Passus Sextus de visione vt supra

This were a wikked way · but who-so hadde a gyde
That wolde folwen vs eche a fote · þus þis folke hem mened
Bx.6.3: WF have a paraph and R starts a new line group.Quatȝ Perkyn þe plouman · bi seynt Peter of Rome
Bx.6.4KD.6.4
I haue an half acre to erye · bi þe heigh way
Hadde I eried þis half acre · and sowen it after
I wilBx.6.6: wil: The reading of LR and C. The past tense is to be expected after Hadde, and so wolde is more likely to be scribal. Ax probably has the latter, as do most C mss., but XYJ have wol. wende with ȝow · and þe way teche
¶ Þis were a longe lettynge · quod a lady in a sklayre
Bx.6.8KD.6.8
What sholde we wommen · worche þere-whilesBx.6.8: þere-whiles: So LM and alpha; see MED ther-whiles. Other mss. have þe while(s), the AC reading. Adams (2000), 177.
¶ Somme shal sowe [þe]Bx.6.9: þe (1): Dropped in L, but supported by all B mss. except M, which has the plural noun. sakke quod Piers · for shedyng of þe whete
And ȝe louely ladyes · with ȝoure longe fyngres
Þat ȝe han silke and sendal · to sowe whan tyme is
Bx.6.12KD.6.12
Chesibles for chapelleynes · cherches to honoure
¶ Wyues and wydwes · wolle & flex spynneth
Maketh cloth I conseille ȝow · and kenneth so ȝowre douȝtres
Þe nedy and þe naked · nymmeth hede how hijBx.6.15: hij: LM. R records the reduced form a (its reading hym in the next line suggests the scribe took it as a sg.). Other mss. have þei. liggeth
Bx.6.16KD.6.16
And casteth hem clothes · for so comaundeth treuthe
For I shal lene hem lyflode · but ȝif þe londe faille
Flesshe and bred bothe · to riche and to pore
As longe as I lyue · for þe lordes loue of heuene
Bx.6.20KD.6.19
¶ And alle manere of men · þat þorw mete and drynke lybbeth
Helpith hym to worche wiȝtliche · þat wynneth ȝowre fode
¶ Bi crist quod a knyȝte þo · he kenneth vs þe best
Ac on þe teme trewly · tauȝte was I neuere
Bx.6.24KD.6.23
Ac kenne me quod þe knyȝte · and bi cryst I wil assaye
¶ Bi seynt Poule quod Perkyn · ȝe profre ȝow so faire
Þat I shal swynke and swete · and sowe for vs bothe
And oþer labour[er]esBx.6.27: laboureres: The misspelling (presumably an otiose abbreviation) is corrected by most beta mss. (visibly in G) to laboures. The Hm corrector alters the line to make sense, and F revises similarly. R copies faithfully, as usual. do for þi loue · al my lyf-tyme
Bx.6.28KD.6.27
In couenaunt þat þow kepe · holikirkeBx.6.28: kirke: On alpha's non-alliterating cherche see Introduction IV.1. and my-selue
Fro wastoures and froBx.6.29: and fro: Support from LR and beta2 (CrWHm) + G against and. AC mss. vary similarly. wykked men · þat þis worlde struyeth
¶ And go hunte hardiliche [·] to hares and to foxes
To bores and to [b]ockesBx.6.31: bockes: "bucks". Beta has the easy error brockes, "badgers", perhaps anticipating br- in the b-verse. R (= alpha?) is supported by AC; F rewrites. · þat breketh adown myne hegges
Bx.6.32KD.6.31
And go affaite þ[i]Bx.6.32: þi: So also Cx. Only LCrG have the definite article. faucones · wilde foules to kille
For suche cometh to my croft · and croppeth my whete
¶ Curteislich þe knyȝte þanne · comsed þise wordes
By my power Pieres quod he · I pliȝte þe my treuthe
Bx.6.36KD.6.35
To fulfille þis forward · þowȝ I fiȝte sholde
Als longe as I lyue · I shal þe mayntene
¶ Ȝe and ȝit a poynt quod Pieres · I preye ȝow of more
Loke ȝe tene no tenaunt · but treuthe wil assent
Bx.6.40KD.6.39
And þowgh ȝe mowe amercy hemBx.6.40: hem: Beta's reading is more satisfactory in sense and metre, yet alpha's men receives some support from C's a-verse And when ȝe mersyen eny man (RK.8.37), where it is needed for the alliteration. · late mercy be taxoure
And mekenesse þi mayster · maugre medes chekes
And þowgh pore men profre ȝow · presentis and ȝiftis
Nym it nauȝte an auenture · [þow]Bx.6.43: þow: Alpha is here supported by AC. The pl. forms in ll. 38, 39, 40 and 42 are also in Cx (but Ax has sg.); F alters to sg. throughout, and R alters to pl. in 41. mowe it nauȝte deserue
Bx.6.44KD.6.43
For þow shalt ȝelde it aȝein · at one ȝeres ende
In a ful perillous place · purgatorie it hatte
¶ And mysbede nouȝte þi bonde-menmanBx.6.46: -men / -man: Beta has the Ax pl. while alpha has the sg. as Cx. · þe better may þow spede
Þowgh he be þyn vnderlynge here · wel may happe in heuene
Bx.6.48KD.6.47
Þat he worth worthier sette · and with more blisse
Amice ascende superius
For in charnelBx.6.50: in charnel: R probably represents alpha with the amusing error in a chanel, "gutter", sensibly revised to in a chapel by F. a[t]Bx.6.50: at: LMHm have atte, which represents "at the" in L (see Bx.P.107, 3.31, 6.55, etc.). CrWGR have at, which has some support from C's At churche in the Charnel. chirche · cherlesBx.6.50: cherles: Supported by C and by alliteration against alpha's clerkes. ben yuel to knowe
Or a kniȝte fram a knaue þere · knowe þis in þin herte
Bx.6.52KD.6.50
And þat þow be trewe of þiBx.6.54: þi: Beta is supported by Ax and the X family of C against alpha's omission. The P family reads hys. tonge · and tales þat þow hatie
But if þei ben of wisdome or of witt · þi werkmen to chaste
HoldeHolde nauȝtBx.6.54: Holde / Holde nauȝt: Beta agrees with Ax, against Holde nauȝt in alpha and Cx. with none harlotes · ne here nouȝte her tales
And nameliche atte mete · suche men eschue
Bx.6.56KD.6.54
For it ben þe deueles disoures · I do þe to vnderstande
¶ I assente bi seynt Iame · seyde þe kniȝte þanne
Forto worche bi þi wordes · þe while my lyf dureth
¶ And I shal apparaille me quod Perkyn · in pilgrimes wise
Bx.6.60KD.6.58
And wende with ȝow I wil · til we fynde treuthe
¶ And cast on meBx.6.61: me: Although attested only by LR, it is more likely to have been lost than added, and has support from the Cx third-person version, caste on hym his clothes (RK.8.58). However, Adams (2000), 183, sees me as "random convergence". my clothes · yclouted and hole
My cokeres and my coffes · for colde of my nailles
And hange myn hoper at myn hals · in stede of a scrippe
Bx.6.64KD.6.62
A busshel of bredcorne · brynge me þerinne
For I wil sowe it my-self · and sitthenes wil I wende
To pylgrymage as palmers don · pardoun forto haue
¶ Ac who-so helpeth me to erie · or sowen hereBx.6.67: here: Good support from LMR and WHm, strengthening the alliteration of the b-verse, though dropped in CrGOCF. A and C have different b-verses. ar I wende
Bx.6.68KD.6.66
Shal haue leue bi owre lorde · to lese here in heruest
And make h[y]mBX.6.69: hym: Alpha's sg. is supported by AC over beta's plural. mery þere-mydde · maugre who-so bigruccheth itBx.6.69: bigruccheth it: So LMCrW, and so probably beta. The X family of C has bigruchen hit, but the P family is without hit, as are beta4 and F (in Hm it appears to have been erased). Scribes may have been uncomfortable with two unstressed syllables at line-end. In R and Ax the pronoun precedes the verb. We follow copy-text.
¶ And alkyn crafty men · þat konne lyuen in treuthe
I shal fynden hem fode · þat feithfulliche libbeth
Bx.6.72KD.6.70
¶ Saue Iakke þe iogeloure · and Ionet of þe stues
And danyel þe dys playere · and denote þe baude
And frere þe faytoure [·] and folke of his ordre
And Robyn þe Rybaudoure · for his rusty wordes
Bx.6.76KD.6.74
Treuthe tolde me ones · and bad me tellen it after
Deleantur de libro viuencium [·] I shulde nouȝte dele with hem
For holicherche is hote [·]Bx.6.78: The line is punctuated after hote in MCrC and alpha, after hem in LWO. The former is supported by the alliterative pattern. of hem no tythe to [aske]Bx.6.78: aske: The reading of R is supported by AC. That F agrees with beta take makes the Bx reading uncertain, but it is an easy error, typical of F in increasing the alliteration, especially in a line where the pattern puzzles some scribes, and indeed it is found as a minor variant in both A and C mss.
Quia cum iustis non scribantur
Bx.6.80KD.6.77
They ben ascaped good auenture · nowBx.6.80: now: So LM and alpha, supported by AC. god hem amende
¶ Dame worche whan tyme is · Pieres wyf hiȝte
His douȝter hiȝte do riȝte so · or þi dame shal þe bete
His sone hiȝte suffre þi souereynes · to hauenhauenBx.6.83: to hauen / hauen: Beta includes to as Ax, which alpha and Cx omit. her willeBx.6.83: The line alliterates aaa/xx, which prompts OR to punctuate the line after suffre (which F drops), disregarding the syntactic break after souereynes.
Bx.6.84KD.6.81
Deme hem nouȝte for if þow doste · þow shalt it dere abugge
Late god yworth with al · for so his worde techeth
¶ For now I am olde and hore · and haue of myn owen
To penaunce and to pilgrimage · I wil passe with þiseBx.6.87: þise: The demonstrative, which seems preferable in terms of sense, is supported by L (but not M), by CrW (but not Hm), by R (but not F). AC mss. vary in the same way. other
Bx.6.88KD.6.85
For-þi I wil or I wende · do wryte my biqueste
Bx.6.89-91: These three lines in beta are set out as two in alpha, divided after soule and dropping for so I bileue. AC set the lines as beta. In dei nomine amen · I make it my-seluen
He shal haue my soule · þat best hath yseruedBx.6.90: yserued: LCGOR, and so Bx. But M and beta2 have deserued, as does A. C rewrites the b-verse. it
And fro þe fende it defendeBx.6.91: Beta's version of the a-verse is confirmed by AC. · for so I bileue
Bx.6.92KD.6.89
Til I come to his acountes · as my cred[e]Bx.6.92: crede: Alpha's form is supported by AC. me tellethtellethBx.6.92: me telleth / telleth: Beta reads as Ax, while alpha and Cx omit me.
To haue a relees and a remissioun · on þat rental I leue
¶ Þe kirke shal haue my caroigne · and kepe my bones
For of my corne and catel · heBx.6.95: he: In a clear example of sophistication, CrW alter to she, but the following lines confirm the masculine. craued þe tythe
Bx.6.96KD.6.93
I payed it hym prestly · for peril of my soule
For-thy is he holden I hope · to haue me in his masse
And mengenBx.6.98: mengen: F adds me by contamination from AC. in his memorye · amonge alle crystene
¶ My wyf shal haue of þat I wan · with treuthe and nomore
Bx.6.100KD.6.97
And dele amonge my douȝtres · and my dere children
For þowgh I deyeBx.6.101: deye: Beta's present is supported by AC, though a few mss. in all versions have the past. Cf. l. 123. to-daye · my dettes arBx.6.101: dettes ar: R's sg. is also the reading of the X family of C. quitte
I bare home þat I borwed · ar I to bedde ȝede
¶ And with þe residue and þe remenaunte · bi þe Rode of Lukes
Bx.6.104KD.6.101
I wil worschip þer-with · treuthe bi my lyue
And ben his pilgryme atte plow · for pore mennes sake
My plow-[p]oteBx.6.106: -pote: Alpha has support from AC (K.7.95, RK.8.64), though in all three versions the second element of the compound is also recorded as fote, bat, and staf. MED, recording no other instance, supposes the implement is probably "to remove earth adhering to a plow, or to chop roots" (plough, 1c (e)). Kane (2005) glosses as "ploughman's staff used to give added thrust to the coulter". shal be my pyk-staf · and picche atwoBx.6.106: atwo: Beta's reading is also that of Cx, though two mss. have at (as R) and two away (as F). Though Kane's A text has putte at, both verb and preposition vary widely, though no ms. has atwo. þe rotes
And helpe my culter to kerue · and clense þe forwes
Bx.6.108KD.6.105
¶ Now is perkyn and [þ]isBx.6.108: þis: The X family of C agrees with R. Most A mss. and the P family of C share F's reading þe. We suppose that Bx þis is a slightly more likely source than þe of beta's his. pilgrymes · to þe plowe faren
To erie þis halue acre · holpyn hym manye
Dikeres & delueres · digged vp þe balkes
Þere-with was perkyn apayed · and preysed hem faste
Bx.6.112KD.6.109
Other werkemen þere were · þat wrouȝten ful ȝerne
Eche man in his manere · made hym-self to done
And some to plese perkyn · piked vp þe wedes
¶ At heighe pryme peres · lete þe plowe stonde
Bx.6.116KD.6.113
ToBx.6.116: To: R's And ȝeed to must represent alpha (cf. F), but it has no support from AC. ouersen hem hym-self · and who-so best wrouȝte
He shulde be huyred þer-after · whan heruest tyme come
¶ And þanne seten somme · and songen atte nale
And hulpenBx.6.119: hulpen: There is no support for R's ho helpen to. erie his half acre · with how trolli lolliBx.6.119: F's additional line is unusually amusing as well as metrical, but it has no parallel in any version of the poem.
Bx.6.120KD.6.117
¶ Now bi þe peril of my soule quod Pieres · al in pure tene
But ȝe arise þe rather · and rape ȝow to worche
Shal no greyne þat groweth · glade ȝow at nede
And þough ȝe deyeBx.6.123: deye: As in the parallel l. 101, R has the past tense, but it is not supported by AC. for dole · þe deuel haue þat recch[e]Bx.6.123: recche: Alpha's subjunctive is supported by AC.
Bx.6.124KD.6.121
¶ Tho were faitoures aferde · and feyned hem blynde
Somme leyde here legges aliri as suche loseles conneth
And made her mone to pieres · and preyde hym of grace
For we haue no lymes to laboure with · lorde ygraced be ȝe
Bx.6.128KD.6.125
Bx.6.128: : The paraph is recorded in LR and marked by a space in M. Ac we preye for ȝow pieres · and for ȝowre plow bothe
Þat god of his grace · ȝowre grayne multiplye
And ȝelde ȝow ofBx.6.130: of: Beta2 (CrWHm) and G have for, as do a few AC mss. ȝowre almesse · þat ȝe ȝiue vs here
For we may nouȝte swynke ne swete · suche sikenesse vs eyleth
Bx.6.132KD.6.129
¶ If it be soth quod pieres þat ȝe seyne · I shal it sone asspye
Ȝe ben wastoures I wote wel · andBx.6.133: and: R's omission is not supported by Ax. R has three unique readings in this line. treuthe wote þe sothe
And I am his olde hyne · and hiȝte hym to warne
Which þei were in þis worlde · his werkemen appeyredBx.6.135: appeyred: GR have the present (F has wolde a-peyre). The parallel line in A, Suche wastours in þis world his werkmen distroyeþ (K.7.124), is too different to offer support.
Bx.6.136KD.6.133
¶ Ȝe wasten þat men wynnen · with trauaille and with tene
Ac treuthe shal teche ȝow · his teme to dryue
Or ȝe shal ete barly bred · and of þe broke drynke
But if he be blynde [or]Bx.6.139: or (1): There is no support for L's and in any version, though note that and probably underlies the correction or in M. broke-legged · or bolted with yrnes
Bx.6.140KD.6.137
He shal ete whete bred · and drynke with my-selue
Tyl god of his goodnesse · amendement hym sende
Bx.6.142: Hm and alpha have a paraph.Ac ȝe myȝte trauaille as treuthe wolde · and take mete & huyre
To kepe kyne in þe felde · þe corne fro þe bestes
Bx.6.144KD.6.141
Diken or deluen or dyngen vppon sheues
Or helpe make morter · or bere mukke afelde
¶ In lecherye and in losengerye · ȝe lyuen and in sleuthe
And al is þorw suffrance · þat venjaunce ȝow ne taketh
Bx.6.148KD.6.145
¶ Ac ancres and heremytes · þat eten but at nones
And namore er morwe · myne almesse shul þei haue
And of myBx.6.150: of my: LM and alpha. Beta2 (CrWHm) and G drop my; CO drop both words. This passage is not in AC. catel to copeBx.6.150: cope: LMR and CO, with F revising to kouere. Beta2 (CrWHm) and G read kepe. For the collocation with catel, "provide resources for clothing", see Bx.5.271. hem with · þat han cloistres and cherches
Bx.6.151: WHmCF have a paraph.Ac robert renneaboute · shal nouȝte haue of myne
Bx.6.152KD.6.149
Ne posteles but þey preche conne · and haue powere of þe bisschop
They shal haue payne and potage · and make hem-self at ese
For it is an vnresonable Religioun · þat hath riȝte nouȝte of certeyne
¶ And þanne gan a wastoure to wrath hym · and wolde haue yfouȝte
Bx.6.156KD.6.153
And to Pieres þe plowman · he profered his gloue
A Brytonere a braggere · a bostedBx.6.157: a bosted: As one word in all except CrCGOF. Presumably not all scribes recognised this as "he threatened" but took it as an unparalleled compound verb. Ax has he bostide. RK.8.152 records abostede, but it is questioned by Kane (2005) s.v. pieres als
And bad hym go pissen withBx.6.158: with: Beta supported by AC. Alpha tones down the vulgarism. his plow · for-pyned schrewe
Wiltow or neltow · we wil haue owre wille
Bx.6.160KD.6.157
OfBx.6.160: Of: Alpha probably read And of. Beta is supported by Ax, but alpha by the X family of C; the P family has Boþe. þi flowre and of þi flessche · fecche whan vs liketh
And make vs myrie þer-mydeBx.6.161: þer-myde: M is joined by HmCG with þere-with. The half-line is repeated from l. 69 where HmC have the variation. Ax has -wiþ, but the best C mss. read -myde. See note to Bx.7.26, and cf. 15.144. · maugre þi chekes
¶ Thanne Pieres þe plowman · pleyned hym to þe knyȝte
To kepe hym as couenaunte was · fram cursed shrewes
Bx.6.164KD.6.161
And fro þis wastoures wolueskynnes · þat maketh þ[is]Bx.6.164: þis (2): R represents alpha since F drops the line, and is supported by Cx (RK.8.158) against beta's þe. G also has þis. worlde dere
For þo waste and wynnen nouȝte · and þat ilke while
Worth neuere plente amonge þe poeple · þer-whileBx.6.166: þer-while: So LMC, and probably beta. R, which may be right, has þe while in line with other mss.; F reads while. Cx has and. Cf. 6.8n. my plow liggeth
¶ Curteisly þe knyȝte þanne · as his kynde wolde
Bx.6.168KD.6.165
Warned wastoure · and wissed hym bettere
Or þow shalt abugge by þe lawe · by þe ordre þat I bere
¶ I was nouȝt wont to worche quod wastour · and now wil I nouȝt bigynne
And lete liȝteBx.1.171: liȝte: Alpha with Hm have the adverbial form liȝtly, but beta has the form recorded in AC and elsewhere in the poem. of þe lawe [·] and lasse of þe knyȝte
Bx.6.172KD.6.169
And sette Pieres at a pees · and his plow bothe
And manaced pieres and his men · ȝif þei mette eft-sone
¶ NowBx.1.174: Now: Supported by AC, despite alpha's omission. by þe peril of my soule quod Pieres · I shal apeyre ȝow alle
And houped after hunger · þat herd hym atte firste
Bx.6.176KD.6.173
Awreke me of þise wastoures quod he · þat þis worlde schendethBx.6.176: schendeth: Plural, as schende(n) in alpha.
¶ Hunger in haste þo · hent wastour bi þe mawe
And wronge hym so bi þe wombe · þat [al wattered] his eyenBx.6.178: We adopt R's b-verse, which is that of AC, and conforms to the standard alliterative pattern, though it is unmetrical (x x / x x / x). If R reproduces alpha, this leaves the question of how F shares the beta reading. In fact four A mss. have the same reading as beta, and five more have the same noun-verb word-order omitting bothe. Either F is contaminated, or else the scribe independently corrupted to the easier reading ("prose order", KD, p. 168 n. 89) just as some A scribes did.
He buffeted þe Britoner [·] aboute þe chekes
Bx.6.180KD.6.177
Þat he loked like a lanterne · al his lyf after
He bette hem so bothe · he barste nere here guttes
Ne hadde Pieres with a pese lof · preyed hunger cesseBx.6.182: cesse: Beta has to cesse, and it may be right, but to is perhaps supplied to fill a short b-verse. Cf. 3.334, but for a counter-example cf. 1.82. AC have preyed hym beleue.
They hadde ben doluen bothe · ne deme þow non other
Bx.6.184KD.6.181
Suffre hem lyue he seyde · and lete hem ete with hogges
Or elles benes and bren · ybaken togideres
Or elles melke and meneBx.6.186: mene: "inferior" (MED mene adj.(1), 3(a)). But CO and alpha have meyne which, in R at least, is used only as a spelling of MED meine n., "household"; cf. meine 1(b) ~ bord, referring to a more humble table. MED does not record the compound meine-ale. The line is not in AC and is rejected by KD. ale · þus preyed pieres for hem
¶ Faitoures for fere her-of · flowen in-to bernes
Bx.6.188KD.6.184
And flapten on with flayles · fram morwe til euen
That hunger was nouȝt hardyBx.6.189: hardy: Beta has so hardy, but alpha is supported by Cx. A mss. are split. · on hem forto loke
For a potful of peses · þat peres hadde ymaked
[¶]Bx.6.191: : The paraph is in WHmC and alpha. In LM the paraph was easily missed since the line is at the top of the page in both. Though evidently Bx, it is inappropriate in splitting 190 from 191. An heep of heremites · henten hem spades
Bx.6.192KD.6.188
And ketten here copes · and courtpies hem made
And wenten as werkemen · with spades and with schoueles
And doluen and dykeden · to dryue aweye hunger
¶ Blynde and bedreden · were botened a þousande
Bx.6.196KD.6.192
Þat seten to begge syluer · sone were þei heled
For þat was bake for bayarde · was bote forBx.6.197: bote for: So beta and Cx (line not in A). R has bote to. many hungry
And many a beggere for benes · buxome was to swynke
And eche aBx.6.199: eche a: Supported by LR and WCO, against eche in others. A standard variant; cf. Bx.3.318n, 5.89, etc. The line is not in AC. pore man wel apayedBx.6.199: apayed: Supported by LR and CrWHm, against paied in others. · to haue pesen for his huyre
Bx.6.200KD.6.196
And what pieres preyed hem to do · as prest as a sperhauke
And þere-of was peres proude · and put hem to werke
And ȝaf hem mete as he myȝte aforth · and mesurable huyre
¶ Þanne hadde peres pite · and preyed hunger to wende
Bx.6.204KD.6.200
Home in-to his owne erdBx.6.204: erd: The form in LR and original M, from OE eard. Beta2 (CrWHm) and revised M have yerd, from OE geard. · and holden hym þere
For I am wel awroke nowBx.6.205: now: Supported by LMOC and alpha, but omitted by beta2 (CrWHm) and G, as also (coincidentally?) by Cx. The line is not in A. · of wastoures þorw þi myȝte
Ac I preye þe ar þow passe · quod Pieres toBx.6.206: to: Alpha may be right with þo to, creating a long dip, as G does independently with vn-to. A and C have two different versions of the b-verse. hunger
Of beggeres and of bidderes · what best be [to]Bx.6.207: be to: L alone drops to. Most C mss. have the subjunctive as in beta; most A mss. have the phrase as in F, though five have R's order. done
Bx.6.208KD.6.204
For I wote wel be þow went · þei wil worche ful ille
For myschief it maketh · þei beth so meke nouthe
And for defaute of her fode · þis folke is at my wille
[It]Bx.6.211: It: All other mss. have Þey, but R is supported by AC. For the formal it as equivalent to "they", see Mustanoja (1960), 132-3; and cf. Bx.6.56, where GF again read þei for it. are my blody bretheren quod pieres · for god bouȝte vs alle
Bx.6.212KD.6.208
Treuthe tauȝte me ones · to louye hem vchone
And to helpen hem of alle þinge · ay as hem nedeth
And now wolde I witen of þe · what were þe best
AnBx.6.215: An: "and". how I myȝte amaistrien hem · and make hem to worche
Bx.6.216KD.6.212
¶ Here now quod hunger · and holde it for a wisdome
Bolde beggeres and bigge · þat mowe her bred biswynke
With houndes bred and hors-bred · holde vp her hertis
Abate hem with benes · for bollyng of her wombe
Bx.6.220KD.6.216
And ȝif þe gomes grucche · bidde hem go swynkeBx.6.220: go swynke: For the idiom, cf. 5.24 go worche, 7.104 gon faiten, 9.143 go shape. Alpha has go and swynke; the same variation is found in AC.
Bx.6.221: The line is dropped by alpha. It is attested by AC. And he shal soupe swettere · whan he it hath deseruid
¶ AndBx.6.222: And: R has Ac, which may be right. There is the same variation in AC. if þow fynde any freke · þat fortunefalshedBx.6.222: fortune / falshed: An interesting case. Alpha's false or falshed is clearly an error in view of fals men in the next line. And yet it was presumably the basis for Cx, which reads þat fals men han apayred and drops the next line. Beta shares fortune with Ax. hath appeyred
Or any maner fals men · fonde þow suche to cnowe
Bx.6.224KD.6.220
Conforte h[e]mBx.6.224: hem: Beta probably had hym, as in LCrWHm, with MGO correcting. (Note HmO man in the line above.) AC have the plural, as in alpha. with þi catel · for crystes loue of heuene
Loue hem and lene hem · so lawe of god techeth
Alter alterius onera portate
And alle maner ofBx.6.227: maner of: R omits of. AC scribes vary, though the most authoritative of C also omit. men · þat þow myȝte asspye
Bx.6.228KD.6.223
That nedy ben and nauȝty · helpe hem with þi godis
Loue hem and lakke hem nouȝte · late god take þe venjaunce
Theigh þei done yuel · late þowBx.6.230: þow: Only in LR; dropped by other scribes perhaps on the basis of l. 85. Presumably it carries the alliteration of the b-verse. The line is not in AC. Adams (2000), 183. god awortheBx.6.230: aworthe: The rare form is supported by LMR.
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam ·
Bx.6.232KD.6.227
And if þow wil be graciouse to god · do as þe gospel techeth
And bilowBx.6.233: bilow: As at Bx.2.22, LMR presumably reproduce the spelling of Bx. F wrongly takes the verb to be formed on lowen, "be humble". The Latin of the next line makes it clear that it means "make (yourself) loved" (MED biloven), and beta1 reads biloue. The line replaces K.7.212 Make þe Frendis þermid. Adams (2000), 178. þe amonges low men · so shaltow lacche grace
Facite vobis amicos de mamona iniquitatis
¶ I wolde nouȝt greue god quod piers · for al þe good on grounde
Bx.6.236KD.6.230
Miȝte I synnelees do as þow seist · seyde pieres þanne
¶ Ȝe I bihote þeBx.6.237: þe (1): Alpha's god is not supported by AC, but cf. l. 285. quod hunger · or ellis þe bible lieth
Go to Genesis þe gyaunt · þe engendroure of vs alle
In sudore and swynkeBx.6.239: and swynke: Alpha has and in swynke and beta's reading is uncertain. Ax has the reading adopted here, and Cx has a Latin line (altered from Genesis) in the form In sudore & labore (or vice versa). · þow shalt þi mete tilye
Bx.6.240KD.6.234
And laboure for þi lyflode · and so owre lorde hyȝte
And sapience seyth þe same · I seigh itBx.6.241: it: Omitted in R (= alpha?) but supported by Ax. in þe bible
Piger pro frigore · no felde noldeBx.6.242: nolde: This seems to be the beta reading (M is corrected), with alpha reading wolde, probably the reading of Ax. Either could be Bx. tilye
And þerfore he shal begge and bidde · and no man bete his hunger
Bx.6.244KD.6.238
¶ Mathew with mannes face · mouthe[th]Bx.6.244: moutheth: Alpha's present tense is that of Ax, and is supported by C's Mathew maketh mencioun (RK.8.246). Beta's past tense may be unconscious substitution of -thed for -theth. þise wordis
a besaunt
Þat seruus nequam had a namBx.6.245: nam: Alpha has man, and beta probably here had the spelling nam rather than Mnam, which WHmC have corrected from Luke 19.24 and from ll. 247-8. Cf. the spelling variants there. The gloss besaunt which appears in LMWHm and as a variant in CrG must have been in beta. · and for he wolde nouȝte chaffare
He had maugre of his maistre · for euermore after
And binam [hym]Bx.6.247: hym: Not in L and added in M, so probably absent in beta. Other beta scribes make an obvious correction. his Mnam · for he ne woldeBx.6.247: ne wolde: Ax has nolde, which carries the alliteration, but it is supported for Bx only by MG. worche
Bx.6.248KD.6.242
And ȝaf þat Mnam to hym · þat ten Mnames hadde
And with þat he seyde · þat holicherche it herde
He þat hath shal haue · and helpe þere it nedeth
And he þat nouȝt hath shal nouȝt haue · and no man hym helpe
Bx.6.252KD.6.246
And þat he weneth welBx.6.252: wel: Alpha has for and loses the alliteration. Beta has the support of Ax and the X family of C, though the P family omit wel to. to haue · I wil it hym bireue
¶ Kynde witt wolde · þat eche a wyght wrouȝte
Or in dykynge or in deluynge · or trauaillynge in preyeres
Contemplatyf lyf or actyf lyf · cryst wolde menBx.6.255: men: So LMR; beta1 has þei and F has we. AC are different. wrouȝte
Bx.6.256KD.6.250
Þe sauter seyth in þeBx.6.256: þe: Alpha has a, which could be right, since there are several Beati omnes psalms. There is similar variation in A mss. psalme · of beati omnes
Þe freke þat fedeth hym-self · with his feythful laboure
He is blessed by þe boke · in body and in soule
Labores manuum tuarum &c ·
Bx.6.260KD.6.253
¶ Ȝet I prey ȝow quod pieres · parBx.6.260: par: The spelling in LWR (and abbreviated in MCG). See note to Bx.8.11. charite and ȝe kunne
Eny leef of lechecraft · lere it me my dere
For somme of my seruauntz · and my-self bothe
Of al a wyke worche nouȝt · so owre wombe aketh
Bx.6.264KD.6.257
¶ I wote wel quod hunger · what sykenesse ȝow eyleth
Ȝe han maunged ouer-moche · and þat maketh ȝow grone
Ac I hote þe quod hunger · as þow þyne hele wilnest
Þat þow drynke no day · ar þow dyne somwhat
Bx.6.268KD.6.261
Ete nouȝte I hote þeBx.6.268: þe (1): Supported by Ax, but R omits, as does Cx. · ar hunger þe take
And sende þe of his sauce · to sauoure with þi lippes
And kepe some tyl soper tyme · and sitte nouȝt to longe
AriseBx.6.271: Arise: So LMR supported by alliteration and Ax; F has But a-ryse, the others And ryse, evidently misinterpreting A as "And". vp ar appetit · haue eten his fulle
Bx.6.272KD.6.265
Lat nouȝt sire surfait [·] sitten at þi borde
Leue him nouȝt for he is lecherous · and likerous of tonge
And after many manere metes · his maw is afyngred
¶ And ȝif þow diete þe þus · I dar legge myne eres
Bx.6.276KD.6.269
Þat phisik shal his furred hodes · for his fode selle
And his cloke of calabre · with alle þeBx.6.277: þe: Alpha omits; A mss. vary similarly. knappes of golde
And be fayne bi my feith · his phisik to lete
And lerne to laboure with londe · for lyflode is swete
Bx.6.280KD.6.273
[Þer aren mo morareres þan] lechesBx.6.280: Þer aren mo morareres þan leches: We take R to represent a corrupt Bx. We suppose that B read as A does: Þer arn mo liȝeris þan lechis (K.7.257). The nonce word morareres resulted from dittography of mo. F's moraynerys (from moreine, "death"?) is a desperate attempt to make sense of this. Beta's revision to For morthereres aren mony leches is more radical and more sensible. The line is rewritten in C. See Schmidt (1995), 375. · lorde hem amende
Þei do men deye þorw here drynkes · ar destine it wolde
¶ By seynt Poule quod pieres · þise aren profitable wordis
Wende now hunger whan þow wolt · þat wel be þowBx.6.283: be þow: R reverses and F alters. A few C mss. agree with R. euere
Bx.6.284KD.6.276
For þis is a louely lessoun · lorde it þe forȝelde
¶ By-hoteBx.6.285: By-hote: GF's I hoote is an A reading, introduced to correct the omission of I in Bx. god quod hunger · hennes ne wil I wende
Til I haue dyned bi þis day · and ydronke bothe
¶ I haue no peny quod peres · poletes fortoBx.6.287: forto: LR and CrCO, challenged by to in MWHmG. Cx has the former, Ax the latter. We follow copy-text. bigge
Bx.6.288KD.6.281
Ne neyther gees ne grys · but two grene cheses
A fewe cruddes and creem · and an hauer cake
And two loues of benes and bran · ybake for my fauntis
And ȝet I sey by my soule · I haue no salt bacoun
Bx.6.292KD.6.285
Ne no kokeney bi cryst [·] coloppes forto maken
Ac I haue percil and porettesBx.6.293: porettes: So beta and F; R has sg. porett. A mss. vary similarly; Cx revises to poret plontes. · and many kole plantesBx.6.293: kole plantes: Probably R queynte herbes represents the alpha b-verse, which F alters to alliterate. Beta is supported by Ax; Cx revises to improve the alliteration.
And eke a cow and a kalf · and a cart mare
To drawe afelde my donge · þe while þe drought lasteth
Bx.6.296KD.6.289
And bi þis lyflode we mot lyue · til lammasse tyme
And bi þat I hope to haue · heruest in my croft
And þanne may I diȝte þi dyner · as me dere liketh
[¶]Bx.6.299: : The paraph in HmW and alpha is appropriate here. Alle þe pore peple þo · pesecoddes fetten
Bx.6.300KD.6.293
Benes and baken apples · þei brouȝte in her lapp[e]Bx.6.300: lappe: We prefer the distributive sg. of R, supported by Cx and the A witnesses TDCh.
Chibolles and cheruelles · and ripe chiries manye
And profred peres þis present · to plese with hunger
¶ Al hunger eet in hast · and axed after more
Bx.6.304KD.6.297
Þanne pore folke for fere · fedde hunger ȝerne
With grene poret and pesen · to poysoun hungerBx.6.305: hunger: Beta2 (CrWHm); G (corrected) and F read hym. This is an agreement by coincidence or contamination with Ax. The line is not in C. þei þouȝte
Bx.3.306: Alpha has a paraph.By þat it neighed nere heruest · neweBx.6.306: newe: Again W (with F here) has a reading which is probably not Bx but agrees coincidentally with another version. & newe is the reading of Cx and of five A mss. corne cam to chepynge
Þanne was folke fayne · and fedde hunger with þe best
Bx.6.308KD.6.301
With good ale as glotoun tauȝte · and gerte hunger go slepe
¶ And þo wolde wastour nouȝtBx.6.309: wolde wastour nouȝt: Beta is supported by AC against alpha's wolde no wastour. werche · but wandren aboute
Ne no begger ete bred · þat benes Inne were
But of coket orBx.6.311: or (1): R has or of; for which AC offer no support. clerematyn · or elles of clene whete
Bx.6.312KD.6.305
Ne none halpeny ale · in none wise drynke
But of þe best and of þeBx.6.313: and of þe: LR + beta2 (CrWHm), as the X family of C. The P family omits of þe, as F. Ax omits of, as MG and O corrected. brounest · þat in borgh is to selle
¶ Laboreres þat haue no lande · to lyue on but her handes
Deyned nouȝtDeynedBx.6.315: Deyned nouȝt / Deyned: See MED deinen v.(1) & (2) for the two related verbs meaning "condescend, see fit" and "disdain". In beta it is the former, in alpha, omitting nouȝt, the latter. Ax supports beta, but it seems clear that Cx supports alpha (with X significantly adding noȝt as a correction). The only other use in the B text is Bx.10.82, recorded only in alpha, in the sense "condescend" in F (deyneþ not vs to here), but in R in the sense "disdain" (deyneþ his heres to opne)! In the corresponding line in C, some mss. read deyneth nat vs to here, but as many omit nat (RK.11.59). to dyne a-day · nyȝt-olde wortes
Bx.6.316KD.6.309
May no peny-ale hem paye · ne no pece of bakoun
But if it be fresch flesch other fische · fryed other bakeBx.6.317: Alpha runs this and the next line together, omitting the b-verse of l. 317 and the a-verse of l. 318.
And þat chaude orBx.6.318: or: WHmG have and, supported by AC. We rely on LM, and suppose that G is likely to be contaminated and the reading of the WHm ancestor coincidental. In the absence of alpha, certainty is impossible. plus chaud · for chillyng of hereBx.6.318: here: R may be right with sg. his, which is the reading of four A mss. and the X family of C. mawe
Bx.6.319: Only LM have a paraph, and it is not particularly appropriate. And but ifBx.6.319: but if: So LR and CrWG; others drop if (M is rewritten). AC vary similarly. he be hieghlich huyred · ellis wil he chyde
Bx.6.320KD.6.313
And þat he was werkman wrouȝt · waille þe tyme
Aȝeines catones conseille · comseth he to iangle
Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento
¶ He greueth hym aȝeines god · and gruccheth aȝeines resoun
Bx.6.324KD.6.317
And þanne curseth he þe kynge · and al his conseille after
Suche lawes to loke · laboreres to greue
Ac whiles hunger was her maister · þere wolde none of hemBx.6.326: none of hem: In A the b-verse reads wolde þere non chide; C reverses the first two words, ther wolde non chyde, with the P family omitting ther. Despite the variations, none of the B mss. exactly matches any of these. chyde
Ne stryue aȝeines his statut · so sterneliche he loked
Bx.6.328KD.6.321
¶ Ac I warne ȝow werkemen · wynneth while ȝe mowe
For hunger hidewardBx.6.329: hideward: There is no need to emend L's spelling, since hideward is not uncommon. See MED. In the other example in Bx.18.313, all scribes including L use the regular spelling, although in the C version of the line (RK.20.341) three mss. including X have hidward. · hasteth hym fasteBx.6.329: faste: Alpha's ful faste is not supported by AC.
He shal awake with waterBx.6.330: water: A good example of R blindly following his exemplar, and F rationalising to make sense. · wastoures to chaste
Ar fyue [ȝere]Bx.6.331: ȝere: We suppose that beta omitted the word and that HmO supplied it by conjecture. A mss. generally have the word, though oddly five omit it; C revises to fewe ȝeres. Alternatively, it is possible that the riddling fyue was AB, with scribes making what must have seemed an obvious correction. be fulfilled · suche famyn shal aryse
Bx.6.332KD.6.325
Thorwgh flodesBx.6.332: flodes: R's sg. has some support from A mss. andBx.6.332: and: LWHm have and þourgh. The variant is also found in AC. foule wederes · frutes shul faille
And so sayde saturne · and sent ȝow to warne
Whan ȝe se þe sonne amys · and two monkes hedes
And a Mayde haue þe maistrie · and multipliedBx.6.335: multiplied: The past participle (i.e. "and everything increased eightfold") is in LM and alpha, though it is a correction in M. Probably the other scribes took it as an imperative. bi eight
Bx.6.336KD.6.329
Þanne shal deth withdrawe · and derthe be iustice
And dawe þe dyker · deye for hunger
But if god of his goodnesse · graunt vs a trewe
MED