dowel Passus quindecimus finit dobet & incipit
Bx.15.1-14: The lines have no parallel in . C Ac after my wakyngBx.15.1: : R's wakyng is an obvious error. walkynge · it was wonder longe
Bx.15.5: : Dropped by beta, though supplied on grounds of sense by CrW and inserted by the M corrector. me for a lorel · and loth to reuerencen
And leten [me]Bx.15.12KD.15.12
Bx.15.12: : R has sorcerye; F has of sorserie. a syght of sorseryȝe were · a sotyl þinge with-al
Tyl I seigh as it sorceryeBx.15.14: : Beta4 omits and of what kynde, and F has simply of. R drops the whole phrase and rewrites as two lines. kendely · I conIured hym atte laste
And wher-of I cam and of what kyndeBx.15.15: : Beta2 presumably lost the phrase. CrW patch with for crystes loue, Hm with anoon. Here comparison with leue recommences (RK.16.166). Cx me to tellen
If he were crystes creature · for crystes loueBx.15.16KD.15.16, 17
Bx.15.16: : Dropped by R only, though it appears to be the a reading. Cx place
¶ I am crystes creature quod he · and crystene in many aBx.15.18: : The beta reading with which F agrees, supported by the P family of his. R's C has the support of the X family, and could be right. þe fauchoune
Is noyther peter þe porter · ne poule with hisBx.15.20KD.15.20
Bx.15.20: : The reading of alpha, CrHm, and is so. Other beta mss. reverse the word-order. Cx yknowe
At mydnyȝt at mydday · my voice [is so]Bx.15.22: : The word-order is reversed in MHm and beta4. The line is not in quod I in þat courte. Cx · amonges crystes peple
¶ What ar ȝe called quod I in þat courte mensBx.15.25: mens: R, presumably reproducing his exemplar as usual, adds , set out as a gloss between punctus. thouȝt misunderstood it as part of the line, so that most mss. read Cx or mens thouhte. mannes þouȝte
And for þat I can and knowe · called am I Bx.15.35: : L's flee may represent the beta reading, also in CO; M's flye is a correction. But flee supports alpha and beta2. Cx fro þe flesshe · and forsake þe caroigne
And whan I fl[e]eBx.15.36KD.15.36
Bx.15.36: : L and alpha only, but supported by and. Cx þanne ich hatte spiritus
Þanne am I spirit specheles · andBx.15.39: : W adds alle at the beginning of the b-verse and drops for. G also drops alle, but it is in alle. Cx my names
How þow coueitest to calle me · now þow knowest alleBx.15.40KD.15.39α
anima est · dum vult animus est · dum scit mens est · dum recolit memoria est ·
dum iudicat racio est · dum sentit sensus est · dum amat amor est · dum negat
vel consentit consciencia est · dum spirat spiritus est Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur · dum viuificat corpusBx.15.40: L sets this as two lines, F as six and R as ten. Cf. .15.124 Bx .
anima est · dum vult animus est · dum scit mens est · dum recolit memoria est ·
dum iudicat racio est · dum sentit sensus est · dum amat amor est · dum negat
vel consentit consciencia est · dum spirat spiritus est Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur · dum viuificat corpusBx.15.40: L sets this as two lines, F as six and R as ten. Cf. .15.124 Bx .
Bx.15.42: : Dropped in MCGO, but supported by most þei mss. C bereth many names
For bisshopes yblessed · þei and Presul · and pontifex metropolitanusBx.15.43: metropolitanus: Alpha has , as in eight metropolanus mss., including X. It may, therefore, be an archetypal error. C
Bx.15.48KD.15.47
Bx.15.48: With the short a-verse, the placing of the punctus causes scribes uncertainty. WR put it after ; F reads seyde for y and puts it after that. In HmO it follows by; in M it follows so. LC omit it. man by so no man were greued
¶ Ȝe syre I seyde [·]Bx.15.49: : COR have the plural without ending. sciences vnder sonne · and alle þe sotyle craftes
Alle þe sciencesBx.15.52KD.15.51
Bx.15.52: F alone adds a line after this.
For such a luste and lykynge · lucifer fel fram heueneBx.15.55: : Alpha and Cr have kunne in the sense "know" ( kenne MED v.(1), 3), but kennen supports beta. Cx al · excepte cryste one
Þat any creature shulde kunneBx.15.58: opprimatur: R is supported by in the present subjunctive, "let him be overwhelmed". Beta has the present indicative, while F corrects to the future as
in the Clementine Vulgate (Prov. 25.27). See Schmidt (1995), 395. Cx a gloria Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprim[a]tur
Bx.15.59: WHmCF begin the line with a paraph, with a line-space in M.To englisch men þis is to mene · þat mowen speke & here
Bx.15.64KD.15.61
Bx.15.64: verba vertit: This order, which is reversed in Hm and alpha, is supported by (RK.16.223). Cx in opera · fullich to his powere Et verba vertit
Bx.15.67: gloriam: The form cited by Alford (1992), 92-3. Beta 2, corrected O and some scribes alter to C, taking it as the expected ablative. gloria spoliauit Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloriam
Bx.15.70: : HmCGOF have the more obvious singular. The line is rewritten in graces. C it letteth
Of god and of his grete myȝtes · his gracesBx.15.74: : A paraph is warranted by the syntax and supported by MWHmC and alpha. ¶ Freres and fele otherBx.15.74: : It is possible that beta (apart from G) has added fele other (not in alpha) to "improve" the alliteration, but obscuring alliteration on /m/. But fele has the word in a revised line (RK.16.231). Cx maistres · þat to þeBx.15.74: : Omitted by WOF. þe lewed men prechen
[¶]Bx.15.75: : Post-positional French adjectives may have a plural inflection, altered by CrWF. (Mustanoja (1960), 277.) inmesurables citations suggest that the negative prefix is more commonly MED-, as in WG and alpha. vn rewrites the line. Cx · to tellen of þe Trinite
Ȝe moeuen materes inmesurablesBx.15.77: : "It would be better for many doctors to drop such teaching". This is the reading of LCrHm, and probably that of M before
correction, but it caused considerable confusion. The lack of alliteration suggests the line is corrupt. If it is authorial,
Langland is presumably punning on the noun Bettere byleue were mony (l. 76) and bileue MED v. (1), "abandon", which some scribes take as bileven MED v. (2), "believe". The M corrector rearranged the words as bileven, but subsequently alters the last word to Bettre were many doctours . bileu{..}, giving the reading "Bettre were many doctours leue suche techinge", which makes good sense. W hits on a similar reading.
R (= alpha?) alters leue to were and drops by in the b-verse. F revises in his usual uncompromising manner. The line is not in such. Cx · doctoures such techyng
Bettere byleue were monyBx.15.81: : LR (and CrC) agree against spenen in other mss., which is no doubt prompted by spenden in the line above. However, myspenden has Cx. The two verbs ( spenden MED and spenden) have the same origin and mean the same thing. spenen
As wel freres as other folke · folilich spenenBx.15.82: : Perhaps "in displaying too arrogant a learning". So alpha; beta has in to. and in to has Cx. in hiegh clergye shewynge
In housyng in haterynge · in to nota de fratribusBx.15.90: nota de fratribus: In L this is in the scribal hand and boxed in red. Since it is also in M, it is probably at least beta.
Bx.15.91: (3): R has of; F has and. The line is not in & of. C auarous chapmen
Of vsureres of hores · ofBx.15.94: acceptores personarum: Beta reverses the order, but alpha is supported by . Cx ne sitis [acceptores personarum]
Þat seide to his disciples · Bx.15.95: : Alpha probably read longe, as R, with F increasing the alliteration by altering to grete. There is no guidance from mychil. C bible
¶ Of þis matere I myȝte · make a longeBx.15.99: : Alpha has the plural. There is no parallel line in lawe. C techen
Þorw lele libbyng men · þat goddes laweBx.15.101: : Beta is supported by prechoures (RK.16.247). Alpha reads Cx, perhaps anticipating l. and prechoures105 . and techeres
There inparfyt presthod is · prechouresBx.15.102: : Beta2 has And, but this is not supported by I. Cx se it by ensample [·] in somer tyme on trowes
AndBx.15.105: : R's plural has no support from cherche. Cx
Riȝt so parsones and prestes · and prechoures of holy chercheBx.15.106: : R is supported by Is þe. Beta alters to Cx to correct the syntax; F rewrites. The form Þat aren can be used for the plural (as at is.16.241 Bx ), but here presumably agrees with rather than the nouns in the previous line. rote rote of þe riȝte faith · to reule þe peple
[Is þe]Bx.15.107: : The common variation between Ac. The better Ac ~ But ~ And mss. support C. Ac þere þe rote is roten · reson wote þe sothe
AcBx.15.109: Alpha and Hm have a paraph, and in L the line is at the top of the page where it is sometimes missed.For-þi wolde ȝeBx.15.109: : Alpha has ȝe, as does the P group of þe. Cf. l. C111 , altered by F to ȝowre. here lettred leue · þe leccherye of clothynge
Bx.15.112KD.15.106
Bx.15.112: : R's b-verse depends on auȝt, so "hate under any circumstance to take tithes", and presents aaa/ax alliteration. Beta's wolde ȝe ... hatien depends, perhaps less plausibly, directly on nouȝt: "if you would not take tithes" ( wolde ȝe is used when the auxiliary is separated from the infinitive, as here; see Mustanoja (1960), 522). In beta the pattern is
aaa/xx. F rewrites. to simplifies the line (RK.16.260), with a couple of scribes even so misunderstanding the syntax and adding a negative. Cx to vnderfonge
And hatien to here harlotrye · and [a]uȝtBx.15.113: : Obviously better than CrW of vntrewe and G + alpha but of trewe. Perhaps the mistake is prompted by l. of trewe111 in the context of the syntactic difficulty shown by the readings in the line above. Trewe revises (RK.16.261). Cx þinge · ytilied or chaffared
Tythes of vntreweBx.15.114: : The paraph in LHm and alpha (line-break in M) evidently represents ¶, yet the sentence beginning at l. 109 with a series of conditionals must be completed here in the main clause. Bx Lothe were lewed men · but þei ȝowre lore folwed
¶Bx.15.115: : mysdon means "(those) who do wrong amend themselves", but could be misunderstood to mean "amend those who do wrong". R's reading
Bx makes it clearer that þei misdon is reflexive, "amend themselves of what they do wrong". hem clarifies with Cx (RK.16.263). amenden (hem) of here mysdedes · more for ȝowre ensamples
And amenden hem þat mysdonBx.15.117: : Cf. "a donghel besnewed" ( dongehul, 81/9-10, translating Aȝenbit of Inwit). Alpha's Somme le Roi misses the allusion. dongoun
For ypocrysie in latyn · is lykned to a dongehulBx.15.119: The paraph in L and the line-space in M are clearly not appropriate, and may represent a beta error.Or to a wal þat were whitlymed · and were foule wyth-inneBx.15.119: The line is lost in HmCG, through eyeskip on . wyth-inne
· and with clothes bele parolesBx.15.121: : So R. and with clothes has Cx. To repair the archetypal loss of the repeated and with bele clothes, beta lengthens the b-verse with bele and F supplies alliteration. also
Ȝe aren enblaunched with Bx.15.122: : Evidently R has the alpha reading, for which F substitutes woluelich. Beta misreads as foxly. vnlouelich has an entirely different line, but it ends Cx (RK.16.271). as wolues
Ac ȝowre werkes and ȝowre wordes þere-vnder · aren ful [wol]uelichBx.15.123: : The paraph is recorded by LR only. ¶ Iohannes crysostomus · of clerkes speketh and prestes
¶Bx.15.124KD.15.118
Bx.15.124: Set as four lines in L, nine in R and three in F. Cf. l. 40 . Bx.15.124: progreditur: Alpha anticipates . procedit · sic de templo · omne malum procedit
Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit · tota floret ecclesia · si autem corupt[a]Bx.15.124: corupta: Since this is the form in alpha and most mss., it is presumably archetypal. Beta corrects to C, referring to coruptum rather than sacerdocium, as in Alford (1992), 93. ecclesia fuerit · omnium fides
marcida est · Si sacerdociumBx.15.124: sacerdocium (2): Alpha has . sacerdos fuerit in peccatis · totus populus co[n]uertitur ad peccandumBx.15.124: peccandum: Alpha has . peccatum
Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam · inteligis quod vicium habet in radice
Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum · & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur
Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit · tota floret ecclesia · si autem corupt[a]Bx.15.124: corupta: Since this is the form in alpha and most mss., it is presumably archetypal. Beta corrects to C, referring to coruptum rather than sacerdocium, as in Alford (1992), 93. ecclesia fuerit · omnium fides
marcida est · Si sacerdociumBx.15.124: sacerdocium (2): Alpha has . sacerdos fuerit in peccatis · totus populus co[n]uertitur ad peccandumBx.15.124: peccandum: Alpha has . peccatum
Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam · inteligis quod vicium habet in radice
Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum · & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur
Bx.15.127: : MR have the equally common construction without many a. a has no parallel for ll. 125-32. Cx prest bere · for here baselardes and here brochesBx.15.127: : Reversed in R (= alpha?). baselardes ... broches
But if many aBx.15.128KD.15.122
Bx.15.128: : The idiom is supported by LCGR (cf. peyre.12.22 Bx ). The others have . peire of bedes in her hande · andBx.15.128: : Alpha has and. or a boke vnder her arme
A peyreBx.15.132KD.15.126-127
Bx.15.132: : R reads saue (which could be right), while F abbreviates the long a-verse. haue syluer þer-to · seith it with yvelBx.15.132: : The reading of L and alpha, and so presumably yvel. Schmidt (1995) translates Bx as "with a bad grace". The phrase occurs elsewhere in the sense "malice". KD adopt with yvel wille in other beta mss., which Kane (2005) glosses "perfunctorily", though there are no parallels. O's wyth ydel wylle is an inspired invention simplifying a puzzling line. As Skeat explains it, the priest expects to be paid for saying a mass
in addition to ( for spendyng at ale) the Placebo, so that þer-to means "If he did not have". Hadde he neure wille
Hadde he neure seruyse to saueBx.15.135: : Scribes are puzzled, with W substituting witte and Hm þe wit. CGO revise further. For þe wylle, "the wisdom of wise God", witte of witty god reads Cx. Langland seems to mean that since good men should not benefit from goods obtained wickedly (ll. oþerwyse god112-13 ), wicked men must enjoy them. of witty god · but wikked men it haddeBx.15.135: : Alpha reads hadde, but beta is supported by maked. Cx
Wolde neuere witteBx.15.138: : R has spended, agreeing with the X family of spened. Cf. l. C81 note.
Þis þat with gyle was geten · vngraciouslich is spendedBx.15.140KD.15.135
Bx.15.140: : R (= alpha) has And (with F reading Ac as usual). Cf. the variants at ll. But107 , 131 etc. The line is not in . Cx goddes folke for defaute þer-of · forfaren and spillen
AndBx.15.141: : Alpha is supported by and against beta's Cx, which, however, gives good sense. as clerkes þat ben auerouse
¶ Curatoures of holykirke · a[nd]Bx.15.144KD.15.139
Bx.15.144: : Support for men comes from HmF alone. Lines 143-62 are rewritten in meyne. C bothe
And maketh murthe þere-with · and his menBx.15.148KD.15.143
Bx.15.148: : The form in LMR. For variation with spene, cf. ll. spende81 , 138 , 149 and 340 . we in murthe
And þat he spared and bispered · speneBx.15.149: : Cf. the previous line. In this case only R has spende. spene
¶ By lered by lewed · þat loth is to spendeBx.15.152KD.15.147
Bx.15.152: : Alpha has haueth, which may be right. There is no parallel in hem haueth. C
And bymeneth good mete-ȝyueres · and in mynde haueth quid est caritasBx.15.153: quid est caritas: Written in the right-hand margin in the main hand in LM, so probably beta.
Bx.15.153: : For variation of the plural with and without <-s>, see note to penaunces.14.211 Bx . · and in parfyt charite
In prayers and in penauncesBx.15.157: : The paraph in LW (with a new line-group in M) marks the start of Will's speech. ¶ Where shulde men fynde such a frende · with so fre an herte
¶Bx.15.158: Alpha and Hm mistake this as the beginning of Will's speech, with a paraph here rather than at l. 157. But the line is certainly
notable. A later annotator in L writes: "nota the name of thaucto[r]". R has "Longe Wylle" in display script in red in the
right margin; in M a later annotator has scribbled "longe will". I haue lyued in londe quod IBx.15.158: (2): Beta2 reads I. he · my name is longe wille
Bx.15.162: : The paraph is in LM only and may be spurious. WHmCF have a paraph at l. ¶164 instead. Ac charite þat poule preyseth best · and most plesaunte to owre saueoureBx.15.162: : Evidently beta, despite WCr's owre saueoure. Alpha presumably had R's oure lord. god
¶Bx.15.163: : Beta2 has As, and M is altered to that reading. The word is dropped by CG and is not in Is. Cx Bx.15.163: inflatur: Perhaps beta had the error , retained by L and corrected in M. inflatus non [est]Bx.15.163: est: Not in L and added in M and Hm, again suggesting that beta was perhaps in error. ambiciosa non querit que sua sunt non inflatu[r]
AsBx.15.166: : Supported by neded hym against alpha's reversal and the present tense in CGO. Cx nouȝt · and nyme it if he myȝte
Þinge þat neded hymBx.15.168KD.15.162
Bx.15.168: : Alpha omits. The line is not in a. Cx miroure
Ac I seygh hym neuere sothly · but as my-self in aBx.15.169: Hic: M and alpha are supported by against Cx in L, It in CGO, and omission in beta2. In 1 Cor. 13.12 the word is Ita. nunc in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem [Hic]
Bx.15.177: : Alpha has And. Lines 177-87 are rewritten in He. C leuethBx.15.177: : R clearly reads leueth (though not recorded by KD), and F's leueth supports this as alpha's reading. Cr has beleviþ and in G leueth is altered to lenithe, as is to be expected in these late texts. In all other beta mss. it is impossible to determine whether the reading is levithe or u (though it looks more like n in O). Our transcriptions followed KD in reading u (though with a note of caution in W). We should probably have followed Skeat, who read L as leneth, with a note glossing it "believes; answering to leueth" (l. let it soth180 ). and loueth alle · þat owre lorde made
AndBx.15.185: : The evidence supports this as the fyndeth form in this line against R's monosyllabic Bx, whereas fynt evidently had Bx in the next line. fynt hym · failled hym neuere at nede
For a frende þat fyndethBx.15.187: : Only MCGO have subjunctive soupeth. soupe et[eth]Bx.15.187: : The present tense is required by the sense. L's eteth must be past, and R's ette (= alpha?) may be. See note to l. eet60 above. Hm and beta4 have . he eteþ but a soppe [·] of spera in deo
And if he soupethBx.15.188KD.15.181
Bx.15.188: : Beta's plural is supported by aues (RK.16.323). Cx
He can purtreye wel þe pater noster · and peynte it with auesBx.15.189: : LMHm (R drops is his wone). CrW, beta4 and F have his, but he is woned has Cx. his wone is · to wende in pilgrymageBx.15.189: : Only LM have in pilgrymage, though this is the in reading. Cx clearly had sg. Bx, though WCF have the plural, as does pilgrymage. See Cx.14.211 Bx and 19.387 for a similar situation.
And other-while is his woneBx.15.190: : The form has good support for both prisones and Bx. See note to Cx.3.138 Bx . liggeth · her pardoun to haue
Þere pore men and prisonesBx.15.195: : Alpha is supported by seche (as well as sense) against beta's Cx. speke
And ȝerne in-to ȝouthe · and ȝepliche s[eche]Bx.15.196KD.15.189
Bx.15.196: : The choice is between this and alpha's appurtenaunce. This could represent the plural, as MCrWGF unambiguously do. purtenaunce mss. have the same variation. C · and pakken hem togyderes
Pryde with al þe appurtenaunceBx.15.200KD.15.193
Bx.15.200: : Beta is supported by the X family of And, but alpha's omission has support from the P family. C þanne he syngeth whan he doth so · & some-tyme seith wepyng
AndBx.15.203: : MR have plowman; F drops the two words. Cf. l. þe plowman206 . Lines 202-24 are heavily revised in , with few parallels. C quod he · his persone seestow neuere
¶ With-outen helpe of Piers plowmanBx.15.207: : This odd reading, supported by L and alpha, evidently puzzled the scribes. M is altered to Þat, the reading of beta2, while CGO have What. There is no parallel in Where. C is þeBx.15.207: : Lost in alpha, prompting F to alter þe to wil. why wille and wherfore · þat many wyȝte suffreth
ÞatBx.15.215: : Alpha's reading gives the required sense. LMCrW suggest that beta had on, although Hm and beta4 have with. in such an esy manere
Ac it is more to haue her mete · [on]Bx.15.219: : Beta probably had in, altered by beta2 (the line is omitted by Hm) to the more usual in. F also reads on, though R has the unusual form on. an erthe
And þat knoweth no clerke · ne creature inBx.15.221: : LM. In practice there is no distinction between this and ne is in WHmR. We follow copy-text. nys nouȝte in lolleres · ne in lande-leperes hermytes
For he ne isBx.15.224KD.15.216
Bx.15.224: Alpha has a paraph.For charyte is goddis champioun · and as a good chylde hende
Bx.15.228KD.15.219α
Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &cBx.15.228: R alone has the word-order as in . Perhaps beta and F reverted to the Vulgate order, since it was a well-known quotation used as an antiphon on Ash Wednesday.
See Alford (1992), 94. Cx
Bx.15.229: Hm and alpha have a paraph. In L the line is at the top of the page where a paraph is sometimes missed.For I haue seyn hym in sylke · and somme-tyme in russet
Bx.15.233: : Alpha's alliterating reading means "so much did they practice charity". Beta's so makes no sense, prompting the reading tyl in CrW, and the alteration to that reading in MHm. KD and Schmidt (1995), 396, oddly conjecture for, though the latter has an elaborate explanation. stille charite hem folwed
And seyntes ysette · [so]Bx.15.238: Following this beta4 has an additional line. It is not in . C
Ycalled and ycrimiled · and his crowne shaueBx.15.240KD.15.231
Bx.15.240: : Though beta2 and F have ferre, which might be considered difficilior (it occurs nowhere else in any version), fern has Cx in a revised a-verse. fer agoo · in seynt Fraunceys tyme
Ac it is ferreBx.15.247: : Clearly the knowen reading. Unusually, W's Bx is shared with founde, presumably by coincidence. Cx
In þat secte sitthe · to selde hath he be knowenBx.15.247: : LMGR are supported by but against Cx. noȝt but selde
In courte amonge iaperes · he cometh butBx.15.254-8: These five lines are lost by beta, skipping from one paraph to the next. Lines 254 and 257 are distantly related to RK.16.366-7.
We follow R, with spellings altered to those of L. Comparison with begins again with l. Cx290 and then l. 297 .
[¶ Amonges erchebisshopes and oþer bisshopes · and prelates of holy chercheBx.15.258: : The kinsmen's. F's here weakens the point. hise children]
And for his sectoures & his seruantz · & somme for hereBx.15.259: : The paraph is in beta, following its loss of text. See note to ll. ¶254-8 . Ac I ne lakke no lyf · but lorde amende vs alle
¶Bx.15.263: This is transposed with the following line in beta4.
Lakketh ne loseth · ne loketh vp sterne In pace in idipsum dormiam &c ·Bx.15.265: The Latin line is lost in alpha. CrHmG extend the verse. It is repeated at .18.191-2 Bx .
Bx.15.274: : Beta's word-order gives a better alliterative pattern than alpha's. wel may euery man wite [·] if god haddeBx.15.274: : Dropped by G and alpha. The b-verse means "if God had followed his own wishes". hadde wolde hym-selue
For wel may euery manBx.15.275: : Alpha, reading ne (R) or þe (F), takes no account of the following line. þat iuwe · haue Ihesu don on Rode
Sholde neuere Iudas neBx.15.286: : "and". The attestation of MCr and R (as well as beta4) favours omitting LWHmF an. in spelonkes · selden speken togideres
In spekes anBx.15.289: : Alpha includes the definite article, perhaps rightly. We follow copy-text. foules þat fleeth · þus fynt men in bokes
But of foulesBx.15.291: : F omits, while R has mylde, perhaps prompted by its spelling meke for "milk". melke best · þe man was susteyned
And þorw þe mylke of þat myldeBx.15.292KD.15.281
Bx.15.292: : The sense seems to call for R's reading, against beta's Ac. F omits. And day by day had he hir nouȝt · his hunger forto slake
A[c]Bx.15.293: : See tymes.12.36 Bx . Alpha's form is possible. Discussed by KD, p. 143. · as seith þe boke and techeth
But selden and sondrie tymesBx.15.294: : The form does not occur elsewhere in the poem. Alpha has adayes. We follow copy-text. on a day · aboute none-tyme
¶ Antony adayesBx.15.295: : R probably represents alpha, with punctuation after bred and the addition of hym before his (F has bred later in the line). Either could be right, though b-verse alliteration on his is perfectly good. by · þat he by lyued
Had a bridde þat brouȝte hym bredBx.15.296KD.15.285
Bx.15.296: : "provided for". Alpha's fonde is likely to be scribal. Cf. l. fedde299 . hem bothe
And þough þe gome hadde a geste · god fonde · had parroked primus heremitaBx.15.297: : parroked (RK.17.13) does not support alpha's addition of Cx. in hym-selue
¶ Poule Bx.15.300KD.15.289
Bx.15.300: : There is liaison alliteration on /f/ which F improves by altering to of austines. of fraunces ordre
Til he founded freres · of austinesBx.15.304KD.15.293
Bx.15.304: : Past tense, from sothe MED v. (1). W sethen is merely a variant spelling. Alpha has the easier sode, but beta is supported by eeten. Cx · and so þei lyued bothe
Some þei solde and some þei sotheBx.15.305: : Alpha's omission of the verb is attractive following lyued and in l. lyued304 , but beta has support from . Cx dewes
And also Marie Magdeleyne · by mores lyued andBx.15.308KD.15.297
Bx.15.308: : Beta and manye longe ȝeres. Alpha's b-verse is repeated from l. Cx284 .
Þat lyueden þus for owre lordes loue · manye longe ȝeresBx.15.311: : R's singular has no support from tailles. Cx
Þat ne fel to her feet · and fauned with þe taillesBx.15.314-15: Two lines lost by beta. The whole passage is heavily revised in , and there is no trace of these lines. We follow R, with spellings altered to those of L. C [For alle þe curteisye þat bestes kunne · þei kidde þat folke ofte
Bx.15.318: : WF pick up fynde from the previous line. fede
As who seith religious · ryȝtful men shulde fyndeBx.15.319: : WF have brynge, repeating the construction of the previous two lines. sholde brynge
And lawful men to lyfholy men · lyflode bryngeBx.15.322: : LWHm mark the plural form. The form of the other scribes can also be understood as plural. There is similar variation in
the parallel line in almesses (RK.17.47), though most scribes have the unmarked form. C
Fonde þei þat Freres · wolde forsake her almessesBx.15.327: : i.e. "one", as is clearer in alpha. "And one main dish of just one kind". a messe þere-mydde · of o manere kynde
And aBx.15.328KD.15.317
Bx.15.328: : Alpha substitutes non-alliterating reule. ordre me tolde
Ȝe had riȝt ynough ȝe Religious · and so ȝowre reuleBx.15.329: Nunquam: Supported by . F's Cx, which makes much better sense, is a correction in line with the Vulgate (Job 6.5). Numquid dicit Iob rugi[e]tBx.15.329: rugiet: The Vulgate's future tense is supported by alpha and . Cx on[a]ger cum [habuerit herbam]Bx.15.329: habuerit herbam: Beta reverses the word-order, but alpha's order, which is that of the Vulgate, is supported by . Cx · aut mugiet boscum ante plenum presepe steterit · brutorum animalium natura te condempnat ·quia cum eis pabulum comune sufficiatBx.15.329: brutorum ... sufficiat: Alpha omits but it is in . Cx · ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua Nunquam
Bx.15.331: : "a period of". Alpha and GO omit. Lines 331-71 offer few parallels with a. C fyue dayes or sexe
And auyse hem bifore · aBx.15.335: : CrWF supply the object ȝiueth. it to bidde for ȝow · to such þatBx.15.335: : MCr and alpha have (slightly easier?) such þat. such as ben riche
And ȝiuethBx.15.340KD.15.329
Bx.15.340: : The form in LMO, but alpha and others have spene. See notes to ll. spende81 , 148 . Beta2 and CF add . it
For þat þei beggen abouten · in buildynge þei speneBx.15.342: : Beta2 omits, puzzled by the irony. ne habbeth
And of hem þat habbeth þei taken · and ȝyue hem þat neBx.15.347: : "provide robes for" (as in L, corrected M, WC) but with a pun on the phrase "rob the rich". Already puzzled by the ironic
tone earlier in the passage, other scribes write robeth, leading F to alter robbeth to ryche. See l. not ryche351 . þat ben riche
Riȝt so ȝe riche · ȝe robethBx.15.349: : Called for by the alliteration, though preserved only in R. Alpha also has ful in the b-verse, replacing ful in beta. fressh · of a fressh ryuer
As who-so filled a tonne [ful]Bx.15.353: : The paraph is in beta only. ¶ Ac Religious þat riche ben · shulde rather festeBx.15.353: : Alpha picks up the weaker feste from l. fede351 . beggeres
¶Bx.15.356KD.15.343α
Bx.15.356: idem: i.e. "from the same source again" (viz. Peter Cantor; see Alford (1992), 96). It is omitted by beta. peccatoribus dare · est demonibus immolare Item [idem]
Item monache si indiges et accipis pocius das quam accipisBx.15.357-8: These lines are omitted in alpha.
Bx.15.362: : For the variation with prisone see note to l. prisoner190 . fram purgatorie · þorw his preyeres he delyurethBx.15.362: : Alpha has instead he delyureth, which could be right. is deliuered
And many a prisoneBx.15.363: A paraph as in Hm and alpha would be appropriate.Ac þere is a defaute in þe folke · þat þe faith kepeth
Bx.15.372KD.15.356
Bx.15.372: : Omitted by beta, but alpha is supported by what (RK.17.86). Cx þorw werre and wykked werkes · and wederes vnresonable
For [what]Bx.15.375: : L has the same spelling in l. Astrymyanes386 , but in .19.250 Bx has . The forms probably reflect astronomyenes; cf. R's spellings. Bx mss. have similar variation. C alday · in her arte faillen
¶ AstrymyanesBx.15.376KD.15.360
Bx.15.376: : R's unique reading is supported by bifalle. All other Cx mss omit the prefix, but it should be noted that F shows a tendency to alter B to bifalle: falle.7.179 Bx , 8.8 , 11.309 . after
Þat whilum warned bifore · what shulde [bi]falleBx.15.379: : Alpha has and. The line is not in and of. C wyndes · þei warned men ofte
As of wederes andBx.15.380KD.15.364
Bx.15.380: A paraph as in WHm and alpha would be appropriate.Tilieres þat tiled þe erthe · tolden her maistres
Bx.15.382: (2): The reading of LM and alpha supported by to. Beta1 has Cx. what to lyue by · þe londe was so trewe
And what to leue and toBx.15.387: : Alpha drops the article; beta reads þe clement. The right reading is certainly that of þe element (RK.17.107), Cx ( þe clymat MED, "a region of the earth"). Beta replaced the corrupt climat with much easier and non-alliterating Bx, "the weather". Alpha drops the definite article to make some sense: "calculated by [Pope?] Clement". At this date þe element can only be a proper name; cf. clement.5.344 Bx , 365 (in both cases R has small <c> but F a capital). It is possible, too, that itself read Bx correctly and was differently misinterpreted by alpha and beta. þe clemet · þe contrarie þei fynde
Of þat was calculed of þe [c]lementBx.15.395: : Alpha adds Moche, but the sense is better without it: "It will surprise me greatly if Guile isn't in command and Flatterer working under him
amongst everyone". And wonder me thynketh · amonges vs alle
MocheBx.15.400KD.15.384
Bx.15.400: : LMG and alpha, supported by faillen in against Cx in beta2 and CO. faillen of her philosofye · and in phisyk bothe
Þei shulde faillen inBx.15.402: : The form without ending in MWGF may also be plural. Cf. note to offices.3.101 Bx . & in houres
Lest þei ouerhuppen as other don · in officesBx.15.403: : Good support from LMR, with the usual variants Ac and And. But ifBx.15.403: : R has if, which may be alpha and may be right. It probably lies behind F's þouȝ ... ( þey oon hippe is F's usual form of "though") and is included in þey which reworks as two lines (RK.17.118-19). C þei ouerhuppe as I hope nouȝte · owre byleue suffisethBx.15.403: : Either beta englishes the Latin or alpha supplies the Latin equivalent in anticipation of l. suffiseth405 . in a reworked line has the English form, altered by one scribe to Cx. sufficit
AcBx.15.408KD.15.392
Bx.15.408: : L and alpha punctuate after be, the others after be. men · þe lother god agulten
And for her lyuynge þat lewed men beBx.15.412KD.15.396
Bx.15.412: The line is omitted by beta as a result of eyeskip from the identical b-verse of l. 411. We follow R as usual. F begins the
line , which is perhaps scribal emphasis. For R's And so, F has on, as in the previous b-verse. The repetition might be an argument for or against. Lines 406-15 have no parallel in in. C [Cristene and vncristene . on one god bileueth]
Bx.15.415: : The alliterating noun is supported by L and alpha, but alpha is without the article, perhaps rightly. Beta1 seems to have
read a crystene man, as MWHm, though CrGO drop the article and C has pa. ppl. a cristene. cristend, in a different line, has Cx (RK.17.165). a man ycristened · and for he moste nouȝte be aBx.15.415: (2): The variation is unpatterned: LWCOR have the article, but the others are without it. a pope
Þis Makometh was a crystene manBx.15.419-20: Two lines omitted by alpha, through eyeskip on . The lines form the basis of RK.17.174-5. ere And if he amonge þe poeple preched · or in places come
Bx.15.421: : Beta is supported by enchaunted against alpha's Cx. chaunted
Menynge as after meet · þus Makometh hir enchauntedBx.15.422: : "And". See note to A.P.227 Bx . dide folke þanne falle on knees · for he swore in his prechynge
ABx.15.424KD.15.408
Bx.15.424: : Supported by the syntax over alpha's As. And messager to Makometh · men forto teche
AsBx.15.427: : The reading of LR, and possibly M's original version. F revises lered þere and lewed to lered þere; Hm (corrected) reverses the adjectives; beta4 drops leernede men, and CrW have þere, with M altered to that reading. A further difference is that alpha punctuates after lyued þo þere and lyue. In lewed the line reads: Cx [or And on his lore thei lyuen] leuen (RK.17.182). ȝut, as wel lered as lewed ȝit · l[e]uenBx.15.427: : Only L has leuen. There is some evidence that beta used the form lyuen also for "live", causing some scribes to hypercorrect; cf. notes to ll. leuen571 and 615 . on his lawes
Þat lered þere and lewedBx.15.430: : LR (F has Ac as usual). See note to l. but413 . Lines 429-513 are not paralleled in . C for drede of þe deth · I dar nouȝt telle treuthe
AcBx.15.434: : "become equals with". Alpha takes this as a noun, upsetting the syntax. Peren to apostles · þorw her parfit lyuynge
PerenBx.15.439: : Beta's reading may be prompted by the same word at the end of l. almesse436 . On the other hand, alpha's synonym may have its origin in visual similarity with fyndynge at the end of l. lyuynge440 , together with in l. fynde441 (so KD, p. 143). KD opts for beta's reading, Schmidt (1995) for alpha's.
To lyue bi litel & in lowe houses · by lele mennes almesseBx.15.440KD.15.424
Bx.15.440: : Alpha picks up good from the previous line, thus losing alliteration. lele lyuynge
Grace sholde growe & be grene · þorw her goodBx.15.441: : HmC and alpha have the sg. folkes sholde fynde · þat ben in dyuerse sykenesse
And folkesBx.15.443: : Alpha has brynge, anticipating the object of l. hem brynge444 .
Her preyeres and her penaunces · to pees shulde bryngeBx.15.446: Hm and alpha record a paraph.Salt saueth catelBx.15.446: : Beta2 and F add the definite article or personal pronoun. catel · seggen þis wyues
Bx.15.449: : R's past tense is both easier and less appropriate. calleth hem salt · for crystene soules
Cryst callethBx.15.453: : R has the aphetic form ensaumple. saumple
So is mannes soule sothly · þat seeth no good ensaumpleBx.15.463: : R's gerte is much inferior. and grete clerkes · to go here andBx.15.463: : Beta4 and R have here and, losing the emphasis on England and Wales. and to preche
Til Gregory gerteBx.15.464KD.15.445
Bx.15.464: : R's addition of kynge may be a consequence of the loss of þere in the previous line. here
Austyn at Caunterbury · crystened þe kyngeBx.15.467: : Possibly a beta addition, since R omits it. faste · and þe faith tauȝte
And fulled folke fasteBx.15.469: : MCrHm repeat with from the a-verse. þoruȝ his holy wordes
As wel þorw his werkes · as withBx.15.472KD.15.453
Bx.15.472: : So LMR. Others have the subjunctive as all copies have at l. is476 . fulled vnder fote · or in fullyng stokkes
Tyl it isBx.15.474: : R and corrected Hm have the plural, less appropriately. hande
Ytouked and ytented · & vnder tailloures handeBx.15.480KD.15.461
Bx.15.480: : The reading of R. Beta probably read keperes, as LGO, altered to creperes in M, beta2 and C, in order to make some sort of sense. Of course animals are not restrained by "cruppers". It is difficult
to see how beta's reading could have derived from the commonplace "keeper". It may be that cropers has some technical sense not recorded; for example, in crepere 3667 it seems to refer to a grapnel. KD p. 146 rather implausibly suggest that "the Morte Arthure was induced by the alliteration". r
Rude and vnresonable · rennenge with-out [k]eperesBx.15.481: : Only MW preserve the mynnen reading, with other scribes avoiding or misreading a word that was mainly northern by this time. It never occurs in L nor
elsewhere in Bx, though KD conjecture it four times. It is used twice in Bx (RK.17.210, 19.233) with similar variants. C wel howBx.15.481: (1): GR have how, avoiding the repetition. whate matheu seith · how a man made a feste
¶ Ȝe [mynnen]Bx.15.487: : The paraph is in LC, with a new line-group in M. ¶ For as þe cow þorw kynde mylke · þe calf norissheth til an oxe
¶Bx.15.488KD.15.468
Bx.15.488: : R's version of the line, loue ... lele, is equally probable. doth loue & lewte and lele men susteyneth
So loue and lewte · leleBx.15.492KD.15.472
Bx.15.492-505: These 14 lines are omitted by beta, jumping to the next paraph. Since F omits ll. 447-514, and furthermore there is no parallel
in , we are here entirely dependent upon R. Cx [And by þe hande-fedde foules · [i]sBx.15.492: : R has is, probably as a spelling for his rather than an error. is folk vnderstonde
Bx.15.506: : Beta has aren, but the syntax is much better without, as in R: "those who excuse themselves are parsons". þat aren persounes and prestes
¶ Ac who beth þat excuseth hem · arenBx.15.507: : R's plural is less appropriate. holycherche ben · þat han her wille here
Þat heuedes of holychercheBx.15.511: eam: The line is lost in beta, so R, reading , is the sole authority for citing the Psalm "Memento Domini" (131.6). It was previously cited at eum.10.72 Bx , where alpha again has for beta's eum as in the Vulgate. See note there, and for explanation of the reference in that line see Schmidt (1995), 443. eam in effrata &c ·] Ecce audiuimus e[a]m
[Bx.15.517: : A good example of the superiority of LR. The other beta scribes took this to be a reduced form of "have". F realised it
was the article, clarifying the sense by altering to a. In þe (RK.17.191) it is also revised to Cx, perhaps again for the sake of clarity. þe name
Þat þei ne went as cryst wisseth · sithen þei wil aBx.15.518: L, starting a new leaf, begins with an inappropriate paraph.To be pastours and preche · þe passioun of Ihesus
Bx.15.519: : Omitted by WGF preceding so. Hm omits the line. to to lyue and deye
And as hym-self seyde · soBx.15.522: : As KD point out (p. 146), the alpha variant For makes poor sense. To cristene and to vncristene crystene & vncristene · cryst seide to prechoures
ForBx.15.525: : Supported by me thynketh (RK.17.253) against alpha's Cx. it semeth
Han a lippe of owre byleue · þe liȝtloker me thynkethBx.15.526: : Beta2 have trauaille wolde, and M is altered to that reading, but trauailed agrees with LCGO and alpha. Cx · to teche hem of þe Trinite
Þei shulde torne who-so trauaille woldeBx.15.528KD.15.533
Bx.15.528-67: These forty lines are in beta only. Adams (2002), 118-22, discusses alpha's omission here and beta's loss of ll. 575-92 , positing that the passages were on opposite sides of an inserted leaf in , and the alpha and beta scribes each failed to incorporate one side of the leaf. KD argue that distinct from this is a major
dislocation of text that antedated the losses in alpha and beta, and they move Bx.15.568-97 Bx to precede 528 (pp. 176-8). ¶ It is reuth to rede · how riȝtwis men lyued
Bx.15.535: : The reading And in Hm, though tempting, is in the hand of the reviser, who has erased one line to write in this line and the next. In any
case, Ac has Cx (RK.17.200). And now is routhe to rede · how þe red noble
AndBx.15.544KD.15.548
Bx.15.544: : Beta2 and G have wyse, but ye wise is without the pronoun (RK.17.210), though in a revised a-verse. Cx men · how þo men honoured
¶ Wyte ȝe nouȝt wyseBx.15.546: : Supported by most þo mss. against C in beta2. þe Religious demed
Resoun & riȝtful dome · þoBx.15.550: : This must be the beta reading; the line is not in alpha. Cr and W, understanding the knighthood / commons pairing, take
comune conscience as a noun, so following it with comune, and M is altered to that reading. Presumably beta is a corruption of the reading of by conscience, Cx (RK.17.216) which adds a kind-wit / conscience pairing. Ȝif knyhthoed and kynde wit and þe comune and conscience
¶ Ȝif knyȝthod & kynde wytte · and comune conscienceBx.15.552KD.15.555
Bx.15.552: : W adds londes here and drops youre in the next line. ȝow · for euere shal ȝeBx.15.552: : Reversed by beta4. shal ȝe has Cx (RF.17.218). lese ȝe shal for euer lese
Þe lordeship of londes