The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 3: Oxford, Oriel College, MS 79 (O) version of 30 December 2003 – Passus 12William 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

copyright 2004, by SEENET

Published in the United Kingdom by Boydell and Brewer for The Medieval Academy of America and SEENET

Manufactured in the United Kingdom

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

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 duodecimusO.12.000: The heading is divided after Passus, so that it appears as two lines.I Am ymagyntijfymagyn[a]tijf quod he  idel was I neuereÞouȝ I sitte bi myself  in seeknesse & in helþeI haue folewed þee in feiþ  þis fyue & fourty wynterAnd many tymes haue meued þee  to þenke on þin endeAnd how fele ferneȝeris arn faren  & so fewe to comeAnd of þi wylde wantounesse  þoo þou ȝonge wereTo amende it in þi mydel age  lest . myȝt þee fayle In þin olde elde  þat yuele can suffre Pouerte or penaunce  or preyeris biddeSi non in prima vigilia nec in secundaO.12.10: This line is written in the right margin.Amende þee whyle þou myȝte  þou hast been warned ofteWiþ poustees of pestelences  wiþ pouerte & wiþ angresAnd wiþ þeise bittir baleyses  god beteþ hise dere childrenQuem diligo castigoO.12.14: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after diligo, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.And dauid in þe sauter seiþ  of swiche þat louen Iesusvirga tua & baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt /O.12.16: This line is set in slightly from the left margin and preceded by a red parasign with a trailing descender.Al-þouȝ þou strike me wiþ þi staf  wiþ stikke oþerO.12.17: YOC2C alone lack wiþ before ȝerde. ȝerdeIt is but myrþe as for me  to amende my souleAnd þou medelest þee wiþ maystries  & myȝtist go seye þi sauterAnd bidde for hem þat ȝyuen þee breed  for þer been bokes O.12.20: OC2 alone lack some form of ynowe at the end of this line.To telle me . what do-wel is  do-bette & do-best boþeAnd prechouris to preue what it is  of many a peyre frerisI seyȝ wel . he seyde me soþ  & sum-what me to excuse Seyde . catoun counfortede his sone  þat clerk þouȝ he wereTo solacen hym sum-tyme  as I do whanne I makeInterpone tuis interdum gaudia curis .O.12.26: This line is written in the right margin.And of holy men I herde quod I  how þei oþerwyle Pleyeden . þe parfiter  to be in many placesAc if þer were any wyȝt  þat wolde me telleWhat were do-wel & do-bette  & do-best at þe lastWolde I neuere do werk  but wende to holy chyrcheAnd þere bidde my bedis  but whanne ich eete or sleepePoule in his pistle quod he  preueþ what is do-welFides . spes . caritas & maior horum & ceteraO.12.34: This line is written in the right margin.Feiþ hope & charite  & alle been goodeAnd sauen men sundri tymes  ac noon so soone as chariteFor he doþ wel wiþ-outen doute  þat dooþ as lewte techiþÞat is if þou be man maried  þi make þou louyeAnd lyue forþ as lawe wole  whyle ȝe lyuen heerRiȝt so if þou be religious  renne þou neuere ferþerTo rome ne to rochemadour  but as þi rule techeþAnd holde þee vndir obedience  þat hye weye is to heueneAnd if þou be mayden to marienO.12.43: OC2 alone have the form marien in place of marye or omission.  & myȝte wel conteneO.12.43: OC2 alone have contene in place of continue.Seke þou neuere seynt ferþer  for no soule helþeFor what made lucifer  to lese hisO.12.45: OC2 alone have his in place of þe. hye heueneOr salomon his sapience  or sampson his strenkþeIob þe Iue his ioye  dere it heO.12.47: OC2 alone have dere it he; variants include dere he (B), dere ytt (G), dere he it (HmCrYLMR), ful deere (W), and deere (F). abouȝteAristotle & oþere moo  ypocras & virgileAlexandre þat al wan  elengeli endedenO.12.49: O alone has the form endeden; most B manuscripts have ended.Catel & kynde witt  was combraunce to hem alleFelice hir fayrenesse  fel hir al to sclaundreAnd rosamound riȝt so  rufulli bisette Þe bewtee of hir body  in badnesse sche dispendideOf many swiche I myȝte rede  of men & of wommenÞat wise wordis kun seye  & wirche þe contrarieSunt homines nequam de virtute bene loquentesO.12.56: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after bene, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.And riche renkes riȝt so  gaderen & sparenAnd þoo men þat þei moost haten  mynystren it at þe lasteAnd for þei suffren & seen  so many nedy folkesAnd louen hem not as god bit  lesen her soulisDate & dabitur vobis & ceteraO.12.61: This line is written in the right margin.And richesse riȝt so  but if þe rote be treweAc grace is is a grasse þerof  þe greuaunce to abateAc grace ne growiþ not  but among þeO.12.64: OC2 alone have among þe in place of amonges. lowePacience & pouerte  þe place is þere it groweþAnd in lele lyuynge men  & in lijf-holyAnd þoruȝ þe gyfte of þe holy goost  as þe gospel telleþSpiritus vbi vult spiratO.12.68: This line is written in the right margin.Clergye & kynde witt  comeþ of siȝt & techyngAs þe book bereþ witnesse  to barnes þat kun redeQuod scimus loquimur quod vidimus testamurO.12.71: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after quod, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.Of quod scimus . comeþ clergie  & kunnyng of heueneO.12.73: OC2 alone lack introductory And.Of quod vidimus comeþ kynde witt  of siȝt of dyuerse pepleAnd grace is a gyft of god  & of greet loue spryngeþKnewe neuere klerk how it komeþ forþ  þeO.12.75: OC2 alone have þe; most B manuscripts have ne. kynde witt þe weyesNescit aliquis vnde venit aut quo vadit & ceteraAc ȝit is clergie to commende  & kynde witt boþeAnd nameli clergie for cristis loue  þat of clergie is roteFor Moyses witnesseþ þat god wroote  for to wisse þe pepleIn þe olde lawe as þe lettre telleþ  þat was þe lawe of IuesÞat what womman were in auoutrie taken  riche oþer poreWiþ stoones men schulden hir strike  & stonye hir to deþeA womman as we fynden  was gylti of þat dedeAc crist of his curtesye  þoruȝ clergie hir sauedeFor þoruȝ carectis þat crist wrouȝte  þe Iues knewen hem-selueGyltier as a-fore god  & in gretterO.12.86: OC2 alone transpose gretter in. synne Þan þe womman þat þere was  & wente awey for schameÞe clergie þat þere was  counfortede þe wommanHoly kirke knowiþ þis  þat cristis writyng sauedeSo clergie is counfort  to creaturis þat repentenAnd to mansede men  mescheef at her endeFor goddis body myȝte not be  of breed . wiþ-out clergieÞe which body is boþe  bote to þe riȝtfulAnd deþ & dampnacioun  to hem þat dyen yueleAs cristes carectes counfortedenO.12.95: O alone has the form counforteden; most B manuscripts have confortede.  & boþe coupable schewedenO.12.95: O alone has the form scheweden; most B manuscripts have shewed.Þe womman þat þe Iues brouȝtenO.12.96: OC2 alone have the form brouȝten; all other beta witnesses have brouȝte.  þat Iesus þouȝte to saueNolite iudicare & non iudicabiminiO.12.97: This line is written in the left margin of ll. 98-99; it is divided after iudicare, so that it appears as two lines. The word iudicabimini is underlined twice.Riȝt so goddis body breþeren  but it be worþili takenDampneþ vs at þe day of doom  as þe carectes diden þe IuesFor-þi I counceyle þee for cristis sake  clergie to louyeFor kynde witt is of his kyn  & nyȝ cosyns boþe To oure lord leue me  for-þi loue hem I redeFor boþe been as myrouris  to amende oure defautesAnd leders for lewede men  & for lettered boþeFor-þi . lakke þou neuere logyk  lawe ne his customesNe counterplede clerkis  I counceyle þee for euereFor as a man may not see  þat mysseþ hise yenNo more can aO.12.108: GOC2 alone have a in place of no. clerk but if he caccheO.12.108: OC2F alone have cacche in place of cauȝte. it  first þoruȝ bokisAl-þouȝ men maden bokes  god was þe maysterAnd seynt spirit his saumplarie  & seyde . what manO.12.110: OC2RF alone have the singular form. schulde writeAnd riȝt as siȝt serueþ a man  to see þe hye streteRiȝt so lediþ lettrure  lewide men to resounAnd as a blynde man in batayle  bereþ wepene to fyȝteAnd haþ noon hap wiþ his ax  hise enemyesO.12.114: OC2 alone have the plural form. to hitteNo more can a kynde-wittid man  but if clerkis hym teche Come . for al his kynde witt  to cristendom and be sauedWhich is þe cofre of cristis tresore  & clerkis kepen þe keyesTo vnloken it at her lykyng  & to þe lewede peple Ȝeue mercy . for her mysdedis  if men it wole aske Buxumlich & benynglich  & bidden it of graceArcha dei in þe olde lawe  leuytes it keptenHadde neuere lewed man leue  to legge hoond on þe chesteBut he were preest or preestes sone  patriark or propheteFor clergie is keper  vndir crist of heueneWas þer neuere no knyȝt  but clergie hym madeAc kynde witt comeþ  of alle kyns siȝtisOf briddisO.12.127: OC2 alone lack and before of beestis. of beestis of taastes  of truþe & of deceytisLyuyers to-forn vs  vseden to markeÞe selcouþe þat þei seyȝen  her sones for to techeAnd helde it an hye science  her wittes to knoweAc þoruȝ her science soþeli  was neuere soule sauedNe brouȝt bi her bokes  to blisse ne to ioyeFor al her kynde knowyng come  but of dyuerse siȝtisPatriarkes & prophetes  repreueden her scienceAnd seyden her wordis ne her wisdomes  nas but a folyeAs to þe clergie of crist  counted but a trifuleSapiencia huius mundi stultitia apud deumO.12.137: This line is written in the right margin.For þe hye holy goost  heuene schal to-cleue And loue schal lepe out after  in-to hisO.12.139: OC2 alone have his; most B manuscripts have þis. lowe erþeAnd clennesse schal cacchen it  & clerkis schul it fyndePastores loquebantur ad inuicemO.12.141: This line is written in the right margin.He spekeþ þere . of riche men nouȝt  ne of riȝt wittyNe of lordis þat werenO.12.143: OC2 alone have the form weren in place of were. lewede men  but of þe hyest lettred outeIbant magy ab orienteO.12.144: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after ab, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.If any frere were founden þere  I ȝyue þe fyue schillyngysNe in no beggers cote  was þat barne bornBut in a burgeyces place  of bedlem þe besteSet non erat locus in diuersorio & pauper non habet diuersoriumO.12.148: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after &, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.To pastouris & to poietesO.12.149: A solidus/punctus appears over the first <e> in poietes, indicating an intended correction, although poietes is not apparently incorrect. Perhaps deletion of the <i> is intended. Hm alone has a different reading, pore men.  apperede þe aungelAnd bade hem go to bedlem  goddis birþe to honoureAnd sungen a song of solace  gloria in excelcsis deoClerkis knewen it wel  & comen wiþ her presentesAnd diden her homage honourabli  to hym þat was almyȝtiAnd goddis sone þat sittiþ in heuene  & schal saue vs alleO.12.154: Kane and Donaldson (223) exclude this line, which occurs only in GYOC2CB, on the grounds that it is scribal.Why I haue told þee al þis  I toke ful good heedHow þou contrariest clergie  wiþ crabbede wordisHow þat lewede men liȝtliker  þan lettred weren sauedÞan clerkis or kynde-wittid men  of cristen pepleAnd þou seydist soþ of sum  ac se ȝit in what manereTake two stronge men  & in tamise hem casteO.12.160: OC2F alone transpose cast hem.And boþe nakide as a nedele  arnO.12.161: O alone has arn; variants include er (YC), ar (C2), þat (B), ther (Cr), hir, and omission. noon sikerer þan oþerÞat oon haþ kunnyng  & kan swymme & dyueÞat þer is lewed of þat labour  lernede neuere to symmes[w]ymmeWhich trowist þou of þeO.12.164: OC2 alone have the definite article; variants include those (Cr), þes (G), this (Y), hem (CBF), and þo (WHmLMR). two  in temise is in moost dredeHe þat neuere ne dyvede  ne nouȝt can of swymmyngOr þe swymmer þat is saaf  bi so . hym-self lykeÞere his felaw flet forþ  as þe flood likeþAnd is in drede to drenche  þat neuere dide swymmeÞat swymme can not I seyde  It semeþ to my wittisRiȝt so quod þe renke  resoun it schewiþÞat he þat knowiþ clergie  can sonner arise Out of synne & be saaf  þouȝ he synne ofteIf hym likeþ & liste  þan any lewed lelyFor if þe clerk be kunnyng  he knowiþ what is synneAnd how contricioun wiþ-out confessioun  counfortiþ þe souleAnd þou seest in þi sauter  in salmes oon or tweyneHow contricioun is commendid  for it caccheþ awey synneBeati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & quorum tecta & ceteraO.12.178: This line is written in the left margin of ll. 178-179. It is divided after sunt, so that it appears as two lines.And þis counfortiþ iche a clerk  & keuereþ hym fro wanhopeIn which flood þe feend  fondeþ a man hardestÞere þe lewed lijþ stille  & lokeþ after lentenAnd haþ no contricioun er he come to schrift  & þanne can he litil telleAnd as his loresman lereþ hym  bileueþ & trowiþAnd þat is after persoun or parischpreest  & parauenture he O.12.184: OCr23C2 alone include he. Vnkunnynge tet[o]O.12.185: Although the MED lists te as a variant of to, it is not the scribe's usual form of the word, nor is it attested by other manuscripts; it is thus probably unintended. lere lewede men  as luke bereþ witnesseDum cecus ducit cecum Ambo in foueamO.12.186: OC2 alone include the last three words of this quotation from Matthew 15:14. & ceteraO.12.186: This line is written in the left margin of ll. 187-188. It is divided after cecum, so that it appears as two lines. Woo was hym marked þat  wade mote wiþ þe lewede Wel may þe barn blesse  þat hym to book setteÞat lyuynge after lettrure  sauede hym lijf and souleDominus pars hereditatis mee & cetera  is a myrie versetÞat haþ taken fro tybourne  twenty stronge þeuesÞere lewed þeues been lolled vp  loke how þei been sauedÞe þeef þat hadde grace of god  on good fryday as ȝeO.12.193: OC2 alone have the plural form; all other beta witnesses have þow. spekenO.12.193: OC2 alone have the form speken; variants include speke (YBLMRF), spake (CrGC), and spekest (WHm).Was . for he ȝalte hym creaunt to crist  onO.12.194: OC2 alone among beta witnesses lack an article before crosse. crosse & knewe hym gyltiAnd grace axede of god  & he is euere redyÞat buxumli bidden it & been  in wille to amenden hemAnd þouȝ þat þeef hadde heuene  he hadde noon hye blisseO.12.197: Two crosses, about two lines in height and apparently by hand 2, appear in the right margin of this line.As seynt Ion & oþere seyntis  þat deserued haddenO.12.198: O alone has the form hadden; most B manuscripts have hadde. betterRiȝt as summe men ȝyuen me mete  & setten me amydde þe floreIch haue mete more þan ynow  ac not so myche worschip As þoo þat sitten at þe table  or wiþ souereyns of þe halleBut sitte as beggers bordles  bi my-self on þe groundSo it fareþ bi þat feloun  þat on good friday was sauedHe sittiþ neiþer bi seynseyn[t] Ion  symond ne IudeNe wiþ maydenes ne martires  confessoures ne wydewesBut bi hymself as a soleyn  & serued on þe erþeFor he þat is ones a þeef  is euere-more in daungerAnd as lawe likeþ  to lyue or to dyeDe peccato propiciato  noli esse sine metuO.12.209: This line is written in the right margin, followed by a cc parasign apparently in hand 2.And for to serue a seynt  & swich a þeef to-gyderesIt were neiþer resoun ne riȝt  to rewarde hem boþe ylicheAnd riȝt as troianus þe trewe knyȝt  tilteO.12.212: OC2 alone have the form tilte; most B manuscripts have tilde. not depe in helleO.12.212: Two crosses about two lines in height, apparently in hand 2, appear in the right margin; to their right, in the extreme right margin, appears a cross composed of dots with red flourishes radiating from them, probably in the main scribal hand.Þat oure lord ne hadde hym liȝtlich out . so leue I  þe þeef be in heueneFor he is in þe lowest heuene  if oure beleue be treweAnd wel loselich he lolleþ þere  bi þe lawe of holy chircheQuia reddit vnicuique iuxta opera suaO.12.216: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after opera, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text. And why . þat oo þeef on þe crosse  creaunt hym ȝelte Raþer þan þat oþer þeef  þouȝ þou wolde apposeAlle þe clerkis vndir crist  ne couþe þe skyle assoyleQuare placuit  quia voluit .O.12.220: This line is written in the right margin.And so I seye bi þee  þat sekest after þe whyesAnd aresoundest resoun  a rebukyng as it wereAnd of þe floures in þe friþ  & of her fayre huesWher-of þei cacchen her colouris  so clere & so bryȝtAnd willest . of briddis & beestis  & of her bredyng knoweWhy summe been a-lowe & summe a-loft  þi likyng it wereAnd of þe stones & of þe sterres  þou studiest as I leueHow-euere beeste or brid  haþ so breme wittisClergie ne kynde witt  ne knewe neuere þe causeAc kynde knowiþ þe cause hym-self  & no creature ellisHe is þe pies patroun  & putteþ in hir ereÞatO.12.232: The ascender of thorn in Þat is decorated with a small spray in red. þere þe þorn is þikkest  to bylden & bredeAnd kynde kenneþ þe pocok  to kauken in swich a kyndeAnd kennede adam to knowe  hise pryue membrisAnd tauȝte hym & eue  to hilen hem wiþ leeuesLewede men many tymes  maystres apposenWhy adam hilede not first  his mouþ þat eete þe appelRaþer þan his likham a-low  lewede axen þus clerkisKynde knoweþ why . he dide so  & no clerk ellisAc of briddes & of beestis  men bi olde tymeEnsaumples token & termes  as tellen þe poetesAnd þat þe fayrest foul  foulest engendriþAnd feblest foul of fliȝt is  þat flyeþ or swymmeþAnd þat is þe pocok &O.12.244: OC2 alone lack the definite article before pohenne. pohenne  proude riche men þei betoknenFor þe pocok . & men pursuen hym  may not flye hyeFor þe traylyng of his tayl  ouer-taken is he sooneAnd his flesch is foule flesch  & hise feet boþeAnd vnlouelich onO.12.248: OC2 alone have on in place of of. ledne  & layþ for to hereRiȝt so þe riche  if he his richesse kepeAnd deleþ it not til his deþ-day  þe tayl of al sorweRiȝt as þe pennys of þe pocok  peyneþ hym in his fliȝtSo is possessioun peyne  of pens & of nobles To alle hem þat it holden  til her tayl be plukkedAnd þouȝ þe riche repente hymO.12.254: OC2 alone include hym. þanne  & birewe þe tyme Þat euere he gaderede so grete  & gaf þerof so litilÞouȝ he crie to crist þanne  wiþ kene wille . I leueHis leden is in oure lordis ere  ylicheO.12.257: OC2 alone have yliche; all other beta witnesses have lik. a piesAnd whanne his careyn schal come  in caue to be biriedI leue it flawme ful foule  þe folde al abouteAnd al þe erþeO.12.260: A solidus/punctus appears above erþe, indicating deletion; a word has apparently been substituted in the left margin, of which only one character, perhaps <d>, remains uncropped. OC2 alone have erþe; most B manuscripts have oþere. þere it lijþ  enuenemyþ þoruȝ his attirBi þe poo feet is vnderstonden  as I lernede in auynet Exsecutours false frendis  þat fulfillen not his wille Þat was writen . & þei witnesse  to wirche as it woldeÞus þe poete preueþ þe pocok  for hise feþeris is reuerencidRiȝt so is þe riche  bi resoun of hise goodesÞe lark þat is a lasse foul  is more louelich of leddeneAnd wel awey of weenge  swifter þan þe pocokAnd of flesch bi fele folde  fatter & swetterTo lowe libbynge men  þe lark is resembledAristotle þe greet clerk  swiche tales telleþÞus he lykneþ in his logyk  þe leeste foul outeAnd wher he be saaf or not  þe soþe woot þeO.12.272: GOC2 alone have þe in place of no. clergieNe of sortes ne salomon  no scripture can telleAc god is so good I hope  þat siþ he gaf hem wittis To wissen vs weyes þer-wiþ  þat wissen vs to be sauedO.12.275: Two crosses about two lines in height appear in the right margin, probably by hand 2. They may have been intended to point out the defectiveness of the line.And þe better for her bokes  to bidden we been holdenÞat god of his grace  gyue her soulis resteFor lettred men weren lewede ȝit  ner lore of her bokesAlle þeise clerkis quod I þoo  þat on crist leuenSeggen in her sermouns  þat no sarasens ne IuesNe no creature of cristes liknesse  wiþ-outen cristendom worþ sauedContra quod ymagynatijf þoo  & comsede for to loureAnd seyde saluabitur vix iustus  in die iudicij .Ergo saluabitur quod he  & seyde no more latynO.12.284: Two crosses about two lines in height appear in the margin, probably by hand 2.Troianus was a trewe knyȝt  & toke neuere cristendomAnd he isO.12.286: OC2 alone lack saaf before as; C2 has seiþ, O nothing at all. These manuscripts thus lack the first alliterating stave. as seiþ þe book  & his soule in heueneFor þer is fullyng inO.12.287: Cr23OC2 alone among beta witnesses have in in place of of. founte  & fullyng in blood schedyngAnd þoruȝ fijr is fullyng  & þat is ferme beleueAduenit ignis diuinus non comburens set illuminans .O.12.289: This line is written in the right margin.Ac truþe þat trespassede neuere  ne trauersede aȝens his laweBut lyueþ as his lawe techeþ  & leueþ þer be no betterO.12.291: Two crosses about two lines in height appear in the right margin, probably by hand 2.And if þer were he wolde amende  & in swich wille deyeþNe wolde neuere trewe god  but truþe were alowedAnd were it worþ or not  þe beleue is greet of truþeAnd an hope hangynge þer-Inne  to haue mede for his truþeQuia deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis hoc est fidelibus . Et alibi / Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis & ceteraO.12.296: This line begins in the right margin of l. 295, breaks after vitam, and wraps around to occupy the next full line space.Þe glose graunteþ vp-on þat vers  a greet mede to truþeAnd witt & wisdam quod þat wye  was sum-tyme tresore To kepe wiþ a comune  no catel was holden betterAnd myche myrþe & manhood  & riȝt wiþ þat he vanyschede