[Footnote 22: _The Baeviad and the Maeviad_, by W. Gifford, Esq., 1800.] ENGLISH SATIRES. WILLIAM LANGLAND. (1330?-1400?) I. PILGRIMAGE IN SEARCH OF DO-WELL. This opening satire constitutes the whole of the Eighth _Passus_ of _Piers Plowman's Vision_ and the First of Do-Wel. The "Dreamer" here sets off on a new pilgrimage in search of a person who has not appeared in the poem before--Do-Well. The following is the argument of the _Passus_.--"All Piers Plowman's inquiries after Do-Well are fruitless. Even the friars to whom he addresses himself give but a confused account; and weary with wandering about, the dreamer is again overtaken by slumber. Thought now appears to him, and recommends him to Wit, who describes to him the residence of Do-Well, Do-Bet, Do-Best, and enumerates their companions and attendants." Thus y-robed in russet . romed I aboute Al in a somer seson . for to seke Do-wel; And frayned[23] full ofte . of folk that I mette If any wight wiste . wher Do-wel was at inne; And what man he myghte be . of many man I asked. Was nevere wight, as I wente . that me wisse kouthe[24] Where this leode lenged,[25] . lasse ne moore.[26] Til it bifel on a Friday . two freres I mette Maisters of the Menours[27] . men of grete witte. I hailsed them hendely,[28] . as I hadde y-lerned. And preede them par charite, . er thei passed ferther, If thei knew any contree . or costes as thei wente, "Where that Do-wel dwelleth . dooth me to witene". For thei be men of this moolde . that moost wide walken, And knowen contrees and courtes, . and many kynnes places, Bothe princes paleises . and povere mennes cotes,[29] And Do-wel and Do-yvele . where thei dwelle bothe. "Amonges us" quod the Menours, . "that man is dwellynge, And evere hath as I hope, . and evere shal herafter." "_Contra_", quod I as a clerc, . and comsed to disputen, And seide hem soothly, . "_Septies in die cadit justus_". "Sevene sithes,[30] seeth the book . synneth the rightfulle; And who so synneth," I seide, . "dooth yvele, as me thynketh; And Do-wel and Do-yvele . mowe noght dwelle togideres. Ergo he nis noght alway . among you freres: He is outher while ellis where . to wisse the peple." "I shal seye thee, my sone" . seide the frere thanne, "How seven sithes the sadde man, . on a day synneth; By a forbisne"[31] quod the frere, . "I shal thee faire showe. Lat brynge a man in a boot, . amydde the brode watre; The wynd and the water . and the boot waggyng, Maketh the man many a tyme . to falle and to stonde; For stonde he never so stif, . he stumbleth if he meve, Ac yet is he saaf and sound, . and so hym bihoveth; For if he ne arise the rather, . and raughte to the steere, The wynd wolde with the water . the boot over throwe; And thanne were his lif lost, . thorough lackesse of hymselve[32]. And thus it falleth," quod the frere, . "by folk here on erthe;