The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 7: <list><item>London, British Library, MS Lansdowne 398 </item><item>Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson Poetry 38</item></list>
– Passus 20William LanglandEdited by Robert AdamsAssociate Editors: Patricia R. Bart, M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A.
FarleyTechnical Editor: Daniel PittiGraduate Research AssistantMichael Blum, John Ivor Carlson, Carrie Lindley, Janice McCoy, Ashley Opps, Timothy L.
Stinson, and Jordan Taylor.Computer Consultants and ProgrammersRobert Bingler, Shayne Brandon, Cynthia Girard, Chris Jessee, Daniel Pitti, David Seaman,
and John Unsworth.The Medieval Academy of America and SEENET by Boydell and
Brewer, LTDWoodbridge, SuffolkISBN: (Individual) 9781843840947 (Institutional): 9781843840930
Commercially available:
copyright 2011, by SEENET
2006 Combined facsimile & documentary edition.Identification of handsIRA = Robert Adams1 computer optical disk : col. ; 4 3/4 in.The Medieval Academy of America and SEENET, by Boydell and
Brewer, LTD.Woodbridge, SuffolkSource copy consulted: London, British Library, MS Lansdowne 398 and
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson Poetry 38
SEENET, A.9
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LatinFrenchGermanNovember 2005 revise header, update DTD and ent files Hoyt N. Duggan New header created Passus vicesimus de visione vt supraR.20.0: At the top left of
fol. 96r, an early modern italic hand, probably the same as that found at the bottom of fol.
95v, adds the passus heading.Passus
vicessimus And bete men ouer bitter and sum-bodysomme of hemR.20.1:
For R's sum-body, beta reads somme of hem. F has summe bodijs. Cx agrees
with R. to litel .R.20.1: The manuscript resumes after a lacuna running from KD18.411 to
KD20.27. And greue men grettere þan gode feith it
wolde . And spiritus iusticie
schal iugen wol he nol he . After þe kynges conseil and þe comune like . And spiritus prudencie
in many a poynt schal faile . Of þat he weneth wold falle if his witt ne were .wenyng is no
wisdomWenynge is no wisdom ne wise
ymaginacioun .Homo proponit & deus disponit
and gouerneth alle . Alpha's and beta's line
division differ here. Beta reads as follows: Homo proponit & deus disponit & gouerneth
alle good vertues Ac nede is next hym for anon he meketh. The C manuscripts also show considerable variation in how this series of lines is
divided. Gode vertues and nede is next hym for anon he meketh . And as lowe as a lamb for lakkyngeþatof þatR.20.10:
Beta reads of þat; a majority of the P family of C
manuscripts agrees here with beta, but the X family and some P manuscripts agree with
alpha. hym nedeth .¶ For nede maketh nede felefele for nedes lowh hertedOf herte .R.20.11: This line is omitted by beta but attested by the C
witnesses.FilosofresWyse menR.20.12:
Beta reads Wyse men, taking the line to alliterate on /w/. However, Cx agrees here with alpha. forsoke welthwele for thei wolde be nedy . And woneden welinelenglywildernesseR.20.13:
For R's wel elengly (cf. F's wol elengely), beta reads
in wildernesse. Cx agrees here with alpha.
and wolden nouȝte be riche .¶ And god alle his grete ioye gostliche he lefte
In the right margin, in black ink, there is an early ownership stamp for the Bodleian
Library. And cam and toke mankende & bicam nedy .So he was nedySo nedy he wasR.20.16:
This phrase is transposed in beta as So nedy he was; F reads He was so needy. The P family of C manuscripts agrees with F on
this phrasing, but the X family agrees with R. as seyth þe boke
in many sundri places . Þat he seide in his sorwe on þe selue rode . Bothe fox and foule may fle to hole and crepe . And þe fisch hath fyn to flete with ornilR.20.19:
Beta omits or, as does Cx. to reste . Þere nede hath I-nome me
þat I mote nede a-byde . And suffre sorwes ful soure þat schal to
ioye turne . For-þi be nouȝt a-basshed to bidde and to be nedy . Sith he þat wrouȝte alle þe worlde was wilfullich
nedy . Ne neuere none so nedy ne
pouerere deyede .¶ Whan ned hadde vnder-nomeR.20.25: At this
point F and most beta manuscripts include a direct object, me; but R
shares the omission with O, while M supplies the missing pronoun above the line. The same
omission of me is seen in three of the best X family manuscripts of C: manuscripts XYcUc. þus anon I fel a-slepe . And mette ful merueylously þat in mannes forme . Antecrist cam þanne and alle croppe of
treuthe . Turned it vp-so-doun and ouertilthouertilteR.20.28:
R's spelling here is unique (cf. the comments on this lection in the Introduction III.2.2.10, but the meaning is likely to be
identical with that found in all the other B manuscripts, which read tilte. Cx has tulde. þe rote
. And madenilR.20.29:
Beta omits made but the C witnesses include
it. fals springe and sprede & spede mennes nedes . In ech a contre þere he cam he cutte a-wey treuthe . And gert gile growe þere as he a god were
Fryers¶Freres folwed þat fende for he ȝaf hem copes . And religiousesreligiouseR.20.33:
This plural form is unique to R; beta and F both show the singular, as does the C version. reuerensed hym and
rongen here belles . And alle þe couent camforth camR.20.34:
R's reading, cam, is unique among the B copies; F has
cam holly; beta reads forth cam. Among the C manuscripts at this point, the P family reads þo cam
but the X family agrees exactly with R. to welcome aþatR.20.34:
For R's a, both beta and F read þat. Among the C manuscripts, the P family and several of the X family agree with the B majority; however, a majority of the X family, including the most
reliable copies, agrees with R's reading. tyraunt . And alle his as wel as hym saue onliche foles . Whiche foles were gladderwel leuereR.20.36: Beta reads wel leuer. The C manuscripts agree here with alpha. to deye þan to lyue . Lengore sethe leuteR.20.37: Alpha's leute is clearly
the correct reading here, supported by Cr and Hm as well as Cx, but
beta's reading seems to have been lenten. was so rebuked .R.20.37:
There is a diagonal smudge of uncertain origin between the <d> of rebuked and the terminal punctus. And a fals feend antecrist ouer alle folke regned . And þat wewere(n)R.20.39:
For alpha's we, beta reads were. Cx agrees with beta. mylde men and holy þat non meschef
dradden . Defiede alle falsenesse and folke þat it vsede . And what kynge þat hem conforted knowynge
hem gyleany whileR.20.41:
For alpha's gyle, beta reads any while. Cx agrees with alpha. . Þei corsed and her conseil were it clerke or lewed . ¶ Antecrist hadde þus sone hundredes at his baner . And pride it bare boldely aboute .R.20.44:
There is a diagonal smudge of uncertain origin between the <e> of aboute and the terminal punctus. With a lorde þat lyueth after lykynge of
body . Þat cam aȝeyne consience þat keper was and
gyoure . Ouer kynde cristene and cardinalescardynaleR.20.47:
R's plural is unique in the B tradition; both F and beta read the
singular cardynale. Among C copies, though
manuscripts EcRcMcVcNc agree with R, Cx agrees with the B majority. vertues . ¶ I conseile quod consience þo cometh with
me ȝe foles . in-to vnite holy cherche
and holde we vs there . And crie we to kende þat he come and defende vs . Foles fro þis fendes lymes for peres loue þe plowman . And crie we ontoR.20.52:
For alpha's on, beta reads to. Cx
agrees with alpha. alle þe comune þat þei come to vnite . And þere abide and bikere aȝeyne belialles children
. ¶ Kende consience þo herde and cam out of þe planetes
. And sendesentR.20.55:
Only G agrees with R in reading an apparent present tense here; all other B manuscripts read sent. However, in light of the morphological and
phonological ambiguities discussed in the Introduction III.2.2.10, and since R20.54 clearly depicts a situation in the preterite, it may
well be that the R scribe intended sende here as a preterite. Although
several C copies (DcQScFc) share the RG reading, Cx
agrees with the B majority. forth his forreores feueres
& fluxes — Couȝhes and cardiacles crampes and tothaches . Rewmes and radegondes and roynouse skalles . Byles and boches and brennynge aguwes . Frenesyes and foule eueles forageres of kende . Hadde I-priked and praied
polles of peple .LargelicheÞat largelichR.20.61:
Beta reads Þat largelich. Cx agrees with
alpha. a legioun loseR.20.61: R's form here is unique, but L also attests a
present-tense form, lese; most B witnesses, including
F, show a preterite (e.g., W's loste). The Cx reading
(lees) agrees with L. here lif sone . ¶ Þere was harrow and helpe here cometh
kende . With deth þat is dredful to vndoen vs alle . ¶ Þe lorde þat lyuede after lust þo a-loud criede . After kniȝteconforte a knyghteR.20.65:
In place of R's truncated kniȝte, which clearly involves an omission,
beta reads conforte a knyghte. The omission appears to have occurred in
alpha, with F attempting a typical repair by fleshing out a komely knyght.
Cx agrees with beta, and no C manuscript shows a
comparable error to that attested by the alpha manuscripts. to come and bere
his banere . Alarme alarme quod þat lord ech lyf kepe
his owene .R.20.66: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom
for dividing verse strophes. No reason beyond oversight is apparent. ¶ ÞanneAnd þanneR.20.67:
Beta begins this line And þanne; the C manuscripts
agree with alpha. mette þise men er mynstralz miȝt pipe . And er heraudes of armes hadden descreued lordes . Elde þe horelhoreR.20.69:
Kane-Donaldson thought that the <l> of R's horel (= "whoremonger")
was inserted later. The ink color is identical to that used by the R scribe, though the
character form is much more compressed than his typical final <l>, so the likelihood is
that he himself added the character, possibly even before copying the next line, in order to
"correct" R to the alpha reading also found in F. Beta shows hore, which
is also the reading of C. One would normally assume, when confronted by
such an array, that the beta / C reading is authorial; however, in this
instance it would be easy to argue that their shared phrase, Elde þe hore,
is not only a classical example of an "easier reading" (because stereotypical) but that the
initial omission of final <l> in R's transcription offers evidence of another motive
that may explain the widespread presence of the dominant lection: censorship.
he was in vaunt-wardeþe vauntwardeR.20.69:
Following in, R uniquely omits þe. The C manuscripts here agree with the B majority. . And bare þe baner bifore deth bi riȝt he it claymed
. Kende cam after hymnilR.20.71:
Beta omits hym. Cx agrees with alpha.
with many kene sores . . As pokkes and pestilences and muche poeple schente . So kende thoruȝ corrupciouns
kulled ful manye . ¶ Deth cam driuendedryuynge after and al to duste pdaschtepasshed .R.20.74: Once more, R began with the correct reading, paschte (cf.
beta's passhed and Cx's paschte)
but was "corrected" by Hand2 to the erroneous reading attested in F. The likeliest cause for
this seemingly bizarre series of "corrections" (cf. R5.178 and R18.53) is that Hand2 was
comparing R to a debased alpha copy; in this particular instance, the scribe of that debased
copy would have found daschte appealing on grounds of extra alliteration
(aa|aa) as well as greater familiarity. Kynges and kniȝtes caiseres and popes . Lered ne lewed he leftletR.20.76:
Beta reads let. Cx agrees with alpha. no man
stande . Þat he hitte euene þat euer stired after . Many a louelylouely ladyR.20.78:
Here R shows a unique omission: the other B and C
witnesses attest louely lady. and lemmaneslemmanes ofR.20.78:
Once more, R shows a unique reading (relative to its B cousins): most of
them attest lemmanes of knyghtes. F shows an entirely
unique half-line. However, in this instance, Cx agrees with R.
kniȝtes . Swouned and swelted for sorwe of dethes dyntes . ¶ Consience of his curtesie to kende he be-souȝte . To sese and suffre and se where þei wolde
. Leue pride priueliche and be
parfit cristene . ¶ And kende sesed þo to se þe poeple amende . Fortune gan flateren þanne þo fewe þat
weren alyue . And be-hiȝte hem longe lif
and leccherie he sente . Amonges alle manere men wedded and
vnwedded . And gadered a grete hoste al agayne consience . Þis leccherie leyde on with lawhyngea laughyngR.20.88:
Beta reads a laughyng. Cx agrees with alpha.
chere . And with priue speche and peynted wordes
. And armed hym in Idelnesse & in
heȝ berynge . He bare a bowe in his hande and many blody arwes . Weren fethered with faire beheste and many
a fals treuthe . With vntidyhis vntydyR.20.93:
At this point, beta reads his vntydy. Cx agrees with
alpha. tales he tened ful ofte . Consience and his companye of holy kerkechercheR.20.94:
Alpha is responsible for correctly alliterating kyrke, and is joined by Cr
in that reading. The remaining beta and almost all C witnesses attest
either chirche or cherche. þe techeres .R.20.94:
After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing
verse strophes. No reason is apparent. ¶ Þanne cam coueytise and cast how he miȝte . Ouercome consience and cardinalescardynalR.20.96:
Once more (cf. R20.47), R's rendering of this word as a plural is unique; the other B manuscripts attest the singular, cardynal. Among C copies, though manuscripts EcMcNc agree with R, Cx
agrees with the B majority. vertues . And armed hym in auarice & vngriselichehungrilicheR.20.97:
R's vngriseliche is unique; cf. beta's hungriliche and F's vngryly. R's form is not found in any C manuscript; moreover, the sole attestation for the word in
MED, s. v.ungriseliche, is from this passage. MED offers a possible
gloss of "Not hideously, sumptuously" but also notes that it may be merely an error for the
commonly attested form, hungriliche. liuede . His wepne was al wyles to wynnen and to hyden . With glosynges and gabbynges he giled þe peple . Symonye hym seudesentR.20.100: R uniquely deploys this apparent nonsense word; almost all other B manuscripts read sent. However, on the basis of R's
apparent metathesis of a very plausible reading unanimously attested in C manuscripts, Kane-Donaldson proposed emending B to that
reading, suede. to assaile consience . And preched to þe peple and
prelates þei hem maden .To holde with antecrist here temporautes to saue . And come to þe kynges conseil as a kene
baroun . And kneled to consience in courte be-fore hem alle . And gert goed faith fle and fals to abide . And boldliche bare adoune with many a
redebriȝteR.20.106: In place of alpha's rede, beta and Cx correctly alliterate with briȝte. noble . Muche of þe witt and wisdomm of
westmynster halle . He iugged til a iustice and iusted in his ere . And ouertilte al his treuthe with take
þis vp amendement . And in-toR.20.110: Beta
copies (except for Hm, which agrees with alpha), read to. Among the C manuscripts, the P family agrees with beta while the X family agrees with
alpha. þe arches in haste he ȝede anon after .And turned syuile into symonye & sitth he toke þe official
. For a menyuere mantelmentel of menyuereR.20.112: Beta reads mentel of menyuere. Cx
agrees with alpha. he made lele matrimonie . Departen ar deth cam and anil deuosR.20.113: Beta reads & deuos where alpha attests and a deuos. Cx agrees with alpha. schupte . ¶ Allas quod consience and cride þo wolde
crist of gracehis graceR.20.114: R uniquely omits his before grace. Cx agrees with the B majority. . Þat coueityse were cristene þat is so
kene to fiȝtea fiȝter .R.20.115: For alpha's to fiȝte, beta reads a
fiȝter. Cx agrees with alpha. And bolde and abydynge þenil whileR.20.116: In place of alpha's þe while, beta has while. Cx is uncertain here since the manuscripts are almost
evenly divided, with members of both major families supporting alpha and others agreeing with
beta. However, those that agree here with alpha include most of the best copies of both X and
P groups. his bagge lasteth .R.20.116: After this line, the R scribe failed to
leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason is
apparent. ¶ And þanne louȝ lif and lete dagge his clothes
. And armed hym in haste in harlotes wordes . And helde holinesse a iape and hendenesse a
wastoure . And lete leute a cherle and lyere a fre man . Consience and conseil he counted it folye .R.20.121:
After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing
verse strophes. No reason is apparent. ¶ Þus relied lif for a litel fortuefortu[n]efortune . And priked forth with pruyde
preiseth he no vertue . Ne careth nauȝt how kende slow & schal come
atte laste . And calleculleR.20.125: For alpha's calle, beta reads either kille (the lection found in WCrCO) or, more likely, culle (the
reading of LM). The latter reading is also that of the C version. All
three choices are textually and theologically viable, but the agreement of LM with C probably indicates the authorial original. alle erthly
creature saue consience one Lif seithleep(te)occideasydeR.20.126: For R's non-alliterating seith occide, F has seyde occide, but beta (agreeing here with C) reads leep asyde. and lauȝte hym a lemman . Hele and I quod hee and heyȝenesse
of herte . Schal do þe nauȝt drede nother deth ne elde . And to forȝete sorwe and ȝif nauȝt of
synne . ¶ Þis liked lif and his lemman fortune . And geten in here glorie a
gedelynge at þe laste . On þat muche wrouȝtewo wrouȝteR.20.132: Here alpha omitted a word; cf. the phrase from beta and the C version: moche wo wrouȝte.
slewthe was his name Slewthe wex wondere ȝerne and sone
was of age . And wedded on wanhope a wenche of þe stues . Hire sire was a sisoure
þat neuere swore treuthe . On tohomme to-tongge
ateynte at vch a queste .R.20.136: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his
usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason is apparent. ¶ Þus sleuthe was war of werre and a slynge made . And threw drede of dispaire a doseine
myle aboute . For care consience þo criedencriedcryedR.20.139: R's plural form for this line's verb is unique error. vppon elde
. And badbad hymR.20.140: After bad, alpha omits hym, witnessed
by beta and the C version. fonde to fiȝte and afere wanhope
. ¶ And elde hente gode hope & hasteliche he schifte
hym . And wayued away wanhope and with lif he fiȝteth
. And lif fleyȝ for fere to fisike after helpe . And bisouȝte hym of socoure and of
his salue hadde . And gaf hym goelgo[ld]golde goed wone þat gladede here herteshis herteR.20.145: R's plural possessive in this phrase is unique among the B manuscripts; both beta and F read his herte. However, all but six
of the C manuscripts agree with R's reading. . ¶ And þei gyuen hym a-geyne
a glasen houe . Lif leuede þat lechecrafte lette schulde elde . And tonilR.20.148: Beta omits to. More than half a dozen of the P family
manuscripts of C concur with alpha on this reading, but the
rest—and all of the X family—agree with beta's omission. driue awaye
deth with dayesdyasR.20.148: R's dayes occurred as an error in alpha for dyas, witnessed in beta and in Cx. and dragges .R.20.148:
After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing
verse strophes. No reason is apparent. ¶ And elde auntrede hym on lyf and at þe last he hitte
. A fisisian with a furred hode þat he fel in a palsie
. And þere deyede þat doctour ar thre dayes
after . Now I se seyde lif þat surgerie ne fisike . May nouȝte a myte auayle to medelen aȝeyne
elde . ¶ And in hope of his hele gode herte hente .R.20.154: The Bx phrase is herte he hente; Bo and Cot also omit he, but F includes it. Cx agrees with the B majority. And rode so to reuel a riche place and a myrie . Þe companye of conforte men clepeden it
sum-tyme .R.20.156: After this line, the R
scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason
is apparent. ¶ And elde anon after hymmeR.20.157: Where alpha reads hym, most beta copies read me. Cx agrees with alpha. and
ouer myn hede ȝede . And made me balled before and bare on þe croune . So harde he ȝede ouer myn hede it
wol be sene euere .R.20.159: After this line, the R scribe failed to
leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason is
apparent. ¶ Sire euel ytauȝte elde quod I
vnhende go with þe . Sith whanne was þe waye ouer mennes hedes
. Haddestow be hende quod I þow woldest
haue asked leue . ¶ Ȝe leue lordeyne quod he and leyde
on me with age . And hitte me vnder þe ere vnnethe may ich here . He buffeded me aboute þe mouthe & bet out my wange tethetetheR.20.165: The beta version of this b-verse is uncertain but is likely to have been
that now attested in LMCr: & bett out my tethe. F reads the verse as R
does, except that F's verb is the uniquely represented buscht. The reading
of Cx agrees with R. And gyued me in goutes I may nouȝt go at large
.p iijusnota And of þe wo þat I was inne my wif hadde reuthe .
A bracket drawn in brown ink in the left margin focuses attention on these six lines;
opposite the space between R20.169-70, at the nose of the bracket, a small nota is inscribed. And wischede welfulR.20.168: Cf. beta's ful and F's often. Cx agrees with R. witterly þat I were in
heuene . For þe lyme þat sche louede me fore & leef was to
fele . An niȝtes nameliche whan we naked
were . I ne miȝte in non maner maken it at
hire wille . So elde and heeshe sothlyR.20.172:Hee, "she." it haddehadde(n) itR.20.172: Here R shows a unique word order for a phrase which reads hadde(n) it in most other B manuscripts, including F. However,
Cx agrees with R's phrasing. forbete . ¶ And wasasR.20.173: For alpha's was, beta reads as. Cx agrees with beta. I seet in þis sorwe I say how kende
passed . And deth drouȝ neȝ me for drede gan I
quaken . And cried to kende oute of care me bringe
. Lo elde þe hore hauethR.20.176: R's inflection for this
verb is unique among B copies, but manuscripts RcMcQScZNc of C show the same form, haueth. F, beta, and Cx all attest hath.my lifmeseyebiseyeR.20.176: R's seye is unique; both F and beta read biseye, as does Cx. The preceding phrase in R, my
lif, is from alpha; beta and Cx read me.
. Awreke me ȝif ȝoure wille be
for I wolde be hennes .R.20.177: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his
usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason for this omission is apparent. ¶ If þow wilt ben IwrekeR.20.178: R's form for this verb is unique among B copies but closely resembles the spelling favored in many C manuscripts, awreke. wende into vnite . And halde þe þere euere
til I sende for þe . And loke þow cune sum crafte ar þow come
þennes .R.20.180: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom
for dividing verse strophes. No reason for this omission is apparent. ¶ ConseilethConseilleR.20.181: R's inflection for this verb is unique among B copies,
but most C manuscripts agree with R. F and beta attest Co(u)nseille. me kende quod I what crafte beisR.20.181: R's be is unique; beta reads is while
F rephrases the entire b-verse as what craft y myȝhte leerne. Though
several C manuscripts agree with beta, Cx agrees
with R. best to lerne .R.20.181: After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank
line, his usual custom for dividing verse strophes. No reason for this omission is
apparent.love ¶ Lerne to loue quod kende
and leueleue ofR.20.182: Cr joins alpha in omitting of after this verb. The other
beta copies include it, reading leue of alle othre.
Cx agrees with Cr and alpha in reading simply leef alle
othere. alle othere .R.20.182: In the left margin opposite this line, in a black,
late-medieval cursive hand, the word love appears. How schal I come to catel so to clothe me and to fede
. And þow loue lellylelly quod heR.20.184: At the end of this a-verse, the beta manuscripts interject quod he. Cx agrees with alpha in omitting the phrase.
lakke schal þe neuere .WedeMeteR.20.185: In place of alpha's Wede ne worldly mete, beta reads Mete ne wordly wede; Cx agrees with alpha's
phrasing. ne wordly metewede while þi lif lasteth . And þere be conseile of kende comsedI comsedR.20.186: R here omits any reference to the subject; cf. beta's I
comsed and F's he comsed; F's reading suggests an inept attempt to
restore a word sensed as grammatically necessary. Among the C copies,
RcMcQScZFc read the b-verse as beta does, while the majority agrees with R. However, it is
clear that, unlike any B manuscript, Cx positioned
the pronoun reference in the a-verse: And y bi conseil of kynde. to
rome . Þoruȝ contricioun and
confessioun til I cam to vnite . And þere was constableconscience constableR.20.188: Again R omits a stave (cf. conscience constable, the
reading of beta and of Cx), presumably reflecting an error in alpha
since F tries to patch up the same omission with he was mad a
cunstable. cristene to saue . And biseged sothly with seuene grete geauntes . Þat with antecriste helden harde aȝeine consience
. ¶ Sleuthe with his slynge and harde saute he made .Proude prestes come with hym passynge an hundrethmoo þan a thousand .R.20.192: Beta's b-verse breaks the alliterative pattern of the line, reading the
b-verse as moo þan a thousand. Although two C
manuscripts—P2Fc—agree with beta's reading (presumably
through lateral contamination), Cx agrees exactly with alpha's
b-verse.In paltokes and piked shoes and pisseres longe kniues . Comen aȝeyne consience with coueitise þei helden
. ¶ Be þenilR.20.195: R's þe is unique among the B
witnesses; the others omit the word. However, Cx agrees with R in
including it. marie quod a mansed prest wasnilR.20.195: Beta omits alpha's was. Several C
copies support beta but Cx agrees with alpha. of þe marche of
erlande . I counte namore consience bi so I cacche
siluer . Þan I do to drinke a drauȝte of gode ale . And so seide sixti of þe same contray . And shoten aȝeine with shote many a shef of othes
. And brode hoked arwes godes herte and his nailes . And hadden almoste vnite and holinesse adowne .R.20.201:
After this line, the R scribe failed to leave a blank line, his usual custom for dividing
verse strophes. No reason for the omission is apparent. ¶ Consience cride helpe clergie or elles I falle . Þoruȝ inparfit prestes and prelates
of holy cherche . Freres herden hym crie and comen hym to helpe . Ac for þei coude nauȝt wel her crafte
consience forsoke hem . ¶ Nede neyȝede þo neere and
consience he tolde . Þat þei come for nonilR.20.207: Erroneous no appeared in alpha. C
manuscripts support beta witnesses here in omitting it. coueytise to haue
cure of soules . And for þei aren pouer par
auenture for patrimonye hem faileth . Þei wil flatere to fare wel folke þat ben
riche . And sitthen þei chosen chele and cheytifteR.20.210: F is
uniquely garbled in this b-verse, reading this variant as chastite. The
most commonly attested reading in beta manuscripts at this point is cheitif (MCrHmCO); but the original beta reading is probably that of LW, which agrees
with R and Cx: cheytifte. The widespread misreading
of this word is probably owed to its comparative rarity relative to the adjective—as
well as to the unexpected syntax. pouerte . Late hem chewe as þei chese and charge hem with no cure
.R.20.211:
Alpha omits the following two lines, which are attested by beta and by Cx: For lomer he lyeth þat lyflode mote begge Þan he þat laboureth for
lyflode & leneth it beggeres.ForAndR.20.212: Beta reads And. Cx agrees with
beta. sitth freres forsokeR.20.212: Beta reads þe felicite. Cx agrees with beta.feliciteþe felicite of erthe .Late hem be as beggeres or lyue be angeles fode . ¶ Consience of þis conseileconseille þoR.20.214: Immediately after conseile, beta adds þo. Though a number of P family manuscripts (RcMcQScZWaFcNc) agree with alpha in
omitting þo, the word seems clearly attested in all other C manuscripts. comsed for to lauȝwe . And curteisliche conforted hem and calde
in alle freres . And seide sires sothly welcome be ȝe alle . To vnite and holy cherche ac o thyng I ȝow preye
. Holdeth ȝow in vnite and haueth non enuye . To lered ne to lewed but lyueth after
ȝoure reule . And I wil be ȝoure borwe ȝe
schul haue brede & clothes . And other necessaries Inowe þow schaltȝow shalR.20.221: For R's þow schalt, beta reads ȝow
shal and F shows for ȝee shal. Though a sizeable number of C manuscripts read ȝe shal, the majority agrees
with beta. nothyngelakkefailleR.20.221: Beta reads faille, but Cx agrees
with alpha's lakke. .With þat ȝe leue logik and lerneth for to louye .For loue lefte þei lordschipe both lond and scole
.Frere franceys and dominik foforR.20.224: Neither MED nor OED2, s. v.for, cites an example of fo as viable for the
preposition signified here, but it occurs in R in four widely separated contexts (cf. R2.64,
R14.60, and R15.379) and probably represents an instance of idiolect apocope.loue to be holy . ¶ And ȝif ȝe coueyte cure kende
wol ȝow telleteche .R.20.225: For alpha's telle, beta reads teche.
Cx agrees with alpha's reading. Þat in mesure god made alle
manere thynges . And sette it at a certeyne and at a siker nombre . And nempned hemnilR.20.228: Beta omits alpha's hem, but Cx
includes it.names and newenames newe andR.20.228: Beta transposes the alpha phrase to newe and. None of the
C manuscripts attests newe in the line in either
position.nombrenoumbredR.20.228: R's uninflected verb form is a unique error; F, beta, and C all attest noumbred. þe sterres .QuisQui numerat multitudinem stellarumstellarum & omnibus eis &c .R.20.229: R's Quis is unique; all other B and C manuscripts read Qui. R's
complete omission of much of this Latin citation is unique among the B
witnesses; O shares R's gap for the initial part of the omission, a phrase that beta renders
as & omnibus eis (cf. F's & omnia
eis). The most interesting feature of the attestational array for the B manuscripts here is that the C-version's citation
of this text agrees completely in its shape with that of R. Kynges and kniȝtes þat keptenkepenR.20.230: R's preterite form is unsupported by any other B copy;
the others all show kepen. Nevertheless, though most C witnesses agree with beta, three of the most authoritative X family manuscripts
(XIP2) agree with R's preterite. and defenden . Han officeres vnder hymR.20.231: R is joined by Bm and Bo in reading hym, but F agrees with beta and with Cx on the plural
pronoun, hem. and vch of hem
certeyne . And if þei wage men to werre þei writen
hem in nombre . Wil no tresorere taken hymhemR.20.233: Once more F agrees with beta in reading the plural pronoun (hem) against R's singular; however, the entire phrase in which the pronoun occurs (take hem wages) has been corrupted in beta to read hem
paye. The C version reads the phrase in exact agreement with
F. wages trauaile þei neuer so sore .R.20.233: The
final punctuation here appears ambiguous because it has been partially rubbed away; it may
have been a punctus elevatus originally. After this line, the R scribe omits his customary
practice of inserting a blank line to divide poetic strophes, presumably because the next
line is the last one ruled for this side. ¶ Alle other in bataille ben yholde
briboures . Piloures and pike-herneys
in vch a parischeplaceR.20.235: The beta variant is place. C attests
the same variant as alpha. acursed . Monkes and moneales and alle men of religion .HeraudeHer ordre andR.20.237: Alpha is responsible here for a botched a-verse (apparently alpha omitted
ordre, leaving Her ande, which R took to be Heraude). F attempted a complete revision of alpha's a-verse to Þer is in here rewle wel. Beta and C witnesses have Her ordre and her reule wil. here reule wol to haue a
certeyne nombre . Of lewed and of lered þe lawe wil and asketh .A certeyn for a certeyne saue onlich of freres .For-þi quod consience be criste
kende witt me telleth .It is wikked to wage ȝow ȝe wexeth of onout ofR.20.241: Cf. R's of on to F's ouer ony and
beta's out of. Once again it appears that R probably reproduces an alpha
error here, which F attempts to correct. The C reading is the same as
beta's.nombre . ¶ Heuene hath euene nombre and helle is
withoute nombre .For-þi I wolde witterly
þat ȝe were in þe registre .And ȝoure nombre vnder notarinotaries sygne & noþer mo no lesse . Enuye herde þis and hett freres go to scole . And lerne logik and law and eke
contemplacioun . And preche men of plato and
preuen it be senecca . Þat alle thynges vnder heuene ouȝte to be in comune
. ¶ HeAnd ȝit he lyethR.20.249: Beta reads And ȝit he lyeth. Cx agrees with alpha. as I leue þat to þe lewed so
precheth . For god made to men a lawe & moyses it tauȝte
.Non concupisces rem
proximi tui &cetera . And euele is þis I-holde
in paresches of englonde . For persones & paresch prestes
þat schuld þe peple schryue . BethR.20.254: R's Beth is a unique form but semantically
equivalent to the predominant Ben. curatoures calde to
know and to hele . Alle þat ben here parshiens
penauncespenaunceR.20.255: Beta reads the singular, penaunce. The C manuscripts are divided between these two options, with members of both major
families attesting each reading.enioynento enioigne . And bethshulde(n) be(n)R.20.256: Beta reads shulden be. The C
manuscripts agree with alpha. Once more, only R shows the verb form as beth. aschamed in here shrifte ac shame maketh
hem wende . And fle to þe freres as fals folke to
westmenster . Þat borweth and bereth it þider & þanne biddeth
frendes . Ȝerne of forȝyuenesse or
lengereyereȝeres leue .R.20.259: R's unmarked possessive (=yere) is completely unique. For
the entire phrase, the beta majority reads ȝeres loone. F's bleve seems an obvious editorial conjecture. R's leue is
uniquely shared with L and is almost certainly the original B reading.
It is shared with Cx. ¶ Ac while he is in westmynstre he wil be
bifore . And makethmake(n) hym merie with other menmennesR.20.261: R's unmarked possessive (=men) is unique among the B copies; however, though a majority of C manuscripts
agrees with beta on mennes, a significant group of good copies in both
families agrees with R. godes .And so it fareth with muche folke þat to
freresþe freresR.20.262: Though Cr reads this phrase in agreement with alpha, beta apparently had
to þe freres. Cx concurs with
alpha. shriueth .confession made to FryersAs sisoures and executoures þei schulwil(len)R.20.263: Beta reads wil. Cx agrees with
alpha.ȝyue þe freres .A parcel to preye for hem & make hemhemself(en) R.20.264: The other B manuscripts read hemself
here, but Cx agrees with R's reading; the alliterative pattern of the
archetypal b-verse fails in C as well as B,
probably through an error in line division.murie .With residueþe residue & remenauntþe remenauntR.20.265: R omits two determiners from the beta (and presumably Bx) phrase, which reads With þe residue and þe remenaunt. Cx shows a major difference here,
completely omitting þe residue and. þat other men by-swonke .And suffre þe dede in dette to þe day of dome . ¶ Enuye here-fore
hatede consience . And freres to filosophie he fonde hem to scole . Þe while coueytise and vnkendenesse consience assailed
. In vnite holy cherche consience helde hym . And made pees portere to pynne þe
ȝates . . ¶ Of alle tale telleres and tytereres aninR.20.272: R's an is unique in the B tradition;
beta has in; F reads of. However, among the C manuscripts, most of the X family agrees with R. The P family and several
members of the X family agree with beta. ydel .ItD Ipocrisie and he an harde sawte þei made .R.20.273: In
the right margin, there are remains of a pen trial, in light brown ink. Ipocrisie at þe ȝate harde gan fiȝte .Dvd And wounded wel wikkedliche many anilR.20.275: Though Cr1W agree with alpha on the presence of a here, the other beta copies omit it. A few C copies
agree with beta on this point, but Cx agrees with alpha. wise
techere .R.20.275: As with R20.273, here there are remains of a pen trial, in the
same hand. Þat with consience acorded and cardinalescardinaleR.20.276: R's use of the plural form here is unique in the B
tradition (cf. R20.47, 96); the other B witnesses read cardinale. Manuscripts EcRcMcNc of the C tradition agree with R,
but Cx agrees with the B majority.
vertues . ¶ Consience calde a leche þat cowde wel shriue . Go salue þo þat syke werebenR.20.278: In contrast to alpha's preterite form (cf. F's weren),
beta reads ben. Cx agrees with alpha.
and thoruȝ synne ywounded . Shrifte shuppte scharpe salue and made men do
penaunce . For here misdedes þat þei wrouȝt
hadden . And þat peres were payed redde quod debes . ¶ Summe liked nouȝt þis leche and
lettres þei sente . Ȝif any surgien wereinnil þe segeseggeR.20.283: In place of alpha's in þe sege (also attested by Cr),
beta reads þe segge. Cx agrees with alpha.
þat softer coude playstre . Sir lifliefR.20.284: Beta reads lief for alpha's lif, but
the alpha reading is supported by Hm and Cr as well as by Cx. The
Russell-Kane edition emends this reading, replacing it with that of beta. to lyue in
leccherie lay þere and groned .For fastynge of oa fridayR.20.285: All other B manuscripts read a
fryday. Although one manuscript of C shows the same numerical
determiner as R, Cx agrees with the B
majority. he ferde as he wolde deye . Þere is a surgien in þis sege þat softe can handele
. And more of fisike be fer and fairere he
plastreth .On frere flaterere is fisisien and surgien . QuatzR.20.289: R's spelling for this verb, quatz, is
anomalous and unique, probably attesting the Northeastern origins of the immediate scribe.
Both Bx and Cx read Quod.
contricioun to consience do hym come to
vnite . For here is many a man hert þoruȝ
Ipocrisye . ¶ We han non nede quod consience I wote
no bettere leche . Þen persone or parisch prest
penauncerpenytancereR.20.292: R's penauncer is unique; beta has penytancere and F reads pentawncer. No C copy
supports R's lection. or bischope . Saue peres þe plowman þat hauethR.20.293: Both beta and F render
this form as hath (although F transposes the phrase). Mss RcNc in the C tradition replicate R's form, but Cx agrees with the
B majority. power ouerallehem alleR.20.293: Beta reads ouer hem alle. Cx agrees with alpha. . And indulgence may do but if dette lette it . I may wel suffre seyde consience synnes
ȝe desiren . Þat frere flaterere be fette and fisike
ȝow seke . ¶ Þe frere here-of
herde and hyȝede faste To a lorde for a lettere leue to haue to
curen . As a curatoure he were and
cam with his letterelettresR.20.299: Beta here shows a plural, lettres. The reading of Cx is uncertain; the P family agrees with beta while the X family agrees
with alpha's singular form. . Boldely to þe bischope and his breef
hadde . In contreyes þere he camcome inR.20.301: The beta form of the verb is come. All beta copies except
W (which agrees with alpha in omitting the postpositional particle) read the phrase as come in. Cx agrees completely with alpha's
lection. confessiounsconfessiouns to here .R.20.301: R uniquely omits the end of this line, which in Bx
reads to here. And cam þere consience was & knocked
at þe ȝate . ¶ Pees vnpynned it was porter of vnite . And in haste asked what his wille were . In faith quod þis frere
for profit and for helthe . Carpe I wolde with contricioun
& þerefore cam I hider . ¶ He is syke seyde pees and so ar many other . Ipocrisie hath herte hem ful harde is if þei keuere
. ¶ I am am a surgyan
seyde þe frereseggeR.20.309: The beta reading for alpha's frere is segge, presumably intended to resolve an anomaly in the line's alliteration. However,
Cx agrees with alpha. & salues can make . Consience knoweth me wel & what I can do bothe . I preye þe quod pees þo ar þow passe
forther . What hatestow I preye þe hele nauȝte þi name .penetrans
domos ¶ Certes seyde his felawe sir penetrans domos . ¶ Ȝee go þi gate quod pees bi god
for alle þi fisike . But þow cunne anysommeR.20.315: R's any is unique in the B
tradition; cf. F's more and beta's somme. However,
though seven P family copies (RcMcQScZWaFc) read other, most C manuscripts agree with R. crafte þow comest nouȝt
hehe[r]-Inneher-Inne . I knewe swich on ones nouȝt eyȝte
wynter passed . Come in þus Icoped at a court þere I
dwelte . And was my lordes leche and my ladyes bothe .And at þe last þis lymitoure þo my lord was oute
.He salued so oure wymmen til summe
were with childe . ¶ Hende speche heet pees þonil R.20.321: Beta omits þo. However, Cx agrees with alpha. opene þe ȝates . Late in frereþe frereR.20.322: R uniquely omits the determiner in the Bx phrase, þe frere. Only one C manuscript (Sc) duplicates this
error. and his felawe and make hem faire
chere He may se and here her soso itR.20.323: Cf. F's er so. As the testimony of Cx suggests, this Bx line probably read as in R: He
may se and here her so may befalle. Surviving beta manuscripts read He
may se and here so it may bifalle. may befalle . Þat lif thoruȝ his lore schal leue coueitise . And be adrad of deth and withdrawe hym fram pride . And acorde with consience and kysse her eyther
othere . ¶ Þus þoruȝ hende speche entred
þe frere . And cam in to consience and curteiseliche hym grette
. Þow art welcome quod consience canstow
hele sykeþe sykeR.20.329: Beta renders this phrase as hele þe
syke; Cx agrees with alpha. .R.20.329: In the lower left margin of fol. 100v,
there are the smudged, partially erased remains of various pen trials. Here is contricion quod consience
my cosyn I-wounded . Conforte hym quod consience and take kepe
to his sores . Þe plastres of þe persone and poudres
benbitenR.20.332: R's ben is unique in the B
tradition; cf. F's byte and beta's biten. However, Cx agrees with R. to sore . There is a black ink
stain about 2 cm. long in the right margin beside these lines.AndHeR.20.333: Among the B copies, And is unique to
R; beta and F read He. However, Cx agrees with
R. late hem liggen ouerlonge and lothe is to chaunge hem .Fro lente to lente he lette his plastres bitte . ¶ Þat is ouer-longe
quod þis lymitoure I leue I schal amende it . And gothgoth andR.20.336: R's reading is unique; F and beta show goth and. Nine C manuscripts, mostly of the P family, agree with
F and beta, but the majority of C witnesses, including most of the X
family, agrees with R. gropeth contricion and gaf hym a plaistre .Of a priue paiement and I schal praie for ȝow .For alle þat ȝe be holde to al my Iif-tyme .And make ȝow my lady in masse and in matynes .As freres of oure fraternite for a litel
siluer . ¶ Þus he goth and g.adereth There is a hole in
the leaf here, the result of damage after copying. and gloseth
þere he schriueth . Til contricioun had .clene for-ȝetene to crie and to wepe . And wake for his wikked werkes as he wonedwas wontR.20.343: From the b-verse of beta (as he was wont
to done) and that of F (þat he was whont to
doone), as well as that of Cx (as he was woned bifore), it appears that R accidentally omitted alpha's was; nevertheless, F's general adroitness and eagerness to repair corruption make it
difficult to rule out the possibility that R's error is derived from an omission in alpha
itself. to done .For confort of his confessoure contricion
he lefte .contricionÞat is þe souereynest salue for alle kynne synnes
. ¶ Sleuthe seye þat and so dede pruyde . And come with a kene wille consience to assaile . Consience cride eft and bad clergye helpe hym .
Between these two lines, there is a hole in the manuscript, but no text has been
affected. And al-so
contricion for to kepe þe ȝate . ¶ He lyeth and dremeth seyde pees and so doth many other
.Þe frere with his fisyke þis folke hath sonilR.20.351: Beta omits so. Cx agrees with
beta. enchaunted . And plastred hem so hesily þei drede no synne . ¶ By crist quod consience þo I wil become
a pilgrime . And walken as wide as alle þe worlde
lasteth . To seke peres þe plowman þat pruyde myȝtemayR.20.355: Beta reads may. Cx agrees with
alpha. destruye . And þat freres had a fyndynge þat for
nede flateren . And contrepleteth me consience
now kende me auenge . And sende me hap and hele til I haue peres þe
plowman .And siththeR.20.359: Someone has scribbled
these replacements in modern pencil in the right margin opposite this
line. And sithe heR.20.359: Although
the erasure here is thorough, with manipulation in Photoshop it is possible to make out the
probable original reading. gradde after grace til I gan a-wake .William
ButtesPassus ijus de dobest ——R.20.359:
Regarding the location and purport of this rubric, I have noted ("The Reliability of the
Rubrics in the B-Text of Piers Plowman," Medium Aevum
54 (1985): 214, n.11) that it "is an anomaly with no significance other than as an indication
of incidental contamination in the ordinatio of the MS. . . . It
appears at the very end of the text of Piers Plowman and would seem to be an
explicit, but this MS uses no explicits elsewhere and
there is no clear indication that the scribe even realized he had reached the end of the
entire poem." In actuality, the only manuscripts with an identical rubric are four C copies (XDcYcUc), which use the phrase as an incipit
for the final passus.passus
ijus de dobest