University of Virginia Library

Ich em nu alder þene ich wes awintre and a lare.
Ich welde mare þene ich dede mi wit ahte bon mare.
Wel longe ich habbe child ibon a worde and a dede
Þah ich bo a wintre ald to ȝung ich em on rede.
Vnnet lif ich habbe iled. and ȝet me þingþ ilede.
Þenne ich me bi-þenche wel ful sare ich me adrede.
mest al þet ich habbe idon bi-fealt to child-hade.
Wel late ich habbe me bi-þocht ; bute God me nu rede.
Fole idel word ich habbe iqueðen soððen ich speke kuðe.
fole ȝunge dede idon ; þe me of-þinchet nuðe.
Mest al þet me likede er nu ; hit me mislikeð
þa muchel fulieð his wil ; hine solf he biswikeð.
Ich mihte habbe bet idon. hefde ich þe iselþe.
Nu ich walde ah ich ne mei ; for elde and for un-helþe.
Elde me is bistolen on. er ich hit wiste.
ne michte ich seon bi-fore me. for smike ne for miste.
Erȝe we beoð to done god. and to ufele al to þriste.
Mare eie stondeð men of monne þanne hom do of criste.
Þe wel ne doð þe hwile þe ho muȝen. wel oft hit schal rowen ;
þenne ȝe mawen sculen and repen þet ho er sowen.
Do he to gode þet he muȝe þe hwile þet he bo aliue.
ne lipnie na mon to muchel to childe ne to wiue.
þe him solue forȝet for wiue ne for childe ;
he scal cumen in uuel stude bute him God bo milde.
Sendeð sum god bi-foren eow. þe hw[i]le þet ȝe muȝen to houene.
for betere is an elmesse biforen ; þenne boð efter souene.
Al to lome ich habbe igult a werke and o worde.
Al to muchel ich habbe ispent. to litel ihud in horde.
Ne beo þe loure þene þe solf ; ne þin mei. ne þin maȝe.
Soht is þet is oðers monnes frond betre þen his aȝen.
Ne lipnie wif to hire were. ne were to his wiue
Bo for him solue ech .Mon. þe hwile þet he bo aliue.
Wis is þe to him solue þench þe hwile þe mot libben.
For sone wule hine forȝeten þe fremede and þe sibbe.
þe wel ne deð þe hwile he mai ; ne scal [he] wenne he walde.
Monies monnes sare iswinc habbeð oft unholde.
Ne scal na mon don afirst. ne slawen wel to done.
for moni mon bihateð wel þe hit forȝeteð sone.
Þe .Mon. þe wule siker bon to habben Godes blisse.
Do wel him solf hwile þet he mai ; þenne haueð he his mid iwisse.
þes riche .Men. weneð bon siker þurh walle and þurh diche.
þe deð his echte on sikere stude he hit sent to heueneriche.
For þer ne þerf he bon of-dred of fure ne of þoue
þer ne þerf he him binimen þe laðe ne þe loue.
þer ne þerf he habben kare of ȝefe ne of ȝelde.
þider he sent. and solf bereð to lutel and to selde.
þider we sculen draȝen and don wel ofte and ilome.
for þer ne scal me us naut binimen mid wrangwise dome.
þider ȝe sculen ȝorne draȝen. walde ȝe god ileue.
for ne mei þer hit ou binimen king ne reue.
Al þet beste þet we hefden þider we hit solde senden
for þer we hit michte finden eft. and habben buten ende.
Þo þe er doð eni God for habben godes are.
al he hit scal finden eft þer and hundred fald mare.
Þe þet echte wile habben wel hwile þe he muȝe es welden.
Giue hies for godes luue ; þenne deþ hes wel ihalden.
Vre swinc and ure tilþe is ofte iwoned to swinden.
Ach þet þe we doð for godes luue ; eft we sculen al finden.
Ne scal nan ufel bon unbocht. ne nan god unforȝolden.
Vfel we doð al to muchel. and god lesse þenne we sculden.
Þo þe mest doð nu to gode. and þe lest to laðe.
Eiðer to lutel and to muchel scal þunchen eft hom baþe.
Þer me scal ure werkes weien bi-foran þe heuen king.
and ȝeuen us ure swinkes lan efter ure erninge.
Ech mon mid þet he hauet mei buggen houene riche.
þe mare haueþ and þe þe lesse ; baþe hi muȝen iliche.
Alse mid his penie alse oðer mið his punde.
þet is þe wunderlukeste chep ; þet eni mon efre funde.
And þe ðe mare ne mai don ; do hit mid his gode þonke.
Alse wel se þe þe haueð golde fele manke.
And oft god kon mare þonc þen þe him ȝeueð lesse.
And his werkes and his weȝes his milce. and rihtwisnesse.
lutel lac is gode lof ; þet kumeð of gode wille.
And ec-lete muchel ȝeue of þan þe herte is ille.
Houene and horþe he ouer sich. his eȝen boð swa brichte
Sunne and mone and houen fur boð þestre aȝein his lihte.
Nis him noht forholen nihud. swa muchele boð his mihte.
nis hit ne swa derne [idon] ne [a] swa þostre nihte.
he wat wet þenkeð and hwet doð alle quike wihte.
Nis na lauerd swich se is crist. ne king swuch ure drihten.
houene and orðe and al þet is biloken is in his honde.
he deð al þet his wil is ; a wettre and alonde.
He makede fisses in þe se and fuȝeles in þe lifte.
he wit and waldeð alle þing and scop alle scefte.
he is hord buten horde and ende buten ende.
he ane is eure an ilche stude wende þer þu wende.
he is buuen us and binoþen. biforen and bihinden.
þe þe deð godes wille uwer he mei him finden.
Helche rune he iherð and wat [he] alle deden.
he þurþ-sicheþ uches monnes þonc. wi hwat scal us to rede.
We þet brokeð godes hese and gulteð swa ilome.
hwet scule we seggen oðer don et þe muchele dome
Þa þe luueden unriht and ufel lif leden.
Wet sculen ho seggen oðer don ; þen þe engles bon of-dred.
hwet sculen we beren biforen us mid hom scule we iquemen.
þo þe neure god ne dude þe houenliche deme[n].
þer sculen bon doule swa fole þet wulleð us forwreien.
And nabbeð hi naþing forȝeten of al þet ho [ere] iseȝen.
Al þet we misduden her ; ho hit wulleð kuðe þere.
Al ho habbeð in hore write þet we misduden here.
[Buten we habben it ibet þe wile we her were]
Þach we nusten ne niseȝen. ho weren ure ifere.
Hwet sculen ordlinghes don þa swicen and ta for-sworene
hwi boð fole iclepede. and swa lut icorene
wi hwi weren ho biȝeten to hwon weren ho iborene.
þet sculen bon to deþe idemet. and eure ma forlorene.
Ech .Mon. scal him solue þer biclepie and bidemen.
his aȝen werch and his þonc te witnesse he scal demen.
ne mei him na Mon alsa wel demen ne alswa rihte
for nan ne knauð him ase ȝere ; buten ane drihte.
Ech .Mon. wat him solue best ; his werkes. and his wille.
Þe ðe lest wat biseið ofte mest ; þe hit al wat is stille.
nis nan witnesse alse muchel se monnes aȝen horte.
Wa se seið þet he bo hal. him solf wat best his smirte.
Ech .Mon. scal hin solf demen to deðe oðer to liue.
þa witnesse of his aȝen werch ; hine þer to scal driue.
Al þet ech .Mon. haueð idon soððen he com to monne
sculde he hit sechen o boke iwriten he scal iþenchen þenne.
Ah drihten ne demeð nenne .Mon. efter his biginnigge.
ah al his lif scal bon suilch boð his endinge.
ȝef þet his [ende is] uuel al hit is uuel and [al] God ȝefe god his ende.
God ȝeue þet ure ende bo god. and wite þet he us lende.
þe .Mon. þet uuel don na god. ne neure god lif leden.
er deð and dom come to his dure he mei him sare adreden.
þet he ne muȝe þenne biden are. for þet itit ilome.
for-þi he is wis þe biet and bit and bet bi-fore dome.
Wenne deð is attere dure wel late he biddeþ are.
Wel late he latheð uuel werc ; þe ne mei hit don ne mare.
þet achten we to leuen wel. for ure drihten solf hit seide.
A hwilke time se eure .Mon. of þinchþ his mis-dede.
Oþer raþer oðer later ; milce he scal imeten.
Ac we þet þer naf[eð] nocht ibet ; wel muchel he haueð to beten.
Moni mon seit hwa rechð of pine þe scal habben ende.
Ne bidde ich na bet bo alesed a domes dei of bende.
Lutel he wat wet is pine. and lutel he hit scaweð
hwice hete is þer þa saule wuneð hu biter wind þer blaweð.
hefde he bon þer enne dei oðer twa bare tide ;
nolde he for al middenerd þe þerdde þer abiden.
þet habbeð iseid þ[et] comen þonen þa hit wisten mid iwissen.
wa wurð sorȝe seueȝer. for souenihte blisse.
In hure blisse þe þe ende haueð. for endelese pine.
betere is wori water drunch ; þen atter meind mid wine.
Swines brede is swiðe swete. swa is of wilde dore.
alto dore he is abuh ; þe ȝefð þer fore his swore.
Ful wombe mei lihtliche speken of hunger. and of festen ;
swa mei of pine þe ne cnauð [hu] þe scal a ilesten.
Hefð he ifonded summe stunde ; he wolde al seggen oðer.
Et-lete him were wif. child. suster. feder and broðer.
Al he walde and oðerluker don and oðerluker þenchen
Wenne he bi-þohte on helle fur þe nawiht ne mei quenchen.
Eure he walde her inne wawe and ine wene wunien ;
Wið þet þe mihte helle pine bi-flien and bi-sunien
Et lete him were al world wele and orðliche blisse.
for to þet muchele blisse cumen is murþe mid iwisse.
Iwule nu cumen eft to þe dome þet ich er ow of sede
A þa dei and at ta dome us helpe crist and rede.
þer we muȝen bon eþe offerd and herde us adreden.
þer he scal al son him biforen his word and ec his deden.
Al scal þer bon þenne cud þer men luȝen her ent stelen.
Al scal þer bon þanne unwron ; þet men wruȝen her and helen.
We sculen alre monne lif iknauwen [þer] alse ure ahen.
þer sculen eueningges bon þe riche and þe laȝe.
Ne scal na mon smakie þer ne þerf he him adreden.
Gif him her of-þincþ his gult and bet his misdede.
For him ne scameþ ne ne gromeð þe sculen bon iborȝen.
Ach þoþre habbeþ scome and grome and oft fele sorȝe.
Þe dom scal sone bon idon ne lest he nawiht longe.
ne scal him na mon mene þer of strengþe ne of wronge.
Þe sculen habbe herdne dom þa her weren herde.
Þa þe uuele holden wreche men and uuele laȝe redde.
Ec efter þet he efð idon s[c]al þer þenne [beon] idemet.
[Bliþe mai he þanne buen þe god haued iquemed]
Alle þa þi sprunge boþ of adam and of eue.
Alle hi sculen cumen þider for soðe we hit ileueð.
þa þe habbeð wel idon efter hore mihte.
to houene riche hi sculen faren forð mid ure drihte.
Þa þe habbeð doules werc idon. and þer inne bo ifunde.
hi sculen faren forð mid him in to helle grunde.
Þer hi sculen wunien a buten are and ende.
Ne brekeþ ne ure drihte helle gate for lesen hi of bende.
Nis na sullic þech hom bo wa and hom bo uneade.
Ne scal neure eft crist þolie deþ for lesen hom of deaþe.
Enes drihten helle brec his frond he ut brochte.
him solf he þolede deð for him. wel dore he hom bohte.
Nalde hit mei do for mei. ne suster for broðer.
nalde hit sune do for fader. ne na mon for oðer.
Vre alre lauerd for his þrelles ipined wes a rode.
vre bendes he unbon[d] and bohte us mid his blode.
We ȝeueð uneðe for his luue a stuche of ure brede.
Ne þenke we noht þet he scal deme þa quike and þa dede.
Muchele luue he us cudde. walde we hit understonde
þet ure eldre misduden; we habbeð uuele on honde.
Deþ com in þis middenerde þurh þes doules honde.
And sake and sorȝe and swinc a watere and a londe.
vre forme fader gult. we abuȝeð alle.
[Al his ofsprunge after hym in herme is bifalle]
þurst and hunger. chele and hete. helde and unhelðe.
þurh him deð com in þis middenerd and oðer uniselðe.
Nere namon elles ded ne sec ne nan unsele.
ac mihten libben eure ma a blisse and a hele.
lutel hit þuncheð moni mon. ac muchel wes þa sunne.
for hwam alle þolieð deð þe comen of hore cunne.
Hore sunne and ec ure aȝen sare us mei of-þinche.
þurh sunne we libbeð alle in sorȝe and in swinke.
Suððen God nom swa muchele wrake for are misdede ;
We þe swa muchel and swa ofte mis-doð. we muȝen eðe us adrede.
Adam and his of-sprung for are þare sunne.
Wes fele undret wintre an helle pine and an unwunne.
Þa þe ledden hore lif mid unriht and mid wrange.
buten hit godes milce do ho sculen bon þer wel longe.
Godes wisdom is wel muchel and alswa is his mihte
And nis his milce naut lesse. ac bi þan ilke iwichte.
Mare he ane mei forȝeuen. þen al folc gulte cunne.
Sulf douel mihte habben milce. ȝif he hit bigunne.
Þa þe godes milce secheð ; he iwis mei ha ifinden.
Ac helle king is are-les with þa þe he mei binden.
þe þe deþ is wille mest ; he haueð wurst mede.
His baþ scal bon wallinde. his bað scal bon berninde glede.
Wurst he deð his gode frond ; þenne his fulle fond[e] ;
God scilde alle godes frond. a wih swilche freonde.
Neure in helle hi com. ne þer ne come reche.
Þach ich elches worldes wele. þer me mahte feche
þet his wulle seggen on þat wise men us seiden.
And aboken hit writen þer [me] mei hit reden.
Ich hit wille seggen þan þe hit hom solf nusten.
Warni hom wið hore unfrome. ȝif ho me wulleð lusten.
Vnderstondeð nu to me edi men and arme.
Ich wulle tellen of helle pin ; and wernin ow wið herme.
In helle his hunger and þurst ; twa uuele iuere.
þas [pine] þolieð þa weren maket niþinges here.
Þer is waning and wow. efter eche streche.
ho fareð from hete to hete. and hech to frure þe wreche.
þenne hi bið in þere hete ; þe chele him þunchet blisse.
þenne hi cumeð eft to þe chele ; of hete hi habbeð misse.
hi hem deð wa inoch nabbeð hi nane blisse.
Nute hi hweþer hom deþ wurs mid neure nane wisse.
hi walkeð eure and secheð reste ac ho ne muȝen imeten.
for-þi þe ho nolden þe hwile þet ho mihten here sunne beten.
ho secheð reste þer nis nan. for-þi ne muȝen hi es finden.
Ac walkeð weri up and dun ; se water deþ mid winde.
þo boð þa þe weren her a þanke unstedefeste.
And þa þe gode biheten heste and nolden hit ileste.
Þa þe god werc bigunnen and ful enden hit nolden.
Nu witen her. and nuðe þer. and nusten hwat hi wolden.
þer is bernunde pich hore saule to baþien inne.
þa þe ledden here lif in werre and in winne.
Þer is fur þet is undret fald hattre. þene bo ure.
Ne mei quenchen salt weter ne uersc of þe burne.
Þis is þet fur þet efre bernd ne mei nawiht hit quenchen.
Þer inne boð þa þe was to lof wreche men to swenchen.
þa þe weren swikelemen and ful of uuel wrenchen.
þa þe mihten uuel don. þe þe lef hit wes to þenchen.
Þe luueden tening and stale. hordom and drunken
And a doules werche bliþeliche swunken.
Þa þe weren swa lese þet me hom ne mihte ileuen.
Med-ierne domes men. and wrongwise reuen.
þet oðer monnes wif lof. his aȝen et-lete.
þo þe sungede muchel ; a drunke and an ete.
þe wreche mon binom his ehte. and leide his on horde.
þet lutel let of godes borde. and godes worde.
And þo þe his aȝen nalde ȝeuen þer he isech. þe node
ne nalde iheren godes sonde. þenne he hit herde bode.
Þe þet is oðers monnes þing. loure þene hit sculde.
And weren to gredi of solure and of golde.
And þa þe untrownesse duden þon þe ho sculden bon holde.
And leten þet ho sculden don. and duden þet ho wolden.
Þa þe weren eure abuten þisse worldes echte.
And duden al þet þe laþe gast hechte to and tachte.
And alle þe þen anigewise doulen iquemde.
Þa boð nu mid him in helle fordon and fordemet.
[Bute þo þe ofþouhte sore. her here mis-deden
and gunnen here gultes beten. and betere lif leden
Þeor beð naddren and snaken. eueten and frude
þa tered and freteð þe uuele speken. þe nihtfulle and þe prute
Neure sunne þer ne scinð. ne mone ne steorre
þer is muchel godes hete. and muchel godes ȝeorre
Eure þer is vuel smech. þusternesse and eie
nis þer neure oþer liht. þanne þe swarte leie
Þer ligget laðliche fend. in stronge raketeie
þat buð þe þe were mid gode. on heuene wel heie
Þer buð ateliche fend. and eisliche wihte
þos sculle þa wrecchen i-son. þe sunege þurð sihte
Þer is þe loþe sathanas. and belsebuc þe ealde
Ieþe he muwen ben of-drad. þe hine sculled bi-helde
Ne mai non heorte it þenche. ne no tunge ne can telle
hu muchele pine. and hu vele. senden inne helle
Of þo pine þe þere bued. nelle ic hou nout leioȝen
nis it bute gamen and gleo. al þat man mai here dreoȝen
Ac ȝet ne deð heom nout so wo. in þo loþe biende
bute þat hi witeð þat heore pine. ne scal neure habben ende
Þer buð þo heþenemen. þe were lawe-lese
þe heom nas nout of godes bode. ne of godes hese
Vuele cristenemen. hi bud here i-vere
þo þe heore cristen-dom. vuele heolden here
Ȝut hi bud a wurse stede. on þere helle grunde
ne sculle hi neure comen vp. for marke ne for punde
Ne mai heom noþer helpen þer. i-bede ne almesse
for nis noþer inne helle. ore ne forȝiuenesse
Sculde him elc man þe wile he mai. of þos helle pine
And warnie æc his frend þer wid. so ic habbe mine
Þo þe scilden heom ne cunnen. ic heom wulle teache
ich kan beo ȝif i scal. lichame and soule liache
Lete we þat god for-bet. alle mancunne
and do we þat he us hat. and scilde we us wid sunne
Luuie we god mid vre heorte. and mid al vre mihte
and vre emcristene alse us suelf. swa us lerde drihte
Al þat me rat and singð. be-fore godes borde
al it hanged and bi-halt. bi þisse twam worde
Alle godes lawe he fulð. þe newe and þe ealde
he þe þos twa luue haued. and wel hi wule healde
Ac hi buð wunder erued-helde. swa ofte we gulted alle
for it is strong to stonde longe. and liht it is to falle
Ac drihte crist he ȝiue us strencþe. stonde þat we mote
and of alle vre gultes. unne us come bote
We wilnied efter worldes wele. þe longe ne mai ileste
and leggeð al ure iswinch. on þinge un-stede-faste
Sswunche we for godes luue. half þat we doð for ehte
ne were we nout swa bi-cherd. ne swa vuele bi-cauhte
Ȝif we serueden god. so we doð erninges
more we haueden of heuene. þanne eorles oþer kinges
Ne muwen hi her werien heom wid chele. wid þurst. ne wid hunger
ne wid elde ne wid deð. þe eldre ne þe ȝeonger
Ac þer nis hunger ne þurst ne deð. ne vnhelþe ne elde
of þisse riche we þenchet oft. and of þere to selde
We scolden alle us bi-þenche. oft and wel ilome
hwet we beð. and to wan we sculle. and of wan we come
Hu lutel wile we beð her. hu longe elles ware
hwat we muȝen habben her. and hwet elles hware
Ȝif we were wise men. þis we scolden iþenche
bute we wurþe us iwar. þes worlð us wule for-drenche
Mest alle men he ȝiued drinke. of one deofles scenche
he sceal him cunne sculde wel. ȝif he him nele screnche
Mid ealm[i]hties godes luue. vte we us bi-werien
wid þes wrecches worldes luue. þat he ne mawe us derien
Mid fasten. and almesse. and ibede. werie we us wid sunne
Mid þo wepnen þe god haued ȝiuen alle mancunne
Læte we þe brode stret. and þe wei bene
þe lat þe niȝeðe del to helle of manne. and mo ic wene
Go we þene narewe wei. and þene wei grene
þer forð-fareð lutel folc. ac it is feir and scene
Þe brode stret is vre iwil. ðe is us lod for to lete
þe ðe al folewed his wil. fared bi þusse strete
Hi muwen lihtliche gon. mid ðere nuðer hulde
ðurh ane godliese wude. in-to ane bare felde
Þe narewei is godes hes. þer forð-farð wel feuwe
þat buð ða þe heom sculdeð ȝeorne. wid elche unðeawe
Þos god un-ieþe to-ȝeanes þe cliue aȝean þe heȝe hulle
þos leteð al here aȝen wil. for godes hese to fulle
Go we alle þene wei. for he us wulle bringe
mid þo faire feuwe men. be-foren heuene kinge
Þer is alre meruþe mest. mid englene songe
þe þis a þusent wintre þer. ne þincð him noht to longe
Þe þe lest haued. haueð so muchel. þat he ne bit no more
þe ðe blisse for ðos for-lat. it him mai reuwe sore
Ne mai non vuel ne non wane. beon inne godes riche
ðeh þer beð wunienges fele. elc oþer vn-iliche
Sume þer habbet lasse murhðe. and sume habbed more
after þan þe hi dude her. after þan þe hi swonke sore
Ne scal þer ben bred ne win. ne oþer cunnes este
god one scal beo eche lif. and blisse. and eche reste
Ne scal þer beo fou ne grei. ne cunig ne ermine
ne ocquerne ne martres cheole. ne beuer ne sabeline
Ne scal þer beo sced ne scrud. ne woruld wele none
al þe murhðe þe me us bi-hat. al it scal beo god one
Ne mai non murhðe beo so muchel. so is godes sihte
he is soð sunne and briht. and dai a-buten nihte
He is elches godes ful. nis him noþing ȝit vten
no god nis him wane. þe wunied him abuten
Þer is wele abute grame. and reste abuten swinche
þe mai and nele þider come. sore it him scal ofþinche
Þer is blisse abuten treȝe. and lif abuten deaþe
þe eure scullen wunien þer. bliþe muwen ben eþe
Þer is ȝeoȝeðe bute ulde. and hele abuten vn-helðe
nis þer sorewe ne sor. ne neure nan vn-sealþe
Þer me scal drihte sulf i-seon. swa he is mid iwisse
he one mai and scal al beo. engle and manne blisse
And ðeh ne beod heore eȝe naht. alle iliche brihte
ði nabbed hi nouht iliche. alle of godes lihte
On þisse liue hi neren nout. alle of one mihte
ne þer ne scullen hi habben god. alle bi one ȝihte
Þo scullen more of him seon. þe luuede him her more
and more icnawen and iwiten. his mihte and his ore
On him hi scullen finden al þat man mai to lesten
hali boc hi sculle i-seon. al þat hi her nusten
Crist scal one beon inou. alle his durlinges
he one is muchele mare and betere. þanne alle oþere þinges
Inoh he haued þe hine haueð. þe alle þing wealdeð
of him to sene nis no sed. wel hem is þe hine bi-healdeð
God is so mere and swa muchel. in his godcunnesse
þat al þat is. and al þat wes is wurse. þenne he and lesse
Ne mai it neure no man oþer segge mid iwisse
hu muchele murhðe habbet þo. þe beod inne godes blisse

To þere blisse us bringe god. þe rixlet abuten ende
þenne he vre soule vn-bint. of licames bende
Crist ȝyue us leden her swilc lif. and habben her swile ende
þat we moten þuder come. wanne we henne wende. Amen.