The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 4: Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Laud Misc. 581 (S. C. 987) (L) – Passus 14William LanglandEdited by Hoyt N. Duggan and Ralph HannaAssociate Editors: Patricia R. Bart, M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A. FarleyTechnical Editors: Daniel V. Pitti and Jonathan Rodney Graduate Research Assistants Heather Blatt, Michael Blum, John Ivor Carlson, Nancy Renwick Clendenon, Carri Cregar, Paul Fyfe, Paul Gaffney, Matthew Gibson, Bethany Mabee, Stephen C. Martin, Chloe Smith, Timothy L. Stinson, and Keicy Tolbert. Computer Consultants and ProgrammersShayne Brandon, Nathaniel Garson, Matthew S. Gibson, Kirk V. Hastings, Janice McCoy, Susan Munson, David Seaman, and John Unsworth.Published for the Medieval Academy of America and The Society for Early English and Norse Electronic Texts (SEENET) by Boydell and Brewer Ltd. Cambridge ISBN: 184384026X

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Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Laud misc. 581 (S. C. 987)

late 14th or early 15th century Source copy consulted: Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Laud misc. 581 (S. C. 987)

Attribute Valuesbrown inkanglicana bastardaitalicLombard Capornamented capital, N lines highrubricatedtouched in redtexturaunderlinedunderlined in redgreen inkblue ink

LatinFrenchGerman2003 Editor Hoyt N. Duggan New header created and structure reorganized. passus xiiijusPassus xiiijusquartus decimusI IL.14.1: The rubricated decoration of the blue ornamental capital, seven lines high, is badly smudged and colors some text and the page opposite. A small guide letter <I> appears in the left margin. Haue but one hatereL.14.1: LRF alone omit hool before hatere. quod haukyn · I am þe lasse to blame Þough it be soiled and selde clene · I slepe þere-inne on niȝtes And also I haue an houswyf · hewen and children Vxorem duxy & ideo non possum venire Þat wolen bymolen it many tyme · maugre my chekes It hath ben laued in lente · and oute of lente bothe With þe sope of sykenesse · þat seketh wonder depe And with þe losse of catel · loth forto agulte God or any gode man · bi auȝte þat I wiste And was shryuen of þe preste · þat gaue me for my synnes To penaunce pacyence · and pore men to fede Al for coueitise of my crystenedome · in clennesse to kepen it And couthe I neuere by cryste · kepen it clene an houre Þat I ne soiled it with syȝte · or sum ydel speche Or þorugh werke or þorugh worde · or wille of myn herte Þat I ne flober it foule · fro morwe tyl eue+ And I shal kenne þe quod conscience · of contricioun to makeL.14.17: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin but no error is apparent. Þat shal clawe þi cote · of alkynnes filthe Cordis contricio &c Dowel wasshen it and wryngen it · þorw a wys confessour Oris confessio &c Dobet shal beten it and bouken it · as briȝte as any scarlet And engreynen it with good wille · and goddes grace to amende þe And sithen sende þe to satisfaccioun · for to sowen it after Satisfaccio dobest Shal neuere myste bimolen it · ne moth after biten it Ne fende ne false man defoulen it in þi lyue Shal none heraude ne harpoure · haue a fairere garnement Þan haukyn þe actyf man · and þow do by my techyng Ne no mynstral be more worth · amonges pore & riche Þan Haukynnes wyf þe wafrere · with his actiua vita And I shal purueye þe paste quod pacyence · þough no plow erie And floure to fede folke with · as best be for þe soule Þough neuere greyne growed · ne grape vppon vyne Alle þat lyueth and loketh · lyflode wolde I fynde And þat ynough shal none faille · of þinge þat hem nedeth We shulde nouȝt be to busy · abouten owre lyflode Ne solliciti sitis &c volucres celi deus pascit &c pacientes vincunt &c Þanne laughed haukyn a litel · and liȝtly gan swerye Who-so leueth ȝow by owre lorde · I leue nouȝte he be blissed No quod pacyence paciently · and out of his poke hente Vitailles of grete vertues · for al manere bestes And seyde lo here lyflode ynough · if owre byleue be trewe For lente neuere was lyf · but lyflode were shapen Wher-of or wherfore · or where-by to lybbeof wylfull poverti Firste þe wylde worme · vnder weet erthe Fissch to lyue in þe flode · and in þe fyre þe crykat Þe corlue by kynde of þe eyre · moste clennest flesch of bryddes And bestes by grasse and by greyne · and by grene rotis In menynge þat alle men · myȝte þe same Lyue þorw lele byleue and loue · as god witnesseth Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo &c & alibi Non in solo pane viuit homo set in omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei But I loked what lyflode it was · þat pacience so preysed And þanne was it a pece of þe pater noster · fiat voluntas tua · Haue haukyn quod pacyence · and ete þis whan þe hungreth Or whan þow clomsest for colde · or clyngest for drye Shal neuere gyues þe greue · ne grete lordes wrath Prisone ne peyne · for pacientes vincunt Bi so þat þow be sobre · of syȝte and of tonge In etynge and in handlyng · and in alle þi fyue wittis Darstow neuere care for corne · ne lynnen cloth ne wollen Ne for drynke ne deth drede · but deye as god lyketh Or þorw honger or þorw hete · at his wille be it+ For if þow lyuest after his lore · þe shottersho[r]terL.14.65: The corrector's <+> notes the scribe's omission of <r> in shorter. lyf þe better Si quis amat cristum mundum non diligit istum For þorw his breth bestes wexen · and abrode ȝeden Dixit & facta sunt &c · Ergo þorw his breth mowen · men & bestes lyuen As holywrit witnesseth · whan men segge her graces Aperis tu manum tuam · & imples omne animal benediccione It is founden þat fourty wynter · folke lyued with-outen tulying And oute of þe flynte spronge þe flode · þat folke & bestes dronke And in Elyes tyme · heuene was yclosed Þat no reyne ne rone · þus rede men in bokes Þat many wyntres men lyueden · and no mete ne tulyeden Seuene slepe as seith þe boke · seuene hundreth wynter And lyueden with-oute lyflode · and atte laste þei woken And if men lyued as mesure wolde · shulde neuere-more be defaute Amonges cristene creatures · if crystes wordes ben trewe Ac vnkyndnesse carestia maketh · amonges crystene peple And ouer-plente maketh pruyde · amonges pore & riche Ac mesure is so moche worth · it may nouȝte be to dere For þe meschief and þe meschaunce · amonges men of sodome Wex þorw plente of payn · & of pure sleuthe Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit For þei mesured nouȝt hem-self · of þat þei ete and dronke Diden dedly synne þat þe deuel lyked So vengeaunce fel vpon hem · for her vyle synnes Þei sonken in-to helle · þo citees · vchone For-þi mesure we vs wel · and make owre faithe owre scheltroun And þorw faith cometh contricioun · conscience wote wel Whiche dryueth awey dedly synne · and doth it to be venial And þough a man myȝte nouȝte speke · contricioun myȝte hym saue And brynge his soule to blisse · byL.14.95: LCrRF alone read by before so; other B manuscripts have for so or just so. so þat feith bere witnesse Þat whiles he lyued he bileued · in þe lore of holycherche Ergo contricioun feith and conscience · is kyndelich dowel And surgienes for dedly synnes · whan shrifte of mouth failleth Ac shrifte of mouth more worthy is · if man be iliche contrit For shrifte of mouth sleeth synne · be it neuere so dedly Per confessionem to a prest · peccata occiduntur Þere contricioun doth but dryueth it doun · in-to a venial synne As dauid seith in þe sauter · et quorum tecta sunt peccata Ac satisfaccioun seketh oute þe rote · and bothe sleeth and voideth And as it neuere had ybe · to nouȝt bryngeth dedly synne Þat it neuere eft is seen ne sore · but semeth a wounde yheled Where woneth charite quod haukyn · I wiste neuere in my lyue Man þat with hym spake · as wyde as I haue passed Þere parfit treuthe and pouere herte is · and pacience of tonge Þere is charitee þe chief chaumbrere for god hym-selue Whether paciente pouerte quod haukyn · be more plesaunte to owre driȝte Þan ricchesse riȝtfulliche ywonne · and resonablelich yspendedL.14.112: LMR have yspended; most other B witnesses read despended. Ȝe quis est ille quod pacience · quik laudabimus eum Þough men rede of richchesse · riȝt to þe worldes ende I wist neuere renke þat riche was · þat whan he rekne sholde Whan itL.14.116: LR alone read it; most other B manuscripts have he. drow to his deth-day · þat he ne dred hym sore And þat atterekenyngatte rekenyng in arrerage fel · rather þan oute of dette There þe pore dar plede · and preue by pure resoun To haue allowaunce of his lorde · by þe lawe he it cleymeth Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde · of riȝtful iugge he axeth And seith lo briddes and bestes · þat no blisse ne knoweth And wilde wormes in wodes · þorw wyntres þow hem greuest And makest hem welnyegh meke · and mylde for defaute And after þow sendest hem somer · þat is her souereigne Ioye And blisse to alle þat ben · bothe wilde and tame Þanne may beggeres as bestes · after bote waiten Þat al her lyf han lyued · in langour and in defaute But god sent hem some-tyme · some manere ioye Other here or elles-where · kynde wolde it neuere For to wrotherhele was he wrouȝte · þat neuere was ioye shaped Angeles þat in helle now ben · hadden ioye some-tyme And diues in deyntees lyued · and in douce vye Riȝte so resoun sheweth · þat þo men þat were riche And her makes also · lyued her lyf in murthe Ac god is of a wonder wille · by þat kynde witte sheweth To ȝiue many men his mercymonye · ar he it haue deserued Riȝt so fareth god by some riche · ...?...reuthe me it þinketh For þei han her hyre here · an heuene as it were And is gret lykyng to lyue · with-oute laboure of body And whan he deyeth ben disalowed · as dauid seith in þe sauter L.14.141-144: A possible erasure appears in the left margin? Dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt And in an other stede also · velud sompnum surgencium domine in ciuitate tua & ad nichilum rediges Allas þat ricchesse shal reue · and robbe mannes soule Fram þe loue of owre lorde · at his laste ende Hewen þat han her hyre afore · aren euermore nedy And selden deieth he out of dette · þat dyneth ar he deserue it L.14.147: A possible erasure appears in the left margin? And til he haue done his deuor · and his dayes iourne For whan a werkman hath wrouȝte · þanne may men se þe sothe What he were worthi for his werke · and what he hath deserued And nouȝt to fonge bifore · for drede of disalowynge So I segge by ȝow riche · it semeth nouȝt þat ȝe shulle Haue heuene in ȝowre here beyng · and heuene her-after Riȝt as a seruaunt taketh his salarye bifore · & sitth wolde clayme more As he þat none hadde · and hath huyre atte laste It may nouȝt be ȝe riche men · or matheu on god lyeth De delicijs ad delicias · deficile est transire Ac if þe riche haue reuthe · and rewarde wel þe pore And lyuen as lawe techeth · done leute to alleL.14.158: LR omit hem before alle, attested in most B manuscripts. Criste of his curteysie · shal conforte ȝow atte laste And rewarde alle dowble ricchesse · þat reuful hertes habbeth And as an hyne þat hadde · his hyre ar he bygonne And whan he hath done his deuor wel · men doth hym other bounte Ȝyueth hym a cote aboue his couenaunte · riȝte so cryst ȝiueth heuene Bothe to riche and to nouȝte riche · þat rewfullich lybbeth And alle þat done her deuor wel · han dowble hyre for her trauaille Here forȝyuenesse of her synnes · and heuene blisse after Ac it nys but selde yseyn · as by holy seyntes bokes Þat god rewarded double reste · to any riche wye For moche murthe is amonges riche · as in mete and clothyng And moche murthe in Maye is · amonges wilde bestes And so forth whil somer lasteth · her solace dureth Ac beggeres aboute Midsomer · bredlees þei soupe And ȝit is wynter for hem worse · for wete-shodde þei gange Afyrst sore and afyngred · and foule yrebuked And arated of riche men · þat reuthe is to here Now lorde sende hem somer · and some manere ioye Heuene after her hennes-goynge · þat here han suche defaute For alle myȝtest þow haue made · none mener þan other And yliche witty & wyse · if þi.....e wel ·L.14.179: The letters <e wel> and the second punctus are over an erasure. The scribe may have initially written þi wyll, the reading of manuscripts BCC2GOMF, or perhaps wolde. hadde lyked And haue reuthe on þise riche men · þat rewarde nouȝte þi prisoneres Of þe good þat þow hem gyuest · ingrati ben manye Ac god of þi goodnesse · gyue hem grace to amende+ For may no derth ben hem dere · drouth ne weetL.14.183: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin, perhaps indicating the corrector's dissatisfaction with drouth for droghte. This spelling occurs again in L.14.188, and the line is likewise marked for correction. Ne noyther hete ne haille · haue þei here hele Of þat þei wilne and wolde · wanteth hem nouȝt here Ac pore peple þi prisoneres · lorde in þe put of myschief Conforte þo creatures · þat moche care suffren+ Þorw derth þorw drouth · alle her dayes hereL.14.188: As at L.14.183, the corrector's marginal <+> may mark drouth for correction. Wo in wynter tymes · for wantyng of clothes And in somer tyme selde · soupen to þe fulle+ Conforte þi careful cryst in þi rycheL.14.191: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin, but no error is apparent. Possibly this reflects the corrector's use of an inferior beta manuscript. CrHmMW (M by correction) have richesse in place of correct ryche. For how þow confortest · alle creatures  clerkes bereth witnesse Conuertimini ad me & salui eritis Þus in genere of his genitriceL.14.194: L alone reads of his genitrice, though R has the similar phrase alle his genitrice; most B manuscripts have of gentries. · Ihesu cryst seyde To robberes and to reueres · to riche and to pore Þow tauȝtest hem in þe Trinitee · to take baptesme+ And be clene þorw þat crystennynge · of alle kynneskynnes [synnes]L.14.197: L alone omits synnes after kynnes, an error noted by the corrector's <+> but never corrected. And vs fel þorw folye · to falle in synne after+ Confessioun and knelechyngkne[w]lechyngL.14.199: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin; as Skeat observed, he was probably objecting to the scribe's knelechyng for knowlichyng. Kane and Donaldson do not include the error in their list of variants. For the spellings in L, see L.5.585, L12,193, and L.19.74, 186. & crauyng þi mercy Shulde amende vs as many sithes · as man wolde desire Ac if þe pope wolde plede here-aȝeine · and punyssh vs in conscience He shulde take þe acquitance as quik · and to þe qued schewe it Pateat &c per passionem domini And putten of so þe pouke · and preuen vs vnder borwe Ac þe perchemyn of þis patent · of pouerte be moste And of pure pacience · and parfit bileue Of pompe and of pruyde · þe parchemyn decorreth And principaliche of alle peple · but þei be pore of herte Ellis is al an ydel · al þat euere we writen Pater nostres and penaunce · and pilgrimage to Rome But owre spences and spendyng sprynge · of a trewe welle Elles is al owre laboure loste · lo how men writeth In fenestres atte freres · if fals be þe foundement For-þi crystene sholde ben in comune riche · none coueitouse for hym-selue For seuene synnes þat þere ben · assaillen vs euere Þe fende folweth hem alle · and fondeth hem to helpe Ac wiþ ricchesse þat Ribaude · rathest men bigyleth For þere þat richesse regneth · reuerence folweth And þat is plesaunte to pryde · in pore and in riche And þe riche is reuerenced · by resoun of his richchesse Þere þe pore is put bihynde and par-auenture can more Of witte and of wysdom · þat fer awey is better Þan ricchesse or reaute · and rather yherde in heuene For þe riche hath moche to rekene · and riȝte softe walketh Þe heigh waye to heuene-ward · oft ricchesse letteth Ita possibile diuiti &cL.14.226: The rubricator apparently failed to note this leaf. Þere þe pore preseth bifor þe riche · with a pakke at his rugge Opera enim illorum sequntur illosL.14.228: The rubricator apparently failed to note this leaf. Batauntliche as beggeres done · and baldeliche he craueth For his pouerte and his pacience · a perpetuel blisse Beati pauperes · quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorumL.14.231: The rubricator apparently failed to note this leaf. And pryde in ricchesse regneth · rather þan in pouerte Arst in þe Maister þan in þe man · some mansioun he hath Ac in pouerte þere pacyence is · pryde hath no myȝte Ne none of þe seuene synnes · sitten ne mowe þere longe Ne haue powere in pouerte · if pacyence it folwe For þe pore is ay prest · to plese þe riche And buxome at his byddyng · for his broke loues And buxomenesse and boste · aren euer-more at werre And ayther hateth other · in alle manere werkes If wratthe wrastel with þe pore · he hath þe worse ende For if þey bothe pleyne · þe pore is but fieble And if he chyde or chatre · hym chieueth þe worse And if coueitise woldeL.14.244: LRF alone read wolde before cacche. cacche þe pore · þei may nouȝt come togideres And by þe nekke namely · her none may hente other For men knoweth wel þat coueitise · is of a kene wille And hath hondes and armes · of a longe lengtheid est vmbilicus · And pouerte nis but a petit þinge · appereth nouȝt to his nauleL.14.248: In the right margin, possibly written by the original scribe, appears the gloss id est vmbilicus ·. And louely layke was it neuere · bitwene þe longe and þe shorte And þough auarice wolde angre þe pore · he hath but litel myȝteL.14.250: A bracket in the right margin extends from the first line to the bottom of the page. For pouerte hath but pokes · to putten in his godis Þere auarice hath almaries · and yren-bounde coffres And whether be liȝter to breke · lasse boste it maketh A beggeres bagge · þan an yren-bounde coffre Lecherye loueth hym nouȝt · for he ȝeueth but lytel syluer Ne doth hym nouȝte dyne delycatly · ne drynke wyn oft A strawe for þe stuwes · it stode nouȝt I trowe Had þei noneL.14.258: L alone reads none; most other B manuscripts have no þyng. but of pore men · her houses wereL.14.258: L alone reads were; most other B manuscripts have stoode. vntyled And þough sleuthe suwe pouerte · and serue nouȝt god to paye Mischief is his maister · and maketh hym to thynke Þat god is his grettest helpe · and no gome elles And his seruaunt as he seith · and of his sute bothe And whereL.14.263: LR alone read where, "whether"; all other B witnesses have wheiþer. Cf. L.12.293 above. he be or be nouȝte · he bereth þe signe of pouerte And in þat secte owre saueoure · saued al mankynde For-thi al pore þat paciente is · may claymen and asken After her endynge here · heuene-riche blisse Moche hardier may he axen · þat here myȝte haue his wille In londe and in lordship · and likynge of bodye+nota/ And for goddis loue leueth al · anL.14.269: The corrector's <+> apparently refers to the scribe's characteristic omission of <d> from and. lyueth as a beggereL.14.269: A nota/ (or note) appears in the right margin. In this later hand either form is possible. And as a mayde for mannes loue · her moder forsaketh Hir fader and alle her frendes · and folweth hir make Moche is suche a mayde to louie · of hym þat such one taketh More þan a mayden is · þat is maried þorw brokage As bi assent of sondry partyes · and syluer to bote More for coueitise of good · þan kynde loue of bothe So it fareth bi eche a persone · þat possessioun forsaketh And put hym to be pacient · and pouerte weddeth Þe which is sybbe to god hym-self · and so to his seyntes Haue god my trouthe quod Haukyn · ȝe preyse faste pouerte What is pouerte with pacience quod he · proprely to mene Paupertas quod pacience · est odibile bonumdefinitio pauper=tatis cum patientia Remocio curarum · possessio sine calumpnia · donum dei · sanitatis materL.14.282: The words definitio paupertatis cum patientia appear in the right margin. Absque solicitudine semita · sapiencie temperatrix · negocium sine dampno Incerta fortuna · absque solicitudine felicitas · I can nouȝt construe al þis quod haukyn · ȝe moste kenne þis on englisch In englisch quod pacyence it is wel harde · wel to expounen Ac somdel I shal seyne it  by so þow vnderstonde Pouerte is þe first poynte · þat pryde moste hateth Thanne is it good by good skil · al þat agasteth pryde Riȝte as contricioun is confortable þinge · conscience wote wel And a sorwe of hym-self · and a solace to þe sowle So pouerte propreliche penaunce and ioye Is to þe body pure spiritual helthe Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum And contricioun confort & cura animarum Selde sitte pouerte · þe sothe to declare Or as iustyce to iugge men · enioigned is no pore Ne to be a Maire aboue men · ne mynystre vnder kynges Selden is any pore yput · to punysshen any peple Remocio curarum Ergo pouerte and pore men · parfornen þe comaundement Nolite iudicare quemquam þe þridde Selde is any pore riche · but of riȝtful heritage Wynneth he nauȝt with weghtes fals · ne with vnseled mesures Ne borweth of his neghbores · but þat he may wel paye Possessio sine calumpnia · Þe fierthe is a fortune · þat florissheth þe soule Wyth sobrete fram al synne · and also ȝit more It affaiteth þe flesshe · fram folyes ful manye A collateral conforte · crystes owne ȝifte Donum dei Þe fyfte is moder of helthe a frende in alle fondynges And for þe land euere a leche · a lemman of al clennesse Sanitatis mater Þe sexte is a path of pees · ȝe þorw þe pas of altoun Pouerte myȝte passe · with-oute peril of robbyng For þere þat pouerte passeth · pees folweth after And euere þe lasse þat he bereth · þe hardyer he is of herte For-þi seith seneca · paupertas est absque solicitudine semita And an hardy man of herte · amonge an hepe of þeues Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viator Þe seueneth is welle of wisdome · and fewe wordes sheweth For lordes alloweth hym litel · or lysteneth to his reson He tempreth þe tonge to treuthe-ward · and no tresore coueiteth Sapiencie temperatrix The eigteth is a lele laborereL.14.326: LCrRF alone read laborere; other B manuscripts have labour. · and loth to take more Þan he may wel deserue · in somer or in wynter+ And if chaffareth[he] chaffarethL.14.328: L's omission of he before chaffareth is noted by a corrector's <+> in the left margin. he chargeth no losse · mowe he charite wynne Negocium sine dampno The nyneth is swete to þe soule · no sugre is swettere For pacyence is payn · for pouerte hym-selue And sobrete swete drynke · and good leche in sykenesse Þus lered me a lettred man · for owre lordes loue Seynt austyn a blissed lyf · with-outen bysynesse For body and for soule · absque /L.14.335: The virgule is used here as a division of the box. solicitudine felicitas Now god þat al good gyueth · graunt his soule reste Þat þus fyrst wrote to wyssen men · what pouerte was to menenota bene Allas quod haukyn þe actyf man þo · þat after my crystendomeL.14.338: The words nota bene appear in the right margin in black ink. I ne hadde ben ded and doluen · for doweles sake So harde it is quod haukyn · to lyue and to do synne Synne suweth vs euere quod he · and sori gan wexe And wepte water with his eyghen · and weyled þe tyme Þat euere he dede dede · þat dere god displesed Swowed and sobbed · and syked ful ofte Þat euere he hadde londe or lordship · lasse other more Or maystrye ouer any man · mo þan of hym-self I were nouȝt worthy wote god quod haukyn · to were any clothes Ne noyther sherte ne shone · saueL.14.348: An otiose curved mark in text brown ink appears above the <a> in saue. for shame one To keure my caroigne quod he · and cryde mercye faste And wepte and weyled · and þere-with I awaked