PART I.]
II. THE PLOWMANS TALE.
151
Alas! who may such sayntes call
That wilneth welde erthly honour?
As lowe as Lucifer such shal fall,
120In baleful blacknesse y-builde hir bour;
That eggeth the people to errour,
And maketh hem to hem [be] thrall;
To Christ I hold suche oon traytour,
As lowe as Lucifer such shal fall.
That wilneth welde erthly honour?
As lowe as Lucifer such shal fall,
120In baleful blacknesse y-builde hir bour;
That eggeth the people to errour,
And maketh hem to hem [be] thrall;
To Christ I hold suche oon traytour,
As lowe as Lucifer such shal fall.
125That willeth to be kinges peres,
And hygher than the emperour;
Some that were but pore freres
Now wollen waxe a warryour.
God is nat hir governour,
130That holdeth no man his †peragall;
Whyl covetyse is hir counsaylour,
All such falshed mot nedë fall.
And hygher than the emperour;
Some that were but pore freres
Now wollen waxe a warryour.
God is nat hir governour,
130That holdeth no man his †peragall;
Whyl covetyse is hir counsaylour,
All such falshed mot nedë fall.
That hye on horse willeth ryde
In glitterand golde of grete aray,
135I-paynted and portred all in pryde;
No commun knight may go so gay.
Chaunge of clothing every day,
With golden girdles grete and small;
As boystous as is bere at bay;
140All such falshed mot nedë fall.
In glitterand golde of grete aray,
135I-paynted and portred all in pryde;
No commun knight may go so gay.
Chaunge of clothing every day,
With golden girdles grete and small;
As boystous as is bere at bay;
140All such falshed mot nedë fall.
With prydë †punysheth the pore,
And somë they sustayn with sale;
Of holy churche maketh an hore,
And filleth hir wombe with wyne and ale;
145With money filleth many a male,
And chaffren churches when they fall,
And telleth the people a lewed tale;
Such falsë faytours, foul hem fall!
And somë they sustayn with sale;
Of holy churche maketh an hore,
And filleth hir wombe with wyne and ale;
145With money filleth many a male,
And chaffren churches when they fall,
And telleth the people a lewed tale;
Such falsë faytours, foul hem fall!
117. suche. 118. erthlye. 119. suche shall. 120. y-buylden her boure. 122. them to hem; supply be. 123. holde; one. 124. suche one shall (om. one). 125. peeres. 127. poore freers. 128. Nowe. 129. her. 130. noman; permagall. 131. Whyle; her. 132. suche; mote. 134. glytterande; great araye. 136. commen; maye; gaye. 137. daye. 138. great. 139. baye. 140. suche; mote. 141. punyshed (!); see l. 143. 142. sustayne. 144. her. 147. leude. 148. Suche; foule them befall (see ll. 156, 164).
