Bx.6 – PPEA

<lg>

<l> This were a wikked way · but who-so hadde a gyde</l>

<l> That wolde folwen vs eche a fote · þus þis folke hem mened</l>

<l> <note>Bx.6.3: WF have a paraph and R starts a new line group.</note>Quatȝ Perkyn þe plouman · bi seynt Peter of Rome</l>

Bx.6.4KD.6.4

<l> I haue an half acre to erye · bi þe heigh way</l>

<l> Hadde I eried þis half acre · and sowen it after</l>

<l> I wil<note>Bx.6.6: <hi>wil</hi>: The reading of LR and C. The past tense is to be expected after <hi>Hadde</hi>, and so <hi>wolde</hi> is more likely to be scribal. <hi>Ax</hi> probably has the latter, as do most <hi>C</hi> mss., but XYJ have <hi>wol</hi>.</note> wende with ȝow · and þe way teche</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Þis were a longe lettynge · quod a lady in a sklayre</l>

Bx.6.8KD.6.8

<l> What sholde we wommen · worche þere-whiles<note>Bx.6.8: <hi>þere-whiles</hi>: So LM and alpha; see <title>MED</title> <hi>ther-whiles</hi>. Other mss. have <hi>þe while(s)</hi>, the <hi>AC</hi> reading. Adams (2000), 177.</note></l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Somme shal sowe [þe]<note>Bx.6.9: <hi>þe</hi> (1): Dropped in L, but supported by all <hi>B</hi> mss. except M, which has the plural noun.</note> sakke quod Piers · for shedyng of þe whete</l>

<l> And ȝe louely ladyes · with ȝoure longe fyngres</l>

<l> Þat ȝe han silke and sendal · to sowe whan tyme is</l>

Bx.6.12KD.6.12

<l> Chesibles for chapelleynes · cherches to honoure</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Wyues and wydwes · wolle & flex spynneth</l>

<l> Maketh cloth I conseille ȝow · and kenneth so ȝowre douȝtres</l>

<l> Þe nedy and þe naked · nymmeth hede how hij<note>Bx.6.15: <hi>hij</hi>: LM. R records the reduced form <hi>a</hi> (its reading <hi>hym</hi> in the next line suggests the scribe took it as a sg.). Other mss. have <hi>þei</hi>.</note> liggeth</l>

Bx.6.16KD.6.16

<l> And casteth hem clothes · for so comaundeth treuthe</l>

<l> For I shal lene hem lyflode · but ȝif þe londe faille</l>

<l> Flesshe and bred bothe · to riche and to pore</l>

<l> As longe as I lyue · for þe lordes loue of heuene</l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.20KD.6.19

<l> ¶ And alle manere of men · þat þorw mete and drynke lybbeth</l>

<l> Helpith hym to worche wiȝtliche · þat wynneth ȝowre fode</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Bi crist quod a knyȝte þo · he kenneth vs þe best</l>

<l> Ac on þe teme trewly · tauȝte was I neuere</l>

Bx.6.24KD.6.23

<l> Ac kenne me quod þe knyȝte · and bi cryst I wil assaye</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Bi seynt Poule quod Perkyn · ȝe profre ȝow so faire</l>

<l> Þat I shal swynke and swete · and sowe for vs bothe</l>

<l> And oþer labour[er]es<note>Bx.6.27: <hi>laboureres</hi>: The misspelling (presumably an otiose abbreviation) is corrected by most beta mss. (visibly in G) to <hi>laboures</hi>. The Hm corrector alters the line to make sense, and F revises similarly. R copies faithfully, as usual.</note> do for þi loue · al my lyf-tyme</l>

Bx.6.28KD.6.27

<l> In couenaunt þat þow kepe · holikirke<note>Bx.6.28: <hi>kirke</hi>: On alpha's non-alliterating <hi>cherche</hi> see Introduction <xref>IV.1</xref>.</note> and my-selue</l>

<l> Fro wastoures and fro<note>Bx.6.29: <hi>and fro</hi>: Support from LR and beta2 (CrWHm) + G against <hi>and</hi>. <hi>AC</hi> mss. vary similarly.</note> wykked men · þat þis worlde struyeth</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ And go hunte hardiliche [·] to hares and to foxes</l>

<l> To bores and to [b]ockes<note>Bx.6.31: <hi>bockes</hi>: "bucks". Beta has the easy error <hi>brockes</hi>, "badgers", perhaps anticipating <hi>br</hi>- in the b-verse. R (= alpha?) is supported by <hi>AC</hi>; F rewrites.</note> · þat breketh adown myne hegges</l>

Bx.6.32KD.6.31

<l> And go affaite þ[i]<note>Bx.6.32: <hi>þi</hi>: So also <hi>Cx</hi>. Only LCrG have the definite article.</note> faucones · wilde foules to kille</l>

<l> For suche cometh to my croft · and croppeth my whete</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Curteislich þe knyȝte þanne · comsed þise wordes</l>

<l> By my power Pieres quod he · I pliȝte þe my treuthe</l>

Bx.6.36KD.6.35

<l> To fulfille þis forward · þowȝ I fiȝte sholde</l>

<l> Als longe as I lyue · I shal þe mayntene</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Ȝe and ȝit a poynt quod Pieres · I preye ȝow of more</l>

<l> Loke ȝe tene no tenaunt · but treuthe wil assent</l>

Bx.6.40KD.6.39

<l> And þowgh ȝe mowe amercy hem<note>Bx.6.40: <hi>hem</hi>: Beta's reading is more satisfactory in sense and metre, yet alpha's <hi>men</hi> receives some support from <hi>C</hi>'s a-verse <hi>And when ȝe mersyen eny man</hi> (RK.8.37), where it is needed for the alliteration.</note> · late mercy be taxoure</l>

<l> And mekenesse þi mayster · maugre medes chekes</l>

<l> And þowgh pore men profre ȝow · presentis and ȝiftis</l>

<l> Nym it nauȝte an auenture · [þow]<note>Bx.6.43: <hi>þow</hi>: Alpha is here supported by <hi>AC</hi>. The pl. forms in ll. <ref>38</ref>, <ref>39</ref>, <ref>40</ref> and <ref>42</ref> are also in <hi>Cx</hi> (but <hi>Ax</hi> has sg.); F alters to sg. throughout, and R alters to pl. in <ref>41</ref>.</note> mowe it nauȝte deserue</l>

Bx.6.44KD.6.43

<l> For þow shalt ȝelde it aȝein · at one ȝeres ende</l>

<l> In a ful perillous place · purgatorie it hatte</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ And mysbede nouȝte þi bonde-<app><rdg>men</rdg><rdg>man</rdg></app><note>Bx.6.46: <hi>-men / -man</hi>: Beta has the <hi>Ax</hi> pl. while alpha has the sg. as <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> · þe better may þow spede</l>

<l> Þowgh he be þyn vnderlynge here · wel may happe in heuene</l>

Bx.6.48KD.6.47

<l> Þat he worth worthier sette · and with more blisse</l>

<l> <foreign>Amice ascende superius</foreign></l>

<l> For in charnel<note>Bx.6.50: <hi>in charnel</hi>: R probably represents alpha with the amusing error <hi>in a chanel</hi>, "gutter", sensibly revised to <hi>in a chapel</hi> by F.</note> a[t]<note>Bx.6.50: <hi>at</hi>: LMHm have <hi>atte</hi>, which represents "at the" in L (see <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.P.107</ref>, <ref>3.31</ref>, <ref>6.55</ref>, etc.). CrWGR have <hi>at</hi>, which has some support from <hi>C</hi>'s <hi>At churche in the Charnel</hi>.</note> chirche · cherles<note>Bx.6.50: <hi>cherles</hi>: Supported by <hi>C</hi> and by alliteration against alpha's <hi>clerkes</hi>.</note> ben yuel to knowe</l>

<l> Or a kniȝte fram a knaue þere · knowe þis in þin herte</l>

Bx.6.52KD.6.50

<l> And þat þow be trewe of þi<note>Bx.6.54: <hi>þi</hi>: Beta is supported by <hi>Ax</hi> and the X family of <hi>C</hi> against alpha's omission. The P family reads <hi>hys</hi>.</note> tonge · and tales þat þow hatie</l>

<l> But if þei ben of wisdome or of witt · þi werkmen to chaste</l>

<l> <app><rdg>Holde</rdg><rdg>Holde nauȝt</rdg></app><note>Bx.6.54: <hi>Holde / Holde nauȝt</hi>: Beta agrees with <hi>Ax</hi>, against <hi>Holde nauȝt</hi> in alpha and <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> with none harlotes · ne here nouȝte her tales</l>

<l> And nameliche atte mete · suche men eschue</l>

Bx.6.56KD.6.54

<l> For it ben þe deueles disoures · I do þe to vnderstande</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ I assente bi seynt Iame · seyde þe kniȝte þanne</l>

<l> Forto worche bi þi wordes · þe while my lyf dureth</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ And I shal apparaille me quod Perkyn · in pilgrimes wise</l>

Bx.6.60KD.6.58

<l> And wende with ȝow I wil · til we fynde treuthe</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ And cast on me<note>Bx.6.61: <hi>me</hi>: Although attested only by LR, it is more likely to have been lost than added, and has support from the <hi>Cx</hi> third-person version, <hi>caste on hym his clothes</hi> (RK.8.58). However, Adams (2000), 183, sees <hi>me</hi> as "random convergence".</note> my clothes · yclouted and hole</l>

<l> My cokeres and my coffes · for colde of my nailles</l>

<l> And hange myn hoper at myn hals · in stede of a scrippe</l>

Bx.6.64KD.6.62

<l> A busshel of bredcorne · brynge me þerinne</l>

<l> For I wil sowe it my-self · and sitthenes wil I wende</l>

<l> To pylgrymage as palmers don · pardoun forto haue</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Ac who-so helpeth me to erie · or sowen here<note>Bx.6.67: <hi>here</hi>: Good support from LMR and WHm, strengthening the alliteration of the b-verse, though dropped in CrGOCF. <hi>A</hi> and <hi>C</hi> have different b-verses.</note> ar I wende</l>

Bx.6.68KD.6.66

<l> Shal haue leue bi owre lorde · to lese here in heruest</l>

<l> And make h[y]m<note>BX.6.69: <hi>hym</hi>: Alpha's sg. is supported by <hi>AC</hi> over beta's plural.</note> mery þere-mydde · maugre who-so bigruccheth it<note>Bx.6.69: <hi>bigruccheth it</hi>: So LMCrW, and so probably beta. The X family of <hi>C</hi> has <hi>bigruchen hit</hi>, but the P family is without <hi>hit</hi>, as are beta4 and F (in Hm it appears to have been erased). Scribes may have been uncomfortable with two unstressed syllables at line-end. In R and <hi>Ax</hi> the pronoun precedes the verb. We follow copy-text.</note></l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ And alkyn crafty men · þat konne lyuen in treuthe</l>

<l> I shal fynden hem fode · þat feithfulliche libbeth</l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.72KD.6.70

<l> ¶ Saue Iakke þe iogeloure · and Ionet of þe stues</l>

<l> And danyel þe dys playere · and denote þe baude</l>

<l> And frere þe faytoure [·] and folke of his ordre</l>

<l> And Robyn þe Rybaudoure · for his rusty wordes</l>

Bx.6.76KD.6.74

<l> Treuthe tolde me ones · and bad me tellen it after</l>

<l> <foreign>Deleantur de libro viuencium</foreign> [·] I shulde nouȝte dele with hem</l>

<l> For holicherche is hote [·]<note>Bx.6.78: The line is punctuated after <hi>hote</hi> in MCrC and alpha, after <hi>hem</hi> in LWO. The former is supported by the alliterative pattern.</note> of hem no tythe to [aske]<note>Bx.6.78: <hi>aske</hi>: The reading of R is supported by <hi>AC</hi>. That F agrees with beta <hi>take</hi> makes the <hi>Bx</hi> reading uncertain, but it is an easy error, typical of F in increasing the alliteration, especially in a line where the pattern puzzles some scribes, and indeed it is found as a minor variant in both <hi>A</hi> and <hi>C</hi> mss.</note></l>

<l> <foreign>Quia cum iustis non scribantur</foreign></l>

Bx.6.80KD.6.77

<l> They ben ascaped good auenture · now<note>Bx.6.80: <hi>now</hi>: So LM and alpha, supported by <hi>AC</hi>.</note> god hem amende</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Dame worche whan tyme is · Pieres wyf hiȝte</l>

<l> His douȝter hiȝte do riȝte so · or þi dame shal þe bete</l>

<l> His sone hiȝte suffre þi souereynes · <app><rdg>to hauen</rdg><rdg>hauen</rdg></app><note>Bx.6.83: <hi>to hauen / hauen</hi>: Beta includes <hi>to</hi> as <hi>Ax</hi>, which alpha and <hi>Cx</hi> omit.</note> her wille<note>Bx.6.83: The line alliterates aaa/xx, which prompts OR to punctuate the line after <hi>suffre</hi> (which F drops), disregarding the syntactic break after <hi>souereynes</hi>.</note></l>

Bx.6.84KD.6.81

<l> Deme hem nouȝte for if þow doste · þow shalt it dere abugge</l>

<l> Late god yworth with al · for so his worde techeth</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> To penaunce and to pilgrimage · I wil passe with þise<note>Bx.6.87: <hi>þise</hi>: The demonstrative, which seems preferable in terms of sense, is supported by L (but not M), by CrW (but not Hm), by R (but not F). <hi>AC</hi> mss. vary in the same way.</note> other</l>

Bx.6.88KD.6.85

<l> For-þi I wil or I wende · do wryte my biqueste</l>

<l> <note>Bx.6.89-91: These three lines in beta are set out as two in alpha, divided after <hi>soule</hi> and dropping <hi>for so I bileue</hi>. <hi>AC</hi> set the lines as beta.</note> <foreign>In dei nomine amen · </foreign> I make it my-seluen</l>

<l> He shal haue my soule · þat best hath yserued<note>Bx.6.90: <hi>yserued</hi>: LCGOR, and so <hi>Bx</hi>. But M and beta2 have <hi>deserued</hi>, as does <hi>A</hi>. <hi>C</hi> rewrites the b-verse.</note> it</l>

<l> And fro þe fende it defende<note>Bx.6.91: Beta's version of the a-verse is confirmed by <hi>AC</hi>.</note> · for so I bileue</l>

Bx.6.92KD.6.89

<l> Til I come to his acountes · as my cred[e]<note>Bx.6.92: <hi>crede</hi>: Alpha's form is supported by <hi>AC</hi>.</note> <app><rdg>me telleth</rdg><rdg>telleth</rdg></app><note>Bx.6.92: <hi>me telleth / telleth</hi>: Beta reads as <hi>Ax</hi>, while alpha and <hi>Cx</hi> omit <hi>me</hi>.</note></l>

<l> To haue a relees and a remissioun · on þat rental I leue</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Þe kirke shal haue my caroigne · and kepe my bones</l>

<l> For of my corne and catel · he<note>Bx.6.95: <hi>he</hi>: In a clear example of sophistication, CrW alter to <hi>she</hi>, but the following lines confirm the masculine.</note> craued þe tythe</l>

Bx.6.96KD.6.93

<l> I payed it hym prestly · for peril of my soule</l>

<l> For-thy is he holden I hope · to haue me in his masse</l>

<l> And mengen<note>Bx.6.98: <hi>mengen</hi>: F adds <hi>me</hi> by contamination from <hi>AC</hi>.</note> in his memorye · amonge alle crystene</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ My wyf shal haue of þat I wan · with treuthe and nomore</l>

Bx.6.100KD.6.97

<l> And dele amonge my douȝtres · and my dere children</l>

<l> For þowgh I deye<note>Bx.6.101: <hi>deye</hi>: Beta's present is supported by <hi>AC</hi>, though a few mss. in all versions have the past. Cf. l. <ref>123</ref>.</note> to-daye · my dettes ar<note>Bx.6.101: <hi>dettes ar</hi>: R's sg. is also the reading of the X family of <hi>C</hi>.</note> quitte</l>

<l> I bare home þat I borwed · ar I to bedde ȝede</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ And with þe residue and þe remenaunte · bi þe Rode of Lukes</l>

Bx.6.104KD.6.101

<l> I wil worschip þer-with · treuthe bi my lyue</l>

<l> And ben his pilgryme atte plow · for pore mennes sake</l>

<l> My plow-[p]ote<note>Bx.6.106: <hi>-pote</hi>: Alpha has support from <hi>AC</hi> (K.7.95, RK.8.64), though in all three versions the second element of the compound is also recorded as <hi>fote</hi>, <hi>bat</hi>, and <hi>staf</hi>. <title>MED</title>, recording no other instance, supposes the implement is probably "to remove earth adhering to a plow, or to chop roots" (<hi>plough</hi>, 1c (e)). Kane (2005) glosses as "ploughman's staff used to give added thrust to the coulter".</note> shal be my pyk-staf · and picche atwo<note>Bx.6.106: <hi>atwo</hi>: Beta's reading is also that of <hi>Cx</hi>, though two mss. have <hi>at</hi> (as R) and two <hi>away</hi> (as F). Though Kane's <hi>A</hi> text has <hi>putte at</hi>, both verb and preposition vary widely, though no ms. has <hi>atwo</hi>.</note> þe rotes</l>

<l> And helpe my culter to kerue · and clense þe forwes</l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.108KD.6.105

<l> ¶ Now is perkyn and [þ]is<note>Bx.6.108: <hi>þis</hi>: The X family of <hi>C</hi> agrees with R. Most <hi>A</hi> mss. and the P family of <hi>C</hi> share F's reading <hi>þe</hi>. We suppose that <hi>Bx</hi> <hi>þis</hi> is a slightly more likely source than <hi>þe</hi> of beta's <hi>his</hi>.</note> pilgrymes · to þe plowe faren</l>

<l> To erie þis halue acre · holpyn hym manye</l>

<l> Dikeres & delueres · digged vp þe balkes</l>

<l> Þere-with was perkyn apayed · and preysed hem faste</l>

Bx.6.112KD.6.109

<l> Other werkemen þere were · þat wrouȝten ful ȝerne</l>

<l> Eche man in his manere · made hym-self to done</l>

<l> And some to plese per<damage>kyn</damage> · piked vp þe wedes</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ At heighe pryme peres · lete þe plowe stonde</l>

Bx.6.116KD.6.113

<l> To<note>Bx.6.116: <hi>To</hi>: R's <hi>And ȝeed to</hi> must represent alpha (cf. F), but it has no support from <hi>AC</hi>.</note> ouersen hem hym-self · and who-so best wrouȝte</l>

<l> He shulde be huyred þer-after · whan heruest tyme come</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ And þanne seten somme · and songen atte nale</l>

<l> And hulpen<note>Bx.6.119: <hi>hulpen</hi>: There is no support for R's <hi>ho helpen to</hi>.</note> erie his half acre · with how trolli lolli<note>Bx.6.119: F's additional line is unusually amusing as well as metrical, but it has no parallel in any version of the poem.</note></l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.120KD.6.117

<l> ¶ Now bi þe peril of my soule quod Pieres · al in pure tene</l>

<l> But ȝe arise þe rather · and rape ȝow to worche</l>

<l> Shal no greyne þat groweth · glade ȝow at nede</l>

<l> And þough ȝe deye<note>Bx.6.123: <hi>deye</hi>: As in the parallel l. <ref>101</ref>, R has the past tense, but it is not supported by <hi>AC</hi>.</note> for dole · þe deuel haue þat recch[e]<note>Bx.6.123: <hi>recche</hi>: Alpha's subjunctive is supported by <hi>AC</hi>.</note></l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.124KD.6.121

<l> ¶ Tho were faitoures aferde · and feyned hem blynde</l>

<l> Somme leyde here legges aliri as suche loseles conneth</l>

<l> And made her mone to pieres · and preyde hym of grace</l>

<l> For we haue no lymes to laboure with · lorde ygraced be ȝe</l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.128KD.6.125

<l> ¶<note>Bx.6.128: <hi>¶</hi>: The paraph is recorded in LR and marked by a space in M.</note> Ac we preye for ȝow pieres · and for ȝowre plow bothe</l>

<l> Þat god of his grace · ȝowre grayne multiplye</l>

<l> And ȝelde ȝow of<note>Bx.6.130: <hi>of</hi>: Beta2 (CrWHm) and G have <hi>for</hi>, as do a few <hi>AC</hi> mss.</note> ȝowre almesse · þat ȝe ȝiue vs here</l>

<l> For we may nouȝte swynke ne swete · suche sikenesse vs eyleth</l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.132KD.6.129

<l> ¶ If it be soth quod pieres þat ȝe seyne · I shal it sone asspye</l>

<l> Ȝe ben wastoures I wote wel · and<note>Bx.6.133: <hi>and</hi>: R's omission is not supported by <hi>Ax</hi>. R has three unique readings in this line.</note> treuthe wote þe sothe</l>

<l> And I am his olde hyne · and hiȝte hym to warne</l>

<l> Which þei were in þis worlde · his werkemen appeyred<note>Bx.6.135: <hi>appeyred</hi>: GR have the present (F has <hi>wolde a-peyre</hi>). The parallel line in <hi>A</hi>, <hi>Suche wastours in þis world his werkmen distroyeþ</hi> (K.7.124), is too different to offer support.</note></l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.136KD.6.133

<l> ¶ Ȝe wasten þat men wynnen · with trauaille and with tene</l>

<l> Ac treuthe shal teche ȝow · his teme to dryue</l>

<l> Or ȝe shal ete barly bred · and of þe broke drynke</l>

<l> But if he be blynde [or]<note>Bx.6.139: <hi>or</hi> (1): There is no support for L's <hi>and</hi> in any version, though note that <hi>and</hi> probably underlies the correction <hi>or</hi> in M.</note> broke-legged · or bolted with yrnes</l>

Bx.6.140KD.6.137

<l> He shal ete whete bred · and drynke with my-selue</l>

<l> Tyl god of his goodnesse · amendement hym sende</l>

<l> <note>Bx.6.142: Hm and alpha have a paraph.</note>Ac ȝe myȝte trauaille as treuthe wolde · and take mete & huyre</l>

<l> To kepe kyne in þe felde · þe corne fro þe bestes</l>

Bx.6.144KD.6.141

<l> Diken or deluen or dyngen vppon sheues</l>

<l> Or helpe make morter · or bere mukke afelde</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ In lecherye and in losengerye · ȝe lyuen and in sleuthe</l>

<l> And al is þorw suffrance · þat venjaunce ȝow ne taketh</l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.148KD.6.145

<l> ¶ Ac ancres and heremytes · þat eten but at nones</l>

<l> And namore er morwe · myne almesse shul þei haue</l>

<l> And of my<note>Bx.6.150: <hi>of my</hi>: LM and alpha. Beta2 (CrWHm) and G drop <hi>my</hi>; CO drop both words. This passage is not in <hi>AC</hi>.</note> catel to cope<note>Bx.6.150: <hi>cope</hi>: LMR and CO, with F revising to <hi>kouere</hi>. Beta2 (CrWHm) and G read <hi>kepe</hi>. For the collocation with <hi>catel</hi>, "provide resources for clothing", see <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.5.271</ref>.</note> hem with · þat han cloistres and cherches</l>

<l> <note>Bx.6.151: WHmCF have a paraph.</note>Ac robert renneaboute · shal nouȝte haue of myne</l>

Bx.6.152KD.6.149

<l> Ne posteles but þey preche conne · and haue powere of þe bisschop</l>

<l> They shal haue payne and potage · and make hem-self at ese</l>

<l> For it is an vnresonable Religioun · þat hath riȝte nouȝte of certeyne</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ And þanne gan a wastoure to wrath hym · and wolde haue yfouȝte</l>

Bx.6.156KD.6.153

<l> And to Pieres þe plowman · he profered his gloue</l>

<l> A Brytonere a braggere · a bosted<note>Bx.6.157: <hi>a bosted</hi>: As one word in all except CrCGOF. Presumably not all scribes recognised this as "he threatened" but took it as an unparalleled compound verb. <hi>Ax</hi> has <hi>he bostide</hi>. RK.8.152 records <hi>abostede</hi>, but it is questioned by Kane (2005) s.v.</note> pieres als</l>

<l> And bad hym go pissen with<note>Bx.6.158: <hi>with</hi>: Beta supported by <hi>AC</hi>. Alpha tones down the vulgarism.</note> his plow · for-pyned schrewe</l>

<l> Wiltow or neltow · we wil haue owre wille</l>

Bx.6.160KD.6.157

<l> Of<note>Bx.6.160: <hi>Of</hi>: Alpha probably read <hi>And of</hi>. Beta is supported by <hi>Ax</hi>, but alpha by the X family of <hi>C</hi>; the P family has <hi>Boþe</hi>.</note> þi flowre and of þi flessche · fecche whan vs liketh</l>

<l> And make vs myrie þer-myde<note>Bx.6.161: <hi>þer-myde</hi>: M is joined by HmCG with <hi>þere-with</hi>. The half-line is repeated from l. <ref>69</ref> where HmC have the variation. <hi>Ax</hi> has -<hi>wiþ</hi>, but the best <hi>C</hi> mss. read -<hi>myde</hi>. See note to <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.7.26</ref>, and cf. <ref>15.144</ref>.</note> · maugre þi chekes</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Thanne Pieres þe plowman · pleyned hym to þe knyȝte</l>

<l> To kepe hym as couenaunte was · fram cursed shrewes</l>

Bx.6.164KD.6.161

<l> And fro þis wastoures wolueskynnes · þat maketh þ[is]<note>Bx.6.164: <hi>þis</hi> (2): R represents alpha since F drops the line, and is supported by <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.8.158) against beta's <hi>þe</hi>. G also has <hi>þis</hi>.</note> worlde dere</l>

<l> For þo waste and wynnen nouȝte · and þat ilke while</l>

<l> Worth neuere plente amonge þe poeple · þer-while<note>Bx.6.166: <hi>þer-while</hi>: So LMC, and probably beta. R, which may be right, has <hi>þe while</hi> in line with other mss.; F reads <hi>while</hi>. <hi>Cx</hi> has <hi>and</hi>. Cf. <ref>6.8n</ref>.</note> my plow liggeth</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Curteisly þe knyȝte þanne · as his kynde wolde</l>

Bx.6.168KD.6.165

<l> Warned wastoure · and wissed hym bettere</l>

<l> Or þow shalt abugge by þe lawe · by þe ordre þat I bere</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ I was nouȝt wont to worche quod wastour · and now wil I nouȝt bigynne</l>

<l> And lete liȝte<note>Bx.1.171: <hi>liȝte</hi>: Alpha with Hm have the adverbial form <hi>liȝtly</hi>, but beta has the form recorded in <hi>AC</hi> and elsewhere in the poem.</note> of þe lawe [·] and lasse of þe knyȝte</l>

Bx.6.172KD.6.169

<l> And sette Pieres at a pees · and his plow bothe</l>

<l> And manaced pieres and his men · ȝif þei mette eft-sone</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Now<note>Bx.1.174: <hi>Now</hi>: Supported by <hi>AC</hi>, despite alpha's omission.</note> by þe peril of my soule quod Pieres · I shal apeyre ȝow alle</l>

<l> And houped after hunger · þat herd hym atte firste</l>

Bx.6.176KD.6.173

<l> Awreke me of þise wastoures quod he · þat þis worlde schendeth<note>Bx.6.176: <hi>schendeth</hi>: Plural, as <hi>schende(n)</hi> in alpha.</note></l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Hunger in haste þo · hent wastour bi þe mawe</l>

<l> And wronge hym so bi þe wombe · þat [al wattered] his eyen<note>Bx.6.178: We adopt R's b-verse, which is that of <hi>AC</hi>, and conforms to the standard alliterative pattern, though it is unmetrical (x x / x x / x). If R reproduces alpha, this leaves the question of how F shares the beta reading. In fact four <hi>A</hi> mss. have the same reading as beta, and five more have the same noun-verb word-order omitting <hi>bothe</hi>. Either F is contaminated, or else the scribe independently corrupted to the easier reading ("prose order", KD, p. 168 n. 89) just as some <hi>A</hi> scribes did.</note></l>

<l> He buffeted þe Britoner [·] aboute þe chekes</l>

Bx.6.180KD.6.177

<l> Þat he loked like a lanterne · al his lyf after</l>

<l> He bette hem so bothe · he barste nere here guttes</l>

<l> Ne hadde Pieres with a pese lof · preyed hunger cesse<note>Bx.6.182: <hi>cesse</hi>: Beta has <hi>to cesse</hi>, and it may be right, but <hi>to</hi> is perhaps supplied to fill a short b-verse. Cf. <ref>3.334</ref>, but for a counter-example cf. <ref>1.82</ref>. <hi>AC</hi> have <hi>preyed hym beleue</hi>.</note></l>

<l> They hadde ben doluen bothe · ne deme þow non other</l>

Bx.6.184KD.6.181

<l> Suffre hem lyue he seyde · and lete hem ete with hogges</l>

<l> Or elles benes and bren · ybaken togideres</l>

<l> Or elles melke and mene<note>Bx.6.186: <hi>mene</hi>: "inferior" (<title>MED</title> <hi>mene</hi> adj.(1), 3(a)). But CO and alpha have <hi>meyne</hi> which, in R at least, is used only as a spelling of <title>MED</title> <hi>meine</hi> n., "household"; cf. <hi>meine</hi> 1(b) ~ <hi>bord</hi>, referring to a more humble table. <title>MED</title> does not record the compound <hi>meine-ale</hi>. The line is not in <hi>AC</hi> and is rejected by KD.</note> ale · þus preyed pieres for hem</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Faitoures for fere her-of · flowen in-to bernes</l>

Bx.6.188KD.6.184

<l> And flapten on with flayles · fram morwe til euen</l>

<l> That hunger was nouȝt hardy<note>Bx.6.189: <hi>hardy</hi>: Beta has <hi>so hardy</hi>, but alpha is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>. <hi>A</hi> mss. are split.</note> · on hem forto loke</l>

<l> For a potful of peses · þat peres hadde ymaked</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> [¶]<note>Bx.6.191: <hi>¶</hi>: The paraph is in WHmC and alpha. In LM the paraph was easily missed since the line is at the top of the page in both. Though evidently <hi>Bx</hi>, it is inappropriate in splitting 190 from 191.</note> An heep of heremites · henten hem spades</l>

Bx.6.192KD.6.188

<l> And ketten here copes · and courtpies hem made</l>

<l> And wenten as werkemen · with spades and with schoueles</l>

<l> And doluen and dykeden · to dryue aweye hunger</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Blynde and bedreden · were botened a þousande</l>

Bx.6.196KD.6.192

<l> Þat seten to begge syluer · sone were þei heled</l>

<l> For þat was bake for bayarde · was bote for<note>Bx.6.197: <hi>bote for</hi>: So beta and <hi>Cx</hi> (line not in <hi>A</hi>). R has <hi>bote to</hi>.</note> many hungry</l>

<l> And many a beggere for benes · buxome was to swynke</l>

<l> And eche a<note>Bx.6.199: <hi>eche a</hi>: Supported by LR and WCO, against <hi>eche</hi> in others. A standard variant; cf. <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.3.318n</ref>, <ref>5.89</ref>, etc. The line is not in <hi>AC</hi>.</note> pore man wel apayed<note>Bx.6.199: <hi>apayed</hi>: Supported by LR and CrWHm, against <hi>paied</hi> in others.</note> · to haue pesen for his huyre</l>

Bx.6.200KD.6.196

<l> And what pieres preyed hem to do · as prest as a sperhauke</l>

<l> And þere-of was peres proude · and put hem to werke</l>

<l> And ȝaf hem mete as he myȝte aforth · and mesurable huyre</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Þanne hadde peres pite · and preyed hunger to wende</l>

Bx.6.204KD.6.200

<l> Home in-to his owne erd<note>Bx.6.204: <hi>erd</hi>: The form in LR and original M, from OE <hi>eard</hi>. Beta2 (CrWHm) and revised M have <hi>yerd</hi>, from OE <hi>geard</hi>.</note> · and holden hym þere</l>

<l> For I am wel awroke now<note>Bx.6.205: <hi>now</hi>: Supported by LMOC and alpha, but omitted by beta2 (CrWHm) and G, as also (coincidentally?) by <hi>Cx</hi>. The line is not in <hi>A</hi>.</note> · of wastoures þorw þi myȝte</l>

<l> Ac I preye þe ar þow passe · quod Pieres to<note>Bx.6.206: <hi>to</hi>: Alpha may be right with <hi>þo to</hi>, creating a long dip, as G does independently with <hi>vn-to</hi>. <hi>A</hi> and <hi>C</hi> have two different versions of the b-verse.</note> hunger</l>

<l> Of beggeres and of bidderes · what best be [to]<note>Bx.6.207: <hi>be to</hi>: L alone drops <hi>to</hi>. Most <hi>C</hi> mss. have the subjunctive as in beta; most <hi>A</hi> mss. have the phrase as in F, though five have R's order.</note> done</l>

Bx.6.208KD.6.204

<l> For I wote wel be þow went · þei wil worche ful ille</l>

<l> For myschief it maketh · þei beth so meke nouthe</l>

<l> And for defaute of her fode · þis folke is at my wille</l>

<l> [It]<note>Bx.6.211: <hi>It</hi>: All other mss. have <hi>Þey</hi>, but R is supported by <hi>AC</hi>. For the formal <hi>it</hi> as equivalent to "they", see Mustanoja (1960), 132-3; and cf. <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.6.56</ref>, where GF again read <hi>þei</hi> for <hi>it</hi>. </note> are my blody bretheren quod pieres · for god bouȝte vs alle</l>

Bx.6.212KD.6.208

<l> Treuthe tauȝte me ones · to louye hem vchone</l>

<l> And to helpen hem of alle þinge · ay as hem nedeth</l>

<l> And now wolde I witen of þe · what were þe best</l>

<l> An<note>Bx.6.215: <hi>An</hi>: "and".</note> how I myȝte amaistrien hem · and make hem to worche</l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.216KD.6.212

<l> ¶ Here now quod hunger · and holde it for a wisdome</l>

<l> Bolde beggeres and bigge · þat mowe her bred biswynke</l>

<l> With houndes bred and hors-bred · holde vp her hertis</l>

<l> Abate hem with benes · for bollyng of her wombe</l>

Bx.6.220KD.6.216

<l> And ȝif þe gomes grucche · bidde hem go swynke<note>Bx.6.220: <hi>go swynke</hi>: For the idiom, cf. <ref>5.24</ref> <hi>go worche</hi>, <ref>7.104</ref> <hi>gon faiten</hi>, <ref>9.143</ref> <hi>go shape</hi>. Alpha has <hi>go and swynke</hi>; the same variation is found in <hi>AC</hi>.</note></l>

<l> <note>Bx.6.221: The line is dropped by alpha. It is attested by <hi>AC</hi>.</note> And he shal soupe swettere · whan he it hath deseruid</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ And<note>Bx.6.222: <hi>And</hi>: R has <hi>Ac</hi>, which may be right. There is the same variation in <hi>AC</hi>.</note> if þow fynde any freke · þat <app><rdg>fortune</rdg><rdg>falshed</rdg></app><note>Bx.6.222: <hi>fortune / falshed</hi>: An interesting case. Alpha's <hi>false</hi> or <hi>falshed</hi> is clearly an error in view of <hi>fals men</hi> in the next line. And yet it was presumably the basis for <hi>Cx</hi>, which reads <hi>þat fals men han apayred</hi> and drops the next line. Beta shares <hi>fortune</hi> with <hi>Ax</hi>.</note> hath appeyred</l>

<l> Or any maner fals men · fonde þow suche to cnowe</l>

Bx.6.224KD.6.220

<l> Conforte h[e]m<note>Bx.6.224: <hi>hem</hi>: Beta probably had <hi>hym</hi>, as in LCrWHm, with MGO correcting. (Note HmO <hi>man</hi> in the line above.) <hi>AC</hi> have the plural, as in alpha.</note> with þi catel · for crystes loue of heuene</l>

<l> Loue hem and lene hem · so lawe of god techeth</l>

<l> <foreign>Alter alterius onera portate</foreign></l>

<l> And alle maner of<note>Bx.6.227: <hi>maner of</hi>: R omits <hi>of</hi>. <hi>AC</hi> scribes vary, though the most authoritative of <hi>C</hi> also omit.</note> men · þat þow myȝte asspye</l>

Bx.6.228KD.6.223

<l> That nedy ben and nauȝty · helpe hem with þi godis</l>

<l> Loue hem and lakke hem nouȝte · late god take þe venjaunce</l>

<l> Theigh þei done yuel · late þow<note>Bx.6.230: <hi>þow</hi>: Only in LR; dropped by other scribes perhaps on the basis of l. <ref>85</ref>. Presumably it carries the alliteration of the b-verse. The line is not in <hi>AC</hi>. Adams (2000), 183.</note> god aworthe<note>Bx.6.230: <hi>aworthe</hi>: The rare form is supported by LMR.</note></l>

<l> <foreign>Michi vindictam & ego retribuam ·</foreign></l>

Bx.6.232KD.6.227

<l> And if þow wil be graciouse to god · do as þe gospel techeth</l>

<l> And bilow<note>Bx.6.233: <hi>bilow</hi>: As at <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.2.22</ref>, LMR presumably reproduce the spelling of <hi>Bx</hi>. F wrongly takes the verb to be formed on <hi>lowen</hi>, "be humble". The Latin of the next line makes it clear that it means "make (yourself) loved" (<title>MED</title> <hi>biloven</hi>), and beta1 reads <hi>biloue</hi>. The line replaces K.7.212 <hi>Make þe Frendis þermid</hi>. Adams (2000), 178.</note> þe amonges low men · so shaltow lacche grace</l>

<l> <foreign>Facite vobis amicos de mamona iniquitatis</foreign></l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ I wolde nouȝt greue god quod piers · for al þe good on grounde</l>

Bx.6.236KD.6.230

<l> Miȝte I synnelees do as þow seist · seyde pieres þanne</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Ȝe I bihote þe<note>Bx.6.237: <hi>þe</hi> (1): Alpha's <hi>god</hi> is not supported by <hi>AC</hi>, but cf. l. <ref>285</ref>.</note> quod hunger · or ellis þe bible lieth</l>

<l> Go to Genesis þe gyaunt · þe engendroure of vs alle</l>

<l> <foreign>In sudore</foreign> and swynke<note>Bx.6.239: <hi>and swynke</hi>: Alpha has <hi>and in swynke</hi> and beta's reading is uncertain. <hi>Ax</hi> has the reading adopted here, and <hi>Cx</hi> has a Latin line (altered from Genesis) in the form <hi>In sudore & labore</hi> (or vice versa).</note> · þow shalt þi mete tilye</l>

Bx.6.240KD.6.234

<l> And laboure for þi lyflode · and so owre lorde hyȝte</l>

<l> And sapience seyth þe same · I seigh it<note>Bx.6.241: <hi>it</hi>: Omitted in R (= alpha?) but supported by <hi>Ax</hi>.</note> in þe bible</l>

<l> <foreign>Piger pro frigore</foreign> · no felde nolde<note>Bx.6.242: <hi>nolde</hi>: This seems to be the beta reading (M is corrected), with alpha reading <hi>wolde</hi>, probably the reading of <hi>Ax</hi>. Either could be <hi>Bx</hi>.</note> tilye</l>

<l> And þerfore he shal begge and bidde · and no man bete his hunger</l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.244KD.6.238

<l> ¶ Mathew with mannes face · mouthe[th]<note>Bx.6.244: <hi>moutheth</hi>: Alpha's present tense is that of <hi>Ax</hi>, and is supported by <hi>C</hi>'s <hi>Mathew maketh mencioun</hi> (RK.8.246). Beta's past tense may be unconscious substitution of -<hi>thed</hi> for -<hi>theth</hi>.</note> þise wordis</l>

a besaunt

<l> Þat <foreign>seruus nequam</foreign> had a <foreign>nam</foreign><note>Bx.6.245: <hi><foreign>nam</foreign></hi>: Alpha has <hi>man</hi>, and beta probably here had the spelling <hi>nam</hi> rather than <hi>Mnam</hi>, which WHmC have corrected from Luke 19.24 and from ll. <ref>247-8</ref>. Cf. the spelling variants there. The gloss <hi>besaunt</hi> which appears in LMWHm and as a variant in CrG must have been in beta.</note> · and for he wolde nouȝte chaffare</l>

<l> He had maugre of his maistre · for euermore after</l>

<l> And binam [hym]<note>Bx.6.247: <hi>hym</hi>: Not in L and added in M, so probably absent in beta. Other beta scribes make an obvious correction.</note> his <foreign>Mnam</foreign> · for he ne wolde<note>Bx.6.247: <hi>ne wolde</hi>: <hi>Ax</hi> has <hi>nolde</hi>, which carries the alliteration, but it is supported for <hi>Bx</hi> only by MG.</note> worche</l>

Bx.6.248KD.6.242

<l> And ȝaf þat <foreign>Mnam</foreign> to hym · þat ten Mnames hadde</l>

<l> And with þat he seyde · þat holicherche it herde</l>

<l> He þat hath shal haue · and helpe þere it nedeth</l>

<l> And he þat nouȝt hath shal nouȝt haue · and no man hym helpe</l>

Bx.6.252KD.6.246

<l> And þat he weneth wel<note>Bx.6.252: <hi>wel</hi>: Alpha has <hi>for</hi> and loses the alliteration. Beta has the support of <hi>Ax</hi> and the X family of <hi>C</hi>, though the P family omit <hi>wel to</hi>.</note> to haue · I wil it hym bireue</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Kynde witt wolde · þat eche a wyght wrouȝte</l>

<l> Or in dykynge or in deluynge · or trauaillynge in preyeres</l>

<l> Contemplatyf lyf or actyf lyf · cryst wolde men<note>Bx.6.255: <hi>men</hi>: So LMR; beta1 has <hi>þei</hi> and F has <hi>we</hi>. <hi>AC</hi> are different.</note> wrouȝte</l>

Bx.6.256KD.6.250

<l> Þe sauter seyth in þe<note>Bx.6.256: <hi>þe</hi>: Alpha has <hi>a</hi>, which could be right, since there are several <hi>Beati omnes</hi> psalms. There is similar variation in <hi>A</hi> mss.</note> psalme · of <foreign>beati omnes</foreign></l>

<l> Þe freke þat fedeth hym-self · with his feythful laboure</l>

<l> He is blessed by þe boke · in body and in soule</l>

<l> <foreign>Labores manuum tuarum &c ·</foreign></l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.260KD.6.253

<l> ¶ Ȝet I prey ȝow quod pieres · <foreign>par<note>Bx.6.260: <hi><foreign>par</foreign></hi>: The spelling in LWR (and abbreviated in MCG). See note to <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.8.11</ref>.</note> charite</foreign> and ȝe kunne</l>

<l> Eny leef of lechecraft · lere it me my dere</l>

<l> For somme of my seruauntz · and my-self bothe</l>

<l> Of al a wyke worche nouȝt · so owre wombe aketh</l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.264KD.6.257

<l> ¶ I wote wel quod hunger · what sykenesse ȝow eyleth</l>

<l> Ȝe han maunged ouer-moche · and þat maketh ȝow grone</l>

<l> Ac I hote þe quod hunger · as þow þyne hele wilnest </l>

<l> Þat þow drynke no day · ar þow dyne somwhat</l>

Bx.6.268KD.6.261

<l> Ete nouȝte I hote þe<note>Bx.6.268: <hi>þe</hi> (1): Supported by <hi>Ax</hi>, but R omits, as does <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> · ar hunger þe take</l>

<l> And sende þe of his sauce · to sauoure with þi lippes</l>

<l> And kepe some tyl soper tyme · and sitte nouȝt to longe</l>

<l> Arise<note>Bx.6.271: <hi>Arise</hi>: So LMR supported by alliteration and <hi>Ax</hi>; F has <hi>But a-ryse</hi>, the others <hi>And ryse</hi>, evidently misinterpreting <hi>A</hi> as "And".</note> vp ar appetit · haue eten his fulle</l>

Bx.6.272KD.6.265

<l> Lat nouȝt sire surfait [·] sitten at þi borde</l>

<l> Leue him nouȝt for he is lecherous · and likerous of tonge</l>

<l> And after many manere metes · his maw is afyngred</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ And ȝif þow diete þe þus · I dar legge myne eres</l>

Bx.6.276KD.6.269

<l> Þat phisik shal his furred hodes · for his fode selle</l>

<l> And his cloke of calabre · with alle þe<note>Bx.6.277: <hi>þe</hi>: Alpha omits; <hi>A</hi> mss. vary similarly.</note> knappes of golde</l>

<l> And be fayne bi my feith · his phisik to lete</l>

<l> And lerne to laboure with londe · for lyflode is swete</l>

Bx.6.280KD.6.273

<l> [Þer aren mo morareres þan] leches<note>Bx.6.280: <hi>Þer aren mo morareres þan leches</hi>: We take R to represent a corrupt <hi>Bx</hi>. We suppose that <hi>B</hi> read as <hi>A</hi> does: <hi>Þer arn mo liȝeris þan lechis</hi> (K.7.257). The nonce word <hi>morareres</hi> resulted from dittography of <hi>mo</hi>. F's <hi>moraynerys</hi> (from <hi>moreine</hi>, "death"?) is a desperate attempt to make sense of this. Beta's revision to <hi>For morthereres aren mony leches</hi> is more radical and more sensible. The line is rewritten in <hi>C</hi>. See Schmidt (1995), 375.</note> · lorde hem amende</l>

<l> Þei do men deye þorw here drynkes · ar destine it wolde</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ By seynt Poule quod pieres · þise aren profitable wordis</l>

<l> Wende now hunger whan þow wolt · þat wel be þow<note>Bx.6.283: <hi>be þow</hi>: R reverses and F alters. A few <hi>C</hi> mss. agree with R.</note> euere</l>

Bx.6.284KD.6.276

<l> For þis is a louely lessoun · lorde it þe forȝelde</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ By-hote<note>Bx.6.285: <hi>By-hote</hi>: GF's <hi>I hoote</hi> is an <hi>A</hi> reading, introduced to correct the omission of <hi>I</hi> in <hi>Bx</hi>.</note> god quod hunger · hennes ne wil I wende</l>

<l> Til I haue dyned bi þis day · and ydronke bothe</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ I haue no peny quod peres · poletes forto<note>Bx.6.287: <hi>forto</hi>: LR and CrCO, challenged by <hi>to</hi> in MWHmG. <hi>Cx</hi> has the former, <hi>Ax</hi> the latter. We follow copy-text.</note> bigge</l>

Bx.6.288KD.6.281

<l> Ne neyther gees ne grys · but two grene cheses</l>

<l> A fewe cruddes and creem · and an hauer cake</l>

<l> And two loues of benes and bran · ybake for my fauntis</l>

<l> And ȝet I sey by my soule · I haue no salt bacoun</l>

Bx.6.292KD.6.285

<l> Ne no kokeney bi cryst [·] coloppes forto maken</l>

<l> Ac I haue percil and porettes<note>Bx.6.293: <hi>porettes</hi>: So beta and F; R has sg. <hi>porett</hi>. <hi>A</hi> mss. vary similarly; <hi>Cx</hi> revises to <hi>poret plontes</hi>.</note> · and many kole plantes<note>Bx.6.293: <hi>kole plantes</hi>: Probably R <hi>queynte herbes</hi> represents the alpha b-verse, which F alters to alliterate. Beta is supported by <hi>Ax</hi>; <hi>Cx</hi> revises to improve the alliteration.</note></l>

<l> To drawe afelde my donge · þe while þe drought lasteth</l>

Bx.6.296KD.6.289

<l> And bi þis lyflode we mot lyue · til lammasse tyme</l>

<l> And bi þat I hope to haue · heruest in my croft</l>

<l> And þanne may I diȝte þi dyner · as me dere liketh</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> [¶]<note>Bx.6.299: <hi>¶</hi>: The paraph in HmW and alpha is appropriate here.</note> Alle þe pore peple þo · pesecoddes fetten</l>

Bx.6.300KD.6.293

<l> Benes and baken apples · þei brouȝte in her lapp[e]<note>Bx.6.300: <hi>lappe</hi>: We prefer the distributive sg. of R, supported by <hi>Cx</hi> and the <hi>A</hi> witnesses TDCh.</note></l>

<l> Chibolles and cheruelles · and ripe chiries manye</l>

<l> And profred peres þis present · to plese with hunger</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Al hunger eet in hast · and axed after more</l>

Bx.6.304KD.6.297

<l> Þanne pore folke for fere · fedde hunger ȝerne</l>

<l> With grene poret and pesen · to poysoun hunger<note>Bx.6.305: <hi>hunger</hi>: Beta2 (CrWHm); G (corrected) and F read <hi>hym</hi>. This is an agreement by coincidence or contamination with <hi>Ax</hi>. The line is not in <hi>C</hi>.</note> þei þouȝte</l>

<l> <note>Bx.3.306: Alpha has a paraph.</note>By þat it neighed nere heruest · newe<note>Bx.6.306: <hi>newe</hi>: Again W (with F here) has a reading which is probably not <hi>Bx</hi> but agrees coincidentally with another version. <hi>& newe</hi> is the reading of <hi>Cx</hi> and of five <hi>A</hi> mss.</note> corne cam to chepynge</l>

<l> Þanne was folke fayne · and fedde hunger with þe best</l>

Bx.6.308KD.6.301

<l> With good ale as glotoun tauȝte · and gerte hunger go slepe</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ And þo wolde wastour nouȝt<note>Bx.6.309: <hi>wolde wastour nouȝt</hi>: Beta is supported by <hi>AC</hi> against alpha's <hi>wolde no wastour</hi>.</note> werche · but wandren aboute</l>

<l> Ne no begger ete bred · þat benes Inne were</l>

<l> But of coket or<note>Bx.6.311: <hi>or</hi> (1): R has <hi>or of</hi>; for which <hi>AC</hi> offer no support.</note> clerematyn · or elles of clene whete</l>

Bx.6.312KD.6.305

<l> Ne none halpeny ale · in none wise drynke</l>

<l> But of þe best and of þe<note>Bx.6.313: <hi>and of þe</hi>: LR + beta2 (CrWHm), as the X family of <hi>C</hi>. The P family omits <hi>of þe</hi>, as F. <hi>Ax</hi> omits <hi>of</hi>, as MG and O corrected.</note> brounest · þat in borgh is to selle</l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ Laboreres þat haue no lande · to lyue on but her handes</l>

<l> <app><rdg>Deyned nouȝt</rdg><rdg>Deyned</rdg></app><note>Bx.6.315: <hi>Deyned nouȝt / Deyned</hi>: See <title>MED</title> <hi>deinen</hi> v.(1) & (2) for the two related verbs meaning "condescend, see fit" and "disdain". In beta it is the former, in alpha, omitting <hi>nouȝt</hi>, the latter. <hi>Ax</hi> supports beta, but it seems clear that <hi>Cx</hi> supports alpha (with X significantly adding <hi>noȝt</hi> as a correction). The only other use in the <hi>B</hi> text is <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.10.82</ref>, recorded only in alpha, in the sense "condescend" in F (<hi>deyneþ not vs to here</hi>), but in R in the sense "disdain" (<hi>deyneþ his heres to opne</hi>)! In the corresponding line in <hi>C</hi>, some mss. read <hi>deyneth nat vs to here</hi>, but as many omit <hi>nat</hi> (RK.11.59).</note> to dyne a-day · nyȝt-olde wortes</l>

Bx.6.316KD.6.309

<l> May no peny-ale hem paye · ne no pece of bakoun</l>

<l> But if it be fresch flesch other fische · fryed other bake<note>Bx.6.317: Alpha runs this and the next line together, omitting the b-verse of l. <ref>317</ref> and the a-verse of l. <ref>318</ref>.</note></l>

<l> And þat <foreign>chaude</foreign> or<note>Bx.6.318: <hi>or</hi>: WHmG have <hi>and</hi>, supported by <hi>AC</hi>. We rely on LM, and suppose that G is likely to be contaminated and the reading of the WHm ancestor coincidental. In the absence of alpha, certainty is impossible.</note> <foreign>plus chaud</foreign> · for chillyng of here<note>Bx.6.318: <hi>here</hi>: R may be right with sg. <hi>his</hi>, which is the reading of four <hi>A</hi> mss. and the X family of <hi>C</hi>.</note> mawe</l>

<l> <note>Bx.6.319: Only LM have a paraph, and it is not particularly appropriate.</note> And but if<note>Bx.6.319: <hi>but if</hi>: So LR and CrWG; others drop <hi>if</hi> (M is rewritten). <hi>AC</hi> vary similarly.</note> he be hieghlich huyred · ellis wil he chyde</l>

Bx.6.320KD.6.313

<l> And þat he was werkman wrouȝt · waille þe tyme</l>

<l> Aȝeines catones conseille · comseth he to iangle</l>

<l> <foreign>Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento</foreign></l>

</lg>

<lg>

<l> ¶ He greueth hym aȝeines god · and gruccheth aȝeines resoun</l>

Bx.6.324KD.6.317

<l> And þanne curseth he þe kynge · and al his conseille after</l>

<l> Suche lawes to loke · laboreres to greue</l>

<l> Ac whiles hunger was her maister · þere wolde none of hem<note>Bx.6.326: <hi>none of hem</hi>: In <hi>A</hi> the b-verse reads <hi>wolde þere non chide</hi>; <hi>C</hi> reverses the first two words, <hi>ther wolde non chyde</hi>, with the P family omitting <hi>ther</hi>. Despite the variations, none of the <hi>B</hi> mss. exactly matches any of these.</note> chyde</l>

<l> Ne stryue aȝeines his statut · so sterneliche he loked</l>

</lg>

<lg>

Bx.6.328KD.6.321

<l> ¶ Ac I warne ȝow werkemen · wynneth while ȝe mowe</l>

<l> For hunger hideward<note>Bx.6.329: <hi>hideward</hi>: There is no need to emend L's spelling, since <hi>hideward</hi> is not uncommon. See <title>MED</title>. In the other example in <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.18.313</ref>, all scribes including L use the regular spelling, although in the <hi>C</hi> version of the line (RK.20.341) three mss. including X have <hi>hidward</hi>.</note> · hasteth hym faste<note>Bx.6.329: <hi>faste</hi>: Alpha's <hi>ful faste</hi> is not supported by <hi>AC</hi>.</note></l>

<l> He shal awake with water<note>Bx.6.330: <hi>water</hi>: A good example of R blindly following his exemplar, and F rationalising to make sense.</note> · wastoures to chaste</l>

<l> Ar fyue [ȝere]<note>Bx.6.331: <hi>ȝere</hi>: We suppose that beta omitted the word and that HmO supplied it by conjecture. <hi>A</hi> mss. generally have the word, though oddly five omit it; <hi>C</hi> revises to <hi>fewe ȝeres</hi>. Alternatively, it is possible that the riddling <hi>fyue</hi> was <hi>AB</hi>, with scribes making what must have seemed an obvious correction.</note> be fulfilled · suche famyn shal aryse</l>

Bx.6.332KD.6.325

<l> Thorwgh flodes<note>Bx.6.332: <hi>flodes</hi>: R's sg. has some support from <hi>A</hi> mss.</note> and<note>Bx.6.332: <hi>and</hi>: LWHm have <hi>and þourgh</hi>. The variant is also found in <hi>AC</hi>.</note> foule wederes · frutes shul faille</l>

<l> And so sayde saturne · and sent ȝow to warne</l>

<l> Whan ȝe se þe sonne amys · and two monkes hedes</l>

<l> And a Mayde haue þe maistrie · and multiplied<note>Bx.6.335: <hi>multiplied</hi>: The past participle (i.e. "and everything increased eightfold") is in LM and alpha, though it is a correction in M. Probably the other scribes took it as an imperative.</note> bi eight</l>

Bx.6.336KD.6.329

<l> Þanne shal deth withdrawe · and derthe be iustice</l>

<l> And dawe þe dyker · deye for hunger</l>

<l> But if god of his goodnesse · graunt vs a trewe</l>

</lg>