University of Virginia Library

De sancto Michaele in monte Gargano

Sein Michel þe archangle and is felawes also
Beoþ bitwene God and us to teche wat we ssolle do
A day hi habbeþ in þe ȝere þoru al Cristendom
Þoru uair miracle of sein Michel þe day uerst me nom
In þe on ende of Apuile a gret hul þere is and hei
Þe hul Gargan is icluped for a man was þer ney
Þat Gargan icluped was þe hul hatte þere uore so
Þis Gargan was a richeman and in gret poer ido
Hit biuel þreo hondred ȝer and euene twenti ȝer
After þat oure Louerd for us inis moder was aliȝt her
Þat Garganes ruþeren and oþer bestes inowe
Amorwe upe þis heie hul to hore lese drowe
Þis ruþeren wende an eue hom as hore wone was echone
Bote a bole þat he louede þat was bihinde alone
Op þe hexte toret of þe hul þe bole wel euene drou
Þo is louerd him miste an eue anuid he was inou
Wiþ him he nom men inowe and soȝte him into al þe lond
Vpe þe grete tour of þe hul attelaste he him fond
He nom an arwe enuenimed in gret wraþþe inou
And sset to þis seli best and wiþ gret strengþe drou

403

Ac is arwe turnde euene aȝen to him þat him sset
And smot him as it were in wreche deop wonde and gret
Nou was þat a wonder arwe and wonder wei he soȝte
I ne kepte noȝt leorni so to ssete ne such arwe þat me broȝte
A wonder ssere wind he was on wonder wat he þoȝte
Ac euere he þat him sset me þincþ þe game aboȝte
Þe folk þat þer stod aboute in gret drede was
To þe bissop hi wende anon & tolde him al þat case
Þe bissop was in grete fere & in gret þoȝte stod
Hit was toknynge he weste wel of uuel oþer of god
Al þe contreie he het anon in orisons to be[o]
And þreo dawes in fastynge þis toknynge to ise[o]
Sein Michel after þe þridde day to þis bissop com
Hou þingþ þe he sede of þis dede was þis a wonder dom
Nis þerof wonder non for mi wille it was iwis
For ichelle wel wite þulke stude þat in myn warde is
And in þis manere ich ssewe it ȝou þat ȝe þat soþe ise
And honuri þulke stude for is wardein ichelle be
Þe bissop wiþ procession swuþe fair & hende
To honuri þis holi stude mildeliche gan wende
A noble churche hi fonde þer wiþ walles swuþe proute
Hy ne dorste noȝt þernei come ac hore preiere dude wiþoute
Þere after al þat lond [] þat Cristene were
Alday come to þulke hul hore preiere to do þere
Suþþe it biuel afterward þat Ȝarazin[s] come
And worrede þulke Cristene men & bataille þerof nome
Þe bissop het þo al þat folk þulke dawes þre[o]
To sein Michel bidde uaste & in fastinge be[o]
Þe þridde niȝt sein Michel to þe bissop com efsone
Let ȝarke he sede al þi folk þe bataille to done
Þat ȝe to day þereinne beo riȝt atte ueorþe tide
And ichelle þer wiþ ȝou beo somwar in somme side

404

Þe bissop was þo glad inou is folk was sone ȝare
Þe tyme þat he hadde iset to þis bataille uare
Togadere hi smite upe þe hul ac it was ido anon
For þere com a derk cloude and ouercaste hom echon
And liȝtinge smot here & þer þis luþer men to gronde
And six hondred slou of hom in a lite stonde
Þe oþere flowe faste inou & ofscapede vnneþe
Þer nas non þat nas longe sik oþer deide in stronge deþe
Þus sein Michel stod him þo among hom fer and ner
Þo was it soþ þat sein Dauit seiþ inis sauter
Þat oure Louerd makeþ is angles as godes fleinge
And hom þat beoþ is ministres as fur bernynge
Godes ministres angles beoþ sein Michel and oþer mo
Þat as gostes fleoeþ vniseie in forme of fur þo
A wonder game hi pleide þer þat miȝte segge hor fo
Hom hadde betere be[o] atom and ipiked hore two
Þis Cristene men amorwe ȝarkede hom swuþe wel
And wende hom to þis holi hul to þonke sein Michel
Þo fonde hi þere a churche swuþe queinte arered
Þe bissop was þo glad inou and somdel aferd
He nuste hou þis churche com ne wo is rerde þere
Ne wer sein Michel wolde þat he ihalwed were
For him þoȝte it was riȝt to halwi chirchen nywe
Sein Michel ȝeorne he bad þat was is frend triwe
Þat he sende som toknynge wat he ssolde þer of do
Þreo dawes he let þat folk uaste & hore beden bidde also
Ȝute com sein Michel efsone to þis bissop þere
Ne þench noȝt he sede on mi churche þat ich mi sulf let rere
For ich þat it habbe imad ich it halwede also
And þerof þou sselt signe finde wanne þou comst þerto

405

For wend in atte estor porche and as ich habbe igon
Min uet þou sselt finde isene in þe marbre ston
Sing þere þin heie masse and ȝif þat folk also
Oure Louerdes fleiss and is blod wanne þe masse is ido
Þis bissop sone amorwe to þis chapele drou
And þis folk al wiþ him wiþ offringe fair inou
Atte est porche hy wende in and in þe marbre ston
Þe fet hi fonde al isene as sein Michel hadde igon
Innore more he wende ȝute weuedes hi fonde þre[o]
Iheled wiþ red cloþ of pal þe uairoste þat miȝte be[o]
Of oure Leuedi was þat on þat men ssolde bidde
Þat oþer of sein Ion þe baptist of seinte Peter þe þridde
Þis bissop song is masse þer and suþþe atte nende
Þat folk he let houseli ar he wolde þanne wende
Þat folk to þulke holy stude alday faste drou
And oure Louerd dude þer ofte aday fair miracle inou
So þat þe pope þat was þo þoru þe cardinals is rede
For honur of þe holy stude & sein Micheles holi dede
And for þe mani vair miracle þat þoru sein Michel com
Het halwi Myhelmasse day þoru al Cristendom

De sancto Michaele in monte Tomba

Sein Michel in Nouembre haþ ek anoþer day
Biuore þe feste of sein Luc ac ich ȝou telle may
Þoru wille of sein Michel riȝt as þe oþer was
And þoru is feste he was ifonde ichelle telle þat cas
Hit biuel seue hondred ȝer and in þe teþe ȝer riȝt
After þat oure swete Louerd inis moder was aliȝt
Þat to þe bissop Auberd sein Michel com a niȝt
Biside þe montein of Tombe as it were in a siȝt
Ope þulke hul of Tombe a chirche he let him rere
Such as þulke of Gargan and þat it bityme were
Þe bissop esste in wuche stude he ssolde þis churche make
Ichelle þe quaþ sein Michel god tokne þerof take

406

A bole þou sselt þare finde þat þeoues habbeþ ihud
Ope þe heie hul of Tombe þat nis noȝt ȝute ikud
Þere as þou vinst þis bole ihud mi churche þou sselt rere
Þis bissop wel þis vnderstod and bigan is churche riȝt þere
And rerde is þere uair inou to helpe of monyman
In þe onour of sein Michel as þulke of Gargan
Ope hulles boþe þis churchen were & boþe of sein Michel
Heymon me þincþ he wolde be[o] he louede hulles so wel
He dude wel for he miȝte be[o] atom up is owe
And sitte & wide aboute ise[o] & þe contreie bet iknowe
And hom aȝen þe sonore fle[o] wanne he aliȝte lowe
He ne dorste care of non oþer work to erie ne to sowe
For he let upe heie hulles arere eiþer chapel
Þat folk þat suþþe an eorþe is vnderstod it fol wel
And wanne hi arereþ eny churche to masse & to gospel
Vp eni hul bi costome hi makeþ him of sein Michel
As þe mont of sein Michel & þe mont Agu also
And in eche lond moni oþere wo so nymeþ hede þerto
In þe grete se of occean þe hul of Tombe is
Þat geþ al aboute þe world in þe on ende iwis
Þe se geþ al aboute þe hul & in þe feste day euere mo
Þe se wiþdrauþ him twie a day þat me mai drie in go
And honury þulke holi stude and non oþer time nis
Þat þe se ne geþ al aboute bote þe feste day iwis
So þat it fel in a tyme þat þe se him wiþdrou
Atte feste day of þe stude þat folk wende in inou
So þat a womman mid childe [] com in atte nende
And nas noȝt so swift as oþer were aȝen forto wende
And þe se hure ouertok and he[o] bileuede wiþinne
And flet þere in wel lite reste and in wel feble inne
So þat he[o] bileuede þer in wonder cas inou
Forte it com anoþer ȝer þat þe se him eft wiþdrou

407

And hadde child þer in þe se and atte ȝeres ende
Hol and sond wiþ hure child to þis feste he gan wende
And saued was in þe deope se þoru grace of sein Michel
For Gode þer nis non of ȝou þat hure couþe habbe iwest so wel
Ne so iued hure ne hure child þat necostnede worþ a strau
For þei he[o] hadde viss & drinke inou ȝe witeþ wel it was rau
And to fleote so in þe grete se wonder þat heo nas ded
Sein Michel was a god wardein wanne we habbeþ al ised
Icholde ech man me ssolde a peni ȝiue þat necouþe hure noȝt wite
Atte feste of þe hul of Tombe þis dede was ido in write
Þe hul of Tombe he is icluped vor he is somdel nare
And longe as me may ise[o] an monnes tombe vare
Þat men beoþ on ileid wanne hi beoþ here dede
Also þulke hul is long and noȝt so brod of brede
Þat is as þe se haþ ibete in eiþer side
And irered upe þat sond anhei as me mai iseo wide
And ymad þer of an hul naru and long iwis
More þanne four hondred uet þe hul is hei iwis
Me þingþ a Myhelmasse day in Holy Churche also
Of a bataille þat sein Michel wiþ a dragon ssolde do
Þat was þe luþer Lucifer þat was is felawe
And somdel is souerein forte he gan misdrawe
Ac þo he þat angel was þoru is [s]ori prute
Bicom to a luþer deuel and biȝet wel lute
And fel out of is heie sege þat he ches amis
To þe deope put of helle as is wonynge is
Fram þe hexte stude þat is wiþ one swenge he com
To þe lowest iwis a wonder wei he nom
No wonder wat was him wi uerde þe ssrewe so
He pleide mid þe valling torn to wel he couþe it do
Iambeleue he com swenge into helle gronde
A murgore in he hadde er þat worse þere he fonde

408

A wonder sweng me þincþ he made is biȝete was wel lute
Acorsi he may eueremo is misfaringe prute
For as sone as God hadde ymad heuene & eorþe & helle
He made him ferst & is felawes as ich ȝou may telle
And he anon as he was ymad bigan to smite in prute
And wolde be[o] as hei as oure Louerd & biȝet wel lute
Monye hulde faste wiþ him & noȝt alle of one lore
Somme delited inis dede somme lasse & somme more
Somme ferde as hom ne roȝte noþer of on ne of oþer
Þer ne bileuede in heuene non of hom ne hore maister noþer
Sein Michel maister was [] to driue hom of heuene adoun
Þat was þe bataille þat he made mid þe luþer dragoun
Þe maister dragoun Lucifer and is pur felawes echon
Þat faste held wiþ is prute he drof hom to helle anon
Ac hi þat somdel wiþ him hulde and noȝt folliche so uaste
Out of heuene he hom drof and into þe lift hom caste
Al here byneþe toward eorþe þere mest tempest is
And þere hi ssolleþ in pine be[o] forte Domesday iwis
And as hore gult þe more was þe more is hore pine also
And þe worse stude hom is itake hore penance on to do
Ac to helle ne ssolde hi noȝt forte Domesday wende
Ac þere hi ssolleþ þere afterward bileue wiþoute ende
Oþer were þat for hom somdel in misþoȝt were
Ac naþeles hi hulde bet mid God ac vnneþe hi forbere
Þulke wende out of heuene ek and aboue þe oþere beoþ
Anhei vnder þe firmament and Godes wille iseoþ
And so ssolleþ be[o] somdel in pine forte þe worles ende
Ac hi ssolleþ a Domesday aȝen to heuene wende
In eor[þ]lich parais somme beoþ also
And in oþer studes an eorþe hore penance to do
For hore defaute in heuene þoru oure Louerdes grace
Man was ferst an eorþe imad to folfeolle þulke place
For tene ordren of angles þer were ymad þo
And þe teoþe uel adoun in to pine and wo

409

And nie hondred ȝute þer beoþ & þanne is man iwroȝt
To folfelle þe teþe ordre þat of heuene was ibroȝt
Sone so man was imad and sunegede also
And forgulte þe heie ioie þat hi were ymad two
In helle he was wiþ Lucifer & wiþ oþer luþer vode
Forte oure Louerd hom aboȝte in fleiss & in blode
Þe luþer gostes beoþ aboute mid hore luþer poer
To bitraie wrecche men and bringe into hore panter
And þe gode beoþ eke aboute mid poer þat hore is
Forto wardi men fram sunne þat hi neworche amis
Boþe þe luþer & þe gode aliȝteþ ofte adoun
And to men in slepe comþ and in auision
And sseweþ hom in metinge moni a wonder dede
Ac þe gode of gode þinge & þe luþer euere of quede
And derieþ ofte men in slep & bodieþ sorwe & care
And ofte hi of liggeþ men þat me clupeþ þe mare
For þat is al hore delit wanne hi moweþ do men wo
Ac þeoues hi cheseþ aniȝt aboute to fle[o] & go
Mest hi greueþ selimen wanne hi liggeþ upriȝt
Op hom hi liggeþ heuie inou nere hi nere so liȝt
Hi of liggeþ as an heui stok as hi wolde a man astoffe
Þat he ne ssel wawy fot ne hond ne vnneþe enes poffe
Dai þat such luþer chamberlein þat awakeþ men so sore
And God ȝiue hom sorwe inou & euere þe leng þe more
And alle þat loueþ is companie for he nas neuere hende
Ȝif eny of ȝou him loueþ wel oure Louerd him sone sende
Þe ssrewen wolleþ ek oþerwile mankunne to bitraie
Aliȝte adoun in monnes forme biniȝte & bidaie
And liggeþ ofte bi wymmen as hi were of fleiss & blode
Ac þe engendrure þat hi makeþ ne comþ neuere to gode
And ofte in forme of womman aday and eke niȝt
Hi leteþ men hom ligge bi and bitraieþ hom outriȝt

410

For hi weteþ wuch beoþ men þat to folie habbeþ wille
Al one in som deorne stude hi stondeþ þanne wel stille
And mani fol hom liþ so by in wode and eke in mede
Ac þer nis non þat so deþ þat ne acoreþ þe dede
Hore membres toswelleþ somme & somme ofscapeþ vnneþe
And somme fordwineþ al awei forte hi be[o] ibroȝt to deþe
More wonder it is iwis hou eni ofscapeþe of liue
For an attri þing it is to lemman oþer to wiue
And ofte in forme of womman in moni deorne weie
Me sicþ of hom gret companie boþe hoppe & pleie
Þat eleuene beoþ icluped þat ofte comeþ to toune
And bi daie muche in wode beoþ & biniȝte upe heie doune
Þat beoþ of þe wrecche gostes þat of heuene were inome
And mony of hom a Domesday ssolleþ ȝute to reste come
Ac þe ssrewen þat beoþ biniȝte and eke bidaie
Fondieþ wiþ wuch felonie hi moweþ men mest bitraie
For þulke tyme þat þe deuel oure ferste uader wan
Þoru þe appel þat he him ȝaf maister he was of man
And faste us hadde al to him forte oure Louerd us boȝte
And for men were so alle his þe lasse of hom he roȝte
Ne noþing he nas engynous as þe ssrewene nou beoþ
For plente nis no deinte as we alday iseoþ
He uerde as deþ a port dogge inorissed in portoun
For he geþ ofte in prece of men among hom up & doun
To men nenimeþ he no ȝeme to berke on hom noȝt ene
Ac among men geþ stille inou bote eny man him hene
Also uerde þe deuel þo for man was al his
And hadde of hom so gret plente he ne tolde noȝt þerof iwis
Ne nas noþing clib to hom to asaili hom wiþ wou
Namore þan þe port hond þat among hom is nou
Ne he nas grim to engini men as he nouþe is

411

Suþþe oure swete Louerd was ibore of is moder iwis
Hadde he be[o] such biuore as he haþ suþþe iwis
Vnneþe was þare enyman þat nadde ibe[o] al his
Ac oure Louerd after is deþ broȝte him in harde logge
And þane ssrewe teide uaste inou as me deþ a tei dogge
A tei dogge is clib inou wanne man comþ inis siȝte
And grenneþ & bercþ inou and drauþ mid al is miȝte
Ac ȝif enyman him comþ so nei þat he set on is toþ
Siker be[o] he bit sore inou as alle suche doþ
Ac clibbost upe hom he is þat þrouweþ him mid ston
Ac nei noman ne may he come bote wo so wole to him gon
Nou late suþþe he was iteid þe deuel farþ also
He bercþ & grenneþ toward men bote wo so wole to him go
Ac wanne man him comþ so ney þat he him mowe areche
He wole bite harde inou and is lesson teche
Þat bote he turne to amendement & take to Godes leche
And þoru þe prest him lete ssriue him worþ ido gret wreche
Hardost þe deuel bit men wanne eny comþ him to
Of hom þat him arerede er & godnesse habbeþ ido
For þere wiþ me him arereþ mest & suþþe him wolleþ wiþdrawe
And comeþ so nei þat he mowe him reche he cacþ him wel vawe
And ope is poer harde him bit is bites beoþ wel ille
He nemay noman as ȝe seoþ take aȝen is wille
Namore þanne mai a tei dogge þat is iteid in stronge teie
Ac wanne he nemai areche men wide he cast is eiȝe
Ȝif he may enyman iseo þat to him wole drawe

412

Anon he ginþ to tolli him as man deþ is felawe
For wanne a man nemai noȝt is felawe bringe ner
Wiþ is hond he tolleþ him as wo seiþ icham her
Þe deuel tolleþ wiþ is hond as wel as deþ a man
And fif fingres þer on he haþ þat he wel bisette can
Ech of is fingres haþ a name as we clupeþ oure also
Þe leste hatte liteman for he is lest þerto
Suþþe þe next hatte leche for wanne a leche makeþ oȝt
Wiþ þulke vinger he wole taste were it be[o] ariȝt iwroȝt
Longe man hadde þe middemost for lengost he is
Þe veorþe hatte techare for þerwiþ me tecþ iwis
As wo seiþ lo him þer of wam we speke er longe
For þe þoume strengost is þeruore me clupeþ him stronge
Þanne hatte þe leste liteman þe next him hatte leche
Suþþe þe longe longeman þe techare for he deþ teche
Stronge is þe þoume icluped þou wost wel wi it is
Þe vif fingres þe deuel haþ and hore name iwis
Þerwiþ he tolleþ men to him wanne men stondeþ fer ato
And wiþ fol þoȝt to him lokeþ and not wat he wole do
And is inwit him seiþ þat it gret sunne were
And gret wille he haþ þerto ac he ne der it do for fere
Þe deuel stont & fawe wolde hente him bi þe polle
Wiþ liteman is leste finger he ginþ him ferst to t[o]lle
And seiþ war of erte adrad a wel lite sunne it is
And makeþ þe sunne lite inou for þe finger is lite iwis
Ȝif he nemay wiþ þulke finger a man to sunne teche
Wiþ is felawe he tolleþ next þat me clupeþ leche
And seiþ oure Louerd is god leche & fol of milce & ore
Wel he wole hele & forȝiue þei þe sunne were more
He nis noȝt so wrechfol as me weneþ deore he haþ þe aboȝt
Wel more sunne he forȝifþ þereuore ne drede þe noȝt
And bote he mowe þer wiþ wynne he pult two is felawe
Þe longe þat sit him next þat al were hi todrawe

413

And seiþ þou ert ȝong inou þou miȝt libbe wel longe
And þi sunnes bete wel þei hi were ten so stronge
Scholdestou nou bileue þi wille wat ssolde þi ȝonge blod
Þou sselt ȝute libbe longe inou & amendi al þi mod
Bote he mowe ȝute make a man þerwiþ do amis
He tolleþ wiþ is techare þat þe nexte felawe is
And seiþ lo þere þulke preost and þulke kniȝt also
And þulke person & manie oþere þat more sunne habbeþ ido
And naþeles it beoþ godemen and god lif ledeþ inou
Þulke man nas neuere ibore þat among ne dude wou
Sein Poul mid is owe honde an hondred men slou
Seinte Marie Magdalein to lecherie drou
Seinte Peter þrie in one niȝt oure Louerd forsok also
And loke ek þis oþer halwen wat sunne hi habbeþ ido
And þei hi beoþ heie in heuene ne worste neuere so heie
More sunne þanne þou wolt do þou miȝt bete ar þou deye
Þou wost be[o] oþer þanne enyman [b]ihold al aboute
A mysdede is sone ibet war of hastou doute
Ȝif he nemai mid is techare make is wei roume
Mid þe stronge he tolleþ þanne mid is ssrewe þoume
And seiþ þou ert strong inou more sunne to bete
Wostou bileue so murie þing þench þat it is swete
Þou miȝt be[o] þerof issriue & it worþ forȝiue clene
Goþ forþ hardeliche naue þou none teone
And bet þi sunne afterward for þe ne failleþ strengþe non
For wel feblore þanne þou ert wel ofte wole misgon
And suþþe do hore penance and naþeles noȝt wel stronge
For oure Louerd is euere ȝare sunfolmen to auonge
In þis manere þe luþer ssrewe wanne he vnderȝet oȝt
Þat men lokeþ toward him & somdel changeþ hore þoȝt
He tolleþ hom euere ner & ner mid is fingres arewe
Nou luþer þrift up al þe hond for euere he was a ssrewe
Daye þat sori wolde be[o] þei he were al tohewe

414

Forto sunne he bringþ manion & to amendement vewe
Þeruore biþencheþ ȝou wanne he wole ȝou to sunne pute
And wiþ is fingres tolleþ ȝou & seiþ þe sunne is lute
And þat oure Louerd is leche & milsfol & þat þou sselt libbe longe
And þat oþere sunegeþ more þat nebeoþ noȝt so stronge
Anon so ȝe þencheþ such a þoȝt biþench ȝou þerto
Hou þe ssrewe tolleþ ȝou & wiþ wuche finger also
Seggeþ him he lucþ loude wo so deorste him telle
Saue þat he maister is in þe deope put of helle
And God holde him is dignete and is noble maistrie
Forte somme of ȝou ȝeue al is god bynyme him þe baillie
For siker woso vuel deþ and comþ to is tollinge
He wole him bringe euere ner & ner & in deppore sunne bringe
And attenende in þe put of helle þat he worþ euere forlore
Þat vnneþe him tit þe grace to wiþdrawe him biuore
Þei hy nemowe us noȝt ise[o] among us hi beoþ þicke
And þei hi out of helle be[o] hor pine is strong & wikke
For hi fareþ as þe man þat in acces of feuere is
Beo he in hous oþer in felde is bernynge ilast iwis
Fer and ner he mai go ac euere ilast is pine
Hit is bi þe deuel her also and bi is hine
For þei hi out of helle be[o] hy ne ssolle so atroute
Þat hi þe bernynge of helle wiþ hom ne bereþ aboute

De inferno

Þe riȝte put of helle is amidde eorþe wiþinne
Oure Louerd þere al made iwis queintise of gynne
Heuene and eorþe he made uerst & suþþe al þing þat is
Eorþe is a lite hurst aȝen heuene iwis
Heuene geþ aboute eorþe euene it mot weie

415

Eorþe is amidde euene as þe stre amidde an eiȝe
Muche is þer on more þan þe oþer for þe leste sterre iwis
In heuene as þe boc us seiþ more þanne þe eorþe is
For [ho] so were anhei bi a sterre ȝif it so miȝte be[o]
So lite wolde þe eorþe þenche þat he nessolde hure noȝt ise[o]
Enes geþ heuene aboute þoru þe day & þoru þe niȝt
And þe mone & þe sterren wiþ him bereþ & þe sonne so briȝt
For þat is euene aboue þin heued aboute nones stonde
Vnder þi uet heuene it is at midniȝt vnder gronde
And comeþ up wanne þe sonne arist & ouer þe is at none
Heuene makeþ þus hure cours and aboute comeþ sone
As appel þe eorþe is round so þat euere mo
Half þe eorþe þe sonne bissint hou so it euere go
And non it is here byneþe us wanne it is here midniȝt
As me mai to soþe iseo wo so haþ god insiȝt
And ȝif þou helde a cler candel biside an appel riȝt
Euene haluondel þen appel he wolde ȝiue here liȝt
Þere beoþ atte firmamens such as we iseoþ
Þe ouemoste is þe riȝte heuene in wan þe sterren beoþ
For þere aboue is Godes riche þat last wiþoute ende
Þat we beoþ þerto imaked God lete us þuder wende
Þere byneþe seuene beoþ þat ech of ham iwis
A sterre haþ wiþoute mo þat planete icluped is
Ichelle nemny ȝare seue names and bigynne heiest
Saturnes is al aboue and Iubiter suþþe þe heiest
Þenne Mars bineþe him and suþþe þe sonne is
Venus suþþe þe clere sterre Mercurius þanne iwis
Þat selde is of us iseie þe mone is next þe gronde
Þoru gret wit of clergie hare names were ferst ifonde

416

For ech of þe seuene may gret miȝte an eorþe do
Boþe of wedere & eke of frut as ȝare poer ȝaf þerto
And also men þat beoþ ibore vnder ȝare miȝte iwis
Scholleþ habbe ȝare diuerse lif euere as ȝare uertue is
Somme lechors & somme glotons and somme oþer manere
And naþeles a man of god inwit of al þulke mai him skere
For planetes ne deþ non oþer bote ȝiueþ in manes wille
To be[o] luþer oþer god as hure vertu wole to tille
And ȝifþ him also qualite to do so and so
And noȝt for þan after is inwit ech wis man may do
For such qualite naþ noman to be[o] lechour oþer ssrewe
Þat he nemay him witie þere aȝen ac naþeles so doþ vewe
Of þis seue planetes also god gret poer ȝe iseoþ
For þe seue dawes of þe wike þere after icluped beoþ
Of Saturnus Saterday and Soneday of þe sonne
Of þe mone Moneday wo so rekene conne
Of a planete euerich day in þe wike icluped is
An Engliss oþer a Latin bote ȝe rekeni amis
And for Mars and Saturnus in ȝare þoer luþer beoþ
And lite god an eorþe doþ as þis clerkes iseoþ
Þeruore me ssoneþ muche þen Saterday bigynne
And þe Tiwesdai eni worke eny god to wynne
Among alle þe planetes þe sonne amidde is
As þe king amidde is men to wissen alle iwis
Also þe sonne þere he mai ssine aboute echon
For alle hi habbeþ liȝt of hure wiþoute hure noȝt on
As me may bi þe mone iseo þe wile he is niwe riȝt
A lite rondel as a sikel me sucþ þer of þat liȝt
And al þat oþer del wiþinne blac as a reuen is
So blac is al þe mone of him sulue iwis
Bote al þer as þe sonne ssineþ þer ȝiueþ hure liȝt al

417

And makeþ hure so ssine aboute as ȝe ssine of cristal
For wanne þe sonne ssineþ on cristal oþer on water cler
A gret leom it ȝiueþ out aȝen & ssineþ ver & ner
Also varþ þe mone iwis þe sonne ssineþ doun riȝt
Euene on hure and he aȝen among us sent hure liȝt
And for þe sonne is fer aboue riȝt touore þe prime
Bineþe hure þe mone is euene & þe sonne ssineþ somtyme
In þe oþer side al of þe mone and hiderward no wiȝt
Þanne nese[o] we noȝt of hure ne he[o] ne ȝifþ no liȝt
So þat þe sonne byuore geþ lite and lite iwis
And ssineþ on þe hider half on þulke þat ner him is
And makeþ þe mone wuxe so lite & lite bi stonde
So þat wanne it heiuol is wanne þe sonne geþ to gronde
Þe [mone] bigynneþ est arise euene aȝen hure riȝt
Þat in þe half toward us þe sonne sent hure liȝt
Þanne is þe oþer half derk & þe hider half al liȝt
And sent hure leom hider to us & ssineþ al longe niȝt
So þat he draweþ hider ner þe sonne lite & lite abac
And bileueþ cler toward þe sonne þe oþer del al blak
And attelaste is al blac toward us atte monþes ende
And cler aboue as þe sonne liȝt to hure deþ sende
So þat þe sonne in haluendel ssineþ eueremo
Wat aboue & wat bineþe hou so it euere go
And as me may bi þe candel iseo þat is biside a balle
Þat ȝiueþ liȝt on him haluondel hou euere so it falle
And wanne þe sonne is vnder eorþe & þe mone aboue aniȝt
Biside þe eorþe in þe on half þe sonne sent out hure liȝt
An hondred siþe & fiue and sixti as it is iwrite
Þe sonne is more þanne þe eorþe woso wolde iwite
And þe eorþe is more þanne þe mone nye siþe iwis
Þe mo[n]e þingþ þe more for he so nei us is

418

Þe sonne is herre þan þe mone more þanne suche þreo
Þenne it beo henne to þe mone þe lass[e] he is to seo
Muche is bitwene heuene & eorþe for þe man þat miȝte go
Euerich dai forti mile euene upriȝt and eke mo
He ne ssolde to þe heiost heuene þat ȝe aldai iseoþ
Come in eiȝte þousond ȝer þere as þe sterren beoþ
And þei Adam oure ferste fader hadde bigonne anon
Þo he was ferst imad toward heuene to gon
And hadde euerich day forti mile euene upriȝt igo
He nadde noȝt ȝute to heuene icome bi a þousond ȝer & mo
Siker be[o] ȝe ich segge soþ ileoue woso leoue
Hou ssolde we þer come so late after Adam & Eue
Ac wanne man is an eorþe ded and is soule beo god
He haueþ wiþ hure non heuynesse noþer of fleiss ne of blod
Ȝif he is þanne wiþoute sunne he haþ angles kunde
And mai be[o] nouþe here & þer as quik as a mannes munde
For as þou sixt þe liȝtinge þat of þe cloude deþ wende
Þat comeþ in þe on half of þe world & as sone is in þe oþer ende
Swuþer sset a monnes soule ȝe more þanne suche seuene
Ȝif he is wiþoute sunne þane wei to þe blisse of heuene
O wel raþer me mai to helle come þere uore it is isene
And wel mo þuder goþ ich drede ȝe mo þan suche tene
Bineþe þe lowoste heuene þat þe mone is on ibroȝt
Beoþ þe foure elemens of wam we beoþ of iwroȝt
Next þe mone þe fur is hext echone hi beoþ ronde
Þe eir is þanne bineþe next & takeþ here to gronde
Suþþe is water and suþþe is eorþe þe foure beoþ iwis
Þe four elemens of wan eche quik best ymaked is

419

Oure Louerd in eche of þis foure sseweþ alday is miȝte
As ȝe mowe in þe stude of fure ise[o] a wonder siȝte
Sitte as [hit] a sterre were bi þe lifte and neiȝ
Ac þe sterren beoþ fer aboue for þer is swuþe heiȝ
Þe sonne mai her among us gret strengþe & miȝte do
He draweþ up þe kunde of þe water and of þe eorþe also
He draweþ up þe eorþe in drowe wedere as it were a drowe breþ
So þat þoru hete of þe sonne aboue þe eir it geþ
And wanne it comþ amang þat fur sone it ginþ to tende
And al bernynge it sset forþ forte it be[o] barnd to ende
Þare fore me ne [secþ] noȝt such þing bote it be[o] in hete
Liȝtinge comeþ ek þer of wanne it turneþ to wete
For of þulke sulue drowe breþ þat is idrawe anhei
Þoru hete þat was biuore and a cloude þere is ney
Anon wanne it afure is it sset þoru þe cloude
Þe wile it in þe water is it goþeleþ swuþe loude
As ȝif me nome a slab of ire þat glowinge were auure
In water he wolde goþely loude þat miȝte me ihure
Also þat fur up anhei þat bi þe cloude is itend
Hit goþeleþ in þe water cloude as it þoru out went
For þat is þe þonder iwis and siker non oþer þing
Wanne þe fur perseþ þoru out þat is þe leiting
Þare sset [abrod] into al þe worlde & comeþ after þe dunte
And naþeles he þingþ biuore for he ne may noȝt astunte
Ȝif þer were a stepel hei and a man aboue sete
And me seie him smite an hei gode duntes & grete
Þou ssost him seo wel longe smite duntes wiþ þin eiȝe
Ar þou ssoldest eni dunt ihure ȝif he were wel heiȝe

420

For me mai ise[o] a wel fair þing anon so it is ido
Ȝif þar nis noþing bitwene ac men ne mai noȝt here so
Wanne þat fur comþ into þe water gret noise anon þer is
Ac me ne hureþ it noȝt anon for it is so fer iwis
Ac þe liȝtynge we seoþ anon wanne he is þoru ibroȝt
Þeruore it þincþ it comþ biuore ac naþeles it ne deþ noȝt
For wanne þe liȝt is icome we habbeþ anon þe siȝte
Ac þe soun nemay noȝt so sone to us aliȝte
Nou nis þe drowe breþ of þe eorþe neuere wiþoute hete
Idrawe up þat comþ biuore ne iqueint wiþo[u]tene wete
Þare fore bote after hete me ne ssel no þonder ise[o]
And þat weder smit in wete for elles ne mai it be[o]
So me ssel in pur somere selde [þonder] ihure
For þar is þanne selde wet to make quenchinge of fure
Ne in pur winter noþemo so nis þanne no hete
To drawe up þe drie kunde of þe eorþe for muchel wete
Þare uore me seiþ þat winter þonder me ssel selde god ise[o]
For he nemai neuere come bute þat weder vnkunde be[o]
Ac bitwene somer & winter as aboute Aueril and May
And efsone fram heruost forte sein Clementes day
Þanne is þonder kunde inou and liȝtynge also
For þanne is þe weder wet inou & ofte hot þerto
Ȝe mowe ise[o] wanne þonder is menging of fur in wete
Wonder is þat it ne quelþ men bi weies and bi strete
And smit adoun gret treon and deþ oþer mani wonder
Þare uore ich mot ȝou telle more of kunde of þe þonder

421

Þo oure Louerd þolede on eorþe deþ & þe deuel bond & nom
And debrusede helle ȝates mid þonder þuder he com
Þare fore euere eft afterward war so deuelen be[o]
Of þonder hi beoþ so sore aferd þat hy nute woder fle[o]
And hi þat wonieþ in þe lifte and oþer as wel as he[o]
In strong fere comeþ adoun and nuteþ woder te[o]
And sleþ men bitweie as i fleoþ as me may ofte ise[o]
Þat muche fere ȝam ȝiue God bote þat us þe worse ne be[o]
Anoþer manere þere comeþ harm of þe þonder among
For þere as þe weder is þare is tempest strong
Of wind of water & of fur and þaie þreo were þere
A mulston ssolde al todriue þeie it of bras were
Wanne þe tempest is here so strong me þingþ it nis no wonder
Þei þere come ofte som adoun wiþ þe dunt of þe þonder
Wanne þe wind and þat fur smit þoru þe water cloude
Wiþ gret strengþe it liþ adoun as me mai hure loude
And smit as it were a dunt oþer blast of grete miȝte
No wonder þei it smite harde war it deþ aliȝte
And brekeþ treon & quelþ men & deþ swuþe gret wonder
In þis manere comþ þe harm þat me sucþ of þonder
Me sucþ ofte þe liȝtynge berne hous and ssrenche
Þat vnneþe ssel eny water þat fur þer of aquenche
For of þe water cloude aboue þat fur is out ibroȝt
And for it out of þe water comþ water ne quencheþ it noȝt
Nou mowe ȝe esse in wuche manere water comeþ so heiȝe
And ware of comþ þe rein & snou þat we seoþ wiþ oure eiȝe
Þe sonne þat is al maister here sent adoun hure hete
And makeþ wateres breþi upriȝt as hi ssolde swete

422

Boþe se and verss water he draweþ up þe breþ
So þat aboue in þe lift þulke mist euene geþ
Nou is þere up in þe lift a swuþe cold stude iwis
For bitwene heuene and eorþe non so cold þer nis
Þere as þe blake clouden beoþ and oþer wederis also
Hit nis upriȝt fram þe eorþe bote milen two
Wanne þe sonne haþ þuder idrawe þe mist þoru hure hete
Hit ne may nower for þe cold ac bicomeþ þer al to wete
And gadereþ þere a water cloud and houeþ þere a stonde
Forte þe time come þat it rine & droppinge vallet to gronde
Ȝif it is cold up anhei þe dropen bicomeþ to snowe
As hy freoseþ adonward ar hi come here lowe
Ȝif it is þoru out so cold þat hi alle ifrore beo
Þanne it is hawel pur as ȝe mowe aldai iseo
Þe breþ of þe water þat þe sonne draweþ up aȝen eue
Wanne þe sonne is to gronde igo hit ne mai noȝt bileue
Wanne noþing ne halt it up and þe hete is al ido
Þanne falleþ softe adoun & to dewe bicomþ so
And hongeþ on lef & on gras forte þe hete amorwe come
And þe sonne lite and lite it habbe eft up inome
Hor forst comeþ wanne it is so cold þat it frest aniȝt
And þe deu freose adonward & wanne he adoun aliȝt
Ȝif þe deu is ek up idrawe & adonward falleþ also
And þer come a þicke mist and a cold forst þerto
Þanne frest þe þicke mist and cleueþ on tre[o]
And þer of comþ þe rim forst & þulke mist deþ fle[o]
He cleueþ in hegges al aboute and in weodes also
And ichot in my uortop he haþ ofte ido
In þis manere ȝe mowe ise[o] þe kunde of rein & snowe

423

Of hawel of deu of rim forst of horforst þat freoseþ so lowe
Of clouden & of mist for al o þing it is
For al hi comeþ of water breþ þat þe sonne draweþ up iwis
Nou is þer water here an eorþe wel more þanne of þe londe
For som se wiþoute mo is more as ich vnderstonde
For þe grete se of occean inis on ende iwis
Is more þanne þe eorþe be[o] and wonder non it nis
For aboute al eorþe he geþ and abrod is þerto
As þe wite geþ aboute þe ȝolke & more is also
Ech oþer se among us ne be[o] he so gret non
Nis bote a lyme of þulke se þerinne hi goþ echon
Wellen comeþ of grete wateres and muche del of þe se
Þoru ueines al vnder eorþe to þe se wendeþ aȝe
For þere beoþ as it veines were bineþe eorþe manion
Þat tilleþ out of þe se and to wellen goþ echon
Þer þoru eorneþ þe wateres faste aboute fram þe seo
And at welles springeþ out & eft hi turneþ aȝe
And as swuþe as eche water comþ to þe se inis ende
To þe grete se of occean as suþþe it deþ wende
Þer uore al þe wateres þat to þe se doþ gon
Þe se mot euere nede be[o] as euere mo bi on
Þat he floweþ ofte & ebbeþ and wexeþ in a þrowe
Þat is þoru kunde of þe mone & riȝt noȝt of hure owe
Eorþe is amidde þe grete se as a lite bal al round
And pur helle amidde eorþe wo so soȝte þe ground
And ȝute as gret as eorþe þincþ & as lite as he is
Þare nis bote þe seueþe deol þat men wonieþ on iwis
For here in þe norþ half wo so lie nele
For it is so fer þe sonne ne woneþ nomon for chile
Ne in þe souþ half noþemo for þe grete hete
Of þe sonne þat is aboue þe lemes beoþ so kete

424

And [moni] oþer studes ek þei me miȝte wonie þer inne
Hi ne bereþ no corn ne frut mannes mete to wynne
So þat þei eorþe were ideled wo so it miȝte do bi art
Þer nis to wonie inne men bote vnneþe þe seueþe part
Of þis foure elemens ech quik þing imaked is
Of eorþe of water & of eir and of fur iwis
Mon haþ of eorþe al is bodi of water he haþ wete
Of eir he haþ breþ & wind of fur he haþ hete
Ech quik þing of al þis foure of summe more and lasse
Wo so haþ of eorþe mest he is slou as an asse
Of vad colour of hard hude boistous forme & ded strong
Of muche þoȝt & lite speche of stille groynynge & wreþe long
Of slou wreche & fereblet vast & loþ to ȝiue is god
Sone old and noȝt wiluol stable and studeuast of mod
Wanne water is mest me ssel be[o] wiȝt & fat also
Of nesse her and noþing crips gret slepare & slou þerto
Snyuelinge nose and wet mouþ of lite word & lite drynke
Of ssorte wraþþe and debonere ferblet & lite lust to swinke
Wo so haþ of eir mest a ssel be[o] of god colour
Vat and of nesse here fol large & gret lechour
Lyȝhinge and glad semlant and somdel of prute
Habbe he mete & drinke inou ne kareþ he bote lute
Wraþþe he berþ lite wile ballede he wol be[o] sone
Glad and bliþe and vnstable of þat he haþ to done
Wo so haþ of fur mest he ssel be[o] smal and red
Oþer blac wiþ crips her lene & somdel qued
Hinder and bostar inou hardy and wel lye
Sweriare of many word and fol of lecherie
Prout and wemed & drinkare in wraþþe almest wod

425

Hardi liȝt and stalworþe and wakiare wel god
And ech of þis foure elemens entempreþ oþer iwis
So þat vnneþe enyman eny pur maister is
As ȝif þou nymest riȝt hot water and dest pur cold þerto
Þou miȝt it makie euene wlak and entempri so
Þo oure Louerd made uerst mon he made him iwis
Of al þis foure elemens as man ȝute is
Þo made he cunde in echman as ȝe mowe alle iwite
Bitwene men & womman of wam we beoþ biȝute
Vil a þing him is þe sed of wan man is isprengd
Boþe of man & of womman togadere it is imengd
Of wyȝt colour it bileueþ as it is iwrite
Forte aboute twelfþe day þat it is biȝite
Þer kenneþ uerst þer of smale bollen þre[o]
Ac ech on oþer faste hongeþ wo so miȝte ise[o]
Of þe hexte comeþ þe brain þe heorte of þulke amidde
Þe liuere þat is neþermost kenneþ of þe þridde
Þis beoþ þe þre[o] hexte limes þat ferst ikenned beoþ
And in ham is al mannes lif as ȝe nou iseoþ
Þere nis non of þulke þre[o] þat hadde eny wonde
Þat euer eft miȝte iheled be[o] ac deide in a stonde
After þe twelf dawes ferst þat þe sed haþ wiȝt be[o]
Hit bicomþ to a þicke blod and changeþ is ble[o]
Nie dawes it þickeþ so forte þe on and twentiþe day
Þanne turneþ it ferst to flesse as þe kunde may
After eiȝte & twenti dawes forme it ginþ to nyme
So þat wiþinne forti dawes it haþ euerich lyme
And in lasse ȝif it is a knaue for he is of more hete
Wanne þe limes beoþ ferst ymad hi ne beoþ noȝt wel grete
A smal web biclippeþ it al aboute to holde it togadere uaste
Fram þat it is ferst ikend forte it be[o] ibore attelaste
Al round it liþ in þe wombe and ibud as an hare

426

Wanne he in forme liþ for is in is somdel nare
And ibud þe legges beoþ it nolde noȝt elles veie
Þe helen atte bottocs þe knen in eiþer eiȝe
Þat heued ibuyd adonward þe armes ek wiþinne
Þe elbowes toward þe ssere þe vestes to þe chinne
Al i[b]ud him is þe rug so þat nei rount it is
Man ware of comþ al þi prute for þer nis non iwis
Þou makest þe so hei her and to man nelt abowe
Loke hou croked þou were þere & to wan þou miȝt þe powe
Þou nemiȝtest noȝt holde up þin heued ne enes vndo þin eiȝe
Wannene com it suþþe to bere þin heued so heie
Þreo soulen beoþ in echman ac noȝt alle iliche gode
As ich sede ȝou er of þre[o] bollen ȝif ȝe it vnderstode
In þe neþemoste bolle þat þe liuere deþ of springe
Þer comeþ to a maner soule atte biginnynge
As it were a maner lif þat sent norissinge
To þe lymes al aboute and bringþ hom in wuxinge
So þat a mannes norissinge and þe wexinge also
Of þulke ferste soule comþ and of þe liuere þerto
Þulke maner soule is in eche wexinge þinge
In treon and in erbes ek hi ne miȝte noȝt elles springe
Þoru uertu of þulke soule wanne it is þerto ibroȝt
Þat mannes limes iformed beoþ þat þer ne failleþ noȝt
Þanne comþ þere in þe heorte þat þe oþer bolle was
A soule þat bringþ þat lif on þat neuer er nas
Þanne is þat child quic anon ac strengþe naþ hit noȝt

427

Elles forto wawi him ar it forþor be[o] ibroȝt
Of þulke soule haþ ech man þat he may wawe and gon
Iuelynge & al is lif and is vif wittes echon
Þulke soule haþ ech þing þat yuel may oþer go
Best and foul and eke viss worm & oþer mo
Þeos soule þat bringþ þat lif is atte heorte gronde
Þer uore wo so is þare ismite he deieþ in a stonde
Þeos soule comþ of mannes cunde and þe oþer biuore also
Þere uore wanne a man deieþ hi deieþ boþe to
Ȝute þer is þe þridde soule þat hore maister is
For wan a child haþ al is limes and ech lime quik iwis
In þe ende of þe ueorþe monþe þat it was biȝite
Oþer sone þer afterward as it is iwrite
Þe kunde þat oure Louerd made and porueide also
Þo he hadde ferst man ymad and in parais ido
To menge þe kunde of heuene to mannes kunde her
Anne soule of witte and of liue þat is angles poer
Comeþ fram þe kunde of angles and in þis forme aliȝt
And mengeþ wiþ is wrecche vleiss as oure Louerd it haþ idiȝt
And makeþ þe kunde þat nas her bote as a best vnneþe
Þe kunde of angles wiþ him bere forte he come to deþe
Þulke soule nymeþ is in and bilefþ iwis
In þe childes brain anhei þat þe hexte lime is
Þulke soule euere ilast and ne deiþ neuere mo
Ac went wanne a man ssel deie to ioie oþer to wo
Al þat man haþ biuore a best oþer more reson can
Al he it haþ of þulke soule ware þoru he is man
And wanne man went out of þis liue þulke soule iwis
Biginþ to parti fram þe body þe wile he aliue is
And wend as he haþ ofserued to ioie oþer to pine
Þe soulen þat hure ueren were beoþ sone atte fine
Þulke þat halt a mannes lif þat stikeþ in þe herte

428

Wanne he ssel wiþ þe body deie þat in strang angwise deþ smerte
Ȝif he vnderȝet is felawe to ioie fram him wende
Þerfore he makeþ signe of ioie & deþ as þe hende
And wanne he deiþ mid þe body fair chere he makþ & softe
And in wuch point þat bodi bileueþ as me may ise[o] ofte
Þe eiȝen iclosed fair inou þe mouþ of faire chere
Ech lime also uair istreiȝt in god point as he were
Þe þridde soule ȝute also þat deieþ atte nende
Þat norissinge to al þat body and to þe lymes deþ sende
He deþ ek signe in þe bodi ȝif is felawe geþ to gode
And bileueþ þe body in fair hiu wiþ oþer rode of blode
Þus soule deieþ in a man wanne þe hete is al ido
Þe erore wanne he leueþ is breþ & wawinge also
Wanne hi seoþ hore felawe to torment ibroȝt
Luþer semlant hi makieþ as it nelikede hom noȝt
And bileueþ þat bodi in foul hiwe þe eiȝene staringe
And þe mouþ of foul semlant and ofte grennynge
Suche signis þat grisliche beoþ þat me may ofte ise
Beoþ signe þat þe wrecche soule in þe luþer weie be
Nou God þat us soule ȝaf us lete hure here so rede
Þat sein Michel is mot auonge & biuore him lede