Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Piers Plowman Electronic Archive

Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

Passus 3

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Passus tercius de visione vt supra

W3.1NOw is Mede þe mayde · and namo of hem alle
W3.2 Wiþ Bedeles and with baillies · brouȝt bifore þe kyng

W3.3 The kyng called a clerk · kan I noȝt his name
W3.4 To take Mede þe maide · and maken hire atese
W3.5 I shal assayen hire my-self · and sooþliche appose
W3.6 What man of þis moolde · þat hire were leuest
W3.7 And if she werche bi wit · and my wil folwe
W3.8 I wol forgyuen hire þis gilt · so me god helpe

W3.9 Curteisly þe clerk þanne · as þe kyng hiȝte
W3.10 Took Mede bi þe myddel · and broȝte hire in-to chambre
W3.11 And þer was murþe & Mynstralcie · Mede to plese

W3.12 They þat wonyeþ in westmynstre · worshipeþ hire alle
W3.13 Gentilliche wiþ ioye · þe Iustices somme
W3.14 Busked hem to þe bour · þer þe burde dwellede
W3.15 To conforten hire kyndely · by clergies leue
W3.16 And seiden mourne noȝt Mede · ne make þow no sorwe
W3.17 For we wol wisse þe kyng · and þi wey shape
W3.18 To be wedded at þi wille · and wher þee leef likeþ
W3.19 For al Consciences cast · or craft as I trowe

W3.20 Mildely Mede þanne · merciede hem alle
W3.21 Of hire grete goodnesse · and gaf hem echone

fol.13v

W3.22 Coupes of clene gold · and coppes of siluer
W3.23 Rynges wiþ Rubies · and richesses manye
W3.24 The leeste man of hire meynee · a moton of golde
W3.25 Thanne lauȝte þei leue · þise lordes at Mede
W3.26 Wiþ þat comen clerkes · to conforten hire þe same
W3.27 And beden hire be bliþe · for we beþ þyne owene
W3.28 For to werche þi wille · þe while þow myȝt laste

W3.29 Hendiliche heo þanne · bihiȝte hem þe same
W3.30 To louen hem lelly · and lordes to make
W3.31 And in þe Consistorie at þe court · do callen hire names
W3.32 Shal no lewednesse lette · þe leode þat I louye
W3.33 That he ne worþ first auaunced · for I am biknowen
W3.34 Ther konnynge clerkes · shul clokke bihynde

W3.35 Thanne cam þer a Confessour · coped as a frere
W3.36 To mede þe mayde · he mened þise wordes
W3.37 And seide ful softely · in shrift as it were
W3.38 Theiȝ lewed men and lered men · hadde leyen by þee boþe
W3.39 And Falsnesse hadde yfolwed þee · alle þise fifty wynter
W3.40 I shal assoille þee my-self · for a seem of whete
W3.41 And also be þi bedeman · and bere wel þi message
W3.42 Amonges knyȝtes and clerkes · Conscience to torne

W3.43 Thanne Mede for hire mysdedes · to þat man kneled
W3.44 And shrof hire of hire sherewednesse · shamelees I trowe
W3.45 Tolde hym a tale · and took hym a noble
W3.46 For to ben hire Bedeman · and hire brocour als

W3.47 Thanne he assoiled hire soone · and siþen he seide
W3.48 We haue a wyndow in werchynge · wole sitten vs ful hye
W3.49 Woldestow glaze þat gable · & graue þer-Inne þy name
W3.50 Syker sholde þi soule be · heuene to haue


fol.14r

W3.51 Wiste I þat quod þat womman · I wolde noȝt spare
W3.52 For to be youre frend frere · and faile yow neuere
W3.53 While ye loue lordes · þat lecherie haunten
W3.54 And lakkeþ noȝt ladies · þat louen wel þe same
W3.55 It is a freletee of flessh · ye fynden it in bokes
W3.56 And a cours of kynde · wher-of we comen alle
W3.57 Who may scape sclaundre69 · þe scaþe is soone amended
W3.58 It is synne of þe seuene · sonnest relessed
W3.59 Haue mercy quod Mede · of men þat it haunteþ
W3.60 And I shal couere youre kirk · youre cloistre do maken
W3.61 Wowes do whiten · and wyndowes glazen
W3.62 Do peynten and portraye · and paie for þe makynge
W3.63 That euery segge shal seye · I am suster of youre house

W3.64 Ac god to alle good folk · swich grauynge defendeþ
W3.65 To writen in wyndowes · of hir wel-dedes
W3.66Anauenture pride be peynted þere · and pomp of þe world
W3.67 For crist knoweþ þi conscience · and þi kynde wille
W3.68 And þi cost and þi coueitise · and who þe catel ouȝte

W3.69 For-þi I lere yow lordes · leueþ swiche werkes
W3.70 To writen in wyndowes · of youre wel-dedes
W3.71 Or to greden after goddesmen · whan ye dele doles
W3.72 On auenture ye haue youre hire here · and youre heuene als
W3.73Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra

W3.74 Lat noȝt þi left half · late ne raþe
W3.75 Wite what þow werchest · wiþ þi riȝt syde
W3.76 For þus by70 þe gospel · goode men doon hir almesse

W3.77 Maires and Maceres · þat menes ben bitwene
W3.78 The kyng and þe comune · to kepe þe lawes

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W3.79 To punysshe on Pillories · and pynynge stooles
W3.80 Brewesters and Baksters · Bochiers and Cokes
W3.81 For þise are men on þis molde · þat moost harm wercheþ
W3.82 To þe pouere peple · þat parcelmele buggen
W3.83 For þei enpoisone71 þe peple · pryueliche and ofte
W3.84 Thei richen þoruȝ regratrie · and rentes hem biggen
W3.85 Wiþ þat þe pouere peple · sholde putte in hire wombe
W3.86 For toke þei on trewely · þei tymbred nouȝt so heiȝe
W3.87 Ne bouȝte none burgages · be ye ful certeyne
W3.88 Ac Mede þe mayde · þe Mair haþ bisouȝt
W3.89 Of alle swiche Selleris · siluer to take
W3.90 Or presentz wiþ-outen pens · as pieces of siluer
W3.91 Rynges or ooþer richesse · þe Regratiers to mayntene
W3.92 For my loue quod þat lady · loue hem echone
W3.93 And suffre hem to selle · somdel ayeins reson

W3.94 Salomon þe sage a sermon · he made
W3.95 For to amenden Maires · and men þat kepen lawes
W3.96 And tolde hem þis teme · þat I telle þynke

W3.97Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera &c

W3.98 Among þise lettrede leodes · þis latyn is to mene
W3.99 That fir shal falle & brenne · al to bloo askes
W3.100 The houses and homes · of hem þat desireþ
W3.101 Yiftes or yeresyeues · by-cause of hire Offices

W3.102 The kyng fro þe conseil cam · and called after Mede
W3.103 And ofsente hire as swiþe · wiþ sergeauntz manye
W3.104 And72 brouȝte hire to boure · wiþ blisse and wiþ ioye

W3.105 Curteisly þe kyng þanne · comsed to telle
W3.106 To Mede þe mayde · he meneþ73 þise wordes
W3.107 Vnwittily womman · wroȝt hastow ofte

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W3.108 Ac worse wroȝtestow neuere · þan þo þow Fals toke
W3.109 But I forgyue þee þat gilt · and graunte þee my grace
W3.110 Hennes to þi deeþ-day · do so namoore
W3.111 I haue a knyȝt Conscience · cam late fro biyonde
W3.112 If he wilneþ þee to wif · wiltow hym haue

W3.113 Ye lord quod þat lady · lord forbede it ellis
W3.114 But I be holly at youre heste · lat hange me soone

W3.115 And þanne was Conscience called · to come and appere
W3.116 Bifore þe kyng and his conseil · as clerkes and oþere

W3.117 Knelynge Conscience · to þe kyng louted
W3.118 To wite what his wille were · and what he do wolde74

W3.119 Woltow wedde þis womman quod þe kyng · if I wole assente
W3.120 For she is fayn of þi felaweshipe · for to be þi make

W3.121 Quod Conscience to þe kyng · crist it me forbede
W3.122 Er I wedde swich a wif · wo me bitide
W3.123 For she is frele of hire feiþ · fikel of hire speche
W3.124 And makeþ men mysdo · many score tymes
W3.125 Trust of hire tresor · bitrayeþ ful manye           75(n)

W3.126 Wyues and widewes · wantounes she techeþ
W3.127 And lereþ hem lecherie · þat loueþ hire ȝiftes
W3.128 Youre fader she felled · þoruȝ false biheste
W3.129 And haþ enpoisoned76 popes · and peired holy chirche
W3.130 Is noȝt a bettre baude · by hym þat me made
W3.131 Bitwene heuene and helle · in erþe þouȝ men souȝte
W3.132 For she is tikel of hire tail · and talewis of hire tonge           77(n)
W3.133 As commune as a Cartwey · to ech a knaue þat walkeþ           78(n)
W3.134 To Monkes to Mynstrales · to Meseles in hegges


fol.15v

W3.135 Sisours and Somonours · swiche men hire preiseþ
W3.136 Sherreues of Shires · were shent if she ne were
W3.137 For she dooþ men lese hire lond · and hire lif boþe
W3.138 She leteþ passe prisoners · and paieþ for hem ofte
W3.139 And gyueþ þe Gailers gold · and grotes togidres
W3.140 To vnfettre þe fals · fle where hym likeþ           79(n)
W3.141 And takeþ þe trewe bi þe top · and tieþ hem faste
W3.142 And hangeþ hem for hatrede · þat harm dide neuere
W3.143 To be corsed in Consistorie · she counteþ noȝt a bene
W3.144 For she copeþ þe Commissarie · and coteþ hise clerkes           80(n)
W3.145 She is assoiled as soone · as hire-self likeþ
W3.146 And may neiȝ as muche do · in a Monþe one
W3.147 As youre secret seel · in sixe score dayes
W3.148 For she is pryuee wiþ þe pope · prouisours it knoweþ
W3.149 For Sire Symonie and hir-selue · seleþ hire bulles

W3.150 She blesseþ þise Bisshopes · þeiȝ þei be lewed
W3.151 Prouendreþ persones · and preestes maynteneþ
W3.152 To haue lemmans and lotebies · alle hire lif-daies
W3.153 And bryngeþ forþ barnes · ayein forbode lawes
W3.154 Ther she is wel wiþ þe kyng · wo is þe Reaume
W3.155 For she is fauourable to fals · and defouleþ truþe ofte

W3.156 By Iesus · wiþ hire Ieweles · youre Iustices she shendeþ
W3.157 And liþ ayein þe lawe · and letteþ hym þe gate
W3.158 That feiþ may noȝt haue his forþ · hire floryns go so þikke
W3.159 She ledeþ þe lawe as hire list · and louedaies makeþ
W3.160 And doþ men lese þoruȝ hire loue · þat lawe myȝte wynne
W3.161 The maze for a mene man · þouȝ he mote hire euere
W3.162 Lawe is so lordlich · and looþ to maken ende
W3.163 Wiþ-outen presentz or pens · she pleseþ wel fewe

W3.164 Barons and Burgeises · she bryngeþ in sorwe

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W3.165 And al þe comune in care · þat coueiten lyue in truþe           81(n)
W3.166 For clergie and coueitise · she coupleþ togidres
W3.167 This is þe lif of þat lady · now lord ȝyue hire sorwe
W3.168 And alle þat maynteneþ hire men · meschaunce hem bitide
W3.169 For pouere men may haue no power · to pleyne hem þouȝ þei smerte
W3.170 Swich a maister is Mede · among men of goode
W3.171 Thanne mournede Mede · and mened hire to þe kynge
W3.172 To haue space to speke · spede if she myȝte

W3.173 The kyng graunted hire grace · wiþ a good wille
W3.174 Excuse þee if þow kanst · I kan namoore seggen
W3.175 For Conscience accuseþ þee · to congeien þee for euere

W3.176 Nay lord quod þat lady · leueþ hym þe werse
W3.177 Whan ye witen witterly · wher þe wrong liggeþ
W3.178 Ther þat meschief is gret · Mede may helpe           82(n)
W3.179 And þow knowest Conscience · I kam noȝt to chide
W3.180 Ne depraue þi persone · wiþ a proud herte
W3.181 Wel þow woost wernard · but if þow wolt gabbe
W3.182 Thow hast hanged on myn half · elleuene tymes
W3.183 And also griped my gold · gyue it where þee liked
W3.184 And whi þow wraþest þee now · wonder me þynkeþ
W3.185 Yet I may as I myȝte · menske þee wiþ ȝiftes
W3.186 And mayntene þi manhode · moore þan þow knowest

W3.187 Ac þow hast famed me foule · bifore þe kyng here
W3.188 For killed I neuere no kyng · ne counseiled þer-after
W3.189 Ne dide as þow demest · I do it on þe kynge

W3.190 In Normandie was he noȝt · noyed for my sake
W3.191 Ac þow þi-self sooþly · shamedest hym ofte
W3.192 Crope in-to a Cabane · for cold of þi nayles
W3.193 Wendest þat wynter · wolde han ylasted euere

fol.16v

W3.194And dreddest to be ded · for a dym cloude
W3.195 And hyedest homward · for hunger of þi wombe
W3.196 Wiþ-outen pite Pilour · pouere men þow robbedest
W3.197 And bere hire bras at þi bak · to Caleis to selle
W3.198 Ther I lafte wiþ my lord · his lif for to saue
W3.199 I made his men murye · and mournynge lette
W3.200 I batred hem on þe bak · and boldede hire hertes
W3.201 And dide hem hoppe for hope · to haue me at wille
W3.202 Hadde I ben Marchal of his men · by Marie of heuene
W3.203 I dorste haue leyd my lif · and no lasse wedde
W3.204 He sholde haue be lord of þat lond · in lengþe and in brede
W3.205 And also kyng of þat kiþ · his kyn for to helpe
W3.206 The leeste brol of his blood · a Barones piere

W3.207 Cowardly þow Conscience · conseiledest hym þennes
W3.208 To leuen his lordshipe · for a litel siluer
W3.209 That is þe richeste Reaume · þat reyn ouer-houeþ

W3.210 It bicomeþ to a kyng · þat kepeþ a Reaume           83(n)
W3.211 To yeue mede to men · þat mekely hym serueþ
W3.212 To aliens and to alle men · to honouren hem with ȝiftes
W3.213 Mede makeþ hym biloued · and for a man holden

W3.214 Emperours and Erles · and alle manere lordes
W3.215 For ȝiftes han yonge men · to renne and to ryde

W3.216 The Pope and alle þe prelates · presentz vnderfongen
W3.217 And medeþ men hem-seluen · to mayntene hir lawes

W3.218 Sergeauntz for hire seruyce · we seeþ wel þe soþe
W3.219 Taken Mede of hir maistres · as þei mowe acorde

W3.220 Beggeres for hir biddynge · bidden men Mede

Mynstrales for
W3.221 Mynstrales for hir myrþe · Mede þei aske

W3.222 The kyng haþ mede of his men · to make pees in londe           84(n)

W3.223 Men þat teche children · crauen after Mede           85(n)

W3.224 Preestes þat prechen þe peple · to goode · asken Mede           86(n)
W3.225 And massepens and hire mete · at þe meeltymes

W3.226 Alle kynne craftes men · crauen Mede for hir Prentices           87(n)

W3.227 Marchauntz and Mede · mote nede go togideres
W3.228 No wiȝt as I wene · wiþ-outen Mede may libbe

W3.229 Quod þe kyng to Conscience · by crist as me þynkeþ
W3.230 Mede is wel worþi · þe maistrie to haue

W3.231 Nay quod Conscience to þe kyng · and kneled to þe erþe
W3.232 Ther are two manere of Medes · my lord wiþ youre leue

W3.233 That oon god of his grace · graunteþ in his blisse
W3.234 To þo þat wel werchen · while þei ben here
W3.235 The prophete precheþ þer-of · and putte it in þe Sauter

W3.236 Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo

W3.237 Lord who shal wonye in þi wones · and wiþ þyne holy seintes
W3.238 Or resten in þyne holy hilles · þis askeþ Dauid
W3.239 And Dauid assoileþ it hym-self · as þe Sauter telleþ
W3.240Qui ingreditur sine macula & operatur Iusticiam

W3.241 Tho þat entren of o colour · and of one wille
W3.242 And han ywroght werkes · wiþ right and wiþ reson

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W3.243 And88(c) he þat vseþ noȝt · þe lyf of vsurie
W3.244 And enformeþ pouere men · and pursueþ truþe
W3.245Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram · et munera super Innocentem &c

W3.246 And alle þat helpen þe Innocent · and holden with þe riȝtfulle
W3.247 Wiþ-outen Mede doþ hem good · and þe truþe helpeþ
W3.248 Swiche manere men my lord · shul haue þis firste Mede
W3.249 Of god at a gret nede · whan þei gon hennes

W3.250 Ther is anoþer Mede mesurelees · þat maistres desireþ
W3.251 To mayntene mysdoers · Mede þei take
W3.252 And þer-of seiþ þe Sauter · in a Salmes ende

W3.253In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt · dextra eorum repleta est muneribus

W3.254 And he þat gripeþ hir gold · so me god helpe
W3.255 Shal abien it bittre · or þe book lieþ

W3.256 Preestes and persons · þat plesynge desireþ
W3.257 That taken Mede and moneie · for masses þat þei syngeþ
W3.258 Taken hire Mede here · as Mathew vs techeþ

W3.259Amen amen · Recipiebant mercedem suam

W3.260 That laborers and lowe folk · taken of hire maistres
W3.261 It is no manere Mede · but a mesurable hire           89(n)

W3.262 In marchaundise is no Mede · I may it wel auowe
W3.263 It is a permutacion apertly · a penyworþ for anoþer

W3.264 Ac reddestow neuere Regum · þow recrayed Mede
W3.265 Whi þe vengeaunce fel · on Saul and on his children
W3.266 God sente to Saul · by Samuel þe prophete

fol.18r

W3.267 That Agag of Amalec · and al his peple after
W3.268 Sholden deye for a dede · þat doon hadde hire eldres
W3.269 For-þi seide Samuel to Saul · god hym-self hoteþ
W3.270 Thee · be buxom at his biddynge · his wil to fulfille
W3.271 Weend to Amalec with þyn oost · & what þow fyndest þere sle it
W3.272 Burnes and beestes · bren hem to deþe
W3.273 Widwes and wyues · wommen and children
W3.274 Moebles and vnmoebles · and al þow myȝt fynde
W3.275 Bren it · bere it noȝt awey · be it neuer so riche
W3.276 For Mede ne for monee · loke þow destruye it
W3.277 Spille it and spare it noȝt · þow shalt spede þe bettre

W3.278 And for he coueited hir catel · and þe kyng spared
W3.279 Forbar hym and his beestes boþe · as þe bible witnesseþ
W3.280 Ooþer-wise þan he was · warned of þe prophete
W3.281 God seide to Samuel · þat Saul sholde deye
W3.282 And al his seed for þat synne · shenfulliche ende
W3.283 Swich a meschief Mede made · Saul þe kyng to haue
W3.284 That god hated hym for euere · and alle hise heires after

W3.285 The culorum of þis cas · kepe I noȝt to telle
W3.286 On auenture it noyed men · noon ende wol I make
W3.287 For so is þis world went · wiþ hem þat han power           90(n)
W3.288 That who-so seiþ hem soþest · is sonnest yblamed

W3.289 I Conscience knowe þis · for kynde wit it me tauȝte
W3.290 That Reson shal regne · and Reaumes gouerne
W3.291 And riȝt as Agag hadde · happe shul somme
W3.292 Samuel shal sleen hym · and Saul shal be blamed
W3.293 And Dauid shal be diademed · and daunten hem alle
W3.294 And oon cristene kyng · kepen hem alle ·
W3.295 Shal namoore Mede be maister · as she is nouþe
W3.296 Ac loue and lowenesse · and leautee togideres

fol.18v

W3.297 Thise shul ben Maistres on moolde · truþe to saue
W3.298 And who-so trespaseþ ayein truþe · or takeþ ayein his wille
W3.299 Leaute shal don hym lawe · and no lif ellis
W3.300 Shal no sergeant for his seruice · were a silk howue
W3.301 Ne no pelure in his cloke · for pledynge at þe barre
W3.302 Mede of mysdoeres · makeþ manye lordes           91(n)
W3.303 And ouer lordes lawes · ruleþ þe Reaumes

W3.304 Ac kynde loue shal come ȝit · and Conscience togideres
W3.305 And make of lawe a laborer · swich loue shal arise
W3.306 And swich a pees among þe peple · and a parfit truþe
W3.307 That Iewes shul wene in hire wit · and wexen wonder glade
W3.308 That Moyses or Messie · be come in-to þis erþe
W3.309 And haue wonder in hire hertes · þat men beþ so trewe

W3.310 Alle þat beren baselard · brood swerd or launce
W3.311 Ax ouþer hachet · or any wepene ellis
W3.312 Shal be demed to þe deeþ · but if he do it smyþye
W3.313 In-to sikel or to siþe · to shaar or to kultour

W3.314Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres &c

W3.315 Ech man to pleye with a plow · Pykoise or spade
W3.316 Spynne or sprede donge · or spille hym-self with sleuþe

W3.317 Preestes and persons · wiþ Placebo to hunte
W3.318 And dyngen vp-on Dauid · eche day til eue
W3.319 Huntynge or haukynge · if any of hem vse
W3.320 His boost of his benefice · worþ bynomen hym after
W3.321 Shal neiþer kyng ne knyght · Constable ne Meire
W3.322 Ouerlede þe commune · ne to þe Court sompne
W3.323 Ne putte hem in panel · to doon hem pliȝte hir truþe
W3.324 But after þe dede þat is doon · oon doom shal rewarde

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W3.325 Mercy or no mercy · as Truthe wole acorde           92(n)
W3.326 Kynges Court and commune Court · Consistorie and Chapitle
W3.327 Al shal be but oon court · and oon baron be Iustice
W3.328 Thanne worþ Trewe tonge a tidy man · þat tened me neuere
W3.329 Batailles shul none be · ne no man bere wepene
W3.330 And what smyth þat any smyþeþ · be smyte þerwiþ to deþe

W3.331 Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium &c
W3.332 And er þis fortune falle · fynde men shul þe worste
W3.333 By sixe sonnes and a ship · and half a shef of Arwes
W3.334 And þe myddel of a Moone · shal make þe Iewes to torne
W3.335 And Sarzynes for þat siȝte · shul synge · Gloria in excelsis &c
W3.336 For Makometh and Mede · myshappe shul þat tyme
W3.337 For Melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe           93(n)

W3.338 Al-so wroþ as þe wynd · weex Mede in a while
W3.339 I kan no latyn quod she · clerkes wite þe soþe
W3.340 Se what Salomon seiþ · in Sapience bokes
W3.341 That þei þat ȝyuen94(c) ȝiftes · þe victorie wynneþ
W3.342 And moost worshipe hadde þer-wiþ · as holy writ telleþ

W3.343 Honorem adquiret qui dat munera · &c

W3.344 I leue wel lady quod Conscience · þat þi latyn be trewe
W3.345 Ac þow art lik a lady · þat radde a lesson ones
W3.346 Was omnia probate · and þat plesed hire herte           95(n)
W3.347 For þat lyne was no lenger · at þe leues ende
W3.348 Hadde she loked þat ooþer half · and þe leef torned
W3.349 She sholde haue founden fele wordes · folwynge þer-after
W3.350Quod bonum est tenete · truþe þat text made
W3.351 And so ferde ye madame · ye kouþe namoore fynde
W3.352 Tho ye loked on Sapience · sittynge in youre studie

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W3.353This text þat ye han told · were good for lordes
W3.354 Ac yow failed a konnynge clerk · þat kouþe þe leef han torned
W3.355 And if ye seche Sapience eft · fynde shul ye þat folweþ
W3.356 A ful teneful text · to hem þat takeþ Mede
W3.357 And þat is Animam autem aufert accipientium &c
W3.358 And þat is þe tail of þe text · of þat þat she shewed
W3.359 That þeiȝ we wynne worship · and with Mede haue victorie
W3.360 The soule þat þe soude takeþ · by so muche is bounde

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Last updated: Sept. 27, 2000.
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