The Pearl; Cleanness; Patience

[section]

The Pearl.

II.

III.

IV.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

XI.

XII.

XIII.

XIV.

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII.

XIX.

XX.

XXI.

CLEANNESS.

XIII.

PATIENCE.

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CLEANNESS.

I.

Clannesse who-so kyndly cowþe comende,
& rekken vp alle þe resounȝ þat ho by riȝt askeȝ,
Fayre formeȝ myȝt he fynde in forering his speche,
& in þe contraré, kark & combraunce huge;
For wonder wroth is þe wyȝ þat wroȝt alle þinge,
Wyth þe freke þat in fylþe folȝes hym after,
As renkeȝ of relygioun þat reden & syngen,
& aprochen to hys presens, & presteȝ arn called;
Thay teen vnto his temmple & temen to hym seluen,
Reken with reverence þay rechen his auter,
Þay hondel þer his aune body & vsen hit boþe.
If þay in clannes be clos þay cleche gret mede,
Bot if þay conterfete crafte, & cortaysye wont,
As be honest vt-wyth, & in-with alle fylþeȝ,
Þen ar þay synful hemself & sulped al togeder,
Boþe god & his gere, & hym to greme cachen,
He is so clene in his courte, þe kyng þat al weldeȝ,
& honeste in his hous-hold & hagherlych serued,
With angeleȝ enourled in alle þat is clene,
Boþe with-inne & with-outen, in wedeȝ ful bryȝt.
Nif he nere scoymus & skyg & non scaþe louied,
Hit were a meruayl to much, hit moȝt not falle;
Kryst kydde hit hymself in a carp oneȝ,
Þer as he heuened aȝt happeȝ & hyȝt hem her medeȝ;
Me myneȝ on one amonge oþer, as Maþew recordeȝ,
Þat þus of clannesse vn-closeȝ a ful cler speche.

Þe haþel clene of his hert hapeneȝ ful fayre,
For he schal loke on oure lorde with a bone chere,
As so saytȝ, to þat syȝt seche schal he neuer,
Þat any vnclannesse hatȝ on, anwhere abowte;
For he þat flemus vch fylþe fer fro his hert,
May not byde þat burne þat hit his body neȝen;
For-þy hyȝ not to heuen in hatere to-torne,
Ne in þe harloteȝ hod & handeȝ vnwaschen;
For what vrþly haþel þat hyȝ honour haldeȝ
Wolde lyke, if a ladde com lyþerly attyred,
When he were sette solempnely in a sete ryche,
Abof dukes on dece, with dayntys serued,
Þen þe harlot with haste helded to þe table
With rent cokreȝ at þe kne & his clutte trasches,
& his tabarde to-torne and his toteȝ oute;
Oþer ani on of alle þyse he schulde be halden vtter,
With mony blame, ful bygge a boffet, peraunter
Hurled to þe halle dore & harde þer-oute schowued,
& be for-boden þat borȝe to bowe þider neuer,
On payne of enprysonment & puttyng in stokkeȝ;
& þus schal he be schent for his schrowde feble,
Þaȝ neuer in talle ne in tuch he trespas more.
& if vnwelcum he were to a worþlych prynce
Ȝet hym is þe hyȝe kyng harder in 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 with sclaȝt,
My polyle þat is penne-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 þat þider com schulde,
Alle ex-cused hem by þe skyly he scape by moȝt:
On hade boȝt hym a borȝ he sayde by his trawþe,
Now tne I þeder als tyd, þe toun to by-holde;
Anoþer nayed also & nurned þis cawse:
I haf ȝerned & ȝat ȝokkeȝ of oxen,
& for my hyȝeȝ hem boȝt, to bowe haue I mester,
To see hem pulle in þe plow aproche me by-houeȝ;
& I haf wedded a wyf, sower hym þe þryd,
Excuse me at þe court, I may not com þere;
Þus þay droȝ hem a-dreȝ with daunger vchone,
Þat non passed to þe place þaȝ he prayed were.
Þenne þe ludych lorde lyked ful ille
& hade dedayn of þat dede, ful dryȝly he carpeȝ:
He saytȝ “now for her owne sorȝ þay forsaken habbeȝ,
More to wyte is her wrange, þen any wylle gentyl;
Þenne gotȝ forth my gomeȝ to þe grete streeteȝ,
& for-setteȝ on vche a syde þe cete aboute;
Þe wayferande frekeȝ, on fote & on hors,
Boþe burneȝ & burdeȝ, þe better and þe wers,
Laþeȝ hem alle luflyly to lenge at my fest,
& bryngeȝ hem blyþly to borȝe as barouneȝ þay were,
So þat my palays plat-ful be pyȝt al aboute,
Þise oþer wrecheȝ I-wysse worþy noȝt wern.”
Þen 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.
When þay com to þe courte keppte wern þay fayre,
Styȝtled with þe stewarde, stad in þe halle,
Ful manerly with marchal mad for to sitte,
As he watȝ dere of de-gre dressed his seete.
Þenne seggeȝ to þe souerayn sayden þer-after,
Lo! lorde with your leue at your lege heste,

& at þi banne we haf broȝt, as þou beden habbeȝ,
Mony renischche renkeȝ & ȝet is roum more.”
Sayde þe lorde to þo ledeȝ, “layteȝ ȝet ferre,
Ferre out in 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 on-yȝed,
& þaȝ þay ben boþe blynde & balterande cruppeleȝ,
Þat my hous may holly by halkes by fylled;
For certeȝ þyse ilk renkeȝ þat me renayed habbe
& denounced me, noȝt now at þis tyme,
Schul neuer sitte in my sale my soper to fele,
Ne suppe on sope of my seve, þaȝ þaȝ þay swelt schulde.”
Þenne þe sergaunteȝ, at þat sawe, swengen þer-oute,
& diden þe dede þat [es] demed, as he deuised hade,
& with peple of alle plyteȝ þe palays þay fyllen;
Hit weren not alle on wyueȝ suneȝ, wonen with on fader;
Wheþer þay wern worþy, oþer wers, wel wern þay stowed,
Ay þe best byfore & bryȝtest atyred,
Þe derrest at þe hyȝe dese þat dubbed wer fayrest;
& syþen on lenþe bi-looghe ledeȝ inogh,
& ay a segge soerly semed by her wedeȝ;
So with marschal at her mete mensked þay were.
Clene men in compaynye for-knowen wern lyte,
& ȝet þe symplest in þat sale watȝ serued to þe fulle,
Boþe with menske, & with mete & mynstra[l]sy noble,
& alle þe laykeȝ þat a lorde aȝt in londe schewe.
& þay bigonne to be glad þat god drink haden,
& vch mon with his mach made hym at ese.

II.

Now in-myddeȝ þe mete þe mayster him biþoȝt,
Þat he wolde se þe semblé þat samned was þere,

& rehayte rekenly þe riche & þe poueren,
& cherisch hem alle with his cher, & chaufen her Ioye.
Þen he boweȝ fro his bour in to þe brode halle,
& to þe best on þe bench, & bede hym be myry,
Solased hem with semblaunt & syled fyrre;
Tron fro table to table & talkede ay myrþe,
Bot as he ferked ouer þe flor he fande with his yȝe,
Hit watȝ not for a haly day honestly arayed,
A þral þryȝt in þe þrong unþryuandely cloþed,
Ne no festiual frok, but fyled with werkkeȝ.
The gome watȝ vngarnyst with god men to dele,
& gremed þer-with þe grete lorde & greue hym he þoȝt;
“Say me, frende,” quoth þe freke with a felle chere,
“Hov wan þou in-to þis won in wedeȝ so fowle?
Þe abyt þat þou hatȝ vpon, no halyday hit menskeȝ;
Þou burne for no brydale art busked in wedeȝ!
How watȝ þou hardy þis hous for þyn vnhap [to] neȝe,
In on so ratted a robe & rent at þe sydeȝ?
Þow art a gome vngoderly in þat goun febele;
Þou praysed me & my place ful pouer & ful [g]nede,
Þat watȝ so prest to aproche my presens here-inne;
Hopeȝ þou I be a harlot þi erigant to prayse?
Þat oþer burne watȝ abayst of his broþe wordeȝ,
& hurkeleȝ doun with his hede, þe vrþe he bi-holdeȝ;
He watȝ so scoumfit of his scylle, lest he skaþe hent,
Þat he ne wyst on worde what he warp schulde.
Þen þe lorde wonder loude laled & cryed,
& talkeȝ to his tormenttoureȝ: “takeȝ hym,” he biddeȝ,
“Byndeȝ byhynde, at his bak, boþe two his handeȝ,
& felle fettereȝ to his fete festeneȝ bylyue;
Stik hym stifly in stokeȝ, & stekeȝ hym þer-after
Depe in my doungoun þer doel euer dwelleȝ,
Greuing, & gretyng, & gryspyng harde
Of teþe tenfully to geder, to teche hym be quoynt.”
Thus comparisuneȝ kryst þe kyndom of heuenne,
To þis frelych feste þat fele arn to called,

For alle arn laþed luflyly, þe luþer & þe better,
Þat euer wern fulȝed in font þat fest to haue.
Bot war þe wel, if þou wylt, þy wedeȝ ben clene
& honest for þe haly day, lest þou harme lache,
For aproch þou to þat prynce of parage noble.
He hates helle no more þen hem þat ar sowle.
Wich arn þenne þy wedeȝ þou wrappeȝ þe inne,
Þat schal schewe hem so schene schrowde of þe best?
Hit arn þy werkes wyterly, þat þou wroȝt haueȝ,
& lyued with þe lykyng þat lyȝe in þyn hert,
Þat þo be frely & fresch fonde in þy lyue,
& fetyse of a fayr forme, to fote & to honde,
& syþen alle þyn oþer lymeȝ lapped ful clene,
Þenne may þou se þy sauior & his sete ryche.
For fele fauteȝ may a freke forfete his blysse,
Þat he þe souerayn ne se, þen for slauþe one,
As for bobaunce & bost & bolnande priyde,
Þroly in-to þe deueleȝ þrote man þryngeȝ bylyue,
For couetyse, & colwarde & croked dedeȝ,
For mon sworne, & men sclaȝt, & to much drynk,
For þeft, & for þrepyng, vnþonk may mon haue;
For roborrye, & riboudrye & resouneȝ vntrwe,
& dysheriete & depryue dowrie of wydoeȝ,
For marryng of maryageȝ & mayntnaunce of schreweȝ,
For traysoun, & trichcherye, & tyrauntyré boþe,
& for fals famacions & fayned laweȝ;
Man may mysse þe myrþe, þat much is to prayse,
For such vnþeweȝ as þise & þole much payne,
& in þe creatores cort com neuer more,
Ne neuer see hym with syȝt for such sour tourneȝ.

III.

Bot I haue herkned & herde of mony hyȝe clerkeȝ,
& als in resouneȝ of ryȝt red hit myseluen,

Þat þat ilk proper prynce þat paradys weldeȝ
Is displesed at vch a poynt þat plyes to scaþe.
Bot neuer ȝet in no boke breued I herde
Þat euer he wrek so wyþerly on werk þat he made,
Ne venged for no vilté of vice ne synne,
Ne so hastyfly watȝ hot for hatel of his wylle,
Ne neuer so sodenly soȝt vnsoundely to weng,
As for fylþe of þe flesch þat foles han vsed;
For as I fynde þer he forȝet alle his fre þewes,
And wex wod to þe wrache, for wrath at his hert,
For þe fyrste felonye þe falce fende wroȝt.
Whyl he watȝ hyȝe in þe heuen houen vpon lofte,
Of alle þyse aþel aungeleȝ attled þe fayrest,
& he vndkyndely as a karle kydde areward,
He seȝ not bot hymself how semly he were,
Bot his souerayn he forsoke & sade þyse wordeȝ:
“I schal telde vp my trone in þe tra mountayne
& by lyke to þat lorde þat þe lyft made.
With þis worde þat he warp, þe wrake on hym lyȝt,
Dryȝtyn with his dere dom hym drof to þe abyme,
In þe mesure of his mode, his metȝ neuer þe lasse,
Bot þer he tynt þe tyþe dool of his tour ryche,
Þaȝ þe feloun were so fers for his fayre wedeȝ
& his glorious glem þat glent so bryȝt;
As sone as dryȝtyneȝ dome drof to hym seluen,
Thikke þowsandeȝ thro þrwen þer-oute
Fellen fro the fyrmament, fendeȝ ful blake
Weued at þe fyrst swap as þe snaw þikke,
Hurled in-to helle-hole as þe hyue swarmeȝ;
Fylter 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 vch syde of þe worlde aywhere ilyche.
Þis hit watȝ a brem brest & a byge wrache,

And ȝet wrathed not þe wyȝ, ne þe wrech saȝtled,
Ne neuer wolde, for wylnes ful, 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 better.
Bot þat oþer wrake þat wex on wyȝeȝ, hit lyȝt
Þurȝ þe faut of a freke þat fayled in trawþe.
Adam in obedient ordaynt to blysse,
Þer pryuely in paradys his place watȝ devised,
To lyue þer in lykyng þe lenþe of a terme,
& thenne enherite þat home þat aungeleȝ for-gart,
Bot þurȝ þe eggyng 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 vus alle.
Al in mesure & meþe was made þe vengaunce,
& efte amended with a mayden þat make had neuer.

IV.

Bot in þe þryd watȝ for-þrast al þat þryue schuld,
Þer watȝ malys mercyles & mawgre much scheued,
Þat watȝ for fylþe vpon folde þat þe folk vsed,
Þat þen worþed in þe worlde with-outen any maysterȝ;
Hit wern þe fayrest of forme & of face als,
Þe most & þe myriest þat maked wern euer,
Þe styfest, þe stalworþest þat stod euer on fete;
& lengest lyf in hem lent of ledeȝ alle oþer,
For hit was þe forme-foster þat þe folde bred,
Þe aþel auncetereȝ suneȝ þat Adam 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 after,

Forþy so semly to see syþen wern none.
Þer watȝ no law to hem layd bot loke to kynde,
& kepe to hit, & alle hit cors clanly ful-fylle;
& thenne founden þay fylþe in fleschlych dedeȝ
& controeued agayn kynde contraré werkeȝ,
& vsed hem vn-þryftyly vchon on oþer,
& als with oþer, wylfully, vpon a wrange wyse.
So ferly fowled her flesch þat þe fende loked,
How þe deȝter of þe douþe wern derelych fayre,
& fallen in felaȝschyp with hem on folken wyse
& en-gendered on hem Ieaunteȝ with 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 in bale þe best watȝ halden;
& þenne eueleȝ on erþe ernestly grewen
& multyplyed mony-fold in-mongeȝ mankynde,
For þat þe maȝty on molde so marre þise oþer,
Þat þe wyȝe þat al wroȝt ful wroþly bygynneȝ.
When he knew vche contre corupte in hit seluen,
& vch freke forloyned fro þe ryȝt wayeȝ,
Felle temptande tene towched his hert;
As wyȝe, wo hym withinne werp to hym seluen:
“Me forthynkeȝ ful much þat euer I mon made,
Bot I schal delyuer & do away þat doten on þis molde,
& fleme out of þe folde al þat flesch wereȝ,
Fro þe burne to þe best, fro bryddeȝ to fyscheȝ;
Al schal doun & be ded & dryuen out of erþe,
Þat euer I sette saule inne; & sore hit me rweȝ
Þat euer I made hem myself; bot if I may her-after,
I schal wayte to be-war her wrencheȝ to kepe.”
Þenne in worlde watȝ a wyȝe wonyande on lyue,
Ful redy & ful ryȝtwys, & rewled hym fayre;
In þe drede of dryȝtyn his dayeȝ he vseȝ,

& ay glydande wyth his god his grace watȝ þe more.
Hym watȝ þe nome Noe, as is in-noghe knawen,
He had þre þryuen suneȝ & þay þre wyueȝ;
Sem soþly þat on, þat oþer hyȝt Cam
& the Iolef Iapheth watȝ gendered þe þryd.
Now god in nwy to Noe con speke,
Wylde wrakful wordeȝ in his wylle greued:
“Þe ende of alle-kyneȝ flesch þat on vrthe meueȝ,
Is fallen forþ wyth my face & forþer hit I þenk,
With her vn-worþelych werk me wlateȝ with-inne,
Þe gore þer-of me hatȝ greued & þe glette nwyed;
I schal strenkle my distresse & strye al togeder,
Boþe ledeȝ & londe & alle þat lyf habbeȝ.
Bot make to þe a mancioun & þat is my wylle,
A cofer closed of tres, clanlych planed;
Wyrk woneȝ þerinne for wylde & for tame,
& þenne cleme hit with clay comly with-inne,
& alle þe endentur dryuen daube with-outen.
And þus of lenþe & of large þat lome þou make,
Þre hundred of cupydeȝ þou holde to þe lenþe,
Of fyfty fayre ouer-thwert 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,
A wel dutande dor, don on þe side;
Haf halleȝ þerinne & halkeȝ ful mony,
Boþe boskeȝ & boureȝ & wel bounden peneȝ;
For I schal waken vp a water to wasch alle þe worlde,
& quelle alle þat þat is quik with quauende flodeȝ.
Alle þat glydeȝ & gotȝ, & gost of lyf habbeȝ,
I schal wast with my wrath þat wons vpon vrþe;
Bot my forwarde with þe I festen on þis wyse,
For þou in reysoun hatȝ rengned & ryȝtwys ben euer;
Þou schal enter þis ark with þyn aþel barneȝ

& þy wedded wyf; with þe þou take
Þe makeȝ of þy myry suneȝ; þis meyny of aȝte
I schal saue of monneȝ sauleȝ, & swelt þose oþer.
Of vche best þat bereȝ lyf busk þe a cupple,
Of vche clene comly kynde enclose seuen makeȝ,
Of vche horwed, in ark halde bot a payre,
For to saue me þe sede of alle ser kyndeȝ;
& ay þou meng with þe maleȝ þe mete ho-besteȝ,
Vche payre by payre to plese ayþer oþer;
With alle þe fode þat may be founde frette þy cofer,
For sustnaunce to yow-self & also þose oþer.”
Ful grayþely gotȝ þis god man & dos godeȝ hestes,
In dryȝ dred & daunger, þat durst do non oþer.
When hit watȝ fettled & forged & to þe fulle grayþed,
Þenne con dryȝttyn hym dele dryȝly þyse wordeȝ:

V.

“Now Noe,” quoth oure lorde, “art þou al redy?
Hatȝ þou closed þy kyst with clay alle aboute?”
“Ȝe lorde with þy leue,” sayde þe lede þenne,
“Al is wroȝt at þi worde, as þou me wyt lanceȝ.”
“Enter in þenne,” quoth he, “& haf þi wyf with þe,
Þy þre suneȝ with-outen þrep & her þre wyueȝ;
Besteȝ, as I bedene haue, bosk þer-inne als,
& when ȝe arn staued, styfly stekeȝ yow þerinne;
Fro seuen dayeȝ ben seyed I sende out bylyue,
Such a rowtande ryge þat rayne schal swyþe,
Þat schal wasche alle þe worlde of werkeȝ of fylþe;
Schal no flesch vpon folde by fonden on lyue;
Out-taken yow aȝt in þis ark staued,
& sed þat I wyl saue of þyse ser besteȝ.”
Now Noe neuer stysteȝ (þat niyȝ he bygynneȝ),
Er al wer stawed & stoken, as þe steuen wolde.
Thenne sone com þe seuen þe day, when samned wern alle,

& alle woned in þe whichche þe wylde & þe tame.
Þen bolned þe abyme & bonkeȝ con ryse,
Waltes out vch walle-heued, in ful wode stremeȝ,
Watȝ no brymme þat abod vnbrosten bylyue,
Þe mukel lauande loghe to þe lyfte rered.
Mony clustered clowde clef alle in clowteȝ,
To-rent vch a rayn-ryfte & rusched to þe vrþe;
Fon neuer in forty dayeȝ, & þen þe flod ryses,
Ouer-walteȝ vche a wod and þe wyde feldeȝ;
For when þe water of þe welkyn with þe worlde mette,
Alle þat deth moȝt dryȝe drowned þerinne;
Þer watȝ moon for to make when meschef was cnowen,
Þat noȝt dowed bot þe deth in þe depe stremeȝ.
Water wylger ay wax, woneȝ þat stryede,
Hurled in-to vch hous, hent þat þer dowelled.
Fyrst feng to þe flyȝt alle þat fle myȝt,
Vuche burde with her barne þe byggyng þay leueȝ,
& bowed to þe hyȝ bonk þer brentest hit wern,
& heterly to þe hyȝe hylleȝ þay aled on faste;
Bot al watȝ nedleȝ her note, for neuer 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 demmed at þe brynkeȝ.
Þe moste mountayneȝ on mor þenne watȝ no more dryȝe,
And þer-on flokked þe folke, for ferde of þe wrake,
Syþen þe wylde of þe wode on þe water flette;
Summe swymmed þer-on þat saue hemself trawed,
Summe styȝe to a stud & stared to þe heuen,
Rwly wyth a loud rurd rored for drede.
Hareȝ, hertteȝ also, to þe hyȝe runnen,
Bukkeȝ, bauseneȝ & buleȝ to þe bonkkeȝ hyȝed,
& alle cryed for care to þe kyng of heuen,
Re-couerer of þe creator, þay cryed vchone,
Þat amounted 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 hym byhoued;
Frendeȝ fellen in fere faþmed to-geder
To dryȝ her delful deystyné & dyȝen alle samen;
Luf lokeȝ to luf & his leue takeȝ,
For to ende alle at oneȝ & for euer twynne.
By forty dayeȝ wern faren, on folde no flesch styryed,
Þat þe flod nade al freten with feȝtande waȝeȝ,
For hit clam vche a clyffe cubites fyftene,
Ouer þe hyȝest hylle þat hurkled on erþe.
Þenne mourkne in þe mudde most ful nede
Alle þat spyrakle in-spranc, no sprawlyng awayled,
Saue þe haþel vnder hach & his here straunge,
Noe þat ofte neuened þe name of oure lorde,
Hym aȝt-sum in þat ark as aþel god lyked,
Þer alle ledeȝ in lome lenged druye.
Þe arc houen watȝ on hyȝe with hurlande goteȝ,
Kest to kyþeȝ vncouþe þe clowdeȝ ful nere.
Hit waltered on þe wylde flod, went as hit lyste,
Drof vpon þe depe dam, in daunger hit semed,
With-outen mast, oþer myke, oþer myry bawe-lyne,
Kable, oþer capstan to clyppe to her ankreȝ,
Hurrok, oþer hande-helme hasped on roþer,
Oþer any sweande sayl to seche after hauen,
Bot flote forthe with þe flyt of þe felle wyndeȝ;
Wheder-warde so þe water wafte, hit rebounde.
Ofte hit roled on-rounde & rered on ende,
Nyf oure lorde hade ben her lodeȝ-mon hem had lumpen harde.
Of þe lenþe of Noe lyf to lay a lel date,
Þe sex hundreth of his age & none odde ȝereȝ,
Of secounde monyth, þe seuenþe day ryȝteȝ,
To-walten alle þyse welle-hedeȝ & þe water flowed,
& þryeȝ fyfty þe flod of folwande dayeȝ,
Vche hille watȝ þer hidde with yreȝ ful graye;
Al watȝ wasted þat þer wonyed þe worlde withinne,

Þer euer flote, oþer flwe, oþer on fote ȝede,
Þat roȝly watȝ þe remnaunt þat þe rac dryueȝ,
Þat alle gendreȝ so ioyst wern ioyned wyth-inne.
Bot quen þe lorde of þe lyfte lyked hymseluen
For to mynne on his mon his meth þat abydeȝ,
Þen he wakened a wynde on wattereȝ to blowe;
Þenne lasned þe llak þat large watȝ are,
Þen he stac vp þe stangeȝ, stoped þe welleȝ,
Bed blynne of þe rayn, hit batede as fast,
Þenne lasned þe loȝ lowkande togeder.
After 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 grounde,
On a rasse of a rok, hit rest at þe laste,
On þe mounte of Mararach of Armene hilles,
Þat oþer-wayeȝ on ebrv hit hat þe thanes.
Bot þaȝ þe kyste in the crageȝ wern closed to byde,
Ȝet fyned not þe flod ne fel to the boþemeȝ,
Bot þe hyȝest of þe eggeȝ vnhuled wern a lyttel,
Þat þe burne bynne lorde byhelde þe bare erþe;
Thenne wafte he vpon his wyndowe, & wysed þeroute
A message fro þat meyny hem moldeȝ to seche,
Þat watȝ þe rauen so ronk þat rebel watȝ euer;
He watȝ colored as þe cole, corbyal vntrwe.
& he fongeȝ to þe flyȝt, & fanneȝ on þe wyndeȝ,
Houeȝ hyȝe vpon hyȝt to herken tyþynges.
He croukeȝ for comfort when carayne he fyndeȝ;
Kest vpon a clyffe þer costese lay drye,
He hade þe smelle of þe smach & smoltes þeder sone,
Falleȝ on þe foule flesch & fylleȝ his wombe,
& sone ȝederly for-ȝete ȝisterday steuen,
How þe cheuetayn hym charged þat þe kyst ȝemed.
Þe rauen raykeȝ hym forth þat reches ful lyttel
How alle fodeȝ þer fare, elleȝ he fynde mete;

Bot þe burne bynne lorde þat bod to his come,
Banned hym ful bytterly with bestes alle samen,
He secheȝ an oþer sondeȝ-mon & setteȝ on þe doune;
“Bryngeȝ þat bryȝt vpon borde blessed & sayde.”
“Wende worþelych wyȝt vus woneȝ to seche,
Dryf ouer þis dymme water; if þou druye fyndeȝ
Bryng bodworde to bot blysse to vus alle;
Þaȝ þat fowle be false, fre be þou euer.”
Ho wyrle out on þe weder on wyngeȝ ful scharpe,
Dreȝly alle alonge day þat dorst neuer lyȝt;
& when ho fyndeȝ no folde her fote on to pyche,
Ho vmbe-kesteȝ þe coste & þe kyst secheȝ,
Ho hittes on þe euentyde & on þe ark sitteȝ;
Noe nymmeȝ hir anon & naytly hir staueȝ.
Noe on anoþer day nymmeȝ efte þe dovene,
& byddeȝ hir bowe ouer þe borne efte bonkes to seche;
& ho skyrmeȝ vnder skwe & skowteȝ aboute,
Tyl hit watȝ nyȝe at þe naȝt & Noe þen secheȝ.

VI.

On ark on an euentyde houeȝ þe dowue,
On stamyn ho stod & stylle hym abydeȝ;
What! ho broȝt in hir beke a bronch of olyue,
Gracyously vmbe-grouen al with grene leueȝ;
Þat watȝ þe syngne of sauyté þat sende hem oure lorde,
& þe saȝtlyng of hymself with þo sely besteȝ.
Þen watȝ þer ioy in þat gyn where Iumpred er dryȝed,
& much comfort in þat cofer þat watȝ clay daubed.
Myryly on a fayr morn, monyth þe fyrst,
Þat falleȝ formast in þe ȝer, & þe fyrst day,
Ledeȝ loȝen in þat lome & loked þer-oute,
How þat wattereȝ wern woned & þe worlde dryed.
Vchon loued oure lorde, bot lenged ay stylle,
Tyl þay had tyþyng fro þe tolke þat tyned hem þer-inne;

Þen godeȝ glam to hem glod þat gladed hem alle,
Bede hem drawe to þe dor, delyuer hem he wolde;
Þen went þay to þe wykket, hit walt vpon sone,
Boþe þe burne & his barneȝ bowed þer-oute;
Her wyueȝ walkeȝ hem wyth & þe wylde after,
Þroly þrublande in þronge, þrowen ful þykke;
Bot Noe of vche honest kynde nem out an odde
& heuened vp an auter & halȝed hit fayre,
& sette a sakerfyse þer-on of vch a ser kynde,
Þat watȝ comly & clene, god kepeȝ non oþer.
When bremly brened þose besteȝ, & þe breþe rysed,
Þe savour of his sacrafyse soȝt to hym euen
Þat al spedeȝ & spylleȝ; he spekes with þat ilke
In comly comfort ful clos & cortays wordeȝ:
“Now Noe no more nel I neuer wary,
Alle þe mukel mayny [on] molde for no manneȝ synneȝ,
For I se wel þat hit is sothe, þat alle manneȝ wytteȝ
To vnþryfte arn alle þrawen with 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 neuer schende so shortly at ones,
As dysstrye al for maneȝ synne [in] dayeȝ of þis erþe.
Bot waxes now & wendeȝ forth & worþeȝ to monye,
Multyplyeȝ on þis molde & menske yow bytyde.
Se-souneȝ schal yow neuer sese of sede ne of heruest,
Ne hete, ne no harde forst, vmbre ne droȝþe,
Ne þe swetnesse of somer, ne þe sadde wynter,
Ne þe nyȝt, ne þe day, ne þe newe ȝereȝ,
Bot euer renne restleȝ rengneȝȝe þer-inne.”
Þerwyth he blesseȝ vch a best, & bytaȝt hem þis erþe.
Þen watȝ a skylly skyualde, quen scaped alle þe wylde;
Vche fowle to þe flyȝt þat fyþereȝ myȝt serue,
Vche fysch to þe flod þat fynne couþe nayte,
Vche beste to þe bent þat þat bytes on erbeȝ;
Wylde wormeȝ to her won wryþeȝ in þe erþe

Þe fox & þe folmarde to þe fryth wyndeȝ,
Herttes to hyȝe heþe, hareȝ to gorsteȝ,
& lyouneȝ & lebardeȝ to þe lake ryftes,
Herneȝ & hauekeȝ to þe hyȝe rocheȝ;
Þe hole foted fowle to þe flod hyȝeȝ,
& vche best at a brayde þer hym best lykeȝ;
Þe fowre frekeȝ of þe folde fongeȝ þe empyre.
Lo! suche a wrakful wo for wlatsum dedeȝ
Parformed þe hyȝe fader on folke þat he made;
Þat he chysly hade cherisched he chastysed ful hardee,
In de-voydynge þe vylanye þat venkquyst his þeweȝ.
For-þy war þe now wyȝe þat worschyp desyres,
In his comlych courte þat kyng is of blysse,
In þe fylþe of þe flesch þat þou be founden neuer,
Tyl any water in þe worlde to wasche þe fayly,
For is no segge vnder sunne so seme of his crafteȝ,
If he be sulped in synne, þat sytteȝ vnclene.
On spec of a spote may spede to mysse,
Of þe syȝte of þe souerayn þat sytteȝ so hyȝe,
For þat schewe me schale in þo schyre howseȝ,
As þe beryl bornyst byhoueȝ be clene,
Þat is sounde on vche a syde & no sem habes,
With-outen maskle oþer mote as margerye perle.

VII.

Syþen þe souerayn in sete so sore for-þoȝt
Þat euer he man vpon molde merked to lyuy,
For he in fylþe watȝ fallen, felly he uenged,
Quen four-ferde alle þe flesch þat he formed hade,
Hym rwed þat he hem vprerde & raȝt hem lyflode,
& efte þat he hem vndyd, hard hit hym þoȝt;
For quen þe swemande sorȝe soȝt to his hert,
He knyt a couenaunde cortaysly with monkynd þere,
In þe mesure of his mode & meþe of his wylle,

Þat he schulde neuer 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 terme.
Þat ilke skyl for no scaþe ascaped hym neuer,
Wheder wonderly he wrak on wykked men after;
Ful felly for þat ilk faute for-ferde a kyth ryche,
In þe anger of his ire þat arȝed monye;
And al watȝ for þis ilk euel, þat vnhappen glette,
Þe venym & þe vylanye & þe vycios fylþe,
Þat by-sulpeȝ manneȝ saule in vnsounde hert,
Þat he his saueour ne see with syȝt of his yȝen,
Þat alle illeȝ he hates as helle þat stynkkeȝ;
Bot non nuyeȝ hym, on naȝt ne neuer vpon dayeȝ,
As harlottrye vnhonest, heþyng of seluen;
Þat schameȝ for no schrewedschyp schent mot he worthe!
Bot sauyour mon in þyself, þaȝ þou a sotte lyuie,
Þaȝ þou bere þy self babel, by-þenk þe sym-tyme,
Wheþer he þat stykked vche a stare in vche steppe yȝe,
Ȝif hym-self be bore blynde hit is a brod wonder;
& he þat fetly in face fettled alle eres
If he he hatȝ losed the lysten hit lyfteȝ meruayle;
Trave þou neuer þat tale, vntrwe þou hit fyndeȝ,
Þer is no dede so derne þat ditteȝ his yȝen;
Þer is no wyȝe in his werk so war ne so stylle
Þat hit ne þraweȝ to hym thre er he hit þoȝt haue;
For he is þe gropande god, þe grounde of alle dedeȝ,
Rypande of vche a ring þe reynyeȝ & hert;
& þere he fyndeȝ al fayre a freke wyth-inne
Þat hert honest & hol, þat haþel he honoureȝ,
Sendeȝ hym a sad syȝt to se his auen face,
& harde honyseȝ þise oþer & of his erde flemeȝ.
Bot of þe dome of þe douþe for dedeȝ of schame
He is so skoymus of þat skaþe, he scarreȝ bylyue,
He may not dryȝe to drawe allyt, bot drepeȝ in hast
& þat watȝ schewed schortly by a scaþe oneȝ.

VIII.

Olde Abraham in erde oneȝ he sytteȝ
Euen byfore his hous-dore vnder an oke grene;
Bryȝt blykked þe bem of þe brode heuen,
In þe hyȝe hete þer-of Abraham bideȝ,
He watȝ schunt to þe schadow vnder schyre leueȝ;
Þenne watȝ he war on þe waye of wlonk wyȝeȝ þrynne.
If þay wer farande & fre & fayre to beholde,
Hit is eþe to leue by þe last ende;
For þe lede þat þer laye the leueȝ an-vnder,
When he hade of hem syȝt he hyȝeȝ bylyue,
& as to god þe good mon gos hem agayneȝ
& haylsed hem in onhede & sayde, “hende lorde
Ȝyf euer þy mon vpon molde merit disserued,
Lenge a lyttel with þy lede I loȝly biseche;
Passe neuer fro þi pouere, ȝif I hit pray durst,
Er þou haf biden with þi burne & vnder boȝe restted;
& I schal wynne yow wyȝt of water a lyttel,
& fast aboute schal I fare your fette wer waschene;
Restteȝ here on þis rote & I schal rachche after
& brynge a morsel of bred to banne your hertte.”
“Fare forthe,” quoth þe frekeȝ, “& fech as þou seggeȝ;
By bole of þis brode tre we byde þe here.”
Þenne orppedly in to his hous he hyȝed to Saré
Comaunded 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 sum quat fat þou þe fyr bete,
Prestly at þis ilke poynte sum polment to make.”
He cached to his cob-hous & a calf bryngeȝ
Þat watȝ tender & not toȝe; bed tyrne of þe hyde,
& sayde to his servaunt þat he hit seþe faste
& he deruely at his dome dyȝt hyt bylyue.
Þe burne to be bare-heued buskeȝ hym þenne,

Clecheȝ to a clene cloþe & kesteȝ on þe grene,
Þrwe þryftyly þer-on þo þre þerue kakeȝ,
& bryngeȝ butter wyth-al, & by þe bred setteȝ
Mete; messeȝ of mylke he merkkeȝ bytwene,
Syþen potage & polment in plater honest;
As sewer in a god assyse he serued hem fayre,
Wyth sadde semblaunt & swete of such as he hade,
And god as a glad gest mad god chere,
Þat watȝ fayn of his frende & his fest praysed.
Abraham, al hodleȝ with armeȝ vp-folden,
Mynystred mete byfore þo men þat myȝtes alweldeȝ;
Þenne þay sayden, as þay sete samen alle þrynne,
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,
& þenne schal Saré consayue & a sun bere,
Þat schal be Abrahameȝ ayre, & after hym wynne
With wele & wyth worschyp þe worþely peple
Þat schal halde in heritage, þat I haf men ȝark.”
Þenne þe burde byhynde þe dor for busmar laȝed;
& sayde sothly to hir-self Saré þe madde:
“May þou traw for tykel þat þou tonne 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 byfore ho barayne ay byene,
Þat selue Saré with-outen sede into þat same tyme.
Þenne sayde oure syre þer he sete “se! so Saré laȝeȝ,
Not trawande þe tale þat I þe to schewed;
Hopeȝ ho oȝt may be harde my hondeȝ to work?
& ȝet I a-vow verayly þe avaunt þat I made,
I schal ȝeply aȝayn & ȝelde þat I hyȝt,
& sothely sende to Saré a soun & an hayre.”
Þenne swenged forth Saré & swer by her trawþe,
Þat for lot þat þay lansed ho laȝed neuer.

“Now innoghe hit is not so” þene nurned þe dryȝtyn,
“For þou laȝed a-loȝ, let we hit one.”
With þat þay ros vp radly as þay rayke schulde,
& setten to-ward Sodamas her syȝt alle at-oneȝ;
For þat Cite þer bysyde watȝ sette in a vale,
No myleȝ fro Mambre mo þen tweyne,
Where-so wonyed þis ilke wyȝ þat wendeȝ with oure lorde,
For to tent hym with tale & teche hym þe gate,
Þen glydeȝ forth god, þe god-mon hym folȝeȝ.
Abraham heldeȝ hem wyth, hem to conueye,
In towarde þe Cety of Sodamas þat synned had þenne
In þe faute of þis fylþe; þe fader hem þretes,
& sayde þus to þe segg þat sued hym after:
“How myȝt I hyde myn hert fro Habraham þe trwe,
Þat I ne dyscouered to his corse my counsayle so dere.
Syþen he is chosen to be chef chyldryn fader,
Þat so folk schal falle fro, to flete alle þe worlde,
& vche blod in þat burne blessed schal worþe.
Me bos telle to þat tolk þe tene of my wylle
& alle myn atlyng to Abraham vn-haspe bylyue.

IX.

The grete soun of Sodamas synkkeȝ in myn ereȝ,
& þe gult of Gomorre gareȝ me to wrath;
I schal lyȝt in-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 founden in her flesch of fauteȝ þe werst.
Vch male matȝ his mach a man as hym-seluen,
& fylter folyly in fere, on femmaleȝ wyse.
I compast hem a kynde crafte & kende hit hem derne,
& amed hit in myn ordenaunce oddely dere,
& dyȝt drwry þer-inne, doole alþer-swettest,
& þe play of paramoreȝ I portrayed my seluen;
& made þer-to a maner myriest of oþer,
When two true togeder had tyȝed hem seluen,

Bytwene a mal & his make such merþe schulde conne;
Wel nyȝe pure paradys moȝt preue no better,
Elleȝ þay moȝt honestly ayþer oþer 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,
& hentteȝ hem in heþyng an vsage vn-clene;
Hem to smyte for þat smod smartly I þenk
Þat wyȝes schal be by hem war, worlde with-outen ende.”
Þenne arȝed Abraham & alle his mod chaunge[d],
For hope of þe harde hate þat hyȝt hatȝ oure lorde;
Al sykande he sayde “Syre with yor leue,
Schal synful & sakleȝ suffer al on payne;
Weþer euer hit lyke my lorde to lyfte such domeȝ,
Þat þe wykked & þe worþy schal on wrake suffer,
And weye vpon þe worre half þat wrathed þe neuer?
Þat watȝ neuer þy won þat wroȝteȝ vus alle.
Now fyfty fyn frendeȝ wer founde in ȝonde toune
In þe City of Sodamas & also Gomorré,
Þat neuer lakked þy laue, bot loued ay trauþe,
& reȝt-ful wern & resounable & redy þe to serue,
Schal þay falle in þe faute þat oþer frekeȝ wroȝt
& ioyne to her iuggement her iuise to haue?
Þat nas neuer þyn note, vnneuened hit worþe,
Þat art so gaynly a god & of goste mylde!”
“Nay for fyfty,” quoth þe fader, “& þy fayre speche,
& þay be founden in þat folk of her fylþe clene,
I schal forgyue alle þe gylt þurȝ my grace one,
& let hem smolt al un-smyten smoþely atoneȝ.”
“A.a.! blessed be þow,” quoth þe burne, “so boner & þewed,
& al haldeȝ in 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 noumbre,
& þe remnaunt be reken, how restes þy wylle?”
“And fyue wont of fyfty,” quoth god, “I schal forȝete alle
& wyth-halde my honde for hortyng on lede.”
“And quat if faurty be fre and fauty þyse oþer
Schalt þow schortly al schende & schape non oþer.”
“Nay þaȝ faurty forfete ȝet fryst I a whyle,
& voyde away my vengaunce, þaȝ me vyl þynk.”
Þen Abraham obeched hym & loȝly him þonkkeȝ,
“Now sayned be þou sauiour, so symple in þy wrath!
I am bot erþe ful euel & vsle so blake,
For to mele wyth such a mayster as myȝteȝ hatȝ alle,
Bot I haue by-gonnen wyth my god, and he hit gayn þynkeȝ,
Ȝif I for-loyne as a fol þy fraunchyse may serue;
What if þretty þryuande be þrad in ȝon touneȝ,
What schal I leue if my lorde, if he hem leþe wolde?”
Þenne þe godlych god gef hym onsware,
“Ȝet for þretty in þrong I schal my þro steke,
& spare spakly of spyt in space of my þeweȝ,
& my rankor refrayne for þy reken wordeȝ.”
“What for twenty,” quoth þe tolke, “vntwyneȝ þou hem þenne?”
“Nay, ȝif þou ȝerneȝ hit, ȝet ȝark I hem grace;
If þat twenty be trwe I tene hem no more,
Bot relece alle þat regioun of her ronk werkkeȝ.”
“Now aþel lorde,” quoth Abraham, “oneȝ a speche
& I schal schape no more þo schalkkeȝ to helpe;
If ten trysty in toune be tan in þi werkkeȝ
Wylt þou mese þy mode & menddyng abyde?”
“I graunt,” quoth þe grete god, “graunt mercy þat oþer.”
& þenne arest þe renk & raȝt no fyrre;
& godde glyddeȝ his gate by þose grene wayeȝ
& he conueyen hym con with cast of his yȝe,

& als he loked along þere as oure lorde passed,
Ȝet he cryed hym after with careful steuen:
“Meke mayster on þy mon to mynne if þe lyked,
Loth lengeȝ in ȝon leede þat is my lef broþer,
He sytteȝ þer in Sodomis, þy servaunt so pouere
Among þo mansed men þat han þe much greued;
Ȝif þou tyneȝ þat toun, tempre þyn yre
As þy mersy may malte þy meke to spare.”
Þen he wendeȝ, wendeȝ his way wepande for care
Towarde þe mere of mambre wepande for sorewe,
& þere in longyng al nyȝt he lengeȝ in wones,
Whyl þe souverayn to Sodamas sende to spye.

X.

His sondes in-to Sodamas watȝ sende in þat tyme,
In þat ilk euentyde, by aungels tweyne,
Meuande meuande mekely togeder as myry men ȝonge,
As Loot in a loge dor leued hym alone,
In a porche of þat place pyȝt to þe ȝates,
Þat watȝ ryal & ryche, so watȝ þe renkes seluen.
As he stared in-to þe strete þer stout men played
He syȝe þer swey in asent swete men tweyne;
Bolde burneȝ wer þay boþe with berdles chynneȝ,
Royl rollande fax to raw sylk lyke,
Of ble as þe brere flour where-so þe bare scheweed,
Ful clene watȝ þe countenaunce of her cler yȝen;
Wlonk whit watȝ her wede & wel hit hem semed.
Of alle fetureȝ ful fyn & fautleȝ boþe;
Watȝ non autly in ouþer, for aungels hit wern,
And þat þe ȝep vnder-ȝede þat in þe ȝate sytteȝ.
He ros vp ful radly & ran hem to mete
& loȝe he louteȝ hem to Loth to þe grounde,
& syþen soberly [satȝ] “Syreȝ I yow byseche,
Þat ȝe wolde lyȝt at my loge & lenge þer-inne,
Comeȝ to your kuchieȝ-kote I craue at þis oneȝ;

I schal fette yow a fatte your fette for to wasche;
I norne yow bot for on nyȝt neȝe me lenge,
& in þe myry mornyng ȝe may your waye take.”
And þay nay þat þay nolde neȝ no howseȝ,
Bot stylly þer in þe strete as þay stadde wern,
Þay wolde lenge þe long naȝt & logge þer-oute;
Hit watȝ hous innoȝe to hem þe heuen vpon lofte.
Loth laþed so longe wyth luflych wordeȝ,
Þat þay hym graunted to go & gruȝt no lenger.
Þe bolde to his byggyng bryngeȝ hem bylyue,
Þat ryally [watȝ] arayed, for he watȝ ryche euer.
Þe wyȝeȝ wern welcom as þe wyf couþe,
His two dere doȝtereȝ deuoutly hem haylsed,
Þat wer maydeneȝ ful meke, maryed not ȝet,
& þay wer semly & swete, & swyþe wel arayed.
Loth þenne ful lyȝtly lokeȝ hym aboute,
& his men amonestes mete for to dyȝt,
Bot þenkkeȝ on hit be þrefte what þynk so ȝe make,
For wyth no sour ne no salt serueȝ hym neuer.
Bot ȝet I wene þat þe wyf hit wroth to dyspyt,
& sayde softely to hirself “þis vn-fauere hyne
Loueȝ no salt in her sauce ȝet hit no skyl were,
Þat oþer burne be boute þaȝ boþe be nyse.”
Þenne ho sauereȝ with salt her seueȝ vchone
Agayne þe bone of þe burne þat hit forboden hade,
& als ho scelt hem in scorne þat wel her skyl knewen.
Why watȝ ho wrech so wod, ho wrathed oure lorde!
Þenne seten þay at þe soper, wern serued bylyue,
Þe gestes gay and ful glad, of glam debonere,
Wela-wynnely wlonk tyl þay waschen hade,
Þe trestes tylt to þe woȝe & þe table boþe.
Fro þe seggeȝ haden souped & seten bot a whyle,
Er euer þay bosked to bedde þe borȝ watȝ al vp;
Alle þat weppen myȝt welde, þe wakker & þe stronger,

To vmbe-lyȝe Lotheȝ hous þe ledeȝ to take,
In grete flokkeȝ of folk, þay fallen to his ȝateȝ,
As a scowte wach scarred, so þe asscry rysed;
With kene clobbeȝ of þat clos þay clatȝ on þe woweȝ,
& wyth a schrylle scharp schout þay schewe þyse worde:
“If þou louyeȝ þy lyf Loth in þyse woneȝ
Ȝete vus out þose ȝong men þat ȝore-whyle here entred,
Þat we may lere hym of lof, as oure lyst biddeȝ,
As in þe asyse of Sodomas to seggeȝ þat passen.”
Whatt! þay sputen & speken of so spitous fylþe,
What! þay ȝeȝed & ȝolped of ȝestande sorȝe,
Þat ȝet þe wynd, & þe weder, & þe worlde stynkes
Of þe brych þat vpbraydeȝ þose broþelych wordeȝ.
Þe god man glyfte with þat glam & gloped for noyse,
So scharpe schame to hym schot, he schrank at þe hert,
For he knew þe costoum þat kyþed þose wrecheȝ.
He doted neuer for no doel so depe in his mynde,
Allas! sayd hym þenne Loth, & lyȝtly he ryseȝ
& boweȝ forth fro þe bench in to þe brode ȝates.
What! he wonded no woþe of wekked knaueȝ,
Þat he ne passed þe port þe peril to abide.
He went forthe at þe wyket & waft hit hym after,
Þat a clyket hit cleȝt clos hym byhynde.
Þenne he meled to þo men mesurable wordeȝ;
For harloteȝ with his hendelayk he hoped to chast;
“O.o! my frendeȝ so fre, your fare is to strange,
Dotȝ away your derf dyn & dereȝ neuer my gestes,
Avoy! hit is your vylaynye, ȝe vylen your seluen;
& ȝe ar iolyf gentylmen your iapes ar ille.
Bot I schal kenne yow by kynde a crafte þat is better;
I haf a tresor in my telde of tow my fayre deȝter,
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 manne;

To samen wyth þo semly þe solace is better,
I schal biteche yow þo two þat tayt arn & quoynt,
& laykeȝ wyth hem as yow lyst & leteȝ my gestes one.”
Þenne þe rebaudeȝ so ronk rered such a noyse,
Þat aȝly hurled in his ereȝ her harloteȝ speche;
“Wost þou not wel þat þou woneȝ here a wyȝe strange,
An out-comlyng, a carle, we kylle of þyn heued.
Who Ioyned þe be Iostyse our iapeȝ to blame,
Þat com a boy to þis borȝ, þaȝ þou be burne ryche?”
Þus þay þrobled & þrong & þrwe vmbe his ereȝ,
& distresed hym wonder strayt, with strenkþe in þe prece,
Bot þat þe ȝonge men, so ȝepe, ȝornen þer oute,
Wapped vpon þe wyket & wonnen hem tylle,
& by þe hondeȝ hym hent & horyed him with-inne,
& steken þe ȝates ston-harde wyth stalworth barreȝ.
Þay blwe a buffet in blande þat banned peple,
Þat þay blustered as blynde as bayard watȝ euer;
Þay lest of Loteȝ logging any lysoun to fynde,
Bot nyteled þer alle þe nyȝt for noȝt at þe last;
Þenne vch tolke tyȝt hem þat hade of tayt fayled,
& vchon roþeled to þe rest þat he reche moȝt;
Bot þay wern wakened al wrank þat þerin won lenged,
Of on þe vglokest vnhap þat euer on erd suffred.

XI.

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 hym vpryse,
Fast þe freke ferkeȝ vp ful ferd at his hert;
Þay comaunded hym cof to cach þat he hade,
“Wyth þy wyf & þy wyȝeȝ & þy wlonc deȝtters,
For we laþe þe Syr Loth þat þou þy lyf haue;
Cayre tid of þis kythe er combred þou worþe,

With alle þi here vpon haste, tyl þou a hil fynde;
Foundeȝ faste on your fete, bifore your face lokes,
Bot bes neuer so bolde to blusch yow bihynde,
And loke ȝe stemme no stepe, bot strecheȝ on faste,
Til ȝe reche to areset, rest ȝe neuer;
For we schal tyne þis toun & trayþely disstrye,
Wyth alle þise wyȝeȝ so wykke wyȝtly deuoyde
& alle þe londe with þise ledeȝ we losen at-oneȝ;
Sodomas schal ful sodenly synk in-to grounde,
& þe grounde of Gomorre gorde in-to helle,
& vche a koste of þis kyth clater vpon hepes.
Þen laled Loth, “lorde what is best?
If I me fele vpon fote þat I fle moȝt,
Hov schulde I huyde me fro hem þat hatȝ his hate kynned,
In þe brath of his breth þat brenneȝ alle þinkeȝ,
To crepe fro my creatour & know not wheder,
Ne wheþer his foo-schip me folȝes bifore oþer bihynde?”
Þe freke sayde “no foschip oure fader hatȝ þe schewed,
Bot hiȝly heuened þi hele fro hem þat arn combred:
Nov walle þe a wonnyng þat þe warisch myȝt,
& he schal saue hit for þy sake þat hatȝ vus sende hider,
For þou art oddely þyn one out of þis fylþe,
& als Abraham þy broþer hit at himself asked.”
“Lorde loued he worþe,” quoth Loth, “vpon erþe!
Þen is a cite her bisyde þat Segor hit hatte,
Here vtter on a rounde hil hit houeȝ hit one,
I wolde, if his wylle wore, to þat won scape.”
“Þenne fare forth,” quoth þat fre, “& fyne þou neuer
With þose ilk þat þow wylt þat þrenge þe after,
& ay goande on your gate, wythouten agayn-tote
For alle þis londe schal be lorne, longe er þe sonne rise.”
Þe wyȝe wakened his wyf & his wlonk deȝteres,
& oþer two myri men þo maydeneȝ schulde wedde;
& þay token hit as-tyt & tented hit lyttel,

Þaȝ fast laþed hem Loth, þay leȝen ful stylle.
Þe aungeleȝ hasted þise oþer & aȝly hem þratten,
& enforsed alle fawre forth at þe ȝateȝ,
Þo wern Loth & his lef, his luflyche deȝter,
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 in þe teche of tyraunteȝ 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 in his greme bygynneȝ on-lofte;
To wakan wedereȝ so wylde þe wyndeȝ he calleȝ,
& þay wroþely vp-wafte & wrastled togeder,
Fro fawre half of þe folde, flytande loude.
Clowddeȝ clustered bytwene kesten vp torres,
Þat þe þik þunder þrast þirled hem ofte.
Þe rayn rueled adoun, ridlande þikke,
Of felle flaunkes of fyr & flakes of soufre,
Al in smolderande smoke smachande ful ille,
Swe aboute Sodamas & hit sydeȝ alle,
Gorde to Gomorra þat þe grounde laused;
Abdama and Syboym, þise ceteis alle faure,
Al bi-rolled wyth þe rayn, rostted & brenned,
& ferly flayed þat folk þat in þose fees lenged;
For when þat þe helle herde þe houndeȝ of heuen
He watȝ ferlyly fayn, vnfolded by lyue.
Þe grete barreȝ of þe abyme he barst vp at oneȝ,
Þat alle þe regioun to-rof in riftes ful grete,
& clouen alle in lyttel cloutes þe clyffeȝ aywhere,
As lance leueȝ of þe boke þat lepes in twynne.
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 withinne,
When þay wern war of þe wrake þat no wyȝe achaped,

Such a ȝomerly ȝarm of ȝellyng þer rysed;
Þer-of clatered þe cloudes þat kryst myȝt haf rawþe.
Þe segge herde þat soun to Segor þat ȝede,
& þe wenches hym wyth þat by þe way folȝed;
Ferly ferde watȝ her flesch, þat flowen ay ilyche,
Trynande ay a hyȝe trot þat torne neuer dorsten.
Loth & þo luly-whit his lefly two deȝter,
Ay folȝed here face, bifore her boþe yȝen;
Bot þe balleful burde, þat neuer bode keped,
Blusched byhynden her bak, þat bale for to herkken;
Hit watȝ lusty Lothes wyf þat ouer 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 in Segor wern sette, & sayned oure lorde;
Wyth lyȝt loueȝ vp-lyfte þay loued hym swyþe,
Þat so his servauntes wolde see & saue of such woþe.
Al watȝ dampped & don, & drowned by þenne;
Þe ledeȝ of þat lyttel toun wern lopen out for drede,
In-to þat malscrande mere, marred bylyue,
Þat noȝt saued watȝ bot Segor þat sat on a lawe,
Þe þre ledeȝ þer-in, Loth and his deȝter;
For his make watȝ myst, þat on þe mount lenged
In a stonen statue þat salt sauor habbes,
For two fautes þat þe fol watȝ founde in mis-trauþe;
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 oþer,
& 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 in his hert,
Al in longing for Loth leyen in a wache,
Þer he lafte hade our lorde, he is on lofte wonnen;
He sende toward Sodomas þe syȝt of his yȝen,

Þat euer hade ben an erde of erþe þe swettest
As aparaunt to paradis þat plantted þe dryȝtyn,
Nov is hit plunged in a pit like of pich fylled.
Suche a roþun of a reche ros fro þe blake,
Askeȝ vpe in þe ayre & vselleȝ þer flowen,
As a fornes ful of flot þat vpon fyr boyles,
When bryȝt brennande brondeȝ ar bet þer an-vnder.
Þis watȝ a vengaunce violent þat voyded þise places,
Þat foundered hatȝ so fayr a folk & þe folde sonkken.
Þer faure citees wern set, nov is a see called,
Þat ay is drouy & dym, & ded in hit kynde,
Blo, blubrande, & blak, vnblyþe to neȝe,
As a stynkande stanc þat stryed synne,
Þat euer of synne & of smach, smart is to fele;
Forþy þe derk dede see hit is demed euer more,
For hit dedeȝ of deþe duren þere ȝet.
For hit is brod & boþemleȝ, & bitter as þe galle,
& noȝt may lenge in þat lake þat any lyf bereȝ,
& alle þe costeȝ of kynde hit combreȝ vchone;
For lay þer-on a lump of led & hit on loft fleteȝ,
& folde þer-on a lyȝt fyþer & hit to founs synkkeȝ.
& þer water may walter to wete any erþe,
Schal neuer greue þer-on growe, gresse ne wod nawþer.
If any schalke to be schent wer schowued þer-inne,
Þaȝ he bode in þat boþem broþely a monyth,
He most ay lyue in þat loȝe in losyng euer-more,
& neuer dryȝe no dethe, to dayes of ende,
And, as hit is corsed of kynde & hit coosteȝ als,
Þe clay þat clenges þer-by arn corsyes strong,
As alum & alkaran, that angré arn boþe,
Soufre sour, & saundyuer, & oþer such mony;
& þer walteȝ of þat water in waxlokes grete,
Þe spuniande aspaltoun þat spysereȝ sellen;

& suche is alle þe soyle by þat se halues,
Þat fel fretes þe flesch & festred bones.
& þer ar tres by þat terne of traytoures;
& þay borgouneȝ & beres blomeȝ ful fayre,
& þe fayrest fryt þat may on folde growe,
As orenge & oþer fryt & apple garnade;
Also red & so ripe & rychely hwed,
As any dom myȝt device of dayntyeȝ oute;
Bot quen hit is brused oþer broken, oþer byten in twynne,
No worldeȝ goud hit wyth-inne, bot wydowande askes;
Alle þyse ar teches & tokenes to trow vpon ȝet,
& wittnesse of þat wykked werk & þe wrake after,
Þat oure fader forferde for fylþe of þose ledes.
Þenne vch wyȝe may wel wyt þat he þe wlonk louies,
& if he louyes clene layk þat is oure lorde ryche,
& to be couþe in his courte þou coueytes þenne
To se þat semly in sete & his swete face,
Clerrer counseyl, counsayl con I non, bot þat þou clene worþe.
For Clopyngnel in þe compas of his clene Rose,
Þer he expouneȝ a speche, to hym þat spede wolde,
Of a lady to be loued, loke to hir sone,
Of wich beryng þat ho be, & wych ho best louyes,
& be ryȝt such in vch a borȝe of body & of dedes,
& folȝ þe fet of þat fere þat þou fre haldes.
& if þou wyrkkes on þis wyse, þaȝ ho wyk were,
Hir schal lyke þat layk þat lyknes hir tylle.
If þou wyl dele drwrye wyth dryȝtyn þenne,
& lelly louy þy lorde & his leef worþe,
Þenne confourme þe to kryst, & þe clene make,
Þat euer is polyced als playn as þe perle seluen.
For loke fro fyrst þat he lyȝt with-inne þe lel mayden!
By how comly a kest he watȝ clos þere,

When venkkyst watȝ no vergynyté, nevyolence maked,
Bot much clener watȝ hir corse, God kynned þerinne;
& efte when he borne watȝ in Beþelen þe ryche,
In wych puryté þay departed; þaȝ þay pouer were,
Watȝ neuer so blysful a bour as watȝ abos þenne
Ne no schroude hous so schene as a-schepon þare,
Ne non so glad vnder god as ho þat grone schulde;
For þer watȝ seknesse al sounde þat sarrest is halden,
& þer watȝ rose reflayr where rote hatȝ ben euer,
& þer watȝ solace & songe where sorȝ hatȝ ay cryed;
For aungelles with instrumentes of organes & pypes,
& rial ryngande rotes & þe reken fyþel,
& alle hende þat honestly moȝt an hert glade,
Aboutte my lady watȝ lent, quen ho delyuer were.
Þenne watȝ her blyþe barne burnyst so clene,
Þat boþe þe ox & þe asse hym hered at-ones;
Þay knewe hym by his clannes for kyng of nature,
For non so clene of such a clos com neuer er þenne;
& ȝif clanly he þenne com, ful cortays þer-after,
Þat alle þat longed to luþer ful lodly he hated;
By nobleye of his norture he nolde neuer towche
Oȝt þat watȝ vngoderly oþer ordure watȝ inne.
Ȝet comen lodly to þat lede, as laȝares ful monye,
Summe lepre, summe lome, & lomerande blynde,
Poysened & parlatyk & pyned in fyres,
Drye folk & ydropike, & dede at þe laste;
Alle called on þat cortayse & claymed his grace.
He heled hem wyth hynde speche of þat þay ask after,
For what-so he towched also-tyd tourned to hele,
Wel clanner þen any crafte cowþe deuyse;
So clene watȝ his hondelyng vche ordure hit schonied,
& þe gropyng so goud of God & man boþe,
Þat for fetys of his fyngeres fonded he neuer
Nauþer to cout ne to kerue, with knyf ne wyth egge,
For-þy brek he þe bred blades wythouten;

For hit ferde freloker in fete in his fayre honde,
Displayed more pryuyly when he hit part schulde,
Þenne alle þe toles of Tolowse moȝt tyȝt hit to kerue,
Þus is he kyryous & clene þat þou his cort askes;
Hov schulde þou com to his kyth bot-if þou clene were?
Nov ar we sore & synful & soverly vch one,
How schulde we se, þen may we say, þat syre vpon throne?
Ȝis, þat mayster is mercyable; þaȝ þou be man fenny,
& al to-marred in myre whyl þou on molde lyuyes,
Þou may schyne þurȝ schryfte, þaȝ þou haf schome serued,
& pure þe with penaunce tyl þou a perle worþe.
Perle praysed is prys, þer perre is schewed,
Þaȝ hym not derrest be demed to dele for penies,
Quat may þe cause be called, bot for hir clene hwes,
Þat wynnes worschyp, abof alle whyte stones?
For ho schynes so schyr þat is of schap rounde,
Wyth-outen faut oþer fylþe ȝif ho fyn were;
& wax euer in þe worlde in weryng so olde,
Ȝet þe perle payres not whyle ho in pyese lasttes
& if hit cheue þe chaunce vncheryst ho worþe,
Þat ho blyndes of ble in bour þer ho lygges,
No-bot wasch hir wyth wourchyp in wyn as ho askes,
Ho by kynde schal becom clerer þen are;
So if folk be defowled by vnfre chaunce,
Þat he be sulped in sawle, seche to schryfte
& he may polyce him at þe prest, by penaunce taken,
Wel bryȝter þen þe beryl oþer browden perles.
Bot war þe wel, if þou be waschen wyth water of schryfte,
& polysed als playn as parchmen schauen,
Sulp no more þenne in synne þy saule þer-after,
For þenne þou dryȝtyn dyspleses with dedes ful sore,
& entyses hym to tene more trayþly þen euer

& wel hatter to hate þen hade þou not waschen;
For when a sawele is saȝtled & sakred to dryȝtyn,
He holly haldes hit his & haue hit he wolde,
Þenne efte lastes hit likkes, he loses hit ille,
As hit were rafte wyth vnryȝt & robbed wyth þewes.
War þe þenne for þe wrake, his wrath is achaufed,
For þat þat ones watȝ his schulde efte be vnclene,
Þaȝ hit be bot a bassyn, a bolle, oþer a scole,
A dysche oþer a dobler þat dryȝtyn oneȝ serued,
To defowle hit euer vpon folde fast he forbedes,
So is he scoymus of scaþe þat scylful is euer.
And þat watȝ bared in Babyloyn in Baltaȝar tyme,
Hov harde vnhap þer hym hent & hastyly sone,
For he þe vesselles avyled þat vayled in þe temple
In seruyse of þe souerayn sum tyme byfore.
Ȝif ȝe wolde tyȝt me a tom telle hit I wolde,
Hov charged more watȝ his chaunce þat hem cherych nolde
Þen his fader forloyne þat feched hem wyth strenþe,
& robbed þe relygioun of relykes alle.

XII.

Danyel in his dialokeȝ devysed sum tyme,
As ȝet is proued expresse in his profecies,
Hov þe gentryse of Iuise & Iherusalem þe ryche
Watȝ disstryed with distres, & drawen to þe erþe,
For þat folke in her fayth watȝ founden vntrwe,
Þat haden hyȝt þe hyȝe god to halde of hym euer;
& he hem halȝed for his & help at her nede
In mukel meschefes mony, þat meruayl [is] to here;
& þay forloyne her fayth & folȝed oþer goddes,
& þat wakned his wrath and wrast hit so hyȝe,
Þat he fylsened þe faythful in þe falce lawe
To for-fare þe falce in þe faythe trwe;
Hit watȝ sen in þat syþe þat Ȝedethyas rengned,

In Iuda, þat iustised þe Iuyne kynges.
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 was lege tylle;
For-þi oure fader vpon folde a foman hym wakned,
Nabigo-de-noȝar nuyed hym swyþe.
He pursued in to Palastyn with proude men mony,
& þer he wast wyth with werre þe wones of þorpes.
He herȝed vp al Israel & hent of þe beste,
& þe gentylest of Iudee in Ierusalem biseged,
Vmbe-walt alle þe walles wyth wyȝes ful stronge,
At vche a dor a doȝty duk, and dutte hem wyth-inne;
For þe borȝ watȝ so bygge baytayled alofte,
& stoffed wyth-inne with stout men to stalle hem þer-oute.
Þenne 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 in toures teneled wyth-inne,
In bigge brutage of borde, bulde on þe walles;
Þay feȝt & þay fende of, & fylter togeder
Til two ȝer ouer-torned, ȝet tok þay hit neuer.
At þe laste vpon longe, þo ledes wyth-inne,
Faste fayled hem þe fode, enfaminied monie;
Þe hote hunger wythinne hert hem wel sarre,
Þen any dunt of þat douthe þat dowelled þer-oute.
Þenne wern þo rowtes redeles in þo ryche wones,
Fro þat mete watȝ myst, megre þay wexen,
& þay stoken so strayt, þat þay ne stray myȝt
A fote fro þat forselet to forray no goudes.
Þenne þe kyng of þe kyth a counsayl hym takes,
Wyth þe best of his burnes, a blench for to make;
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 launde lulted was þenne;
Ryche, ruþed of her rest, ran to here wedes,
Hard hattes þay hent & on hors lepes;
Cler claryoun crak cryed on-lofte.
By þat watȝ alle on a hepe hurlande swyþee,
Folȝande þat oþer flote, & fonde hem bilyue,
Ouer-tok hem, as tyd, tult hem of sadeles,
Tyl vche prynce hade his per put to þe grounde;
& þer watȝ þe kyng kaȝt wyth calde prynces,
& alle hise gentyle for-iusted on Ierico playnes,
& presented wern as presoneres to the prynce rychest,
Nabigo-de-noȝar noble in his chayer,
& he þe faynest freke þat he his fo hade,
& speke spitously hem to & spylt þer-after.
Þe kynges sunnes in his syȝt he slow euer vchone,
& holkked out his auen yȝen heterly boþe
& bede þe burne to be broȝt to Babyloyn þe ryche,
& þere in dongoun be don to dreȝe þer his wyrdes.
Now se, so þe soueray[n] set hatȝ his wrake;
Nas hit not for Nabugo ne his noble nauther,
Þat oþer depryued watȝ of pryde with paynes stronge,
Bot for his beryng so badde agayn his blyþe lorde;
For hade þe fader ben his frende þat hym bifore keped,
Ne neuer trepast to him in teche of mysseleue.
To Colde wer alle Calde & kythes of Ynde,
Ȝet take Torkye hem wyth her tene hade ben little;
Ȝet nolde neuer Nabugo þis ilke note leue,
Er he hade tuyred þis toun & torne hit to grounde;
He ioyned vnto Ierusalem a gentyle duc þenne,
His name watȝ Nabu-ȝardan, to noye þe Iues;
He watȝ mayster of his men & myȝty him seluen,
Þe chef of his cheualrye his chekkes to make,
He brek þe bareres as bylyue, & þe burȝ after,

He enteres in ful ernestly, in yre of his hert.
What! þe maysterry watȝ mene, þe men 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 fourre;
Nabu-ȝardan noȝt forþy nolde not spare,
Bot bede al to þe bronde vnder bare egge.
Þay slowen of swettest semlych burdes,
Baþed barnes in blod & her brayn spylled;
Prestes & prelates þay presed to deþe,
Wyues & wenches her wombes to-coruen,
Þat her boweles out-borst aboute þe diches,
& al watȝ carfully kylde þat þay cach myȝt,
& alle [þat] swypped vn-swolȝed of þe sworde kene,
Þay wer cagged and kaȝt on capeles al bare,
Festned fettres to her fete vnder fole wombes,
& broþely broȝt to Babyloyn þer bale to suffer,
To sytte in seruage & syte; þat sumtyme wer gentyle,
Now ar chaunged to chorles & charged wyth werkkes,
Boþe to cayre at þe kart & þe kuy mylke,
Þat sumtyme sete in her sale syres & burdes.
& ȝet Nabuȝardan nyl neuer 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-inne,
Pulden prestes by þe polle & plat of her hedes,
Diȝten dekenes to deþe, dungen doun clerkkes,
& alle þe maydenes of þe munster maȝtyly hokyllen
Wyth þe swayf of þe sworde þat swolȝed hem alle.
Þenne ran þay to þe relykes as robbors wylde,
& pyled alle þe apparement þat pented to þe kyrke,
Þe pure pyleres [o]f bras pourtrayd in golde,
& þe chef chaundeler charged with þe lyȝt,
Þat ber þe lamp vpon lofte, þat lemed euer more,
Bifore þ[e] sancta sanctorum þer selcouth watȝ ofte.

Þay caȝt away þat condelestik, & þe crowne als,
Þat þe auter hade vpon, of aþel golde ryche;
Þe gredirne & þe goblotes garnyst of syluer,
Þe bases of þe bryȝt postes & bassynes so schyre;
Dere disches of golde & dubleres fayre,
Þe vyoles & þe vesselment of vertuous stones.
Now hatȝ Nabuȝardan nomen alle þyse noble þynges,
& pyled þat precious place & pakked þose godes;
Þe golde of þe gaȝafylace to swyþe gret noumbre,
Wyth alle þe vrnmentes of þat hous, he hamppred togeder.
Alle he spoyled spytously in a sped whyle,
Þat Salomon so mony a sadde ȝer soȝt to make,
Wyth alle þe coyntyse þat he cowþe clene to wyrke;
Deuised he þe vesselment, þe vestures clene,
Wyth slyȝt of his ciences, his souerayn to loue,
Þe hous & þe anournementes he hyȝtled togeder.
Now hatȝ Nabuȝardan numnend hit al samen,
& syþen bet doun þe burȝ & brend hit in askes;
Þenne wyth legiounes of ledes ouer londes he rydes,
Herȝeȝ of Israel þe hyrne aboute.
Wyth charged chariotes þe cheftayne he fynde[ȝ],
Bikennes þe catel to þe kyng, þat he caȝt hade,
Presented him þe prisoneres in pray þat þay token,
Moni a worþly wyȝe whil her worlde laste,
Moni semly syre soun, & swyþe rych maydenes,
Þe pruddest of þe province, & prophetes childer;
As Ananie & Aȝarie & als Miȝael,
& dere Daniel also, þat watȝ deuine noble,
With moni a modey moder chylde mo þen innoghe.
& Nabu-go-de-noȝar makes much ioye,
Nov he þe kyng hatȝ conquest & þe kyth wunnen,
& dreped alle þe doȝtyest & derrest in armes,
& þe lederes of her lawe layd to þe grounde,

& þe pryce of þe profecie prisoners maked;
Bot þe ioy of þe iuelrye so gentyle & ryche,
When hit watȝ schewed hym so schene, scharp watȝ his wonder,
Of such vessel auayed þat vayled so huge,
Neuer ȝet nas Nabugo-de-noȝar er þenne.
He sesed hem with solemneté, þe souerayn he praysed,
Þat watȝ aþel ouer alle, Israel dryȝtyn;
Such god, such gomes, such gay vesselles
Comen neuer out of kyth, to Caldee reames.
He trussed hem in his tresorye in a tryed place
Rekenly wyth reuerens, as he ryȝt hade;
& þer he wroȝt as þe wyse, as ȝe may wyt here-after,
For hade he let of hem lyȝt, hym moȝt haf lumpen worse.
Þat ryche in gret rialté rengned his lyue,
As conquerour of vche a cost he cayser watȝ hatte,
Emperour of alle þe erþe & also þe saudan,
& als þe god of þe grounde watȝ grauen his name
& al þurȝ dome of Daniel, fro he deuised hade,
Þat alle goudes com of god, & gef hit hym bi samples,
Þat he ful clanly bi-cuv-er his carp bi þe laste,
& ofte hit mekned his mynde, his maysterful werkkes.
Bot al drawes to dyȝe with doel vp[o]n ende;
Bi a haþel neuer so hyȝe he heldes to grounde,
& so Nabugo-de-noȝar as he nedes moste;
For alle his empire so hiȝe in erþe is he grauen.
Bot þenne þe bolde Baltaȝar, þat watȝ his barn aldest,
He watȝ stalled in his stud, & stabled þe rengne;
In þe burȝ of Babiloyne þe biggest he trawed,
Þat nawþer in heuen ne no erþe hade no pere;
For he bigan in alle þe glori þat hym þe gome lafte,
Nabugo-de-nozar, þat watȝ his noble fader;
So kene a kyng in Caldee com neuer er þenne.

Bot honoured he not hym þat in heuen wonies,
Bot fals fantummes 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 syluer,
& þere he kneles & calleȝ, & clepes after help.
& þay reden him ryȝt, rewarde he hem hetes,
& if þay gruchen him his grace to gremen his hert,
He cleches to a gret klubbe & knokkes hem to peces;
Þus in pryde & olipraunce his empyre he haldes,
In lust & in lecherye, & loþelych werkkes;
& hade a wyf for to welde, a worþelych quene,
& mony a lemman, neuer þe later, þat ladis wer called.
In þe clernes of his concubines & curious wedeȝ,
In notyng of nwe metes & of nice gettes,
Al watȝ þe mynde of þat man, on misschapen þinges,
Til þe lorde of þe lyfte liste hit abate.

XIII.

Thenne þis bolde Baltaȝar biþenkkes hym ones,
To vouche on a vayment of his vaine g[l]orie;
Hit is not innoghe to þe nice al noȝty þink vse,
Bot-if alle þe worlde wyt his wykked dedes.
Baltaȝar þurȝ Babiloyn his banne gart crye,
& þurȝ þe cuntre of Caldee his callyng con spryng,
Þat alle þe grete vpon grounde 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 kyng schuld com þider;
Vche duk wyth his duthe & oþer dere lordes,
Schulde com to his court to kyþe hym for lege,
& to reche hym reuerens & his reuel herkken;
To loke on his lemanes & ladis hem calle,
To rose hym in his rialty rych men soȝtten,
& mony a baroun ful bolde, to Babyloyn þe noble.

Þer bowed toward Babyloyn burnes so mony,
Kynges, cayseres ful kene, to þe court wonnen,
Mony ludisch lordes þat ladies broȝten,
Þat to neuen þe noumbre to much nye were.
For þe bourȝ watȝ so brod & so bigge alce,
Stalled in þe fayrest stud the sterreȝ an-vnder,
Prudly on a plat playn, plek alþer-fayrest,
Vmbe-sweyed on vch a syde with seuen gret wateres,
With a wonder wroȝt walle wruxeled ful hiȝe,
With koynt carneles aboue, coruen ful clene,
Troched toures bitwene twenty spere lenþe,
& þiker þrowen vmbe þour-with ouer-þwert palle.
Þe place, þat plyed þe pursaunt wythinne,
Watȝ longe & ful large & euer ilych sware,
& vch a syde vpon soyle helde seuen myle,
& þe saudans sete sette in þe myddes;
Þat watȝ a palayce of pryde passande alle oþer,
Boþe of werk & of wunder & walle al aboute;
Heȝe houses withinne þe halle to hit med,
So brod bilde in a bay, þat blonkkes moȝt renne.
When þe terme of þe tyde watȝ to vsched of þe feste,
Dere droȝen þer-to & vpon des metten,
& Baltaȝar vpon bench watȝ busked to sete,
Stepe stayred stones of his stoute throne.
Þenne watȝ alle þe halle flor hiled with knyȝtes,
& barounes at þe side-bordes bounet ay-where,
For non watȝ dressed vpon dece bot þe dere seluen,
& his clere concubynes in cloþes ful bryȝt.
When alle segges were þer set, þen seruyse bygynnes,
Sturnen trumpen strake steuen in halle,
Aywhere by þe wowes wrasten krakkes,
& brode baneres þer-bi blusnande of gold;
Burnes berande þe þe bredes vpon brode skeles,
Þat were of sylueren syȝt & seerved þer-wyth,

Lyfte logges þer-ouer & on lofte coruen,
Pared out of paper & poynted of glolde,
Broþe baboynes abof, besttes an vnder,
Foles in foler flakerande bitwene,
& al in asure & ynde enaumayld ryche,
& al on blonkken bak bere hit on honde.
& ay þe nakeryn noyse, notes of pipes,
Tymbres & tabornes, tulket among,
Symbales & soneteȝ sware þe noyse,
& bougounȝ busch batered so þikke;
So was serued fele syþe þe sale alle aboutte,
With solace at þe sere course, bifore þe self lord,
Þer þe lede & alle his loue lenged at þe table.
So faste þay weȝed to hym wyne, hit warmed his hert
& breyþed vppe in to his brayn & blemyst his mynde,
& al waykned his wyt, & wel neȝe he foles,
For he wayteȝ on-wyde, his wenches he byholdes,
& his bolde baronage, aboute bi þe woȝes;
Þenne a dotage ful depe drof to his hert,
& a caytif counsayl he caȝt bi hym seluen.
Maynly his marschal þe mayster vpon calles,
& comaundes hym cofly coferes to lance,
& fech forþe vessel þat his fader broȝt
Nabugo-de-nozar, noble in his strenþe,
Conquerd with his knyȝtes & of kyrk rafte
In Iude, in Ierusalem in gentyle wyse:
“Bryng hem now to my borde, of beuerage hem fylles,
Let þise ladyes of hem lape, I luf hem in hert;
Þat schal I cortaysly kyþe & þay schin knawe sone,
Þer is no bounté in burne lyk Baltaȝar þewes.”
Þenne towched to þe tresour þis tale watȝ sone,
& he with keyes vncloses kystes ful mony;
Mony burþen ful bryȝt watȝ broȝt in-to halle,
& couered mony a cup-borde with cloþes ful quite.

Þe iueles out of Ierusalem with gemmes ful bryȝt,
Bi þe syde of þe sale were semely arayed;
Þe aþel auter of brasse watȝ hade in-to place,
Þe gay coroun 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 in louyng hym seluen,
Now is sette for to serue satanas þe blake,
Bifore þe bolde Baltazar wyth bost & wyth pryde.
Houen vpon þis auter watȝ aþel vessel,
Þat wyth so curious a crafte coruen watȝ wyly;
Salamon sete him seuen ȝere & a syþe more,
With alle þe syence þat sende þe souerayn lorde,
For to compas & kest to haf hem clene wroȝt;
For þer wer bassynes ful bryȝt of brende golde clere,
Enaumaylde with aȝer & eweres of sute;
Couered cowpes foul clene, as casteles arayed,
Enbaned vnder batelment with bantelles quoynt,
& fyled out of fygures of ferlyle schappes.
Þe coperounes of þe canacles þat on þe cuppe reres,
Wer fetysely formed out in fylyoles longe;
Pinnacles pyȝt þer apert þat profert bitwene,
& al bolled abof with braunches & leues,
Pyes & papeiays purtrayed with-inne,
As þay prudly hade piked of pom-garnades;
For alle þe blomes of þe boȝes were blyknande perles
& alle þe fruyt in þo formes of flaum-beande gemmes,
And safyres, & sardiners, & semely topace,
Alabaunderrynes, & amaraunȝ & amaffised stones,
Casydoynes, & crysolytes, & clere rubies,
Penitotes, & pynkardines, ay perles bitwene,
So trayled & tryfled a traverce wer alle,
Bi vche bekyrande þe bolde, þe brurdes al vmbe;

Þe gobelotes of golde grauen aboute,
& fyoles fretted with flores & fleeȝ of golde,
Vpon þat avter watȝ al aliche dresset.
Þe candelstik bi a cost watȝ cayred þider sone,
Vpon þe pyleres apyked þat praysed hit mony,
Vpon hit baseȝ of brasse þat ber vp þe werkes,
Þe boȝes bryȝt þer abof, brayden of golde,
Braunches bredande þer-on, & bryddes þer seten
Of mony kyndes, of fele-kyn hues,
As þay with wynge vpon wynde hade waged herfyþeres,
In-mong þe leues of þe lampes wer grayþed;
& oþer louelych lyȝt þat lemed ful fayre,
As mony morteres of wax merkked with-oute,
With mony a borlych best al of brende golde.
Hit watȝ not wonte in þat wone to wast no serges,
Bot in temple of þe trauþe trwly to stonde;
Bifore þe sancta sanctorum soþefast dryȝtyn,
Expouned his speche specually to special prophetes.
Leue þou wel þat þe lorde þat þe lyfte ȝemes
Displesed much, at þat play in þat plyt stronge,
Þat his iueles so gent wyth iaueles wer fouled,
Þat presyous in his presens wer proued sum whyle.
Soberly in his sacrafyce summe wer anoynted,
Þurȝ þe somones of him selfe þat syttes so hyȝe;
Now a boster on benche bibbes þer-of
Tyl he be dronkken as the deuel, & dotes þer he syttes;
So þe worcher of þis worlde wlates þer-wyth,
Þat in þe poynt of her play he poruayes a mynde;
Bot er harme hem he wolde in haste of his yre,
He wayned hem a warnyng þat wonder hem þoȝt.
Nov is alle þis guere geten glotounes to serue,
Stad in a ryche stal & starred ful bryȝtȝ,
Baltaȝar in a brayd bede vus þer-of.
“Weȝe wyn in þis won, wassayl!” he cryes.

Swyfte swaynes ful swyþe swepen þer-tylle,
Kyppe kowpes in honde kyngeȝ to serue,
In bryȝt bolleȝ, ful bayn birlen þise oþer,
& vche mon for his mayster machches alone.
Þer watȝ rynging, on ryȝt, of ryche metalles,
Quen renkkes in þat ryche rok rennen hit to cache,
Clatering of conacles þat kesten þo burdes,
As sonet out of sau[t]eray songe als myry.
& þenne þe dotel on dece drank þat he myȝt,
& þenne arn dressed dukeȝ & prynces,
Concubines & knyȝtes, bicause of þat merthe;
As vchon hade hym in helde he haled of þe cuppe,
So long likked þise lordes þise lykores swete,
& gloryed on her falce goddes & her grace calles,
Þat were of stokkes & stones, stille euer more;
Neuer steuen hem a-stel, so stoken is hor tonge,
Alle þe goude golden goddes þe gauleȝ ȝet neuenen,
Belfagor & belyal & belssabub als,
Heyred hem as hyȝly as heuen wer þayres,
Bot hym þat alle goudes giues, þat god þay forȝeten,
For þer a ferly bifel þat fele folk seȝen;
Fyrst knew hit þe kyng & alle þe cort after,
In þe palays pryncipale vpon þe playn wowe,
In contrary of þe candelstik þat clerest hit schyned.
Þer apered a paume, with poyntel in fyngres
Þat watȝ grysly & gret, & grymly he wrytes,
Non oþer forme bot a fust faylaynde þe wryst,
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 ioyntes,
His cnes cachcheȝ to close & cluchches his hommes,
& he with plat-tyng his paumes displayes his lers,

& romyes as a rad ryth þat roreȝ for drede,
Ay biholdand þe honde til hit hade al grauen,
& rasped on þe roȝ woȝe runisch saueȝ.
When hit þe scrypture hade scraped wyth a strof penne,
As a coltour in clay cerues þo forȝes,
Þenne hit vanist verayly & voyded of syȝt,
Bot þe lettres bileued ful large vpon plaster.
Sone so þe kynge for his care carping myȝt wynne,
He bede his burnes boȝ to þat were bok lered,
To wayte þe wryt þat hit wolde & wyter hym to say,
“For al hit frayes my flesche þe fyngres so grymme.”
Scoleres skelten þer-atte þe skyl for to fynde,
But þer watȝ neuer on so wyse couþe on worde rede,
Ne what ledisch lore ne langage nauþer
What tyþyng ne tale tokened þo draȝtes.
Þenne þe bolde Baltaȝar bred ner wode.
& ede þe Ceté to seche segges þurȝ-oute,
Þat wer wyse of wyche-crafte & warlaȝes oþer,
Þat con dele wyth demerlayk, & deuine lettres:
“Calle hem alle to my cort þo calde clerkkes,
Vnfolde hem alle þis ferly þat is bifallen here,
& calle wyth a hiȝe cry; ‘he þat þe kyng wysses,
In expounyng of speche þat spredes in þise lettres,
& make þe mater to malt my mynde wythinne,
Þat I may wyterly wyt what þat wryt menes,
He schal be gered ful gaye in 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 & þenne he þe þrydde.’”
Þis cry watȝ vp-caste, & þer comen mony
Clerkes out of Caldye þat kennest wer knauen,

As þe sage sathrapas þat sorsory couþe;
Wycheȝ & walkyries wonnen to þat sale,
Deuinores of demorlaykes þat dremes cowþe rede,
Sorsers & exorsismus & fele such clerkes;
& alle þat loked on þat letter as lewed þay were,
As þay had loked in þe leþer of my lyfte bote.
Þenne cryes þe kyng & 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 hym chyde to þe chambre þat watȝ þe chef quene;
When ho watȝ wytered bi wyȝes what watȝ þe cause,
Suche a chaungande chaunce in þe chef halle,
Þe lady to lauce þat los þat þe lorde hade,
Glydes doun by þe grece & gos to þe kyng;
Ho kneles on þe colde erþe & carpes to hym seluen,
Wordes of worchyp wyth a wys speche.
“Kene kyng,” quoth þe quene, “kayser of vrþe,
Euer laste þy lyf in lenþe of dayes!
Why hatȝ þou rended þy robe for-redles here-inne,
Þaȝ þose ledes ben lewed lettres to rede,
& hatȝ a haþel in 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 þyng of aunteres vncowþe;
Þat is he þat ful ofte hatȝ heuened þy fader
Of mony anger ful hote with his holy speche.
When Nabugo-de-noȝar watȝ nyed in stoundes,
He de-vysed his dremes to þe dere trawþe,
He keuered hym with his counsayl of caytyf wyrdes;
Alle þat he spured hym in space he expowned clene,
Þurȝ þe sped of þe spyryt þat sprad hym with-inne,
Of þe godelest goddeȝ þat gaynes ay-where.
For his depe diuinité & his dere sawes,

Þy bolde fader Baltaȝar bede by his name,
Þat now is demed Danyel of derne coninges,
Þat caȝt watȝ in þe captyuidé in cuntre of Iues;
Nabuȝardan hym nome & now is he here,
A prophete of þat prouince & pryce of þe worlde.
Sende in-to þe cete to seche hym bylyue,
& wynne hym with þe worchyp to wayne þe bote,
& þaȝ þe mater be merk þat merked is ȝender,
He shal de-clar hit also, as hit on clay stande.”
Þat gode counseyl at þe quene watȝ cached as as swyþe,
Þe burne byfore Baltaȝar watȝ broȝt in a whyle,
When he com bifore þe kyng & clanly had halsed,
Baltaȝar vmbe-brayde hym & “leue Syr,” he sayde,
“Hit is tolde me bi tulkes, þat þou trwe were
Profete of þat prouynce þat prayed my fader,
Ande þat þou hatȝ in þy hert holy connyng
Of sapyence þi sawle ful soþes to schawe;
Goddes gost is þe geuen þat gyes alle þynges,
& þou vnhyles vch hidde þat heuen kyng myntes;
& 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;
If þou with quayntyse conquere hit, I quyte þe þy mede.
For if þou redes hit by ryȝt & hit to resoun brynges,
Fyrst telle me þe tyxte of þe tede lettres,
& syþen þe mater of þe mode, mene me þer-after,
& I schal halde þe þe hest þat I þe hyȝt haue;
Apyke þe in porpre cloþe, palle alþer-fynest,
& þe byȝe of bryȝt golde abowte þyn nekke,
& þe þryd þryuenest þat þrynges me after,
Þou schal be baroun vpon benche, bede I þe no lasse.”
Derfly þenne Danyel deles þyse wordes:
“Ryche kyng of þis rengne rede þe oure lorde,
Hit is surely soþe, þe souerayn of heuen
Fylsened euer þy fader & vpon folde cheryched,

Gart hym grattest to be of gouernores alle,
& alle þe worlde in his wylle welde as hym lykes.
Who-so wolde wel do, wel hym bityde,
& quos deth so he deȝyre he dreped als faste;
Who-so hym lyked to lyfte, on lofte watȝ he sone,
& quo-so hym lyked to lay, watȝ loȝed bylyue.
So watȝ noted þe note of Nabugo-de-noȝar,
Styfly stabled þe rengne bi þe stronge dryȝtyn,
For of þe hyȝest he hade a hope in his hert,
Þat vche pouer past out of þat prynce euen;
& whyle þat watȝ cleȝt clos in his hert,
Þere watȝ no mon vpon molde of myȝt as hym seluen,
Til it bitide on a tyme, towched hym pryde
For his lordeschyp so large, & his lyf ryche;
He hade so huge an insyȝt to his aune dedes,
Þat þe power of þe hyȝe prynce he purely forȝetes.
Þenne blynnes he not of blasfemy on to blame þe dryȝtyn,
His myȝt mete to goddes he made with his wordes:
“I am God of þe grounde, to gye as me lykes,
As he þat hyȝe is in heuen his aungels þat weldes;
If he hatȝ formed þe folde & folk þer vpone,
I haf bigged Babiloyne, burȝ alþer-rychest,
Stabled þer-inne vche a ston in strenkþe of myn armes,
Moȝt neuer myȝt bot myn make such anoþer.”
Watȝ not þis ilke worde wonnen of his mowþe one,
Er þenne þe souerayn saȝe souned in his eres,
“Now Nabugo-de-noȝar innoȝe hatȝ spoken,
Now is alle þy pryncipalté past at ones,
& þou, remued fro monnes sunnes, on mor most abide,
& in wasterne walk & wyth þe wylde dowelle,
As best, byte on þe bent of braken & erbes,
With wroþe wolfes to won & wyth wylde asses.”
In mydde þe poynt of his pryde departed he þere,
Fro þe soly of his solempneté, his solace he leues,
& carfully is out-kast to contré vnknawen,
Fer into a fyr fryth þere frekes neuer comen.

His hert heldet vnhole, he hoped non oþer
Bot a best þat he be, a bol oþer an oxe.
He fares forth on alle faure, fogge watȝ his mete,
& ete ay as a horce when erbes were fallen,
Þus he countes hym a kow, þat watȝ a kyng ryche,
Quyle seuen syþeȝ were ouer-seyed someres I trawe.
By þat, mony þik þyȝe þryȝt vmbe his lyre,
Þat alle watȝ dubbed and dyȝt in þe dew of heuen;
Faxe fyltered, & felt flosed hym vmbe,
Þat schad fro his schulderes to his schyre wykes,
& twenty-folde twynande hit to his tos raȝt
Þer mony clyuy as clyde hit clyȝt togeder.
His berde I-brad alle his breste 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, with ful grymme clawres
Þat were croked and kene as þe kyte panne;
Erne hwed he watȝ & al ouer-brawden,
Til he wyst ful wel who wroȝt alle myȝtes,
& cowþe vche kyndam to-kerue & keuer when hym lyked;
Þenne he wayned hym his wyt þat hade wo soffered,
Þat he com to knawlach & kenned hym seluen,
Þenne he laued þat lorde & leued in trawþe,
Hit watȝ non oþer þen he þat hade al in honde.
Þenne sone watȝ he sende agayn, his sete restored;
His barounes boȝed hym to, blyþe of his come,
Haȝerly in his aune hwe his heued was couered,
& so ȝeply watȝ ȝarked & ȝolden his state.
Bot þou Baltaȝar his barne & his bolde ayre,
Seȝ þese syngnes with syȝt & set hem at lyttel,
Bot ay hatȝ hofen þy hert agaynes þe hyȝe dryȝtyn,
With bobaunce & with blasfamye bost at hym kest,
& now his vessayles avyled in vanyté vnclene,
Þat in his hows hym to honour were heuened of fyrst;

Bifore þe barounȝ hatȝ hom broȝt, & byrled þerinne
Wale wyne to þy wenches in waryed stoundes;
Bifore þy borde hatȝ þou broȝt beuerage in þede,
Þat blyþely were fyrst blest with bischopes hondes,
Louande þer-on lese goddeȝ, þat lyf haden neuer,
Made of stokkes & stoneȝ þat neuer styry moȝt.
& for þat froþande fylþe, þe fader of heuen
Hatȝ sende, hatȝ sende in-to þis sale þise syȝtes vncowþe,
Þe fyste with þe fyngeres þat flayed þi hert,
Þat rasped renyschly þe woȝe with þe roȝ penne.
Þise ar þe wordes here wryten with-oute werk more,
By vch fygure, as I fynde, as oure fader lykes.
“Mane, Techal, Phareȝ, merked in þrynne,
Þat þretes þe of þyn vnþryfte vpon þre wyse;
Now expowne þe þis speche spedly I þenk.
Mane menes als-much-as, maynful Gode
Hatȝ counted þy kyndam bi a clene noumbre,
& ful-fylled hit in fayth to þe fyrre ende.
To teche þe of Techal, þat terme þus menes,
Þy wale rengne is walt in weȝtes to heng,
& is funde ful fewe of hit fayth dedes.
& Phareȝ folȝes for þose fawtes to frayst þe trawþe,
In Phareȝ fynde I forsoþe þise felle saȝes;
De-parted is þy pryncipalté, depryued þou worþes,
Þy rengne rafte is þe fro, & raȝt is þe Perses,
Þe Medes schal be maysteres here, & þou of menske schowued.”
Þe kyng comaunded anon to cleþe þat wyse,
In frokkes of fyn cloþ, as forward hit asked;
Þenne sone watȝ Danyel dubbed in ful dere porpor
& a cloler of cler golde kest vmbe his swyre.
Þen watȝ demed a de-cre bi þe duk seluen,
Bolde Baltaȝa[r] bed þat hym bowe schulde
Þe comynes alof called þat to þe kyng longed,

As to þe prynce pryuyest preued þe þrydde,
Heȝest of alle oþer, saf onelych tweyne,
To boȝ after Baltaȝar in borȝe & in felde.
Þys watȝ cryed & knawen in cort als fast,
& alle þe folk þer-of fayn þat folȝed hym tylle;
Bot how-so Danyel watȝ dyȝt, þat day ouer-ȝede,
Nyȝt neȝed ryȝt now with nyes fol mony,
For daȝed neuer an-oþer day þat ilk derk after,
Er dalt were þat ilk dome þat Danyel deuysed.
Þe solace of þe solempneté in þat sale dured
Of þat farand fest, tyl fayled þe sunne;
Þenne blykned þe ble of þe bryȝt skwes,
Mourkenes 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 soper & songen þer-after,
Þen foundeȝ vch a felaȝschyp fyrre at forþ naȝtes.
Baltaȝar to his bedd with blysse watȝ caryed,
Reche þe rest as hym lyst, he ros neuer þer-after;
For his foes in þe felde in-flokkes ful grete
Þat longe hade layted þat lede his londes to strye,
Now are þay sodenly assembled at þe self tyme,
Of hem wyst no wyȝe þat in þat won dowelled.
Hit watȝ þe dere Daryus þe duk of þise Medes,
Þe prowde prynce of Perce & porros of Ynde,
With mony a legioun ful large, with ledes of armes,
Þat now hatȝ spyed a space to spoyle Caldeeȝ.
Þay þrongen þeder in þe þester on þrawen hepes,
Asscaped ouer þe skyre watteres & scaþed þe walles,
Lyfte laddres ful longe & vpon lofte wonen,
Stelen stylly þe toun er any steuen rysed,
Withinne an oure of þe nyȝt an entré þay hade;
Ȝet afrayed þay no freke, fyrre þay passen
& to þe palays pryncipal þay aproched ful stylle;

Þenne ran þay in 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 hous heyred watȝ, withinne a honde-whyle;
Baltaȝar in his bed watȝ beten to deþe,
Þat boþe his blod & his brayn blende on þe cloþes;
Þe kyng in his cortyn watȝ kaȝt by þe heles,
Feryed out bi þe fete & fowle dispysed;
Þat watȝ so doȝty þat day & drank of þe vessayl,
Now is a dogge also dere þat in a dych lygges;
For þe mayster of þyse Medes on þe morne ryses,
Dere Daryous þat day dyȝt vpon trone,
Þat cete seses ful sounde, & saȝtlyng makes
Wyth alle þe barounȝ þer aboute, þat bowed hym after.
& þus watȝ þat londe lost for þe lordes synne,
& þe fylþe of þe freke þat defowled hade
Þe ornementes of goddeȝ hous þat holy were maked;
He watȝ corsed for his vnclannes, & cached þer-inne,
Done doun of his dyngneté for dedeȝ vnfayre,
& of þyse worldes worchyp wrast out for euer,
& ȝet of lykynges on lofte letted, I trowe,
To loke on oure lofly lorde late bitydes.
Þus vpon þrynne wyses I haf yow þro schewed,
Þat vnclannes to cleues in corage dere
Of þat wynnelych lorde þat wonyes in heuen,
Entyses hym to be tene, telled vp his wrake;
Ande clannes is his comfort, and coyntyse he louyes,
& þose þat seme arn & swete schyn se his face.
Þat we gon gay in oure gere þat grace he vus sende,
Þat we may serue in his syȝt, þer solace neuer blynneȝ.

Amen.

University of Virginia Library

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