Altenglische legenden ...

III. Barlam und Josaphat
aus Ms. Bodl. 779.

Barlaam & Josaphat. [Der Titel fehlt im Ms., ist aber so vorn im Inhaltsverzeichnisse angegeben.]

(I)hon of damascene : telleþ vs þe storiȝe [Die Initiale I in Ihon fehlt ebenfalls, doch es ist Raum dafür gelassen.] Of barlaam & iosaphat, : to haue hem Im memoryȝe. [Ms. Im st. In, wie v. 163. [Berichtigungen (p. XLIV) add: Das im Ms. häfige i m st. in is wol nur also Verschreibg. anzus.]] Barlaam tornyd Iosaphat, : þe king̛ sone of egipte, [Die Abkürzung ̛ für die Endung des Nom. Plur. und Gen. Sgl. wird zwar sonst in der Regel nur für us gebraucht, jedoch ist es sehr wahrscheinlich, dass sie in diesem Gedicht für is gebraucht ist, da, wenn nicht abgekürzt, sich nur is als Endung findet und auch meist in den Endungen des Verbs und in den Ableitungssilben i statt e gebraucht ist; nur im Adv. þ̛ scheint ̛ für us gebraucht, wie V. 108, 251, 902, 1060, 1084, u. ö., wie es auch V. 211, 1164 ausgeschrieben þus lautet, obgleich sich auch þis in derselben Verbindung (mit seide) findet, z. B. 721, 754, 851, und þ̛ stets mit is reimt; v. 419 findet sich þis durch þ^s ausgedrückt; vs reimt mit iwis v. 1238.] & fro fals be leue : to cristindom hym kipte. [folio 289] In þe lond monk̛ : & cristinmen were. Line 5 Auenne heet þe king : þ^t wonyd þo þere; Monk̛ he hatid more : þan I of telle may, & euerymon þ^t willuid : to here abbay; [willuid f. st. willnid verschreiben zu halten, hindert d. Schreibung wilwid V. 492, welches doch wol dieselbe Bedeutung hat.] Cristinmen he harmyd: & monk̛ wit his myȝt, & w^t al his conseyl : he þouȝt hem euil dyȝt. Line 10 It be fel þ^t anobil mon, : þat þ^o wit hym was, Went in to wildirnes : & monk com by cas; [com st. bicom.] þey he were in king̛ hous : & gret honour hadde, Al þ^t he gan forsak, : for he þouȝt it badde. þo þe king herde þis, : sory he was & wroþ, Line 15 & þat he scholde be souȝt : ȝerne he swor his oþ. fforþ he sente messager̛, : þ^t haue hym I souȝt; þey founde hym & to þe king : þey haue hym I brouȝt.

þe king hym be held þo : In a foul cirtil; On him he schok his heed : & seyd: hastou do wel? Line 20 þ^u þat were wonyd wit me : be in cloþ̛ ryche, þ^u hast tornyd þy self : & gost vylliche; Lene beþ þy chekis : þ^t feyr were wonyd to be; þ^u hast maad a childis pley, : Iwis, so þinkeþ me. þyn honour þ^u hast tornyd : al in to folyȝe, Line 25 & me þinkeþ þ^t þ^u dost : þer of no cortesyȝe. Ȝif þ^u wolt, þis good mon seyd, : þe soþe wit of me, þou most þy fomon anon : dryue fro þe. þe kyng seyde : my fomon? : telle woche be þo! þe gode mon answerde : & hym seyde two: [& &, doppelt. two = to.] Line 30 Wraþþe & couetyse : draueþ men be hinde, & for þey ne schold þe soþe se, : makeþ hem alle blinde; [Ms. far st. for.] But tak to þy conseyl : soþnesse & queintyse, ffor to knowe soþnesse : þey þe wolle wyse. Myldelych answerid : þe king to hym þo: Line 35 After þat þ^u hast seyd, : I wis, I wille do; Sey what þat þ^u wolt, : I wolle þ^e nou here [t in wolt aus d corrigirt.] þat I nele wraþþe me : in no manere. ffolis wole, quaþ þis good mon, : þ^t lasting is forsake, & þ^t ne duriþ nouȝt long : þey strengþiþ hem to take; Line 40 & I þe segge forsoþe, : ryȝt ne knowiþ þey nouȝt þ^t ne haþ in lore wit sorwȝ : be fore it I bouȝt; þus it fariþ, leue syre, : I segge þe, by me: Heuin I wold knowe, : forsoþe I segge þe; Who so wil it knowe, : þis world he moot for saake, [þis aus þes corrigirt.] Line 45 þat ne last but a whyle, : & hard lyf to hym taake; ffor wit oute hard lyf, : þolyd in world þis, Ne may no mon wit ryȝt : come to heuin blis; For ihū crist oure lord, : þ^t god of heuin is, þo he was on crþe, : þolid pyne I wis; Line 50 ffor hym self he dede it nouȝt, : for vs it was do; þerfore we scholle w^t his help : for hym doon also. I wis, quaþ þe king to hym, : nadde I be hote þe

þ^t I schold wraþþe & couetyse : dryue fro me, Of þe I wold a wreke : In wraþþe be, Line 55 þat me schold þy reed blood : on grounde se. þerfore swyþe of my lond : þ^t þ^u now fle! Or w^t pyne & w^t wo : for doon þ^u schalt be. fforþ went þis good mon : in moche sorwȝ & wo, For he hopid ful wel : to deþe ben I do. Line 60 In þ^t ilke tyme : þe king nadde eyr none; þerfore he was sory : & made moche mone. God hym sente a knaue child, : þ^t was swyþe feyr, Josaphat it was I hote, : & scholde ben his eyr. To þe temple þey went, : his offring for to doon. Line 65 & after astronomyis : þe king leet sende anon, þat þey schold stodyȝe : in eueryche syde & telle hym what his sone : on erþe schold be tyde. Alle þey answerid: : gret lord he schold be, & agreet mayster swyþe wit al, : ȝif he most I þe. Line 70 þo seyd on, but nouȝt þorw him self : but þorw þ^e holy gost: [t in gost und wost hat ein Schleifchen, welches e be|deuten könnte, hier aber wol bedeutungslos ist.] þis child schal be conquerour : of þing þ^t þ^u wost, [t in gost und wost hat ein Schleifchen, welches e be|deuten könnte, hier aber wol bedeutungslos ist.] For þing þou louist most(!) : þis child haue chal, & þer þorwȝ oure hyȝe god̛ honour : he schal doun fal. þis þing of hym self : ne seyde he no þing, Line 75 But þorw þe holy gost, : þat tauȝt hym þis tokenyng. [Vor tokenyng ist tyding wegpunktirt.] þo þis ilke king : was in wraþþe & in care, For he nyste noþing : how he scholde fare, Ne he nyste on lyue : wher he myȝt hym do. A chaumbir ondir erþe : he leet make þo. Line 80 & anon his ȝonge sone : he leet do þer inne, For he ne schold of crist here : be no maner gyinne. þe feyreste childrin of þe lond : he leet to hym do, & bad nomon to hym spek, : of no maner sorw ne wo, Ne of no þing : þat myȝt do hym care, Line 85 But in alle wyse : make hym mery to fare. Of ihū crist he for bad : me scholde speke nouȝt, Lest he in any tyme : tornyd to hym his þouȝt.

Of seknesse & of elde : he heet hem al so þat þey ne speke, & ȝif any : þ^t w^t hym were I do Line 90 Were in syknesse or in sorwȝ, : do a wey þo, & nym an oþer in his sted, : þat ne ferd nouȝt so: So þat he were In ioyȝe : þorw alle þing, & þat he þouȝt nouȝt : on noþing to comyng. [folio 290] In þ^t tyme was wit þe king : amon wel preue, [Dieser Mann heisst im Mhd. Ged. Barachias.] Line 95 þat preuely louid wel ihū crist, : as þe book telleþ me. Wit þe king on aday : he went on hontyng. By þe wey þey founde : apore mon gronyng; Of abest he was hort : in his foot wel sore. Help he hym be souȝte : & seruise, for godd̛ ore. Line 100 þe king rood forþ his wey, : & no kep ne took, But louȝ & made game, : & vtterliche hym for sook. þis oþer alyȝte of his hors : anon in þilke stounde &, as he myȝt, : bond vp his soor wounde. þe pore hym be souȝt : seruise pur charyte, Line 105 & seyd: I may par awenture : in some þin helpe þe. — [þin st. þing.] þou I þe vndirfong, : I not what þ^u ca(n)st do. — [Ms. cast st. canst.] þe pore mon hym answerid : & þ̛ he seyd hym two: I am leche of word̛, : & þer of helpe I can; Ȝif any man Is hort : of word of man, Line 110 þou he be so hurt : þ^t hym greue sore, I hym wole hele, : & he do be my lore. þis knyȝt hym ondirfong, : & told þis for nouȝt, & sent hym to his hous : & haþ hym to hele brouȝt. Wit þe king were men þo : ful of enuiȝe, Line 115 þat gonne þis good knyȝt : wel foule be lyȝe. Of some þing þey seyde sooþ, : as I ȝow telle can: For þey seyd þat he was : a cristin man; But wel I woot þey seyde lees : of an oþer þing: þey seide he was aboute to nym : þe kingdom of þe king, Line 120 & þat he procurid þe baroun̛ of þe lond ffor to putte out þe king : w^t schame & wit schond. & ȝif þ^u wolt, þey seyde, : þer of wite þe soþe, Send after hym to morwȝ : þat he come to þe;

Tel hym: þis world, : as þe þinkeþ, is nouȝt, Line 125 þerfore to holy lyf : þ^u wolt torne þy þouȝt, &, for þ^u leuist on ihū crist, : monk þ^u wolt be come: So þ^u myȝt his wille : knoue al & some; Wel þou wost, leue syre, : ȝif he rad þer to, þat þe þing is al sooþ : þ^t we þe tel to. Line 130 þo þe king hadde al do : þ^t þey gonne hym rede, þe knyȝt fel to þe king̛ feet; : sore weping he sede: Ihū críst of heuin, þonkid moot þ^u be, þat hast my lord soch reed I sent, : as he here telleþ me. I wis, he seyde, leue syre, : triste me ne may Line 135 To þis false world : þ^t chaungeþ ech day: Nou ȝe seþ þe wedir is hoot & now cold, [fehlt: nach der ersten Halbzeile, wie v. 121. 289. 295. 477. 480. 513.] Now aman in his ȝouþe is : & now he is old, Now aman is ryche : & now in pouert I sete, [pouert st. pouerte auch v. 164 und 166, aber pouerte v. 162.] Nou aman is in gret chele : & nou brenneþ for hete, Line 140 Now me is in gret wele : & now me is in wo; þis world is vnstedfast, : ffor al þing faryþ so; [nach is ist vs wegpunktirt.] þerfore me þinkeþ I wis : it is þe beste reed, þat þ^u folwe þy þouȝt : þat þ^u me hast I seed. þe king answerid: : I wene wel þat þ^u do, Line 145 Worse þ^u woldist do by me, : ȝif þ^u myȝtist come þer two. Hom he wente to his hous, : & be þouȝt anon þ^t þe king in wraþþe : tok his word̛ echon, & þouȝt he scholde be harmyd : þorw þ^t ilke speche, But he were holpe of hym : þ^t was of word̛ leche. Line 150 To hym he gan segge : þe wraþþe of þe king, & how his oune word̛ : were þe be ginnyng. Wete it wel, quaþ þis oþer, : þe king haþ ondirstonde þ^t þ^u art aboute : to dryue hym out of londe; Arys vp to morwe erlich, : & kot about þin ere, Line 155 & alle þy cloþ̛ chaunge : & cloþe þe in here! Go erliche to þe king : in þe morwȝ tyde! Whanne þou comyst to his bed, : stonde a whyle be syde, & aske hym wel fayre : wher he redy be,

& sey: syre, redy I am, : here þou myȝt se; Line 160 In merþe we haue longe, : þou wost, to gedir be, þerfore I am redy to go : w^t þe to pouerte; For im my rychesse : þ^u hast me feyr founde, [Ms. im st. in.] I am redy wit þe : in pouert to be bounde; Wel þ^u wost in þy wele : þ^u madist me þy make, Line 165 þerfore in þy pouert : I nele þe forsake; Ȝif þer any þing be : þ^t greuous is to þe, & we to gedir ben, : þe lyȝter it schal be. As þis good mon tauȝt : þis knyȝt haþ I do, & seyd he was al redy : wit þe king to go. Line 170 þe king lay & herde : how he seyde þis; Moche wondir hym þouȝt : of þis þing I wis, & seyd: artow redy : for to go wit me? fforsoþe, quaþ þis oþer, : syre, þ^u myȝt se ȝe; Me for to go wit þe, : I woot it is ryȝt, Line 175 þer fore þ^u myȝt se : þer to I am dyȝt; & ȝif þer oþer wey be : þ^t þ^u wilt to take, I segge þe forsoþe, : I nele þe forsake. Wend aȝen, quaþ þe king, : I wille be þenke me; Haue þis in conseyl stille, : til I speke more w^t þe. Line 180 þe king wel ondirstood : by þis ilke þing þat alle here word̛ : nere but lesing, & euer he gan þe knyȝt : þ^e more honour do, & euer more þer after : þe more trist hym to. Iosaphat, þe king̛ sone, : maystris hadde of lore, Line 185 þat, þou he were so be loke, : tauȝt hym euere more. On þis world he gan þenche, : þou he it say selde, [Ms. scheinbar ho st. he.] For he was ny of tyme : of fyftene ȝer elde. [folio 291] [Nach ȝer ist er wegpunktirt.] A child þ^t hym was preue : wit speche swyþe softe, Whan he was in preuete, : he gan aske ofte, Line 190 Why he was so be schit : & ne moste out go, & seyd: whan he þouȝt þer on, : his herte was ful wo. Ne þer nys mete ne drink þer fore : þ^t me doþ gode. þe child hym answerid : wit wel mylde mode:

Syre, of þis reson, : I woot, þ^u most be stille; Line 195 ffor I woot þ^u art here : þorwȝ þy fadir wille, & wel þ^u wost aȝen hym : we ne mowe nouȝt be; þer fore, syre, make þe glad, : for loue I bidde þe. Mafey, quaþ þis oþer, : I wille gon out & pleyȝe, Er I ete mete, : þ^u I for hongur deyȝe. [Die Abkürzung ur st. er ist sehr selten, vgl. wondur 256, 288.] Line 200 þe child dede þ^e king to wit : of þis ilke þing, How nomon myȝt his sone : bring in glading. Swyþe sory was þe king, : þo he herde þis. His sone he sette a day : to wende out I wis. Boþe hous̛ & stretis : so feyr he leet dyȝte, Line 205 þat he ne scholde finde no þing : þ^t greuid his syȝte; Fayre hors he purueyed, : þ^t he on ryde scholde, & greyþid hym to his wil : al þat he haue wolde. As he rood on atym, : twey seke men he mette, Ablind mon & amesel, : þ^t ful fayr hym grette. Line 210 Anon he clepid his mayster : & þus seyde hym two: Sey me for my loue, : what beþ þese ilke two? Seke men, he seyde, : þey beþ boþe I wis. Schal ech mon, quaþ þis oþer, : þ^t leueþ, þole þis? Nay forsoþe, quaþ þis oþer. : þe child seyde þo: Line 215 May me knowe þilke men, : þ^t it schal come two? Nay I wis, quaþ þis oþer, : þe soþe of þis þing No man may wite : but god, heuin king. Hom þey went w^t þ^t word. : þ^e child was sory, ffor he ne knew nouȝt þis þing; : he nyst what do þer by. Line 220 But euer, whan his fadir : & he to gedir were, In as moche as he myȝt : he made glad chere. On a tyme as he rood, : an old mon he fond, [wlaffing ist richt. Lesart, v. wlaffen = blaffen, to stammer. [Note added from Berichtigungen (p. XLIV); original note read: Ms. wlaffing mit unten verdicktem l, als ob dieses aus oder in e oder a corrigirt wäre; ist waffing oder waaffing = wavering (ags. vafjan) zu lesen?]] Bleryid & wlaffing : & stouping to þe ground, Schabbid he was, his nose dropping, : loþliche on to se. Line 225 þis child askid anon, : what þis myȝte be. [Vor be ist se wegpunktirt.] His maystir hym answerde: : so old mon he is, þat for pure elde : hym is come al þis.

þe child askid anon: : schal ech mon þ̛ be falle? Nay I wis, quaþ þis oþer, : but ofte it doþ valle; Line 230 Whan aman leuid so long, : þ̛ he wole fare. Schal he leue long, quaþ þis child, : er he come to þis care? — In foure score ȝer or an hondrid, : þow men it leue selde, & seþþe after, to soþe, : we wytyþ of elde. Ȝe moot me segge, quaþ þis child, : þe ende of þis þing. Line 235 I wis, he seyde, to soþe : deþ is þe ending. [Ms. þey seyde st. he seyde.] þo seyde þis good child: : scholle men deyȝe echon? Ȝe I wis, quaþ his mayster, : þer may ascape non. [his aus þis corri|girt.] Her on þouȝt þis ȝong child : boþe nyȝt & day; So moche was his care : þ^t telle it I ne may. Line 240 Whan he was afore his fadir, : he made good chere, & pleyid & gamyd, : as hym no þing nere; Whan he was by hym self, : he gan to syke sore, & of þis ilke þing : fayn he wold lerne more. A monk þ^t wonyd in desert, : þ^t wel holy lyf ladde, Line 245 Barlam he was hote, : þ^t moche god dradde, He wiste þorw þe holygost : al þe child̛ þouȝt. Abyt of marchaund he hym nom, : & god hym þedir brouȝt. þe wey toward þis gode child : so longe he haþ nome, þ^t to þe child̛ mayster : ryȝt he is I come. Line 250 Wel fayre he hym grette, : & seyde to hym þ̛: Aryche marchaunt I am, : of ferne lond I wis; Apresyous ston I haue, : þ^t ȝeueþ þe blinde syȝt, Deue men to here, : my ston haþ þ^t myȝt, Doume men for to speke, : halte men to goon, Line 255 Fol̛ for to make wyse; : ne is þis a wondur stoon? Hedir I it haue brouȝt : for þe child̛ sake; [Ms. ursprünglich wyuis sake; dies ist wegpunktirt und child̛ sake dahinter geschrieben.] Ȝif þ^u makist me speke wit hym, : I wole it hym be take. þe child̛ mayster answerid: : broþer, leet me se & aproue þat ston, : ȝif he soch be, Line 260 So þou hast me fore told; : ffor erst, be my leute, To take hym to iosaphat : tit þe no leue of me. Do wey, quaþ þis good mon, : I swere be my sleue:

Ȝif þ^u sey þ^t ston, : he þe wold greue; [þe übergeschrieben.] ffor, þey my ston in some kind : be boþe good & ryche, Line 265 In an oþer kind he harmyþ, : I segge þe trewelyche: [Ms. segegge.] He þat seþ my stoon : in clene lyf moot be, & clene yȝen & gode haue, : or, I segge þe, He hym wole make blind anon, : or don hym harm more; & me þinkeþ to soþe : þ^t þyn yȝen beþ sore. Line 270 Wel, quaþ þis child̛ mayster, : seþþe it so is, In clene lyf am I nouȝt, : I know it wel I wis, & myn yȝen beþ sore, : wel I woot, al so, þer fore I nele þy ston se, : lest he me harm do; To my lord I wille go : & do þe hym come to; Line 275 þan myȝtow þy fayre ston : schewe ryȝt so. þo he com to Iosaphat, : þ^e child fayre hym grette, & vppon þe bench : fayre he hym sette. Of o þing, quaþ barlam, : syre, þou has wel wrouȝt: þat to þing þat semyþ feyr : þ^u ȝeuist þy wille nouȝt. Line 280 ffor a ryche king was sumtyme, : þ^t rood in his chare [folio 292] Nobeliche about, : boþe her & þare. Pore men he mette aday : by þe wey gon. þou he were ryche king, : to hem he leep anon, þow þey were pore : & loþlich on to se. Line 285 þe king to hem wel myldelich : sat adoun a kne, & dede hem wel gret honour. : þe men þ^t w^t hem were þer of hadde wondur : & speke to gedir þere: þat soche a king as he was ne scholde nouȝt do so; But þer was non of hem : þ^t dorst ondirneme hym þo. Line 290 To his broþer þey told : afterward þis þing, & þe broþir askid seþþe, : why he did so, þe king. þe king answerid: to morwe : come hedir erliche to me, & I wille of þis þing : þe soþe telle þe. þis king hadde a wondir wone to hy & to lowe: Line 295 Whan aman damnyd be, : þe king wolde blowe At his ȝate, þ^t were dampnyd, : atrompe; þ^t fel þer two, To schewe þ^t he were tretour, : & dampnyd al so. þe king anon on euin : his troumpour haþ sent

To bloue at his broþer ȝate, : to schewe his iugement. Line 300 Allas, quaþ his broþer, : what haue I mys do nowe? I here my lord̛ trompour : at my ȝate blowe, Now I woot to soþe : þ^t I worþ vndo; God woot þ^t I haue : nouȝt agilt þer to. þis mon gan hym dyȝte : & mad his testament, Line 305 ffor he wend to soþe : to be hangid or schent. In foule cloþ̛ on morwȝ : to þe king̛ ȝate he com. þo þe portor it wist, : fayre he him in nom, & haþ hym fayre anon ryȝt : to fore þe king brouȝt. To fore þe king he fel on kne, : & fayre hym be souȝt: Line 310 I noot what I haue þe agilt : in word ne in þouȝt; Haue mercy on me : for his loue þ^t þe bouȝt! þan seyde þe king: : arys! what eyliþ þe? I noot noþing þ^t þ^u hast : mys do a ȝen me; Syre, me þinkeþ þ^u dredist : þe blast of my beme, Line 315 I auȝt to dred sorere, : ȝif þ^u took ȝeme, þilke lord̛ beme : þat god & mon is, To whom boþe nyȝt & day : I do to moche amys; I may deme þy body, : of þy soule haue I no myȝt, & he may boþe body & soule : to his wille dyȝt; Line 320 þy bodylich pyne : wold be doon in a day, But þe pyne of þe soule, : þ^u wost wel, lastiþ ay. þou me askedist ȝister day : a wel wondir þing: Why I honourid pore men, : & I am so hy a king? [Im Ms. ist was wegpunktirt und I am übergeschrieben.] þat my lord̛ trompour̛ : I woot to soþe it were, Line 325 þat boþe day & nyȝt : bloueþ in myn ere, & biddiþ me þ^t I schold : come to mendement, Lest I be to helle dampnid : þorwȝ pure iugement. Allas þilke hard doom, : þat mon schal so be schent, Whan þe wrecche soule : is to helle went! Line 330 Now wost þe reson, : þ^t þ^u me askedist er; [hinter wost fehlt þow.] Sykir, leue broþer, : I dede it for fer. þe king leet make : foure fatis anon. þe tweyȝe he leet gilde wit out : & feyr be goon,

Of stinking bon̛ : þeke he leet fille, [hinter he fehlt hem.] Line 335 Vnneþe me dede hem þer in, : so foul it gan smelle. þe oþer twey he leet smere : wit pych & ter al so, & wit gold & ryche ston̛ : filde hem bo. After þilke wreyeris : he leet sende þere, & askid, of þe fatis : woch þe rycher were. Line 340 & þey hym answerid : & seyd anon: þilke two þ^t were : wit gold so be gon. þe king heet anon ryȝt : þat þey were vndo; Soche asmel þer com out : of þo fatis two, þat vnneþe anyman : myȝt þer a boute byde. Line 345 þus it fariþ, quaþ þe king, : by þis world̛ pryde; Feyr it gloriþ w^t oute, : wit inne it is nouȝt; Mony monn̛ soule : to helle it haþ brouȝt. þo leet þe king anon : vndo þ^t oþer two; Gold ryche & ston̛ : me fond in hem þo. Line 350 þus it faryþ, quaþ þe king, : by pore men I wis, þ^t wit gode verteuis : winnyþ heuin blis; Wit oute þey beþ loþlich, : w^t inne ryche, For þey leue hard lyf : & hat sinne treuliche. Here ȝe mowe þe soþe : alle men I se, Line 355 Wheyþer of þese two vesselis : schold honourid be; [hinter two ist ein w wegpunktirt.] But þe world doþ a mys : & honouriþ rychesse, & takiþ wel lyte kep : to come in any goodnesse; þerfore mon moot nede, : þ^t wole to god be take, Leue his oune wille : & þis world forsake. Line 360 After þat þis king seyd, : Iosaphat, I rede þe, þat þ^u loue ihū crist, : þ^t deyde on þe tre. Ȝit barlam hym told : an oþer þing I wis: Ihū crist hym selue, : þat god & man is; He haþ in hym self : fayr kynd̛ þre, Line 365 Holy writ w^tnessiþ it : & haþ I told it me: [I vor told ist undeutlich.] ffadir he is, & ek sone, : & ek holy gost; & alle þing he made : þ^t þ^u seyst & wost. [seyst = siehst, wie v. 437.] Mon he made to haue be : euer in paradys,

Amon it a gilte : þorw an appil I wis; Line 370 God hym seyde þat he schold : euere leue in wele & blisse, & of his oune wille : neuere more to mysse; But an oþer þing þer to : god to mon be heet: þat he scholde deyȝe, : ȝif he þe appil eet, [folio 293] & lese alle merþe : & þole alle wo. Line 375 & out of paradis I cast : sekir he was so, ffor he ete þe appil : þorw þe deuelis spelle; [Vor ete ist ein h wegpunktirt.] God hym ȝaf an hard doom, : his soule went to helle, & al þat of hym com, : for soþe ich segge þe, So wroþ was god w^t mon, : þat he nold hym se. Line 380 Mon hadde god forȝete, : þat on hym þouȝt he nouȝt, But w^t his oune hondin : he haþ hym I wrouȝt; & honouriþ ȝit, so þ^u sest, : his oune werching, & forsakiþ þilke god : þat made alle þing. A boue mon wente atyme : & wit his bowe pleyde; [ff. Diese Erzählung fehlt im Mhd. Gedicht.] Line 385 Alytil brid he cauȝte, : þ^t reuelich to hym seyde: I bidde þe for þy lord̛ loue, : haue mercy on me! For lytil good þ^u schalt winne, : þo^u þ^t þ^u me sle; Leet me freliche leue : & in my wey fle, & I þe wole teche anon : wisdom̛ þre; Line 390 & ȝif þ^u hem holde, : þ^u schalt þe beter be. Do sey, quaþ þis oþer, : & þ^u schalt haue lyf of me. — Ne leue þ^u neuer alle þing : þ^t þ^u myȝt here, For men lyeþ ofte moche, : whan þey speke I fere; Ne sorwe þ^u nouȝt to sore : for þing þat is lore, Line 395 ȝif it ne may be found, : ne sorw þ^u nouȝt þer fore; Ne desire þ^u neuer þ^t þing : þ^t þ^u myȝt haue nouȝt, For I wis al soche wil : comyþ of idil þouȝt. Mafey, quaþ þis good mon, : soþ þ^u seyst to me. & wit þilke word : þe brid he leet fle. Line 400 þo it was vp on hy, : þ^e brid hym seyd to: I wis þ^u dedist gret folyȝe, : þo þ^u leet me go, ffor among my gott̛ : I haue aryche ston, Also gret as an eyȝ, : gret verteu is þer on;

Hadde þ^u me slaue : & þ^t ston take, Line 405 Euere þ^u haddist be ryche : for þ^e ston̛ sake; But for þ^u hast þe ston lore, : I wis þ^u hast mys do. þo þ^e mon þis herd, : sykir hym was ful wo, & for þe lore of þis ston : he gan to syke sore, & þouȝte howȝ he myȝte : þe brid cacche more. Line 410 Brid, he seyde, cum to me, : &, whil þ^u art alyue, I wole þe finde at þy nede, : at hom w^t my wyue; Afeyr cage I wille make : for þe loue of þe, & in ioy & in myrþ : þer in þ^u schalt be; Moche þ^u schalt her after : haue þy wille; Line 415 Ne be þ^u noþing a drad : þat me schal þe spille! fforþ fley þis lyte brid, : & nold no leng abyde. þis ȝong mon wente wit his bouȝ : euere be syde, & prouid al þ^t he myȝt, : þ^s bryd for to sle. þ^e wisdom̛, quaþ þ^e bryd, þ^t I þe tauȝt : þ^u hast lore alle þre; Line 420 Herkene now how, : & I þe wolle telle. Beter Is haue þan weche(!),: & go, ȝif þ^u schalt deyȝe, þaⁿ dwelle. A ston, so gret as an ey, : how myȝt in my wombe be? Al my body is nouȝt so gret, : as ech mon may se. þ^u schet for to haue þ^t, : þou ne myȝt come þer two, [Vor þ^u fehlt wol þou.] Line 425 For I þe segge þ^u ne schalt : haue me neuere me. Wel I woot þ^u art sory, : for þ^u me hast lore; þ^u dost þer of folyȝe, : I for bede it þe be fore. þ̛ it fariþ be men of þis world, : þat leueþ amys Vppon here false god̛, : þ^t here oune werk is; Line 430 þey sekeþ help of here god̛, : þ^t mowe nouȝt do, & bydde of hem mony þing, : þ^t þey ne mowe come two; Wel me may wite to sooþ : þ^t þey beþ deue & doumbe, & hem selue helpe ne mowe, : sekir, in no stounde. þis world is to hem lych; : who so trist þer two, Line 435 Moche he worþ be gylyd, : al day we fynde so; þ^u seyst þ^t þis world : tornyþ vp so doun; Now mon is in feld, : & now he is in toun, I ne finde nomon : þ^t may dayis þre ffor noþing þat he may do : in one stede be; Line 440

Line 440 For þe flesch is so lostful : þ^t synnyþ, ech day It falliþ in to sinne, : forsoþe telle I may. So þat mon moot hym self : & þis world forsake, Ȝif he wille hym self : redy to god make. I woot þ^t þey beþ I lyche, : þ^t þis world louiþ þ̛, Line 445 To amon þ^t me telleþ of : in prouerbis I wis. Amon wente atyme, : so we fynde in geste, Hym self for to pleyȝe, : in wilde foreste. An vnycorn hym mette, : þat þouȝt hym to sle. For doute of þe deþ : þis mon gan to fle. Line 450 þe vny corn ran swyþe, : þe mon fleyȝ euer mo; So þ^t he com to a dep pit; : he fel wel nyȝ þo. By abouȝ of a lyte tre : anon he hym hent, & held hym swyþe faste, : þat he a doun ne went. To þe ground of þe pit : he gan to loke þo: Line 455 Aswyþe grisliche dragoun : he sey on grounde go; For to cacche þis mon : he ȝenede faste; Fer com out of his mouþ : at eueriche ablaste. Vppon þ^e rote of þe tre : twey mees he seyȝ, þ^t hadde al þe rote : frete wel nyȝ; Line 460 þ^t o mous was whit, : þ^t oþer blak was; Me þinkeþ þis mon : was in a wondir cas. In þat stede þer he stood : he sayȝ addris foure, þ^t pot out of þe erþe here hedis : & on hym gonne loure. In þe crop of þe tre : he say an honys drope; Line 465 For þe swetnesse þer of : þer on he cast his hope; Al þe peril for ȝat he, : þ^t he was in I do, For þ^e swetnesse of þe hony : þ^t he say þer þo. Who myȝte aske þilke mon, : ȝif he ne did folyȝe? I wene neuer mon, : but he wolde lyȝe. Line 470 By þe ony corn, þat I of telle, : deþ I ondirstonde, þat hontyþ boþe man & best, : & al þ^t is in londe; [folio 294] þou he fle neuer so fast, : ech mon deyȝe schal; Deþ ne spariþ noþing, : I woot, it chastiþ al. þe pit is þis world, : þat is so ful of wo, Line 475 Of couetyse & enuiȝe : & of wraþþe al so, & of oþer sinn̛, þ^t beþ many & fale; Nys nomon on lyue : þ^t hem may telle by tale.

þe lytil tre is monn̛ lyf, : þ^t is so vnstedefast, þat wit mony perilis a doun is I cast: Line 480 Wit syknesse & w^t elde : & w^t slauȝt also; Nys no mon on lyue : þ^t may triste þer two. þe dragon in þe pitt̛ ground, : helle mouþ it is, þat ȝenyþ after mann̛ soule : nyȝt & day I wis; þer is boþe pyne & wep, : þ^t lastiþ w^t oute ende; Line 485 Wo is hym on lyue : þ^t þedir schal wende. þe whyte mous & þe blak, : þ^t han þe tre I bete, Beþ þe nyȝt & þe day, : ech man may wite; Ech of hem amossel takiþ : of monn̛ lyf; How he may be glad, : I not, for child ne wif. Line 490 þe foure addrin beþ foure element̛, : þ^t be trende þe tre, & by here myȝt wilwid : þat it I schortid be; Foure tym̛ of þ^e ȝer : þey mowe be al so, þat euerich schortiþ monn̛ lyf, : go wher euer he go. þe lytil hony, þ^t he say, : is þis world̛ blis, Line 495 þat wel lytil is worþ, : ech mon woot þis; For þer was here ne ellis whare : neuer no mon [: doppelt, nach ne und nach whare.] þat leuid on erþe þre dayis : wit oute care non. Lo þese ȝonge childrin : þat ondirstonde nouȝt: By here wep me may wite : In care þey be brouȝt. Line 500 Whan me seþ it is lyte worþ, : þis wikkid wor(l)d̛ blis, [Ms. word̛ st. world̛.] Me þinkeþ þ^t eche mon doþ : al to moche amys, Ȝif he for a lyte swetnesse : trist to moche þer two, & forȝete þe perelis : þ^t he is in I do. [Ms. perelis, e scheint in i corrigirt.] How man may triste lyte to þis world, : by on lytil spelle, Line 505 Who so wole vndirstonde, : forsoþe I may telle. Aman lyuid a tyme : þ^t hadde frend̛ þre; More he louid þat on þan hym self, : ȝif it myȝte be; As moche as hym self : þ^t oþer he louid þo, & wold by his myȝt : euere for hym do; Line 510 þe þridde he louid a lyte : & for hym he did. þis good mon was bayly : of aryche sted, þer he lyuid long, & hadde his wille I wis [long überge|schrieben.]

Of þ^t ilke ryche stede : & alle þ^t þer inne is. I wreyid was seþþe þis good mon : to þ^e king wel faste. Line 515 þe king hym ofscnte, : his acount̛ to caste. þo nyste þis good mon : what on erþe to do; He caryd boþe nyȝt & day, : & þolid moche wo, By hym self he wep : & made moche mone, ffor he ne hadde of his acount̛ : knowleche none. Line 520 þer nas clerk þ^t coude þo : help hym þer two, & nedis his a count̛ : he moste ȝeue þo. To my frend̛, he þouȝt, : I wille anon go & look, wher þey wole nowȝ : any help me do; My frend̛ þey were, : þey seydin er þis, Line 525 Whil I hadde my wille : of þese world̛ blis; ȝif þat þey beþ kynde, : ȝit þey beþ al so, þey nelle me nouȝt forsake, : þou I be falle In wo. Anon to þilke frend : he wente be fore. þat he louid as hym self, : & aparty more. Line 530 Lyȝtliche he was wel comyd, : as hym þouȝte þare, So men beþ comeliche : þ^t beþ falle in care. [comeliche st. comenliche.] þis mon seyd : leue frend, : moche I triste to þe, þ^t þ^u me helpe in my (nede) : for loue I bidde þe; [hinter my fehlt nede im Ms.] þenk vppon þe gret loue, : þ^t þ^u hast louid me, Line 535 In my grete nede, : for loue I bidde þe; For I me drede sore : lest þ^t I be schent, To ȝild myn acount̛ : þe king me haþ of sent. & he hym answerid schortly: : what is þ^t to me? Ȝif þou hast wel I do, : þe bet þou schalt be; Line 540 Euil moot he falle : þ^t afoot wit þe go! I knowe þe nouȝt, : what schold I wit þe do? Oþer frend̛ I haue, : to dwelle w^t I wis, Hem I wille glade, : & make ioy & blis, For w^t me þey dwelliþ : al þis longe day; Line 545 Good mon, dwelle nouȝt, : but go forþ in þy way! þis good mon be þouȝt hym, : & was aschamyd sore, & þouȝte þ^t to þilke frend : he myȝte triste na more.

Ȝern he bad godd̛ help, : sykir hym was ful wo; & to his oþer frend sekir : he gan go. Line 550 To hym he seyde : leue frend, : þ^u wost wel, or þis þ^u me louedist moche, : þo I was in my blis; Help me in my tene, : for loue I bidde þe! To ȝilde myn a count̛ : þ^e king haþ sent for me. Sertis, quaþ þis oþer frend, : þy tene greueþ me sore; Line 555 & wel þ^u wite to soþe : þat I nele do na more: To þe castel ȝate : wit þe I wille go, & seþþe torne hom a ȝen, : whan I haue do so; So moche I haue to done, : þ^t I ne may tent to þe; þ^u most do þy beste, : ȝif it þy wille be, Line 560 ffor, be þou sykir, I nele, : for no maner sake, Let be myn oune werk : & to an oþer take. Carful was þis good mon : & wente þenn̛ þo; Helples he was in his nede : for hem boþe two. Me þinkeþ þ^t his loue : was euil be sette; Line 565 I rede ech man his loue : to be set bette. To his þridde frend : þis sely mon is go, & al haþ to hym told : his care & his wo. Leue frend, he seyde, : it greueþ me wel sore, [folio 295] Whyl I was of myȝt, : þ^t I ne did for þe more; Line 570 But for þe lyte loue, : þat I haue louid þe, In my grete nede I : bidde þ^u helpe me; My lord haþ after me sent, : þer of me stont drede, & I woot, wit oute þe : ne may I nouȝt spede. Be stille, quaþ þis oþer, : þer of is non eyȝe; Line 575 I wole þe helpe : by alle þilke weyȝe: Be fore þe lord my self : I wole wit þe go, & ȝilde þe þy mede, : þ^t þ^u hast for me do; For ech peny worþ good, : þ^t þ^u hast me do, I wole þe ȝeue an hondrid, : seþþe þ^u hast nede þer two, Line 580 & I wole þe helpe, : be þ^u nouȝt a gast! þat þ^u ne schalt for no þing : In presoun ben I cast; & be sykir euere mo, : whil þ^t I may stond, þou ne schalt be take : in to þy fomen hond. þis was a good frend, : for to triste to; Line 585 Leuere I hadde soch afrend : þan þe oþer two.

þe ferste frend þ^t was so fals, : þat I of told, þ^t amon more þan hym self : on erþe loue wold, It is world̛ catel, : þ^t fayliþ at þe nede; [fayliþ aus falliþ corrigirt; Ms. urspr. ne nede, zu nede cor|rigirt.] He þat most it gadirit : most liueþ in drede, Line 590 ffor worldis good hem doþ : in peril & in wo, & mony mon for world̛ good : beþ to deþe do; [mon st. men.] þou amon it loue moch, : it ȝildiþ liþer mede, & mon þ^t it seruiþ : ne may to heuin spede, ffor mon ne may I fere, : for nouȝt þ^t he may do, Line 595 Serue wel þe false world : & oure lord also; þerfore mon haþ fre wille, : þ^t he may wel chese ffor to winne heuin : oþer to lese. þat oþer frend þat I of spak : ofte me seþ, ffor monn̛ wif & childrin : & erþelich þing it beþ; Line 600 To þe pitt̛ brinke : wit þe dede þey wille go, & seþþe torne hom, : here ded̛ for to do. Gold, seluer, & lond : þou he haue be ȝete, Wit inne twey ȝer or þre : sone he worþ for ȝete. Asely almesse bred for hym : oþer whyle me wole ȝeue, Line 605 Wherþoru þe sely soule : mow þe beter leue; So may þe sely soule : ligge wel long In þe pyne of purgatory, : & be pynyd strong, Er eny of his frend̛ : aryȝt hym wil helpe. þat þey beþ gode frend̛, : I not he may ȝelpe. [undeutlich, ob he oder ho.] Line 610 þe þridde frend þ^t I of spak, : þ^t was trewe & gode, þat þis mon In is wele : wel lyte ondirstode: [Ms is In wele, st. In is wele.] Hope loue & truþe : & oþer almes dede, [fehlt it beþ.] þat mon scholde loue wel : þat scholde good lyf lede. But þese gode þeuis : of lond beþ dreue echone Line 615 þorwȝ wraþþe pride & couetyse, : þ^t beþ here fone; þerfore þis fals world : goþ by experment; & men for defaute of loue : ofte beþ I schent. þe preson, þ^t he schold in be do, : þ^t is þe pyne of helle, þ^t for defaute of acount̛ : mon schal in dwelle. Line 620 þe dedis of his lyf : schal his acount̛ be;

þer to ech mon mot tak kep : þat hopiþ sauid to be. Good is þ^t ech mon þenk, : þ^t he ne fayle nouȝt, How he haþ his lyf leuid, : in werk word & þouȝt. þ^e soumme of his a count̛ : man mot a ȝer take Line 625 Swyþe mony tym̛, : good acount̛ to make; For at euery tyme : þ^t mon haþ sinne do, Forme of a count̛ : he moot make þer two; ffor euery mys dede : In dette he is I wis For to ȝeue acount̛, : & ellis he doþ amys. Line 630 But þe tayl be to broke : & þe gilt for ȝeue, Monn̛ soule may nouȝt : in heuen blisse leue. Ech day mon be houiþ : his tayl to breke, Er, I woot to soþe, : in helle he schal be steke; [er st. or.] Oþer at on a count̛ : amon may breke echon, Line 635 But beter it were, me þinkeþ, to breke on & on. þe fomen, fro whom he wold hym kep, : þe deuelis beþ I wis, þ^t makiþ monn̛ soule : euer to don amys; [Ist bodi st. soule zu lesen?] þ^u þe soule it witsegge, : & þe dede be I do, For þ^t ilke dede : to pyne þey scholle bo; Line 640 Worse fon þer beþ none, : þan þey beþ I wis, For þey fondiþ w^t here myȝt : to make men don amys. þerfore I rede ech man : kepe hym fro his foon, & purchase soche frend̛ : þat he mowe triste vppon. How mon hym schal dyȝte : her in world þis, Line 645 Ȝif he wole wit hele : come to heuin blis, By atale me myȝt lerne, : who so wold here, [Vor here ist lerne wegpunktirt.] þat he myȝt his lyf lede : in þ^c beter manere. A maner was in a contre, : þ^t ech ȝer chese þey wold A prince, astrong mon : þ^t hem gouerne schold; Line 650 þat man king scholde be, : ac at serteyn tyme I wis, But nomon scholde wite : woch were tyme his; For þ^e men of þe contre, : whan here tyme com, Out of þe lond hym wold fleme : al w^t oute doom In to aserteyn yle, : þer he schold dwelle, Line 655 To suffre sorwe & wo : more þan I may telle. On atyme it be fel, : astrong mon þey tokin

& made hym king of þe lond, : hem alle for to lokin. þis man hym so be louid : w^t men of þe contre, & suffrid ech of hem : his mayster to be: Line 660 Al þ^t þey wold rede, : al þ^t þey wold do, [Ms. þey in der letzten Hlbz. st. he.] & wende hem fynde frend̛, : & fond hem as fo; For, þo þey sey here tyme, : þey nom hym at þ^e last & wit moche schame : out of þe lond hym cast. þer he lay wel longe : & þolyd pyne & wo, [folio 296] [Ms. rorwȝ st. sorwȝ.] Line 665 Ne myȝte nomon telle þe sorwȝ : þ^t he þolid þo. þo þis man was out cast, : an oþer þey ches anon To be king of þe lond : & weld hem ech on. þe king, þo he was chose, : was wel war By þ^e king afore hym, : þ^t was mad so bar : Line 670 In to þe yle, þ^t I of spak, : þ^e tresour he hent, [Ms. Ihc st. he verschrieben.] Wit wel trewe messager̛ : anon þedir it sent, In moche wele & ryches : for he wolde lyue, Whan he were par auenture : in to þis yle I dreue; þerfore he haþ in þe yle : his tresour I do. Line 675 Al redy he it fond, : þo he com þer two. þe contre þ^t I of told, : þe foule world it is; þe borgeys of þe contre : sinn̛ it beþ y wis, As pride gloteny & couetys, : & oþer sinn̛ also, þat euere dwelliþ in þis world, : go mon wher he go. Line 680 þe strong mon þ^t is king, : þ^t is, I ondirstonde, Euerymon & woman : þ^t leuiþ in þis londe. Kyng þey beþ chose I wis : hem self for to gyȝe, & to do wel oþer wroþerhele : he hadde þe maystryȝe. þis yle, wel I woot, : purgatoryȝe is, Line 685 þat mon schal inne dwelle, : after he doþ amys. þ^e tresour is worldis good, : þ^t ech mon w^t his myȝt Strengþith hym to winne : boþe day & nyȝt. Ȝif he send his tresour : be fore in to þe yle [Ms. int mit weg|punktirtem t.] By pore men for godd̛ loue, : he noot woch whyle Line 690 Ech peny & peneworþ : þer he schal fyinde, & he may loke after þat, : þat he leueþ be hinde.

I rede þerfore þ^t nomon : triste to haue socoure Of non erþeliche frend, : ne of non secatoure, But do so þ^t he mowe : his tresour finde wel, Line 695 ffor þ^t he leueþ be hinde hym : he leseþ ech a del; & þou me wele hym ouȝt ȝeue, : it worþ late & long, þou þ^e soule ligge : in peyne swyþe strong. þo he hadde al þis I seyd, : þe child hym answerid anon: Syre, god ȝilde þe þy reed! : w^t þ^e I wele goon, Line 700 Ȝif it be þy wille, : I nele neuere mo Parte out of þy company, : for wele ne for wo. Barlam hym answerid : : ȝif þ^u do þis, To aryche monn̛ sone : þ^u art lych I wis: A gret lord̛ douȝter : to wyue he schold take. [Ms. þ^u schalt st. he schold.] Line 705 He answerid & seyd, : he nolde haue no make. & for he nold in no wis : to here I spousid be, Out of his fadir lond : wel fer he gan fle. Forþ he went in his wey, : as god hym had dyȝt, & at alyte pore hous : his in he took anyȝt. Line 710 þo it be fel to þe tyme, : he to his bed gan go; & þo he hadde a whyle I leyȝe, : be syde he lokid þo, & sey þe pore monn̛ douȝter, : þ^t ȝhe knelid a doun & þonkid god swyþe : in here orysoun. Moche wondir hym þouȝt : þat ȝhe dede so, Line 715 For hym þouȝt þ^t god here had : lyte good do. [Ms. hele st. here.] To þe mayde he spak þer of, : & askid, how it were þ^t ȝhe þankid so god : for lytil good þere; & seyd to here : þou þy god : þe hadde ȝoue gold & fe, þ^u ne myȝtist hym more þonk, : al so þinkeþ me. Line 720 þe pore mayde answerde : & seyde to hym þis: þe hyȝe god of heuene : I wile honoure I wis, For, as lytil medesyne : gret euil doþ a wey, Al so alyte world̛ good : wel moche helpe may. To maner godis, I find, : þer beþ in world þis : Line 725 þ^t on nys nouȝt oure, : I woot wel I wis, þ^t oþer is oure oune, : whil godd̛ wille is: þ^t beþ oure fyf wittis, : þ^t he leneþ vs I wis;

To some men he lenyþ some, : & to some men echon; þ^e more þat he vs lenyþ, : þ^e more þonk is þer on. Line 730 þe worldis good is nouȝte oure, : for nouȝt it wele go, [Ms. it nouȝte:, mit wegpunktirtem n, u. t in nouȝte aus r (oder þ) corrigirt; es ist wol zu lesen is nouȝt(e); in der 2. Hlbz. sollte es heissen for for nouȝt.] & for it wole by on whyle : aȝen come vs two; & now it wole al clene : erþelich men forsake, [u. 4 Im Ms. nicht deutlich ob wole oder wele zu lesen.] & now it wole holliche : to aman hym be take. To an heep of snowȝ : likene it I may, Line 735 þ^t is to day wel breme, : & to morw molt a way. Erþeliche good he haþ me be nome, : þ^t me ne trist nouȝt, But myne fyf witt̛ : he haþ be nome nouȝt. After his lyk nesse : he haþ mad me, & to my seruise ȝoue : al þ^t I may se; Line 740 He haþ me grantid : þat I haue knowleching Of good & of harm, : to kepe me fro sinnyng. To his blis he haþ me clepid : þorw his holy grace, & in heuin he haþ mad : þ^t I haue aplace. þerfore I hym wole honoure, : as ryȝt is, Line 745 For þilke grete ȝ(i)ft̛, : ellis I dede amys. [Ms. ȝft̛ st. ȝift̛.] þo he þis herd, : his wil com hym wel blyue þat þis pore mayde : he wold haue to wyue. To here fadir he went, : & haþ of hym I bede þat he hym to wyue ȝeue : his douȝter in þe stede. Line 750 þe pore mon answerid: : vnkinde it were to þe, [Hinter to ist me wegpunktirt.] Soche apore womon : þy wif for to be. Euer more þis child : bad wel ȝerne I wis; & þe fadir answerid : & seyde to hym þis: I ne may þis mayde : ȝeue þe nouȝt to spouse, Line 755 Ȝif þ^u here wole lede : to þy fadir house; For I ne haue no douȝter, : þou wost wel, but here on, & I woot wel þat gret eld : is come me vppon; [folio 297] Ȝif þou wolt here haue, : sekir I segge þe þat ȝe moot boþe : dwelle here wit me. Line 760 þis ȝong mon answerid : wit speche wel stille: Wit þe I wille be leue : & be at þy wille.

His ryche cloþ̛ he of did, : & oþer abit to hym nom, & to þis old pore mon : wel bouxum he be com. þis ȝong mon he be tok : his douȝter to wyue. Line 765 Boþe þey hym seruid : wit here myȝt wel blyue. þo þis old man had : þis ȝong mon asayid & in his seruise : swyþe wel apayid, In to his chaumbir on a day : þis ȝong mon he ladde, & scheuid hym þe tresour : þ^t he þer in hadde. Line 770 þo þis ȝong mon it say, : to wondre he be gan; Hym þouȝt rycher tresour : hadde neuer no man. Nowȝ, quaþ þis old mon, : for þ^u hast seruid me, Al þis tresour anon : I wole it ȝeue þe, þat & moche more : I wille her after schewe; Line 775 þ^t þ^u hast seruid me, : ne schal þe noþing rewe. Allas, quaþ Josaphat, : þis is seyd be me, & wel I woot to soþe, : it auȝte wel to be, & wel I woot to soþ, : of me þ^u myȝt it make; þerfore, ȝif it were þy wille, : I wold me be take. Line 780 & ȝif it were þy wille, : I wold wyte of þe Of hou mony ȝer̛: þ^t þ^u old be. I wot, quaþ þis oþer, fyf & sixty ȝer : myn elde is. Ȝe I wis, quaþ iosaphat, : & more I wis, ffor I it may segge : al wit oute wene Line 785 þ^t þ^u art of elde : sixty ȝer & tene. Sykir, quaþ barlam, : þ^u hast wel ondirstonde I wis Alle þe ȝer̛ þ^t I haue : leuid in world þis; But fyue & syxty ȝer : I haue cristin mon be: þilke I auȝt acounte, I wis, : so þinkeþ me; Line 790 þe oþer a counte I nouȝt, : ne nele neuere mo, For I woot þ^t I was : in mys be leue þo; & I wone forsoþe : in þe wildirnes of samar. Wolde god, quaþ iosaphat, : þat we were boþe þar! & þedir I wole nowȝ : wit þy leue go w^t þe. Line 795 Wite it wel, quaþ barlam, : it may nouȝt so be, ffor wel I woot to soþe, : fro me þ^u worst take, & mony holy men slawe : schol be for þy sake; But þou schalt at þy wille : come þedir to me; But cristni þe I wille, : ȝif þ^u wolt it so be. Line 800

Line 800 I wis, quaþ þis oþer, : al redy I am þer two; Swyþe glad were I, : were þ^t I do. Josaphat was cristenyd : þ^o of barlam. & after he hym kiste, : þo he his leue nam: In to desert he went, : godd̛ wil to abyde. Line 805 þat Josaphat was cristenyd : anon me wiste wyde. So þ^t it com sone : to auenne þe king. [Im Anfange, vor so, steht im Ms. ein o, welches zu tilgen.] Wel I woot, sory he was, : þ^o he herd þe tyding. Allas, seyde auenne, : my sone is for lore; Me for þinkeþ þ^t euer : he was I bore; Line 810 & I ne haue, wel ȝe witeþ, : sone but hym on, & þou I wolde, quaþ þe king, : þat his lyf dayis were doon. I wold, quaþ þe king, : he were brouȝt afore me, þat I myȝt þ^e soþe wite, : what his encheson be. Anon wit þilkc word : Josaphat me nam Line 815 & askid, who hym tauȝte. : he seyde: barlam. Arachis het a gret lord : þat w^t þe king was þo. I woot, he seyde to þe king, : ful wel what þ^u schalt do: An old ermyte I knowe, : in þy lond nys non soche, In body he is & in spech : barlam I liche, Line 820 He be leueþ trewliche : on oure lawe; Ȝif þ^u after hym send, : he wole be wel fawe; Send after hym quiklich : þ^t he come þe two, & al þ^t barlam haþ seyd, : I woot he wol vn do; [vor vndo ist do wegpunktirt.] fferst he schal him feyne : þ^t he cristin is, Line 825 & after he schal ben ouer come, : & wel suffre þis. Arachis & þe king þo : in to wildirnesse gan wende, For to nyme barlam, : ȝif þey myȝt come hym hende. þo þey sey þ^t þey ne myȝt : barlam finde nouȝt, Nacor for hym þey haue nome : & to þe court brouȝt. Line 830 Al þ^t he schold do : þey tauȝt hym be þe weyȝe. He seyde, he wold gladlich, : & leue for non eyȝe. Anon þo þe king was : hom to court I come, Me tolde to Josaphat : hou barlam was I nome. Sore wep þis ȝong mon : þo for þilk tydinge, Line 835

Line 835 His yȝen he cast vp to heuin : & his hondin gan wringe. Lord, he seyde, ihū crist, : what schal barlam do? I woot, my fadir wold fayn : þ^t he were for do; I nold in no wise : þ^t he deyd for me, Fayn I wold hym helpe : on lyue to be. Line 840 Wit þat ilke word : an aungel to hym alyȝte. þe ȝong mon was a gast, : for he schon so bryȝte. Josaphat, he seyde, : ne drede no þinge þe! Barlam is in þe stede : þer he auȝt to be; [Ms. barlan st. barlam.] It is nouȝt barlam, : but it nacor is, Line 845 þat þy fadir haþ of sent, : to gyle þe I wis; þerfore doþ god þe to wit : þat þ^u ne be a gast, For þorwȝ þe schal nacor : of þis lyf be cast. Wit þat ilke word : þe aungel to heuin went. Josaphat þonkid god : of grace þ^t he sent. [vor grace fehlt þe.] Line 850 þe fadir wente to his sone : & to hym seyde þis: I haue nome barlam, : þ^t tauȝt þe of ihesus; [þe aus me corrigirt.] I noot wher þ^u it finde : to anoyȝe so me: So feyr I haue be my myȝt : euer honourid þe; Wel þ^u wost how þ^u hast : chaungid my fare, [folio 298] Line 855 ffor þ^u hast my moche wele : tornyd in to care; Myn hore lokk̛ þ^u hast mad : me for to drawe, & I ne may þonk þe more : þan þou me haddist slawe; þe lyȝt of myn yȝen : þ^u hast mad aslake, For þou hast take to god : & myne god̛ forsake. Line 860 ffadir, quaþ iosephat, : god þ^u þonke myȝt: I haue forsake derknes : & am I come to lyȝt, ffro al manere falsnesse : I me haue dyȝt, & þorw þe help of ihū crist : I am take to ryȝt; [Ms. ilū st. ihū.] þerfore I þe bidde, : on ydil trauayl þou nouȝt, Line 865 For þ^u schalt fro ihū crist : neuere torne my þouȝt; Whan þ^u myȝt heuin : areche wit þin hond & dreyȝe þ^e water of þe se, : so þ^t þ^u se al lond, þan myȝtow, forsoþe, : fadir, I segge þe, ffro crist̛ seruise : ryȝt so bringe me. Line 870

Line 870 Allas, sone, quaþ þe king, : who haþ do me þis sorwe? But I þ^t haue foluid þy wil : on euin & on morwe? Nas neuer king þ^t myȝt : his sone do More þan I haue do to þe, : & þ^u seruist me so! þerfore, I se, þou art : aȝen myn heed aryse; [se aus so corrigirt.] Line 875 Wel auȝt here afterward : oþer men by me agryse ffor to do his sone honour, : as I haue do þe, Lest he aryse aȝen hym, : as þ^u art a ȝen me. Wel seyde þe clerk̛, : þ^t tolde me fore In þe tym þ^t þ^u wer : of þy modir bore: Line 880 Vn buxum, þey seyde, : þ^u scholdist be al þy lyf, & aȝen alle oure god̛ : w^t þy myȝt strif. þerfore I segge: : but þ^u do after me, Euer more her after : þy foman I wole be; þer was neuer fomon to oþer : þ^t dede so moche wo, Line 885 As I wole her after : wit my myȝt þe do. Josaphat answerid: : ȝif þ^u art fadir myn, ȝif I torne to gode : it is manschipe þin; But ech fadir for his sone : ouȝt glad be, Whan þe sone to gode tornyd, : I wis, so þinkeþ me; Line 890 & I þe segge for soþe: : ȝif þe ruiþ my gode, I ne hold þe nouȝt my fadir, : but I hold þe wode; þerfore I þe segge, : & wite it to soþe: ȝif þ^u me greuist her after, : I nele nauȝt come to þe, But, as þ^u were an addre : þ^u woldist me stinge, [fehlt wol & in der 2. Hlbz., oder þ^u st. þ^t.] Line 895 I wole þe fle, but þ^u þ^e chast : of þis ilke þinge; Ne I nele neuere more : fadir clepe þe; þerfore do what þy wille is, : & tak no kep of me! þan wente þe king, : þo (he) herde þis, [vor herde fehlt he.] What for sorw & for wraþ, : ny wood I wis. Line 900 To arachis, his gode frend, : he told al þis þing; & he wit fayre word̛ : þ̛ seyde to þe king: For I wene me schal : childrin w^t fayr speche Beter chastise, þan me schal : wit beting & w^t wreke . . . . . [fehlt ein Verspaar.] þo on morwe be king com, : & kyste his sone swete, Line 905

Line 905 & bad hym þ^t he schold : his foly for lete. Leue sone, he seyde, : lo myn hed is hor; þ^t þ^u me hast gramyd : þin hert auȝt be sor; Woldistou leue þy folyȝe : & do after me, Boþe vs myȝt on lyue : þ^e beter þanne be; Line 910 þou wost wel þ^t þy be leue : auȝt be ryȝt nouȝt, For who þer on be leuiþ, : to deþe he is sone brouȝt; & ech sone to his fadir auȝt buxum be; þerfore let be þy pride, : & be buxvm to me! Loue me, & I wolle þe (do) : as ryȝt is to done, [hinter þe fehlt do.] Line 915 & but þ^u wolt, an oþer þing : I wil do wel sone. Josaphat hym answerde: : tyme to loue it is, & tyme is to hate, : þ^t wot ech man I wis; Of werre þer is tyme, : & of pes also; & þ^t falliþ to tyme : ech mon auȝte to do; Line 920 Schame it were, ȝif aman : schold fro god wende To a deuil of helle, : þ^t wold his soule schende; For god seyþ hym self: : fadir & modir he is, Who so fro hym tornyþ, : I wis, he doþ amys. þo answerde þe fadir: : nowȝ I þe soþe se, Line 925 þat þ^u nelt in no wise : worche after me, Wole we go I fere : doun in to þe toun, & þer we mowe here afayr : disputacioun Of barlam, þy mayster : In game & in plawe, þat schal despute wit clerk̛ : þ^t beþ of þe lawe; Line 930 Amessager al so : fram me schal out wende, By whom I wole clerk̛ : of oure lawe of sende; & þer þey scholle despute : fulle dayis þre. Ȝif barlam þorwȝ his queintys : mowe mayster be, I wole my self & my lond : torne þan to þe; [sind im Ms. umgestellt.] Line 935 & ȝif barlam be ouer come, : torne þ^u þan to me. [sind im Ms. umgestellt.] fforþ went þis good child : wit his fadir þo. & þo þey come to þe stede : þer þ^e ded schold be do, þe child seyde to nacor: : a(r)tow barlam? [Ms. atow st. artow.] Ȝe I wis, quaþ þis oþer, : þ^u wost wel I it am. Line 940

Line 940 Barlam, quaþ iosephat, : oþing I warne þe: þ^u schalt despute for þe fey : þ^u hast tauȝt me; Lok þ^t þ^u despute : for þe fey aryȝt, Oþer, be þilke lord : þ^t made day & nyȝt, Ȝif þ^u in þis desputasioun : now ouer come be, Line 945 I wole al myn anoy : my self wreke on þe, I wole draw out w^t myn hond : þin herte & þy tonge & þrowe hem to hound̛, boþe olde & ȝonge; [folio 299] Oþer scholle euere her after : be war be þe To be gyle any man, : as þ^u be gylist me; Line 950 & ȝif þ^u in þe lawe : haue þe maystryȝe, I wole euer more : loue þy companyȝe. Nacor of þese word̛ : gan þo to be a gast, & þouȝt, hym was beter, : to be stedfast & be leue wit þe child : & leue in goodnesse, Line 955 þan suffre ben ouer come : & deyȝe in schennesse. þerfore in his herte : he gan to syke sore, & wel sore aþouȝt : þ^t he be gan þis lore. Vp ros a gret clerk, : þat wit þe king was þo: Artow þilke barlam : þ^t hast wrouȝt þis wo? Line 960 þe king̛ sone, þ^t here is, : þ^u hast brouȝt in folyȝe þat he forsakiþ oure god̛, : & þat is velanyȝe. Wel I woot, quaþ nacor, : þ^t I am barlam; ffro foly in to truþe : þe king̛ sone I wan, ffor wel I wot to soþe : þat foly is it non Line 965 To honoure ihū crist : & forsake þe dede ston. How is þ^t? quaþ þe clerk, : I here a wondir þing: [Ms. hele st. here.] Houre god̛ honouriþ : erl, baroun, & king, þ^u spekist of anewe god : & of anewe lawe; þer fore haþ mony mon : be brouȝt of dawe; Line 970 How is it þ^t þ^u darst : oure god̛ do deshonour? Artow beter þan any erl, : king, or emperour? Quaþ nacor: I wis, þ^u most lern : to preche þy gyge, ffor þis ilke resoun : nys nouȝt worþ afyge; Some men honouriþ god̛ : þ^t beþ wit hond̛ wrouȝt Line 975 Of ston, tre, gold, & seluer; : here be leue is nouȝt;

Dede men in some contre : me clepiþ god̛ al so, As iubyter & plato, : þ^t is mys I do; & I be leue on ihū crist, : þ^t is ful of myȝt, þat wold fro heuin for vs in to erþe alyȝt; Line 980 & of amayde he was bore, : þo he hidir com; Of seint ihon, þe baptist, : he fong cristindom; Of þe blis of heuin moche he gan preche, & þ^t he was soþfast god : w^t fayre meraklis teche; At þe last men hym nome : & dede hym on þe rode, Line 985 Gilt, I woot, had he non, : it was for oure gode. þ̛ prechid nacor al day : of þe fey wel ryȝt, þat þer nas no saraȝyn : þat hym answere myȝt. ffor þis predycacyoun was : Josaphat glad þo, þat cristindom was prechid : þorwȝ ihū crist̛ fo. Line 990 þe king was for þis dede : in herte ful wo, & bad þ^t þe company : departid were in two, To fond a ȝen on morwȝ : to be þenche more, To torn þis child̛ þouȝt : þorwȝ nacor Is lore. þo seyde iosephat: : my mayster þ^u most me take, Line 995 þat we mowe to gedere : of þis þing speche make; & tak wit þe þy conseyl, : as þ^u auȝtist to do, Some conseyl ȝe mowe make, : ȝif ȝe sentiþ þer to; But þ^u graunte þis, : þ^u worchist nouȝt þe ryȝt; Wel þ^u myȝt vs dele a two : þorwȝ þy grete myȝt. Line 1000 Nowȝ þe king grantiþ : þ^t nacor wit hym go, & nauȝt but for he hopiþ : his beleue he schal vn do; [Ms. hoþiþ st. hopiþ.] þe king þan grantyþ : þat þey go her in fere, & come on morw to þe court, : for he hem wold here. So þey went to gydere. : Josaphat to hym seyde: Line 1005 I woot þ^u art nauȝt barlam, : as my fadir seyde, Nacor is þy ryȝte name; : drede is in þe steke, [Ms. stoke st. steke.] þat þ^u ne darst for al þe world : a word aȝen me speke; þowȝ þ^u haue al day : prechid cristindom, I woot wel, of þy good wil : no þing it ne com; Line 1010 But ȝif þ^u wolt, nacor, : do by my lyste & lete þy false god̛ : & leue on ihū criste,

þou myȝt saue þy self, : & þy soule al so; I wot þ^u schalt deyȝe, : but þ^u it wolt do; For I woot þ^u schalt : nouȝt ascape fro me Line 1015 In no maner wyse, : but it þy wille be þ^t þ^u leue on ihū crist, : & do after my lore, & be trewe cristin man : here after euer more. Apreue prest he hadde, : þ^t to hym gan gon & þorw here beyre reed : cristenyd nacor anon. Line 1020 Nacor forþ went, : þo he had moche of age, In to þe desert of samar, : & tok an ermytage. þo þe king herde þis, : sykir hym was ful wo. A, mahound, he seyde, : lord, what schal I do? My sone me haþ smyte : wit acarful wounde, Line 1025 & noman me helpe can : þ^t I were þer of vn bounde. [vor vnbounde ist bound wegpunktirt.] Theodas, a gret lord, : herd telle of þis cas; Abeter clerk in þat lond be þ^t tyme ne was. Syre, he seyde to þe king, : þo he to hym com, I can make þy sone : leue his cristin dom; Line 1030 ȝif I make, to ȝoure god̛ : þ^t he torne aȝe, Sey me wit good wil : what þ^u wolt ȝeue me. ȝif þ^u wolt do þ^t, quaþ þe king, : I wole lete make an image, To whom men scholle aloute : of alle maner age, & I my selue wille make : to þe offringe þere, Line 1035 In alle manere wyse, : as þ^u a god were. Wel þan, quaþ teodas, : þ^u most þy sone bring After my red : in to an oþer wonyng; þe fayresse women of þe lond : to hym þ^t þey brouȝt be, [fayresse st. fayreste.] So þ^t he haue no þing : but hem on to se; Line 1040 A sprit I wole hym sende, : þ^t hym schal tempte so, [vor so ist sore wegpunktirt.] þat he ne schal haue no þouȝt : but lechery to do; þer is nomon on lyue : þat so tornyþ monn̛ þouȝt, As wyme, whan aman : among hem is I brouȝt. [wyme st. wymen.] ffor a kyng was a tyme, : þ^t a sone hadde, Line 1045 & lest he lore his son̛ lyf, : sore he hym dradde. Lechis he of sente, : þat scholde hym consayle. [lechis aus leshis corrigirt.]

& þey to hym seyde, : sykir w^t oute fayle, [folio 300] þat, ȝif his sone seyȝe : sonne oþer mone, þ^e lyȝt of his yȝen : he scholde lese sone. Line 1050 þe king in an erþe hous : let his sone do. So þ^t he ne say sonne ne mone : neuer mo Ten ȝer oþer more, : so þ^t he knew no þing, Name of man ne best. : & seþþe þorwȝ þe king He was fro þe stede brouȝt: : me let hym þing̛ se, Line 1055 For he schold to soþe wite : what ech þing scholde be. Women me brouȝt afore hym; : he askid what þey were. Me seyde: it were deuelis : þ^t he say þo þere, þat gyliþ mann̛ soul̛ : & bringeþ hem in wo, For moche in þis world : þey haue harm I do. Line 1060 þe king clepid his sone : & seyde to hym þ̛: Woch þing louistow mest : of þat þ^u sey er þis? þe child seyde : þilke deuelis : þ^t I say er whyle, þ^t wole mann̛ soule : w^t here myȝt be gyle, For at þ^e ferste tyme : þ^t I hem syȝ, Line 1065 Me þouȝt of wit I was : for lore wel nyȝ. By þat I woot to soþe : þ^t he (ne) worþ ouer come, [Ms. soþe mit der Abkürzung für er. Vor worþ fehlt ne.] But his þouȝt þorwȝ women : mowe hym be by nome. As þis clerk haþ seyd, : al me haþ I do; þe fayreste women of þe lond : hem me brouȝt hym two. Line 1070 þe sprit, þ^t was hym sent, : brende w^t inne hym fast, þe women hym tempte so wit oute, : þ^t he was sore a gast. Oft he be souȝte god, : help hym for to sende; He fond þat his flesschis lost : þer wit a wey wende. A ryche king̛ douȝter : his fadir hym gan sende, Line 1075 Saue þ^t ȝhe was fadirles, : his þouȝt for to wende. þis child here prechid of crist : & of heuin blis, & ȝhe hym answerid : & seyd anon I wis: þou ne schalt neuer mo : to þy laue torne me, But þ^u & I to gedere : raþer spousid be; Line 1080 ffor spoushod is grauntid, : cristin men witiþ þis: [sind im Ms. umgestellt, aber ihre richtige Folge ist mit b a bezeichnet.] Patryark̛ & prophetis : spousid were I wis, [sind im Ms. umgestellt, aber ihre richtige Folge ist mit b a bezeichnet.]

& seynt peter, þ^e apostil, : spousid was al so. þe ȝonge mon answerde : & þ̛ seyde here two: Of al þing þ^t þ^u seyst : þ^u seyst soþ to me, Line 1085 But of hem þ^t han auouid : to hold vergynyte: þilke ne mowe in no wyse : to womon spousid be, For holywrit it for bit, : sykir, I segge þe. For al þ^t, quaþ þis woman, : ȝif þ^u wolt þat I sauid be, þou most on̛ haue : fleschlich to don w^t me, Line 1090 For, ȝif þ^u haue wit me to done, : to morw erlyche I wole afong cristindom, : I segge trewliche; For of þing þat is write : in oure lawe soþ is: For o sinful man : heuen is in more blis, Whan he tornyþ to good : & lat his sinne be Line 1095 & vndirfongiþ penaunce : & lyueþ in charyte, þan for an hondrid holy men, : þat nede naueþ non For non of here synn̛ : penaunce to don. Moche myȝtou to heuin : of ioy & blys bring, Ȝif þ^u myȝt torne þe synful : w^t so lyt aþing. Line 1100 Moche wondir þis mon : had of þis wenche, & here for to helpe : ȝerne he gan hym þenche. þe sprit, þ^t w^t inne hym was, : ȝerne hym atende; þo he þouȝt þis þing do, : so þis wenche hym blende. Glad was þis mayde, : þ^o ȝhe þis syȝ. Line 1105 To here felauis ȝhe seyde: : we haue hym wel nyȝ; Go we aboute hym quikliche, : I woot we mowe spede, ffor I haue wel ny : I do alle oure nede. To þis ȝong mon : þey wente alle quikliche. þo he seyȝ here fayrnesse, : sore he gan to syche, Line 1110 ffor he nyste on lyue : how here to helpe þo; Loþ hym were his maydinhood : scholde be vndo. [vor loþ fehlt wol &.] In to an herne preuiliche : he went hym þer fore, & bad help of ihū crist, : & gan to wepe sore. So he wrong his hond̛ : & his þouȝt to heuin cast, Line 1115 þ^t amydde his sorwe : he fil on slepe fast. Amon, hym þouȝte as he slep, : þenne hym gan lede Wit flour̛ & w^t gras : to a wel fayr mede;

Tres þer were many : þ^t nobil frut bere; [Ms. maiy st. many.] Noman may telle þe ioy : þat he fond þere; Line 1120 Swyþe sote was þe smel, : þ^e eyr was ful gode, Rychere frut þan he say : ne myȝte be, he ondur stode. [ne im Ms. doppelt; hinter dem ersten ne ist ein b wegpunktirt.] Segis þer were set, : þat were swyþe ryche, Hym þouȝt in al þe world : nas non hem lyche; Welle strem̛ þer among, : þ^t ronne wel stille; Line 1125 Bedd̛, þat were ryche, : to restin on at wille. Seþþe he lad hym forþ : as in to a toun; Of swyþe mery song̛ : þer he herde þe soun; Alle þe wall̛ were of gold : & of ryche stone; Hym þouȝt in al þe world : soche toun nas þer none. Line 1130 To hym he scyde : þis sted, : þ^t þ^u myȝt here se, þis is þe stede þat þey scholle in wone : þ^t scholle sauid be. þo me wold hym þenne lede, : Josaphat seyde : pur charyte, Lede me nouȝt henn̛, : but let me here be! [let aus het corrigirt.] Do wey, quaþ þis oþer, : þ^u ne hast nouȝt so wrouȝt Line 1135 þ^t þ^u mowe dwelle her, : þerfore þou spekist for nouȝt; Ȝif þ^u mowe þy selue chast, : I segge þe at þe frome, ffro sinne & fro velenyȝe, : hedir þou schalt come; Moche is þe penaunce : þ^t þ^u most þole er, & so doþ alle oþer : þ^t wilueþ to wone her. Line 1140 Seþþe he nom iosaphat : & forþ hym ladde To aswyþe derk stede, : þer of he hym dradde; Al þe sorwȝ & þe wo : þ^t man of telle may, In þat grisliche stede : hym þouȝt þat he say. þan seyde þe man, : þat was w^t hym þo: Line 1145 Sestou þis stede : þat is so ful of wo? I þe seyȝe for soþe, : her inne þey schulle be pult [folio 301] þat han vppon erþe : wit sinne god agylt; þerfore þ^u myȝt chese : here after, leue broþer, Wheyþer þe is leuer þis stede, : or ellis þ^t oþer; Line 1150 ffor, ȝif þ^u lyuist in sinne, : þ^u schalt winne þis, &, ȝif þ^u lyuist in clene lyf, : þ^t oþer þ^u getist I wis. After þis ilke word : iosephat gan a wake.

þe fool semblaunt of þe women : clene he gan for sake. þese wome cam aboute hym : & gonne hym clippe faste; [cam übergeschrieben.] Line 1155 Here hond̛ he sore handlid : & gan hem fro hym caste. He be took hym to ihū crist, : & blessid hym wel swyþe. þo þ^e women þis syȝ, : iwis þey were vnblyþe. þe wikkede gost̛, : þ^t to hym were I sent þorwȝ teodas nygremauncy, : to don hym turment, Line 1160 þo iosaphat hym hadde blessid, : þey held hem schent echon. & to teodas, here mayster, : a ȝen þey beþ a gon. Teodas hem askid, : what þey hadde don. & þey hym answerid : & seyde þus anon: Er he hym gan blesse, : we hadde ny þe maystryȝe; Line 1165 W^t þ^e cros he vs ouer com, : wher to scholde I lyȝe? We seggeþ þe for soþe, : we ne mowe þe nouȝt do; [þe in der 2. Hlbz. wol st. hym.] ffonde þ^u, ȝif þ^u myȝt, : whan þ^u wolt to hym go. To Josaphat wente þo : þe king & teodas. Josaphat preched so, : þ^t teodas cristned was, [vor so ist þo wegpunktirt.] Line 1170 & good lyf gan lede : & his folyis for sook. þ̛ he was take w^t þe fysch, : þ^t he þouȝt take w^t crok. þorwȝ conseyl of his frend̛ : þe king gan do wel, & ȝaf Josaphat his sone : þe kingdom haluendel. Sumdel a ȝen his wille : þe lond̛ he took: Line 1175 þo he hem fong bodyliche, : wit soule it for sook; [he fehlt vor it.] He took hem, for he wolde : echin godd̛ lawe, & alle þe false god̛ : out of his lond drawe. ffayre emagis of þe cros : in ech toun he leet verche, & ordeynyd bysschop̛ & prest̛, : to singe in holy cherche. Line 1180 þe meste party of þe lond : to crist he haþ brouȝt. & euere he fondid day & nyȝt : to torne his fadir þouȝt. So at þe ende, : as god ȝaf þ^e cas, þe king tornyd to god : & cristenyd was. Now haþ iosaphat : moche to his wille; Line 1185 þer of he þonkid god : boþe loud & stille. þe king ȝald vp þo : al þe kingdom In to his son̛ hond, : & he it nom.

þis olde king sone after : drouȝ to his ende, & þorwȝ godd̛ grace : his soule to heuin wende. Line 1190 Josaphat þorwȝ godd̛ myȝt : þe folk to heuin gan wyse, & bad hem do here wel : to godd̛ seruise. To barachyȝe, an oþer king, : þ^t good mon was & fre, (þ^t) þorwȝ destene of erytage : his eyr scholde be, [Im Anfange fehlt & oder þat.] Hym he sente to segge : preuilich in consayle, Line 1195 How he wold to wildirnesse : wende w^t oute fayle, & þat he was in wille : al þis world for sake; & bad hym to þe kingdom : good kep take, & tech wel cristin dom, : as he hadde er do. But of þis be stille he bad, : fort he were ago. Line 1200 Ofte he þouȝt ascape, : but long it was for nouȝt, [vor it ist he weg|punktirt.] For euer of his oune men : aȝen he was I cauȝt. At þe last he scapid, : & went forþ his way, þ^t in to þe wildirnes : of samar ryȝt lay. As he wente in his way, : apore man he mette, Line 1205 & w^t fayr speche : anon he hym grette, & seyd: leue broþer, : for loue nowȝ I bidde þe [vor for ist anon wegpunktirt.] þat þ^u þy cloþ̛ to day : chaunge wit me; þo^u myne be þe beter, : I hem þe wille ȝeue; þ^u myȝt hem dere selle, : & longe þe beter lyue. Line 1210 þe pore mon took þe king : his cloþ̛ anon I wis, & wente forþ in his way : myldeliche syþ. þe fend brouȝte Josaphat : anon in gret doute, In þe desert of samar : þ^o he went aboute: Ofte in fourme of man : grislich he hym mette, Line 1215 & w^t swerd I drawe : of his wey hym lette, & swor grete oþ̛ : þat he hym wolde sle, But he to his kingdom : tornyd hom a ȝe. In fourme of a wilde best : he hym turnyd al so, Al redy w^t his myȝt : to don hym alle wo. Line 1220 He hym blessid al wey, : whan hym by fel so, & þer wit cuere more : he ouer com his fo. Ofte Josaphat seyd: : whyl þ^t god helpiþ me,

I ne drede nomon ne best, : what euer he be. Twey ȝer in desert : Josaphat wente so, Line 1225 Er he fond barlam, : þ^t he was wery of go. þo he com to þe caue : þat he in was, Josaphat seyde for ioyȝe: : deo gracyas. Wit oute þe dore he stood, : & loude gan to criȝe: Blesse me, fadir, blesse me, : for þy cortesyȝe! Line 1230 þo barlam herde þis, : out he gan gon, & w^t moche blisse : kissid hym anon. Ȝosaphat told barlam : howȝ he hadde fare, & hou he hadde at hom : lyuid in sorwȝ & care. þere he lyuid w^t barlam : ȝer̛ many & fale, Line 1235 In fasting & in orysonys, : In hete & in cale. Barlam deyde seþþe, : I woot wel I wis, þre hondrid ȝer & eyȝty, : after god was bore for vs. & fyue & twenty ȝer Josaphat : was in his king dom, & fyue & þritty ȝer In desert, : after he þer to com. Line 1240 After, þo he deyde, : his holy body me nom & beryid it be his mayster, : þ^e gode barlam. þo barachyȝe, þe gode king, : her of herde telle, Wit his companyȝe þedir : he wente wel snelle; Boþe bodyis he nom vp, : w^t ioy & wit blis, Line 1245 & brouȝt hem to toune, : as ryȝt was I wis. He beryed hem rychely : in þorw mad of ston. [folio 302] þer god haþ for here loue : many merakle don. Nowȝ bidde we god of heuin, : þat euer was & is, þat he vs for here boþe loue : bring to heuin blis. amen. Line 1250