fol. 72v (cont.)I
Passus xiijusterciodecimus &c

And I awaked þer-wiþ . witlees nerhande
And as a freke þat fre were . forþ gan I walke
In manere of a mendynaunt . many a yer after
W.13.4KD.13.4
And of þis metyng many tyme . muche þouȝt I hadde

First how Fortune me failed . at my mooste nede
And how þat Elde manaced me . myȝte we euere mete
And how þat freres folwede . folk þat was riche
W.13.8KD.13.8
And folk þat was pouere . at litel pris þei sette
And no corps in hir kirkȝerd . nor in hir kirk was buryed
But quik he biqueþe auȝt . toW.13.10: W alone reads to; CrF read or; G reads or helpe; other manuscripts have or sholde helpe. quyte wiþW.13.10: W alone reads wiþ, omitted by other manuscripts. hir dettes
And how þis Coueitise ouer-com . clerkes and preestes
W.13.12KD.13.12
And how þat lewed men ben lad . but oure lord hem helpe
Thoruȝ vnkonnynge curatours . to incurable peynes

And how þat ymaginatif . in dremels me tolde
Of kynde and of his konnynge . and how curteis he is to bestes
W.13.16KD.13.16
And how louynge he is to briddesW.13.16: W alone reads briddes; other manuscripts have bestes. . on londe and on watre
leneþ he no lif
fol. 73rI
Leneþ he no lif . lasse ne moore
The creatures þat crepen . of kynde ben engendred
And siþen how ymaginatif seide . vix saluabitur
W.13.20KD.13.20
And whan he hadde seid so . how sodeynliche he passed

I lay doun longe in þis þoȝt . and at þe laste I slepte
And as crist wolde þer com Conscience . to conforte me þat tyme
And bad me come to his court . wiþ clergie sholde I dyne
W.13.24KD.13.24
And for Conscience of Clergie spak . I com wel þe raþer
And þere I seiȝ a maister . what man he was I nyste
That lowe louted . and loueliche to scripture

Conscience knew hym wel . and welcomed hym faire
W.13.28KD.13.28
Thei wesshen and wipeden . and wenten to þe dyner
And Pacience in þe Paleis stood . in pilgrymes cloþes
And preyde mete par charite . for a pouere heremyte

Conscience called hym In . and curteisliche seide
W.13.32KD.13.32
Wel-come wye go and wassh . þow shalt sitte soone

This maister was maad sitte . as for þe mooste worþi
And þanne clergie and Conscience . and Pacience cam after

Pacience and I . were put to be macches
W.13.36KD.13.36
And seten bi oure-selue . at þe side borde

Conscience called after mete . and þanne cam Scripture
And serued hem þus soone . of sondry metes manye
Of Austyn of Ambrose . and of þe foure Euaungelistes
W.13.40KD.13.39α
Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt

Ac þis maister norW.13.41: W alone reads nor; most other manuscripts have ne. his man . no maner flessh eten
Ac þei eten mete of moore cost . mortrews and potages
Of þat men myswonne . þei made hem wel ateseat ese
fol. 73vI
W.13.44KD.13.43
Ac hir sauce was ouer-sour . and vnsauourly grounde
In a morter Post mortem . of many a bitter peyne
But if þei synge for þo soules . and wepe salte teris

Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effun-
deritis . ea que in delicijs comeditis in tormentis euometis

W.13.48KD.13.46
Conscience ful curteisly þo . comaunded Scripture
Bifore Pacience breed to brynge . and me þat was his macche
He sette a sour loof toforn vs . and seide Agite penitenciam
And siþþe he brouȝte vs drynke . Dia perseuerans
W.13.52KD.13.51
As longe quod I as I lyue . and lycame may dure
Here is propre seruice quod Pacience . þer fareþ no Prince bettre

And þanne he brouȝte vs forþ . a mees of ooþer mete . of Miserere mei deus
And he brouȝte vs of Beati quorum . of Beatus virres makyng
W.13.56KD.13.54α-55
Et quorum tecta sunt peccata . in a dissh
Of derne shrifte . Dixi & confitebor tibi
Bryng pacience som pitaunce . pryueliche quod Conscience

And þanne hadde Pacience a pitaunce . Pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno
W.13.60KD.13.58
And Conscience conforted vs . and carped vs murye tales
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies

Pacience was proud . of þat propre seruice
And made hym murþe wiþ his mete . ac I mornede euere
W.13.64KD.13.61
For þis doctour on þe heiȝe dees . drank wyn so faste
Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum

He eet manye sondry metes . mortrews and puddynges
Wombe cloutes and wilde brawen . and egges yfryed wiþ grece

W.13.68KD.13.64
Thanne seide I to my-self so . pacience it herde
It is noȝt foure dayes þat þis freke . bifore þe deen of Poules
fol. 74rI
Preched of penaunces . þat Poul þe Apostle suffrede
In fame & frigore . and flappes of scourges

W.13.72KD.13.67α
Ter cesus sum & a iudeis quinquies quadragenas &c

Ac o word þei ouerhuppen . at ech a tyme þat þei preche
That Poul in his Pistle . to al þe peple tolde
Periculum est in falsis fratribus

W.13.76KD.13.71
Holi writ bit men be war . I wol noȝt write it here
In englissh on auenture . it sholde be reherced to ofte
And greue þer-wiþ goode men . ac gramariens shul redderedeW.13.78: W alone reads redde; other manuscripts have rede.

Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat . quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus

W.13.80KD.13.74
Ac I wiste neuere freke þat as a frere yede . bifore men on englissh
Taken it for his teme . and telle it wiþ-outen glosyng
They prechen þat penaunce is . profitable to þe soule
And what meschief and male-ese . crist for man þolede

W.13.84KD.13.78
Ac þis goddes gloton quod I . wiþ hise grete chekes
Haþ no pite on vs pouere . he parfourneþ yuele
That he precheþ he preueþ noȝt . to Pacience I tolde
And wisshed ful witterly . wiþ wille ful egre
W.13.88KD.13.82
That disshes and doublers . bifore þis ilke doctour
Were molten leed in his mawe . and Mahoun amyddes
I shal Iangle to þis Iurdan . wiþ his Iuste wombe
To telle me what penaunce is . of which he preched raþer

W.13.92KD.13.86
Pacience parceyued what I þouȝte . and wynked on me to be stille
And seide þow shalt see þus soone . whan he may namoore
He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche . and puffe at ech awordea worde
And þanne shullen hise guttes goþele . and he shal galpen after
W.13.96KD.13.90
For now he haþ dronken so depe . he wole deuyne soone
fol. 74vI
And preuen it by hir Pocalips . and passion of Seint Auereys
That neiþer bacon ne braun . blancmanger ne mortrews
Is neiþer fissh nor flessh . but fode for a penaunt
W.13.100KD.13.94
And þanne shal he testifie of þe Trinite . and take his felawe to witnesse
What he fond in a frayel . after a freres lyuyng
And but he first lyue be lesyng . leue me neuere after
And þanne is tyme to take . and to appose þis doctour
W.13.104KD.13.98
Of dowel and dobet . and if dowelW.13.104: W alone reads dowel; other manuscripts have dobest. be any penaunce

And I sat stille as Pacience seide . and þus soone þis doctour
As rody as a Rose . rubbede hise chekes
Coughed and carped . and Conscience hym herde
W.13.108KD.13.102
And tolde hym of a Trinite . and toward vs he loked

What is dowel sire doctour quod I . is itW.13.109: W alone reads it; RF read dobest; other manuscripts have dowel. any penaunce

Dowel quod þis doctour . and took þe cuppe and drank
Is do noon yuel to þyn euencristen . nouȝt by þi power

W.13.112KD.13.106
By þis day sire doctour quod I . þanne be ye noȝt in dowel
For ye han harmed vs two . in þat ye eten þe puddyng
Mortrews and ooþer mete . and we no morsel hadde
And if ye fare so in youre Fermerye . ferly me þynkeþ
W.13.116KD.13.110
But cheeste be þer charite sholde be . and yonge children dorste pleyne
I wolde permute my penaunce with youre . for I am in point to dowel

Thanne Conscience curteisly . a contenaunce made
And preynte vp-on pacience . to preie me to be stille
W.13.120KD.13.114
And seide hym-self sire doctour . and it be youre wille
What is dowel and dobet . ye dyuynours knoweþ

Dowel quod þis doctour . do as clerkes techeþ
And dobet is he þat techeþ . and trauailleþ to teche oþere
W.13.124KD.13.118
And dobest doþ hym-self so . as he seiþ and precheþ
fol. 75rI
Qui facit & docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum

Now þow Clergie quod Conscience . carpest what is dowel
I haue seuene sones he seide . seruen in a Castel
W.13.128KD.13.121
Ther þe lord of lif wonyeþ . to leren what is dowel
Til I se þo seuene . and my-self acorde
I am vnhardy quod he . to any wiȝt to preuen it
For oon Piers þe Plowman . haþ impugned vs alle
W.13.132KD.13.125
And set alle sciences at a sop . saue loue one
And no text ne takeþ . to mayntene his cause
But Dilige deum . and Domine quis habitabit
And seiþ þat dowel and dobet . arn two Infinites
W.13.136KD.13.129
Whiche Infinites wiþ a feiþ . fynden out dobest
Which shal saue mannes soule . þus seiþ Piers þe Plowman

I kan noȝt her-on quod Conscience . ac I knowe wel Piers
He wol noȝt ayein holy writ speken . I dar wel vndertake
W.13.140KD.13.133
Thanne passe we ouer til Piers come . and preue þis in dede
Pacience haþ be in many place . and paraunter mouþed
That no clerk ne kan . as crist bereþ witnesse
Pacientes vincunt &c

W.13.144KD.13.136
Ac youre preiere quod Pacience þo . so no man displese hym
Disce quod he doce . dilige inimicos
Disce and dowel . doce and dobet
Dilige and dobest . þus tauȝte me ones
W.13.148KD.13.139
A lemman þat I louede . loue was hir name
Wiþ wordes and wiþ werkes quod she . and wil of þyn herte
Thow loue leelly þi soule . al þi lif-tyme
And so þow lere þe to louye . for oureW.13.151: W alone reads oure; other manuscripts have þe. lordes loue of heuene
W.13.152KD.13.143
Thyn enemy in alle wise . euene-forþ wiþ þi-selue
Cast coles on his heed . of alle kynde speche
Boþe wiþ werkes and with wordes . fonde his loue to wynne
And leye on hym þus with loue . til he lauȝe on þe
fol. 75vI
W.13.156KD.13.147
And but he bowe for þis betyng . blynd mote he worþe

Ac for to fare þus wiþ þi frend . folie it were
For he þat loueþ þee leelly . litel of þyne coueiteþ
Kynde loue coueiteþ noȝt . no catel but speche
W.13.160KD.13.151
Wiþ half a laumpe lyne in latyn . Ex vi transicionis
I bere þer-Inne aboute . faste ybounde dowel
In a signe of þe Saterday . þat sette first þe kalender
And al þe wit of þe wodnesday . of þe nexte wike after
W.13.164KD.13.155
The myddel of þe Moone . as þe nyghtW.13.164: The reading nyght is shared with BCHm. Other manuscripts have myght. of boþe
And her-with am I wel-come . þer I haue it wiþ me

Vndo it . lat þis doctour deme . if dowel be þer-Inne
For by hym þat me made . myȝte neuere pouerte
W.13.168KD.13.159
Misese ne meschief . ne noW.13.168: W alone reads no, which is omitted by other manuscripts. man wiþ his tonge
Coold ne care . ne compaignye of þeues
Ne neiþer hete ne hayl . ne noon helle pouke
NeW.13.171: W alone reads Ne; other manuscripts have Ne neiþer. fuyr ne flood . ne feere of þyn enemy
W.13.172KD.13.163
Tene þee any tyme . and þow take it wiþ þe
Caritas nichil timet &c

It is but a dido quod þis doctour . a disours tale
Al þe wit of þis world . and wiȝt mennes strengþe
W.13.176KD.13.174
Kan noȝt conformen a pees . bitwenebitwene [þe pope]W.13.176: W alone omits þe pope after bitwene. and hise enemys
Ne bitwene two cristene kynges . kan no wiȝt pees make
Profitable to eiþer peple . and putte þe table fro hym
And took Clergie and Conscience . to conseil as it were
W.13.180KD.13.178
That Pacience þow most passe . for pilgrymes konne wel lye

Ac Conscience carped loude . and curteisliche seide
Frendes fareþ wel . and faire spak to clergie
For I wol go wiþ þis gome . if god wol yeue me grace
W.13.184KD.13.182
And be Pilgrym wiþ pacience . til I haue preued moore
fol. 76rI
What quod Clergie to Conscience . ar ye coueitous nouþe
After yeresȝeues or ȝiftes . or yernen to rede redels
I shal brynge yow a bible . a book of þe olde lawe
W.13.188KD.13.186
And lere yow if yow like . þe leeste point to knowe
That Pacience þe pilgrym . parfitly knew neuere

Nay by crist quod Conscience to Clergie . god þee foryelde
For al þat Pacience me profreþ . proud am I litel
W.13.192KD.13.190
Ac þe wil of þe wye . and þe wil of folk here
Haþ meued my mood . to moorne for my synnes
The goode wil of a wight . was neuere bouȝt to þe fulle
For þer nys no tresour ...?...for-soþeW.13.195: W alone reads for-soþe, which is apparently written over an erasure; other manuscripts have þerto. . to a trewe wille

W.13.196KD.13.194
Hadde noȝt Maudeleyne moore . for a box of salue
Than zacheus for he seide . dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus
And þe poore widewe . for a peire of mytes
Than alle þo þat offrede . in-to Gazophilacium

W.13.200KD.13.198
Thus curteisliche Conscience . congeyed first þe frere
And siþen softeliche he seide . in clergies ere
Me were leuere by oure lord . and I lyue sholde
Haue pacience parfitliche . þan half þi pak of bokes

W.13.204KD.13.202
Clergie of Conscience . no congie wolde take
But seide ful sobreliche . þow shalt se þe tyme
Whan þow art wery of-walkedW.13.206: W alone reads of-walked; most other manuscripts have forwalked. . wille me to counseille

That is sooþ quod Conscience . so me god helpe
W.13.208KD.13.206
If Pacience be oure partyngfelawepartyng felawe . and pryue with vs boþe
Ther nys wo in þis world . þat we ne sholde amende
And conformen kynges to pees . and alle kynnes londes
Sarsens and Surre . and so forþ alle þe Iewes
W.13.212KD.13.210
Turne in-to þe trewe feiþ . and in-til oon bileue
fol. 76vI
That is sooþ quod Clergie . I se what þow menest
I shal dwelle as I do . my deuoir to shewe
And confermen fauntekyns . and ooþer folk ylered
W.13.216KD.13.214
Til Pacience haue preued þee . and parfit þee maked

Conscience þo wiþ Pacience passed . pilgrymes as it were
Thanne hadde Pacience as pilgrymes han . in his poke vitailles
Sobretee and symple speche . and sooþfast bileue
W.13.220KD.13.218
To conforte hym and Conscience . if þei come in place
There vnkyndenesse and coueitise is . hungry contrees boþe

And as þeþe[i]W.13.222: W alone reads þe; other manuscripts have þei. wente by þe weye . of dowel þei carped
Thei mette wiþ a Mynstral . as me þo þouȝte
W.13.224KD.13.222
Pacience apposed hym first . and preyde he sholde hem telle
To Conscience what craft he kouþe . and to what contree he wolde

I am a Mynstralle quod þat man . my name is Actiua vita
Al ydelnesse ich hatie . for of Actif is my name
W.13.228KD.13.226
A wafrer wol ye wite . and serue manye lordes
And fewe robes I fonge . or furrede gownes
Couþe I lye to do men lauȝe . þanne lacchen I sholde
Ouþer mantel or moneie . amonges lordes or Mynstrals
W.13.232KD.13.230
Ac for I kan neiþer taboure ne trompe . ne telle no gestes
Farten ne fiþelen . at festes ne harpen
Iape ne Iogele . ne gentilliche pipe
Ne neiþer saille ne saute . ne synge wiþ þe gyterne
W.13.236KD.13.234
I haue no goode giftes . of þise grete lordes
For no breed þat I brynge forþ . saue a benyson on þe sonday
Whan þe preest preieþ þe peple . hir Pater noster to bidde
For Piers þe Plowman . and þat hym profit waiten
W.13.240KD.13.238
And þat am I Actif . þat ydelnesse hatie
For alle trewe trauaillours . and tiliers of þe erþe
Fro Mighelmesse to Mighelmesse . I fynde hem wiþ my wafres
fol. 77rI
Beggeris and bidderis . of my breed crauen
W.13.244KD.13.242
Faitours and freres . and folk wiþ brode crounes
I fynde payn for þe pope . and prouendre for his palfrey
And I hadde neuere of hym . haue god my trouþe
Neiþer prouendre ne personage . yet of popes ȝifte
W.13.248KD.13.246
Saue a pardon wiþ a peis of leed . and two polles amyddes
Hadde ich a clerc þat couþe write . I wolde caste hym a bille
That he sente me vnder his seel . a salue for þe pestilence
And þat his blessynge and hise bulles . bocches myȝte destruye

W.13.252KD.13.249α
In nomine meo demonia eicient & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt

And þanne wolde I be prest to þe peple . paast for to make
And buxom and busy . aboute breed and drynke
For hym and for alle hise . founde I þat his pardoun
W.13.256KD.13.253
Miȝte lechen a man . as I bileue it sholde
For siþ he haþ þe power . þat Peter hym-self hadde
He haþ þe pot wiþ þe salue . sooþly as me þynkeþ

Argentum & aurum non est michi . quod autem habeo tibi do . in nomine domini surge & ambulaW.13.259: The page is cropped after <amb>. Other manuscripts have ambula or ambula &c.

W.13.260KD.13.255
Ac if myȝt of myracle hym faille . it is for men ben noȝt worþi
To haue þe grace of god . and no gilt ofW.13.261: W alone reads of; other manuscripts have of þe. pope
For may no blessynge doon vs boote . but if we wile amende
Ne mannes masse make pees . among cristene peple
W.13.264KD.13.259
Til pride be pureliche for-do . and þoruȝ payn defaute
For er I haue breed of mele . ofte moot I swete
And er þe commune haue corn ynouȝ . many a cold morwenyng
So er my wafres be ywroȝt . muche wo I þolye

W.13.268KD.13.263
Al Londoun I leue . likeþ wel my wafres
And louren whan þei lakken hem . it is noȝt longe ypassed
There was a careful commune . whan no cart com to towne
Wiþ breed fro Stratford . þo gonnen beggeris wepeW.13.271: In the right margin a sixteenth-century hand adds Stratford. A. I. Doyle noted it "is very like" that of the antiquarian John Stow in the introduction to Kane and Donaldson's B text (p. 14). The same hand supplied the same marginal note at R.13.278 as well as the date "1350" in the margin beside W.13.274.
fol. 77vI
W.13.272KD.13.267
And werkmen were agast alitea liteW.13.272: W alone reads alite; other manuscripts have a litel. . þis wole be þouȝt longe
In þe date of oure driȝte . in a drye Aprille
A thousand and þre hundred . twies twenty and tenW.13.274: A later hand has written 1350 in the left margin. See the note to W.13.271 above.
My wafres þere were gesene . whan Chichestre was Maire

W.13.276KD.13.271
I took good kepe by crist . and Conscience boþe
Of haukyn þe Actif man . and how he was ycloþed
He hadde a cote of cristendom . as holy kirke bileueþ
Ac it was moled in many places . wiþ manye sondry plottes
W.13.280KD.13.275
Of pride here a plot . and þere a plot of vnbuxom speche
Of scornyng and of scoffyng . and of vnskilful berynge
As in apparaille and in porte . proud amonges þe peple
Ooþer-wise þan he hymW.13.283: W alone reads hym, which is omitted by other manuscripts. haþ . wiþ herte or siȝte shewynge
W.13.284KD.13.279
Hym willyng þat alle men wende . he were þat he is noȝt
For-why he bosteþ and braggeþ . wiþ manye bolde oþes
And inobedient to ben vndernome . of any lif lyuynge
And noon so singuler by hym-self . ne so pomp-holyW.13.287: WHmL read pomp; other manuscripts have pope or poppe.
W.13.288KD.13.284
Yhabited as an heremyte . an ordre by hym-selue
Religion saunz rule . orW.13.289: W alone reads or; other manuscripts have and. resonable obedience
Lakkynge lettrede men . and lewed men boþe
In likynge of lele lif . and a liere in soule
W.13.292KD.13.288
Wiþ Inwit and wiþ outwit . ymagynen and studie
As best for his body be . to haue a badde name
And entremetten hym ouerW.13.294: An otiose curl appears over the <r>. al . þer he haþ noȝt to doone
Willynge þat men wende . his wit were þe beste
W.13.296KD.13.299
And if he gyueþ ouȝt to pouere gomes . telle what he deleþ
Pouere of possession in purs . and in cofre boþe
And as a lyoun on to loke . and lordlich of speche
Boldest of beggeris . a bostere þat noȝt haþ
W.13.300KD.13.303
In towne and in Tauernes . tales to telle
And segge þyng þat he neuere seiȝ . and for soþe sweren it
Of dedes þat he neuere dide . demen and bosten
And of werkes þat he wel dide . witnesse . and siggen
W.13.304KD.13.307
Lo if ye leue me noȝt . or þat I lye wenen
fol. 78rI
Askeþ at hym or at hym . and he yow kan telle
What I suffrede and seiȝ . and som-tymes hadde
And what I kouþe and knew . and what kyn I com of
W.13.308KD.13.311
Al he wolde þat men wiste . of werkes and of wordes
Which myȝte plese þe peple . and preisen hym-selue

Si hominibus placerem . christi seruus non essem
Et alibi / Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire

W.13.312KD.13.313
By crist quod Conscience þo . þi beste cote Haukyn
Haþ manye moles and spottes . it moste ben ywasshe

Ye who-so toke hede quod haukyn . bihynde and bifore
What on bak and what on body half . and by þe two sides
W.13.316KD.13.317
Men sholde fynde manye frounces . and manye foule plottes

And he torned hym as tyd . and þanne took I hede
It was fouler bi fele fold . þan it first semed
It was bidropped wiþ wraþe . and wikkede wille
W.13.320KD.13.321
Wiþ enuye and yuel speche . entisynge to fighte
Lyinge and laughynge . and leue tonge to chide
Al þat he wiste wikked . by any wight tellen it
And blame men bihynde hir bak . and bidden hem meschaunce
W.13.324KD.13.325
And þat he wiste by wille . tellen it watte
And þat watte wiste . wille wiste it after
And made of frendes foes . þoruȝ a fals tonge
Or wiþ myȝt or withW.13.327: W alone reads or with; G reads or; other manuscripts have of. mouþ . or þoruȝ mennes strengþe
W.13.328KD.13.329
Auenge me fele tymes . oþer frete my-selue
Wiþ-Inne as a shepsteres shere . y-sherewed manm[e]nW.13.329: W alone reads man; other manuscripts have men. and cursed

Cuius malediccione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius labor & dolorW.13.330: A word beginning dol is cropped in W; half the manuscripts have dolor, the others end the quotation with sub lingua eius &c.
Et alibi: Filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte . et lingua eorum gladius acutusW.13.331: A word beginning with <a> is cropped in W; most other manuscripts have acutus, but others abbreviate the quotation.

W.13.332KD.13.331
Ther is no lif þat me loueþ . lastynge any while
fol. 78vI
For tales þat I telle . no man trusteþ to me
And whan I may noȝt haue þe maistrie . swich malencolie I take
That I cacche þe crampe . and þe Cardiacle som-tyme
W.13.336KD.13.335
Or an Ague in swich an Angre . and som-tyme a Feuere
That takeþ me al a twelue-monþe . til þat I despise
Lechecraft of oure lord . and leue on a wicche
And seye þat no clerc ne kan . ne crist as I leue
W.13.340KD.13.339
To þe Soutere of Southwerk . or of Shordych dame Emme
And seye þat no goddes word . gaf me neuere boote
But þoruȝ a charme hadde I chaunce . and my chief heele

I waitede wisloker . and þanne was it soilled
W.13.344KD.13.343
Wiþ likynge of lecherie . as by lokynge of his eiȝe
For ech a maide þat he mette . he made hire a signe
Semynge to synneward . and som-tyme he gan taste
Aboute þe mouþ or byneþe . bigynneþ to grope
W.13.348KD.13.347
Til eiþeres wille wexeþ kene . and to þe werke yeden
As wel in fastyng-dayes and Fridaies . asW.13.349: W alone reads as; other manuscripts have &. forboden nyȝtes
And as wel in lente as out of lente . alle tymes yliche
Swiche werkes with hem . were neuere out of seson
W.13.352KD.13.351
Til þei myȝte namoore . and þanne murye tales
And how þat lecchours louye . laughen and Iapen
And of hir harlotrye and horedom . in hir elde tellen

Thanne Pacience parceyued . of pointes of þis cote
W.13.356KD.13.355
That wereW.13.356: W alone reads That were; other manuscripts have Was. colomy þoruȝ coueitise . and vnkynde desiryng
Moore to good þan to god . þe gome his loue caste
And ymagynede how . he it myȝte haue
Wiþ false mesures and met . and wiþ fals witnesse
W.13.360KD.13.359
Lened for loue of þe wed . and looþ to do truþe
And awaited . þoruȝ which wey to bigile
And menged his marchaundise . and made a good moustre
The worste with-Inne was . a greet wit I let it
W.13.364KD.13.363
And if my Neghebore hadde any hyne . or any beest ellis
fol. 79rI
Moore profitable þan myn . manye sleiȝtes I made
How I myȝte haue it . al my wit I caste
And but I it hadde by ooþer wey . at þe laste I stale it
W.13.368KD.13.367
Or pryueliche his purs shook . andW.13.368: W alone reads and; other manuscripts omit it. vnpikede hise lokes
Or by nyȝte or by daye . aboute was ich euere
Thoruȝ gile to gaderen . þe good þat ich haue

If I yede to þe Plowȝ . I pynched so narwe
W.13.372KD.13.371
That a foot lond or a forow . fecchen I wolde
Of my nexte Neghebore . andW.13.373: W alone reads and; other manuscripts omit it. nymen of his erþe
And if I repe ouer-reche . or yaf hem reed þat ropen
To seise to me wiþ hir sikel . þat I ne sew neuere

W.13.376KD.13.375
And who-so borwed of me . abouȝte þe tyme
Wiþ presentes pryuely . or paide som certeyn
So he woldeW.13.378: W alone reads he wolde; F has wheyþer he wolde; most other manuscripts have wolde he. or noȝt wolde . wynnen I wolde
And boþe to kiþ and to kyn . vnkynde of þat ich hadde

W.13.380KD.13.379
And who-so cheped my chaffare . chiden I wolde
But he profrede to paie . a peny or tweyne
Moore þan it was worþ . and yet wolde I swere
That it coste me muche moore . and soW.13.383: W alone reads and so; OC2B read &; other manuscripts replace with I or omit. swoor manye oþes

W.13.384KD.13.383
On haly-daies at holy chirche . whan ich herde masse
Hadde I neuere wille woot god . witterly to biseche
Mercy for my mysdedes . þat I ne moorned moore
For losse of good leue me . þan for my likames giltes
W.13.388KD.13.387
As if I hadde dedly synne doon . I dredde noȝt þat so soore
As whan I lened and leued it lost . or longe er it were paied
So if I kidde any kyndenesse . myn euencristen to helpe
Vp-on a cruwel coueitise . myn herte gan hange

W.13.392KD.13.391
And if I sente ouer see . my seruauntz to Brugges
Or in-to Pruce-lond my Prentis . my profit to waiten
fol. 79vI
To marchaunden wiþ moneie . and maken hire eschaunges
Miȝte neuere me conforte . in þe mene while
W.13.396KD.13.395
Neiþer masse ne matynes . ne none maner siȝtes
Ne neuere penaunce parfournede . ne Pater noster seide
That my mynde ne was moore . on my good in a doute
Than in þe grace of god . and hise grete helpes
W.13.400KD.13.398α
Vbi thesaurus tuus ibi & cor tuum

Whiche ben þe braunches . þat bryngen a man to sleuþe
He þat moorneþ noȝt for hise mysdedes . ne makeþ no sorwe
And penaunce þat þe preest enioyneþ . parfourneþ yuele
W.13.404KD.13.412
Dooþ noon almesseW.13.404: W alone reads almesse; other manuscripts have almesdede. . dred hym of no synne
Lyueþ ayein þe bileue . and no lawe holdeþ
Ech day is haly-day with hym . or an heiȝ ferye
And if he auȝt wole here . it is an harlotes tonge
W.13.408KD.13.416
Whan men carpen of crist . or of clennesse of soules
He wexeþ wroþ and wol noȝt here . but wordes of murþe
Penaunce of pouere men . and þe passion of Seintes
He hateþ to here þer-of . and alle þat it telleþ
W.13.412KD.13.420
Thise ben þe braunches beþ war . þat bryngen a man to wanhope

Ye lordes and ladies . and legates of holy chirche
That fedeþ fooles sages . flatereris and lieris
And han likynge to liþen hem . to do yow to lauȝe
W.13.416KD.13.423α
Ve vobis qui ridetis &c
And ȝyueþ hem mete and mede . and pouere men refuse
In youre deeþ-deyinge . I drede me ful soore
Lest þo þre maner men . to muche sorwe yow brynge
W.13.420KD.13.426α
Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur

Patriarkes and prophetes . and prechours of goddes wordes
Sauen þoruȝ hir sermons . mannes soule fro helle
Riȝt so flatereris and fooles . arn þe fendes disciples
W.13.424KD.13.430
To entice men þoruȝ hir tales . to synne and to harlotrie
fol. 80rI
Ac clerkes þat knowen holy writ . sholde kenne lordes
What Dauid seiþ of swiche men . as þe Sauter telleþ

Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniquaW.13.427: The final letter of iniqua is partially cropped in W. HmY read iniqua &c.

W.13.428KD.13.433
Sholde noon harlot haue audience . in halle norW.13.428: W alone reads nor; other manuscripts have ne. in Chambre
Ther wise men were . witnesseþ goddes wordes
Ne no mysproud man . amonges lordes ben allowed

Ac flateres and fooles . þoruȝ hir foule wordes
W.13.432KD.13.455
Leden þo þat louen hem . to Luciferis feste
Wiþ turpiloquio a ladylayW.13.433: W alone reads lady; other manuscripts have lay. of sorwe . and luciferis fiþele
Thus haukyn þe Actif man . hadde ysoiled his cote
Til conscience acouped hym þer-of . in a curteis manere
W.13.436KD.13.459
Why he ne hadde whasshenW.13.436: WG read whasshen; most other manuscripts have wasshen. it . or wiped it wiþ a brusshe
MED