Occupation and Idleness

001  OCCUPACION. The my3ty Maker that made al thynge,
002  he medle his mercy euer in oure mende,
003  oure balis he abate and to blys vs brynge,
004  as he was oure founder and we come of his kende.
005  For al the welthe of the world is turned to wranglynge
006  and frendship is ful faynte now for to fynde;
007  a3en equyte and ri3t the peple be ianglynge
008  and ful fewe there be that here-of haue mynde.
009  The cause is this:
010  for now regneth tresoun
011  there that shold be resoun;
012  but 3e be-ware in sesoun
013  Ye laboure al a-mys.

014  For we may se a grete example euery day
015  of hunger and deth before oure ye;
016  fro the prikkyng of pestelence ascape we ne may,
017  fro wyndis and wederis that comyth fro the sky.
018  There-for let ri3t regne and forsake symony,
019  rewle 3ou be resoun, and laboure for 3oure mete,
020  jn trewe occupacioun selle žou and by,
021  deseyue no man with sotelte in colde ne in hete,
022  but sewe resoun and trewthe,
023  lete ese and fauour fro že fle,
024  and take counseyle and equyte;
025  ellis lese 3e heuen so fre,
026  and me semyth žat were rewthe,
027  and eke grete shame.
028  Now if ther be eny here
029  žat my name wolde aspere,
030  y telle 3ou, sovereynes al in-fere,
031  Occupacioun, žat is my name.

032  Y besy ful besely in colde and in hete;
033  wyndis ne wederis we may nat spare;
034  with grete greuaunse y go my leuynge to gete,
035  ofte wery and wetshode y suffre mochel care
036  to sessioun or syses, if that y fare,
037  be-cause y haue a litel gadered to-hepe.
038  Jn suche ple no skyle y kan, thus am y in care;
039  there y stonde and studye as mad as eny shepe
040  for woo.
041  For y had lever ben at plough,
042  to God y make a vow,
043  thresshe in a berne, ripe and mow,
044  and there-fore y hote Occupacion where-so-euer y go
045  on grounde.
046  Here y thynke to abyde
047  to reste me a litel tyde
048  jn pees bothe saf and sounde.

049  JDELNES. A, reste 3ou mery, y make a vow,
050  whi sey 3e nat welcome now?
051  Be God, žer ben many of 3ow
052  žat y knowe wel and fyne.
053  This worthy man, though y it say,
054  he hath know me many a day,
055  for he and y spente, in fay,
056  oure bothis thryst at wyne.

057  A, syr, God 3eue 3ou good morowe!
058  Lo, siris, this good man wyl be my borowe
059  and y had nede.
060  Nay, good sir, laugh me nat to scorne!
061  Y trowe 3e haue 3oure knowlych for-lorne
062  for my symple wede.

063  3e, this wede wil serue me wel and fyne.
064  Ofte thou hast be wette sith žou were myne,
065  bothe at že ale and atte the wyne
066  in the hye strete.
067  While y haue aught y wyl spende;
068  whan y haue non God wyl sende.
069  Thus euery company y wyl amende
070  and gadere felawship to-hepe.

071  For y haue good mete and drynke;
072  whan y am ful y wyl swynke.
073  Now, be me trouthe, as y thynke,
074  y am a sly clerke.
075  Žer-for y tel 3ou expresse,
076  my name is called Ydelnesse.
077  Y kepe nat to arise to matynes ne messe
078  ne to non ožer werke.

079  For to no laboure y kaste me,
080  but euer to slowthe y fast me,
081  and if 3e wyl ataste me
082  3e shul fynde me queynte.
083  Queyntly go y, lo,
084  as prety as a py, lo.
085  What sey 3e žer-to:
086  who koude make me ateynte?

087  Beholde now this gracious face,
088  hou galantly y take my trace.
089  There is now non such in this place,
090  sholde y nat do thus.
091  Lo, how ioly gette y,
092  and non felaship let y:
093  and but few mette y,
094  but they wyth me tr[u]sse
095  and gone.
096  Ey, what is žat 3onder gadelynge
097  that stondith 3ondere al stradelynge?
098  Y wyl wite for al his babelynge
099  what he is anone.

100  Al haile, good man, and wel yfounde!
101  OCCUPACIOUN. A wel come, 3onge man, on this grounde.
102  YDELNESSE. Whi, sire, tel me this stounde:
103  know 3e nat me?
104  OCCUPACIOUN. Of the, sonne, what is thy name?
105  YDELNES. Lo, now ariseth game!
106  Y am like to take blame
107  but y že better ware be.

108  Y must change my name, y-wis,
109  and telle hym Besynesse my name is;
110  3e, for God, thus it is.
111  This is a prety while!
112  And whan y am with hym at fese
113  Y wyl take myn owen ese.
114  To slepe ynough he shal nat chese;
115  y thynke hym to begile.

116  Syr, y wonder 3e haue for3ete me, y-wy(s),
117  and y haue serued 3ou er this,
118  for Besynes my name is.
119  Sir, know 3e žat name?
120  OCCUPACIOUN. Besynesse, 3e, in good fay!
121  He hath serued me many a day.
122  YDELNES. Now, in good fay, leve me 3e may:
123  y am že same.

124  OCCUPACIOUN. Art thou Besynesse?  Y trow nay,
125  me semyth be thi symple aray.
126  YDELNES. Syr, sholde y were my best euery day?
127  Y haue ten or twelf
128  of good gownes in my presse,
129  and furres of grete richesse.
130  Of this man y take wytnesse;
131  3e may aske hym 3ourself.

132  OCCUPACIOUN. Than what labour kan 3e best now?
133  YDELNES. Thresshe in 3our berne or go to plow,
134  ripe, mowe, and eke sowe,
135  and ožer husbondrye;
136  go to market, bey and selle,
137  and kepe an household y kan welle;
138  with shepe and swyne y kan melle.
139  Whereto sholde y lye?

140  OCCUPACIOUN. Wilt žou be with me al this 3ere,
141  and žou shalt be my partenere?
142  YDELNES. 3e, be my trowthe, with good chere;
143  but y haue no money in store.
144  OCCUPACIOUN. 3eue me thi trowthe in this stounde
145  and haue here ten pounde;
146  and žou gouerne it wel on žis grounde,
147  and žou haue nede, com fech more.

148  YDELNES. 3is, hardely, syr, haue 3e no dowte!
149  Now haue y nede to loke abowte,
150  bothe with-in and with-owte,
151  žat no thynge be a-mys.
152  Y haue here in this purse
153  ten pounde of golde, it is no worse.
154  To že kokis wil y me trusse
155  anon, so haue y blys.

156  it, good syr, tel me in same,
157  what shal y clepe 3oure name?
158  OCCUPACIOUN. Sir, y sey be Seynt Jame
159  my name is Occupacioun.
160  YDELNES. Occupacion, be my fay,
161  is a good name and a worthy,
162  to be commendid honestly
163  jn felde and eke in toun.

164  But, syr, go 3e home or ouer že se,
165  3our household and 3our meyne,
166  and žan in haste come hider and se;
167  tary nat to longe!
168  OCCUPACIOUN. Fare wel, than, in Goddis name.
169  YDELNES. Now, in feithe, he were to blame
170  žat wold do že eny wronge.

171  Walke on! God lete že neuere the!
172  Žou art ful madde to truste me,
173  for this gold shalt žou neuer se,
174  so God me amende;
175  for in Brodestrete, samfayle,
176  it shall be spent in good vytayle.
177  Of wyne and ale y wyl nat fayle!
178  Žider now am y bent.

179  For and y wolde beset this gold here
180  on sheepe or lambe, žei be dere,
181  and al-so a badde 3eere
182  sone wolde hem stroye.
183  If y besette it in kow or veel
184  parauenture some theef my3t hem steel.
185  Nay, nay, there-with wyl y nat deel;
186  such marchauntise y defye.

187  Yf y wolde belde eny hous then
188  my3t come some fire and it bren;
189  žat makith many a-wey to ren
190  and take že tounnes ende.
191  Nay, nay, y wyl nat so, in fay,
192  but to že tauerne wyl y go my way,
193  and to že cokes, p(a)rmafay,
194  žider wyl y wende!

195  But and Occupacioun come by že way,
196  aske me, syr, y the pray,
197  for we two haue loued many a day
198  thes 3eeris foure or fyve.
199  Tyl this be spente euerydel,
200  fal happe, falle hel,
201  y wyl no lenger with hym mel.
202  Y go hennys wel blyve.

203  OCCUPACIOUN. The roy reuerent žat on že rode was rente,
204  he saue 3ou, my souereynes semly in se,
205  žat was blyndfelled and bofettid and his blood spente
206  fro že thretnynge of thraldom to make vs all fre;
207  and že brennynge blossom žat bri3t is of ble
208  with hire feturis so fortunate voyde vs of oure foon,
209  excellent emperyse of high dygnete,
210  conclude here conclusiones, as 3e wel kan,
211  žurgh 3oure sonnes my3t;
212  for treuly y wyl euery day,
213  whither-so-euer y take my way,
214  in Holy Chirche if that y may
215  of ži sonne haue a si3t.

216  Than to my labour wyl y go,
217  tylle and trauayle in moche wo,
218  my lyflode to gete.
219  We may nat spare wynde ne rayne,
220  but go to plow in crofte and playne
221  and ofte we laboure a3en mayne
222  jn dry and in wete.

223  And, y pray 3ou, telle me and 3e kan,
224  sey eny 3ou Besynes, my man,
225  syn y was laste here?
226  For he is so lange oute
227  with my golde walked aboute;
228  be my trouthe, y am in doute
229  he is in some daungere.
230  Y note what is best;
231  tyl y some tydyngis of hym here,
232  here y thynke to rest.

233  YDELNES. A ha! God spede, y am come!
234  Y haue ri3t wel wette my throte.
235  A-ware! a litel stonde a-rome,
236  for y am verry kuppe-shote.

237  A, my brayne gynneth to rowte
238  and turneth as rounde as eny balle.
239  Be my trouthe, y am in grete doute;
240  me semyth že sky wyl on me falle.
241  Y am ille agast!
242  Y come fro the cokis now,
243  and to God y make a vow,
244  žer haue y wel broke my fast.

245  Y haue ete and drunke of že best
246  til me thou3t že dry wey slither;
247  and my maistris golde, so haue y rest,
248  it is spent all to-gyder
249  on good mete and drynk.
250  For be God and Oure Lady bothe,
251  y bo3t žer-with neyther clowte ne clothe;
252  for be my partenere neuer so wrothe,
253  a whyle wyl y go wynke.

254  OCCUPACIOUN. A-byde, a worde with 3ou!
255  YDELNES. A, welcome, y make a vow!
256  Y haue sou3t 3ou wyde ynow
257  thes two dayes or thre.
258  OCCUPACIOUN. Soughtist žou me?  Y pray the, where?
259  YDELNES. Be God, [on] foot, there 3e were.
260  OCCUPACIOUN. Such a messanger euel he fare
261  so to seek me.

262  Me semyth žou comyst late fro že nale.
263  YDELNES. Be God, žat is a trewe tale.
264  Žer haue y wel fare.
265  OCCUPACIOUN. Now be God, y stonde in doute
266  žat žou hast spendid my money oute;
267  žan am y in grete care.

268  YDELNES. Sir, žat money is a-go,
269  they there had be such two.
270  Žer-fore myn herte is sore.
271  OCCUPACIOUN. A, sire, foule mote že befalle
272  žat euer y mette že in this halle!
273  My golde žou hast lore.

274  What, žou seidest Besynes ži name hight?
275  YDELNES. So y dede, be this lyght,
276  and 3it y dede lye.
277  But now y telle že in game,
278  Ydelnes is my name.
279  OCCUPACIOUN. Y swere be Seynt Jame,
280  žou art a wyli pye!

281  Sonne, and žou wylt to me herke
282  y wyl teche že some other werke.
283  YDELNES. What, woldist žou make me a clerke?
284  Žat wyl y nat begynne,
285  for y wyl go pley me
286  and rialy aray me.
287  OCCUPACIOUN. Herk, sonne, žou say me,
288  wylt žou worship, wynne?

289  YDELNES. Worship?  Hou sholde y come žer-to?
290  OCCUPACIOUN. With manere and manhod, sonne, lo,
291  and be neuer žyn owen fo.
292  To my wordis žou herk.
293  YDELNES. Who techith žat manere, y pray the?
294  OCCUPACION. Treuly, sonne, as y say the,
295  Doctrine, žat worthi clerk.

296  YDELNES. Doctryne, what man is he?
297  OCUPACION. A maister of dyuynete
298  of že vnyuersyte,
299  to tech že to wex wyse.
300  YDELNES. A, a, wylt žou so?
301  Nay, y wyl nat with že go;
302  y haue aspied že to wyse.

303  OCUPACION. Sonne, leue thi fantasy
304  and turne to grace, y say the.
305  YDELNES. Y nel, y make to God a vow.
306  Y wyl ete as good as thow.
307  Go sette to gras ži hors or ži kow,
308  or ellis, syr, go play the!

309  OCCUPACION. Wh[o] shal fynde že mete and drynke al day?
310  YDELNES. Be my fay, Jonet and Gyll.
311  OCCUPACION. What wilt žou do, kan žou me say,
312  whan Jonet and Gill ys away?
313  YDELNES. Than be it as be may,
314  there-fore care y nell.

315  Y shrew hym žat there-fore cares.
316  Some for labour wexith wode,
317  and they haue nat an hole hode.

318  Y know non žat better fares. Tunc venit doctrina

319  DOCTRINA. What, siris, what pley is this
320  that 3e make in this place?
321  Y am come to mende al mys
322  bi the helpe of Goddis grace.

323  YDELNES. A, that man hath an angry face.
324  OCCUPACION. Pees than, fool, and stonde asyde!
325  YDELNES. Y pray God 3eue the euel grace,
326  begynnyst žou now for to chyde.

327  OCUPACION. Sir, welcome mote 3e be,
328  and of 3oure name y 3ou prayn.
329  DOCTRINE. Doctryne men clepen me;
330  to teche kunnynge y am fayn.

331  OCUPACION. Doctrine, syr, 3e be welcome!
332  Y haue besied me ful sadde
333  for to study and stire wysdom.
334  Now of 3oure company y am ful gladde.

335  DOCTRINE. What is 3oure name, gentil brother?
336  OCCUPACION. Treuly, my name is Occupacion.
337  DOCTRINE. Welcome be 3e aboue all other
338  with 3ou to haue communycacyoun,

339  for al žat to good occupacion long
340  God is plesed <a}nd so am y;
341  but occupacion žat tuchith to wronge
342  doth men no good, but vylany;

343  for and žou wilt že occupy
344  in bodely workis or almasdede,
345  in penaunce or prayeris wilfully,
346  Y, Doctrine, to the wyll take hede;

347  for Doctrine techith openly and clere
348  vertuous lyf amonge vs to sette.
349  YDELNES. Herke, siris, 3e shull here,
350  for now two shrewis ben mette.

351  Be my trouthe, y wil me hide
352  like a mows in 3onder 3erde,
353  for of hym žat gapith wide
354  yn feithe y am euel a-ferde.
355  Y wyl be go.
356  DOCTRINE. Be my feith, žou shalt a-bide,
357  and ere žou passe fro me this tyde
358  Y wil že teche a worde or two.

359  YDELNES. Whom?  Me, syr?  Y know že nat,
360  ne neuer, y kepe, be heuen kynge.
361  DOCTRINE. Sonne, y wyl teche the somwhat
362  for to gete thy leuynge.

363  OCCUPACION. Sir, in že name of heuen kyng,
364  3eue hym som informacion
365  hou he may gete his leuyng
366  in že way of his saluacion;
367  žat is al my desire.
368  DOCTRINE. Treuly, brother Occupacion,
369  žat wil y do without eny hire,

370  for euery good man is bounde
371  to occupie hym in clennes;
372  for and he in good occupacion be founde
373  že Feend temptith hym moche že les.

374  Euery man hath enmyes thre,
375  že Deuel, že World, and his owen Flessh.
376  Which thei ben y wyl telle the,
377  and hou thon they enbateyl hem fressh.

378  In pride and wreth že Feend temptith man,
379  and in envye žat is so badde.
380  Thes thre synnes in heuen began
381  sone after Lucifer was made.

382  Že World temptith man to slouthe and couetyse,
383  žat Adam and Eve first vp bro3t
384  whan žei wolde be as wyse
385  as was Oure Lorde žat hem wro3t;

386  Že Flessh of glotonye fayled no3t;
387  lechery was in Sodom and Gomor and other mo;
388  for žese wyte wel in oure tho3t
389  ful moche harme there hath be do.

390  For and žou že in temptacion fele,
391  occupie že in clennes,
392  for že Feend on no man may stele,
393  saue in žo žat he fynte in ydelnes;
394  in hem wil he hide.
395  For al the vices žat ther be
396  ydelnes is že worste, y telle the.
397  YDELNES. Out!  Whider may y fle?
398  Žis angry man wyl bete me
399  and y lenger abyde.

400  DOCTRINE. Of ydelnes comyth this:
401  thefis and strumpettis, so haue y rest.
402  A3en this defaute, y-wys,
403  occupacion y holde the best.

404  But že moste defaute now-adayes
405  on že peple žat y fynde,
406  men techen hire children wanton playes,
407  and nat as they sholde in kynde.

408  Some shal beshrewe fader and moder
409  and be ful wantoun, as 3e may se.
410  Such poyntis and many other
411  makith many children neuer to the.

412  Sette 3oure children vn-to scole,
413  3e žat ben good men of fame;
414  mayntene hem nat to pley že fole,
415  but lete hem lerne some good, for shame.

416  For he žat hath neither londe ne rente,
417  koyne ne catel hym to fynde,
418  of large spense but he repente
419  sone shal he begge be kynde,
420  that were reprefe.
421  For-whi and ži good be lore
422  and wylt nat laboure for no more,
423  but in ydelnes sett hym sore,
424  žan must he wexe a thefe.
425  Y lye nat expresse.
426  Be ware, draw 3ou to good,
427  and laboure for 3oure lyfis food,
428  and pray to hym žat deyde on rood,
429  and beware of ydelnesse.

430  OCCUPACION. Ydelnes is nat ferre, as thynkith me,
431  and so y tolde one ry3t now.
432  DOCTRINE. Ydelnes, where is he?
433  OCCUPACIOUN. 3onder, syr, as 3e may se,
434  and scorneth both me and 3ow.

435  DOCTRINE. Ydelnes, come nere
436  and lerne of me som curtesie.
437  YDELNES. Y shrew me and y come žer
438  while žou art so angry.

439  DOCTRINE. Žou shalt come hider mawgry thyn hed
440  and lerne some good in thi 3outhe.
441  Žou wylt be like to begge ži brede
442  but žou drawe že fro slouthe.
443  Y sey, boy, a-ryse!
444  YDELNES. Y pray že, syr, go ži way;
445  me lyst nat with že to play.
446  DOCTRINE. Y wyl the teche, in good fay,
447  now for to wexe wyse.

448  Žer-for, boy, y sey stonde stille
449  and some vertu žat žou lere.
450  YDELNES. Go forth and do me non ylle.
451  Y wolde 3e were in že diche both in-fere!

452  DOCTRINE. Y sey, boy, scorne žou me now?
453  OCCUPACION. He dothe as euel as he kan.
454  YDELNES. He lieth, y make God a vow
455  in recorde of this worthy man.

456  Syr, saw me mokke hym to scorne?
457  Nay, he lieth in his face.
458  DOCTRINE. Y trow, boy, thi thryft be lorne.
459  To goodnes žou hast no grace.

460  OCCUPACION. Syr, euer to sleuthe and ydelnes
461  he drawith hym morow and eve,
462  and y bidde hym efte expres
463  al žat foly for to leve.

464  DOCTRINE. Sonne, to what levynge were žou borne?
465  YDELNES. With mylke and floure y be-gan, y wene.
466  DOCTRINE. What!  This boy dryveth me to scorne.
467  YDELNES. Nay, God forbede, lete that bene.

468  DOCTRINE. Haue, sette honde on this book,
469  and to ži lore žat žou lowte.
470  YDELNES. A, se, syr, how y look.
471  Nere-hande y kan it thurgh-owte.
472  A, se here sitt a pye.
473  DOCTRINE. But žou že better to ži book lowte,
474  be my fay, žou shalt a-bye.

475  OCCUPACION. In good fey, 3e sey wel:
476  euery man to labour in his kunnynge.
477  This matere y trow wel, y fele:
478  ellis ca<n} we haue but hard levynge.

479  And ydelnes in household wende
480  me semyth it moche the worse.
481  YDELNES. 3e be euer my bak frende;
482  žer-for haue 3e Goddis kurse.

483  DOCTRINE. Sonne, haue this book in ži hande
484  and lerne in že name of God,
485  ellys y do the to vnderstonde
486  žou shalt be chastised with a rod
487  bothe even and morowe.
488  YDELNES. A, syr, he žat že hider bro3t,
489  y pray God 3eue hym sorowe.
490  DOCTRINE. Sey on, crosse Christe me spede,
491  and in ži mynde žat it kepe.
492  YDELNES. Be my trouthe, y stonde in drede
493  hou y shal brynge it to-hepe.

494  First lete me reste a litel while:
495  myn eyen be hevy as eny lede.
496  OCCUPACION. Sir, this boy wyl 3ou begyle;
497  jn že name of God take hede
498  and lerne hym som lore.
499  YDELNES. A, sir, the Deuel be thi spede!
500  Žou art a3en me euer-more.

501  DOCTRINE. Sonne, lerned žou neuer thi beleve,
502  thi Pater noster, Aue, and Crede?
503  YDELNES. Nay, syr, so mote y cheve,
504  ther-to toke y neuer hede.
505  Y not what it is.
506  DOCTRINE. Now, be swete Seynt Jame,
507  thi fader is the more to blame,
508  and thi frendis al in same
509  žat shold haue tau3t že er this.

510  OCCUPACION. Me semyth it were an almasdede
511  to make hym leve žis lewde rote.
512  YDELNES. Y wyl nat do be thi rede.
513  Olde fole, thou begynnest to dote.
514  Thi berde begynnyth to hore;
515  some for wery fallith doun,
516  bothe in cyte, burgh, and toun,
517  and rise parauenture no more.

518  DOCTRINE. Treuly, žer leuyth no man in ground
519  --be he neuer so hye of state--
520  but he be strongly bound
521  to occupye erly or late:

522  prestis to pray and preche al-so
523  jn penaunse and masse to shewe;
524  dukis, erlis, baronnes, and kny3tis žer-to
525  to mayntene že lond in vertu,

526  and to fi3t žer-fore if nede be
527  and stonde be euery trew cause y-wis,
528  and take no mede of me ne the,
529  but to maynten hem there ri3t is.

530  But now trewthe is dryve a-bakke
531  and symony is set vp as a sire.
532  Žer mede is maister ther is no lakke
533  of frendship nožer in session ne shire.

534  But wolde God resoun regned a3e!
535  Žan wolde 3e gadre al vertues to-hepe.
536  To že wordis žat 3e shew me
537  euery man is bounde to take kepe.

538  Lo, sonne, žou mayst se
539  to occupacion žou art bounde.
540  YDELNES. A, sir, God lete že neuer the!
541  Žou woldist make me were
542  as is eny hounde,
543  and that y hate.
544  For au3t žat žou kan telle me
545  shal noon of 3ow felle me,
546  nother be strengthe compel me,
547  erly ne late.

548  OCCUPACION. Doctrine, syr, y pray 3ou,
549  tel vs some of Goddis werkis,
550  žat že comoun peple may knowe
551  as don žes worthi clerkis.

552  DOCTRINE. Summe Trinitati, y wyl begynne,
553  žat with his my3t wro3t al thyng,
554  nouem ordines with-out synne
555  angelorum to hym obeyng,

556  ad Dei iudicia for to abide
557  misteria complenda ful of ly3t.
558  it fille many one žat tide
559  fro že place žat mankende shal restore ful ry3t.

560  OCCUPACION. What maner men, y wolde wyte,
561  shal restore žat place a3en?
562  DOCTRINE. Hire names ben in legende wryte
563  and are cleped al halowen certeyn.

564  OCCUPACION. Alle Halowes, what be they?
565  Y pray 3ou, declare hem openly.
566  DOCTRINE. Angelis, patriarkis, and prophetis to sey,
567  Martiris and confessoris trewly,

568  virgines and ožer of clene lyf
569  žat deide in pure chastite,
570  žat leved here without stryf
571  in clennes and humylite;

572  viri religiosi, že patriarkis called,
573  atque gloriosi in hire leuynge;
574  žei tolde what wolde be-falle
575  of dyuerse prophetis, and Cristis comynge.

576  John že Baptist seide in his steuen
577  to al žat veram penitenciam wold chesen,
578  penitenciam agite žat 3e nat lesen,
579  quia apropinquabit že kyngdo[m] of heuen.

580  Že postelis were in erthe goynge
581  and Iesu Cristis lawes redde.
582  Estote fortes, seide Iesu oure kyng,
583  loke no tribulacion make 3ou ferde.

584  OCCUPACION. Y pray 3ou, telle me in this place
585  hou apostelis suffred tribulacion.
586  DOCTRINE. Some ferro perempti heded was,
587  some flammis exusti brant in toun,

588  flagellis verberati some forbeten,
589  hij sunt triumphatores, Goddis frendis an heth.
590  Here good dedis shal neuer be for3eten,
591  for hir blissid name in eternum manet.
592  YDELNES. Heere 3e, siris, al žis breth?
593  A dra3t of ale y had leuer.

594  OCCUPACION. This were a worthy company
595  žat že apostel loued day and ny3t.
596  DOCTRINE. Vos estis lux mundi,
597  to al že world žei shal 3eue ly3t.

598  OCCUPACION. Že martiris had a glorious lyf
599  žat for Goddis loue wold dey so.
600  DOCTRINE. A, sir, hij sunt sancti žat neuer dred knyf
601  but pro Dei amore žei suffred wo.

602  O quam gloriosa hire deth is,
603  and hire blod shedynge dede vs moche good.
604  Že blood shedyng wolde brynge vs to blys
605  if žat we ben mylde of mood.

606  Thes blissed confessouris leued clenly
607  and tau3t aboute že worde of Crist.
608  Žer-fore žei sitte in the grete glory
609  where žat al ioy and myrthe is most.

610  Virgines in hire clennes
611  mekely in erthe here leued.
612  Thes be kleped al halowes, y-wys,
613  žat we be-for meved.

614  And al Holi Chirchis pardoun
615  relevith men out of synne;
616  of žes seyntis žat is come,
617  žat is tresore že Holy Chirche with-ynne.

618  At Cristis owen blode y wyl begynne:
619  his postelis, his marteris, and afterwarde
620  his officeris žat ben out of synne
621  ledde hire lyf here ful harde;

622  and že clennes of že maydenes alle
623  make vs good weies in-to heuen.
624  Al Halowen Day hire day men calle,
625  and worship hem with myld steuen.

626  OCCUPACION. A, syr, of men žat leuyth a-day now:
627  shul they in that number be?
628  DOCTRINE. 3e, syr, and wyl 3e se how?
629  Fulgebunt iusti and žus sey we.

630  Ri3twys men may nat fayle, y-wis,
631  to han heuen for hire trauayl.
632  Ri3tfulnes so hie a vertu is
633  žat iusticia manet may nat fayl.

634  OCCUPACION. And how do žey žat haue do synne,
635  and amende hem here ere žey dey?
636  DOCTRINE. Fro heuen blis žei may nat wynne.
637  To aske mercy žei were redy.

638  OCCUPACION. What is mercy?  That wold y know;
639  Y prey 3ou, do me to vnderstonde.
640  DOCTRINE. Mercy is že best seed sow,
641  for aboue al workis he shal stonde.

642  For as per lignum moriebatur mors certayn
643  žurgh a tree oure deth first aroos,
644  and per lignum quoque there agayn
645  by a tree oure lyf was chose,

646  and bro3t oure blys fro deth and stryf;
647  for even as Adam by a tre dede falle,
648  to turne oure deth to euerlastyng lyf
649  on a tre God deyde for vs alle.

650  Žer was oleum promissionis shewde
651  žat fro Cristis body ran.
652  Take hede, žou man, and be nat lewde,
653  for al 0ur grace žer first began.

654  Goddis body žer-to was al to-rente
655  and made ful of holis žat euer shal renne
656  to že blode of mercy žat neuer shal stente
657  jn že saluacion of synful men.

658  F[ro] his passion til domys day
659  his body shal neuer leue rennyng,
660  and of his blode of mercy euery man gete may
661  if žei repente hire euel leuyng.

662  Žer shal noon be warned žat blode of blys;
663  euery man žer-of may gete.
664  Žis is že licoure of mercy žat euery day, y-wys,
665  in Holy Chirche žou may it fette.

666  OCCUPACION. Y thanke Iesu my sauyoure
667  with al my herte and my speche,
668  so fre of žat worthy lycoure
669  as wel to pore as to ryche.

670  DOCTRINE. Nay, sir, 3e fayle žer.
671  Žer is no disseuerance but brother and brožer;
672  God bo3t alle like dere
673  and payde as moche for one as for other.

674  Žer is no pore, God seith before,
675  but žo žat be in sinne and out of vertu.
676  Žei žou haue markis in store
677  žer he shal be as ryche as žou.

678  The riches of heuen is non in gold,
679  it is in vertu and clene lyf,
680  as to že be-fore is tolde,
681  žat shold be vsed in man and wyf.

682  At domys day God wote
683  who shal be riche, who shal be pore,
684  for žat day wyl be so hote
685  žat be gold men wyl sette no store.

686  OCCUPACION. Sir, žat is come to my mende:
687  whi clepe 3e žat že grete day?
688  DOCTRINE. For many skile žat y fynde;
689  Y wil declare hem, if y may.

690  Žan shal sitte že grettest iustise [opon]
691  žat euer sate in eny place;
692  al ožer iustisis before hym shal stonde,
693  and al že lordis žat euer was.

694  So many at ones as we žer shal se
695  neuer at ones in oo place come,
696  for all žat were and euer shal be
697  in heuen, erthe, and helle comyth to dome.

698  Žat day wyl be že grettest wepynge
699  žat euer was sey in eny place before.
700  Many thousandis hire hondis shal wrynge
701  and curse že tyme žat žei were bore.

702  Žer-fore že grete day clepe y,
703  for žo žat shal be dampned in žat rowte
704  shul wepe more water with here ye
705  žan is in alle že world rounde aboute.

706  Žei shal neuer after sese wepyng,
707  že water fro hire ey shal renne.
708  Žerfor thynke on žis day of rekenyng,
709  and euer after hate žou synne,
710  and in haste ži lyf amende.
711  OCCUPACION. Wyl y neuer worke begynne
712  but y thynke on že ende.

713  YDELNES. Be my trouthe, no more wil y,
714  for y haue no wil to be a clerke.
715  Of my book y am wery;
716  y was nat wonte to no suche werke.

717  Žis book is nat worth a resshe;
718  ten suche are nat worthe a beene!
719  Be my fay, y wyl hym wesshe
720  and make him feyre and clene.
721  Good, 3eue me a litel water
722  žat y may wesshe my book,
723  for žey my maister chide and chater,
724  and žei3 Ocupacion here-of smatere,
725  y wyl no more here-on look.

726  OCCUPACION. What, sonne, what pley is this?
727  YDELNES. Be God, it is neuer že worse.
728  OCUPACION. Y wyl telle ži maister, y-wis.
729  YDELNES. Žer-fore haue žou Goddis curse.

730  OCUPACION. Doctrine, sir, take hede
731  hou 3our clerk shent his book.
732  YDELNES. A, syr, že Deuel be ži spede.
733  Who badde že hider look?

734  DOCTRINE. A, lewde losell, what iapes ben thes?
735  Žou takest že to fantasies.
736  Fast sit doun, žou shalt nat chese.
737  YDELNES. A, sire, here be many botter-flyes
738  bothe white and broun.
739  For cokkis blood,
740  take me žyn hode,
741  and y wyl smyte hem doun.

742  DOCTRYNE. A, a, žou dost wel and fyne!
743  Y wyl že tame, be Seynte Austyne,
744  be žou neuer so wylde.
745  Ocupacion, ley hond on hym, haue do,
746  and myself wyl helpe žer-to.
747  Come forth, my feire childe!

748  YDELNES. Come no nere, y charge že now,
749  for, and žou do, y make a vow,
750  y wyl stryke že to že hert.
751  Wolde God my dagger were grounde!
752  DOCTRINE. Sette honde on hym anon žis stounde;
753  lete him nat sterte.

754  OCUPACION. Come forthe žou shalt, magre thy teeth!
755  YDELNES. Out vpon že, stronge theef!
756  Wylt žou me spille?
757  DOCTRINE. Haue here one two, and thre!
758  Ydelnes, now thynke on me
759  and holde ži tunge stille.

760  YDELNES. And y lyue y wil be a-wreke.
761  Some of 3our hedis wyl y breke,
762  for 3e haue made me wrothe.
763  DOCTRINE. How seist žou?  Žat lete me se.
764  YDELNES. Nay, for God, it is he,
765  in recorde of al žis compane,
766  he dede be-shrewe 3ou bothe.

767  DOCTRINE. Fy on že, harlot, with thi glosynge!
768  Žou shalt haue more, be heuen kynge,
769  to teche že wexe trewe.
770  YDELNES. A, mercy, maister, y cry mercy!
771  For3eue me this and redely
772  our lore wyl y shewe.

773  DOCTRINE. In good feith, žou shalt haue mo,
774  but žou leue ži ydelnes,
775  and but žou study and labour al-so
776  in al že workis of clennes.

777  For God tau3t his disciplis all,
778  to že and to ožer teche wyl y,
779  vigilate ergo, grete and small,
780  nescitis qua hora žat 3e shul dey.

781  We know non houre of oure deyinge.
782  Žere-fore in prayeris euer shul we be;
783  for with oure Pater noster we shold worship heuen kynge
784  and his blissid moder with an Aue.

785  YDELNES. Y sey now mercy, with herte and speche,
786  for-euer to 3ou wyl y obedient be,
787  and y wyl do as 3e me teche
788  in al že workis of honeste.
789  Pater noster y wyl begynne.

790  OCUPACION. Lo, how litel maistry it is
791  to brynge in a childe in 3owthe.
792  Frendis, take hede to this,
793  and euer draw 3ou fro slowthe.

794  And žus had he had no techynge
795  he wold haue cursed his frendis a{l},
796  and now he may in tyme comynge
797  be a good man, and so he shall.

798  DOCTRYNE. Art žou sory for ži mys,
799  že which to že y wyl reherce?
800  YDELNES. 3e, syr, žat y am, y-wys.
801  žer-of y cry God and 3ou merce.

802  DOCTRINE. Že ten comaundementis žou brake euer-more,
803  ži fyue wyttis žou kepte hem ille.
804  YDELNES. Treuly žat y repente sore.
805  Y wil amende with al my wille.

806  DOCTRINE. Že dedis of mercy dost žou nat fulfylle
807  to poor, seek, presoners al-so.
808  YDELNES. Y wyl amende it with good wylle
809  and y may haue lyf žer-to.

810  DOCTRINE. Now žou forsakest žyn ydelnes,
811  and here-after wilt drede shame,
812  here y caste on že a clothe of clennes,
813  and Clennes shal be ži name.

814  YDELNES. Worthi mayster, y thanke the,
815  and 3ou, Ocupacion, also;
816  of žis man žat is so fre,
817  and to 3ou wil y euer drawe to.

818  OCUPACION. Now am y glad with al my hert
819  žat euer y mette with že in žis place,
820  So feire žou art now conuert,
821  fro foly and fantasy turned to grace
822  with so mylde steuen.
823  YDELNES. Mayster, y pray 3ou for charite,
824  žat 3e wolde telle me
825  what powere hath Oure Lady in heuen.

826  DOCTRINE. Aboue al že wommen žat euer were
827  God chese Mary vnto this,
828  jn hire body hym to bere,
829  et perelegit eam Deus.

830  Sicut lilium amonge thornes growyng
831  sic amica mea inter filias;
832  so is his moder most shynynge,
833  passinge al že wommen žat euer was.

834  Witnes at hire assumpcion,
835  whan že angel seide "Que est ista
836  que descendit fro deserte a-doun
837  tanquam fumi virgula?"

838  Et sicut aurora consurgens,
839  neuer sunne shynynge so bry3t,
840  with all delites of swetnes
841  žer žey saw žat glorious sy3t,

842  but at že ascension of Crist aloon.
843  Whan she to heuen was come
844  God seide to his angel anoon,
845  "Hec est regina virginum,

846  que genuit regem in hire body so clene,
847  cui famulantur angely euery day;
848  žis same body žat 3e here sene,
849  with-in že blissed sides y lay."

850  God seide to hire, "Amica veni,
851  veni de Libano in flessh and fell.
852  Veni coronaberis in heuen most hy
853  as quene of heuen and emperes of hell."

854  And lady of al že world she is,
855  hire power is of grete astate.
856  Who-so honoure hire with aues
857  al his desese she wyl abate,

858  so he be clene and out of synne,
859  or in wille for to amende,
860  in euery worke žat he wyl begynne
861  Oure dere Lady wyl be his frende.

862  And but he stonde in that degre
863  y wolde nat 3eue for his prayeris a pere.
864  CLENNES. Y thanke my Lorde in Trynete
865  žat euer y mette with 3ou here.

866  OCUPACION. Thanke we hym of myghtis moste,
867  Fader and Sonne in Trynete,
868  abatere of the Feendis boste,
869  holy my hert y 3elde to the.

870  CLENNES. He vs brynge to good ende
871  žat deyde for vs on Good Fryday,
872  and Mary his moder be oure frende
873  vn-to thi Sonne as 3e best may.

874  DOCTRINE. He that is registred for the ry3t eyre,
875  žat doutful domys-man žat sittith in trone,
876  kepe 3ou euer oute of all dispeyre
877  and graunte 3ou his blissynge euerychone.

878  Amen