Passus undecimus
Bx.11.2: : Scripture is female in she.10.160-1 Bx . Alpha reads , either as the feminine pronoun or taking Scripture as a male personification. he omits the pronoun (RK.11.162). Though she is clearly female in l. Cx4 , in l. 110 Scripture is referred to as by GOCF. he sette
And lakked me in latyne · and liȝte by me sheBx.11.3: MHmO and alpha treat this as a standard alliterative line with medial punctuation. & seipsos nesciunt multi multa sciunt [·]
And seyde Bx.11.4KD.11.4
Bx.11.4: : Supported by alliteration and wo against alpha's Cx. sorwe · and wratth of her speche
Þo wepte I for woBx.11.5: : R's reading is taken to be alpha and til I was. In the a-verse the form Bx is pretty clearly a wratth error (prompted by the previous line) for Bx, "entered, fell", where warth has Cx (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 I warth 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. Cx aslepe
And in a wynkyng wratth · wex [til] I [was]Bx.11.6: : Alpha's mette me þanne has less satisfactory alliteration. Surprisingly, the verb me tydde to dreme is never used in the poem. tiden
A merueillouse meteles · mette me þanneBx.11.8KD.11.8
Bx.11.8: : Beta and F are supported by the X family of allone, although the P family as well as two of the X family (YU) support R's C. For the collocation of & loue and love, see longing MED (1) (b) and (c). Either reading could easily have given rise to the other. longing(e she me brouȝte
And in-to þe londe of longynge · alloneBx.11.20KD.11.20
Bx.11.20: : Beta2's myrthes has no support from myȝtes. Cx ful manye
And in þis myroure þow myȝte se · myrthesBx.11.26: : Alpha's present tense might equally represent folwed. Bx has a different line, with present-tense C. liketh my wille · failled neuere blisse
Þe freke þat folwedBx.11.29: R places the punctuation after , thus alliterating aa/ax rather than aaa/xx. fortune at þi moste nede
Þow shalt fynde fortune þe faille ·Bx.11.36KD.11.36
Bx.11.36: : LMHmR have the plural, presumably representing tymes, though the regular adverbial expression is Bx, "soon enough"; see time enough MED n.(2), 8c(c). The other time mss. and most B mss. have the regular singular. See Adams (2000), 179. C ynow · whan he shal tyne þe croune
A man may stoupe tymes quod a poete [þo] Homo proponitBx.11.37: : Alpha is supported by þo (RK.11.303). Cx · and plato he hyght
¶ Bx.11.41: : So beta and gretly, but it is hard to explain why alpha might have replaced it with Cx, "quickly, readily". Yet the only other occurrence of graythly in graythely is B.18.298 Bx , where it causes the scribes no difficulty. · ne bigyle þe but þow wolt
Ne shal nouȝt greue þe gretlyBx.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
[¶] · acorded [til] concupiscencia carnisBx.11.43: : In beta the verb til is used most unusually with direct object; alpha has the prepositions acorded (R) and til (F). For with cf. acord with.20.304 Bx , 354 . supports R. Cx alle my werkes
Til 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 .11.47-52 are absent from Bx, and this may also be attributable to eye-skip. C ¶ Coueityse of eyghes · conforted me anon after
Bx.11.48KD.11.48
Bx.11.48: (2): LM only (alpha is absent). ne þouȝte
Þat of dowel ne dobet · no deyntee me neBx.11.49: : LMW; Hm has þe and Cr has thu. ye leste · of hem auȝte to knowe
I had no lykynge leue me if þeBx.11.54: : LF omit, but supported by þe. Cx to sum frere · and shewe hym þi synnes
Go confesse [þe]Bx.11.56KD.11.56
Bx.11.56: : R (= alpha) with F misreading as fette. sette MED notes that "in the ME and Early MnE period fetten is gradually replaced by fetten", whence beta's reading. fecchen has instead Cx (RK.12.8). At festene.18.344 Bx R has for fecchest Bx. fettest þe to her fraternite · and for þe biseke
And fe[tt]eBx.11.59: Pena: Alpha is supported by . Presumably beta's Cx is an attempt to link the quotation more closely to the argument. Alford (1992), 72. Set pena pecuniar[i]a non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis [P]ena
Bx.11.60KD.11.59
Bx.11.60: : The choice of reading is difficult. R is supported by dede. We therefore suppose that beta corrupted to Cx by alliterative attraction, while F coincidentally included wrouȝte in a rewritten a-verse, again prompted by the alliteration. wrowhte · here wordes were so swete
¶ By wissynge of þis wenche I [dede]Bx.11.69: : Alpha adds the indefinite article. There is no parallel in parisshene. C · riȝt þere he shulde be grauen
Or where he were parissheneBx.11.77: : R's another has support from CrCGO. The line is not in other, and is rejected by KD. C
Ich haue moche merueille of ȝow · and so hath many anotherBx.11.82: L's placing of the punctuation after has the support of MCR, suggesting a man error. Beta2 (CrWHm) and OF correct by placing it after Bx. may may as maistres telleth
For a baptized man ·Bx.11.83: : R has to, and F has til. into þe heigh heuene Bx.11.83: &c: HmCGO extend the "common saying" (Alford (1992), 72) by adding . 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. delet peccatum85 , where it is clear that treats the Latin as the first part of the line. See note to Bx11.85 . · Sola contricio &c
Þorugh contricioun come · toBx.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
Bx.11.89: : The imperative is supported by the crucial witnesses LMR, as well as G. Others have the easier past tense. See Adams (2000),
179. take hem bothe to witnesse
Ȝe bi peter and bi poule quod he · and takeBx.11.93: : lewte does not support R's addition of Cx. þanne · if no lyf vndertoke it
¶ And wher-of serueth lawe quod lewteBx.11.102: : Alpha may have started the line with Þinge (F) or A (R), but neither is supported by Ac. Cx þat al þe worlde wote · wherfore shuldestow spare
¶ ÞingeBx.11.103: : Clearly the And reading, though probably an error for Bx as in WHm and also To. Cx reden it in Retoryke · to arate dedly synne
AndBx.11.104KD.11.103
Bx.11.104: : HmF add be, as does the P family of thu. C neuere-more þe fyrste · þe defaute to blame
Ac beBx.11.107: : R has laude, anticipating the b-verse, while F rewrites. lakke has Cx, "blurt it out", for labbe it out. laude it nouȝt it nouȝt · ne lakke it for enuye
Neyther for loue laudeBx.11.110: : R's b-verse if lewed men it knewe probably represents corruption in alpha (cf. F). lewed men it knowe supports beta. Cx
Ac þe matere þat she meued · if lewed men it kneweBx.11.112KD.11.110
Bx.11.112: : The line is recorded only in alpha, though evidently the a-verse has been corrupted, perhaps simply by omitting of þat lord as in R. of reads Cx (RK.12.44). of oure lord . þat lettred men techeth]
[Þe bileue [of] þat lordBx.11.123: scicientes: Evidently the (and probably Bx) spelling for the more formally correct Cx. sicientes venite &c O vos omnes scicientes
Bx.11.124KD.11.121
Bx.11.124: : Beta has saue, but Alpha's word is supported by the X family of saufly; the P family has C in a rewritten b-verse. Kane (2005) glosses sauete RK.12.56 as "decoction of herbs taken internally saue.". See fig MED n.(1). save at his breste
And badde hem souke for synne · sa[ue]Bx.11.127: : G, Alpha and a few þat mss. omit. C he bouȝte vs with · and þorugh baptesme after
By þe blode þatBx.11.129: : Beta, supported by sense and by reneye against alpha's Cx. receyue
For þough a crystene man coueyted · his crystenedome to reneyeBx.11.133: : R repeats rowme; F has renne. rayke supports the verb as in beta, and the omission of Cx as in alpha, added in beta to fill out a short line. so fro home
Ac he may renne in arrerage · and rowmeBx.11.134: : The L corrector assumes omission of a verb, and supplies recchelesly, while Beta2 (CrWHm) repeats gon from the previous line. Alpha has corrupted the a-verse (R has rennen for he renneth), and it appears likely that a reneyed has to make sense of a corrupted exemplar, since the line becomes Cx (RK.12.65). As a recheles caytyf or reneyed as hit semeth aboute
And as a reneyed caityf [·] reccheleslyBx.11.135-6: As a result of eyeskip on mid-line , beta drops 135b and 136a. Alpha is supported by with hym. Cx[and rebuken hym at þe laste
Ac Resoun shal rekne with hym · Bx.11.137: : The omission in LMC suggests that the pronoun may have been lost in beta. It is supported by both alpha and hym. Cx after inBx.11.137: : LM and beta2 (CrWHm) have in, but the article is not in alpha or in a. Cx prisone · in purgatorie to brenne
And putten [hym]Bx.11.138: : Beta drops And, but alpha is supported by the X family of And. The P family reorders the a-verse. C for his arrerages rewarden hym þere · [riȝte]Bx.11.138: : R supplies the riȝte reading. The alliterating adverb is supported by Bx. F rewrites the b-verse. Cx to þe daye of dome
[And]Bx.11.139: : LR give strong support for wol, which could be right ("happily", etc.). More probably both scribes mistake wel for a spelling of wol come (see welcome), and in L the line is marked for correction. MED revises the line. Cx come · and crye bi his lyue
But if contricioun w[o]lBx.11.140KD.11.136
Bx.11.140: : Well supported for or, though Bx in WHmF is also the reading of and. Cx with herte
Mercy for his mysdedes · with mouth orBx.11.142: : Alpha's alle to was perhaps the basis for may al, which has the a-verse Cx. However, the syntax is Mercy þat he ne may al amende "prevent from amending". lette to amende amende · and mekenesse hir folweBx.11.142: : R (= alpha?) muddles through with and mekenesse hir folwe, but þat mekenesse he folweth supports the b-verse as in beta. Cx
Mercy alle toBx.11.149: : Evidently miȝte lost Bx, required for sense and supplied by beta2 (CrWHm), as in ne (RK.12.79). Cx me cracche fro helle
Þat al þe clergye vnder cryste · miȝteBx.11.150: : So alpha, against beta's of. The sense is supported by and Cx, which also sets Trajan's love and integrity in relation to his justice. as in my lawes demynge my lawful domes
But onliche loue and leaute · [of]Bx.11.152KD.11.147
Bx.11.152: : Alpha, dropped by beta, but supported by þe. Cx sothenesse · þat he seigh inBx.11.152: : Beta, supported by seigh in, against R's Cx. seith of my werkes
Sauacioun for [þe]Bx.11.155: : Probably R's may is a misreading of an alpha form now. mowe se · with-oute syngyng of masses
And I saued as ȝe mayBx.11.156KD.11.152
Bx.11.156: : 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). By loue and by lernyng [·] of my lyuyng in treuthe
ByBx.11.162: : Beta, supported by ȝe, against alpha's Cx. þe lordes þat lawes kepe · þis lessoun to haue in mynde
Wel ouȝte ȝeBx.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 , although C.11.171-2 lies behind RK.12.97. R's spellings have been altered to those of L. Bx [¶ Þis matir is merke for mani of ȝow · ac men of holy cherche
Bx.11.165: legenda: RF write , but cf. legende.11.229 Bx and 15.280 . sanctorum ȝow lereth · more larger þan I ȝow telle legend[a]
Þe Bx.11.167: : From Pulte (cf. RK.11.206) rather than pilten, pullen Kane (2005). Cf. pace.1.128 Bx , 15.66 . oute of pyne · a paynym of rome
PulteBx.11.168KD.11.164
Bx.11.168: : F reverses the word-order. so brak helle ȝates
Yblessed be treuthe · þat so brakBx.11.173: : R's one is his usual form of "one". F has on. owne fynger
God wrouȝt it and wrot hit · with his oneBx.11.174: : F supplies an object to, perhaps rightly. it lere]
And toke it moyses vpon þe mount · alle men toBx.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
[¶]Bx.11.177: : In L the corrector has added But, but it is without support. if þei ben lerned for owre lordes loue · loste is alle þe tyme
ButBx.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
¶Bx.11.185: : Alpha begins Who-so, obscuring the parallel with l. For ho-so182 . lenethBx.11.185: : Alpha's leneth (also Cr) is not approprate to the argument that follows. leueth nouȝte he loueth nouȝte · [oure lorde]Bx.11.185: : The reading is very uncertain since it is attested by R alone. Possibly R altered oure lorde Bx 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 god. Perhaps reflecting the lack of b-verse alliteration with the reading C, all scribes except W, beta4 and R punctuate after each god. nouȝte wote þe sothe
Who-soBx.11.186: : O and Alpha have the past tense. Either alpha or beta could be right. comaundeth eche creature · to confourme hym to louye
And comaundethBx.11.190: : KD's conjecture, proposed on p. 184, is persuasive as the reading of Iuwel, and fits the alliteration on /j/. R's nonsensical Bx can hardly have been prompted by the commonplace euel, hele of beta and F, but is more likely to be a misinterpretation of an alpha spelling helthe. If so, then beta and F misunderstood or objected to the rare use of "jewel" to refer to Christ. The closest parallel is
iuel 795; cf. also Pearl.18.447 Bx . · IhesuBx.11.190: : Alpha has Ihesu, but is ihesu is subject of Ihesu in the next line. pursueth cryst of heuene
For owre ioye and owre [Iuwel]Bx.11.194: : Strong support from LMR and CO, against owre in beta2 and GF. þe lorde of blisse
Wheþer we loue þe lordes here · byfor owreBx.11.196KD.11.191
Bx.11.196: : Probably "rich of any sort", translating Luke 14.12 "vicinos divites". R may have confused with kynnes riche, "kingdom", or interpreted as "rich kin", following kine-riche (Luke's "cognatos") in the a-verse. Cf. also GO, and F's apparent difficulty with the b-verse. It is noteworthy that kyn, which has Cx in the a-verse, has knyhtes, "no rich kin" in the b-verse (RK.12.103). none kyne ryche
We shulde nouȝte clepe owre kynne þer-to · ne none kynnes richeBx.11.200KD.11.194
Bx.11.200: : Clearly beta, though beta4 (CGO) has plural, as does alpha. ȝifte · vche frende quyteth so other
Ȝowre festynge and ȝowre faire ȝifteBx.11.203: : We suppose that F represents alpha and also God myȝte riche haue made alle, in a line that is lost in beta. We take F's Bx 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 a. C
[¶ God myȝte riche haue made . alle men if he wolde]Bx.11.204KD.11.198
Bx.11.204: : So R. Having lost the previous line, beta drops the co-ordinating conjunction. F as usual alters to Ac. But for þe best ben somme riche · and somme beggers and pore
[Ac]Bx.11.206: : R has And, but it is not supported by As. Cx bretheren as of o blode · as wel beggares as erles
AndBx.11.207: : Alpha is supported by at (RK.12.109). Cx caluarye of crystes blode · crystenedome gan sprynge
For [at]Bx.11.212KD.11.205
Bx.11.212: (2): Alpha is supported by þe. 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 Cx. vchone lettre telleth
¶ In þe olde lawe · as [þe]Bx.11.217: : Alpha, supported by children; beta repeats Cx from the previous line. bretheren shalBx.11.217: : Strong support for shal from all except WCrF, which omit as in Bx. Cx · and vche man laughe vpBx.11.217: : LMCR, against vp GOF and on WHm. The b-verse is revised in of. Cx other
For-þi loue we as leue [children]Bx.11.219: : Alpha adds other, but here supports beta. Cx · for hennes shal we alle
And euery man helpe otherBx.11.222: : Supported by LMCOR against noet in others. This passage to l. woot237 is not in . C no man how neighe it is · to be ynome fro bothe
For noetBx.11.224KD.11.215
Bx.11.224: : So LMCrCGO. Curiously the word is only used once in the three versions, at faute.10.111 Bx (where F reads ). In contrast, defawte, as in WHm and alpha, is common, though generally in the senses "lack, hardship". We follow copy-text. defaute
Ne vnder-nym nouȝte foule · for is none with-oute faute shulde sauen hir [·] and saluen hir of alle fides suaBx.11.227: : So LCrHmR; MGC read alle, while WOF omit. hire synnes
Þat Bx.11.230: : Although we adopt beta's a-verse, alpha's phrase litel allowaunce made has a parallel in litel alowed.14.335 Bx . For lordes alloweth hym litel · but ifBx.11.230: : Omitted by G and alpha. There are plenty of parallels for either reading. if bileue hem helpe
Is litel allowaunce madeBx.11.234: : For independent scribal addition of crystene in this a-verse, cf. men.9.185 Bx . The a-verse is repeated at .7.211 Bx and 15.360 . · cleue nouȝte þer-on to sore
I conseille alle crysteneBx.11.238: : The paraph is in beta and F. ¶ For-þi lerne we þe lawe of loue · as owre lorde tauȝte
¶Bx.11.245: : So LR. paraille mss. vary. However, cf. l. C252 where (in the absence of F) R alone has the aphetic form. · and pylgrymes wedes
For his pore parailleBx.11.238: : The paraph is in beta only. ¶ And al was ensample [for-sothe]Bx.11.249: : R's reading, doubtfully adopted on the basis of ensample for-sothe Cx. The adverb supplies a second alliterative stave for the a-verse. Beta has ensample sothly, although M shares the reading of F without in ensample. in · to vs synful here
¶Bx.11.251: : Supported by LMR and WHm (C has ouer-), but dropped by CrGOF. toproudly · for pylgrymes ar we alle
And apparaille vs nouȝte ouer-Bx.11.256KD.11.247
Bx.11.256: : In alpha mennes is object of men, "begged men (for their) goods", and is so expanded by F. preyude godis
And as pore pilgrymes · preyed mennesBx.11.258: : R (F drops lines 257-8) repeats Was, "she" from the previous line, as does Hm A, but sche is without it. Cx a pure pore mayde · and to a pore man wedded
WasBx.11.261: sola: So LM and F (R truncates after ), together with some cure mss. The accusative C is expected, as in other mss. solam ministrare &c Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me sola
Bx.11.262: : The paraph is in beta only. ¶ And hastiliche god answered · and eytheres wille folwed
¶Bx.11.265: non &c: LMCrW end at this point; R stops after , while the others continue elegit. auferetur ab ea mss. show the same variation, though the X family ends with C. non &c Maria optimam partem elegit · que non &c
Bx.11.267: : Only MW have the past tense, following on from Preysen in the previous line. However, it must be observed that were also has the past. See next note. Cx pouerte for best lyf · if pacience it folweBx.11.267: : W continues with the past tense, as do six folwe mss. Alpha's C is presumably a misreading of wolde/welde; two folwede mss. have the same curious reading. C
PreysenBx.11.269: : The reading of LM and alpha and the X family of Although. Other beta mss. have C. See Adams (2000), 179. And though it be soure to suffre · þere cometh swete after
AlthoughBx.11.274: : Beta begins Maketh, but the clause without subject as in alpha is supported by For it maketh. Cx a man to haue mynde in gode · and a grete wille
[M]akethBx.11.277: : Beta's segge is a straightforward example of the substitution of an easier reading. man supports alpha. Cx þat is pore
And wel sykerer he slepyth · þe [segge]Bx.11.281: : The paraph in L is supported by WF. ¶ Alþough salamon seide · as folkeBx.11.281: : Presumably on this occasion alpha has adopted the easier reading; cf. l. folke277 . 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
Bx.11.291: : Despite beta2 (CrWHm), beta probably has the past tense and alpha the present. Either could be right: the past following
on from serued, or the present anticipating failled and the verbs in ll. seith293 and 295 .
¶ For failled neuere man mete · þat myȝtful god seruedBx.11.292KD.11.280
Bx.11.292: Following this line, alpha evidently had the half line , 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. With eny wel or wo
As dauid seith in þe sauter · to suche þat ben in willeBx.11.293: : MCr and alpha have pl. hym. We follow copy-text. hem no penaunce
To serue god godeliche · ne greueth hymBx.11.294: inpossibile: Alford (1992), 75, quotes the proverb in this form. Alpha, with instead, may have known another form. The difficile, p. 463, cites Heywood (1546) "Nothing is impossible to a willyng hart", and Fergusson (1641) "Nothing is difficile to a
well willit man". Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs volenti Nichil inpossibile
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: : Both KD and Schmidt adopt alpha's parfyt for the sake of the alliteration, although Schmidt (1995) considers that alpha gives "less good sense" (p. 386). However,
the parallel line in wise (following a divergence from Cx of 190 lines) is B (RK.13.100), which precedes the line parallel to Vch a parfit prest to pouerte sholde drawe.11.302 Bx . Perhaps Bx is an error picked up from that line for syluer. pens priesthood is a favourite concept of Langland's; cf. Parfit ( ȝif presthod were parfit.15.566 Bx ). · þei wolde no syluer take
[¶]Bx.11.300KD.11.286
Bx.11.300: : Dropped in alpha, but necessary for the sense, which leads F to revise. dede · as dauid seith in þe sauter
And þei her deuor dedeBx.11.304KD.11.289
Bx.11.304: : WHm reverse the nouns, as in the nearly identical l. wollen ne lynnen295 , thus no doubt correcting a error. Bx, which only uses the line once, has Cx, to alliterate aa/ax. lynnen ne wollene
Hem shulde lakke no lyflode · noyther wollen ne lynnenBx.11.305: (1): The reading of R, and also of W's text, but significantly not of the catchword, which has the beta reading ȝe. W's reading is thus an enlightened correction, and it is the þei reading. F revises, but keeping the second person. Cx take ordres by · telleth ȝe ben auaunced
And þe title þat [ȝe]Bx.11.306: : This appears to be the order in beta, reversed to the commonplace in MW; alpha perhaps had nouȝte ȝow as in R. We follow copy-text. ȝow nouȝt omits the pronoun, and replaces Cx with alliterating take. nyme to take syluer · for masses þat ȝe syngen
Þanne nedeth nouȝte ȝowBx.11.309: : LHm read kynge. Hm subsequently erases the no kynge before no. knygth no knyȝte · but he hadde catel to spende
¶ For made neuere kyngeBx.11.312KD.11.297
Bx.11.312: : Alpha's no may equally be right. The P family of noþer have the beta reading, the X family the alpha. C londe ne lynage richeBx.11.312: : Omitted by alpha, but supported by riche. Cx · ne good loos of his handes
Þat hath noBx.11.315: : Beta2 (CrWHm) adds at. his ends the line Cx. as hit were myschief
And a tytle a tale of nouȝte · to his lyflode atBx.11.317: The syntactic punctuation after is recorded in LMWOF. Cure þan for konnyng · or knowen for clene of berynge
Cure ·Bx.11.321: : L has þat; the line is marked for correction. þa lettre · þe lawe it inpugneth
If false latyne be in þa[t]Bx.11.322: : In beta2 (CrWHm) and F the b-verse begins parceles, but this is not supported by or (RK.13.119). Cx ouer-skipped
Or peynted parenterlinarie · parcelesBx.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
Bx.11.333: : Beta2 (CrWHm) alters to of; F has is. ys be ignorancia
For her eyther is endited · and þat ofBx.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.
¶ Ac moche more in metynge þus · with me gan one disputeBx.11.340KD.11.323
Bx.11.340: : So beta. R has wondres, presumably reproducing alpha, which F improves to wordes. worchynge of þis worlde · wytte for to take
And þorw þe wondresBx.11.345: : CrWGF have make, as does the P family of makes. C þeiBx.11.345: : Well supported for þei, but omitted by WGOF and by the P family of Bx. C ȝeden
And where þat bryddes and bestes · by here makeBx.11.350: : Beta2 (CrWHm) has at, not supported by al at. Cx ones
Blisse and bale · bothe I seigh atBx.11.357: : In the absence of F which omits ll. 355-7, R represents alpha and also ȝede. On the evidence of L, beta read Bx, which scribes "corrected" to ȝe (or misread þe), and lost the alliteration. Beta2 (CrWHm) then smoothed by adding the verb ye. See Schmidt (1995), 387. For alliteration of ben with vowels, cf. ȝede.20.136 Bx etc. The line is rewritten in . Cx males fro femeles
And in euenynges also · ȝe[de]Bx.11.365: : Beta includes the definite article: stykkes Cx gives slight support to alpha's omission. Lernede to legge stikkes · in whiche she leytheBx.11.365: : An interesting example of how a minor alpha error ( she leythe for lenth), faithfully reproduced by R, has prompted F to make sense (but the wrong sense). F interprets leith as "in" rather than "she", takes the additional minim in a (for lenth) as a spelling of "length", and sensibly supposes leith to be an error for bredeth, "breadth". breede and bredeth
To legge stykkesBx.11.366: : Alpha's nys might equally be right; it is shared by is no mss. (a few have C). nys no wriȝte as I wene · shulde worche hir neste to paye
Þere nysBx.11.368KD.11.351
Bx.11.368: : Probably R represents the alpha reading, with F adding many to complete the construction with of. For the same reason most beta mss. add merueilled (though G also has how). off supports R with Cx. merueylede more mony of þe briddes other briddes
¶ And ȝet me merueilled more · manyBx.11.373: : Alpha's present tense is supported by treden. Cx her makes · and on trees bredden
¶ And some tr[e]denBx.11.374: : Beta is supported by brouȝten. R repeats the verb Cx from the previous line. bredde forth her bryddes so · al aboue þe grounde
And brouȝtenBx.11.380KD.11.363
Bx.11.380: (1 & 2): Both in the a-verse and in the b-verse, the readings of LMWR support this as vpon , though Bx has Cx for both, as do other on mss. (Hm has B and vpon.) yn þe see · and so forth vpon þe sterres
¶ And sythen I loked vponBx.11.385: (2): R is supported by of. Beta evidently dropped it (added in Cr); F rephrases the a-verse. Cx her coloure · to carpe it were to longe
Of her kynde and [of]Bx.11.388KD.11.371
Bx.11.388: : Variation between tyme / many tyme / tymes is unpatterned, except that alpha shows a tendency to prefer a tyme, as here: e.g. tymes.13.4 Bx , 14.4 , and (in the same b-verse) 20.26 (where R is out). There is the same variation in (e.g. K.8.150, 9.29; RK.4.167, 22.26, etc.). Here, though the majority of AC mss. have C, seven have tymes (RK.13.181). tyme and ofte
Saue man and his make · many tymeBx.11.389: This and the following line are defective in . In Bx the lines read: Cx (RK.13.182-3). F's line presumably represents an intelligent revision for the alliteration; the reading Resoun reulede hem nat, noþer ryche ne pore / Thenne y aresonede resoun and ryht til hym y sayde for rewlyþ must be contamination from folwed or coincidental, picking up C two lines above. rewlede
No resoun hem folwed · and þanne I rebukedBx.11.390: In this defective line the punctuation follows in LMCrWOR, with R adding a second punctuation after Resoun; HmC punctuate after hym, creating an aa/bb line. F again revises for the metre. right
Resoun · and riȝte til hym-seluen I seydeBx.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 . We follow R, with spellings altered to those of L. There are many differences in F's version. Cx [¶ Holy writt quod þat wye · wisseth men to suffre
Bx.11.403: Bele: F is supported by (RK.13.203). Cx vertue est soffrance · mal dire est pety veniance [B]ele
Bx.11.405: : R is without þe quod and F without þe. In the b-verse F has quod for R's þou rewle. The X family of rewle has C while the P family has ... Forthy quod Resoun y rede thow. rede þe reson · reule þi tonge bettere
For-þi I rede [þe] quodBx.11.406: (2): R has þow where F has if þow, perhaps influenced by þyn in the previous line. þy tunge's Cx, though different, lends support to R's nominative but not to the conjunction. loke ho is to preyse be to preyse
And ar þow lakke my lyf · loke þowBx.11.408KD.11.390
Bx.11.408: With evident corruption in both mss., it is impossible to recover . If R reproduces alpha, F has improved by picking up Bx, "without fault", from the following line to replace lakles. F suggests that the punctuation should follow goed to þe poeple rather than miȝte as in R. If so, make may have read simply Bx, with alpha expanding a short line. And if a man miȝte · make hymself good rewrites with much the same sense: Cx (RK.13.208). And if creatures cristene couth make hemsulue
And if a man miȝte [·] make hym-self good to þe poepleBx.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
¶Bx.11.413: noly: R has . nolite mss. vary between C, noli and nolite (RK.13.196a). noli te certare De re que te non molestat noly
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
Bx.11.416: : Alpha's reading carries the alliteration. This passage is not in wrouȝt. C was wel ydo · as holywrit witnesseth
For al þat he [wrouȝt]Bx.11.418: : Following the Latin line, only LW have the paraph. It is perhaps not archetypal. ¶ And badde eueryBx.11.418: : R has euery; F has to vch a. ech creature · in his kynde encrees
¶Bx.11.419: : Infinitive dependent upon tholye, "must". O and Alpha take most to mean "most", but this gives weak sense. most
Al to murthe with man · þat most woo tholyeBx.11.422: : Beta has Þat, but alpha is supported by Þat ne. Cx some-tymesBx.11.422: : L is supported by R against tymes in other mss. tyme mss. are divided. The C form of -s is rare and late in Middle English; in L it occurs again only at sometimes.13.323 Bx . See Adams (2000), 184 and note to l. 388 . hym bitit · to folwen his kynde
ÞatBx.11.433: : The variants conceiued and kend in beta2 are not supported by contreued. Cx more þorughBx.11.433: : As in þorugh, against Cx in CrHmGF. bi resoun
Þow sholdest haue knowen þat clergye can · and conceiuedBx.11.437: : The paraph is in beta only. ¶ Adam whilesBx.11.437: : R has whiles, as does the X family of þe whiles. C he spak nouȝt · had paradys at wille
¶Bx.11.438: : MCGO add entermeted. hym rewrites. Cx to knowe
Ac whan he mameled aboute mete · and entermetedBx.11.440KD.11.420
Bx.11.440: : Beta2 (CrWHm) and CF add þow with. thy rewrites as Cx. for thy rude speche rude speche
And riȝt so ferde resoun bi the · þow withBx.11.441: : In beta the b-verse probably ends nouȝt þe to done, though WO have nouȝt to be done and W adds the pronoun noȝt to doon. 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 þe. Cx
Lakkedest and losedest þinge · þat longed nouȝt [þe to] doneBx.11.444KD.11.424
Bx.11.444: : Alpha sometimes avoids the verb: cf. to sue.10.214 Bx , 11.352 , 392 . Here he revises the line, adding before in and ending þi. efte to sitte
That clergye þi compaignye · ne kepeth nouȝt to sueBx.11.445: : Alpha's reading is supported by For. Cx shal neuere chalangynge ne chydynge · chaste a man so sone
[For]Bx.11.449-51: As a result of eyeskip (mid-line 449 and 451), beta drops ll. hym þanne449b-451a . The lines are in (RK.13.236-8). Cx For þough resoun rebuked hym þanne [· reccheth h[e]Bx.4.449: : F is supported by he against R's Cx. hym neuere
Bx.11.451: : Dropped by F. Or begins Cx. To blame hym or to bete for to bete hym þanne] · it were but pure synne
OrBx.11.455: : Alpha's phrase is also by my soule. Cx quod I · ich haue yseyne it ofte
¶ Ȝe seggen soth [by my soule]Bx.11.456KD.11.436
Bx.11.456: : The reading of R alone, but it is supported by foule. F rewrites the b-verse, with the sense "upsets no-one so greatly". Beta's Cx is a simple misreading; G, additionally misreading the verb, adopts an appropriate adverb. soure
Þere smitte no þinge so smerte · ne smelleth so [foule]Bx.11.457: : for euery man hym shonyeth supports beta's verb with Cx, which is perhaps a revision for the sake of the alliteration. Alpha is quite different from either with vch man shoneth his companye, though one might note that "fellowship" is a synonym of "company". no man loueth his felachippe
As shame þere he sheweth him · for euery man hym shonyeth