Passus quartus decimus
Or þorugh werke or þorugh wordeBx.14.15: þorugh worde: CGO omit þorugh, but it motivates alpha's non-alliterating thouȝt. F has þoruh in the b-verse. · or wille of myn herte
Bx.14.24KD.14.21
And sithen sende þe to satisfaccioun · for to so[nn]enBx.14.24: sonnen: "dry in the sun" after dyeing it, rather than beta's much easier sowen, "sew". Alpha's verb is sparsely cited in MED, but it is more appropriate for the process of cleaning. it after
Satisfaccio dobestBx.14.25: Following this F has two extra lines. KD adopt the first on the grounds that it is "pre-archetypal" (p. 172).
Þan Haukynnes wyf þe wafrere · w[hic]h isBx.14.31: which is: KD accept that alpha's reading is archetypal, but argue that "from the poor sense of wif (why should her clothes be compared with those of heralds and harpers?) this is unoriginal" (p. 187), and so emend wif to wil. Like beta, which reads with his, KD miss the significance of ll. 3-4, where Hawkin's wife is an aspect of activa vita. actiua vita
Bx.14.32KD.14.29
¶ And I shal purueye þe paste quod pacyence · þoughBx.14.32: þough: Alpha reads þouȝ þow, but beta is supported by the b-verse in Cx (RK.15.234). no plow erie
AlleBx.14.35: Alle: Indirect object of fynde; WF supply prepositions. þat lyueth and loketh · lyflode wolde I fynde
Ne solliciti sitis &c [·] volucres celi deus pascit &c [·] pacientes vincunt &cBx.14.38: We separate the three quotations by punctuation. MR separate the first two by punctuation and the second and third by a line-break,
but L runs the line on without punctuation. F ends with scitis.
Bx.14.40KD.14.35
Who-so leueth ȝowBx.14.40: ȝow: R has ȝow noþer; F in a revised line has eyþir of ȝow. Perhaps alpha had ȝow either, i.e. either Conscience or Patience. Schmidt (1995) adopts yow either from alpha as "more precise" (p. 393). We retain copy-text. by owre lorde · I leue nouȝte he be blissed
Bx.14.44KD.14.39
For lente neuere was [þere]Bx.14.44: þere: Supported by R alone, since F rewrites the line and beta drops the word, but C mss. have either here or more commonly þere (RK.15.238). lyf · but lyflode were shapen
Wher-of or wherfore · [and]Bx.14.45: and: Beta has or, though O reads &. F loses the line, but R's and is supported by Cx. where-by to lybbe
In menynge þat alle men · myȝteBx.14.50: myȝte: Misunderstanding the syntax (þe same, "similarly"), scribes add do (MCrGOF) or se (C), but LWHmR are supported by Cx. þe same
Bx.14.52KD.14.46α
Quodcumque pecieritisBx.14.52: pecieritis: Beta adds a patre. The P family of C reads patrem, the X family omits as does alpha. Biblical texts vary; see Alford (1992), 87. in nomine meo &c & alibi
¶ But I loked what lyflode itBx.14.54: lyflode it: Beta is supported by Cx (though in a b-verse) against alpha's þat liflode. was · þat pacience so preysed
And þanne wasBx.14.55: was: LWCG read was it, as in Cx, supplying a Bx omission preserved in MO before correction and in alpha. Cr has it was and Hm þat was. a pece of þe pater noster · fiat voluntas tua
[And]Bx.14.58: And: R (=alpha?) is supported by Cx, though beta omits and F has Þere. shal neuere gyuesBx.14.58: gyues: "shackles". Cx supports beta. Alpha substitutes non-alliterating feytoures, "deceivers"; presumably this was a misreading of a gloss feteres, "fetters" in Bx. For another case of a gloss being included in the text, cf. note to Bx.15.25. þe greue · ne grete lordes wrath
Bx.14.60KD.14.55
Bx.14.60: L's paraph is unsupported except for the line-space in M.Bi so þat þow be sobre · of syȝte and of tonge
For if þow lyuest after his lore · þe sho[r]ter lyf þe betterBx.14.65: better: Alpha has leuere, perhaps by alliterative attraction; beta is supported by Cx.
¶ For þorw his breth bestes wexenBx.14.67: wexen: L's forms are inf. wax(en), pr. 3 sg. wexeth, waxeth, pr. pl. wexeth, pa. sg. wex, pa. pl. wexen, woxen, ppl. waxen, woxen. The readings of other beta mss. confirm that wexen is here past tense, as is ȝeden. R has the present; the most authoritative C mss. have the past. · and abrode ȝeden
As holywrit witnesseth · whan men segge her gracesBx.14.70: graces: Beta's plural is supported by Cx.
Bx.14.76KD.14.68
Þat many wynt[er]Bx.14.76: wynter: There is the usual variation between the marked and unmarked forms of the plural. Here Cx supports CrR. men lyueden · and no mete ne tulyeden
[¶]Bx.14.77: ¶: WHmR have a paraph here which in L has slipped to the next line. Seuene slepe as seith þe boke · seuene hundreth wynter
And if men lyued as mesure wolde · shulde neuere-moreBx.14.79: more: Although in alliterative position, this is omitted by all C mss. as well as by beta4 and F presumably by coincidence in a revised b-verse. be defaute
Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuitBx.14.86: R ends the quotation at panis, and F omits altogether. Lines 81-110 have no parallel in C.
Þei sonken in-to helle · þoBx.14.90: þo: So LM and F, but R joins the others with þe. Either could be a substitution for the other. citees vchone
And surgienes for dedly synnesBx.14.98: synnes: Apparently beta, though CrHm agree with alpha on the sg. We follow copy-text. · whan shrifte of mouth failleth
¶ Ac shrifte of mouth more worthy is · if man be i[n]licheBx.14.99: inliche: R reproduces alpha, as shown by F's error with (for within). MO also have ynlich, presumably a scribal restoration since other beta mss. have iliche. contrit
¶ [Ȝe]Bx.14.107: Ȝe: Alpha only, but an opening discourse-marker that is characteristically Langlandian; cf. l. 113 below, Bx.11.145 etc. where woneth charite quod haukyn · I wiste neuere in my lyue
¶Bx.14.109: ¶: The paraph at the start of the speech is in beta and F. Cf. l. 107 above, and l. 111 below. Þere parfit treuthe and pouere herte is · and pacience of tonge
Þere is charitee þe chief chaumbrereBx.14.110: chaumbrere: The form chambre in MHmCG and alpha could represent Bx, corrected by other scribes. See note to laborere in l. 338. [·] for god hym-selue
¶ Whether pacien[c]e pouerteBx.14.111: pacience pouerte: This, rather than paciente pouerte in LCrWO, is likely to be the beta reading, as in CG and MHm before correction. Scribes were understandably puzzled, not
realising that Pacience is a term of address (as in l. 292). Evidence that W's exemplar may have read pacience is that W nowhere else spells paciente with final /e/. On this analysis, alpha, equally puzzled, added and, to read pacience and pouerte. Yet alpha's reading has support from Cx, pouerte and pacience (RK.15.277). quod haukyn · be more plesaunte to owre driȝteBx.14.111: driȝte: The difficult word is misread by C and glossed by G and alpha. Cx has instead "plese more god almyhty".
Bx.14.112KD.14.103
Þan ricchesse riȝtfulliche ywonne · and resonablelich yspendedBx.14.112: yspended: Beta2 alters to dispended.
Bx.14.116KD.14.107
Whan itBx.14.116: it: L's agreement with R against the easily adopted he (as in the b-verse) in the other beta mss. would be secure for Bx except that Cx reads he drow to þe deth. F omits the pronoun. See Introduction V.3.2. drow to his deth-day · þat he ne dred hym sore
And þatBx.14.117: þat: The beta reading, but easily lost as in MGR. atte rekenyng in arrerage fel · rather þan oute of dette
Þanne may beggeres asBx.14.126: as: So L, corrected M, CrW. Certainly a more meaningful reading than and in beta4 and alpha, and supported by the X family of C, though some of the P family also have and. bestes · after bote waiten
For to wrotherhele was he wrouȝte · þat neuere was ioyeBx.14.130: was ioye: The word-order is supported by alliteration and Cx, against the reversal in Hm and alpha. shaped
Riȝte so resoun sheweth · þat þoBx.14.133: þo: Beta2 has, less appropriately, þe. Lines 133-40 are not in C. men þat were richeBx.14.133: þat were riche: The phrase is lost in alpha. F repairs.
For þei han her hyre here · anBx.14.138: an: "and". The fact that the form is also in M may indicate that it is beta's. heuene as it were
And isBx.14.139: is: "it is". Dropped by beta2 and F, and erased in M. gret lykyng to lyue · with-oute laboure of body
And in an other stede also · velud sompnum surgencium domine in ciuitate tua & adBx.14.142: & ad: Scribes have corrected this familiar quotation (Psalm 72.20). F reads sompnium, "dream", in place of sompnum, "sleep", and adds ymaginem, both as in the Vulgate. Alpha's ad for beta's & ad is probably a similar correction. Cx ends the quotation at surgencium. nichilum rediges
¶ Hewen þat han her hyre aforeBx.14.145: afore: Alpha has to-fore and Cx byfore. See note to Bx.5.12. · aren euermore nedy
And selden deiethBx.14.146: deieth: Beta adds the pronoun he, but R (F rewrites) is supported by Cx in postponing the subject until the b-verse. out of dette · þat dyneth ar heBx.14.146: he: Beta supported by the X group of C, while alpha's plural has support from the P group. The plural is probably prompted by the previous line. deserue it
¶ So I segge by ȝow riche · it semeth nouȝtBx.14.151: nouȝt: Lost by alpha making nonsense; F rewrites the b-verse to improve the sense. þat ȝe shulle
Bx.14.152KD.14.141
Haue [two] heuene[s]Bx.14.152: two heuenes: Alpha is supported by Cx. Probably beta misunderstood the sense of a line which causes scribes problems in other respects also. It involves an unusual
disjuncture after the first stress: "(You shall not) have two heavens: (one) in your present existence and (another) in heaven
afterwards". In Cx the line is simplified by dropping the b-verse: "(You shall not) have two heavens in return for your present existence" (RK.16.9). inBx.14.152: in: Though R's for is shared with Cx, it makes no sense in the context of the line as in Bx. ȝowre here-beyngBx.14.152: here-beyng: Only recorded here and in C by MED, her adv. 7(a). Beta2 and G corrupt to here beryng (? OED harbouring), prompting W to guess at here dwellyng. · and heuene her-afterBx.14.152: her-after: This is perhaps Bx, though it could have been prompted by here in the a-verse. WGR have þere-after.
Riȝt as a seruaunt taketh his salarye bifore · & sitth wolde clayme moreBx.14.153: R (reproducing alpha) divides the line at the end of the unusually heavy a-verse, but is left with an impossibly short line.
F therefore expands freely. Hm divides at the same point as alpha, and then fills out the following line independently. Alpha's
huire for beta's more anticipates Bx huyre in l. 154. The passage up to l. 169 is dropped in C.
As he þat none hadde · and hath huyreBx.14.154: huyre: Alpha's heuene is a consequence of its muddle in the previous line. atte laste
Bx.14.156KD.14.144α
De delicijs ad delicias · deficile est transireBx.14.156: transire: Alford (1992), 89, quotes Jerome in support of this reading rather than ascendere in alpha, who still has his eye on heuene.
¶Bx.14.157: ¶: The paraph, following the Latin line, is in beta and F. Ac if [ȝ]eBx.14.157: ȝe: LMCrGF þe is an easy misreading. It may, however, represent Bx, with WHmCOR making an obvious correction. riche haue reuthe · and rewarde wel þe pore
And lyuen as lawe techeth · done leute to alleBx.14.158: alle: All beta mss. except L have hem alle (referring to the poor) but alle is probably the alpha reading, as in R, with F expanding a short b-verse to his brothir. On M's agreement with beta1, see Introduction III.2.
Bx.14.164KD.14.152
Bothe to riche and to nouȝte riche · þat rewfullichBx.14.164: rewfullich: Cf. l. 160. Alpha adopts the easier reading riȝtfullich. lybbeth
Bx.14.167-71: These five lines are lost in alpha, jumping from Ac to Ac and paraph to paraph. ¶ Ac it nys but selde yseyn · as by holy seyntes bokesBx.14.167: bokes: M shares the error liues with O.
Bx.14.172KD.14.160
[¶]Bx.14.172: ¶: An appropriate paraph, recorded by WHm and alpha. AcBx.14.172: Ac: Alpha must have had this reading, though R omits it. F has (as usual) But. beggeres aboute Midsomer · bredlees þei soupe
And yliche witty & wyse · if þe welBx.14.179: þe wel: In L the scribe has first written þi followed by five letters; the /i/ has been altered to /e/ followed by wel and a punctus. There can be little question that L's original reading was þi wille as in MCGOF. Rather doubtfully we follow L's corrected reading, supported by beta2 (CrWHm) and R, on the grounds that þe wel was more likely to have been mistaken for þi wille than vice versa. Cx revises the b-verse and offers no guide. hadde lyked
Bx.14.180KD.14.168
Bx.14.180: Alpha's paraph is not appropriate.And haue reuthe on þise riche men · þat rewarde nouȝte þi prisoneresBx.14.180: prisoneres: For R's form prisones, see note to Bx.3.138 and l. 186 below. Here and elsewhere we follow copy-text. Lines 180-209 are not in C.
¶ Ac pore peple þi prisoneres · lordeBx.14.186: lorde: R has lore, either as a spelling of lorde as at Bx.5.407, 18.61, or as the ppl. "lost". Perhaps the form represents alpha, since F supposes it to be a verb, reading lyȝn, "lie". Note also the addition of final /d/ in O's lord. in þe put of myschief
Wo in wynter tymesBx.14.189: wynter tymes: Alpha has wyntres tyme. In the same a-verse in C at RK.9.78, the X family has beta's reading, the P family has wynter tyme. Cf. somer tyme in the next line. · for wantyng of clothes
Conforte þi careful [·] cryst in þi rycheBx.14.191: ryche: Beta2 corrupts to rychesse, and M is altered to that reading.
¶ Þus in genere of his genitriceBx.14.194: in genere of his genitrice: "by the very nature of his nobility". Alpha must have had alle his, as R, but beta copies apart from L have neither word. · Ihesu cryst seyde
Bx.14.196KD.14.183
[To hores to harlotes . to alle maner poeple]Bx.14.196: The line is in alpha only, beta missing the second line beginning To. For to (2) F has & to, possibly correctly, since R uniquely drops & in the parallel position in the line above. F's b-verse is, however, rather meaninglessly inclusive.
And be clene þorw þat crystennynge · of alle kynnes [synnes]Bx.14.198: synnes: Dropped by L after kynnes. W alone has the sg.
AndBx.14.199: And: "if". Alpha underlines the sense with And if, adopted also by CrW. In M a word is first inserted and then erased. vs fel þorw folye · to falle in synne after
Bx.14.200KD.14.187
Confessioun and kne[w]lechyngBx.14.200: Confessioun and knewlechyng: Reversed in alpha. [·] & crauyng þi mercy
AcBx.14.202: Ac: Beta2, C and alpha have And. if þe p[ouke]Bx.14.202: pouke: Beta's pope is an odd error, especially in view of l. 205. KD, p. 147 suggest "a preferred villain substituted". wolde plede here-aȝeineBx.14.202: here-aȝeine: Alpha has þere-aȝeine, adopted also by G. · and punyssh vs in conscience
HeBx.14.203: He: Either Christ, or more probably "the one affected". R's Ho is perhaps an alpha error, altered by F to We for the sense. shulde take þe acquitance as quik · and to þe qued schewe it
Bx.14.208KD.14.194
Bx.14.208: The paraph in W and alpha is not adopted.Of pompe and of pruyde · þe parchemyn decorreth
Pater nostresBx.14.211: Pater nostres: CrCGOR have the singular. Cx has preyeres (RK.16.38). and penaunceBx.14.211: penaunce: Here and elsewhere, romance loans ending in a sibilant may be unchanged in the plural, hence frequent variations between
penaunce and penaunces, e.g. Bx.P.25, 7.132, 15.153, 16.39. Here Hm and alpha have the marked plural, as does the X family of C. It is worth observing that of 44 instances of penaunce from the C text in Wittig's Concordance, 16 are emendations of penaunces in the X family. · and pilgrimageBx.14.211: pilgrimage: CrWG have the plural, as do most C mss. See Bx.15.189 and 19.387 for a similar situation. to Rome
Bx.14.212KD.14.198
ButBx.14.212: But: "unless". Beta is supported by Cx. R has And; F begins With in a rewritten a-verse. owre spences and spendyngBx.14.212: spendyng: R has oure spendynge, as the X family of C. sprynge ·Bx.14.212: The punctuation follows sprynge (aaa/xx) in LR and probably in original M, though there another punctus appears before springe, as in other mss. (aa/ax). of a trewe welleBx.14.212: welle: The obviously superior reading is supported by Cx over wille in CrWCO (G corrects).
Bx.14.216KD.14.202
¶ For seuene synnes þatBx.14.216: þat: Dropped in CO, and postponed to the b-verse in WGF. Cx has þat in both positions. þere ben · assaillen vs euere
Ac wiþ ricchesse þ[o] ribaude[s]Bx.14.218: þo ribaudes: Alpha, supported by Cx, referring to the sins. Beta has þat Ribaude referring to the devil. · rathest men bigyleth
For þere þat richesse regneth · reuerence[s]Bx.14.219: reuerences: i.e. expressions of deference. Alpha has the plural, as do the best C mss. Beta's form might be construed as plural without ending, as often with romance loans ending in a sibilant. See note
to l. 211. folweth
AndBx.14.221: And: Beta supported by the X family of C against alpha's Ac/But. The P family has no conjunction. þe riche is reuerenced · by resoun of his richchesse
Of witte and of wysdom · þat fer [w]eyBx.14.223: fer wey: R only, since the line is lost in F, but supported by Cx against beta's fer awey. Neither phrase occurs elsewhere in the poem. is better
For þe riche hath moche to rekene · and riȝte softeBx.14.225: riȝte softe: Corruption in beta2 leads CrW to invent and Hm to correct. Perhaps beta2 read ofte, and lost the word in the next line. walketh
Þe heighBx.14.226: heigh: Alpha and G repeat riȝt from the previous line. Beta's a-verse is as in Cx. waye to heuene-ward · oft ricchesseBx.14.226: ricchesse: Beta against alpha's riche. The b-verse is rewritten in C. letteth
Ita possibileBx.14.227: possibile: "It is as (ita) possible for a rich man etc." Quoted in this form also in RK.11.201a. MW alter to impossibile, in view of Matt. 19.23 which has "quia dives difficile ...". diuiti &c
Bx.14.228KD.14.213
¶ Þere þe pore presethBx.14.228: preseth: Beta is supported by Cx. Alpha has precheth (R) or procheth (in both cases <p> with abbreviation). bifor þe richeBx.14.228: þe riche: Certainly Bx, though Cx omits, as does F by contamination or coincidence. · with a pakke at his rugge
For his pouerte and hisBx.14.231: his (2): Omitted by MCGO, as in the P family of C. (F loses ll. 229-31). pacience · a perpetuel blisse
¶ AndBx.14.233: And: Alpha has Ac (F But); C mss. have And or Also. Cf. l. 221. pryde in ricchesse regneth · rather þan in pouerte
[Or] in þe Maister [or]Bx.14.234: Or ... or: Beta has Arst ... þan, but alpha is supported by Cx. Beta supposes that the master would have more pride than his man, but Skeat (1886), ii, 211 explains that by man Langland refers to "the arrogant manners of the retainers in a great household". in þe man · some mansioun heBx.14.234: he: Omitted by R, but supported by Cx. hath
Bx.14.242: A paraph might be expected here, as for the other sins, but only WCF have one.If wratthe wrastel with þe pore · he hath þe worse ende
Bx.14.245-55: These eleven lines are lost in beta, probably by eyeskip from And if 244 to ¶ And if (in beta only) 256. Cx is closely parallel except for the last two lines, and generally supports R over F. [For lowelich he loketh · and loueliche is his speche
Bx.14.247: The paraph in F marks the introduction of gluttony.And if glotonye greue pouerte · he gadereth þe lasse
Bx.14.248KD.14.231
For his rentes wolBx.14.248: wol: R has ne wol. Cx has neither ne in the a-verse nor no in the b-verse. nauȝte reche · no riche metes to bugge
For whan he streyneth hym to strecche · þe strawe is his shetesBx.14.251: shetes: Cx supports R's plural.
Withoute mornynge amonge · and mischiefBx.14.255: mischief: The b-verse in Cx, "so meschief hym folleweth" (RK.16.78) offers no support to F's myche myschef. to bote]
Bx.14.256KD.14.239
¶ And [þouȝ]Bx.14.256: þouȝ: Alpha is supported by Cx against if in beta. coueitise woldeBx.14.256: wolde: Only L + alpha, but supported by Cx "wolde with þe pore wrastle". cacche þe pore · þei may nouȝt come togideres
And whether be liȝter to breke · lasse boste itBx.14.265: lasse boste it: M alters its reading to agree with CrW; Cx supports the other mss. maketh
Bx.14.269-70: The lines are in beta only, but supported by Cx. Perhaps alpha censored them, though KD, p. 68, suggest eyeskip from A...stuwes 269 to And...suwe 271. A strawe for þe stuwes · it stode nouȝt I trowe
Had þei noneBx.14.270: none: Cx has alliterating noen haunt. We suppose that Bx or beta lost haunt, with L preserving the reading none, beta1 altering to no þing for sense, and G further altering to noght. If so, then M is perhaps dependent on beta1. but of pore men · her houses wereBx.14.270: were: All beta mss. except L read stoode, perhaps repeated from the previous line. Cx loses the b-verse. vntyled
Þat god is hisBx.14.273: his: Omitted by R and misplaced by F, but supported by Cx. grettest helpe · and no gome elles
And [he is]Bx.14.274: he is: The reading of R alone, but supported by Cx (RK.16.97). The beta reading, as in L, original M, and HmGOC, appears to have been his. CrWF make an obvious correction to he his, and this is followed by the M corrector. The sense is that Poverty is a servant in God's retinue. seruaunt as he seith · and of his sute bothe
And whereBx.14.275: where: "whether", the spelling of LR. he be or be nouȝte · he bereth þe signe of pouerte
For-thi al poreBx.14.277: pore: CrCGO have pouertie, influenced by l. 275. Cx supports pore. þat paciente is · may claymen and askenBx.14.277: may claymen and asken: The b-verse does not alliterate. Cx has instead of puyr rihte may claymen.
Bx.14.280KD.14.263
In londeBx.14.277: In londe: F's reading suggests that R's In lorde is an alpha error. and in lordship · and likynge of bodye
And as a mayde for [a]Bx.14.282: a (2): R is supported by Cx against omission in all other B mss. mannes loue · her moder forsaketh
Bx.14.284KD.14.267
Moche is suche a maydeBx.14.284: suche a mayde: LMHmCO are supported by Cx (RK.16.107). Alpha reads þat mayde, G drops suche, and CrW reflect a corrupt exemplar anticipating more in the following line. to louie · of hymBx.14.284: hym: Cx has a man to carry the alliteration. þat such one taketh
Þe whichBx.14.290: Þe which: Supported by Cx against R Which and Cr Such. is sybbe to god hym-self · and so [neighe is pouerte]Bx.14.290: so neighe is pouerte: This is the reading of R and presumably of alpha, which F attempts to clarify by altering pouerte to þat persone. Beta is quite different, so to his seyntes, which makes superficial but inappropriate sense and can hardly have given rise to alpha. The readings of this b-verse and
that of the next line suggest that Bx was damaged or unclear. Cx has a rather feeble repair: "The whiche is syb to Crist sulue and semblable bothe" (RK.16.113), and drops the next line.
¶ Haue god my trouthe quod Haukyn · ȝe preyse faste pouerteBx.14.291: ȝe preyse faste pouerte: Beta's b-verse at least makes sense but it lacks alliteration. R, presumably representing alpha, is nonsense, and F skilfully
rewrites. It may be that Bx read ȝe herie faste pouerte, with preyse as a gloss to avoid confusion with "hear", a gloss then incorporated by the scribes. It may be also that Bx was only partly legible; see previous note.
Bx.14.292KD.14.275
What is pouerte pacienceBx.14.292: pacience: R only, but supported by Cx, where Actyf is addressing Patience. F drops the word and beta has with pacience. quod he · proprely to mene
¶Bx.14.293: ¶: The paraph in LWHm introduces four Latin lines. Paupertas quod pacience · est odibile bonum
Remocio curarum · possessio sine calumpnia · donum dei · sanitatisBx.14.294: sanitatis: CrWC and original M have erroneous sanitas, as again at l. 326; R anticipates semita. mater
Absque solicitudineBx.14.295: solicitudine: O and Alpha have the error solitudine, as again at l. 331. Many C manuscripts have the same error. semita · sapiencie temperatrix · negocium sine dampno
¶ I can nouȝt construe alBx.14.297: al: Dropped by Hm and beta4, but supported by Cx. þis quod haukyn · ȝe moste kenneBx.14.297: kenne: Scribes add me (WR) or alter to telle (Hm) or say (beta4). þis on englisch
Bx.14.298: MWHmCF mark the start of Patience's speech with a paraph or line-space.In englisch quod pacyence it is wel harde · welBx.14.298: wel (2): Lost by CrHmG who move the punctuation to follow pacyence. F also loses the word and expands the b-verse. to expounen
Bx.14.307: Alpha has a paraph which beta more logically postpones to l. 308.And contricioun confort [·] & cura animarumBx.14.307: CGO add þe second, no doubt incorporated from a marginal note. But cf. l. 314.
OrBx.14.309: Or: CrW read For, and M is altered to that reading. Hm takes Or as to be Latin, so writes horas justicie in display script. Many C scribes are puzzled by the syntax at this point. as iustyce to iugge men · enioigned is no poreBx.14.309: enioigned is no pore: The b-verse has been lost in alpha, with F patching.
Ne to be aBx.14.310: a: Dropped by beta2 and G, as by some C scribes. Maire [ouer]Bx.14.310: ouer: Probably alpha as in R, misread as on in F. It has support from Cx against beta's aboue. men · ne mynystre vnder kynges
Selden is anyBx.14.311: any (1): Beta supported by Cx. R's nonsensical enemye presumably reproduces alpha, revised to þe by F. pore yput · to punysshen any peple
Nolite iudicare quemquam þe þriddeBx.14.314: þe þridde: Supported by all B mss., though not in Cx and quite possibly incorporated from a marginal note. Cf. l. 307.
¶ Selde is pore [riȝt]Bx.14.315: pore riȝt: Alpha is supported by Cx and alliteration over beta's any pore, picked up from l. 311. riche · but of [his]Bx.14.294: his: Omitted by all except R (rephrased in F), but supported by Cx. riȝtful heritage
Bx.14.316KD.14.295
Wynneth he nauȝt with weghtesBx.14.316: weghtes: Alpha must have had wittes as in R but revised in F. C mss. show some confusion, the majority reading wihtes, "weights", but with variants including wittes, whittus and whites (RK.16.130). fals · ne with vnseled mesures
Bx.14.324KD.14.301-302
¶ Þe fyfte [it]Bx.14.324: it: Omitted by all except R; cf. note to l. 319. C mss. have instead Ȝut is hit or Ȝut hit is. is moder of helthe [·] a frende in alle fondynges
And for þe la[w]d[e]Bx.14.325: lawde: The range of variants suggests that this spelling (as in CR) or possibly laude was the reading of Bx. Schmidt (1995), 394, plausibly proposes that it was an error for lowe, "humble people". Most beta scribes suppose the intended reading to be lande, but GO take it as the northern spelling of lewde. F's lawe presumably means "law" rather than "low", which is lowe, lowh, lowhȝ. Cx rewrites (RK.16.138) euere a lecheBx.14.325: a leche: Alpha's a-liche / y-lyche, though adopted by KD, is an obvious error. In its rewritten line Cx has of foule eueles leche. · a lemman of al clennesse
SanitatisBx.14.326: Sanitatis: For the error Sanitas in CrWC and uncorrected M and G, cf. l. 294. mater
¶ Þe sexte [it]Bx.14.327: it: Omitted by all except R; cf. note to l. 319. Most C mss. have it. is a path of pees · ȝe þorw þe pas of altoun
And euere þe lasse þat he bereth · þe hardyer heBx.14.330: he (2): R drops and Cx rewrites. The line is lost in F. is of herte
For-þi seith seneca · paupertas est absque solicitudineBx.14.331: solicitudine: See note to l. 295. semita
CantabitBx.14.333: Cantabit: Cr and alpha have the imperfect in error. (KD and Schmidt wrongly record Cantabit as F's reading). paupertas coram latrone viator
¶ Þe seueneth [it]Bx.14.334: it: Omitted by all except R; cf. note to l. 319. Most C mss. have it. is welle of wisdome · and fewe wordes sheweth
Bx.14.336KD.14.312
He tempreth þe tonge to treuthe-ward · [þat]Bx.14.336: þat: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's easier and. no tresore coueiteth
Bx.14.337: The Latin tag (from l. 295) is recorded only in beta and is not in C. Sapiencie temperatrix
¶ The eigteth [it]Bx.14.338: it: Omitted by all except R; cf. note to l. 319. Most C mss. have it. is a lele laborereBx.14.338: laborere: The form has strong support for Bx from LCr and alpha, though Cx has labour. MED labour 6 gives the sense "laborer", with examples almost entirely from A mss, and it is quite a frequent variant in all three versions. Cf. flateres for flatererers in Bx.13.450 and 477, and MHmCG + alpha chambre for chaumbrere in Bx.14.110. · and loth to take more
Bx.14.340KD.14.315
And if [he]Bx.14.340: he (1): Omitted in L, where the line is marked for correction. chaffareth he chargeth no losse · mowe he charite wynne
¶ The nyneth [it]Bx.14.342: it: Omitted by all except R; cf. note to l. 319. Most C mss. have it. is swete to þe soule · no sugre is swettere
Þus lered me a le[r]edBx.14.345: lered (2): Alpha supported by Cx. To avoid the repetition, beta adopts lettred, while a number of C mss. have, oddly, lewid. man · for owre lordes loueBx.14.345: loue: Supposing an omission, WCr and F add of heuene on the model of Bx.6.19, 13.151, etc. Cx ends lordes loue seynt Austyn (RK.16.153), taking up the first words of the following line.
Seynt austyn a blissed lyf · with-outen bysynesseBx.14.346: bysynesse: CrW add ladde to complete the b-verse, and M is corrected to that reading. Cx redivides ll. 345-7, so that this line becomes "A blessed lyf withoute bisinesse bote onelyche for þe soule" (RK.16.155).
Þat þusBx.14.349: þus: Beta2 has þis, but Cx reads þus. fyrst wrote to wyssen men · what pouerte was to mene
¶ Allas quod haukyn þe actyf man þoBx.14.350: þe actyf man þo: Lost in alpha. These lines to the end of the passus are not in Cx. · þat after my crystendome
Synne suwethBx.14.353: suweth: Alpha's error scheweth prompts F to rewrite. vs euere quod he · and sori gan wexe