Passus vndevicesimus & explicit dobet & incipit dobest
Bx.19.1: See Introduction for discussion of the relationship between V.3.2 and Bx, and F and Cx, in this passus. Cx Thus I awaked & wrote · what I had dremed
Bx.19.2: : Doubtfully adopting the CrF reading as the minority form. On the distribution of kirke see Introduction kirke / cherche. RK's text has IV.1, recording no variants, though in fact P (as printed by Skeat) has kyrke. churche
And diȝte me derely · & dede me to [kirke]Bx.19.4KD.19.4
Bx.19.4: : MCr and F have ȝede, but this is not supported by wente. Cx to offrynge
In myddes of þe masse · þo men ȝedeBx.19.5: : Supported by me mette against F's Cx. We shall not regularly note such instances of F's unique variants. y drempte
I fel eftsones a-slepe · & sodeynly me metteBx.19.9: : LWHm are supported by And. Other beta mss. drop it; F has Cx. A-non þanne called I conscience · to kenne me þe sothe
AndBx.19.12KD.19.12
Bx.19.12: MWHmC here have a paraph.Quod conscience & kneled þo · þise aren PieresBx.19.12: : The beta reading, and clearly preferable on grounds of sense: "These are Piers' arms, but ( Pieres) he who comes is Christ". This is confirmed by ac.18.23-7 Bx . Perhaps contributes to aaa/xx alliteration, as again in l. quod15 (aaa/bb). However, F's is also the reading of cristis. RK, p. 123, suggest it is an error prompted by the alliteration; if so, F's reading is by coincidence or contamination.
The alternative is that Cx is archetypal (if not original), corrected by beta. cristis armes
Bx.19.13: : Dropped in F to remove an illogicality created by the reading ac in the line above. CrC have cristis, as does the P family of and. C he þat cometh so blody
His coloures & his cotearmure · acBx.19.15: : With the past tense this refers to called.18.40-3 Bx . Hm and beta4 have past tense, as does . Note also the past tense of F's Cx. The best beta mss. have the present tense as in the a-verse, and this might be a named error. Bx hym ihesus
¶ Why calle ȝe hym cryst quod I · sithenes iuwes calle[d]Bx.19.31: : CO add hendenesse (Cf. F's bothe). Neither is supported by also. Cx
And of hardynesse of herte · & of hendenesseBx.19.32KD.19.32
Bx.19.32: : Supported by of laddes, against Cr Cx and HmGF or ladyes. and ladys · of londe þat he wynneth
To make lordes of laddesBx.19.38: : An obvious error in þe baptisme, corrected in L to Bx as in baptiste. F smooths by dropping Cx. Hm omits 38b-39a. þe
And þo þat bicome crysten · by conseille of þe baptis[m]eBx.19.43: KD, p. 133, scan this line aaa/bb, with two staves on ; but its sense is also questionable. Schmidt (1995), taking the line to be dependent on l. 42, translates: "And (it befits)
a conqueror to maintain and guard his laws and his munificence by virtue of his act of conquest" (p. 327). Yet it is only
kings who, in the following ll. 46-7 "keep and defend" these people, as at conquerour.20.258 Bx . The verbs are not applicable to a conqueror such as Christ here in ll. 50-62, for he carries "his laws and his munificence"
into his newly conquered territory, binding some and freeing others at the Harrowing of Hell. It may be that something was
lost at an early stage between 43a and 43b, leaving the line as it stands in . Bx differs only by having Cx before his and the synonym conquest for layes. lawes
And conquerour of conquest · his lawes & his largeBx.19.52KD.19.52
Bx.19.52: : So L as in ne aros; MCrW have Cx, HmG naroos, O ne ros and CF no roos. aros & regned · and rauysshed helle
That he ne arosBx.19.56KD.19.56
Bx.19.56-9: These four lines from F were omitted in beta, perhaps skipping from one paraph to the next. They are essential to the narrative
and are confirmed by , which offers corrections at several points. Cx [¶ AndBx.19.56: : F's And is not supported by & þanne. Cx toke [Lucifer the lothelich]Bx.19.56: : As in Lucifer the lothelich. F has Cx. lotthly lucifer · þat lorde was of helle
Bx.19.57: : This is the reading of him as he is bounde (a few mss. omit Cx). F has the nonsensical him, though his as his bondeman might be emended to his. him · with bondes of yren
And bonde [him] as [he is bounde]Bx.19.60KD.19.60
Bx.19.60: : F's present is the reading of the X family of ȝiueth and follows logically from Cx in the previous line. Beta's past tense, though supported by the P family, is perhaps prompted by its omission of lines 56-9,
and folweth in l. he ȝaf54 . For the appropriateness of the present "as referring to Christ's continuing grant of heaven to the just", see Schmidt (2008),
454. largely · alle his lele lyges
¶ And sith he [ȝiueth]Bx.19.63: : So LWO. MCr have crosse of his, HmCG have cros of þe; F reads cros of. his cros of his is no guide, since the X family reads Cx and the P family his cros and his. croys and hus passioun
¶ Ac þe cause þat he cometh þus · with crosse of hisBx.19.64KD.19.64
Bx.19.64: : So beta. þat whan þat has Cx; F just has þat whan. whan we ben tempted
Is to wissen vs þere-wyth · þat whan þatBx.19.68KD.19.68
Bx.19.68: : F and most willen mss. have C, perhaps correctly. wilnen & suffren
And moche wo in þis worlde · willenBx.19.77: : Evidently the reading of both mercy and Bx. Cr is naturally puzzled and alters to Cx, as does the M corrector (overwriting mede). F, also dissatisfied, alters muche gold to with-outen, and adds with myche to complete the three gifts (as in l. Ensens88 ). One scribe, similarly motivated, begins C. See Schmidt (2008), 454-5. Rechels Golde & myr askynge
Mirre & moche golde · with-outen mercyBx.19.78: : So apparently beta, though MCr have knowlechyng, and G has past tense as in knoweliche. F has Cx, possibly representing alpha. þey knowlechid hym soeuereigne
Or any kynnes catel · but knowlechyngBx.19.79: : Supported by sonde against Cx in beta2. londe sonne & see · & sithenes þei went
Bothe of sondeBx.19.80KD.19.79
Bx.19.80: : Supported by conseille of angeles against F's Cx. kennynge of an angel
In-to her kyngene kyth · by conseille of angelesBx.19.81: : As þow of. F's Cx is probably motivated by alliteration with first þou. ful-fyld speke
And there was þat worde fulfilled · þe which þow ofBx.19.84KD.19.82
Bx.19.84: : Supported by kynges against F's Cx. þynges
And al þe witte of þe worlde · was in þo þre kyngesBx.19.85: : So LC. Though riȝtfulnesse mss. are split, this is evidently the reading of C. All other Cx mss. have B, which may, of course, be right, even if not archetypal. In l. riȝtwisnesse / rightuousnes90 below is secure and supported by Riȝtwisnesse and it may have prompted scribes to adopt it here. See Schmidt (2008), 455. Cx · & reuth þei offred
Resoun & riȝtfulnesseBx.19.89: : Cr has sitthe sothliche, as does M, with sothly sithens he added as an alteration. F also has he, as does the P family of he, but the X family is without it. There is no metrical need for the pronoun, since - C is disyllabic. liche offred
Þe secounde kynge sitthe · sothlicheBx.19.92KD.19.90
Bx.19.92: : Clearly an error (since justice is likened to gold), but the reading of both riche golde and Bx. F rewrites the a-verse and W drops the line altogether. Schmidt (1995) conjectures Cx, "incense", calling this "one of the stronger indications that B richels was the basis of the 1 revision" (p. 405). C · to riȝte & to treuthe
And resoun to riche goldeBx.19.96KD.19.94
Bx.19.96: : F is supported by Ertheliche and by superior sense. Beta's Cx, though possible, appears likely to be a misreading. Thre yliche honest þinges · wasBx.19.96: : LF only, but supported by was. Other Cx mss. have B. For other examples of pl. were preserved by L and alpha, see l. was47 and note to .17.11 Bx . offred þus at ones
[Erthe]licheBx.19.99: : Certainly gan to, though Bx has alliterating Cx. comsed wexe
Was neyther kynge ne conquerour · til he gan toBx.19.101: : F's konne is not supported by knowe. Cx many sleightes
As it bicometh a conquerour · to konneBx.19.103: : Certainly had tyme to, though Bx has alliterating Cx. durste telle it
And so did ihesu in his dayes · who-so had tyme toBx.19.110: : L's at represents "at the", which is supported here only by O. atte has Cx. See the variants at l. at117 . iuwen feste
¶ In his iuuente þis ihesus · a[t]Bx.19.111: : So beta. F has Water in-to wyn tourned at the end of the previous line, with some support from he turnede where the a-verse is Cx. Perhaps the standard prose order of F and Turned watur into wyn is more likely to be scribal, as argued by RK, p. 123. For the contrary view see Schmidt (2008), 455. Cx · as holy writ telleth
Water in-to wyn tournedBx.19.112KD.19.110
Bx.19.112: : F's omission, shared with beta4, is not supported by to. Cx dowel
And þere bigan god · of his grace toBx.19.113: : F has is lykned, but this is not supported by y lykne. Cx to lawe · & lyf of holynesseBx.19.113: : This seems clearly the reading of lyf of holynesse. However, W agrees with Bx on Cx, which we must suppose is a coincidental variant. So Schmidt (2008), 455. lifholynesse
For wyn is lyknedBx.19.115: (1): F has And. This and other F variants in the line are not supported by But. Cx cryst conseilleth þusBx.19.115: : The reading þus in beta4 is shared with a few vs mss. including XY. F has C. þus vs · & comaundeth bothe
AndBx.19.116KD.19.114
Bx.19.116: : Apparently beta, though omitted by WHmF to avoid the repetition. Most of the X family of Bothe have it, though the others omit. C to lered & to lewed · to louye owre enemys
BotheBx.19.117: : WHm have atte feste, as do the majority of at þat feeste mss. C firste [·] as I bifore tolde
So atte festeBx.19.119: : This is the beta reading. Yet CrF have holy, and M is altered to that reading, agreeing with onely. On the face of it, Cx does not give appropriate sense, since Langland's scheme is that Jesus was not called Christ until he became a conqueror.
Kane (2005) interprets onely as an adj. "peerless", but see Barney (2006), 121, who conjectures onely, "not Christ but rather Jesus". The sense of nouȝt cryst but onely Ihesu is straightforward, even if it reads like a line-filler, to introduce a long dip into the b-verse. For further discussion
see Burrow (2009), 90-1. holy cryst but Ihesu
And þo was he cleped & called [·] nouȝt holyBx.19.120KD.19.118
Bx.19.120: : L's form fauntkyn shows the source of the error in beta, leading other scribes to interpret as fauntfyn. F agrees with faunt fyn. Cx ful of witte · filius marie
A faunt[k]ynBx.19.121: : The paraph is in LM only. ¶ ForBx.19.121: : Supported by For, though dropped by MCr and replaced by Cx in F. & bifor his moder marie · made he þat wonder
¶Bx.19.122: : F reverses the order, as does ferme shulde. RK, p. 123, note this as "variation to prose order". Cx bilieue
Þat she furste & formest · ferme shuldeBx.19.130: : Supported by carful against CrF Cx. þe carefull · & cauȝte a gretter name
Þus he conforted carfulBx.19.132KD.19.130
Bx.19.132: : F supported by & dombe speke & herde (though mss. XYU have Cx for he). Beta has &, imposing a more obvious order and perhaps not recognising to here & dombe speke he made as a past tense form. speke
For defe þorw his doynges · & dombe speke [& herde] fili dauid ihesusBx.19.135: fili dauid ihesus: This word order is supported by . Cx
For þe dedes þat he did · Bx.19.136KD.19.134
Bx.19.136: : F and douȝtiest supply the definite article. Cx · of dedes in his tyme
For dauid was douȝtiestBx.19.137: : Supported by The berdes þo against beta4 ( Cx for þat) and F's revision to avoid þo. berdes songe · Saul interfecit mille · et dauid decem milia ·
The berdes þoBx.19.142: : F has Where-of; Þerfore has Cx. Hereof [hadde caiphas]Bx.19.142: : So F and hadde caiphas. Beta reverses to prose order. Cx enuye · & other of þeBx.19.142: : The beta reading; F has other of þe. Both could be additions to lengthen a short b-verse, since oþire konynge has just Cx. other iewes
¶ Where-ofBx.19.143: : F (and Hm) omit, but beta is supported by And. Cx forto doun hym to deth · day & nyȝte þei casten
AndBx.19.144KD.19.142
Bx.19.144: : F and Kulleden begin with Cx, easily supplied for a smooth transition. & hym on crosse-wyse · at caluarie on [a]Bx.19.144: : CrHmF are supported by a. However, all could be independent additions. Cx fryday
KulledenBx.19.147: : Beta has the pl.; F shares the sg. with frendes. Cx shulde hymBx.19.147: : So beta, though F and hym have Cx as in the previous line. Cf. also l. it151 . fecche · for prophetes hem tolde
For no frendesBx.19.148KD.19.146
Bx.19.148: : The word-order, reversed in WHm, is supported by shulde rise. For Cx, rise may have read Bx as in MCr supported by arise. F has Cx. vp ryse
Þat þat blessed body · of burieles shulde riseBx.19.151: : Supported by it. Beta4 reads Cx, and Hm is altered to that reading, following on from l. hym147 . · biknewe[n]Bx.19.151: : F agrees with biknewen. Beta, having lost the final syllable of the verb, provides the long dip by adding a pronoun, thus anticipating the clause
of the next line. Cx hem-seluen
¶ The knyȝtes þat kepten itBx.19.153: : F and þe have Cx. þat corps & songenBx.19.153: : In beta this is followed by & songen cristus resurgens, but both F and postpone the Latin to the start of the following line. F characteristically supplies Cx to fill out a short b-verse and provide alliteration. But the caesura follows konyngly, though all knelynge scribes take it to follow B. This is the reading of corps, with F providing crucial, if characteristically "improved" support. Our argument is that both F and beta reacted to the
short line with its uncertain placement of the caesura: F added the adverb Cx to provide b-verse alliteration, and beta took the Latin from the next line, dropping the detached b-verse of l. konyngly154 as a consequence, perhaps taking it as a scribal gloss on the Latin. See note to next line.
Come knelynge [·] to þe · and he ros after] Cristus resurgensBx.19.154: · and he ros after Cristus resurgens: See note to previous line. Beta has taken the Latin as the end of the line above, and perhaps assumed the English to be
a scribal gloss, thus losing this whole line. But is necessary to the narrative: "after that he rose, true man ...". F offers the reading of and he ros after with characteristic elaboration, extending the Latin quote and adding the adverb Cx. For F's a-noon, he reads Cx; see note to l. it151 .
[Bx.19.155: : In L the scribe has inserted ȝede, bringing it into line with other beta mss. that have lost he in the line above, but he was probably without it, as suggested by the agreement of F and Bx. Cx
Verrey man bifor hem alle · & forth with hem ȝedeBx.19.156KD.19.154
Bx.19.156: : F and pees read Cx. In view of the variations of the b-verse in both F and of pees (see next note), we follow beta throughout the line. Cx · & bisouȝte þe knyȝtesBx.19.156: : F supplies alliteration with & bisouȝte þe knyȝtes, but this has no support from alle þo propre knyghtis, which reads Cx, suggesting that & preyed þo knyhtes may have avoided the repetition of the verb. Bx
¶ The iewes preyed hem peesBx.19.160KD.19.158
Bx.19.160: : F and the X family of & repeat the preposition C, but beta and the P family omit it. in manhed
Goynge toward galile · in godhed &Bx.19.161: : The adjectival gen. "alive" (only here in the poem) causes scribes difficulty, but it is supported by lyues. Cx & lokynge · & sheBx.19.161: : F has she for "she", as in the next line; see Introduction he. The X family of IV.1 omit the pronoun. C aloude cryde
And lyuesBx.19.164KD.19.161α
Sic oportet cristum pati & intrare &c ·Bx.19.164-5: These two lines are omitted by F but are in . Cx
Bx.19.165: : MWHmCO supply a second þat; only LCrG are without it (the line is lost in F). A few þat mss. also have C, but it seems clear that þat þat had Cx. þat wommen witeth · may nouȝte wel be conseille
For þatBx.19.166: : Inserted by the L scribe and omitted by MCr, but supported by al. Cx þis · & pursued after
¶ Peter parceyued alBx.19.176KD.19.172α
Deus meus & dominus meusBx.19.176: Deus meus & dominus meus: CrF reverse the nouns to the order of John 20.28 perhaps as a correction of . Cf. Bx in the next line. lorde ... god also has the Vulgate order. F's additional b-verse gives a good line, but has no support from Cx. Cx
Bx.19.178: F's variants are not supported by . Cx
Þow deydest & deth þoledest · and deme shalt vs alleBx.19.183: : Beta evidently had þei, obscuring the parallel with the previous a-verse, but GF are supported by þei alle. Cx be · in body & in soule
And blessed mote þeiBx.19.184KD.19.180
Bx.19.184: : This must be the reading of doste, though it does not alliterate. Cr reads Bx, while O alone has hast, the reading of seest, presumably by conjecture. Cf. l. Cx156 where again seems to avoid repetition of the verb. Bx nouthe
That neuere shal se me in siȝte · as þow dosteBx.19.186: & crediderunt: Hm, beta4 and F are supported by . It may be, of course, that scribes expanded beta's abbreviation of the quotation. Cx Beati qui non viderunt [& crediderunt]
Bx.19.187: : Neither beta or F tauȝte is supported by took sone, which reads Cx. But thouhte makes excellent sense; see Burrow (2009), 93 n. 15. tauȝte
¶ And whan þis dede was done · dobest he tauȝteBx.19.189: : The majority of manere mss. read C, as do CrCF, but the best texts of the X family read maner of. F commonly expands to maner, as in the following line. manere of men · mercy & forȝyfnes
To alle manereBx.19.190: : LC are supported by the best mss. of the X family of Hym myȝte men to. Other scribes in both traditions take various actions to avoid a construction they fail to understand, as do KD (pp. 120-1)
and RK (pp. 134-5). But ll. 188-90 mean: "He gave Piers power, and granted pardon, mercy and forgiveness to all sorts; [granted]
him power to absolve men of all kinds of sins." For an interpretation of the archetypal reading see Barney (2006), 128. C assoille · of alle manereBx.19.190: : F again has manere, as do CrG, not supported by manere of. Cx synnes
Hym myȝte men toBx.19.191: : The past tense in WHm is actually the reading of knewleche, though a few Cx mss. have the present, as C clearly does. Bx to paye
In couenant þat þei come · & knewlecheBx.19.194: : L alone has &. & to mss. are divided, with the X family reading C. & to vnbynde · bothe here & ellesBx.19.194: : Agreement of LF, together with elles, secures this as the Cx reading against Bx in other elles-where mss. B
To bynde &Bx.19.198: : LG have And, without support from And wil. Cx rewarde hym riȝte wel · þat reddit quod debet
AndBx.19.200KD.19.195
Bx.19.200: offers no support for F's b-verse. Cx
And what persone payeth it nouȝt · punysshen he þinkethBx.19.201: Again F has a unique b-verse, which is presumably designed to offer a more regular alliterative pattern.
And demen hem at domes-daye · bothe quikke & dedBx.19.203: : The form in all mss. except L is supported by wikkede. For similar variation with Cx, see wikke.5.231 Bx . to wonye · in wo with-outen ende
And wikke[de]Bx.19.204KD.19.199
Bx.19.204: : The paraph is in WHmCF, and is entirely appropriate. ¶ Þus conscience of crist · & of þe crosse carped
[¶] to Pieres & to spiritus paraclitus · Bx.19.206: (2): Not in F; beta has the support of most to mss. C his felawes
One Bx.19.207: : Omitted in some he mss., but none support F's C. & lyȝte on hem alle
In lyknesse of a liȝtnynge · heBx.19.208KD.19.203
Bx.19.208-11: F drops four lines through eyeskip on . The lines are in hem alle. Cx And made hem konne & knowe · alkyn langages
Bx.19.209: : In L there is an unrubricated paraph marker, missed because the scribe failed to leave a line-space. M has a line-space
and HmC a paraph. ¶ I wondred what þat was · & wagged conscience
[¶]Bx.19.216KD.19.211
Bx.19.216: : Thanne songe I begins Cx. F drops this and the following line. And y sange þat songe · andBx.19.216: : Dropped by WHm, but supported by and. Cx so did many hundreth
¶ Thanne songe IBx.19.218: : Dropped by F but supported by the X family of þanne. The P family begins C. Tho bigan grace · to go with piers plowman
And þanneBx.19.220KD.19.215
Bx.19.220: : Omitted by F, but supported by dele. Cx to-daye · & dyuydeBx.19.220: : Supported by dyuyde against the variants in WHm and in F. Cx grace
For I wil deleBx.19.221: : LF supported by kan and alliteration. Beta1 (including M) corrupts to Cx. han h[is]Bx.19.221: : F is supported by his. Beta alters to pl. Cx for concord, as do a few her mss. C fyue wittes
To alkynnes creatures · þat kanBx.19.227: : F's erlis has no support from knyghtis. Cx
Shullen come & be curatoures · ouer kynges & erlisBx.19.228KD.19.223
Bx.19.228: : F and pryde shal read Cx. þanne shal pryde be pope · prynceBx.19.228: : F and prynce read Cx. & prince of holycherche
And pryde shalBx.19.232KD.19.227
Bx.19.232: : As in gye. CrW have Cx; beta4 reads gide. go with hym-seluen
And gaf eche man a grace · to gyeBx.19.235: : Secure for Some. The X family of Bx reads C, the P family Som men (cf. Cr). To somme men he ȝaf wytte · with wordes to shewe
¶ SomeBx.19.236KD.19.230
Bx.19.236: The a-verse is revised in , avoiding the repetition of Cx. witte · as þe worlde asketh
Witte to wynne her lyflode withBx.19.241: : "subsistence". MCr, Hm (altered) and F read bylyf. Many liflode scribes also have difficulty with the word. C to wynne
With sellyng & buggynge · her bylyfBx.19.242: : Beta drops 242b and 243a through eyeskip ( laboure). F is supported by laboure ... labour. Cx [· on londe and on water
And some he lered to laboureBx.19.243: (2): Omitted by beta4 and F, but supported by a. Cx trewe
And lyue by þat labour] · a lele lyf & aBx.19.244KD.19.238
Bx.19.244: : Beta4 has thecche, F has hegge, both probably misreadings. Most þresche mss. read C, but some make the obvious correction of to teche and to coke to teche. See KD, pp. 174-5; RK, p. 125. theche
And somme he tauȝte to tilie · to dyche & to theccheBx.19.245: has an entirely different line here. Cx
To wynne with her lyflode · by lore of his techyngeBx.19.246: : M's & is shared with some of the X family of and to. C diuide · noumbres to kenne
And some to dyuyne &Bx.19.247: : And some to compas craftily omits Cx and some. craftily · & coloures to make
And some to compas craftilyBx.19.249: : In telle it or it felle the b-verse is Cx. and be ywaer bifore
Bothe of wel & of wo · telle it or it felleBx.19.251: : Supported by the P family of ryde & to, while Hm and beta4 have C as in the X family. F's ryde and summe to has no support. rekne & recoeureBx.19.251: : So L; cf. F's recoeure. See rekewre MED (Lat recuren), formally different from recurare MED (OFr), as in the other mss. recoveren · þat vnriȝtfullyBx.19.251: : Supported by vnriȝtfully against Cx in W. The odd wrongfully in Hm perhaps reflects puzzlement with the ironic reference to riȝtfully in l. foluyles lawes253 . was wonne
¶ And some to ryde & toBx.19.252KD.19.246
Bx.19.252: : hem reads Cx. men wynneBx.19.252: : As in wynne, against Cx in W, with to wynne inserted in O. F omits the line. to it aȝeyne · þorw wightnesseBx.19.252: : Supported by wightnesse; misunderstood by HmC ( Cx) and G ( wytnesse). ryghtyovsnes of handes
He wissed hemBx.19.253: L alone has a paraph at the top of the page. Presumably it was meant to precede in the next line. AndAnd fecchen it fro fals men · with foluyles lawes
Bx.19.254: : The paraph, misplaced at the head of the previous line in L, is supported by WHm. Cf. the parallels in ll. ¶235 , 240 and 251 ; though apparently not ll. 242 (W only), 244 and 246 (WHm only). And some he leredBx.19.254: : CrHmGF read lered, a common variation; cf. e.g. lerned.1.148 Bx , 153 , and l. 256 below. mss. also vary. C to lyue · in longynge to ben hennes
[¶]Bx.19.255: : HmF are supported by pacience, though three Cx mss. read C. The beta reading must be penaunce, so how did Hm come by the right reading? Both penaunce and penaunce are frequently collocated with pacience; cf. especially pouerte.14.231 Bx and 19.67 . · to preye for alle crystene
In pouerte & in p[acie]nceBx.19.257: In the line reads "Ne no boest ne debaet be among hem alle" (RK.21.251). For the suggestion of Cx revision here and in ll. Cx259-60 , see Barney (2006), 143.
And forbad hem alle debate · þat none were amonge hemBx.19.259-60: Replaced by one line in : "That all craft and connyng cam of my ȝefte" (RK.21.253). CxBx.19.259: Followed in F by four sanctimonious lines with defective alliteration. See KD, p. 223.
Þat he þat vseth þe fairest crafte · to þe foulest I couth haue put hymBx.19.260KD.19.253
Bx.19.260: : F has alle. The line is omitted by beta4. alle now quod grace · þat grace cometh of my ȝifte
Þinketh alleBx.19.265: : GF are without it. þe mss. vary. C plowman · my procuratour & my reve
For I make Pieres þeBx.19.267: : "overseer". Supported by prowor, though some scribes stumble over it. Cx & my plowman · Piers shal ben on erthe
My proworBx.19.269: : W supplies foure, as does the P family of of. C gret oxen
¶ Grace gaue Piers a teme · foureBx.19.274: : F has And; & ȝit has Cx. And sethe grace gaue pieres · of his goodnesseBx.19.274: : The word-order in F, gaue pieres · of his goodnesse is supported by of his goodnesse / gaf peers. It is perhaps a revision, but could be an error in Cx, or in beta influenced by l. Cx269 . See RK, p. 123, who adopt the beta reading. foure stottis
¶ AndBx.19.275: : MCrF supply harwe, as do a couple of it mss. C after
Al þat his oxen eryed · þey to harweBx.19.280KD.19.273
Bx.19.280: : This is the reading of aithes. Cx MED (OE eithe, "harrow") records no other instance. F preserves it in the form egþe. Beta and some hayȝtes mss. have the much easier synonym C, picked up from the verb in the previous line. harwes þat þei hadde · an olde & a newe
Wyth two [aithes]Bx.19.281: nouum: F's addition of has no support from testamentum. Cx Id est vetus testamentum & nouum
Bx.19.282: : Easily lost in beta. F is supported by Pieres. Cx greynes · cardynalesBx.19.282: : Beta supplies the definite article, but it is not supported by F or cardynales. Cx vertues
¶ And grace gaue [Pieres]Bx.19.283: : WHm alter to sewe it on grounds of concord; F reads sew hem. Neither has support from he sew it. Cx in mannes soule · & sithen heBx.19.283: : Hm and beta4 omit as do some he mss., but C has it. Cx tolde her names
And sewe itBx.19.284KD.19.276
Bx.19.284: Only HmF mark a new paragraph here, corresponding to those at the other members of the numbered set, ll. 289 , 297 and 306 . · þe firste seed hyȝte Spiritus prudencie
Bx.19.285: : Perhaps a beta error. F and And read less obvious Cx. Þat who-so eet þatBx.19.285: : F's þat has no support from of þat frut, though the P family has C. þat seede · ymagyne he shulde
AndBx.19.288KD.19.280
Bx.19.288: : LMCrCG are supported by Þat against Cx in WHm, And in O, and To in F. For he cast for to kepeBx.19.288: : So kepe, though Bx has Cx, "cool". kele a crokke · toBx.19.288: (2): F and to read Cx. & saueBx.19.288: : F repeats saue to strengthen the aaa/xx alliteration, as do two keepe scribes. C þe fatte abouen
ÞatBx.19.289: : So hiȝte, against F's Cx. O is absent from this line to l. þat he sew was369 . [·] spiritus temperancie
¶ The secounde seed hiȝteBx.19.291: : i.e. starvation. Beta is understandably puzzled and replaces with myschief. F is supported by mochel drynke. Cx · make hym to swelle
Shulde neuere mete ne [myschief]Bx.19.292KD.19.284
Bx.19.292: : F and ne scolde omit, to the detriment of the alliteration. Cx · oute of skyl hym brynge
Ne sholde no scorner ne scoldeBx.19.293: : W's welthe is not supported by wele. Beta4 drops the line. Cx · of wordeliche ricchesse
Ne wynnynge ne weltheBx.19.298: : The beta reading is supported by was. WHm have Cx; F has was he. he was eure
And who-so eet of þat seed [·] hardy wasBx.19.300KD.19.292
Bx.19.300: : Only L has sg. lesynges ne lyere, which could nevertheless be right. For lesynge, F reads ne. of mss. have instead C, though X and three other mss. have sg. lyare with lesynges. lesynge · ne losse of worldely catel
Myȝte no lesynge[s] ne lyereBx.19.303: : "plead in court", pleyeth MED v. (2), from pleien. LCr ple is a misunderstanding of the uncommon verb. F has the easier and unambiguous verb playeth. pleted has Cx, which could be either present or past tense. See RK, p. 123 and n. 42; Barney (2006), 151. plede al with pacyence · & parce michi domine
And pl[e]yethBx.19.304KD.19.296
Bx.19.304: : CrCGF have the present tense, but couered has the past. Cx hym vnder conseille · of catoun þe wyse
And coueredBx.19.308KD.19.299
Bx.19.308: : F's With god & is not supported by & of god. Cx nouȝt agast · but of gyle one
With god &Bx.19.311: : LWHm have a paraph, not entirely appropriately in the middle of the account of the fourth seed. That it was in beta at least
is further suggested by M's misplacement of a paraph marker at the next line, which is at the top of the leaf. ¶ spareth nouȝte to spille Spiritus iusticie · Bx.19.311: KD, p. 119, and RK, p. 133, detect misdivision and padding in this and the next two lines in both and Bx. Cx
¶Bx.19.312KD.19.302-303
Bx.19.312-13: Among mss., X has "Hem þat ben gulty · and forto corecte the kyng / And the kyng falle in any a gulte", while P divides the line
after C. corecte
Hem þat ben gulty · & forto correcteBx.19.313: : F's a-verse has no support from falle. See previous note. Cx · in gylte or in trespasse
Þe Kynge ȝif he falleBx.19.314: F's a-verse has no support from . Cx · whan he in courte sitteth
For counteth he no kynges wrattheBx.19.316KD.19.306
Bx.19.316: : So LF and þe. Dropped by beta1. Cx lawe
Noither of duke ne of deth · þat he ne dede þeBx.19.320KD.19.310
Bx.19.320: : F twice adds the definite article in the a-verse, without support from olde. Cx lawe and newe lawe · þat loue myȝte wexe
Wyth oldeBx.19.321: : Uncertain. F is supported by þise. LMCrCG have Cx; WHm have þe. þo foure vertues · and vices destroye
Amonge þ[ise]Bx.19.322: : The paraph is appropriate, though indicated in LM only. F begins ¶, but & is supported by For. Cx For comunelich in contrees · kammokes & wedes
¶Bx.19.324KD.19.314
Bx.19.324: : In worthy this reads Cx, and it is clear that forþi quod Peres has misdivided the line. F characteristically expands a short line. Bx
And so don vices · vertues worthyBx.19.328KD.19.318
Bx.19.328: : So Piers. Probably beta read Cx (picked up from the following line), retained by LMCr, with WHm making an obvious correction by dropping quod Piers, and beta4 dropping both words. F moves quod to the beginning of the line. Peers · to herberwe in þi cornes
Ordeigne þe an hous PiersBx.19.329: : F misunderstands as genitive. Beta is supported by god. Cx grace quod Piers · ȝe moten gyueBx.19.329: : F and gyue read Cx. gyve me tymbre
¶ By godBx.19.331: : F's with is not supported by &. Cx þe croune of þornes
¶ And grace gaue hym þe crosse · withBx.19.332KD.19.322
Bx.19.332: : Beta is supported by on pyned against F's Cx. kawhte
That cryst vpon caluarye · for mankynde on pynedBx.19.336KD.19.326
Bx.19.336: : Reversed in MCr, without support from watteled ... walled. F rewrites the line. Cx it · with his peynesBx.19.336: : Supported by peynes against W's sg. and F's Cx. woundis & his passioun
And watteled it and walledBx.19.337: : Supported by made. F substitutes Cx to alliterate with wroghte. writ a rofe after
And of al holywrit · he madeBx.19.340KD.19.330
Bx.19.340: : As in home pieres. Beta drops Cx while F drops home (but supplies it in the next line), perhaps both simplifying for metrical reasons. pieres sheues
A carte hyȝte cristendome · to carye [home] pieresBx.19.344KD.19.334
Bx.19.344: The line is preserved only by F, but it is in . For Cx as in londe, F reads Cx, but cf. loore londe of longynge.11.8 Bx . F also supplies to begin the b-verse, but & does not have it. There seems nothing to have prompted beta's omission, except that the line was at the end of the paragraph,
so it may be an addition in Cx. C
[And þe [londe] of bileue · þe lawe of holychirche]Bx.19.346: : So LMC, and presumably beta. W has to greuen, and Hm for to greven. CrG, reading for greuyn, misunderstand the construction with the object in the next line. F, making the same mistake, has to greue him. greven hym reads simply Cx, with a few mss. adding greue(n) or to. It is likely enough that hym read Bx, with scribes reacting to the short b-verse. greuen he þinketh
And gadered hym a grete oest · to greuenBx.19.348KD.19.338
Bx.19.348: : "roots". F rewrites the b-verse as þe mores. The P family of & beetyn doun here maneres alters to C. rotes
Blowe hem doune & breke hem · & bite atwo þe moresBx.19.349: : "arrogant one" (for this form in F see surquydoures MED), which both F and surquidrous interpret as plural (but cf. l. Cx351 ), and so read in place of sergawntys. Beta has the commoner form seriaunt. See Schmidt (2008), 460. surquidous · his seriaunt of armes
And sent forth surquydou[re]sBx.19.353: In , the X family begins C. The P family ends the previous line with That sire Peres sewe and therefore begins sholde, a satisfactory a-verse. The seedes that syre Peers sewe must also have been defective as a result of mislineation, and perhaps the a-verse read Bx, with beta and F expanding in different ways. See Schmidt (2008), 460. That Piers sewe
That Pieres þere hadde ysowen · þe cardynal vertuesBx.19.355: (1): So beta and &. Dropped in F, so that Cx is a term of address rather than part of a group subject of conscience in l. Shal357 . conscience · & ȝowre two caples
Shulle come out &Bx.19.356KD.19.346
Bx.19.356: : F has þe; most of mss. omit. C byleue
Confessioun & contricioun · and ȝowre carte þeBx.19.357: : So L and most beta mss. Cr has owre, perhaps from the line above, while WF omit, perhaps to shorten a heavy b-verse. There is the same variation in your mss., with most reading C. oure sophistrie
Shal be coloured so queyntly · and keuered vnder owreBx.19.358: : L reads conscience, with the line marked for correction. conscioun supports beta's version of the line; F tries to improve sense and alliteration. Cx shal nouȝte · knowe by contricioun
Þat consci[ence]Bx.19.361: : CrF follow this with riȝte, but it is not in or. Cx · with wronge or with vsure
Where he wynne wyth riȝteBx.19.362: : Supported by & queyntise against MCr Cx and F and coueityse. y-peyntid · cometh pryde yarmed
¶ With suche coloures & queyntiseBx.19.364KD.19.353
Bx.19.364: (2): This is the beta reading, though W has on, as do most in mss., and G omits. F's b-verse C has no support. wikkednesse he meyntiþ wykked kepyngeBx.19.364: : There is no support for W's kepynge. lyuyng
To wasten on welfare · and onBx.19.366: (2): to has instead Cx or we. F's b-verse is þat we. y conseyle þe to wende wende
¶ Quod conscience to alle crystene þo · my conseille is toBx.19.367: : Beta is supported by the P family of in-to, but F's C has support from the X family. to vnyte · & holde we vs þere
Hastiliche in-toBx.19.373: : Secure for For to; Bx begins Cx. To deluen a dycheBx.19.373: : LMWG, and so presumably the beta reading, supported by the X family of a dyche. HmCOF have instead C (Cr and dike/dych). The P family of and digge has C. and dike a deop diche · depe abouteBx.19.373: : Beta is supported by the X family of aboute. F's C is supported by the P family. alle abowte vnite
For toBx.19.374: : This makes sense as a pun, "united". F's in vnite develops the sense of this, looking forward to l. strong376 and adding alliteration with . stoode reads instead Cx, alluding to the moat that is to be dug, but this is perhaps picked up from RK.21.380 (= in holinesse.19.392 Bx ). · as it a pyle [were]Bx.19.374: : L omits, with the line marked for correction. For were Bx, a pyle were reads Cx. were a pyle
That holycherche stode in vniteBx.19.380KD.19.369
Bx.19.380: : The form in LF against flateres in others, as also at flaterers.2.168 Bx and 13.450 . See MED. This line is not in flatour. Cx · vsureres and theues
And fals men flateresBx.19.381: : Lyeres and questmongeres has instead Cx. For A sysour and a sompnour see Alford (1988), 124. questmongere · þat were forsworen ofte
Lyeres and questmongeresBx.19.383: F's puzzling b-verse has no support from . Cx
And for syluer were forswore · sothely þei wist itBx.19.385: drops this line. F characteristically expands a short line. Cx
Saue schrewes one · suche as I spak ofBx.19.387: : In beta and the P family of some, but not in F or the X family. C þorwBx.19.387: (2): Secure for þorw, but Cr and Bx have Cx, carrying the b-verse alliteration. bi pylgrymageBx.19.387: : Only W has the plural. It is, however, the reading of pylgrimage. Cx
Somme þorw bedes byddynge · and someBx.19.388KD.19.376
Bx.19.388: : For variation with and without <-s>, see note to penaunce.14.211 Bx . There is similar variation in mss. MCr have C. F reverses a- and b-verses. peines · and some þorw penyes delynge
And other pryue penaunceBx.19.389: : The reading welled in F suggests that walmede might have had the form Bx ( walled MED v.(1)), as in wallen. Cx water · for wikked werkes
¶ And þanne welledBx.19.391: : WHm repeat of þe from the line above. out of comune · & clerkes clene lyuynge
Clennesse of þeBx.19.392KD.19.380
Bx.19.392: : So beta. to stonde is without Cx, as to may have been, since in F the b-verse reads Bx. holylyche stoonde
Made vnite holicherche · in holynesse to stondeBx.19.393: : The paraph is in WHm, with a line-space in M. ¶ I care nouȝte quod conscience · þough pryde come nouthe
[¶]Bx.19.397: : F, reading þer-vnder, is perhaps uncomfortable with the theological use, þere-Inne MED 2 (b). ther-under
Here is bred yblessed · and goddes body þer-vnderBx.19.399: : Beta2 and F begin Myȝtes, with support from the P family of And. Though the noun is the more obvious sg. in CrCF, as in Cx, beta had the plural. Cx to maken it · & men to ete it afterBx.19.399: : to ete it after reads Cx. for to eten it
MyȝtesBx.19.404KD.19.392
Bx.19.404: : As in the P family of ar. F's C has support from the X family. er þat we go to housel
Al þat we owen any wyȝte · arBx.19.406: : "Or, in other words, ...". F agrees with Or on much the harder reading. Probably beta altered it, as do a few Cx mss. Beta has support for the rest of the a-verse. C vche man forȝyue other · and þat wyl þe pater noster
[Or]Bx.19.408KD.19.395
Bx.19.408: (2): Supported by most of the P family of C. Beta4 and F repeat ben, with support from the X family. Perhaps that is more likely to be scribal. to been houseled
And so to ben assoilled · & sithen benBx.19.410: : with has Cx, as in the next line. F's form of the line is not supported. aftur spiritus iusticie
Bi ihesu for al ȝowre ianglynge · withBx.19.411: : whil I can mss. vary between C and y couth. F's b-verse is not supported. for y couthe selle
Ne after conscience by cryste · whil I canBx.19.412KD.19.399
Bx.19.412: : This is the beta reading; F's b-verse is too different to reveal alpha. O makes a sensible correction by dropping the pronoun
(since the object is in the following line), and thereby agrees with it. Cf. l. Cx346 for a similar instance of scribes reading line by line. at on hole
Bothe dregges & draffe · and drawe itBx.19.413: : Not in F. for has Cx. Perhaps both and and for are scribal expansions. and þat is my kynde
Þikke ale and þinne ale · for · þow spekest moche an ydel spiritus iusticieBx.19.415: F rewrites the b-verse to increase the alliteration.
Of Bx.19.417: : F reverses to þe god, agreeing with the P family of god þe. C helpe
Vnblessed artow brewere · but if þe godBx.19.418: : F adds the definite article, as do some of the P family of lore. C · of spiritus iusticie
But þow lyue by loreBx.19.420KD.19.407
Bx.19.420: : "feed the people". The beta reading (with GO corrupting þe comune fede to fede). Beta is supported by the P family of seede. F's reading C makes good sense addressed to the brewer, but it is exactly paralleled in only one be þyn comoun foode ms. The X family is divided, with one group reading C and the other þy comune fode. KD and RK emend to be comune fode; see the discussion in RK, p. 126, where they argue that the adj. be þy comunes "did not seem to have been used in the exact sense required, namely `customary, day-to-day'". For further evaluation of the
readings, see Barney (2006), 167. See notes to next line. comoun · and cardynale vertues
But conscience þe comune fedeBx.19.421: : F's it has no support from me. Cx wel þei benBx.19.421: : The beta reading, referring to the people ( þei ben, l. comune420 ), treated as pl. also in l. 465 . F has addressed to the brewer, continuing the sense of its previous line. þou art's has instead Cx, which avoids any difficulty. See note to l. we been420 . loste · bothe lyf & soule
Leue itBx.19.422: : Among many mss. only L omits B, but L has the support of most a mss. C man ylost [·] quod a lewed vycory
¶ Thanne is manyBx.19.424KD.19.411
Bx.19.424: : F simplifies to to me þat me couth, but beta is supported by þat cowde me (although the P family drop the second Cx). me telle · of cardinale vertues
Man to me þat me couthBx.19.425: : Beta is supported by some at a mss., where C is perhaps added to fill out a b-verse shortened by loss of the final phrase (see next note). However, at seems to have been without the preposition, as F. Cx cokkes fether or an hennesBx.19.425: : Omitted by F and some or an hennes mss., but in C. See previous note. Cx
Or þat acounted conscience · at aBx.19.428KD.19.415
Bx.19.428: : Lost in F, but supported by her pelure and. Cx her palfreyes mete · & piloures þat hem folweth
For her pelure and · eche a man to clamat cotidieBx.19.429: : WHmF have to, but it is not supported by til. Cx other
Þe comune Bx.19.430: : F shares the easier þat with the P family of þere. Note repeated C in the next line. þere cardynales come Inne
Þe contre is þe curseder · þatBx.19.431: : In MCrCGO the punctuation follows moste, with lenge as adj. qualifying moste, but with the punctuation in LWHmF it is an adverb. lecherye · lecherye þere regneth
And þere they ligge and lenge mosteBx.19.432KD.19.419
Bx.19.432: Note that WHmCF have a paraph.For-þi quod þis vicori · be verrey god I wolde
Bx.19.434: : Supported by most holden mss. against past tense C in CrWCG. helden hem stille
But in her holynesse · holdenBx.19.435: : Beta has iuwes, but the definite article is easily added and the generalised sense as in F and þe iuwes is appropriate. Cx · cum sancto sanctus eris &c
At Auynoun amonge iuwesBx.19.438: : F's gyour is not supported by sholde be gyȝere. The P family has Cx. were gyour of alle clerkes
And grace þat þow gredest so of · gyourBx.19.439: : F moves Pieres to the b-verse and adds with his newe plowh for the alliteration, but it is not in plowman. Cx with his newe plow · & eke with his oldeBx.19.439: : F has eke with his olde (though with þe olde in the a-verse). In also the X family has C; the P family ends the line also his olde. hus olde boþe
And PieresBx.19.441: : L only, with all others adding peple. Quite possibly L dropped the article on the model of the previous b-verse. However, the X family of þe is also without C. Instead of þe, CrW read peple (cf. l. the world440 ). shulde helpe
¶ Inparfyt is þat pope · þat al pepleBx.19.443: : Both pursueth and Bx. In L it is altered by erasure to Cx
And wel worth piers þe plowman · þat [pur]sueth