#  Piers Plowman, Passus III 

 



 ##  

  expand\_more  

 
  

 

NOW is Meed the Maid · and no more of them all,   
With beadles and bailiffs · brought before the king.   
The king called a clerk · (I know not his name)   
To take Meed the Maid · and make her at ease.   
'I shall try her myself · and truly inquire   
What man of this earth · is dearest to her.   
And if she works by my wisdom · and my will follows   
I will forgive her this guilt · so me God help!'  
Courteously the clerk then · as the king ordered,   
Took Meed by the middle · and brought her indoors,   
And there was mirth and minstrelsy · Maid Meed to please.   
They that harboured in Westminster · honoured her all;   
And gently with joy · of the justices some,   
Betook them to the bower · where the bride dwelled   
To comfort her kindly · with Learning's leave;   
And said: 'Mourn not thou Meed · nor make no sorrow,   
For we will counsel the king · and thy way shape   
To be wedded at thy will · and where thy love liketh,   
For all Conscience's care · or craft, as I trow.'  
  
Mildly Meed then · thanked them all   
For their great goodness · and gave them each one   
Cups of clean gold · and cups of silver,   
Rings also with rubies · and rich things many,   
The least men of her train · money of gold.   
Then took they their leave · these lords, of Meed.  
  
With that came clerks · to comfort her too   
And bade her be blithe · 'for we be thine own   
For to work thy will · so long as thou last.'   
Prettily she then · promised them the same,   
To 'love you loyally · and lords to make,   
And in consistory of the court · to call out your names;   
Lack of wit shall not hinder · the man that I love   
That he be well advanced · for I am known   
Where cunning clerks · shall be left behind.'  
  
Then came there a confessor · clothed as a friar;  
To Meed the Maid · he muttered these words   
And said full softly · in shrift as it were:

Piers The Plowman, Passus III, p. 20

'Though ignorant men and learned · had lain by thee both   
And Falseness had followed thee · these fifty winters,   
I shall absolve thee myself · for a horse-load of wheat,   
Also be thy bedesman · and bear well thy message   
Amongst knights and clerks · Conscience to turn.'   
Then Meed for her misdeeds · to that man kneeled,   
And shrove her of her sinfulness · shamelessly, I trow,   
Told him a tale · and tendered a noble   
For to be her bedesman · and her broker too.  
Then soon he absolved her · and afterwards said:   
'We have a window a-making · will mulct us in much;   
Wouldst thou glaze that gable · and grave on it thy name,   
Surer should thy soul be · heaven to have.'  
  
'Wist I that,' quoth that woman · 'I would not spare   
For to be your friend, friar · and fail you never   
All the while you love lords · that lechery haunt   
And blame not the ladies · that love well the same.   
`Tis but frailty of flesh · you find it in books --   
In the course of nature · whereof we all come;   
If you scandal escape · scathe is soon mended;   
It's the sin of the seven · soonest forgiven.  
  
'Have you mercy,' quoth Meed · 'on men that it haunt   
And I shall cover your church · and your cloister make,   
Your walls well whiten · and their windows glaze,   
Do painting and picturing · and pay for the making,   
That all seeing it shall say · "of your house I'm a sister."  
  
But God to all good folk · such graving forbiddeth,   
To write so in windows · of their worthy deeds,   
Lest pride be painted there · and pomp of the world.   
For Christ knoweth thy conscience · thy inmost intention,   
The cost and thy covetousness · and whose was the wealth.  
  
Therefore I advise you, lords · leave ye such works,   
To write up in windows · of your worthy deeds   
Or call for God's men · when ye deal out doles,   
Lest ye have your reward here · and your Heaven also.

*Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra.*

Let not thy left half · later or sooner,   
Know what thou workest · with thy right side;   
For thus bids the Gospel · good men to do alms.  
Mayors and mace-bearers · the means are between   
The king and the commons · to see the law kept,  
  
Piers The Plowman, The Vision, p. 21

To punish on pillories · and punishment stools   
Brewers and bakers · butchers and cooks,   
For these are this world's men · that work the most harm  
To the poor people · that must buy piece-meal.  
For they poison the people · privily and oft,   
Get rich by retailing · and buy themselves rents   
With what the poor people · should put in their bellies;   
For traded they truly · they'd have built not so high,   
Nor bought any ground-rents · be full certain of that!'  
  
But now Meed the Maid · the mayor hath besought  
Of all such sellers · silver to take,   
Or presents without pence · as goblets of silver,  
Rings or other riches · trade's frauds to maintain.  
  
'For my love,' quoth that lady · 'love them each one,  
And suffer them to sell · somewhat against reason.'  
  
Solomon the sage · a sermon he made  
For to amend mayors · and men that guard laws,  
And told them this theme · that I think to tell:

*Ignis devorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera, etc.*

Among lettered men · this Latin is to mean   
That fire shall fall and burn · all to blue ashes   
The houses and the homes · of them that desire   
Presents or briberies · because of their office.  
The king from council came · and called after Meed,  
And sent for her quickly · with sergeants many,  
That brought her to bower · with bliss and with joy.  
  
Courteously the king then · commenced to talk   
To Meed the Maiden · speaking these words:   
'Unwisely, woman · wrought hast thou oft;   
But worse wroughtest thou never · than when Falsehood you took.   
But I forgive thee that guilt · and grant thee my grace;   
Hence on, to thy death day · do so no more!  
  
I have a knight, Conscience · come of late from beyond.   
If he willeth thee to wife · wilt thou him have?'   
'Yea, lord,' quoth that lady · 'the Lord forbid else!   
If I be not wholly at your best · let me hang soon!'   
And then was Conscience called · to come and appear   
Before king and council · the clerks and the others.   
Kneeling, then Conscience · to the king louted   
To learn what his will were · and what he should do.   
'Wilt thou wed this woman,' quoth the king · 'if I will assent?  
  
Piers The Plowman, The Vision, p. 22

For she is fain of my fellowship · for to be thy mate.'  
Quoth Conscience to the king · 'Christ it me forbid!   
Ere I wed such a wife · woe me betide!   
For she is frail of her faith · fickle of her speech,   
And maketh men misdo · many score times,   
Trust in her treasure · betrayeth full many.   
To wives and widows · wantonness she teacheth,   
And learneth them lechery · that love her gifts.   
Your father she felled · through her false behest,   
And hath poisoned popes · and impaired Holy Church.   
There is no better bawd · by him that me made!   
Though me search through the earth · between heaven and hell.   
For she is lecherous in her looks · and loose in her tongue,   
Common as a cart-road · to each knave that walks,   
To monks and to minstrels · and lepers in hedges.   
Assessors and summoners · such men her praise;   
Sheriffs of shires were ruined · if she were not.   
For she makes men to lose · their land and life both.   
She letteth pass prisoners · and pays for them often,   
Giveth gold to gaolers · and great groats as well   
To unfetter the false · to flee where they like;   
And taketh the true man by the top-knot · and tieth him fast   
And hangeth him for hatred · that harm never did.   
To be cursed by a council · she counts not a rush,   
For she clotheth the commissory · and covers his clerks;   
She's absolved as soon · as herself liketh,   
And may nigh as much do · in one single month   
As your secret seal · in six score of days.   
For she is privy with the pope · provisors it know   
For Sir Simony and herself · seal all their bulls.  
  
She blesseth the bishops · though they be unlearned   
Provideth for parsons · and priests enableth   
To have lemans and lovers · all through their lives   
And beget them babies · though the law forbids.   
Where she is well with the king · woe is the realm,   
For she favoureth the false · and fouleth truth oft.  
  
By Jesus! with her jewels · your judges she shames,   
Lieth against Law · and gets in his way   
That Faith may not pass by · her florins are so thick.   
She leadeth the law as she list · and law-days maketh,   
And makes men lose through her love · that the law may win;  
  
Piers The Plowman, The Vision, p. 23

A Poor Person's perplexed · though he plead for ever.  
Law is So lordly · and loth to make end;   
Without Presents or pence · she pleaseth full few.  
Barons and burghers she · brings into sorrows,   
And the commons to care · that would live in truth;   
For clerkship and coveting · she coupleth together.   
This is the life of that lady · the Lord give her sorrow!  
And all that maintaineth her men · mischance them betide!   
For poor men have no power · to complain, though they smart,   
Such a master is Meed · among men of wealth.'  
  
Then mourned Meed · and moaned to the king   
To have space to speak · succeed if she might.  
  
The king granted her grace · with a good will:   
'Excuse thee if thou canst · I can no more say,   
For Conscience accuseth thee · to cast thee off for ever.'  
  
'Nay, lord,' quoth that lady · 'believe him the less,   
When ye understand truly · where the wrong lieth.   
Where that mischief is great · Maid Meed may help.   
And thou knowest, Conscience · I came not to chide   
Nor deprave thy person · with a proud heart.   
Well thou knowest, liar · unless thou wilt be,   
How thou hast been with me · eleven times,   
And griped at my gold · to give where thee liked;   
And why thou art wrathful now · a wonder methinketh.   
Yet I may, if I might · make to thee gifts   
And maintain thy manhood · more than thou knowest.  
  
But thou hast famed me foully · before the king here.   
For killed I never no king · nor counselled thereafter   
Nor did as thou deemest · I appeal to the king!  
  
In Normandy was he not · annoyed for my sake.  
But thou thyself soothly · shamedst him oft;   
Crept into a cabin · for cold of thy nails,   
Weening that winter · would have lasted for ever,   
And didst dread to be dead · because of the downpour   
And hiedest thou homeward · for hunger of guts.  
  
Without pity, pillager · poor men thou didst spoil   
And bore their brass on thy back · to Calais to sell.   
While I lingered with my lord · his life for to save;   
I made his men merry · and mended their mourning.   
I patted their backs and · emboldened their hearts   
And made them hop for hope · of my help at their will.  
  
Piers The Plowman, The Vision, p. 24

Had I been marshal of his men · by Mary of heaven!   
I durst have laid my life · and no less a pledge,   
He should have been lord of that land · in length and in breadth,   
And also bring of that country · his kin for to help --   
The least brat of his blood · the peer of a baron.  
Cowardly thou, Conscience · counselled him thence   
To leave all his lordship · for a little silver,   
And that the richest realm · that rain hovereth over.  
  
It becometh a king · that keepeth a realm   
To give meed to men · that meekly him serve,   
To aliens and to all men · to honour them with gifts.   
Meed maketh him loved · and for a man holden.   
Emperors and earls · and all manner of lords   
For gifts have young men · to run and to ride.   
The pope and all prelates · presents accept   
And fee men themselves · to maintain their laws.   
Servants for their service · we see well the sooth,   
Take meed of their masters · as they may agree.   
Beggars for their begging · beg of men meed;   
And minstrels for their mirth · meed do they ask.   
The king hath meed of his men · to make peace in the land;   
Men that teach children · crave of them meed.   
Priests that preach to the people · for goodness, ask meed,   
And mass-pence and their meat · at their meal times.   
All kinds of craftsmen · crave meed for their prentice;   
Merchants and meed · must needs go together.   
No wight, as I ween · without me, Meed, may live.'  
  
Quoth the king to Conscience · 'By Christ! as methinketh   
Meed is well worthy · the mastery to have.'  
  
'Nay,' quoth Conscience to the king · and kneeled to the earth,   
'There are two manner of meeds · my lord, with your leave.   
The one, God of his grace · granteth, in his bliss,   
To those that do good deeds · the while they are here.   
The prophet preacheth thereof · and put it in the Psalter:

*Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo?*

"Lord, who shall dwell in thy dwellings · and with thy holy saints,   
Or rest on thine holy hills?" · this asked David.  
And David answered himself · as the Psalter telleth:

*Qui ingreditur sine macula, & operaturjustitiam.*

"Those spotless that enter · and all of one will,   
And have wrought their works · with right and with reason;

Piers The Plowman, The Vision, p. 25

And he that useth not · the life of usury,   
And instructeth poor men · and pursueth truth;

*Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad usuram, et munera super innocentem, etc.*

And all that helpeth the innocent · and hold with the rightful,   
And without meed do them good · and the truth helpeth."   
Such manner of men, lord · shall have this first meed   
Of God, at their great need · when they go hence.  
There is another meed, measureless · that masters desire.  
To maintain misdoers · meed they do take;   
And thereof saith the psalter · at a psalms' end,

*In quorum munibus iniquitates sunt, dextra eorum repleta est muneribus;*

And he that graspeth her gold · so me God help!   
Shall abide it bitterly · or the Book lieth!  
Priests and parsons · that pleasure desire  
And take meed and money · for the masses they sing,  
Receive their meed here · as Matthew us teacheth:

*Amen, amen, receperunt mercedem suam.*

That which labourers and low folk · take of their masters   
Is in no manner meed · but a moderate hire.  
In merchandise is no meed · I may well it avow:   
It is clearly exchange · one pennyworth for another.  
  
But readest thou never *Regum* · thou recreant Meed,  
Why the vengeance fell · on Saul and his children?   
God sent to Saul · by Samuel the prophet   
That Agag of Amalek · and all his people after   
Should die for a deed · that their elders had done.   
"So," said Samuel to Saul · "God himself biddeth   
Thee be true at his bidding · his will to fulfil.   
Wend to Amalek with thine host · and what thou findest there, slay it:   
Both men and their beasts · burn them to death;   
Widows and wives · women and children,   
Chattels and fixtures · and all that thou findest,   
Burn, and bear not away · be it never so rich,   
For meed nor for money · look thou destroy it,   
Spill it and spare it not · thou shalt speed the better."  
  
Because he coveted cattle · and the king spared,   
Spared both him and his beasts · the Bible witnesseth,   
Otherwise than he was warned · by the prophet,  
  
Piers The Plowman, The Vision, p. 26

God said then to Samuel · that Saul should die,   
And his seed for that sin · shamefully end.   
Such a mischief Meed · made King Saul to have   
That God hated him for ever · and all his heirs after.   
The conclusion of this case · I care not to show;   
For fear that it vex men · no end will I make.   
For so is this world's way · with them that have power,   
That whoso saith sooth · is the soonest blamed.  
I, Conscience, know this · Mother-Wit me it taught,   
That Reason shall reign · and the realms govern.   
As it happened to Agag · shall happen to others.   
Samuel shall slay him · and Saul shall be blamed,   
And David shall be diademed · and subdue them all;  
And one Christian king shall · care for them all.  
  
Meed shall no more be master · as she is now,   
But Love and Lowliness · and Loyalty together,  
These shall be masters on earth · Truth to save.  
  
And who trespasseth against Truth · or traverseth his will,   
Loyalty shall judge him · no living man else.   
Shall no serjeant for service · wear a silk hood   
And no fur on his cloak · for pleading at bar.   
Meed of many misdoers · maketh more lords,   
And over the lords' laws · ruleth the realms.  
  
But man's Love shall come yet · and Conscience together,   
And make Law a labourer · such love shall arise   
And such peace among the people · and a perfect truth   
That Jews shall ween in their wits · and wax wondrous glad,   
That Moses or Messiah · be come into this earth,   
And have wonder in their hearts · that men be so true.  
  
All that bear a dagger · broad sword or lance,   
An axe or an hatchet · or any weapon else   
Shall be doomed to the death · if he have it not smithed   
Into sickle or scythe · into plow-share or coulter.

*Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres, etc.*

Each man to play with a plow · a pick-axe or spade,   
Spin, or spread dung · or perish in sloth.  
All priests and parsons · shall hunt with *placebo*   
And cry upon David · each day until eve.  
Hunting or hawking · if any of them use,   
The boast of his benefice · shall be taken from him.  
  
Piers The Plowman, The Vision, p. 27

Shall neither king nor knight · constable nor mayor,   
Oppress the commons · nor summon to court   
Not empanel them on juries · to make them plight truth   
But according to the deed done one · judgment shall reward,  
Mercy or no mercy · as Truth shall accord.  
King's court and common court · consistory and chapter,   
All shall be but one court · and one baron judge:   
Namely True-Tongue, a tidy man · that troubled me never.   
Battles shall not be · nor no man bear weapon,   
And what Smith that any maketh · be smitten therewith to death,

*Non levabit gens contra gentem gladium, etc.*

And ere this fortune fall · men shall find the worst,   
By six suns and a ship · and an half sheaf of arrows;   
And the full of the moon · shall turn Jews to the Faith,   
And Saracens at that sight · shall sing *Gloria in excelsis, etc.*,   
For Mahomet and Meed · shall mishap at that time;

For *melius est bonum nomen quam divitiae multa.'*

As wroth as the wind then · waxed Meed in a while.   
'I know no Latin,' quoth she · 'but clerks know the truth.   
See what Solomon saith · in Wisdom book,   
That they that giveth gifts · the victory win   
And much worship have therewith · as holy writ telleth:

*Honarem adquiret qui dat numera, etc.'*

'I well believe, lady,' quoth Conscience · 'that thy Latin be true;   
But thou art like a lady · that once read a lesson:   
It was, *Omnia probate* · and that pleased her heart   
For that line was no longer · being at the leaf's end.   
Had she looked the other side · and turned the leaf over,   
She would have found many words · following thereafter;   
*Quod bonum est tenete.* · Truth made that text!   
And so fared ye, madam! · Ye couldst no more find,   
Though ye looked on Wisdom · sitting in your study.   
This text that ye have told · were good for the lords   
But you lacked a cunning clerk · that could the leaf turn!   
And if ye seek Wisdom again · find shall ye that followeth   
A full troublesome text · to them that take meed;   
And that is, *animam autem auferet accipientium*, etc.   
That is the tail of the text · of that that ye shewed:   
That, though we win worship · and with meed have victory,   
The soul that bribes taketh · is by so much in bonds.'   
   
  
[Back to Passus II ](/pages/piers-plowman-passus-ii)| [Next Passus](/pages/piers-plowman-passus-iv) | [Back to Langland Page](/pages/william-langland-c1332-c1400)  
  
 \[This text is from William Langland, *The Book Concerning Piers the Plowman*, tr. Donald and Rachel Attwater, ed. Rachel Attwater. London and New York. 1957; printed with the permission of the publisher.\]