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EDITED FROM NUMEROUS MANUSCRIPTS, WITH PREFACES, NOTES, AND A GLOSSARY, BY THE REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A., LATE FELLOW OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; EDITOR OF "LANCELOT OF THE LAIK," AND "THE ROMANS OF PARTENAY;" AND TRANSLATOR OF THE "SONGS AND BALLADS OF UHLAND."
In Four Parts--Part I.
LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, BY N. TRÜBNER & CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXVII.
EDITED FROM THE "VERNON" MS., COLLATED WITH MS. R.3.14. IN THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, MSS. HARL. 875 & 6041, THE MS. IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, OXFORD, MS. DOUCE 323, &c.
BY THE REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A., LATE FELLOW OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.
THE "VERNON" TEXT: OR TEXT A.
LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, BY N. TRÜBNER & CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXVII.
JOHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS.
om. the whole line U. And summe] TH2D om.; summe H. [hem THD.] V omits.
OBS. After l. 54 the two following lines occur, in H2 only;
Who-so ȝeueth for godes loue · wyl nat ȝeue his þankis
But þere his mede may be most · and most merytorye.
T omits this line; but it occurs in H2 as well as in HD and U.
OBS. A whole folio is here lost out of U; from l. 33 down to l. 99.
[Reddite ergo que sunt cesaris cesari, et que sunt dei deo.]
This line is a made up one, from H and U. The readings are,
For crist kynge of knyȝtus · knytted somtyme H.
And kyng, kyngene kyng · knyhtide tene U.
And crist king of kinges · kniȝtide tene TH2.
And crist kyng of knyȝtes · knyȝted ten D.
From T; also in HUD and H2. V has only one line, viz. For|þi I rede þe Mihtful of Mayn be Meke of þi wordes. werkis] hertes D. The Latin quotation is found in H only.
OBS. MS. H. is here much tampered with and of little value, for about nine lines.
[Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, reme ci[e]tur uobis;]
ded] as ded TH2. but þe] but ȝif þe THUH2D.
OBS. After folewe H inserts the weak line, þat is, to sokoure þe sorow|ful · & haue charite to alle.
After vobis, ȝeueþ to myne of ȝoure goodus for I dele, &c. H.
OBS. The rest is not in V.
Title; found in TH2UD; H has Ter|cius Passus by mistake, as it also calls the next Passus by the same name.
OBS. The first 23 lines occur twice in U; readings from the fragment are distinguished by the italic letter U.
cloþed] atired U; clothid U.
OBS. After cloþed H inserts, In reed scarlet heo rode · rybande wiþ gold (see l. 13).
ricchest vppon] pureste on U U D; purest in H2.
OBS. Here H inserts, pyȝte ful of perrye · & of preciouse stoones (see l. 12).
preciousest] pureste TU U H2D. H reads.
Of reed gold so ryche · redilyche I-dyȝte
Wiþ preciouse stoones so stoute · stond|ynge þer-ynne.
Dignus est operarius mercede sua;
The readings are,
for lesyngis & lecheryes · suche warkes þou louest H;
For al be (by U) lesinges þou lyuest · & leccherous werkis TUD;
For al ben lesynges þou leuest · and lecherus workes H2.
The other readings are, þat alle þei myȝten be bowne · beggers & oþer H;
And alle [to H2] be boun · beggeris & oþere TUH2D.
135—143. These lines are quoted from H; and those in parentheses occur in H only. V has only the one line,
And Fauuel on a Feir speche · Feynt|liche atyret.
T and D have only the two lines,
And fals sat on a sisour · þat softe|liche trottide,
And fauel vpon fair speche · fetis|liche atirid.
U has the same, omitting sat; H2 has also two similar lines;
seide] swor TH2D. swor] seide TH2D.
OBS, H2 has been closely collated only thus far; see the Preface.
to me] forth U.
OBS. In the margin of D is here written, Falsitas Deceptura Merces Simonia Mendax.
In H this line follows l. 208; and the lines answering to ll. 201, 202 run differently, viz. as follows:—
Spicers aspieden him · & speken wiþ him feyre,
& preyeden him priuely · to putte forþ her ware,
& he asured hem forsoþe · to serue hem for euer.
The readings are,
For al consiences cast · a craft as I trowe T.
For al concience caste · a crafte can we schewe H.
For al consciences cast · or craft as y trowe U.
For Al concience cast · a craft as I trowe D.
Amen dico vobis, receperunt mercedem suam;
OBS.: ll. 67—77 comprise the passage of which readings from 29 MSS. are given in a pamphlet entitled "Par|allel extracts from 29 MSS. of Piers Plowman," &c.; by the Rev. W. W. Skeat (published for the E. E. T. S.).
Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera.
The readings are,
And ofsente hire as swiþe seriauntis hire fecche (fette D) TD;
And sent aftur hir asswiþe · seriawntis hir fette H;
& of-sente here swithe · wiþ seriauntes here fette U.
In the latter, fette is transferred by mistake to the beginning of the line following.
TDH2 omit this line. The others give,
Bote ich hoolly be at ȝoure heest · gurd off my nek H.
But y be holy at ȝour heste · hange me elles U.
ȝoure fadir he fellide · þoruȝ false behest T;
fele men heo falliþ · wiþ faire behestis H;
ȝour fadir sche fellide · þurw false byhestes U;
ȝoure fader sche felde · with fals be-hestes D.
Prouendrours, prestis & per|sones · she maynteniþ to holde T; (D same, omitting prestis &);
Prouendrours, persones · pres|tes sche meynteneþ to holde U.
Culde] kilde TU; kelled D. H reads,
& I agult hym neuer · ne his counsel neþer.
& made him merie · morn|ynge to lete H;
And made hym murþe · mourn|yng to leue TD;
And made hym mirthes · fro morwe til eue U.
Qui peccuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram, & c.
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt; dextera eorum repleta est muneribus;
And þerof seide þe sauter · in a salmis ende T;
And þat witnessiþ wel þe sauter · of wicked men H;
UD like T, but with seith for seide. In quorum] Inimicorum (!) H.
Amen dico vobis, receperunt mercedem suam.
And who-so trespassiþ trewely · & takiþ to þe wronge T;
And who trespaseth treuliche · and taketh aȝens right U;
And ho-so trespaced treuþe · & takeþ ony þyng D.
Ac vnwary wisdom · & witty his (wyt his ovne D) fere TD;
Ac on-were wysdom · & wytty his fere U;
& in a wayn wysdome · and witty his fere H.
V has Bote on a wayn wyd, &c. which gives no sense; see Folweden in next line. N.B. V has witti in l. 141 below.
vp for] vneþis H.
And I am not hardy vnneþe · on hym for to loke TD;
And I am noght so hardy · ones on hym to loke U.
H omits. TUD read,
And seide, hadde I loue of my lord þe kinge · litil wolde I recche;
but in UD the last half-verse is at the beginning of the next line; in V we should perhaps read, of my lord.
For of hise penys he proffride · handy dandy to paye T;
For right þer of is handy dandy payd U;
For of his handy-dandy payd (sic) D.
H varies, reading,
for loke what þese wordis seyn · þat writen beþ in latyn.
Meede] no mede TUD. make] made TUD.
For nullum malum · he may mete with Inpunitum TD;
For nullum malum · inpunitum þe may mete with U. [with TUD] with-outen V.
wel] TU omit. H reads,
And klement hadde hickis hood · & held hym wel apaied.
The readings are,
And wisshide it hadde be wexid · wiþ a wysp of firsen T;
And wyȝschid it hadde be waxed · wiþ a wips of ferse H;
And wysschide it hadde waxid · wiþ a wyspe of fyre (!) U.
þenne—go] þen bygan he to go H; & þan gan he go U. lyk] as H.
OBS. In T ll. 197, 198 are mixed up, thus:—
And þanne gan he to go sum tyme asid & sum tyme arere.
The readings are,
And auowide to faste · for any hungir or þrist T;
þo to fast he made a uow · for hunger or for þurst H;
And avowed to faste · for hungir or for þriste U.
þe veil] þer while T; U omits. fette] wol fecche U. at] to TU.
OBS. H makes two lines of this, thus:—
til he woke & wept · water wiþ his iȝen,
& vigilate þe wakere · warned him þo.
V reads, þat Penitencia is prest · schulde polissche him newe.
But this is probably wrong; cf.
þat penitencia his pike · he shulde pulsshe newe T;
þat penaunce his piked staf · shulde be polischid al new H;
þat penitencia his pyke · schulde pulsche newe U.
seeten] seten THU.
OBS. In this l. H2 has apples (!) for ampolles.
Expanded in U into two lines;
þis folk frayneth him faire · for hym þat hym made,
Fro whennes þat be come · & whiderward he schulde. from whenne] whenis T.
I shal wisse ȝow wel · þe riȝt way to his place T;
I shal teche ȝou ful riȝt · home to his house H;
I schal wisse ȝow þe wey · right to his place U.
vch a] iche T; ech U. forte—come] til þat we were T; til we were U.
OBS. Collation with H here recom|mences.
Et cum Iustis non Scribantur;
Wilt þou, nilt þou, we wile haue · oure wil of þis flour T;
Woltou, neltou, we wole haue · y-now of þy floure H;
Wil þou, nyl þou, we wol · haue of þi floure U.
Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis."
Auferte ab illo mnam, & date illi, &c.]
[Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis, &c.]
Super Innocentes munera non Accipiunt. A Regibus[et principibus erit merces(eorum).]
[Qui facit hec, non mouebitur in eternum.]
I] U om. biheold] he hylde U. in ignem eternum] H om.
OBS. H inserts this quotation after l. 98
¶Et qui bona egerunt, Ibunt in vitam eternam; Qui vero mala, in ignem eternum.
"Si Ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis, non timebo[mala, quoniam tu mecum es.]
Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes, die ac nocte.
[Ejice]derisores et Iurgia cum eis, [ne crescant]."
pardouns] pardoun TU. of] at T. churche] chirche at rome U.
OBS. U here inserts the Latin line, Quodcunque, &c.; see l. 162.
Quodcunque ligaueris super terram, erit ligatum et in celis.
alle] T omits. and acountes] acountes to TU.
OBS. U omits to end of Passus, leav|ing a small blank space.
Incipit hic, &c. This is the only title that occurs in V. The large initial þ is omitted by mistake, and a blank space left for it.
OBS. H2 is collated with the rest to the end of the volume.
["Sepcies in die cadit iustus;]
Libenter sufferte.
Passus, &c.] so named in TUH2.
OBS. Throughout this Passus the readings of H2 agree with those of T, except where specially given.
Dixit et facta sunt;þing] TUH2om. dixit—sunt] Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitudinem nostram U;seel. 41.
[Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitudi|nem nostram.]
The readings are,
He eggeþ þe iþe siht · and Bringeþ to goode V;
He (It H2) eggiþ eiȝe-siȝt · & herynge to gode TH2;
He eggide eye to sighte · and herynge to gode U.
In V, iþe is probably written for iye or eiye.
Innicium sapiencie, timor domini.
Virga tua[et baculus tuus, ipsa me consolata sunt.]
For,Intencio[indicat hominem].
[Qui agit contra conscientiam, edificat ad iehennam.]
Cum recte viuas, ne cures verba malorum;
þat selde men seþ þe marbil· þat men ofte dreden T; (corrupt);
þat seelde men seen þe marbil mose · þat men ofte mouen U;
That selde men seth the marbul · that ofte men tredith H2.
Qui circuit omne genus,[nullius est generis.]
[In ea vocacione qua vocati estis, in eadem perma|neatis].
Qui se humiliat,[exaltabitur, &c.];
Concepit in dolore, [et peperit iniquitatem, &c.]
Penitet me[fecisse hominem];
Bringen hem] Buskide T; Buskide hem U. þe] þat T. And byden] to abide U.
OBS. Here collation with H2 recom|mences; see note to l. 104.
þeiȝ þei don hem to dunmowe · but ȝif þe deuil helpe T;
þei hiden hem to donmowe · but þe deuel helpe U;
þauȝ þei don hem to done · al þat þei mowen V; where done and mowen are corrupted from donmowe.
200—202. Only two lines in TUH2, thus:
As betwyn sengle & sengle · siþþe lawe haþ y-grauntid
þat iche man haue a make · in maner of wedlak TH2 (where H2 omits As];
Ac bytwene sengle and sengle · siþþe lawe haþ y-graunted
þat euery man haue a make · in mariage of wedlok U.
V has only one line, þat oþergates ben I-geten · ben fyndlynges and lyȝers; I give l. 204 as it stands in TUH2; for l. 205 we find,
þat ben false folke · and false heires also U.
And þat ben fals folke & fals eires · alse foundlynges & folis TH2.
OBS. The vellum (better) portion of U ends here; the rest is on paper; and begins at l. 48 of Passus XI.
V has only one line, þat oþergates ben I-geten · ben fyndlynges and lyȝers; I give l. 204 as it stands in TUH2; for l. 205 we find,
þat ben false folke · and false heires also U.
And þat ben fals folke & fals eires · alse foundlynges & folis TH2.
OBS. The vellum (better) portion of U ends here; the rest is on paper; and begins at l. 48 of Passus XI.
Quare via impiorum prosperatur, bene est omnibus qui praue et inique agunt?
Is non to nymen him In · ne his anguyssh amende T; H2 omits him.
OBS. Here collation with U recom|mences.
Ecce Audiuimus eam in effrata, inuenimus [eam] in campis silue.
Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere.
And alle kynne craftis · I contreuide here,
Tolis of carpenteris & kerueris · & kende ferst masons T;
And alle kynne craftis · I con|strued hure ferst to lere,
Tolis of carpenteris, & kerue · I tauþte (sic) ferst masouns U. [kende TH2] tauȝte V
And alle kynne craftis · I contreuide here,
Tolis of carpenteris & kerueris · & kende ferst masons T;
And alle kynne craftis · I con|strued hure ferst to lere,
Tolis of carpenteris, & kerue · I tauþte (sic) ferst masouns U. [kende TH2] tauȝte V
Qui simulat verbis, nec corde est[fidus]Amicus, [Tu quoque fac simile, sic ars deluditur arte.]
Necesse est vt veniant scandala.
[Actif it TUH2D] A lyf V; (by mere mistake). hosebondes] lewide men T.
OBS. Here, most unfortunately, the Vernon text ceases; for the rest, the Trinity MS. (T) is taken to form the text, and it is collated with UDH2.
Ecce quam bonum et quam iocundum, habitare, Fratres, in vnum.
Gaudere cum gaudentibus; Et flere cum flentibus,
Qui facit et docuerit, magnus vocabitur in regno celorum.
Super cathedram moisi sederunt principes.
Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit, saluus erit."
Dilige deum, etc., Et proximum tuum sicut teipsum.
Dum tempus est, operemur bonum ad omnes, maxime autem ad domesticos fidei.
For,Michi[vindicta],et ego retribuam;
Nemo ascendet ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit.
[Cum]steteritis ante presides, nolite cogitare[quid loquamini];
Ecce ipsi[ydiote]rapiunt celum, vbi nos sapientes in infernum mergemur;
Breuis oracio penetrat celum."
heiȝe] þe heye U; the heȝe H2. Breuis—celum] UD omit.
OBS. See Critical Notes as to this ending.
Vidi[preuaricantes]et tabescebam:
Audiui archane que non licet homini loqui:
EDITED FROM NUMEROUS MANUSCRIPTS, WITH PREFACES, NOTES, AND A GLOSSARY, BY THE REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A., LATE FELLOW OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; EDITOR OF "LANCELOT OF THE LAIK," "THE ROMANS OF PARTENAY," "WILLIAM OF PALERNE," "HAVELOK," ETC.; AND TRANSLATOR OF THE "SONGS AND BALLADS OF UHLAND."
In Four Parts--Part II.
LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, BY N. TRÜBNER & CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXIX.
EDITED FROM MS. LAUD MISC. 581, COLLATED WITH MS. RAWL. POET. 38, MS. B.15.17. IN THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, MS. Dd.1.17. IN THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, THE MS. IN ORIEL COLLEGE, OXFORD, MS. BODLEY 814, ETC.
BY THE REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A., LATE FELLOW OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.
THE "CROWLEY" TEXT; OR TEXT B.
LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, BY N. TRÜbner & CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW. MDCCCLXIX.
JOHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS.
Ve terre vbi puer rex est, &c.
Inebriamus eum vino, dormiamus que cum eo, Vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen.
Ponam pedem in aquilone, et similis ero altis|simo.
Heu michi, [quod] sterilem duxi vitam iuueni|lem!
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, remecietur vobis.
Fides sine operibus mortua est, &c.
Qualis pater, talis filius;[bona]arbor bonum fructum facit.
Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo, &c.
"Sciant presentes & futuri, &c.
TITLE; Passus tertius O; Passus iijus L; Passus Tertius de visione, C; to which W adds vt supra; and R adds petri plowman, vt supra, &c.
OBS. Occasional readings from MS. B (Bodley 814) are given in lines 1-86; after which it is more closely collated. See Note.
51—63. R has only these four lines—
Wist I þat, quatȝ mede · þere nys wyn|dow no wowȝ,
þat y ne wolde make and amende · it with of myne,
And my name write · openliche þere|Inne,
þat vch a segge schal I-se · Ich am suster to ȝow alle.
Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra.
Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera, &c.
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo?
Qui ingreditur sine macula, & operatur ius|ticiam,
Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram, & munera super innocentem, &c.
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt, dextera eorum repleta est-muneribus;
Amen, amen,[receperunt]mercedem suam.
Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres, &c.;
Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium, &c.
For,melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe."
Honorem adquiret qui dat munera, &c."
Contricio & infelicitas in vijs eorum, &c.
Non est timor dei ante oculos eorum.
Qui parcit virge, odit filium.
Amen dico vobis, nescio vos.
Non dimittitur peccatum · donec restituatur abla|tum, &c.
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti, &c.
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius, &c.
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei, est[quasi]sintilla in medio maris.
Corruptly made into two lines in COB.
And what he lente yow of his goode · to wite yow fro synne,
For he sholde helpe yow · of oure lordes goode C.
Boþe flesshe and fisshe · butter, mylk, an chesse,
Boþe brede an ale · and many other vitailles COB. many] myn R.
Boþe flesshe and fisshe · butter, mylk, an chesse,
Boþe brede an ale · and many other vitailles COB. many] myn R.
O felix culpa! o necessarium peccatum ade! &c.
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitu|dinem nostram;Et alibi: qui manet in caritate, in deo manet, & deus in eo;
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem.
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris, vidit lucem magnam;
Non veni vocare iustos, set peccatores ad peni|tenciam.
Verbum caro factum est, et habitauit in nobis.
Homines & iumenta saluabis, quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam, deus, &c.
Honora patrem & matrem, &c.:
Per euam cun[c]tis clausa est, & per mariam virginem [iterum] patefacta est;
Amice, ascende superius.
Quia cum iustis non scribantur;
Alter alterius onera portate.
Michi vindictam, & ego retribuam.
Facite vobis amicos de mamona iniquitatis."
Labores manuum tuarum, &c."
Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento.
Super innocentem munera non accipies.
A regibus & pryncipibus erit merces eorum.
Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo, &c.
Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines, facite eis.
Sit elemosina[tua]in manu tua, donec studes cui des.
Non eligas cui miserearis, ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipere. Quia incertum est pro quo[Deo]magis placeas.
Quare non dedisti peccuniam meam ad mensam, vt ego veniens cum vsuris[exegissem illam?]
Satis diues est, qui non indiget pane.
Iunior fui, etenim senui; et non vidi iustum derelictum, nec semen eius[querens panem.]
Et qui bona egerunt, ibunt in vitam eternam; Qui vero mala, in ignem eternum.
"si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis, non timebo mala; quoniam tu mecum es.
Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte.
[Eice]derisores et iurgia cum eis, ne crescant, &c."
Quodcumque ligaueris super terram, erit ligatum et in celis, &c.
TITLE. [Petri—Dobest] so in R (but with the spelling Plowhman); & primus de dowel LW; vt supra C; vt supra; Et hic incipit primus de do|wel, &c., B. O merely has Passus octauus. See the Note.
OBS. From this point mere varia|tions of spelling and inflexion will not so often be given, as they can be well ascertained from the foregoing part.
Libenter suffertis insipientes, cum sitis ipsi sapientes,
Dixit, & facta sunt;
dixit, & facta sunt;
Quorum deus venter est.
Qui manet in caritate, in deo manet, &c.
Amen dico vobis, nescio vos: & alibi: et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum.
Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda, qui patrimo|nium christi minus distribuit: & alibi:
Perniciosus dispensator est, qui res pauperum Christi inutiliter consumit.
Inicium sapiencie, timor domini:
Qui offendit in[vno],in omnibus est reus.
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono.
Concepit in dolore, et peperit iniquitatem, &c.:
Penitet me fecisse hominem.'
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris, & pater non portabit iniquitatem filii, &c.
Numquam[colligimus]de spinis vuas, nec de tribulis fycus.
Bonum est vt unusquisque vxorem suam habeat, propter fornicacionem.
Quare impij viuunt? bene est omnibus, qui preuaricantur & inique agunt?
Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes; in seculo optinuerunt diuicias.
Que perfecisti, destruxerunt; iustus autem[quid fecit?]
Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata, inuenimus eam in campis silue.
þe pestilence] þis pestilences R. Here R has two extra lines, belonging to the C-text.
For god is def now a dayes · and deyneth his heres to opne,
þat gerles for here gyltes · he for|grynt hem alle.
For deyneth we should read deyneth not.
Frange esurienti panem tuum, &c.
Si tibi sit copia, habundanter tribue; si autem exiguum, illud impertiri stude libenter:—
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris, &c.
Vnusquisque portabit onus suum, &c.'
Non plus sapere quam oportet.
Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum ad omnes, maxime autem ad domesticos fidei.
Michi vindictam, & ego retribuam.
Deus pater, deus filius, deus spiritus sanctus;
Ego in patre & pater in me est; &, qui videt me, videt et patrem meum.
Fides non habet meritum, vbi humana racio prebet experimentum.
Appare quod es, vel esto quod appares:
Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui, trabem in oculo tuo[non vides?]
Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo, &c.,
Dum cecus ducit cecum, ambo in foueam cadunt.
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis: arguam te, & statuam contra faciem tuam.
Canes non valentes latrare,
Hij in curribus, [et]hij in equis; ipsi obligati sunt, &c.
Quomodo cessauit exactor, quieuit tributum;contriuit dominus baculum impiorum,
et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga in|sanabili, &c.
Nichil iniquius quam amare peccuniam.
Si cum Christo surrexistis, &c.,
i. panni.
Michi vindictam, & ego retribuam.]
Nemo ascendit ad celum, nisi qui de celo de|[s]cendit.
Super cathedra[m]moysy, &c.
Homines & iumenta saluabis, domine, &c.
[Sunt]iusti atque sapientes · & opera eorum in manu dei sunt, &c.;
Dum steteritis ante Reges et presides, &c.;
Ecce ipsi idioti rapiunt celum, vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur:
Ite vos in vineam meam."
"multi multa sciunt, & seipsos nesciunt."
Set pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis.
Sola contricio[delet peccatum.]
Nisi quis renatus fuerit[ex aqua, &c.;]
Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo, set publice argue illos."
Nolite iudicare quemquam."
Non oderis fratrem.
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis, &c.
Parum lauda, vitupera parcius."
O vos omnes scicientes, venite, &c.;
Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit, &c.
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius."
'Qui non diligit, manet in morte—
'Cum facitis conuiuia, nolite inuitare amicos;
moneye] mone R. and] or W. After l. 190 R inserts an ap|parently spurious line—
¶ Almiȝty god hath made riche · men if he wolde.
Qui facit peccatum, seruus est peccati, &c.
Alter alterius onera portate.
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, remecietur vobis.
Melius est scrutari scelera nostra, quam naturas rerum.
Domine, non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me sola[m] ministrare, &c.?
Maria optimam partem clegit · que non [aufere|tur ab ea.]
Diuicias nec paupertates, &c.,
Si vis perfectus esse, vade & vende, &c.;
[Non vidi iustum derelictum, nec semen eius querens panem;]
Nichil inpossibile volenti,
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono.
Iudica me, deus, & discerne causam meam.
Qui offendit in vno, in omnibus est reus, &c.
Psallite deo nostro, psallite; quoniam rex terre deus israel; psallite sapienter.
Propter deum subiecti estote omni creature.
De re que te non molestat, [noli] certare.
Et vidit deus cun[c]ta que fecerat, et erant valde bona;
Philosophus esses, si tacuisses.
Si non in prima vigilia, nec in secunda, &c.
Quem diligo, castigo.
'Virga tua & baculus tuus, ipsa me consolata sunt, &c.
Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis, &c.
Fides, spes, caritas; & maior horum, &c.
Date & dabitur vobis, &c.
Scientes et non facientes varijs flagellis vapula|bunt;
[wel] so in Cotton MS.; R has wil
Scientes—vapulabunt] R has—Scienti et non facienti varijs flagellis vapulabit. I correct it by the Cotton MS.
Sapiencia inflat, &c.;]
Spiritus vbi vult spirat, &c.
Quod scimus, loquimur; quod vidimus, testamur.
Nescit aliquis vnde venit, aut quo vadit, &c.
Nolite iudicare, et non iudicabimini, &c.
Nolite tangere christos meos, &c.]
Sapiencia huius mundi, stulticia[est]apud deum.
Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem.
Ibant magi ab oriente, &c.
Set non erat locus[eis]in diuersorio; & pauper non habet diuersorium.
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates, & quorum tecta sunt[peccata,]&c.
Dum cecus ducit cecum, [ambo in foueam cadunt.]
De peccato propiciato, noli esse sine metu.
Quia reddit vnicuique iuxta opera sua, &c.
Quare placuit, quia voluit.
"saluabitur vix iustus in die iudicij.
Aduenit ignis diuinus, non comburens, sed illuminans, &c.
Deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis, hoc est, fidelibus; et alibi: si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis, [&c.]
Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt.
Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis, nisi pro eis lacrimas & orationes effunderitis, ea que in delicijs comeditis, in tormentis euometis.
Cor contritum & humiliatum, deus, non de|spicies.
Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum!
Ter cesus sum, & a iudeis quinquies quadra|genas, &c.
Periculum est in falsis fratribus.
Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat, quia, vt dicitur, periculum est in falsis fratribus.
Qui facit et docuerit, magnus vocabitur in regno celorum."
Pacientes vincunt, &c."
Caritas nichil timet.
Pacientes vincunt, &c."]
In nomine meo demonia[eicient],& super egros manus imponent, & bene habebunt.
Argentum & aurum non est mihi; quod autemhabeo, [hoc]tibi do; in nomine domini, surge & ambula.
Si hominibus placerem, Christi seruus non essem; Et alibi: nemo potest duobus dominis seruire.
Cuius malediccione os plenum est, & amaritudine; sub lingua eius labor & dolor:
& alibi: filij hominum, dentes eorum arma & sagitte, & lingua eorum gladius acutus:—
Vbi thesaurus tuus, ibi & cor tuum."
Ve vobis qui ridetis, &c.:
Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur.
Non habitabit in medio domus mee, qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniqua:
Qui vos spernit, me spernit.
Vxorem duxy, & ideo non possum venire—
Cordis contricio, &c.:—
Oris confessio, &c.:—
Satisfacciodobest.
Ne solliciti sitis, &c.: volucres celi deus pascit, &c.: pacientes vincunt, &c."
Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo, &c.: & alibi,
Non in solo pane viuit homo, set in omni verbo, quod procedit de ore dei."
Dixit & facta sunt, &c.:
Aperis tu manum tuam, & imples omne animal benediccione.
Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpis simum nutriuit.
Dormierunt, & nichil inuenerunt;
De delicijs ad delicias, [difficile]est transire.
Conuertimini ad me, & salui eritis:
Pateat, &c., per passionem domini,
Ita[in]possibile diuiti, &c.,
Opera enim illorum sequ[u]ntur illos.
Beati pauperes, quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum.
Remocio curarum, possessio sine calumpnia, donum dei, sanitatis mater;
Absque solicitudine semita, sapiencie temperatrix, negocium sine dampno;
Incerta fortuna, absque solicitudine felicitas."
Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum,
Remocio curarum.
Nolite iudicare quemquam.Þe þridde:—
Possessio sine calumpnia.
Donum dei.
Sanitatis mater.
Cantabit[pauper]coram latrone viator.
Sapiencie temperatrix.
Negocium sine dampno.
Anima pro diuersis actionibus diuersa nomina sortitur: dum viuificat corpus, anima est; dum vult, animus est; dum scit, mens est; dum recolit, memoria est. Dum iudicat, racio est; dum sentit, sensus est; dum amat, amor est; dum negat vel consentit, consciencia est; dum spirat, spiritus est."
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone, & similis ero altissimo.
sicut qui mel comedit multum, non est ei bonum: Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis, opprimitur a gloria.
Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis[glo|ria]spoliauit.
non plus sapere quam oportet sapere.
Confundantur omnes qui adorant scul[p]tilia; & alibi:
Vt quid diligitis vanitatem, & queritis men|dacium?
Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur, sic de templo omne malum procedit.
Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit, tota floret ecclesia; si autem coruptum fuerit, omnium fides marcida est.
Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis, totus populus co[n]uertitur ad peccandum.
Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam & mar|cidam, inteligis quod vicium habet in radice,
Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum & ir|religiosum, sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum.
"Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli, non intrabitis in regnum celorum;
non[inflatur,]non[est]ambiciosa, non querit que sua sunt,
It[a]in enigmate, tunc facie ad faciem.
Cor contritum & humiliatum, deus, non de|spicies."
Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum.
Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite, tristes, &c.
Beatus est diues, qui, &c.
In pace in id-ipsum dormiam, &c.
Nunquam, dicit Iob, rugi[e]t[onager]cum herbam habuerit? aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit?
brutorum animalium natura te condempnat, quia cum eis pabulum commune sufficiat; ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua.
Dispersit, dedit pauperibus, &c.?
Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperi|bus dare.
Item, peccatoribus dare, est demonibus immolare.
Item, monache, si indiges et accipis, pocius das quam accipis. Si autem non eges, & accipis, rapis.
Porro, non indiget Monachus, si habeat quod nature sufficit.
Petite & accipietis, &c.
Vos estis sal terre, &c.
Et si sal euanuerit, in quo salietur.
Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt, &c.;
[Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata, &c.]
Ite in vniversum mundum & predicate, &c.?
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit, &c.;
Ite vos in vineam meam
Querite & inuenietis, &c.
Absit nobis gloriari, nisi in cruce domininostri, &c.
Deposuit potentes de sede, &c.
Per primicias & decimas.
Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam, &c.
In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum, et ideo nolite constituere me regem.
Inferte omnes decimas in oreum meum, vt[sit]cibus in domo mea.
Lazare, veni foras,
Pacientes vincunt.
Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat, cessabit vnxio vestra.
patrem omnipotentem,
Cum ceciderit iustus, non collidetur; quia domi|nus supponit manum suam;
Videatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum, nun|quam remittetur, &c.;
Hoc est idem, qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat.
Ecce ancilla domini; fiat michi[secundum verbum tuum],&c.
Non est sanis opus medicus, set[infirmis],&c.
Demonium habes, &c.
Domus mea domus oracionis vocabitur."
Necesse est vt veniant scandala; ve homini illi per quem scandalum venit!
Deus meus, deus meus, vt quid dereliquisti me?
Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in israel, &c.
Spiritus procedens a patre & filio;
Quam olim abrahe promisisti, & semini eius.
Ecce agnus dei, &c."
Dilige deum & proximum tuum, &c.
In hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & pro|phetia.
[O mors, ero mors tua, &c.]
For the barne was borne in Bethlem · of a clene mayde, That shal with his blood · saue alle þat lyuen in feith, And foloweth the techynge · of holpe þat is his felawe Y.
Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto, [natus,]&c.
Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum, &c.,
Tu fabricator omnium, &c.,
Qui peccat in[spiritum sanctum, nunquam,]&c.,
Amen dico vobis, nescio vos, &c.
Si linguis hominum loquar, &c.
Non omnis qui dicit domine, domine, intrabit, &c.
Vindica sanguinem iustorum!'
Numquam dimittitur peccatum, [donec restitu|atur ablatum.]
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius—
Virtus in infirmitate perficitur, &c.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini.
O mors, ero mors tua!
Vere filius dei erat iste, &c.
Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum, cessabit vnxio vestra."
Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio."
Ars vt artem falleret."
Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus, & ad matu|tinum leticia.
Iube me venire ad te super aquas.
Attollite portas, &c."
Nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras."
Dentem pro dente, & oculum pro oculo.
Non veni soluere legem, sed adimplere.
Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit.
Tibi soli peccaui, &c.
Nullum malum inpunitum, &c.,
Audiui archana verba, que non licet homini loqui.—
Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo, [domine.]
Culpat caro, purgat caro; regnat deus dei caro.
Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi, iusticia & pax osculate sunt.
Ecce quam bonum, & quam iocundum, &c.
Gloria in excelsis deo, &c.
Omnia celestia, terrestria, flectantur in hoc no|mine Ihesu.
Sic oportet christum pati, & intrare, &c.;
'Deus meus & dominus meus.
Beati qui non viderunt, [et crediderunt,] &c.'
Diuisiones graciarum sunt, &c.
Id est, vetus testamentum & nouum.
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, &c.,
Non occides: michi vindictam, &c.
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum, set non ad depredandum!"
Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum, & omnibus eis[nomina vocat],&c.
Non concupisces rem proximi tui.
Richard the Redeles.
The Crowned King.
EDITED FROM NUMEROUS MANUSCRIPTS, WITH PREFACES, NOTES, AND A GLOSSARY, BY THE REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A., LATE FELLOW OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE; EDITOR OF "LANCELOT OF THE LAIK," "THE ROMANS OF PARTENAY," "WILLIAM OF PALERNE," "HAVELOK," ETC.; AND TRANSLATOR OF THE "SONGS AND BALLADS OF UHLAND."
In Four Parts. -- Part III.
LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, BY N. TRÜBNER & CO., 57 & 59, LUDGATE HILL. MDCCCLXXIII.
FROM MS. PHILLIPPS 8231, COLLATED WITH MS. LAUD 656, A MS. BELONGING TO THE EARL OF ILCHESTER, MS. COTTON VESP. B.16, MSS. Ff.5.35 AND Dd.3.13 IN THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, MS. CORP. CHR. CAMB. 293, MS. BODLEY 814, MS. R.3.14 IN THE LIBRARY OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, ETC.
THE "WHITAKER" TEXT; OR TEXT C.
Richard the Redeles, BY THE SAME AUTHOR. (1399 A.D.)
The Crowned King, BY ANOTHER HAND. (1415 A.D.)
EDITED BY THE REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, M.A., LATE FELLOW OF CHRIST'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.
LONDON: PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY, BY N. TRÜBNER & CO., 57 & 59, LUDGATE HILL. MDCCCLXXIII.
JOHN CHILDS AND SON, PRINTERS.
OBS. P = MS. Phillips (the text); E = MS. Laud 656; I = MS. Il|chester; M = MS. Cotton (Brit. Museum); F = MS. Camb. Ff. 5. 25; G = MS. Camb. Dd. 3. 13; S = MS. Corpus (Camb.); B = Bodley 814, &c. See Preface.
A dagger (†) in a sidenote marks passages peculiar to the C-text.
Ful] Fil F; Fel E. þorwe] for FS.
OBS. The want of alliteration shews that the true form of ll. 107—123 is lost; but we may conjecture what it was from the portion of it preserved in Lord Ilchester's MS., which is as follows:—
For þe synne of Offyn · and Fynees his broþer,
þat beten were in bataile · and losten archa domini;
And for þair sire soeffrede · þe sennes þat þey wroght,
And chastised not his children · of her euel chekkes,
[Two lines lost?]
He stombled doun fro his stool · in stede þer he sat,
And brak his nekke-bon in tuo · for so þe book telleþ.
[One line lost?]
For þay were prestes vnpure · peres of holy chirche,
Wrong on þe wrecches · wroken was þe harder.
For-þy ȝou prelates I preche · and peres of holy chirche,
Þat soeffre men do sacrifice · and sory mawmets [honoure]
And ȝe her gyours vnder god · schulde don hem go[od worchen,]
Beþ war I warne ȝow witterly · for god wol wr[aþþen hym,]
And sende sorwe on ȝour-self · sad|lier to falle
Þan fel on Offyn or Fynees · or on her fader awther.
121—125. F omits. The whole passage (117—126) is shorter and better in F, as follows:—
For-þi I seye, ȝe prestus · & prelatus of holy churche,
Þat suffre men do sacrifise · & sewe mawmetrye,
& ȝe schul fader hem fro þe fende · to folwe goddus wille,
For ȝe do nat ȝoure deuer · drede is at þe laste, &c.
and in] and M; as F. þe grete] þe lawe of þat F.
After l. 137 I inserts—And he þat tolde me þis tale · to clergie was named.
Ue terre ubi puer est rex: Salamon.
And seide, merci, ma|dame · For mariȝe loue of heuene, Þe tour on þe toft · what mai it bi-mene? Þat tour, quod þat ladi · treuþe is þer-inne M.
Inebriamus eum uino et dormiamus cum eo, ut seruare possimus de patre nostro semen . Genesis.
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone, & ero similis altissimo.
Dixit dominus domino meo, sede a dextris meis.
Melius est mori quam male uiuere.
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, remecietur uobis.
Fides sine operibus mortua est.
[Qualis]pater, talis filius.
Bona arbor bonum fructum facit.
Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo, et cetera.
Et super innocentem munera non accepit.
Sciant presentes et futuri: et cetera.
Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextera.
As] F om.
N.B. The whole of lines 77—118 is a single long sentence, including two parentheses, viz. ll. 78—80, and ll. 81—114; the sentence begins again with l. 115, a repetition of l. 77. By|souhte in l. 77 governs to take in l. 116; whilst To punyshen in l. 79 de|pends on kepeþ in l. 78.
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt: dextera eorum repleta est muneribus.
Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera.
140—142. I has—
In þe castel of Corff · I schal do close þe as an anker,
Or yn a wal worse won · by seint mary my lady.
Non morabitur opus mercenarij [tui] apud te usque mane.
Retribuere dignare, domine deus, omnibus[nobis],et cetera."
Quia antelate rei est recordatiuum,
Qui in caritate manet in deo manet, et deus in eo.
Nominatiuo, pater & filius & spiritus sanctus.
Conflabunt gladios suos in uomeres, & lanceas suas in falces;
Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium, nec excercebuntur ultra ad prelium.
Formelius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe."
Honorem acquirit qui dat munera."
Animam aufert accipientium:
Contricio & infelicitas in uiis eorum, & uiam pacis non cognouerunt; non est timor dei ante oculos eorum.
Reddit unicuique iuxta opera sua.
In eadem uocatione [in] qua uocati estis, [manete.]
Non reddas malum pro malo.
Dominus pars hereditatis mee; & alibi: Cle|mentia non constringit.
Simile est regnum celorum thesauro abscondito in agro, & cetera: Mulier que inuenit dragmam[vnam],et cetera;
Qui parcit uirge, odit filium.
Hii in curribus & hi in equis: ipsi obligati sunt, & ceciderunt.
Contriuit dominus baculum impiorum, uirgam dominancium, plaga in-sanabili.
Si hominibus placerem, christi seruus non essem. Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire."
Cuius maledictione os plenum est & amari|tudine[& dolo]:sub lingua eius labor & dolor.
Filij hominum, dentes eorum arma & sagitte, & lingua eorum gladius acutus.
154—163. For these, F has—
With-oute loue or leaute · & lye on hem with talus,
& make hem euer ete flesch · for ech of hem ete oþur.
Þe wikkednesse þat I wiste · by any of þe route,
I cowhed it up in our cloistre · þat al þe couent wist it.
& ȝit I spak no speche · it swal so my breste,
Þat I chewed it as a cowe · þat code chewith ofte.
Þan was I chalanged in chapitre · as I childe were,
& balised on þe bare ers · & no brech bitwene.
Nunquam dimittitur peccatum, nisi restituatur ablatum."
Ubi thesaurus tuus, ibi[&]cor tuum."
Melius est mori quam male uiuere.
Onecce enim ueritatem dilexisti.
Omnis iniquitas quoad misericordiam dei est quasi sintilla in medio maris.crien] crien him I.crien mercy] mercy crie F.
TITLE. So also in F; Hic incipit passus octauus de uisione M; Passus septimus de visione I.
OBS. From this point onward, only occasional readings are given from F.
Ve uobis qui ridetis, [quia lugebitis,]et cetera:
As god wole;Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur.
Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam, qui loquitur iniqua.
Qui uos spernit, me eciam spernit.
Qui histrionibus dat, demonibus sacrificat.
O felix culpa, o necessarium peccatum ade!
Ego[in]patre, & pater in me est; & qui uidet me, patrem meum uidet.
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem.
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris, lucem mag|nam uidit.
Non ueni uocare iustos, sed peccatores ad peni|tenciam.
Uerbum caro factum est.
Quandocumque ingemuerit peccator, omnes ini|quitates eius non recordabor amplius.
Homines & iumenta saluabis, domine, quem|admodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam, deus!
Honora patrem & matrem, & eris longeuus super terram.
Nameliche] And nameliche I. Here M inserts—
þanne schalt þow come bi an hi hul · be war þer of þe weiȝe,
Þat me calleþ 'halt þyn holidai · fro alle liþer dedes.'
But this is interpolated; for see l. 226.
Per euam ianua celi cunctis clausa est, et per mariam uirginem iterum patefacta est.
Quodcumque petieritis in nomine meo, dabitur enim uobis.
Vxorem duxi, et ideo non possum uenire."
Amice, ascende superius.
Quia cum iustis non scribantur.
Super cathedram moysi sedent, et cetera;
Omnia que dicunt, facite & seruate;
Alter alterius onera portate.
Facite uobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis."hast] haue M.ouht] auȝt S; Iom. wickeliche] wickedlich EIG; wickedly S; wrongfulli M.dispende hit] þow hit spende M.
In labore & sudore uultus tui uesceris pane tuo.
Piger propter frigus noluit arare; mendicabit in hyeme & non dabitur ei.
257—259. I has—
And he þat noght haþ schal noght haue · & no man ȝit helpith hym,
And þat he weneþ wel to haue · I wil it him byreue.
So M, which reads nout schal haue · and no man him helpe, and omits wel.
Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis;[beatus es, et bene tibi erit:]& cetera.
Quando misi uos sine pane et pera;
Neminem salutauer[it]is per uiam.
Et egenos uagosque induc in domum tuam.
Si quis uidetur sapiens, fiet stultus ut sit sapiens.
Iunior fui, etenim senui, non uidi iustum dere|lictum, nec semen eius querens panem; et alibi: Infirmata est uirtus mea in paupertate.
Non licet uobis legem uoluntati, sed uoluntatem coniungere legi.
Qui bona egerunt ibunt in uitam eternam: Qui uero mala, in ignem eternum.
Quodcunque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum & in celis; Et quodcunque solueris super terram erit solutum & in celis.
Libenter suffertis insipientes, cum sitis ipsi sa|pientes;
Nolite timere eos qui possunt occidere corpus.
Et dimisi eos secundum desideria[cordis]eorum.
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono.
on] on a M; in a S.
After l. 207, S adds—Noþur an a bytur brom · wex broune beryus.
Concepit in dolore, & peperit iniquitatem.
Penitet me fecisse hominem;
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris, [nec pater iniquitatem filij.]
Nunquam colligunt de spinis vuas: & alibi, Bona arbor bonum fructum facit.
Bonum est ut unusquisque uxorem suam habeat, propter fornicacionem.
OBS. The readings marked K are from MS. Digby 171.
TITLE. Incipit passus secundus PE; Incipit secundus F; M adds—de do|wel; S adds—de eodem; I has—Passus primus de visione Dowel, &c.
Ducunt in bonis dies suos, & in fine descendunt ad infernum.
Ibunt in progenies patrum suorum, & usque in eternum non uidebunt lumen: Et alibi: Ecce ipsi peccatores, & cet.
Que perfecisti, destruxerunt;[iustus autem quid fecit?]
Ecce audiuimus eam(.i. caritatem)in effrata; inuenimus eam in campis silue.
[Frange esurienti panem tuum; et egenos vagos|que induc in domum tuam.]
Si tibi sit copia, abundanter tribue: si autem exiguum, illud impertiri libenter stude.
Here I has—
To foles and flaterers · þat frentike aren of wittes,
And saide, nolite mittere · margery|perles,
þey done but dreuely þer-on · draffe were here leuere,
Among hegges (sic) þat han · hawes at wille,
þan alle þe preciouse perrye · in paradise groweth.
These lines are repeated from ll. 6—10 above, lines 8 and 9 being trans|posed.
Here I has—
To foles and flaterers · þat frentike aren of wittes,
And saide, nolite mittere · margery|perles,
þey done but dreuely þer-on · draffe were here leuere,
Among hegges (sic) þat han · hawes at wille,
þan alle þe preciouse perrye · in paradise groweth.
These lines are repeated from ll. 6—10 above, lines 8 and 9 being trans|posed.
Ego in patre & pater in me[est;]et qui me vidit, patrem meum uidit qui in celis est.
Fides non habet meritum ubi humana racio[pre|bet experimentum.]
And seide, "multi multa sapiunt, & seipsos nesciunt."
Ita impossibile est diuiti intrare in regnum celorum, sicut camelus foramen acus.
Nemo ascendit in celum nisi qui de celo descendit.
Non michi nec tibi, sed diuidatur.
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis, remecietur uobis.
Super cathedram moysi[sederunt,]&c.
Homines & iumenta saluabis, domine, &c.
Sunt iusti atque sapientes, & opera eorum in manu Dei sunt.
Dum steteritis ante reges et presides,[nolite cogi|tare quomodo aut quid loquamini,]& cetera:
Ecce ipsi idioti rapiunt celum, vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur.
Breuis oratio penetrat celum.
Pena pecuniaria non sufficit, et cet."
M omits from ȝe fare to ich in l. 22.
OBS. Here I begins again, but is damaged and imperfect throughout this Passus.
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis; arguam te, & statuam contra faciem tuam.
Nolite iudicare quemquam."
Non oderis fratrem tuum secrete in corde[tuo.]
Parum lauda, uitupera parcius."
O uos omnes sitientes, uenite ad aquas!
Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit, [saluus erit,]& cetera.
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius."
Qui non diligit, manet in morte:
Cum facitis conuivium, nolite uocare amicos[diuites,]&c.;
Qui facit peccatum, seruus est peccati.
Et qui bona egerunt, ibunt in uitam eternam;[qui vero mala, in ignem eternum].
Domine, non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solam ministrare?
Maria optimam partem elegit, que non aufereter ab ea.
Quicunque[reliquerit]patrem & matrem,' &c.
Si uis perfectus esse, uade & uende omnia[que habes.']
Nisi renunciaueritis[omnibus]que possidetis,' &c.
Nisi granum frumenti cadens in terra mortuum fuerit, ipsum solum manet;
'Tristitia uestra uertetur in gaudium:
O stulte, ista nocte anima tua egredietur;[que congregasti, cuius erunt?]Thesaurizat, & ignorat[cui, &c.].
Tanquam nichil habentes, & omnia possidentes.
Necessitas non habet legem.
So PEMIK. The alliteration is imperfect, unless we put lede for wight, as in T; F has—
& leeueth for his lettres · ay to be welcome,
& þat no wiȝt wole him greue · walkyng on weies.
S has the same, but with euer for ay, and omitting & before þat.
Alter alterius onera portate, [& sic adimplebitis legem christi].
Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit, [saluus erit,]& cetera,
Amen dico uobis, quia hec uidua paupercula[misit plus omnibus qui miserunt in gasophi|lacium;]
Qui offendit in uno, in omnibus est reus.
Psallite Deo nostro psallite, quia rex terre deus; psallite sapienter.
193—195. I has—
And þerfore merueileth me · for man is most yliche þe
Of wille and of werkes · why he ne loueth þy lore;
T has the same, except lyk for yliche þe, and wyt for wille.
De re que te non molestat, noli certare."
Philosophus fuisses, si tacuisses; et alibi: Locutum me aliquando penituit, tacuisse nunquam.
Ac] T om. her] þer E. art MKST] ert PE. art þow] artow I. S has — Si tacuisses, philosophus fuisses; Me aliquando locutum fuisse penituit, siluisse nunquam. me] est (wrongly; for esse) M.
OBS. One leaf lost in G, down to xv. 40.
Beatius est dare quam petere.
Scientes & non facientes uariis flagellis uapula|bunt.
Spiritus ubi uult spirat, et cetera.
Uultus huius seculi sunt subiecti uultibus celestibus.
Qui uestrum sine peccato est[mittat in eam lapidem,]& cetera.
Nolite tangere cristos meos, &c.
Sapientia huius mundi stultitia est apud deum.
Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem, et cet.
Ibant magi ab oriente, et cetera.
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates,[et quorum tecta sunt peccata,]&c.:
Si cecus ducit cecum, ambo in foueam cadent:
Nolo mortem peccatoris, sed ut magis conuertatur & uiuat.
De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu;
Et[reddet]unicuique secundum opera sua.
Quare placuit, quia uoluit, etc.
Quia ipse dixit, & facta sunt; ipse mandauit, & creata sunt.
Wheþer] Weþer P. þei] hy S; þat þey I. helle—heuene] heuene or in helle SG.
After l. 194 S alone inserts these five lines—
Iob was a paynym · & plesede god a prys,
And aristele (sic) al-so · sewede þe same secte,
And lad ful holy lyf · aftur lawe of kynde,
Where-fore hit semeþ soþly · by sondry skylus to schewe
Þat he is saf as was Iob · I can not seye þe soþe.
And seide, "uix saluabitur iustus in die iudicii;
Aduenit ignis diuinus, non comburens sed illuminans.
Quia super pauca fidelis fuisti, supra multa te constituam:
Edentes et bibentes que apud illos sunt.
Uos qui peccata hominum comeditis, nisi pro eis lacrimas effuderitis, ea que in delicijs come|ditis, in tormentis[euometis].
And seide, "cor contritum & humiliatum, deus, non despicies."
Ue uobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum uinum—
at—deys] þat at þe heiȝe deis sat T. drank] þat dronk M.
OBS. Here K ends.
In fame et frigore, &c.
Periculum in falsis fratribus!
Et uisitavit & fecit redemptionem plebis sue israel.
Qui facit et docuerit, magnus uocabitur."
Nemo bonus,
Pacientes uincunt.
Caritas expellit omnem timorem;
Super egros manus imponent, & bene se habe|bunt—
Argentum & aurum non est michi; quod autem habeo, hoc tibi do, &c.
Ex habundantia panis et uini turpissimum peccatum aduenit.
Quodcunque petieritis patrem in nomine meo, dabitur enim uobis; & alibi:
Non in solo pane uiuit homo, sed de omni uerbo, quod procedit de ore dei."
Dixit & facta sunt.
Aperis tu manum tuam, & imples omne animal benedictione.
Dabo tibi secundum peticionem tuam."
dormierunt[sompnum suum;]& nichil inuenerunt omnes uiri diuiciarum[in manibus suis;]Et alibi: Velut sompnum surgencium, & cet.And seith] With F; Som.[sompnum suum]supplied fromF.omnes—diuiciarum] MFSTom.[in—suis]supplied fromE.alibi] iterum M.Et alibi, &c.] Eom.
TITLE. Hic incipit passus septi|mus de dowel M; Incipit passus sep|timus PE; Incipit septimus F; Passus sextus de dowel T.
OBS. S omits Passus xvii. to xxi.
Thei] Hewen T. haue—aren] nout han bi-forn · and arn M.
OBS. Here M has lost two leaves, including ll. 4—159.
Cordis contricio, oris confessio, operis satisfactio;
Opera enim illorum seq[u]untur illos.
Remocio curarum, Possessio sine calumpnia, donum dei, sanitatis mater;
Absque solicitudine semita, sapiencie tempera|trix, negocium sine dampno;
Incerta fortuna, absque solicitudine felicitas."
Remocio curarum:—
Nolite iudicare quemquam.
Possessio sine calumpnia:—
Donum dei.
Sanitatis mater.
Paupertas est sine solicitudine semita: Seneca.
Sapiencie temperatrix.
Negocium sine dampno.
Absque solicitudine felicitas.
Anima pro diuersis actionibus diuersa nomina sortitur; dum uiuificat corpus, anima est. dum uult, animus est; dum recolit, memoria est; dum iudicat, racio est; dum sentit, sensus est; dum amat, amor est; dum de|clinat a malo ad bonum, liberum arbitrium est; dum negat uel consentit, consciencia est; dum spirat, spiritus est."
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone, & ero similis altissimo.
sicut qui mel comedit multum, non ei bonum est: Sic qui scrutator est magestatis, opprimatur a gloria.
Sciencie appetitus hominem immortalitatis[gloria]spoliauit.
Ne sitis acceptores personarum.
Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur, sic detemplo omne malum procedit. Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit, tota floret ecclesia; si autem corruptum fuerit, omnium fides marcida est. Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis, totus popu|lus conuertitur ad peccandum. Sicut cum uideris arborem pallidam & marcidam, intel|ligis quod uicium habet in radice, Ita cumuideris populum indisciplinatum & irreligio|sum, sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum.
Non inflatur, non est ambiciosa, non querit que sua sunt.
Hic in enigmate, tunc facie ad faciem:—
Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli,[non intrabitis in regnum celorum:]
Quodcunque uultis ut uobis faciant homines, facite eis.
Lauabis me, et super niuem dealbabor.
Cor contritum & humiliatum, deus, non de|spicies."
Et uidit deus cogitationes eorum.
Operibus credite.
Nolite tristes fieri, sicut ypocrite.
Beatus est diues sine macula.
Panem nostrum cotidianum[da nobis hodie]."To] For to F.to] for to F.bote] but it be F.Panem, &c.] Momits.[da—hodie]supplied fromF.
Caritas omnia suffert.
Videte ne furtum sit: & alibi, melius est mori quam male uiuere.
Nunquam, dicit Iob, rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam, aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit? Brutorum animalium natura te condempnat, quia cum pabulum sufficiat commune, ex adipe prodiit iniquitas.
Honora patrem & matrem, [ut longeuus sis, &c.]
Iusticia eius manet in eternum.
Dilige deum propter deum; id propter ueritatem est. Et inimicum tuum propter mandatum; id propter legem est. Et amicum propter amorem; id est, propter caritatem.
and] F om. [to IMFT] PEG om.
OBS. After l. 186, M inserts l. 288; see nete below, to l. 187.
on] in I. by-leyuen] beleuid T.
OBS. Here the subject-matter is misarranged in M; l. 188 appears 30 lines further on.
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit pro ouibus suis.
Absit[nobis]gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri iesu christi.
Deposuit potentes de sede.
Per primicias et decimas.
Michi uindictam,[& ego retribuam, dicit do|minus, &c.]
Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam.
Bonus pastor;
remissionem peccatorum, Carnis resurrectionem, & uitam eternam; amen."
Ecce ancilla domini,[fiat michi secundum ver|bum tuum,]"&c.
Ceci uident, claudi ambulant, leprosi mundantur:
Demonium habes.
[Eiecit ementes & vendentes de templo, &c.]
[Intra triduum reedificabo illud.]
Ne forte tumultus fieret in populo,
Ve homini illi per quem scandalum uenit.
[Sinite hos abire, &c.]
Celi enarrant gloriam dei, & opera manuum eius annunciat firmamentum.
Maledictus sit homo qui non reliquit semen in israel.
Tres uidit et unum adorauit.
Fiet unum ouile et unus pastor.
Ecce agnus dei[qui tollit peccata mundi]."
whider] IT whedur F; whodere (for wheder?) E; woder (for wheder?) P; what G. and (2)] G om. wyght|liche] wittilich E. tolde] tauȝte G.
COLOPHON. So PG. Hic] EF om. Hic explicit] IT om.
RUBRIC. So in P; Incipit tercius F; IT om.
OBS. M begins at l. 31.
Dilige deum & proximum[tuum].
In his duobus mandatis pendet tota lex[& prophete].
Mundum pugillo continens,
Natus ex maria uirgine.
Omnia traham ad me ipsum.
Tu fabricator omnium;
Dextre dei tu digitus.
Qui peccat in spiritum sanctum[neque remit|tetur ei,]&c.
Amen dico uobis, nescio vos.
Si linguis hominum loquar, &c.
Non omnis qui dicit[michi]domine, domine, intrabit in regnum celorum.ȝe] Eom. bekne]so.PMFT; bekene EG. [michi]inF.domine(2)] Iom. regnum] regno T.
Epulabatur splendide, & induebatur bisso & purpura.& purpura] ITGom. The quotation inFis—Induebatur pur|pura & bisso & epulabatur cotidie splendide.
Facite uobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis.
Vindica sanguinem iustorum!'
Nunquam dimittitur peccatum, &c.
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius.
Virtus in infirmitate perficitur.
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini.
O mors, ero mors tua!"
Vere filius dei erat iste:
Cum uenerit sanctus sanctorum, cessabit unctio uestra."
Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio."
Ars ut artem falleret."
Ad uesperum demorabitur fletus, & ad matu|tinum leticia.
Omnia probate; quod bonum est tenete.
'Domine, iube me uenire ad te[super aquas.']
Non uisurum se mortem.
Attollite portas, principes, vestras; & eleuamini, porte eternales, &c."
Ve soli!
Nunc princeps huius mundi[eicietur foras]."
Odisti omnes qui operantur iniquitatem, & perdes omnes qui loquntur mendacium.
Dentem pro dente, & oculum pro oculo.
Ars ut artem falleret, &c.
Non ueni soluere legem, sed adimplere.
Sicio.Ich fauht] In faiþ M.so] þat F.fursteþ] þresteþ M; þorstiþ G.sake] Iom. Sicio] IMom.
Tibi soli peccaui, & malum contra te feci, &c.
As,nullum malum impunitum, & nullum bonum irremuneratum.
Domine, ne in furore tuo arguas me, neque in ira tua corripias me—
Audiui archana verba, que non licet homini loqui.
Non intres in iudicium cum servo tuo, domine.
Culpat caro, purgat caro, regnat deus dei caro.
Misericordia & ueritas obuiauerunt sibi; Iusticia & pax osculate sunt.
"Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum est, habi|tare fratres in unum!"
TITLE. So PM; so EF, omitting Hic; Incipit de dobest GT; Incipit dobest I; Incipit passus septimus de dowel S (wrongly; owing to omission of Passus xvii to xxi).
OBS. Here S begins again.
Gloria in excelsis deo.
Omnia celestia, terrestria, flectantur in hoc nomine ihesu.
Sic oportet Christum pati, & intrare gloriam suam,
'Dominus meus & deus meus,
Beati qui non uiderunt, & crediderunt.'
Diuisiones graciarum sunt.
Vetus testamentum et nouum.
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut & nos[di|mittimus],&c.:
Non occides:[Et alibi],Michi uindictam, [& ego retribuam].
Omnia sunt tua ad defendendum, sed non ad deprehendendum!"
deus] & deus FST. alle] hem alle T.
N.B. By a singular error, the MSS. (PEMFSGT) place the words Good vertues (M has Of goode uertues) at the beginning of l. 35; but see B|text.
Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum.
notarie] so PEF; notories MT; a noteryes S. more] mo MFST.
After l. 272, T repeats l. 261 in the form—But þei be nempnid in þe noumbre · of þeim þat ben wagit.
Non concupisces rem proximi tui.
In these foot-notes, the reader will find the rejected readings of the MS., corrections in which have been but very sparingly made.
Besides these, all the more impor|tant parallel passages from the "Vision" are cited, with proper references. Thus, at l. 12, a quota|tion is given from l. 261 of Passus iv. of the C-text, as denoted by C. 4. 261. The C-text has been chosen for refer|ence (where possible) because the reader has it in his hand, and has only to turn back till he finds the passage cited.
Cf. Musynge on þis meteles · a myle-wey ich ȝeode.
And meny tymes this me|teles · made me to studie; C. 10. 296.
Cf. Thenne knelede ich on my knees and criede hure of grace,
And preide hure pytously; C. 2. 76, 77.
Radix omnium malorum cupiditas.
Omne regnum in se diuisum desolabitur; luce xjo.co.
Deus exaudit clamorem pauperum, et iudicat Causam eorum; dauid in psalmis.
Propter ingratitudinem liber homo reuocatur in seruitutem, ut in stimulo compunccionis, et in lege Ciuili.
Qui mollibus vestiuntur in domibus regum sunt: in Euangelio.
[THIS piece has been inserted because it is an early specimen of the several poems that have been written in imitation of Piers the Plowman. The first 27 lines were printed by Percy in his "Reliques;" but the whole poem is now printed for the first time. As it has no title, I have given it that of The Crowned King, because this expression occurs four times; see ll. 1, 35, 51, 141; note especially l. 35. Short as it is, we can decide with sufficient accuracy many points in connection with it. The general form of it, especially that part where the dream begins, is enough to shew that it is, as above-said, an imitation of Piers the Plowman; and this will appear more clearly if the passages mentioned in the foot-notes be examined. The language is somewhat simpler and later, and the author has caught the manner of his original but imperfectly, so that the result is, as a whole, weaker and milder. In this respect, it supplies a most useful contrast to the poem of "Richard the Redeless," in which the exact style and spirit of Piers the Plowman is perfectly maintained throughout. The happiest imitations are perhaps to be found in ll. 61—72, 81—83, 86—89, 111, 118, 124, 131, 132, and especially l. 134, which is perfect. Instead of metels (a dream) we find the later form metyng. In l. 116, the alliteration breaks down badly; the writer had no business to link speche with small (thus alliterating sp with sm), and then leave out the chief-letter. The unique copy here printed is to be found in MS. Douce 95, the writing being of the middle of the fifteenth century. The MS. contains several other pieces, and on leaf 12 the date 1439 is mentioned. If we accept the various indications of date afforded by the allusions in it—and we in fairness ought to do so, because otherwise the whole poem becomes meaningless—we may very easily determine all that is necessary to be known about it. It really amounts to a letter of advice addressed to a youthful yet not incompetent king, who can be no other than Henry V. Such a line as l. 77— Thi peres in parlement · pull hem to-geders— is quite inapplicable to Henry VI., who succeeded to the throne as a mere infant, and would have been entirely superfluous if addressed to Henry IV.; whilst the language is too late for the first few years of Richard II., and the writing too early for Edward IV. As addressed to Henry V., however, the poem is at once intelligible, and has adequate reasons for existence. I have little hesitation in fixing the date of composition as being probably the month of June, 1415. The author says he had just been with some friends on
[Douce MS. 95; leaf 4.]