#  Piers Plowman, Passus II 

 



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YET I knelt on my knees · and cried of her grace,   
And said: 'Mercy, Madame · for Mary's love of Heaven,   
That bore that blissful Child · that bought us on the rood,   
Teach me by some skilled way · Falsehood to know.'  
'Look upon thy left side · and lo! where he standeth,   
Both Falsehood and Flattery · and their many fellows!'  
  
I looked on my left side · as the lady taught me,   
And was ware of a woman · worthily clothed,   
With fringes of fur · the finest on earth,   
Crowned with a crown · the king hath no better   
Featly her fingers were · framed with gold wire,   
And thereon red rubies · as red as any coal,   
And diamonds of dearest price · and two kinds of sapphires,   
Orientals and beryls · poison banes to destroy.  
  
Her robe was full rich · of red scarlet dyed,   
With ribands of red gold · and of richest stones;   
Her array me ravished · such riches saw I never;   
I had wonder what she was · and whose wife she were.  
  
'What is this woman,' quoth I · 'so worthily attired?'   
'That is Meed I the Maid,' quoth she · 'who hath vexed me full oft,   
And lied of my lover · that Loyalty is called,   
And slandered him to lords · that have to guard laws;   
In the pope's palace · familiar as myself,   
Though truth would not so · for she is a bastard.  
  
For Flattery was her father · that had a fickle tongue   
And never said sooth · since he came to earth.   
And Meed is mannered after him · right as nature requireth;

*Qualis pater, talis filius; bona arbor bonum fructum facit.*

I ought to be higher than she · my birth is the better.   
My father the great God is · and ground of all graces,   
One infinite God and I his good daughter;   
And he gave me Mercy · to marry with myself.   
And what man be merciful · and loyally me love   
Shall be my lord, I his leman · in highest Heaven.  
And what man taketh Meed · mine head dare I lay   
That he shall lose for her love · a lot of *caritatis.*   
How construeth David the king · of men that take Meed  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus II, p. 14

And of men of this mould · that maintaineth Truth   
And how ye shall save yourselves · the Psalter beareth witness:

*Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo, etc.*

And now will Meed be married · all to a cursed wretch,   
To one Fickle-Tongue · offspring of a fiend.   
Flattery through his fair speech · hath this folk enchanted,   
And all is Liar's leading · that she is thus wedded.  
To-morrow will be made · the maiden's bridal,   
And there might thou know if thou wilt · which they be all   
That belong to that lordship · the less and the more.   
Know them there if thou canst · and keep thy tongue still,   
Blame them not but let be · till Loyalty be judge   
And have power to punish them · then put forth thy plaint.  
  
I commend thee to Christ,' quoth she · 'I and his clean mother,   
And may no conscience cumber thee · for coveting of Meed.'  
  
Thus left me that lady · there lying asleep.   
And how Meed was married · meseemed in a dream   
That all the rich retinue · that with Falsehood reign   
Were bidden to the bridal · on both the two sides   
Of all manner of men · the mean and the rich.   
To marry this maiden · was many man assembled,   
As of knights and of clerks · and other common people,   
Assessors and summoners · sheriffs and their clerks,   
Beadles and bailiffs · and brokers of wares,   
Couriers and victuallers · advocates of the Arches-   
I cannot reckon the rout · that ran about Meed.  
  
But Simony and Civil Law · and assessors of courts   
Were most privy with Meed · of any man, methought.   
But Flattery was the first · that fetched her out of bower,   
And like a broker brought her · to be with Falsehood joined.   
When Simony and Civil Law · saw the will of them both,   
They assented, for silver · to say as both would.   
Then leapt Liar forth and · said 'Lo here! a charter   
That Guile with his great oaths · gave them together,'  
And prayed Civil Law see · and Simony read it.  
Then Simony and Civil Law · stand they forth both,  
And unfold the enfeoffment · that Falsehood hath made,  
And thus being these fellows · to read out full loud:

*'Sciant praesentes et futuri, etc.*

Wit ye and witness ye · that wander on this earth,

Piers The Plowman, Passus II, p. 15

That Meed is married · more for her goods   
Than for any virtue or fairness · or generous nature.   
Falseness is fain of her · for he knows her riches;   
And Flattery with fickle speech · invests them by charter   
To be princes in pride · poverty to despise,   
To backbite and to boast · and false witness to bear,   
To scom and to scold · and slander to make   
Disobedient, and bold · to break the Ten Laws.  
And the earldom of Envy · and of Wrath together,   
With the stronghold of Strife · and Chattering-out-of-Reason,   
The county of Covetousness · and its coasts about,   
That is, Usury and Avarice · all them I grant,   
With bargains and brokerage · and the borough of Theft.  
  
All the lordship of Lechery · in length and in breadth,   
As in works and in wards · and watching with eyes,   
And in clothes and in wishings · and with idle thoughts   
Where the will gladly would · but the power is weak.'  
  
Gluttony he gave also · and great oaths together,   
And all day to drink · at divers taverns,   
There to jangle and jape · and judge their fellow Christians.   
And on fast days to feed · before the full time   
And then sit and sup · till sleep them assail,   
And to breed like town swine · and repose at their ease,   
Till sloth and sleep · make sleek their sides;   
And Despair to awaken them so · with no will to amend;   
They believe themselves lost · this is their last end.  
  
And they to have and to hold · and their heirs after,   
Dwelling with the Devil · and damned be for ever,   
With all that pertaining to purgatory · in the pain of hell.   
Yielding for this thing · at one year's end   
Their souls to Satan · to suffer with him pains   
And with him to wander with woe · while God is in heaven.  
  
In witness of which thing · Wrong was the first,   
And Piers the pardoner · of the Pauline order,   
Bart the beadle · of Buckinghamshire,   
Reynold the reeve · of Rutland soke   
Mund the miller and many more other.   
'On the date of the Devil · this deed I enseai,   
In sight of Sir Simony · and by Civil Law's leave.'  
  
Then Theology was vexed · when this tale he heard,   
And said to Civil Law · 'Now sorrow mayest thou have,

Piers The Plowman, Passus II, p. 16

Such weddings to wangle · to work against Truth;   
And ere this wedding be wrought · woe thee betide!  
For Meed is a woman · of Amends engendered,   
And God granted to give · this Meed to Truth;   
Thou hast given her a beguiler · now God give thee sorrow!   
Thy text telleth thee not so · Truth knows the sooth,   
For *dignus est operarius* · his hire to have;   
Thou hast fastened her to Falsehood · fie on thy law!   
For all by lying thou livest · and lecherous works;   
Simony and thyself · shame Holy Church;   
The notaries and thee · annoy the people.   
Ye shall atone for it both · by God that me made!   
Well wot ye, ye liars · unless your wit fails,   
That Falsehood is faithless · and false in his works,   
And was a bastard born · of Beelzebub's kin.   
And Meed is a mistress · a maiden of wealth,   
And might kiss the king · as his cousin, if she would.  
  
Therefore, work ye by wisdom · and by wit also,   
And lead her to London · there law is declared,   
If any law will allow · of their lying together.   
And though justices judge her · to be joined with Falsehood,   
Yet beware of their wedding · for a wise one is Truth   
And Conscience is of his council · and knoweth you each one;   
And if be find you in default · and with Falsehood hold,   
It shall beset your souls · full sour at the last!'  
  
Hereto assented Civil Law · but Simony would not   
Till he had silver for his service · and also the notaries.   
Then fetched Flattery forth · florins enough,   
And bade Guile to give · gold all about,   
And notably to the notaries · that them none might fail,   
And fee False-Witness · with florins enough:   
'For he can manage Meed · and make her assent.'  
  
When this gold was given · great was the thanking   
To Falsehood and Flattery · for their fair gifts;   
And they came to comfort · from care this Falsehood   
And said: 'Certes, sir · cease shall we never   
Till Meed be thy wedded wife · through the wits of us all.   
For we have Meed managed · with our merry speech,   
That she granteth to go · with a very good will   
To London to look · if that the law would   
Adjudge you jointly · in joy for ever.'  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus II, p. 17

Then was Falseness fain · and Flattery as blithe,   
And caused all men to be summoned · from the shires about,   
And bade them be bound · beggars and others,   
To wend with them to Westminster · to witness this deed.  
But then looked they for horses · to carry them thither,   
And Flattery fetched forth then · foals enough,   
And set Meed on a sheriff · all newly shod;   
Falsehood sat on an assessor · that softly trotted;   
Flattery on a flatterer · finely attired.  
  
Then had notaries none · annoyed they were   
That Simony and Civil Law · should on their feet go.   
But then swore Simony · and Civil Law both   
That summoners should be saddled · and serve them each one,   
And had provisoes apparalled · in palfrey wise.   
'Sir Simony himself · shall sit their backs.  
  
Deans and subdeans · draw you together,   
Archdeacons and officials · and all your registrars,   
Saddle them with silver · our sin to sanction,   
As adultery and divorces · and secret usury,   
To bear bishops about · on visitations.  
  
Partisans of the Paulines · for plaints in consistory   
Shall serve myself · that Civil Law is called;   
And cart-saddle the commissary · our cart shall he draw,   
And fetch forth our victuals · from fornicators' fines.  
  
And make of Liar a long cart · to draw all these others,   
Such as friars and false fellows · that on their feet run.'   
And thus Falsehood and Flattery · fared forth together,   
And Meed in the midst · and all these men after.   
I have no time to tell · the tail that them followed,   
Of many manner of men · that on this mould live;   
But Guile was foregoer · and guided them all.  
  
Truth saw them well · and said but a little,   
But pricked his palfrey · and passed them all,   
And came to the king's court · and Conscience it told.   
And Conscience to the king · rehearsed it after.   
'Now by Christ!' quoth the king · 'if I might catch   
Falsehood or Flattery · or any of his fellows,   
I would wreak on those wretches · that work so ill,   
Make them hang by the neck · and all that maintain them!   
Shall no man on this mould · go bail for the least,  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus II, p. 18

But right as law shall allow · let it fall on them all.'  
And commanded a constable · the first one that came,   
To, 'Arrest those tyrants · at any cost, I bid;   
And fetter Falsehood fast · in spite of any gifts  
And get off Guile's head · and let him go not.  
And if ye light on Liar · let him not escape   
Ere he be put in pillory · for any prayer, I bid;   
And bring ye Meed to me · in spite of them all.'  
  
Dread at the door stood · and the doom heard,   
And how the king commanded · constables and sergeants   
Falseness and his fellowship · to fetter and to bind.   
Then Dread went quickly · and warned Falsehood   
And bade him flee for fear · and his fellows all.  
  
Falsehood for fear then · fled to the friars.   
And Guile started to go · aghast for to die.   
But merchants met with him and made him abide   
And shut him in their shops · to show their wares,   
And apparelled him as a prentice · the people to serve.  
  
Lightly then Liar · leaped away,   
Lurking through lanes · lugged about by many.   
He was nowhere welcome · for his many tales,   
Everywhere hooted · and hustled away;   
Till pardoners had pity · and pulled him indoors.   
They washed him and wiped him and wound him in clouts;   
And sent him with seals · on Sundays to churches,   
To give pardons for pence · by pounds at a time.   
Then looked at him leeches · and letter they sent   
That he should live with them · and look at men's water.   
Spicers spoke with him · to inspect their wares,   
For he kenned their craft · and knew many gums.   
But minstrels and messengers · met with him once   
And held him an half-year · and eleven days.  
  
Friars with fair speech · fetched him thence,   
And lest others should know him · dressed him as a friar.   
But he hath leave to leap out · as oft as him liketh,   
And is welcome when he will · to stay with them oft.  
  
All fled for fear · and were hiding in holes;   
Save Meed the Maid · no man durst abide.  
But truly to tell · she trembled for dread,  
Her hands wrung, and wept · when she was arrested.  
  
   
  
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\[This text is from William Langland, *The Book Concerning Piers the Plowman*, tr. Donald and Rachel Attwater, ed. Rachel Attwater. London and New York. 1957; printed with the permission of the publisher.\]