Middle English humorous tales in verse / edited by George H. McKnight.

The Fox and Wolf in the Well
Of þe vox and of þe wolf [W. = Wright and Halliwell, Reliquiae Antiquae; M. = Mätzner, Altenglische sprachproben. In W. and in H. throughout þ appears as th and consonantal u as v.]

A vox gon out of þe wode go, Afingret so, þat him wes wo; He nes neuere in none wise Afingret erour half so swiþe. He ne hoeld nouþer wey ne strete, Line 5 For him wes loþ men to mete; Him were leuere meten one hen, Þen half anoundred wimmen. [W. & M. Than half an oundred.] He strok swiþe ouer-al, [W. & M. all.] So þat he ofsei ane wal; Line 10 Wiþinne þe walle wes on hous, The wox wes þider swiþe wous; For he þohute his hounger aquenche, [W. & M. aquenche.] Oþer mid mete, oþer mid drunche. Abouten he biheld wel ȝerne; Line 15 Þo eroust bigon þe vox to erne. Al fort he come to one walle, And som þer-of wes afalle, [W. & M. therof wes a-falle.]

And wes þe wal ouer-al to-broke, [MS. to breke.] And on ȝat þer wes I-loke; [W. & M. i-loke.] Line 20 At þe furmeste bruche þat he fond, He lep in, and ouer he wond. Þo he wes inne, smere he lou, And þer-of he hadde gome I-nou; [W. & M. i-nou.] For he com in wiþ-outen leue Line 25 Boþen of haiward and of reue.

On hous þer wes, þe dore wes ope, Hennen weren þerinne I-crope, [W. & M. i-crope, MS. I crope.] Fiue, þat makeþ anne flok, And mid hem sat on kok. Line 30 Þe kok him wes flowen on hey, And two hennen him seten ney. "Wox," quod þe kok, "wat dest þou þare? Go hom, crist þe ȝeue kare! Houre hennen þou dest ofte shome." Line 35 "Be stille, ich hote, a godes nome!" [MS. agodes.] Quaþ þe wox, "sire chauntecler, Þou fle adoun, and com me ner. I nabbe don her nout bote goed, I have leten þine hennen blod; Line 40 Hy weren seke ounder þe ribe, Þat hy ne miȝtte non lengour libe.

Bote here heddre were I-take; [W. & M. i-take, MS. I take.] Þat I do for almes sake. Ich haue hem letten eddre blod, Line 45 And þe, chauntecler, hit wolde don goed. Þou hauest þat ilke ounder þe splen, Þou nestes neuere daies ten; For þine lif-dayes beþ al ago, [W. & M. a-go.] Bote þou bi mine rede do; Line 50 I do þe lete blod ounder þe brest, Oþer sone axe after þe prest." "Go wei," quod þe kok, "wo þe bi-go! Þou hauest don oure kunne wo. Go mid þan þat þou hauest nouþe; Line 55 Acoursed be þou of godes mouþe! For were I adoun bi godes nome! Ich miȝte ben siker of oþre shome [W. & M. owre.] Ac weste hit houre cellerer, [M. wiste.] Þat þou were I-comen her. [W. & M. i-comen, MS. I comen.] Line 60 He wolde sone after þe ȝonge, Mid pikes and stones and staues stronge; Alle þine bones he wolde to-breke; [MS. to breke.] Þene we weren wel awreke."

HE wes stille, ne spak namore, Line 65 Ac he werþ aþurst wel sore;

Þe þurst him dede more wo, Þen heuede raþer his hounger do. Ouer-al he ede and sohvte; On auenture his wiit him brohute, Line 70 To one putte wes water inne Þat wes I-maked mid grete ginne. [W. & M. i-maked, MS. I maked.] Tuo boketes þer he founde, Þat oþer wende to þe grounde, Þat wen me shulde þat on opwinde, [W. & M. op|winde, M. omits on.] Line 75 Þat oþer wolde adoun winde. [W. & M. a-doun.] He ne hounderstod nout of þe ginne, He nom þat boket, and lep þerinne; For he hopede I-nou to drinke. [W. & M. i-nou, MS. I nou.] Þis boket biginneþ to sinke; [W. & M. beginneth.] Line 80 To late þe vox wes biþout, [W. & M. bi-þout.] Þo he wes in þe ginne I-brout. [W. & M. i-brout, MS. I brout.] I-nou he gon him bi-þenche, [MS. bi þenche.] Ac hit ne halp mid none wrenche; Adoun he moste, he wes þerinne;- [W. & M. A-doun.] Line 85 I-kaut he wes mid swikele ginne. [W. & M. i-kaut.] Hit miȝte han iben wel his wille [W. & M. i-ben, MS. hani ben.] To lete þat boket hongi stille. Wat mid serewe and mid drede,

Al his þurst him ouer-hede. [W. & M. over-hede, MS. ouer hede.] Line 90 Al þus he com to þe grounde, [W. & M. come.] And water I-nou þer he founde. [W. & M. i-nou.] Þo he fond water, ȝerne he dronk, Him þoute þat water þere stonk, For hit wes to-ȝeines his wille. [MS. to ȝeines.] Line 95 "Wo worþe," quaþ þe vox, "lust and wille, [W. & M. quath.] Þat ne can meþ to his mete! [M. con.] Ȝef ich neuede to muchel I-ete, [W. & M. i-ete, MS. I ete.] Þis ilke shome neddi nouþe; Nedde lust I-ben of mine mouþe. [W. & M. i-ben, MS. I ben.] Line 100 Him is wo in euche londe, Þat is þef mid his honde. Ich am I-kaut mid swikele ginne, [W. & M. i-kaut, MS. I kaut.] Oþer soum deuel me broute her-inne. I was woned to ben wiis, Line 105 Ac nou of me I-don hit hiis." [W. & M. i-don, MS. I don.]

ÞE vox wep, and reuliche bigan. Þer com a wolf gon after þan Out of þe depe wode bliue, For he wes afingret swiþe. Line 110 Noþing he ne founde in al þe niȝte, Wer-mide his honger aquenche miȝtte. [W., MS. Wer mide, W. & M. aquenche, M. Wer-mid e.]

He com to þe putte, þene vox I-herde; [W. & M. i-herde.] He him kneu wel bi his rerde, [W. & M. by.] For hit wes his neiȝebore, Line 115 And his gossip, of children bore. A-doun bi þe putte he sat. Quod þe wolf, "Wat may ben þat [M. What.] Þat ich in þe putte I-here? [W. & M. i-here.] Hertou cristine, oþer mi fere? Line 120 Say me soþ, ne gabbe þou me nout, Wo haueþ þe in þe putte, I-brout?" [W. & M. i-brout.] Þe vox hine I-kneu wel for his kun, [W. & M. i-kneu, MS. I kneu.] And þo eroust kom wiit to him; For he þoute mid soumme ginne, Line 125 Him-self houpbringe, þene wolf þerinne. Quod þe vox, "Wo is nou þere? Ich wene hit is sigrim þat ich here." [W. & M. Sigrim.] "Þat is soþ," þe wolf sede, "Ac wat art þou, so god þe rede?" Line 130

"A," quod þe vox, "ich wille þe telle; On alpi word ich lie nelle. Ich am reneuard, þi frend, And ȝif ich þine come heuede I-wend, [W. & M. i-wend.] Ich hedde so I-bede for þe, [W. & M. i-bade.] Line 135 Þat þou sholdest comen to me."

"Mid þe?" quod þe wolf, "War to? [W. & M. war-to.] Wat shulde ich ine þe putte do?" Quod þe vox, "Þou art ounwiis, Her is þe blisse of paradiis; Line 140 Her ich mai euere wel fare, Wiþ-outen pine, wiþouten kare; Her is mete, her is drinke, Her is blisse wiþouten swinke; Her nis hounger neuermo, Line 145 Ne non oþer kunnes wo; Of alle gode her is I-nou." [W. & M. i-nou.] Mid þilke wordes þe volf lou.

"Art þou ded, so god þe rede, Oþer of þe worlde?" þe wolf sede. Line 150 Quod þe wolf, "Wenne storue þou, And wat dest þou þere nou? Ne beþ nout ȝet þre daies ago, [W. & M. a-go.] Þat þou and þi wif also, And þine children, smale and grete, Line 155 Alle to-gedere mid me hete." [MS. to gedere.] "Þat is soþ," quod þe vox, "Gode þonk, nou hit is þus, Þat ihc am to criste vend. Not hit non of mine frend. Line 160 I nolde, for al þe worldes goed, Ben ine þe worlde, þer ich hem fond.

Wat shuldich ine þe worlde go, Þer nis bote kare and wo, And liuie in fulþe and in sunne? Line 165 Ac her beþ ioies fele cunne; [W. & M. joies.] Her beþ boþe shep and get." Þe wolf haueþ hounger swiþe gret, For he nedde ȝare I-ete; [W. & M. i-ete, MS. I ete.] And þo he herde speken of mete, Line 170 He wolde bleþeliche ben þare. [W. & M. i-fere, MS. I fere.] "A!" quod þe wolf, "gode I-fere, Moni goed mel þou hauest me binome; Let me adoun to þe kome. [W. & M. a-doun.] And al ich wole þe for-ȝeue." [MS. for ȝeue.] Line 175 "Ȝe," quod þe vox, "were þou I-sriue, [W. & M. i-srive, MS. I sriue.] And sunnen heuedest al forsake, And to klene lif I-take, [W. & M. i take, MS. I take.] Ich wolde so bidde for þe, Þat þou sholdest comen to me." Line 180

"TO wom shuldich," þe wolfe seīde, Ben I-knowe of mine misdede? [W. & M. i-knowe, MS. I knowe.] Her nis noþing aliue, Þat me kouþe her nou sriue.

Þou hauest ben ofte min I-fere, [W. & M. i-fere, MS. I fere.] Line 185 Woltou nou mi srift I-here, [W. & M. i-here, WS. I here.] And al mi liif I shal þe telle?" "Nay," quod þe vox, "I nelle." "Neltou," quod þe wolf, "þin ore, Ich am afingret swiþe sore; Line 190 Ich wot to niȝt ich worþe ded, [W. & M. to-niȝt.] Bote þou do me somne reed. For cristes loue be mi prest." Þe wolf bey adoun his brest, [W. & H. a-doun.] And gon to siken harde and stronge. Line 195 "Woltou," quod þe vox, "srift ounderfonge, [W. & M. ounderfonge.] Tel þine sunnen on and on, Þat þer bileue neuer on."

"Sone," quod þe wolf, "wel I-faie, [W. & M. quad, MS. I fare, W. & M. i-faie.] Ich habbe ben qued al mi lifdaie; [W. & M. lif-daie.] Line 200 Ich habbe widewene kors, Þerfore ich fare þe wors. A þousent shep ich habbe abiten, And mo, ȝef hy weren I-writen. [W. & M. i-writen, MS. I writen.] Ac hit me of-þinkeþ sore. [MS. of þinkeþ.] Line 205 Maister, shal I tellen more?"

"Ȝe," quod þe vox, "al þou most sugge, [W. & M. quad.] Oþer elles-wer þou most abugge." [MS. elles wer.] "Gossip," quod þe wolf, "forȝef hit me, Ich habbe ofte sehid qued bi þe, Line 210 Men seide þat þou on þine liue Misferdest mid mine wiue; Ich þe aperseiuede one stounde, [W. & M. aperseivede.] And in bedde togedere ou founde. [W. & M. to-gedere.] Ich wes ofte ou ful ney, Line 215 And in bedde to-gedere ou sey. [MS. to gedere ou ley, M. sey.] Ich wende, al-so oþre doþ, Þat ich I-seie were soþ, [W. & M. i-seie, MS. I seie.] And þerfore þou were me loþ; Gode gossip, ne be þou nohut wroþ." Line 220

"Vuolf," quod þe vox him þo, [W. & M. quad.] "Al þat þou hauest her bifore I-do, [W. & M. i-do, MS. I do.] In þohut, in speche, and in dede, In euche oþeres kunnes quede, Ich þe forȝeue at þisse nede." Line 225 "Crist þe forȝelde!" þe wolf seide. "Nou ich am in clene liue, Ne recche ich of childe ne of wiue. Ac sei me wat I shal do, And ou ich may comen þe to." Line 230

Line 230 "Do?" quod þe vox. "Ich wille þe lere. I-siist þou a boket hongi þere? [MS. I siist.] Þere is a bruche of heuene blisse, Lep þerinne, mid I-wisse, [W. & M. i-wisse, MS. I wisse.] And þou shalt comen to me sone." Line 235 Quod the wolf, "þat is liȝt to done." He lep in, and way sumdel; Þat weste þe vox ful wel. Þe wolf gon sinke, þe vox arise; Þo gon þe wolf sore agrise. [W. & M. agrise.] Line 240 Þo he com amidde þe putte, Þe wolfe þene vox opward mette. "Gossip," quod þe wolf, "Wat nou? Wat hauest þou I-munt? weder wolt þou?" [W. & M. i-munt, MS. I munt.] "Weder, Ich wille?" þe vox sede. Line 245 "Ich wille oup, so god me rede! And nou go doun, wiþ þi meel, Þi biȝete worþ wel smal. Ac ich am þerof glad and bliþe, Þat þou art nomen in clene liue. Line 250 Þi soule-cnul ich wille do ringe, [W. & M. soul-cnul.] And masse for þine soule singe." Þe wrecche bineþe noþing ne vind, Bote cold water, and hounger him bind; To colde gistninge he wes I-bede, [W. & M. i-bede, MS. I bede.] Line 255 Wroggen haueþ his dou I-knede. [W. & M. i-knede, MS. I knede.]

Þe wolf in þe putte stod, Afingret so þat he ves wod. Inou he cursede þat þider him broute; [MS. I nou.] Þe vox þer of luitel route. Line 260 Þe put him wes þe house ney, Þer freren woneden swiþe sley. Þo þat hit com to þe time, Þat hoe shulden arisen Ine, [W. & M. ime.] For to suggen here houssong, Line 265 O frere þere wes among, Of here slep hem shulde awecche, Wen hoe shulden þidere recche. He seide, "Ariseþ on and on, And komeþ to houssong heuereuchon." [M. hevere uchon.] Line 270 Þis ilke frere heyte ailmer; He wes hoere maister curtiler. He wes hofþurst swiþe stronge; Riȝt amidward here houssonge Al-hone to þe putte he hede; [W. & M. Alhone, MS. Al hone.] Line 275 For he wende bete his nede. He com to þe putte, and drou, And þe wolf wes heui I-nou. [W. & M. i-nou, MS. I nou.] Þe frere mid al his maine tey So longe þat he þene wolf I-sey! [W. & M. i-sey, MS. I sey.] Line 280 For he sei þene wolf þer sitte, He gradde, "Þe deuel is in þe putte!"

To þe putte hy gounnen gon, Alle mid pikes and staues and ston, Euch mon mid þat he hedde; Line 285 Wo wes him þat wepne nedde. Hy comen to þe putte þene wolf opdrowe; [W. & M. op-drowe.] Þo hede þe wreche fomen I-nowe, [W. & M. i-nowe, MS. I nowe.] Þat weren egre him to slete Mid grete houndes, and to bete. Line 290 Wel and wroþe he wes I-swonge, [W. & M. i-swonge, MS. I swonge.] Mid staues and speres he wes I-stounge. [W. & M. i-stounge, MS. I stounge.] Þe wox bicharde him, mid Iwisse, [W. & M. i-wisse, MS. I wisse.] For he ne fond nones kunnes blisse, Ne hof duntes forȝeuenesse. explicit. Line 295