Passus quintus de visione vt supra
Bx.5.8KD.5.8
And so IBx.5.8: so I: Omitted by R, but F has y bablede so, and beta is supported by Ax. The line is not in Cx. babeled on my bedes · þei brouȝte me a-slepe
Bx.5.12KD.5.12
And with a crosse aforBx.5.12: afor: On five occasions alpha and random beta mss. read the preposition as byfor; the others are Bx.5.23, 16.46, 17.311, 20.130. Probably this is regression to the commonplace, since afor is uncommon in the poem. Only in 12.91 does it have support from both branches. At 14.145 the adverb reads afore in beta, but tofore in alpha. þe kynge · comsed þus to techen
How pertly aforBx.5.23: afor: See note to Bx.5.12 for variation with byfor. þe poeple · resoun ganBx.5.23: gan: Strong support from LMR against bigan. F's word-order improves the alliteration of the b-verse, but cannot be archetypal. No doubt the order in Bx is a reminiscence of l. 11. The line is not in the other versions. to preche
Bx.5.24KD.5.24
¶ He bad wastoure goBx.5.24: go: Only R has to, which is, however, the reading of the X family of C. worche · what he best couthe
¶ AndBx.5.26: And: Clear support from LMR and HmCO, against He in CrWGF. A mss. vary, but Cx has He, possibly the source for CrG by contamination. preyed peronelle · her purfyle to lete
And fecche filice home · fro wyuen[e] pyneBx.5.29: wyuene pyne: Having lost -e (OE -ena), beta adds the article to correct a short b-verse. A few AC scribes do the same.
ÞatBx.5.31: Þat: Also the A reading. WHm For is also the C reading (RK.5.133). hire hed was worth halue markeBx.5.31: halue marke: LCrCG include the indefinite article, and M is corrected to include it. But alpha and WHmO are without it, as is Cx. Ax has a mark. · hisBx.5.31: his: CrWHmF have and his, as also do AC. But probably Bx omitted and, since it is not attested by LR and CGO. In M it is first added by the corrector and then deleted. hode nouȝteBx.5.31: nouȝte: The reading nouȝte worth looks suspiciously scribal. Six A mss. omit worth, as do all except one of the C mss. But attestation for Bx is uncertain: only HmG and R omit it. We follow the readings of R throughout this line. a grote
Who-so spareth þe sprynge · spillethBx.5.42: spilleth: Alpha includes the pronoun he, but beta is supported by Cx. The line is not in A. his children
¶ And sithen he preyedBx.5.43: preyed: Evidently the beta reading, supported against the variants by AC. prelatz · and prestes togideres
If ȝe lyuen as ȝe lerenBx.5.46: leren: This varies with lerne also in A, but is supported by Cx. vs [·] we shal leue ȝow þe bettere
And ben stuwardes of ȝowre stedes · til ȝe be ruledBx.5.49: ruled: An obvious substitution in Bx for alliterating stewed, "governed", in AC. bettre
¶ And sithen he conseilled þe kynge · þeBx.5.50: þe (2): This is secure for Bx, though beta2 his is the Cx reading (RK.5.180). comune to louye
It is þi tresore if tresoun ne wereBx.5.51: ne were: R's loss of ne suggests that alpha may have read nere, as in F, which would be a little less clumsy. The line is not paralleled in AC. · and triacle at þi nede
More þan golde or otherBx.5.55: or other: M and beta2 (CrWHm) drop other, but it has support from LCHm and alpha. The line is not in AC. gyftes · if ȝe wil god plese
Superbia ·Bx.5.67: The beta scribes have Latin titles for the sins in the main hand in the margin, and marked out by rubrication from other
marginal annotations, but the alpha scribes do not have them.
And byhiȝte toBx.5.67: to: Supported by Ax (K.5.47) and Cx (RK.6.5) against MO vn-to. hym · þat vs alle made
For alBx.5.73: al: Dropped by alpha, but supported by AC and alliterating. þis I haue · hated in myne herte
Luxuria ·
Bx.5.76KD.5.73
With þat he shulde þe saterdayBx.5.76: þe saterday: R's on þe day probably represents alpha. Beta is supported by Ax and alliteration. · seuene ȝere þere-after
Inuidia
And carefullich mea culpa · he comsed to sheweBx.5.79: shewe: R has schrewe, F has shryue, but beta is supported by Ax. The line is revised in Cx.
Of a freres frokke · were þeBx.5.83: þe: Beta is supported by the majority of A mss., but six read his with alpha. forsleues
Bx.5.84KD.5.81
And as a leke haddeBx.5.84: hadde: Beta2 (CrWHm) read þat hadde, supported by the majority of A mss., though four omit þat. It is more probably supplied than dropped. The line is not in Cx. yleye · longe in þe sonne
And wryngy[ed]Bx.5.87: wryngyed: R (= alpha?). A has wroþliche he wroþ his fest (K.5.67) and C reads A wroth his fuste vppon wrath (RK.6.66). Apparently Bx misunderstood the pun (wroth from writhen, and wrath), and substituted the past tense of wringen. Beta's wryngynge he ȝede is an expansion. Elsewhere in B the past tense of wring is wrong, as in F here. with þe fiste · to wreke hym-self he þouȝte
Bx.5.92KD.5.89
Þis was al his curteisye · where þat euere he shewed hymBx.5.92: F entirely rewrites the line with much more emphatic alliteration. W omits. Lines 91-5 are not in AC, and lines 96-121 are not in C.
Bx.5.96KD.5.93
¶ I haue a neighbore neyȝe me · I haue ennuyedBx.5.96: ennuyed: The spellings anoyed, noyed, enuyed are all forms of "annoyed". hym ofte
Bx.5.100KD.5.99
Bitwene m[eyne] and m[eyne]Bx.5.100: meyne and meyne: We take R's reading ("retinue") to represent alpha, supported by Ax hym & his meyne. F thus revises, perhaps partly on the basis of A; beta regresses to the commonplace. · I make debate ofte
¶ And whan I come to þe kirkeBx.5.106: kirke: Hm and alpha have non-alliterating cherche. See Introduction IV.1. · and sholde knele to þe Rode
Bx.5.108KD.5.107
For pilgrimes and forBx.5.108: and for: Support from LR and CrWCO, though MHmG lack for. F instead lacks and, as in Ax. palmers · for alle þe poeple after
¶ Awey fro þe auter þanne ·Bx.5.111: The alpha scribes punctuate the line before þanne. turne I myn eyghen
Bx.5.112KD.5.111
And biholde how [H]eleyneBx.5.112: Heleyne: F perhaps notices the unlikelihood of Envy envying a woman's coat, and substitutes Hervy. Initial H- is presumably archetypal: Ax has the male name, Heyne (cf. Bx.5.114-15). · hathBx.5.112: hath: Alpha's hath on is not supported by Ax. Following this line F adds rather a vivid line. a newe cote
¶ And of [his]Bx.5.114: his: Bx alters the coatwearer from male (Ax has Heyne) to female Heleyne, and faces scribes with a problem, which they deal with characteristically. Beta and F revise to mennes, but R copies his exemplar regardless, ignoring the inconsistency. Ax also reads his, but there is nowhere evidence that R is contaminated by an A text. See notes to ll. 115 and 116. lesynge I laughe · þat liketh myn herte
A[c]Bx.5.115: Ac: There is the same common variation with But in A mss., with three reading And, as beta does here. for h[is]Bx.5.115: his: Again R follows his copy-text, and on this occasion F is content to do the same, whereas beta logically replaces with her, "their". Ax again reads his. wynnynge I wepe · and waille þe tyme
Bx.5.116KD.5.115
¶Bx.5.116: ¶: The inappropriate paraph is in LR, with a new line-group in M, and so is apparently a Bx error. And deme [men]Bx.5.116: men: Again R is supported by A, with F supplying the object hem instead. Since beta already has a plural referent, men is unnecessary and is therefore dropped. þat hij don ille · þere I do wel worse
That al my body bolneth · for bitter ofBx.5.121: of: Probably R's in represents alpha (F has ys). Ax supports of. my galle
¶ I am sorieuere soryBx.5.129: sory / euere sory: Beta agrees with Ax, while alpha's euere sory agrees with Cx. quod þat segge · I am but selde other
Whan he solde and I nouȝte · þanne was I redyBx.5.133: redy: R has aredy which may be right. It is the Cx form (RK.6.97). The passage Bx.5.131-89 is not in A.
Ira ·
And sithen þei blosmed obrodeBx.5.142: obrode: Dropped by alpha, but supported by alliteration. · in boure to here shriftes
¶ And now persones [han]Bx.5.145: persones han: "Now that parsons have perceived" (as in beta2 and G), rather than, with the word-order in CO and alpha, "Now have parsons
perceived". Either order could be Bx. L drops the auxiliary, while M drops the phrase, and persons han is added above the line in another hand. The line is not in AC. parceyued · þat Freres parte with hem
And freresBx.5.147: freres: Alpha drops the word, but the following line refers to the peripatetic activity of friars. fyndeth hem in defaute · as folke bereth witnes
Bx.5.148KD.5.147
That whan þei preche þe poeple · in many placeBx.5.148: place: This is probably the beta form. As a romance loan ending in a sibilant, it may be singular or plural. aboute
Til þei be bothe beggers · and by my spiritualteBx.5.151: by my spiritualte: Hm and alpha drop my, by confusion with the previous line. F, observing nonsense, revises to by almesse. libben
¶ I haue an aunte to nonne · and an abbesseBx.5.155: abbesse: R is supported by Cx. Beta's addition of bothe and F's of eek are responses to the unusually light b-verse.
Many monthes with hem · and with monkes botheBx.5.158: bothe: R's alse probably represents alpha (F rewrites), but beta is supported by Cx (RK.6.131).
I was þe priouressesBx.5.159: priouresses: LMR and Hm have this form of the genitive, whereas other mss. have the unmarked form, as do most C mss. potagere · and other poure ladyes
Bx.5.160KD.5.158
And made hem ioutes of iangelynge · þat dame Io[n]eBx.5.160: Ione: So MCrO and alpha, as well as C mss. It is the usual feminine form of the name in Middle English. was a bastard
Bx.5.164KD.5.162
¶ Of wykked wordes I wrath · here wortes I-madeBx.5.164: I-made: Past tense; MED imaken. The prefix recorded in LOR makes the b-verse regular.
Hadde þei had knyues bi cryst · her eytherBx.5.167: her eyther: "each of them". LMWR include the genitive pronoun. had killed other
Þei had þanne ben infamis þe firste dayBx.5.170: þe firste day: Dropped by M, G (in a rewritten line) and O to shorten a long a-verse. Cr replaces with two invented lines. The line is
not in AC. · þei can so yuel hele conseille
Bx.5.176KD.5.174
And amBx.5.176: And am: R's ȝeet, "furthermore", may be right, even though not in F. It gives good sense and has some support from Cx Ȝut am I. chalanged in þe chapitelhous · as I a childe were
And baleised on þe bare ersBx.5.177: ers: Beta is confirmed by Cx. R initially read hers, altered to the euphemism bak by the correcting hand. F also reads bak. · and no breche bitwene
Bx.5.180KD.5.178
Bx.5.180: Alpha has a paraph.Ac otherwhile whan wyn cometh · whanBx.5.180: whan (2): So LMR and G; W has þanne, the others read and or omit. I drynke w[el]Bx.5.180: wel: Beta's repetition of wyn gives weaker sense, though wel is repeated in the following line. Perhaps both alpha and beta are making up for a loss in Bx, since Cx has late instead (RK.6.160). at eue
I couth it in owre cloistre · þat al owreBx.5.183: owre (2): The distribution of variants is odd here. LM, the two most reliable beta witnesses, are joined by CrW with owre; the other mss., including F, have þe, except for G with your and R which has nothing. It may be that R is faithfully copying a Bx error, with other scribes supplying the obvious omission. Cx has þe. couent wote it
Conseille þat þow cnowest · bi contenaunce ne bi [speche]Bx.5.185: speche: Alpha's reading is obviously correct and supported by Cx.
Auaricia ·
¶ And þanne cam coueytise · [I can]Bx.5.190: I can: Alpha's word-order is supported by AC. hym nouȝte descryue
So hungriliche and holwe · sire henriBx.5.191: henri: There is reasonable support for this as Bx from LR and CG, and possibly M before correction, but AC have heruy, agreeing with WHmOF. Although F may have derived the correction from A, it is difficult to see how the other three mss. got it, although Bennett (1972), 163 quotes a parallel from Skelton, possibly
an indication that Hervy was a traditional name for a miser. hym loked
With [his]Bx.5.197: his: Alpha's reading is in agreement with Cx against beta's indefinite article. hode on his hed · a lousi hatte aboue
Bx.5.200KD.5.196
But ifBx.5.200: if: Beta has if þat; AC agree with alpha. a lous couthe · l[epe]Bx.5.200: lepe: Comparison with AC suggests that R represents Bx, with F and beta expanding an uncomfortably short line. A mss. show considerable variation in the b-verse, and Cx offers a desperate repair: But ȝif a lous couthe lepe y leue it as y trowe (quoting Skeat C.7.204). þe bettre
[H]eBx.5.201: He: Whether masc. or fem., alpha's reading is supported by AC. sholde nouȝte walk[e]Bx.5.201: walke: Beta's haue walked follows on from its reading of the previous line. Alpha's infinitive is supported by AC, which, however, have wandre. on þat welcheBx.5.201: welche: "Welsh cloth", the reading of LR and AC, but mistranscribed or avoided by the other B scribes. · so was it thredebare
Ne had þe grace of gyle [·] ygoBx.5.209: Only LW punctuate the line after ygo. amonge my wareBx.5.209: ware: A good example of the superiority of LMR (joined by F here), supported in this reading by AC, against chaffare in other beta mss. (i.e. beta1). See Adams (2000), 176, and for the same variation see l. 134.
To broche hem with a bat-nedleBx.5.214: bat-nedle: The form in L and alpha, with M corrected to the majority beta form, paknedle. Adams (2000), 181. A mss. have the same variation, with the majority reading p- (K.5.126).The P family of C also has p-, but the X family has b-, and plaited is revised to bande so that the line alliterates on /b/ (RK.6.218). MED lists only this instance for bat-nedle. · and plaited hem togyderes
And put hem in a presse · and pynedBx.5.215: pyned: "subjected to stress" in the presse, which is apparently a stretching frame. Schmidt (1995), 72, glosses "tortured". The reading is supported by LW and alpha
against the easier and less appropriate pynned, glossed as "kept fastened" in Kane (2005). A mss. vary, but Cx has pynned. hem þerinne
Bx.5.216KD.5.212
Tyl ten ȝerdes or twelue · tolledBx.5.216: tolled: LM and alpha, supported by AC; other scribes supply hadde. MED v.(1) interprets tollen as "stretch out to" (OE *tollian), while Kane (2005) glosses "tease, coax". It varies with tolde in A; in C the X family reads tolde, the P family has tilled. out threttene
She spak to spynnesteresBx.5.218: spynnesteres: Alpha has the sg. A mss. are split, but Cx has the plural. Athlone adopts the sg. in all versions. · to spynnen it oute
¶ I bouȝte hir barlyBx.5.221: barly: Though all B mss. except for R read barly malte, R is supported by AC. We assume that the easy addition was made by beta and F, with R as usual reproducing his exemplar. · she brewe it to selle
And who-so bummed þer-of · bouȝtehe bouȝteBx.5.225: bouȝte / he bouȝte: Beta, without the pronoun, agrees with Ax; alpha and Cx, add the pronoun he. it þer-after
And ȝit it cam in cupmel · þis crafte my wyf vsedBx.5.227: vsed: Beta's past tense is supported by AC.
Bx.5.228KD.5.224
Rose þe regratere · wasBx.5.228: was: Beta's past tense is supported by AC. hir riȝte name
And neuere wikkedliche weye · ne wikkeBx.5.231: wikke "dishonest". So LMW. Particularly in context, the wikked of alpha and others is likely to be a scribal substitution. A mss. exhibit some uncertainty over the word; the line is not in C. chaffare vse
¶ RepentestowBx.5.234: Repentestow: Representing the past tense, as more "properly" in WHmR. (See MED repenten for pa.t. repente). C mss. show the same forms. In Bx.5.453 WHm again "improve" to Repentedestow, falsely on that occasion. LM (= beta?) treat the verb as reflexive, but þe is not in R (= alpha?) or C. HmF include þe but drop the subject pronoun. For a similar set of variants see Bx.5.453 and note. The passage Bx.5.234-308 is not in A. euere quod repentance · neBx.5.234: ne: Another example of LMR presenting a superior reading, here agreeing with Cx. See Adams (2000), 176. The syntax is, however, odd. restitucioun madest
Bx.5.236KD.5.232
I roos whan þei were arest · and yrifledBx.5.236: yrifled: The form, though unmetrical (x x / x x / x), is supported by LR. here males
Þow haddest betterBx.5.238: better: Although most mss. have be better, LR and original M give secure evidence for Bx, with be in the b-verse governing both worthy and hanged. Bx might have lost be in this context, with other scribes restoring it conjecturally, just as the M corrector did. Adams (2000), 183 judges this
instead to be an accidental omission in RL. Cx revises the a-verse to "Thow wolt be hanged heye þerfore" (RK.6.238). worthy · be hanged þerfore
Bx.5.240KD.5.235
¶ I wende ryflynge were restitucioun quod he · forBx.5.240: quod he for: Probably in response to the length of the line, MHmGF drop quod he, while CGO drop for. The line is not in AC. I lerned neuere rede on boke
Bx.5.244KD.5.239
I lerned amonge lumbardes · [a lessoun and of iewes]Bx.5.244: a lessoun and of iewes: The word-order in alpha is alliteratively correct, and R's reading is shared with Cx. Beta simplifies; F revises.
Bx.5.248KD.5.243
I haue mo maneres þorw reragesBx.5.248: rerages: Alpha's regages is an obvious error. · þan þorw miseretur & comodat
And toke it by taille hereBx.5.254: here: R alone reads þere, presumably by anticipation. Lines 247-51 and 254 have no parallel in AC. · and tolde hem þere lasse
[¶]Bx.5.255: ¶: The line is at the top of the page in L, and the rubricator presumably missed the paraph which is in WHmC and alpha, with
a new line-group in M, to mark the opening of the speech. Len[t]estowBx.5.255: Lentestow: L's present tense Lenestow is not supported by Cx. euere lordes · for loue of her mayntenaunce
Bx.5.256KD.5.251
¶ Ȝe I haue lent lordes · louedBx.5.256: loued: Alpha alone has quod he, but it is not in Cx. CrHmOF supply the subject pronoun that, as in Cx, but its omission, supported by LMWCGR, is idiomatic. me neuere after
Bx.5.260KD.5.255
¶ I haue as moche pite ofBx.5.260: of (1): The reading of LR and WC, against on, likely to have been prompted by the phrase in the previous line. pore men · as pedlereBx.5.260: pedlere: Alpha has þe pedlere, which is perhaps over-specific. For want of guidance from other versions, we follow copy-text. hath of cattes
Ne þine [v]sueBx.5.267: vsue: This is the initial spelling in L, then corrected to ysue. R and possibly uncorrected M share the word, against heires in all others mss. except F with houswif! R spelling vssue explains F's reading as an attempt to make sense of vssue via hussie. Schmidt (1995), lxvii-iii, supposes this is shared error in LR; and see Adams (2000), 181-2. We take it to represent the
reading of Bx, despite the fact that Cx has heyres, by error or revision. after þe · haue ioye of þat þow wynnest
I noldeBx.5.271: nolde: Beta shares this reading with the P family of C, against alpha's wolde nouȝt. At RK.7.202 the P family again has nolde, as do all B mss. (Bx.5.578) against ne wol(d) in the X family. cope vs with þi catel · ne owre kyrkeBx.5.271: kyrke: Alpha has the non-alliterating cherche. amende
Bx.5.272KD.5.267
Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce of þyneBx.5.272: of þyne: Well supported by LMCOR, though omitted by beta2 and GF, presumably because of its metrical clumsiness. The C reviser's text evidently had the phrase, for the line is rewritten as Ne take a meles mete of þyn and myn herte hit wiste (RK.6.289). LC, confused by its clumsiness, punctuate before the phrase; MOR punctuate after it. [·] bi my soule heleBx.5.272: bi my soule hele: Clearly Bx, despite its lack of alliteration. Beta2 and G have so God my soul help, with W increasing alliteration by altering the verb to saue.
And I wyst wytterly · þow were suche as þow telle[st]Bx.5.274: tellest: L has telleth, though the line is marked for correction. Following this line CO have the line Or elles þat I kouþe knowe it by any kynnes wise, and it is supplied in Cr23. It is the first of four spurious lines recorded by CO in this passus; see notes to Bx.5.308, 342, 580.
Til þow make restituciounBx.5.278: restitucioun: Only R adds quod repentaunce as a second alliterating stave in the a-verse. The Bx reading without it seems to have been the basis for the revision in C alliterating on ymad ... myhte ... men. · and rekne with hem alle
Non dimittitur peccatum · donecBx.5.281: donec: Perhaps alpha and Cr alter the reading to nisi on the basis of a well-known maxim of canon law; see Alford (1992), 46. In Bx.17.316, RK.6.257a and RK.19.290a the quotation is in many mss. abbreviated to Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c. (the form recorded in the Speculum Christiani), with some mss. expanding to donec.... and others to nisi.... On this occasion the former is marginally more appropriate than the latter ("until" vs. "unless"; cf. l. 278 Til). Not in AC. restituatur ablatum &c
¶ For alle þat hathBx.5.282: hath: LMR have the sg., "everyone who has", smoothed to the pl. after alle in other mss. See next line. of þi good · haue god my trouthe
IsBx.5.283: Is: LMR continue with the sg., as does F, although rewriting the line. Many C mss. have Is here, though they have the pl. in the previous line. hold[ynge]Bx.5.283: holdynge: "obliged". R's curious pres. ppl. form, revised out by F, must represent alpha, since it is also the form in the X family
of C. Indeed R's whole line is reproduced by that family. See next note. at þe heighe dome · to helpe þe restitueBx.5.283: restitue: Beta has to + infinitive, but R is supported by Cx.
Bx.5.284KD.5.276
And who-so leueth nouȝte þis be soth · loke in þeBx.5.284: þe: Beta supported by Cx, against R's a. F has four unsupported lines in place of this one. sauter glose
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti &cBx.5.286: The line that follows this in alpha, Þere is no laborere wolde leue with hem . þat knoweth peres þe plowman, appears to be spurious. Its reference to peres þe plowman who has not yet been introduced "relates the immediate discussion to a consideration earlier and subsequently expressed"
(KD, p. 193).
¶ ShalBx.5.287: Shal: Alpha begins For schal, tying this line to the added line preceding it. There is no parallel for this passage in AC. neuere werkman in þis worlde · þryue wyth þat þow wynnest
¶ Thanne wex þatBx.5.289: þat: Beta, against alpha's þe. We follow copy-text. shrewe in wanhope · and walde haue hanged himself
Ne hadde repentaunce þe rather · reconfortedBx.5.290: reconforted: R (= alpha?) loses alliteration with conforted (as do HmG independently). F repairs with reersyd. hym in þis manere
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius &c ·Bx.5.293: The Latin line is only in LMOR. It is translated in l. 292 above (which KD exclude), but that does not seem sufficient explanation for other mss. to lose it. For the first eius (as in the Vulgate) R reads domini, which gives a precise translation of l. 292 and may be right. The verse is quoted again as Bx.17.325, where both R and F read domini.
Bx.5.296KD.5.283α
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei · est [quasi]Bx.5.296: quasi: Omitted in L and added in M, but in all other B and C mss. For the source see Alford (1992), 47. sintilla in medio maris
Bx.5.308KD.5.295
And what he lent ȝow of owre lordes good · to lette ȝow fro synneBx.5.308: The line following this in CO is obviously scribal, to compensate for the error his goode for owre lordes goode.
Gula ·
Bx.5.316KD.5.303
Bx.5.316: W and alpha have a paraph here to mark the start of direct speech.Hastow auȝte in þi purs · any hote spices
¶ I haue peper and piones quod heBx.5.317: he: We preserve copy-text's form for "she". It was beta, though, not alpha, since it is the original form in M, and also survives
in CrCG (by misunderstanding?). · and a pounde of garlike
Bx.5.325-6: We follow the order of alpha; beta reverses the two lines. Line 325 is not in Ax; Cx has the alpha order, although adding a line between these two. [SireBx.5.325: Sire: Alpha begins And sire, but without support from Cx. Piers of Pridie · and Peronelle of Flaundres
Bx.5.328KD.5.315
A ropere a redyngkyng · and Rose þe dissheresBx.5.328: dissheres: See MED disheresse. Alpha supposes it is genitive of dishere, and so adds douȝter. AC have disshere.
Godfrey of garlekehithe · and gryfinBx.5.329: gryfin: Both this and R's grifyth are forms of Welsh Gruffudd. Ax and the P family of C have the former, while the X family has the latter. þe walsh
Who-so hauethBx.5.337: haueth: WHmO have the past tense, as in AC. þe hood · shuldBx.5.337: shuld: M has shal, though it is an addition above the line; R has schul, which is probably present tense, though LALME 4, 41, records examples of this as a past-tense form. AC have the past. haue amendes of þe cloke
¶ [Þo]Bx.5.338: Þo: The reading of R (= alpha, with F glossing as Þan.) Beta reads Two. Choice is difficult, since A and C mss. also have both readings, with Tho the majority A reading, and Two the majority C reading. Perhaps scribes felt the lack of a subject; note that F supplies a pronoun. risen vp in rape · and rouned togideres
Tyl Robyn þe ropere · [arise] þe southeBx.5.341: arise þe southe: R's nonsensical b-verse explains the attempts by F and beta to correct it, but it is a corruption of Cx aryse they bisouhte (RK.6.387). Ax has was red to arisen (K.5.178). See KD, p. 90; Hanna (1996), 217.
And nempned hym for a noumpere · þat no debate [w]ereBx.5.342: were: The reading of HmGR, and probably the alpha reading (F rewrites). It agrees with the majority of A mss. and all C mss. but one. Beta's nere is perhaps due to alliterative attraction.Bx.5.342: Following this line, a non-alliterating line occurs in Cr23 and OC.
And blew his rounde ruwet · at his rigge-bon[es]Bx.5.353: rigge-bones: Scribes vary in treating one or both parts of the compound as appositive or genitive. Most AC mss. support rygbones. ende
And þanne gan he goBx.5.357: go: The infinitive without to, as in LMC and alpha, is supported by Cx and most A mss. · liche a glewmannes bicche
He trembledBx.5.361: trembled: The word is supported for Bx by LR, with the M corrector revising to stombled in line with beta1 to make better sense in context. The word that lies behind this must be the rare verb thromblede, "tripped", as in the X family of C, which causes confusion in all versions. OED needlessly divides thrumble into two verbs, though it is true that the predominant sense recorded is "to crowd in, to jostle". The line in L is marked
for correction, but probably this refers to an for and. on þe thresshewolde · an threwe to þe erthe
Durst lape of þeBx.5.367: þe: LMR against þat or þo in other mss. (F rewrites). But Cx has þat. leuyngesBx.5.367: leuynges: R has the sg., as does Cx, and may be right. See next note. · so vnlouely [it]Bx.5.367: it: Supported by MHm and alpha as well as Cx. Presumably other beta scribes altered to plural in concord with the plural subject. See MED hit 4a(b) for its use as the grammatical subject relating to an abstract plural. smauȝte
Baren hymBx.5.369: hym (1): Beta has hym home, but alpha is supported by AC. to his bedde · and brouȝte hym þer-inne
Bx.5.372KD.5.361
Bx.5.372: A paraph would be appropriate here, but only WR have one.Þanne waked he of his wynkyng · and wiped his eyghen
His witteBx.5.374: witte: The reading of all B mss. except wif in CrW and revised M. Ax has wife, but Cx has His wyf and his inwit. See Schmidt (1995), 371, who suggests that Bx corrupted the reading represented in Cx. gan edwite hym þo · how wikkedlich he lyued
[Of]Bx.5.379: Of: In the absence of F which misses the line, the presumed alpha reading which is also that of Cx. The passage Bx.5.378-89 is not in A. þat I haue trespassed with my tonge · I can nouȝte telle how ofte
Bx.5.380KD.5.369
Sworen goddes soule [and his sydes]Bx.5.380: and his sydes: R is supported by the X family of C. The P family drops the pronoun as does F, while beta omits the phrase altogether. · and so [help me god]Bx.5.380: so help me god: Alpha's word-order is also that of Cx. M's agreement, with selpe me god, is probably coincidental. Otherwise beta, having lost the second alliterating stave in the a-verse, brings the noun forward
so that the line alliterates on /g/ rather than /s/. and halidom
Þere no nede neBx.5.381: ne: Dropped by beta2 (CrWHm), and GF. C mss. vary. was · nyne hundreth tymes
Þat I glotoun girt itBx.5.383: it: LR and WHmG, but omitted in MCrCO (F rewrites as vp a-geyn). The line is not in C. vp · er I hadde gone a myle
For loue of tales in tauernes · to drynke þe more I dynedBx.5.387: to drynke þe more I dyned: R and F are flummoxed by the sense. Bennett (1972) translates the line: "I dined in taverns, where I could hear tales, in
order to satisfy my thirst more easily". Lines 386-89 have no parallel in AC.
Bx.5.392KD.5.381
And avowed fastBx.5.392: fast: The idiomatic use of infinitive without to is found in LRG and original M. Nevertheless, Ax has to faste. Donaldson (1955), 198, takes faste as adverb. There is no parallel in C. See Adams (2000), 182. · for hunger or for thurst
Shal neuere fisshe on þeBx.5.393: þe: Supported by LR only. AC mss. are split. fryday · defien in my wombe
Accidia
Bx.5.396KD.5.385
¶ Þanne come sleuthe al bislabered · with two slym[ed]Bx.5.396: slymed: The form in alpha and many C mss., with beta adopting the commoner form slymy. The passage Bx.5.396-453 is not in A. eiȝen
I may nouȝte stonde ne stoupe · ne with-oute aBx.5.398: a: HmC and alpha drop the article. C mss. are split (RK.7.3). stole knele
Bx.5.404KD.5.393
¶ If I shulde deye bi þis dayBx.5.404: day: Alpha adds quod he, as in the P family of C. Beta reads as the X family. Schmidt (1995), 372, argues that the phrase is required for its liaison alliteration on /d/.
Cx has a revised b-verse. · me liste nouȝte to loke
Bx.5.408KD.5.397
¶ I haue made vowesBx.5.408: vowes: This is the form of Cx, against avowes in WHmF. fourty · and forȝete hem on [morwe]Bx.5.408: on morwe: O, F (= alpha?) and corrected M have this form, which receives support from Cx amorwe(n). R has uniquely or morwe, C has at morwe, LCrWHmG supply the definite article.
Ne ryȝte sori for my synnes · ȝetBx.5.410: ȝet: F supplies soþly for the alliteration of the b-verse, which Cx rewrites. was I neuere
With ydel tales atte ale · and otherwhile in cherchesBx.5.414: cherches: Beta2, G and alpha have the sg., but the plural is supported by Cx.
Bx.5.416KD.5.405
¶ I visited neuere fiebleBx.5.416: fieble: There is no support for alpha's non-alliterating seke. Cx agrees with beta. men · ne fettered folke in puttes
I ha[dd]eBx.5.417: hadde: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's present tense. leuere here an harlotrie · or a somer game of souteres
ÞanBx.5.419: Þan: Beta's conjunction (supported by Cx) is necessary to the sense. al þat euere Marke made · Mathew Iohan & lucas
Construe [it] clause[mel]Bx.5.430: it clausemel: Beta's oon clause wel is prompted by the unusual compound, "clause by clause". KD omit it, on the grounds that it lacks a referent (p. 186). Note that the L scribe left spaces for oon and wel which were later written in, suggesting that he was unable to read or make sense of his copy. Cx rewrites, blending Bx.5.430 and 432 as one line, RK.7.34. · and kenne it to my parochienes
I can holde louedayes · andBx.5.431: and: Alpha reads or. Cx has and in a revised line. here a Reues rekenynge
Bx.5.432KD.5.421
Ac in canoun ne in þeBx.5.432: þe: LMR and G, but omitted in others. Cx's revised line offers no evidence. decretales · I can nouȝte rede a lyne
¶ Ȝif I bigge and borwe itBx.5.433: it (1): Despite the auȝt of beta2 (CrWHm) and G, Bx appears to have read it, and shares the reading with the X family of C. The P family has the more specific ouht. · but ȝif it be ytailled
Bx.5.436KD.5.425
And þus tene IBx.5.436: tene I: So beta; the phrase is reversed in alpha. C has haue y tened and so offers no grounds for choice. trewe men · ten hundreth tymes
Reuthe is to here rekenyngeBx.5.438: rekenynge: So LM and alpha, supported by the X family of C. Other B mss. and the P family add the definite article. · whan we shal rede acomptes
And euere sith beBx.5.451: be: So LR and original M. The M corrector inserts haue, in line with other mss. (haue I in WHmO). Cx includes haue I be in a reordered a-verse. beggere · for my foule sleuthe
¶ Repentest þeBx.5.453: Repentest þe: The reading of alpha and Cx. LM presumably record the form of beta, Repentestow þe, which the other witnesses simplify by dropping the reflexive pronoun. Cf. the variants at Bx.5.234, where we again follow alpha and Cx. nauȝte quod repentance · and riȝte with þat he swowned
Bx.5.456KD.5.444
And seide ware þe framBx.5.456: fram: CrWO read for, and CrW punctuate after þe (1), taking for as a conjunction. AC mss. are divided. wanhope · wolde þe bitraye
I am sori for my synnes · sey soBx.5.457: so: LM and alpha, thus secure for Bx, but AC are without it. to þi-selue
Shal no sondaye be þis seuene ȝere · butBx.5.462: but: MHmR have but ȝif, as in the X family of C, but not in Ax. F omits the line. sykenesse it lette
And ȝete wil IBx.5.467: And ȝete wil I: Beta is supported by Ax. The a-verse is rewritten in C (RK.6.309). R's reading, What I nam, apparently represents alpha, revised by F. ȝelde aȝein · if I so moche haue
So rewe on þis robbereBx.5.479: þis robbere: Certainly Bx, though F has me Robbere, and Hm is altered to that reading. Most mss. of A have þis Robert, though four A mss. and the P family of C have me Robert, while the X family has simply Robert (K.5.241, RK.6.321). See Schmidt (2008), 351. · þat reddere ne haue
Bx.5.480KD.5.468
Ne neuere wene to wynne · with crafte þat I [kn]oweBx.5.480: knowe: The reading of alpha, Ax and Cx (from where Cr derives it). Beta has owe.
Bx.5.485: The line is omitted by alpha, but it is in AC. And knowleched his gult · to cryst ȝete eftsones
And of nauȝte madest auȝte · and man moste liche toBx.5.493: to: LR and WHmCO, but not in MCrGF or most C mss. (RK.7.123). Bx.5.489-528 are not in A. þi-selue
And sithen suffredest [hym]Bx.5.494: hym: Beta reads for, but alpha is supported by Cx. to synne · a sikenesse to vs alle
Bx.5.496KD.5.483α
O felix culpa o necessarium peccatum adeBx.5.496: peccatum ade: The word-order ade peccatum in MGO is also recorded in four C mss. &c
But in owre secte was þeBx.5.505: þe: Alpha has þat. Without a parallel in C, we follow copy-text. sorwe · and þi sone it ladde
¶ Þe sonne for sorwe þer-of · les syȝteBx.5.507: syȝte: So LHmCG and alpha, and secure for Bx. M (corrected) and CrWO read light; if this is an error picked up from the following line, as the alliterative pattern suggests, it nevertheless became Cx. for a tyme
Feddest [þo]Bx.5.509: þo: Alpha's reading is supported both by sense ("at that time fed ...") and by Cx. with þi fresche blode · owre forfadres in derknesse
Bx.5.512KD.5.495
And blewe alle þi blissed [þennes]Bx.5.512: þennes: Alpha's adverb is included in the revised line in C. · in-to þe blisse of paradise
Of þyne douȝtiestBx.5.518: douȝtiest: LM and alpha have the superlative; a good example of the superiority of LMR in representing Bx. All except four C mss. also have the superlative. See Adams (2000), 177. dedes · were don in owre armes
And haue reutheBx.5.523: reuthe: Alpha's mercy is obviously a substitution. on þise Ribaudes · þat repente hemBx.5.523: hem: Most beta mss. have hem here, but we do not include here since it is not supported by Cx. On the other hand the adverb would easily be dropped from the phrase, and it pertinently foreshadows in þis worlde, on which see note. sore
Bx.5.524KD.5.505
Þat euere þei wratthed þe in þis worldeBx.5.524: in þis worlde: The inclusion of the phrase, omitted by alpha, gives the usual alliterative pattern. It may, however, represent beta's desire
to emphasise here, added in the previous line. It is not in the heavily revised line in C. · in worde þouȝte or dedesBx.5.524: dedes: The plural is supported by LWR. The rest have sg., as does C in a revised line.
¶ Þanne hent hope an horne · of deus tu conuersus viuificabis [nos]Bx.5.525: nos: Dropped in beta (supplied in CrG); supported by Cx. A prayer from the Mass; see Alford (1992), 50.
To haueBx.5.531: To haue: Since beta's reading is supported by Cx, alpha (= R?) must have offered a defective a-verse rewritten by F. grace to go with hem [·] treuthe to seke
Bx.5.532KD.5.513
¶Bx.5.532: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. Ac þere was wyȝte non so wys · þe wey þider couthe
A bolleBx.5.538: bolle: Beta is supported by AC against alpha's bulle (K.6.7, RK.7.164). and a bagge · he bare by his syde
Bx.5.540KD.5.521
Signes of [a-sise]Bx.5.540: a-sise: i.e. Assisi, on which see Skeat (1886), 101. This is R's reading alone, but probably represents alpha. F rewrites, and beta
has synay. Most A mss. have the beta reading, but a few (including Bodley 851 (Z)) refer to Assisi instead. Cx has syse. The reference to synay in l. 545 may have prompted beta's reading here; alternatively alpha may record an authorial revision. [·] and shelles of galice
And many a cruche on his cloke · and keyesBx.5.541: keyes: Alpha has the definite article, but it is not supported by AC. of Rome
Bx.5.552KD.5.533
Coudestow auȝteBx.5.552: auȝte: LMWR and revised Hm, so presumably Bx, repeated from the line above. A few A mss. include the word, but it is not in C. The repetition perhaps prompted the other B scribes, CrCGOF, to drop it. wissen vs þe weye · where þat wy dwelleth
Axen after hym er [·] tilBx.5.555: er til: MF drop er and CO drop til. L's mispunctuation of the line suggests why scribes found one or other otiose. Ax has er only; C mss. divide between er and but. now in þis place
Bx.5.556KD.5.537
[¶]Bx.5.556: ¶: The line is at the top of the page in L, and the rubricator presumably missed the paraph which is in WHmC and alpha, with
a new line-group in M. Peter quod a plowman · and put forth his hed
And deden me suren hymBx.5.559: hym(1): Alpha's plural recognises the two characters of the previous line, but receives no support from AC. sikerly · to serue hym for euere
Bx.5.560KD.5.541
Bothe to sowe and to sette [·] þe whileBx.5.560: þe while: In dropping þe, MGF have the reading of Ax; the other mss. have the Cx version. I swynke myghte
I haue ben his folwar · al þis fourtyBx.5.561: fourty: LM and alpha, against fifty in other mss. Support from AC again demonstrates the superiority of this set of mss. See Adams (2000), 177. wyntre
In tailoures crafte andBx.5.566: and: In the absence of AC parallels, R's in remains a possibility as the less obvious reading. tynkares crafte · what treuthe can deuyse
Ich haue myn huire [of hym]Bx.5.569: of hym: Alpha's phrase, omitted by beta, is supported by AC. wel · and otherwhiles more
HeBx.5.571: He: Beta has He ne, but it is not supported by Cx or by most A mss. with-halt non heweBx.5.571: hewe: Clearly beta's reading, though avoided by CrG, and revised by Hm. Alpha has men. See variants at Bx.4.109 for similar avoidance. The majority A reading is hyne; C mss. have hewe and higne. his hyre · þat he ne hath it at euenBx.5.571: at euen: Presumably alpha corrupted to a none, understood by R as "anon" and very characteristically improved by F to soone. Though Ax has the same b-verse as beta, Cx drops þat he ne hath it.
¶ Nay bi my soules [perel]Bx.5.577: soules perel: The reading of R (= alpha?), with support from AC which both read bi þe perel of my soule. The beta reading was probably the commonplace soule(s) helth (cf. Bx.5.550 and note), with helth lost in CO, possibly as a result of misunderstanding an endingless genitive. On this assumption, F dropped perel, perhaps to accentuate alliteration on /s/. quod pieres · and gan forto swere
Treuthe wolde loue me þe lasse · a longe tyme þere-afterBx.5.579: þere-after: Supported for Bx by LR and WHm and Cr (therfor after), although other mss. omit þere. But either Bx itself or LR and beta2 may have added the word to improve an unmetrical (x / x / x) b-verse, since there is no support from
AC.
Bx.5.580KD.5.560
Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel · þis is þe weye thiderBx.5.580: CO follow this with a line that is certainly spurious.
¶ And so boweth forth bi a broke · beth buxum ofBx.5.586: of: Alpha's of þi is not supported by Ax. Cx rewrites the b-verse. speche
[Þe]Bx.5.594: Þe: Alpha's reading is supported by Cx, although A mss. split between this and beta's reading That. We take into account the scribal tendency to emphasise. crofte hat coueyte nouȝte · mennes catelBx.5.594: mennes catel: Another very characteristic example of the practices of the two alpha scribes. It appears that R represents alpha in reading
men, and F rewrote inventively, no doubt puzzled by the non-scriptural imputation of homosexuality. ne her wyues
Bx.5.596KD.5.575
Loke ȝeBx.5.596: ȝe: R alone (= alpha?) has þow (F rewrites), but it is supported by AC. However ȝowre in the b-verse in all B witnesses suggests that a-verse ȝe is also Bx. The odd, apparently random, switching to the sg. in Piers' speech, when he is speaking to the group, is a feature of all
three versions. Ax matches Cx except at K.6.52 (sg.) = RK.7.212 (pl.) = Bx.5.585 (sg.). But Bx differs from the other two versions with pl. in Bx.5.596-7 and 604 (despite the surrounding sg.). breke no bowes þere · but if it be ȝowre owne
Bx.5.600KD.5.579
And holde wel þyne haliday [·]Bx.5.600: L misplaces the punctus after heighe. heighe til euen
Thanne shaltow blenche at a bergh · bere no false witnesseBx.5.601: Following this line F alone has a rather competent line.
And kerneled with crystendome · [þat] kyndeBx.5.609: þat kynde: "that essential substance, distinctive feature" (of the courte). All B mss. apart from R have man kynde, but R has the reading of AC. Both beta and F made the easy error. to saue
Boterased with bileue so · or þow beest nouȝte ysauedBx.5.610: ysaued: Though the prefix creates two long dips in the b-verse (x x / x x / x), it is supported by LMR (and Hm has be-). Some C mss. have it also.
¶ Biddeth amende ȝow meke him · t[o]Bx.5.622: to: MGO and alpha, against til in LCrWHmC. Although there is total support in favour of to from AC, that cannot in this case determine the reading of Bx. Some mss., notably HmCrGF, commonly have to when others have til in the sense "to", but R is not generally among them. See Bx.9.88, 10.390, 11.390, 17.149, 18.69, 18.417 (where alpha has to), and 19.429. In Bx.5.144 R has til (2x) against to in others; in 5.632 CO have til against to in others. his maistre ones
Per euam cuntis clausa est · & per mariam virginem [iterum] patefacta estBx.5.625: iterum patefacta est: Alpha has iterum, beta has patefacta est, and Cx has both. The line is not in A. See Alford (1992), 51.
And if grace graunte þe · to go in inBx.5.627: in in: So the best beta mss., LM, but the second in is almost inevitably lost in all others including R (F omits the line). Half the A mss. and the majority of C mss. are also without it. þis wise
¶ Ac bewar þanne of wrath þeBx.5.631: þe: So LWHmGR, but not supported by AC, and presumably a result of false division in Bx (wraþþe as in O > wraþ þe). Note, however, that wrath can be reflexive, and that Schmidt (2008), 360-1, adopts the reading. · þat is a wikked shrewe
And pukketh forþBx.5.633: forþ: Omitted by alpha (and part of a correction in L), but supported by most A mss. and by Cx, as well as by sense. pruyde [·] to prayse þi-seluen
Bx.5.640KD.5.618
¶ Ac þere ar seuene sustrenBx.5.640: sustren: Beta is supported by AC. R's ȝiftes probably represents an alpha error, smoothed by F to seruauntys. · þat seruen treuthe euere
And aren porteres ofouerBx.5.641: of / ouer: Beta and Ax have of, but R and Cx have ouer. F reads at. þe posternes · that to þe place longeth
Largenesse þe lady · heoBx.5.645: heo: Probably the h- form is Bx, here and in the next line. In both cases R has he(o) and M is altered to she, the form in other mss. (AC omit the pronoun). Elsewhere in L heo is preserved in lines alliterating on /h/: Bx.1.75, 3.29. See Introduction IV.1. let in ful manye
Heo hath hulpe a þousande outeBx.5.646: OF punctuate this line of uncertain structure before oute. It has no parallel in AC. · of þe deueles ponfolde
Bx.5.648KD.5.626
HeBx.5.648: He: R has Heo and F rewrites. Ax has He and Cx omits the pronoun. is wonderliche welcome · and faire vnderfongen
And but ifBx.5.649: if: Omitted by MCrF, and by nine A mss. (the line is not in C). ȝe be syb · to summe of þise seuene
It is ful harde bi myne heued quod PeresBx.5.650: quod Peres: Not in AC, dropped in G by contamination, and anticipated in the previous line by F. · for any of ȝow alle
NeBx.5.653: Ne: The form is supported by LM and alpha and AC against Nor in others. I quod an apewarde · bi auȝte þat I knowe
Mercy is a maydene þere · hath myȝte ouer hemBx.5.657: hem: Omitted by WHmCGO, but supported by AC. alle
¶ By seynt Poule quod a pardonere · parauenture I be nouȝte knowe þereBx.5.661: knowe þere: Alpha instead reads welcome. Neither reading is compelling: beta's is prosaic, but on the other hand welcome is not elsewhere used to end a line. The line is not in AC.
[¶]Bx.5.663: ¶: The usual paraph at the start of a speech is supported by WHmC and alpha. By cryst quod a comune womman · þi companye wil I folwe