Passus undecimus
And lakked me in latyne · and liȝte by me sheBx.11.2: she: Scripture is female in Bx.10.160-1. Alpha reads he, either as the feminine pronoun or taking Scripture as a male personification. Cx omits the pronoun (RK.11.162). Though she is clearly female in l. 4, in l. 110 Scripture is referred to as he by GOCF. sette
And seyde multi multa sciunt [·]Bx.11.3: MHmO and alpha treat this as a standard alliterative line with medial punctuation. & seipsos nesciunt
Bx.11.4KD.11.4
Þo wepte I for woBx.11.4: wo: Supported by alliteration and Cx against alpha's sorwe. · and wratth of her speche
And in a wynkyng wratth · wex [til] I [was]Bx.11.5: til I was: R's reading is taken to be alpha and Bx. In the a-verse the form wratth is pretty clearly a Bx error (prompted by the previous line) for warth, "entered, fell", where Cx has I warth (RK.11.165). We assume that beta rewrote the b-verse, supposing that the a-verse meant something like "in an angry sleepiness"
or "in a sleepy anger". The b-verse in Cx is quite different. F rewrote the whole line and added another five, avoiding the dream within a dream by waking Will up
and sending him swiftly back to sleep again. aslepe
A merueillouse meteles · mette me þanneBx.11.6: mette me þanne: Alpha's me tydde to dreme has less satisfactory alliteration. Surprisingly, the verb tiden is never used in the poem.
Bx.11.8KD.11.8
And in-to þe londe of longynge · alloneBx.11.8: allone: Beta and F are supported by the X family of C, although the P family as well as two of the X family (YU) support R's & loue. For the collocation of love and longing, see MED longing(e (1) (b) and (c). Either reading could easily have given rise to the other. she me brouȝte
Bx.11.20KD.11.20
And in þis myroure þow myȝte se · myrthesBx.11.20: myrthes: Beta2's myȝtes has no support from Cx. ful manye
Þe freke þat folwedBx.11.26: folwed: Alpha's present tense might equally represent Bx. C has a different line, with present-tense liketh. my wille · failled neuere blisse
Þow shalt fynde fortune þe faille ·Bx.11.29: R places the punctuation after fortune, thus alliterating aa/ax rather than aaa/xx. at þi moste nede
Bx.11.36KD.11.36
A man may stoupe tymesBx.11.36: tymes: LMHmR have the plural, presumably representing Bx, though the regular adverbial expression is time enough, "soon enough"; see MED time n.(2), 8c(c). The other B mss. and most C mss. have the regular singular. See Adams (2000), 179. ynow · whan he shal tyne þe croune
¶ Homo proponit quod a poete [þo]Bx.11.37: þo: Alpha is supported by Cx (RK.11.303). · and plato he hyght
[¶]Bx.11.42: ¶: The paraph is in WHmC and alpha, with a line-space in M. In L, which lacks the usual line-space, the scribe's paraph marker
is unrubricated. Ȝee farewel phippe quod fauntelte [·] and forth gan me drawe
Bx.11.46-9: Omitted by alpha, an easy case of eye-skip, with the same a-verse in ll. 46 and 50, both lines beginning with a paraph. F
then also omits ll. 50-1. It is worth noting that Bx.11.47-52 are absent from C, and this may also be attributable to eye-skip. ¶ Coueityse of eyghes · conforted me anon after
Bx.11.48KD.11.48
Þat of dowel ne dobet · no deyntee me neBx.11.48: ne (2): LM only (alpha is absent). þouȝte
I had no lykynge leue me if þeBx.11.49: þe: LMW; Hm has thu and Cr has ye. leste · of hem auȝte to knowe
Bx.11.56KD.11.56
And fe[tt]eBx.11.56: fette: R (= alpha) with F misreading as sette. MED fetten notes that "in the ME and Early MnE period fetten is gradually replaced by fecchen", whence beta's reading. Cx has instead festene (RK.12.8). At Bx.18.344 R has fecchest for Bx fettest. þe to her fraternite · and for þe biseke
[P]enaBx.11.59: Pena: Alpha is supported by Cx. Presumably beta's Set pena is an attempt to link the quotation more closely to the argument. Alford (1992), 72. pecuniar[i]a non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis
Bx.11.60KD.11.59
¶ By wissynge of þis wenche I [dede]Bx.11.60: dede: The choice of reading is difficult. R is supported by Cx. We therefore suppose that beta corrupted to wrouȝte by alliterative attraction, while F coincidentally included wrowhte in a rewritten a-verse, again prompted by the alliteration. · here wordes were so swete
Or where he were parissheneBx.11.69: parisshene: Alpha adds the indefinite article. There is no parallel in C. · riȝt þere he shulde be grauen
Ich haue moche merueille of ȝow · and so hath many anotherBx.11.77: another: R's other has support from CrCGO. The line is not in C, and is rejected by KD.
For a baptized man ·Bx.11.82: L's placing of the punctuation after man has the support of MCR, suggesting a Bx error. Beta2 (CrWHm) and OF correct by placing it after may. may as maistres telleth
Þorugh contricioun come · toBx.11.83: to: R has til, and F has into. þe heigh heuene Sola contricio &cBx.11.83: &c: HmCGO extend the "common saying" (Alford (1992), 72) by adding delet peccatum. In beta (LMCrWHmO) the Latin follows the English on the same line, either as part of the line (MCr) or separated from the
English with a space, in L (boxed in red), W (boxed in red preceded by // to indicate an omission), Hm (with caret to indicate
omission), and O (which commonly sets Latin quotations in the right margin, underlined in red). In alpha the Latin is given
a separate line. Compare l. 85, where it is clear that Bx treats the Latin as the first part of the line. See note to 11.85. ·
Bx.11.87: A paraph would be appropriate here to mark the beginning of direct speech, but it is supported by WR only. In the next line
it has stronger support from WHm and alpha, and in l. 89 from W and alpha. W is much more regular than other scribes in paragraphing speech, and his testimony therefore carries less
weight.Wherfore lourestow quod lewte · and loked on me harde
Ȝe bi peter and bi poule quod he · and takeBx.11.89: take: The imperative is supported by the crucial witnesses LMR, as well as G. Others have the easier past tense. See Adams (2000),
179. hem bothe to witnesse
¶ And wher-of serueth lawe quod lewteBx.11.93: lewte: Cx does not support R's addition of þanne. · if no lyf vndertoke it
¶ ÞingeBx.11.102: Þinge: Alpha may have started the line with A (F) or Ac (R), but neither is supported by Cx. þat al þe worlde wote · wherfore shuldestow spare
AndBx.11.103: And: Clearly the Bx reading, though probably an error for To as in WHm and also Cx. reden it in Retoryke · to arate dedly synne
Bx.11.104KD.11.103
Ac beBx.11.104: be: HmF add thu, as does the P family of C. neuere-more þe fyrste · þe defaute to blame
Neyther for loue laudeBx.11.107: laude: R has lakke, anticipating the b-verse, while F rewrites. Cx has labbe it out, "blurt it out", for laude it nouȝt. it nouȝt · ne lakke it for enuye
Ac þe matere þat she meued · if lewed men it kneweBx.11.110: if lewed men it knewe: R's b-verse lewed men it knowe probably represents corruption in alpha (cf. F). Cx supports beta.
Bx.11.112KD.11.110
[Þe bileue [of] þat lordBx.11.112: of þat lord: The line is recorded only in alpha, though evidently the a-verse has been corrupted, perhaps simply by omitting of as in R. Cx reads of oure lord (RK.12.44). . þat lettred men techeth]
O vos omnes scicientesBx.11.123: scicientes: Evidently the Bx (and probably Cx) spelling for the more formally correct sicientes. venite &c
Bx.11.124KD.11.121
And badde hem souke for synne · sa[ue]Bx.11.124: saue: Beta has saufly, but Alpha's word is supported by the X family of C; the P family has sauete in a rewritten b-verse. Kane (2005) glosses saue RK.12.56 as "decoction of herbs taken internally fig.". See MED save n.(1). at his breste
By þe blode þatBx.11.127: þat: G, Alpha and a few C mss. omit. he bouȝte vs with · and þorugh baptesme after
For þough a crystene man coueyted · his crystenedome to reneyeBx.11.129: reneye: Beta, supported by sense and by Cx against alpha's receyue.
Ac he may renne in arrerage · and rowmeBx.11.133: rowme: R repeats renne; F has rayke. Cx supports the verb as in beta, and the omission of so as in alpha, added in beta to fill out a short line. fro home
And as a reneyed caityf [·] reccheleslyBx.11.134: recchelesly: The L corrector assumes omission of a verb, and supplies gon, while Beta2 (CrWHm) repeats rennen from the previous line. Alpha has corrupted the a-verse (R has he renneth for a reneyed), and it appears likely that Cx has to make sense of a corrupted exemplar, since the line becomes As a recheles caytyf or reneyed as hit semeth (RK.12.65). aboute
Ac Resoun shal rekne with hym · Bx.11.135-6: As a result of eyeskip on mid-line with hym, beta drops 135b and 136a. Alpha is supported by Cx.[and rebuken hym at þe laste
And putten [hym]Bx.11.137: hym: The omission in LMC suggests that the pronoun may have been lost in beta. It is supported by both alpha and Cx. after inBx.11.137: in: LM and beta2 (CrWHm) have in a, but the article is not in alpha or Cx. prisone · in purgatorie to brenne
[And]Bx.11.138: And: Beta drops And, but alpha is supported by the X family of C. The P family reorders the a-verse. for his arrerages rewarden hym þere · [riȝte]Bx.11.138: riȝte: R supplies the Bx reading. The alliterating adverb is supported by Cx. F rewrites the b-verse. to þe daye of dome
But if contricioun w[o]lBx.11.139: wol: LR give strong support for wel, which could be right ("happily", etc.). More probably both scribes mistake wol come for a spelling of welcome (see MED), and in L the line is marked for correction. Cx revises the line. come · and crye bi his lyue
Bx.11.140KD.11.136
Mercy for his mysdedes · with mouth orBx.11.140: or: Well supported for Bx, though and in WHmF is also the reading of Cx. with herte
Mercy alle toBx.11.142: alle to: Alpha's may al was perhaps the basis for Cx, which has the a-verse Mercy þat he ne may al amende. However, the syntax is lette to amende "prevent from amending". amende · and mekenesse hir folweBx.11.142: and mekenesse hir folwe: R (= alpha?) muddles through with þat mekenesse he folweth, but Cx supports the b-verse as in beta.
Þat al þe clergye vnder cryste · miȝteBx.11.149: miȝte: Evidently Bx lost ne, required for sense and supplied by beta2 (CrWHm), as in Cx (RK.12.79). me cracche fro helle
But onliche loue and leaute · [of]Bx.11.150: of: So alpha, against beta's and. The sense is supported by Cx as in my lawes demynge, which also sets Trajan's love and integrity in relation to his justice. my lawful domes
Bx.11.152KD.11.147
Sauacioun for [þe]Bx.11.152: þe: Alpha, dropped by beta, but supported by Cx. sothenesse · þat he seigh inBx.11.152: seigh in: Beta, supported by Cx, against R's seith of. my werkes
And I saued as ȝe mayBx.11.155: may: Probably R's now is a misreading of an alpha form mowe. se · with-oute syngyng of masses
Bx.11.156KD.11.152
ByBx.11.156: By: Probably dropped by alpha, with F patching. Alpha may have stumbled over the non-expression of the subject pronoun "that"
in the next line (where F again patches). loue and by lernyng [·] of my lyuyng in treuthe
Wel ouȝte ȝeBx.11.162: ȝe: Beta, supported by Cx, against alpha's þe. lordes þat lawes kepe · þis lessoun to haue in mynde
Bx.11.164KD.11.160
Bx.11.164-74: Beta omits these 11 lines, perhaps due to eyeskip from paraph to paraph. KD p. 66 suggest an implausible series of homeoarchy.
11.172 is in R alone. The passage is not in C, although Bx.11.171-2 lies behind RK.12.97. R's spellings have been altered to those of L. [¶ Þis matir is merke for mani of ȝow · ac men of holy cherche
Þe legend[a]Bx.11.165: legenda: RF write legende, but cf. Bx.11.229 and 15.280. sanctorum ȝow lereth · more larger þan I ȝow telle
PulteBx.11.167: Pulte: From pilten (cf. RK.11.206) rather than pullen, pace Kane (2005). Cf. Bx.1.128, 15.66. oute of pyne · a paynym of rome
Bx.11.168KD.11.164
Yblessed be treuthe · þat so brakBx.11.168: so brak: F reverses the word-order. helle ȝates
God wrouȝt it and wrot hit · with his oneBx.11.173: one: R's on is his usual form of "one". F has owne. fynger
And toke it moyses vpon þe mount · alle men toBx.11.174: to: F supplies an object it, perhaps rightly. lere]
[¶]Bx.11.175: ¶: Since we suppose that the beta scribe skipped from one paraph to another, we insert the paraph supplied only in R and Hm.
In L the line is at the top of the leaf.Lawe with-outen loue quod troianus [·] leye þere a bene
ButBx.11.177: But: In L the corrector has added if, but it is without support. þei ben lerned for owre lordes loue · loste is alle þe tyme
¶Bx.11.182: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. In R the line is at the top of the page. Who-so loueth nouȝte leue me · he lyueth in deth-deyinge
Who-soBx.11.185: Who-so: Alpha begins For ho-so, obscuring the parallel with l. 182. lenethBx.11.185: leneth: Alpha's leueth (also Cr) is not approprate to the argument that follows. nouȝte he loueth nouȝte · [oure lorde]Bx.11.185: oure lorde: The reading is very uncertain since it is attested by R alone. Possibly R altered Bx god for the sake of alliteration, but that would be very untypical behaviour. More probably beta read god, coincidentally adopted by F. These lines are not in C. Perhaps reflecting the lack of b-verse alliteration with the reading god, all scribes except W, beta4 and R punctuate after each nouȝte. wote þe sothe
And comaundethBx.11.186: comaundeth: O and Alpha have the past tense. Either alpha or beta could be right. eche creature · to confourme hym to louye
For owre ioye and owre [Iuwel]Bx.11.190: Iuwel: KD's conjecture, proposed on p. 184, is persuasive as the reading of Bx, and fits the alliteration on /j/. R's nonsensical euel can hardly have been prompted by the commonplace hele, helthe of beta and F, but is more likely to be a misinterpretation of an alpha spelling iuel. If so, then beta and F misunderstood or objected to the rare use of "jewel" to refer to Christ. The closest parallel is
Pearl 795; cf. also Bx.18.447. · IhesuBx.11.190: Ihesu: Alpha has is ihesu, but Ihesu is subject of pursueth in the next line. cryst of heuene
Wheþer we loue þe lordes here · byfor owreBx.11.194: owre: Strong support from LMR and CO, against þe in beta2 and GF. lorde of blisse
Bx.11.196KD.11.191
We shulde nouȝte clepe owre kynne þer-to · ne none kynnes richeBx.11.196: kynnes riche: Probably "rich of any sort", translating Luke 14.12 "vicinos divites". R may have confused with kine-riche, "kingdom", or interpreted as "rich kin", following kyn (Luke's "cognatos") in the a-verse. Cf. also GO, and F's apparent difficulty with the b-verse. It is noteworthy that Cx, which has knyhtes in the a-verse, has none kyne ryche, "no rich kin" in the b-verse (RK.12.103).
Bx.11.200KD.11.194
Ȝowre festynge and ȝowre faire ȝifteBx.11.200: ȝifte: Clearly beta, though beta4 (CGO) has plural, as does alpha. · vche frende quyteth so other
[¶ God myȝte riche haue made . alle men if he wolde]Bx.11.203: God myȝte riche haue made alle: We suppose that F represents alpha and also Bx, in a line that is lost in beta. We take F's a as "have". R is defective in sense, though KD's emendation based on R is attractive: "Alle myȝte god haue maad riche men
if he wolde". Lines 202-6 are not in C.
Bx.11.204KD.11.198
[Ac]Bx.11.204: Ac: So R. Having lost the previous line, beta drops the co-ordinating conjunction. F as usual alters to But. for þe best ben somme riche · and somme beggers and pore
AndBx.11.206: And: R has As, but it is not supported by Cx. bretheren as of o blode · as wel beggares as erles
For [at]Bx.11.207: at: Alpha is supported by Cx (RK.12.109). caluarye of crystes blode · crystenedome gan sprynge
Bx.11.212KD.11.205
¶ In þe olde lawe · as [þe]Bx.11.212: þe (2): Alpha is supported by Cx. Beta is probably filling out a short b-verse. In Cx, this whole line becomes the a-verse, and the next line the b-verse, dropping vchone. lettre telleth
For-þi loue we as leue [children]Bx.11.217: children: Alpha, supported by Cx; beta repeats bretheren from the previous line. shalBx.11.217: shal: Strong support for Bx from all except WCrF, which omit as in Cx. · and vche man laughe vpBx.11.217: vp: LMCR, against on GOF and of WHm. The b-verse is revised in Cx. other
And euery man helpe otherBx.11.219: other: Alpha adds here, but Cx supports beta. · for hennes shal we alle
For noetBx.11.222: noet: Supported by LMCOR against woot in others. This passage to l. 237 is not in C. no man how neighe it is · to be ynome fro bothe
Bx.11.224KD.11.215
Ne vnder-nym nouȝte foule · for is none with-oute fauteBx.11.224: faute: So LMCrCGO. Curiously the word is only used once in the three versions, at Bx.10.111 (where F reads defawte). In contrast, defaute, as in WHm and alpha, is common, though generally in the senses "lack, hardship". We follow copy-text.
Þat fides sua shulde sauen hir [·] and saluen hir of alleBx.11.227: alle: So LCrHmR; MGC read hire, while WOF omit. synnes
Is litel allowaunce madeBx.11.230: litel allowaunce made: Although we adopt beta's a-verse, alpha's phrase litel alowed has a parallel in Bx.14.335 For lordes alloweth hym litel. · but ifBx.11.230: if: Omitted by G and alpha. There are plenty of parallels for either reading. bileue hem helpe
I conseille alle crysteneBx.11.234: crystene: For independent scribal addition of men in this a-verse, cf. Bx.9.185. The a-verse is repeated at Bx.7.211 and 15.360. · cleue nouȝte þer-on to sore
For his pore parailleBx.11.245: paraille: So LR. C mss. vary. However, cf. l. 252 where (in the absence of F) R alone has the aphetic form. · and pylgrymes wedes
¶Bx.11.238: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. And al was ensample [for-sothe]Bx.11.249: ensample for-sothe: R's reading, doubtfully adopted on the basis of Cx ensample sothly. The adverb supplies a second alliterative stave for the a-verse. Beta has in ensample, although M shares the reading of F without in. · to vs synful here
And apparaille vs nouȝte ouer-Bx.11.251: ouer-: Supported by LMR and WHm (C has to), but dropped by CrGOF.proudly · for pylgrymes ar we alle
Bx.11.256KD.11.247
And as pore pilgrymes · preyed mennesBx.11.256: mennes: In alpha men is object of preyude, "begged men (for their) goods", and is so expanded by F. godis
WasBx.11.258: Was: R (F drops lines 257-8) repeats A, "she" from the previous line, as does Hm sche, but Cx is without it. a pure pore mayde · and to a pore man wedded
Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solaBx.11.261: sola: So LM and F (R truncates after cure), together with some C mss. The accusative solam is expected, as in other mss. ministrare &c
Maria optimam partem elegit · que non &cBx.11.265: non &c: LMCrW end at this point; R stops after elegit, while the others continue auferetur ab ea. C mss. show the same variation, though the X family ends with non &c.
PreysenBx.11.267: Preysen: Only MW have the past tense, following on from were in the previous line. However, it must be observed that Cx also has the past. See next note. pouerte for best lyf · if pacience it folweBx.11.267: folwe: W continues with the past tense, as do six C mss. Alpha's wolde/welde is presumably a misreading of folwede; two C mss. have the same curious reading.
AlthoughBx.11.269: Although: The reading of LM and alpha and the X family of C. Other beta mss. have And though. See Adams (2000), 179. it be soure to suffre · þere cometh swete after
[M]akethBx.11.274: Maketh: Beta begins For it maketh, but the clause without subject as in alpha is supported by Cx. a man to haue mynde in gode · and a grete wille
And wel sykerer he slepyth · þe [segge]Bx.11.277: segge: Beta's man is a straightforward example of the substitution of an easier reading. Cx supports alpha. þat is pore
¶Bx.11.281: ¶: The paraph in L is supported by WF. Alþough salamon seide · as folkeBx.11.281: folke: Presumably on this occasion alpha has adopted the easier reading; cf. l. 277. From here to l. 301 there is no parallel in C. seeth in þe bible
Bx.11.287: MWHmC would support a paraph here, but it is not particularly appropriate and not supported by alpha.And is to mene to men · þat on þis molde lyuen
¶ For failled neuere man mete · þat myȝtful god seruedBx.11.291: serued: Despite beta2 (CrWHm), beta probably has the past tense and alpha the present. Either could be right: the past following
on from failled, or the present anticipating seith and the verbs in ll. 293 and 295.
Bx.11.292KD.11.280
As dauid seith in þe sauter · to suche þat ben in willeBx.11.292: Following this line, alpha evidently had the half line With eny wel or wo, reproduced by R. F makes a full line by coupling it with l. 292b which he has replaced by a half-line of his own.
To serue god godeliche · ne greueth hymBx.11.293: hym: MCr and alpha have pl. hem. We follow copy-text. no penaunce
Nichil inpossibileBx.11.294: inpossibile: Alford (1992), 75, quotes the proverb in this form. Alpha, with difficile instead, may have known another form. The Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs, p. 463, cites Heywood (1546) "Nothing is impossible to a willyng hart", and Fergusson (1641) "Nothing is difficile to a
well willit man". volenti
[¶]Bx.11.297: ¶: The rubricator in L misses the paraph since the line is at the top of the page. It is supported by WHmRF and a line-space
in M. If prestes weren parfytBx.11.297: parfyt: Both KD and Schmidt adopt alpha's wise for the sake of the alliteration, although Schmidt (1995) considers that alpha gives "less good sense" (p. 386). However,
the parallel line in Cx (following a divergence from B of 190 lines) is Vch a parfit prest to pouerte sholde drawe (RK.13.100), which precedes the line parallel to Bx.11.302. Perhaps Bx syluer is an error picked up from that line for pens. Parfit priesthood is a favourite concept of Langland's; cf. ȝif presthod were parfit (Bx.15.566). · þei wolde no syluer take
Bx.11.300KD.11.286
And þei her deuor dedeBx.11.300: dede: Dropped in alpha, but necessary for the sense, which leads F to revise. · as dauid seith in þe sauter
Bx.11.304KD.11.289
Hem shulde lakke no lyflode · noyther wollen ne lynnenBx.11.304: wollen ne lynnen: WHm reverse the nouns, as in the nearly identical l. 295, thus no doubt correcting a Bx error. Cx, which only uses the line once, has lynnen ne wollene, to alliterate aa/ax.
And þe title þat [ȝe]Bx.11.305: ȝe (1): The reading of R, and also of W's text, but significantly not of the catchword, which has the beta reading þei. W's reading is thus an enlightened correction, and it is the Cx reading. F revises, but keeping the second person. take ordres by · telleth ȝe ben auaunced
Þanne nedeth nouȝte ȝowBx.11.306: nouȝte ȝow: This appears to be the order in beta, reversed to the commonplace in MW; alpha perhaps had ȝow nouȝt as in R. We follow copy-text. Cx omits the pronoun, and replaces take with alliterating nyme. to take syluer · for masses þat ȝe syngen
¶ For made neuere kyngeBx.11.309: kynge: LHm read no kynge. Hm subsequently erases the no before knygth. no knyȝte · but he hadde catel to spende
Bx.11.312KD.11.297
Þat hath noBx.11.312: no: Alpha's noþer may equally be right. The P family of C have the beta reading, the X family the alpha. londe ne lynage richeBx.11.312: riche: Omitted by alpha, but supported by Cx. · ne good loos of his handes
And a tytle a tale of nouȝte · to his lyflode atBx.11.315: at: Beta2 (CrWHm) adds his. Cx ends the line as hit were. myschief
Cure ·Bx.11.317: The syntactic punctuation after Cure is recorded in LMWOF. þan for konnyng · or knowen for clene of berynge
If false latyne be in þa[t]Bx.11.321: þat: L has þa; the line is marked for correction. lettre · þe lawe it inpugneth
Or peynted parenterlinarie · parcelesBx.11.322: parceles: In beta2 (CrWHm) and F the b-verse begins or, but this is not supported by Cx (RK.13.119). ouer-skipped
Bx.11.329: LR do not have a paraph here, but it might be added on the basis of MWHmCF.Þe bisshop shal be blamed · bifor god as I leue
For her eyther is endited · and þat ofBx.11.333: of: Beta2 (CrWHm) alters to is; F has ys be. ignorancia
¶ Ac moche more in metynge þus · with me gan one disputeBx.11.337: Instead of this line F has nine lines in which Will wakes, and falls asleep again in the line corresponding to l. 338.
Bx.11.340KD.11.323
And þorw þe wondresBx.11.340: wondres: So beta. R has wordes, presumably reproducing alpha, which F improves to worchynge. of þis worlde · wytte for to take
And where þat bryddes and bestes · by here makeBx.11.345: make: CrWGF have makes, as does the P family of C. þeiBx.11.345: þei: Well supported for Bx, but omitted by WGOF and by the P family of C. ȝeden
And in euenynges also · ȝe[de]Bx.11.357: ȝede: In the absence of F which omits ll. 355-7, R represents alpha and also Bx. On the evidence of L, beta read ȝe, which scribes "corrected" to þe (or misread ye), and lost the alliteration. Beta2 (CrWHm) then smoothed by adding the verb ben. See Schmidt (1995), 387. For alliteration of ȝede with vowels, cf. Bx.20.136 etc. The line is rewritten in Cx. males fro femeles
To legge stykkesBx.11.365: stykkes: Beta includes the definite article: Cx Lernede to legge stikkes gives slight support to alpha's omission. · in whiche she leytheBx.11.365: she leythe: An interesting example of how a minor alpha error (lenth for leith), faithfully reproduced by R, has prompted F to make sense (but the wrong sense). F interprets a as "in" rather than "she", takes the additional minim in lenth (for leith) as a spelling of "length", and sensibly supposes bredeth to be an error for breede, "breadth". and bredeth
Þere nysBx.11.366: nys: Alpha's is no might equally be right; it is shared by C mss. (a few have nys no). wriȝte as I wene · shulde worche hir neste to paye
Bx.11.368KD.11.351
¶ And ȝet me merueilled more · manyBx.11.368: many: Probably R represents the alpha reading, with F adding of to complete the construction with merueilled. For the same reason most beta mss. add how (though G also has off). Cx supports R with merueylede more mony of þe briddes. other briddes
¶ And some tr[e]denBx.11.373: treden: Alpha's present tense is supported by Cx. her makes · and on trees bredden
And brouȝtenBx.11.374: brouȝten: Beta is supported by Cx. R repeats the verb bredde from the previous line. forth her bryddes so · al aboue þe grounde
Bx.11.380KD.11.363
¶ And sythen I loked vponBx.11.380: vpon (1 & 2): Both in the a-verse and in the b-verse, the readings of LMWR support this as Bx, though Cx has on for both, as do other B mss. (Hm has vpon and yn.) þe see · and so forth vpon þe sterres
Of her kynde and [of]Bx.11.385: of (2): R is supported by Cx. Beta evidently dropped it (added in Cr); F rephrases the a-verse. her coloure · to carpe it were to longe
Bx.11.388KD.11.371
Saue man and his make · many tymeBx.11.388: tyme: Variation between many tyme / tymes / a tyme is unpatterned, except that alpha shows a tendency to prefer tymes, as here: e.g. Bx.13.4, 14.4, and (in the same b-verse) 20.26 (where R is out). There is the same variation in AC (e.g. K.8.150, 9.29; RK.4.167, 22.26, etc.). Here, though the majority of C mss. have tymes, seven have tyme (RK.13.181). and ofte
No resoun hem folwed · and þanne I rebukedBx.11.389: This and the following line are defective in Bx. In Cx the lines read: Resoun reulede hem nat, noþer ryche ne pore / Thenne y aresonede resoun and ryht til hym y sayde (RK.13.182-3). F's line presumably represents an intelligent revision for the alliteration; the reading rewlyþ for folwed must be contamination from C or coincidental, picking up rewlede two lines above.
Resoun · and riȝte til hym-seluen I seydeBx.11.390: In this defective line the punctuation follows Resoun in LMCrWOR, with R adding a second punctuation after hym; HmC punctuate after right, creating an aa/bb line. F again revises for the metre.
Bx.11.400KD.11.383
Bx.11.400-11: These 12 lines have been lost in beta, probably as a result of eyeskip from one paraph to the next, as so often. Lines 403-09
are paralleled in Cx. We follow R, with spellings altered to those of L. There are many differences in F's version. [¶ Holy writt quod þat wye · wisseth men to suffre
[B]eleBx.11.403: Bele: F is supported by Cx (RK.13.203). vertue est soffrance · mal dire est pety veniance
For-þi I rede [þe] quodBx.11.405: þe quod: R is without þe and F without quod. In the b-verse F has þou rewle for R's rewle. The X family of C has Forthy quod Resoun y rede thow while the P family has ... rede þe. reson · reule þi tonge bettere
And ar þow lakke my lyf · loke þowBx.11.406: þow (2): R has if þow where F has þyn, perhaps influenced by þy tunge in the previous line. Cx's loke ho is to preyse, though different, lends support to R's nominative but not to the conjunction. be to preyse
Bx.11.408KD.11.390
And if a man miȝte [·] make hym-self good to þe poepleBx.11.408: With evident corruption in both mss., it is impossible to recover Bx. If R reproduces alpha, F has improved by picking up lakles, "without fault", from the following line to replace goed to þe poeple. F suggests that the punctuation should follow miȝte rather than make as in R. If so, Bx may have read simply And if a man miȝte · make hymself good, with alpha expanding a short line. Cx rewrites with much the same sense: And if creatures cristene couth make hemsulue (RK.13.208).
Bx.11.412KD.11.394
¶Bx.11.412: ¶: The paraph (following the gap in beta) is in LR, with a new line-group in M. Þe wyse and þe witty · wrote þus in þe bible
De re que te non molestat nolyBx.11.413: noly: R has nolite. C mss. vary between noli, nolite and noli te (RK.13.196a). certare
Bx.11.414: Only LR are without a paraph here.For be a man faire or foule · it falleth nouȝte forto lakke
Bx.11.416KD.11.398
For al þat he [wrouȝt]Bx.11.416: wrouȝt: Alpha's reading carries the alliteration. This passage is not in C. was wel ydo · as holywrit witnesseth
¶Bx.11.418: ¶: Following the Latin line, only LW have the paraph. It is perhaps not archetypal. And badde eueryBx.11.418: euery: R has to vch a; F has ech. creature · in his kynde encrees
Al to murthe with man · þat most woo tholyeBx.11.419: tholye: Infinitive dependent upon most, "must". O and Alpha take most to mean "most", but this gives weak sense.
ÞatBx.11.422: Þat: Beta has Þat ne, but alpha is supported by Cx. some-tymesBx.11.422: tymes: L is supported by R against tyme in other mss. C mss. are divided. The -s form of sometimes is rare and late in Middle English; in L it occurs again only at Bx.13.323. See Adams (2000), 184 and note to l. 388. hym bitit · to folwen his kynde
Þow sholdest haue knowen þat clergye can · and conceiuedBx.11.433: conceiued: The variants kend and contreued in beta2 are not supported by Cx. more þorughBx.11.433: þorugh: As in Cx, against bi in CrHmGF. resoun
¶Bx.11.437: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. Adam whilesBx.11.437: whiles: R has þe whiles, as does the X family of C. he spak nouȝt · had paradys at wille
Ac whan he mameled aboute mete · and entermetedBx.11.438: entermeted: MCGO add hym. Cx rewrites. to knowe
Bx.11.440KD.11.420
And riȝt so ferde resoun bi the · þow withBx.11.440: þow with: Beta2 (CrWHm) and CF add thy. Cx rewrites as for thy rude speche. rude speche
Lakkedest and losedest þinge · þat longed nouȝt [þe to] doneBx.11.441: nouȝt þe to done: In beta the b-verse probably ends nouȝt to be done, though WO have noȝt to doon and W adds the pronoun þe. W's reading is also that of alpha, "which was not appropriate for you to do", which gives stronger sense than beta's reading.
We adopt R's b-verse with its less usual word-order, although we recognise that þe may be an alpha addition. The line is not in Cx.
Bx.11.444KD.11.424
That clergye þi compaignye · ne kepeth nouȝt to sueBx.11.444: to sue: Alpha sometimes avoids the verb: cf. Bx.10.214, 11.352, 392. Here he revises the line, adding in before þi and ending efte to sitte.
[For]Bx.11.445: For: Alpha's reading is supported by Cx. shal neuere chalangynge ne chydynge · chaste a man so sone
Bx.11.449-51: As a result of eyeskip (mid-line hym þanne 449 and 451), beta drops ll. 449b-451a. The lines are in Cx (RK.13.236-8). For þough resoun rebuked hym þanne [· reccheth h[e]Bx.4.449: he: F is supported by Cx against R's hym. neuere
OrBx.11.451: Or: Dropped by F. Cx begins To blame hym or to bete. for to bete hym þanne] · it were but pure synne
¶ Ȝe seggen soth [by my soule]Bx.11.455: by my soule: Alpha's phrase is also Cx. quod I · ich haue yseyne it ofte
Bx.11.456KD.11.436
Þere smitte no þinge so smerte · ne smelleth so [foule]Bx.11.456: foule: The reading of R alone, but it is supported by Cx. F rewrites the b-verse, with the sense "upsets no-one so greatly". Beta's soure is a simple misreading; G, additionally misreading the verb, adopts an appropriate adverb.
As shame þere he sheweth him · for euery man hym shonyethBx.11.457: for euery man hym shonyeth: Cx supports beta's verb with vch man shoneth his companye, which is perhaps a revision for the sake of the alliteration. Alpha is quite different from either with no man loueth his felachippe, though one might note that "fellowship" is a synonym of "company".