An Old English miscellany containing A Bestiary, Kentish Sermons, Proverbs of Alfred, religious poems of the thirteenth century, from manuscripts in the British Museum, Bodleian Library, Jesus College Library, etc ::

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Square brackets denote editorial insertions or emendations.

A Bestiary.

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[Arundel MS. 292, leaf 4 a.]

Natura leonis ja.

De leun stant on hille,
and he man hunten here,
Oðer ðurg his nese smel,
Smake ðat he negge,
Bi wilc weie so he wile
To dele niðer wenden,
Alle hise set steppes
After him he filleð,
Drageð dust wið his stert
ðer he steppeð,
Oðer dust oðer deu,
ðat he ne cunne is finden,
driueð dun to his den
ðar he him bergen wille.

ija.

An oðer kinde he haueð,
wanne he is ikindled
Stille lið ðe leun,
ne stireð he nout of slepe
Til ðe sunne haueð sinen
ðries him abuten,
ðanne reiseð his fader him
mit te rem ðat he makeð.

iija.

De ðridde lage haueð ðe leun,
ðanne he lieð to slepen
Sal he neure luken
ðe lides of hise egen.

Significacio prime nature.

Welle heg is tat hil,
ðat is heuen riche,
vre louerd is te leun,
ðe liueð ðer abuuen;
wu ðo him likede
to ligten her on erðe,
Migte neure diuel witen,
ðog he be derne hunte,
hu he dun come,
Ne wu he dennede him
in ðat defte meiden,
Marie bi name,
ðe him bar to manne frame.

ija et iija.

Do ure drigten ded was,
and doluen, also his wille was,
In a ston stille he lai
til it kam ðe dridde dai,
His sader him filstnede swo
ðat he ros fro dede ðo,
vs to lif holden,
wakeð so his wille is,
So hirde for his folde;
He is hirde, we ben sep;
Silden he us wille,
If we heren to his word
ðat we ne gon nowor wille,

Natura aquile.

Kiðen i wille ðe ernes kinde,
Also ic it o boke rede,
wu he neweð his guðhede,
hu he cumeð ut of elde,
Siðen hise limes arn unwelde,
Siðen his bec is al to-wrong,
Siðen his fligt is al unstrong,
and his egen dimme;
Hereð wu he neweð him.
A welle he sekeð ðat springeð ai
boðe bi nigt and bi dai,
ðer-ouer he flegeð, and up he teð,
til ðat he ðe heuene seð,
ðurg skies sexe and seuene
til he cumeð to heuene;
So rigt so he cunne
he houeð in ðe sunne;
ðe sunne swideð al his fligt,
and oc it makeð his egen brigt,
Hise feðres fallen for ðe hete,
and he dun mide to ðe wete
Falleð in ðat welle grund,
ðer he wurdeð heil and sund,
and cumeð ut al newe,
Ne were his bec untrewe.
His bec is get biforn wrong,
ðog hise limes senden strong,
Ne maig he tilen him non fode
him self to none gode,
ðanne goð he to a ston,
and he billeð ðer-on,
Billeð til his bec biforn
haueð ðe wrengðe forloren,
Siðen wið his rigte bile
takeð mete ðat he wile.

Significacio.

Al is man so is tis ern,
wulde ge nu listen,
Old in hise sinnes dern,
Or he bicumeð cristen;
and tus he neweð him ðis man,
ðanne he nimeð to kirke,
Or he it biðenken can,
hise egen weren mirke;
Forsaket ðore satanas,
and ilk sinful dede;
Takeð him to ihesu crist,
for he sal ben his mede;
Leueð on ure loue[r]d crist,
and lereð prestes lore;
Of hise egen wereð ðe mist,
wiles he dreccheð ðore.
his hope is al to gode-ward,
and of his luue he lereð,
ðat is te sunne sikerlike,
ðus his sigte he beteð;
Naked falleð in ðe funt-fat,
and cumeð ut al newe,
buten a litel; wat is tat?
his muð is get untrewe;
his muð is get wel unkuð
wið pater noster and crede;
Fare he norð, er fare he suð,
leren he sal his nede;
bidden bone to gode,
and tus his muð rigten;
tilen him so ðe sowles fode,
ðurg grace off ure drigtin.

Natura serpentis. ja.

An wirm is o werlde,
wel man it knoweð,
Neddre is te name:
ðus he him neweð,
ðanne he is forbroken and forbroiden,
and in his elde al forwurden.
Fasteð til his fel him slakeð,
ten daies fulle,
ðat he is lene and mainles
and iuele mai gangen;
he crepeð cripelande forð,
his craft he ðus kiðeð,
Sekeð a ston ðat a ðirl is on,
Narwe, buten he nedeð him,
Nimeð vnneðes ðurg,
for his fel he ðer leteð;
his fles forð crepeð,
walkeð to ðe water-ward,
wile ðanne drinken.
Oc he speweð or al ðe uenim
ðat in his brest is bred
sro his birde time,
drinkeð siðen inog,
and tus he him neweð.

ija

Danne ðe neddre is os his hid naked,
and bare of his brest atter,
If he naked man se
ne wile he him nogt neggen,
oc he fleð fro him
als he fro fir sulde.
If he cloðed man se,
cos he waxeð,
For up he righteð him

redi to deren,
to deren er to ded maken,
if he it muge forðen.
wat if ðe man war wurðe,
and weren him cunne,
figteð wið ðis wirm
and f[a]reð on him figtande;
ðis neddre siðen he nede sal,
makeð seld of his bodi,
and sildeð his heued;
litel him is of hise limes,
bute he lif holde.

[Significacio.]

Knov cristene man
wat tu crist higtest
Atte kirke dure,
ðar ðu cristned were:
ðu higtes to leuen on him,
and hise lages luuien,
to helden wit herte
ðe bodes of holi k[i]rke.
If ðu hauest is broken,
Al ðu forbreðes,
forwurðes and forgelues,
Eche lif to wolden,
Elded art fro eche blis,
So ðis wirm o werld is;
Newe ðe fordi
so ðe neddre doð;
It is te ned.
Feste ðe of stedefastnesse,
and ful of ðewes;
and help ðe poure men
ðe gangen abuten.
Ne deme ðe nog[t] wurdi,

ðat tu dure loken
up to ðe heueneward;
Oc walke wið ðe erðe
mildelike among men;
no mod ðu ne cune,
mod ne mannes vncost;
oc swic of sineginge;
and bote bid tu ðe ai,
boðe bi nigt and bi dai,
ðat tu milce mote hauen
of ðine misdedes.
ðis lif bitokneð ðe sti
ðat te neddre gangeð bi,
and tis is ðe ðirl of ðe ston
ðat tu salt ðurg gon.
Let ðin filðe fro ðe,
so ðe wirm his fel doð;
Go ðu ðan to godes hus
ðe godspel to heren,
ðat is soule drink,
sinnes quenching.
Oc or sei ðu in scrifte
to ðe prest sinnes tine,
feg ðe ðus of ði brest filde,
and feste ðe forðward
fast at tin herte,
ðat tu firmest higtes.
ðus art tu ging and newe;
forðward be ðu trewe.
Nedeð ðe ðe deuel nogt,
for he ne mai ðe deren nogt;
oc he fleð fro ðe
so neddre fro de nakede.
On ðe cloðede ðe neddre is cof,
and te deuel cliuer on sinnes;
Ai ðe sinfule

bisetten he wile,
and wið al mankin
he haueð nið and win;
wat if he leue haue
of ure heuen louerd
for to deren us,
So he ure eldere or dede;
do we ðe bodi in ðe bale,
and bergen ðe soule,
ðat is ure heued geuelic,
helde we it wurðlic.

Natura formice.

De mire is magti,
mikel ge swinkeð
In sumer and in softe weder,
So we ofte sen hauen;
In ðe heruest
hardilike gangeð,
and renneð rapelike,
and resteð hire seldum,
and fecheð hire fode
ðer ge it mai finden,
gaddreð ilkines sed
boðen of wude and of wed,
Of corn and of gres,
ðat ire to hauen es,
haleð to hire holé,
ðat siðen hire helpeð
ðar ge wile ben winter agen;
caue ge haueð to crepen in,
ðat winter hire ne derie;
Mete in hire hule ðat
ðat ge muge biliuen.
ðus ge tileð ðar,
wiles ge time haueð,

so it her telleð;
oc finde ge ðe wete,
corn ðat hire qwemeð,
Al ge forleteð ðis oðer seð
ðat ic er seide;
Ne bit ge nowt de barlic
beren abuten;
oc suneð it and sakeð forð,
so it same were.
get is wunder of ðis wirm
more ðanne man weneð,
ðe corn ðat ge to caue bereð
al get bit otwinne,
ðat it ne forwurðe
ne waxe hire fro,
er ge it eten wille.

Significacio.

De mire muneð us
mete to tilen,
Long liuenoðe,
ðis little wile
ðe we on ðis werld wunen:
for ðanne we of wenden,
ðanne is ure winter;
we sulen hunger hauen
and harde sures,
buten we ben war here.
do we forði so doð ðis der,
ðanne be we derue
On ðat dai ðat dom sal ben,
ðat it ne us harde rewe:
Seke we ure liues fod,
ðat we ben siker dere,
So ðis wirm in winter is,
ðan ge ne tileð nummore.

ðe mire suneð ðe barlic,
ðanne ge fint te wete;
ðe olde lage we ogen to sunen,
ðe newe we hauen moten.
ðe corn ðat ge to caue bereð,
all ge it bit otwinne,
ðe lage us lereð to don god,
and forbedeð us sinne.
It bet us erðliche bodes,
and bekued euelike;
It fet ðe licham and te gost
oc nowt o geuelike;
vre louerd crist it leue us
ðat his lage us fede,
nu and o domesdei,
and tanne we hauen nede.

Natura cerui.

De hert haueð kindes two,
and forbisnes oc al so:
ðus it is on boke set,
ðat man clepeð fisiologet.
He drageð ðe neddre of de ston
ðurg his nese up on-on,
of ðe stoc er of ðe ston,
for it wile ðerunder gon;
and sweleð it wel swiðe,
ðerof him brinneð siðen
of ðat attrie ðing,
wiðinnen he haueð brenning:
he lepeð ðanne wið mikel list,
of swet water he haueð ðrist;
he drinkeð water gredilike
til he is ful wel sikerlike,
Ne haueð ðat uenim non migt
to deren him siðen non wigt.

oc he werpeð er hise hornes
in wude er in ðornes,
and gingid him ðus ðis wilde der,
So ge hauen nu lered her.

Significacio prima.

Alle we atter dragen off ure eldere,
ðe broken drigtinnes word ðurg ðe neddre;
ðer-ðurg haueð mankin
boðen nið and win,
golsipe and giscing,
giuernesse and wissing,
pride and ouerwene;
swilc atter i-mene.
Ofte we brennen in mod,
and wurðen so we weren wod;
ðanne we ðus brennen
bihoueð us to rennen
to cristes quike welle,
ðat we ne gon to helle;
drinken his wissing,
it quenchet ilc siniging;
forwerpen pride euril[c] del,
so hert doð hise hornes;
gingen us tus to godeward,
and gemen us siðen forðward.

Natura ija.

De hertes hauen anoðer kinde,
ðat us og alle to ben minde.
Alle he arn off one mode;
For if he fer fecchen fode,
and he ouer water ten,
wile non at nede oðer flen;
Oc on swimmeð bi-forn,
and alle ðe oðre folegen,

weðer so he swimmeð er he wadeð:
Is non at nede ðat oðer lateð,
Oc leigeð his skinbon
on oðres lendbon.
gef him ðat biforn teð
Bilimpes for to tirgen,
Alle ðe oðre cumen mide,
and helpen him for to her[t]ien,
beren him of ðat water grund
up to ðe lond al heil and sund,
and forðen here nede:
ðis wune he hauen hem bi-twen,
ðog he an hundred to-giddre ben.

Significacio ija.

De hertes costes we ogen to munen,
Ne og ur non oðer to sunen,
oc eurilc luuen oðer,
also he were his broder,
wurðen stedefast his wine,
ligten him of his birdene,
helpen him at his nede;
god giueð ðer-fore mede:
we sulen hauen heuenriche,
gef we bitwixen us ben briche:
ðus is ure louerdes lage,
luuelike to fillen,
her-of haue we mikel ned,
ðat we ðar-wið ne dillen.

Natura wulpis.

A wilde der is
ðat is ful of fele wiles,
fox is hire to name,
for hire queðsipe;

husebondes hire haten,
for hire harm dedes:
ðe coc and te capun
ge feccheð ofte in ðe tun,
and te gandre and te gos,
bi ðe necke and bi ðe nos,
haleð is to hire hole;
for-ði man hire hatieð,
hatien and hulen
boðe men and fules.
Listneð nu a wunder,
ðat tis der doð for hunger:
goð o felde to a furg,
and falleð ðar-inne,
In eried lond er in erðchine.
forto bilirten fugeles;
Ne stereð ge nogt of ðe stede
a god stund deies,
oc dareð so ge ded were,
Ne drageð ge non onde:
ðe rauen is swiðe redi,
weneð ðat ge rotieð,
and oðre fules hire fallen bi
For to winnen fode,
derflike wiðuten dred;
he wenen ðat ge ded beð,
he wullen on ðis foxes fel;
and ge it wel feleð,
ligtlike ge lepeð up
and letteð hem sone,
gelt hem here billing
raðe wið illing,
tetoggeð and tetireð hem
mid hire teð sarpe,

Fret hire fille,
and goð ðan ðer ge wille.

Significacio.

Twifold forbisne in ðis der
to frame we mugen finden her,
warsipe and wisedom
wið deuel and wið iuel man;
ðe deuel dereð dernelike,
he lat he ne wile us nogt biswike,
he lat he ne wile us ðon non loð,
and bringeð us in a sinne and ter he us sloð,
he bit us don ure bukes wille,
eten and drinken wið unskil,
and in ure skemting
he doð raðe a foxing,
he billeð one ðe foxes fel
wo so telleð idel spel,
and he tireð on his ket
wo so him wið sinne fet,
and deuel geld swilk billing
wið same and wið sending,
and for his sinfule werk
ledeð man to helle merk.

Significacio.

De deuel is tus ðe [fox] ilik
mið iuele breides and wið swik;
and man al so ðe foxes name
arn wurði to hauen same;
for wo so seieð oðer god,
and ðenkeð iuel on his mod,
fox he is and fend iwis,
ðe boc ne legeð nogt of ðis;
So was herodes fox and flerd,
ðo crist kam in-to ðis middel-erd,

he seide he wulde him leuen on,
and ðogte he wulde him fordon.

Natura aranéé.

Seftes sop ure seppande,
sene is on werlde,
leiðe and lodlike,
ðus we it leuen,
manikines ðing
alle manne to wissing.
ðe spinnere on hire swid ge weveð,
festeð atte hus rof,
hire fodredes
o rof er on ouese,
so hire is on elde;
werpeð ðus hire web,
and weueð on hire wise.
ðanne ge it haueð al idigt.
ðeðen ge driueð,
hitt hire in hire hole,
oc ai ge it biholdeð
til ðat ðer fleges faren
and fallen ðer-inne,
wiðeren in ðat web,
and wilen ut wenden;
ðanne renneð ge rapelike,
for ge is ai redi,
nimeð anon to ðe net
and nimeð hem ðere,
bitterlike ge hem bit
and here bane wurðeð,
drepeð and drinkeð here blod,
doð ge hire non oðer god,
bute fret hire fille,
and dareð siðen stille.

Significacio.

Dis wirm bitokneð ðe man
ðat oðer biswikeð
on stede er on stalle,
stille er lude,
in mot er in market,
er oni oðer wise,
he him bit
ðan he him bale selleð,
and he drinkeð his blod
wanne he him dreueð,
and ðo freteð hem al,
ðan he him iuel werkeð.

Natura cetegrandie.

Cethegrande is a fis
ðe moste ðat in water is;
ðat tu wuldes seien get,
gef ðu it soge wan it flet,
ðat it were á neilond
ðat sete one ðe se sond.
ðis fis ðat is vnride,
ðanne him hungreð he gapeð wide,
vt of his ðrote it smit an onde,
ðe swetteste ðing ðat is o londe;
ðer-fore oðre fisses to him dragen,
wan he it felen he aren fagen,
he cumen and houen in his muð,
of his swike he arn uncuð;
ðis cete ðanne hise chaueles lukeð,
ðise fisses alle in sukeð,
ðe smale he wile ðus biswiken,
ðe grete maig he nogt bigripen.
ðis fis wuneð wið ðe se grund,
and liueð ðer eure heil and sund,

til it cumeð ðe time
ðat storm stireð al ðe se,
ðanne sumer and winter winnen;
ne mai it wunen ðer-inne,
So droui is te sees grund,
ne mai he wunen ðer ðat stund,
oc stireð up and houeð stille;
wiles ðar weder is so ille,
ðe sipes ðat arn on se fordriuen,
loð hem is ded, and lef to liuen,
biloken hem and sen ðis fis,
an eilond he wenen it is,
ðer-of he aren swiðe fagen,
and mid here migt ðar-to he dragen,
sipes on festen,
and alle up gangen;
Of ston mid stel in ðe tunder
wel to brennen one ðis wunder,
warmen hem wel and heten and drinken;
ðe fir he feleð and doð hem sinken,
for sone he diueð dun to grunde,
he drepeð hem alle wið-uten wunde.

Significacio.

Dis deuel is mikel wið wil and magt,
So wicches hauen in here craft,
he doð men hungren and hauen ðrist,
and mani oðer sinful list,
tolleð men to him wið his onde,
wo so him folegeð he findeð sonde;
ðo arn ðe little in leue lage,
ðe mikle ne maig he to him dragen:
ðe mikle, i mene ðe stedefast
in rigte leue mid fles and gast.

wo so listneð deueles lore,
on lengðe it sal him rewen sore;
wo so festeð hope on him,
he sal him folgen to helle dim.

Natura Sirene.

In ðe se senden
selcuðes manie;
ðe mereman is
a meiden ilike
on brest and on bodi,
oc al ðus ge is bunden;
fro ðe noule niðerward
ne is ge no man like,
oc fis to fuliwis
mid finnes waxen.
ðis wunder wuneð
in wankel stede,
ðer ðe water sinkeð,
sipes ge sinkeð,
and scaðe ðus werkeð
mirie ge singeð ðis mere,
and haueð manie stefnes,
manie and sille,
oc it ben wel ille;
sipmen here steringe forgeten
for hire stefninge,
slumeren and slepen,
and to late waken,
ðe sipes sinken mitte suk,
ne cumen he nummor up.
Oc wise men and warre
agen cunen chare,
ofte arn atbrosten,
mid he[re] brest ouel;

he hauen herd told of ðis mere
ðat tus unie-mete,
half man and half fis,
sum ðing tokneð bi ðis.

Significacio.

Fele men hauen ðe tokning
of ðis forbisnede ði[n]g,
wiðuten weren wulues fel,
wiðinnen arn he wulues al;
he speken godcundhede,
and wikke is here dede;
here dede is al vncuð
wið ðat spekeð here muð;
twifold arn on mode,
he sweren bi ðe rode,
bi ðe sunne and bi ðe mone,
and he ðe legen sone,
mid here sage and mid here song
he ðe swiken ðer imong,
ðin agte wið swiking,
ði soule wið lesing.

Natura elephantis.

Elpes arn in Inde riche,
on bodi borlic berges ilike;
he to-gaddre gon o wolde,
so sep ðat cumen ut of folde,
and behinden he hem sampnen
ðanne he sulen oðre strenen;
Oc he arn so kolde of kinde
ðat no golsipe is hem minde,
til he noten of a gres,
ðe name is mandragores,
Siðen he bigeten on,

and two ger he ðer-mide gon.
ðog he ðre hundred ger
on werlde more wuneden her,
bigeten he neuermor non,
so kold is hem siðen blod and bon;
ðanne ge sal hire kindles beren,
In water ge sal stonden,
In water to mid side,
ðat wanne hire harde tide,
ðat ge ne falle niðer nogt,
ðat is most in hire ðogt,
For he ne hauen no lið
ðat he mugen risen wið.
Hu he resteð him ðis der,
ðanne he walkeð wide,
herkne wu it telleð her,
for he is al unride.
A tre he sekeð to fuligewis,
ðat is strong and stedefast is,
and leneð him trostl[i]ke ðer-bi,
ðanne he is of walke weri.
ðe hunte haueð biholden ðis,
ðe him wille swiken,
wor his beste wune is,
to don hise willen;
Sageð ðis tre and under-set,
o ðe wise ðat he mai bet,
and hileð it wel ðat he it nes war,
ðanne he makeð ðer-to char,
him seluen sit olon, bihalt,
weðer his gin him out biwalt.
ðanne cumeð ðis elp unride,
and leneð him up on his side,
slepeð bi ðe tre in ðe sadue,
and fallen boden so to-gaddre;

gef ðer is noman ðanne he falleð,
he remeð and helpe calleð,
remeð reufulike on his wise,
hopeð he sal ðurg helpe risen;
ðanne cumeð ðer on gangande,
hopeð he sal him don ut standen,
Fikeð and fondeð al his migt,
ne mai he it forðen no wigt;
Ne canne ðan non oðer,
oc remeð mid his broðer,
manie and mikle cume ðer sacande,
wenen him on stalle maken,
oc for ðe helpe of hem alle
ne mai he cumen so on stalle;
ðanne remen he alle a rem,
so hornes blast oðer belles drem,
For here mikle reming
rennande cumeð a gungling,
raðe to him luteð,
his snute him under puteð,
and mitte helpe of hem alle
ðis elp he reisen on stalle;
and tus atbrested ðis huntef breid,
oðe wise ðat ic haue gu seid.

significacio.

Dus fel adam ðurg a tre,
vre firste fader, ðat fele we:
Moyses wulde him reisen,
migte it no wigt forðen;
After him prophetes alle
migte her non him maken on stalle,
on stalle, i seie, ðer he er stod,
to hauen heuenriche god.

he suggeden and sorgeden and weren in ðogt,
wu he migten him helpen ovt;
ðo remeden he alle onder steuene
alle hege up to ðe heuene,
for here care and here calling
hem cam to crist heuen king;
he ðe is ai in heuene mikel,
wurð her man, and tus was litel,
drowing ðolede in ure manhede,
and tus adam he under-gede,
reisede him up, and al mankin,
ðat was fallen to helle dim.

Natura turturis.

In boke is ðe turtres lif
writen o rime, wu lagelike
ge holdeð luue al hire lif time;
gef ge ones make haueð,
fro him ne wile ge siðen:
muneð wimmen hire lif,
ic it wile gu reden;
bi hire make ge sit o nigt,
o dei ge goð and flegeð.
wo so seit he sundren ovt,
i seie ðat he legeð.
Oc if hire make were ded,
and ge widue wore,
ðanne flegeð ge one and fareð,
non oðer wile ge more;
buten óne goð and one sit,
and hire olde luue abit,
In herte haueð him nigt and dai,
so he were oliue ai.

Significacio.

List ilk lefful man her-to,
and herof ofte reche:
vre sowle atte kirke dure
ches hire crist to meche,
he is ure soule spuse,
luue we him wið migte,
and wende we neure fro him-ward
be dai ne be nigte;
ðog he be fro ure sigte faren,
be we him alle trewe,
non oðer louerd ne leue we
ne non luue newe;
leue we ðat he liueð ai
up on heuen-riche,
and ðeðen he sal cumen eft,
and ben us alle briche,
for to demen alle men,
oc nout on geuelike,
hise loðe men sulen to helle faren,
hise leue to his riche.

Natura pantere.

Panter is an wilde der,
Is non fairere on werlde her;
he is blac so bro of qual,
mið wite spottes sapen al,
wit and trendled als a wel,
and itt bicumeð him swiðe wel.
wor so he wuneð ðis panter,
he fedeð him al mid oðer der,
of ðo ðe he wile he nimeð ðe cul
and fet him wel til he is ful.
In his hole siðen stille
ðre dages he slepen wille,

ðan after ðe ðridde dai
he riseð and remeð lude so he mai,
ut of his ðrote cumeð a smel
mid his rem forð oueral,
ðat ouer-cumeð haliweie
wið swetnesse, ic gu seie,
and al ðat eure smelleð swete,
be it drie be it wete.
For ðe swetnesse off his onde,
wor so he walkeð o londe,
wor so he walked, er wor so he wuneð
Ilk der ðe him hereð to him cumeð,
and folegeð him up one ðe wold,
for ðe swetnesse ðe ic gu haue told.
ðe dragunes one ne stiren nout
wiles te panter remeð ogt,
oc daren stille in here pit,
als so he weren of dede offrigt.

Significacio.

Crist is tokned ðurg ðis der,
wos kinde we hauen told gu her;
for he is faier ouer alle men,
so euen sterre ouer erðe fen;
ful wel he taunede his luue to man,
wan he ðurg holi spel him wan,
and longe he lai her in an hole,
wel him dat he it wulde ðolen;
ðre daies slep he al on on,
ðanne he ded was in blod and bon,
vp he ros and rémede i-wis
of helle pine, of heuene blis,
and steg to heuene uvemest,
ðer wuneð wið fader and holi gast.
Amonges men a swete [s]mel

he let her of his holi spel,
wor-ðurg we mugen folgen him
in-to his godcundne se fin.
and ðat wirm ure wiðerwine,
wor so of godes word is dine,
ne dar he stiren, ne noman deren,
ðer wile he lage and luue beren.

Natura columbe et significacio.

De culuer haueð costes gode,
alle wes ogen to hauen in mode,
seuene costes in hire kinde,
alle it ogen to ben us minde,
ge ne haueð in hire non galle,
simple and softe be we alle;
ge ne liueð nogt bi lagt;
Ilc robbinge do we of bac.
ðe wirm ge leteð and liueð bi ðe sed,
of cristes lore we haue ned;
wið oðre briddes ge doð as moder,
so og ur ilk to don wið oðer;
woning and groning is lic hire song,
bimene we us, we hauen don wrong.
In water ge is wis of heuekes come,
and we in boke wið deules nome;
In hole of ston ge makeð hire nest,
In cristes milce ure hope is best.

I. The Passion of our Lord.

[_]

[Jesus College (Oxford) MS I. Arch. I. 29, leaf 217.]

Ici cumence la passyun ihesu crist en engleys.

Incipit prologus.

Ihereþ nv one lutele tale. þat ich eu wille telle.
As we vyndeþ hit iwrite. in þe godspelle.
Nis hit nouht of karlemeyne ne of þe Duzeper.
Ac of cristes þruwinge. þet he þolede her.
Al volk wes to-dreued. so schep beoþ in þe wolde.
Lute ymvnde. hi hedde of gode. heore heorten weren so colde.
He þet is. and euer wes. in heuene myd his fadere.
Ful lowe he alyhte. for bryngen heom to-gadere.
Þurst. and hunger. chele. and hete. þis beoþ stronge pyne.
Þeos he þolede al vor vs. þat turnde water to wyne.
Þrytty wyntre and more. he wes among Monkunne.
Seoþþe þat Mayde hyne yber. al wiþ-vte sunne.
Þo he hedde so longe ibeo. ine wrecche lyue þisse.
He wes swyþe of-longed. to his fader blysse.
Nouht for þan þat he nedde. in his godcunnesse.
Ac he wolde þat we myd him. boþe more and lesse.
Heo habbe scolde. and so we Mvwe. ne þerfþ þer non adrede.
Yf we vs wyteþ from heued-sunne. and doþ al by his rede.
Þe louerd þet alle þing ischop. to þere blysse vs brynge.
Nv bigynneþ vre tale. nys hit no lesynge.

Her beginneþ cristes þrowynge .i. sa passyun.

Leuedi þu bere þat beste child. þat euer wes ibore.
Of þe he makede his moder. vor he þe hedde ycóre.
Adam and his ofsprung. al hit were fur-lore.
Yf þi sune nére. iblessed þu beo þer-vore.
After þat he wes youlled. in þe flum iurdan.
Of þe prophete þat hatte seynt iohan.
Þe holy gost hyne ledde. vp in-to þe wolde.
For to beon yuonded. of sathanas þen olde.
Þer he wes fourty dawes. al wiþ-vte mete.
Þo he hedde heom yuast. þo luste hym éte.
Þer hym com sathanas. þat is ful of hete.
Mid his false wordes. he gon myd him to speke.
Aþre cunne wise. he vondi hyne bi-gon.
As he vondede Adam. and hyne ouer-com.
M[id] yuernesse and prude. and yssyng wes þat on.
He nuste nouht. þat he wes. boþe god and mon.
Þo seyde ihesu crist. þet is godes sune.
Ga abak sathanas. to hwan artu ycume.
Anon he hyne byleuede. more to vondy.
And þer comen engles. hym to seruy.
Þo he bygon to prechi. wel mylde weren his dede.
He ches hym twolue yuére. myd him vor to lede.
Summe hi weren wyse. and duden al bi his rede.
Ac on hyne bitrayede. þat et of his brede.
Alle men he tauhte to holde treowe luue.
Erest to god almyhti. þat is vs alle abuve.
Seþþe to luuye his euenyng. al so hym seolue wolde.
And euervich beo to oþpre. boþe treowe and holde.
Mvchel volk hym vulede. wyte ye for hwon.
Summe to beon hole. of vuele þet wes heom on.
Summe for beon yuedde. of lykamlyche vode.
And summe al for vuele. and for none gode.

Men he helde. and wymmen. a vele kunne wise.
Þe blynde he makede loki. and þe dede aryse.
Dumbe speke. Deue ihere. and þe holte gon.
Swich leche bi-vore hym. ne com her neuer non.
Þe Gywes and þe faryseus. þer-of hi hedden onde.
Þat swich leche wes ycume. in-to heore londe.
Hi seyden. he is a smyþes sune. ne beo we noht his frend.
Alle his wndres þat he doþ. is þureh þene vend.
Vor alle þe gode þat he heom dude. hi yolde him luþre mede.
Me seyþ his hwile he vor-leost. þat doþ for þe quede.
Al-so dude ihesu crist. vor vuele. he dude god.
Þer-vore hi at þen ende. schedden his swete blod.
Þo he com toward ierusalem. a palme sune-day.
Ne hedde he none robe. of fowe. ne of gray.
Ne he nedde stede. ne no palefray.
Ac rod vppe on asse. as ich eu segge may.
As he com in-to þe bureh. so rydinde.
Þe children of þe tune. comen syngynde.
Iblessed hi seyde mote he beo. þe cumeþ on godes nome.
Þe Gywes and þe fariseus. þer-of hi hedde grome.
Þo he com to þe temple. and wolde prechi.
He vunde þer-ynne chepmen. þet were mody.
Þeyh hi were prute. he heom vt drof.
Þe byspes and þe maystres. hi were swyþe wroþ.
And hym anon axede. hwy he so dude.
Vre louerd heom onswerede. anon yne þe stude.
Hit is iwrithe þat myn hus. is bede hus icleped.
And ye þeouene dich. hit habbeþ y-maked.
Þe maystres of þe temple. hi were swiþe prute.
For to vndernyme vre louerd. hi were euer abute
If he ouht prechede. to-yeynes þere lawe.
Þet heo hyne myhte wreye. and don of lyf-daye.
As hit neyhlechet to heore muchele feste.
Of alle þe twelfmoneþ. þat wes þe alre meste.
Hi nomen heom to rede. at heore motynge.

Hw hi myhten vre louerd. to þe deþe brynge.
At þe schere þursday. as ye mawen ihére.
Þo vre louerd wes isethe. to his supere.
He byheold abute. myd swiþe veyre chere.
And seyde to his disciples. þat þo myd hym were.
On me scal bitraye. þat nv is vre yuere.
Iwis hym were betere. þat he ibore nere.
Eueruych lokede to oþre. hi were sore of-dredde.
Hi nuste neuer bi hwich of heom. he hit iseyd hedde.
Þo queþen his disciples. on after on.
Louerd hi seyden alle. hwo is so hardy mon.
Þat durre þe bytraye. of vs eueruych on.
We willeþ to þe deþe. alle myd þe gon.
Þo seyde vre louerd crist. þat is ful of blysse.
Nymeþ gode yeme. þat ye nouht ne mysse.
Hwam ich biteche þat bred. þat ich on wyne wete.
He me schal bitraye. to nyht er he slepe.
He hit bitauhte iudas. þat alle hit myhte iseo.
Þer he wes bivoren him. and set on his kneo.
He hit et bluþeliche. and lokede ful brode.
And þe veond him on bi-com. myd þerylke snode.
Iudas þo onswerede. and spek myd vre dryhte.
Mayster. am ich þilke. þat þe wile so dyhte.
Þu hit seyst queþ vre louerd. and dest al þine Mihte.
And he hym vt iwende. al bi þuster nyhte.
He com to þe Gywes. þer heo to-gadere were.
Al hym seolf one. nedde he nenne yuere.
And chepte heom to sullen. vre helare.
Hi were swiþe blyþe. for þere cheffare.
He queþ to þe Gywes. if ich so ispede.
Þat ich bitraye ihesu. hwat schal beon my mede.
Þrytty panewes hi seyden. hi beoþ alle irede.
Cumeþ mid me queþ iudas. and ich eu wile lede.
Cvmeþ swiþe myd me. boþe yonge and olde.
Þene þat ich cusse. uaste ye hyne holde.
And ledeþ hyne warlyche. he con wndres monye.

If he nuþe eu askapeþ. eu schal sore schomye.
After þet iudas skariot. him wes vt igón.
Vre louerd nom his apostles. euervych on.
And forþ myd him ledde. to þe Munt of olyuete.
Þer he to heom wordes spek. myd his Muþe swete.
Ye seggeþ alle queþ vre louerd. ye willeþ myd me deye.
To nyht eu schal scomye. þat ye me euere yseye.
Hit is write in þe bok. þer me hit may rede.
Vele wintre hit is ágo. þe prophete hit seyde.
Beo þe seopheorde aquold. and of lyue bireued.
Þenne scule sone his seop. alle beon to-dreued:
After þat ich from deþe. eft aryse beo.
Ich wile bi-voren eu alle. cumen to Galyle.
Þo queþ seynte peter. þeyh alle of-schomed beo.
Ne schal me neuer schomye. louerd for þeo.
Peter. queþ vre louerd. nv þu seyst so.
Er hit beo day to morewe. al oþer hit schal go.
Þu ne knowest nouht þi seolue. ac ich þe yknowe.
Þu me schalt þryes fur-sake. er þe cok crowe.
Louerd queþ seynte peter. iwis hym wes ful wo.
Þeyh ich to þe deþe. schulle myd þe go.
Oþer in-to prysune. hweþer hit wile by-valle.
Ic nele neuer þe vorsake. and so hi seyden alle.
Þo hi hedden al þis iherd. heo were ful sori.
Vre louerd myd heom iwende. to geth-semany.
Seþþe he to heom seyde. iblessed mote heo beo.
Sytteþ her þe hwile ich go. to abidde me.
He nom seynte peter. seynt Iame. and seynt ion.
He wes of-dred. of þe deþ. þet is god and mon.
Wel ouhte we beon aferd. if we wyse were.
And vre sunnes bete. þe hwile we beoþ here.
Iesus from heom iwende. þe wrp of o ston.
And gon hyne to abidde. al him seolf on.
Vader he seyde ihesu crist. if hit may so beo.
Of þis ilche calche. nv forber þu me.
If ich hine schal drynke. iworþe þine wille.

He wyste þat þe Gywes. hyne þouhte spille.
As vre louerd hine ybed. he bi-gon to swete.
Þat blod orn adun of hym. dropes swyþe grete.
Þer com of heuene on engel. and stod hym vaste by.
Hyne vor to gladye. he wes ful redi.
Þo he hedde hyne ibede. one gode stunde.
He com to his apostles. and heom a slepe funde.
Slepestu he seyde symon. he wes on of þe þre.
Ne Myhtestu one tyde. wakien myd me.
Wakieþ and ybiddeþ eu. alle to-gadere.
Þat ye ne cumen in vondinge. vp to myne vadere.
Þe tyde is wel neyh icume. ich do eu to understonde.
And monnes sune biþ bi-tauht. in sunuulle honde.
Ariseþ vp he seyde. and vte we heonne go.
Þer him cumeþ iudas. þat is my fulle i-vo.
He me hafþ to nyht isold. euer wrþe him wo.
And alle þat oþer bitraye. nv and euer-mo.
Nedde he bute þet word iseyd. iudas him com þrynge.
Mid Gyues. and myd phariseus. from heore motynge.
Mid speres. and myd staues. and oþe vele þinge.
Lutle luue hi beren. to þen heuene kynge.
Iesus com to-yeynes heom. myd alle his ivere.
And he to heom seyde. hwam ye seche here.
Heo hym onswerede. ihesum nazaren.
Ihesuc heom to seyde; lo ich hit em.
Yf ye me secheþ. her ich am yfunde.
Leteþ þeos bileuen. hol and isunde.
Ne schullen hi nouht yete. þolie none wnde.
Þe Gywes myd þon worde. veollen to þe grunde.
Iudas com avoreward. þet al þat baleu wrouhte.
Mid Gywes. and oþer volke. þat he myd hym brouhte.
Heyl he seyde mayster. to ihesuc þat hi souhte.
And hyne myd Muþe custe. as he non vuel ne þouhte.
Freond seyde ihesu crist. to hwan er-tu ycume.
Mid þine valse cosse. þu trayest monnes sune.
Þe Gywes vp asturte. þat leyen in þe grunde.

And nomen anon ihesu crist. and hyne vaste bunde.
Seynte peter hedde o swerd. and he hit vt drouh.
And smot of Malkes ere. and nouht hyne ne slouh.
Þo iseyh ihesu crist. þat peter so dude.
Put in he seyde þi sweord. anon in þe stude.
Ne mot ich nouht drynke peter vor þe.
Þene calch þat my vader. haueþ y-yeue me.
Seoþþe him spek ihesu crist. iheried beo his Mihte.
And seyde to þe Gywes. nolde he nowiht vyhte.
Mid sweordes and myd bottes. ye beoþ her icume.
So me doþ to þeoue. þat schal beon ynume.
Vyche day in þe temple. wes myne ywune.
To techen eu godes lore. þer ye were summe.
Nes þo non so hardy. þat on me leyde honde.
Bute nv by nyhte. þet is for muchel onde.
Peter iseyh þe Gywes. vre louerd vaste bynde.
Anon he drouh hyne abak. and eode heom by-hynde.
Leste he were iknowe. he wes swiþe of-dred.
Noþeles he wolde iwite. hwuder he were iled.
Þe Gywes nomen ihesu crist. and forþ hine ledde.
Of alle his apostles. nenne help he nedde.
Alle heo hyne byleuede. so sore hi weren of-dredde.
As vre louerd þer-by-vore. heom iseyd hedde.
Heo brouhte hyne to kayphas. al wyþ-vte ivere.
Heo wes heore biscop. in þen ylke yere.
Of alle his disciples. ne vulede hym neuer on.
Bute seynte peter. and on yong mon.
Ion hedde enne mantel. of cendal hym abute.
He wende in myd ihesu crist. and peter stod þer-vte.
For he wes iknowe. he wes more bold.
He stod bi þe fure. and wermd hym for þe cold.
He bed þene dureward. lete in his i-vere.
Hi wolden heore louerdes dom. iseon and ihere.
Þe dureward hine in lette. al wyþ-vte mede.
Peter stod myd þon oþre. and wermede hym at þe glede.
Summe of þet þer weren. ykeneu seynt ion.

And nom him by þe mantel. þat he hedde vp-on.
He bileuede his mantel. in þes Gywes hond.
And him seolf al naked. at þere dure vt wond.
Er he were him at-broke. him þuhte ful long.
For þe dute of þe deþ. is swiþe strong.
Þo vre louerd wes ibrouht by-vore kayphas.
Þet mayster and byscop. in þan yere was.
Þe princes and þe phariseus. hi were swiþe blyþe.
Þo heo iseyen ihesu crist. hi þouhte hyne do of lyue.
A ueole kunne wise. hi lowen him vp-on.
To bryngen hyne to deþe. hi nusten vor hwon.
Þer arysen tweyne and bigunne to speke.
Þes seyde hwat he wolde. þe temple al to-breke.
Þat þe kyng salomon. makede ful yere.
And þene þridde day. him seolf a newa a-reáre.
Þis we iherde. her-of we bereþ witnesse.
Þo onswerede. þe more. and þe lasse.
Þeyh he nedde no more ydo. he ouhte hit for-beode.
Al his wndres þat he doþ. is þureh þene quede.
Cayphas spek to ihesu crist. he þouhte hine derye.
Ne herestu hwat þeos seggeþ. hwy neltu onswerye.
Ihesuc hym wes stille. nolde heo nowyht speke.
He Mihte if he wolde. ful sone hyne awreke.
Seoþþe he hym axede. of his techinge.
And of his disciples. and feole oþer þinge.
Vre louerd hym onswerede. myd swyþe veyre speche.
Ofte in þe temple. ich wes iwuned to preche.
Al by lyhte daye. þer men hit Mihte ihere.
And þu and oþre ynowe. þat weren þine ivere.
Hwat ich to heom seyde. wel wyten heo.
Iwyte at heom þat hit iherde. and nouht ne axe me.
Þer leop forþ ó gadelyng. as ye Mawen ihere.
And smot á-non ihesu crist. anvnder þat ere.
Hit is þe byscop he queþ. schal-tu so onswerie.
He is þe hexte of þere lawe. we hyne willeþ werie.

Ihesuc to hym seyde. and yef hym onswere.
If ich habbe vuele iseyd. witnesse þu myht bere.
And if ich habbe wel ispeke. þer-of þu nym gome.
And nouht me vor to beten. al wyþ-vte dome.
Þe Gywes þat heolde ihesu crist. Muchele schome him dude.
Blyndfellede. and spatten him on. in þen ilke stude.
And smyten vnder þat ere. and þus to him seyde.
Hwo is þat þe smot þo. constu hit arede.
Muchele schendnesse. hi duden vre dryhte.
For bryngen hyne to deþe. hi duden heore myhte.
Peter stod bi þe fur. he wes swiþe of-dred.
He iseyh hw ihesu crist. wes vuele biled.
Þer com o schelchene gon. þat wes myd kayphas.
Heo by-wste þe dure. þer al þat mot was.
Heo byheold peter. and seyde to heom þat sete.
Iwis þes is myd ihesu. þene prophete.
Peter þo onswerede. ne yknowe ich hyne nouht.
Neuer er ich hyne ne yseyh. þu ert mys-by-þouht.
Sone her-after. on oþer þer com gon.
And seyde. siker þu ert myd him. a galilewis mon.
Mon. queþ seynte péter. y not hwat seyst þu.
Ne ikneu ich hyne neuere. ne y-seyh bute nv.
Þo onswerede on oþer. þet wes hire yvere.
He wes Malkes kunes-mon. þet peter smot of þat ere.
Iwis þu were myd ihesu crist. in þe leyhtune.
Ich iknowe þe ful wel. þer he wes y-nume.
Peter. at-sok and seyde. awaryed mote heo beo.
Þat euer hyne iknewe. ich segge vor me.
Nedde he bute þet word iseyd. þe cok crowe bi-gon.
Ihesuc hyne bywende. and lokede him vp-on.
Peter. a-non þer-after. hyne vnder-stod.
Hwat his louerd hedde iseyd. he wes sori-mod.
Anon he vt iwende. and bigon to wepe.
Þeyh he hedde his louerd fur-sake. he þouhte for to bete.
Anon an ernemorewe. so sone so hit wes day.
Hi comen alle to-gadere. as ich eu seggen may.

Þe Gywes and al þat oþer volk. hi weren swiþe vóuse.
And brouhten vre louerd crist to heore mothuse.
Heo him to seyden. nv þu ert her ibrouht.
Say vs nuþe if þu ert crist. þat we habbeþ isouht.
Vre louerd heom onswerede. þeyh ich eu segge soþ.
Ye nelleþ me nouht iléue. ich hit wot inouh.
If ich eu ouht axi. ye nelleþ me nouht telle.
Ne lete me gon quite. ye þencheþ me to quelle.
Þer-vore ich ine heuene. schal sytte by myne vadere
And seþþe cumen and deme. eu alle to-gadere.
Þo sayden hi alle. þenne er-tu godes sune.
Ye hit seggeþ for ich hit am. þer-vore ich am ynume.
Þis iherde kayphas. his weden he to-brek.
And seþþe to þen volke. þeos wordes he spek.
Hwat abyde ye nuþe. to habben mo wytnesse.
Alle ye habbeþ þis iherd. þe more and þe lesse.
Hw he haueþ her ispeke. hwat is eur red.
Alle hi onswerede. he is wrþe to beo ded.
Seþþe hi alle arysen vp. and forþ hyne ledde.
Of þe kynge of heuene. none reuþe hi nedde.
Heo brouhten hyne to pylates. þet wes heore herre.
Herkne nv hi seyden. we nelleþ þe nouht bicherre.
Þesne mon we funde. vorbeoden vre lawe
Þat we nv and vre eldre. heolde by olde daye.
Muchel of vre volke. he haueþ iturnd þer-from.
He seyþ þat he is godes sune. and is a dedlich mon.
And he vor-beod cesares gauel. of alle kunnes þing.
He yelp to-vore vs alle. þat he is vre king.
Pilates queþ to ihesu crist. seye þu me soþ
Yf þu ert gywene kyng. oþer hi habbeþ woh.
Þu hit seyst queþ vre louerd. þat ich am godes sune.
Inot for hwiche gulte. hi me habbeþ inume.
Pilates him vt iwende. þer-after ful sone.
He seyde. hwat haueþ þes mon i-do. þat is ibrouht to me.
Þe Gywes him onswereden. if he nedde mys-do.
Nere he nouht for vs inume. ne ibrouht þe to.

Pylates heom to seyde. after eure lawe.
Þat yet nv habbeþ. and heolde bi olde dawe.
Demyþ hyne nuþe. oþer leteþ hyne beo.
Nenne gult of deþe. ich on hym i-seo.
Þe Gywes onswerede. after vre lawe.
We ne mote nenne mon. do of lyf-dawe.
Pilates eft iwende him in. þer vre louerd stod.
Þe gywes were ful bysie. to scheden his blod.
Pilates clepede vre louerd. and þus hym seyde to.
Þu ert gywene kyng. þeyh hi þe schome do.
Vre louerd him onswerede. iblessed mote he beo.
Hweþer seystu hit þi seolf. oþer oþre hit seyde by me.
Pilates hym onswerede. am ich Gyv þenne.
Þe byspes þe me bitauhte. and mo of þine Menne.
Hwat hauestu i-do. for hwan ertu i-nume.
Ihesuc him onswerede. seynte Marie sune.
Yf Mi kyneriche were ine worlde þisse.
Mine men wolde wyþstonde. wite þu myd iwisse.
Þat ich nere nouht bi-tauht. in gywene honde.
Ac my kyneriche. is in oþer londe.
Pilates þo him seyde. þenne er-tu kyng.
Þu hit seyst queþ vre louerd. nabbe ich non euenyng.
Ich þer-on am ibore. and to þis world i-cume.
And bere witnesse of soþe. þer-vore ich am i-nume.
Alle þat beoþ in soþe. i-hereþ myne word.
And heo wel atholdeþ. and leggeþ ine hord.
Þo seyde pilates him to. hwat is soþnesse.
Vre louerd ne onswerede. more ne lesse.
Pilates eft vt eode. and bileuede ihesus.
And com to þan volke. and seyde to heom þus.
Ine vynde nenne gult in þisse monne.
Hit is eur kustume. to habbe quyt enne.
At eure Muchele feste. euervyche yere.
Schal ich þere gywene kyng. lete gon al skere.
And hi alle gradden. pilates vp-on.
Nouht hyne hi seyden ac yef vs barraban.

Barraban wes a þeof. þer-vore he wes i-nume.
And myd oþer þeoues. i-do ine prysune.
Pilates nom þo ihesu crist. and hyne heyhte bete.
Þat al his swete likame. of blode gon to swete.
Þe knyhtes hyne nomen. and in hyne ledde
And duden al of his cloþes. þet he on hym hedde.
Seþþe hi nomen a red cloþ. and duden him a-bute.
And one yerd on his hond. and gunnen him a-lute.
Of one wrase of þornes. he wryþen hym one crune.
Of þan alre kennuste. þat grewen in þe tune.
Hi setten heo on his heued. and vaste þer to-beote.
On eueryche halue. þat blod gon vt yeote.
Seþþe hi knowede and seyde. hayl gywene king.
And smyten vnder þat ere. ne sparede hi no þing.
Pilates eft vt eode. and to þe gywes seyde.
Lo her ich brynge þisne mon. and to-vore eu lede.
Ich nenne gult ne vynde on him. i do eu to vnderstonde.
He wuste þet he wes i-nume. vor heore muchel onde.
Vre louerd ber his crune. and com him vt gon.
Lo seyde pilates. her is þes ilke mon.
Þe byspes and þet oþer volk. gradden him vp-on.
Do a rode do a rode. hi seyden. hyne a-non.
Pilates þo onswerede. and þus heom seyde to.
Nymeþ hym eu seolue. and on rode do.
Þe gywes hym onswereden. we habbeþ vre lawe.
Þer-after he schal beo i-don. vt of lyf-dawe.
Vor he makeþ him godes sune. we holdeþ hyne a-med:
Pilates þeos word iherde. þo wes heo more of-dred.
He iwende eft ayeyn. þar he wes ere.
And axede þo ihesu crist. hwenene heo were.
Vre louerd ne yef nenne onswere. ac stod him al stille.
He myhte sone hyne awreke. if hit were his wille.
He ne onswerede hym nowiht. iblessed beo he.
Pilates to hym seyde. þu ne spekest nouht wiþ me.
Nostu þat ich habbe myhte. on rode to do þe.
And ich habbe myhte. to lete þe quyte beo.

Vre louerd him onswerede. neddestu none myhte.
Me vor do to deþe. myd wowe ne myd ryhte.
Bute hit were þe iyeue. wite þu to iwisse.
Of him þat is vs alle abuue. in heueryche blysse.
Vor þan he more sunne hafþ. nuþe of me.
He þat me bitrayde. and seþþe bitauhte þe.
Þer-after pilates þouhte. to leten hyne go.
Ac þe gywes him seyden. euer wurþe heom wo.
If þu þysne bileuest. and hine letest so.
Ner-tu nouht cesares freond. ac ert his ivo.
Eueruych mon þat makeþ hym king. we hit seggeþ þe.
He wyþ-seyþ cesare. no king nys bute he.
Pilates ladde vt ure louerd. he nolde no leng abyde.
Þet wes a longe vryday. at þare sixte tide.
And seyde to þon gywes. lo her eur kyng.
Do hine awey hi gredden. an-hong an hying.
Pilates heom onswerede. and þus heom seyde to.
Wille ye þat eur king. on rode beo i-do.
Þe bispes þo onswereden. and seyden to him þar.
We nabbeþ nenne oþer king. bute cesar.
Pilates nom þo vre louerd. and heom bitauhte on honde.
Heo hine bitauhte knyhtes. þat duden him muchele schonde.
Þe knyhtes þet hine ledden. bitauhten him þe rode.
Þer-on he deþ þolede. and bouhte vs myd his blode.
He ber heo on his schuldre. toward þan ilke stude.
Þat hatte kaluarie. þer-on hi hine dude.
Þo he wes on þe rode idon. þe gywes were ful gled.
Hi nome twey þeoues. þat weren myd him iled.
Þene enne hi honge in one half. for to don him teone.
And on bi þat oþer half. and ihesuc heom bitweone.
Vre louerd þo þis seyde. þat is ful of soþ.
Vader vor-yef heom þisne gult. hy nvten hwat hi doþ.
Þo ihesuc wes vppe þe rode. þat þolede pyne strong.
Þe knyhtes nome his cloþes. to delen heom a-mong.
Þo funden heo his curtel. þat he wes al ihol

Hi nolden þer-of makie. nones cunnes dol.
Ac hi casten heore lot. hwes he scolde beo.
Hi nolden hyne nouht delen. a to ne a þreo.
Þe princes and þet oþer volk. hokerede him vp-on.
Þes hi seyde haueþ iheld. mony en oþer mon.
Crist þet oþer hauest iheld. kyng of yrahel.
Help nv þi seolue. for þu myht ful wel.
Yf þu ert so myhti. so þu seyst þat þu beo.
Lyht a-dun of þe croyz. þat we hit alle iseo.
On of þe þeoues þat him heng by.
He seyde to vre louerde. and gon him hokeri.
Crist help þi seolue. and eke help vs.
Þe oþer him onswerede. and to him seyde þus.
Þv nert wrecche of góde of-dred. þat her ert anhonge.
We after vre gultes. mede habbeþ yuonge.
Þes þet vppe þe rode is neuere vuel ne dude.
He seyde to vre louerde. a-non in þe stude.
[L]ouerd he seyde þench on me. and bi-gon to syche.
Hwenne þu cumest to heuene. þer is þi kyneriche.
Ihesuc him onswerede. soþ ich segge þe.
To day in paradyse. þu schalt beo myd me.
Pilates wrot him seolf. a wryt. al on hying.
Þar is ihesuc of nazareth. þe gywene kyng.
Monye gywes hit radden. and were swyþe grym.
Hit wes iwryten on ebreu. on gryv. and latyn.
Þe bispes of þe gywes. seyden pilates to.
Þu ne schuldest nouht þi wryt. habben iwryte so.
Ne wryt þu nouht. her is þere gywene kyng.
Þeyh he seyde þat he hit wes. hit is lesyng.
Pilates þo onswerede. and þus heom seyde to
Þet ich wrot beo iwryte. ne may hit nomon vn-do.
Hit wes welneyh mydday. þo þusternesse com.
In alle Middenherde. fort þet hit wes non.
Þe sonne bileuede hire lyht. and þe mone al so.
Þat huding-cloþ to-delde in þe temple a to.

Ihesuc him gon clepyen. myd stefne uul stronge.
Vader ich myne soule biteche in þyne honde.
Þo he hedde so yseyd. þat scop þe sunne and mone.
He deyede þer-after. wel swiþe sone.
Þet iseyh centurio þat þer bisydes stod.
Hw vre louerd gon deye. þat bouhte vs myd his blod.
He seyde to þe knyhtes. þat weren his ivere.
Iwis þes mon wes godes sune. þet we iseoþ here.
Þe gywes to pilates comen and þus him seyden to.
We biddeþ þat heore þyes. beon to-broken a to.
And seoþþe let heom don a-dun. of þe waritreo.
Vor vre muchele feste to morewe schal beo.
Of þen one þeoue hi breken his þyes a to.
And of his yuere. hi duden al so.
Þo heo comen to ihesu crist. and seyen hine ded.
Ne breken hi nouht his þyes. þe bok hit for-bed.
Hi bitauhte one knyhte. a sper on his hond.
And setten to his syde. hit wes sarp and long.
He schef hit myd strenkþe. þat to his heorte hit com.
Boþe blod and eke water. þer-after vt ron.
Þe ilke þat hit iseyh. he wrot þis god-spel.
Þat he soþ segge. we leueþ hit ful wel.
Þo hit wes wel neyh eue. ioseph þer com gon.
Of arymathia. he wes a riche mon.
He com to pilates. and sayde to him þus.
Yef me þes prophetes body. þat hatte iesus.
Þo heyhte pilates. þat body him bi-teche.
Of vre louerd ihesu crist. þat is soule leche.
Ioseph nom vre louerd. a-dun of þe rode.
And wond him on o cheysil cloþ. þet bouhte us mid his blode.
Seoþþe he hyne leyde in one þruh of stone.
Þat he hedde newe imaked. to him self one.
He hwelfde at þare sepulchre-dure. enne grete ston.
Seþþe he wende forþ his wey. hwer he hedde to gon.

Þene oþer day þer-after. þat ihesuc crist wes ded.
Þe gywes and þe phariseus. nomen alle enne red.
Hi comen to pilates. þen maystre of þe londe.
Louerd hi to hym seyde. we beoþ vnderstonde.
Þes ilke swike seyde. for hwan we beoþ vnblyþe.
Ich wile þene þridde day. aryse from deþe to lyue.
Let wite þe sepulchre. fort þene þridde day.
Þat his disciples hine ne stele. and beren hyne away.
And seggen to þe volke. þet beoþ of vre lawe.
He is aryse from deþe. þet gywes hedden islawe.
Þenne wrþ þe laste dwele. wurse to alegge.
Þene þe vorme were. hwat euere men segge.
Pilates heom onswerede. þat wes i-cume of rome.
Goþ nv and wyteþ. hyne. wel hyedliche and sone.
Þe gywes þo uorþ wende. and nomen heore knyhtes.
To witen þe sepulchre. boþe a day and nyhtes.
Seþþe hi dude heore sel. vpe þene ston.
Lutel hi wiste wrecches. hw hit sculde gon.
Þe gywes weren wode. þat yeuen þene red.
And wende holde ihesu crist. þeyh he were ded.
Nu wolden heo hyne at-holden. þat scop alle þing.
Ne to-brek he helle dure. and ouercom heore king.
Iesus þo his wille wes. aros from deþe to lyue.
Þeyh hyne bi-wusten knyhtes voure oþer vyue.
Hwy nolden hi hine at-holden. so þe gywes redde.
Ne hi ne myhten hyne iseon. so hi weren of-dredde.
Of þen engel þet þer com. þo hi iseyen þat lyht.
Hi vellen so hi were ded. a-non vorþ riht.
Iesus crist þet suo aros. þurh his muchele myhte.
And com in-to þis myddenerd. sunfulle men to ryhte.
Lete us so vre lyf. in þis world dihte.
Þat we mote alle cumen. to þan eche lyhte.
Bidde we alle leoue men. god þat is so hende.
Þat he of þe holy gost. so vre heorte a-tende.
Þat we mote at vre scrift. þane veond schende.
Þat myd fule sunnes. vs þencheþ alle a-blende.

And yef þat eche lif. þat neuere ne haueþ ende.
Hwanne vre soule vnbynd. of lykamlyche bende.

Her is hwon ihesu crist aros from deþe to lyue.

Seoþþe crist from deþe aros. þet is of sunnes clene.
Þe vorme þat he myd spek. wes Marie Maudeleyne.
Þo heo com to his buryles. hyne for to seche.
Heo wende þat þe gywes hedde fur-stole vre soule leche.
Marie stod wiþ-vte þe dure. and sore wepe bi-gon.
Þo heo ne funde nouht ihesu crist. þet wes hire leof-mon.
He adun stupede. and lokede myd eye.
If heo of vre louerde. ouht þer iseye.
Þo seyh heo þer twey engles. myd hwite cloþes and swote.
Þe on set at þe heuede. þe oþer at þe vote.
Wymmon hwi wepestu. hi seyden hire to.
For hi habbeþ myne louerd. i not hwer i-do.
Marie hire drouh abak. and lokede heo bi-hynde.
Þo yseyh heo ihesu crist. þet heo þer wende vynde.
Vre louerd hire gon axi. for hwi and for hwan.
Wepestu. and hwam þu seche. say me wymmon.
Marie him onswerede. and þus him seyde to.
Þe gywes habbeþ mynne louerd. of þisse stude i-do.
Ich not neuer hwydere. hi habbeþ hyne ibrouht.
Þer-vore ich am ful sori. and habbe hyne isouht.
Hauestu hyne awey ibore. seye me gode mon.
And ich hyne vecche wille. al my seolf on.
Heo nuste nouht þat he hit wes. þet vre bendes to-brek.
Heo wende hit were þe leyhtunward. þat to hire spek.
Iesus þo nemde marie. and cudde hwat he wes.
Marie in hire lyue. neuere so blyþe nes.
Heo clepede hyne mayster. þet is rabony.
And fel to his fote. and bed hym mercy.
Ihesuc spek to marie. and hire þo for-bed.
Þat heo attryne ne scolde. his honde ne his fet.
Ich ne astey nouht yete. vp to myne vadere.
Ac go to myne broþren. þer hi beoþ to-gadere.

Saye heom þat ich astye. to mynes vader riche.
Þer is my vader and eke heore. and ioye euer ilyche.
After þet ihesu crist. myd marie hedde ispeke.
Heo nolde vor none þinge. his heste þo to-breke.
Heo com to his disciples. þer hi to-gadere were.
Neuer of tydinge. hy er so glad nere.
Heo seyde to heom þe wordes. þet hire heyhte ihesuc.
And þat he wes from deþe aryse. and to me seyde þus.
Þo hi þis iherde. hi were swyþe blyþe.
Þat vre louerd wes aryse. from deþe to lyue.
As heo stode and speken. and weren at wenynge.
Of vre louerdes aryste. and fele oþer þinge.
Vre louerd ihesu crist. þe wes ibore. of þe meyde.
He stod amydde heom alle. and to heom þus seyde.
Sibsumnesse eu beo among. ne beo ye nouht of-dredde.
Ich hit am þat her bi-vore. eu alle myd me ledde.
Hi weren aferd and offruyht. and no wunder nes.
Heo wenden þet hit were a gost. þat a-mong heom wes.
Ihesuc to heom seyde. of hwan beo ye of-ferde.
And beoþ in eure heorte. þouhtes fele a-rerde.
Iseoþ nuþe boþe myne vét. and ek myne honde.
Þat ich hit am ihesu crist. þat her myd eu stonde.
Hondleþ nv and iseoþ. þat gost naueþ none bon.
Ne vleys ne bon nouþer. as me is vp-on.
Þo he hedde so yseyd. he dude more yet.
He schewede heom his honde. and so he dude his fet.
Yet heo hit nyleuede. þe more ne þe lesse.
Ac þuhte muche wunder. of heore gladnesse.
Vre louerd ihesu crist. myd heom bi-gon to speke
Habbe ye ouht here. þat mon may of ete.
Hi hym bivore brouhten. of one visse ibred.
And ek enne huny-comb. hi weren swiþe gled.
Vre louerd nom and et þer-of. to-uore heom euervychone.
And sewede þat he wes a-ryse. myd fleysse and myd bone.
Aveole kunne wise. vre louerd him tok on.
To schewen his apostles. þet he wes god and mon.

Seoþþe þat he wes a-ryse. from deþe to lyue.
Þet vs alle bouhte. myd his wndes fyue.
Ofte he heom myd spek. þer hi weren to-gedere.
Er he wolde astyen. to heuene to his vedere.
He heyhte heom holde treowe luue. euerych to oþre.
As ich habbe eu yluued. for ye beoþ alle broþre.
Vre louerd heom bleu vp-on. þet alle þing con dyhte.
Vnder-uongeþ he seyde. þe holigostes myhte.
Þeo þat ye aleseþ here. of heore sunnes bende.
Hi schulle beon vnbunden. euer buten ende.
And þeo þat ye her byndeþ. ine lyue þisse.
Hi beoþ euer ibunde. wyteþ ye myd iwisse.
Þo vre louerd astye wolde. from eorþe to heuene
He seyde to his apostles. hi weren elleouene.
Herkneþ alle to me. þe more and þe leste.
Ich eu wille senden on. mynes fader biheste.
Sytteþ in þe burewe. and ich eu wille dihte.
Fort ye beon byweued. of heueliche myhte.
He seoþþe heom vt ledde. in-to bethany.
And myd his swete honde. gon heom blessy.
Þo he heom hedde iblessed. þat scop þe sunne and mone.
He astey to heuene. þer-after ful sone.
Hi stoden and biheolden. hw he to heuene asteyh.
Mid his swete moder. he wes hire heorte neyh.
Þer stoden twei veyre men. neren hi nouht ihud.
Ac were myd hwite cloþes. swyþe veyre iscrud.
And hi to heom seyden. men of galile.
Toward þare heuene. hwat bi-holde ye.
Þe ilke sulue ihesuc. þat is from eu y-nume.
He wile hym sulf eft-sone. hider to ev cume.
Mid fleysse and myd bone. as he heonne ywende.
He wile eft hider cume. þeos word he eu sende.
Þo heo þis iherden. hi turnden heom ayeyn.
Mid muchele gladnesse. eft to iherusalem.
And weren in þe temple. god heryinde.
And þene king of heuene. euer blessynde.

At þon heye vndarne. a wit-suneday.
Þer hi were to-gadere. as ich eu segge may.
And heryeden vre louerd crist. and heore bede sunge.
Þe holy gost heom com vp-on. in fury tunge.
So sone so hi weren. of þe holy goste attende.
Heo arysen alle to-gadere. and vt heom iwende.
And speken godes wordes. hi weren swiþe gled.
Of none monne in eorþe. nere hi þo of-dred.
Þo were in iherusalem. as ich me vnderstonde.
Men wunyinde. of alle kunnes londe.
Þo heo iherden þe apostles. godes lore teche.
Eueruych þer vnderstod. his icunde speche.
Heo seyden heom bi-twenen. hwat may þis beo.
Þeos men þat we heren speke. hi beoþ of galile.
And we iherden heom heryen. in heore preching.
After vre tunge. þen heoueliche kyng.
Seoþþe in alle londes. hi eoden vor to prechen.
And for to fully þat folk. and godes lawe techen.
Hi nolden þo bileue. vor kayser. ne vor kynge.
Ne vor nore pyne. heore prechynge.
Þer-vore heo iwenden. in-to alle londes.
And fullede kinges. eorles. and bondes.
And alle men and wymmen. þat wolde to heom cume.
And bileuen on ihesu crist. þet is godes sune.
Þer-uore þe veond of helle. hedde muchel onde.
Vor hi by-nomen him saulen. in water. and in londe.
Þer-vore he hine bi-þouhte. hw he don myhte.
And euer wes abute. bi daye. and bi nyhte.
Vor bryngen heom to deþe. þet spek myd his y-corene.
Þat wes. Nerun. and Dacyen. and mo þet beoþ vor-lorene.
Þeos nómen þe apostles. and heom to deþe dude.
And vre louerd heom vnderveng. a-non i þe stude.
Nv hi beoþ ine blisse. myd þon heuene kynge.
Þat is heore mede. vor heore prechinge.
Bidde we alle ihesu crist. vor heore erndinge.
Þat he vre saule. to þare blisse brynge.

Vor his swete moder luue. of hwam he vleyss nom.
He habbe mercy of vs. þat is god and mon.
And lete vs so her libben. in þisse wrecche lyue.
Þat we moten to him cume. for his wundes fyue.
And he þat haueþ þis rym iwryten. beo hwat he beo.
God in þisse lyue. hyne lete wel iþeo.
And alle his iveren. boþe yonge and olde.
God heom lete heore ordre. trewliche her holde.
Þat hi mote to-gadere cume. to heueriche blysse.
Hwanne hi schullen to-party. vt of lyue þisse.
He þet alle þing ischop. þis vs graunty.
Vor his leue moder luue. seynte Mary.
And heo vre erende bere. so is hire ywune.
Mid alle oþer halewe. to hire swete sune.

Amen.

II. A Moral Ode.

[_]

[Same MS, leaf 242.]

Tractatus quidam in anglico.

Ich am eldre þan ich wes a winter and ek on lore.
Ich welde more þan ich dude. my wyt auhte beo more.
Wel longe ich habbe child ibeo. a werke and eke on dede.
Þah ich beo of wynter old. to yong ich am on rede.
Vnned lif ich habbe ilad. and yet me þinkþ ich lede.
Hwenne ich me biþenche. ful sore ich me adrede.
Mest al þat ich habbe idon. is idelnesse and chilce.
Wel late ich habbe me bi-þouht. bute god do me mylce.
Veole idel word ich habbe ispeke. seoþþe ich speke cuþe.
And feole yonge deden ido. þat me of-þincheþ nuþe.
Al to lóme ich habbe agult. on werke and on worde.
Al to muchel ich habbe i-spend. to lutel i-leyd an horde.
Best al þat me likede er. nv hit me mys-lykeþ.
Þe muchel foleweþ his wil. him seolue he bi-swikeþ.
Mon let þi fol lust ouer-go. and eft hit þe likeþ.
Ich myhte habbe bet i-do. heuede ich eny selhþe.
Nv ich wolde and i ne may. for elde. ne for vnhelhþe.
Elde is me bi-stolen on. er þan ich hit wiste.
Ne may ich bi-seo me bi-fore. for smoke ne for myste.
Erewe we beoþ to donne gód. vuel al to þriste.

More eye stondeþ mon of mon. þan him to cryste.
Þe wel ne doþ hwile he may. hit schal him sore reowe.
Hwenne alle men repen schule. þat heo ear seowe.
Dod to gode þat ye Muwen. þe hwile ye beoþ alyue.
Ne lipne no mon to muchel. to childe. ne to wyue.
Þe him seolue for-yet. for wiue. oþer for childe.
He schal cumen on vuele stude. bute god him beo Milde.
Sende vch sum god bivoren him. þe hwile he may to heouene.
Betere is on almes bi-uoren. þane beoþ after seouene.
Ne beo þe leouere þan þi seolf. þi mey ne þi mowe.
Sot is þat is oþer mannes freond. more þan his owe.
Ne lipne no wif to hire were. ne were to his wyue.
Beo vor him seolue vych mon. þe hwile he beoþ alyue.
Þis is þat him seolue biþenkþ. þe hwile he mot libbe.
Vor sone willeþ him for-yete þe fremede and þe sibbe.
Þe wel nule do hwile he may. ne schal he hwenne he wolde.
Mony monnes sore iswynk. ofte habbeþ vnholde.
Ne scholde nomon don a virst. ne slakien wel to donne.
Vor mony mon bihoteþ wel. þat hit for-yeteþ sone.
Þe mon þat wile syker beo. to habbe godes blysse.
Do wel him seolf þe hwile he may. þenne haueþ he hit myd iwisse.
Þeos riche men weneþ to beon syker. þurh walles and þurh diche.
Ah heo doþ heore ayhte in siker stude. þat sendeþ hit to heoue-riche.
Vor þer ne þarf. he beon adred. of fure ne of þeue.
Þar ne may hit bynyme. þe loþe ne þe leoue.
Þer ne þarf he beon of-dred. of yefte. ne of yelde.
Þider we sendeþ and seolf bereþ. to lutel and to selde.
Þider we schulde drawen and don. wel ofte and ilóme.
Ne may þer non hit vs bynymen. myd wrongwise dome.

Þider we schulden drawen and don. wolde ye me ileue.
Vor þer ne may hit vs by-nyme. þe king. ne þe schirréue.
Al þe beste þat we habbeþ. þider we schulde sende.
Vor þer we hit myhte vinden eft. and habben .o. buten ende.
He þat her doþ eny god. to habbe godes ore.
Al he schal vynde þer. an hundred folde more.
Þe þat ayhte wile holde wel. þe hwile he may him wolde.
Yeue hit for godes luue. þenne doþ he hit wel iholde.
Vre swynk and vre tylehþe. is iwuned to swynde.
Ah heo þat hit yeueþ for godes luue. eft hit mowen ivynde.
Ne schal no vuel beon vn-bouht. ne no god vn-vor-gulde.
Vuel we doþ al to muchel. god lasse þane we scholde.
Þe þat mest doþ nv to góde. and te þe leste to laþe.
Eyþer to lutel and to muchel. schal þunchen heom ef[t] to baþe.
Þer me schal vre werkes weyen by-vore heouene kinge.
And yeuen vs vre swynkes lean. after vre earnynge.
Everuych mon myd þat he haueþ. may bugge heoueriche.
Þe riche and þe poure boþe. ah nouht alle ilyche.
Þe poure. myd his penye. þe riche myd his punde.
Þat is þe wunderlicheste ware. þat euer was ifunde.
And ofte god con more þonk. ye þat yueþ him lasse.
Alle his werkes. and his yeftes. is in ryhtwisnesse.
Lvtel lok is gode leof. þat cumeþ of gode wille.
And lutel he let on muchel wowe. þer þe heorte is ille.
Heouene and eorþe he ouer-syhþ. his eyen beoþ so brihte.
Sunne. and Mone. heuene. and fur. beoþ þeostre. ayeyn his lyhte.
Nis him for-hole nowiht. ne ihud. so muchele beoþ his myhte.
Nis no so derne dede idon. in so þeostre nyhte.
He wot hwat þencheþ. and hwat doþ. alle quyke wyhte.
Nis no louerd such is crist. ne king. such vre dryhte.

Heouene and eorþe. and al þat is. biloken is. in his honde.
He doþ al þat his wille is. a watere. and eke on londe.
He makede fysses in þe sea. and fuweles in þe lufte.
He wit and wald alle þing. and schop alle schafte.
He wes erest of alle þing. and euer byþ buten ende.
He is on ewiche stude. wende hwer þu wende.
He is buuen and bi-neþen. bi-voren vs and bi-hinde.
Þe þat godes wille doþ. ichwer may him fynde.
Hvych rune he iherþ. þe wot alle dede.
He þurh-syhþ. vych monnes þonk. wy hwat schal vs to rede.
Þe þat brekeþ godes hes. and gulteþ so ilóme.
Hwat schulle we seggen oþer don. at þe muchele dome.
Þe þat luueþ vnryht. and heore lif. vuele ledeþ.
We þat neuer god ne duden. þen heueneliche demeþ.
Hwat schulle seggen oþer don. þer engles heom drede.
Crist for his muchele myhte. hus helpe þenne and rede.
Hwat schulle we beren vs bi-voren. Mid hwan schulle we queme.
Þe[r] schule beon deoulen so veole. þat wulleþ vs forwreye.
Nabbeþ heo nowiht for-yete. of al þat heo iseyen.
Al þat we mysduden here. heo hit wulleþ cuþe þere.
Bute we habben hit ibet. þe hwile we her were.
Al heo habbeþ in heore wryte. þat we mysduden here.
Þah we hit nusten. heo weren vre i-fere.
Hwat schulleþ horlinges don. þe swiken. and þe forsworene.
Swiþe veole beoþ icleped. and fewe beoþ icorene.
Way hwi were heo bi-yete. hwi weren heo iborene.
Þat schulle beo to deþe idemed. and euer-more forlorene.
Huych mon him seolue schal her. bi-cleopien. and ek deme.
His owene werkes and his þouht. to witnesse hit schal teme.

Ne may him nomon deme so wel. iwis. ne al so ryhte.
For non ne knoweþ so wel his þonk. bute vre dryhte.
Vych mon wot him seolue best. his werkes and his wille.
Þat lest wot he seyþ ofte mest. and he þat al wot is stille.
Nis no witnesse al so muchel. so monnes owe heorte.
For so seyþ þat vnhol is him seolue hwat him smeorteþ.
Vych mon schal him seolue deme. to deþe oþer to lyue.
Þe witnesse of his owe werk. þer-to him schal dryue.
And al þat euer mon hafþ idon. seþþen heo com to monne.
Al so he hit iseye on boke iwryten. hit schal him þinche þenne.
Ne schal nomon beon ydemed. after his bigynnynge.
Ah dom schal þolyen vych mon. after his endinge
If þe ende is vuel. al hit is vuel. god yef vs god ende.
God yef vs vre ende gód. hwider þat he vs lende.
Þe mon þat neuer nule do god. ne neuer god lif lede.
Þat deþ cume to his dure. he may sore a-drede.
Þat he ne Muwe bidden ore. for þat i-tyt ilóme.
Vor-þi is wis þat bit ore. and bet. bi-vore þe dome.
Hwenne deþ is at þe dure. wel late he bit ore.
Wel late he leteþ þat vuel. þenne he ne may do na more.
Bilef sunne hwil þu myht. and do bi godes lore.
And do to gode hwat þu myht. if þu wilt habben ore.
For we hit ileueþ wel. and dryhten seolf hit seyde.
On hwiche tyme so euer þe mon. of-þincheþ his mysdede.
Oþer raþer oþer later. Milce he schal y-mete.
Ah he þat nouht naueþ ibét. muchel he haueþ to bete.
Mony mon seyþ hwo rekþ of pyne. þat schal habben ende.
Ne bidde ich no bet. bute ich beo. ilesed a domes day of bende.
Lutel wot he hwat is pyne. and lutel he hit iknoweþ.
Hwich hete is þar þe soule wuneþ. hw bitter wynd þper bloweþ.

Hedde he iwuned þer enne day. oþer vnneþe one tyde.
Nolde he for al þe Middelerd. an oþer þer abyde.
Swiþe grimlych stench þer is. and wurþ wyþ-vten ende
And hwo þe enes cumeþ þer. vt may he neuer þenne wende.
Neuer ich in helle ne com. ne þer to cume ne recche.
Þah ich al þes worldes weole. þer wende to vecche.
Þat seyden þeo þat weren þer. heo hit wisten myd iwisse.
Þer þurh seorewe of seoue yer. for sonenyhtes blysse.
And for þe blysse þat ende haueþ endeles is þe pyne.
Beter is worie wateres drung. þane atter meynd myd wyne.
Swynes brede is swete. so is of þe wilde deore.
Al to deore he hit buþ. þat yeueþ þar-vore his sweore.
Ful wombe may lihtliche speken. of hunger and of festen.
So may of pyne. þat not hwat hit is. þat euer-mo schal lesten.
Hedde he ifonded summe stunde. he wolde seggen al oþer.
And lete for crist. beo wif and child. fader. suster. and broþer.
Al he wolde oþer don. and oþerluker þenche.
Hwenne he biþouhte on helle fur. þat noþing ne may quenche.
Eure he wolde in bonen beon. and in godnesse wunye.
Wiþ þat he myhte helle fur. euer fleon and schonye.
And lete sker al þes worldes weole. and þes worldes blysse.
Wiþ þat he myhte to heouene cumen. and beo þer myd iwisse.
Ich wile eu seggen of þe dome. as ich eu er seyde.
On þe day and on þe dome. vs helpe cryst and rede.
Þer we Muwen beon aferd. and sore vs of-drede.
Þer vych schal seon him bi-fore. his word and ek his dede.

Al schal beon þer þeonne ikud. þat er men lowen and stelen.
Al schal beon þer þeonne vnwrien. þat men her wrien and helen.
Vve schulleþ alre monne lyf. iknowe al so vre owe.
Þer schulle beon euenynges. þe riche and ek þe lowe.
Þe dom schal beon sone idon. ne lest he nowiht longe.
Ne schal him nomon menen þer. of strengþe. ne of wronge.
Þeo schullen habbe harde dom. þat er weren harde.
Þeo þat vuele heolde wrecche men. and vuele lawe arerde.
Alle þeo þat beoþ icumen. of adam and of eve.
Alle heo schule þider cumen. and so we owen hit ileue.
Þeo þat habbeþ wel idon. after heore Mihte.
To heoueriche heo schulle vare. forþ myd vre dryhte.
Þeo þat habbeþ feondes werk idon. and þer-in beoþ ifunde.
Heo schulle fare forþ myd him; in-to helle grunde.
Þer ho schulle wunyen .o. buten ore and ende.
Ne brekeþ nouht crist eft helle dure. to lesen heom of bende.
Nys no seollich þeh heom beo wo. he mawe wunye eþe.
Nul neuer eft crist þolye deþ. to lesen heom of deþe.
Enes drihte helle brek. his freond he vt brouhte.
Him seolue he þolede deþ for vs. wel deore he vs abouhte.
Nolde hit nomon do for me. ne suster for broþer.
Nolde hit sone do for vader. ne nomon for oþer.
Vre alre louerd for vs þrelles. ipyned wes on rode.
Vre bendes he vnbond. and bouhte vs myd his blode.
And we yeueþ vnneþe. a stucche of vre brede.
We ne þencheþ nouht þat he schal deme. þe quyke and ek þe dede.
Muchel luue he vs cudde. wolde we hit vnderstonde.
Þat vre elderne mys-duden. we habbeþ harde on honde.

Deþ com i þis Middelerd. þurh þe deofles onde.
And sunne. and sorewe. and muchel swynk. a watere. and a londe.
Vre forme faderes gult. we abuggeþ alle.
Al his ofsprung after him. in harme is ifalle.
Þurst and hunger. chele. and hete. ache and vnhelþe.
Þurh him com in þis myddelerd. and oþe vnyselyhþe.
Nere nomon elles ded ne sek. ne non vnhele.
Ah myhten libben euer-mo. myd blysse and myd wele.
Lutel hit þincheþ monymon. ah muchel wes þe sunne.
For whon alle þolieþ deþ. þat comen of heore kunne.
Vre sunne and vre sor. vs may sore of-þunche.
In sunnen we libbeþ alle. and seorewe. and in swynke.
Hwenne god nom so muche wreche. for one mys-dede.
We þat ofte mys-doþ. we Mowen vs sore adrede.
Adam and his ofsprung. for ore bare sunne.
Weren feole hundred wynter in pyne. and on vnwunne.
And þeo þat ledeþ heore lif. myd vnriht and myd wronge.
Bute hit godes mylce beo. he beoþ þar wel longe.
Godes wisdom is wel muchel. and al so is his myhte.
Nis his mylce nowiht lasse. ah al by one wyhte.
More he one may for-yeue. þan al volk agulte kunne.
Þeyh seolf deouel myhte habbe mylce. if he hit bigunne.
Þe þat godes mylce sekþ. iwis he hit may fynde.
Ah helle kyng. is ore-les. wiþ þon þat he may bynde.
Þe þat doþ his wille mest. he schal habbe wrst mede.
His baþ schal beo wallynde pich. his bed bernynde glede.
Also ich hit telle as wyse men vs seyden.
And on heore boke. hit iwryten is. þat me may hit reden.
Ich hit segge for heom. þat er þis hit nusten.
And warny heom wiþ harme. if heo me wulleþ lusten.
Vnderstondeþ nv to me. edye men and arme.

Ich wille ou telle of helle pyne. and warny of harme.
Þar is hunger and þurst. vuele tweye ivere.
Þeos pyne þolieþ þer. þat were mete-nyþinges here.
Þar is wonyng and wop. after vlche strete.
Ho vareþ from hete to chele. from chele to þar hete.
Hwenne heo cumeþ in hete. þe chele heom þincheþ lysse.
Þenne heo cumeþ eft to chele. of hete heo habbeþ mysse.
Eyþer heom doþ wo y-nouh. nabbeþ heo none lisse.
Heo nuten hweþer heom doþ wurse. myd neuer none iwisse.
Heo walkeþ euer and secheþ reste. ah heo hit ne muwe iméte.
For heo nolde hwile heo myhten. heore sunnen ibete.
Heo schecheþ reste þer non nys. for-þi ne muwen hi finde
Ah walkeþ þar boþe vp and dun. so water doþ myd winde.
Þis beoþ þe. þat weren her Mid hwom me heold feste.
And þeo þat gode bi-heyhte wel. and nolden hit ileste.
And þeo þat god were by-gunne and ful-endy hit nolden.
Nv were her. nv were þer. heo nuste hwat heo wolden.
Þet ich pych. þat euer walleþ. þat heo schulle habbe þere.
Þeo þat ledeþ heore lyf vnwreste. and eke false were.
Þar is fur an hundred-folde. hatture þane be vre.
Ne may hit quenche no salt water. ne auene strém. ne sture.
Þat is þet fur þat euer barnþ. ne may hit nomon quenche.
Þar-inne beoþ þeo. þat her wes leof. poure men to swenche.
Þeo þat were swikelemen. and ful of vuele wrenche.

And þeo þat ne myhte vuele do. and was hit leof to þenche.
Þeo þat luued reving. and stale. and hordom. and drunken.
And on deoueles werke. bluþeliche swunken.
Þeo þat were so lese. þat me heom ne myhte iléuen.
Med-yorne domes men. and wrongwise reuen.
Þe þat wes leof oþer mannes wif. and his owe léten.
And þe þat sunegeþ ofte. on drunken. and on méte.
Þeo þat wrecche men bynymeþ. his eyhte. and hit leyþ an horde.
And lutel let on godes bode. and of godes worde.
Þeo þat almes nolde yeue þere he iseyh þe neode.
Ne his poure kunesmen. at him ne myhte nouht spede.
Þe þat nolde here godes sonde. þar he sat. at his borde.
And was leof oþer mannes þing. leuere þan beon schulde.
And weren al to grédi. of seoluer. and of golde.
And luueden vntrewnesse. þat heo schulden beon hólde.
And léten þat hi scolden do. and duden þat heo ne scholden.
Heo schulleþ wunyen in helle. þe ueondes onwolde.
Þe þat were gaderares. of þisse worldes ayhte.
And duden þat þe loþe gost heom tycede and tahte.
And alle þeo þe myd-dusye wise. deouele her iquemeþ.
Þeo beoþ nv in helle wiþ him. fordon. and for-démde.
Bute þeo þat of-þincheþ her. sore heore mysdede.
And heore gultes gunnen lete. and betere lif to lede.
Þer beoþ neddren. and snaken. euethen and fruden.
Þer tereþ and freteþ. þat vuele spekeþ. þe nyþfule and þe prude.
Neuer sunne þer ne schineþ. ne Móne. ne steorre.
Þer is muchel godes héte. and muchel godes eorre.
Euer þar is muchel smech. þeosternesse and eye.
Nis þer neuer oþer lyht. bute þe swarte leye.
Þer lyþ þe lodliche ueond. in stronge rake-teye.

Þat is þe þat wes myd god. in heouene swiþe heye.
Þer beoþ ateliche ueondes. and grysliche wyhtes.
Þer schule þe wrecche soulen iseon. þat sunegeden bi sihtes.
Þer is þe loþe sathanas. and beelzebub þe olde.
Eþe heo mwue beon adred. þat heom schulde biholde.
Ne may non heorte hit þenche. ne no tunge telle.
Hw muche pyne. hw ueole ueondes. beoþ in þeostre helle.
For al þe pyne þat her is. nulle ich eu nouht lye.
Nis hit bute gome and gleo. al þat mon may her dreye.
And yet ne doþ heom noþing so wo. in þe loþe bende.
Ase þat witen heore pyne. ne schal habbe non ende.
Þar beoþ þe heþene men. þat were lawe-lese.
Þet nes nouht of godes forbode. ne of godes hese.
Vuele cristenemen. beoþ þer heorure nere.
Þeo þat heore cristendom. vuele heolden here.
Yet heo beoþ a wrse stude. anyþe helle grunde.
Ne schullen heo neuer cumen up for marke. ne for punde.
Ne may helpe þer. nouþer beode ne almesse.
For nys noþer in helle. ore ne [for]yeuenesse.
Nu schilde him vych mon hwile he may. wiþ þe ilke pyne.
And warny vich his freond. so ich habbe myne.
Þeo þat schilde heom ne kunnen. ich heom wille teche.
Ich con beon eyþer if ich schal. lycome and soule leche.
Lete we þat god forbed. alle mon-kunne.
And do we þat he vs hat. and schilde we vs wiþ sunne.
Luuye we god myd vre heorte. and myd alle vre myhte.
Vre euen-cristen. as vs seolf. for so vs lerede dryhte.
Al þat me redeþ and syngeþ. bi-voren godes borde.
Al hit hongeþ and hald. bi þisse twam worde.

Alle godes lawe he fulleþ. þe newe. and ek þe olde.
Þat haueþ þeos ilke two luuen. and wel heom wile atholde.
Ah soþ ich hit eu segge. ofte we agulteþ alle.
For strong hit is to stonde longe. and lyht hit is to falle.
Ah dryhten crist vs yeue strengþe. stonde þat we mote.
And of alle vre sunnen. vs lete cume to bote.
Vve wilneþ after worldes ayhte. þat longe ne may ileste.
And mest leggeþ vre swynk. on þing vnstudeueste.
If þat we swunken for gode. half. þat we doþ for eyhte.
Nere we nouht so ofte bi-cherd. ne so vuele by-þouhte.
Yef we seruede god. so we doþ earmynges.
We Mihte habbe more of heouene. þan eorles oþer kynges.
Ne mowe nouht weryen heom. wiþ chele ne wiþ hunger.
Ne wiþ elde ne wiþ deþe. þe eldure ne þe yonge.
Ah þer nys hunger ne þurst. ne deþ. ne vnhelþe ne elde.
Of þis world we þencheþ ofte and þer-of al to selde.
Vve schulde vs bi-þenche. wel ofte and wel ilóme.
Hwat we beoþ. to hwan we schulen. and of hwan we comen.
Hw lutle hwile we beoþ here. hw longe elles-hware.
And after gode wel wurche. þenne ne þuruue noht kare.
If we were wyse men. þus we schulde þenche.
Bute we wurþe vs iwar. þes world vs wile for-drenche.
Mest alle men he yeueþ drynke. of one deofles [schenche.]
He schal him cunne schilde wel. yef he him. [wole bi-þen che.]
Mid almyhtyes godes luue. vte we vs werie.
Wiþ þeos wrecche worldes luue. þe heo vs ne derye.
Mid festen. and almesse and beoden. were we vs wiþ sunne.

Mid þe wepnen þat god haueþ yeuen. to alle monkunne.
Lete we þeo brode stret. and þene wey grene.
Þat lat þe nyeþe to helle. of folke. and ich wene.
Go we þene narewe wey. þene wey so schene.
Þer forþ fareþ lutel folk. and þat is wel eþ-sene.
Þe brode stret is vre wil. þat is vs loþ to lete.
Þe þat al feleweþ his wil. he fareþ þe brode strete.
Þe narewe wey is godes heste. þat forþ fareþ wel fawe.
Þat beoþ þeo. þe heom schedeþ wel. wiþ vych vnþewe.
Þeos goþ vnneþe ayeyn þe cleo. ayeyn þe heye hulle.
Þeos leteþ awei al heore wil. for godes hestes to fulle.
Go we alle þene wei. for he vs wile brynge.
Mid þe fewe feyremen by-uoren heouene kinge.
Þer is alre Murehþe mest. myd englene songe.
Wel edy wurþ þilke mon. þat þer byþ vnderuonge.
Þe lest haueþ murehþe. he haueþ so muche. ne bit he namore.
Hwo so þeo blisse for þisse foryet. hit may him rewe sore.
Ne may no pyne ne no wone beon in heouene riche.
Þah þer beon wonynges feole. and oþer vnyliche.
Summe habbeþ lasse Murehþe. and summe habbeþ more.
Vych after þat he dude her. and after þat heo swunken sore.
Ne wrþ þer bred ne wyn. ne nones kunnes este.
God one schal beon eche lif. and blisse eche reste.
Þer nys nouþer fou ne grey. ne konyng. ne hermyne.
Ne oter. ne acquerne. Beuveyr ne sablyne.
Ne þer ne wurþ ful iwis. worldes wele none.
Al þe Murehþe þat me vs bihat al hit is god one.
Nis þer no Murehþe so muchel. so is godes syhte.
He is soþ sunne. and briht. and day bute nyhte.
He is vyche godes ful. nys him nowiht wiþ-vte.
Nis heom nones godes wone þat wuneþ hym abute.
Þer is weole bute wone. and reste bute swynke.

Hwo may þider cume and nule. hit schal hym sore of-þinche.
Þer is blysse bute teone. and lif wiþ-vte deþe.
Þeo þat schulle wunye þer. bliþe mvwen heo beon eþe.
Þer is yonghede buten ealde. and hele buten vnhelþe.
Þer nys seorewe ne no sor. neuer non vnhelþe.
Seoþþe me dryhten iseo. so he is myd iwisse.
He one may beon and schal. englene and monne blisse.
Þeo schulen of him more iseon. þat her him luuede more.
And more iseon and iwyten. his Milce and his ore.
On him heo schullen fynden. al þat mon may luste.
And on lyues bec iseon. al þat heo her nusten.
Crist seolf one schal beon. i-nouh to alle derlinges.
He one is more and betere. þan alle wordliche þinges.
Inouh hi habbeþ þat hyne habbeþ. þat alle þinges weldeþ.
Him to seonne murie hit is. so fayr he is to biholde.
God is so swete and so muchel. in his godnesse.
Al þat wes and is. is wel wurse and lasse.
Ne may nomon hit segge. ne wyten myd iwisse.
Hu muchele Murehþe habbeþ heo. þat beoþ in heuene blisse.
To þare blisse bringe vs god. þat lesteþ buten ende.
Hwenne he vre saule vn-bind. of lichomliche bende.
Crist vs lete such lif lede. and habbe her such ende.
Þat we mote to him cume. hwenne we heonne wendeþ.

Amen.

Bidde we nu leoue freond. yonge and ek olde.
Þat he þat þis wryt wrot. his saule beo þer atholde.

Amen.

III. Sinners Beware!

[_]

[Same MS, leaf 248.]

Þeos holy gostes myhte.
Vs helpe. and rede and dihte.
And wisse vs and theche.
To wyten vs wyþ þan vnwihte.
Þat bi daye and bi nyhte.
Þencheþ vs to bi-peche.

He makeþ vs don sunnen.
And habben of mon-kunne.
Swiþe muchel onde.
And þencheþ vs i-wynne.
And wunye vs wiþ-Inne.
And vs habben an honde.

Ac bidde we crist yorne.
Þat he. þat heom werne.
For his holynesse.
For þe þat to heom turneþ.
In helle heo schulle for-berne.
On eche sorynesse.

Ah ich hit segge and swerie.
if we vre suppen herye.
And luuyeþ hyne swiþe.
He vs wille werye.
Þat feondes vs ne derye.
Þat fulle beoþ of nyþe.

Ne schulle we nouht beo here.
Swiþe vale yere.
For-þi er we wende.
Makie we us clene and skere.
Þat we englene ivere.
Mawe beon o buten ende.

Þat is in heouene blysse.
Heo cumeþ þer myd iwisse.
Þat luuyeþ godes lore.
Hwo þat for lyue þisse.
Þer-of schal mysse.
Hit schal him reowe sore.

Hit seyþ in þe godspelle.
Ne may no tunge telle.
Þe blisse þat þer is euere.
Ne of þare pyne of helle.
Þar-to we beoþ to snelle.
A-way. heo ne endeþ neuere.

In helle beoþ þe pynen.
Þat makeþ heorte chynen.
Þe stude is swiþe vnvele.
Þer no lyht ne shineþ
Ne non. oþer at-tryneþ.
To helpe ne to hele.

Her is chele and hete.
And hunger vnymete.
And þurst elles to kene.
Wikede beoþ þe sete.
And þe wurmes eke.
Þat doþ þe saule teone.

Þar is wop and wonynge.
And muche bymenynge.
Þat heo ibore were.
And þar nys no yeyn-cherrynge.
Ne þar nys non endynge.
Þe enes cumeþ þere.

Þi we auhte nyme gome.
Her. er we. þider cóme.
And serue heouene kinge.
Bisechen hym ilome.
Þat he vs at þe dome.
From þare pyne vs brynge.

Vte we sunnen lete.
And nyme scryf[t] and béte.
Of vre Misdede.
To donne he beoþ swete.
Þy vs. is. eþ-gete.
Helle þat is vnlede.

Þeo seuen heaued-sunne.
Þat we ofte beoþ inne.
Þe saule willeþ amerre.
Heo beoþ of swikele kunne.
Þer-myd þe wyþerwynne.
Vs alle þencheþ bicharre.

Prude and modynesse.
Ne arhhede ne sorynesse.
And nyþe and ek onde.
Wraþþe and swikelnesse.
Hordom and yuernesse.
Þeos we auhte vnderstonde.

Þeos beoþ sunnen seouene.
Þat bryngeþ vt of heouene.
Swiþe vele manne.
Þe weyes beoþ vn-euene.
Wiþ wepynde stefne.
To helle he schulle þenne.

Nv weneþ monye riche.
To beon englene ilyche.
For heore prude claþe.
Þer-fore heo schule siche.
And in helle smyche.
Acoryen hit ful wraþe.

He weneþ for heore ayhte.
To heouene beo cuþlehthe.
Ah bute heo hit ryht dele.
Of heouene heo beoþ bipahte.
And þane ueonde by-cauhte.
For heore muche weole.

Nv weneþ ek þes wrecche.
Þat he ne þurue recche.
For he ayhte nabbeþ.
Ac sathanas þe frecche.
Þe saule wule drecche.
Hwanne he agult habbeþ.

Þe ryche myd iwisse.
Wel myhte cume to blisse.
If he hit wolde of-seruie.
Þe poure may wel mysse.
Bute he his pouernesse.
Mid mylde heorte þolye.

Þes Munekes weneþ summe.
Þat gedereþ gersumme.
Þat heo hit schulle bruke.
Ah hwen deþ schal cume.
Al hit wurþ heom bi-nume.
And he bitauht þe puke.

Þe preost þat singeþ masse.
For his yuernesse.
And for owe þinge.
Bute he do almesse.
In eche sorinesse.
His saule he may brynge.

Þes knyhtes beoþ so bolde.
Hwenne heo habbeþ aquolde.
Heore crystene ivére.
Ah sathanas þe olde.
Þe saule wule at-holde.
And makie heo vnfere.

Þeos playdurs beoþ wel kene.
Þat werieþ red and grene.
And al þis vnriht demeþ.
Ho schule þah heo ne wene.
In helle habben teone.
Þer as feondes remeþ.

Þes chapmen monye bi stréte.
Beoþ swiþe vnymete.
Ne reccheþhwat hi swerie.
Bute heo habben biyéte.
Þi sathanas þe kete.
Þe saule wule derye.

Of alle men a londe.
Mest swynkeþ þe bonde.
And mest biyet myd ryhte.
If he hit cuþe vnderstonde.
And theoþe ryht vnder his honde.
To heouene he cume myhte.

Ah for al his sore swynke.
In helle he may adrynke.
If he steleþ cristes theoþinge.
Sur hit schal him þinche.
Deop in helle stunche.
His saule he may bringe.

Þeos prude leuedies.
Þat luuyeþ drywories.
And brekeþ spusynge.
For heore lecherye.
Nulleþ here sermonye.
Of none gode þinge.

Heo draweþ heore wede.
Mid seolkene þrede.
Ilaced and ibunde.
Ah he þat beoþ nv leaþe.
Remen heo schule and grede.
Deope in helle grunde.

Mvnekes and Nunnen.
Þat heom wyte ne kunnen.
From sucche lecherye.
Heo schule to helle cume.
Alle heore cloþes buue.
Ne schule heom warantye.

Soþliche betere heom were.
Þat heo ibore nére.
Þenne þider schulen wénde.
Soþ is þat ich eu lére.
Hwo so enes cumeþ þere.
He wrþ þer buten ende.

Ah we weneþ lyuie.
And longe sunegie.
And eft at þon ende.
Alle vre sunnen endye.
Bi-wepen and bi-reusye.
And so to heouene wende.

Ah ne beo nouht to þryste.
Ne þer-to nouht ne truste.
Þer-vppon ich eu lere.
For nes non þat wiste.
Bute him seolue criste.
Hwenne his ende-day were.

Soþliche hwenne we beoþ dede.
Euerych schal vo þe mede.
After his ernynge.
Bute we vs bi-rede.
Þe gost hit schal ivrede.
And fareþ to pynynge.

Hwenne bali me byndeþ.
On here me hyne bi-windeþ.
And bryngeþ hine on eorþe.
Þe wurmes hine ifyndeþ.
To axe heo hyne gryndeþ.
Þar-to we schule iwurþe.

He lyþ and roteþ lowe.
Naueþ he þat beo his owe.
Of ayhte ne of londe.
Ne naueþ he mey ne mowe.
Þat durre one þrowe.
Bi hym sitte ne stonde.

Soþliche nakede and bare.
Wiþ wope and wiþ kare.
We come to þisse lyue.
Al so we schule fare.
And al vre prude þare.
Vor-leten and bileuen.

Her-of we owe þenche.
And vre sunnen aquenche.
Mid beden and myd almesse.
And cunnen at-blenche.
From sathanases wrenche.
And from his swikelnesse.

Þah we beon falle in sunne
Ne ligge we noht þer-inne.
Ah ute we vp aryse.
And schenden vre wyþerwine.
Þat þencheþ vs to bi-gynne.
Þenne doþ we as þe wise.

Vte we leten vs schryue.
And þene ueond vt of vs dryue.
Ne þarf vs noht schomye.
Ne beoþ noht on þisse lyue.
Wymmen ne wapmen fyue.
Þat ofte ne sunegie.

Ah þes modie gume.
And þeos leuedies at þe frume.
Heo dyhteþ heom vnwreste.
And þeos gedelynges summe.
Hwenne heo to schrifte come.
Heo beoþ schomeuaste.

Nule heo þe soþe telle.
Þah me scholde heom aquelle.
Ne vnwreo heore Misdede.
For-þi heo schule in helle.
Euer schrinke and swelle.
And fo þer luþre mede.

Hwo nule hyne her rede.
And vnwreo his Misdede.
To þe preoste one.
He schal eft lude grede.
Þe quike and ek þe dede.
Iheren hi schulen vychone.

Þenne schal him schome sore.
Þe schome him þyncheþ more.
Þan muchel of his pyne.
Bute he do bi preostes lore.
And yeorne bidde godes ore.
Ne schal him no god attryne.

At þe Munte of olyuete.
We schulle vs eft alle y-mete.
Þe gode and þe vnwreste.
Þe day wurþ mylde and swete.
And bytter heom þat lete.
To donne godes heste.

Þer cumeþ god myd his rode.
His honde and his syde al a blode.
And scheweþ hu he vs bouhte.
Offerd þenne beoþ þe gode.
And wo is þenne þe ouermode.
Þat er þar-of ne rouhte.

Loke seyde god nuþe.
Hwat ich for ou ouþe.
And hwat ich gon þolye.
Lutel þonk ye me cuþe.
Mid heorte ne myd Muþe.
Nolde ye me þonkie.

He seyde þenne to his gode.
And spek myd Milde mode.
Mine gode. ye me fedde.
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]

And schrudden and wel bihedden.
And leyden in softe bedde.
Þo ic a-mong eu eode.
For-þi ich eu wulle a-redde.
From sathanas þe vn-ledde.
For her ye habbeþ neode.

Þe gode seyþ þenne.
Louerd hwer and hwenne.
Dude we þe goddéde.
Þo ye yeue þene pouere monne.
Þo he help nedde nenne.
Bute as he for me bed.

He seyþ þenne to þe wrecchen.
Ye nolden of me recchen.
For hunger ich swal þar-vte.
Ye nolden me in vacchen.
Ye weren eu seolue wr[e]cchen.
So Modi and so prute.

He gredeþ þanne heye.
Þe wrecches and þe vnsleye.
Þat luuede þe vnredes.
Louerd myd vre eye.
Neuer we þe ne yseyen.
Hwenne þu neode heddest.

[H]e seyþ þenne Myne.
Poure vn-hole hyne.
To eure dure come.
For chele hy gunne hwyne.
For hunger hi hedde pyne.
Ye nolden nyme gome.

Þer-of ye nolde hede.
Ne yeuen of eure brede.
Of drenche ne of cloþe.
To day ye schuleþ y-frede.
And vnder-fo luþre mede.
For ye me beoþ ful loþe.

Myne gode he sayþ myd iwisse.
To day ye schulle myd blysse.
To heueryche wende.
And ye to þesternesse.
And to eche sorynesse.
And þer beo buten ende.

He yeorreþ and heo gredeþ.
Þe feondes heom forþ ledeþ.
Boþe lychom and saule.
And beteþ heom and schredeþ.
And luþre heom biledeþ.
Mid pykes and myd eaule.

Þe saule seyþ to þe lychome.
Acursed wurþe þi nome.
Þin heaued and þin heorte.
Þu vs hauest iwroht þes schome.
And alle þene eche grome.
Vs schal euer smerte.

Þe gode. þe Milde. and þe clene.
Þah heo i-seon alle y-mene.
Al þat kun þat we of come.
Nulleþ heo neuer ene.
By-reusy ne bi-mene.
Ne þar-to nyme góme.

Ah wolde we vs wel dihte.
And leden vre lyf myd rihte.
Þe hwiles we beoþ here.
Ich hit eu segge and plyhte.
A domes day we Myhte.
Beon engles ivére.

Bidde we vre dryhte.
Þat day scop and nyhte.
Þat do vre saule bote.
Þat we in heuene lyhte.
Among þan englen bryhte.
Wunyen and beo mote.

Amen.

IV. The Woman of Samaria.

Incipit de Muliere samaritana.

[_]

[Same MS, leaf 251, back.]

Þo ihesu crist an eorþe was. Mylde weren his dede.
Alle heo beoþ on boke iwryten. þat me may heom rede.
Þo he to monne wes iboren. of þare swete Marie.
And wes to ful elde icumen. he venk to prechie.
A lutel te-for þe tyme. þat he wolde deþ þolye.
He neyleyhte to one bureh. þat hatte samarie.
Al so he. þiderward. sumþing neyhleyhte.
He sende his apostles by-voren. and het heom and tauhte.
Heore in and heore biléuynge. greyþi þat heo schulde.
Heo duden heore louerdes hestes ase þeines heolde.
Al so heo weren a-gon. þe apostles evervychone.
Iesus at ore walle. reste him seolf al one.
Ase he þer reste, ase weri wei were.
Þar com gon o wymmon. al one buten ivere.
Ase heo wes er iwuned. heo com myd hire sténe.
And ihesuc to þare wymmon. bi-gon his þurst to mene.
Yef me drynke wymmon. he seyde myd mylde Muþe.
Þeo wymmon him onswerede. al so to mon vnkuþe.
Hwat ar-tu. þat drynke me byst. þu þinchest of iudelonde.
Ne mostu drynke vnder-fo. none of myne honde.
Þo seyde ihesu crist. wymmon. if þu vnderstóde.
Hwo hit is. þat drynke byd. þu woldest beon of oþer mode.

Þu woldest bidde þat he þe yeue. drynke þat ilast euere.
Þe þat ene drynkeþ þer-of. ne schal him þurste neuere.
Louerd þo seyde þe wymmon. yef me þar-of to drynke.
Þat ich ne þurve more. to þisse welle swynke.
Heo nuste hwat heo mende. heo wes of wytte poure.
Heo nuste noht þat heo spek. of þan holy gostes froure.
Sete ádun queþ ihesu crist. wymmon þine stene.
Go and clepe þine were. and cumeþ hider y-mene.
I nabbe heo seyde nenne were. ich am my seolf al one.
Nabbe ich of wepmonne. nones kunnes y-mone.
Wel þu seyst quaþ ihesu crist. wére. þat þu nauest nenne.
Fyue þu hauest ar þisse iheued. and yet þu hauest enne.
And þe þat þu nuþe hauest. and heuedest summe þrowe.
He is an oþer wyues were. more þan þin owe.
Louerd heo seyde hwat art þu. ich wot myd iwisse.
Þat þu me hauest soþ iseyd. of alle wordes þisse.
Þi of one þinge. sey me iredynesse.
Bi-twene þis twam volke. me þuncheþ a wundernesse.
For alle þeo men þat wunyeþ. in samaryes tune.
Alle heo biddeþ heom to gode. an-vppe þisse dune.
And alle þilke þat beoþ. wiþ-inne iherusaléme.
No-hwere bute in þe temple. ne weneþ god iquéme.
Ilef me wymmon quaþ ihesu crist. and þar-of beo vnderstonde.
Þat schal cume þe ilke day. and nv he is neyh honde.
Þat ne beo neuer þe mon. in so feorre londe.
If he myd swete þouhtes biþ. þat he ne biþ vnderstonde.
Þan he nouþer ne beo. an-vppe þisse dune.
Ne in þe heye temple. of ierusalemes tune.
Ye nuten hwat ye biddeþ. þat of gode nabbeþ imone.
For al eure bileue. is on stokke. oþer on stone.
Ac þeo þat god iknoweþ. heo wyten myd iwisse.
Þat hele. is icume to monne. of folke iudaysse.
Louerd heo seyde nv quiddeþ men. þat cumen is Messyas.
Þe king. þat wurþ. and nuþen. is. and euer yete was.

Hwenne he cumeþ he wyle vs alle ryhtleche.
For he nule. ne he ne con. nenne mon bipeche.
Ich hit am quaþ ihesu crist. þat wiþ þe holde speche.
Þat Messyas am icleped. and am þes worldes leche.
Mid þon comen from þe bureh. þe apostles euervychóne.
And wundrede þat ihesu wolde speke. wiþ þare wymmon one.
Ah þeyh heom þuhte wunder. no þing heo ne seyde.
Ac þe wymmon anon. hire stene adun leyde.
And orn to þare bureh anon. and dude heom to vnderstonde.
Of one Mihtye wihte. þat cumen is to londe.
Tó alle þat heo myhte. iseon oþer y-mete.
Heo gradde and seyde. ich habbe iseye þane soþe prophete.
ch wene wel þat hit beo crist. of hwam. þe prophete sayde.
Þurh ihesu cristes Milce. and þureh his wyssynge.
Monye þer byleuede. on þe heye kinge.
And vrnen vt of þe bureuh. myd wel Muchel þrynge.
And comen to ihesu þar he set. and beden his blessynge.
Þo byléuede þat folk. mucheles þe more.
For his mylde speche. and for his mylde lore.
And þus was þes bureuh a-red. vt of helle sore.
And byléuede on al-Mihty god. nuþe and euer-more.

VII. Hwon holy chireche is vnder uote.

Hwile wes seynte peter. i-cleped symon.
Þo queþ vre louerd him to. þu schalt hoten ston.
Ich wile myne chireche. sette þe up-on.
Þeo þat heo schulde biwite. nv beoþ hire ivon.
Of alle hire forme freond. nv naueþ heo non.
Þar-fore is hire wurþsype. wel neyh al agon.
Þo her wes symon. and nv is symonye.
Þat muchel del haueþ amerd. of þere clergie.
Bidde we vre louerd crist. þat hire warantye.
For his swete moder luue. seynte Marie.
Soþþe wes seynte peter. pope ine Rome.
Þer is þat heued. and auhte to beon. of þe cristendóme.
Clement. and Gregorie. þat him after come.
Hi hedden teone and seorewe. ofte and ilóme.
For hi heolden cristes men. myd sib and myd some.
And eke holi chireche wiþ-vten þeowedome.
Þo heo stod ful vaste. and seoþþe sume stunde.
Nu me kasteþ hire to. myd markes and myd punde.
Of seolure and of golde. to vellen heo to grunde.
Nis nv non þat wile for hire. þolie deþ ne wunde.
Soþþe seynt thomas þolede deþ. al myd vnrihte.
Þe Archebisscop stephne. for hire gon to fyhte.
And seynt Admund soþþe. ful veyre hire dihte.
For holden hire wurschipe. hi duden al heore myhte.
Nv is holy chireche vuele vnder honde.
Al hire weorreþ þat wuneþ ine londe.
Bispes. and clerekes. knyhtes. and bonde.
Kynges and eorles. to hire habbeþ onde.
And þe seolue pope. þat heo bi-wyte scholde.
Habbe he þe yeftes. of seoluer and of golde.
Markes and pundes. myd rihte oþer myd wronge.
Heo let heom alle i-wurþe. þat beoþ so swyþe stronge.
Away þat heo bi vre daye. so is vnder vote.
Bidde we alle ihesu crist. þat hyre sende bote.
For his swete moder luue. þat is so veyr and swote.
Þat we in þisse lyue. hit i-seon mote.

Amen.

IX. On Serving Christ.

Hwi ne serue we crist. and secheþ his sauht.
Seoþþe vs wes at þe font. fulluht by-tauht.
Ne beo we siker of þe lif. on-lepy nauht.
Crist kundeliche kyng. cuþ þu þi mayht.
Rihtwise louerd. on rode wes rauht.
And þolede dom vor his duþe. þat he wes ded strauht.
Yef we habbeþ werkes. yeynes þi wille wrauht.
Louerd haue merci of vs. þat neuer ne faht.
Hwi ne beo we duhty men. and duten vre deden.
Al we schullen a-syen. and seo to þe nede.
Þer þe crysmechild for sunnes. sore schal drede.
I-seon vre louerd crist. þat schal þis world fede.

Showen his wunden. so blodi to-bleden.
Nouht for his gultes. bute for Adames deden.
Leste he schulde his duþe. from him seolue scheden.
Leue we þis for sayn. soþ al so þe crede.
As ich ihere bolde men. vpe bok rede.
Þer ere feole to fordeme. in schynynde wede.
Nis so wlonk vnder crist. ridynde on stede.
Ne þeos crefty clerekes. þat vpe bok rede.
For gold ne for seoluer. ne for glysyinde wede.
For al þe weole and þe wyn. þat riche men fede.
For seolk. ne for cendal. ne for deore [wedes]
Þat ne schal at þe dom. beon demed of heore dedes.
Þer is þe sunfulle. vnsofte to beon.
Hwer he not no wey. fyr for to fleon.
And Adames eyres beoþ parted on þre.
Þer is gronynge and grure. and gryslich gle.
Bi-seche we þe louerd. þat weldeþ þe ueo.
As he for monkunnes neodes. don wes on þe treo.
And seynte Marie þe brude. þat bryht is and bleo.
Leue þat we moten at schrifte vre sunnes vn-wreo.
Hwi nule we þenchen and beo þolemode.
For him þat þolede for vs. þe wunden of blode.
Þayh we her hoppen. ihosed and ischode.
Heonne we schulle þrynge. þat er were so mode.
Bi-leueþ oure weorre. warlawes wode.
Al þes world is bi-heled. myd heþene-hode.
Seynte peter wes prynce. and pyned is on rode.
For to volewen vre fader. his wille. þet he stode.
And we wyþ sunnes geteþ. saulene fode.
Ye mowen iheren fur drerlyke. me demeþ þis gode.
Nv ye Muwen iheren. in chireche. bo syngen and rede.
Hw seynte laurence. wes ibrouht bunde. for to brede.
So he wes i-hyed. and hot on þe glede.
Ful Derlike þis deore mon. dute his dede.

101

XIII. Signs of Death.

[_]

[Jesus Coll. MS. 29, leaf 262.]

[H]wenne þin heou blokeþ.
And þi strengþe wokeþ.
And þi neose coldeþ.
And þi tunge voldeþ.
And þe byleueþ þi breþ.
And þi lif þe at-geþ.
[M]e nymeþ þe nuþe wrecche.
On flore me þe streccheþ.
And leyþ þe on bére.
And bi-preoneþ þe on here.
And doþ þe ine putte. wurmes ivére.
Þeonne biþ hit sone of þe. al so þu neuer nere.

102

XV. The Proverbs of Alfred.

[_]

TEXT I.

[_]

[Jesus Coll. MS. 29, leaf 262.]

Incipiunt documenta Regis Aluredi.

1.

At Seuorde
séte þeynes monye.
fele Biscopes.
and feole bok-iléred.
Eorles prute.
knyhtes egleche.
þar wes þe eorl Alurich.
of þare lawe swiþe wis.
And ek Ealured
englene hurde.
Englene durlyng
on englene londe he wes kyng.
Heom he bi-gon lére.
so ye mawe i-hure.
hw hi. heore lif
lede scholden.
Alured. he wes in englene lond.
and king. wel swiþe strong.
He wes king. and he wes clerek.
wel he luuede godes werk.
He wes wis on his word.
and war. on his werke.
he wes þe wysuste mon
þat wes engle-londe on.

104

2.

Þvs queþ Alured
englene frouer.
wolde ye mi leode
lusten éure louerde.
he óu wolde wyssye.
wisliche þinges.
hw ye myhte worldes.
wrþsipes welde.
and ek eure saule.
somnen to criste.
wyse were þe wordes.
þe seyde þe king Alured.
Mildeliche ich Munye.
myne leoue freond.
poure and riche.
leode myne
þat ye alle a-drede.
vre dryhten crist.
luuyen hine and lykyen.
for he is louerd of lyf.
He is one. god
ouer alle godnesse.
He is one gleaw.
ouer alle glednesse.
He is one. blisse.
ouer alle blissen.
He is one monne.
Mildest mayster.
He is one. folkes fader.
and frouer.
He is one. rihtwis.
and so riche king.
þat him ne schal beo wone.
nouht of his wille.

106

we hine her on worlde.
wrþie þencheþ.

3.

Þvs queþ alured.
englene urouer.
Ne may non ryhtwis king.
vnder criste seoluen.
Bute if he beo
in boke ilered.
And he. his wyttes
swiþe wel kunne.
And he cunne lettres.
lokie him seolf one.
hw he schule his lond
laweliche holde.

4.

Þus queþ Alured.
Þe eorl and þe eþelyng.
ibureþ vnder gódne king.
þat lond to leden.
myd lawelyche deden.
And þe clerek and þe knyht.
he schulle démen euelyche riht.
þe poure. and þe ryche.
démen ilyche.
Hwych so þe mon soweþ
al swuch he schal mowe.
And eueruyches monnes dom.
to his owere dure churreþ.

5.

þan knyhte bi-houeþ.
kenliche on to fóne.
for to werie þat lond.

108

wiþ hunger and wiþ herivnge.
þat þe chireche habbe gryþ.
And þe cheorl beo in fryþ.
his sedes to sowen.
his medes to mowen.
And his plouh beo i-dryue.
to vre alre bihoue.
þis is þes knyhtes lawe.
loke he þat hit wel fare.

6.

Þvs queþ Alured.
þe mon. þe on his youhþe.
yeorne leorneþ.
wit and wisdom.
And iwriten reden
he may beon on elde.
wenliche lorþeu.
And þe þat nule one youhþe
yeorne leorny.
wit and wysdom.
and iwriten rede.
þat him schal on elde.
sore rewe.
þenne cumeþ elde.
and vnhelþe.
þenne beoþ his wéne
ful wroþe isene.
Boþe heo beoþ bi-swike.
and eke hi beoþ a-swunde.

7.

þus queþ Alured.
Wyþ-vte wysdome
is weole wel vnwurþ.

110

for þey o mon ahte.
huntseuenti Acres.
and he hi hadde isowen.
alle myd reade golde.
And þat gold greowe.
so gres doþ on eorþe.
nere he for his weole.
neuer þe furþer.
Bute he him of frumþe.
freond iwrche.
for. hwat is gold. bute ston.
bute if hit haueþ wismon.

8.

þus queþ Alured.
Ne scolde neuer yongmon
howyen to swiþe.
þeih him his wyse
wel ne lykie.
Ne þeih he ne welde.
al þat he wolde.
for god may. yeue þenne he wule.
god after vuele.
weole after wowe.
wel is him þat hit ischapen is.

9.

þus seyþ Alured.
Strong hit is to reowe.
a-yeyn þe séé þat floweþ.
so hit is to swynke.
a-yeyn vnylimpe.
þe mon. þe on his youhþe.
swo swinkeþ.
and worldes weole her iwinþ.
þat he may on elde.

112

idelnesse holde.
And ek myd his worldes weole.
god iqueme er he quele.
youþe and al þat he haueþ idrowe.
is þenne wel bi-towe.
[OMITTED]

10.

þus queþ Alured.
Monymon weneþ
þat he wene ne þarf.
longes lyues.
ac him lyeþ þe wrench.
for þanne his lyues
alre best luuede.
þenne he schal léten
lyf his owe.
for nys no wrt uexynde
a wude. ne a velde.
þat euer mvwe þas feye
furþ vp-holde.
Not no mon þene tyme.
hwanne he schal. heonne turne.
Ne nomon þene ende.
hwenne he schal heonne wende.
Dryhten hit one wot.
doweþes louerd.
hwanne vre lif
leten schule.

11.

þus queþ Alured.
Yf þu seoluer and gold.
yefst and weldest in þis world.
Neuer vpen eorþe.
to wlonk. þu ny-wrþe.

114

Ayhte nys non ildre istreon
ac hit is godes lone.
hwanne hit is his wille.
þar-of we schulle wende.
And vre owe lyf.
myd alle for-leten.
þanne schulle vre ifon.
to vre vouh. gripen.
welden vre Mayþenes.
and leten vs by-hinde.

12.

þus queþ Alured.
Ne ilef þu nouht to fele.
uppe þe séé þat floweþ.
If þu hafst madmes
monye and inowe.
gold and seoluer.
hit schal gnyde to nouht.
to duste hit schal dryuen.
Dryhten schal libben euere.
Monymon for his gold.
haueþ godes vrre.
And for his seoluer.
hym seolue for-yemeþ.
for-yeteþ and forleseþ.
Betere him by-come
iboren þat he nére.

13.

þus queþ Alured.
Lvsteþ ye me leode.
ower is þe neode.
And ich eu wille lére.
wit and wisdom.
þat alle þing ouer-goþ.

116

syker he may sitte.
þe hyne haueþ to i-vere.
For þeyh his eyhte him a-go.
his wit ne agoþ hym neuer-mo.
for ne may he for-vare
þe hyne haueþ to vere.
þe wile his owe lyf.
ileste mote.
[OMITTED]

14.

þus queþ Alured.
If þu hauest seorewe.
ne seye þu hit nouht þan arewe.
seye hit þine sadelbowe.
and ryd þe singinde forþ.
þenne wile wene.
þet þine wise ne con
þat þe þine wise wel lyke.
serewe if þu hauest.
and þe erewe hit wot
by-fore. he þe meneþ
by-hynde he þe teleþ.
þu hit myht segge swyhe mon.
þat þe ful wel on.
wyþ-vte echere ore.
he on þe Muchele more.
By-hud hit on þire heorte
þat þe eft ne smeorte.
Ne let þu hyne wite.
al þat þin heorte by-wite.
[OMITTED]

15.

þus queþ Alured.
Ne schal-tu neuere þi wif.

118

by hire wlyte cheose.
for neuer nóne þinge.
þat heo to þe bryngeþ.
Ac leorne hire custe.
heo cuþeþ hi wel sone.
For mony mon for ayhte.
vuele i-auhteþ.
And ofte mon of fayre.
frakele icheoseþ.
wo is him þat vuel wif.
bryngeþ to his cotlyf.
so him is alyue
þat vuele ywyueþ.
For he schal vppen eorþe.
dreori i-wurþe.
Monymon singeþ.
þat wif hom bryngeþ.
wiste he hwat he brouhte.
wepen he myhte.

16.

þus queþ Alured.
Ne wurþ neuer so wod.
ne so wyn-drunke.
þat éuere segge þine wife.
alle þine wille.
For if þu iseye þe bi-vore.
þine i-vo alle.
And þu hi myd worde
iwreþþed heuedest.
Ne scholde heo hit lete.
for þing lyuyinde.
þat heo ne scholde þe forþ vp-breyde.
of þine baleu-syþes.
wymmon is word.-woþ.
and haueþ tunge to swift.

120

þeyh heo wel wolde.
ne may heo. hi nowiht welde.

17.

þus queþ Alfred.
Ipelschipe and ouer-prute.
þat lereþ yong wif vuele þewes.
And ofte þat wolde.
do. þat heo ne scholde.
þene vnþev lihte.
leten heo myhte.
If heo ofte a swóte
for swunke were.
þeyh hit is vuel to buwe.
þat beo nule treowe.
For ofte Museþ þe kat.
after hire moder.
þe mon þat let wymmon
his mayster iwurþe.
Ne schal he neuer beon ihurd.
his wordes louerd.
Ac heo hine schal steorne
to-trayen. and to-teóne.
And selde wurþ he blyþe and gled.
þe mon þat is his wiues qued.
Mony appel is bryht wiþ-vte.
and Bitter wiþ-inne.
So is mony wymmon.
on hyre fader bure.
Schene vnder schete.
and þeyh heo is schendful.
So is mony gedelyng.
godlyche on horse.
and is þeyh lutel wurþ.
wlonk bi þe glede.
and vuel at þare neode.

122

18.

þus queþ. Alured.
[N]eure þu bi þine lyue.
þe word of þine wyue.
to swiþe þu ne aréde.
If heo beo i-wreþþed
myd worde. oþer myd dede.
wymmon wepeþ for mod.
oftere þan for eny god.
And ofte lude and stille.
for to vordrye hire wille.
Heo wepeþ oþer-hwile.
for to do þe gyle.
Salomon hit haueþ i-sed.
þat wymmon can wel vuelne red.
þe hire red foleweþ.
heo bryngeþ hine to seorewe.
for hit seyþ in þe loþ.
as scumes forteoþ.
hit is ifurn iseyd.
þat cold red is quene red.
hu he is vnlede.
þat foleweþ hire rede.
Ich hit ne segge nouht for þan.
þat god þing ys god wymmon.
þe mon þe hi may icheose.
and icouere over oþre.

19.

þus queþ Alured.
Monymon weneþ
þat he weny ne þarf.
Freond þat he habbe.
þar me him vayre bi-hat.
seyþ him vayre bi-vore.
and frakele bi-hynde.

124

so me may þane loþe
lengust lede.
Ne ilef þu neuer þane mon.
þat is of feole speche.
Ne alle þe þinge.
þat þu iherest singe.
Mony mon haueþ swikelne muþ.
milde and monne for-cuþ.
Nele he þe cuþe.
hwenne he þe wule bi-kache.

20.

þus queþ Alured.
Þvrh sawe mon is wis.
And þurh his elþe. mon is glev.
þurh lesinge mon is loþ.
and þurh luþre wrenches. And vnwurþ.
And þurh hokede honde. þat he bereþ.
him seolue he for-vareþ.
From lesynge þu þe wune.
And alle vnþewes þu þe bi-schune.
so myht þu on þeode.
leof beon in alle leode.
And luue þyne nexte.
he is at þe neode gód.
At chepynge. and at chyreche.
freond þu þe iwurche.
wyþ pouere and wiþ riche.
wiþ alle monne ilyche.
þanne myht þu sikerliche.
sely sytte.
And ek faren ouer lond le
hwider so beoþ þi wille.

21.

þus queþ Alured.
Alle world-ayhte

126

schulle bi-cumen to nouhte.
And vyches cunnes madmes.
to mixe schulen i-Multen.
And vre owe lif.
lutel hwile ileste.
for þeyh o mon.
wolde al þe worlde.
And al þe wunne.
þe þar-inne wunyeþ.
Ne myhte he þar-myde his lif.
none hwile holde.
Ac al he schal for-leten.
on a litel stunde.
And schal vre blisse;
to balewe us iwurþe.
Bute if we wurcheþ.
wyllen cristes.
Nu biþenche we þanne vs sulue.
vre lif to leden.
so crist vs gynneþ lere.
þanne mawe we wenen.
þat he wule vs wrþie.
for so seyde salomon. þe wise.
þe mon þat her wel deþ.
he cumeþ þar he lyen foþ.
on his lyues ende.
he hit schal a-vynde.

22.

þus queþ Alured.
Ne gabbe þu ne schotte.
ne chid þu wyþ none sotte.
ne myd manyes cunnes tales.
ne chid þu wiþ nenne dwales.
Ne neuer þu ne bi-gynne.
to telle þine tyþinges.

128

At nones fremannes borde.
ne haue þu to vale worde.
Mid fewe worde. wismon
fele biluken wel con.
And sottes bolt is sone i-scohte.
for-þi ich holde hine for dote.
þat sayþ al his wille.
þanne he scholde beon stille.
For ofte tunge brekeþ bon
þeyh heo seolf nabbe non.

23.

þus queþ Alured.
Wis child is fader blisse.
If hit so bi-tydeþ
þat þu bern ibidest.
þe hwile hit is lutel.
ler him mon-þewes.
þanne hit is wexynde
hit schal wende þar-to.
þe betere hit schal iwurþe
euer buuen eorþe.
Ac if þu him lest welde.
werende on worlde.
lude and stille.
his owene wille.
hwanne cumeþ ealde.
ne myht þu hyne awelde.
þanne deþ hit sone.
þat þe biþ vnyqueme.
Ofer-howeþ þin ibod.
and makeþ þe ofte sory-mod.
Betere þe were.
iboren þat he nere.
for betere is child vnbore.
þane vnbuhsum.

130

þe mon þe spareþ yeorde.
and yonge childe.
and let hit arixlye.
þat he hit areche ne may.
þat him schal on ealde
sore reowe. Amen.
Expliciunt dicta Regis Aluredi.

141

XVII. The Duty of Christians.

[_]

[Jesus Coll. MS. 29, leaf 266.]

Tractatus quidam.

Þeo soþe luue a-mong vs beo.
wyþ-vten euch endynge.
And crist vs lete wel i-þeo.
and yue vs his blessynge.
And yeue vs þat we moten fleo.
euer sunegynge.
And þene feond and al his gleo.
and al his twyelinge.

Vte we wurþi þene louerd god.
þat hider vs brouhte.
He wes wiþ vs swiþe edmod.
þar he vs wrouhte.
And eft he wes ihonge on rode.
for helpe þene vor-wrouhte.
Mid his fleysse and myd his blod.
he vs alle bouhte.

Iblessed beo such eþerling.
vs mylce þat he wolde.
He is vre beste king.
we ouhte beon hym holde.

142

And we beoþ alle. his of-sprung.
iknowe we hit scholde.
For he scop vs and alle þing.
of þar eorþe molde.

Crist vs haueþ of eorþe iwrouht.
to eorþe he wule vs sende.
Mid his deþe we weren ibouht
from þe feondes bende.
He hit haueþ al bi-þouht.
þe frumþe to þon énde.
How we beoþ hider ibrouht.
and hwider we schulle wende.

If we beoþ ryhtwise.
and luuyeþ vre dryhte.
And doþ his seruyse.
myd al vre myhte.
Ne þarf vs neuer a-gryse.
bi daye ne bi nyhte.
We schulle in paradys[e].
schynen swiþe bryhte.

Þis world is neyh þan ende.
þe deþ neyeþ blyue.
Heonne we schullen wende.
ne may non her bi-leue.
þe dom. is vs neyh hende.
yef we vs leteþ schryue.
Crist vs wile sende.
to þon eche lyue.

Vte we holde þat ilche bod.
þat crist vs wile theche.
He yef vs liþ and deþ anfoþ.
he is vre leache.
Vre euch beo wiþ oþer edmod.
on werke and of speche.

143

Elles vre louerd god.
on vs wulle don wreche.

Mid gode beode myd gode þonk.
we schule to criste grede.
And bidde mylce of vre wrong.
of vre gydihede.
Of vre sunnen þat beoþ wel strong.
of vre fule dede.
Hwenne cumeþ he vs among.
and wile vs myd him lede.

Vre louerd crist vs wule téo.
to heouene myd iwisse.
If we wulleþ vuel fleo.
ne þurue [we] þat mysse.
Wel is him þat schal þer beo.
he may þer habbe lysse.
He may þer. euer crist iseo.
and ioye inouh. and blysse.

Þer wurþ day buten nyhte.
ne þarf þar no mon syche.
Hwer forþ griþ wyþ-vten fiht.
wel god is heoueneriche.
Þer wurþ soþ wiþ-vten vnriht.
and euer hit wurþ ilyche.
Þer wurþ euenyng. carle and cnyht.
poure men and riche.

Þe soþe luue is heom among
and mylce and ryhtwisnesse.
Rihte bi-leue and clene þonk.
and sibbe and edmodnesse.
Ne wurþ þer vnryht ne wrong.
ne wreþþe ne idelnesse.
Þer wurþ ioye and mury song.
wiþ-vte swikelnesse.

144

If we wulleþ þider in.
to þare riche wunynge.
Idelschipe. and luþer iwyn.
and wraþþe and hatynge.
Prude and onde and feondes gyn.
and vyche sunegynge.
We mote for-sake. er vre fyn.
and do þer-of [mendinge]

We schulde among vs habben ay.
soþe luue and sibbe.
We schulde abute cristes lay.
beon yeornfulle. and clybbe.
We schulde luuye alle way.
for we beoþ alle isybbe.
And vs ibidde. nyht and day.
hwihles þat we libbe.

Þe soþe luue is god and mylde.
nys heo nowiht sturne.
Nis heo nouþer prut ne wilde.
nele heo non ayhte yrne.
Þat folk worþ eft wroþe i-spild.
þe nule to hire turne.
Ihesuc seynte Marie child.
heom wule his riche werne.

Þe soþe luue is al rihtwis.
ne kepeþ heo non onde.
Mid þan folke þat riht wis is.
he wile ay at-stonde.
Vre louerd crist þat almyhti is.
alese vs of his bonde.
And lede vs in-to heouene blys.
and sette vs on his ryht honde.

Amen.

156

XX. Long Life.

[_]

[Cotton MS. Caligula A ix, leaf 246.]

Mon mai longe liues wene
Ac ofte him lieð þe wrench.
Feir weder turneð ofte into reine
An wunderliche hit makeð his blench.
Þaruore mon þu þe bi-þench
Al schal falewi þi grene
Weilawei nis kin ne quene
Þat ne schal drinche of deaþes drench.
Mon er þu falle of þi bench.
Þine sunne þu aquench.

Nis non so strong ne sterch ne kene.
Þat mai ago deaþes wiþer-blench.
Ȝung and olde, brihet and schene.
Alle he riueþ in one strench.
Fox and ferlich is his wren[c]h.
Ne mai no mon þar-to-ȝeines.
Weilawei þreting ne bene.
Mede. liste ne leches drench.
Mon let sunne and lustes þine.
Wel þu do and wel þu þench.

Do bi salemones rede.
Mon and þenne þu schald wel do.
Do ase he þe tahte and seide.
Þat þin endinge þe bringeþ to.
Þenne ne schal þu neuer mis-do.
Ac sore þu miȝt þe adrede.
Weilawei shuc weneð to lede.
Long lif and blisse under-fo.
Ac deþ luteþ in his scho,
Him stilliche to for-do.

158

Mon hwi nultu þe bi-cnowe.
Mon hwi nultu þe bi-seo.
Of fole fulþe þu art isowe.
Wormes fode þu schald beo.
Her nauestu blisse daies þreo.
Ac þi lif al þu last ine wowe.
Weilawei. deþ þe schal adun þrowe.
Þer þu wenest heȝest to steo.
Ine deð schal þi lif endi.
And ine wop al þi gleo.

World and weole þe bi-swikeð
Iwis heo beoð þin ifo.
Ȝef þe world wið weole þe slikeð.
Þat is for to do þe wo.
Þare-fore let lust ouer-go.
And eft-ȝones hit þe likeð
Weilawei sore he him biswikeð
Þat for on stunde oþer two.
Wurcheþ him pine euer-mo.
Mon ne do þu nowt swo.

162

XXII. Doomsday.

[_]

[Cotton MS. Caligula A ix, leaf 246, back.]

Hwenne ich þenche of domes-dai.
Ful sore ime adrede.
Þer schal after his [werk]
euch mon fongen mede.
Ich habbe crist agult.
wið þoȝtes and wið dede.
Lauerd crist godes sone.
wat is me to rede.

Þat fur schal kumen in þis world
On one sune-niȝte.
For-bernen al þis middelerd
so crist hit wolde diȝte.
Boþe in þe water and in þat lond
þe flures þat beoþ brihte.
Iherd beo þu lauerd
so muchel beþ þine mihte.

Þe engles in þe dai-red
bleweð heore beme.

164

Þenne comeþ ure lauerd crist
his domes for to deme.
Ne helpeð hit noht þenne
to wepen ne to remen.
Þat haueð lutel idon
þat godd were icweme

From þat adam was ischapen
to comen domes-dai.
Moni of þisse riche.
þat wereden foh and grei.
An rideþ uppe stede
and uppen palefrai.
Heo schulen atte dome.
suggen weilawei.

Ne schulen heo nowðer fiȝte
mid schelde ne mid spere.
Mid helme ne mid brunie.
ne mid non oþer gere.
Ne schal þer nomon oþer.
mid wise wordes were.
Bute heore almesdede.
heore ernde schal bere.

Heo schulen iseon þe lauedi.
þat ihesu crist of-kende.
Bi-tweonen hire armes.
sweteliche he wende.
Þe wile þat we mihte.
to lute we hire sende.
Þat makede þe cwed
so fule he us blende.

Heo schul iseon þene king
þat al þis world wrohte.

166

An uppon þe rode.
Mid stronge pine abohte.
Adam and his ofspring.
in helle he heom sohte.
To bidden his milce.
to late we beod bi-þohte.

Þer stondeþ þe riȝtwise.
on his riȝt honde.
An þe sunfule
so ateliche heo stondeþ.
Mid heore sunnen iwriten.
þat is so muchel schonde.
Þer hit schulen alle iseon.
al þat her weren a londe.

Wið þe riȝtwise
he spekeþ wordes swete.
Comeþ her mine freond.
oure sunnes for to lete.
In mine fader boure.
ow is imaked sete.
Þer ow schulen engles.
ful sweteliche grete.

Wið þe sunfule.
also ȝe mahen ihere.
Goð awariede gostes,
feondes ifere.
In-to berninde fur.
of blisse ȝe beoþ skere.
For ȝe owre sunnen.
of þisse worlde bere.

Bidde we ure lauedi.
swetest alre þinge.

168

Þat heo ure erende beore.
to þen heuonkinge.
For his holi nome
and for hire herendinge.
Þat heo ure sawle.
to heouerige bringe.

XXIII. Death.

[_]

[Cotton MS. Caligula A ix, leaf 247.]

Ihereð of one þinge.
þat ȝe ohen of þenche.
Ȝe þat werieð riche schrud.
and sitteð on oure benche.
Þah me kneoli ou bi-oure.
and mid win schenche.
From þe dreorie deað.
ne mai nomon at-blenche.

Ȝe þat sittet i-schrud
wið skarlet and wið palle.
Wel soþe tiþinge
Ich ou wile telle.
Þe feond þencheð iwis.
þe sawle forto cwelle.
Ase we hit findeþ iwriten.
in þe goddspelle.

Ah of one þinge.
we schule nime gome.
Þat we weren poure.
þa we hider come.
We hit hereð iwis.
swiþe ofte and i-lome.
Þe sawle and þe licome.
selde heo beoþ isome.

170

Hwenne þat child bid iboren.
and on eorþe i-falle.
Nolde ich ȝeuen enne peni.
for his weden alle.
Ah seoððen moni mon.
biȝet bores and halle.
For-hwi þe wrecche sawle
schal in-to pine ualle.

Þenche we on þe laste dai.
þat we schule heonne fare.
Vt of þisse worlde.
wið pine and wið kare.
Al so we hider comen.
naked and bare.
And of ure sunnen.
ȝeuen ondsweare.

Nabbe no mon so muchel.
al hit wolle agon.
His lond and his hus
and his hom.
Þe sorie soule.
makeþ hire mon
Iwis ne mai at-blenche
ure neauer non.

Þenne þe latemest dai.
deþ haueð ibrouhit.
Bi-nimeð ure speche.
ure siht and ure þoht.
And in euche lime
deþ us hafð þurh-soht.
Þenne beoð ure blisse.
al iturnd to noht.

172

Ne miȝte no tunge tellen.
þat euer wes iboren.
Þe stronge pine of helle.
þah he hedde isworen.
Er þe sawle and þe bodi
a two beon to-drehen.
Bute crist þat lesede his folc.
þat þer wes for-loren.

Anon so þe sawle.
bið ifaren ut.
Me nimeð þe licome.
and preoneð in a clut.
Þat wes so modi and so strong.
and so swiþe prud.
And wes iwoned to werien.
moni a feir schrud.

Nu lið þe clei-clot.
al so þe ston.
And his freondes striueð.
to gripen his i-won.
Þe sorie sowle
makeð hire mon.
Of alle hire erure freond.
nu nafð heo non.

Þenne saið þe sawle.
wið sorie chere.
Awai þu wrecche fole bali,
nu þu list on bere.
Ich schal habben for þe
fendes to ifere.
Awai þat þu euere.
to monne ischape were.

174

Ne schaltu neauer sitten.
on bolstre ne on benche.
Ne neuer in none halle.
þer me uin schencheð.
For þine fule sunnen.
and for þin uni-wrenche.
Hi schal wrecche sawle
to ateliche stenche.

Hwer beoð alle þine frond.
þat faire þe bihete.
And feire þe igretten.
bi weies and bi strete.
Nu heo wolleð wrecche.
alle þe for-lete.
Nolden he hore-stonkes
non nu þe imete.

Hwer beoð þine dihsches.
midd þine swete sonde.
Hwer beoþ þine nappes.
þat þe glideþ to honde.
Hwer is þi bred and þin ale.
þi tunne and þine stonde.
Nu þu schalt in þe putte.
wunie wid þe wonde.

Of me þu heuedest miȝte.
to don al þine wille.
Euer þu were abuten.
us bo for to spille.
Nu þu schalt wrecche
liggen ful stille.
And ich schal þine gultes.
abuggen ful ille.

176

Hwi noldest þu mid crist.
maken us isahte.
Masse leten singe
of þat he þe bi-tahte.
Euer þu were abuten
to echen þin ahte.
For-þi we beoð an ende
boþe bi-pahte.

Yelde wole me for þe
masse lete singe.
Oþer in holi chirche.
don ei offringe.
Me wule for þin ahte
make striuinge.
And pute þe wið-uten.
of alle þine þinge.

Li awariede bali
þat neauer þu ne arise.
Hwenne ich þenche þe uppon
ful sore me mai agrise.
For ich schal bernen in fur.
and chiuerin in ise.
And euer beon in pinen
a feole kunne wise.

Nu schal þin halle.
Mid spade beon iwroȝt.
And þu schald þerinne.
wrecche beon ibroȝt.
Nu schulen þine weden.
Alle beon isoȝt.
Me wule swopen þin hus
and ut mid þe swoft.

178

Þi bur is sone ibuld.
þat þu schald wunien inne.
Þe rof þe firste.
schal ligge oþine chinne.
Nu þe sculen wormes.
wunien wið-inne.
Ne mai me heom vt driuen:
wið nones kunnes ginne.

Nu is afered of þe.
þi mei and þi mowe.
Alle heo wereð þe weden.
þat er weren þin owe.
And þu schald nu in eorþe.
liggen ful lohe.
Wai hwi noldestu er.
of þisse beon icnowe.

Nu schal for-rotien
þine teð and þi tunge.
Þi mahe and þi milte.
þi liure and þi lunge.
And þi þrote-bolle
þat þu mide sunge.
And þu schal in þe putte
faste beon iþrunge.

Hwer beoð þine weines
þat þe leoue were.
Of alle þine riche weden
nu þu ard al skere.
Beo þu in þe putte
wormes ifere.
Hit bið sone of þe
al so þu neauer nere.

180

Al þat ich hatede
hit þuȝte þe ful god.
Þat makede þe qued þat
þat þe bi-stod.
Heuedest þu þi wille.
þu were al wod.
And ich am wrecche sawle
ful sori-mod.

Nu þu schald bileuen,
and icht mot fare nede.
For alle þine gultes
fongon ischal mede.
Þat is hunger and chele
and furberninge glede.
And so me wule sathanas
ful ateliche brede.

Ich am sori inoh.
bi dai and bi niht.
Ischal to þeostre stude.
þer neauer ne kumeð liht.
Þat ischal i-mete
moni a ful wiht.
Ne schal ich neauer i-seo
crist þat is so briht.

In ful a bitter bað
baþien ich schal naked.
Of pisch and of bruneston
wallinde is imaked.
Þer is sathanas þe cwed
redi wið his rake.
And swo he me wule for-swolehen
þe fur-berninde drake.

182

Þah al þat fur in þis world
to-gedere were ibroht.
Aȝeines þare hete
nere hit al noht.
Wo is him aliue
þat þer-inne is ibroht.
Awai þas ilke pine.
þu hauest me bi-soht.

Hwo isehe þene cwed,
hu lodlich he beo.
Hornes on his heaued.
hornes on his cneo.
Nis no þing aliue
þat so ateliche beo.
Wo is heom ine helle
þet hine schule i-seo.

He ȝeoneþ mid his muþe
and stareþ mid his eȝe.
Of his neose-þurles
cumeð þe rede leie.
Þat fur springeþ him vt.
of eueruche Breye.
He moste deie for care.
hwase hine iseȝe.

Also beoð his eȝe-puttes
ase a bruþen led.
Þat fur springeþ him of
wunderliche red.
Ne mai no tunge telle
hu lodlich is þe cwed.
Hwase lokede him on
for care he miȝte beo dead.

184

Holde we us clene
ut of hordom.
Masse leten singen,
and almes-dede don.
And wið hali chirche
maken us i-som;
Þenne mohe we cwemen
crist at þe dom.

Þe king þat al þis world scheop
þurh his holi miȝte.
Bi-wite vre sawle
from þan fule wiȝte.
And lete us hatie þat woh
and luuie þat riȝte.
And bringe ure sawle
to heoueriche liȝte.

Amen.

187

XXV. A lutel soth Sermun.

[_]

[Jesus Coll. MS. 29, leaf 258.]

Herkneþ alle gode men
and stylle sitteþ a-dun.
And ich ou wile tellen
a lutel soþ sermun.
Wel we wuten alle.
þey ich ou nouht ne telle.
Hw Adam vre vorme fader.
a-dun feol in-to helle.
Schomeliche he forles.
þe blisse þat he hedde.
To yuernesse and prude.
none neode he nedde.
He nom þan appel of þe treo.
þat him forbode was.
So reuþful dede idon.
neuer non nas.
He made him in-to helle falle.
And after him his children alle.
Þer he wes fort vre drihte.
Hyne bouhte myd his myhte.
He hine alesede myd his blode.
Þat he schedde vp-on þe rode.
To deþe he yef him for vs alle.
Þo we weren so strong at-falle.
Alle bakbytares.
heo wendeþ to helle.
Robbares. and reuares.
and þe Monquelle.
Lechurs. and horlyngs.
þider schulleþ wende.

189

And þer heo schulle wunye.
euer buten ende.
Alle þeos false chapmen.
þe feond heom wule habbe.
Bakares and breowares.
for alle men heo gabbe.
Lowe heo holdeþ heore galun.
Mid beorme heo hine fulleþ.
And euer of þe purse.
þat seoluer heo tulleþ.
Boþe heo makeþ feble.
heore bred and heore ale.
Habbe heo þat seoluer.
ne telleþ heo neuer tale.
Gode men for godes luue.
bileueþ sucche sunne.
For at þen ende hit bi-nymeþ.
heueriche wunne.
Alle preostes wives.
ich wot heo beoþ for-lore.
Þes persones ich wene.
ne beoþ heo nouht for-bore.
Ne þeos prude yongemen.
þat luuyeþ Malekyn.
And þeos prude maydenes.
þat luuyeþ ianekyn.
At chireche and at chepyng.
hwanne heo to-gadere cóme.
Heo runeþ to-gaderes.
and spekeþ of derne luue.
Hwenne heo to chirche cumeþ.
to þon holy daye.
Euervych wile his leof i-seo.
þer yef he may.
Heo biholdeþ watekin.
Mid swiþe gled eye.

191

At hom is hire pater noster.
biloken in hire teye.
Masses and Matynes.
ne kepeþ heo nouht.
For wilekyn and watekyn.
beoþ in hire þouht.
Robyn wule Gilothe.
leden to þan ale.
And sitten þer to-gederes.
and tellen heore tale.
He may quyten hire ale.
and seoþþe don þat gome.
An eue to go myd him.
ne þincheþ hire no schome.
Hire syre and hire dame.
þreteþ hire to béte.
Nule heo fur-go Robyn.
for al heore þréte.
Euer heo wule hire skere.
ne com hire no mon neyh.
Forte þat hire wombe.
vp aryse an heyh.
Godemen for godes luue.
bi-leueþ óure sunne.
For at þon ende hit bi-nymeþ.
heoueryche wunne.
Bidde we seynte Marie.
for hire Milde mode.
For þe theres þat heo weop.
for hire sune blode.
Al so wis. so he god is.
for hire erendynge.
To þe blysse of heouene.
he vs alle brynge.

Amen.

192

XXVI. Will and Wit.

[_]

[Cotton MS. Caligula A ix, leaf 246, back.]

Hwenne so wil wit ofer-stieð.
Þenne is wil and wit for-lore.
Hwenne so wil his hete hieð.
Þer nis nowiht wit icore.
Ofte wil to seorȝe sieð.
Bute ȝif wit him wite to-fore.
Ac hwenne so wil to wene wrieð.
Þe o fo of wisdom is to-tore

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A Bestiary.

Natura leonis ja.

ija.

iija.

Significacio prime nature.

ija et iija.

Natura aquile.

Significacio.

Natura serpentis. ja.

ija

[Significacio.]

Natura formice.

Significacio.

Natura cerui.

Significacio prima.

Natura ija.

Significacio ija.

Natura wulpis.

Significacio.

Significacio.

Natura aranéé.

Significacio.

Natura cetegrandie.

Significacio.

Natura Sirene.

Significacio.

Natura elephantis.

significacio.

Natura turturis.

Significacio.

Natura pantere.

Significacio.

Natura columbe et significacio.

I. The Passion of our Lord.

Incipit prologus.

Her beginneþ cristes þrowynge .i. sa passyun.

Her is hwon ihesu crist aros from deþe to lyue.

II. A Moral Ode.

III. Sinners Beware!

IV. The Woman of Samaria.

Incipit de Muliere samaritana.

VII. Hwon holy chireche is vnder uote.

IX. On Serving Christ.

XIII. Signs of Death.

XV. The Proverbs of Alfred.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

XVII. The Duty of Christians.

XX. Long Life.

XXII. Doomsday.

XXIII. Death.

XXV. A lutel soth Sermun.

XXVI. Will and Wit.