PART I: TEXTS
Reading edition
OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
M CM XX
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
LONDON EDINBURGH GLASGOW NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE CAPE TOWN BOMBAY HUMPHREY MILFORD PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY
PREFACE
Some of the texts in this book have already appeared in the Specimens of Early English edited by the Rev. Richard Morris. But Nos. i, ii, iv, vii, xiii and xv are new, the important shorter pieces, Nos. vi, viii, xvi, xviii, xxi and xxiii, are printed in full, and some, as Nos. viii and ix, are taken from additional or better manuscripts. The pieces are arranged tentatively in what appears to be the chronological order of their composition, but Nos. xix and xvii should have come before the Ancrene Wisse, and No. vii has been placed next to the Proverbs of Alfred, from which it appears to be derived. It is hoped that those who study the older book will find in the present one a useful supplement.
The texts follow the manuscripts in all details. The syntax being comparatively simple, there is not much to be gained by modern punctuation, and that of the manuscripts has gained a fresh importance from theories which have been founded upon it. Where obvious mistakes have been corrected in the text, notice is always given in the footnotes. Additions are made within square brackets, and interlineations are printed between accents.
My best thanks are due to the custodians of the libraries for the facilities which with uniform kindness they extended to me in the collation of the manuscripts.
J. H.
Woodstock, January, 1920.
TABLE OF PIECES AND MANUSCRIPTS
PAGE
I. Worcester Fragments Worcester Cathedral Library, 174. 1
II. Saint Godric’s Hymns British Museum, Royal 5 F. vii. 5
III. The Peterborough Chronicle (A.D. 1132-1154) Bodleian, Laud Misc. 636. 5
IV. Charter of Henry the Second B. M., Harleian Charter iii B. 49. 11
V. A Parable B. M., Cotton Vespasian A. xxii. 12
VI. The Proverbs of Alfred Jesus Coll. Oxford, Arch. E. 29. 18
VII. Memento Mori Same as No. VI. 29
VIII. Poema Morale Lambeth, 487. B. M., Egerton 613. Trinity Coll. Camb., B. 14. 52. 30, 31
IX. Ancrene Wisse A Corpus Christi Coll. Camb., 402. Caius Coll., 234. 54, 55
IX. Ancrene Wisse B Corpus MS., as before. B. M., Cotton Nero A. xiv, with passages from C inserted between asterisks. Variants upon MS. Nero from B. M., Cotton Titus D. xviii (without any indicating letter) and B. M., Cotton Cleopatra C. vi (= C). B indicates agreement of T and C as against N. 60, 61
X. In Diebus Dominicis Lambeth, 487. 76
XI. Hic Dicendum est de Propheta Same as for No. X. 79
XII. Sermons for Palm Sunday and Easter Day Trinity Coll. Camb., B. 14. 52. 82
XIII. Vices and Virtues B. M., Stowe 34. 88
XIV. Laȝamon B. M., Cotton Caligula A. ix. B. M., Cotton Otho C. xiii. 94, 95
XV. Orm Bodleian, Junius 1. 112
XVI. Sawles Warde Bodleian, 34 (to l. 339, p. 127). B. M., Royal 17 A. xxvii (from l. 339, p. 127 to end). 117
XVII. Saint Katherine B. M., Royal 17 A. xxvii. 128
XVIII. The Orison of our Lady B. M., Cotton Nero A. xiv. 132
XIX. Saint Juliana B. M., Royal 17 A. xxvii. Bodleian, 34. 138, 139
XX. The Owl and the Nightingale Jesus Coll. Oxford, Arch. E. 29. B. M., Cotton Caligula A. ix. 148, 149
XXI. The Bestiary B. M., Arundel 292. 176
XXII. Genesis and Exodus Corpus Christi Coll. Camb., 444. 197
XXIII. Kentish Sermons Bodleian, Laud Misc. 471. 214
CORRIGENDA
The listed corrections have been made in the text and marked with mouse-hover popups like this.
1/17 [nu beoþ]
2/30 [fei]ȝe
11/1 þurh MS kurh
12/15 alisendnesse
14/58 filio
17/162 descendi
83/32 For viam pro read vestimenta prosternebant
85/79 secla
87/161 Omit words in brackets at beginning of line
150/16 þat
152/57 wit
154/104 bysemar
160/183 nyht
160/185 vych
160/191 quaþ
166/289 In footnote, Þule
167/289 In footnote, Þule
167/310 eue
168/336 Murehþe ilyche
168/339 holy
221/248 iheed for ihee[r]d
I. WORCESTER FRAGMENTS
“Worcester Cathedral Library, 174.... Its contents are ... (2) the scrap here marked A; (3) the pieces B and C with five more fragments of the same poem. A completes the page on which the glossary ends, and B is on the verso of the leaf. The leaves have been slightly shorn at one side and reduced at top and bottom, but probably to no great extent: the conjectural complement, which is here printed within square brackets, is for the most part fairly obvious, the more so as portions of the lost letters often remain. The whole MS. is in the same large square hand, but the pieces in verse, which are written continuously, like prose, are less carefully executed. The handwriting is of the second half of the twelfth century, perhaps about 1180 A.D. The Latin headings are not in the MS.”
A. Sicut Oues absque Pastore
f. 63 r [S] anctus beda was iboren her on breotene mid us · 2. writen] [bec] Varnhagen. 3. englisc] englise MS. ⁊ he wisliche [writen] awende þ̵ þeo englisc leoden þurh weren ilerde · ⁊ he þeo c[not]ten unwreih · þe questiuns hoteþ · 5 þa derne diȝelnesse · þe de[or]wurþe is · ælfric abbod þe we alquin hoteþ · 7. [fif] V. he was bocare · ⁊ þe [fif] bec wende · Genesis · Exodus · Vtronomius · Numerus · Leuiticus · þ[urh] þeos weren ilærde ure leoden · on englisc · 10 þet weren þeos biscop[es þeo] bodeden cristendom 11. Ripum] Sipum MS. 13. Paulin] [Cwiche]lm Wright. wilfrid of Ripum · Johan of beoferlai · Cuþb[ert] of Dunholme · Oswald of wireceastre · Egwin of heoueshame · æl[dhelm] of malmesburi · Swiþþun · æþelwold · Aidan · Biern of wincæstre · [Pau]lin of rofecæstre · S. Dunston · ⁊ S. ælfeih of cantore · buri · 15 þeos læ[rden] ure leodan on englisc · næs deorc heore liht · ac hit fæire glod · [nu is] þeo leore forleten · ⁊ þet folc is forloren · [nu beoþ] oþre leoden · þeo læ[reþ] ure folc · ⁊ feole of þen lorþeines losiæþ · ⁊ þ̵ folc forþ mid 20 Nu sæiþ [ure] drihten þus · Sicut aquila prouocat pullos suos ad uolandum · ⁊ super eo[s uolitat ·] 22. þis] þus V. þis beoþ godes word to worlde asende · þ̵ we sceolen fæier feþ [festen to him] ·
B. Homo Putredo et Filius Hominis Vermis
f. 63 v en earde · ⁊ alle þeo isceæftan · þe him to [s]cu[l]en · 3. [þe]ne Buchholz. [þon]ne Haufe. ⁊ mid muchele cre[fte · þe]ne mon he idihte · ⁊ him on ileide · lif ⁊ soule · 5 Softliche he heo isom[nede] · ac þær biþ sor idol · þ̵ bodeþ þ̵ bearn : þonne hit iboren biþ · 7. hit [greoneþ ond woan]eþ B. hit [woan]eþ ⁊ mænet þeo weowe · ⁊ þene seoruhfule siþ · ⁊ þ̵ sori idol · 9. [⁊ li]came H. [hire li]came Singer. þ̵ soule schal [⁊ li]came · sorliche idælen · 10 forþon hit cumeþ weopinde · ⁊ woniende iwiteþ · 11. [D]eaþ H., B. [thonne D]eath S. [swo D]eaþ mid his pricke · pineþ þene licame · he walkeþ ⁊ wendeþ ⁊ woneþ [oftes]iþes · 13. wome MS. he sæiþ on his bedde · wo me þ̵ ic libbe · þ̵ æffre mine lif dawes · þus [lon]ge me ilesteþ · 15 for heui is his greoning · ⁊ seorhful is his woaning · ⁊ al [biþ] his siþ · mid seorwe biwunden · him deaueþ þa æren : him dimmeþ [þa] iȝen · him scerpeþ þe neose · him scrinckeþ þa lippen · 19. [him ... skin] no gap in MS. him scorteþ [þe] tunge · [him starkeþ his skin ·] 20 him trukeþ his iwit · him teoreþ his miht · 21. þe ban] perhaps he stan. him coldeþ his [siden ·] liggeþ þe ban stille · þonne biþ þ̵ soule hus · seoruhliche bereaued · 23. [at] B., [of] H. [at] also muchele wunne · þe þer inne wunede · þus biþ þæs bearnes · [bod]unge ifulled · 25 þeo moder greoneþ · ⁊ þ̵ bearn woaneþ · So biþ þeo [bu]rdtid · mid ba`le´wen imenged · 27. In MS. the second half of this line is sorhliche to dæl... copied by mistake from the next line. so biþ eft þe feorþsiþ · Mid seoruwen al bewunden · þonne þe licame ⁊ þe sowle · soriliche to[dæl]eþ : þonne biþ þ̵ wræcche lif · iended al mid sori siþ · 30. [fei]ge Zupitza, [bodi]ge S. 30 þonne biþ þe [fei]ȝe · iflut to þen flore · he biþ eastward istreiht · he biþ sone stif · 32. [col]deþ Z., [hear]deth S. he [col]deþ also clei · hit is him ikunde · Mon hine met mid one ȝerde · ⁊ þa mol[de] seoþþen · ne mot he of þære molde · habben nammore · 35 þonne þ̵ rihte imet · [rih]tliche tæcheþ · þonne liþ þe clei clot · colde on þen flore · ⁊ him sone from [fleoþ] · þeo he ær freome dude · nulleþ heo mid honden · his heafod riht wen[den] · heom þuncheþ þ̵ hore honden · swuþe beoþ ifuled · 40 Gif heo hondleþ þe[ne d]eade · seoþþen his deaȝes beoþ igon · 41. The last half of this line is due to l. 43. sone cumeþ þ̵ wrecche wif · þe [forh]oweþ þene earfeþ siþ · forbindeþ þæs dædan muþ · ⁊ his dimme eȝen · 43. [þonne] H. [Ec] B. 44. þarinne] [þon]ne S., [In]ne H., B. [þon]ne þet riche wif · forhoweþ þene earueþ siþ · for ufel is þeo wrecche lufe · [þari]nne þeo un blisse cumaþ · 45 þonne besihþ þeo soule · sorliche to þen lich[ame ·]
C. Confabulabor cum Amaritudine Animae Meae
f. 64 r [ ] þu me · þeo hwule þet ic wunede inne þe · for þu were leas ⁊ lutiȝ · ⁊ u[n]riht lufedest · Godnesse ⁊ riht · æfre þu onscunedest · hwar is nu þe[o mo]dinesse · swo muchel þe þu lufedæst · 5. [pa]newes Holthausen. 5 hwar beoþ nu þeo pundes · þurh [pa]newes igædered · heo weren monifolde · bi markes itolde · 7. þe] e in darker ink. hwar beoþ [nu] þeo Goldfæten · þeo þe Guldene · comen to þine honden · þin blisse is [nu] al agon · min seoruwe is fornon · hwar beoþ nu þine wæde · þe þ[u] wel lufedest · 10. [sibbe] no gap in MS. 10 hwar beoþ [sibbe ·] þe seten sori ofer þe · beden swuþe ȝeorne · [þet] þe come bote · heom þuþte alto longe · þ̵ þu were on liue · for heo [we]ren grædie · to gripen þine æihte · nu heo hi dæleþ heom imong · [heo] doþ þe wiþ uten · 15 ac nu heo beoþ fuse · to bringen þe ut of huse, b[rin]gen þe ut æt þire dure · of weolen þu ært bedæled · hwui noldest þ[u be]þenchen me · þeo hwile ic was innen þe · 18. semdest] scendest S. ac semdest me mid sunne · fo[rþon] ic seoruhful eam · weile þ̵ ic souhte · so seoruhfulne · buc · 20. [lo]kien S., [ma]kien H., [þe ma]kien B. 20 noldest þ[u lo]kien lufe · wiþ ilærede men · ȝiuen ham of þine Gode · þ̵ heo þe fo[re] beden · heo mihten mid salm songe · þine sunne acwenchen · Mid [ho]re messe · þine misdeden fore biddan · 24. leofli[c] B. heo mihten offrian loc · leofli[che] for þe · 25 swuþe deor wurþe lac · licame cristes · 26. þæne Z., in MS. þære. þurh þæne þu were · alese[d] from helle wite · ⁊ mid his reade blode · þ̵ he ȝeat on rode · þo þu we[re] ifreoed to farene into heouene · ac þu fenge to þeowdome · þurh þæs de[ofles] lore · 30 Bi þe hit is iseid · ⁊ soþ hit is on boken · Qui custodit diuitias ser[uus] est diuitiis þu were þeow · þines weolan · noldest þu nouht þær of d[ælen ·] for drihtenes willæn · ac æfre þu grædiliche · gæderedest þe more · 35 lu[þer]liche eart þu forloren · from al þ̵ þu lufedest · 36. [weo]we H., [ece] we S. ⁊ ic scal wræcche soule [· weo]we nu driæn · eart þu nu loþ ⁊ unwurþ · alle þine freonden · 38. nu ham] nu han MS. nu ham [þun]cheþ alto long · þ̵ þu ham neih list · ær þu beo ibrouht · þaer þu be[on] scalt · 40 on deope sæþe · on durelease huse · þær wurmes wældeþ · al [þet þe] wurþest was · füweles quale holde · þe þu icwemdest ær · 43. þære] [kunde] S., H., B. Mid alre [þære] swetnesse · þeo þu swuþe lufedest · þeo swetnesse is nu al agon · þ̵ b[ittere] þe biþ fornon · 45 þ̵ bittere ilæsteþ æffre · þ̵ swete ne cumeþ þe [næffre ·]
II. SAINT GODRIC’S HYMNS
“Royal 5 F vii, British Museum ... apparently an inserted leaf. This leaf ... belongs to the beginning of the thirteenth century....”
f. 85 r A S ainte marie uirgine moder ihesu cristes nazarene 3. Over onfo, onfong in later hand. 4. wið] w corr. out of þ. onfo schild help þin godric · onfang bring heȝilich wið þe in godes riche · S 5 ainte marie xpistes bur 6. maidenes] id corr. out of rd. maidenes clenhad moderes flur · dilie min sinne rix in min mod · bring me `to´ winne wið þe selfd God. B Crist and sainte marie swa on scamel me iledde 10 þat ic on þis erðe ne silde wid mine bare fote i tredie · C S ainte Nicholaes godes druð · tymbre us faire scone hus · At þi burth at þi bare. Sainte nicholaes, bring vs wel þare.
III. THE PETERBOROUGH CHRONICLE
“Laud Misc. 636, Bodleian Library (MS. E).... A new hand begins with 1132 and continues to the end in 1155 A.D.”
The Anarchy
f. 88 v] M·C·XXXII. Ðis gear com henri king to þis land. þa com henri abbot ⁊ uureide þe muneces of burch to þe king forþi ð he uuolde underþeden ð mynstre to clunie. sua ð te king was wel neh be paht. ⁊ sende efter þe muneces. ⁊ þur`h´ godes milce ⁊ þur`h´ þe biscop of Seresberi ⁊ te biscop of lincol ⁊ te oþre ricemen þe 5 þer wæron þa wiste þe king ð he feorde mid suicdom. Þa he nan mor ne mihte. þa uuolde he ð his nefe sculde ben abbot in burch. oc xpist it ne uuolde. Was it noht suithe lang þer efter þatte king sende efter him. ⁊ dide him gyuen up ð abbotrice of burch. ⁊ faren ut of lande. ⁊ te king iaf ð abbotrice an prior of S’ neod Martin was 10 ge haten. he com on S’ petres messe dei mid micel wurscipe into the minstre.
20. þa wes treson a Emerson, in MS. þa westre sona. M·C·XXXV. On þis gære for se king henri ouer sæ æt te lammasse. ⁊ ð oþer dei þa he lai an slep in scip. þa þestrede þe dæi ouer al landes ⁊ uuard þe sunne suilc als it 15 uuare thre niht ald mone. an sterres abuten him at middæi. Wur`þ´en men suiðe of uundred ⁊ of dred ⁊ sæden ð micel þing sculde cumen her efter. sua dide. for þat ilc gær warth þe king ded. ð oþer daei efter S’ Andreas massedæi · on normandi. Þa wes treson a þas landes. for æuricman sone ræuede oþer þe mihte. 20 Þa namen his sune ⁊ his frend ⁊ brohten his lic to englelande ⁊ bebiriend in Redinge. Godman he wes ⁊ micel æie wes of him. durste nanman misdon wið oðer on his time. Pais he makede men ⁊ dær. Wua sua bare his byrthen gold ⁊ sylure. durste nan man sei to him naht bute god. 25
f. 89 r] Enmang þis was his nefe cumen to englelande Stephne de blais. ⁊ com to lundene. ⁊ te lundenisce folc him underfeng. ⁊ senden ęfter þe ærcebiscop Willelm curbuil. ⁊ halechede him to kinge on midewintre dæi. On þis kinges time wes al unfrið ⁊ yfel ⁊ ræflac. for agenes him risen sona þa ricemen þe wæron swikes. alre fyrst Balduin 30 de Reduers ⁊ held Execestre agenes him. ⁊ te king it be sæt. ⁊ siððan Balduin acordede. Þa tocan þa oðre ⁊ helden her castles agenes him. ⁊ dauid king of scotland toc to uuerrien him · þa þohuuethere þat here sandes feorden betwyx heom. ⁊ hi to gædere comen ⁊ wurðe sæhte. þoþ it litel forstode. 35
M·C·XXX`VII´. Ð is gære for þe `king´ Stephne ofer sæ to normandi ⁊ ther wes under fangen for þi ð hi uuenden ð he sculde ben alsuic alse the eom wes. ⁊ for he hadde get his tresor. ac he to deld it ⁊ scatered sotlice. Micel hadde henri king gadered gold ⁊ syluer. ⁊ na god ne dide me for his saule thar of. 40
41. Þa] no paragraph in MS. 46. After maked erasure of two letters. 56. After þumbes, ⁊ deleted. Þa `þe´ king Stephne to englalande com þa macod he his gadering æt Oxeneford. ⁊ þar he nam þe biscop Roger of Sereberi ⁊ Alexander biscop of lincol ⁊ te canceler Roger hise neues. ⁊ dide ælle in prisun. til hi iafen up here castles. Þa the suikes under gæton ð he milde man was ⁊ softe ⁊ god. ⁊ na iustise ne dide. þa dide`n´ hi alle 45 wunder. Hi hadden him manred maked ⁊ athes suoren. ac hi nan treuthe ne heolden. alle he wæron for sworen and here treothes for loren. for æuric riceman his castles makede ⁊ agænes him heolden. ⁊ fylden þe land ful of castles. Hi suencten suyðe þe uureccemen of þe land mid castel weorces. þa þe castles uuaren 50 maked þa fylden hi mid deoules ⁊ yuelemen. Þa namen hi þa men þe hi wenden ð ani god hefde`n´. bathe be nihtes. ⁊ be dæies. carlmen ⁊ wimmen. ⁊ diden heom `in prisun´ efter gold ⁊ syluer. ⁊ pined heom; untellendlice pining. for ne uuæren næure nan martyrs swa pined alse hi wæron. Me henged up bi the fet ⁊ smoked heom · mid 55 ful smoke. Me henged bi the þumbes other bi the hefed. ⁊ hengen bryniges on `her´ fet. Me dide cnotted strenges abuton here [f. 89 v] hæued. ⁊ uurythen to ð it gæde to þe `h´ærnes. Hi diden heom in quarterne þar nadres ⁊ snakes ⁊ pades wæron inne. ⁊ drapen heom swa. Sume hi diden in crucethus ð is in an cęste þat was scort ⁊ nareu. ⁊ 60 un dep. ⁊ dide scærpe stanes þer inne. ⁊ þrengde þe man þær inne. ð him bræcon alle þe limes. In mani of þe castles wæron lof ⁊ grim. ð wæron rachenteges ð twa oþer thre men hadden onoh to bæron onne. þat was sua maced. ð is fæstned to an beom. ⁊ diden an scærp iren abuton þa mannes throte ⁊ his hals. ð he `ne´ myhte nowiderwardes. 65 ne sitten ne lien ne slepen. oc bæron al ð iren. Mani þusen hi drapen mid hungær. J ne can ne i ne mai tellen alle þe wunder ne alle þe pines ð hi diden wreccemen on þis land. ⁊ ð lastede þa ·xix· wintre wile Stephne was king ⁊ æure it was uuerse ⁊ uuerse. Hi læiden gæildes o`n´ the tunes æure umwile ⁊ clepeden it tenserie. þa 70 þe uureccemen ne hadden nan more to gyuen. þa ræueden hi ⁊ brendon alle the tunes. ð wel þu myhtes faren al a dæis fare sculdest thu neure finden man in tune sittende. ne land tiled. Þa was corn dære. ⁊ flec ⁊ cæse ⁊ butere. for nan ne wæs o þe land. Wrecce men sturuen of hungær. sume ieden on ælmes þe waren sum wile 75 ricemen. sume flugen ut of lande. Wes næure gæt mare wre`c´ce hed on land. ne næure hethen men werse ne diden þan hi diden. For ouer sithon ne for baren `hi´ nouther circe ne cyrce iærd. oc namen al þe god ð þar inne was. ⁊ brenden sythen þe cyrce ⁊ alte gædere. Ne hi ne forbaren biscopes land ne abbotes ne preostes. ac ræueden 80 81. þe ouer] þeouer MS. 97. After moste, alse erased. 99. strengthe corrected out of strengthre. munekes ⁊ clerekes. ⁊ æuricman other þe ouer myhte. Gif twa men oþer ·iii· coman ridend to an tun. al þe tunscipe flugæn for heom. wenden ð hi wæron ræueres. Þe biscopes ⁊ leredmen heom cursede æure. oc was heom naht þar of. for hi uueron al forcursæd ⁊ for suoren ⁊ for loren. War sæ me tilede. þe erthe ne bar nan corn. for þe land 85 was al fordon. mid suilce dædes. ⁊ hi sæden openlice ð xpist slep. ⁊ his halechen. Suilc ⁊ mare þanne we cunnen sæin. we þolenden xix· wintre for ure sinnes. [f. 90 r] On al þis yuele time heold Martin abbot his abbotrice ·xx· wintre ⁊ half gær ⁊ viii· dæis. mid micel suinc. ⁊ fand þe munekes ⁊ te gestes al þat heom be houed ⁊ heold mycel 90 carited in the hus. ⁊ þoþwethere wrohte on þe circe ⁊ sette þar to landes ⁊ rentes. ⁊ goded it suythe. ⁊ læt it refen ⁊ brohte heom into þe neuuæ mynstre on S’ Petres mæsse dæi mid micel wurtscipe. ð was · anno ab incarnatione domini · M·c·xl. a combustione loci ·xxiii· ⁊ he for `to´ Rome. ⁊ þær wæs wæl under fangen fram þe pape 95 Eugenie. ⁊ be gæt thare priuilegies. an of alle þe landes of þabbotrice. ⁊ an oþer of þe landes þe lien to þe circewican. ⁊ gif he leng moste liuen alse he mint to don of þe horderwycan. And he be gæt in landes þat ricemen hefden mid strengthe. Of Willelm malduit þe heold Rogingham þæ castel. he wan Cotingham ⁊ Estun. ⁊ Of hugo of 100 Walteuile he uuan hyrtlingberi · ⁊ Stanewig. ⁊ lx · sol. of Aldewingle `ælc gær´. And he makede manie munekes ⁊ plantede winiærd. ⁊ makede mani weorkes. ⁊ wende þe tun betere þan it ær waes. ⁊ waes god munec ⁊ god man. ⁊ forþi him luueden god ⁊ gode men. 105
Nu we willen sægen sumdel wat belamp on Stephnes kinges time. On his time þe iudeus of Noruuic bohton an xpisten cild be foren estren ⁊ pineden him alle þe ilce pining ð ure drihten was pined. ⁊ on langfridæi him on rode hengen for ure drihtines luue. ⁊ sythen byrieden him. wenden ð it sculde ben for holen. oc ure dryhtin 110 atywede ð he was hali martyr. ⁊ to munekes him namen. ⁊ bebyried him heglice in þe minstre. ⁊ he maket þur[h] ure drihtin wunderlice ⁊ manifældlice miracles. ⁊ hatte he S’ Willelm.
M·C·XXXVI`II´. O n þis gær com dauid king of Scotland mid ormete færd to þis land. wolde winnan þis land. 115 ⁊ him com togænes Willelm eorl of Albamar þe þe king adde beteht euorwic ⁊ to other æuez men mid fæumen ⁊ fuhten wid heom. ⁊ flemden þe king æt te Standard. ⁊ sloghen suithe micel of his genge. [f. 90 v]
M·C·XL. O n þis gær wolde þe king Stephne tæcen Rodbert eorl 120 of gloucestre þe kinges sune · Henries. ac he ne myhte for he wart it war. Þer efter in þe lengten þestrede þe sunne ⁊ te dæi. abuton non tid dæies. þa men eten. ð me lihtede candles to æten bi. ⁊ þat was ·xiii· kalend. April’. wæron men suythe of wundred. Þer efter fordfeorde Willelm ærcebiscop of cantwarberi. 125 ⁊ te king makede Teodbald ærcebiscop þe was abbot in the bec. Þer efter wæx suythe micel uuerre be tuyx þe king ⁊ Randolf eorl of cæstre noht for þi ð he ne iaf him al ð he cuthe axen him. alse he dide alle othre. oc æfre þe mare he iaf heom. þe wærse hi wæron him. Þe eorl heold lincol agænes þe king. ⁊ be nam him al ð he 130 ahte to hauen. ⁊ te king for þider ⁊ besætte him ⁊ his brother Willelm de R[om]are in þe castel. ⁊ te æorl stæl ut ⁊ ferde efter Rodbert eorl of gloucestre. ⁊ brohte him þider mid micel ferd. ⁊ fuhten suythe on Candel masse dæi agenes heore lauerd. ⁊ namen him for his men [h]im suyken ⁊ flugæn. ⁊ læd him to Bristowe ⁊ 135 diden þar in prisun ⁊ [fe]teres. 135-45. MS. rubbed here. þa was al engleland styred mar þan ær wæs. ⁊ al yuel wæ[s i]n lande. Þer efter com þe kinges dohter henries þe hefde ben emperi[ce] i[n A]lamanie. ⁊ nu wæs cuntesse in Angou. ⁊ com to lundene ⁊ te lundenissce folc hire wolde tæcen. ⁊ scæ fleh ⁊ forles þar mic[el.] Þer efter þe biscop of Wincestre henri 140 þe kinges brother Stephnes spac wid Rodbert eorl ⁊ wyd þemperice ⁊ suor heom athas ð he neure ma mid te king his brother wolde halden. ⁊ cursede alle þe men þe mid h[im] heoldon. ⁊ sæde heom ð he uuolde ííuen heom up Wincestre. ⁊ dide heom cumen þider. Þa hi þær inne wæren. þa com þe kinges cuen [mid al]hire strengthe. 145 ⁊ besæt heom. ð þer wæs inne micel hungær. Þa hi ne leng ne muhten þolen þa stali hi ut ⁊ flugen. ⁊ hi wurthen war wid uten ⁊ folecheden heom. ⁊ namen Rodbert eorl of gloucestre. ⁊ ledden him to Rouecestre. ⁊ diden him þare in prisun. ⁊ te emperice fleh in to an minstre. [f. 91 r] Þa feorden þe wisemen betwyx þe kinges 150 freond ⁊ te eorles freond ⁊ sahtlede sua ð me sculde leten ut þe king of prisun for þe eorl. ⁊ te eorl for þe king. ⁊ sua diden. Sithen þerefter sa`t´hleden þe king ⁊ Randolf eorl at Stanford. ⁊ athes suoren ⁊ treuthes fæston ð her nouþer sculde be suiken other. ⁊ it ne for stod naht. for þe king him sithen nam in hamtun. þurhc wicci 155 ræd. ⁊ dide him in prisun. ⁊ ef sones he let him ut þurhc wærse red. to ð forewarde ð he suor on halidom ⁊ gysles fand. þat he alle his castles sculde íiuen up. Sume he iaf up ⁊ sume ne iaf he noht. ⁊ dide þanne wærse þanne he hær sculde. Þa was engleland suythe to deled. sume helden mid te king. ⁊ sume mid þemperice. for þa þe 160 king was in prisun þa wenden þe eorles ⁊ te ricemen þat he neure mare sculde cumen ut. ⁊ sæh`t´leden wyd þemperice. ⁊ brohten hire into Oxenford. ⁊ iauen hire þe burch. Þa þe king was ute þa herde ð sægen. ⁊ toc his feord ⁊ besæt hire in þe tur. ⁊ me læt hire dun on niht of þe tur mid rapes. ⁊ stal ut. ⁊ scæ fleh ⁊ iæde on fote to 165 Walingford. Þær efter scæ ferde ouer sæ. ⁊ hi of normandi wenden alle fra þe king. to þe eorl of Angæu. sume here þankes ⁊ sume here unþankes. for he be sæt heom til hi aiauen up here castles. ⁊ hi nan helpe ne hæfden of þe kinge. Þa ferde Eustace þe kinges sune to france ⁊ nam þe kinges suster of france to wife. wende to bigæton 170 normandi þær þurh. oc he spedde litel. ⁊ be gode rihte for he was an yuel man. for ware se he [com he] 172. MS. mutilated here. dide mare yuel þanne god. he reuede þe landes ⁊ læide mic[ele gilde]s on. He brohte his wif to engle land. ⁊ dide hire in þe caste[l of Can]teberi. God wimman scæ wæs. oc scæ hedde litel blisse mid him. ⁊ xpist ne wolde ð he sculde 175 lange rixan. ⁊ wærd ded ⁊ his moder beien. ⁊ te eorl of Angæu wærd ded. ⁊ his sune henri toc to þe rice. ⁊ te Cuen of france to dælde fra þe king. ⁊ scæ com to þe iunge eorl henri. ⁊ he toc hire to wiue. ⁊ al [f. 91 v] peitou mid hire. Þa ferde he mid micel færd into engle[la]nd. ⁊ wan castles. ⁊ te king ferde agenes him mid 180 micel mare ferd. ⁊ þoþwæthere fuhtten hi noht. oc ferden þe ærcebiscop ⁊ te wise me`n´ betwux heom. ⁊ makede ð sahte ð te king sculde ben lauerd ⁊ king wile he liuede. ⁊ æfter his dæi ware henri king. ⁊ he held`e´ him for fader ⁊ he him for sune. ⁊ sib ⁊ sæhte sculde ben betwyx heom. ⁊ on al engleland. Þis ⁊ te othre foruuardes 185 þet hi makeden. suoren to halden þe king ⁊ te eorl ⁊ te biscopes & te eorles ⁊ ricemen alle. Þa was þe eorl under fangen æt Wincestre ⁊ æt lundene mid micel wurtscipe. ⁊ alle diden him manred. ⁊ suoren þe pais to halden. ⁊ hit ward sone suythe god pais. sua ð neure was here. Þa was þe king strengere þanne he æuert her was. ⁊ te eorl 190 ferde ouer sæ. ⁊ al folc him luuede for he dide god iustise ⁊ makede pais.
M·C·LIIII. O n þis gær wærd þe king Stephne ded ⁊ bebyried þer his wif `⁊ his sune´ wæron bebyried æt fauresfeld. þæt minstre hi makeden. Þa þe king was ded. þa was þe eorl 195 beionde sæ. ⁊ ne durste nan man don oþer bute god for þe micel eie of him. þa he to engleland com. þa was he underfangen mid micel wurtscipe. and to king bletcæd in lundene on þe sunnen dæi be foren midwinter dæi. ⁊ held þær micel curt.
203. MS. mutilated and defaced from this place onward. 204. byried in MS. Þat ilce dæi þat Martin abbot of burch sculde þider faren. þa 200 sæclede he ⁊ ward ded ·iiii· Ñ. iañ. ⁊ te munekes innen dæis cusen oþer of heom sælf. Willelm de Walteuile is gehaten. god clerc ⁊ god man. ⁊ wæl luued of þe kinge ⁊ of alle godemen. and o[n cyric]en byrieden þabbot hehlice ⁊ sone þe cosan abbot ferde ⁊ te muneces [mid him to] oxenforde to þe king [⁊ he] iaf him þat abbotrice. ⁊ he 205 ferde him son[e to linc]ol ⁊ was þ[ær bletcæd to] abbot ær he ham come. ⁊ [sithen] was under fangen [mid mic]el [wurtscipe at] burch. mid [mice]l processiun. ⁊ sua he was alsua at Ramesæie. ⁊ at Torney. ⁊ at . . n ⁊ Spallding ⁊ at S. l. bares. ⁊ . . . ⁊ [he nu is] abbot. ⁊ fa[ire] haued begunnon. xp[ist] him un[ne gode endinge]. 210
IV. CHARTER OF HENRY THE SECOND
“Harleian Charter III B. 49, British Museum.... The document is in a French record hand, and the writer was evidently little versed in the insular script. He uses both þ and th, ƿ and w.”
H’ [þ]urh 1. MS kurh 4. Cantuarabirȝ] last letter ȝ or g; the one has been corrected out of the other: so too in deȝe, l. 6. 14. þingan] þimgan MS. godes ȝefu ænglelandes king gret ealle mine bissceopas ⁊ ealle mine eorlas ⁊ ealle mine scirereuan ⁊ ealle mine þeinas frencisce ⁊ englisce · on þan sciran þe teobalt ercebisceop ⁊ se hiret æt xpistes chyrchen on Cantuarabirȝ habbad land inne freondlice ⁊ ic keþe eow þ̵ ic hebbe heom geunnon þ̵ hi beon ælc þare lande wurþa 5 þe hi eafdon en Edwardes kinges deȝe · ⁊ on Willelmes kinges mines furþur ealdefader · ⁊ on Henrices kinges mines ealdefader · ⁊ saca ⁊ Socne · on strande ⁊ on Streame. On wudan · ⁊ on feldan · tolles ⁊ theames · grithbriches · ⁊ hamsocne · ⁊ forstalles · ⁊ infangenesthiafes · ⁊ fleamene frimtha · ofer heore agene men · binnan Burgan ⁊ butan · 10 swa ful ⁊ swa ford swa mine agene Wicneres hit sechan scolden · ⁊ ofer swa fele þeinas swa ich heom to leten habban. And ic nelle þ̵ eni man enig þing þer on theo · butan hi ⁊ heara wicneras · þe hi hit bitechan · willað · ne frencisce ne englisce · for þan þingan þe ich habbe criste þas gerichtan forgifan minre Saule to echere alisendnesse ⁊ ic 15 nelle geþauian þ̵ enig man þis abrece bi minan fullen frenscipan. God geau gehealde.
V. A PARABLE
“Cotton Vespasian A 22, British Museum. It is composite; a second MS., 224 × 153 mm. in two columns, begins at f. 54 with the pieces printed in OEH i. 217-45. It is written in a small and crabbed hand unlike that of a professed scribe. The use of the contraction marks is unsystematic and the readings are sometimes uncertain.”
Rex Suos Iudicans
[f. 56 v
1
]
11. se] fe MS. 18. sum ... fend added on margin. Printed as shown in text, without leading space. 20. dierewurð] dierewurd MS. ⁊ aldren over an erasure. 21. þeínen over an erasure. 22. scewie] scepie MS. 28. wiðinne] hit hī MS. 29. ⁊ þer ... sandon added lengthwise on margin. [H] it ȝelamp þ̵ an rice king wes. strang ⁊ mihti. his `land´ gélest wide ⁊ side. his folc was `swiðe´ ærfeðtelle. his under þéoden ȝéwer on his cyne rice wuneden. Þa be fel hit swa þ̵ him a þance beféll · to under ȝeíte wá an alle his cyne rice him were frend oðer fend. hold oðer fá. ⁊ he nam him tó rede þ̵ heom wolde 5 ȝearceon anæ grate laðienge. ⁊ þider ȝeclepíen all his underþéod. þ̵ hi bi éne féce to his curt `berie´ come sceolde ⁊ sette ænne déȝie. þ̵ hi alle be þe látst to þa deȝ`i´e. þer were. Ac þis ȝesceod he hadde isétt bi tweone frend ⁊ fend. þ̵ þan hi come mistlice to bérie. ȝef he frend wére. me hine sceolde derewrlice forð clepien. ⁊ do hine wasse. 10 ⁊ ȝiéfe him hís formemete. þ̵ him to lang ne þuhte to abiden of se laford to þe none inn come. Gief he fend wére. me sceolden ánon eter gat ȝemete mid gode repples ⁊ stiarne swépen. ⁊ stiarne híne besíé. ⁊ binde him hand ⁊ fétt. ⁊ do hine in to þiesternesse. ⁊ þer abide of all his ȝeferen were ȝegadered. þ̵ hi alle clone. símle 15 belócen were. Þa sende se king his ærndraches of fif ceðen to alle his under þeoden. to ȝelaðie þis folc. hwet bute ícome súm cófer sum láter`sum frend sum fend´. ⁊ was idon bí ham al swá ær cweðe [we] þ̵ isett was. Þa hit þer to com. þ̵ se hlaford in to þar halle come. mid his dierewurð ȝeferede. mid ǽrlen ⁊ aldren. mid cn`i´hten 20 mid þeínen. þa cweð se hlafor to his. Æér þann we mid ure frienden toðe mete gó. scewie we þes uncoðe mæn ur ȝefó. þa hi to for him cóme. þa wénte he hin to ham ⁊ þus cweð. Un [f. 56 v2] wraste man wat lacede ȝéu an alle míre rice þat ȝíe hatrede ⁊ widerwardnesse aȝénes me ȝe win[ne] sceolde. ⁊ to mine `fá´ ȝebugon. Swá ibrúce ic mine 25 rice ne scule ȝíe mine mete ibite. ac scule þa þe hit mid mire lufe ȝearnede. Þa þis was iségd. þa were cofe abruden into þesternesse. þe hi sturfe hungre. ⁊ se hlaford nam wiðinne to is frenden ⁊ et ⁊ dranc ⁊ macede hine wel bliðe mid his `⁊ þer hi hadden brad ⁊ win. ⁊ vii. sandon´. 30
35. of mihte added on margin. 36. halst] MS. alste. 37. awiðhst] the last six letters on margin. At beginning of following line hst eorðe belucst mid. 38. þan] MS. þ̵ = þat. 44. his] he MS. 48. sielfe] sielþe MS. 50. chereð] cheteð MS. ¶[N]u gode menn understandeð þis bispel. Þes king is ure hlaford almihti god þe is king ofer alle kingen. ⁊ hlaford ofer alle hlafordé. S[t]rang he his ⁊ michti. for he ȝesceop alle þing of nahte. ⁊ na þing ne máȝi áȝenes his wille. ne him wiðstande. for þan him séigd se wítíȝe. Qui celorum contines tronos ⁊ c. þ̵ is. hlaford `of mihte´ 35 þe halst hefenen þrimsettles. ⁊ tó neowelnes`se´ þe under eorðe is be locést. ·iii· prou. þe dunan þu a`wiðhst´ mid þina hand; he is íwiss mihti for þan þe non mihté nis buton fram him. His land is all þes middenard. for he alle ȝesceop. ⁊ all dihte wið ute swince. He us is · king · ⁊ sceppend. ⁊ fader. ⁊ hlaford. King for he mid rihtwisnesse 40 diht `man ⁊ engel god ⁊ euel´. sceppende. for he us machede lichame ⁊ sawle ableow. feder for he us fett ⁊ scred. ⁊ forðteh alse is cyldren. hlaford forþan þe is ȝéie ⁊ drednesse is ofer hus. ⁊ `þas´ áh to bienne. He is hure fader. he lenð us his eorðe tó tolie. his corn to sawe. his eorðe us werpð corn ⁊ westm. níatt. ⁊ dierchin. his loht leóem ⁊ lif. 45 his wáter · drench ⁊ fiscẏnn. his fér manifeald þenínge. his sónne. mone. sterren. rien. dáw. wind. wude. `unitald fultume´ al þ̵ we habbeð of þése feder we habbeð. of wam we alle ⁊ us sielfe habbeð. Múȝe we ahct clepeien hine moder wene we. ȝíe muȝe we. hwat deð si moder hire bearn. formes[t] hi hit chereð ⁊ blissið be þe lichte. ⁊ 50 seþe hi dieð under hire árme [f. 57 r1] oðer hi`s´ hafed heleð to don him slepe. ⁊ reste. Þis deð all ȝíure drihte. he blisseð hus mid dȝéies licht. h[e] sweueð hus mid þiestre nicht. Gíet for an oðre þing god ȝescop þa niht. He wat wel þ̵ maníȝe men bieð sa ful of ȝéscung. mihti efre ísí. Ná ȝewóld ham selfe. to bigeten wrldlic échte. þer for 55 56. hafð] hafd MS. 57. word] worder MS. 61. self cweð] selþ cwed MS. 71. þesen] þ corr. out of p. god hafð ȝescepe ham reste. súme `wile´ hare`s´ unþances. ȝeíet he cweð a wunder word to þar sawle bi þa witíe ysaiam. Numquid potest mulier obliuisci infantem suum ut non misereatur filio uteri sui. þ̵ is la líef maȝíe wiman forȝeten his oge cild. þ̵ hi ne milsi. hire bárn of hire ogen innoð. ⁊ ȝief hi for ȝiet þah hwéðer nell íc 60 for ȝete þe cweð drihte. be þam þe he fader is ⁊ lafórd he him self cweð be þe witíe. Si ego pater ubi est honor meus. si dominus ubi est tim`or´ meus. þ̵ is. gif ic fader ham. wer his mi manscipe. ȝif ic. hlaford wer hís mine aȝéíe? þer fore. G. m. ure king. we oȝeð wr`h´mint. hur sceappend al þat we bieð. ure fader soðe lufe. ur h`l´aford 65 drednesse. ⁊ þis is séo king þe wile wíte an alle his underþeode wá hine lufeð ⁊ hwa hine hateð. hwá him is frend oðer fend. ⁊ þer for he hað ȝelaðed alle fol[c]. to ane dȝéíe. þ̵ is dome`s´ dȝeíe. þ̵ hi alle þer beon be þe latst. hwé seden ærst þ̵ þes ærndraces wer isent of fif cheðen. swa ibeoð. þas fif cheðen beoð fif lágan. for þan þe god is 70 þurh þesen ȝecnówé. Si forme lage þ̵ is si ȝécénde lage. þe god sett formest an þes mannes heorte. þ̵ is þat non man ne don oðere. buton þ̵ þe he wolde þ̵ me ded[e] him. ⁊ don his nixtan al þ̵ he wolde þ̵ me ded[e]him. Wið ute þeser láge ni`s´ man þe ȝescod habbe. Ærndraces of þisser lage wer abel. Seth. enoc. Nóe. ⁊ swíce gode 75 man. Seðe þes middenard was ȝestaþeled fram þa forme man to þa latst þe wrð ét þes [f. 57 r2] wrldes ende. nas tid ne týme ne ne wrð. þ̵ god ne send gode mænn his folc forte ȝelaðie to his rice. Ac si láge sóne adiligde. þurh unwreaste leahtrum ⁊ manifald sénne. Þer efter arerde god þas lage þurh moẏsen þe heretoche of his 80 folce þe he þa ȝecás. ⁊ wráte his him self in stanene wax br`e´dene. ⁊ si ȝeleste sume wíle. ⁊ þer of were larþawes ⁊ ȝelaðieres Moises ⁊ aaron. ⁊ samuel. ⁊ fele oðre. Swa lange þ̵ si alswa swið[e] abreað. ⁊ adiliȝede. þurh unhersamnesse. wat hit com to þa time þe god sende þe halie witíge. ⁊ hi þa arérdon mid hare wríte þurh þes halíe gastes 85 gífe `þa´ god lage. ⁊ rihtleceden þ̵ folc swa se hi mihten. ⁊ bodeden ure`s´ hlafordes to cýme ses helendes ihesu cristes. þe sceolde his aȝén wille. þurh his gastes ȝífe in ure heorte wríte. ⁊ don ús mid his mihte þ̵ stef creft ne 89. ne corr. out of na. 90. manifeald sénne] manifead fénne MS. 98. þurh] þurl MS. 100. ur] un MS. mihte. ⁊ an þesser láȝe of þe witȝin. wer laðieres móche. Eft bine fece ⁊ þes lare ⁊ lage swiðe acolede þurh manifea[l]d 90 sénne. ⁊ hur ⁊ hur þurh false gódes þe ælc þiode ham selfe macéde. sume of golde. súm of silure. of treowe. of stane. ⁊ awente godes lof ⁊ wrhminte fram þe sceappende to þare ȝesceafte. swa þ̵ þa ure halende wes accenned of þam unwemmede mede sante Marie. al se middennard was mid senne begripe. ⁊ al fol`c´ ȝede in to þe`s´ diefles muðe. buton 95 wel feáwe of wam his lefe moder wes istriened. he þa arerd alle godnisse. ⁊ sette his halíe láge. ⁊ þat þe móre his. ȝiaf miht ⁊ strencþe þurh þe gief of his gaste his hesne to fulforðie. þ̵ non oðre laȝe ne mihte. ⁊ understandeð hwu. Þri ampres were an mancyn ær his to cyme. Ure acenneng wes ful. ur lif unwreast. ur deað grislic. he 100 com ⁊ brochte þri þin[g] þer aȝén. he wes acénde of þe clene mede. þe efer þurh lefede mede. hi`s´ lif was haliȝe. his deað ful of milce. his clene acennende clénséde ure fule acennende. his hali lif rihtlecede ure unwreaste lif. his admoded deað ofer com. ⁊ fordede ure soriȝe ⁊ ȝelice deað. þís is [f. 57 v1] si fierðe láge. An þisser were ærndraces ⁊ 105 ȝelaðieres þa apostles ⁊ þe leorninch[n]ihtes. þer efter ures helendes upstíȝe to heuene. þa apostles ⁊ hare íunglenges þe[r] efter come halíe men ⁊ þe hafedmen þe nu beoð in halíe cyrce. ⁊ wrðeð of domes déȝe. þurh þes hali gastes ȝífe. ⁊ al swa ure helende ham leórde. maníȝe þing [t]ehten þa folce to freme. ⁊ þis is si fifte lage. An þisser beoð bedeles 110 ⁊ laðieres to berie archebiscopes. ⁊ biscopes. prestes. ⁊ hare ȝegeng. Ac þah we fif næmmíe. 112. hi] hit MS. 118. þan] þ̵ MS. oðre] ooðre MS. 121. þan] þ̵ MS. witerlice] witetlice MS. 124. þan] þ̵ MS. alle hi [beoð an] on godes wille. ⁊ élc of ham ȝestrenð ⁊ fulfellþ oðre. Of þeses fif ceþen ⁊ of hare bedeles we habbeð ȝéu ȝéséd. Of þe folce we siggeð þ̵ hit cumþ fastlice. fram middenardes anginn alse fele alse deade beoð alse fele beoð to berie ícóme. wat frend. 115 wat fá. ⁊ elce déȝíe þícce þringeð. Ac ȝief ȝé habbeð understande þ̵ we ȝíu er séde. eter gate me his scýft. ⁊ þer me hi to ȝesceodeð. Si gate þ̵ is elces mannes endedeíe. þan he stepð ut of þese life into þan oðre. Ac we sede ȝehw. þ̵ ȝief he frend were me sceolde ȝief him his mórȝe mete þ̵ he þe bet mihte abide þann more mete. Swa hit is here. 120 þan se gode man þe godes lufe hað ȝéfolged to is ende cumþ. witerlice wið ut uúantruce þer cumeð þe hali engles him tó. ⁊ ȝéf hað ahte uniwasse oðer hit wrð ȝewasse iþer pine of þe deaðe þe he her þáleð. oðer efter mid eðelice lette. ⁊ þan lat me þa sawle to merchestowe. þ̵ his se morȝemete si blisse þe he hað an þar sawle. þat wite ȝe wel. 125 nan halege nað his fulle blisse er he under fó adomes deíe his licame. þ̵ wrð se fulle mete. þan se mann mid sawle ⁊ mid licame under-fangð sicernesse of écer blisse. ⁊ wat belimpð hit ȝief he fend his `þe´ to þare gate cumþ? God þurh his [f. 57 v2] mucele milce ne letes us nefer fandie. Ac naþeles ȝief he fend his an unwreast mann þer beoð 130 anú ȝeréd`i´e. þe weregede gastes þe hine uniredlice underfangeð 131. mid] min MS. 140. þo corr. out of to | hali ȝewitien MS. 143. þan] þ̵ MS. middenard] middernad MS. þan] þ̵ MS. 144. cwaceð] cwaced MS. 149. self] selþ MS. mid stiarne swupen. Alse fele unþeawes alse hade upe him ⁊ sennenn. al swa fendes he þer ȝemet. hīne to underfó. ⁊ to don hīne into þiesternesse. oft a domes dȝéi alle godes fend simle fram his ȝesecðe abroden bienn ⁊ hi[n] to hare lean ham þe lange scel ȝeleste. Þus hit hað íbí ⁊ 135 is. ⁊ wrð oft domesdei. Ac þann hit þer to cumþ þ̵ se hlaford á þe mucele deíe. cumþ forté ísí ⁊ frend ⁊ fend. þann cumþ all his underþiede him to fore. þer he sit mid his derewrþe ȝefered mid niȝen anglene had. mid þer unwēmmed meide his moder. mid his apostlen. mid þa hágefaderen. ⁊ þo halíȝe wítien. mid martiren. mi[d] hali 140 confessoren mid halie meiden. mid al þan þe þer midenarde for his lufe werpeð abéc. ⁊ lagelice her him þenið. wic ȝeíe. wic drednesse wurð þer. þan þat fer to for him abernð þ̵ middenard. þan si eorðe alle cwaceð þan þe sterren falleð. si sunne ⁊ se mone aþestreð for godes brictnesse. þe wlcne to gað. and si hali rode tacne mid þe 145 spere ⁊ mid þe neiles þurh angles beoð forð ibrocht. þann þe angles cwaciað. ⁊ tó richtwíse ham adredeð. wat sceol se senfulle don. þe isecgð þer his richtwise deme. þe non ne maíe bechece. non beswice. he his him self witnisse ⁊ deme. Wat sceol se wrecce don. þe bufon iséȝð his hlaford þe he ȝegremed áfeð. under him helle muð open. 150 abuuten him all folc. him selfe bi s`c´a[n]dlice senne beswapen. þer ne mái non frend oðre helpe. ælc had innóh to donne an him selfe. 153. seieð] seied MS. 160. gṛod MS. 162. þe] q̣þe MS. 167. cóm] cón MS. 170. Seðe] sede MS. Þan seieð ham god þe geltẏ mannen ȝe seneȝeden. an ȝeur écenesse. ⁊ ȝe scule [f. 58 r1] birne an mire écenisse. Ȝe seneȝden alse lange alse ȝé lefede ⁊ ȝe scule birne alse longe as íc lefie. Witeð into éce fer. þe is 155 `ȝ´æarced mine fó ⁊ his ȝegen. Son[e] hi wrðeð abroden of his ȝesecþe. ⁊ þan sone geð se hlaford mid his frenden to his mete. þ̵ his to is esten. þe seið an þan hali write Delicie méé sunt esse cum filiis hominum. þat is. Mine esten beoð wunian mid mannen bearnen. Ac we sed[en] ȝíu litl her þ̵ hi sceolden abben god brad ⁊ uin. ⁊ vii 160 sonden. hi sculen habe þ̵ brad þe seið iþe godspel. Ego sum panis uiuus qui de celo descendi. Þet is. Ic ám cwuce bread þe astah fram hefene. seȝð ure helende. Se þe of þese brad ett. ne sterfeð he nefer. Þis bread was ímaced of ane `h´wete corne. al swa se he cweð ȝeðe godspelle. Nisi granum frumenti. ⁊ c. þis corn was ȝesawen 165 þurh þes ængles muð into ðes meidenes ære Marie. in þare burh of nazareth. þis corn cóm fer`s´t inne bethléem. þ̵ cweð us of breade. hit wex ⁊ bleówu. in iudea. hit rípede in ierusalem. Judas ⁊ þat leoðre folc hit répén. ⁊ deden hit an þar rode alswa alse be twenen melstanent. Seðe hit was idon into þer berient alswa into hófne. þanen 170 hit was ibroht up into heofene to þes hahes hlafordes borde. þer hit fet. ⁊ engles. ⁊ mancinn in écenisse. ⁊ þis is hare b`r´ead. hwer scule we win finden? Al swa se he cweð. Ego sum uitis uera. ⁊ c.
VI. THE PROVERBS OF ALFRED
“Jesus College, Oxford, E 29, formerly Arch. i. 29 (J).... written not long after 1276 (Anglia xxx, 222).... Our piece is written continuously as prose, each stanza forming a paragraph, but iv and v are in one without l. 54, which is here supplied, while l. 43 is written at the end of the preceding paragraph and similarly the lines beginning viii-xvii, xix-xxiii. The scribe was evidently struggling with an original which he could not always read; see footnote to l. 105.
“.... the copy of the Poema Morale in the same MS. has undergone a drastic revision which sets it apart among the versions of that poem, and the version of the Owl and Nightingale has suffered, though not to the same extent. On the other hand MS. T was copied by a man who was incapable of remodelling it; though a ruin, it often preserves in details the original.”
Incipiunt documenta Regis Aluredi.
Þus Queþ Alured
VII. MEMENTO MORI
“As for no. vi.”
f. 252 v Mon may longe lyues wene. Ac ofte him lyeþ þe wrench. feyr weder turneþ ofte in to reyne. ⁊ wunderliche makeþ his blench. 5 þar vore mon. þu þe by þench. Al schal falwy þi grene. waylaway. nys king ne quene. þat ne schal drynke of deþes drench. Mon er þu falle of þi bench. 10 þyne sunne þu aquench. Nis non so strong. ne sterk. ne kene. þat may ago deþes wyþer blench.| f. 253 r Yung and olde. briht and schene. Alle he ryueþ on o streng. 15 Fox and ferlych is his wrench. Ne may no mon þar to yeynes. way laway þreting ne bene. Mede. liste. ne leches drench. Mon let sunne and lustes þine. 20 wel þu do ⁊ wel þu þench. Do bi salomones rede. Mon. ⁊ þenne þu schalt wel do. Do as he þe tauhte and seyde. þat þin endinge þe bringeþ to. 25 þenne ne schaltu neuer mys do. Ac sore þu myht þe adrede. way laway such weneþ to lede. Long lif. and blysse vnder fo. Ac deþ luteþ in his scho. 30 Hym stilliche. to for do. Mon hwi nultu þe bi knowe. Mon hwi nultu þe bi seo. of fule fulþe þu art isowe. wurmes fode. þu schalt beo. 35 her nauestu blisse dayes þre. Ac þi lif al þu last in wowe. weylawey deþ þe schal a dun þrowe. þer þu wenest heyust to steo. In deþ schal þi lyf endi. 40 And in wop al þi gleo. World and weole. þe bi swikeþ. I wis heo beoþ þine ifo. If þe world wiþ weole þe slykeþ þat is for to do þe wo. 45 þare fore. let lust ouer go. And eft hit þe likeþ. | f. 253 v weylawey. sore he him bi swikeþ. þat for one stunde oþer two. wurcheþ him pyne. euer mo. 50 Mon. ne do þu nouht swo.
VIII. POEMA MORALE (Lambeth MS.)
“i. Lambeth 487 (L), a small quarto, 177 × 135 mm., of 67 leaves, written towards the end of the twelfth century... nos. x, xi. of this book are also taken from it. The words printed in clarendon in these three pieces are written in red, not inserted afterwards by a rubricator but done at the same time as the rest of the text. The PM ends with fordemet, l. 270, in the middle of a page; the final t has a flourish for its cross stroke; the copyist had apparently no knowledge of any more.
“ii. iii. Egerton 613, B. M.... has two copies of the PM: the second (e) furnishes here a complement to the Lambeth MS. as far as l. 370, with which it ends; the first (E) is used to complete the text. e was written in the first quarter of the thirteenth century, E is somewhat later; the former has accents, the latter none.
“iv. Trinity College, Cambridge, B. 14. 52 (T), on vellum, 135 × 105 mm.; written early in the thirteenth century.... A leaf is lost after f 8, and a new hand begins with f 9; the PM appears to be a distinct MS. (Anglia, iv. 408). The initials of each line are capitals and written apart from their words. A later hand has glossed aihte 42, goodes; ore 53, favour, grace; lean 64, deserving; manke 70, Manca, Mancus.”
In the Lambeth MS, passages “printed in clarendon” are shown here in dark-red boldface.
Trinity MS Parallel Texts
Indentation in the Egerton MSS. (lines 271-end) is as in the original.
f. 59 v ich em nu alder þene ich wes awintre ⁊ a lare. 2. ịḥc̣ ich MS. mi ịc̣ḥ ahte; wit in margin MS. Ich welde mare þene ich dede mi `wit´ ahte bon mare. Wel longe ich habbe child ibon a worde ⁊ a dede þa`h´ ich bo a wintre ald to ȝung ich em on rede. 5 vnnet lif ich habbe iled. ⁊ ȝet me þingþ ilede. þenne ich me bi þenche wel ful sare ich me adrede. mest al þ̵ ich habbe idon bi fealt to child hade. Wel late ich habbe me bi þocht; bute God me nu rede. Fole idel word ich habbe iqueðen soððen ich speke kuðe. 10 fole ȝunge dede idon; þe me of þinchet nuðe. Mest al þ̵ me likede er nu; hit me mis likeð þa muchel fulieð his wil; hine solf he biswikeð. Ich mihte habbe bet idon. hefde ich þe iselþe. 14. un helẹþe MS. Nu ich walde ah ich ne mei; for elde ⁊ for un helþe. 15 Elde me is bi stolen on. er ich hit wiste. ne michte ich seon bi fore me. for smike ne for miste. Erȝe we beoð to done god. ⁊ to ufele al to þriste. Mare eie stondeð men of monne þanne hom do of criste. þe wel ne doð þe hwile þe ho muȝen. wel oft hit schal rowen; 20 þenne ȝe mawen sculen ⁊ repen þ̵ ho er sowen. Do he to gode þ̵ he muȝe þe hwile þ̵ he bo aliue. f. 60 r ne lipnie na mon to | muchel to childe ne to wiue. þe him solue forȝet for wiue ne for childe; he scal cumen in uuel stude bute him God bo milde. 25 Sendeð sum god bi foren eow. þe hw[i]le þ̵ ȝe muȝen to houene. for betere is an elmesse biforen; þenne boð efter souene. 27. ịḷich MS. 28. ịḥ ich MS. Alto lome ich habbe igult a werke ⁊ o worde. Al to muchel ich habbe ispent. to litel ihud in horde. Ne beo þe loure þene þe solf; ne þin mei. ne þin maȝe. 30 Soht is þ̵ is oðer`s´ monnes frond betre þen his aȝen. Ne lipnie wif to hire were. ne were to his wiue bo for him solue ech .Mon. þe `h´wile þ̵ he bo aliue. Wis is þe to him solue þench þe hwile þe mot libben. for sone wule hine forȝeten þe fremede ⁊ þe sibbe. 35 þe wel ne deð þe hwile he mai; ne scal wenne he walde. Monies monnes sare iswinc habbeð oft un holde. Ne scal na mon don afirst. ne slawen wel to done. for moni mon bihateð wel þe hit forȝeteð sone. Þe .Mon. þe wule siker bon to habben Godes blisse. 40 do wel him solf hwile þ̵ he mai; þenne haueð he his mid iwisse. þes riche .Men. weneð bon siker þurh walle ⁊ þurh diche. þe deð his echte on sikere stude he hit sent to heueneriche. for þer ne þerf he bon of dred of fure ne of þoue f. 60 v þer ne | þerf he him binimen þe laðe ne þe loue. 45. ȝeve] v corr. out of f MS. 45 þer ne þerf he habben kare of ȝeve ne of ȝelde. þider he sent. ⁊ solf bereð to lutel ⁊ to selde. þider we sculen draȝen ⁊ don wel ofte ⁊ ilome. for þer ne scal me us naut binimen mid wrangwise dome. þider ȝe sculen ȝorne draȝen. walde ȝe god ileue. 50. þer] þ̵ MS. 50 for ne mei þer hit ou binimen king ne reue. Al þ̵ beste þ̵ we hefden þider we hit solde senden for þer we hit michte finden eft. ⁊ habben buten ende. Þo þe er doð eni God for habben godes are. al he hit scal finden eft þer ⁊ hundred fald mare. 55 Þe þet echte wile halden wel hwile þe he muȝe es welden. Giue hies for godes luue; þenne deþ hes wel ihalden. Vre swinc ⁊ ure tilþe is ofte iwoned to swinden. Ach þ̵ þe we doð for godes luue; eft we sculen al finden. Ne scal nan ufel bon un bocht. ne nan god unforȝolden. 60 vfel we doþ al to muchel. ⁊ god lesse þenne we sculden. Þo þe mest doð nu to gode. ⁊ þe lest to laðe. Eiðer to lutel ⁊ to muchel scal þunchen eft hom baþe. Þer me scal ure werkes weien bi foran þe heuen king. and ȝeuen us ure swinkes lan efter ure erninge. 65 Ech mon mid þ̵ he hauet. mei buggen houene riche. f. 61 r þe mare haueþ ⁊ þe þe lesse; baþe hi | muȝen iliche. Al se mid his p`e´nie alse oðer mið his punde. þ̵ is þe wunderlukeste chep; þ̵ eni mon efre funde. ⁊ þe ðe mare ne mai don; do hit mid his gode þonke. 70 Alse wel se þe þe haueð golde fele manke. ⁊ oft god kon mare þonc þen þe him ȝeueð lesse. ⁊ his werkes ⁊ his weȝes his milce. ⁊ rihtwisnesse. lutel lac is gode lof; þ̵ kumeð of gode wille. ⁊ ec lete muchel ȝeue of þan þe herte is ille. 75 Houene ⁊ horþe he ouer sich. his eȝen boð swa brichte. Sunne ⁊ mone ⁊ houen fur boð þestre aȝein his lihte. Nis him noht for holen ni hud. swa muchele boð his mihte. nis hit ne swa derne [idon] ne [a] swa þostre nihte. he wat wet þenkeð ⁊ hwet doð alle quike wihte. 80 Nis na lauerd swich se is crist. ne king swuch ure drihten. houene ⁊ orðe ⁊ al þ̵ is biloken is in his honde. 82. ịṣ his MS. 83. After fuȝeles in, k deleted. he deð al þ̵ his wil is; a wettre ⁊ alonde. He makede fisses in þe se ⁊ fuȝeles in þe lifte. he wit ⁊ waldeð alle þing ⁊ scop alle scefte. 85 he is hord buten horde ⁊ ende buten ende. he ane is eure an ilche stude wende þer þu wende. he is buuen us ⁊ bi noþen. bi foren ⁊ bi hinden. þe þe deð godes wille uwer he mei him finden. Helche rune he iherð ⁊ wat alle deden. 90 he þurþ sicheþ uches monnes þonc. Wi hwat scal us to rede. We þ̵ brokeð godes hese ⁊ gulteð swa ilome. hwet scule we seggen oðer don et þe muchele dome. f. 61 v Þa þe luueden unriht ⁊ ufel lif | leden. Wet sculen ho seggen oðer don; þen þe engles bon of dred. 95 hwet sculen we beren biforen us mid hom scule we iquemen. þo þe neure god ne dude þe houenliche deme. þer sculen bon doule swa fole þ̵ wulleð us for wreien. ⁊ nabbeð hi naþing forȝeten of al þ̵ ho iseȝen. Al þ̵ we mis duden her; ho hit wulleð kuðe þere. 100. Supplied from MS. e. 100 [buten wé habbe hit íbét. ðe hwile wé her wére] Al ho habbeð in hore write; þ̵ we mis duden here. þach we nusten ne ni seȝen. ho weren ure ifere. Hwet sculen ordlinghe`s´ don. þa swicen ⁊ ta forsworene hwi boð fole iclepede. ⁊ swa lut icorene. 105. ẉ hwon MS. 105 wi hwi weren ho bi ȝeten to hwon weren ho iborene. þ̵ sculen bon to deþe idemet. ⁊ eure ma for lorene. Ech .Mon. scal him solue þer bi clepie ⁊ bidemen. 108. temen] demen MS. his aȝen werch ⁊ his þonc te witnesse he scal temen. ne mei him na .Mon. alsa wel demen ne alswa rihte 110 for nan ne knauð him ase ȝere; buten ane drihte. 111. before werkes, werhes deleted. Ech .Mon. wat him solue best; his werkes. ⁊ his wille. Þe ðe lest wat bi seiþ ofte mest; þe hit al wat is stille. nis nan witnesse alse muchel se monne`s´ aȝen horte. Wa se seið þ̵ he bo hal. him solf wat best his smirte. 115 Ech .Mon. scal h[i]m solf demen to deðe oðer to liue. þa witnesse of his aȝen werch; hine þer to scal driue. Al þet ech .Mon haueð idon soððen he com to monne f. 62 r sculde he | hit sechen o boke iwriten he scal iþenchen þenne. Ah drihten ne demeð nenne .Mon. efter his biginnigge. 120 ah al his lif scal bon suilch boð his endinge. ȝef þ̵ his uuel al hit is uuel ⁊ God ȝefe god his ende. God ȝeue þ̵ ure ende bo god. ⁊ wite þ̵ he us lende. þe .Mon. þ̵ uuel don na god. ne neure god lif leden. er deð ⁊ dom come to his dure he mei him sare adreden. 125 þ̵ he ne muȝe þenne biden are. for þ̵ itit ilome. for þi he is wis þe biet ⁊ bit ⁊ bet bi fore dome. Wenne deð is attere dure wel late he biddeþ are. Wel late he latheð uuel werc; þe ne mei hit don ne mare. þ̵ achten we to leuen wel. for ure drihten solf hit seide. 130. þing̣chþ MS. 130 A hwilke time se eure .Mon. of þinchþ his mis dede. Oþer raþer oðer later; milce he scal imeten. 132. þe] we MS. Ac þe þ̵ þer naf[ð] nocht ibet; wel muchel he haueð to beten. Monimon seit hwa rechð of pine þe scal habben þende. Ne bidde ich na bet bo alesed a domes dei of bende. 135 lutel he wat wet is pine. ⁊ lutel he hit scaweð hwice hete is þer þa saule wuneð hu biter wind þer blaweð. hefde he bon þer enne dei oðer twa bare tide; nolde he for al middenerd þe þerdde þer abiden. þet habbeð iseid þ[e] comen þonen þa hit wisten mid iwissen. 140 wa wurð sorȝe seueȝer. for souenihte blisse. f. 62 v In hure blisse þe | þe ende haueð. for endelese pine. betere is wori water drunch; þen atter meind mid wine. Swines brede is swiðe swete. swa is of wilde dore. 144. abuh] abuṭẹh MS. alto dore he is abuh; þe ȝefð þer fore his swore. 145 Ful wombe mei lihtliche speken of hunger. ⁊ of festen; swa mei of pine þe ne cnauð þe scal a ilesten. Hefð he ifonded summe stunde; he wolde al seggen oðer. Et lete him were wif. child. suster. feder ⁊ broðer. Al he walde ⁊ oðerluker don ⁊ oðerluker þenchen 150 Wenne he bi þohte on helle fur þe nawiht ne mei quenchen. Eure he walde her inne wawe ⁊ ine wene wunien; 152. Before þe, me deleted. Wið þ̵ þe mihte helle pine bi flien ⁊ bi sunien Et lete him were al world wele ⁊ orðliche blisse. for to þ̵ muchele blisse cumen is murþe mid iwisse. 155 Iwule nu cumen eft to þe dome þ̵ ich er ow of sede A þa dei ⁊ at ta dome us helpe crist ⁊ rede. þer we muȝen bon eþe offerd ⁊ herde us adreden. þer he scal al son him bi foren his word ⁊ ec his deden. Al scal þer bon þenne cud þer men luȝen her ent stelen. 160 Al scal þer bon þanne unwron; þ̵ men wruȝen her ⁊ helen. We sculen alre monne lif iknauwen al se ure ahen. þer sculen eueningges bon þe riche ⁊ þe laȝe. 163. skamie] smakie MS. Ne scal na mon skamie þer ne þerf he him a dreden. f. 63 r Gif him her of þincþ | his gult ⁊ bet his misdede. 165 for him ne scameþ ne ne gromeð þe sculen bon iborȝen. Ach þo þre habbeþ scome ⁊ grome ⁊ oft fele sorȝe. Þe dom scal sone bon idon ne lest he nawiht longe. ne scal him na mon mene þer of strengþe ne of wronge. þe sculen habbe herdne dom þa her weren herde. 170 þa þe uuele holden wreche men ⁊ uuele laȝe redde. Ec efter þ̵ he efþ idon sal þer þenne [beon] idemet. 172. Supplied from MS. e. [bliðe mei hé ðenne beon. þe god háfð wel icwemed] Alle þa þi sprunge boþ of adam ⁊ of eue. Alle hi sculen cumen þider for soðe we hit ileueð. 175 þa þe habbeð wel idon efter hore mihte. to houene riche hi sculen faren forð mid ure drihte. Þa þe habbeð doules werc idon. ⁊ þer inne bo ifunde. 178. mid ṃịḍ MS. hi sculen faren forð mid him in to helle grunde. Þer hi sculen wunien a buten are ⁊ ende. 180 Ne brekeþ neure drihte helle gate for lesen hi of bende. Nis na sullic þech hom bo wa ⁊ hom bo uneade. Ne scal neure eft crist þolie deþ for lesen hom of deaþe. Enes drihten helle brec his frond he ut brochte. him solf he þolede deð for him . wel dore he hom bohte. 185 Nalde hit mei do for mei. ne suster for broðer. nalde hit sune do for fader. ne na mon for oðer. Vre alre lauerd for his þrelles ipined wes a rode. vre bendes he unbon[d] ⁊ bohte us mid his blode. f. 63 v We ȝeueð | uneðe for his luue a stuche of ure brede. 190 Ne þenke we noht þ̵ he scal deme þa quike ⁊ þa dede. Muchele luue he us cudde. walde we hit understonde þ̵ ure eldre misduden; we habbeð uuele on honde. Deþ com in þis middenerde þurh þes doules honde. ⁊ sake ⁊ sorȝe ⁊ swinc a watere ⁊ a londe. 195 Vre forme fader gult. we abuȝeð alle. 196. Supplied from MS. e. [eal his óf spring efter him. en hearme is bi fealle.] þurst ⁊ hunger. chele ⁊ hete. helde ⁊ unhelðe. þurh him deð com in þis middenerd ⁊ oðer uniselðe. Nere na mon elles ded ne sec ne nan unsele. 200 ac mihten libben eure ma a blisse ⁊ a hele. lutel hit þuncheð moni mon. ac muchel wes þa sunne. for hwam alle þolieð deð þe comen of hore cunne. 203. ḥọṛẹ ure MS. Hore sunne ⁊ ec ure aȝen sare us mei of þinche. þurh sunne we libbeð alle in sorȝe ⁊ in swinke. 205 Suððen God nom swa muchele wrake for are misdede; We þe swa muchel ⁊ swa ofte mis doð. we muȝen eðe us adrede. 207. bare] þare MS. Adam and his of sprung for are bare sunne. Wes fele undret wintre an helle pine ⁊ an unwunne. þa þe ledden hore lif mid unriht ⁊ mid wrange. 210. do] doṇ MS. 210 buten hit gode`s´ milce do ho sculen bon þer wel longe. Godes wisdom is wel muchel ⁊ alswa is his mihte ⁊ nis his milce naut lesse. ac bi þan ilke iwichte. f. 64 r Mare he ane mei for ȝeuen. þen | al folc gulte cunne. Sulf douel mihte habben milce. ȝif he hit bigunne. 215 Þa þe godes milce secheð; he iwis mei ha ifinden. Ac helle king is are les with þa þe he mei binden. þe þe deþ is wille mest; he haueð wurst mede. 218. baþ̵ MS. scal] scab MS. His baþ scal bon wallinde. his bað scal bon berninde glede. Wurst he deð his gode frond; þenne his fulle fond; 220 God scilde alle godes frond. a wih swilche freonde. Neure in helle hi com. ne þer ne come reche. þach ich elches worldes wele. þer me mahte feche þ̵ his wulle seggen on þat wise men us seiden. ⁊ aboken hit writen þer [me] mei hit reden. 225 Ich hit wille seggen þan þe hit hom solf nusten. warni hom wið hore unfrome. ȝif ho me wulleð lusten. vnderstondeð nu to me edi men ⁊ arme. Ich wulle tellen of helle pin; ⁊ wernin ow wið herme. 229. ịṣ his MS. In helle his hunger ⁊ þurst; twa uuele iuere. 230 þas þolieð þa [þe] weren maket niþinges here. Þer is waning ⁊ wow. efter eche streche. ho fareð from hete to hete. ⁊ hech to frure þe wreche. þenne hi bið in þere hete; þe chele him þunchet blisse. þenne hi cumeð eft to þe chele; of hete hi habbeð misse. 235 hi hem deð wa inoch nabbeð hi nane blisse. 236. wurs] þurs MS. 237. mọuȝen MS. Nute hi hweþer hem deþ wurs mid neure nane wisse. f. 64 v hi walkeð eure ⁊ secheð reste | ac `ho´ ne muȝen imeten. for þi þe ho nolden þe hwile þ̵ ho mihten here sunne beten. ho secheð reste þer nis nan. for þi ne muȝen hi es finden. 240 Ac walkeð weri up ⁊ dun; se water deþ mid winde. þo boð þa þe weren her a þanke unstedefeste. ⁊ þa þe gode biheten heste ⁊ nolden hit ileste. þa þe god werc bigunnen ⁊ ful enden hit nolden. Nu witen her. ⁊ nuðe þer. ⁊ nusten hwat hi wolden. 245 þer is bernunde pich hore saule to baþien inne. þa þe ledden here lif in werre ⁊ in winne. þer is fur þ̵ is undret fald hattre. þene bo ure. Ne mei quenchen salt weter ne uersc of þe burne. þis is þ̵ fur þ̵ efre bernd ne mei nawiht hit quenchen; 250 Þer inne boð þa þe was to lof wreche men to swenchen. þa þe weren swikelemen ⁊ ful of uuel wrenchen. þa þe mihten uuel don. þe þe lef hit wes to þenchen. Þe luueden tening ⁊ stale. hordom ⁊ drunken. ⁊ a doules werche bliþeliche swunken. 255. lese] lele MS. 255 Þa þe weren swa lese þ̵ me hom ne mihte ileuen. Med ierne domes men. ⁊ wrongwise reuen. þ̵ oðer monnes wif lof. his aȝen et lete. þo þe sungede muchel; a drunke ⁊ an ete. þe wreche mon binom his ehte. ⁊ leide his on horde. 260 þ̵ lutel let of godes borde. ⁊ godes worde. f. 65 r ⁊ þo þe his aȝen nalde ȝeuen þer he isech | þe node Ne nalde iheren godes sonde. þenne he hit herde bode. Þe þ̵ is oðers monnes þing. loure þene hit sculde. ⁊ weren to gredi of solure ⁊ of golde. 265 ⁊ þa þe untrownesse duden þon þe ho scu`l´den bon holde. ⁊ leten þet ho sculden don. ⁊ duden þ̵ ho wolden. 267. weṇren MS. Þa þe weren eure abuten þisse worldes echte. 269. iquemde] iquende MS. ⁊ duden al þ̵ þe laþe gast hechte to ⁊ tachte. ⁊ alle þe þen anigewise doulen i quemde. 270 Þa boð nu mid him in helle fordon ⁊ fordemet. (EGERTON MS., SECOND COPY.) f. 69 r Bute þá þe óf ðufte sare heore mis dede. ⁊ gunne heore gultes beten ⁊ betere líf læde. Þer beoð neddren ⁊ snaken. éuete ⁊ frute. þa tereð. ⁊ freteð. þe uuele speke. þe nið fulle. ⁊ te prute. 275 Neure sunne ðer ne scínð. ne mone ne steorre. þer is muchel godes hate. ⁊ muchel godes eorre. Æure ðer ís uuel sméch. ðusternesse ⁊ eie. nis ðer neure oðer líht. ðene þe swierte leie. Þer ligget ladliche fund. in strange raketeȝe. 280 þ̵ beoð þa ðe wére mid gode on heuene wel heȝe. Þer beoð ateliche fund. ⁊ eisliche wihte. þas scule þa wrecche í fon. þe suneȝede ðurh sihte. 283. is ịṣ MS. Þer is ðe laðe sathanas. ⁊ belzebud sé ealde. eaðe hi muȝen beo óf dréd. þe híne scule bi healde. 285 Ne mei nan heorte hit iðenche. ne tunge ne can telle. hu muchel píne na hu uele sunden ínne helle. Wið þa pine ðe þer beoð. nelle ich eow naht leoȝen. nis hit bute gamen ⁊ gléo. eal þ̵ man mei hér dreoȝen. End ȝut ne deð heom naht sa wá. ín ða laðe bende. | 290. After habbe, l erased. f. 69 v þ̵ hí witeð þ̵ heore píne sceal neure habbe ende. 291 Þar beoð þa heðene men. þé wǽre laȝe liese. þe nes naht óf godes bi bode. ne óf godes hése. [U]uele cristene men. hí beoð heore ifere. þa ðe heore cristen dom. uuele heo`l´de hére. 295 [Ȝ]ut hí beoð á wurse stede. on ðeré helle grunde. ne sculen hí neure cumen út. for marke ne for punde. [N]e mei heom naðer helpen þer. íbede ne elmesse. for nis naðer inne helle. áre ne for ȝiuenesse. Sculde him éch man ðe hwile hé muȝe óf ðas helle píne. 300 ⁊ werni ech hís freond þer wið swa ich habbe mine. Þá ðe sculden heom ne cunne. ich heom wulle teche. ich kan beon ȝief ich sceal. lichame ⁊ sawle leche. Léte wé þ̵ god for but. ealle manne cunne. ⁊ do wé þ̵ hé us hét. ⁊ sculde wé us wið sunne. 305 Luuie we god mid ure heorte. ⁊ mid al ure mihte. ⁊ ure émcristen eal us sulf. swa us lerde drihte. Eal þ̵ me rǽt ⁊ eal þ̵ me singð. bi fore godes borde. 308. eal] Eeal MS. 309. Ealle] alle MS. níwe] n corr. out of r. eal hít hanget ⁊ bi halt. bi ðisse twam worde. Ealle godes laȝe he fulð. ðe níwe ⁊ ða ealde. 310 þe ðe ðas twá luue háfð. ⁊ wel hí wule healde. Ac hí beoð wunder earueð healde. swá ófte gulteð ealle. Fór hít ís strang to stande lange. ⁊ líht ís to fealle. [A]ac drihte crist hé ȝíue us strengðe. stande þ̵ wé mote. ⁊ óf ealle ure gultes `unne´ us cume to bote. W 315 é wilnieð éfter woruld wéle. ðe lange ne mei leste. ⁊ leggeð eal ure iswinch. ón ðinȝe unste`de´ feste. | f. 70 r Swunche wé for godes luue. healf þ̵ wé doð for æhte. ne béo wé naht swá óf bicherd. ne sa uuele bi kehte. Ȝif wé serueden gode swa wé doð ermínges. 320 mare wé hedden en héuene. ðenne eorles hér ⁊ kinges. Né muȝen hí werien heom wið chele. wið þurste ne wið hunger. ne wið ulde. ne wið deaðe. þe uldre ne ðe ȝeonger. Ac ðer nis hunger ne ðurst. ne dieð. ne unhelðe ne elde. of þisse riche wé ðencheð ófte. ⁊ of þere to selde. 325 Wé scolden ealle us biðenche ófte. ⁊ wél ilome. hwét wé beoð to whán wé scule. ⁊ óf hwán wé come. Hú litle hwíle wé beoþ hér. hú lange elle`s´ hwáre. hwét wé muȝe habben hér. ⁊ hwét finde þere. Ȝíef wé were wise men. ðis wé scolde ðenche. 330 bute wé wurðe us íwer. ðeos woruld wule us for drenche. Mest ealle men he ȝíueð drinche. óf ane deofles scenche. hé sceal him cunne sculde wél. ȝíf hé híne nele screnche. M id ealmihtiȝes godes luue. ute wé us bi werien. wið ðises wrecches woreldes luue. þ̵ hé maȝe us derien. 335 Mid festen ælmes ⁊ ibede. werie wé us wið sunne. Mið ða wepne ðe god haueð. bi ȝíten man cunne. Léte wé þe brade strét. ⁊ ðene wei bene. 338. let] ḷec MS. þe let þ̵ niȝeðe dél to helle of manne. ⁊ ma ich wéne. Gá wé ðene nærewne wei. ⁊ ðene wei grene. 340 ðer forð fareð litel folc. ac hit is feir ⁊ scéne. Þé brade strét is ure íwill. ðe ís us lað to forlǽte. þa ðe eal folȝeð hís íwill. fareð bi ðusse stréte. Hí muȝen lihtliche gán mid ðere under hulde. 344. wude] wade MS. f. 70 v ðurh ane godlíese wude `in to´ ane bare felde. 345 [Þ]e nærewei ís godes hése. ðer forð fareð wél fiewe. þ̵ beoð ða ðe heom sculdeð ȝeorne wið ǽche un ðeawe. [Þ]as gað uníeðe ȝeanes ðe clíue. aȝean þe heaȝe hulle. ðas leteð eal heore aȝen wíll. for godes hése to fulle. [G]a wé alle þene wei. for he us wule bringe. 350 mid te feawe feire men. be foren heuen kinge. Þer is ealre murhðe mest. mid englene sange. ðe ís a þusend wintre ðer. ne ðincð him naht to lange. Þe ðe lest haueð. hafð swa michel þ̵ hé ne bit namare. þe ða blisse for ðas for lét hít him mei reowe sare. 355 [N]e mei nan uuel ne na wane beon inne godes riche. ðeh þer beoð wununges fele. æch oðer uniliche. Sume ðer habbeð lesse murhðe. ⁊ sume habbeð mare. æfter ðan þe dude her. efter ðan þ̵ he swanc sare. [N]e sceal ðer beon ne bried ne wín. ne oðer cunnes éste. 360 god ane sceal beo eche líf. ⁊ blisse. ⁊ éche reste. [N]é sceal ðer beo fah ne græi. ne kuning ne `er´míne. ne aquierne. ne martres cheole. ne beuer né sabelíne. [N]e sceal ðer beo sciet ne scrud. ne woruld wele nane. eal þe murhðe þe me us bi hat. al hít sceal beo god ane. 365 [N]e mei na murhðe. beo swa muchel. se is godes sihte. [H]e ís soð sunne ⁊ briht. ⁊ dei ábuten nihte. [H]e is ælches godes ful. nis him na wið uten. na god nis him wane þe wunieð him abuten. Þer is wéle ábute gane. ⁊ reste abuten swinche. 370 þe mei ⁊ nele ðider cume. sare hit him sceal óf ðinche. (EGERTON MS., FIRST COPY.) f. 12 v Þer is blisse a buten treȝe. ⁊ lif a buten deaþe þe eure scullen wunien þer. bliþe muwen ben eþe Þer is ȝeoȝeðe bute ulde. ⁊ hele a buten vn helðe nis þer so`re´we ne sor. ne neure nan vn sealþe 375 Þer me scal drihte sulf i seon. swa he is mid iwisse he one mai ⁊ scal al beo. engle ⁊ manne blisse And ðeh ne beod heore eȝe naht. alle iliche brihte ði nabbed hi nouht iliche. alle of godes lihte On þisse `liue´ hi neren nout. alle of one mihte 380 ne þer ne scullen hi habben god. alle bi one ȝihte Þo scullen more of him seon. þe luuede him her more ⁊ more icnawen ⁊ iwiten. his mihte ⁊ his ore On him hi scullen finden alþat man mai to lesten hali boc hi sculle i seon. al þat hi her nusten 385 Crist scal one beon inou. alle his durlinges he one is muchele mare ⁊ betere. þanne alle oþere þinges Inoh he haued þe hine haueð. þe alle þing wealded 388. hem] e above ị MS. of him to sene nis no sed. wel hem is þe hine bi healdeð God is so mere ⁊ swa muchel. in his godcunnesse 390 þ̵ al þ̵ is. ⁊ al þat wes is wurse. þenne he ⁊ lesse Ne mai it neure no man oþer segge mid iwisse hu muchele murhðe habbet þo. þe beod inne godes blisse T o þere blisse us bringe god. þe rixlet abuten ende þenne he vre soule vn bint. of licames bende 395 Crist ȝyue us leden her swilc lif. ⁊ habben her swilc ende þat we moten þuder come. wanne we henne wende. AmeN.
POEMA MORALE (Trinity MS.)
Lambeth MS (above) Parallel Texts
f. 1 r I ch am nu elder þan ich was a wintre ⁊ a lore. Ich wealde more þan idude mi wit oh to be more To longe ich habbe child iben a worde ⁊ a dade. Þeih ibie a winter eald to jung ich am on rade. 5 Vnnet lif ich habbe ilad ⁊ ȝiet me þincheð ilade Þan ibiðenche me þar on wel sore ime adrade. Mast al ich habbe idon is idelnesse ⁊ chilce. Wel late ich habbe me bi þoht bute me god do milce. Fele idel word ich habbe ispeken seðen ich speken cuðe. 10 ⁊ fele ȝeunge dade idon þe me ofðinkeð nuðe. Alto lome ich habbe igult a werke ⁊ a worde. Alto muchel ic habbe ispend to litel ileid on horde. Mast al þat me likede ar nu hit me mislicað. Þe mu[c]hel folȝeð his iwil him selfen he biswicað. 15 Ich mihte habben bet idon. hadde ich þo iselðe Nu ich wolde ac ine mai for elde ⁊ for unhalðe. Elde me is bistolen on ar ich hit iwiste Ne mai ich isien bifore me for smeche ne for miste. 19. Ar ȝe MS. juel] j corr. out of ȝ. Arȝe we beð to don god to juel al to þriste 20 More eie stondeð man of man þan him do of criste. Þe wel ne deð þe hwile he mai wel ofte hit sal him rewen. Þan alle men sulle ripen þat hie ar sewen. 23. hebeð MS. Do al to gode þat he muȝe ech þe hwile he beð aliue. Ne lipne noman to muchel to childe ne to wiue. | f. 1 v Þe þe him selfe forȝiet for wiue oðer for childe 26 He sal cumen on euel stede bute him god be milde. Sende god biforen him man þe hwile he mai to heuene For betre is on almesse biforen þan ben after seuene. Ne bie þe leuere þan þe self ne þi mæi ne þi mowe 30 Sot is þe is oðer mannes frend betere þan his owen. 31. After hire were, ac erased. Ne hopie wif to hire were ne were to his wiue Be for him self afric man þe hwile he beð aliue. Wis þe him selue biðencheð þe hwile he mót libben For sone willeð him forȝiete þe fremde ⁊ þe sibbe. 35 Þe wel ne doð þe hwile he mai ne sal he þan he wolde. For manimannes sore iswinc habbeð ofte unholde. Ne solde noman don a furst ne laten wel to done 38. bihoteð] o above ạ MS. For maniman bihoteð wel þat hi forȝieteð sone. Þe man þe wile siker ben to habben godes blisse. 40 Do wel him self þe hwile he mai þanne haueð hes mid iwisse. Þe richemen weneð siker ben þu`r´ch wallen ⁊ thurh dichen. He deð his aihte an siker stede þe hit sent to heueriche. For þar`f he´ ben ofdrad of fure ne of þieue. Þar ne mai hit him binime þe loðe ne þe lieue. 45 Þar ne þarf he habben care of here ne of ȝielde Þider we sendeð ⁊ ec bereð to litel ⁊ to selde. Þider `we solden´ drawen ⁊ don wel ofte ⁊ ilome. For þar ne sal me us naht binime mid wrong wise dome. | f. 2 r Þider we solde ȝierne drawen wolde ȝie me ileuen. 50 For ne mai hit us binime no king ne no sẏrreue. Alþat beste þat we habbeð her þider we solde sende. For þar we mihte finden eft. ⁊ habben abuten ende. Se þe her doð ani god for`to´ haben godes ore. Al he hit sal eft finde þar ⁊ hundredfealde more. 55. holde] o above ạ MS. 56. ȝieue] ȝ corr. out of G. 55 Se þe aihte wile holde wel þe hwile hes muȝe wealden. Ȝieue hes for godes luue þanne doð hes wel ihealden. For ure swinch ⁊ ure tilðe is ofte wuned to swinde. Ac al þat we ȝieueð for godes luue al we hit sulen eft finden. Ne sal þar non euel ben unboht ne god unforȝolden. 60 Euel we doð al to muchel ⁊ god lasse þan we solden. Se þe mast doð nu to gode ⁊ se last to lothe. Eiðer to litel ⁊ to muchel hem sal þunche boðe. Þar me sal ure werkes weiȝen bifore þan heuen kinge. ⁊ ȝieuen us ure werkes lean after ure erninge. 65 Africh man mid þat he haueð mai bugge heueriche Þe þe more haueð ⁊ þe þe lasse boðe iliche. Alse on mid his peni se oðer mid his punde Þis is þet wunderlukeste ware þat animan funde. ⁊ se þe more ne mai don mid his gode iþanke. 70 Alse wel se þe þe haued goldes fele manke. And ofte god can more þanc þan þe him ȝieueð lasse. Al his werkes ⁊ his weies is milce ⁊ rihtwi[s]nesse. | f. 2 v Litel lóc is gode lef þe cumeð of gode wille ⁊ eðlate muchel ȝieue þan his herte is ille. 75 Heuene ⁊ erðe he ouer sihð his eien beð ful brihte. Nis him no þing forholen swo muchel is his mihte. Ne bie hit no swo derne idon ne on swo þuster nihte. He wot hwat þencheð ⁊ hwat doð alle quike wihte Nis louerd swilch is crist ne king swilch ure drihte 80 Boðe ȝiemeð þe his bien bi daie ⁊ bi nihte. Heuene ⁊ erðe ⁊ al þat is biloken is in his honden He doð al þat his wille is awatere ⁊ alonde. He makeð þe fisses in þe sa þe fueles on þe lofte. He wit ⁊ wealdeð alle þing ⁊ he sop alle safte. 85 He is ord a buten ord ⁊ ende abuten ende He is one afre on eche stede wende þar þu wende. He is buuen us ⁊ bineðen biforen ⁊ bihinde 88. godeswille MS. Þe godes wille doð aihware he maiȝ him finde Elche rune he hereð ⁊ he wot alle dade 90 He þurh sihð elches mannes þanc wi hwat sal us to rade. We þe brekeð godes has ⁊ gulteð swo ilome 92. After don, an erasure of about ten letters. 93. unriht] r corr. out of l MS. Hwat sulle we seggen oðer don á te muchele dome We þe luueden unriht ⁊ euel lif ladden Hwat sulle we seggen oðer don þar ængles beð ofdradde 95 Hwat sulle we beren us biforen mid hwan sulle we iqueme We þe nafre god ne duden þan heuenliche deme. | f. 3 r Þar sulle ben deflen swo fele þat willeð us forwreien. Nabbeð hie no þing forȝieten of þat hie her iseien. Alþat hie iseien her hie willeð cuðen þare 100 Bute we haben hit ibet þe hwile we here waren. Al hie habbeð on here write þat we misduden here. Þeih we hes ne niseien hie waren ure iferen. Hwat sullen horlinges don þes wichen ⁊ þe forsworene Wi swo fele beð icleped swo fewe bed icorene 105 Wi hwi waren hie biȝiete to hwan waren hie iborene. Þe sulle ben to deaðe idemd ⁊ afremo forlorene. Elch man `sal´ þar biclepien himselfen ⁊ ec demen. 108. His] Hic MS. His oȝen werc ⁊ his þanc to witnesse he sal temen. Nemai him noman alse wel demen ne alse rihte 110 For non ne cnoweð hine alse wel buten one drihte. Man wot him self best his werkes ⁊ his wille. Se þe last wot he seið ofte mast se þit al wot is stille Nis no witnesse alse muchel se mannes oȝen hierte Hwo se seið þat hie beð hol him self wot his smierte. 115 Elch man sal him selfen demen to deaðe oðer to liue. Þe witnesse of his oȝen werc to oðer þan hine sal driue. Alþat afri man haueð idon seðen he cam to manne Swo he hit iseie abóc iwrite he sal hit þenche þanne. Ac drihte ne demeð noman after his biginninge 120 Ac al his lif sal ben teald after his endinge. | f. 3 v Ȝief þe endinge is god al hit is god· ⁊ euel ȝief euel is þe ende. God ȝieue þat ure ende be god ⁊ ȝieue þat he us lende. Se man þe nafre nele don god ne nafre god lif lade. Are deað ⁊ dom cumeð to his dure he maiȝ him sore a drade 125 Þat he ne muȝe þanne bidden ore for þat itit ilome. For þi he wis þe bit ⁊ biȝiet ⁊ bet bifore dome. Þanne þe deað is ate dure wel late he biddeð ore. Wel late he lateð euel werc þan he hit ne mai don no more. Senne lat þe ⁊ þu nah him þan þu hit ne miht do no more; 130 For þi he is sot þe swo abit to habben godes ore. Þeih hweðere we hit leueð wel for drihte self hit sade. Elche time sal þe man of þunche his misdade 133. After imete, acþ erased. Oðer raðer oðer later milce he sal imete. Ac þe þe her naueð ibet muchel he haued to bete 135 Maniman seið hwo reche pine þe sal habben ende Ne bidde ich no bet bie ich alesed a domesdai of bende. 137. ḥis MS. After cnoweð, erasure of hwil. Litel wot he `h´wat is pine ⁊ litel he cnoweð Hwilch hit is þar sowle wunieð hwu biter wind þar bloweð. Hadde he ben þar on oðer two bare tiden. 140. After Nolde erasure of two letters. almidden MS. 140 Nolde he for al midden eard þe þridde þar abiden. Þat habbed isaid þe come þanne þit wiste mid iwisse. Wo wurðe soreȝe seue ȝier for seue nihte blisse. ⁊ ure blisse þe ende haueð for ende lease pine Betere is wori water þan atter imengd mid wine. 145 Swines brade is wel swete swo is of wilde diere. Ac al to diere he hit abuið þe ȝiefð þar fore his swiere. Ful wombe mai lihtliche speken of hunger ⁊ of fasten Swo mai of pine þe not hwat is pine þe sal ilasten. | f. 4 r Hadde fonded sume stunde he wolde seggen oðer 150 Eðlate him ware wif ⁊ child suster ⁊ fader ⁊ broðer. Al he wolde oðerluker don ⁊ oðerluker þenche Þan he biðohte an helle fur þat no wiht ne mai quenche. 153. After wunien, wið þan he mihte erased. Afre he wolde her in wo ⁊ in wane wunien Wið þan he mihte helle fur biflen ⁊ bisunien. 155 Eðlate him ware al wele ⁊ erðeliche blisse For to þe muchele blisse cume þis murie mid iwisse. 157. ẹfṭ eft MS. ¶Ich wulle nu cumen eft to þe dome þe ich eow ar of sade. On þe daie ⁊ on þe dome us helpe crist ⁊ rade Þar we muȝen ben sore offerd ⁊ harde us ofdrade. 160 Þar elch sal al isien him biforen his word ⁊ ec his dade. Al sal þar ben þanne cuð þat men luȝen her ⁊ halen. Al sal þar ben þanne unwrien þat men her hudden ⁊ stalen. We sullen alre manne lif icnowen alse ure oȝen Þar sullen efninges ben to þe heie ⁊ to þe loȝe. 165. þiar] a corr. out of e. 165 Ne sal þeih no man samie þiar ne þarf he him adrade. Ȝief him her ofþincheð his gult ⁊ bet his mis dade. For hem ne sameð ne ne grameð þe sulle ben iboreȝe Ac þoðre habbeð same ⁊ grame ⁊ oðer fele soreȝe. 169. sal] þal MS. Þe dom sal ben sone idon ne last hit nowiht longe 170 Ne sal him noman mene þar of strencðe ne of wronge Þo sulle habben hardne dom þe here waren hardde Þo þe euel hielden wreche men ⁊ euel laȝe arerde. 173. idemð MS. Elch after þat he haueð idon sal þar ben þanne idemd Bliðe mai he þanne ben þe god haueð wel iquemd. 175 Alle þo þe sprunge beð of adam ⁊ of eue Alle hie sulle þider cume for soðe we hit ileued. | f. 4 v Þo þe habbed wel idon after here mihte To heueriche hie sulle fare forð mid ure drihte. Þo þe deueles werkes habeð idon ⁊ þar inne beð ifunde 180. After fare, þ elided. 180 Hie sulle fare forð mid hem in to helle grunde. Þar hie sulle wunien abuten ore ⁊ ende. Brecð nafre eft crist helle dure for lesen hem of bende Nis no sellich þeih hem be wo ⁊ þeih hem be uneaðe Ne sal nafre eft crist þolien deað for lesen hem of deaðe. 185 Ænes drihten helle brac his frend he ut brohte Him self he þolede deað for hem wel diere he hes bohte. Nolde hit moȝe don for mai ne suster [for] broðer Nolde sune don for fader ne no man for oðer. Vre alre louerd for his þralles ipined he was arode 190 Ure bendes he unbond ⁊ bohte us mid his blode. We ȝieueð uneaðe for his luue a steche of ure breade Ne þenche we naht þar þat sal deme þe quica ⁊ þe deade. Muchel luue he us kedde wolde we hit understonde. 194. misduden] u over ẹ MS. Þat ure elderne mi`s´duden we habeð euel an honde. 195 Deað cam in þis middenærd þurh ealde deueles onde ⁊ senne ⁊ soreȝe ⁊ iswinch awatere ⁊ [a]londe. Vre foremes faderes gult we abugeð alle Al his ofsprung after him in harem is biualle Þurst ⁊ hunger. chele ⁊ hete ⁊ alle unhalðe. 200 Þurh deað cam in þis midden eard ⁊ oðer unisalðe. Nare noman elles dead ne sic ne unsele Ac mihte libbe afremo ablisse ⁊ an hale. | f. 5 r Litel lac is gode lief þe cumeð of gode wille. ⁊ eðlate muchel ȝieue þan his herte is ille 205 Litel hit þuncheð maniman ac muchel was þe senne For hwan alle þolieð deað þe comen of here kenne 207. After muȝe, rewen deleted MS. Here senne ⁊ ec ure oȝen us muȝe sore of þunche For senne we libeð alle her in soreȝe ⁊ in swunche. Seðen god nam swo mukel wrache for one misdede 210. þo altered to þe. 210 We þe swo ofte misdoð we muȝen us eaðe ofdrade. Adam ⁊ al his ofspreng for one bare senne. Was fele hundred wintre an helle a pine ⁊ unwenne. 213. After lif, an erasure, on which mid. 214. do corr. out of to. 215. mulchel MS. After ⁊, an erasure. Þo þe ladeð here lif mid unrihte ⁊ mid wronge Bute hit godes milce do hie sulle wunie þar longe. 215 Godes wisdom is wel muchel ⁊ alsse is his mihte Ac nis his mihte nowiht lasse ac biðer ilke wihte. More he one maiȝ forȝieue þan alle folc gulte cunne Self deuel mihte habben milce ȝief he hit bigunne. Þeþe godes milche secð iwis he mai hes finden 220 Ac helle king is ore leas wið þo þe he mai binden. Se deð his wille mast he sal habbe werest mede His bað sal be wallinde pich his bed barnende glede. Werse he doð his gode wines þan his fiendes God silde alle godes friend wið swo euele friende. 225. Before reche, þ erased MS. 225 Nafre an helle ine cam ne cumen ich þar ne reche Þeih ich aches woreldes wele þare mihte feche. Þeih ich wille seggen eow þat wise men us saden ⁊ [a] boc hit is write þar me hit mai rade. | f. 5 v Ic wille seggen hit þo þe hit hem self nesten 230. After here, an erasure of one letter MS. 230 ⁊ warnin hem wið here unfreme ȝief hie me willeð hlesten. Vnderstondeð nu to meward eadimen ⁊ arme Ich wille tellen eow of helle pine ⁊ warnin eow wið harme. An helle hunger ⁊ þurst euel two iferen. Þos pine þolieð þo þe ware meteniðinges here. 235 Þar is woning ⁊ wop after ache strate Hie fareð fram hate [to] chele fram chele to hate. [Þ]an hie beð in þe hate chele hem þuncheð blisse [Þ]an hie cumeð eft to chele of hate hie habbeð misse. [E]iðer doð `hem´ wo inoh nabbeð none lisse. 240 [N]iten hweðer hem doð wers to nafre none wisse. [H]ie walkeð afre ⁊ secheð reste ac hie hes ne muȝen imeten. [F]or þi þe hie nolde þe hwile hie mihten here senne beten. [H]ie sec`h´eð reste þar non nis ac hie hies ne muȝen ifinden. [A]c walkeð weri up ⁊ dun se water doð mid winde 245 [Þ]at beð þo þe waren her an þanc unstedefaste [⁊] þo þe gode biheten aihte ⁊ hit him ilaste. [⁊] þo þe god werc bigunnen ⁊ ful endin hit nolden. 248. ṃesten MS. [N]u waren her ⁊ nu þar ⁊ nesten hwat he wolden [Þ]ar is pich þat afre walleð þar sulle wunien inne 250. After ⁊, h erased MS. 250 [Þ]o þe ladeð here lif on werre ⁊ an unwinne. [Þ]ar is fur þis hundredfeald hatere þan be ure. [N]e mai hit quenche salt water ne auene stream ne sture. [Þ]is is þat fur þat afre barneð ne mai no wiht [hit] quenche. [Þ]ar inne beð þe was to lef wreche men to swenche. | f. 6 r Þo þe [waren] swikele men ⁊ ful of euele wrenchen. 256 ⁊ þo þe mihten euel don ⁊ lief hit was to þenchen. Þe luueden rauing ⁊ stale hordom ⁊ druken 258. bliðeliche] second i corr. out of l. ⁊ an defles werkes bliðeliche swunken. Þo þe waren swo lease men þat mes ne mihte leuen 260 Medȝierne domes men ⁊ w`r´ongwise reuen. 261. After was, erasure of three letters MS. Þo þe oðer mannes wif was lief her oȝen eðlate ⁊ þo þe sunegeden muchel on druken ⁊ on ate. 263. After men, one letter erased. Þe wreche men binomen here aihte ⁊ leide his on horde. Þe litel lete of godes bode ⁊ of godes worde. 265 ⁊ þe his oȝen nolde ȝieue þar he iseih þe niede Ne nolde ihere godes men þan he sat at his biede. Þo þe was oðer mannes þing leuere þan hit solde ⁊ waren alto gradi of siluer ⁊ of golde. Þo þe untrewnesse deden þan þe he solden ben holde. 270 ⁊ leten al þat hie solden don ⁊ deden þat hie wolden. Þo þe waren ȝietceres of þis wereldes aihte ⁊ dude al þat þe loðe gost hem tihte to ⁊ taihte. ⁊ Al `þo´ þe ani wise deuel iquemde 274. hem MS. Þo beð mid him in helle fordon ⁊ demde. 275 Bute þo þe ofðuhte sore here misdade ⁊ Gunne here gultes bete ⁊ betere lif lade. 277. fruden] d corr. out of ct MS. Þar beð naddren ⁊ snaken. eueten ⁊ fruden Þe tereð ⁊ freteð þo euele swiken þe niðfule ⁊ þe prude Nafre sunne þar ne sineð ne mone ne storre. 280 Þar is muchel godes hete ⁊ muchel godes oerre. | f. 6 v Afre þar is euel smech þiesternesse ⁊ eie Nis þar nafre oder liht þan þe swarte leie. Þar ligeð ateliche fiend in stronge raketeie Þat beð þo þe waren mid god angles swiðe heie. 285 Þat beð ateliche fiend ⁊ Eiseliche wihten Þo sulle þe wreche sowle isien þe sinegeden þurh sihte Þar is se loðe sathanas ⁊ belzebub se ealde Eaðe he muȝen ben sore ofdrad þe sullen hes bihealde. Nemai non herte hit þenche ne tunge hit ne mai telle 290 Hwu muchele pine ne hwu fele senden in helle Of þo pine þe þar bieð nelle ich eow naht lie 292. mai corr. out of marg MS. Nis hit bute gamen ⁊ glie of þat man mai here drie. ⁊ ȝiet ne doð hem naht alse wo in þe loðe bende Swo þat he witen þat here pine sal nafre habben ende 295 Þar beð þe haðene men þe waren laȝe lease. Þe nes naht of godes bode ne of godes hease. Euele cristene men hie beð here iferen Þo þe here cristendom euele hielden here. ⁊ ȝiet he beð awerse stede aniðer helle grunde 300 Ne sullen nafre cumen út for peni ne for punde. Ne mai hem noðer helpe þar ibede ne almesse For naht solden bidde þar ore ne forȝieuenesse. Silde him elch man þe hwile he mai wið þos helle pine. ⁊ warnie his frend þar wið swo ich habbe ido mine. 305 Þo þe silde hem ne cunnen ich hem wille tache [I]ch can ben aiðer ȝief isal lichame ⁊ sowle lache. | 307. After þat, w erased. f. 7 r Late we þat god forbet alle mankenne ⁊ do we þat he us hat ⁊ silde we us wid senne. Luue we god mid ure herte ⁊ mid al ure mihte 310 ⁊ ure emcristen alse us self swo us tached drihte. Al þat me radeð ⁊ singed bifore godes borde Al hit hangeð ⁊ halt bi þese twam worde 313. godel MS. Alle godes laȝes hie fulleð þe newe ⁊ þe ealde Þe þe þos two luues halt ⁊ wile hes wel healde. 315. gulteð] t over ḍ MS. 315 Ac hie bieð wel arefeð heald swo ofte we gulteð alle For hit is strong te stonde longe ⁊ liht hit is to falle. Ac drihte crist ȝeue us strengðe stonde þat we moten ⁊ of alle ure gultes ȝieue us cume bote. We wilnieð after wereldes wele þe longe ne mai ilaste 320 ⁊ legeð mast al ure swinc on þing unstedefaste. Swunke [we] for godes luue half þat we doð for eihte. Nare we naht swo ofte bicherd ne swo euele bikeihte Ȝief we serueden god half þat we doð for erminges We mihten habben more an heuene þa[n] ȝierles ⁊ kinges 325 Ne muȝe we werien naðer ne wið þurst ne wið hunger 326. After elde, ne wið elde MS. Ne wid elde ne wið deað þe elder ne þe ȝeunger Ac þar nis hunger ne þurst. deað ne unhalðe ne elde. Of þesse riche we þencheð to ofte of þare alto selde. 329. ilomo MS. We solden biþenchen us wel ofte ⁊ ilome 330 Hwat we beð to hwan we sullen ⁊ of hwan we come. Hwu litle hwile we bieð her hwu longe elles ḥware Hwat we muȝen habben her ⁊ hwat we findeð þare. | f. 7 v Ȝief [we] waren wise men þus we solden þenchen Bute we wurðen us iwar þis wereld us wile drenchen 335 Mast alle men hit ȝieueð drinken of on euele senche He sal him cunnen silde wel ȝief hit him nele screnche. Mid al mihtin godes luue úte we us biwerien [W]ið þesses wreches woreldes luue þat hit ne muȝe us derien. Mid almesse. mid fasten ⁊ mid ibeden werie we us wid senne. 340 Mid þo wapne þe god haued ȝieue alle man kenne. [L]ate we þe brode strate ⁊ þane weiȝ bene [Þ]e lat þe nieðe dal to helle of manne me mai wene. 343. Gowe MS. Go we þane narewe pað ⁊ þene wei grene [Þ]ar forð fareð wel litel folc ⁊ eche is fair ⁊ isene 345 [Þ]e brode strate is ure wil. þe is loð te læte. [Þ]o þe folȝeð here iwil hie fareð bi þare strate. [H]ie muȝen lihtliche cumen mid þare niðer helde [Þ]urh one godelease wude to one bare felde [Þ]a narewe pað is godes has · þar forð fareð wel feawe 350 [Þ]at beð þo þe hem sildeð ȝierne wið achen unðeawe. 351. After uneaðe, cliue deleted MS. [Þ]os goð uneaðe aȝien þe cliue ⁊ aȝien þe heie hulle [Þ]os leten al here iwil for godes luue to fulle. [G]o we alle þane wei for he us wile bringe Mid þo feawe faire men bi fore þe heuen kinge 355 [Þ]ar is alre blisse mast mid angles songe. [Þ]e is a þusend wintre þar ne þuncheð hit him naht longe. | 357. After haueð, bli deleted and sse corr. into sswo. f. 8 r Þe last haueð blisse he haueð sswo muchel þat he ne bit no more Þe þat blisse forgoð hit sal him rewen sore. Ne mai non euel ne non wane ben in godes riche 360 Þeih þar ben wuniinges fele elch oðer uniliche Sume þar habbeð lasse blisse ⁊ sume þar habbeð more Elch after þat he dude her after þane þe swanc sore Ne sal þar ben bread ne win ne oðer kennes este God one sal ben ache lif ⁊ blisse ⁊ ache reste. 365 Ne sal þar ben foh ne grai ne cunin ne ermine Ne aquerne ne metheschele ne beuer ne sabeline. Ne sal þar ben naðer scat ne srud ne wereldes wele none. Al þe blisse þe me us bihat al hit sal ben god one Ne mai no blisse ben alse muchel se is godes sihte. 370 He is soð sunne ⁊ briht ⁊ dai a bute nihte. He is aches godes ful nis him no wiht uten. Nones godes hem nis wane þe wunieð him abuten. Þar is wele a buten wane ⁊ reste a buten swunche. Þe muȝen ⁊ nelleð þider cume hit hem mai of þunche. 375 Þar is blisse a buten treiȝe ⁊ lif abuten deaðe Þo þe afre sulle wunie þar bliðe hie muȝe ben eaðe. Þar is ȝieuð abuten elde ⁊ hale abuten unhalðe Nis þar sareȝe ne sor non ne nafre unisalðe. Þar me drihte self isien swo se is mid iwisse 380 He one mai ⁊ sal al ben angles ⁊ manne blisse. | 381. bed, or beð: leaf pared away. f. 8 v ⁊ þeih ne bed here eien naht alle iliche brihte Hi nabbeð naht iliche muchel alle of godes lihte On þesse liue he naren naht alle of ore mihte Ne þar ne sullen habben god. alle bi one wihte. 385 Þo sullen more of him isien þe luueden hine more ⁊ more icnowen ⁊ ec witen his mihte ⁊ his ore On him hie sulle finden al þat man mai to hleste On him he sullen ec isien al þat hie ar nesten. [C]rist sal one bien inoȝh alle his derlinges. 390 [Þ]e one is muche more ⁊ betere þan alle oðer þinges. [I]noh he haueð þe hine haueð þe alle þing wealdeð 392. After isiene, erasure of one letter. [O]f him to isiene nis non sæd swo fair he is to bihelden [G]od is swo mere ⁊ swo muchel in his godcunnesse [Þ]at al þat elles was ⁊ is is fele werse ⁊ lasse. 395 [Ne] mai hit nafre noman oðer seggen mid iwisse [H]wu muchele murihðe habbeð þo þe beð in godes blisse 397. After buten, erasure of one letter. [T]o þare blisse us bringe god þe rixleð a buten ende. [Þ]ane he ure sowle unbint of lichamliche bende [C]rist ȝieue us laden her swilch lif ⁊ habben her swilch ende; 400 [Þ]at we moten þider cumen þane we henne wende. AMEN.