Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 6

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Passus sextus de visione vt supra

W6.1This were a wikkede wey · but who-so hadde a gyde
W6.2 That wolde folwen vs ech a foot · þus þis folk hem mened

W6.3 Quod Perkyn þe Plowman · by Seint Peter of Rome
W6.4 I haue an half acre to erie · by þe heiȝe weye
W6.5 Hadde I eryed þis half acre · and sowen it after
W6.6 I wolde wende wiþ yow · and þe wey teche

W6.7 This were a long lettyng · quod a lady in a Scleyre
W6.8 What sholde we wommen · werche þe while

W6.9 Somme shul sowe þe sak quod Piers · for shedyng of þe whete
W6.10 And ye louely ladies · wiþ youre longe fyngres
W6.11 That ye haue silk and Sandel · to sowe whan tyme is
W6.12 Chesibles for Chapeleyns · chirches to honoure

W6.13 Wyues and widewes · wolle and flex spynneþ
W6.14 Makeþ cloþ I counseille yow · and kenneþ so youre douȝtres
W6.15 The nedy and þe naked · nymeþ hede how þei liggeþ
W6.16 And casteþ hem cloþes · for so comaundeþ truþe
W6.17 For I shal lenen hem liflode · but if þe lond faille
W6.18 Flessh and breed boþe · to riche and to poore
W6.19 As longe as I lyue · for þe lordes loue of heuene
W6.20 And alle manere of men · þat þoruȝ mete and drynke libbeþ
W6.21 Helpeþ hym to werche wiȝtliche · þat wynneþ youre foode

W6.22 By crist quod a knyȝt þoo · he kenneþ vs þe beste
W6.23 Ac on þe teme trewely · tauȝt was I neuere
W6.24 But kenne me quod þe knyȝt · and by crist I wole assaye

W6.25 By Seint Poul quod Perkyn · ye profre yow so faire
W6.26 That I shal swynke and swete · and sowe for vs boþe
W6.27 And oþere labours do for þi loue · al my lif-tyme
W6.28 In couenaunt þat þow kepe · holy kirke and my-selue
W6.29 Fro wastours and fro wikked men · þat þis world destruyeþ
W6.30 And go hunte hardiliche · to hares and to foxes
W6.31 To bores and to brokkes · þat breken doun myne hegges
W6.32 And so188 affaite þi faucons · wilde foweles to kille
W6.33 For swiche comeþ to my croft · and croppeþ my whete

W6.34 Curteisly þe knyȝt þanne · comsed þise wordes
W6.35 By my power Piers quod he · I pliȝte þee my trouþe
W6.36 To fulfille þis forward · þouȝ I fiȝte sholde
W6.37 Als longe as I lyue · I shal þee mayntene

W6.38 Ye and yet a point quod Piers · I preye yow of moore
W6.39 Loke ye tene no tenaunt · but truþe wole assente
W6.40 And þouȝ ye mowe amercy hem · lat mercy be taxour
W6.41 And mekenesse þi maister · maugree Medes chekes
W6.42 And þouȝ pouere men profre yow · presentes and ȝiftes
W6.43 Nyme it noȝt an auenture · ye mowe it noȝt deserue
W6.44 For þow shalt yelde it ayein · at one yeres tyme189
W6.45 In a ful perilous place · Purgatorie it hatte

W6.46 And mysbede noȝt þi bonde-men · þe bettre may þow spede
W6.47 Thouȝ he be þyn vnderlyng here · wel may happe in heuene
W6.48 That he worþ worþier set · and wiþ moore blisse
W6.49Amice ascende superius
W6.50 For in Charnel at chirche · cherles ben yuel to knowe
W6.51 Or a knyȝt from a knaue þere · knowe þis in þyn herte

fol.36r

W6.52 And þat þow be trewe of þi tonge · and tales þat þow hatie           190(n)
W6.53 But if þei ben of wisdom or of wit · þi werkmen to chaste
W6.54 Hold wiþ none harlotes · ne here noȝt hir tales           191(n)
W6.55 And namely at þe mete · swiche men eschuwe           192(n)
W6.56 For it ben þe deueles disours · I do þe to vnderstonde           193(n)
W6.57 I assente by Seint Iame · seide þe knyȝt þanne
W6.58 For to werche by þi wordes · þe while my lif dureþ

W6.59 And I shal apparaille me quod Perkyn · in pilgrymes wise
W6.60 And wende wiþ yow I wile · til we fynde truþe
W6.61 And caste on my cloþes · yclouted and hole
W6.62 My cokeres and my coffes · for cold of my nailes
W6.63 And hange myn hoper at myn hals · in stede of a Scryppe
W6.64 A busshel of bred-corn · brynge me þer-Inne
W6.65 For I wol sowe it my-self · and siþenes wol I wende
W6.66 To pilgrymage as palmeres doon · pardon for to haue
W6.67 And who-so helpeþ me to erie · and sowen here er I wende
W6.68 Shal haue leue by oure lord · to lese here in heruest
W6.69 And make hem murie þer-myd · maugree who-so bigruccheþ it
W6.70 And alle kynne crafty men · þat konne lyuen in truþe
W6.71 I shal fynden hem fode · þat feiþfulliche libbeþ

W6.72 Saue Iagge194 þe Iogelour · and Ionette of þe Stuwes
W6.73 And danyel þe dees pleyere · and Denote þe baude
W6.74 And frere þe faitour · and folk of hire195 ordre
W6.75 And Robyn þe Ribaudour · for hise rusty wordes
W6.76 Truþe tolde me ones · and bad me telle it after
W6.77Deleantur de libro viuencium · I sholde noȝt dele wiþ hem
W6.78 For holy chirche is hote of hem · no tiþe to take
W6.79Quia cum iustis non scribantur
W6.80 They ben ascaped good auenture · god hem amende

W6.81 Dame werch whan tyme is · Piers wif hiȝte

fol.36v

W6.82 His douȝter hiȝte do riȝt so · or þi dame shal þee bete
W6.83 His sone hiȝte Suffre þi Souereyns · to hauen hir wille
W6.84 Deme hem noȝt for if þow doost · þow shalt it deere abugge
W6.85 Lat god yworþe wiþ al · for so his word techeþ
W6.86 For now I am old and hoor · and haue of myn owene
W6.87 To penaunce and to pilgrimage · I wol passe wiþ þise oþere
W6.88 For-þi I wole er I wende · do write my biqueste
W6.89In dei nomine amen · I make it my-selue
W6.90 He shal haue my soule · þat best haþ deserued it
W6.91 And fro þe fend it defende · for so I bileue
W6.92 Til I come to hise acountes · as my Credo me telleþ
W6.93 To haue a relees and a remission · on þat rental I leue

W6.94 The kirke shal haue my caroyne · and kepe my bones
W6.95 For of my corn and catel · she craued þe tiþe
W6.96 I paide it ful196 prestly · for peril of my soule
W6.97 For-þi is he holden I hope · to haue me in his masse
W6.98 And mengen in his memorie · amonges alle cristene

W6.99 My wif shal haue of þat I wan · wiþ truþe and namoore
W6.100 And dele among my douȝtres · and my deere children
W6.101 For þouȝ I deye to-day · my dettes are quyte
W6.102 I bar hom þat I borwed · er I to bedde yede

W6.103 And wiþ þe residue and þe remenaunt · by þe Rode of Lukes
W6.104 I wol worshipe þer-wiþ · truþe by my lyue
W6.105 And ben his pilgrym atte plow · for pouere mennes sake
W6.106 My plowfoot shal be my pikstaf · and picche atwo þe rotes
W6.107 And helpe my cultour to kerue · and clense þe furwes

W6.108 Now is Perkyn and hise pilgrimes · to þe plow faren
W6.109 To erie þis half acre · holpen hym manye
W6.110 Dikeres and Delueres · digged vp þe balkes

fol.37r

W6.111 Ther-wiþ was Perkyn apayed · and preised hem faste
W6.112 Oþere werkmen þer were · þat wroȝten ful yerne
W6.113 Ech man in his manere · made hym-self to doone
W6.114 And somme to plese Perkyn · piked vp þe wedes

W6.115 At heiȝ prime Piers · leet þe plowȝ stonde
W6.116 To ouersen hem hym-self · and who-so best wroȝte
W6.117 He sholde be hired þer-after · whan heruest tyme come

W6.118 And þanne seten somme · and songen atte Nale
W6.119 And holpen ere þis197 half acre · wiþ how trolly lolly

W6.120 Now by þe peril of my soule quod Piers · al in pure tene
W6.121 But ye arise þe raþer · and rape yow to werche
W6.122 Shal no greyn þat groweþ · glade yow at nede
W6.123 And þouȝ ye deye for doel · þe deuel haue þat reccheþ

W6.124 Tho were faitours afered · and feyned hem blynde
W6.125 Somme leide hir legges aliry · as swiche losels konneþ
W6.126 And made hir mone to Piers · and preide hym of grace
W6.127 For we haue no lymes to laboure with · lord ygraced be þe
W6.128 Ac we preie for yow Piers · and for youre plowȝ boþe
W6.129 That god of his grace · youre greyn multiplie
W6.130 And yelde yow for youre Almesse · þat ye ȝyue vs here
W6.131 For we may noȝt swynke ne swete · swich siknesse vs eyleþ

W6.132 If it be sooþ quod Piers þat ye seyn · I shal it soone aspie
W6.133 Ye ben wastours I woot wel · and truþe woot þe soþe
W6.134 And I am his olde hyne · and hiȝte hym to warne
W6.135 Whiche þei were in þis world · hise werkmen apeired
W6.136 Ye wasten þat men wynnen · wiþ trauaille and wiþ tene
W6.137 Ac truþe shal teche yow · his teme to dryue
W6.138 Or ye shul eten barly breed · and of þe broke drynke

W6.139 But if he be blynd or brokelegged · or bolted wiþ Irens
W6.140 He shal ete whete breed · and drynke wiþ my-selue
W6.141 Til god of his goodnesse · amendement hym sende
W6.142 Ac ye myȝte trauaille as truþe wolde · and take mete and hyre
W6.143 To kepe kyen in þe feld · þe corn fro þe beestes
W6.144 Diken or deluen · or dyngen vp-on sheues
W6.145 Or helpe make morter · or bere Muk a-feld

W6.146 In lecherie and in losengerie  ye lyuen and in Sleuþe
W6.147 And al is þoruȝ suffraunce · þat vengeaunce yow ne takeþ

W6.148 Ac Ancres and heremites · þat eten noȝt but at Nones
W6.149 And namoore er þe morwe · myn almesse shul þei haue
W6.150 And of catel to kepe hem wiþ · þat han Cloistres and chirches

W6.151 Ac Robert Renaboute · shal noȝt haue of myne
W6.152 Ne Postles but þei preche konne · and haue power of þe bisshop
W6.153 Thei shul haue payn and potage · and make hem-self atese
W6.154198(c) For it is an vnresonable Religion · þat haþ riȝt noȝt of certein

W6.155 And þanne gan wastour to wraþen hym · and wolde haue yfouȝte
W6.156 And to Piers þe Plowman · he profrede his gloue
W6.157 A Bretoner a braggere · abosted Piers als
W6.158 And bad hym go pissen with his plowȝ · forpynede sherewe
W6.159 Wiltow or neltow · we wol haue oure wille
W6.160 Of þi flour and of þi flessh · fecche whanne vs likeþ
W6.161 And maken vs murye þer-myde · maugree þi chekes

W6.162 Thanne Piers þe Plowman · pleyned hym to þe knyȝte
W6.163 To kepen hym as couenaunt was · fro cursede sherewes
W6.164 And fro þise wastours wolueskynnes · þat makeþ þe world deere
W6.165 For þo wasten and wynnen noȝt · and þat ilke while
W6.166 Worþ neuere plentee among þe peple · þe while my plowȝ liggeþ

W6.167 Curteisly þe knyȝt þanne · as his kynde wolde
W6.168 Warnede wastour · and wissed hym bettre
W6.169 Or þow shalt abigge by þe lawe · by þe ordre þat I bere

W6.170 I was noȝt wont to werche quod wastour · and now wol I noȝt bigynne
W6.171 And leet liȝt of þe lawe · and lasse of þe knyȝte
W6.172 And sette Piers at a pese · and his plowȝ boþe
W6.173 And manaced Piers and his men · if þei mette eftsoone

W6.174 Now by þe peril of my soule quod Piers · I shal apeire yow alle
W6.175 And houped after hunger · þat herde hym at þe firste
W6.176 Awreke me of þise wastours quod he · þat þis world shendeþ

W6.177 Hunger in haste þoo · hente wastour by þe wombe199
W6.178 And wrong hym so by þe wombe · þat boþe hise eiȝen watrede

W6.179 He buffetted þe Bretoner · aboute þe chekes
W6.180 That he loked lik a lanterne · al his lif after
W6.181 He bette hem so boþe · he brast ner hire guttes
W6.182 Ne hadde Piers wiþ a pese loof · preyed hunger to cesse
W6.183 They hadde be doluen · ne deme þow noon ooþer

W6.184 Suffre hem lyue he seide · and lat hem ete wiþ hogges
W6.185 Or ellis benes or200 bren · ybaken togideres
W6.186 Or ellis melk and mene ale · þus preied Piers for hem

W6.187 Faitours for fere her-of · flowen in-to Bernes
W6.188 And flapten on wiþ flailes · fro morwe til euen
W6.189 That hunger was noȝt so hardy · on hem for to loke
W6.190 For a potful of peses · þat Piers hadde ymaked

W6.191 An heep of heremytes · henten hem spades
W6.192 And kitten hir copes · and courtepies hem maked

fol.38v

W6.193And wente as werkmen · wiþ spades and wiþ shoueles
W6.194 And doluen and dikeden · to dryue awey hunger
W6.195 Blynde and bedreden · were bootned a þousand
W6.196 That seten to begge siluer · soone were þei heeled
W6.197 For þat was bake for bayard · was boote for many hungry
W6.198 And many a beggere for benes · buxum was to swynke
W6.199 And ech a pouere man wel apaied · to haue pesen for his hyre
W6.200 And what Piers preide hem to do · as prest as a Sperhauk
W6.201 And þer-of was Piers proud · and putte hem to werke
W6.202 And yaf hem mete as he myȝte aforþe · and mesurable hyre

W6.203 Thanne hadde Piers pite · and preide hunger to wende
W6.204 Hoom vn-to his owene yerd · and holden hym þere
W6.205 For I am wel awroke · of wastours þoruȝ þy myȝte
W6.206 Ac I preie þee er þow passe · quod Piers to hunger
W6.207 Of beggeris and of bidderis · what best be to doone
W6.208 For I woot wel be þow went · þei wol werche ful ille
W6.209 For meschief it makeþ · þei be so meke nouþe
W6.210 And for defaute of hire foode · þis folk is at my wille

W6.211 Thei are my blody breþeren quod Piers · for god bouȝte vs alle
W6.212 Truþe tauȝte me ones · to louen hem echone
W6.213 And to helpen hem of alle þyng · ay as hem nedeþ
W6.214 And now wolde I wite of þee · what were þe beste
W6.215 And how I myȝte amaistren hem · and make hem to werche

W6.216 Here now quod hunger · and hoold it for a wisdom ·
W6.217 Bolde beggeris and bigge · þat mowe hir breed biswynke
W6.218 Wiþ houndes breed and horse breed · hoold vp hir hertes
W6.219 Abate hem wiþ benes · for bollynge of hir wombes
W6.220 And if þe gomes grucche · bidde hem go swynke
W6.221 And he shal soupe swetter · whan he it haþ deserued

W6.222 And if þow fynde any freke · þat Fortune haþ apeired
W6.223 Or any manere false men · fonde þow swiche to knowe
W6.224 Conforte hym wiþ þi catel · for cristes loue of heuene
W6.225 Loue hem and lene hem · so lawe of god techeþ
W6.226Alter alterius onera portate

W6.227 And alle manere of men · þat þow myȝt aspie
W6.228 That nedy ben and nouȝty · help hem wiþ þi goodes
W6.229 Loue hem and lakke hem noȝt · lat god take þe vengeaunce
W6.230 Theiȝ þei doon yuele · lat god yworþe
W6.231Michi vindictam & ego retribuam

W6.232 And if þow wilt be gracious to god · do as þe gospel techeþ
W6.233 And biloue þee amonges lewed men · so shaltow lacche grace
W6.234Facite vos201 amicos de mammona iniquitatis

W6.235 I wolde noȝt greue god quod Piers · for al þe good on grounde
W6.236 Miȝte I synnelees do as þow seist · seide Piers þanne

W6.237 Ye I bihote þee quod hunger · or ellis þe bible lieþ
W6.238 Go to Genesis þe geaunt · þe engendrour of vs alle
W6.239In sudore and swynk · þow shalt þi mete tilie
W6.240 And laboure for þi liflode · and so oure lord hiȝte
W6.241 And Sapience seiþ þe same · I seiȝ it in þe bible
W6.242Piger pro frigore · no feeld nolde tilie
W6.243 And þer-fore he shal begge and bidde · and no man bete his hunger

W6.244 Mathew wiþ mannes face · mouþed þise wordes
W6.245 That seruus nequam hadde a Mnam202(c) · and for he wolde noȝt chaffare
W6.246 He hadde maugree of his maister · euere-moore after
W6.247 And bynam hym his Mnam · for he ne wolde werche
W6.248 And yaf þat Mnam to hym · þat ten Mnames hadde
W6.249 And wiþ þat he seide · þat holy chirche it herde
W6.250 He þat haþ shal haue · and helpe þere it nedeþ           203(n)

fol.39v

W6.251 And he þat noȝt haþ shal noȝt haue · and no man hym helpe           204(n)
W6.252 And þat he weneþ wel to haue · I wole it hym bireue
W6.253 Kynde wit wolde · þat ech a wiȝt wroȝte
W6.254 Or in dikynge or in deluynge · or trauaillynge in preieres
W6.255 Contemplatif lif or Actif lif · crist wolde þei wroȝte
W6.256 The Sauter seiþ in þe psalme · of Beati omnes
W6.257 The freke þat fedeþ hym-self · wiþ his feiþful labour
W6.258 He is blessed by þe book · in body and in soule
W6.259Labores manuum tuarum &c
W6.260 Yet I preie yow quod Piers · par charite and ye konne
W6.261 Any leef of lechecraft · lere it me my deere
W6.262 For some of my seruauntz · and my-self boþe
W6.263 Of al a wike werche noȝt · so oure wombe akeþ

W6.264 I woot wel quod hunger · what siknesse yow eyleþ
W6.265 Ye han manged ouer-muche · and þat makeþ yow grone
W6.266 Ac I hote þee quod hunger · as þow þyn hele wilnest
W6.267 That þow drynke no day · er þow dyne som-what205(c)           206(n)
W6.268 Ete noȝt I hote þee · er hunger þee take           207(n)
W6.269 And sende þee of his Sauce · to sauore wiþ þi lippes           208(n)
W6.270 And keep som til soper tyme · and sitte noȝt to longe           209(n)
W6.271 And rys vp er Appetit · haue eten his fille           210(n)
W6.272 Lat noȝt sire Surfet · sitten at þi borde           211(n)
W6.273 Leue hym noȝt for he is lecherous · and likerous of tunge           212(n)
W6.274 And after many maner metes · his mawe is afyngred           213(n)

W6.275214(c) And if þow diete þee þus · I dar legge myne eris           215(n)
W6.276 That Phisik shal hise furred hodes · for his fode selle
W6.277 And his cloke of Calabre · wiþ alle þe knappes of golde
W6.278 And be fayn by my feiþ · his Phisik to lete
W6.279 And lerne to laboure wiþ lond · for liflode is swete           216(n)
W6.280 For murþereris are manye leches · lord hem amende
W6.281 They do men deye þoruȝ hir drynkes · er destynee it wolde

W6.282 By Seint Poul quod Piers · þise arn profitable wordes
W6.283 Wend now hunger whan þow wolt · þat wel be þow euere
W6.284 For þis is a louely lesson · lord it þee foryelde

W6.285 Bihote god quod hunger · hennes ne wole I wende
W6.286 Til I haue dyned bi þis day · and ydronke boþe

W6.287 I haue no peny quod Piers · pulettes to bugge
W6.288 Ne neiþer gees ne grys · but two grene cheses
W6.289 A fewe cruddes and creme · and an hauer cake
W6.290 And two loues of benes and bran · ybake for my fauntes
W6.291 And yet I seye by my soule · I haue no salt bacon
W6.292 Ne no cokeney by crist · coloppes for to maken

W6.293 Ac I haue percile and porettes · and manye cole plauntes
W6.294 And ek a cow and a calf · and a cart mare           217(n)
W6.295 To drawe a-feld my donge · þe while þe droȝte lasteþ
W6.296 And by þis liflode we mote lyue · til lammesse tyme
W6.297 And by þat I hope to haue · heruest in my crofte
W6.298 And þanne may I diȝte þi dyner · as me deere likeþ

W6.299 Al þe pouere peple þo · pescoddes fetten
W6.300 Benes and baken apples · þei broȝte in hir lappes
W6.301 Chibolles and Cheruelles · and ripe chiries manye
W6.302 And profrede Piers þis present · to plese wiþ hunger

W6.303 Al hunger eet in haste · and axed after moore
W6.304 Thanne pouere folk for fere · fedden hunger yerne
W6.305 Wiþ grene poret and pesen · to poisone hym þei þoȝte
W6.306 By þat it neȝed neer heruest · & newe corn cam to chepyng
W6.307 Thanne was folk fayn · and fedde hunger wiþ þe beste
W6.308 Wiþ good Ale as Gloton taȝte · and garte hunger go slepe

W6.309 And þo wolde wastour noȝt werche · but wandren aboute

fol.40v

W6.310Ne no beggere ete breed · þat benes Inne were
W6.311 But of Coket and cler-matyn · or ellis of clene whete
W6.312 Ne noon halfpeny ale · in none wise drynke
W6.313 But of þe beste and of þe brunneste · þat in Burgh is to selle
W6.314 Laborers þat haue no land · to lyue on but hire handes218(c)           219(n)
W6.315 Deyned noȝt to dyne a day · nyȝt-olde wortes           220(n)
W6.316 May no peny ale hem paie · ne no pece of bacoun           221(n)
W6.317 But if it be fressh flessh ouþer fissh : fryed ouþer ybake           222(n)
W6.318 And þat chaud and plus chaud · for chillynge of hir mawe           223(n)
W6.319 And but if he be heiȝliche hyred · ellis wole he chide           224(n)
W6.320 And þat he was werkman wroȝt · waille þe tyme           225(n)
W6.321 Ayeins Catons counseil · comseþ he to Iangle           226(n)
W6.322 Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento

W6.323 He greueþ hym ageyn god · and gruccheþ ageyn Reson
W6.324 And þanne corseþ he þe kyng · and al his counseil after
W6.325 Swiche lawes to loke · laborers to greue
W6.326 Ac whiles hunger was hir maister · þer wolde noon of hem chide
W6.327 Ne stryuen ayeins his statut · so sterneliche he loked

W6.328 Ac I warne yow werkmen · wynneþ whil ye mowe
W6.329 For hunger hiderward · hasteþ hym faste
W6.330 He shal awake wiþ water · wastours to chaste
W6.331 Er fyue be fulfilled · swich famyn shal aryse
W6.332 Thoruȝ flodes and þoruȝ foule wedres · fruytes shul faille
W6.333 And so seide Saturne · and sente yow to warne

W6.334227(c) Whan ye se þe sonne amys · and two monkes heddes
W6.335 And a mayde haue þe maistrie · and multiplie by eiȝte
W6.336 Thanne shal deeþ wiþ-drawe · and derþe be Iustice           228(n)
W6.337 And Dawe þe dykere · deye for hunger
W6.338 But god of his goodnesse · graunte vs a trewe           229(n)
Truþe herde telle

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