THE STORY OF GENESIS AND EXODUS, ETC. (continued 2)

Iacob wurð drunken, and euen cam, 1676 Laban bi nigt tog him liam; And a maiden waſ hire bi-tagt, Zelfa bi name, ðat ilke nagt. Iacob gan hire under-fon, When even came Jacob was deceived with Leah.

1680 O morgen ðugte it him miſ-don. Quat laban, "long wune iſ her driuen, firmeſt on elde, firſt ben giuen: And loð me waſ ſenden rachel 1684 So fer, for ic luuede her wel; Laban says that it was not the custom to marry the younger before the first-born.

Oc ſerf me ſeuene oðer ger, If ðu ſalt rachel ſeruen her; Jacob agrees to serve other seven years for Rachel.

[177]

At bottom of Fol. 32b is the catchword—"quat ſo ðu wilt."

JACOB MARRIES RACHEL.

Seue nigt ſiðen forð ben numen 1688 Or rachel beð to iacob cumen, And laban made a feſte oc

Quanne iacob wid^[178] rachel toc; And for ghe ðanne cam him ner, 1692 ſeruede he him ſiðen ſeuene ger. Jacob marries Rachel.

Rachel adde, after londes kire,^[179] maiden balaam to ſeruen hire. [Fol. 33b.]

LIa moder of fowre was, 1696 Ruben, ſymeon, leui, iudas; Leah was the mother of four sons.

for rachel non birðe ne nam, Sge^[180] bi-tagte iacob balaam; Rachel was barren.

bala two childre bar bi him, 1700 Rachel cald es^[181] dan(.) neptalim; Bilhah, her handmaid, bare Dan and Naphtali.

And zelfa two ſunes him ber, Lia calde iſ(.) Gad(.) and aſſer; Zilpah bare Gad and Asher.

Lia ſiðen two ſunes bar, 1704 Zabulon(.) laſt(.) or yſakar; Lia bar laſt dowter dinam, Sichem, ſiðen, hire ille bi-nam. Leah afterwards bare Zebulun, Issachar, and Dinah.

Last of rachel iosep was boren, 1708 Beſt of alle ðe oðere bi-foren. Longe haued^[182] nu iacob ben her, wið laban fulle .xiii. ger; At last Joseph was born of Rachel.

Leue aſkede hem hom to faren, 1712 Wið wiues and childre ðeðen charen, Jacob desires leave of Laban to depart.

But-if laban him ðelde bet Hiſe ſeruiſe, and wið-holde him get; ſerue he ſcriðed ðat .vij. ger, 1716 ðat he bi-leue and ſerue him her; Laban would not let him depart.

Wel he ſeið him ðat he ſal hauen for hire, quat-ſo he wile crauen. He promises him to give him for hire whatever he shall ask.

forward iſ mad of alle ſep, 1720 Of oneſ bles^[183] iacob nim kep, [Fol. 34.]

And if of ðo ſpotted cumen, Jacob is to have all the speckled

[178]

wið?

[179]

Glossed wune in a later hand.

[180]

she?

[181]

caldes MS.

[182]

haueð?

[183]

fles MS.

JACOB LEAVES LABAN SECRETLY.

ðo ſulen him ben for hire numen; Sep or got, haſwed, arled, or grei, 1724 Ben don fro iacob fer a-wei; and spotted cattle for his hire.

ðog him boren ðes oneſ bles Vn-like manige and likeles. The flocks produced many speckled and spotted.

ðo ſag laban ðat iacob bi-gat 1728 Michil, and him miſlikede ðat; Laban was greatly displeased.

bi-tagte him ðo ðe ſunder bles, And it him boren ones bles. He changed Jacob's hire.

Ten ſiðes ðus binnen .vi. ger, 1732 Shiftede iacob hirdeneſſe her, And ai was labaneſ herte ſor, for hiſ agte wex mor & mor. Ten times within six years he shifted the cattle.

Ðo ſag iacob laban wurð wroð, 1736 Vnder him ben leng iſ him loð, Jacob saw that Laban was unfriendly towards him,

And wið iſ wiues he takeð red, And greiðet him deðenward^[184] wið ſped. so he determined to leave Padanaram.

Laban ferde to nimen kep, 1740 In clipping time to hiſe ſep, fro caram in-to vten ſtede, ðor quiles iacob ðiſ dede dede; Wið wiues, and childre, & orf he nam, Laban had left Haran to shear his sheep.

1744 And to ðe munt galaad he bi-cam; Jacob came to mount Gilead,

ðanne fleg he to meſopotaniam, [Fol. 34b.]

And drog to-ward cananeam. And Rachel adde hid and for-olen and drew towards Canaan.

1748 Hire faderes godes of gold, & ſtolen. Laban it wiſte on ðe ðridde dai Rachel had stolen her father's gods.

ðat iacob waſ ðus flogen a-wei; He toc, and wente, and folwede on, 1752 And ðhogt in mod iacob to ſlon, Laban, hearing of Jacob's flight, pursues him.

Oc god in ſweuene ſpac him to, ðat he ſulde iacob non yuel do. God, in a dream, forbids Laban to harm Jacob.

vij. nigt forð-geden and dais oc, 1756 Or laban iacob ouer-toc; Laban overtakes Jacob on the seventh day.

[184]

ðeðenward?

THE COVENANT BETWEEN JACOB AND LABAN.

So waſ he frig[t]ed ear in drem, ðus meðelike ſpac ðiſ em:

"Qui wore ðu fro me for-holen, 1760 And qui aſ ðu min godes ſtolen? Min mog, min neue, and felage, Me ne agtes ðu don ſwilc [vn-]lage." "[I]c was for-dred ðe migte timen, 1764 fro me ðine doutres bi-nimen, He complains of the wrong done to him.

fro here childre ðhogt hem ſor, mor for me bi-leuen ðor; ſtalðe ic for-ſake, ðat iſ min red, 1768 wið quam ðu iſ findes, ðat he be dead." Jacob denies that he has been guilty of theft.

Of al ðat laban haued^[185] iſ ſogt, So woren it hid, ne fond he is nogt. Laban searched for his idols, but found them not.

Ðo [q]wað iacob, "yuel iſt bi-togen, 1772 Min ſwinc a-buten ðin holðe drogen; ðu me ranſakes alſ an ðef, And me was ðin wurðing lef." [Fol. 35.] Then said Jacob, "What is my sin that thou ransackest me as a thief?"

ðo quat laban, "frend ſule wit ben, 1776 And trewðe pligt^[186] nu unc bi-twen, And make we it her an hil of ſton, Name of witneſſe be ðer-on;" ðor-on he eten bliðe and glað,^[187] Quoth Laban, "Friends will we be and plight troth between us."

1780 ðat hil iſ hoten galaað; Laban hem bliſcede, & on nigt This covenant was made at Gilead.

wente a-gen-ward, or it waſ ligt; And iacob waſ of weie rad, 1784 Raðe he was fer fro laban ſad. Laban departed before daylight.

Alſ he cam ner cananeam, Engel wirð a-gen him cam, Als it were wopnede here, 1788 Redi to ſilden him fro were; As Jacob drew near to Canaan, he was met by the angels of God.

ðat ſtede he calde manaim, ðor ðis wird of engeles metten him. ðor he bi-lef, and ſente ðeden^[188] That place he called Mahanaim.

1792 Sondere men to freinen and queðen Jacob sends messengers to Esau.

[185]

haueð?

[186]

wligt MS.

[187]

glad?

[188]

ðeðen?

THE MEETING OF ESAU AND JACOB.

If eſau wulde him ogt deren,

ðog wiſte wel god ſulde him weren; ðor him cam bode him for to ſen, 1796 ðat eſau him cam a-gen; Word came to him that Esau was on his way to meet him.

And iacob ſente fer bi-foren him riche loac, and ſundri boren, And iordan he dede ouer waden, 1800 Orf & men, wið welðe laden; And he bi-lef ðor on ðe nigt to bidden helpe of godeſ migt. [Fol. 35b.] Jacob sends a rich present to Esau.

And ðor wreſtelede an engel wið, 1804 Senwe ſprungen fro ðe lið; He wrestled with an angel,

(wulde he non ſenwe ſiðen eten, Self his kinde nile ðat wune forgeten.) and the sinew shrank from the thigh.

Get held he wið ðis angel faſt, 1808 Til ðe daning up eſten it braſt; ðo ſeide ðe engel, "let me get ben, ðe daining her nu men mai sen." Jacob would not let the angel go,

Quad iacob, "ðe ne leate ic nogt, 1812 Til ðin bliſcing on me beð wrogt." until he had blessed him.

Ðo quad ðe angel, "ſal tu nummor ben cald iacob, ſo ðu wore or, Oc ðu ſal ben hoten iſrael, 1816 for ðu ðe weries ſwiðe wel; Quan ðe ðe migt wið angel weren, Hu ſal ani man ðe mugen deren? Ear iacob and nu iſrael." Jacob prevailed, and his name was called Israel.

1820 ðat ſte[de] was cald phanuel, for he nam ouer phanuel; And it wurð ligt and he ſag wel This place was called Penuel.

Quor eſau a-gen him cam, 1824 And bi-foren a-gen him nam; And ſeue ſiðes he fell him bi-foren, And wurðe him ſo firmeſt boren; [Fol. 36.] The meeting of Jacob and Esau.

And eſau ðo ran him to, 1828 And kiſſede, and wept, ðo rew him ſo. The brothers become reconciled to each other.

JACOB DWELLS AT SUCCOTH. DINAH'S FOLLY.

"Broðer," quad he, "ðu and ðin trume ben here in ðiſ place to me welcume; Haue and bruc wel al ðin preſent, 1832 ðat ðu to me bringeſt and haueſt ſent." Iacob was wo ðat he iſ for-ſoc, Esau welcomes Jacob,

And ſcroð him ſo(.) ðat ſum he ðor tok. Here luue ðo wurð hol and ſchir, accepts his present,

1836 And eſau ferde forð ðeden^[189] to ſeyr; ðat newe burg waſ him to frame, Mad and cald of iſ owen name. and departs unto Seir.

Iacob fro ðeðen wente, ic wot, 1840 tgelt on a ſtede, and cald it^[190] ſochot; fro ſochot ſiðen to ſichem, From thence Jacob went to Succoth,

And wune ðor-inne ſalem, and afterwards to Shalem,

ðor him ſolde an lond kinge emor, 1844 And he drog ðider and wunede ðor; wið newe alter wurðed he wel ðe ſtrong god of yſrael. where he bought a piece of land from Hamor.

Hiſ dowter dina ðor miſ-dede, 1848 ghe nam leueles fro ðat ſtede, Here his daughter Dinah "mis-did."

To ſen de werld ðhugte hire god, ðat made hire ſiðen ſeri-mod, for-liſtede hire owen red; [Fol. 36b.] She went out to see the world.

1852 Sichem tok hire maiden-hed; Emor his fader, ſiðen for-ði, And hiſ burge-folc fellen in wi; Shechem took her maidenhead.

Symeon and leui it bi-ſpeken, 1856 And hauen here ſiſter ðor i-wreken; folc of ſalem ðor-fore waſ ſlagen, wiwes, and childre, and agte up-dragen; Oc iacob ne wiſte it nogt, Simeon and Levi slew the Shechemites and spoiled the city.

1860 Til ðat wreche to bale was wrogt, Oc michil he frigtede for-ði, boðen ſymeon and leui. Jacob reproved Simeon and Levi for their cruelty.

Henden ſichem ne durſten he wunen, 1864 ðat folkes kin god bad him ſunen, They durst not dwell longer at Shechem, but went to Bethel.

[189]

ðeðen?

[190]

caldit MS.

BENJAMIN IS BORN. RACHEL DIES.

And ðeden^[191] faren to betel, And he folgede iſ red on ſel;

Agte unclene ne wulde he beren, 1868 for he dredde him it ſulde him deren; Godes ðat rachel hadde ſtolen, And ay til ðan wið him for-holen, Their unclean goods they bore not with them.

And oðre ydeles brogt fro ſichem, 1872 Gol prenes and ringeſ wið hem, Diep he iſ dalf under an ooc, Made him non giſcing in herte wooc. Their idols and gold rings they buried under an oak.

Longe it weren ðor for-hid; 1876 Men ſeið for-ði waſ ſo bi-tid, for ſalamon findin iſ ſal, And hiſ temple ſriðen wið-al. Iacob wente fro ðeden^[192] in ſped, [Fol. 37.] Long they remained buried, until Solomon found them and decked his temple with them.

1880 God ſente on ðat erdfolc ſwilc dred, ðan^[193] here non iacob ſcaðe ne dede; Quane he wente a-wei fro ðat ſtede, God sent a fear upon the folk round about, so they did no hurt to the sons of Jacob.

He made an alter at betel, 1884 Alſ he god bi-het, ðor he geld wel. Jacob makes an altar at Bethel.

Siðen ðo beniamin was boren, Benjamin is born.

Rachel adde ðe life for-loren; Iacob dalf hire and merke dede, 1888 ðat iſ get ſene on ðat ſtede. Rachel dies.

Ðor quiles he wunede at tur ader, Ruben miſdede wid^[194] bala ðer. At Edar Reuben "misdid" and lay with his father's concubine.

Siðen cam iacob to ebron, 1892 And fond his moder of werlde gon; Starf yſaac quan he waſ hold Jacob arrives at Hebron, and finds his mother gone from this world.

.ix. ſcore ger and fiue told, And was doluen on ðat ſtede, 1896 ðor man adam and eue dede. So riche were growen hiſe ſunen, ðat he ne migte to-gider wunen; Isaac dies at the age of nine score years.

Oc eſau, ſeyr [and] edon 1900 Lond ydumeam wunede on; Esau dwells in Edom,

[191]

ðeðen?

[192]

ðeðen?

[193]

ðat?

[194]

wið?

JOSEPH IS HATED BY HIS BRETHREN.

Of edon ſo it higte ða, [Fol. 37b.]

for it was hoten ear bozra. Hear haued^[195] moyſes ouer-gon, 1904 ðor-fore he wended eft a-gon. xii. ger or yſaac waſ dead which was before called Bozra.

Iacobes ſunes deden un-red; Jacob's sons did wickedly.

FOr ſextene ger ioſeph was old, 1908 Quane he was in-to egipte ſold; He was iacobes gunkeſte ſune, Joseph was sixteen when sold into Egypt.

Bricteſt of waſpene,^[196] and of witter wune, If he ſag hiſe breðere miſ-faren, 1912 Hiſ fader he it gan vn-hillen & baren; He wulde ðat he ſulde hem ten ðat he wel-ðewed ſulde ben; Joseph informed his father of his brethren's misdeeds.

for-ði wexem^[197] wið gret nið 1916 And hate, for it in ille [herte] lið. ðo wex her hertes niðful & bold Quanne he hem adde iſ dremeſ told, ðat hiſ handful ſtod rigt up ſoren, His brethren envied him on account of his dreams.

1920 And here it leigen alle hem bi-foren; And ſunne, & mone, & ſterres .xi^e.^[198] wurðeden him wið frigti luue; ðo ſeide hiſ fader, "hu mai ðis ſen 1924 ðat ðu ſalt ðuſ wurðed ben, The vision of the sun, moon, and eleven stars.

ðat ðine breðere, and ic, and ſhe ðat ðe bar, ſulen luten ðe?" Jacob reproached his son, yet he believed it should be so.

ðuſ he chidden hem bi-twen, 1928 ðoge ðhogte iacob ſiðe it ſulde ben. [Fol. 38.]

Hiſe breðere kepten at ſichem Hirdneſſe, & iacob to ſen hem The sons of Jacob kept flocks at Shechem.

ſente ioſeph to dalen ebron; 1932 And he was redi his wil to don. In ſichem feld ne fonde hem nogt, Joseph was sent to see how they fared.

In dotayin he fond hem ſogt; He knewen him fro feren kumen, His brethren knew him from afar,

[195]

haueð?

[196]

wasteme?

[197]

So in MS.

[198]

For endluue?

JOSEPH IS SOLD TO CHAPMEN,

1936 Hate hem on ros, in herte numen; Swilc nið & hate roſ hem on,

He redden alle him for to ſlon. "Nai," quad ruben, "ſlo we him nogt, and took counsel to slay him.

1940 Oðer ſinne may ben wrogt, Quat-ſo him drempte ðor quiles he ſlep, In ðiſ ðiſterneſſe,^[199] old and dep, Get wurðe^[200] worpen naked and cold, 1944 Quat-ſo hiſ dremeſ owen a-wold." ðiſ dede waſ don wid^[201] herte ſor, Reuben advised them to throw Joseph into an old and deep pit.

Ne wulde ruben nogt drechen ðor; He gede and ſogte an oðer ſtede, 1948 Hiſ erue in bettre lewſe he dede; Reuben left his brethren to seek better pasture for his cattle.

Vdas dor^[202] quiles gaf hem red, ðat was fulfilt of derne ſped; fro galaad men wið chafare 1952 Sag he ðor kumen wid ſpices ware; Judah gave them bad advice,

To-warde egipte he gunne ten. Iudas tagte hu it ſulde ben, [Fol. 38b.]

Ioseph ſolde ðe breðere ten, 1956 for .xxx. plates to ðe chapmen; Get waſt bettre he ðuſ waſ ſold, dan^[203] he ðor ſtorue in here wold. and Joseph was sold for thirty pieces of silver.

Ðan ruben cam ðider a-gen, 1960 to ðat ciſterneſſe^[204] he ran to ſen; He miſſed Ioseph and ðhogte ſwem, Reuben came thither again and found Joseph gone.

wende him ſlagen, ſet up an rem; Nile he blinnen, ſwilc ſorwe he cliued, 1964 Til him he ſweren ðat he liued. ðo nomen he ðe childes ſrud, ðe iacob hadde mad im^[205] in prud; Great was his outcry, which did not cease until he was assured that Joseph lived.

In kides blod he wenten it, 1968 ðo waſ ðor-on an rewli lit. Sondere men he it leiden on, Joseph's coat was dipt in kid's blood,

[199]

cisterneſſe?

[200]

he is inserted in the later hand.

[201]

wið?

[202]

ðor?

[203]

ðan?

[204]

MS. cifterneſſe.

[205]

madim in MS.

WHO SELL HIM TO POTIPHAR, AN EGYPTIAN.

And ſenten it iacob in-to ebron, And ſhewed it him, and boden him ſen 1972 If hiſ childes wede it migte ben; Senten him bode he funden it. ðo iacob ſag dat^[206] ſori writ, and sent to Jacob at Hebron.

He gret, and ſeide ðat "wilde der 1976 Hauen min ſune ſwolgen her." "Evil beasts," said Jacob, "have swallowed my son."

Hiſ cloðes rent, in haigre ſrid, Long grot and ſorge is him bi-tid. Long was his lamentation and sorrow.

His ſunes comen him to ſen, 1980 And hertedin him if it migte ben; [Fol. 39.]

"Nai! nai!" quat he, "helped it nogt, Mai non herting on me ben wrogt; ic ſal ligten til helle dale, 1984 And groten ðor min ſunes bale." Jacob would not be comforted for the loss of Joseph.

(ðor was in helle a ſundri ſtede, wor ðe ſeli folc reſte dede; ðor he ſtunden til helpe cam, In hell was a separate abode where the righteous rested,

1988 Til ihesu crist fro ðeden^[207] he nam.) ðe chapmen ſkiuden here fare, till Christ took them from thence.

In-to egipte ledden ðat ware; wið putifar ðe kinges ſtiward, 1992 He maden ſwiðe bigetel forward, So michel fe ðor iſ hem told, He hauen him bogt, he hauen ſold. The merchants took their ware to Egypt.

Putifar waſ wol riche man, 1996 And he bogte ioſeph al forðan Potiphar bought Joseph.

He wulde don iſ lechur-hed wið ioseph, for hiſe faire-hed, Oc he wurð ðo ſo kinde cold, 2000 To don ſwilc dede adde he no wold; He entertained impure desires towards him,

ſwilc ſelðe cam him fro a-buuen, God dede it al for ioſeph luue[n]. Biſſop in eliopoli^[208] 2004 Men ſeið he was ſiðen for-ði, but Joseph was strengthened from above.

[206]

ðat?

[207]

ðeðen?

[208]

In [H]Eliopolis; the words are run together.

JOSEPH IS CAST INTO PRISON.

ðog had he ðo wif(.) and bi-foren Childre of him bi-geten and of hire boren, Oc after ðis it ſo bi-cam, 2008 Ioseph iſ dowter to wiue nam. [Fol. 39b.]

Putifar luuede ioſeph wel, bi-tagte him hiſ huſ euerilc del, And he wurðede riche man an heg, Potiphar loved Joseph well.

2012 vnder ioſeph hiſ welðe ðeg. Hiſ wif wurð wilde, and nam in ðogt His wealth prospered under Joseph's care.

vn-rigt-wiſ luue, and ſwanc for nogt, One and ſtille ðogt hire gamen 2016 wið ioſeph ſpeken and plaigen ſamen; His wife sought to lead Joseph astray.

Ghe bed him gold, and agte, and fe, To maken him riche man and fre, wið-ðhan ðat he wið here wile; 2020 Oc him mislikede ðat ghe wile; for ſcrið, ne ðret, ne mai ghe bi-geten for to don him chaſthed for-geten; For gold nor for wealth of any kind would he "forget his chastity."

Often ghe ðrette, often ghe ſcroð, 2024 Oc al it was him o-like loð. An time he was at hire tgeld, ðo ghe him his mentel for-held; Neither threats nor intreaties prevailed.

for he wið hire ne wulde ſpeken, 2028 Ghe ðhenkeð on him for to ben wreken; Sone ghe mai hire louerd^[209] ſen, Ghe god him bitterlike a-gen, Wherefore she sought to be revenged upon Joseph.

And ſeið ioſeph hire wulde don, 2032 ðat ghe ne migte him bringen on; "ðiſ mentel ic wið-held for-ði, To tawnen [ðe] ðe ſoðe her-bi." ðe wite iſ hiſe(.) ðe right iſ hire, 2036 God al-migtin ðe ſoðe ſhire. [Fol. 40.] She accused him falsely to Potiphar,

Pvtifar trewið hiſe wiwes tale, And haued^[210] dempt ioſep to bale; He bad [him] ben ſperd faſt dun, who, believing his wife's tale,

2040 And holden harde in priſun. threw Joseph into prison.

[209]

MS. loruerd.

[210]

? haueð.

HE INTERPRETS THE PRISONERS' DREAMS.

An litel ſtund, quile he waſ ðer,

So gan him luuen ðe priſuner, And him de^[211] chartre haueð bi-tagt, The gaoler loved Joseph.

2044 wið ðo priſunes to liuen in hagt. Or for miſdede, or for on-ſagen, ðor woren to ðat priſun dragen, In this prison, either for misdeed or bad words,

On ðat ðe kingeſ kuppe bed, 2048 And on ðe made ðe kingeſ bred; were placed the chief butler and baker.

Hem drempte dremes boðen onigt, And he wurðen ſwiðe ſore o-frigt; Ioſeph hem ſeruede ðor on ſel, 2052 At here drink and at here mel, Both dreamt dreams in one night,

He herde hem murnen(.) he hem freinde for-quat; Harde dremes ogen awold ðat. which caused them to become very sorrowful.

ðo ſeide he to ðe butuler, 2056 "Tel me ðin drem, mi broðer her. Joseph inquired the reason of their grief.

Queðer-ſo it wurðe ſofte or ſtrong, ðe reching wurð on god bi-long." [Fol. 40b.]

"Me drempte, ic ſtod at a win-tre, The butler's dream.

2060 ðat adde waxen buges ðre, Oreſt it blomede, and ſiðen bar A vine with three branches

ðe beries ripe wurð ic war; ðe kinges [kuppe] ic hadde on hond, bore grapes;

2064 ðe beries ðor-inne me ðhugte ic wrong, And bar it drinken to pharaon, Me drempte, alſ ic waſ wune to don." the juice the butler squeezed into Pharaoh's cup, and gave him to drink as he was wont.

"Good is," quað Ioſeph, "to dremen of win, 2068 heilneſſe an bliſſe iſ ðer-in; "Good it is," said Joseph, "to dream of wine.

ðre daies ben get for to cumen, ðu ſalt ben ut of priſun numen, And on ðin offiz ſet agen; In three days thou shalt be restored to thy office,

2072 Of me ðu ðhenke ðan it ſal ben, Bed min herdne to pharaon, ða[t] ic ut of prisun wurðe don, then think of me and bear my errand to Pharaoh,

for ic am ſtolen of kinde lond, 2076 and her wrigteleſlike holden in bond." for I am here wrongfully held in prison."

[211]

ðe?

KING PHARAOH DREAMS A DREAM,

Quað ðis bred-wrigte, "liðeð nu me, me drempte ic bar bread-lepes ðre, And ðor-in bread and oðer meten, 2080 Quilke ben wune ðe kinges to eten; The "breadwright's" dream.

And fugeles hauen ðor-on lagt, ðor-fore ic am in ſorge and hagt, Fowls seized on the baskets of bread intended for the king,

for ic ne migte me nogt weren, [Fol. 41.]

2084 Ne ðat mete fro hem beren." "Me wore leuere," quad Ioſeph, "Of eddi dremes rechen ſwep; and he could not keep the meat from them.

ðu ſalt, after ðe ðridde dei, 2088 ben do on rode, weila-wei! And fugeles ſulen ði fleis to-teren, ðat ſal non agte mugen ðe weren." Soð wurð ſo ioſeph ſeide ðat, "In three days," said Joseph, "thou shalt be hanged, and fowls shall tear thy flesh in pieces."

2092 ðis buteler Ioſeph ſone for-gat. The butler soon forgat Joseph.

Two ger ſiðen was Ioſeph ſperd ðor in priſun wið-uten erd; After two years,

Ðo drempte pharaon king a drem, Pharaoh dreamt a dream.

2096 ðat he ſtod bi ðe flodes ſtrem, And ðeden^[212] ut-comen .vii. neet, Euerilc wel ſwiðe fet and gret, And .vii. lene after ðo, 2100 ðe deden ðe .vii. fette wo, He stood by the river, and there came seven "neat" fat and great, and seven lean after,

ðe lene hauen ðe fette freten; ðiſ drem ne mai ðe king for-geten. An oðer drem cam him bi-foren, which ate up the fat ones.

2104 .vii. eares wexen fette of coren, On an busk ranc and wel tidi, And .vii. lene rigt ðor-bi, welkede, and ſmale, and drugte numen, 2108 ðe ranc he hauen ðo ouer-cumen, Seven full ears of corn sprang up "on a rank bush," and then came seven withered ears,

To-ſamen it ſmiten and, on a ſtund, ðe fette ðriſt hem to ðo grund. ðe king abraid and woc in ðhogt, 2112 ðeſ dremes ſwep ne wot he nogt, [Fol. 41b.] which smote the others to the ground.

[212]

ðeðen?

WHICH IS INTERPRETED BY JOSEPH.

Ne was non ſo wis man in al hiſ lond, ðe kude vn-don ðis dremes bond; None were found able to interpret the dreams.

ðo him bi-ðhogte ðat buteler 2116 Of ðat him drempte in priſun ðer, And of ioſeph in ðe priſun, And he it tolde ðe king pharaun. The butler bethought him of Joseph.

Ioſeph waſ ſone in priſun ðo hogt, 2120 And ſhauen, & clad, & to him brogt; Joseph is taken from prison,

ðe king him bad ben hardi & bold, If he can rechen ðis dremeſ wold; and brought before Pharaoh,

He told him quat him drempte o nigt, 2124 And ioſep rechede his drem wel rigt. who related to him his dreams.

"ðis two dremes boðen ben on, God wile ðe tawnen, king pharaon; ðo .vij. ger ben get to cumen, "The two dreams," answered Joseph, "are one."

2128 In al fulſum-hed ſulen it ben numen, And .vij. oðere ſulen after ben, "Seven years of plenty

Sori and nedful men ſulen iſ ſen; Al ðat ðiſe firſt .vii. maken, 2132 Sulen ðiſ oðere .vii. roſpen & raken; shall be followed by seven years of famine.

Ic rede ðe king, nu her bi-foren, To maken laðes and gaderen coren, I advise thee to make barns and store up corn, that thy folk perish not."

ðat ðin folc ne wurð vnder-numen, 2136 Quan ðo hungri gere ben forð-cumen." King pharaon liſtnede hiſe red, ðat wurð him ſiðen ſeli ſped. [Fol. 42.]

He bi-tagte ioſep hiſ ring, 2140 And his bege of gold for wurðing, Pharaoh gave Joseph his ring,

And bad him al hiſ lond bi-ſen, And under him hegeſt for to ben, And bad him welden in hiſ hond 2144 His folc, and agte, & al his lond; and bad him rule the whole land.

ðo waſ vnder him ðanne putifar, And hiſ wif ðat hem ſo to-bar. Ioſep to wiue his dowter nam, 2148 Oðer is nu quan ear bi-cam; Then were Potiphar and his wife under him.

THE FAMINE IN EGYPT AND CANAAN.

And ghe ðer him two childer bar, Or men wurð of ðat hunger war, first manaſſen and effraym; 2152 He luueden god, he geld it hem. Before the famine came two sons were born to Joseph.

ðe .vii. fulſum geres faren, Ioſep cuðe him bi-foren waren; ðan coren wantede in oðer lond, 2156 ðo ynug [was] vnder his hond. The years of plenty pass away.

Hvnger wex in lond chanaan, And his .x. ſunes iacob for-ðan The famine was felt in Canaan.

Sente in-to egipt to bringen coren; 2160 He bilef at hom ðe was gungeſt boren. Jacob sent his ten sons to Egypt to buy corn.

ðe .x. comen, for nede ſogt, To Ioſep, and he ne knewen him nogt, [Fol. 42b.]

And ðog he lutten him frigtilike, 2164 Anð ſeiden to him mildelike, "We ben ſondes for nede driuen To bigen coren ðor-bi to liuen." Though they honoured Joseph,

(Ioſep hem knew al in his ðhogt, 2168 Alſ he let he knew hem nogt.) "It ſemet wel ðat ge ſpies ben, yet he pretended not to know them.

And in-to ðiſ lond cumen to ſen, And cume ge for non oðer ðing, 2172 but for to ſpien ur lord ðe king." "Nai," he ſeiden euerilc on, He accused them of being spies.

"Spies were we neuer non, Oc alle we ben on faderes ſunen, 2176 For hunger doð es^[213] hider cumen." "Oc nu ic wot ge ſpieſ ben, for bi gure bering men mai it ſen; They declared that they were true men, the sons of one father.

Hu ſulde oni man^[214] poure for-geten, 2180 ſwilke and ſo manige ſunes bigeten? for ſeldum bi-tid ſelf ani king ſwilc men to ſen of hiſe ofſpring." "Only kings," said Joseph, "had so many sons."

[213]

doðes MS.

[214]

MS. Hu suld sulde oninan.

JOSEPH'S HARSHNESS TO HIS BRETHREN.

"A louerd, merci! get iſ ðor on 2184 migt he nogt fro his fader gon; He iſ gungeſt, hoten beniamin, for we ben alle of ebriſſe kin." "One," the brethren said, "is at home with his father."

"Nu, bi ðe feið ic og to king pharaon, 2188 ſule ge nogt alle eðen gon, Til ge me bringen beniamin, ða gungeſte broðer of pore^[215] kin." For ðo waſ Ioſep ſore for-dred 2192 ðat he wore oc ðhurg hem for-red; He dede hem binden, and leden dun, [Fol. 43.] Quoth Joseph, "Ye shall not all go hence, until ye bring me Benjamin."

And ſperen faſte in his priſun; ðe ðridde dai he let hem gon, 2196 Al but ðe ton broðer ſymeon; ðiſ ſymeon bi-lef ðor in bond, To wedde under Ioſepes hond. ðes oðere breðere, ſone on-on, 2200 Token leue and wenten hom; He kept them in prison, and on the third day let them all go except Simeon.

And ſone he weren ðeden^[216] went, Wel ſore he hauen hem bi-ment, And ſeiden hem ðan ðor bi-twen, The others bemoaned their ill-luck.

2204 "Wrigtful we in ſorwe ben, for we ſinigeden quilum or On hure broðer michil mor, for we werneden him merci, 2208 Nu drege we ſorge al for-ði." Wende here non it on hiſ mod, Oc Ioſep al it under-ſtod. They thought of their sin towards Joseph.

Ioſepes men ðor quiles deden 2212 Al-ſo Ioſep hem adde beden; Joseph's men did, meanwhile, as they were commanded,

ðo breðere ſeckes hauen he filt, And in euerilc ðe ſiluer pilt ðat ðor was paid for ðe coren, 2216 And bunden ðe muðes ðor bi-foren; Oc ðe breðere ne wiſten it nogt Hu ðis dede wurðe wrogt; [Fol. 43b.] and filled the brothers' sacks, and placed in them the money paid for the corn.

[215]

gure?

[216]

ðeðen?

BENJAMIN IS TAKEN TO EGYPT.

Oc alle he weren ouer-ðogt, 2220 And hauen it ſo to iacob brogt, And tolden him ſo of here ſped, And al he it liſtnede in frigtihed; Unopened they brought them to Jacob and told him how they had sped.

And quan men ðo ſeckes ðor un-bond, 2224 And in ðe coren ðo agtes fond, Alle he woren ðanne^[217] ſori ofrigt. Iacob ðus him bi-meneð o-rigt, Great was their fear when they saw the money in the sack's mouth.

"Wel michel ſorge is me bi-cumen, 2228 ðat min two childre aren me for-numen; "Much sorrow," says Jacob, "is come upon me,

Of Ioſep wot ic ending non, And bondes ben leid on ſymeon; If ge beniamin fro me don, 2232 Dead and ſorge me ſegeð on; since my two children are taken from me.

Ai ſal beniamin wið me bi-lewen ðor quiles ic ſal on werlde liuen." ðo quað iudas, "us ſal ben hard, 2236 If we no^[218] holden him non forward." Benjamin shall remain with me."

Wex derke,^[219] ðis coren iſ gon, Iacob eſt^[220] bit hem faren agon, The corn is soon consumed, and Jacob bids them go to Egypt for more.

Oc he ne duren ðe weie cumen in, 2240 "but ge wið uſ ſenden beniamin;" [Fol. 44.]

ðo quað he, "quan it iſ ned, And ne can no bettre red, Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin.

Bereð dat^[221] ſiluer hol agon, 2244 ðat hem ðor-of ne wante non, He sends back the silver,

And oðer ſiluer ðor bi-foren, for to bigen wið oðer coren; and other corn-money,

fruit and ſpices of dere priſ, 2248 Bereð ðat man ðat iſ ſo wiſ; God hunne him eði-modes ben, And ſende me min childre agen." together with a present of fruit and spices for Joseph.

ðo nomen he forð weie rigt, 2252 Til he ben cumen in-to egypte ligt; The brethren come again to Egypt.

And quanne Ioſep hem alle ſag, Kinde ðogt in his herte was [ðag]. Joseph treats them kindly,

[217]

MS. ðanno

[218]

ne?

[219]

derðe?

[220]

eft?

[221]

ðat?

JOSEPH'S INTERVIEW WITH HIS BRETHREN.

He bad hiſ ſtiward gerken iſ meten, 2256 He ſeide he ſulden wið him alle eten; He ledde hem alle to Ioſepes biri, Her non hadden ðo loten miri. "Louerd," he ſeiden ðo euerilc on, and bids his steward prepare a feast for them.

2260 "Gur ſiluer iſ gu brogt a-gon, It was in ure ſeckes don, Ne wiſte ur non gilt ðor-on." "Beð nu ſtille," quad ſtiward, 2264 "for ic nu haue min forward." They tell Joseph that they have brought back the silver which they found in their sacks.

ðor cam ðat broðer ſymeon And kiſte iſ breðere on and on; Wel fagen he was of here come, 2268 for he was numen ðor to nome. [Fol. 44b.] Simeon was brought out unto them.

It was vndren time or more, Om cam ðat riche louerd ðore; And al ðo briðere, of frigti mod, Joseph came home about noon,

2272 fellen bi-forn ðat louerd-iſ fot, And bedden him riche preſent ðat here fader hi[m] adde ſent; And he leuelike it under-ſtod, 2276 for alle he weren of kinde blod. and the brethren offered him their present.

"LIueð," quad he, "ðat fader get, ðat ðus manige ſunes bi-gat?" He inquires after his father.

"louerd," he ſeiden, "get he liueð, 2280 Wot ic ðor non ðat he ne biueð; They answer that Jacob is well,

And ðiſ iſ gunge beniamin, Hider brogt after bode-word ðin." ðo Iosep ſag him ðor bi-foren, 2284 Bi fader & moder broðer boren, and that Benjamin stands before him.

Him ouer-wente his herte on-on, Kinde luue gan him ouer-gon; Joseph was overcome.

Sone he gede ut and ſtille he gret, 2288 ðat al his wlite wurð teres wet. He went out and wept secretly.

After ðat grot, he weiſ iſ wliten, And cam ðan in and bad hem eten After a while he returned to them and bade them eat.

THE BRETHREN ARE ACCUSED OF THEFT.

He dede hem waſſen and him bi-foren, 2292 And ſette hem aſ he weren boren; Get he ðhogte of hiſ faderes wunes Hu he ſette at ðe mete hiſe ſunes; [Fol. 45.] He made his brethren sit before him according to their age.

Of euerilc ſonde, of euerilc win, 2296 moſt and beſt he gaf beniamin. In fulſum-hed he wurðen glaðe,^[222] Ioſep ne ðoht ðor-of no ſcaðe, Oc it him likede ſwiðe wel, Of meat and wine, the best he gave to Benjamin.

2300 And hem lerede and tagte wel, And hu he ſulden hem beſt leden, Quene he comen in vnkinde ðeden; Joseph gave them good counsel,

"And al ðe bettre ſule ge ſpeden, 2304 If ge wilen gu wið treweiðe leden." and advised them to act truthfully.

Eft on morwen quan it waſ dai, Or or ðe breðere ferden a-wei, Here ſeckes woren alle filt wið coren, 2308 And ðe ſiluer ðor-in bi-foren; On the morrow they depart.

And ðe ſeck ðat agte beniamin Ioſepes cuppe hid was ðor-in; And quuan he weren ut tune went, 2312 Ioſep haueð hem after ſent. Joseph's cup is hid in Benjamin's sack.

ðis ſonde hem ouertakeð raðe, And bi-calleð of harme and ſcaðe; Joseph's messenger overtakes them,

"Vn-ſeli men, quat haue ge don? 2316 Gret vn-ſelðehe iſ gu cumen on, and accuses them of theft.

for iſ it nogt min lord for-holen, ða[t] gure on haueð iſ cuppe ſtolen." ð[o] ſeiden ðe breðere ſikerlike, [Fol. 45b.]

2320 "Vp quam ðu it findes witterlike, He ſlagen and we agen driuen In-to ðraldom, euermor to liuen." The brethren assert their innocence.

He gan hem ranſaken on and on, 2324 And fond it ðor ſone a-non, And nam ðo breðere euerilk on, And ledde hem ſorful a-gon, They are ransacked one by one,

[222]

= glade.

JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN.

And brogte hem bi-for ioſep 2328 Wid reweli lote, and ſorwe, and wep. ðo quat ioſep, "ne wiſte ge nogt and brought before Joseph,

ðat ic am o wol witter ðogt? Mai nogt longe me ben for-holen 2332 Quat-ſo-euere on londe wurð ſtolen." who reproaches them for their crime.

"Louerd!" quad Iudas, "do wið me Quat-ſo ði wille on werlde be, Wið-ðan-ðat ðu friðe beniamin; 2336 ic ledde [him] ut on trewthe min, ðat he ſulde ef^[223] cumen a-gen to hiſe fader, and wið him ben." Judah tells Joseph of his promise to his father.

ðo cam ioſep ſwilc rewðe up-on, 2340 he dede halle ut ðe toðere gon, And ſpac un-eðes, ſo e gret, ðat alle hiſe wlite wurð tereſ wet. Joseph commands all, except his brethren, to leave him, and makes himself known to them.

"Ic am ioſep, dredeð gu nogt, 2344 for gure helðe or hider brogt; Two ger ben nu ðat derke^[224] iſ cumen, Get ſulen .v. fulle ben numen, ðat men ne ſulen ſowen ne ſheren, 2348 So ſal drugte ðe feldes deren. [Fol. 46.]

Rapeð gu to min fader a-gen, And ſeið him quilke min bliſſes ben, And doð him to me cumen hider, Tells them to hasten to his father,

2352 And ge and gure orf al to-gider; Of lewſe god in lond gerſen ſulen ge ſundri riche ben." Euerilc he kiſte, on ilc he gret, 2356 Ilc here was of iſ teres wet. and return with their cattle to Egypt.

Sone it was king pharaon kid Hu ðis newe tiding wurð bi-tid; And he was bliðe, in herte fagen, 2360 ðat Ioſep wulde him ðider dragen, for luue of Ioſep migte he timen. Soon did Pharaoh learn the new tidings.

He bad cartes and waines nimen, He bad them take carts and

[223]

eft?

[224]

derðe?

JACOB AND HIS FAMILY GO INTO EGYPT.

And fechen wiues, and childre, and men, 2364 And gaf hem ðor al lond gerſen, And het hem ðat he ſulden hauen More and bet ðan he kude crauen. wains and fetch their wives and children.

Ioſep gaf ilc here twinne ſrud, 2368 Beniamin moſt he^[225] made prud; Joseph gave them changes of raiment.

fif weden beſt bar beniamin, ðre hundred plates of ſiluer fin, Al-ſo fele oðre ðor-til, [Fol. 46b.]

2372 He bad ben in is faderes wil, And .x. aſſes wið ſemes feſt; Of alle egiptes welðhe beſt Gaf he iſ breðere, wið herte bliðe, He bad them take presents for Jacob,

2376 And bad hem rapen hem homward ſwiðe; And he ſo deden wið herte fagen. Toward here fader he gunen dragen, and hasten homeward.

And quane he comen him bi-foren, 2380 Ne wiſte he nogt quat he woren. When they came home, Jacob scarcely recognized them.

"Louerd," he ſeiden, "iſrael, Ioſep ðin ſune greteð ðe wel, And ſendeð ðe bode ðat he liueð, 2384 Al egipte in hiſ wil cliueð." "Lord Israel," they said, "Joseph liveth and greeteth thee well."

Iacob a-braid, and trewed it nogt, Til he ſag al ðat welðe brogt. "Wel me," quað he, "wel iſ me wel, 2388 ðat ic aue abiden ðuſ ſwil[c] ſel! Jacob believed not till he saw the presents.

And ic ſal to min ſune fare And ſen, or ic of werlde chare." Then he said, "I shall go to my son ere I turn from the world."

[I]Acob wente ut of lond chanaan, 2392 And of iſ kinde wel manie a man; Ioſep wel faire him vnder-ſtod, And pharaon ðogte it ful good; Jacob and his family left Canaan.

for ðat he weren hirde-men, [Fol. 47.]

2396 He bad hem ben in lond gerſen. Iacob waſ brogt bi-foren ðe king for to geuen him hiſ bliſcing. Pharaoh gives them the land of Goshen to live in. Jacob is brought before Pharaoh,

[225]

MS. be.

THEY DWELL IN THE LAND OF GOSHEN.

"fader derer," quað pharaon, 2400 "hu fele ger be ðe on?"

"An hundred ger and .xxx. mo Haue ic her drogen in werlde wo, ðog ðinkeð me ðor-offen fo, and tells him of his age,

2404 ðog ic iſ haue drogen in wo, ſiðen ic gan on werlde ben, Her vten erd, man-kin bi-twen; So ðinked^[226] euerilc wiſ man, of his many sorrows,

2408 ðe wot quor-of man-kin bi-gan, And ðe of adames gilte muneð, ðat he her uten herdes wuneð." and how all suffer for the sin of Adam.

Pharaon bad him wurðen wel 2412 in ſofte reſte and ſeli mel; He and hiſe ſunes in reſte dede In lond gerſen, on ſundri ſtede; Siðen ðor waſ mad on ſcité, 2416 ðe waſ y-oten Rameſé. Pharaoh bad him rest in peace.

Iacob on liue wunede ðor In reſte fulle .xiiij. ger; Jacob lived one hundred and forty-four years.

And god him let bi-foren ſen 2420 Quilc time hiſe ending ſulde ben; God showed him the time of his death.

He bad ioſep hiſe leue ſune, On ðhing ðat^[227] offe wel mune, ðat quan it wurð mid him don, [Fol. 47b.] Jacob bad Joseph promise

2424 He ſulde him birien in ebron; And witterlike he it aueð him ſeid, to bury him in Hebron,

ðe ſtede ðor abraham was leid; So was him lif^[228] to wurðen leid, 2428 Quuor ali gast ſtille hadde ſeid where Abraham was laid,

Him and hiſe eldere(.) fer ear bi-foren, Quuor ieſu criſt wulde ben boren, And quuor ben dead, and quuor ben grauen; 2432 He ðogt wið hem reſte to hauen. and his elders before him.

Ioſep ſwor him al-ſo he bad, And he ðor-of wurð bliðe & glad. Joseph swore to do as his father wished.

[226]

ðinkeð?

[227]

ðar?

[228]

lef?

THE DEATH OF JACOB.

Or ðan he wiſte off werlde faren, 2436 He bade hiſe kinde to him charen, And ſeide quat of hem ſulde ben, Hali gaſt dede it him ſeen; In clene ending and ali lif, 2440 So he for-let ðis werldes ſtrif. Before he died Jacob called his sons before him, and "said what of them should be."

[I]Oſep dede hiſe lich faire geren, Waſſen, and riche-like ſmeren, And ſpice-like ſwete ſmaken; Joseph caused his father's body to be embalmed.

2444 And egipte folc him bi-waken xl. nigtes and .xl. daiges, ſwilc woren egipte lages. Egypt's folk "bewaked" Jacob for forty nights and forty days.

first .ix. nigt ðe liches beðen, 2448 And ſmeren, and winden, and bi-queðen, And waken iſ ſiðen .xl. nigt; ðo men ſo deden ðe adden migt. [Fol. 48.] The first nine nights they bathe, anoint, etc., the body.

And ebriſſe folc adden an kire, 2452 Nogt ſone deluen it wið yre, The Hebrews had a different custom;

Oc waſſen it and kepen it rigt, they wash the body,

Wið-vten ſmerles, ſeuene nigt, And ſiden^[229] ſmered .xxx. daiges. 2456 Criſtene folc haueð oðer laiges, He ben ſmered ðor quiles he liuen, and keep it unanointed for seven nights.

Wið criſme and olie, in trewðe geuen; for trewðe and gode dedes mide, 2460 ðon^[230] ben ðan al ðat wech-dede; Sum .on. ſum .ðre. sum .vii. nigt, Sum .xxx., ſum .xii. moneð rigt; And ſum euerilc wurðen ger, 2464 ðor quiles ðat he wunen her, Christian folks are anointed with chrism and oil in their life-time.

don for ðe dede chirche-gong, elmeſſe-gifte, and meſſe-ſong, And ðat iſ on ðe weches ſtede; 2468 Wel him mai ben dat^[231] wel it dede! For the dead they perform alms-gift and mass-song.

Egipte folc aueð him waked xl. nigt, and feſte maked, Jacob's sons kept a "wake" of thirty days.

[229]

ſiðen?

[230]

don?

[231]

ðat?

HE IS BURIED IN HEBRON.

And hiſe ſunes .xxx. daiges, 2472 In clene lif and ali daiges;^[232]

So woren forð .x. wukes gon, get adde Iacob birigeles non. And pharaon king cam bode bi-foren, [Fol. 48b.] So ten weeks passed away and Jacob had no burial.

2476 ðat Ioſep haueð his fader ſworen; And he it him gatte ðor he wel dede, Pharaoh heard of Joseph's oath to his father,

And bad him nimen him feres mide, Wel wopnede men and wiſ of here[n], 2480 dat^[233] noman hem bi weie deren; ðat bere iſ led, ðiſ folc iſ rad, he foren a-buten bi adad; ful ſeuene nigt he ðer abiden, 2484 And bi-mening for iacob deden; So longe he hauen ðeðen numen, and gave him leave to bury his father, and to take with him "weaponed" men.

To flum iurdon ðat he ben cumen, And ouer pharan til ebron; 2488 ðor iſ ðat liche in biriele don, And Ioſep in-to egipte went, Wid^[234] al iſ folc ut wið him ſent. They crossed the Jordan, and laid the body in a tomb, and Joseph returned to Egypt.

Hiſe breðere comen him ðanne to, 2492 And gunnen him bi-ſeken alle ſo; "Vre fader," he ſeiden, "or he was dead, Vs he ðiſ bodewurd ſeigen bead, Hure ſinne ðu him for-giue, 2496 Wið-ðanne-ðat we vnder ðe liuen." His brethren came to him to seek forgiveness,

Alle he fellen him ðor to fot, To beðen meðe and bedden oc; and fell down there before his feet, and he forgave and loved them kindly.

And he it for-gaf^[235] hem mildelike, 2500 And luuede hem alle kinde-like. [Fol. 49.]

[I]Oſep an hundred ger waſ hold, And hiſ kin wexen manige-fold; Joseph waxed old;

He bad ſibbe cumen him bi-foren, 2504 Or he waſ ut of werlde boren; he bad his relations come before him ere he died,

[232]

laiges?

[233]

ðat?

[234]

wið?

[235]

At the bottom of fol. 48b is the catchword—"And he it for-gaff."

THE DEATH OF JOSEPH.

"It ſal," quað he, "ben ſoð, bi-foren

ðat god hað ure eldere ſworen; He ſal gu leden in hiſ hond 2508 Heðen to ðat hotene lond; for godeſ luue get bid ic gu, Leſted it ðanne, hoteð it nu, and told them of God's promise to their elders.

ðat mine bene ne be for-loren, 2512 wið gu ben mine bones boren." He it him gatten and wurð he dead, God do ðe ſoule ſeli red! He asks them to bear his bones with them, when they leave Egypt.

Hiſe liche waſ ſpice-like maked, 2516 And longe egipte-like waked, And ðo biried hem bi-foren, And ſiðen late of londe boren. Hiſe oðre breðere, on and on, 2520 Woren ybiried at ebron. The death of Joseph.

An her endede to ful, in wiſ, ðe boc ðe iſ hoten geneſis, ðe moyſes, ðurg godes red, 2524 Wrot for lefful ſoules ned. Here endeth the book called Genesis, written by Moses, through God's counsel.

God ſchilde hiſe ſowle fro helle bale, ðe made it ðus on engel tale! And he ðat ðiſe lettres wrot, [Fol. 49b.] God shield his soul from hell-bale, who translated it into English!

2528 God him helpe weli mot, And berge iſ ſowle fro ſorge & grot Of helle pine, cold & hot! And alle men, ðe it heren wilen,^[236] May God help and protect him from hell-pain, cold and hot!

2532 God leue hem in hiſ bliſſe ſpilen Among engeles & ſeli men, Wiðuten ende in reſte ben, And luue & pais uſ bi-twen, 2536 And god ſo graunte, amen, ameN! And all men who will hear it, God grant that they may dwell in bliss among angels for ever!

[236]

MS. welin.

THE OPPRESSION OF THE ISRAELITES.

GOdes bliſcing be wið vs,

Her nu bi-ginned^[237] exodus. Here beginneth Exodus.

Pharao kinges rigte name 2540 Vephres, be dede ðe ebriſ frame; And bi oðere ſeuene kinges ſel, Under Pharaoh, and the seven kings who succeeded him,

Wexen he ðore & ðogen wel. the Israelites increased and prospered.

ðe egtenede king amonaphis, 2544 Agenes ðis folc hatel is; The eighth king treated them harshly,

And egipte folc adden nið, for ebriſ adden ſeli ſið. Quuað ðis ging^[238] wið hem ſtille in red, 2548 "ðis ebris waxen michil ſped, and the Egyptians became jealous of them.

Bute if we eraflike^[239] hem for-don, Ne ſulen he non eige ſen uſ on." [Fol. 50.]

Ðo ſette ſundri hem to waken 2552 His tigel and lim, and walles maken, burges feten; and rameſen ðurge here ſwinc it walled ben; They made slaves of them, and set them to build walls.

Summe he deden in vn-ðewed ſwinc, 2556 for it was fugel and ful o ſtinc, Some they made to do foul work,

Muc and fen ut of burgeſ beren, ðuſ bitterlike he gun hem deren; ðe ðridde ſwinc was eui and ſtron[g], to carry "muck and fen out of the city,"

2560 He deden hem crepen dikes long, And wide a-buten burges gon, and to creep along dikes.

And cumen ðer ear waſ non; And if ðat folc hem wulde deren, 2564 ðe dikeſ comb hem ſulde weren. for al ðat ſwinc heui & ſor, The comb of the dike serves them as protection against their enemies.

Ay wex ðat kinde, mor & mor, And ðhogen, & ſpredden in londe ðor, 2568 ðat made ðe kinges herte ful ſor. For all that labour, the folk increased and spread.

Ðo bad monophis pharaun wimmen ben ſet in euerilc tun, Then bad Pharaoh,

And ðat he weren redi bi-foren, 2572 Quan ebru child ſuld be boren, that every Hebrew male child should be put to death as soon as it was born.

[237]

bi-ginneð?

[238]

king?

[239]

craftlike?

THE BIRTH AND PRESERVATION OF MOSES.

And ðe knapes to deade giuen, And leten ðe mayden childre liuen.

Oc he it leten fro godeſ dred; 2576 Get ðo childre wexen in ſped, And quane he komen to ðe king, [Fol. 50b.] The midwives saved the children's lives,

He wereden hem wið leſing; He ſeiden ðe childre weren boren and lied to the king, saying,

2580 Or he migten ben hem bi-foren. God it geald ðeſe wifes wel, On hom, on hagte, eddi ſel! that the children were born ere they arrived.

Ðo bad ðis king al opelike, 2584 In alle burges modilike, Euerilc knape child of ðat kin ben a-non don ðe flod wið-in. Pharaoh then bad that every "knave child" should be drowned.

BI ðat time waſ moyſes boren, 2588 So het abraham dor^[240] bi-foren; And his moder het Iacabeð, Ghe was for him dreful and bleð, By that time was Moses born.

wel is hire of bird^[241] bi-tid. 2592 ðre moneð haueð ghe him hid, durſte ghe non lengere him for-helen, Ne ghe ne cuðe ðe wateres ſtelen; His mother hid him for three months.

In an fetles, of rigeſſes wrogt, 2596 Terred, ðat water dered it nogt, Then she made an ark,

ðiſ child wunden ghe wulde don, placed the child in it,

And ſetten it ſo ðe water on; and set it on the water.

Ghe adde or hire dowter ſent, Miriam was sent to watch what became of it.

2600 To loken quider it ſulde ben went; Maria dowter ful feren ſtod, And ghe nam kep to-ward ðiſ flod. [Fol. 51.]

Teremuth kinkes^[242] dowter ðor cam, 2604 ðor ðis child on ðe water nam; Ghe bad it ben to hire brogt, And ſag ðis child wol fair[e] wrogt, The king's daughter came and saw the child on the water.

Ghe wiſte it was of ebrius kin, 2608 And ðog cam hire rewde^[243] wið-in; She wist it was of Hebrew kin,

[240]

ðor?

[241]

birð?

[242]

kinges?

[243]

rewðe?

TEREMUTH ADOPTS HIM AS HER SON.

God haued^[244] ſwilc fair-hed him geuen,

ðat ſelf ðe fon it leten liuen. but let it live for its beauty.

Egipte wimmen comen ner, 2612 And boden ðe childe letten ðer, Oc he wente it awei wið rem, Of here bode nam he no gem. Egyptians wanted her to destroy the child.

ÐO quad maria to teremuth, 2616 "wilt ðu, leuedi, ic go fear out, And take ſum wimman of ðat kin ðor he waſ bi-gote & foſtred in?" Miriam, at Teremuth's bidding,

Teremuth ſo bad, & ſche forð-ran, 2620 And brogt hire a foſtre wimman, On waſ tette he ſone aueð lagt, fetches a "foster woman" for the child.

And teremuth haueð hire him bi-tagt. Iakabeð wente bliðe agen, 2624 ðat ghe ðe gildesſ^[245] foſtre muſte ben; Ghe kepte it wel in foſtre wune, Ghe knew it for hire owen ſune; Teremuth consigned Moses to Jochabed, who returned home blithely.

And quane it ſulde ſundred ben, 2628 Ghe bar it teremuth for to ſen; Teremuth toc it on ſunes ſtede, And fedde it wel and cloðen dede; And ghe it clepit moyſen, 2632 Ghe wiſte of water it boren ben. [Fol. 51b.] When old enough, the child was adopted by Teremuth, who called it Moses.

An time after ðat ðiſ was don, Ghe brogte him bi-foren pharaon, And ðiſ king wurð him in herte mild, 2636 So ſwide^[246] faiger was ðiſ child; And he toc him on ſunes ſtede, And hiſ corune on his heued he dede, And let it ſtonden ayne ſtund; She brought him before Pharaoh, who placed the royal crown on his head.

2640 ðe child it warp dun to de grund. The child soon threw it to the ground.

Hamonel^[247] likeneſ was ðor-on; ðis crune is broken, ðiſ iſ miſdon. Hamon's likeness was thereon.

Biſſop Eliopoleos 2644 ſag ðiſ timing, & up he roſ; The Bishop of Heliopolis saw this, and said,

[244]

haueð?

[245]

cildeſ?

[246]

ſwiðe?

[247]

Hamoneſ?

THE ETHIOPIANS INVADE EGYPT,

"If ðiſ child," quad he, "mote ðen, He ſal egyptes bale ben." If ðor ne wore helpe twen lopen, 2648 ðiſ child adde ðan ſone be dropen; ðe king wið-ſtod & an wiſ man, He ſeide, "ðe child doð alſ he can; We ſulen nu witen for it dede 2652 ðiſ witterlike, or in child-hede;" "If this child be allowed to thrive, he shall become Egypt's bale."

He bad ðis child brennen to colen And he toc is hu migt he it ðolen, And in hiſe muth ſo depe he iſ dede 2656 Hiſe tunges ende iſ brent ðor-mide; ðor-fore ſeide de^[248] ebru witterlike, ðat he ſpac ſiðen miſerlike; [Fol. 52.] The king offered the child two burning coals (to eat), and he put them in his mouth, and burnt the end of his tongue therewith, and spake indistinctly.

Oc ſo faiger he waſ on to ſen, 2660 ðat migte non man modi ben. ðor quiles he ſeweden him up-on, Mani dede b[i]leph un-don In ðat burg folc bi-twen, 2664 So waſ hem lef on him to ſen. So fair was he to look upon, that none might be angry with him.

Bi dat^[249] time ðat he was guð, Wið faigered and ſtrengthe kuð, folc ethiopienes on egipte cam, 2668 And brende, & ſlug, & wreche nam, Al to memphin dat^[250] riche cite, And a-non to ðe reade ſe; By the time that he became renowned for beauty and strength, the Ethiopians invaded Egypt, and burnt and slew as far as the Red Sea.

ðo was egipte folc in dred, 2672 And aſkeden here godes red; And hem ſeiden wið anſweren, ðat on ebru cude hem wel weren; Teremuth un-eðes migte timen The Egyptians ask counsel of their gods, who tell them that a Hebrew shall deliver them.

2676 ðat moyſes ſal wið hire forð-nimen, Or haue he hire pligt & ſworen, ðat him ſal feið wurðful ben boren. Moses is permitted by Teremuth

Moyſes was louered of ðat here, 2680 ðor he wurð ðane egyptes were; [Fol. 52b.]

[248]

ðe?

[249]

ðat?

[250]

ðat?

AND ARE DEFEATED BY MOSES.

Bi a lond weige he wente rigt, And brogte vn-warnede on hem figt; He hadden don egipte wrong, to lead the Egyptians against their enemies.

2684 He bi-loc hem & ſmette a-mong, He smote and slew them.

And ſlug ðor manige; oc ſumme flen, Into ſaba to borgen ben. Moyſes bi-ſette al ðat burg, 2688 Oc it was riche & ſtrong ut-ðhurg; Many fled to Sheba.

Ethiopienes kinges dowter tarbis, Riche maiden of michel priſ, The king of Ethiopia's daughter, for love,

Gaf ðiſ riche burg moyſi; 2692 Luue-bonde hire ghe it dede for-ði. ðor iſe fon he leide in bonde, gave this rich city to Moses,

And he wurð al-migt-ful in ðat lond; He bi-lef ðor(.) tarbis him ſcroð, who waxed mighty in the land.

2696 ðog was him ðat ſurgerun ful loð; Mai he no leue at hire taken His sojourn there was distasteful to him,

but-if he it mai wið crafte maken: He waſ of an ſtrong migt wiſ, but by craft he brought it to an end.

2700 He carf in two gummes of priſ Two likeneſſes, ſo grauen & meten, He carved upon two gems two likenesses;

ðiſ doð ðenken, & ðoð^[251] forgeten; He feſt is in two ringes of gold, the one caused remembrance, the other forgetfulness.

2704 Gaf hire ðe ton, he was hire hold; Moses gave her the one which caused her to forget her love,

Ghe it bered^[252] and ðiſ luue iſ for-geten, Moyſes ðus haued^[253] him leue bi-geten; Sone it migte wið leue ben, [Fol. 53.]

2708 Into egypte e^[254] wente a-gen. and so he came again to Egypt.

AN time he for to lond gerſen, to ſpeken wið hiſe kinnes men; And ſone he cam in-to ðat lond, 2712 A modi ſtiward he ðor fond, Betende a man wid^[255] hiſe wond; ðat ðhugte moyſes michel ſond, On a time he went to Goshen, and found a "moody steward" beating a Hebrew.

And hente ðe cherl wið hiſe wond, 2716 And he fel dun in dedes bond; He seized the churl, slew him, and buried him in the sand.

[251]

ðoðer?

[252]

bereð?

[253]

haueð?

[254]

MS. ewente.

[255]

wið?

MOSES SLAYS AN EGYPTIAN,

And moyſes drug him to ðe ſtrond, And ſtille^[256] he dalf him [in] ðe ſond;

wende he ðat non egipcien 2720 ðat hadde it wiſt, ne ſulde a ſen; He thought that none had wist it.

Til after ðiſ on oðer day, He ſag chiden in ðe wey two egypcienis, modi & ſtrong, 2724 ðiſ on wulde don ðe toðer wrong; And moyſes nam ðer-of kep, And to hemward ſwide^[257] he lep, And vndernam him ðat it agte awold. On the second day he saw two men chiding, and reproved them.

2728 And he him anſwerede modi & bold; The wrong-doer thus answered him,

"Meiſter(.) moyſes, quo haueð ðe mad? ðu art of dede and o word to rad. "Moses, who made thee master?

we witen wel quat iſ bi-tid, 2732 Quuow giſter-dai waſ ſlagen and hid; ðe bode iſ cumen to pharaun,^[258] [Fol. 53b.] We know well how yesterday one was slain and hid.

Get ſal ðin pride fallen dun." Soon shall thy pride fall down."

Ðo bi-thowte him moyſes, 2736 And his weige ðeðen ches; ðurg ðe deſerd a-wei he nam, Then Moses fled

And to burge madian he cam, And ſette hi[m] ðor vten ðe town, and came to Midian,

2740 Bi a welle ðo ſprong ðor dun. Raguel Ietro ðat riche man, Was wuniende in madian, where dwelt Jethro,

He hadde ſeuene dowtreſ bi-geten; 2744 ðor he comen water to feten, who had seven daughters.

And for to wattren here ſep; (Wimmen ðo nomen of here erf kep, These maidens took care of cattle.

Pride ne cuðe bi ðat dai 2748 Nogt ſo michel ſo it nu mai). Hirdes wulden ðe maidenes deren, Pride was not so great then as now.

Oc moyſes ðor hem gan weren, And wattrede here erue euerilc on, 2752 And dede hem tidelike to tune gon; Moses helped the maidens to water the flocks.

[256]

MS. ſtalle, corrected to ſtille.

[257]

ſwiðe?

[258]

MS. pharaum.

AND FLEES INTO MIDIAN.

And ben ſone hom numen;

And b[i]foren here fader cumen, And gunen him ðore tellen, They told their father

2756 Hu a gunge man, at te welle[n], ðewe and wurſipe hem dede; [Fol. 54.] how a young man at the well had protected them.

And ietro geld it him in eſtdede, Sente after him, freinede hiſ kin, 2760 Helde him wurðelike iſ huſ wið-in; Of ali kinde he wiſte him boren, And bad him ðor wunen him bi-foren, Jethro sent after him and kept him in his house,

Gaf him iſ dowter ſephoram; 2764 To wife in lage he hire nam, And bi-gat two ſunes on hire ðer, firſt gerlon, ſiðen eliezer. Egipte king to late waſ dead, 2768 ðe ðe childre ſo drinkelen bead. and gave him his daughter to wife, who bore him two sons.

And moyſes waſ numen an ſel In ðe deſerd depe ſumdel, for te loken hirdneſſe fare; 2772 Riche men ðo kepten ſwilc ware. On a time Moses went into the desert with his flocks, for rich men then kept such ware.

ðo ſag moyſes, at munt ſynay, An ſwiðe ferli ſigt ðor-bi, fier brennen on ðe grene leaf, By Mount Sinai he sees a wondrous sight,

2776 And ðog grene and hol bi-leaf; forð he nam to ſen witterlike, Hu ðat fier brende milde-like; a bush burning, and nevertheless green and whole.

Vt of ðat buſk, ðe brende and ðheg, 2780 God ſente an ſteuene, brigt and heg; Out of that bush God's voice was heard, clear and high,

"Moyſes, moyſes, do of ðin ſon, ðu ſtondes ſeli ſtede up-on; 'Moses, Moses, take off thy shoes, for thou standest on holy ground.

Hic am god ðe in min geming nam 2784 Iacob, yſaac, and abraham; [Fol. 54b.] I am the God of Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham.

ic haue min folkes pine ſogen, ðat he nu longe hauen drogen; I have seen the affliction of my people,

Nu am ic ligt to fren hem ðeðen, 2788 And milche and hunige lond hem queðen; and have come down to deliver them,

GOD APPEARS TO MOSES AT SINAI.

An .vii. kinge-riches lond Ic ſal hem bringen al on hond. and to bring them into the land of seven kingdoms.

Cum, ðu ſalt ben min ſondere man, 2792 Ic ſal ðe techen wel to ðan; Come, thou shalt be my messenger,

ðu ſalt min folc bringen a-gen, And her ðu ſalt min migte ſen; And ðu ſalt ſeien to faraon, 2796 ðat he lete min folc ut-gon; and bid Pharaoh release my people.

If he it werne and be ðor-gen, Ic ſal ðe techen hu it ſal ben; for ic ſal werken ferlike ſtrong, If he refuse, I shall work great marvels,

2800 And maken min folc frelike ut-gong; Ge ſulen cumen wið feteles & ſrud, and cause my people to go out freely.

And reuen egipte ðat iſ nu prud. Werp nu to token dun ðat wond." 2804 And it warp vt of hiſe hond, And wurð ſone an uglike ſnake, And moyſes fleg for dredes ſake; As a sign, throw down thy wand." The wand then became an ugly snake.

God him bad, bi ðe tail he it nam, 2808 And it a-non a wond it bi-cam, God bade Moses take it by the tail, and anon it became a wand.

And in hiſe boſum he dede his hond, Quit and al unfer he it fond; [Fol. 55.] He put his hand into his bosom and it became leprous.

And ſone he dede it eft agen, 2812 Al hol and fer he wiſte it ſen. He put it in again and it became whole and sound.

"If he for ðiſe tokenes two Ne liſteðe ne troweð to, Go, get ðe water of de^[259] flod 2816 On ðe erðe, and it ſal wurðen blod." "If they believe not these tokens, pour out the water of the flood on the earth, and it shall become blood."

"Louerd, ic am wanmol, vn-reken Of wurdes, and may ic Iuel ſpeken. Nu iſ forð gon ðe ðridde dai, 2820 Sende an oðer; bettre he mai." "Lord! I am not eloquent, and cannot speak well," said Moses.

"Quo made domme, and quo ſpecande? Quo made bisne, and quo lockende? Quo but ic, ðat haue al wrogt? 2824 Of me ſal fultum ben ðe brogt." Quoth God, "Who made the dumb, the speaking, the blind, and the seeing?"

[259]

ðe?

MOSES AND AARON ARE SENT TO EGYPT.

"Louerd, ſent him ðat iſ to cumen, Vgging and dred me haueð^[260] numen."

"Aaron ðin broðer can wel ſpeken, 2828 ðu ſalt him meten and vnſteken Him bodeword min, and ic ſal red Gunc boðen bringen read and ſped." "Aaron, thy brother can speak well, thou shalt meet him, and make known to him my words."

Moyſes, frigti, ðo funden gan 2832 to ſpeken wið ietro ðat riche man, And aſkede him leue to faren and ſen, If hiſe breðere of liues ben; Moses asks leave of Jethro to visit his brethren.

ðog drechede he til god ef[t] bad, 2836 And brogte him bode ðe made him glad, ðat pharaun, ðe wulde him ſ[l]en, Waſ dead and hadde iſ werkes len. [Fol. 55b.] Moses delayed until God's message again came to him.

MOyſes and hiſe wif ſephoram, 2840 And hiſe childre wið him nam; And ðat on waſ vncircumciſ. Then he departed with his wife and children.

He nam ſo forð, ſoð it is; An angel, wið an dragen ſwerd, 2844 In ðe weie made him offerd, for ðat he ledden feren ſwike, ðe ſulden him deren witterlike; One child was uncircumcised, and the angel in the way sought to slay him.

Sephora toc ðiſ gunge knaue, 2848 And dede circumciſe haue, And gret, and wente frigti a-gen, Zipporah circumcised her son.

And let moyſes forð one ten. He bar hiſe gerde forð in iſ hond, 2852 And nam a weie^[261] bi deſerd lond; Moses pursued his way alone.

To mount ſynai forð he nam, Aaron hiſe broðer a-gen him cam; Eyðer [h]ere was of oðer fagen; 2856 Moyſes him haueð iſ herte^[262] vt-dragen, At Mount Sinai he meets with Aaron.

And he ben in-to egypte numen, And a-mong folc ebriſſe ben cumen; Moyſes tolde hem ðat bliðe bode, They come into Egypt.

2860 And let hem ſen tockenes fro gode; The people believe them.

[260]

MS. haued.

[261]

MS. aweie.

[262]

MS. herðe.

GREATER LABOURS ARE LAID UPON THE ISRAELITES.

He redden ſamen he ſulden gon wið^[263] wiſe men to pharaon. [Fol. 56.]

"God," he ſeiden, "of iſrael 2864 ðe bode ſente, and greteð wel, Moses and Aaron come before Pharaoh,

ðat, bi ði leue, hiſe folc vt-fare, ðre daiges gon and ben ðor gare, In ðe deſerd an ſtede up-on, 2868 Hiſ leue ſacrifiſe to don." Quad pharaun, "knowe ic^[264] him nogt, Bi quaſe read haue ge ðiſ ſowt?" and deliver their message.

Seide moyſes, "ic am ſonder man, 2872 Egipte folc me knowen can, for ic am ðat ilc moyſes, Moses says that he is well known to the Egyptians,

ðe egypte folc of ſorge les, ðan ethiops woren her cumen; 2876 ic warc al ðat ðu was binumen, And ſwanc and michel ſorwe dreg, having delivered them from the Ethiopians,

Get iſt vnſene hu ic it bi-teg? Ic haue ben ſiðen at munt ſyna, 2880 Godes bode-wurd bringe ic ðor-fra." and that he brings God's message from Mount Sinai.

Qvað pharaun, "ðu art min ðral, ðat hidel-like min lond vt-ſtal; Sum ſwike-dom doð it nu ben, 2884 ðat ðu beſt cumen nu eft agen; Pharaoh chides Moses,

ðiſ folc, ðat ðu wilt me leden fro, ſal ben luken in more wo." and declares that the Israelites shall suffer still greater woe.

Ðe king it bad, and [it] wurð don; [Fol. 56b.]

2888 More ſwinc ðo was hem leid on. Hem-ſeluen he fetchden ðe chaf ðe men ðor hem to gode gaf, And ðog holden ðe tigeles tale, 2892 And elten and eilden,^[265] grete & ſmale. More labour is laid upon the Israelites.

Ðo fleg ðiſ folc wið moyſen, And [he] to god made hiſe bimen. "Louered, qui waſ ic hider ſent? 2896 ðin folc iſ more in ſorwe went." Moses complains to God.

[263]

MS. wid.

[264]

MS. ic hic.

[265]

? eldren and children?

MOSES AND AARON PERFORM MIRACLES BEFORE PHARAOH.

God quað, "ic ſal hem leſen fro, And here fon weren wið wo; Abraham, yſac, and hiſe ſunen 2900 Woren to min ðhunerg wunen, ðog ne tagte ic hem nogt for-ði Min mig[t]ful name adonay; God renews his promise by his name Adonai,

Min milche witter name eley 2904 He knewen wel, and ely; ðat ic ðe haue hoten wel, Ic it ſal leſten euerilc del." which was unknown to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Moyſes told hem ðiſ tidding; 2908 ðog woren he get in ſtrong murni[n]g. Siðen ſpac god to moyſen, and tagte him hu it ſulde ben. Moses told the Hebrews these tidings, and yet were they in great anguish.

fowre ſcore ger he waſ hold, 2912 And aaron ðre more told,^[266] Moses was now fourscore years old.

Quanne he ðat^[267] bodewurd ſpoken, And deden ðe firme token. [Fol. 57.]

AAron ðor warp vt of hiſ hond 2916 Moyſeses migtful wond, And it wurð bi-foren pharaon Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh.

An Iglic ſnake ſone on-on; ðe king ſente after wiches kire, It became an ugly snake.

2920 Wapmen ðe weren in ſowles lire, ðe ferden al bi fendes red, fendeſ hem gouen ſinful ſped; And worpen he ðor wondes dun, The sorcerers, by the devil's help, did the like.

2924 fro euerilc ðor crep a dragun; Oc moyſes wirm hem alle ſmot, Each of their rods became a dragon.

And here aldre heuedes he of bot; ðog deden wicheſ ðo men to ſen 2928 On oðere wiſe or ſoðe ben; for ðo fendes or he[m] bi-foren Hadden ðo neddres ðider boren; Moses's serpent bit off their heads.

[266]

At the bottom of this page is the catchword—"Quanne he ðat bodewurd."

[267]

MS. dat; see the catchword.

THE WATERS ARE TURNED INTO BLOOD.

And pharaon ſtirte up a-non, 2932 And for-bed ðiſ folc to gon. ÐO ſeide moyſes to araon, "Quat redeſ tu, broder, ſule wit don? ðiſ king him his^[268] wel wiðer-ward 2936 Agen ðis folc, and herte hard; Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go.

Go we and ſpeken wið hem get, And fonden wið ðiſ token bet." Moses and Aaron again came before Pharaoh.

And ſo deden [he] ſone a-non, 2940 And comen bi-foren pharaon, Quad aaron, "nu ſaltu ſen Quilc godes migtful ſtrengðes ben." [Fol. 57b.]

He ſmot on ðat flod wið ðat wond, Aaron smote on the flood with his wand;

2944 Sone anon blod men al it fond; soon anon it became blood,

And ðe fiſſes, in al ðat blod read, floten a-buuen and wurðeden dead; and the fish in it died.

In euerilc welle, in euerilc trike, 2948 men funden blod al witterlike, In every well and pool blood was found,

But-if it were in ðe lond gerſen, ðor-inne woree^[269] ðe ebriſſe men. ðis wreche, in al egypte rigt, except in Goshen.

2952 Leſtede fulle ſeuene nigt; ðo waſ ðiſ king ſumdel for-dred, This plague lasted seven nights.

And het hem he ſulden vt ben led; And moyſes ðiſ pine vn-dede, 2956 And water wurð on blodeſ ſtede. Pharaoh then promised that the Hebrews should depart.

ðan pharaon wurð war ðis bot, ðiſ folc of londe funden ne mot; Iannes and mambres, wicheſ wod, 2960 Him ðhugte he maden water blod; When the plague was removed he would not release them.

It waſ on fendes wiſe wrogt, for to bi-tournen^[270] ðe kingeſ ðogt. Moyſes lerede god, ſpac him mide, 2964 Al ðat iſ broðer aaron dede. Mad sorcerers misled the king.

Eft he comen to pharaon, And he wernede ðiſ folc ut-gon. [Fol. 58.]

[268]

read is.

[269]

woren?

[270]

MS. bitoueren.

THE PLAGUES OF FROGS AND GNATS.

And aaron held up his hond, 2968 to ðe water and ðe more lond; ðo cam ðor up ſwilc froſkes here ðe dede^[271] al folc egipte dere; Aaron held up his hand towards the water, and up came a host of frogs.

Summe woren wilde, and ſumme tame, 2972 And ðo hem deden ðe^[272] moſte ſame; Some were wild and some tame.

In huſe, in drinc, in metes, in bed, It cropen and maden hem for-dred; Some crept into houses, drink, meat, and bed.

Summe ſtoruen and gouen ſtinc, 2976 And vn-hileden mete and drinc; Some died and stank.

Polheuedes, and froſkes, & podes ſpile Bond harde egipte folc ^[273]in ſile. ðiſ king bad moyſes and aaron, 2980 ðat he ſulden god bone don; Tadpoles, frogs, and toads afflicted Egypt's folk.

And ſone ſo moyſes bad iſ bede, ðiſ wirmes ſtoruen in ðe ſtede; The frogs died,

And quane ðe king wurð war ðis dead, 2984 Anon ðis folc fore he for-bead. Ðe ðridde wreche dede aaron Bi-foren ðe king pharaon; but the king forbad the departure of the Hebrews.

He ſmot wið ðat gerde on ðe lond, 2988 And gnattes hird ðor ðicke up-wond, ſmale to ſen, and ſarp on bite, In al egypte fleg ðiſ ſmite. The third plague of gnats, small to look at, but sharp in biting.

And ðo dede men and herf wo, 2992 Anger and tene, ſorge and wo. [Fol. 58b.]

Quoðen ðo wiches clerkes(.) "ðiſ fortoken godeſ gaſtes is." The sorcerers said, "This is token of God's ghost,"

Her hem wantede migt and ſped, 2996 to ſwilc ðing cuðen he non red; ðiſ toknes dede aaron. for they lacked might to do this.

God ſente ſiðen hem oðere on, for euere eld ðiſ king on-on, 3000 And wernede ðiſ folc vt to gon. Ðo ſeide god to moyſen, "Go ðu gund pharaon agen; Pharaoh remained obstinate,

[271]

MS. ðede.

[272]

MS. de.

[273]

? un-sile.

PLAGUES OF FLIES, BOILS, AND BLAINS,

Sei him, if min folc ne mote gon,

3004 fleges kin ſal hin ouer-gon, And al hiſ lond to ſorge ten; Oc lond gerſen ne ſal non ben." and was punished by a plague of flies.

And ðuſ^[274] it was, and al ðiſ ſor 3008 Sag pharaun, and dredde him ðor. He gaf hem leue ðo vt to faren wið-ðanne-ðat he to londe ef[t] charen; And moyſes bad meðe here on, Then gave he them leave to depart,

3012 And ðiſ fleges fligt vt iſ don; And pharaon wroð^[275] herte on hard, And vn-dede hem ðat^[276] forward. Moyſes ſpac ſiðen wið gode, and the flight of flies was removed.

3016 And he brogte pharaun ðiſ bode; Message comes to Pharaoh of a great plague.

"To-morgen, bute he mugen vt-pharen, Egyptes erf ſal al for-faren." [Fol. 59.]

He wið-held^[277] hem and, al-ſo he it b[e]ad, 3020 Al ðe erf of egipt wurð dead; And get ne migte ðiſ folc vt-gon, ſwilc har[d]neſſe iſ on pharaon. After ðiſ time, it ſo bi-cam, 3024 ðat moyſes aſkes up-nam, The murrain among the cattle.

And warpes vt til heuene-ward; ðo wex vn-ſelðe on hem wel hard, dolc, ſor, and blein on erue and man; The plague of boils and blains.

3028 ðe wicches hidden hem for-ðan, Bi-foren pharaun nolden he ben, The sorcerers hid themselves, and would not come before Pharaoh,

So woren he lodelike on to ſen; At laſt, quan it waſ ouer-gon, 3032 Hadde moyſes ðo leue non. Siðen ſente ðe louerd gode, so loathsome were they to look upon.

bi moyſes, to ðiſ king bode; "for-ði lete ic ðe king her ben, 3036 Men ſal, ðurg ðe, min migte ſen, And knowen ſal ben, ðe to un-frame, In euerilc lond min migte name. God's message to Pharaoh.

[274]

MS. duſ.

[275]

worð?

[276]

MS. dat.

[277]

MS. wid-held.

HAIL-STORM, AND GRASSHOPPERS.

ſwilc hail was her or neuere nomen 3040 So ſal ðiſ ſel to-morgen cumen; Do men and erue in huſe ben, If ðu wilt more hem liues ſen." He threatens the king with hail-storm.

ðo men, ðe weren in eige and dred, 3044 ben borwen, and erue, ðurg ðiſ red. [Fol. 59b.]

O morgen, al ſwilc time al ſir, ðhunder, and hail, and leuenes fir, Cam wel vnghere; al ðat it fond On the morrow came thunder, hail, and lightning.

3048 Bergles, it ſloge in ðat lond; Treeſ it for-brac, and greſ, and corn, ðat waſ up-ſprungen ðor bi-foren; Oc ðe ebrius in lond gerſen 3052 ne derede it, coren, ne erf, ne men; ðo ſeide ðe folc to pharaon, It slew many men, broke down trees, grass, and corn.

"Nu ic wot we haue miſ-don; Moyſes, do ðiſ weder charen, 3056 And gu ſal [ic] leten ut-faren." Moyſes gede vt, helde up iſ hond, And al ðiſ vnweder ðor atwond, The Egyptians beseech Moses to remove this plague.

And wurð ðiſ weder ſone al ſtille, 3060 And al after ðe kinges wille. The storm ceased,

ðiſ weder iſ ſofte, And ðiſ king hard, And brekeð him eft ðat forward. MOyſes ſiðen, and aaron, but though the weather was soft, the king's heart was hard.

3064 Seiden bi-foren pharaon, Then said Moses,

"To-morgen ſulen greſſeoppes cumen, And ðat ail ða bileaf ſal al ben numen; So ſal ðin hardneſſe ben wreken, 3068 ðat men ſulen longe ðor-after ſpeken." "To-morrow shall the grasshoppers come into the land."

"Goð vt," quað he, "red ic ſal taken, And gu ſiðen i ſal anſwer maken." [Fol. 60.]

Qvað ðiſ folc, "beter iſt laten hem vt-pharen, 3072 Al ſal egipte elles for-faren." The Egyptians advise the king to let the Israelites go.

He calde hem in; quad pharaon, "Quilc ben ðo ðe ſulen vt-gon?" Pharaoh is at first inclined to let them go,

PLAGUES OF LOCUSTS AND DARKNESS.

Quað moyſes, "but alle wapmen, 3076 wið erf, and childre, and wimmen."

"Hu! haue ge wrong," quad pharaon, "Gu wapmen giue Ic leue to gon; Of erf and wimmen leue ic nogt, 3080 Ear one of wapmen waſ bi-ſogt." Ef[t] ðiſ andſwere, ben vt-gon moyſes forð and aaron; but would only grant permission to the men.

MOyſes held up hiſ hond, 3084 A ſuðen wind iſ flig[t] up-wond, And blew ðat day and al ðat nigt And brogte egipte an newe figt; Moses held up his hand, and a southern wind uprose,

ðiſ wind hem brogte ðe ſkipperes, 3088 He deden on greſ and coren deres. which brought the locusts.

ðat lond was ful, and ðiſ king wo, He ſente after ðe breðere ðo. Quad pharaon, "ic haue miſ-numen, Then was the king full of woe,

3092 Wreche iſ on vs wið rigte cumen; Bi-ſek get god, ðis one ſiðe, ðat he vs of ðiſ pine friðe." and besought Moses to turn from them the evil.

And ſo [he] dede, and on wind cam 3096 fro weſten, and ðo opperes nam, And warpes ouer in-to ðe ſe; ðo pharaun ſag iſ lond al fre, [Fol. 60b.] A western wind took away the locusts.

Hiſ herte ðo wurð ðwert and hard, 3100 And al he brac hem [ðat] forward. MOyſes ſiðen held up iſ hond, Pharaoh broke his covenant.

And ðhikke ðherkneſſe cam on ðat lond, ðat migte non egipcien 3104 Abuten him for mirkneſſe ſen; Manige ðor ſorge on liue bead, The plague of thick darkness.

And manige weren rewlike dead; Quor-ſo ðe folc waſ of yſrael, Many died from fear.

3108 He adden ligt and ſowen wel. ðo quad pharaon to moyſen, The Israelites had light.

"Led vt al ðat iſ boren of man, The king tells them to go, and

THE INSTITUTION OF THE PASSOVER.

And let her hen boden er[f] & ſep, 3112 ic wile ðor-on^[278] nimen kep." Quad moyſes, "la! god it wot, to leave their flocks and herds behind.

ſal ðe[r]-of bi-leuen non fot, Al we ſulen iſ wið vs hauen; 3116 'Wold,' quad god, 'wile ðor-of crauen.'" Quað pharaon to moyſen, Moses will not consent to this arrangement.

"Nu ic rede ðat ge flen; for ſe ic gu more-ouer nu, 3120 dead ſal be^[279] wreken ouer gu." Moses and Aaron are driven out from the presence of Pharaoh.

MOyſes fleg to lond gerſen, ðor wuneden hiſ kinnes men. [Fol. 61.]

Quað god, "get ic ſal pharaon, 3124 Or ge gon vt, don an wreche on, (Nu ſal ic in-to egipte gon,) Swilc wreche waſ ear neuere non; God tells Moses of his final vengeance upon the Egyptians.

Deigen ðor ſal ilc firme bigeten 3128 Of men and erf, non forgeten; Oc among gu, dredeð gu nogt, to gu ne ſal non iuel ben ſogt, Ne ſal ic gu nog[t] loten 3132 Of ðat ic haue gu bi-hoten." Each first-born shall be destroyed.

Siðen quað god to moyſen, "ðiſ ſal gure firmeſt moneð^[280] ben, ðoo gune men ðe mone ſen The year shall begin,

3136 In april Reke-fille ben." ðanne he lereden hem newe wunen; when in April the new moon is seen.

"Euerilc ger, more to munen, Euerilc huſ-folc ðe mai it ðauen The institution of the Passover.

3140 On ger ſep oðer on kide hauen; ðe tende dai it ſulde ben lagt, And ho[l]den in ðe tende nagt, And [slagen] on ðe fowrtende dai; 3144 So mikil hird ſo it noten mai, Ben at euen folc ſum to ſamen, A lamb or kid of the first year is to be taken and slain by each household on the fourteenth day of the month,

And ilc folc iſ to fode framen, and to be roasted whole.

[278]

MS. dor-on.

[279]

MS. me.

[280]

MS. moned.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FIRST-BORN.

And eten it bred, and non bon breken, [Fol. 61b.]

3148 And nogt ðor-of vt huſe wreken, Oc ſod and girt, ſtondende, and ſtaf on hond, None of it is to be taken out of the house.

Ilc man after his owen fond, It is to be roasted whole,

Heued and fet, and in rew mete[n], 3152 leſen fro ðe bones and eten, Wið^[281] wriðel and vn-lif bread;" and eaten with bitter herbs, and unleavened bread.

ðe bi-leuen brennen he bead. "ðe dure-tren and ðe uuerſlagen, 3156 wið yſope ðe blod ben dragen; ðat nigt ſal ben feſt paſche," forð-for, on engle tunge, it be. The remainder is to be burnt, and the blood is to be sprinkled upon the door-posts.

ON midel ſel, ðat^[282] ilc nigt, 3160 So cam wreche on egipte rigt; Vengeance came upon the Egyptians.

Ilc firme bigeten, of erf and man, was ſtoruen on morwen and dead forðan; ðo waſ non biging of al egipte 3164 lich-leſ, ſo manige dead ðor kipte.^[283] The first-born of man and beast were slain.

ðo wurð phara[o]n nede driuen And haueð^[284] hem ðane leue giuen; And egipte folc bad hem faren, 3168 And ſwiðe a-weiward hem garen. Pharaoh consented to let Israel go.

Quat-ſo he boden, ſrud^[285] or ſat, Egipte folc hem lenen ðat; Waſ hem nogt werned ðat he crauen, 3172 for here ſwinc-hire he nu hauen; The Egyptians gave the Hebrews whatever they asked.

Gold and ſiluer he hauen vt-brogt, [Fol. 62.]

ðe tabernacle ðor^[286]-wið wurð^[287] wrogt; He woren ſexe hundred ðhuſent men, 3176 wið-vten childre and wimmen; Al erf-kin hauen he ut-led, Egipte folc hem hauen ut-ſped. The Israelites numbered 600,000 men.

Almost redi waſ here fare, 3180 moyſes bi-ðogt him ful gare Of ðat ðe iſ kin haueð ſworen, Moses thought of the oath sworn to Joseph.

Ioſepes bones ſulen ben boren; Joseph's grave could not be found.

[281]

MS. wid.

[282]

MS. dat.

[283]

caught.

[284]

MS. haued.

[285]

MS. ſruð.

[286]

MS. dor.

[287]

MS. wurd.

THE ISRAELITES LEAVE EGYPT.

Oc ðe ail haueð^[288] ſo wide ſpiled, 3184 ðat hiſ graue iſ ðor vnder hiled,

On an gold gad ðe name god Iſ grauen, and leid up-on ðe flod; A golden rod with the name of God upon it was laid upon the flood.

Moyſes it folwede ðider it flet, 3188 And ſtod ðor ðe graue under let; ðor he doluen, and hauen ſogt, And funden, and hauen up-brogt ðe bones ut of ðe erðe wroken, Moses followed its course, and thus discovered the grave.

3192 Summe hole, & ſumme broken; He dede iſ binden & faire loken Alle ðe bones ðe he ðor token. Some of the bones were whole and some broken.

Quane he geden egipte fro, 3196 It wurð erðe-dine, and fellen ðo When Israel left Egypt there was an earthquake.

fele chirches and ideles mide, Miracle it was ðat god ðor dede. Many temples fell down.

Gon woren .vii. ſcore ger 3200 Siðen^[289] ioſep waſ doluen ðer;^[290] And .xxiii. ſcore fro ðan ðat god it ſpac wið^[291] abrahram. [Fol. 62b.] Seven score years were gone since Joseph was buried.

fro Rameſe to ſokoht ſtede 3204 Non man on hem letting dede, For ſwinc and murning hem was on, fro ðe liches in-to ðe erðe don; And manige of ðo greten forði 3208 ðat he adden ben hard hem bi. The Israelites journey from Rameses to Succoth.

To burg ethan fer fro ſokoth, And ðeðen he ten to pharaoth;^[292] ðor he ſtunden for to ſen 3212 quilc pharaon wið hem ſal ben. From Succoth they go to Etham, and thence to Pihahiroth.

Pharaon bannede vt hiſ here, Iſrael he ðhogte to don dere; Pharaoh called out his army.

Sex hundred carte-hird i-wrogt^[293] 3216 vt of egipte he haueð^[294] brogt; On horſe fifiti ðhusent men, x ſcore ðhusent of fote ren; Six hundred chariots he brought out of Egypt, fifty thousand horsemen, and ten score thousand men of foot.

[288]

MS. haued.

[289]

MS. Siden.

[290]

MS. der.

[291]

MS. wid.

[292]

MS. pharaofh.

[293]

MS. hirdi wrogt.

[294]

MS. haued.

THE ISRAELITES CROSS THE RED SEA.

Alle he ledde hem vt forði 3220 ðat folc ebru to werchen wi.

Ðiſ godes folc waſ under-numen, Quan he ſegen ðiſ hird al cumen, Sore he gunen for-dredde ben, 3224 for ne cuðen ne^[295] gate flen, When the Israelites saw the Egyptian host they became sore afraid.

And if he ðore ben bi-ſet, [Fol. 63.]

Ille he ſulen ben hunger gret; He ne mogen figten a-gen, for they were without weapons.

3228 for [he] wið-vten wopen ben; ðanne he ðuſ woren alle in dred, On moyſen he ſetten a gred. "Beð nu ſtille," quað moyſes, They chided Moses.

3232 "ðor god wile(.) iſ non helpeles; Ge ſulen ſen ðiſ ilke dai Quat godes migt for gu mai." He bad ðiſ folc dregen wið ſkil, 3236 And he bi-ſogte godes wil. Moses promises them God's assistance.

Qvað god, "quor-at calles ðu me? Hold up ðin gerde to ðe ſe And del it ſo on ſundri del, 3240 ðat gu ben garknede weigeſ wel." God instructs Moses to stretch out his rod over the sea.

ðo moyſes helde up hiſ hond, Moses did so.

A wind blew ðe ſe fro ðe ſond; On twel[fe] doles delt iſt ðe ſe, A wind blew the sea from the sand,

3244 xii. weiges ðer-in ben faiger and fre, ðat euerilc kinde of iſrael Mai ðor hiſ weige finden wel. and twelve thoroughfares were made for the people.

ðe water up-ſtod, ðurg godes migt, 3248 On twinne half, alſo a wal up-rigt; Moyſes bad hem, alſo he ben boren, ðe eldeſt kindes gon bi-foren; The water stood up as a wall on both sides.

Oc moyſes gede in bi-foren, 3252 And ðo ðe kinde of iuda boren; On and on kin, alſ herte hem cam, ðat folc ilc in his weige nam; [Fol. 63b.] Moses went first, and then the men of Judah.

[295]

? he no-gate

THE EGYPTIAN HOSTS ARE DROWNED.

Bi-foren hem fleg an ſkige brigt 3256 ðat nigt hem made ðe weige ligt; Egiptes folc gunnen ðiſ ſen, A cloud went before them.

And wenden ðat he wode ben. Ðis bode herde king pharaon 3260 And him ðuhte ſellic ðer-on, Garkede his hird & after nam, Pharaoh pursued the Israelites,

And to ðe ſe bi nigte he cam; and to the Red Sea he came.

In ferde ðiſ hird after ðiſ king, 3264 And ðo ſprong ðe daiening. ðhunder, and leuene, and rein ðor-mong God ſente on ðat hird, ſtið and ſtrong; In went this host after the king.

ðo quoðen he, "wende we a-gen, 3268 An[d] iſrael folc lete we ben." ðor-quiles ben ðo kinges^[296] cumen Some were for going back.

Ouer, and hauen ðe londes numen; Egipcienes woren in twired wen 3272 queðer he ſulden folgen or flen; And moyſes ſtod up-on ðe ſond, The Israelites reached the land,

God him bad helden up hiſ hond to-ward ðiſ water, in a morgen quile 3276 ðe ſe luked, ſo god it wile,^[297] and God bade Moses stretch his rod over the sea.

And on and on, ſwiðe litel ſtund, Egypcienes fellen to ðe grund;^[298] [Fol. 64.] The sea covered the Egyptians,

Of hem alle bi-leaf non fot 3280 Vn-drincled in ðat ſalte ſpot.^[299] Ðvs iſ iſrael of hem wreken, And here welðe iſ to londe weken, Wepen, and ſrud, ſiluer, and gold; 3284 wel hem mai ben ðe god beð hold! and not one remained undrowned in that salt spot.

Moyſes ðor made a newe ſong, And tag[t]e it al ðat folc a-mong; Moses made a new song, and taught it to the people.

And ilke dai ðat ſeuen nigt, 3288 Ones he ðor it ſungen rigt; Each day for a week it was sung over.

[296]

kindes?

[297]

At the bottom of this page is the catchword—"And on and on."

[298]

MS. grunð.

[299]

MS. ſwot.

THE SOJOURN AT SHUR, ELIM, AND SIN.

ðor-of in eſterne be we wunen Seuene ſiðes to funt cumen. Ðor quiles he weren in ðe deſert, 3292 God tagte hem weie, wis and pert; A fair piler ſon hem on o nigt, And a ſkie^[300] euere on daiges ligt. In memory of which are we wont to come seven times to the font at Eastertide.

Ðe fifte ſuriuren ðat he deden, 3296 In ðe deſert ſur, on drie ſtede; The fifth sojourn was in the wilderness of Shur;

ðre dages weren he ðider gon, ðat he ne funden water non; three days the people were without water.

A welle he funde at marath,^[301] 3300 ðe water was biter and al wlath;^[302] A funden trew ðor-inne dede At Marah the waters were bitter, but

Moyſes, and it wurð ſwet on ðe ſtede. a tree rendered them sweet.

Ðe ſexte ſuriuren at elim, 3304 xij welle-ſpringes weren on him, An[d] then^[303] and ſexti palme tren bi ðo welles men migte ſen; He maden ſiðen, fro elim, [Fol. 64b.] The sixth sojourn was at Elim,

3308 Mani ſuriuren in ðe deſert ſin. Bi-twen elim and ſinay, and from thence to Sin.

bred wantede, hem was wo forði; ðat was on ðe ðrittiðe^[304] dai, 3312 ðat here wei fro egypte lay, ðor he woren hungur for-dred; Bread fails them.

"Ille," he ſeiden, "haue we ſped, Bet uſ were in egipte ben, 3316 Bred and fles ðer^[305] we muwen ſen." Moyſes wurð war ðe folc was wroð, And here gruching ðo god was loð. "ſtille," quað he, "and on-dreg, 3320 Godeſ fulſum-hed iſ gu ful neg." They murmur against Moses.

At euen cam a fugel-fligt, fro-ward arabie to hem rigt; ðor migte euerilc man fugeles taken, 3324 So fele so he wulden raken; God sends them a flight of fowls,

[300]

MS. aſkie.

[301]

read marach.

[302]

read wlach.

[303]

ten?

[304]

MS. ðrittide.

[305]

MS. der.

THE MIRACULOUS FALL OF MANNA.

On morgen fel hem a dew a-gein. firſt he wenden it were a rein, knewen he nogt ðiſ dewes coſt; and on the morrow a dew,

3328 It lai ðor, quit als a rim^[306] froſt, like rime frost;

He ðe it ſogen,^[307] ſeiden, "man hu," Manna for-ði men clepeð it nu. "Man-hu," said they, wherefore they called it Manna.

Quad moyſes, "loc! her nu [iſ] bread, 3332 Ille gruching iſ^[308] gu for-bead." A met ðor was, it het Gomor, [Fol. 65.]

Ilc man iſ he bead, and nunmor, Him gaderen or ðe ſunne-ſine, 3336 Elles he ſulden miſſen hine. Each man gathered an omer of it before the sun shone,

for it malt at ðe ſunne-ſine, Oc oðer fir for-hadede hine. for it melted at the sunshine.

To duſt he it grunden and maden bread, 3340 ðat huni and olies ðef he bead; Quo-ſo nome up forbone mor, it wirmede, bredde, and rotede ðor. When ground and made into bread, it tasted like wafers made with honey.

Moyſen dede ful ðe gomor, 3344 In a gold pot, for muning ðor. Held it ſundri in clene ſtede, Moses filled an omer of the manna,

And in ðe tabernacle he it dede. Wið ðiſ mete weren he fed, 3348 fowerti winter vten leð,^[309] Til he to lond canaan Comen(.) ðat god hem giuen gan. and placed it in the tabernacle.

Forð nam ðiſ folc, ſo god tagte him, 3352 to ðe deſert of rafadim;^[310] Forth came this folk, and came to Rephidim,

Tidlike hem waſ ðat water wane, ðor he grucheden for ðriſt hane;^[311] where they murmured for thirst, and did chide with Moses.

Harde he bi-haluen ðer moyſes, 3356 And to god he made is bi-men. "Louered," quad he, "quat ſal ic don? He ſulen me werpen ſtones on." [Fol. 65b.]

Quað god, "go ðu to erebiſ ſton, 3360 And ſmit wið ðin gerde ðor-on." God sent him for water to a rock in Horeb.

[306]

MS. rin.

[307]

MS. logen.

[308]

? ic.

[309]

led?

[310]

MS. rafaclim.

[311]

MS. haue.

THE ISRAELITES OVERCOME THE AMALEKITES.

It was a ſtede henden ðor-bi,

On a ſyde of munt ſynay; And he ſmot wið his wond ðor-on, 3364 And water gan ðor-vten gon; Moses smote the rock,

Anog adden he ðanne drinc, Redi funden wið litel ſwinc; and the people had enough to drink without toiling for it.

ðat ſtede waſ cald temptatio, 3368 for he ðo god fondeden so. This place was called Temptation.

Amalec, yſmaeles ſune, Was ðor hende rafadim^[312] wune, He welte ðor ſtone and iaboch, 3372 ðat herdes folc him louerd toch; Wopened he ben a-gen iſrael. Amalek comes to war against Israel.

Moyſes ear it wiſte wel, And ſente agen hem king ihesum, 3376 wið folc iſrael wopened ſum; He let bi-aften ðe^[313] more del, Moses sends Joshua with the army to fight with Amalek.

To kepen here ðing al wel. He, and aaron, and hur ben gon, 3380 Heg up to a dune ſone o-non; Moses, accompanied by Aaron and Hur, goes up to the top of a hill, and prays for the folk of Israel.

Moyſes bad [for] folc yſrael, And hiſe benes hem holpen wel; Ai quiles he up iſ hondes bead, [Fol. 66.]

3384 Amalechkes folc fledde for agte of dead, And quane he let^[314] iſ hondes niðer, Amalech folc fagt hard and wiðer; Quane it wurð war, vr^[315] and aaron 3388 He iſ under-leiden wið an ſton, Til ſunne him ſeilede in ðe weſt; Amalek is overcome by the holding up of Moses' hands.

ðus fagt Moyſes ðor alðer-beſt. Amalech fleg, and iſrael 3392 Hadde hegere hond, and timede wel. ðo ſente god to moyſen, wið ðis timing to muning ben, Thus Moses fought best of all.

"Get ſal ðe kinde of amalech 3396 Ben al fled dun in deades wrech." The future destruction of Amalek.

[312]

MS. rafaclim.

[313]

MS. de.

[314]

MS. leth.

[315]

MS. ut.

JETHRO VISITS MOSES.

Moyſes made ðor alter on, "Min bliſ" iſ name ðor-one don. Moses raises an altar.

ÐO cam ietro to moysen, 3400 To ſpeken him and ðo kinnes-men, Jethro visits Moses,

And ſephora, moyſes wif, And hire two ſunes of faiger lif; Ietro liſtnede moyſes tale, bringing with him Zipporah and her two sons.

3404 Of him and pharaon ðe dwale, And ðhankede^[316] it almigten wel, ðat waſ bi-tid for iſrael; Moses relates to him the destruction of Pharaoh.

And at wið moyſen feſtelike, [Fol. 66b.]

3408 And tagte him ſiðen witterlike Vnder him helpes oðere don, ðat folc ſtering to ſtreng[t]hen on. Jethro counsels Moses to appoint rulers of the people,

Al bi ðhuſenz ðiſ folc was told, 3412 Ilc ðhuſent adde a meiſter wold; And vnder ðiſ tgen^[317] ſteres ben, rulers of thousands,

Ilc here on hundred to bi-ſen; Vnder ðis ilc two ſteres wunen, rulers of hundreds,

3416 And vnder hem fif oðere numen; rulers of fifties,

Ilc of ðe .v. ſteres-men Vnder hem welden in ſtere tgen.^[317] and rulers of tens.

If ymong .x. wurð ogt miſ-don, 3420 Here ſtere rigten [ſulde] ðor-on, And if he ne mai it rigten wel, An appeal to be made from the ruler of ten,

Taunet iſ meiſter euerilc del; And if he rigten it ne can, to the ruler of hundreds,