Passus secundus de visione vt supra

Ȝet I courbed on my knees · and cryed hir of grace
And seide mercy Madame · for Marie loue of heuene
That bar þat blisful barne · þat bouȝte vs on þe Rode
Bx.2.4KD.2.4
Kenne me bi somme crafte · to knowe þe fals
¶ Loke vpponBx.2.5: vppon: Beta shares the C reading. F's on is the A reading. þi left half · and lo where heBx.2.5: he: O anticipates the appearance of Mede in l. 8; hence sche, so that her in l. 6 is perhaps feminine in O, whereas it is plural in other mss. A mss. vary, with masc., fem. and pl. standeth
Bothe fals and fauel · and hereBx.2.6: here: "their"; clearly Bx. Ax has hise, referring to fals. Cx rewrites the b-verse, but has here in its following line. feres manye
¶ I loked on my left half · as þe lady me taughte
Bx.2.8KD.2.8
And was war of a womman · wortheliBx.2.8: wortheli: G's wonderslyche is from A or C. yclothed
Purfiled with pelure · þe [purest on]Bx.2.9: purest on: F shares this reading with Ax, whereas Cx revises to non puyrere on. The non-alliterating beta reading fynest vpon may of course be a Bx error. erthe
YcrounedeBx.2.10: Ycrounede: Beta has support from Ax; F's addition of And is supported by Cx and may represent alpha. with a corone · þe kyng hath non better
Fetislich hir fyngres · were fretted with golde wyreBx.2.11: golde wyre: G's rynges is from A. Cx rewrites. F omits the line.
Bx.2.12KD.2.12
And þere-on red rubyes · as red as any glede
And diamantz of derrest pris · and double manere safferes
Orientales and ewages · enuenymes to destroye
¶ Hire robe was ful riche · of red scarlet engreyned
Bx.2.16KD.2.16
With ribanes of red golde · and of riche stones
Hire arraye me rauysshed · suche ricchesse saw I neuere
I had wondre what she was · and whas wyf she were
¶ What is þis womman · quod I so worthily atired
Bx.2.20KD.2.20
¶ That is Mede þe Mayde quod she · hath noyed me ful oft
And ylakked my lemman · þat lewte is hoten
And bilowen hireBx.2.22: bilowen hire: "made herself pleasing to" (MED biloven); cf. Bx.6.233 where LMR have the -w- form. Both KD and Schmidt emend to bilowen h[ym], "slandered him" (MED bilien v.(2)). A has And lakkide my lore to lordis aboute (K.2.17); Cx has And lakked hym to lordes þat lawes han to kepe (RK.2.21, who emend), with ylow on my lemman in the previous line. to lordes · þat lawes han to kepe
In þe popis paleys · she is pryue as my-self
Bx.2.24KD.2.24
But sothenesse wolde nouȝt so · for she is a bastarde
¶ For fals was hire fader · þat hath a fykel tonge
And neuere sothe seide · sithen he come to erthe
Bx.2.27: : Only LM indicate a new paragraph here. WHmCF have a paraph in the line above. And Mede is manered after hym · riȝte as kynde axeth
Bx.2.28KD.2.27α
Qualis pater talis filius · bonusBx.2.28: bonus: LMWF treat arbor as masc.; the others alter to the more usual feminine. At RK.10.244b the X family of C similarly have bonus. F's expansion of the Latin is not supported. arbor · bonum fructum facit
I auȝte ben herre þan she · I cam of a better
Bx.2.30: : L's paraph is supported by a new line-group in M. Mi fader þe grete god is · and grounde of alle graces
O god with-oute gynnynge · & IBx.2.31: & I: F has & y am, as does Cx but in the a-verse. his gode douȝter
Bx.2.32KD.2.31
And hath ȝoue me mercy · to marye with my-self
And what man be merciful · and lelly me loue
Shal be my lorde and I his leef · in þe heiȝe heuene
¶ And what man taketh Mede · myne hedBx.2.35: hed: MO read lif. Presumably this is coincident error in a common phrase. Nevertheless, Cx reads my lif y dar (or dar y) wedde. Cf. Bx.18.162, I dar my lyf legge. dar I legge
Bx.2.36KD.2.35
That he shal lese for hir loue · a lappeBx.2.36: lappe: This must be the Bx reading, with Cr taking lippe from a C text. The P group of C have lappe, the X group lippe. MED cites lippe n.(2), "a little bit", only from Langland. Probably lappe is a scribal substitution of an easier word, as again at RK.11.224 where two mss. read lappe in the same context. It is likely enough that the word developed the sense "small piece"; see MED lap(pe, 3. of caritatis
How construeth dauid þe kynge · of men þat taketh MedeBx.2.37: F has revised the line to improve the alliteration, though the reversal in the b-verse might represent alpha. The line has no parallel in AC.
And men of þis molde · þat meynteneth treuthe
And how ȝe shal saue ȝow-self · þe Sauter bereth witnesse
Bx.2.40KD.2.39
Domine quis habitabit in tabernac[u]lo tuo &c
¶ And now worth þis Mede ymaried · toBx.2.41: to: F's reading probably represents alpha, and is supported by Cx. Beta must be al to since it has the support of LMCO, though al is subsequently erased in M. Beta2 reads vnto. a mansed schrewe
Bx.2.42: Here R resumes. To one fals fikel tongeBx.2.42: tonge: The beta reading has support from RK.2.6 over alpha's of tonge. · a fendes biȝete
Fauel þorw his faire speche · hath þis folke enchaunted
Bx.2.44KD.2.43
And al is lyeres ledyng · þat she is þus ywedded
¶ To-morwe worth ymade · þe maydenes bruydale
And þere miȝte þow wite if þow wolt · which þei ben alle
That longeth to þat lordeship · þe lasse and þe more
Bx.2.48KD.2.47
Knowe hem þere if þow canst · and kepe þiBx.2.48: þi: So LCR, and probably M before correction. It seems likely that other scribes filled out a short line with þou þi or wel þi. AC read kepe the fro hem alle. tonge
And lakke hem nouȝt but lat hem worth · til lewte be iustice
And haue powere to punyschen hem · þanne put forth þi resoun
¶ Now I bikenne þe criste quod she · and his clene moder
Bx.2.52KD.2.51
And latBx.2.52: lat: Probably R's at represents alpha, interpreted by F as that. C mss. have Acombre neuere thy Conscience or And acombre thow .... no conscience acombre þe · for coueitise of Mede
¶ Thus left me þat lady · liggyng aslepe
And how Mede was ymaried · in meteles me þouȝte
Þat alle þe riche retenauns · þat regneth with þe false
Bx.2.56KD.2.55
Were boden to þeBx.2.56: þe: Beta is supported by Ax and the X family of C, while R's þis (F has his) is supported by the P family. bridale · on bothe two sydes
Of alle maner of men · þe mene and þe riche
To marie þis maydeneBx.2.58: maydene: The form varies with mayde throughout; there is no equivalent line in AC. Although MED has separate entries, they are different forms of the same word and are listed together by Wittig (2001). · was many man assembled
As of kniȝtes and of clerkis · and other comune poeple
Bx.2.60KD.2.59
As sysours and sompnours · Shireues and here clerkes
Bedelles and Bailliues · and brokoures of chaffre
Forgoeres and vitaillers · and vokates of þe archesBx.2.62: After this F adds a line that is obviously scribal.
I can nouȝt rekene þe route · þat ran aboute mede
Bx.2.64KD.2.63
¶ Ac symonye and cyuile · and sisoures of courtes
Were moste pryue with Mede · of any men me þouȝte
Bx.2.66: Alpha has a paraph here.Ac fauel was þe first · þat fette hire out of boure
And as a brokour brouȝte hir [·] to be with fals enioigned
Bx.2.68KD.2.67
Bx.2.68: Beta2 has a paraph (a paragraph in Cr), as does R.Whan symonye and cyuile · seiȝ here beireBx.2.68: beire: Genitive of bo, synonymous with boþere in MWO and bethere in R. wille
TheiBx.2.69: Thei: Alpha has And, continuing the subordinate clause, but contradicting this syntax with a paraph before the following line. Cx has Thei. assented for siluer · to se[i]Bx.2.69: sei: Falsely corrected to se in L. as bothe wolde
Bx.2.70: Here and at l. 73 WHm and alpha have a paraph.Thanne lepe lyer forth · and seide lo here a chartre
That gyle with his gret othes · gaf hem togidere
Bx.2.72KD.2.71
And preide cyuile to se · and symonye to rede it
Thanne symonye and cyuile · stondenBx.2.73: stonden: The past tense as in MF is also a minority form in AC. forth bothe
And vnfoldeth þe feffement · þat fals hath ymakedBx.2.74: F omits the line.
And þus bigynneth þes gomes · to greden ful heiȝ
Bx.2.76KD.2.74α
Sciant presentes & futuri &c ·
¶ Witeth and witnesseth · þat wonieth vpon þis erthe
Þat Mede is ymaried · more for here goodis
Þan for ani vertue orBx.2.79: or (1): HmCGO read of. The line is not paralleled in AC, though C alters to a line with the same structure, Then for holynesse oþer hendenesse oþer for hey kynde (RK.2.84). fairenesse · orBx.2.79: or (2): LCrWCG and alpha. The parallel line in Cx would give some support to MO or for. any free kynde
Bx.2.80KD.2.78
Falsenesse is faine of hire · for he wote hire riche
And fauel with his fikel speche · feffeth bi þis chartre
To be prynces in pryde · and pouerte to dispise
To bakbite and to bosten · and bere fals witnesse
Bx.2.84KD.2.82
To scorne and to scolde · and sclaundere to make
Vnboxome and boldeBx.2.85: Vnboxome and bolde: Beta's order is supported by Cx against alpha's reversal. · to breke þe ten hestes
¶ And þe Erldome of enuye · and wratthe togideres
With þe chastelet of chestBx.2.87: chest: i.e. "strife". Supported by Cx against alpha's non-alliterating gestes. · and chateryng oute of resounBx.2.87: resoun: Again supported by Cx. Alpha's reading is probably R's tyme. F rewrites the b-verse to alliterate on /j/ in a-verse.
Bx.2.88KD.2.86
Þe counte of coueitise · and alle þe costes aboute
That is vsure and auarice · alle I hem graunte
In bargaines and inBx.2.90: in (2): The key witnesses LMR are supported by CrWCO. It is omitted by most C mss. brokages · with al þe borg[h]eBx.2.90: borghe: L writes borgthe. of theft
¶ And al þe lordeship of lecherye · in lenthe and in brede
Bx.2.92KD.2.90
As in werkes and in wordes · andBx.2.92: and (2): So LMCGOR. Yet CrWHm have and in as the X family of C; F has in as the P family. waitynges with eies
And in wedesBx.2.93: wedes: The reading of beta; C mss. divide between wedes and woldes. R's wedynges is probably alpha's misreading influenced by the general context, although F offers the attractive and appropriate variant wenyngis, glossed "hopes" by Schmidt (1995). and in wisshynges · and with ydel thouȝtes
There as wille woldeBx.2.94: and: The line is marked for correction in L. Original wolde and has been revised by the addition of ne before wolde and the subpunction of and, giving the reading of C. A couple of C mss. have the same reading. Possibly the supervisor intended the correction of wermanship instead, though it is not an uncommon spelling and is repeated at this point in the C text by X. · [and] wermanship failleth
¶ Glotonye he gaf hem eke · and grete othes togydere
Bx.2.96KD.2.94
And alday to drynke · at dyuerse tauernes
And there to iangle and toBx.2.97: to (2): Supported by Cx against omission in WHmG. iape · and iugge here euene-cristene
And in fastyngdayes to frete · ar ful tyme were
And þanne to sitten and soupen · til slepe hem assaille
Bx.2.100KD.2.98
Bx.2.100-03: There is disagreement about number in this passage. Alpha switches to the sg. in l. 100 with a burgh swyne and hym. In l. 101 alpha is joined by LWCGO in his, against hyr in CrHm and corrected M. In 102 alpha + LMCO have hym against pl. hem in CrWHmG. In the a-verse of 103 all mss. except CrHm have sg. he, while in the b-verse beta has pl. here while R has his and F þe. Meanwhile, in the parallel but rewritten passage in Cx, there is also a switch in number, with pl. pronouns throughout except in RK.2.108 (=Bx.2.103), For a leueth be lost when he his lyf leteth. It looks as though scribes made rather ineffective attempts to rationalise number. We follow copy-text, partly on the grounds that it is the least consistent. And bredun as burgh-swyn · and bedden hem esily
Tyl sleuth and slepe · slyken his sides
And þanne wanhope to awake hym so · with no wille to amende
For he leueth be lost · þis is here last ende
Bx.2.104KD.2.102
¶ And þei to haue and to holde · and here eyres after
A dwellyng with þe deuel · and dampned be for eure
Wiþ al þe purtenauncesBx.2.106: purtenaunces: L and alpha have the aphetic form (initial a- is deleted in R). Other beta mss. vary, as do C mss. of purgatorie · in-to þe pyne of helle
Ȝeldyng for þis þinge · at one ȝeres ende
Bx.2.108KD.2.106
Here soules to sathan · to suffre with hym peynes
And with him to wonye withBx.2.109: with (2): Alpha has in; beta probably has with, though MCO read in. Probably this is reversion to the commoner phrase, as in Bx.19.203, though of course this parallel could also be cited in support of in. Ax has "Þere to wone wiþ wrong" (K.2.71). wo · whil god is in heuene
¶ In witnesse of whichþisBx.2.110: which / þis: Beta is supported by Ax and by the alliteration, but alpha's non-alliterating þis is undoubtedly also the Cx reading. þing · wronge was þe first
And Pieres þe pardonere · of paulynes doctrine
Bx.2.112KD.2.110
Bette þe bedel · of Bokyngham-shire
Rainalde þe Reue · of RotlandBx.2.113: Rotland: Rutland, according to beta. Alpha's Rokeland, also a variant in a few A mss., is Rockland in Norfolk. sokene
Munde þe Mellere · and many moo other
In þe date of þe deuel [·] þis dede I asseleBx.2.115: I assele: This must be Bx, though HmC ys aseled is the AC reading.
Bx.2.116KD.2.114
Bi siȝte of sire symonye · and cyuyles leue
¶ Þenne tened hym theologye · whan he þis tale herde
And seide to cyuile · now sorwe mot þow haue
Such we[d]dyngesBx.2.119: weddynges: LC have wendynges, but the line is marked for correction in L. to worche [·] to wratthe with treuthe
Bx.2.120KD.2.118
And ar þis weddyng be wrouȝte · wo þe bityde
¶ For Mede is moylere · of amendes engendrethBx.2.121: engendreth: Agreement of LR (together with C) indicates that this is an error in Bx, with the obvious correction made by other scribes. A spelling such as engendrit as in some A mss. could have caused the error in Bx.
And god grauntethBx.2.122: graunteth: COF have past tense. There is the same variation in A. to gyf · Mede to treuthe
And þow hast gyuen hire to a gyloure · now god gyf þe sorwe
Bx.2.124KD.2.122
Th[e]Bx.2.124: The: Alpha is supported by Ax against beta's Thi. tixt telleth þe nouȝt so · treuthe wote þe sothe
For dignus est operarius · his hyre to haue
And þow hast fest hire to fals · fy on þi lawe
For al by lesynges þow lyuest · and lecherouse werkes
Bx.2.128KD.2.126
Bx.2.128: Alpha has a paraph.Symonye and þi-self · schenden holicherche
Þe notaries and ȝee · noyeth þe peple
Ȝe shul abiggen it bothe · bi god þat me made
Wel ȝe witen wernardes · but if ȝowre witte faille
Bx.2.132KD.2.130
That fals is faithlees · and fikel in his werkes
And [as]Bx.2.133: as: Alpha is supported by AC against beta's was. a bastarde ybore · of belsabubbes kynne
And Mede is moylere · a mayden of gode
And myȝte kisse þe kynge · for cosyn an she wolde
Bx.2.136KD.2.134
¶ For-þi worcheth bi wisdome · and bi witt also
And ledeth hire to londoun · þere lawe is yshewed
If any lawe wil loke · þei ligge togederes
And þouȝ Iustices iugge hir · to be ioigned withBx.2.139: with: Supported by Ax against CrWHmG to. Cx rewrites. fals
Bx.2.140KD.2.138
Ȝet beth war of [þe]Bx.2.140: þe: Alpha's article is supported by AC. The line in L is an addition by another scribe. weddyng · for witty is truthe
And conscience is of his conseille · and knoweth ȝow vchone
And if he fynde ȝow in defaute · and with þe fals holde
It shal bisitte ȝowre soules · ful soure atte laste
Bx.2.144KD.2.142
¶ Here-to assenteth cyuile · ac symonye ne wolde
Tyl he had siluer for his seruise · and also þe notaries
¶ Thanne fette fauel forth · floreynes ynowe
And bad gyle toBx.2.147: to: So LMCrWCR, hence Bx. HmGOF have go, the reading of Ax and the P group of C, presumably by coincident variation or contamination. Crowley "improves" with go in Cr3. gyue · golde al aboute
Bx.2.148KD.2.146
And namelich to þe notaries · þat hem none neBx.2.148: ne: Supported by LWCR, but dropped in others. It is not in most AC mss. faille
And feffe false witnes · with floreines ynowe
For heBx.2.150: he: Established for Bx by LRF and probably original M, as well as AC. The referent is unambiguously plural in MW (witnesses), sg. in L (contrast witnesses Bx.9.77), and ambiguous in other mss. may mede amaistrye · and maken at my wille
¶ Tho þis golde was gyue · grete was þe þonkynge
Bx.2.152KD.2.150
To fals and to fauel · for her faire ȝiftes
And comen to conforte [·] fram care þe fals
And seiden certis sire · cesse shal we neuere
Til Mede be þi wedded wyf · þorw wittis of vs alle
Bx.2.156KD.2.154
For we haue Mede amaistried · withþorwBx.2.156: with / þorw: The beta reading is supported by most A mss.; alpha's thorȝ, though it may have been picked up from the previous line, is also the reading of Cx. owre mery speche
That she graunteth to gon [·] with a gode wille
To Londoun to loke · ȝif þat þeBx.2.158: ȝif þat þe: So LMCOF. Beta2 and G drop þat, R drops þe. A mss. vary similarly; Cx has if. lawe wolde
Iugge ȝow ioyntly · in ioye for euere
Bx.2.160KD.2.158
¶ Thanne was falsenesse fayne · and fauel as blithe
And leten sompne alle segges · in schires aboute
And bad hem alle be bown · beggeres and othere
To wenden wyth hemBx.2.163: hem: Referring to Fals and Favel. Beta's reading is shared with Ax and the P family of C. Alpha and the X family have hym. Beta seems more appropriate. to westmynstre · to witnesse þisBx.2.163: þis: A mss. similarly split between þis and þe. The line is not in C. dede
Bx.2.164KD.2.162
¶ Ac þanne cared þei for caplus · to kairenBx.1.165: kairen: So LM + alpha; other scribes substitute the easier carien, as also at Bx.P.29, 4.23, 5.310. Note, however, that Ax also has carien. hem þider
And fauel fette forth þanne · folus ynowe
And sette Mede vponBx.2.166: vpon: GF read on, as does Ax; R has vppe. a schyreue · shodde al newe
And fals sat on a sisoure · þat softlich trotted
Bx.2.168KD.2.166
And fauel on a flatereBx.2.168: flatere: So LF. MED distinguishes between flatour (OF flatour) and flaterer (from the verb). · fetislich atired
¶ Tho haued notaries none · annoyed þei were
For symonye and cyuile · shulde on hire fete gange
¶ Ac þanne swore symonye · and cyuile bothe
Bx.2.172KD.2.170
That sompnoures shulde be sadled [·] and serue hem vchone
And lat apparaille þisBx.2.173: þis: FG omit, and R reads þe. A mss. also vary, but most support beta. prouisoures · in palfreis wyse
Sire symonye hym-seluen · shal sitte vpon here bakkes
¶ Denes and suddenes · drawe ȝow togideres
Bx.2.176KD.2.174
Erchdekenes and officiales · and alle ȝowre Regystreres
Lat sadel hem with siluer · owre synne to suffre
As [de]uoutrieBx.2.178: deuoutrie: The alliterating alpha synonym for beta's easier auoutrie. There is no parallel line in AC, although Cx has deuoutours at RK.2.187. R again has deuoutrie at Bx.12.86. MED does not record either de- form otherwise, but note OED devoterer, with an instance from 1550. and deuoses · and derne vsurye
To bere bischopes aboute · abrode in visytynge
Bx.2.180KD.2.178
¶ Paulynes pryuesBx.2.180: pryues: "parties to suits" (Alford (1988), 120-1). GF's peple is an A reading. · for pleyntes in þe consistorie
Shul serue my-self · þat cyuile is nempned
And cartesadel þe comissarie · owre carte shal he lede
And fecchen vs vytailles · at fornicatores
Bx.2.184KD.2.182
¶ And maketh of lyer a l[a]nge carteBx.2.184: lange carte: Wittig (2001) lists the spelling lange once in each of the three versions, for this line only. WR always elsewhere have longe, and presumably the archetypal scribes recognised this as a technical expression for the longa caretta, a "four-wheeled military cart" (Galloway (2006), 278). · to lede alle þese othere
As [fobberes]Bx.2.185: fobberes: "cheats". Alpha's reading has support from Cx fobbes (related to fobben vb.). Beta's Freres is much easier; most A mss. have folis. and faitours · þat on here fete rennen
Bx.2.186: W and alpha have a paraph here.And thus fals and fauel · fareth forth togideres
And Mede in þe myddes · and alle þise menBx.2.187: men: LCrWHmR supported by Cx. G has the Ax reading meyny. Oddly, the disparate group MCOF have oþere. after
Bx.2.188KD.2.186
¶ I haue no tome to telle [·] þe taille þat hem folweth
Of many maner man · þat on þis molde libbethBx.2.189: The line is lost in beta2 and G.
Ac gyle was forgoer · and gyed hem alle
Bx.2.191: : The paraph is in beta and F. The line is at the bottom of the page in R. Sothenesse seiȝ h[e]mBx.2.191: hem: The beta reading is probably hym, though CrWG and alpha have the plural, supported by AC. wel · and seide but a litelBx.2.191: a litel: Apparently Bx, though omission of a in MCrWG is shared with Cx and most A mss.
Bx.2.192KD.2.190
And priked his palfrey · and passed hem alle
And come to þe kynges courte · and conscience it tolde
And conscience to þe kynge · carped it after
¶ Now by cryst quod þe kynge · and I cacche myȝte
Bx.2.196KD.2.194
Fals orBx.2.196: or (1): Alpha reads other / eyþir, with R alone reading other for the second or. AC mss. vary in both instances. fauel · or any of his feres
I wolde be wroke of þo wrecches · þat worcheth so ille
And don hem hange by þe hals · and alle þat hem meynteneth
Shal neure man ofBx.2.199: of: Secure for Bx, in L, original M, C and R. The variants of þis (corrected M, CrW), on (OF), on thys (G) and vpon (Hm) may be prompted by the oddity of the phrase man of molde, as well as by l. 189 above. A mss. vary, but Cx has on þys. molde · meynprise þe leste
Bx.2.200KD.2.198
But riȝte as þe lawe wil loke · late falle on hem alle
¶ And comanded a constable · þat come atte furst
ToGooBx.2.202: To / Goo: Beta shares To with Ax; alpha's Goo is also Cx. Cf. the variants in Bx.2.147 above. The direct speech of "Goo atache ... I hote" is attractive; perhaps it suggested itself as an authorial or scribal improvement. attache þo tyrauntz · for eny thyngeBx.2.202: thynge: Presumably an error, but undoubtedly Bx. AC have tresour. I hote
And fettereth fast falsenesse · for enykynnes ȝiftes
Bx.2.204KD.2.202
And gurdeth of gyles hed · and lat hym go no furthere
And ȝif ȝe lacche lyer · late hym nouȝt ascapen
Er he be put on þe pilorye · for eny preyere I hote
And bryngeth Mede to me · maugre hem alle
Bx.2.208KD.2.208
¶ Drede atte dore stode · and þe dome herde
And how þe kynge comaunded · constables and seriantz
Falsenesse and his felawschip · to fettren an to bynden
Þanne drede went wiȝtliche · and warned þe fals
Bx.2.212KD.2.212
And bad hym flee for fere · and his felawesBx.2.212: felawes: F's feerys is probably from A. It is also the reading of Cx which however avoids the pun on fere by altering the a-verse to And bad falsenesse to fle (RK.2.222). alle
¶ Falsenesse for fere þanne · fleiȝ to þe freres
And gyle doþ hym to go · agast for to dye
Ac marchantz mette with hym · and made hym abide
Bx.2.216KD.2.216
And bishetten hym in here shopeBx.2.216: shope: The distributive sg. is supported by LMCOR. Ax has the plural; C mss. vary. · to shewen here ware
AndBx.2.217: And: Ax is without it, as are CrWHmG; it is the reading of Cx. apparailled hym as a prentice · þe poeple to serue
¶ Liȝtlich lyer · lepe awey þanneBx.2.218: þanne: i.e. "from there". Both beta and alpha forms represent MED thenne adv.; cf. LALME 4.262.
Lorkynge thorw lanes · to-lugged of manye
Bx.2.220KD.2.220
He was nawhere welcome · for his manye tales
Ouer al yhowtedBx.2.221: yhowted: "shouted at". Beta2 has yhonted, an easy error, though supported by AC. On Crowley's revisions here, see Hailey (2007), 152-4. · and yhote trusse
Tyl pardoneres haued pite · and pulled hym in-toBx.2.222: in-to: This must be Bx, supported by the X family of C, despite MHmF support for the Ax reading to. house
They wesshen hym and wyped hym · and wonden hym in cloutesBx.2.223: cloutes: Hm and alpha have clothes. A mss. vary; Cx has cloutes, though five C mss. read clothes.
Bx.2.224KD.2.224
And sente hym with seles · on sondayes to cherches
And gaf pardoun for pens · poundmel aboute
¶ Thanne loured leches · and lettres þei sent
Þat he sholde wonye with hem · wateres to loke
Bx.2.228KD.2.228
Bx.2.228: W and alpha have a paraph.Spiceres spokeBx.2.228: spoke: The form speken in CrWGR is also past plural; cf. Bx.15.285 for a clear instance, where L also has speken. [to]Bx.2.228: to (1): The alpha reading is also that of Cx; A mss. divide. The beta reading with is likely to have been influenced by the line above. hym · to spien here ware
For he couth o[n]Bx.2.229: on: Both Ax and Cx agree with alpha here against beta's of. here craft · and knewe many gommes
¶ Ac mynst[r]alles and messageres · mette with hym ones
And helden hym an halfȝereBx.2.231: an half: Beta is challenged by alpha half a. Cx has no article; A mss. vary between all three possibilities. · and elleuene dayes
Bx.2.232KD.2.232
¶ Freres with faire speche · fetten hym þennes
And for knowyng of comeres · coped hym as a frere
Ac he hath leue to lepe out · as oft as hym liketh
And is welcome whan he wil · and woneth wyth hem oft
Bx.2.236KD.2.236
¶ Alle fledden for fere · and flowen in-to hernes
Saue Mede þe Mayde · na moBx.2.237: mo: R has man, as do four A mss. durst abide
Ac trewli to telle · she trembled for [fere]Bx.2.238: fere: Beta's reading drede is also that of four A mss., but the others have fere, as do alpha and Cx.
And ekBx.2.239: ek: The beta reading is supported by Ax against alpha's also. Cx has bothe. wept and wronge · whan she was attached
MED