III.
THE STORY OF THE HOLY ROOD [[Harlein MS. 4196. [folio 76b:1] .]]
De morte primi parentis Ade et de incepcione crucis Christi.
When adam oure form fader dere
Was of elde nyghen hundreth ȝere,
And þarto [thritt]y [nearly effaced,] , þan he kend
Þat his life drogh nere þe end;
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Þan said he vntill eue, "þou sall
All my suns bifor me call,
Þat I may blis þam or I dy."
And als he bad scho did in hy;
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Scho cald [þam] vnto him þat tide, [folio 76b:2]
Þai come and stode all him biside,
Als he in his sekenes lay,
And vnto him þus gan þai say:—
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"Fader, what harm es þe on hand,
Þat þou es in þi bed ligand,
And wharto hastou cald vs heder?"
Þan said he to þam al to-geder:—
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"Suns," he said, "I far ful ill,
Of pine and sorow I find my fill."
And þai answerd and said ogaine:—
"Fader tell vs what es payne,
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And how it es sorow to haue,
Say vs þe suth, so god þe saue;
For whils we in þis werld haue bene,
Of sekenes haue we seldom sene."
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Þan said seth, "for suth I trow,
Fader, þat þou ȝernes now
Of paradis fruit forto ett mare,
Of þe whilk þou has etin are;
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