Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 17

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Passus xvijus/septimus decimus &c et .ijus./secundus de Dobet

W17.1 (KD17.1)I am Spes quod he Aspie/A spie · and spire after a Knyght
W17.2 (KD17.2) That took me a maundement · vp-on þe mount of Synay
W17.3 (KD17.3) To rule alle Reames wiþ · I bere þe writ here

W17.4 (KD17.4) Is it enseled I seide · may men see þi lettres

W17.5 (KD17.5) Nay he seide seke887 hym · þat haþ þe seel to kepe
W17.6 (KD17.6) And þat is cros and cristendom · and crist þer-on to honge
W17.7 (KD17.7) And whan it is enseled so · I woot wel þe soþe
W17.8 (KD17.8) That Luciferis lordshipe · laste shal no lenger

W17.9 (KD17.10) Lat se þi lettres quod I · we myghte þe lawe knowe

W17.10 (KD17.11) Thanne plukkede he forþ a patente · a pece of an hard roche
W17.11 (KD17.12) Wher-on were writen two wordes · on þis wise yglosed
W17.12 (KD17.13)Dilige deum & proximum tuum

W17.13 (KD17.14) This was þe tixte trewely · I took ful good yeme
W17.14 (KD17.15) The glose was gloriously writen · wiþ a gilt penne
W17.15 (KD17.16)In hijs duobus mandatis · tota lex pendet & prophetia

W17.16 (KD17.17) Ben here alle þi lordes lawes quod I · ye leue me wel he seide
W17.17 (KD17.18) And who-so wercheþ after þis writ · I wol vndertaken
W17.18 (KD17.19) Shal neuere deuel hym dere · ne deeþ in soule greue
W17.19 (KD17.20) For þouȝ I seye it my-self · I haue saued with þis charme
W17.20 (KD17.21) Of men and of wommen · many score þousand888

W17.21 (KD17.22) Ye seien sooþ seide þis heraud · I haue yfounde it ofte
W17.22 (KD17.23) Lo here in my lappe · þat leeued on þat charme
W17.23 (KD17.24) Iosue and Iudith · and Iudas Macabeus
W17.24 (KD17.25) Ye and sixti þousand biside forþ · þat ben noȝt seyen here

W17.25 (KD17.26) Youre wordes arn wonderfulle quod I þo · which of yow is trewest889(c)
W17.26 (KD17.27) And lelest to leue so · for lif and for soule
W17.27 (KD17.28) Abraham seiþ · þat he seiȝ hoolly þe Trinite
W17.28 (KD17.29) Thre persones in parcelles · departable fro ooþer
W17.29 (KD17.30) And alle þre but o god · þus Abraham me tauȝte
W17.30 (KD17.31) And haþ saued þat bileued so · and sory for hir synnes
W17.31 (KD17.32) He kan noȝt siggen þe somme · and some arn in his lappe
W17.32 (KD17.33) What neded it þanne · a newe lawe to bigynne
W17.33 (KD17.34) Siþ þe firste suffiseþ · to sauacion and to blisse
W17.34 (KD17.35) And now comeþ Spes and spekeþ · þat aspied þe lawe
W17.35 (KD17.36) And telleþ noȝt of þe Trinite · þat took hym hise lettres
W17.36 (KD17.37) To bileeue and louye · in o lord al-myghty
W17.37 (KD17.38) And siþþe riȝt as my-self · so louye alle peple

W17.38 (KD17.39) The gome þat gooþ wiþ o staf · he semeþ in gretter heele
W17.39 (KD17.40) Than he þat gooþ wiþ two staues · to sighte of vs alle

W17.40 (KD17.41) And riȝt so bi þe roode · Reson me sheweþ
W17.41 (KD17.42) That890 it is lighter to lewed men · o lesson to knowe
W17.42 (KD17.43) Than for to techen hem two · and to hard to lerne þe leeste
W17.43 (KD17.44) It is ful hard for any man · on Abraham bileue
W17.44 (KD17.45) And wel awey worse ȝit · for to loue a sherewe
W17.45 (KD17.46) It is lighter to leeue · in þre louely persones
W17.46 (KD17.47) Than for to louye and lene891 · as wel lorels as lele

W17.47 (KD17.48) Go þi gate quod I to Spes · so me god helpe
W17.48 (KD17.49) Tho þat lernen þi lawe · wol litel while vsen it
W17.49 (KD17.50) And as we wenten þus in þe wey · wordynge togideres
W17.50 (KD17.51) Thanne seiȝe we a Samaritan · sittynge on a Mule
W17.51 (KD17.52) Ridynge ful rapely · þe righte wey we yeden
W17.52 (KD17.53) Comynge from a contree · þat men called Ierico
W17.53 (KD17.54) To a Iustes in Ierusalem · he chaced awey faste
W17.54 (KD17.55) Boþe þe heraud and hope · and he892(c) mette atones/at ones
W17.55 (KD17.56) Where a man was wounded · and wiþ þeues taken
W17.56 (KD17.57) He myȝte neiþer steppe ne stande · ne stere foot ne handes
W17.57 (KD17.58) Ne helpe hym-self sooþly · for semyvif he semed
W17.58 (KD17.59) And as naked as a nedle · and noon help aboute hym

W17.59 (KD17.60) Feiþ hadde first siȝte of hym · ac he fleiȝ aside
W17.60 (KD17.61) And nolde noȝt neghen hym · by nyne londes lengþe

W17.61 (KD17.62) Hope cam hippynge after · þat hadde so ybosted
W17.62 (KD17.63) How he wiþ Moyses maundement · hadde many men yholpe
W17.63 (KD17.64) Ac whan he hadde sighte of þat segge · aside he gan hym drawe
W17.64 (KD17.65) Dredfully bi þis day · as doke dooþ fram þe faucon

W17.65 (KD17.66) Ac so soone so þe Samaritan · hadde siȝte of þis leode
W17.66 (KD17.67) He lighte adown of Lyard · and ladde hym in his hande

W17.67 (KD17.68) And to þe wye he wente · hise woundes to biholde
W17.68 (KD17.69) And parceyued bi his pous · he was in peril to dye
W17.69 (KD17.70) And but he hadde recouerer þe rapelier893 · þat rise sholde he neuere
W17.70 (KD17.72) Wiþ wyn and with oille · hise woundes he wasshed
W17.71 (KD17.73) Enbawmed hym and bond his heed · and in his lappe hym leide
W17.72 (KD17.74) And ladde hym so forþ on Lyard · to lex Christi a graunge
W17.73 (KD17.75) Wel sixe Mile or seuene · biside þe newe Market
W17.74 (KD17.76) Herberwed hym at an hostrie · and to þe hostiler called
W17.75 (KD17.77) And seide haue kepe þis man · til I come fro þe Iustes
W17.76 (KD17.78) And lo here siluer he seide · for salue to hise woundes
W17.77 (KD17.79) And he took hym two pens · to liflode as it weere
W17.78 (KD17.80) And seide what he spendeþ moore · I make þee good her-after
W17.79 (KD17.81) For I may noȝt lette quod þat Leode · and lyard he bistrideþ
W17.80 (KD17.82) And raped hym to Ierusalemward · þe riȝte wey to ryde

W17.81 (KD17.83) Feiþ folwede after faste · and fondede to mete hym
W17.82 (KD17.84) And Spes spakliche hym spedde · spede if he myȝte
W17.83 (KD17.85) To ouer-taken hym and talke to hym · er þei to towne coome

W17.84 (KD17.86) And whan I seiȝ þis I soiourned noȝt · but shoop me to renne
W17.85 (KD17.87) And suwed þat Samaritan · þat was so ful of pite
W17.86 (KD17.88) And graunted hym to ben his groom · graunt mercy he seide
W17.87 (KD17.89) Ac þi frend and þi felawe quod he · þow fyndest me at nede

W17.88 (KD17.90) And I þanked hym þo · and siþþe I hym tolde
W17.89 (KD17.91) How þat feiþ fleiȝ awey · and Spes his felawe boþe
W17.90 (KD17.92) For sighte of þat sorweful man · þat robbed was with þeues

W17.91 (KD17.93) Haue hem excused quod he · hir help may litel auaille
W17.92 (KD17.94) May no medicyne on molde · þe man to heele brynge
W17.93 (KD17.95) Neiþer Feiþ ne fyn hope · so festred be hise woundes
W17.94 (KD17.96) Wiþ-outen þe blood of a barn · born of a mayde
W17.95 (KD17.97) And be he baþed in þat blood · baptised as it were
W17.96 (KD17.98) And þanne plastred wiþ penaunce · and passion of þat baby

W17.97 (KD17.99) He sholde stonde and steppe · ac stalworþe worþ he neuere
W17.98 (KD17.100) Til he haue eten al þe barn · and his blood ydronke
W17.99 (KD17.101) For wente neuere wye in þis world · þoruȝ þat wildernesse
W17.100 (KD17.102) That he ne was robbed or rifled · rood he þere or yede
W17.101 (KD17.103) Saue feiþ and his felawe · Spes and my-selue
W17.102 (KD17.104) And þi-self now · and swiche as suwen oure werkes

W17.103 (KD17.105) For Outlawes in þe wode · and vnder bank lotieþ
W17.104 (KD17.106) And mowen ech man see · and good mark take
W17.105 (KD17.107) Who is bihynde and who bifore · and who ben on horse
W17.106 (KD17.108) For he halt hym hardier on horse · þan he þat is foote/[on] foote894
W17.107 (KD17.109) For he seigh me þat am Samaritan · suwen Feiþ & his felawe
W17.108 (KD17.110) On my Capul þat highte caro · of mankynde I took it
W17.109 (KD17.111) He was vnhardy þat harlot · and hidde hym inInferno
W17.110 (KD17.112) Ac er þis day þre daies · I dar vnder-taken
W17.111 (KD17.113) That he worþ fettred þat feloun · faste wiþ Cheynes
W17.112 (KD17.114) And neuere eft greue gome · þat gooþ þis ilke gate

W17.113 (KD17.115) And þanne shal Feiþ be forster here · and in þis Fryth walke
W17.114 (KD17.116) And kennen out comune men · þat knowen noȝt þe contree
W17.115 (KD17.117) Which is þe wey þat I wente · and wher forþ to Ierusalem
W17.116 (KD17.118) And Hope þe Hostilers man shal be · þer þe man lith anhelyng/an helyng
W17.117 (KD17.119) And alle þat feble and feynte be · þat Feiþ may noȝt teche
W17.118 (KD17.120) Hope shal lede hem forþ with loue · as his lettre telleþ
W17.119 (KD17.121) And hostele hem and heele · þoruȝ holy chirche bileue
W17.120 (KD17.122) Til I haue salue for alle sike · and þanne shal I turne
W17.121 (KD17.123) And come ayein bi þis contree · and conforten alle sike
W17.122 (KD17.124) That craueþ it and coueiteþ it · or crieþ895 þer-after
W17.123 (KD17.125) For þe barn was born in Bethleem · þat with his blood shal saue
W17.124 (KD17.126) Alle þat lyuen in Feiþ · and folwen his felawes techynge

W17.125 (KD17.127) A swete sire I seide þo · wher I shal bileue
W17.126 (KD17.128) As Feiþ and his felawe · enformed me boþe
W17.127 (KD17.129) In þre persones departable · þat perpetuele were euere

fol.104r

W17.128 (KD17.130) And alle þre but o god · þus Abraham me tauȝte
W17.129 (KD17.131) And Hope afterward · he bad me to louye
W17.130 (KD17.132) O god wiþ al my good · and alle gomes after
W17.131 (KD17.133) Louye hem lik my-selue · ac oure lord abouen alle

W17.132 (KD17.134) After Abraham quod he · þat heraud of armes
W17.133 (KD17.135) Sette fully þi feiþ · and ferme bileue
W17.134 (KD17.136) And as hope highte þee · I hote þat þow louye
W17.135 (KD17.137) Thyn euenecristene euere-moore · euene-forþ with þi-selue
W17.136 (KD17.138) And if Conscience carpe þer-ayein · or kynde wit eyþer
W17.137 (KD17.139) Or Eretikes wiþ argumentz · þyn hond þow hem shewe
W17.138 (KD17.140) For god is after an hand · yheer now and knowe it

W17.139 (KD17.141) The fader was first as a fust · wiþ o fynger foldynge
W17.140 (KD17.142) Til hym louede and liste · to vnlosen his fynger
W17.141 (KD17.143) And profre it forþ as with a pawme · to what place it sholde

W17.142 (KD17.144) The pawme is purely þe hand · and profreþ forþ þe fyngres
W17.143 (KD17.145) To ministren and to make · þat myȝt of hand knoweþ
W17.144 (KD17.146) And bitokneþ trewely · telle who-so likeþ
W17.145 (KD17.147) The holy goost of heuene · he is as þe pawme

W17.146 (KD17.148) The fyngres þat fre ben · to folde and to serue
W17.147 (KD17.149) Bitoknen sooþly þe sone · þat sent was til erþe
W17.148 (KD17.150) That touched and tastede · at techynge of þe pawme
W17.149 (KD17.151) Seinte Marie a mayde · and mankynde lauȝte
W17.150 (KD17.151α)Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto &c

W17.151 (KD17.152) The fader is pawme896 as a fust · wiþ fynger to touche
W17.152 (KD17.152α)Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum &c
W17.153 (KD17.153) Al þat þe pawme parceyueþ · profitable to feele

W17.154 (KD17.154) Thus are þei alle but oon · as it an hand weere

W17.155 (KD17.155) And þre sondry sightes · in oon shewynge

W17.156 (KD17.156) The paume for it putteþ forþ fyngres · and þe fust boþe
W17.157 (KD17.157) Right so redily · Reson it sheweth
W17.158 (KD17.158) How he þat is holy goost · sire and sone preueþ

W17.159 (KD17.159) And as þe hand halt harde · and alle þyng faste
W17.160 (KD17.160) Thoruȝ foure fyngres and a thombe · forþ with þe pawme
W17.161 (KD17.161) Right so þe fader and þe sone · and Seint Spirit þe þridde
W17.162 (KD17.162) Al þe wide world · wiþ-Inne hem þre holden897
W17.163 (KD17.163) Boþe wolkne and þe wynd · water and erþe
W17.164 (KD17.164) Heuene and helle · and al þat is þer-Inne

W17.165 (KD17.165) Thus it is / nedeþ no man · trowe noon ooþer
W17.166 (KD17.166) That þre þynges bilongeþ · in oure lord of heuene
W17.167 (KD17.167) And aren serelopes by hem-self · a-sondry were þei neuere
W17.168 (KD17.168) Namoore þan myn hand may · meue wiþ-oute my fyngres

W17.169 (KD17.169) And as my fust is ful hand · yholden898 togideres
W17.170 (KD17.170) So is þe fader a ful god · formour and shappere
W17.171 (KD17.170α)Tu fabricator omnium &c
W17.172 (KD17.171) And al þe myȝt myd hym is · in makynge of þynges
W17.173 (KD17.172) The fyngres formen a ful hand · to portreye or peynten
W17.174 (KD17.173) Keruynge and compasynge · as craft of þe fyngres

W17.175 (KD17.174) Right so is þe sone · þe Science of þe fader
W17.176 (KD17.175) And ful god as is þe fader · no febler ne no bettre

W17.177 (KD17.176) The pawme is pureliche þe hand · and haþ power by hym-selue
W17.178 (KD17.177) Oþer-wise þan þe wriþen fust · or werkmanshipe of fyngres
W17.179 (KD17.178) For he haþ power · to putte out alle þe ioyntes
W17.180 (KD17.179,181) And to vnfolde þe folden fust · at þe fyngres wille

W17.181 (KD17.182) So is þe holy goost god · neiþer gretter ne lasse

Than is þe sire ·
W17.182 (KD17.183) Than is þe sire and þe sone · and in þe same myghte
W17.183 (KD17.184) And alle are þei but o god · as is myn hand and my fyngres
W17.184 (KD17.185) Vnfolden or folden · my fust and my pawme
W17.185 (KD17.186-187) Al is but an hand · euene in þe myddes
W17.186 (KD17.188) He may receyue riȝt noȝt · reson it sheweþ
W17.187 (KD17.189) For þe fyngres þat folde sholde · and þe fust make
W17.188 (KD17.190) For peyne of þe pawme · power hem failleþ
W17.189 (KD17.191) To clucche or to clawe · to clippe or to holde

W17.190 (KD17.192) Were þe myddel of myn hand · ymaymed or yperissed
W17.191 (KD17.193) I sholde receyue riȝt noȝt · of þat I reche myghte

W17.192 (KD17.194) Ac þouȝ my þombe and my fyngres · boþe were to-shullen
W17.193 (KD17.195) And þe myddel of myn hand · wiþ-oute male-ese
W17.194 (KD17.196) In many kynnes maneres · I myghte my-self helpe
W17.195 (KD17.197) Boþe meue and amende · þouȝ alle my fyngres oke

W17.196 (KD17.198) By þis skile me þynkeþ · I se an euidence
W17.197 (KD17.199) That who-so synneþ in þe Seint Spirit · assoilled worþ he neuere
W17.198 (KD17.200) Neiþer here ne ellis-where · as I herde telle
W17.199 (KD17.200α)Qui peccat in Spiritu Sancto &c
W17.200 (KD17.201) For he prikeþ god as in þe pawme · þat peccat in Spiritu Sancto
W17.201 (KD17.202) For god þe fader is as a fust · þe sone is as a fynger
W17.202 (KD17.203) The holy goost of heuene · is as it were þe pawme
W17.203 (KD17.204) So who-so synneþ in þe Seint Spirit · it semeþ þat he greueþ
W17.204 (KD17.205) God þat he grypeþ wiþ · and wolde his grace quenche

W17.205 (KD17.206) And to a torche or a tapur · þe Trinite is likned
W17.206 (KD17.207) As wex and a weke · were twyned to-gideres
W17.207 (KD17.208) And þanne a fir flawmynge · forþ out of boþe
W17.208 (KD17.209) And as wex and weke · and hoot fir togideres
W17.209 (KD17.210) Fostren forþ a flawmbe · and a fair leye
W17.210 (KD17.212) So dooþ þe Sire and þe sone · and also Spiritus Sanctus899
W17.211 (KD17.214) That alle kynne cristene · clenseþ of synnes

W17.212 (KD17.215) And as þow seest som-tyme · sodeynliche a torche
W17.213 (KD17.216) The blase þer-of yblowe out · yet brenneþ þe weke
W17.214 (KD17.217) Wiþ-outen leye or light · þat þe macche brenneþ

W17.215 (KD17.218) So is holy900 goost god · and grace wiþ-oute mercy
W17.216 (KD17.219) To alle vnkynde creatures · þat coueite to destruye
W17.217 (KD17.220) Lele loue or lif · þat oure lord shapte

W17.218 (KD17.221) And as glowynge gledes · gladeþ noȝt þise werkmen
W17.219 (KD17.222) That werchen and waken · in wyntres nyȝtes
W17.220 (KD17.223) As dooþ a kex or a candle · þat caught haþ fir and blaseþ
W17.221 (KD17.224) Namoore dooþ sire ne sone · ne seint spirit togidres
W17.222 (KD17.225) Graunte no grace · ne forȝifnesse of synnes
W17.223 (KD17.226) Til þe holy goost gynne · to glowe and to blase
W17.224 (KD17.227) So þat þe holy goost · gloweþ but as a glade/gl[e]de901
W17.225 (KD17.228) Til þat lele loue · ligge on hym and blowe
W17.226 (KD17.229) And þanne flawmeþ he as fir · on fader and on filius
W17.227 (KD17.230) And melteþ hire myȝt in-to mercy · as men may se in wyntre
W17.228 (KD17.231) Ysekeles in euesynges · þoruȝ hete of þe sonne
W17.229 (KD17.232) Melte in a Mynut while · to myst and to watre

W17.230 (KD17.233) So grace of þe holy goost · þe grete myȝt of þe Trinite
W17.231 (KD17.234) Melteþ to mercy · to merciable and to oþere
W17.232 (KD17.235) And as wex wiþ-outen moore · on a warm glede
W17.233 (KD17.236) Wol brennen and blasen · be þei togideres
W17.234 (KD17.237) And solacen hem þat mowe se · þat sitten in derknesse

W17.235 (KD17.238) So wol þe fader forȝyue · folk of mylde hertes
W17.236 (KD17.239) That rufully repenten · and restitucion make
W17.237 (KD17.240) In as muche as þei mowen · amenden and paien
W17.238 (KD17.241) And if it suffise noȝt for assetz · þat in swich a wille deyeþ
W17.239 (KD17.242) Mercy for his mekenesse · wol maken good þe remenaunt
W17.240 (KD17.243) And as þe weke and fir · wol maken a warm flaumbe
W17.241 (KD17.244) For to murþen men myd · þat in þe derke sitten

W17.242 (KD17.245) So wole crist of his curteisie · and men crye hym mercy
W17.243 (KD17.246) Boþe forȝyue and foryete · and ȝit bidde for vs
W17.244 (KD17.247) To þe fader of heuene · forȝifnesse to haue

W17.245 (KD17.248) Ac hewe fir at a flynt · foure hundred wynter
W17.246 (KD17.249) But þow haue tow to take it wiþ · tonder or broches
W17.247 (KD17.250) Al þi labour is lost · and al þi long trauaille
W17.248 (KD17.251) For may no fir flaumbe make · faille it is902 kynde

W17.249 (KD17.252) So is þe holi goost god · and grace wiþ-outen mercy
W17.250 (KD17.253) To alle vnkynde creatures · crist hym-self witnesseþ
W17.251 (KD17.253α)Amen dico vobis nescio vos &c

W17.252 (KD17.254) Be vnkynde to þyn euene-cristene · and al þat þow kanst bidde
W17.253 (KD17.255) Delen and do penaunce · day and nyght euere
W17.254 (KD17.256) And purchace al þe pardon · of Pampilon and Rome
W17.255 (KD17.257) And Indulgences ynowe · and be ingratus to þi kynde
W17.256 (KD17.258) The Holy goost hereþ þee noȝt . ne helpe may þee by reson
W17.257 (KD17.259) For vnkyndenesse quencheþ hym · þat he kan noȝt shyne
W17.258 (KD17.260) Ne brenne ne blase clere · fo/fo[r]903 blowynge of vnkyndenesse
W17.259 (KD17.261) Poul þe Apostel · preueþ wheiþer I lye
W17.260 (KD17.261α)Si linguis hominum loquar &c

W17.261 (KD17.262) For-þi beþ war ye wise men · þat wiþ þe world deleþ
W17.262 (KD17.263) That riche ben and reson knoweþ · ruleþ wel youre soule
W17.263 (KD17.264) Beþ noȝt vnkynde I conseille yow · to youre euene-cristene
W17.264 (KD17.265) For manye of yow riche men · by my soule men telleþ
W17.265 (KD17.266) Ye brenne but ye blase noȝt · þat is a blynd bekene
W17.266 (KD17.266α)Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit &c

W17.267 (KD17.268) Diues deyde dampned · for his vnkyndenesse
W17.268 (KD17.269) Of his mete and of his moneie · to men þat it nedede
W17.269 (KD17.270) Ech a riche I rede · reward at hym take
W17.270 (KD17.271) And gyueþ youre good to þat god · þat grace of ariseþ

W17.271 (KD17.272) For þei þat ben vnkynde to hise · hope I noon ooþer
W17.272 (KD17.273) But þei dwelle þer diues is · dayes wiþ-outen ende

W17.273 (KD17.274) Thus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie · þat quencheþ as it were
W17.274 (KD17.275) The grace of þe holy goost · goddes owene kynde
W17.275 (KD17.276) For þat kynde dooþ vnkynde for-dooþ · as þise corsede þeues
W17.276 (KD17.277) Vnkynde cristene men · for coueitise and enuye
W17.277 (KD17.278) Sleeþ a man for hise moebles · wiþ mouþ or with handes
W17.278 (KD17.279) For þat þe holy goost haþ to kepe · þe harlotes destruyeþ
W17.279 (KD17.280) The which is lif and loue · þe leye of mannes body
W17.280 (KD17.281) For euery manere good may b/[·] be likned to a torche
W17.281 (KD17.282) Or ellis to a tapur · to reuerence þe Trinite
W17.282 (KD17.283) And who morþereþ a good man · me þynkeþ by myn Inwit
W17.283 (KD17.284) He fordooþ þe leuest light · þat oure lord louyeþ

W17.284 (KD17.285) And yet in manye mo maneres · men offenden þe holy goost
W17.285 (KD17.286) Ac þis is þe worste wise · þat any wight myghte
W17.286 (KD17.287) Synnen ayein þe Seint Spirit · assenten to destruye
W17.287 (KD17.288) For coueitise of any kynnes þyng · þat crist deere bouȝte
W17.288 (KD17.290) That wikkedliche and wilfulliche · wolde mercy aniente

W17.289 (KD17.291) Innocence is next god · and nyght and day it crieþ
W17.290 (KD17.292) Vengeaunce vengeaunce · forȝyue be it neuere
W17.291 (KD17.293) That shente vs and shedde oure blood · for-shapte vs as it were
W17.292 (KD17.293α)Vindica sanguinem iustorum

W17.293 (KD17.294) Thus vengeaunce vengeaunce · verrey charite askeþ
W17.294 (KD17.295) And siþ holy chirche and charite · chargeþ þis so soore
W17.295 (KD17.296-297) Leue I neuere þat oure lord · wol loue þat charite lakkeþ
W17.296 (KD17.298) Ne haue pite for any preiere · þer þat he pleyneþ

W17.297 (KD17.299) I pose I hadde synned so · and sholde now deye
W17.298 (KD17.300)And now am I sory þat I so · þe Seint Spirit agulte
W17.299 (KD17.301) Confesse me and crye his grace · god þat al made

W17.300 (KD17.302)And myldeliche his mercy aske · myghte I noȝt be saued

W17.301 (KD17.303) Ȝis seide þe Samaritan · so wel þow myght repente
W17.302 (KD17.304) That rightwisnesse þoruȝ repentaunce · to ruþe myȝte turne
W17.303 (KD17.305) Ac it is but selden yseiȝe · þer sooþnesse bereþ witnesse
W17.304 (KD17.306) Any creature þat is coupable · afore a kynges Iustice
W17.305 (KD17.307) Be raunsoned for his repentaunce · þer alle reson hym dampneþ
W17.306 (KD17.308) For þer þat partie pursueþ · þe peple is so huge
W17.307 (KD17.309) That þe kyng may do no mercy · til boþe men acorde
W17.308 (KD17.310) And eyþer haue equyte · as holy writ telleþ
W17.309 (KD17.310α)Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c

W17.310 (KD17.311) Thus it fareþ by swich folk · þat falsly al hire lyues
W17.311 (KD17.312) Yuele lyuen and leten noȝt · til lif hem forsake
W17.312 (KD17.315) Good hope þat helpe sholde · to wanhope torneþ
W17.313 (KD17.316) Noght of þe noun-power of god · þat he ne is myghtful
W17.314 (KD17.317) To amende al þat amys is · and his mercy gretter
W17.315 (KD17.318) Than alle oure wikkede werkes · as holy writ telleþ
W17.316 (KD17.318α)Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius
W17.317 (KD17.319) Ac er his rightwisnesse to ruþe torne · som restitucion bihoueþ
W17.318 (KD17.320) His sorwe is satisfaccion · for hym þat may noȝt paie

W17.319 (KD17.321) Thre þynges þer ben · þat doon a man by strengþe
W17.320 (KD17.322) For to fleen his owene904 · as holy writ sheweþ

W17.321 (KD17.323) That oon is a wikkede wif · þat wol noȝt be chastised
W17.322 (KD17.324) Hir feere fleeþ fro hire · for feere of hir tonge

W17.323 (KD17.325) And if his hous be vnhiled · and reyne on his bedde
W17.324 (KD17.326) He sekeþ and sekeþ · til he slepe drye

W17.325 (KD17.327) And whan smoke and smolder · smyt in his sighte
W17.326 (KD17.328) It dooþ hym worse þan his wif · or wete to slepe
W17.327 (KD17.329) For smoke and smolder · smyteþ in hise eighen

W17.328 (KD17.330) Til he be blereighed or blynd · and hoors in þe þrote
W17.329 (KD17.331) Cogheþ and curseþ · þat crist gyue hem sorwe
W17.330 (KD17.332) That sholde brynge in bettre wode · or blowe it til it brende

W17.331 (KD17.333) Thise þre þat I telle of · ben þus to vnderstonde
W17.332 (KD17.334) The wif is oure wikked flessh · þat wol noȝt be chastised
W17.333 (KD17.335) For kynde clyueþ on hym euere · to contrarie þe soule
W17.334 (KD17.336) And þouȝ it falle it fynt skiles · þat frelete it made
W17.335 (KD17.337) And þat is lightly forȝyuen · and forȝeten boþe
W17.336 (KD17.338) To man þat mercy askeþ · and amende þenkeþ

W17.337 (KD17.339) The reyn þat reyneþ · þer we reste sholde
W17.338 (KD17.340) Ben siknesse and sorwes · þat we suffren ofte
W17.339 (KD17.341) As Poul þe Apostle · to þe peple tauȝte
W17.340 (KD17.341α)Virtus in infirmitate perficitur &c

W17.341 (KD17.342) And þouȝ þat men make · muche doel in hir angre
W17.342 (KD17.343) And ben inpacient in hir penaunce · pure reson knoweþ
W17.343 (KD17.344) That þei han cause to contrarie · by kynde of hir siknesse
W17.344 (KD17.345) And lightliche oure lord · at hir lyues ende
W17.345 (KD17.346) Haþ mercy on swiche men · þat so yuele may suffre

W17.346 (KD17.347) Ac þe smoke and þe smolder · þat smyt in oure eighen
W17.347 (KD17.348) That is coueitise and vnkyndenesse · þat quencheþ goddes mercy
W17.348 (KD17.349) For vnkyndenesse · is þe contrarie · of alle kynnes reson
W17.349 (KD17.350) For þer nys sik ne sory · ne noon so muche wrecche
W17.350 (KD17.351) That he ne may louye and hym like · and lene905 of his herte
W17.351 (KD17.352) Good wille and good word · and906 wisshen and willen
W17.352 (KD17.353) Alle manere men · mercy and forȝifnesse
W17.353 (KD17.354) And louye hem lik hym-self · and his lif amende

W17.354 (KD17.355) I may no lenger lette quod he · and lyard he prikede
W17.355 (KD17.356) And wente awey as wynd · and þer-wiþ I awakede

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