150
II. THE PLOWMANS TALE.
[PART I.
85That oon did plede on the Popes syde,
A Griffon of a grim stature.
A Pellicane withouten pryde
To these lollers layde his lure;
He mused his matter in mesure,
90To counsayl Christ ever gan he call.
The Griffon shewed as sharp as fyre,
But falshed, foul mote it befall!
A Griffon of a grim stature.
A Pellicane withouten pryde
To these lollers layde his lure;
He mused his matter in mesure,
90To counsayl Christ ever gan he call.
The Griffon shewed as sharp as fyre,
But falshed, foul mote it befall!
The Pellican began to preche
Both of mercy and of mekeness;
95And sayd, that “Christ so gan us teche,
And meke and merciable gan bless.
The Evangely bereth witness
A lamb, he lykneth Christ over-all,
In tokening that he mekest was,
100Sith pryde was out of heven fall.
Both of mercy and of mekeness;
95And sayd, that “Christ so gan us teche,
And meke and merciable gan bless.
The Evangely bereth witness
A lamb, he lykneth Christ over-all,
In tokening that he mekest was,
100Sith pryde was out of heven fall.
And so shulde every Christned be;
Preestes, Peters successours,
Beth lowlich and of low degree,
And usen none erthly honours,
105Neyther crown, ne curious cove[r]tours,
Ne †pelure, ne other proudë pall;
Ne nought to cofren up greet tresours;
For falshed, foul mote it befall!
Preestes, Peters successours,
Beth lowlich and of low degree,
And usen none erthly honours,
105Neyther crown, ne curious cove[r]tours,
Ne †pelure, ne other proudë pall;
Ne nought to cofren up greet tresours;
For falshed, foul mote it befall!
Preest[e]s shuld for no cattel plede,
110But chasten hem in charitè;
Ne to no batail shuld men lede
For inhaunsing of hir own degree;
Nat wilnë sittings in hy see,
Ne soverayntè in hous ne hall;
115All worldly worship defye and flee;
For who willeth highnes, foul shal fall!
110But chasten hem in charitè;
Ne to no batail shuld men lede
For inhaunsing of hir own degree;
Nat wilnë sittings in hy see,
Ne soverayntè in hous ne hall;
115All worldly worship defye and flee;
For who willeth highnes, foul shal fall!
85. one. 86. grymme. 89. measure. 90. counsayle. 91. sharpe. 92. foule. 93. preache. 94. mekenesse. 95. teache. 96. blesse. 97. beareth wytnesse. 98. lambe; lykeneth. 99. tokenynge. 103. lowlyche; lowe. 105. crowne; couetours (read covertours). 106. pylloure (for pelure). 107. great treasours. 108. foule. 109. Preests shulde. 111. bateyle shulde. 112. her owne. 113. syttynges; hye. 114. souerayntie; house. 115. worshippe. 116. Who so (omit so); foule shall.
