L.4 – PPEA

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<foreign>p<expan>assus</expan> iiij<expan>us</expan> de visione vt sup<expan>ra</expan></foreign>

<head><foreign><hi>Passus <orig>iiij<expan>us</expan></orig><reg>Quartus</reg></hi></foreign></head>

<lg>

<l> <hi><hi>C</hi></hi>esseth<note>L.4.1: The ornamental capital is five lines high, written in blue with red flourishes with two sprays.</note> seith þe kynge · I suffre ȝow no lengere</l>

<l> Ȝe shal sauȝtne for<seg>-</seg>sothe · and serue me bothe</l>

<l> kisse hir q<expan>uo</expan>d þe kynge · conscience I hote</l>

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L.4.4KD.4.4

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Nay bi criste q<expan>uo</expan>d conscience · congeye me for euere</l>

<l> But resou<expan>n</expan> rede me þer<seg>-</seg>to · rather wil I deye</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> And I comaunde þe q<expan>uo</expan>d þe Kynge · to conscience þanne</l>

<l> Rape þe to ride · and resou<expan>n</expan> þow fecche</l>

L.4.8KD.4.8

<l> Comaunde hym þat he come · my conseille to here</l>

<l> For he shal reule my rewme · and rede me þe beste</l>

<l> And acounte with þe conscience · so me cryst helpe</l>

<l> How þow lernest þe peple · þe lered and þe lewede</l>

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L.4.12KD.4.13

<l> <hi>¶</hi> I am fayne of þat forwarde · seyde þe freke þanne</l>

<l> And ritt<expan>e</expan> riȝte to resou<expan>n</expan> · and rowneth in his ere</l>

<l> And seide as þe kynge badde · and sithen toke his leue</l>

</lg>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> I shal arraye me to ride q<expan>uo</expan>d resou<expan>n</expan> reste þe a while</l>

L.4.16KD.4.17

<l> And called cat<del>..</del><add>ou</add><expan>n</expan> his knaue · curteise of speche</l>

<l> And also to<expan>m</expan>me trewe tonge · telle me no tales</l>

<l> Ne lesyng to lawȝe of · for I loued hem neuere</l>

<l> And sette my sadel vppon suffre · til I se my tyme</l>

L.4.20KD.4.21

<l> And lete warrok it wel · with witty wordes gerthes</l>

<l> And hange on hym þe heuy brydel · to holde his hed lowe</l>

<l> For he wil make wehe · tweye<note>L.4.22: LMR alone read <hi>tweye</hi>; most other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>twies</hi>.</note> er he be there</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Thanne conscience vppon his caple · kaireth forth faste</l>

L.4.24KD.4.25

<l> And resou<expan>n</expan> with hym ritte · rownynge togideres</l>

<l> Whiche maistries Mede · maketh on þis erthe</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> One waryn wisdom · and witty his fere</l>

<l> Folwed hem faste · haued<note>L.4.27: The corrector's <+> in the left margin notes the omission of <hi>for þei</hi> from the beginning of the b-verse. R also lacks these words.</note> to done</l>

L.4.28KD.4.29

<l> In þe cheker and at<note>L.4.28: LCr<hi>2,3</hi>R have <hi>at</hi>, whereas most other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts read <hi>in</hi>.</note> þe chauncerie · to be discharged of þinges</l>

<l> And riden fast for resou<expan>n</expan> shulde rede hem þe beste</l>

<l> For to saue hem for siluer · fro shame and fram harmes</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> And conscience knewe hem wel · þei loued coueitise</l>

L.4.32KD.4.33

<l> And bad resou<expan>n</expan> ride faste · and recche of her noither</l>

<l> Þere aren wiles in here wordes · and with Mede þei dwelleth</l>

<l> There as wratthe and wranglyng<note>L.4.34: An otiose curl appears above the first <g>.</note> is · þere wynne þei siluer</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Ac þere is loue and lewte · þei wil nouȝte come þere</l>

L.4.36KD.4.36α

<l> <foreign>Contric<expan>i</expan>o & infelicitas in vijs eor<expan>um</expan> &c</foreign></l>

<l> Þei ne gyueth nouȝte of god · one go<del>.</del><add>s</add>e wynge</l>

<l> <foreign><hi>Non est timor dei ante oc<expan>u</expan>los eor<expan>um</expan></hi></foreign></l>

<l> For wot god þei wolde do more · for a dozeine chickenes</l>

L.4.40KD.4.38.1

<l> Or as many capones · or for a seem of otes</l>

<l> Þan for loue of owre lorde · or alle hise leue seyntes</l>

<l> For<seg>-</seg>þi resou<expan>n</expan> lete hem ride · þo riche bi hem<seg>-</seg>seluen</l>

<l> For conscience knoweth hem nouȝte · ne cryst as I trowe</l>

L.4.44KD.4.42

<l> And þanne resou<expan>n</expan> rode faste  þe riȝte heiȝe gate</l>

<l> As conscience hym kenned · til þei come to þe Kynge</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Curteisliche þe kynge þanne · come aȝein resou<expan>n</expan></l>

<l> And bitwene hym<seg>-</seg>self and his sone · sette hym on benche</l>

L.4.48KD.4.46

<l> And wordeden wel wyseli · a gret while togideres</l>

</lg>

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<lg>L.4.49KD.4.47<l> <hi>¶</hi> And þanne come pees in<seg>-</seg>to p<expan>ar</expan>lement · and put forth a bille</l>
L.4.50KD.4.48<l> How wronge aȝeines his wille · had his wyf taken</l>
L.4.51KD.4.49<l> And how he rauisshed Rose · Reginoldes loue</l>
L.4.52KD.4.50<l> And Margarete of hir maydenhode · maugre here chekis</l>
L.4.53KD.4.51<l> Bothe my gees & my grys · his gadelynges feccheth</l>
L.4.54KD.4.52<l> I dar nouȝte for fere of hym · fyȝte ne chyde</l>
L.4.55KD.4.53<l> He borwed of me bayard · he brouȝte hym home neure</l>
+
L.4.56KD.4.54<l> Ne no fe<add>r</add>thynge<note>L.4.56: The <r> in <hi>ferthynge</hi> was added after initial copying, perhaps in response to the corrector's marginal <+>.</note> þer<seg>-</seg>fore · for nauȝte<note>L.4.56: L is joined by MRF in reading <hi>nauȝte</hi>; other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>ouȝt</hi>.</note> I couthe plede</l>
L.4.57KD.4.55<l> He meyneteneth his men · to morther myne hewen</l>
L.4.58KD.4.56<l> Forstalleth my feyres · and fiȝteth in my chepynge</l>
L.4.59KD.4.57<l> And breketh vp my bernes<note>L.4.59: LHmWR read <hi>bernes</hi>, the reading of most <hi>C</hi> manuscripts. All other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have <hi>berne</hi>.</note> dore · and bereth aweye my whete</l>
L.4.60KD.4.58<l> And taketh me but a taile · for ten quart<expan>er</expan>es of otes</l>
L.4.61KD.4.59<l> And ȝet he bet me þer<seg>-</seg>to · and lyth bi my Mayde</l>
L.4.62KD.4.60<l> I nam<note>L.4.62: LCM alone have <hi>nam</hi>. The other <hi>B</hi> witnesses read <hi>am</hi>.</note> nouȝte hardy for hym · vneth to loke ·</l>
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<l> <hi>¶</hi> The kynge knewe he seide sothe · for conscience hym tolde</l>

L.4.64KD.4.62

<l> Þat wronge was a wikked luft · and wrouȝte moche sorwe</l>

</lg>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Wronge was afered þanne · and wisdome he souȝte</l>

<l> To make pees with his pens · and profered hym manye</l>

<l> And seide had I loue of my lorde þe kynge · litel wolde I recche</l>

L.4.68KD.4.66

<l> Theiȝe pees and his power<expan>e</expan> · pleyned hym eure</l>

</lg>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Þo wan<note>L.4.69: The corrector's marginal <+> may mark <hi>wan</hi>, a reading shared by R; most other <hi>B</hi> manuscripts have a form of <hi>wente</hi>. Not infrequently the evidence suggests that the corrector worked from a manuscript more corrupt than L's exemplar.</note> wisdome · and sire waryn þe witty</l>

<l> For þat wronge had ywrouȝte · so wikked a dede</l>

<l> And warned wronge þo · with suche a wyse tale</l>

L.4.72KD.4.70

<l> Who<seg>-</seg>so worcheth bi wille · wratthe maketh ofte</l>

<l> I seye it bi þi<seg>-</seg>self · þow shalt it wel fynde</l>

<l> But if Mede it make · þi myschief is vppe</l>

<l> For bothe þi lyf and þi londe · lyth in his g<expan>ra</expan>ce</l>

</lg>

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L.4.76KD.4.74

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Thanne wowed wronge · wisdome ful ȝerne</l>

<l> To make his pees w<expan>i</expan>t<expan>h</expan> his pens · handi<seg>-</seg>dandi payed</l>

<l> Wisdome and witte þanne wenten togideres</l>

<l> And toke Mede myd hem mercy to winne</l>

</lg>

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<lg>

L.4.80KD.4.78

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Pees put forþ his hed · and his panne blody</l>

<l> Wyth<seg>-</seg>outen gilte god it wote · gat I þis skaþe</l>

<l> Conscience and þe comune · knowen þe sothe</l>

</lg>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Ac wisdom and witt<expan>e</expan> · were about faste</l>

L.4.84KD.4.82

<l> To ouercome þe kynge · with catel ȝif þei myȝte</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Þe kynge swore bi crist · and bi his crowne bothe</l>

<l> Þat wronge for his werkis · sholde wo þolye</l>

<l> And comaunded a constable · to casten hym in yrens</l>

L.4.88KD.4.86

<l> And late hym nouȝte þis seuene ȝere · seen his feet ones</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> God wot q<expan>uo</expan>d wysdom · þat were nauȝte þe beste</l>

<l> And he amendes mowe make · late meynprise hym haue</l>

<l> And be borwgh for his bale · and biggen hym bote</l>

L.4.92KD.4.90

<l> And so amende þat is mysdo · and euermore þe bettere</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Witt acorded þer<seg>-</seg>with · and seide þe same</l>

<l> Bettere is þat bote · bale adoun brynge</l>

<l> Þan bale be ybette · & bote neuere þe bettere</l>

</lg>

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<lg>

L.4.96KD.4.94

<l> <hi>¶</hi> And þanne gan Mede to mengen her<expan>e</expan> · and m<expan>er</expan>cy she bisought</l>

<l> And profred pees a present · al of pure golde</l>

<l> Haue þis man of me q<expan>uo</expan>d she · to amende þi skaþe</l>

<l> For I wil wage for wronge · he wil do so namore</l>

</lg>

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L.4.100KD.4.98

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Pitously pees þanne · prayed to þe kynge</l>

<l> To haue mercy on þat man · þat mys<seg>-</seg>did hym so ofte</l>

<l> For he hath waged me wel · as wisdome hym tauȝte</l>

<l> And I forgyue hym þat gilte · with a goode wille</l>

L.4.104KD.4.102

<l> So þat þe kynge assent · I can seye no bettere</l>

<l> For Mede hath made me amendes · I may namore axe</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Nay q<expan>uo</expan>d þe Kynge þo · so me cryst helpe</l>

<l> Wronge wendeth nouȝte so awaye · arst wil I wite more</l>

L.4.108KD.4.106

<l> For loupe he so liȝtly · laughen he wolde</l>

<l> And efte þe balder be · to bete myne hewen</l>

<l> But resou<expan>n</expan> haue reuthe on hym · he shal rest in my stokkes</l>

<l> And þat as longe as he lyueth · but lowenesse hym borwe</l>

</lg>

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L.4.112KD.4.110

<l> <hi>¶</hi> So<expan>m</expan>me men redde Resou<expan>n</expan> þo · to haue reuthe on þat schrewe</l>

<l> And for to conseille þe Kynge · and conscience after</l>

<l> That Mede moste be meynp<expan>er</expan>no<expan>ur</expan> · resou<expan>n</expan> þei bisouȝte</l>

</lg>

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<lg>L.4.115KD.4.113<l> <hi>¶</hi> Rede me nouȝte q<expan>uo</expan>d resou<expan>n</expan> · no reuthe to haue</l>
L.4.116KD.4.114<l> Til lordes and ladies · louien alle treuthe</l>
L.4.117KD.4.115<l> And haten <del>..</del><add>al</add> harlotrye · to heren it · or to mouthen it</l>
L.4.118KD.4.116<l> Tyl pernelles p<expan>ur</expan>fil · be put in here hucche</l>
L.4.119KD.4.117<l> And childryn cherissyng · be chastyng with ȝerdes</l>
L.4.120KD.4.118<l> And harlotes holynesse · be holden for an hyne</l>
X
L.4.121KD.4.119<l> Til clerken coueitise be · to clothe þe pore and to fede<note>L.4.121: The marginal <X> is larger than typical and occupies the space of this line and the line below. The reason for it is not
                           clear, unless it is intended to suggest that <foreign><hi>recordare</hi></foreign> should be boxed in red.</note></l>
L.4.122KD.4.120<l> And religious romares · <foreign>recordare</foreign> in here cloistres ·</l>
L.4.123KD.4.121<l> As seynt Benet he<expan>m</expan> bad · Bernarde and Frau<expan>n</expan>ceys ·</l>
L.4.124KD.4.122<l> And til prechoures p<expan>re</expan>chyng · be preued on hem<seg>-</seg>seluen</l>
L.4.125KD.4.123<l> Tyl þe kynges conseille · be þe co<expan>mun</expan>e p<expan>ro</expan>fyte</l>
L.4.126KD.4.124<l> Tyl bisschopes baiardes · ben beggeres chambres ·</l>
L.4.127KD.4.125<l> Here haukes and her houndes · helpe to pore Religious ·</l>
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L.4.128KD.4.126

<l> <hi>¶</hi> And til seynt Iames be souȝte · þere I shal assigne</l>

<l> That no man go to Galis · but if he go for euere</l>

<l> And alle Rome<seg>-</seg>renneres · for robberes of byȝende</l>

<l> Bere no siluer ouer see · þat signe of kynge sheweþ ·</l>

L.4.132KD.4.130

<l> Noyther graue ne vngraue · golde noither siluer</l>

<l> Vppon forfeture of þat fee · who<seg>-</seg>so fynt hym at <hi>Douere</hi></l>

<l> But if it be marchau<expan>n</expan>t or his man · or messagere with l<expan>ett</expan>res</l>

<l> Prouysour<expan>e</expan> or prest · or penaunt for his synnes ·</l>

</lg>

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L.4.136KD.4.134

<l> <hi>¶</hi> And ȝet q<expan>uo</expan>d resou<expan>n</expan> bi þe Rode · I shal no reuthe haue</l>

<l> While Mede hath þe maistrye  in þis moot halle</l>

<l> Ac I may shewe ensaumples · a<add>s</add><note>L.4.138: The <s> in <hi>as</hi> was added in interword space later in response to the marginal <+>. The same error was marked and corrected in L.1.182.</note> I se other<seg>-</seg>while</l>

L.4.140KD.4.138

<l> That I were kynge with crowne · to kepen a Rewme</l>

<l> Shulde neuere wronge in þis worlde · þat I wite myȝte</l>

<l> Ben vnpunisshed in my power<expan>e</expan> · for peril of my soule</l>

<l> Ne gete my grace for giftes · so me god saue</l>

L.4.144KD.4.142

<l> Ne for no Mede haue mercy · but mekenesse it make</l>

</lg>

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<l> <note>L.4.145: A pointing hand is sketched in the left margin in slightly darker ink and with a finer pen point, probably a later addition. The hand is placed lower than the line group with the finger pointing upward to the paraph.</note> <hi>¶</hi> <hi>For <foreign>nullum malu<expan>m</expan></foreign> þe man · mette with <foreign>inpunitum</foreign></hi></l>

<l> <hi>And badde <foreign>nullu<expan>m</expan> bonum</foreign> · be <foreign>irremun<expan>er</expan>atum ·</foreign></hi></l>

</lg>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Late ȝowre confessoure sire Kynge · construe þis vnglosed ·</l>

L.4.148KD.4.146

<l> And ȝif ȝe worken it in werke · I wedde myne eres ·</l>

<l> That lawe shal ben a laborere · and lede a<seg>-</seg>felde donge<note>L.4.149: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, but no error is apparent.</note></l>

<l> And loue shal lede þi londe · as þe lief lyketh</l>

</lg>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Clerkes þat were confessoures · coupled hem togideres</l>

L.4.152KD.4.150

<l> Alle to construe þis clause · and for þe kynges profit</l>

<l> Ac nouȝte for conforte of þe co<expan>mun</expan>e · ne for þe kynges soule</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> For I seiȝe <del>n...</del><add>mede</add><note>L.4.154: The third minim of <m> and the <de> in <hi>mede</hi> are overwritten in darker ink, probably in response to the marginal <+>. The original word is not recoverable.</note> in þe moot halle · on men of lawe wynke</l>

<l> And þei lawghyng lope to hir<expan>e</expan> · and lafte resou<expan>n</expan> manye</l>

</lg>

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L.4.156KD.4.154

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Waryn wisdome · wynked vppon Mede</l>

<l> And seide Madame I am ȝowre man · what<seg>-</seg>so my mouth iangleth</l>

<l> I falle in floreines quod þat freke · an faile speche ofte</l>

</lg>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Alle riȝtful recorded · þat resou<expan>n</expan> treuthe tolde</l>

L.4.160KD.4.158

<l> And witt acorded þer<seg>-</seg>with · and comended his wordes</l>

<l> And þe moste peple in þe halle · and manye of þe grete</l>

<l> And leten mekenesse a maistre · and Mede a mansed schrewe</l>

</lg>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Loue lete of hir liȝte · and lewte ȝit lasse</l>

L.4.164KD.4.162

<l> And seide it so heiȝe þat al þe halle it herde</l>

<l> Who<seg>-</seg>so wilneth hir to wyf · for welth of her godis</l>

<l> But he be knowe for a kokewolde · kut of my nose</l>

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<l> <hi>¶</hi> Mede mourned þo · and made heuy chere</l>

L.4.168KD.4.166

<l> For þe moste com<damage>u</damage>ne of þat courte called hire an hore</l>

<l> Ac a sysour<expan>e</expan> and a<note>L.4.169: The words <hi>and a</hi> have been badly rubbed, particularly the <d> and the article. The same rubbing affected the penultimate letters of <hi>comone</hi> in the preceding line.</note> sompnour<expan>e</expan> · sued hir faste</l>

<l> And a schireues clerke · byschrewed al þe route</l>

<l> For ofte haue I q<expan>uo</expan>d he · holpe ȝow atte barre</l>

L.4.172KD.4.170

<l> And ȝit ȝeue ȝe me neuere · þe worthe of a russhe</l>

</lg>

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<lg>L.4.173KD.4.171<l> <hi>¶</hi> The kynge called conscience · and afterwardes resou<expan>n</expan></l>
L.4.174KD.4.172<l> And recorded þat resou<expan>n</expan> had riȝtfullich schewed</l>
L.4.175KD.4.173<l> And mo<add>w</add>dilich vppon Mede · with myȝte þe Kynge loked</l>
L.4.176KD.4.174<l> And gan wax wrothe with lawe · for Mede almoste had shent it</l>
L.4.177KD.4.175<l> And seide þorw ȝowre lawe as I leue · I lese many chetes</l>
L.4.178KD.4.176<l> Mede ouer<seg>-</seg>maistrieth lawe · and moche treuthe letteth</l>
L.4.179KD.4.177<l> Ac resou<expan>n</expan> shal rekene with ȝow · ȝif I regne any while</l>
L.4.180KD.4.178<l> And deme ȝow bi þis day · as ȝe han deserued</l>
L.4.181KD.4.179<l> Mede shal nouȝte meynprise ȝow · bi þe Marie of heuene</l>
L.4.182KD.4.180<l> I wil haue leute in lawe · and lete be al ȝowre ianglyng</l>
L.4.183KD.4.181<l> And as moste folke witnesseth wel · wronge shal be demed</l>
</lg>

<lb/>

<lg>

L.4.184KD.4.182

<l> <hi>¶</hi> Quod conscience to þe kynge · but þe co<expan>mun</expan>e wil assent</l>

<l> It is ful hard bi myn hed · here<seg>-</seg>to to brynge it</l>

<l> Alle ȝowre lige leodes · to lede þus euene</l>

</lg>

<lb/>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> By hym þat rauȝte on þe rode · quod resou<expan>n</expan> to þe kynge</l>

L.4.188KD.4.186

<l> But if I reule þus ȝowre rewme · rende out my guttes</l>

<hi> Ȝif ȝe bidden boxomnesse</hi>

<l> Ȝif ȝe bidden buxomnes · be of myne assente</l>

</lg>

<lb/>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> And I assent seith þe kynge · by seynte Marie my lady</l>

<l> Be my conseille comen of clerkis · and of erlis</l>

L.4.192KD.4.190

<l> Ac redili resou<expan>n</expan> þow shalt nouȝte ride fro me</l>

<l> For as longe as I lyue · lete þe I nelle</l>

</lg>

<lb/>

<lg>

<l> <hi>¶</hi> I am aredy q<expan>uo</expan>d resou<expan>n</expan> · to reste with ȝow euere</l>

<l> So conscience be of owre conseille · I kepe no bettere</l>

L.4.196KD.4.194

<l> And I graunt q<expan>uo</expan>d the kynge · <orig>goddesforbode</orig><reg>goddes forbode</reg> it faile</l>

<l> Als longe as owre lyf lasteth · lyue we togideres</l>

</lg>

</div1>