Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 17

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Passus xvijus &c et .ijus. de Dobet

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

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

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

W17.9 Lat se þi lettres quod I · we myghte þe lawe knowe

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

fol.104r

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

W17.155 And þre sondry sightes · in oon shewynge

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

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

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

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

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

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

W17.181 So is þe holy goost god · neiþer gretter ne lasse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

W17.218 And as glowynge gledes · gladeþ noȝt þise werkmen
W17.219 That werchen and waken · in wyntres nyȝtes
W17.220 As dooþ a kex or a candle · þat caught haþ fir and blaseþ
W17.221 Namoore dooþ sire ne sone · ne seint spirit togidres
W17.222 Graunte no grace · ne forȝifnesse of synnes
W17.223 Til þe holy goost gynne · to glowe and to blase
W17.224 So þat þe holy goost · gloweþ but as a glade901
W17.225 Til þat lele loue · ligge on hym and blowe
W17.226 And þanne flawmeþ he as fir · on fader and on filius
W17.227 And melteþ hire myȝt in-to mercy · as men may se in wyntre
W17.228 Ysekeles in euesynges · þoruȝ hete of þe sonne
W17.229 Melte in a Mynut while · to myst and to watre

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

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

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

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

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

W17.252 Be vnkynde to þyn euene-cristene · and al þat þow kanst bidde
W17.253 Delen and do penaunce · day and nyght euere
W17.254 And purchace al þe pardon · of Pampilon and Rome
W17.255 And Indulgences ynowe · and be ingratus to þi kynde
W17.256 The Holy goost hereþ þee noȝt . ne helpe may þee by reson
W17.257 For vnkyndenesse quencheþ hym · þat he kan noȝt shyne
W17.258 Ne brenne ne blase clere · fo903 blowynge of vnkyndenesse
W17.259 Poul þe Apostel · preueþ wheiþer I lye
W17.260Si linguis hominum loquar &c

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

W17.300And myldeliche his mercy aske · myghte I noȝt be saued

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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