The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 3: Oxford, Oriel College, MS 79 (O) version of 30 December 2003 – Passus 11William LanglandEdited by Katherine Heinrichs Graduate Research Assistants Patricia Bart, Michael Blum, John Ivor Carlson, Peter Eubanks, Paul Fyfe, Paul Gaffney, Janice McCoy, Chloe Smith, Timothy L. Stinson, Jordan Taylor, and Keicy Tolbert. Computer Consultants and Programmers Shayne Brandon, Kirk V. Hastings, Richard A. Peterson, Daniel Pitti, Jonathan Rodney, and John Unsworth.Published for the Medieval Academy of America and The Society for Early English and Norse Electronic Texts (SEENET) by Boydell and Brewer Ltd. Cambridge ISBN: 1843840251

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2004

SEENET A.5

Oxford, Oriel College, MS 79

late 14th or early 15th century Source copy consulted: Oxford, Oriel College, MS 79

brown inkanglicana bastardaitalicLombard Capornamented capital, N lines highrubricatedtouched in redtexturaunderlinedunderlined in redgreen inkblue ink

LatinFrenchGermanMay, 2001catalogerPatricia BartNew header createdPassus . XIusvndecimus .ÞAnne scripture scornede me  & a skil tolde And lakkede me in latyn  & liȝt bi me setteAnd seyde . Multi multa sciunt  & seipsos nesciuntÞoo wepte I for woo  & wraþþe of hir specheAnd in a wyndynge wraþþe  wexe I a-slepeA merueylous sweuene  mette IO.11.6: YOC2 alone include I. me þanneÞat I was rauyschid riȝt þere  & fortune me fetteAnd in-to þe loond of longyng  alone sche me brouȝteIn a myrour þat hyȝte mydleerd  sche made me beholdeSiþen sche seyde vntoO.11.10: OC2 alone have vnto in place of to. me  heer myȝte þou see wondresAnd knowe þat þou coueytist  & come þerto paraunterÞanne hadde fortune folwynge hir  two fayre damysellisConcupiscencia carnis  men calledenO.11.13: O alone has the form calleden in place of called. þe elder maydeAnd coueytise of yen  called was þat oþerPride of parfiȝt lyuyng  pursuede hem boþeAnd bade me for anyO.11.16: OC2F alone have any in place of my. contenaunce  acounte clergye liȝtConcupiscencia carnis  collede me aboute þe nekkeAnd seyde þou art ȝonge & ȝeep  & hast ȝeris ynoweFor to lyue longe  & ladyes to louyeAnd in þis myrour þou myȝte see  myrþes ful manyÞat lede þee wolen to likyng  al þi lijf-tymeÞe secounde seyde þe same  I schal sue þi willeTil þou be a lord & haue loond  lete þee I nylleÞat I ne schal folewe þi felawschip  if fortune it likeHe schal fynde me his freend  quod fortune þer-afterÞeO.11.26: The initial thorn has a rubricated ascender. freek þat folewede my wille  faylede neuere blisseÞanne was þer oon þat hiȝte elde  þat heuy was of chereMan quod he . if I metteO.11.28: The first <t> in mette is superpuncted as well as subpuncted. wiþ þee  bi marie of heueneÞou schalt fynde fortune þee fayle  at þi moost nedeAnd concupiscencia carnis  clene þee forsakeBittirlich schalt þou banne þanne  boþe dayes & nyȝtis Coueytise of ye  þat euere þou it kneweAnd pride of parfiȝt lyuyng  to myche perele þee bryngeȜhe . recche þee neuere quod recchelesnesse  stode forþ in raggide cloþisFolewe forþ þat fortune wole  þou hast wel far..O.11.35: A solidus/punctus appears over far and two spaces follow it in which characters have been erased; Kane and Donaldson believe that far has been substituted for faire, the reading of Y. to eldeA man may stoupe tyme ynow  whanne he schal tyne þe crowneHomo proponit quod a poete  & plato he hyȝteAnd . deus disponit quod he  latte god do his willeIf truþe wole witnesse . it be we wel do  fortune to folweConcupiscencia carnis  ne coueytise of yenNe schal not greue þee gretli  ne bigyle þee but þou wiltȜhe fare-wel phippe quod fauntelte  & forþ gan me draweTil concupiscencia carnis  acordede alle my werkisAllas ye quod Elde  and holynesse boþeÞat witt schal turne to wrecchednesse  for wille to haue his likyngCoueytise of yen  counfortede me soone afterAnd folewede me fourti wynter  or fifty orO.11.47: OGC2 alone have or fifty or; variants include or fifty and (Cr23YCB) and and a fifte (WHmCr1LMRF). moreÞat of do-wel . ne do-bette  no deynte me þouȝteI hadde no likyng ne lustO.11.49: OC2 alone have ne lust; variants include if þe leste (L), if þe lest (M), if þee list (W), ȝif thu list (Hm), if ye list (Cr1), and ne no luste (Cr23GYCB).  of hem ouȝt to knoweCoueytise of yen  cam ofter in my myndeÞan do-wel or do-bette  amongys my dedis alleCoueytise of yen  counfortede me ofteAnd seyde . haue no concience  how þou come to goodFrerisGo confesse þee to sum frere  & schewe hym þi synnes For whyles fortune is þi freend  freris wolen þe louyeAnd fecche þee to her fraternyte  & for þee bisecheTo her priour prouyncial  a pardoun forto haueAnd preye for þee pol bi pol  if þou be pecuniosusSet pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictisO.11.59: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after pro, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.Bi wysschyng of þis wenche I wrouȝte  her wordis weren so sweteTil I forȝate ȝowþe  & ȝerne in-to eldeAnd þanne was fortune my foo  for al hir fayre bihesteAnd pouerte pursuede me  & putte me loweFrerisAnd þoo fonde I þe frere a-ferd  & flittynge boþe Aȝens oure first forward  for I seyde I nolde Be biryed at her hous  but at my parisch chircheFor I herde ones  how concience it toldeÞat þere a man were cristened  bi kynde he schulde be biryedOr where he were parischen  riȝt þere he schulde be grauenO.11.69: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.And for I seyde þus to freris  a fool þei me heldenAnd louede me þe lesse  for my lele specheFrerisAnd ȝit I criede on my confessour  þat helde hymself so kunnynge Bi my feiþ frere quod I  ȝe faren lijk þeise wowers. Exemplum.Þat wedden no wydewis  but forto welde her goodes Riȝt so bi þe rode  rouȝtenO.11.75: OC2 alone have the form rouȝten in place of rouȝte. ȝe neuereWhere my body were biryed  bi so ȝe hadde þe siluerIch haue myche merueyle of ȝow  & so haþ many oþerWhy ȝoure couent coueytiþ  to confesse & to birieRaþer þan to baptise barnes  þat been cathecumynysBaptisyng & biryeng  boþe been ful nedefulAc myche more merytorie me þinkeþ  is to baptiseFor a baptised man may  as maystres tellenÞoruȝ contricioun come  to þe hye heueneSola contricio delet peccatumO.11.84: This line is written in the right margin.Ac a barn wiþ-outen bapteem  may not be sauedNisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua & ceteraO.11.86: This line is written in the right margin.Loke ȝe lettred men  wheþer I lye or notAnd lewte lokede on me  & I lourede afterWher-fore lourest þou quod lewte  & lokede on me hardeIf I durste quod I amongys men  þeise metelis auoweȜhe . bi petir & bi poule quod he  & toke boþe to witnesseNon oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo . set puplice argue illosO.11.92: This line is written in the left margins of ll. 91-94. It is divided after fratres, corde, and puplice, so that it appears as four lines.Þei wolen alegge also quod I  & biO.11.93: The <b> of bi has been altered from another letter. þe gospel preueNolite iudicare quemquam .O.11.94: This line is written in the right margin.And wher-of serueþ lawe quod lewte  if no lijf vndir-tokeO.11.95: OC2 alone lack it at the end of this line. A solidus/punctus appears over the line following vndir-toke, followed by a space in which characters have been erased. In the right margin is a caret/punctus and the word it, faintly visible though erased, suggesting that it may originally have appeared at the end of the line and later have been erased in response to a corrector's instruction to delete.FalnesseFal[s]nesse ne faytrie . for sumwhat  þe apostle seydeNon oderis fratrem . & in þe sauter also  seiþ dauid þe propheteExistimasti inique quod ero tui similis & ceteraIt is leuefulO.11.99: O alone has the form leueful; most B manuscripts have licitum. for lewide men  to segge þe soþeIf hem likeþ orO.11.100: OC2 alone have or in place of and. liste  iche a lawe it grauntiþExcept persouns & preestis  & prelatis of holy chircheIt falleþ not for þat folk  no tales to telleÞouȝ þe tale were trewe  & it touchede synneÞing þat al þe werld woot  wherfore schuldist þou spareAnd reden it in rethorik  to arate dedli synneAc be neuere-more þe first  þe defaute to blameÞouȝ þou see yuel . seye it not first  be sory it nere amendidAndO.11.108: OC2C alone have And; variants include a (GYB), No (WHmCrLMR), and & ony (F). þing þat is pryue  puplice þow it neuereNeiþer for loue laude it not  ne lakke it for envieParum lauda vitupera parciusO.11.110: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after vitupera, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.He seiþ soþ quod scripture þoo  & skipte on hyȝ & prechedeAc þe matere þat he meuede  if lewide men it kneweÞe lasse as I leue  louen it þei woldenO.11.113: OC2 alone have the form wolden in place of wolde.Þis was her teme & her text  I toke ful good heedMulti to a mangerie  & to þe mete weren sumpnedAnd whanne þe peple was plener comen  þe porter vnpynnede þe gateAnd plukkide in pauci priueliche  & lete þe remenaunt go roomeAl for tene of her text  tremblede myn herteAnd in a weer gan I waxe  & wiþ my-self disputeWheþer I were chosen or not  on holy chirche I þouȝteÞat vndirfonge me at þe founte  for oon of goddis chosenFor crist clepede vs alle  come if we woldenO.11.122: OC2 alone have the form wolden in place of wolde.Sarasens & scismatikes  & so he dide þe IuesO vos omnes scicientes venite & ceteraO.11.124: This line is written in the right margin.And bade hem souke for synne  saueli at his brestAnd drynke bote for bale  broke it who-so myȝteÞanne mowen alle cristen come quod I  & cleyme þere entreeBi þe blood þat he bouȝte vs wiþ  & þoruȝ baptisme afterQui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit & ceteraO.11.129: This line is written in the right margin.For þouȝ a cristen man coueytede  his cristendoom to reneyeRiȝtfullich to reneye  no resoun it woldeFor may no cherl chartre make  ne his catel selleWiþ-outen leue of his lord  no lawe wole it graunteAc he may renne in arerage  & roome so fro homeAnd as a reneyed caytijf  recchelesly abouteAc resoun schal rekene wiþ hym  & caste hym in arerageAnd putte hym after in prisoun  in purgatorie to brenneFor his arerage rewarde hym þere  to þe day of doomBut if contricioun wole come  & crie bi his lyue Mercy for hise mysdedis  wiþ mouþ or wiþ herteÞat is soþ quod scripture  may no synne lette Mercy alle to amende  & mekenesse hir foleweFor þei been . as oure bokis tellen  aboue goddis werkisMisericordiaO.11.144: OC2 alone among beta witnesses lack eius before super. super omnia opera eiusO.11.144: This line is written in the right margin.Ȝhe . bawe for bokis quod oon  was broken out of helleHiȝte troianus hadde been a trewe knyȝt  toke witnesse at þe popeTroianusHow he was deed & dampned  to dwellen in peyne For an vncristen creature  clerkis witen þe soþeÞat alle þe clergye vndir crist  myȝte me cracche fro helleBut onelich loue & lewte  & my laweful domusO.11.150: O alone has domus in place of domes.Gregory wiste þis wel  & wylneþ to my soule Saluacioun . for soþnesse  þat he seyȝ in my werkisAnd after þat he wepte  & wilnede me were grauntid. nota . þe ground of trentalis .O.11.154: The rubric is divided after nota.Grace . wiþ-outen any bede biddyng  his boone loueO.11.154: Because marginal loue is placed directly above boone, and both are accompanied by a solidus/punctus, it seems likely that it is intended as a substitution. Perhaps a gloss, and not substitution, is intended; however, the words do not have the same meaning, and it seems unlikely that the word boone would have been unfamiliar to any reader. was vndirfongenAnd I saued as ȝe mowenO.11.155: O alone has the form mowen; most B manuscripts have may. see  wiþ-out syngyng of massesBi loue & bi lernyng  of my lyuyng in truþeBrouȝte me fro bitter peyne  þere no biddyng myȝteLo ȝe lordis . what lewte dide  bi an emperour of romeÞat was an vncristen creature  as clerkis fynden in bokisNot þoruȝ preyer of a pope  but for his pure truþe Was þat sarasen saued  as seynt gregory bereþ witnesseWel ouȝten ȝe lordis þat lawes kepen  þis lessoun haue in myndeAnd on troianus truþe to þenke  & do truþe to þe pepleExemplum RomanusO.11.164: This rubric, written in a larger and more formal script than that of the rest of the text, may not be written in the main scribal hand. It is divided after Exemplum, so that it appears as two lines.Lawe wiþ-outen loue quod troianus  ley þere a beneOr any science vndir sunne  þe seuene artis & alleBut þei be lerned for oure lordis loue  lost is al þe tymeFor no cause to cacche syluer þerbi  ne to be called a maysterBut al for loue of oure lord  & þe bette to loue þe pepleFor seynt ion seyde it  & soþe arn hise wordisQui non diligit manet in morteO.11.170: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after in, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.Who-so loueþ not leue me  he lyueþ in deþ-deyingeAnd þat alle manere men  enemyes & frendes Loue her eyþer oþer  & lene hem as hem-seluenWho-so leneþ not he loueþ not  god woot þe soþeAnd comaundedeO.11.175: OC2RF alone have the preterite form. iche creature  to conforme hym to louyeAnd souereynli pore peple  & her enemyes afterFor hem þat haten vs  is oure meryte to louyeAnd pore peple to plese  her preyeris mowen vs helpeFor oure ioye & oure hele  iesu crist of heueneIn a pore mannys apparayle  pursueþ vs euereAnd lokiþ on vs in her liknesse  & þat wiþ loueli chereTo knowe vs bi oure kynde herte  & castyng of oure yeWheþer we louenO.11.183: OC2 alone have the form louen in place of loue. þe lordis heer  bifore oure lord of blisseAnd exciteþ vs bi þe euangelie  þat whanne we maken feestisWe schulden not clepe oure kyn þerto  ne no kyn richeCum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare amicosO.11.186: This line is written in the left margin opposite ll. 185-188. It is divided after conuiuia and <a> in amicos, so that it appears as three lines.Ac calleþ þe careful þerto  þe croked & þe poreFor ȝoure frendis wolen fede ȝow  & fonde ȝow to quyte Ȝoure feestynge & ȝoure fayre ȝiftes  iche freend quyteþ so oþerAc for þe pore I schal paye  & pure wel quyte her trauayleÞat ȝyueþ hem mete or money  & loueþ hem for my sakeFor þe beste been summe riche  & summe beggers & poreFor alle arn we cristis creaturis  & of hise coferis richeAnd breþeren as of blood  asO.11.194: OC2F alone lack wel after as. beggers &O.11.194: OC2F alone have & in place of as. erlesO.11.194: At the bottom right margin of this page, boxed catchwords have been lost to cropping; only the top of the box is visible.For on caluarie of cristis blood  cristendom gan spryngeAnd blody breþeren we become  þere . of oo body wonneAs quasi modo geniti  & gentil men ichoneNeO.11.198: OC2 alone have Ne in place of No. begger ne boye amonge vs  but if it synne made Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccatiO.11.199: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after est, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.In þe olde lawe  as holi lettre telliþMennys sones  men callede vs ichoneOf adamþisadamis issu & eue  ay til god-man deyedeAnd after his resurecciounredemptor was his nameAnd we hise breþeren þoruȝ hym bouȝt  boþe riche & poreFor-þi . lyueO.11.205: O alone has lyue in place of loue. we as leue breþeren schul  & iche man lawȝhe onO.11.205: GOC2F alone have on; most B manuscripts have of. oþerForO.11.206: OC2 alone have For in place of And. if þat iche man may forbere  amende þere it nediþAnd euery man helpe oþer  for hennes schul we alleAlter alterius onera portate & ceteraO.11.208: This line is written in the right margin.And be we not vnkynde of oure catel  ne of oure kunnyng neiþerFor noot no man how it is  to be ynome fro boþeFor-þi . lakke no lijf oþer  þouȝ he more latyn knoweNe vndirnyme not foule  for is noon wiþ-outen fauteFor what-euere clerkis carpenO.11.213: OC2 alone have the form carpen in place of carpe.  of cristendom or ellisCrist to a comune womman seyde  in comune at a feesteÞat fides sua schulde sauen hir  & saluen hir of synnesÞanne is beleue a lele helpe  aboue logyk or laweOf logyk ne of lawe  in legenda sanctorumIs litil allowaunce maad  but if beleue hem helpeFor it is ouerlonge . er logyk  any lessoun assoyleAnd lawe is loþ to louye  but if he lacche syluerButO.11.221: OC2 alone have But in place of Boþe. logyk & lawe  þat louenO.11.221: OC2 alone have the form louen in place of loueþ. not to lyeI counceyle alle cristen men  cleue not þer-on to soreFor summe wordis I fynde writen  werenO.11.223: O alone has weren; most B manuscripts have were. of feiþes techyngThat sauede synful men  as seynt Ion bereþ witnesseEadem mensura qua mensi fueritis  remecietur vobisO.11.225: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after the caesura, and the second line is preceded by a red parasign.For-þi lerne we þe lawe of loue  as oure lord tauȝteAnd as seynt gregori seyde  for mennysO.11.227: OC2 alone have the plural form. soule helþeMelius est scrutari scelera nostraO.11.228: A double solidus indicates transposition of original nostra scelera. quam naturas rerumO.11.228: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after naturas, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.Why I meue þis mater  is moost for þe poreFor in his liknesse . oure lord  ofte haþ been yknoweWitnesse in þe paske weke  whanne he ȝede to EmausCleophas knewe hym not  þat he crist wereFor his pore apparayle  & pilgrimes wedisTil he blessede & brake  þe breed . þat þei etenSo bi hise werkis þei wisten  þat he was IesusAc bi cloþing þei knewen hym not  ne bi carpyng of tungeAnd al was in ensaumple  to vs synful heerÞat we schuldenO.11.238: OC2 alone have the form schulden in place of sholde. be lowe  & louelich of spechesO.11.238: YO alone have the plural form.And apparayle vs not proudeli  for pilgrimes arn we alleAnd in þe apparayle of a pore man  & pilgrimes liknesseMany tyme god haþ been met  amonge nedy pepleÞatO.11.242: OC2 alone have Þat; most B manuscripts have Ther. neuere segge hym seyȝ  in secte of þe richepureO.11.243: Because pore is accompanied by a solidus/punctus above, and marginal pure by a caret/punctus, it seems clear that substitution is intended.Seynt ion & oþer seyntis  weren seyn in pore cloþing And as pore pilgrimes  preyeden mennys goodisIesu crist on a Iues douȝter aliȝte  gentil womman þouȝ sche wereO.11.246: A cross about two characters in height appears in the near left margin between this line and the next; the hand responsible cannot be identified with certainty, but resembles hand 3.Was a pure pore mayde  & to a pore man weddidMartha on marie magdalene  an huge pleynt sche madeAnd to oure saueour self  seyde þeise wordisDomine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solam & ceteraO.11.249: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after mea, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.And hastili god answerede  & eyþeris wille folewedeBoþ in marthas & in maries  as matheu bereþ witnesseAc pouerte god putte bifore  & preysede it þe betterMaria optimam partem elegit que non auferetur ab eaO.11.253: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after que, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.And alle þe wise þat euere werenO.11.254: OC2 alone have the form weren in place of were.  bi ouȝt I can aspiePreysen pouerte for best lijf  if pacience it foleweAnd boþe better & blessider  bi many foold þan richesseAnd þouȝ it be soure to suffre  þer comeþ swete afterAs on a walnote wiþ-outen  is a bitter barkAnd after þat bitter bark  be þe schelle aweyeIs a kirnel of kounfort  kynde to restoreSo is after pouerte or pacienceO.11.261: OC2 alone have pacience in place of penaunce.  pacientlich ytakeFor it makiþ man to haue mynde in god  & a greet wille To wepe & to wel bidde  wher-of wexeþ mercyO.11.263: OC2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "Of which crist is a kernell to conforte þe soule."And wel sikerer he slepiþ  þe man þat is poreAnd lasse he drediþ deþ  & in derk to be robbed Þan he þat is riȝt riche  resoun bereþ witnessePauper ego ludo  dum tu diues meditarisO.11.267: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after diues, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.And þouȝ salomon seyde  as folk seen in þe bibleDiuicias nec paupertates & ceteraO.11.269: This line is written in the right margin.Wiser þan salomon was  bereþ witnesse & tauȝteÞat parfiȝt pouerte was  no possessioun to haueAnd lijf moost likyng to god  as luke bereþ witnesseSi vis perfectus esse vade & vende & ceteraO.11.273: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after &, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.And is to mene to men  þat on þis moold lyuenwar munkes & chanounsO.11.275: This rubric is divided after &, so that it appears as two lines.Who-so wole be pure parfiȝt  mote possessioun forsakeOr selle it as seiþ þe book  & þe syluer deleTo beggers þat goon & beggenO.11.277: OC2 alone have the form beggen; all other beta witnesses have begge.  & bidden good for goddislouegoddis loue. nota .O.11.278: The word nota is surrounded at left, right, and bottom by flourishes in black and red. For faylede neuere man mete  þat myȝtful god seruede Non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius querens panemO.11.279: This line, which occurs here only in OC2, is written in the right margin. It is divided after derelictum, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text. The word nota is surrounded at left, right, and bottom by flourishes in black and red. This line has occurred previously at 7.98; Kane and Donaldson (221) exclude it as a "contamination," probably inserted from memory.As dauid seiþ in þe sauter  to swiche þat ben in wille To serue god goodlich  ne greueþ hym no penaunceNichil impossibile volentiO.11.282: This line is written in the right margin.Ne lakkeþ neuere lijflode  lynnen ne wollenInquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono .O.11.284: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after mi- in minuentur, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.Of annueleris preestisIfO.11.285: The <I> in If is decorated with flourishes. preestis weren parfiȝt  þei wolden no syluer take For masses ne for mateyns  not her mete of vsurerisNe neiþer kirtel ne kote  þouȝ þei for coold schulden deyeAnd þei her deuer dide as dauid  seiþ . in þe sauterIudica me deus  & discerne causam & ceteraO.11.289: OC2 alone have & cetera in place of meam. spera in deo & ceteraO.11.289: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after & cetera, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.Spekiþ of preestis  þat han no spendynge syluerÞat if þei trauayle trulich  & triste in god almyȝtiHem schulde lakke no lijflode  neiþer wollen ne lynnenAnd þe title þei taken ordre bi  telleþ . ȝe been auauncedÞanne nediþ not ȝow take syluer  for masses þat ȝe syngenFor he þat toke ȝow ȝoure title  schulde take ȝow ȝoure wagesOf þe bisschop þat blessiþ ȝow  if þat ȝe been worþiFor made neuere kyng no knyȝt  but he hadde catel to spendeAs bifel for a knyȝt  or fonde hym for his strenkþeIt is a careful knyȝt  & of caytijf kyngys makyngÞat haþ no loond ne lynage riche  ne good loos of hise handisÞe same I seye for-soþe  bi alle swiche preestisÞat han neiþer kunnyng ne kyn  but a crowne ooneAnd a title a tale of nouȝt  to his lijflode at mescheefHe haþ more bileue as IO.11.304: The <I> seems to have been written over an anticipated <l> from leue. leue  to lacche þoruȝ his crowne Cure . þan for kunnyng or knowyng  for clene of beryngI haue wonder & why  & wherfore þe bisschopMakeþ swiche preestes  þat lewide men bitrayenO.11.307: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this and the preceding line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as failure to alliterate.A chartre is chalengeble  bifore a cheef IustiseIf fals latyn be in þat lettre  þe lawe it impugneþOr peyntid par interlynarie  parcellis ouer-skippidÞe goom þat gloseþ so chartres  for a goky is holdenSo it is a goky bi god  þat in his gospel fayliþOr in messe or matyns  makiþ any defauteQui offendit in vno in omnibus est reusO.11.314: This line is written in the right margin.And also in þe sauter seiþ  dauid . to ouerskippersPsallite deo nostro psallite / quoniam rex terre deus israel sallite[p]sallite sapienterÞe bisschop schal be blamed  bifore god as I leueÞatO.11.318: OC2 alone lack croune(þ)(d) before swiche, and thus lack the first alliterating stave. swiche goddis knyȝtis  þat kunne not sapienterSynge ne salmes rede  ne segge a messe of þe dayAc neuere neiþer is blameles  þe bisschop ne þe chapleynFor euere eiþer is enditid  & þat of ignoranciaNon excusat episcopos  nec ydiotes preestisÞis lokyng ofO.11.323: OGC2F alone have of in place of on. lewid preestis  haþ doon me lepe fro pouerteWhich I preyse þere pacience is  more parfiȝt þan richesseAc myche more in metyng þus  wiþ me gan oon disputeAnd slepyng I seyȝ al þis  & siþen cam kyndeAnd nempnede me bi name  & bade me nymeO.11.327: OC2 alone have the form nyme in place of nymen. heedAnd þoruȝ þe wondris of þis world  witt for to takeAnd on a mounteyn þat mydleerd hyȝte  as me þoo þouȝteI was fet forþ  bi ensaumples to knowe Þoruȝ iche a creature & kynde  my creatoure to louyeO.11.331: The <o> in louye is written over an illegible character.I seyȝ þe sunne & þe sehe  & þe sond afterAnd where þat briddis & beestis  bi her make ȝedenWylde wormes in wodis  & wondirfulO.11.334: The <u> in wondirful seems to have been written over an <o>. foulisWiþ flekked feþeris  & of fele colourisMan haddeO.11.336: OC2 alone have hadde in place of and. his make  I myȝte boþe beholdePouerte & plente  boþe pees & werreBlisse & Bale  boþe I seyȝ at onesAndO.11.339: OC2F alone lack how before men. men token mede  & mercy refusedenO.11.339: O alone has the form refuseden; all other beta witnesses have refused.Resoun I seyȝ soþeli  suen alle beestisIn etyng & drynkyng  & in engendryng of kyndeAnd after cours of concepcioun  noon toke keep of oþerAnd whanne þei hadden riden in rotey tyme  anoon-riȝt þerafterMales drowen hem to males  on morwenyngesO.11.344: O alone has on morwenynges; variants include all mornynge (Hm), on morninge (Cr3), on morwnynge (C2), on mornings (Cr2), on mournes (G), amornynges (LCr1), amorwenges (YC), amorwynges (Cot), and amorwenynges (WBmBoMR). bi hem-seluenO.11.344: O alone has the form seluen in place of selue.InO.11.345: OC2 alone lack introductory And. euenynges also  þe males fro þe femelesÞere was cow ne cowkynde  þat conceyued haddeÞat wolde belue after boles  ne boor after soweBoþe hors & houndis  & alle oþer beestisMedeledenO.11.349: OC2 alone have the form Medeleden; all other beta witnesses have Medled. not wiþ her makes  þat wiþ foole werenO.11.349: OC2 alone have þat wiþ foole weren; most B manuscripts have þat wiþ fole were.Briddes I behelde  þat in buskes maden nestisHadde neuere wye witt  to worche þe leesteI hadde wondir at whom  & where þe pye lernede To legge þe stykkes  in whiche he leiþ & brediþÞer nys wyȝtO.11.354: OC2 alone have wyȝt; most B manuscripts have wryȝt. asO.11.354: The <a> in as seems to have been written over an <a>. I wene  schulde wirche hir nest to payeIf any masoun made a moold þerto  myche wondre it wereAnd ȝit me merueylede more  how many oþere briddes Hidden & hileden  her eyrenO.11.357: OC2 alone have the form eyren in place of egges. ful derneIn mareys & mooris  for men schulde hem not fyndeAnd hydden her eggys  whanne þei þerfro wentenFor feer of oþere foulis  & for wylde beestisAnd summe troden her makis  & on trees breddenAnd brouȝten forþ her bryddis so  al aboue þe groundeAnd summe briddes at þe biblebile  þoruȝ bredyngO.11.363: OC2 alone have bredyng in place of breþyng. conceyuedenO.11.363: O alone has the form conceyueden in place of conceyued.And summe kakeledenO.11.364: OC2 alone have the form kakeleden; most B manuscripts have caukede. I toke keep  how pecokkis breddenMiche merueylede me  what mayster þei haddenO.11.365: OC2 alone have the form hadden; most B manuscripts have hadde.And who tauȝte hem on trees  to tymbre so hyeÞereO.11.367: The thorn in Þere is decorated with flourishes in red and black. neiþer barn ne beest may her briddis recheAnd siþen I lokede on þe sehe  & so on þe sterresMany selkouþis I seyȝ  been not to seye nouþeI seyȝ flouris in þe friþ  & her fayre colouris And how among þe grene gresse  grewe so many hewesAnd summe soure & summe swete  selcouþe me þouȝteOf her kynde & her colour  to carpe . it were to longeAc þat moost meuede me  & my mood chaungedeÞat resoun rewartdede  & rulede alle beestisSaue man & his make  many tyme & ofteNo resoun hem folewede  & þanne I rebukede Resoun . & riȝt toO.11.378: An otiose tilde appears above the <t> in to. hym-seluen seydeI haue wondre of þee quod I  þat witty art holdenWhy þou ne sueste man & his make  þat no mysfayt hym foleweAnd resoun aratede me  & seyde recche þee neuereWhy I suffre or not suffre  þi-self hast not to doneAmende þou if þou myȝte  for my tyme is to abideSufferaunce is suereyn vertu  & ofO.11.384: OC2 alone have of in place of a. swift veniaunceWho suffredeO.11.385: WYOC2 alone have the preterite form. more þan god quod he  no goom as I leueHe myȝte amende in a mynute whyle  al þat mysstondeþAc he suffredeO.11.387: OC2 alone have the preterite form. for summe mans good  & so is oure bettreÞe wise & þe witti  wroote þus in þe bibleDe re que te non molestat noli certareO.11.389: This line is written in the right margin.For . be a man fayre or foule  it falleþ not toO.11.390: GOC2 alone among beta witnesses have to in place of for to. lakke Þe schappe ne þe schaft  þat god schope hym-seluenO.11.391: O alone has seluen in place of selue.For al þat he dide was wel do  as holi writ witnessiþEt vidit deus cuncta que fecerat & erant valde bona . .O.11.393: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after fecerat, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.And bade euery creature  in his kynde encreceAl to myrþe wiþ . man  þat moost woo þolieþO.11.395: OC2RF alone have wo þolieþ most B manuscripts have wo þolie. These scribes seem to have understood moost as a superlative, where others interpreted it as a modal.In fondyng of þe flesch  & of þe feend boþeFor man was maad of swych a mateer  he may not wel asterteO.11.397: The word asterte was rewritten in the right margin, apparently because the er suspension in the first occurrence was misplaced and smudged.Þat ne sum-tyme hym bitid  to folewe his kyndeCatoun acordeþ herwiþO.11.399: OC2 alone have herwiþ; most B manuscripts have þerwiþ.nemo sine crimine viuitÞoo cauȝte I colour anoon  & comsede to be a-schamedAnd IO.11.401: YOC2F alone include I. awakede þer-wiþ  woo was me þanne .Þat I in metels ne myȝte  more haue I-knowenÞanne seyde I to myself  & chidde þat tymeNow I woot what do-wel is quod I  bi dere god as me þinkeþAnd as I caste vp myne yen  oon lokede on me & axede Of me . what þing it were  I-wisse sire I seydeTo see myche & suffre more  certis quod I is do-welHaddist þou suffred . he seyde  slepynge þoo þou wereÞou schuldist haue yknowe þat clergie can  & conceyued more þoruȝ resounFor resoun wolde haue reherced þee  riȝt as clergie seydeAnd for þin entremetyng heer  art þou forsakenPhilosophus esses si tacuissesO.11.412: This line is written in the right margin.Adam whylis he spake nouȝt  hadde paradijs at willeAc whanne he mamelede aboute mete  & entremette hym to knowe Þe wisdam of þe witt of god  he was put fro blisseAnd riȝt so ferde resoun bi þee  þou wiþ rude specheLakkedist & losedest þing  þat longede not to doneÞoo hadde he no lykyng  for to lerne þee morePride now & presumpsioun  paraunter wolen þee appeleÞat clergie þi companye  ne kepeþ not to sueSchal neuere chalengyng ne chydyng  chastiseO.11.420: HmOC2F alone have chastyse; most B manuscripts have chaste. a man so sooneAsO.11.421: HmOC2 alone lack shal before schame. schame & schenden hym & schape hym to amendeFor latte a drunken daffe  in a diche falleLatte hym ligge loke not on hym  til hym liste to riseFor þouȝ resoun rebukede hym þanne  it were but pure synneAnd whanne nede nymeþ hym vp  for doute lest he sterueAnd schame schrapiþ hise cloþis  & hise schyns wasschiþÞanne woot þe drunkun daffe  wherfore he is to blameȜe seggen soþ quod I  ich haue yseyn it ofteÞer smyt no þing so smerte  ne smelleþ so soureAs schame þere he schewiþ hym  for euery man hym schonyeþWhy ȝe wissenO.11.432: OC2 alone have ȝ wissen in place of ye wisse. me þus quod I . was  for I rebukede resounCertis quod he þat is soþ  & schope hym for to walkeAnd I a-roos vp riȝt wiþ þat  & folewede hym afterAnd preyede hym of his curtesie  to telle me his name