1994 Prospectus: Bodleian Library Rawlinson Poetry 38 (MS R) Documentary Edition Sample

Passus tercius de visione petri plowman. vt supra &cetera

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	Now is mede þe mayde ;  and namo of hem alle.

	With bedelus and with bayliues ; y-brou3t by-for þ

	Þe kyng called a clerke ; can I nou3t his name.

 4	To take mede þe mayde ; and maken hire at ese.

	I schal assay hire myselue ; and couthliche appose.

	What man of þis world ; þat hire were leuest.

	And if heo wurche be my witte ; and my wille folwe.

 8	I wile for-gyue hire þis gultes ; so me god helpe.



	¶ph;Curteysliche þe clerke þanne ; as þe kyng hi3te.



	Tok mede by þe middel ; and brou3te hire in-to chaumbre. 

	Ac þere was murthe and ministracie ; mede to plese. 



12	Þei þat wonyeth at westmenstre ; worschipped hire alle.

	Gentiliche with ioye ; þe iustices somme.

	Busked hem to þe bowre ; þere þe buyrde dwelte.

	To conforte hire kendeliche ; by clergyse leue.

16	And seyden mourne nou3t mede ; ne make þow no sorwe.

	ffor we wil wyse þe kyng ; and þi weye schape.

	To be wedded at þi wille ; and where þe leef lyketh.

	ffor alle consience crafte ; and cast as I trowe.



20	Mildliche mede ; merciede hem alle.

	Of þeire grete godenesse ; and gaf hem vcheone.

	Coupes of clene gold ; and cuppes of siluer.

	Rynges with rubies ; and ricchesse manye.

24	Þe lest man of here meyne ; a motoun of goolde.

	Þanne lau3te þei leue ; þis lordes at mede.



	With þat comen clerkes ; to conforte hire þe same.

	And beden hire be blithe ; for we beth þin owene.

28	ffor to wurche þi wille ; þe whyle þow mi3t last.



	Hendeliche heo þanne ; be-hi3te hem þe same.

	{.} loue 3ow lely ; and lordes to make.

	{..}d in þe constorie at courte ; do calle 3oure names.

32	Shal no lewednesse lette ; þe clerkes þat I louye.

	{..}t he worth furst vaunsed ; for ich am by-knowe.

	{.}e connynge clerkes ; schulle clokke by-hynde.



	{.}ne com þere a confessoure ; y-coped as a frere.

36	{.} mede þis mayde ; he mellud þis wordes.

	{.} seyde ful sotely ; in schrift as it were.

	{.} lewed men and lered men ; had leyne be þe bothe.

	{.} falsede hauede I folwed þe ; al þis fifty wynter.

40	Shal assoyle þe myselue ; for a seme of whete.



	And al-so be þi bedeman ; and bere wel þi message.

	A-monges kni3tes and clerkes ; consience to turne.



	Þanne mede for here misdedes ; to þat man kneled.

44	And schrof hire of hire schrewednesse ; schameles I trowe.

	Tolde hym a tale ; and tok hym a noble.

	ffor to ben hire bedeman ; and hire brocoure alse.



	Þanne he assoyled hyre sone ; and sytthen a sayde.

48	We han a wyndow a-werchynge ; wil sytten vs ful hi3e.

	Waldestow glase þat gable ;  and graue þere þi name.

	Syker schulde þi soule be ; heuene to haue.



	Wist I þat quat3 mede ; þere nys wyndow no wow3.

52	Þat I ne wolde make and amende ; it with of myne.

	And my name write ; openliche þere-Inne.

	Þat vch a segge schal I se  ; Ich am suster to 3ow alle.



	Ac god to alle goed folke ; suche grauynge defendeth.

56	To writen in wyndowes ; of here wel dedes.

	And aunter pruyde be ypeynted þere ; and pompe of þe wo

60	ffor-thi I lere 3ow lordes ; leueth suche werkes.

	To writen in wyndowes ; of 3oure wel dedes.

	Or to grede after goddes men ; whan 3e delen doles.

	An aunter 3e han 3oure hire here ; and 3oure heuene als

64	Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextera:

	Lat nou3t þi left half ; late ne rathe.

	Wite what þow worchest ; with þi ri3te syde.

	ffor þus bitt þe gospel ; goede men do here almesse.



68	Meyres and maceeres ; þat menes ben by-twene.

	Þe kyng and þe comoune ; to kepe þe lawes.

	To ponysch vppon pilaries ; and pynynge stoles.



	Brewsteres and bakesteres ; bocheres and kokes.