Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 1

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Passus primus de visione

W1.1What þis Mountaigne bymeneþ · and þe merke dale
W1.2 And þe feld ful of folk · I shal yow faire shewe

W1.3 A louely lady of leere · in lynnen ycloþed
W1.4 Cam doun from a Castel · and called me faire
W1.5 And seide sone slepestow · sestow þis peple
W1.6 How bisie þei ben · alle aboute þe maze
W1.7 The mooste partie of þis peple · þat passeþ on þis erþe
W1.8 Haue þei worship in þis world · þei wilne no bettre
W1.9 Of ooþer heuene þan here · holde þei no tale

W1.10 I was afered of hire face · þeiȝ she fair weere
W1.11 And seide mercy madame · what is þis to meene

W1.12 The tour on þe toft quod she · truþe is þer-Inne
W1.13 And wolde þat ye wrouȝte · as his word techeþ
W1.14 For he is fader of feiþ · and formed yow alle
W1.15 Boþe with fel and with face · and yaf yow fyue wittes
W1.16 For to worshipe hym þer-wiþ · while þat ye ben here
W1.17 And þerfore he hiȝte þe erþe · to helpe yow echone
W1.18 Of wollene of lynnen · of liflode at nede
W1.19 In mesurable manere · to make yow atese
W1.20 And comaunded of his curteisie · in commune þree þynges
W1.21 Are none nedfulle but þo · and nempne hem I þynke
W1.22 And rekene hem by reson · reherce þow hem after

W1.23 That oon26 vesture · from cold27 þee to saue
W1.24 And mete at meel · for mysese of þi-selue

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W1.25 And drynke whan þow driest · ac do noȝt out of reson
W1.26 That þow worþe þe wers · whan þow werche sholdest
W1.27 For Lot28(c) in hise lifdayes · for likynge of drynke
W1.28 Dide by hise douȝtres · þat þe deuel liked
W1.29 Delited hym in drynke · as þe deuel wolde
W1.30 And Leccherie hym lauȝte · and lay by hem boþe
W1.31 And al he witte it þe wyn · þat wikked dede
W1.32Inebriamus eum vino · dormiamusque cum eo
W1.33Vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen

W1.34 Thoruȝ wyn and þoruȝ wommen · þer was loth acombred
W1.35 And þere gat in glotonie · gerles þat were cherles

W1.36 For-þi dred delitable drynke · and þow shalt do þe bettre
W1.37 Mesure is medicine · þouȝ þow muchel yerne
W1.38 It is nouȝt al good to þe goost · þat þe gut askeþ29(c)
W1.39 Ne liflode to þi likame · for a liere hym techeþ30
W1.40 That is þe wrecched world · wolde þee bitraye
W1.41 For þe fend and þi flessh · folwen togidere
W1.42 This and that seeþ þi soule · and seith it in þin herte
W1.43 And for þow sholdest ben ywar · I wisse þee þe beste

W1.44 Madame mercy quod I · me likeþ wel youre wordes
W1.45 Ac þe moneie of þis molde · þat men so faste holdeþ
W1.46 Tel me to whom madame · þat tresour appendeþ

W1.47 Go to þe gospel quod she · þat god seide hym-seluen
W1.48 Tho þe poeple hym apposede · wiþ a peny in þe temple
W1.49 Wheiþer þei sholde þer-wiþ · worshipe þe kyng Cesar

W1.50 And god asked of hym31 · of whom spak þe lettre
W1.51 And þe ymage was lik · þat þer-Inne stondeþ

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W1.52 Cesares þei seiden · we seen it wel echone

W1.53 Reddite Cesari · quod god · þat Cesari bifalleþ
W1.54Et que sunt dei deo · or ellis ye don ille
W1.55 For riȝtfully32 reson · sholde rule yow alle
W1.56 And kynde wit be wardeyn · youre welþe to kepe
W1.57 And tutour of youre tresor · and take it yow at nede
W1.58 For housbondrie and hij · holden togidres

W1.59 Thanne I frayned hire faire · for hym þat me made
W1.60 That dongeon in þe dale · þat dredful is of siȝte
W1.61 What may it be to meene · madame I yow biseche

W1.62 That is þe castel of care · who-so comþ þer-Inne
W1.63 May banne þat he born was · to bodi or to soule
W1.64 Ther-Inne wonyeþ a wight · þat wrong is yhote
W1.65 Fader of falshede · and founded it hym-selue
W1.66 Adam and Eue · he egged to ille
W1.67 Counseilled Kaym · to killen his broþer
W1.68 Iudas he iaped · wiþ Iewen siluer
W1.69 And siþen on an Eller · hanged hym-selue
W1.70 He is lettere of loue · and lieþ hem alle
W1.71 That trusten on his tresour · bitrayeþ he hem sonnest

W1.72 Thanne hadde I wonder in my wit · what womman it weere
W1.73 That swiche wise wordes · of holy writ shewed
W1.74 And asked hire on þe heiȝe name · er she þennes yede
W1.75 What she were witterly · þat wissed me so faire

W1.76 Holi chirche I am quod she · þow ouȝtest me to knowe
W1.77 I vnderfeng þee first · and þe feiþ tauȝte
W1.78 And brouȝtest me borwes · my biddyng to fulfille
W1.79 And to louen me leelly · þe while þi lif dureþ

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W1.80 Thanne I courbed on my knees · and cried hire of grace
W1.81 And preide hire pitously · preye for my synnes
W1.82 And also kenne me kyndely · on crist to bileue
W1.83 That I myȝte werchen his wille · þat wroȝte me to man
W1.84 Teche me to no tresor · but tel me þis ilke
W1.85 How I may saue my soule · þat Seint art yholden

W1.86 Whan alle tresors arn tried quod she · treuþe is þe beste33(c)
W1.87 I do it on Deus caritas · to deme þe soþe
W1.88 It is as dereworþe a drury · as deere god hym-seluen

W1.89 Who is trewe of his tonge · and telleþ noon ooþer           34(n)
W1.90 And dooþ þe werkes þer-wiþ · and wilneþ no man ille           35(n)
W1.91 He is a god by þe gospel · a grounde and olofte
W1.92 And ylik to oure lord · by Seint Lukes wordes
W1.93 The clerkes þat knowen þis · sholde kennen it aboute
W1.94 For cristen and vncristen · cleymeþ it echone

W1.95 Kynges and knyȝtes · sholde kepen it by reson
W1.96 Riden and rappen doun · in Reaumes aboute
W1.97 And taken transgressores · and tyen hem faste
W1.98 Til treuþe hadde y-termyned · hire trespas to þe ende           36(n)
W1.99 And þat is37 profession apertli · þat apendeþ to knyȝtes
W1.100 And nauȝt to fasten o friday · in fyue score wynter
W1.101 But holden wiþ hym and with here · þat wolden alle truþe
W1.102 And neuere leue hem for loue · ne for lacchynge of siluer
W1.103 For Dauid in hise dayes · dubbed knyȝtes
W1.104 And dide hem sweren on hir swerd · to seruen truþe euere
W1.105 And who-so passed þat point · was Apostata in þe ordre

W1.106 But crist kyngene kyng · knyȝted ten
W1.107 Cherubyn and Seraphyn · swiche seuene & oþere
W1.108 And yaf hem myȝt in his maiestee · þe murier hem þouȝte
W1.109 And ouer his meene meynee · made hem Archangeles

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W1.110 Tauȝte hem by þe Trinitee · treuþe to knowe
W1.111 To be buxom at his biddyng · he bad hem nouȝt ellis
W1.112 Lucifer wiþ legions · lerned it in heuene
W1.113 But for he brak buxomnesse · his blisse gan he tyne
W1.114 And fel fro þat felawshipe · in a fendes liknesse
W1.115 In-to a deep derk helle · to dwelle þere for euere
W1.116 And mo þousandes myd38 hym · þan man kouþe nombre
W1.117 Lopen out wiþ Lucifer · in loþliche forme
W1.118 For þei leueden vp-on hym · þat lyed in þis manere
W1.119Ponam pedem in aquilone · & similis ero altissimo ·

W1.120 And alle þat hoped it myȝte be so · noon heuene myȝte hem holde
W1.121 But fellen out in fendes liknesse · nyne dayes togideres
W1.122 Til god of his goodnesse · gan stablisse39 and stynte
W1.123 And garte þe heuene to stekie · and stonden in quiete

W1.124 Whan þise wikkede wenten out · in wonder-wise þei fellen
W1.125 Somme in þe Eyr somme in erþe · and somme in helle depe
W1.126 Ac Lucifer lowest liþ · yet of hem alle
W1.127 For pride þat he putte out · his peyne haþ noon ende
W1.128 And alle þat werchen with wrong · wende þei shulle
W1.129 After hir deþ-day · and dwelle with þat sherewe

W1.130 And þo þat werche wel · as holy writ telleþ
W1.131 And enden as I er seide · in truþe þat is þe beste
W1.132 Mowe be siker þat hire soules · shul wende to heuene
W1.133 Ther Treuþe is in Trinitee · and troneþ hem alle
W1.134 For-þi I seye as I seyde er · by siȝte of þise textes
W1.135 Whan alle tresors arn tried · truþe is þe beste           40(n)
W1.136 Lereþ it þise lewed men · for lettred men it knoweþ
W1.137 That Treuþe is tresor · þe trieste on erþe

W1.138 Yet41(p) haue I no kynde knowyng quod I · ye mote kenne me bettre

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W1.139 By what craft in my cors · it comseþ and where
W1.140 Thow doted daffe quod she · dulle are þi wittes
W1.141 To litel latyn þow lernedest · leode in þi youþe
W1.142Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam Iuuenilem

W1.143 It is a kynde knowyng quod she · þat kenneþ in þyn herte
W1.144 For to louen þi lord · leuere þan þi-selue
W1.145 No dedly synne to do · deye þeiȝ þow sholdest
W1.146 This I trowe be truþe · who kan teche þee bettre

W1.147 Loke þow suffre hym to seye · and siþen lere it after
W1.148 For truþe telleþ þat loue · is triacle of heuene           42(n)
W1.149 May no synne be on hym seene · þat vseþ þat spice           43(n)
W1.150 And alle hise werkes he wrouȝte · with loue as hym liste
W1.151 And lered it Moyses for þe leueste þyng · and moost lik to heuene
W1.152 And also þe plentee of pees · moost precious of vertues
W1.153 For heuene myȝte nat holden it · it was so heuy of hym-self
W1.154 Til it hadde of þe erþe · eten his fille

W1.155 And whan it hadde of þis fold · flessh and blood taken
W1.156 Was neuere leef vp-on lynde · lighter þer-after
W1.157 And portatif and persaunt · as þe point of a nedle
W1.158 That myȝte noon Armure it lette · ne none heiȝe walles

W1.159 For-þi is loue ledere · of þe lordes folk of heuene
W1.160 And a meene as þe Mair is · bitwene þe kyng & þe commune           44(n)
W1.161 Right so is loue a ledere · and þe lawe shapeþ
W1.162 Vp-on man for hise mysdedes · þe mercyment he taxeþ
W1.163 And for to knowen it kyndely · it comseþ by myght
W1.164 And in þe herte þere is þe heed · and þe heiȝe welle
W1.165 For in kynde knowynge in herte · þer a myȝt bigynneþ           45(n)
W1.166 And þat falleþ to þe fader · þat formed vs alle
W1.167 Loked on vs wiþ loue · and leet his sone dye

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W1.168 Mekely for oure mysdedes · to amenden vs alle
W1.169 And yet wolde he hem no wo · þat wrouȝte hym þat peyne
W1.170 But mekely wiþ mouþe · mercy bisouȝte46
W1.171 To haue pite of þat peple þat peyned hym to deþe

W1.172 Here myȝtow sen ensample · in hym-self oone
W1.173 That he was myȝtful and meke · and mercy gan graunte
W1.174 To hem þat hengen hym onheiȝ · and his herte þirled

W1.175 For-þi I rede yow riche · haueþ ruþe of þe pouere           47(n)
W1.176 Thouȝ ye be myȝtful to mote · beeþ meke in youre werkes
W1.177 For þe same mesures þat ye mete · amys ouþer ellis
W1.178 Ye shulle ben weyen þer-wiþ · whan ye wenden hennes
W1.179Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis · remecietur vobis

W1.180 For þouȝ ye be trewe of youre tonge · and treweliche wynne
W1.181 And as chaste as a child · þat in chirche wepeþ
W1.182 But if ye louen leelly · and lene þe pouere
W1.183 Swich good as god yow sent · goodliche parteþ
W1.184 Ye ne haue namoore merite · in masse nor in houres
W1.185 Than Malkyn of hire maydenhede · þat no man desireþ

W1.186 For Iames þe gentile · Iugged in hise bokes
W1.187 That Feiþ with-outen þe feet · is riȝt no-þyng worþi           48(n)
W1.188 And as deed as a dore tree · but if þe dedes folwe
W1.189Fides sine operibus mortua est &c

W1.190 For-þi chastite wiþ-outen charite · worþ cheyned in helle           49(n)
W1.191 It is as lewed as a lampe · þat no liȝt is Inne           50(n)
W1.192 Manye Chapeleyns arn chaste · ac charite is aweye
W1.193 Are no men Auarouser þan hij · whan þei ben auaunced
W1.194 Vnkynde to hire kyn · and to alle cristene
W1.195 Chewen hire charite · and chiden after moore
W1.196 Swich chastite wiþ-outen charite · worþ cheyned in helle

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W1.197 Manye curatours kepen hem · clene of hire bodies
W1.198 Thei ben acombred wiþ coueitise · þei konne noȝt doon it from hem
W1.199 So harde haþ Auarice · yhasped hem togideres
W1.200 And þat is no truþe of þe Trinite · but tricherie of helle
W1.201 And lernynge to lewed men · þe latter for to deele
W1.202 For-þi þise wordes · ben writen in þe gospel
W1.203Date & dabitur vobis · for I deele yow alle
W1.204 And þat is þe lok of loue · and leteþ out my grace
W1.205 To conforten þe carefulle · acombred wiþ synne

W1.206 Loue is leche of lif51(c) · and next52(c) oure lord selue
W1.207 And also þe graiþe gate · þat goþ in-to heuene
W1.208 For-þi I seye as I seide · er by þe textes
W1.209 Whan alle tresors ben tried · treuþe is þe beste           53(n)

W1.210 Now haue I told þee what truþe is · þat no tresor is bettre
W1.211 I may no lenger lenge þee wiþ · now loke þee oure lord

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