University of Virginia Library

Ich þas in one sumere dale.
In one suþe diȝele hale.
Iherde ich holde grete tale.
An hule and one niȝtingale.
Þat plait þas stif & starc & strong.
Sum þile softe & lud among.
An asþer aȝen oþer sval.
& let þat wole mod ut al.
& eiþer seide of oþeres custe.
Þat alre þorste þat hi þuste.
& hure & hure of oþere songe
Hi holde plaiding suþe stronge.

Þe niȝtingale bigon þe speche.
In one hurne of one breche.
& sat upone vaire boȝe.
Þar þere abute blosme inoȝe.
In ore þaste þicke hegge.
Imeind mid spire & grene segge.
Ho þas þe gladur uor þe rise.
& song auele cunne þise.
Het þuȝte þe dreim þat he þere.
Of harpe & pipe þan he nere.
Bet þuȝte þat he þere is hote.
Of harpe & pipe þan of þrote.

[þ]o stod on old stoc þarbiside.
Þar þo vle song hire tide.
& þas mid iui al bigroþe
Hit þas þare hule eardingstoþe.

[þ]e niȝtingale hi iseȝ
& hi bihold & ouerseȝ.
& þuȝte þel wl of þare hule.
For me hi halt lodlich & fule.
Vn þiȝt ho sede a þei þu flo.
Me if þe wrs þat ich þe so.
Iþis for þine wle lete.
Þel oftich mine song forlete.
Min horte atfliþ & falt mi tonge
Þonne þu art to me iþrunge.
Me luste bet speten þane singe.
Of þine fule ȝoȝelinge.

Þof hule abod fort hit þas eve.
Hone miȝte no leng bileue
Vor hire horte þas so gret.
Þat þelneȝ hire fnast at schet.
& þarp a þord þar after longe.
Hu þincþe nu bi mine songe.
Þest þu þat ich ne cunne singe.
Þeȝ ich ne cunne of þritelinge.
Ilome þu dest me grame
& seist me boþe tone & schame.
Ȝif ich þe holde on mine note.
So hit bitide þat ich mote.
& þu þere vt of þine rise.
Þu sholdest singe an oþer þse.

Þe niȝtingale ȝaf answare.
Ȝif ich me loki þit þe bare.
& me schilde þit þe blete
Ne reche ich noȝt of þine þrete
Ȝif ich me holde in mine hegge.
Ne recche ich neuer þhat þu segge.
Ich þot þat þu art un milde.
Wiþ hom þat nemuȝe from se schilde.
& þu tukest wroþe & vuele.
Whar þu miȝt over smale fuȝele.
Vorþi þu art loþ al fuel kunne.
& alle ho þe driueþ honne.
& þe bi schricheþ & bi gredet.
& wel nareþe þe biledet.
& ek forþe þe sulue mose.
Hireþonkes þolde þe totose.
Þu art lodlich to biholde.
& þu art loþ in monie volde.
Þi bodi is short þi sþoreis smal.
Grettere is þin heued þan þu al.
Þin eȝene boþ colblake & brode.
Riȝt swo ho þeren ipeint mid þode.
Þu starest so þu þille abiten.
Al þat þu mist mid cliure smiten.
Þi bile is stif & scharp & hoked.
Riȝt so an owel þat is croked.
Þar mid þu clackes oft and longe.
& þat is on of þine songe.
Ac þu þretest to mine fleshe.
Mid þine cliures þoldest me meshe.
Þe þere icundur to one frogge.
[OMITTED]
Snailes mus & fule þiȝte.
Boþ þine cunde & þine riȝte.
Þu sittest adai & fliȝt aniȝt.
Þu cuþest þat þu art on vnþiȝt.
Þu art lodlich & unclene.
Bi þine neste ich hit mene.
And ek bi þine fule brode.
Þu fedest on hom awel ful fode.
Vel þostu þat hi doþ þarinne.
Hi fuleþ hit up to þe chinne.
Ho sitteþ þar so hi bo bisne.
Þar bi men segget auorbisne.
Dahet habbe þat ilke best.
Þat fuleþ his oþe nest.
Þat oþer ȝer a faukun bredde.
His nest noȝt þel he ne bi hedde.
Þarto þu stele in o dai.
& leidest þar on þi fole ey.
Þo hit bi com þat he haȝte.
& of his eyre briddes þraȝte.
Ho broȝte his briddes mete.
Bi hold his nest iseȝ hi ete.
He iseȝ bi one halue.
His nest ifuled ut halue.
Þe faucun þas þroþ þit his bridde.
& lude ȝal & sterne chidde.
Segget me þo hauet þis ido.
Ov nas. neuer icunde þar to.
Hit þas idon ov aloþwiste.
Segge me ȝif ȝe hit þiste
Þo quaþ þat on & quad þat oþer.
Iþis hit þas ure oȝer broþer.
Þe ȝond þat haued þat grete heued.
Þai þat hi nis þar of bireued.
Worp hit ut mid þe alreþrste.
Þat his necke him to berste.
Þe faucun ilefde his bridde.
& nom þat fule brid amidde.
& þarp hit of þan þilde boþe.
Þat pie & cro'þe hit to droþe.
Her bi men segget abi spel.
Þeȝ hit ne bo fuliche spel.
Al so hit is bi þan ungode.
Þat is icumen of fule brode.
& is meind þit fro monne.
Euer he cuþ þat he com þonne.
Þat he com of þan adel eye.
Þeȝ he afro nest leie.
Þeȝ appel trendli fron þon troþe.
þar he & oþer mid groþe.
Þeȝ he bo þar from bi cume.
He cuþ þel þhonene he is icume.

Þos þord aȝaf þe niȝtingale.
& after þare longe tale.
He song so lude and so scharpe.
Riȝt so me grulde schille harpe.
Þos hule luste þiderþard.
& hold hire eȝe noþerþad.
& sat to svolle & ibolve.
Also ho hadde one frogge isuolȝe.
For ho þel þiste & þas iþar.
þat ho song hire abisemar.
& noþeles ho ȝas andsuare.
Þhi nel tu flon in to þe bare.
& seþi þare unker bo.
Of briȝter hoþe of uairur blo.
No þu hauest wel scharpe claþe.
Ne kepich noȝt þat þume claþe.
Þu hauest cliuers suþe stronge.
Þu tuengst þar mid so doþ a tonge.
Þu þoȝtest so doþ þine ilike.
Mid faire þorde me bi swike.
Ich nolde don þa þu me raddest.
Ich þiste þel þat þu me mis raddest.
Schamie þe for þin unrede.
Vn þroȝen if þi svikelhede.
Schild þine svikeldom vram þe liȝte.
& hud þat þoȝe amon þe riȝte.
Þane þu þilt þin unriȝt spene.
Loke þat hit ne bo isene.
Vor svikedom haued schome & hete.
Ȝif hit is ope & underȝete.
Ne speddestu noȝt mid þine unþrenche.
For ich am þar and can þel blenche.
Ne helpþ noȝt þat þu bo to þriste.
Ich þolde viȝte bet mid liste.
Þan þu mid alþine strengþe.
Ich habbe on brede and eck on lengþe.
Castel god on mine rise.
Þel fiȝt þat þel fliȝt seiþ þe þise.
Ac lete þe aþei þos cheste.
Vor suiche þordes boþ unþerste.
& fo þe on mid riȝte dome.
Mid faire þorde and mid y some.
Þeȝ þe ne bo at one acorde.
Þe muȝe bet mid fayre þorde.
Þit ute cheste and bute fiȝte.
Plaidi mid soȝe & mid riȝte.
& mai hure eiþer þat hi þile.
Mid riȝte segge and mid sckile.

Þo quaþ þe hule þu schal us seme.
þat cunne & þille riȝt us deme.
Ich þot þel quaþ þe niȝtingale.
Ne þaref þar of bo no tale.
Maister nichole of guldeforde.
He is þis and þar of þorde.
He is of dome suþe gleu.
& him is loþ eurich unþeu.
He þot in siȝt in eche songe.
Þo singet þel þo singet þronge.
& he can schede vrom þe riȝte.
Þat þoȝe þat þuster from þe liȝte.

Þo hule one þile hi bi þoȝte.
& after þan þis þord up broȝte.
Ich granti þel þat he us deme.
Vor þeȝ he þere þile breme.
& lof him þere niȝtingale.
& oþer þiȝte gente & smale.
Ich þot he is nu suþe acoled.
Nis he vor þe noȝt afoled.
Þat he for þine olde luue.
Me adun legge and þe buue.
Ne schaltu neure so him queme.
Þat he forþe fals dom deme.
He if him ripe & fastrede.
Ne lust him nuto none unrede.
Nu him ne lust na more pleie.
He þile gon ariȝte þeie.

Þe niȝtingale þas al ȝare.
Ho hadde ilorned þel aiware.
Hule ho sede seie me soþ.
Þi dostu þat un þiȝtis doþ.
Þu singist aniȝt and noȝt adai.
& al þi song is þailaþai.
þu miȝt mid þine songe afere.
Alle þat ihereþ þine ibere.
Þu schirchest & ȝollest to þine fere.
Þat hit is grislich to ihere.
Hit þinchest boþe þise & snepe.
Noȝt þat þu singe ac þat þu þepe.
Þu fliȝst aniȝt and noȝt adai.
Þar of ich wndri & þel mai.
Vor eurich þing þat schuniet riȝt.
Hit luueþ þuster & hatiet liȝt.
& eurich þing þat is lof misdede.
Hit luueþ þuster to his dede.
A þis þord þeȝ hit bo unclene.
Is fele manne a muþe imene.
For alured king hit seide & þrot.
He schunet þat hine wl þot.
Ich þene þat þu dost also.
Vor þu fliȝst niȝtes euer mo.
An oþer þing me is a þene.
Þu hauest aniȝt þel briȝte sene.
Bi daie þu art stareblind.
Þat þu ne sichst ne bos ne strind.
Adai þu art blind oþer bisne.
Þar bi men segget a uorbisne.
Riȝt so hit farþ bi þan un gode.
Þat noȝt ne suþ to none gode.
& is so ful of vuele þrenche.
Þat him ne mai noman at prenche.
& can þel þane þurste þai.
& þane briȝte lat a þai.
So doþ þat boþ of þine cunde.
Of liȝte nabbeþ hi none imunde.

Þos hule luste suþe longe.
& þas of toned suþe stronge.
Ho quaþ. þu attest niȝtingale.
Þu miȝtest bet hoten galegale.
Vor þu hauest to monie tale.
Lat þine tunge habbe spale.
Þu þenest þat þes dai bo þinoȝe.
Lat me nu habbe mine þroȝe.
Bo nu stille & lat me speke.
Ich þille bon of þe aþreke.
& lust hu ich con me bitelle.
Mid riȝte soþe þit ute spelle.
Þu seist þat ich me hude adai.
þarto ne segge ich nich ne nai.
& lust ich telle þe þareuore.
Al þi hit is & þareuore.
Ich habbe bile stif & stronge.
& gode cliuers scharp & longe.
So hit bi cumeþ to hauekes cunne.
Hit is min hiȝte hit is mi þune.
Þat ich me draȝe to mine cunde.
Ne mai noman þareuore schende.
On me hit is þel isene.
Vor riȝte cunde ich am so kene.
Vor þi ich am loþ smale foȝle.
Þat floþ bi grunde an bi þuuele.
Hi me bi chermet & bi gredeþ.
& hore flockes to ne ledeþ.
Me is lof to habbe reste.
& sitte stille in mine neste.
Vor nere ich neuer no þe betere.
Þisich mid chauling & mid chatere.
Hom schende & mid fule þorde.
So herdes doþ oþer mid schit þorde.
Ne lust me þit þe screþen chide.
For þi ich þende from hom þide.
Hit is a þisemonne dome.
& hi hit segget þel ilome.
Þat me ne chide þit þe gidie.
Ne þit þan ofne me ne ȝonie.
At sume siþe herde itelle.
Hu alured sede on his spelle.
Loke þat þu ne bo þare.
Þar chauling boþ & cheste ȝare.
Lat sottes chide & uorþ þu go.
& ich am þis & do also.
& ȝet alured seide an oþer side.
A þord þat is isprunge þide.
Þat þit þe fule haueþ imene.
Ne cumeþ he neuer from him cleme.
Þenestu þat haueck bo þe þorse.
Þoȝ croþe bigrede him bi þe mershe.
& goþ to him mid hore chirme.
Riȝt so hi þille þit him schirme.
Þe hauec folȝeþ gode rede.
& fliȝt his þei & lat hem grede.

Ȝet þu me seist of oþer þinge.
& telst þat ich ne can noȝt finge.
Ac al mi rorde is þoning.
& to ihire grislich þing.
Þat nis noȝt soþ ich singe efne.
Mid fulle dreme & lude stefne.
Þu þenist þat ech song bo grislich.
Þat þine pipinge nis ilich.
Mi stefne is blod & noȝt un orne.
Ho is ilich one grete horne.
& þin is ilich one pipe.
Of one smale þode un ripe.
Ich singe bet þan þu dest.
Þu chaterest so doþ on irish prost.
Ich singe an eue ariȝte time.
& soþþe þon hit is bedtime.
Þe þridde fiþe ad middelniȝte.
& so ich mine song adiȝte.
Þone ich iso arise vorre.
Oþer dairim oþer daisterre.
Ich do god mid mine þrote.
& þarni men to hore note.
Ac þu singest allelonge niȝt.
From eve fort hit is dai liȝt.
& eure leist þin osong.
So longe so þe niȝt is long.
& eure croþeþ þi þrecche crei.
Þat he ne sþikeþ niȝt ne dai.
Mid þine pipinge þu a dunest.
Þas monnes earen þar þu wunest.
& makest þine song so unþrþ.
Þa me ne telþ of þar noȝ þrþ.
Eurich murȝþe mai so longe ileste.
Þat ho shal liki þel unþreste.
Vor harpe & pipe & fuȝeles songe.
Mislikeþ ȝif hit is tolong.
Ne bo þe song neuer so murie.
Þat he ne shal þinche þel unmurie.
Ȝef he ilesteþ ouer unþille.
So þu miȝt þine song aspille.
Vor hit is soþ alured hit seide.
& me hit mai ine boke rede.
Eurich þing mai losen his godhede.
Mid unmeþe & mid ouerdede.
Mid este þu þe miȝt ouer quatie
& ouerfulle makeþ wlatie.
An eurich mureȝþe maiagon.
Ȝif me hit halt eure forþ inon.
Bute one þat is godes riche.
Þat eure is svete & eure iliche.
Þeȝ þu nime euere oþþan lepe.
Hit is eure ful bihepe.
Wunder hit is of godes riche.
Þat eure spenþ & euer is iliche.

Ȝut þu me seist on oþer shome.
þat ich an on mine eȝen lome.
An seist for þat ich flo bi niȝte.
Þat ich ne mai iso biliȝte.
Þu licst. on me hit is isene.
Þat ich habbe gode sene.
Vor nis non so dim þusternesse.
Þat ich euer iso þe lasse.
Þu þenest þat ich ne miȝte iso.
Vor ich bidaie noȝt ne flo.
Þe hare luteþ aldai.
Ac noþeles iso he mai.
Ȝif hundes urneþ to him þard.
He gengþ þel suiþe a wayþart.
& hokeþ paþes sviþe nareþe.
& haueþ mid him his blenches ȝareþe.
& hupþ & stard suþe coue.
An secheþ paþes to þe groue.
Ne sholde he uor boþe his eȝe.
So don ȝif he þe bet niseȝe.
Ich mai ison fo þel so on hare.
Þeȝ ich bi daie sitte an dare.
Þar aȝte men boþ in þorre.
An fareþ boþe ner an forre.
An ouer uareþ fele þode.
An doþ bi niȝte gode node.
Ich folȝi þan aȝte manne.
An flo biniȝte in hore banne.

Þe niȝtingale in hire þoȝte.
athold alþis & longe þoȝte.
Þat ho þar after miȝte segge.
Vor ho ne miȝte noȝt a legge.
Þat þe hule hadde hire ised.
Vor he spac boþe riȝt an red.
An hire ofþuȝte þat no hadde.
Þe speche so foruorþ iladde.
An þas oferd þat hire ansþare.
Ne þrþe noȝt ariȝt ifare.
Ac noþeles he fpac boldeliche.
Vor he is þis þat hardeliche.
Þiþ is uo berþ grete ilete.
Þat he uor areȝþe hit ne forlete.
Vor suich þorþ bold ȝif þu fliȝste.
Þat þle flo ȝif þu isvicst.
Ȝif he ifiþ þat þu nart areȝ.
He þile of bore þrchen bareȝ.
& forþi þeȝ þe niȝtingale.
Þere aferd ho spac bolde tale.

Þule ho seide þi do stu so.
Þu singest a þinter þolaþo.
Þu singest so doþ hen asnoþe.
Al þat ho singeþ hit is for þoþe.
A þintere þu singest þroþe and ȝomere.
An eure þu art dumb a sumere.
Hit is for þine fule niþe.
Þat þu ne miȝt mid us bo bliþe.
Vor þu forbernest þelneȝ foronde.
Þane ure blisfe cumeþ to londe.
Þu farest so doþ þe ille.
Evrich blisse him is un þille.
Grucching & luring him boþ rade.
Ȝif he isoþ þat men boþ glade.
He þolde þat he iseȝe.
Teres in evrich monnes eȝe.
Ne roȝte he þeȝ flockes þere.
Imeind bi toppes & bi here.
Al so þu dost on þire side.
Vor þanne snov liþ þicke & þide.
An alle þiȝtes habbeþ sorȝe.
Þu singest from eue fort amorȝe.
Ac ich alle blisse mid me bringe.
Ech þiht is glad formine þinge.
And blisseþ hit þanne ich cume.
& hiȝteþ aȝen mine kume.
Þe blostme ginneþ springe & sprede.
Boþe ine tro & ek on mede.
Þe lilie mid hire faire þlite.
Wolcumeþ me þat þu hit þte.
Bid me mid hire faire blo.
Þat ich shulle to hire flo.
Þe rose also mid hire rude.
Þat cumeþ ut of þe þorne wode.
Bit me þat ich shulle singe.
Vor hire luue one skentinge.
& ich so do þurȝ niȝt & dai.
Þe more ich singe þe more i mai.
An skente hi mid mine songe.
Ac noþeles noȝt ouerlonge.
Þane ich iso þat men boþ glade.
Ich nelle þat hi bon to sade.
Þan is ido vor þan ich com.
Ich fare aȝen & do þisdom.
Þane mon hoȝeþ of his sheue.
An salewi cumeþ on grene leue.
Ich fare hom & nime leue.
Ne recche ich noȝt of þinteres rene.
Þan ich iso þat cumeþ þat harde.
Ich fare hom to min erde.
An habbe boþe luue & þonc.
Þat ich her com & hider sþonk.
Þan min erende is ido.
Sholde ich bileue: nai þarto.
Vor he nis noþer ȝep ne þis.
Þat longe abid þar him nod nis.

Þos hule luste & leide an hord.
Al þis mot þord after þord.
An after þoȝte hu he miȝte.
Ansvere uinde best mid riȝte.
Vor he mot hine fulþel biþenche.
Þat is a ferd of plaites þrenche.

Þv aishest me þe hule sede.
þi ich a þinter singe & grede.
Hit is godemonne iþone.
An þas from þe þorlde frome.
Þat ech god man his frond icnoþe.
An blisse mid hom sume þroþe.
In his huse at his borde.
Mid faire speche & faire þorde.
& hure & hure to cristes masse.
Þane riche & poure more & laste.
Singeþ cundut niȝt & dai.
Ich hom helpe þhat ich mai.
& ek ich þenche of oþer þinge.
Þane to pleien oþer to singe.
Ich habbe herto gode ansuare.
Anon iredi & al ȝare.
Vor sumeres tide is alto þlonc.
An doþ misreken monnes þonk.
Vor he ne recþ noȝt of clennesse.
Al his þoȝt is of golnesse.
Vor no ne dor no leng nabideþ.
Ac eurich upon oþer rideþ.
Þe fulue stottes ine þe stode.
Boþ boþe þilde & mereþode.
& þu sulf art þar among.
For of golnesse is al þi song.
An aȝen þet þu wlt teme.
Þu art þel modi and þel breme.
Sone so þu haust itrede.
Ne miȝtu leng a þord iqueþe.
Ac pipest al so doþ amose.
Mid chokeringe mid steune hose.
Ȝet þu singst þorse þon þe heisugge.
Ȝat fliȝþ bi grunde among þe stubbe.
Þane þi lust is ago.
Þanne is þi song ago also.
A sumere chorles aþedeþ.
& uorcrempeþ & uor bredeþ.
Hit nis for luue noþeles.
Ac is þe chorles þode res.
For þane he haueþ ido his dede.
Ifallen is al his boldhede.
Habbe he istunge under gore.
Ne last his luue no leng more.
Al so hit is on þine mode.
So sone so þu sittest abrode.
þu forlost al þine þise.
Al so þu fareset on þine rise.
Þane þu hauest ido þi gome.
Þi steune goþ a non to shome.
Ac þane niȝtes cumeþ longe.
& bingeþ forstes starke an stronge.
Þanne erest hit is isene.
Þar is þe snelle þar is þe kene.
At þan harde me mai auinde.
Þo geþ forþ þo liþ bi hinde.
Me mai ison at þare node.
Þan me shal harde þike bode.
Þanne ich am snel & pleie & singe.
& hiȝte me mid mi skentinge.
Of none þintere ich ne recche.
Vor ich nam non asvnde þrecche.
& ek ich frouri uele þiȝte.
Þat mid hom nabbed none miȝte.
Hi boþ hoȝfule & uel arme.
An secheþ ȝorne to þe þarme.
Oft ich singe uor hom þe more.
For lutli sum of hore sore.
Hu þincþ þe artu ȝut inume.
Artu mid riȝte ouercume.

Nay nay sede þe niȝtingale.
þu shalt i here anoþer tale.
Ȝet nis þos speche ibroȝt to dome.
Ac bo þel stille & lust nu tome.
Ich shal mid one bare þorde.
Do þat þi speche þrht forþorþe.

Þat nere noht riȝt þe hule sede.
Þu hauest bi cloped also þubede.
An ich þe habbe iȝiue ansuare,
Ac ar þe to unker dome fare.
Ich þille speke to þard þe.
Al so þu speke to þard me.
An þu me ansuare ȝif þu miȝt.
Seie me nu þu þrecche þiȝt.
Is in þe eni oþer note.
Bute þu hauest schille þrote.
Þu nart noȝt to non oþer þinge.
Bute þu canst of chateringe.
Vor þu art lutel an unstrong.
An nis þi reȝel noþing long.
Þat dostu godes among monne.
Na mo þe deþ a þercche þranne.
Of þe ne cumeþ non oþer god.
Bute þu gredest suich þu bo þod.
An bo þi piping ouergo.
Ne boþ on þe craftes namo.
Alured sede þat þas þis.
He miȝte þel for soþ hit is.
Nis no man for is bare songe.
Lof ne þrþ noȝt suþe longe.
Vor þat is a forþorþe man.
Þat bute singe noȝt ne gan.
Þu nart bute on forþorþe þing.
On þe nis bute chatering.
Þu art dim an of fule hoþe.
An þinchest a lutel soti cloþe.
Þu nart fair no þu nart strong.
Ne þu nart þicke ne þu nart long.
Þu hauest imist al of fairhede.
An lutel is al þi god ede.
An oþer þing of þe ich mene.
Þu nartvair ne þu nart clene.
Þane þu comest to manne haȝe.
Þar þornes boþ & ris idraȝe.
Bi hegge & bi þicke þode.
Þar men goþ oft to hore node.
Þarto þu draȝst þarto þu þnest.
An oþer clene stede þu schunest.
Þan ich floniȝtes after muse.
Imai þe uinde ate rum huse.
Among þe þode among þe netle.
Þu sittest and singst bihinde þe secle.
Þar me mai þe ilomest finde.
Þar men þorpeþ hore bihinde.
Ȝet þu atuitest me mine mete.
An seist þat ich fule þiȝtes ete.
Ac þat etestu þat þu ne liȝe.
Bute attercoppe and fule uliȝe.
An þormes ȝif þu miȝte finde.
Among þe uolde of harde rinde.
Ȝet ich can do þel gode þike.
Vor ich can loki manne þike.
An mine þike boþ þel gode.
Vor ich helpe to manne uode.
Ich can nimen mus at berne.
An ek at chirche ine þe derne.
Vor me is lof to cristes huse.
To clansi hit þiþ fule muse.
Ne schal þar neure come to.
Ful þiȝt ȝif ich hit mai iuo.
An ȝif me lust one mi skentinge.
To þernen oþer þnienge.
Ich habbe at þude tron þel grete.
Mit þicke boȝe noþing blete.
Mid iui grene al bi groþe.
Þat eure stont iliche ibloþe.
And his hou neuer neuorlost.
Þan hit sniuþ ne þan hit frost.
Þar in ich habbe god ihold.
A þinter þarm a sumere cold.
Þane min hus stont briȝt & grene.
Of þine nis noþing isene.
Ȝet þu me telst of oþer þinge.
Of mine briddes seist gabbinge.
Þat hore nest nis noȝt clene.
Hit is fale oþer þiȝte imene.
Vor hors a stable & oxe a stalle.
Boþ al þat hom þule þar falle.
An lutle children in þe cradele.
Boþe chorles an ek aþele.
Boþ alþat in hore ȝoeþe.
Þat hi uorleteþ in hore duȝeþe.
Þat can þat ȝongling hit bihede.
Ȝif hit misdeþ hit mod nede.
Auorbisne is of olde iwrne.
Þat node makeþ old þif urne.
An ȝet ich habbe an oþer andsþare.
Þiltu to mine neste uare.
An loki hu hit is idiȝt.
Ȝif þu art þis lorni þu miȝst.
Mi nest is holȝ & rum a midde.
So hit is softest mine bridde.
Hit is broiden al a bute.
Vrom þe neste uor þiþ ute.
Þarto hi god to hore node.
Ac þat þu menest ich hom forbode.
Þe nimeþ ȝeme of manne bure.
An after þan þe makeþ ure.
Men habbet among oþer iþende.
Arum hus at hore bures ende.
Vor þat hi nelleþ to uor go.
An mine briddes doþ al so.
Site nu stille chaterestre.
Nere þu neuer ibunde uastre.
Her to ne uindestu neuer andsþare.
Hong up þin ax nu þu miȝt fare.

Þe niȝtingale at þisse þorde.
þas þel neȝ ut of rede iþorþe
An þoȝte ȝorne on hire mode.
Ȝif ho oȝt elles understode.
Ȝif ho kuþe oȝt bute singe.
Þat miȝte helpe to oþer þinge.
Herto ho moste andsþere uinde.
Oþer mid alle bon bi hinde.
An hit is suþe strong to fiȝte
Aȝen soþ & aȝen riȝte.
He mot gon to al mid ginne.
Þan þe horte boþ on þinne
An þe man mot on oþer segge.
He mot bihemmen & bilegge.
Ȝif muþ þiþute mai bi þro.
Þat me þe horte noȝt niso.
An sone mai a þord mis reke.
Þar muþ shal aȝen horte speke.
An sone mai a þord mis storte.
Þar muþ shal speken aȝen horte.
Ac noþeles ȝut upe þon.
Her is to red þo hine kon.
Vor neuer nis þit so kene.
So þane red him is aþene
Þanne erest kumed his ȝepnede.
Þone hit is alremest on drede.
For aluered seide of olde quide.
An ȝut hit nis of horte islide.
Þone þe bale is alrehecst.
Þonne is þe bote alre necst.
Vor þit þest among his sore.
An for his sore hit is þe more.
Vor þi nis neuere mon redles.
Arhis horte bo þitles.
Ac ȝif þat he forlost his þit.
Þonne is his red purs alto slit.
Ȝif he ne kon his þit at holde.
Ne uint he red inone uolde.
Vor aluid seide þat þel kuþe.
Eure he spac mid soþe muþe.
Þone þe bale is al re hecst.
Þanne is þe bote alrenest.

Þe niȝtingale al hire hoȝe.
Mid rede hadde þelbitoȝe.
Among þe harde among þe toȝte.
Ful þel mid rede hire biþoȝte.
An hadde andsuere gode ifunde.
Among alhire harde stunde.

Nule þu axest me ho seide.
Ȝif ich kon eni oþer dede.
Bute singen in sume tide.
An bringe blisse for & þide.
Þi axestu of craftes mine.
Betere is min on þan alle þine.
Betere is o song of mine muþe.
Þan al þat eure þi kun kuþe.
An lust ich telle þe þareuore.
Þostu to þan man þas ibore.
To þare blisse of houene riche.
Þar euer is song & murȝþe iliche.
Þider fundeþ eurich man.
Þat eniþing of gode kan.
Vor þi me singþ in holi chirche.
An clerkes ginneþ songes þirche.
Þat man iþenche bi þe songe.
Þider he shal & þar bon longe.
Þat he þe murȝþe ne uorȝete.
Ac þar of þenche & bi ȝete.
An nime ȝeme of chirche steuene.
Hu murie is þe blisse of houene.
Clerkes munekes & kanunes.
Þar boþ þos gode þicke tunes.
Ariseþ up to midel niȝte.
An singeþ of þe houene liȝte.
An prostes upe londe singeþ.
Þane þe liȝt of daie springeþ.
An ich hom helpe þat imai.
Ich singe mid hom niȝt & dai.
An ho boþ alle for me þe gladdere.
An to þe songe boþ þe raddere.
Ich þarni men to here gode.
Þat hi bon bliþe on hore mode.
An bidde þat hi moten iseche.
Þan ilke song þat euer is eche.
Nu þu miȝt hule sitte & clinge.
Her among nis no chateringe.
Ich graunti þat þe go to dome.
To fore þe sulfe þe pope of rome.
Ac abid ȝete noþeles.
Þu shalt ihere an oþer þes.
Ne shaltu for engelonde.
At þisse þorde me at stonde.
Þi atuitestu me mine unstrengþe.
An mine ungrete & mine unlengþe.
An seist þat ich nam noȝt strong.
Vor ich nam noþer gret ne long.
Ac þu nost neuer þat þu menst.
Bute lese þordes þu me lenst.
For ich kan craft & ich kan liste.
And þareuore ich am þus þriste.
Ich kan þit & song manieine.
Ne triste ich to non oþer maine.
Vor soþ hit is þat seide alured.
Ne mai no strengþe aȝen red.
Oft spet þel alute liste.
Þar muche strengþe sholde miste.
Mid lutle strengþe þurȝ ginne.
Castel & burȝ me mai iþinne.
Mid liste me mai þalle felle.
An þorpe of horsse kniȝtes snelle.
Vuel strengþe is lutel þurþ.
Ac þisdom [OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED] naueþ non euening.
An hors is strengur þan amon.
Ac for hit non iþit ne kon.
Hit berþ on rugge grete semes.
And draȝþ bi uore grete temes.
An þoleþ boþe ȝerd & spure.
An stont iteid at mulne dure.
An hit deþ þat mon hit hot.
An for þan þat hit no þit not.
Ne mai his strenþe hit ishilde.
Þat hit nabuȝþ þe lutle childe.
Mon deþ mid strengþe & mid þitte.
Þat oþer þing nis non his fitte.
Þeȝ alle strengþe at one þere.
Monnes þit ȝet more þere.
Vor þe mon mid his crafte.
Over kumeþ al orþliche shafte.
Also ich do mid mine one songe.
Bet þan þu al þe ȝer longe.
Vor mine crafte men me luuieþ.
Vor þine strengþe men þe shunieþ.
Telstu bi me þe þurs forþan.
Þat ich bute anne craft nekan.
Ȝif tueie men goþ to þraslinge.
An eiþer oþer faste þringe.
An þe on can sþenges suþe fele.
An kan his þrenches þel for hele.
An þe oþer ne can sþeng but anne.
An þe is god þiþ eche manne.
An mid þon one leiþ to grunde.
Anne after oþer alutle stunde.
Þat þarf he recche of amosþenge.
Þone þe on him is sþo genge.
Þe seist þat þu canst fele þike.
Ac euer ich am þin unilike.
Do þine craftes alle to gadere.
Ȝet is min on horte betere.
Oft þan hundes foxes driueþ.
Þe kat ful þel him sulue liueþ.
Þeȝ he ne kunne þrench bute anne.
Þe for so god ne ne can nanne.
Þe he kunne so uele þrenche.
Þat he þenþ eche hunde at prenche.
Vor he can paþes riȝte & þoȝe.
An he kan hongi biþe boȝe.
An so forlost þe hund his fore.
An turnþ aȝen eft to þan more.
Þe uox kan crope biþe heie.
An turne ut from his forme þeie.
An eft sone kume þarto.
Þonne is þe hundes smel fordo.
He not þurs þe imeinde smak.
Þeþer he shal auorþ þe abak.
Ȝif þe uox mist of al þis dþole.
At þan ende he cropþ to hole.
Ac naþeles mid alle his þrenche.
Ne kan he hine so bi þenche.
Þeȝ he bo ȝep an suþe snel.
Þat he ne lost his rede uel.
Þe cat ne kan þrench bute anne.
Noþer bi dune ne bi uenne.
Bute he kan climbe suþe þel.
Þarmid he þereþ his greie uel.
Al so ich segge bi mi solue.
Betere is min on þan þine tþelue.

Abid abid þe ule seide.
þu gest al to mid sþikel ede.
Alle þine þordes þu bileist.
Þat hit þincþ soþ al þat þu seist.
Alle þine þordes boþ isliked.
An so bi semed an biliked.
Þat alle þo þat hi auoþ.
Hi þeneþ þat þu segge soþ.
Abid abid me shal þe ȝene.
Þu hit shal þrþe þel isene.
Þat þu hauest muchel iloȝe
Þone þi lesing boþ un þroȝe.
Þu seist þat þu singist mankunne.
& techest hom þat hi fundieþ honne.
Vp to þe songe þat eure ilest.
Ac hit is alre þnder mest.
Þat þu darst liȝe so opeliche.
Þenest þuhi bringe so liȝtliche.
To godes riche al singinge.
Nai nai hi shulle þel auinde.
Þat hi mid longe þope mote.
Of hore sunnen bidde bote
Ar hi mote euer kume þare.
Ich rede þi þat men bo ȝare.
An more þepe þane singe.
Þat fundeþ to þan houen kinge.
Vor nis no man þit ute sunne.
Vor þi he mot ar he þende honne.
Mid teres an mid þope bete.
Þat him bo sur þat er þas sþete.
Þar to ich helpe god hit þot.
Ne singe ih hom no foliot.
For al me song is of longinge.
An imend sumdel mid þoninge.
Þat mon bi me hine bi þenche.
Þat he groni for his unþrenche.
Mid mine songe ich hi ne pulte.
Þat he groni for his gulte.
Ȝif þu gest her of to disputinge.
Ich þepe bet þane þu singe.
Ȝif riȝt goþ forþ & abak þrong.
Betere is mi þop þane þi song.
Þeȝ sumemen bo þurȝut gode.
An þurȝut clene on hore mode.
Hon longeþ honne noþeles.
Þat boþ her þo is hom þes.
Vor þeȝ hi bon hom solue iborȝe.
Hi ne soþ her noþiȝt bote sorþe.
Vor oþer men hi þepeþ sore.
An for hom biddeþ cristes ore.
Ich helpe monne on eiþer halue.
Mimuþ haueþ tþeire kunne salue.
Þan gode ich fulste to longinge.
Vor þan hin longeþ ich him singe.
An þan sunfulle ich helpe alsþo.
Vor ich him teche þare is þo.
Ȝet ich þe ȝene in oþer þise.
Vor þane þu sittest on þine rise.
Þu draȝst men to fleses luste.
Þat þlleþ þine songes luste.
Al þu forlost þe murȝþe of houene.
For þarto neuestu none steuene.
Al þat þu singst is of golnesse.
For nis on þe non holinesse.
Ne þened naman for þi pipinge.
Þateni preost in chircce singe.
Ȝet iþe þulle an oder segge.
Ȝif þu hit const ariht bilegge.
Þi nultu singe an oder þeode.
Þar hit is muchele more neode.
Þu neauer ne singst in irlonde.
Ne þu ne cumest noȝt in scotlonde.
Hþi nultu fare to noreþeie.
An singin men of galeþeie.
Þar beoð men þat lutel kunne.
Of songe þat is bineoðe þe sunne.
Þi nultu þare preoste singe.
An teche of þire þritelinge.
An þisi hom mid þire steuene.
Hu engeles singeð ine heouene.
Þu farest so doð an ydel þel.
Þar springeþ bi burne þar is snel.
& let for drue þe dune.
& floh on idel þar adune.
Ac ich fare boþe norþ & soþ.
In eauer euch londe ich am cuuþ.
East & þest. feor & neor.
Ido þel faire mi meoster.
An þarni men mid mine bere.
Þat þi dþeole song heo ne forlere.
Ich þisse men mid min songe.
Þat hine sunegi no þiht longe.
I bidde hom þat heo isþike.
Þat heom seolue ne bi sþike.
For betere is þat heo þepen here.
Þan elles hþar to beon deoulene fere.

Þe niȝtingale þasigremet.
an ek heo þas sumdel of chamed.
For þe hule hire atþiten hadde.
In hþucche stude he sat an gradde.
Bihinde þe bure among þe wede.
Þar men goð to here neode.
An sat sum del & heo bi þohte.
An þiste þel on hire þohte.
Þe þraþþe binimeþ monnes red.
For hit seide þeking alfred.
Sele endeð þel þe loþe.
An selde plaideð þel þe þroþe.
For þraþþe meinþ þe horte blod.
Þat hit floþeþ so þilde flod.
An al þe heorte ouergeþ.
Þat heo naueþ no þing bute breþ.
An so for leost al hire liht.
Þat heo ne siþ foð neriht.
Þe niȝtingale hi understod.
An ouer gan lette hire mod.
He mihte bet speken asele.
Þan mid þraþþe þordes deale.

Þule heo seide lust nu hider.
Þu schalt falle. þe þei is slider.
Þu seist ich fleo bi hinde bure.
Hit is riht þe bur is ure.
Þar lauerd liggeþ & lauedi.
Ich schal heom singe & sitte bi.
Þenstu þat uise men forlete.
For fule venne þe riȝtte strete.
Ne sunne þe later shine.
Þeȝ hit bo ful ine nest þine.
Sholde ich for one hole brede.
For lete mine riȝte stude.
Þat ich ne singe biþe bedde.
Þar louerd haueþ his loue ibedde.
Hit is mi riȝt hit is mi laȝe.
Þar to þe herst ich me draȝe.
Ac ȝet þu ȝelpst of þine songe.
Þat þu canst ȝolle þroþe & stronge.
An seist þu uisest mankunne.
Þat hi bi þepen hore sunne.
Solde euchmon wonie & grede.
Riȝt suich hi þeren un lede.
Solde hi ȝollen al so þu dest.
Hi miȝte o feren here brost.
Man schal bo stille & noȝt grede.
He mot bi þepe his misdede.
Ac þaris cristes heriinge.
Þar me shal grede & lude singe.
Nis noþer to lud ne to long.
At riȝte time chirche song.
Þu ȝolst & þones & ich singe.
Þi steuene is þop & min skentinge
Euer mote þu ȝolle & þepen.
Þat þuþi lif mote forleten.
An ȝollen mote þu so heȝe.
Þat ut berste bo þin eȝe.
Þeþer is betere of tþere tþom.
Þat mon bo bliþe oþer grom.
So bo hit euer in unker siþe.
Þat þu bo sori & ich bliþe.
Ȝut þu aisheist þi ich ne fare.
In to oþer londe & singe þare.
No þat sholde ich among homdo.
Þar neuer blisse necom to.
Þat lond nis god ne hit nis este.
Ac þildernisse hit is & þeste.
Knarres & cludes houentinge.
Snou & haȝel hom is genge.
Þat lond is grislich & unuele.
Þe men boþ þilde & unisele.
Hi nabbeþ noþer griþ ne sibbe.
Hi ne reccheþ hu hi libbe.
Hi eteþ fihs and flehs unsode.
Suich þulues hit hadde to brode.
Hi drinkeþ milc & þei þarto.
Hi nute elles þat hi do.
Hi nabbeþ noþ þin ne bor.
Ac libbeþ al so þilde dor.
Hi goþ bitiȝt mid ruȝe uelle.
Riȝt suich hi comen ut of helle.
Þeȝ eni god man to hom come.
So þile dude sum from rome.
For hom to lere gode þeþes.
An for to leten hore unþeþes.
He miȝte bet sitte stille.
Vor al his þile he sholde spille.
He miȝte bet teche ane bore.
To þeȝe boþe sheld & spere.
Þan me þat þilde folc ibringe.
Þat hi me segge þolde ihere singe.
Þat sol ich þar mid mine songe.
Ne sunge ich hom neuer so longe.
Mi song þere ispild echdel.
For hom ne mai halter ne bridel.
Bringe vrom hore þude þise.
Ne mon mid stele ne mid ire.
Ac þar long is boþe este & god.
An þar men habbeþ milde mod.
Ich noti mid hom mine þrote.
Vor ich mai do þar gode note.
An bringe hom loue tiþinge.
Vor ich of chirche songe singe.
Hit þas iseid in olde laȝe.
An ȝet ilast þilke soþsaȝe.
Þat man shal erien an soþe.
Þar he þenþ after sum god moþe.
Forhe is þod þat soþeþ his sed.
Þar neuer gras ne sprinþ ne bled.

Þe hule þas þroþ to cheste rad.
Mid þisse þorde hire eȝen abrad.
Þu seist þu þitest manne bures.
Þar leues boþ & faire flores.
Þar tþo iloue in one bedde.
Liggeþ biclop & þel bihedde.
Enes þu sunge ic þod þel þare.
Bi one bure & þoldest lere.
Þe lefdi to an uuel luue.
An sunge boþe loȝe & buue.
An lerdest hi to don shome.
An vn riht of hire licome.
Þe louerd þat sone underȝat.
Liim & grineþ þel eiþat.
Sette & ledde þe forto lacche.
Þu come sone to þan hacche.
Þu þere in ume in one grine.
Al hit aboȝte þine shine.
Þu naddest non oþer dom ne laȝe.
Bute mid þilde horse þere to draȝe.
Vonde ȝif þu miȝt eft mis rede.
Þaþer þu þult þif þe maide.
Þi song mai bo so longe genge.
Þat þu shalt þippen on asprenge.

Þe niȝtingale at þisse þorde.
Mid sþorde an mid speres orde.
Ȝif ho mon þere þolde fiȝte.
Ac þo ho bet do ne micte.
Ho uaȝt mid hire þise tunge.
Þel fiȝt þat þel specþ seiþ in þe songe.
Of hire tunge ho nom red.
Þel fiȝt þat þel specþ seide alured.

Þat seistu þis for mine shome.
Þe louerd hadde herof grome.
He þas so gelus of his þiue.
Þat he ne miȝte for his liue.
Iso þat man þiþ hire speke.
Þat his horte nolde breke.
He hire bileck in one bure.
Þat hire þas boþe stronge & sure.
Ich hadde of hire milse an ore.
An sori þas for hire sore.
An skente hi mid mine songe.
Al þat ich miȝte raþe an longe.
Vor þan þe kniȝt þas þiþ me þroþ.
Vor riȝte niþe ich þas him loþ.
He dude me his oȝene shome.
Ac al him turnde it to grome.
Þat underþat þe king henri.
Jesus his soule do merci.
He let for bonne þene kniȝt.
Þat hadde idon so muchel unriȝt.
Ine so gode kinges londe.
Vor riȝte niþe & for fule onde.
Let þane lutle fuȝel nime.
An him for deme lif an lime.
Hit þas þrþsipe almine kunne.
For þon þe kniȝt forles his þunne.
An ȝaf forme an hundred punde.
An mine briddes seten isunde.
An hadde soþþe blisse & hiȝte.
An þere bliþe & þel miȝte.
Vor þon ich þas so þelaþreke.
Euer eft ich dart þe bet speke.
Vor hit bitidde ene sþo.
Ich am þe bliþur euer mo.
Nu ich mai singe þar ich þulle.
Ne dar me neuereft mon agrulle.
Ac þu eremig þu þrecche gost.
Þu ne canst finde ne þu nost.
An holȝ stoc þar þu þe miȝt hude.
Þat me ne tþengeþ þine hude.
Vor children gromes heme & hine.
Hi þencheþ alle of þire pine.
Ȝif hi muȝe iso þe sitte.
Stones hi doþ in hore slitte.
An þe to torued & to heneþ.
An þine fule bon to sheneþ.
Ȝif þu art iþorpe oþer ishote.
Þanne þu miȝt erest to note.
Vor meþe hoþ in one rodde.
An þu mid þine fule codde.
An mid þine ateliche spore.
Bi þerest manne corn urom dore.
Nis noþer noȝt þi lif ne þi blod.
Ac þu art shueles suþe god.
Þar noþe sedes boþ isoþe.
Pinnuc. golfinc. rok. ne croþe.
Ne dar þar neuer cumen ihende.
Ȝif þi buc hongeþ at þan ende.
Þar tron shulle aȝere bloþe.
An ȝunge sedes springe & groþe.
Ne dar no fuȝel þarto uonge.
Ȝif þu art þar ouer ihonge.
Þi lif is eure luþer qued.
Þu nard noȝt bute ded.
Nu þu miȝt þite sikerliche.
Þat þine leches boþ grisliche
Þe þile þu art on lifdaȝe.
Vor þane þu hongest islaȝe.
Ȝut hi boþ ofþe ofdradde.
Þe fuȝeles þat þe er bigradde.
Mid riȝte men boþ þiþþe þroþe.
For þu singist euer of hore loþe.
Al þat þu singst raþe oþer late.
Hit is euer of manne un þate.
Þane þu hauest aniȝt igrad.
Men boþ of þe þel sore of drad.
Þu singst þar sum man shal be ded.
Euer þu bodest sum ne qued.
Þu singst aȝen eiȝte lure.
Oþer of summe frondes rure.
Oþer þu bodes huses brune.
Oþer ferde of manne. oþer þoues rune.
Oþer þu bodest cualm of oreue.
Oþer þat londfolc þurþ idorue.
Oþer þat þif lost hire make.
Oþer þu bodest cheste an sake.
Euer þu singist of manne hareme.
Þurȝ þe hi boþ sori & areme.
Þu ne singst neuer onesiþe.
Þat hit nis for sum unsiþe.
Heruore hit is þat me þeshuneþ.
An þe to torueþ & to buneþ.
Mid staue & stoone & turf & clute.
Þat þu ne miȝt noþar at rute.
Dahet euer suich budel in tune.
Þat euer bodeþ unþreste rune.
An euer bringeþ vuele tiþinge.
An þat euer specþ of vuele þinge.
God almiȝti wrþe him þroþ.
An al þat þerieþ linnene cloþ.

Þe hule ne abot noȝt sþiþ longe.
Ah ȝef ondsþare starke & stronge
Þat quaþ ho hartu ihoded.
Oþer þu kursest al un ihoded.
For prestes þike ich þat þu dest.
Ich not ȝef þu þere ȝaure prest.
Ich not ȝef þu canst masse singe.
Inoh þu canst of mansinge.
Ah hit is for þine alde niþe.
Þat þu me akursedest oðer siðe.
Ah þarto is lihtlich ondsþare.
Drah to þe cþað þe cartare.
Þi attþitestume mine insihte.
An min iþit & mine miȝte.
For ich am þiti ful iþis.
An þod al þat to kumen is.
Ich þot of hunger of hergonge.
Ich þot ȝef men schule libbe longe.
Ich þat ȝef þif luste hire make.
Ich þat þarschal beo niþ and þrake.
Ich þot hþo fchal beon & honge.
Oþer elles fulne deþ a fonge
Ȝef men habbeþ bataile inume.
Ich þat hþaþer schal beon ouer kume.
Ich þat ȝif cþalm scal comen on orfe.
And ȝif dor schul ligge & storue.
Ich þot ȝef treon schule bloþe.
Ich þat ȝef cornes schule groþe.
Ich þot ȝef huses schule berne.
Ich þot ȝef men schule eorne oþer erne.
Ich þot ȝef sea schal schipes drenche.
Ich þot ȝef smiþes schal uuele clenche
An ȝet ich con muchel more.
Ich con inoh in bokes lore.
An eke ich can of þe goddspelle.
More þan ich nule þe telle.
For ich at chirche come ilome.
An muche leorni of þisdome.
Ich þat al of þe tacninge.
An of oþer feole þinge.
Ȝef eni mon schal rem abide.
Al ich hit þot ear hit itide.
Ofte for mine muchele iþitte.
Þel sorimod & þorþ ich sitte.
Þan ich iseo þar sum þrechede.
Is manne neh in noh ich grede.
Ich bidde þar men beon iþarte.
An habbe gode reades ȝarte.
For alfred seide a þis þord.
Euch mon hit schulde legge on hord.
Ȝef þu isihst . . . he beo icume.
His strncþe is him þel neh binume.
An grete duntes beoþ þe lasse.
Ȝef me ikepþ mid iþarnesse.
An fleo schal toþard mis ȝenge.
Ȝef þu isihst hu fleo of strenge.
For þu miȝt blenche wel & fleo.
Ȝif þu isihst heo to þe teo.
Þat eni man beo falle in odþite.
Þi schal he me his sor at þite.
Þah ich iseo his harm biuore.
Ne comeþ hit noȝt of me þar uare.
Þah þu iseo þat sum blind mon.
Þat nanne rihtne þei ne con.
To þare diche his dþeole fulied.
An falleþ and þar one sulied.
Þenest þu þah ich al iseo.
Þat hit for me þe raþere beo.
Alsþo hit fareþ bi mine þitte.
Hþanne ich on mine boþe sitte.
Ich þot & iseo sþiþe brihte.
An summe men kumed harm þar rihte.
Schal he þat þar of noþing not.
Hit þite me for ich hit þot.
Schal he his mishap þite me.
For ich am þisure þane he.
Hþanne ich iseo þat sum prechede.
Is manne neh inoh ich grede.
An bidde inoh þat hi heom schilde.
For toþard heom is . . . .
Ah þah ich grede lude an stille.
Alhititid þurþ godes þille.
Hþi þulleþ men of me himene.
Þah ich mid soþe heo a þene.
Þah ich hi þarni al þat ȝer.
Nis heom þar fore harem no þe ner.
Ah ich heom singe for ich þolde.
Þat hi þel understonde schulde.
Þat sum unselþe heom is ihende.
Hþan ich min huing to heom sende.
Naueþ no man none sikerhede.
Þat he ne mai þene & adrede.
Þat sum unhþate neþ him beo.
Þah he ne con ne hit iseo.
For þi seide alfred sþiþe þel.
And his þorde þas goddspel.
Þat euereuch man þe bet him beo.
Eauer þe bet he hine beseo.
Ne truste nomon to his þeole.
To sþiþe þah he habbe ueole.
Nis nout so hot. þat hit na coleþ.
Ne noȝt so hþit. þat hit ne soleþ.
Ne noȝt so leof. þat hit ne aloþeþ.
Ne noȝt so glad. þat hit ne a þroþeþ.
Ah eauere euh þing þat eche nis.
Agon schal & al þis þorldesblis.
Nu þu miȝt þite readlichc.
Þat eauere þu spekest gideliche.
For al þat þume seist for schame.
Euer þe seolue hit turneþ to grome.
Go so hit go at eche fenge.
Þu fallest mid þine ahene sþenge.
Al þat þu seist for me to schende.
Hit is mi þurschipe at þan ende.
Bute þu þille bet aginne.
Ne schaltu bute schame iþinne.

Þe niȝtingale sat & siȝte.
& hoh ful þas & ful þel miȝte.
For þe hule sþo ispeke hadde.
An hire speche sþo iladde.
Heo þas hoþful & erede.
Hþat heo þar after hire sede.
Ah neoþeles heo hire understod.
Þat heo seide hule artu þod.
Þu ȝeolpest of seolliche þisdome,
Þu nustest þanene he þe come.
Bute hit of þicchecrefte þere.
Þar of þu þrecche moste þe skere.
Ȝif þu þult among manne boe.
Oþer þu most of londe fleo.
For alle þeo þat þer of cuþe.
Heo uere ifurn of prestes muþe.
Amanset sþuch þu art ȝette.
Þu þiecchecrafte neauer ne ete.
Ich þe seide nu lutel ere.
An þu askedest ȝef ich þere.
A bisemere to preost iho ded.
Ah þe mansing isso ibroded.
Þah no preost a londe nere.
A þrecche neoþeles þu þere.
For eauer euch chil þe cleopeþ fule.
An euer euch man a þrecche hule.
Ich habbe iherd & soþ hit is.
Þe mon mot beo þel storre þis.
An þite innoþ of þucche þinge kume.
So þu seist þat is iþune.
Hþat canstu þrecche þing of storre.
Bute þat þu bi haitest hi feorre.
Alsþo deþ mani dor & man.
Þeo of hsþucche na þiht ne con.
On ape mai a boe bi halde.
An leues þenden & est folde.
Ah he ne con þe bet þar uore.
Of clerkes lore top ne more.
Þah þu iseo þe steorre alsþa.
Nartu þe þisure neauer þe mo.
Ah ȝet þu fule þing me chist.
An þel grimliche me at þist.
Þat ich singe bi manne huse.
An teache þif breke spuse.
Þu liest iþis þu fule þing.
Þme nas neauer ischend spusing.
Ah soþ hit is ich singe & grede.
Þar lauedies beoþ & faire maide.
& soþ hit is of luue ich singe.
For god þif mai ispusing.
Bet luuien hite oȝene þere.
Þane a þet hire copenere.
An maide mai luue cheose.
Þat hireþurþ schipe ne forleose.
& luuie mid rihte luue.
Þane þe schal beou hire buue.
Sþiche luue ichitache & lere.
Þar of beoþ al mine ibere.
Þah sum þif beo of nesche mode.
For þummon beoþ of softe blode.
Þat heo par sume sotteslore.
Þe ȝeorne bit & sikeþ sore.
Mis temþe & mis do sumne stunde.
Schal ich þaruore beon ibunde.
Ȝif þimmen luuieþ unrede.
Hþitistu me hore misdede.
Ȝef þimmon þencheþ luuie derne.
Ne ne mai ich mine songes þerne.
Þummon mai pleie under cloþe.
Þeþet heo þile þel þe þroþe.
& heo mai do bi mine songe.
Hþaþer heo þule þel þe þronge.
For nis a þorlde þing so god.
Þat ne mai do sum un god.
Ȝif me hit þule turne amis.
Eor gold & seoluer god hit is.
An noþeles þar mid þu miȝt.
Spusbruche buggen & unriȝt.
Þepne beoþ gode griþ to halde.
Ah neoþeles þar mide beoþ menacþalde.
Aȝeines riht & fale londe.
Þar þeoues hi bereð an honde.
Alsþa hit is bi mine songe.
Þah heo beo god me hine mai misfonge.
An drahe hineto sothede.
An to oþre uuele dede.
Ah sch altu þrecch luue tele.
Bo þuch hobo vich luue is fele.
Bitþeone þepmon & þimmane.
Ah ȝef heo is at broide þenne.
He is unfele & for broide.
Þroþ þurþe heom þe holirode.
Þe rihte ikunde sþo for breideþ.
Þinder hit is þat heo na þedeþ.
An sþo heo doþ for heo beoþ þode.
Þe bute nest goþ to brode.
Þummon is of nesche flesche
An flesches lustes is strong to cþesse.
Nis þunder nan þah he abide.
For flesches lustes hi makeþslide.
Ne beoþ heo noþt alle for lore.
Þat stumpeþ at þe flesches more.
For moni þummon haueþ misdo.
Þat aris op of þe slo.
Ne beoþ noþt ones alle sunne.
For þan hi beoþ tþeire cunne.
Sun arist of þe flesches luste.
An sum of þe gostes custe.
Þar flesch draheþ men to drunnesse.
An to þroue hede & to golnesse.
Þe gost mis deþ þurch niþe an onde.
& seoþþe mid murhþe of monnes honde.
An ȝeoneþ after more & more.
An lutel rehþ of milce & ore.
An stiȝþ on heþ þurþ modinesse.
An ouer hoheð þanne lasse.
Sei mes soþ ȝef þu hit þost.
Hþeþer deþ wurse: flesch þe gost.
Þu miȝt segge ȝef þu wult.
Þat lasse is þe flesches gult.
Moni man is of his flesche clene.
Þat is mid mode deouel imene.
Ne schal non mon wimman bi grede.
An flesches lustes hire up breide.
Sþuch he maytellen of golnesse.
Þat sunegeþ þurse imodinesse.
Bet ȝif ich schulde aluue bringe.
Þif oþer maide hþanne ich singe.
Ich þolde þiþ þe maide holde.
Ȝif þu hit const ariht at holde.
Lust un ich segge þe hþaruore.
Vp to þe toppe from þe more.
Ȝef maide luueþ dernliche.
Heo stumpeþ & falþ icundeliche.
For þah heo sum hþile pleie.
Heo nis nout feor ut of þe þeie.
Heo mai hire guld atþende.
A rihte þeie þurþ chirche bende.
An mai eft habbe to make.
Hire leofmon þiþ utesake.
An go to him bi daies lihte.
Þat er stal to bi þeostre nihte.
An ȝunling not hþat sþuch þing is.
His ȝunge blod hit draȝeþ amis.
An sum sot mon hit tihþ þarto.
Mid alle þan þat he mai do.
He comeþ & fareþ & beod & bid.
An heo bistant & ouer sid.
An bi sehþ ilome & longe.
Hþat mai þat chil þah hit missonge.
Hit nuste neauer hþat hit þas.
For þi hit þohte fondi þas.
An þite iþis hþuch beo þe gome.
Þat of so þilde makeþ tome.
Ne mai ich for reoþe lete.
Þanne ich iseo þe tohte ilete.
Þe luue bring on þe ȝunglinge.
Þat ich of murȝþe him ne singe.
Ich reache heom bi mine songe.
Þat sþucch luue ne lest noȝt longe.
For mi song lutle hþile ilest.
An luue ne deþ noȝt bute rest.
On sþuch childre & sone ageþ.
An falþ a dun þe hote breþ.
Ich singe mid heom one þroȝe.
Biginne on heh & endi laȝe.
An lete mines songes falle.
An lutle þile a dun mid alle.
Þat maide þot hþanne ich sþike.
Þat luue is mine songes iliche.
For hit nis bute a lutel breþ.
Þat sone kumeþ & sone geþ.
Þat child bi me hit under stond.
An his un red to red wend.
An i seȝþ þelbi mine songe.
Þat dusi luue ne last noȝt longe.
Ah þel ich þule þat þu hit þite.
Loþ me beoþ þiues utschute.
Ah ȝif mai of of me nime ȝeme.
Ich ne singe naþt hþan ich teme.
An þif ah lete sortes lore.
Þah spusing bendes þuncheþ sore.
Þundere me þungþ þel starc & stor.
Hu eni mon so eauar for.
Þat e his heorte miȝte driue.
An o do hit to oþers mannes þiue.
For oþer hit is of tþam þinge.
Ne mai þat þridde noman bringe.
Oþar þe lauerd is þel aht.
Oþer asþunde & nis naht.
Ȝef he is þurþful & aht man.
Nele noman þat þisdon can.
Hure of is þiue do him schame.
For he mai him a drede grame.
An þat he for leose þat þer hongeþ.
Þat him eft þarto noȝt ne longeþ.
An þah he þat noȝt neadrede.
Hit is unriȝt & gret sot hede.
Ano mis don one gode manne.
An his ibedde from him spanne.
Ȝef hire lauerd is for þurde.
An un orne at bedde & at borde.
Hu miȝte þar beo eni luue.
Þanne asþuch cheorles buc hire leþ buue.
Hu mai þar eni luue beo.
Þar sþuch man gropeþ hire þeo.
Her bi þu miȝt þel understonde.
Þat on his areu þat oþer schonde.
To stele to oþres mannes bedde.
For ȝif aht man is hire bedde.
Þu miȝt þene þat þe mistide.
Þanne þu list bi hire side.
An ȝef þe lauerd is a þercche.
Hþuch este miȝtistu þar necche.
Ȝif þu bi þenchest hþo hire of ligge.
Þu miȝt mid þlate þe este bugge.
Ich not hu mai eni freoman.
For hire sechen after þan.
Ȝef he bi þeneþ bi hþan he lai.
Al mai þe luue gan a þai.

Þe hule þas glad of sþuche tale.
heo þoȝte þatte niȝtegale.
Þah heo þel speke atte frume.
Hadde at þen ende mis nume.
An seide nu ich habbe ifunde.
Þat maidenes beoþ of þine imunde.
Mid heom þu holdest & heom bi þerest.
An ouer sþiþe þu hi herest.
Þe lauedies beoþ to me iþend.
To me heo hire mode send.
For hit itit ofte & ilome.
Þat þif & þere beoþ unisome.
& þar fore þe þere gulte.
Þat leof is over þummon to pulte.
An speneþ on þare al þat he haueþ.
An siueþ þare þat noriht naueþ.
An haueþ at tom his riȝte spuse.
Þoþes þeste & lere huse.
Þel þunne ischud & iued þroþe.
An let heo bute mete & cloþe.
Þan he comeþ ham eft to his þiue.
Ne dar heo noȝt a þord ischire.
He chid & gred sþuch he beo þod.
And ne bringþ heom non oþer god.
Al þat heo deþ him is un þille.
Al þat heo spekeþ hit is him ille.
An oft hþan heo noȝt ne mis deþ.
Heo haueþ þe fust in hire teþ.
Þisnan mon þat ne mai ibringe.
His þis amis mid sþucche þinge.
Me hire mai so ofte mis beode.
Þat heo do þule hire ahene neode.
La godd hit þot heo nah iþeld.
Þa heo hine makie kukeþeld.
For hit itit lome & ofte.
Þat his þif is þel nesche & softe.
Of faire bleo & þel idiht.
Þihit is þe more unriht.
Þat he his luue spene on þare.
Þat nis þurþ one of hire heare.
An sþucche men beoþ þel manifolde.
Þat þif ne kunne noþt ariȝt holde.
Ne mot non mon þiþ hire speke.
He ueneð heo þule a non to breke.
Hire spusing ȝef heo lokeþ.
Oþer þiþ manne faire spekeþ.
He hire bi luþ mid keie & loke.
Þar þurh is spusing ofte to broke.
For ȝef heo is þarto ibroht.
He deþ þat heo nadde ear iþoht.
Dahet þat to sþuþe hit bi speke.
Þah sþucche þiues hire aþreke.
Her of þe lauedies to me meneþ.
An þel sore me ahþeneþ.
Þel neh min heorte þule to chine.
Hþon ich bi holde hire pine.
Mid heom ich þepe sþise sore.
An for heom bidde cristis ore.
Þat þe lauedi sone a redde.
An hire sende betere ibedde.
An oþer þing ich mai þe telle.
Þat þu ne schald for þine felle.
Ondsþere none þarto finde.
Al þisputing schal asþinde.
Monichapmon & moni cniht.
Luueþ & hlad his þif a riht.
An sþa deth moni bonde man.
Þat gode þif deþ after þan.
An serueþ him to bedde & to borde.
Mid faire dede and faire þorde.
An ȝeorne fondeþ hu heo muhe.
Do þing þat him beo iduȝe.
Þe lauerd in to þare þeode.
Fareþ ut on þare beire nede.
An is þat gode þif un bliþe.
For hire lauerdes houd siþe.
An sit & sihð þel sore of longed.
An hire sore an horte ongred.
Al for hire louerdes sake.
Haueþ daies kare and niȝtes þake.
And sþuþe longe hire is þe hþile.
An ek steape hire þunþ amile.
Hþanne oþre slepeþ hire abute.
Ich one lust þar þið þute.
An þot of hire sore mode.
An singe a niȝt for hire gode.
An mine gode song for hire þinge.
Ich turne sundel to murnige.
Of hire seorhe ich bere sume.
For þan ich am hire þel þelcume.
Ich hire helpe hþat imai.
For hoȝeþ þane rehte þai.
Ah þu me hauest sore igramed.
Þat min heorte is þel neh alamed.
Þat ich mai unneaþe speke.
Ah ȝet ich þule forþure reke.
Þu seist þat ich am manne loð.
An euer euch man is þið me þroð.
An me mid stone & lugge þreteþ.
An me to busteþ & to beteþ.
An hþanne heo habeþ me of slahe.
Heo hongeþ me on heore hahe.
Þar ich ascheþele pie an croþe.
Fron þan þe þaris iso þe.
Þah hit beo soþ ich do heom god.
An for heom ich chadde mi blod.
Ich do heom god mid mine deaþe.
Þaruore þe is þel inmeaþe.
For þah þu ligge dead & clinge.
Þi deþ nis naþt to none þinge.
Ich not neauer to hþan þu miȝt.
For þu nart bute a þrecche þiȝt.
Ah þah milif me beo at schote.
Þeȝet ich mai do gode note.
Me mai upone smale sticke.
Me sette aþude ine þe þicke.
An sþa mai mon tolli him to.
Lutle briddes & iuo.
An sþa me mai mid me biȝete.
Þel gode brede to his mete.
Ah þu neure mon to gode.
Lives ne deaþes stal ne stode.
Ich not to hþan þu breist þi brod.
Liues ne deaþes ne deþ hit god.

Þe nihtegale ihrde þis.
An hupte uppon on bloþe ris.
An heere sat þan heo dude ear.
Hule heo seide beo nu þear.
Nulle ich þiþ þe plaidi namore.
For her þe mist þirihte lore.
Þu ȝeilpest þat þu art manne loþ.
An euer euch þiht is þið þe þorþ.
An mid ȝulinge & mid igrede.
Þu þanstþel þat þu art unlede.
Þu seist þat gromes þe isoð.
An heie on rodde þe an hoð.
An þe to tþichet & to schakeð.
An summe of þe schaþles makeð.
Me þunch þat þir forleost þat game.
Þu ȝulpest of þire oȝe schame.
Me þunch þat þu me gest an honde.
Þu ȝulpest of þire oȝene schomme.
Þo heo hadde þeos þord icþede.
Heo sat in one faire stude.
An þar after hire steuene dihte.
An song so schille & so brihte.
Þat feor & ner me hit iherde.
Þaruore anan to hire cherde.
Þrusche. & þrostle. & þudeþale.
An fuheles boþe grete & smale.
For þan heom þuhte þat heo hadde.
Þe houle ouercome uor þan heo gradde.
An sungen alsþa uale þise.
An blisse þas among þe rise.
Riȝt sþa megred þe manne aschame.
Þat taueleþ & for leost þat gome.

Þeos hule þo heo þis iherde.
Hauestu heo seide ibanned ferde.
An þultu þreche þið me fiȝte.
Nai nai nauestu none miȝte.
Hþat gredeþ þeo þat hider come.
Me þuncþ þu ledest ferde tome.
Ȝeschule þite ar ȝe fleo heonne.
Hþuch is þe strenþe of mine kunne.
For þeo þe haueþ bile ihoked.
An cliures charpe & þel icroked.
Alle heo beoþ of mine kunrede.
An þalde come ȝif ich bede.
Þe seolfe coc þat þel can fiȝte.
He mot mid me holde mid riȝte.
For bo þe þe hableþ steuene briȝte.
An fitteþ under þeo line bi niȝte.
Schille ich an utest uppen oþ grede.
Ich schal sþo stronge ferde lede.
Þat oþer proude schal aualle.
A tort ne ȝiue ich for oþ alle.
Ne schal. ar hit beo fulliche eue.
A þreche feþer on oþ bi leaue.
Ah hit þas unker uoreþard.
Þo þe come hider þard.
Þat þe þarto holde scholde.
Þar riht dom us ȝiue þolde.
Þultu nu breke foreþard.
Ich þene dom þe þing to hard.
For þu ne darst domes abide.
Þu þult nu þreche fiȝte & chide.
Ȝot ich oþ alle þolde rede.
Ariht ut heste uppon oþ grede.
Þat oþer fihtlac leteþ beo.
An ginneþ raþe aþei fleo.
For bi þe cliures þat ich bere.
Ȝef ȝe abideþ mine here.
Ȝe schule on oþer þise singe.
An a cursi alle fiȝtinge.
Vor nis of oþ non o kene.
Þat durre abide min on sene.
Þeos hule spac þel baldeliche.
For þah heo nadde sþo hþatliche.
Ifare after hire here.
Heo þalde neoþeles ȝefe ansþere.

Þe niȝtegale mid sþucche þorde.
for moniman mid speres orde.
Haueþ lutle strencþe & mid his chelde.
Ah neoþeles in one felde.
Þurh belde þorde an mid ilete.
Deþ his iuo for arehþe sþete.
Þe þranne for heo cuþe singe.
Þar com in þare more ȝennge.
To helpe þare niȝtegale.
For þah heo hadde steuene smale.
Heo hadde gode þorte & schille.
An fale manne song aþille.
Þe þranne þas þel þis iholde.
Vor þeg heo nere ibred aþolde.
Ho þas itoȝen among mannenne.
An hire þisdom brohte þenne
Heo miȝte speke hþar heo þalde.
To uore þe king þah heo scholde.
Lusteþ heo cþaþ lateþ me speke.
Hþat þulle ȝe þis pes to breke.
An do þanne sþuch schame.
Ȝe nis he nouþer ded ne lame.
Hunke schal i tide harm & schonde.
Ȝef ȝedoþ griþ bruche on his londe.
Lateþ beo & beoþ isome.
An fareþ riht to oþer dome.
An lateþ dom þis plaid to breke.
Al sþo hit þas erur bispeke.

Ich an þel cþað þe niȝtegale.
Ah þranne naþt for þire tale.
Ah do fore mire lahfulnesse.
Ich nolde þat unriht fulnesse.
Me at þen ende ouer kome.
Ich nam of drad of none dome.
Bi hote ich habbe soþ hit is.
Þat maister nichole þat is þis.
Bi tuxen vs deme schulde.
An ȝef ich þene þat he þule.
Ah þar mihte þe hine finde.
Þe þranne sat in ore linde.
Hþat miȝte ȝe cþaþ heo his hom.
He þuneþ at portes hom.
At one tune ine dorsete.
Bi þare see in ore ut lete.
Þar he demeþ manie riȝte dom.
An diht & þrit mani þisdom.
An þurh his muþe and þurh his honde.
Hit is þe betere in to scot londe.
To seche hine is lihtlich þing.
He naueþ bute one þoning.
Þat his bischopen muchel fchame.
An alle þan þat of his nome.
Habbeþ ihert & of his dede.
Hþi nulleþ hi nimen heom to rede.
Þat he þere mid heom ilome.
For teche heom of his þisdome.
An ȝiue him rente auale stude.
Þat he miȝte heom ilome be mide.

Certes cþaþ þe hule þat is soð.
Þeos riche men þel muche misdoð.
Þat leteþ þane gode mon.
Þat of so feole þinge con.
An ȝiueþ rente þel misliche.
An of him leteþ þel lihtliche.
Þið heore cunne heo beoþ mildre.
An ȝeueþ rente litle childre.
Sþo heore þit hi demþ adþole.
Þat ever abid maistre nichole.
Ah ute þe þah to him fare.
For þar is unker dom al ȝare.

Do þe þe niȝtegale seide.
ah þa schal unker speche rede.
An telle to uore unker deme.

Þar of ich schal þe þel icþeme.
Cþaþ þe houle for al ende of orde.
Telle ich con þord after porde.
An ȝef þe þincþ þat ich mis rempe.
Þu stond aȝein & dome crempe.
Mid þisse þorde forþ hi ferden.
Al bute here & bute uerde.
To portes ham þat heo bi come.
Ah hu heo spedde of heore dome.
Ne chan ich eu namore telle.
Her nis na more of þis spelle.