Passus terciodecimus
And as a freke þat f[e]reBx.13.2: fere: "bold" (MED fer adj.(2)). R's reading is likely to represent alpha, and is the basis for F's misunderstanding a-feerd. Beta has instead revised to fre which is no more apposite. Bx has presumably corrupted feye, "doomed to die", as in Cx (and BmBo), alluding to the opening of the previous passus. were · forth gan I walke
In manere of a mendynaunt · manyBx.13.3: many: L, Beta2 and F have many a, but MR are supported by Cx. ȝere after
And how þisBx.13.11: þis: LMWHm are supported by Cx. R has þus. coueitise ouercome · clerkes and prestes
Bx.13.14-20: Alpha skips a paragraph and loses seven lines. Lines 14-16 and 19-20 are paralleled in Cx (RK.15.17-19, 21-3). ¶ And how þat ymagynatyf · in dremeles me tolde
Bx.13.24KD.13.24
¶Bx.13.24: ¶: The paraph is supported by LR, with a new line group in M. And for conscience of clergye spake · I come wel þe rather
Bx.13.29: C and alpha here have a not inappropriate paraph.Ac pacience in þe paleis [·] stode in pilgrymes clothes
And preyde mete forBx.13.30: for (1): With support from LMCrHmCR, this seems undoubtedly to be the reading of Bx, and thus altered independently by WGOF to alliterating par / pur. Cf. the almost identical a-verse Bx.6.30 (and note) with the same range of variants, and Bx.6.260. In C mss. the P family also has for in place of the X family's pur, but this is in the b-verse where the alliteration is not structural (RK.15.32). charite · for a pore heremyte
Bx.13.32KD.13.32
Welcome wy[e]Bx.13.32: wye: L's originally correct reading was altered to wyel ȝe. go and wasshe · þow shalt sitte sone
Of austyn of ambrose · of alleBx.13.39: of alle: Beta2 has and of, but it is not supported by Cx. þe foure euangelistes
Ac þei eteBx.13.42: ete: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's hadde. mete of more coste · mortrewes and potages
Bx.13.48KD.13.46
[¶]Bx.13.48: ¶: The paraph is recorded by WHmC and alpha, with a line-space in M. Conscience ful curteisly þo · comaunded scripture
And sith he drough vs drynke · diaBx.13.51: dia: Clearly the Bx reading, with M altering to the more obvious diu, the reading of GOF. Some C mss. including X also have dia. Schmidt (1987), 92, supposes a pun (ME dia, "drug", as in Bx.20.173). Perhaps, therefore, it might be interpreted "a concoction whose chief ingredient is persevering" (cf. MED dia-). Note Cr's diaperseueraunce as one word. perseuerans
Bx.13.52KD.13.51
As longe quod [he] as ly[f]Bx.13.52: he as lyf: R's reading (F reverses) is supported by Cx against beta's I as I lyue. · and lycame may dure
¶Bx.13.54: ¶: Although the paraph is not particularly appropriate, it is evidently Bx, supported by LWR and a line-space in M. And þanne he brouȝt vsBx.13.54: vs: Supported by LMWR, but dropped by others in an unusually long a-verse. forth a mees ofBx.13.54: a mees of: Dropped by beta4 and altered by the Hm corrector. other mete · of Mise[r]ere mei deus
And he brouȝte vsBx.13.55: vs: Dropped by R; The line is not in C. F, understandably dissatisfied with this and the next line, rewrites them to bring them closer to Psalm 31.1-2, and so is
no use in determining alpha. of Beati quorum [·] ofBx.13.55: of (2): R has and of, and vir his for virres. F rewrites. beatus virres makyng
Bx.13.56KD.13.54α-55
EtBx.13.56: Et: R's And, possibly supported by F's &, deserves serious consideration, although Et is part of the quotation from Psalm 31.1. In R this is a new dish; in beta it is all part of the same dish. There is no parallel
in C. quorum tecta sunt peccata [·] in a dissh
¶ And þanne had pacience a pitaunce [·] pro hac orabitBx.13.59: orabit: Beta adds ad te, in line with the Vulgate (once again the Second Penitential Psalm, 31.6), but alpha's omission is supported by Cx. Alpha sets the Latin as a separate line, as does beta4 (CGO), which takes ybroughte from C to fill out the English line. omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno
And made hym muirth with his meteBx.13.63: mete: R has mene, an alpha error which F revises to mowht for sense. Cx supports beta. · ac I morned euere
Bx.13.64KD.13.61
For þis doctoure on þeBx.13.64: þe: HmR have þis, but it is not supported by Cx. heigh dese · dranke wyn so faste
[And]Bx.13.66: And: R is supported by Cx. Following the Latin line, beta adds a paraph and begins He. F, with the same motivation, begins Þey. he eet many sondry metes · mortrewes and puddynges
Bx.13.68KD.13.64
Þanne seide I to my-self so ·Bx.13.68: In Bx the punctus follows so, though it makes better sense to take it as "in such a way that" as in CO. F has þat for so. pacience it herde
It is nouȝt foure dayes þat þis freke · bifor þe den of poulesBx.13.69: poules: R uniquely has seynt poules, as does the P family of C in a completely revised line.
Periculum estBx.13.75: est: Alpha drops the verb. The form of the citation in F is the same as in some of the P family of C and in Upland's Rejoinder 329. R's version is unique. in falsis fratribus
OnBx.13.77: On: This appears to be beta's reading, and perhaps alpha's too, despite the reading In of CrWR. englisch an auenture · it sholde be reherced to ofte
And greue þere-with þat good men benBx.13.78: þat good men ben: L and alpha; other beta mss. drop men, while beta2 simplifies to goode men. · ac gramarienes shul rede
Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat [·]Bx.13.79: The punctus after custodiat is supported by MWHm, and by RF which additionally break the line at this point. In L vnusquisque ... dicitur is overwritten in a post-medieval hand. quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus
Taken it for herBx.13.81: her: WHmGF and the M corrector pedantically replace with the sg. Cx also has the sg., but the referent frere is ycald prompts it in this case. teme · and telle it with-outen glosynge
ÞeiBx.13.82: Þei: R begins Ac þei (F But þey), not supported by Cx. prechen þat penaunce is · profitable to þe soule
Þat he precheth heBx.13.86: he (2): The beta reading, supported by the P family of C. Alpha has and, so that this line completes the previous line: "he performs badly what he preaches", as in many of the X family of C. An original a could have been understood as either "he" or "and". See Schmidt (1995), 390. preueth nouȝtBx.13.86: nouȝt: Dropped by alpha, but necessary for the sense. · to pacience I tolde
I shal iangle to þis Iurdan · with his iustBx.13.90: iust: Kane (2005) appositely glosses iust-wombe as "pot-belly". See MED iuste n. Alpha iuysty makes an adjective of it, as do a couple of C mss.-wombe
To telle me what penaunce is · of which he preched ratherBx.13.91: rather: Probably R's reading þere ay represents alpha, of which F's euere is a revision. The line is not in C.
Bx.13.92KD.13.86
Pacience parceyued what I thouȝt · and [preynte]Bx.13.92: preynte: "winked admonishingly"; see Burrow (2002), 103-05. Though this reading is in neither beta nor alpha, conjecturing it as
the reading of Bx explains the variants and restores alliteration. Beta substitutes the synonym wynked and alpha conveys the same sense with bad. The word is used again in l. 119 and Bx.18.21. See Introduction V.3.3. on me to be stille
And preuen it by herBx.13.97: by her: Beta is supported by Cx. R has here, the omission perhaps representing alpha, which F corrects to in þe. pocalips · and passioun of seynt Auereys
Þat neither bacoun ne braune · blanmangereBx.13.98: blanmangere: Alpha's ne blaumanger is supported by the X family of C, beta's omission by the P family. We retain copy-text. ne mortrewes
Is noither fisshe no flesshe · but fode for penaunte[s]Bx.13.99: penauntes: Alpha's plural is supported by Cx.
And but if þe fyrst lyneBx.13.102: lyne: So LM + alpha. Beta1, perhaps encouraged by lyuyng and leue, must have read the word as lyue, leading Beta2 to alter if þe to he, "unless he first live" to make a modicum of sense. O alters his exemplar's lif to leef, so by coincidence or contamination arriving at the Cx reading (RK.15.103). be lesyng · leue me neuere after
And þanne is tyme to takeBx.13.103: take: Kane (2005) glosses "seize", which does not seem quite appropriate. Perhaps the sense is "address" (MED taken v. 39b (a)). In any case OR alter to easier talke, the reading of the P family of C, and F rewrites. · and to appose þis doctoure
Bx.13.104KD.13.98
Of dowel and ofBx.13.104: of (2): So LMR and CrC, dropped by others. C mss. vary. dobet · and if dobest be any penaunce
As rody as a rose · rubbedBx.13.106: rubbed: Evidently the beta reading, and probably also Bx, since R has robbed. If so, Hm's rudded and F's gan rody are picked up from the adj. rody in the a-verse. But Cx has rodded (RK.15.107), which could represent MED rudden, "rub", or ruden, "redden". Possibly, then, Bx also had rodded, interpreted as synonymous with the much commoner verb rubben. See Schmidt (2008), 414. his chekes
¶ What is dowel sire doctour quod I · is do[best]Bx.13.109: dobest: Alpha, supported by Cx, against beta's repetition of dowel. Cf. l. 104. any penaunce
¶ Dowel quod þis doctour · and [dranke after]Bx.13.110: dranke after: R's reading is supported by Cx and he dronke aftur. Scribes reacted to the short b-verse, with both F and beta expanding in different ways.
AndBx.13.115: And: "if"; so R, supported by Cx. F substitutes If as at Bx.4.139, 5.93 etc.; beta reads And if. ȝe fare so in ȝowre fermorie · ferly me þinketh
Bx.13.116KD.13.110
But chest be þere charite shulde be · & ȝongeBx.13.116: ȝonge: Dropped by CrCGOF to shorten a long line. R divides the line into two at the caesura. childern dorste pleyne
¶ Þanne conscience [ful]Bx.13.118: ful: Alpha supported by Cx. Dropped by beta. curteisliche · a contenaunce heBx.13.118: he: Good support from LM and alpha as well as Cx. made
And preynte vpon pacience · to preie me toBx.13.119: to (2): Firm support from LM, beta2 and R. However the word is dropped in Cx. be stille
¶Bx.13.122: ¶: The paraph at the start of the speech is in beta and F. Dowel quod þis doctour · doBx.13.122: do: Cx also has imperative in a revised line (RK.15.124). Cf. R dos and F ys to doon. as clerkes techeth
I haue seueneBx.13.127: seuene: It is not certain that Bx had the numeral. R omits it and the L corrector supplies it in the margin, though it is in M and F. Perhaps it is most likely
that L and R coincidentally omitted it; see Adams (2000), 184. The line is not in Cx. sones he seyde · seruen in a castel
Bx.13.128KD.13.121
Þere þe lorde of lyf wonyeth · to leren hymBx.13.128: hym: i.e. the Lord of Life. So LMR; see Schmidt (1995), 391. what is dowel
I am vnhardy quod he · to any wyȝt toBx.13.130: to (2): Alpha omits, perhaps rightly. The line is not in Cx. preue it
Pacience hath be in many place · and par-auntre cnowethBx.13.141: cnoweth: The beta2 reading mouthed is distinctly odd.
Bx.13.144KD.13.136
A[t]Bx.13.144: At: "in response to". LWHm read Ac, probably representing beta, though CGO share alpha's At, and M is corrected to that reading. ȝowre preyere quod pacyence þo · so no man displese hym
And so þow lere þeBx.13.151: þow lere þe: R's muddled to lere and probably represents alpha, further misunderstood by F. to louye · for þe lordes loue of heuene
Cast coles on his hed · [of]Bx.13.153: of: R is supported by beta2 and by the corrected reading of M. Beta perhaps read and, with beta2 independently altering for sense. Cx has of in this line, but three lines below has "Conforte hym with thy catel and with thy kynde speche" (RK.15.145). Pearsall (2008),
256, refers to Ancrene Wisse (ed. Millett 7.293-301) for the interpretation of the carbones ardentes of Rom. 12.20 as the fire of love. al kynde speche
For he þat loueth þe lelly · lyteBx.13.158: lyte: L's form is supported by R. Neither scribe has the form elsewhere. of þyne coueitethBx.13.158: coueiteth: Beta is supported by Cx (RK.15.153). Alpha's desireth avoids the repetition in the following line (dropped in C).
Bx.13.164KD.13.155
Þe myddel of þe mone [·] is þe miȝteBx.13.164: is þe miȝte: WHm confuse the issue with as þe nyght. On the "middle of the moon" riddle, see Galloway (1995), 68-105, and Bx.3.334. of bothe
¶ Vndo it lateBx.13.166: late: Alpha has and late. The passage Bx.13.159-82 is rewritten in C. þis doctour [sen]Bx.13.166: sen: The L scribe alters this to deme, in line with beta1, thus correcting the alliteration. But alpha reads se, which is more probably the reading of Bx than coincidental error. · ifBx.13.166: if: Alpha has where, "whether". dowel be þer-inne
Bx.13.174-82: These nine lines are omitted by beta, skipping from one short Latin line to the next. Lines 179 and 181 are also omitted
in F. The passage is rewritten in C (RK.15.165-9). [And eke haue god my soule · and þow wilt it craue
ÞeBx.13.177: Þe: "thee". In F it appears more comfortably in the previous line before make. maister of alle þo men · þorugh miȝt of þis redeles
Bx.13.180KD.13.170
Ȝyue þe alle þat þei may ȝiue · as þe forBx.13.180: as þe for: "as to you who are". F's as þou for gives the sense "since you are (the best guardian)". best ȝemere
[¶]Bx.13.183: ¶: The L scribe wrote a paragraph marker which the rubricator missed because the scribe did not leave a line-space. The paraph
is in WHmC and alpha. It is but a dido quod þis doctour · a dysoures tale
Bx.13.184KD.13.173
Al þe witt of þis worlde · andBx.13.184: and: Beta is supported by the X family of C. Alpha's ne, which makes the meaning clearer, is supported by the P family of C. wiȝte mennes strengthe
Þat pacience þoBx.13.189: þo: Beta2 has þou, and M revises to that reading. moste passe · for pilgrimes kunne wel lye
Bx.13.192KD.13.181
For I wil go with þis gome · if god wil ȝiueBx.13.192: ȝiue: LMW, and so probably beta's form, with other beta mss. and alpha altering to gyue as a result of alliterative attraction. me grace
And lere ȝow if ȝow lykeBx.13.197: ȝow lyke: So beta, while alpha has ȝe liken. Elsewhere the verb is always constructed as impersonal with a dative pronoun. · þe leest poynte to knowe
Ac þe wille of þe wye · and þe wille folkeBx.13.201: wille folke: LC, original M and R, so secure for Bx. Other scribes have wille of folke, repeating wille of from the a-verse, and M is altered to bring it in line with beta2. But wille is the adjective wil, "wandering" (so R's spelling), so that the line means "But the wilfulness of this man (the Doctor) and of the errant folk
here". Note that MED wil adj. records the spellings will and wille. See Burrow, N&Q (2008), 124-5. here
Þe good wille of aBx.13.203: a: Alpha's vch a / euery makes poorer sense. wiȝte · was neure bouȝte to þe fulle
Bx.13.204KD.13.193
For þere nysBx.13.204: nys: Supported by LWR against is in other mss. no tresore þerto · to a trewe wille
¶ Haued nouȝt [Marie]Bx.13.205: Marie: Omitted by beta. Alpha is supported by the alliterative pattern (aaa/xx). Magdeleigne more · for a boxe of salue
¶ Þus curteislich conscience · congeyde fyrstBx.13.209: fyrst: Omitted by GO, and (presumably coincidentally) by M. þe Frere
¶ Clergye toBx.13.213: to: So LHmCO and probably uncorrected M. CrWG have easier of, but the phrase means "offer no farewell to". This sense of take, usually followed by a dative pronoun, is common in the poem, e.g. Bx.1.57, etc. Alpha's and/ne is ruled out by the next line, where the speaker must be Clergy. See Schmidt (1995), 392. conscience · no congeye wolde take
Bx.13.216KD.13.205
¶ Þat is soth seydeBx.13.216: seyde: So LMR and CrHm. The others have quod, perhaps by semi-alliterative association with Conscience, or picked up from l. 222. conscience · so me god helpe
And confourmen Kynges to pees · andBx.13.219: and (2): Beta's reading makes better sense than alpha's of, which leads to alpha's addition of And at the beginning of the next line. al-kynnes londes ·
Bx.13.224KD.13.213
And confermenBx.13.224: confermen: "strengthen in faith"; R (= alpha) repeats conformen, "make agree", from l. 219, as does G. fauntekynes · and other folke ylered
¶Bx.13.231: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. And as þei went by þe weye · of dowel þeiBx.13.231: of dowel þei: Beta's b-verse is supported by Cx, although alpha's and of dowel goes smoothly with the next line. carped
Pacience apposed hym fyrste · and preyed hymBx.13.233: hym (2): LMR, so secure for Bx, but possibly an error. Others drop the repeated hym, although F includes it in a revised b-verse. Cr follows Cx with the simplified prayed he should tel. he sholde hem telle
For no bred þat I bryngeBx.13.246: brynge: Beta's present tense has support from Cx in a rewritten line. forth · saue a beneson on þe sonday
And þat am IBx.13.249: þat am I: Beta4 and R have, less satisfactorily, the standard word-order. F has (by coincidence or contamination) for me, as does Cx (RK.15.213) which follows more smoothly from the previous lines, "prays ... for me". actyf · þat ydelnesse hatye
Fro mychelmesse to mychelmesse · I fynde hem with wafresBx.13.251: wafres: M is corrected to my wafres to bring the text in line with CrW.
Saue a pardoun with a peys of led · and two pollis amyddeBx.13.257: amydde: The form is attested by LMCR, against amyddes in beta2 and GOF.
Hadde icheBx.13.258: iche: This is the only example of this spelling in L. "I" is elsewhere spelt ich, and "each" is ech(e). The former sense is very obviously intended, but the odd confusion of scribes may suggest a Bx reading iche, or ech(e) as in CG, giving rise to F's euery. a clerke þat couthe write · I wolde caste hym a bille
Bx.13.260KD.13.249
AndBx.13.260: And: Alpha drops. þat his blessyng & his bulles · bocches miȝte destroye
In nomine meo demonia eici[e]ntBx.13.261: eicient: L has the present, as M perhaps did before correction, suggesting a beta error. & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt
And þanne wolde I be prest to [þe]Bx.13.262: þe: Not in LHm, and supplied in M by the corrector. It is therefore likely that it was lost by beta. peple · paste for to make
Bx.13.268KD.13.254α
Argentum & aurum non est michi quod autem habeo tibiBx.13.268: tibi: Alpha has hoc tibi, as does O, in line with the Vulgate. C mss. split. do in nomine domini surge & ambula
To haue þeBx.13.270: þe (1): Alpha's no is not supported by Cx. grace of god · & no gylte of þe pope
ForBx.13.271: For: Dropped by R, but supported by Cx. may no blyssyng done vs bote · but if we wil amende
Tyl pruyde be purelichBx.13.273: purelich: Alpha's priueliche is not supported by Cx (RK.15.229). fordo · and þatBx.13.273: þat: Dropped by MCrWF, and replaced by alle in R, but supported by Cx. þourgh payn defaute
And lowren whan þei lakken itBx.13.278: it (1): Alpha has hem, as do CrW. It is likely that W, at least, was prompted to adopt the plural for grammatical concord and to avoid the repetition
of it. The passage from Bx.13.274-90 has no parallel in C. · it is nouȝt longe ypassed
Bx.13.280KD.13.266
With [bake]Bx.13.280: bake: Dropped by beta to the detriment of the alliteration. bred fro stretforth · þo gan beggeres wepe
A þousande and thre hondreth · tweis [twenty]Bx.13.283: twenty: This does not alliterate and is a Bx error (the events occurred in 1370); LR correct to the obvious thretty. This is a rare instance where LR have corrected rather than copy an obvious mistake. M and Hm both realise the error and
correct in different ways. Numerals are easy to confuse and easy to correct. & ten
¶ I toke godeBx.13.285: gode: Beta has the standard phrase; for that reason alpha's grete might be preferred. We follow copy-text. kepe by cryst · and conscience bothe
Of pruyde here a plotte and þere a plotte [·]Bx.13.289: The placing of the punctus causes scribes problems. M has it after each plotte, as though first inserting it too early; HmCO and crucially R have it after the second (hence aaa/xx); LCrW have the second
plotte in the b-verse (aa/ax). of vnboxome speche
Bx.13.292KD.13.278
Otherwyse þan he hath · with herte orBx.13.292: or: R has and; F, understandably puzzled by the line, rewrites the b-verse, as does C, withynne or withouten (RK.6.31). syȝte shewynge
Hym wil[n]yngeBx.13.293: wilnynge: R's reading is perhaps slightly preferable to beta's willynge on grounds of sense ("with him being keen that"). It also has support from the parallel line in Cx (RK.6.32), and from the variants at l. 305, where some scribes corrupt to willynge. Mustanoja (1960), 115, quotes this instance of the absolute construction. F corrupts to wenynge. þat alle men wende · he were þat he is nouȝte
Bx.13.296KD.13.282
And so syngulere by hym-self · as to syȝte of þe poepleBx.13.296: Only L + alpha preserve 296b and 297a, all others (including M) skipping from hymself (296) to hymself (297). Both lines are in Cx.
Was none suche as hym-self · ne none so po[p]e-holyBx.13.297: pope-holy: Probably beta read pompe-holy (as do a few C mss.), corrected by several scribes.
As best for his body be · to haue a b[ol]deBx.13.303: bolde: Alpha's reading is obviously preferable to beta's (?) badde (written over an illegible erasure in L). name
Bx.13.306-12: Seven lines are omitted by beta; 306-8 and 310 are represented in revised form in Cx (RK.6.42-6). There seems no obvious reason for omission, though KD, p. 66, suggest resumption at the wrong point prompted
by to loken on (308) and on to loke (315). [Or for his crafty kunnynge · or of clerkes þe wisest
Or strengest on stede · or styuest vnderBx.13.307: vnder: R is supported by Cx against F's gyrt with. gerdel
Bx.13.312KD.13.298
And large to lene · loosBx.13.312: loos: "repute". R has losse, listed by MED as a possible spelling of los n.(2), but R elsewhere spells it as los (Bx.11.311) and loos (Bx.13.471) so may here have misunderstood the word as "loss". F's looþ (in a-verse) perhaps suggests that alpha had the form loos. þere-by to cacche]
And if he gyueth ouȝte poreBx.13.313: pore: All except LR have to pore. gomes · telle what he deleth
Pore of possessioun [·] in purse and in coffreBx.13.314: coffre: Beta evidently misplaced the punctus after purse, prompting the addition of bothe in all mss. except LR. (F omits the line.) It is significant that M shares the beta1 error.
And as a lyon onBx.13.315: on: R's omission could be right but is not supported by F, which has it after the verb. to loke · and lordeliche of speche
Bx.13.332KD.13.316
What on bakke and what onBx.13.332: and what on: Probably the beta reading, though MC drop and, and GO drop what. Alpha also drops what. Bx.13.329-39 have no parallel in C. body half · & by þe two sydes
[¶]Bx.13.334: ¶: In L the scribe indicated the paraph but forgot to leave a line-space, so the rubricator missed it. It has support from
WCR. And he torned hym as tyte · and þanne toke I hede
Lyinge and la[kk]yngeBx.13.338: lakkynge: Alpha's reading is greatly preferable to beta's laughynge on grounds of sense. · [a]Bx.13.338: a: R only, but apparently alpha since F expands to & with a. Beta thus interpreted Bx a as "and". Cf. note to l. 88 above. The b-verse "a tongue eager to chide" defines lakkynge. leue tonge to chyde
And þat he wist bi wille · tellen it watteBx.13.341: watte: LMWCG, hence the beta reading, with CrHmO and alpha reading to watte. The parallel b-verse in Cx is RK.6.71, tolde hit wille aftur, rather than RK.6.70, to watekyn he tolde hit.
Auenge[d]Bx.13.345: Auenged: Despite lack of support from other B mss., R's past tense is preferable on grounds of syntax, and is supported by Cx. Hence frete is also past tense, as in Cx. me fele tymes · other frete my-selue
Wyth-inne as a shepster shere · I shrewedBx.13.346: I shrewed: Interpreted by Skeat and MED shreuen as past participle, but this is syntactically impossible. Kane (2005) and Schmidt (1995) take ishrewed as past tense, but MED does not record a verb ishrewen. See F's rewriting, and cf. Cx past tense shrewed (RK.6.75). men & cursed
¶Bx.13.349: ¶: The paraph is in beta only, following the Latin lines. Þere is no lyf þat I louyeBx.13.349: I louye: KD, p. 148, argue for the CrW reading me loueth, but it cannot be Bx. · lastyng any while
And whan I may nouȝt haue þe maistrye · [swich]Bx.13.351: swich: The spelling of F probably represents Bx. R misread as which. Beta apparently misread as with, though CrW have such (by conjecture?) and MHm are both visibly altered to that reading. The Cx reading is also such. L retains the spelling swich only in Bx.15.17. malencolye I take
Lechecrafte orBx.13.355: or: So LR. Clearly an error for of, with the obvious correction (supported by Cx) made by all other scribes. owre lorde · and leue on a wicche
Bx.13.360KD.13.342
¶ I wayted wisloker · and þanne was itBx.13.360: it: F has he, emphasising that I in the a-verse refers to Will. R's I is perhaps prompted by the alpha reading myn for his in the next line. soiled
With lykyng of lecherye · asBx.13.361: as: A number of scribes (Hm, beta4 and R) have the easier and. by lokyng of hisBx.13.361: his: Alpha's myn is obviously an error, suggesting a muddle over the speaker here. See note to l. 363. eye
Semynge to synne-ward · and some-tyme he gan tasteBx.13.363: In F, ll. 361-8 are in the first person, as they are in Cx where they are part of the confession of lechery (RK.6.176-84). In this line F's & summe y gan is a C-text reading and suggests contamination.
As welBx.13.366: wel: Beta has wel in anticipating the following line, but alpha is supported by Cx (RK.6.182). fastyng-days & frydayes · and forboden nyȝtes
And as [lef]Bx.13.367: lef: Beta's wel is prompted by the preceding line. Alpha is supported by the alliteration and Cx. in lente as oute of lente · alle tymes ylyche
Bx.13.368KD.13.350
Suche werkes with hem · wasBx.13.368: was: We retain L's plural form, though other mss. have were. See note to Bx.5.13 and Introduction V.3.1. neuere oute of sesoun
And of herBx.13.371: her (1): Not in F or R, which begins Or herlotrie. Bx.13.370-8 have no parallel in C. harlotrye and horedome · in her elde tellen
Bx.13.372KD.13.354
¶ Thanne pacience parceyued [·] of poyntes hisBx.13.372: his: All except LR supply of (added in M), but his cote is subject of was in the following line: "his coat was grimy with stains". cote
And awaited þorwgh whi[ttes] [·] wey[es]Bx.13.378: whittes weyes: R's spelling whittus weyus suggests the cause of confusion in beta: Bx presumably had the spelling <wh> for /w/ (as sometimes in SW), preserved but perhaps not understood as "wits" by R, and desperately
altered to which by beta, who consequently understood wey as "way". R has his usual spelling weye, "man". For once, F gets it more or less right. to bigile
And if my neighbore had anBx.13.381: an: Alpha is supported by Cx (RK.6.262). Beta anticipates any in the b-verse. hyne · or any beste elles
Bx.13.384KD.13.366
And but I itBx.13.384: but I it: LMW, so beta, supported by the X family of C (the P family has Hm's order). R omits it and F rewrites. had by other waye · atte laste I stale it
Of my nexte neighbore · nymen of his ertheBx.13.390-1: Alpha loses the b-verse of 390 and the a-verse of 391.
And if [I]Bx.13.391: I: Dropped by L, though the line is marked for correction. ropeBx.13.391: rope: "reaped" (MED repen v.(1)); the past tense is supported by Cx. ouer-reche · or ȝaf hem red þat ropenBx.13.391: ropen: Cr and alpha have repen, which may also be a pa.t.pl. form.
Bx.13.392KD.13.374
ToBx.13.392: To: Supported by Cx against And in MCrCGO. seise to me with her sykel · þat I ne sewe neure
¶ And who-so borweth of me · abouteBx.13.393: aboute: A spelling of abouȝte, "bought, paid for", preserved by LGR and altered by the correctors of MHm. It was evidently misunderstood as "about" by
F, who revised. þe tyme
So walde he or nouȝt wolde heBx.13.395: he (2): Omitted by WR. For nouȝt wolde he, beta4 and F have he nolde. · wynnen I wolde
Bx.13.400KD.13.382
Þat it coste meBx.13.400: me: In beta only; alpha may be right to omit. The line is not in C. moche more · swore manye othes
Hadde [I]Bx.13.402: I: LR, the two best witnesses, coincidentally omit the pronoun, which is necessary for the sense and supported by Cx (RK.6.273). The line is marked for correction in L. neuere wille wot god · witterly to biseche
Bx.13.404KD.13.386
For losse of gode leue me · þan for lykamesBx.13.404: lykames: So R, supported by Cx; all other mss. have my lykames, following on from my mysdedes in the previous line. giltes
Bx.13.408KD.13.390
Vpon a cruel coueityse · my [conscience]Bx.13.408: conscience: Alpha's reading corrects the aa/bb alliteration of beta's herte. The line is not in C. gan hange
To marchaunden with monoye · and maken her eschaungesBx.13.411: eschaunges: Alpha has chaunges, but beta is supported by Cx.
Bx.13.412KD.13.394
Miȝte neuere me conforte · in þe mene-tymeBx.13.412: tyme: Confirmed by Cx. Beta2 has while.
Bx.13.418-27: These lines are omitted by beta. Probably the scribe skipped from one paraph to the next, though alpha does not record the
expected paraph at 418 following the Latin line. Lines 420 and 422 have some parallel in the C text, but are there transferred to the confession of Gluttony (RK.6.428 and 430). [Ȝet glotounBx.13.418: glotoun: R's reading is surprising enough to have prompted F's revision to þat goome. Compare the other sins attributed to Hawkin: lechery (361), covetousness (373), sloth (426), though they are not personified as here. On the other hand R's glotoun is possibly a reminiscence of Bx.5.319 and 10.53, "Glotonye and grete othes". with grete othes · his g[ar]nement hadde soyled
And cauȝte sekenesse sum-tyme · for my [surfai]tesBx.13.423: surfaites: R's forfetes is a misreading of alliterating surfetys, as in F. ofte
Þat in-to wanhope he w[or]theBx.13.425: worthe: R's wrathe could be a metathesised form but is probably an error (cf. Bx.11.5). F revises to synonymous wente. · and wende nauȝt to be saued
Bx.13.428KD.13.409
¶ [Ac]Bx.13.428: Ac: Dropped by beta following the loss of text. For Ac which, F has Þese. R is supported by Cx (RK.7.69). which ben þe braunches · þat bryngeth a man to sleuth
His womanBx.13.429: His woman: Evidently the Bx reading, recorded in LR, original M, and CG. Beta2 and F recognise it as nonsense and so emend by conjecture; O, Is whanne a man, has the reading of the P family of C, by conjecture or contamination (RK.7.70). In C these lines are transferred to the confession of Sloth. morneth nouȝte for his mysdedes · ne maketh no sorwe
AcBx.13.430: Ac: The reading of LO and probably original M, while G has its usual substitution But. The others have And (Ne in F). Cx has The. penaunce þat þe prest enioigneth · perfourneth yuel
Whan men carpeth of cryst · or ofBx.13.435: of (2): Dropped by CGOF, but supported by authoritative C mss. of both families. clennesse of souleBx.13.435: soule: The sg. is supported by Cx.
Þat fedeth fol[e]-sagesBx.13.441: fole-sages: "wise fools, jesters". R is supported by Cx (RK.7.82). Beta reads foles sages, i.e. a pl. noun followed by an adj. with a French pl. inflection (Mustanoja (1960), 277). F has folis sage. · flatereres and lyeres
And han likynge to lythen hem · to do ȝow toBx.13.442: to (3): GR omit, as does Cx, but GR are unmetrical (x / x /) whereas Cx is expanded to x / x x x / by the addition of in hope. Perhaps, though, Cx has preserved the reading that Bx has dropped, leading beta and F to add to for the metre. So Schmidt (1995), 392. lawghe
Consencientes & agentes pari pena punienturBx.13.447: punientur: Alpha has puniendi sunt, but beta is supported by Cx. Alford (1992), 86, quotes beta's form.
Bx.13.448KD.13.427
Bx.13.448: WHmR here have a paraph.Patriarkes & prophetes · and prechoures of goddes wordes
Sauen þorw her sarmounBx.13.449: sarmoun: Beta2 has the more obvious plural, as does the P family of C. · mannes soule fram helle
Riȝt so flateresBx.13.450: flateres: Here, as elsewhere (and in C mss.) the form varies with flaterers. Cf. l. 477 below. We follow copy-text. and foles · aren þe fendes disciples
Non habitabit in medio domus mee · qui facit superbiam quiBx.13.454: qui (2): Beta has & qui, but this is supported neither by Cx nor the Vulgate. F drops the last phrase. loquitur iniqua
Shulde none harlote haue audience · in halle ne in chambresBx.13.455: chambres: CrWGF have the sg., as does Cx.
Bx.13.458-76: This block of 19 lines is omitted by beta. The lines are pretty well exactly reproduced in C (RK.7.96-113), usually supporting R over F. [¶ Clerkes and kniȝtes · welcometh kynges mynstralles
And for loue of [her]Bx.13.459: her: F is supported by Cx against R's þe. lorde · litheth hem at festes
Bx.13.464KD.13.441
For-thi I rede ȝow riche · atBx.13.464: at: Evidently the reading of alpha, but not in Cx. reueles whan ȝe maketh
Þe pore for a fol-sage · syttynge at þeBx.13.466: þe (2): So F; R has þe heyȝ; perhaps rightly, but perhaps an uncharacteristic addition, since Cx has þy. table
Þat bi his lyue lythedBx.13.474: lythed: So R, against F's he lystned. But the X family of C has lened and the P family loueþ. hem · and loued hem to here
Bx.13.476KD.13.453
In a welhopeBx.13.476: welhope: Alpha or Bx has presumably lost for a wrouhte so as in Cx, leading F to expand. · amonges worthi seyntes]
[Þere]Bx.13.477: Þere: "where". Alpha is supported by Cx. Following the loss of the preceding passage, beta has Ac with a paraph. flateres and foles [·] þorw her foule wordes
Leden þo þat loue[d]Bx.13.478: loued: Alpha's past tense is supported by Cx's probable reading lythed, though some mss. of the P family have the present. hem · to luciferes feste