fol. 59v (cont.)I
Passus vndecimus

Thanne Scripture scorned me . and a skile tolde
And lakked me in latyn . and liȝt by me she sette
And seide Multi multa sciunt & seipsos nesciunt
fol. 60rI
W.11.4KD.11.4
Tho wepte I for wo . and wraþe of hir speche
And in a wynkynge wraþe . weex I aslepe
A merueillous metels mette me þanne
That I was rauysshed riȝt þere . and Fortune me fette
W.11.8KD.11.8
And in-to þe lond of longynge . allone she me brouȝte
And in a Mirour þat hiȝte middelerþe . she made me to biholde
SoneW.11.10: W alone reads Sone; most other B manuscripts have Siþen. she seide to me . here myȝtow se wondres
And knowe þat þow coueitest . and come þer-to paraunter

W.11.12KD.11.12
Thanne hadde Fortune folwynge hire . two faire damyseles
Concupiscencia carnis . men called þe elder mayde
And Coueitise of eiȝes . ycalled was þat ooþer
Pride of parfit lyuynge . pursued hem boþe
W.11.16KD.11.16
And bad me for my contenaunce . acounten Clergie liȝte

Concupiscencia carnis . colled me aboute þe nekke
And seide þow art yong and yeep . and hast yeres ynowe           W.11.18:nota
For to lyue longe . and ladies to louye           W.11.19:nota
W.11.20KD.11.20
And in þis Mirour þow myȝt se . myȝtes ful manye
That leden þee wole to likynge . al þi lif-tyme

The secounde seide þe same . I shal sewe þi wille
Til þow be a lord and haue lond . leten þee I nelle
W.11.24KD.11.24
That I ne shal folwe þi felawship . if Fortune it like
He shal fynde me his frend . quod Fortune þer-after
The freke þat folwede my wille . failled neuere blisse           W.11.26:nota

Thanne was þer oon þat hiȝte Elde . þat heuy was of chere
W.11.28KD.11.28
Man quod he if I mete wiþ þe . by Marie of heuene
Thow shalt fynde Fortune þee faille . at þi mooste nede
And Concupiscencia carnis . clene þee forsake
Bittrely shaltow banne þanne . boþe dayes and nyȝtes
W.11.32KD.11.32
Coueitise of eiȝe . þat euere þow hir knewe
And pride of parfit lyuynge . to muche peril þee brynge
fol. 60vI
Ye recche þee neuere quod Rechelesnesse . stood forþ in raggede cloþes
Folwe forþ þat Fortune wole . þow hast wel fer til Elde
W.11.36KD.11.36
A man may stoupe tyme ynoȝ . whan he shal tyne þe crowne           W.11.36:nota

Homo proponit quod a poete . and Plato he hiȝte
And Deus disponit quod he . lat god doon his wille
If truþe wol witnesse it be wel do . Fortune to folwe
W.11.40KD.11.40
Concupiscencia carnis . ne Coueitise of eiȝes
Ne shal noȝt greue þee gretly . ne bigileW.11.41: W alone omits þee after bigile. but if þow wolt þi-selueW.11.41: W alone reads þi-selue; other B manuscripts omit it.

Ye fare-wel Phippe quod Faunteltee . and forþ gan me drawe
Til Concupiscencia carnis . acorded alle my werkes

W.11.44KD.11.44
Allas eiȝe quod Elde . and holynesse boþe
That wit shal torne to wrecchednesse . for wil to haue his likyng           W.11.45:nota

Coueitise of eiȝes . conforted me anoon after
And folwed me fourty wynter . and a fifte moore
W.11.48KD.11.48
That of dowel ne dobet . no deyntee me þouȝte
I hadde no likyng leue me if þee list . of hem ouȝt to knowe
Coueitise of eiȝes . com ofter in mynde
Than dowel or dobet . among my dedes alle

W.11.52KD.11.52
Coueitise of eiȝes . conforted me ofte           W.11.52:nota
And seide haue no conscience . how þow come to goode           W.11.53:nota
Go confesse þee to som frere . and shewe hym þi synnes           W.11.54:nota
For whiles Fortune is þi frend . freres wol þee louye           W.11.55:nota
W.11.56KD.11.56
And fecche þee to hir Fraternitee . and for þe biseke           W.11.56:nota
To hir Priour prouincial . a pardon for to haue           W.11.57:nota
And preien for þee pol by pol . if þow be pecuniosus           W.11.58:nota

Set pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis

W.11.60KD.11.59
By wissynge of þis wenche I wrouȝte . hir wordes were so swete
fol. 61rI
Til I foryat youþe . and yarn in-to Elde

And þanne was Fortune my foo . for al hir faire specheW.11.62: W alone reads speche; other B manuscripts have biheste.           W.11.62:nota
And pouerte pursued me . and putte me lowe           W.11.63:nota

W.11.64KD.11.63
And þo fond I þe frere afered . and flittynge boþe
Ayeins oure firste forward . for I seide I nolde
Be buried at hire hous . but at my parisshe chirche
For I herde ones . how Conscience it tolde
W.11.68KD.11.67
That þere a man were cristned . by kynde he sholde be buryed
Or where he were parisshen . riȝt þere he sholde be grauen
And for I seide þus to freres . a fool þei me helden
And loued me þe lasse . for my lele speche

W.11.72KD.11.70
Ac yet I cryde on my Confessour . þat heeld hym-self so konnyng           W.11.72:nota
By my feiþ frere quod I . ye faren lik þise woweris           W.11.73:nota
That wedde none widwes . but for to welden hir goodes           W.11.74:nota
Riȝt so by þe roode . rouȝte ye neuere           W.11.75:nota
W.11.76KD.11.74
Where my body were buryed . by so ye hadde my siluer           W.11.76:nota

Ich haue muche merueille of yow . and so haþ many anoþer
Whi youre Couent coueiteþ . to confesse and to burye
Raþer þan to baptize barnes . þat ben Catecumelynges
W.11.80KD.11.78
Baptizynge and buryinge . boþe beþ ful nedefulle
Ac muche moore meritorie . me þynkeþ it is to baptize
For a baptized man may . as þise maistres telleþ
Thoruȝ contricion come . to þe heiȝe heuene
W.11.84KD.11.81α
W.11.84: This boxed line appears as an insertion placed immediately to the right of the previous line with two red diagonal pen strokes to indicate its proper place in the sequence. The hand of the text is that of the original scribe. Sola contricio &c
Ac barn wiþ-outen bapteme . may noȝt so be saued
Nisi quis renatus fuerit . loke ye lettred men . wheiþer I lye or do noȝt .
And lewte loked on me . and I loured after

W.11.88KD.11.85
Wher-fore lourestow quod lewtee . and loked on me harde

If I dorste quod I amonges men . þis metels auowe
fol. 61vI
Ȝis by Peter and by Poul quod he . and took hem boþe to witnesse
Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo . set publice argue illos

W.11.92KD.11.89
They wole aleggen also quod I . and by þe gospel preuen
Nolite iudicare quemquam .

And wher-of serueþ lawe quod lewtee . if no lif vndertoke it
Falsnesse ne faiterie . for som-what þe Apostle seide
W.11.96KD.11.93-94
Non oderis fratrem . And in þe Sauter also . seiþ dauid þe prophete
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis &c

It is licitum for lewed men . to sigge þe soþe           W.11.98:nota
If hem likeþ and lest . ech a lawe it graunteþ           W.11.99:nota
W.11.100KD.11.98
Excepte persons and preestes . and prelates of holy chirche           W.11.100:nota
It falleþ noȝt for þat folk . no tales to telle           W.11.101:nota
Thouȝ þe tale be trewe . and it touche synne           W.11.102:nota

Þyng þat al þe world woot . wher-fore sholdestow spare
W.11.104KD.11.102
To reden it in Retorik . to arate dedly synne
Ac be neuere-moore þe firste . defauteW.11.105: W alone omits þe before defaute. to blame
Thouȝ þow se yuel seye it noȝt first . be sory it nere amended
No þyng þat is pryue . publice þow it neuere           W.11.107:nota
W.11.108KD.11.106
Neiþer for loue preiseW.11.108: W alone reads preise; most other B manuscripts have laude. it noȝt . ne lakke it for enuye           W.11.108:nota
Parum lauda vitupera parcius

He seiþ sooþ quod Scripture þo . and skipte anheiȝan heiȝ and preched
Ac þe matere þat she meued . if lewed men it knewe
W.11.112KD.11.109
Þe lasse as I leue . louyen it þei wolde

This was hir teme and hir text . I took ful good hede
Multi to a mangerie . and to þe mete were sompned
And whan þe peple was plener comen . þe porter vnpynned þe yate
W.11.116KD.11.114
And plukked In Pauci pryueliche . and leet þe remenaunt go rome
fol. 62rI
Al for tene of hir text . trembled myn herte
And in aweera weer gan I wexe . and wiþ my-self to dispute
Wheiþer I were chosen or noȝt chosen . on holichirche I þouȝte
W.11.120KD.11.118
That vnderfonged me atte font . for oon of goddes chosene
For crist cleped vs alle . come if we wolde
Sarzens and scismatikes . and so he dide þe Iewes
O vos omnes sicientes venite &c
W.11.124KD.11.121
And bad hem souke for synne . safly at his breste
And drynke boote for bale . brouke it who-so myȝte

Thanne may alle cristene come quod I . and cleyme þere entree
By þe blood þat he bouȝte vs wiþ . and þoruȝ bapteme after
W.11.128KD.11.124α
Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit &c
For þouȝ a cristen man coueited . his cristendom to reneye
Riȝtfully to reneye . no reson it wolde

For may no cherl chartre make . ne his catel selle
W.11.132KD.11.128
Wiþ-outen leue of his lord . no lawe wol it graunte
Ac he may renne in arerage . and rome so fro home
And as a reneyed caytif . recchelesly rennen aboute
And reson shal rekene wiþ hym . and casten hym in arerage
W.11.136KD.11.133
And putten hym after in a prison . in purgatorie to brenne
For hise arerages rewarden hym þere . to þe day of dome
But if Contricion wol come . and crye by his lyue
Mercy for hise mysdedes . wiþ mouþe and wiþ herte

W.11.140KD.11.137
That is sooþ seide Scripture . may no synne lette
Mercy al to amende . and Mekenesse hir folwe
For þei beþ as oure bokes telleþ . aboue goddes werkes
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius

W.11.144KD.11.140
Ye baw for bokes quod oon . was broken out of helle
Hiȝte Troianus hadde ben a trewe knyȝt . took witnesse at a pope
How he was ded and dampned . to dwellen in pyne
fol. 62vI
For an vncristene creature . clerkes wite þe soþe
W.11.148KD.11.144
That al þe clergie vnder crist . ne myȝte me cracche fro helle
But oonliche loue and leautee . and my laweful domes

Gregorie wiste þis wel . and wilned to my soule
Sauacion for sooþnesse . þat he seiȝ in my werkes
W.11.152KD.11.148
And after þat he wepte . and wilned me were graunted
Grace . wiþ-outen any bede biddyng . his boone was vnderfongen
And I saued as ye see . wiþ-outen syngynge of masses
By loue and by lernyng . of my lyuynge in truþe           W.11.155:nota
W.11.156KD.11.153
Brouȝte me fro bitter peyne . þer no biddyng myȝte           W.11.156:nota

Lo ye lordes what leautee dide . by an Emperour of Rome
That was an vncristene creature . as clerkes fyndeþ in bokes
Nouȝt þoruȝ preiere of a pope . but for his pure truþe
W.11.160KD.11.157
Was þat Sarsen saued . as Seint Gregorie bereþ witnesse

Wel ouȝte ye lordes þat lawes kepe . þis lesson to haue in mynde
And on Troianus truþe to þenke . and do truþe to þe peple
Lawe wiþ-outen loue quod Troianus . ley þer a bene           W.11.163:nota
W.11.164KD.11.172
Or any Science vnder sonne . þe seuene artz and alle
But þei ben lerned for oure lordes loue . lost is al þe tyme
For no cause to cacche siluer þer-by . ne to be called a maister
But al for loue of oure lord . and þe bet to loue þe peple
W.11.168KD.11.176
For Seint Iohan seide it . and soþe arn hise wordes
Qui non diligit manet in morte

Who-so loueþ noȝt leue me . he lyueþ in deeþ-deyinge
And þat alle manere men . enemyes and frendes           W.11.171:nota
W.11.172KD.11.179
Loue hir eyþer ooþer . and lene hem as hem-selue           W.11.172:nota
Who-so leneþ noȝt he loueþ noȝt . god woot þe soþe           W.11.173:nota
CristW.11.174: W alone reads Crist; F reads he; other B manuscripts have And. comaundeþ ech a creature . to conformen hym to louye           W.11.174:nota
And souereynly þe pouere peple . and hir enemyes after           W.11.175:nota
W.11.176KD.11.183
For hem þat haten vs . is oure merite to louye           W.11.176:nota
fol. 63rI
And pouere peple to plese . hir preieres maye vs helpe           W.11.177:nota
And oure Ioye and oure heele . Iesu crist of heuene           W.11.178:nota
In a pouere mannes apparaille . pursued vs euere           W.11.179:nota
W.11.180KD.11.187
And lokeþ on vs in hir liknesse . and þat wiþ louely chere           W.11.180:nota
To knowen vs by oure kynde herte . and castynge of oure eiȝen           W.11.181:nota
Wheiþer we loue þe lordes here . bifore þe lord of blisse           W.11.182:nota
And exciteþ vs by þe Euaungelie . þat whan we maken festes
W.11.184KD.11.191
We sholde noȝt clepe oure kyn þer-to . ne none kynnes riche

Cum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare amicos
Ac calleþ þe carefulle þer-to . þe croked and þe pouere           W.11.186:nota
For youre frendes wol feden yow . and fonde yow to quyte
W.11.188KD.11.194
Youre festynge and youre faire ȝifte . ech frend quyteþ so ooþer

Ac for þe pouere I shal paie . and pure wel quyte hir trauaille           W.11.189:nota
That ȝyueþ hem mete or moneie . or loueþ hem for my sake           W.11.190:nota
For þe beste ben som riche . and some beggeres and pouere           W.11.191:nota
W.11.192KD.11.199
For alle are we cristes creatures . and of his cofres riche           W.11.192:nota
And breþeren as of oo blood . as wel beggeres as Erles           W.11.193:nota
For on Caluarie of cristes blood . cristendom gan sprynge           W.11.194:nota
And blody breþeren we bicome þere . of o body ywonne           W.11.195:nota
W.11.196KD.11.203
As quasi modo geniti . and gentil men echone           W.11.196:nota
No beggere ne boye amonges vs . but if it synne made
Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati &c

In þe olde lawe . as holy lettre telleþ
W.11.200KD.11.205
Mennes sones . men callenW.11.200: W alone reads callen; most other B manuscripts have called, though B has calliþ. vs echone
Of Adames issue and Eue . ay til god-man deide
And after his resurexcion . Redemptor was his name
And we hise breþeren þoruȝ hym ybouȝt . boþe riche and pouere

W.11.204KD.11.209
For-þi loue we as leue breþeren . and ech man laughe of ooþer           W.11.204:nota
And of þat ech man may forbere . amende þere it nedeþ           W.11.205:nota
And euery man helpe ooþer . for hennes shul we alle           W.11.206:nota
Alter alterius onera portate
fol. 63vI
W.11.208KD.11.212
And be we noȝt vnkynde of oure catel . ne of oure konnyng neiþer           W.11.208:nota
For woot no man how neiȝ it is . to ben ynome fro boþe           W.11.209:nota
For-þi lakke no lif ooþer . þouȝ he moore latyn knowe
Ne vndernyme noȝt foule . for is noon wiþ-oute defaute
W.11.212KD.11.216
For what-euere clerkes carpe . of cristendom or ellis
Crist to a commune womman seide . in commune at a feste
That Fides sua sholde sauen hire . and saluen hire of synnes

Thanne is bileue a lele help . aboue logyk or lawe

W.11.216KD.11.220
Of logyk or of lawe . in legenda sanctorum
Is litel alowaunce maad . but if bileue hem helpe
For it is ouer-longe er logyk . any lesson assoille
And lawe is looþ to louye . but if he lacche siluer
W.11.220KD.11.224
Boþe logyk and lawe . þat loueþ noȝt to lye
I conseille alle cristene . clyue noȝt þer-on to soore
For some wordes I fynde writen . þat were of Feiþes techyng
That saued synful men . as Seint Iohan bereþ witnesse

W.11.224KD.11.228
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis

For-þi lerne we þe lawe of loue . as oure lord tauȝte           W.11.225:nota
And as Seint Gregorie seide . for mannes soule helþe           W.11.226:nota

Melius est scrutari scelera nostra quam naturas rerum

W.11.228KD.11.232
Why I meue þis matere . is moost for þe pouere
For in hir liknesse oure lord . ofte haþ ben yknowe
Witnesse in þe Pask wyke . whan he yede to Emaus
Cleophas ne knew hym noȝt . þat he crist were
W.11.232KD.11.236
For his pouere apparaille . and pilgrymes wedes
Til he blessede and brak . þe breed þat þei eten
So bi hise werkes þei wisten . þat he was Iesus
Ac by cloþyng þei knewe hym noȝt . ne by carpynge of tunge
fol. 64rI
W.11.236KD.11.240
And al was in ensample . to vs synfulle here           W.11.236:nota
That we sholde be lowe . and loueliche of speche           W.11.237:nota
And apparaille vs noȝt ouer-proudly . for pilgrymes are we alle           W.11.238:nota

And in þe apparaille of a pouere man . and pilgrymes liknesse           W.11.239:nota
W.11.240KD.11.244
Many tyme god haþ ben met . among nedy peple           W.11.240:nota
Ther neuere segge hym seiȝ . in secte of þe riche           W.11.241:nota

Seint Iohan and oþere seintes . were seyen in poore cloþyng
And as pouere pilgrymes . preyed mennes goodes

W.11.244KD.11.248
Iesu crist on a Iewes doȝter liȝte . gentil womman þouȝ she were
Was a pure pouere maide . and to a pouere man ywedded

Martha on Marie Maudeleyne . anhugean huge pleynt made
And to oure Saueour self . seide þise wordes

W.11.248KD.11.252
Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solam ministrare

And hastily god answerde . and eiþeres wille folwed
Boþe Marthaes and Maries . as Mathew bereþ witnesse
Ac pouerte god putte bifore . and preised þat þe bettre           W.11.251:nota
W.11.252KD.11.255α
Maria optimam partem elegit que non &c

And alle þe wise þat euere were . by auȝt I kan aspye
PreisedenW.11.254: The past tense Preiseden is shared with M; other B manuscripts have Preisen. pouerte for best lif . if Pacience it folwedW.11.254: W alone reads folwed; most other B manuscripts have folwe.
And boþe bettre and blesseder . by many fold þan Richesse
W.11.256KD.11.259
ForW.11.256: W alone reads For; other B manuscripts have And or Al. þouȝ it be sour to suffre . þer-after comeþ swete           W.11.256:nota
As on a walnote wiþ-oute . is a bitter barke           W.11.257:nota
And after þat bitter bark . be þe shelle aweye           W.11.258:nota
Is a kernel of confort . kynde to restore           W.11.259:nota

W.11.260KD.11.263
So is after pouerte or penaunce . paciently ytake           W.11.260:nota
For it makeþ a man to haue mynde . in god and a gret wille           W.11.261:nota
fol. 64vI
To wepe and to wel bidde . wher-of wexeþ Mercy           W.11.262:nota
Of which crist is a kernelle . to conforte þe soule           W.11.263:nota
W.11.264KD.11.267
And wel sikerer he slepeþ . þe man þat is pouere
And lasse he dredeþ deeþ . and in derke to ben yrobbed           W.11.265:nota
Than he þat is riȝt riche . Reson bereþ witnesse           W.11.266:nota
Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris

W.11.268KD.11.270
Al-þouȝ Salomon seide . as folk seeþ in þe bible
Diuicias nec paupertates &c
Wiser þan Salomon was . bereþ witnesse and tauȝte
That parfit pouerte was . no possession to haue           W.11.271:nota
W.11.272KD.11.274
And lif moost likynge to god . as luc bereþ witnesse           W.11.272:nota
Si vis perfectus esse . vade & vendeW.11.273: W alone omits &c after vende.

And is to mene to men . þat on þis moolde lyuen
Who-so wole be pure parfit . moot possession forsake
W.11.276KD.11.277
Or selle it as seiþ þe book . and þe siluer dele
To beggeris þat goon and begge . and bidden good for goddes loue
For failed neuere man mete . þat myȝtful god serueþ           W.11.278:nota
As Dauid seiþ in þe Sauter . to swiche þat ben in wille
W.11.280KD.11.281
To serue god goodliche . ne greueþ hym no penaunce
Nichil inpossibile volenti
Ne lakkeþ neuere liflode . lynnen ne wollen
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono

W.11.284KD.11.283
If preestes weren parfite . þei wolde no siluer take           W.11.284:nota
For masses ne for matyns . noȝt hir mete of vsureres           W.11.285:nota
Ne neiþer kirtel ne cote . þeiȝ þei for cold sholde deye
And þei hir deuoir dide . as Dauid seiþ in þe Sauter
W.11.288KD.11.286α
Iudica me deus & discerne causam meam

Spera in deo . spekeþ of preestes . þat haue no spendyng siluer
That if þei trauaille truweliche . and truste in god almyȝty           W.11.290:nota
Hem sholde lakke no liflode . neyþer lynnen ne wollen           W.11.291:nota
And þe title þat þei
fol. 65rI
W.11.292KD.11.290
And þe title þat yeW.11.292: W and R read ye; other B manuscripts have þey, which is the reading in W's catchwords at the foot of fol. 64v. take ordres by . telleþ ye ben auaunced
Thanne nedeþ yow noȝt to take siluer . for masses þat ye syngen
For he þat took yow youre title . sholde take yow youre wages
Or þe bisshop þat blessed yow . if þat ye ben worþi

W.11.296KD.11.294
For made neuere kyng no knyȝt . but he hadde catel to spende           W.11.296:nota
As bifel for a knyȝt . or foond hym for his strengþe
It is a careful knyȝt . and of a caytif kynges makyng           W.11.298:nota
That haþ no lond ne lynage riche . ne good loos of hise handes           W.11.299:nota

W.11.300KD.11.298
The same I segge for-soþe . by alle swiche preestes           W.11.300:nota
That han neiþer konnynge ne kyn . but a crowne one           W.11.301:nota
And a title a tale of noȝt . to his liflode at his meschief           W.11.302:nota
He haþ moore bileue as I leue . to lacche þoruȝ his croune           W.11.303:nota
W.11.304KD.11.302
Cure . þan for konnyng . or knowen for clene berynge           W.11.304:nota
I haue wonder for whyW.11.305: W alone reads for; most other manuscripts have and. . and wher-fore þe bisshop .           W.11.305:nota
Makeþ swiche preestes . þat lewed men bitrayen           W.11.306:nota

A chartre is chalangeable . bifore a chief Iustice           W.11.307:nota
W.11.308KD.11.304
If fals latyn be in þat lettre . þe lawe it impugneþ           W.11.308:nota
Or peynted parentrelynarie . or parcelles ouer-skipped
The gome þat gloseþ so chartres . for a goky is holden

So is it a goky by god . þat in his gospel failleþ           W.11.311:nota
W.11.312KD.11.308
Or in masse or in matyns . makeþ any defaute           W.11.312:nota
Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus

And also in þe sauter . seiþ dauid to ouerskipperis
Psallite deo nostro psallite quoniam rex terre deus Israel psallite sapienterW.11.315: The page is cropped after sapien; other B manuscripts have sapienter.

W.11.316KD.11.312
The bisshop shal be blamed . bifore god as I leue           W.11.316:nota
That crouneþ swiche goddes knyȝtes . þat konneþ noȝt sapienter           W.11.317:nota
Synge ne psalmes rede . ne seye a masse of þe day           W.11.318:nota
And neuer neiþer is blamelees . þe bisshop ne þe Chapeleyn           W.11.319:nota
fol. 65vI
W.11.320KD.11.316
For hir eiþer is endited . and that is Ignorancia           W.11.320:nota
Non excusat episcopos nec ydiotW.11.321: The <t> of ydiot has a large downward loop. This might be taken as an inflexion, though in this mixture of Latin and English, it is uncertain whether the word should be regarded as Latin, English, or indeed French. The word occurs as ydioti in the Latin line W.10.467, and without the loop as ydiot in W.16.178. The loop on <t> is usually without function, even within Latin contexts (e. g. uiuit W.11.398). Despite their usual practice, but presumably on the basis of the reading of other B manuscripts, Kane and Donaldson expanded to ydiotes, which Skeat interprets as "an adjective with the French plural ending" (Rev. Walter W. Skeat, ed., The Vision of William Concerning Piers the Plowman, in Three Parallel Texts (London: Oxford University Press, 1886), 2.176). Mustanoja notes in his discussion of the feature that the inflected adjective is usually placed after the noun (A Middle English Syntax. Part I: Parts of Speech Mémoires de la Société Néophilologique de Helsinki, 23 (Helsinki: Société Néophilologique, 1960), p. 277). See Introduction. preestes

This lokynge on lewed preestes . haþ doon me lepe from pouerte
The which I preise þer pacience is . moore parfit þan richesse

W.11.324KD.11.320
Ac muche moore in metynge þus . wiþ me gan oon dispute
And slepynge I seiȝ al þis . and siþen cam kynde
And nempned me by my name . and bad me nymen hede
And þoruȝ þe wondres of þis world . wit for to take
W.11.328KD.11.324
And on a mountaigne þat myddel-erþe . hiȝte as me þouȝte
I was fet forþ . by ensamples to knowe
Thorugh ech a creature and kynde . my creatour to louye

I seiȝ þe sonne and þe see . and þe sond after
W.11.332KD.11.328
And where þat briddes and beestes . by hir makes yeden
Wilde wormes in wodes . and wonderful foweles
Wiþ fleckede feþeres . and of fele colours

Man and his make . I myȝte boþe biholde
W.11.336KD.11.332
Pouerte and plentee . boþe pees and werre
Blisse and bale boþe . I seiȝ al atonesat ones
And how men token Mede . and Mercy refused

Reson I seiȝ sooþly . sewen alle beestes
W.11.340KD.11.336
In etynge in drynkynge . and in engendrynge of kynde
And after cours of concepcion . noon took kepe of ooþer
As whan þei hadde ryde in Rotey-tyme . anoon riȝt þer-after
Males drowen hem to males . amorwenynges by hem-selue
W.11.344KD.11.340
And in euenynges also . þe males ben fro femelles
Ther ne was cow ne cowkynde . þat conceyued hadde
That wolde belwe after boles . ne boor after sowe
Boþe hors and houndes . and alle oþere beestes
W.11.348KD.11.344
Medled noȝt wiþ hir makes . þat wiþ fole were
fol. 66rI
Briddes I biheld . þat in buskes made nestes
Hadde neuere wye wit . to werche þe leeste
I hadde wonder at whom . and wher þe pye lerned
W.11.352KD.11.348
To legge þe stikkes . in whiche she leyeþ and bredeþ
Ther nys wriȝte as I wene . sholde werche hir nestes to paye
If any Mason made a molde þer-to . muche wonder it were

AcW.11.355: W alone reads Ac. Most other B manuscripts have And. yet me merueilled moore . how many oþere briddes
W.11.356KD.11.352
Hidden and hileden . hir egges ful derne
In Mareys and moores . for men sholde hem noȝt fynde
And hidden hir egges . whan þei þer-fro wente
For fere of oþere foweles . and for wilde beestes

W.11.360KD.11.356
And some troden hir makes . and on trees bredden
And brouȝten forþ hir briddes so . al aboue þe grounde
And some briddes at þe bile . þoruȝ breþyng conceyued
And some caukede I took kepe . how pecokkes bredden
W.11.364KD.11.360
Muche merueilled me . what maister hem madeW.11.364: W alone reads hem made; all other B manuscripts have þei hadde(n).
And who tauȝte hem on trees . to tymbre so heiȝe
Ther neiþer burn ne beest . may hir briddes rechen

And siþen I loked vp-on þe see . and so forþ vp-on þe sterres
W.11.368KD.11.364
Manye selkouþes I seiȝ . ben noȝt to seye nouþe

I seiȝ floures in þe fryth . and hir faire colours
And how among þe grene gras . growed so manye hewes
And some soure and some swete . selkouþ me þouȝte
W.11.372KD.11.368
Of hir kynde and hir colour . to carpe it were to longe

Ac þat moost meued me . and my mood chaunged
That Reson rewarded . and ruled alle beestes           W.11.374:nota
Saue man and his make . many tyme and ofte           W.11.375:nota
W.11.376KD.11.372
No Reson hem folwede . and þanne I rebukede           W.11.376:nota
Reson / . and riȝt til hym-seluen I seyde           W.11.377:nota
fol. 66vI
I haue wonder of þee quod I . þat witty art holden
Why þow ne sewest man and his make . þat no mysfeet hem folwe

W.11.380KD.11.376
And Reson arated me . and seide recche þee neuere
Why I suffre or noȝt suffre . þi-self hast noȝt to doone           W.11.381:nota
Amende þow it if þow myȝt . for my tyme is to abide           W.11.382:nota
Suffraunce is a souerayn vertue . and a swift vengeaunce
W.11.384KD.11.380
Who suffrede moore þan god quod he . no gome as I leeue
He myȝte amende in a Minute-while . al þat mysstandeþ
Ac he suffreþ for som mannes goode . and so itW.11.386: W alone reads it; all other B manuscripts omit it. is oure bettre
The wise and þe witty . wroot þus in þe bible
W.11.388KD.11.395
De re que te non molestat noli certare

For be a man fair or foul . it falleþ noȝt for to lakke
The shap ne þe shaft . þat god shoop hym-selue
For al þat he dide was wel ydo . as holy writ witnesseþ
W.11.392KD.11.398α
Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat & erant valde bona

And bad euery creature . in his kynde encreesse
Al to murþe wiþ man . þat moste wo þolie
In fondynge of þe flessh . and of þe fend boþe
W.11.396KD.11.402
For man was maad of swich a matere . he may noȝt wel asterte
That ne som-tyme hym bitit . to folwen his kynde
Caton acordeþ þer-wiþ . Nemo sine crimine viuit

Tho cauȝte I colour anoon . and comsed to ben ashamed
W.11.400KD.11.406
And awaked þer-wiþ . wo was me þanne
That I in metels ne myȝte . moore haue yknowen
And þanne seide I to my-self . and chidde þat tyme
Now I woot what dowel is quod I . by deere god as me þynkeþ

W.11.404KD.11.410
And as I caste vp myne eiȝen . oon loked on me and asked
Of me what þyng it were . ywis sire I seide
To se muche and suffre moore . certes quod I is dowel           W.11.406:nota
fol. 67rI
Haddestow suffred he seide . slepynge þo þow were
W.11.408KD.11.414
Thow sholdest haue knowen þat clergie kan . & contreued moore þoruȝ ResonW.11.408: The leaf is cropped after Res. Other B manuscripts have Resoun.
For Reson wolde haue reherced þee . riȝt as Clergie seide
Ac for þyn entremetynge . here artow forsake
Philosophus esses si tacuisses

W.11.412KD.11.417
Adam whiles he spak noȝt . hadde paradis at wille           W.11.412:nota
Ac whan he mamelede aboute mete . and entremetede to knowe           W.11.413:nota
The wisedom and þe wit of god . he was put fram blisse           W.11.414:nota

And riȝt so ferde Reson bi þee . þow wiþ þi rude speche
W.11.416KD.11.421
Lakkedest and losedest þyng . þat longed þe noȝt to doone
Tho hadde he no likyng . for to lere þe moore

Pryde now and presumpcion . parauenture wol þee appele
That Clergie þi compaignye . kepeþ noȝt to suwe
W.11.420KD.11.425
Shal neuere chalangynge ne chidynge . chaste a man so soone           W.11.420:nota
As shal shame and shenden hym . and shape hym to amende           W.11.421:nota
For lat a dronken daffe . in a dyk falle           W.11.422:nota
Lat hym ligge loke noȝt on hym . til hym liste aryseW.11.423: W alone reads aryse; Cr has to aryse, and most other B manuscripts have to ryse.           W.11.423:nota
W.11.424KD.11.429, 431
For þouȝ Reson rebuked hym þanne . it were but pure synne           W.11.424:nota
Ac whan nede nymeþ hym vp . for doute lest he sterue           W.11.425:nota
And shame shrapeþ hise cloþes . and hise shynes wassheþ           W.11.426:nota
Thanne woot þe dronken daffe . wher-fore he is to blame           W.11.427:nota

W.11.428KD.11.435
Ye siggen sooþ quod I . ich haue yseyen it ofte
Ther smyt no þyng so smerte . ne smelleþ so soure
As shame þere he sheweþ hym . for euery man hym shonyeþ
Why ye wisse me þus quod I . was for I rebuked Reson

W.11.432KD.11.439
Certes quod he þat is sooþ . and shoop hym for to walken
And I aroos vp riȝt wiþ þat . and folwed hym after
And preyde hym of his curteisie . to telle me his name
MED