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 | [Poems from the Vernon MS] |  |
298
Lewed men be not lered in lore,
As Clerkes ben in holi writ;
Þauȝ men prechen hem bi-fore,
Hit wol not wonen in heore wit:
Þerfore is þat I syke sore,
ffor broþurhede, as God hit bit,
And, ȝif cristes wille wore,
Wel fayn I wolde amenden hit.
As Clerkes ben in holi writ;
Þauȝ men prechen hem bi-fore,
Hit wol not wonen in heore wit:
Þerfore is þat I syke sore,
ffor broþurhede, as God hit bit,
And, ȝif cristes wille wore,
Wel fayn I wolde amenden hit.
Ȝif Crist haue send mon wit at wille,
Craft of Clergye, for to preche,
Alle hise hestes scholde we fulfille
As ferforþ as we mihten areche.
Ȝonge and olde, holdeþ ow stille:
ffor broþerhed I wol ow teche—
Þe Mon þat con, and teche nille,
He mai haue drede of godes wreche.
Craft of Clergye, for to preche,
Alle hise hestes scholde we fulfille
As ferforþ as we mihten areche.
Ȝonge and olde, holdeþ ow stille:
ffor broþerhed I wol ow teche—
Þe Mon þat con, and teche nille,
He mai haue drede of godes wreche.
Þerfore ichaue on Englisch wrouȝt,
Seint Bernard witnesseþ in Latyn—
Mon may be glad in al his þouȝt
Þat his wit haþ leid þer-In.
Þe gospel nul I forsake nouȝt,
Þauȝ hit be writen in parchemyn;
Seynt Iones word, and hit be souȝt,
Þer-of hit wole be witnes myn.
Seint Bernard witnesseþ in Latyn—
Mon may be glad in al his þouȝt
Þat his wit haþ leid þer-In.
Þe gospel nul I forsake nouȝt,
Þauȝ hit be writen in parchemyn;
Seynt Iones word, and hit be souȝt,
Þer-of hit wole be witnes myn.
While Ihesu crist on eorþe eode,
Mony of his Miracles writen þei were:
Þer nis no mon þat mihte rede
Þe goodnesse þat he dude here.
Men and wymmen, ȝe schulen haue mede,
Lusteneþ alle now me I-feere;
Ȝif I sigge mis, takeþ good hede,
And wisseþ me, þat hit betere were.
299
Þer nis no mon þat mihte rede
Þe goodnesse þat he dude here.
Men and wymmen, ȝe schulen haue mede,
Lusteneþ alle now me I-feere;
Ȝif I sigge mis, takeþ good hede,
And wisseþ me, þat hit betere were.
ffader and sone and holy gost,
Al-mihtiful god in Trinite,
Myn hope is on þi Modur most,
fful of grace and of pite:
Þouȝ I be synful, as þou wel wost,
Such grace þenne þow sende me
Sum word to speken wiþ-outen bost,
Þat sum men mowe þe beter be.
Al-mihtiful god in Trinite,
Myn hope is on þi Modur most,
fful of grace and of pite:
Þouȝ I be synful, as þou wel wost,
Such grace þenne þow sende me
Sum word to speken wiþ-outen bost,
Þat sum men mowe þe beter be.
| [Poems from the Vernon MS] | |