University of Virginia Library

146. A Song of ‘Sins’

[_]

Bodleian MS. Add. B. 66 (Sum. Catal. No. 29273)

Man sigh & sorw for þi synnes,
þan semeþ þi synnes as slayn.
Man, in schrifte schewe al þi synnes,
þan lyn þei ful dede for certeyn.

230

Man, do penaunce her for þi synnes,
þi soule schal haue þe lesse peyne.
Þei þat don þus for hir synnes,
And nowȝt in wille to turne agayne,
Þei ben assoilid for hir synnes
ffor-soþe as grete clerkis seyne;
And if þou falle aȝen in synnes,
Anon, with al þy myght & mayne,
Vnto þi prest telle þou þi synnes—
Non of hem loke þat þou leyne;
ffor if þou do for-soþe suche synnes,
Þei schal turne þe to tene & treyne.
And if þou schryue þe of þi synnes
þei wasche a-way as doþe þe rayne.
þus to be schryuen & soilid of synnes,
Euery wise man schuld be fayne.
þat we mow do þus for our synnes,
To god mekly, I rede, we pray.
Now god, haue mercy for our synnes,
þat mercy had of mary mawdleyn,
And bringe us to þat blis þat neuer blynnes,
Almyghti god, lord & souereyne.
A[men].