|
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 130 135 140 145 150 155 160 165 170 175 180 185 190 195 200 205 210 215 220 225 230 235 240 245 250 255 260 265 270 275 280 285 290 295 300 305 310 315 320 325 330 335 340 345 350 355 360 365 370 375 380 385 390 395 400 405 410 415 420 425 430 435 440 445 450 455 460 465 470 475 480 485 490 495 500 505 510 515 520 525 530 535 540 545 550 555 560 565 570 575 580 585 590 595 600 605 610 615 620 625 630 635 640 645 650 655 660 665 670 675 680 685 690 695 700 705 710 715 720 725 730 735 740 745 750 755 760 765 770 775 780 785 790 795 800 805 810 815 820 825 830 835 840 845 850 855 |
Cros, and curteis Crist, this begynnynge spede, For the Faderes frendchipe, that fourmede hevene, And thorugh the speciall Spirit that sprong of hem tweyne, 1 And alle in on godhed endles dwelleth. A and all myn A-B-C after have I lerned, And patred in my Pater Noster iche poynt after other, And after all myn Ave Marie almost to the ende. But al my kare is to comen, for I can nohght my Crede. 2 Whan I schal schewen myn schrift, schent mote I worthen: 3 The prest wil me punyche, and penaunce enjoyne. The lengthe of a Lenten, flech moot I leve After that Estur ys ycomen, and that is hard fare; And Wedenesday iche wyke withouten flech-mete. And also Jesu hymself to the Jewes he seyde: "He that leeveth nought on me, he leseth the blisse." Therfor lerne the byleve levest me were, 4 And if any werldly wight wille me couthe, Other lewed or lered, that lyveth therafter, 5 And fulliche folweth the feyth, and feyneth non other, That no worldliche wele wilneth no tyme, But lyveth in lovynge of God, and His lawe holdeth, And for no getynge of good never his God greveth, But followth Him the full wey, as He the folke taughte. But to many maner of men this matter is asked, Bothe to lered and to lewed, that seyn that they leveden 6 Hollich on the grete God, and holden alle His hestes. But by a fraynyng forthan faileth ther manye. For first I fraynede the freres, and they me fulle tolden, That alle the frute of the fayth was in here foure ordres, And cofres of Cristendam, and the keye bothen, And the lok of beleve lyeth in her hondes. Thenne wende I to wyten, and with a whight I mette, A Menoure in a morow-tide, and to this man I saide: "Sire, for grete God's love, the graith thou me telle -- Of what myddelerde man myghte I best lerne My Crede? For I can it nought, my kare is the more; And therfore, for Cristes love, thi councell I praie. A Carm me hath ycovenaunt the Crede me to teche. 7 But for thou knowest Carmes well, thi counsaile I aske." This Menour loked on me, and lawghyng he seyde, "Leve Cristen man, I leve that thou madde! Whough schulde thei techen the God, that con not hemselve? 8 Thei ben but jugulers and japers, of kynde, Lorels and lechures, and lemmans holden. Neyther in order ne out, but unnethe lybbeth, And byjapeth the folke with gestes of Rome. It is but a faynt folk, ifounded upon japes, Thei maken hem Maries men -- so thei men tellen -- And lieth on our Ladie many a longe tale. And that wicked folke wymmen bitraieth, And bigileth hem of her good with glaverynge wordes, And therwith holden her hous in harlotes werkes. And, so save me God, I hold it grete synne To gyven hem any good, swiche glotones to fynde, To maynteyne swiche maner men that mychel good destruyeth. Yet seyn they in here sutilte to sottes in townes, They comen out of Carmeli Crist for to followen, And feyneth hem with holynes, that yvele hem bisemeth. Thei lyven more in lecherie and lieth in her tales Than suen any god liife -- but lyrken in her selles, And wynnen werldliche god, and wasten it in synne. And yif thei couthen her Crede other on Crist leveden, Thei weren nought so hardie swich harlotri usen. 9 Sikerli I can nought fynden who hem first founded, But the foles foundeden hemself, Freres of the Pye, And maken hem mendynauns, and marre the puple. But what glut of the gomes may any good kachen, 10 He will kepen it hymself, and cofren it faste, And theigh his felawes fayle good, for him he may sterven. 11 Her money may biquest and testament maken, And no obedience bere, but don as hym luste. And ryght as Robertes men raken aboute At feires and at ful ales, and fyllen the cuppe, And precheth all of pardon to plesen the puple. Her pacience is all pased and put out to ferme, 12 And pride is in her poverte, that litell is to preisen. 13 And at the lulling of oure Ladye, the wymmen to lyken, 14 And miracles of mydwyves, and maken wymmen to wenen That the lace of oure Ladie smok lighteth hem of children. 15 Thei ne prechen nought of Powel, ne penaunce for synne, But all of mercy and mensk that Marie may helpen. With sterne staves and stronge they over lond straketh Thider as her lemmans liggeth, and lurketh in townes, Grey grete-hedede quenes with gold by the eighen, And seyn that her sustren thei ben that sojourneth aboute; And thus about they gon and Godes folke bytraieth. It is the puple that Powell preched of in his tyme. He seyde of swich folk that so aboute wente, `Wepyng, I warne yow of walkers aboute. It beth enemyes of the Cros, that Crist upon tholede. Swich slomerers in slepe slauthe is her ende, And glotony is her god, with gloppyng of drynk, And gladnes in glees, and gret joye ymaked; In the schendyng of swiche schall mychel folk lawghe.' Therfore, frend, for thi feyth, fond to don betere, Leve nought on tho losels, but let hem forth pasen, For thei ben fals in her feith, and fele mo othere." "Alas! frere," quath I tho, "my purpos is i-failed, Now is my counfort a-cast; canstou no bote, Where I myghte meten with a man that myghte me wissen For to conne my Crede, Crist for to folwen?" "Certeyne, felawe," quath the frere, "withouten any faile. Of all men opon mold we Menures most scheweth The pure Apostells life, with penance on erthe, And suen hem in saunctite, and suffren well harde. We haunten none tavernes ne hobelen aboute; At marketts and myracles we medleth us nevere. We hondlen no money but menelich faren, And haven hunger at the meate, at ich a mel ones; And haven forsaken the worlde and in wo lybbeth In penaunce and poverte, and precheth the puple, By ensample of oure life, soules to helpen; And in povertie praien for all oure parteners That gyveth us any good, God to honouren, Other bell other booke, or breed to our fode, Other catell other cloth to coveren with our bones, Money or money-worthe -- here mede is in heven. For we buldeth a burwgh, a brod and a large, A chirche and a chapaile with chambers alofte, With wide windowes ywrought and walles well heye That mote bene portreid and paynt and pulched ful clene 16 With gaie glittering glas, glowing as the sonne. And myghtestou amenden us with money of thyn owne, 17 Thou chuldest cnely bifore Crist, in compas of gold, In the wide windowe westwarde, wel nighe in the myddell, And Seynt Fraunces himself schall folden the in his cope, And presente the to the Trynitie, and praie for thy synnes. Thy name schall noblich ben wryten and wrought for the nones; And, in remembraunce of the, yrade the forever. And, brother, be thou nought aferd. Bythenk in thyn herte, Though thou conne nought thi Crede, kare thou no more. I schal asoilen the, syre, and setten it on my soule, And thou maie maken this good, thenk thou non other." "Sire," I saide, "in certaine I schal gon and asaye" -- And he sette on me his honde, and asoilede me clene, And their I parted him fro, withouten any peine; In covenant that I come agen, Crist he me betaughte. 18 Thanne saide I to myself: "Here semeth litel trewthe. First to blamen his brother, and bacbyten him foule, Theire-as curteis Crist clereliche saide, `Whow myght-tou in thine brother eighe a bare mote loken, 19 And in thyn owen eighe nought a bem toten? See fyrst on thiself, and sithen on another, And clense clene thi syght, and kepe well thyn eighe, And for another mannes eighe ordeyne after."' 20 And also I sey Coveitise catel to fongen, That Crist hath clerliche forboden and clenliche destruede, And saide to his sueres forsothe on this wise: `Nought thi neighbours good covet yn no tyme.' But Charite and Chastete ben chased out clene, But Crist seide, `by her fruyt men shall hem ful knowen."' Thanne saide I, "Certeyn, sire, thou demest full trewe." Thanne thought I to frayne the first of this foure ordirs, And presede to the Prechoures to proven here wille. Ich highede to her house to herken of more; And whan I cam to that court I gaped aboute. Swich a bild bold, ybuld opon erthe heighte Say I nought in certeine siththe a longe tyme. I yemede upon that house and yerne theron loked Whough the pileres weren ypeynt and pulched ful clene, And queynteli icorven with curiouse knottes, With wyndowes well ywrought wide up o-lofte. And thanne I entrid in, and even-forth went, And all was walled that wone, though it wide were, With posternes in pryvytie, to pasen when hem liste; 21 Orcheyardes and erberes evesed well clene, And a curious cros craftly entayled, With tabernacles ytight to toten all abouten. 22 The pris of a plough-lond, of penyes so rounde, To aparaile that pyler were pure lytel. 23 Thanne I munte me forth the mynstre to knowen, And awaytede a woon, wonderlie well ybeld, 24 With arches on everiche half and belliche ycorven, With crochetes on corners, with knottes of golde, Wyde wyndowes ywrought, ywritten full thikke, Schynen with schapen scheldes to schewen aboute, With merkes of marchauntes ymedled bytwene, Mo than twenty and two twyes ynoumbred. Ther is none heraud that hath half swich a rolle, Right as a rageman hath rekned hem newe. Tombes opon tabernacles tyld opon lofte, Housed in hirnes harde set abouten, Of armede alabaustre, clad for the nones, 25 Made upon marbel in many maner wyse, Knyghtes in her conisantes, clad for the nones, All it semed seyntes ysacred opon erthe; And lovely ladies ywrought leyen by her sydes In many gay garmentes that were gold-beten. Though the tax of ten yer were trewly ygadered, Nolde it nought maken that hous half, as I trowe. 26 Thanne kam I to that cloister and gaped abouten Whough it was pilered and peynt and portred well clene, All yhyled with leed, lowe to the stones, And ypaved with peynt til, iche poynte after other; With kundites of clene tyn closed all aboute, With lavoures of latun lovelyche ygreithed. 27 I trowe the gaynage of the ground in a gret schire Nolde aparaile that place, oo poynt til other ende. 28 Thanne was the chaptire hous wrought as a greet chirche, Corven and covered and queyntliche entayled, With semliche selure yset on lofte, As a Parlement hous ypeynted aboute. Thanne ferd I into fraytour, and fond ther an other, An halle for an heygh kinge, an housholde to holden, With brode bordes aboute, ybenched wel clene, 29 With windowes of glas, wrought as a chirche. Thanne walkede I ferrer and went all abouten, And seigh halles full hyghe and houses full noble, Chambers with chymneyes, and chapells gaie; And kychens for an hyghe kinge in castells to holden; And her dortour ydighte with dores ful stronge; Fermery and fraitur, with fele mo houses, And all strong ston wall sterne opon heithe, With gaie garites and grete, and iche hole yglased; And othere houses ynowe to herberwe the quene. And yet thise bilderes wilne beggen a bagg-ful of wheate Of a pure pore man, that maie onethe paie Half his rente in a yer, and half ben behynde. Thanne turned I agen, whan I hadde all ytoted, And fond in a freitour a frere on a benche, A greet cherl and a grym, growen as a tonne, 30 With a face as fat as a full bledder Blowen bretfull of breth, and as a bagge honged On bothen his chekes, and his chyn with a chol lollede As greet as a gos eye growen all of grece, That all wagged his fleche as a quyk myre. His cope that biclypped him wel clene was it folden, 31 Of double worstede ydyght doun to the hele. His kyrtel of clene whijt clenlyche ysewed; Hyt was good ynow of ground greyn for to beren. 32 I haylsede that herdeman, and hendliche I saide: "Gode syre, for Godes love, canstou me graith tellen To any worthely wijght that wissen me couthe Whou I schulde conne me Crede, Crist for to folowe, That levede lelliche himself, and lyvede therafter, That feynede non falshede, but fully Crist suwede? For sich a certeyn man syker wold I trosten, That he wolde telle me the trewthe and turne to none other. And an Austyn this ender daie egged me faste; 33 That he wolde techen me wel he plyght me his treuthe, And seyde me, `serteyne, sythen Crist died, Oure ordir was yvelles and erst yfounde."' "Fyrst, felawe," quath he, "fy on his pilche! He is but abortijf, eked with cloutes. He holdeth his ordynaunce withe hores and theves, And purchaseth hem pryvileges with penyes so rounde. It is a pur pardoner's craft -- prove and asaye! For have thei thi money a moneth therafter, Certes, theigh thou come agen, he nyl the nought knowen. But, felawe, our foundement was first of the othere, And we ben founded fulliche, withouten fayntise; And we ben clerkes ycnowen, cunnynge in scole, Proved by procession, by processe of lawe. Of oure ordre ther beth bichopes wel manye, Seyntes on sundry stedes that suffreden harde; And we ben proved the prijs of popes at Rome, And of gretest degre, as godspelles telleth." "A, syre," quath I thanne, "thou seyst a gret wonder, Sithen Crist seyd Hymself to all His disciples: `Which of you that is most, most schal he werche, And who is goer byforne, first schal he serven,' And seyde, `He sawe Satan sytten full heyghe, And ful lowe ben yleyd.' In lyknes He tolde That in povernesse of spyrit is spedfullest hele, And hertes of heynesse harmeth the soule. And therfore, frere, fare well. Here fynde I but pride. I preise nought thi preching but as a pure myte." And angerliche I wandrede, the Austyns to prove, And mette with a maister of tho men, and meklich I seyde: "Maister, for the moder love that Marie men kalleth, Knowest thou ought, ther thou comest, a creature on erthe, That coude me my Crede teche and trewliche enfourme, Withouten flaterynge fare, and nothing feyne? That folweth fulliche the feith and none other fables, Withouten gabbynge of glose, as the godspelles telleth? A Menour hath me holly byhyght to helen my soule, For he seith that her sekte is sykerest on erthe, And ben keperes of the keye that Cristendome helpeth, And purliche in poverte the apostells they suweth." "Alas!" quath the frier, "almost I madde in mynde, To sen hough this Minoures many men begyleth! Sothli, somme of tho gomes hath more good himselve 34 Than ten knyghtes that I knowe of catell in cofers. In fraytour thei faren best of all the foure orders, And usen ypocricie in all that they werchen, And prechen all of parfitnes; -- but loke now, I the praye, Nought but profre hem in pryvite a peny for a masse, And, but his cnave be prest, put out myne eighe, 35 Though he hadde more money hid than marchauntes of wolle! Loke hough this loresmen lordes bytrayen, Seyn that they folwen fully Fraunceses rewle, That in cotynge of his cope is more cloth yfolden Than was in Fraunces froc, whan he hem first made. And yet, under that cope, a cote hathe he furred With foyns, or with fitchewes, other fyn bever, 36 And that is cutted to the kne, and queyntly ybotend, Lest any spirituall man aspie that gile. Fraunces bad his bretheren barfote to wenden. Nou han thei bucled schon for bleynynge of her heles, 37 And hosen in harde weder, yhamled by the ancle, And spicerie sprad in her purse to parten where hem lust. Lordes loveth hem well, for thei so lowe crouchen; But knewen men her cautel and her queynt wordes, 38 Thei wolden worchypen hem nought but a litel, The image of ypocricie, ymped upon fendes. But, sone, yif thou wilte ben syker, seche thou no ferther. We friers be the first, and founded upon treuthe. Paul, primus heremite, put us himselve Awey into wildernes, the werlde to dispisen; And there we lengden full longe, and lyveden full harde, Forto all this freren folke weren founded in townes And taughten untrulie -- and that we well aspiede. And for chefe charitie, we chargeden us selven; In amending of this men we maden oure celles To ben in cyties yset, to styghtle the people, Preching and praying, as profetes schulden. And so we holden us the heved of all Holy Chirche. We have power of the pope purliche assoilen All that helpen our hous, in helpe of her soules, To dispensen hem with in dedes of her synne -- All that amendeth oure hous, in money other elles, With corne, other catell, or clothes of beddes, Other bedys or broche, or breed for our fode. And yif thou hast any good, and wilt thiself helpen, Helpe us herteliche therwith; and here I undertake Thou schalt ben brother of our hous, and a boke habben, At the next chaptire, clereliche ensealed; And thanne oure Provinciall hath power to assoilen Alle sustren and bretheren that beth of our order. And though thou conne nought thi Crede, knele downe here. My soule I sette for thyn to asoile the clene, In covenaunt that thou come againe and katell us bringe." And thanne loutede I adoun, and he me leve grauntede, And so I partid him fro and the frere left. Thanne seid I to myself, "Here is no bote! Heere pride is the Pater Noster, in preyinge of synne; Here Crede is coveytise, now can I no ferther. Yet will I fonden forth and fraynen the Karmes." Thanne totede I into a taverne, and ther I aspyede Two frere Karmes with a full coppe. There I auntrede me in, and aisliche I seide: "Leve syre, for the Lordes love that thou on levest, Lere me to som man, my Crede for to lerne, That lyveth in leel lijf and loveth no synne, And gloseth nought the godspell, but halt Godes hestys, And nether money ne mede ne may him naught letten, But werchen after Godes worde, withouten any faile. A Prechour yprofessed hath plight me his trewthe 39 To techen me trewlie; but woldest thou me tellen For thei ben certayne men and syker on to trosten, 40 I wolde quyten the thi mede, as my mighte were." 41 "A trefle!" quath he, "trewlie, his treuth is full litell. He dyned nought with Domynike sithe Crist deide! For with the princes of pride the Prechours dwellen. Thei bene as digne as the devel that droppeth fro hevene. With hertes of heynesse wough halwen thei chirches 42 And deleth in devynitie, as dogges doth bones. Thei medleth with messages and mariages of grete; 43 They leeven with lordes, with lesynges ynowe; They biggeth hem bichopryches with bagges of golde; Thei wilneth worchipes; but waite on her dedes. 44 Herken at Herdforthe hou that they werchen, And loke whou that thei lyven and leeve as thou fyndest. 45 They beyn counseilours of kinges, Crist wot the sothe, Whou they curry kinges and her back claweth. God leve hem leden well in lyvinge of heven, And glose hem nought for her good to greven her soules. I pray the, where ben thei pryve with any pore wightes, That maie not amenden her hous ne amenden hemselven? Thei prechen in proude harte and preiseth her order, And werdliche worchype wilneth in erthe. Leeve it well, lef man, and men ryght lokede, 46 Ther is more pryve pride in Prechours' hertes Than ther lefte in Lucyfer er he were lowe fallen. They ben digne as dich water that dogges in bayteth. 47 Loke a ribaut of hem that can nought wel reden His Rewle and his Respondes but be pure rote, Als as he were a connynge clerke he casteth the lawes, Nought lowli but lordly, and leesinges lyeth. For ryght as Menoures most ypocricie useth, Ryght so ben Prechers proude purlyche in herte. But, Cristen creatour, we Karmes first comen Even in Elyes tyme, first of hem all, And lyven by our Lady and lelly hir serven In clene comun life; kepen us out of synne, Nowt proude as Prechours beth, but prayen full still For all the soules and the lyves that we by lybbeth. We connen on no queyntyse -- Crist wot the sothe -- But bysieth us in oure bedes, as us best holdeth. And therfore, leve leel man, leeve that ich sygge, A masse of us mene men is of more mede And passeth all praiers of thies proude freers. And thou wilt gyven us any good, I would the here graunten To taken all thy penance in peril of my soule; And though thou conne nought thy Crede, clene the assoile, So that thou mowe amenden our hous with money other elles, 48 With some katell, other corne, or cuppes of silver." "Trewely, frere," quath I tho, "to tellen the the sothe, Ther is no peny in my palke to payen for my mete. I have no good ne no gold, but go thus abouten, And travaile full trewly to wynnen withe my fode. But woldest thou, for Godes love, lerne me my Crede, I schulde don for thy will whan I wele hadde." "Trewlie," quath the frere, "a fol I the holde! Thou woldest not weten thy fote and woldest fich kacchen! Our pardon and oure preiers so beth they nought parted; Oure power lasteth nought so feer, but we some peny fongen. Fare well," quath the frere, "for I mot hethen fonden, And hyen to an houswife that hath us bequethen Ten pounde in hir testament, to tellen the sothe. Ho draweth to the dethe-warde, but yet I am in drede Lest ho turne her testament; and therfore I hyghe To haven hir to our hous and henten, yif I mighte, An anuell for myn owen use, to helpen to clothe." "Godys forbode," quath his fellawe, "but ho forth passe 49 Wil ho is in purpose with us to departen. 50 God let her no lenger lyven, for letteres ben manye." 51 Thanne turned I me forthe and talked to myselve Of the falshede of this folk, whou feithles they werne. And as I wente be the waie, wepynge for sorowe, And seigh a sely man me by, opon the plow hongen. 52 His cote was of a cloute that cary was ycalled, His hod was full of holes, and his heer oute, With his knopped schon clouted full thykke. 53 His ton toteden out as he the londe treddede, His hosen overhongen his hokschynes on everiche a side, Al beslombred in fen as he the plow folwede. 54 Twey myteynes, as mete, maad all of cloutes; 55 The fyngers weren forwerd and ful of fen honged. This whit waselede in the fen almost to the ancle, Foure rotheren hym byforn that feble were worthen. Men myghte reken ich a ryb, so reufull they weren. His wijf walked him with, with a longe gode, In a cutted cote, cutted full heyghe, Wrapped in a wynwe schete to weren hire fro weders, 56 Barfote on the bare ijs, that the blode folwede. And at the londes ende laye a litell crom-bolle, And theron lay a litell childe lapped in cloutes, And tweyne of tweie yeres olde opon another syde, And alle they songen o songe, that sorwe was to heren; They crieden alle o cry, a carefull note. The sely man sighede sore and seide, "Children, beth stille!" This man loked opon me, and leet the plow stonden, And seyde, "Sely man, why syghest thou so harde? Yif the lakke lijflode, lene the ich will Swich good as God hath sent. Go we, leve brother." I saide thanne, "Naye, sire, my sorwe is wel more, For I can nought my Crede, I kare well harde. For I can fynden no man that fully byleveth To techen me the heyghe weie, and therfore I wepe. For I have fonded the freres of the foure orders, For there I wende have wist, but now my wit lakketh; 57 And all my hope was on hem, and myn herte also. But thei ben fully feithles, and the fend sueth." "A, brother," quath he tho, "beware of tho foles! For Crist seyde Himselfe `of swich I you warne,' And false profetes in the feith He fulliche hem calde, 'In vestimentis ovium, but onlie withinne Thei ben wilde wer-wolves that wiln the folk robben.' The fend founded hem first the feith to destroie, And by his craft thei comen in to combren the Chirche, By the coveitise of his craft the curates to helpen. But now they haven an hold, they harmen full many. Thei don nought after Domynick, but dreccheth the puple, Ne folwen nought Fraunces, but falslyche lybben, And Austynes rewle thei rekneth but a fable, But purchaseth hem pryvylege of popes at Rome. Thei covetun confessions to kachen some hire, 58 And sepultures also, some wayten to cacchen. 59 But other cures of Cristen thei coveten nought to have, But there as wynnynge lijth -- he loketh none other." 60 "Whough schal I nemne thy name that neighboures the kalleth?" 61 "Peres," quath he, "the pore man, the plowe-man I hatte." "A, Peres," quath I tho, "I pray the, thou me telle More of thise tryflers, hou trechurly thei libbeth? For ichon of hem hath told me a tale of that other, Of her wicked lijf, in werlde that hy lybbeth. I trowe that some wikked wyght wroughte this orders Thorughe that gleym of that gest that Golias is ycalde, 62 Other ells Satan himself sente hem fro hell To cumbren men with her craft, Cristendome to schenden?" "Dere brother," quath Peres, "the devell is ful queynte. To encombren Holy Churche he casteth ful harde, And fluricheth his falsnes opon fele wise, And fer he casteth to-forn, the folke to destroye. 63 Of the kynrede of Caym he caste the freres, And founded hem on Farysens, feyned for gode. But thei with her fals faith michel folk schendeth; Crist calde hem Himself `kynde ypocrites.' How often He cursed heme, well can I tellen. He seide ones Himself to that sory puple: `Wo worthe you, wyghtes, wel lerned of the lawe!' Eft he seyde to hemselfe, `Wo mote you worthen, That the toumbes of profetes tildeth up heighe! Youre faderes fordeden hem and to the deth hem broughte.' Here I touche this two, twynnen hem I thenke, 64 Who wilneth ben wisere of lawe than lewde freres, And in multitude of men ben `Maysters' ycalled, And wilneth worchips of the werlde, and sitten with heye, And leveth lovynge of God and lowness behinde. And in beldinge of tombes thei travaileth grete To chargen her chirche-flore, and chaungen it ofte. And the fader of the freers defouled hir soules -- That was the dygginge devel that dreccheth men ofte. The divill by his dotage dissaveth the Chirche, And put in the Prechours, ypaynted withouten. And by his queyntise they comen in, the curates to helpen, But that harmede hem harde, and halp hem full litell! But Austines ordynaunce was on a good trewthe, And also Domynikes dedes weren dervelich y-used, And Frauncis founded his folke fulliche on trewthe, Pure parfit prestes, in penaunce to lybben, In love and in lownesse, and lettinge of pride, Grounded on the godspell, as God bad Himselve. But now the glose is so greit in gladding tales That turneth up two-folde, unteyned opon trewthe, That thei bene cursed of Crist, I can hem well prove; Withouten His blissinge, bare beth they in her werkes. For Crist seyde Himselfe to swiche as Him folwede: `Yblessed mote thei ben that mene ben in soule.' And alle povere in gost God Himself blisseth. Whou fele freers fareth so, fayn wolde I knowe. Prove hem in proces, and pynch at her ordre, 65 And deme hem after that they don; and dredles, I leve Thei willn wexon pure wroth wonderliche sone, And schewen the a scharp will in a schort tyme, To wilne wilfully wraththe, and werk therafter. Wytnesse on Wycliff, that warned hem with trewthe: For he in goodnesse of gost graythliche hem warned To wayven her wikednesse and werkes of synne. Whou sone this sory men seweden his soule, And overal lollede him with heretykes werkes! And so of the blessinge of God thei bereth litel mede. Afterward another onliche He blissede, The meke of the myddel herth thorugh myght of His Fader. Fynd foure freres in a flok that folweth that rewle, Thanne have I tynt al my tast, touche, and assaie! 66 Lakke hem a litil wight, and here lijf blame, 67 But he lepe up on heigh, in hardynesse of herte, And nemne the anon nought, and thi name lakke 68 With proude wordes apert that passeth his rule, Bothe with `thou leyest,' and `thou lext,' in heynesse of sowle, 69 And turne as a tyrant that turmenteth himselve. A lord were lothere for to leyne a knave 70 Thanne swiche a beggere, the beste in a toun. Loke now, leve man: beth nought thise i-lyke Fully to be Farisens in fele of thise poyntes. Al her brod beldyng ben belded withe synne, And in worchipe of the werlde her wynnynge thei holden. Thei schapen her chapolories, and streccheth hem brode, And launceth heighe her hemmes, with babelyng in stretes; Thei ben ysewed with whight silk, and semes full queynte, 71 Ystongen with stiches that stareth as silver. And but freres ben first yset at sopers and at festes, Thei wiln ben wonderly wroth, ywis, as I trowe. But they ben at the lordes borde, louren they willeth, He mot bygynne that borde a beggere (with sorwe!) And first sitten in se in her synagoges -- That beth here heyghe helle-hous, of Kaymes kynde! For though a man in her mynster a masse wolde heren, His sight schal so be set on sundry werkes, The penounes and the pomels and poyntes of scheldes Withdrawen his devocion, and dusken his herte. I likne it to a lym-yerde to drawen men to hell And to worchipe of the fend, to wraththen the soules. And also Crist Himselfe seide to swiche ypocrites: `He loveth in markettes ben met with gretynges of povere, 72 And lowynge of lewed men in Lentnes tyme.' For thei han of Bichopes ybought with her propre silver, And purchased of penaunce the puple to assoile. But money may maken mesur of the peyne, After that his power is to payen, his penance schal faile. God lene it be a good help for hele of the soules! 73 And also this myster men ben `Maysters' i-called, That the gentill Iesus generallyche blamed, And that poynt to his Apostells purly defended. But freres haven forgetten this -- and the fend suweth, He that maystri lovede, Lucifer the olde -- Wher Fraunceis or Domynik other Austen ordeynide Any of this dotardes doctur to worthe, Masters of Dyvinitie, her matens to leve, And chereliche as a cheveteyne his chambre to holden 74 With chymene and chapell, and chesen whan him liste, And served as a sovereine, and as a lorde sitten. Swiche a gome Godes wordes grysliche gloseth. I trowe he toucheth nought the text, but taketh it for a tale. God forbad to His folke and fullyche defended They schulden nought stodyen biforn, ne sturen her wittes, But sodenlie the same word with her mowth schewe That weren yeven hem of God thorugh Gost of Himselve. Now mot a frere studyen and stumblen in tales, And leven his matynes and no masse singen, And loken hem lesynges that liketh the puple, 75 To purchasen him his pursfull to paye for the drynke. And, brother, when bernes ben full and holly tyme passed, Thanne comen cursed freres, and croucheth full lowe; A losel, a lymitour, over all the lond lepeth, And loke that he leve non house that somwhat he ne lacche; 76 And ther thei gilen hemself and Godes worde turneth. Bagges and beggyng He bad His folk leven, And only serven Himself and Hijs rewle sechen, And all that nedly nedeth, that schuld hem nought lakken. Whereto beggen thise men and ben nought so feble -- Hem faileth no furrynge, ne clothes at full -- 77 But for a lustfull lijf, in lustes to dwellen? Withouten any travaile, untrewliche lybbeth: Hy beth nought maymed men, ne no mete lakketh, Yclothed in curious cloth, and clenliche arayed. It is a laweles lijf, as lordynges usen, Neyther ordeyned in ordir but onlie libbeth. 78 Crist bad blissen bodies on erthe That wepen for wykkednes that he byforne wroughte. That ben fewe of tho freres, for thei ben ner dede And put all in pur clay, with pottes on her hedes; Thanne he waryeth and wepeth and wicheth after heven, And fyeth on her falshedes that thei bifore deden. And therfore of that blissinge, trewlie, as I trowe, Thei may trussen her part in a terre powghe! 79 All tho blissed beth that bodyliche hungreth -- That ben the pore penyles, that han overpassed The poynt of her pris lijf in penaunce of werkes, 80 And mown nought swynken ne sweten, but ben swythe feble, Other maymed at myschef, or meseles syke, 81 And here good is a-gon, and greveth hem to beggen. 82 Ther is no frer in feith that fareth in this wise; But he maie beggen his bred, his bed is ygreithed. Under a pot he schal be put, in a pryvie chambre, That he schal lyven ne last but litell while after. Almighti God and man the merciable blessed That han mercy on men that misdon hem here. But whoso forgabbed a frere yfounden at the stues And broughte blod of his bodi on bak or on side, Hym were as god greven a greit lorde of rentes. 83 He schulde sonner bene schryven, schortlie to tellen, Though he kilde a comlye knyght and compased his morther, 84 Thanne a buffet to beden a beggere frere. The clene hertes of Crist He curteysliche blissed, That covetyne no katel but Cristes full blisse, That leeveth fulliche on God and lellyche thenketh On His lore and His lawe, and lyveth opon trewthe. Freres han forgeten this and folweth an other: That thei may henten, they holden, byhirneth it sone. Heir hertes ben clene yhid in her highe cloistre, 85 As kurres from kareyne that is cast in dyches. And parfite Crist the pesible blissed, That bene suffrant and sobre, and susteyne anger. Asay of her sobernesse and thou might yknowen Ther is no waspe in this werlde that will wilfullokr styngen For stappyng on a too of a stynkande frere! For nether sovereyn ne soget thei ne suffreth never. All the blissing of God beouten thei walken, For of her suffraunce, for sothe, men seth but litell! Alle that persecution in pure lijf suffren, Thei han the benison of God blissed in erthe. I praie, parceyve now the pursut of a frere, In what measure of meknesse thise men deleth. Byhold opon Wat Brut, whou bisiliche thei pursueden For he seyde hem the sothe, and yet, syre, ferthere, Hy may no more marren hym; but men telleth That he is an heretike, and yvele byleveth, And prechith it in pulpit to blenden the puple. Thei wolden awryien that wight for his well dedes; And so thei chewen charitie as chewen schaf houndes. And thei pursueth the povere, and passeth pursutes, Bothe thei wiln and thei wolden yworthen so grete To passen any mans might to mortheren the soules. First to brenne the bodye in a bale of fijr, And sythen the sely soule slen, and senden hyre to helle. And Crist clerlie forbade his Cristene, and defended, Thei schulden nought after the face never the folke demen." 86 "Sur," I seide myself, "thou semest to blamen. Why dispisest thou thus thise sely pore freres, None other men so mychel, monkes ne preistes, Chanons ne Charthous, that in Chirche serveth? It semeth that thise sely men han somwhat the greved Other with word or with werke, and therfore thou wilnest To schenden other schamen hem with thi sharpe speche, And harmen holliche, and her hous greven." "I praie the," quath Peres, "put that out of thy mynde. Certen for sowle hele I saie the this wordes. I preise nought possessioners but pur lytel; For falshed of freres hath fulliche encombred Many of this maner men, and maid hem to leven Here charite and chastete, and schosen hem to lustes, And waxen to werldly, and wayven the trewthe, And leven the love of her God, and the werlde serven. But for falshed of freres I fele in my soule (Seynge the synfull lijf) that sorweth myn herte How thei ben clothed in cloth that clennest scheweth; For aungells and arcangells all thei whijt useth, And alle aldermen that bene ante tronum. Thise tokens haven freres taken; but I trowe that a fewe Folwen fully that cloth, but falsliche that useth. For whijt in trowthe bytokneth clennes in soule; Yif he have undernethen whijt, thanne he above wereth Blak, that bytokneth bale for oure synne, And mournynge for misdede of hem that this useth, And serwe for synfull lijf -- so that cloth asketh. I trowe ther ben nought ten freres that for synne wepen, For that lijf is here lust, and theryn thei libben In fraitour and in fermori; her fostringe is synne. It is her mete at iche a mel her most sustenaunce. Herkne opon Hyldegare, hou homliche he telleth How her sustenaunce is synne; and syker, as I trowe, Weren her confessiones clenli destrued, Hy schulde nought beren hem so bragg, ne helden so heyghe, For the fallynge of synne socoureth tho foles, And bigileth the grete with glaverynge wordes. With glosinge of godspells thei God's worde turneth, And pasen all the pryvylege that Petur after used. The power of the Apostells thei pasen in speche, For to sellen the synnes for silver other mede, And purlyche a pena the puple assoileth, And a culpa also, that they may kachen Money other money-worthe, and mede to fonge, And bene at lone and at bode, as burgeses usithe. 87 Thus they serven Satanas, and soules bigileth, Marchantes of malisons, mansede wreches! Thei usen russet also, somme of this freres, That bitokneth travaile and trewthe opon erthe. Bote loke whou this lorels labouren the erthe, But freten the frute that the folk full lellich biswynketh. With travail of trewe men thei tymbren her houses, And of the curious clothe her copes thei biggen; And als his getynge is greet, he schal ben good holden, And ryght as dranes doth nought but drynketh up the huny, Whan been withe her bysynesse han brought it to the hepe, Right so fareth freres with folke opon erthe: They freten up the furste-froyt and falsliche lybbeth. But alle freres eten nought ylich good mete, But after that his wynnynge is, is his well-fare; And after that he bringeth home, his bed schal ben graythed, And after that his rychesse is raught he schal ben redy served. But see thiself in thi sight, whou somme of hem walketh With cloutede schon and clothes ful feble, Wel neigh forwerd, and the wlon offe; And his felawe in a froke worth swiche fiftene, Arayd in rede scon -- and elles were reuthe! -- And sexe copes or seven in his celle hongeth. Though for fayling of good his fellawe schulde sterve, He wolde nought lenen him a peny, his lijf for to holden. I might tymen tho troiflardes to toilen with the erthe, Tylyen and trewliche lyven, and her flech tempren. Now mot ich soutere his sone setten to schole, 88 And ich a begger's brol on the booke lerne, 89 And worth to a writere, and with a lorde dwell, Other falsly to a frere the fend for to serven! So of that begger's brol a bychop to worthen, Among the peres of the lond prese to sitten, And lordes sones lowly to tho losells aloute, Knyghtes crouketh hem to, and crucheth full lowe -- And his syre a soutere ysuled in grees, His teeth with toylinge of lether tatered as a sawe! Alaas, that lordes of the londe leveth swiche wrechen, And leneth swiche lorels for her lowe wordes! They schulden maken bichopes her owen brethren childre, Other of some gentil blod, and so it best semed, And foster none faytoures, ne swiche false freres To maken fatt and full, and her fleche combren. For her kynde were more to yclense diches Than ben to sopers yset first and served with silver! A great bolle-full of benen were betere in his wombe, And with the randes of bakun his baly for to fillen, Than partriches or plovers or pekokes yrosted, And comeren her stomakes with curious drynkes That maketh swich harlottes hordome usen, And with her wicked worde wymmen bitraieth. God wold her wonynge were in wildernesse, And fals freres forboden the fayre ladis chaumbres! For knewe lordes her craft, trewlie, I trowe, They schulden nought haunten her hous so homly on nightes, Ne bedden swiche brothels in so brode schetes, But scheten her heved in the stre, to scharpen her wittes; Ne ben kynges confessours of custom, ne the counsell of the rewme knowe. For Fraunces founded hem nought to faren on that wise, Ne Domynik dued hem never swiche drynkers to worthe, Ne Helye ne Austen swiche lijf never used, But in poverte of spirit spended her tyme. We have sene ourself, in a schort tyme, Whou freres wolden no flech among the folke usen; But now the harlottes han hid thilke rewle, And, for the love of oure Lorde, have leyd hire in water. Wenest thou ther wold so fele swiche warlawes worthen, 90 Ne were wordlyche wele and her welfare? Thei schulden delven and diggen and dongen the erthe, And mene-mong corn bred to her mete fongen, And wortes flechles wroughte, and water to drinken, 91 And werchen and wolward gon, as we wrecches usen. 92 An aunter yif ther wolde on amonge an hol hundred 93 Lyven so for Godes love in tyme of a wynter!" "Leve Peres," quath I tho, "I praie that thou me tell Whou I maie conne my Crede in Cristen beleve." "Leve brother," quath he, "hold that I segge, I will techen the the trewthe, and tellen the the sothe." * * * * * * * Credo Leve thou on oure Louerd God, that all the werlde wroughte, Holy heven opon hey hollyche He fourmede, And is almighti Himself over all His werkes, And wrought, as His will was, the werlde and the heven; And on gentyl Jesu Crist, engendred of Himselven, His own onlyche Sonne, Lord over all yknowen, That was clenly conseved clerly, in trewthe, Of the hey Holy Gost; this is the holy beleve; And of the mayden Marye man was He born, Withouten synnfull sede -- this is fully the beleve; With thorn ycrouned, crucified, and on the Crois dyede, And sythen His blessed body was in a ston byried, And descended adoune to the derk Helle, And fet oute our formfaderes, and hy full feyn weren; 94 The thridde daye rediliche Himself ros fram deeth, And on a ston there He stod He steigh up to hevene, And on His Fader right hand redeliche He sitteth, That almighti God over all other whyghtes; And is hereafter to komen Crist, all Himselven, To demen the quyke and the dede withouten any doute; And in the heighe Holly Gost holly I beleve, And generall Holy Chirche also, hold this in thy minde; The communion of sayntes, for soth I to the sayn; And for our great sinnes forgivenes for to getten, And only by Christ clenlich to be clensed; Our bodies again to risen, right as we been here, And the lijf everlasting leve ich to habben. Amen. And in the sacrement also that sothfast God on is -- Fulliche His fleche and His blod -- that for us dethe tholede. And though this flaterynge freres wyln, for her pride, Disputen of this Deyte, as dotardes schulden, The more the matere is moved, the masedere hy worthen. 95 Lat the losels alone, and leve thou the trewthe, For Crist seyde it is so, so mot it nede worthe; Therfore studye thou nought theron, ne stere thi wittes: It is His blissed body, so bad He us beleven. Thise Maystres of Dyvinitie many, als I trowe, Folwen nought fully the feith, as fele of the lewede. Whough may mannes wijt, thorugh werk of himselve, Knowen Cristes pryvitie, that all kynde passeth? 96 It mot ben a man of also mek an herte That myghte with his good lijf that Holly Gost fongen; And thanne nedeth him nought never for to studyen. He mighte no Maistre ben kald -- for Crist that defended -- Ne puten no pylion on his pild pate; But prechen in parfite lijf, and no pride usen. But all that ever I have seyd, so it me semeth, And all that ever I have writen is soth, as I trowe, And for amending of thise men is most that I write; God wold hy wolden ben war and werchen the better! But, for I am a lewed man, paraunter I mighte Passen par aventure, and in som poynt erren; I will nought this matere maistrely avowen. But yif ich have myssaid, mercy ich aske, And praie all maner men this matere amende, Iche a word by himself, and all, yif it nedeth. God of His grete myghte and His good grace Save all freres that faithfully lybben, And alle tho that ben fals, fayre hem amende, And gyve hem wijt and good will swiche dedes to werche That thei maie wynnen the lif that ever schal lesten. Amen. |
aid a single (see note) repeated; each know; (see note) punish meat must; abstain from; (see note) each week believes; loses; (see note) tell professes weal desires material goods; offends Wholly; commandments an inquiry thus many fail questioned their lock; (see note) know; man Minorite (Franciscan friar); (see note) plain truth; (see note) earthly know; sorrow (see note) Dear; believe; rave tricksters; jokesters, by nature Villains; keep mistresses live unconstrained dupe; tales only; weak them possessions; flattering their; scoundrels' support such; much their craftiness; fools (see note) ill suits them follow; honest; lurk; cells worldly goods knew; or; believed; (see note) Truly (see note) mendicants; harm people stash it securely acts just as he pleases like robbers [they] roam; (see note) crowded ale-fests people (see note) suppose St. Paul's doctrine grace wander There where their crones; eyes; (see note) people; Paul such (see note) suffered slumberers; sloth; (see note) gulping; (see note) songs downfall; many; laugh strive louts many more said; lost cast away; know you no remedy teach learn said earth; Friars Minor (see note) emulate them frequent; stumble miracle plays; concern ourselves shabbily every meal live lay brethren (see note) either bell or Either possessions their reward convent high should kneel thee occasion read there know not absolve you If try absolved me entirely thereafter backbite; foully eye; perceive Look; only then utterly saw Greed seize property; (see note) forbidden; completely followers judge truly question; (see note) pressed on; probe hied; (see note) building; built; (see note) saw; for inspected; eagerly How; entirely polished elaborately carved straight ahead dwelling (see note) arbors edged all around carved went handsomely carved crockets coats of arms badges; intermingled More no herald catalogue (list) raised nooks of marble; (see note) identifying emblems sanctified [of] beaten gold years; gathered looked How; fully adorned covered painted tiles conduits believe; income; large shire curiously engraved decorated ceiling refectory further saw dormitory furnished Infirmary; refectory; many more walls sturdy in their height garrets; wholly polished enough; lodge; (see note) want [to] From a wholly poor; scarcely again; observed refectory bladder very full jowl goose egg; fat [Such] that; quagmire (see note) made; heel surcoat; pure white greeted; graciously plain truth; (see note) person; could teach me; (see note) truly; accordingly followed more surely pledged since guiltless; first established said; furred clothes monstrous; dressed meanly in rags whores quintessential [if] they acquire; month though; won't know you founding; prior to deceit famous; clever Tested in due course places most excellent the Gospels (see note) (see note) greatest health arrogance only mere sound out master; humbly mother's; call at all inform [about] whole-heartedly (see note) elaborate commentaries Franciscan friar; promised their sect; best rave see how possessions refectory do perfection Just offer them secretly wool how these teachers [St.] Francis's rule cutting Francis's cloak (see note) expertly buttoned up observe that ruse go cut short at give away bow honor them only grafted; fiends secure; seek the first eremite; (see note) dwelled Until; mendicant took it upon ourselves these supervise head totally to absolve for their something else foodstuff; goods beads or brooches duly sealed; (see note) absolve; (see note) know not With understanding knelt remedy venture; ask; (see note) looked; espied Carmelites; (see note) made bold to go; timidly Dear; believe in Guide honorable commandments; (see note) reward; deter if you would trifle since; died (see note) haughty; fell live; falsehoods buy for themselves Observe what happens; (see note) knows the truth How; stroke; (see note) permit them to teach deceive (gloze) close financially improve worldly respect desire (see note) secret remained (see note) Choose a rascal except by As if; formulates lies their lies just completely Elijah's; (see note) faithfully virtuous; ourselves live by know; subtlety prayers, as we think best dear true; believe; say humble; worth surpasses If absolve thee grain then bag (poke) work; earn become prosperous fool catch fish given away far; unless; get must go away hurry; promised will She; (see note) she revoke; hasten get; obtain (see note) (see note) (see note) were rag; (see note) hood; hair gone toes poked out Achilles tendon (see note) were frazzled; muck man wallowed; (see note) heifers; had become; (see note) count each rib; pitiful goad (whip) short; coat ice field's edge; scrap-bowl wrapped in rags two of two years a single song sorrowful simple Poor livelihood; loan Come along, dear; (see note) don't know high gone to; (see note) follow the fiend fools (see note) called In sheep's clothing; except within; (see note) wish to rob; (see note) devil burden (see note) oppress live (see note) (see note) am called treacherously; live each one of them their; where they (see note) Or else burden; destroy sly oppress; schemes flaunts; many ways kindred; fashioned; (see note) Pharisees (hypocrites); (see note) ruin called; `hypocrites by nature'; (see note) them unhappy people unto; (see note) Again; them raise slew; (see note) wish to be to be; (see note) powerful people humility building tombs commission scheming; troubles devil; flattery deceives dwells in deceitfulness helped diligently hindering Gospel deceit; arrayed in comforting; (see note) unfastened barren poor; (see note) poor in spirit How many; gladly judge; believe will become incensed thee (see note) spirit readily abandon pursued charged him; (see note) reward only middle earth Unless plain (see note) (see note) dear; like these [friars]; (see note) Pharisees (hypocrites); many wide buildings; constructed scapulars (see note) Interlaced; shine unless; seated first indeed Unless; table; glower seat from Cain's kindred church (see note) ornamentation Distract; darken compare; (see note) torment (see note) subservience; ignorant their own Unless; moderate According to grant prohibited tyranny Whether fools; become to forego; (see note) chooses his schedule man; wickedly glosses fable prohibited (see note) study; bestir given them fables matins barns; i.e. Christmas bow lout; leaps; (see note) beguile; corrupt (see note) (see note) [they] live in bad faith impaired; food fine lords repents of; (see note) nearly dead (see note) curses; wishes say "fie" (see note) passed beyond work; very way Unless; prepared; (see note) secret room (see note) went astray scorned; prostitutes sooner; confessed blow to deliver to (see note) Who covet faithfully think according to What; seize; conceal dogs; carrion blessed the peaceable; (see note) endure Test; discover more willingly sting; (see note) stepping; toe than a stinking subject without; (see note) see blessing; (see note) (see note) told them harm; (see note) deceive curse; good deeds eschew; devour chaff; (see note) surpass in persecutions become murder then; slay disallowed; (see note) (see note) Sir; at fault as much Canons; Carthusian monks somehow wronged you Either with destroy or; (see note) completely; persecute [your] soul's health very little; (see note) caused them to forsake choose too worldly; abandon Seeing appears white elders; before the throne; (see note) outward signs purity (see note) woe sorrow; requires refectory; infirmary food; every meal Hildegard; plainly; (see note) certainly ignored arrogantly sustains those fools flattering alter surpass; followed supersede sell [pardons] for; reward from punishment; (see note) from blame (guilt); obtain its equivalent; snare curses; sinful wear brown [habits]; (see note) these ne'er-do-wells devour; toil for dainty; buy To the extent that; (see note) drones; honey; (see note) bees; hive gobble; first-fruits; (see note) alike prepared obtained rag shoes worn out; hems gone worth fifteen such gowns red shoes; a pity die compel; malingerers To till; chastise become offspring; is made; (see note) press forward bow down bow to them; kneel father a cobbler filthy with grease leather [as] jagged give to noble tricksters; (see note) were better suited; ditches beans bacon rinds; belly cram; dainty dwelling If familiarly sheets shut their head; straw; (see note) endowed; became Elijah; Augustine that have sunk it Were it not for ordinary; accept (see note) Dear remember; say thee Lord; created upon high wholly only conceived in purity; (see note) faith seed buried (see note) speedily; arose ascended Father's creatures judge the living Holy; wholly (see note) say to you; (see note) I believe I shall have in; (see note) suffered Argue about the Deity; fools (see note) it needs must be; (see note) bade How; wits; (see note) as meek receive forbade; (see note) priest's cap; bald head; (see note) reforming since; perhaps Go too far forcefully proclaim misspoken; I Each word by itself |