The story of Genesis and Exodus

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THE STORY OF GENESIS, EXODUS, ETC.

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THE STORY OF GENESIS, EXODUS, ETC.

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Square brackets denote editorial insertions or emendations.

Man og to luuen ðat rimes ren,
ðe Wisseð wel ðe logede men,
hu man may him wel loken
ðog he ne be lered on no boken,
Luuen god and seruen him ay,
For he it hem wel gelden may,
And to alle cristenei men
beren pais and luue bi-twen;
ðan sal him almightin luuen,
Her bi-neðen and ðund abuuen,
And giuen him blisse and soules reste[n]
ðat him sal earuermor lesten.

Ut of latin ðis song is dragen
on engleis speche, on soðe sagen;
Cristene men ogen ben so fagen
so fueles arn quan he it sen dagen,
ðan man hem telled soðe tale
Wid londes speche and wordes smale,
Of blisses dune, of sorwes dale;
Quhu lucifer, ðat deuel dwale,
[Brogt mankinde in sinne and bale]
And held hem sperd in helles male
til god srid him in manliched,
dede mankinde bote and red,
And unspered al ðe fendes sped,
And halp ðor he sag mikel ned.

Biddi hic singen non oðer led,
ðog hic folgen idel-hed.

Fader god of alle ðhinge,
Almigtin louerd, hegest kinge,
ðu giue me seli timinge
To thaunen ðis werdes biginninge,
ðe, leuerd god, to wurðinge,
Queðer so hic rede or singe!

Wit, and wisdam, and luue godd,
And fer ear biðohte al in his modd,
In his wisdom was al biðogt
Ear ðanne it was on werlde brogt.
In firme bigini[n]g, of nogt
Was heuene and erðe samen wrogt;
ðo bad god wurðen stund and stede,
ðis middes werld ðor-inne he dede,
Al was ðat firme ðrosing in nigt,
Til he wit hise word made ligt;
Of hise word, ðu wislike mune,
Hise word, ðat is, hise wise sune,
ðe was of hin fer ear bi-foren
Or ani werldes time boren;
And of hem two ðat leue luuen,
ðe welden al her and abuuen,
ðat heli luue, ða[t] wise wil,
ðat weldet alle ðinge wit rigt and [s]kil;
Migt bat wit word wurðen ligt,
(Hali froure welt oc ðat migt;
for ðhre persones and on reed,
On migt and on godfulhed.)
ðo so wurð ligt so god it bad,
fro ðisternesse o sunde[r] sad;
ðat was ðe firme morgen tid,
ðat euere sprong in werld wid.

wið ðat ligt worn angles wrogt,
And in-to newe heuene brogt,
ðat is ouer dis walkenes turn,
God hem quuad ðor seli suriurn;
Summe for pride fellen ðeðen,
In to ðis ðhisternesse her bi-neðen;
Pride made angel deuel dwale,
ðat made ilc sorge, and euerilc bale,
And euerilc wunder, and euerilc wo,
ðat is, or sal ben euere mo.
He was mad on ðe sunedai,
He fel out on ðe munendai;
(ðis ik wort in ebrisse wen,
He witen ðe soðe ðat is sen.)
forð glod ðat firme ligt,
And after glod ðat firme nigt;
ðe daigening cam est a-gon,
His firme kinde dei was a-gon,
On walkenes turn wid dai and nigt
Of foure and twenti time rigt;
ðes frenkis men o france moal,
it nemnen “un iur natural;”
And euere gede ðe dai biforn,
siðen ðat newe werld was boren,
Til ihesus crist fro helle nam,
His quemed wid eue and adam;
sro ðat time we tellen ay,
Or ðe nigt and after ðe day,
for god ledde hem fro helle nigt
to paradises leue ligt;
ðo gan hem dagen wel iwisse,
Quan god hem ledde in-to blisse.

On an oðer dai ðis middel-erd,
was al luken and a-buten sperd;
ðo god bad ben ðe firmament,
Al abuten ðis walkne sent,

Of waters froren, of yses wal,
ðis middel werld it luket al;—
May no fir get melten ðat ys;
He ðe it made is migtful and wis,—
It mai ben hoten heuene-Rof;
It hiled al ðis werldes drof,
And fier, and walkne, and water, and lond,
Al is bi-luken in godes hond,
Til domes-dai ne sal it troken.
Al middel-erd ðer-inne is loken,
watres ben her ðer-under suuen,
And watres ðor a-buuen;
And ouer ðat so ful i-wis,
An oðer heuene ful o blis,
And ful o lif ðe lested oo,
wo may him ben ðe fel ðor-fro.

Forð glod ðis oðer dais nigt,
ðo cam ðe ðridde dais ligt:
ðe ðridde dai, so god it bad,
was water and erðe o sunder sad;
God bi-quuad watres here stede,
And erðe brimen and beren dede;
Ilk gres, ilc wurt, ilc birðheltre,
His owen sed beren bad he;
Of euerilc ougt, of euerilc sed,
Was erðe mad moder of sped.
ðe ðridde dai was al ðis wrogt,
And erðes fodme on werldes brogt;
An euerilc fodme his kinde quuemeðen.
ðo was it her fair bi-neðen,
God sag his safte fair and good,
And bliscede it wid milde mood.

Forð glod ðis dridde dais nigt,
ðo com ðe ferðe dais ligt.
ðe ferðe dai made migt
Sunne, and mone, and ilc sterre brigt,

walknes wurðinge, and erdes frame,
He knowned one ilc sterre name,
He sett es in ðe firmament,
Al abuten ðis walkne went;
ðe seuene he bad on fligte faren,
And toknes ben, and times garen.
Sunne and mone ðe moste ben,
Of alle ðe toknes ðat men her sen;
ðe mone is more bi mannes tale,
ðan al ðis erðe in werldes dale;
And egest swilc ðe sunnes brigt,
Is more ðanne ðe mones ligt.
ðe mones ligt is moneð met,
ðor-after is ðe sunne set;
In geuelengðhe worn it mad,
In Reke-fille, on sunder shad;
Two geuelengðhes timen her,
And two solstices in ðe ger.
On four doles delen he
ðe ger, ilc dole of moneð ðhre;
Euere schinen ðo toknes brigt,
And often giuen is on erðe ligt;
wel wurðe his migt lefful ay,
ðe wrout is on ðe ferðe day!

Forð glod ðis ferðe dais nigt,
ðo cam ðe fifte dais ligt;
ðe fifte day god made ywis
of water, ilc fuel and euerilc [sic] fis,
And tagte fuel on walkene his fligt,
Ilc fis on water his flotes migt,
And blisced hem, and bad hem ðen
And tuderande on werld ben.

Ðis fifte dai held forð his fligt,
And forð endede ðat fifte nigt;
And ðe sexte dais ligt,
So made god wid witter migt,

Al erue, and wrim, and wilde der,
Qwel man mai sen on werlde her.
God sag bi-fore quat after cam,
ðat singen sulde firme adam,
And him to fremen and do frame,
He made on werlde al erue tame,
ðe sulde him her, in swinkes strif,
to fode, and srud, to helpen ðe lif;
And him to pine, and loar her,
God made wirme and wilde der.
He pine man wid sorwe and dred,
And don hem monen his sinfulhed,
ðat is him loar quan he seð,
ðan he for sinne in sorwe beð.
Ilk kinnes erf, and wrim, and der
Was mad of erðe on werlde her,
And euerilc on in kinde good,
ðor quiles adam fro sinne stod;
Oc der and wrim it deren man
fro ðan ðat he singen bi-gan;
In ðe moste and in ðe leste he forles,
His louered-hed quuanne he mis-ches;
Leunes and beres him wile to-dragen,
And fleges sen on him non agen;
Hadde he wel loked him wið skil,
Ilc beste sulde don his wil;
Erf helpeð him ðurg godes með,
His lordehed ðor-onne he seð.
And for hise sinne oc he to munen,
ðat moste and leiste him ben binumen.

Ðis sexte dai god made Adam,
And his licham of erðe he nam,
And blew ðor-in a liues blast,
A liknesse of his hali gast,

A spirit ful of wit and sckil;
ðor quuiles it folgede heli wil,
God self ðor quile liket is,
An un-lif quuanne it wile mis.
[I]N feld damaske adam was mad,
And ðeðen fer on londe sad;
God bar him in-to paradis,
An erd al ful of swete blis;
fol wel he wid him ðor dede,
bi-tagte him al ðat mirie stede;

Oc an bodeword ðer he him forbed,
if he wulde him silden fro ðe ded,
ðat he sulde him ðer loken fro
A fruit, ðe kenned wel and wo,
And hiegt him ded he sulde ben
If he ðat bode-word ne gunne flen.
God brogt adam ðor bi-forn
Ilc kinnes beste of erðe boren,
and fugel, an fis, wilde and tame,
ðor gaf adam ilc here is name;
Ne was ðor non lik adam.
God dede dat he on sweuene cam,
And in ðat sweuene he let him sen
Mikel ðat after sulde ben.

Ut of his side he toc a rib,
And made a wimman him ful sib,
And heled him ðat side wel
ðat it ne wrocte him neuere a del.

Adam abraid, and sag ðat wif,
Name he gaf hire dat is ful Rif;
Issa was hire firste name,
ðor-of ðurte hire ðinken no same;
Mayden, for sche was mad of man,
Hire first name ðor bi-gan;
Siðen ghe brocte us to woa,
Adam gaf hire name eua.

Adden he folged godes red,
Al man-kin adde seli sped;
for sinne he ðat blisse for-loren,
ðat derede al ðat of hem was boren;
It is her-after in ðe song,
Hu adam fel in pine strong.

Forð glod ðis sexte dais lig[t],
After glod ðe sexte nig[t];
ðe seuendai morgen spro[n]g,
ðat dai tokenede reste long;
ðis dai was forð in reste wrogt,
Ilc kinde newes ear was brog[t];
God sette ðis dai folk bitwen,
Dai of blisse and off reste ben,
for ðat time ear fear bi-forn,
Til ihesus was on werlde boren,
And til he was on ðe rode-wold,
And biried in ðe roche cold.
And restede him after ðe ded,
ðat ilke dai god aligen bed.

Siðen for-les ðat dai is pris,
for ihesus, god and man so wis,
Ros fro ded on ðe sunenday,
ðat is forð siðen worðed ay;
And it sal ben ðe laste tid,
Quan al man-kinde, on werlde wid,
Sal ben fro dede to liue brogt,
And seli sad fro ðe forwrogt,
An ben don in blisse and in lif,
fro swinc, and sorwe, and deades strif.

Wisdom ðe made ilc ðing of nogt,
quuat-so-euere on heuone or her is wrogt.
Ligber he sridde a dere srud,
An he wurðe in him-seluen prud,
An wið ðat pride him wex a nyð,
ðat iwel weldeð al his sið;

ðo ne migte he non louerd ðhauen,
ðat him sulde ðhinge grauen:
“Min fligt,” he seide, “ic wile up-taken,
Min sete norð on heuene maken,
And ðor ic wile sitten and sen
Al ðe ðhinges ðe in wer[l]de ben,
Twen heuone hil and helle dik,
And ben min louerd geuelic.
ðo wurð he drake ðat ear was knigt,
ðo wurð he mirc ðat ear was ligt,
And euerilc on ðat helden wid him,
ðo wurðen mirc, and swart, and dim,
And fellen ut of heuones ligt,
In to ðis middil walknes nigt;
And get ne kuðe he nogt blinne
for to don an oðer sinne.
Esten he sag in paradis
Adam and eue in mike[l] pris,
Newelike he was of erðe wrogt,
And to ðat mirie blisse brogt;
ðowgte ðis quead, “hu ma it ben,
Adam ben king and eue quuen
Of alle ðe ðinge [ðe] in werlde ben.
Hu mai it hauen, hu mai it sen,
Of fis, of fugel, of wrim, of der,
Of alle ðhinge ðe wunen her,
Euerilc ðhing haued he geue name,
Me to sorge, scaðe, and same;
for adam sul ðus, and his wif,
In blisse ðus leden lesteful lif;
for alle ðo, ðe of hem sule cumen,
sulen ermor in blisse wunen,
And we ðe ben fro heuene driuen,
sulen ðusse one in sorwe liuen;
Get ic wene I can a red,
ðat hem sal bringen iwel sped;

for gef he don ðad god for-bead,
ðat sal hem bringen to ðo dead,
And sal get ðis ilke dai,
ðor buten hunte if ic mai;
Ic wene ðat ic, and eue hise wif,
sulen adam bilirten of hise lif.
Ic wene ðat ic and eue
sulen alle is blisse dreue.”

Ðus he ðhogte, and up he steg,
And esten til dat erð he teg,
Wente in to a wirme, and tolde eue a tale;
And senkede hire hure aldre bale.
“Eue,” seide he, ðat neddre bold,
“Quat oget nu ðat for-bode o-wold,
ðat a tre gu forboden is,
ðat ouer alle oðre bered pris?
for is fruit sired mannes mood,
To witen boðen iwel and good,
Sone ge it ðor-of hauen eten,
Al ge it sulen witent and nogt forgeten,
And ben so wise alle euene
So ðo ðe wunen a-buuen in heuone.”

Ðanne ðogte eue on hire mod,
ðanne is tis fruit wel swiðe good,
fair on sigðhe and softe on hond,
Of ðis fruit wile ic hauen fond.
Sum ghe ðer at, and sum ghe nam,
And bar it to her fere adam;
So manie times ghe him scroðt,
Queðer so him was lef or loðt,
for to forðen is fendes wil,
At he dat fruit, and dede unskil;
Sone it was under brest numen;
Dedes two bondes on hem ben comen;

Vn-buxumhed he hauen hem don,
Vn-buxumhed is hem cumen on;
Vn-welde woren and in win,
Here owen limes hem wið-in.
flesses fremeðe and safte same
boðen he felten on here lichame;
ðo gunen he same sriden,
And limes in leues hiden.
Nu wot adam sum-del o wo,
Her-after sal he leren mo.

After ðis dede a steuone cam,
“ðu, nu, quor art, adam, adam?”
“Louerd, quat same is me bi-tid,
for ic am naked and haue me hid?”
“Quo seide ðe dat gu wer naked;
ðu haues ðe sorges sigðhe waked,
for ðhu min bode-word haues broken,
ðhu salt ben ut in sorge luken,
In swinc ðu salt tilen ði mete[n],
ðin bred wid swotes teres eten,
Til gu beas eft in to erðe cumen,
Quer-of gu beas to manne numen;
And wif sal under were wunen,
In heuerilc birðhe sorge numen;

And niðful neddre, loð an liðer,
sal gliden on hise brest neðer,
And erðe freten wile he mai liuen,
And atter on is tunge cliuen;
And nið, and strif, and ate, and san,
Sal ben bi-twen neddre and wimman;
And get sal wimman ouercumen,
His heued under fote bi-numen.”

Two pilches weren ðurg engeles wrogt,
And to adam and to eue brogt,
ðor-wið he ben nu boðen srid,
And here same sumdel is hid.

He ben don ut of paradis,
ðat erd al ful of swete blis;
He ben don ut of blisses erd,
Cherubin hauet ðe gates sperd;
Ne sulen it neuere ben un-don,
Til ihesus beð on Rode don;
Ne sulen it neuermore ben opened,
Til ihesus beð on rode dead.

Iff mikel is sorge, and more care,
Adam and eue it wite ful gare;
Of paradis hem ðinkeð swem,
Of iwel and dead hem stondeð greim.
On sundri ðhenken he to ben,
And neiðere on oðer sen,
Til angel brogte adam bode,
bodeword and tiding fro gode:—
“Adam, ðhu knowe eue ðin wif,
And leded samen gunker lif;
Summe sulen of gu to kumen,
Sulen ben in to reste numen;
Summe sulen folwen fendes red,
And ben in sorwe after ðe dead;
And get sal godes dere sune
In gure kin in werlde wunen,
And he sal bringen man a-gen
In paradis to wunen and ben.”
Swilc tiding ðhugte adam god,
And sumdel quemeð it his seri mood.

Ðis angel is to heuone numen,
And adam is to eue cumen,
More for erneste dan for gamen;
Adam and eue wunen samen,
And hadden childre manige i-wis,
Mo ðan of telleð ðe genesis,
for fiftene ger hadde adam;
ðan caim of eue cam,

And oðer fiftene al swilc sel,
Quane eue bar rigt-wise abel.
Abel an hundred ger was hold,
ðan he was of is broðer wold;
An hundred ger after is dead,
Adam fro eue in srifte abead.
To hundred ger and .xxx.ti mo
was adam hold and eue ðo,
ðan bor ghe seht in ðe stede
Of caym ðat abel for-dede;
Or or midlest, or after ðo
Bar eue of adam manige moo.

Ðor quiles ðat adam sorge dreg
for abel, caym fro him fleg,
wið wif and hagte, and wurð ut-lage,
wið dead him stood hinke and age.
He ches a stede toward eden,
And to him sameden oðer men,
wallede a burg, e-no bi name;
ðeft and reflac ðhugte him no same,
for ðat he made him manige fon,
ðor he ðhogte he stonden agon.
Met of corn, and wigte of fe,
And merke of felde, first fond he.

Tellen ic wile so birðe bad,
Adam, caym, enos, iraab,
Malaleel, matusale;
Lamech is at ðe sexte kne,
ðe seuende man after adam,
ðat of caymes kinde cam.
ðis lamech was ðe firme man,
ðe bigamie first bi-gan.
Bigamie is unkinde ðing,
On engleis tale, twie-wifing;

for ai was rigt and kire bi-forn,
On man, on wif, til he was boren.
Lamech him two wifes nam,
On adda, an noðer wif sellam.

Adda bar him sune Iobal,
He was hirde wittere and wal;
Of merke, and kinde, and helde, & ble,
sundring and sameni[n]g tagte he;
Iobal is broðer song and glew,
Wit of musike, wel he knew;
On two tables of tigel and bras,
wrot he ðat wistom, wis he was,
ðat it ne sulde ben undon
If fier or water come ðor-on.

Sella wuneð oc lamech wið,
ghe bar tubal, a sellic smið;
Of irin, of golde, siluer, and bras
To sundren and mengen wis he was;
Wopen of wigte and tol of grið,
wel cuðe egte and safgte wið.

Lamech ledde long lif til ðan
ðat he wurð bisne, and haued a man
ðat ledde him ofte wudes ner,
To scheten after ðe wilde der;
Al-so he mistagte, also he schet,
And caim in ðe wude is let;
His knape wende it were a der,
An lamech droge is arwe ner,
And let et flegen of ðe streng,
Caim unwarde it under-feng,
Grusnede, and strekede, and starf wið-ðan.
Lamech wið wreðe is knape nam,
Vn-bente is boge, and bet, and slog,
Til he fel dun on dedes swog.
Twin-wifing ant twin-manslagt
Of his soule beð mikel hagt.

Of hise endinge ne wot ic nogt,
oc of is kinde woren brogt
On werlde seue and seuenti ðhusant men,
Or or flum noe spredde his fen;
Queðer so it ðhogte hem iuel or good,
Alle he drinkilden in ðat flood.

Of seth, ðe was adam-is sune,
cam enos; he gan ali wune
Of bedes, and of godefrigtihed,
for liues helpe and soules red.
Ic wile rigt tellen, if ic can,
Adam, seth, enos, caynan,
Malaleel, iareth, enoch,
for alied god self him toch
fro mannes mene in to ðat stede
ðat adam forles for iuel dede;
get liueð enoch wið-vten strif,
In paradis in swete lif;
Get he sal cumen or domes-day,
And wenden iewes, if he may,
To ðe wittenesse of iesus crist,
And tholen dead vnder antecrist;
Siðen sal antecrist ben slagen,
And man and angeles wurðen fagen.
chirches ben wursiped mor and mor,
And fendes dregen sorge and sor.
Or enoch wente [fro] werldes wune,
Matusale was boren is sune,
And lamech of matusale,
And of lamech rigt-wise noe.

Metodius, ali martyr,
Adde in his herte sighe sir;
Also he god adde ofte bi-sogte,
Wislike was him in herte brogt
ðis midelerdes biginning,
And middel-hed, and is ending;

He wrot a boc dat manige witen,
Manige tiding ðor on is writen;
ðor is writen quat agte awold,
dat ðis werld was water wold.

Fif hundred ger of ðat ðusent
ðat mankin was on werlde sent,
Caymes sunes wrogten vn-lage,
Wið breðere wifes hore-plage;

And on ðe sexte hundred ger
Wimmen welten weres mester,
And swilc woded wenten on,
Golhed hunkinde he gunnen don;

And ðe fifte hundred ger,
wapmen bi-gunnen quad mester,
bi-twen hem-seluen hun-wreste plage,
A ðefis kinde, a-genes lage.

Two hundred ger after ðo wunes,
Mis-wiuen hem gunnen seðes sunes,
Agenes ðat adam for-bead,
And leten godes frigti-hed;
He chosen hem wiwes of caym,
And mengten wið waried kin;
Of hem woren ðe getenes boren,
Migti men, and figti, [and] for-loren;
He wrogten manige [sinne] and bale,
Of ðat migt is litel tale;
for ðat he god ne luueden nogt,
ðat migt is al to sorge brogt;
for swilc sinful dedes sake,
so cam on werlde wreche and wrake
for to blissen swilc sinnes same,
ðat it ne wexe at more hun-frame.

Ðo wex a flod ðis werlde wid-hin,
and [o]uer-flowged men & deres kin,
wið-vten noe and hise ðre sunen,
Sem, Cam, Iaphet, if we rigt munen,

And here foure wifes woren hem wið;
ðise .viij. hadden in ðe arche grið.

Ðat arche was a feteles good,
set and limed a-gen ðe flood;
ðhre hundred elne was it long,
Naild and sperd, ðig and strong,
And .l.ti elne wid, and .xxx.ti heg;
ðor buten noe (.) long swing he dreg,
An hundred winter, euerilc del,
welken or it was ended wel;
Of alle der ðe on werlde wunen,
And foueles, weren ðer-inne cumen
Bi seuene and seuene, or bi two & two,
Al-migtin god him bad it so,
And mete quorbi ðei migten liuen,
ðor quiles he woren on water driuen.
Sexe hundred ger noe was hold
Quan he dede him in ðe arche-wold;

Two ðhusant ger, sex hundred mo,
And sex and fifti forð to ðo,
weren of werldes elde numen
ðan noe was in to ðe arche cumen.
Ilc wateres springe here strengðe undede,
And Reyn gette dun on euerilk stede
fowerti dais and fowerti nigt,
So wex water wið magti migt;
So wunderlike it wex & get
ðat fiftene elne it ouer-flet,
Ouer ilk dune, and ouer ilc hil,
ðhurge godes migt and godes wil;
And oðer fowerti ðore-to,
Dais and nigtes stod et so;
ðo was ilc fleis on wer[l]de slagen,
ðo gunnen ðe wateres hem wið-dragen.

Ðe seuend moned was in cumen,
And seuene and .xx.ti dais numen,

In armenie ðat arche stod,
ðo was wið-dragen ðat ilc flod.

Ðo ðe tende moned cam in,
So wurð dragen ðe watres win;
Dunes wexen, ðe flod wið-drog,
It adde lested longe a-nog.

Fowerti dais after ðis,
Arches windoge undon it is,
ðe Rauen ut-fleg, hu so it gan ben,
Ne cam he nogt to ðe arche a-gen;
De duue fond no clene stede,
And wente a-gen and wel it dede;
ðe seuendai est ut it tog,
And brogt a grene oliues bog;
Seue nigt siðen euerilc on
He is let ut flegen, crepen, and gon,
wið-uten ilc seuend clene der
ðe he sacrede on an aucter.

Sex hundred ger and on dan olde
Noe sag ut of ðe arche-wolde;
ðe first moned and te sirst dai,
He sag erðe drie & te water awai;
get he was wis and nogt to rad,
Gede he nogt ut, til god him bad.

Ðe toðer moneð was in cumen,
And seuene and twenti dais numen,
ðo herde Noe wol bliðe bode
Of a steuene, ðe cam fro gode;
He and hise wif wenten ut fre,
Hise sunes and here wifes ðre;
He made an aucter on godes name,
And sacrede he ðor-on for sowles frame
Ilc seuende der of clene kin,
ðe was holden in arche wið-hin,
And leten ðe oðre to liue gon,
of hem ben tudered manigon.

Often he [bad] wid frigti bede,
ðat swiulc wreche so god ðo dede
Ne sulde more on werlde cumen,
Quat wreche so ðor wurðe numen.
God gat it a token of luuen,
Taunede him in ðe wakene a-buuen
Rein-bowe, men cleped reed and blo;
ðe blo tokeneð de wateres wo,
ðat is wið-uten and is gon;
ðe rede wid-innen toknet on
wreche ðat sal get wurðen sent,
wan al ðis werld wurðe brent;
And al-so hege ðe lowe sal gon,
So ðe flod flet de dunes on;
fowerti ger or domes-dai,
ðis token no man ne sen mai.
Of noe siðen an is ðre sunen,
ben boren alle ðe in werlde wunen,
And or he was on werlde led,
His kinde was wel wide spred;
Al it is writen ic tellen mai
Of his kin bi his liue dai;
vten childre and vten wimmen,
wel fowre and .xx. ðhusent men
woren stalwurði boren bi tale,
wið-uten wif-kin and childre smale;
.ix. hundred ger and fifti told,
or or he starf, noe was old.

Nembrot gat hise feres red,
for ðat he hadde of water dred,
To maken a tur, wel heg & strong,
Of tigel and ter, for water-gong;
Twelwe and sexti men woren ðor-to,
Meister men for to maken it so.

Al was on speche ðor bi-foren,
ðor woren sundri speches boren;
ðo wurðen he frigti and a-grisen,
for dor was sundri speches risen,
Sexti lond-speches and .xii. mo,
weren delt ðane in werlde ðo.
Babel, ðat tur, bi-lef un-mad,
ðat folc is wide on lon[de] sad;
Nembrot nam wið strengðhe ðat lond,
And helde ðe tur o babel in his hond.

Belus king was nembrot sune,
Nilus his sune gan ille wune;
Belus wurð dead, and nilus king
Made likenesse, for muni[n]g,
After his fader, and he so dede,
He it setten on an mirie stede;
Euerilc man he gaf lif and frið
ðat to ðat likenesse sogte grið;
for ðat frið ðat [gaf] hem ðe king,
He boren ðat liknesse wurðing,
Calden it bel, after belum;
After ðis cam swilc oðer sum,
Manie man, is frend for to munen,
Made liknesse after ðe wunen,
Bel was ðe firste, and after him
Sum higte beland, sum balim,
And sum bel, and sum bal;
fendes fleiðing wex wið-al,
To wenden men fro godes reed,
To newe luue and to newe dred;
Ydolatrie ðus was boren,
for quuam mani man is for-loren.

Of sem, and of ðe folc ðe of him cam,
luue and dred under gode nam;
Of ðis kinge wil we leden song,
Cristes helpe be us amonge!

Noe, sem, arfaxath, sale,
Heber, phaleth, ðe sexte is he,
Reu, saruch, nachor, thare,
ðis is ðe tende fro noe.

Ðis oðer werldes elde is so,
A ðhusent ger seuenti and two.
ðe ðridde werldes elde cam,
Quanne thare bi-gat abram;
for he bi-gat a sune aram,
Nachor midlest, last abram;
Aram bi-gat loth, and sarray,
And melcham, and was sort leui.
In lond caldea, hur hicte ðe tun,
Quor deades strenge warp him dun;
ðor fader, and breðere, and childre, and wif,
Him bi-stoden wið sorwes strif;
ðo ðogte thare on his mod,
long bigging is here nogt god.
Nachor he gaf wif melcam,
And trewe sarray abram.
Quanne abram wurð wis and war
ðat sarray non childre ne bar,
He toc him loth on sunes stede;
He was hise neve, wol wel he dede.
Thare let hur, and ðeðen he nam,
And wulde to lond canahan,
Cam into a burgt ðat het aram,
In londe mesopothaniam.
Wið him ledde he nachor, melcam,
Sarray, loth, and abram.
Tho hundred ger and fifue mo,
Thare was old, starf he ðo.
Teres gliden for hertes sor
fro loth, and abram, and nachor;
Thare lið biried in aram.
God seide wurd to abram:—

“Abram, ðu fare ut of lond and kin
To a lond ic ðe sal bringen hin.”
Sex ger and fiftene mo,
Adde Abram on is elde ðo.
Abram tok loth wið sarray,
Hise agte, and erue he ledde him bi,
For in to lond cananeam,
And in-to sichem, a burgt, he nam,
And ðeðen he nam to mirie dale;
fif burges wer ðor-inne bi tale,
ðer-fore it higte pentapolis,
Of weledes fulsum and of blis,
Nov ist a water of loðlic ble,
Men callið it ðe dede se;
Ilc ðing deieð ðor-inne is driuen;
Ne may no fis ðor-inne liuen;
for mannes sinne ðus it is went,
brent wið brimfir, sunken and shent.
God quad to abram, “al ðis lond
sal cumen in to is kinnes hond.”
ðor god him taunede, made habram
An alter, and fro ðeðen he nam.
An oðer alter abram seli
Made bi-twen betel and ai.
At damaske is ðe ðridde stede,
Quer abram is bigging dede,
And ðeden for he, for hunger bond,
feger ut in to egipte lond;
ðor he seide ðat sarrai
was his sister, al for-ði
for he dredde him to leten is lif
If he wisten ghe wore is wif;
for ghe was fair witter-like,
And ðat folc luuede lecherlike.
Quan abram was to egipte cumen,
Sone him was sarrai binumen;

Sone him was sarray bi-lagt,
And pharaon ðe kinge bi-tagt;
God sente on him sekenesse & care,
And lettede al his lecher-fare.
Sarray liuede in clene lif,
And ðe king ðholede sorges strif
Til he wiste al ðat strif
Cam him on for abram wif;
ðo sente he after abram,
And bi-tagte he him is leman,
And gaf him lond, and agte, and fe,
And leue, ðor quiles his wille be,
To wune egipte folc among,
And friðen him wel fro euerilc wrong,
Bad him to god his erdne beren,
ðat ywel him sulde nunmor deren.
ðor wunede abram in welðe and in frið,
Egipte clerkes woren him wið,
And hem lerede, witterlike,
Astronomige and arsmétike;
He was hem lef, he woren him hold.
God gaf him ðor siluer and gold,
And hird, and orf, and srud, and sat,
Vn-achteled welðe he ðor bi-gat.
Vt of egipte, riche man,
Wente abram in to lond canaan;
And loth hise neue and sarray
bileften bi-twen betel and ay,
ðor he quilum her wisten wunen,
Or he weren to egipte cumen.
So wex here erue, and so gan ðen
An twen here hirdes striuing gan ben;
Loth him ches, bi leue of abram,
ðat herðe hende ðe flum iurdan;

In mirie dale hise bigginge he ches,
ðat he siðen twie for-les.

Abram let loth in welðe and wale,
And ferde a-wei to mambre dale;
ðor wunede abram henden ebron,
ðat burge an oðer man lið on,
It atteð cariatharbe,
On engle speche fowre cite;
fowre arbe cariatht arn in,
for ðat fowre biried ðor ben;
ðor was leid adam and eua,
Abram siðen and sarra;
ðor ysaac and rebecca,
And iacob and hise wif lia.

Mambre, wið excol and anel,
ðor luueden Abram ful wel;
He woren breðere of kinde boren,
And abram woren he breðre sworen.
Quor abram wunede, ðor wex bi
An ok' ðat was of gibi,
ðer het god abre ðat tagte lond
Sal cumen al in his kinnes hond,
And est and west, and suð and norð;
Al ðat god wile sal wel gon forð.

Ðo wurðen waxen so wide and spred,
pride and giscinge of louerd-hed;
Neg ilc burge hadde ise louereding,
Sum was king, and sum kumeling;
Sum was wið migte so forð gon,
ðat hadden he under hem mani on.

Fif burges of pentapolis,
Adama, bala, Seboys,
And sodoma wið gomorra,
ðe kinges welten burges ðoa,

On-kumen was cadalamor,
king of elam, wið ferding stor;
.xij. ger he weren under is hond,
And gouen him gouel of here lond;
.xiij. ger gan so forð gon
wulde he giuen him gouel non;
ðre kinges haued he wið him brogt,
wið here-gonge hise gouel sogt;
He ben cumen to mirie dale,
An ðere he werken sckaðe and bale;
fowre on-seken and fifue weren,
Oc ðe fowre ðe fiue deren;
wunded ðor was gret folc and slagen,
ðe fifwe flen, ðe fowre ben fagen;
ðe fifwe up to ðe dunes flen,
ðe fowre in to ðe tunes ten;
wifwes, and childre, and agte, and srud,
He ledden a-wei wið herte prud.
Loth and is agte, childre and wif,
ben led a-wei bunden wið strif;
oc on of hem, ðe flogen a-wei
Told it abram ðat ilke deai.
ðre hundred men and .xiij. wigt,
Alle stalwurði and witter of figt,
wið mambre, and excol, and anel,
Abram let him tunde wel;
ðat hird he folged als to ðan,
On heued-welle of flum iordan,
ðor he wenden ben siker on nigt;
Abram he brogte wel newe figt.
He woren drunken and slepi,
Abram folc made hem dredi;
so heg, so long, ne spared hem nogt,
Alle he ben ðor to gronde brogt,

wið-ðuten ðo, ðe cuden flen;
get ne migten he siker ben,
for magnie of ðo woren ouer-taken,
Abram cude hem to sorwe maken.
Henden damask, til burgt oba,
Abram hem folwede and wrogte woa;
wifes, and childre, and frud, and sat,
He brogte agen and mikel he bat;
And tol, and takel, and orf, he dede
wenden hom to here ogen stede,
for lotes luue fel hem ðus rigt,
Borwen he ben wel of ðat figt.
Sodomes king in kinge dale,
Mette abram wið feres wale,
In ðe weie ðe ligið to salem,
ðe siðen is cald ierusalem.
Melchisedech, salames king,
dede abram ðor mikel wurðing;
He froðer[ed]e him, after is swinc,
wið bredes fode and wines drinc;
Habram gaf him ðe tigðe del
Of alle is bigete, and dede ðor wel,
And bliscede dor godes migt,
ðat bargt abram wel of ðat figt;
for he was boðen king and prest,
of elde most, of wit hegest;
wiste no man of werlðe ðo,
Quat kinde he was kumen fro;
Oc summe seiden ðat it was sem,
ðis prest and king of salem,
or or ðe flod was long bi-forn
of noe bi-geten, of is wif born,
And fro so longe ðor bi-foren
Liuede til ysaac was boren.

Sodomes king bed dor abram
Al agte and erf, wið-uten man,

Alle hes hadde wið migte bi-geten,
wolde he nogt him his swinc for-geten,
oc abram dede ðor meðelike wel,
wid-held he ðor-of neu[er]e on del,
oc al ðat euere fel him to,
Sac-les he let hin welden it so.
Ebruis seigen, wune hem wex her
To algen ilk fiftene ger,
for loth was fifti winter hold,
Quan abram him bi-told.

Abel primices first bi-gan,
And decimas first abram;
Nu ist so boden and so bitagt,
Quo-so his alt him bi agt.
After ðis spac god to abram:—
“ðin berg and tin werger ic ham.
ðin swinc ðe sal ben gulden wel,
wid michel welðe in good sel.”
Quad he, “quat sal me welðes ware,
Quane ic child-les of werlde fare;
Damak eliezeres sune,
In al min welðe sal he wunen?”
Quat god, “so sal it nogt ben,
Of ðe self sal ðin erward ten.”
Abram leuede ðis hot in sped,
dat was him to rigt-wished.
ðre der he toc, ilc ðre ger hold,
And sacrede god on an wold;
of godes bode he nam god kep,
A net, and a got, and a sep;
Euerilc of ðese he delte on two,
And let hem lin on sunder so,
Vndelt hes leide quor-so hes tok;
And ðor a duue and a turtul ok,
Sat up on-rum til heuene he tok,
And of ðo doles kep he nam

Gredi foueles fellen ðor-on,
ðat ðogte abram wel iwel don,
kagte is wei, quan it was nigt,
ðo cam on him vgging and frigt;
A michel fier he sag, and an brigt,
gliden ðor twen ðo doles rigt.
God seide him ðor a soðe drem
ðe timinge of is beren-tem,
And hu he sulde in pine ben,
And uten erdes sorge sen;
fowre hundred ger sulden ben gon,
Hor he sulden wel cumen a-gon,
oc siðen sulde in here hond,
bi-cumen ðat hotene lond.
ðo wiste abram wel michel mor
Quat was to cumen ðan he wiste or.

Siðen bi-fel ðat sarrai,
for ghe was longe untuderi,
Ghe bitagte abre maiden agar;
Ghe wurð wið childe and hem two bar;
forð siðen ghe bi abram slep,
Of hire leuedi nam ghe no kep;
And sarrai wuldet nogt ðolen
ðat agar wore ðus to-bolen;
Ghe held hire hard in ðralles wune,
And dede hire sorge and anger mune;
ðo fleg agar fro sarray,
wimman wið childe, one and sori,
In ðe diserd, wil and weri,
And an angel cam ðor hire bi,
wiste hire drogen sori for ðrist,
At a welle quemede hire list,
And bad hire sone wenden agen,
And to hire leuedi buxum ben;
And seide ghe sulde sunen wel
And timen, and clepen it smael,

And he sulde ben man migti,
And of him kumen folc frigti;
Ghe wente agen, and bar ðat child,
And abram wurð wið hire milde.
lxxx. gere and sexe mo
Hadde abram on his elde ðo,
And .xiii. ger ðor after told,
ix. and nigneti ger he was old,
Quuanne him cam bode in sunder run,
fro gode of circumcicioun.
His name ðo wurð a lettre mor,
His wiues lesse ðan it was or,
for ðo wurd abram abraham,
And sarray sarra bi-cam;
And al ðat euere ðe louered bad,
dede abraham redi and rad.
He him self wurð ðanne circumcis,
And ysmael his sune iwis;
And of is hird euerilc wapman
wurð circumcis, al-so he it bi-gan,
Quuo ne bar ðanne is merk him on
fro godes folc sulde he be don.

Siðen, in ðe dale of mambre,
sag abraham figures ðre,
Sondes semlike kumen fro gode;
Abraham he broghten wel bliðe bode.
Abraham he[m] ran wel swiðe agon,
And of ðe ðre he wurðede ðe ton,
ðe god him dede in herte sen,
ðe was wurði wurðed to ben;
bred, kalues fleis, and flures bred,
And buttere, hem ðo sondes bed;
for ðat he bad wið herte fre,
He it nomen in charite;
So malt ðat mete in hem to nogt,
So a watres drope in a fier brogt.

Abraham stod and quamede hem wel,
His good wil was hem good mel.
Quuad ðis on, “ðis time oðer ger,
Sal ic me to ðe taunen her;
Bi ðan sal sarra selðe timen,
ðat ge sal of a sune trimen.”
ðanne herde sarra swilc tiding,
And it hire ðogte a selli ðhing,
for ghe was nigenti winter hold,
Abraham on wane of an hundred told;
Ghe glente and ðhogte, migte it nogt ben,
And ghe ðat sulde her wið childe be sen;
And Abraham trewid it ful wel,
And it wurð soð binnen swilc sel.

Fro mambre dale wente ðo ðre,
to-ward sodome geden he;
Quad ðe louered, “wile ic nogt stelen,
Ne min dede abraham helen;
Ic cume to sen ðat sinne dwale
ðat is me told of miries dale.”
ðo adde abram is herte sor,
for loth his newe wunede ðor.
“Louerd,” quad he, “hu saltu don,
If ðu salt nimen wreche ðor-on;
Salt ðu nogt ðe rigt-wise weren,
Or for hem ðe toðere með beren?”
Quad god, “find ic ðor ten or mo,
Ic sal meðen ðe stede for ðo.”
Durste Abraham freinen nunmor,
Oc wente agen wið herte sor;
And god at-wot in-to hise ligt,
ðo to gon to sodome rigt.
Sunne is west under erðe numen,
Quuanne he ben to sodome cumen;
Get sat loth at ðe burges gate,
After sum geste stod him quake;

He ros, and lutte, and scroð him wel,
And bead hem hom to is ostel
To herbergen wið him ðat nigt,
ðo swete angeles, faier and brigt;
And he so deden als he hem bead,
He wisten him bergen fro ðe dead;
And loth hem serued faire and wel,
And he him gulden it euerilc del.
Oc al ðat burgt folc ðat helde was on,
ðe migte lecher crafte don,
To lothes hus he cumen ðat nigt
And bi-setten it redi to figt;
He boden him bringen ut o-non,
ðo men ðat woren ðidir in-gon.
Loth hem bead is dogtres two,
for to friðen hise geste swo;
Oc he ne wulden his dogtres nogt,
for wicke and feble was here ðogt.
ðat folc vn-seli, sinne wod,
ðo sori wrecches of yuel blod
wulden him ðor gret strengðe don,
Til wreche and letting cam hem on.
ðis angels two drogen loth in,
And shetten to ðe dure-pin.
Wil siðen cam on euerilc on,
ðo wrecches ðe wið-vten gon,
for al ðat nigt he sogten ðor
ðe dure, and fundend neuere mor.
ðo seiden ðis angeles to loth wið sped,
If ðu frend hauest and wit don red,
Bid him, or day, redi ben,
And swiðe ut ðis burges flen,
elles sulen he brennen and for-faren,
If he ne bi time heðe[n] waren.
Two ðor werren quam him ðogte ear
To wedden his two dogtres ðear;

Loth hem warnede, wislike and wel,
Oc he ne troweden him neuere a del.
On morgen quan day cam hem to,
Loth and his dogtres two
Ledden ðis angeles ut in sel,
And boden hem and tagten wel,
ðat here non wente agen,
for non ðhing he migte sen.
Loth was wansum, and ðugte long
vp to ðo dunes ðe weie hard and strong;
“Louerd,” quat he, “gunde under dun,
mot hic ben borgen in ðat tun!”
ðo angeles seiden, “we sulen it sren,
ðor quile ðu wilt ðor-inne ben;
Ai was borgen bala-segor
ðor quile ðat loth dwelledde ðor;
Oc siðen loth wente ut of hine,
brende it ðhunder, sanc it erðe-dine.
Sone so loth ut of sodome cam,
brend-fier-rein ðe burge bi-nam;
Hardere wreche ðor was cumen
ðan ear was vnder flode numen;
for men ðor sinne un-kinde deden,
so for-sanc and brente ðat steden;
So bitter-like is it for-don,
Ne mai non dain wassen ðor-on;
So for-sanc ðat folc sinsul ðor,
swilc sinful sinne wex ðer nunmor.

Ðo lotes wif wente hire a-gon,
Sone ghe stod, wente in to a ston;
So ist nu forwent mirie dale
In to dririhed and in to bale,
ðe swarte flum, ðe dede se,
Non fis, non fuel ðor-inne mai be.
ðat water is so deades driuen,
Non ðing ne mai ðor-inne liuen;

Men seið ðe treen ðat ðor henden ben
Waxen in time, and brimen, and ðen,
Oc quane here apples ripe ben,
fier-isles man mai ðor-inne sen;
ðat erd is oten saltes dale,
Maniman ðor-of holdet litel tale.

Loth wuned litel in segor,
for he dredde him for to forfare ðor;
Wið hise two dowtres ut he teg,
And for dred to ðo dunes he fleg;
And ðor he biggede in a caue[n],
ðe was ðor in roche grauen.
ðo meidenes herden quilum seien,
ðat fier sulde al ðis werld forsweðen,
And wenden wel ðat it were cumen,
And fieres wreche on werld numen,
And ðat man-kinde wore al for-loren
but of hem ðre wore man boren.
ðis maidenes redden sone on-on
Quat hem two wore best to don,
Hu he migten vnder-gon
Here fader, ðat he ne wore ðor gon;
Wið wines drinc he wenten is ðhogt,
So ðat he haueð ðe dede wrogt,
And on eiðer here a knaue bi-geten,
ðis ne mai nogt ben for-geten.
ðis maidenes deden it in god dhogt,
ðe fader oc drunken ne wiste he it nogt.
ðe firste him bar moab ðat sune,
Of him beð folc, [in] moab it wune;
ðe lesse him bar a sune amon,
Amonit folces fader on.

Nv bi-oueð us to wenden a-gen,
And of abraham song under-gon.
Abraham up on morgen stod,
Wið reuli lote and frigti mod;

To-ward sodome he sag ðe roke
And ðe brinfires stinken smoke,
And wente a-wei fro mambre dale,
So sore him reu of ðat bale.
Suðen he wente & wunede in geraris,
bi-twen cade and vr, y-wis;
ðor he seide eft, for luue of lif,
ðat sister wore sarra his wif.
Quilum of er pharraon hire toc,
Nu takeð abimalech hire oc;
Sene it was ðat ghe was fair wif,
Quan ghe was luued in so long lif.
Abimalech wurð sek on-on,
And oðer wreche is folc cam on;
Nogt wif-kinnes non birðe ne nam,
ðor quiles he ðor wið-helð saram.
On dreme him cam tiding for-quat
He ðrowede and ðolede un-timing ðat;
Al it was for abraham-is wif,
ðat he hire held ðor wið strif;
ðo bi-ðhogte him ful wel,
And sente after abraham ðat ilc sel,
And bi-tagte him his wif a-non,
And his yuel sort was ouer-gon.
His wif and oðere birðe beren,
ða ðe swinacie gan him nunmor deren.
Abimalech gaf abraham
Gold, and siluer, and lond for-ðan;
A ðhusant plates of siluer god
Gaf he sarra ðat faire blod,
Bad hire ðor hir wið heuod ben hid,
for swilc timing was hire bi-tid.

Ðo wulde god bi sewen so
of olde abraham and o sarra so.
Ghe wurd wið child, on elde wac,
And trimede and cleped it ysaac.

ðe egtende dai ðat he was boren,
Circumcised he was, a-buten schoren;
ðor-of holden ðe ieuwes lay,
Circumcised on ðe egtende day.
Arabit folc of ysmael,
After him don he it al swilk sel,
Quane he .xiii. ger ben old;
Of ysmael here time is told.

Ðre ger woren ysaac on,
Quane he was fro teding don;
Michel gestninge made abraham
Quane he ðat sune to borde nam.
Wintres forð wexen on ysaac,
And ysmael was him vn-swac;
Of-ten it gan ysaac un-framen,
And ysmael pleide hard gamen;
Sarra was ðor-fore often wroð,
Hir was ysmaeles anger loð;
Ghe bi-mente hire to abraham,
And sumdel ligtlike he it nam
Til god him bad is wiues tale
Listen, and don a-wei ðat dwale.
Abraham rapede him sone in sped
for to fulfillen godes reed;
He flemede agar and ysmael
In sumertid, In egest sel;
Bred, and a fetles wið water fild,
Bar agar wið hire and wið ðe child;
Bi ðe desert a-wei che nam,
In ard weie and hete gram;
Wið swinc and hete hem wexon ðrist,
ðe water sleckede ðe childes list;
Tid-like hem gan ðat water laken,
ðo gan agares sorwe waken;
Wantede ðit child faiernesse and migt,
His moder wurð neg dead for frigt.

Ghe leide ðe child under a tre,
far ðeðen ghe gede, so it gan be,
ðe child ne mai ghe for sorge sen;
Bi al-so fer so a boge mai ten,
ðor sat his moder in sik and sor,
wende ghe it coueren neuere mor.
Goddes merci dede hire reed,
An angel meðede hire ðat ned,
Tagte hire ðor a welle spring,
ðat was hire ðor seli timing;
ðor ghe gan fremen ysmael
Wið watres drinc and bredes mel,
filt hire feteles, and nam fro ðan
forð to ðe desert of pharan;
ðor wunede ysmael and agar.
Ghe ches him a wif ðe childre bar;
.xii. sunes he auede bi his wif,
Of him cam kinde mikil and rif.
Nabachot was his first sune,
In arabie his kinde wune
fro ðe riche flod eufrate,
Wid and fer to ðe rede se;
Of his oðer sune cedar,
A ku[n]griche his name bar;
And of duma his sexte sune,
A ku[n]gdom dirima ðu mune;
His .ix. was tema for-ðan,
Is ðor a ku[n]glond teman;
And .xii. of ðe cedima,
Het a guglond esten fro ða.

Flemd was agar and ysmael,
and ysaac wex and ðehg wol wel.
Abimalech sag abraham,
Hu welðe him wex and migte cam,
He bad him maken siker pligt
Of luue and trewðe in frendes rigt,

ðat ne sulde him nogwer deren,
Oc him and hise helpen and weren;
He gaf him a welle and a lond fre,
Abraham it clepede bersabe;
ðor ben he boðen feren pligt,
ðat here neiðer sal don oðer un-rigt.
Abraham gan ðor longe ben,
And tillede corn and sette treen,
ðog [it] was nogt is kinde lond;
Richere he it leet ðan he it fond.

Iff iosephus ne legeð me,
ðor quiles he wunede in bersabe,
so was ysaaces eld told
xx. and five winter old;
ðo herde abraham steuene fro gode,
Newe tiding, and selkuð bode:—
“Tac ðin sune ysaac in hond,
And far wið him to siðhinges lond,
And ðor ðu salt him offren me
On an hil ðor ic sal taunen ðe.”
fro bersabe iurnes two
Was ðat lond ðat he bed him two;
And morie, men seið, was ðat hil,
ðat god him tawne[de] in his wil;
Men seið ðat dune-is siðen on
Was mad temple salamon,
And ðe auter mad on ðat stede
ðor abraham he offrande dede.
Abraham was buxum o rigt,
Hise weie he tok sone bi nigt;
ðe ðride day he sagt ðe stede
ðe god him witen in herte dede;
ðan he cam dun to ðo dunes fot,
Non of his men forðere ne mot,
But ysaac is dere childe,
He bar ðe wude wið herte mild,

And abraham ðe fier and ðe swerd bar;
ðo wurð ðe child witter and war
ðat ðor sal offrende ben don,
Oc ne wiste he quuat, ne quor-on;
“fader,” quað he, “quar sal ben taken
ðe offrende ðat ðu wilt maken?”
Quat abraham, “god sal bi-sen,
Quor-of ðe ofrende sal ben;

Sellik ðu art on wer[l]de cumen,
Sellic ðu salt ben heðen numen;
Wið-uten long ðhrowing and figt,
God wile ðe taken of werlde nigt,
And of ðe seluen holocaustum hauen,
ðanc it him ðat he it wulde crauen.”
Ysaac was redi mildelike,
Quan ðat he it wiste witterlike.

Oc abraham it wulde wel
quat-so god bad, ðwerted he it neuer a del;
Ysaac was leid ðat auter on,
So men sulden holocaust don;
And abraham ðat swerd ut-drog,
And was redi to slon him nuge,
Oc angel it him for-bed,
And barg ðe child fro ðe dead;
ðo wurð abraham frigti fagen,
for ysaac bi-leaf un-slagen;
Bi-aften bak, as he nam kep,
faste in ðornes he sag a sep,
ðat an angel ðor-inne dede;
It was brent on ysaac stede.
And or abraham ðeðen for,
God him ðor bi him-seluen swor
ðat he sal michil his kinde maken,
And ðat lond hem to honde taken;
Good selðhe sal him cumen on,
for he ðis dede wulde don.

He wente bliðe and fagen agen,
To bersabe he gunne teen,
Sarra was fagen in kindes wune,
ðat [hire] bilef ðat dere sune.

Ðor quiles abraham wunede ðor,
Him cam good tiding of nachor,
ðat melca bar him egte sunen;
Hus wos eldest, if we rigt munen.
Rigt-wis iob cam of his kin,
Hus lond he was riche wid-hin;
Of buz, his broðeres kin, cam
Buzites, Eliv, Balaam.

Abraham, riche of welðe and wale,
wente a-gen in to manbre dale;
Sarra ðo starf, an hundred ger old
And seuene and .xx. winter told.

Abraham sente eliezer
to lond mesopotanie fer,
To caram ðor is fader lay,
(Or he cam ðor was manie day)
To fechen ysaac hom a wif,
Of his kinde ðe ðor was in lif.
Ten kameles semeð forð he nam,
Wið michel swinc he ðider cam
At a welle wið-uten ðe tun;
ðor he leide hise semes dun,
ðor he wulde him resten and ben,
Sum good tiding heren or sen.
“Louerd god,” quað he mildelike,
“min erdne ðu forðe selðhelike,
ðis dai me lene hire to sen,
ðat sal ysaaces leman ben.”

He bad hise bede on good sel.
Rebecca, bi-geten of batuel,

Of nachor bi-geten, of melca boren,
Cam to ðat welle ðor him bi-foren,
And him and ilc-on his kamel
Wið watres drinc ghe quemede wel.
Oðere maidenes wið hire cumen,
Ne wor nogt so forð ðeuwe numen.
Eliezer lerede ðor
ðat batuel cam of nachor;
Of batuel ðis maiden cam
ghe was forð nifte of abraham;
ðogte he, ðis maiden wile ic hauen
And to min louerdes bofte bi-crauen;
for kindes luue he was hire hold,
Wið beges and ringes boðen of gold,
Askede here if ghe migte taken
Herberge for hire frendes sake[n].

Maiden rebecca ðanne ran,
And kidd it to hire broðer laban,
And laban cam to ðat welle ner,
faiger welcumede he ðer eliezer,
And fond good grið and good hostel,
Him, and hise men, and hise kamel.
Eliezer, or he wulde eten,
Wulde he nogt hise erdene for-geten;
Al he tolde hem fro queðen he cam,
And for quat erdene he ðider nam;
Tolde hem tiding of abraham,
Quilc selðe and welðhe him wel bi-cam,
Sent he was ðider, for kinde wune,
After a wif to ysaac his sune.
seide he, “rebecca wile ic hauen,
To ysac-is bi-ofte wile ic crauen.
Laban and his moder wið-ðan
fagneden wel ðis sondere man;

(Quan god haueð it so bi-sen,
Alse he sendet, als it sal ben.)
Wið gold, and siluer, and wið srud,
ðis sonde made ðe mayden prud;
ðe broðer and de moder oc
Riche giftes eliezer ðe toc.
Sone o-morwen he gan him garen,
And crauede his erdene, and wolde hom faren,
for scrið, ne mede, ne wold he ðor
Ouer on nigt drechen nunmor;
And ðo gan ðat moder and laban
Rebecca freinen ðor for-ðan,
And ghe it grantede mildelike,
And he hire bi-tagten bliðelike.
Siðen men hauen holden skil,
first to freinen ðe wimmanes wil,
Or or men hire to louerd giue,
for wedding or for morgen-giwe.
Eliezer is went his wei
And haueð hem boden godun dai.
Or he wel homward cumen was,
Ysaac was cume to gerasis,
And wunede ðor in ðogt and care,
for moderes dead and sondes fare.
In a weie an time he cam,
And to a welle, sigande, he nam,
ðohgteful he was on felde gon;
Eliezer him cam a-gon,
Eððede his sorge, brogt him a wif
Of faiger waspene, of clene lif.
He fagnede hire wið milde mod,
Here sameni[n]g was clene and god;
He luuede hire on-like and wel,
And sge ne bi-spac him neuere a del.

Get men seyn ðat abraham,
siðen calde agar ceturam,
And sge bar him siðen sex sunen;
Abraham dede hem siðen sundri wunen;
fer est fro cratonidé,
Weren he spred to ðe rede se.
Ysaac he let al his god,
for he was bi-geten of kinde blod.

An hundred ger hold and seuenti
And .v. he was leid sarram bi.
boðen ysaac and ysmael
Him bi-stoden wurlike and wel.
On hundred ger and .xxxvij.
Liuede ysmael and was ðor bi.

Ysaac was hold .xl. ger
Quanne rebecca cam him ner;
Longe it was or ghe him child bar,
And he bad god, quanne he it wurð war,
ðat he sulde fillen ðat quede
ðat he abraham quilum dede.
ðo wurð rebecca childre bere,
ðat ghe felte ful time in gere;
At on burdene ghe under-stod
two ðe weren hire sibbe blod;
Alse ðhute hire day and nigt,
Alse he wrogten and figt,
Queðer here sulde birðen bi-foren.
Oc esau was firmest boren,
And iacob sone after, ic wot,
for ðat he held im bi ðe fot.
Sexti ger ysaac was old,
Quan ðis tidi[n]g him was told;
Ghe was abraham liues her,
After ðis, fiftene ger.

Wexen boðen ysaac sunes,
And ðhogen, and adden sundri wunes;
Esau wilde man huntere,
And Iacob tame man tiliere.
ðe fader luuede esau wel,
for firme birðe & swete mel;
ðe moder, iacob for tamehed,
And for ðe ali gastes red.
Iacob An time him seð a mete
ðat man callen lentil gete,
And esau fro felde cam,
Sag ðis pulment, hunger him nam.
“Broðer iacob,” quat esau,
“Of ðis warme mete ðu gif me nu,
for ic ham mattilike weri.”
Iacob wurð war he was gredi;
“Broðer,” quad he, “sel me ðo wunes,
ðe queðen ben ðe firme sunes,
ðat ic ðin firme birðehe gete,
If ic ðe fille wið ðis mete.”
Quad esau, “ful bliðelike,”
And gafe it him wel sikerlike.
firme birðe was wurði wune
ðe fader dede ðe firme sune;
ðe firme sune at offrende sel
Was wune ben scrid semelike and wel,
And sulde auen ðe bliscing
Or or ðe fader dede his ending;
And at heg tide and at gestning,
ðe gungere sune geuen ðe bliscing,
And hauen mete ðan at is mel,
More or ðe gungere twinne del;
And quanne ðe fader were grauen,
two doles of ereward riche auen.

An time dede hunger ysaac flen,
And he wulde to egipte then,
Oc god him sente reed in wis
ðat he bi-lef in gerasis;
ðor he was for his fadres luue[n]
Holden wurðelike a wel a-buuen.
An hundred so mikel wex his tile,
So may god friðe ðor he wile.
Niðede ðat folk him fel wel
And deden him flitten hise ostel.
At bersabe he wunede best,
And ðor wurð wið him trewðe fest
Abimalech, and luue sworen,
So he was or is fader bi-foren.
And helde gede on ysaac,
Wurðede sighteles and elde swac;
He bad esau, his firme sune,
fechin him fode, as he was wune;
If he toke him ðat he wulde eten,
His seli bliscing sulde he bi-geten.

Ðor quiles esau sogte and ran,
Rebecca iacob reden gan;
Two kides he fette and brogt es hire,
And ghe knew wel ðe faderes kire,
And made swiðe on sele ðat mete,
swilc ghe wiste he wulde eten;
Sridde ghe iacob and made him ru
ðor he was bare(.) nu lik esau;
And he seruede his fader wel
Wið wines drinc and seles mel.
Ysaac wende it were esau,
for he grapte him and fond him ru;
ðanne he wiste him on gode sel,
He him bliscede holdelike and wel;

“Heuene dew, and erðes fetthed,
Of win and olie fulsum-hed,”
And bad him of his kindes louerd ben,
In welðe and migt wurðinge ðen.
Wel bliðe and fagen was iacob ðo.
for blisced he wente his fader fro.
Quan ysaac it under-nam
ðat esau to late cam,
And ðat is broðer, af-ter boren,
Was kumen and hadde is bliscing bi-foren,
Wel selkuðlike he wurð for-dred;
And in ðat dred his ðogt was led
In to ligtnesse for to sen,
Quow god wulde it sulde ben.
ðo seide ysaac to esau,
“ðin broðer iacob was her nu,
And toc ðin bliscing liðer-like,
And he wurð blisced witterlike.”
Quad esau, “rigt is his name
hoten iacob, to min un-frame;
Or he min firme birðe toc,
Nu haued he stolen min bliscing oc;
ðog, fader dere, bidde ic ðe,”
ðat sum bliscing gif ðu me.”
ðo gan esau ðengen and sen
Quilc is bliscing migte ben;
In heuene deu, and erðes smere,
Gatte him bliscing ðat him was gere;
for ydumea, ðat fulsum lond,
Of lewse god, was in hise hond.
Quad esau, “grot sal bi-cumen,
And wreche of iacob sal binumen.”

Oc rebecca wiste ðat ðhogt,
ðat hate was in hise herte brogt,
for-ði ghe iacob warnen gan,
And sente him to his broðer laban;

“be ðu ðer,” quat ghe, “til esau
Eðe moðed [be], ðe wreðed nu,
And ðu salt ðe betre sped,
If it beð bi ðin faderes red.”
Quad rebecca to hire were,
“Esau wifuede us to dere
Quan he iusted & beð so mat,
Toc of kin ðe canaan bi-gat,
For-ði he maked him stið & strong,
For he beð mengt ðat kin among;
If iacob took her also a wif,
Ne bode ic no lengere werldes lif.
Ysaac bad iacob him garen,
And forð swiðe to laban faren;
Iacob listenede ðo frendes red,
Fro bersabe he ferde wið sped;
Long weie he gan to-ward aram,
bi cananeam forð he nam,
And wulde nogt ðat folc bi-twen
Herberged in here huses ben.
He lay bi luzan ut on nigt,
A ston under hise heued rigt,
And slep and sag, an soðe drem,
fro ðe erðe up til heuene bem,
A leddre stonden, and ðor-on
Angeles dun-cumen and up-gon,
And ðe louerd ðor uppe a-buuen
Lened ðor-on; and [Jacob] wurð ut-suuen,
Herde ðat he quad, “god ic am,
ðe luued ysaac and abraham;
And ðis lond ic sal giuen ðin sed,
And in ðis weige don ðe red;
And i sal bringen ðe a-gen,
And of ðin kinde blisced ðu salt ben.”

Iacob abraid, & seide frigtilike:—
“God in ðis stede is wittirlike,
Her, dredful stede, her, godes hus,
Her, heuenegate amongus us;
Louerd, if ic mote a-gen cumen,
Of ðis stede ic sal in herte munen;”
(Sette he up ðat ston for muniging,
And get on olige for tok-ning)
“He sal euere min louerd ben,
ðat dede me her ðis sigt sen,
Her ic sal offrendes here don
And tigðes wel gelden her-up-on;
And wel sal luz wurðed ben,
for ic gan her ðis sigðhe sen.”
Iacob calde ðat stede betel;
Quor-fore he it dede, he wiste wel.
Longe weie he siðen ouer-cam,
And longe time or he sag tharam.
Quane he cam ner, fond he ðor-on
A welle wel helid under a ston,
And ðre flockes of sep dor-bi,
ðat ðor abiden al for-ði;
ðor was nogt wune on & on,
ðat orf ðor to water gon,
Oc at set time he sulden samen,
ðor hem-self & here orf framen.
Iacob ðes hirdes freinen gan,
Hu fer ist heðen to laban;
Wel he seiden and swiðe wel,
“loc! her his dogter rachel.”
Sep he driuen ðis welle ner,
for ghe hem wulde wattre ðer.
Iacob wið hire wente ðat ston,
And let hire sep to water gon;
And kidde he was hire mouies sune,
And kiste hire aftre kindes wune;

Rachel was bliðe and forð ghe nam,
And kidd it to hire fader laban.
Laban fagnede him in frendes wune,
feren swunken ysaaces sunen.
Iacob tolde him for quat he swanc
So fer, and laban herte ranc;
He cuðe him ðer-of wel gret ðhanc,
And dede him eten and to him dranc,
And seide to him, “bi min blod,
ðin come is me leflike and good.”
Laban bi-tagte him, siðen to sen,
His hirdenesse ðat it wel ben.
And quanne a moneð was ouer-meten,
“Iacob,” wað he, “quat wiltu bi-geten?
Quat-so [ðu] wilt for hire crauen,
Aske it wið skil and ðu salt hauen.”
Quat iacob, “ic sal, for rachel,
Seruen ðe seuene winter wel.”
Luue wel michil it agte a-wold,
Swilc seruise and so longe told.
forð geden seuene ger bi tale,
And laban made him his bridale;
Iacob wurð drunken, and euen cam,
Laban bi nigt tog him liam;
And a maiden was hire bi-tagt,
Zelfa bi name, ðat ilke nagt.
Iacob gan hire under-fon,
O morgen ðugte it him mis-don.
Quat laban, “long wune is her driuen,
firmest on elde, first ben giuen:
And loð me was senden rachel
So fer, for ic luuede her wel;
Oc serf me seuene oðer ger,
If ðu salt rachel seruen her;

Seue nigt siðen forð ben numen
Or rachel beð to iacob cumen,
And laban made a feste oc
Quanne iacob wid rachel toc;
And for ghe ðanne cam him ner,
seruede he him siðen seuene ger.
Rachel adde, after londes kire,
maiden balaam to seruen hire.

Lia moder of fowre was,
Ruben, symeon, leui, iudas;
for rachel non birðe ne nam,
Sge bi-tagte iacob balaam;
bala two childre bar bi him,
Rachel cald es dan(.) neptalim;
And zelfa two sunes him ber,
Lia calde is(.) Gad(.) and asser;
Lia siðen two sunes bar,
Zabulon(.) last(.) or ysakar;
Lia bar last dowter dinam,
Sichem, siðen, hire ille bi-nam.
Last of rachel iosep was boren,
Best of alle ðe oðere bi-foren.

Longe haued nu iacob ben her,
wið laban fulle .xiii. ger;
Leue askede hem hom to faren,
Wið wiues and childre ðeðen charen,
But-if laban him ðelde bet
Hise seruise, and wið-holde him get;
serue he scriðed ðat .vij. ger,
ðat he bi-leue and serue him her;
Wel he seið him ðat he sal hauen
for hire, quat-so he wile crauen.
forward is mad of alle sep,
Of ones bles iacob nim kep,
And if of ðo spotted cumen,

ðo sulen him ben for hire numen;
Sep or got, haswed, arled, or grei,
Ben don fro iacob fer a-wei;
ðog him boren ðes ones bles
Vn-like manige and likeles.
ðo sag laban ðat iacob bi-gat
Michil, and him mislikede ðat;
bi-tagte him ðo ðe sunder bles,
And it him boren ones bles.
Ten siðes ðus binnen .vi. ger,
Shiftede iacob hirdenesse her,
And ai was labanes herte sor,
for his agte wex mor & mor.

Ðo sag iacob laban wurð wroð,
Vnder him ben leng is him loð,
And wið is wiues he takeð red,
And greiðet him deðenward wið sped.

Laban ferde to nimen kep,
In clipping time to hise sep,
fro caram in-to vten stede,
ðor quiles iacob ðis dede dede;
Wið wiues, and childre, & orf he nam,
And to ðe munt galaad he bi-cam;
ðanne fleg he to mesopotaniam,
And drog to-ward cananeam.

And Rachel adde hid and for-olen
Hire faderes godes of gold, & stolen.
Laban it wiste on ðe ðridde dai
ðat iacob was ðus flogen a-wei;
He toc, and wente, and folwede on,
And ðhogt in mod iacob to slon,
Oc god in sweuene spac him to,
ðat he sulde iacob non yuel do.
vij. nigt forð-geden and dais oc,
Or laban iacob ouer-toc;

So was he frig[t]ed ear in drem,
ðus meðelike spac ðis em:
“Qui wore ðu fro me for-holen,
And qui as ðu min godes stolen?
Min mog, min neue, and felage,
Me ne agtes ðu don swilc [vn-]lage.”
“[I]c was for-dred ðe migte timen,
fro me ðine doutres bi-nimen,
fro here childre ðhogt hem sor,
mor for me bi-leuen ðor;
stalðe ic for-sake, ðat is min red,
wið quam ðu is findes, ðat he be dead.”
Of al ðat laban haued is sogt,
So woren it hid, ne fond he is nogt.

Ðo [q]wað iacob, “yuel ist bi-togen,
Min swinc a-buten ðin holðe drogen;
ðu me ransakes als an ðef,
And me was ðin wurðing lef.”
ðo quat laban, “frend sule wit ben,
And trewðe pligt nu unc bi-twen,
And make we it her an hil of ston,
Name of witnesse be ðer-on;
ðor-on he eten bliðe and glað,
ðat hil is hoten galaað;
Laban hem bliscede, & on nigt
wente a-gen-ward, or it was ligt;
And iacob was of weie rad,
Raðe he was fer fro laban sad.
Als he cam ner cananeam,
Engel wirð a-gen him cam,
Als it were wopnede here,
Redi to silden him fro were;
ðat stede he calde manaim,
ðor ðis wird of engeles metten him.
ðor he bi-lef, and sente ðeden
Sondere men to freinen and queðen

If esau wulde him ogt deren,
ðog wiste wel god sulde him weren;
ðor him cam bode him for to sen,
ðat esau him cam a-gen;

And iacob sente fer bi-foren
him riche loac, and sundri boren,
And iordan he dede ouer waden,
Orf & men, wið welðe laden;
And he bi-lef ðor on ðe nigt
to bidden helpe of godes migt.

And ðor wrestelede an engel wið,
Senwe sprungen fro ðe lið;
(wulde he non senwe siðen eten,
Self his kinde nile ðat wune forgeten.)
Get held he wið ðis angel fast,
Til ðe daning up esten it brast;
ðo seide ðe engel, “let me get ben,
ðe daining her nu men mai sen.”
Quad iacob, “ðe ne leate ic nogt,
Til ðin bliscing on me beð wrogt.”

Ðo quad ðe angel, “sal tu nunmor
ben cald iacob, so ðu wore or,
Oc ðu sal ben hoten israel,
for ðu ðe weries swiðe wel;
Quan ðu ðe migt wið angel weren,
Hu sal ani man ðe mugen deren?

Ear iacob and nu israel.”
ðat ste[de] was cald phanuel,
for he nam ouer phanuel;
And it wurð ligt and he sag wel
Quor esau a-gen him cam,
And bi-foren a-gen him nam;
And seue siðes he fell him bi-foren,
And wurðe him so firmest boren;
And esau ðo ran him to,
And kissede, and wept, ðo rew him so.

“Broðer,” quad he, “ðu and ðin trume
ben here in ðis place to me welcume;
Haue and bruc wel al ðin present,
ðat ðu to me bringest and hauest sent.”
Iacob was wo ðat he is for-soc,
And scroð him so(.) ðat sum he ðor tok.
Here luue ðo wurð hol and schir,
And esau ferde forð ðeden to seyr;
ðat newe burg was him to frame,
Mad and cald of is owen name.
Iacob fro ðeðen wente, ic wot,
tgelt on a stede, and cald it sochot;
fro sochot siðen to sichem,
And wune ðor inne salem,
ðor him solde an lond kinge emor,
And he drog ðider and wunede ðor;
wið newe alter wurðed he wel
ðe strong god of ysrael.

His dowter dina ðor mis-dede,
ghe nam leueles fro ðat stede,
To sen de werld ðhugte hire god,
ðat made hire siðen seri mod,
for-listede hire owen red;
Sichem tok hire maiden-hed;
Emor his fader, siðen for-ði,
And his burge-folc fellen in wi;
Symeon and leui it bi-speken,
And hauen here sister ðor i-wreken;
folc of salem ðor-fore was slagen,
wiwes, and childre, and agte up-dragen;
Oc iacob ne wiste it nogt,
Til ðat wreche to bale was wrogt,
Oc michil he frigtede for-ði,
boðen symeon and leui.

Henden sichem ne dursten he wunen,
ðat folkes-kin god bad him sunen,

And ðeden faren to betel,
And he folgede is red on sel;
Agte unclene ne wulde he beren,
for he dredde him it sulde him deren;
Godes ðat rachel hadde stolen,
And ay til ðan wið him for-holen,
And oðre ydeles brogt fro sichem,
Gol prenes and ringes wið hem,
Diep he is dalf under an ooc,
Made him non giscing in herte wooe.
Longe it weren ðor for-hid;
Men seið for-ði was so bi-tid,
for salamon findin is sal,
And his temple sriðen wið-al.
Iacob wente fro ðeden in sped,
God sente on ðat erdfolc swilc dred,
ðan here non iacob scaðe ne dede;
Quane he wente a-wei fro ðat stede.
He made an alter at betel,
Als he god bi-het, ðor he geld wel.
Siðen ðo beniamin was boren,
Rachel adde ðe life for-loren;
Iacob dalf hire and merke dede,
ðat is get sene on ðat stede.

Ðor quiles he wunede at tur ader,
Ruben misdede wid bala ðer.
Siðen cam iacob to ebron,
And fond his moder of werlde gon;
Starf ysaac quan he was hold
.ix. score ger and fiue told,
And was doluen on ðat stede,
ðor man adam and eue dede.
So riche were growen hise sunen,
ðat he ne migte to-gider wunen;
Oc esau, seyr [and] edon
Lond ydumeam wunede on;

Of edon so it higte ða,
for it was hoten ear bozra.

Hear haued moyses ouer-gon,
ðor-fore he wended eft a-gon.
xii. ger or ysaac was dead
Iacobes sunes deden un-red;

For sextene ger ioseph was old,
Quane he was in to egipte sold;
He was iacobes gunkeste sune,
Brictest of waspene, and of witter wune,
If he sag hise breðere mis-faren,
His fader he it gan vn-hillen & baren;
He wulde ðat he sulde hem ten
ðat he wel ðewed sulde ben;
for-ði wexem wið gret nið
And hate, for it in ille [herte] lið.
ðo wex her hertes niðful & bold
Quanne he hem adde is dremes told,
ðat his handful stod rigt up soren,
And here it leigen alle hem bi-foren;
And sunne, & mone, & sterres .xie.
wurðeden him wið frigti luue;
ðo seide his fader, “hu mai ðis sen
ðat ðu salt ðus wurðed ben,
ðat ðine breðere, and ic, and she
ðat ðe bar, sulen luten ðe?”
ðus he chidden hem bi-twen,
ðoge ðhogte iacob siðe it sulde ben.
Hise breðere kepten at sichem
Hirdnesse, & iacob to sen hem
sente ioseph to dalen ebron;
And he was redi his wil to don.
In sichem feld ne fonde hem nogt,
In dotayin he fond hem sogt;
He knewen him fro feren kumen,

Hate hem on ros, in herte numen;
Swilc nið & hate ros hem on,
He redden alle him for to slon.
“Nai,” quad ruben, “slo we him nogt,
Oðer sinne may ben wrogt,
Quat-so him drempte ðor quiles he slep,
In ðis ðisternesse, old and dep,
Get wurðe worpen naked and cold,
Quat-so his dremes owen a-wold.”
ðis dede was don wid herte sor,
Ne wulde ruben nogt drechen ðor;
He gede and sogte an oðer stede,
His erue in bettre lewse he dede;
Vdas dor quiles gaf hem red,
ðat was fulfilt of derne sped;
fro galaad men wið chafare
Sag he ðor kumen wid spices ware;
To-warde egipte he gunne ten.
Iudas tagte hu it sulde ben,
Ioseph solde ðe breðere ten,
for .xxx. plates to ðe chapmen;
Get wast bettre he ðus was sold,
dan he ðor storue in here wold.

Ðan ruben cam ðider a-gen,
to ðat cisternesse he ran to sen;
He missed Ioseph and ðhogte swem,
wende him slagen, set up an rem;
Nile he blinnen, swilc sorwe he cliued,
Til him he sweren ðat he liued.
ðo nomen he ðe childes srud,
ðe iacob hadde mad im in prud;
In kides blod he wenten it,
ðo was ðor-on an rewli lit.
Sondere men he it leiden on,

And senten it iacob in-to ebron,
And shewed it him, and boden him sen
If his childes wede it migte ben;
Senten him bode he funden it.
ðo iacob sag dat sori writ,
He gret, and saide ðat “wilde der
Hauen min sune swolgen her.”
His cloðes rent, in haigre srid,
Long grot and sorge is him bi-tid.
His sunes comen him to sen,
And hertedin him if it migte ben;
“Nai! nai!” quat he, “helped it nogt,
Mai non herting on me ben wrogt;
ic sal ligten til helle dale,
And groten ðor min sunes bale.”
(ðor was in helle a sundri stede,
wor ðe seli folc reste dede;
ðor he stunden til helpe cam,
Til ihesu crist fro ðeden he nam.)
ðe chapmen skiuden here fare,
In-to egipte ledden ðat ware;
wið putifar ðe kinges stiward,
He maden swiðe bigetel forward,
So michel fe ðor is hem told,
He hauen him bogt, he hauen sold.

Putifar was wol riche man,
And he bogte ioseph al forðan
He wulde don is lechur-hed
wið ioseph, for hise faire-hed,
Oc he wurð ðo so kinde cold,
To don swile dede adde he no wold;
swilc selðe cam him fro a-buuen,
God dede it al for ioseph luue[n].
Bissop in eliopoli
Men seið he was siðen for-ði,

ðog had he ðo wif(.) and bi-foren
Childre of him bi-geten and of hire boren,
Oc after ðis it so bi-cam,
Ioseph is dowter to wiue nam.

Putifar luuede ioseph wel,
bi-tagte him his hus euerilc del,
And he wurðede riche man an heg,
vnder ioseph his welðe ðeg.
His wif wurð wilde, and nam in ðogt
vn-rigt-wis luue, and swanc for nogt,
One and stille ðogt hire gamen
wið ioseph speken and plaigen samen;
Ghe bed him gold, and agte, and fe,
To maken him riche man and fre,
wið-ðhan ðat he wið here wile;
Oc him mislikede ðat ghe wile;
for scrið, ne ðret, ne mai ghe bi-geten
for to don him chasthed for-geten;
Often ghe ðrette, often ghe scroð,
Oc al it was him o-like loð.
An time he was at hire tgeld,
ðo ghe him his mentel for-held;
for he wið hire ne wulde speken,
Ghe ðhenkeð on him for to ben wreken;
Sone ghe mai hire louerd sen,
Ghe god him bitterlike a-gen,
And seið ioseph hire wulde don,
ðat ghe ne migte him bringen on;
“ðif mentel ic wið-held for-ði,
To tawnen [ðe] ðe soðe her-bi.
ðe wite is hise(.) ðe right is hire,
God al-migtin ðe soðe shire.”

Pvtifar trewið hise wiwes tale,
And haued dempt iosep to bale;
He bad [him] ben sperd fast dun,
And holden harde in prisun.

An litel stund, quile he was ðer,
So gan him luuen ðe prisuner,
And him de chartre haueð bi-tagt,
wið ðo prisunes to liuen in hagt.
Or for misdede, or for on-sagen,
ðor woren to ðat prisun dragen,
On ðat ðe kinges kuppe bed,
And on ðe made ðe kinges bred;
Hem drempte dremes boðen onigt,
And he wurðen swiðe sore o-frigt;
Ioseph hem seruede ðor on sel,
At here drink and at here mel,
He herde hem murnen(.) he hem freinde for-quat;
Harde dremes ogen awold ðat.
ðo seide he to ðe butuler,
“Tel me ðin drem, mi broðer her.
Queðer-so it wurðe softe or strong,
ðe reching wurð on god bi-long.”

“Me drempte, ic stod at a win-tre,
ðat adde waxen buges ðre,
Orest it blomede, and siðen bar
ðe beries ripe, wurð ic war;
ðe kinges [kuppe] ic hadde on hond,
ðe beries ðor-inne me ðhugte ic wrong,
And bar it drinken to pharaon,
Me drempte, als ic was wune to don.”

“Good is,” quað Ioseph, “to dremen of win,
heilnesse an blisse is ðer-in;
ðre daies ben get for to cumen,
ðu salt ben ut of prisun numen,
And on ðin offiz set agen;
Of me ðu ðhenke ðan it sal ben,
Bed min herdne to pharaon,
ða[t] ic ut of prisun wurðe don,
for ic am stolen of kinde lond,
and her wrigteleslike holden in bond.”

Quað ðis bred-wrigte, “liðeð nu me,
me drempte ic bar bread-lepes ðre,
And ðor-in bread and oðer meten,
Quilke ben wune ðe kinges to eten;
And fugeles hauen ðor-on lagt,
ðor-fore ic am in sorge and hagt,
for ic ne migte me nogt weren,
Ne ðat mete fro hem beren.”

Me wore leuere,” quad Ioseph,
“Of eddi dremes rechen swep;
ðu salt, after ðe ðridde dei,
ben do on rode, weila-wei!
And fugeles sulen ði fleis to-teren,
ðat sal non agte mugen ðe weren.”
Soð wurð so ioseph seide ðat,
ðis buteler Ioseph sone for-gat.
Two ger siðen was Ioseph sperd
ðor in prisun wið uten erd;

Ðo drempte pharaon king a drem,
ðat he stod bi ðe flodes strem,
And ðeden ut-comen .vii. neet,
Euerilc wel swiðe fet and gret,
And .vii. lene after ðo,
ðe deden ðe .vii. fette wo,
ðe lene hauen ðe fette freten;
ðis drem ne mai ðe king for-geten.
An oðer drem cam him bi-foren,
.vii. eares wexen fette of coren,
On an busk ranc and wel tidi,
And .vii. lene rigt ðor-bi,
welkede, and smale, and drugte numen,
ðe ranc he hauen ðo ouer-cumen,
To-samen it smiten and, on a stund,
ðe fette ðrist hem to ðo grund.
ðe king abraid and woc in ðhogt,
ðes dremes swep ne wot he nogt,

Ne was non so wis man in al his lond,
ðe kude vn-don ðis dremes bond;
ðo him bi-ðhogte ðat buteler
Of ðat him drempte in prisun ðer,
And of ioseph in ðe prisun,
And he it tolde ðe king pharaun.
Ioseph was sone in prisun ðo hogt,
And shauen, & clad, & to him brogt;
ðe king him bad ben hardi & bold,
If he can rechen ðis dremes wold;
He told him quat him drempte o nigt,
And iosep rechede his drem wel rigt.
“ðis two dremes boðen ben on,
God wile ðe tawnen, king pharaon;
ðo .vij. ger ben get to cumen,
In al fulsum-hed sulen it ben numen,
And .vij. oðere sulen after ben,
Sori and nedful men sulen is sen;
Al ðat ðise first .vii. maken,
Sulen ðis oðere vii. rospen & raken;
Ic rede ðe king, nu her bi-foren,
To maken laðes and gaderen coren,
ðat ðin folc ne wurð vnder-numen,
Quan ðo hungri gere ben forð-cumen.
King pharaon listnede hise red,
ðat wurð him siðen seli sped.
He bi-tagte iosep his ring,
And his bege of gold for wurðing,
And bad him al his lond bi-sen,
And under him hegest for to ben,
And bad him welden in his hond
His folc, and agte, & al his lond;
ðo was vnder him ðanne putifar,
And his wif ðat hem so to-bar.
Iosep to wiue his dowter nam.
Oðer is nu quan ear bi-cam;

And ghe ðer him two childer bar,
Or men wurð of ðat hunger war,
first manassen and effraym;
He luueden god, he geld it hem.
ðe .vii. fulsum geres faren,
Iosep cuðe him bi-foren waren;
ðan coren wantede in oðer lond,
ðo ynug [was] vnder his hond.

Hvnger wex in lond chanaan,
And his .x. sunes iacob for-ðan
Sente in to egipt to bringen coren;
He bilef at hom ðe was gungest boren.
ðe .x. comen, for nede sogt,
To Iosep, and he ne knewen him nogt,
And ðog he lutten him frigtilike,
Anð seiden to him mildelike,
“We ben sondes for nede driuen
To bigen coren ðor-bi to liuen.”
(Iosep hem knew al in his ðhogt
Als he let he knew hem nogt.)
“It semet wel ðat ge spies ben,
And in to ðis lond cumen to sen,
And came ge for non oðer ðing,
but for to spien ur lord ðe king.”
“Nai,” he seiden euerilc on,
“Spies were we neuer non,
Oc alle we ben on faderes sunen,
For hunger doð es hider cumen.”
“Oc nu ic wot ge spies ben,
for bi gure bering men mai it sen;
Hu sulde oni man poure for-geten,
swilke and so manige sunes bigeten?
for seldum bi-tid self ani king
swilc men to sen of hise ofspring.”

“A louerd, merci! get is ðor on,
migt he nogt fro his fader gon;
He is gungest, hoten beniamin,
for we ben alle of ebrisse kin.”
“Nu, bi ðe feið ic og to king pharaon,
sule ge nogt alle eðen gon,
Til ge me bringen beniamin,
ða gungeste broðer of pore kin.”
For ðo was Iosep sore for-dred
ðat he wore oc ðhurg hem for-red;
He dede hem binden, and leden dun,
And speren faste in his prisun;
ðe ðridde dai he let hem gon,
Al but ðe ton broðer symeon;
ðis symeon bi-lef ðor in bond,
To wedde under Iosepes hond.
ðes oðere breðere, sone on-on,
Token leue and wenten hom;
And sone he weren ðeden went,
Wel sore he hauen hem bi-ment,
And seiden hem ðan ðor bi-twen,
“Wrigtful we in sorwe ben,
for we sinigeden quilum or
On hure broðer michil mor,
for we werneden him merci,
Nu drege we sorge al for-ði.
Wende here non it on his mod,
Oc Iosep al it under-stod.

Iosepes men ðor quiles deden
Al-so Iosep hem adde beden;
ðo breðere seckes hauen he filt,
And in euerilc ðe siluer pilt
ðat ðor was paid for ðe coren,
And bunden ðe muðes ðor bi-foren;
Oc ðe breðere ne wisten it nogt
Hu ðis dede wurðe wrogt;

Oc alle he weren ouer-ðogt,
And hauen it so to iacob brogt,
And tolden him so of here sped,
And al he it listnede in frigtihed;
And quan men ðo seckes ðor un-bond,
And in ðe coren ðo agtes fond,
Alle he woren ðanno sori ofrigt.
Iacob ðus him bi-meneð o-rigt,
“Wel michel sorge is me bi-cumen,
ðat min two childre aren me for-numen;
Of Iosep wot ic ending non,
And bondes ben leid on symeon;
If ge beniamin fro me don,
Dead and sorge me segeð on;
Ai sal beniamin wið me bi-lewen
ðor quiles ic sal on werlde liuen.”
ðo quað iudas, “us sal ben hard,
If we no holden him non forward.

Wex derke, ðis coren is gon,
Iacob est bit hem faren agon,
Oc he ne duren ðe weie cumen in,
“but ge wið us senden beniamin;”
ðo quað he, “quan it is ned,
And ne can no bettre red,
Bereð dat siluer hol agon,
ðat hem ðor-of ne wante non,
And oðer siluer ðor bi-foren,
for to bigen wið oðer coren;
fruit and spices of dere pris,
Bereð ðat man ðat is so wis;
God hunne him eði-modes ben,
And sende me min childre agen.
ðo nomen he forð weie rigt,
Til he ben cumen in-to egypte ligt;
And quanne Iosep hem alle sag,
Kinde ðogt in his herte was [ðag].

He bad his stiward gerken is meten,
He seide he sulden wið him alle eten;
He ledde hem alle to Iosepes biri,
Her non hadden ðo loten miri.
“Louerd,” he seiden ðo euerilc on,
“Gur siluer is gu brogt a-gon,
It was in ure seckes don,
Ne wiste ur non gilt ðor-on.”
“Beð nu stille,” quad stiward,
“for ic nu haue min forward.”
ðor cam ðat broðer symeon
And kiste is breðere on and on;
Wel fagen he was of here come,
for he was numen ðor to nome.
It was vndren time or more,
Om cam ðat riche louerd ðore;
And al ðo briðere, of frigti mod,
fellen bi-forn ðat louerd-is fot,
And bedden him riche present
ðat here fader hi[m] adde sent;
And he leuelike it under-stod,
for alle he weren of kinde blod.

“Liueð,” quad he, “ðat fader get,
ðat ðus manige sunes bi-gat?”
“louerd,” he seiden,” get he liueð,
Wot ic ðor non ðat he ne biueð;
And ðis is gunge beniamin,
Hider brogt after bode-word ðin.
ðo Iosep sag him ðor bi-foren,
Bi fader & moder broðer boren,
Him ouer-wente his herte on-on,
Kinde luue gan him ouer-gon;
Sone he gede ut and stille he gret,
ðat al his wlite wurð teres wet.
After ðat grot, he weis is wliten,
And cam ðan in and bad hem eten;

He dede hem wassen and him bi-foren,
And sette hem as he weren boren;
Get he ðhogte of his faderes wunes
Hu he sette at ðe mete hise sunes;
Of euerilc sonde, of euerilc win,
most and best he gaf beniamin.
In fulsum-hed he wurðen glaðe,
Iosep ne ðoht ðor-of no scaðe,
Oc it him likede swiðe wel,
And hem lerede and tagte wel,
And hu he sulden hem best leden,
Quene he comen in vnkinde ðeden;
“And al ðe bettre sule ge speden,
If ge wilen gu wið treweiðe leden.”
Eft on morwen quan it was dai,
Or or ðe breðere ferden a-wei,
Here seckes woren alle filt wið coren,
And ðe siluer ðor-in bi-foren;
And ðe seck ðat agte beniamin
Iosepes cuppe hid was ðor-in;
And quuan he weren ut tune went,
Iosep haueð hem after sent.
ðis sonde hem ouertakeð raðe,
And bi-calleð of harme and scaðe;
“Vn-seli men, quat haue ge don?
Gret vn-selðehe if gu cumen on,
for is it nogt min lord for-holen,
ða[t] gure on haueð if cuppe stolen.
ð[o] seiden ðe breðere sikerlike,
“Vp quam ðu it findes witterlike,
He slagen and we agen driuen
In-to ðraldom, euermor to liuen.”
He gan hem ransaken on and on,
And fond it ðor sone a-non,
And nam ðo breðere euerilk on,
And ledde hem sorful a-gon,

And brogte hem bi-for iosep
Wid reweli lote, and sorwe, and wep.
ðo quat iosep, “ne wiste ge nogt
ðat ic am o wol witter ðogt?
Mai nogt longe me ben for-holen
Quat-so-euere on londe wurð stolen.”
“Louerd!” quad Iudas, “do wið me
Quat-so ði wille on werlde be,
Wið-ðan-ðat ðu friðe beniamin;
ic ledde [him] ut on trewthe min,
ðat he sulde ef cumen a-gen
to hise fader, and wið him ben.”
ðo cam iosep swilc rewðe up-on,
he dede halle ut ðe toðere gon,
And spac un-eðes, so e gret,
ðat alle hise wlite wurð teres wet.
“Ic am iosep, dredeð gu nogt,
for gure helðe or hider brogt;
Two ger ben nu ðat derke is cumen,
Get sulen .v. fulle ben numen,
ðat men ne sulen sowen ne sheren,
So sal drugte ðe feldes deren.
Rapeð gu to min fader a-gen,
And seið him quilke min blisses ben,
And doð him to me cumen hider,
And ge and gure orf al to-gider;
Of lewse god in lond gersen
sulen ge sundri riche ben.”
Euerilc he kiste, on ilc he gret,
Ilc here was of is teres wet.

Sone it was king pharaon kid
Hu ðis newe tiding wurð bi-tid;
And he was bliðe, in herte fagen,
ðat Iosep wulde him ðider dragen,
for luue of Iosep migte he timen.
He bad cartes and waines nimen,

And fechen wiues, and childre, and men,
And gaf hem ðor al lond gersen,
And het hem ðat he sulden hauen
More and bet ðan he kude crauen.
Iosep gaf ilc here twinne frud,
Beniamin most he made prud;
fif weden best bar beniamin,
ðre hundred plates of siluer fin,
Al-so fele oðre ðor-til,
He bad ben in is faderes wil,
And .x. asses wið semes fest;
Of alle egiptes welðhe best
Gaf he is breðere, wið herte bliðe,
And bad hem rapen hem homward swiðe;
And he so deden wið herte fagen.
Toward here fader he gunen dragen,
And quane he comen him bi-foren,
Ne wiste he nogt quat he woren.
“Louerd,” he seiden, “israel,
Iosep ðin sune greteð ðe wel,
And sendeð ðe bode ðat he liueð,
Al egipte in his wil cliueð.”
Iacob a-braid, and trewed it nogt,
Til he sag al ðat welðe brogt.
“Wel me,” quað he, “wel is me wel,
ðat ic aue abiden ðus swil[c] sel!
And ic sal to min sune fare
And sen, or ic of werlde chare.”
Acob wente ut of lond chanaan,
And of is kinde wel manie a man;
Iosep wel faire him vnder-stod,
And pharaon ðogte it ful good;
for ðat he weren hirde-men,
He bad hem ben in lond gersen.
Iacob was brogt bi-foren ðe king
for to geuen him his bliscing.

“fader derer,” quað pharaon,
“hu fele ger be ðe on?”
“An hundred ger and .xxx. mo
Haue ic her drogen in werlde wo,
ðog ðinkeð me ðor-offen fo,
ðog ic is haue drogen in wo,
siðen ic gan on werlde ben,
Her vten erd, man-kin bi-twen;
So ðinked euerilc wis man,
ðe wot quor-of man-kin bi-gan,
And ðe of adames gilte muneð,
ðat he her uten herdes wuneð.”

Pharaon bad him wurðen wel
in softe reste and seli mel;
He and hise sunes in reste dede
In lond gersen, on sundri stede;
Siðen ðor was mad on scité,
ðe was y-oten Ramesé.
Iacob on liue wunede ðor
In reste fulle .xiiij. ger;
And god him let bi-foren sen
Quilc time hise ending sulde ben;
He bad iosep hise leue sune,
On ðhing ðat offe wel mune,
ðat quan it wurð mid him don,
He sulde him birien in ebron;
And witterlike he it aueð him seid,
ðe stede ðor abraham was leid;
So was him lif to wurðen leid,
Quuor ali gast stille hadde seid
Him and hise eldere(.) fer ear bi-foren,
Quuor iesu crist wulde ben boren,
And quuor ben dead, and quuor ben grauen;
He ðogt wið hem reste to hauen.
Iosep swor him al-so he bad,
And he ðor-of wurð bliðe & glad.

Or ðan he wiste off werlde faren,
He bade hise kinde to him charen,
And seide quat of hem sulde ben,
Hali gast dede it him seen;
In clene ending and ali lif,
So he for-let ðis werldes strif.
Osep dede hise lich faire geren,
Wassen, and riche-like smeren,
And spice-like swete smaken;
And egipte folc him bi-waken
xl. nigtes and .xl. daiges,
swilc woren egipte lages.
first .ix. nigt ðe liches beðen,
And smeren, and winden, and bi-queðen,
And waken is siðen .xl. nigt;
ðo men so deden ðe adden migt.
And ebrisse folc adden an kire,
Nogt sone deluen it wið yre,
Oc wassen it and kepen it rigt,
Wið-vten smerles, seuene nigt,
And siden smered .xxx. daiges.
Cristene folc haueð oðer laiges,
He ben smered ðor quiles he liuen,
Wið crisme and olie, in trewðe geuen;
for trewðe and gode dedes mide,
ðon ben ðan al ðat wech-dede;
Sum on. sum. ðre. sum .vii. nigt,
Sum .xxx., sum .xii. moneð rigt;
And sum euerilc wurðen ger,
ðor quiles ðat he wunen her,
don for ðe dede chirche-gong,
elmesse-gifte, and messe-song,
And ðat is on ðe weches stede;
Wel him mai ben dat wel it dede!
Egipte folc aueð him waked
xl. nigt, and feste maked,

And hise sunes .xxx. daiges,
In clene lif and ali daiges;
So woren forð .x. wukes gon,
get adde Iacob birigeles non.
And pharaon king cam bode bi-foren,
ðat Iosep haueð his fader sworen;
And he it him gatte ðor he wel dede,
And bad him nimen him feres mide,
Wel wopnede men and wis of here[n],
dat noman hem bi weie deren;
ðat bere is led, ðis folc is rad,
he foren a-buten bi adad;
ful seuene nigt he ðer abiden,
And bi-mening for iacob deden;
So longe he hauen ðeðen numen,
To flum iurdon ðat he ben cumen,
And ouer pharan til ebron;
ðor is ðat liche in biriele don,
And Iosep in to egipte went,
Wid al is folc ut wið him [s]ent.

Hise breðere comen him ðanne to,
And gunnen him bi-seken alle so;
“Vre fader,” he seiden, “or he was dead,
Vs he ðis bodewurd seigen bead,
Hure sinne ðu him for-giue,
Wið-ðanne-ðat we vnder ðe liuen.”
Alle he fellen him ðor to fot,
To beðen meðe and bedden oc;
And he it for-gaf hem mildelike,
And luuede hem alle kinde-like.
Osep an hundred ger was hold,
And his kin wexen manige-fold;
He bad sibbe cumen him bi-foren,
Or he was ut of werlde boren;

“It sal,” quað he, “ben soð, bi-foren
ðat god hað ure eldere sworen;
He sal gu leden in his hond
Heðen to ðat hotene lond;
for godes luue get bid ic gu,
Lested it ðanne, hoteð it nu,
ðat mine bene ne be for-loren,
wið gu ben mine bones boren.”
He it him gatten and wurð he dead,
God do ðe soule seli red!
Hise liche was spice-like maked,
And longe egipte-like waked,
And ðo biried hem bi-foren,
And siðen late of londe boren.
Hise oðre breðere, on and on,
Woren ybiried at ebron.
An her endede to ful, in wis,
ðe boc ðe is hoten genesis,
ðe moyses, ðurg godes red,
Wrot for lefful soules ned.
God schilde hise sowle fro helle bale,
ðe made it ðus on engel tale!
And he ðat ðise lettres wrot,
God him helpe weli mot,
And berge is sowle fro forge & grot
Of helle pine, cold & hot!
And alle men, ðe it heren wilen,
God leue hem in his blisse spilen
Among engeles & seli men,
Wiðuten ende in reste ben,
And luue & pais us bi-twen,
And god so graunte, amen, ameN!

Godes bliscing be wið vs,
Her nu bi-ginned exodus.
Pharao kinges rigte name
Vephres, he dede ðe ebris frame;
And bi oðere seuene kinges sel,
Wexen he ðore & ðogen wel.
ðe egtenede king amonaphis,
Agenes ðis folc hatel is;
And egipte folc adden nið,
for ebris adden seli sið.
Quuað ðis ging wið hem stille in red,
“ðis ebris waxen michil sped,
Bute if we eraflike hem for-don,
Ne sulen he non eige sen us on.”

Ðo sette sundri hem to waken
His tigel and lim, and walles maken,
burges feten; and ramesen
ðurge here swinc it walled ben;
Summe he deden in vn-ðewed swinc,
for it was fugel and ful o stinc,
Muc and fen ut of burges beren,
ðus bitterlike he gun hem deren;
ðe ðridde swinc was eui and stron[g],
He deden hem crepen dikes long,
And wide a-buten burges gon,
And cumen ðer ear was non;
And if ðat folc hem wulde deren,
ðe dikes comb hem sulde weren.
for al ðat swinc heui & sor,
Ay wex ðat kinde, mor & mor,
And ðhogen, & spredden in londe ðor,
ðat made ðe kinges herte ful for.

Ðo bad monophis pharaun
wimmen ben set in euerilc tun,
And ðat he weren redi bi-foren,
Quan ebru child suld be boren,

And ðe knapes to deade giuen,
And leten ðe mayden childre liuen.
Oc he it leten fro godes dred;
Get ðo childre wexen in sped,
And quane he komen to ðe king,
He wereden hem wið lesing;
He seiden ðe childre weren boren
Or he migten ben hem bi-foren.
God it geald dese wifes wel,
On hom, on hagte, eddi sel!

Ðo bad ðis king al opelike,
In alle burges modilike,
Euerilc knape child of ðat kin
ben a-non don ðe flod wið-in.

Bi ðat time was moyses boren,
So het abrahram dor bi-foren;
And his moder het Iacabeð,
Ghe was for him dreful and bleð,
wel is hire of bird bi-tid.
ðre moneð haueð ghe him hid,
durste ghe non lengere him for-helen,
Ne ghe ne cuðe ðe wateres stelen;
In an fetles, of rigesses wrogt,
Terred, ðat water dered it nogt,
ðis child wunden ghe wulde don,
And setten it so ðe water on;
Ghe adde or hire dowter sent,
To loken quider it sulde ben went;
Maria dowter ful feren stod,
And ghe nam kep to-ward ðis flod.

Teremuth kinkes dowter ðor cam,
ðor ðis child on ðe water nam;
Ghe bad it ben to hire brogt,
And sag ðis child wol fair[e] wrogt,
Ghe wiste it was of ebrius kin,
And ðog cam hire rewde wið-in;

God haued swilc fair-hed him geuen,
ðat self ðe fon it leten liuen.
Egipte wimmen comen ner,
And boden ðe childe letten ðer,
Oc he wente it awei wið rem,
Of here bode nam he no gem.

Ðo quad maria to teremuth,
“wilt ðu, leuedi, ic go fear out,
And take sum wimman of ðat kin
ðor he was bi-gote & fostred in?”
Teremuth so bad, & sche forð-ran,
And brogt hire a fostre wimman,
On was tette he sone aueð lagt,
And teremuth haueð hire him bi-tagt.
Iakabeð wente bliðe agen,
ðat ghe ðe gildes fostre muste ben;
Ghe kepte it wel in fostre wune,
Ghe knew it for hire owen sune;
And quane it sulde sundred ben,
Ghe bar it teremuth for to sen;
Teremuth toc it on sunes stede,
And fedde it wel and cloðen dede;
And ghe it clepit moysen,
Ghe wiste of water it boren ben.

An time after ðat ðis was don,
Ghe brogte him bi-foren pharaon,
And ðis king wurð him in herte mild,
So swide faiger was ðis child;
And he toc him on sunes stede,
And his corune on his heued he dede,
And let it stonden ayne stund;
ðe child it warp dun to de grund.
Hamonel likenes was ðor-on;
ðis crune is broken, ðis is misdon.

Bissop Eliopoleos
sag ðis timing, & up he ros;

“If ðis child,” quad he, “mote ðen,
He sal egyptes bale ben.”
If ðor ne wore helpe twen lopen,
ðis child adde ðan sone be dropen;
ðe king wið-stod & an wis man,
He seide, “ðe child doð als he can;
We sulen nu witen for it dede
ðis witterlike, or in child-hede;”
He bad ðis child brennen to colen
And he toc is hu migt he it ðolen,
And in hise muth so depe he is dede
Hise tunges ende is brent ðor-mide;
ðor-fore seide de ebru witterlike,
ðat he spac siðen miserlike;
Oc so faiger he was on to sen,
ðat migte non man modi ben.
ðor quiles he seweden him up-on,
Mani dede b[i]leph un-don
In ðat burg folc bi-twen,
So was hem lef on him to sen.
Bi dat time ðat he was guð,
Wið faigered and strengthe kuð,
folc ethiopienes on egipte cam,
And brende, & slug, & wreche nam,
Al to memphin dat riche cite,
And a-non to ðe reade se;
ðo was egipte folc in dred,
And askeden here godes red;
And hem seiden wið answeren,
ðat on ebru cude hem wel weren;
Teremuth un-eðes migte timen
ðat moyses sal wið hire forð-nimen,
Or haue he hire pligt & sworen,
ðat him sal feið wurðful ben boren.
Moyses was louered of ðat here,
ðor he wurð ðane egyptes were;

Bi a lond weige he wente rigt,
And brogte vn-warnede on hem figt;
He hadden don egipte wrong,
He bi-loc hem & smette a-mong,
And slug ðor manige; oc summe flen,
Into saba to borgen ben.
Moyses bi-sette al ðat burg,
Oc it was riche & strong ut-ðhurg;
Ethiopienes kinges dowter tarbis,
Riche maiden of michel pris,
Gaf ðis riche burg moysi;
Luue-bonde hire ghe it dede for-ði.
ðor ise fon he leide in bonde,
And he wurð al-migt-ful in ðat lond;
He bi-lef ðor(.) tarbis him scroð,
ðog was him ðat surgerun ful loð;
Mai he no leue at hire taken
but-if he it mai wið crafte maken:
He was of an strong migt wis,
He carf in two gummes of pris
Two likenesses, so grauen & meten,
ðis doð ðenken, & ðoð forgeten;
He fest is in two ringes of gold,
Gaf hire ðe ton, he was hire hold;
Ghe it bered and ðis luue is for-geten,
Moyses ðus haued him leue bi-geten;
Sone it migte wið leue ben,
Into egypte e wente a-gen.

An time he for to lond gersen,
to speken wið hise kinnes men;
And sone he cam in-to ðat lond,
A modi stiward he ðor fond,
Betende a man wid hise wond;
ðat ðhugte moyses michel sond,
And hente ðe cherl wið hise wond,
And he fel dun in dedes bond;

And moyses drug him to ðe strond,
And stille he dalf him [in] ðe sond;
wende he ðat non egipcien
ðat hadde it wist, ne sulde a sen;
Til after ðis on oðer day,
He sag chiden in ðe wey
two egypcienis, modi & strong,
ðis on wulde don ðe toðer wrong;
And moyses nam ðer-of kep,
And to hemward swide he lep,
And vndernam him ðat it agte awold.
And he him answerede modi & bold;
“Meister(.) moyses, quo haueð ðe mad?
ðu art of dede and o word to rad.
we witen wel quat is bi-tid,
Quuow gister-dai was slagen and hid;
ðe bode is cumen to pharaun,
Get sal ðin pride fallen dun.”

Ðo bi-thowte him moyses,
And his weige ðeðen ches;
ðurg ðe deserd a-wei he nam,
And to burge madian he cam,
And sette hi[m] ðor vten ðe town,
Bi a welle ðo sprong ðor dun.
Raguel Ietro ðat riche man,
Was wuniende in madian,
He hadde seuene dowtres bi-geten;
ðor he comen water to feten,
And for to wattren here sep;
(Wimmen ðo nomen of here erf kep,
Pride ne cuðe bi ðat dai
Nogt so michel so it nu mai).

Hirdes wulden ðe maidenes deren,
Oc moyses ðor hem gan weren,
And wattrede here erue euerilc on,
And dede hem tidelike to tune gon;

And ben sone hom numen;
And b[i]foren here fader cumen,
And gunen him ðore tellen,
Hu a gunge man, at te welle[n],
ðewe and wursipe hem dede;
And ietro geld it him in estdede,
Sente after him, freinede his kin,
Helde him wurðelike is hus wið-in;
Of ali kinde he wiste him boren,
And bad him ðor wunen him bi-foren,
Gaf him is dowter sephoram;
To wife in lage he hire nam,
And bi-gat two sunes on hire ðer,
first gerlon, siden eliezer.
Egipte king to late was dead,
ðe ðe childre so drinkelen bead.
And moyses was numen an sel
In ðe deserd depe sumdel,
for te loken hirdnesse fare;
Riche men ðo kepten swilc ware.
ðo sag moyses, at munt synay,
An swiðe ferli sigt ðor-bi,
fier brennen on ðe grene leaf,
And ðog grene and hol bi-leaf;
forð he nam to sen witterlike,
Hu ðat fier brende milde-like;
Vt of ðat busk, ðe brende and ðheg,
God sente an steuene, brigt and heg;
“Moyses, moyses, do of ðin son,
ðu stondes seli stede up-on;
Hic am god ðe in min geming nam
Iacob, ysaac, and abraham;
ic haue min folkes pine sogen,
ðat he nu longe hauen drogen;
Nu am ic ligt to fren hem ðeden,
And milche and hunige lond hem queðen;

An .vii. kinge-riches lond
Ic sal hem bringen al on hond.
Cum, ðu salt ben min sondere man,
Ic sal ðe techen wel to ðan;
ðu salt min folc bringen a-gen,
And her ðu salt min migte sen;
And ðu salt seien to faraon,
ðat he lete min folc ut-gon;
If he it werne and be ðor-gen,
Ic sal ðe techen hu it sal ben;
for ic sal werken ferlike strong,
And maken min folc frelike ut-gong;
Ge sulen cumen wið feteles & srud,
And reuen egipte ðat is nu prud.
Werp nu to token dun ðat wond.”
And it warp vt of hise hond,
And wurð sone an uglike snake,
And moyses fleg for dredes sake;
God him bad, bi ðe tail he it nam,
And it, a-non, a wond it bi-cam,
And in hise bosum he dede his hond,
Quit and al unfer he it fond;
And sone he dede it eft agen,
Al hol and fer he wiste it sen.
“If he for ðise tokenes two
Ne listeðe ne troweð to,
Go, get ðe water of de flod
On ðe erðe, and it sal wurðen blod.”
“Louerd, ic am wanmol, vn-reken
Of wurdes, and may ic Iuel speken.
Nu is forð gon ðe ðridde dai,
Sende an oðer; bettre he mai.”
“Quo made domme, and quo specande?
Quo made bisne, and quo lockende?
Quo but ic, ðat haue al wrogt?
Of me sal fultum ben ðe brogt.”

“Louerd, sent him ðat is to cumen,
Vgging and dred me haued numen.”
“Aaron ðin broðer can wel speken,
ðu salt him meten and vnsteken
Him bodeword min, and ic sal red
Gunc boðen bringen read and sped.”

Moyses, frigti, ðo funden gan
to speken wið ietro ðat riche man,
And askede him leue to faren and sen,
If hise breðere of liues ben;
ðog drechede he til god ef[t] bad,
And brogte him bode ðe made him glad,
ðat pharaun, ðe wulde him s[l]en,
Was dead and hadde is werkes len.

Moyses and hise wis sephoram,
And hise childre wið him nam;
And ðat on was vncircumcis.
He nam so forð, soð it is;
An angel, wið an dragen swerd,
In ðe weie made him offerd,
for ðat he ledden feren swike,
ðe sulden him deren witterlike;
Sephora toc ðis gunge knaue,
And dede circumcise haue,
And gret, and wente frigti a-gen,
And let moyses forð one ten.
He bar hise gerde forð in is hond,
And nam a weie bi deserd lond;
To mount synai forð he nam,
Aaron hise broðer a-gen him cam;
Eyðer ere was of oðer fagen;
Moyses him haueð is herðe vt-dragen,
And he ben in-to egypte numen,
And a-mong folc ebrisse ben cumen;
Moyses tolde hem ðat bliðe bode,
And let hem sen tockenes fro gode;

He redden samen he sulden gon
wid wise men to pharaon.
“God,” he seiden, “of israel
ðe bode sente, and greteð wel,
ðat, bi ði leue, hise folc vt-fare,
ðre daiges gon and ben ðor gare,
In ðe deserd an stede up-on,
His leue sacrifise to don.”
Quad pharaun, “knowe ic him nogt,
Bi quase read haue ge ðis sowt?”
Seide moyses, “ic am sonder man,
Egipte folc me knowen can,
for ic am ðat ilc moyses,
ðe egypte folc of sorge les,
ðan ethiops woren her cumen;
ic warc al ðat ðu was binumen,
And swanc and michil sorwe dreg,
Get ist vnsene hu ic it bi-teg?
Ic haue ben siðen at munt syna,
Godes bode-wurd bringe ic ðor-fra.”

Qvað pharaun, “ðu art min ðral,
ðat hidel-like min lond vt-stal;
Sum swike-dom doð it nu ben,
ðat ðu best cumen nu eft agen;
ðis folc, ðat ðu wilt me leden fro,
sal ben luken in more wo.”

Ðe king it bad, and [it] wurð don;
More swinc ðo was hem leid on.
Hem-seluen he fetchden ðe chaf
ðe men ðor hem to gode gaf,
And ðog holden ðe tigeles tale,
And elten and eilden, grete & smale.

Ðo fleg ðis folc wið moysen,
And [he] to god made hise bimen.
“Louered, qui was ic hider sent?
ðin folc is more in sorwe went.”

God quað, “ic fal hem lesen fro,
And here fon weren wið wo;
Abraham, ysac, and hise sunen
Woren to min ðhunerg wunen,
ðog ne tagte ic hem nogt for-ði
Min mig[t]ful name adonay;
Min milche witter name eley
He knewen wel, and ely;
ðat ic ðe haue hoten wel,
Ic it sal lesten euerilc del.”
Moyses told hem ðis tidding;
ðog woren he get in strong murni[n]g.

Siðen spac god to moysen,
and tagte him hu it sulde ben.
fowre score ger he was hold,
And aaron ðre more told,
Quanne he dat bodewurd spoken,
And deden ðe firme token.

Aaron ðor warp vt of his hond
Moyseses migtful wond,
And it wurð bi-foren pharaon
An Iglic snake sone on-on;
ðe king sente after wiches kire,
Wapmen ðe weren in sowles lire,
ðe ferden al bi fendes red,
fendes hem gouen sinful sped;
And worpen he ðor wondes dun,
fro euerilc ðor crep a dragun;
Oc moyses wirm hem alle smot,
And here aldre heuedes he of bot;
ðog deden wiches ðo men to sen
On oðere wise or soðe ben;
for ðo fendes or he[m] bi-foren
Hadden ðo neddres ðider boren;

And pharaon stirte up a-non,
And for-bed ðis folc to gon.

Ðo seide moyses to araon,
“Quat redes tu, broder, sule wit don?
ðis king him his wel wiðer-ward
Agen ðis folc, and herte hard;
Go we and speken wið him get,
And fonden wið ðis token bet.”
And so deden [he] sone a-non,
And comen bi-foren pharaon,
Quad aaron, “nu saltu sen
Quilc godes migtful strengðes ben.”
He smot on ðat flod wið ðat wond,
Sone anon blod men al it fond;
And ðe fisses, in al ðat blod read,
floten a-buuen and wurðeden dead;
In euerilc welle, in euerilc trike,
men funden blod al witterlike,
But-if it were in ðe lond gersen,
ðor-inne woree ðe ebrisse men.
ðis wreche, in al egypte rigt,
Lestede fulle seuene nigt;
ðo was ðis king sumdel for-dred,
And het hem he sulden vt ben led;
And moyses ðis pine vn-dede,
And water wurð on blodes stede.
ðan pharaon wurð war ðis bot,
ðis folc of londe funden ne mot;
Iannes and mambres, wiches wod,
Him ðhugte he maden water blod;
It was on fendes wise wrogt,
for to bi-toernen ðe kinges ðogt.

Moyses lerede god, spac him mide,
Al ðat is broðer aaron dede.
Eft he comen to pharaon,
And he wernede ðis folc ut-gon.

And aaron held up his hond,
to ðe water and ðe more lond;
ðo cam ðor up swilc froskes here
ðe ðede al folc egipte dere;
Summe woren wilde, and summe tame,
And ðo hem deden de moste same;
In huse, in drinc, in metes, in bed,
It cropen and maden hem for-dred;
Summe storuen and gouen stinc,
And vn-hileden mete and drinc;
Polheuedes, and froskes, & podes spile
Bond harde egipte folc in sile.
ðis king bad moyses and aaron,
ðat he sulden god bone don;
And sone so moyses bad is bede,
ðis wirmes storuen in ðe stede;
And quane ðe king wurð war ðis dead,
Anon ðis folc fore he for-bead.

Ðe ðridde wreche dede aaron
Bi-foren ðe king pharaon;
He smot wið ðat gerde on ðe lond,
And gnattes hird ðor ðicke up-wond,
smale to sen, and sarp on bite,
In al egypte fleg ðis smite.
And ðo dede men and herf wo,
Anger and tene, sorge and wo.
Quoðen ðo wiches clerkes(.) “ðis
fortoken godes gastes is.”
Her hem wantede migt and sped,
to swilc ðing cuðen he non red;
ðis toknes dede aaron.
God sente siðen hem oðere on,
for euere eld ðis king on-on,
And wernede ðis folc vt to gon.

Ðo seide god to moysen,
“Go ðu gund pharaon agen;

Sei him, if min folc ne mote gon,
fleges kin sal hin ouer-gon,
And al his lond to sorge ten;
Oc in lond gersen ne sal non ben.”
And dus it was, and al ðis sor
Sag pharaun, and dredde him ðor.
He gaf hem leue ðo vt to faren
wið-ðanne-ðat he to londe ef[t] charen;
And moyses bad meðe here on,
And ðis fleges fligt vt is don;
And pharaon wroð herte on hard,
And vn-dede hem dat forward.

Moyses spac siðen wið gode,
And he brogte pharaun ðis bode;
“To-morgen, bute he mugen vt-pharen,
Egyptes erf sal al for-faren.”
He wid-held hem and, al-so he it b[e]ad,
Al ðe erf of egipt wurð dead;
And get ne migte ðis folc vt-gon,
swilc har[d]nesse is on pharaon.

After ðis time, it so bi-cam,
ðat moyses askes up-nam,
And warp es vt til heuene-ward;
ðo wex vn-selðe on hem wel hard,
dolc, sor, and blein on erue and man;
ðe wicches hidden hem for-ðan,
Bi-foren pharaun nolden he ben,
So woren he lodelike on to sen;
At last, quan it was ouer-gon,
Hadde moyses ðo leue non.

Siðen sente ðe louerd gode,
bi moyses, to ðis king bode;
“for-ði lete ic ðe king her ben,
Men sal, ðurg ðe, min migte sen,
And knowen sal ben, ðe to un-frame,
In euerilc lond min migte name.

swilc hail was her or neuere nomen
So sal ðis sel to-morgen cumen;
Do men and erue in huse ben,
If ðu wilt more hem liues sen.”
ðo men, ðe weren in eige and dred,
ben borwen, and erue, ðurg ðis red.
O morgen, al swilc time al sir,
ðhunder, and hail, and leuenes fir,
Cam wel vnghere; al ðat it fond
Bergles, it sloge in ðat lond;
Trees it for-brac, and gres, and corn,
ðat was up-sprungen ðor bi-foren;
Oc ðe ebrius in lond gersen
ne derede it, coren, ne erf, ne men;
ðo seide ðe folc to pharaon,
“Nu ic wot we haue mis-don;
Moyses, do ðis weder charen,
And gu sal [ic] leten ut-faren.”
Moyses gede vt, helde up is hond,
And al dis vnweder ðor atwond,
And wurð ðis weder sone al stille,
And al after ðe kinges wille.
ðis weder is softe, And ðis king hard,
And brekeð him eft ðat forward.

Moyses siðen, and aaron,
Seiden bi-foren pharaon,
“To-morgen sulen gresseoppes cumen,
And ðat ail ða bileaf, sal al ben numen;
So sal ðin hardnesse ben wreken,
ðat men sulen longe ðor-after speken.”
“Goð vt,” quað he, “red ic sal taken,
And gu siðen i sal answer maken.”

Qvað ðis folc, “beter ist laten hem vt-pharen,
Al sal egipte elles for-faren.”
He calde hem in; quad pharaon,
“Quilc ben ðo ðe sulen vt-gon?”

Quað moyses, “but alle wapmen,
wið erf, and childre, and wimmen.”
“Hu! haue ge wrong,” quad pharaon,
“Gu wapmen giue Ic leue to gon;
Of erf and wimmen leue ic nogt,
Ear one of wapmen was bi-sogt.”
Ef[t] ðis andswere, ben vt-gon
moyses forð and aaron;

Moyses held up his hond,
A suðen wind is flig[t] up-wond,
And blew ðat day and al ðat nigt
And brogte egipte an newe figt;
ðis wind hem brogte ðe skipperes,
He deden on gres and coren deres.
ðat lond was ful, and ðis king wo,
He sente after ðe breðere ðo.
Quad pharaon, “ic haue mis-numen,
Wreche is on vs wið rigte cumen;
Bi-sek get god, ðis one siðe,
ðat he vs of ðis pine friðe.”
And so [he] dede, and on wind cam
fro westen, and ðo opperes nam,
And warp es ouer in-to ðe se;
ðo pharaun sag is lond al fre,
His herte ðo wurð ðwert and hard,
And al he brac hem [ðat] forward.

Moyses siðen held up is hond,
And ðhikke ðherknesse cam on ðat lond,
ðat migte non egipcien
Abuten him for mirknesse sen;
Manige ðor sorge on liue bead,
And manige weren rewlike dead;
Quor-so ðe folc was of ysrael,
He adden ligt and sowen wel.
ðo quad pharaon to moysen,
“Led vt al ðat is boren of man,

And let her ben boden erf & sep,
ic wile ðor-on nimen kep.”
Quad moyses, “la! god it wot,
sal ðe[r]-of bi-leuen non fot,
Al we sulen is wið vs hauen;
‘Wold,’ quad god, ‘wile ðor-of crauen.’”
Quað pharaon to moysen,
“Nu ic rede ðat ge flen;
for se ic gu more-ouer nu,
dead sal me wreken ouer gu.”

Moyses fleg to lond gersen,
ðor wuneden his kinnes men.
Quað god, “get ic sal pharaon,
Or ge gon vt, don an wreche on;
Nu sal ic in-to egipte gon,
Swilc wreche was ear neuere non;
Deigen ðor sal ilc firme bigeten
Of men and erf, non forgeten;
Oc among gu, dredeð gu nogt,
to gu ne sal non iuel ben sogt,
Ne sal ic gu nog[t] loten
Of ðat ic haue gu bi-hoten.”

Siðen quað god to moysen,
“ðis sal gure firmest moned ben,
ðoo gune men ðe mone sen
In april Reke-fille ben.”
ðanne he lereden hem newe wunen;
“Euerilc ger, more to munen,
Euerilc hus-folc ðe mai it ðauen
On ger sep oðer on kide hauen;
ðe tende dai it sulde ben lagt,
And ho[l]den in ðe tende nagt,
And [slagen] on ðe fowrtende dai;
So mikil hird so it noten mai,
Ben at euen folc sum to samen,
And ilc folc is to fode framen,

And eten it bred, and non bon breken,
And nogt ðor-of vt huse wreken,
Oc sod and girt, stondende, and staf on hond,
Ilc man after his owen fond,
Heued and fet, and in rew mete[n],
lesen fro ðe bones and eten,
Wid wriðel and vn-lif bread;”
ðe bi-leuen brennen he bead.
“ðe dure-tren and ðe uuerslagen,
wið ysope ðe blod ben dragen;
ðat nigt sal ben fest pasche,”
forð-for, on engle tunge, it be.

On midel sel, dat ilc nigt,
So cam wreche on egipte rigt;
Ilc firme bigeten, of erf and man,
was storuen on morwen and dead forðan;
ðo was non biging of al egipte
lich-les, so manige dead ðor kipte.
ðo wurð phara[o]n nede driuen
And haued hem ðane leue giuen;
And egipte folc bad hem faren,
And swiðe a-weiward hem garen.
Quat-so he boden, sruð or sat,
Egipte folc hem lenen ðat;
Was hem nogt werned ðat he crauen,
for here swinc-hire he nu hauen;
Gold and siluer he hauen vt-brogt,
ðe tabernacle dor-wið wurd wrogt;
He woren sexe hundred ðhusent men,
wið-vten childre and wimmen;
Al erf-kin hauen he ut-led,
Egipte folc hem hauen ut-sped.

Almost redi was here fare,
moyses bi-ðogt him ful gare
Of ðat ðe is kin haueð sworen,
Iosepes bones sulen ben boren;

Oc ðe ail haued so wide spiled,
ðat his graue is ðor-vnder hiled,
On an gold gad ðe name god
Is grauen, and leid up-on ðe flod;
Moyses it folwede ðider it flet,
And stod ðor ðe graue under let;
ðor he doluen, and hauen sogt,
And funden, and hauen up-brogt
ðe bones ut of ðe erðe wroken,
Summe hole, & summe broken;
He dede is binden & faire loken
Alle ðe bones ðe he ðor token.
Quane he geden egipte fro,
It wurðe erðe-dine, and fellen ðo
fele chirches and ideles mide,
Miracle it was ðat god ðor dede.
Gon woren .vii. score ger
Siden iosep was doluen der;
And .xxiii. score fro ðan
ðat god it spac wid abrahram.
fro Ramese to sokoht stede
Non man on hem letting dede,
For swinc and murning hem was on,
fro ðe liches in-to ðe erðe don;
And manige of ðo greten forði
ðat he adden ben hard hem bi.
To burg ethan fer fro sokoth,
And ðeðen he ten to pharaofh;
ðor he stunden for to sen
quilc pharaon wið hem sal ben.

Pharaon bannede vt his here,
Israel he ðhogte to don dere;
Sex hundred carte-hird i-wrogt
vt of egipte he haued brogt;
On horse fifiti ðhusent men,
x score ðhusent of fote ren;

Alle he ledde hem vt forði
ðat folc ebru to werchen wi.

Ðis godes folc was under-numen,
Quan he segen ðis hird al cumen,
Sore he gunen for-dredde ben,
for ne cuðen ne gate flen,
And if he ðore ben bi-set,
Ille he sulen ben hunger gret;
He ne mogen figten a-gen,
for [he] wið-vten wopen ben;
ðanne he ðus woren alle in dred,
On moysen he setten a gred.
“Beð nu stille,” quað moyses,
“ðor god wile(.) is non helpeles;
Ge sulen sen ðis ilke dai
Quat godes migt for gu mai.”
He bad ðis folc dregen wið skil,
And he bi-sogte godes wil.

Qvað god, “quor-at calles ðu me?
Hold up ðin gerde to ðe se
And del it so on sundri del,
ðat gu ben garknede weiges wel.”
ðo moyses helde up his hond,
A wind blew ðe se fro ðe sond;
On twel doles delt ist ðe se,
xii. weiges ðer-in ben faiger and fre,
ðat euerilc kinde of israel
Mai ðor his weige finden wel.
ðe water up-stod, ðurg godes migt,
On twinne half, also a wal up-rigt;
Moyses bad hem, also he ben boren,
ðe eldest kindes gon bi-foren;
Oc moyses gede in bi-foren,
And ðo ðe kinde of iuda boren,
On and on kin, als herte hem cam,
ðat folc ilc in his weige nam;

Bi-foren hem fleg an skige brigt
ðat nigt hem made ðe weige ligt;
Egiptes folc gunnen ðis sen,
And wenden ðat he wode ben.
Dis bode herde king pharaon
And him ðuhte sellic ðer-on,
Garkede his hird & after nam,
And to ðe se bi nigte he cam;
In ferde ðis hird after ðis king,
And ðo sprong ðe daiening.
ðhunder, and leuene, and rein ðor-mong
God sente on ðat hird, stið and strong;
ðo quoðen he, “wende we a-gen,
An israel folc lete we ben.”
ðor quiles ben ðo kinges cumen
Ouer, and hauen ðe londes numen;

Egipcienes woren in twired wen
queðer he sulden folgen or flen;
And moyses stod up-on ðe sond,
God him bad helden up his hond
to-ward ðis water, in a morgen quile
ðe se luked, so god it wile,
And on and on, swiðe litel stund,
Egypcienes fellen to ðe grunð;
Of hem alle, bi-leaf non fot
Vn-drincled in ðat salte spot.

Ðvs is israel of hem wreken,
And here welðe is to londe weken,
Wepen, and srud, siluer, and gold;
wel hem mai ben ðe god beð hold!
Moyses ðor made a newe song,
And tag[t]e it al ðat folc a-mong;
And ilke dai ðat seuen nigt,
Ones he ðor it sungen rigt;

ðor-of in esterne be we wunen
Seuene siðes to funt cumen.

Ðor quiles he weren in ðe desert,
God tagte hem weie, wis and pert;
A fair piler son hem on o nigt,
And a skie euere on daiges ligt.

Ðe fifte suriuren ðat he deden,
In ðe desert sur, on drie stede;
ðre dages weren he ðider gon,
ðat he ne funden water non;
A welle he funde at marath,
ðe water was biter and al wlath;
A funden trew ðor-inne dede
Moyses, and it wurð swet on ðe stede.

Ðe sexte suriuren at elim,
xij welle-springes weren on him,
An then and sexti palme tren
bi ðo welles men migte sen;
He maden siðen, fro elim,
Mani suriuren in ðe desert sin.

Bi-twen elim and sinay,
bred wantede, hem was wo forði;
ðat was on ðe ðrittide dai,
ðat here wei fro egypte lay,
ðor he woren hungur for-dred;
“Ille,” he seiden, “haue we sped,
Bet us were in egipte ben,
Bred and fles der we muwen sen.”
Moyses wurð war ðe folc was wroð,
And here gruching ðo god was loð.
“stille,” quað he, “and on-dreg,
Godes fulsum-hed is gu ful neg.”
At euen cam a fugel-fligt,
fro-ward arabie to hem rigt;
ðor migte euerilc man fugeles taken,
So fele so he wulden raken;

On morgen fel hem a dew a-gein.
first he wenden it were a rein,
knewen he nogt ðis dewes cost;
It lai ðor, quit als a rim frost,
He ðe it logen, seiden, “man hu,”
Manna for-ði men clepeð it nu.
Quad moyses, “loc! her nu [is] bread,
Ille gruching is gu for-bead.”
A met ðor was, it het Gomor,
Ilc man is he bead, and nunmor,
Him gaderen or ðe sunne-sine,
Elles he sulden missen hine.
for it malt at ðe sunne-sine,
Oc oðer fir for-hadede hine.
To dust he it grunden and maden bread,
ðat huni and olies ðef he bead;
Quo-so nome up forbone mor,
it wirmede, bredde, and rotede ðor.
Moysen dede ful ðe gomor,
In a gold pot, for muning ðor.
Held it sundri in clene stede,
And in ðe tabernacle he it dede.
Wið ðis mete weren he fed,
fowerti winter vten leð,
Til he to lond canaan
Comen(.) ðat god hem giuen gan.

Forð nam ðis folc, so god tagte him,
to ðe desert of rafaclim;
Tidlike hem was ðat water wane,
ðor he grucheden for ðrist haue;
Harde he bi-haluen ðer moyses,
And to god he made is bi-men.
“Louered,” quad he, “quat sal ic don?
He sulen me werpen stones on.”
Quað god, “go ðu to erebis ston,
And smit wið ðin gerde ðor-on.”

It was a stede henden ðor-bi,
On a syde of munt synay;
And he smot wið his wond ðor-on,
And water gan ðor-vten gon;
Anog adden he ðanne drinc,
Redi funden wið litel swinc;
ðat stede was cald temptatio,
for he ðo god fondeden so.

Amalec, ysmaeles sune,
Was ðor hende rafaclim wune,
He welte ðor stone and iaboch,
ðat herdes folc him louerd toch;
Wopened he ben a-gen israel.
Moyses ear it wiste wel,
And sente agen hem king ihesum,
wið folc israel wopened sum;
He let bi-aften de more del,
To kepen here ðing al wel.
He, and aaron, and hur ben gon,
Heg up to a dune sone o-non;
Moyses bad [for] folc ysrael,
And hise benes hem holpen wel;
Ai quiles he up is hondes bead,
Amalechkes folc fledde for agte of dead,
And quane he leth is hondes niðer,
Amalech folc fagt hard and wiðer;
Quane it wurð war vt and aaron,
He is under-leiden wið an ston,
Til sunne him seilede in ðe west;
ðus fagt Moyses ðor alðer-best.
Amalech fleg, and israel
Hadde hegere hond, and timede wel.
ðo sente god to moysen,
wið ðis timing to muning ben,
“Get sal ðe kinde of amalech
Ben al fled dun in deades wrech.”

Moyses made ðor alter on,
“Min blis” is name ðor-one don.

Ðo cam ietro to moysen,
To speken him and ðo kinnes-men,
And sephora, moyses wif,
And hire two sunes of faiger lif;
Ietro listnede moyses tale,
Of him and pharaon ðe dwale,
And ðahankede it almigten wel,
ðat was bi-tid for israel;
And at wið moysen festelike,
And tagte him siðen witterlike
Vnder him helpes oðere don,
ðat folc stering to streng[t]hen on.
Al bi ðhusenz ðis folc was told,
Ilc ðhusent adde a meister wold;
And vnder ðis tgen steres ben,
Ilc here on hundred to bi-sen;
Vnder ðis ilc two steres wunen,
And vnder hem fif oðere numen;
Ilc of ðe .v. steres-men
Vnder hem welden in stere tgen.
If ymong .x. wurð ogt mis-don,
Here stere rigten [sulde] ðor-on,
And if he ne mai it rigten wel,
Taunet is meister euerilc del;
And if he rigten it ne can,
He taune it al his ouer-man,
Ai so forð fro man to man,
Til he it here, ðe rigten can;
If it ne mai or rigted ben,
so sal it cumen to moysen.
He bad him chesen steres-men
Migti, ðe gode-frigti ben,
ðe soð-fastnesse lef ben,
And ðe niðing [and] giscing flen.

ðis red ðhugte moyses ful god,
And leuelike it under-stod.
Ietro wente in-to his lond a-gen;
Al[s] he redde, al-so gan it ben.

Ðe ðridde moneð in is cumen,
To synay ðis folc is numen;
ðe seuene and forwerti dai
ðat he nomen fro egipte awei,
Vnder ðis munt he funden steden,
And here teldes ðor he deden.
On oðer daiges morgen quile,
God tauned moysi quat he wile.
“Sei ðis folc ðat nu ðolen,
for is here ðhogt nogt me for-holen;
‘If ye listen lefful to me,
Ic wile min folc owen be.’”
And moyses tolde ðis israel,
And him heten euerilc del,
ðat hem bideð, sulen he don.
God dede moyses ðis bodeword on,
“Clense ðis folc wel ðis to daiges,
And bidde hem leden clene la[i]ges;
Abute ðis munt ðu merke make,
If erf or man ðor-one take,
It dead ðolen, wið stones slagen,
Or to dead wið goren dragen;
ðis frig[t]ful [folc] ðus a-biden,
Quiles ðis daiges for[ð] ben gliden.”

Ðe ðridde daiges morge quile,
ðunder and leuene made spile,
On ðis munt stod, and skies cast,
And dinede an migtful hornes blast;
Smoke up-reked and munt quaked,
Slep ðor non ðe ðane up-waked;
Ai was moses one in ðis dine,
ðis folc wende hauen for-loren hine;

Oc he cam faiger and fer him to,
And gan wið hem speken so;
“Ilc gure wel in herte mune,
Ne ist nogt moyses, amrame sune,
ðe ge sulen to dai here speken;
Oc he ðe slog, gu for to wreken,
Egypte, an weige made in ðe se,
And let adam fonden ðe tre
ðe noe barg, and abraham
Ledde vt in-to lond canaan;
Of olde abraham and of sarra bigeten
Dede ysaac, of olde teten;
ðe gaf ysaac so manige sunen,
ðe Iosep dede so riche wunen;
His word gu wurðe digere al-so lif,
Digere or eiðer child or wif.
Cumeð her forð, and beð alle reken,
And lereð wel quat he sal speken.”
He ledde hem to ðe muntes fot,
Non but non forðere ne mot,
And on is broðer aaron;
God bad hem ðat merke ouer-gon;
ðo so spac god so brigt-like,
ðat alle he it herden witterlike.

Loke ðat ðu god oðer ne make,
Ne oðer ðan me ðat ðu ne take.
for ic am god, gelus and strong,
Min wreche is hard, min ðole is long.

Tac ðu nogt in idel min name[n],
Ne swer it les to fele in gamen,
Ne let ðu nogt min wurðfulhed
for-faren in ðe fendes red.

Min hali dai ðu halge wel,
An do ðin dede on oðer sel.

Wurð ðin fader and moder so,
ðat ðu hem drede and helpe do.

100

Ne slo ðu nogt wið hond ne wil,
Ne rend, ne beat nogt wið vn-skil;

Help de nedful, ðat he ne be dead
for truke of ðin helpe an read.

Oc horedom ðat ðu ne do,
Ne wend no lecherie to.

Loke ðe wel ðat ðu ne stele,
Ne reflac, ne ðefte, for-hele.

False witnesse dat ðu ne bere,
Ne wið ðe lese non ma[n] ne dere.

Ne gisce ðu nog[t] ðin nestes ðing,
Hus, ne agte, ne wif, in ðin giscing;

For if ðu it gernes and gisse,
ðu tines vn-ended blisce.”

Ðis for-frigted folc figeren stod,
dredful, and bleð, and sori mod;
Herden ðat dredful beames blast,
Sogen ðat figer, dred held hem fast.
ðo seiden he to moysen,
“Be ðu nu god and us bi-twen,
Her nu quat god sal more queðen,
And tellet us siðen her bi-neðen.”.”
And moyses steg up a-non,
God hem bad bodes manige on
And lages; and hu he sulen maken
ðe tabernacle, and wor-of taken
ðe gold, and siluer, and ðe bras,
ðe syðen don dor-on was,
And nemeld it beseel,
And two oðere to maken it wel;
And gaf to tabeles of ston,
And .x. bodeword writen ðor-on.

Ðor quiles moyses was up wið gode,
And listenede al ðat leue bode,

101

Swilc wod-hed ðis folc cam on,
ðat he seiden to aaraon,
“Mac vs godes foren us to gon,
of moyses haue we helpe non.”
Aaron and vr stoden a-gen,
And boden hem swilc ðhowtes leten;
ðat wod folc ðor ur of dage
Brogten, and deden aaron in age;
Here faigere ringes he boden taken,
And don in fier, and geten, and maken
An calf of gold, and [an] alter
Made ðat folc, and lutten it ðer,
And ðat calf ofrendes deden,
And made gret fest in ðat stede[n].

Ðo seide god to moysen,
“Go ðu nu dun ðin folc to sen,
He hauen sineged and misdon,
Let me taken wreche ðer-on.”

“Loruerd, merci!” quad moyses,
“get ne let hem nogt helpe-les;
If he nu her wurðen slagen,
Egipte folc sal ðor-of ben fagen,
And seyen ðat he ben bi-swiken,
In ðe desert wel liderlike;
And ðenk, louerð, quat ben bi-foren
Abram, and ysaac, and iacob sworen.”
God listnede wel al ðis answere;
ðat he ðis folc al ðer ne dere.
And moyses gan neðer-ten,
And Iosu cam him a-gen,
Als he was ilc dai wune to don,
quil moyses ðat munt was on.
Quat Iosue to moysi,
“Ic wene he figten dun her-bi,”

102

“Nai, for gode,” quad moyses,
“It is a song wikke and redles.”
Moyses cam ner and sag ðis plages,
And dis calf, and ðis ille lages;
So wurð he wroð, o mode sarp,
His tables broken dun he is warp,
And dede ðat calf melten in fir,
And stired it al to dust sir,
And mengde in water and forð it of,
And gaf ðat folc drinken ðat drof.
ðo wiste he wel quile hauen it don,
Sene it was here berdes on.
ðo gredde he lude, “goð me to,
Alle ðe god luuen so.”
Frend ne broðer ne spared he nogt
On of hem ðat haued ðif wunder wrogt;
Of ðo ðe weren to ðis red,
.xxx. hundred to ðe dead
woren ðane don sone a-non,
ðurg strengðe of moyses and aaron;
On oðer stede men writen sen,
xxiii. ðhusent ðat ðor ben;

Ðo woren on liue sumdel les.
On oðer dai quad moyses,
“Michel sinne haue ðe don,
Ic sal gon seken bote her on.”
Eft he steg up to munt synay,
for to bi-seken god merci.
“Louerd,” quad he, “ðin meðe is god,
Merci get for ðin milde mod!
Or ðu ðis folc wið milche moð,
Or do min name ut of ðin boc.”

God answerede, “of sal ic don
Hem, ðe arn nogt to ben ðor-on;
Go, led ðis folc, min engel on
Sal ic don ðe bi-foren gon.”

103

Ebrus seigen it was michael
Engel ðe siðen ledde hem wel.
Moyses fastede siðen to pligt
xl. daiges and xl. nigt;
Oðere tables he brogte eft(.) writen,
And sunne-bem brigt son is wliten
ðat folc on him ne migte sen
But a veil wore hem bi-twen.
ðo was ðis folc frigti and rad
To don al ðat moyses hem bad;
Offreden him siluer and golde,
And oðer metal swilc he wolde;
He it bi-tagte besseleel,
And eliab, he maden wel
ðe tabernacle als hem was tagt,
Goten and grauen wið witter dragt;
.vii. moneð ðor-buten he ben,
And here swinc wel he bi-ten;
for swilc hus was ear neuere wrogt,
Ne swilc safte her on werlde brogt;
God it tagte al ear moysen
Wislike hu it wrogt sulde ben,
Quile srud, quat offrende, quil lage,
And quat for luue, and quat for age.
Aaron bissop, oðere of ðat kin,
Sette he hem for to seruen ðor-in.
Bokes he wrot of lore wal,
Hu ðis folc hem rigt leden sal,
Betten mis-dedes, and clene lif
Leden, wið-uten ate and strif.

Twelf moneð forð ben alle cumen,
Or he fro synay ben forð numen;
On ðat oðer twentide dai,
of ðe oðe[r] moned tagte he wei;
ðat brigte skie bi-foren hem flegt,
And ðis folc ðor after teg.

104

ðre dages and nigtes faren it gan
And wið-stod in ðe deserd pharan;
ðis folc is after softe togen,
And hauen swinc in weige drogen;
for ðat swinc he grucheden ðor,
ðor-fore hem cam on more sor.
fier is on hem bi-siden ligt,
fele it brende and made o-frigt,
Moyses it bless[ed]e wið his bede,
And brenninge he calde ðat stede.

Here hine-folc ðe was hem mide;
And summe of hem ðor ille dede,
He gerneden after oðer mete[n],
Of manna he ben for-hirked to eten;
He greten up-on moysen,
And he to god made his bi-men.
“Loruerd!” quad he, “ðis folc is ðin,
And al ðis sorge nu is min;
But ic haue an oder read,
Du salt me raðe ðon ðolen dead.”
Quað god, “ches ðe nu her seuenti
Wise men to stonden ðe bi,
And ic sal hem geuen witter-hed,
And he ðe sulen don helpe at ned;
And ðin folc sal to-morgen bi-geten
ynog fles(.) into a moned for to eten.

Moyses was bliðe an glað of ðis,
And ches ðo men [ðe] god made wis;
was here non of herte dim,
prophetis he weren and holpen him.

Fro lond ortigie cam a wind,
And brogte turles michel mind;
It flogen longe, and ðikke, and wel
Abuten ðe folc of ysrael;
Two daiges hem ben fugeles cumen,
So fele he wilen, he auen numen,

105

And dried and holden to eten;
Oc god ne wile it nogt for-geten;
ðat gruching hauen he derre bogt,
fier haued on hem ðe wreche wrogt,
Brend and doluen was ðat folc soth;
ðat stede beð cald ðor-for cabroth.

Forð he nomen to assaroth,
ðor wurð maria sumdel soth,
for sche ðor haueð wið moyses fliten;
ðor wurð ghe ðanne wið lepre smiten,
And vten sundred .vii. nigt,
In grot and in srifte, sore offrigt;
Moyses bi-sogte, and sche wurð fer
And frend, and cam dat broðer ner.

Forð nam ðis folc siðen fro ðan
fele iurnes in-to pharan;
Forð was gon al ðese oðer ger,
ðo he woren at syon-gaber;
Fro ðeden he sente forð to sen,
Quilc ðo riche londes ben,
ðat god hem sulde bringen in;
On man he sente of ilc kin.
xii. sondere men ðor vte faren,
ðis hoten lond ðurg-vt he charen,
xl. daiges faren ben;
Bi ðanne quanne he wenten a-gen,
In-to cades ðe folc was sogt.
ðes .xii. ðider hem hauen brogt
Of ðe plenteð ðe god ðor gaf,
An win-grape on an cuuel-staf,
And tolden hem ðe lond is god,
ful of erf and of netes brod;
Oc burges stronge and folc v[n-]frigt,
stalwurði to weren here rigt;

106

And getenisse men ben in ebron,
Quilc men mai get wundren on.
ðis folc ðo sette up grot and gred,
And seiden he folwen iuel red;
“Betre is vs get we wenden agen
And in egipte ðralles ben,
ðan we wurðen her swerdes slagen,
And ure kin to sorge ðragen;
An loder-man we wilen us sen,
And wenden in-to egipte agen;

Ðo quad Iosue and calef,
“Leateð ben swilc wurdes ref,
And doð nogt god almigten wrong,
Is milce is mikel, is strenge is strong.”
ðor ðrette god hem alle to slen,
If moyses ne wore ðor agen;
Oc for is benes and for is sake[n],
get he sal wið hem milche maken,
Oc alle he sulen wenden a-gen,
And in ðe desert longe ben;
And on ðe .xx. winter hold
or mor ut of egipte told,
ðat hauen ðus often fand,
Ne sulden welden ðat leue land,
Wið-vten Iosue & calef,
Here rigt-wised was gode lef.

Moyses told hem al ðis answere,
And he ben smiten in sorwes dere;
Get he sulen .xxx.vii. ger
In ðe desert ben vten her.
Agen he maden here dragt,
Al-so ðat skie haued tagt.

Oswas was moyses eam,
And chore was is bernteam;
Ille nið is herte wexe on
A-gen moysen and aaron,

107

Hem two .ii. hundred men,
And two ðo .xl. and ten;
He seiden he weren wurði bet
to ðat seruise to ben set;
And two migtful he hauen taken,
Meistres, princes he wolden hem maken,
On dathan(.) an oðer Abiron.
Moyses it herde and seide a-non,
“To-morwen beð her alle redi,
And ilc gure oðer stonde bi;
And ilc gure hise reklefat,
And fier ðor-inne and timinge on ðat,
And ðan sulde we brigte sen,
Quilc gure sal god quemest ben.”

And ðus it was on morgen don,
Ne wulde he, dathan(.) ne abiron,
For orgel pride forð ðor cumen;
Moyses wid folc is to hem numen,
In here teld he stonden a-gen
Moyses and vr, [&] ne wulde gon;
Moyses ðor gret and bad is bede,
And erðe denede sone in ðat stede,
And opnede vnder ere fet;
Held up neiðer ston ne gret,
Alle he sunken ðe erðe wið-in,
Wid wifes, and childre, and hines-kin,
Swilc endesið vn-bi-wen hauen;
ðarð noman swinken hem to grauen,
ðis erðe is to-gidere luken,
Als it ne were neuere or to-broken.

For chore wel wiste ðat
Gret fier wond vt of is reclefat,
And of is fere on and on,
And for-brende hem ðor euerilck on;
Oc aaron al hol and fer,
Cam him no fieres swaðe ner;

108

Of ðo Reklefates for wurðing,
Woren mad, and for muning,
Corunes at ðe alter of bras,
ðe at here tabernacle was.

For al ðis, oðer day ðor was nest,
Agenes moyses and is prest
Gan al ðis folc wið wreðe gon,
And wulden hem werpen stones on;
To ðe tabernacle he ben flogen,
ðor aueth a skie hem wel bi-togen;
A fier magti ðat folc fest on,
And haueð manige ðor for-don.
ðan bad moyses aaron,
wið hise Rekelefat, to ðat fir gon;
And he it dede als he him b[e]ad,
Ran and stod tiren liues and dead,
And ðis fier blessede and wið-drog,
It adde or slagen manige ynog;
.xiiii. ðhusent it haueð slagen,
And .iiii. score of liue dragen.

Ðog ðis folc miðe a stund for-dred,
ðog he ben get in sunder red,
Get he aglen on here red(.) and wen
ðat it mai loked betre ben;
ðog ðise brende ben for-saken,
ðog he wenen ðat god sal taken
Of ðo .xii. tribuz summe mo,
To ben ðor he for-hu-gede ðo,
Or ynog raðe of euerilc kin,
He wile ðat summe serue ðor-in.
“Childre,” quat moyses, “gure strif
dereð ðe sowle and greueð ðe lif;
Do we us alle in godes red,
Vs sal timen ðe betre sped;
Ilc prince me take hise wond,
And do we us here in godes hond;

109

And on [ilc] wond writen sal ben
ðe kindes name ðe ðor to tgen;
God sal to-morgen token don,
Quilc kinde he wile ðis mester on.
ðus it was don, and on a wond
Wid-uten ðo wrot he wið hond
ðe twelfte names of ðat kin;
ðe tabernacle he ded is in,
And ðor he is haued god bi-tagt,
And let is ben ðor al ðat nagt.

O morgen quan he com a-gen,
Quat was bitid he let hem sen;
Ilc wond he fond of euerilc kin
Als swilc als he is dede ðor-in;
Oc on, ðe was of aaron,
(Writen was name leui ðor-on),
It was grene and leaued bi-cumen,
And nutes amigdeles ðor-onne numen;
ðo wisten he dat aaron
Was hem bissop ðurg god don;
To sen gode witnesse ðor-on,
ðat wond was in ðat arche don.
[I]N ðe desert he wuneden ðor
.xxx.vii. winter and mor;
Longe abuten munt seyr,
folgede hem ðat skie scir,
And often to ðe se ðor-bi,
And often to ðe munt synay;
Her and gund ðor he biried lin,
Alle he olde deden ðor fin.
And at ðe laste ne-ðe-les,
Eft he come sone to cades,
ðor was moyses sister dead;
ðat folc ðor .xxx. daiges a-bead,
And after wune faire hire bi-stod,
wið teres, rem, and frigti mod;

110

Hire lich is biried in munt sin,
Hire sowle is rested stede wið-in.
It bi-tidde after hire dead
ðat ðis folc sorge in ðriste abead.
And ðer ros wreððe and strif a-non
Agen moysen and aaron;
God [bad] semelen folc and gon,
And foren hem smiten on ðe ston
And seide, ut of ðe smiten ston
Ynog hem sulde water gon;
He and his folc comen ðer-to,
Ic wene frigtlike ðat he do;
Ones he smot ðor on ðe ston,
And miste, and sag ðe water gon;
An oðer siðe he went is ðogt
Betre and softere, and ne miste nogt,
ðo flew dor water michil and strong,
Al folc and erue a-nog a-mong.

Ðvrg lond edom ne migten he faren,
ðor-fore he sulen a-buten charen
Bi ðe desert of arabie lond;
Long weige and costful he ðor fond,
forð bi archim ðat meister burg;
ðe desert aren he walkeden ðurg,
Til dat he comen to munt hor;
Aaron ðo wente of liwe ðor,
Eleazar, is sune, him nest
Was mad bissop and meister prest.
xxx. daiges ðat folc in wep
Wið bedes, and gret, and teres wep;
Get ist sene, on ðe munt on ðat stede,
Quor men aaron in birieles dede;
vii. score ger and .iii. told,
ðor he lið doluen on ðat wold.

Forð ðeðen he comen to salmona,
for-weried grucheden he ðoa,

111

ðor-fore hem cam wrim-kin among,
ðat hem wel bitterlike stong;
Non oðer red ðor don ne was,
Moyses ðor made a wirme of bras,
And heng et hege up-on a saft,
ðurg godes bode and godes craf[t];
Quat stungen man so sag ðor-on,
ðat werk him sone al was vn-don;
Digere it was al ðat berem-tem,
figer siðen in-to ierusalem;
oc siðen it was to duste don,
for ðat folc misleuede ðor-on.

Frigti nam forð ðis folc and bleð,
Til he comen to flum iareth;
ðis water him on-sunder drog,
And let hem ouer, drige ynog;
King ouer(.) amor(.) reos(.) seon,
for to figten cam hem ageon;
ðis folc him slog and his lond tok,
Suð fro arnon norð to iabok,
And westen al to flum iordan;
Oc he slugen king of basaan.
To lond moab drugen he so,
ðor nu is a burg, ierico.

Balaac king was for-dred for-ðan,
And sente in to lond madian,
To hise frend ðe ben him nest;
And sente after balaam ðe prest,
Wið riche men an giftes oc,
for to stillen hise [vn-]eðe mod,
And bad him cumen for to don
fol[c] of ysrael his cursing on.
Balaam wið-eld him ðor ðat nagt
To witen quat him sal wurðen tagt;
Al was is fultum and his sped

112

Bi-luken ille, in fendes red.
On nigt him cam sonde fro gode,
Agen ðis ginges red for-bode,
And ðat he ne curse non del
ðis folc ðat god bliscede wel.
O morgen seide he, “fare ic nogt,
for bode is me fro gode brogt.”
Balaac sente richere an mo
Medes, and oðer men to ðo.
“Sondes, sondes,” quað balaam,
Or he ðese oðere medes nam,
“Dog balaac king me goue hold,
His hus ful of siluer and of gold,
Ne mai ic wenden her bi-neðen;”
Godes wurd is cumen als it is queðen;
Oc or or ge wenden agen,
ðis nigt ic sal fonden and sen
Quat tiding so it cam on ðe nigt.”
On morgen, at ðe daiges ligt,
Vp-on hise asse his sadel he dede,
To madian lond wente he his ride,
And wente is herte on werre ðhogt;
Wicke giscing it haued al wrogt.
ðus rideð forð ðis man for-loren,
An angel drog an swerd him bi-foren,
ðis asse wurð so sore of dred,
Vt of ðe weige it haueð him led.
Sellic ðogte balaam for-ði,
And bet and wente it to ðe sti
Bi-twen two walles of ston;
Eft stod ðis angel him a-gon,
ðis asse is eft of weige stired,
So ðat balames fot is hird;
And he wurð ðo for anger wroð,
And ðis prikeð and negt sloð;

113

forð and narwere ðis asse him bar,
And ðe ðridde siðe wurð ðe angel war.
ðo ne migte ðes asse flen,
Ne he ne durste forðere ten,
Oc fel ðor dun(.) ðan ðis was don,
Balaam it spureð and smit ðor-on;
And god vndede ðis asses muð,
So soð it is(.) so it is selcuð.
Quuað ðis asse ðus wið vn-miðe,
“Qui betes ðu me ðis ðridde siðe?”
Quað balaam, “for ðu tregest me;
Had ic an swerd, ic sluge ðe.”
So was ðis were to wunder brogt,
ðhog ðe asse spac, frigtede he nogt;
ðo let goð him ðat angel sen,
wið ðe swerd dragen him agen.
Quað ðe angel, “ðin weige is me loð,
ðor-fore am ic wið ðe ðus loð;
If ðin asse ne were wið-ðragen,
Her suldes ðu nu wurðen slagen.”
Quað balaam, “quane ic haue mis-faren,
If ðu wilt, ic agen sal charen.”
“far forð,” quað ðe angel, “oc loc ðe wel,
for-bi min red, quað ðu non del.”
forð-nam balaam, and balaac king
Cam him a-gen for wurðing,
Gaf him giftes of mikil pris;
And balaam seide him to wis,
“Sal ic non wurð mugen forð-don,
Vten ðat god me leið on.”

Balaac him leddede heg on an hil,
And .vii. alteres wrogte in his wil,
On ilc alter fier alðerneðer,
And ðor-on an calf and a weðer,
And he bad balaac stonden ðor-bi,
And gede on-rum qui bute for-ði.

114

fro abuuen cam to him bi-neðen,
Word in herte dat he sal queðen;
Quan he cam to balaac a-gen,
Swilc wurdes he let vt-ten.
“Hu mai ic ðat folc cursen on,
ðor louerd haued bliscing don?
ðis folk sal waxen wel and ðen,
And ouer al oðer migtful ben,
His lif beð bliðe, his ending sal,
ðe timeð al-so ðis timen sal.”
Balaac misliked al ðis queðe,
And ledde hem ðeðen on oðer stede,
To munt faga, for to sen wel
Of folc israel ðe oðer del.
He wente on oðer stund or stede,
Betre timing ðor-fore he it dede,
And wende wenden godes ðogt,
Oc al he swinked him for nogt.
Hef[t] haueð he mad her .vii. alter,
And on ilc brend eft twin der.
Gede eft balaam up on-rum,
ðo seide ðus quanne hem cam dun,
“ðis folc, sprungen of israel,
Is vnder god timed wel;
Al-so leun is mightful der,
So sal ðis folc ben migtful her;
ðis leun sal oðer folc freten,
Lond canaan al preige bi-geten.”
Ille liked ðanne balaac
Euerilc word ðe prest balaam spac.

Get he ledde him to munt fegor,
And efte he sacrede deres mor;
dor spac balaam mikel mor
Of ðis folckes migt, or he dede or.
“folc ebru,” quað he, “ðat ic se,
Blisced sal ben ðe bliscede ðe;

115

And quuo-so wile cursing maken,
Ille cursing sal him taken;
Of ðe sal risen sterre brigt,
And a wond ðe sal smiten rigt
Moab kinges, and under-don
Al sedes-kin ðis werld up-on.”

Manie tiding quad balaam ðor,
ðe made balakes herte sor;
Oc ðan balaam wente a-gen,
Tagte he balaam quat migte ben
ðis folc to dere, and gaf him red
ðat brogt israel iwel sped.
“ðe ginge wimmen of ðin lond,
faiger on sigte an softe on hond,
And brigte on hewe, on speche glad,
Wið ðgere sal ic sondes sad;
ðe ðu ten vt gen ðis men,
ðe cunen brewen herte-bren,
wið win, and wlite, & bodi, & dwale,
Luue[li]ke and wið speche smale,
To wenden hem fro godes age
To ði londe godes and vre lage;
Bute-if ðu migt forðen ðis red,
And hem fro godes luue led,
And fonde to wenden ðus here ðhogt,
for wi ne wopen ne helped nogt.”
forð-nam balaam, ðat ille qu[e]ad
ðe gaf ðis read of soules dead.
ðus it was don, and bi ðat sel
In sichin singede israel,
And for luue of ðis hore-plage
Manie for-leten godes lage,
And wrogten ðor swilc soules sor
ðat he ðor lutten belphegor.

Ðo seide god to moysen,
“ðe me[i]stres of ðise hore-men,

116

ðe fendes folgen and me flen,
ðe bidde ic hangen ðat he ben;
Ben ðese hangen ðe sunne agen,
ðise oder folc sal meðe sen.”
Godes wreche ðor haueð of-slagen
xx.iii. ðusent of ðagen.
finees was a seli man,
ðe godes wreche forðen gan;
He slug Zabri for godes luuen,
Hise hore bi-neðe and him abuuen;
ðurg and ðurg boðen he stong
wið hise gisarme sarp & long.

God moysen nemnen bead
His folc ðe was firmest fro dead,
Or .xx. winter or more hold,
ðe in egypte or ne weren told;
On and .vi. hundred ðusent ðor,
And .vii. hundred and .xx. mor
Moyses fond and eliazar;
Was non of hem told in tale or,
ðo moyses tolde hem and aaron,
ðan e gunnen fro egipte gon.
Vten iosue and caleph,
Alle elles he driuen in deades weph;
Alle ðise wapmen dor god let liwen,
ðe lond hoten sal hem ben giuen.

God moyses clepede and quad to him,
“stig hege up to munt Abarim,
And ic sal don ðe ðeden sen
ðe lond ðe sal ðis folc[e]s ben;
ðer ðu salt ben of werlde numen.
In to ðat lond salt ðu nogt cumen.”
“Louerd, merci!” quad moyses,
Let ðu ðin folc nogt helpe-les,
And good let oc ðu hem bi-se,
Alswilc als hem bi-hu[f]lik bee.”

117

God hem andswerede, “iosue
Ic wile ben loder-man after ðe;
Tac him bi-foren eleazar,
ðat al ðin folc wurð war,
And ðine hondes ley him on,
Sey him on ðin stede to gon.”
Als it is boden, also he dede,
Iosue wurð set on hise stede.

Ðo moyses was on abarim,
ðat lond hoten god tawned him.
ðor quiles him lesten liue dages,
His he tagte leue lages,
And writen hem, haued is hem bitagt,
Bute-if he is loken hem beð agt,
Erðe and heuene he wittnesse tooc,
And wrot an canticle on ðat booc,
ðat ðreated ðo men bitter-like
ðe god ne seruen luue-like.
ðo .xii. twelue kinderedes, on and on,
He gaf bliscing bi-leue gon;
At munt nemboc on ðat knol fasga,
Wane he was stigen ðeðen doa,
Sag ðe lond of promission,
ðurg goð him was siðen ðat on.
ðer he starf inne. ðe moab lond,
His bodi was biried wid angeles hond,
ðer non man siðen it ne fond,
In to lef reste his sowle wond.
Ebrius seigen, ðus was bi-tid,
ðat moyses was hem ðus hid,
for, migten he finden ðe stede,
Quor engel-wird his liche dede,
fele sulden him leuen on,
And leten god; ðat were mis-don.

118

Ydolatrie, ðat was hem lef,
ofte vt-wrogte hem sorges dref.

Moyses is faren, on elde told
fulle sex score winter old;
And ðog him lestede hise sigte brigt,
And euerilc toð bi tale rigt.
.xxx. daiges wep israel
for his dead(.) and bi-ment it wel.
Swilc prophete in folc of israel
Ros non, ne spac wið god so wel;
Esdras is witnesse of [his] sage,
He was wel wis of ðe olde lage.

Bi-seke we nu godes migt,
ðat he make ure sowles brigt,
And shilde us fro elles nigt,
And lede us to blisse and in-to ligt;
In swilc ðewes lene us to cumen,
ðurg quat we ben to liue numen,
And in-to blisse wið seli men;
Wið muð and herte sey we, Amen!

EXPLICIT LIBer EXODUS.

University of Virginia Library

THE STORY OF GENESIS, EXODUS, ETC.