Was corve in hys tendre flessche,
For mannys loue he bledde hys blode.
¶ Þe blood droppyd as dew on ryssche
Fro þe mylde membre of þat swete fode;
Line 200
Synne was harde, hys blood was nessche,
To defende folk fro feendys wode.
¶ The Iewes aboute ȝode
The olde lawe to fulfille;
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Þe childe suffride and lay stille
To bigge vs all, and þat was skille,
Whyle þe olde lawe stode.
XX.
¶ Þat day his first blood he bledde,
Line 208
Þat ȝaf man griþe grace to haue,
With a scharp flynt hys blood was schedde;
Þat kyng was corve as a knaue,
Þe briddes lymes were brode spradde.
Line 212
¶ On schort membre þe child was schaue,
In lowenes was þat brid lad to haue
To kepe men fro helle cave,
Mannys sowle to save.
Line 216
¶ Lownesse lay byneþe þe sterres,
To bye hys chaffare þe child payed erres,
Dropes rede as ripe cherrees, [folio 133b]
Þat fro his flesshe gan lave.
Line 220
XXI.
¶ God cam not to fordo þe lawe,
Ij lawes fulfill he wolde;
Goddis sone was leyde ful lawe,
Whan he was maydenys childe on molde.
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¶ Holy writte seiþ þis sawe,
For mannys goost he ȝaf no golde;
