fol. 101v (cont.)I
Passus xvijusseptimus decimus &c et .ijus.secundus de Dobet

I am Spes quod he AspieA spie . and spire after a Knyght
That took me a maundement . vp-on þe mount of Synay
To rule alle Reames wiþ . I bere þe writ here

W.17.4KD.17.4
Is it enseled I seide . may men see þi lettres

Nay he seide sekeW.17.5: W alone omits I before seke. hym . þat haþ þe seel to kepe
And þat is cros and cristendom . and crist þer-on to honge
And whan it is enseled so . I woot wel þe soþe
W.17.8KD.17.8
That Luciferis lordshipe . laste shal no lenger
fol. 102rI
Lat se þi lettres quod I . we myghte þe lawe knowe

Thanne plukkede he forþ a patente . a pece of an hard roche
Wher-on were writen two wordes . on þis wise yglosed
W.17.12KD.17.13
Dilige deum & proximum tuum

This was þe tixte trewely . I took ful good yeme
The glose was gloriously writen . wiþ a gilt penne
In hijs duobus mandatis . tota lex pendet & prophetia

W.17.16KD.17.17
Ben here alle þi lordes lawes quod I . ye leue me wel he seide
And who-so wercheþ after þis writ . I wol vndertaken
Shal neuere deuel hym dere . ne deeþ in soule greue
For þouȝ I seye it my-self . I haue saued with þis charme
W.17.20KD.17.21
Of men and of wommen . many score þousandW.17.20: W alone reads þousand; all other B manuscripts have thowsandys.

Ye seien sooþ seide þis heraud . I haue yfounde it ofte
Lo here in my lappe . þat leeued on þat charme
Iosue and Iudith . and Iudas Macabeus
W.17.24KD.17.25
Ye and sixti þousand biside forþ . þat ben noȝt seyen here

Youre wordes arn wonderfulle quod I þo . which of yow is trewestW.17.25: The leaf is cropped after trewest, and an <e> may have been lost.
And lelest to leue so . for lif and for soule
Abraham seiþ . þat he seiȝ hoolly þe Trinite
W.17.28KD.17.29
Thre persones in parcelles . departable fro ooþer
And alle þre but o god . þus Abraham me tauȝte
And haþ saued þat bileued so . and sory for hir synnes
He kan noȝt siggen þe somme . and some arn in his lappe
W.17.32KD.17.33
What neded it þanne . a newe lawe to bigynne
Siþ þe firste suffiseþ . to sauacion and to blisse
And now comeþ Spes and spekeþ . þat aspied þe lawe
And telleþ noȝt of þe Trinite . þat took hym hise lettres
W.17.36KD.17.37
To bileeue and louye . in o lord al-myghty
And siþþe riȝt as my-self . so louye alle peple
fol. 102vI
The gome þat gooþ wiþ o staf . he semeþ in gretter heele
Than he þat gooþ wiþ two staues . to sighte of vs alle

W.17.40KD.17.41
And riȝt so bi þe roode . Reson me sheweþ
ThatW.17.41: W alone reads That; all other B manuscripts omit it. it is lighter to lewed men . o lesson to knowe
Than for to techen hem two . and to hard to lerne þe leeste
It is ful hard for any man . on Abraham bileue
W.17.44KD.17.45
And wel awey worse ȝit . for to loue a sherewe
It is lighter to leeue . in þre louely persones
Than for to louye and leneW.17.46: The reading could as well be leue, as in Cr. . as wel lorels as lele

Go þi gate quod I to Spes . so me god helpe
W.17.48KD.17.49
Tho þat lernen þi lawe . wol litel while vsen it
And as we wenten þus in þe wey . wordynge togideres
Thanne seiȝe we a Samaritan . sittynge on a Mule
Ridynge ful rapely . þe righte wey we yeden
W.17.52KD.17.53
Comynge from a contree . þat men called Ierico
To a Iustes in Ierusalem . he chaced awey faste
Boþe þe heraud and hope . and heW.17.54: The scribe has written immediately above he the abbreviation for .id est. Christus. mette atonesat ones
Where a man was wounded . and wiþ þeues taken
W.17.56KD.17.57
He myȝte neiþer steppe ne stande . ne stere foot ne handes
Ne helpe hym-self sooþly . for semyvif he semed
And as naked as a nedle . and noon help aboute hym

Feiþ hadde first siȝte of hym . ac he fleiȝ aside
W.17.60KD.17.61
And nolde noȝt neghen hym . by nyne londes lengþe

Hope cam hippynge after . þat hadde so ybosted
How he wiþ Moyses maundement . hadde many men yholpe
Ac whan he hadde sighte of þat segge . aside he gan hym drawe
W.17.64KD.17.65
Dredfully bi þis day . as doke dooþ fram þe faucon

Ac so soone so þe Samaritan . hadde siȝte of þis leode
He lighte adown of Lyard . and ladde hym in his hande
fol. 103rI
And to þe wye he wente . hise woundes to biholde
W.17.68KD.17.69
And parceyued bi his pous . he was in peril to dye
And but he hadde recouerer þe rapelierW.17.69: W alone reads rapelier, comparative of rapely, "the sooner, the more quickly"; all other B manuscripts have raþer. . þat rise sholde he neuere
Wiþ wyn and with oille . hise woundes he wasshed
Enbawmed hym and bond his heed . and in his lappe hym leide
W.17.72KD.17.74
And ladde hym so forþ on Lyard . to lex Christi a graunge
Wel sixe Mile or seuene . biside þe newe Market
Herberwed hym at an hostrie . and to þe hostiler called
And seide haue kepe þis man . til I come fro þe Iustes
W.17.76KD.17.78
And lo here siluer he seide . for salue to hise woundes
And he took hym two pens . to liflode as it weere
And seide what he spendeþ moore . I make þee good her-after
For I may noȝt lette quod þat Leode . and lyard he bistrideþ
W.17.80KD.17.82
And raped hym to Ierusalemward . þe riȝte wey to ryde

Feiþ folwede after faste . and fondede to mete hym
And Spes spakliche hym spedde . spede if he myȝte
To ouer-taken hym and talke to hym . er þei to towne coome

W.17.84KD.17.86
And whan I seiȝ þis I soiourned noȝt . but shoop me to renne
And suwed þat Samaritan . þat was so ful of pite
And graunted hym to ben his groom . graunt mercy he seide
Ac þi frend and þi felawe quod he . þow fyndest me at nede

W.17.88KD.17.90
And I þanked hym þo . and siþþe I hym tolde
How þat feiþ fleiȝ awey . and Spes his felawe boþe
For sighte of þat sorweful man . þat robbed was with þeues

Haue hem excused quod he . hir help may litel auaille
W.17.92KD.17.94
May no medicyne on molde . þe man to heele brynge
Neiþer Feiþ ne fyn hope . so festred be hise woundes
Wiþ-outen þe blood of a barn . born of a mayde
And be he baþed in þat blood . baptised as it were
W.17.96KD.17.98
And þanne plastred wiþ penaunce . and passion of þat baby
fol. 103vI
He sholde stonde and steppe . ac stalworþe worþ he neuere
Til he haue eten al þe barn . and his blood ydronke
For wente neuere wye in þis world . þoruȝ þat wildernesse
W.17.100KD.17.102
That he ne was robbed or rifled . rood he þere or yede
Saue feiþ and his felawe . Spes and my-selue
And þi-self now . and swiche as suwen oure werkes

For Outlawes in þe wode . and vnder bank lotieþ
W.17.104KD.17.106
And mowen ech man see . and good mark take
Who is bihynde and who bifore . and who ben on horse
For he halt hym hardier on horse . þan he þat is foote[on] footeW.17.106: W alone omits on before foote.
For he seigh me þat am Samaritan . suwen Feiþ & his felawe
W.17.108KD.17.110
On my Capul þat highte caro . of mankynde I took it
He was vnhardy þat harlot . and hidde hym in Inferno
Ac er þis day þre daies . I dar vnder-taken
That he worþ fettred þat feloun . faste wiþ Cheynes
W.17.112KD.17.114
And neuere eft greue gome . þat gooþ þis ilke gate

And þanne shal Feiþ be forster here . and in þis Fryth walke
And kennen out comune men . þat knowen noȝt þe contree
Which is þe wey þat I wente . and wher forþ to Ierusalem
W.17.116KD.17.118
And Hope þe Hostilers man shal be . þer þe man lith anhelyngan helyng
And alle þat feble and feynte be . þat Feiþ may noȝt teche
Hope shal lede hem forþ with loue . as his lettre telleþ
And hostele hem and heele . þoruȝ holy chirche bileue
W.17.120KD.17.122
Til I haue salue for alle sike . and þanne shal I turne
And come ayein bi þis contree . and conforten alle sike
That craueþ it and coueiteþ it . or crieþW.17.122: W alone reads and coueiteþ it or crieþ; all other B manuscripts reverse the order of and ... or. þer-after
For þe barn was born in Bethleem . þat with his blood shal saue
W.17.124KD.17.126
Alle þat lyuen in Feiþ . and folwen his felawes techynge

A swete sire I seide þo . wher I shal bileue
As Feiþ and his felawe . enformed me boþe
In þre persones departable . þat perpetuele were euere
fol. 104rI
W.17.128KD.17.130
And alle þre but o god . þus Abraham me tauȝte

And Hope afterward . he bad me to louye
O god wiþ al my good . and alle gomes after
Louye hem lik my-selue . ac oure lord abouen alle

W.17.132KD.17.134
After Abraham quod he . þat heraud of armes
Sette fully þi feiþ . and ferme bileue
And as hope highte þee . I hote þat þow louye
Thyn euenecristene euere-moore . euene-forþ with þi-selue
W.17.136KD.17.138
And if Conscience carpe þer-ayein . or kynde wit eyþer
Or Eretikes wiþ argumentz . þyn hond þow hem shewe
For god is after an hand . yheer now and knowe it

The fader was first as a fust . wiþ o fynger foldynge
W.17.140KD.17.142
Til hym louede and liste . to vnlosen his fynger
And profre it forþ as with a pawme . to what place it sholde

The pawme is purely þe hand . and profreþ forþ þe fyngres
To ministren and to make . þat myȝt of hand knoweþ
W.17.144KD.17.146
And bitokneþ trewely . telle who-so likeþ
The holy goost of heuene . he is as þe pawme

The fyngres þat fre ben . to folde and to serue
Bitoknen sooþly þe sone . þat sent was til erþe
W.17.148KD.17.150
That touched and tastede . at techynge of þe pawme
Seinte Marie a mayde . and mankynde lauȝte
Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto &c

The fader is pawmeW.17.151: W alone reads pawme; most other B manuscripts have þanne, omitted by F. as a fust . wiþ fynger to touche
W.17.152KD.17.152α
Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum &c
Al þat þe pawme parceyueþ . profitable to feele

Thus are þei alle but oon . as it an hand weere
fol. 104vI
And þre sondry sightes . in oon shewynge

W.17.156KD.17.156
The paume for it putteþ forþ fyngres . and þe fust boþe
Right so redily . Reson it sheweth
How he þat is holy goost . sire and sone preueþ

And as þe hand halt harde . and alle þyng faste
W.17.160KD.17.160
Thoruȝ foure fyngres and a thombe . forþ with þe pawme
Right so þe fader and þe sone . and Seint Spirit þe þridde
Al þe wide world . wiþ-Inne hem þre holdenW.17.162: The word-order of the line varies in the B manuscripts, but most have Halt al þe wyde worlde . with-in hem thre (as in L).
Boþe wolkne and þe wynd . water and erþe
W.17.164KD.17.164
Heuene and helle . and al þat is þer-Inne

Thus it is / nedeþ no man . trowe noon ooþer
That þre þynges bilongeþ . in oure lord of heuene
And aren serelopes by hem-self . a-sondry were þei neuere
W.17.168KD.17.168
Namoore þan myn hand may . meue wiþ-oute my fyngres

And as my fust is ful hand . yholdenW.17.169: All B manuscripts with the exception of W and Hm have a form of folden. togideres
So is þe fader a ful god . formour and shappere
Tu fabricator omnium &c
W.17.172KD.17.171
And al þe myȝt myd hym is . in makynge of þynges
The fyngres formen a ful hand . to portreye or peynten
Keruynge and compasynge . as craft of þe fyngres

Right so is þe sone . þe Science of þe fader
W.17.176KD.17.175
And ful god as is þe fader . no febler ne no bettre

The pawme is pureliche þe hand . and haþ power by hym-selue
Oþer-wise þan þe wriþen fust . or werkmanshipe of fyngres
For he haþ power . to putte out alle þe ioyntes
W.17.180KD.17.179, 181
And to vnfolde þe folden fust . at þe fyngres wille

So is þe holy goost god . neiþer gretter ne lasse
Than is þe sire .
fol. 105rI
Than is þe sire and þe sone . and in þe same myghte
And alle are þei but o god . as is myn hand and my fyngres
W.17.184KD.17.185
Vnfolden or folden . my fust and my pawme
Al is but an hand . euene in þe myddes
He may receyue riȝt noȝt . reson it sheweþ
For þe fyngres þat folde sholde . and þe fust make
W.17.188KD.17.190
For peyne of þe pawme . power hem failleþ
To clucche or to clawe . to clippe or to holde

Were þe myddel of myn hand . ymaymed or yperissed
I sholde receyue riȝt noȝt . of þat I reche myghte

W.17.192KD.17.194
Ac þouȝ my þombe and my fyngres . boþe were to-shullen
And þe myddel of myn hand . wiþ-oute male-ese
In many kynnes maneres . I myghte my-self helpe
Boþe meue and amende . þouȝ alle my fyngres oke

W.17.196KD.17.198
By þis skile me þynkeþ . I se an euidence
That who-so synneþ in þe Seint Spirit . assoilled worþ he neuere
Neiþer here ne ellis-where . as I herde telle
Qui peccat in Spiritu Sancto &c
W.17.200KD.17.201
For he prikeþ god as in þe pawme . þat peccat in Spiritu Sancto
For god þe fader is as a fust . þe sone is as a fynger
The holy goost of heuene . is as it were þe pawme
So who-so synneþ in þe Seint Spirit . it semeþ þat he greueþ
W.17.204KD.17.205
God þat he grypeþ wiþ . and wolde his grace quenche

And to a torche or a tapur . þe Trinite is likned
As wex and a weke . were twyned to-gideres
And þanne a fir flawmynge . forþ out of boþe
W.17.208KD.17.209
And as wex and weke . and hoot fir togideres
Fostren forþ a flawmbe . and a fair leye
So dooþ þe Sire and þe sone . and also Spiritus SanctusW.17.210: The following line, omitted in WHm, appears in all other B witnesses: Fostren forth amonges folke . loue & bileue (as in L).
That alle kynne cristene . clenseþ of synnes
fol. 105vI
W.17.212KD.17.215
And as þow seest som-tyme . sodeynliche a torche
The blase þer-of yblowe out . yet brenneþ þe weke
Wiþ-outen leye or light . þat þe macche brenneþ

So is holyW.17.215: W alone omits þe before holy. goost god . and grace wiþ-oute mercy
W.17.216KD.17.219
To alle vnkynde creatures . þat coueite to destruye
Lele loue or lif . þat oure lord shapte

And as glowynge gledes . gladeþ noȝt þise werkmen
That werchen and waken . in wyntres nyȝtes
W.17.220KD.17.223
As dooþ a kex or a candle . þat caught haþ fir and blaseþ
Namoore dooþ sire ne sone . ne seint spirit togidres
Graunte no grace . ne forȝifnesse of synnes
Til þe holy goost gynne . to glowe and to blase
W.17.224KD.17.227
So þat þe holy goost . gloweþ but as a gladegl[e]deW.17.224: W alone reads glade; all other B manuscripts have glede.
Til þat lele loue . ligge on hym and blowe
And þanne flawmeþ he as fir . on fader and on filius
And melteþ hire myȝt in-to mercy . as men may se in wyntre
W.17.228KD.17.231
Ysekeles in euesynges . þoruȝ hete of þe sonne
Melte in a Mynut while . to myst and to watre

So grace of þe holy goost . þe grete myȝt of þe Trinite
Melteþ to mercy . to merciable and to oþere
W.17.232KD.17.235
And as wex wiþ-outen moore . on a warm glede
Wol brennen and blasen . be þei togideres
And solacen hem þat mowe se . þat sitten in derknesse

So wol þe fader forȝyue . folk of mylde hertes
W.17.236KD.17.239
That rufully repenten . and restitucion make
In as muche as þei mowen . amenden and paien
And if it suffise noȝt for assetz . þat in swich a wille deyeþ
Mercy for his mekenesse . wol maken good þe remenaunt
W.17.240KD.17.243
And as þe weke and fir . wol maken a warm flaumbe
For to murþen men myd . þat in þe derke sitten
fol. 106rI
So wole crist of his curteisie . and men crye hym mercy
Boþe forȝyue and foryete . and ȝit bidde for vs
W.17.244KD.17.247
To þe fader of heuene . forȝifnesse to haue

Ac hewe fir at a flynt . foure hundred wynter
But þow haue tow to take it wiþ . tonder or broches
Al þi labour is lost . and al þi long trauaille
W.17.248KD.17.251
For may no fir flaumbe make . faille it isW.17.248: W shares the reading is with C and Bo, where other manuscripts have his. W's reading may be a spelling variant or an error. kynde

So is þe holi goost god . and grace wiþ-outen mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures . crist hym-self witnesseþ
Amen dico vobis nescio vos &c

W.17.252KD.17.254
Be vnkynde to þyn euene-cristene . and al þat þow kanst bidde
Delen and do penaunce . day and nyght euere
And purchace al þe pardon . of Pampilon and Rome
And Indulgences ynowe . and be ingratus to þi kynde
W.17.256KD.17.258
The Holy goost hereþ þee noȝt . ne helpe may þee by reson
For vnkyndenesse quencheþ hym . þat he kan noȝt shyne
Ne brenne ne blase clere . fofo[r]W.17.258: W alone reads fo; all other manuscripts except Y read for. blowynge of vnkyndenesse
Poul þe Apostel . preueþ wheiþer I lye
W.17.260KD.17.261α
Si linguis hominum loquar &c

For-þi beþ war ye wise men . þat wiþ þe world deleþ
That riche ben and reson knoweþ . ruleþ wel youre soule
Beþ noȝt vnkynde I conseille yow . to youre euene-cristene
W.17.264KD.17.265
For manye of yow riche men . by my soule men telleþ
Ye brenne but ye blase noȝt . þat is a blynd bekene
Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit &c

Diues deyde dampned . for his vnkyndenesse
W.17.268KD.17.269
Of his mete and of his moneie . to men þat it nedede
Ech a riche I rede . reward at hym take
And gyueþ youre good to þat god . þat grace of ariseþ
fol. 106vI
For þei þat ben vnkynde to hise . hope I noon ooþer
W.17.272KD.17.273
But þei dwelle þer diues is . dayes wiþ-outen ende

Thus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie . þat quencheþ as it were
The grace of þe holy goost . goddes owene kynde
For þat kynde dooþ vnkynde for-dooþ . as þise corsede þeues
W.17.276KD.17.277
Vnkynde cristene men . for coueitise and enuye
Sleeþ a man for hise moebles . wiþ mouþ or with handes
For þat þe holy goost haþ to kepe . þe harlotes destruyeþ
The which is lif and loue . þe leye of mannes body
W.17.280KD.17.281
For euery manere good may b   [.] be likned to a torche
Or ellis to a tapur . to reuerence þe Trinite
And who morþereþ a good man . me þynkeþ by myn Inwit
He fordooþ þe leuest light . þat oure lord louyeþ

W.17.284KD.17.285
And yet in manye mo maneres . men offenden þe holy goost
Ac þis is þe worste wise . þat any wight myghte
Synnen ayein þe Seint Spirit . assenten to destruye
For coueitise of any kynnes þyng . þat crist deere bouȝte
W.17.288KD.17.290
That wikkedliche and wilfulliche . wolde mercy aniente

Innocence is next god . and nyght and day it crieþ
Vengeaunce vengeaunce . forȝyue be it neuere
That shente vs and shedde oure blood . for-shapte vs as it were
W.17.292KD.17.293α
Vindica sanguinem iustorum

Thus vengeaunce vengeaunce . verrey charite askeþ
And siþ holy chirche and charite . chargeþ þis so soore
Leue I neuere þat oure lord . wol loue þat charite lakkeþ
W.17.296KD.17.298
Ne haue pite for any preiere . þer þat he pleyneþ

I pose I hadde synned so . and sholde now deye
And now am I sory þat I so . þe Seint Spirit agulte
Confesse me and crye his grace . god þat al made
fol. 107rI
W.17.300KD.17.302
And myldeliche his mercy aske . myghte I noȝt be saued

Ȝis seide þe Samaritan . so wel þow myght repente
That rightwisnesse þoruȝ repentaunce . to ruþe myȝte turne
Ac it is but selden yseiȝe . þer sooþnesse bereþ witnesse
W.17.304KD.17.306
Any creature þat is coupable . afore a kynges Iustice
Be raunsoned for his repentaunce . þer alle reson hym dampneþ
For þer þat partie pursueþ . þe peple is so huge
That þe kyng may do no mercy . til boþe men acorde
W.17.308KD.17.310
And eyþer haue equyte . as holy writ telleþ
Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c

Thus it fareþ by swich folk . þat falsly al hire lyues
Yuele lyuen and leten noȝt . til lif hem forsake
W.17.312KD.17.315
Good hope þat helpe sholde . to wanhope torneþ
Noght of þe noun-power of god . þat he ne is myghtful
To amende al þat amys is . and his mercy gretter
Than alle oure wikkede werkes . as holy writ telleþ
W.17.316KD.17.318α
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius
Ac er his rightwisnesse to ruþe torne . som restitucion bihoueþ
His sorwe is satisfaccion . for hym þat may noȝt paie

Thre þynges þer ben . þat doon a man by strengþe
W.17.320KD.17.322
For to fleen his oweneW.17.320: W alone omits hous after owene. . as holy writ sheweþ

That oon is a wikkede wif . þat wol noȝt be chastised
Hir feere fleeþ fro hire . for feere of hir tonge

And if his hous be vnhiled . and reyne on his bedde
W.17.324KD.17.326
He sekeþ and sekeþ . til he slepe drye

And whan smoke and smolder . smyt in his sighte
It dooþ hym worse þan his wif . or wete to slepe
For smoke and smolder . smyteþ in hise eighen
fol. 107vI
W.17.328KD.17.330
Til he be blereighed or blynd . and hoors in þe þrote
Cogheþ and curseþ . þat crist gyue hem sorwe
That sholde brynge in bettre wode . or blowe it til it brende

Thise þre þat I telle of . ben þus to vnderstonde
W.17.332KD.17.334
The wif is oure wikked flessh . þat wol noȝt be chastised
For kynde clyueþ on hym euere . to contrarie þe soule
And þouȝ it falle it fynt skiles . þat frelete it made
And þat is lightly forȝyuen . and forȝeten boþe
W.17.336KD.17.338
To man þat mercy askeþ . and amende þenkeþ

The reyn þat reyneþ . þer we reste sholde
Ben siknesse and sorwes . þat we suffren ofte
As Poul þe Apostle . to þe peple tauȝte
W.17.340KD.17.341α
Virtus in infirmitate perficitur &c

And þouȝ þat men make . muche doel in hir angre
And ben inpacient in hir penaunce . pure reson knoweþ
That þei han cause to contrarie . by kynde of hir siknesse
W.17.344KD.17.345
And lightliche oure lord . at hir lyues ende
Haþ mercy on swiche men . þat so yuele may suffre

Ac þe smoke and þe smolder . þat smyt in oure eighen
That is coueitise and vnkyndenesse . þat quencheþ goddes mercy
W.17.348KD.17.349
For vnkyndenesse . is þe contrarie . of alle kynnes reson
For þer nys sik ne sory . ne noon so muche wrecche
That he ne may louye and hym like . and leneW.17.350: The reading could as well be leue, as in Cr. of his herte
Good wille and good word . andW.17.351: W alone reads and; all other B manuscripts have boþe. wisshen and willen
W.17.352KD.17.353
Alle manere men . mercy and forȝifnesse
And louye hem lik hym-self . and his lif amende

I may no lenger lette quod he . and lyard he prikede
And wente awey as wynd . and þer-wiþ I awakede
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