Piers Plowman
LINEN-LESS and wet-shod · went I forth after,
As a reckless fellow · that of no woe recks,
And went like a vagrant · all my life,
Till I waxed weary of the world · and wished to sleep again,
And leaned me about till Lent · and long time I slept;
And of Christ's passion and penance · that the people saved,
I rested and dreamed there, and snored fast · till ramis palmarum;
Of children and of gloria laus · greatly me dreamed,
And how hosanna to the organ · old folk sang.
One like to the Samaritan · and somewhat to Piers Plowman.
Bare-foot on an ass's back · boot-less came riding,
Without spurs or spear · lively he looked,
As is the way with a knight · that cometh to be dubbed,
To get him gilt spurs · or shoes slashed.
Then was Faith in a window · and cried `a! fili David!'
As doth a herald at arms · when the adventurous come to joust.
Old Jews of Jerusalem · for joy they sang,
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Then I asked of Faith · what all that affair meant,
And who should joust in Jerusalem · `Jesus,' he said,
`And fetch what the Fiend claimeth · Piers' fruit the Plowman.'
`Is Piers in this place?' quoth I · and he looked on me,
`This Jesus of his nobility · will joust in Piers' arms,
In his helm and in his hauberk · humana natura;
That Christ be not known here · for consummatus Deus,
In Piers' garment the Plowman · this pricker shall ride;
For no dint shall him hurt · as in deitate Patris.'
`Who shall joust with Jesus?' quoth I · `Jews or scribes?'
`Nay,' quoth He, `the foul Fiend · and falsehood and death.
Death saith he will undo · and down bring
All that liveth or looketh · in land or in water.
Life saith that he lies · and laith his life to pledge,
That for all that death can do · within three days,
He will go and fetch from the Fiend · Piers' fruit the Plowman...
More here. It's a 1950s translation.
As a reckless fellow · that of no woe recks,
And went like a vagrant · all my life,
Till I waxed weary of the world · and wished to sleep again,
And leaned me about till Lent · and long time I slept;
And of Christ's passion and penance · that the people saved,
I rested and dreamed there, and snored fast · till ramis palmarum;
Of children and of gloria laus · greatly me dreamed,
And how hosanna to the organ · old folk sang.
One like to the Samaritan · and somewhat to Piers Plowman.
Bare-foot on an ass's back · boot-less came riding,
Without spurs or spear · lively he looked,
As is the way with a knight · that cometh to be dubbed,
To get him gilt spurs · or shoes slashed.
Then was Faith in a window · and cried `a! fili David!'
As doth a herald at arms · when the adventurous come to joust.
Old Jews of Jerusalem · for joy they sang,
Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Then I asked of Faith · what all that affair meant,
And who should joust in Jerusalem · `Jesus,' he said,
`And fetch what the Fiend claimeth · Piers' fruit the Plowman.'
`Is Piers in this place?' quoth I · and he looked on me,
`This Jesus of his nobility · will joust in Piers' arms,
In his helm and in his hauberk · humana natura;
That Christ be not known here · for consummatus Deus,
In Piers' garment the Plowman · this pricker shall ride;
For no dint shall him hurt · as in deitate Patris.'
`Who shall joust with Jesus?' quoth I · `Jews or scribes?'
`Nay,' quoth He, `the foul Fiend · and falsehood and death.
Death saith he will undo · and down bring
All that liveth or looketh · in land or in water.
Life saith that he lies · and laith his life to pledge,
That for all that death can do · within three days,
He will go and fetch from the Fiend · Piers' fruit the Plowman...
More here. It's a 1950s translation.