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 preède them par charité, · 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,