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WILLIAM LANGLAND

PIERS THE PLOUGHMAN

PASSUS X

fol. 50r

Incipit Passus Decimus.

♫ -Wake y gan þer-with / witles neer honde.
& as a FreekFreek [þat] a-feerd were / forþ gan y walke.
In manere of a Mendynaunt / many a ȝeer after.
& of þis meetynge many tymes / Merveyle y hadde.
Fyrst how Fortune faylede me / at my moost nede.
& how þat Elde manased me / myghte we euere metyn.
& how þat Frerys folwede folk /[/ folk] þat weren ryche.
& poore folk þat weryn / lytyl of hem þey settyn.
& no koors in here kyrke-ȝeerd / wolde þei non berye.
But quik he wolde be-qwethe hem / or quite out here dettys.
& how Coueytyse ouer-cam / clerkys & preestys.
& hou þat lewid men ben lad / but oure lord hem helpe.
Þoruhȝ vnkonynge kuratouris / to vn-kurable peynes.
I lay doun longe in þis þowht / & at þe laste y slepte.
& as crist wolde cam Conciense / & confortyd me þat tyme.
& bad me come to his cuntre / with Clergye shulde y dyghne.
& for Conciense of Clergye spak / y cam wel þe rathere.
& þere y seyȝ a Mayster / what man he was / y nyste.
& lowe doun y lowtede / & lovely dyde hym honoure.
 But Concyense knew me wel / & wolkomed me faire.                         [50v]
Þan wysshe þey & wypeden / & wentyn after to dyghner.
But Pacyence in þe paleyȝs stood / in pylgrimes wedys.
& prayede mete pur Charite / for a poore hermyte.
 Þan Concyense callyd hym in / & curteyȝsly he seyȝde.
Wolkome weyȝ . goo & washȝ / & þou shalt sytte in haste.
Þe Mayster was maad syttyn / as moost of hem worthy.
& þan Clergye & Concyence / & pacience cam after.
Pacyence & y  weryn seet / to ben mettys.
& setyn be oure-selue / at a syȝd-table.
 Þan Concyense callid after meete / & sone cam scripture.
& seruede hem þus soone / of sundry metys manye.
Of Austyn & Ambrose / & with þe foure ewangelis.
Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt.
Þe Mayster ne non oþir man / non maner fleshȝ etyn.
For þey hadde metys of moore cost / as Morterelys powdred.
Of þat men mys-wonnyn / þey made hem wel a teseat ese.
But here saws . was ouer sowr / & vn-saverly grounde.
In a Morter post mortem / / with many a bytter peyȝne.
& shulle sobbe for þe sowlys / manye salte teerys.
Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis . nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effunderitis ea que in delicijs comedistiscomeditis in tormentis evometis.
 Concyence curteysly þo / comaundide scrypture
By-fore Pacience breed to brynge / & me þat was his meete
He sette a-fore vs a sour loof / & seide agite penitenciam.
& after he drowh vs a drynk / was diu perseuerans.
As longe as lyf quod he / & lykam may dure.
HereHere [is] propre seruyse quod Pacience / no Prince faret bettre.
& þan he browhte a-noþir mees / was miserere mei deus.
& þer-with beati quorum / tecta sunt / with blawnche poudre stroued.
& beatus vir cui non imputauit / in a plater a loo
& deerne shryfte dixi / & confitebor tibi
 Bryng pacyence sum pitaunce / pryvyly quod Concyense.
& þan was brouht to pacyence / þis pytance ful soone.
Pro hac orabat omnis sanctis in tempore oportuno.
& þan Concyense confortyde me / & carpede merye talys.
A-mong was . cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies.
 Þan was Pacyence prowhd / of þat propre seruyse.                                           [51r]
& maade merthe with his mowht / but y moornede euere.
For þe doctoures on þe dees / drunke wyȝn so faste.
Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum.
Þey etymety[n] many sundry metys / & morterews y-powdred.
Whyȝlde braun & whombe clowtys / & bacoun with eggys fryed.
 Þanne seyde y my-selue / þat Pacyense it herde.
It ys not goo foure dayes þat þis freek / be-fore folk at poulis.
Prechede In fame & frigore & flappis of skorges.
Ter cesus sum & a Iudeis quinquies quadragenas.
 But o woord þey ouer-hyppid / at ech tyme þey preche.
Þat Powl in his pistil / to þe peple tolde.
Periculum in falsis fratribus as neuere ȝit no teeme.
 Holy wryt biddis be war / y wil not wryte it heere.
On englyshȝ enawnter / it sholde be reersyd to ofte.
& greve þerewith / þat goode men been / but gramaryenys shul it rede.
Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat.
Qvia dicitur  periculum est / in falsis fratribus.
 I nyste neuere ȝit Frere preche / be-fore men on englyshȝ.
Took it for his teeme / & tolde it with-outyn glosyng.
But þey prechen þat penaunce / ys profytable to sowle.
What myscheef & male-ese / crist for man tholede.
 But þis goddys glotoun quod y  with hise grete chekys.
He haþ no pyte on þe poore / he parformeþ his speche evele.
Þat he precheþ þus & preveþ yt / to Pacyence priuyly y tolde.
& wyȝshede wyttyrly with wille / with woordys ful egre.
Þat dysshes & dubbleres / on dees be-fore þe doctour.
Were Mooltyn leed in his Mawe // & Mahoun a-myddys.
 I shal Iangle to þat Iurdan / with his Iusty whombe.
To telle me what penaunce ys / of wyche he prechiþ euere.
 Pacyense parseyveparseyve[d] what y seide / & bad holde me stylle
& seyde þou shalt seen after soone / whan he may etyn no more.
He shal have penaunce in his paunche / & puffe at euery speche
& þanne shulle hise guttys gowle / & he shal galpen after.
For now he haþ drunke so depe / he wille dyvyne sone.
& preue it in þe a-pokelyps / & in þe passioun of seynt savoures[Auereys].
Þat neyþir bakoun ne brawn / ne blamegeris / ne Mortreus.
Is neyþir fyshȝ ne fleshȝ / but foode for penauntys.
& takþ testemonye on þe Trynnyte / & ek his felowe to borwe.                     [51v]
What he fond in a selle / after a frerys dyȝeng.
& but þe firste lyȝne be in a lesyng / leve me neuere after.
& þanne is tyme to a-posen / & pyttyn to þe Doctour.
If Dowel and Dobet / and Dobest be penaunce.
 I sat stylle as pacyence bad / & sone þe Doctour after.
As rody as þe Rose / gan rodye hise chekys.
He Cowhede & Carpede / & Concyense hym herde.
& toldetolde [hym] of þe Trynnyte / & towardis vus he lokede.
What ys Dowel sire . quod y  & is Dobest ony penaunce.
 Do-wel is quod þe Doctour / & dronk a-non þere-after.
Do no evil to þyn evyncristenn / nowht be þyn powher.
By þis day sire quod y  þan be ȝee nowht nou in Dowel.
For ȝee have harmed vus two / in þat ȝee etyn þe puddyng.
& Morterelis & oþir mete / & we no mussel hadde.
If ȝe fare so in ȝoure fermerye / ferly me þynkeþ.
But Cheeste with Charyte be / y chylle on ȝow pleyne.
I wil permyte myn penaunce with ȝoure / for y amam [in] poynt to spille[dowel].
 Þanne Conscyence ful curteysly / a contynaunce he made.
& plukkid vp-on pacyense / & prayede hym be stylle.
& seyde hym-selue / sire Doctour / & it be ȝoure wille.
What is Dowel & Dobet / ȝee dyvynoures knowe.
Dowel quod þat doctour / ys / to doon as clerkes teche.
& dobet ys he / þat techeþ / & trauayleþ to teche oþere.
& dobest dooþ hym-selue so / as he seyþ & techeþ.
Qui facit & docuerit . hic magnus uocabitur in regno celorum
 A Clergye quod Conscience / þou carpist what is Dowel.
I have sevene sones he seyde / þat seruyn in a Castel.
Þere þe lord of lyf woneþ / to lerne hem to dowel.
I wolde see þo sevene sones / & ȝoure-selue a-corde
I am vnhardy quod he þan / to ony wyght preve it.
For pers plowhman a-pertly / haþ repugned vus alle.
He set alle scyenses at a sop / save love oone.
& non oþir tyxt takþ he / to meyntene his cause.
But dilige deum / and domine quis habitabit.
 He seyþ þat dowel & Dobet / ben tweye Infynytis.
Wiche Infynytis with a feyþ / fyȝnden owtowt [Dobest].
Þat shal save mannys soule / þus seyþ Peers Plowhman.
 I can not heere on / quod Conscyense / & ȝit y knowe wel Perkyn                                   [52r]
He wil not speke a-geyn holy wryt / y dar wel welwel vndir-take.
Now passe we ouer tyl Pers come / & preve þis in deede.
Pacyense haþ ben in many place / & paraventure he knoweth.
Þere ben no Clerkis kone so meche / as crist beriþ witnesse.
Pacientes vincunt
At ȝowre prayere quod Pacyense þo / so no man be displesyd.
Disce quod he and doce /and dilige inimicos tuos.
Disce and dowel / doce and dobet.
Dilige and dobest / thus was tawht me onis.
 Þanne a Lemman þat Lovely spak / Love was hire name.
With wordis & with werkis quod she / & good wille of þyn herte.
Þy sowle þowh love leely / al þyn lyf-tyȝme.
& so to leerne to lowe the / for þe Lordis love of hevene.
& þyn Enemy in alle wyse / love evene as þy-selue.
Caste kolys on his heed / þat ys alle kynde speche.
Boþe with werkis & with wordis / to wynne his love þou fonde.
& leyȝ on hym þus with love / tyl he lawhe on the.
& but he bowe for þys betynge / blynd mote he worthe.
But for to fare þus with þy freend / greet folye it were.
For he þat loveþ the leelly / lytyl of þyn he dysyreþ.
For kende love coueyteþ not / no catel / but speche.
With half a lampe lyne of latyȝn / ex vi transicionis.
& beryþ þerInne a-bowte / faste y-bownde Dowel.
In a sygne of þe Saturday / þat syt first in þe kalender.
& al the wit of þe wednysday / & þe nexte wyke after.
Þe Myddil of þe Moone / ys þe myght of bothe.
& þerfore am y wolkome / þere y have yt with me.
Vndo it & lete þe Doctour se it / wher dowel be þer-Inne.
For by hym þat me maade / myghte neuere pouerte.
Myssese ne myscheef / ne man with his tunge.
Ne Catel ne Care / ne cumpanye of thevys.
Neyþir heete ne hayl / ne non helle powke.
Ne neythir feyȝr ne flood / ne feere of þyn enemy.
Teene the ony tyme / & þou take it with the.
Caritas nichil timet.
& eek so have god my soule / & þou wilt love crave.
Þere nys Emperour ne Empresse / neyþir Erl ne baroun.
Pope ne Patriark / þat pure resoun shal the make.
Mayster of alle men / þoruhȝ myght of his reede.
Nowht þoruh no ryche craft / but þoruh wit of hem-selue.                    [52v]
To ȝeve þe al þat þey may ȝeve / as þou for beest ȝeemere.
Pacientes vincunt
It ys but a dydo quod þe Doctour / & a dysoures tale.
For alle wyttys of þis world / ne waytyng of mannys strengþe.
Kunne not conferme pees / twixe þe pope & hise enenyȝsene[m]yȝs.
Ne twene two cristene kyngis / þei cunne no pees make.
Profytable to euery peple / & þerwith he pytte þe table fram hym.
& took Clergye & Consciense / to conseyle as it were.
& leet Pacyense forþ passe / for pylgrimepylgrime[s] kunne wel lyȝe.
 Þan Conscyense carpede lowhde / & curteysly seyde.
Freendys fareþ alle wel / & faire spak to Clergye.
For y wille goon with þis goome / if god wil gyve me grace.
& been pylgrym with pacyense / tyl y have preved moore.
What quod Conscyense to Clergye / are ȝee coveytous nowthe
After ȝyresȝevis & ȝiftys / or ȝeernyn to reedyn redelys.
I shal brynge ȝow a byble / a book of þe olde lawe.
& leerne ȝow if ȝee lykyn / þe leeste lyȝne to knowe.
Þat Pacyense þat pylgrym / parfyȝtly knewh neuere.
 Nay be crist quod Consciense / cryst þe for-beede.
For al Pacyense me proferyþ / prowhd am y / but lyte.
But þe wille of þe weyȝ / & wille of folk heere.
Have meved my mood / to moorne for my synnys.
For þe goode wille of euery whyȝt / was neuere bowht to dere.
For þere is no tresor þerto / as to a trewe wille.
Hadde not Marie Mawdeleyn / more for a boox of salue.
Þanne Zacheus hadde / for dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus.
& þe poore wydewe / for a peyȝre of Mytys.
Þanne alle þo þat offreden gold / in Gazophylaciom.
 Þus curteysly Concyense / concludide þe Mayster.
& sytthe softely he seyde / in Clergyes ere.
Me wolde leuerere by oure lord / & longe y lyve sholde.
Have Pacyence parfyȝtly / þan half þy pakke of bookys.
Clergye ne Consciense / no congye wolde take.
But þei seiden ful sobrely / þou shalt se the tyme.
Whan þou art wery for-walkyd / wylne me to conseyle.
 Þat is soþ quod Consciense / so me god helpe.
If Pacyense be oure partynge feere / & preve with vs boþe.                                 [53r]
Þere is no wrong in þis world / þat wewe [ne] shulle yt a-mende.
& conforme kyngis to pees / of alle kenne londys.
& sarsynes of Suryȝe / & so forþ alle þe Iewis.
& turnen hem to trewe feyþ / & in-to trewe beleve.
 Þat is soþ quod Clergye / I see wel what þou menys.
I shal dwellyn as y doo / my dever to shewe.
& enformen fawntekynes / & oþire folk to leerne.
Tyl Pacyense haþ previd þe / & parfyȝtlyparfyȝt þe makyd.
Consciense with Pacyense / passeden / pylgrimes as þei were.
Þan hadde Pacyense in his pooke / pylgrimes vytailys.
Sobrete & symple speche / & soþfast beleve.
To conforte hym & consciense / where þey kemen in place.
For vnkyȝndenesse & coveytyse / be hungri cuntres bothe.
 & as þey wentyn be þe wey / & of Dowel carpeden.
Þey mettyn with a Menstral / a mychil man hem þowhte.
Pacyense a-posede hym / & prayede hym to tellen.
To Consciense what craft he cowhde / & to what cuntre he wolde
I am a Menstral quod þat Man / my name is actiua vita
Al maner ydelnesse y hate / for actif ys my name.
I am a waferer / wil ȝee wete / & worshepe manye lordis.
But fewe Robis y fonge / or onye furrede gownes.
Cowhde y lyȝe / & doon men lawhe / þan lacche sum y wolde.
Eyþir Mentyl or Moonee / a-mongys oþire Menstralis.
But for y can neyþir taboure / ne tellyn no Ieestys.
Ne fayten ne Fythelyn / at none faire feestys.
Ne Iapen ne Ianglyn / ne Ientilly pype.
Ne sawtrye ne saylen / ne synge with þe harpe.
Þerfore fewe rewarde me / my rente is þe lasse.
I have no good gyftes / of þese grete Lordis.
For no breed y browhte hem / save a bunne a sunday.
Whan þe preest prayeþ þe peple / þe Pater noster to bidde.
For Pers þe Plowhman / & alle hym profyghte wayteþ.
& for me Actyf also / þat haate al ydelnesse.
& for alle trewe tylyeris / & trauayloures on erthe.
Fram Myhelmesse tyl Myhelmesse / þo men trauaile sore.
Boþe beggerys & bydderys / of myn breed craven.
& Freris & Faytoures / & folk with brode crownes.
I fyȝnde payn for þe Pope / & provendre for his palfrey.                                [53v]
& ȝit hadde y neuere of hym / have god my trewthe.
Neyþir personage ne provendre / of þe popis gyfte.
Save a pardoun with a plum of leed / & twey pollys a-myddis.
 I wolde euery clerk þat cowde wryte / hadde cast hym a bylle.
Þat þe Pope wolde seendyn his seel / a salue for þe pestylence.
Þat his blessynge & his bulle / bocchis myghte distroyen.
In nomine meo demonia eicient
Et super egros manus imponent  & bene habebunt
Þanne wolde y pre[be] pre[st] to þe peple / paast for to make.
& buxum & besy also / a-bowtyn breed & drynke.
For hym & for alle hise / to fyȝnden swich a pardoun.
Þat myghte leechen a man / as y be-leeve he sholde.
For sytthe þe Pope haþ power / as seyntseynt [Peter] hadde.
He haþ þe pot with þe salue / soþly as me þynkyþ.
Argentum & aurum non est michi quod autem habeo hoc tibi do.
 In nomine domini Surge & ambula.
 But if myracle hym fayle / to men þat be not worthy.
To have no grace of god / to gete gryþ of þe pope.
Þere may no blessynge do vs boote / but we wille a-mende vs.
Ne no myscheef make pees / a-mong cristene peple.
Tyl priȝde be priuyly for-do þorhu paynes defawhte.
For er y have breed of mele / mychil moste y swete.
& er þe commounys have hoom here corn / is many a cold morwe.
Er my wafrereswafres been wrouht / mychel woo y tholye
 Al Lundenn as y leve / lyken wel my wafres.
& þey þat lakke hem lowren / for largyte þey wantyn.
It was not longe y-passed / lewed men weryn needy.
Þere was a kareful comounte / wan no carte com to towne.
With bake breed fram Stratforde / þo gan beggerys wepe.
& werkmen were so a-gast / it be þouht on longe after.
In þe date of oure dryghten / in a drye Aprille.
A thowsande & þre hundred ȝeer / & two & XXty & ten.
My wafres were þere gesene / wan our meyȝr Chychestre.
I took gret kep / of pacyense / be cricri[st] & of Consciense boþe.
How[Of] Haukyn þe actyf man / & how he was y-Clothyd.
He hadde on a cote of cristendom / as holy chirche be-leviþ.
But yt was moolyd in manye placis / fele sundry spottys.                            [54r]
Of priȝde was þere a spoot / & of vn-buxum speche.
Of skornyngis of skoffyngis / & of vn-skylful berynge.
As of a-parayle peyntyd / & prowhd a-mong þe peple.
Oþir-wise þan he haþ herd / seyd merveyles.
Hym wenynge þat alle men / wende he were most myghty.
For-why he bosteþ & braggeþ / with fele bolde oþis.
& looþ to been vndir-nome / of ony lyf lyvynge.
& goo[s]oo synguler be hym-selue / in syghte of þe peple.
Þat þere is non swich as he ys / ne non so poppe-holy.
For he is en-habyȝtidhabyȝtid lyȝk an hermyte / & ordred[an] ordre be hymselue.
But religioun is saved be rewle / & be resonable obedyence.
It is lakkyng to lewid men / & to lerede men boþe.
In lyknesse it is a leel lyf / & a lyȝere to his soule.
Boþe with Inwit & owtwit / he ymageneþ & stodyeþ.
As best for his body bee / to bere a bold name.
& to entremete hym oueral / þere he haþ nouht to done.
Wyllynge þat men wendyn / his wit were þe beeste.
Or for his crafty konyngge / of clerkis he were þe wisest.
Or strengest on steede / or styffest gyrt with gyrdel.
& lowlyest to loken on / & leellest of werkys.
& non so holy as he / ne non of lyf clennere.
Or fayrest of fetoures / of face / ne of forme.
Or most sotyl of song / or slyest of hondys.
Or looþ for to leene / & large for to cacche.
& if he ȝeve to poore men / to telle what he delte.
& as a lyoun to looken on / & lordly of speche.
& boldest of beggerys / boostynge at þe nale.
In towne & in tauernys / talis to tellyn.
& seyn þyng he neuere y-seyȝ / & for-soþe swere it.
Of dedis he neuere dyde / to demen & boosten.
& of werkis he wel dede / wytnesse & tellyn
Loo  if ȝee leve nowht / þat y lyȝe / ȝee wene.
Goo  aske hym / or hire / & he ȝow can telle.
What y suffrede / or seyde / or what y sum-tyme hadde.
Or what y cowde or knew / or of what ken y com of.
Al he wolde þat men wiste / of werkys & wordis.
Swiche talis plese þe peple / wan he preyseþ hym-selue.
Si hominibus placerem  cristi seruus non essem.
Et alibi . Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire                                [54v]
By crist quod Consciense þo / þy corteby Haukyn.
Haþ manye moolis & spottys / yt moste ben y-washe.
Who takþ heede / quod Haukyn / by-hyȝnde & be-fore.
What on bak & on body half / & on bothe syȝdes.
Men sholde fyȝnde fele frunnces / & fele foule spottys.
& þerwith / he turnede hym as tyȝt / & þanne y took heede.
Þat yt was foulere be fele fold / þan it first semede.
It was by-droppid with wratthe / & with wykkide wylle.
With evil speche & envye / & excitynge to fyghte.
With lyenge / & lakkynge / & with a leef tunge to chyde.
& al þat he wiste be ony wyȝt / wykkydly out it telle.
& blame men by-hyȝnde here bak / & bydde hem myschaunce.
& þat he wyste by willyem / to tellen yt to walter.
& al þat he of walter wiste / willyem wiste it soone.
Also he made freendis foos / þoru his false tunge.
Or þoru myght of mowþe / or þorwh mannys strengþe.
& but y a-venge me fele tymes / evele y frete my-selue.
As dooþ a shepperis shere / so shrewidly y grynte.
Cuius malediccione os plenum est  & amaritudine & dolo sub lingua eius labor & dolor.
Þere is no lyf y leve / wille leste me ony whyle.
For talis þat y telle / no man tristneþ to me.
& whan y have not þe maystrie / swich malekolye y take.
& þat sone y cacche þe Crompe / & þe Cardyacle after.
Or an Agewh / for anger / & þerwith an hoot fyuere.
Þat takþ me a twelmoneþ / tyl þat y dispyse.
Lechecrafte be oure lord / & be-leve on a wycche.
Þat seyþ / þat no Clerk can / by crist as y beleve.
As doþ sowtere of sowþwerk / or of sordych dame Emme.
Þey seyn þat goddis woord / gaf me neuere boote.
But þoru a charm / he hadde chaunce / & his cheef heele.
 I wayted wislykore on hym / & þan was he soyled.
With lykyngeryȝe[lykynge of leccheryȝe] / with lokyngis with myn eyȝen.
For euery Mayde þat y mette / y made swiche syghnes.
Semynge to synne-warde / & summe y gan a-taste.
Mowþ with mowþ / or be-nethe / priuyly gan hire grope.
Tyl eythrys wylle wexe kene / & þan to werke wentyn.
As wel fastyng day & fryday / & for-bode nyghtys.
As leef in lentoun as owte / & alle tymes y-lyke.
Swiche werkys with me & hem / were neuere out of sesoun.
Tyl þey myghte no more do / but helde it merye talkyng.                                    [55r]
How þat leccherous men love wel / with lawynge & Iapis.
& of harlotrie & of hordom / in eelde þey have burde.
¶ Þan Pacience parceyvede / þe poyntes of his coote.
Was crumplyd / þoru coveytyse / with vnkynde dysyryng.
Moore to good / þan to god / þe goome his love caste.
& ymagenede nyght & day / how he myghte it have.
With false Mesures / & false met / & eek with fals witnesse.
& leenede for love of þe weed / & looþ to doon trowþe.
F& waytede þoru his wit / fele wyȝes / to be-gyle.
& mengede his Marchaundyse / & made a fayr mustre.
& þe werste with-Inne was / a greet wit he held it.
& if myn Neyhebore have an hyȝne / or ony beeste ellis.
More profytable þan myn / manye sleyghtis y maake.
How y myghte wynne yt / al my wit y caste.
& but y gete yt be ony way / y geete it be stelthe.
Or privyly his purs y shook / or y vn-pykede hise lokkys.
Eyþir be nyght or be day / a-bowte harm was y euere.
Þoru gyle to gadren / þe goodis þat y welde.
For if y ȝeede to þe plowhȝ / y pynchede so narwe.
Þat a foote lond ouer a forw / fecchen y wolde.
Of myn neeste neyhebore / whan y sholde repen it.
To seese me with here sykyl / þe wiche y sew neuere.
& who wolde borwe Monee // tyl a serteyn tyȝme.
He muste legge pleggys of heuyere peyȝs / & priuy presentis.
So wheyþir he wolde / or he nolde / wynnyn y wolde.
& boþe to kyþ & to kyn / vnkyȝnde of þat y hadde.
& who þat Chepede my chaffare / chyden y wolde.
But he proferede to peyȝen / a peny or tweyne.
Moore þan it was worþ / & ȝit wolde y swere faste.
Þat it coste mychil moore / y swoor manye oþis.
 & in halydayes in holy chirche / wan y sholde here messe.
Hadde y neuere wille god whot / witturly god by-sechen.
Ne aske mercy for my myse / þat y ne moornede moore.
For leesynge of myn goodys / þan for my lykames gilte.
As whan y hadde do dedly synne / y dredde not þat so sore.
As whan y leenede good / & lost it / or longe er it were peyed.
& if y kydde ony kyȝndenesse / myn evyn-cristene to helpe.
Vp-on a cruel Coveytyse / my Conscience gan hangen.
& if y sente ouer þe see / ony seruaunt to Brugges.
Or in-to sprws myn prentyȝs / myn profyȝte to wayte.
To Marchaunte my meneem[o]nee / or to maken chaungis.                             [55v]
Myghte neuere þynk conforte me / in þe mene tyme.
Neyþir messis ne matynys / ne no manere syghtis.
Ne penaunce parforme / ne pater noster byddyn
Þat myn myȝnde was[ne] was moore / on my good in dowhte.
Þan in þe grace of god / or in hise goode halwis
Vbi thesaurus tuus . ibi & cor tuum est.
Ȝeet þat goome with grete oþis / his garnement was soiled.
& foule be-flobered it / al with fals speche.
& þere no neede was / nempnede god ydellyche.
& swoor þerby / swythe ofte / a-bowte þe ale cuppe.
& ofte moore eet & drank / þan kynde myȝhte defye.
& sumtyme kawte seknesse / þoruh surfetys ofte.
Þat for dowhte y dredde / to dyȝen in dedly synne.
& into wanhope y wente / y wende neuere to be savid.
Þe wyche slewþe is so slowhȝ / þere may no sleyghte it helpe.
Ne no mercy a-mende it / þe man þat dyȝeþ þere-Inne.
Þese been þe braunchis / þat bryngþ a man in slewþe.
Þat moorneþ not for his myssis / ne makþ for hem sorwe.
Ne penaunce þat þe preest hym took / he parformede neuere.
Ne neyþir doþ almesse-dede / ne drediþ neuere synne.
& he þat lyȝeþ a-geyn be-leve / & no lawe holdeþ.
For ech day is halyday with hym / oso[r] is an heyȝ feste.
& if he wil owt heere / it ys an harlotys tunge.
For whan men carpen of crist / or clennesse of soule.
Þanne wexeþ he wroþ / & wolde here wordis of merthe.
& þe penaunce of poore men / & þe passioun of seyntys.
He hateþ to heeryn of hem / & alle þo hit telleþ.
Þese ben þe braunchis / þat brynge men in wanhope.
I conseyle lordis & ladijs / & legatys of holy chirche.
Þat fynde folis sage / & flateres ben & lyerys.
& have lyst to lystne hem / to do ȝow to lawhe.
Ve vobis qui ridetis.
& ȝeve swiche mete & meede / & pore men refuse.
Syker in ȝoure dyenge / ȝee may drede sore.
Leest swiche manere of men / to myche sorwe ȝou brynge.
Consencientes & agentes  pari pena puniendi sunt.
Patriarkys & prophetis / & prechoures of god in hevene.
Saven þoruh here sermoun / mannys soule fram helle.
Ryght so flaterys & folys / are þe feendis dyssyplys.                                        [56r]
To tempte men þoruh here talis / to synne & harlotriȝe.
But Clerkys þat knowe holy writ / sholde kennyn so lordis.
What Dauyd seyþ of swiche men / as þe sawhter telliþ.
Non habitabit in medio domus mee  qui facit superbiam.
Sholde non harlot haue non audiense / in halle ne in Chambre.
Þere þat wise men weryn / witnesse on goddis woordis.
Ne non mys-prowhd man / a-mong lordis a-lowed.
Boþe knyghtis & Clerkis / wolkome kyngis menstralis.
& for þe love of here loord / þey lyghten hem at festis.
Mychil more me þynkþ þan /[/ þan] ryche men sholde.
Have beggeris be-fore hem / wiche ben goddis menstralis.
As he seyþ hym-selue / seynt Iohan beryþ witnesse.
Qvi vos spernit me spernit.
Þerfore y rede ȝou ryche men / at Revelis whan ȝe make.
For to solace ȝoure soulis / swiche menstralis ȝee have.
Þe poore for a fool sage / ȝee sette at þe table.
& a leerned man to leerne the / what oure lord suffrede.
For to save þy soule / fram Sathan þyn enemy.
& withowtyn flaterynge fythele / of good frydaesfryda[y]es storye.
& tak a blynd man þy burdour / or a bedrede womman
To criȝe a largesse to oure lord / þyn goode loos to shewe.
Þese þre manere of menstralis / make men to lawhe.
& in his deþ dyeng / þei doon hym gret confort.
Þat be his lyve he lystned hem / & lovede hem to heere.
Þey solace þy soule / tyl þy-selue be fallyn.
In a wol good hope / a-mongis goode seyntys.
Þere flateris & foolis / with here foule woordis.
Leden þo / þat lovedyn hem / to lucyferis feeste.
With turpiloquio a lay of sorwe / in lucyferis fythele.
 Þus Haukyn Actyf man / hadde y-soyled his coote.
Tyl Conscience a-cowpid hym / in a curteyȝs manere.
Why he ne hadde wasshe yt / er with a brushȝ rubbid it.
I have but on hatere quod Haukyn / y am þe lasse to blame.
Þeyhȝ it be soyled & selde clene / for y slepe þer-in on nyghtis.
& also y have an houswif / & hewen boþe & chyldren.
Vxorem duxi . & ideo non possum venire.
Þat wille be-moole it manye tymes / mawgre my chekys.
It haþ ben laven in Lentoun / & out of Lentene boþe.
With soope of syknesse / þat seekeþ wonder depe.                                                      [56v]
& with loos of Catel / þat looþ me was to leese.
& grucchede a-geyn god / whan grevis he me sente.
& was shryve of þe preest / þat ȝaaf me for my synnys.
Pacyense to penaunce / & poore men to feeden.
For coveytyse of my cristendom / in clennesse to kepe it.
 But y cowhde not kepe it be criȝst / not an hour to-gydre.
Þat yy [ne] soyled it with syght / or with sum ydel speche.
Or þoruh werk or ellis þowht / or þoruh wil of herte.
Þat y flobered ful foule / fram morwe tyl þe eve.
I shal kenne the quod Conscience / of contricioun a brushȝ to make.
Þat shal clawe of þy coote / alle vn-clene fylthys.
 Dowel wasshe it & wrynge it / with a wyȝs confessour.
Dobet bowke it & beete it / as bryght as ys skarlet.
& engreyne it with good wille / with helpe of goddis grace.
& Dobest & keep þe cleene / fram vnkyȝnde werkis.
& þey þou slyde or stumble sore / soone vp þou ryȝse.
& goo to Satisfaccioun sone / for to sunne þe after.
& þan shal neuere myst moole it / ne motthe do it skaþe.
Ne neyþir feend ne fals man / defoule it in þyn lyve.
Þere shal no heroude ne harpour / have an hendere garnement.
Þan Haukyn þe Actif man / & þou do my techyng.
Ne no Menstral be more worþ / a-mong poore & ryche.
Þan Haukyn þe Waferer / wich is / actiua vita.
& y shal purueye þe past / quod pacience / þeih þou no plowh holde.
Of flour to feede folk with / as beest be for þy soule.
Þey neuere greyn growe on grownde / ne grape vp-on vyne.
For alle þat lyven & looken / lyfloode wil y fyȝnde.
& þat y-nowhȝ shal non fayle / of swich as hem neediþ.
Noman shal be besy / a-bowtyn his lyf-loode.
Ne soliciti scitis
 Þan lawhede Haukyn a lyte / & a lytil ooþ he made.
Who-so troweth eyþir of ȝow / y trowe he be vnblessid.
Noo  quod Pacience paciently / & out of his poke he hente.
Vytayles / grete vertues / of alle manere goodnesse.
& seyde loo  here is lyflode y-nou / if oure feyþ be trewe.
For lewte was neuere so ryf / as lyflode is y-shape.
Fyrst þe wilde worm / vndir þe weet erthe.
& in þe flodis fysshis / & in þe fyȝr þe kreket.
Þe Corlewh be kyȝnde / most klennest is of foulis.
& beestis by grasees þey lyve / & be greene rootys.                            [57r]
In meenynge þat alle men / sholde doon þe same.
& lyve þoru leel by-leeve / as goode god witnessiþ.
Quodcumque pecieritis in nomine meo dabitur vobis. Et alibi. Non in solo pane viuit homo . Sed in omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei.
Þan y lookede what þat lyflode was / þat Pacyense preysede.
Þere was a pece of þe Pater noster . fiat voluntas tua.
 Hav Haukyn quod Pacience / & ete þis whan þe hungreþ.
Or wan þou clumsist for cold / er klyngyst for drowhtys.
Þere shal neuere faytour þe greve / ne grete lord þe wratthe.
Ne Prisoun þe peyghne / whil Pacientes uincunt.
Be so / þou be sobre / boþe of syght & tunge.
In etynge & handlynge / & in alle þi fyve wittis.
Neuere tharst þou care for corn / ne lynen ne wollene.
Ne for drynk deþ drede / but dyȝe wan god wille.
Ne for hungir ne heete / for no þyng shal þe greve.
If þou leve after his loore / þe shortere lyf þe leuere.
Si quis amat cristum mundum non diligit istum.
For þoruhȝ his breeþ beestys weren / & wyȝde a-brood wentyn.
Ergo  þoruh his breeþ mowe we / beestis & men lybben.
As holy writ witnessiþ / & dauid in þe sawter.
Aperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal benedictione
It is founde þat fourty wynter / folk lyvede withoutyn tilthe.
& out of þe flynt sprong þe flood / þat folk & beestis drunke.
 & also in helyes tyme / hevene was y-closed.
Þat no reyn reyȝnede / þus men rede in bookys.
& ȝit men leveden / & mete & drynk hadden.
& seuen men slepen as seyþ þe book / seuyn hundred wynter.
& lyveden withoutyn lyflode / & at þe laste þei a-woken.
& if men lyvede be mesure / þere sholde be no defawte.
A-mongis cristene creaturis / if cristis wordys þei take.
But welthe is so myche a maister / a-mongis cristene peple.
Þat ouer-plente makeþ priȝde / a-mongis poore & ryche.
& mesure is so mychil worþ / it may not be to deere.
 For þe myschef & myschaunce / a-mongis men of Sodoom.
Was þoruh plente / of payn / & of pure slewthe.
For þei mesurede not hem-selue / neyþir meete ne drynke.
& dyden swiche dedly synnes / þat þe devil hem lykede.
& swich vengaunce fel on hem / for here foule synnes.
Þat þei sunken in-to helle / þo Cytees bothe.
Þerfore mesure þe wel / & mak þy feyþ / þy sheltroum.
For þoruh feyþ comeþ Contricioun / Conciense heer whoot wel.                   [57v]
Wiche dryveþ a-wey dedly synnes / & doþ hem be as venyal.
& if a man may not speke / ȝit Contricioun may hym save.
& brynge hishis [sowle] to blysse / be soo þat feyþ beriþ witnesse.
Þat whiles he be-levede / in loore of holy chirche he leevede.
Concyense Ergo  feyþ / & contricioun / keendely is to Dowel.
Sorwe for dedly senne ys / whan shryfte of mowþe fayleþ.
But shryfte of mowþ / more worþy ys / if man be withwith[in] contrit.
For shryfte of mowþ / sleeþ synne / be it neuere so dedly.
Per confessionem to a preest / peccata occiduntur.
Þere Contricioun ne doþ / but dryveþ it doun / inin[to] a venyal synne.
As dauid seyþ in þe sawhter / quorum tecta sunt peccata.
But Satisfaccioun sekþ out þe roote / & sleeþ boþe & voydeþ.
& as it neuere hadde be / ys þan þat dedly synne.
Ne neuere after þat soor is seene / but semeþ a wownde helid.
 Ȝee where woneþ Charite / quod haukyn / ȝit wiste y neuere.
Ony man þat with hym spak / as wyȝde as y have wandred.
Quod hee / þere parfyȝt lyf / & pore herte is / & pacyetpacye[n]t of tunge.
Þere is charytees / chambre / for he is god hym-selue.
 Wheyþir paciense & pouerte quod haukyn / be plesant to god more.
Þan Rycchesse ryȝghtfully wonne / & resonabely spendyd.
Ȝee quis est ille quod Pacience / quik laudabimus eum.
Þey men reden of rycchesse / ryght to þe worldis ende.
Fond neuere renke þat ryche was / þan wan he rekene sholde.
& drowh to his deþ-day / þat he ne dredde hym soore.
Þat his rekenyng in rerage fel / rathere þan out of dette.
Þere þe poore dar plete / & preve it be pure resoun.
To have a-lowance of his lord / be lawe he it cleymeþ.
 A wyȝe þat neuere Ioye hadde / of a Iugge he askeþ.
& seyþ loo bryddis & beestis / þat no blysse ne knowe.
& wyȝlde wormes in wodys / with wyntris þou hem grevist.
& makst hem wol meeke / & myȝlde for defawhte.
& after þou sendist hem somer / þat ys here souereyn Ioyȝe.
& gret blysse to alle þat been / boþe wyȝlde & tame.
Þanne may beggeres & beestis / after boote wayten.
Þat al here lyf have lyved / in langour & in defawte.
But god wolde sende hem sumtyme / sum maner of Ioyȝe.
Eyþir here / or ellis-where / god wolde so be keende.
For to wrothele waswroth[erh]ele was [he] wrouht / þat neuere Ioye was shape.
Angelis þat in helle nou been / hadden Ioye sum-tyme.
& dives in deyntees lyvede / & in dowce vyȝe.
Ryght so Resoun redyþ / þo men shulle redyly a-counte.
& here makys also / þat ledden here lyve in merthe.
 But god is of a wondir wille / by þat kende wit sheweth.
To ȝeve man his mercyment / er he have it disservid.
Ryght so doþ god be sum ryche man / rewþe me þynkiþ.                         [58r]
For þei have here / here heere / & hevene as it were.
& gret lykynge of lyf / with-outyn body trauayle.
& in here dyȝenge ben dislowed / as dauid in þe sawter telleth
Dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt . et alibi . Velud sompnium surgencium domine in ciuitate tua  ad nichillum rediges ymaginem.
Allas þat rycchesse shal reve / & robbe mannys sowle.
Fram þe love of oure lord / at his laste ende.
For þat have here heere to-fore / been heere moost nedysnedy
For selde þei suppe out of dette / & dyȝhgne er þei aserue it.
Tyl he have doon his devir / & his dayes Iurne
For whan a werk-man haþ wrouht / þan men may se þe soþe.
What he were worthy / & what he haþ disservid.
& nowht to fongen be-fore / for drede of dislowyng.
Be ryche men yt semeþ ryght soo / þe same þat ȝee shulle.
Cleyme two hevenys / oon here / & a-noþir heereafter.
Ryght as a seruaunt takeþ / his sallarie be-fore his terme.
& after wolde cleyme / his heere eft-soones.
As he þat non hevene hadde / & haþ hevene at þe laste.
It may not so be ȝee ryche men / if Matthew be trewe.
De delicijs / ad delicias . difficile est ascendere.
 If þe Ryche man have rewþe / & rewarde þe poore.
& lyve as lawe tellyþ / & dooþ lewte to his brothir.
Þan crist of his curtesye / shal conforte ȝou at þe laste.
& rewarde duble rycchesse / þat rewful hertys haddyn.
& as an hyȝne haþ his hyȝre / er he his werk by-gynne.
& he dooþ wel his devir / he is ouer þat / rewardyd.
A coote ouer his counaunt / ryght so / crist ȝeveþ hevene.
Boþe to ryche / & to nono[t] ryche / þat ryght-fully heere lybben.
& þo þat doon here devir wel / have dubble for here trauayle.
Of forgyfnesse of here synnes / & hevene blysse after.
But beggerys a-bowtyn myssomer / breedles þey sowpe
& ȝit is wynter for hem werse / for weet-shood þey wandre.
& a-fyrst & a-fryngrida-fyngrid / & foule ofte rebewked.
& a-rated of ryche men / þat rewþe it is to heere.
Now lord sende to hem somer / & sum maner of Ioyȝe.
Hevene after here hens goeng / þat here have swich defawte.
For alle myghtyst þou have maad / & noon menere þan oþir.
& y-lyche wytty & wyȝs / If þy wille hadde lykyd.
 Have rewthe ȝee ryche men / þat rewarde no porayle.                                             [58v]
& ȝeve hem of þyn good / for ingraty ben manye.
But god of þy goodnesse / gyve hem grace of mendement.
For may no derthe ben to deere / neyþir drowhte ne weete.
Neyþir heete ne hayl / if þey haven here hele.
For al þat þey wilne & wolde have / wanteþ hem non heere.
 But þe poore in prisoun lyȝn / in þe pit of myscheef.
Þou conforte þo creaturis / þat mychil care suffren.
Þoruh derthe / þoruh drowhte / alle here dayes heere.
Þey have woo / in wyntris tyme / & wantynge of cloþis.
& seelden in þe somer tyme / suppe þey to þe fulle.
Now crist conforte þo careful / kyng in þyn ryche.
How þou confortist alle creatures / clerkys knowen alle.
Conuertimini ad me / & salui eritis.
 Thus in genere of alle Ientylis / Iesu crist seyȝde.
To robberis & to reverys / to ryche & to poore.
To harlotys / & to hoorys / & to alle oþir peple.
Þou tawhtist hem of þe trinyte / to taken bapteme.
To been clene þoru cristnynge / of alle kenne sennys.
 & ȝif vs be-felle / be folye / to fallyn in synne after.
& be-knowleche it In confessioun / & craue þyn mercy.
We sholde a-mend vs as ofte / as we wolde dysyre.
 & If þe powke plede þere a-geyn / to punshe vs in consciense.
We sholde take a-quitaunce / & to þe qweed it shewe.
Pateant vniuersi per passionem domini nostri Iesu cristi
& so pytte of þe powke / & preve vs vndir borwe
But þe parchemyn of þis patente / muste ben of pouerte.
& of pure Pacyense / & of parfyȝt be-leve.
 & if pompe or pride / doþ þe parchemyn cowre.
& principaly of þe peple / but þey been poore of herte.
Ellis is al ydelnesse / al þat euere þey wryten.
Pater nostris & penauntis / & pilgrimes to Rome.                                           [59r]
With oure spendyng of spekynge / springe of a trewe welle.
Ellis al oure labour is / laweles y trowe.
Looke how men wryten / in fenestris at þe freris.
If fals be þe fowndement / it fawseþ al atoonysat oonys.
 Sevene synnes þere been / þat asayle vs euere.
& þe fend folweth hem alle / & fondiþ hem to helpen.
But with rycchesse þo rybawdis / rathest men by-gyle.
For þere þat rycchesse reygneþ / reuerences it folwiþ.
& þatþat [is] plesaunt to pride / to poore & eek to ryche.
But þe ryche is reuerencid / be resoun of his rychesse.
Þere þe poore is pit by-hyȝnde / & paraunter can moore.
Þan þe ryche man so ryal / & rathere herd in hevene.
For þe ryche haþ mychel to rykne / & ryght softe walkeþ.
Þe ryght wey to hevene-ward / but ofte þe ryche is lettyd.
Þere þe poore procheþ to-foore / with a pakke y-charged.
Beati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est enim regnum celorum.
 But pride in rycchesse reygneþ / rathere þan in pouerte.
Or in þe Mayster . or in his man / sum mansyoun he haveþ.
But in pouerte þere pacience is / priȝde haþ no strengthe.
Ne non of þe seuyn synnes / sytte ne mowe þere longe.
Ne have powher in pouerte / if pacience hem folwe.
For þe poore ys ay prest / for to pleesen þe ryche.
& buxum at his byddynge / for hise broode noblis.
& buxumnesse . & boost / þey been euere at werre.
& eyþir hateþ oþir / in alle manere of werkis.
 & if wratthe wrastle with þe poore / he haþ þe worse ende.
For if þey boþe pleyne / þe poore ys to feeble.
& if he chyde or chatre / hym cheeviþ þe worrse.
For lowly he lookeþ / & lovely is his speche.
Þat ony meete or monee / of oþere men mote asken.
 & if Glotenye greve pouerte / he gadreþ þe lasse.
For hise rentys wil not reche / no ryche meetys to bygge.
& þowh his glut be in good ale / he gooþ a-cold to bedde.
& hys hevid euele y-helyd / & vnesely y-wryȝe.
For whan he streyneþ hym to strecche / þe straw is his schete.
So for his grete glotenye / he haþ a greuous penaunce.
Þat is wellawo whan he wakeþ / & wepiþ sore . for colde.
& sum-tyme for hise synnes / so he is neuere merye.
With-outyn moornynge a-moong . & myche myschef to boote.
 & þey Coueytyse wolde cacche þe poore / þey mowe not comen same.
Be þe nekke namely / þer non may henden oþir.
For men knowe wel þat coueytyse / ys of a kene wille.
& haveþhas hondis & armes / of an huge lengthe.                               [59v]                       
& pouerte is but a pety þyng . & a-periþ not to his novele.
A lovely leyk ys it neuere / be-twene þe longe & schorte.
 & þey Aueryse wolde angre þe poore / he haþ but lytyl strengþe.
For pouerte haþ but pokes / to pyttyn in hise goodis.
Þere Aueryȝse haþ Almerijs . & yrene bownde coffres.
& wheyþir be lyghtere to breke / lasse boost he makeþ.
A beggerys bagge / or a bownden coffre.
 Leccherye loveþ hym nowht . for lytyl syluer he delyþ.
To doon hym dyghne delycatly ./ ne to drynke wyȝn ofte.
 & þey slewhthe sewe pouerte / & serue not god to payȝe.
Mischef is his mayster ./ & makeþ hym to þynken.
Þat god is grettest his[his grettest] helpe / & no goome ellis.
& he his seruaunt as he seyȝþ / & of his sewt boþe.
& wheyþir he be / or be not  he beriþ þe sygne of pouerte.
& in þat sewte is oure saviour / þat saueþ al man-kynde.
For-þy alle poore þat pacient ys / may cleymen & asken.
FAffter here endynge day / hevene-ryche blysse.
 Michil hardiere may he aske / þat haþ heere myght & wille.
As a lord . of lordschepe / & haþ lykynge of bodily helþe.
& for goddis love / leveþ al / & lyviþ as a beggere.
 & as a Mayde for mannys love / hire moodir for-sakeþ.
& hire fadir & alle hire frendis / & folweth forþ hire make.
Miche is þat mayde to love / of hym þat swich oon takeþ.
Moore þan þat mayden ys / þat ys maried þorghȝ brokage.
As be a-sent of sundry partyes / & peyȝe syluer to boote.
Moore for coueytyse of good / þan kende love of boþe.
 So it fareþ be euery persone / þat possessioun for-sakeþ.
& pit hym to ben pacyent / & pouerte weddiþ.
Þe wiche is sybbe to god hym-selue / & so neer is þat persone.
 Have god my trewthe quod haukyn / y heereheere [ȝou] preyse pouerte.
What is pouerte quod he properly to meene.
Paupertas quod pacience / est odibile bonum . remocio curarum / possessio sine calumpnia . donum dei . sanitatis mater . absque SolitudineSol[lic]itudine semita . Sapiencie temperatrix . negocium sine dampno . Incerta fortuna . Absque solicitudine felicitas.
 I can not construe al þis / quod haukyn / þou kenne it on englyȝs.
 Quod Pacience in englyȝs it is hard / to expowne it to soþe.
But sumdel y schal seyȝn yt / by so þou vndirstonde it.
Pouerte is þe firste poynt / þat priȝde moost hateþ.
Þan is it good by good skyl / þat it a-gaste pryȝde.
Ryght as Contricioun is confortable þyng / conscience woot wel                    [60r]
Þey it be sorwe to hym-selue / It is solace to his sowle.
Ryght so / pouerte properly / ys penaunce & Ioyȝe.
& to þe body ys / pure spyrytual helpe.
Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum.
 Contricio is confort / & cura animarum .
For selden syt pouerte / þe soþe to declare.
As sytt a Iustise / to Iugge men of gyltys.
Ne as a Meyȝr on men / ne mynstre vndir kyngis.
Seelden ys þe poore y-pyt / to punchen þe peple.
Ergo  pouerte & poore men / parformen goddis comaundement.
Nolite iudicare quemquam . the thrydde.
 Seelden ys pore . ryght ryche / but it be of ryght-ful erytage.
He wynneþ nowht with hise wyȝles / ne with vn-selyd mesures.
Ne borweþ of his neyheboure / but þat he may wel payen
Possessio sine calumpnia.
 Þe feerthe is a Fortune / þat florcheþ þe sowle.
With sobrete fram alle synne / & also ȝit moore.
It a-faytethȝ þe fleschȝ / fram folijs ful manye.
A collaterel confort / comeþ of cristis ȝifte.
Donum dei.
 Þe fyfte is / þe Moodir of hele / and freend in alle fondynge.
& for þe lawe euere y-lyche / a lemman of clennesse.
Sanitatis mater.
 Þe sixte is a paþ of pees / platoun beryþ witnesse.
Pouerte myghte passe / withowtyn pereyl of robbynge.
For þere þat pouerte passeþ / pees folweth after.
For-þy seyþ Seneca / Paupertas est absque solitudine semita.
He is an hardy man of herte / a-mong an hep of þevis.
Cantabat paupertas coram latrone viator.
 Þe seuenthe is welle of wisdom / & fewe wordis he sheweth.
For loordis a-loweth hym lytel / or lystneþ to his resoun.
He tempreþ his tunge to trewþe-ward / þat no tresoun coueytyþ.
 Þe .viije. is a leel labourer / & looþ to taken moore.
Þan he may wel disserue / in somer or in wynter.
& if he chaffareþ / he chargeþ no los / if he charyte wynne.
Negocium sine dampno.
 Þe .ixe. is sweete to þe sowle / no sugre is swettere.
For pacyence is peyne / for pouerte he is hym-selue.
& sobrete is sweete dryng / & a good leche in seknesse.
Þus lerned me a lerid man / for oure lordis love of heuenne.
 Seynt Austyn seyþ it ys a blessid lyf / with-outyn ony besynesse.              [60v]
For body & for sowle / absque solicitudine felicitas.
Now god þat alle goode gyviþ / grawnte his sowle reste.
Þat þus first wroot to wisse men / what pouerte was to meene.
Allas quod Haukyn þanne / þat after my cristendome.
I hadde[ne] hadde ben deed / & doluen / for doweelis sake.
So hard it is to lyven heere / & to lyȝn longe in synne.
Synne scheweth vs good semblaunt / & sory gan he wexen.
& wepte water with hise eyes / & weylede þe tyme.
Þat euere he dide ony dede / þat deere god dysplesede.
He swownede & sobbede / & sykede ful ofte.
Þat euere he hadde lond or lordchepe / lasse eyþir moore.
Er maystrie ouer ony man / moore þan ouer hym-selue.
I were not worthy quod haukyn / to weryn ony cloþis.
Neyþir scherte ne schoon / save for schame oone.
To kouere myn kareyne quod hee & criȝede mercy faste.
& wepte & weyȝlede / & þerwith y awakede.

Explicit Passus .Xus.

GO TO PASSUS XI


Much of this research is based on my 1974 Berkeley doctoral dissertation, which went into three editions as a published book, The Pilgrim and the Book: A Study of Dante, Langland and Chaucer, https://isbnsearch.org/isbn/0820420905, Bern: Peter Lang, 1992; its Dante sections also published in an Italian edition in De strata francigena XX/1, 2012.

 


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