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| II. |
 | The South English Legendary |  |
Hit byuel bi one kynges daye þat nou late was
Of a kniȝt þat het Ouweyn a wel wonder cas
To þe bissop to ssrifte Ouwein þis kniȝt com
And gret repentance for is sunne & deol & sorwe nom
Of a kniȝt þat het Ouweyn a wel wonder cas
To þe bissop to ssrifte Ouwein þis kniȝt com
And gret repentance for is sunne & deol & sorwe nom
Þe bissop bigan to chide him uaste of þat he hadde misdo
And sede he hade ybe man worst forto sunegy so
Þat me nemiȝte him do so muche wo þat he nere worþ more
Þe kniȝt sat wiþ deoluol heorte & siȝte & wep sore
Wanne he sede icham man worst & worst habbe ydo
And to sunne þat grettost is penance mot do
Wanne ich amang alle men mest sunfol am alas
Þe strengoste penance ichelle take þat euere yuonde was
Ichelle take Godes grace and inis name wende
In sein Patrikes pultatorie sende wat he me sende
And sede he hade ybe man worst forto sunegy so
Þat me nemiȝte him do so muche wo þat he nere worþ more
Þe kniȝt sat wiþ deoluol heorte & siȝte & wep sore
Wanne he sede icham man worst & worst habbe ydo
And to sunne þat grettost is penance mot do
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Þe strengoste penance ichelle take þat euere yuonde was
Ichelle take Godes grace and inis name wende
In sein Patrikes pultatorie sende wat he me sende
Ou beu frere quaþ þis bissop be[o] stille wi seistou so
Crist forbeode þat þou neuere such folie ne do
Vnneþe eny comeþ aȝen of þulke þat þuder doþ wende
Nolde God þat þou þe dede dust body & soule to ssende
And wend into religion and bilef þi liues ende
And þou sselt wel þi sunne bete & God wol grace sende
Crist forbeode þat þou neuere such folie ne do
Vnneþe eny comeþ aȝen of þulke þat þuder doþ wende
Nolde God þat þou þe dede dust body & soule to ssende
And wend into religion and bilef þi liues ende
And þou sselt wel þi sunne bete & God wol grace sende
Certes sire quaþ þis kniȝt þou miȝt as wel beo stille
For ichelle þe dede do do God by me is wille
For as muche as ich habbe ofserued i nemiȝte habbe of wo
Þer uore sei wat ich ssel for siker ichelle it do
For ichelle þe dede do do God by me is wille
For as muche as ich habbe ofserued i nemiȝte habbe of wo
Þer uore sei wat ich ssel for siker ichelle it do
Þe bissop prechede him vaste inou forto changi is þoȝt
Ac attelaste þo he sey þat it was al for noȝt
To þe prior of þe stude his lettres he made sone
Þat he ssolde bi him do as bi a such man was to done
Þe prior prechede him vaste inou & sede him resons ynowe
Ȝif he miȝte change is þoȝt þat he þer of him wiþdrowe
Ac attelaste þo he sey þat it was al for noȝt
To þe prior of þe stude his lettres he made sone
Þat he ssolde bi him do as bi a such man was to done
Þe prior prechede him vaste inou & sede him resons ynowe
Ȝif he miȝte change is þoȝt þat he þer of him wiþdrowe
Ac þis prechinge was al for noȝt ac he say wel atte ende
He nolde bileue for noþing þe perilous wei to wende
Þe prior him nom bi þe hond and into chirche him broȝte
Þer he vel adon akneo and oure Louerdes grace bisoȝte
In fastinge and in orisons fortene niȝt he lay
To bidde oure swete Lou[er]des grace & þe vifteþe day
He nolde bileue for noþing þe perilous wei to wende
Þe prior him nom bi þe hond and into chirche him broȝte
Þer he vel adon akneo and oure Louerdes grace bisoȝte
In fastinge and in orisons fortene niȝt he lay
To bidde oure swete Lou[er]des grace & þe vifteþe day
Þe couent come aboute him and oþer prestes also
And clerkes wiþ procession þe seruise to do
For him hy songe an heie masse & on God cride faste
Oure Louerdes fleiss & is blod hi toke him attelaste
And sprenge him wiþ holy water and hore orisons sede
Wiþ crois and procession to þe put hi gonne him lede
And heilich song þe letanie & holy water bere
And alle Godes halwe bede þat hi is help were
And clerkes wiþ procession þe seruise to do
For him hy songe an heie masse & on God cride faste
Oure Louerdes fleiss & is blod hi toke him attelaste
And sprenge him wiþ holy water and hore orisons sede
Wiþ crois and procession to þe put hi gonne him lede
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And alle Godes halwe bede þat hi is help were
Þe prior vnlek þe puttes dore & among hom echon
Beu frere he sede her is þe wei þat þou seist þou wolt gon
And ȝif þou wolt do by oure rede þou sselt þi þoȝt wende
And oþer manere þi sunnes bete as God wole þe grace sende
For vewe þer com aȝe of hom þat her inne wende biuore
Ac were for tormens & for wo lif and soule forlore
Beu frere he sede her is þe wei þat þou seist þou wolt gon
And ȝif þou wolt do by oure rede þou sselt þi þoȝt wende
And oþer manere þi sunnes bete as God wole þe grace sende
For vewe þer com aȝe of hom þat her inne wende biuore
Ac were for tormens & for wo lif and soule forlore
Certes sire quaþ þis kniȝt rede wat þou me rede
Þe wey ich nyme a Godes name to bete my misdede
Ac for is loue þat us deore aboȝte biddeþ for me echon
Lif and soule ich him bitake and inis name in gon
He blessede him & wende him in & bitok God fleiss & bon
Þe prior him sprengde wiþ holy water & lek þe dore anon
Þe wey ich nyme a Godes name to bete my misdede
Ac for is loue þat us deore aboȝte biddeþ for me echon
Lif and soule ich him bitake and inis name in gon
He blessede him & wende him in & bitok God fleiss & bon
Þe prior him sprengde wiþ holy water & lek þe dore anon
| The South English Legendary | |