human
Can you write me a poem about cl in the style of Charles E. Fritch?
assistant
Sure, here's a poem about cl in the style of Charles E. Fritch:
  in the
of the
_Published for_
Notes [distributed among the three poems]
The following poems are taken from a well known manuscript in the
interestingly described.
But, in the present poems, the uniformity and consistency of the
grammatical forms is so entire, that there is indeed no internal
West-Midland speech in which we now have them.
transcription.
inculcate moral and religious truths on all occasions where an
There a tempest _hom_ toke on þe torres hegh:--
A _rak_ and a royde wynde rose in _hor_ saile,
A myst & a _merkenes_ was mervell to se;
With a _routond_ rayn ruthe to be-holde,
Thonr{et} full _throly_ with a thicke haile;
With a leuenyng light as a _low_ fyre,
Blas{et} all the brode see as it bren wold.
The flode with a felle cours flow{et} on hepis,
Rose uppon rockes as any _ranke_ hylles.
So wode were the waghes & þe wilde _ythes_,
All was like to be lost þat no lond hade
The ship ay shot furth o þe _shire waghes_,
As qwo clymbe at a clyffe, or a clent hille.
Eft _dump_ in the depe as all drowne wolde.
Was no _stightlyng_ with stere ne no stithe ropes,
Ne no sayle, þat might serue for _unsound_ wedur.
But all the buernes in the bote, as _hom_ best liked,
Besoght unto sainttes & to sere goddes; (p. 65)
All the company enclin{et} cair{yn} to ship;
Cach{yn} in cables, knyt up _hor_ ancres,
Sesit vp _hor_ sailes in a sad hast;
_Richet_ þere rapes, rapit unto see.
Hokit out of hauyn, all the hepe somyn,
_Hade bir at hor bake_, blawen to þe depe;
Sail{yn} forthe _soberly_, somyn but a while,
Noght fyftene forlong fairly to the end.
When sodenly the softe aire _unsoberly_ rose;
The cloudis overcast, _claterrit_ aboute;
Wyndes full wodely _walt_ up the ythes;
Wex _merke_ as the mydnighte mystes full thicke:
Thunret in the _thestur throly_ with all;
With a _launchant laite_ lightonyd the water;
And a _ropand_ rayne _raiked_ fro the heuyn.
The storme was full stithe with mony stout windes,
Hit _walt_ up the wilde se vppon wan hilles.
The ffolke was so ferd, that _on flete_ were,
All drede for to drowne with dryft of the se;
And in perell were put all the proude kynges. --(p. 150.)
represented by _ch_; thus, _aght_, _laght_, _saght_, _wight_, are
_-s_, in the plural number, and of possessive cases of nouns, and
(through). Instead of these _bigan_, _so_, _syche_, _thrughe_
(_thurgh_) are employed. See Preface to Hampole’s Pricke of
Conscience, pp. vii, viii.]
_thra_ (bold), _walde_ (would), etc.; the frequent use of _thir_
owing to the copyist of the Lincoln manuscript (Robert de
Thornton, a native of Oswaldkirk in Yorkshire), who, being a
Northumbrian, would probably have restored the original readings.
wholly unknown to the Northumbrian dialect, being represented by
_drenschen_, _schewenne_, _wacchenne_, etc.; 6. the use of _eke_,
production.]
_Southern_, but they are not Northern or Northumbrian in
contradistinction to _Midland_.]
up. Mr. Brock has found a MS. in British Museum (Harl. 3909) with
flourishing one in the 13th century. See O.E. Homilies, p. li.]
indic. mood of verbs; (2) _s_ in the second and third pers. sing.
preterites end in _-et_ (_-ut_ and _-et_ occur in Romances ed. by
Hills, Worcestershire--_brent_ is the term employed in
Perle plesaunte to prynces paye
_Pearl pleasant to princes’ pleasure,_
To clanly clos in golde so clere
_Most neatly set in gold so clear._
Of her death he says:
Allas! I leste hyr in on erbere
_Alas! I lost her in an arbour,_
Þurȝ gresse to grounde hit fro me yot
_Through grass to ground it from me got._ --(p. 1.)
Þat all the loȝe lemed of lyȝt
_That all the deep gleamed of light,_
So dere watȝ hit adubbement
At þe fote þer-of þer sete a faunt
_At the foot thereof there sat a child,_
A mayden of menske, ful debonere
_A maiden of honour, full debonnair;_
Blysnande whyt watȝ hyr bleaunt
_Glistening white was her robe,_
(I knew hyr wel, I hade sen hyr ere)
_(I knew her well, I had seen her before)_
At glysnande golde þat man con schore
_As shining gold that man did purify,_
So schon þat schene an-vnder schore
_So shone that sheen (bright one) on the opposite shore;_
On lenghe I loked to hyr þere
_Long I looked to her there,_
Þe lenger I knew hyr more & more
_The longer I knew her, more and more._ --(pp. 6, 7.)
The maiden rises, and, proceeding along the bank of the stream,
He watȝ famed for fre þat feȝt loued best
_He was famous as free that fight loved best,_
& ay þe bigest in bale þe best watȝ halden
_And ever the biggest in sin the best was held;_ (p. 45.)
Thenne sone com þe seuenþe day, when samned wern alle
_Then soon came the seventh day when assembled were all,_
& alle woned in þe whichche þe wylde & þe tame.
_And all abode in the ark (hutch), the wild and the tame._
Þen bolned þe abyme & bonkeȝ con ryse
_Then swelled the abyss and banks did rise,_
Waltes out vch walle-heued, in ful wode stremeȝ
_Bursts out each well-head in full wild streams,_
Watȝ no brymme þat abod vnbrosten bylyue
_There was no brim (stream) that abode unburst by then,_
Þe mukel lauande loghe to þe lyfte rered
_The much (great) flowing deep (loch) to the loft (sky) reared._
Mony clustered clowde clef alle in clowteȝ
_Many a clustering cloud cleft all in clouts (pieces),_
To-rent vch a rayn-ryfte & rusched to þe vrþe
_Rent was each a rain-rift and rushed to the earth;_
Fon neuer in forty dayeȝ, & þen þe flod ryses
_Failed never in forty days, and then the flood rises,_
Ouer-walteȝ vche a wod and þe wyde feldeȝ
_Over-flows each wood and the wide fields;_
Water wylger ay wax, woneȝ þat stryede
_Water wildly ever waxed, abodes that destroyed,_
Hurled in-to vch hous, hent þat þer dowelled
_Hurled into each house, seized those that there dwelt._
Fyrst feng to þe flyȝt alle þat fle myȝt
_First took to flight all that flee might,_
Vuche burde with her barne þe byggyng þay leueȝ
_Each bride (woman) with her bairn their abode they leave,_
& bowed to þe hyȝ bonk þer brentest hit wern
_And hied to the high bank where highest it were,_
& heterly to þe hyȝe hilleȝ þay [h]aled on faste
_And hastily to the high hills they rushed on fast;_
Bot al watȝ nedleȝ her note, for neuer cowþe stynt
_But all was needless their device, for never could stop_
Þe roȝe raynande ryg [&] þe raykande waweȝ
_The rough raining shower and the rushing waves,_
Er vch boþom watȝ brurd-ful to þe bonkeȝ eggeȝ
_Ere each bottom (valley) was brim-ful to the banks’ edges,_
& vche a dale so depe þat demmed at þe brynkeȝ
The ark is described as “heaved on high with hurling streams.”
Kest to kyþeȝ vncouþe þe clowdeȝ ful nere
_Cast to kingdoms uncouth the clouds ful near,_
Hit waltered on the wylde flod, went as hit lyste
_It tossed on the wild flood, went as it list,_
Drof vpon þe depe dam, in daunger hit semed
_It drove upon the deep dam, in danger it seemed,_
With-outen mast, oþer myke, oþer myry bawe-lyne
_Without mast, or mike, or merry bow-line,_
Kable, oþer capstan to clyppe to her ankreȝ
_Cable or capstan to clip to their anchors,_
Hurrok, oþer hande-helme hasped on roþer
_Oar or hand-helm hooked on rudder,_
Oþer any sweande sayl to seche after hauen
_Or any swinging sail to seek after haven,_
Bot flote forthe with þe flyt of þe felle wyndeȝ
_But floated forth with the force of the fell winds._
Wheder-warde so þe water wafte, hit rebounde
_Whither-ward so (as) the water waft, it rebounded,_
Ofte hit roled on-rounde & rered on ende
_Oft it rolled around and reared on end,_
Nyf our lorde hade ben her lodeȝ-mon hem had lumpen harde
_Had our Lord not been their (pilot) leader hardship had befallen
Þenne þe kyng of þe kyth a counsayl hym takes
_Then the king of the kingdom a counsel him takes,_
Wyth þe best of his burnes, a blench for to make
_With the best of his men a device for to make;_
Þay stel out on a stylle nyȝt er any steuen rysed
_They stole out on a still night ere any sound arose,_
& harde hurles þurȝ þe oste, er enmies hit wyste
_And hard hurled through the host, ere enemies it wist,_
Bot er þay at-wappe ne moȝt þe wach wyth oute
_But ere they could escape the watch without,_
Hiȝe skelt watȝ þe askry þe skewes an-vnder
_High scattered was the cry, the skies there under,_
Loude alarom vpon launde lulted was þenne
_Loud alarm upon land sounded was then;_
Ryche, ruþed of her rest, ran to here wedes,
_Rich (men) roused from their rest, ran to their weeds,_
Hard hattes þay hent & on hors lepes
_Kettle hats they seized, and on horse leap;_
Cler claryoun crak cryed on-lofte
_Clear clarion’s crack cried aloft._
By þat watȝ alle on a hepe hurlande swyþee
_By that (time) was all on a heap, hurling fast,_
Folȝande þat oþer flote, & fonde hem bilyue
_Following that other fleet (host), and found them soon,_
Ouer-tok hem, as tyd, tult hem of sadeles
_Over-took them in a trice, tilted them off saddles,_
Tyl vche prynce hade his per put to þe grounde
_Till each prince had his peer put to the ground;_
& þer watȝ þe kyng kaȝt wyth calde prynces
_And there was the king caught with crafty princes,_
& alle hise gentyle for-iusted on Ierico playnes
In þe palays pryncipale vpon þe playn wowe
_In the palace principal upon the plain wall,_
In contrary of þe candelstik þat clerest hit schyned
_Opposite to the candlestick that clearest there shone._
Þer apered a paume, with poyntel in fyngres
_There appeared a palm with a pointel in its fingers,_
Þat watȝ grysly & gret, & grymly he wrytes
_That was grisly and great, and grimly it writes,_
None oþer forme bot a fust faylaynde þe wryst
_None other form but a fist failing the wrist_
Pared on þe parget, purtrayed lettres
_Pared on the plaister, pourtrayed letters._
When þat bolde Baltaȝar blusched to þat neue
_When that bold Belshazzar looked to that fist,_
Such a dasande drede dusched to his hert
_Such a dazzling dread dashed to his heart._
Þat al falewed his face & fayled þe chere
_That all paled his face and failed the cheer;_
Þe stronge strok of þe stonde strayned his ioyntes
_The strong stroke of the blow strained his joints,_
His cnes cachcheȝ to close & cluchches his hommes
_His knees catch to close, and he clutches his hams,_
& he with plat-tyng his paumes displayes his lers
_And he with striking his palms displays his fears,_
& romyes as a rad ryth þat roreȝ for drede
_And howls as a frightened hound that roars for dread,_
Ay biholdand þe honde til hit hade al grauen,
_Ever beholding the hand till it had all graven,_
& rasped on þe roȝ woȝe runisch saueȝ
_And rasped on the rough wall uncouth saws (words)._
(X.) The invasion of Babylon by the Medes (pp. 87, 88).
Baltaȝar in his bed watȝ beten to deþe
_Belshazzar in his bed was beaten to death,_
Þat boþe his blood & his brayn blende on þe cloþes
_That both his blood and his brains blended on the clothes;_
Þe kyng in his cortyn watȝ kaȝt by þe heles
_The king in his curtain was caught by the heels,_
Feryed out bi þe fete & fowle dispysed
_Ferried out by the feet and foully despised;_
Þat watȝ so doȝty þat day & drank of þe vessayl
_He that was so doughty that day and drank of the vessels,_
Now is a dogge also dere þat in a dych lygges
war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which
round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.
“5. And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and
overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were
scattered from him.”]
Anon out of þe norþ est þe noys bigynes
_Anon out of the north east the noise begins,_
When boþe breþes con blowe vpon blo watteres
_When both breezes did blow upon blue waters:_
Roȝ rakkes þer ros with rudnyng an-vnder
_Rough clouds there arose with lightning there under,_
Þe see souȝed ful sore, gret selly to here
_The sea sobbed full sore, great marvel to hear;_
Þe wyndes on þe wonne water so wrastel togeder,
_The winds on the wan water so wrestle together,_
Þat þe wawes ful wode waltered so hiȝe
_That the waves full wild rolled so high,_
& efte busched to þe abyme þat breed fyssches
_And again bent to the abyss that bred fishes;_
Durst nowhere for roȝ arest at þe bothem.
_Durst it nowhere for roughness rest at the bottom._
When þe breth & þe brok & þe bote metten
_When the breeze and the brook and the boat met,_
Hit watȝ a ioyles gyn þat Ionas watȝ inne
_It was a joyless engine that Jonah was in,_
For hit reled on round vpon þe roȝe yþes
_For it reeled around upon the rough waves._
Þe bur ber to hit baft þat braste alle her gere
_The bore (wave) bear to it abaft that burst all her gear,_
Þen hurled on a hepe þe helme & þe sterne
_Then hurled on a heap the helm and the stern,_
Furste to murte mony rop & þe mast after
_First marred many a rope and the mast after._
Þe sayl sweyed on þe see, þenne suppe bihoued
_The sail swung on the sea, then sup behoved_
Þe coge of þe colde water, & þenne þe cry ryses
_The boat of the cold water, and then the cry rises;_
Ȝet coruen þay þe cordes & kest al þer-oute
_Yet cut they the cords and cast all there-out._
Mony ladde þer forth-lep to laue & to kest
_Many a lad there forth leapt to lave and to cast,_
Scopen out þe scaþel water, þat fayn scape wolde
_To scoop out the scathful water that fain escape would;_
For be monnes lode neuer so luþer, þe lyf is ay swete
For he þat is to rakel to renden his cloþeȝ,
Mot efte sitte with more vn-sounde to sewe hem togeder.
_For he that is too rash to rend his clothes,
Must afterwards sit with more unsound (worse ones)
the MS. will be found in a foot-note.]
Northumberland, Durham, and nearly the whole of Yorkshire.
dialectical varieties.
In a pure specimen of the Southern dialect, we never find the
Romances we might conclude that it is an error of the scribe for
Þere is no bounté in burne lyk Baltaȝar þewes.” --(B. l. 1435.)
“& þose þat seme arn & swete _schyn_ se his face.”
“Pekokys and pertrikys perboylyd _schyn_ be.”
“Seche ferlies _schyn_ falle.”
“Forþy þe derk dede see hit is demed ever more,
For _hit_ dedeȝ of deþe duren þere ȝet.” --(Patience, l. 1021.)
“And, as hit is corsed of kynde & _hit_ coosteȝ als,
Þe clay þat clenges þer-by arn corsyes strong.”
“For I wille speke with the sprete,
And of _hit_ woe wille I wete,
Gif that I may _hit_ bales bete.”
The present dialect of Lancashire still retains the uninflected
height, o tit wur stonning ot an ale heawse dur; on me kawve (the
woud seawk her.” (Tummus and Meary).
upon details, and give his readers some tests by which to
distinguish the “five distinctly marked forms.”]
dropped, thus gradually approximating to our modern conjugation.]
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.]
employs it instead of _-en_, but only for the sake of the rhyme.]
peculiarities, which have led many of our editors altogether
astray in determining the locality of their composition.]
_hom_, _hor_, do occasionally occur in the MS. containing our
Audelay’s poems (in the Shropshire dialect of the fifteenth
_ðu forcerdes usic on-bec_ = Thou turnedst us hindward.
_ðu saldes usic_ = Thou gavest us. --(Ps. xliii. 12.)
_ðu bi-bohtes folc ðin butan weorðe_ = Thou soldest thy folk
ðu _ge-hiowades_ me & _settes_ ofer me hond ðine = Thou madest me
ðu _ðreades ða_ ofer-hygdan = Thou hast rebuked the proud.
Ic ondeto ðe fader drihten heofnes forðon ðu _gedeigeldes_ ðas
ilco from snotrum & hogum & _ædeaudes_ ða ðæm lytlum = I thank
thee, O father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid
these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them
Þou _made_ me and set þi hand over me. --(_Ibid._ cxxxviii. 5.)
prevails in his county under the form _shinneh_.
_Win_ = will, in _winnot_, _wunnot_ = will not, is still heard in
like Belshazzar’s virtues.]
Sir, at the side.]
Wherefore the dark dead sea it is called ever more.
For _its_ deeds of death endure there yet.]
And as it is cursed of kind and _its_ properties also,
The clay that clings thereby are corrosives strong.]
I will speak with the spirit,
And of _its_ woe will I wit (know),
If that I may _its_ bales (grief) abate.]
door; and my calf (the devil bore out _its_ eyes for me) took the
come to light since writing the above. Harl. MS. 3909; Troy Book,
(3) _Case._--The genitive singular (masc. and fem.) ends in _-es_
(1) _Number._--The final _e_, as a sign of the plural, is very
The Article exhibits the following forms:
The.   tho.  tho.
Brade (broad),     bradder,        braddest.
Dere (dear),       derrer,         derrest.
Lyke (like),       lykker,         lykkest.
Swete (sweet),     swetter,        swettest.
Wayke (weak),      wakker,         wakkest.
Wode (mad),        wodder,         woddest.
The following irregular forms are occasionally met with:
Fer (far),         ferre (fyrre),  ferrest.
Heȝe (high),       herre,          heȝest (hest).
Neȝe (nigh, near)  nerre,          nerrest (nest).
Sare (sore),       sarre,          sarrest.
Forme (first),                     formast.
Mikelle (great),   mo              most.
Yvel, ill (bad),   wers (worre),   werst.
first (fyrste), the forme,
secunde, that other, tother,
thryd,   }
thrydde, }
furþe,
fyfþe,
sexte,
sevenþe,
aȝtþe,
nente,
accusative _her_.
“_He_ swenges _me_ þys,” etc. = He himself sends this, etc.
“Now sweȝe _me_ þider swyftly” = Now go (thou) thyself thither
swiftly.
“_He_ meteȝ _me_ þis good man” = He himself meets this good man.
Amphialus, etc.’ Pembr. Arcad. B. iii.
(3) ‘_He thrusts me_ himself into the company of three or four
hypothesis.
(1) “Suche a touche in that tyde, _he_ taȝte (Gauan) hym in tene
And _gurdes me_, Sir Gallerun, evyn grovelonges on grounde.”
(2) There at the dore he (the Fox) cast _me_ downe hys pack.
(3) “Juno enraged, and fretting thus,
Nom. I,            thou,        he,   ho,         hit.
Gen. My, myn,      thy, thyn,   his,  hir, her,   hit.
Dat. Me,           the,         him,  hir, her,   hit.
Acc. Me,           the,         him,  hir, her,   hit.
Nom. We,           ȝe,          thay,             hit.
Gen. Oure,         yor, youre,  her (here), hor,  hit.
Dat. Vus (= uus),  yow, you,    hem, hom,         hit.
Acc. Vus (= uus),  yow, you,    hem, hom,         hit.
Gen. Whose (quos).
_youre_ in the romance of “Sir Gawayne and the Grene Knyȝt.”]
The _-en_ in the plural of the present and preterite tenses is
frequently dropped. The pl. present in _-eȝ_ occasionally occurs.
represented by the final _-e_.
(I) hope,                 (We) hopen.
(Thou) hopes,             (Ȝe) hopen.
(He) hopes,               (Thay) hopen.
(I) hopede (hoped),   (We) hopeden.
(Thou) hopedes (hoped),   (Ȝe) hopeden.
(He) hopede (hoped),  (Thay) hopeden.
Hope (thou).              Hopes (ȝe).
(I) kerve,      renne,   smite,   stonde.
(Thou) kerves,  rennes,  smites,  stondes.
(He) kerves,    rennes,  smites,  stondes.
(We) kerven,    rennen,  smiten,  stonden.
(I) carf,       ran,     smot,    stod.
(Thou) carve,   ranne,   smote,   stode.
(He) carf,      ran,     smot,    stod.
(We) corven,    runnen,  smiten,  stonden.
Corven,         runnen,  smiten,  stonden.
Hate,               hatede,     hated.
Bede (offer),       bedde,      bed.
Dype (dip),         dypte,      dypt.
Kythe (show),       kydde,      kyd.
Lende,              lende,      lent.
Rende,              rende,      rent.
Sende,              sende,      sent.
Clothe,             cladde,     clad.
Dele (deal),        dalte,      dalt.
Lede,               ladde,      lad.
Leve,               lafte,      laft.
Rede (advise),      radde,      rad.
Sprede (spread),    spradde,    sprad.
Swelt (die),        swalte,     ----
Swette (sweat),     swatte,     ----
Threte (threaten),  thratte,    thrat.
Class III.
Byye (buy),         boȝte,      boȝt
Bringe,             broȝte,     broȝt.
Cache (catch),      caȝte,      caȝt.
Lache (seize),      laȝte,      laȝt.
Reche (reck),       roȝte,      ----
Reche (reach),      raȝte,      ----
Selle,              solde,      sold.
Worche (work),      wroȝte,     wroȝt.
Bere (bear),       ber,              born.
Bete (beat),       bet,              beten.
Breke (break),     brek,             broken.
Chese (choose),    ches (chos),      chosen.
Cleve (cleave),    clef,             cloven.
Ete (eat),         ette (_for_ et),  eten.
Forȝete (forget),  forȝet,           forȝeten.
Frese (freeze),    fres,             frosen.
Gife (give),       gef,              given, geven.
Heve (heave),      hef,              hoven.
Ligge (lie),       leȝ,              leyen, leȝen.
Lepe (leap),       lep,              lopen.
Nemme } (take),    nem (nam),        nomen.
Schere (shear),    scher,            schorn.
Slepe (sleep),     slep,             slepen.
Speke (speak),     spek,             spoken.
Stele (steal),     stel,             stolen.
Swere (swear),     swer,             sworen.
Wreke (avenge),    wrek,             wroken.
Falle,             fell,             fallen.
Fonge (take),      feng,             fongen.
Growe,             grew,             growen.
Hange, honge,      heng,             hangen, hongen.
Knowe, knawe,      knew,             knawen, knowen.
Schape (make),     schep,            schapen.
Walke,             welk,             walken.
Wasche,            wesch,            waschen.
Class III.
Drawe, draȝe,      droȝ,             drawen.
Fare (go),         for,              faren.
Laȝe (laugh),      loȝ,              laȝen.
Stande, stonde,    stod,             standen.
Slaye,             slow, slew,       slayn.
Take,              tok,              tane, tone.
Wake,              wok,              waken.
+Division II.+
Biginne,        bigon,              bigonnen, bigunnen.
Breste,         brast, borst,       brusten, bursten.
Climbe,         clamb, clomb,       clumben.
Drinke,         dronk, drank,       drunken, dronken.
Finde,          fand, fond,         funden.
Fiȝte,          faȝt, feȝt,         foȝten.
Helpe,          halp,               holpen.
Kerve (cut),    carf,               corven.
Melte,          malt,               molten.
Renne (run),    ran,                runnen.
Ringe,          rong,               rungen, rongen.
Singe,          song, sang,         sungen.
Steke,          stac,               stoken.
Sterve (die),   starf,              storven.
Werpe (throw),  warp,               worpen.
Win,            wan, won,           wonnen, wunnen.
Ȝelde (yield),  ȝald,               ȝolden.
Bide (abide),   bod,                biden.
Bite,           bot,                biten.
Drive,          drof,               driven.
Fine (cease),   fon,                ----
Glide,          glod,               gliden.
Ride,           rod,                riden.
Rise,           ros,                risen.
Schine,         schon,              ----
Slide,          slod,               sliden.
Smite,          smot,               smiten.
Trine (go),     tron,               ----
Class III.
Fly,            fleȝ, flegh, flaȝ,  flowen.
See,            seȝ, segh, syȝ,     seen.
Stiȝe, steȝe,   steȝ                ----
Can,       pret. couthe.
Dare,       „    dorste.
May,        „    miȝte.
Mot,        „    moste.
Oȝe (owe),  „    oȝte.
Schal,      „    scholde, schulde.
Thar,       „    thurte.
Wote,       „    wiste.
Wille,      „    wolde.
The present plural of _schal_ is _schul_, _schulen_, or _schyn_.
The verb _to be_ is thus conjugated:--
(I) am.               (I) was, watȝ.
(Thou) art.           (Thou) was, watȝ.
(He) is, bes, betȝ.   (He) was, watȝ.
(We) arn, are, ar.    (We) wern, were.
(Ȝe) arn, are, ar.    (Ȝe) wern, were.
(Thay) arn, are, ar.  (Thay) wern, were.
writer, but is common to many Midland dialects. Capgrave employs
The preposition _from_ never occurs in the following poems; it is
hand-writing of James, the Bodley Librarian.
crown. In the fourth we see the author kneeling by the water, and
horseback, carrying his head by its hair in his right hand, and
looking benignly at an odd-eyed bill-man before him; while from a
yellow. It ends on fol. 124b., and at the conclusion, in a later
Gawayne. Above the lady’s head is written:
Mi mind is mukel on on, þ{a}t wil me noȝt amende,
Sum time was trewe as ston, & fro schame couþ{e} hir defende.
Guenever, after his return to the court.
G. Doug.      Gawin Douglas’s Æneid, published by the
Bannatyne Club, 2 vols.
Jam.          Jamieson’s Scottish Dictionary.
Errata (noted by transcriber)
_First marred many a rope and the mast after._
“For þer bene bestes þat _schyn_ be rost.”  [““For þer bene]
The same construction  [“The same]
Nom. I, thou, he, ho, hit.  [he ho]
PRETERITE TENSE.  [_. missing_]
(I) hopede (hoped), (We) hopeden.  [hopeden,]
Wreke (avenge), wrek, wroken.  [(avenge) wrek,]
Class III. Drawe, draȝe, droȝ, drawen.  [drawen,]
Helpe, halp, holpen.  [holpen,]
Sterve (die), starf, storven. [storveu]
Schal, „ scholde, schulde.  [_. missing_]
The Norse forms _hethen_, _quethen_  [Ths Norse]
Ger.  [_the abbreviations O.H.G. and M.H.G. are not listed_]
N.P.E.  [_note that this abbreviation is never used_]
*       *       *       *
The father laments the loss of his pearl.]
Perle plesau{n}te to prynces paye,
To clanly clos in golde so clere,
Oute of oryent I hardyly saye,
Ne proued I neu{er} her precios pere,
So rou{n}de, so reken in vche araye,
So smal, so smoþe her sydeȝ were.
Quere-so-eu{er} I Iugged ge{m}meȝ gaye,
I sette hyr sengeley i{n} synglure;
Allas! I leste hyr i{n} on erbere,
Þurȝ gresse to grou{n}de hit fro me yot;
I dewyne for-dolked of luf daungere,
Of þat pryuy perle w{i}t{h}-outen spot.
and hears a sweet song.]
Syþen i{n} þat spote hit fro me sprange,
Ofte haf I wayted wyschande þat wele,
Þat wont watȝ whyle deuoyde my wrange,
& heuen my happe & al my hele,
Þ{a}t dotȝ bot þrych my hert þrange,
My breste in bale bot bolne & bele.
Ȝet þoȝt me neu{er} so swete a sange,
As stylle stou{n}de let to me stele,
For-soþe þ{er} fleten to me fele,
To þenke hir color so clad i{n} clot;
O moul þ{o}u marreȝ a myry mele.
My p{r}iuy perle w{i}t{h}-outen spotte,
flowers. Each blade of grass springs from a dead grain.]
Þat spot of spyseȝ myȝt nedeȝ sprede,
Þer such rycheȝ to rot is ru{n}nen;
Blomeȝ blayke & blwe & rede,
Þer schyneȝ ful schyr agayn þe su{n}ne.
Flor & fryte may not be fede,
Þer hit dou{n} drof i{n} moldeȝ du{n}ne,
For vch gresse mot grow of grayneȝ dede,
No whete were elleȝ to woneȝ wo{n}ne;
Of goud vche goude is ay by-go{n}ne.
So semly a sede moȝt fayly not,
Þ{a}t spry{n}gande spyceȝ vp ne spo{n}ne,
Of þat p{re}cios perle wyth-outen spotte.
grave of his lost child. Beautiful flowers covered the grave.
From them came a delicious odour.]
To þat spot þat I in speche expou{n}
I entred in þat erber grene,
In augoste in a hyȝ seysou{n},
Quen corne is coruen wyth crokeȝ kene.
On huyle þer perle hit trendeled dou{n},
Schadowed þis worteȝ ful schyre & schene
Gilofre, gyngure & gromylyou{n},
& pyonys powdered ay by-twene.
Ȝif hit watȝ semly on to sene,
A fayr reflayr ȝet fro hit flot,
Þer wonys þat worþyly I wot & wene,
My p{re}cio{us} perle, wyth-outen spot.
falls asleep upon the flowery plot, and dreams.]
Bifore þat spot my honde I spe{n}n[e]d,
For care ful colde þat to me caȝt[e];
A denely dele in my hert de{n}ned,
Þaȝ resou{n} sette my seluen saȝt[e].
I playned my perle þ{a}t þ{er} watȝ spe{n}ned
Wyth fyrte skylleȝ þat faste faȝt[e],
Þaȝ kynde of kryst me comfort ke{n}ned,
My wreched wylle i{n} wo ay wraȝte.
I felle vpon þat flo{ur}y flaȝt[e],
Suche odo{ur} to my herneȝ schot;
I slode vpon a slepy{n}g slaȝte,
On þat p{re}c[i]os perle w{i}t{h}-outen spot.
where the rocks and cliffs gleamed gloriously.]
Fro spot my spyryt þer sprang i{n} space,
My body on balke þer bod i{n} sweuen,
My goste is gon in godeȝ grace,
In auenture þ{er} meruayleȝ meuen;
I ne wyste in þis worlde quere þ{a}t hit wace,
Bot I knew me keste þ{er} klyfeȝ cleuen;
Towarde a foreste I bere þe face,
Where rych rokkeȝ wer to dyscreuen;
Þe lyȝt of hem myȝt no mon leuen,
Þe glemande glory þat of hem gle{n}t;
For wern neu{er} webbeȝ þat wyȝeȝ weuen,
Of half so dere adubmente.
The leaves of the trees were like burnished silver. The gravel
consisted of precious pearls.]
Dubbed wern alle þo downeȝ sydeȝ
W{i}t{h} crystal klyffeȝ so cler of kynde,
Holte-wodeȝ bryȝt aboute hem bydeȝ;
Of bolleȝ as blwe as ble of ynde,
As bornyst syluer þe lef onslydeȝ,
Þat þike con trylle on vch a tynde,
Quen glem of glodeȝ agaynȝ hem glydeȝ,
Wyth schym{er}y{n}g schene ful schrylle þay schynde.
Þe grauayl þat on grou{n}de con grynde
Wern p{re}cio{us} perleȝ of oryente;
Þe su{n}ne bemeȝ bot blo & blynde,
In respecte of þat adubbement.
most beautiful hues, and hears their sweet melody.]
The adubbemente of þo downeȝ dere
Garten my goste al greffe for-ȝete
So frech flauoreȝ of fryteȝ were,
As fode hit con me fayre refete.
Fowleȝ þ{er} flowen i{n} fryth i{n} fere,
Of flau{m}bande hweȝ, boþe smale & grete,
Bot sytole stry{n}g & gyt{er}nere,
Her reken myrþe moȝt not retrete,
For quen þose bryddeȝ her wyngeȝ bete
Þay songen wyth a swete asent;
So grac[i]os gle couþe no mon gete
As here & se her adubbement.
All shone like gold. The dreamer arrives at the bank of a river,
which gave forth sweet sounds.]
So al watȝ dubbet on dere asyse;
Þat fryth þer fortwne forth me fereȝ,
Þe derþe þer-of for to deuyse
Nis no wyȝ worþe þat tonge bereȝ.
I welke ay forth i{n} wely wyse,
No bonk so byg þ{a}t did me dereȝ,
Þe fyrre i{n} þe fryth þe feier con ryse,
Þe playn, þe plontteȝ, þe spyse, þe pereȝ,
& raweȝ & randeȝ & rych reuereȝ,
As fyldor fyn her b[o]nkes brent.
I wan to a water by schore þat schereȝ,
Lorde! dere watȝ hit adubbement!
winter night.]
The dubbemente of þo derworth depe
Wern bonkeȝ bene of beryl bryȝt;
Swangeande swete þe water con swepe
Wyth a rownande rourde raykande aryȝt;
I{n} þe fou{n}ce þ{er} stonden stoneȝ stepe,
As glente þurȝ glas þat glowed & glyȝt,
A stremande sterneȝ quen stroþe me{n} slepe,
Staren i{n} welkyn i{n} wynt{er} nyȝt;
For vche a pobbel i{n} pole þer pyȝt
Watȝ Emerad, saffer, oþ{er} ge{m}me gente,
Þat alle þe loȝe lemed of lyȝt,
So dere watȝ hit adubbeme{n}t.
The dubbeme{n}t dere of dou{n} & daleȝ,
Of wod & wat{er} & wlonk playneȝ,
Bylde in me blys, abated my baleȝ,
For-didden my [dis]tresse, dystryed my payneȝ.
Dou{n} after a strem þat dryȝly haleȝ,
I bowed in blys, bred ful my brayneȝ;
Þe fyrre I folȝed þose floty valeȝ,
Þe more strenghþe of ioye myn herte strayneȝ,
As fortune fares þ{er} as ho frayneȝ,
Wheþ{er} solace ho sende oþ{er} elleȝ sore,
Þe wyȝ, to wham her wylle ho wayneȝ,
Hytteȝ to haue ay more & more.
Paradise was on the opposite bank. The stream was not fordable.]
More of wele watȝ i{n} þat wyse
Þe{n} I cowþe telle þaȝ I tom hade,
For vrþely herte myȝt not suffyse
To þe tenþe dole of þo gladneȝ glade;
For-þy I þoȝt þ{a}t paradyse
Watȝ þer oþ{er} gayn þo bonkeȝ brade;
I hoped þe water were a deuyse
By-twene myrþeȝ by mereȝ made,
By-ȝonde þe broke by slente oþ{er} slade,
I hope[de] þ{a}t mote merked wore.
Bot þe water watȝ depe I dorst not wade
& eu{er} me longed a more & more.
brook. But the way seemed difficult. The dreamer finds new
marvels.]
More & more, & ȝet wel mare,
Me lyste to se þe broke by-ȝonde,
For if hit watȝ fayr þ{er} I con fare,
Wel loueloker watȝ þe fyrre londe.
Abowte me con I stote & stare
To fynde a forþe, faste con I fonde,
Bot woþeȝ mo i-wysse þ{er} ware,
Þe fyrre I stalked by þe stronde,
& euer me þoȝt I schulde not wonde
For wo, þer weleȝ so wy{n}ne wore.
Þe{n}ne nwe note me com on honde
Þat meued my mynde ay more & more,
a maiden clothed in glistening white. He knows that he has seen
her before.]
More meruayle con my dom adau{n}t;
I seȝ by-ȝonde þat myry mere,
A crystal clyffe ful relusau{n}t,
Mony ryal ray con fro hit rere;
At þe fote þ{er}-of þ{er} sete a fau{n}t,
A mayden of menske, ful debonere;
Blysnande whyt watȝ hyr bleau{n}t,
(I knew hyr wel, I hade sen hyr ere)
As glysnande golde þat man con schere,
So schon þat schene an vnder schore;
On lengh{e} I loked to hyr þere,
Þe lenger I knew hyr more & more
in such a strange place.]
The more I frayste hyr fayre face.
Her fygure fyn, quen I had fonte,
Suche gladande glory con to me glace,
As lyttel byfore þerto watȝ wonte;
To calle hyr lyste con me enchace,
Bot baysme{n}t gef myn hert a bru{n}t,
I seȝ hyr in so strange a place,
Such a burre myȝt make my{n} herte blu{n}t
Þe{n}ne vereȝ ho vp her fayre frou{n}t,
Hyr vysayge whyt as playn yuore,
Þat stonge my{n} hert ful stray atou{n}t,
& eu{er} þe lenger, þe more & more.
He fears lest she should escape before he could speak to her.
His long lost one is dressed in royal array--decked with
precious pearls.]
More þen me lyste my drede aros,
I stod ful stylle & dorste not calle,
Wyth yȝen open & mouth ful clos,
I stod as hende as hawk i{n} halle;
I hope þ{a}t gostly watȝ þ{a}t porpose,
I dred on ende quat schulde byfalle,
Lest ho me eschaped þat I þ{er} chos,
Er I at steuen hir moȝt stalle.
Þat gracios gay w{i}t{h}-outen galle,
So smoþe, so smal, so seme slyȝt,
Ryseȝ vp i{n} hir araye ryalle,
A p{re}c[i]os pyece i{n} perleȝ pyȝt.
Her kirtle is composed of ‘sute,’ ornamented with pearls.]
Perleȝ pyȝte of ryal prys,
Þere moȝt mon by grace haf sene,
Quen þat frech as flor-de-lys,
Dou{n} þe bonke con boȝe by-dene.
Al blysnande whyt watȝ hir beau uiys,
Vpon at sydeȝ & bou{n}den bene
Wyth þe myryeste margarys at my deuyse,
Þat eu{er} I seȝ ȝet with myn yȝen;
Wyth lappeȝ large I wot & I wene,
Dubbed with double perle & dyȝte,
Her cortel of self sute schene,
W{i}t{h} p{re}cios perleȝ al vmbe-pyȝte.
about her. Her colour was whiter than whalebone. Her hair
shone as gold.]
A pyȝt coroune ȝet wer þat gyrle,
Of mariorys & non oþ{er} ston,
Hiȝe pynakled of cler quyt perle,
Wyth flurted flowreȝ perfet vpon;
To hed hade ho non oþ{er} werle,
Her here heke al hyr vmbe-gon;
Her semblau{n}t sade, for doc oþ{er} erle,
Her ble more blaȝt þen whalleȝ bon;
As schorne golde schyr her fax þe{n}ne schon,
On schyldereȝ þat legh{e} vnlapped lyȝte;
Her depe colo{ur} ȝet wonted non,
Of p{re}cios perle i{n} porfyl pyȝte,
pearls. A wonderful pearl was set in her breast.]
Pyȝt watȝ poyned & vche a he{m}me,
At honde, at sydeȝ, at ouerture,
Wyth whyte perle & non oþ{er} ge{m}me,
& bornyste quyte watȝ hyr uesture.
Bot a wonder perle w{i}t{h}-outen we{m}me,
In myddeȝ hyr breste watȝ sette so sure;
A ma{n}neȝ dom moȝt dryȝly de{m}me,
Er mynde moȝt malte i{n} hit mesure;
I hope no tong moȝt endure
No sau{er}ly saghe say of þ{a}t syȝt,
So watȝ hit clene & cler & pure,
Þat p{re}cios perle þ{er} hit watȝ pyȝt,
salutes him.]
Pyȝt in perle þat p{re}cios p[r]yse.
On wyþ{er} half wat{er} com dou{n} þe schore,
No gladder gome heþen i{n} to grece,
Þe{n} I, quen ho on bry{m}me wore;
Ho watȝ me nerre þen au{n}te or nece,
My Ioy for-þy watȝ much þe more.
Ho p{ro}fered me speche þ{a}t special spyce,
Enclynande lowe i{n} wo{m}mon lore,
Caȝte of her corou{n} of grete tresore,
& haylsed me wyth a lote lyȝte.
Wel watȝ me þ{a}t eu{er} I watȝ bore,
To sware þat swete i{n} perleȝ pyȝte!
long-lost pearl, and longs to know who has deprived him of his
treasure.]
“O perle,” q{uod} I, “in perleȝ pyȝt,
Art þ{o}u my perle þat I haf playned,
Regretted by my{n} one, on nyȝte?
Much longey{n}g haf I for þe layned,
Syþen into gresse þ{o}u me aglyȝte;
Pensyf, payred, I am for-payned,
& þ{o}u i{n} a lyf of lyky{n}g lyȝte
In paradys erde, of stryf vnstrayned.
What wyrde hatȝ hyder my iuel vayned,
& don me in þys del & gret dau{n}ger?
Fro we i{n} twy{n}ne wern towen & twayned,
lost. She is in a garden of delight, where sin and mourning
are unknown.]
That Iuel þe{n}ne in ge{m}myȝ gente,
Vered vp her vyse w{i}t{h} yȝen graye,
Set on hyr corou{n} of perle orie{n}t,
& soberly after þe{n}ne con ho say:
“Si{r} ȝe haf yo{ur} tale myse-tente,
To say yo{ur} perle is al awaye,
Þat is i{n} cofer, so comly clente,
As i{n} þis gardyn gracios gaye,
Here-i{n}ne to lenge for eu{er} & play.
Þer mys nee morny{n}g com neu{er} here,
Her were a forser for þe i{n} faye,
If þ{o}u were a gentyl Iueler.
The pearl blames his rash speech.]
Bot Iueler gente if þ{o}u schal lose
Þy ioy for a ge{m}me þat þe watȝ lef,
Me þynk þe put i{n} a mad porpose,
& busyeȝ þe aboute a raysou{n} bref,
For þat þ{o}u lesteȝ watȝ bot a rose,
Þat flowred & fayled as kynde hyt gef;
Now þurȝ kynde of þe kyste þ{a}t hyt con close,
To a perle of prys hit is put i{n} pref;
& þ{o}u hatȝ called þy wyrde a þef,
Þat oȝt of noȝt hatȝ mad þe cler;
Þ{o}u blameȝ þe bote of þy meschef,
Þ{o}u art no kynde Iueler.”
he really thought his pearl was wholly lost to him.]
A Iuel to me þen watȝ þys geste,
& iueleȝ wern hyr ge{n}tyl saweȝ,
“I-wyse,” q{uod} I, “my blysfol beste,
My grete dystresse þ{o}u al to-draweȝ,
To be excused I make requeste;
I trawed my perle don out of daweȝ,
Now haf I fonde hyt I schal ma feste,
& wony w{i}t{h} hyt i{n} schyr wod schaweȝ,
& loue my lorde & al his laweȝ,
Þat hatȝ me broȝ[t] þys blys ner;
Now were I at yow by-ȝonde þise waweȝ,
I were a ioyfol Iueler.”
three words without knowing the meaning of one. The first word.
The second. The third.]
“Iueler,” sayde þat ge{m}me clene,
“Wy borde ȝe men, so madde ȝe be?
Þre wordeȝ hatȝ þ{o}u spoken at ene,
Vn-avysed, for soþe, wern alle þre,
Þou ne woste in worlde quat on dotȝ mene,
Þy worde byfore þy wytte con fle.
Þou says þ{o}u traweȝ me i{n} þis dene,
By cawse þ{o}u may w{i}t{h} yȝen me se;
Anoþ{er} þ{o}u says, i{n} þys cou{n}tre
Þy self schal won w{i}t{h} me ryȝt here;
Þe þrydde, to passe þys wat{er} fre,
Þat may no ioyfol Iueler.
To love nothing but what one sees is great presumption.]
I halde þat iueler lyttel to prayse.
Þat loueȝ wel þ{a}t he seȝ wyth yȝe,
& much to blame & vn-cortoyse,
Þat loueȝ oure lorde wolde make a lyȝe,
Þat lelly hyȝte yo{ur} lyf to rayse,
Þaȝ fortune dyd yo{ur} flesch to dyȝe;
Ȝe setten hys wordeȝ ful westernays
Þat loueȝ no þy{n}k bot ȝe hit syȝe,
& þat is a poy{n}t o sorquydryȝe,
Þat vche god mon may euel byseme
To leue no tale be t{ru}e to tryȝe,
Bot þat hys one skyl may dem[e].
asked. This stream must be passed over by death.]
Deme now þy-self, if þ{o}u con, dayly
As man to god wordeȝ schulde heue.
Þ{o}u saytȝ þ{o}u schal won i{n} þis bayly;
Me þynk þe burde fyrst aske leue,
& ȝet of grau{n}t þ{o}u myȝteȝ fayle;
Þ{o}u wylneȝ ou{er} þys water to weue,
Er moste þ{o}u ceuer to oþ{er} cou{n}sayl,
Þy corse i{n} clot mot calder keue,
For hit watȝ for-garte, at paradys greue
Oure ȝore fader hit con mysseȝeme;
Þurȝ drwry deth boȝ vch ma dreue,
Er ou{er} þys dam hy{m} dryȝty{n} deme.”
doom him to sorrow again. If he loses his pearl he does not care
what happens to him.]
“Demeȝ þ{o}u me,” q{uod} I, “my swete
To dol agayn, þe{n}ne I dowyne;
Now haf I fonte þat I for-lete
Schal I efte for-go hit er eu{er} I fyne?
Why schal I hit boþe mysse & mete?
My p{re}cios perle dotȝ me gret pyne,
What serueȝ tresor, bot gareȝ men grete
When he hit schal efte w{i}t{h} teneȝ tyne?
Now rech I neu{er} forto declyne,
Ne how fer of folde þat man me fleme,
When I am partleȝ of perleȝ myne.
Bot durande doel what may men deme?”
Though he may dance as any doe, yet he must abide God’s doom.]
“Thow demeȝ noȝt bot doel dystresse,”
Þenne sayde þat wyȝt “why dotȝ þ{o}u so?
For dyne of doel, of lureȝ lesse,
Ofte mony mon for-gos þe mo;
Þe oȝte better þy seluen blesse,
& loue ay god & wele & wo,
For anger gayneȝ þe not a cresse.
Who nedeȝ schal þole be not so þro;
For þoȝ þ{o}u dau{n}ce as any do
Brau{n}dysch & bray þy braþeȝ breme,
When þ{o}u no fyrre may, to ne fro,
Þ{o}u moste abyde þat he schal deme.
to make men joyful or sad.]
Deme dryȝtyn, euer hy{m} adyte,
Of þe way a fote ne wyl he wryþe,
Þy mendeȝ mou{n}teȝ not a myte,
Þaȝ þ{o}u for sorȝe be neu{er} blyþe;
Sty{n}st of þy strot & fyne to flyte,
& sech hys blyþe ful swefte & swyþe,
Þy prayer may hys pyte byte,
Þat mercy schal hyr crafteȝ kyþe;
Hys comforte may þy lango{ur} lyþe,
& þy lureȝ of lyȝtly leme,
For marre oþ{er} madde, morne & myþe,
Al lys i{n} hym to dyȝt & deme.”
Ne worþe no wrath þe vnto my lorde,
If rapely raue spornande i{n} spelle.
My herte watȝ al w{i}t{h} mysse remorde,
As wallande water gotȝ out of welle;
I do me ay i{n} hys myserecorde.
Rebuke me neu{er} w{i}t{h} wordeȝ felle,
Þaȝ I forloyne my dere endorde,
Bot lyþeȝ me kyndely yo{ur} cou{m}forde,
Pytosly þenkande vpon þysse;
Of care & me ȝe made acorde,
Þat er watȝ grou{n}de of alle my blysse;
And when he lost her, he knew not what had become of her.]
My blysse, my bale ȝe han ben boþe,
Bot much þe bygger ȝet watȝ my mon,
Fro þ{o}u watȝ wroken fro vch a woþe.
I wyste neu{er} quere my perle watȝ gon;
Now I hit se, now leþeȝ my loþe,
& quen we departed we wern at on,
God forbede we be now wroþe,
We meten so selden by stok oþ{er} ston;
Þaȝ cortaysly ȝe carp con,
I am bot mol & marereȝ mysse,
Bot crystes mersy & mary & Ion,
Þise arn þe grou{n}de of alle my blysse.
heed of his sorrow. He desires to know what life she leads.]
In blysse I se þe blyþely blent
& I a man al mornyf mate,
Ȝe take þ{er}-on ful lyttel tente,
Þaȝ I hente ofte harmeȝ hate.
Bot now I am here i{n} yo{ur} p{re}sente,
I wolde bysech wythouten debate,
Ȝe wolde me say i{n} sobre asente,
What lyf ȝe lede, erly & late,
For I am ful fayn þat yo{ur} astate
Is worþen to worschyp & wele I wysse,
Of alle my Ioy þe hyȝe gate
Hit is i{n} grou{n}de of alle my blysse.”
with her, now that he is humble. All are meek that dwell
in the abode of bliss.]
“Now blysse burne mot þe bytyde;”
Þen sayde þat lufsou{m} of lyth & lere,
“& welcu{m} here to walk & byde,
For now þy speche is to me dere;
Maysterful mod & hyȝe pryde
I hete þe arn heterly hated here;
My lorde ne loueȝ not forto chyde,
For meke arn alle þ{a}t woneȝ hy{m} nere,
& when i{n} hys place þ{o}u schal apere,
Be dep deuote i{n} hol mekenesse;
My lorde þe lamb, loueȝ ay such chere,
Þat is þe grou{n}de of alle my blysse.
that she was very young when she died. Now she is crowned
a queen in heaven.]
A blysful lyf þ{o}u says I lede,
Þou woldeȝ knaw þ{er}-of þe stage;
Þow wost wel when þy perle con schede,
I watȝ ful ȝong & tender of age,
Bot my lorde þe lombe, þurȝ hys god-hede,
He toke my self to hys maryage,
Corou{n}de me quene i{n} blysse to brede,
I{n} lengh{e} of dayeȝ þat eu{er} schal wage,
& sesed i{n} alle hys herytage
Hys lef is, I am holy hysse;
Hys prese, hys prys & hys parage,
Is rote & grou{n}de of alle my blysse.”
her. Mary, he says, is the queen of heaven. No one is able
to remove the crown from her.]
“Blysful,” q{uod} I, “may þys be trwe,
Dyspleseȝ not if I speke erro{ur};
Art þou þe quene of heueneȝ blwe,
Þ{a}t al þys worlde schal do hono{ur}?
We leuen on marye þat grace of grewe,
Þat ber a barne of vyrgyn flo{ur},
Þe croune fro hyr quo moȝt remwe,
Bot ho hir passed i{n} su{m} fauo{ur}?
Now for synglerty o hyr douso{ur},
We calle hyr fenyx of arraby,
Þat freles fleȝe of hyr fasor,
Lyk to þe quen of cortaysye.”
to her father that each has his place in heaven.]
“Cortayse quen” þe{n}ne s[a]yde þat gaye,
Knelande to grou{n}de, folde vp hyr face,
“Makeleȝ moder & myryest may,
Blessed bygy{n}ner of vch a grace!”
Þe{n}ne ros ho vp & con restay,
& speke me towarde i{n} þat space:
“S{ir} fele here porchaseȝ & fongeȝ pray
Bot supplantoreȝ none w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne þys place;
Þat emp{er}ise al heue{n}ȝ hatȝ,
& vrþe & helle i{n} her bayly;
Of erytage ȝet non wyl ho chace,
For ho is quen of cortaysye.
Each one in it is a king or queen. The mother of Christ holds
the chief place.]
The co{ur}t of þe kyndom of god alyue,
Hatȝ a p{ro}perty i{n} hyt self bey{n}g;
Alle þat may þer-i{n}ne aryue
Of alle þe reme is quen oþ{er} ky{n}g,
& neu{er} oþ{er} ȝet schal depryue,
Bot vchon fayn of oþ{er}eȝ hafy{n}g,
& wolde her corou{n}eȝ wern worþe þo fyue,
If possyble were her mendy{n}g.
Bot my lady of quom Iesu con spry{n}g,
Ho haldeȝ þe empyre ou{er} v{us} ful hyȝe,
& þat dyspleseȝ non of oure gy{n}g,
For ho is quene of cortaysye.
each limb be perfect.]
Of co{ur}taysye, as saytȝ say{n}t poule,
Al arn we me{m}breȝ of ih{es}u kryst,
As heued & arme & legg & naule,
Temen to hys body ful trwe & t[r]yste;
Ryȝt so is vch a krysten sawle,
A longande lym to þe mayster of myste;
Þe{n}ne loke what hate oþ{er} any gawle,
Is tached oþ{er} tyȝed þy ly{m}meȝ by-twyste,
Þy heued hatȝ nauþer greme ne gryste,
On arme oþ{er} fynger, þaȝ þ{o}u ber byȝe;
So fare we alle wyth luf & lyste,
To ky{n}g & quene by cortaysye.”
his pearl can be a queen. He desires to know what greater
honour she can have.]
“Cortayse,” q{uod} I, “I leue
& charyte grete be yow amo{n}g,
Bot my speche þat yow ne greue,
.    .    .    .    .
Þy self in heuen ou{er} hyȝ þ{o}u heue,
To make þe quen þat watȝ so ȝonge,
What more-hond moȝte he acheue
Þat hade endured i{n} worlde stronge,
& lyued i{n} penau{n}ce hys lyueȝ longe,
W{i}t{h} bodyly bale hy{m} blysse to byye?
What more worschyp moȝt ho fonge,
Þen corou{n}de be ky{n}g by cortayse?
and could do nothing to please God. She might be a countess
or some great lady but not a queen.]
That cortayse is to fre of dede,
Ȝyf hyt be soth þat þ{o}u coneȝ saye,
Þ{o}u lyfed not two ȝer i{n} oure þede,
Þ{o}u cowþeȝ neu{er} god nauþ{er} plese ne pray,
Ne neu{er} nawþer pater ne crede,
& quen mad on þe fyrst day!
I may not traw, so god me spede,
Þat god wolde wryþe so wrange away;
Of cou{n}tes damysel, par ma fay,
Wer fayr i{n} heuen to halde asstate
Aþ{er} elleȝ a lady of lasse aray,
Bot a quene, hit is to dere a date.”
to God’s power. The parable of the labourers in the vineyard.]
“Þer is no date of hys god-nesse,”
Þen sayde to me þat worþy wyȝte,
“For al is trawþe þat he con dresse,
& he may do no þynk bot ryȝt,
As mathew meleȝ i{n} yo{ur} messe,
I{n} sothfol gospel of god al-myȝt
I{n} sample he can ful grayþely gesse,
& lykneȝ hit to heuen lyȝte.”
“My regne, he saytȝ, is lyk on hyȝt,
To a lorde þat hade a uyne I wate,
Of tyme of ȝere þe terme watȝ tyȝt,
To labor vyne watȝ dere þe date,
day. At noon the lord hires other men standing idle in the
market place.]
Þat date of ȝere wel knawe þys hyne;
Þe lorde ful erly vp he ros,
To hyre werkmen to hys vyne,
& fyndeȝ þ{er} su{m}me to hys porpos,
Into acorde þay con de-clyne,
For a pené on a day & forth þay gotȝ,
Wryþen & worchen & don gret pyne,
Keruen & caggen & man hit clos;
Aboute vnder, þe lorde to marked totȝ
& ydel men stande he fyndeȝ þer-ate,
“Why stande ȝe ydel” he sayde to þos,
Ne knawe ȝe of þis day no date?
give them what is right.]
“Er date of daye hider arn we won{n}e,”
So watȝ al samen her answar soȝt;
“We haf standen her syn ros þe su{n}ne,
& no mo{n} byddeȝ v{us} do, ryȝt noȝt.”
“Gos i{n}-to my vyne, dotȝ þat ȝe co{n}ne.”
So sayde þe lorde & made hit toȝt.
“What resonabele hyre be naȝt be ru{n}ne,
I yow pray i{n} dede & þoȝte.”
Þay wente i{n} to þe vyne & wroȝte,
& al day þe lorde þ{us} ȝede his gate,
& nw men to hys vyne he broȝte;
Wel neȝ wyl day watȝ passed date,
other men standing idle. Tells them to go into the vineyard.]
At þe day of date of euen-songe,
On oure byfore þe so{n}ne go dou{n}
He seȝ þer ydel men ful stronge
“Wy stonde ȝe ydel þise dayeȝ longe.”
Þay sayden her hyre watȝ nawhere bou{n}.
“Gotȝ to my vyne ȝemen ȝonge
& wyrkeȝ & dotȝ þ{a}t at ȝe mou{n}.”
Sone þe worlde by-com wel brou{n},
Þe su{n}ne watȝ doun & hit wex late;
To take her hyre he mad su{m}ou{n};
Þe day watȝ al apassed date.
to pay the workmen. To give each a penny. The first began to
complain.]
The date of þe daye þe lorde con knaw,
Called to þe reue “lede pay þe meyny,
Gyf hem þe hyre þat I hem owe,
& fyrre, þat non me may repreue,
Set hem alle vpon a rawe,
& gyf vchon i{n}-lyche a peny.
Bygyn at þe laste þat sta{n}deȝ lowe,
Tyl to þe fyrste þat þ{o}u atteny;”
& þe{n}ne þe fyrst by-go{n}ne to pleny
& sayden þat þay hade trauayled sore,
Þese bot an [h]oure hem con streny,
V{us} þy{n}k v{us} oȝe to take more.
deserves more. The lord tells him that he agreed only to give
him a penny.]
More haf we serued v{us} þy{n}k so,
Þat suffred han þe dayeȝ hete,
Þe{n}n þyse þat wroȝt[e] not houreȝ two,
& þ{o}u dotȝ hem v{us} to cou{n}terfete.
Þe{n}ne sayde þe lorde to on of þo,
“Frende no wrang I wyl þe ȝete,
Take þat is þyn owne & go;
& I hyred þe for a peny a grete,
Quy bygy{n}neȝ þ{o}u now to þrete;
Watȝ not a pené þy couenau{n}t þore?
Fyrre þe{n} couenau{n}de is noȝt to plete,
Wy schalte þou þe{n}ne ask more?
The maiden applies the parable to herself.]
More weþ{er} louyly is me my gyfte
To do wyth myn quat so me lykeȝ?
Oþ{er} elleȝ þyn yȝe to lyþ{er} is lyfte,
For I am goude & no{n} by-swykeȝ.”
“Þ{us} schal I,” q{uod} kryste, “hit skyfte,
Þe laste schal be þe fyrst þat strykeȝ,
& þe fyrst þe laste, be he neu{er} so swyft,
For mony ben calle[d] þaȝ fewe be mykeȝ.”
Þ{us} pore men her part ay pykeȝ,
Þaȝ þay com late & lyttel wore,
& þaȝ her sweng wyth lyttel at-slykeȝ,
Þe merci of god is much þe more.
more than others who had lived longer.]
“More haf I of ioye & blysse here-i{n}ne,
Of ladyschyp gret & lyueȝ blom,
Þen alle þe wyȝeȝ i{n} þe worlde myȝt wy{n}ne
By þe way of ryȝt to aske dome.
Wheþer wel nygh[t] now I con bygy{n}ne,
In euentyde in-to þe vyne I come,
Fyrst of my hyre my lorde con my{n}ne,
I watȝ payed anon of al & sum;
Ȝet oþ{er} þer werne þ{a}t toke more tom,
Þat swange & swat for long ȝore,
Þat ȝet of hyre no þynk þay nom,
Parau{n}t{er} noȝt schal to ȝere more.”
unreasonable.]
Then more I meled & sayde apert,
“Me þynk þy tale vnresou{n}able,
Goddeȝ ryȝt is redy & eu{er} more rert,
Oþ{er} holy wryt is bot a fable;
I{n} sauter is sayd a verce ouerte
Þat spekeȝ a poy{n}t determynable,
‘Þ{o}u quyteȝ vchon as hys desserte,
Þ{o}u hyȝe ky{n}g ay p{re}termynable,’
Now he þat stod þe long day stable,
& þ{o}u to payment com hym byfore,
Þe{n}ne þe lasse i{n} werke to take more able,
& eu{er} þe lenger þe lasse þe more.”
“Of more & lasse in godeȝ ryche,”
Þat gentyl sayde “lys no Ioparde,
For þer is vch mon payed inliche,
Wheþer lyttel oþ{er} much be hys rewarde,
For þe gentyl cheuentayn is no chyche,
Queþ{er}-so-eu{er} he dele nesch oþ{er} harde,
He laueȝ hys gyfteȝ as wat{er} of dyche,
Oþ{er} goteȝ of golf þat neu{er} charde;
Hys frau{n}chyse is large þ{a}t eu{er} dard,
To hy{m} þat matȝ i{n} sy{n}ne no scogh{e}
No blysse betȝ fro hem reparde,
For þe grace of god is gret I-nogh{e}.
by sinning.]
Bot now þ{o}u moteȝ me for to mate
Þat I my peny haf wrang tan here,
Þ{o}u sayȝ þat I þat com to late,
Am not worþy so gret lere.
Where wysteȝ þ{o}u eu{er} any bourne abate
Euer so holy i{n} hys prayere,
Þat he ne forfeted by su{m}kyn gate,
Þe mede su{m}-tyme of heueneȝ clere;
& ay þe ofter, þe alder þay were,
Þay laften ryȝt & wroȝten wogh{e}
Mercy & g{ra}ce moste hem þe{n} stere,
For þe g{ra}ce of god is gret i{n}-noȝe.
God allow their labour.]
Bot i{n}-nogh{e} of grace hatȝ i{n}nocent,
As sone as þay arn borne by lyne
I{n} þe water of babtem þay dyssente,
Þ{en} arne þay boroȝt i{n}-to þe vyne,
Anon þe day w{i}t{h} derk endente,
Þe myȝt of deth dotȝ to en-clyne
Þat wroȝt neuer wrang er þe{n}ne þay wente;
Þe gentyle lorde þe{n}ne payeȝ hys hyne,
Þay dyden hys heste, þay wern þere-ine,
Why schulde he not her labo{ur} alow,
Ȝy[rd] & pay hem at þe fyrst fyne
For þe grace of god is gret i{n}-nogh{e}?
And all are damned for the sin of Adam. But there came one
who paid the penalty of our sins.]
Inoȝe is knawen þ{a}t man-kyn grete,
Fyrste watȝ wroȝt to blysse parfyt;
Oure forme-fader hit con forfete,
Þurȝ an apple þat he vpon con byte;
Al wer we dampned for þat mete,
To dyȝe i{n} doel out of delyt,
& syþen wende to helle hete,
Bot þer on com a bote as-tyt.
Ryche blod ran on rode so rogh{e},
Þe g{ra}ce of god wex gret i{n}-nogh{e}.
was baptism.]
Innogh{e} þer wax out of þat welle,
Blod & wat{er} of brode wou{n}de;
Þe blod v{us} boȝt fro bale of helle,
& delyu{er}ed v{us} of þe deth secou{n}de;
Þe water is baptem þe soþe to telle;
Þat folȝed þe glayue so gry{m}ly grou{n}de,
Þat wascheȝ away þe gylteȝ felle,
Þat adam wyth i{n}ne deth v{us} drou{n}de.
Now is þ{er} noȝt i{n} þe worlde rou{n}de
Bytwene v{us} & blysse bot þat he w{i}t{h}-droȝ
& þat is restored i{n} sely stou{n}de,
& þe grace of god is gret i{n}-nogh.
affliction. The guilty may be saved by contrition.]
Grace i{n}-nogh þe mon may haue,
Þat sy{n}neȝ þe{n}ne new, ȝif hy{m} repente,
Bot w{i}t{h} sorȝ & syt he mot hit craue,
& byde þe payne þer-to is bent,
Bot resou{n} of ryȝt þat con not raue,
Saueȝ eu{er} more þe i{n}nosse{n}t;
Hit is a dom þ{a}t neu{er} god gaue,
Þat eu{er} þe gyltleȝ schulde be schente.
Þe gyltyf may contryssyou{n} hente
& be þurȝ mercy to grace þryȝt;
Bot he to gyle þat neu{er} glente,
At i{n}-oscente is saf & ryȝte.
the _innocent_. The words of David. The innocent is saved by
Ryȝt þ{us} I knaw wel i{n} þis cas,
Two men to saue is god by skylle;
Þe ryȝt-wys man schal se hys face,
Þe harmleȝ haþel schal com hym tylle,
Þe saut{er} hyt satȝ þ{us} i{n} a pace:
“Lorde quo schal klymbe þy hyȝ hylleȝ
Hymself to on-sware he is not dylle;
“Hondely{n}geȝ harme þat dyt not ille,
Þat is of hert boþe clene & lyȝt,
Þer schal hys step stable stylle,”
Þe i{n}nosent is ay saf by ryȝt.
The ryȝtwys man also sertayn
Aproche he schal þ{a}t proper pyle,
Þat takeȝ not her lyf in vayne
Ne glauereȝ her nieȝbor wyth no gyle;
Of þys ryȝt-wys saȝ salamon playn,
How kyntly oure con aquyle
By wayeȝ ful streȝt he con hym strayn,
& scheued hy{m} þe rengne of god a whyle,
As quo says “lo ȝon louely yle,
Þ{o}u may hit wy{n}ne if þ{o}u be wyȝte,”
Bot hardyly w{i}t{h}-oute peryle,
Þe i{n}nosent is ay saue by ryȝte!
Pray to be saved by innocence and not by right.]
An-ende ryȝtwys men, ȝet saytȝ a gome
Dauid in sauter, if eu{er} ȝe seȝ hit,
“Lorde þy seruau{n}t draȝ neuer to dome,
For non lyuyunde to þe is Iustyfyet.”
For-þy to corte quen þ{o}u schal com,
Þer alle oure causeȝ schal be tryed,
Alegge þe ryȝt þ{o}u may be i{n}-nome,
By þys ilke spech I haue asspyed;
Bot he on rode þat blody dyed,
Delfully þurȝ hondeȝ þryȝt
Gyue þe to passe when þ{o}u arte tryed
By in{n}ocens & not by ryȝte.
unto him. The disciples rebuked the parents. Christ said,
“Suffer little children to come unto me,” etc.]
Ryȝt-wysly quo con rede,
He loke on bok & be awayed
How Ih{esu}c hy{m} welke in are þede,
& burneȝ her barneȝ vnto hy{m} brayde,
For happe & hele þat fro hy{m} ȝede,
To touch her chylder þay fayr hym prayed.
His dessypeleȝ w{i}t{h} blame let be hy{m} bede,
& wyth her resou{n}eȝ ful fele restayed;
Ih{esu}c þe{n}ne hem swetely sayde,
“Do way, let chylder vnto me tyȝt.
To suche is heuen-ryche arayed,”
Þe i{n}nocent is ay saf by ryȝt.
Ih{esu}c con calle to hy{m} hys mylde
& sayde hys ryche no wyȝ myȝt wy{n}ne.
Bot he com þyder ryȝt as a chylde,
Oþ{er} elleȝ neu{er} more com þer-i{n}ne,
Harmleȝ, trwe & vnde-fylde,
W{i}t{h}-outen mote oþ{er} mascle of sulpande sy{n}ne;
Quen such þer cnoken on þe bylde,
Tyt schal hem men þe ȝate vnpy{n}ne,
Þer is þe blys þat con not bly{n}ne,
Þat þe Iueler soȝte þurȝ perre pres
& solde alle hys goud boþe wolen & ly{n}ne,
To bye hy{m} a perle [þat] watȝ mascelleȝ.
pure and clean. Forsake the mad world and purchase the spotless
This makelleȝ perle þat boȝt is dere,
Þe Ioueler gef fore alle hys god,
Is lyke þe reme of heuenesse clere
So sayde þe fader of folde & flode,
For hit is we{m}leȝ, clene & clere,
& endeleȝ rou{n}de & blyþe of mode,
& co{m}mune to alle þat ryȝtwys were,
Lo! euen i{n} myddeȝ my breste hit stode;
My lorde þe lombe þat schede hys blode,
He pyȝt hit þere i{n} token of pes;
I rede þe forsake þe worlde wode,
& porchace þy perle maskelles.”
her figure and wrought her garments. Her beauty, he says,
is not natural. Her colour passes the fleur-de-lis.]
“O maskeleȝ perle i{n} perleȝ pure
Þat bereȝ,” q{uod} I, “þe perle of prys,
Quo formed þe þy fayre fygure?
Þat wroȝt þy wede, he watȝ ful wys;
Þy beaute com neu{er} of nature,
Pymalyon paynted neu{er} þy vys,
Ne arystotel nawþ{er} by hys lettrure
Of carpe þe kynde þese p{ro}perteȝ.
Þy colo{ur} passeȝ þe flo{ur}-de-lys,
Þyn angel hauy{n}g so clene corteȝ
Breue me bryȝt, quat-kyn of p{r}iys
Bereȝ þe perle so maskelleȝ.”
of Christ. She is without spot or blemish. Her weeds are washed
in the blood of Christ.]
“My makeleȝ lambe þat al may bete,”
Q{uod} scho, “my dere destyné
Me ches to hys make al-þaȝ vnmete,
Su{m} tyme semed þ{a}t assemblé
When I wente fro yor worlde wete.
He calde me to hys bon{er}té,
‘Cu{m} hyder to me my le{m}man swete,
For mote ne spot is non i{n} þe:’
He gef me myȝt & als bewté.
I{n} hys blod he wesch my wede on dese,
& coronde clene i{n} v{er}gynté,
& pyȝt me i{n} perleȝ maskelleȝ.”
chosen his daughter, and why she is selected as a bride.]
“Why maskelleȝ bryd þat bryȝt con flambe
Þat reiateȝ hatȝ so ryche & ryf,
Quat-kyn þy{n}g may be þat lambe,
Þat þe wolde wedde vnto hys vyf?
Ou{er} alle oþ{er} so hyȝ þ{o}u clambe,
To lede w{i}t{h} hy{m} so ladyly lyf
So mony a cumly on v{n}der cambe,
For kryst han lyued i{n} much stryf,
& þ{o}u con alle þo dere out-dryf,
& fro þat maryag al oþ{er} depres,
Al only þyself so stout & styf,
A makeleȝ may & maskelleȝ.”
St. John saw them on the hill of Sion in a dream, in the new
city of Jerusalem.]
“Maskelles,” q{uod} þat myry quene,
“Vnblemyst I am wyth-outen blot,
& þat may I w{i}t{h} mensk me{n}teene;
Bot makeleȝ quene þe{n}ne sade I not,
Þe lambes vyueȝ i{n} blysse we bene,
A hondred & forty þowsande flot
As i{n} þe apocalyppeȝ hit is sene;
Sant Ioh{a}n hem syȝ al i{n} a knot,
On þe hyl of syon þat semly clot.
Þe apostel hem segh i{n} gostly drem
Arayed to þe weddy{n}g i{n} þ{a}t hyl coppe,
Þe nwe cyte u I{e}r{usa}l{e}m.
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.]
Of I{e}r{usa}l{e}m I in speche spelle.
If þ{o}u wyl knaw what-kyn he be,
My lombe, my lorde, my dere Iuelle,
My ioy, my blys, my le{m}man fre,
Þe p{ro}fete ysaye of hy{m} con melle,
Pitously of hys debonerté
Þat gloryo{us} gyltleȝ þ{a}t mon con quelle,
W{i}t{h}-outen any sake of felonye,
As a schep to þe slaȝt þ{er} lad watȝ he
& as lombe þat clypper i{n} lande nem,
So closed he hys mouth fro vch query,
Quen Iueȝ hy{m} iugged i{n} Ih{erusal}em.
was His face flayed. He endured all patiently as a lamb.
For us He died in Jerusalem.]
In I{e}r{usa}l{e}m watȝ my le{m}man slayn
& rent on rode w{i}t{h} boyeȝ bolde;
Al oure baleȝ to bere ful bayn,
He toke on hy{m} self oure careȝ colde,
W{i}t{h} boffeteȝ watȝ hys face flayn,
Þat watȝ so fayr on to byholde;
For sy{n}ne he set hy{m} self i{n} vayn,
Þat neu{er} hade non hym self to wolde,
For v{us} he lette hy{m} flyȝe & folde
& brede vpon a bostwys bem,
As meke as lomb þat no playnt tolde.
of God,” etc. Who can reckon His generation, that died
Þer as baptysed þe goude say{n}t Ion,
His wordeȝ acorded to ysaye;
When Ih{esu}c con to hy{m} warde gon
He sayde of hy{m} þys p{ro}fessye,
“Lo godeȝ lombe as trwe as ston,
Þat dotȝ away þe sy{n}neȝ dryȝe!”
Þat alle þys worlde hatȝ wroȝt vpon,
Hy{m} self ne wroȝt neu{er} ȝet non,
Wheþ{er} on hym self he con al clem,
Hys generacyou{n} quo recen con,
upon the throne.]
Twyeȝ, for lombe watȝ taken þere,
By trw recorde of ayþ{er} p{ro}phete,
For mode so meke & al hys fare,
Þe þryde tyme is þ{er}-to ful mete
In apokalypeȝ wryten ful ȝare.
In mydeȝ þe trone þere saynteȝ sete,
Þe apostel ioh{a}n hy{m} saytȝ as bare,
Lesande þe boke with leueȝ sware,
Þere seuen sy{n}gnetteȝ wern sette i{n}-seme
& at þ{a}t syȝt vche douth con dare,
is a worthy bride for the Lamb. No strife or envy among
the brides.]
Thys I{e}r{usa}l{e}m lombe hade neu{er} pechche
Of oþ{er} huee bot quyt Iolyf
Þat mot ne masklle moȝt on streche
For wolle quyte so ronk & ryf,
For-þy vche saule þat hade neu{er} teche,
Is to þat lombe a worthyly wyf;
And þaȝ vch day a store he feche,
Among v{us} co{m}meȝ non oþ{er} strot ne stryf,
Bot vchon enle we wolde were fyf,
Þe mo þe myryer so god me blesse.
I{n} compayny gret our luf con þryf
In hono{ur} more & neu{er} þe lesse.
Our death leads us to bliss.]
Lasse of blysse may non v{us} bry{n}g
Þat beren þys perle vpon oure bereste,
For þay of mote couþe neu{er} my{n}ge,
Of spotleȝ perleȝ þa[y] beren þe creste,
Al-þaȝ oure corses i{n} clotteȝ cly{n}ge,
& ȝe remen for rauþe wyth-outen reste,
We þurȝ-outly hauen cnawy{n}g;
Of [o]n dethe ful oure hope is drest,
Þe lonbe v{us} gladeȝ, oure care is kest;
He myrþeȝ v{us} alle at vch a mes,
Vchoneȝ blysse is breme & beste,
& neu{er} oneȝ hono{ur} ȝet neu{er} þe les.
About the Lamb he saw one hundred and forty thousand maidens.
He heard a voice from heaven, like many floods.]
Lest les þ{o}u leue my tale farande,
I{n} appocalyppece is wryten i{n} wro
I segh{e}, says Ioh{a}n, þe lou{m}be hy{m} stande,
On þe mou{n}t of syon ful þryuen & þro,
& wyth hym mayde{n}neȝ an hu{n}dreþe þowsande
& fowre & forty þowsande mo
On alle her forhedeȝ wryten I fande,
Þe lombeȝ nome, hys fadereȝ also.
A hue fro heuen I herde þoo,
Lyk flodeȝ fele laden, ru{n}ne{n} on resse,
& as þu{n}der þroweȝ i{n} torreȝ blo,
Þat lote I leue watȝ neu{er} þe les.
the four beasts and the elders “so sad of cheer.”]
Nauþeles þaȝ hit schowted scharpe,
& ledden loude al-þaȝ hit were.
A note ful nwe I herde hem warpe,
To lysten þat watȝ ful lufly dere,
As harporeȝ harpen in her harpe,
Þat nwe songe þay so{n}gen ful cler.
In sou{n}ande noteȝ a gentyl carpe,
Ful fayre þe modeȝ þay fonge i{n} fere
Ryȝt byfore godeȝ chayere,
& þe fowre besteȝ þat hy{m} obes,
& þe alder-men so sadde of chere,
Her songe þay songen neu{er} þe les;
Nowþe-lese non watȝ neu{er} so quoy{n}t,
For alle þe crafteȝ þat eu{er} þay knewe.
Þat of þat songe myȝt sy{n}ge a poy{n}t,
Bot þat meyny þe lombe þay swe,
For þay arn boȝt fro þe vrþe aloynte.
As newe fryt to god ful due
& to þe gentyl lombe hit arn amoy{n}t,
As lyk to hym self of lote & hwe,
For neu{er} lesy{n}g ne tale vn-trwe,
Ne towched her tonge for no dysstresse.
Þat moteles meyny may neu{er} remwe,
Fro þat maskeleȝ mayster neu{er} þe les.”
but dust and ashes. He wishes to ask one question,]
“Neuer þe les let be my þonc,”
Q{uod} I, “my perle þaȝ I appose,
I schulde not tempte þy wyt so wlonc,
To krysteȝ chambre þat art Ichose,
I am bot mokke & mul amo{n}g,
& þ{o}u so ryche a reken rose,
& bydeȝ here by þys blysful bonc
Þer lyueȝ lyste may neu{er} lose,
Now hynde þat sympelnesse co{n}eȝ enclose,
I wolde þe aske a þy{n}ge expresse,
& þaȝ I be bustwys as a blose
Let my bone vayl neu{er} þe lese.
or in manor. Jerusalem, he says, in Judea. But the dwelling
of the brides should be perfect.]
Neuer þe lese cler I yow by-calle
If ȝe con se hyt be to done,
As þ{o}u art gloryo{u}s w{i}t{h}-outen galle,
W{i}t{h}-nay þ{o}u neu{er} my ruful bone.
Haf ȝe no woneȝ i{n} castel walle,
Ne man{er} þer ȝe may mete & won?
Þ{o}u telleȝ me of I{e}r{usa}l{e}m þe ryche ryalle,
Þer dauid dere watȝ dyȝt on trone,
Bot by þyse holteȝ hit con not hone
Bot in Iudee hit is þ{a}t noble note;
As ȝe ar maskeleȝ vnder mone,
Yo{ur} woneȝ schulde by wyth-outen mote.
required.]
Þys moteleȝ meyny þ{o}u coneȝ of mele,
Of þousandeȝ þryȝt so gret a route,
A gret cete, for ȝe arn fele,
Yow by-hod haue w{i}t{h}-outen doute;
So cu{m}ly a pakke of Ioly Iuele,
Wer euel don schulde lyȝ þ{er}-oute;
& by þyse bonkeȝ þer I con gele
& I se no bygy{n}g nawhere aboute,
I trowe al-one ȝe lenge & loute,
To loke on þe glory of þys g{ra}c[i]o{us} gote;
If þ{o}u hatȝ oþer lygy{n}geȝ stoute,
Now tech me to þat myry mote.
Christ suffered, and is the Old Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is
where the Lamb has assembled his brides.]
“That mote þ{o}u meneȝ in Iudy londe,”
Þat specyal spyce þen to me spakk,
“Þat is þe cyte þat þe lombe con fonde
To soffer i{n}ne sor for maneȝ sake,
Þe olde I{e}r{usa}l{e}m to vnder-stonde,
For þere þe olde gulte watȝ don to slake,
Bot þe nwe þat lyȝt of godeȝ sonde,
Þe apostel in apocalyppce i{n} theme con take.
Þe lombe þ{er}, w{i}t{h}-outen spotteȝ blake,
Hatȝ feryed þyder hys fayre flote,
& as hys flok is w{i}t{h}-outen flake,
So is hys mote w{i}t{h}-outen moote.
our peace was made at one. In the New city is eternal peace.]
Of motes two to carpe clene
& I{e}r{usa}l{e}m hyȝt boþe nawþeles,
Þat nys to yow no more to mene,
Bot cete of god oþ{er} syȝt of pes.
I{n} þat on oure pes watȝ mad at ene,
W{i}t{h} payne to suffer þe lombe hit chese,
In þat oþ{er} is noȝt bot pes to glene,
Þat ay schal laste w{i}t{h}-outen reles,
Þat is þe borȝ þat we to pres,
Fro þ{a}t oure flesch be layd to rote;
Þer glory & blysse schal eu{er} encres,
To þe meyny þ{a}t is w{i}t{h}-outen mote.
blissful bower. His daughter tells him that he shall see
the outside, but not a foot may he put in the city.]
“Moteleȝ may so meke & mylde,”
Þen sayde I to þat lufly flor,
“Bry{n}g me to þat bygly bylde,
& let me se þy blysful bor.”
Þat schene sayde, þat god wyl schylde,
“Þ{o}u may not enter w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne hys tor,
Bot of þe lombe I haue þe aquylde
For a syȝt þer-of þurȝ gret fauor.
Vt-wyth to se þat clene cloystor,
Þ{o}u may, bot i{n}wyth not a fote,
To strech in þe strete þ{o}u hatȝ no vygo{ur},
Bot þ{o}u wer clene w{i}t{h}-outen mote.
till he comes to a hill. He reaches the hill, and beholds the
heavenly city.]
If I þis mote þe schal vn-hyde,
Bow vp to-warde þys borneȝ heued,
& I an-endeȝ þe on þis syde
Schal sve, tyl þ{o}u to a hil be veued,
Þe{n} wolde [I] no lenger byde,
Bot lurked by lau{n}ceȝ so lufly leued,
Tyl on a hyl þat I asspyed
& blusched on þe burgh{e}, as I forth dreued,
By-ȝonde þe brok fro me warde keued,
Þat schyrrer þen su{n}ne w{i}t{h} schafteȝ schon;
I{n} þe apokalypce is þe fasou{n} preued,
As deuyseȝ hit þe apostel Ihoñ.
of burnished gold. Pitched upon gems, the foundation composed
of twelve stones.]
As Ioh{a}n þe apostel hit syȝ w{i}t{h} syȝt
I syȝe þat cyty of gret renou{n},
I{e}r{usa}l{e}m so nwe & ryally dyȝt,
As hit watȝ lyȝt fro þe heuen adou{n}.
Þe borȝ watȝ al of brende golde bryȝt,
As glemande glas burnist brou{n},
W{i}t{h} gentyl ge{m}meȝ an-vnder pyȝt;
W{i}t{h} banteleȝ twelue on basy{n}g boun,
Þe fou{n}dementeȝ twelue of riche tenou{n};
Vch tabelment watȝ a serlypeȝ ston,
As derely deuyseȝ þis ilk tou{n},
I{n} apocalyppeȝ þe apostel Ioh{a}n.
As þise stoneȝ i{n} writ con ne{m}me
I knew þe name aft{er} his tale;
Iasper hyȝt þe fyrst ge{m}me,
Þat I on þe fyrst basse con wale,
He glente grene i{n} þe lowest he{m}me.
Saffer helde þe secou{n}de stale,
Þe calsydoyne þe{n}ne w{i}t{h}-outen we{m}me,
I{n} þe þryd table con purly pale;
Þe emerade þe furþe so grene of scale;
Þe sardonyse þe fyfþe ston;
Þe sexte þe rybe he con hit wale,
I{n} þe apocalyppce þe apostel Ioh{a}n.
x. Chrysoprasus. xi. Jacinth. xii. Amethyst.]
Ȝet Ioyned Ioh{a}n þe crysolyt,
Þe seuenþe ge{m}me i{n} fundament;
Þe aȝtþe þe beryl cler & quyt
Þe topasye twy{n}ne how þe ne{n}te endent;
Þe crysopase þe tenþe is tyȝt;
Þe Iacy{n}gh þe enleuenþe gent;
Þe twelfþe þe gentyleste i{n} veh a plyt,
Þe amatyst purpre w{i}t{h} ynde blente;
Þe wal abof þe bantels bent,
Masporye as glas þat glysnande schon,
I knew hit by his deuysement,
I{n} þe apocalyppeȝ þe apostel I{o}h{a}n.
Twelve thousand furlongs in length and breadth.]
As Ioh{a}n deuysed ȝet saȝ I þare.
Þise twelue de-gres wern brode & stayre,
Þe cyte stod abof ful sware,
As longe as brode as hyȝe ful fayre;
Þe streteȝ of golde as glasse al bare,
Þe wal of Iasper þat glent as glayre;
Þe woneȝ w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne enurned ware
Wyth alle ky{n}neȝ perre þat moȝt repayre,
Þe{n}ne helde vch sware of þis manayre,
Twelue forlonge space er eu{er} hit fon,
Of heȝt, of brede, of lenþe to cayre,
For meten hit syȝ þe apostel Ioh{a}n.
a pearl. Such light gleamed in all the streets, that there
was no need of the sun or moon.]
As Ioh{a}n hy{m} wryteȝ ȝet more I syȝe
Vch pane of þat place had þre ȝateȝ,
So twelue i{n} po{ur}sent I con asspye
Þe portaleȝ pyked of rych plateȝ
& vch ȝate of a margyrye,
A parfyt perle þat neu{er} fateȝ;
Vchon i{n} scrypture a name con plye,
Of isr{ae}l barneȝ folewande her dateȝ,
Þat is to say as her byrþ whateȝ;
Þe aldest ay fyrst þ{er}-on watȝ done.
Such lyȝt þer lemed i{n} alle þe strateȝ
Hem nedde nawþ{er} su{n}ne ne mone.
The high throne might be seen, upon which the “high God” sat.
A river ran out of the throne;]
Of su{n}ne ne mone had þay no nede
Þe self god watȝ her lompe lyȝt,
Þe lombe her lantyrne w{i}t{h}-outen drede,
Þurȝ hy{m} blysned þe borȝ al bryȝt.
Þurȝ woȝe & won my loky{n}g ȝede,
For sotyle cler moȝt lette no lyȝt;
Þe hyȝe trone þer moȝt ȝe hede
W{i}t{h} alle þe apparaylmente vmbe-pyȝte,
As Ioh{a}n þe appostel in termeȝ tyȝte;
Þe hyȝe godeȝ self hit set vpone.
A reu{er} of þe trone þer ran out-ryȝte
Watȝ bryȝter þen boþe þe su{n}ne & mone.
God was the church; Christ the sacrifice. The gates were
ever open.]
Su{n}ne ne mone schon neu{er} so swete;
A! þat foysou{n} flode out of þat flet,
Swyþe hit swange þurȝ vch a strete,
W{i}t{h}-outen fylþe oþ{er} galle oþ{er} glet.
Kyrk þer-i{n}ne watȝ non ȝete,
Chapel ne temple þat eu{er} watȝ set,
Þe al-myȝty watȝ her mynyster mete,
Þe lombe þe saker-fyse þer to reget;
Þe ȝates stoken watȝ neu{er} ȝet,
Bot eu{er} more vpen at vche a lone;
Þer entreȝ non to take reset,
Þat bereȝ any spot an-vnder mone.
and the sun itself, are dim compared to the divine light.
Trees there renew their fruit every month.]
The mone may þer-of acroche no myȝte
To spotty, ho is of body to grym,
& al-so þ{er} ne is neu{er} nyȝt.
What schulde þe mone þer compas clym
& to euen wyth þat worþly lyȝt,
Þat schyneȝ vpon þe brokeȝ brym?
Þe planeteȝ arn i{n} to pou{er} a plyȝt,
& þe self su{n}ne ful fer to dym.
Aboute þat wat{er} arn tres ful schym,
Þat twelue fryteȝ of lyf con bere ful sone;
Twelue syþeȝ on ȝer þay beren ful frym
& re-nowleȝ nwe i{n} vche a mone.
An-vnder mone so gret m{er}wayle
No fleschly hert ne myȝt endeure,
As quen I blusched vpon þat baly,
So ferly þ{er}-of watȝ þe falure.
I stod as stylle as dased quayle,
For ferly of þat french fygure,
Þat felde I nawþ{er} reste ne t{ra}uayle,
So watȝ I rauyste wyth gly{m}me pure;
For I dar say, w{i}t{h} conciens sure,
Hade bodyly burne abiden þat bone,
Þaȝ alle clerkeȝ hy{m} hade i{n} cure,
His lyf wer loste an-vnder mone.
procession of virgins crowned with pearls, in white robes,
with a pearl in their breast.]
Ryȝt as þe maynful mone con rys,
Er þe{n}ne þe day-glem dryue al dou{n},
So sodanly on a wonder wyse,
I watȝ war of a prosessyou{n},
Þis noble cite of ryche enpresse
Watȝ sodanly ful w{i}t{h}-outen so{m}mou{n}
Of such v{er}gyneȝ i{n} þe same gyse
Þat watȝ my blysful an-vnder crou{n},
& coronde wern alle of þe same fasou{n}
Depaynt i{n} perleȝ & wedeȝ qwyte,
I{n} vchoneȝ breste watȝ bou{n}den bou{n},
Þe blysful perle w{i}t{h} gret delyt.
The Lamb went before them. There was no pressing.]
W{i}t{h} gret delyt þay glod i{n} fere,
On golden gateȝ þat glent as glasse;
Hu{n}dreth þowsandeȝ I wot þer were,
& alle in sute her liureȝ wasse,
Tor to knaw þe gladdest chere.
Þe lombe byfore con proudly passe,
Wyth horneȝ seuen of red golde cler,
As praysed perleȝ his wedeȝ wasse;
Towarde þe throne þay trone a tras.
Þaȝ þay wern fele no pres i{n} plyt,
Bot mylde as maydeneȝ seme at mas,
So droȝ þay forth w{i}t{h} gret delyt.
Lamb. All sang in praise of the Lamb.]
Delyt þ{a}t hys come encroched,
To much hit were of for to melle;
Þise alder men quen he aproched,
Grouely{n}g to his fete þay felle;
Legyou{n}es of au{n}geleȝ togeder uoched,
Þer kesten ensens of swete smelle,
Þen glory & gle watȝ nwe abroched.
Al songe to loue þat gay Iuelle,
Þe steuen moȝt stryke þurȝ þe vrþe to helle,
Þat þe v{er}tues of heuen of Ioye endyte,
To loue þe lombe his meyny in melle,
I-wysse I laȝt a gret delyt;
near his breast.]
Delit þe lo{m}be forto deuise,
W{i}t{h} much meruayle in mynde went.
Best watȝ he, blyþest & moste to pryse,
Þat eu{er} I herde of speche spent,
So worþly whyt wern wedeȝ hys;
His lokeȝ symple, hy{m} self so gent,
Bot a wou{n}de ful wyde & weete con wyse
An-ende hys hert þurȝ hyde to-rente;
Of his quyte syde his blod out-sprent,
A-las! þoȝt I, who did þat spyt?
Ani breste for bale aȝt haf for-brent,
Er he þer-to hade had delyt,
his little queen.]
The lombe delyt non lyste to wene,
Þaȝ he were hurt & wou{n}de hade,
I{n} his sembelau{n}t watȝ neu{er} sene,
So wern his glenteȝ gloryo{us} glade.
I loked amo{n}g his meyny schene,
How þay wyth lyf wern laste & lade,
Þe{n} saȝ I þer my lyttel quene,
Þat I wende had standen by me i{n} sclade;
Lorde! much of mirþe watȝ þat ho made,
Amo{n}g her fereȝ þat watȝ so quyt!
Þat syȝt me gart to þenk to wade,
For luf longy{n}g i{n} gret delyt.
My maneȝ mynde to maddy{n}g malte;
Quen I seȝ my frely I wolde be þere,
Byȝonde þe water, þaȝ ho were walte,
I þoȝt þat no þy{n}g myȝt me dere
To fech me bur & take me halte;
& to start in þe strem schulde non me stere,
To swy{m}me þe remnau{n}t, þaȝ I þer swalte,
Bot of þat mu{n}t I watȝ bi-talt;
When I schulde start i{n} þe strem astraye,
Out of þat caste I watȝ by-calt;
Hit watȝ not at my prynceȝ paye,
Hit payed hym not þat I so flonc,
Ou{er} meruelo{us} mereȝ so mad arayde,
Of raas þaȝ I were rasch & ronk,
Ȝet rapely þer-i{n}ne I watȝ restayed;
For ryȝt as I sparred vn-to þe bonc,
Þat brathe out of my drem me brayde;
Þen wakned I i{n} þat erber wlonk,
My hede vpon þat hylle watȝ layde,
Þer as my perle to grou{n}de strayd;
I raxled & fel i{n} gret affray,
& syky{n}g to my self I sayd:
“Now al be to þat prynceȝ paye.”
Me payed ful ille to be out-fleme,
So sodenly of þat fayre regiou{n},
Fro alle þo syȝteȝ so quykeȝ & queme.
A longey{n}g heuy me strok i{n} swone,
& rewfully þe{n}ne I con to reme;
So watȝ hit me dere þ{a}t þ{o}u con deme,
If hit be ueray & soth sermou{n},
Þat þ{o}u so stykeȝ i{n} garlande gay,
So wel is me i{n} þys doel dou{n}gou{n},
Þat þ{o}u art to þat prynseȝ paye.”
To þat prynceȝ paye hade I ay bente,
& ȝerned no more þen watȝ me geuen,
& halden me þer in trwe entent,
As þe perle me prayed þat watȝ so þryuen,
As helde drawen to goddeȝ p{re}sent,
To mo of his mysterys I hade ben dryuen.
Bot ay wolde man of happe more hente
Þen moȝten by ryȝt vpon hem clyuen;
Þer-fore my ioye watȝ sone to-riuen,
& I kaste of kytheȝ þat lasteȝ aye.
Lorde! mad hit arn þat agayn þe stryuen,
Oþ{er} proferen þe oȝt agayn þy paye;
with God. God give us grace to be his servants!]
To pay þe p{r}ince oþ{er} sete saȝte,
Hit is ful eþe to þe god krystyin;
For I haf fou{n}den hym boþe day & naȝte,
A god, a lorde, a frende ful fyin.
Ou{er} þis hyl þis lote I laȝte,
For pyty of my perle enclyin,
& syþen to god I hit by-taȝte,
In krysteȝ dere blessy{n}g & myn,
Þat in þe forme of bred & wyn,
Þe preste v{us} scheweȝ vch a daye;
He gef v{us} to be his homly hyne,
Ande precio{us} perleȝ vnto his pay. Amen. Amen.
NOTES: _The Pearl_.
Now is Susan in sale _sengeliche_ arayed.
Pistel of Susan, Vernon MS., fol. 317.
_O moul þou marreȝ a myry mele_,
O mould (earth) thou spoilest a merry discourse.
_Blomeȝ blayke & blwe & rede_,
Flowers yellow, blue, and red.
A secret grief in my heart dinned (resounded),
Though reason set myself at peace.
_Wyth fyrte skylleȝ þat faste faȝt_,
With trembling doubts that fast fought (struggled).
l. 76 bolleȝ = _boleȝ_, trunks of trees.
l. 99 _Þe derþe þer-of_, the value (preciousness) thereof.
_Wyth a rownande rourde raykande aryȝt_,
With a murmuring (whispering) sound flowing aright.
_I hopede þat mote merked wore_,
I supposed that building was devised.
_To fynde a forþe, faste con I fonde,
Bot woþeȝ mo I-wysse þer ware,_
To find a way fast did I go,
But paths more indeed there were.
_Þe more I frayste hyr fayre face._
The more I examined her fair face.
_frayst_ (_fraist_) usually signifies to try, tempt.
_Such a burre myȝt make myn herte blunt_,
Such a blow might make mine heart faint.
_Þat stonge myn hert ful stray atount_,
Should we not read--Þat stonge myn hert ful stray a stount (?),
“full stray a stount” = a blow full stray.
_Er I at steuen hir moȝt stalle_,
Before I could place her within reach of discourse.
_Her here heke al hyr vmbe-gon_,
Her hair eke (also) all her about gone.
_Er mynde moȝt malte in hit mesure,_
A man’s judgment might greatly dim,
Before (his) mind could discourse of it in sufficient terms
of praise.
_towen & twayned_, made two and separated.
l. 272 _is put in pref_, has been proved.
Why should you talk, so foolish you are?
l. 307 _westernays_, wrongly, in vain? It may be another form of
westernways, from the A.Sax. _wéste_, barren, empty; _wéstern_,
a desert place. Or is it connected with A.Sax. _winstre_, the
left hand?
_Þy corse in clot mot colder keue_,
Thy body in earth (clods) must colder plunge.
_Now haf I fonte þat I for-lete
Schal I efte forgo hit er euer I fyne?_
Now I have found what I have lost.
Shall I again forego it ere ever I die?
l. 336 _durande doel_, lasting grief.
_For anger gayneȝ þe not a cresse_,
For anger avails the not a cress, (_i.e._ not a mite).
Is noght worth a _kerse_.”
_Stynst (stynt?) of þy strot & fyne to flyte_,
Leave off thy complaining and cease to chide.
_For marre oþer madde, morne & myþe,
Al lys in him to dyȝt & deme._
For to ruin, or make foolish, grieve or to soothe,
All lies in him to order and doom.
_Bot much þe bygger ȝet watȝ my mon,
Fro þou watȝ wroken fro vch a woþe._
But much the greater yet was my moan (sorrow),
From (the time) thou wast banished from every path.
l. 446 _in hyt self beyng_, in its very being.
_tryste_, trusty, faithful, firm.
l. 511 _wryþen_, toil, literally to turn, twist.
l. 560 _a grete_, in the gross, a head.
_Þaȝ her sweng wyth lyttel at-slykeȝ_,
Though their labour (blow) with little falls off (fails to
accomplish much).
deviate.
l. 617 _bourne abate_ = _burne abade_, man continued.
_Bot þer on com a bote as-tyt_,
But there came one as a remedy at once.
l. 726 _sulpande synne_, defiling, polluting, sin.
_& as a lombe þat clypper in lande nem_,
And as a lamb that a _shearer_ has taken, etc.
_Lesande þe boke with leueȝ sware_,
Opening the book with leaves square.
_& at þat syȝt vche douth con dare_,
And at that sight each doughty (one) did tremble (with fear).
l. 865 _talle farande_ = _tale farande_, pleasing story.
_With nay þou neuer my ruful bone_,
Do thou never refuse my mournful request.
_So is hys mote with-outen moote_,
So is his building without mote (blemish).
ll. 975-6 _& I an-endeȝ þe on his syde
Schal sve, tyl þou to a hil be veued,_
And I opposite thee on this side
Shall go, till thou to a hill be passed.
_& blusched on þe burghe, as I forth dreued,
Byȝonde þe brok fro me warde keued,_
And looked on the city, as I forth drove (urged),
Beyond the brook that cut me off from (the object of my desire).
ll. 1065-66 _Þe ȝates stoken watȝ neuer ȝet,
Bot euer more vpen at vche a lone._
The gates shut were never yet,
But ever more open at every lane.
_Þe lombe delyt non lyste to wene_,
The lamb’s delight none desired to doubt.
_Bot of þat munt I watȝ bi-talt_,
But from that purpose I was aroused (shaken).
Errata (noted by transcriber)
 & iueleȝ wern hyr ge{n}tyl saweȝ,  [saweȝ”]
 So mony a cumly on v{n}der cambe,  [vu{n}der]
 Ou{er} þis hyl þis lote I laȝte,
 Hit is i{n} grou{n}de of alle my blysse.”
 “My regne, he saytȝ, is lyk on hyȝt,
 Þat gentyl sayde “lys no Ioparde,
 & porchace þy perle maskelles.”
 Q{uod} I, “my perle þaȝ I appose,
 “Þat is þe cyte þat þe lombe con fonde
 “Þ{o}u may not enter w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne hys tor,
Cf. the following passage from “Piers Ploughman,”  [Piers’]
*       *       *       *
Cla{n}nesse who-so kyndly cowþe co{m}ende,
& rekken vp alle þe resou{n}ȝ þ{a}t ho by riȝt askeȝ,
Fayre formeȝ myȝt he fy{n}de i{n} foreri{n}g his speche,
& in þe co{n}traré, kark & co{m}brau{n}ce huge;
false priests.]
For wonder wroth is þe wyȝ þ{a}t wroȝt alle þi{n}g{es},
Wyth þe freke þat i{n} fylþe folȝes hy{m} aft{er},
As renkeȝ of relygiou{n} þat reden & sy{n}gen,
& aprochen to hys presens, & presteȝ arn called;
Thay teen vnto his te{m}mple & teme{n} to hy{m} seluen,
Reken w{i}t{h} reu{er}ence þay r[ec]hen his auter,
Þay hondel þer his aune body & vsen hit boþe.
If þay in cla{n}nes be clos þay cleche gret mede,
Bot if þay conterfete crafte, & cortaysye wont,
is pure and holy.]
As be honest vtwyth, & i{n}-with alle fylþeȝ,
Þen ar þay synful hemself & sulped altogeder,
Boþe god & his gere, & hy{m} to greme cachen.
He is so clene in his co{ur}te, þe ky{n}g þ{a}t al weldeȝ,
& honeste in his ho{us}-holde & hagherlych serued,
With angeleȝ eno{ur}led in alle þat is clene,
Nif he nere scoym{us} & skyg & non scaþe louied,
Hit were a meruayl to much, hit moȝt not falle;
Kryst kydde hit hym self i{n} a carp oneȝ,
Þer as he heuened aȝt happeȝ & hyȝt hem her medeȝ;
Me myneȝ on one amo{n}ge oþ{er}, as maþew recordeȝ,
Þat þ{us} of clannesse vn-closeȝ a ful cler speche.
Þe haþel clene of his hert hapeneȝ ful fayre,
For he schal loke on oure lorde w{i}t{h} a bone chere,
As so saytȝ, to þat syȝt seche schal he neu{er},
Þat any vncla{n}nesse hatȝ on, anwhere abowte:
For he þ{a}t flem{us} vch fylþe fer fro his hert,
May not byde þat burne þat hit his body neȝen;
For-þy hyȝ not to heuen i{n} hatereȝ to-torne,
Ne i{n} þe harloteȝ hod & handeȝ vnwaschen;
would like to see a lad badly attired approach the table with
“rent cockers,” his coat torn and his toes out?]
For what vrþly haþel þat hyȝ hono{ur} haldeȝ
Wolde lyke, if a ladde com lyþ{er}ly attyred,
When he were sette solempnely i{n} a sete ryche,
Abof dukes on dece, w{i}t{h} dayntys serued,
Þen þe harlot w{i}t{h} haste helded to þe table
W{i}t{h} rent cokreȝ at þe kne & his clutte trasches,
& his tabarde to-torne & his toteȝ oute;
“big buffet,” and be forbidden to re-enter, and thus be ruined
through his vile clothes.]
Oþ{er} ani on of alle þyse he schulde be halden vtt{er},
With mony blame ful bygge, a boffet, p{er}au{n}t{er},
Hurled to þe halle dore & harde þ{er}-oute schowued,
& be forboden þat borȝe to bowe þider neu{er},
On payne of enprysonment & putty{n}g i{n} stokkeȝ;
& þ{us} schal he be schent for his schrowde feble,
Þaȝ neu{er} i{n} talle ne in tuch he trespas more.
& if vnwelcu{m} he were to a worþlych prynce
Ȝet hy{m} is þe hyȝe ky{n}g harder i{n} her euen,
As maþew meleȝ in his masse of þat man ryche,
Þat made þe mukel mangerye to marie his here dere,
& sende his sonde þen to say þat þay samne schulde,
& in comly quoyntis to com to his feste;
“For my boles & my boreȝ arn bayted & slayne,
& my fedde fouleȝ fatted w{i}t{h} sclaȝt,
My polyle þat is pe{n}ne-fed & partrykes boþe,
Wyth scheldeȝ of wylde swyn, swaneȝ & croneȝ;
Al is roþeled & rosted ryȝt to þe sete,
Comeȝ cof to my corte, er hit colde worþe.”
When þay knewen his cal þ{a}t þider com schulde,
Alle ex-cused hem by þe skyly he scape by moȝt:
On hade boȝt hym a borȝ he sayde by hys t{ra}wþe,
Now t[ur]ne I þeder als tyd, þe tou{n} to by-holde;
them “pull in the plough.”]
An oþ{er} nayed also & nurned þis cawse:
I haf ȝerned & ȝat ȝokkeȝ of oxen,
& for my hyȝeȝ hem boȝt, to bowe haf I mest{er},
To see hem pulle in þe plow aproche me byhoueȝ;
& I haf wedded a wyf, sower hy{m} þe þryd,
Excuse me at þe co{ur}t, I may not com þere;
Þ{us} þay droȝ hem adreȝ w{i}t{h} dau{n}g{er} vchone,
Þat non passed to þe place þaȝ he prayed were.
servants to invite the wayfaring, both men and women, the better
and the worse, that his palace might be full.]
The{n}ne þe ludych lorde lyked ful ille
& hade dedayn of þat dede, ful dryȝly he carpeȝ:
He saytȝ “now for her owne sorȝe þay for-saken habbeȝ,
More to wyte is her wrange, þen any wylle gentyl;
Þe{n}ne gotȝ forth my gomeȝ to þe grete streeteȝ,
& forsetteȝ on vche a syde þe cete aboute;
Þe wayferande frekeȝ, on fote & on hors,
Boþe burneȝ & burdeȝ, þe bett{er} & þe wers,
Laþeȝ hem alle luflyly to lenge at my fest,
& bry{n}geȝ hem blyþly to borȝe as barou{n}eȝ þay were,
So þat my palays plat-ful be pyȝt al aboute,
Þise oþ{er} wrecheȝ I-wysse worþy noȝt wern.”
Þe{n} þay cayred & com þat þe cost waked,
Broȝten bachlereȝ hem wyth þat þay by bonkeȝ metten,
Swyereȝ þat swyftly swyed on blonkeȝ,
& also fele vpon fote, of fre & of bonde.
entertained.]
When þay com to þe co{ur}te keppte wern þay fayre,
Styȝtled w{i}t{h} þe stewarde, stad i{n} þe halle,
Ful man{er}ly w{i}t{h} marchal mad forto sitte,
As he watȝ dere of de-gre dressed his seete.
behest, and there is still room for more guests.]
Þe{n}ne seggeȝ to þe souerayn sayden þer-aft{er},
“Lo! lorde w{i}t{h} yo{ur} leue at yo{ur} lege heste,
& at þi ba{n}ne we haf broȝt, as þ{o}u beden habbeȝ,
Mony renischche renkeȝ & ȝet is rou{m} more.”
bring in the halt, blind, and “one-eyed.”]
Sayde þe lorde to þo ledeȝ, “layteȝ ȝet ferre,
Ferre out i{n} þe felde, & fecheȝ mo gesteȝ,
Wayteȝ gorsteȝ & greueȝ, if ani gomeȝ lyggeȝ,
What-kyn folk so þer fare, fecheȝ hem hider,
Be þay fers, be þay feble for-loteȝ none,
Be þay hol, be þay halt, be þay onyȝed,
& þaȝ þay ben boþe blynde & balt{er}ande cruppeleȝ,
save them from death.]
Þat my ho{us} may holly by halkes by fylled;
For certeȝ þyse ilk renkeȝ þat me renayed habbe
& de-nou{n}ced me, noȝt now at þis tyme,
Schul neu{er} sitte in my sale my sop{er} to fele,
Ne suppe on sope of my seve, þaȝ þay swelt schulde.”
The{n}ne þe sergau{n}teȝ, at þat sawe, swengen þ{er}-oute,
& diden þe dede þat [is] demed, as he deuised hade,
& w{i}t{h} peple of alle plyteȝ þe palays þay fyllen;
one father.]
Hit weren not alle on wyueȝ su{n}eȝ, wonen w{i}t{h} on fader;
Wheþ{er} þay wern worþy, oþ{er} wers, wel wern þay stowed,
Ay þe best byfore & bryȝtest atyred,
Þe derrest at þe hyȝe dese þat dubbed wer fayrest;
& syþen on lenþe biloogh{e} ledeȝ inogh,
& ay a segge soerly semed by her wedeȝ;
So with marschal at her mete mensked þay were,
Clene men i{n} compaynye for-knowen wern lyte,
& ȝet þe symplest in þ{a}t sale watȝ serued to þe fulle,
Boþe with menske, & w{i}t{h} mete & mynstrasy noble,
& alle þe laykeȝ þat a lorde aȝt i{n} londe schewe.
& þay bigo{n}ne to be glad þat god dri{n}k haden,
& vch mon w{i}t{h} his mach made hy{m} at ese.
Now i{n}-myddeȝ þe mete þe mayst{er} hym biþoȝt,
Þat he wolde se þe semblé þ{a}t samned was þ{er}e,
& re-hayte rekenly þe riche & þe pou{er}en,
& cherisch hem alle w{i}t{h} his cher, & chaufen her Ioye,
Þen he boweȝ fro his bour i{n} to þe brode halle,
& to þe best on þe bench, & bede hy{m} be myry,
Solased hem w{i}t{h} semblau{n}t & syled fyrre;
Tron fro table to table & talkede ay myrþe,
Bot as he ferked ou{er} þe flor he fande w{i}t{h} his yȝe,
Hit watȝ not for a haly day honestly arayed,
A þral þryȝt i{n} þe þrong vnþryuandely cloþed,
Ne no festiual frok, bot fyled with werkkeȝ.
Þe gome watȝ vn-garnyst w{i}t{h} god me{n} to dele,
& gremed þ{er}-w{i}t{h} þe grete lord & greue hy{m} he þoȝt;
bold as to appear in such rags.]
“Say me, frende,” q{uod} þe freke w{i}t{h} a felle chere,
“Hov wan þ{o}u into þis won i{n} wedeȝ so fowle?
Þe abyt þat þ{o}u hatȝ vpon, no haly day hit menskeȝ;
Þ{o}u burne for no brydale art busked i{n} wedeȝ!
How watȝ þ{o}u hardy þis ho{us} for þyn vnhap [to] neȝe,
I{n} on so ratted a robe & rent at þe sydeȝ?
Þow art a gome vn-goderly i{n} þat gou{n} febele;
Þ{o}u praysed me & my place ful pou{er} & ful [g]nede,
Þat watȝ so prest to aproche my p{re}sens here-i{n}ne;
Hopeȝ þ{o}u I be a harlot þi erigant to prayse?”
Þat oþ{er} burne watȝ abayst of his broþe wordeȝ,
& hurkeleȝ dou{n} with his hede, þe vrþe he bi-holdeȝ;
He watȝ so scou{m}fit of his scylle, lest he skaþe hent,
Þat he ne wyst on worde what he warp schulde.
deep dungeon.]
Þe{n} þe lorde wonder loude laled & cryed,
& talkeȝ to his tormentto{ur}eȝ: “takeȝ hym,” he biddeȝ,
“Byndeȝ byhynde, at his bak, boþe two his handeȝ,
& felle fett{er}eȝ to his fete festeneȝ bylyue;
Stik hym stifly i{n} stokeȝ, & stekeȝ hy{m} þ{er}-aft{er}
Depe i{n} my dou{n}gou{n} þ{er} doel eu{er} dwelleȝ,
Greui{n}g, & grety{n}g, & gryspy{n}g harde
Of teþe tenfully to-geder, to teche hy{m} be quoy{n}t.”
which all are invited.]
Thus comparisu{n}eȝ kryst þe kyndom of heueñ,
To þis frelych feste þat fele arn to called,
For alle arn laþed luflyly, þe luþ{er} & þe bett{er},
Þat eu{er} wern fulȝed i{n} font þat fest to haue.
Bot war þe wel, if þ{o}u wylt, þy wedeȝ ben clene,
& honest for þe haly day, lest þ{o}u harme lache,
For aproch þ{o}u to þat prynce of parage noble.
He hat{es} helle no more þe{n} hem þat ar sowle.
Wich arn þe{n}ne þy wedeȝ þ{o}u wrappeȝ þe i{n}ne,
Þat schal schewe he{m} so schene schrowde of þe best?
Hit arn þy werkeȝ wyt{er}ly, þ{a}t þ{o}u wroȝt haueȝ,
& lyued w{i}t{h} þe lyky{n}g þ{a}t lyȝe in þy{n} hert,
Þat þo be frely & fresch fonde i{n} þy lyue,
& fetyse of a fayr forme, to fote & to honde,
& syþe{n} alle þy{n} oþ{er} lymeȝ lapped ful clene,
Þe{n}ne may þ{o}u se þy sauior & his sete ryche.
For fele fauteȝ may a freke forfete his blysse,
Þat he þe sou{er}ayn ne se þen, for slauþe one,
As for bobau{n}ce & bost & bolnande p{r}iyde,
Þroly i{n}-to þe deueleȝ þrote man þry{n}geȝ bylyue,
and strife.]
For couetyse, & colwarde & croked dedeȝ,
For mon-sworne, & men-sclaȝt, & to much drynk,
For þefte, & for þrepy{n}g, vn-þonk may mon haue;
and supporting the wicked, for treason, treachery, and tyranny,
man may lose eternal bliss.]
For roborrye, & riboudrye & resou{n}eȝ vntrwe,
& dysheriete & depryue dowrie of wydoeȝ,
For marry{n}g of maryageȝ & may{n}tnau{n}ce of schreweȝ,
For traysou{n}, & trichcherye, & tyrau{n}tyré boþe,
& for fals famacions & fayned laweȝ;
Man may mysse þe myrþe, þat much is to prayse,
For such vnþeweȝ as þise & þole much payne,
& i{n} þe creatores cort com neu{er} more,
Ne neu{er} see hym with syȝt for such sour to{ur}neȝ.
Bot I haue herkned & herde of mony hyȝe clerkeȝ,
& als i{n} resou{n}eȝ of ryȝt red hit my seluen,
work wickedly.]
Þ{a}t þat ilk prop{er} prynce þat paradys weldeȝ
Is displesed at vch a poy{n}t þat plyes to scaþe.
Bot neu{er} ȝet i{n} no boke breued I herde
Þat eu{er} he wrek so wyþ{er}ly on werk þat he made,
Ne venged for no vilté of vice ne sy{n}ne,
Ne so hastyfly watȝ hot for hatel of his wylle,
Ne neu{er} so sodenly soȝt vn-sou{n}dely to weng,
As for fylþe of þe flesch þat foles han vsed;
For as I fynde þ{er} he forȝet alle his fre þewes,
God’s vengeance.]
& wex wod to þe wrache, for wrath at his hert,
For þe fyrste felonye þe falce fende wroȝt.
Whyl he watȝ hyȝe i{n} þe heuen houen vpon lofte,
Of alle þyse aþel au{n}geleȝ attled þe fayrest,
and boasted that his throne should be as high as God’s.]
& he vnkyndely as a karle kydde areward,
He seȝ noȝt bot hym self how semly he were,
Bot his sou{er}ayn he forsoke & sade þyse wordeȝ:
“I schal telde vp my trone i{n} þe tra mou{n}tayne
& by lyke to þat lorde þat þe lyft made.
With þis worde þat he warp, þe wrake on hy{m} lyȝt,
Dryȝtyn w{i}t{h} his dere dom hym drof to þe abyme,
I{n} þe mesure of his mode, his metȝ neu{er} þe lasse,
Bot þer he tynt þe tyþe dool of his to{ur} ryche,
Þaȝ þe felou{n} were so fers for his fayre wedeȝ
& his glorio{us} glem þat glent so bryȝt;
As sone as dryȝtyneȝ dome drof to hy{m} seluen,
forty days.]
Fellen fro þe fyrmame{n}t, fendeȝ ful blake
Weued at þe fyrst swap as þe snaw þikke,
Hurled i{n}-to helle-hole as þe hyue swarmeȝ;
Fyltyr fenden folk forty dayeȝ lencþe,
Er þat styngande storme stynt ne myȝt;
Bot as smylt mele vnder smal siue smokes for-þikke,
So fro heuen to helle þat hatel schor laste,
On vche syde of þe worlde aywhere ilyche.
Þis hit watȝ a brem brest & a byge wrache,
& ȝet wrathed not þe wyȝ, ne þe wrech saȝtled,
Ne neu{er} wolde, for wylnesful, his worþy god knawe,
Ne pray hym for no pité, so proud watȝ his wylle,
For-þy þaȝ þe rape were rank, þe rawþe watȝ lyttel;
Þaȝ he be kest into kare he kepes no bett{er}.
Þurȝ þe faut of a freke þat fayled i{n} trawþe.
A{da}m i{n} obedyent ordaynt to blysse,
Þer pryuely i{n} paradys his place watȝ de-vised,
To lyue þer i{n} lyky{n}g þe lenþe of a terme,
& þe{n}ne en-herite þat home þat au{n}geleȝ for-gart,
Bot þurȝ þe eggy{n}g of eue he ete of an apple
Þat en-poysened alle pepleȝ þat parted fro hem boþe,
For a defence þat watȝ dyȝt of dryȝtyn seluen,
& a payne þer-on put & pertly halden;
Þe defence watȝ þe fryt þat þe freke towched,
& þe dom is þe deþe þat drepeȝ v{us} alle.
Al i{n} mesure & meþe watȝ mad þe vengiau{n}ce,
& efte amended w{i}t{h} a mayden þat make hade neu{er}.
Bot in þe þryd watȝ forþrast al þat þryue schuld,
Þer watȝ malys mercyles & mawgre much scheued,
Þat watȝ for fylþe vpon folde þ{a}t þe folk vsed,
merriest, and the strongest that ever were created.]
Hit wern þe fayrest of forme & of face als,
Þe most & þe myriest þat maked wern euer,
Þe styfest, þe stalworþest þat stod eu{er} on fete;
& lengest lyf i{n} hem lent of ledeȝ alle oþ{er},
For hit was þe forme-foster þat þe folde bred,
Þe aþel au{n}cetereȝ su{n}eȝ þat ad{a}m watȝ called,
To wham god hade geuen alle þat gayn were,
Alle þe blysse boute blame þat bodi myȝt haue,
& þose lykkest to þe lede þat lyued next aft{er},
For-þy so semly to see syþe{n} wern none.
Þer watȝ no law to hem layd bot loke to kynde,
& kepe to hit, & alle hit cors clanly ful-fylle;
& þe{n}ne fou{n}den þay fylþe i{n} fleschlych dedeȝ
& controeued agayn kynde contraré werkeȝ,
& vsed hem vn-þryftyly vchon on oþ{er},
& als with oþ{er}, wylsfully, vpon a wrange wyse.
these mighty men, and made fellowship with them and begat a race
of giants.]
So ferly fowled her flesch þat þe fende loked,
How þe deȝt{er} of þe douþe wern dere-lych fayre,
& fallen i{n} felaȝschyp w{i}t{h} hem on folken wyse
& en-gendered on hem ieau{n}teȝ w{i}t{h} her Iapeȝ ille.
Þose wern men meþeleȝ & maȝty on vrþe,
Þat for her lodlych laykeȝ alosed þay were.
He watȝ famed for fre þat feȝt loued best,
& ay þe bigest i{n} bale þe best watȝ halden;
& þe{n}ne eueleȝ on erþe ernestly grewen
& multyplyed mony-folde i{n}-mongeȝ mankynde,
For þat þe maȝty on molde so marre þise oþ{er}.
Þat þe wyȝe þat al wroȝt ful wroþly bygy{n}neȝ.
When he knew vche contre corupte i{n} hit seluen,
& vch freke forloyned fro þe ryȝt wayeȝ,
Felle temptande tene towched his hert;
As wyȝe, wo hy{m} with-i{n}ne werp to hy{m} seluen:
“Me for-þy{n}keȝ ful much þat eu{er} I mon made,
Bot I schal delyu{er} & do away þat doten on þis molde,
man and beast.]
& fleme out of þe folde al þat flesch wereȝ,
Fro þe burne to þe best, fro bryddeȝ to fyscheȝ;
Al schal dou{n} & be ded & dryuen out of erþe,
Þat eu{er} I sette saule i{n}ne; & sore hit me rweȝ
Þat eu{er} I made hem my self; bot if I may her-aft{er},
I schal wayte to be war her wrencheȝ to kepe.”
righteous man: Noah was his name.]
Þe{n}ne i{n} worlde watȝ a wyȝe wonyande on lyue,
Ful redy & ful ryȝtwys, & rewled hy{m} fayre;
In þe drede of dryȝtyn his dayeȝ he vseȝ,
& ay glydande wyth his god his g{ra}ce watȝ þe more.
Hy{m} watȝ þe nome Noe, as is i{n}noghe knawen,
He had þre þryuen su{n}eȝ & þay þre wyueȝ;
Sem soþly þat on, þat oþ{er} hyȝt cam
& þe Iolef Iapheth watȝ gendered þe þryd.
Now god i{n} nwy to Noe co{n} speke,
Wylde wrakful wordeȝ i{n} his wylle greued:
“Þe ende of alle-kyneȝ flesch þat on vrþe meueȝ,
Is fallen forþ wyth my face & forþ{er} hit I þenk,
W{i}t{h} her vn-worþelych werk me wlateȝ w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne,
Þe gore þ{er}-of me hatȝ greued & þe glette nwyed;
I schal strenkle my distresse & strye al to-geder,
Boþe ledeȝ & londe & alle þat lyf habbeȝ.
wild and tame.]
Bot make to þe a manciou{n} & þat is my wylle,
A cofer closed of tres, clanlych planed;
Wyrk woneȝ þ{er}i{n}ne for wylde & for tame,
& alle þe endentur dryuen daube w{i}t{h}-outen.
and fifty in breadth, and thirty in height, and a window in it a
cubit square.]
& þ{us} of lenþe & of large þat lome þ{o}u make,
Þre hundred of cupydeȝ þ{o}u holde to þe lenþe,
Of fyfty fayre ou{er}-þwert forme þe brede;
& loke euen þat þyn ark haue of heȝþe þretté,
& a wyndow wyd vpon, wroȝt vpon lofte,
In þe compas of a cubit kyndely sware,
halls, recesses, bushes, and bowers, and well-formed pens.]
A wel dutande dor, don on þe syde;
Haf halleȝ þer-i{n}ne & halkeȝ ful mony,
Boþe boskeȝ & bo{ur}eȝ & wel bou{n}den peneȝ;
For I schal waken vp a wat{er} to wasch alle þe worlde,
& quelle alle þat is quik w{i}t{h} quauende flodeȝ.
Alle þat glydeȝ & gotȝ, & gost of lyf habbeȝ,
I schal wast with my wrath þat wons vpon vrþe;
Bot my forwarde w{i}t{h} þe I festen on þis wyse,
For þ{o}u in reysou{n} hatȝ rengned & ryȝtwys ben eu{er};
Þ{o}u schal ent{er} þis ark w{i}t{h} þyn aþel barneȝ
& þy wedded wyf; with þe þ{o}u take
Þe makeȝ of þy myry su{n}eȝ; þis meyny of aȝte
every clean beast, and one of unclean kind, and to furnish the
ark with proper food.]
I schal saue of mo{n}neȝ sauleȝ, & swelt þose oþ{er}.
Of vche best þat bereȝ lyf busk þe a cupple,
Of vche clene comly kynde enclose seuen makeȝ,
Of vche horwed, i{n} ark halde bot a payre,
For to saue me þe sede of alle ser kyndeȝ;
& ay þ{o}u meng w{i}t{h} þe maleȝ þe mete ho-besteȝ,
Vche payre by payre to plese ayþ{er} oþ{er};
W{i}t{h} alle þe fode þat may be fou{n}de frette þy cofer,
For sustnau{n}ce to yow self & also þose oþ{er}.”
Ful grayþely gotȝ þis god ma{n} & dos godeȝ hestes,
In dryȝ dred & dau{n}ger, þat durst do non oþer.
Wen hit watȝ fettled & forged & to þe fulle grayþed,
Þe{n}n con dryȝttyn hym dele dryȝly þyse wordeȝ:
“Now Noe,” q{uod} oure lorde, “art þ{o}u al redy?
Hatȝ þ{o}u closed þy kyst w{i}t{h} clay alle aboute?”
“Ȝe lorde w{i}t{h} þy leue,” sayde þe lede þe{n}ne,
“Al is wroȝt at þi worde, as þ{o}u me wyt lanteȝ.”
that he will send a rain to destroy all flesh.]
Þy þre su{n}eȝ w{i}t{h}-outen þrep & her þre wyueȝ;
Besteȝ, as I bedene haue, bosk þ{er}-i{n}ne als,
& when ȝe arn staued, styfly stekeȝ yow þ{er}i{n}ne;
Fro seuen dayeȝ ben seyed I sende out by-lyue,
Such a rowtande ryge þat rayne schal swyþe,
Þat schal wasch alle þe worlde of werkeȝ of fylþe;
Schal no flesch vpon folde by fonden onlyue;
Out-taken yow aȝt i{n} þis ark staued,
& sed þat I wyl saue of þyse ser besteȝ.”
Now Noe neu{er} stysteȝ (þat niyȝ[t] he bygy{n}neȝ),
Er al wer stawed & stoken, as þe steuen wolde.
The{n}ne sone com þe seuenþe day, when samned wern alle,
& alle woned i{n} þe whichche þe wylde & þe tame.
the clouds burst.]
Þe{n} bolned þe abyme & bonkeȝ con ryse,
Walt{es} out vch walle-heued, i{n} ful wode stremeȝ,
Watȝ no bry{m}me þat abod vnbrosten bylyue,
Þe mukel lauande logh{e} to þe lyfte rered.
Mony clust{er}ed clowde clef alle i{n} clowteȝ,
To-rent vch a rayn-ryfte & rusched to þe vrþe;
flows over the woods and fields.]
Fon neu{er} i{n} forty dayeȝ, & þe{n} þe flod ryses,
Ou{er}-walteȝ vche a wod & þe wyde feldeȝ;
For when þe wat{er} of þe welkyn w{i}t{h} þe worlde mette,
Alle þat deth moȝt dryȝe drowned þer-i{n}ne;
Þer watȝ moon forto make when meschef was cnowen,
Þat noȝt dowed bot þe deth in þe depe stremeȝ.
Wat{er} wylger ay wax, woneȝ þat stryede,
Hurled i{n}-to vch ho{us}, hent þat þer dowelled.
Fyrst feng to þe flyȝt alle þat fle myȝt,
Vuche burde w{i}t{h} her barne þe byggy{n}g þay leueȝ,
& bowed to þe hyȝ bonk þer brentest hit wern,
& het{er}ly to þe hyȝe hylleȝ þay [h]aled on faste;
Bot al watȝ nedleȝ her note, for neu{er} cowþe stynt
Þe roȝe raynande ryg [&] þe raykande waweȝ,
Er vch boþom watȝ brurd-ful to þe bonkeȝ eggeȝ,
& vche a dale so depe þat de{m}med at þe brynkeȝ.
Þe moste mou{n}tay{n}eȝ on mor þe{n}ne watȝ no more dryȝe,
& þ{er}-on flokked þe folke, for ferde of þe wrake,
Syþen þe wylde of þe wode on þe wat{er} flette;
Su{m}me swy{m}med þ{er}-on þat saue hemself trawed,
Su{m}me styȝe to a stud & stared to þe heuen,
Rwly wyth a loud rurd rored for drede.
Hareȝ, hertteȝ also, to þe hyȝe ru{n}nen,
Bukkeȝ, bauseneȝ & buleȝ to þe bonkkeȝ hyȝed,
& alle cryed for care to þe ky{n}g of heuen,
Re-cou{er}er of þe creator, þay cryed vchone,
Þat amou{n}ted þe masse, þe mase his mercy watȝ passed,
& alle his pyte departed fro peple þat he hated.
Bi þat þe flod to her fete floȝed & waxed,
Þen vche a segge seȝ wel þat synk hy{m} byhoued;
Frendeȝ fellen i{n} fere & faþmed togeder
To dryȝ her delful deystyné & dyȝen alle samen;
Luf lokeȝ to luf & his leue takeȝ,
For to ende alle at oneȝ & for eu{er} twy{n}ne.
By forty dayeȝ wern faren, on folde no flesch styryed,
Þat þe flod nade al freten w{i}t{h} feȝtande waȝeȝ,
For hit clam vche a clyffe cubit{es} fyftene,
Ou{er} þe hyȝest hylle þat hurkled on erþe.
are safe in the ark.]
Þe{n}ne mo{ur}kne i{n} þe mudde most ful nede
Alle þat spyrakle i{n}-spranc, no sprawly{n}g awayled,
Saue þe haþel vnder hach & his here strau{n}ge,
Noe þat ofte neuened þe name of oure lorde,
Hy{m} aȝt-su{m} i{n} þat ark as aþel god lyked,
Þer alle ledeȝ i{n} lome lenged druye,
driven about, without mast, bowline, cables, anchors, or sail to
guide its course.]
Þe arc houen watȝ on hyȝe w{i}t{h} hurlande goteȝ,
Kest to kytheȝ vncouþe þe clowdeȝ ful nere.
Hit walt{er}ed on þe wylde flod, went as hit lyste,
Drof vpon þe depe dam, i{n} dau{n}g{er} hit semed,
With-oute{n} mast, oþ{er} myke, oþ{er} myry bawelyne,
Kable, oþ{er} capstan to clyppe to he{r} ankreȝ,
Hurrok, oþ{er} hande-helme hasped on roþ{er},
Oþ{er} any sweande sayl to seche aft{er} hauen,
Bot flote forthe w{i}t{h} þe flyt of þe felle wyndeȝ;
Wheder-warde so þe wat{er} wafte, hit rebou{n}de.
Ofte hit roled on-rou{n}de & rered on ende,
Nyf oure lorde hade ben her lodeȝ-mon he{m} had lu{m}pen harde.
Of þe lenþe of noe lyf to lay a lel date,
Þe sex hundreth of his age & none odde ȝereȝ,
Of seco{n}de monyth, þe seue{n}þe day ryȝteȝ,
To-walten alle þyse welle-hedeȝ & þe wat{er} flowed,
& þryeȝ fyfty þe flod of folwande dayeȝ,
Vche hille watȝ þer hidde w{i}t{h} yreȝ ful graye;
Al watȝ wasted þat þer wonyed þe worlde w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne,
Þer eu{er} flote, oþ{er} flwe, oþ{er} on fote ȝede,
That roȝly watȝ þe remnau{n}t þat þe rac dryueȝ,
Þat alle gendreȝ so ioyst wern ioyned wyth-i{n}ne.
Bot quen þe lorde of þe lyfte lyked hymseluen
For to my{n}ne on his mon his meth þat abydeȝ,
wells, and the great deep.]
Þe{n} he wakened a wynde on watt{er}eȝ to blowe;
Þe{n}ne lasned þe llak þat large watȝ are,
Þen he stac vp þe stangeȝ, stoped þo welleȝ,
Bed bly{n}ne of þe rayn, hit batede as fast,
Þe{n}ne lasned þe loȝ lowkande to-geder.
Aft{er} harde dayeȝ wern out an hundreth & fyfté,
As þat lyftande lome luged aboute,
Where þe wynde & þe weder warpen hit wolde,
Hit saȝtled on a softe day synkande to grou{n}de.
On a rasse of a rok, hit rest at þe laste,
On þe mou{n}te of mararach of armene hilles,
Þat oþ{er}-wayeȝ on ebrv hit hat þe thanes.
Bot þaȝ þe kyste in þe crageȝ wern closed to byde,
Ȝet fyned not þe flod ne fel to þe boþemeȝ,
Bot þe hyȝest of þe eggeȝ vnhuled wern a lyttel,
Þat þe burne by{n}ne borde byhelde þe bare erþe;
dry land.]
Þe{n}ne wafte he vpon his wyndowe, & wysed þ{er}-oute
A message fro þat meyny hem moldeȝ to seche,
Þat watȝ þe rauen so ronk þat rebel watȝ eu{er};
He watȝ colored as þe cole, corbyal vn-trwe.
& he fongeȝ to þe flyȝt, & fa{n}neȝ on þe wyndeȝ,
Houeȝ hyȝe upon hyȝt to herken tyþy{n}ges.
He croukeȝ for comfort when carayne he fyndeȝ;
Kast vp on a clyffe þer costese lay drye,
He hade þe smelle of þe smach & smolt{es} þeder sone,
Falleȝ on þe foule flesch & fylleȝ his wombe,
& sone ȝederly for-ȝete ȝister-day steuen,
How þe cheuetayn hy{m} charged þ{a}t þe kyst ȝemed.
Þe rauen raykeȝ hy{m} forth þat reches ful lyttel
How alle fodeȝ þer fare, elleȝ he fynde mete;
the dove.]
Bot þe burne by{n}ne borde þat bod to hys come,
Ba{n}ned hy{m} ful bytt{er}ly w{i}t{h} best{es} alle samen,
He secheȝ an oþ{er} sondeȝmon & setteȝ on þe dou{n}e;
Bry{n}geȝ þat bryȝt vpon borde blessed & sayde,
“Wende worþelych wyȝt v{us} woneȝ to seche,
Dryf ou{er} þis dy{m}me wat{er}; if þ{o}u druye fyndeȝ
Bry{n}g bodworde to bot blysse to v{us} alle;
Þaȝ þat fowle be false, fre be þ{o}u euer.”
Ho wyrl{e} out on þe weder o{n} wy{n}geȝ ful scharpe,
Dreȝly alle a longe day þ{a}t dorst neu{er} lyȝt;
& when ho fyndeȝ no folde her fote on to pyche,
Ho vmbe-kesteȝ þe coste & þe kyst secheȝ,
Ho hitteȝ on þe euentyde & on þe ark sitteȝ;
Noe ny{m}mes hir anon & naytly hir staueȝ.
Noe on anoþ{er} day ny{m}meȝ efte þe dovene,
& byddeȝ hir bowe ou{er} þe borne efte bonkeȝ to seche;
& ho skyrmeȝ vnder skwe & skowteȝ aboute,
Tyl hit watȝ nyȝe at þe naȝt & noe þe{n} secheȝ.
On ark on an euentyde houeȝ þe downe,
On stamyn ho stod & stylle hy{m} abydeȝ;
What! ho broȝt i{n} hir beke a bronch of olyue,
G{ra}cyo{us}ly vmbe-grouen al w{i}t{h} grene leueȝ;
Þat watȝ þe sy{n}gne of sauyté þ{a}t sende he{m} oure lorde,
& þe saȝtly{n}g of hy{m}-self w{i}t{h} þo sely besteȝ.
Þe{n} watȝ þer ioy i{n} pat gyn where Iu{m}pred er dryȝed,
& much comfort i{n} þat cofer þat watȝ clay-daubed.
Myryly on a fayr morn, monyth þe fyrst,
Þat falleȝ formast i{n} þe ȝer, & þe fyrst day,
Ledeȝ loȝen i{n} þat lome & loked þ{er}-oute,
How þat watt{er}eȝ wern woned & þe worlde dryed.
Vchon loued oure lorde, bot lenged ay stylle,
Tyl þay had tyþy{n}g fro þe tolke þat tyned he{m} þ{er}-i{n}ne;
Þe{n} godeȝ glam to hem glod þat gladed hem alle,
Bede hem drawe to þe dor, delyu{er} hem he wolde;
Þe{n} went þay to þe wykket, hit walt vpon sone,
Boþe þe burne & his barneȝ bowed þ{er}-oute;
Her wyueȝ walkeȝ hem wyth & þe wylde aft{er},
Þroly þrublande i{n} þronge, þrowen ful þykke;
Bot Noe of vche honest kynde nem out an odde
& heuened vp an auter & halȝed hit fayre,
& sette a sakerfyse þ{er}-on of vch a ser kynde,
Þat watȝ comly & clene, god kepeȝ non oþ{er}.
When bremly brened þose besteȝ, & þe breþe rysed,
Þe sauo{ur} of his sacrafyse soȝt to hym euen
Þat al spedeȝ & spylleȝ; he spek{es} w{i}t{h} þat ilke
I{n} comly comfort ful clos & cortays wordeȝ:
the sin of man.]
“Now noe no more nel I neu{er} wary,
Alle þe mukel mayny [on] molde for no ma{n}neȝ sy{n}neȝ,
For I se wel þat hit is sothe, þat alle ma{n}neȝ wytteȝ
To vn-þryfte arn alle þrawen w{i}t{h} þoȝt of her hertteȝ,
& ay hatȝ ben & wyl be ȝet fro her barnage;
Al is þe mynde of þe man to malyce enclyned,
For-þy schal I neu{er} schende so schortly at ones,
As dysstrye al for maneȝ sy{n}ne [in] dayeȝ of þis erþe.
Bot waxeȝ now & wendeȝ forth & worþeȝ to monye,
Multyplyeȝ on þis molde & menske yow by-tyde.
Sesou{n}eȝ schal yow neu{er} sese of sede ne of heruest,
Ne hete, ne no harde forst, vmbre ne droȝþe,
Ne þe swetnesse of somer, ne þe sadde wynt{er},
Ne þe nyȝt, ne þe day, ne þe newe ȝereȝ,
Bot eu{er} re{n}ne restleȝ rengneȝ ȝe þ{er}-i{n}ne.”
Þ{er}wyth he blesseȝ vch a best, & bytaȝt hem þis erþe.
Þe{n} watȝ a skylly skyualde, quen scaped alle þe wylde;
Vche fowle to þe flyȝt þat fyþereȝ myȝt serue,
Vche fysch to þe flod þat fy{n}ne couþe nayte,
Vche beste to þe bent þat byt{es} on erbeȝ;
Wylde wormeȝ to her won wryþeȝ i{n} þe erþe,
Þe fox & þe folmarde to þe fryth wyndeȝ,
Hertt{es} to hyȝe heþe, hareȝ to gorsteȝ,
& lyou{n}eȝ & lebardeȝ to þe lake ryft{es},
Herneȝ & hauekeȝ to þe hyȝe rocheȝ;
Þe hole-foted fowle to þe flod hyȝeȝ,
& vche best at a brayde þer hy{m} best lykeȝ;
Þe fowre frekeȝ of þe folde fongeȝ þe empyre.
hateful deeds!]
Lo! suche a wrakful wo for wlatsu{m} dedeȝ
Parformed þe hyȝe fader on folke þat he made;
Þat he chysly hade cherisched he chastysed ful hardee,
I{n} de-voydy{n}ge þe vylanye þ{a}t venkquyst his þeweȝ.
For-þy war þe now, wyȝe, þat worschyp desyres,
I{n} his comlych co{ur}te þat ky{n}g is of blysse,
I{n} þe fylþe of þe flesch þat þ{o}u be fou{n}den neu{er},
Tyl any wat{er} i{n} þe worlde to wasche þe fayly,
For is no segge vnder su{n}ne so seme of his crafteȝ,
If he be sulped i{n} sy{n}ne, þat [ne] sytteȝ vnclene.
On spec of a spote may spede to mysse
Of þe syȝte of þe sou{er}ayn þat sytteȝ so hyȝe,
For þat schewe me schale i{n} þo schyre howseȝ,
As þe beryl bornyst byhoueȝ be clene,
Þat is sou{n}de on vche a syde & no sem habes,
W{i}t{h}-outen maskle oþ{er} mote as margerye p{er}le.
all flesh.]
Syþe{n} þe sou{er}ayn i{n} sete so sore for-þoȝt
Þat eu{er} he man vpon molde merked to lyuy,
For he i{n} fylþe watȝ fallen, felly he uenged,
Quen fo{ur}ferde alle þe flesch þat he formed hade,
mankind that He would not again destroy all the living.]
Hy{m} rwed þat he hem vp-rerde & raȝt hem lyflode,
& efte þat he he{m} vndyd, hard hit hym þoȝt;
For quen þe swemande sorȝe soȝt to his hert,
He knyt a couenau{n}de cortaysly w{i}t{h} monkynde þ{er}e,
In þe mesure of his mode & meþe of his wylle,
Þat he schulde neu{er} for no syt smyte al at oneȝ,
As to quelle alle quykeȝ for qued þat myȝt falle,
Whyl of þe lenþe of þe londe lasteȝ þe t{er}me.
Þat ilke skyl for no scaþe ascaped hy{m} neu{er},
Wheder wonderly he wrak on wykked men aft{er};
I{n} þe anger of his ire þat arȝed mony;
& al watȝ for þis ilk euel, þat vn-happen glette,
Þe venym & þe vylanye & þe vycios fylþe,
Þat by-sulpeȝ ma{n}neȝ saule i{n} vnsou{n}de hert,
Þat he his saueour ne see w{i}t{h} syȝt of his yȝen,
Þat alle illeȝ he hates as helle þat stynkkeȝ;
Bot non nuyeȝ hy{m}, on naȝt ne neu{er} vpon dayeȝ,
As harlottrye vn-honest, heþy{n}g of seluen;
Þat schameȝ for no schrewedschyp schent mot he worþe!
Bot sauyo{ur} mon i{n} þy self, þaȝ þ{o}u a sotte lyuie,
Þaȝ þ{o}u bere þy self babel, by-þenk þe su{m}-tyme,
Wheþer he þat stykked vche a stare i{n} vche steppe yȝe,
Ȝif hy{m} self be bore blynd{e} hit is a brod wonder;
& he þat fetly i{n} face fettled alle eres
If he hatȝ losed þe lysten hit lyfteȝ meruayle;
Trave þ{o}u neu{er} þat tale, vn-trwe þ{o}u hit fyndeȝ,
Þer is no dede so derne þat ditteȝ his yȝen;
Þer is no wyȝe i{n} his werk so war ne so stylle
Þat hit ne þraweȝ to hym þre er he hit þoȝt haue;
For he is þe gropande god, þe grou{n}de of alle dedeȝ,
Rypande of vche a ri{n}g þe reynyeȝ & hert;
& þere he fyndeȝ al fayre a freke wyth-i{n}ne
Þat hert honest & hol, þat haþel he hono{ur}eȝ,
Sendeȝ hy{m} a sad syȝt to se his auen face,
& harde honyseȝ þise oþ{er} & of his erde flemeȝ.
Bot of þe dome of þe douþe for dedeȝ of schame
He is so skoymos of þat skaþe, he scarreȝ bylyue,
He may not dryȝe to draw allyt, bot drepeȝ i{n} hast
& þat watȝ schewed schortly by a scaþe oneȝ.
green oak.]
Olde Abraham i{n} erde oneȝ he sytteȝ
Euen byfore his ho{us}-dore vnder an oke grene;
Bryȝt blykked þe bem of þe brode heuen,
I{n} þe hyȝe hete þ{er}-of Abraham bideȝ,
He watȝ schu{n}t to þe schadow vnder schyre leueȝ;
If þay wer farande & fre & fayre to beholde,
Hit is eþe to leue by þe last ende;
For þe lede þat þer laye þe leueȝ an-vnder,
When he hade of hem syȝt he hyȝeȝ bylyue,
& as to god þe good mon gos hem agayneȝ
& haylsed hem i{n} onhede & sayde, “hende lorde
Ȝif eu{er} þy mon vpon molde merit disserued,
their feet, and bring them a morsel of bread.]
Lenge a lyttel with þy lede I loȝly bi-seche;
Passe neu{er} fro þi pou{er}e, ȝif I hit pray durst,
Er þ{o}u haf biden with þi burne & vnder boȝe restted;
& I schal wy{n}ne yow wyȝt of wat{er} a lyttel,
& fast aboute schal I fare yo{ur} fette wer waschene;
Restteȝ here on þis rote & I schal rachche aft{er}
& bry{n}ge a morsel of bred to banne yo{ur} hertte.”
“Fare forthe,” q{uod} þe frekeȝ, “& fech as þ{o}u seggeȝ;
By bole of þis brode tre we byde þe here.”
and tells his servant to seethe a tender kid.]
Þe{n}ne orppedly i{n}-to his ho{us} he hyȝed to Saré
Comau{n}ded hir to be cof & quyk at þis oneȝ;
“Þre metteȝ of mele menge & ma kakeȝ,
Vnder askeȝ ful hote happe hem byliue;
Quyl I fete su{m}quat fat þ{o}u þe fyr bete,
Prestly at þis ilke poynte su{m} polment to make.”
He cached to his cobho{us} & a calf bry{n}geȝ
Þat watȝ tender & not toȝe; bed tyrne of þe hyde,
& sayde to his seruau{n}t þ{a}t he hit seþe faste
& he deruely at his dome dyȝt hit bylyue.
Þe burne to be bare-heued buskeȝ hy{m} þe{n}ne,
them cakes, butter, milk, and pottage.]
Clecheȝ to a clene cloþe & kesteȝ on þe grene,
Þrwe þryftyly þ{er}-on þo þre þerue kakeȝ,
& bry{n}geȝ butt{er} wyth-al, & by þe bred setteȝ
Mete; messeȝ of mylke he merkkeȝ bytwene,
Syþe{n} potage & polment i{n} plater honest;
As sewer i{n} a god assyse he serued hem fayre,
Wyth sadde semblau{n}t & swete of such as he hade,
removed, He tells Abraham that Sarah shall bear him a son.]
& god as a glad gest mad god chere,
Þat watȝ fayn of his frende & his fest praysed.
Abraham, al hodleȝ w{i}t{h} armeȝ vp-folden,
Mynystred mete byfore þo men þat myȝtes al weldeȝ;
Þe{n}ne þay sayden, as þay sete same{n} alle þry{n}ne,
When þe mete watȝ remued & þay of mensk speken,
“I schal efte here away abram,” þay sayden,
“Ȝet er þy lyueȝ lyȝt leþe vpon erþe,
& þe{n}ne schal saré consayue & a su{n} bere,
Þat schal be abrahameȝ ayre, & aft{er} hy{m} wy{n}ne
W{i}t{h} wele & wyth worschyp þe worþely peple
Þat schal halde i{n} heritage, þat I haf men ȝark.”
Þe{n}ne þe burde byhynde þe dor for busmar laȝed;
& sayde sothly to hir-self saré þe madde:
“May þ{o}u traw for tykle þat þ{o}u to{n}ne moȝteȝ,
& I so hyȝe out of age & also my lorde,”
For soþely, as says þe wryt, he wern of sadde elde,
Boþe þe wyȝe & his wyf, such werk watȝ hem fayled,
Fro mony a brod day by-fore ho barayn ay byene,
Þat selue saré w{i}t{h}-outen sede i{n}-to þat same tyme.
Þe{n}ne sayde oure syre þer he sete “se! so saré laȝes,
Not trawande þe tale þat I þe to schewed;
Hopeȝ ho oȝt may be harde my hondeȝ to work?
& ȝet I a-vow v{er}ayly þe avau{n}t þat I made,
I schal ȝeply aȝayn & ȝelde þat I hyȝt,
& sothely sende to saré a soñ & an hayre.”
Þe{n}ne swenged forth saré & swer by hir trawþe,
Þat for lot þat þay lansed ho laȝed neu{er}.
“Now i{n}nogh{e} hit is not so” þe{n}ne n{ur}ned þe dryȝtyn,
“For þ{o}u laȝed aloȝ, bot let we hit one.”
from Mamre.]
With þat þay ros vp radly as þay rayke schulde,
& setten toward sodamas her syȝt alle at-oneȝ;
For þat Cite þ{er} bysyde watȝ sette i{n} a vale,
No myleȝ fro mambre mo þe{n} tweyne,
Where-so wonyed þis ilke wyȝ þat wendeȝ w{i}t{h} oure lorde,
For to tent hy{m} w{i}t{h} tale & teche hy{m} þe gate,
Þen glydeȝ forth god, þe godmo{n} hy{m} folȝeȝ.
Abraham heldeȝ hem wyth, he{m} to co{n}ueye,
I{n} towarde þe Cety of sodamas þat sy{n}ned had þe{n}ne
I{n} þe faute of þis fylþe; þe fader hem þretes,
& sayde þ{us} to þe segg þat sued hy{m} aft{er}:
purposes.]
“How myȝt I hyde myn hert fro habraham þe trwe,
Þat I ne dyscou{er}ed to his corse my cou{n}sayl so dere.
Syþen he is chosen to be chef chyldryn fader,
Þat so folk schal falle fro, to flete alle þe worlde,
& vche blod i{n} þat burne blessed schal worþe.
Me bos telle to þat tolk þe tene of my wylle
& alle myn atly{n}g to abraham vn-haspe bilyue.
the cities of the plain, for their great wickedness, in abusing
the gifts bestowed upon them.]
“The grete sou{n} of sodamas synkkeȝ i{n} my{n} ereȝ,
& þe gult of gomorre gareȝ me to wrath;
I schal lyȝt i{n}-to þat led & loke my seluen,
If þay haf don as þe dyne dryueȝ on-lofte,
Þay han lerned a lyst þat lykeȝ me ille,
Þat þay han fou{n}den i{n} her flesch of fauteȝ þe werst,
Vch male matȝ his mach a man as hy{m} seluen,
& fylt{er} folyly i{n} fere, on fe{m}maleȝ wyse.
I compast hem a kynde crafte & kende hit hem derne,
they foully set it at nought.]
& amed hit i{n} my{n} ordenau{n}ce oddely dere,
& dyȝt drwry þer-i{n}ne, doole alþ{er}-swettest,
& þe play of paramoreȝ I portrayed my seluen;
& made þer-to a man{er} myriest of oþ{er},
When two true togeder had tyȝed hem seluen,
By-twene a male & his make such m{er}þe schulde conne;
Wel nyȝe pure paradys moȝt preue no bett{er},
Elleȝ þay moȝt honestly ayþ{er} oþ{er} welde.
At a stylle stollen steuen, vnstered wyth syȝt,
Luf lowe hem bytwene lasched so hote,
Þat alle þe meschefeȝ on mold moȝt hit not sleke;
Now haf þay skyfted my skyl & scorned natwre,
all men for ever.]
& hentteȝ hem i{n} heþy{n}g an vsage vn-clene;
Hem to smyte for þat smod smartly I þenk
Þat wyȝeȝ schal be by hem war, worlde w{i}t{h}-outen ende.”
“sinful and the sinless” are to suffer together.]
Þe{n}ne arȝed abraham & alle his mod chau{n}ge[d],
For hope of þe harde hate þat hyȝt hatȝ oure lorde;
Al sykande he sayde “s{ir} w{i}t{h} yor leue,
Schal synful & sakleȝ suffer al on payne;
Weþ{er} eu{er} hit lyke my lorde to lyfte such domeȝ,
Þat þe wykked & þe worþy schal on wrake suffer,
& weye vpon þe worre half þat wrathed þe neu{er}?
Þat watȝ neu{er} þy won þat wroȝteȝ v{us} alle.
righteous are found in them?]
Now fyfty fyn frendeȝ wer fou{n}de i{n} ȝonde toune
In þe Cety of Sodamas & also gomorré
Þat neu{er} lakked þy laue, bot loued ay trauþe,
& reȝt-ful wern & resou{n}able & redy þe to serue,
Schal þay falle i{n} þe faute þat oþ{er} frekeȝ wroȝt
& ioyne to her iuggement her iuise to haue?
Þat nas neu{er} þyn note, vnneuened hit worþe,
Þat art so gaynly a god & of goste mylde!”
“Nay for fyfty,” q{uod} þe fader, “& þy fayre speche,
& þay be fou{n}den i{n} þat folk of her fylþe clene,
I schal for-gyue alle þe gylt þurȝ my g{ra}ce one,
& let hem smolt al unsmyten smoþely atoneȝ.”
sake of forty-five righteous.]
“AA! blessed be þow,” q{uod} þe burne, “so boner & þewed,
& al haldeȝ i{n} þy honde, þe heuen & þe erþe,
Bot for I haf þis talke tatȝ to non ille,
Ȝif I mele a lyttel more þat mul am & askeȝ;
What if fyue faylen of fyfty þe nou{m}bre,
& þe remnau{n}t be reken, how restes þy wylle?”
destroyed.]
“And fyue wont of fyfty,” q{uod} god, “I schal forȝete alle
& wyth-halde my honde for horty{n}g on lede.”
“& quat if faurty be fre & fauty þyse oþ{er}
Schalt þow schortly al schende & schape non oþ{er}.”
“Nay þaȝ faurty forfete ȝet fryst I a whyle,
& voyde away my vengau{n}ce, þaȝ me vyl þynk.”
Þe{n} abraham obeched hym & loȝly hi{m} þonkkeȝ,
“Now sayned be þou sauio{ur}, so symple i{n} þy wrath!
I am bot erþe ful euel & vsle so blake,
Forto mele wyth such a mayst{er} as myȝteȝ hatȝ alle,
Bot I haue by-go{n}nen wyth my god, & he hit gay{n} þynkeȝ,
Ȝif I for-loyne as a fol þy frau{n}chyse may serue;
What if þretty þryuande be þrad i{n} ȝon tou{n}eȝ,
What schal I leue if my lorde, if he hem leþe wolde?”
Þe{n}ne þe godlych god gef hy{m} onsware,
them from destruction.]
“Ȝet for þretty i{n} þrong I schal my þro steke,
& spare spakly of spyt i{n} space of my þeweȝ,
& my rankor refrayne fo{ur} þy reken wordeȝ.”
“What for twenty,” q{uod} þe tolke, “vntwyneȝ þ{o}u hem þe{n}ne?”
release the rest.]
If þat twenty be trwe I tene hem no more,
Bot relece alle þat regiou{n} of her ronk werkkeȝ.”
“Now aþel lorde,” q{uod} Abraham, “oneȝ a speche
& I schal schape no more þo schalkkeȝ to helpe;
If ten trysty i{n} toune be tan i{n} þi werkkeȝ
Wylt þ{o}u mese þy mode & menddy{n}g abyde?”
& godde glydeȝ his gate by þose grene wayeȝ
& he co{n}ueyen hy{m} con w{i}t{h} cast of his yȝe,
& als he loked along þere as oure lorde passed,
Ȝet he cryed hy{m} aft{er} w{i}t{h} careful steuen:
“Meke mayst{er} on þy mon to my{n}ne if þe lyked,
Loth lengeȝ i{n} ȝon leede þat is my lef broþ{er},
He sytteȝ þer i{n} sodomis, þy seruau{n}t so pou{er}e
Among þo mansed men þat han þe much g{r}eued;
weeping for sorrow.]
Ȝif þ{o}u tyneȝ þat tou{n}, te{m}pre þyn yre
As þy mersy may malte þy meke to spare.”
Þe{n} he wendeȝ, wendeȝ his way wepande for care
To-warde þe mere of mambre wepande for so[rȝe,]
& þere i{n} longy{n}g al nyȝt he lengeȝ i{n} wones,
Whyl þe sou{er}ayn to sodamas sende to spye.
original word.]
His sondes i{n}-to sodamas watȝ sende i{n} þat tyme,
I{n} þat ilk euentyde, by au{n}gels tweyne,
Meuand meuande mekely togeder as myry me{n} ȝonge,
As loot i{n} a loge dor lened hy{m} alone,
I{n} a porche of þat place pyȝt to þe ȝat{es},
Þat watȝ ryal & ryche, so watȝ þe renk{es} seluen.
As he stared i{n}-to þe strete þ{er} stout men played
He syȝe þer swey i{n} asent swete men tweyne;
Bolde burneȝ wer þay boþe w{i}t{h} berdles chy{n}neȝ,
Royl rollande fax to raw sylk lyke,
Of ble as þe brere flo{ur} where-so þe bare scheweed,
Ful clene watȝ þe cou{n}tenau{n}ce of her cler yȝen;
Wlonk whit watȝ her wede & wel hit hem semed.
Of alle fetureȝ ful fyn & fautleȝ boþe;
Watȝ non autly i{n} ouþ{er}, for aungels hit wern,
& þat þe ȝep vnder-ȝede þat i{n} þe ȝate sytteȝ.
He ros vp ful radly & ran hem to mete
& loȝe he louteȝ hem to, loth, to þe grou{n}de,
& syþen soberly [satȝ] “syreȝ I yow by-seche,
the morning they may take their way.]
Þat ȝe wolde lyȝt at my loge & lenge þ{er}-i{n}ne,
Comeȝ to yo{ur} knaues kote I craue at þis oneȝ;
I schal fette yow a fatte yo{ur} fette forto wasche;
I norne yow bot for on nyȝt neȝe me to lenge,
& i{n} þe myry morny{n}g ȝe may yo{ur} waye take.”
& þay nay þat þay nolde neȝ no howseȝ,
Bot stylly þer i{n} þe strete as þay stadde wern,
Þay wolde lenge þe long naȝt & logge þ{er}-oute;
Hit watȝ ho{us} innoȝe to hem þe heuen vpon lofte.
Loth laþed so longe wyth luflych wordeȝ,
Þat þay hy{m} grau{n}ted to go & gruȝt no leng{er}.
Þe bolde to his byggy{n}g bryngeȝ hem bylyue,
Þe wyȝeȝ wern welcom as þe wyf couþe,
His two dere doȝt{er}eȝ deuoutly he{m} haylsed,
Þat wer maydeneȝ ful meke, maryed not ȝet,
& þay wer semly & swete, & swyþe wel arayed.
serve no salt with it.]
Loth þe{n}ne ful lyȝtly lokeȝ hy{m} aboute,
& his me{n} amonest{es} mete forto dyȝt,
Bot þenkkeȝ on hit be þrefte what þynk so ȝe make,
For wyth no so{ur} ne no salt serueȝ hy{m} neu{er}.
Bot ȝet I wene þat þe wyf hit wroth to dyspyt,
& sayde softely to hir self “þis vn-sau{er}e hyne
Loueȝ no salt i{n} her sauce ȝet hit no skyl were
Þat oþ{er} burne be boute þaȝ boþe be nyse.”
Þe{n}ne ho sau{er}eȝ w{i}t{h} salt her seueȝ vchone
Agayne þe bone of þe burne þat hit forboden hade,
& als ho scelt he{m} i{n} scorne þat wel her skyl knewen.
Why watȝ ho wrech so wod, ho wrathed oure lorde!
Þe{n}ne seten þay at þe soper, wern serued by-lyue,
Þe gest{es} gay & ful glad, of glam debonere,
Welawy{n}nely wlonk tyl þay waschen hade,
Þe trest{es} tylt to þe woȝe & þe table boþe.
Fro þe seggeȝ haden souped & seten bot a whyle,
Er eu{er} þay bosked to bedde þe borȝ watȝ al vp;
Alle þat weppen myȝt welde, þe wakker & þe stronger,
To vmbe-lyȝe lotheȝ ho{us} þe ledeȝ to take,
In grete flokkeȝ of folk, þay fallen to his ȝateȝ,
As a scowte-wach scarred, so þe asscry rysed;
demand that Lot should deliver up his guests.]
W{i}t{h} kene clobbeȝ of þat clos þay clatȝ on þe woweȝ,
& wyth a schrylle scharp schout þay schewe þyse worde:
“If þ{o}u louyeȝ þy lyf loth i{n} þyse woneȝ
Ȝete v{us} out þose ȝong men þat ȝore-whyle here entred,
Þat we may lere hym of lof, as oure lyst biddeȝ,
As is þe asyse of Sodomas to seggeȝ þ{a}t passen.”
Whatt! þay sputen & speken of so spito{us} fylþe,
What! þay ȝeȝed & ȝolped of ȝestande sorȝe,
Þat ȝet þe wynd, & þe weder, & þe worlde stynk{es}
Of þe brych þat vp-braydeȝ þose broþelych wordeȝ.
Þe god man glyfte w{i}t{h} þ{a}t glam & gloped for noyse,
So scharpe schame to hy{m} schot, he schrank at þe hert,
For he knew þe costou{m} þat kyþed þose wrecheȝ,
He doted neu{er} for no doel so depe i{n} his my{n}de.
Allas! sayd hy{m} þe{n}ne loth, & lyȝtly he ryseȝ
& boweȝ forth fro þe bench i{n}-to þe brode ȝat{es}.
What! he wonded no woþe of wekked knaueȝ,
Þat he ne passed þe port þe p{er}il to abide.
He went forthe at þe wyket & waft hit hy{m} aft{er},
Þat a clyket hit cleȝt clos hy{m} byhynde.
Þe{n}ne he meled to þo men mesurable wordeȝ,
For harloteȝ w{i}t{h} his hendelayk he hoped to chast;
“Oo! my frendeȝ so fre, yo{ur} fare is to strange,
Dotȝ away yo{ur} derf dyn & dereȝ neu{er} my gest{es},
Avoy! hit is yo{ur} vylaynye, ȝe vylen yo{ur} seluen;
& ȝe ar iolyf gentylmen yo{ur} iapes ar ille.
Bot I schal ke{n}ne yow by kynde a crafte þat is bett{er};
I haf a tresor i{n} my telde of tow my fayre deȝt{er},
Þat ar maydeneȝ vnmard for alle men ȝette;
In sodamas, þaȝ I hit say, non semloker burdes,
Hit arn ronk, hit arn rype & redy to ma{n}ne;
To samen wyth þo semly þe solace is bett{er},
I schal biteche yow þo two þat tayt arn & quoy{n}t,
& laykeȝ wyth hem as yow lyst & leteȝ my gest{es} one.”
a justice to judge their deeds, who was but a boy when he came
Þe{n}ne þe rebaudeȝ so ronk rerd such a noyse,
Þat aȝly hurled i{n} his ereȝ her harloteȝ speche;
“Wost þ{o}u not wel þ{a}t þ{o}u woneȝ here a wyȝe strange,
An out-comly{n}g, a carle, we kylle of þyn heued.
Who Ioyned þe be iostyse oure iapeȝ to blame,
Þat com a boy to þis borȝ, þaȝ þ{o}u be burne ryche?”
Þ{us} þay þrobled & þrong & þrwe vmbe his ereȝ,
outside with blindness.]
Bot þat þe ȝonge me{n}, so ȝepe, ȝornen þ{er}-oute,
Wapped vpon þe wyket & wo{n}nen hem tylle,
& by þe hondeȝ hy{m} hent & horyed hy{m} w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne,
& steken þe ȝat{es} ston-harde wyth stalworth barreȝ.
Þay blwe a boffet i{n} blande þat ba{n}ned peple,
Þat þay blust{er}ed as blynde as bayard watȝ eu{er};
Þay lest of loteȝ loggi{n}g any lysou{n} to fynde,
Bot nyteled þ{er} alle þe nyȝt for noȝt at þe last;
Þe{n}ne vch tolke tyȝt hem þat hade of tayt fayled,
& vchon roþeled to þe rest þat he reche moȝt;
Bot þay wern wakned al wrank þat þ{er} i{n} won lenged,
Of on þe vglokest vnhap þat eu{er} on erd suffred.
depart from Sodom, with his wife and two daughters, and to look
straight before him, for Sodom and Gomorrah shall be destroyed.]
Ruddon of þe day-rawe ros vpon vȝten,
When merk of þe mydnyȝt moȝt no more last,
Ful erly þose aungeleȝ þis haþel þay ruþen
& glopnedly on godeȝ halue gart hy{m} vpryse,
Fast þe freke ferkeȝ vp ful ferd at his hert;
Þay comau{n}ded hy{m} cof to cach þat he hade,
“Wyth þy wyf & þy wyȝeȝ & þy wlone deȝtters,
For we laþe þe, s{ir} loth, þat þ{o}u þy lyf haue;
Cayre tid of þis kythe er combred þ{o}u worþe,
With alle þi here vpon haste, tyl þ{o}u a hil fynde;
Fou{n}deȝ faste on yo{ur} fete, bifore yo{ur} face lokes,
Bot bes neu{er} so bolde to blusch yow bihynde,
& loke ȝe ste{m}me no stepe, bot strecheȝ on faste,
Til ȝe reche to a reset, rest ȝe neu{er};
For we schal tyne þis tou{n} & trayþely disstrye,
Wyth alle þise wyȝeȝ so wykke wyȝtly de-voyde
& alle þe londe w{i}t{h} þise ledeȝ we losen at oneȝ;
Sodomas schal ful sodenly synk i{n}-to grou{n}de,
& þe grou{n}de of gomorre gorde i{n}-to helle,
& vche a koste of þis kyth{e} clater vpon hepes.
If I me fele vpon fote þat I fle moȝt,
Hov schulde I huyde me fro hem þ{a}t hatȝ his hate ky{n}ned,
I{n} þe brath of his breth þat bre{n}neȝ alle þi{n}keȝ,
To crepe fro my creato{ur} & know not wheder,
Ne wheþer his fooschip me folȝeȝ bifore oþ{er} bihynde?”
Þe freke sayde “no foschip oure fader hatȝ þe schewed,
Bot hiȝly heuened þi hele fro hem þat arn combred:
be saved from destruction.]
Nov walle þe a wo{n}ny{n}g þat þe warisch myȝt,
& he schal saue hit for þy sake þat hatȝ v{us} sende hider,
For þ{o}u art oddely þyn one out of þis fylþe,
& als Abraham þyn em hit at hi{m} self asked.”
“Lorde, loued he worþe,” q{uod} loth, “vpon erþe!
Þe{n} is a cite herbisyde þat segor hit hatte,
Here vtt{er} on a rou{n}de hil hit houeȝ hit one,
I wolde, if his wylle wore, to þat won scape.”
“Þe{n}n fare forth,” q{uod} þat fre, “& fyne þ{o}u neu{er}
W{i}t{h} þose ilk þat þow wylt þ{a}t þrenge þe aft{er},
& ay goande on yo{ur} gate, wyth-outen agayn-tote,
For alle þis londe schal be lorne, longe er þe son{n}e rise.”
Þe wyȝe wakened his wyf & his wlonk deȝt{er}es,
& oþ{er} two myri men þo maydeneȝ schulde wedde;
& þay token hit as tyt & tented hit lyttel,
Þaȝ fast laþed hem loth, þay leȝen ful stylle.
who “preach to them the peril” of delay.]
Þe aungeleȝ hasted þise oþ{er} & aȝly hem þratten,
& enforsed alle fawre forth at þe ȝateȝ,
Þo wern loth & his lef, his luflyche deȝt{er},
Þer soȝt no mo to sauement of cities aþel fyue.
Þise aungeleȝ hade hem by hande out at þe ȝateȝ,
Prechande hem þe perile, & beden hem passe fast.
“Lest ȝe be taken i{n} þe teche of tyrau{n}teȝ here,
Loke ȝe bowe now bi bot, boweȝ fast hence!”
& þay kayre-ne con & kenely flowen;
Erly, er any heuen glem, þay to a hil comen.
Þe grete god i{n} his greme bygy{n}neȝ onlofte;
To wakan wedereȝ so wylde þe wyndeȝ he calleȝ,
& þay wroþely vp-wafte & wrastled togeder,
Fro fawre half of þe folde, flytande loude.
Clowdeȝ clust{er}ed bytwene kesten vp torres,
Þat þe þik þu{n}der þrast þirled hem ofte.
Þe rayn rueled adou{n}, ridlande þikke,
Of felle flau{n}kes of fyr & flakes of soufre,
Al in smolderande smoke smachande ful ille,
folks therein.]
Swe aboute sodamas & hit sydeȝ alle,
Gorde to gomorra þat þe grou{n}de lansed;
Abdama & syboym, þise ceteis alle faure,
Al birolled wyth þe rayn, rostted & bre{n}ned,
& ferly flayed þat folk þat i{n} þose fees lenged;
For when þat þe helle herde þe hou{n}deȝ of heuen
He watȝ ferlyly fayn, vnfolded bylyue.
Þe grete barreȝ of þe abyme he barst vp at oneȝ,
Þat alle þe regiou{n} to-rof i{n} riftes ful grete,
& clouen alle i{n} lyttel cloutes þe clyffeȝ aywhere,
As lance leueȝ of þe boke þat lepes i{n} twy{n}ne.
Þe brethe of þe brynston bi þat hit blende were,
Al þo citees & her sydes sunkken to helle.
Rydelles wern þo grete rowtes of renkkes w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne,
When þay wern war of þe wrake þ{a}t no wyȝe achaped,
Such a ȝom{er}ly ȝarm of ȝelly{n}g þer rysed;
Þer-of clat{er}ed þe cloudes þat kryst myȝt haf rawþe.
Þe segge herde þat sou{n} to segor þat ȝede,
& þe wenches hy{m} wyth þat by þe way folȝed;
to follow their face.]
Ferly ferde watȝ her flesch, þat flowen ay ilyche,
Trynande ay a hyȝe trot þat torne neu{er} dorsten.
Loth & þo luly-whit his lefly two deȝt{er},
Ay folȝed here face, bifore her boþe yȝen;
Bot þe balleful burde, þat neu{er} bode keped,
stone “as salt as any sea.”]
Blusched by-hynden her bak, þat bale forto herkken;
Hit watȝ lusty lothes wyf þat ou{er} he[r] lyfte schulder.
Ones ho bluschet to þe burȝe, bot bod ho no lenger,
Þat ho nas stadde a stiffe ston, a stalworth image
Al so salt as ani se & so ho ȝet standeȝ.
Þay slypped bi & syȝe hir not þat wern hir samen feres,
Tyl þay i{n} segor wern sette, & sayned our lorde;
Wyth lyȝt loueȝ vplyfte þay loued hy{m} swyþe,
Þat so his seruau{n}tes wolde see & saue of such woþe.
Al watȝ dampped & don, & drowned by þe{n}ne;
are destroyed.]
Þe ledeȝ of þat lyttel tou{n} wern lopen out for drede,
I{n}-to þat malscrande mere, marred bylyue,
Þat noȝt saued watȝ bot segor þat sat on a lawe,
are saved.]
Þe þre ledeȝ þer-i{n}, loth & his deȝter;
For his make watȝ myst, þat on þe mou{n}t lenged
In a stonen statue þat salt sauor habbes,
For two fautes þat þe fol watȝ fou{n}de i{n} mistrauþe;
On, ho serued at þe soper salt bifore dryȝtyn
& syþen, ho blusched hir bihynde, þaȝ hir forboden were;
For on ho standes a ston, & salt for þat oþ{er},
& alle lyst on hir lik þat arn on launde bestes.
Abraham ful erly watȝ vp on þe morne,
Þat alle naȝt [so] much niye hade no mon i{n} his hert,
Al i{n} longi{n}g for loth leyen i{n} a wache,
Þer he lafte hade oure lorde, he is on lofte wo{n}nen;
pitch, from which rise smoke, ashes and cinders, as from a
furnace.]
He sende toward sodomas þe syȝt of his yȝen,
Þat eu{er} hade ben an erde of erþe þe swettest
As aparau{n}t to paradis þat plantted þe dryȝtyn,
Nov is hit plu{n}ged i{n} a pit like of pich fylled.
Suche a roþu{n} of a reche ros fro þe blake,
Askeȝ vpe i{n} þe ayre & vselleȝ þer flowen,
As a fornes ful of flot þat vpon fyr boyles,
When bryȝt bre{n}nande brondeȝ ar bet þ{er} an-vnder.
Þis watȝ a uengau{n}ce violent þat voyded þise places,
Þat fou{n}dered hatȝ so fayr a folk & þe folde sonkken.
Þer faur{e} citees wern set, nov is a see called,
Þat ay is drouy & dym, & ded i{n} hit kynde,
Blo, blubrande, & blak, vnblyþe to neȝe,
As a stynkande stanc þat stryed sy{n}ne,
Þat eu{er} of sy{n}ne & of smach, smart is to fele;
For-þy þe derk dede see hit is demed eu{er} more,
For hit dedeȝ of deþe duren þere ȝet.
For hit is brod & boþe{m}leȝ, & bitter as þe galle,
& noȝt may lenge i{n} þat lake þat any lyf bereȝ,
& alle þe costeȝ of kynde hit combreȝ vchone;
For lay þ{er}-on a lump of led & hit on loft fleteȝ,
& folde þ{er}-on a lyȝt fyþ{er} & hit to fou{n}s synkkeȝ.
Schal neu{er} grene þ{er}-on growe, gresse ne wod nawþ{er}.
If any schalke to be schent wer schowued þ{er}-i{n}ne,
Þaȝ he bode i{n} þat boþe{m} broþely a monyth,
He most ay lyue i{n} þat loȝe i{n} losy{n}g eu{er}-more,
& neu{er} dryȝe no dethe, to dayes of ende;
& as hit is corsed of kynde & hit coosteȝ als,
alkaran, sulphur, etc., which fret the flesh and fester the
Þe clay þat clenges þ{er}-by arn corsyes strong,
As alu{m} & alkaran, þat angré arn boþe,
& þer walteȝ of þat wat{er} i{n} waxlokes grete,
Þe spuniande aspaltou{n} þat spysereȝ sellen;
& suche is alle þe soyle by þat se halues,
Þat fel fretes þe flesch & festred bones.
fruits, which, when broken or bitten, taste like ashes.]
& þer ar tres by þat terne of trayto{ur}es;
& þay borgou{n}eȝ & beres blomeȝ ful fayre,
& þe fayrest fryt þat may on folde growe,
As orenge & oþ{er} fryt & apple garnade
Also red & so ripe & rychely hwed,
As any dom myȝt deuice of dayntyeȝ oute;
Bot quen hit is brused oþ{er} broken, oþ{er} byten i{n} twy{n}ne,
Alle þyse ar teches & tokenes to trow vpon ȝet,
& wittnesse of þat wykked werk & þe wrake aft{er},
Þat oure fader forferde for fylþe of þose ledes.
Þe{n}ne vch wyȝe may wel wyt þat he þe wlonk louies,
& if he louyes clene layk þat is oure lorde ryche,
& to be couþe i{n} his co{ur}te þ{o}u coueytes þe{n}ne
To se þat semly i{n} sete & his swete face,
Clerrer cou{n}seyl, cou{n}sayl con I non,
bot þat þ{o}u clene worþe.
For clopy{n}gnel i{n} þe compas of his clene rose,
Þer he expouneȝ a speche, to hy{m} þat spede wolde,
Of a lady to be loued, loke to hir sone,
Of wich bery{n}g þat ho be, & wych ho best louyes,
& be ryȝt such i{n} vch a borȝe of body & of dedes,
& folȝ þe fet of þat fere þat þ{o}u fre haldes.
& if þ{o}u wyrkkes on þis wyse, þaȝ ho wyk were,
Hir schal lyke þat layk þat lyknes hir tylle.
If þ{o}u wyl dele drwrye wyth dryȝtyn þe{n}ne,
& lelly louy þy lorde & his leef worþe.
Þe{n}ne co{n}fo{ur}me þe to kryst, & þe clene make,
Þat eu{er} is polyced als playn as þe p{er}le seluen.
For loke fro fyrst þat he lyȝt w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne þe lel mayden!
the virgin!]
By how comly a kest he watȝ clos þere,
When venkkyst watȝ no v{er}gynyté, ne vyole{n}ce maked,
Bot much clener watȝ hir corse, god ky{n}ned þeri{n}ne;
& efte when he borne watȝ i{n} beþelen þe ryche,
I{n} wych puryté þay dep{ar}ted; þaȝ þay pou{er} were,
Watȝ neu{er} so blysful a bo{ur} as watȝ abos þe{n}ne
Ne no schroude ho{us} so schene as a schepon þare,
Ne non so glad vnder god as ho þat grone schulde;
For þer watȝ seknesse al sou{n}de þat sarrest is halden,
& þer watȝ rose reflayr where rote hatȝ ben eu{er},
& þer watȝ solace & songe wher sorȝ hatȝ ay cryed;
For au{n}gelles w{i}t{h} i{n}strumentes of organes & pypes,
& rial ry{n}gande rotes & þe reken fyþel,
& alle hende þat honestly moȝt an hert glade,
Aboutte my lady watȝ lent, quen ho delyu{er} were.
worshipped him.]
Þe{n}ne watȝ her blyþe barne burnyst so clene,
Þat boþe þe ox & þe asse hym hered at-ones;
Þay knewe hy{m} by his clannes for ky{n}g of nature,
For non so clene of such a clos com neu{er} er þe{n}ne;
& ȝif clanly he þe{n}ne com, ful cortays þ{er}-aft{er},
was vile.]
Þat alle þat longed to luþ{er} ful lodly he hated;
By nobleye of his norture he nolde neu{er} towche
Oȝt þat watȝ vngoderly oþ{er} ordure watȝ i{n}ne.
Ȝet comen lodly to þat lede, as laȝares monye,
Su{m}me lepre, su{m}me lome, & lom{er}ande blynde,
Poysened & parlatyk & pyned i{n} fyres,
Drye folk & ydropike, & dede at þe laste;
Alle called on þat cortayse & claymed his g{ra}ce.
He heled hem wyth hynde speche of þat þay ask aft{er},
For what-so he towched also-tyd to{ur}ned to hele,
Wel cla{n}ner þen any crafte cowþe devyse;
So clene watȝ his hondely{n}g vche ordure hit schonied,
cut or carve with.]
& þe gropy{n}g so goud of god & man boþe,
Þat for fetys of his fyngeres fonded he neu{er}
Nauþ{er} to cout ne to kerue, w{i}t{h} knyf ne wyth egge,
For-þy brek he þe bred blades wyth-outen;
tools of Toulouse.]
For hit ferde freloker i{n} fete i{n} his fayre honde,
Displayed more pryuyly when he hit part schulde,
Þe{n}ne alle þe toles of tolowse moȝt tyȝt hit to kerue,
Þ{us} is he kyryo{us} & clene þat þ{o}u his cort askes;
Hov schulde þ{o}u com to his kyth bot if þ{o}u clene were?
Nov ar we sore & synful & sov[_er_]ly vch one,
How schulde we se, þe{n} may we say, þ{a}t syre vpon throne?
Ȝis, þat mayst{er} is mercyable; þaȝ þ{o}u be man fe{n}ny,
& al to-marred i{n} myre whyl þ{o}u on molde lyuyes,
Þ{o}u may schyne þurȝ schryfte, þaȝ þ{o}u haf schome serued,
& pure þe with penau{n}ce tyl þ{o}u a perle worþe.
Perle praysed is prys, þ{er} perre is schewed,
Þaȝ hy{m} not derrest be demed to dele for penies,
Quat may þe cause be called, bot for hir clene hwes,
Þat wy{n}nes worschyp, abof alle whyte stones?
For ho schynes so schyr þat is of schap rou{n}de,
Wyth-outen faut oþ{er} fylþe ȝif ho fyn were;
& wax eu{er} i{n} þe worlde i{n} wery{n}g so olde,
Ȝet þe perle payres not whyle ho i{n} pyese lasttes
& if hit cheue þe chau{n}ce vncheryst ho worþe,
Þat ho blyndes of ble i{n} bo{ur} þ{er} ho lygges,
No-bot wasch hir wyth wo{ur}chyp i{n} wyn as ho askes,
Ho by kynde schal be-com clerer þen are;
So if folk be defowled by vnfre chau{n}ce,
Þat he be sulped i{n} sawle, seche to schryfte
& he may polyce hym at þe prest, by penau{n}ce taken,
Wel bryȝt{er} þen þe beryl oþ{er} browden perles.
Bot war þe wel, if þ{o}u be waschen wyth wat{er} of schryfte,
& polysed als playn as parchmen schauen,
Sulp no more þe{n}ne i{n} sy{n}ne þy saule þ{er}-aft{er},
For þe{n}ne þ{o}u dryȝtyn dyspleses w{i}t{h} dedes ful sore,
& entyses hy{m} to tene more trayþly þe{n} eu{er}
& wel hatt{er} to hate þe{n} hade þ{o}u not waschen;
For when a sawele is saȝtled & sakred to dryȝtyn,
He holly haldes hit his & haue hit he wolde,
Þe{n}ne efte lastes hit likkes, he loses hit ille,
As hit were rafte wyth vn-ryȝt & robbed wyth þewes.
War þe þe{n}ne for þe wrake, his wrath is achaufed,
service.]
For þat þat ones watȝ his schulde efte be vn-clene,
Þaȝ hit be bot a bassy{n}, a bolle, oþ{er} a scole,
A dysche oþ{er} a dobler þ{a}t dryȝtyn oneȝ serued,
To defowle hit eu{er} vpon folde fast he for-bedes,
So is he scoym{us} of scaþe þat scylful is eu{er}.
brought wrath upon the king.]
& þat watȝ bared i{n} babyloyn i{n} Baltaȝar tyme,
Hov harde vnhap þer hy{m} hent & hastyly sone,
For he þe vesselles avyled þat vayled i{n} þe temple
I{n} seruyse of þe sou{er}ayn su{m} tyme byfore.
Ȝif ȝe wolde tyȝt me a tom telle hit I wolde,
Hov charged more watȝ his chau{n}ce þat he{m} cherych nolde
Þen his fader forloyne þat feched he{m} wyth strenþe,
& robbed þe relygiou{n} of relykes alle.
Danyel i{n} his dialokeȝ de-vysed su{m} tyme,
As ȝet is proued ex-presse i{n} his p{ro}fecies,
Hov þe gentryse of Iuise & Ih{e}r{usa}l{e}m þe ryche
Watȝ disstryed wyth distres, & drawen to þe erþe,
allowed the heathen to destroy them, in the reign of Zedekiah,
who practised idolatry.]
For þat folke i{n} her fayth watȝ fou{n}den vntrwe,
Þat haden hyȝt þe hyȝe god to halde of hy{m} eu{er};
& he hem halȝed for his & help at her nede
In mukel meschefes mony, þat meruayl [is] to here;
& þay forloyne her fayth & folȝed oþ{er} goddes,
& þat wakned his wrath & wrast hit so hyȝe,
Þat he fylsened þe faythful i{n} þe falce lawe
To for-fare þe falce i{n} þe faythe trwe;
Hit watȝ sen i{n} þat syþe þat ȝedechyas re{n}gned,
I{n} Iuda, þat iustised þe iuyne ky{n}ges.
He sete on Salamones solie, on solemne wyse,
Bot of leaute he watȝ lat to his lorde hende;
He vsed abominaciones of idolatrye,
& lette lyȝt bi þe lawe þat he watȝ lege tylle;
For-þi oure fader vpon folde a foman hy{m} wakned,
Nabigo-de-noȝar nuyed hy{m} swyþe.
He pur-sued i{n} to palastyn w{i}t{h} proude men mony,
& þer he wast wyth werre þe wones of þorpes.
He herȝed vp alle isr{ae}l & hent of þe beste,
& þe gentylest of Iudee i{n} I{e}r{usa}l{e}m biseged,
Vmbe-walt alle þe walles wyth wyȝes ful stronge,
At vche a dor a doȝty duk, & dutte hem wyth-i{n}ne;
For þe borȝ watȝ so bygge baytayled alofte,
& stoffed wyth-i{n}ne w{i}t{h} stout men
to stalle hem þ{er}-oute.
Þe{n}ne watȝ þe sege sette þe Cete aboute,
Skete skarmoch skelt, much skaþe lached;
At vch brugge a berfray on basteles wyse,
Þat seuen syþe vch a day asayled þe ȝates,
Trwe tulkkes i{n} to{ur}es teueled wyth-i{n}ne,
In bigge brutage of borde, bulde on þe walles;
Þay feȝt & þay fende of, & fylt{er} togeder
Til two ȝer ou{er}-torned, ȝet tok þay hit neu{er}.
At þe laste vpon longe, þo ledes wyth-i{n}ne,
Faste fayled hem þe fode, enfaminied monie;
Þe hote hunger wyth-i{n}ne hert hem wel sarre,
Þen any dunt of þat douthe þat dowelled þ{er}-oute.
Þe{n}ne wern þo rowtes redles i{n} þo ryche wones,
Fro þat mete watȝ myst, megre þay wexen,
A fote fro þat forselet to forray no goudes.
Þe{n}ne þe ky{n}g of þe kyth a cou{n}sayl hy{m} takes,
Wyth þe best of his burnes, a blench forto make;
the host.]
Þay stel out on a stylle nyȝt er any steuen rysed,
& harde hurles þurȝ þe oste, er enmies hit wyste,
Bot er þay at-wappe ne moȝt þe wach wyth-oute,
Hiȝe skelt watȝ þe askry þe skewes an-vnder,
Loude alarom vpon lau{n}de lulted watȝ þe{n}ne;
Ryche, ruþed of her rest, ran to here wedes,
Hard hattes þay hent & on hors lepes;
Cler claryou{n} crak cryed onlofte.
By þat watȝ alle on a hepe hurlande swyþee,
Folȝande þat oþ{er} flote, & fonde hem bilyue,
Ou{er}-tok hem, as tyd, tult hem of sadeles,
Tyl vche prynce hade his per put to þe grou{n}de;
& þer watȝ þe ky{n}g kaȝt wyth calde pry{n}ces,
& alle hise gentyle for-iusted on ierico playnes,
& presented wern as presoneres to þe prynce rychest,
Nabigo-de-noȝar noble i{n} his chayer,
& he þe faynest freke þat he his fo hade,
& speke spito{us}ly hem to & spylt þ{er}aft{er}.
Þe ky{n}g{es} su{n}nes i{n} his syȝt he slow eu{er} vch one,
& holkked out his auen yȝen het{er}ly boþe
& bede þe burne to be broȝt to babyloyn þe ryche,
& þere i{n} dongou{n} be don to dreȝe þ{er} his wyrdes.
Now se, so þe sou{er}ay[n] set hatȝ his wrake;
Nas hit not for nabugo ne his noble nauþ{er},
Þat oþ{er} depryued watȝ of pryde with paynes stronge,
otherwise have been his friend.]
Bot for his bery{n}g so badde agayn his blyþe lorde;
For hade þe fader ben his frende þat hy{m} bifore keped,
Ne neu{er} trespast to him i{n} teche of mysseleue.
To Colde wer alle Calde & kythes of ynde,
Ȝet take torkye hem wyth her tene hade ben little;
Ȝet nolde neu{er} nabugo þis ilke note leue,
Er he hade tuyred þis tou{n} & torne hit to grou{n}de;
He ioyned vnto I{e}r{usa}l{e}m a gentyle duc þe{n}ne,
His name watȝ nabu-ȝardan, to noye þe iues;
He watȝ mayster of his men & myȝty hi{m} seluen,
Þe chef of his cheualrye his chekkes to make,
He brek þe bareres as bylyue, & þe burȝ aft{er},
& enteres i{n} ful ernestly, i{n} yre of his hert.
What! þe maysterry watȝ mene, þe me{n} wern away,
Þe best boȝed wyth þe burne þat þe borȝ ȝemed;
& þo þat byden wer so biten with þe bale hunger,
Þat on wyf hade ben worþe þe welgest fo{ur}re;
Nabiȝardan noȝt for-þy nolde not spare,
Bot bede al to þe bronde vnder bare egge.
Þay slowen of swettest semlych burdes,
Baþed barnes i{n} blod & her brayn spylled;
Prestes & prelates þay presed to deþe,
Wyues & wenches her wombes tocoruen,
Þat her boweles out-borst aboute þe diches,
were made to drag the cart or milk the kine.]
& al watȝ carfully kylde þat þay cach myȝt,
& alle [þat] swypped vnswolȝed of þe sworde kene,
Þay wer cagged & kaȝt on capeles al bare,
Festned fettres to her fete vnder fole wombes,
& broþely broȝt to babyloyn þer bale to suffer,
To sytte i{n} seruage & syte; þat su{m}tyme wer ge{n}tyle,
Now ar chau{n}ged to chorles & charged wyth werkkes,
Boþe to cayre at þe kart & þe kuy mylke,
Þat su{m}tyme sete i{n} her sale syres & burdes.
therein.]
& ȝet nabuȝardan nyl neu{er} stynt,
Er he to þe tempple tee wyth his tulkkes alle;
Betes on þe barers, brestes vp þe ȝates,
Slouen alle at a slyp þat serued þer-i{n}ne,
deacons, clerks, and maidens.]
Pulden prestes bi þe polle & plat of her hedes,
Diȝten dekenes to deþe, dungen dou{n} clerkkes,
& alle þe maydenes of þe mu{n}st{er} maȝtyly hokyllen
Wyth þe swayf of þe sworde þat swolȝed he{m} alle.
Þe{n}ne ran þay to þe relykes as robbors wylde,
& pyled alle þe apparement þat pented to þe kyrke,
Þe pure pyleres [o]f bras po{ur}trayd i{n} golde,
& þe chef chau{n}deler charged with þe lyȝt,
Þat ber þe lamp vpon lofte, þat lemed eu{er} more,
Bifore þ[e] sancta s{an}c{t}or{um} þer selcouth watȝ ofte.
Þay caȝt away þat condelstik, & þe crowne als,
Þat þe aut{er} hade vpon, of aþel golde ryche;
Nebuzaradan, and hampered together.]
Þe gredirne & þe goblot{es} garnyst of sylu{er},
Þe bases of þe bryȝt postes & bassynes so schyre;
Dere disches of golde & dubleres fayre,
Þe vyoles & þe vesselment of v{er}tuo{us} stones.
Now hatȝ nabuȝardan nome{n} alle þyse noble þy{n}ges,
& pyled þat p{re}cio{us} place & pakked þose godes;
Þe golde of þe gaȝafylace to swyþe gret nou{m}bre,
Wyth alle þe vrnmentes of þat ho{us}, he hamppred to-geder.
Alle he spoyled spito{us}ly i{n} a sped whyle,
Þat salomon so mony a sadde ȝer soȝt to make,
Wyth alle þe coyntyse þat he cowþe clene to wyrke;
De-uised he þe vesselment, þe vestures clene,
Wyth slyȝt of his ciences, his sou{er}ayn to loue,
Þe ho{us} & þe ano{ur}nementes he hyȝtled to-gedere.
Now hatȝ nabuȝardan nu{m}ne{n}d hit al samen,
& syþen bet dou{n} þe burȝ & brend hit i{n} askes;
Þe{n}ne wyth legiou{n}es of ledes ou{er} londes he rydes,
Herȝeȝ of Israel þe hyrne aboute.
Wyth charged chariotes þe cheftayn he fynde[ȝ],
Daniel and his three companions.]
Bike{n}nes þe catel to þe ky{n}g, þat he caȝt hade,
P{re}sented him þe p{r}isoneres i{n} pray þat þay token,
Moni a worþly wyȝe whil her worlde laste,
Moni semly syre son{e}, & swyþe rych maydenes,
Þe pruddest of þe p{ro}uince, & p{ro}phetes childer,
As Ananie & aȝarie & als Miȝael,
& dere daniel also, þat watȝ deuine noble,
With moni a modey moder chylde mo þe{n} i{n}-noghe.
& nabugo-de-noȝar makes much ioye,
Nov he þe ky{n}g hatȝ c{on}quest & þe kyth wu{n}nen,
& dreped alle þe doȝtyest & derrest i{n} armes,
& þe lederes of her lawe layd to þe grou{n}de,
& þe pryce of þe p{ro}fecie p{r}isoners maked;
Bot þe ioy of þe iuelrye so gentyle & ryche,
When hit watȝ schewed hy{m} so schene, scharp watȝ his wonder,
Of such vessel auayed þat vayled so huge,
Neu{er} ȝet nas nabugo-de-noȝar er þe{n}ne.
He sesed hem w{i}t{h} solemneté, þe sou{er}ayn he praysed,
þat watȝ aþel ou{er} alle, israel dryȝtyn;
Such god, such gomes, such gay vesselles
Comen neu{er} out of kyth, to Caldee reames.
He trussed hem i{n} his tresorye i{n} a tryed place
Rekenly wyth reu{er}ens, as he ryȝt hade;
& þ{er} he wroȝt as þe wyse, as ȝe may wyt here-aft{er},
For hade he let of hem lyȝt, hy{m} moȝt haf lu{m}pen worse.
Þat ryche i{n} gret rialté rengned his lyue,
through the “doom of Daniel,” who gave him good counsel.]
As {con}quero{ur} of vche a cost he cayser watȝ hatte,
Emp{er}o{ur} of alle þe erþe & also þe saudan,
& als þe god of þe grou{n}de watȝ grauen his name
& al þurȝ dome of daniel, fro he deuised hade,
Þat alle goudes com of god, & gef hit hy{m} bi samples,
Þat he ful clanly bi-cnv his carp bi þe laste,
& ofte hit mekned his my{n}de, his mayst{er}ful werkkes.
Bot al drawes to dyȝe w{i}t{h} doel vp[o]n ende;
Bi a haþel neu{er} so hyȝe he heldes to grou{n}de,
& so nabugo-de-noȝar as he nedes moste;
For alle his empire so hiȝe i{n} erþe is he g{ra}uen.
Bot þe{n}n þe bolde baltaȝar, þat watȝ his barn aldest,
He watȝ stalled i{n} his stud, & stabled þe rengne;
I{n} þe burȝ of babiloyne þe biggest he trawed,
Þat nauþ{er} i{n} heuen ne no erþe hade no pere;
For he bigan i{n} alle þe glori þat hy{m} þe gome lafte,
Nabugo-de-Noȝar, þat watȝ his noble fader;
So kene a ky{n}g i{n} Caldee com neu{er} er þe{n}ne.
Bot hono{ur}ed he not hy{m} þat in heuen wonies,
Bot fals fantu{m}mes of fendes, formed with handes
Wyth tool out of harde tre, & telded on lofte,
& of stokkes & stones, he stoute goddes callȝ
When þay ar gilde al with golde & gered wyth sylu{er},
& þere he kneles & calleȝ, & clepes after help.
& þay reden hi{m} ryȝt rewarde he hem hetes,
& if þay gruchen hi{m} his grace to gremen his hert,
He cleches to a gret klubbe & knokkes hem to peces;
Þ{us} in pryde & oliprau{n}ce his Empyre he haldes,
In lust & i{n} lecherye, & loþelych werkkes;
& hade a wyf forto welde, a worþelych quene,
& mony a le{m}man, neu{er} þe lat{er}, þat ladis wer called.
In þe clernes of his {con}cubines & curio{us} wedeȝ,
other vain things.]
In noty{n}g of nwe metes & of nice gettes,
Al watȝ þe mynde of þat man, o{n} misschapen þi{n}ges,
Til þe lorde of þe lyfte liste hit abate.
throughout Babylon, that all the great ones should assemble on a
set day, at the Sultan’s feast.]
The{n}ne þis bolde Baltaȝar biþenkkes hy{m} ones,
To vouche on a vayment of his vayne g[l]orie;
Hit is not i{n}nogh{e} to þe nice al noȝty þi{n}k vse,
Bot if alle þe worlde wyt his wykked dedes.
Baltaȝar þurȝ babiloyn his ba{n}ne gart crye,
& þurȝ þe cu{n}tre of caldee his cally{n}g con spry{n}g,
Þat alle þe grete vpon grou{n}de schulde geder hem samen
& assemble at a set day at þe saudans fest.
Such a mangerie to make þe man watȝ auised,
Þat vche a kythyn ky{n}g schuld com þider;
Vche duk wyth his duthe & oþ{er} dere lordes,
Schulde com to his co{ur}t to kyþe hy{m} for lege,
& to reche hy{m} reu{er}ens & his reuel herkken;
To loke on his lemanes & ladis hem calle,
To rose hy{m} i{n} his rialty rych me{n} soȝtten,
& mony a barou{n} ful bolde, to babyloyn þe noble.
Þer bowed toward babiloyn burnes so mony,
Ky{n}ges, Cayseres ful kene, to þe co{ur}t wo{n}nen,
Mony ludisch lordes þat ladies broȝten,
Þat to neuen þe nou{m}bre to much nye were.
For þe bo{ur}ȝ watȝ so brod & so bigge alce,
Stalled i{n} þe fayrest stud þe sterreȝ an-vnder,
streams, a high wall, and towers.]
Prudly on a plat playn, plek alþ{er}-fayrest,
Vmbe-sweyed on vch a syde w{i}t{h} seuen grete wat{er}es,
W{i}t{h} a wonder wroȝt walle wruxeled ful hiȝe,
W{i}t{h} koy{n}t carneles aboue, coruen ful clene,
Troched toures bitwene twenty spere lenþe,
& þiker þrowen vmbe þo{ur}-w{i}t{h} ou{er}-þwert palle.
miles in length.]
Þe place, þat plyed þe pursau{n}t wyth-i{n}ne,
Watȝ longe & ful large & eu{er} ilych sware,
& vch a syde vpon soyle helde seuen myle,
& þe saudans sete sette i{n} þe myddes;
Þat watȝ a palayce of pryde passande alle oþ{er},
Boþe of werk & of wu{n}der & walle al aboute;
Heȝe houses w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne þe halle to hit med,
So brod bilde i{n} a bay, þ{a}t blonkkes myȝt re{n}ne.
When þe terme of þe tyde watȝ to vsched of þe feste,
Dere droȝen þ{er}-to & vpon des metten,
covered with knights.]
& baltaȝar vpon bench was busked to sete,
Stepe stayred stones of his stoute throne.
Þe{n}ne watȝ alle þe halle flor hiled w{i}t{h} knyȝtes,
& barou{n}es at þe side-bordes bounet ay-where,
For non watȝ dressed vpon dece bot þe dere seluen,
& his clere concubynes i{n} cloþes ful bryȝt.
When alle segges were þ{er} set, þe{n} seruyse bygy{n}nes,
Sturnen trumpen strake steuen i{n} halle,
Aywhere by þe wowes wrasten krakkes,
& brode baneres þer-bi blusnande of gold;
Burnes berande þe bredes vpon brode skeles,
Þat were of sylu{er}en syȝt & se{er}ved þ{er}-wyth,
Lyfte logges þer-ou{er} & on lofte coruen,
Pared out of paper & poynted of golde,
Broþe baboynes abof, besttes an-vnder,
Foles i{n} foler flakerande bi-twene,
& al i{n} asure & ynde enaumayld ryche,
& al on blonkken bak bere hit on honde.
& ay þe nakeryn noyse, notes of pipes,
Ty{m}bres & tabornes, tulket amo{n}g,
Sy{m}bales & soneteȝ sware þe noyse,
& bougou{n}ȝ busch bat{er}ed so þikke;
So watȝ serued fele syþe þe sale alle aboute,
of wine.]
W{i}t{h} solace at þe sere course, bifore þe self lorde,
Þer þe lede & alle his loue lenged at þe table.
So faste þay weȝed to hi{m} wyne, hit warmed his hert
& breyþed vppe i{n} to his brayn & blemyst his my{n}de,
& al waykned his wyt, & wel neȝe he foles,
For he wayteȝ onwyde, his wenches he byholdes,
& his bolde baronage, aboute bi þe woȝes;
Þe{n}ne a dotage ful depe drof to his hert,
& a caytif cou{n}sayl he caȝt bi hy{m} seluen.
taken from the temple by Nebuchadnezzar, and to fill them with
Maynly his marschal þe mayst{er} vpon calles,
& comau{n}des hym cofly coferes to lance,
& fech forþe vessel þ{a}t his fader broȝt
Nabugo-de-noȝar, noble i{n} his strenþe,
Conquerd with his knyȝtes & of kyrk rafte
“Bry{n}g hem now to my borde, of beu{er}age he{m} fylles,
Let þise ladyes of hem lape, I luf he{m} i{n} hert;
Þat schal I cortaysly kyþe & þay schi{n} knawe sone,
Þer is no bou{n}té i{n} burne lyk baltaȝar þewes.”
Þe{n}ne towched to þe treso{ur} þis tale watȝ sone,
& he w{i}t{h} keyes vn-closes kystes ful mony;
Mony burþen ful bryȝt watȝ broȝt i{n}-to halle,
& cou{er}ed mony a cupborde with cloþes ful quite.
Þe iueles out of i{e}r{u}s{a}l{e}m w{i}t{h} ge{m}mes ful bryȝt,
Bi þe syde of þe sale were semely arayed;
anointed with the blood of beasts, are set before the bold
Þe aþel auter of brasse watȝ hade i{n}-to place;
Þe gay corou{n} of golde gered on lofte,
Þat hade ben blessed bifore wyth bischopes hondes
& wyth besten blod busily anoynted,
In þe solempne sacrefyce þat goud sauor hade,
Bifore þe lorde of þe lyfte i{n} louy{n}g hy{m} seluen,
Now is sette for to serue satanas þe blake,
Bifore þe bolde baltaȝar wyth bost & wyth pryde.
basins of gold, cups arrayed like castles with battlements, and
towers with lofty pinnacles.]
Houen vpon þis auter watȝ aþel vessel,
Þat wyth so curio{us} a crafte coruen watȝ wyly;
Salamon sete him s[eue]n ȝere & a syþe more,
W{i}t{h} alle þe syence þat hy{m} sende þe sou{er}ayn lorde,
For to compas & kest to haf hem clene wroȝt;
For þer wer bassynes ful bryȝt of brende golde clere,
En-aumaylde w{i}t{h} aȝer & eweres of sute;
Cou{er}ed cowpes foul clene, as casteles arayed,
Enbaned vnder batelment w{i}t{h} bantelles quoy{n}t,
& fyled out of fygures of ferlyle schappes.
Þe cop{er}ou{n}es of þe canacles þat on þe cuppe reres,
Wer fetysely formed out i{n} fylyoles longe,
flowers of which were white pearls, and the fruit flaming gems.]
Pinacles pyȝt þer apert þat p{ro}fert bitwene,
& al boiled abof w{i}t{h} brau{n}ches & leues,
Pyes & papeiayes purtrayed with-i{n}ne,
As þay prudly hade piked of pomgarnades;
For alle þe blomes of þe boȝes wer blyknande perles
& alle þe fruyt i{n} þo formes of flau{m}beande ge{m}mes,
Ande safyres, & sardiners, & semely topace,
Alabau{n}derynes, & amarau{n}ȝ & amaffised stones,
Casydoynes, & crysolytes, & clere rubies,
Penitotes, & pynkardines, ay perles bitwene,
So trayled & tryfled a trau{er}ce wer alle,
Bi vche bekyrande þe bolde, þe brurdes al vmbe;
Þe gobelotes of golde grauen aboute,
& fyoles fretted w{i}t{h} flores & fleeȝ of golde,
Vpon þat avter watȝ al aliche dresset.
brass, and ornamental boughs, upon which sat birds of various
Þe candelstik bi a cost watȝ cayred þider sone,
Vpon hit baseȝ of brasse þat ber vp þe werkes,
Þe boȝes bryȝt þer abof, brayden of golde,
Brau{n}ches bredande þer-on, & bryddes þer seten
Of mony kyndes, of fele-kyn hues,
As þay w{i}t{h} wy{n}ge vpon wynde hade waged her fyþ{er}es,
stood before the “Holy of Holies.”]
In-mo{n}g þe leues of þe lampes wer grayþed;
& oþ{er} louelych lyȝt þat lemed ful fayre,
As mony mort{er}es of wax merkked w{i}t{h}-oute,
W{i}t{h} mony a borlych best al of brende golde.
Hit watȝ not wonte i{n} þat wone to wast no serges,
Bot i{n} te{m}ple of þe trauþe trwly to stonde;
Bifore þe s{an}c{t}a, s{an}c{t}or{um} soþefast dryȝtyn,
Expouned his speche sp{irit}ually to special p{ro}phetes.
Leue þ{o}u wel þat þe lorde þ{a}t þe lyfte ȝemes
Displesed much, at þat play i{n} þat plyt stronge,
Þat his ineles so gent wyth iaueles wer fouled,
Þat p{re}syo{us} i{n} his presens wer proued su{m} whyle.
Soberly i{n} his sacrafyce su{m}me wer anoynted,
Þurȝ þe somones of him selfe þat syttes so hyȝe;
as “drunken as the devil.”]
Now a bost{er} on benche bibbes þerof
Tyl he be dronkken as þe deuel, & dotes þ{er} he syttes;
So þe worcher of þis worlde wlates þer-wyth,
Þat i{n} þe poynt of her play he poruayes a mynde;
He wayned hem a warny{n}g þat wonder hem þoȝt.
Nov is alle þis guere geten glotou{n}es to serue;
Stad i{n} a ryche stal & stared ful bryȝtȝ,
with wine.]
Baltaȝar i{n} a brayd bede v{us} þ{er}-of.
“Weȝe wyn i{n} þis won, wassayl!” he cryes.
Swyfte swaynes ful swyþe swepen þ{er}-tylle,
Kyppe kowpes i{n} honde ky{n}geȝ to serue,
I{n} bryȝt bolleȝ, ful bayn birlen þise oþ{er},
& vche mon for his mayst{er} machches alone.
Þer watȝ ry{n}gi{n}g, on ryȝt, of ryche metalles,
Quen renkkes i{n} þat ryche rok re{n}nen hit to cache,
Clat{er}i{n}g of conacleȝ þat kesten þo burdes,
As sonet out of sau[t]{er}ay songe als myry.
Þen þe dotel on dece drank þat he myȝt,
& þe{n}ne arn dressed dukeȝ & prynces,
Concubines & knyȝtes, bi cause of þat m{er}the;
As vchon hade hy{m} i{n} helde he haled of þe cuppe,
heaven were theirs.”]
So long likked þise lordes þise lykores swete,
& gloryed on her falce goddes & her g{ra}ce calles,
Þat were of stokkes & stones, stille euer more;
Neu{er} steuen hem astel, so stoken is hor tonge,
Alle þe goude golden goddes þe gauleȝ ȝet neuenen,
Heyred hem as hyȝly as heuen wer þayres,
Bot hy{m} þat alle goudes giues, þat god þay for-ȝeten,
For þer a ferly bifel þat fele folk seȝen;
Fyrst knew hit þe ky{n}g & alle þe cort aft{er},
is seen writing.]
I{n} þe palays pryncipale vpon þe playn wowe,
I{n} contrary of þe candelstik þat clerest hit schyned.
Þer apered a paume, w{i}t{h} poyntel i{n} fyngres
Þat watȝ grysly & gret, & grymly he wrytes,
Non oþ{er} forme bot a fust faylande þe wryste,
Pared on þe parget, purtrayed lettres.
When þat bolde baltaȝar blusched to þat neue,
Such a dasande drede dusched to his hert,
Þat al falewed his face & fayled þe chere;
Þe stronge strok of þe stonde strayned his ioy{n}tes,
His cnes cachches to close & cluchches his ho{m}mes,
& he w{i}t{h} plat-ty{n}g his paumes displayes his lers,
wrote on the rough wall.]
& romyes as a rad ryth þat roreȝ for drede,
Ay biholdand þe honde til hit hade al g{ra}uen,
& rasped on þe roȝ woȝe runisch saueȝ.
When hit þe scrypture hade scraped wyth a scrof pe{n}ne,
As a colto{ur} i{n} clay cerues þ{o} forȝes,
Þe{n}ne hit vanist v{er}ayly & voyded of syȝt,
Bot þe lettres bileued ful large vpon plast{er}.
“book-learned;” but none of the scholars were wise enough to
read it.]
Sone so þe ky{n}ge for his care carpi{n}g myȝt wy{n}ne,
He bede his burnes boȝ to þat wer{e} bok lered,
To wayte þe wryt þat hit wolde & wyt{er} hym to say,
“For al hit frayes my flesche þe fyngres so gry{m}me.”
Scoleres skelten þeratte þe skyl forto fynde,
Bot þer watȝ neu{er} on so wyse couþe on worde rede,
Ne what ledisch lore ne langage nauþ{er}
What tyþy{n}g ne tale tokened þo draȝtes.
Þe{n}ne þe bolde baltaȝar bred ner wode.
“wise of witchcraft.”]
& ede þe Ceté to seche segges þurȝ-out,
Þat wer wyse of wyche-crafte & warlaȝes oþ{er},
Þat con dele wyth dem{er}layk, & deuine lettres:
“Calle hem alle to my cort þo calde clerkkes,
Vn-folde hem alle þis ferly þat is bifallen here,
in “gowns of purple.”]
& calle wyth a hiȝe cry; ‘he þat þe ky{n}g wysses,
In expouny{n}g of speche þat spredes i{n} þise lettres,
& make þe mat{er} to malt my mynde wyth-i{n}ne,
Þat I may wyt{er}ly wyt what þat wryt menes,
He schal þe gered ful gaye i{n} gounes of porpre,
& a coler of cler golde clos vmbe his þrote;
He schal be prymate & prynce of pure clergye,
& of my þreuenest lordeȝ þe þrydde he schal
& of my reme þe rychest to ryde wyth myseluen,
Out-taken bare two & þe{n}ne he þe þrydde.’”
clerks out of Chaldea, witches and diviners, sorcerers and
exorcists.]
Þis cry watȝ vp-caste, & þer comen mony
Clerkes out of caldye þat ke{n}nest wer knauen,
As þe sage sathrapas þat sorsory couþe;
Wycheȝ & walkyries wo{n}nen to þat sale,
Deuinores of demorlaykes þat dremes cowþe rede,
Sorsers & exorsism{us} & fele such clerkes;
ignorant as if they had looked into the leather of the left
& alle þat loked on þat lett{er} as lewed þay were,
As þay had loked i{n} þe leþ{er} of my lyft bote.
Þe{n}ne cryes þe ky{n}g & kerues his wedes;
What! he corsed his clerkes & calde hem chorles,
To henge þe harlotes he heȝed ful ofte,
So watȝ þe wyȝe wytles, he wed wel ner.
Ho herde hy{m} chyde to þe chambre þat watȝ þe chef quene;
When ho watȝ wyt{er}ed bi wyȝes what watȝ þe cause,
Suche a chau{n}gande chau{n}ce i{n} þe chef halle,
Þe lady to lauce þat los þat þe lorde hade,
has rent his robes for grief, when there is one that has the
Spirit of God, the counsellor of Nebuchadnezzar, the interpreter
of his dreams, through the holy Spirit of God.]
Glydes dou{n} by þe grece & gos to þe ky{n}g;
Ho kneles on þe colde erþe & carpes to hy{m} seluen,
Wordes of worchyp wyth a wys speche.
“Kene ky{n}g,” q{uod} þe quene, “kayser of vrþe,
Eu{er} laste þy lyf i{n} lenþe of dayes;
Why hatȝ þou rended þy robe for redles here-i{n}ne,
Þaȝ þose ledes ben lewed lettres to rede,
& hatȝ a haþel i{n} þy holde, as I haf herde ofte,
Þat hatȝ þe gostes of god þat gyes alle soþes;
His sawle is ful of syence, saȝes to schawe,
To open vch a hide þy{ng} of aunt{er}es vn-cowþe;
Þat is he þat ful ofte hatȝ heuened þy fader
Of mony ang{er} ful hote w{i}t{h} his holy speche.
When nabugo-de-noȝar watȝ nyed i{n} stou{n}des,
He de-vysed his dremes to þe dere trawþe,
He keu{er}ed hy{m} w{i}t{h} his cou{n}sayl of caytyf wyrdes;
Alle þat he spured hym i{n} space he expowned clene,
Þurȝ þe sped of þe spyryt þat sprad hy{m} w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne,
Of þe godelest goddeȝ þat gaynes ay-where.
For his depe diuinité & his dere sawes,
captive from Judæa.]
Þy bolde fader baltaȝar bede by his name,
Þat now is demed danyel of derne coni{n}ges,
Þat caȝt watȝ i{n} þe captyuidé i{n} cu{n}tre of iues;
Nabuȝardan hy{m} nome & now is he here,
A prophete of þat prouince & pryce of þe worlde.
Sende i{n}-to þe ceté to seche hy{m} bylyue,
& wy{n}ne hy{m} w{i}t{h} þe worchyp to wayne þe bote,
& þaȝ þe mat{er} be merk þat merked is ȝender,
He schal de-clar hit also, as hit on clay stande.”
Þat gode cou{n}seyl at þe quene watȝ cached as swyþe,
Þe burne byfore baltaȝar watȝ broȝt i{n} a whyle,
When he com bifore þe ky{n}g & clanly had halsed,
Baltaȝar vmbe-brayde hy{m} & “leue s{ir},” he sayde,
and his power to discover hidden things, and that he wants to
know the meaning of the writing on the wall.]
“Hit is tolde me bi tulkes, þat þ{o}u trwe were
Profete of þat prouynce þat prayed my fader,
Ande þat þ{o}u hatȝ i{n} þy hert holy co{n}ny{n}g,
Of sapyence þi sawle ful soþes to schawe;
Goddes gost is þe geuen þat gyes alle þy{n}g{es},
& þ{o}u vnhyles vch hidde þat heuen ky{n}g my{n}tes;
& here is a ferly byfallen, & I fayn wolde
Wyt þe wytte of þe wryt, þat on þe wowe clyues,
For alle calde clerkes han cowwardely fayled;
letters and their interpretation, to clothe him in purple and
pall, and put a ring about his neck, and to make him “a baron
upon bench.”]
If þ{o}u w{i}t{h} quay{n}tyse co{n}quere hit,
I quyte þe þy mede.
For if þ{o}u redes hit by ryȝt & hit to resou{n} bry{n}ges,
Fyrst telle me þe tyxte of þe tede lettres,
& syþen þe mat{er} of þe mode, mene me þ{er}-aft{er},
& I schal halde þe þe hest þat I þe hyȝt haue;
Apyke þe i{n} porpre cloþe, palle alþer-fynest,
& þe byȝe of bryȝt golde abowte þy{n} nekke,
& þe þryd þryuenest þat þry{n}ges me aft{er},
Þ{o}u schal be barou{n} vpon benche, bede I þe no lasse.”
God supported his father, and gave him power to exalt or abase
whomsoever he pleased.]
Derfly þe{n}ne danyel deles þyse wordes:
“Ryche ky{n}g of þis rengne rede þe oure lorde,
Hit is surely soth, þe sou{er}ayn of heuen
Fylsened eu{er} þy fader & vpon folde cheryched,
Gart hy{m} grattest to be of gou{er}nores alle,
& alle þe worlde i{n} his wylle welde as hy{m} lykes.
Who-so wolde wel do, wel hy{m} bityde,
& quos deth so he deȝyre he dreped als fast;
Who-so hy{m} lyked to lyft, on lofte watȝ he sone,
& quo-so hy{m} lyked to lay, watȝ loȝed bylyue.
faith in God.]
So watȝ noted þe note of nabugo-de-noȝar,
Styfly stabled þe rengne bi þe stronge dryȝty{n},
For of þe hyȝest he hade a hope i{n} his hert,
Þat vche pou{er} past out of [þ]at prynce euen;
& whyle þat watȝ cleȝt clos i{n} his hert,
Þere watȝ no mon vpon molde of myȝt as hy{m} selue{n},
Til hit bitide on a tyme, towched hy{m} pryde
For his lordeschyp so large, & his lyf ryche;
He hade so huge an insyȝt to his aune dedes,
Þe{n}ne bly{n}nes he not of blasfemyon to blame þe dryȝty{n},
His myȝt mete to goddes he made w{i}t{h} his wordes:
builder of Babylon.]
“I am god of þe grou{n}de, to gye as me lykes,
As he þat hyȝe is i{n} heuen his au{n}geles þ{a}t weldes;
If he hatȝ formed þe folde & folk þ{er} vpone,
I haf bigged babiloyne, burȝ alþ{er}-rychest,
Stabled þer-i{n}ne vche a ston i{n} strenkþe of my{n} armes,
Moȝt neu{er} myȝt bot myn make such anoþ{er}.”
heard, saying, “Thy principality is departed.]
Watȝ not þis ilke worde wo{n}nen of his mowþe one,
Er þe{n}ne þe sou{er}ayn saȝe souned i{n} his eres,
“Now nabugo-de-noȝar i{n}noȝe hatȝ spoken,
Now is alle þy pryncipalté past at ones,
walk with wild beasts, eat herbs, and dwell with wolves and
& þ{o}u, remued fro mo{n}nes su{n}es, on mor most abide,
& in wast{ur}ne walk & wyth þe wylde dowelle,
As best, byte on þe bent of braken & erbes,
W{i}t{h} wroþe wolfes to won & wyth wylde asses.”
In mydde þe poynt of his pryde de-parted he þere,
Fro þe soly of his solempneté, his solace he leues,
& carfully is out-kast to contré vnknawen,
Fer i{n}-to a fyr fryth þere frekes neu{er} comen.
His hert heldet vnhole, he hoped non oþ{er}
Bot a best þat he be, a bol oþ{er} an oxe.
He fares forth on alle faure, fogge watȝ his mete,
& ete ay as a horce when erbes were fallen,
Þus he cou{n}tes hy{m} a kow, þat watȝ a ky{n}g ryche,
Quyle seuen syþeȝ were ou{er}-seyed som{er}es I trawe.
By þat, mony þik thyȝe þryȝt vmbe his lyre,
Þat alle watȝ dubbed & dyȝt i{n} þe dew of heuen;
to the toes.]
Faxe fylt{er}ed, & felt flosed hy{m} vmbe,
Þat schad fro his schulderes to his schyre wykes,
& twenty-folde twyna{n}de hit to his tos raȝt
Þer mony clyuy as clyde hit clyȝt to-geder.
His berde I-brad alle his brest to þe bare vrþe,
His browes bresed as breres aboute his brode chekes;
Holȝe were his yȝen & vnder campe hores,
& al watȝ gray as þe glede, w{i}t{h} ful gry{m}me clawres
Þat were croked & kene as þe kyte paune;
Erne-hwed he watȝ & al ou{er}-brawden,
Til he wyst ful wel who wroȝt alle myȝtes,
& cowþe vche kyndam tokerue & keu{er} when hy{m} lyked;
Þe{n}ne he wayned hy{m} his wyt þat hade wo soffered,
Þat he com to knawlach & ke{n}ned hy{m} seluen,
Þe{n}ne he laued þat lorde & leued i{n} trawþe,
Hit watȝ non oþ{er} þen he þat hade al i{n} honde.
Þe{n}ne sone watȝ he sende agayn, his sete restored;
His barou{n}es boȝed hy{m} to, blyþe of his come,
Haȝerly i{n} his aune hwe his heued watȝ cou{er}ed,
& so ȝeply watȝ ȝarked & ȝolden his state.
and hast blasphemed the Lord, defiled his vessels, filling them
with wine for thy wenches, and praising thy lifeless gods.]
Bot þ{o}u baltaȝar his barne & his bolde ayre,
Seȝ þese sy{n}gnes w{i}t{h} syȝt & set hem at lyttel,
Bot ay hatȝ hofen þy hert agaynes þe hyȝe dryȝt[y]n,
W{i}t{h} bobau{n}ce & w{i}t{h} blasfamye bost at hy{m} kest,
& now his vessayles avyled i{n} vanyté vnclene,
Þat i{n} his hows hy{m} to hono{ur} were heue{n}ed of fyrst;
Bifore þe barou{n}ȝ hatȝ hom broȝt, & byrled þ{er}i{n}ne
Wale wyne to þy wenches i{n} waryed stou{n}des;
Bifore þy borde hatȝ þ{o}u broȝt beu{er}age i{n} þede,
Þat blyþely were fyrst blest w{i}t{h} bischopes hondes,
Louande þeron lese goddeȝ, þat lyf haden neu{er},
Made of stokkes & stoneȝ þat neu{er} styry moȝt.
the fist with the fingers writing on the wall.]
& for þat froþande fylþe, þe fader of heuen
Hatȝ sende i{n}-to þis sale þise syȝtes vncowþe,
Þe fyste w{i}t{h} þe fy{n}g{er}es þat flayed þi hert,
Þat rasped renyschly þe woȝe w{i}t{h} þe roȝ pe{n}ne.
Þise ar þe wordes here wryten w{i}t{h}-oute werk more,
By vch fygure, as I fynde, as oure fader lykes.
“Mane, techal, phares, merked i{n} þry{n}ne,
Þat þretes þe of þy{n} vnþryfte vpon þre wyse;
Now expowne þe þis speche spedly I þenk.
Mane menes als much as, maynful gode
Hatȝ cou{n}ted þy kyndam bi a clene nou{m}bre,
& ful-fylled hit i{n} fayth to þe fyrre ende.
deeds of faith.]
To teche þe of techal, þat terme þ{us} menes,
Þy wale rengne is walt i{n} weȝtes to heng,
& is fu{n}de ful fewe of hit fayth dedes.
& phares folȝes for þose fawtes to frayst þe trawþe,
In phares fynde I forsoþe þise felle saȝes;
De-parted is þy pryncipalté, depryued þ{o}u worþes,
Þy rengne rafte is þe fro, & raȝt is þe perses,
fine cloth.]
Þe ky{n}g comau{n}ded anon to cleþe þ{a}t wyse,
In frokkes of fyn cloþ, as forward hit asked;
Þe{n}ne sone watȝ danyel dubbed i{n} ful dere porpor
& a coler of cler golde kest vmbe his swyre.
Þe{n} watȝ demed a de-cre bi þe duk seluen,
third lord that followed Belshazzar.]
Bolde baltaȝa[r] bed þat hy{m} bowe schulde
Þe comynes a lof calde þat to þe ky{n}g lo{n}ged,
As to þe prynce pryuyest preued þe þrydde,
Heȝest of alle oþ{er}, saf onelych tweyne,
To boȝ aft{er} baltaȝar i{n} borȝe & i{n} felde.
Þys watȝ cryed & knawen i{n} cort als fast,
& alle þe folk þer-of fayn þat folȝed hy{m} tylle;
Bot how-so danyel watȝ dyȝt, þat day ou{er}-ȝede,
Nyȝt neȝed ryȝt now w{i}t{h} nyes fol mony,
fulfilled.]
For daȝed neu{er} an oþ{er} day þat ilk derk aft{er},
Er dalt were þat ilk dome þat danyel deuysed,
Þe solace of þe solempneté i{n} þat sale dured
Of þat farand fest, tyl fayled þe su{n}ne;
Þe{n}ne blykned þe ble of þe bryȝt skwes,
Mo{ur}kenes þe mery weder, & þe myst dryues
Þorȝ þe lyst of þe lyfte, bi þe loȝ medoes;
Vche haþel to his home hyȝes ful fast,
Seten at her sop{er} & songen þ{er}-aft{er},
Þen fou{n}deȝ vch a felaȝschyp fyrre at forþ naȝtes.
suddenly.]
Baltaȝar to his bedd with blysse watȝ caryed,
Reche þe rest as hy{m} lyst, he ros neu{er} þer-aft{er};
For his foes i{n} þe felde i{n} flokkes ful grete
Þat longe hade layted þat lede his londes to strye,
Now ar þay sodenly assembled at þe self tyme,
Of hem wyst no wyȝe þat i{n} þat won dowelled.
Hit watȝ þe dere daryus þe duk of þise medes,
Þe prowde prynce of perce & porros of ynde,
W{i}t{h} mony a legiou{n} ful large, w{i}t{h} ledes of armes,
Þat now hatȝ spyed a space to spoyle caldeeȝ.
Þay þrongen þeder i{n} þe þest{er} on þrawen hepes,
Asscaped ou{er} þe skyre watt{er}es & scaþed þe walles,
within an hour enter the city, without disturbing any of the
Lyfte laddres ful longe & vpon lofte wonen,
Stelen stylly þe tou{n} er any steue{n} rysed,
W{i}t{h}-i{n}ne an oure of þe nyȝt an entré þay hade;
Ȝet afrayed þay no freke, fyrre þay passen,
& to þe palays pry{n}cipal þay aproched ful stylle;
Þe{n}ne ran þay i{n} on a res, on rowtes ful grete,
Blastes out of bryȝt brasse brestes so hyȝe,
Ascry scarred on þe scue þat scomfyted mony.
Segges slepande were slayne er þay slyppe myȝt,
Vche ho{us} heyred watȝ, w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne a honde-whyle;
heels, is foully cast into a ditch.]
Baltaȝar i{n} his bed watȝ beten to deþe,
Þat boþe his blod & his brayn blende on þe cloþes;
The ky{n}g i{n} his cortyn watȝ kaȝt bi þe heles,
Feryed out bi þe fete & fowle dispysed;
Þat watȝ so doȝty þat day & drank of þe vessayl,
Now is a dogge al so dere þat in a dych lygges;
For þe mayst{er} of þyse medes on þe morne ryses,
Dere daryo{us} þat day dyȝt vpon trone,
Þat ceté seses ful sou{n}de, & saȝtly{n}g makes
Wyth alle þe barou{n}ȝ þ{er}-aboute, þat bowed hy{m} aft{er}.
& þ{us} watȝ þat londe lost for þe lordes sy{n}ne,
& þe fylþe of þe freke þat defowled hade
Þe orne-mentes of goddeȝ ho{us} þat holy were maked;
his honour, as well as of the joys of heaven.]
He watȝ corsed for his vn-cla{n}nes, & cached þ{er}-i{n}ne,
Done dou{n} of his dy{n}gneté for dedeȝ vnfayre,
& of þyse worldes worchyp wrast out for eu{er},
& ȝet of lyky{n}ges on lofte letted, I trowe,
uncleanness makes God angry.]
To loke on oure lofly lorde late bitydes.
Þus vpon þry{n}ne wyses I haf yow þro schewed,
Þat vn-cla{n}nes to-cleues i{n} corage dere
Of þat wy{n}nelych lorde þat wonyes i{n} heuen,
Entyses hy{m} to be tene, telled vp his wrake;
Ande cla{n}nes is his comfort, & coyntyse he louyes,
& þose þat seme arn & swete schy{n} se his face.
Þat we gon gay i{n} oure gere þat g{ra}ce he v{us} sende,
Þat we may serue i{n} his syȝt, þ{er} solace neu{er} bly{n}neȝ.
NOTES: _Cleanness_.
dread, fear, shyness.
l. 27 _hapeneȝ_, is happy, blessed.
approach his body.
_More to wyte is her wrange, þen any wylle gentyl_,
More to blame is their fault, than any forlorn gentile.
_Wylle_ has the significations of wandering, astray; as “_wyl
dremes_,” wandering dreams, “_wylle of wone_,” astray from human
habitations, having lost one’s way; and hence _wylle_ is often
used to denote uncertainty, bewilderment.
and station.
_Hit weren not alle on wyueȝ suneȝ, wonen with on fader_,
They were not all one wife’s sons, begotten with one father.
_& rehayte rekenly þe riche & þe poueren_,
And cheer, prince-like (nobly), the rich and the poor.
_Rehete_ is the most common form of the word:
l. 134 _Hit watȝ not_, there was one (who) was not.
l. 179 _As_, also; _bolnande priyde_, swelling pride.
_Þroly in-to þe deueleȝ þrote man þryngeȝ bylyue_,
Roughly into the devil’s throat man is thrust soon.
_Col-prophet_ (false prophet), _Col-fox_ (crafty fox), used by
Chaucer; _Col-knyfe_ (treacherous knife), which occurs in the
_For-þy þaȝ þe rape were rank, þe rawþe watȝ lyttel_,
Wherefore, though the blow were smart, the sorrow was little.
l. 273 _meþeleȝ_, immoderate, intemperate.
l. 350 _with-outen þrep_, without contradiction, gainsaying.
_Whichche_ is another (and genuine) form of _hutch_.
_Waltes out vch walle-heued, in ful wode stremeȝ_,
l. 379 _bowed_, hastened; _brentest_, highest, steepest.
waweȝ_, flowing waves.
_Frendeȝ, fellen in fere, faþmed to-geder_.
Friends, fallen in company, _embraced_ (fathomed) together.
The verb _faþme_ in Early English also signifies to _grope_.
dialects of the North of England, with the sense of “to cower,”
glided.
manifested (ordered).
“_stepe_ stones,” bright stones, “_stepe_ starres,” bright stars.
frequently the meaning of _to hear_.
_þer is no dede so derne þat ditteȝ his yȝen_.
There is no deed so secret that closes His eyes
(_i.e._ that He does not see).
l. 591 _gropande_, searching, examining.
_Rypande of vche a ring þe reynyeȝ & hert_
Trying (probing) the reins and heart of every man.
_Rype_ is still used in the North of England in the sense of to
plunder. Cf. our modern use of the word _ransack_ with its
earlier meanings of to try, probe, search.
_May þou traw for tykel þat þou tonne moȝteȝ_,
Mayst thou trow (believe) for the uncertainty (of such a thing)
that thou mightest conceive;
_for tykel_, on account of the uncertainty.
l. 659 _byene_ = _ben_, been or _bycame_. The sense would require
_Þat for lot þat þay lansed ho laȝed neuer_,
That for (any) sound that they uttered, she never laughed;
_lot_ = late, in the sense of _sound_, is not very common in Old
English authors.
l. 764 _mese þy mode_, temper thy wrath.
_kuchieȝ kote_.
_vpbraydeȝ_, raises.
_Ruddon of þe day-rawe ros vpon vȝten_.
The light of the day-break rose on the morn.
_Such a ȝomerly ȝarm of ȝellyng þer rysed_,
Such a mournful (pitiful) outcry of yelling there rose.
l. 976 _Trynande ay a hyȝe trot_, going ever (at) a great pace.
“Als so sco loked hir behind,
A stan sco standes bi þat way
And sua sal do to domesday;
In a salt stan men seis hir stand
Þat best likes o þat land;
Þat anes o þe wok day,
Þan is sco liked al away
And þan þai find hir on þe morn,
Hale als sco was ar beforn.”
l. 1009 _a roþun of a reche_, a rush of smoke, a mass of vapour;
_blake_, the black (pit).
_angré_ = poisonous or grievous, or _augre_ = _aigre_, sharp.
The primitive meaning of _lomerande_ seems to be that of _slow_,
sluggish.
l. 1113 _fenny_, dirty, filthy, and hence sinful.
_Stepe stayred_ [_þe_] _stones of his stoute throne_,
Bright shone the stones of his firm throne.
fourteenth century.
l. 1472 Penitotes. So in MS., but read _Peritotes_.
l. 1585 _he wed wel ner_, he became nearly mad.
moments.
Errata (noted by transcriber)
Line 91 text: w{i}t{h} marchal
Note to line 91: þe marchal
 Þe{n}ne swenged forth saré & swer by hir trawþe,
 & in wast{er}ne walk
 “I schal telde vp my trone i{n} þe tra mou{n}tayne
 “How myȝt I hyde myn hert fro habraham þe trwe,
 “Wyth þy wyf & þy wyȝeȝ & þy wlone deȝtters,
 “Ryche ky{n}g of þis rengne rede þe oure lorde,
*       *       *       *
hearts, and quenches malice.]
Pacience is a poynt, þaȝ hit displese ofte,
When heuy herttes ben hurt wyth heþy{n}g oþ{er} elles,
Suffrau{n}ce may aswage{n} hem & þe swelme leþe,
For ho quelles vche a qued, & quenches malyce;
For quo-so suffer cowþe syt, sele wolde folȝe,
& quo for þro may noȝt þole, þe þikker he sufferes;
Þe{n} is bett{er} to abyde þe bur vmbe-stou{n}des,
Þen ay þrow forth my þro, þaȝ me þynk ylle.
I herde on a halyday at a hyȝe masse,
Blessed are the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.]
How mathew melede, þat his mayst{er} his meyny con teche,
Aȝt happes he hem hyȝt & vche on a mede,
Su{n}derlupes for hit dissert vpon a ser wyse:
Thay arn happen þat han i{n} hert pouerté,
For hores is þe heuen-ryche to holde for eu{er};
Þay ar happen also þat hau{n}te mekenesse,
For þay schal welde þis worlde & alle her wylle haue;
For þay schal comfort encroche i{n} kythes ful mony;
Þay ar happen also þat hungeres aft{er} ryȝt,
For þay schal frely be refete ful of alle gode;
Thay ar happen also þat han i{n} hert rauþe,
For mercy i{n} alle man{er}es her mede schal worþe;
Þay ar happen also þat arn of hert clene,
For þay her sauyo{ur} in sete schal se w{i}t{h} her yȝen;
called God’s sons.]
Thay ar happen also þat halden her pese,
For þay þe g{ra}cio{us} godes su{n}es schal godly be called;
kingdom of heaven.]
Þay ar happen also þat con her hert stere,
For hores is þe heuen-ryche, as I er sayde.
poverty, pity, penance, meekness, mercy, chastity, peace and
patience.]
These arn þe happes alle aȝt þat v{us} bihyȝt weren,
If we þyse ladyes wolde lof i{n} lykny{n}g of þewes;
Dame pouert, Dame pitee, Dame penau{n}ce þe þrydde,
Dame Mekenesse, Dame mercy & Miry cla{n}nesse,
& þe{n}ne Dame pes & pacyence put i{n} þ{er}-aft{er}.
He were happen þat hade one, alle were þe bett{er},
Bot syn I am put to a poy{n}t þat pou{er}te hatte,
I schal me poruay pacyence, & play me w{i}t{h} boþe;
For in þe tyxte, þere þyse two arn i{n} teme layde,
Hit arn fettled in on forme, þe forme & þe laste,
& by quest of her quoyntyse enquylen on mede,
& als i{n} myn vpynyou{n} hit arn of on kynde;
needs suffer.]
For þer as pouert hir proferes ho nyl be put vtt{er},
Bot lenge where-so-eu{er} hir lyst, lyke oþ{er} greme,
& þere as pouert enpresses, þaȝ mon pyne þynk,
Much maugre his mun, he mot nede suffer,
Thus pou{er}te & pacyence arn nedes play-feres.
Syþen I am sette w{i}t{h} he{m} samen, suffer me by-houes,
Þe{n}ne is me lyȝtloker hit lyke & her lotes prayse,
Þe{n}ne wyþ{er} wyth & be wroth & þe wers haue.
Ȝif me be dyȝt a destyné due to haue,
What dowes me þe dedayn, oþ{er} dispit make?
Oþ{er} ȝif my lege lorde lyst on lyue me to bidde,
Oþ{er} to ryde, oþ{er} to re{n}ne, to rome i{n} his ernde,
What grayþed me þe grychchy{n}g bot grame more seche?
Much ȝif he me ne made, maugref my chekes,
& þe{n}ne þrat moste I þole, & vnþonk to mede,
Þe[t] had bowed to his bode, bongre my hyure.
Did not Ionas i{n} Iude suche Iape su{m}-whyle,
To sette hy{m} to sewrte, vnsou{n}de he hy{m} feches?
Wyl ȝe tary a lyttel tyme & tent me a whyle,
I schal wysse yow þer-wyth as holy wryt telles.
Hit bi-tydde su{m}-tyme i{n} þe termes of Iude,
Ionas ioyned watȝ þ{er}-i{n}ne ientyle p{ro}phete;
Goddes glam to hy{m} glod, þat hy{m} vnglad made,
W{i}t{h} a roghlych rurd rowned i{n} his ere;
“Rys radly,” he says, “& rayke forth euen,
Nym þe way to nynyue, wyth-outen oþ{er} speche,
& in þat cete my saȝes sogh{e} alle aboute,
Þat, i{n} þat place at þe poy{n}t, I put i{n} þi hert;
For Iwysse hit arn so wykke þat i{n} þat won dowelleȝ,
& her malys is so much I may not abide,
Bot venge me on her vilanye & venym bilyue;
Now sweȝe me þider swyftly & say me þis arende.”
When þat steuen watȝ stynt, þat stowned his my{n}de,
Al he wrathed i{n} his wyt & wyþ{er}ly he þoȝt,
If I bowe to his bode & bry{n}g he{m} þis tale,
stocks, or put out his eyes.]
& I be Nu{m}men in Nuniue, my nyes begy{n}es;
He telles me þose trayto{ur}es arn typped schrewes,
I com wyth þose tyþy{n}ges, þay ta me bylyue,
Pyneȝ me i{n} a prysou{n}, put me i{n} stokkes,
Wryþe me i{n} a warlok, wrast out myn yȝen.
Þis is a m{er}uayl message a man for to preche,
Amonge enmyes so mony & mansed fendes;
Bot if my gaynlych god such gref to me wolde,
For desert of su{m} sake þat I slayn were,
At alle peryles, q{uod} þe p{ro}phete, I aproche hit no nerre,
I wyl me su{m} oþ{er} waye, þat he ne wayte aft{er};
I schal tee i{n}-to tarce, & tary þere a whyle,
& lyȝtly, when I am lest, he letes me alone.
Þe{n}ne he ryses radly, & raykes bilyue
Ionas toward port Iaph, ay Ianglande for tene,
Þat he nolde þole, for no-þy{n}g, non of þose pynes,
Þaȝ þe fader þat hy{m} formed were fale of his hele.
“Oure syre syttes,” he says, “on sege so hyȝe
I{n} his g[l]wande glorye, & glou{m}bes ful lyttel,
Þaȝ I be nu{m}men i{n} nuniue & naked dispoyled,
On rode rwly to-rent, w{i}t{h} rybaudes mony.”
Þ{us} he passes to þat port, his passage to seche,
Fyndes he a fayr schyp to þe fare redy;
Maches hy{m} w{i}t{h} þe maryneres, makes her paye,
For to towe hy{m} i{n}-to tarce, as tyd as þay myȝt.
Then he tron on þo tres & þay her tra{m}me ruchen,
Cachen vp þe crossayl, cables þay fasten,
Wiȝt at þe wyndlas weȝen her ankres,
Sprude spak to þe sprete þe spare bawe-lyne,
Gederen to þe gyde ropes, þe grete cloþ falles;
Þay layden i{n} on ladde-borde & þe lofe wy{n}nes.
Þe blyþe breþe at her bak þe bosum he fyndes,
He swenges me þys swete schip swefte fro þe hauen.
Watȝ neu{er} so Ioyful a Iue, as Ionas watȝ þe{n}ne,
Þat þe daunger of dryȝtyn so derfly ascaped;
He wende wel þat þat wyȝ þ{a}t al þe world planted,
Hade no maȝt i{n} þat mere no man forto greue.
from God.]
Lo! þe wytles wrechche, for he wolde noȝt suffer,
Now hatȝ he put hy{m} i{n} plyt of p{er}il wel more;
Hit watȝ a weny{n}g vn-war þat welt i{n} his mynde,
Þaȝ he were soȝt fro samarye þat god seȝ no fyrre,
Ȝise he blusched ful brode, þat burde hy{m} by sure,
Þat ofte kyd hy{m} þe carpe þat ky{n}g sayde,
Dy{n}gne dauid on des, þat demed þis speche,
I{n} a psalme þat he set þe saut{er} w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne;
O Foleȝ i{n} folk feleȝ oþ{er} whyle,
& vnderstondes vmbe-stou{n}de, þaȝ he be stape fole,
Hope ȝe þat he heres not þat eres alle made?
Hit may not be þat he is blynde þ{a}t bigged vche yȝe.
Bot he dredes no dynt þat dotes for elde,
For he watȝ fer i{n} þe flod fou{n}dande to tarce;
Bot, I trow, ful tyd, ou{er}-tan þat he were,
So þat schomely to schort he schote of his ame.
For þe welder of wyt, þat wot alle þy{n}ges,
Þat ay wakes & waytes, at wylle hatȝ he slyȝtes;
He calde on þat ilk crafte he carf w{i}t{h} his hondes,
Þay wakened wel þe wroþeloker, for wroþely he cleped:
“Ewr{us} & aq{u}ilou{n}, þat on est sittes,
Blowes boþe at my bode vpon blo watt{er}es.”
Þe{n}ne watȝ no tom þer bytwene his tale & her dede,
So bayn wer þay boþe two, his bone for to wyrk.
An-on out of þe norþ est þe noys bigynes,
When boþe breþes con blowe vpon blo watteres;
Roȝ rakkes þer ros w{i}t{h} rudny{n}g an-vnder,
rolled high, and never rested.]
Þe see souȝed ful sore, gret selly to here;
Þe wyndes on þe wo{n}ne wat{er} so wrastel to-geder,
Þat þe wawes ful wode walt{er}ed so hiȝe,
& efte busched to þe abyme þat breed fysches;
Durst nowhere for roȝ arest at þe bothem.
When þe breth & þe brok & þe bote metten,
Hit watȝ a ioyles gyn þat Ionas watȝ i{n}ne,
For hit reled on rou{n}[d] vpon þe roȝe yþes.
Þe bur ber to hit baft þat braste alle her gere,
Þen hurled on a hepe þe helme & þe sterne,
Furst to murte mony rop & þe mast aft{er}.
Þe sayl sweyed on þe see, þe{n}ne suppe bihoued
the ship.]
Þe coge of þe colde wat{er}, & þe{n}ne þe cry ryses;
Ȝet coruen þay þe cordes & kest al þ{er}-oute.
Mony ladde þer forth-lep to laue & to kest,
Scopen out þe scaþel wat{er}, þat fayn scape wolde;
For be mo{n}nes lode neu{er} so luþ{er}, þe lyf is ay swete.
Þer watȝ busy ou{er}-borde bal{e} to kest
Her bagges, & her feþ{er} beddes, & her bryȝt wedes,
Her kysttes, & her coferes, her caraldes alle,
& al to lyȝten þat lome, ȝif leþe wolde schape;
& eu{er} wroþ{er} þe wat{er}, & wodder þe stremes.
Þe{n} þo wery for-wroȝt wyst no bote,
Bot vchon glewed on his god þat gayned hy{m} beste;
sun and to the moon.]
Summe to vernagu þ{er} vouched a-vowes solemne,
Summe to diana deuout, & derf nepturne,
To mahou{n} & to mergot, þe mone & þe su{n}ne,
& vche lede as he loued & layde had his hert.
that has grieved his God, is in the ship.]
Þe{n}ne bispeke þe spakest dispayred wel nere:
I leue here be su{m} losynger, su{m} lawles wrech,
Þat hatȝ greued his god & gotȝ here amonge v{us};
Lo al synkes i{n} his sy{n}ne & for his sake marres!
I lovne þat we lay lotes on ledes vchone,
& who-so ly{m}pes þe losse, lay hy{m} þ{er}-oute;
& quen þe gulty is gon what may gome trawe,
Bot he þat rules þe rak may rwe on þose oþ{er}?
Þis watȝ sette i{n} asent, & sembled þay were,
Herȝed out of vche hyrne to hent þat falles.
A lodes-mon lyȝtly lep vnder hachches,
For to layte mo ledes & hem to lote bry{n}g,
Bot hy{m} fayled no freke þat he fynde myȝt,
Saf Ionas þe Iwe þat Iowked i{n} derne.
He watȝ flowen for ferde of þe flode lotes
I{n}-to þe boþem of þe bot, & on a brede lyggede,
On helde by þe hurrok, for þe heuen wrache,
Slypped vpon a slou{m}be, selepe, & sloberande he routes.
Þe freke hy{m} fru{n}t w{i}t{h} his fot & bede hy{m} ferk vp,
Þer ragnel i{n} his rakentes hy{m} rere of his dremes;
Bi þe haspede he hentes hy{m} þe{n}ne,
& broȝt hy{m} vp by þe brest & vpon borde sette,
Arayned hy{m} ful runyschly what raysou{n} he hade
I{n} such slaȝtes of sorȝe to slepe so faste;
Sone haf þay her sortes sette & serelych deled,
& ay þe lote, vpon laste, lymped on Ionas.
done, doted wretch?]
Þe{n}ne ascryed þay hy{m} sckete, & asked ful loude,
“What þe deuel hatȝ þ{o}u don, doted wrech?
What seches þ{o}u on see, sy{n}ful schrewe,
W{i}t{h} þy lastes so luþ{er} to lose v{us} vchone?
Hatȝ þ{o}u, gome, no gou{er}no{ur} ne god on to calle,
Þat þ{o}u þ{us} slydes on slepe when þ{o}u slayn worþes?
Of what londe art þ{o}u lent, what laytes þ{o}u here
Whyder i{n} worlde þat þ{o}u wylt, & what is þyn arnde?
Lo þy dom is þe dyȝt, for þy dedes ille!
Do gyf glory to þy godde, er þ{o}u glyde hens.”
world’s Creator.]
“I am an Ebru,” q{uod} he, “of Israyl borne;
Þat wyȝe I worchyp, Iwysse, þat wroȝt alle þy{n}ges,
Alle þe worlde w{i}t{h} þe welkyn, þe wynde & þe sternes,
& alle þat woneȝ þer w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne, at a worde one.
Alle þis meschef for me is made at þys tyme,
For I haf greued my god & gulty am fou{n}den;
For-þy bereȝ me to þe borde, & baþeþes me þ{er}-oute,
Er gete ȝe no happe, I hope forsoþe.”
He ossed hy{m} by vnny{n}ges þat þay vnder-nomen,
Þat he watȝ flawen fro þe face of frelych dryȝtyn;
Þe{n}ne such a ferde on hem fel & flayed he{m} w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne,
Þat þay ruyt hy{m} to rowwe & letten þe ry{n}k one.
endeavours are useless.]
Haþeles hyȝed i{n} haste w{i}t{h} ores ful longe,
Sy{n} her sayl watȝ hem aslypped on sydeȝ to rowe;
Hef & hale vpon hyȝt to helpen hym seluen,
Bot al watȝ nedles note, þat nolde not bityde:
In bluber of þe blo flod bursten her ores,
Þe{n}ne hade þay noȝt i{n} her honde þat hem help myȝt;
Þe{n}ne nas no cou{m}fort to keu{er}, ne cou{n}sel non oþer,
Bot ionas i{n}-to his Iuis Iugge bylyue.
Fyrst þay prayen to þe prynce þ{a}t p{ro}phetes seruen,
Þat he gef hem þe g{ra}ce to greuen hy{m} neu{er},
Þat þay i{n} baleleȝ blod þer blenden her handeȝ,
Þaȝ þat haþel wer his, þ{a}t þay here quelled.
Tyd by top & bi to þay token hy{m} sy{n}ne,
I{n}-to þat lodlych loȝe þay luche hy{m} sone;
He watȝ no tytter out-tulde þat tempest ne sessed,
Þe se saȝtled þ{er}-w{i}t{h}, as sone as ho moȝt.
Þe{n}ne þaȝ her takel were torne, þ{a}t tot{er}ed on yþeȝ,
Styffe stremes & streȝt hem strayned a whyle,
Þat drof hem dryȝlych adou{n} þe depe to serue,
Tyl a swetter ful swyþe he{m} sweȝed to bonk.
Þer watȝ louy{n}g on lofte, when þay þe londe wo{n}nen,
To oure mercyable god, on moyses wyse,
W{i}t{h} sacrafyse vp-set, & solempne vowes,
& grau{n}ted hy{m} vn-to be god & graythly non oþ{er};
Þaȝ þay be Iolef for Ioye, Ionas ȝet dredes,
Þaȝ he nolde suffer no sore, his seele is on ant{er};
For what-so worþed of þat wyȝe, fro he i{n} wat{er} dipped,
Hit were a wonder to wene, ȝif holy wryt nere.
Now is ionas þe Iwe Iugged to drowne;
Of þat schended schyp men schowued hy{m} sone.
A wylde walt{er}ande whal, as wyrde þe{n} schaped,
Þat watȝ beten fro þe abyme, bi þat bot flotte,
& watȝ war of þat wyȝe þat þe wat{er} soȝte,
& swyftely swenged hy{m} to swepe & his swolȝ opened;
Þe folk ȝet haldande his fete þe fysch hy{m} tyd hentes,
W{i}t{h}-outen towche of any tothe he tult i{n} his þrote.
The{n}ne he swengeȝ & swayues to þe se boþem,
Bi mony rokkeȝ ful roȝe & rydelande strondes,
Wyth þe mo{n} i{n} his mawe, malskred i{n} drede.
As lyttel wonder hit watȝ ȝif he wo dreȝed,
For nade þe hyȝe heuen ky{n}g, þurȝ his honde myȝt,
Warded þis wrech man i{n} warlowes gutteȝ,
What lede moȝt lyue bi lawe of any kynde,
Þat any lyf myȝt be lent so longe hy{m} w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne?
Bot he watȝ sokored by þat syre þat syttes so hiȝe,
Þaȝ were wauleȝ of wele, i{n} wombe of þat fissche,
& also dryuen þurȝ þe depe, & in derk walt{er}eȝ.
Lorde! colde watȝ his cu{m}fort & his care huge,
For he knew vche a cace & kark þat hy{m} lymped;
How fro þe bot i{n}-to þe blober watȝ w{i}t{h} a best lachched,
& þrwe i{n} at hit þrote, w{i}t{h}-outen þret more,
As mote i{n} at a mu{n}ster dor, so mukel wern his chawleȝ,
the intestines of the fish, came into a space as large as a
He glydes i{n} by þe giles, þurȝ glaymande glette,
Relande i{n} by a rop, a rode þat hy{m} þoȝt,
Ay hele ou{er} hed, ho{ur}lande aboute,
Til he blu{n}t i{n} a blok as brod as a halle;
& þer he festnes þe fete & fathmeȝ aboute,
& stod vp i{n} his stomak, þat stank as þe deuel;
Þ{er} in saym & i{n} sorȝe þat sauo{ur}ed as helle,
Þ{er} watȝ bylded his bour, þat wyl no bale suffer;
& þe{n}ne he lurkkes & laytes where watȝ le best,
In vche a nok of his nauel, bot nowhere he fyndeȝ
No rest ne recou{er}er, bot ramelande myre,
In wych gut so eu{er} he gotȝ; bot eu{er} is god swete;
& þer he lenged at þe last & to þe lede called.
“Now prynce, of þy p{ro}phete pité þ{o}u haue!
Þaȝ I be fol, & fykel, & falce of my hert,
De-woyde now þy vengau{n}ce, þurȝ v{er}tu of rauthe;
Thaȝ I be gulty of gyle as gaule of p{ro}phet{es},
Þ{o}u art god, & alle gowdeȝ ar grayþely þyn owen;
Haf now m{er}cy of þy man & his mys-dedes,
& preue þe lyȝtly a lorde, i{n} londe & i{n} wat{er}.”
for three days and three nights.]
With þat he hitte to a hyrne & helde hy{m} þ{er}-i{n}ne,
Þ{er} no de-foule of no fylþe watȝ fest hy{m} abute;
Þer he sete also sou{n}de, saf for merk one,
As i{n} þe bulk of þe bote, þer he by-fore sleped.
So in a bouel of þat best he bideȝ on lyue,
Þre dayes & þ[r]e nyȝt ay þenkande on dryȝtyn,
His myȝt & his m{er}ci, his mesure þe{n}ne;
Now he knaweȝ hy{m} i{n} care þat couþe not i{n} sele.
Ande eu{er} walt{er}es þis whal bi wyldren depe,
Þurȝ mony a regiou{n} ful roȝe, þurȝ ronk of his wylle,
For þat mote i{n} his mawe mad hy{m}, I trowe,
Þaȝ hit lyttel were, hy{m} wyth to wamel at his hert,
Ande assayled þe segge; ay sykerly he herde
Þe bygge borne on his bak & bete on his sydes;
Þen a prayer ful prest þe p{ro}phete þ{er} maked
On þis wyse, as I wene, his wordeȝ were mony:
“Lorde to þe haf I cleped, i{n} careȝ ful stronge,
Out of þe hole þ{o}u me herde, of hellen wombe
I calde, & þ{o}u knew myn vncler steuen;
Þ{o}u dipteȝ me of þe depe se, i{n}-to þe dy{m}me hert,
Þe grete flem of þy flod folded me vmbe;
Alle þe goteȝ of þy guferes, & grou{n}deleȝ powleȝ,
& þy stryuande stremeȝ of stryndeȝ so mony,
I{n} on daschande dam, dryueȝ me ou{er};
& ȝet I say, as I seet i{n} þe se boþem,
‘Care-ful am I kest out fro þy cler yȝen
& deseu{er}ed fro þy syȝt; ȝet surely I hope,
Efte to trede on þy temple & teme to þy seluen.’
I am wrapped i{n} wat{er} to my wo stou{n}deȝ,
Þe abyme byndes þe body þat I byde i{n}ne;
Þe pure poplande ho{ur}le playes on my heued,
To laste mere of vche a mou{n}t man am I fallen;
Þe barreȝ of vche a bonk ful bigly me haldes,
Þat I may lachche no lont & þ{o}u my lyf weldes;
Þ{o}u schal releue me renk, whil þy ryȝt slepeȝ,
Þurȝ myȝt of þy m{er}cy þ{a}t mukel is to tryste.
For when þacces of anguych watȝ hid i{n} my sawle,
Þe{n}ne I remembred me ryȝt of my rych lorde,
Prayande hi{m} for peté his prophete to here,
Þat in-to his holy ho{us} myn orisou{n} moȝt entre.
I haf meled w{i}t{h} þy maystres mony longe day,
Bot now I wot wyt{er}ly, þat þose vnwyse ledes
Þat affyen hy{m} i{n} vanyté & i{n} vayne þy{n}ges,
For þi{n}k þat mou{n}tes to noȝt, her mercy forsaken;
Bot I dewoutly awowe þat v{er}ray betȝ halden,
Soberly to do þe sacrafyse when I schal saue worþe,
& offer þe for my hele a ful hol gyfte,
& halde goud þat þ{o}u me hetes; haf here my trauthe.”
the prophet on a dry space.]
The{n}ne oure fader to þe fysch ferslych biddeȝ,
Þat he hy{m} sput spakly vpon spare drye;
Þe whal wendeȝ at his wylle & a warþe fyndeȝ,
& þ{er} he brakeȝ vp þe buyrne, as bede hy{m} oure lorde.
Þe{n}ne he swepe to þe sonde i{n} sluchched cloþes,
Hit may wel be þat mest{er} were his mantyle to wasche;
Þe bonk þat he blosched to & bode hy{m} bisyde,
Wern of þe regiou{n}es ryȝt þat he renayed hade;
Þe{n}ne a wynde of goddeȝ worde efte þe wyȝe bruxleȝ,
“Nylt þ{o}u neu{er} to nuniue bi no-ky{n}neȝ wayeȝ?”
“Ȝisse lorde,” q{uod} þe lede, “lene me þy g{ra}ce
For to go at þi gre, me gayneȝ non oþ{er}.”
“Ris, aproche þe{n} to prech, lo þe place here!
Lo! my lore is i{n} þe loke, lance hit þer-{in}ne.”
Þe{n}ne þe renk radly ros as he myȝt,
& to niniue þat naȝt he neȝed ful euen;
Hit watȝ a ceté ful syde & selly of brede,
On to þrenge þ{er}-þurȝe watȝ þre dayes dede.
Þat on Io{ur}nay ful Ioynt Ionas hy{m} ȝede,
Er eu{er} he warpped any worde to wyȝe þ{a}t he mette,
Nineveh shall come to an end.]
& þe{n}ne he cryed so cler, þat ke{n}ne myȝt alle;
Þe trwe tenor of his teme he tolde on þis wyse:
“Ȝet schal forty dayeȝ fully fare to an ende,
& þe{n}ne schal Niniue be nomen & to noȝt worþe;
Truly þis ilk tou{n} schal tylte to grou{n}de,
by the black earth.”]
Vp-so-dou{n} schal ȝe du{m}pe depe to þe abyme,
To be swolȝed swyftly wyth þe swart erþe,
& alle þat lyuyes here-i{n}ne lose þe swete.”
Þis speche sprang i{n} þat space & spradde alle aboute,
To borges & to bacheleres, þat i{n} þat burȝ lenged;
Such a hidor hem bent & a hatel drede,
Þat al chau{n}ged her chere & chylled at þe hert.
Þe segge sesed not ȝet, bot sayde eu{er} ilyche
“Þe verray vengau{n}ce of god schal voyde þis place.”
sackcloth, and cast ashes upon their heads.]
Þe{n}ne þe peple pitosly pleyned ful stylle,
& for þe drede of dryȝtyn doured i{n} hert;
Het{er} hayreȝ þay hent þat asperly bited,
& þose þay bou{n}den to her bak & to her bare sydeȝ,
Dropped dust on her hede & dy{m}ly bisoȝten,
Þat þat penau{n}ce plesed hi{m} þ{a}t playneȝ on her wronge.
& ay he cryes i{n} þ{a}t kyth tyl þe ky{n}g herde;
& he radly vp-ros & ran fro his chayer,
mourns in the dust.]
His ryche robe he to-rof of his rigge naked,
& of a hep of askes he hitte i{n} þe myddeȝ;
He askeȝ heterly a hayre & hasped hy{m} vmbe,
Sewed a sekke þer abof, & syked ful colde;
Þer he dased i{n} þat duste, w{i}t{h} droppande teres,
Wepande ful wonderly alle his wrange dedes.
beasts, women and children, prince, priest, and prelates,
should fast for their sins.]
Þe{n}ne sayde he to his seriau{n}tes, “samnes yow bilyue,
Do dryue out a decre demed of my seluen,
Þat alle þe bodyes þat ben w{i}t{h}-i{n}ne þis borȝ quyk,
Boþe burnes & bestes, burdeȝ & childer,
Vch prynce, vche prest & prelates alle,
Alle faste frely for her falce werkes;
Seseȝ childer of her sok, sogh{e} hem so neu{er},
Ne best bite on no brom, ne no bent nauþ{er},
Passe to no pasture, ne pike non erbes,
Ne non oxe to no hay, ne no horse to wat{er};
Al schal crye for-cle{m}med, w{i}t{h} alle oure clere strenþe,
Þe rurd schal ryse to hy{m} þat rawþe schal haue;
What wote oþer wyte may ȝif þe wyȝe lykes,
Þat is hende i{n} þe hyȝt of his gentryse?
and may forgive us our guilt.]
I wot his myȝt is so much, þaȝ he be mysse-payed,
Þat i{n} his mylde amesy{n}g he m{er}cy may fynde;
& if we leuen þe layk of oure layth sy{n}nes,
& stylle steppen i{n} þe styȝe he styȝtleȝ hy{m} seluen,
He wyl wende of his wodschip, & his wrath leue,
& for-gif v{us} þis gult ȝif we hy{m} god leuen.”
Þe{n}ne al leued on his lawe & laften her sy{n}nes,
Par-formed alle þe penau{n}ce þat þe prynce radde;
& god þurȝ his godnesse forgef as he sayde,
Þaȝ he oþ{er} bihyȝt, [&] w{i}t{h}-helde his vengau{n}ce.
Muche sorȝe þe{n}ne satteled vpon segge Ionas,
He wex as wroth as þe wynde towarde oure lorde,
So hatȝ ang{er} onhit his hert; he calleȝ
when Thy message reached me in my own country?]
A prayer to þe hyȝe prynce, for pyne, on þys wyse:
“I biseche þe syre now þ{o}u self iugge,
Watȝ not þis ilk my worde þat worþen is nouþe,
Þat I kest i{n} my cu{n}tre, when þ{o}u þy carp sendeȝ,
Þat I schulde tee to þys tou{n}, þi talent to preche?
and Thy mercy.]
Wel knew I þi cortaysye, þy quoy{n}t soffrau{n}ce.
Þy bou{n}té of debonerté & þy bene g{ra}ce,
Þy longe abydy{n}g wyth lur, þy late vengau{n}ce,
& ay þy mercy is mete, be mysse neu{er} so huge.
I wyst wel when I hade worded quatsoeu{er} I cowþe,
therefore I fled unto Tarshish.]
To manace alle þise mody men þat i{n} þis mote dowelleȝ,
Wyth a prayer & a pyne þay myȝt her pese gete,
& þer-fore I wolde haf flowen fer i{n}-to tarce.
Now lorde lach out my lyf, hit lastes to longe,
Bed me bilyue my bale sto{ur}, & bry{n}g me on ende,
For me were swett{er} to swelt, as swyþe as me þynk,
Þe{n} lede lenger þi lore, þat þ{us} me les makeȝ.”
Þe sou{n} of oure sou{er}ayn þen swey i{n} his ere,
Þat vpbraydes þis burne vpon a breme wyse:
“Herk renk! is þis ryȝt so ronkly to wrath,
For any dede þat I haf don oþ{er} demed þe ȝet?”
of hay and ever-fern, to shield him from the sun.]
Ionas al Ioyles & Ianglande vp-ryses
& haldeȝ out on est half of þe hyȝe place,
& farandely on a felde he fetteleȝ hy{m} to bide,
For to wayte on þat won what schulde worþe aft{er}.
Þer he busked hy{m} a bo{ur}, þe best þat he myȝt,
Of hay & of eu{er}-ferne & erbeȝ a fewe,
For hit watȝ playn i{n} þat place for plyande greueȝ,
For to schylde fro þe schene, oþ{er} any schade keste.
He bowed vnder his lyttel boþe, his bak to þe su{n}ne,
& þer he swowed & slept sadly al nyȝt,
Þe whyle god of his grace ded growe of þat soyle,
Þe fayrest bynde hy{m} abof þat eu{er} burne wyste.
When þe dawande day dryȝtyn con sende,
Þe{n}ne wakened þe wyȝ vnder wodbynde,
Loked alofte on þe lef þat lylled grene;
Such a lefsel of lof neu{er} lede hade,
For hit watȝ brod at þe boþem, boȝted onlofte,
Happed vpon ayþ{er} half a ho{us} as hit were,
A nos on þe norþ syde & nowhere non elleȝ,
Bot al schet i{n} a schaȝe þat schaded ful cole.
from the sun’s rays.]
Þe gome glyȝt on þe grene g{ra}ciouse leues,
Þat eu{er} wayued a wynde so wyþe & so cole;
Þe schyre su{n}ne hit vmbe-schon, þaȝ no schafte myȝt
Þe mou{n}tau{n}ce of a lyttel mote, vpon þat man schyne,
Þe{n}ne watȝ þe gome so glad of his gay logge,
Lys loltrande þer-i{n}ne, lokande to toune,
So blyþe of his wodbynde he balt{er}es þer vnde[r],
Þat of no diete þat day þe deuel haf, he roȝt;
& eu{er} he laȝed as he loked þe loge alle aboute,
& wysched hit were i{n} his kyth, þer he wony schulde,
On heȝe vpon Effraym oþ{er} ermo{n}nes hilleȝ,
“I-wysse a worþloker won to welde I neu{er} keped.”
& quen hit neȝed to naȝt nappe hy{m} bihoued;
He slydeȝ on a slou{m}be, slep slogh{e} vnder leues,
Whil god wayned a worme þat wrot vpe þe rote,
& wyddered watȝ þe wodbynde bi þat þe wyȝe wakned;
& syþen he warneȝ þe west to waken ful softe,
& sayeȝ vnte ȝefer{us} þat he syfle warme,
Þat þer quikken no cloude bi-fore þe cler su{n}ne,
& ho schal busch vp ful brode & bre{n}ne as a candel.
Þen wakened þe wyȝe of his wyl dremes,
& blusched to his wodbynde þat broþely watȝ marred,
Al welwed & wasted þo worþelych leues;
Þe schyre su{n}ne hade hem schent, er eu{er} þe schalk wyst,
& þe{n} hef vp þe hete & het{er}ly bre{n}ned;
Þe warm wynde of þe weste wert{es} he swyþeȝ.
Þe man marred on þe molde þat moȝt hy{m} not hyde,
His wodbynde watȝ away, he weped for sorȝe,
“With hatel ang{er} & hot, het{er}ly he calleȝ:
A! þ{o}u maker of man, what mayst{er}y þe þynkeȝ
Þ{us} þy freke to forfare forbi alle oþ{er},
W{i}t{h} alle meschef þat þ{o}u may, neu{er} þ{o}u me spareȝ?
I keu{er}ed me a cu{m}fort þat now is caȝt fro me,
My wod-bynde so wlonk þat wered my heued,
Bot now I se þ{o}u art sette my solace to reue;
Why ne dyȝtteȝ þ{o}u me to diȝe; I dure to longe?”
Ȝet oure lorde to þe lede lansed a speche:
“Is þis ryȝt-wys þ{o}u renk, alle þy ronk noyse,
So wroth for a wodbynde to wax so sone,
Why art þ{o}u so waymot wyȝe for so lyttel?”
“Hit is not lyttel,” q{uod} þe lede, “bot lykker to ryȝt,
I wolde I were of þis worlde wrapped i{n} moldeȝ.”
help His handy work.]
“Þe{n}ne byþenk þe mon, if þe for-þynk sore,
If I wolde help my honde werk, haf þ{o}u no wonder;
which cost him no labour?]
Þ{o}u art waxen so wroth for þy wod-bynde,
& trauayledeȝ neu{er} to tent hit þe tyme of an howre,
Bot at a wap hit here wax & away at an oþ{er},
& ȝet lykeȝ þe so luþ{er}, þi lyf woldeȝ þ{o}u tyne;
that He made.]
Þe{n}ne wyte not me for þe werk þat I hit wolde help,
& rwe on þo redles þat remen for sy{n}ne.
Fyrst I made he{m} myself of mat{er}es my{n} one,
& syþen I loked he{m} ful longe & hem on lode hade;
& if I my trauayl schulde tyne of t{er}mes so longe,
place would sink to His heart.]
& type dou{n} ȝonder tou{n} when hit turned were,
Þe sor of such a swete place burde synk to my hert,
So mony malicio{us} mon as mo{ur}neȝ þ{er}-i{n}ne;
& of þat sou{m}me ȝet arn su{m}me such sotteȝ for madde,
As lyttel barneȝ on barme þat neuer bale wroȝt,
& wy{m}men vnwytté þat wale ne couþe
Þat on hande fro þat oþ{er} for alle þis hyȝe worlde,
right hand and their left hand.]
Bitwene þe stele & þe stayre disserne noȝt cu{n}en,
What rule renes i{n} rou{n} bitwene þe ryȝt hande
& his lyfte, þaȝ his lyf schulde lost be þer-for;
sinning.]
& als þer ben dou{m}be besteȝ i{n} þe burȝ mony,
Þat may not sy{n}ne i{n} no syt hem seluen to greue,
Why schulde I wrath wyth hem, syþe{n} wyȝeȝ wyl torne,
& cu{m} & cnawe me for ky{n}g, & my carpe leue?
Wer I as hastif a[s] þ{o}u, heere were harme lu{m}pen,
Couþe I not þole bot as þ{o}u þer þryued ful fewe;
I may not be so mal[i]cio{us} & mylde be halden,
For malyse is noȝ[t] to may{n}tyne boute mercy w{i}t{h}i{n}ne;
Be noȝt so gryndel god man, bot go forth þy wayes.”
afterwards sit with worse ones to sew them together.]
Be preue & be pacient, i{n} payne & i{n} Ioye,
For he þat is to rakel to renden his cloþeȝ,
Mot efte sitte w{i}t{h} more vn-sou{n}de to sewe he{m} togeder.
For-þy when pou{er}té me enpreceȝ & payneȝ i{n}-noȝe,
Ful softly w{i}t{h} suffrau{n}ce saȝttel me bihoueȝ,
For þe penau{n}ce & payne to preue hit i{n} syȝt,
Þat pacience is a nobel poy{n}t, þaȝ hit displese ofte. Amen.
NOTES: _Patience_.
l. 3 _þe swelme leþe_, lessen the heat.
_þen is better to abyde þe bur vmbe-stoundes_,
Then is it better to abide the blow sometimes.
l. 63 _Goddes glam to hym glod_, God’s message came to him.
l. 98 _to the fare_, to the voyage.
_Sprude spak to þe sprete þe spare bawlyne_,
Spread quickly to the sprit the spar bowline (?).
l. 173 _I lovne_, I offer (this advice), propose.
l. 208 _at a worde one_, at a word alone.
l. 247 _as wyrde þen schaped_, as fate then devised.
= hopeless, is perhaps a better reading.
l. 345 _bruxleȝ_, reproaches, upbraids,
l. 395 _for-clemmed_, very hungry, starved.
Errata (noted by transcriber)
*       *       *       *
“The tother withdrewe, _one-dreghe_
And durste do none other.” --(Morte Arthure, p. 352.)
“The tother droȝhe him _o-dreghe_ for drede of the knyȝte.”
ship; Prov. Fr. _adobar_, to arrange, prepare.
“She went up wightly by a wall syde,
Alþer-fayrest, fairest of all, B. 1379.
Alþer-fynest, finest of all, B. 1637.
Alþer-rychest, richest of all, B. 1666.
Alþer-swettest, sweetest of all, B. 699.
_ahmen_. Bavarian, _amen_, _hämen_, to guage a cask, fathom,
measure.
Anon, at once (= anane, onane, in one moment), A. 584.
Anter, peril, C. 242. To _aunter_, put a thyng in daunger, or
adventure, _adventurer_ (Palsgrave).
Apparaylmente, ornaments, A. 1052.
Apparement, ornaments, B. 1270. Fr. _appareiller_, to fit, suit.
Arayned, arraigned, C. 191. O.Fr. _arraisonner_, _arraigner_.
Arewarde, apostate, B. 208. Sc. _areird_, backward.
_arghe_, afraid. Cf. “_Arwe_ or ferefulle (_arwhe_, K. arowe or
ferdfulle P.). Timidus, pavidus, formidolus.” (Prompt. Parv.) The
hesitate, be reluctant.
“A! Anec. quoth the qwene
me _arȝes_ of my selfe,
I am all in aunter, sa
“Sir Alexander and his ost was _arȝed_ unfaire.”
outcry, scream. O.N. _skri_, cry.
Asscry, cry, shout. See _ascry_.
Attled, endeavoured. See _atlyng_.
Auncetereȝ, auncestors, B. 258.
Autly, noble, B. 795. A.S. _áhtlíce_, courageously, manfully.
Auenture, adventure, A. 64. O.Fr. _aventure_.
Bachlereȝ, batchelors, young men not yet raised to the order of
Baleleȝ = baleless, innocent, C. 227.
“To my shepe wylle I stalk, and herkyn anone,
Ther abyde on a _balk_, or sytt on a stone.”
Balleful = baleful, wretched, wicked, B. 979.
Balterande, halting, limping, B. 103. Sc. _balter_, to dance.
Etymologically it is connected with _palter_ and _falter_, and is
steps of the blind.
Baly = bayly, authority, jurisdiction, dominion, A. 1083.
“_Bannet_ worthe the bale tyme þat ho borne was.”
Bastele, B. 1187. “_Bastyle_ of a castelle or cytye. Fascennia.”
N.Prov.E. _bane_, near, convenient. “_Beyn_ or plyaunte.
“Bolde men to batell and _biker_ with hond.”
_beffroir_. M.Lat. _belfredum_. The modern English _belfry_ is a
corruption of _berfray_.
repair; (2) joined with _fyr_ to mend a fire, to light or make a
fire, to kindle.
“Bacus he was brayne-wode for _bebbing_ of wynes.”
Bicalt, becalled, called from, A. 1163.
“And seruanz war at this bridale
_tilt_, shake; (2) to be in danger. William of Shoreham uses one
form of this word:
“For ȝef that water his kende lest
“For if that water its kind loseth,
“Ther (in paradyse) were floures bothe blew and _blake_,
Of alle frutes thei myth ther take.” --(Cov. Myst. p. 2.)
“As _blaȝt_ ere thaire wedis
“A blewe _bleaunt_ obofe brade him al ovir.” --(K. Alex. p. 167.)
Burbulium.” (Prompt. Parv.) “_Blober_ upon water (or bubble)
bouteillis.” (Palsg.) “The water _blubbers_ up.” (Baker,
“þis Abel was a blissid _blod_,
Bot Caim was the findes (devil’s) fode (offspring).”
Blot, spot, blemish, defilement, A. 782.
inquinari_), and of blode, that in tyme of werre ne were nat be
bespreynt, ne be wette with ennemyes blode.” (Quoted by Way, from
signifying to look, glow, blaze, shine, etc.
“The kyng _blyschit_ on the beryne (man) with his brode eghne.”
Bluster, B. 886, to wander or stray about.
“Ac there was wight noon so wys
The wey thider kouthe,
But _blustreden_ forth as beestes
Over bankes and hilles.” --(Piers Ploughman, p. 108.)
_blicken_, shine, glance, look. Du. _blicken_, glitter; _blick_,
a flash.
“Hire bleo _blyketh_ so bryht
So feyr heo is ant fyn.” --(Lyric Poems, p. 52.)
Blykned = blaykned, became black, B. 1759.
Blynde, to become faded, dull, B. 1126.
Blysnande, shining, A. 163. See _blusnande_.
“Þou do me bote again þis _bald_ (bad one)
For al þe soth I haf þe tald.”
Bole, the round stem of a tree, B. 622. It enters also into
composition in the word _throte_-bolle. _Pl._ _bolleȝ_, A. 76.
Icel. _bolr_. Dan. _bul_. Sw. _bål_, trunk of a man’s body. See
prayer (_boone_ P.) Precarium, peticio.” (Prompt. Parv.)
Bongre, willingly, agreeably to, C. 56. See _Gre_.
Borges, burgess; sometimes written _burgeise_, C. 366. O.Fr.
_bourgeois_, from Lat. _burgensis_.
Borne = burne, stream, water, B. 482; _borneȝ heued_, head of the
“Eneas and his feris on the strand
Wery and forwrocht, sped thame to the nerrest land,
And at the cost of Lyby arryvit he.
Ane havyn place with a lang hals or entre
Thar is, with an ile enveronyt on ather part,
To brek the wallis and storm of every art,
Bostwys = busteous, boisterous, rough, fierce, A. 814. Pl. Du.
amends, atonement; _gebétan_, to make amends. Du. _boet_, remedy;
_Bottom_, a valley, is still used in many of our provincial
dialects, and is a frequent element in local names. A.S. _botm_,
lowest point, depth, abyss. Du. _bodem_. Germ. _boden_. Icel.
“And (he) _bownnes_ over a brode mede
“Forth heo gunnen _bugen_
Hoves by hym on a blonke (horse) and his spere holdes.”
“I wende no Bretones walde bee basschede for so lyttille
And fore bare-legyde _boyes_ that one the bente houys.”
_bregne_, Icel. _brok_, sedge. “A _brakane_ filix, a _brakan_,
_buske_ filicarium.” (Cath. Angl.)
“For this word was Saul wrath,
For oft-sith was he bremli brath.”
awake, to leap, start. _Bragth_, quick motion.
“Þe Philistienes wituten les
Ran on Sampson in a res,
Bot Sampson þat selcuth smert,
Ute o þair handes son he stert
And gave a _braid_ sa fers and fast,
Þat alle þe bandes of him brast.”
Brede, board, C. 184. “_Brede_ or lytylle borde. Mensula, tabula,
Breme, full, complete, A. 863. A.S. _breme_, famous, glorious.
_brant_, steep. Sw. _brant_, steep, a precipice.
“A man may syt on a _brante_ hyll syde.”
“Apon the bald Bucifelon _brant_ up he sittes.”
Menging o mode that cums o galle.”
--(The Deadly Sins, in Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii.)
“Thoner o-loft fal sal he (Antichrist) gar,
And tres _brathli_ blomes bere;
_Brathli_ to do the see be reth (stormy)
And _brathli_ to do it be smeth.”
“All þat was bitten of the best (beast)
Brurd-ful, brimful, full up to the brim, B. 383. Chaucer uses
_bret-ful_ in the same sense.
Brutage = bretage, parapets of a wall, ramparts, B. 1190. Fr.
_brych_ is conjectural. Cf. Du. _brack_, refuse, damaged. Ger.
_brechen_, to vomit, _Bryche_ as an adjective occurs in Robt.
“Now ys Pers bycome _bryche_
That er was bothe stoute and ryche.”
In the Romance of Alexander, ed. Stevenson, we find the form
“And on the aȝtent day, eftire the prime
A basilisk in a browe, breis (annoys) thaim unfaire,
A straȝtill and a stithe worme _stinkande_ of elde,
And es so bitter, and so breme, and _bicchid_ (foul) in himselfe,
Brydale, wedding, marriage, B. 142.
“O þis water þat sua stanc
Wa was þam þat it nedings dranc,
Þat toþer oncom þat him felle,
Was frosse þat na tung moght telle,
Þat ute o _brim_ and brokes bred,
“---- no buerne might ffor the _birre_ it abide.”
occurs in the latter version for _þa vðen_ of the older copy.
“& he (she) wist it as wel or bet as ȝif it were hire owne,
Til hit big was & bold to _buschen_, on felde.”
Busk, prepare, made ready, dress, to direct one’s steps towards a
Busyeȝ = busies, troubles, A. 268.
{Byld, Bylded,} built, See _Bulde_.
{Bytaȝt, Bytaȝte,} = betaught, entrusted, confided; _pret._ of
“He plyes ovir the pavement with pallene webis.
Mas on hiȝt ovir his hede for hete of the sone,
Sylours of sendale to sele ovire the gatis,
And sammes thaim on aither side with silken rapis,
And then he _caggis_ up one
“_Callynge_, or clepyng to mete: Invitacio.” (Prompt. Parv.)
Canacle, B. 1461. M.Lat. _canicellus_, a little box, chest.
Capeles, horses, B. 1254. _Capul_ or _caple_, horse. Caballus.
Carneles, battlements, embrasures, B. 1382.
discourse of, A. 752. “_Carpyn_ or talkyn, fabulor, confabulor,
garrulo.” (Prompt. Parv.) Port. _carpire_, cry.
Chaundeler, candlestick, B. 1272.
_cheuele_. Cp. the vulgar phrase “cheek by _jowl_.”
Cheue, achieve, accomplish, B. 1125. Fr. _achever_, to bring to a
_chevetaine_.
Chylled = chilled, shivered, became cold, C. 368.
Chysly = choysly, aptly, well, B. 543.
Ciences, sciences, knowledge, B. 1289.
“So hard was she beseged soth for to telle,
And so harde sautes to the cite were ȝeuen,
That the komli kerneles were to-_clatered_ with engines.”
Clatering, clattering, B. 1515. Du. _klateren_, to rattle.
“I stoppe thys ouyn wythowtyn dowte,
With clay I _clome_ yt uppe ryght fast,
That non heat cum [ther] owte.”
Clenge, cling, stick, B. 1034. Dan. _klynge_, to cluster, crowd.
S.Prov.E. _clunge_, to crowd, squeeze; _clungy_, sticky.
Clente, clenched, fastened, A. 259. Cf. _queynte_ = quenched,
_dreynte_ = drenched.
Clerkeȝ, clerks, scholars, B. 193.
“I wold yonder worthy weddit me hade,
So comly, so cleane to _clippe_ uppon nightes.” --(T. B. 474.)
Cnawe, know, acknowledge, C. 519.
(Prompt. Parv.) The term is still used in the north of England =
gaiters, leggings.
Colwarde, deceitful, B. 181. See note on this word. Cf. _kolsipe_
Con = can, did (used as an auxiliary of the past tense), A. 453;
Condelstik, candlestick, B. 1275.
Conterfete, counterfeit, feign, B. 13.
Controeued, contrived, B. 266.
Contryssyoun, contrition, A. 669.
Coperounes, tops, B. 1461. “_Coporne_ or _coporoun_ of a thyng
“Now bowis forth this baratour and bidis na langir,
Up at a martene mountane, he myns with his ost,
And viii daies bedene the driȝe was and mare,
Or he miȝt covir to the _copp_, fra the cave undire.”
_koste_, to try, attempt. This word is sometimes written _cast_.
Cost, coast, border, side, B. 85.
Countenaunce, appearance, B. 792.
Counterfete, defraud, A. 556.
Courtaysye, courtesy, A. 457.
Couetyse, covetousness, B. 181.
Cowþe, could; cowþeȝ, couldst, A. 484.
Coyntyse, skill, craft, B. 1287. _Coint_, skilful, occurs in
Crokeȝ, reapinghooks, sickles, A. 40.
Crysopase, chrysoprasus, A. 1013.
Dampned, damned, condemned, A. 641.
“For he was _dased_ of the dint and half dede him semyd.”
Daȝed, dawned, became day, B. 1755. See _Dawande_.
Degre, degree, condition, B. 92.
Delful, doleful, sorrowful, B. 400.
Delfully, dolefully, sorrowfully, A. 706.
_dweomer-lake_, magic. A.S. _dweomere_, a juggler.
“And all this _demerlayke_ he did bot be the devylle craftes.”
Denned, resounded. If it does not signify _dinned_, it must mean
settled, took up its abode. A. 51.
Denounce, renounce, forsake, B. 106.
precious.
“Thai dreȝe him up to the drye (land), and he na _dere_ sufird.”
Derþe = dearth, preciousness, value, worth, A. 99. See _Dere_.
Deruely = derfely, quickly, B. 632.
Derworth, precious, beautiful, A. 109. See _Dere_.
Deuysement, description, A. 1019.
Dispayred, in despair, C. 169.
Dispoyled, stripped, C. 95.
Diȝte, order, arrange, B. 1266. A.S. _dihtan_, to set in order,
dispose, arrange, direct, etc.
Dool (dole), sorrow. See _Doel_.
_dutten_, delirare, desipere. (Kilian.) “Maddyn, or _dotyn_,
desipio.” (Prompt. Parv.)
“This stone with his stremys stroyed all the venym,
And _drepit_ the dragon to the dethe negh.” --(T. B. 929.)
“He (the fool-large) is like to an hors that seketh rather to
drynke _drovy_ watir and trouble, than for to drinke water of the
Drowned, was drowned, B. 372.
Droȝthe = drouthe, drought. A.S. _druguth_. Du. _drooghte_. Sc.
Dubbement, adornment, A. 121.
“Þan sal þe rainbow descend,
In hu o galle it sal be kend;
Wit þe wind sal it melle,
And drive þam dun alle until helle;
And _dump_ the devels þider in,
In þair bale alle for to brin.”
--(_Signa Ante Judicium_, in Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii.)
Dunt, blow. See _Dynt_.
Durande, lasting, during, A. 336.
Dan. _daske_, to slap. Icel. _dust_ a blow.
Dutande, shutting, closing (from _dutte_, to shut), B. 320. See
Dyscreuen, describe, A. 68.
Dyscouere, reveal, make known, B. 683.
Dysheriete, disinherit, B. 185.
a corner.
Enbaned, supported (?), B. 1459. Sir F. Madden renders it
_ornamented_.
Enclynande, inclining, bowing, A. 236.
Enpoysened, poisoned, B. 242.
Enprysonment, imprisonment, B. 46.
Enquylen, obtain, C. 39. See _Aquyle_.
“Eson afterward _erdand_ on lyffe,
Endured his dayes drowpyaite (? _drowpande_) on age.”
Ernde, errand, message, C. 52. See _Arende_.
Famacion, defamation, B. 188.
“Þe caf he cast o corn sum quile,
In þe flum þat hatt þe Nile;
For-qui þat flum þat rennes þar,
Til Joseph hus it has þe _fare_.”
(_a_) “Als I sat upon that lawe,
I bigan Denemark for to awe,
The borwes, and the castles stronge,
And mine armes weren so longe,
That I _fadmede_, al at ones,
Denemark with mine longe bones.” --(Havelok the Dane, l. 1291.)
Felaȝschyp, fellowship, B. 271.
Feloun, sinner, criminal, B. 217.
Fere, a companion; _in fere_, in company, together, A. 89, 884;
“The freike upon faire
“He salle _ferkke_ before
And I salle come aftyre.” --(Morte Arthure, p. 347.)
“Now _ferkes_ to the fyrthe,
“The kyng _ferkes_ furthe
In T. B. 185, it is used transitively. The verb _to ferk_ seems
to be related to the Eng. _firk_, a quick movement, jerk, etc.
A.S. _frician_, to dance.
Ferlyly, exceedingly, B. 962.
to transport; set over.
Fetly = featly, aptly, fitly, B. 585. See _fete_.
Prov.E. _fettle_, set in order, etc. O.Fris. _fitia_, to adorn.
Fetysely, handsomely, beautifully, B. 1462.
Feȝtande, fighting, struggling, B. 404.
Filed, defiled. See _Fyled_.
Flakerande, flickering, fluttering, B. 1410. Ger. _flackern_, to
flare, blaze, flutter.
Flaunke, spark, B. 954. Prov.E. _flanker_, a flying spark. Pl. D.
Flaȝt, plot of ground, a flat, A. 57.
a mill-stream. Norse, _flom_, _flaum_, flood, overflow of water;
_flauma_, to overflow.
“Childer,” he said, “yee list and lete,
I sagh caf on þe water _flete_.”
Flurted, flowered, figured, A. 208.
Flyt, force, literally chiding, B. 421. O.S. _flit_, contention.
Folmarde. Properly the beech-martin, but commonly applied to the
“Bot ai þe quils he ne _fan_
To behald þe leve maidan.” --(Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii, fol. 20a.)
For-didden, did away with, A. 124.
Forfyne, lastly.
{Forgart, Forgarte,} = for-did, lost, _pret._ of for-gar, ruin,
Foriusted, overthrown, defeated, B. 1216. Fr. _jouster_, to tilt.
Forloteȝ = forleteȝ, forsake, B. 101.
“Þe laghes bath he (Adam) þan _forlete_
Bath naturel and positif.” --(Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii. fol. 52b.)
Formast, first, foremost, B. 494.
For-payned, severely troubled, A. 246.
Forselet, a fortified place, B. 1200. “_Forcelet_, stronge place
Forsette, compass, B. 78.
Forsothe, forsooth, indeed, C. 212.
“The kyng fraystez [seeks] a _furth_ over the fresche strandez,
One a strenghe by a streme in thas straytt landez.”
_fore-weard_. “_Forwarde_, or cuuinawnt, convencio, pactum.”
Forwroȝt, over-worked, weary, C. 163.
“Quen we suppose in our sele
to sit alther heist,
Than _fondis_ furth dame fortoun
to the flode ȝates,
Draȝes up the damme borde
“Fflorent and Floridas with fyve
score knyghttez,
ffollowede in the foreste, and on the
way _foundys_,
Fflyngande a faste trott,
and on the folke dryffes.”
Foundemente, foundation, A. 993.
Foundered, destroyed, perished, B. 1014.
“Onone as thai on Alexander
and on his ost waites,
Thai flee as fast into flode,
and to the _founce_ plungid.”
Fowled, became defiled, foul. B. 269.
“Bot wete thou wele this iwis, within a wale time,
Fra that I _fraist_ have that faire (faice?) of my faire lady,
I sall the seke with a sowme of seggis enarmed.”
“Israel wit þis uplepp,
Þat moght noght forwit strid a step,
Witouten asking help of sun;
Þat quak wit ilk lim was won,
Þat first for eild moght noght spek,
To bidd hast now es nan sa frek.”
Froþande, frothing, frothy, filthy, B. 1721.
Fryst, delay, put off, B. 743. A.S. _fyrstan_, to give respite;
_fyrst_, a space of time, interval. Icel. _frest_, delay; “_to
frist_, to trust for a time” (Ray); to delay (Jam.).
Fykel, treacherous, deceitful, C. 283.
Fylter, huddle together, B. 224; join, B. 696; meet together in
battle, B. 1191; become ragged, entangled. Prov.E. _felter_,
“His fax and his foretoppe was _filterede_ togeder.”
fright, trembling; _forht_, fearful, timid.
Garnyst, garnished, ornamented, B. 1277.
_gain_, to be fit or suitable.
Gaȝafylace, royal treasury, B. 1283.
Gendered, engendered, B. 300.
_gearwan_; _gearwian_, make ready, prepare, supply.
“and-_gitan_,” get, know, understand.
rattle. Sc. _glamer_, noise, clatter.
“Alle thire he closis in that cliffe, and cairis on forthire,
To the occyann at the erthes ende, and, ther in an ilee, he heres
“Sir,” sais syr Gawayne,
“So me gode helpe,
Siche _glaverande_ gomes
greves me bot lyttille.” --(Morte Arthure, p. 212.)
See extract under word _glam_.
_glint_, to gleam. Dan. _glindse_, to glisten; _glindre_, to
glitter.
“The schaftes of the schire sone schirkind the cloudis,
And gods glorious gleme _glent_ tham emannge.”
“Glissonand as the glemes þat _glenttes_ of þe snaw.”
{Glet, Glette,} dirt, mud, slime, and hence filth, sin, A. 1060;
Gloped, was terrified, frightened, amazed, B. 849. O.N. _glapa_,
stare, gaze, gape. O.Fris. _glupa_, to look, peep. Dan. _glippe_,
“Bees not _aglopened_ madame ne greved at my fadire.”
“Thane _glopned_ the glotone and glorede unfaire.”
“O, my hart is rysand in a _glope_!
For this nobylle tythand thou shalle have a droppe.”
Glopnedly, fearfully, B. 896.
Glotoun, a wicked wretch, a loose fellow, a ribald, B. 1505.
_glent_, to look. So also _stare_ signifies not only to look
steadfastly at, but to shine, glitter.
Glwande, glowing, shining, bright, C. 94.
Glydande, going, walking, B. 296.
Glyfte, became frightened, B. 849. Originally to stare, look
astonished.
“Þys munke stode ande lokede þarto,
And hade þerof so moche drede,
Þat he wende have go to wede:
As he stode so sore _aglyfte_
Hys ryȝt hande up he lyfte,
Ande blessede hym self stedfastly.”
_glyssa_, to sparkle, glitter.
evidently another form of _glyȝt_. Cf. N.Prov.E. _glea_, _aglea_,
_nithing_, a miser. A.S. _gnethen_, moderate, sparing.
“Sua lang has thir tua boght þair sede,
Þat þair moné wex al _gnede_.”
“Bot fra þair store bigan to sprede
“Bot al he tok in godds nam,
And thold luveli al þat scam;
For al to _gnede_ him thoght þe gram
Þat he moght thol on his licam” --(_Ibid._ fol. 51a.)
{God, Gode,} good, wealth. See _Goud_.
Gostly, spiritual, ghostly, A. 790.
kennel, conduit. A.S. _geotan_, to pour.
“As _gotes_ out of _guttars_ in golanand, (glomand ?) wedors,
So voidis doun the venom be vermyns schaftes.”
“On Gydo, a gome þat _graidly_ had soght,
And wist all þe werks by weghes he hade.” --(T. B. 229.)
Cf. _Graiþe_ = ready.
_gret_. Fr. _gré_, will, pleasure. Lat. _gratus_, pleasing.
Greme, spot, blemish, A. 465. Norse _grima_, a spot.
Gromylyoun, the herb _gromwell_, grey millet, (Lithospermum
Grounde, ground, sharpened, A. 654.
Groundeleȝ, bottomless, C. 310.
Grychchyng, _sb._ murmuring, repining, C. 53.
Gryspyng, _sb._ gnashing of the teeth. A.S. _grist-bítung_.
Gyn, machine; applied to the ark, B. 491; to a boat, C. 146.
“Þan was Jacob busked yare,
Wit al þe _gynge_ þat wit him ware.”
Hagherlych, fitly, B. 18. See _Haȝerly_.
Hale, flow, A. 125. The original meaning is to drag along. Ger.
Hampre, to pack up for removal, B. 1284.
Hapeneȝ, is blessed, B. 27.
“Lord, what (lo) these weders ar cold, and I am ylle _happyd_.”
cloþys (_happyn_ to-gedyr, S.; _wrap_ to-geder in clothes, P.)
Hard, coarse cloth made of tow, “_hard_ hattes,” B. 1209. A.S.
_heordan_, _heordas_, hards, refuse of tow.
“Sum araies thaim in ringes, and sum in row breuys,
With _hard hattes_ on thaire hedis hied to thaire horsis.”
Hardyly, boldly, A. 3.
_harloteȝ_, harlot’s, B. 34; harlots, B. 860. This term was not
originally confined to females, nor even to persons of bad
character. W. _herlawd_, _herlod_, a youth; _herlodes_, a damsel.
nugatur, scurrulus, manducus. An _harlottry_, lecacitas,
inurbanitas,” etc. To “do _harlottry_, scurrari.” Cath. Ang. in
“Ffore _harlottez_ and _hause-mene_ (house-men) salle helpe bott
Harlottrye, profane speaking, B. 579.
please; _haagelig_, agreeable, acceptable.
Helded, approached, B. 39.
“Þir brether _helid_ ai forth þair wai
Þat to þair fader ful suith com þai.”
“Bede his doughter come downe and his _dere heire_.” (T. B. 389.)
“Qua folus lang wit uten turn,
Oft his fote sal find a spurn;
Reu his res þan sal he sare,
Or _heuen_ his harme with foli mare.”
Heuen-ryche, the kingdom of heaven, A. 719; C. 14.
“Þai turne into Tessaile withouten tale more,
_Hit_ up into a havyn all the hepe samyn.” --(T. B. 991.)
Hokyllen, beat, B. 1267. Is this an error for _hollkyen_? See
Hommes, hams, thighs, B. 1541. O.N. _höm_, the back of the thigh.
“And Alexander alle that quile asperly rydis
To the grete flode of Granton, and it one a glance fyndes,
Or he was soȝt to the side ȝit sondird the qweryns,
His hors it _hunyschist_ for evir, and he with hard schapid.”
Hourlande, rolling, rushing, hurling, C. 271.
suspend.
“Then come ther in a litill brid into his arme fleȝe,
And ther _hurkils_ and hydis as sche were hande tame,
Fast scho flekirs about his fete, and fleȝtirs aboute.”
Hyȝe, high grounds, heights, B. 391.
Hyȝtled, ornamented, decorated, B. 1290.
“He had a hatt on his hede _hiȝtild_ o floures.”
Inobedyent, disobedient, B. 237. Fr. _inobedient_.
Janglande, muttering, C. 90. O.Fr. _jangler_, to chatter.
“The Lieutenant of the Tower advising Sir Thomas Moor to put on
shall I count him a _javel_ who is to doe me so great a benefit.”
Jumpred (? _Jumpre_ from A.S. _geomer_, miserable, sad), trouble,
Justyfyet, justified, A. 700.
Knyt, knit, unite, establish, B. 564.
Koynt = quaint, curious, crafty, B. 1382.
Kynneȝ, “alle kynneȝ = of every kind,” A. 1028.
Kyntly = kyndly, naturally, A. 690.
Kyryous = curious, careful, particular, B. 1109.
_cíthan_, to make known.
“Ther was a kyng in þat coste þat þe _kithe_ ought.”
Bavarian _lallen_, to speak thick, talk. Gr. λαλειν, to
talk.
“The word _lap_, according to many ancient writers, signified the
‘Car par deuant avez eskours (_lappes_),
Et d’en costé sont vos girouns (sidgoren).’
It denoted, likewise, the hinder skirt.” (Way in Prompt. Parv.)
Lasched, B. 707. ? became hot, lascivious.
_laistjan_, to follow after.
_lästerung_, slander.
_lathing_, invitation.
Lauande, pouring, flowing, B. 366.
Launceȝ, branches (of trees), A. 978.
Sweys into Swaldye with his snelle houndes,
For to hunt at the hartes in thas hye _laundes_.”
Is the richt place and sted for ȝour cite,
And of ȝour travell ferm hald to rest in _le_.”
“Þe wicked alsua þe gode sal se,
Wit-in þair gamen stad and gle,
Þat þai þe sorfuller sal be,
Þat losen folili has þat _le_.” (_i.e._, heaven).
--(“De Penis,” quoted in “Hampole’s Pricke of Conscience,” l. 4,
Lefsel, bower, house formed of leaves, C. 448.
“By a lauryel ho (Dame Gaynour) lay, vndur a _lefe-sale_,
Of box and of barberè, byggyt ful bene.”
--(The Anturs of Arther in Robson’s Met. Rom. p. 3, vi. 5.)
“With _lefsales_ uppon lofte lustie and faire.” (T. B. 337.)
glossary to Wright’s edition. Tyrwhitt’s derivation of this term
Lent, arrived, C. 201. A.S. _gelandian_, to land, arrive.
“Langour _lent_ is in land, all lychtnes is lost.”
Lettrure, letters, learning, A. 751.
Lomerande, hesitating, creeping, B. 1094. This term seems to be
connected with _lumber_. O.E. _lumer_, _lomer_, to move heavily.
O.Du. _lammer_, _lemmer_, impedimentum, molestia. (Kil.) Dan.
_belemre_. Du. _belemmern_, to encumber, impede.
with O.N. _leyna_, to hide, conceal?
Losynger, _sb._ liar, deceiver. O.Fr. _losengier_.
“Than have we liking to lithe (listen to) the _lates_ of the
“(He) _late_ so lathely a _late_ and sa loude cried
That all the fest was aferd and othire folke bathe.”
“He gaped, he groned faste, with grucchande _latez_.”
Loute, bow, make obeisance. B. 798. See _Lote_.
English authors. O.N. _lofi_. Sc. _loof_.
The licor in his awen (one) _loove_,
Loueloker, more lovely, A. 148.
Lowkande, locking, shutting, B. 441.
_lyccan_, pull, lutch.
Lufsoum, _sb._ lovesome, beloved one, A. 398.
Luuy, love. See _Louy_.
Lyflode, sustenance in life, B. 561. A.S. _lif-láde_, from _lád_,
Lyftande, lifting, rising, B. 443.
Lylled, flourished, shone, C. 447. N.Prov.E. _lilli-lo_, a bright
Lyþerly, badly, negligently, B. 36.
Mache, to make familiar with, C. 99.
“_Madding_ marrid has thi mode, and thi mynd changid.”
“Þe king him (Joseph) did a wiif to tak,
Hight Assener, a doghti _mak_.”
Malscrande, accursed, B. 991.
Malskred, bewildered, C. 255. Bosworth quotes “_malscra_, a
bewitching,” upon the authority of Somner.
converse; _mathelian_, _mæthlan_, to discourse.
Manerly, properly, decently, B. 91.
_myrran_, to hinder. Du. _merren_, to obstruct.
Mase (masse), astonishment, alarm, B. 395.
Mate, dejected, downcast, subdued, A. 386. Fr. _mat_.
force, strength. O.N. _megin_, strength; _mega_, to be able.
Mayntnaunce, maintenance, B. 186.
boundary.
_mearcian_. O.N. _merkia_, to mark, perceive, signify.
Mese, moderate, temper, assuage, B. 764. See _Methe_.
“Sir Pylate mefe you now no more,
But _mese_ youre hart, and mend youre mode.”
“Kyng Eolus set hie apon his chare,
With ceptoure in hand, thar muyd (mood) to _meys_ and stille.”
“A _mes_ you of malice,
Mesurable, mild, temperate, B. 859.
Mete, meat, food, applied to an apple, A. 641.
“And Mari ledd hir life with _methe_
In a toun that hiht Nazarethe.” --(Met. Hom. p. 107.)
Meyny, labourers, servants, A. 542; household, B. 331; company,
Mistrauthe, unbelief, B. 996.
“Loo! here the duchez dere to daye was cho takyne,
Mon-sworne, perjury, B. 182. Other forms of this word are
_main-sworn_, _man-sworn_. O.H.Ger. _meinsweridi_, perjury, from
“Þe bryght ceté of heven is large and brade,
Of whilk may na comparyson be made
Tille na ceté þat on erth may stand,
Ffor it was never made with mans hand.
Bot yhit, als I ymagyn in my thoght,
I lyken it tylle a ceté þat war wroght
Of gold, of precyouse stones sere,
Opon a _mote_, sett of berylle clere,
With walles, and wardes, and turrettes,
And entré, and yhates, and garrettes.”
“A common cry at Coventry on Good Friday is--
‘One a penny, two a penny, hot cross buns,
Butter them and sugar them and put them in your _muns_.’”
Murte, break, crush, C. 150. Pl. D. _murten_, to crush. See
_to-murte_. In T. B. 4312 we have _myrte_ = to crush. Bothe
mawhownus & maumettes _myrtild_ in peces.
Myke, _sb._ B. 417. Cf. Du. _mik_. The crutches of a boat, which
“‘Has þou her,’ þai said, ‘ani man,
Sun or doghter, _mik_ or mau,
To þe langand, or hei or lau
Þou lede þam suith out o þis tun
Ar þat hit be sunken don.’”
But ? _be mykeȝ_ = he _mykeȝ_, he chooses.
Mynge, record, mention, A. 855. A.S. _myngian_, to remind.
Myryly, pleasantly, joyously, B. 493.
Myse-tente, misunderstood, A. 257.
Nadde = ne hadde, had not, B. 404.
Nedde, needed, A. 1044; hem nedde = they needed.
“The Bibel telles us openlye
Of Nembrot and his maistri,
Hou the fole that was wit him
Bigan to mak a tour that tim,
That suld reche to the lifte;
Bot Godd that skilfulli kan skift.
Mad them alle serely spekand,
That nan moht other understand,
And gert them lef thair wilgern werk,
Bot of thair _not_ yet standes merk,
In Babilony the tour ȝet standes,
That that folk mad wit thair handes.” --(Met. Hom. p. 61.)
Nowþelese, nevertheless, A. 889.
“I Alexandre the aire and eldest childe hattene,
Of kyng Philip the fers, that fest am in Grece,
And of the quene Olimpades, the _oddest_ under heven,
The sise of alle the grete see and of the gryme wawys,
Of the ordere of that _odde_ home [heaven] that overe the aire
Olipraunce, vanity, fondness for gay apparel, B. 1349. Prov.E.
_olypraunce_, a merry making.
“Of tournamentys y preue thereynne
Seven poyntes of dedly synne;
Fyrst ys pryde, as þou wel wost
Avauntement, bobaunce and bost;
Of rych atyre ys here avaunce,
Prykyng here hors wyth _olypraunce_.”
Ordenaunce, ordinance, B. 698.
“Quat and has thou _ossed_ to Alexander
Panne, head, but we may read _paune_, paws, claws, B. 1697.
Papeiay = a popinjay, a parrot, B. 1465. It. _papagallo_. O.Fr.
_papegau_, _papegay_. Sp. _papagayo_, parrot.
Parget, plaister of a wall, B. 1536. “_Pariette_ for walles,
blanchissure.” (Palsg.)
Partleȝ, partless, portionless, A. 335.
Partrykes, partridges, B. 57.
Penitotes, (? _Peritotes_), a kind of stone (the _peritot_ or
Pented, appertained, belonged to, B. 1270.
Peraunter, peradventure, B. 43.
“Hwan he hauede him so schamed,
His hand (he) of _plat_, and yvele lamed.”
Play-fere, play-fellow, companion, C. 45.
Plek, place, plot of ground, B. 1379. “_Pleckke_ or plott,
“Se that the hare hathe be at pasture in grene corne, or in eny
Plete, demand, plead for, A. 563.
_pulmentum_. “_Pulmentarium_ a _pulment_.” Nominale, MS.
“His brother (Jacob) he fand give--and his tent
To grayth a riche _pulment_.”
Poplande, rushing, foaming, C. 319. N.Prov.E. _popple_, to tumble
“The wawis of the wild see apone the wallis betes,
The pure _populand_ hurle passis it umby.” --(K. Alex. p. 40.)
“And on the stanys owt thar harnys [he] dang,
Quhil brayn and eyn and blude al _poplit_ owt.”
Porfyl, hem, A. 216. Fr. _pourfiler_, to work upon the edge,
Poyned, trimmed, ornamented, A. 217.
Prechande, preaching, B. 942.
“Fra þan forth heild Sir Moyses
Þis wandes bath in _pris_ and _pres_.”
Propertéȝ, properties, A. 752.
Prosessyoun, procession, A. 1096.
Pyne = pynd, fasten, C. 79. A.S. _pyndan_, to shut in.
Quauende, flowing, waving, B. 324.
Quoyntyse, device, C. 39. See _Quayntyse_.
“A _rak_ and a royde wynde rose in her saile.” --(T. B. 1984)
softened form of _rayke_ (Icel. _reika_, to go), to go. S.Sax.
“Vn-to the gryselyche gost Syr Gauane is gone,
And rayket to hit in a res, for he was neuyr _radde_;
_Rad_ was he neuyr ȝette, quoso ryȝte redus.”
speedily.
“The sight of þat semely sanke in hir herte,
And rauysshed hir _radly_ þe rest of hir sawle.” --(T. B. 462)
cursitare. In T. B. rape = to hasten (818).
Ratted, rent, ragged, B. 144; from O.E. _ratte_, to tear, rend.
N.Prov.E. _rats_, pieces, fragments. Fris. _rite_, tear, pull.
“Thane the Romayns relevyde that are ware rebuykkyde,
And alle _to-rattys_ oure mene with theire risté horsses.”
a prostitute. (Burguy.)
{Redles, Redeles,} without counsel, uncertain, fearful, B. 1197;
straight, orderly.
Relusaunt, shining, A. 159. O.Fr. _reluire_, to shine.
Renischche, foreign, strange, B. 96. See _Runische_.
Renyschly, fiercely, B. 1724. See _Runische_.
Reset, resting place, seat, abode, A. 1067.
Respecte, “in respecte of,” A. 84.
Restleȝ = restless, unceasing, B. 527.
Retrete, treat of, A. 92.
Ridlande, dropping (as out of a sieve), oozing, B. 953. A.S.
_hriddel_, a sieve; _hridrian_, to sift.
Rifteȝ, pieces, fragments, B. 964.
_roppas_, the bowels, entrails, the _raps_. Cf. A.S. _rop_-weorc,
“Huervore he (the liar) is ase the gamelos (chameleon), thet
leveth by the eyr, and naȝt ne heth ine his _roppes_ bote wynd,
and heth ech manere colour, thet ne heth non (of) his oȝen.”
Roun = rune, discourse, C. 514. A.S. _rún_, a letter, character,
mystery, council, conversation.
Rowned, sounded, C. 64. A.S. _rúnian_, to whisper.
Roȝly, roughly, B. 433. Is it an error for _rwly_, sorrowful?
“(He) _riches_ him radly to ride and remowis his ost.”
streaked.
Ruful, sorrowful, pitiful, A. 916.
a mystery.
Runyschly, fiercely, roughly, C. 191. _Renisch_ or _runisch_,
“Than has sire Dary dedeyne and derfely he lokes;
Rysys him up _renysche_ and reȝt in his sete.”
Ruyt, hasten, endeavour, C. 216. Fris. _rite_, to pull.
Rydelande, drifting, C. 254. See _Ridlande_.
Rydelles, without counsel, uncertain, B. 969. See _Redeles_.
“Forþi he hight (promised) þam giftes _riif_,
Þat suld bring David of his liif;
In feild and tun, in frith and felle,
Saul soght David for to quelle.”
“Now if ye have suspowse to Gille or to me,
Com and _rype_ oure howse, and then may ye se who had hir.”
Sardiner, sardine stone, B. 1469.
Saundyuer, sandever, glass-gall, B. 1036.
Sauerly, savourly, sweet, A. 226.
“Swa sal I _saine_ þe in lif mine,
Sic benedicam te in vita mea,
And sal lift mi handes in name thine,
Et in nomine tuo levabo manus meas.” --(Psalm lxii. 5.)
Saȝttel, to be calm, patient, C. 529.
hurtful.
“Lokez the contree be clere the corners are large:
Discoveres now sekerly skrogges and other,
That no _skathelle_ (hurtful thing) in the skroggez skorne us
here-aftyre;
Loke ȝe skyfte it so that no _skathe_ lympe.”
Schadowed, shaded, A. 42.
Was forged all of fyne gold, and fret fulle of perrils,
Stiȝt staffulle of stanes that straȝt out bemes
As it ware schemerand _schaftis_ of the schire sonne.”
Scheldeȝ, shields (of a boar), B. 58.
beautiful; _scine_, splendour.
“For in a slac thou shalle be slayn,
Seche ferlès _schyn_ falle!”
Schomely, shamefully, C. 128.
Schorne (gold), purified, refined, A. 213. See _Schere_.
Schrewe, a wicked person, a wretch, B. 186; C. 77.
Schrewedschyp, wickedness, B. 580.
Schrylle = shrill, clear, A. 80.
“He schodirde and schrenkys and _shontes_ bott lyttille.”
“ȝa werpes tham up (the ȝates) quoth
the wee, and wide open settes,
If at ȝe schap ȝow to _schount_ unschent
Sclaȝt, slaughter, B. 56.
Scoghe, scoff, or perhaps perverseness, backsliding, A. 610. A.S.
Scoumfit, discomfited, B. 151.
Scowte-wach, sentinel, guard, B. 838.
“Thane the price mene prekes and proves theire horsez,
Satilles to the cete appone sere halfes;
Enserches the subbarbes sadly thare-aftyre,
And skyrmys a lyttille;
Skayres thaire skottefers
Scoymous, particular, scrupulous, fearful, B. 21, 1148.
Sele, happiness, bliss, C. 5. See _Seele_.
“For thou has samned, as men sais, a _selly_ noimbre
Of wrichis and wirlinges out of the west endis,
Of laddis and of losengers and of litille thevys.”
Seme, to be fitting, become, B. 793.
Sengeley, ever, constantly, A. 8. A.S. _singallíce_, perpetually.
Serelych, severally, separately, C. 193.
Sergaunt, a royal servant, a squire, B. 109.
Seriaunte, sergeant, C. 385. See _Sergaunt_.
Serkyndeȝ, diverse kinds, B. 336.
Serlypeȝ, diverse, different, separate, A. 994.
_scylan_, to separate, divide; _pret._ _scel_.
“Skairen out skoute wacche for _skeltyng_ of harme.”
“Scho gaffe _skirmande_ skrikes at all the skowis range.”
Or does it here signify to look about, like Prov.E. skime? O.N.
_Skima_, to look about.
“(Sire Telomew) cairys into a cabayne, quare the kyng ligges,
Fand him _slomande_ and on slepe, and sleely him rayses.”
“And _slydyn_ uppon slepe by slomeryng of age.” --(T. B. 6.)
Slyke, slide, slip. O.N. _slikja_, to make smooth. See _Atslyke_.
Smachande, smelling, savouring, B. 955.
Smolderande, smouldering, smothering, B. 955.
Smolt, be at peace, quiet, B. 732. A.S. _smolt_, serene, clear.
Prov.E. _molt_-water, clear exudation; _smolt_, smooth, clear.
Soerly, an error for _Soberly_, B. 117.
Soffraunce, forbearance, C. 417.
a noise; _swógan_, to sound, howl. Du. _zwoegen_, to pant, puff.
Sped-whyle, a short space of time, a moment, B. 1285.
Spenned, allured, enticed away, A. 53. A.S. _spanan_. N.Prov.E.
_span_, to wean from.
Spitous, fell, abominable, B. 845.
Spitously, fiercely, angrily, B. 1220.
“Now aithir stoure on ther stedis,
_Spurnes_ out spakly with speris in hand.” --(K. Alex. p. 27.)
Spryngande, springing, A. 35.
“Than vmbyclappis thaim a cloude and covirs all ovir,
As any _pynnand_ pik (pitch) the planets it hidis.”
Sputen = spouted, uttered, B. 845.
Spyrakle, breath, spirit, B. 408.
“Lia he (Jacob) _stalle_ until his bedd.”
Stalworþest, bravest, B. 255.
“_Stagnum_, a pounde, a _stanke_, a dam.”
“Many _starand_ stanes strikes of thair helmes.”
“As ai stremande sternes _stared_ alle thaire wedes.”
“A hundreth daies and a halfe he held be tha playnes,
Till he was comen till a cliffe, at to the cloudis semed,
That was so _staire_ and so stepe, the storé me tellis,
Miȝt ther no wee, bot with wynges, winne to the topp.”
“With that _stairis_ he forth the stye that streȝt to the est.”
Stele, a step (of a ladder), C. 513. See _Stale_.
“This ilke laddre (that may to hevene leste) is charite,
The _stales_ gode theawis.” --(Poems of Wm. of Shoreham, p. 3.)
Stemme = stem, to stop, delay, B. 905. The same root occurs in
_stammer_, stumble, etc. Sw. _stämma_, to dam.
“Sothe stories ben _stoken_ up & straught out of mind.”
“Quat! wyns (wenis) þou I am a hund,
Wit þi stans me for to _stund_.”
“A _store_ man of strength and of stuerne will.” --(T. B. 538.)
Stote, stand, stop still, A. 149. Dan. _stötte_, stay, support.
“Anone to the forest they found (go),
There they _stoted_ a stound.” --(Sir Degrevant, 225.)
“Ffurth he stalkis a stye, by tha stille euys,
_Stotays_ at a hey strette, studyande hym one.”
“Than he _stotays_ for made, and alle his strenghe faylez.”
Stounde, blow, and hence sorrow, A. 20. See _Stonde_.
“Son efter-ward, it was not lang,
Gain Saul þai gaf batail strang;
Þaa sarȝins þan þe king umsett,
In hard _stur_ þai samen mett;
Ful snaip it was þair, _stur_ and snelle,
Stowned, troubled, astonished, C. 73. A.S. _stunian_.
Stremande, shining, A. 115. See extract under the word _Staren_.
Streny, strain, toil, labour, A. 551.
“Midward þat land a wel springes,
Þat rennes out wit four _strandes_,
Fflummes farand in fer landes.”
“Quen thai war passed over _strand_,
And raght apon þe toiþer land,
“O pride bicums unbuxumnes,
Strif and _strutt_ and frawardnes.”
--(The Seven Deadly Sins, in Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii.)
Strynde = strond, stream, C. 311.
Stynst, a mistake for stynt, stop, A. 353.
Stysteȝ = stynteȝ, stops, B. 359.
“Unstithe for to stire or _stightill_ the Realme.” --(T. B. 117.)
Suffraunce, endurance, patience, C. 3, 529.
renders it “_to swallow_”!
“Oure inward enmys ilkane we inwardly drepis,
That is to say alle the sin, at _solp_ may ȝe (the ?) saule.”
Sumkyn, of some kind, A. 619.
Sum quat, some sort of, B. 627.
Sunderlupes, severally, C. 12.
“He swynges out with a swerd and _swappis_ him to dethe.”
“With a swinge of his sworde _swappit_ hym in þe fase.”
Swayf, blow, literally, a sudden movement. See _Swayue_.
Swythe swyngis out his swerde and his _swayfe_ feches,
The nolle of Nicollas, the kyng, he fra the nebb partis.”
Swelme, heat, C. 3. A.S. _swell_, a burning; _swélan_, to burn,
“[He] lete asauage, or he sware (spoke), the _swelme_ of his
“Whan this was seide, his hert began to melt
For veray _sweme_ of this _swemeful_ tale.”
“He _swynges_ out with a swerd and swappis him to dethe.”
A.S. _swingan_, to swing, dash.
Swepe, to seize, C. 341. A.S. _swipian_, to take by violence.
“And alle at lent ware on loft loste ther the _swete_.”
“---- the brande es myne awene
Many swayne, with the swynge [struck], has the _swete_ levede.”
“All the kene mene of kampe, knyghtes and other,
Killyd are colde dede and castyne over burdez
Theire swyers sweyftly has the _swete_ levyde.”
press. See _Sve_.
Swyed = sweyed, followed, B. 87.
_swíth_, strong, great; _swíthe_, very, greatly.
“Mi Gode, als whele set þam,
Als stubble bi-fore wind lickam
Als fire that brennes wode swa;
_siofian_, mourn, lament.
“With that the segge all himselfe _silis_ to his chambre.”
Synglerty, singularity, singleness, A. 429.
Synglure, uniqueness, A. 8.
“Jacob wen he was mast in _siit_,
God lighted him witouten _liit_.”
“This tre in forbot haf I laid,
If þou sa bald be it to bite,
Þou sal be ded in sorou and _site_,
And if þou haldes mi forbot,
Þou sal be laverd ouer ilk crot.” --(_Ibid._ fol. 52b.)
Sytole, citole, guitar, A. 91.
“The laddes were kaske and _teyte_.” --(Havelok the Dane, 1841.)
“Ther mouhte men se the boles beyte,
“Brynges furthe, [as] sayd the boke, bestes out of noumbre,
And trottes on toward Tyre with _taite_ at thaire hertes.”
“Let hym _tegh_ to þe tempull.”
“Albion hatte that lond;
Ah leode ne beoth thar nane,
Ther to thu scalt _teman_ [wende]
& ane neowe Troye thar makian.”
anger; _teona_, wrong, mischief.
Tenfully, sorrowfully, bitterly, B. 160.
“I sett ȝowe ane ensample ȝe se it alle day,
In thorps and in many _thede_ ther ȝe thurȝe ride,
At ilka cote a kene curr, as he the chache walde,
Bot as bremely as he baies, he bitis never the faster.”
Þikker, oftener, C. 6.
Þorȝ, through. See _Þurȝ_.
_thringan_, to press, crowd, throng. O.N. _threnga_.
Þrongen (_3d pers. pl. pret._ of _thringe_), crowded, pressed,
“Mony thoughtes full thro _thronge_ in hir brest.” --(T. B. 470.)
_thrycte_), to thrust, press, tread on.
signified originally a speaker, an interpreter. O.N. _túlka_, to
explain, interpret; _túlkr_, an interpreter, a mediator. See
“Tharfore þis _tyme_ I may noght cum
Telle þi lord I haue no _tome_.”
Tourneȝ = turns, devices, B. 192.
Towche, to relate, deliver a message, speak, A. 898; B. 1437.
“Litille kyngis there come . . . . .
_Touches_ titly thair tale and tribute him askis.”
“This castel es o luve and grace,
Bath o socur and o solace,
Apon the mathe it standes traist;
O fede ne dredes it na fraist;
It is hei sett upon þe crag,
_Trai_ and hard wituten hag.”
“He toke _trammes_ him with to tute (look) in the sternes.”
Tras = trace, path, course, A. 1113. “_Trace_, a streyght way,
Trasches = trauses or trossers, drawers or trousers? B. 40.
Trichcherye, treachery, B. 187.
Troched, ornamented? An architectural term of uncertain meaning,
Trynande, going, walking, B. 976. Dan. _trine_, to go.
“Than the traytoure treunted the Tyesday thar aftyre,
_Trynnys_ in with a trayne tresone to wirke.”
“The trays (path) of the traytoure he _trynys_ fulle evenne,
And turnys in be Treynte, the traytoure to seche.”
“They _tryne_ unto a tente whare tables whare raysede.”
Tryȝe, to trust in, rely upon, A. 311. N.Prov.E. _trigg_, firm,
faithful. Sw. _trygg_, safe, sure.
“The Tothyr was a _Tulke_ out of Troy selfe.” --(T. B. 63.)
“The Tebies _tulked_ (addressed) us with tene (anger).”
Twynande, entwining, B. 1691. Sw. _twinna_, to twine.
Tymbre, B. 1414. “Tymbyr a lytyl taboure, timpanellum.” (Prompt.
“And so thai did al bidene and sum oure douth sloȝe,
Tuke out the tuskis and the tethe, and _ternen_ of the skinnes.”
“Grete toures full toure all þe toune _vmbe_.” --(T. B. 320.)
Vmbe-lyȝe, compass, surround, B. 836.
{Vmbe-stounde, Vmbe-stoundes,} at times, sometimes, C. 7, 122.
Vnavysed, unadvised, thoughtless, A. 292.
Vnblemyst, unblemished, A. 782.
Vncheryst, uncherished, uncared for, B. 1125.
Vncortoyse, uncourteous, A. 303.
Vnder, the third hour of the day, A. 513. A.S. _undern_. Goth.
Vnder-nomen, understood, perceived, C. 213.
Vngarnyst, unadorned, B. 137.
Vnhappen, unfortunate; and hence bad, B. 573.
Vnnynges, signs, C. 213. A.S. _unnan_, to give, grant, permit.
Vnpynne, to unpin, unfasten, A. 728.
Vnresounable, unreasonable, A. 590.
Vnsounde, wicked, evil, bad, B. 575; C. 527; misfortune, wretched
Vnstrayned, untroubled, A. 248.
Vnþryftyly, unwisely, badly, B. 267.
Vntwynne, separate; and hence, destroy, B. 757.
Vnwaschen, unwashed, B. 34.
Vnworþelych, unworthy, B. 305.
Vnwytté, unwise, foolish, simple, C. 511.
Vpbrayde, literally to raise; and hence to utter loudly, rebuke,
_upbrayde_ used in the following passage.
“Again my brether haue I bene
Oft-sith lightly for to tene,
Wit flitt, wit brixil, strive and strut;
Myn euen cristen haue I hurt,
And oft unsaght o him I said,
And of his lastes (faults) gane upbraid.”
Vpynyoun, opinion, C. 40.
“Hi sloȝen and fuȝten
Þat ledd þar liif wit sike and sin,
Ffor þai had husing nan to _wale_,
Þai lended in a littel scale.”
“Of choys men syne, _walit_ by cut (lot), thai tuke
A gret numbyr, and hyd in bylgis dern.”
“Awai þan drou him son Davi,
Bot Saul dred him mo forþi,
And of a thusand men o _wal_ (worth)
He made him ledder and marscal.”
Waltereȝ, an error for watterez = waters? C. 263.
Walterande, swimming, C. 247.
Wame, belly. See _Wombe_.
stomake. Nauseo.” “_Wamelynge_ of the stomake, Nausia.” (Prompt.
“The werld wannes at a _wappe_ and the wedire gloumes.”
“It (worldly wealth) wites away at a _wapp_, as the wynd turnes.”
“Methoughte I was in a wode willed myne one,
That I ne wiste no waye whedire that I scholde,
Ffore wolueȝ and whilde swynne, swykkyde bestez,
Walkede in that _wasterne_ wathes to seche.”
Wayferand, wayfaring, B. 79.
“Than past up the proude quene into prevé chambre,
_Waynes_ (_i.e._ puts out her head) out at wyndow and waytes
Wayte, look into, search, B. 99; be careful, B. 292; look about,
observo.” (Prompt. Parv.)
a cloud.
“The grond stud burrant, widderit dosk or gray,
Herbis, flowris and gersis _wallowyt_ away.”
“_Welli_ make, Laverd, and noght ille,
“Þan was þar never suilk a hald,
Ne nan in _welier_ in werld to wald.”
Wemleȝ, spotless, without blemish.
defend.
Weryng, wearing, age, B. 1123. “_Weryn_ or wax olde, febyl,
veterasco.” (Prompt. Parv.)
Westernays, wrongly, A. 307. See Note on this word, p. 106. ?
wiþer-ways, wrong-wise.
_wegan_, to weigh, carry.
Wite, blame. See _Wyte_.
Wlatsum, hateful, abominable, B. 541.
“I wille noghte _wonde_ for no werre,
To wende whare me likes.” --(Morte Arthure, p. 292.)
“Sua did þis wiif I yow of redd,
Sco folud Joseph ai þar he fledd,
And for sco foluand fand a spurn,
Sco waited him wit a werr turn,
Hirself in godds gram and gilt,
And almast did him to be spilt;
How sco broght him to the fand (trial),
Fforth to telle wil I noght _waand_.”
Woned = waned, decreased, B. 496. A.S. _wanian_, to decrease.
Wonyande, dwelling, living, B. 293.
Wrech = wrache, vengeance, B. 230.
Wrech, wretched, C. 258. A.S. _wrec_, wretched. With _wrech_ and
“With wrathe he begynnus to _wrote_,
He ruskes vppe mony a rote
With tusshes of iij. fote.” --(Avowynge of Arthur, xii. 13.)
“Þis unwarnes of wit _wrixlis_ hys mynd.”
solitary, desert.
“Adam went out ful _wille_ o wan.”
“Sone ware thay _willid_ fra the way the wod was so thick.”
“Sorful bicom þat fals file (the devil)
And thoght how he moght man _bi-wille_;
Agains God wex he sa gril,
Þat alle his werk he wend to spil.”
“His suns þat (we) of forwit melt,
Al þe werld bituix þam delt;
“In _wildrin_ land and in wastin,
I wil tham (the Israelites) bring of þair nocin;
Bot wel I wat he (Pharaoh) is ful thra,
Lath sal him think to let þam ga.”
Wylger, wild, fierce, B. 375. See extract under the word _Note_.
Wyschande, hoping for, wishing, A. 14.
“& her ice wile shæwenn ȝaw
“Ne þe nedder was noght bitter
Þan, þowf he was ever _witter_;
Ffor of alle, als sheus þe boke,
Mast he cuth o crafte and crok.”
a warrior, soldier; _wig_, war.
“Þe toiþer heu neist (to grennes) for to find,
Es al o _bleu_, men cals it _ynd_.”
Ȝare = yare, plainly, accurately, A. 834. A.S. _gearo_, ready,
prepared, accurate.
Ȝederly, quickly, soon, B. 463. O.N. _gedugr_, exceedingly. The
“Then bownes agayn the bald kyng, baldly he wepis,
That he so skitly suld skifte and fo his skars terme;
So did his princes, sais the profe, for pete of himselfe,
With _ȝedire_ ȝoskinges and ȝerre ȝette out to grete.”
“_Ȝedire ȝoskinges_ = great (frequent) sobbings.”
Ȝellyng = yelling, outcry, B. 971. A.S. _geallian_, to yell.
“_Ȝellyn’_ or hydowsly cryin’, Vociferor.” (Prompt. Parv.)
Ȝestande, B. 846. If from the A.S. _gæston_, “afflicted,” we may
render this term “afflicting,” but if, as is more probable, it is
_Gate_, in T. B. 979, seems to mean a request.
“And he hir graunted þat _gate_ with a good wille.”
Ȝeȝed, spoke, B. 846. Prov. Ger. _gaggen_, to stutter, gabble.
Ȝisterday, yesterday, B. 463.
Ȝomerly, sorrowful, lamentable, B. 971. A.S. _geomor_, sad;