Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918/Piers the Plowman

by William Langland

For other versions of this work, see Piers Plowman.

WILLIAM LANGLAND

?1332–?1400

FOR trewthe telleth that loue • is triacle^[1] of hevene;
May no synne be on him sene • that useth that spise,
And alle his werkes he wrouȝte • with loue as him liste;^[2]
And lered^[3] it Moises for the levest^[4] thing • and moste like to heuene,

And also the plante of pees • moste precious of vertues.
  For hevene myghte noughte holden it • it was so hevy of hym-self,
Tyle it hadde of the erthe • yeten^[5] his fylle,
  And what it haved of this folde • flesshe and blode taken,
Was neuere leef upon lynde^[6] • lighter ther-after,
And portatyf^[7] and persant • as the poynt of a nedle,
That myghte non armure it lette^[8] • ne none heigh walles.
  For-thi is love leder • of the lordes folke of hevene,
And a mene^[9], as the maire is • bitwene the kyng and the comune,
Right so is love a ledere • and the lawe shapeth
Upon man for his mysdedes • the merciment^[10] he taxeth.
And for to knowe it kyndely^[11] • it comseth bi myght,
And in the herte, there is the hevede • and the heigh welle.

 

1. triacle] sovereign remedy.
2. as him liste] as seemed good to him (Christ).
3. lered] taught.
4. levest] most pleasing.
5. yeten] eaten.
6. lynde] lime tree
7. portatyf] quick-moving.
8. lette] prevent.
9. mene] mediator
10. merciment] fine.
11. kyndely] properly.