#  Piers Plowman, Passus IV 

 



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'CEASE now!' saith the king · 'I suffer you no longer,   
Ye shall agree, forsooth · and then serve me both.   
Kiss her,' quoth the king · 'Conscience, I bid thee.'  
'Nay, by Christ!' quoth Conscience · 'dismiss me for ever!   
Unless Reason rede me thereto · rather will I die.'  
  
'And I command thee,' quoth the king · to Conscience then,   
'Be ready to ride and · Reason thou fetch;   
Command him that he come · my counsel to hear.   
For he shall rule my realm · and rede me the best,   
And account with thee, Conscience · so me Christ help!   
How thou lessonest the people · the learned and unlearned.'  
  
'I am glad of that charge' · said the man then,   
And rode right to Reason · rehearsed in his ear,   
And said as the king bade · and soon took his leave.  
  
'I shall array me to ride,' quoth Reason · rest thee awhile';  
And called Cato his knave · courteous of speech,   
And also Tom-true-tongue- · tell-me-no-tales-   
Nor-lies-for-to-laugh-at- · for-l-loved-them-never;   
'And set saddle upon Suffer- · till-I-see-my-time,   
And girdle it well · with Wise-Word's girths,   
Hang on the heavy bridle · to hold his head low,   
For he will neigh more than once · ere that he be there.'  
  
Then Conscience on his courser · fareth forth fast   
And Reason with him rode · rehearsing together   
What masteries Meed · maketh on this earth.  
  
One Warren Wisdom · and Witty his fellow   
Followed them fast · they had business to do,   
In Exchequer and at Chancery · to be discharged:   
And rode fast, for Reason · should advise them best   
For to save them, for silver · from shame and from harm.  
  
And Conscience knew them well · they loved covetousness,   
And bade Reason ride fast · and reek of them neither.   
'There are wiles in their words · and with Meed they dwell;   
Where wrath is and wrangling · there win they silver;   
But where loyalty and love is · they will not come near.

*Contritia & in felicitas in viis eorum, etc.*

Piers The Plowman, Passus IV, p. 29

They will give naught for God · not even one goose wing,

*Non est timor Dei ante oculos eorum.*

For, God knows, they would do more · for a dozen chickens   
Or as many capons · or for a sack of oats,   
Than for the love of our Lord · or all his loyal saints.   
Therefore, Reason, let those rich ones · ride by themselves,   
For Conscience knows them not · nor does Christ, as I think.'   
And then Reason rode fast · on the right highway,   
As Conscience advised · till they came to the king.  
Courteously the king then · came to meet Reason,   
And between himself and his son · set him on a bench,   
And they talked most wisely · a great while together.   
Then came Peace into parliament · and put forth a bill --   
How Wrong against his will · had his wife taken,   
How he had ravished Rose · Reginald's love,   
And Margaret her maidenhood · not minding her kicks.   
'Both my poultry and pigs · his purveyors fetch;   
I dare not for fear of him · fight or complain.   
He borrowed my bay horse · and brought him home never,   
Nor no farthing there for · for aught I could plead.   
He maintaineth his men · to murder my menials,   
Fighteth in my markets · and forestalleth my fairs,   
Breaketh up my barn door · beareth off my wheat,   
And for ten quarters of oats · tenders a tally;   
He beats me also · and lies with my maid --   
I am not brave enough · to give him a look.'   
The king knew he said sooth · for Conscience him told   
Wrong was a wicked wretch · who wrought much sorrow.  
  
Wrong was afeared then · and Wisdom he sought   
To make peace with his pence · and proffered him many,   
And said: 'Had I the king's love · little would I reek,   
Though Peace and his power · complained for ever.'  
  
Then went Wisdom · and Sir Warren the witty,   
For that Wrong had wrought · so wicked a deed,   
And warned Wrong then · with this wise tale:   
'Whoso worketh wilfully · wrath maketh oft;   
I say it of thyself · thou shalt it well find.   
Except Meed it mend · thy mischief is certain,   
For both thy life and thy land · lie in his grace.'  
  
Then wooed Wrong · Wisdom full hard   
To make peace with his pence · paid out on the sly.  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus IV, p. 30

Wisdom and Wit then · went they together   
And took Meed along · with them mercy to win.  
Peace put forth his head · and his bloody pate:   
'Without guilt, God knoweth · got I this harm;   
Conscience and the Commons · know I speak sooth.'  
  
But Wisdom and Wit · worked away fast   
To come over the king · with money, if they might.  
  
The king swore, by Christ · and by his crown both,   
That Wrong for his works · should woe endure,   
And commanded a constable · to cast him in irons,   
'And let him not in seven years · see his feet once.'  
  
'God knows,' quoth Wisdom · 'that were not the best,   
If he make amends · let Surety have him   
And be bail for his baseness · and buy his well-being,   
So amend what is misdone · and evermore be better.'   
Wit accorded therewith · and said the same:   
'Better it is that good · evil down bring,   
Than evil be beaten · and good never the better.'  
  
Then began Meed to moan · and mercy besought.   
And proffered Peace a present · all of pure gold.   
'Have this, man, of me,' quoth she · 'to amend thy scathe,   
For I will wager for Wrong · he will do so no more.'  
  
Piteously Peace then · prayed to the king   
To have mercy on that man · that misdid him so oft;   
'For he hath pledged me well · as Wisdom him taught,   
And I forgive him that guilt · with a good will,   
So that the king assent · I can say no better,   
For Meed hath made me amends · and I may no more ask.'  
  
'Nay,' quoth the king then · 'so me Christ help!   
Wrong mendeth not so away · first will I know more;   
For if let off so lightly · laugh loud he would,   
And afterwards bolder be · to beat my subjects.   
Unless Reason have ruth on him · he shall rest in my stocks,   
And that as long as he liveth · except Lowliness him bail.'  
  
Some men prompted Reason · to have pity on that wretch,  
And counselled the king · and Conscience after;   
And that Meed might be surety · Reason besought.  
  
'Tell me not,' quoth Reason · 'pity to have,   
Till lords and ladies · all love truth   
And hate all wickedness · to hear it or speak it;   
Till Pernel puts her pretty things · away in her drawer;  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus IV, p. 31

And cherishing of children · be by chastening with rods;   
And holiness of rascals · be held not a marvel;   
Till covetousness of clerks · the poor clothes and feeds:   
And roaming religious sing · *Recordare* in cloister,   
As Saint Benet them bade · Bernard and Francis;   
And till preachers' preaching · be proved on themselves;   
And till the king's counsel · be common profit;   
Till bishops' bay mares · buy shelter for beggars,  
Their hawks and their hounds · help for poor religious.  
'And till Saint James be sought · where the poor sick be,   
So none go to Galicia · but to stay there for ever;   
And all the Rome-runners · to robbers beyond   
Bear no silver over sea · that shows the king's sign,   
Neither graven nor ungraven · golden nor silver,   
Upon forfeiture of that fee · whoso finds him at Dover,   
Except he be merchant or his man · or messenger with letters,   
Provisor or priest · or penitent for his sins.   
And yet,' quoth Reason, 'by the Rood · I shall no ruth have   
While Meed hath the mastery · in this moot-hall   
But I may shew examples · as I see otherwiles.   
I say for myself,' quoth he · 'and it so were   
That I were king with a crown · to care for a realm,   
Should never wrong in this world · that I might know,   
Be unpunished in my power · on peril of my soul!   
Nor get my grace for gifts · so me God save!   
Nor for no Meed have mercy · except she be meek.'  
  
For *nullum malum* the men · met with *impunitatem*   
And bade *nullum bonum* · be *irremuneratum*.  
  
'Let your confessor, sir king · construe this without gloss;   
And if ye put it to test · I pledge both my ears   
That Law shall turn labourer · and spread dung afield,   
And Love lead thy land · as thou likest best!'  
  
Clerks that were confessors · coupled them together   
All to construe this clause · and for the king's profit,   
Nor for comfort of the commons · nor for the king's soul.  
  
For I saw Meed in the moot-hall · on men of law wink,   
And they laughing leaned to her · and many left Reason.  
  
Warren Wisdom · winked upon Meed   
And said: 'Madam, I am your man · whatever my mouth say;   
I fall in with florins,' quoth that fellow · 'and then my speech fails.'  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus IV, p. 32

All the righteous recorded · that Reason told truth,   
Wit accorded therewith and · commended his words,   
And most people in the hall · and many of the great   
Held Meekness the master · and Meed a vile shrew.  
Love held her lightly · and Loyalty still less,   
And said it so loudly · that all the hall heard:   
'Whoso wants her for wife · for the wealth of her goods,   
If he be not a cuckold · then cut off my nose.'  
  
Meed mourned then · and made heavy cheer,   
For the commons in that court · called her an whore.   
But a sizer and a summoner · pursued her fast,   
And a sheriff's clerk · cursed all the rout,   
'For often have I,' quoth he · 'helped you at bar   
And yet gave ye me never · the worth of a rush.'  
  
The king called Conscience · and afterwards Reason   
And recorded that Reason · had rightfully shown;   
And moodily upon Meed · with might the king looked,   
Waxed wroth with Law · Meed almost had fouled it,   
And said: 'Through your law · I lose many escheats;   
Meed over-mastereth Law · and Truth mightily hinders.   
Reason shall reckon with you · if I reign any while,   
And judge you, by this day · as you have deserved.   
Meed shall not bail you by · Mary of heaven!   
I will have loyalty in law · and stop all your jangling,   
And as most folk witness well · Wrong shall be sentenced.'  
  
Quoth Conscience to the king · 'If the commons assent not   
`Tis full hard, by mine head · thereto to bring it,   
All of your liege-men · to lead thus aright.'  
  
'By him racked on the wood' · quoth Reason to the king,   
'If I rule not your realm · rend out my ribs!   
If ye order Obedience · to be on my side.'  
  
'And I assent,' saith the king · 'by Saint Mary my lady!   
When my council comes · of clerks and of earls.   
But readily, Reason · thou shalt not ride from me,   
For as long as I live · I will not let thee go.'  
  
'I am ready,' quoth Reason · 'to rest with you ever;   
If Conscience will be of our council · I care for no better.'   
'And I grant,' quoth the king · 'God forbid that it fail!   
As long as our life lasteth · live we together.'  
  
   
  
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\[This text is from William Langland, *The Book Concerning Piers the Plowman*, tr. Donald and Rachel Attwater, ed. Rachel Attwater. London and New York. 1957; printed with the permission of the publisher.\]