Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier.

                                
                                  Þen bi Beniamin þe ȝunge þese pines isen.
                                
                                  Ȝit Beniamin þe ȝunge makeþ muche mon
                                
                                  Þenne clepede Iacob his sones eueruchon.
                                
                                  'Sones,' seide Iacob, 'Nede ȝe mote wende
                                  Line 340 
                                
                                  For to sech vs corn in þissen estende.
                                
                                  For betere ȝou is to swinke & erne ȝoure mete
                                
                                  Þenne at hom to deye on hunger & on hete.
                                
                                  Nimeþ ȝoure assen & nimeþ ȝoure horn,
                                
                                  Nimeþ ȝou seluer & gold to buggen vs corn.
                                  Line 345 
                                
                                  Ac Beniamin þe ȝunge bileue ssal at hom;
                                
                                  Me reweþ euere Iosep þat afelde was igon.
                                
                                  For ȝif he hadde at hom bileued, ȝit he were aliue;
                                
                                  For þe loue of Iosep be ich neuere bliþe.
                                
                                  Nimeþ ȝoure wepnen & wendeþ ȝoure wai,
                                  Line 350 
                                
                                  Berewe ȝou from care oure Louerd, þat wel mai.'
                                
                                  Feire fareþ þis ȝunge men bi dai & bi niȝt [folio 7b] 
                                
                                  Into Egipte lond þat hi comen riȝt.
                                
                                  Muche was þe blisse & muche was þe gome
                                
                                  In water & in londe of wilde & of tome.
                                  Line 355 
                                
                                  Muche was þe blisse þat hi þar iseye,
                                
                                  Bernes ful riche & mowen ful heye.
                                
                                  Muche was þe blisse after here swinke
                                
                                  Þat hi þare funden of mete & of drinke.
                                
                                  Hem oftok a menestral, his harpe he bar arugge.
                                  Line 360 
                                
                                  'Whennes be ȝe, ȝunge men? Ich bidde þat ȝe me sigge.
                                
                                  Me þuncheþ bi ȝoure assen þat corn ȝe wolde begge,
                                
                                  & ich ȝou wole bringe to þe tubrugge.
                                
                                  Þar þe [Þar þe] MS. þarle.]  hendeste man þat euere is aliue
                                
                                  Ȝou wole gistni toniȝt & make ȝou ful bliþe.
                                  Line 365 
                                
                                  Ȝe þuncheþ ferrene men & alle freboren,
                                
                                  Toniȝt ssal mani kniȝtchild knele ȝou biforen.'

About this Item

Title: Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier.
Canvas: Page 12
Publication: Oxford,: Clarendon press,; 1916.

Technical Details

Collection: Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse
Link to this Item: https://name.umdl.umich.edu/acb1675.0001.001
Link to this scan: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/cme/acb1675.0001.001/48:3

Rights and Permissions

The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials are in the public domain. If you have questions about the collection, please contact [email protected]. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact [email protected].

DPLA Rights Statement: No Copyright - United States

IIIF

Manifest: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/api/manifest/cme:acb1675.0001.001

Cite this Item

Full citation: "Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/acb1675.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 30, 2025.

Iacob and Iosep; a middle English poem of the thirteenth century, ed. by Arthur S. Napier.

Annotations Tools

Actions

About this Item

Technical Details

Rights and Permissions

Related Links

IIIF

Cite this Item