480 To amend our mischief and have mercy on us all.
O God, who began the world in your goodness
And made it and molded man in your image,
You suffered man to sin, which brought us sickness,
Though despite the Scriptures that sin was for the best:
O happy fault! O necessary sin of Adam!26
485 For because of that sin you sent us your son
And made him a man through a human maiden,
Becoming a sinner to save mankind:
Let us make man to our image and likeness,27 and
He that abideth in charity abideth in God, and God in him.28
You died for us dressed in our flesh on Good Friday,
Yourself in your son, for our sake at noon,
490 Feeling no sorrow for yourself or your son,
But suffering through him for the sorrow in us,
And determinedly taking captivity captive.29
Out of sadness the sun was not seen for a time
But it shone at its summit with a meal for the saints
495 When you fed our forebears with the brightness of your blood:
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.30
Lucifer was blinded by your lustrous light,
Which blew all the blessed to heavenly bliss!
“The third day following, in our flesh you stepped forth
And the sinful Mary saw you sooner than your mother
500 For so you devised as a solace for sinners:
I am not come to call the just, but sinners.31
And you did in our flesh your doughtiest deeds
Remembered in Matthew, and Mark, Luke and John:
The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.32
We beg you therefore, our father and brother,
If it should be your will, to show to us sinners
505 Your gracious forgiveness, to grant us your mercy,
For we piteously repent that we caused you displeasure
And condemn what we did in thought, word and deed!”
Then Hope seized a horn of Thou-shalt-turn-us-back-to-life,33
Blowing Blessed-are-they-whose-iniquities-are-forgiven34
510 And the saints in heaven sang out the psalm:
Men and beasts thou wilt preserve; O how hast thou multiplied thy mercy, O God!35
A throng of a thousand gathered together
And cried to Christ and his immaculate mother
To grant them grace to go and seek Truth,
But no one knew the nearest way
515 And they stumbled and strayed like sheep on the hills
Till they’d done a good distance, when late in the day
They saw a stranger like a Saracen in dress.
He carried a staff with a colorful cloth
That was bound about it like spiraling bindweed.
520 He bore at his side a bowl and a bag,
And a hundred mementos hung from his hat,
Signs of Sinai and Galician shells,
With the keys of Rome across his cloak
And Veronica’s kerchief proclaiming his calling36
525 As a permanent pilgrim to places with shrines.
The first thing that folk said was, “Where are you from?”
“From the sacred Sepulchre and Sinai,” he said,
“From Bethlehem and Babylon, I’ve been in both,
And Armenia, Alexandria, and many, many more.
530 You can see from the signs that are stitched to my hat
That I’ve walked a long way in the wet and the dry
And sought out saints for the sake of my soul.”
“Have you seen a good saint,” they said, “called Truth?
Can you point out the path to the place where he lives?”
535 “Not me, never met him,” the man riposted.
“No pilgrim or palmer with pikestaff and bundle
Has ever asked me for anyone like him.”
A plowman appeared. “By Saint Peter, with Truth
I’m as closely acquainted as a cleric with his books!
540 I came to know him through Native Wit and Conscience,
And I swore that I’d serve him sincerely for ever,
That I’d sow and plant seeds,” he said, “while I live.
I’ve followed him faithfully for forty-something years,
Sowing his seed and seeing to his beasts
545 Indoors and out to improve his income.
I dig and I delve and I do as he asks,
So sometimes I sow and sometimes I thresh,
And I tailor and tinker as Truth instructs me,
And wind yarn and weave it, whatever Truth wants.
550 Though I say it myself, he is pleased with my service
And he pays me properly, a penny or two more;
He’s the promptest payer a poor man could want,
Awarding his workmen their wages each night.
He’s as meek as a lamb and modest in manner,
555 And if you are asking the way to his house,
I can point out the path to the place where it is.”
“Yes please, dear Piers,” the people cried,
And they offered him payment, but Piers repined.
“By Saint Thomas, I’ll take not a farthing in thanks
560 For I’d lose the long-lasting love of Truth.
But the straightest way by which you should walk
Is the way of Humility for men and their wives,
Till you come to Conscience, from which Christ can tell
That your greatest love is love of the Lord,
565 And your neighbor next, whom you’d never harm
But will treat as you wish to be treated in turn.
You skirt then a stream called ‘Be-mild-of-speech’
Till you find a ford called ‘Honor-your-father,’
Honor thy father and thy mother,37
Where you wade in the water and wash yourself well,
570 And your step will be lighter as long as you live.
You’ll see next ‘Swear-not-except-in-need-
And-never-name-idly-the-name-of-God.’38
“Then you’ll come to a croft but keep away:
It is called ‘Do-not-covet-other-people’s-property-
575 Or-wives-or-servants-and-see-you-respect-them’39;
And unless they belong to you, break off no boughs.
Two stumps you’ll see standing, but do not stay:
They are ‘Steal-not’ and ‘Slay-not,’ so strike on past both40
And leave them on your left and look straight ahead,
58
0 And honor all holy days honestly till evening.
Then branch off by a barrow, ‘Bear-no-false-witness,’41
Which is fringed with florins and fees of all kinds,
So pick no plants there on peril of your soul.
“Then you’ll see ‘Tell-the-truth-don’t-swerve-a-scintilla-
585 At-anyone’s-demand-but-maintain-and-mean-it,’
And you’ll come to a castle that shines like the sun,
A manor surrounded by a moat of Mercy,
With walls to ward off Willfulness through Wisdom;
The casemates are Christendom, which will save mankind,
590 Strengthened with ‘Believe-for-so-you’ll-be-saved,’
And the place is well roofed, every parlor and passage,
Not by lead but by love and ‘Brotherly-language,’
The drawbridge is ‘Pray-and-you’ll-presently-prosper,’
Each pillar is a penance and a prayer to the saints,
595 And the gates are hung on hinges of alms.
“The gatekeeper’s Grace, a good man for sure;
His assistant is Mend-your-ways, a man known to many.
Tell him this password, that ‘Truth knows truly
I performed the penance imposed by a priest
600 And am sorry for my sins and shall be for ever,
And would be, were I a wayward pope!’
Then ask if Mend-your-ways will meekly beg his master
To open up the gate that Eve closed off
When she and Adam ate the sour-tasting apples:
605 What Eve closed to all has been opened again42
By the Virgin Mary, for the fortress is defended
By Grace, who keeps the key for the King.
If he then unlocks and allows you to enter,
You will see Truth sitting in your heart itself
610 On a chain of charity, and as if you were a child
You must follow your Father and obey without fail.
But beware of Sudden-anger, that wicked piece of work,
Who is envious of him who sits in your heart
And will push you toward Pride and praise of yourself.
615 If your beneficial deeds and your bounty then blind you,
You’ll be driven out like dew and the door will shut43
And be bolted and barred to forbid you entry
Perhaps for a hundred humbling winters,
And you’ll lose his love by loving yourself,
620 And only through his grace will you go in again.
“Seven sisters besides are servants of Truth,
And are porters at the posterns that belong to the place.
Humility and Abstinence are among the maidens,
And Charity and Chastity are the chiefest sisters,
625 With Patience and Peace, who help many people,
And Madam Largesse, who admits many more
And has freed a good thousand from infernal confinement.
The siblings of these seven are certain and sure
To be wonderfully welcome and willingly received,
630 But siblings of none of those sisters, despair,
For I swear by my head it is hard for such
To gain admittance but by more of God’s grace.”
“By Christ,” cried a cutpurse, “in there I’ve no kin.”
“Nor me,” said a man with a monkey on a string,
635 And a wafer-seller said, “If we’re sunk for certain,
I’ll go no further to hear friars holding forth.”
But Piers the Plowman pressed them to do good:
“There’s a maiden called Mercy who may let you in,
For she and her son are cousins to sinners
640 And through their help—don’t hope for any other—
Grace may be granted; so go now swiftly.”
“By Saint Paul,” said a pardoner, “I may pass for unknown;
I’ll bring my indulgences and bishop’s bull.”
“I’ll keep you company,” a prostitute called,
645 “You can say I’m your sister.” I can’t say how they fared.
1An allusion to the storm of Saturday, January 15, 1362.
2Not the Wisdom of Solomon but Proverbs xiii 24. Two lines are then omitted to avoid repetition.
3The “Rule” governing monastic life was laid down by Saint Benedict in the sixth century and is the basis for the later orders of Augustinians (eleventh century), Bernardine Cistercians (twelfth century), Carmelites (“White Friars,” twelfth century), and Franciscans and Dominicans (“Grey Friars” and “Black Friars,” early thirteenth).
4Matthew xxv 12.
5Langland appears to be referring to himself.
6“Lust” has the general meaning of dissipation.
7This is the thirteenth-century Pope Gregory IX, not Gregory I, who appears elsewhere in the poem.
81 Peter iv 7. Again Langland, as the narrator, seems to refer to himself.
9The term Avarice or Greed is more usually applied to this Deadly Sin, but Langland sees avarice as a quality of covetousness, which is the word he prefers.
10The cross at Bromholm Priory in Norfolk was said to be made from wood from the cross of the crucifixion.
11“Restitution” is a French word, and for all Covetousness knows, they speak French in Norfolk.
12Slivers of precious metal were clipped from the edges of coins, which were already irregular in shape.
13A familiar proverb.
14Saint Augustine, Epistles cliii Section 20.
15Psalm l (50) 1 and 8 (KJV Psalm li 1 and 6, “Behold, thou desirest truth”). Saint Augustine supplied a commentary linking these lines.
16Psalm xvii 26 and 27 (KJV Psalm xviii 26).
17Psalm cxliv 9 (KJV Psalm cxlv 9).
18An image attributed to Saint Augustine by contemporary authors, including Chaucer. The original additional line in Latin is omitted.
19A hackneyman hired out horses.
20In Skeat, this line is only in the C version.
21This line is not in Skeat.
22This octagonal stone cross still stands, although its statues of saints are lost.
23Romans xiii 7.
24According to the Apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus, Dismas was the name of the penitent thief who died alongside Christ.
25Lines 472–477 are rearranged.
26From the Canticle for Easter Saturday.
27Genesis i 26.
281 John iv 16.
29Ephesians iv 8.
30Isaiah ix 2.
31Matthew ix 13.
32John i 14.
33Cf. Psalm lxx 20 (KJV Psalm lxxi 20).
34Psalm xxxi 1 (KJV Psalm xxxii 1).
35Psalm xxxv 7 (KJV Psalm xxxvi 6–7).
36Veronica was the name given to one of the women cured by Christ, her kerchief being miraculously impressed with his image.
37Exodus xx 12: Piers begins his interpretation of six of the Ten Commandments.
38Exodus xx 7.
39Exodus xx 17.
40Exodus xx 15 and 13.
41Exodus xx 16.
42Source not known.
43Cf. Osee (KJV Hosea) xiii 3.
Step VI
In which
the people ask Piers to guide them to Truth. He agrees, once he has made his will and plowed his field. Those who help will share in the harvest, and he allocates tasks appropriately, but idlers refuse to work, even when threatened with the law. So Piers summons Hunger, who deprives everyone, but when the harvest is gathered, the idlers return to their old ways.
Then people complained that the path was too hard
Without following advice every foot from a guide.
“By Saint Peter of Rome,” said Piers the Plowman,
“Hard by the highway I’ve half an acre.
5 As soon as I’ve plowed and sown it with seed
I’m willing to walk with you, showing the way.”
“That’s a long delay,” said a lady in a veil.
“What work should we women be doing meanwhile?”
“Some can mend sacks,” Piers said, “for the wheat,
10 While lovely ladies with long refined fingers
Who have silk and sendal and time to sew them,1
Make chasubles for chaplains to honor their churches,
And workaday wives and widows and their daughters
Spin flax and wool, the weft and the warp
15 Of coarser cloth, to cover and clothe
The needy and naked, as Truth intends.
And unless the land fails, I’ll provide them with food
Out of love for the Lord for as long as I live,
While the folk who need food and drink to survive
20 Shall in fairness help to furnish that food.”
“By Christ,” a knight cried, “he’s clever is this one.
I’ve never been taught to tackle a team,
But teach me, by God, and I’ll give it a try.”
“By Saint Paul,” said Piers, “you put it so bravely
25 That I’ll sweat and I’ll strain and I’ll sow for us both,
And perform other labors for your love all my life
If you swear to safeguard the Church and myself
Piers Plowman Page 11
