The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 9: The B-Version Archetype of <hi rend="it">Piers Plowman</hi>

The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 9: The B-Version Archetype of <hi rend="it">Piers Plowman</hi> – Passus 19William LanglandEdited by John Burrow and Thorlac Turville-PetreTechnical Editors: Daniel V. Pitti and Cindy Girard Graduate Research Assistants John Ivor Carlson, Erin Kelly, Britta Rowe, Christine Schott, and Timothy L. Stinson. Computer Consultants and Programmers Shayne Brandon, Cynthia GirardPublished for the Medieval Academy of America and The Society for Early English and Norse Electronic Texts (SEENET) by Boydell and Brewer Ltd. Cambridge ISBN (individual use) 1 84384 ????? (institutional use) 1 84384 ????

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LatinFrenchGerman Editor Hoyt N. Duggan New header created and structure reorganized. Passus vndevicesimus & explicit dobet & incipit dobest Bx.19.1: See Introduction V.3.2 for discussion of the relationship between Bx and Cx, and F and Cx, in this passus. Thus I awaked & wrote · what I had dremed And diȝte me derely · & dede me to [kirke]Bx.19.2: kirke: Doubtfully adopting the CrF reading as the minority form. On the distribution of kirke / cherche see Introduction IV.1. RK's text has kyrke, recording no variants, though in fact P (as printed by Skeat) has churche. To here holy þe masse · & to be houseled afterBx.19.3: Beta4 drops ll. 3b-4a. In myddes of þe masse · þo men ȝedeBx.19.4: ȝede: MCr and F have wente, but this is not supported by Cx. to offrynge I fel eftsones a-slepe · & sodeynly me metteBx.19.5: me mette: Supported by Cx against F's y drempte. We shall not regularly note such instances of F's unique variants. That Pieres þe plowman · was paynted al blody And come in with a crosse · bifor þe comune peple And riȝte lyke in alle lymes · to owre lorde ihesu AndBx.19.9: And: LWHm are supported by Cx. Other beta mss. drop it; F has A-non. þanne called I conscience · to kenne me þe sothe Is þis ihesus þe iuster quod I · þat iuwes did to deth Or it isBx.19.11: it is: Supported by the X family of C. The reverse order as in G and F (ys he) is supported by the P family. Pieres þeBx.19.11: þe: Omitted by F and the P family of C. plowman · who paynted hym so rede Bx.19.12: MWHmC here have a paraph.Quod conscience & kneled þo · þise aren PieresBx.19.12: Pieres: The beta reading, and clearly preferable on grounds of sense: "These are Piers' arms, but (ac) he who comes is Christ". This is confirmed by Bx.18.23-7. Perhaps quod contributes to aaa/xx alliteration, as again in l. 15 (aaa/bb). However, F's cristis is also the reading of Cx. RK, p. 123, suggest it is an error prompted by the alliteration; if so, F's reading is by coincidence or contamination. The alternative is that cristis is archetypal (if not original), corrected by beta. armes His coloures & his cotearmure · acBx.19.13: ac: Dropped in F to remove an illogicality created by the reading cristis in the line above. CrC have and, as does the P family of C. he þat cometh so blody Is cryst with his crosse · conqueroure of crystene ¶ Why calle ȝe hym cryst quod I · sithenes iuwes calle[d]Bx.19.15: called: With the past tense this refers to Bx.18.40-3. Hm and beta4 have past tense, as does Cx. Note also the past tense of F's named. The best beta mss. have the present tense as in the a-verse, and this might be a Bx error. hym ihesus Patriarkes & prophetes · prophecyed bifore Þat alkyn creatures · shulden knelen & bowen Anon as men nempned · þe name of godBx.19.18: name of god: As Cx. MCr read heiȝe name of, and F has name of þat Ientyl. IhesuBx.19.18: The Latin line that follows in F only is a variant of l. 82 and is not in Cx. Ergo is no name · to þe name of ihesus Ne none so nedeful to nempne · by nyȝte ne by daye For alle derke deuelles · aren adradde to heren it And synful aren solaced · & saued bi þat name And ȝe callen hym cryst · for what cause telleth me Is cryst more of myȝte · & more worth[ier]Bx.19.24: worthier: F's multiple comparative is supported by Cx (where a few scribes correct it) against beta's worthy. Cf. Bx.7.76. name Þan ihesu or ihesus · þat al owre ioye come of ¶ Thow knowest wel quod conscience · and þow konne resoun That knyȝte kynge conqueroure · may be o persone To be called a kniȝte is faire · for men shal knele to hym To be called a Kynge is fairer · for he may knyȝtes make Ac to be conquerour called · þat cometh of special grace And of hardynesse of herte · & of hendenesseBx.19.31: hendenesse: CO add bothe (Cf. F's also). Neither is supported by Cx. To make lordes of laddesBx.19.32: of laddes: Supported by Cx, against Cr or ladyes and HmGF and ladys. · of londe þat he wynneth And fre men foule thralles · þat folweth nouȝt his lawes ¶ The iuwes þat were gentil men · ihesu þei dispised Bothe his lore & his lawe · now ar þei lowe cherlis As wyde as þeBx.19.36: þe: Supported by Cx against HmGF. worlde is [·] wonyeth þere noneBx.19.36: þere none: As in Cx. Cr adds therin, supplied in turn by the M reviser. W reverses the order. L misplaces the punctuation to follow wonyeth. But vnder tribut & taillage · as tykes & cherles And þo þat bicome crysten · by conseille of þe baptis[m]eBx.19.38: þe baptisme: An obvious error in Bx, corrected in L to baptiste as in Cx. F smooths by dropping þe. Hm omits 38b-39a. Aren frankeleynes freBx.19.39: fre: OF as well as Cx have & fre. men · þorw fullyng þat þei toke And gentel men with ihesu · for Ihesus was yfolled And vppon caluarye on crosse · ycrouned kynge of iewes ¶ It bicometh to a Kynge · to kepe and to defende And conquerour of conquest · his lawes & his largeBx.19.43: KD, p. 133, scan this line aaa/bb, with two staves on conquerour; but its sense is also questionable. Schmidt (1995), taking the line to be dependent on l. 42, translates: "And (it befits) a conqueror to maintain and guard his laws and his munificence by virtue of his act of conquest" (p. 327). Yet it is only kings who, in the following ll. 46-7 "keep and defend" these people, as at Bx.20.258. The verbs are not applicable to a conqueror such as Christ here in ll. 50-62, for he carries "his laws and his munificence" into his newly conquered territory, binding some and freeing others at the Harrowing of Hell. It may be that something was lost at an early stage between 43a and 43b, leaving the line as it stands in Bx. Cx differs only by having his before conquest and the synonym layes for lawes. And so ded Ihesus þe iewes · he iustified & tauȝte hem Þe lawe of lyf · that last shal euere And fendedBx.19.46: fended: Supported by Cx against beta2 defended. framBx.19.46: fram: HmO have hem fro(m), G has ytt fro and F fram hem. This indicates that the pronoun was variously added to Bx by scribes who sensed an omission. Cx has hem fro. foule yueles · feueres & fluxes And fro fendes þat in hem wasBx.19.47: was: LF are supported by Cx. As elsewhere, other scribes alter to were. See note to Bx.17.11. [·] & fals bileue Þo was he ihesus of iewes called · gentel prophete And kynge of herBx.19.49: her: MCrF omit, but Cx has it. kyngdome · & croune bar of þornes ¶ And þo conquered he on crosse · as conquerour noble Myȝt no deth hym fordo · ne adown brynge That he ne arosBx.19.52: ne aros: So L as in Cx; MCrW have naroos, HmG ne ros, O no roos and CF aros. & regned · and rauysshed helle And þo was he conquerour called · of quikke & of ded For he ȝaf Adam & Eue · and other mo blisse Þat longe hadde leyne bifore · as lucyferes cherles Bx.19.56-9: These four lines from F were omitted in beta, perhaps skipping from one paraph to the next. They are essential to the narrative and are confirmed by Cx, which offers corrections at several points. [¶ AndBx.19.56: And: F's & þanne is not supported by Cx. toke [Lucifer the lothelich]Bx.19.56: Lucifer the lothelich: As in Cx. F has lotthly lucifer. · þat lorde was of helle And bonde [him] as [he is bounde]Bx.19.57: him as he is bounde: This is the reading of Cx (a few mss. omit him). F has the nonsensical his as his bondeman, though his might be emended to him. · with bondes of yren Who was hardier þanne he · hisBx.19.58: his: So Cx; F has þat his. herte blode he shadde To maken alle folke fre · þat folweth his laweBx.19.59: lawe: F has the plural, but Cx has sg.] ¶ And sith he [ȝiueth]Bx.19.60: ȝiueth: F's present is the reading of the X family of Cx and follows logically from folweth in the previous line. Beta's past tense, though supported by the P family, is perhaps prompted by its omission of lines 56-9, and he ȝaf in l. 54. For the appropriateness of the present "as referring to Christ's continuing grant of heaven to the just", see Schmidt (2008), 454. largely · alle his lele lyges Places in paradys · at her partynge hennes He may wel be called conquerour · & þat is cryst to mene ¶ Ac þe cause þat he cometh þus · with crosse of hisBx.19.63: crosse of his: So LWO. MCr have cros of þe, HmCG have cros of; F reads his cros of his. Cx is no guide, since the X family reads his cros and his and the P family croys and hus. passioun Is to wissen vs þere-wyth · þat whan þatBx.19.64: þat whan þat: So beta. Cx has þat whan; F just has whan. we ben tempted Þer-with to fyȝte & fendenBx.19.65: fenden: WHmF have defenden, as do a few C mss. Cf. l. 46. vs · fro fallyng in-to synne And se bi his sorwe · þat who-so loueth ioye To penaunce & to pouerte [·] he moste putten hym-seluen And moche wo in þis worlde · willenBx.19.68: willen: F and most C mss. have wilnen, perhaps correctly. & suffren ¶ Ac to carpe more of cryst · and how he come to þat name Faithly forto speke · his firste name was ihesus Tho he was borne in bethleem [·] as þe boke telleth And cam to take mankynde · kynges and aungeles Reuerenced hym [riȝt]Bx.19.73: riȝt: Lost in beta. F is supported by Cx and the alliteration. faire · with richesseBx.19.73: richesse: This may be sg. or plural. W and a few C mss. have the marked pl. form. See note to Bx.3.23. of erthe Angeles out of heuene · come knelyng & songe Gloria in excelsis deo &c ¶ Kynges come after · kneled & offred Mirre & moche golde · with-outen mercyBx.19.77: mercy: Evidently the reading of both Bx and Cx. Cr is naturally puzzled and alters to mede, as does the M corrector (overwriting muche gold). F, also dissatisfied, alters with-outen to with myche, and adds Ensens to complete the three gifts (as in l. 88). One C scribe, similarly motivated, begins Rechels Golde & myr. See Schmidt (2008), 454-5. askynge Or any kynnes catel · but knowlechyngBx.19.78: knowlechyng: So apparently beta, though MCr have knoweliche, and G has past tense as in Cx. F has þey knowlechid, possibly representing alpha. hym soeuereigne Bothe of sondeBx.19.79: sonde: Supported by Cx against londe in beta2. sonne & see · & sithenes þei went In-to her kyngene kyth · by conseille of angelesBx.19.80: conseille of angeles: Supported by Cx against F's kennynge of an angel. And there was þat worde fulfilled · þe which þow ofBx.19.81: þow of: As Cx. F's first þou is probably motivated by alliteration with ful-fyld. speke Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu For alle þe angeles of heuene · at his burth kneled And al þe witte of þe worlde · was in þo þre kyngesBx.19.84: kynges: Supported by Cx against F's þynges. Resoun & riȝtfulnesseBx.19.85: riȝtfulnesse: So LC. Though C mss. are split, this is evidently the reading of Cx. All other B mss. have riȝtwisnesse / rightuousnes, which may, of course, be right, even if not archetypal. In l. 90 below Riȝtwisnesse is secure and supported by Cx and it may have prompted scribes to adopt it here. See Schmidt (2008), 455. · & reuth þei offred Wherfore & whi · wyse men þat tyme Maistres & lettred men · Magy hem called ¶ That o kynge cam with resoun · keuered vnder sense Þe secounde kynge sitthe · sothlicheBx.19.89: sitthe sothliche: Cr has sothly sithens he, as does M, with he added as an alteration. F also has he, as does the P family of C, but the X family is without it. There is no metrical need for the pronoun, since -liche is disyllabic. offred Riȝtwisnesse vnder red golde [·] resouns felaweBx.19.90: F drops ll. 90b and 91a. Golde is likned to leute · þat last shal euere And resoun to riche goldeBx.19.92: riche golde: Clearly an error (since justice is likened to gold), but the reading of both Bx and Cx. F rewrites the a-verse and W drops the line altogether. Schmidt (1995) conjectures richels, "incense", calling this "one of the stronger indications that B1 was the basis of the C revision" (p. 405). · to riȝte & to treuthe The þridde kynge þo cam · [and] knel[ed]Bx.19.93: and kneled: F is supported by Cx. Compare the actions of the two other kings, also in past tense (ll. 88-9). The phrase cam knelyng is perhaps picked up from l. 74. to ihesu And presented hym with pitee · apierynge by myrre For mirre is mercy to mene · & mylde speche of tonge [Erthe]licheBx.19.96: Ertheliche: F is supported by Cx and by superior sense. Beta's Thre yliche, though possible, appears likely to be a misreading. honest þinges · wasBx.19.96: was: LF only, but supported by Cx. Other B mss. have were. For other examples of pl. was preserved by L and alpha, see l. 47 and note to Bx.17.11. offred þus at ones Þorw þre kynne kynges · knelynge to ihesu ¶ Ac for alle þise preciouse presentz [·] owre lorde prynce ihesus Was neyther kynge ne conquerour · til he gan toBx.19.99: gan to: Certainly Bx, though Cx has alliterating comsed. wexe In þe manere of a man · & þat by moche sleight As it bicometh a conquerour · to konneBx.19.101: konne: F's knowe is not supported by Cx. many sleightes And many wyles & witte · þat wil ben a leder And so did ihesu in his dayes · who-so had tyme toBx.19.103: had tyme to: Certainly Bx, though Cx has alliterating durste. telle it Sum-tyme he suffred · & sum-tyme he hydde hym And sum-tyme he fauȝte faste · & fleigh otherwhile And some-tyme he gaf good · & graunted hele bothe Lyf & lyme · as hym lyste he wrought As kynde is of a conquerour · so comsed ihesu Tyl he had alle hem · þat he fore bledde ¶ In his iuuente þis ihesus · a[t]Bx.19.110: at: L's atte represents "at the", which is supported here only by O. Cx has at. See the variants at l. 117. iuwen feste Water in-to wyn tournedBx.19.111: Water in-to wyn tourned: So beta. F has he turnede at the end of the previous line, with some support from Cx where the a-verse is Turned watur into wyn. Perhaps the standard prose order of F and Cx is more likely to be scribal, as argued by RK, p. 123. For the contrary view see Schmidt (2008), 455. · as holy writ telleth And þere bigan god · of his grace toBx.19.112: to: F's omission, shared with beta4, is not supported by Cx. dowel For wyn is lyknedBx.19.113: is lykned: F has y lykne, but this is not supported by Cx. to lawe · & lyf of holynesseBx.19.113: lyf of holynesse: This seems clearly the reading of Bx. However, W agrees with Cx on lifholynesse, which we must suppose is a coincidental variant. So Schmidt (2008), 455. And lawe lakked þo · for men loued nouȝt her enemys AndBx.19.115: And (1): F has But. This and other F variants in the line are not supported by Cx. cryst conseilleth þusBx.19.115: þus: The reading vs in beta4 is shared with a few C mss. including XY. F has þus vs. · & comaundeth bothe BotheBx.19.116: Bothe: Apparently beta, though omitted by WHmF to avoid the repetition. Most of the X family of C have it, though the others omit. to lered & to lewed · to louye owre enemys So atte festeBx.19.117: atte feste: WHm have at þat feeste, as do the majority of C mss. firste [·] as I bifore tolde Bygan god of his grace [·] & goodnesse to dowel And þo was he cleped & called [·] nouȝt holyBx.19.119: holy: This is the beta reading. Yet CrF have onely, and M is altered to that reading, agreeing with Cx. On the face of it, onely does not give appropriate sense, since Langland's scheme is that Jesus was not called Christ until he became a conqueror. Kane (2005) interprets onely as an adj. "peerless", but see Barney (2006), 121, who conjectures nouȝt cryst but onely Ihesu, "not Christ but rather Jesus". The sense of holy is straightforward, even if it reads like a line-filler, to introduce a long dip into the b-verse. For further discussion see Burrow (2009), 90-1. cryst but Ihesu A faunt[k]ynBx.19.120: fauntkyn: L's form fauntfyn shows the source of the error in beta, leading other scribes to interpret as faunt fyn. F agrees with Cx. ful of witte · filius marie ¶Bx.19.121: ¶: The paraph is in LM only. ForBx.19.121: For: Supported by Cx, though dropped by MCr and replaced by & in F. bifor his moder marie · made he þat wonder Þat she furste & formest · ferme shuldeBx.19.122: ferme shulde: F reverses the order, as does Cx. RK, p. 123, note this as "variation to prose order". bilieue That he þorw grace was gete · & of no gome elles He wrouȝt þat bi no witte · but þorw worde one After þe kynde þat he come of · þere comsed he dowel And whan he was woxen more · in his moder absence He made lame to lepe · & ȝaue liȝte to blynde And fedde with two fisshes · & with fyue loues Sore afyngred folke · mo þan fyue thousande Þus he conforted carfulBx.19.130: carful: Supported by Cx against CrF þe carefull. · & cauȝte a gretter name Þe whiche was dobet · where þat he went For defe þorw his doynges · & dombe speke [& herde]Bx.19.132: & dombe speke & herde: F supported by Cx (though mss. XYU have he for &). Beta has to here & dombe speke he made, imposing a more obvious order and perhaps not recognising speke as a past tense form. And alle he heled & halpe · þat hym of grace asked And þo was he called in contre [·] of þe comune peple For þe dedes þat he did · fili dauid ihesusBx.19.135: fili dauid ihesus: This word order is supported by Cx. For dauid was douȝtiestBx.19.136: douȝtiest: F and Cx supply the definite article. · of dedes in his tyme The berdes þoBx.19.137: The berdes þo: Supported by Cx against beta4 (þat for þo) and F's revision to avoid berdes. songe · Saul interfecit mille · et dauid decem milia · For-þi þe contre þere ihesu cam · called hym fili dauid And nempned hym of nazereth · & no man so worthi To be kaisere or kynge · of þe kyngedome of iuda Ne ouer iuwes iustice · as ihesus was hem þouȝte ¶ Where-ofBx.19.142: Where-of: F has Þerfore; Cx has Hereof. [hadde caiphas]Bx.19.142: hadde caiphas: So F and Cx. Beta reverses to prose order. enuye · & other of þeBx.19.142: other of þe: The beta reading; F has oþire konynge. Both could be additions to lengthen a short b-verse, since Cx has just other. iewes AndBx.19.143: And: F (and Hm) omit, but beta is supported by Cx. forto doun hym to deth · day & nyȝte þei casten KulledenBx.19.144: Kulleden: F and Cx begin with &, easily supplied for a smooth transition. hym on crosse-wyse · at caluarie on [a]Bx.19.144: a: CrHmF are supported by Cx. However, all could be independent additions. fryday And sithen buryden his body · & beden þat men sholde Kepen it fro niȝt-comeres · with knyȝtes yarmed For no frendesBx.19.147: frendes: Beta has the pl.; F shares the sg. with Cx. shulde hymBx.19.147: hym: So beta, though F and Cx have it as in the previous line. Cf. also l. 151. fecche · for prophetes hem tolde Þat þat blessed body · of burieles shulde riseBx.19.148: shulde rise: The word-order, reversed in WHm, is supported by Cx. For rise, Bx may have read arise as in MCr supported by Cx. F has vp ryse. And gone in-to galile · and gladen his apostles And his moder Marie · þus men bifore demedBx.19.150: demed: Secure for Bx, though Cx has deuyned. ¶ The knyȝtes þat kepten itBx.19.151: it: Supported by Cx. Beta4 reads hym, and Hm is altered to that reading, following on from l. 147. · biknewe[n]Bx.19.151: biknewen: F agrees with Cx. Beta, having lost the final syllable of the verb, provides the long dip by adding a pronoun, thus anticipating the clause of the next line. hem-seluen Þat angeles & archangeles · ar þe day spronge Come knelynge [·] to þeBx.19.153: þe: F and Cx have þat. corps & songenBx.19.153: & songen: In beta this is followed by cristus resurgens, but both F and Cx postpone the Latin to the start of the following line. F characteristically supplies konyngly to fill out a short b-verse and provide alliteration. But the caesura follows knelynge, though all B scribes take it to follow corps. This is the reading of Cx, with F providing crucial, if characteristically "improved" support. Our argument is that both F and beta reacted to the short line with its uncertain placement of the caesura: F added the adverb konyngly to provide b-verse alliteration, and beta took the Latin from the next line, dropping the detached b-verse of l. 154 as a consequence, perhaps taking it as a scribal gloss on the Latin. See note to next line. [Cristus resurgens · and he ros after]Bx.19.154: Cristus resurgens · and he ros after: See note to previous line. Beta has taken the Latin as the end of the line above, and perhaps assumed the English to be a scribal gloss, thus losing this whole line. But and he ros after is necessary to the narrative: "after that he rose, true man ...". F offers the reading of Cx with characteristic elaboration, extending the Latin quote and adding the adverb a-noon. For F's he, Cx reads it; see note to l. 151. Verrey man bifor hem alle · & forth with hem ȝedeBx.19.155: ȝede: In L the scribe has inserted he, bringing it into line with other beta mss. that have lost he in the line above, but Bx was probably without it, as suggested by the agreement of F and Cx. ¶ The iewes preyed hem peesBx.19.156: pees: F and Cx read of pees. In view of the variations of the b-verse in both F and Cx (see next note), we follow beta throughout the line. · & bisouȝte þe knyȝtesBx.19.156: & bisouȝte þe knyȝtes: F supplies alliteration with alle þo propre knyghtis, but this has no support from Cx, which reads & preyed þo knyhtes, suggesting that Bx may have avoided the repetition of the verb. Telle þe comune þat þere cam · a compaignye of his aposteles And bywicched hem as þei woke · & awey stolen it ¶ Ac Marie Magdeleyne · mette hym bi þe wey Goynge toward galile · in godhed &Bx.19.160: &: F and the X family of C repeat the preposition in, but beta and the P family omit it. manhed And lyuesBx.19.161: lyues: The adjectival gen. "alive" (only here in the poem) causes scribes difficulty, but it is supported by Cx. & lokynge · & sheBx.19.161: she: F has he for "she", as in the next line; see Introduction IV.1. The X family of C omit the pronoun. aloude cryde In eche a compaignye þere she cam · cristus resurgens Þus cam it out þat cryst ouer-cam · rekeuered & lyued Sic oportet cristum pati & intrare &c ·Bx.19.164-5: These two lines are omitted by F but are in Cx. For þatBx.19.165: þat: MWHmCO supply a second þat; only LCrG are without it (the line is lost in F). A few C mss. also have þat þat, but it seems clear that Cx had þat. wommen witeth · may nouȝte wel be conseille ¶ Peter parceyued alBx.19.166: al: Inserted by the L scribe and omitted by MCr, but supported by Cx. þis · & pursued after Bothe iames & Iohan · Ihesu forBx.19.167: for: Secure for Bx, but not in Cx. to seke Tadde & ten mo · with Thomas of ynde And as alle þise wise wyes · weren togideres In an hous al bishette · & her dore ybarred Cryst cam in & al closed · bothe dore & ȝates To peter & to his aposteles · and seyde pax vobis And toke Thomas by þe hande · and tauȝte hym to grope And fele with his fyngres · his flesshelich herte ¶ Thomas touched it · & with his tonge seyde Deus meus & dominus meusBx.19.176: Deus meus & dominus meus: CrF reverse the nouns to the order of John 20.28 perhaps as a correction of Bx. Cf. lorde ... god in the next line. Cx also has the Vulgate order. F's additional b-verse gives a good line, but has no support from Cx. Thow art my lorde I bileue · god lorde ihesuBx.19.177: F's b-verse is not supported by Cx. Þow deydest & deth þoledest · and deme shalt vs alleBx.19.178: F's variants are not supported by Cx. And now art lyuynge & lokyngeBx.19.179: F's a-verse is not supported by Cx. · & laste shalt euere ¶ Crist carped þanne · and curteislich seyde Thomas for þow trowest þis · & trewliche bileuest it Blessed mote þow be · & be shalt for euere And blessed mote þeiBx.19.183: þei: Beta evidently had þei alle, obscuring the parallel with the previous a-verse, but GF are supported by Cx. be · in body & in soule That neuere shal se me in siȝte · as þow dosteBx.19.184: doste: This must be the reading of Bx, though it does not alliterate. Cr reads hast, while O alone has seest, the reading of Cx, presumably by conjecture. Cf. l. 156 where Bx again seems to avoid repetition of the verb. nouthe And lellich bileuen al þis · I loue hem & blesse hem Beati qui non viderunt [& crediderunt]Bx.19.186: & crediderunt: Hm, beta4 and F are supported by Cx. It may be, of course, that scribes expanded beta's abbreviation of the quotation. ¶ And whan þis dede was done · dobest he tauȝteBx.19.187: tauȝte: Neither beta or F took sone is supported by Cx, which reads thouhte. But tauȝte makes excellent sense; see Burrow (2009), 93 n. 15. And ȝaf Pieres power · and pardoun he graunted To alle manereBx.19.189: manere: The majority of C mss. read maner of, as do CrCF, but the best texts of the X family read maner. F commonly expands to manere of, as in the following line. men · mercy & forȝyfnes Hym myȝte men toBx.19.190: Hym myȝte men to: LC are supported by the best mss. of the X family of C. Other scribes in both traditions take various actions to avoid a construction they fail to understand, as do KD (pp. 120-1) and RK (pp. 134-5). But ll. 188-90 mean: "He gave Piers power, and granted pardon, mercy and forgiveness to all sorts; [granted] him power to absolve men of all kinds of sins." For an interpretation of the archetypal reading see Barney (2006), 128. assoille · of alle manereBx.19.190: manere: F again has manere of, as do CrG, not supported by Cx. synnes In couenant þat þei come · & knewlecheBx.19.191: knewleche: The past tense in WHm is actually the reading of Cx, though a few C mss. have the present, as Bx clearly does. to paye To pieres pardon þe plowman · redde quod debes ¶ Thus hath pieres powere · be his pardoun payed To bynde &Bx.19.194: &: L alone has & to. C mss. are divided, with the X family reading & to. vnbynde · bothe here & ellesBx.19.194: elles: Agreement of LF, together with Cx, secures this as the Bx reading against elles-where in other B mss. And assoille men of alle synnes · saue of dette one ¶ Anone after an heigh · vp in-to heuene He went & wonyeth þere · & wil come atte laste AndBx.19.198: And: LG have And wil, without support from Cx. rewarde hym riȝte wel · þat reddit quod debet Payeth parfitly [·] as pure trewthe wolde And what persone payeth it nouȝt · punysshen he þinkethBx.19.200: Cx offers no support for F's b-verse. And demen hem at domes-daye · bothe quikke & dedBx.19.201: Again F has a unique b-verse, which is presumably designed to offer a more regular alliterative pattern. Þe gode to þe godhede · & to grete ioye And wikke[de]Bx.19.203: wikkede: The form in all mss. except L is supported by Cx. For similar variation with wikke, see Bx.5.231. to wonye · in wo with-outen ende [¶]Bx.19.204: ¶: The paraph is in WHmCF, and is entirely appropriate. Þus conscience of crist · & of þe crosse carped And conseilled me to knele þer-to · & þanne come me þouȝte One spiritus paraclitus · to Pieres & toBx.19.206: to (2): Not in F; beta has the support of most C mss. his felawes In lyknesse of a liȝtnynge · heBx.19.207: he: Omitted in some C mss., but none support F's &. lyȝte on hem alle Bx.19.208-11: F drops four lines through eyeskip on hem alle. The lines are in Cx. And made hem konne & knowe · alkyn langages [¶]Bx.19.209: ¶: In L there is an unrubricated paraph marker, missed because the scribe failed to leave a line-space. M has a line-space and HmC a paraph. I wondred what þat was · & wagged conscience And was afered ofBx.19.210: of: So beta (F out). Cx has for. the lyȝte · for in fyres lyknesse Spiritus paraclitus · ouer-spradde hem alle ¶ Quod conscience & kneled · þis is crystes messager And cometh fro þe grete god · &Bx.19.213: &: So beta, but dropped by F and Cx. grace is his name Knele now quod conscience · & if þow canst synge Welcome hym & worshipe hym · with veni creator spiritus ¶ Thanne songe IBx.19.216: Thanne songe I: Cx begins And y sange. F drops this and the following line. þat songe · andBx.19.216: and: Dropped by WHm, but supported by Cx. so did many hundreth And cryden with conscience · help vs god of grace And þanneBx.19.218: þanne: Dropped by F but supported by the X family of C. The P family begins Tho. bigan grace · to go with piers plowman And conseilled hym & conscience · þe comune to sompne For I wil deleBx.19.220: dele: Omitted by F, but supported by Cx. to-daye · & dyuydeBx.19.220: dyuyde: Supported by Cx against the variants in WHm and in F. grace To alkynnes creatures · þat kanBx.19.221: kan: LF supported by Cx and alliteration. Beta1 (including M) corrupts to han. h[is]Bx.19.221: his: F is supported by Cx. Beta alters to pl. her for concord, as do a few C mss. fyue wittes Tresore to lyue by · to her lyues endeBx.19.222: Beta4 omits 222b-231a by eyeskip. And wepne to fyȝte with · þat wil neure faille For antecryst & his · al þe worlde shal greue And acombre þe conscience · but if cryst þe helpe ¶ And fals prophetes fele · flatereres & glosers Shullen come & be curatoures · ouer kynges & erlisBx.19.227: erlis: F's knyghtis has no support from Cx. And pryde shalBx.19.228: pryde shal: F and Cx read þanne shal pryde. be pope · prynceBx.19.228: prynce: F and Cx read & prince. of holycherche Coueytyse & vnkyndenesse · cardinales hym to lede For-þi quod grace er I go · I wil gyue ȝow tresore And wepne to fiȝte with · whan antecryst ȝow assailleth And gaf eche man a grace · to gyeBx.19.232: gye: As in Cx. CrW have gide; beta4 reads go. with hym-seluen That ydelnesse encombre hym nouȝt · envyeBx.19.233: envye: F and Cx have ne envyȝe. ne pryde Diuisiones graciarum sunt &c · ¶ SomeBx.19.235: Some: Secure for Bx. The X family of C reads Som men, the P family To somme men (cf. Cr). he ȝaf wytte · with wordes to shewe Witte to wynne her lyflode withBx.19.236: The a-verse is revised in Cx, avoiding the repetition of witte. · as þe worlde asketh As prechoures & prestes [·] & prentyce of lawe Þei lelly to lyue · by laboure of tonge And bi witte to wissen other · as grace hem wolde teche ¶ And some he kenned crafte · & kunnynge of syȝte With sellyng & buggynge · her bylyfBx.19.241: bylyf: "subsistence". MCr, Hm (altered) and F read liflode. Many C scribes also have difficulty with the word. to wynne And some he lered to laboureBx.19.242: laboure: Beta drops 242b and 243a through eyeskip (laboure ... labour). F is supported by Cx. [· on londe and on water And lyue by þat labour] · a lele lyf & aBx.19.243: a (2): Omitted by beta4 and F, but supported by Cx. trewe And somme he tauȝte to tilie · to dyche & to theccheBx.19.244: thecche: Beta4 has hegge, F has þresche, both probably misreadings. Most C mss. read to teche and to coke, but some make the obvious correction of teche to theche. See KD, pp. 174-5; RK, p. 125. To wynne with her lyflode · by lore of his techyngeBx.19.245: Cx has an entirely different line here. And some to dyuyne &Bx.19.246: &: M's and to is shared with some of the X family of C. diuide · noumbres to kenne And some to compas craftilyBx.19.247: And some to compas craftily: Cx omits some and craftily. · & coloures to make And some to se & to saye · what shulde bifalle Bothe of wel & of wo · telle it or it felleBx.19.249: telle it or it felle: In Cx the b-verse is and be ywaer bifore. As Astronomyenes þorw astronomye · & philosophres wyse ¶ And some to ryde & toBx.19.251: ryde & to: Supported by the P family of C, while Hm and beta4 have ryde and summe to as in the X family. F's rekne & has no support. recoeureBx.19.251: recoeure: So L; cf. F's rekewre. See MED recuren (Lat recurare), formally different from MED recoveren (OFr), as in the other mss. · þat vnriȝtfullyBx.19.251: vnriȝtfully: Supported by Cx against wrongfully in W. The odd riȝtfully in Hm perhaps reflects puzzlement with the ironic reference to foluyles lawes in l. 253. was wonne He wissed hemBx.19.252: hem: Cx reads men. wynneBx.19.252: wynne: As in Cx, against to wynne in W, with to inserted in O. F omits the line. it aȝeyne · þorw wightnesseBx.19.252: wightnesse: Supported by Cx; misunderstood by HmC (wytnesse) and G (ryghtyovsnes). of handes Bx.19.253: L alone has a paraph at the top of the page. Presumably it was meant to precede And in the next line.And fecchen it fro fals men · with foluyles lawes [¶]Bx.19.254: ¶: The paraph, misplaced at the head of the previous line in L, is supported by WHm. Cf. the parallels in ll. 235, 240 and 251; though apparently not ll. 242 (W only), 244 and 246 (WHm only). And some he leredBx.19.254: lered: CrHmGF read lerned, a common variation; cf. e.g. Bx.1.148, 153, and l. 256 below. C mss. also vary. to lyue · in longynge to ben hennes In pouerte & in p[acie]nceBx.19.255: pacience: HmF are supported by Cx, though three C mss. read penaunce. The beta reading must be penaunce, so how did Hm come by the right reading? Both penaunce and pacience are frequently collocated with pouerte; cf. especially Bx.14.231 and 19.67. · to preye for alle crystene And alle he lered to be lele · & eche a crafte loue other And forbad hem alle debate · þat none were amonge hemBx.19.257: In Cx the line reads "Ne no boest ne debaet be among hem alle" (RK.21.251). For the suggestion of Cx revision here and in ll. 259-60, see Barney (2006), 143. Thowgh some be clenner þan somme · ȝe se wel quod grace Þat he þat vseth þe fairest crafte · to þe foulest I couth haue put hymBx.19.259-60: Replaced by one line in Cx: "That all craft and connyng cam of my ȝefte" (RK.21.253).Bx.19.259: Followed in F by four sanctimonious lines with defective alliteration. See KD, p. 223. Þinketh alleBx.19.260: alle: F has alle now. The line is omitted by beta4. quod grace · þat grace cometh of my ȝifte Loke þat none lakke other · but loueth alleBx.19.261: alle: Not in Cx. as bretheren ¶ And whoBx.19.262: who: Cx reads he. þat moste maistries can · be myldest of berynge And crouneth conscience kynge · & maketh crafte ȝowre stuward And after craftes conseille · clotheth ȝow & fede For I make Pieres þeBx.19.265: þe: GF are without it. C mss. vary. plowman · my procuratour & my reve And Regystrere to receyue · redde quod debes My proworBx.19.267: prowor: "overseer". Supported by Cx, though some scribes stumble over it. & my plowman · Piers shal ben on erthe And for to tulye treuthe · a teme shal he haue ¶ Grace gaue Piers a teme · foureBx.19.269: foure: W supplies of, as does the P family of C. gret oxen Þat on was Luke a large beste · and a lowe-chered And marke & mathew þe þrydde · myghty bestes bothe And ioigned to hem one Iohan · most gentil of alle Þe prys nete of Piers plow · passyng alle other ¶ AndBx.19.274: And: F has & ȝit; Cx has And sethe. grace gaue pieres · of his goodnesseBx.19.274: gaue pieres · of his goodnesse: The word-order in F, of his goodnesse / gaf peers is supported by Cx. It is perhaps a revision, but could be an error in Cx, or in beta influenced by l. 269. See RK, p. 123, who adopt the beta reading. foure stottis Al þat his oxen eryed · þey to harweBx.19.275: harwe: MCrF supply it, as do a couple of C mss. after On hyȝte Austyne · & ambrose an other Gregori þe grete clerke · & Ierome þe gode Þise foure þe feithe to teche · folweth pieres teme And harwed in an handwhile · al holy scripture Wyth two [aithes]Bx.19.280: aithes: This is the reading of Cx. MED eithe (OE egþe, "harrow") records no other instance. F preserves it in the form hayȝtes. Beta and some C mss. have the much easier synonym harwes, picked up from the verb in the previous line. þat þei hadde · an olde & a newe Id est vetus testamentum & nouumBx.19.281: nouum: F's addition of testamentum has no support from Cx. ¶ And grace gaue [Pieres]Bx.19.282: Pieres: Easily lost in beta. F is supported by Cx. greynes · cardynalesBx.19.282: cardynales: Beta supplies the definite article, but it is not supported by F or Cx. vertues And sewe itBx.19.283: sewe it: WHm alter to sew hem on grounds of concord; F reads he sew it. Neither has support from Cx. in mannes soule · & sithen heBx.19.283: he: Hm and beta4 omit as do some C mss., but Cx has it. tolde her names Bx.19.284: Only HmF mark a new paragraph here, corresponding to those at the other members of the numbered set, ll. 289, 297 and 306.Spiritus prudencie · þe firste seed hyȝte AndBx.19.285: And: Perhaps a beta error. F and Cx read less obvious Þat. who-so eet þatBx.19.285: þat: F's of þat frut has no support from C, though the P family has þat seede. · ymagyne he shulde Ar he did any dede · deuyse wel þe ende And lerned men a ladel bugge · with a longe stele ÞatBx.19.288: Þat: LMCrCG are supported by Cx against And in WHm, To in O, and For he in F. cast for to kepeBx.19.288: kepe: So Bx, though Cx has kele, "cool". a crokke · toBx.19.288: to (2): F and Cx read &. saueBx.19.288: saue: F repeats keepe to strengthen the aaa/xx alliteration, as do two C scribes. þe fatte abouen ¶ The secounde seed hiȝteBx.19.289: hiȝte: So Cx, against F's þat he sew was. O is absent from this line to l. 369. [·] spiritus temperancie He þat ete of þat seed · hadde suche a kynde Shulde neuere mete ne [myschief]Bx.19.291: myschief: i.e. starvation. Beta is understandably puzzled and replaces with mochel drynke. F is supported by Cx. · make hym to swelle Ne sholde no scorner ne scoldeBx.19.292: ne scolde: F and Cx omit, to the detriment of the alliteration. · oute of skyl hym brynge Ne wynnynge ne weltheBx.19.293: welthe: W's wele is not supported by Cx. Beta4 drops the line. · of wordeliche ricchesse Waste worde of ydelnesse · ne wykked speche meue Shulde no curyous clothe · comen on hys rugge Ne no mete in his mouth · þat maister Iohan spiced ¶ The thridde seed þat Pieres sewe · was spiritus fortitudinis And who-so eet of þat seed [·] hardy wasBx.19.298: was: The beta reading is supported by Cx. WHm have was he; F has he was. eure To suffre al þat god sent · sykenesse & angres Myȝte no lesynge[s] ne lyereBx.19.300: lesynges ne lyere: Only L has sg. lesynge, which could nevertheless be right. For ne, F reads of. C mss. have instead lyare with lesynges, though X and three other mss. have sg. lesynge. · ne losse of worldely catel Maken hym for any mournynge · þat he nas merye in soule And bolde & abydynge · bismeres to suffre And pl[e]yethBx.19.303: pleyeth: "plead in court", MED pleien v. (2), from ple. LCr playeth is a misunderstanding of the uncommon verb. F has the easier and unambiguous verb pleted. Cx has plede, which could be either present or past tense. See RK, p. 123 and n. 42; Barney (2006), 151. al with pacyence · & parce michi domine And coueredBx.19.304: couered: CrCGF have the present tense, but Cx has the past. hym vnder conseille · of catoun þe wyse Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique ¶ The fierthe seed þat pieres sewe · was spiritus iusticie And he þat eet of þat seed · shulde be euereBx.19.307: euere: Cx has euene. trewe With god &Bx.19.308: With god &: F's & of god is not supported by Cx. nouȝt agast · but of gyle one For gyle goth so pryuely · þat good faith other-while May nouȝte ben aspyed · forBx.19.310: for: Cx has thorw. spiritus iusticie ¶Bx.19.311: ¶: LWHm have a paraph, not entirely appropriately in the middle of the account of the fourth seed. That it was in beta at least is further suggested by M's misplacement of a paraph marker at the next line, which is at the top of the leaf. Spiritus iusticie · spareth nouȝte to spilleBx.19.311: KD, p. 119, and RK, p. 133, detect misdivision and padding in this and the next two lines in both Bx and Cx. Hem þat ben gulty · & forto correcteBx.19.312-13: Among C mss., X has "Hem þat ben gulty · and forto corecte the kyng / And the kyng falle in any a gulte", while P divides the line after corecte. Þe Kynge ȝif he falleBx.19.313: falle: F's a-verse has no support from Cx. See previous note. · in gylte or in trespasse For counteth he no kynges wrattheBx.19.314: F's a-verse has no support from Cx. · whan he in courte sitteth To demen as a domes-man · adradde was he neure Noither of duke ne of deth · þat he ne dede þeBx.19.316: þe: So LF and Cx. Dropped by beta1. lawe For present or for preyere · or any prynces lettres He dede equite to alle · euene-forth his powereBx.19.318: powere: Cx reads knowyng. ¶ Thise foure sedes pieres sewe · and sitthe he did hem harwe Wyth oldeBx.19.320: olde: F twice adds the definite article in the a-verse, without support from Cx. lawe and newe lawe · þat loue myȝte wexe Amonge þ[ise]Bx.19.321: þise: Uncertain. F is supported by Cx. LMCrCG have þe; WHm have þo. foure vertues · and vices destroye ¶Bx.19.322: ¶: The paraph is appropriate, though indicated in LM only. F begins &, but For is supported by Cx. For comunelich in contrees · kammokes & wedes Fouleth þe fruite in þe felde · þere þei growe togyderes And so don vices · vertues worthyBx.19.324: worthy: In Cx this reads forþi quod Peres, and it is clear that Bx has misdivided the line. F characteristically expands a short line. Quod Piers harweth alle þat kunneth kynde witte · bi conseille of þis doctours And tulyeth after her techynge · þe cardinale vertues ¶ Aȝeines þi greynes quod grace · bigynneth for to ripe Ordeigne þe an hous PiersBx.19.328: Piers: So Cx. Probably beta read quod Piers (picked up from the following line), retained by LMCr, with WHm making an obvious correction by dropping quod, and beta4 dropping both words. F moves Peers to the beginning of the line. · to herberwe in þi cornes ¶ By godBx.19.329: god: F misunderstands as genitive. Beta is supported by Cx. grace quod Piers · ȝe moten gyueBx.19.329: gyue: F and Cx read gyve me. tymbre And ordeyne þat hous · ar ȝe hennes wende ¶ And grace gaue hym þe crosse · withBx.19.331: with: F's & is not supported by Cx. þe croune of þornes That cryst vpon caluarye · for mankynde on pynedBx.19.332: on pyned: Beta is supported by Cx against F's kawhte. And of his baptesme & blode · þat he bledde on Rode He made a maner morter · &Bx.19.334: &: F omits; beta is supported by Cx. mercy it hiȝte And þere-with grace bigan · to make a good foundement And watteled it and walledBx.19.336: watteled ... walled: Reversed in MCr, without support from Cx. F rewrites the line. it · with his peynesBx.19.336: peynes: Supported by Cx against W's sg. and F's woundis. & his passioun And of al holywrit · he madeBx.19.337: made: Supported by Cx. F substitutes wroghte to alliterate with writ. a rofe after And called þat hous vnite · holicherche on englisshe And whan þis dede was done · grace deuised A carte hyȝte cristendome · to carye [home] pieresBx.19.340: home pieres: As in Cx. Beta drops home while F drops pieres (but supplies it in the next line), perhaps both simplifying for metrical reasons. sheues And gaf hym caples to his carte · contricioun & confessioun And made presthode haywarde · þe while hym-self went As wyde as þe worlde is · with pieres to tulye treuthe [And þe [londe] of bileue · þe lawe of holychirche]Bx.19.344: The line is preserved only by F, but it is in Cx. For londe as in Cx, F reads loore, but cf. londe of longynge Bx.11.8. F also supplies & to begin the b-verse, but Cx does not have it. There seems nothing to have prompted beta's omission, except that the line was at the end of the paragraph, so it may be an addition in C. ¶ Now is Pieres to þe plow · &Bx.19.345: &: Secure for Bx, but not in Cx. pruyde it aspyde And gadered hym a grete oest · to greuenBx.19.346: to greuen: So LMC, and presumably beta. W has for to greven, and Hm for greuyn. CrG, reading to greue him, misunderstand the construction with the object in the next line. F, making the same mistake, has greven hym. Cx reads simply greue(n), with a few mss. adding to or hym. It is likely enough that Bx read greuen, with scribes reacting to the short b-verse. he þinketh Conscience and al crystene · and cardinale vertues Blowe hem doune & breke hem · & bite atwo þe moresBx.19.348: þe mores: "roots". F rewrites the b-verse as & beetyn doun here maneres. The P family of C alters to rotes. And sent forth surquydou[re]sBx.19.349: surquydoures: "arrogant one" (for this form in F see MED surquidrous), which both F and Cx interpret as plural (but cf. l. 351), and so read sergawntys in place of seriaunt. Beta has the commoner form surquidous. See Schmidt (2008), 460. · his seriaunt of armes And his spye spille-loue · one speke yuel byhynde Þise two come to conscience · and to crystene peple And tolde hem tydynges · þat tyne þei shulde þe sedes That Pieres þere hadde ysowen · þe cardynal vertuesBx.19.353: In C, the X family begins That sire Peres sewe. The P family ends the previous line with sholde and therefore begins The seedes that syre Peers sewe, a satisfactory a-verse. Bx must also have been defective as a result of mislineation, and perhaps the a-verse read That Piers sewe, with beta and F expanding in different ways. See Schmidt (2008), 460. And Pieres berne worth broke · & þei þat ben in vnite Shulle come out &Bx.19.355: & (1): So beta and Cx. Dropped in F, so that conscience is a term of address rather than part of a group subject of Shal in l. 357. conscience · & ȝowre two caples Confessioun & contricioun · and ȝowre carte þeBx.19.356: þe: F has of; most C mss. omit. byleue Shal be coloured so queyntly · and keuered vnder owreBx.19.357: owre: So L and most beta mss. Cr has your, perhaps from the line above, while WF omit, perhaps to shorten a heavy b-verse. There is the same variation in C mss., with most reading oure. sophistrie Þat consci[ence]Bx.19.358: conscience: L reads conscioun, with the line marked for correction. Cx supports beta's version of the line; F tries to improve sense and alliteration. shal nouȝte · knowe by contricioun Ne by confessioun · who is cristene or hethen Ne no maner marchaunt · þat with moneye deleth Where he wynne wyth riȝteBx.19.361: riȝte: CrF follow this with or, but it is not in Cx. · with wronge or with vsure ¶ With suche coloures & queyntiseBx.19.362: & queyntise: Supported by Cx against MCr and coueityse and F y-peyntid. · cometh pryde yarmed With þe lorde þat lyueth after · þe luste of his body To wasten on welfare · and onBx.19.364: on (2): This is the beta reading, though W has in, as do most C mss., and G omits. F's b-verse wikkednesse he meyntiþ has no support. wykked kepyngeBx.19.364: kepynge: There is no support for W's lyuyng. Al þe worlde in a while · þorw owre witte quod pruyde ¶ Quod conscience to alle crystene þo · my conseille is toBx.19.366: to (2): Cx has instead we or þat we. F's b-verse is y conseyle þe to wende. wende Hastiliche in-toBx.19.367: in-to: Beta is supported by the P family of C, but F's to has support from the X family. vnyte · & holde we vs þere And preye we þat a pees were · in Piers berne þe plowman For witterly I wote wel · we beth nouȝte of strengthe Bx.19.370: O resumes. To gone agayne pryde · but grace were with vs ¶ And þanne cam kynde wytte · conscience to teche And cryde & comaunded · al crystene peple For toBx.19.373: For to: Secure for Bx; Cx begins To. deluen a dycheBx.19.373: a dyche: LMWG, and so presumably the beta reading, supported by the X family of C. HmCOF have instead and dike/dych (Cr and digge). The P family of C has and dike a deop diche. · depe abouteBx.19.373: aboute: Beta is supported by the X family of C. F's alle abowte is supported by the P family. vnite That holycherche stode in vniteBx.19.374: in vnite: This makes sense as a pun, "united". F's strong develops the sense of this, looking forward to l. 376 and adding alliteration with stoode. Cx reads instead in holinesse, alluding to the moat that is to be dug, but this is perhaps picked up from RK.21.380 (= Bx.19.392). · as it a pyle [were]Bx.19.374: were: L omits, with the line marked for correction. For Bx a pyle were, Cx reads were a pyle. ¶ Conscience comaunded þo · al crystene to delue And make a muche mote · þat myȝte ben a strengthe To helpe holycherche · & hem þat it kepeth ¶ Thanne alkyn crystene · saue comune wommen Repenteden & refused synne · saue they one And fals men flateresBx.19.380: flateres: The form in LF against flaterers in others, as also at Bx.2.168 and 13.450. See MED flatour. This line is not in Cx. · vsureres and theues Lyeres and questmongeresBx.19.381: Lyeres and questmongeres: Cx has instead A sysour and a sompnour. For questmongere see Alford (1988), 124. · þat were forsworen ofte Wytynge and willefully · with þe false helden And for syluer were forswore · sothely þei wist itBx.19.383: F's puzzling b-verse has no support from Cx. ¶ Þere nas no crystene creature · þat kynde witte hadde Saue schrewes one · suche as I spak ofBx.19.385: Cx drops this line. F characteristically expands a short line. That he ne halpe a quantite · holynesse to wexe Somme þorw bedes byddynge · and someBx.19.387: some: In beta and the P family of C, but not in F or the X family. þorwBx.19.387: þorw (2): Secure for Bx, but Cr and Cx have bi, carrying the b-verse alliteration. pylgrymageBx.19.387: pylgrimage: Only W has the plural. It is, however, the reading of Cx. And other pryue penaunceBx.19.388: penaunce: For variation with and without <-s>, see note to Bx.14.211. There is similar variation in C mss. MCr have peines. F reverses a- and b-verses. · and some þorw penyes delynge ¶ And þanne welledBx.19.389: welled: The reading walmede in F suggests that Bx might have had the form walled (MED wallen v.(1)), as in Cx. water · for wikked werkes Egerlich ernynge · out of mennes eyen Clennesse of þeBx.19.391: of þe: WHm repeat out of from the line above. comune · & clerkes clene lyuynge Made vnite holicherche · in holynesse to stondeBx.19.392: to stonde: So beta. Cx is without to, as Bx may have been, since in F the b-verse reads holylyche stoonde. [¶]Bx.19.393: ¶: The paraph is in WHm, with a line-space in M. I care nouȝte quod conscience · þough pryde come nouthe Þe lorde of luste shal be letted · al þis lente I hope Comeþ quod conscience · ȝe cristene and dyneth Þat han laboured lelly · al þis lente tyme Here is bred yblessed · and goddes body þer-vnderBx.19.397: þer-vnder: F, reading þere-Inne, is perhaps uncomfortable with the theological use, MED ther-under 2 (b). Grace þorw goddes worde · gaue PieresBx.19.398: Pieres: Cx has Peres the ploughman. power MyȝtesBx.19.399: Myȝtes: Beta2 and F begin And, with support from the P family of Cx. Though the noun is the more obvious sg. in CrCF, as in Cx, beta had the plural. to maken it · & men to ete it afterBx.19.399: to ete it after: Cx reads for to eten it. In helpe of her hele · onys in a moneth Or as ofte as þey hadden nede · þo þat hadde ypayed To pieres pardoun þe plowman · redde quod debes ¶ How quod al þe comune · þow conseillest vs to ȝelde Al þat we owen any wyȝte · arBx.19.404: ar: As in the P family of C. F's er þat has support from the X family. we go to housel ¶ That is my conseille quod conscience [·] & cardynale vertues [Or]Bx.19.406: Or: "Or, in other words, ...". F agrees with Cx on much the harder reading. Probably beta altered it, as do a few C mss. Beta has support for the rest of the a-verse. vche man forȝyue other · and þat wyl þe pater noster Et dimitte nobis debita nostra · &c · And so to ben assoilled · & sithen benBx.19.408: ben (2): Supported by most of the P family of C. Beta4 and F repeat to been, with support from the X family. Perhaps that is more likely to be scribal. houseled ¶ Ȝe bawe quod a brewere · I wil nouȝt be reuled Bi ihesu for al ȝowre ianglynge · withBx.19.410: with: Cx has aftur, as in the next line. F's form of the line is not supported. spiritus iusticie Ne after conscience by cryste · whil I canBx.19.411: whil I can: C mss. vary between y couth and for y couthe. F's b-verse is not supported. selle Bothe dregges & draffe · and drawe itBx.19.412: it: This is the beta reading; F's b-verse is too different to reveal alpha. O makes a sensible correction by dropping the pronoun (since the object is in the following line), and thereby agrees with Cx. Cf. l. 346 for a similar instance of scribes reading line by line. at on hole Þikke ale and þinne ale · forBx.19.413: for: Not in F. Cx has and. Perhaps both for and and are scribal expansions. þat is my kynde And nouȝte hakke after holynesse · holde þi tonge conscience Of spiritus iusticie · þow spekest moche an ydelBx.19.415: F rewrites the b-verse to increase the alliteration. ¶ Caytyue quod conscience · cursed wrecche Vnblessed artow brewere · but if þe godBx.19.417: þe god: F reverses to god þe, agreeing with the P family of C. helpe But þow lyue by loreBx.19.418: lore: F adds the definite article, as do some of the P family of C. · of spiritus iusticie Þe chief seed þat Pieres sewe · ysaued worstow neure But conscience þe comune fedeBx.19.420: þe comune fede: "feed the people". The beta reading (with GO corrupting fede to seede). Beta is supported by the P family of C. F's reading be þyn comoun foode makes good sense addressed to the brewer, but it is exactly paralleled in only one C ms. The X family is divided, with one group reading þy comune fode and the other be comune fode. KD and RK emend to be þy comunes; see the discussion in RK, p. 126, where they argue that the adj. comoun "did not seem to have been used in the exact sense required, namely `customary, day-to-day'". For further evaluation of the readings, see Barney (2006), 167. See notes to next line. · and cardynale vertues Leue itBx.19.421: it: F's me has no support from Cx. wel þei benBx.19.421: þei ben: The beta reading, referring to the people (comune, l. 420), treated as pl. also in l. 465. F has þou art addressed to the brewer, continuing the sense of its previous line. Cx's has instead we been, which avoids any difficulty. See note to l. 420. loste · bothe lyf & soule ¶ Thanne is manyBx.19.422: many: Among B mss. only L omits a, but L has the support of most C mss. man ylost [·] quod a lewed vycory I am a curatour of holykyrke · and come neure in my tyme Man to me þat me couthBx.19.424: to me þat me couth: F simplifies to þat cowde me, but beta is supported by Cx (although the P family drop the second me). telle · of cardinale vertues Or þat acounted conscience · at aBx.19.425: at a: Beta is supported by some C mss., where at is perhaps added to fill out a b-verse shortened by loss of the final phrase (see next note). However, Cx seems to have been without the preposition, as F. cokkes fether or an hennesBx.19.425: or an hennes: Omitted by F and some C mss., but in Cx. See previous note. I knewe neure cardynal · þat he ne cam fro þe pope And we clerkes whan þey come · for her comunes payeth For her pelure andBx.19.428: her pelure and: Lost in F, but supported by Cx. her palfreyes mete · & piloures þat hem folweth Þe comune clamat cotidie · eche a man toBx.19.429: to: WHmF have til, but it is not supported by Cx. other Þe contre is þe curseder · þatBx.19.430: þat: F shares the easier þere with the P family of C. Note repeated þere in the next line. cardynales come Inne And þere they ligge and lenge mosteBx.19.431: moste: In MCrCGO the punctuation follows lenge, with moste as adj. qualifying lecherye, but with the punctuation in LWHmF it is an adverb. · lecherye þere regneth Bx.19.432: Note that WHmCF have a paraph.For-þi quod þis vicori · be verrey god I wolde That no cardynal come · amonge þe comune peple But in her holynesse · holdenBx.19.434: holden: Supported by most C mss. against past tense helden in CrWCG. hem stille At Auynoun amonge iuwesBx.19.435: iuwes: Beta has þe iuwes, but the definite article is easily added and the generalised sense as in F and Cx is appropriate. · cum sancto sanctus eris &c Or in Rome as here rule wole · þe reliques to kepe And þow conscience in kynges courte · & shuldest neure come þennes And grace þat þow gredest so of · gyourBx.19.438: gyour: F's sholde be gyȝere is not supported by Cx. The P family has were gyour. of alle clerkes And PieresBx.19.439: Pieres: F moves with his newe plowh to the b-verse and adds plowman for the alliteration, but it is not in Cx. with his newe plow · & eke with his oldeBx.19.439: eke with his olde: F has þe olde (though with also in the a-verse). In C the X family has also his olde; the P family ends the line hus olde boþe. Emperour of al þe worlde · þat alle men were cristene ¶ Inparfyt is þat pope · þat al pepleBx.19.441: peple: L only, with all others adding þe. Quite possibly L dropped the article on the model of the previous b-verse. However, the X family of C is also without þe. Instead of peple, CrW read the world (cf. l. 440). shulde helpe And sendeth hem þat sleeth suche · as he shulde saue And wel worth piers þe plowman · þat [pur]suethBx.19.443: pursueth: Both Bx and Cx. In L it is altered by erasure to sueth. god in doyng Qui pluit super iustos · & iniustos at ones And sent þe sonne to saue · a cursed mannes tilthe As bryȝte as to þe best man · &Bx.19.446: &: Evidently the beta reading, though CrW agree with F and Cx in reading or, which is equally possible. to þe beste woman Riȝte so Pieres þe plowman · peyneth hym to tulye Bx.19.448-50: F omits these three lines. See note to l. 450. As wel for a wastour · & wenchesBx.19.448: & wenches: The beta reading (F out). Cx has or for a wenche. of þe stuwes As for hym-self & his seruauntz · saue he is firste yserued [So blessed be Pieres þe plowman · þat peyneth hym to tulye]Bx.19.450: This line from Cx (RK.21.437) is not in any ms. of B. We presume it must have been in Bx to account for the loss in F of ll. 448-50 by eye-skip on peers plowhman peyneþ hym to tylye. It is important to note that three C mss. make the same error. On this argument, beta retained ll. 448-9 but skipped the following line thinking he had already copied it. So KD, p. 90 ("omission caused by homoteleuton"). And trauailleth & tulyeth · for a tretour also sore As for a trewe tydy man · al tymes ylyke And worshiped be he þat wrouȝte al · bothe good & wykke And suffreth þat synful be · til some-tyme þat þei repente And god amende þe pope · þat pileth holykirke And cleymeth bifor þe kynge · to be keper ouer crystene And counteth nouȝt þough crystene ben · culled & robbed And fynt folke to fyȝte · and cristene blode to spille Aȝeyne þe olde lawe & newe laweBx.19.459: newe lawe: So beta; F reads þe newe, losing the alliteration. C mss. have several variants. · as Luke [bereth] witnessBx.19.459: bereth witness: For the b-verse exactly as in F and Cx, see Bx.9.78 and 11.285, and cf. 2.38, 7.93, 10.367, 11.236, 11.263 etc. which all end "X bears witness". Beta has þer-of witnesseth. Non occides michi vindictam &cBx.19.460: F's completion of the quotation is not supported by Cx. It semeth by so ·Bx.19.461: Scribes show uncertainty about the placing of punctuation, with L having it after both semeth and so, F after so and hym-selue, and HmGO after hym-sylf. Our punctuation follows WMC. hym-self hadd hisBx.19.461: his: OF add owne to fill out a b-verse shortened by mispunctuation; see previous note. It is not in Cx. wille That heBx.19.462: That he: Beta is supported by the P family of C with Þat he or Þat hym. F begins He; the X family begin He or Hym. ne reccheth riȝte nouȝte · of alBx.19.462: al: The reading of beta; F's b-verse is too much altered to be sure of the alpha reading. The X family of C does not have the word; the P group has al þe oþer, as does O. þe remenaunte And cryst of his curteisye · þe cardinales saue And tourne her witte to wisdome · & to weleBx.19.464: wele: The beta reading, supported by the X family of C. The P family has welþe, as do WF. For the reverse situation see l. 293. See RK, p. 126, who defend welþe on the grounds it is less likely in context. ofBx.19.464: of: Cx has instead for þe. F's b-verse is not supported. soule For þe comune quod þis curatour [·] counten ful litel Þe conseille of conscience · or cardinale vertues But if þei sow[n]eBx.19.467: sowne: "relate to". F is supported by Cx. L's sowe is a simple misreading or mistranscription; the other beta mss. have forms of the verb "see". The verb is not used elsewhere in the B-text. as by syȝte · somwhat to wynnynge Of gyle ne of gabbynge · gyue þei neuere tale For spiritus prudencie · amonge þe peple is gyle And alle þo faire vertues · as vyces þei semeth EcheBx.19.471: Eche: Beta is supported by the P family of C. The X family begins For vche, giving partial support to F's For euerey. man sotileth a sleight · synne toBx.19.471: to: F is supported by Cx. Beta reads forto for the metre, as do a few C mss., but synne is disyllabic. Cf. Bx.2.177, 18.241, and see Duggan (1990), 175. hyde And coloureth it for a kunnynge · and a clene lyuynge ¶ Thanne loughe þere a lorde · & by þis liȝte sayde I halde it ryȝte & resoun · of my reue to take Al þat myne auditour [·] or elles my stuwarde Conseilleth me by her acounte · & my clerkes wrytynge ¶Bx.19.477: ¶: Supported only by LM. With spiritus intellectus · they sekeBx.19.477: seke: Beta's reading makes excellent sense and provides ax/ax alliteration. F has tooken, which is the reading of the P family of C and a few of the X family, but the X family reading appears to be cote as in XYU, meaningless in context (for the verb, meaning "clothe", see RK.3.181). Others of the X family alter this to cutt or counte. Probably, then, toke is also a conjectural revision of a Cx error. It makes poor sense, and Kane (2005) unconvincingly interprets it as MED tuken in the sense "find fault with". For objections, see the discussion in Barney (2006), 181. þe reues rolles And with spiritus fortitudinis · fecche [it] I woleBx.19.478: fecche it I wole: Apparently the beta reading, though L loses it (the line is marked for correction), and W adds after. F's reading is fanciful, but perhaps indicates dissatisfaction with a short b-verse. Cx has fecche hit wolle he null he. Schmidt (1995), 408 argues that Bx might have lost the last phrase, with the line then conjecturally repaired. ¶ And þanne come þere a kynge · & bi his croune seyde I am Kynge with croune · þe comune to reule And holykirke & clergye · fro cursed men to defendeBx.19.481: to defende: Supported by Cx. The b-verse is shortened by OF (dropping to), and by WHm (reading fende / fonde). And if me lakketh to lyue by · þe lawe wil I take it Þere I may hastlokest it haueBx.19.483: hastlokest it haue: Although the P family of C follows the order of Hm, the variants of CrGF are not supported. · for I am hed of lawe ForBx.19.484: For: Evidently the reading of Bx, though W And agrees with Cx. ȝe ben but membres · & I aboue alle And sith I am ȝowre aller hed · I am ȝowre aller hele And holycherche chief help · & chiftaigne of þe comune And what I take of ȝow two · I take it atteBx.19.487: atte: "at the", as usual in L. C mss. have at þe, at and of (cf. MCr). techynge Of spiritus iusticie [·]Bx.19.488: L places the punctuation after I. for I iugge ȝow alle So I mayBx.19.489: I may: Reversed by MCr, but supported by Cx. baldely be houseled · for I borwe neuere Ne craue of my comune · but as my kynde asketh ¶ In condicioun quod conscience · þat þow konneBx.19.491: konne: The reading of most C mss. RK adopt the minority reading þe comune. defende And rule þi rewme inBx.19.492: in (1): Supported by Cx against the easier reading by in MCrHmO. resoun · riȝt welBx.19.492: riȝt wel: Supported by Cx against easier in riȝt HmF. & in treuth [Þat þou þine askyng haue ·]Bx.19.493: Þat þou þine askyng haue: "(and on condition) that you take what you want (in the way the law decrees)". Though this may seem acceptable as a restoration of the authorial B reading, it is harder to justify as the reading of Bx. However, the argument is this. The beta a-verse seems obviously scribal: it lacks alliteration, partially repeats the previous a-verse, and has no support from Cx, which has That thow haue al thyn askyng. This gives reasonable support for F's reading, except for non-alliterating lykyng. In fact the scribe has written the word over an erasure, and we suppose he substituted a synonym to avoid the repetition of asken in the b-verse. The reading of Bx may, of course, been exactly that of Cx, with F reordering and omitting al. See RK, p. 127. as þiBx.19.493: þi: CrOF have þe. C mss. are also split, with þe in the P family. lawe asketh Omnia tua suntBx.19.494: tua sunt: F and Cx reverse the order. ad defendendum set non ad depredandum Þe vyker hadde fer home · & faire toke his leue And I awakned þere-with · & wrote as me mette