#  Piers Plowman, Passus VI 

 



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'THIS were a wicked way · unless we had a guide   
That would show us each step' · thus these folk complained.   
Quoth Perkin the plowman · 'By Saint Peter of Rome!   
I've an half acre to plow · hard by the highway.   
Had I plowed this half acre · and sown it after,   
I would wend then with you · and show you the way.'  
'This were long delay' · quoth a dame in a veil,   
`What should we women · work at meanwhile?'  
  
'Some shall sew sacks,' quoth Piers · 'for sheltering the wheat;   
And ye, lovely ladies · with your long fingers,   
Have silk and sendal · to sew, while there's time,   
Chasubles for chaplains · churches to honour.   
Wives and widows · wool and flax spin;   
Make cloth, I counsel you · and so teach your daughters.   
The needy and naked · take heed how they lie   
And contrive for them clothes · for so commands Truth.   
I shall get them livelihood · unless the land fails,   
Flesh and bread both · to rich and to poor,   
As long as I live · for the Lord's love of Heaven.   
And all manner of men · that by meat and drink live,   
Help ye them to work well · that win you your food.'  
  
'By Christ!' quoth a knight then · 'he teaches the best;   
But on this theme truly · taught was I never.   
Teach me,' quoth the knight · 'and, by Christ, I will try!'  
  
'By Saint Paul!' quoth Perkin · 'ye proffer so fairly   
That I'll swink and sweat · and sow for us both,  
And other labours do for thy love · all my lifetime,   
In covenant that thou keep · Holy Church and myself   
From wasters and wicked men · that this world destroy.   
And go and hunt hardily · for hares and for foxes,   
For boars and for badgers · that break down mine hedges;   
And go train thy falcons · wildfowl to kill,   
For such come to my croft · and crop off my wheat.'  
  
Courteously the knight then · answered these words:   
'By my powers, Piers,' quoth he · 'I plight thee my troth  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus VI, p. 52

That pact to fulfil · though for it I fight;   
As long as I live · I shall thee maintain.'  
'Yea; yet one point,' quoth Piers · 'I pray of you more.   
Look ye sue no tenant · unless Truth assent.   
Though he may amerce them · let Mercy be taxer   
And Meekness thy master · in spite of Meed's checks.   
And though poor men proffer you · presents and gifts,   
Take it not; for perchance · ye may not deserve it,   
And then must repay it · again at a year's end   
In a full perilous place · purgatory called.   
Mishandle not bondmen · the better may thou speed.   
Though he be underling here · well may happen in heaven   
That he'll be worthier set · more blissful than thou,   
Unless thou do better · and live as thou shouldest:

*Amice, ascends superius.*

'In the charnel at church · churls are hard to pick out,   
Or a knight from a knave · know this in thine heart.   
See thou'rt true of thy tongue · and tales that thou hate,   
Unless they have wisdom · to chasten thy workmen.   
Hold with no rascals · and hear not their tales,   
Especially at meat · such men eschew;   
They're the devil's minstrels · I bid thee to know.'  
'I assent, by St James!' · said the knight then,   
'For to work by thy words · while my life endures.'  
  
'And I shall apparel me,' quoth Perkyn · 'in pilgrim's wise,   
And wend with you I will · till we find Truth;   
Put on me my clothes · patched-up and ragged,   
My leggings and mittens · 'gainst cold of my nails,   
Hang my seed basket at my neck · instead of a scrip,   
And a bushel of breadcorn · bring me therein;   
For I will sow it myself · and then will I wend   
To pilgrimage as palmers do · pardon for to have.   
Who will help me to plow · or to sow ere I wend   
Shall have leave, by our Lord! · to glean here in harvest   
And with it make himself merry · spite of who may begrudge it.   
And all kinds of craftsmen · who will honestly live,   
I shall find them food · that faithfully work.   
Save Jack the juggler · and Janet of the stews,   
Daniel the dicer · and Denot the bawd,   
All lying friars · and folk of their order,   
And Robin the ribald · for his smutty words --  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus VI, p. 53

Truth told me once and · bade me repeat it:   
*Deleantur de libro viventium* · I'll not deal with them,   
For Holy Church of their like · is told no tithe to take:

*Qui cum justis non scribantur;*

By good luck they've escaped · now God them amend!'  
Dame Work-while-time-is · Pier's wife was called;   
His daughter, Do-right-so- · or-thy-dame-shall-thee-beat;   
His son, Suffer-thy-sovereigns- · to-have-their-will-   
Judge-them-not-for-if-thou-dost- · thou-shalt-it-dearly-rue.   
'May God be with all · for so his word teacheth.   
For now I am hoary and old · and have goods of mine own   
To penance and pilgrimage · I will pass with these others.   
Wherefore ere I wend · I'll write out my bequest.  
  
'*In Dei nomine. Amen* · I make it myself.   
He shall have my soul · that best hath deserved it   
And if from the fiend will defend · for so I believe,   
Till I come to his account · as my *Credo* me telleth,   
To have release and remission · on that rental, I hope.   
The church shall have my corpse · and keep all my bones,   
For of my corn and cattle · she gathered the tithe.   
I paid parson promptly · for peril of my soul;   
So is he holden, I hope · to name me in his mass  
And make a *memento* · among other Christians.  
  
'My wife shall have my · honest gains and no more,  
To share with my daughters · and my dear children.  
For should I today die · all my debts are quit;  
I bore back what I borrowed · ere I to bed went.  
And with the residue and remnant · by the Rood of Lucca!   
I will worship therewith Truth, · while I live,  
And be his pilgrim at plow · for all poor men's sake.  
My plow-foot shall be my pike-staff · and pick apart the roots  
And help my coulter to carve · and clean up the furrows.'  
  
Now is Perkin and his pilgrims · to the plow gone;   
To plow his half acre · helped him many.   
Ditchers and delvers · digged up the balks;   
Therewith Perkin was pleased · and praised them soon.   
Other workmen there were · that worked eagerly;   
Each man in his manner · made himself busy,   
And some to please Perkin · piked up the weeds.  
  
At high prime-tide Piers · let the plow stand,  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus VI, p. 52

To oversee them himself · and whoso worked best   
Should be hired thereafter · when harvest time came.  
Then sat down some · and sang over the ale   
And helped plow his half acre · with 'Ho, trollo-lolli!'  
  
'On peril of my soul!' quoth Piers · out of pure anger,   
'Unless ye rise swiftly · and speed you to work,   
Shall no grain that groweth · gladden you at need,   
And though ye die for dole · devil take him who cares.'  
  
The false fellows were afeared · and feigned themselves blind;   
Some laid their legs awry · in the way such louts know,   
And made their moan to Piers · and prayed of him grace;   
'For we have no limbs to labour with · Lord, thanked be thee!   
But we pray for you, Piers · and for your plow too,   
That God of his grace · your grain multiply   
And yield to you for your alms · that ye give us here;   
For we can not Swink nor sweat · such sickness us aileth.'  
  
'If it be sooth,' quoth Piers, 'that ye say · I shall soon it espy.  
Ye be wasters, I wot well · and Truth wots the sooth!   
I am his old hind · and am bidden by him to wam   
Those in this world · who have harmed his workmen.   
Ye waste what men win · with travail and trouble,   
But Truth shall teach you · his plow-team to drive,   
Or ye shall eat barley bread · and of the brook drink.   
But if one be blind, broken-legged · or bolted with irons,   
He shall eat wheat bread · and drink with myself,   
Till God of his goodness · amendment him send.   
But ye might travail as Truth wills · and take meat and hire   
To keep kine in the field · the corn from the beasts,   
To dike or to delve · or thresh out the sheaves,   
Or help to make mortar · or bear muck afield.   
In lechery and in lying · ye live, and in sloth,   
And it is on sufferance · that vengeance is not taken.   
But anchorites and hermits · that eat not but at noon,   
And no more ere the morrow · mine alms shall they have,   
And my goods shall clothe those · that have cloisters and churches.   
But Robert the runabout · shall have naught of mine,   
Nor friars; unless they preach well · and have leave of the bishop --   
These shall have bread and pottage · and make themselves at ease:   
'Tis an unreasonable religion · hath right naught to depend on.'   
Then a waster was wrath · and so would have fought,  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus VI, p. 55

And to Piers the Plowman · he proffered his glove.   
A Breton, a braggart · at Piers boasted too;   
Bade him piss with his plow · for a starveling wretch!   
'Willy or nilly · we will have our will;   
Of thy flour and thy flesh · fetch when us like   
And make merry therewith · despite thy accounts.'  
Then Piers the Plowman · complained to the knight   
To keep him, as covenant was · from cursed wretches   
And from these wolfish wasters · that do the world harm:   
'For they waste and win naught · and meanwhile there'll be   
No plenty for the people · while my plow be idle.'  
  
Courteously the knight then · as his nature was,   
Warned the waster · and told him to mend:   
'Or, by the order I bear · thou shalt suffer the law!'  
  
'I was not wont to work,' quoth Waster · 'and now will not begin' --   
And made light of the law · and less of the knight,   
Set Piers and his plow · at the price of a pea   
And menaced Pier's men · if they met again soon.  
  
'Now by peril of my soul · I shall punish you all!'   
Piers whooped after Hunger · who heard him at once.   
'Avenge me,' quoth he, 'on these wasters · who worry the world!'  
  
Hunger in haste then · seized Waste by the maw   
And wrung him so by the belly · that both his eyes watered;   
The Breton he buffeted · about the cheeks   
That he looked lantern-jawed · all his life after.   
He beat them so both · that he near burst their ribs;   
Had not Piers with a pease-loaf · prayed Hunger to cease   
They had been buried both · believe thou none other!   
'Suffer them to live,' he said · 'let them eat with the hogs   
Or else beans and bran · baked up together,   
Or else milk and mean ale' · thus prayed Piers for them.  
  
Loungers for fear thereof · fled into barns   
And flapped on with flails · from morning till eve,   
So that Hunger less hardily · looked upon them,   
For a potful of pease · that Piers had made.   
A heap of hermits · hung on to spades   
And cut up their capes · to make themselves coats,   
And went out as workmen · with spades and with shovels   
To dig and to delve to drive away hunger.  
  
The blind and bedridden · were bettered by thousands;   
Those that sat to beg silver · soon were they healed;  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus VI, p. 56

For what was baked for a horse · was a boon for the hungry,   
And many a beggar for beans · glad was to sweat,   
And each poor man was well pleased · to have pease for his hire;   
And what Piers prayed them to do · they did swift as a sparhawk.   
Thereof was Piers proud · and put them to work,   
Gave them meat as he might · and a moderate hire.  
Then had Piers pity · and prayed Hunger to wend   
Home into his own place · and holden him there.   
'For I am well avenged now · of wasters, through thy might.   
But I pray thee, ere thou pass,' · quoth Piers to Hunger,   
'With beggars and bidders · what's best to be done?   
For I wot well, when thou'rt gone · they will work full ill;   
For misfortune makes them · to be so meek now   
And for default of their food · this folk is at my will.   
They're my brethren by blood · for God bought us all.   
Truth taught me once · to love them each one   
And to help them in all things · always, as they need.   
And now would I know of thee · what were the best,   
How I might master them · and make them to work.'  
  
'Hear now,' quoth Hunger · 'and hold it for wisdom:   
Bold beggars and big · that might earn bread by work,   
With hounds' bread and horse bread · hold up their hearts,   
Abate them with beans · to keep down their bellies;   
And if grumblers grouse · bid them go work,   
And they shall sup sweeter · when they've it deserved.  
  
'And if thou find any fellow · that any false man   
Or fortune hath injured · find how such to know!   
Comfort him with thy goods · for Christ's love of Heaven,   
Love them and lend to them · so God's law teacheth:

*Alter alterius onera portate.*

And all manner of man · that thou mayest espy   
That be needy and have naught · help them with thy goods;   
Love them and loathe them not · let God take the vengeance;   
If they've done thee evil · let thou God alone;

*Mihi vindicta, & ego retribuam.*

If thou wilt be gracious before God · do as the gospel teacheth,   
And be loved among lowly men · so shalt thou have grace,

*Facite vobis amicos de mamona iniquitatis*.'

'I would not grieve God · for all the goods on ground.   
Might I do as thou sayest and be sinless?' · said Piers then.   
'Yea, I promise thee,' quoth Hunger · 'or else the Bible lieth.

Piers The Plowman, Passus VI, p. 57

Go to Genesis the giant · engenderer of us all:   
"*In sudore* and swink · thou shalt earn thy meat   
And labour for livelihood" · and so our Lord bade.   
And Wisdom saith the same · I saw it in the Bible:   
*Piger prae frigore* · no field would till,   
Therefore shall he beg and bid and no man cure his hunger.  
Matthew-with-man's-face · mouthed these words,   
That *servus nequam* had a coin · and as he would not chaffer   
Had rebuke of his master · for evermore after;   
Who because he would work not · took away his coin   
And gave that coin to him · that ten others had;   
And with that he said so · that Holy Church heard:   
"He that hath shall have · and be helped when he needeth,   
And he that naught hath shall naught have · and no man him help;   
And of that he weeneth to have · I will him bereave."  
  
Mother-Wit wisheth · that each wight should work   
In diking or in delving · or travailing in prayers;   
At contemplative or active life · Christ would that men work,   
The psalter saith in the psalm · of *Beati omnes*,   
He that feedeth himself · with his faithful labour   
He is blessed by the Book · in body and in soul:

*Labores manuum tuarum, etc*.'

'Yet I pray you,' quoth Piers '*par charité*, · if ye know   
Any line of leechcraft · teach it me, my dear.   
For some of my servants · and myself also   
For all a week work not · so our belly acheth.'  
'I wot well,' quoth Hunger · 'what sickness you aileth;   
You have munched overmuch · and that maketh you groan.   
But I bid thee,' quoth Hunger · 'as thou thine health willest,   
That thou drink not each day · ere thou dine somewhat.   
Eat naught, I command thee · ere hunger thee take   
And send thee of his sauce · to savour thy lips;   
And keep some till supper-time · and sit not too long,   
Rise up ere appetite · have eaten his fill.   
Let not Sir Surfeit · sit at thy board;   
Listen not, for he is lecherous · and lickerish of tongue,   
After many manner of meats · his maw is anhungered.  
  
And if thou diet thee thus · I dare lay none ears   
That Physic his furred hoods · for his food shall sell,   
And his Calabrian cloak · with the knots of gold,   
And be fain, by my faith · his physic to leave  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus VI, p. 58

And learn to labour on land · for livelihood's sweet.   
For murderers are many leeches · the Lord them amend!  
Making men die through their drinks · ere destiny wills.'  
'By St Paul,' quoth Piers · 'these are profitable words!   
Wend thou, Hunger, when thou wilt · and well be thou ever.   
For this lovely lesson may the Lord · requite thee.'  
  
'I swear to God,' quoth Hunger · 'hence will I not wend   
Till I have dined this day · and drunken also.'  
  
'I have no penny,' quoth Piers · 'pullets for to buy,  
Nor neither geese nor pigs · but two green cheeses,   
A few curds and cream · and an oaten cake,  
And two loaves of beans and bran · baked for my youngsters.   
And yet I say, by my soul · I have no salt bacon;   
Nor no hen's eggs, by Christ · collops for to make.   
But I have parsley and leeks · with many cabbages,   
And a cow and a calf · a cart-mare also   
To draw dung afield · while the drought lasteth.   
With this for our living we must live · until Lammas time come,   
And by that I hope I have · harvest in my croft;   
Then may I make thee thy dinner · as I'd like to dearly.'   
All the poor people then · their peascods fetched,   
Beans and baked apples · they brought in their laps,   
Onions and chervis · and many ripe cherries,   
And proffered Piers this present · wherewith to please Hunger.  
  
Hunger ate all in haste · and asked after more.   
Then poor folk for fear · fed Hunger quickly;   
With green leeks and pease · to poison him they sought.   
By that it nighed near harvest · new corn came to market;   
Then were folk fain · and fed Hunger with the best,   
With good ale, as Glutton taught · and made Hunger go sleep.  
  
Then would Waster not work · but wandered about,   
Nor no beggar eat bread · that had beans therein   
But asked for the best · white, made of clean wheat;   
Nor none halfpenny ale · in no wise would drink,   
But of the best and the brownest · for sale in the borough.  
  
Labourers that have no land · to live on but their hands   
Deigned not to dine at day · on worts a night old.   
May no penny ale please them · nor no piece of bacon,   
Only fresh flesh or fish · fried, roast, or baked,   
And that *chaud* or *plus chaud* · 'gainst chilling their maw.  
  
Piers The Plowman, Passus VI, p. 59

He must be hired at a high rate · else will he chide,  
And wail at the time · when he was workman made;  
And against Cato's counsel · begins he to rail:

*Paupertatis onus patienter ferre memento*.

He has grievances against God · and grumbles against Reason;   
Then curseth he the king · and all his counsel after   
For licensing laws that · labourers grieve.   
But while Hunger was their master · then would none of them chide   
Nor strive against his statute · so sternly he looked.  
But I warn you, workmen · earn while ye may,   
For Hunger hitherward · hasteth him fast,   
He shall awake with water · wasters to chasten.   
Ere five years be fulfilled · such famine shall arise,   
Through floods and foul weather · all fruits shall fail.   
So said planet Saturn · and sent to warn you:   
When ye see the sun gone amiss · and heads of two monks,   
And a Maid have the mastery · and multiply by eight,   
Then shall Death withdraw him · and Dearth be the judge,   
And Davy the ditcher · shall die of hunger,   
Unless God of his goodness · do grant us a truce.  
  
   
  
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\[This text is from William Langland, *The Book Concerning Piers the Plowman*, tr. Donald and Rachel Attwater, ed. Rachel Attwater. London and New York. 1957; printed with the permission of the publisher.\]