*. [The Lamentacioun of Jeremye.]CAP. I.

[verse 1] Aleph*. [Throughout this book, the initial letters of the Hebrew are omitted in CEGHIKMNPQRSUVY.]*. [Lettris of Ebru ben set in the bigyn|nyng of versus in the Latyn translacioun, for in Ebru the versis bigynnen bi [with Y] let|tris of the A|bice. Lire here. CEGKPQUY.]. Hou sittith aloone the citee ful of puple? the ladi of folkis is maad as a widewe; the prince*. [princesse F.] of prouynces is maad vndir tribute. [verse 2] Beth. It wepynge wepte in the*. [Om. I.] niȝt, and the teeris therof*. [of him S.]ben*. [Om. ceteri præter I.] in `the chekis therof*. [in his cheke S sec. m.]; `noon is*. [ther is noon S.] of alle the dereworthe*. [dwellere F.] therof, that coumfortith it; alle the frendis therof forsoken it, and ben maad enemyes to it. [verse 3] Gymel. Juda pass|ide fro turment and multitude of seruage, it dwellide among hethene men, and foond no reste; alle the pursueris therof token it among angwischis. [verse 4] Deleth. The weies of Sion mourenen, for no men comen to the solempnytee; alle the ȝatis therof ben distried, the prestis therof weilen; the vergyns therof ben defoulid, and it is op|pressid with bitternesse. [verse 5] He. The ene|myes therof ben maad in the heed, and the enemyes therof ben maad riche, for the Lord spak on it. For the multitude of wickidnessis therof the litle children therof ben led in to caitiftee, bifore the face of the troblere. [verse 6] Vau. And al the fairnesse of the douȝter of Syon ȝede out fro the douȝter of Sion; the princes therof Page  473 ben maad as rammes not fyndynge lese|wis; and ȝeden forth withouten strengthe bifore the face of the suere. [verse 7] Zai. And Jerusalem bithouȝte on the daies of hir affliccioun*. [afflicciouns U.] and of trespassyng, and on alle hir desirable thingis whiche it hadde fro elde daies; whanne the puple therof felle doun in the hond of enemyes, and noon helpere was; enemyes sien*. [sauȝen I.] it, and scorn|eden the sabatis therof. [verse 8] Heth. Jerusalem synnede a synne, therfor it was*. [is .] maad vnstid|fast; alle that glorifieden it forsoken it, for thei sien the schenschipe therof; forsothe it weilide, and was turned a bak. [verse 9] Theth. The filthis therof ben*. [Om. A pr. m. et ceteri.] in the feet therof, and it hadde no mynde of hir ende; it was putte doun greetli, and hadde no coumfortour; Lord, se thou my turment, for the enemye is reisid. [verse 10] Joth. The ene|mye putte*. [sente ceteri.] his hond to alle desirable*. [the desirable I.] thingis therof; for it siȝ*. [sauȝe I.] hethene men entride in to thi seyntuarie, of which thou haddist comaundid, that thei schulden not entre in to thi chirche. [verse 11] Caph. Al the*. [thi EPY.] puple therof was weilinge and sekynge breed, thei ȝauen alle preciouse thingis for mete, to coumforte the soule; se thou, Lord, and biholde, for Y am maad vijl. [verse 12] Lameth. A! alle ȝe that passen bi the weie, perseyue, and se, if ony sorewe is as my sorewe; for he gaderide awei grapis fro me, as the Lord spak in the day of wraththe of his strong veniaunce. [verse 13] Men. Fro an hiȝ he sente fier in my boonys, and tauȝte me; he spredde abrood a net to my feet, he turnede me abak; he set|tide me desolat, meddlid togidere al dai with mourenyng. [verse 14] Nun. The ȝok of my wickidnessis*. [wickidnesse A.] wakide in the hond of hym, tho ben foldid togidere, and put on my necke; my vertu is maad feble; the Lord ȝaf me in the hond, fro which Y schal not mowe rise. [verse 15] Sameth. The Lord took awei alle my worschipful men fro the myddis Page  474 of me; he clepide tyme aȝens me, that he schulde al to-foule my chosun men; the Lord stampide a pressour to the virgyn, the douȝtir of Juda. [verse 16] Ayn. Therfor Y am wepynge, and myn iȝe is ledynge doun watir; for a coumfortour, conuertynge my soule, is maad fer fro me; my sones ben maad lost, for the enemye hadde the maistrie. [verse 17] Phe. Sion spredde a brood hise hondis, noon is that coumfortith it; the Lord sente*. [sette Y.] aȝenus Jacob enemyes therof, in the*. [Om. NV.] cumpas therof; Jerusalem is maad as defoulid with vncleene blood among hem. [verse 18] Sade. The Lord is iust, for Y terride his mouth to wrathfulnesse; alle puplis, Y biseche, here ȝe, and se my so|rewe; my virgyns and my ȝonge men ȝeden forth in to caitiftee. [verse 19] Coth. I clepide my frendis, and thei disseyueden me; my prestis and myn elde men in the citee ben wastid; for thei souȝten mete to hem silf, to coumforte hir lijf. [verse 20] Res. Se thou, Lord, for Y am troblid, my*. [for my I pr. m.] wombe is distur|blid; myn herte is distried in my silf, for Y am ful of bittirnesse; swerd sleeth with outforth, and lijk deth is at hoome. [verse 21] Syn. Thei herden, that Y make ynward weil|yng, and noon is that coumfortith me; alle myn enemyes herden myn yuel, thei ben glad, for thou hast do; thou hast brouȝt a dai of coumfort, and thei schulen be maad lijk me. [verse 22] Tau. Al the yuel of hem entre byfore thee, and gadere thou grapis awei fro hem, as thou hast gaderid grapis awei fro me; for my wickidnessis, for my weilyngis ben manye, and myn herte is mornynge.