University of Virginia Library

Þenne spekes a vois to Ioseph was Ihesu crist himselue,
“Iosep[h], marke on þe treo and make a luytel whucche,
Forte do in þat ilke blod þou berest a-boute;
whon þe lust speke with me lift þe lide sone,
þou schalt fynde me redi riȝt bi þi syde,
And, bote þou and þi sone me no mon touche.
And Iosep[h], walk in þe world & preche myne wordes
to þe proudest men A parti schul þei here.
þauȝ þei þe of manas melen, and þe þreten,
beo þou no þing a-dred for non schal þe derue.”
“lord, I was neuer clerk what and I ne cunne?”
“Louse þi lippes a-twynne & let þe gost worche;
Speche, grace, & vois schul springe of þi tonge,
& alle turne to þi mouþ holliche atenes.”

3

þenne he wawes his fot þe blod he with him fonges,
and in þe nome of þe fader forþward he weendes.