevere out of seson, 
 
 Til thei myghte na-moore ; 
 
 And thanne murye tales, s732 
 
 And how that lecchours lovye 
 
 Laughen and japen, 
 
 And of hir harlotrye and boredom 
 
 In hir elde tellen. 
 
 Thanne Pacience perceyved 
 Of pointes of tliis cote, 
 That were colomy thorugh coveitise 
 And unkynde desiryng ; 
 Moore to good than to God 
 The gome his love caste, 
 And ymagynede how 8743 
 
 He it myghte have 
 With false mesures and met, 
 And with fals witnesse ; 
 Lened for love of the wed. 
 And looth to do truthe ; 
 And awaited thorugh which 
 Wey to bigile. 
 
 And menged his marchaundise, 
 And made a good moustre ; 
 " The worste withinne was, 
 A greet wit I let it, 8754
 
 268 THE VISION OF 
 
 And if my negliebore hadde any 
 
 Or any beest ellis, [hyne. 
 
 Moore profitable than myn, 
 
 Manye sleightes I made 
 
 How I myghte have it, 
 
 Al my wit I caste. 
 
 And but I it hadde by oother wey, 
 
 At the laste I stale it ; 
 
 Or priveliche his purs shook, 
 
 And unpikede hise lokes ; 
 
 Or by nyghte or by daye 
 
 Aboute was ich evere, 87C6 
 
 Thorugh gile to gaderen 
 
 The good that ich have. 
 
 " If I yede to the plowgh, 
 I pynched so narwe, 
 That a foot lond or a forow 
 Fecchen I wolde 
 Of my nexte neghebore, 
 And nymen of his erthe. 
 And if I repe, over-reche, 
 Of yaf hem reed that ropen 
 To seise to me with hir sikel 8777 
 That I ne sew nevere. 
 
 "And who so borwed of me, 
 A-boughte the tyme 
 With presentes prively, 
 Or paide som certeyn ; 
 So he wolde or noght wolde, 
 Wynnen I wolde, 
 And bothe to kith and to kyn 
 Unkynde of that ich hadde. 
 
 ' ' And who so cheped my chaffare, 
 Chiden I wolde, S788
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 269 
 
 But he profrede to paie s789 
 
 A peny or tweyne 
 
 Moore than it was worth ; 
 
 And yet wolde I swere 
 
 That it coste me muche moore, 
 
 And swoor manye othes, 
 
 " On holy daies at holy chirche 
 "Whan ich herde masse, 
 Hadde I nevere wille, woot God, 
 Witterly to biseche 
 Mercy for my mysdedes. 
 That I ne moorned moore ssoo 
 
 Nor losse of good, leve me, 
 Than for my likames giltes. 
 As if I hadde dedly synne doon, 
 I dredde noght that so soore, 
 As when I lened, and leved it lost, 
 Or longe er it were paied. 
 So if I kidde any kyndenesse 
 Myn even cristen to helpe, 
 Upon a cruwel coveitise 
 IMyn herte gan hange. 
 
 "And if I sente over see ssii 
 My servanntz to Brugges, 
 Or into Pruce-lond my prentis, 
 My profit to waiten. 
 To marchaunden with moneie, 
 And maken hire eschaunges, 
 Mighte nevere me conforte. 
 In the mene while 
 Neither masse ne matynes, 
 No none maner sightes ; 
 Ne nevere penaunce perfournede, 
 Ne pater-noster seide, 8822
 
 270 THE VISION OF 
 
 That my mynde ne was moore 8S23 
 
 On my good in a doute, 
 
 Than in the grace of God, 
 
 And hise grete helpes. 
 
 Ubi thesaurus tuns, ibi et cor tuum. 
 
 " Whiche ben the braunches 
 That bryngen a man to sleuthe ? 
 He that moorneth noght for hise 
 Ne maketh no sorwe, [mysdedes, 
 And penaunce that the preest en- 
 Perfourneth yvele, [joyneth 
 
 Dooth noon ahnesse, sssi 
 
 Dred hym of no synne, 
 Lyveth ayein the bileve, 
 And no lawe holdeth, 
 Ech day is holy day with hym, 
 Or an heigh ferye ; 
 And, if he aught wole here. 
 It is an harlotes tonge. 
 "Whan men carpen of Crist, 
 Or of clennesse of soules, 
 He wexethwroth and wol noght here 
 But wordes of murthe ; sets 
 
 Penaunce of povere men. 
 And the passion of seintes, 
 He hateth to here therof. 
 And alle that it telleth. 
 Thise ben the braunches, beth war, 
 That bryngen a man to wanhope. 
 
 "Ye lordes and ladies. 
 And legates of holy chirche, 
 That fedeth fooles sages, 
 Flatereris and lieris, 
 And han likynge to lithen hem
 
 PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 271 
 
 To do yow to laughe, 8857 
 
 V<B vobis qui ridetis, etc. 
 And gyveth hem mete and mede, 
 And povere men refuse ; 
 In youre deeth deyinge, 
 I drede me ful soore 
 Lest tho thre manner men 
 To muche sorwe yow brynge. 
 Co7isentientes et agentes pari poena 
 punientur. 
 
 " Patriarkes and prophetes, 
 And prechours of Goddes wordes, 
 Saven tliorugh hir sermons 
 Mannes soule fro helle. 
 Right so flatereris and fooles 
 Am the fendes disciples 
 To entice men thorugh hir tales 
 To synne and to harlotrie. 
 Ac clerkes, that knowen holy writ, 
 Sholde kenne lordes 
 What David seith of swiche men, 
 As the Sauter telleth. 
 Non liabitahit in medio domus mece, 
 qui fadt superhiam, et qui 
 loquitur iniqua. 
 
 " Sholde noon harlot have au- 
 In halle nor in chambre, [dience 
 Ther wise men were, 
 Witnesseth Goddes wordes, 
 Ne no mys-proud man 
 Amonges lordes ben allowed. 
 
 "Ac flaterers and fooles 
 Thorugh hir foule wordes 
 Leden tho that loven hem ssoo
 
 272 THE VISION. 
 
 To Luciferis feste, ssoi 
 
 "With Tuijnloquio, a lady of sorwe, 
 
 And Luciferis fithele." 
 
 Thus Haukj'n the actif man 
 
 Hadde j'-soiled his cote, 
 
 Til Conscience acouped hym therof 
 
 In a curteis manere, 
 
 Why he ne hadde whasshen it, 
 
 Or -wiped it with a brusshe. S899 
 
 PRINTED BV BALLANTVNE, HANSON AND CO. 
 EDINBURGH AND LONDON.
 
 Pie 
 
 \a)7 
 
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