Digital Index of Middle English Verse: No. 4346

DIMEV 4346

IMEV 2737

NIMEV 2737

Pass forth thou pilgrim and bridle well thy beast

‘Balade moral of gode counseyle’ (ascribed in one MS to Gower) — five stanzas rhyme royal

Author(s): John Gower (attrib.); Benedict Burgh (attrib.)

Title(s): ‘Balade moral of gode counseyle’

Subjects: counsel, moral

Versification: — seven-line — ababbcc

Manuscript Witnesses:

1.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Ashmole 59 (SC 6943), ff. 17v-18

Transcription:

PAsse forþe þou pilgryme and bridel wele þy beeste
Loke not ageine for thing þat may betyde
Thenke what þou wilt but speke ay with þe leeste
Avyse þee weele who stondeþe þee besyde…
…Remembre eke þat what man doþe amisse
þou haste or arte or may besuche as he is

Attributed Author: …made by Gower (f. 17v)

Attributed Title: Balade moral of gode counseyle made by Gower (f. 17v)

Editions:

Meyer, Paul. John Gowers Beziehungen zu Chaucer und König Richard II. Bonn: Georgi, 1889: 72.

Macaulay, George Campbell, ed. English Works of John Gower. 2 vols. EETS e.s. 81, 82 (1900, 1901); repr. 1978: clxxiii.

2.Source: Oxford, Bodleian Library Rawlinson C.86 (SC 11951), f. 89v

First Lines:

Passe forthe þu pilgryme and brydell wele þi beste
loke not a gayne for þynge þat may be tyde…

Last Lines:

…But loke be hynde & war þe fram herstonge
Thow shalt haue hurt yf þu play with her lond longe

Note: Four stanzas only.

Editions:

Meyer, Paul. John Gowers Beziehungen zu Chaucer und König Richard II. Bonn: Georgi, 1889: 72.

3.Source: London, British Library Addit. 29729, ff. 6v-7

First Lines:

Passe forthe pilgryme and bridle well thy beaste
loke not agayne for thyngs þat may betyde…

Last Lines:

…thynke well all weye that what man doth amysse
thow hast or art or may be as he is

Attributed Author: benedict burgh (f. 7)

Attributed Title: A leson to kepe well þe tonge owt of Mstr hanlays booke (heading, f. 6v); Explicit to kepe thy tonge well per Magistrum benedictum burgh (below last line, f. 7); both by scribe (John Stow)

Editions:

Förster, Max. “über Benedict Burghs Leben und Werke.” Archiv für das Studium der neueren Sprachen und Literaturen 101 (1898): 53-5: 50-1.

priven: verb To deprive (sb.) of (sth.), deny (sb. sth.); ppl. prived, bereaved, bereft of, deprived of; without; (b) ~ of (from), to deprive (sb. of sth.), deny (sth. to sb.), exclude (sb. from sth.); prived of (from), deprived of (sth.), bereft of; lacking, without; ben of god priving, be a robber of goods; (c) to depose (sb.), dismiss; ~ of (from), deprive (sb.) of (power, kingdom, etc.), remove or dismiss (sb.) from (office or position); (d) to take (sth.) away; prevent (sth.), deny, oppose; weaken (the body); -- also without obj. MED