Altenglische legenden ...

II. Zur Geburt Jesu.

A. Ashmol. 43.

Of Joie & blisse is al my song, : kare to bileue, [folio 208b] & to herie him among : þ^t al our sorwe schal reue. Icome he is þe suete dew, : to wan is al our hope, Jhu kyng of alle kynges, : þe swete hony drope; Bicome he is oure broþer; : war was he so longe? Line 5 He it is & non oþer, : þ^t boȝte ous so stronge. Oure broþer we mowe him clupie wel, : so seiþ he him sulf ilome. So ne miȝte hi neuer adel : þ^t bifore ous come. He nas oure broþer noȝt, : ar he oure flesch nome, þer myde he haþ ous dere aboȝt : to make ous isome. Line 10 Isome we nere bifore, : angelis & oure kunde, Ar swete ihc were ibore, : þ^t to selde is in munde. Ac nou he haþ oure kunde Inome, : & oure broþer is; Oure kunde is wel heie i come : among oþer iwis. Vor he is al oure kunde hext : saue is godhede, Line 15 & aboute is trone is next, : so noble is manhede! [Nach trone fehlt man.] Angel ne worþ noȝt so hei, : for he nys oure broþer noȝt, & oure kunde is eke so hei, : he haþ ous dere abouȝt, Ne angeles he ne boȝte noȝt; : we beþ him wel ner; Wen he vs haþ so dere aboȝt, : wel auȝte men louye him her. [vs ist im Ms. meist durch v mit dem Zeichen der Abkürzung für us ausgedrückt.] Line 20 þe angel nys naþemo : bote as his messager; Hou miȝte it þanne go : to beo is broþer her? & In heuene hi scholleþ also, : wen þ^t we beþ þere, Oure heste & oure wille do, : as hi oure hinen were, To oure heste seruy ous : to fot & to honde; Line 25 Oure owene we mowe holde ous, : as i^c vnderstonde: [vnder stonde: das ausschliesslich nach d gebrauchte Zeichen der Abkürzung … ist überall durch er wiedergegeben, obwohl es auch ur vertreten könnte.]

Ne mowe we þenne glade beo : to habbe suche hyne? þ^t soþe ȝe mowe her iseo, : as we iseþ ate fyne, [suche: Ms. such; der Strich über h ist stets durch e auf|gelöst.] þ^t we beþ alle kunde hext, : wiþþoute god one, [folio 209] & in heuene also him next : among is angeles echone, Line 30 & alle þ^t nouþe late come, : seþþe our louerd aliȝte & oure flesch haþ her Inome, : ihered beo is miȝte! þulke þ^t bifore ous come, : wen hi þen deþ founde, þenne hi were anon icast : In to helle gronde, Nere hi so holi ne so good, : þer nas vorbore non: Line 35 þerfore hem longede more : after our lord echon. þe prophetes þ^t were so gode : & so holi alle, þ^t of oure lord vnderstode : wat it scholde bifalle, Hi wusten þ^t he wolde come, : ac hi nuste wanne; þe tyme hem þoȝte longe Inouȝ, : ech vnche hem þoȝte a sponne. Line 40 Hi gradden after him wel ofte : In here prophecie & In þe bokes þ^t hi write, : þ^t he scholde hie. God ȝeue, quaþ on of hem, : þ^t heuene borste atwo, þ^t he miȝte liȝte adoun : to sauy ous so. Somdel hem longede þo, : wen hi nolde abide, Line 45 þ^t heuene cloue ofte atwo : to sauy eiþer side; Ac he scholde al to berste : & oure lord falle adoun. Ac he hiede noȝt so bliue, : he com softe al isoun; [Ms. heiede, mit unterpungirtem e.] Miȝte hi him habbe ihent : faste bi þe croune, [Ms. halbe statt habbe; bb ist im Ms. stets lb geschrieben.] Hi him wolde narwe habbe iwent, : ac he hem huld þer doune. Line 50 Parde ȝut ne com he noȝt, : nere hem no so wo; Hi þe grond of helle soȝte, : ar he com hem to. S. dauyd after his anuy : after him he gradde þus: [s mit einem Häkchen darüber = seint ist stets durch s. bezeichnet.] Louerd In heuene, to ous abowe : & liȝte to ous! Scewe ous of þin holi face, : & we worþeþ hol anon. Line 55 Him longede ek after is face : þe holi symeon, & alle blisse him was bynome, : & ofte gradde bifore: [nach ofte fehlt e oder he.] Louerd, wanne woltou come? : wenne woltou be ibore? Wene ȝe i^c mowe dure? : wene ȝe i^c mowe ise?

Here mone was deol to ihure, : ne gamede hem no gle; Line 60 Ac he ne mened hem noȝt : aȝen oþer bifore, [hem st. him.] Vor he nas noȝt to deþe ibroȝt, : ar god were ibore; Ac he lyuede, vorte he him isei : & in armes nom, [Ms. iseie u. inome mit unterpungirtem e.] þo he acandelmasse dai : to þe temple com. Louerd, wel may ous beo : bet, þen hem miȝte þo, Line 65 þ^t miȝte nowar fleo : ac to helle scholde go. þer oure lord sede, : þo he was ibore, [þer st. þerfore.] þ^t we miȝte beo wel glad : ouer oþer þ^t were bifore. þe prophetes wilnede uorte se : & mony kynges also, þ^t we iseeþ, ȝif it miȝte be, : ac hi ne miȝte noȝt do; Line 70 We mowe nou as it were : for noȝt to heuene come, Seþþe our lord ous haþ iboȝt : & þe deueles power bynome; Ac hi þ^t such grace nadde, : þ^t to fore ous come, After oure lord hi gradde : In prophecie ilome; After him hi gradde : wiþ grete wille & longe, Line 75 No mendement hi ne seie : bote þe pine stronge. So longe þ^t hi weri were : & lete al beo stille, & here aredinge forbere : & turnde to godes wille, [aredinge, st. gredinge verschrieben?] Vor hi ne seie non oþer won : as ose seieþ uor sore,

Vche of hem to reste drouȝ : & ne speke of him nammore: Line 80 þ^t swete bern our kunde : boþe of flesch & felle. [Nach kunde fehlt wol nam.] Of þe kunde of wan we come : somwat i^c mot telle. [we come fälschlich st. he com.] A good mon þ^t me clupede isacar : was bi olde dawe In bedlehem, þ^t doȝtren hadde two : In þe olde lawe: þ^t on was s. anne, : þ^t ber our leuedi marie, Line 85 þ^t oþer elizabethes moder, : þ^t het Ismarie; Elisabhet bar of hire : s. Jon þe baptist, & marie, anne doȝter, : bar our lord ihū crist. A good mon þer was In galilee, : me clepede ioachym, Scephurde he was & holi mon, : gode grace was wiþ him. [gode st. godes.] Line 90

Line 90 þo he was of twenti ȝer, : s. anne he nom to wyue. þer nas couple In ierlm : of so clene lyue. Boþe hi doutede oure lord, : hi delde here good aþre Vche ȝer, al þ^t hi hadde, : þ^t ech man miȝte ise: þ^t o del hi ȝeue to þe temple, : to hem þ^t seruede þer Inne, Line 95 As we ȝeueþ oure teþinge : of þ^t we mowe awynne; þ^t oþer del hi ȝeue to pouere men : & weiueringe also; Hem silue hi lyuede bi þe þridde : godes seruise to do. þer nere none men In ierlm : þ^t so muche good hadde, As ioachim & his wif, : vor triwenesse þ^t hi ladde. Line 100 Vor hose doþ wel his teþinge : nouþe & eke þo, His good wole þe betere wexe : nouþe & euer mo. Joachim & anne is wif : to gadere hor lif ladde In clene spoushod twenti ȝer, : & no child hi nadde. Aschamed þer of hi were sore, : for hem þoȝte þ^t hi were Line 105 Vor ȝete of god to fore alle oþer, : vor no child hi ne bere. Hi bihete god, ȝif þ^t he wolde : eny child hem sende, [folio 210] To godes seruice oblege hi wolde : þ^t child wiþþouten ende. Vche ȝer also ioachim : to þe temple wende þre siþe, to stable his biheste, : ȝif god him eny sende; [Nach eny fehlt child.] Line 110 & offrede largeliche : of þing þ^t he hadde, ffor schame & for sorynesse : þ^t hi no child nadde. þo hi hadde twenti ȝer : hor lif ilad so, Joachim offrede to þe temple, : as he was iwoned to do. þe prest þ^t þe temple wuste : pulte him abac anon Line 115 & sede þ^t he werþi nas : a mong godemen to gon, & oure lord him scewede wel, : wen he ne þolede noȝt [Nach & fehlt þat.] þ^t eny child as of oþer men : were of him ibroȝt. Joachim was so sore of schamed : þ^t he wende out anon, ffor schame among oþer men : In þe temple he nolde gon. Line 120 Wiþ is scip he wende in to anoþer lond : wepinge wel sore. He ne þoȝte to þe temple come : ne to anne is wif nammore. Wiþ scephurdes þer he was : In sorwe monþes fiue, He ne hurde noȝt of is frendes : ne of anne is wyue. An angel com adoun to him : & bad him be wel bliþe, Line 125

Line 125 & sede our lord him wolde sende : þ^t he wilnede ofte siþe, þ^t anne scholde a doȝter bere : & of him be biȝite, To blisse of al þe world, : as þe prophetes hadde iwrite. In toknynge he bad him go hom, : ȝif he ileue nolde, At þe guldene ȝate his wif : he mete scholde. Line 130 Joachim ne leuede it noȝt, : uor longe childles hi were, Ac hamward he wende naþeles, : he ne dorste elles for fere. Gret deol made his wif vor him, : no womman miȝte more. As heo was in morninge adai : wepinge wel sore & gan to wringe hire honde: : swete lord, heo sede, Line 135 Eche þing þ^u ȝeuest Joie : & eche þing of blede, Me one þ^u makes Joie les, : Ine seo non oþer so; Me wondreþ ȝif i^c dorste segge : wi þ^u þenchest so do, [Ms. þencheste mit unterpungirtem e.] Wen þ^u children hast me bynome, : & me eke hast bynome Myn hosebonde þ^t is my Joie, : Inot war he is bicome. Line 140 þo com þus an angel to hire; : doute þe noȝt! he sede, Icham þe angel þ^t habbe ibore : bifore god þi godhede; A douȝter þ^u schalt her bere : al bi godes rede, Marie schal hire name beo, : þ^t holi lif schal lede; Of hire schal wondri al þe world : & þoru hire isaued beo; Line 145 þ^t child þ^u schalt bityme bere : & þ^t soþe iseo; Aȝen þin hosebonde þ^u go; : to voluelle þi bone, Ate guldene ȝate þ^u schalt him mete, : ne come þ^u so sone. Anne ne leuede noȝt þis, : ac naþeles uorþ heo wende Vorte Imete hire hosebonde, : as þe angel hire kende. Line 150 Joachim & anne is wif : sone to gadere hem mette Ate guldene ȝate wiþ grete Joie, : as þe angel hem sette. Hi clupte & custe wiþ Joie Inou; : þe bet hi leuede þo, Vor hope of þis holi child, : hamward hi gonne go. Anne seþþe wiþ childe was, : & seþþe wiþ riȝte kunde Line 155 Bar þ^t swete holi bern : þ^t euer worþ In munde, Marie, þ^t ous haþ isaued : þ^t erore were ilore. þe eiȝteþe dai of septembre : þ^t swete child was ibore.

In ierlm heo was ibore : In hire fader house iwis Biside þe ȝate of iosaphat, : þ^t nouþe an abbei is Line 160 In honourance of s. anne : of blake nonnerie, In þe stude þer heo was bore : þe swete maide marie. Holi chirche nuste noȝt : wuch dai heo was ibore, Ar nou late þoru myracle : þ^t god dude þeruore. A good mon nou late eche ȝer : gret Joie in heuene isay Line 165 ffram ȝere to ȝere In septembre, : as falleþ our leuedi day. Our lord he bad ententifliche : sum tokene him sende þere, Wi more Joie were In heuene þo : þen in oþer time were. Angeles sede þ^t for our leuedi : ibore was þulke dai, [þat for wol st. for þat.] & of hire burtime was al þ^t ioie : þ^t he In heuene isai; Line 170 & bad warny holi churche : & men on erþe also þ^t hi made feste of þulke dai, : as he sei in heuene do. Hire burtime holi chirche : wuste In þisse manere. Telle we of hire lif, : þ^t heo ladde anerþe here! Anon as heo was þre ȝer old, : as it vel in þe lawe, Line 175 I offred heo was to þe temple, : as it vel bi olde dawe, þo heo bileuede hire moder breste : & ne sek namore. þo heo to þe temple com, : me miȝte ise godes ore: Vor þer were viftene de gres : bifore þe heie auter In þe honur of þe viftene saumes : þ^t beþ In þe sauter; Line 180 þis maide clamb ech after oþer, : vorte heo com vp an hei, As heo were of gret elde, : ne com nomon hire nei; Heo ne lokede after no moder, : þo heo vpard stei. Gret Joie hadde ech man : of hire þ^t hit isei. Chastete heo bihet, : ȝif godes wille it were. Line 185 Wiþ oþer maidens In þe temple : heo was iset to lere. So vair heo was & queynte : of witte & of dede, þ^t ech mon of such ȝong þing : wondrede & were in drede. Heo nas neuer iseie wroþ : ne enes liȝynge gon Ne no misword enes segge, : bote euer heo was In on. [folio 211] Line 190 Heo sewede & span & waf : boþe wollone & lynne, Heo hadde lute erliche good, bote as heo miȝte wynne, [Ms. erliche st. erþliche, wie häufig im Ms.] Eche werkedai bi riȝte tyme : þen dai heo delde a þre:

Eche day vorte vnderne : In bedes heo wolde beo, ffram vnderne to mydouernon : to werke heo wolde sitte, Line 195 To spinne oþer to sewe, : heo was of gode witte; In hire beden heo wolde þenne beo : vorte eue wel softe. To hire angeles come al day : & confortede hire wel ofte. Wen heo hurde of sikemen, : sone to hem heo wende & confortede & helde hem : þoru grace þ^t god hire sende. Line 200 In hire childhod hit was : þ^t i^c ȝou habbe itold. ffor ech godnesse myd hire was : boþe ȝong & old. þo heo was fourtene ȝer old, : þe biscop of þe lawe Het ech maide of þulke elde : to hore contreie drawe, To take hosebondes as þe lawe was; : þe maidens were vawe Line 205 Of þulke heste, bote marie : ne likede noȝt þe sawe; þo heo wiþ oþer was ihote go : hosebonde to take, Heo sede : þ^t þe lawe wole, : nele i^c noȝt vorsake; Mi fader & my moder made biheste, : ar i^c were biȝute, þ^t i^c scholde in godes seruise : my maidenhod wute; Line 210 I^c my sulf, þo i^c was child, : bihet our lord al one To lede my lif in chastete : wiþþoute mannes mone; þerfore i^c ȝou segge to soþe : al myne wille: Nei man ne schal i^c neuer come : my maidenhod to spille. þe biscop & þe oþer maistres, : þ^t In þe temple were, Line 215 Gret conseil nome of þis word : & were in gret fere, Vor þe lawe wolde þ^t noman : aȝen suche biheste scholde beo, & þe lawe wolde þ^t no womman : vn spoused me scholde iseo. Gret conseil þer of hi nome : fram daie to dai in þe ȝere In orisoun to bidde our lord, : som toknynge to sende hem þere. Line 220 þo com a uois to hem & sede: : þencheþ in isaie! þ^t maide ches hire spouse : þoru his prophecie. Nou sede isaye : þ^t þer scholde springe A ȝerde of Jessees more : of dauid þe kynge, & aflour scholde springe : of þulke more also, Line 225 & þer vppe aliȝte þe holi gost : & come so þerto. Her þoru þis men wuste : hou hi scholde on take. Of dauies kunde he het eche man, : þ^t was wiþþoute make

& of elde to habbe wif, : þ^t ech of hem bere A ȝerde to þe auter, : þ^t non vorbore nere; Line 230 & wuche ȝerde bigonne to blowe : & a coluere þer vppe ibroȝt, þ^t he tok maric to spouse, : þ^t it nere bileued noȝt. þe biscop was þo glad Inouȝ, : he let crie þere Al þ^t were of dauies kunde : aȝerde to þe auter bere. þo hi were to þe auter icome, : ech hadde a ȝerde an honde. Line 235 þer was Josep an old mon, : þ^t bihynde alle gan stonde. Aȝenes wille he þuder com, : he ne dorste elles vor fere; His ȝerde he hudde, þo oþer men : hore to þe auter bere. þer nas non þ^t gan to blowe, : ac iosep hi vnderȝete þ^t he hadde is ȝerde ihud; : hi gonne anon to þrete; Line 240 Hi made him bere uorþ is ȝerd, : hit ne moste non oþer beo; þo he to þe auter com, : me miȝte miracle iseo: His ȝerde bigan to blowe anon, : þ^t raþer was old & bar, Anoueward sat acoluere; : fair miracle was þar: Vpe þe ȝerde longe heo sat, : & seþþe þ^t folc isei: Line 245 Heo flei in to al þe temple : & seþþe in to heuene an hei. þer nas non þ^t þis isei, : þ^t sore adrad nas. Ac Joseph þe oldeman : swiþe sori was; þo me lokede him þe maide, : a schamed he was sore. Lokeþ, he sede, my feblesse : & habbeþ of me milce & ore! Line 250 Nam i^c old & cke feble? : my miȝte is me bynome; Heo is ȝong & sunne it is : make ous to gadere come. Nym ȝeme, quaþ þe biscop, : þ^t þ^u þi sulf ne aspille, As dude datan & abiron, : vor hi were aȝen godes wille. þo was Joseph sore adrad, : he ne dorste wiþsegge namore Line 255 Vor drede of oure lordes heste; : he gan to sike sore. Inele noȝt god misdo; : wenne it mot be so nede, Ichulle hire wedde, ac heo ne schal : for me hire maidenhod scede; Ichulle hire wite as hire wardeyn, : oþer ne mai i^c noȝt, þ^t my sone hire wedde after me, : þ^t hire kunde be uorþ ibroȝt. [Ms. kude st. kunde.] Line 260 Vor þe lawe was: wen man ne miȝte : biȝute child bi is wyue, þ^t is nexte kun scholde : hire wedde after is lyue, & ech after oþer, vorte sun child : of þe blode come; [Ms. sun st. sum.] Hoso non wonne, vnwerþi was, : as it verde ilome.

Joseph wedde in þis entente : þis clene maide þere. [wedde st. weddede.] Line 265 Ac for oþer þing our lord nolde : þ^t heo iwedded nere: þ^t is moder nere isclaundred : þ^t heo vnwedded wiþ childe were, Ne þ^t þe deuel it vnderȝete : þ^t a maide child bere; Vor þer bi he wolde habbe iwust : þ^t it were godes sone, [Hinter sone ist von späterer Hand þere, hinter 271 sone zugefügt, offenbar um den irrthümlich ver|missten Reim zu ergänzen.] & habbe destourbed in alle þing : of his passione; Line 270 & god wolde ek, þ^t is moder : were in eche god hod; [Ms. goohod st. godhod.] Of wymmen þre þer beþ : þe hexte is maiden hod, þe oþer hexte is widewehod, : spoushod þe þridde is. [folio 212] Alle þre þe maide hadde : þ^t bar oure lord crist: Heo was maide widewe & wif; : hoso nys non of þis þre, Line 275 Bote heo come to amendement, : non hope ne mai of hire be. Ac naþeles þer wiþþoute : me mai ifynde some, Ac, ȝif god wole, hi mowe amende, : ar hi to deþe come. [Hier schliesst Ms. Ashmol. 43 ab; das Uebrige findet sich allein in Ms. Egerton 1993.]

B. Egerton 1993.

Of ioie and blisse is now mi þouȝt, . care to bi leue, [folio 27] Vor te herien him among . þat al oure sor schal reue. ffor icome he is þe swete þeng, . þe swete honi drope, Jhs king of alle þing, . to wham is al oure hope; I come he is oure swete broþer; . whar was he so longe? Line 5 He it is and non oþer, . þat bouȝte vs vrom pine stronge. Oure broþer we mowen him clepe, . so seiþ him self ilome. So ne miȝten heo neuer adel . þat bi foren vs come. Vor he nas here broþer nouȝt, . ar he oure vlessch nome, þer wiþ he haþ vs dere abouȝt . to maken vs i some. Line 10 I some nere hi nouȝt to fore, . angles and oure kuinde, Ar swete ihs were ibore, . þat seldene is in oure muinde. Ac now he haþ oure vlesch inome, . and oure broþer is; Oure kuinde is wel heiȝ bicome . among alle oþere iwis. Vor he is al oure kunde next . saue his god hede, [is ist übergeschrieben.] Line 15 And aboute is trone men worþ next, . so noble is monhede! Angles ne worþ him nout so neiȝ, . vor he nis heore broþer nouȝt, And oure kuinde is eke so heiȝ, . vor he haþ vs deore abouȝt, Vor angles ne bouȝte he nouȝt, . we beþ þer fore him þe ner; Whan he vs haþ so dere abouȝt, . wel auȝte we louen him her. Line 20 Angel nas neuer mo . bote as his messager; How miȝte hit þanne go . þ^t angel were oure broþer her? And in heuene heo schulen also, . whan þ^t heo beþ þere, Oure heste and oure wille do, . oure hinen as hit were, And to oure heste seruen vs . to fote and to honde; Line 25 Vor oure we mowen hem holden þus, . who so wole vnderstonde:

Ne mowe þenne glade be . vorto habben such hine? [we fehlt hinter mowe.] þe soþe we mowe now iseo, . whose siþ al þe fine, þat we beþ alre kuinde hext, . wiþ oute oure lord one, And in heuene al so him next . among his angles echone, Line 30 And alle þat now late come, . seþþe oure lord aliȝte And oure vlesch haþ here inome, . ihered beo is miȝte! And hi þat bi fore were, . whan hy þe deþ afonge, þanne heo were forþ inome . in to helle grounde; Nere neuer so holi ne so god, . þer nas for bore non: Line 35 þer fore heo longeden in here mod . after oure lord echon. þe prophetes þ^t were so gode . and so holi men alle, þat of oure lord vnderstode . how hit scholde bi falle, Heo wusten wel þat he wolde come, . ac heo nusten whanne; þe time hem þouȝte swiþe long, . vnche hem þouȝte aspanne. [vch fehlt vor vnche.] Line 40 Heo gradden after him wel ofte . in here prophecie And in here bokes þat heo wrouȝten, . vor he scholde hiȝe. God ȝeue, quaþ on of hem, . þat heuene borste ato, þat he miȝte liȝte adoun anon . and vs sauie so. Somdel hem longede þo, . whan he ne miȝte abide, Line 45 þat heuene cleue softe ato . to sauen eiþer side. [hat Ms. Ash. 43 vier Verse, die hier fehlen.]

Par di ȝet ne cam he nouȝt, . nere him neuer so wo, Ar he hedde þe ground of helle souȝt, . he & oþer mo. Sein dauid ek in his anuy . after him gradde þus: Lord, þin heuene abowe adoun . and aliȝt to vs, [Am Rande ist nebengeschrieben: D(omi)ne inclina celos tuos et ostende fac(iem) t(uam) et salui erimus.] Line 50 And schew vs þin holi face, . & we worþ sauf anon! Him longede ek after his grace . þe olde symeon, Vor al oþer blisse him was binome, . & ofte he gradde bifore: Lord, whanne wol he come? . whann wol he be bore? [Ms. wan statt wanne.] Weneste þat ich mowe dure? . weneste þat i^c mowe iseo? Line 55

Line 55 Heore mone hit was deol to here, . hem gladede no gleo; Ac he menede him for nouȝt . aȝen oþere bifore, Vor he nas nouȝt to deþe ibrouȝt, . ar god were ibore, Ac liuede, forte he him say . & in his armes nom, [de in liuede übergeschrieben.] þo he acondel masse day . to þe temple com. Line 60 Lorrd, wel may vs bet now, . þan hem miȝte þo, [Ms. lorrd st. lord; vor bet fehlt beo.] þat ne miȝte nouȝt so fle, . þ^t he ne moste to helle go. þer fore oure lord him selue seide, . þo he was on erþe ibore, þ^t we miȝten beo glade & lute dede (!) . þen heo þ^t weren bifore. þat prophetus wilneden to seo . and mankuinde al so, Line 65 þat we seþ now, ȝif hit miȝte be, . ac heo miȝten hit noȝt do; Vor we mowen as it were for nouȝt . anon to heuene come, Suþþe oure lord vs haþ i bouȝt . & þe deoles power binome; Ac heo þat such grace nadden, . þat biforen vs come, After oure lowde (!) gradden . in here prophecie ilome; [Ms. lowde st. lorde, oder es fehlt lorde nach lowde.] Line 70 Hoe gradden after him so heiȝe . wiþ grete wille and longe, [hoe st. heo, wie v. 626.] And non amendement ne seiȝe . bote þe pine of helle stronge. So longe þat heo weren weri . & leten al be stille, And of greding for bere . and toke al godes wille, Vor heo ne seiȝe non oþer won, . þeiȝ hem þouȝte longe; [Von þeiȝ bis inowȝ 77 fehlt in Ash. 43.] Line 75 Oure lord lette heo (!) wille ago, . ar he wolde oure vlesch avonge. [lette aus hette corrigirt; Ms. heo st. heom.] And þo heo weren weri inowȝ . as whose seiþ for sore, Euer vch to reste drow . & speken of him namore. þat swete bern oure kuinde nam . in vlesch & in velle. Of þe kunde of wham he com . somwat imot telle. Line 80 A god mon þat het Isacar . was bi olde dawe In bedleem, þat douȝtren to . hadde bi olde lawe: þe on was anne, þ^t ber . oure ledi seinte Marie, þe oþer þat was sein Jones moder, . þ^t al so marie; [Statt was ist jedenfalls ber zu lesen; hinter al so fehlt het.] And elisabet ber of hire . sein Jon þe baptist, Line 85 And marie, anne douȝter, . ber oure lord ihū crist. A god mon þat was in galilee, . iclepud Joachim, A schepherde was and holi mon, . & godes grace was wiþ him.

þo he was of twenti winter, . seint anne he nom to wiue. [folio 28] þer nas couple in isrl . of so clene liue. [isrl Abbrv. st. Israel.] Line 90 Boþe heo douteden ihū crist, . here god heo deleden a þreo Vche ȝer, al þat heo hadden, . þat ech mon miȝte iseo. þat o del heo ȝaf to þe temple, . þat serueden þer inne, As we ȝeueþ now oure teuþinge . of þat we mowe winne; þat oþer del heo ȝaf pore men . and wey uerinde al so; Line 95 Hem self he liueden bi þe þridde . godes seruise to do. þer fore nomon of isrl . þat so muche of orf hedde, [Vor nomon fehlt nas.] As Joachim and his wif, . for þe gode lif þat heo ladden. Vor whose deþ is teþinge wel . loke now and þo, His god wol þe bctere waxe . and schal euer mo. Line 100 Joachim and anne is wif . to gadere here lif ladde In clene spoushod twenti ȝer, . and nochild heo nadde. Of schamed heo weren þerof sore, . vor hem þouȝten þat heo were [Ms. þouȝtē mit überflüssigem n.] Vorȝete of god bi fore alle oþere, . vor heo no child ne bere. Heo bi heten god, ȝif þat he wolde . eni child hem sende, Line 105 To godes seruise to oblegi . þat child wiþ outen ende. Ech ȝer also Joachim . to þe temple wende þreo siþe, to stablen his bi heste, . ȝif god him eni child sende; And offrede largeliche . of þing þat he hadde, Vor schame & eke for sorinesse . þat he no child nadde. Line 110 þo heo hadden twenti ȝer . ilad here lif so, Joachim offrede to þe temple, . as he was woned to do. þe preost þat þe temple wuste . pulte him abak anon And seide þat he vn wurþe was . among gode men to gon, And seide þ^t oure lord hit schewede wel, . whan he ne þolede nouȝt Line 115 þat eni child as of oþer was . of hem were forþ ibrouȝt. Joachim was so sore aschomed . þat he wende out anon, Vor schame among oþer men . in þe temple he nolde gon. Wiþ his schep he wende in to anoþer lond . wepinde wel sore. He ne þouȝte in þe temple come . ne to anne is wif na more. Line 120 Wiþ oþere schep herdes þer he was . in deol monþes fiue, þat he ne herde word of is frend . ne of anne is wiue. An angel com adoun to him . and bad hem be liþe, [hem st. him.]

And seide oure lord him wolde sende . þ^t he wilnede ofte siþe, And þat he scholde habbe a douȝter . of him bi ȝite, Line 125 To ioie and blisse of alle þe world, . as þe prophetes hadden iwrite. In tokninge þerof he bed him gon hom, . ȝif he it leue nolde, [him im Ms. doppelt.] And ate goldene ȝate his wyf . homward he mete scholde. Joachim ne leuede him nouȝt, . vo heo so longe childles were, [vo st. vor, wie v. 361.] Ac hamward he wende naþeles, . he ne dorste elles for fere. Line 130 Gret deol made anne his wif vor him, . ne miȝte no wommon more. As heo was for him in morning . and wep aday wel sore And gan to sike and wringe hire honden: . swete lord, heo sede, Vch þing bote vs þow ȝeuest ioie . and echinge of blede, Vs one þow makest ioieles, . ine seo non oþer so; Line 135 Me wondreþ ȝif i^c dorste sigge . þ^t þ^u wolt þi wille do, Whanne þou children me binimest, . þ^t þow me hast binome Min hosbonde þat is mi ioie, . i not whar he is bicome. þo com þer angel to hire; . ne doute þe nouȝt! he sede, Ich am þe angel þat habbe ibore . bi fore god þi godhede; Line 140 An gode douȝter þou schalt bere . al þorw godes rede, Marie schal hire name beo, . þat holi lif schal lede; Of hire schal wondri al þe world . & þorw hire isaued beo; þat child þow schalt bi time bere . and þat soþe iseo; Aȝe þin hosbonde þow go anon, . and, to folfulle þi bone, Line 145 Ate goldene ȝate þ^u schalt him mete, . ne come þ^u neuer so sone. Anne ne leuede nouȝt wel þis, . ac naþeles forþ heo wende Vorte meten hire hosbonde, . as þe angel hire sende. [a. R.: Portam auream.] Joachim and anne his wif . to gadere sone hem mette Ate guldene ȝate wiþ gret ioie, . as þe angel hem sette. Line 150 Heo clupten and custen wiþ ioie inow; . þe bet heo loueden þo [loueden st. leueden.] Vor to habben þis holi child, . hammard heo gonnen go. Anne seþþe wiþ childe, . and þorw riȝte kunde [Die Verse 153-273 finden sich als eigenes Gedicht auch in Ms. Bodl. 779, fol. 271 b, in dem dem Ms. vorangehenden Inhaltsverzeichnisse angegeben als Seint Anne oure lady moder.] [fehlt was hinter childe,] Ber seþþe þe sweete bern . þat euer worþ in muinde, Marie, þat vs haþ isaued . þat er were for lore. Line 155 þeiȝteþe day of septembre . þe child was ibore.

In ierlm heo was ibore . in hire fader house iwis Bi side þe ȝate of iosaphat, . þer an abbey now is In þe honour of oure ledi, . a blak nonnerie, [Statt of oure ledi lesen Ash. 43 u. Bodl. 779 of s. anne.] In þe stude þ^t heo was ibore . þe swete maide marie. Line 160 Holi chirche nuste nouȝt . whuc day heo was ibore, Ar now late þorw miracle . þat god dude fore. A god mon now late euer vch ȝer . gret ioie in heuene say Vrom ȝere to ȝere in septembre, . as valleþ oure ledi day. Oure lord he bad ententifliche . som tokne him sende þere, Line 165 Whi more ioie in heuene þo . þan in oþer time were. An angel him seide þat oure ledi . was ibore þulke day, And of hire burþtime was al þe ioie . þ^t he in heuene isay; And bad him warne holichurche . þat men on erþe al so Maden feste of þulke day, . as he say in heuene do. Line 170 Hire burþtime al holichirche . wusten on þis manere. Telle we now of hire lif, . þat heo ladde on erþe here! Anon þo heo was þreo ȝer old, . as hit fel in þe lawe, Offred to þe temple heo was, . as me vsede bi olde dawe, þo heo bi leuede hire moder breste, . þ^t heo ne sek na more. Line 175 And þo heo to þe temple com, . me miȝte iseo godes ore: Vor þer were viftene degres . imad bifore þe auter [folio 29] In þe honuraunce of viftene salmes . þat beþ in þe sauter; þis maide clomb vch after oþer, . vor te heo come an heiȝ, As heo were of gret elde, . ne com hire no mon neiȝ; Line 180 Heo ne bi heold after fader ne moder, . þo heo vppard steiȝ. Gret wonder hadde vch mon of hire . þat þis þing iseiȝ. Chastite heo bihet al bi hire lif, . ȝif hit godes wille were. Mid oþer maidnes in þe temple . heo was forto lere. So renable heo was and queinte . of wit & of dede, Line 185 þat vch mon of a so ȝong þing . wonder hedde and drede. Heo nas neuer iseiȝe wroþ . ne enes liȝynge gon Ne onus word sigge to man, . bote euer more in on. Heo sewede and span and wafȝ . boþe wollene and lynne, Heo hedde oþer lutel erþliche god . hire mete to winne. Line 190 Vche werke day bi riȝt time . þe day heo delede aþreo: [Ms. b riȝt st. bi riȝt.]

Ech morwe forto vnderne . in hire bedes wolde beo, [heo fehlt vor wolde.] Vrom vnderne to midouernon . to hire werke sitte, Spinne oþer sewe oþer weue, . he was gode witte; [of fehlt nach was.] In hire bedes þanne heo wolde . vort eue beo wel softe. Line 195 To hire an angel com alday . and confortede ofte. [hire fehlt vor ofte.] Whan heo herde of sike men, . to hem sone heo wende And confortede & helede hem sone . þorw grace þat god hire sende. In hire child hod al þis was . þat ichabbe of itold. Vor alle godne(sse) wiþ hire was . boþe ȝong and old. [Ms. godne st. godnesse.] Line 200 þo heo was of fortene ȝer old, . þe bisschop of þe lawe Het vche maide of þulke elde . to hire contreie drawe, To take hosbonde as lawe was; . þe maidnes were alle fawe Of þe heste, bote marie, . hire likede noȝt þe sawe; þo heo was ihote vorþ . hosbonde wiþ oþere to take: Line 205 Sire, heo seide, þat lawe wole, . inul nowt for sake; [Vor lawe fehlt þe.] Ac mi fader and mi moder . bi hete for me, ar i^c were biȝete, þat ischolde in godes seruise . mi maidenhod wite; And mi seluen ek, þo ich was child, . bi het oure lord al one To libbe mi lif in chastite . wiþ oute mannes mone; Line 210 þer fore isigge ow to soþe . þat þis is mi wille: Neiȝ mon nulle i^c neuer come . mi maiden hod to spille. þe bischop and alle þe oþer maistres, . þ^t of þe temple were, Gret conseil nomen of þis word . and weren in grete fere, Vor þe bok wolde þat no mon . aȝen such bi heste scholde be, Line 215 And þat þe lawe wolde þat no wommon . from spoushod scholde vle. Gret conseil þer of heo nomen, . from daiȝe to daiȝe were [and fehlt vor from.] In bedes to bidde ihū crist . som tokninge hem sende þere. þo com þer avois and bad hem . þenchen on Isaye, And þat maide spouse chese . þorw his prophecie. Line 220 Now seide Isaye . þat þer scholde springe A ȝerde of Jessees more . and of dauid þe kinge, And a flour scholde vp teo . of þilke more also, And þer vpe þe holi gost . come aliȝte þer to. Her þorw þis men wuste . how heo scholden on take. Line 225 Of dauiþes kunne he het vche man, . þ^t were wiþ oute make

And elde to habbe wif, . þat vch of hem bere [of fehlt vor elde.] A bar ȝerde to þe auter, . þ^t non vor bore nere; And whos ȝerde bigonne to blowe . & a coluere þer on ibrouȝt, þat he toke marie to spouse, . þ^t hit nere bi leued nouȝt. Line 230 þe bischop was þo glad inow, . he let crie þere þat alle þat were of dauiþes kunne . aȝerde to þauter bere. þo heo weren alle to gadere, . & vch hedde aȝerde an honde: þer was iosep an old mon, . þat bi hinde alle gan stonde. Aȝen his wille þider he com, . he ne dorste elles for fere; Line 235 His ȝerde he hudde, þo his felaws . here ȝerden to þe auter bere. þo þer nas non þat gan to blowe, . and iosep heo vnder ȝite þat hedde is ȝerde so ihudde, . heo gonnen him to þrete; Heo maden him bere is ȝerde forþ, . he ne moste vor bore beo; þo he to þe auter com, . me miȝte miracle iseo: Line 240 His ȝerde bigan to blowe faire, . þat bar was and old er, And anowarde sat awhit coluere; . gret miracle was þer: Vpe ȝerde longe heo sat, . and seþþe þat volk isaiȝ [þe fehlt vor ȝerde.] þat heo vleiȝ into þe temple aboute . & seþþe to heuene anheiȝ. þer nas non þat þis seiȝ, . þat sore adrad nas. Line 245 Ac iosep þe olde mon is his half . þer fore sori was; þat me lokede him to wedde þat maide, . of schamed he was sore. Lokeþ, he seide, mi feblesse . and habbeþ of me milse and ore! Nam ich old wiþ manie children? . mi miȝten beþ me bi nome, And heo is ȝong, & sunne hit is . to maken vs to gedere come. Line 250 Nim ȝeme, iosep! quaþ þe bischop, . þat þow þi self ne aspille, As datan dude and abiron . þat weren aȝe godes wille. þo was iosep sore adrad, . he ne dorste wiþ sigge na more Vor drede of oure lordes wreche; . he gan to sike sore. I nul noȝt, he seide, god misdo; . ac, whan hit mot so nede, Line 255 Ichul hire wedde, ac heo ne schal . hire maidenhod for me schede; Ichul hire witen and hire warden, . oþer ne mai it be nouȝt, þat mi sone mai hire wedde after me, . þ^t oure kuinde be forþ ibrouȝt. Vor þe lawe was þo : whan amon ne miȝte . biȝete child bi is wiue, þat is nexte kun hire wedde scholde . anon after is liue, Line 260 And vch after oþer, vorte som child . of þe blode come; Whose no child no wonne, vn wurþe was, . as hit fel ofte ilome.

Josep weddede in þis entente . þis clene maide þere. Ac for oþer þing oure lord wolde . þat heo wedded were: þat is moder isclaundred nere . wiþ childe vnwedded were, [Vor wiþ childe fehlt þat heo.] [folio 30] Line 265 Ne þat þe deuel it vnder ȝite . þat amaide achild bere; Vor, ȝif he it wuste, e wolde wite . þat hit were godes sone, And habbe destourbed al þe dede . of his swete passione; And oure lord wolde ek þat is moder . were in eche god hod Of wommon, þat þreo beþ: . þe hexte is maiden hod, Line 270 þat oþer hexte is widue hod, . spoushod is þe þridde: Alle þe þreo þat maiden hadde, . þat swiþe wel bi tidde: Heo was maide, wif, and widue; . whose nis non of þe þreo, Bote heo comen to amendement, . of hiren ne may he nouȝt beo. Ac naþeles al þer wiþ oute . me may ȝet finde some, Line 275 Ac, ȝif god wole, heo amendeþ hem, . ar heo to deþe come. Bi eroudes day þe king . aprest was of god lif, [A. R.: Fuit in diebus herodes rex; s. Luc. 1, 5.] þat Zakarie was ihote, . and elisabeþ is wif; Boþe heo weren god inow . and inelde weren igon And oure lordes heste douteden, . ac child nadden heo non. Line 280 þo scholde vch prest after oþer, . as hit fel in þe lawe, Vrom saterday to saterday . aboute þe weued drawe And serue þat weued al þe wike . and al þe wike be clene, Ne from þe weued come nouȝt, . ne seon is wif nouȝt ene. So it bifel þat Zakarie, . as it aboute com, Line 285 His prestes wike scholde beo. . holi ensense e nom And þer wiþ wende into þe temple . and þ^t weued ensensede aboute; And þat volk stode in orisons . and in here bedes wiþ oute. In þe riȝt half of þe weued . an angel þer stod; Zakarie him bihuld . and dradde in his mod. Line 290 Ne dred þe nouȝt! þe angel sede, . (þ)i bone is herd anon: [Ms. ibone st. þi bone.] þiwif schal bere a sone, . þat schal beo cleped Jon; And þow schalt habbe ioie inow, . whan þow it miȝt iseo, And þer schulle of his burþtime . manie glade beo; Bifore oure lord he worþ gret, . he ne schal drinke nouȝt Line 295 Wyn ne sider; ar he beo . of is moder wombe ibrouȝt, He worþ fol of þe holi gost, . and ate nende Manie children of isrl . to oure lord wende.

þanne spak Zakarie: . how miȝte þis bicome? Vor icham old and eke mi wif, . & oure kuinde is bi nome. Line 300 Icham, quaþ þe angel, þulke . þat to þe come in sonde, [u. 2. Die letzten Halbzeilen sind umzustellen.] þe archangel gabriel . þ^t bi fore oure lord deþ stonde; Vor þow nelt nouȝt þis ileue, . þow worþ dombe þer fore, And þi speche þe bi nome, . vorte þe child be bore. þis angel wende forþ anon, . and Zakarie þo Line 305 Bileuede dombe al þilke time . and ne spak wordes na mo. Euere was þe folk wiþ oute . and wondrede in here þouȝt, Vor þat Zakarie was so longe . & ne com among hem nouȝt. þo wende Zakarie out . among þis men echon And made signe what e wolde, . ac he ne spak word non. Line 310 þat volk, vor he was so dombe, . stoden alle in gret eiȝe And wuste wel þat wiþ inne . sum siȝt he hadde iseiȝe. þo his seruise was ido . and is wike ibrouȝt to ende, Al dombe as he was bicome . to is wif he gan wende, And biȝat þat holi bern, . sein Jon þe baptist, Line 315 þat was alre bern best, . wiþ oute ihū crist. þe vifþe day he was biȝete . bifore miȝelmasse riȝt, Euene þe time þat þo was . euene day and niȝt, [Ms. þa st. þe, oder þat wie 535.] Half ȝer bifore þat oure lord . in his moder wombe was aliȝt. þus was sein Jon þe baptist . bi ȝete on gode niȝt. Line 320 And is (fader) bilafte dombe, . vor he nolde þe soþe iwite. [fader fehlt im Ms.] Telle we now forþ of iosep, . as hit is iwrite! þo iosep hadde is wif iwedded, . as hit fel in þe lawe, To ward is owne contre . to bedleem e gan drawe, To purueien him of bruidale, . whanne he hedde wher wiþ, [Zu wher wiþ vgl. 871 whar of.] Line 325 Mid is werk and mid is craft, . vor he was smiȝþ. Into galile to hire frendes . oure swete ledi wende To nazareth, þer heo was bore, . as þe bischop hire sende, [In v. 157 war Jerusalem als Geburtsort bezeichnet; vgl. v. 1103.] Wiþ maidnes of hire elde . þat hire wardeins were. As heo was al one in here bedes . in hire chambre þere, Line 330 I send was þe angel gabriel . vrom god to þe cite, [A. R.: Missus est A(ngelus), s. Luc. 1, 26.]

þat is icleped nazareth, . in þe lond of galilee, To amaide ispoused to amon . wiþ oute vche folie Of dauiþes hous, þat het iosep, . þat maide het marie. þe angel com in to hire chambre . & grette hire faire iwis: Line 335 Hail be þow, fol of grace, . oure lor mid þe is; [lor st. lord; is im Ms. doppelt.] A mong alle wimmen iblessed be þow, he sede. [A. R.: Aue mar(ia).] þo þe maide þis iherde, . heo stod as in drede And of þe angeles word . destourbed was þere, And in gret þouȝte was, . what þis greting were. Line 340 þo nempnede vurst þe angel . hire name: marie, he sede, þow hast ifounde grace of god, . ne haue þow none drede! Vor þow schalt in þine wombe . conceiue wiþ oute blame, And a sone ibore of þe, . þat ihc schal beo is name. [beo fehlt vor ibore.] þis schal muche beo, . & icleped he worþ also Line 345 þe heiȝe godes sone, . & oure lord him wole do And ȝiue him dauiþes sege, . his fader, and neuer mo, And þanne e schal in Jacobs house . regni euer mo, And of is kuinde ne worþ . neuer more non ende. [St. kuinde ist wol kinedom zu lesen.] þanne spak oure ledi furst . to þe angel so hende: Line 350 How miȝte þis ben ido? . vor inot monnes dede, Ne of none monnes mone. . þe angel aȝen sede: þe holi gost schal on þe come . and þe heiȝe godes miȝte, [folio 31] And is vertue schal þe bischadwe . and on þe aliȝte; þis holi þing, þat of þe . worþ ibore so, Line 355 Worþ icleped godes sone; . and elisabeþ lo, þicosine þat is, . haþ now in hire olde liue I conseiued haþ asone, . þat wel schal iþriue; [haþ überflüssig.] And, þat þis child was biȝete, . þe sixte monþe hit is, To hire þat wiþ oute bled . wommon iclepud is. Line 360 þer fo honureþ god in vch word, . for he is wurþe iwis. Marie þonkede faste oure lord . and þo seide þis: Lo me here godes hine! . ido beo hit bi me Riȝt al vpe worde . þat sprong out of þe! Mid þis word þe holi gost . in hire wombe aliȝte, Line 365 And þe angel wende forþ; . ihered beo godes miȝte!

Marie aros vp, . and to þe montaines drow [A. R.: Exurgens maria, s. Luc. 1, 39.] Into acite of Jude . wiþ grete haste inow. Heo wende, þo heo þider com, . in to Zakaries house And faire grette elisabeþ, . Zakaries spouse. Line 370 þo elisabeþ hire herde, . þe child bigan to wawe And made ioie in hire wombe, . as þing þat was fawe. Wel ȝong þis holi bern . sein Jon þe babtist Honurede þat holi maide . and swete ihū crist. [Ms. honureda.] þo bi gon elisabeþ . wiþ heiȝ vois to grede, Line 375 Al fol of þe holi gost, . in þis wordes sede: [in st. an, oder es fehlt and.] Among alle wymmen . iblessed þow art iwis, And þe fruit of þi wombe . iblessed also is. þus made þe aue marie . elisabeþ þe endinge, [of fehlt vor þe.] And þe angel, as ȝe herden er, . made þe bigynnynge. Line 380 Whar fore, quaþ elisabeþ, . to me valleþ hit so þat mi lordes moder . þus comeþ me to? Ano(n) so þe gretinge of þe . in min eren was ido, þis child ioie made . in mi wombe lo. Redi þow art also . þat ileuedest þis, Line 385 Vor alþing worþ ido . þat of god iseid is. þo seide heo an holi saume, . þat maide marie, þat me singeþ at vch euesong, . as in prophecie: [Ms. singey.] Misoule herieþ muche oure lord, . & migost iwis [A. R.: Magnificat.] In god haþ ioie imad . þat min hele is; Line 390 Vor he haþ þe mek hede . biholden of his hine; þer fore lo me here . redi ate fine Siggeþ ech maner kuinde, . vor he me haþ muehe ido, He þat wel miȝti is, . and is name also Holi he is, & his merci . goþ now al aboute Line 395 Vrom kunrede to kunrede . to hem þat wolleþ him doute. In armes gret miȝte he dude, . vor al bineþe he brouȝte And to spradde p(r)oude men . þorw is herte þouȝte; [Ms. poude, aus poure corrigirt, st. proude.] [is st. here?] Miȝti men he haþ . al a doun ido Of here sege, & mekliche men . iheiȝed he haþ also; Line 400

Line 400 Vol of gode he vulde ek . men þat hongri were, And bi leuede riche men . al empti and skere; Isrl he haþ vnderfonge . & is child al so; Of þe milce he vnderstond . þat he hem wole do; As he er bi fore spak . to oure fadres and seide Line 405 To abraham in þis world, . and so vorþ to alhis blede. In þis manere þis ilke saume . þis maide made marie, þat iclepud is Magnificat, . as in prophecie. þis saume is gospel, . þer fore schal vch man, þe while me it singeþ at euesong, . stonde, þ^t ani god can. Line 410 Oure ladi was þreo monþes . wiþ hire cosin þere Vrom seinte Mari day in lente . for to missomer were, And, as in som stude is iwrite, . vorte þat child were ibore: þo ȝeode heo aȝen to hire owne hous, . from wham heo com bifore. Elisabeþ time was ago . þorw wommone wone, [A. R.: Elisabeth impletum est tempus; s. Luc. 1, 57.] Line 415 Was folfulled and ido, . and heo bar a god sone. þer of herde hire neiȝebors . and hire kun also, þat is swete holi milce . oure lord hadde ido; Heo comen and made ioie inow; . and þe aiȝteþe day Heo comen þat child to circumsise, . as hit fel in þe lay; Line 420 Heo nempneden him is fader name . Zakarie anon. Nay nay, quaþ þe moder þo, . he schal hote Jon. þo seide þis oþer men: . how miȝte þat beo ido? Vor no mon in al þis lond . nis ihote so. þo a(s)keden heo is fader . what it scholde hote, [Ms. akeden st. askeden.] Line 425 He tok apenne and parchemin . and þe name wrote: Jon is þe name of him. . þat folk wondreden vchon. Zakaries tonge and is mouþ . opnede þo anon, And he spak and heriede god; . þo was þer gret drede Among alle neiȝebors . vor þis wonder dede, Line 430 And oueral þe montains . of iude hit gan to sprede; And heo þ^t hit iherden alle . in eren hit pulten and sede: What weneste þat þis child beo? . ofte heo seiden þis, þat oure lordes holi hond . mid him was and is. Al fol of þe holi gost . þo spak Zakarie [Ms. folk st. fol.] Line 435 And þis holi salm seide . in his profecie:

J blessed beo oure lord, . & god of isrl also, [A. R.: Benedictus.] Vor he haþ iloke how we ferden, . & or biddinge haþ ido; And he haþ irit vp an heiȝ . þe horn of bon iwis þat to vs in dauiþes hous, . þat is child iboren is; [þat wol st. þer verschrieben.] Line 440 As he haþ er bifore ispeke . þorw holi manne mowþ [folio 32] þat of þe worlde beþ . & in is prophetes mouþ: Hele and bote of oure fon . and of here alre hond also, þat habbeþ ihated vs, . and milce vorto do Mid hem þat oure fadres were, . and of his holi testament Line 445 To vnderstonde in his muinde, . & in his serrement [u. 447 Ist of his serrement — Riȝtwis zu lesen?] Riȝt was þat he swor . to abraham þus, Oure alre fader, þat ewolde . him selue ȝeuen vs, þat we wiþ oute doute . deliuerede echone [were fehlt wol vor echone.] Out of þe hond of oure fon, . to seruen him alone, Line 450 In holinesse bi fore him . and in riȝt al so, Bi echone oure dawes, . vorte oure be ido. [nach oure fehlt lif.] And þow, child, þe prophete . icleped schalt beo Of þe hexte god, . and bi fore is face schalt teo, His weiȝes vor to ȝarki, . lore vorto ȝiue Line 455 Of hele and bote to is volk, . here sunne to vor ȝiue, þorw þe inwarde of is milce . þat oure lord is core, [Ms. in warde.] Warwiþ he lokede how we ferden, . þat of so heiȝe was ibore, Hem þat sitteþ in schadwe of deþ . & in derkhede to liȝte, And into þe wey of parais . oure fet vor to riȝte. Line 460 þus made þis holi salm . þis prest Zakarie, þat bndictus icleped is, . as in prophecie, þat me singeþ at vch ossong, . þat gospel is al; [ossong = euesong, wie 412 u. 641 missomer aus midsomer.] þer fore, þe while me it singeþ, . ech god mon stonde schal; Vor vch song þat me singeþ . in chirche agospel haþ þerto, Line 465 Matines masse and evesong . and complin al so. Bileue now of sein Jon . and of Zakarie, [Nach bileue fehlt we.] And telle we forþ, as we bi gonne, . of iosep and of marie! In his owne contrey in bedleem . niȝe monþes iosep was,

After þat is wif wiþ childe, . he nuste noȝt of þe cas, [was fehlt nach wif.] Line 470 Aboute his mester and his nede, . to winnen him spense þere; In winter he wende to is wif, . as hit fel in þe ȝere. [A. R.: Cum ēet desponsata mater ihū; s. Math. 1, 18.] þo marie, ihs moder, . & iosep spoushod nome, Heo was ifounde hire wombe fol, . ar heo to gadere come. Josep hire hosbonde, . vor he riȝt fol was, Line 475 He nolde hire desclaundre noȝt, . him wondre of þat cas; [wondre st. wondrede.] Bileuen he wolde hire stilleliche, . & also eþouȝte to do; [Vor also fehlt wol as.] Oure lordes angel . in slep cam him to. Josep, dauiþes sone, . do vnderfong, he sede, Marie þine spouse, . ne haue þow none drede! Line 480 Vor of þe holi gost it is . þ^t in hire is iwis; Vor he schal asone bere, . þat ihc icleped is And schal make is owne folk . saf of here misdede, Vor hem þat in pine beþ . his blod he wole schede. A maide schal habbe lo . in hire wombe wel Line 485 And beren asone, þat me clepe schal . his name emanuel. þis word fele hondred ȝer . þe prophete ysaye [Ms. pphete.] Seide, ar god were ibore, . of him in prophecie. Josep aros vp of slep . and in onoþer þouȝte cam And dude, as þe angel hedde iseid, . and is wif to him nam, Line 490 And ne com neiȝ hire nouȝt, . ar heo a sone bar; And clepeden ihc is name, . as þe angel nempnede er. How þat holi child was ibore, . þe gospel seiþ wel riȝt þat me rat ate furste masse . amidwinteres niȝt. Out of cesar august . þer com such aban, [A. R.: Exit edictum a sesare augusto; s. Luc. 2, 1.] [sesar augostus. a soche lym (st. lyn).] Line 495 þat was vrom þe emperour . þat het ottauean: [fram . hyȝt octauyan.] þat al þe middulert . isomned were. [so þat alle þe myddyl erþe: dystroyed (st. dyscryued?) aboute clere (!).]

þo was þe somnes . furst imad þere, [Ms. doppelt somnes : somnes.] [dyscryuyng : furst I maked.] Of sirin þat maister was . in þe lond of sirie. [of syryn þat þo . syrye.] And alle men to here oune cite . bigonne to drawe and hiȝe. [ouen syte . drawyn an hyȝe.] Line 500 Josep eode vrom galilee, . out of þe cite [eode aus hedde cor|rigirt.] [ȝede.] þat is icleped nazareth, . in to þe lond of Jude, [naȝaret.] To þe lond of bedleem, . as king dauid was ibore, [lond st. cite.] [to þe cyte of bethelem . daueþ.] Vor he was of dauiþes hous . & of is meine icore. [daud his.] He wende mid is wif ispoused, . þat wiþ childe was. [he wete w^t marye his wif : I spoused þ^t myd chylde was.] Line 505 So þat þe time was folfulled, . as god ȝaf þe cas, [ful fylde . þat cas.] þat heo scholde hire child bere; . & hire furste sone heo ber, [þo hue chulde chyld bere : & here fyrst sone ȝhe bere.] And biwond him in cloþes, . & adoun leide him þer [hit.] I(n) a schupene, vor þer nas . non oþer stude þere, [Ms. I st. In.] [In cracce for to hym : non oþer stede was lere.] Bote þulke þat men to drowe, . whan hei inles were. [In þylke hous þ^t . . .] Line 510 And in þilke selue kinges lond . schepeherdes þer woke [And fehlt . scheperdis.] Ouer heore bestes al þe niȝt . þat heo hedden to loke. [ouer here orf al þ^t nyȝt : þ^t hy haddyn to loke.] And lo oure lordes angel . bi hem stod bi niȝte, [leo . stodyn by nyȝt.] And þe clernesse of oure lord . abouten he(m) al aliȝte. [he st. hem.] [And fehlt . ouer hem alle.] þo douteden þe schepherdes . & in gret drede weren ibrouȝt. [douted.] Line 515 þo seide þe angel to hem: . ne dredeþ ow riȝt nouȝt! [ne dred ȝe.] Vor lo i^c bringe ou tidinge . grete ioie and blis, [vor grete fehlt of.] [ȝouȝ : newe tydyng : of gret ioye & blisse.] þat schal beo to vch volk, . vor ibore he is iwis [chal ben.] To ow to day, þe saueour, . þat crist lord is, [ouer al lord.] In þe cite of dauid; . and þe tok to ow worþ þis: [Ms. tok st. token.] [In daueþ is cite : & þe syngne to ȝou worþ al þis.] Line 520 Ȝe schulen finde þat ȝonge child . in cloþes iwounde [in cloþis alle.]

And in acracche ileid. . þo was þer in a stounde [Ms. chacche st. cracche.] Sodeineliche wiþ þe angel . agret verrede [sodeynlyche w^t aungelis þere:a swyþe moche verhede.] Of þe companie of heuene, . þat heriede god an sede: [I hered.] Mid god in heuene an heiȝ . heiȝenesse and ioie beo do, [an hyȝ . ben I do.] Line 525 Among men of gode wille . pais on erþe al so! [& among . good.] þis is þe vurst gospel . a midwinter niȝt. [is fehlt . ferste godspel.] Ac what þis sompninge was, . we moten siggen in siȝt. [A. R.: Ottauean.] [Ac fehlt . dyscryuyng. we mot segge.] þe emperour þat was þo . seide e wolde iwite [folio 33] A certein nombre of þe world, . as it is iwrite, [nombres of al þe.] Line 530 How monie schiren weren in vche lond, . & tounes in vche schire, [chyryn . ech.] And how monie men in vche toun; . he was agret sire. [chyre st. sire.] To þe prince of vch lond . his messagers he sende: [preyns . londe.] þat ech mon þer he was bore . þorw heste of him wende, [echemon . wos I bore. hem.] And þa(t) e paiȝede apeni to truage, . & panes þ^t me him bere, [þa st. þat.] [And fehlt. he payd . trewage. & þ^t hy hym þe pans bere.] Line 535 þ^t e wuste þer þorw how moni men . in al þe world were. [þat he þer þorwȝ myȝt I wyte.] And naþeles i^c may it leue . þ^t he ne dude as wel for þanne [Nach i^c fehlt die Negation ne; for vor þanne wol zu tilgen.] [Ac. ich ne may h^t I leue . dede hit as wel þan.] Vor þe loue of þe panes, . as to wite þe nombre of vche manne. [for loue . as to y wene. of þe man.] And vch peni þat me him sende . was worþ oþer tene [Ms. hin st. him.] [men . tweyne.] Of comune moneie þ^t was þo, . hauȝte habbe inow to spene. [Ms. hauȝte st. he auȝte.] [comyn money . speyne.] Line 540 þe middel kinedom of al þe world . is þe lond of sirie, [syrrie.] And al þe lond of Jude þer amidde, . þer he is bane let furst crie, [And al fehlt . he let fyrst his bone.] And amidde Jude is Jerlm, . þere furst bigan, [Ms. amiidde; hinter þere fehlt he, oder þere = þer e.] [þer he.] þus in þe middel of al þe world, . to nombri vch man. [as in.] Here was þe lond of Jude furst . vnder rome ibrouȝt, [vndyr rome fyrst.] Line 545 To ȝiue vche ȝer þider truage, . þat dere was seþþe a bouȝt; [truage þuder.]

Vor heo þat weren vnder þe emperour . paynimes were echon, [were er . paens.] And heo of Jude alle giwes, . here kuinde nas not on. [was nauȝt.] þe time was neiȝ þat oure ledi . child scholde bere þo: [ny . leuedye.] þer fore iosep hire nam wiþ him . and vrom hire nolde go. [ioseph.] Line 550 Anasse and oxe wiþ him he ladde, . & þulke boþe he nam: [an asse & an oxe he hadde: wit hym boþe he nom.] þe oxe þat emiȝte sulle, . ȝif neode to him cam To spense and to truage; . þe asse he tok al so, [spence & to his trewage.] þat is wif miȝte ride, . ȝif febelnesse com hire to. [whan febel|nesse her com to.] In gret feblesse he wende forþ, . iosep þis hosbonde, [wend.] Line 555 Vor charge of is wif & for elde, . to ward is owne londe. [is owe.] In a saterday at eue . heo comen to bedlemes on ende. [an eue.] So weri heo weren, and late hit was, . heo ne miȝten in wende, [þat hy.] And eke vor pres of þe volk . þat to truage was ikome, [ek. folke . trewe.] And al þe innes of þe toun . ifuld were and inome. [And fehlt. alle . I fulled.] Line 560 Anold hows þer stod al for lete . ate tounes ende, þat men duden yn here bestes, . whan heo wolden to toune wende; [men cyden In : toun.] Diuersorie hit was icleped; . amidde þe weie it was, [Ms. A mersorie st. diuersorie.] [dyversorie, wol richtige Lesart.] Side walles hit hedde to, . ac non helewou(!)þer nas: [ist unten a. R. hinzugesetzt.] [syde wallis þer wer to . hole wowe.] Hit was opene at eiþer ende, . to gon yn al þat wolde. [open . þ^t þer.] Line 565 Vor þre þing hit furst arered was, . þat hous of such folde: [it was furst arerede : an hous of soche bolde.] þat men miȝte þe hali day . þer inne pleiȝe and wende [þan holy day . þer in.] And sitte vor idelnesse . and driue þe day to ende, [sit & pleyd . þan day.] And þat men miȝte þer inne go, . whanne it luþer weder were, [And fehlt. whan . leþer.] And þat pore men þer inne leiȝe . þat wiþ outen yn were. [w^t inne.] Line 570 þis was to akinges burþtime . awonder yn inome. [berþetyme.] Glad was ȝet oure ledi . heo miȝte þer inne come. [ȝit . þat ȝhe.] Oure ledi seide: þat time it was, . þat þe child were ibore. [an oure vp þe tyme hit was : þat oure lord was I bore.]

A(1)as, quaþ iosep, wommon les . what schule we do þer fore? [Ms. aas st. alas.] [allas. schullen.] Into toune he wende, . ȝif he miȝte bi cas [wende anon.] Line 575 Wommon finde hire to helpe, . vorþ niȝte hit was. [Ms. vorþ st. vor þ^t?] [for al myȝtes.] He hedde þer is asse an is oxe . iteiȝed þer bi side [he hadde er his oxe & his asse . I teyd.] Jn acracche, and eode vorþ . and wommon souȝte wide. [at a . he souȝte.] Alone bi lafte oure ledi . in þe wilde hous þer. [alon bleued.] Ate midniȝt of þe sonne niȝt . þe swete child heo ber, [at mydnyȝt þ^t ilke sone myȝt : þat. bere.] Line 580 Godes sone, þorw wham is . þe deuel ibrouȝt to grounde; [whom.] A mid winter niȝt he was ibore, . iheried beo þilke stounde! [I blessed be] Angeles come anon aboute . wiþ gret companie, [com.] To solacen here ȝonge lord . & is moder marie. [solace oure . oure leuedy.] Heo nedde whar inne oure lord winde, . þo he was ibore, [Me nadde . in. whan he.] Line 585 Bote in feble cloutes and olde . and somme to tore, [but . & soyle : olde & som to tore.] þer inne oure ledi him wond . and bond him wiþ aliste, [st. ledi lord verschrieben.] [þer in oure leuedy here wonde.] And leide him on awisp of hei; . þer was apore giste. [vppon a wips of heye.] Non help of wommon nede heo, . þo þis dede was ido, [nede st. nedde.] [& non help of woman oure leuedy nadde.] Heo was hire selue maide and moder . & hosewif also. [Ms. was as; as ist zu streichen.] [self . mydwif.] Line 590 Whar was as al þe nobleye, . þat fel to aquene, [wher . fulle to seche a.] At akinges burþtime, . whar was hit isene? [& a.] Ledies and chamberleins, . scarlet to drawe and grene, [leuedyes & chaumbreres . skarlet.] To winden ynne þe ȝonge king? . al was lute, ich wene. [to wyndyndyn (!) in . loute.] Non help of wommon . þe riche quene ne fond; [non oþer . þis ryche quen ne fonde.] Line 595 Bote þo þe child was ibore, . hire selue heo it wond, [self ȝhe hym wonde.] And bar hit to þe cracche . and leide it in awisp of heiȝe. [hym . leyd hym on a wips of heye.] Hire wombe ne ok nouȝt sore, . heo ne dradde noȝt to deiȝe; [nauȝt to deye.] Heo bar abetere burþone . þan wymmen now do, [& hue . better burþen þan : wommen.]

Heo hedde elles igroned sore . and nouȝt ascaped so; Line 600 Vor, verde wimmen now so, . me wolde holden hem wise; [women nouþe . hem holde.] And naþeles heom smart somdel . and luste not so arise. [smerteþ sumdel : hem lusteþ nouȝt to.] þat hei þat god was on ileid, . as þe bok vs tolde, Sein elene bar seþþe to rome, . vor relik to holde. [seynt eleyne hit bar suþ . noble relyk.] Boþe þe asse and þe oxe, . þo me oure lord to hem brouȝte, [þe oxe & þe asse. men . to fehlt.] Line 605 Aȝein him kneleden boþe . and honoureden him þat hem wrouȝte. [aȝen hym kneled & hym honoured : hym þat hy hem brouȝte.] Now was þis awonder dede . and aȝe kunde inow; [aȝen.] Vor wel ichot þat oxen kunne . bet now drawe ate plow, [ich wot þat oxin by com bet : to drawen atte plouȝ.] And asses bere sackes . and corn aboute to bringe, [assen to beren sakkis.] þan to make meri gleo . and knele bi fore a kinge. [merþe & gle . knely be for.] Line 610 Vor, ȝe seþ wel, fewe bestes . more bostor beþ, [ȝe wyteþ . no more bostus.] þan asse oþer oxe, . as ȝe ofte iseoþ. [þan beþ assen oþer oxen . al day st. ofte.] How couþen heo here legges bowen . & here knen so to wende, [Ms. couken.] [lemis þer to.] To knele bifore a king? . who made hem so hende? [be fore so noble a kyng : hou were hy.] Now weren hit wonder gleomen to, . who brouȝte hem such mod? [hem In soche mode.] Line 615 Ac whan we habbeþ al ido, . þat child ibore was god. [gode.] þo þis was al ido . to wymmen Josep brouȝte : [A. R.: Tebel and Salome.] [too wommen.] [folio 34] Tebel and salome, . þat he in toune souȝte. [so souȝte.] Oure ledi þolede þe o wommon, . þ^t hatte tebel, [þoled þ^t o . I hote was.] To loke of hire priuetes, . as to hire craft bi fel. [lokyn. preuytes . as hit to here craft fel.] Line 620 þo heo fond þat hco was maide . and child hadde ibore, [founde . mayde was.] þo wondrede heo and criede vaste, . hire felawe heo (tolde) fore. [zwischen heo u. fore fehlt tolde.] [þe wondir dede ȝhe cride loude : here felaue ȝhe told vore.] þat ne may not beo, quaþ þis oþer. . anon mid þe word [Ms. miid st. mid.] [nouȝt be . & anon. worde.] Hire honden bi come stiue . and dede as abord. [here hondyn be com styf & dede : as hit were a borde.] Vor deol an for serwe . merci heo gan crie, Line 625

Line 625 Ȝif hoe þouȝte ar seide amis, . on oure ledi marie. [ar st. or.] [ȝif ȝhe seyde ouȝt oþer seyd amys : to oure leuedy seynt marye.] As oure lord hire grace ȝaf, . to þe child heo gan gon [& as ouere lord grace sende.] And touchede him wiþ hire dede honden, . & was hol anon. [fayre honde . & hy be com.] þis wommon wende hom aȝen, . and euer hedde in muinde [wommen wenten . & euere hadd hit in mynde.] And þe child bering wide tolde, . þat so muche was aȝe kuinde. [þe childis berynge . myche. aȝen.] Line 630 þe lesinge of mani foles . telleþ of seint anastase, [þe lesynge þat mony folis telleþ . anstace.] þat heo scholde wiþ oure ledi beo; . hit nis bote þe mase: Vor heo ne seiȝ neuer oure ledi her, . vor to hundred ȝer bi fore [fo . leuedy ere.] And more, ar heo come an erþe, . oure lord was ibore. [com.] Som wrecche bifond þis lesinge . wiþ onriȝte, [Ac som fol furst be founde : þe lesyng wit vnryȝt.] Line 635 Vor as muche as me makeþ of hire munde . amidewinter niȝte. [for as moche we syngeþ In munde of here . nyȝt.] Schepherdes þat afelde weren, . here orf vorte loke, [a feld were.] Comunliche euer vch ȝer . twey niȝte heo woke, [comenlyche eche ȝer : twyes anyȝt hii woke.] As hit fel þilke niȝt, . a missomer niȝt also, [Ms. midewinter st. missomer.] [fylle in . & amydsomer is nyȝt al so.] Vor honour of þe sonne, . þat hire cours hedde ido: [sounne . hadde þan I do.] [schortest . a mydsomeris.] Line 640 Vor þe schorteste niȝt þat was þo . was missomerniȝt, And midwinter þe lengeste, . whose tolde ariȝt; [mydwynters . lengest.] And þenne bi gan eiþer niȝt . þe sonne to astonde [þan . as to stonde.] And torne aȝe toward vs, . þat woneþ in þis londe: [& turned aȝen.] A some vrommard þe norþ, . awinter vrom þe souþ. [Ms. some st. somer.] [a somyr framward.] Line 645 þis aȝen torninge was of þe sonne . bi olde dawe wel couþ. [þe ȝe turnyn.] þer fore þe schepeherdes þo . in þe felde woke, [cheperdis . welde.] Vor onour of þe sonne . as wel, as here orf to loke.

þe schepeherdes to hem selue speke: . passe we iwis [A. R.: Pastores loquebantur; s. Luc. 2, 15.] To bedleem, and iseo we . þis word þat imad is, Line 650 þat oure lord made him self . & schewede to vs! And heo comen þider an haste . & marie vounden þus And iosep and þat child, . in acracche ileid. þo heo seiȝe þis, heo knewe wel . þe word þ^t was iseid Of þe child to hem; . and alle þat herden þis Line 655 Wondreden of þat þing, . þ^t hem was seid iwis Of þe schepherdes. . & marie wel wusten þer Al þes wordes and lokede . & in hire herte ber. And þis schepherdes turnden aȝen . & god of alle dede Herieden, of þat heo hedden iseie, . as þe angel hem sede. Line 660 Of þat oure ledi in hire þouȝt . nom so grete gome, Of þe wordes þat þe schepherdes . seiden, þo hi come, Al hit was loken, . whar heo acordeden in dede To þat þe prophetus whilen . of oure lord sede. After þat eiȝte dawes . fulfulled were iwis, [A. R.: Postq(uam) consummati sunt dies octo; s. Luc. 2, 21.] Line 665 þat þis child was circumsised, . his name iclepud is Jhc, as it was inempned . of þe angel bi fore, Ar he were in his moder wombe . ikened oþer ibore; I circumsised was þe child . as a ȝeres day, I corue of is ende of is membre, . as hit fel in þe lay. Line 670 þo schedde þis holi þing furst . his blod for man, þo he nas bote seueniȝt old, . wel ȝong he bigan; þei he hedde lengore abide, . he miȝte han ihed wo inow Wiþ inne III an þritti ȝer, . þat þe folk him slow. Swete ihc, þe grete loue . þat þow vs gonne sone schewe! Line 675 þat of þat þow were on erþe . gode dawes heddest fewe, And bi gonne þo for vs so ȝong . to schede þi blod, To kerue of þi tendre vlesch, . Jhc, þow art god! þow nere bi ȝete in none sunne, . wher fore me scholde þe for drawe And kerue of þe ende of þi membre, . as hit fel in þe lawe. Line 680 Alle men þat on erþe wrouȝten . þe sunne of sodomie Deiȝeden ek, þo god was bore . of his moder marie, At otime þorw al þe world . at odeþ vchon.

Oure lord ne nom neuer of sunne . so gret wreche non. þer me may seo : of alle sunne . þer aȝen non nis, Line 685 So gret heo is þat men ne scholde it nempne . bote in warninge iwis; So foul heo was þat god nolde . þat heo bi laften aliue In mannes fourme, þat he nam; . þer fore he let hem to driue. Sterren honureden oure lord, . þo he was ibore; [A. R.: Stella.] Vor balaam þe prophete seide . vele hondred ȝer bi fore: Line 690 þat asterre springe scholde . of Jacobs kuinde. Euer eft þe heiȝemen of þe lond . þe sterren hedden in muinde; Heo beden þat among hem moste . som tokninge þer of come. So þat þe hexte men of þe lond . a conseil hedden inome: Twelf stalewarde men to wake . vche niȝt heo toke Line 695 Vpon an heiȝ hul al longe niȝt, . after þulke sterre loke. [Vor loke fehlt to.] þo oure lord was ibore, . as he wolde þat it were, þe þreo kinges come for þulke sterre . to loke þer after þere, Ȝif heo miȝten ouȝt þer of iseo; . þe oking het Jaspar, þe oþer het melchior, . þe þridde baltazar. Line 700 In orisons heo weoren longe . þat oure lord hem sende Som tokninge of þulke sterre, . ar heo hamward wende. þo seiȝen heo in heuene a sterre . swiþe briȝt, as heo stode, A midde þe sterre achild . al blodi on þe rode. þo bigan þat child to speke: . goþ now bi liue, he sede, [folio 35] Line 705 Toward þe lond of Jude! . anoþer sterre ow schal lede; þer ȝe schulen finde achild ibore, . king of alle kinge, Of whom ȝe desireþ so muche . to wite som tokninge. þo lokeden heo, as it est ward were, . anoþer sterre heo seiȝe; So cler þing ne so briȝt . heo ne seiȝe neuer wiþ eiȝe. Line 710 Glade heo weren, þo heo seiȝe . þat heo wilneden so longe. Vpe dromedaries heo wenden forþ, . þ^t swifte beþ and stronge And best duringe of alle bestes, . for noþer hors ne muile Ne scholde so gret awei habbe igo . in so lute while. Al how heo souȝten oure lord, . þe gospel telleþ vs Line 715 þat me rat atwelfþe day; . þat bigynneþ þus: þo ihc was ibore . in bedleem of Jude, [A. R.: Cum natus ēet ihc in bedleem; s. Math. 2, 1.] Bi eroudes day þe king, . lo þe kinges þreo [Ms. Hieroudes.]

Comen out of þe lond of estlond . to ierlm iwis And seiden: whar is þe king of giwes . þat now iboren is? Line 720 Vor in þe estlond ver . his sterre we iseiȝe, And wiþ ȝiftus we beþ icome . vorte honuren him heiȝe. þo þe king heroudes herde þis, . destourbed he was, And vch mon of ierlm . mid him vor is cas. [Ms. is st. þis.] And alle princes & þe hexte . prestes of þe lawe Line 725 And þe maistres of þe volk . to gadere he let drawe, And enquerede of hem . whar crist were ibore. And heo seiden: in bedleem; . vor þus it was bi fore þorw þe prophetes iwrite . as in antiquite: And þow, bedleem, þat art . lond of Jude, [in þe fehlt vor lond.] Line 730 A mong þe princes of Jude . lest ne artow nowt; Vor þer worþ ȝet a duk . out of þe ibrouȝt, þat gouerne schal . þe volk of israel. Eroudes þo al stilleliche . enquerede fol wel Of þe kinges ententifliche . þe time of þe sterre, Line 735 How longe heo hire hedden iseiȝe, . þat heo seiȝen from ferre. He sende hem þo to bedleem . and sede hem wordes milde: Goþ now ententifliche . & enquereþ of þe childe! And whanne ȝe him habbeþ ifounde, . bringeþ me aȝen tidinge, þat i^c come ek and onure him . and ȝiftes him bringe. Line 740 þo heo hedden iherd þe king, . he wenden hem forþ lo. Þe sterre, þat heo seiȝen er . in þe estlonde so, Wende euer bi fore hem, . vorte heo cam and stod Euene riȝt ouer þe stude . þer þe child was so god. Glade, þo heo seiȝen þe sterre, . wiþ grete ioie heo were, Line 745 And, þo heo comen wiþ inne þe hous, . þe child heo founde þere, Mid marie is moder, . and adoun heo vellen to grounde And kneleden and honoureden him . & here tresor vnbounde, [honour. Nach 648 folgen dann noch die 2 Verse: & þus endeþ þe gospel : a myd winter nyȝt Nowȝ crist vs sende helpe of soule : þat al may dele & dyȝt. amen.] And ȝiftes heo offreden to him . of stor and mirre and golde; [stor (= Weihrauch) ist richtige Lesart. [note alted based on Berichtigungen (p. XLIV); note originally read: Ms. tor; ist flor zu lesen?]] And þo a venge here onswere . in slepe, þat heo ne scholde Line 750 As þe angel hem het bi eroudes . aȝen wende for eiȝe, [A. R.: Hic finitur euang(elium).] To here kinedom turne aȝen . al bi anoþer weiȝe. [ac fehlt vor To.]

In þis manere þe þreo kinges . oure lord out souȝte In bedlem vrom here owne lond, . & presaunt him brouȝte. Of þe lond of arabie . and of perse heo were. Line 755 So fer est beþ þulke londes . þat nomon ne woneþ now þere. A gret water þat me clepeþ saba . in þe lond of perse is, þer fore ȝet monie men . al þat lond clepeþ iwis. [Statt al ist also zu lesen.] þer fore dauid bi oure lord . in þe sauter whilen sede þat kinges of arabie & saba . ȝiftes him scholden lede. Line 760 Heo ladden presaunt, vor he was king, . & nomon souȝte [A. R.: De donis.] Ne to hem com in þe olde lawe, . bote he presaunt brouȝte. Gold and mirre and encense . þre kinges him laadde: [Ms. en censense; laadde st. ladde.] Vch of þe þreo presauns . gret tokninge hadde: Gold is þing of gret nobleie, . þat falleþ riȝt to akinge; Line 765 þer fore oure lord as a king . gold heo gonnen bringe. Encense valleþ to holi chirche, : & vor god was, heo þouȝten, Preost and maister of holi chirche, . encense heo him brouȝten. Mirre is swiþe bitter þing, . and akuinde hit haþ also: [Ms. doppelt it hit.] þat noþing ne schal rotie, . þat hit is bi ido; Line 770 þer fore whan an heiȝ mon deiȝede, . bi olde dawe me wolde In his buriles mirre do, . þat e rote ne scholde. þe bitter hede of þe mirre, . þat heo oure lord brouȝte, Bitoknede þe bittere deþ . þat þe giwes him wrouȝte; þat hit wiþ aded mon . hol at is buriinge, [wiþ = witeþ.] Line 775 Godes buriing hit bi tokneþ . wiþ oute rotiinge. þis þre kinges wenden forþ . & þis ȝiftes wiþ hem nome Vrom þe ferreste lond of bieste, . vor heo to ierlm come, [vor st. vor te.] þat in þe middel is of þe world: . þider heo weren brouȝt In twelf dawes, & manie foles . þer fore ne leueþ it nouȝt, Line 780 Ac as for dromedaries, . þat vpon wende,(!) [Vor vpon fehlt heo.] Swifte weren, and godes grace . sone hem þider sende. [heo fehlt nach swifte.] þo heo comen vurst to ierlm, . þe sterre hem was ihud, [A. R.: De stella.] Vor heo scholden axe after god, . þat is burþtime were ikud, þat þe giwes ne of soke it nouȝt . þ^t e was among hem ibore; Line 785 Ac anon, þo heo wenden vrom eroudes, . þe sterre was hem bi fore,

And wende euene þe wey forþ, . quik þing as hit were, To techen hem to bedleem, . þat heo bi giled nere. þe kuinde heo hedde of quik þing, . & as heo couþe wit and god; Vor whan þe kinges scholde astonde, . þe sterre bi fore hem stod, Line 790 And whanne heo scholden wenden forþ, . vorþ heo wende also, And wisede hem cuere in þe wey, . what heo scholden do. In þilke sterre bi fore alle oþere . þe þre kinges seo miȝte [folio 36] Of hire stude & of hire wendinge . & al so of hire liȝte; Of hire stude, vor heo was . in þe eir her so lowe, Line 795 And nouȝt wiþ oþere in þe welkene, . vor me scholde hire iknowe; Of hire wending, for heo wende . as þow sist a quik best gon, To lede hem euene in þe wey; . so ne dede neuer non; Of hire liȝt, vor so cler . no sterre neuer nas; Heo nas noȝt to briȝt to honure him . þ^t on erþe ibore was. Line 800 Me þinkeþ heo ne miȝte clerore beo, . ne more schine briȝt, Whan þe kinges hire miȝten seo aday . ase wel ase aniȝt; Ac þo þe þre kinges comen to bedleem, . as þis child lay, þe sterre bi cam al to nouȝt, . þ^t neuer eft me hire ne say. þe kinges founden þat swete child . mid is moder marie, Line 805 Ac iosep ne founden heo nouȝt, . leste heo hedden þouȝt folie, þat þe child hedde is sone ibeo, . & þat þe child hedde beo vnclene; Ne seiȝen heo nouȝt bote god, . to mis þenche nouȝt ene. þo þe angel hem hedde ised . þat heo ne scholden wende Bi eroudes, vor eþouȝte . þe child vor to schende, Line 810 At thars heo hureden schipes, . & þer forþ þene wey toke, And wenden hom al bi watere norþ, . & þen heiȝ wei for soke. [Ms. norþ, wol st. uorþ.] þo heo comen to here oune lond, . þat cas heo tolden wide, And wisseden muche of þe folk . to oure lord in vche side. Seþþe thomas þe apostel . to þulke londe com Line 815 And þis þreo kinges & moni oþer . brouȝte to cristendom. In þe cite of meluns . seþþe iburied heo were, And longe as holimen . þe bodies leiȝe þere, Vor te þilke cite seþþe . was brouȝt to grounde; þe erche bisschop of coloine . þo þis bodies vounde, Line 820 And to þe heiȝe chirche of coloine . he let hem lede also And among oþer martirs . wel faire an erþe do.

þer ȝet to þis daiȝe . wiþ gret honour heo beþ, And as holi relikes iholde, . as men alday seþ, Holi men as heo were, . and elles it were wow, [A. R.: s. l. Postquam impleti f(uerun)t, s. Luc. 2, 22.] Line 825 And of pilgrimes and oþer men . honured beþ inow. Of oure lord þat was ibore . somwat tellen imay, As þe gospel vs deþ lere . acandelmasse day. After þe dawe were folfulled . of maries clansinge þorw þe lawe of moises, . ihc heo let bringe Line 830 To ierlm, to setten him . bifore oure lord iwis, As it in oure lordes lawe . iwrite was and is: þat ech þing, þat hedde . his moder wombe ido, To oure lord holiþing . me scholde hit clepie so; — And þat heo ȝeue an offring . vor him wel vawe, Line 835 Vpe word þat is iseid . in oure lordes lawe: A peire briddes of tortlen, . oþer coluer briddes to. And in ierlm an old man . þer was i do, [Ms. is do st. i do.] His name was symeon; . god he doutede wel And riȝtful was, & he abod . þe begginge of isrl, Line 840 And in him was þe holi gost; . & onswere him was ibrouȝt Of þe holi gost, þat he ne scholde . deþ i seo nouȝt, Bote þat he iseiȝe er . oure lordes kinedom. So þat þorw þe holigost . to þe temple he com; And þe kun of child ihū . let vorþ drawe, [Nach let fehlt ihū oder him.] Line 845 Vor to do vor him þo . vpe þe costom of þe lawe; þe olde mon symeon . his armes gan sprede A brod, and nom þis child ihc, . and heriede him and sede: Lord, þin owne hine . vpe þi wordes now let, Vor min eiȝen habbeþ iseiȝe . þin holi bodi so gret, [A. R.: Nunc dimittis.] Line 850 þat bi fore þe face of al folk . þow hast iȝarked ariȝt, þat to þe schewing of al folk . of paynime is cler siȝt, And in þe fol ioie . of þi folk of israel also. þe gospel acondelmasse day . yn þis wordes is ido. Cler liȝt oure lord was . to men of painime: Line 855 Vor heo ne herde nouȝt . of him ar his burþtime,

Ne hadden to him non hope . ne bi heste non, As þe giwes hadden abrod . þorw prophetus moni on; þer fore god was cler liȝt, . þo he was ibore, To schininge of þe painimes, . þat heo seiȝe nouȝt bifore. Line 860 þe bote, þat seide ek symeon . þat he þer iseiȝ, þat was oure bote godes sone, . þat was him wel neiȝ. After þis child ihc was ibore, . þe vourtiþe day Oure ledi dude hire churche ȝong, . as hit fel in þe lay; Vor oure lord hadde ihote . in þe olde lawe bifore Line 865 þat þe fourtiþe day, . þat asone were ibore, Me scholde hit to þe temple bcre . & bi fore auter bringe And offren hit to oure lord . wiþ afair offringe; And þat a wommon scholde, . þat of richesse were, A lomb offre wiþ hire child, . to þe temple whan heo it bere; Line 870 Ac oþer pore wimmen, . þat oþer whar of nadde, Offre coluerren oþer tortlen, . wel vawe þat heo it hadde. [Ms. coluerren mit rr, da trotz der Abkürzung für er noch ein r zugesetzt ist.] Oure lord, vrom þat he was ibore . þe while he was here, To ȝeue ensample, he siwede . þe pore in vche manere. þe offring he tok of tortlen, . vor lomb nadde he non, Line 875 Wiþ colueren & wiþ tortlen . to þe temple heo gonnen gon; And þat vor þe nede to halewe . þat child more, [Vor vor þe nede fehlt jedenfalls nouȝt.] Vor holi hit was inow . al wiþ oute here lore; Al it was to volfulle . þe lawe þat was bi fore, þat he nolde wiþ sigge nouȝt, . þo he was ibore. Line 880 Of gret elde he was inow, . þis olde mon symeon, [folio 37] [A. R.: De Symeone.] Of an hundred ȝer an twelue, . þat vnneþe he miȝte gon. I wilned he hedde al is lif . and oure lord ibede fore, þat he moste neuer deiȝe, . ar he seiȝe oure lord ibore. So gret wille he hedde to him . þat wismon come, Line 885 Vor hope of tidinge of him . axen he wolde ilome: Wenestow ouȝt he wole (beo) bore? . weneste ischule him seo? [Vor bore fehlt beo.] Weneste þat ich dure mowe, . vorte he ibore beo? Of þe holi gost he hedde onswere, . as we seide bi fore, þat he ne scholde neuer þene deþ þole, . ar he seiȝe god ibore. Line 890 þilke biheste he abod so longe, . þat inelde he was ibrouȝt;

Ac naþeles for þe grete hope . his elde ne greuede him nouȝt. He was glad, þo he isay . þis child and is moder marie, And þe wordes þat ich abbe itold . seide in his prophecie. And þe wordes þat he seide þo, . & þe schepherdes bi fore, Line 895 Gret wonder brouȝte to al þe lond . of ihū, þat was ibore. Marie and iosep wondreden ek, . as þe gospel telleþ vs A seint siluestres eue þat is irad, . þat bi gynneþ þus: Ihc moder and iosep, . þat as his fader was, [A. R.: Erant pater et mater ihū; s. Luc. 2, 33.] Wondreden þat was iseid . of him and of þat cas. [Vor þat fehlt of.] Line 900 Symeon blessede hem . and seide to marie, þat is swete moder was, . as in prophecie: [Ms. modes.] Lo þis child is iset . as in doun vallinge To monie men in isrl, . & to monie in vprisinge, And in tokninge, þat worþ . wiþ seid of moni mon, Line 905 And þe swerd schal of him . þorw þi soule gon, þat þe þouȝt of manie herte . þorw þe ischowed beo. þo tokninge of þis prophecie . somwhat we moten iseo: [Ms. þo st. þe.] þe doun vallinge was tokninge . þ^t oure lord was ibrouȝt Anerþe, to bringen hem to helle . þat on him ne leuede nouȝt; Line 910 Vor heo ne miȝten neuereft . vinde non encheson, þat he ne bouȝte hem dere inow . wiþ is passion. þat he seide þat oure lord cam . in moni monnes vprisinge, What was, bote he wolde . alle vs to heuene bringe? [Nach was fehlt hit.] þat scholde er as bi eritage . in deope helle deiȝe, Line 915 Vrom helle he made hem vp arise . in to heuene an heiȝe. þat symeon bi oure ledi seide, . þ^t hire sone swerd wel kene þorw hire soule passe scholde, . hit was seþþe wel sene: Vor þis swerd was oure lordes deþ, . þat þorw hire herte wende Vnder þe rode, þo heo isay . þe giwes him to rende. Line 920 þat þis scholde beo . wiþ said of moni mon, þat were þe luþere giwes . him wolden wiþ sigge anon. þat þorw him ischewed scholde be . moni monnes þouȝt, þat was þ^t, er he come, . siker nas hit nouȝt, Whuch men were wiþ him . oþer aȝen him wolde beo; Line 925 Ac anon þo he was icome on erþe, . þat soþe me miȝte iseo;

As þe kinges þat honoureden him, . and oþer mani on, [Vor þe kinges fehlt of.] And of erodes & of oþere ek . þat aȝen turnden anon. Anne a wommon prophete . þulke time was þer, Heo was ffanuelus douȝter . of þe kunde of asser. Line 930 In gret elde heo was igo . vorþ mid hire spoushod, And leuede wiþ hire hosbonde . seue ȝer after hire maidenhod, And seþþe heo hedde widue ibeo . vourscore and vour ȝer. Heo ne partede noȝt from þe temple, . ac euere bilafte þer, In fastinge and in biddinge . boþe niȝt and day. Line 935 So þat heo com þulke time . and oure lord isay, To him heo was anon iknowe, . and spak ful wel To alle þat abiden þo . þe begginge of israel. And þo heo hedde do alle þing . þorw oure lordes lawe, þe childes frendus to galilee . wiþ him gonnen drawe, [Ms. frende mit der Abkürzung für us.] Line 940 To heore oune cite of nazareth. . & þis child wel wex þo And conforded was, & godes grace . in him was ido. þis prophecie of symeon . and of þis holi anne Was sone aboute wide ibrouȝt . from manne to manne, And to heroudes among oþere. . þo dradde he him sore, Line 945 And on þat þe kinges him seiden er . he þouȝte wel þe more. And þo alle þreo anoþer wey . to ward here londe nome Al bi watere, as iseide er, . and bi him ne come, Sori he made him þer fore . and abod hem ilome; Of annes wordes and symeon . he nam ek gret gome, Line 950 And þat þe schepherdes seiden also, . þat oure lord was ibore; In gret þouȝt he was niȝt and day, . oure lord to sle þer fore. He hedde ek six luþer sones, . þat þouȝten him euele diȝte, To bi nimen him is kinedom . oþer quellen him, ȝif heo miȝte. þo eroudes it vnderȝat, . he drof hem awey anon; Line 955 To þe emperour þo luþere sones . to pleinte gonnen gon. I not what scholde a luþer fader . bote luþer sones biȝete! þo þe emperour þis pleint iherde, . þe soþe he wolde iwite; He let sompne þe king heroudes, . þat hit ne bi leued nouȝt, [Vor hit fehlt he, oder were nach ne.] þat he were bi fore him . at acertein day ibrouȝt. Line 960 þo was eroudes sore adrad, . & somdel for ȝat so

þe wreche þat he hedde iþouȝt . bi oure (lord) to do. [Nach oure fehlt lord.] To þe emperour sori e wende . & þer to brouȝte is strif, þat is sones him scholde abowe, . & he be king al is lif. Swiþe hardi he was þo, . and hamward he gan wende. Line 965 Al his þouȝt and his red was . how he miȝte oure lord schende. He com bi þe see of thars, . and þe schipes þat e founde To douste he let hem brenne anon, . oþer hakke to grounde, þe wraþþe of þe kinges þreo . þ^t þer vorþ gonnen wende. [folio 38] [þe st. þorw verschrieben oder es fehlt vor.] þat seind dauiþ in is sauter, . ibrouȝt it was to ende: [Ms. seind st. seide seint.] Line 970 þat þe kingus here of erþe . to gadere beþ ibrouȝt And wondreden, whanne heo seiȝe oure lord, . & destorbed were in here þouȝt, And also imeued ek, . and muche drede hem nome þere And sor, as of awommon . þ^t in trauail of child were, And deol foliche þe schipes of thars . wiþ wel hasti breþe. [Ms. deol foliche st. defoulede verschrieben, oder defoulede ist zu ergänzen.] Line 975 þis was seid bi eroudes, . as it miȝte wel eþe, þat destourbed was and imeued, . & in anguise & in drede Defoulede þe schipes of thars . wiþ wel hasti rede. þat was, me þinkeþ, afeble wreche . & gret luþer hede ido, þat vor heo hedden þer forþ iwend, . þe schipes defouli so. [þat vor umzusetzen vor þat.] Line 980 þo he nuste how he miȝte more . of þe kinges him awreke, How he miȝte oure lord slee, . he biþenchen and speke. [Vor biþenchen fehlt gan.] E nuste, whar oure lord was, . bote as men him hadden itold, Ac wel he wuste þat e nas . nour (!) neiȝ to ȝer old. þer fore he let sle alle þe children . þ^t wiþ inne to ȝer were, Line 985 A boute al þe contrei of bedleem, . þat oure lord forbore nere. How oure lord ascapede, . þe gospel telleþ vs þat is irad achilder masse day, . þat bigynneþ þus: Oure lordes angel in slep . to iosep cam þo And seide: aris & nim þichild . & is moder, & go [A. R.: s. M. Angelus dm appar(uit); s. Math. 2, 13.] Line 990 Ynto egipt and beo þer, . vorte þat i^c þe telle, Vor certein it is þ^t heroudes . wol seche þis child to quelle. He aros vp and nom þis child . and þe moder þo,

And þene wey toward egipt . al bi niȝte gan go, And was þer, vorte heroudes . his lif an erþe lete, Line 995 To folfulle þat of oure lord . iseid was þorw þe prophete, þat seide: out of egipt . ichabbe icleped mi sone. þat word hedde þer bifore . longe ben in mone. þo heroudes isay . þat he bigiled was, Of þe kinges wroþ inow . he was for þat cas, Line 1000 And sende and slow al þe children, . in bedleem þ^t þer were And in al þe contrei þer aboute, . wiþ inne þe elde of to ȝere, þat were of to ȝer and lasse, . he ne bileuede non þer, Vpe þe time þat he of askede . of þe kinges er. þo was it folfulled . þat of Jeremie Line 1005 þe prophete was iseid, . þat he seide in prophecie: þe vois anheiȝ is iherd, . muche wep and morninge; [A. R.: vox in rama.] Rachel bi wep hire sones . and nolde no gladinge, Vor þat heo ne beþ nouȝt. . þis is þe ende lo. Vor þis wordes harde beþ, . me mot hem a lute vndo: Line 1010 þat þis cri was iherd an heiȝ, . þ^t was of sorwe and sore þat modres vor here children made, . ne miȝte be na more. þat rachel hire sones scholde biwepe . þ^t so longe was ded er, þat was þat moni of þe children, . þat were aslawe þer, Of rachelus kunne were icome, . & for rachel al so Line 1015 I buried was biside bedleem, . þer þis dede was do. þat heo nolde habbe no gladinge, . vor þat heo beþ nouȝt, þat was þat heo lete here lif . & to deþe were ibrouȝt. Twelf monþes after and four dawes, . þat god was ibore, Was þat heo weren islawe, . so ȝong heo weren icore. Line 1020 I cristned heo weren in here blod, . vair was þe companie; Reuþfol and sori was þe cri . þ^t here modres gan crie. þe mestedel of þe children . iburied suþþe were þre milen bi side bedleem . in þe souþhalf þere. Alas seli ȝonge þinges, . gulteles heo weren dede! Line 1025 Mid hem he hedde lute milce . þ^t dude so luþer hede. A wei, heroudes, þow wrecche king, . þow hontest aboute nouȝt: Sore þow draddest þorw him beo . of þi kinedom ibrouȝt, Ac naþeles þow miȝtest wite wel . þat hit nas noȝt is riȝte,

þi wrecche kinedom here to holde, . vor he was of more miȝte. Line 1030 Whi slowe þ^u for hate of him . þe children þat gultles were? Wrecche, he wuste wel þi þouȝt, . ne foundeste him nouȝt þere; Vrom þi power he is ilad, . ac naþeles vor drede nouȝt, Ac vor he wolde his time abide, . ar he were to deþe ibrouȝt. As iosep and marie . þis swete child vorþ ladde [A. R.: De miraculis in itinere.] Line 1035 Toward þe lond of egipt, . as þe angel hem radde: As heo þorw tounes wende, . ȝonge children come And siwede þis swete child . & maden him ioie ilome. Lute wyt þeiȝ heo couþen, . ȝet heo miȝten for beren nouȝt To solacen heore ȝonge lord, . þat þer was ibrouȝt. Line 1040 þo heo comen in to egipt, . in here wey stod a treo [A. R.: De arbore uertuosa.] þat of gret vertue was, . non more ne miȝte beo: þat, whose þer of eni þing . aboute is nekke bere, ffruit oþer rinde oþer lef . oþer eniþing þat þer of were, Vnneþe was eni vuel, . þat he nas hol anon. Line 1045 So gret vertue hedde þe treo; . hit helede monie on. Anon þo oure lord and is moder . in to egipt wende, þe treo bowede þe crop to grounde . & þe middel narwe bende; Adoun hit aloutede to oure lord . boþe crop and more, And vpriȝt stod seþþe aȝen, . þo oure lord was þer forþ ibore. Line 1050 To þe cite heo comen þo, . ac herbarwe nadden heo non. [A. R.: De simulacris in templo.] To þe heiȝe temple heo wenden, . þer vch mon miȝte in gon. þre hondred maumetes and fiue & fourti . in þilke temple were; To grounde heo vellen euer vch on, . anon þo oure lord com þere; Stonden ne miȝten heo no lengore, . þan he among hem cam, Line 1055 þat here maister was imad . & here power bi nam. In egipte was þis swete child . and is moder also [folio 39] [A. R.: De uita illorum in egipto.] And Josep in meseise inow, . vorte seue ȝer were ido. Mid spinninge and sewinge . oure swete ladi milde Bi wan here mete þulke time . to hem and to here childe. Line 1060 I seo ȝe now, wuch gret pruide . he drow forþ, þe heiȝe king, [Vor wuch fehlt wiþ.] þat he nadde whar bi libbe, . þe lord of alle þing, Bote mid spindle and mid nelde . his moder hi(m) bi wan? [Ms. hi st. him.]

God ensample þis may beo, . me þinkeþ, to pore man: Whan þe king of alle kinges . to such pouerte gan drawe, Line 1065 Me þinkeþ, whose him vnderstode, . of pouerte auȝte be vawe. Suþþe heroudes þe king, . as oure lord grace sende, In serwe and wrecchede inow . out of is lif wende. He was king seuene and þritti ȝer, . ac þer nouȝt to vewe, Al to muche bi vche day, , vor he was euere aschrewe. [A. R.: De mortis Herodis.] Line 1070 Muche wo an erþe he dude, . & þo he hedde al ido, His owne sones he slow þreo, . þ^t schrewen weren al so, þat awaiteden hire (fader) to sle . vor is kinedom, [Nach hire fehlt fader.] And was fel and cam bi fore . & here lif hem bi nom. [he fehlt vor was.] In such anguise he was him self . & in torment so, Line 1075 þat he wolde him self habbe islawe, . ȝif emiȝte ha come þer to [ha st. han.] Ate laste he þouȝte wel . þat ehedde be such aschrewe, And men wolde be glade vor his deþ, . & lute sori vewe, And riȝt hit were to plaine . þe deþ of aking; And, ȝif heo nolden for is lif, . he þouȝte heo scholden for oþer þing. Line 1080 þer fore þo he scholde deiȝe, . þe hexte of is londe Bifore him he let to deþe do . in serwe inow and schonde, þat hei þat bilafte a liue . of here frendes iwis Vor heore deþ maden deol, . whan heo nolden for his: So þat in o manere oþer in oþer . deol were at is deþe. Line 1085 Al mest ibischrewe him, . ich vor bere vnneþe. And þe schrewe was of liue, . archelaus is sone [A. R.: Et quo|modo archelaus regnabat post ipsum. Nach and fehlt þo.] King was imad after him, . as lawe was and wone. þe furste ȝer, as god wolde, . of is kinedom Josep wiþ þe swete child . out of egipte com. Line 1090 In whuche manere he þenne wende, . þe gospel deþ vs lere þat biginneþ at twelfþe eue, . & is mad on þis manere: [A. R.: s. M. Defuncto herode; s. Math. 2, 19.] þo þat heroudes was ded, . oure lordes angel aliȝte In slep to Josep in egipt, . and seide him in siȝte: . . . [fehlen mehrere Verse.] Into þe lond ecom of isrl . . þo herde he tidinge Line 1095 þat after heroudes is fader . Archelaus was kinge

In þe lond of Jude: . he dradde þider wende; I hote he was ek in his slep . of þe angel atenende, And com into galilee, . & wonede þo þere In þe cite of nazareth; . þat hit folfulled were Line 1100 þat of þe prophetes was iseid: . þat escholde icleped beo Of nazareth and bere þe name. . þe encheson me may seo: Vor oure ledi was þer ibore . and also biȝete, And oure lord þere in hire aliȝte, . as we findeþ iwrite; And vor heo eke to nazaret . vrom egipt wende iwis, Line 1105 þer fore ihū of nazareth . oure lord iclepud is. þis child ihc wax ful wel . & iconforted was also, And fol was of wisedom, . & godes grace in him was do. And is frendes to ierlm . wenden euer vch ȝer, Ate feste of Aster . to siwe þe lawe þer. Line 1110 þo ihc was of twelf ȝer old . and twelf ȝer were ido, [A. R.: s. M. (st. L.) Cum ihs ēet XII annorum; s. Luc. 2, 42.] Heo wenden forþ to ierlm . vpe þe custom þ^t was þo, Vpe þe feste of ester day. . & þo þe dawes ido were: So þat heo wende hom aȝen; . and þe child ihc þere Bilafte in ierlm, . & is kunesmen nusten it nouȝt, Line 1115 A wenden he were hamward . among þe volk ibrouȝt. [Ms. A st. An.] So þat heo wenden and souȝten him . hammard a iorneie Among his cuþþe and is kun, . and also bi vche weiȝe. To ierlm heo turnden aȝen, . þo heo ne miȝten him noȝt seo, And souȝten him þer in vche side; . & after dawes þreo Line 1120 Amidde þe maistres heo founden him . in þe temple sitte, And herknede and apposede hem, . so þat of is witte [Ms. asposede st. apposede.] And of is answere al so . and of is queintise Alle þat herden him . wondreden in here wise. Sone, quaþ oure ledi, . what hastow vs ido? Line 1125 Wel sori we þe habbeþ isouȝt, . þi fader and i^c also. What is þat, quaþ þis oþer, . þat ȝe me habbeþ isouȝt? Neste ȝe þ^t in mi fader þing . i moste nede be brouȝt? þis word þat he spak to hem . heo ne vnderstode nouȝt, Vor hit was al of his god hede; . þer fore heo weren in þouȝt. Line 1130 þis child aliȝte adoun to hem, . & to nazareth cam,

And was in here warde forþ. . & his moder nam God ȝeme of alle is wordes . & in hire herte hem hedde ido. Ihc wex wel in elde . and in wisedom al so And in grace aȝen god . and aȝen men iwis. Line 1135 þe ende as me rat in churche . of þulke gospel is þis. þat word of his fader þing, . of whom þis child sede, Was þat it fel to is fader . of wisedom speke and rede; And vor þe temple wiþ riȝte eke . was of is fader fe, þer fore he seide he moste nede . in is fader þing be. Line 1140 þo marie nom so god ȝeme . of is wordes vchon, þat was, whan (men) axeden out, . to tellen hit hem anon. [Nach whan fehlt men.] þis child was for lore, for me . criede in þe temple faste þat vche mon stode bi is per, . þe while þe feste laste, Man bi man and child bi child . and wommon bi oþer also; [folio 40] Line 1145 So stod vch þing bi is per, . vorte feste were ido. [Vor feste fehlt þe.] So þat ihc vrom is frendes . among children was ibrouȝt, And heo nusten whar he bicam, . ar he were wide isoutȝ. þo archelaus hadde . niȝe ȝer king ibeo, So proud he was & so luþer, . as vche mon miȝte seo, Line 1150 þat þis it nolde þolie nouȝt, . ac is power him bi nome And heroudes, is broþer, maden king . þorw riȝte dome. Boþe heo weren heroudes sones, . þat king was bi fore, þat fondede oure lord to sle, . þo he was ibore. Heroudes, þis newe king, . and pilatus, þe Justise, Line 1155 And þe bisschop anne & caiphas, . þ^t of þe lawe were wise, Alle foure heo weren ate red . to bringe oure lord of dawe. Pilatus hadde þer bifore . vnder eroudes e beo; [Ms. e beo st. ibeo.] To rome he wende to þemperour . & ȝaf him of is feo, Vor to holde of þe emperour . þat he of eroudes huld er. Line 1160 þe emperour þus furst binam . eroudes riȝte þer. þer fore eroudes and pilatus . in wraþþe weren ibrouȝt, Ar god were to deþe ido, . acorded nere hi nouȝt, Vor þe gile þat pilatus . aȝen him hedde ido And þorw strengþe of þe emperour . his lond inome so. Line 1165

Line 1165 So proude were þis giwes euere, . þat þe emperour was wroþ. Heore pruide he wolde abati, . he swor is more oþ. Eroudes kinedom, þe olde, . e delede a vour partie, And tok eroudes and phelip . & here broþer lisanie Vchone apartie þer of, . þ^t eroudes sones were, Line 1170 And pilatus þe verþendel, . vort heo hem betre bere. Phelip hedde al iturie, . heroudes galile, And lisanie abiliue, . and pilatus Jude. [(Hier schliesst das Gedicht mitten auf der Seite ab, die andere Hälfte sowie die Rückseite von fol. 40 ist leer. Das Ged. ist wol nicht vollständig.)]