Passus duodevicesimus & tercius de dobet
As a reccheles renke · þat of no wo recchethBx.18.2: reccheth: WG's past tense is not supported by Cx.
Bx.18.4KD.18.4
Tyl I wex wery of þe worlde · and wylned eft toBx.18.4: to: Possibly not in Bx. It is added by the main scribe in L, omitted by R and by eight C mss. slepe
¶ One semblable to þe samaritan · & some-del to Piers þeBx.18.10: þe (2): Dropped by HmCGOF and the P family of C. plowman
Barfote on an asse bakke · botelees cam prykeBx.18.11: pryke: Cr and R (= alpha?) have the present participle as do many C mss. The infinitive after comen was becoming rarer; see Mustanoja (1960), 536-7.
Bx.18.20KD.18.19
And who sholdeBx.18.20: sholde: Dropped by R, but supported by Cx. iouste in Iherusalem · Ihesus he seyde
And feccheBx.18.21: fecche: R's third person is not supported by Cx. þat þe fende claymeth · Piers fruit þe plowman
Bx.18.22: A paraph, as in WHmC with a line-space in M, would be appropriate, but is not indicated in L or alpha.Is Piers in þis place quod I · & he preynte on me
Þis ihesus of his gentriceBx.18.23: gentrice: (MED gentrise), as in Cx. CrHm and alpha substitute gentrie. · wole iuste in piers armes
Þat cryst be nouȝt biknoweBx.18.25: biknowe: LW and alpha, against knowen or yknowe in others. However Cx has yknowe. here · for consumatus deus
Bx.18.28KD.18.27
[¶]Bx.18.28: ¶: The paraph marking Will's question is omitted in L but supported by WHmC and alpha and the line-space in M. Who shal iuste with ihesus quod I [·] iuwes or scribes
Al þat lyueth orBx.18.31: or (1): W and alpha read and, but this is not supported by Cx. loketh · in londe or in watere
Bx.18.36KD.18.35
And forb[i]teBx.18.36: forbite: "bite through". R's rather odd reading was rejected by other B scribes, who read forbete or for to bete, but it is supported by the P family and three of the X family of C. It reflects morsus tuus ero in Osee 13.14, quoted by F and many C mss. in the next line. See Barney (2006), 25, citing Schmidt (1995), 402. and adownBx.18.36: adown: Supported by Cx against doun in MCrHmG and alpha. brynge [·] bale deth for euere
And al [þe]Bx.18.41: þe: LR have her, which is probably coincident error, since Cx has þe and there is no apparent reason for the other B scribes to corrupt. courte on hym cryde · crucifige sharpe
[¶]Bx.18.42: ¶: A paraph is appropriate, although it is only in Hm and alpha. In L the line is at the top of the page where a paraph is
sometimes missed. Tho put hym forth a piloure · bifor pilat & seyde
This ihesus of owre iewesBx.18.43: iewes: Dropped by alpha, but wanted for the alliteration and supported by Cx. temple · iaped & dispised
Bx.18.44KD.18.42
To fordone it onBx.18.44: on: MG and alpha have in anticipating in thre dayes, but this is not supported by Cx. o day · and in thre dayes after
Bothe as longe and as large · [a-]loftBx.18.47: a-loft: R (= alpha) and Cx; F has on lofte. Beta's bi lofte anticipates by grounde. & by grounde
Tolle tolle quod an other · and toke o[f]Bx.18.49: of: L's spelling o is probably a slip since the scribe does not use the form elsewhere. kene þornes
Bx.18.52KD.18.50
Aue rabby quod þat RibaudeBx.18.52: þat Ribaude: Cx supports beta against R's þe ribaudes and F's þo rybawdis. Alpha's plural represents the two catchpoles. · and þrew redes at hym
Nailled hym with þreBx.18.53: þre: F has fowre, which the R corrector writes in the margin without deleting thre in the text. Cx has thre. For the opposing views of whether Christ's feet were nailed together or separately, see Geoffrey Shepherd (ed.), Ancrene Wisse (London, 1959), p. 57. nailles · naked onBx.18.53: on: Supported by the P family of C, though the X family support R's vp-on. þe Rode
And poysoun on a pole · þei put vpBx.18.54: vp: Not in R, nor in F in a recast line. Again C mss. are split, the X family supporting beta (RK.20.52). to his lippes
ÞeBx.18.61: Þe: Supported by Cx against Til (R), Tyl þe (F). lorde of lyf & of liȝte · þo leyed his eyen togideres
Bx.18.64KD.18.62
Ded men for that dyne · come out of depeBx.18.64: depe: Required for the alliteration and supported by Cx against alpha's here. graues
Bx.18.72KD.18.69
And somme saide he was a wicche · good is þat weBx.18.72: þat we: R omits both words, and F omits þat. Beta is supported by Cx. assaye
For he was knyȝte & kynges sone · kynde forȝaf þat tymeBx.18.79: tyme: Beta is supported by Cx. Alpha's synonym throwe, though not an uncommon word, is used nowhere else in the poem. Both KD and Schmidt adopt it.
Bx.18.80KD.18.77
Þat non harlot were so hardy · to leyne handeBx.18.80: hande: R has an hand and F has plural hondys. The line is not in Cx. vppon hym
For alle þei were vnhardy · þat houed on hors or stodeBx.18.86: stode: Alpha replaces with stede, not supported by Cx.
Þe blode spronge down by þe spere · & vnsperedBx.18.89: vnspered: Alpha substitutes the non-alliterating and easier synonym opned. Cx reads as beta. þe kniȝtes eyen
Þanne fel þe knyȝte vpon knees · and cryed [ihesu]Bx.18.90: ihesu: R (= alpha?) is supported by Cx. F has crist and beta hym. mercy
Bx.18.96KD.18.93
Called hem caytyues · acursedBx.18.96: acursed: Alpha adds hem, making the verb past tense. Cx supports beta. for euere
For þis foule vyleynye · veniaunce to ȝow alleBx.18.97: alle: WHmG read falle, perhaps prompted by the alliteration, or perhaps resisting the notion that all Jews were condemned; see Schmidt (1995),
402. The reading alle seems securely Bx, even though Cx (RK.20.97) also reads falle (P family) or bifalle (X family). WHmG may possibly be contaminated from a C text; see note to l. 394.
Cursed caytyue[s]Bx.18.99: caytyues: So alpha and Cx. Beta probably had the sg., presumably referring (obviously wrongly) to Longeus. M hesitates, first adding -s and then erasing; CrHmO make the obvious correction. · kniȝthod was it neuere
Bx.18.104KD.18.101
For be þis derkenesse ydo · deth worth [yvenkeshed]Bx.18.104: deth worth yvenkeshed: The alpha reading is supported by Cx against beta's his deth worth avenged.
Bx.18.112KD.18.109
Whan cryst cam herBx.18.112: her: So L and beta4. Beta2 reads of hire, and M is corrected to that reading. The alpha reading is uncertain, with R þe and F to his. See next note. kyngdom · þe croune shulde [lese]Bx.18.112: lese: The beta reading is cesse, but since cesse is not a transitive verb, beta2 adds of, and M is corrected to that reading: "the crown (i.e. authority) of their kingdom should come to an end". L realises something
is wrong, and leaves out the last word while waiting for further guidance. But cese is probably a beta error picked up from cessabit in the next line (only cited in beta), and alpha is right with lese. Cx rewrites the line.
Cum veniat sanctus sanctorumBx.18.113: sanctorum: Beta completes the quotation with cessabit vnxio vestra. Cf. Bx.15.631 for the same variation. Cx also varies: the P family has the full quotation (RK.20.112a).
¶Bx.18.121: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. Her suster as it semed · cam softlyBx.18.121: softly: Supported by Cx. MW soþly is an odd misreading, with Cr worthely probably an attempt to make sense of that. walkyng
¶Bx.18.125: ¶: The paraph is in beta only. WhanBx.18.125: Whan: Alpha's And whan is not supported by Cx. þis maydenes mette · mercy and treuth
Bx.18.128KD.18.124
And whichBx.18.128: which: Alpha's swich is not supported by Cx. a liȝte and a leme · lay befor helle
Bx.18.132KD.18.128
A mayd[e]Bx.18.132: mayde: CrG and alpha are supported by Cx against beta's mayden. þat hatte marye · and moder with-out felyng
Of any kyn[de]Bx.18.133: kynde: "natural"; so alpha against beta's kynnes. The X family of C has kynde, the P family kynde of. creature · conceyued þorw speche
Þe whileBx.18.141: while: MCrHmF read which, but Cx supports the others. þis liȝte & þis leme · shal Lucyfer ablende
For Adam & Eue · & abraham withBx.18.147: with: GF read and. MCr drop and (2) and have it here. Cx supports with. other
It is but trufleBx.18.151: trufle: Beta has a trufle, but Cx supports R. F has the plural. þat þow tellest · IBx.18.151: I: Dropped by alpha, but supported by Cx. treuth wote þe sothe
Bx.18.152KD.18.148
For þatBx.18.152: þat: WHmF add he, and the same mss. have he for it in the b-verse. Cx begins That thyng. is ones in helle · out cometh it neuere
Bx.18.156KD.18.151
Thorw experience quod [he]Bx.18.156: he: "she". The form in Cr and alpha; supported by Cx and required for the alliteration. See Introduction IV.1 and V.3.1. · I hope þei shal be saued
Þe fyrst venymouste · þorw ve[rtue]Bx.18.161: vertue: Alpha is supported by Cx. Beta repeats venym, not implausibly. of hym-self
So shal þis deth fordoBx.18.162: fordo: Beta supported by Cx against alpha's do. · I dar my lyf legge
Al þat deth dydBx.18.163: dyd: WHm take fordide from the previous line. In KD's listing of WHm agreements (pp. 38-9), over half occur in passus 17-19, indicating a different
genetic relationship (beta3, so not including Cr) in the last part of the poem (see KD, p. 49). In passus 18 WHm agree in
error at ll. 108, 209, 214, 222, 230, 256, 278, 338, 339, 441. furste · þorw þe deuelles entysynge
So shal grace þat bigan · make a good sleighteBx.18.165: sleighte: The sense is poor, and comparison with Cx suggests that Bx has lost a line after good, skipping to good in the line that follows (RK.20.164-5). KD supply "[end / And bigile þe gilour, and þat is good]". See Schmidt (1995), 402-03.
G's end (shared with Y) is by conjecture or contamination.
¶Bx.18.171: ¶: The paraph marking the start of speech is in beta and F. That is soth seyde mercy · and I se here bi southe
Bx.18.172KD.18.168
Where [cometh pees]Bx.18.172: cometh pees: R's order is supported by Cx. Beta and F reverse to prose order. playinge · in pacience yclothed
Þat ouer-houeth helle þus · [he]Bx.18.175: he: The L scribe added an initial <s>, to agree with all other beta mss., but alliteration and Cx support alpha's form. See Introduction IV.1. vs shal telle
And preyed pees to telle hir · to what place sheBx.18.178: she: In this case neither alliteration nor Cx supports alpha's he. Cf. notes to ll. 156 and 175. wolde
And in her gay garnementz · whom sheBx.18.179: she: In this case neither alliteration nor Cx supports alpha's he. Cf. notes to ll. 156, 175 and 178. grete þouȝte
Bx.18.180KD.18.176
¶ My wille is to wende quod sheBx.18.180: she: Alpha has he. Cx rewrites. Cf. notes to ll. 156, 175, 178 and 179. · and welcome hem alle
Bx.18.184KD.18.180
Bx.18.184: The line is preserved in beta only; it is in Cx. And I shal daunce þer-to · do þow so sustre
Loue þat is my lemman · suche lettres meBx.18.187: me: R's he me has support from the X family of C, but the P family is without he. sente
Bx.18.188KD.18.183
That mercy my sustreBx.18.188: my sustre: Dropped by alpha, but supported by Cx and by alliteration. & I · mankynde shulde saue
And saue mannes soule · sustre weneBx.18.195: wene: Alpha's wene þow is not supported by Cx. it neure
Shulde deye doune-riȝte · and dwelle in p[e]yneBx.18.198: peyne: Alpha is supported by Cx and ll. 205, 208. Beta has pyne, "torment" (see MED pein(e and pine n.(1)). after
If þat þei touched a tre · and þe fruiteBx.18.199: þe fruite: This seems undoubtedly the Bx reading, despite the lack of alliteration. Hm þe trees fruyt corrects the alliteration. F of þe frut is the Cx reading, presumably by coincidence, influenced by l. 201. eten
Bx.18.204KD.18.199
Aȝeines resoun IBx.18.204: I: The line is omitted by alpha, and beta mss. apart from L read and. The three best C mss. of the X family agree with L; other C mss. have and (RK.20.204). Schmidt (1995), 403, ascribes the error to "variation to the stock phrase, and misconstruction of the mood of
recorde as imperative". Omission of I might be a Bx error, as at l. 208, with the correction conjectured by L, but such activity is untypical of the L scribe. riȝtwisnesse · recorde þus with treuth
Bx.18.208KD.18.203
¶ And [I]Bx.18.208: I: Easily lost (see l. 204), but the agreement of LR suggests it might be a Bx error with the obvious correction made by other scribes (note F has I for And I). shal pre[i]eBx.18.208: preie: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's preue. quod pees · her peyne mote haue ende
For hadBx.18.210: had (1): Omitted by alpha (added in F). Cx supports beta. þei wist of no wo · wel had þei nouȝte knowen
Bx.18.215: L has an unrubricated paraph marker but no blank line. It is inappropriate and not supported by other mss. Possibly it was
intended for l. 213, where WHmR have a paraph.Shulde neuere riȝte riche man · þat lyueth in reste & ese
And suffred to be solde · toBx.18.219: to (2): Alpha reads and, but beta is supported by Cx. see þe sorwe of deyinge
For til modicum meteBx.18.221: mete: CrHmCGO and alpha have pa.t., as do a good many C mss. with vs · I may it wel avowe
Wote no wiȝte as I wene · what is ynoughBx.18.222: is ynough: R's is nouȝte probably reproduces alpha, with F altering to make sense. Cx supports beta. to mene
Bx.18.224KD.18.219
Sette hym in solace · & in souereigne myrtheBx.18.224: myrthe: Cx supports beta against alpha's ioye, picked up from l. 230.
To wite what wel wasBx.18.226: was: Cx supports beta against alpha's is, which is perhaps again picked up from l. 230. · kyndelich to knowe it
Bx.18.232KD.18.227
Shal lere hem what langour is · & lisseBx.18.232: lisse: Supported by Cx (RK.20.243) and alliteration over GR's blisse. F loses l. 232b and l. 233a. with-outen ende
That alle þe wyseBx.18.239: wyse: Supported by Cx and alliteration over alpha's men. Did alpha understand it as wyes as in a few C mss.? ofBx.18.239: of: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's in. þis worlde · in o witte acordedenBx.18.239: acordeden: Cx supports the past tense as in LHmOR.
Bx.18.240KD.18.235
That such a barne was borne · in bethleem [þe]Bx.18.240: þe: WR are supported by Cx. Without it the b-verse would have the metrical form x / x / x usually avoided. Possibly beta had dropped it and W restored
it on metrical grounds. R presumably represents alpha, with F dropping the article. Citee
Þ[e]Bx.18.247: Þe: Cx supports CrWO and alpha against Þat in LMHmC (G has Þat þe). water witnesse[th]Bx.18.247: witnesseth: Most C mss. support the present tense as in GO and alpha against the past tense in others. þat he was god · for he went on it
And lo how þe sonne gan loukeBx.18.251: louke: "lock". Alpha's spellings represent "look". Cx supports beta. · her liȝte in her-self
Bx.18.252KD.18.246
Whan she seye hym suffre · þat sonne & seBx.18.252: se: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's mone. made
Quaked as quykke þinge · and al biquash[e]Bx.18.254: biquashe: Probably Langland wrote al biquashe þe roches (plural: "all the rocks shatter"; cf. "petrae scissae sunt", Matt. 27.51), as in the X family of C, al toquasch þe roches (RK.20.257), but Bx obviously read roche. Alpha reproduces the verb, presumably taking it as the third-person present sg. with assimilated -s ending, though the ending is nearly always -eth in the B tradition. Beta "corrects" the verb form by making it past, biquasht, influenced by the context of past-tense verbs (though G has byquassethe). The P family of C also has the past tense, toquasched, but retains the plural noun. þe roche
And now shal lucifer leueBx.18.257: leue: Beta is supported by Cx against F's leese. R omits the word. it [·] thowgh hym loth þinke
Bx.18.258-9: These two lines preserved only in beta are supported by Cx. For gygas þe geaunt · with a gynne engyned
To breke & to bete [adown]Bx.18.259: adown: Cx supports MWHmCO. The line is lost in alpha. · þat ben aȝeines ihesus
Bx.18.264KD.18.259
And butBx.18.264: but: MCrF have but if, but the others are supported by Cx. þei reuerencen his Rode · & his resurexioun
And bileue on a newe lawe · be lost lyf & souleBx.18.265: Beta4 has an additional line following this. It is patently scribal and is not in Cx.
[A]Bx.18.267: A: So alpha, supported by Cx. Beta begins How a. spirit speketh to helle · & bit vnspere þe ȝatis
Bx.18.268KD.18.262α
Attollite portas &cBx.18.268: Alpha treats the two Latin words as the beginning of l. 269. In C four of the X group do the same, while four of the P group place them at the end of the previous line.
A voice loude in þat liȝte [·] to lucifer cryethBx.18.269: cryeth: Beta4 has the past tense; Cx has saide.
Bx.18.272KD.18.266
[¶]Bx.18.272: ¶: The paraph is not in L, but is appropriate and supported by WHmC and alpha, and the line-space in M. Thanne syked sathan · & seyde to he[lle]Bx.18.272: helle: Alpha is supported by Cx. Probably beta was puzzled by the unusual personal use, which derives from the Gospel of Nicodemus, in which a devil is named "Inferus", generally translated as Hell (e.g. MED helle 1 (c)).
Bx.18.276KD.18.270
And lede itBx.18.276: it: that is, mankynde. Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's hem. þer [Lazar is]Bx.18.276: Lazar is: Alpha is supported by Cx. Beta's hym lyketh is probably sheer inattention rather than objection to the implication that Lazarus is in heaven. Cf. l. 421. · & lyȝtlych me bynde
Þat such a lorde & a lyȝte · sh[al]Bx.18.278: shal: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's shulde. lede hem alle hennes
May no deth [þis lorde]Bx.18.281: þis lorde: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's hym. dere · ne no deueles queyntise
If he reue me [of]Bx.18.283: of: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's omission. my riȝte · he robbethBx.18.283: he robbeth: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's & robbe, though the subjunctive, parallel to reue makes excellent sense, making the whole line conditional, explaining the periles (sc. of lawlessness) of l. 282. me by maistrye
Bx.18.284KD.18.278
For by riȝt & bi resoun · þ[e]Bx.18.284: þe: Beta2, C and alpha are supported by Cx against þo in LMGO. renkes þat ben here
ȜifBx.18.287: Ȝif: Alpha begins Þat ȝif. The equivalent line in Cx has a different construction, beginning "That Adam and Eve" (RK.20.303). Adam ete þe apple · alle shulde deye
And [I] sitthen I-seisedBx.18.290: I sitthen I-seised: "I being then in possession", an absolute construction. This is R's reading, with F simplifying the presumed alpha reading.
Beta has dropped I, probably taking ppl. I-seised as pronoun + past tense. Cx has instead we haen ben sesed (RK.20.309). · seueneBx.18.290: seuene: Alpha adds þise, but it has no support from Cx. hundreth wyntre
And soBx.18.297: so: Alpha's al-so is without support from Cx. þow haddest hem oute [·] & hider atte laste
Certes I drede me quod þe deuel · leste treuth wil hem feccheBx.18.301: The line that follows in beta4 is evidently scribal. It is added in the Crowley revisions, Cr2 and Cr3.
¶ ÞisBx.18.302: Þis: For numeral + wynter treated as sg. cf. Bx.3.39, 5.561, 18.305. Here CrWC "correct" it to pl. with Thise. þretty wynter as I wene · [he wente aboute]Bx.18.302: he wente aboute: Alpha is supported by Cx and alliteration against beta's hath he gone. & preched
I haue assailled hym with synne · & some-tymeBx.18.303: some-tyme: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's some. [I] askedBx.18.303: I asked: Beta has the ppl. yasked, but alpha's pronoun + past tense is supported by Cx. Cf. l. 290.
And þus hath heBx.18.305: hath he: Beta's word-order is supported by Cx against alpha's reversal. trolled forth · þis two & thretty wynter
And whan I seighe it was so · slepyngBx.18.306: slepyng: Beta2 reads non-alliterative lepynge, and M is altered to that reading. Perhaps the scribe didn't know the story. I went
To warne pilates wyf · what donesBx.18.307: dones: "sort of". For the form, see OED done ppl. a. (n.); Mustanoja (1960), 86. man was ihesus
IBx.18.309: I: Alpha begins And I, but beta is supported by Cx. wolde haue lengthed his lyf · for I leuedBx.18.309: leued: Alpha's present tense is not supported by Cx. ȝif he deyede
That his soule woldeBx.18.310: wolde: Alpha has walde nauȝt, and Hm nolde. There is no equivalent line in Cx. suffre · no synne in his syȝte
With glorie & withBx.18.310: with (2): Omitted by O and alpha, but Cx has it. grete liȝte · god it is I wote wel
Bx.18.318: W and alpha have a paraph, perhaps prompted by Firste.Firste þorw þe we fellen · fro heuene so heigh
Bx.18.319-20: Beta loses 319b and 320a through eyeskip (lesynges ... lesynge). The X family of C does the same. For we leued þi lesynges · [we loupen oute alleBx.18.319: we loupen oute alle: Alpha only. R adds with þe, perhaps rightly, but it is unnecessary to the sense and metrically clumsy. Cx is revised.
Bx.18.320KD.18.314
And now for thi last lesynge ·] ylore [haue we]Bx.18.320: haue we: Beta reverses to prose order. Cx is rewritten: þere losten we (RK.20.347). Adam
¶ Efte þe liȝte bad vnlouke · & Lucifer answeredBx.18.323-6: It seems evident that the quotations from Psalm 23.10 have become disordered in Bx. This would most easily have happened if at some earlier stage they were to the right of each line:
Efte þe liȝte bad vnlouke · & Lucifer answered · quis est iste
What lorde artow quod lucifer · þe liȝte sone seide · Rex glorie
The lorde of myȝte & of mayne · & al manere vertues · dominus virtutum
All B mss. agree on the arrangement of l. 324, with quis est iste as the b-verse. Evidently, despite some rearrangement by F, Bx.18.325 began with Rex glorie. As the b-verse R (= alpha?) amalgamates and abbreviates 325b with 326; F abbreviates still further. LWC have dominus virtutum to the right of 326; MCrHmGO have it as a line on its own (with Hm expanding); R has it to begin 327, and F drops it altogether. Cx does not include the Latin phrases (RK.20.359-61).
Efte þe liȝte bad vnlouke · & Lucifer answered · quis est iste
What lorde artow quod lucifer · þe liȝte sone seide · Rex glorie
The lorde of myȝte & of mayne · & al manere vertues · dominus virtutum
All B mss. agree on the arrangement of l. 324, with quis est iste as the b-verse. Evidently, despite some rearrangement by F, Bx.18.325 began with Rex glorie. As the b-verse R (= alpha?) amalgamates and abbreviates 325b with 326; F abbreviates still further. LWC have dominus virtutum to the right of 326; MCrHmGO have it as a line on its own (with Hm expanding); R has it to begin 327, and F drops it altogether. Cx does not include the Latin phrases (RK.20.359-61).
[Þe]Bx.18.326: Þe: So alpha and Cx. Beta's And appears to be a consequence of the disordering; see previous note. lorde of myȝte & of mayneBx.18.326: mayne: Supported by Cx. WR have man. · & al manere vertues · dominus virtutum
DukesBx.18.327: Dukes: Alpha has the sg. The C mss. are also divided: the P group has the sg., the X group the plural. But l. 270 has Prynces, and this is supported by the source, the Gospel of Nicodemus, which has principes. of þis dym place · anon vndo þis ȝates
And with þat breth helle brakeBx.18.329: brake: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's braste. · with Beliales barres
For any wye or warde · wide openeBx.18.330: opene: Alpha has the past tense verb, as does W and corrected Hm. The P family of C has the same, while the X family has the adjective. þe ȝatis
And al þat man hath mysdo · I man wyl amende [it]Bx.18.350: it: Alpha has the pronoun, though F has it before the verb. R is supported by Cx in a slightly revised b-verse (RK.20.389). Note that in l. 352 beta has line-terminal it where alpha does not; see note there.
Bx.18.352KD.18.343
And lyf for lyf also · & by þat lawe I claymeBx.18.352: clayme: Beta has clayme it, but the object is Adam in the next line. See note to l. 350. The line is not in Cx.
And bothe quykkeBx.18.355: quykke: M and beta2 have quykene, quikne (MED quikenen), but Cx supports the others. & quyte · þat queynte was þorw synne
Bx.18.356KD.18.347
And þat grace gyle destruyeBx.18.356: destruye: "should destroy". Cr and alpha have the indicative. The line is rewritten in Cx. · good feith it asketh
So leue itBx.18.357: it: L and alpha are obviously right and supported by Cx. Beta1 had I, which the M reviser corrects to thow, bringing it into line with G. nouȝteBx.18.357: nouȝte: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's neuere. lucifer [·] aȝeine þe lawe I fecche hem
But bi riȝt & byBx.18.358: by (2): Not in beta4 or alpha. The X family of C has a second preposition (thorw) but the P family is without it, perhaps rightly. resoun · raunceoun here my lyges
Bx.18.360KD.18.350
Þow fettest myne in my place · aȝeines alBx.18.360: al: Lost in R (= alpha), and F makes up for it by supplying ryght &. resoun
So þat withBx.18.363: with: So L and alpha, supported by the X family of C. Beta1 anticipates þoruȝ, as does the P family of C. gyle þow gete · þorw grace it isBx.18.363: is: Beta is supported by Cx against alpha's was. ywone
Getest by gyle · þoBx.18.365: þo: Perhaps alpha's þinge is a recollection of the similar b-verse of l. 344, but the parallel might instead lead one to prefer it. There is no parallel in Cx. that god loued
Adam & alle þorwe a tree · shal torneBx.18.369: torne: Beta adds aȝeine, providing vowel alliteration, and perhaps influenced by l. 372, but alpha is supported by Cx. to lyue
And my grace to growe · ay gretter & wyderBx.18.373: wyder: This must be the beta reading, though M originally repeated gretter, as in alpha. Cx has non-alliterating wyddore and wyddore (RK.20.400).
Þe bitternesse þat þow hast browe · [now]Bx.18.374: now: Alpha is supported by Cx. The line is lost in W. brouke it þi-seluen
I fauȝte so me þrestesBx.18.378: þrestes: L and alpha share the very unusual -s inflexion, which may be a relict form. LALME's survey of the form covers the northern area only. ȝet · for mannes soule sake
A[c]Bx.18.386: Ac: So R (= alpha), supported by Cx, with F altering to But as usual. to beBx.18.386: to be: Lost in alpha, with F repairing. Supported by Cx. merciable to man · þanneBx.18.386: þanne: R (= alpha?) postpones until after the noun (F has may not for þanne it). Beta is supported by Cx. my kynde itBx.18.386: it: Clearly Bx, though dropped in WO (F rewrites). It is also dropped in Cx. asketh
It is nouȝt vsed inBx.18.391: in: The phrase in erthe, "on earth", is found in Bx.15.219 (but see variants) and 18.229. R alone has on and is probably a reversion to the usual phrase, but since Cx also has on it may be right. erthe · to hangen a feloun
There þe feloun thole sholde · deth or otherwyseBx.18.394: otherwyse: Beta3 (i.e. WHm) and C2 read ooþer Iuwise, "another judicial punishment", and G has a muddled and corrected Iovnesse. Beta3's reading is clearly superior and, crucially, it agrees with Cx, but it can hardly be Bx. It is too difficult to be coincidental, so it must be derived by contamination, as G's is likely to be. There is very little
evidence of beta3 deriving readings from Cx, though see note to l. 97, and see Schmidt (1995), 403. Cr, evidently puzzled, reads els, and M is corrected to that reading.
Lawe wolde he ȝeue hym lyf · [and]Bx.18.395: and: Alpha is supported by Cx against beta's if. he loked on hym
Bx.18.396KD.18.384
¶Bx.18.396: ¶: The paraph is in LHmF. And I þat am kynge of kynges · shal come suche a tyme
I mayBx.18.401: may: L and alpha are supported by Cx against omission in beta1. do mercy þorw riȝtwisnesse · & alle my wordes trewe
And þough holiwrit wil þatBx.18.402: þat (1): Dropped by alpha and G, but supported by Cx. I be wroke · of hem þat deden ille
Bx.18.408KD.18.395
Ac blode may nouȝt se blodeBx.18.408: blode (2): Alpha's his blode is not supported by Cx. · blede but hym rewe
Bx.18.412KD.18.398
For I were an vnkynde Kynge · but I my ky[n]Bx.18.412: kyn: Beta repeats kynde from the a-verse. Alpha is supported by Cx. holpeBx.18.412: holpe: Cx supports the past subjunctive as in LG and alpha, against the present in others.
Bx.18.415: The paraph in WHmCF, with the line-space in M, is prompted by the Latin line above, but is not in LR.Þus bi lawe quod owreBx.18.415: owre: MCr have þis, but the others are supported by Cx. lorde · lede I wil fro hennes
Bx.18.416KD.18.401
Þo þat [I]Bx.18.416: I: Alpha supported by Cx. Beta with me harmonises the subjects of loued and leued. F goes about it in his inimitable way, with þei me be-leveden. loued · & leued in my comynge
And for þi lesynge lucifer · þat þow loweBx.18.417: lowe: "lied". This 2 sg. form is shared with alpha. tilBx.18.417: til: Beta supported by Cx against alpha's to. Eue
Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus · post inimicitias &c ·Bx.18.425: The "proverbial" verses (Alford (1992), 113) are abbreviated by the more reliable beta mss. and set out as one line. Beta4
agrees with alpha in including clarior est et amor and setting over two lines. Cx does not offer clear guidance: the X family sets as one line and all but four C mss. abbreviate by dropping post maxima nebula phebus (RK.20.451a).
After sharpe[st]Bx.18.426: sharpest: Alpha's superlative is supported by Cx and translates maxima. shoures quod pees · moste shene is þe sonne
Bx.18.428KD.18.411
Ne no loue leuere · ne leuer frendesBx.18.428: From this point R is defective until Bx.20.27. We do not always comment on an F variant if it has no support from Cx.
ÞatBx.18.431: Þat: Most beta mss. have Þat ne, though CrC omit ne and it is erased in M. In the absence of R the alpha reading is uncertain, though F omission has the support of Cx (RK.20.457). See Schmidt (2008), 453. loue & hym luste [·] to laughynge neBx.18.431: ne: F reads he and Hm has it, but perhaps these may be supplied to fill out a short b-verse since Cx omits. See previous note. brouȝte
Bx.18.432KD.18.415
And pees þorw pacience · alle perilles stoppedBx.18.432: stopped: M alters to the present, bringing it into agreement with WF. There is the same variation in C mss., but the majority have the past. F's addition of he has no support from Cx.
AndBx.18.435: And: Beta is supported by Cx against F's Ȝee. lete no peple quod pees · perceyue þat we chyddeBx.18.435: chydde: Only LCrW have the past tense. C mss. are divided: XYJ of the X family have the past, the others have the present.
¶ Thow seist soth seydeBx.18.437: seyde: LM against quod in the others. Choice is difficult. Is alliteration on /s/ (aaa/xx) or /r/ (xa/ax)? Most C mss. have quod, but XJ have saide. For other examples of such variation see Bx.4.190, 13.216 (seyde LMCrHmR, quod WCGOF), 16.63 (seide LRF, quod others), etc. In a-verses seith sothe quod occurs at Bx.11.107 and 11.453, seith soth seyde at 17.21. ryȝtwisnesse · & reuerentlich hir kyste
Pees & pees here · perBx.18.438: per: CrG add omnia to the formula, as do a few C scribes. Since F is missing, the line is only in beta. secula seculorum
Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi iusticia & pax osculate suntBx.18.439: F truncates the verse, but Cx has it in full.
Bx.18.440KD.18.422
Treuth tromped þo & songeBx.18.440: songe: F adds to the alliteration with treblide. It has no support from Cx. · te deum laudamus
¶ Tyl þe daye dawed · þis damaiseles [carol]edBx.18.443: caroled: F's carolden is the reading of the X family of C; the P family agrees with beta's daunced. The latter is easier, and perhaps motivated by the alliteration.
Ariseth & [go] reuerencethBx.18.446: go reuerenceth: Beta drops go, but F is supported by Cx. Most C mss. have reuerence, the infinitive or uninflected imperative plural. Imperative go may be followed by either (Mustanoja (1960), 476, 535). · goddes ressurrexioun
And crepeth to þeBx.18.447: þe: L has þe the in error. crosse on kneesBx.18.447: to þe crosse on knees: Beta is supported by the X family of C. F (= alpha?) and the P family reverse the order. · & kisseth it for a iuwel