fol. 28r (cont.)I

Passus sextus de visione vt supraM.6.0: This rubric is centered in the line.

This were a wikk.ede way  but whoso hadde a gyde
Þat wolde folwen vs eche a fote  þus þis folk. hymM.6.2: M's reading of hym is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read hem. monedeM.6.2: In place of M's monede, all other B manuscripts have mened.
Qu..od perkin þe ....Plowman  bei seint petur of Rome
M.6.4KD.6.4
I haue an halue-acre to erien  by þe heie w...eye
Hadde I eriede þis halue-acre  and y-sowen it aftur
I wolde wende with ȝyow . and þe weiey teche .
Þis were a longe lettynge  quod a lady in a sklayre
M.6.8KD.6.8
What wshulden we wymmen  worchen þere-whilus
Suomme shal sowen sakkusM.6.9: In place of M's reading sakkus, all other B manuscripts have þe sak, except L which has sakke. This is followed by quod Piers in all manuscripts except G, which has quod he.  for spillingeM.6.9: M's reading of spillinge is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read shedyng. It is the reading of two A manuscripts. of þe whete
And ȝye louely ladies  with ȝyowre longe fingres
Þat ȝye han silke and ...?...sandel  to sowen whanne tyme is
M.6.12KD.6.12
Chesibles for chapleines  chuyrchus to . honoure
Wyues and widowes  wolle and flexe spinneth
Maketh clothe I conseille ȝyow  and kenneth so ȝyowre douȝt...res
Þe nedy and þe nakud  nymeth hiede how hij liggeth .
M.6.16KD.6.16
And casteþ hem clothus . for so comandeth treuthe
For I shal lenen hem liflode . but ȝif þe londe faille
Flessh and bred bothe  to riche and to pore .
fol. 28vI
As longe as I liue for oure lordus loue of heuene
M.6.20KD.6.19
And alle manere of men . þat þorwȝ mete and drinke libbeth
Helpeth hym to worche witȝly . þat wynneth .yowre fode
By Crist quod a knyȝte þo  he kenneth vs þe beste
Ac on þe teme truly  tauȝte was I neuere
# quomodo miles optulit seipsum ad aratrum
M.6.24KD.6.23
Ac kenne me quod þe kniȝte  and by crist I wil assaie
By seint Poule quod perkin  ȝye profre ȝyow so faire
# the Covenaunt by-twene the knyght & the plowman
Þat I shal swinke and swete  and sowe for vs bothe
And oþur labours do for þi loue . al my lif-tyme .
M.6.28KD.6.27
In couenaunt þat þow kepe . holikirke and my-seluen
From wastours and wikkyde men . þat þis wo...?...rld struyeth
And go hunte harddiliche . to hares and to foxes
To bores and to brokkus  þat breketh a-doun myn hegges
M.6.32KD.6.31
And go affaite þi faucounes . wilde foules to kulle
For suche cometh to my crofte . and croppuþ myn whete
Curteiselich þe kniȝte þanne . com...sede þis wordus
..By my powere piers quod he  I pliȝte þe my truthe
M.6.36KD.6.35
To fulfulle þis forwarde  þouȝ I fiȝte shulde
Als longe as I liue . I shal þe mainteine .
# quia bene dicit
ȜYe and ȝyet a point quod Piers  .I praie ȝyow of more
Loke ȝye tene no tenaunt  but trwþe wil assente
M.6.40KD.6.39
And ......þogh ye mowe amercie hem . lat mercy be taxoure
And mekenesse þi Maist..er  Maugre medes chekus
And þowȝ pore men profre ȝyow  presentus and ȝyiftus
Nym hiemM.6.43: M's original reading him was unattested in other B manuscripts. The altered reading of hem is shared with F and is the reading of some A manuscripts. Most B manuscripts read it. nauȝte an auenture  ȝye may it nauȝte deserue
M.6.44KD.6.43
For þow shalt ȝyelde it aȝein  at on ȝyeres ende
In a ful perillous place  purgatorie it hiȝte
# the knyghtis Bondman
And mysbede nouȝte þi bonde-men  þe bett..re may þow spede
Þowȝ he be þin vndurlinge hereM.6.47: M's original reading here is attested in most B manuscripts. The altered reading is unattested among B manuscripts.  wel may happe in heuene
M.6.48KD.6.47
Þat he wortheþ worthiere y-s....ett  and with more blisse
Amice ascende superius
nota
#
For in CharnelesM.6.50: M shares plural Charneles with G. Other B manuscripts have the singular. atte churche . cherlus ben .euele to knowe
Or a kniȝte from a knaue þere  knowe þis in þin herte .
fol. 29rI
vjus passus
M.6.52KD.6.50
And þat þow be trwe of þ..y tonge  and tales þat þow hate
x
But ȝif þei ben of wisdom or of wit..  þi werkemen to chaste
Hold with none harlotus  ne here nouȝte hieyre tales .
# the devils dysowrs
And nameliche atte mete . suche men eschuwe
M.6.56KD.6.54
For it ben þe deueles disours  I do þe to vndurstonde
I assente by seinte Iame . saide þe kniȝte þanne
For to worche by þiny wordus . þe while my lif dureth
And I shal apparaille me quod PiersM.6.59: M shares the form Piers with F, for Perkyn in other B manuscripts. . in pilgrimes wise
M.6.60KD.6.58
And wende with ȝyow I wil  til we fynde truþe
And cast on my clothus  y-clowted and hole
My cokurs and my Cuffus . for colde of my nailles
And hange myn hopur at myn hals  in stede of a scrippe
M.6.64KD.6.62
A busshel of bredcorne  bringe me þere-innneM.6.64: The correction has been made by erasing the first two minims. See Introduction III.1. .
For I wil sowe it my-selue . and sithenes wil I wende
To pilgrimages as palmeres doon  pardoun forto haue
Ac whoso helpuþ me to erien . or sowen here ar I wende
M.6.68KD.6.66
HeM.6.68: M shares the reading He with F, omitted by other B manuscripts. shal haue leue by oure lorde . to lese here in herueste
maugre
And make hem myrie þere midde . maugreeM.6.69: M's original reading without maugree is an A reading not paralleled in other B manuscripts. ...whoso bigruccheþ it
And alle kin crafty men . þat kuonne lyuen in truthe
I shal finden hem fode . þat faithfulliche libbetth
M.6.72KD.6.70
Saue Iak þe iogulour . and Ionete of þe stuwes
# quia oblaciones non debent recepi de hijs quorum nomina deleantur & cetera
And danyel þe dys plaiere  and Denot þe bawde
And Frere þe faitour . and folke of his ordre
And Robin þe Ribaudour . for his rusty wordus
M.6.76KD.6.74
Truthe tolde me ones . and bad me telle it aftur
Deleantur de libro viuencium . I shulde nouȝte dele with hem
For holichurche is hote . of hem no tythe to take .
Quia cum iustis non scribantur
M.6.80KD.6.77
Thei ben ascapude goode auenture . now god hem amende
Dame worche whan tyme is . piers wif hiȝte
His douȝt..er hiȝte do riȝte so /  or þi dame shal þe bete
His sone hiȝte suffre þi souerains . to hauen hire wille
M.6.84KD.6.81
Deme hem nouȝte for ȝif þow doost  þou shalt it dere abigge
Late god y-worthe with-al  for so his worde techeþ
fol. 29vI
For now I am olde and hore . and haue of myn owene
To penaunce and to pilgrimage . I wil.. passe with othere
M.6.88KD.6.85
For-þi I wil er I wende . do write my biqueste
the testament of Piers
In dei nomine amen . I make it my-seluene
He shal haue my soule  þat beste hath itM.6.90: All other B manuscripts place this it at the end of the line. M's original reading without it is unattested in other B manuscripts but is the reading of the A version. Kane and Donaldson record the rest of the line as over erasure, perhaps referring to disserued, but only its final <-e> is erased. disseruede
And fro þe fende it defende . andM.6.91: M's reading of and is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read for. It is the reading of the C version. so I bileue
M.6.92KD.6.89
Til I come to his acomptus  as my Credo me telleþ
To haue a relees and a remissioun . on þat rental I leue
The kirke shal haue my caroigne . and kepe my bones
For of my corne and catel . he crauede þe tithe
to pay preestly is nothing for they be all receyversM.6.96: An example of the marginal commentator's anticlericalism?
M.6.96KD.6.93
I paiede him fulM.6.96: M's reading him ful is unattested in other B manuscripts. W reads it ful; most other B manuscripts read it hym. prestly . for peril of my soule
For-þi is he holden I hope . to haue me in his masse
An mengen in his memorie . amonges alle cristene
My wif shal haue of þat I ..wan . with truthe and namore
M.6.100KD.6.97
And delen amonge myn douȝteres . and my dere children
For þowȝgh — I deie to-day  my dettus arn quitte
I bare hom þat I borwede  er I to bedde ȝyede .
And with the resydue and þe rem.enaunte . by þe Rode of lukes
M.6.104KD.6.101
I wil worshipe þere-with . truthe by my lyue
And bene his pilgrime atte plowgh . for pore menn.es sake
My plowgh foot shal be my pike-staf . and p.ycche atwo þe Rotus
And helpe my Cultre to kerue . and clense þe forwes
M.6.108KD.6.105
Now is perkin and his pilgrimes . to þe plowgh faren
To erie þis halue-acre  holpen him manye
Dykers and deluers . diggeden vp þe balkes
Þere-with was perkyn appaiede . and praised hem faste
M.6.112KD.6.109
.Othere werkemen þere were . . þat wrouȝte ful fasteM.6.112: M shares the reading faste with C, for yerne in other B manuscripts. It is the reading of A manuscripts.
Eche man in his manere . made hym-selue to doone
And suomme to plese perkyn . pikede vp þe wedus
Atte heiȝe prime pers . let þe plowe stonde
M.6.116KD.6.113
To ouere-seen hem him-selue . and whoso beste wrouȝte
He shulde ben huyred þere-aftur . whanne herueste-tyme come .
And þanne seten summe . and songen at þe nale
And holpen erien his halue-acre . with how trolly-lolly
M.6.120KD.6.117
Now b.y þe peril of my soule . quod Piers . al in pure tene
fol. 30rI
vjus passus
But ȝye arise þe rathur . and rape yow to worche
Shal none greyne þat herM.6.122: M's addition of her is an AC reading unattested in other B manuscripts. groweth . glade ȝyow at nede
# the devill haue þat Reccheth
And þo.wgh ȝye deiȝe for do..el . þe deuel haue þat reccheth
M.6.124KD.6.121
Tho were faitours a-fierde . and feinede hem blinde
#
# quomodo truffatores Fingunt se Fere mitulatim[uti]lati & Ceci
Summe leide here legges a-leri . as suche losels conneth
And made here mone to pier..s . and praide hym of grace
For we haue no limes to labore with . lorde y-graced be ȝye
M.6.128KD.6.125
Ac we praie for ȝyow piers . and for ȝyowre plow bothe
Þat god of his grace . ȝyowre graineyn multiplie
And ȝyelde ȝyow of ȝyowre almes . þat ȝye ȝyeueþ vs here
For we may nouȝte swynke ne swete . suche sekenesse vs ailleth
M.6.132KD.6.129
If it be soth þat ȝye sainM.6.132: M's reading of þat ye sain quod Piers reverses the syntax of most other B manuscripts, which read quod piers þat ye seyn. G omits quod Piers entirely; YOC2CB omit þat ye seyn. quod Piers . I shal it sone aspie .
.Ye ben wastours I wot well . and truthe wot þe sothe
And I am his olde hyne . and hiȝte him to warne .
Whiche þei were in þis world . his werkemen appaire.d
M.6.136KD.6.133
ȜYe wasten þat men wynnen . with trauaille and with tene
# Contra wasters
Ac treuthe shal teche ȝyow . his teme to driue
Or ȝye .shal ete barly brede . and of þe broke drinke
But ȝif he be blinde ...orM.6.139: M's altered reading or agrees with most B manuscripts. L reads and. broke-leggud . or boltede with yrnes
M.6.140KD.6.137
He shal ete whete breede . and drinke with my-selue
Til god of his godnesse . amendement hym seende
Ac ȝye miȝte trauaille as truthe wolde . & take mete & huyre
To kepe kyne in þe fielde . þe corne fro þe bestes
M.6.144KD.6.141
Diken or deluen  or dingen vppon sheues
Or helpe make morter . or bere mukke afielde .
M.6.146-155: This paragraph and the next two are bracketed in left margin and marked heresi in a seventeenth-century hand. It is not immediately clear which of the ideas in these paragraphs prompted the comment of "heresy."In leccherie and in losengerie . ȝye lyuen and in sleuthe
qui parcit virgam perdit filium
And al is þorw suffraunce . þat veniaunce ȝyow ne taketh
M.6.148KD.6.145
Ac ancres and herm.ytes . þat eten but at nones
And namore er morwe . myne almesse shul þei haue
heresi
And of my catel to cope hem with . þat han cloistres and churches
Ac Roberte renne aboute . shal nouȝte haue of myne
M.6.152KD.6.149
Ne posteles but þei preche conne . and haue powere of þe bisshop
Þay shal haue payne and potage . and make hem-selue at ese
#
contra fratres
For it is an vnresonable Religioun . þat haþ riȝt nouȝte of certeyne
And þanne gan a wastour to wrathe hym . and wolde haue y-fouȝte
fol. 30vI
M.6.156KD.6.153
And to piers þeM.6.156: M's original reading without þe agreed with OC2F. plowman  he prof....rede his gloue
A Bretoner a braggere . abostede Piers als
And bad hym go pisse with his plowe . for-pynede shrewe .
Wiltow or niltow not . we wil haue oure wille
M.6.160KD.6.157
Of þi floure and þy. flessh . fecche whann....e vs liketh
And make vs merie þere-with . maugre þine chekus
# quomodo queritur piers ad militem
Þanne Piers þe Plowman  plainede hym to þe kniȝte
To kepe hym as couenaunte was . fram curs...ede .shrewes
M.6.164KD.6.161
And from þis wastours woluesskynnes . þat makeþ þe world deere
For þei waste and wynnnenwynnen nouȝte . and þat ilke while
Worth neuere plente amonge þe .....peple . þere while my plow liggeth
Curteisly þe kniȝte þanne . as his kynde wolde
M.6.168KD.6.165
Warnede wastour . and wissud hym bett..re
Or þow shalte abbigge by þe lawe . by þordre þat I bere
XM.6.170: The <X> is written drypoint.
I was nouȝte I-won...t to worche quod wastour . and now wole .. — I not bigynne
And lete liȝte of þe lawe . and lasse of þe knyȝte
M.6.172KD.6.169
And sette piers at a pese . and his plow bothe
And manacede piers and his men . ȝif þei mette efte-sone
Now bi þe perill of my soule quod piers  I shal appaire ȝyow alle
# the hopyng after hunger
And houpud aftur hongur . þat herde him atte furste
M.6.176KD.6.173
A-wreke me onM.6.176: M shares the reading on with Hm, for of in other B manuscripts. þes wastours quod he  þat þis worlde schendeth
Hon...ger in haste þo hente  wastour by þe mawe
# quod Fames venit ad puniendum vastum
And wronge hym so bi þe wombe  þat bothe his eiȝhen wat....rede
He buff.....etted þe bretonere . aboute þe chekes .
M.6.180KD.6.177
Þat he lokud lik a lanterne . al his lif aftur
He bette hem so bothe . he barste nere here guttus
Nadde Piers with a pese lof  preide hungur to cesse
Þei hadden ben doluen bothe  deme þou non othur
M.6.184KD.6.181
Suffre hem liue he saide  and late hem eten with hogges
O.r ellus benes and bren . baken to-gedres
ErM.6.186: M's Er is unique. All other B manuscripts read Or. ellus me..lk and mene ale  þus praide piers for hem .
Faitours for fere hereof . flowen in-to bernes
M.6.188KD.6.184
And flapten on with flailes . fram morwe til euene
That hungur was nouȝt so hardy . on hem for to loke
For a potful of peses . þat Piers hadde I-mak..edM.6.190: Something, no longer legible, is erased in the left margin.M.6.190: In the lower right corner of this leaf is a mark of some sort, about 1cm high, whose significance is unknown. It seems to correspond to a similar mark, also visible on the current image, in the lower left corner of the facing leaf.
fol. 31rI
vjus passus
An hepe of hermitus . henten hem spadus
M.6.192KD.6.188
And kuten hire — hire copes  and court...pis hem maden
And wenten as werkemen . with spadus and with shoueles
And doluen and dikeden . to driue awey hungur
Blynde and bedredene . were bo.....otned a þousand.
M.6.196KD.6.192
That seten to begge silu..er . sone were þei hel..ed
# that was baken For I bayerd
For þat was baken for baiard. . was bote for many hungri
And many a begger for benes . fulM.6.198: M's ful is unattested in other B manuscripts, except F, which reads ful bown. buxom. was to swynke
And eche pore man wel paied . to haue pesen for his huyre
M.6.200KD.6.196
And what Piers praide hem to done  as preste as a sparhauke
And þere-of was Piers proude . and putte hem to werke
And ...yaf hem mete as he miȝte fortheM.6.202: Most B manuscripts read aforþe; Cr reads ford. . and mesurable ....hyre
AndM.6.203: M's reading And is unattested in other B manuscripts. þanne hadde Piers pite . and praide hungre to wende
M.6.204KD.6.200
Hom in-to his owne yerdM.6.204: The alteration to yerd brings M into agreement with WHmCr. M's original erd agreed with LR. . and holden him þere
For I am wel awroke now . of wastours þorwȝ þi miȝte
Ac I pray þe er thow passe . quod Piers to hungur
Of beggers and bidders . what best be to done
M.6.208KD.6.204
For I wo..otM.6.208: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word wel here. be þow went . þei wil worchen ful —M.6.208: Among other B manuscripts only G omits ful. ille
For meschief it makeþ . þei be so meke nowthe
And for defaute of hire fode . þis folk is atte my wille
Þey arn my blody breþeren . ...?...?...quod pieres . for god bouȝte vs alle .M.6.211: It seems probable that M originally agreed with A and C in lacking quod pieres, and so the corrector needed to rewrite the b-verse and insert another punctus.
M.6.212KD.6.208
Treuthe tauȝte me ones . to louen hem echone
And to helpen hem of alle þing. . ay as hem nedeth
And now wolde I witen of þe . what were þe beste
And how I miȝte amaistren hem . and make hem to worche
# concilium Famis contra audaces mendicantes
M.6.216KD.6.212
Here now quod hungur . and holde it for a wisdome
Bolde beggers and bigge . þat mowe here bred swynke
With houndus bred . and horsbred  holde vp hire hertus
Abate hem with benes . for bollinge of hire wombe
M.6.220KD.6.216
And ȝif þe grom.esM.6.220: M's gromes is unattested among other B manuscripts, most of which read gomes. The AC reading is also gromes, though this is not immediately obvious from Kane and Russell-Kane. grucche  bidde hem go swynke
And he shal soupe swett...er . whanne he it haþ deseruede
And ȝif þow fynde any freke . þat fortune hath appairede
Or any manere fals men . fonde þow suche to knowe
M.6.224KD.6.220
Conforte hem with þi catel . for cristus loue of heuene
Loue hem and lene hem . so lawe of god techeþ .
Alter alterius onera portate .
And alle manere of men . þat þow miȝt. aspien
M.6.228KD.6.223
Þat nedy ben and nauȝty . helpe hem with þiny god.es .
fol. 31vI
Loue hem and lakke hem nouȝte . and lateM.6.229: M shares the reading and late with Hm; other B manuscripts omit and. god take þe veniaunce
The..ygh þei done .yuele  lat god aworthe
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam
M.6.232KD.6.227
And ȝif þow wilte be graciou.s to god . do as þe gospul techeþ
And bilowe þe amonges lowe men . so shalt þow lacche grace
Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis
I wolde nouȝt greue god quod Piers . for al þe good on grounde
M.6.236KD.6.230
Miȝte I do .synnele..esM.6.236: M's reading of do synnelees is unique among B manuscripts. All other B manuscripts read synnelees do. as þou saist . saide Piers þanne
ȜYe I bihote þe quod hung..er..or ellus þe bible lieth
Go to Genesis þe gyaunt . þe engendroure of vs alle
In sudore / and in swynke  þow shalt þi bredeM.6.239: M's reading of brede is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read mete. tillie
M.6.240KD.6.234
And laboure for þiney ly.flode . and so oure lorde hi....ghte
And sapience saith þe same  I seie it in þe bible
/ no felde wolde /M.6.242: This erasure is legible under ultraviolet light.
Piger pro frigore . no ...?...feld woldeM.6.242: M's altered reading wolde agrees with HmCrFR. All other B manuscripts read nolde. tilie
And þerfore he shal begge and bidde  & no man bete ...hishis hongur
M.6.244KD.6.238
Mathew with mann.es face  mouthed þis wordus .
                         besaunteM.6.245: This gloss on nam appears directly over the word. WHmL also attest this gloss.
Þat seruus nequam had a nam . and for he wolde not chaff...are
He hadde maugre of his maistur . for euermore aftur
                         besauntM.6.247: This gloss is in different hand than that two lines up, and is not shared by other B manuscripts.
And by-nam hymM.6.247: M's original reading without hym was shared by L. his Mnam . for he nolde worche .
M.6.248KD.6.242
And ȝyaf himM.6.248: Most other B manuscripts omit the word him here and include to him after the first Mnam. þat mMnam . þat ten mMnammes hadde
And with þat he saide . þat holichurche it herde
He þat hath shal haue . and helpe þerewith þatM.6.250: M's reading of þerewith þat is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read þere it. nedeth
And he þat nouȝt hath . shal nouȝt haue . and no man him helpe
M.6.252KD.6.246
And þat he weneth wel to haue . I wil it him reueM.6.252: M's reading reue is unique. Other B manuscripts have bireue. .
.....Kynde w...it wolde . þat eche a wiȝght wrouȝte
Or in dikinge or in deluynge . or trauaillinge in praiers
Contemplatif lif or actif lif . Crist wolde men wrouȝte
M.6.256KD.6.250
The sauter saieth in þe salme  of Beati omnes
Þe freeke þat feduth him-selue . with his faithful laboure
He is blessud by þe boke  in body and in soule
Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis & ceteraM.6.259: F ends this Latin tag with manducabis batus es &c; most B manuscripts end after tuarum.
M.6.260KD.6.253
ȜYet I praie I ȝyow quod Piers . par charitee and ȝye kuonne
Eny leef of lechecrafte . lere it meM.6.261: M here lacks my, which is attested in all other B manuscripts save F. dere
For suomme of my seruauntz . and my-selue bothe
Of alle a wyke wor...che nouȝte . ...?...?...so oure wombesM.6.263: This plural is unattested in other B manuscripts. Kane and Donaldson state that "s added over erasure another ink," but the full half-line is rewritten. aketh
fol. 32rI
vjus passus
M.6.264KD.6.257
I wot wel quod hungur . what sekenesse ȝyow ailleth
# contra manging to moch
ȜYe han mangede ouer-muche . and þat maketh ȝyow grone .
Ac I hote þe quod hungur . as þow þine hele wilneste
Þat þow neM.6.267: M's ne is unattested in other B manuscripts. drinke no.. — day . tilM.6.267: M's reading of til is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read er. For the same variation see M.5.400. þow haue dinedeM.6.267: M's reading of haue dined is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read dyne. sumwhat
M.6.268KD.6.261
Ete nouȝte I hote þe . er hungur þe take
And sende þe of his sauce . to sauoure þy.M.6.269: M shares the reading þy with F, for with þy in other B manuscripts. It is an A version reading. lippus
And kepe some til soperM.6.270: M shares the reading soper with F, for soper tyme in other B manuscripts. . and sitte nouȝt to longe
Ar..ys vp .er appetit . haue eten his fulle
M.6.272KD.6.265
Late nouȝte sire surfaite . sitten atte þiny borde
Loue him nouȝt . for he is leccherous . and likerous of tonge
And aftur many manersM.6.274: M shares the reading maners with C, for maner in other B manuscripts. of mete . his mawe is afingrede
And ȝif þow diete þeeM.6.275: M's original reading without þee was shared with CCot. þus . I dar legge myn eres .
M.6.276KD.6.269
That Phisik shal his furred hodes . for his fode selle
And his ClokesM.6.277: M's plural is unattested in other B manuscripts. ...?...of Calabre . with alle þe knappus of golde
contra medicos
And be faine by my faith . his phisik to lete .
And l.erne to laboure with londe . for l...yflode is swete
M.6.280KD.6.273
For mortherers arn. many leches . lorde hem amende .
Þei doo men deien þorwgh hire drinkes . ar destine it wolde .
By seint Poule quod Piers . þi..se arne profitable wordus
Wende now hon..ger whanne þow wolte . þat wel be þow euere
M.6.284KD.6.277
For þis is a louely lessoun . lorde it þe forȝelde
By-hote god quod hungur . hennes ne wille I w.ende
Til I haue dined by þis day . and y-dronke bothe
I haue no peny quod Piers  poletes to bigge
M.6.288KD.6.281
Ne neithur gees ne gris . but two grene cheses
A fewe Cruddes and Creme  and a hauer kake .
And two loues of benes and bran  y-bake for my faunttis
AndM.6.291: All other B manuscripts here include yet. I sey by my soule . I haue no salte bacoun .
M.6.292KD.6.285
Ne no cokeney by criste  colopus for to maken
Ac I haue percile and porettus . and many ko..ol plauntus
And ek a cow . and a calf  and a carte-mare .
To drawe a-felde my donge . þe while þe drouȝ..te lasteth
M.6.296KD.6.289
And by þis liflode we moten liue . til lammes tyme
And by þat I hope to haue . herueste in my crofte
And þanne may I diȝte þi dyner . as me dere liketh .
Alle þe pore ...?...?...peple tho . Pesecoddes fetten
M.6.300KD.6.293
Benes and baken apples . þei brouȝten in hire lapp.es .
fol. 32vI
ripe +M.6.301: The deleted text is legible under ultraviolet light.
Chibollus and ...?...CheruellM.6.301: All other B manuscripts except Cr attest this word with plural <-s>. F reads chirne mylk.  and ripeM.6.301: The insertion of ripe brings M into line with all other B manuscripts. chiries manye
And profr...ede piers þis .....present  to plese with his —M.6.302: M's original inclusion of his placed it in agreement with Cr3OC2CBmBo. hunger
Al hungur eet in haste  and ax..ed aftur more
M.6.304KD.6.297
Þanne pore folk for fere  fedde hungur ȝyerne
With grene porete and pesen  to poisun hungur þei þouȝte
By þat itM.6.306: M's original reading without it agreed with YC. neiȝede nere herueste  newe corne come to chepinge
Þanne was folke faineyn . and fedde  hung..er with þe beste
M.6.308KD.6.301
With gode ale as glotoun tauȝte . and gerte hungre goo slepe
And þo wolde wastour not worche . but wandren a-bouten
Ne no begger eten breede . þat benes inne were .
But of coket or clermatin . or ellus of clene whete
M.6.312KD.6.305
Ne non. halpeny ale  in none wise drinke
But of þe beste and þe brunneste  þat in burȝgh is to selle
Laborers þat haue no lande  to lyuen on but hire hondus
Deined nouȝt to dyneM.6.315: All other B manuscripts here include a day, except F which has or suppe. . niȝt olde wortus
M.6.316KD.6.309
May no penyale hem paie . ne none — pece of bacoun
But it beM.6.317: M shares the reading it be with F; other B manuscripts have if it be or omit the phrase. fressh flessh . ...?...?...or fissh rostedM.6.317: M's reading of rosted is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read fryed. or bakenM.6.317: This half line is written over a significantly longer erasure.
And þat chaud or .plus chaude . for chillinge of hire mawe .
A...?...?...nd but but he be hyliche yhyred . elles wil he chide
M.6.320KD.6.313
And þat he was werkman y-wrouȝte . wail..eþ he þe whileM.6.320: M's b-verse is unique among B manuscripts. Most other B manuscripts read waille þe tyme. .
Aȝeins Catones conseille . comsuth he to iangle
Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento .
He greueth h.im aȝeins god . and gruccheþ aȝeins resoun .
M.6.324KD.6.317
And þanne curs...eth he þe kinge . and al his conseill aftur
Suche lawes to loke . laborers to greue .
Ac whiles hunger was hire maist..er . þere wolde none of hem chide
Ne striue aȝeins his statut  so sternelich he lok..ed
M.6.328KD.6.321
Ac I warne ȝyow werkemen . wurcheM.6.328: M's reading of wurche is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read wynneþ. wil ȝye mowe
For hungur hiderwarde . hasteþ h.im faste
He shal awake with watur . wastours to chaste
Ar fyue be fulfullude . such famyn shal riseM.6.331: M's reading rise is unique among B manuscripts, the rest of which read aryse. .
M.6.332KD.6.325
Þo..rugh flodus and foule wedres . fruitus shal falleM.6.332: M's reading of fall is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read faille, though it is the reading of six A manuscripts.
Nota
And so saide saturne . & sente ȝyow to warne
Whanne ȝye se þe suonne amys . & ...?...?...two Monkes heddes
And a mayde haue þe maistrie . and multipli..edM.6.335: M's altered reading multiplied agrees with LRF. Other B manuscripts read multiplie. bi .....eighte
M.6.336KD.6.329
Þanne shal deþ with-drawe . & derthe be Iustice
And dawe þe dikere . deie for hunger .
But ȝif god of his goodnesse . graunte vs a t....rewe
cor
iiijus
cor
MED