<div1>
<head><foreign>Passus terciodecimus</foreign></head>
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<l> And I awaked þere-with · witles nerehande</l>
<l> And as a freke þat f[e]re<note>Bx.13.2: <hi>fere</hi>: "bold" (<title>MED</title> <hi>fer</hi> adj.(2)). R's reading is likely to represent alpha, and is the basis for F's misunderstanding <hi>a-feerd</hi>. Beta has instead revised to <hi>fre</hi> which is no more apposite. <hi>Bx</hi> has presumably corrupted <hi>feye</hi>, "doomed to die", as in <hi>Cx</hi> (and BmBo), alluding to the opening of the previous passus.</note> were · forth gan I walke</l>
<l> In manere of a mendynaunt · many<note>Bx.13.3: <hi>many</hi>: L, Beta2 and F have <hi>many a</hi>, but MR are supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> ȝere after</l>
Bx.13.4KD.13.4
<l> And of þis metyng many tyme<note>Bx.13.4: <hi>tyme</hi>: See note to <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.11.388</ref>. <hi>C</hi> mss. split between <hi>tyme</hi> and <hi>tymes</hi>.</note> · moche þouȝt I hadde</l>
<l> First how fortune me failled · at my moste nede</l>
<l> And how þat elde manaced me · myȝt we euere meten</l>
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<l><note>Bx.13.7: <hi></hi>: The paraph is supported by LCR alone.</note> And how þat freris folwed · folke þat was riche</l>
Bx.13.8KD.13.8
<l> And folke þat was pore · at litel prys þei sette</l>
<l> And no corps in her kirkeȝerde · ne in her kyrke was buryed</l>
<l> But quikke he biquethe hem auȝte · or shulde helpe quyte her dettes</l>
<l> And how þis<note>Bx.13.11: <hi>þis</hi>: LMWHm are supported by <hi>Cx</hi>. R has <hi>þus</hi>.</note> coueitise ouercome · clerkes and prestes</l>
Bx.13.12KD.13.12
<l> And how þat lewed men ben ladde · but owre lorde hem helpe</l>
<l> Þorugh vnkonnyng curatoures · to incurable peynes</l>
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<l> <note>Bx.13.14-20: Alpha skips a paragraph and loses seven lines. Lines 14-16 and 19-20 are paralleled in <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.15.17-19, 21-3).</note> ¶ And how þat ymagynatyf · in dremeles me tolde</l>
<l> Of kynde and of his connyng · and how curteise he is to bestes</l>
Bx.13.16KD.13.16
<l> And how louynge he is to bestes · on londe and on water</l>
<l> Leneth he no lyf · lasse ne more</l>
<l> Þe creatures þat crepen · of kynde ben engendred</l>
<l> And sitthen how ymagynatif seyde [·] <foreign>vix iustus<note>Bx.13.19: <hi><foreign>iustus</foreign></hi>: Apparently dropped in beta2 and inserted at the end of the line by Hm, though O has it in the same position. Cf. <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.12.300</ref>.</note> saluabitur</foreign></l>
Bx.13.20KD.13.20
<l> And whan he had seyde so · how sodeynelich he passed</l>
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<l> ¶ I lay down longe in þis þouȝte · and atte laste I slepte</l>
<l> And as cryste wolde þere come conscience · to conforte me þat tyme</l>
<l> And bad me come to his courte · with clergye sholde I dyne</l>
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Bx.13.24KD.13.24
<l><note>Bx.13.24: <hi></hi>: The paraph is supported by LR, with a new line group in M.</note> And for conscience of clergye spake · I come wel þe rather</l>
<l> And þere I say a maistre · what man he was I neste</l>
<l> Þat lowe louted · and loueliche to scripture</l>
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<lg>
<l> ¶ Conscience knewe hym wel · and welcomed hym faire</l>
Bx.13.28KD.13.28
<l> Þei wesshen and wypeden · and wenten to þe dyner</l>
<l> <note>Bx.13.29: C and alpha here have a not inappropriate paraph.</note>Ac pacience in þe paleis [·] stode in pilgrymes clothes</l>
<l> And preyde mete for<note>Bx.13.30: <hi>for</hi> (1): With support from LMCrHmCR, this seems undoubtedly to be the reading of <hi>Bx</hi>, and thus altered independently by WGOF to alliterating <hi>par / pur</hi>. Cf. the almost identical a-verse <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.6.30</ref> (and note) with the same range of variants, and <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.6.260</ref>. In <hi>C</hi> mss. the P family also has <hi>for</hi> in place of the X family's <hi>pur</hi>, but this is in the b-verse where the alliteration is not structural (RK.15.32).</note> charite · for a pore heremyte</l>
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<l> ¶ Conscience called hym in · and curteisliche seide</l>
Bx.13.32KD.13.32
<l> Welcome wy[e]<note>Bx.13.32: <hi>wye</hi>: L's originally correct reading was altered to <hi>wyel ȝe</hi>.</note> go and wasshe · þow shalt sitte sone</l>
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<l> ¶ Þis maister was made sitte · as for þe moste worthy</l>
<l> And þanne clergye and conscience · and pacience cam after</l>
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<lg>
<l> ¶ Pacience and I [·] were put to be m[ett]es<note>Bx.13.35: <hi>mettes</hi>: Beta has substituted synonymous <hi>macches</hi>, but alpha is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>. Cf. l. <ref>49</ref>.</note></l>
Bx.13.36KD.13.36
<l> And seten by owre-selue [·] at a syde borde</l>
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<lg>
<l> ¶ Conscience called after mete · and þanne cam scripture</l>
<l> And serued hem<note>Bx.13.38: <hi>hem</hi>: HmR's <hi>hym</hi> is not supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> þus sone · of sondry metes manye</l>
<l> Of austyn of ambrose · of alle<note>Bx.13.39: <hi>of alle</hi>: Beta2 has <hi>and of</hi>, but it is not supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> þe foure euangelistes</l>
Bx.13.40KD.13.39α
<l> <foreign>Edentes & bibentes · que apud eos sunt</foreign></l>
<l> Ac þis maister ne his man · no manere flessh eten</l>
<l> Ac þei ete<note>Bx.13.42: <hi>ete</hi>: Beta is supported by <hi>Cx</hi> against alpha's <hi>hadde</hi>.</note> mete of more coste · mortrewes and potages</l>
<l> Of þat men mys-wonne · þei made hem wel at ese</l>
Bx.13.44KD.13.43
<l> Ac her sauce was ouer soure · & vnsauourely grounde</l>
<l> In a morter <foreign>post mortem ·</foreign> of many bitter peyne</l>
<l> But if þei synge for þo<note>Bx.13.46: <hi>þo</hi>: LWGR supported by the better <hi>C</hi> mss., against <hi>þe</hi> in other <hi>BC</hi> mss.</note> soules · and wepe<note>Bx.13.46: <hi>and wepe</hi>: Supported by <hi>Cx</hi> against alpha's <hi>with many</hi>.</note> salt teres</l>
<l> <foreign>Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effunderitis · ea que in delicijs comeditis · in tormentis euometis</foreign></l>
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Bx.13.48KD.13.46
<l> [¶]<note>Bx.13.48: <hi></hi>: The paraph is recorded by WHmC and alpha, with a line-space in M.</note> Conscience ful curteisly þo · comaunded scripture</l>
<l> Bifor pacience bred to brynge · and me þat was his m[ett]e<note>Bx.13.49: <hi>mette</hi>: As at l. <ref>35</ref>, beta reads <hi>macche</hi>, but alpha is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note></l>
<l> He sette a soure lof to-for vs · and seyde <foreign>agite penitenciam</foreign></l>
<l> And sith he drough vs drynke · <foreign>dia<note>Bx.13.51: <hi><foreign>dia</foreign></hi>: Clearly the <hi>Bx</hi> reading, with M altering to the more obvious <hi>diu</hi>, the reading of GOF. Some <hi>C</hi> mss. including X also have <hi>dia</hi>. Schmidt (1987), 92, supposes a pun (ME <hi>dia</hi>, "drug", as in <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.20.173</ref>). Perhaps, therefore, it might be interpreted "a concoction whose chief ingredient is persevering" (cf. <title>MED</title> <hi>dia</hi>-). Note Cr's <hi>diaperseueraunce</hi> as one word.</note> perseuerans</foreign></l>
Bx.13.52KD.13.51
<l> As longe quod [he] as ly[f]<note>Bx.13.52: <hi>he as lyf</hi>: R's reading (F reverses) is supported by <hi>Cx</hi> against beta's <hi>I as I lyue</hi>.</note> · and lycame may dure</l>
<l> Here is propre seruice quod pacience · þer fareth no prynce bettere</l>
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<l><note>Bx.13.54: <hi></hi>: Although the paraph is not particularly appropriate, it is evidently <hi>Bx</hi>, supported by LWR and a line-space in M.</note> And þanne he brouȝt vs<note>Bx.13.54: <hi>vs</hi>: Supported by LMWR, but dropped by others in an unusually long a-verse.</note> forth a mees of<note>Bx.13.54: <hi>a mees of</hi>: Dropped by beta4 and altered by the Hm corrector.</note> other mete · of <foreign>Mise[r]ere mei deus</foreign></l>
<l> And he brouȝte vs<note>Bx.13.55: <hi>vs</hi>: Dropped by R; The line is not in <hi>C</hi>. F, understandably dissatisfied with this and the next line, rewrites them to bring them closer to Psalm 31.1-2, and so is no use in determining alpha.</note> of <foreign>Beati quorum</foreign> [·] of<note>Bx.13.55: <hi>of</hi> (2): R has <hi>and of</hi>, and <hi>vir his</hi> for <hi>virres</hi>. F rewrites.</note> <foreign>beatus virres</foreign> makyng</l>
Bx.13.56KD.13.54α-55
<l> <foreign>Et<note>Bx.13.56: <hi><foreign>Et</foreign></hi>: R's <hi>And</hi>, possibly supported by F's <hi>&</hi>, deserves serious consideration, although <hi>Et</hi> is part of the quotation from Psalm 31.1. In R this is a new dish; in beta it is all part of the same dish. There is no parallel in <hi>C</hi>.</note> quorum tecta sunt peccata</foreign> [·] in a dissh</l>
<l> Of derne shrifte <foreign>dixi</foreign> [·] and <foreign>confitebor tibi</foreign></l>
<l> Brynge pacience some pitaunce · pryueliche quod conscience</l>
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<l> ¶ And þanne had pacience a pitaunce [·] <foreign>pro hac orabit<note>Bx.13.59: <hi><foreign>orabit</foreign></hi>: Beta adds <hi>ad te</hi>, in line with the Vulgate (once again the Second Penitential Psalm, 31.6), but alpha's omission is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>. Alpha sets the Latin as a separate line, as does beta4 (CGO), which takes <hi>ybroughte</hi> from <hi>C</hi> to fill out the English line.</note> omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno</foreign></l>
Bx.13.60KD.13.58
<l> And conscience conforted vs · and carped vs mery tales</l>
<l> <foreign>Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies</foreign></l>
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<l><note>Bx.13.62: <hi></hi>: The paraph is in beta and F.</note> Pacience was proude [·] of þat propre seruice</l>
<l> And made hym muirth with his mete<note>Bx.13.63: <hi>mete</hi>: R has <hi>mene</hi>, an alpha error which F revises to <hi>mowht</hi> for sense. <hi>Cx</hi> supports beta.</note> · ac I morned euere</l>
Bx.13.64KD.13.61
<l> For þis doctoure on þe<note>Bx.13.64: <hi>þe</hi>: HmR have <hi>þis</hi>, but it is not supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> heigh dese · dranke wyn so faste</l>
<l> <foreign>Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum</foreign></l>
<l> [And]<note>Bx.13.66: <hi>And</hi>: R is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>. Following the Latin line, beta adds a paraph and begins <hi>He</hi>. F, with the same motivation, begins <hi>Þey</hi>.</note> he eet many sondry metes · mortrewes and puddynges</l>
<l> Wombe cloutes and wylde braune · & egges y-fryed with grece</l>
Bx.13.68KD.13.64
<l> Þanne seide I to my-self so ·<note>Bx.13.68: In <hi>Bx</hi> the punctus follows <hi>so</hi>, though it makes better sense to take it as "in such a way that" as in CO. F has <hi>þat</hi> for <hi>so</hi>.</note> pacience it herde</l>
<l> It is nouȝt foure dayes þat þis freke · bifor þe den of poules<note>Bx.13.69: <hi>poules</hi>: R uniquely has <hi>seynt poules</hi>, as does the P family of <hi>C</hi> in a completely revised line.</note></l>
<l> Preched of penaunces · þat poule þe apostle suffred</l>
<l> <foreign>In fame & frigore</foreign> · and flappes of scourges</l>
Bx.13.72KD.13.67α
<l> <foreign>Ter cesus sum & a iudeis quinquies quadragenas &c ·</foreign></l>
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<l><note>Bx.13.73: <hi></hi>: The paraph is in beta and F. In R the line is at the top of the page.</note> Ac o worde þei ouerhuppen · at ech a<note>Bx.13.73: <hi>a</hi>: Good support for <hi>Bx</hi> from LMWR. Others omit.</note> tyme þat þei preche</l>
<l> Þat poule in his pistel · to al þe peple tolde</l>
<l> <foreign>Periculum est<note>Bx.13.75: <hi><foreign>est</foreign></hi>: Alpha drops the verb. The form of the citation in F is the same as in some of the P family of <hi>C</hi> and in <title>Upland's Rejoinder</title> 329. R's version is unique.</note> in falsis fratribus</foreign></l>
Bx.13.76KD.13.71
<l> Holywrit bit men be war · I wil nouȝt write it here</l>
<l> On<note>Bx.13.77: <hi>On</hi>: This appears to be beta's reading, and perhaps alpha's too, despite the reading <hi>In</hi> of CrWR.</note> englisch an auenture · it sholde be reherced to ofte</l>
<l> And greue þere-with þat good men ben<note>Bx.13.78: <hi>þat good men ben</hi>: L and alpha; other beta mss. drop <hi>men</hi>, while beta2 simplifies to <hi>goode men</hi>.</note> · ac gramarienes shul rede</l>
<l> <foreign>Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat [·]<note>Bx.13.79: The punctus after <hi>custodiat</hi> is supported by MWHm, and by RF which additionally break the line at this point. In L <hi>vnusquisque ... dicitur</hi> is overwritten in a post-medieval hand.</note> quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus</foreign></l>
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Bx.13.80KD.13.74
<l> ¶ Ac<note>Bx.13.80: <hi>Ac</hi>: Dropped by alpha, but supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> I wist neuere freke þat as a<note>Bx.13.80: <hi>a</hi>: Not in R; both F and <hi>Cx</hi> rephrase.</note> frere ȝede · bifor men on englissh</l>
<l> Taken it for her<note>Bx.13.81: <hi>her</hi>: WHmGF and the M corrector pedantically replace with the sg. <hi>Cx</hi> also has the sg., but the referent <hi>frere is ycald</hi> prompts it in this case.</note> teme · and telle it with-outen glosynge</l>
<l> Þei<note>Bx.13.82: <hi>Þei</hi>: R begins <hi>Ac þei</hi> (F <hi>But þey</hi>), not supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> prechen þat penaunce is · profitable to þe soule</l>
<l> And what myschief and malese · cryst for man tholed</l>
Bx.13.84KD.13.78
<l> Ac þis goddes gloton quod I · with his gret chekes</l>
<l> Hath no pyte on vs pore · he perforneth yuel</l>
<l> Þat he precheth he<note>Bx.13.86: <hi>he</hi> (2): The beta reading, supported by the P family of <hi>C</hi>. Alpha has <hi>and</hi>, so that this line completes the previous line: "he performs badly what he preaches", as in many of the X family of <hi>C</hi>. An original <hi>a</hi> could have been understood as either "he" or "and". See Schmidt (1995), 390.</note> preueth nouȝt<note>Bx.13.86: <hi>nouȝt</hi>: Dropped by alpha, but necessary for the sense.</note> · to pacience I tolde</l>
<l> And wisshed witterly · with wille ful egre</l>
Bx.13.88KD.13.82
<l> Þat disshes a<note>Bx.13.88: <hi>a</hi>: "and". See note to <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.P.227</ref>.</note> dobleres · bifor þis ilke<note>Bx.13.88: <hi>ilke</hi>: R omits, while F rewrites to correct the alliteration. Perhaps <hi>Bx</hi> was as R, with beta "improving" a defective b-verse. <hi>Cx</hi> rewrites as "with alle þe deyntees aftur" (RK.15.90).</note> doctour</l>
<l> Were moltoun led in his maw · and Mahoun amyddes</l>
<l> I shal iangle to þis Iurdan · with his iust<note>Bx.13.90: <hi>iust</hi>: Kane (2005) appositely glosses <hi>iust-wombe</hi> as "pot-belly". See <title>MED</title> <hi>iuste</hi> n. Alpha <hi>iuysty</hi> makes an adjective of it, as do a couple of <hi>C</hi> mss.</note>-wombe</l>
<l> To telle me what penaunce is · of which he preched rather<note>Bx.13.91: <hi>rather</hi>: Probably R's reading <hi>þere ay</hi> represents alpha, of which F's <hi>euere</hi> is a revision. The line is not in <hi>C</hi>.</note></l>
Bx.13.92KD.13.86
<l> Pacience parceyued what I thouȝt · and [preynte]<note>Bx.13.92: <hi>preynte</hi>: "winked admonishingly"; see Burrow (2002), 103-05. Though this reading is in neither beta nor alpha, conjecturing it as the reading of <hi>Bx</hi> explains the variants and restores alliteration. Beta substitutes the synonym <hi>wynked</hi> and alpha conveys the same sense with <hi>bad</hi>. The word is used again in l. <ref>119</ref> and <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.18.21</ref>. See Introduction <xref>V.3.3</xref>.</note> on me to be stille</l>
<l> And seyde þow shalt se þus sone · whan he may no more</l>
<l> He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche · and puffe at ech a worde</l>
<l> And þanne shullen his guttis godele<note>Bx.13.95: <hi>godele</hi>: For the form in LR see note to <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.5.351</ref>.</note> · and he shal galpen after</l>
Bx.13.96KD.13.90
<l> For now he hath dronken so depe · he wil deuyne sone</l>
<l> And preuen it by her<note>Bx.13.97: <hi>by her</hi>: Beta is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>. R has <hi>here</hi>, the omission perhaps representing alpha, which F corrects to <hi>in þe</hi>.</note> pocalips · and passioun of seynt Auereys</l>
<l> Þat neither bacoun ne braune · blanmangere<note>Bx.13.98: <hi>blanmangere</hi>: Alpha's <hi>ne blaumanger</hi> is supported by the X family of <hi>C</hi>, beta's omission by the P family. We retain copy-text.</note> ne mortrewes</l>
<l> Is noither fisshe no flesshe · but fode for penaunte[s]<note>Bx.13.99: <hi>penauntes</hi>: Alpha's plural is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note></l>
Bx.13.100KD.13.94
<l> And þanne shal he testifye of a trinitee · and take his felawe to witnesse</l>
<l> What he fonde in a freyel · after a freres lyuyng</l>
<l> And but if þe fyrst lyne<note>Bx.13.102: <hi>lyne</hi>: So LM + alpha. Beta1, perhaps encouraged by <hi>lyuyng</hi> and <hi>leue</hi>, must have read the word as <hi>lyue</hi>, leading Beta2 to alter <hi>if þe</hi> to <hi>he</hi>, "unless he first live" to make a modicum of sense. O alters his exemplar's <hi>lif</hi> to <hi>leef</hi>, so by coincidence or contamination arriving at the <hi>Cx</hi> reading (RK.15.103).</note> be lesyng · leue me neuere after</l>
<l> And þanne is tyme to take<note>Bx.13.103: <hi>take</hi>: Kane (2005) glosses "seize", which does not seem quite appropriate. Perhaps the sense is "address" (<title>MED</title> <hi>taken</hi> v. 39b (a)). In any case OR alter to easier <hi>talke</hi>, the reading of the P family of <hi>C</hi>, and F rewrites.</note> · and to appose þis doctoure</l>
Bx.13.104KD.13.98
<l> Of dowel and of<note>Bx.13.104: <hi>of</hi> (2): So LMR and CrC, dropped by others. <hi>C</hi> mss. vary.</note> dobet · and if dobest be any penaunce</l>
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<lg>
<l> ¶ And I sete stille as pacience seyde · and þus sone þis doctour</l>
<l> As rody as a rose · rubbed<note>Bx.13.106: <hi>rubbed</hi>: Evidently the beta reading, and probably also <hi>Bx</hi>, since R has <hi>robbed</hi>. If so, Hm's <hi>rudded</hi> and F's <hi>gan rody</hi> are picked up from the adj. <hi>rody</hi> in the a-verse. But <hi>Cx</hi> has <hi>rodded</hi> (RK.15.107), which could represent <title>MED</title> <hi>rudden</hi>, "rub", or <hi>ruden</hi>, "redden". Possibly, then, <hi>Bx</hi> also had <hi>rodded</hi>, interpreted as synonymous with the much commoner verb <hi>rubben</hi>. See Schmidt (2008), 414.</note> his chekes</l>
<l> Coughed and carped · and conscience hym herde</l>
Bx.13.108KD.13.102
<l> And tolde hym of a trinite · and toward vs he loked</l>
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<l> ¶ What is dowel sire doctour quod I · is do[best]<note>Bx.13.109: <hi>dobest</hi>: Alpha, supported by <hi>Cx</hi>, against beta's repetition of <hi>dowel</hi>. Cf. l. <ref>104</ref>.</note> any penaunce</l>
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<l> ¶ Dowel quod þis doctour · and [dranke after]<note>Bx.13.110: <hi>dranke after</hi>: R's reading is supported by <hi>Cx</hi> <hi>and he dronke aftur</hi>. Scribes reacted to the short b-verse, with both F and beta expanding in different ways.</note></l>
<l> Do non yuel to þine euenecrystene · nouȝt by þi powere</l>
</lg>
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<lg>
Bx.13.112KD.13.106
<l> ¶ By þis day sire doctour quod I [·] þanne be ȝe nouȝt in dowel</l>
<l> For ȝe han harmed vs two · in þat ȝe eten þe puddyng</l>
<l> Mortrewes and other mete · and we no mussel hade</l>
<l> And<note>Bx.13.115: <hi>And</hi>: "if"; so R, supported by <hi>Cx</hi>. F substitutes <hi>If</hi> as at <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.4.139</ref>, <ref>5.93</ref> etc.; beta reads <hi>And if</hi>.</note> ȝe fare so in ȝowre fermorie · ferly me þinketh</l>
Bx.13.116KD.13.110
<l> But chest be þere charite shulde be · & ȝonge<note>Bx.13.116: <hi>ȝonge</hi>: Dropped by CrCGOF to shorten a long line. R divides the line into two at the caesura.</note> childern dorste pleyne</l>
<l> I wolde permute my penaunce with ȝowre · for I am in poynte to dowel</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Þanne conscience [ful]<note>Bx.13.118: <hi>ful</hi>: Alpha supported by <hi>Cx</hi>. Dropped by beta.</note> curteisliche · a contenaunce he<note>Bx.13.118: <hi>he</hi>: Good support from LM and alpha as well as <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> made</l>
<l> And preynte vpon pacience · to preie me to<note>Bx.13.119: <hi>to</hi> (2): Firm support from LM, beta2 and R. However the word is dropped in <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> be stille</l>
Bx.13.120KD.13.114
<l> And seyde hym-self sire doctour · and it be ȝowre wille</l>
<l> What is dowel and dobet · ȝe deuynours knoweth</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l><note>Bx.13.122: <hi></hi>: The paraph at the start of the speech is in beta and F.</note> Dowel quod þis doctour · do<note>Bx.13.122: <hi>do</hi>: <hi>Cx</hi> also has imperative in a revised line (RK.15.124). Cf. R <hi>dos</hi> and F <hi>ys to doon</hi>.</note> as clerkes techeth</l>
<l> And dobet is he þat techeth · and trauailleth to teche other</l>
Bx.13.124KD.13.118
<l> And dobest doth hym-self so · as he seith & precheth</l>
<l> <foreign>Qui facit et docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum</foreign></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Now þow clergye quod conscience [·] carpest what is dowel</l>
<l> I haue seuene<note>Bx.13.127: <hi>seuene</hi>: It is not certain that <hi>Bx</hi> had the numeral. R omits it and the L corrector supplies it in the margin, though it is in M and F. Perhaps it is most likely that L and R coincidentally omitted it; see Adams (2000), 184. The line is not in <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> sones he seyde · seruen in a castel</l>
Bx.13.128KD.13.121
<l> Þere þe lorde of lyf wonyeth · to leren hym<note>Bx.13.128: <hi>hym</hi>: i.e. the Lord of Life. So LMR; see Schmidt (1995), 391.</note> what is dowel</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Til I se þo seuene · and my-self acorden</l>
<l> I am vnhardy quod he · to any wyȝt to<note>Bx.13.130: <hi>to</hi> (2): Alpha omits, perhaps rightly. The line is not in <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> preue it</l>
<l> For one pieres þe ploughman [·] hath inpugned vs alle</l>
Bx.13.132KD.13.125
<l> And sette alle sciences at a soppe · saue loue one</l>
<l> And no tixte ne taketh [·] to meyntene his cause<note>Bx.13.133: M omits the line.</note></l>
<l> But <foreign>dilige deum</foreign> · and <foreign>domine quis habitabit &c</foreign></l>
<l> And seith þat dowel and dobet [·] aren two infinites</l>
Bx.13.136KD.13.129
<l> Whiche infinites with a feith [·] fynden oute dobest</l>
<l> Which shal saue mannes soule · þus seith piers þe ploughman</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ I can nouȝt her-on quod conscience · ac I knowe wel pieres</l>
<l> He wil nouȝt aȝein holy writ speken · I dar wel vndertake</l>
Bx.13.140KD.13.133
<l> Þanne passe we ouer til piers come · and preue þis in dede</l>
<l> Pacience hath be in many place · and par-auntre cnoweth<note>Bx.13.141: <hi>cnoweth</hi>: The beta2 reading <hi>mouthed</hi> is distinctly odd.</note></l>
<l> Þat no clerke ne<note>Bx.13.142: <hi>ne</hi>: Omitted by alpha.</note> can · as cryst bereth witnesse</l>
<l> <foreign>Pacientes vincunt &c</foreign></l>
Bx.13.144KD.13.136
<l> A[t]<note>Bx.13.144: <hi>At</hi>: "in response to". LWHm read <hi>Ac</hi>, probably representing beta, though CGO share alpha's <hi>At</hi>, and M is corrected to that reading.</note> ȝowre preyere quod pacyence þo · so no man displese hym</l>
<l> <foreign>Disce</foreign> quod he <foreign>doce · dilige inimicos</foreign></l>
<l> <foreign>Disce</foreign> and dowel · <foreign>doce</foreign> & dobet</l>
<l> <foreign>Dilige</foreign> and dobest · þus tauȝte me ones</l>
Bx.13.148KD.13.139
<l> A lemman þat I loued · loue was hir name</l>
<l> With wordes and with werkes quod she · and wille of þyne herte</l>
<l> Þow loue lelly þi soule [·] al þi lyf-tyme</l>
<l> And so þow lere þe<note>Bx.13.151: <hi>þow lere þe</hi>: R's muddled <hi>to lere and</hi> probably represents alpha, further misunderstood by F.</note> to louye · for þe lordes loue of heuene</l>
Bx.13.152KD.13.143
<l> Þine enemye in al wyse · euene-forth with þi-selue</l>
<l> Cast coles on his hed · [of]<note>Bx.13.153: <hi>of</hi>: R is supported by beta2 and by the corrected reading of M. Beta perhaps read <hi>and</hi>, with beta2 independently altering for sense. <hi>Cx</hi> has <hi>of</hi> in this line, but three lines below has "Conforte hym with thy catel and with thy kynde speche" (RK.15.145). Pearsall (2008), 256, refers to <title>Ancrene Wisse</title> (ed. Millett 7.293-301) for the interpretation of the <hi>carbones ardentes</hi> of Rom. 12.20 as the fire of love.</note> al kynde speche</l>
<l> Bothe with werkes and with wordes [·] fonde his loue to wynne</l>
<l> And lay on hym þus with loue · til he laghe on þe</l>
Bx.13.156KD.13.147
<l> And but he bowe for þis betyng [·] blynde mote he worthe</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Ac for to fare þus with þi frende · foly it were</l>
<l> For he þat loueth þe lelly · lyte<note>Bx.13.158: <hi>lyte</hi>: L's form is supported by R. Neither scribe has the form elsewhere.</note> of þyne coueiteth<note>Bx.13.158: <hi>coueiteth</hi>: Beta is supported by <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.15.153). Alpha's <hi>desireth</hi> avoids the repetition in the following line (dropped in <hi>C</hi>).</note></l>
<l> Kynde loue coueiteth nouȝte · no catel but speche</l>
Bx.13.160KD.13.151
<l> With half a laumpe lyne in latyne · <foreign>ex vi transicionis</foreign></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ I bere þere-inne aboute · fast ybounde dowel</l>
<l> In a signe of þe saterday · þat sette firste þe kalendare</l>
<l> And al þe witte of þe wednesday · of þe nexte wyke after</l>
Bx.13.164KD.13.155
<l> Þe myddel of þe mone [·] is þe miȝte<note>Bx.13.164: <hi>is þe miȝte</hi>: WHm confuse the issue with <hi>as þe nyght</hi>. On the "middle of the moon" riddle, see Galloway (1995), 68-105, and <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.3.334</ref>.</note> of bothe</l>
<l> And here-with am I welcome · þere I haue it with me</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Vndo it late<note>Bx.13.166: <hi>late</hi>: Alpha has <hi>and late</hi>. The passage <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.13.159-82</ref> is rewritten in <hi>C</hi>.</note> þis doctour [sen]<note>Bx.13.166: <hi>sen</hi>: The L scribe alters this to <hi>deme</hi>, in line with beta1, thus correcting the alliteration. But alpha reads <hi>se</hi>, which is more probably the reading of <hi>Bx</hi> than coincidental error.</note> · if<note>Bx.13.166: <hi>if</hi>: Alpha has <hi>where</hi>, "whether".</note> dowel be þer-inne</l>
<l> For bi hym þat me made · miȝte neuere pouerte</l>
Bx.13.168KD.13.159
<l> Miseise ne myschief [·] ne man with his tonge</l>
<l> Colde ne care [·] ne compaignye of theues</l>
<l> Ne noither hete ne haille · ne non helle pouke</l>
<l> Ne noither fuire ne flode · ne fere of þine enemy</l>
Bx.13.172KD.13.163
<l> Tene þe eny tyme · and þow take it with þe</l>
<l> <foreign>Caritas nichil timet</foreign></l>
<l> <note>Bx.13.174-82: These nine lines are omitted by beta, skipping from one short Latin line to the next. Lines 179 and 181 are also omitted in F. The passage is rewritten in <hi>C</hi> (RK.15.165-9).</note> [And eke haue god my soule · and þow wilt it craue</l>
<l> Þere nys neither emperour ne emperesse · erl kynge ne baroun</l>
Bx.13.176KD.13.166
<l> Pope ne patriarch [·] þat pure reson ne shal make</l>
<l> Þe<note>Bx.13.177: <hi>Þe</hi>: "thee". In F it appears more comfortably in the previous line before <hi>make</hi>.</note> maister of alle þo men · þorugh miȝt of þis redeles</l>
<l> Nouȝt þorugh wicche-crafte but þorugh wit · & þow wilt þi-selue</l>
<l> Do kynge and quene · and alle þe comune after</l>
Bx.13.180KD.13.170
<l> Ȝyue þe alle þat þei may ȝiue · as þe for<note>Bx.13.180: <hi>as þe for</hi>: "as to you who are". F's <hi>as þou for</hi> gives the sense "since you are (the best guardian)". </note> best ȝemere</l>
<l> And as þou demest wil þei do · alle here dayes after</l>
<l> <foreign>Pacientes vincunt &c</foreign> ·]</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> [¶]<note>Bx.13.183: <hi></hi>: The L scribe wrote a paragraph marker which the rubricator missed because the scribe did not leave a line-space. The paraph is in WHmC and alpha.</note> It is but a dido quod þis doctour · a dysoures tale</l>
Bx.13.184KD.13.173
<l> Al þe witt of þis worlde · and<note>Bx.13.184: <hi>and</hi>: Beta is supported by the X family of <hi>C</hi>. Alpha's <hi>ne</hi>, which makes the meaning clearer, is supported by the P family of <hi>C</hi>.</note> wiȝte mennes strengthe</l>
<l> Can nouȝt confourmen a pees · bytwene þe pope and his enemys</l>
<l> Ne bitwene two cristene kynges · can no wiȝte pees make</l>
<l> Profitable to ayther peple · and put þe table fro hym</l>
Bx.13.188KD.13.177
<l> And toke clergye and conscience · to conseille as it were</l>
<l> Þat pacience þo<note>Bx.13.189: <hi>þo</hi>: Beta2 has <hi>þou</hi>, and M revises to that reading.</note> moste passe · for pilgrimes kunne wel lye</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Ac conscience carped loude [·] and curteislich seide</l>
<l> Frendes fareth wel · and faire spake to clergye</l>
Bx.13.192KD.13.181
<l> For I wil go with þis gome · if god wil ȝiue<note>Bx.13.192: <hi>ȝiue</hi>: LMW, and so probably beta's form, with other beta mss. and alpha altering to <hi>gyue</hi> as a result of alliterative attraction.</note> me grace</l>
<l> And be pilgryme with pacience · til I haue proued more</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ What quod clergye to conscience · ar ȝe coueitouse nouthe</l>
<l> After ȝeresȝyues or ȝiftes · or ȝernen to rede redeles</l>
Bx.13.196KD.13.185
<l> I shal brynge ȝow a bible · a boke of þe olde lawe</l>
<l> And lere ȝow if ȝow lyke<note>Bx.13.197: <hi>ȝow lyke</hi>: So beta, while alpha has <hi>ȝe liken</hi>. Elsewhere the verb is always constructed as impersonal with a dative pronoun.</note> · þe leest poynte to knowe</l>
<l> Þat pacience þe pilgryme · parfitly knewe neuere</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Nay bi cryste quod conscience to clergye [·] god þe forȝelde</l>
Bx.13.200KD.13.189
<l> For al þat pacience me profreth · proude am I litel</l>
<l> Ac þe wille of þe wye · and þe wille folke<note>Bx.13.201: <hi>wille folke</hi>: LC, original M and R, so secure for <hi>Bx</hi>. Other scribes have <hi>wille of folke</hi>, repeating <hi>wille of</hi> from the a-verse, and M is altered to bring it in line with beta2. But <hi>wille</hi> is the adjective <hi>wil</hi>, "wandering" (so R's spelling), so that the line means "But the wilfulness of this man (the Doctor) and of the errant folk here". Note that <title>MED</title> <hi>wil</hi> adj. records the spellings <hi>will</hi> and <hi>wille</hi>. See Burrow, <title>N&Q</title> (2008), 124-5.</note> here</l>
<l> Hath moeued my mode · to mourne for my synnes</l>
<l> Þe good wille of a<note>Bx.13.203: <hi>a</hi>: Alpha's <hi>vch a / euery</hi> makes poorer sense.</note> wiȝte · was neure bouȝte to þe fulle</l>
Bx.13.204KD.13.193
<l> For þere nys<note>Bx.13.204: <hi>nys</hi>: Supported by LWR against <hi>is</hi> in other mss.</note> no tresore þerto · to a trewe wille</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Haued nouȝt [Marie]<note>Bx.13.205: <hi>Marie</hi>: Omitted by beta. Alpha is supported by the alliterative pattern (aaa/xx).</note> Magdeleigne more · for a boxe of salue</l>
<l> Þan zacheus for he seide · <foreign>dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus</foreign></l>
<l> And þe pore widwe [·] for a peire of mytes</l>
Bx.13.208KD.13.197
<l> Þan alle þo that offreden · in-to <foreign>gazafilacium</foreign></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Þus curteislich conscience · congeyde fyrst<note>Bx.13.209: <hi>fyrst</hi>: Omitted by GO, and (presumably coincidentally) by M.</note> þe Frere</l>
<l> And sithen softliche he seyde · in clergyes ere</l>
<l> Me were leuer by owre lorde · and I lyue shulde</l>
Bx.13.212KD.13.201
<l> Haue pacience parfitlich · þan half þi pakke of bokes</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Clergye to<note>Bx.13.213: <hi>to</hi>: So LHmCO and probably uncorrected M. CrWG have easier <hi>of</hi>, but the phrase means "offer no farewell to". This sense of <hi>take</hi>, usually followed by a dative pronoun, is common in the poem, e.g. <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.1.57</ref>, etc. Alpha's <hi>and/ne</hi> is ruled out by the next line, where the speaker must be Clergy. See Schmidt (1995), 392.</note> conscience · no congeye wolde take</l>
<l> But seide ful sobreliche · þow shalt se þe tyme</l>
<l> Whan þow art wery for-walked · wilne me to consaille</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
Bx.13.216KD.13.205
<l> ¶ Þat is soth seyde<note>Bx.13.216: <hi>seyde</hi>: So LMR and CrHm. The others have <hi>quod</hi>, perhaps by semi-alliterative association with <hi>Conscience</hi>, or picked up from l. <ref>222</ref>.</note> conscience · so me god helpe</l>
<l> If pacience be owre partyng felawe · and pryue with vs bothe</l>
<l> There nys wo in þis worlde · þat we ne shulde amende</l>
<l> And confourmen Kynges to pees · and<note>Bx.13.219: <hi>and</hi> (2): Beta's reading makes better sense than alpha's <hi>of</hi>, which leads to alpha's addition of <hi>And</hi> at the beginning of the next line.</note> al-kynnes londes ·</l>
Bx.13.220KD.13.209
<l> Sarasenes and surre · and so forth alle þe iewes</l>
<l> Turne in-to þe trewe feith · and in-til one byleue</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Þat is soth quod clergye · I se what þow menest</l>
<l> I shal dwelle as I do · my deuore to shewen</l>
Bx.13.224KD.13.213
<l> And confermen<note>Bx.13.224: <hi>confermen</hi>: "strengthen in faith"; R (= alpha) repeats <hi>conformen</hi>, "make agree", from l. <ref>219</ref>, as does G.</note> fauntekynes · and other folke ylered</l>
<l> Tyl pacience haue preued þe · and parfite þe maked</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Conscience þo with pacience passed · pilgrymes as it were</l>
<l> Þanne had pacience as pylgrymes han · in his poke vittailles</l>
Bx.13.228KD.13.217
<l> Sobrete and symple speche · and sothfaste byleue</l>
<l> To conforte hym and conscience · if þey come in place</l>
<l> Þere vnkyndenesse and coueytise is · hungrye contrees bothe</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l><note>Bx.13.231: <hi></hi>: The paraph is in beta and F.</note> And as þei went by þe weye · of dowel þei<note>Bx.13.231: <hi>of dowel þei</hi>: Beta's b-verse is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>, although alpha's <hi>and of dowel</hi> goes smoothly with the next line.</note> carped</l>
Bx.13.232KD.13.221
<l> Þei mette with a mynstral · as me þo þouȝte</l>
<l> Pacience apposed hym fyrste · and preyed hym<note>Bx.13.233: <hi>hym</hi> (2): LMR, so secure for <hi>Bx</hi>, but possibly an error. Others drop the repeated <hi>hym</hi>, although F includes it in a revised b-verse. Cr follows <hi>Cx</hi> with the simplified <hi>prayed he should tel</hi>.</note> he sholde hem telle</l>
<l> To conscience what crafte he couthe · an to what contree he wolde</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ I am a mynstral quod þat man · my name is <foreign>actiua vita</foreign></l>
Bx.13.236KD.13.225
<l> Alle ydel ich hatye · for of actyf is my name</l>
<l> A wafrere wil ȝe wite · and serue many lordes</l>
<l> And fewe robes I fonge · or furred gounes</l>
<l> Couthe I lye [and]<note>Bx.13.239: <hi>and</hi>: Alpha is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> do men laughe · þanne lacchen I shulde</l>
Bx.13.240KD.13.229
<l> Other mantel or money [·] amonges lordes mynstralles</l>
<l> Ac for I can noither tabre ne trompe · ne telle none gestes</l>
<l> Farten ne fythelen [·] at festes ne harpen</l>
<l> Iape ne iogly<note>Bx.13.243: <hi>iogly</hi>: <hi>C</hi> mss. split between this and alpha's <hi>iangele</hi>.</note> · ne gentlych pype</l>
Bx.13.244KD.13.233
<l> Ne noyther sailly ne saute · ne synge with þe gyterne</l>
<l> I haue none gode gyftes · of þise grete lordes</l>
<l> For no bred þat I brynge<note>Bx.13.246: <hi>brynge</hi>: Beta's present tense has support from <hi>Cx</hi> in a rewritten line.</note> forth · saue a beneson on þe sonday</l>
<l> Whan þe prest preyeth þe peple · her pater noster to bidde</l>
Bx.13.248KD.13.237
<l> For peres þe plowman · and þat hym profite wayten</l>
<l> And þat am I<note>Bx.13.249: <hi>þat am I</hi>: Beta4 and R have, less satisfactorily, the standard word-order. F has (by coincidence or contamination) <hi>for me</hi>, as does <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.15.213) which follows more smoothly from the previous lines, "prays ... for me".</note> actyf · þat ydelnesse hatye</l>
<l> For alle trewe trauaillours · and tilieres of þe erthe</l>
<l> Fro mychelmesse to mychelmesse · I fynde hem with wafres<note>Bx.13.251: <hi>wafres</hi>: M is corrected to <hi>my wafres</hi> to bring the text in line with CrW.</note></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
Bx.13.252KD.13.241
<l> ¶ Beggeres and bidderes · of my bred crauen</l>
<l> Faitoures and freres · and folke with brode crounes</l>
<l> I fynde payne for þe pope · and prouendre for his palfrey</l>
<l> And I hadde neuere of hym · haue god my treuthe</l>
Bx.13.256KD.13.245
<l> Noither prouendre ne parsonage · ȝut of the popis ȝifte</l>
<l> Saue a pardoun with a peys of led · and two pollis amydde<note>Bx.13.257: <hi>amydde</hi>: The form is attested by LMCR, against <hi>amyddes</hi> in beta2 and GOF.</note></l>
<l> Hadde iche<note>Bx.13.258: <hi>iche</hi>: This is the only example of this spelling in L. "I" is elsewhere spelt <hi>ich</hi>, and "each" is <hi>ech(e)</hi>. The former sense is very obviously intended, but the odd confusion of scribes may suggest a <hi>Bx</hi> reading <hi>iche</hi>, or <hi>ech(e)</hi> as in CG, giving rise to F's <hi>euery</hi>.</note> a clerke þat couthe write · I wolde caste hym a bille</l>
<l> Þat he sent me vnder his seel · a salue for þe pestilence</l>
Bx.13.260KD.13.249
<l> And<note>Bx.13.260: <hi>And</hi>: Alpha drops.</note> þat his blessyng & his bulles · bocches miȝte destroye</l>
<l> <foreign>In nomine meo demonia eici[e]nt<note>Bx.13.261: <hi><foreign>eicient</foreign></hi>: L has the present, as M perhaps did before correction, suggesting a beta error.</note> & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt</foreign></l>
<l> And þanne wolde I be prest to [þe]<note>Bx.13.262: <hi>þe</hi>: Not in LHm, and supplied in M by the corrector. It is therefore likely that it was lost by beta.</note> peple · paste for to make</l>
<l> And buxome and busy [·] aboute bred and drynke</l>
Bx.13.264KD.13.252
<l> For hym and for alle his · fonde I þat his pardoun</l>
<l> Miȝte lechen a man · as I bileue it shulde</l>
<l> For sith he hath þe powere · þat peter hym-self hadde</l>
<l> He hath þe potte with þe salue · sothly as me þinketh</l>
Bx.13.268KD.13.254α
<l> <foreign>Argentum & aurum non est michi quod autem habeo tibi<note>Bx.13.268: <hi><foreign>tibi</foreign></hi>: Alpha has <hi>hoc tibi</hi>, as does O, in line with the Vulgate. <hi>C</hi> mss. split.</note> do in nomine domini surge & ambula</foreign></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Ac if miȝte of miracle hym faille · it is for men ben nouȝt worthy</l>
<l> To haue þe<note>Bx.13.270: <hi>þe</hi> (1): Alpha's <hi>no</hi> is not supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> grace of god · & no gylte of þe pope</l>
<l> For<note>Bx.13.271: <hi>For</hi>: Dropped by R, but supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> may no blyssyng done vs bote · but if we wil amende</l>
Bx.13.272KD.13.258
<l> Ne mannes masse make pees · amonges cristene peple</l>
<l> Tyl pruyde be purelich<note>Bx.13.273: <hi>purelich</hi>: Alpha's <hi>priueliche</hi> is not supported by <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.15.229).</note> fordo · and þat<note>Bx.13.273: <hi>þat</hi>: Dropped by MCrWF, and replaced by <hi>alle</hi> in R, but supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> þourgh payn defaute</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ For ar I haue bred of mele · ofte mote I swete</l>
<l> And ar þe comune haue corne ynough · many a colde mornyng</l>
Bx.13.276KD.13.262
<l> So ar my wafres ben ywrouȝt · moche wo I tholye</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Alle Londoun I leue · liketh wel my wafres</l>
<l> And lowren whan þei lakken it<note>Bx.13.278: <hi>it</hi> (1): Alpha has <hi>hem</hi>, as do CrW. It is likely that W, at least, was prompted to adopt the plural for grammatical concord and to avoid the repetition of <hi>it</hi>. The passage from <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.13.274-90</ref> has no parallel in <hi>C</hi>.</note> · it is nouȝt longe ypassed</l>
<l> Þere was a carful comune · whan no carte come to toune</l>
Bx.13.280KD.13.266
<l> With [bake]<note>Bx.13.280: <hi>bake</hi>: Dropped by beta to the detriment of the alliteration.</note> bred fro stretforth · þo gan beggeres wepe</l>
<l> And werkmen were agaste a litel · þis wil be þouȝte longe</l>
<l> In þe date of owre dryȝte · in a drye apprile</l>
<l> A þousande and thre hondreth · tweis [twenty]<note>Bx.13.283: <hi>twenty</hi>: This does not alliterate and is a <hi>Bx</hi> error (the events occurred in 1370); LR correct to the obvious <hi>thretty</hi>. This is a rare instance where LR have corrected rather than copy an obvious mistake. M and Hm both realise the error and correct in different ways. Numerals are easy to confuse and easy to correct.</note> & ten</l>
Bx.13.284KD.13.270
<l> My wafres þere were gesen · whan chichestre was Maire</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ I toke gode<note>Bx.13.285: <hi>gode</hi>: Beta has the standard phrase; for that reason alpha's <hi>grete</hi> might be preferred. We follow copy-text.</note> kepe by cryst · and conscience bothe</l>
<l> Of haukyn þe actyf man · and how he was yclothed</l>
<l> He hadde a cote of crystendome · as holykirke bileueth</l>
Bx.13.288KD.13.274
<l> Ac it was moled in many places · with many sondri plottes</l>
<l> Of pruyde here a plotte and þere a plotte [·]<note>Bx.13.289: The placing of the punctus causes scribes problems. M has it after each <hi>plotte</hi>, as though first inserting it too early; HmCO and crucially R have it after the second (hence aaa/xx); LCrW have the second <hi>plotte</hi> in the b-verse (aa/ax).</note> of vnboxome speche</l>
<l> Of scornyng and of scoffyng · and of vnskilful berynge</l>
<l> As in aparaille and in porte · proude amonges þe peple</l>
Bx.13.292KD.13.278
<l> Otherwyse þan he hath · with herte or<note>Bx.13.292: <hi>or</hi>: R has <hi>and</hi>; F, understandably puzzled by the line, rewrites the b-verse, as does <hi>C</hi>, <hi>withynne or withouten</hi> (RK.6.31).</note> syȝte shewynge</l>
<l> Hym wil[n]ynge<note>Bx.13.293: <hi>wilnynge</hi>: R's reading is perhaps slightly preferable to beta's <hi>willynge</hi> on grounds of sense ("with him being keen that"). It also has support from the parallel line in <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.6.32), and from the variants at l. <ref>305</ref>, where some scribes corrupt to <hi>willynge</hi>. Mustanoja (1960), 115, quotes this instance of the absolute construction. F corrupts to <hi>wenynge</hi>.</note> þat alle men wende · he were þat he is nouȝte</l>
<l> For-why he bosteth and braggeth · with many bolde othes</l>
<l> And in-obedient to ben vndernome · of any lyf lyuyng</l>
Bx.13.296KD.13.282
<l> And so syngulere by hym-self · as to syȝte of þe poeple<note>Bx.13.296: Only L + alpha preserve 296b and 297a, all others (including M) skipping from <hi>hymself</hi> (296) to <hi>hymself</hi> (297). Both lines are in <hi>Cx</hi>.</note></l>
<l> Was none suche as hym-self · ne none so po[p]e-holy<note>Bx.13.297: <hi>pope-holy</hi>: Probably beta read <hi>pompe-holy</hi> (as do a few <hi>C</hi> mss.), corrected by several scribes.</note></l>
<l> Yhabited as an hermyte · an ordre by hym-selue</l>
<l> Religioun sanz reule · and resonable obedience</l>
Bx.13.300KD.13.286
<l> Lakkyng lettred men · and lewed men bothe</l>
<l> In lykyng of lele lyf · and a lyer in soule</l>
<l> With Inwit and with<note>Bx.13.302: <hi>with</hi> (2): Not in alpha or Cr.</note> outwitt · ymagenen and studye</l>
<l> As best for his body be · to haue a b[ol]de<note>Bx.13.303: <hi>bolde</hi>: Alpha's reading is obviously preferable to beta's (?) <hi>badde</hi> (written over an illegible erasure in L).</note> name</l>
Bx.13.304KD.13.290
<l> And entermeten hym ouer al · þer he hath nouȝt to done</l>
<l> Wilnyng þat men wende · his witte were þe best</l>
<l> <note>Bx.13.306-12: Seven lines are omitted by beta; 306-8 and 310 are represented in revised form in <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.6.42-6). There seems no obvious reason for omission, though KD, p. 66, suggest resumption at the wrong point prompted by <hi>to loken on</hi> (308) and <hi>on to loke</hi> (315).</note> [Or for his crafty kunnynge · or of clerkes þe wisest</l>
<l> Or strengest on stede · or styuest vnder<note>Bx.13.307: <hi>vnder</hi>: R is supported by <hi>Cx</hi> against F's <hi>gyrt with</hi>.</note> gerdel</l>
Bx.13.308KD.13.294
<l> And louelokest to loken on · and lelest of werkes</l>
<l> And non so holy as he · ne of lif clennere</l>
<l> Or fairest of feytures · of forme and of shafte</l>
<l> And most sotyl of songe · other sleyest of hondes</l>
Bx.13.312KD.13.298
<l> And large to lene · loos<note>Bx.13.312: <hi>loos</hi>: "repute". R has <hi>losse</hi>, listed by <title>MED</title> as a possible spelling of <hi>los</hi> n.(2), but R elsewhere spells it as <hi>los</hi> (<ref><hi>Bx</hi>.11.311</ref>) and <hi>loos</hi> (<ref><hi>Bx</hi>.13.471</ref>) so may here have misunderstood the word as "loss". F's <hi>looþ</hi> (in a-verse) perhaps suggests that alpha had the form <hi>loos</hi>.</note> þere-by to cacche]</l>
<l> And if he gyueth ouȝte pore<note>Bx.13.313: <hi>pore</hi>: All except LR have <hi>to pore</hi>.</note> gomes · telle what he deleth</l>
<l> Pore of possessioun [·] in purse and in coffre<note>Bx.13.314: <hi>coffre</hi>: Beta evidently misplaced the punctus after <hi>purse</hi>, prompting the addition of <hi>bothe</hi> in all mss. except LR. (F omits the line.) It is significant that M shares the beta1 error.</note></l>
<l> And as a lyon on<note>Bx.13.315: <hi>on</hi>: R's omission could be right but is not supported by F, which has it after the verb.</note> to loke · and lordeliche of speche</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
Bx.13.316KD.13.302
<l> ¶ Baldest of beggeres [·] a bostour þat nouȝt hath</l>
<l> In towne and in tauernes · tales to telle</l>
<l> And segge þinge þat he neuere seigh · and for soth sweren it</l>
<l> Of dedes þat he neuere dyd · demen and bosten</l>
Bx.13.320KD.13.306
<l> And of werkes þat he wel dyd · witnesse and seggen</l>
<l> Lo if ȝe leue me nouȝt · or þat I lye wenen</l>
<l> Axeth at hym or at hym · and he ȝow can telle</l>
<l> What I suffred and seighe · and some-tymes hadde</l>
Bx.13.324KD.13.310
<l> And what I couth and knewe · and what kynne I come of</l>
<l> Al he wolde þat men wiste [·] of werkes and of<note>Bx.13.325: <hi>of</hi> (2): Alpha omits.</note> wordes</l>
<l> Which myȝte plese þe peple · and praysen hym-seluen</l>
<l> <foreign>Si hominibus placerem cristi seruus non essem</foreign></l>
Bx.13.328KD.13.312α
<l> <foreign>Et alibi nemo potest duobus dominis seruire</foreign></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Bi criste quod conscience þo · þi best cote haukyn</l>
<l> Hath many moles and spottes · it moste ben ywassh</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ Ȝe who-so toke hede quod haukyn · byhynde and bifore</l>
Bx.13.332KD.13.316
<l> What on bakke and what on<note>Bx.13.332: <hi>and what on</hi>: Probably the beta reading, though MC drop <hi>and</hi>, and GO drop <hi>what</hi>. Alpha also drops <hi>what</hi>. <hi>Bx</hi>.13.329-39 have no parallel in <hi>C</hi>.</note> body half · & by þe two sydes</l>
<l> Men sholde fynde many frounces · and many foule plottes</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> [¶]<note>Bx.13.334: <hi></hi>: In L the scribe indicated the paraph but forgot to leave a line-space, so the rubricator missed it. It has support from WCR.</note> And he torned hym as tyte · and þanne toke I hede</l>
<l> It was fouler by felefolde · þan it firste semed</l>
Bx.13.336KD.13.320
<l> It was bidropped with wratthe · and wikked wille</l>
<l> With enuye and yuel speche [·] entysyng to fyȝte</l>
<l> Lyinge and la[kk]ynge<note>Bx.13.338: <hi>lakkynge</hi>: Alpha's reading is greatly preferable to beta's <hi>laughynge</hi> on grounds of sense.</note> · [a]<note>Bx.13.338: <hi>a</hi>: R only, but apparently alpha since F expands to <hi>& with a</hi>. Beta thus interpreted <hi>Bx</hi> <hi>a</hi> as "and". Cf. note to l. <ref>88</ref> above. The b-verse "a tongue eager to chide" defines <hi>lakkynge</hi>.</note> leue tonge to chyde</l>
<l> Al þat he wist wykked · by any wiȝte tellen it</l>
Bx.13.340KD.13.324
<l> And blame men bihynde her bakke · and bydden hem meschaunce</l>
<l> And þat he wist bi wille · tellen it watte<note>Bx.13.341: <hi>watte</hi>: LMWCG, hence the beta reading, with CrHmO and alpha reading <hi>to watte</hi>. The parallel b-verse in <hi>Cx</hi> is RK.6.71, <hi>tolde hit wille aftur</hi>, rather than RK.6.70, <hi>to watekyn he tolde hit</hi>.</note></l>
<l> And þat watte wiste · wille wiste it after</l>
<l> And made of frendes foes · þorugh a false tonge</l>
Bx.13.344KD.13.328
<l> Or with myȝte of mouthe [·] or þorugh mannes strengthe</l>
<l> Auenge[d]<note>Bx.13.345: <hi>Auenged</hi>: Despite lack of support from other <hi>B</hi> mss., R's past tense is preferable on grounds of syntax, and is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>. Hence <hi>frete</hi> is also past tense, as in <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> me fele tymes · other frete my-selue</l>
<l> Wyth-inne as a shepster shere · I shrewed<note>Bx.13.346: <hi>I shrewed</hi>: Interpreted by Skeat and <title>MED</title> <hi>shreuen</hi> as past participle, but this is syntactically impossible. Kane (2005) and Schmidt (1995) take <hi>ishrewed</hi> as past tense, but <title>MED</title> does not record a verb <hi>ishrewen</hi>. See F's rewriting, and cf. <hi>Cx</hi> past tense <hi>shrewed</hi> (RK.6.75).</note> men & cursed</l>
<l> <foreign>Cuius maledictione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius labor & dolor</foreign></l>
Bx.13.348KD.13.330α
<l> <foreign>& alibi filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutus</foreign></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l><note>Bx.13.349: <hi></hi>: The paraph is in beta only, following the Latin lines.</note> Þere is no lyf þat I louye<note>Bx.13.349: <hi>I louye</hi>: KD, p. 148, argue for the CrW reading <hi>me loueth</hi>, but it cannot be <hi>Bx</hi>.</note> · lastyng any while</l>
<l> For tales þat I telle · no man trusteth to me</l>
<l> And whan I may nouȝt haue þe maistrye · [swich]<note>Bx.13.351: <hi>swich</hi>: The spelling of F probably represents <hi>Bx</hi>. R misread as <hi>which</hi>. Beta apparently misread as <hi>with</hi>, though CrW have <hi>such</hi> (by conjecture?) and MHm are both visibly altered to that reading. The <hi>Cx</hi> reading is also <hi>such</hi>. L retains the spelling <hi>swich</hi> only in <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.15.17</ref>.</note> malencolye I take</l>
Bx.13.352KD.13.334
<l> Þat I cacche þe crompe · þe cardiacle some-tyme</l>
<l> Or an ague in suche an angre · and some-tyme a feure</l>
<l> Þat taketh me al a twelf-moneth · tyl þat I dispyse</l>
<l> Lechecrafte or<note>Bx.13.355: <hi>or</hi>: So LR. Clearly an error for <hi>of</hi>, with the obvious correction (supported by <hi>Cx</hi>) made by all other scribes.</note> owre lorde · and leue on a wicche</l>
Bx.13.356KD.13.338
<l> And segge þat no clerke ne can · ne cryste as I leue</l>
<l> To þe souter of southwerke · or of shordyche dame emme</l>
<l> And segge þat no goddes worde · gaf me neuere bote</l>
<l> But þorw a charme had I chaunce · & my chief hele</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
Bx.13.360KD.13.342
<l> ¶ I wayted wisloker · and þanne was it<note>Bx.13.360: <hi>it</hi>: F has <hi>he</hi>, emphasising that <hi>I</hi> in the a-verse refers to Will. R's <hi>I</hi> is perhaps prompted by the alpha reading <hi>myn</hi> for <hi>his</hi> in the next line.</note> soiled</l>
<l> With lykyng of lecherye · as<note>Bx.13.361: <hi>as</hi>: A number of scribes (Hm, beta4 and R) have the easier <hi>and</hi>.</note> by lokyng of his<note>Bx.13.361: <hi>his</hi>: Alpha's <hi>myn</hi> is obviously an error, suggesting a muddle over the speaker here. See note to l. <ref>363</ref>.</note> eye</l>
<l> For vche a mayde þat he mette · he made hir a signe</l>
<l> Semynge to synne-ward · and some-tyme he gan taste<note>Bx.13.363: In F, ll. 361-8 are in the first person, as they are in <hi>Cx</hi> where they are part of the confession of lechery (RK.6.176-84). In this line F's <hi>& summe y gan</hi> is a <hi>C</hi>-text reading and suggests contamination.</note></l>
Bx.13.364KD.13.346
<l> Aboute þe mouth or bynethe · bygynneth to grope</l>
<l> Tyl eytheres wille waxeth kene · and to þe werke ȝeden</l>
<l> As wel<note>Bx.13.366: <hi>wel</hi>: Beta has <hi>wel in</hi> anticipating the following line, but alpha is supported by <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.6.182).</note> fastyng-days & frydayes · and forboden nyȝtes</l>
<l> And as [lef]<note>Bx.13.367: <hi>lef</hi>: Beta's <hi>wel</hi> is prompted by the preceding line. Alpha is supported by the alliteration and <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> in lente as oute of lente · alle tymes ylyche</l>
Bx.13.368KD.13.350
<l> Suche werkes with hem · was<note>Bx.13.368: <hi>was</hi>: We retain L's plural form, though other mss. have <hi>were</hi>. See note to <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.5.13</ref> and Introduction <xref>V.3.1</xref>.</note> neuere oute of sesoun</l>
<l> Tyl þei myȝte namore · and þanne had merye tales</l>
<l> And how þat lechoures louyen · lauȝen an iapen</l>
<l> And of her<note>Bx.13.371: <hi>her</hi> (1): Not in F or R, which begins <hi>Or herlotrie</hi>. <hi>Bx</hi>.13.370-8 have no parallel in <hi>C</hi>.</note> harlotrye and horedome · in her elde tellen</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
Bx.13.372KD.13.354
<l> ¶ Thanne pacience parceyued [·] of poyntes his<note>Bx.13.372: <hi>his</hi>: All except LR supply <hi>of</hi> (added in M), but <hi>his cote</hi> is subject of <hi>was</hi> in the following line: "his coat was grimy with stains".</note> cote</l>
<l> Was colmy þorw coueityse · and v[n]kynde desyrynge </l>
<l> More to good þan to god · þe gome his loue caste</l>
<l> And ymagyned how · he it myȝte haue</l>
Bx.13.376KD.13.358
<l> With false mesures and mette · and with false witnesse</l>
<l> Lened for loue of þe wedde · and loth to do treuthe</l>
<l> And awaited þorwgh whi[ttes] [·] wey[es]<note>Bx.13.378: <hi>whittes weyes</hi>: R's spelling <hi>whittus weyus</hi> suggests the cause of confusion in beta: <hi>Bx</hi> presumably had the spelling <wh> for /w/ (as sometimes in SW), preserved but perhaps not understood as "wits" by R, and desperately altered to <hi>which</hi> by beta, who consequently understood <hi>wey</hi> as "way". R has his usual spelling <hi>weye</hi>, "man". For once, F gets it more or less right.</note> to bigile</l>
<l> And menged his marchaundyse · and made a gode moustre</l>
Bx.13.380KD.13.362
<l> Þe worste with-in was · a gret witte I lete hit</l>
<l> And if my neighbore had an<note>Bx.13.381: <hi>an</hi>: Alpha is supported by <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.6.262). Beta anticipates <hi>any</hi> in the b-verse.</note> hyne · or any beste elles</l>
<l> More profitable þan myne · many sleightes I made</l>
<l> How I myȝte haue it · al my witte I caste</l>
Bx.13.384KD.13.366
<l> And but I it<note>Bx.13.384: <hi>but I it</hi>: LMW, so beta, supported by the X family of <hi>C</hi> (the P family has Hm's order). R omits <hi>it</hi> and F rewrites.</note> had by other waye · atte laste I stale it</l>
<l> Or pryuiliche his purse shoke · vnpiked his lokkes</l>
<l> Or by nyȝt or by day · aboute was ich euere</l>
<l> Þorwgh gyle to gadren [·] þe good þat ich haue</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
Bx.13.388KD.13.370
<l> ¶ Ȝif I ȝede to þe plow · I pynched so narwe</l>
<l> Þat a fote londe or a forwe · fecchen I wolde</l>
<l> Of my nexte neighbore · nymen of his erthe<note>Bx.13.390-1: Alpha loses the b-verse of 390 and the a-verse of 391.</note></l>
<l> And if [I]<note>Bx.13.391: <hi>I</hi>: Dropped by L, though the line is marked for correction.</note> rope<note>Bx.13.391: <hi>rope</hi>: "reaped" (<title>MED</title> <hi>repen</hi> v.(1)); the past tense is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> ouer-reche · or ȝaf hem red þat ropen<note>Bx.13.391: <hi>ropen</hi>: Cr and alpha have <hi>repen</hi>, which may also be a pa.t.pl. form.</note></l>
Bx.13.392KD.13.374
<l> To<note>Bx.13.392: <hi>To</hi>: Supported by <hi>Cx</hi> against <hi>And</hi> in MCrCGO.</note> seise to me with her sykel · þat I ne sewe neure</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ And who-so borweth of me · aboute<note>Bx.13.393: <hi>aboute</hi>: A spelling of <hi>abouȝte</hi>, "bought, paid for", preserved by LGR and altered by the correctors of MHm. It was evidently misunderstood as "about" by F, who revised.</note> þe tyme</l>
<l> With presentes priueliche · or payed somme certeyne</l>
<l> So walde he or nouȝt wolde he<note>Bx.13.395: <hi>he</hi> (2): Omitted by WR. For <hi>nouȝt wolde he</hi>, beta4 and F have <hi>he nolde</hi>.</note> · wynnen I wolde</l>
Bx.13.396KD.13.378
<l> And bothe to kyth and to kyn · vnkynde of þat ich hadde</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ And who-so cheped my chaffare · chiden I wolde</l>
<l> But he profred<note>Bx.13.398: <hi>profred</hi>: CGO and rewritten Hm add <hi>me</hi>.</note> to paye · a peny or tweyne</l>
<l> More þan it was worth · and ȝet wolde I swere</l>
Bx.13.400KD.13.382
<l> Þat it coste me<note>Bx.13.400: <hi>me</hi>: In beta only; alpha may be right to omit. The line is not in <hi>C</hi>.</note> moche more · swore manye othes</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> ¶ In halydayes at holicherche · whan ich herde masse</l>
<l> Hadde [I]<note>Bx.13.402: <hi>I</hi>: LR, the two best witnesses, coincidentally omit the pronoun, which is necessary for the sense and supported by <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.6.273). The line is marked for correction in L.</note> neuere wille wot god · witterly to biseche</l>
<l> Mercye for my mysdedes · þat I ne morned more</l>
Bx.13.404KD.13.386
<l> For losse of gode leue me · þan for lykames<note>Bx.13.404: <hi>lykames</hi>: So R, supported by <hi>Cx</hi>; all other mss. have <hi>my lykames</hi>, following on from <hi>my mysdedes</hi> in the previous line.</note> giltes</l>
<l> As if I had dedly synne done · I dred nouȝt þat so sore</l>
<l> As when I lened and leued it lost · or longe ar it were payed</l>
<l> So if I kydde any kyndenesse · myn euen-cristene to helpe</l>
Bx.13.408KD.13.390
<l> Vpon a cruel coueityse · my [conscience]<note>Bx.13.408: <hi>conscience</hi>: Alpha's reading corrects the aa/bb alliteration of beta's <hi>herte</hi>. The line is not in <hi>C</hi>.</note> gan hange</l>
<l> And if I sent ouer-see · my seruauntz to Bruges</l>
<l> Or in-to Pruslonde my prentys · my profit to wayten</l>
<l> To marchaunden with monoye · and maken her eschaunges<note>Bx.13.411: <hi>eschaunges</hi>: Alpha has <hi>chaunges</hi>, but beta is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note></l>
Bx.13.412KD.13.394
<l> Miȝte neuere me conforte · in þe mene-tyme<note>Bx.13.412: <hi>tyme</hi>: Confirmed by <hi>Cx</hi>. Beta2 has <hi>while</hi>.</note></l>
<l> Noither messe ne matynes · ne none manere siȝtes</l>
<l> Ne neuere penaunce perfourned · ne pater noster seyde</l>
<l> Þat my mynde ne was more · on my gode in a doute</l>
Bx.13.416KD.13.398
<l> Þan in þe grace of god · and his grete helpes</l>
<l> <foreign>Vbi thesaurus tuus · ibi & cor tuum</foreign></l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> <note>Bx.13.418-27: These lines are omitted by beta. Probably the scribe skipped from one paraph to the next, though alpha does not record the expected paraph at 418 following the Latin line. Lines 420 and 422 have some parallel in the <hi>C</hi> text, but are there transferred to the confession of Gluttony (RK.6.428 and 430).</note> [Ȝet glotoun<note>Bx.13.418: <hi>glotoun</hi>: R's reading is surprising enough to have prompted F's revision to <hi>þat goome</hi>. Compare the other sins attributed to Hawkin: lechery (<ref>361</ref>), covetousness (<ref>373</ref>), sloth (<ref>426</ref>), though they are not personified as here. On the other hand R's <hi>glotoun</hi> is possibly a reminiscence of <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.5.319</ref> and <ref>10.53</ref>, "Glotonye and grete othes".</note> with grete othes · his g[ar]nement hadde soyled</l>
<l> And foule beflobered it · as with fals speche</l>
Bx.13.420KD.13.401
<l> As þere no nede ne was · godes name an ydel</l>
<l> Swore þere-by swithe ofte · and al byswatte his cote</l>
<l> And more mete ete and dronke · þen kynde miȝt defie</l>
<l> And cauȝte sekenesse sum-tyme · for my [surfai]tes<note>Bx.13.423: <hi>surfaites</hi>: R's <hi>forfetes</hi> is a misreading of alliterating <hi>surfetys</hi>, as in F.</note> ofte</l>
Bx.13.424KD.13.405
<l> And þanne I dradde to deye · in dedlich synne</l>
<l> Þat in-to wanhope he w[or]the<note>Bx.13.425: <hi>worthe</hi>: R's <hi>wrathe</hi> could be a metathesised form but is probably an error (cf. <ref><hi>Bx</hi>.11.5</ref>). F revises to synonymous <hi>wente</hi>.</note> · and wende nauȝt to be saued</l>
<l> Þe whiche is sleuthe so slow · þat may no sleightes helpe it</l>
<l> Ne no mercy amenden · þe man þat so deyeth]</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
Bx.13.428KD.13.409
<l> ¶ [Ac]<note>Bx.13.428: <hi>Ac</hi>: Dropped by beta following the loss of text. For <hi>Ac which</hi>, F has <hi>Þese</hi>. R is supported by <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.7.69).</note> which ben þe braunches · þat bryngeth a man to sleuth</l>
<l> His woman<note>Bx.13.429: <hi>His woman</hi>: Evidently the <hi>Bx</hi> reading, recorded in LR, original M, and CG. Beta2 and F recognise it as nonsense and so emend by conjecture; O, <hi>Is whanne a man</hi>, has the reading of the P family of <hi>C</hi>, by conjecture or contamination (RK.7.70). In <hi>C</hi> these lines are transferred to the confession of Sloth.</note> morneth nouȝte for his mysdedes · ne maketh no sorwe</l>
<l> Ac<note>Bx.13.430: <hi>Ac</hi>: The reading of LO and probably original M, while G has its usual substitution <hi>But</hi>. The others have <hi>And</hi> (<hi>Ne</hi> in F). <hi>Cx</hi> has <hi>The</hi>.</note> penaunce þat þe prest enioigneth · perfourneth yuel</l>
<l> Doth none almes-dede · dret hym of no synne</l>
Bx.13.432KD.13.413
<l> Lyueth aȝein þe bileue · and no lawe holdeth</l>
<l> Vch day is haliday with hym · or an heigh ferye</l>
<l> And if he auȝte wole here · it is an harlotes tonge</l>
<l> Whan men carpeth of cryst · or of<note>Bx.13.435: <hi>of</hi> (2): Dropped by CGOF, but supported by authoritative <hi>C</hi> mss. of both families.</note> clennesse of soule<note>Bx.13.435: <hi>soule</hi>: The sg. is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>.</note></l>
Bx.13.436KD.13.417
<l> He wexeth wroth & wil nouȝte here · but wordes of myrthe</l>
<l> Penaunce and<note>Bx.13.437: <hi>and</hi> (1): As in <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> pore men · and þe passioun of seyntes</l>
<l> He hateth to here þere-of · and alle þat it telleth</l>
<l> Þise ben þe braunches beth war · þat bryngeth a man to wanhope</l>
Bx.13.440KD.13.421
<l> Ȝe lordes and ladyes · and legates of holicherche</l>
<l> Þat fedeth fol[e]-sages<note>Bx.13.441: <hi>fole-sages</hi>: "wise fools, jesters". R is supported by <hi>Cx</hi> (RK.7.82). Beta reads <hi>foles sages</hi>, i.e. a pl. noun followed by an adj. with a French pl. inflection (Mustanoja (1960), 277). F has <hi>folis sage</hi>.</note> · flatereres and lyeres</l>
<l> And han likynge to lythen hem · to do ȝow to<note>Bx.13.442: <hi>to</hi> (3): GR omit, as does <hi>Cx</hi>, but GR are unmetrical (x / x /) whereas <hi>Cx</hi> is expanded to x / x x x / by the addition of <hi>in hope</hi>. Perhaps, though, <hi>Cx</hi> has preserved the reading that <hi>Bx</hi> has dropped, leading beta and F to add <hi>to</hi> for the metre. So Schmidt (1995), 392.</note> lawghe</l>
<l> <foreign>Ve vobis qui ridetis &c</foreign></l>
Bx.13.444KD.13.424
<l> And ȝiueth hem mete and Mede · and pore men refuse</l>
<l> In ȝowre deth-deyinge · I drede me sore<note>Bx.13.445: <hi>sore</hi>: Beta adds <hi>ful</hi>, but <hi>Cx</hi> is without it.</note></l>
<l> Lest þo thre maner men · to moche sorwe ȝow brynge</l>
<l> <foreign>Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur<note>Bx.13.447: <hi><foreign>punientur</foreign></hi>: Alpha has <hi>puniendi sunt</hi>, but beta is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>. Alford (1992), 86, quotes beta's form.</note></foreign></l>
Bx.13.448KD.13.427
<l> <note>Bx.13.448: WHmR here have a paraph.</note>Patriarkes & prophetes · and prechoures of goddes wordes</l>
<l> Sauen þorw her sarmoun<note>Bx.13.449: <hi>sarmoun</hi>: Beta2 has the more obvious plural, as does the P family of <hi>C</hi>.</note> · mannes soule fram helle</l>
<l> Riȝt so flateres<note>Bx.13.450: <hi>flateres</hi>: Here, as elsewhere (and in <hi>C</hi> mss.) the form varies with <hi>flaterers</hi>. Cf. l. <ref>477</ref> below. We follow copy-text.</note> and foles · aren þe fendes disciples</l>
<l> To entice men þorw her tales [·] to synne and harlotrye</l>
Bx.13.452KD.13.431
<l> Ac clerkes þat knowen holywryt · shulde kenne lordes</l>
<l> What dauid seith of suche men · as þe sauter telleth</l>
<l> <foreign>Non habitabit in medio domus mee · qui facit superbiam qui<note>Bx.13.454: <hi><foreign>qui</foreign></hi> (2): Beta has <hi>& qui</hi>, but this is supported neither by <hi>Cx</hi> nor the Vulgate. F drops the last phrase.</note> loquitur iniqua</foreign></l>
<l> Shulde none harlote haue audience · in halle ne in chambres<note>Bx.13.455: <hi>chambres</hi>: CrWGF have the sg., as does <hi>Cx</hi>.</note></l>
Bx.13.456KD.13.434
<l> Þere wise men were · witnesseth goddes wordes</l>
<l> Ne no mysproude man · amonges lordes ben allowed</l>
</lg>
<lb/>
<lg>
<l> <note>Bx.13.458-76: This block of 19 lines is omitted by beta. The lines are pretty well exactly reproduced in <hi>C</hi> (RK.7.96-113), usually supporting R over F.</note> [¶ Clerkes and kniȝtes · welcometh kynges mynstralles</l>
<l> And for loue of [her]<note>Bx.13.459: <hi>her</hi>: F is supported by <hi>Cx</hi> against R's <hi>þe</hi>.</note> lorde · litheth hem at festes</l>
Bx.13.460KD.13.438
<l> Muche more me thinketh · riche men shulde</l>
<l> Haue beggeres byfore hem · þe whiche ben goddes mynstralles</l>
<l> As he seyth hym-self · seynt Iohan bereth witnesse</l>
<l> <foreign>Qui vos spernit me spernit</foreign></l>
Bx.13.464KD.13.441
<l> For-thi I rede ȝow riche · at<note>Bx.13.464: <hi>at</hi>: Evidently the reading of alpha, but not in <hi>Cx</hi>.</note> reueles whan ȝe maketh</l>
<l> For to solace ȝoure soules · suche minstralles to haue</l>
<l> Þe pore for a fol-sage · syttynge at þe<note>Bx.13.466: <hi>þe</hi> (2): So F; R has <hi>þe heyȝ</hi>; perhaps rightly, but perhaps an uncharacteristic addition, since <hi>Cx</hi> has <hi>þy</hi>.</note> table</l>
<l> And a lered man to lere þe · what oure lorde suffred</l>
Bx.13.468KD.13.445
<l> For to saue þi soule · fram sathan þin enemy</l>
<l> And fithel þe with-out flaterynge · of gode friday þe storye<note>Bx.13.469: <hi>storye</hi>: <hi>Cx</hi> has <hi>feste</hi>.</note></l>
<l> And a blynd man for a bourdeoure · or a bedrede womman</l>
<l> To crie a largesse by-for oure lorde · ȝoure gode loos to shewe</l>
Bx.13.472KD.13.449
<l> Þise thre maner mynstralles · maketh a man to laughe</l>
<l> And in his deth-deyinge · þei don hym grete conforte</l>
<l> Þat bi his lyue lythed<note>Bx.13.474: <hi>lythed</hi>: So R, against F's <hi>he lystned</hi>. But the X family of <hi>C</hi> has <hi>lened</hi> and the P family <hi>loueþ</hi>.</note> hem · and loued hem to here</l>
<l> Þise solaseth þe soule · til hym-selue be falle</l>
Bx.13.476KD.13.453
<l> In a welhope<note>Bx.13.476: <hi>welhope</hi>: Alpha or <hi>Bx</hi> has presumably lost <hi>for a wrouhte so</hi> as in <hi>Cx</hi>, leading F to expand.</note> · amonges worthi seyntes]</l>
<l> [Þere]<note>Bx.13.477: <hi>Þere</hi>: "where". Alpha is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>. Following the loss of the preceding passage, beta has <hi>Ac</hi> with a paraph.</note> flateres and foles [·] þorw her foule wordes</l>
<l> Leden þo þat loue[d]<note>Bx.13.478: <hi>loued</hi>: Alpha's past tense is supported by <hi>Cx</hi>'s probable reading <hi>lythed</hi>, though some mss. of the P family have the present.</note> hem · to luciferes feste</l>
<l> With <foreign>turpiloquio</foreign> a lay of sorwe · and luciferes fithele</l>
Bx.13.480KD.13.457
<l> Thus haukyn þe actyf man · hadde ysoiled his cote</l>
<l> Til conscience acouped hym þere-of · in a curteise manere</l>
<l> Whi he ne hadde wasshen it · or wyped it with a brusshe</l>
</lg>
</div1>
MED