To þat answerede a giv wild:
ȝuyt neartþov, he seide, bote a child!
Line 540
And sone bi guynnest to make lesing,
þat we witen wel bi ovre heoring. — [ovre am Rande nebengeschrieben.]
Seggeth forth al ower wille
And al þat ȝe konne telle!
And þou giv, þou olde Man,
Line 545
Ful vuele þou me i knowe can; [Ms. canst mit unterpungirtem st; st soll also nicht gelten; die Form can 2. sgl. ist aber eigenthümlich.]
Bi fore Abraham ich was,
And þou seist þat i nas;
Me þunchez, ȝe alle ne mowen nouȝt se,
ȝwane ich habbe here ofte i be
Line 550
Among eov and i schewed ai
And amendet ouwer lai.
þes giv him heold ouer come
And þis Maistres euerch one;
Non nolde þare more dwelle,
Line 555
For ihu with resun heom gan felle.
Here lep Jesus fram on hul to an oþur, and þe children wolden do also, and alle huy breke heore neckene bote o child.
SOne þare after nouȝht longue it nas,
þat Jhus wente in is pas
With ȝoungue giwes þat he founde
Swuyþe heiȝe vp on þe Mounte.
Line 560
To luppen alle huy weren prest,
Ake Jhc him sulf lep alre furst
Fram hul to oþur starc and gret,
And sethþe cuerech child aftur lep;
Bote non ne miȝhte so fer luppe:
Line 565
Adoun huy fullen and breke heore necke
Oþur heore leggus oþur heore þiȝh, [heore im Ms. doppelt.]
Oþur sum mishap so hadden huy;
So atþe laste dede huy were,
