Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 14

Scribal | Critical | All Tags Next: Passus 15 Previous: Passus 13 Up: Contents

Passus quartus decimus &c

W14.1 (KD14.1)I haue but oon hool hater quod haukyn · I am þe lasse to blame
W14.2 (KD14.2) Thouȝ it be soiled and selde clene · I slepe þer-Inne o nyȝtes
W14.3 (KD14.3) And also I haue an houswif · hewen and children
W14.4 (KD14.3α)Vxorem duxi & ideo non possum venire
W14.5 (KD14.4) That wollen bymolen it many tyme · maugree my chekes
W14.6 (KD14.5) It haþ be laued in lente · and out of lente boþe
W14.7 (KD14.6) Wiþ þe sope of siknesse · þat sekeþ wonder depe
W14.8 (KD14.7) And wiþ þe losse of catel · looþ for to agulte
W14.9 (KD14.8) God or any good man · by aught þat I wiste
W14.10 (KD14.9) And was shryuen of þe preest · þat gaf me for my synnes
W14.11 (KD14.10) To penaunce pacience · and pouere men to fede
W14.12 (KD14.11) Al for coueitise of my cristendom · in clennesse to kepen it
W14.13 (KD14.12) And kouþe I neuere by crist · kepen it clene an houre
W14.14 (KD14.13) That I ne soiled it wiþ siȝte · or som ydel speche
W14.15 (KD14.14) Or þoruȝ werk or þoruȝ word · or wille of myn herte
W14.16 (KD14.15) That I ne flobre it foule · fro morwe til euen

fol.80v

W14.17 (KD14.16)¶ And I shal kenne þee quod Conscience · of Contricion to make
W14.18 (KD14.17) That shal clawe þi cote · of alle kynnes filþe
W14.19 (KD14.17α)Cordis contricio &c
W14.20 (KD14.18)¶ Dowel shal wasshen it and wryngen it · þoruȝ a wis confessour
W14.21 (KD14.18α)Oris confessio &c

W14.22 (KD14.19)¶ Dobet shal beten it and bouken it · as bright as any scarlet
W14.23 (KD14.20) And engreynen it wiþ good wille · and goddes grace to amende þe
W14.24 (KD14.21) And siþen sende þee to Satisfaccion · for to sowen it after
W14.25 (KD14.21α-22)Satisfaccio dobest

W14.26 (KD14.23)¶ Shal neuere cheeste bymolen it · ne moþe after biten it
W14.27 (KD14.24) Ne fend ne fals man · defoulen it in þi lyue
W14.28 (KD14.25) Shal noon heraud ne harpour · haue a fairer garnement
W14.29 (KD14.26) Than Haukyn þe Actif man · and þow do by my techyng
W14.30 (KD14.27) Ne no Mynstralle be moore worþ · amonges pouere and riche
W14.31 (KD14.28) Than Haukyns wif þe wafrer · with his Actiua vita

W14.32 (KD14.29)¶ And I shal purueie þee paast quod Pacience · þouȝ no plouȝ erye
W14.33 (KD14.30) And flour to fede folk wiþ · as best be for þe soule
W14.34 (KD14.31) Thouȝ neuere greyn growed · ne grape vp-on vyne
W14.35 (KD14.32) To808 alle þat lyueþ and lokeþ · liflode wolde I fynde
W14.36 (KD14.33) And þat ynogh shal noon faille · of þyng þat hem nedeþ
W14.37 (KD14.33.1) We sholde noȝt be to bisy · abouten oure liflode

W14.38 (KD14.33α)Ne soliciti sitis &c / Volucres celi deus pascit &c pacientes vincunt &c

W14.39 (KD14.34)¶ Thanne laughed haukyn a litel · and lightly gan swerye
W14.40 (KD14.35) Who-so leueþ yow by oure lord · I leue noȝt he be blessed

W14.41 (KD14.36)¶ No quod Pacience paciently · and out of his poke hente
W14.42 (KD14.37) Vitailles of grete vertues · for alle manere beestes
W14.43 (KD14.38) And seide · lo here liflode ynogh · if oure bileue be trewe
For lent neuere

fol.81r

W14.44 (KD14.39)For lent neuere was lif · but liflode were shapen
W14.45 (KD14.40) Wher-of or wher-fore · or wher-by to libbe
W14.46 (KD14.41)¶ First þe wilde worm · vnder weet erþe
W14.47 (KD14.42) Fissh to lyue in þe flood · and in þe fir þe Criket
W14.48 (KD14.43) The Corlew by kynde of þe Eyr · moost clennest flessh of briddes
W14.49 (KD14.44) And bestes by gras and by greyn · and by grene rootes
W14.50 (KD14.45) In menynge þat alle men · myȝte þe same
W14.51 (KD14.46) Lyue þoruȝ leel bileue · and loue · as god witnesseþ

W14.52 (KD14.46α)Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo &c Et alibi  Non in
solo pane viuit homo set in omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei

W14.53 (KD14.47-48)¶ But I lokede what liflode it was · þat pacience so preisede
W14.54 (KD14.49-50) And þanne was it a pece of þe Pater noster · fiat voluntas tua

W14.55 (KD14.51)¶ Haue haukyn quod Pacience · and et þis whan þe hungreþ
W14.56 (KD14.52) Or whan þow clomsest for cold · or clyngest for drye
W14.57 (KD14.53) Shul neuere gyues þee greue · ne gret lordes wraþe
W14.58 (KD14.54) Prison ne peyne · for pacientes vincunt
W14.59 (KD14.55) By so þat þow be sobre · of siȝte and of tonge ·
W14.60 (KD14.56) In etynge and in handlynge · and in alle þi fyue wittes
W14.61 (KD14.57) Darstow neuere care for corn · ne lynnen cloþ ne wollen
W14.62 (KD14.58) Ne for drynke ne deeþ drede · but deye as god likeþ
W14.63 (KD14.59) Or þoruȝ hunger or þoruȝ hete · at his wille be it
W14.64 (KD14.60) For if þow lyue after his loore · þe shorter lif þe bettre
W14.65 (KD14.60α)Si quis amat christum · mundum non diligit istum

W14.66 (KD14.61)For þoruȝ his breeþ beestes woxen · and abrood yeden
W14.67 (KD14.61α)Dixit & facta sunt &c
W14.68 (KD14.62)[E]rgo809 · þoruȝ his breeþ mowen · men and beestes lyuen
W14.69 (KD14.63) As holy writ witnesseþ · whan men seye hir graces

W14.70 (KD14.63α)Aperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal benediccione

W14.71 (KD14.64)¶ It is founden þat fourty wynter · folk lyuede with-outen tulying
W14.72 (KD14.65) And out of þe flynt sprong þe flood · þat folk and beestes dronken
W14.73 (KD14.66) And in Elyes tyme · heuene was yclosed
W14.74 (KD14.67) That no reyn ne roon · þus rede men in bokes
W14.75 (KD14.68) That manye wyntres men lyueden · and no mete ne tulieden

W14.76 (KD14.69)¶ Seuene slepe as seiþ þe book · seuene hundred wynter
W14.77 (KD14.70) And lyueden wiþ-outen liflode · and at þe laste þei woken
W14.78 (KD14.71) And if men lyuede as mesure wolde · sholde neuere moore be defaute
W14.79 (KD14.72) Amonges cristene creatures · if cristes wordes ben trewe

W14.80 (KD14.73)¶ Ac vnkyndenesse caristiam makeþ · amonges cristen peple
W14.81 (KD14.74) And ouer-plentee makeþ pryde · amonges poore and riche
W14.82 (KD14.75) Ther-fore mesure is muche810 worþ · it may noȝt be to deere
W14.83 (KD14.76) For þe meschief and þe meschaunce · amonges men of Sodome
W14.84 (KD14.77) Weex þoruȝ plentee of payn · and of pure sleuþe

W14.85 (KD14.77α)Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit

W14.86 (KD14.78)¶ For þei mesured noȝt hem-self · of þat þei ete and dronke
W14.87 (KD14.79) Thei diden dedly synne · þat þe deuel liked
W14.88 (KD14.80) So vengeaunce fil vp-on hem · for hir vile synnes
W14.89 (KD14.81) Thei sonken in-to helle · þe Citees echone

W14.90 (KD14.82)¶ For-þi mesure we vs wel · and make oure feiþ oure sheltrom
W14.91 (KD14.83) And þoruȝ feiþ comeþ contricion · conscience woot wel
W14.92 (KD14.84) Which dryueþ awey dedly synne · and dooþ it to be venial
W14.93 (KD14.85) And þouȝ a man myȝte noȝt speke · contricion myȝte hym saue
W14.94 (KD14.86) And brynge his soule to blisse · for so þat feiþ bere witnesse
W14.95 (KD14.87) That whiles he lyuede he bileuede · in þe loore of holy chirche
W14.96 (KD14.88)Ergo contricion · feiþ · and conscience · is kyndeliche dowel
W14.97 (KD14.89) And surgiens for dedly synnes · whan shrift of mouþe failleþ
W14.98 (KD14.90) Ac shrift of mouþ moore worþi is · if man be yliche contrit
W14.99 (KD14.91) For shrift of mouþe sleeþ synne · be it neuer so dedly
W14.100 (KD14.92)Per confessionem · to a preest · peccata occiduntur

W14.101 (KD14.93)¶ Ther contricion dooþ but dryueþ it doun · in-to a venial synne
W14.102 (KD14.94) As Dauid seiþ in þe Sauter · et quorum tecta sunt peccata
W14.103 (KD14.95) Ac satisfaccion sekeþ out þe roote · and boþe sleeþ and voideþ
W14.104 (KD14.96) And as it neuere hadde ybe · to noȝte bryngeþ dedly synne
W14.105 (KD14.97) That it neuere eft is sene ne soor · but semeþ a wounde yheeled

W14.106 (KD14.98)¶ Where wonyeþ Charite quod Haukyn · I wiste neuere in my lyue
W14.107 (KD14.99) Man þat wiþ hym spak · as wide as I haue passed

W14.108 (KD14.100)¶ Ther parfit truþe and poore herte is · and pacience of tonge
W14.109 (KD14.101) There is Charite þe chief chaumbrere · for god hym-selue

W14.110 (KD14.102)¶ Wheiþer paciente pouerte quod Haukyn · be moore plesaunt to oure d[riȝte]811
W14.111 (KD14.103) Than richesse riȝtfulliche wonne · and resonably despended

W14.112 (KD14.104)¶ Ye quis est ille quod Pacience · quik laudabimus eum
W14.113 (KD14.105) Thouȝ men rede of richesse · riȝt to þe worldes ende
W14.114 (KD14.106) I wiste neuere renk þat riche was · þat whan he rekene sholde
W14.115 (KD14.107) Whan he drogh to his deeþ-day · þat he ne dredde hym soore
W14.116 (KD14.108) And þat at þe rekenyng in Arrerage fel · raþer þan out of dette
W14.117 (KD14.109) Ther þe poore dar plede · and preue by pure reson
W14.118 (KD14.110) To haue allowaunce of his lord · by þe lawe he it cleymeþ
W14.119 (KD14.111) Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde · of riȝtful Iugge he askeþ
W14.120 (KD14.112) And seiþ lo · briddes and beestes · þat no blisse ne knoweþ
W14.121 (KD14.113) And wilde wormes in wodes · þoruȝ wyntres þow hem greuest
W14.122 (KD14.114) And makest hem wel neiȝ meke · and mylde for defaute
W14.123 (KD14.115) And after þow sendest hem somer · þat is hir souereyn ioye
W14.124 (KD14.116) And blisse to alle þat ben · boþe wilde and tame

W14.125 (KD14.117)¶ Thanne may beggeris as beestes · after boote waiten
W14.126 (KD14.118) That al hir lif han lyued · in langour and in defaute
W14.127 (KD14.119) But god sente hem som-tyme · som manere Ioye
W14.128 (KD14.120) Ouþer here or ellis-where · kynde wolde it neuere
W14.129 (KD14.121) For to wroþerhele was he wroȝt · þat neuere was Ioye shapen

W14.130 (KD14.122)¶ Aungeles þat in helle now ben · hadden ioye som-tyme
W14.131 (KD14.123) And diues in deyntees lyuede · and in douce vie
W14.132 (KD14.124) Right so reson sheweþ · þat þe men þat were riche
W14.133 (KD14.125) And hir makes also · lyuede hir lif in murþe

W14.134 (KD14.126)¶ Ac god is of wonder812 wille · by þat kynde wit sheweþ
W14.135 (KD14.127) To ȝyue many man his mede813 · er he it haue deserued
W14.136 (KD14.128) Riȝt so fareþ god by som riche · ruþe me it þynkeþ
W14.137 (KD14.129) For þei han hir hire heer · and heuene as it were
W14.138 (KD14.130) And greet likynge to lyue · wiþ-outen labour of bodye
W14.139 (KD14.131) And whan he dyeþ ben disalowed · as Dauid seiþ in þe Sauter

W14.140 (KD14.131α)Dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt
W14.141 (KD14.131α) And in anoþer stede also · velud sompnum surgencium
domine in Ciuitate tua et ad nichilum rediges &c

W14.142 (KD14.132)¶ Allas þat richesse shal reue · and robbe mannes soule
W14.143 (KD14.133) Fram þe loue of oure lord · at his laste ende

W14.144 (KD14.134)¶ Hewen þat han hir hire afore · arn euere-moore nedy
W14.145 (KD14.135) And selden deyeþ he out of dette · þat dyneþ er he deserue it
W14.146 (KD14.136) And til he haue doon his deuoir · and his dayes iournee
W14.147 (KD14.137) For whan a werkman haþ wroȝt · þan may men se þe soþe
W14.148 (KD14.138) What he were worþi for his werk · and what he haþ deserued
W14.149 (KD14.139) And noȝt to fonge bifore · for drede of disalowyng

W14.150 (KD14.140)¶ So I seye by yow riche · it semeþ noȝt þat ye shulle
W14.151 (KD14.141) Haue heuene in youre here dwellyng814 · and heuene also815 þerafter
W14.152 (KD14.142) Riȝt so816 as a seruaunt takeþ his salarie bifore · & siþþe wolde clayme moore
W14.153 (KD14.143) As he þat noon hadde · and haþ hire at þe laste
W14.154 (KD14.144) It may noȝt be ye riche men · or Mathew on god lyeþ
W14.155 (KD14.144α)De delicijs ad delicias difficile est transire

W14.156 (KD14.145)¶ Ac if ye riche haue ruþe · and rewarde wel þe poore

fol.83r

W14.157 (KD14.146) And lyuen as lawe techeþ · and doon leaute to hem alle
W14.158 (KD14.147) Crist of his curteisie · shal conforte yow at þe laste
W14.159 (KD14.148) And rewarden alle double richesse · þat rewful hertes habbeþ
W14.160 (KD14.149) And as an hyne þat hadde · his hire er he bigonne
W14.161 (KD14.150) And whan he haþ doon his deuoir wel · men dooþ hym ooþer bountee
W14.162 (KD14.151) Ȝyueþ hym a cote aboue his couenaunt · riȝt so crist ȝyueþ heuene
W14.163 (KD14.152) Boþe to riche and to noȝt riche · þat rewfulliche libbeþ
W14.164 (KD14.153) And alle þat doon hir deuoir wel · han double hire for hir trauaille
W14.165 (KD14.154) Here forȝifnesse of hir synnes · and heuene blisse after
W14.166 (KD14.155)¶ Ac it is but selde yseien · as by holy seintes bokes
W14.167 (KD14.156) That god rewarded double reste · to any riche wye
W14.168 (KD14.157) For muche murþe is amonges riche · as in mete and cloþyng
W14.169 (KD14.158) And muche murþe in May is · amonges wilde beestes
W14.170 (KD14.159) And so forþ while somer lasteþ · hir solace dureþ

W14.171 (KD14.160)¶ Ac beggeris aboute Midsomer · bredlees þei slepe817
W14.172 (KD14.161) And yet is wynter for hem worse · for weet-shoed þei gone
W14.173 (KD14.162) Afurst soore and afyngred · and foule yrebuked
W14.174 (KD14.163) And arated of riche men · þat ruþe is to here
W14.175 (KD14.164) Now lord sende hem somer · and som maner ioye
W14.176 (KD14.165) Heuene after hir hennes goyng · þat here han swich defaute
W14.177 (KD14.166) For alle myȝtestow haue maad · noon mener þan ooþer
W14.178 (KD14.167) And yliche witty and wise · if þee wel hadde liked
W14.179 (KD14.168) But lord818 haue ruþe on þise riche men · þat rewarde noȝt þi prisoners
W14.180 (KD14.169) Of þe good þat þow hem gyuest · ingrati ben manye
W14.181 (KD14.170) Ac god of þi goodnesse · gyue hem grace to amende
W14.182 (KD14.171) For may no derþe be hem deere · droghte ne weet hem greue
W14.183 (KD14.172) Ne neiþer hete ne Haylle · haue þei hir heele
W14.184 (KD14.173) Of þat þei wilne and wolde · wanteþ hem noȝt here

W14.185 (KD14.174)¶ Ac poore peple þi prisoners · lord in þe put of meschief
W14.186 (KD14.175) Conforte þo creatures · þat muche care suffren
W14.187 (KD14.176) Thoruȝ derþe þoruȝ droghte · alle hir dayes here

fol.83v

W14.188 (KD14.177)Wo in wynter tymes · for wantynge of cloþes
W14.189 (KD14.178) And in somer tyme selde · soupen to þe fulle
W14.190 (KD14.179) Conforte þi carefulle · crist in þi richesse
W14.191 (KD14.180) For how þow confortest alle creatures · clerkes bereþ witnesse
W14.192 (KD14.180α)Conuertimini ad me & salui eritis
W14.193 (KD14.181)¶ Thus in genere of gentries · Iesu crist seide
W14.194 (KD14.182) To robberis and to Reueris · to riche and to poore
W14.195 (KD14.184) Thou tauȝtest hem in þe Trinite · to taken bapteme
W14.196 (KD14.185) And to be clene þoruȝ þat cristnyng · of alle kynnes synne
W14.197 (KD14.186) And if vs fille þoruȝ folie · to falle in synne after
W14.198 (KD14.187) Confession and knowlichynge · in819 crauynge þi mercy
W14.199 (KD14.188) Shulde amenden vs as manye siþes · as man wolde desire
W14.200 (KD14.189) And if þe pope wolde plede her-ayein · and punysshe vs in conscience
W14.201 (KD14.190) He sholde take þe Acquitaunce as quyk · and to þe queed shewen it
W14.202 (KD14.190α)Pateat &c Per passionem domini
W14.203 (KD14.191) And putten of so þe pouke · and preuen vs vnder borwe
W14.204 (KD14.192) Ac þe parchemyn of þis patente · of pouerte be moste
W14.205 (KD14.193) And of pure pacience · and parfit bileue

W14.206 (KD14.194)¶ Of pompe and of pride · þe parchemyn decourreþ
W14.207 (KD14.195) And principalliche of al þe peple · but þei be poore of herte
W14.208 (KD14.196) Ellis is al on ydel · al þat euere writen820
W14.209 (KD14.197)Pater nostres and penaunce · and Pilgrymages to Rome
W14.210 (KD14.198) But oure spences and spendynge · sprynge of a trewe wille
W14.211 (KD14.199) Ellis is al oure labour lost · lo how men writeþ
W14.212 (KD14.200) In fenestres at þe freres · if fals be þe foundement
W14.213 (KD14.201) For-þi cristene sholde be in commune riche · noon coueitous for hym-selue

W14.214 (KD14.202)¶ For seuene synnes þer ben · þat assaillen vs euere
W14.215 (KD14.203) The fend folweþ hem alle · and fondeþ hem to helpe
W14.216 (KD14.204) Ac wiþ richesse þat Ribaud · he raþest men bigileþ
W14.217 (KD14.205) For þer þat richesse regneþ · reuerence folweþ
W14.218 (KD14.206) And þat is plesaunt to pride · in poore and in riche

W14.219 (KD14.207)¶ And þe riche is reuerenced · by reson of his richesse
W14.220 (KD14.208) Ther þe poore is put bihynde · and parauenture kan moore
W14.221 (KD14.209) Of wit and of wisdom · þat fer awey is bettre
W14.222 (KD14.210) Than richesse or reautee · and raþer yherd in heuene
W14.223 (KD14.211) For þe riche haþ muche to rekene · and many tyme hym þat821 walkeþ
W14.224 (KD14.212) The heiȝe wey to heueneward · Richesse hym letteþ
W14.225 (KD14.212α)Ita inpossibile diuiti &c
W14.226 (KD14.213) Ther þe poore preesseþ bifore þe riche · wiþ a pak at his rugge
W14.227 (KD14.213α)Opera enim illorum sequntur illos
W14.228 (KD14.214) Batauntliche as beggeris doon · and boldeliche he craueþ
W14.229 (KD14.215) For his pouerte and his pacience · a perpetuel blisse
W14.230 (KD14.215α)Beati pauperes quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum

W14.231 (KD14.216)¶ And pride in richesse regneþ · raþer þan in pouerte
W14.232 (KD14.217) Arst in þe maister þan in þe man · som mansion he haueþ
W14.233 (KD14.218) Ac in pouerte þer pacience is · pride haþ no myȝte
W14.234 (KD14.219) Ne none of þe seuene synnes · sitten ne mowe þer longe
W14.235 (KD14.220) Ne haue power in pouerte · if pacience822 folwe
W14.236 (KD14.221) For þe poore is ay prest · to plese þe riche
W14.237 (KD14.222) And buxom at hise biddynges823 · for his broke loues
W14.238 (KD14.223) And buxomnesse and boost · arn euere-moore at werre
W14.239 (KD14.224) And eiþer hateþ ooþer · in alle maner werkes

W14.240 (KD14.225)¶ If wraþe wrastle wiþ þe poore · he haþ þe worse ende
W14.241 (KD14.226) And if þei boþe pleyne · þe poore is but feble
W14.242 (KD14.227) And if he chide or chatre · hym cheueþ þe worse

W14.243 (KD14.239)¶ And if Coueitise cacche þe poore · þei may noȝt come togideres
W14.244 (KD14.240) And by þe nekke namely · hir noon may hente ooþer
W14.245 (KD14.241) For men knowen wel þat Coueitise · is of kene wille
W14.246 (KD14.242) And haþ hondes and armes · of ful greet824 lengþe
W14.247 (KD14.243) And Pouerte nys but a petit þyng · apereþ noȝt to his nauele
W14.248 (KD14.244) And louely layk was it neuere · bitwene þe longe and þe shorte

W14.249 (KD14.245)¶ And þouȝ Auarice wolde angre þe poore · he haþ but litel myȝte
W14.250 (KD14.246) For pouerte haþ but pokes · to putten in hise goodes
W14.251 (KD14.247) Ther Auarice haþ Almaries · and yren bounden cofres
W14.252 (KD14.248) And wheiþer be liȝter to breke · and lasse boost makeþ
W14.253 (KD14.249) A beggeris bagge · þan an yren bounde cofre

W14.254 (KD14.250)¶ Lecherie loueþ hym noȝt · for he ȝyueþ but litel siluer
W14.255 (KD14.251) Ne dooþ hym noȝt dyne delicatly · ne drynke wyn ofte
W14.256 (KD14.252) A Straw for þe Stuwes · þei825 stoode noȝt I trowe
W14.257 (KD14.253) Hadde þei no þyng but of poore men · hir houses stoode vntyled

W14.258 (KD14.254)¶ And þouȝ Sleuþe suwe pouerte · and serue noȝt god to paie
W14.259 (KD14.255) Meschief is his maister · and makeþ hym to þynke
W14.260 (KD14.256) That god is his grettest help · and no gome ellis
W14.261 (KD14.257) And he his seruaunt as he seiþ · and of his sute boþe
W14.262 (KD14.258) And wheiþer he be or be noȝt · he bereþ þe signe of pouerte
W14.263 (KD14.259) And in þat secte oure saueour · saued al mankynde
W14.264 (KD14.260) For-þi euery826 poore þat pacient is · may cleymen and asken
W14.265 (KD14.261) After hir endynge here · heuene-riche blisse

W14.266 (KD14.262)¶ Muche hardier may he asken · þat here myȝte haue his wille
W14.267 (KD14.263) In lond and in lordshipe · and likynge of bodie
W14.268 (KD14.264) And for goddes loue leueþ al · and lyueþ as a beggere
W14.269 (KD14.265) And as a mayde for mannes loue · hire moder forsakeþ
W14.270 (KD14.266) Hir fader and alle hire frendes · and folweþ hir make
W14.271 (KD14.267) Muche moore is to loue · of hym þat swich oon takeþ
W14.272 (KD14.268) Than is þat maiden827 · þat is maried þoruȝ brocage
W14.273 (KD14.269) As by assent of sondry parties · and siluer to boote
W14.274 (KD14.270) Moore for coueitise of good · þan kynde loue of boþe
W14.275 (KD14.271) So it fareþ by ech a persone · þat possession forsakeþ
W14.276 (KD14.272) And put hym to be pacient · and pouerte weddeþ
W14.277 (KD14.273) The which is sib to god hym-self · and so to hise seintes

W14.278 (KD14.274)¶ Haue god my trouþe quod Haukyn · ye preise faste pouerte

W14.279 (KD14.275)What is Pouerte wiþ pacience quod he · proprely to mene

W14.280 (KD14.276)Paupertas quod Pacience · est odibile bonum / Remocio
curarum · possessio sine calumpnia · donum dei · sanitas ma-
ter · absque sollicitudine semita · sapiencie temperatrix · ne-
gocium sine dampno / Incerta fortuna · absque sollicitudine felicitas

W14.281 (KD14.277)¶ I kan noȝt construe al þis quod haukyn · ye moste kenne me þis on englissh

W14.282 (KD14.278)¶ In englissh quod Pacience · it is wel hard wel to expounen
W14.283 (KD14.279) Ac som-deel I shal seyen it · by so þow vnderstonde
W14.284 (KD14.280) Pouerte is þe firste point · þat pride moost hateþ
W14.285 (KD14.281) Thanne is it good by good skile · al þat agasteþ pride
W14.286 (KD14.282) Riȝt as contricion is confortable þyng · conscience woot wel
W14.287 (KD14.283) And a sorwe of hym-self · and a solace to þe soule
W14.288 (KD14.284) So pouerte propreliche · penaunce and Ioye
W14.289 (KD14.285) Is to þe body · pure spiritual helþe
W14.290 (KD14.287)Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum
W14.291 (KD14.286) And Contricion confort · and cura animarum

W14.292 (KD14.288)¶ Selde sit pouerte · þe soþe to declare
W14.293 (KD14.289) For as Iustice to Iugge men · enioyned is no poore
W14.294 (KD14.290) Ne to be Mair aboue men · ne Mynystre vnder kynges
W14.295 (KD14.291) Selde is any poore yput · to punysshen any peple
W14.296 (KD14.293α)Remocio curarum
W14.297 (KD14.292)Ergo pouerte and poore men · parfournen þe comaundement
W14.298 (KD14.293)Nolite iudicare quemquam · þe þridde

W14.299 (KD14.294)¶ Selde is any poore riche · but of riȝtful heritage
W14.300 (KD14.295) Wynneþ he noȝt wiþ wiȝtes false · ne wiþ vnseled mesures
W14.301 (KD14.296) Ne borweþ of hise neighebores · but þat he may wel paie
W14.302 (KD14.296α)Possessio sine calumpnia

W14.303 (KD14.297)¶ The ferþe is a fortune · þat florissheþ þe soule

fol.85v

W14.304 (KD14.298) Wiþ sobretee fram alle synne · and also ȝit moore
W14.305 (KD14.299) It afaiteþ þe flessh · fram folies ful manye
W14.306 (KD14.300) A collateral confort · cristes owene ȝifte
W14.307 (KD14.300α)Donum dei
W14.308 (KD14.301-302)¶ The fifte is moder of helþe · a frend in alle fondynges
W14.309 (KD14.303) And for þe land euere a leche · a lemman of alle clennesse
W14.310 (KD14.303α)Sanitas mater

W14.311 (KD14.304)¶ The sixte is a path of pees · ye þoruȝ þe paas of Aultoun
W14.312 (KD14.305) Pouerte myȝte passe · wiþ-outen peril of robbyng
W14.313 (KD14.306) For þer þat Pouerte passeþ · pees folweþ after
W14.314 (KD14.307) And euer þe lasse þat he bereþ · þe hardier he is of herte
W14.315 (KD14.309) For-þi seiþ Seneca · Paupertas est absque sollicitudine semita
W14.316 (KD14.308) And an hardy man of herte · among an heep of þeues
W14.317 (KD14.307α)Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viatore

W14.318 (KD14.310)¶ The seuenþe is welle of wisedom · and fewe wordes sheweþ
W14.319 (KD14.311) Ther-fore lordes alloweþ hym litel · or listneþ to his reson
W14.320 (KD14.312) For he tempreþ þe tonge to truþeward · and no tresor coueiteþ
W14.321 (KD14.312α)Sapiencie temperatrix

W14.322 (KD14.313)¶ The eighteþe is a lele labour · and looþ to take moore
W14.323 (KD14.314) Than he may wel deserue · in somer or in wynter
W14.324 (KD14.315) And if he chaffareþ he chargeþ no losse · mowe he charite wynne
W14.325 (KD14.315α)Negocium sine dampno

W14.326 (KD14.316)¶ The nynþe is swete to þe soule · no sugre is swetter
W14.327 (KD14.317) For pacience is payn · for pouerte hym-selue
W14.328 (KD14.318) And sobretee swete drynke · and good leche in siknesse
W14.329 (KD14.319) Thus lered me a lettred man · for oure lordes loue of heuene
W14.330 (KD14.319-320) Seint Austyn a blessed lif · wiþ-outen bisynesse ladde
W14.331 (KD14.320-320α) For body and for soule · Absque sollicitudine felicitas
W14.332 (KD14.321) Now god þat alle good gyueþ · graunte his soule reste

fol.86r

W14.333 (KD14.322)That þis first wroot to wissen men · what Pouerte was to mene
W14.334 (KD14.323)¶ Allas quod Haukyn þe Actif man þo · þat after my cristendom
W14.335 (KD14.324) I ne hadde be deed and doluen · for dowelis sake
W14.336 (KD14.325) So hard it is quod haukyn · to lyue and to do synne
W14.337 (KD14.326) Synne seweþ vs euere quod he · and sory gan wexe
W14.338 (KD14.327) And wepte water wiþ hise eighen · and weyled þe tyme
W14.339 (KD14.328) That he euere828 dide dede · þat deere god displesed
W14.340 (KD14.329) Swouned and sobbed · and siked ful ofte
W14.341 (KD14.330) That euere he hadde lond ouþer829 lordshipe · lasse oþer moore
W14.342 (KD14.331) Or maistrie ouer any man · mo þan of hym-selue
W14.343 (KD14.332) I were noȝt worþi woot god quod haukyn · to werien any cloþes
W14.344 (KD14.333) Ne neiþer sherte ne shoon · saue for shame one
W14.345 (KD14.334) To couere my careyne quod he · and cride mercy faste
W14.346 (KD14.335) And wepte and wailede · and þer-wiþ I awakede

Scribal | Critical | All Tags Next: Passus 15 Previous: Passus 13 Up: Contents
Last updated: Sept. 27, 2000.
© Piers Plowman Electronic Archive