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[The Tale of the Mother who curst her Child.]
A womman on a day ful raþe
Ȝede to a watyr here for to baþe,
And to[ke] here doghtyr here cloþys to kepe,
And baddë here she shuld nat slepe;
“But, as sone as y þe kalle,
Be redy with my cloþys alle.”
whan she was baþed, she kalled here faste,
And bade here brynge here cloþys yn haste.
Here douȝtyr was nat alle redy,
Ne comë nat at here fyrst cry.
Þe modyr þat sat in here baþ
wax ful of ire and of wraþ,
And cleþyd eft-sonys aftyr here,
kursyng with ryghte gretë yre,
And seyd, “þe devyl come on þe,
For, þou art nat redy to me.”
“And y am redy,” seyd þe deuyl,
“To take þat þou me betaght with euyl.”
he flegh on herë þere she stode,
And madë herë wytte al wode.
Ȝede to a watyr here for to baþe,
And to[ke] here doghtyr here cloþys to kepe,
And baddë here she shuld nat slepe;
“But, as sone as y þe kalle,
Be redy with my cloþys alle.”
whan she was baþed, she kalled here faste,
And bade here brynge here cloþys yn haste.
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Ne comë nat at here fyrst cry.
Þe modyr þat sat in here baþ
wax ful of ire and of wraþ,
And cleþyd eft-sonys aftyr here,
kursyng with ryghte gretë yre,
And seyd, “þe devyl come on þe,
For, þou art nat redy to me.”
“And y am redy,” seyd þe deuyl,
“To take þat þou me betaght with euyl.”
he flegh on herë þere she stode,
And madë herë wytte al wode.
Þys godë man for a-nouþer þyng
Tolde hyt oft yn hys prechyng,
Þat none durste speke with here syþyn
But ȝyf he werë clenë shryuyn;
For ȝyf he were yn dedely synne,
Þe fendë þat was here with-ynne
Made here seye hym so moche shame
Þat alle men wundred on hys blame.
And þat was preued with many one
Þat to þe holy lond was gone.
Tolde hyt oft yn hys prechyng,
Þat none durste speke with here syþyn
But ȝyf he werë clenë shryuyn;
For ȝyf he were yn dedely synne,
Þe fendë þat was here with-ynne
Made here seye hym so moche shame
Þat alle men wundred on hys blame.
And þat was preued with many one
Þat to þe holy lond was gone.
Þerfore, ȝe chyldryn, before al þyng
Dredyþ ȝoure modrys warryng;
And, ȝe wyuys, þenkeþ on þys cas,
werryþ nat for lytyl trespas.
Þey þat wyl gladly warye,
hem warryþ god & seynt marye.
For ho-so haunteþ hyt comunly
Yn ernest or yn rybaudy,
He shall haue warryng for blysse,
And of blessyng shal he mysse;
And ho-so curseþ withoutyn gylt
Hyt shal on hys hede be pylt.
Curser[y]s yn alle here lyue
Shal neuer haue grace for to þryue;
As þey vse, so shal hem falle,
For kursyng shal come on hem alle.
Dredyþ ȝoure modrys warryng;
And, ȝe wyuys, þenkeþ on þys cas,
werryþ nat for lytyl trespas.
Þey þat wyl gladly warye,
hem warryþ god & seynt marye.
For ho-so haunteþ hyt comunly
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He shall haue warryng for blysse,
And of blessyng shal he mysse;
And ho-so curseþ withoutyn gylt
Hyt shal on hys hede be pylt.
Curser[y]s yn alle here lyue
Shal neuer haue grace for to þryue;
As þey vse, so shal hem falle,
For kursyng shal come on hem alle.
wurschepyþ ȝoure fadrys, & ȝoure fadrys ȝow,
Þan queme ȝe God, and doun ȝoure prow.
God ȝyue vs grace to oure endyng
To kepe vs fro modrys cursyng,
And oure fadrys so to queme;
Þat goddys comaundement we may ȝeme.
Þan queme ȝe God, and doun ȝoure prow.
God ȝyue vs grace to oure endyng
To kepe vs fro modrys cursyng,
And oure fadrys so to queme;
Þat goddys comaundement we may ȝeme.
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