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| II. |
 | [Poems from the Vernon MS] |  |
Þenk also, Mon is worþi
Gret schenschipe, witerli,
Þat wol not liue at godus wille
And his Comaundemens folfille,
Whon alle Creatures þat ben and were
Ben ordeynd for monnes mestere.
Gret schenschipe, witerli,
Þat wol not liue at godus wille
And his Comaundemens folfille,
Whon alle Creatures þat ben and were
Ben ordeynd for monnes mestere.
Þe goode bestes þat meke beo þon,
Beoþ maad for þreo þinges for mon:
ffor to helpen vs wiþ-outen fayle,
As schep, hors, kuyn, in vre trauayle;
And vs to feede, and vs to cloþe,
As leþer, fflesch and wolle boþe,
As Corn on eorþe and foules to be
And also ffissches in þe Séé.
Beoþ maad for þreo þinges for mon:
ffor to helpen vs wiþ-outen fayle,
As schep, hors, kuyn, in vre trauayle;
And vs to feede, and vs to cloþe,
As leþer, fflesch and wolle boþe,
As Corn on eorþe and foules to be
And also ffissches in þe Séé.
Þe nuyȝing graȝes and bestes venimous
Ben ordeynd for þreo þinges to vs:
ffor chastisyng, and amendement,
And for techyng wiþ good entent.
Chatised and punissched we ben in route
Whon we ben hurt, and in such doute;
And þat is ful derworþli
Of Godus owne grete merci—
Þerfore bodili he com
To Chastise vs, boþe god and Mon,
Þat we nere dampned wiþ-outen ende
ffor to dwelle wiþ þe ffende.
We ben amendet whil we wol mynne
Þat al vr wo comeþ fro vr synne;
Whon we seo þe soþe þus
So smale creatures may greuen vs,
Þen may we þinke þat we be
fful of ffebelnesse and of ffrelete,
We ouhten alle to beo ful Meke.
Whon we godus werkes wol se and seke . . .
Whon þou hast þus monyfolde
Þe werkes of god folliche beo-holde,
Lift vp þyn herte wiþ wille liht
And þenk þe Muchelnes of Godus miht,
Þat alle þing ordeyneþ in delyt,
And al hit is for vre profyt.
Ben ordeynd for þreo þinges to vs:
ffor chastisyng, and amendement,
And for techyng wiþ good entent.
Chatised and punissched we ben in route
Whon we ben hurt, and in such doute;
And þat is ful derworþli
Of Godus owne grete merci—
Þerfore bodili he com
To Chastise vs, boþe god and Mon,
234
ffor to dwelle wiþ þe ffende.
We ben amendet whil we wol mynne
Þat al vr wo comeþ fro vr synne;
Whon we seo þe soþe þus
So smale creatures may greuen vs,
Þen may we þinke þat we be
fful of ffebelnesse and of ffrelete,
We ouhten alle to beo ful Meke.
Whon we godus werkes wol se and seke . . .
Whon þou hast þus monyfolde
Þe werkes of god folliche beo-holde,
Lift vp þyn herte wiþ wille liht
And þenk þe Muchelnes of Godus miht,
Þat alle þing ordeyneþ in delyt,
And al hit is for vre profyt.
A, Lord, Merci! what schul we say
Bot we þe serue to þi pay?
Al þat he vs ȝaf to Multiplie,
Alle þo Bestes we distruye;
Ȝif God ordeyne and forme hem,
We beo bisi to struiȝe hem þen.
Loue God for his goodnesse;
Honoure him for his feirnesse;
Glorifye him at þi redres
And also for his grete prouwes.—
Bot we þe serue to þi pay?
Al þat he vs ȝaf to Multiplie,
Alle þo Bestes we distruye;
Ȝif God ordeyne and forme hem,
We beo bisi to struiȝe hem þen.
Loue God for his goodnesse;
Honoure him for his feirnesse;
Glorifye him at þi redres
And also for his grete prouwes.—
| [Poems from the Vernon MS] | |