The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 7: <list><item>London, British Library, MS Lansdowne 398 </item><item>Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson Poetry 38</item></list>
– Passus 5William LanglandEdited by Robert AdamsAssociate Editors: Patricia R. Bart, M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A.
FarleyTechnical Editor: Daniel PittiGraduate Research AssistantMichael Blum, John Ivor Carlson, Carrie Lindley, Janice McCoy, Ashley Opps, Timothy L.
Stinson, and Jordan Taylor.Computer Consultants and ProgrammersRobert Bingler, Shayne Brandon, Cynthia Girard, Chris Jessee, Daniel Pitti, David Seaman,
and John Unsworth.The Medieval Academy of America and SEENET by Boydell and
Brewer, LTDWoodbridge, SuffolkISBN: (Individual) 9781843840947 (Institutional): 9781843840930
Commercially available:
copyright 2011, by SEENET
2006 Combined facsimile & documentary edition.Identification of handsIRA = Robert Adams1 computer optical disk : col. ; 4 3/4 in.The Medieval Academy of America and SEENET, by Boydell and
Brewer, LTD.Woodbridge, SuffolkSource copy consulted: London, British Library, MS Lansdowne 398 and
Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Rawlinson Poetry 38
SEENET, A.9
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LatinFrenchGermanNovember 2005 revise header, update DTD and ent files Hoyt N. Duggan New header created susPassus quintus de visione petri plowman . vt
supra .tThe kyng and his knyȝtes to þe kerke wente
. To here matynes of þe day and þe masse after Þanne awaked I of my wynkyng and wo was with-alle . Þat I ne hadde sleped saddere and I-seyȝen more . Ac er I hadde faren a furȝlonge feyntise me hente . Þat I ne miȝte forthere a foot for defaut
of slepynge . And sat softly adoune and sayde my beleue .NotaAndR.5.8: R uniquely omits so I before babeled and replaces the presumably original on with vppon ; cf. F's y bablede so on. C omits this
passage, but in the A version it reads as in the beta manuscripts of B.babeledso I babeledvpponon my bedes þei brouȝt me a-slepe .¶¶ And þanne saw I muche more þan I
befor tolde . For I say þe felde ful of folke þat I be-fore of seyde And how resoun gan arayen hym alle þe rewme to
preche . And with a crosse by-for þe kyng
cumsede þus to techen .¶He preued þat þis pestilensez was for pure synne
.And þe south-west wynde on saterday at
eue .Was perteliche for pruydepure prydeR.5.15:
R's phrase here is that of alpha (cf. F's virtually indentical wording); the beta copies
read pure pryde. The A and C versions both agree with alpha. and for no poynt elles
. Pyries and plumtres were puffedde to þe erthe
.AndInR.5.17:And is an alpha variant (cf. F's somewhat different rendering of this
line), but it is not present in the beta manuscripts, nor is it attested in the manuscripts
of the other versions at this point. in ensaumple ȝee segges ȝee
schulden do þe bettere . Beches and brode okes were blowe to þe grounde .AndnilR.5.19:And is an alpha variant completely unattested in beta copies (which begin
the line with Torned. However, the alpha reading of this line opening
agrees exactly with that of the other two versions. turned vpward here tailetailles in R.5.19: Alpha omits beta's in before tokenynge.
Both the A and C versions agree at this point with
beta.to kenyngetokenyngein tokenynge of drede . Þat dedly synne ar domesday schal for-don hem alle .¶¶ Of þis matere I miȝt mamely
ful longe . Ac I schal seye as I sawe so me god helpe . How perteliche be-for þe poeple
reson gan to preche .¶ He bad wastour togoR.5.24:
R's to is unique among the B manuscripts. The others
read go, which is also the reading of the A version
and of the P family of C witnesses. However, the X family agrees with
R's reading. werche what he best coude . And wynnen his wastinge with som
manerecrastyscra[f]tyscrafte .R.5.25: R's crastys, is probably an alpha error (cf. beta's crafte and F's reconstructed werkys). The phrase is
omitted from C, but the A witnesses support beta's
rendering.¶¶ And preied pernele hire purfile to
lete . And kepe it in hire coffre for catel at hire nede .¶¶ Thomme stouue he tauȝte to
take to stonesstaues .R.5.28: R's stones is unique. The other B
manuscripts, as well as the other versions, read staues. And fecche felice home fram wyueneþe wyuen pyne .¶ He warned watte his wif was to blame . Þat hire hed was worth half marke his hode nauȝt a
groteR.5.31:
HmGCotH join R in omitting worth from the final phrase of this line
(witnessed by F and most beta copies as nouȝte worth
a grote. The majority of A witnesses agrees with this B majority in attesting the word, but RaUChJEK agree with Rawlinson 38 in
omitting it. So do all but two of the C witnesses. .¶¶AndAnd badR.5.32:
R uniquely omits the verb bad before bet here.
bet cutte a bow other tweye . And bete betoun þere-with but ȝif heoshe wolde werche .¶ And þanne he charged chapmen to chasteR.5.34: The uncovered final
<e> makes R's reading unmetrical. R's verb form is unique among the B witnesses; some beta manuscripts have chastize(n). However, R's
form is attested in some copies of both A and C.
Likewise, some of the A witnesses agree with beta. The Cx form appears to have been chasten, quite possibly the reading of
Bx, since it is also the reading of LCrCG. hire childerne . Late no wynnynge for-wanyen þehem forwenyR.5.35:
R uniquely omits Bx's hem at the end of the a-verse
and uniquely adds þe at the head of the b-verse. However, the addition of
þe is paralleled in the X family of C
manuscripts. while þei ben ȝonge . Ne for no pouste of pestilence plese hem nauȝt oute of
resoun .¶¶ My sire seyde so to me and so dede
my dame . Þat þe leuer childe þe more lore byhoueth . And salomon seyde þe same þat sapience made .Qui parcit virge odit filium
. Þe englisch of þis latyn is ho-so wil it knowe . Ho-so spareth þe sprynge henil spillethR.5.42: Beta omits he. Although three C
manuscripts include the pronoun, it seems clear that Cx read here as
beta does. his childern .¶And sitthen he prouedpreyedR.5.43: R's proued is unique and presumably results
from scribal anticipation of proue in the next line; beta
reads preyed (which is confirmed by both the A and
C versions) while F completely rewrites the line.prelatz and prestes to-gyderes .Þat ȝee prechen to þe poeple proue it on
ȝow-selue .And doth it in dede it schal drawe ȝow to gode .If ȝe lyuen as ȝe lerne vs we schal leue ȝow þe
bettere .¶¶ And sitthe he radde religioun
here rewle to holde . Lest þe kyng and his conseyle ȝoure
comunes appeyre . And ben stwardes of ȝoure stedes til ȝe be rewled
bettere .¶ And siþþen he conseyled þe kynge þe commune to
louye .It is þi tresor if treson weretreson [n]eretresoun ne wereR.5.51: R uniquely drops the negative. and triacle at þi nede .¶¶ And siþþen he preyed þe popeR.5.52: The word pope has been
partially erased, though the original reading is visible. The erasure is very old but not the
work of the original scribe. haue pite on holy cherche .And er he gyue any grace gouerne furst hym-selue .¶ And ȝe þat haue lawes to kepe lat trewthe be
ȝoure coueytise . More þanne gold or other giftes if ȝe wil god plese
.¶ For ho-so contrarieth trewthe he
telth in þe gospel . Þat god knoweth hem nouȝt ne no seint of heuene .Amen dico vobis nescio vos .¶¶ And ȝe þat seke seint Iames
and seintes of rome . Seketh seint trewthe for he may saue ȝow alle .Qui cum patre & filio
þat faire hem befalle . Þat sueth my sarmoun and þus seyde
resoun .¶ Þanne ran repentaunce and reherced his teme . And gerte wille to wepe water with his eyȝes .¶¶ Pernele proude-herte platte hire to þe erthe . And lay longe ar hesheR.5.66:He, "she." loked and lord mercy he criedecryedR.5.66:
R alone reiterates the feminine pronoun (in R's typical form, he) in the
b-verse. The correctness of the majority reading is confirmed by the text of Ax and Cx. . And by-hiȝte to hym þat
vs alle made .HeSheR.5.68:He, "she."scluldesc[h]uldeshulde vnsowen hire serke and setten þere an haire . To affaiten hire flesche þat fers was to synne . Schal neuere heyȝ herte me hente but
holde me lowe . And suffre to be myssayde and so dede I
neuere . But now wil I meke me and mercy byseche .ForFor al þisR.5.73: Beta's phrase is For al þis. F has For þ(a)t." I haue I-hatedhated in myn herte .¶ Þanne lecchour seyde allas and on oure lady he
cried To make mercy for his misdedes bitwene god
and his soule . With þat he schulde on þe dayþe saterdayR.5.76:
Cf. beta's þe saterday and F's euery day. The C version is completely revised at this point, but the A reading agrees completely with that of beta. seuen ȝer
þere-after . Drinke but with þe doke and dyne but ones .¶¶ Enuye with heuy herte askede after
schrifte . And carfulliche mea culpa he
cumsed to schreweschre[u]eshewe .R.5.79: R's error, schrewe, was not a misreading for shewe (the beta variant) but for schreue, the alpha reading (cf.
F's shryve). The A reading agrees with that of
beta. He was as pale as a pelete in þe palsey he semed . And clutedclothedR.5.81:
This is a unique R reading (Bx = clothed). According
to MED, s. v.clouten (v. 1), the form is the past participle of clouten, which usually means "to mend" but here and in a few other documented
instances clearly signifies "to wear patched or ragged clothes." in a tauri-mauri[c]auri-mauriR.5.81: R, probably by coincidence, shares the <c/t> confusion with
Bm. I coude nauȝt itit nouȝteR.5.81:
R reverses this phrase, which in the other B manuscripts (as well as the
A version) reads it nouȝte. descriue
. In a kertel and curteby and a knyf be his side . Of a frerefreresR.5.83:
R's uninflected form, frere, is unique in the B
version. The other copies have freres. However, five A-version manuscripts (DJLaEN) agree with R's unmarked genitive. frokke
were hisþeR.5.83:
In place of alpha's his, beta reads þe. Ax is unclear on this point, a majority agreeing with beta, but a large minority
(HaLaEAKWa) agreeing with alpha. fore-sleues . And as a leek hadde I-leye
longe in þe sonne . So loked he with lene chekes louring foule .¶¶ His body was to-bolle for wrathe þat he bot his lyppes . And wryngyed withwryngynge he ȝede withR.5.87:
Beta reads wryngynge he ȝede. F has hise hondis he
wrong. þe fist to wreke hym-self he
thouȝte . With werkes or with wordes whan he seyȝ his time . Eche word þat he warp was of an addrean addresR.5.89:
Beta shows a genitive, addres or Neddres. tonge
. Of chydynge and of chalengynge was his chief lyflode With bagbityng and withnilR.5.91:
This line's second with is a unique addition in R. bysmere
and berynge of fals wytnesse . Þis was alle his curteysye where þat euere he schewed hym
.¶ I wolde be Ischryue quod þis schrewe and I for
schame durste . I wolde be gladdere by god þat gybbe hadde
mischaunce . Þan þouȝ I hadde þis woke I-wonne
a weye of essex chese .¶¶ I haue a neyȝbore neyȝ me
I haue enuyed hym ofte . And lowen on hym to lordes to don hym lese his siluer . And al-somadeR.5.98:
R's al-so is unique; cf. Bx's made. his frendes ben his fon þoruȝ my fals tonge . His grace and his good happes greueth me ful sore . By-twene mayne and maynemany and manyR.5.100:
The form mayne is the R scribe's spelling for meine,
"household" (see also R.16.247:). In F the a-verse
reads By-twixe hym & manye men; most beta manuscripts
have Bitwene many and many. Though MED lists the head form
as meine, OED notes that by the opening of the fifteenth
century the word was sometimes spelled many, which appears to have been
beta's intention. Its authenticity is also supported by a cognate line from the A version, where the phrase reads Betwyn hym & his meyne. I make debate ofte . Þat both lyf and lyme is lost þoruȝ my speche .¶ And whan I mete hym in markete þat I most hatye
. I hayls hym hendelich as I his frende were . For he is douȝtier þan I I dar do non other . Ac hadde I maystrie and miȝt god wote my wille .¶¶ And whan I come to þechercheþe chercheþe kirkeR.5.106:
HmF agree with R in reading cherche, but they omit the article. The beta
reading, kirke (also the reading of the A tradition),
fits the alliterative pattern of the line; cherche was the alpha reading,
shared by convergence with Hm. and schulde knele to þe rode . And preye for þe poeple as þe prest techeth . For pylgrimes and for palmeres for alle þe poeple
after Þanne I crie on my knes þat crist ȝif hem sorwe . Þat bare away my bolle and my broke schete .¶ Awey fro þe auter þanne turne I myn eyȝes . And beholde how heleyne hath onnilR.5.112:
R's on is an alpha addition unattested in beta or in the A version. a newe cote I wysche þenne it were myn and alle þe web after .R.5.113: Here
the scribe omits his usual line break before a new verse paragraph, presumably because he has
reached the end of a side.¶¶ And of hismennesR.5.114:
R's his is a unique reading among the B manuscripts
(both F and beta attest mennes). However, it is clear that Ax reads as R does. lesynge I lawhe þat lyketh myn herte .AcAnd for his wynnygewynny[n]gewynnyngeR.5.115:
At the beginning of this phrase, R's Ac is unique among the B manuscripts but is also the reading of Ax; by
contrast, F has But and beta reads And). As for his (an alpha variant contrasting to beta's hir), a
majority of A witnesses agree with RF. I wepe and wayle
þe tyme .¶ And deme mennilR.5.116:
R's men is unique; F substitutes hem while beta omits
it altogether. However, in a slightly different phrase found in the cognate A line (I deme men þere hy don ille), we find unambiguous support
for R's reading. þat hij don ylle þere I do wel worse . Who-so vndernymeth me
hereoffe Ich hate hym dedly after . I wolde þat vch a wyȝt were my knaue . For ho-so hath more þanne I
þat angreth me sore .¶¶ And þus I lyue loue-lees lyche a lyther dogge . Þat alle my body bolneth for bytter inofR.5.121:
Cf. R's in to F's ys and beta's of;
it is unclear what the alpha reading was. The A reading agrees with
beta. my galle .¶ I myȝte nauȝt ete many ȝeres as a man ouȝte
. For enuye and euel wille is yuel to defye . May no sucre ne swete thynge aswage my swelynge . Ne no diapenidion driue it fro myn herte . Ne noyther schrifte none schame but ho-so schrape my mawe .¶¶ Ȝis redily quod
repentaunce and radde hym to þe beste . Sorwe of synnes is sauacioun
of soules .¶ I am euerenilR.5.129:
Beta omits euere. This omission is also found in the A version, but the C version agrees with alpha and includes the
qualifier. sory quod þat segge I am but selde
other . And þat maketh me þus megre for I ne may me venge . Amonges burgeys haue I be dwellynge atte
londoun . And gert bagbytyng be a brokoure to blame
mennes ware . Whan he solde and I nauȝt þanne was I aredyredyR.5.133:
Beta reads redy, and F has ful redy. Some C copies agree with beta, but Cx agrees with R's form,
aredy. . To lye and to loure on my neyȝbore and to lakken his
warechaffareR.5.134:
R's ware is the alpha reading; cf. beta's chaffare. . I wil amende þis if I may þorȝ miȝt of god
al-miȝti .¶¶ Now waketh wrotheawaketh wrattheR.5.136:
R's waketh is unique (most of the other witnesses have awaketh). Likewise, R's spelling of the following noun (= wrothe,
but rendered as Wraþe or wratthe by most of the others)
is unique among the B copies—cf. the same spelling at R5.138 (at
which point F and the X family of C concur with R's form). According to
OED2, s. v.wrath, and MED, s. v.wroth, this spelling is a late adaptation from the adjective wroth, = "angry." Nominal usage is also found in a manuscript of Gower's
Confessio (at 3.217) and in the Trinity manuscript of the A-version (at 5.66). with to white eyȝes . And nyuelyng with þe nose and his nekke hangynge .¶ I am wrothewrathR.5.138:
R's wrothe is a relatively uncommon spelling for this word (cf. R5.136
above), but it is also attested in F and among the X family of C. Beta
and the P family of C witness the more usual spellings (e.g, W's wraþe). quatz he I was sumtyme a frere . And þe couentcouentesR.5.139:
R's uninflected form is unique; F and beta read a normal genitive, couentes. On the other hand, the R scribe may have taken the phrase couent gardinere as a compound noun. gardinere
for to graffe ympes . On lymitoures and listres lesynges I ymped . Til þei bere leues of lowe speche lordes to plese
. And sitthe þei blosmedblosmed obrodeR.5.142:
The beta phrase, which has the advantage of alliterating properly, is blosmed
obrode. in boure to here schriftes . And now is falle þere-offe a fruyt
þat folk haue wel leuere . Schewen here schriftes tilto hem þan schriuen hem tiltoR.5.144:
Both of R's uses of til in this line are unique; F and beta read to in the first instance. F revises the b-verse substantially (so as to be
unsuitable for comparison), but beta again deploys to.
here persones .¶ And now haue persones aperceyuedparceyued þat freres parte with hem . Þes possessioneres prechen and
deprauen freres . And fyndenfreres fyndethR.5.147:
The agreement of RF in omitting the first stave of this line (freres in
beta) indicates that the error derives from alpha. hem in defaute as folke
bereth witnesse . Þat whanne þei preche þe poeple in many
places aboute . I wrathe walke with hymhemR.5.149:
R's hym is unique and obviously an error; F and beta read the plural hem, which agrees with all of the surrounding context, including another
pronoun reference later in this same line. and wisse hem of my bokes . Þus þei speken of my spiritualte þat eyther despi.seth other . Til þei be bothe beggeres and byby my spiritualteR.5.151: Beta reads by my spiritualte. F has
by almesse. libben .R.5.151: There is a black, vertical line from this
point to R5.160 in the right margin. Or elles alle riche and riden aboute I wrathe reste neuere þat
IneI ne mot folwe . Þis wikked folke for swich is my grace .¶¶ I haue anauntean
aunte to nonne and an abbesseabbesse botheR.5.155:
Beta adds bothe at the end of this line. The C
version, however, agrees with alpha in omitting it. . Hire were leuere swowe or swelte þan suffre
any peyne . I haue be cook in hire kychyne and þe couent serued . Many monthes with hem and with monkes alsebothe .R.5.158: R's alse is unique; the other B
manuscripts read bothe. The C reading agrees with
that of the B majority. I was þe prioresses potagere and other
pouer ladyes . And made hem ioutes of iangelyng þat dame ione was a
bastard . And dame claris a kniȝtes douȝter ac a cokewolde
was hire sire . And dame peronel a prestes fyle prioresse worthe heo
neuere . For heo hadde childe in chirityme al oure
chapitere it wiste .¶ Of wikked wordes I wrathe here wortes I-madeR.5.164: Only RLOC2 have the metrically necessary dissyllabic form
from OE gemacian. F has a recomposed line, and other B manuscripts have made. . Til þow lixt and þow lixte lopen oute at
ones . And eyther hitte other vnder þe cheke . Hadde þei had knyues by crist here eyther
hadde kulled othere .Gregorius¶¶ Seynt gregorie was a goed pope and
hadde a goed forwitteR.5.168: In this verse paragraph and the next, the scribal hand becomes
noticeably smaller, and yet the 36-line ruling is unchanged from the previous
leaf. Þat no prioresse were prest for þat he ordeyned . Þei hadden þanne be infamis þe firste
day þei cunne so euel hele conseyle .¶ Amonges monkes I miȝt be and many tyme I schonie . For þere ben many felle frekes my feres to aspie . Bothe priour and suppriour and oure pater abbas . And ȝif I telle any tales þei taken hem to-gyderes . And do me faste fridayes to brede and to water . And ȝeet amamR.5.176:
R's ȝeet is a unique addition to this line, as witnessed in the other
B manuscripts. However, it is also clearly attested in the C version. chalenged in þe chapitelhous . As I achilda child wereR.5.177: R's line
division here is unique and obviously an error; F, beta, and the C
version read this phrase as the end of the preceding line . And baleysed on þe bare hersbakersR.5.178:
R's cancelled reading, hers, is the Bx original. F
agrees with R's "corrected" and euphemized reading, bak, but the C version agrees with the Bx original.
and no breche by-twene . For-thi haue I no likyng
with þo ledes to wonye . I ete þere vnthende fissh and febleR.5.180: The
final <e> of feble is blotted. ale drinke .¶ Ac other-while whan wyn cometh
whan I drynke welwynR.5.181:
Beta reads wyn. at euen . I haue a flix of a foul mouth wel fyue dayes after . Alle þe wikkednesse þat I wote by any of oure bretheren
. I couthe it in oure cloystre þat alleR.5.184: R uniquely omits a
determiner after alle. A majority of beta copies, and F, read þe here while LMCrW attest owre. Cx
agrees with F and the beta majority.couentowre couent wot it .¶¶ Now repente þe quod
repentance and reherce þow neuere . Conseille þat þow knoweste by contenance ne
by specheriȝteR.5.186:
R and F agree with the C version in attesting speche
as this line's final stave. By contrast, beta reads riȝte at this
point. . And drink nauȝt ouerdelicatly ne to depe neyther
. Þat þi wille be cause þere-offe
to wrathe miȝt turne .Esto sobrius he seyde and
so henilR.5.189:
R's so he is a unique addition to the text witnessed by both Bx and Cx. assoyled me after . And badde me wilne to wepe my wikkedenesse to amende .descripcio
avaritie¶ And þanne come coueytyse I can hym nauȝt descriue . So hungrilyche and holewe sire henry hym lokede . He was bittel-browed and
baber-lipped alse . With to blered eyȝes as a blynde hagge . And as a letheren purce lolled his chekes . Wel sydder þanne his chyn þei chyueld for elde . And as a bonde-man of his bakun
his berd was bydraueled . With hisanR.5.198:
For alpha's his, beta reads an. The C reading agrees with alpha. hode on his hed a lousy hatt aboue . And in a tawne tabbarde of twelue wynter age . Al to-torne and baudy and
ful of lys crepynge . But if a lous coude lepehaue lopen þe bettere .R.5.201: All the B manuscripts are corrupt,
presumably losing most of the original b-verse: But if (þat) a lous couthe
(haue lopen / lepen) þe bettre. RF omit þat and avoid the perfect
tense. F's reading for this line is unique in other ways as well. The A-version reading for this line's second half is uncertain, with considerable variation
between witnesses. Kane chose I may it nouȝt leue. The C b-verse has the appearance of a feeble patch rather than a common
original: y leue and y trowe. HeShenenil schulde nouȝt walkehaue walkedR.5.202:
Cf. beta's She sholde nouȝte haue walked. Evidence from the A and C versions suggests that archetypal B was already misreading the first verb in this line (= wandre in A and C). Though most C manuscripts attest the line's opening as He sholde,
manuscripts X and P2 here agree with R's version of the opening phrase,
He ne schulde. Among the A copies, the same pattern
is apparent, with most opting for some form of he shulde but with ChRaU
paralleling R's double-negative syntax. on þat welsch so was it
thredebare .¶¶ I haue be coueytouse quod þis
caytyf I be-knowe it here . For sum-tyme I
seruede symme at þe style . And was his prentis I-pliȝt
his profit to wayte .R.5.205: R omits his customary blank line between
strophes at the juncture of ll. 205-06, presumably because the latter is to fill the last
line ruled for this side.¶ First I lerned to lye a leef orother tweyne .wikedlyche to weye .R.5.206:These catchwords
are partially cropped. Wikkedliche to weye was my furst lessoun
. To wy and to wynchestre I wente to þe feyre . With many maner marchandise as my mayster me hiȝte
. Ne hadde þe grace of gyle I-go amonge my warechaffare .R.5.210: The alpha variant ware is supported by LM, but most beta
copies read chaffare. However, as is often the case with such splits, both
Ax and Cx support the LMRF variant. It hadde be vnsold þis seuen ȝere so
me god helpe .¶ Þanne drow I me amonges draperes my donet to lerne . To drawe þe lyser a-longe
þe lenger it semed . Amonge þe riche rayeresrayesR.5.214:
R's rayeres, "a maker or seller of striped cloth," is a unique variant
among B witnesses; Bx reads rayes. The same variant occurs in manuscript Uc of the C version,
but both Ax and Cx clearly attest the same word
here as the B majority. For other citations of this R form, see
MED, s. v.raier. I rendred a lessoun . To brochen hem with a batnedelpaknedleR.5.215:
Most beta manuscripts read paknedle, but L (and perhaps M originally,
which has been corrected to pak by erasure and writeover) supports alpha's
batnedel. The majority of A witnesses agrees with
beta, but manuscripts AE agree with alpha's lection. Batnedel is also the
reading of the best C manuscripts (though most of the P family copies
agree with the common beta reading). and playted hem to-gyderes . And putte hem in a presse and pynedpynned hem þere-Inne . Til ten ȝerdes or twelue tolledhadde tolled oute threttene .¶¶ My wif was a webbe and wolene cloth
made .HeoShe spak to a spinnesterspynnesteresR.5.219:
Beta reads spynnesteres, which is also the reading of Cx. The Ax reading is uncertain since the singular and plural
forms are both well attested among extant copies. to spynnen
it oute . Ac þe pound þat heo payed by peysed a quarterquarterounR.5.220:
Beta reads quarteroun, but Ax and Cx confirm alpha's lection. more .Nota Þan myn owenauncerowen auncer
ho-so weyȝed trewthe . ¶ I bouȝte hire barlybarly malteR.5.222:
Beta and F read barly malte, but both Ax and Cx confirm R's reading. heo brewe it to selle . Peny-ale and puddynge-ale heo poured to-gyderes
. For laboreres and for low folke þat lay bi hym-selue .¶¶ Þe best of allealeR.5.225:
R's of alle is unique; F and beta read ale. Among the
C manuscripts, the P family omits this lection entirely (as does the
cognate line in A), while the X family agrees with the reading of F and
beta. lay in my boure or in my bedde-chaumbre
. And ho-so bummethbummedR.5.226:
R is the only B manuscript to render this verb in the present tense (but
see the Introduction III.2.2.10 on
R's—and alpha's—possibly ambiguous tense marking); the others read bummed. Both Ax and Cx agree with
the majority B reading. þere-offe
he bouȝte it þere-after . A galoun for a grote god wote no lesse . And ȝet it com in coppe-mele
þis crafte my wif vsethvsed .R.5.228: The present-tense marking represents alpha's reading (but cf. see the
Introduction III.2.2.10 on R's—and
alpha's—possibly ambiguous tense marking); cf. beta's vsed. Both
Ax and Cx agree with beta. Rose þe regrater iswasR.5.229:
The present-tense marking represents alpha's reading; cf. beta's was. Both
Ax and Cx agree with beta. hire riȝte
name .HeoShe hath I-holdeholdenR.5.230:
Cf. beta's holden. A and C
witnesses show a mixture of verb forms here, but the P family of C
agrees with alpha's form. hokkarie alle hire lif-tyme .¶ Ac I swere now so theichthe ich þat
synne wil I lete . And neuere wikkedlich weye ne wikked
chaffare vse . But wenden to walsyngham and my wif alse
. And bidde þe rode of bromeholme brynge me oute of dette
.¶¶ Repentedest þow euere quod
repentaunce neR.5.235: Among the B manuscripts, only LM
support R's ne; most beta copies read or and F has &. However, Cx clearly agrees with the LMR
reading. restitucion madest .¶ Ȝus ones I was herberwed quod he with an
hepe of chapmen . I ros whan þei were a-reste
and I-rifledR.5.237: LR alone have unmetrical I-rifled. Other B manuscripts have riflede. here males .¶ Þat was no restitucioun quod
repentance but a robberes thefte . Þow haddest bettereR.5.239: R shares with LM alone
the omission of be in the phrase, be bettere. Their
reading is, however, likely to be the original. M later was "corrected" to the majority
reading. worthi be hanged þere-fore . Þan for alle þat þat þow hast here schewed .¶¶ I wende riflynge were
restitucioun quod heohe for I lerned neuere rede on boke . And IcanI can no french in feyth
but of þe ferþest ende of norfolke .¶ Vsedestow euere vsurie quod repentance
in alle þi lif-tyme .¶¶ Nay sothly heohe seyde saue in my ȝouthe . I lerned amonges lumbardes a lessoun and of iewesand iewes a lessounR.5.245:
Cf. beta's and iewes a lessoun. F reads a lessoun be
herte. The C reading agrees exactly with R's. . To weye pans with a peys and pare þe heuiest . And lene it for loue of þe cros to legge a wedde and lese
it . Swiche dedes I dede write if he his day broke . Ich haue mo maneres þorȝ regagesreragesR.5.249:
Beta has rerages; alpha's reading, regages, is
unrecorded in both OED2 and MEDs. v.rerage, and arrearage, and is presumably nonsense
generated by the misreading of a single graph, an anglicana r.
þan þorȝ miseretur & comodat
.¶ I haue I-lentelent lordes and ladies my chaffare . And ben here brokour after and brouȝtR.5.251: R shares
this error (brouȝt for bouȝte) by convergence
with Cot alone. it my-selue . Exchaunges and cheuysaunces with suche chaffareschaffareR.5.252:
R uniquely deploys the plural form here. I dele . And lenefolkelene folke þat lese wole
a lippe at eueri noble . And with lumbardes lettres I ladde golde to
rome . And toke it be taille þerehereR.5.255:
Cf. R's þere with beta's here; F omits the adverb
entirely. and tolde hem there lasse .¶¶Lenedest þowLentestow euere lordes for loue of here mayntenance .
A design is scratched in drypoint in the left margin beside these lines; its shape is that of
three pillars of approximately the same length, a vertical pillar with two supporting pillars
on its left side; the higher supporting pillar is a flat horizontal, joining the vertical
midway along its length, the lower one running diagonally upwards to join the other two at
the same point. The effect is almost that of a reversed capital <K>.¶ Ȝe I haue lent lordes quod heo louedlouedR.5.257:
The attributive phrase, quod heo, is an alpha reading not witnessed in any
beta manuscript; cf. F's quod he. me neuere after
. And haue I-mad many kniȝt
bothe mercer and draper . Þat payed neuere for his prentishode
nauȝt a peyre gloues .¶¶ Hastow pyte on pore men þat mote
nedes borwe .¶ I haue as muche pyte of pore men as þenilR.5.261:
R's determiner, þe, is an alpha variant; it is not present in beta
manuscripts. pedlere hath of cattes . Þat wolde kulle hemandyfR.5.262:and, "if." Beta reads yf. he cacche
hem miȝte for coueytise of here skynnes .R.5.262: At the bottom
center margin of 17v, there is a drypoint figure almost identical to the one noted at R5.256
for the left margin. Now, however, the <K> figure faces downwards, and the top is
trapezoidal rather than a simple rectangular pillar.¶ Art þow manliche amonge þi neyȝbores of þi mete and drinke
.¶¶ I am holden quod he as hende
as hound in hisnilR.5.264:
R's in his kychyne is a metathesis of beta's presumably original text (=
is in kychyne). Cf. F's in þe kycchene. kychyne
. Amonges my neyȝbores nameliche suche a name Ich haue
.¶ Now god lene neuere quod repentaunce
but þow repent þe rather . Þe grace on þis grounde þi good wel to bi-sette . Ne þin vssueR.5.268: R reads vssue, agreeing with L alone (=
ysue); M has been erased and overwritten to match the other beta
manuscripts' reading, heires. F reads houswif.
after þe haue ioye of þat þow wynneste . Ne þi seketouresexcecutoursR.5.269:
RF's seketoures is an aphetic form of beta's excecutours. wel bi-sette þe seluer þat
þow hem leuest And þat was wonne with wronge with wykked men be
despended For were I frere of þat hows
þere good faith and charite is . I wolde nouȝtnolde cope vs with þi catel ne ourecherchekyrkeR.5.272:
Two alpha variants are attested here, the second inadequate for the line's alliterative
pattern; cf. RF's wolde nouȝt and cherche with
beta's nolde and kyrke. amende Ne haue a peny to my pitance of þine be my soule hele
. For þe beste boke in oure hows þouȝ
brend gold were þe leues . And I wiste witterly þow
were swiche as þow telleste .Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia
queris .Pane tuo pocius vescere liber eris
.¶ Þow art an vnkende creature I kan þe nauȝt
assoile . Til þow make restitucion quod repentancenilR.5.279:
Only R records quod repentance. The other B
witnesses, including F, are here content with a line having only two alliterating staves. The
B manuscript that Langland used in creating C
appears to have shared this faulty alliteration since the alliterative key is there shifted
from /r/ to /m/ in order to make use of make (=B) /
ymad (= C) in the first stave position.
and rekene with hem alle . And sitthen þat resoun rolle it in þe
registre of heuene .Nota Þat þow hast made vch man goed I may þe nauȝt saueassoille .R.5.281: R's saue is unique. The other manuscripts read assoille.Non dimittitur peccatumnisidonecR.5.282: The predominant beta variant here is donec,
but Cr agrees with alpha. restituaturablatumablatum &c .¶¶ For alle þat hath of þi good haue
god my trewthe . Is haldyngeholde(n)R.5.284:
Only LMF agree with R's Is (but F's verb occurs in a completely rewritten
line). The other copies show be(n). R's haldynge is
unique; the other B copies all show holde(n) as do
many P manuscripts in the C tradition. However, the X family of C agrees with R's lection. at þe heyȝ dome to helpe þe
restitueto restitueR.5.284:
With reference to beta, R's lection here appears at first glance to involve a unique
omission. Beta reads þe to restitue. However, the
supposition of omission collapses when we notice that the nearly unanimous C reading at this point is identical to R's (F rewrites the line completely).
. And ho-so leueth nauȝt þis be
soth loke in aþeR.5.285:
R's lection is unique; the other manuscripts read þe, as does the C version. sauter glose . In miserere mei deus
where I mene trewthe .Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti &cetera
.¶ Þere is no laborerewoldeþat wil leue with hemþe þat knowethlongiþ to peres þenil plowman .R.5.288: Kane-Donaldson dismiss this alpha line as spurious because of
its reference to Piers Plowman, who has not yet been introduced into the
narrative.FornilR.5.289:For is an alpha variant; beta omits it. schal neuere
werkman in þis worlde thriue with þat þow wynnest .Cum sancto
sanctus eris construe me þat on englische .¶¶ Þanne wex þeþat schrewe in wanhope and walde haue hanged hym-selue . Ne hadde repentance þe rathere
confortedR.5.292: Although Hm and G agree with R (presumably by convergence), beta
itself had a compound of this verb, needed for alliteration: reconforted;
F offers, in a rewritten b-verse, reersyd, which looks like an attempted
repair. hym in þis manere .d ij¶¶ Haue mercy in þi mende and with þi
mouthe byseche it . For godes mercy is more þan alle his other werkes .Misericordia dominieiusR.5.295: This is a unique variant in R; the beta copies that contain this citation
read eius, the accurate Vulgate form. Approximately half the
beta copies and F omit the entire citation. super omnia opera eius .
&cetera .¶ And alle þe wikkednesse in þis world þat man
miȝt worche or þenke Ne is namore to þe mercy of god þan in þe see a gledeOmnis iniquitas
quantum ad misericordiam dei est
quasi sintilla in medio maris .¶¶ For-thi haue
mercy in thi mynde and marchandise leue it . For þow hast no goed grounde to gete þe with a wastel
. But if it were with þi tonge or elles with
þi to handes . For þe goed þat þow haste gete bygan alle with falshede
. And as longe as þow lyuest þere-with þow ȝeldest nouȝt but borwest .¶ And if þow wite neuere to whiche ne wham to
restitute . Bere it to þe bischoppe and bydde hym of
his grace . By-sette it hym-selue as best is for thi soule . For he schal answere for þe at þe heyȝ dome . For þe and for many mo þat man schal ȝiue a rekenynge
. What he lerned ȝow in lente leue þow non other . And what he lente ȝow of oure lordes goed
to lette ȝow fro synne .¶¶ Now bygynneth glotoun
for to go to schrifte And cayres hym to cherchewardekirkewardR.5.312:
As is frequently the case, R's unique reading here is defective in alliteration (cf. Bx's kirke-ward). his coupe to schewe
.¶ Ac betoun þe brewestere bad hym
goed morewe . And asked of hym with þat whyderward he wolde .¶¶ To holy cherche quod he
for to here masse . And sitthen I wil be schriue and synne namore .¶ I haue goed ale gossib quod sche
glotoun wiltow assaye .¶¶ Hastow auȝt in þi purce any
hote spices .R.5.318: Although the scribe customarily enters a blank line between paragraphs,
following this line he seems to have forgotten to do so because of the heavy prevalence of
paraph markers to indicate dialogue.¶ I haue peper and pioynepionesR.5.319:
R's singular is unique among the B manuscripts but agrees with the
reading found in Ax and in the X family of C. The P
family of C shows the same plural as the B
majority. quod sche and a pound of garleke
. A ferthyngworth of fenel seed for fastynge-dayes .¶ Þanne goth glotoun Inne and grete othes after
. Sesse þe souteres sate on þe benche . Watte þe warner and his wif bothe . SymmeR.5.324: R's non-alliterating Symme is shared with
HmYCBoCot among the B manuscripts but also agrees, oddly, with the
reading found in A manuscripts TRaDH2H and with the
reading of C manuscript P2. Presumably the cause of
these overlapping errors is the mutual resemblance of the relevant capitals. þe
tynkere and tweyne of his prentys . Hikke þe hakeney-man and
howe þe nedelere . Clares of cokkeslane and þe clerke of þe
cherche .AndnilR.5.327:And is an alpha variant; beta begins the line with Sire. The C version of this line agrees exactly with beta.
sire peres of pridie and peronele of flaundres Dawe þe dykere and a doseyne other . A ribyboure a ratonere a
rakyer of chepe . A roper a redyng-kynge and rose þe dissheres douȝternil .R.5.330: The phrase dissheres douȝter is an alpha variant; cf.
beta's disshere(s). Both the A version and the C version agree with beta on this reading. Godefrey of garlek-hethe
and grifythgryfinR.5.331:
F reads Geffrey while beta has gryfin. Both the A version (some copies omit the line completely) and the P family of the
C version agree with beta's name form here (P family = griffyng), but the X family of C agrees with R's otherwise unique
form. þe walshe . And vpholders an hepe herly by þe morwe . Geue glotoun with gladde chere goed ale to
hansalle .¶¶ Clement þe coblere cast of his
cloke . And toatteR.5.335:
Beta reads atte; F has in. The A
version reading agrees with beta while the C version agrees with R's to. þe newfeyrenew feyrenew faire he nempnedR.5.335: F and beta both read he
nempned; however, both the A archetype and the unanimous C reading agree with R in omitting he. it to
selle . Hikke þe hakeneyman hit his hood after . And badde bette þe bochere tonilR.5.337:
The verbal particle to is an alpha variant completely absent from the beta
manuscripts. It does, however, appear in a few A manuscripts (RaUDJ) and
in approximately half of the C manuscripts. It may, in fact, be the
family reading of the P group. ben on his side .ÞereÞere were(n)R.5.338:
R uniquely omits the Bx verb were at this point,
treating the participle Ichose at the end of the a-verse as the
verb. chapmen Ichose þis chaffare to preyse .Nota Ho-so haueth þe hood schul
haue amendes of þe cloke .¶ ÞoR.5.340:R and Bm are the only witnesses in the B
tradition beginning this line with Þo (= not the common adverb but rather
the plural demonstrative pronoun, equivalent to Modern English, "Those." See Kane,
Glossary, pp. 207-8). The other beta copies all attest Two
while F begins the line with Þan. The P family of C
is joined by manuscripts Uc and Dc in support of the beta reading, but manuscripts X, I and
P2 (probably reflecting the X subarchetype) agree with R and Bm in reading Þo. The A archetype also supports the RBm variant. Presumably R
attests this reading by descent from alpha while Bm has it through correction, perhaps from
the C exemplar used for its opening passus. Schmidt is probably correct
in hypothesizing (II, 353) that Bx actually spelled Þo in this line as To, thus inviting the common subsequent scribal
error of Two.risenrisen vp inR.5.340: R uniquely omits a word from this phrase. Beta reads risen vp in while F has ryse þey ful. The reading of
beta is also found in many A manuscripts and is clearly archetypal in
that tradition; among the C witnesses, the P family mostly agrees with R
(omitting vp from the phrase) while the X family attests its presence.
However, many C manuscripts in both families omit in. rape and rowned to-gyderes . And preysed þeþeseR.5.341:
Beta reads þese in place of alpha's þe. The A reading agrees with alpha, but the C version is
split by families, with the P family supporting alpha while the X family agrees with
beta. penyworthes a-part by hym-seluehemselue(n) . Þei coude nauȝt by here consience
acorden in trewthe . Til robyn þe ropere arise þearose bi þe southe .R.5.343: R may well represent Bx here, but the b-verse is plainly
wrong. It is obvious that the F redactor has completely recast the b-verse because of its
archtypally defective sense; in beta, the b-verse is similarly lacking, reading arose bi þe southe. Both Kane-Donaldson and Schmidt emend this verse conjecturally to
conform to the C version: aryse they
bisouhte. And nempned hym for a noumper þat no debate wereR.5.344: Beta and F
read nere in place of R's were, but both G and Hm agree
with R (presumably by correction). The A witnesses are split, but a
majority agrees with R; the C version reading is unambiguously the same
as R's. .¶¶ Hikke þe hostelere
hadde þe cloke . In the right margin, a note was written horizontally here,
covering three lines, but was later scraped. It appears to be in the same hand (later than
that of the scribe) as a number of other erased notes, such as that found on fol.
94r. In couenaunt þat clement schulde þe cuppe fille . And haue hikkes hood hostelere and holde hym I-serued . And ho-so repented rathest
schuld arise after . And grete sire glotoun with a galoun ale
.¶ Þere was lawhynge and
lowrynge and late go þe cuppe . And sitten so til euesonge and syngensonge(n)R.5.351:
The present tense, syngen, is unique to R; cf. F's sunge and beta's songen. R also shows a present-tense form earlier
in this line, sitten, where most B witnesses record a
past-tense form (but Cr and G agree with R). Context alone would suggest that the past tenses
are correct, but the unanimous witness of C manuscripts as well as the
attestation of a clear majority of A manuscripts in favor of these forms
decides the question. Cf. see the Introduction III.2.2.10 for a discussion of R's problematic tense marking. vmb-while . Til glotoun haued I-globbed a galoun and a gille . His guttes gonne to godlyR.5.353: R's godly is shared
exclusively with LM. As odd as it first seems, this was almost certainly the form of the verb
in Bx. F has gowle while most beta manuscripts read
goþelen. The same phrase occurs in the C version,
where it reads His gottes gan to gothly. Significantly, a sizeable number
of C witnesses agree exactly with manuscripts LMR of B on the spelling of the verb form, and MED, s. v.gothelen, acknowledges both -dly and -þly forms as viable for gothelen, but citations are solely to
Piers Plowman. The same limited acknowledgment of these forms is found in
OED2, s. v.gothele, and godele(n), -y. as to gnedyg[r]edygredy sowes . He pyssed a potel in a pater noster while .HeAndR.5.355:He is a unique variant; the other B manuscripts read
And. However, R's reading is also that of four A
manuscripts and of the X family of the C version. Both Kane-Donaldson
and Schmidt prefer the F/beta reading, presumably on stylistic grounds since And avoids a syntactic repetition (the previous line begins with He) that modern tastes find clumsy. blew his round rowet at his rigges
bonesR.5.355: Most manuscripts have the compound riggebone, but both rigges and bones are genitives. Manuscript C has the same
reading. ende . Þat alle þatalle [þat herde] þatalle þat herde þatR.5.356:
Here R uniquely omits a key phrase from the archetypal text. horne held here
nose after . And wischedun it hadde be wexed with a wips of firses
.¶ He miȝte neyther steppe ne stonde ere he his
staf hadde . And þanne gan he go liche a glwemannes bicche . Sum-tyme a-syde and sum-tyme arere . As ho-so leith lynes for to
lacche foules .¶¶AcAndR.5.362:Ac is unique to R; the other manuscripts read And. The
A archetype seems to omit any connective here, but the C version agrees with F / beta. whan he drouȝ to þe dore þanne
dymmed hys eyȝes . He tremledR.5.363: R's tremled is uniquely supported by L
(M having been altered once more to conform to the typical beta reading—for which, see
below); F reads tripplid while most betas offer the non-alliterating stombled. Among the A manuscripts, only Vernon offers a
viable reading, þrompelde, while the others attest various forms of stombled. As for the C version, though a few opt for stumblet, the majority attest thromblede. Based on its
alliterative pattern, this is presumably what Langland wrote originally, but the LR form is
almost certainly what it became in Bx. on þe threswolde
and threw to þe erthe . Clement þe cobblere cauȝt hym by þe
myddel . For to lifte hym a-lofte
and leyde hym on his knowes . Ac glotoun was a grete cherle and a grym in
þe liftyng . And cowede vppe a caudel in clementes lappe . Is non so hungri hound in hertforde-schire . Durst lape of þe leuyngleuyngesR.5.369:
Beta shows the plural form, leuynges, while F rewrites the a-verse beyond
recognition. The C version agrees here with R's singular.
so vnlouely itþei smauȝte .¶ With alle þe wo of þis world his wif and his wenche . Baren hym tohome toR.5.371:
Beta reads home to; although three A copies (VHaN)
agree with beta here, both Ax and Cx concur with
alpha's omission of hom. his bed and brouȝte hym
þere-inne . And after alle þis excesse he hadde an accidie . Þat he slepe seterday and soneday til sonne ȝede to
rest .¶¶ Þanne waked he of his wynkyng and
wiped his eyȝes . Þe furst word þat he warppe was
where is þe bolle . His witt gan edewyte hym þo how wikkedliche he leuede
. And repentance riȝt so rebuked hym þat tyme .¶ As þow with wordes and werkes hast wrouȝt euele in þi lyue
. Schriue þe and be aschamed þere-offe
and schewe it with þi mouthe .¶¶ I glotoun quod
þe gome gulty me ȝelde .Ofnil þatR.5.381: R's Of is unique; the other B witnesses begin the line with Þat. However, the C reading here is identical to R's. I haue trespased with my tonge I
can nauȝt telle how ofte . Sworen godes soule and his sydesnilR.5.382:
Beta omits the entire R phrase for the end of the a-verse (and his sydes);
F reads an abbreviated version, & side. The C
reading is probably that of the X family (which agrees exactly with R's). The P family
reading (& sides) agrees with F's omission of the possessive but with
R's plural number. and so help me god & holy-domegod me help and halidomR.5.382:
Beta appears to reverse a key alpha phrase (the latter being more colloquial), rendering
alpha's so help me god as so god me help. The C reading for the end of this b-verse is revised but its opening agrees
exactly with alpha's phrasing, so helpe me god. Beta's motive for revision
was probably metrical, but manuscript M somehow still agrees with alpha and displays a form
that may explain both Langland's intention and the apparent lapse in alliteration. Alpha and
M read the line as aliterating on /s/ (hence M's selpe) but beta judges
that it must alliterate on /g/ and generates the aformentioned phrase reversal to highlight
that possibility. . Þere no nede ne was nyne hundreth tymes .¶ And ouer-seye me at my
soper and sum-tymessometymeR.5.384:
R's -s form here is unique. The other B copies show
some-tyme, a reading shared with C. at nones . Þat I glotoun gurt it vppe ar I hadde gon a
myle . And I-spilt þat myȝt be spared
and spendspendedR.5.386:
R's spend is an alpha variant; cf. F's spend it and
beta's spended. on sum hungry .¶¶ Ouer delicatlyR.5.387:
There is a gap in the parchment between de and licatly
caused by a pre-existing tear; the same gap occurs on the other side at R5.417. on
fastyng-dayes dronken and eten bothe . And sat sum-tyme so longe
þere andþat I slepR.5.388: R's and slep is unique; beta appears
to reflect Bx accurately with its þat
I slepe. Cf. F's þere-at y
sleep. and eet at ones . For loue of tales in tauernes to etedrynkeR.5.389:
R's ete is unique and redundant with the preceding line; cf. Bx's drynke. þe more I dyned . And hied to þe mete er none when fastyng-dayes were .¶ Þis schewyng schrifte quod repentance
schal be merite to þe .¶¶ And þanne gan glotoun to
grete and muchegreteR.5.392:
R's muche is unique and may have been adopted to avoid the apparent
repetition of the archetype, which reads grete here. doel to make
. For his lither lif þat he leued hadde . And auowedR.5.394: Most beta manuscripts read to fast, as does F. GLM agree with R's omission of to. M's
corrector adds to above the line. On the other hand, like the beta
majority, the A version attests the presence of to in
this phrase. faste for hunger or for thurst . Schal neuere fische on þe friday
defien in my wombe . Til abstinence myn aunte hathhaueR.5.396:
R's hath is the alpha form (shared exclusively with F); beta copies show
haue, a reading shared with both Ax and Cx.Iȝeueȝiue(n) me leue . And ȝet haue I hated hire al my lif-tyme .¶ Þanne come sleuthe al by-slobred
with to slymedslymyR.5.398:
Beta reads slymy. A significant majority of C
witnesses (XIP2PRcVcAcQScKcGc) agrees with the alpha reading.
eyȝes . I most sitte seyde þe segeR.5.399: R's sege is an unusual spelling of an
old-fashioned word (= "man"). More commonly, the word appears in Middle English as segge, but this form is cited by MED, s. v.segge, in one manuscript of the Awntyrs of Arthur, Lincoln
Cathedral Library 91: A knyghte salle...at carelyone be crownede for kynge;
That sege salle be sesede at a sesone (289). The spelling is likewise attested in
OED2, s. v.segge, for the fourteenth through the sixteenth century, and a passage
from Dunbar is cited. or elles schulde I nappeR.5.399: There is a superfluous
bar over the final <-pe> of nappe. . I may nouȝt stonde ne stoupe ne with-oute stolea stole knele . Were I brouȝt a-bedde
but if my taylende it made . Schulde no ryngyng do me rise ere I were ripe to dyne
.¶¶ He bygan benedicite with a bolke and his brest
knokked . And roxede and rored and rutte atte laste .¶ What awake renk quod repentance and rape þe to
schrifte .¶¶ If I schulde deye bi þis daye quod henilR.5.406:
Beta omits quod he. The P family of C manuscripts
agrees with the alpha reading, but the X family agrees with beta and omits the phrase.
me lest nouȝt to loke . I can nouȝt parfitlyche my
paternoster as þe prest it syngeth . But I kan rymes of robyn hood and randolf erl of
chestre Ac noþer of oure lorR.5.409: R's clipped form for lord is unique among the B manuscripts both here and in
R18.61. See Richard Jordan, Handbook of Middle English Grammar: Phonology,
translated and revised by Eugene Joseph Crook (The Hague: Mouton, 1974): §199, remark
3. ne of oure lady þe leste þat
euere was maked .R.5.409: Here the scribe omits his customary line break before a
new verse paragraph, presumably because the next line will be the final one of this
side.¶ I haue mad vowes fourti and forȝete hem oron morweR.5.410: This occurrence of or is unique; the full phrase in most
B witnesses reads on (þe) morne. C has amorwen. .d iiij I parforned neuere penance as þe prest me
hiȝte . Ne riȝt sori for my synnes ȝet was I neuere
. And ȝif I bedde any bedes but if it be in wrathe
. Þat I telle with my tonge is to myle fro my herte . I am ocuped vche a day halyday and other . With Idel tales at þe ale and other-while in cherchecherches . Godes peyne and his passioun ful selde
thenke I þere-on .R.5.417: A repaired tear in the
parchment (existing before its use by the scribe) partially obscures the loop from the
<r> in þere-on by which the following <e> is
signified.¶ I visitede neuere sekefiebleR.5.418:
R's seke is a non-alliterating alpha variant; cf. beta's fieble, which is also the reading of the C version.. men
ne fetered folke in puttes . I haddehaueR.5.419:
Cf. alpha's hadde to beta's haue; alpha's reading is
also that of the C version. leuere here an
herlotrie or a somer game of souteres . Or lesynges to lawhe ofatR.5.420: R's of is an alpha variant;
beta reads at, but Cx agrees with alpha here.
and bilye my neyȝbore .R.5.421: R
uniquely omits a transitional word here in linehead position; cf. F's & and beta's Þan. The C reading agrees
with beta's.AlÞan al þat euere marke made mathew Iohan and lucas
. And vigilies and fastyngdayes alle þis I lateþise late IR.5.422:
Beta transposes this phrase as late I. F reads the entire phrase as y leet hem passe . And ligge a-bedde in lente
and my lemman in myn armes . Til matynes and masse be do and þan go to þe freres . Kome I to Ite missa est I
hold me I-serued . I am nauȝt schriue sumtime but
ȝif sekenesse it make . Nouȝt twyes in to ȝere and þanne vpe gesse I
schriue me .¶¶ I haue be prest and persone
passyng thretty wynter . Ȝet can I neyther solue ne synge ne seyntes lyues
rede . But I can fynde in a felde or in a furlonge an hare . Better þan in beatus vir or
in beati omnes . Construe it clausemeloon clause welR.5.432:
R's it clausemel is an alpha variant; cf. beta's oon clause
wel. and kenne it to my parochiens . I can holde louedayes orandR.5.433:
Beta reads and. here a reues rekkenynge . Ac in canon ne in þe decretales I can nouȝt rede a
lyne .¶ Ȝif I begge and borwe it but if it be I-tayled . I for-ȝete it as ȝerne
and ȝif men me it aske . Sixe sithes or seuene I forsake it witwithR.5.437:
R's spelling of with here is unique among the Piers Plowman
manuscripts and also fairly unusual in the Middle English corpus. The same spelling is found
extensively in Cursor Mundi; it also occurs several times in the Prose
Alexander (ca. 1440), once in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, line
113 (where Andrew and Waldron emend it away), and once in Havelok the Dane,
line 2489. othes . And þus I tenetene IR.5.438:
Beta transposes this phrase as tene I. trewe men tete[n]ten hundreth tymes .¶¶ And my seruantes
sum-tyme here salarie
is byhynde . Reuthe is to herehere þe rekkenynge when we schul rede acountes . So with wikked wille and wrathe my werk-men I paye .R.5.441: R omits his customary blank line between
strophes at the juncture of ll. 441-42, presumably because the latter is to fill the last
line ruled for this side.¶ Ȝif anymanany man doth me a benfeet
or helpeth me at nede . I am vnkende aȝeyn his curteysie and can nauȝt
vnderstande it . For I haue and haue hadde sumdel haukes maneres . I am nauȝt lured with loue but þere ligge auȝt
vnder thoumbeþe thombeR.5.445:
Here the beta manuscripts have a determiner, making the phrase þe thombe.
This discrepancy is also apparent in the two major families of C: the P
family here agrees with alpha and the X family supports beta. .¶ Þe kendenesse þat myn euencristene kudde me
ferneȝere . Sixty sithesythesR.5.447:
This R form is unique; both F and beta read sythes. Once more, the P
family of C manuscripts here agrees with R and the X family supports
beta (with F's collateral attestation). I slewthe haue foreȝete it
setthe . In speche and in sparinge of speche I-spelt many a tyme .¶¶ Bothe flesche and
fische and mynmanyR.5.449:
Cf. R's erroneous myn to F's fele and beta's many. other vitailes Bothe brede and ale buttere melke and chese
. For-sleuthed in my
seruise til it miȝte serue noman .¶ I ran aboute in ȝouthe and ȝaf me nouȝt to lerne
. And euere sitthe be beggere for my foule
sleuthe .Heu michi quodquiaR.5.454: This alpha variant is supported by BoCot, but beta reads quia. The C reading at this point agrees with
alpha's. sterilem vitam duxi iuuenilem .¶¶RepentestRepentestowþenil nouȝt quod repentance and riȝte with
þat he swhounede . Til vigilate þe veile fette
water at his eyȝes . And flatte it on his face and onfaste onR.5.457:
R uniquely omits the third stave; the other B manuscripts read and faste on. hym cried . And seyde war þe fram wanhope wolde þe bytraye .¶ Ich am sori for my synnes sey soR.5.459: Although most beta copies
omit so and F reads now so, LM support R's so to. Cx shows the same reading as the beta majority.
Among the A manuscripts, only EAH attest so in this
phrase. to þi-selue . And bete þi-selue on þe breste
and bidde hym of grace . For is no gult here so grete þat his goednesse is more
.¶¶ Þanne sate sleuthe vppe and seyned
hym swythe . And made a vow to-for god
for his foule sleuthe . Schal no soneday be þis seuen ȝere but ȝif
sekenesse meitR.5.464:
R's me is unique; the other manuscripts read it. Both
Ax and Cx read (h)it
make. lette . Þat I ne schal do me er daye to þe dere cherche . And heren matynes and masse as I a monke were . Schal non ale after mete halde me thennes . Til I haue euensonge herde I be-hote to þe rode .What I namAnd ȝete wil IR.5.469:
The defective opening phrase of R's a-verse (What I nam) may well reflect
alpha accurately; cf. F's & what y have take to and beta's And ȝete wil I. ȝelde aȝen if I so muche haue
. Alle þat I wikkedliche wan sitthen I witt hadde .¶ And þouȝ memyR.5.471:
R's me is unique among the B witnesses; the other
manuscripts read my, which is also the reading of most manuscripts for the
other two versions of Piers. However, manuscripts X and Yc in the C tradition, two of the most authoritative copies, agree at this point with
R. lyflode lakke leten I nelle . Þat vch man schal haue his ar I hennes wende . And with þe residue and þe remenant by þe rode of chestre
. I schal seke treuthe arst er I se rome .¶ Roberd þe robbere on reddite
lokede . And for þere was nauȝt where-of
he wepe swythe sore . Ac ȝet þe synful schrewe seyde to hym-selue . Crist þat on caluare vppon þe croys
deyedeste . Þo bymas[d]y[s]masdismasR.5.479:
Kane-Donaldson commit a rare mistranscription here, rendering this R variant as bysmas. my brother by-souȝte
ȝow of grace . And haddest mercy on þat man for memento sake . So rewe on þis robbere þat reddere ne haue . Ne neuere wene to wynne with craft þat I
knoweowe .R.5.482: For alpha's knowe, all but Cr among the beta copies read
owe. However, both Ax and Cx
agree with alpha's reading. But for thi michel mercy
mitigacion I be-seche . Ne dampne me nauȝt at domes-day
for þat I dede so ille .¶¶ What be-fel
of þis feloun I can nauȝt farefaireR.5.485:
This form is unique and Kane-Donaldson treat it as a possibly substantive variant, but it is
likelier to be merely an unusual spelling variation for standard faire
found in the other B witnesses, as well as in Ax.
Cf. MED, s. v.fair (adj.), where this spelling is documented, sporadically, for c.
13-15. schewe . Wel I wote he wepte faste water with bothe his eyȝes
.R.5.486:
Immediately after this line, the alpha tradition omits a line present in beta (and also
present with slight differences in Ax and Cx): And knowleched his gult to cryst ȝete eftsones. Þat penitencia his pik he
scholde polsche newe . And lepe with hym ouer londe al his lif-tyme . For he hathhadR.5.489:
F omits this verb entirely and the beta copies render it in the past tense as had. Among the A and C manuscripts, only
Vernon agrees with R's reading. The others support beta. Cf. the Introduction III.2.2.10 regarding R's problematic tense
marking. leyne be latro luciferes aunte .¶ And þanne hadde repentance reuthe and redde hem
alle to knele . For I schal by-seche for alle synful
oure saueoure of grace . To amende vs of oure mysdedes and do mercy
to vs alle .¶¶R.5.493: The rubricator failed to
notice the "cc" paraph marker. Now god quodquod heR.5.493:
R agrees with the beta manuscripts about most of this phrase but uniquely omits he at this point (F completely reworks the phrase as & seid
god). þat of þi goednesse gonne þe worlde make . And of nauȝt madest auȝte and man most liche to
þi-selue And sitthen suffredest hymforR.5.495:
In place of alpha's hym, beta reads for, completely
misconstruing the meaning of the preceding verb. The C reading is
identical to R's form of the alpha phrase. to synne a sekenesse to vs alle
. And alle for þe best as I be-leue
what-euere þe boke telleth .O felix culpa . O nessariumne[ce]ssariumnecessariumR.5.497: The correcting scribe marked the line for correction with a marginal
<+>. peccatumadeade &c .¶ For thorȝ þat synne þi sone sent was to þis erthe . And bi-cam man of a mayde
man-kende to saue . And madest þi-selue with þi sone
and vs synful I-liche .Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem
& similitudinem nostram .Et alibi qui manet in caritate in deo manet &
deus in eo .¶ And sitthe with þeþiR.5.503:
R's þe selue sone (= "the Son Himself") is unique and probably signifies
nothing more than a casual error by the scribe for Bx's þi-self sone ("Thine own Son"). selue sone
in oure seute dyedest . On godefriday for mannes sake at fulle tyme of dayþe daye .R.5.504: The other B witnesses read of þe daye. Þere þi-selue andR.5.505: Only G
agrees with R here; beta and F read ne. þi sone no sorewe
in deth feledest . But in oure secte was þatþeR.5.506:
Beta reads þe. sorewe and þi sone it ladde .Captiuam duxit captiuitatem .¶¶ Þe sonne for sorewe þere-offe les siȝte for a tyme . Aboute myddaye whan most liȝt is and mel-tyme of seyntes .Feddest þoFeddestR.5.510:
Beta omits þo while F transposes the phrase to Þo
feddyst. The C reading here is identical to R's. with þi
fresch blode oure forfadres in derkenesse .Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam
.¶ And thorȝ þe liȝt þat lepe oute of þe lucifer itwasR.5.512:
Beta reads was while F omits the word entirely. The C
reading agrees with R's. blent . And blew alle þin blissed þennesnilR.5.513:
Alpha's þennes (in F = þens boldely) is omitted by
beta. However, in a revised version of this line, C includes it.
in-to þe blisse of paradys .¶¶ Þe thridde day after þow
ȝedest in oure seute . A synful marie þe seiȝ er seynte marie þi dame . And alle to solace synful þow suffredest it so were .R.5.516: There
is an ink blot over the final <e> of were.Non veni vocare iustos sed peccatores ad
penitenciam .¶ And alle þat mark hath I-mad
matheu Iohan and lucas . Of þin douȝtyestdouȝty dedes were don in oure armes .Verbum caro factum est .
& habitauit in nobis .¶¶ And by so m.yche itmeR.5.521:Cx agrees with alpha. semeth þe sykerlokersikerereR.5.521:
This is a unique form in R; F has sikere while beta reads sikerere; nevertheless, Cx agrees exactly with R's comparative,
an odd form that appears restricted to texts from the West Midlands (as evidenced by
citations from both MED, s. v.sikerli [adv. 3], and OED2, s. v.sickerly.) we mowe . Byde and bi-seche if it be
þi wille . Þat art oure fader and oure brothere
be mercyable to vs . And haue mercyreutheR.5.524:
Cf. the beta variant, reuthe, which properly alliterates and agrees with
the reading of the C version. on þes ribaudes þat
repenten hem sorehere sore Þat euere þei wrathed þeþe in þis worldeR.5.525:
Beta here attests an additional phrase: in þis worlde . in
worde thouȝt or dedes .¶ Þanne hent hope an horn of deus tu
conuersus viuificabis nosnil . And henilR.5.527:
Before this verb, R uniquely adds he; the C version
reading agrees with the B majority in omitting the pronoun. blew
it with beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates
. Þat alle seyntes in heuene songen at ones .Homines & iumenta
saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti
misericordiam tuam deus .¶¶ A thousend of men þo throngen
to-gyderes . Cride vppward to crist and to his clene moder .Grace to godTo haue grace to goR.5.532:
This b-verse of this line appears to have been defective in Bx, but
beta's version of the a-verse (To haue grace to go . . .) seems more
likely to be original than either F (To graunte swich grace . . .) or R's
truncated and semantically deficient Grace to god. The C version reading for the a-verse agrees with that of beta. with hem
trewthe to seke . Ac þere was wiȝt non so wis þe weye þider coude . But blostereden forth as bestes ouer bankes and hilles
. Til late was and longe þat þei a lede mette . Apparayled as a paynym in pilgrimes wise . He bare a bordoun I-bounde with a brode liste . In a wythewyndes wyse I-wonden aboute . A bullebolleR.5.539:
Beta reads bolle which is clearly the intended meaning. Alpha's form is
not documented as a variant spelling for this word (= mod. bowl. The C reading agrees with beta's. and a bagge he bare by hys
syde . An hundred of ampulles on his hat seten . Sygnes of a-sisesynayR.5.541:
Cf. F's seyntys and beta's Synay. R's reading is
supported by Cx and by several A-version
manuscripts (including Bodley 851, i.e., Z). Most A copies agree with
beta's reading. and schelles of gales . And many cruche on his cloke and þenilR.5.542:
The beta manuscripts do not attest þe. Both the A and
C versions also omit this determiner. cayes of rome . And þe vernicle before for men schulde I-knoweknowe . And se by his seynesR.5.544:Seynes, "signs." wham he souȝt hadde .¶ Þis folke frayned hym furst : fro whennes he come .¶¶ Fram synay he seyde and fram oure
lordes sepulcre . In bethlem and in babiloyne I haue ben in bothe . In ermony and ininR.5.548:
R's phrase, and in, is unique. Cr includes and but
omits in; both F and the majority of beta copies omit and. The Ax and Cx reading here appears to
agree with the F/beta lection. alisaundre in many other places . Ȝe may se be my sygnes þat sitten on myn hatte . Þat I haue walked ful wyde in wete and in drye . And souȝte gode seyntes for my soule helth .¶Knowest þow auȝt a corseint þat men calleth treuthe . Koudest þow auȝt wissen vs þe wey þerewhereR.5.553:
R's þere is unique in the B tradition (LaAMaH among
the A manuscripts agree with R); F and beta read where, which is also the reading of the A majority.
þat wyȝteR.5.553: R's wyȝte agrees only with Cr; F and the
beta majority read wy(e), which is also the reading of the A version. dwelleth .¶¶ Nay so me god helpe seyde þe gome
þanne . I seyȝ neuere palmere
with pik ne with scrippe . Axen after hym ere til now in þis place
.¶Peter quod a plowman and put forth his hed . I knowe hym as kendely as clerk doth his bokes . Consience and kende witt kenned me to his place . And deden me suren hemhymR.5.560:
R's hem is an alpha reading, shared exclusively with F, and the plural
reference is presumably to the two figures mentioned in the previous line. By contrast, beta
deploys a third-person singular accusative, presumably understanding treuthe as the referent. The P family of C witnesses supports the
beta reading, but the X subarchetype appears to have omitted the pronoun altogether.
sikerly to serue hym for euere . Bothe to sowe and to sette þe while I swynke miȝte
. I haue ben his folwar al þis fourtyfifty wynter . Bothe I-sowe his sede and
sued his bestes . With-Inne and with-oute I-wayted his profite
. I dike and I delue I do þat hetreutheR.5.565:
Beta reads treuthe for alpha's he. hoteth . Sum-tyme I sowe and sum-tyme I thresche .R.5.566: There is a superfluous bar over the final
<e> of thresche. In tayloures crafte inandR.5.567:
F omits this entire line, but beta reads and here. tynkeres crafte
what treuthe can deuise . I weue and I wynde and do what treuthe hoteth .¶ For þouȝ I seye it my-selue
I serue hyhy[m]hym to paye . Ich haue my huyre of hymnilR.5.570:
Beta omits of hym, but both Ax and Cx witness this alpha phrase. wel and otherwhiles more . He is þe presteste payer þat pore men knoweth . He with-halt no menhewe(n)R.5.572:
R's men is unique (cf. beta's hewe and F's man) and forces the following pronoun choice, here, shared
by convergence only with Cot. At first glance, F's reading seems closer to alpha (man his), because of the pronoun agreement with beta, but the plural forms
shared by R and F later in this line (R = þei ne haue it; F = þat þey haue it) indicate that R is probably, as usual, closer to their
common parent. Either way, the beta phrasing, hewe his hyre þat he ne hath it
, is almost certainly the original since it preserves the line's alliteration and
exactly parallels the text of Ax (and of the a-verse of Cx). here huyre þat þeihe ne hauehath it anoneat eue(n) .R.5.572: For R's anone, F has soone while beta
reads at euen. Both Ax and Cx
support the beta reading. He is as lowe as a lombe and louelich of speche . And if ȝe wilneth to wite where þat he dwelleth . I schal wise ȝow witterly þe weye to his place .¶¶ Ȝe leue peres quod þes
pilgrymes and profered hym huyre . For to wende with hem to treuthes dwellynge place .¶ Nay by my soule perelsoules helthR.5.578:
R's perel is unique but may well represent Bx. The
alliterative pattern is no more adequate than that of its only competitor, helth (= WCrGLM), but both Ax and Cx attest
R's lection. quod peres and gan for to swerie . I nolde fonge a ferthyng for seint Thomas
schrine Treuthe wolde loue me þe lesse a longe tyme þere-after . Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel þis is þe weye thider
¶¶ Ȝe mote go thorȝ mekenesse
bothe men and wyues . Til ȝe come in-to consience
þat crist wite þe sothe . Þat ȝe louen oure lorde god leuest of alle thynges
. And þanne ȝoure neyȝbores nexst
in none wise appaire Otherwise þan þow woldest he wrouȝte to þi-selue .R.5.586: In the right margin, beginning here and
written vertically up the page to R5.580, there is a signature which has been erased. It
appears to be the same hand as on fol. 94r. Still discernible are traces of an initial and a
surname in full.¶ And so bouh forth by a broke be buxum of þinilR.5.587:
R's þi (cf. F's þyn) is not attested in
beta nor in the A version. speche . Til ȝe fynden a forthe ȝoure
faderes honoureth .Honora patrem et matremmatrem &cR.5.589: R's Latin tag omits a final &c found in beta (also,
cf. F's unique added phrase ut sis longeuus
super terram). Most C witnesses agree on this point with beta.
Wadeth in þat water and wascheth ȝow wel þere . And ȝe schul lepe þe lyȝtlokere
alle ȝoure lif-tyme .¶¶ And so schalt þow se swere nauȝt
but if it be for nede . And namliche an Idel þe name of god almiȝti .¶¶ Þanne schaltow come bi a crofte but
come þow nauȝt þereInne .ÞeThat crofte hate coueyte nauȝt menR.5.595: R uniquely omits a word after men, but the omission probably goes back to alpha. F rewrites by dropping men altogether and uniquely substituting the phrase neyþir
maydins, while beta deploys a phrase that parallels Ax : mennes catel. The Cx phrase, menne
catel, involves an unmarked genitive that might help account for the error in
alpha.necatel ne here wyues . Ne none of her seruantes þat nuyen hem
miȝte . Loke þowye breke no bowes þere but if it be onnilR.5.597:
R's on is a unique addition. ȝoure owen .¶ To stokkes þere stondeth ac stynte ȝe nauȝt þere . Þei hatte stele nauȝt ne slee nauȝt strike
forthe by bothe . And leue hem on þi left halfe and loke nauȝt þere-after And hold wel þin haliday heye til euene . Þan schalt þow blenche at a beruh bere no fals wittnesse
.R.5.603: Among
the B witnesses, R uniquely omits the subject of this line, which is He in beta (as well as in most A manuscripts) and It in F. However, R's reading (with its ellipsis) is also attested in CxIsHe is frythed in with floreynes and other fees manye . Loke ȝeþow plukke no plante þere for perel of ȝoure soulesþi souleR.5.604:
The plural pronouns in this line represent alpha readings, the first of which is also
attested in F; cf. beta's Loke þow and þi soule. However, R's soules is a unique
reading since F here goes his own way, rendering the final phrase of this line as þe heyward. Both Ax and Cx agree
with beta. .¶¶ Þanne schal ȝe sei sothe so it
be to done . In none manere elles nauȝt for no
mannes byddynge .¶ Þanne schaltow come to a courte as clere as þe
sonne . Þe mote is of mercy þe manere aboute . And alle þe walles ben of witt to halden wille oute . And Icarneledkerneled with cristendome þat kendemankyndeR.5.610:
In the B tradition, R's þat kende is unique; both F
and beta read mankynde. However, both Ax and Cx agree with R and verify that its reading is original. to saue
.I-buterasedBoterased with by-leue so or þow best nauȝt I-saued .¶¶ And alle þe houses ben I-hyledhiled halles and chaumbres . With no lede but with loue and lowe speche as bretheren
. Þe brugge is of bidde wel þe bette may þow spede . Iche pyler is of penaunce of preyeres to
seyntes . Of almesdedes aren þe hokes þat þe gates hangen on .¶ Grace hatte þe gatewarde a goed man for-sothe . His man hatte amende ȝow manyfor manymanmenR.5.618:
Most beta manuscripts read men here, but LM support alpha's singular,
which also happens to be the reading of both Ax and Cx. hym knoweth .¶¶ Telleth hym þis tokene þat truthe
wyte þe sothe . I parfourmed þe penaunce þe prest me
enioyned . And am ful sori offorR.5.621:
Beta reads for here, which is also the reading of the A version; though a majority of C manuscripts also agrees with
beta's preposition, some of the most reliable X family witnesses (XYcUcDc) agree with alpha's
of. my synnes and so I schal euere . Whan I thenke þere-on þei I
were a pope .¶ Byddeth amende ȝow meken hym to his meister
ones . To wayue vppe þe wykat þat þe womman
schette . Þo adam and eue eten appeles vn-rosted .Per euam cunctis clausa est &
per mariam virginem iterumnil&ceterapatefacta estR.5.626: Beta omits iterum and finishes the citation
with the phrase patefacta est. The C
version includes both elements, reading iterum patefacta
est .¶¶ For he hath þe keye and þe clikat
þowe þe kynge slepe . And if grace graunt þe to go in þis wise . Þow schalt se in þi-selue
treuthe sitte in þin herte . In a cheyne of charite as þow a childe were . To suffre hym and toR.5.631: R shares this repeated verbal particle solely
with G, presumably by convergence.seggesegge nouȝteR.5.631:
Here R uniquely omits a word; most of the other manuscripts read segge nouȝte. F rewrites the line but also omits the negative,
suggesting that the error originated in alpha. aȝeynes þi sires wille
.¶ Ac be war þanne of wrathe þe þat is a wikked schrewe . He hath enuye to hym þat in þin herte sitteth . And puckethpukketh forþR.5.634:
In the beta tradition, as in many of the A manuscripts and in Cx, this phrase reads pukket forþ. pruyde
to preyse þi-selue . Þe boldenesse of þi benefetes maketh þe blynd þanne . And þanne worstou driuen out as deuh and þe
dore I-closedclosed .I-cayedKayed and I-clycatedclikated to kepe þe with-outen . Happely an hundreth wynter ar þow efte
entre . Þus miȝtow lesen his loue to lete wel by þi-selue . And neuere happeliche efte entre but grace
þow haue .¶¶ Ac þere aren seuen ȝiftessustrenR.5.641:
The Bx reading here was sustren (as in Ax and Cx), and alpha obviously was in error; cf. F's
reading, seruauntys, which is probably a characteristic smoothing rather
than the original alpha variant. þat seruen treuthe
euere . And aren porteres ouerofR.5.642:
Cf. F's at and beta's of. The beta reading agrees with
the predominant reading among A witnesses, while the reading of R is
that of Cx. þe posternes þat to þe place
longeth . Þat on hatte abstinence and vmbletehumiliteR.5.643:
R's form here is obviously synonymous with the F/beta humilite (which is
also the lection found in Ax). However, R's form is treated by
MED and OED2, s. v.humblete, not as a spelling variant but as a different, rarer noun,
derived from humble by suffixing. MED cites examples from
manuscripts of Chaucer's Physician's Tale, Parson's Tale, and
the Tale of Melibee. The P family of the C version agrees
with the prevalent F/beta reading, but the X family shows the same rare form as R, suggesting
that it may well have been the reading in both Bx and Cx. an-other . Charite and chastite ben his chief maydenes . Pacience and pees miche poeple þei helpeth . Largenesse þe lady hesheR.5.646:He, "she."R.5.646: Cf. L's heo; F and the majority of beta
copies read she (though Cr omits any pronoun reference). The A and C manuscripts agree with Cr. lete in ful
manye .Heoshe hath hulpe a thousend oute of þe deueles pondfolde .¶And hoR.5.648:ho, "who, whoever." is sib to þis seuene so me god helpe
.HeoHe is wonderlich welcome and faire vnderfongen . And but if þatnilR.5.650:
R's þat is a unique addition to this phrase, which reads in Ax exactly as it does in beta. ȝe be sib to
summe of þis seuene . It is ful hard be my hed quod peres for eny
of ȝow alle . To geten Ingonge at any gate þere but grace
be þe more .¶ Now be crist quod a cuttpurs I haue no kynne þere
.¶NeNor I quod an apewarde by auȝt þat I knowe .¶ Wite god quod a wafrestere wiste I
þis sothefor sothe .R.5.655: F reads this b-verse as þat y wiste þe sothe. Beta has wist I þis for sothe. Obviously, R is closer to beta
here, differing only in omitting for. Ax appears to
have had the same reading as beta. Cx is uncertain (a major group of P
manuscripts reading þe soþe), but the X family
clearly supports beta's version of the phrase. Schulde I neuer forthere a foot for no frerefreresR.5.656:
Among the B copies, R's frere is a unique reading, an
unmarked genitive; many C witnesses agree with the B majority, but most of the X family reads this lection in agreement with R.
prechynge .¶ Ȝus quod peres þe plowman and poked hem alle
to goed . Mercy is a maydemaydeneR.5.658:
R's mayde is unique in the B tradition; all other
witnesses attest maydene. However, witnesses in the C
tradition are split on this reading, most of the X family agreeing with the B majority while most of the P family (as well as several of the X grouping) concur
with R's form. þere hath miȝt ouer hemnil alle . And sche is sib to alle synful and hire sone alse . And thorȝ þe helpe of hem to hope þow non other . Þow miȝt gete grace þere bebi so þow go by-tyme .R.5.661: There is an apparently
random ink blot, partially erased, immediately below the punctus, giving it, at first glance,
the appearance of a modern semicolon.¶ By seint poule quod a pardonere par-aunter I be nauȝt welcomeknowe(n) þere .R.5.662: Where the alpha manuscripts have welcome, the beta copies
read knowe þere. I wil go feche my box with my breuettes & a
bulle with bisshopes lettres .¶ By crist quod a comune woman þi company wil I
folwe . Þow schalt sey I am þi suster IneI
ne wote where þei by-come .