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Text
1: In a somer seson, whan softe was the sonne,
2: I shoop me into shroudes as I a sheep were,
3: In habite as an heremite unholy of werkes,
4: Wente wide in this world wondres to here.
5: Ac on a May morwenynge on Malverne hilles
6: Me bifel a ferly, of Fairye me thoghte.
7: I was wery forwandred and wente me to reste
8: Under a brood bank by a bourne syde;
9: And as I lay and lenede and loked on the watres,
10: I slombred into a slepyng, it sweyed so murye.
11: Thanne gan I meten a merveillous swevene --
12: That I was in a wildernesse, wiste I nevere where.
13: A[c] as I biheeld into the eest an heigh to the sonne,
14: I seigh a tour on a toft trieliche ymaked,
15: A deep dale bynethe, a dongeon therinne,
16: With depe diches and derke and dredfulle of sighte.
17: A fair feeld ful of folk fond I ther bitwene --
18: Of alle manere of men, the meene and the riche,
19: Werchynge and wandrynge as the world asketh.
20: Somme putten hem to the plough, pleiden ful selde,
21: In settynge and sowynge swonken ful harde,
22: And wonnen that thise wastours with glotonye destruyeth
23: And somme putten hem to pride, apparailed hem
therafter,
24: In contenaunce of clothynge comen disgised-
25: In preieres and penaunce putten hem manye,
26: Al for the love of Oure Lord lyveden ful streyte
27: In hope to have heveneriche blisse --
28: As ancres and heremites that holden hem in hire selles,
29: Coveiten noght in contree to cairen aboute
30: For no likerous liflode hire likame to plese.
31: And somme chosen chaffare; they cheveden the bettre
--
32: As it semeth to oure sight that swiche men thryveth;
33: And somme murthes to make as mynstralles konne,
34: And geten gold with hire glee -- [gilt]lees, I leeve-
35: Ac japeres and jangeleres, Judas children,
36: Feynen hem fantasies, and fooles hem maketh --
37: And han wit at wille to werken if they wolde.
38: That Poul precheth of hem I wol nat preve it here:
39: Qui loquitur turpiloquium is Luciferes hyne-
40: Bidderes and beggeres faste aboute yede
41: [Til] hire bely and hire bagge [were] bredful ycrammed,
42: Faiteden for hire foode, foughten at the ale.
43: In glotonye, God woot, go thei to bedde,
44: And risen with ribaudie, tho Roberdes knaves;
45: Sleep and sory sleuthe seweth hem evere.
46: Pilgrymes and palmeres plighten hem togidere
47: For to seken Seint Jame and seintes at Rome;
48: Wenten forth in hire wey with many wise tales,
49: And hadden leve to lyen al hire lif after.
50: I seigh somme that seiden thei hadde ysought seintes:
51: To ech a tale that thei tolde hire tonge was tempred to lye
52: Moore than to seye sooth, it semed bi hire speche.
53: Heremytes on an heep with hoked staves ,
54: Wenten to Walsyngham -- and hire wenches after:
55: Grete lobies and longe that lothe were to swynke
56: Clothed hem in copes to ben knowen from othere,
57: And shopen hem heremytes hire ese to have.
(...)
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Translation
IN a
summer season · when soft was the sun,
I clothed myself in a cloak as I shepherd were,
Habit like a hermit's · unholy in works,
And went wide in the world · wonders to hear.
But on a May morning · on Malvern hills,
A marvel befell me · of fairy, methought.
I was weary with wandering · and went me to rest
Under a broad bank · by a brook's side,
And as I lay and leaned over · and looked into the waters
I fell into a sleep · for it sounded so merry.
Then
began I to dream · a marvellous dream,
That I was in a wilderness · wist I not where.
As I looked to the east · right into the sun,
I saw a tower on a toft · worthily built;
A deep dale beneath · a dungeon therein,
With deep ditches and dark · and dreadful of sight
A fair field full of folk · found I in between,
Of all manner of men · the rich and the poor,
Working and wandering · as the world asketh.
Some put them to plow · and played little enough,
At setting and sowing · they sweated right hard
And won that which wasters · by gluttony destroy.
Some
put them to pride · and apparelled themselves so
In a display of clothing · they came disguised.
To prayer and penance · put themselves many,
All for love of our Lord · living hard lives,
In hope for to have · heavenly bliss.
Such as anchorites and hermits · that kept them in their cells,
And desired not the country · around to roam;
Nor with luxurious living · their body to please.
And
some chose trade · they fared the better,
As it seemeth to our sight · that such men thrive.
And some to make mirth · as minstrels know how,
And get gold with their glees · guiltlessly, I hold.
But jesters and janglers · children of Judas,
Feigning their fancies · and making folk fools,
They have wit at will · to work, if they would;
Paul preacheth of them · I'll not prove it here --
Qui turpiloquium loquitur · is Lucifer's hind.
Tramps and beggars · went quickly
about,
Their bellies and their bags · with bread well crammed;
Cadging for their food · fighting at ale;
In gluttony, God knows · going to bed,
And getting up with ribaldry · the thieving knaves!
Sleep and sorry sloth · ever pursue
them.
Pilgrims and palmers · pledged them together
To seek Saint James · and saints in Rome.
They went forth on their way · with many wise tales,
And had leave to lie · all their life after --
I saw some that said · they had sought saints:
Yet in each tale that they told · their tongue turned to lies
More than to tell truth · it seemed by their speech.
Hermits, a heap of them · with hooked staves,
Were going to Walsingham · and their wenches too;
Big loafers and tall · that loth were to work,
Dressed up in capes · to be known from others;
And so clad as hermits · their ease to have.
(...)
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