fol. 71v (cont.)I
xiiij us . us pass
us xiiij us x[v] us quartus
decim us [quintus] decim de visione
vt sup . ra Passus
R.15.12KD.15.12
ofR.15.12:
R's line closely parallels that of beta, but R's is unattested in any
beta witness. F includes of, but does so in a totally revised version of
this a-verse. of sorserie wer a sotil thynge with e- alle .
Til I seyȝ as it e- of I cam
and whider I schuldeR.15.14:
R's b-verse is seriously corrupt, deploying the final phrase from the previous archetypal
line ()—a phrase which he had miscopied in its
proper place; by contrast, F has whider I schulde here and beta manuscripts read
kendely. Moreover, R uniquely divides this botched passage so as to
cause the final phrase of the what kynde line to be displayed as a separate,
following line, R15.15. Bx
And wher þeR.15.19:
R's is unique; the other þe manuscripts have B. Among the his copies, the X family agrees with R
while the P family agrees with the others. C fauchon .
Is noyther peter þe porter ne powel with . mens thouȝteR.15.26:
R's is a unique reading among the thouȝte
copies and has the appearance of a scribal gloss erroneously incorporated into the text. F's
line terminal B then would represent a fairly typical example of that
tradition's tendency toward "smoothing" earlier mistakes. However that may be, ofte also appears at this point in a large number of thouȝte
manuscripts of both major families, including XYcP CTH 2Ch (of the X group) and PEcQZWaGcNcFcCa (of the P group); so if it is an error, its
source is a manuscript prior to 2 in the line of transmission. Bx
.
And for þat I can and knowe cald am I .
And whanne I make mone to god
fol. 72rI
- les
andR.15.37:
RF are joined by L alone among the beta copies in adding the conjunction here. However, clearly agrees with this LRF reading. Cx
þanne Ich hatte . spiritus
Þanne am I spirit speche wlt mR.15.43: R's is a common English scribal spelling for Latin wlt; it appears to have resulted from an association between the customary
phonetic value assigned to Latin initial <v> (= /w/) and a popular sense of the
origin of the <w> graph itself as a "double v." Because many other European
languages, as well as Latin, had no <w> graph, and foundries therefore omitted the
form from standard typographic templates, English printers often resorted to using the
digraph <vv> to represent English <w> till the end of the seventeenth
century. vult anim est us Du
negat v ml consentit
co esiencia e n . st Du In the right margin,
just inside the vertical boundary of the page ruling, someone has inscribed, in drypoint, a
figure resembling a backwards Roman capital <N>; opposite line 51, in the same vertical
column, a figure resembling a properly faced capital <N> has been inscribed; still
lower, and slightly closer to the text, in the margin opposite line 53, another reversed
<N> appears to have been entered in drypoint.
and Presul and
pontifex metropolanus .R.15.53: The term (= metropolanus in beta, seems to be an alpha error. However, this spelling is
also found in about half of the metropolitanus witnesses, including manuscript
X. C
R.15.60KD.15.49
R.15.60: R's is unique, but only in form;
the other Ich manuscripts have B or I, as does y. Cx knewe and coude kendelyche in myn
herte .
I wolde Ich fol. 72vI
schuld e kenne al excepte criste .R.15.65: R here shows a unique omission; reads Bx. cryste one agrees with the Cx
archetype. B
Þat any creatur sicut qui mel comedit
R.15.67: The scribe has included midline punctuation here, but he has
partially obscured it by overwriting it with the first stroke of the following
<m>.
no m est ei
bonu n m . multu
And seith R.15.68KD.15.55
matur ri oppR.15.68: Cf. F's and beta's opprimetur. opprimitur agrees with R on this
inflectional form. Cx a glia . or Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis
eetR.15.70:
This is an alpha variant; cf. beta's . Most eteth
copies agree with alpha, but some with beta. C his mawe is englaymed .
Þe man þat muche hony R.15.77: There is an otiose curl on the tail of the
first <e> of ; it is not altogether different
from a flourish that is part of the scribe's normal repertoire, but from its slightly
altered position, it looks as though he was planning to bar the <e> to represent the
following <n> but then changed his mind. Sciencie appetitus
hoi mem immortalitatis gl niam spoliauit
. or Sciencie
ȝetR.15.78:
R's is unique; ȝet and Bx = Cx. riȝte as hony is euel to defie and
engleymeth þe mawe .
And R.15.84KD.15.70
otherR.15.84:
After beta supplies and, a modifier omitted by G
as well as alpha. fele maistres þat to þe lewed men pchen . re
¶ Freres and R.15.85:
Hereafter RF omit a line found in beta:
. Þat ofte tymes þe lewed peple of her bileue douten
Ȝe meuen materes vnmesurables to tellen of þe trinite
.. Þat ofte tymes þe lewed peple of her bileue douten
e- leue by
by moneR.15.86:
, "many." Mone doctoures e techyng .R.15.86: The version of this line seems much in doubt; there
are complex textual variations among all the manuscripts. Likeliest to represent the beta
version is L, whose rendering closely parallels that of Cr: Bx. F has Bettere byleue were
mony doctoures such techyng. Bettre it were to be-leve on / as
doctouris vs techeþ
BeterR.15.87: Here R is joined only by G in omitting after of; F omits men. men þe
ten comaundementz & touchen þe seuen synnes .
And telle menR.15.88KD.15.75
bourgelethR.15.88:
R's is unique. F reads bourgeleth and beta
manuscripts show spelling variations of the same, e.g., burgoneþ. burgeouneth of hem and bringeth me to helle
. n
And of þe braunches þat R.15.92KD.15.79
charite þe
pople wote þe sothe eR.15.92: There is an ink smudge in the left margin at this point,
apparently the result of blotting contact with the note in the right margin at R15.125 on the
recto page.
More for pompe þanne for puir ratherR.15.94:
R uniquely omits before þe. rather agrees with the other Cx manuscripts on this. B for
her suluer . e
And reuerencen þe riche fol. 73rI
R.15.96KD.15.81α
queritisR.15.96: R uniquely omits after mendacium. queritis &c etera . Vt quid diligitis vanitatem et
R.15.100KD.15.85
andR.15.100: R's is unique; F reads and
while beta has & of. of auerous chapmen .
Of vsureres of hores reule & e e ȝourR.15.102: Here R uniquely adds a second e
to the line. ȝour religiou I take recorde at Ih nus
. es
Aȝeyne ȝour p oressonar er um accept . ne sitis
R.15.103: Beta transposes the RF phrase to . personarum
acceptores
Þat seyde to his disciples R.15.104KD.15.89
e I miȝte make a er greteR.15.104: In place of R's , F reads grete
and beta shows mychil. longe bible .
¶ Of þis mat ouerR.15.105: R's is unique; the other manuscripts read ouer. of cstene poeple as clerkes bereth witnesse
. ri
Ac of curatoures ☜
inparfit p esthode is re and ÞerR.15.110: The beta manuscripts omit this conjunction.
choures and techoures . re p Beginning just below
the pointing hand referred to at R15.107, there is an erased note in the right margin,
written horizontally in some 16 short lines that extend down the page to a point
approximately 2.2 cm. below the last line of scribal text. The hand appears to be the same as
that discernible in the extensive erased note on fol. 94r.
sones and prestes and
p erchoures of holy re cherchesR.15.114: R uniquely deploys the plural; the other manuscripts read . cherche agrees with them against R. Cx
Riȝt so p Is þeR.15.115: Where R reads , beta has Is þe
and F shows Þat aren. A majority of Þey sholde been
manuscripts agrees with R. C rote of þe riȝt faith to reule þe poeple
auȝtR.15.121: R uniquely reads ; F reads auȝt; a majority of the beta copies show looþ
wrong. nouȝt to
vnderfonge . And hatyen to here herlotrie and
trewe Tythes of R.15.122: RF are in agreement on (supported by CrWG), but
most beta manuscripts read trewe. vntrewe
- tyled or - chafared I . thynge I
R.15.124KD.15.109
þeiR.15.124: R's is unique; all the other manuscripts omit
it. þei mysdon more for ȝour ensaumples . e
And amenden hem þat Ipocrysye
chen and p reue it nauȝt
ypoc resie it semeth . ri Þan for to pR.15.125: A sixteenth-century
reader has inscribed in the right margin opposite this line Ipocrysye.
n dongouR.15.126: Beta reads where RF have dongehul n. In a substantially revised version of this line, the dongou version attests C, suggesting that beta's
reading was original. donghep
For ypocrisie in latyn is likkned to a l ij us
fol. 73vI
bele . and paroles with clothes .R.15.130: F's final phrase is completely unique (), but beta differs here from R only by adding blewe burnet
cloþis at the end
of the line. The also version attests C. with bele
clothes
Ȝe ar enblaunched with e bonu n
mcedit ro pR.15.133: The form is from alpha. Beta
witnesses read procedit, the same verb form found at this
point in the progreditur version. C Sicut de templo om
R.15.136KD.15.118
coruptaR.15.136: Beta reads . Both inflectional forms
are found in coruptum witnesses, but distribution and numbers suggest that the
alpha reading was archetypal in C. C fuit
o eri mnm fides marcida est u . Si autem
sacerdosR.15.137: Beta reads . Both inflectional
forms are found in sacerdocium witnesses, but the beta reading is archetypal in
C. C fuit in p ercatis
totus p ecp ol us
co uu ntit er ad urcatu ec m p .R.15.137: Beta reads . Both readings are
found in peccandum witnesses, but the beta reading is archetypal in C. C Si
R.15.144KD.15.121
ste re p bere broches and for her e baselardes e for her .R.15.144: Most beta witnesses have , where the alliterative pattern suggests that But if many a prest bere for here
baselardes and here broches was already corrupt. R reads the nouns of beta's final phrase in
transposed order. The R scribe's placement of a punctus elevatus after Bx probably indicates that he did not take bere to have constituted the b-verse by itself. F's line ( and for here
baselardes) is unique, revised in the light of a
seemingly confused exemplar. But euery
prest sholde bere / for here broode baselardis
But if many R.15.152KD.15.130
e er wit of witty god but wikked men it maked .R.15.152: R's is an alpha reading (cf. F's maked). Beta reads made. hadde agrees with
beta. Cx
Walde neu spened . Þis þat with gile was gete vngraciousliche is R.15.155: R's is unique; F and most beta copies have spened, from the R verb's etymological parent—though W reads spended. The P family of despended agrees with W (and by
implication beta and F), but the majority of the X family supports R (reading C). yspened
fol. 74rI
Longe
WylleR.15.175: This decorative, rubricated
marginal, very unusual in the typical pattern of glosses, may
offer evidence for how early in the transmission chain MS R stands: MSS L and M both have
sixteenth-century glosses taking note of Piers Plowman (M repeating the
actual textual phrase, as in R); but among beta copies, only MS O (which Ralph Hanna dates to
the first quarter of the fifteenth century) shows this gloss in a hand contemporary to its
main scribal hand. Another alpha/beta shared gloss, involving MSS R and L, occurs somewhat
later in this passus with the unexpected and atypical Longe Wylle note at
R15.582, attested solely by MSS L, R and F. Isa. 3
mendinaunsR.15.177: R uniquely reads ; cf. beta's to and F's &
to. ne to to pore .
Men beth merciable to yseth best and
moste plesaunt to re god .R.15.179: F reads the end of this line as while beta
reads god in heuene. owre saueoure
Ac charite þat powel p þat e hym nededR.15.183: R's is an alpha reading transposed in beta to
hym neded. The beta order is also that found in neded hym. Cx nauȝt and nyme it if he miȝte .
ÞingR.15.184KD.15.161
R.15.184: R uniquely reads ;
All other manuscripts have kenneth. kenne(n) me þat criste is in
alle places .
¶ Clerkes kennethd he ne chaffareth nouȝte
uo er noþR.15.189: R uniquely reads at the head of the b-verse; the
other copies have noþer. ne chalengeth ne craueth .
¶ Charite q He leuethR.15.194: R's is an alpha lection; beta has He; R's And is matched only in Cr; F reads leueth while beta manuscripts are ambiguous. Kane and Donaldson read them as beleviþ, but Skeat construed L's reading as leneth. leueth
and loueth alle þat our lorde made . e
l iij us
fol. 74vI
R.15.202: R's is a unique form
of the verb; most of the other manuscripts, including F, read fynt. The
fyndeth reading is uncertain: most P family copies support the F/beta
reading, but most X family witnesses agree with R. Cx hym failed hy hy[m] neue at nede . er
For a frende þat fyntn err
and peynten it with oste aue .R.15.205: Alpha shows the singular; beta reads the plural, (as
does the aues version). C
He can portreye wel þe pat- while is woneR.15.206: R uniquely omits a pronoun reference from . Most
beta manuscripts read is wone; others (LMHm) read he is wone; F has is his
wone. he is wont attests Cx. his wone is to wende o pilgrimage .
And otherR.15.212KD.15.188
- to ȝouthe
and ȝepliche secheR.15.212: R's is unique; cf. beta's seche
and F's speke. þere seken's reading ( Cx) supports R here. secheth .
And ȝerne in ÞanneR.15.217: Beta's opening phrase reads . In a slightly
revised line, And þanne supports alpha, omitting Cx. And
he sengeth whan he doth so and sutyme seith weping m
. e
R.15.220KD.15.196
- outen helpe of peres þe
plowman qd he . uoR.15.220: R uniquely divides a line in half here,
rendering it as two. Bx
¶ With e knowlechyngR.15.223: R's e is unique; the other
manuscripts read knowlechyng. knowyng qd he but by
werkes & by wordes . uo
¶ Clerkes han no fol. 75rI
AndR.15.226: R's is unique; the other manuscripts read And. Et supports the majority here. Cx
. um vidit deus cogitaciones eor
are ful proude e herteR.15.227: R's is unique. Other herte
manuscripts read B. herted men pacient of tonge .
For þerR.15.228KD.15.202
as of beryng m to
bu eggeys rR.15.228: The
<r> of appears to have been written over another
character. burgeys and to lordes .
And buxuR.15.244KD.15.218
ToR.15.244: R's is unique error; all the other manuscripts read
To. Þe loue þat lyth in his herte maketh hym liȝt of
speche .
yporcrite ypocrite tristes fieri sicut . Nolite R.15.246: Kane-Donaldson note R's unique phrasal variation for this Latin
line (the other manuscripts have ), but they overlook the erroneous spelling, Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes
&c. yporcrite supports R's phrasing of this
tagline. Cx
l iiij
fol. 75vI
frereR.15.257: R's (an unmarked genitive) is unique; all the other
manuscripts read frere however, the preponderance of freres evidence (most of the X family and some of the P family) supports R's
reading. C frocke he was Ifounde ones .
And in a R.15.272KD.15.244
Amonges erchebischopes and oþer bischopes These lines are unique to alpha and there are line-division problems.
Moreover, there are sufficient differences between R and F in these lines to justify
reproducing the latter's lines verbatim (cf. Appendix 1, R15.272-77, for details and any
cross-references to the version): C
For to wone with hem / hys wone was sum-tyme.
& cristis parsymonye to þe pore / parcel-mel þey deltyn.
But Auerise hathorn; þe keyȝes /& kepithorn; for hise kenysmen.
& for hise seketouris & seruauntis /& summe for hise chirdryn. ¶ With Bisshopis & abbotys / & prelatis of holy chirche.
¶ For to wone with hem / hys wone was sum-tyme.
& cristis parsymonye to þe pore / parcel-mel þey deltyn.
But Auerise hathorn; þe keyȝes /& kepithorn; for hise kenysmen.
& for hise seketouris & seruauntis /& summe for hise chirdryn. ¶ With Bisshopis & abbotys / & prelatis of holy chirche.
R.15.283:
Immediately after this line, alpha omits a Latin line found in beta:
. OC In pace in idipsum dormiam &c have this line in the margin, suggestive of how it might have been overlooked in alpha if this were its location in Bx. 2
Craueth ne coueyteth ne crieth after more .. OC In pace in idipsum dormiam &c have this line in the margin, suggestive of how it might have been overlooked in alpha if this were its location in Bx. 2
neR.15.285: R's first in this line is unique; all the other ne manuscripts omit it. However, among the B
manuscripts, most of the X family agrees with R, while the others agree with beta. C
byddethR.15.285: There is a discoloration in the parchment (resembling a large punctus)
immediately after , but it has no significance. byddeth ne beggeth
ne borweth to ȝelde .
Neyther he fol. 76rI
take take [no] veniaunce .R.15.290: R inadvertently (and uniquely) omits before no, causing the statement to express a very uncharitable
outlook. veniaunce
In ensaumple we schulde do so and wildernessesR.15.302: R's is unique; the other manuscripts read
wildernesses. wildernesse amonges wilde bestes .
Woneden in mekeR.15.309: F shows no adjective (= ), while R's þe beeste is replaced in beta with meke. mylde beste
þe man was ysusteyned .
And þoruȝ þe melke of þat AcR.15.310: R's is unique; beta reads Ac while
F shows an omission. And day by day hadde he hir nauȝt his
honger forto slake . e
tymeR.15.311: Where alpha has the unmarked plural , beta has tyme. tymes as seith þe boke and techeth .
But selden and sundry imus
heremita r hadde parroked p inR.15.315: Beta omits alpha's . The in version
agrees with beta's omission. C hym- selue .
¶ Powel R.15.320KD.15.291
R.15.320: Virtually all beta manuscripts (and F) add
before his. hondes hondes þat his
wombe nedede .
And wan with fol. 76vI
me þei solde and som me þei m eetenR.15.322: Alpha's is an easier replacement for the correctly
alliterating eeten found in the best beta manuscripts. Cf. sothe(n)R.15.468: . The version
incorporates this same line, but the lemma in question shows a wide range of attested
readings among C witnesses. C & so þei lyued bothe
.
So and byR.15.323: Alpha omits after lyued; beta
omits the second mores from this b-verse, as witnessed by alpha. On both of
these issues, by agrees with beta. Cx dewes .
And also marie maudeleyne by mores lordes loue e amonges wilde bestes .R.15.326: For alpha's , beta (and the amonges wilde bestes version) read C. manye longe ȝeres
Þat lyueden þus for our ne was lyon ne e leopartzR.15.327: R uniquely shows the plural; F and beta read the singular, . leopart þat on laundes wente .
Ac þer in lowynge þer þei on laundes e ȝede .R.15.333: R's is unique; F reads in lowynge . R's lovynge is unique; F reads ȝede . Beta omits the entire line. wentyn
In likkyng and byR.15.338: R's is unique here; based on the scribe's uniform
spelling of the linking verb elsewhere (= by), this occurrence may be an
error, but it cannot be so designated conclusively. It may represent another example of R's
many relict forms. be, MED
s. v., attests to the viability of ben in this sense with
citations from both the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, including one from the
by ( Ayenbite of Inwyt—BL Arundel 57) and He haþ niede, by hit to þe bodie, by hit to
þe zaule ( The Seven Sages—Cam. Dd.1.17).
Moreover, at R16.166, the scribe demonstrates his comfort with the inverse situation,
signifying ModE "by" with He
schal dwelle on lyue tyl to morwe day, And by than as hit may, a form that be, OED2
s. v. (prep., adv.), attests as viable for this period. by lothe to
agulte .
And þanne wolde lordes and ladyes R.15.343: R's is unique among the leue manuscripts (cf. R15.400),
but B attests it as a recognized form for OED2. (See
Trevisa, 1387, liue
s. v. (v. 1). live by .
Til briddes bringen vs þat we schulde leueR.15.345: In place of alpha's or on (= F), beta here shows oo. a mess
þer e e- myde of on maner kende
. e
And on- now
ȝe religious & so ȝour
e ordreR.15.346: Alpha here substitutes non-alliterating for ordre's Bx (attested in beta). reule me tolde .
Ȝe hadde riȝt IR.15.348KD.15.318
ante
plenu m p msepe re steterit . Aut mugiet bos cuR.15.348: Here alpha drops a long passage from the Latin citation as witnessed by
both beta and the version: C. brutorum animalium
natura te condempnat quia cum eis pabulum comune sufficiat
R.15.356KD.15.325
- founded I and feffed eke to bydden for other .R.15.356: The scribe fails here to
skip a line between strophes, as is his custom, presumably because the next line is the last
ruled one for this side.
And ben fol. 77rI
- selue
su and m suchR.15.361: R's is followed by a unique omission; most beta
copies follow such with such and BF read as. þat ben here laboreres .
And on hemR.15.367: In this
case (cf. R15.371), RF share with some beta copies a root form, ,
classified by Robbe as a sixteenth-century variant spelling for OED2, v. (= ModE "clothe"); it is traceable to OF robe (= ModE
"robe"), derived from the same root as OF robbe since the original meaning
of "robe" was "booty, spoils." rob þat bethR.15.367: R's is unique; all
other witnesses read beth. be(n) riche .
Riȝt so ȝe riche ȝe robbeth- so fulled a tonne ful of a fulR.15.369: R's second is unique; beta reads ful and F has an omission. fressh ryuer . e
As ho fedeR.15.373: In place of alpha's , beta has fede. feste beggeres .
Ac religious þat rich ben schulde rather R.15.376KD.15.343α
idem pcatorib ec dar us est
demonib e
us e immolar . Item R.15.376: Here alpha drops a long passage from the Latin citation as witnessed in
beta: . Item monache si indiges et accipis pocius das quam accipis Si autem
non eges & accipis rapis
FoR.15.379: Neither nor MED, OED2
s. v., cites an example of for as viable for the
preposition signified here, but it occurs in R in four widely separated contexts (cf. R2.64,
R14.60, and R20.224) and probably represents an instance of idiolect apocope. Cf. R's common
use of fo (= ModE "from") and fro (= ModE
"more"). mo charite with- oute chalengyng .
e vnchargeth .R.15.379: R uniquely omits the end of 's b-verse: Bx. þe soule
R.15.380KD.15.346
is deliuered .R.15.380: For R's , F reads is deliuered; beta reads ben
dylyuered. (he) delyureth
And many a prison fram purgatorie þoruȝ his
preyeres eR.15.382: R is almost unique (cf. Cot) in this
reading; F and the other beta copies read . Wherfore folke is þe
febler and nouȝt ferme of byleue . e
Wher fol. 77vI
byfalleR.15.394: R's is unique; all the other manuscripts read byfalle. However, most of the falle(n) manuscripts agree with
R. C after .
Þat whilum warned bifore what schuld des and schipmen and so doen þis
tilieres . erR.15.402: An early reader has inserted a red star or cross in the right margin at this
point.
Schep clementR.15.405: For alpha's , beta reads of clement. Alpha's reference is opaque; but at least, unlike beta's, it alliterates.
Schmidt conjectures of þe
element(s), based on the unquestioned reading of the clemat version at this point, C. clymat þe
contrarie þei fynde .
Of þat was calkuled of clerkeR.15.407: R's apparent singular, , is unique; the other
copies have the explicit plural required by immediate context, clerke. clerkes ho- so nymeth hede .
For is non of þis new R.15.412KD.15.379, 378
flatreR.15.412: For R's , "flatterer, one who flatters" from OF flatre, flatour reads Bx, the same
form found in flaterere. Cx his felawe vnder hym to fourmen .
And AndR.15.413:
is alpha's erroneous addition to the text of And. Bx muche wonder me thenketh amonges vs alle .
liuyng e
þ et lewed men be þe lother god agulten . aR.15.426: There is a superfluous
tilde over the of -en. agulten
And for her fol. 78rI
R.15.436KD.15.402
. eR.15.436: Hereafter alpha omits two lines found in beta, presumably on
account of eyeskip (the second of the omitted lines ends with ): ere
Þanne wolde þe coluer come to þe clerkes ere. And if he amonge þe poeple preched or in places come
Þe corne þat sche cropped he caste hit in his
herÞanne wolde þe coluer come to þe clerkes ere. And if he amonge þe poeple preched or in places come
as after mete þus macumeth
hir e
e chaunted .R.15.437: Beta reads , while F shows a present-tense form
of alpha's apheretic verb: enchaunted. chawnteþ agrees with
beta. Cx
MenyngR.15.440KD.15.408
And messagerR.15.440: Where alpha has , beta reads And messager. As
messager to macumeth men for to teche .
PeresR.15.450: Cf. alpha's noun form, , to beta's verb form, Peres. Peren to apostles thoruȝ her parfit
lyuynge . e
houseR.15.455: R uniquely shows the singular; the other manuscripts read . houses by lele mennes e fyndyng .
To lyue by litel and in lowe
. etera Petite et accipietis &cR.15.461: The R scribe here deviates from his usual practice of inserting
a blank line between strophes, presumably because the next line is the last one ruled for
this side.
fol. 78vI
. etera Vos estis sal terre &c F omits these 68 lines (= KD15.429α-92), reflecting the contents
either of a single leaf or (more likely) an opening from his exemplar. E. Talbot Donaldson
noted this fact in "MSS R and F in the B-Tradition of ," Piers Plowman (1955): 185
n. 19, rightly attributing the error to a copyist between F and alpha. More recently Sean
Taylor, "The F Scribe and the R Manuscript of Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences B," Piers Plowman 77 (1996): 530-48, has pointed out that this lacuna
coincides with the opening of fols. 78v-79r in R; he argues, we think unconvincingly, that
this coincidence supports the proposition that F was copied directly from R. English Studies
calledR.15.465: Beta here shows the present-tense form, . F omits
the line. calleth hem salt for cristene soules
Crist asR.15.471: The beta version of the phrase shows a determiner: good baneoure a. F omits the line. as goed
baneour . e
And be gyde and go before R.15.479: Only B supports R's inferior reading (); the other beta manuscripts read and grete or garte. F omits the line. gerte clerkes to go and to
pche . re
Til gregori and greteR.15.480KD.15.445
e þer .R.15.480: R's is unique; the beta copies have kynge þere while F omits the line. kynge
Austyn at canterbirie cristened þe kynge fol. 79rI
R.15.496KD.15.461
with e- oute keperesR.15.496: R's is unique; beta's variants seem nonsensical:
LYOGC keperes have 2 while WHmCrCBM show crep(e)res. F omits the line. crop(i)ers .
Rude and vnresonable rennyngR.15.504KD.15.468
doth loue & lewte and leleR.15.504: In the a-verse, is a unique addition to the text of
this line as witnessed by beta; in the b-verse, the same is true of doth
(before and). F omits the line. lele men susteyneth .
So R.15.508KD.15.472
R.15.508:
, "is." His These lines are omitted by all beta manuscripts and
survive in R alone. folk vnderstonde .
And by þe hande fedde foules his
us m eu in effrata &c . etera Ecce audiuimR.15.527: Beta omits this Latin
citation and F has omitted at least a folio of surrounding material, including this
phrase.
sum
mu erdu n . et p mdic re .
&c ate . etera Ite in vniuR.15.529: Here the R scribe omits his usual line break
before a new strophe, presumably because the next line is the last one ruled for this
side.
Alls All[a]sR.15.530: R's is undocumented in Alls or
MED
OED2
s. v. and is, presumably, a unique spelling error; F omits this line, beta
has alas, the same form that occurs in Allas. Cx
þat men so longe on macumeth schullenR.15.530: R's is unique; most beta copies read schullen or schulde(n). sholde byleue .
¶ fol. 79vI
wilneR.15.533: Alpha's derives from a different verb stem than
beta's wilne, but it is doubtful that Langland saw these forms as distinct
since they share virtually identical semantics. The wil manuscripts, in a
revised b-verse, split on these two verb forms (the majority agreeing with alpha), thus
confirming their status as twins in early fifteenth-century usage. C a name .
Þat þei ne wenten as criste wisseth sithen þei ToR.15.538: Beta reads in place of alpha's For.
Beta omits the second To in this a-verse. to cristene and to vncristene criste seyde to pchoures . re
byleue þe
liȝtloker e it semethR.15.541: For alpha's , beta and the it semeth version read C. me thynketh .
Han a lippe of our- so trauaile
wolde & techenR.15.542: R's is unique; all other & techen copies read B. to teche hem of þe tnite
. ri
Þei schulde turne hoR.15.544KD.15.504
sone to helpe er to on p .R.15.544: In place of R's softened b-verse (which F varies from with ), beta copies read of
helpe. and parfitly bileueth agrees with beta. Cx
For al paynymes preyeth On
o god þei greden and his grace asken .R.15.545: R's b-verse is virtually identical to beta's (which reads ), but the a-verse in the two subarchtypes is radically different.
Beta's version of the latter reads and
his grace þei asken. In þe holy grete god
R.15.548KD.15.508
þeR.15.548: In place of R's ), most beta copies and F read for þe while Cr has for. The reading of of is uncertain here, the P family agreeing with R while the X family reads Cx. for tho
riȝtfulmen þ riȝtful ment in þe
reume wonyen . a
And þat is reuth for Beta omits these lines. The differences between F's version of these
lines and that attested in R are sufficiently numerous to make full citation of F's passage
here advisable (cf. Appendix 1, R15.551-68, for details and any cross-references to the version): C
Manye myraclis he wroghte / man for to turne.
In ensaumple þat sholde seen / þat by sad resoun.
Men myghte not ben savid / but þorghȝ mercy & grace.
& þorghȝ penaunce & passioun / & parfyȝt beleve.
& by- cam of a mayde / & metropolitanus after.
& was baptyzed & y- sygned / with þe blood of his herte.
Alle þat wilned & wolde / with wit be-leve it.
Manye a seynt sytthen / haven suffred to dyȝen.
Al for to ferme þe fayȝþ / in fele contrees dyȝen.
In yȝnde in Alysaundre / in Armonye in spayne.
& in doolful deþ þey dyeden / for þeyre feyþis sake.
In savacioun of þe fayþ / seynt Thomas was y-martred.
And a-mong vnkyȝnde cristene / for cristis he dyȝede.
& for þe ryght of al þis rewme / & alle rewmes cristene.
Holy chirche ys honoured / hyȝlyche þorghȝ his dyȝenge.
He is be-leve to alle bisschopis / & a bryght merrour.
& souereynly to swiche / þat of surrye beren þe name. Whan þe hyȝe kyng of heuene / sente his sone to erþe.
¶ Whan þe heye kynge of heuene sent his sone to erthe
.Manye myraclis he wroghte / man for to turne.
In ensaumple þat sholde seen / þat by sad resoun.
Men myghte not ben savid / but þorghȝ mercy & grace.
& þorghȝ penaunce & passioun / & parfyȝt beleve.
& by- cam of a mayde / & metropolitanus after.
& was baptyzed & y- sygned / with þe blood of his herte.
Alle þat wilned & wolde / with wit be-leve it.
Manye a seynt sytthen / haven suffred to dyȝen.
Al for to ferme þe fayȝþ / in fele contrees dyȝen.
In yȝnde in Alysaundre / in Armonye in spayne.
& in doolful deþ þey dyeden / for þeyre feyþis sake.
In savacioun of þe fayþ / seynt Thomas was y-martred.
And a-mong vnkyȝnde cristene / for cristis he dyȝede.
& for þe ryght of al þis rewme / & alle rewmes cristene.
Holy chirche ys honoured / hyȝlyche þorghȝ his dyȝenge.
He is be-leve to alle bisschopis / & a bryght merrour.
& souereynly to swiche / þat of surrye beren þe name. Whan þe hyȝe kyng of heuene / sente his sone to erþe.
ou i of þe fayth
seynt t n....s homaR.15.563: The erasure is not original; the first and last letters of the deleted name
appear to have been <t> and <s> respectively. The name is obvious both
historically and textually. was ymartired.
In sauac for a- bysene he is
fol. 80rI
And nauȝt to huppe aboute e her in englande forto halwe autres .R.15.569: Although it begins in harmony with R, F's version of this line is unique in
several ways ().
Beta differs from R in three respects: (1) where R's opening reads & nowht to hoppe here & þeere / for halwen awteris, beta has And
nauȝt to; (2) beta omits R's Þat later in the a-verse but (3) adds here after mennes in the b-verse. halwe
in amonges curatoures and confesse menR.15.570: R's is unique; F and most beta copies read
confesse men, while GC confesse(n)B read 2. confessyon agrees with the majority F/beta reading. Cx
aȝeyne þe lawe .
And crepe falsem in e em messR.15.571: R's omission of text after is unique;
all the other manuscripts of messem read B after alienam. messem
agrees with the Cxmajority. B &c
. etera Nolite mitter
e wer knowe þer or any cros e e þerR.15.573: R's is unique; all the other manuscripts of cros þere read B. cros agrees with the
majority against R. Cx honoured .R.15.573: Immediately hereafter, the beta manuscripts witness to
some 35 lines of text not present in alpha but clearly attested in the
version. The entire question of the order of these complementary omissions (with alpha
witnessing uniquely to KD15.511-28 and beta now uniquely attesting KD15.533-69—and
short neighboring passages seemingly out of their logical order as well) is discussed by
Kane-Donaldson on pp. 176-79. Cf. section C, esp. paragraphs 5 and 6, of our Introduction for a different assessment of
the cause of this dislocation (but complete agreement with Kane-Donaldson on the proper
ordering of the text). The lines here omitted by alpha read as follows in beta: II.2.5
How þei defouled her flessh forsoke her owne wille
Fer fro kitth and fro kynne yuel yclothed ȝeden
Badly ybedded no boke but conscience
Ne no richchesse but þe Rode to reioyse hem Inne
Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri &c
And þo was plente & pees amonges pore & riche
And now is routhe to rede how þe red noble
Is reuerenced or þe Rode receyued for þe worthier
Þan crystes crosse þat ouercam deþ and dedly synne
And now is werre and wo and whoso why axeth
For coueityse after crosse þe croune stant in golde
Bothe riche and religious þat Rode þei honoure
Þat in grotes is ygraue and in golde nobles
For coueityse of þat crosse men of holykirke
Shul tourne as templeres did þe tyme approcheth faste
Wyte ȝe nouȝt wyse men how þo men honoured
More tresore þan treuthe I dar nouȝt telle þe sothe
Resoun & riȝtful dome þo Religious demed
Riȝt so ȝe clerkes for ȝowre coueityse ar longe
Shal þei demen and ȝowre pryde depose dos ecclesie
Deposuit potentes de sede &c.
Ȝif knyȝthod & kynde wytte and comune conscience
Togideres loue lelly leueth it wel ȝe bisshopes
Þe lordeship of londes for euere shal ȝe lese
And lyuen as as owre lorde ȝow techeth leuitici
Per primicias & decimas
Whan costantyn of curteysye holykirke dowed
With londes and ledes lordeshipes and rentes
An Angel men herde an heigh at Rome crye
þis day hath ydronke venym Dos ecclesie
And þo þat han petres powere arn apoysoned alle
A medecyne mote þer-to þat may amende prelates
Þat sholden preye for þe pees possessioun hem letteth
Take her landes ȝe lordes and let hem lyue by dymes
If possessioun be poysoun & inparfit hem make
Good were to dischargen hem for holicherche sake
And purgen hem of poysoun or more perile falle
Ȝif presthod were parfit þe peple sholde amende
Þat contrarien crystes lawe and crystendome dispise. It is reuth to rede how riȝtwis men lyued
Ar cristendom How þei defouled her flessh forsoke her owne wille
Fer fro kitth and fro kynne yuel yclothed ȝeden
Badly ybedded no boke but conscience
Ne no richchesse but þe Rode to reioyse hem Inne
Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri &c
And þo was plente & pees amonges pore & riche
And now is routhe to rede how þe red noble
Is reuerenced or þe Rode receyued for þe worthier
Þan crystes crosse þat ouercam deþ and dedly synne
And now is werre and wo and whoso why axeth
For coueityse after crosse þe croune stant in golde
Bothe riche and religious þat Rode þei honoure
Þat in grotes is ygraue and in golde nobles
For coueityse of þat crosse men of holykirke
Shul tourne as templeres did þe tyme approcheth faste
Wyte ȝe nouȝt wyse men how þo men honoured
More tresore þan treuthe I dar nouȝt telle þe sothe
Resoun & riȝtful dome þo Religious demed
Riȝt so ȝe clerkes for ȝowre coueityse ar longe
Shal þei demen and ȝowre pryde depose dos ecclesie
Deposuit potentes de sede &c.
Ȝif knyȝthod & kynde wytte and comune conscience
Togideres loue lelly leueth it wel ȝe bisshopes
Þe lordeship of londes for euere shal ȝe lese
And lyuen as as owre lorde ȝow techeth leuitici
Per primicias & decimas
Whan costantyn of curteysye holykirke dowed
With londes and ledes lordeshipes and rentes
An Angel men herde an heigh at Rome crye
þis day hath ydronke venym Dos ecclesie
And þo þat han petres powere arn apoysoned alle
A medecyne mote þer-to þat may amende prelates
Þat sholden preye for þe pees possessioun hem letteth
Take her landes ȝe lordes and let hem lyue by dymes
If possessioun be poysoun & inparfit hem make
Good were to dischargen hem for holicherche sake
And purgen hem of poysoun or more perile falle
Ȝif presthod were parfit þe peple sholde amende
Þat contrarien crystes lawe and crystendome dispise. It is reuth to rede how riȝtwis men lyued
R.15.576KD.15.572
schewenR.15.576: R's is an inferior alpha reading; cf. beta's
properly alliterating schewen. techen hem on þe
tnite to byleue . ri
Tellen hem and AcR.15.578: R's is unique; beta omits the entire line while F
reads Ac. But ysaie of ȝow spekethR.15.578: R's is unique; beta omits the entire
line while F reads of ȝow speketh. how þou spekist and osyas bothe .R.15.578:
Beginning here, there is another long, erased note in the right margin, most of it in the
same hand as the example on fol. 94r. The hand appears to be nearly contemporary to that of
the main scribe. However, the first three lines of the erased note appear to be in a
secretary hand. Total length of the note is some 23 short, horizontally arranged lines,
extending to a point approximately 3.5 cm. below the last ruled text line.
me regem
y 3 . e Et ideo nolite constituerR.15.582: R's is an abbreviated reference for the
biblical citation immediately preceding (from Isa. 3). Such references are rare in the y 3 manuscripts; this one clearly derives from alpha, at least, since a very
similar reference occurs in F here, but what is especially noteworthy is that an absolutely
identical citation occurs at this point in L, one of the oldest beta
manuscripts. B
for me [forme]R.15.586: R's probably is a misreading of for me in alpha. F tried to rationalize this variant as forme. Beta
reads formed. ferme as in þe faith godes forbode elles .
Aren it hemR.15.591: For alpha's defective , beta correctly reads it hem. men til messye come .
And toke it moyses to techen AndR.15.594: Alpha's is omitted by beta but included in And. Cx for a parfit pphete þat muche poeple
saued . ro
R.15.600KD.15.594
stanke and dedeR.15.600: Beta merely transposes R's phrase to ,
but F is unique: ded & stanke. he stank ded with stif voys hym calde
.
And vnder stone m j us
fol. 80vI
R.15.608KD.15.600
mc anor t um veniat sanctus s
etera &c . CuR.15.608: Beta's version of this citation is fuller than alpha's, and the opening is
transposed: . Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit vnxio
vestra
uince ro pR.15.618: R's singular form is unique; the other manuscripts read . prouynces schulde pue if þei miȝte . ro
Prelates of cristene R.15.620KD.15.611
andR.15.620: R's is unique; beta shows and while F reads et. Although a few Credo manuscripts (PVcAcZ) agree with R, C clearly
agrees with beta on this lection. Cx
sp nm sanctu iritu
. m i
Til þei coude speke and spelle