The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 5: London, British Library, MS Additional 35287 (M) – Passus 17William LanglandEdited by Eric Eliason, Hoyt N. Duggan, and Thorlac Turville-PetreAssociate Editors: Patricia Riles Bart and Gail DugganTechnical Editor: Daniel Pitti Graduate Research Assistants Michael Blum, John Ivor Carlson, Carrie Lindley, Janice McCoy, and Timothy L. Stinson. Computer Consultants and Programmers Shayne Brandon, Cynthia Girard, Kirk Hastings, Sue Munson, David Seaman, and John Unsworth.Society for Early English and Norse Texts ISBN (individual use) 1 84384 051 0 (institutional use) 1 84384 052 9

copyright 2005, by SEENET

2005 London, British Library, MS Additional 35287

 early 15th century Source copy consulted: London, British Library, MS Additional 35287

SEENET, A.7

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LatinFrenchGerman14 Dec 2004 editor Hoyt N. Duggan New header created, and SGML converted to XML. Minor revisions in TOC, mainly alphabatization of names.Passus xvijuspassus xvijusdecimo septimusIIM.17.1: A 3-4 line capital has been outlined in text ink, but the scribe has only left space for a one-line passus initial. This has been painted in roughly and in a red ink different from that of the passus heading. am Spes quod þatM.17.1: M's þat is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read he a. spye . and spire aftur a knyȝtThat took me a maundement . vpon the mounte of Synay To rule alle reaumes with . I bere þe writte here . ¶Is it aseled I saide . may men see the lettresNay he saide ȜI seke hym . þat hath þe seel to kepeAnd þat is cros and cristendome . and crist þereon to hongeAnd whan it is asseled so . I woot wel þe sotheThat Luciferes lordship . last shal no lengerLat se þi lettres quod I . we miȝte þe lawe knoweThanne plukkud he forth . a patente . a pece of an harde rocheWher-on were wryten two wordes . on þis wise y-glosed . Dilige deum & proximum tuum & ceteraThis was the tixte truly . I took ful gode ȝyemeThe glose was gloriousliche . writen . with a gilte penneIn hijs duobus mandatis . tota lex pendet & prophete .Ben here alle þi lordus lawes I seidequod IM.17.16: M's original reading I seide is not attested in other B manuscripts. . ȝye leue me wel he saide . And whoso w.ercheþ after þis writ . I wol vndertakenShal neuere deuel hym dere . ne deth in soule greueFor ...þogh I sey it my-seluen . I haue saued with þis charmeOf men and wymmen . many score thousandesHe sai..th soþ saiþ þis hereaud I haue it foundeM.17.21: M shares the reading it founde with Cr. Other B manuscripts reverse the order. ofteLoo here in my lappe . þat leued on þat charmeIosue and Iudith . and Iudas MacabeusȜYe and sixti þousand biside forth . þat ben not seien hereȜYoure wordes arn wond.erful . quod I tho . .....which of ȝow is truwest . In quemAnd lelest to leue on . for lif and for souleTres vidit vnum adorauitAbraham seiþ þat he seiȝ . ...?...lyhoolly the TriniteThre persones in parcelles . departable from otherAnd alle þre but o god . þus Abraham me tauȝteAnd haþ saued þat bileued so . and sory for hire synnesHe kan nouȝt segge þe somme . and somme arn in his lappe . What neded it þanne . a newe lawe to bigynneSith þe furste suffiseþ . to sauacion and to blisseAnd now comeþ . Spes . & spekeþ . þat haþ aspied þe laweAnd telleþ nouȝt of þe Trinite . þat took hym hise lettresTo bileue and louye . in o lord almyȝtiAnd sith riȝt as my-selue . so louye alle þe p.epleXThe gome þat goþ with ao staf . he semeþ in gretter heleThanne — he þat goþ with two staues . to siȝte of vs alleAnd riȝt so by þe Rode . resoun me sheweþ.M.17.40: In the left margin by this line is what looks like an erased large <S>.It is liȝter to lewed men . ao lessoun to knoweÞan for to techen hem two . and to hard to lerne þe lesteIt is ful hard for Abrahamany man . on Abraham bileueAnd w.el.aw..yey worse ȝyet . for to loue a shreweIt is liȝter to l.eue in thre louely personesThan for to loue and leue . as wel lorelles as leleGo þi gate quod I to Spes . forM.17.47: M shares the reading for with Cr. Other B manuscripts omit it. so me god helpe . Tho þat lerneþ þi lawe . wel litel while vsen it . passuuspassus xvijusAnd as we wenten þusM.17.49: M alone among B manuscripts here lacks a word which in most B manuscripts is in. þe wey . wordynge to-gidresThanne seiȝe we a Samaritan sittynge on a mMule Rydynge welM.17.51: Only MCr have wel; other B manuscripts have ful. raply þe riȝte way we ȝyeden . Comynge from a countre . þat men called IericoTo a Iustes in Iherusalem . he chaced a-way faste.id est. CristusM.17.54: The same marginal gloss is found in L.Boþe þe heraud and hope . and he mette at onoesWhere a man was wounded . and with theues takenHe miȝte neiþer steppe ne stonde . ne stere foot ne handes . Ne helpe him-self sothly . for semyuyf he semed . And as naked as a ne..dle . and noon helpe aboute hym . Faithe hadde furste siȝte of hym . ac he fleiȝe a-sideAnd nolde nouȝt neighen hym . by nine londes lengþeHo..pe cam hippinge aftur . þat hadde so y-boostedHow he with Moyses maundement hadde many men y-holpenAc whanne he hadde sighte of þat segge . a-side he gan hym draweDredfully by þis day . as doke doth fromM.17.64: All other B manuscripts except Cr read from þe. faucounAc so soone so þisM.17.65: All other B manuscripts except Cr read þe. Samaritane . hadde siȝte of þis ledeHe liȝte adoun of liȝard . and heeldM.17.66: M's original reading without a word here was shared by CB. M's addition, which Kane and Donaldson erroneously record as held, is not attested in other B manuscripts, most of which read ladde. hym in his honde . And to þe wye he wente . hise woundes to biholdeAnd parceiued by his pous . he was in perille to deȝyeAnd but ȝif he hadde recouerier þe rather þat rise shulde he neuereWith wyn and with oyle . hise woundes he wasshedEnbaumed hym and bonde his hed . and in his lappe hym laydeAnd ladde hym so forth on liȝard . to lex Cristi a graungeWel sex myle or seuene . biside þe newe MarketHerbererwed hym at an hostrye . . & to þe host.yler called . And seide haue kepe þis man . til I come from þe IustesAnd loo hireM.17.76: M's reading hire is shared with C2; other B manuscripts read here. siluer he saide . for salue to hise woundesAnd he took hym two pans . to liflode as it wereAnd saide what-soM.17.78: M's what-so is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read what, except for Cr which has whoso for what-so he. he spendeþ moore . I make itM.17.78: For it all other B manuscripts except Cr read þee. good here-afturFor I may not lette quod þat leode . and lyȝard he bystrydeþAnd raped hym to Iherusalem-ward . þe riȝte ..wey to rydeFaithe folwed aftur faste . and fonded to mete hym . And Spes spakliche hym spedde . spede ȝif he miȝteTo ouertake hym and talke to hym . er þei to toune come . And whanne I seiȝe þis I soiourned not . but shoop me to renneAnd suwed þat samaritan . þat was so ful of piteeAnd graunted hym to ben his grome . gramercy he seide . Ac þi freend and þi felawe . þou fyndeste me at nede . And I thanked him tho . and sith I hym toldeHow þat feithe fleiȝe a-way . and Spes and hisM.17.89: M's reading and his is shared with Cr1; other B manuscripts read his. felawe botheFor siȝte of þe sorewful man . þat robbed was with þeuesHaue hem excused quod he . hire helpe may litel auailleMay no medcyne on moolde . þe man to hele bringeNeither feith ne fyne hope / so feestred ben hise woundesWith-oute þe blood of a barn . borne of a maydenAnd he be baþed in þat blood . baptised as it wereAnd þanne plastred with penaunce . and passion of þat babyHe shulde stonde and steppe . ac stalworth worth he neuereTil he haue eten al þe barn . and his blood ydronken . For wente neuere wie in þis world . þoruȝ þat wildernesseThat he ne was robbed or rifled . rode he þere or ȝyedeSaue feithe and his felawe . Spes and my-seluen . And þi-selue now . and suche as suwen h..oure werkesFor outlawes in þe wode . and vndur bank.esM.17.103: M's altered reading bankes is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read bank except for F's balkis. lotyeþAnd mowe eche man see and godeod marke takeWho is bihynde . and who bifore . and who ben on horse . For he halte hym hardier on horse þan he þat is on footeFor he seiȝe me þat am Samaritan . suwen faithe and his felaweOn my capul þat hiȝte Caro . of mankynde I took it . He was vnhardy þat herlot . and hudde hym in inferno . Ac er þis day thre daies . I dar vndurtakenThat he worth fettred þat feloun . faste with cheynesAnd neuere efte greue gome . þat goþ þis ilke gateAnd þanne shal feiþ be Forestier here  and in þis .....Fryth walkeAnd kennen out comune men . þat knoweth nouȝt þe Cuntre . W..hich is þe wey þat I wente . and wherforth to Ierusalem . And hope þe host.yllers man shal be . þere þe man lith atM.17.116: M's at is unique among B manuscripts, which read an, in, or to. helyngeAnd all þat feble and feinte be . þat feith may nouȝt techeHope shal lede hem forM.17.118: M's for agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts read forþ with. loue . as his lettre tell..ethAnd host.ellen hem and hele . þoruȝ holy churchesM.17.119: The altered form agrees with CB. Other B manuscripts have genitive chirche. bileueTil I haue salue for alle sike . and þanne shal I reteurneA...?...?...nd come ayeyn by thys contree . and conforte alle sekeÞat craueth it or coue......iteþ it . an.d crieth þere-afterFor þe barn was born in Bedleem . þat with his blood shal saue . passus xxviijusxxvvijusAlle þat lyueþ in feithe and folweth hise felawes techingeA swete sire I saide þo . wh..ere shal I bileueAs feithe and his felawe . enfourmed me botheIn thre persones departable  þat perpetuel were euereAnd alle þre but o god . þus Abraham me tauȝteAnd hope afterwarde he bad me to louyeO god with alle my good / and alle gomes afterLoue hem li.k my-selue . ac oure lord a-bouen alleAfter abraham quod he . þat heraud of armes . Sette faste þi feithe . and ferme bileueAnd as hope hiȝte þe . I hote þe þat þou louyeThyne euene-cristen euen-forth...rmore euen forth with þi-seluenAnd ȝif conscience carpe þere aȝein / or kynde wit eytherOstende manum quia deus assimulatur ad manumOr heretikes with argumentes . þin hond þou hym sheweFor god is after an hand . y-here now and knowe itThe fadir was furst as a fust / with on fynger foldyngeTil hym loued and luste . to vnlosen his fyngerAnd profre it forth as with a paume . to what place it sholdeThe paume is purely þe hand . and profreth forth þe fyngresTo mynistre and to make . þat miȝte of hand knowethAnd bitokeneþ truly . telle who-so likeþThe holy goost of heuene he is as þe paumeThe fyngres þat fre ben . to foolde and to serueBitokeneþ sotlysot[h]ly þe sone / þat sent was til erþeThat touched and tasted . at techynge of þe ofM.17.148: The corrector first misplaced of after þe and then erased it, placing it correctly. paumeSeinte Marie a Maide / and mankynde lauȝteQui conceptus est de spiritu sancto & cetera The fader is þanne as a fust . with fynger to toucheQuia omnia traham ad me ipsum . & ceteraAl þat þe paume parceyueth . profitable to feeleThus arn þei alle but on . as it an hond wereAnd thre sundry siȝtes . in oon shewyngeÞe paume for he putteþ forth . fyngres and fust botheRiȝt so redly / reson it sheweþ . þatM.17.158: Most B manuscripts begin this line with How. This addition brings M into agreement with Cr1. He þat is holygoost . sire and sone preuethAnd as þe hand halt harde . and alle þinge f.asteThoruȝ foure fyngres and a thombe . for withth withM.17.160: M's original reading for with agreed with Cot. þe paumeRight so þe fadur . and þe sone . and seint spirit. þe þridde . ...?...?...With-Inne hem thre . the wyde world holdenM.17.162: This entire line is written over an erasure. M and Cr agree in giving the a- and b-verses of this line in an order reversed from the rest of the B manuscripts. L reads Halt al the wyde worlde within hem thre. It is probably the tail of <H> that is still visible at the start of the line.coriijBothe welkyne and þe wynd . water and ertheHeuene and helle / and al þat þere-inne is . Thus it is nedeþ no man / trowe noon otherThat thre þinges bilongeth . in oure lord of heuene+And arn serelepes by hem-selue . a-sundry were þai neuereNomoreNo more þanne — myn hand . may moeue with-oute my fyngresAnd as my fust is ful hand . yfoolde to-gedresSo is þe fadur a ful god . fourmeour and shepperTu fabricator omnium & cetera .And al þatM.17.172: All other B manuscripts except Cr1 read þe. miȝt midde — hym / is in makynge of þingesThe fyngres fourmen a ful hand . to purtrey or to peinte . Keruynge and compassynge . as crafte of þe fyngresRight so is þe so...ne . þe science of þe fadurAnd ful god as is þe fader . no febler ne non bettre# discripcionem trinitatis ad similitudinem manusThe paume þatM.17.177: M's addition of þat brings it into agreement with Cr. is pureliche þe hand . haþ power by hym-seluenOther-wyse þanne — þe wrythen fust or werkemanshippe of fyngres . For þe paume haþ power . to putte out alle þe ...iointesAnd to vnfolde þe foolden fust . at þe fyngres willeSo is þe holigoost god / neyther gretter ne lesseÞanne — is þe sire and þe sone / and in þe same miȝteAnd alle ar þei but o god / as is myn hand and my fyngresVnfolden andM.17.184: M's and agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts read or. foolden . my fust and my paumeAl is but on hand . ...?...?...how-so I tourne itM.17.185-186: The scribe omitted M.17.185b and M.17.186a, an omission shared with WHmGYC2CB, caused by eyeskip on hand. The corrector has erased euene in þe myddes after 185a, replaced it with the lost b-verse, writing 186 in the margin with a red line to indicate its insertion. The additional material brings M into agreement with CrLRF. For Ac F has But and Cr And; whoso is shared only with Cr, LRF reading who. All other B manuscripts read in þe middes for the correction amyddes, and the spacing of the partly legible erasure under 185b shows that in þe myddes was the original reading in M.Ac whoso is hurt in þe hond . euene amyddesHe may resceyue riȝt nouȝt . resoun it shewethFor þe fyngres þat foolde shuolde / and þe fust make . For peyne of þe paume . power hem faillethTo cluche or to clawe . to clippe or to hoolde.h..Were þe myddel of myn hand . ymaymed or perisshedI shulde resceiue riȝt nouȝt . of þat I reche miȝteAc þouȝ my þombe and my fyngres . boþe were to-...swollenM.17.193: Most B manuscripts here read shullen. The alteration brings M into agreement with Cr23HmRF. . And þe myddel of myn hand . with-outen maleseIn many kynnes maners . I miȝte my-selue helpeBoþe moeue and amende . ...?...?...thogh all my fyngres oke . # de peccato contra spiritum sanctumBy þis skille me þinkeþ . I see an euidenceÞat whoso s.inneþ in þe seint spirit / assoilled worth he neuereNeiþer heere ne elles-where / as I here telle Qui peccatM.17.200: Kane and Donaldson record this as pectat but <c> and <t> are not always clearly distinguishable, and the scribe presumably intended peccat. in spiritu sancto & ceteraFor he p...rykkeþ god as in þe paume . quiM.17.201: All other B manuscripts except Cr read þat for M's qui. peccat in spiritu sancto .corpassus xvijus ¶ For god þe fadur is as a fust . þe sone . is as a fynger . The holygoost of heuene is as it were þe paumeSo whoso sinneþ in þe seint spirit / it semeþ þat he greueþAndGod þat he gripeþ with . and wolde his grace quenchenota# Aliam discripcionem trinitatis ad similitudinem CandeliAnd to a torche or a tapur . þe trinite is likkenedAs wex and a weke . were twyned to-geidreAnd þanne a fyr flam......mynge . forþ out of bothe . And as wex and weke . and hoot fyr to-gidre.s .Fostren forth a flaumbe . and a feir leyeSo doþ þe sire and þe sone . and also Spiritus sanctusFostren forth amonges folk . loue and bileueThat alle kynne cristene . clenseþ of synnes . And as þou seest somme—-tyme . ...?...?...sodeynly a torcheThe blase þere-of yblowen out . ȝyit brenneþ þe weke . With-oute leye or liȝt . þat þe macche brennneþbrenneþSo is þe holygoost god . and grace with-oute mercyTo alle vnkynde creatures . þat coueite to destruye . Lele loue oþer lif . þat oure lord shapte And as gloynge gledes . gladieþ nouȝt þise werkemenThat worchen and waken in wyntres niȝtesAs do.þ a kex or a candele þat cauȝt haþ fyr and blaseþNomoreNo more doþ sire ne sone . ne seint spirit to-g.ydresGraunte no grace . ne forȝyifnesse of synnesTil þe holy goost gynne . to glowe and to blaseSo þat þe holy goost . glooeth but as a gledeTil þat lele loue ligge on hym and blowe . And þanne flaumbeþ he as fyr / on fader and on filius .And melteþ hire miȝte in-to mercy . as men may s..ee in wyntre......Yshekeles in eueses . þoruȝ hete of þe s.onneMelteþ in a mynut-while . to myst and to watreSo grace of þe holy goost . þe grete miȝte of þe TriniteMelteþ to mercy . to mercyable . and to noon othereAnd as wax with-outen moore . on a warme gledeWol burrennen . and blasen alleM.17.235: M shares all with Cr; other B manuscripts read be þei. to-gedresAnd solacen hem þat ..mowe se . þat sitten in derkenesseSo wol þe fadur forȝyeue. . folk of mylde hertesThat rufulliche repenten . and restitucion makenIn as .....muche as þei mowen . amenden and paien . And ȝif it suff...ise not for assetz þat in suche a wille deiȝyethMercy for his mekenesse . wol make good þe rem.enaunt corl iiijAnd as þe weyke and þeM.17.242: M's addition of þe is not attested by other B manuscripts. fyr . wol make a warme fla.....wmeM.17.242: The corrector has converted three minims to a <w> and written a minim followed by <e> at the end of the word. The original spelling was probably flaumbe as at M.17.250.For to murthe men with . þat in merke sitten . # de gratitudine Cristi bene loquiturSo wol crist of his curtesye . and men crien hym mercyBoþe forȝyeue and forȝyete . and ȝyet bidde for vsTo þe fadur of heuene forȝyeuesse to hauenesse to haueAc hewe fyr at þeM.17.247: M's reading þe agrees with Cr. All other B manuscripts read a, except R, which omits the word. flynt . foure hundred wynturBut þow haue tow to take it with . tundur or brochesAl þi labour is lost . andM.17.249: M's and agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts read and al. þi longe trauailleFor may no fyr flaumbe make . faille it his kyndeSo is þe holy goost god . and grace with-outen mercyTo alle vnkynde creatures . crist hym-self witytnesseþ . Amen dico vobis . nescio vos & cetera .# de Ingratidtudine bene loquiturBe vnkynde to þine euenecristen . and al þat þou kanst biddeDelen and do penaunce . day and nyȝt euereAnd purchace al þe pardoun . of Pampiloun and RomeAnd indulgences y-nowe and be vnkyndeingratusM.17.257: M's original vnkynde was not attested in other B manuscripts, though several have some difficulty with the reading. to þi kyndeThe holy goost hereþ þe nouȝt . ne helpe may þe by resoun . For vnkyndenesse quencheþ hym . þat he kan not shyneNe brenne ne blase clere . for brennyngeM.17.260: M's brennynge agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts read blowynge. of vnkyndnessePoule þe appostel . proueþ wher I lyeSi linguis hominum Loquar & ceteraWherFforeM.17.263: M's original reading of ffor (i.e. For) was shared by Cr1. All other B manuscripts read Forþi. A later hand has altered ffor to fore and added Wher in the margin. Further to the left is a large erasure. beþ war ȝye wisemen . þat with þe world delethÞat riche ben and resoun knoweþ . ruleth wel ȝyoure souleBeth nouȝt vnkynde I conseille ȝyow . to ȝyoure euene-cristen . For many of ȝyow riche men . by my soule men tellethȜYe brenne but ȝye blasen nouȝt . þat is a blynd bekene . Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit & cetera .Diues deyed dampned . for his vnkyndnesseOf his mete and his money . to men þat it neded . notate divitesEche a riche I rede . reward at hym takeAnd ȝyif ȝyoure godeood to ȝyoureM.17.272: M's youre agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts read þat. god . þat grace of ariseþ . For þat ben vnkynde to hise . hope I noon otherBut þei dwelle þere Diues is . dayes with-outen endeThus is vnkyn.—denesse þe contrarie þat quencheþ as it wereThe grace of þe holy goost . goddes owne kyndeFor þat kynde doþ . vnkyndnesse doþfordoþ . as donM.17.277: M shares the reading don with Cr. Other B manuscripts omit the word, though F supplies ben above the line. þise courrsed þeues . Vnkynde cristen men . for couetise and enuye Sleth a man for hise moebles . with mouþe or with handes . For þat þe holygoost haþ to kepe . tho harlotes destruȝyethThe w....hich is l...yf and loue . þe leye of mann.es body . passus xvijusFor euery manere gode man . may be likkened to a torcheOr ellus to a tapre . to reuerence þe TriniteAnd who þatM.17.284: M's reading þat agrees with Cr. All other B manuscripts read so, except WL, which omit the word. murþereþ a good man . meM.17.284: There is apparently an erased abbreviation for er after the first two minims. thinkeþ by myn InwitHe fordoþ þe leuest liȝt . þat oure lord louethhicNota hic beneAc ȝyit in many moo maners . men offenden þe holy goostAc þis is þe worste wyse . þat any wiȝt miȝteSynnen aȝein þe seint spirit . assenten to destruyenFor coueitise of any kynnes þing . þat crist deere bouȝteHow miȝte he axen mercy . or any mercy hym helpeThat wikkedlich and willefulliche . wolde mercy anynteI......nnocence is next god . and nyȝt . and day it cryetheVengeaunce vengeaunce forȝyeue be it neuereThat shent vs and shadde oure blood . forshappte vs as it were . Vindica sanguinem iustorumThus vengeaunce vengeance . verrey charite askeþAnd sith holy churche and charite chargeþ þis so sooreLeue I neuere þat oure lord . wol loue þat charite lakkeþNe haue pitee for any praiere . þer þat he pleyneþ# questionem de peccato contra spiritum sanctumI pose I hadde synned so and shuolde now deiȝeyeM.17.301: M alone lacks the word And here.Now am I sory þat I so . þe seint spirit agulteConfesse me and crye his grace . god þat al madeAnd myldliche his mercy axe . miȝte I nouȝt be saued ȜYus saide þe samaritan so wel þou miȝte repenteÞat riȝtwisnesse þoruȝ repentaunce . to ruþe miȝte tourneAc it is but selden y-seiȝe . þere soþnesse bereþ wittnesseAny creature þat is coupable . bifore a kynges IusticeBe raunsomed for his repentaunce . þere alle reson hym dampneþFor þere þat partie pursueþ . þe p...leeM.17.309: M's altered reading here agrees only with Cr. RLF read peel; WHmGYC2CB read peple. is so hugeÞat þere kynge may do no mercy . til boþe men accordeAnd eyþer haue equite . as holy writte telleþM.17.312: A very faint mark, not unlike a squat arabic numeral <2>, is in the left margin.Numquam dimittitur peccatum & ceteraThus it fareþ by suche folk . þat falsly al hire lyuesYuele l.yuen and leten nouȝt . til lif hem forsake# terribileGode hope þat helpe shulde . to wanhope tourneþNouȝt of þe nounpower of god . þat he ne is miȝtful . To amende al þat amys is . and his mercy gretterThanne alle oure wikkede werkes . as holy writte telleþMisericordia eius super omnia opera eius & cetera .Ac er his riȝtwysnesse to ruthe tourne . somme restitucion byhoueþSHis sorwe is satisfaccioun . for hym þat may not paie# a wikkyd wyffThre þinges þer ben þat don a man by strengþeFor to fleen his owne hous / as holy wr.yt sheweþ . That oon is a wikked wif . þat wil nouȝt be chastisedHere feere fleeth f.rom hire . for fere of hire tongeAnd ȝif his hous be vnheled . and reyne on his beddeHe sekeþ and sekeþ . til he slepe dryeAnd whanne smoke and smoldre . sm.yt in his siȝteIt doþ hym worse þan his wif or wete to slepeFor smoke and smolder . smyteþM.17.330: An extra minim has been erased from the <m>. inM.17.330: M's original reading without in agreed with GCLRF. hise eiȝenTil he be blereed or blind / and hoors in þe þroteCougheþ and curseþ . þat Crist ȝyeue hym sorweÞat shulde bringe in bettre wode . or blowe it til it brendeThise þre þat I telle of . ben þus to vndurstondeÞe wif is oure wikked Flessh . þat wol not be chastedFor kynde clyueþ on hym euere . to contrarie þe souleAnd þouȝ it falle it fynt skylles . þat freelte it madeAnd þat is liȝtly forȝyeuen . and forȝyeten boþeTo man þat mercy askeþ . and amende þenkeþThe rayn þat reyneþ . þere we reste shuldeBen sekenesses and sorwes þat we suffren ofte . As poule þappostel . to þe poeple tauȝteVirtus in infirmitate perficitur & ceteraAnd þouȝ þat men make muche doel in hire angreAnd inpacient in hire penaunce . pure resoun knoweþ# pro hijs qui male possunt patiÞat þei han cause to contrarien . by kynde of hire sekenesseAnd liȝtlich oure lord . at here lyues endeHaþ mercy on suche men . þat so eyuele may suffre . Ac þe smoke and þe smoldre . þat smyt in oure eiȝenÞat is coueitise and vnkyndnesse . þat quencheþ godes mercy . For vnkyndenesse is þe contrarie of alle kynnes resounFor þer nys seek ne sory . ne noon so muche wreccheÞat he ne may louye and hym like . and leue of his herteGood wille and good word / boþe wysshen and willen . Alle manere ofM.17.355: M's reading manere of agrees with Cr. All other B manuscripts read manere men, except F, which reads manere of men boþe. mercy and forȝefnesseAnd louye hymM.17.356: M shares the reading hym with Cr1; other B manuscripts read hem. lich hym-self . and his lif amendeliber xviijusI may no .lenger lette quod he . and lyȝard he prikedeAnd wente a-way as wynd . and þerwith I waked .