Passus terciodecimus

And I awaked þere-with · witles nerehande
And as a freke þat f[e]reBx.13.2: fere: "bold" (MED fer adj.(2)). R's reading is likely to represent alpha, and is the basis for F's misunderstanding a-feerd. Beta has instead revised to fre which is no more apposite. Bx has presumably corrupted feye, "doomed to die", as in Cx (and BmBo), alluding to the opening of the previous passus. were · forth gan I walke
In manere of a mendynaunt · manyBx.13.3: many: L, Beta2 and F have many a, but MR are supported by Cx. ȝere after
Bx.13.4KD.13.4
And of þis metyng many tymeBx.13.4: tyme: See note to Bx.11.388. C mss. split between tyme and tymes. · moche þouȝt I hadde
First how fortune me failled · at my moste nede
And how þat elde manaced me · myȝt we euere meten
Bx.13.7: : The paraph is supported by LCR alone. And how þat freris folwed · folke þat was riche
Bx.13.8KD.13.8
And folke þat was pore · at litel prys þei sette
And no corps in her kirkeȝerde · ne in her kyrke was buryed
But quikke he biquethe hem auȝte · or shulde helpe quyte her dettes
And how þisBx.13.11: þis: LMWHm are supported by Cx. R has þus. coueitise ouercome · clerkes and prestes
Bx.13.12KD.13.12
And how þat lewed men ben ladde · but owre lorde hem helpe
Þorugh vnkonnyng curatoures · to incurable peynes
Bx.13.14-20: Alpha skips a paragraph and loses seven lines. Lines 14-16 and 19-20 are paralleled in Cx (RK.15.17-19, 21-3). ¶ And how þat ymagynatyf · in dremeles me tolde
Of kynde and of his connyng · and how curteise he is to bestes
Bx.13.16KD.13.16
And how louynge he is to bestes · on londe and on water
Leneth he no lyf · lasse ne more
Þe creatures þat crepen · of kynde ben engendred
And sitthen how ymagynatif seyde [·] vix iustusBx.13.19: iustus: Apparently dropped in beta2 and inserted at the end of the line by Hm, though O has it in the same position. Cf. Bx.12.300. saluabitur
Bx.13.20KD.13.20
And whan he had seyde so · how sodeynelich he passed
¶ I lay down longe in þis þouȝte · and atte laste I slepte
And as cryste wolde þere come conscience · to conforte me þat tyme
And bad me come to his courte · with clergye sholde I dyne
Bx.13.24KD.13.24
Bx.13.24: : The paraph is supported by LR, with a new line group in M. And for conscience of clergye spake · I come wel þe rather
And þere I say a maistre · what man he was I neste
Þat lowe louted · and loueliche to scripture
¶ Conscience knewe hym wel · and welcomed hym faire
Bx.13.28KD.13.28
Þei wesshen and wypeden · and wenten to þe dyner
Bx.13.29: C and alpha here have a not inappropriate paraph.Ac pacience in þe paleis [·] stode in pilgrymes clothes
And preyde mete forBx.13.30: for (1): With support from LMCrHmCR, this seems undoubtedly to be the reading of Bx, and thus altered independently by WGOF to alliterating par / pur. Cf. the almost identical a-verse Bx.6.30 (and note) with the same range of variants, and Bx.6.260. In C mss. the P family also has for in place of the X family's pur, but this is in the b-verse where the alliteration is not structural (RK.15.32). charite · for a pore heremyte
¶ Conscience called hym in · and curteisliche seide
Bx.13.32KD.13.32
Welcome wy[e]Bx.13.32: wye: L's originally correct reading was altered to wyel ȝe. go and wasshe · þow shalt sitte sone
¶ Þis maister was made sitte · as for þe moste worthy
And þanne clergye and conscience · and pacience cam after
¶ Pacience and I [·] were put to be m[ett]esBx.13.35: mettes: Beta has substituted synonymous macches, but alpha is supported by Cx. Cf. l. 49.
Bx.13.36KD.13.36
And seten by owre-selue [·] at a syde borde
¶ Conscience called after mete · and þanne cam scripture
And serued hemBx.13.38: hem: HmR's hym is not supported by Cx. þus sone · of sondry metes manye
Of austyn of ambrose · of alleBx.13.39: of alle: Beta2 has and of, but it is not supported by Cx. þe foure euangelistes
Bx.13.40KD.13.39α
Edentes & bibentes · que apud eos sunt
Ac þis maister ne his man · no manere flessh eten
Ac þei eteBx.13.42: ete: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's hadde. mete of more coste · mortrewes and potages
Of þat men mys-wonne · þei made hem wel at ese
Bx.13.44KD.13.43
Ac her sauce was ouer soure · & vnsauourely grounde
In a morter post mortem · of many bitter peyne
But if þei synge for þoBx.13.46: þo: LWGR supported by the better C mss., against þe in other BC mss. soules · and wepeBx.13.46: and wepe: Supported by Cx against alpha's with many. salt teres
Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effunderitis · ea que in delicijs comeditis · in tormentis euometis
Bx.13.48KD.13.46
[¶]Bx.13.48: : The paraph is recorded by WHmC and alpha, with a line-space in M. Conscience ful curteisly þo · comaunded scripture
Bifor pacience bred to brynge · and me þat was his m[ett]eBx.13.49: mette: As at l. 35, beta reads macche, but alpha is supported by Cx.
He sette a soure lof to-for vs · and seyde agite penitenciam
And sith he drough vs drynke · diaBx.13.51: dia: Clearly the Bx reading, with M altering to the more obvious diu, the reading of GOF. Some C mss. including X also have dia. Schmidt (1987), 92, supposes a pun (ME dia, "drug", as in Bx.20.173). Perhaps, therefore, it might be interpreted "a concoction whose chief ingredient is persevering" (cf. MED dia-). Note Cr's diaperseueraunce as one word. perseuerans
Bx.13.52KD.13.51
As longe quod [he] as ly[f]Bx.13.52: he as lyf: R's reading (F reverses) is supported by Cx against beta's I as I lyue. · and lycame may dure
Here is propre seruice quod pacience · þer fareth no prynce bettere
Bx.13.54: : Although the paraph is not particularly appropriate, it is evidently Bx, supported by LWR and a line-space in M. And þanne he brouȝt vsBx.13.54: vs: Supported by LMWR, but dropped by others in an unusually long a-verse. forth a mees ofBx.13.54: a mees of: Dropped by beta4 and altered by the Hm corrector. other mete · of Mise[r]ere mei deus
And he brouȝte vsBx.13.55: vs: Dropped by R; The line is not in C. F, understandably dissatisfied with this and the next line, rewrites them to bring them closer to Psalm 31.1-2, and so is no use in determining alpha. of Beati quorum [·] ofBx.13.55: of (2): R has and of, and vir his for virres. F rewrites. beatus virres makyng
Bx.13.56KD.13.54α-55
EtBx.13.56: Et: R's And, possibly supported by F's &, deserves serious consideration, although Et is part of the quotation from Psalm 31.1. In R this is a new dish; in beta it is all part of the same dish. There is no parallel in C. quorum tecta sunt peccata [·] in a dissh
Of derne shrifte dixi [·] and confitebor tibi
Brynge pacience some pitaunce · pryueliche quod conscience
¶ And þanne had pacience a pitaunce [·] pro hac orabitBx.13.59: orabit: Beta adds ad te, in line with the Vulgate (once again the Second Penitential Psalm, 31.6), but alpha's omission is supported by Cx. Alpha sets the Latin as a separate line, as does beta4 (CGO), which takes ybroughte from C to fill out the English line. omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno
Bx.13.60KD.13.58
And conscience conforted vs · and carped vs mery tales
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies

Bx.13.62: : The paraph is in beta and F. Pacience was proude [·] of þat propre seruice
And made hym muirth with his meteBx.13.63: mete: R has mene, an alpha error which F revises to mowht for sense. Cx supports beta. · ac I morned euere
Bx.13.64KD.13.61
For þis doctoure on þeBx.13.64: þe: HmR have þis, but it is not supported by Cx. heigh dese · dranke wyn so faste
Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum
[And]Bx.13.66: And: R is supported by Cx. Following the Latin line, beta adds a paraph and begins He. F, with the same motivation, begins Þey. he eet many sondry metes · mortrewes and puddynges
Wombe cloutes and wylde braune · & egges y-fryed with grece
Bx.13.68KD.13.64
Þanne seide I to my-self so ·Bx.13.68: In Bx the punctus follows so, though it makes better sense to take it as "in such a way that" as in CO. F has þat for so. pacience it herde
It is nouȝt foure dayes þat þis freke · bifor þe den of poulesBx.13.69: poules: R uniquely has seynt poules, as does the P family of C in a completely revised line.
Preched of penaunces · þat poule þe apostle suffred
In fame & frigore · and flappes of scourges
Bx.13.72KD.13.67α
Ter cesus sum & a iudeis quinquies quadragenas &c ·
Bx.13.73: : The paraph is in beta and F. In R the line is at the top of the page. Ac o worde þei ouerhuppen · at ech aBx.13.73: a: Good support for Bx from LMWR. Others omit. tyme þat þei preche
Þat poule in his pistel · to al þe peple tolde
Periculum estBx.13.75: est: Alpha drops the verb. The form of the citation in F is the same as in some of the P family of C and in Upland's Rejoinder 329. R's version is unique. in falsis fratribus
Bx.13.76KD.13.71
Holywrit bit men be war · I wil nouȝt write it here
OnBx.13.77: On: This appears to be beta's reading, and perhaps alpha's too, despite the reading In of CrWR. englisch an auenture · it sholde be reherced to ofte
And greue þere-with þat good men benBx.13.78: þat good men ben: L and alpha; other beta mss. drop men, while beta2 simplifies to goode men. · ac gramarienes shul rede
Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat [·]Bx.13.79: The punctus after custodiat is supported by MWHm, and by RF which additionally break the line at this point. In L vnusquisque ... dicitur is overwritten in a post-medieval hand. quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus
Bx.13.80KD.13.74
¶ AcBx.13.80: Ac: Dropped by alpha, but supported by Cx. I wist neuere freke þat as aBx.13.80: a: Not in R; both F and Cx rephrase. frere ȝede · bifor men on englissh
Taken it for herBx.13.81: her: WHmGF and the M corrector pedantically replace with the sg. Cx also has the sg., but the referent frere is ycald prompts it in this case. teme · and telle it with-outen glosynge
ÞeiBx.13.82: Þei: R begins Ac þei (F But þey), not supported by Cx. prechen þat penaunce is · profitable to þe soule
And what myschief and malese · cryst for man tholed
Bx.13.84KD.13.78
Ac þis goddes gloton quod I · with his gret chekes
Hath no pyte on vs pore · he perforneth yuel
Þat he precheth heBx.13.86: he (2): The beta reading, supported by the P family of C. Alpha has and, so that this line completes the previous line: "he performs badly what he preaches", as in many of the X family of C. An original a could have been understood as either "he" or "and". See Schmidt (1995), 390. preueth nouȝtBx.13.86: nouȝt: Dropped by alpha, but necessary for the sense. · to pacience I tolde
And wisshed witterly · with wille ful egre
Bx.13.88KD.13.82
Þat disshes aBx.13.88: a: "and". See note to Bx.P.227. dobleres · bifor þis ilkeBx.13.88: ilke: R omits, while F rewrites to correct the alliteration. Perhaps Bx was as R, with beta "improving" a defective b-verse. Cx rewrites as "with alle þe deyntees aftur" (RK.15.90). doctour
Were moltoun led in his maw · and Mahoun amyddes
I shal iangle to þis Iurdan · with his iustBx.13.90: iust: Kane (2005) appositely glosses iust-wombe as "pot-belly". See MED iuste n. Alpha iuysty makes an adjective of it, as do a couple of C mss.-wombe
To telle me what penaunce is · of which he preched ratherBx.13.91: rather: Probably R's reading þere ay represents alpha, of which F's euere is a revision. The line is not in C.
Bx.13.92KD.13.86
Pacience parceyued what I thouȝt · and [preynte]Bx.13.92: preynte: "winked admonishingly"; see Burrow (2002), 103-05. Though this reading is in neither beta nor alpha, conjecturing it as the reading of Bx explains the variants and restores alliteration. Beta substitutes the synonym wynked and alpha conveys the same sense with bad. The word is used again in l. 119 and Bx.18.21. See Introduction V.3.3. on me to be stille
And seyde þow shalt se þus sone · whan he may no more
He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche · and puffe at ech a worde
And þanne shullen his guttis godeleBx.13.95: godele: For the form in LR see note to Bx.5.351. · and he shal galpen after
Bx.13.96KD.13.90
For now he hath dronken so depe · he wil deuyne sone
And preuen it by herBx.13.97: by her: Beta is supported by Cx. R has here, the omission perhaps representing alpha, which F corrects to in þe. pocalips · and passioun of seynt Auereys
Þat neither bacoun ne braune · blanmangereBx.13.98: blanmangere: Alpha's ne blaumanger is supported by the X family of C, beta's omission by the P family. We retain copy-text. ne mortrewes
Is noither fisshe no flesshe · but fode for penaunte[s]Bx.13.99: penauntes: Alpha's plural is supported by Cx.
Bx.13.100KD.13.94
And þanne shal he testifye of a trinitee · and take his felawe to witnesse
What he fonde in a freyel · after a freres lyuyng
And but if þe fyrst lyneBx.13.102: lyne: So LM + alpha. Beta1, perhaps encouraged by lyuyng and leue, must have read the word as lyue, leading Beta2 to alter if þe to he, "unless he first live" to make a modicum of sense. O alters his exemplar's lif to leef, so by coincidence or contamination arriving at the Cx reading (RK.15.103). be lesyng · leue me neuere after
And þanne is tyme to takeBx.13.103: take: Kane (2005) glosses "seize", which does not seem quite appropriate. Perhaps the sense is "address" (MED taken v. 39b (a)). In any case OR alter to easier talke, the reading of the P family of C, and F rewrites. · and to appose þis doctoure
Bx.13.104KD.13.98
Of dowel and ofBx.13.104: of (2): So LMR and CrC, dropped by others. C mss. vary. dobet · and if dobest be any penaunce
¶ And I sete stille as pacience seyde · and þus sone þis doctour
As rody as a rose · rubbedBx.13.106: rubbed: Evidently the beta reading, and probably also Bx, since R has robbed. If so, Hm's rudded and F's gan rody are picked up from the adj. rody in the a-verse. But Cx has rodded (RK.15.107), which could represent MED rudden, "rub", or ruden, "redden". Possibly, then, Bx also had rodded, interpreted as synonymous with the much commoner verb rubben. See Schmidt (2008), 414. his chekes
Coughed and carped · and conscience hym herde
Bx.13.108KD.13.102
And tolde hym of a trinite · and toward vs he loked
¶ What is dowel sire doctour quod I · is do[best]Bx.13.109: dobest: Alpha, supported by Cx, against beta's repetition of dowel. Cf. l. 104. any penaunce
¶ Dowel quod þis doctour · and [dranke after]Bx.13.110: dranke after: R's reading is supported by Cx and he dronke aftur. Scribes reacted to the short b-verse, with both F and beta expanding in different ways.
Do non yuel to þine euenecrystene · nouȝt by þi powere
Bx.13.112KD.13.106
¶ By þis day sire doctour quod I [·] þanne be ȝe nouȝt in dowel
For ȝe han harmed vs two · in þat ȝe eten þe puddyng
Mortrewes and other mete · and we no mussel hade
AndBx.13.115: And: "if"; so R, supported by Cx. F substitutes If as at Bx.4.139, 5.93 etc.; beta reads And if. ȝe fare so in ȝowre fermorie · ferly me þinketh
Bx.13.116KD.13.110
But chest be þere charite shulde be · & ȝongeBx.13.116: ȝonge: Dropped by CrCGOF to shorten a long line. R divides the line into two at the caesura. childern dorste pleyne
I wolde permute my penaunce with ȝowre · for I am in poynte to dowel
¶ Þanne conscience [ful]Bx.13.118: ful: Alpha supported by Cx. Dropped by beta. curteisliche · a contenaunce heBx.13.118: he: Good support from LM and alpha as well as Cx. made
And preynte vpon pacience · to preie me toBx.13.119: to (2): Firm support from LM, beta2 and R. However the word is dropped in Cx. be stille
Bx.13.120KD.13.114
And seyde hym-self sire doctour · and it be ȝowre wille
What is dowel and dobet · ȝe deuynours knoweth
Bx.13.122: : The paraph at the start of the speech is in beta and F. Dowel quod þis doctour · doBx.13.122: do: Cx also has imperative in a revised line (RK.15.124). Cf. R dos and F ys to doon. as clerkes techeth
And dobet is he þat techeth · and trauailleth to teche other
Bx.13.124KD.13.118
And dobest doth hym-self so · as he seith & precheth
Qui facit et docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum
¶ Now þow clergye quod conscience [·] carpest what is dowel
I haue seueneBx.13.127: seuene: It is not certain that Bx had the numeral. R omits it and the L corrector supplies it in the margin, though it is in M and F. Perhaps it is most likely that L and R coincidentally omitted it; see Adams (2000), 184. The line is not in Cx. sones he seyde · seruen in a castel
Bx.13.128KD.13.121
Þere þe lorde of lyf wonyeth · to leren hymBx.13.128: hym: i.e. the Lord of Life. So LMR; see Schmidt (1995), 391. what is dowel
¶ Til I se þo seuene · and my-self acorden
I am vnhardy quod he · to any wyȝt toBx.13.130: to (2): Alpha omits, perhaps rightly. The line is not in Cx. preue it
For one pieres þe ploughman [·] hath inpugned vs alle
Bx.13.132KD.13.125
And sette alle sciences at a soppe · saue loue one
And no tixte ne taketh [·] to meyntene his causeBx.13.133: M omits the line.
But dilige deum · and domine quis habitabit &c
And seith þat dowel and dobet [·] aren two infinites
Bx.13.136KD.13.129
Whiche infinites with a feith [·] fynden oute dobest
Which shal saue mannes soule · þus seith piers þe ploughman
¶ I can nouȝt her-on quod conscience · ac I knowe wel pieres
He wil nouȝt aȝein holy writ speken · I dar wel vndertake
Bx.13.140KD.13.133
Þanne passe we ouer til piers come · and preue þis in dede
Pacience hath be in many place · and par-auntre cnowethBx.13.141: cnoweth: The beta2 reading mouthed is distinctly odd.
Þat no clerke neBx.13.142: ne: Omitted by alpha. can · as cryst bereth witnesse
Pacientes vincunt &c
Bx.13.144KD.13.136
A[t]Bx.13.144: At: "in response to". LWHm read Ac, probably representing beta, though CGO share alpha's At, and M is corrected to that reading. ȝowre preyere quod pacyence þo · so no man displese hym
Disce quod he doce · dilige inimicos
Disce and dowel · doce & dobet
Dilige and dobest · þus tauȝte me ones
Bx.13.148KD.13.139
A lemman þat I loued · loue was hir name
With wordes and with werkes quod she · and wille of þyne herte
Þow loue lelly þi soule [·] al þi lyf-tyme
And so þow lere þeBx.13.151: þow lere þe: R's muddled to lere and probably represents alpha, further misunderstood by F. to louye · for þe lordes loue of heuene
Bx.13.152KD.13.143
Þine enemye in al wyse · euene-forth with þi-selue
Cast coles on his hed · [of]Bx.13.153: of: R is supported by beta2 and by the corrected reading of M. Beta perhaps read and, with beta2 independently altering for sense. Cx has of in this line, but three lines below has "Conforte hym with thy catel and with thy kynde speche" (RK.15.145). Pearsall (2008), 256, refers to Ancrene Wisse (ed. Millett 7.293-301) for the interpretation of the carbones ardentes of Rom. 12.20 as the fire of love. al kynde speche
Bothe with werkes and with wordes [·] fonde his loue to wynne
And lay on hym þus with loue · til he laghe on þe
Bx.13.156KD.13.147
And but he bowe for þis betyng [·] blynde mote he worthe
¶ Ac for to fare þus with þi frende · foly it were
For he þat loueth þe lelly · lyteBx.13.158: lyte: L's form is supported by R. Neither scribe has the form elsewhere. of þyne coueitethBx.13.158: coueiteth: Beta is supported by Cx (RK.15.153). Alpha's desireth avoids the repetition in the following line (dropped in C).
Kynde loue coueiteth nouȝte · no catel but speche
Bx.13.160KD.13.151
With half a laumpe lyne in latyne · ex vi transicionis
¶ I bere þere-inne aboute · fast ybounde dowel
In a signe of þe saterday · þat sette firste þe kalendare
And al þe witte of þe wednesday · of þe nexte wyke after
Bx.13.164KD.13.155
Þe myddel of þe mone [·] is þe miȝteBx.13.164: is þe miȝte: WHm confuse the issue with as þe nyght. On the "middle of the moon" riddle, see Galloway (1995), 68-105, and Bx.3.334. of bothe
And here-with am I welcome · þere I haue it with me
¶ Vndo it lateBx.13.166: late: Alpha has and late. The passage Bx.13.159-82 is rewritten in C. þis doctour [sen]Bx.13.166: sen: The L scribe alters this to deme, in line with beta1, thus correcting the alliteration. But alpha reads se, which is more probably the reading of Bx than coincidental error. · ifBx.13.166: if: Alpha has where, "whether". dowel be þer-inne
For bi hym þat me made · miȝte neuere pouerte
Bx.13.168KD.13.159
Miseise ne myschief [·] ne man with his tonge
Colde ne care [·] ne compaignye of theues
Ne noither hete ne haille · ne non helle pouke
Ne noither fuire ne flode · ne fere of þine enemy
Bx.13.172KD.13.163
Tene þe eny tyme · and þow take it with þe
Caritas nichil timet
Bx.13.174-82: These nine lines are omitted by beta, skipping from one short Latin line to the next. Lines 179 and 181 are also omitted in F. The passage is rewritten in C (RK.15.165-9). [And eke haue god my soule · and þow wilt it craue
Þere nys neither emperour ne emperesse · erl kynge ne baroun
Bx.13.176KD.13.166
Pope ne patriarch [·] þat pure reson ne shal make
ÞeBx.13.177: Þe: "thee". In F it appears more comfortably in the previous line before make. maister of alle þo men · þorugh miȝt of þis redeles
Nouȝt þorugh wicche-crafte but þorugh wit · & þow wilt þi-selue
Do kynge and quene · and alle þe comune after
Bx.13.180KD.13.170
Ȝyue þe alle þat þei may ȝiue · as þe forBx.13.180: as þe for: "as to you who are". F's as þou for gives the sense "since you are (the best guardian)". best ȝemere
And as þou demest wil þei do · alle here dayes after
Pacientes vincunt &c ·]
[¶]Bx.13.183: : The L scribe wrote a paragraph marker which the rubricator missed because the scribe did not leave a line-space. The paraph is in WHmC and alpha. It is but a dido quod þis doctour · a dysoures tale
Bx.13.184KD.13.173
Al þe witt of þis worlde · andBx.13.184: and: Beta is supported by the X family of C. Alpha's ne, which makes the meaning clearer, is supported by the P family of C. wiȝte mennes strengthe
Can nouȝt confourmen a pees · bytwene þe pope and his enemys
Ne bitwene two cristene kynges · can no wiȝte pees make
Profitable to ayther peple · and put þe table fro hym
Bx.13.188KD.13.177
And toke clergye and conscience · to conseille as it were
Þat pacience þoBx.13.189: þo: Beta2 has þou, and M revises to that reading. moste passe · for pilgrimes kunne wel lye
¶ Ac conscience carped loude [·] and curteislich seide
Frendes fareth wel · and faire spake to clergye
Bx.13.192KD.13.181
For I wil go with þis gome · if god wil ȝiueBx.13.192: ȝiue: LMW, and so probably beta's form, with other beta mss. and alpha altering to gyue as a result of alliterative attraction. me grace
And be pilgryme with pacience · til I haue proued more
¶ What quod clergye to conscience · ar ȝe coueitouse nouthe
After ȝeresȝyues or ȝiftes · or ȝernen to rede redeles
Bx.13.196KD.13.185
I shal brynge ȝow a bible · a boke of þe olde lawe
And lere ȝow if ȝow lykeBx.13.197: ȝow lyke: So beta, while alpha has ȝe liken. Elsewhere the verb is always constructed as impersonal with a dative pronoun. · þe leest poynte to knowe
Þat pacience þe pilgryme · parfitly knewe neuere
¶ Nay bi cryste quod conscience to clergye [·] god þe forȝelde
Bx.13.200KD.13.189
For al þat pacience me profreth · proude am I litel
Ac þe wille of þe wye · and þe wille folkeBx.13.201: wille folke: LC, original M and R, so secure for Bx. Other scribes have wille of folke, repeating wille of from the a-verse, and M is altered to bring it in line with beta2. But wille is the adjective wil, "wandering" (so R's spelling), so that the line means "But the wilfulness of this man (the Doctor) and of the errant folk here". Note that MED wil adj. records the spellings will and wille. See Burrow, N&Q (2008), 124-5. here
Hath moeued my mode · to mourne for my synnes
Þe good wille of aBx.13.203: a: Alpha's vch a / euery makes poorer sense. wiȝte · was neure bouȝte to þe fulle
Bx.13.204KD.13.193
For þere nysBx.13.204: nys: Supported by LWR against is in other mss. no tresore þerto · to a trewe wille
¶ Haued nouȝt [Marie]Bx.13.205: Marie: Omitted by beta. Alpha is supported by the alliterative pattern (aaa/xx). Magdeleigne more · for a boxe of salue
Þan zacheus for he seide · dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus
And þe pore widwe [·] for a peire of mytes
Bx.13.208KD.13.197
Þan alle þo that offreden · in-to gazafilacium
¶ Þus curteislich conscience · congeyde fyrstBx.13.209: fyrst: Omitted by GO, and (presumably coincidentally) by M. þe Frere
And sithen softliche he seyde · in clergyes ere
Me were leuer by owre lorde · and I lyue shulde
Bx.13.212KD.13.201
Haue pacience parfitlich · þan half þi pakke of bokes
¶ Clergye toBx.13.213: to: So LHmCO and probably uncorrected M. CrWG have easier of, but the phrase means "offer no farewell to". This sense of take, usually followed by a dative pronoun, is common in the poem, e.g. Bx.1.57, etc. Alpha's and/ne is ruled out by the next line, where the speaker must be Clergy. See Schmidt (1995), 392. conscience · no congeye wolde take
But seide ful sobreliche · þow shalt se þe tyme
Whan þow art wery for-walked · wilne me to consaille
Bx.13.216KD.13.205
¶ Þat is soth seydeBx.13.216: seyde: So LMR and CrHm. The others have quod, perhaps by semi-alliterative association with Conscience, or picked up from l. 222. conscience · so me god helpe
If pacience be owre partyng felawe · and pryue with vs bothe
There nys wo in þis worlde · þat we ne shulde amende
And confourmen Kynges to pees · andBx.13.219: and (2): Beta's reading makes better sense than alpha's of, which leads to alpha's addition of And at the beginning of the next line. al-kynnes londes ·
Bx.13.220KD.13.209
Sarasenes and surre · and so forth alle þe iewes
Turne in-to þe trewe feith · and in-til one byleue
¶ Þat is soth quod clergye · I se what þow menest
I shal dwelle as I do · my deuore to shewen
Bx.13.224KD.13.213
And confermenBx.13.224: confermen: "strengthen in faith"; R (= alpha) repeats conformen, "make agree", from l. 219, as does G. fauntekynes · and other folke ylered
Tyl pacience haue preued þe · and parfite þe maked
¶ Conscience þo with pacience passed · pilgrymes as it were
Þanne had pacience as pylgrymes han · in his poke vittailles
Bx.13.228KD.13.217
Sobrete and symple speche · and sothfaste byleue
To conforte hym and conscience · if þey come in place
Þere vnkyndenesse and coueytise is · hungrye contrees bothe
Bx.13.231: : The paraph is in beta and F. And as þei went by þe weye · of dowel þeiBx.13.231: of dowel þei: Beta's b-verse is supported by Cx, although alpha's and of dowel goes smoothly with the next line. carped
Bx.13.232KD.13.221
Þei mette with a mynstral · as me þo þouȝte
Pacience apposed hym fyrste · and preyed hymBx.13.233: hym (2): LMR, so secure for Bx, but possibly an error. Others drop the repeated hym, although F includes it in a revised b-verse. Cr follows Cx with the simplified prayed he should tel. he sholde hem telle
To conscience what crafte he couthe · an to what contree he wolde
¶ I am a mynstral quod þat man · my name is actiua vita
Bx.13.236KD.13.225
Alle ydel ich hatye · for of actyf is my name
A wafrere wil ȝe wite · and serue many lordes
And fewe robes I fonge · or furred gounes
Couthe I lye [and]Bx.13.239: and: Alpha is supported by Cx. do men laughe · þanne lacchen I shulde
Bx.13.240KD.13.229
Other mantel or money [·] amonges lordes mynstralles
Ac for I can noither tabre ne trompe · ne telle none gestes
Farten ne fythelen [·] at festes ne harpen
Iape ne ioglyBx.13.243: iogly: C mss. split between this and alpha's iangele. · ne gentlych pype
Bx.13.244KD.13.233
Ne noyther sailly ne saute · ne synge with þe gyterne
I haue none gode gyftes · of þise grete lordes
For no bred þat I bryngeBx.13.246: brynge: Beta's present tense has support from Cx in a rewritten line. forth · saue a beneson on þe sonday
Whan þe prest preyeth þe peple · her pater noster to bidde
Bx.13.248KD.13.237
For peres þe plowman · and þat hym profite wayten
And þat am IBx.13.249: þat am I: Beta4 and R have, less satisfactorily, the standard word-order. F has (by coincidence or contamination) for me, as does Cx (RK.15.213) which follows more smoothly from the previous lines, "prays ... for me". actyf · þat ydelnesse hatye
For alle trewe trauaillours · and tilieres of þe erthe
Fro mychelmesse to mychelmesse · I fynde hem with wafresBx.13.251: wafres: M is corrected to my wafres to bring the text in line with CrW.
Bx.13.252KD.13.241
¶ Beggeres and bidderes · of my bred crauen
Faitoures and freres · and folke with brode crounes
I fynde payne for þe pope · and prouendre for his palfrey
And I hadde neuere of hym · haue god my treuthe
Bx.13.256KD.13.245
Noither prouendre ne parsonage · ȝut of the popis ȝifte
Saue a pardoun with a peys of led · and two pollis amyddeBx.13.257: amydde: The form is attested by LMCR, against amyddes in beta2 and GOF.
Hadde icheBx.13.258: iche: This is the only example of this spelling in L. "I" is elsewhere spelt ich, and "each" is ech(e). The former sense is very obviously intended, but the odd confusion of scribes may suggest a Bx reading iche, or ech(e) as in CG, giving rise to F's euery. a clerke þat couthe write · I wolde caste hym a bille
Þat he sent me vnder his seel · a salue for þe pestilence
Bx.13.260KD.13.249
AndBx.13.260: And: Alpha drops. þat his blessyng & his bulles · bocches miȝte destroye
In nomine meo demonia eici[e]ntBx.13.261: eicient: L has the present, as M perhaps did before correction, suggesting a beta error. & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt
And þanne wolde I be prest to [þe]Bx.13.262: þe: Not in LHm, and supplied in M by the corrector. It is therefore likely that it was lost by beta. peple · paste for to make
And buxome and busy [·] aboute bred and drynke
Bx.13.264KD.13.252
For hym and for alle his · fonde I þat his pardoun
Miȝte lechen a man · as I bileue it shulde
For sith he hath þe powere · þat peter hym-self hadde
He hath þe potte with þe salue · sothly as me þinketh
Bx.13.268KD.13.254α
Argentum & aurum non est michi quod autem habeo tibiBx.13.268: tibi: Alpha has hoc tibi, as does O, in line with the Vulgate. C mss. split. do in nomine domini surge & ambula
¶ Ac if miȝte of miracle hym faille · it is for men ben nouȝt worthy
To haue þeBx.13.270: þe (1): Alpha's no is not supported by Cx. grace of god · & no gylte of þe pope
ForBx.13.271: For: Dropped by R, but supported by Cx. may no blyssyng done vs bote · but if we wil amende
Bx.13.272KD.13.258
Ne mannes masse make pees · amonges cristene peple
Tyl pruyde be purelichBx.13.273: purelich: Alpha's priueliche is not supported by Cx (RK.15.229). fordo · and þatBx.13.273: þat: Dropped by MCrWF, and replaced by alle in R, but supported by Cx. þourgh payn defaute
¶ For ar I haue bred of mele · ofte mote I swete
And ar þe comune haue corne ynough · many a colde mornyng
Bx.13.276KD.13.262
So ar my wafres ben ywrouȝt · moche wo I tholye
¶ Alle Londoun I leue · liketh wel my wafres
And lowren whan þei lakken itBx.13.278: it (1): Alpha has hem, as do CrW. It is likely that W, at least, was prompted to adopt the plural for grammatical concord and to avoid the repetition of it. The passage from Bx.13.274-90 has no parallel in C. · it is nouȝt longe ypassed
Þere was a carful comune · whan no carte come to toune
Bx.13.280KD.13.266
With [bake]Bx.13.280: bake: Dropped by beta to the detriment of the alliteration. bred fro stretforth · þo gan beggeres wepe
And werkmen were agaste a litel · þis wil be þouȝte longe
In þe date of owre dryȝte · in a drye apprile
A þousande and thre hondreth · tweis [twenty]Bx.13.283: twenty: This does not alliterate and is a Bx error (the events occurred in 1370); LR correct to the obvious thretty. This is a rare instance where LR have corrected rather than copy an obvious mistake. M and Hm both realise the error and correct in different ways. Numerals are easy to confuse and easy to correct. & ten
Bx.13.284KD.13.270
My wafres þere were gesen · whan chichestre was Maire
¶ I toke godeBx.13.285: gode: Beta has the standard phrase; for that reason alpha's grete might be preferred. We follow copy-text. kepe by cryst · and conscience bothe
Of haukyn þe actyf man · and how he was yclothed
He hadde a cote of crystendome · as holykirke bileueth
Bx.13.288KD.13.274
Ac it was moled in many places · with many sondri plottes
Of pruyde here a plotte and þere a plotte [·]Bx.13.289: The placing of the punctus causes scribes problems. M has it after each plotte, as though first inserting it too early; HmCO and crucially R have it after the second (hence aaa/xx); LCrW have the second plotte in the b-verse (aa/ax). of vnboxome speche
Of scornyng and of scoffyng · and of vnskilful berynge
As in aparaille and in porte · proude amonges þe peple
Bx.13.292KD.13.278
Otherwyse þan he hath · with herte orBx.13.292: or: R has and; F, understandably puzzled by the line, rewrites the b-verse, as does C, withynne or withouten (RK.6.31). syȝte shewynge
Hym wil[n]yngeBx.13.293: wilnynge: R's reading is perhaps slightly preferable to beta's willynge on grounds of sense ("with him being keen that"). It also has support from the parallel line in Cx (RK.6.32), and from the variants at l. 305, where some scribes corrupt to willynge. Mustanoja (1960), 115, quotes this instance of the absolute construction. F corrupts to wenynge. þat alle men wende · he were þat he is nouȝte
For-why he bosteth and braggeth · with many bolde othes
And in-obedient to ben vndernome · of any lyf lyuyng
Bx.13.296KD.13.282
And so syngulere by hym-self · as to syȝte of þe poepleBx.13.296: Only L + alpha preserve 296b and 297a, all others (including M) skipping from hymself (296) to hymself (297). Both lines are in Cx.
Was none suche as hym-self · ne none so po[p]e-holyBx.13.297: pope-holy: Probably beta read pompe-holy (as do a few C mss.), corrected by several scribes.
Yhabited as an hermyte · an ordre by hym-selue
Religioun sanz reule · and resonable obedience
Bx.13.300KD.13.286
Lakkyng lettred men · and lewed men bothe
In lykyng of lele lyf · and a lyer in soule
With Inwit and withBx.13.302: with (2): Not in alpha or Cr. outwitt · ymagenen and studye
As best for his body be · to haue a b[ol]deBx.13.303: bolde: Alpha's reading is obviously preferable to beta's (?) badde (written over an illegible erasure in L). name
Bx.13.304KD.13.290
And entermeten hym ouer al · þer he hath nouȝt to done
Wilnyng þat men wende · his witte were þe best
Bx.13.306-12: Seven lines are omitted by beta; 306-8 and 310 are represented in revised form in Cx (RK.6.42-6). There seems no obvious reason for omission, though KD, p. 66, suggest resumption at the wrong point prompted by to loken on (308) and on to loke (315). [Or for his crafty kunnynge · or of clerkes þe wisest
Or strengest on stede · or styuest vnderBx.13.307: vnder: R is supported by Cx against F's gyrt with. gerdel
Bx.13.308KD.13.294
And louelokest to loken on · and lelest of werkes
And non so holy as he · ne of lif clennere
Or fairest of feytures · of forme and of shafte
And most sotyl of songe · other sleyest of hondes
Bx.13.312KD.13.298
And large to lene · loosBx.13.312: loos: "repute". R has losse, listed by MED as a possible spelling of los n.(2), but R elsewhere spells it as los (Bx.11.311) and loos (Bx.13.471) so may here have misunderstood the word as "loss". F's looþ (in a-verse) perhaps suggests that alpha had the form loos. þere-by to cacche]
And if he gyueth ouȝte poreBx.13.313: pore: All except LR have to pore. gomes · telle what he deleth
Pore of possessioun [·] in purse and in coffreBx.13.314: coffre: Beta evidently misplaced the punctus after purse, prompting the addition of bothe in all mss. except LR. (F omits the line.) It is significant that M shares the beta1 error.
And as a lyon onBx.13.315: on: R's omission could be right but is not supported by F, which has it after the verb. to loke · and lordeliche of speche
Bx.13.316KD.13.302
¶ Baldest of beggeres [·] a bostour þat nouȝt hath
In towne and in tauernes · tales to telle
And segge þinge þat he neuere seigh · and for soth sweren it
Of dedes þat he neuere dyd · demen and bosten
Bx.13.320KD.13.306
And of werkes þat he wel dyd · witnesse and seggen
Lo if ȝe leue me nouȝt · or þat I lye wenen
Axeth at hym or at hym · and he ȝow can telle
What I suffred and seighe · and some-tymes hadde
Bx.13.324KD.13.310
And what I couth and knewe · and what kynne I come of
Al he wolde þat men wiste [·] of werkes and ofBx.13.325: of (2): Alpha omits. wordes
Which myȝte plese þe peple · and praysen hym-seluen
Si hominibus placerem cristi seruus non essem
Bx.13.328KD.13.312α
Et alibi nemo potest duobus dominis seruire
¶ Bi criste quod conscience þo · þi best cote haukyn
Hath many moles and spottes · it moste ben ywassh
¶ Ȝe who-so toke hede quod haukyn · byhynde and bifore
Bx.13.332KD.13.316
What on bakke and what onBx.13.332: and what on: Probably the beta reading, though MC drop and, and GO drop what. Alpha also drops what. Bx.13.329-39 have no parallel in C. body half · & by þe two sydes
Men sholde fynde many frounces · and many foule plottes
[¶]Bx.13.334: : In L the scribe indicated the paraph but forgot to leave a line-space, so the rubricator missed it. It has support from WCR. And he torned hym as tyte · and þanne toke I hede
It was fouler by felefolde · þan it firste semed
Bx.13.336KD.13.320
It was bidropped with wratthe · and wikked wille
With enuye and yuel speche [·] entysyng to fyȝte
Lyinge and la[kk]yngeBx.13.338: lakkynge: Alpha's reading is greatly preferable to beta's laughynge on grounds of sense. · [a]Bx.13.338: a: R only, but apparently alpha since F expands to & with a. Beta thus interpreted Bx a as "and". Cf. note to l. 88 above. The b-verse "a tongue eager to chide" defines lakkynge. leue tonge to chyde
Al þat he wist wykked · by any wiȝte tellen it
Bx.13.340KD.13.324
And blame men bihynde her bakke · and bydden hem meschaunce
And þat he wist bi wille · tellen it watteBx.13.341: watte: LMWCG, hence the beta reading, with CrHmO and alpha reading to watte. The parallel b-verse in Cx is RK.6.71, tolde hit wille aftur, rather than RK.6.70, to watekyn he tolde hit.
And þat watte wiste · wille wiste it after
And made of frendes foes · þorugh a false tonge
Bx.13.344KD.13.328
Or with myȝte of mouthe [·] or þorugh mannes strengthe
Auenge[d]Bx.13.345: Auenged: Despite lack of support from other B mss., R's past tense is preferable on grounds of syntax, and is supported by Cx. Hence frete is also past tense, as in Cx. me fele tymes · other frete my-selue
Wyth-inne as a shepster shere · I shrewedBx.13.346: I shrewed: Interpreted by Skeat and MED shreuen as past participle, but this is syntactically impossible. Kane (2005) and Schmidt (1995) take ishrewed as past tense, but MED does not record a verb ishrewen. See F's rewriting, and cf. Cx past tense shrewed (RK.6.75). men & cursed
Cuius maledictione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius labor & dolor
Bx.13.348KD.13.330α
& alibi filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutus
Bx.13.349: : The paraph is in beta only, following the Latin lines. Þere is no lyf þat I louyeBx.13.349: I louye: KD, p. 148, argue for the CrW reading me loueth, but it cannot be Bx. · lastyng any while
For tales þat I telle · no man trusteth to me
And whan I may nouȝt haue þe maistrye · [swich]Bx.13.351: swich: The spelling of F probably represents Bx. R misread as which. Beta apparently misread as with, though CrW have such (by conjecture?) and MHm are both visibly altered to that reading. The Cx reading is also such. L retains the spelling swich only in Bx.15.17. malencolye I take
Bx.13.352KD.13.334
Þat I cacche þe crompe · þe cardiacle some-tyme
Or an ague in suche an angre · and some-tyme a feure
Þat taketh me al a twelf-moneth · tyl þat I dispyse
Lechecrafte orBx.13.355: or: So LR. Clearly an error for of, with the obvious correction (supported by Cx) made by all other scribes. owre lorde · and leue on a wicche
Bx.13.356KD.13.338
And segge þat no clerke ne can · ne cryste as I leue
To þe souter of southwerke · or of shordyche dame emme
And segge þat no goddes worde · gaf me neuere bote
But þorw a charme had I chaunce · & my chief hele
Bx.13.360KD.13.342
¶ I wayted wisloker · and þanne was itBx.13.360: it: F has he, emphasising that I in the a-verse refers to Will. R's I is perhaps prompted by the alpha reading myn for his in the next line. soiled
With lykyng of lecherye · asBx.13.361: as: A number of scribes (Hm, beta4 and R) have the easier and. by lokyng of hisBx.13.361: his: Alpha's myn is obviously an error, suggesting a muddle over the speaker here. See note to l. 363. eye
For vche a mayde þat he mette · he made hir a signe
Semynge to synne-ward · and some-tyme he gan tasteBx.13.363: In F, ll. 361-8 are in the first person, as they are in Cx where they are part of the confession of lechery (RK.6.176-84). In this line F's & summe y gan is a C-text reading and suggests contamination.
Bx.13.364KD.13.346
Aboute þe mouth or bynethe · bygynneth to grope
Tyl eytheres wille waxeth kene · and to þe werke ȝeden
As welBx.13.366: wel: Beta has wel in anticipating the following line, but alpha is supported by Cx (RK.6.182). fastyng-days & frydayes · and forboden nyȝtes
And as [lef]Bx.13.367: lef: Beta's wel is prompted by the preceding line. Alpha is supported by the alliteration and Cx. in lente as oute of lente · alle tymes ylyche
Bx.13.368KD.13.350
Suche werkes with hem · wasBx.13.368: was: We retain L's plural form, though other mss. have were. See note to Bx.5.13 and Introduction V.3.1. neuere oute of sesoun
Tyl þei myȝte namore · and þanne had merye tales
And how þat lechoures louyen · lauȝen an iapen
And of herBx.13.371: her (1): Not in F or R, which begins Or herlotrie. Bx.13.370-8 have no parallel in C. harlotrye and horedome · in her elde tellen
Bx.13.372KD.13.354
¶ Thanne pacience parceyued [·] of poyntes hisBx.13.372: his: All except LR supply of (added in M), but his cote is subject of was in the following line: "his coat was grimy with stains". cote
Was colmy þorw coueityse · and v[n]kynde desyrynge
More to good þan to god · þe gome his loue caste
And ymagyned how · he it myȝte haue
Bx.13.376KD.13.358
With false mesures and mette · and with false witnesse
Lened for loue of þe wedde · and loth to do treuthe
And awaited þorwgh whi[ttes] [·] wey[es]Bx.13.378: whittes weyes: R's spelling whittus weyus suggests the cause of confusion in beta: Bx presumably had the spelling <wh> for /w/ (as sometimes in SW), preserved but perhaps not understood as "wits" by R, and desperately altered to which by beta, who consequently understood wey as "way". R has his usual spelling weye, "man". For once, F gets it more or less right. to bigile
And menged his marchaundyse · and made a gode moustre
Bx.13.380KD.13.362
Þe worste with-in was · a gret witte I lete hit
And if my neighbore had anBx.13.381: an: Alpha is supported by Cx (RK.6.262). Beta anticipates any in the b-verse. hyne · or any beste elles
More profitable þan myne · many sleightes I made
How I myȝte haue it · al my witte I caste
Bx.13.384KD.13.366
And but I itBx.13.384: but I it: LMW, so beta, supported by the X family of C (the P family has Hm's order). R omits it and F rewrites. had by other waye · atte laste I stale it
Or pryuiliche his purse shoke · vnpiked his lokkes
Or by nyȝt or by day · aboute was ich euere
Þorwgh gyle to gadren [·] þe good þat ich haue
Bx.13.388KD.13.370
¶ Ȝif I ȝede to þe plow · I pynched so narwe
Þat a fote londe or a forwe · fecchen I wolde
Of my nexte neighbore · nymen of his ertheBx.13.390-1: Alpha loses the b-verse of 390 and the a-verse of 391.
And if [I]Bx.13.391: I: Dropped by L, though the line is marked for correction. ropeBx.13.391: rope: "reaped" (MED repen v.(1)); the past tense is supported by Cx. ouer-reche · or ȝaf hem red þat ropenBx.13.391: ropen: Cr and alpha have repen, which may also be a pa.t.pl. form.
Bx.13.392KD.13.374
ToBx.13.392: To: Supported by Cx against And in MCrCGO. seise to me with her sykel · þat I ne sewe neure
¶ And who-so borweth of me · abouteBx.13.393: aboute: A spelling of abouȝte, "bought, paid for", preserved by LGR and altered by the correctors of MHm. It was evidently misunderstood as "about" by F, who revised. þe tyme
With presentes priueliche · or payed somme certeyne
So walde he or nouȝt wolde heBx.13.395: he (2): Omitted by WR. For nouȝt wolde he, beta4 and F have he nolde. · wynnen I wolde
Bx.13.396KD.13.378
And bothe to kyth and to kyn · vnkynde of þat ich hadde
¶ And who-so cheped my chaffare · chiden I wolde
But he profredBx.13.398: profred: CGO and rewritten Hm add me. to paye · a peny or tweyne
More þan it was worth · and ȝet wolde I swere
Bx.13.400KD.13.382
Þat it coste meBx.13.400: me: In beta only; alpha may be right to omit. The line is not in C. moche more · swore manye othes
¶ In halydayes at holicherche · whan ich herde masse
Hadde [I]Bx.13.402: I: LR, the two best witnesses, coincidentally omit the pronoun, which is necessary for the sense and supported by Cx (RK.6.273). The line is marked for correction in L. neuere wille wot god · witterly to biseche
Mercye for my mysdedes · þat I ne morned more
Bx.13.404KD.13.386
For losse of gode leue me · þan for lykamesBx.13.404: lykames: So R, supported by Cx; all other mss. have my lykames, following on from my mysdedes in the previous line. giltes
As if I had dedly synne done · I dred nouȝt þat so sore
As when I lened and leued it lost · or longe ar it were payed
So if I kydde any kyndenesse · myn euen-cristene to helpe
Bx.13.408KD.13.390
Vpon a cruel coueityse · my [conscience]Bx.13.408: conscience: Alpha's reading corrects the aa/bb alliteration of beta's herte. The line is not in C. gan hange
And if I sent ouer-see · my seruauntz to Bruges
Or in-to Pruslonde my prentys · my profit to wayten
To marchaunden with monoye · and maken her eschaungesBx.13.411: eschaunges: Alpha has chaunges, but beta is supported by Cx.
Bx.13.412KD.13.394
Miȝte neuere me conforte · in þe mene-tymeBx.13.412: tyme: Confirmed by Cx. Beta2 has while.
Noither messe ne matynes · ne none manere siȝtes
Ne neuere penaunce perfourned · ne pater noster seyde
Þat my mynde ne was more · on my gode in a doute
Bx.13.416KD.13.398
Þan in þe grace of god · and his grete helpes
Vbi thesaurus tuus · ibi & cor tuum
Bx.13.418-27: These lines are omitted by beta. Probably the scribe skipped from one paraph to the next, though alpha does not record the expected paraph at 418 following the Latin line. Lines 420 and 422 have some parallel in the C text, but are there transferred to the confession of Gluttony (RK.6.428 and 430). [Ȝet glotounBx.13.418: glotoun: R's reading is surprising enough to have prompted F's revision to þat goome. Compare the other sins attributed to Hawkin: lechery (361), covetousness (373), sloth (426), though they are not personified as here. On the other hand R's glotoun is possibly a reminiscence of Bx.5.319 and 10.53, "Glotonye and grete othes". with grete othes · his g[ar]nement hadde soyled
And foule beflobered it · as with fals speche
Bx.13.420KD.13.401
As þere no nede ne was · godes name an ydel
Swore þere-by swithe ofte · and al byswatte his cote
And more mete ete and dronke · þen kynde miȝt defie
And cauȝte sekenesse sum-tyme · for my [surfai]tesBx.13.423: surfaites: R's forfetes is a misreading of alliterating surfetys, as in F. ofte
Bx.13.424KD.13.405
And þanne I dradde to deye · in dedlich synne
Þat in-to wanhope he w[or]theBx.13.425: worthe: R's wrathe could be a metathesised form but is probably an error (cf. Bx.11.5). F revises to synonymous wente. · and wende nauȝt to be saued
Þe whiche is sleuthe so slow · þat may no sleightes helpe it
Ne no mercy amenden · þe man þat so deyeth]
Bx.13.428KD.13.409
¶ [Ac]Bx.13.428: Ac: Dropped by beta following the loss of text. For Ac which, F has Þese. R is supported by Cx (RK.7.69). which ben þe braunches · þat bryngeth a man to sleuth
His womanBx.13.429: His woman: Evidently the Bx reading, recorded in LR, original M, and CG. Beta2 and F recognise it as nonsense and so emend by conjecture; O, Is whanne a man, has the reading of the P family of C, by conjecture or contamination (RK.7.70). In C these lines are transferred to the confession of Sloth. morneth nouȝte for his mysdedes · ne maketh no sorwe
AcBx.13.430: Ac: The reading of LO and probably original M, while G has its usual substitution But. The others have And (Ne in F). Cx has The. penaunce þat þe prest enioigneth · perfourneth yuel
Doth none almes-dede · dret hym of no synne
Bx.13.432KD.13.413
Lyueth aȝein þe bileue · and no lawe holdeth
Vch day is haliday with hym · or an heigh ferye
And if he auȝte wole here · it is an harlotes tonge
Whan men carpeth of cryst · or ofBx.13.435: of (2): Dropped by CGOF, but supported by authoritative C mss. of both families. clennesse of souleBx.13.435: soule: The sg. is supported by Cx.
Bx.13.436KD.13.417
He wexeth wroth & wil nouȝte here · but wordes of myrthe
Penaunce andBx.13.437: and (1): As in Cx. pore men · and þe passioun of seyntes
He hateth to here þere-of · and alle þat it telleth
Þise ben þe braunches beth war · þat bryngeth a man to wanhope
Bx.13.440KD.13.421
Ȝe lordes and ladyes · and legates of holicherche
Þat fedeth fol[e]-sagesBx.13.441: fole-sages: "wise fools, jesters". R is supported by Cx (RK.7.82). Beta reads foles sages, i.e. a pl. noun followed by an adj. with a French pl. inflection (Mustanoja (1960), 277). F has folis sage. · flatereres and lyeres
And han likynge to lythen hem · to do ȝow toBx.13.442: to (3): GR omit, as does Cx, but GR are unmetrical (x / x /) whereas Cx is expanded to x / x x x / by the addition of in hope. Perhaps, though, Cx has preserved the reading that Bx has dropped, leading beta and F to add to for the metre. So Schmidt (1995), 392. lawghe
Ve vobis qui ridetis &c
Bx.13.444KD.13.424
And ȝiueth hem mete and Mede · and pore men refuse
In ȝowre deth-deyinge · I drede me soreBx.13.445: sore: Beta adds ful, but Cx is without it.
Lest þo thre maner men · to moche sorwe ȝow brynge
Consencientes & agentes pari pena punienturBx.13.447: punientur: Alpha has puniendi sunt, but beta is supported by Cx. Alford (1992), 86, quotes beta's form.
Bx.13.448KD.13.427
Bx.13.448: WHmR here have a paraph.Patriarkes & prophetes · and prechoures of goddes wordes
Sauen þorw her sarmounBx.13.449: sarmoun: Beta2 has the more obvious plural, as does the P family of C. · mannes soule fram helle
Riȝt so flateresBx.13.450: flateres: Here, as elsewhere (and in C mss.) the form varies with flaterers. Cf. l. 477 below. We follow copy-text. and foles · aren þe fendes disciples
To entice men þorw her tales [·] to synne and harlotrye
Bx.13.452KD.13.431
Ac clerkes þat knowen holywryt · shulde kenne lordes
What dauid seith of suche men · as þe sauter telleth
Non habitabit in medio domus mee · qui facit superbiam quiBx.13.454: qui (2): Beta has & qui, but this is supported neither by Cx nor the Vulgate. F drops the last phrase. loquitur iniqua
Shulde none harlote haue audience · in halle ne in chambresBx.13.455: chambres: CrWGF have the sg., as does Cx.
Bx.13.456KD.13.434
Þere wise men were · witnesseth goddes wordes
Ne no mysproude man · amonges lordes ben allowed
Bx.13.458-76: This block of 19 lines is omitted by beta. The lines are pretty well exactly reproduced in C (RK.7.96-113), usually supporting R over F. [¶ Clerkes and kniȝtes · welcometh kynges mynstralles
And for loue of [her]Bx.13.459: her: F is supported by Cx against R's þe. lorde · litheth hem at festes
Bx.13.460KD.13.438
Muche more me thinketh · riche men shulde
Haue beggeres byfore hem · þe whiche ben goddes mynstralles
As he seyth hym-self · seynt Iohan bereth witnesse
Qui vos spernit me spernit
Bx.13.464KD.13.441
For-thi I rede ȝow riche · atBx.13.464: at: Evidently the reading of alpha, but not in Cx. reueles whan ȝe maketh
For to solace ȝoure soules · suche minstralles to haue
Þe pore for a fol-sage · syttynge at þeBx.13.466: þe (2): So F; R has þe heyȝ; perhaps rightly, but perhaps an uncharacteristic addition, since Cx has þy. table
And a lered man to lere þe · what oure lorde suffred
Bx.13.468KD.13.445
For to saue þi soule · fram sathan þin enemy
And fithel þe with-out flaterynge · of gode friday þe storyeBx.13.469: storye: Cx has feste.
And a blynd man for a bourdeoure · or a bedrede womman
To crie a largesse by-for oure lorde · ȝoure gode loos to shewe
Bx.13.472KD.13.449
Þise thre maner mynstralles · maketh a man to laughe
And in his deth-deyinge · þei don hym grete conforte
Þat bi his lyue lythedBx.13.474: lythed: So R, against F's he lystned. But the X family of C has lened and the P family loueþ. hem · and loued hem to here
Þise solaseth þe soule · til hym-selue be falle
Bx.13.476KD.13.453
In a welhopeBx.13.476: welhope: Alpha or Bx has presumably lost for a wrouhte so as in Cx, leading F to expand. · amonges worthi seyntes]
[Þere]Bx.13.477: Þere: "where". Alpha is supported by Cx. Following the loss of the preceding passage, beta has Ac with a paraph. flateres and foles [·] þorw her foule wordes
Leden þo þat loue[d]Bx.13.478: loued: Alpha's past tense is supported by Cx's probable reading lythed, though some mss. of the P family have the present. hem · to luciferes feste
With turpiloquio a lay of sorwe · and luciferes fithele
Bx.13.480KD.13.457
Thus haukyn þe actyf man · hadde ysoiled his cote
Til conscience acouped hym þere-of · in a curteise manere
Whi he ne hadde wasshen it · or wyped it with a brusshe
MED