Passus secundus de visione vt supra
¶ Loke vpponBx.2.5: vppon: Beta shares the C reading. F's on is the A reading. þi left half · and lo where heBx.2.5: he: O anticipates the appearance of Mede in l. 8; hence sche, so that her in l. 6 is perhaps feminine in O, whereas it is plural in other mss. A mss. vary, with masc., fem. and pl. standeth
Bothe fals and fauel · and hereBx.2.6: here: "their"; clearly Bx. Ax has hise, referring to fals. Cx rewrites the b-verse, but has here in its following line. feres manye
Bx.2.8KD.2.8
And was war of a womman · wortheliBx.2.8: wortheli: G's wonderslyche is from A or C. yclothed
Purfiled with pelure · þe [purest on]Bx.2.9: purest on: F shares this reading with Ax, whereas Cx revises to non puyrere on. The non-alliterating beta reading fynest vpon may of course be a Bx error. erthe
YcrounedeBx.2.10: Ycrounede: Beta has support from Ax; F's addition of And is supported by Cx and may represent alpha. with a corone · þe kyng hath non better
Fetislich hir fyngres · were fretted with golde wyreBx.2.11: golde wyre: G's rynges is from A. Cx rewrites. F omits the line.
And bilowen hireBx.2.22: bilowen hire: "made herself pleasing to" (MED biloven); cf. Bx.6.233 where LMR have the -w- form. Both KD and Schmidt emend to bilowen h[ym], "slandered him" (MED bilien v.(2)). A has And lakkide my lore to lordis aboute (K.2.17); Cx has And lakked hym to lordes þat lawes han to kepe (RK.2.21, who emend), with ylow on my lemman in the previous line. to lordes · þat lawes han to kepe
¶Bx.2.27: ¶: Only LM indicate a new paragraph here. WHmCF have a paraph in the line above. And Mede is manered after hym · riȝte as kynde axeth
Bx.2.28KD.2.27α
Qualis pater talis filius · bonusBx.2.28: bonus: LMWF treat arbor as masc.; the others alter to the more usual feminine. At RK.10.244b the X family of C similarly have bonus. F's expansion of the Latin is not supported. arbor · bonum fructum facit
¶Bx.2.30: ¶: L's paraph is supported by a new line-group in M. Mi fader þe grete god is · and grounde of alle graces
O god with-oute gynnynge · & IBx.2.31: & I: F has & y am, as does Cx but in the a-verse. his gode douȝter
Bx.2.36KD.2.35
That he shal lese for hir loue · a lappeBx.2.36: lappe: This must be the Bx reading, with Cr taking lippe from a C text. The P group of C have lappe, the X group lippe. MED cites lippe n.(2), "a little bit", only from Langland. Probably lappe is a scribal substitution of an easier word, as again at RK.11.224 where two mss. read lappe in the same context. It is likely enough that the word developed the sense "small piece"; see MED lap(pe, 3. of caritatis
How construeth dauid þe kynge · of men þat taketh MedeBx.2.37: F has revised the line to improve the alliteration, though the reversal in the b-verse might represent alpha. The line has
no parallel in AC.
¶ And now worth þis Mede ymaried · toBx.2.41: to: F's reading probably represents alpha, and is supported by Cx. Beta must be al to since it has the support of LMCO, though al is subsequently erased in M. Beta2 reads vnto. a mansed schrewe
Bx.2.48KD.2.47
Knowe hem þere if þow canst · and kepe þiBx.2.48: þi: So LCR, and probably M before correction. It seems likely that other scribes filled out a short line with þou þi or wel þi. AC read kepe the fro hem alle. tonge
Bx.2.52KD.2.51
And latBx.2.52: lat: Probably R's at represents alpha, interpreted by F as that. C mss. have Acombre neuere thy Conscience or And acombre thow .... no conscience acombre þe · for coueitise of Mede
Bx.2.56KD.2.55
Were boden to þeBx.2.56: þe: Beta is supported by Ax and the X family of C, while R's þis (F has his) is supported by the P family. bridale · on bothe two sydes
To marie þis maydeneBx.2.58: maydene: The form varies with mayde throughout; there is no equivalent line in AC. Although MED has separate entries, they are different forms of the same word and are listed together by Wittig (2001). · was many man assembled
Forgoeres and vitaillers · and vokates of þe archesBx.2.62: After this F adds a line that is obviously scribal.
Thanne symonye and cyuile · stondenBx.2.73: stonden: The past tense as in MF is also a minority form in AC. forth bothe
Þan for ani vertue orBx.2.79: or (1): HmCGO read of. The line is not paralleled in AC, though C alters to a line with the same structure, Then for holynesse oþer hendenesse oþer for hey kynde (RK.2.84). fairenesse · orBx.2.79: or (2): LCrWCG and alpha. The parallel line in Cx would give some support to MO or for. any free kynde
Vnboxome and boldeBx.2.85: Vnboxome and bolde: Beta's order is supported by Cx against alpha's reversal. · to breke þe ten hestes
Bx.2.92KD.2.90
As in werkes and in wordes · andBx.2.92: and (2): So LMCGOR. Yet CrWHm have and in as the X family of C; F has in as the P family. waitynges with eies
And in wedesBx.2.93: wedes: The reading of beta; C mss. divide between wedes and woldes. R's wedynges is probably alpha's misreading influenced by the general context, although F offers the attractive and appropriate variant
wenyngis, glossed "hopes" by Schmidt (1995). and in wisshynges · and with ydel thouȝtes
There as wille woldeBx.2.94: and: The line is marked for correction in L. Original wolde and has been revised by the addition of ne before wolde and the subpunction of and, giving the reading of C. A couple of C mss. have the same reading. Possibly the supervisor intended the correction of wermanship instead, though it is not an uncommon spelling and is repeated at this point in the C text by X. · [and] wermanship failleth
And there to iangle and toBx.2.97: to (2): Supported by Cx against omission in WHmG. iape · and iugge here euene-cristene
Bx.2.100KD.2.98
Bx.2.100-03: There is disagreement about number in this passage. Alpha switches to the sg. in l. 100 with a burgh swyne and hym. In l. 101 alpha is joined by LWCGO in his, against hyr in CrHm and corrected M. In 102 alpha + LMCO have hym against pl. hem in CrWHmG. In the a-verse of 103 all mss. except CrHm have sg. he, while in the b-verse beta has pl. here while R has his and F þe. Meanwhile, in the parallel but rewritten passage in Cx, there is also a switch in number, with pl. pronouns throughout except in RK.2.108 (=Bx.2.103), For a leueth be lost when he his lyf leteth. It looks as though scribes made rather ineffective attempts to rationalise number. We follow copy-text, partly on the grounds
that it is the least consistent. And bredun as burgh-swyn · and bedden hem esily
Wiþ al þe purtenauncesBx.2.106: purtenaunces: L and alpha have the aphetic form (initial a- is deleted in R). Other beta mss. vary, as do C mss. of purgatorie · in-to þe pyne of helle
And with him to wonye withBx.2.109: with (2): Alpha has in; beta probably has with, though MCO read in. Probably this is reversion to the commoner phrase, as in Bx.19.203, though of course this parallel could also be cited in support of in. Ax has "Þere to wone wiþ wrong" (K.2.71). wo · whil god is in heuene
¶ In witnesse of whichþisBx.2.110: which / þis: Beta is supported by Ax and by the alliteration, but alpha's non-alliterating þis is undoubtedly also the Cx reading. þing · wronge was þe first
Rainalde þe Reue · of RotlandBx.2.113: Rotland: Rutland, according to beta. Alpha's Rokeland, also a variant in a few A mss., is Rockland in Norfolk. sokene
In þe date of þe deuel [·] þis dede I asseleBx.2.115: I assele: This must be Bx, though HmC ys aseled is the AC reading.
Such we[d]dyngesBx.2.119: weddynges: LC have wendynges, but the line is marked for correction in L. to worche [·] to wratthe with treuthe
¶ For Mede is moylere · of amendes engendrethBx.2.121: engendreth: Agreement of LR (together with C) indicates that this is an error in Bx, with the obvious correction made by other scribes. A spelling such as engendrit as in some A mss. could have caused the error in Bx.
And god grauntethBx.2.122: graunteth: COF have past tense. There is the same variation in A. to gyf · Mede to treuthe
Bx.2.124KD.2.122
Th[e]Bx.2.124: The: Alpha is supported by Ax against beta's Thi. tixt telleth þe nouȝt so · treuthe wote þe sothe
And [as]Bx.2.133: as: Alpha is supported by AC against beta's was. a bastarde ybore · of belsabubbes kynne
And þouȝ Iustices iugge hir · to be ioigned withBx.2.139: with: Supported by Ax against CrWHmG to. Cx rewrites. fals
Bx.2.140KD.2.138
Ȝet beth war of [þe]Bx.2.140: þe: Alpha's article is supported by AC. The line in L is an addition by another scribe. weddyng · for witty is truthe
And bad gyle toBx.2.147: to: So LMCrWCR, hence Bx. HmGOF have go, the reading of Ax and the P group of C, presumably by coincident variation or contamination. Crowley "improves" with go in Cr3. gyue · golde al aboute
Bx.2.148KD.2.146
And namelich to þe notaries · þat hem none neBx.2.148: ne: Supported by LWCR, but dropped in others. It is not in most AC mss. faille
Bx.2.156KD.2.154
For we haue Mede amaistried · withþorwBx.2.156: with / þorw: The beta reading is supported by most A mss.; alpha's thorȝ, though it may have been picked up from the previous line, is also the reading of Cx. owre mery speche
To Londoun to loke · ȝif þat þeBx.2.158: ȝif þat þe: So LMCOF. Beta2 and G drop þat, R drops þe. A mss. vary similarly; Cx has if. lawe wolde
Bx.2.168KD.2.166
And fauel on a flatereBx.2.168: flatere: So LF. MED distinguishes between flatour (OF flatour) and flaterer (from the verb). · fetislich atired
And lat apparaille þisBx.2.173: þis: FG omit, and R reads þe. A mss. also vary, but most support beta. prouisoures · in palfreis wyse
As [de]uoutrieBx.2.178: deuoutrie: The alliterating alpha synonym for beta's easier auoutrie. There is no parallel line in AC, although Cx has deuoutours at RK.2.187. R again has deuoutrie at Bx.12.86. MED does not record either de- form otherwise, but note OED devoterer, with an instance from 1550. and deuoses · and derne vsurye
Bx.2.180KD.2.178
¶ Paulynes pryuesBx.2.180: pryues: "parties to suits" (Alford (1988), 120-1). GF's peple is an A reading. · for pleyntes in þe consistorie
Bx.2.184KD.2.182
¶ And maketh of lyer a l[a]nge carteBx.2.184: lange carte: Wittig (2001) lists the spelling lange once in each of the three versions, for this line only. WR always elsewhere have longe, and presumably the archetypal scribes recognised this as a technical expression for the longa caretta, a "four-wheeled military cart" (Galloway (2006), 278). · to lede alle þese othere
As [fobberes]Bx.2.185: fobberes: "cheats". Alpha's reading has support from Cx fobbes (related to fobben vb.). Beta's Freres is much easier; most A mss. have folis. and faitours · þat on here fete rennen
And Mede in þe myddes · and alle þise menBx.2.187: men: LCrWHmR supported by Cx. G has the Ax reading meyny. Oddly, the disparate group MCOF have oþere. after
¶Bx.2.191: ¶: The paraph is in beta and F. The line is at the bottom of the page in R. Sothenesse seiȝ h[e]mBx.2.191: hem: The beta reading is probably hym, though CrWG and alpha have the plural, supported by AC. wel · and seide but a litelBx.2.191: a litel: Apparently Bx, though omission of a in MCrWG is shared with Cx and most A mss.
Bx.2.196KD.2.194
Fals orBx.2.196: or (1): Alpha reads other / eyþir, with R alone reading other for the second or. AC mss. vary in both instances. fauel · or any of his feres
ToGooBx.2.202: To / Goo: Beta shares To with Ax; alpha's Goo is also Cx. Cf. the variants in Bx.2.147 above. The direct speech of "Goo atache ... I hote" is attractive; perhaps it suggested itself as an authorial or scribal
improvement. attache þo tyrauntz · for eny thyngeBx.2.202: thynge: Presumably an error, but undoubtedly Bx. AC have tresour. I hote
Bx.2.212KD.2.212
And bad hym flee for fere · and his felawesBx.2.212: felawes: F's feerys is probably from A. It is also the reading of Cx which however avoids the pun on fere by altering the a-verse to And bad falsenesse to fle (RK.2.222). alle
Bx.2.216KD.2.216
And bishetten hym in here shopeBx.2.216: shope: The distributive sg. is supported by LMCOR. Ax has the plural; C mss. vary. · to shewen here ware
AndBx.2.217: And: Ax is without it, as are CrWHmG; it is the reading of Cx. apparailled hym as a prentice · þe poeple to serue
¶ Liȝtlich lyer · lepe awey þanneBx.2.218: þanne: i.e. "from there". Both beta and alpha forms represent MED thenne adv.; cf. LALME 4.262.
Ouer al yhowtedBx.2.221: yhowted: "shouted at". Beta2 has yhonted, an easy error, though supported by AC. On Crowley's revisions here, see Hailey (2007), 152-4. · and yhote trusse
Tyl pardoneres haued pite · and pulled hym in-toBx.2.222: in-to: This must be Bx, supported by the X family of C, despite MHmF support for the Ax reading to. house
They wesshen hym and wyped hym · and wonden hym in cloutesBx.2.223: cloutes: Hm and alpha have clothes. A mss. vary; Cx has cloutes, though five C mss. read clothes.
Bx.2.228KD.2.228
Bx.2.228: W and alpha have a paraph.Spiceres spokeBx.2.228: spoke: The form speken in CrWGR is also past plural; cf. Bx.15.285 for a clear instance, where L also has speken. [to]Bx.2.228: to (1): The alpha reading is also that of Cx; A mss. divide. The beta reading with is likely to have been influenced by the line above. hym · to spien here ware
For he couth o[n]Bx.2.229: on: Both Ax and Cx agree with alpha here against beta's of. here craft · and knewe many gommes
And helden hym an halfȝereBx.2.231: an half: Beta is challenged by alpha half a. Cx has no article; A mss. vary between all three possibilities. · and elleuene dayes