Sammlung altenglischer legenden, grösstentheils zum ersten male hrsg. von C. Horstmann.

HErkeneþ, sires! for my purpose Is ou to telle of seint Ambrose. But furst his name i wol expoune: Lustneþ wiþ good deuocioune! [V. 1-4 Einl. des Dich|ters.] Ambra is a spicerye, [ff. vgl. L. A.: Ambrosius dicitur de ambra, quae est species valde redolens et pretiosa: iste enim ecclesiae valde pretiosus exstitit et in dictis et in factis suis valde redoluit.] Line 5 Of gret pris, smelleþ swotelye: Þerof is called þis name Ambrose: For riht as hit sauereþ in monnes nose Riht so dude he in word and dede, Monnes soule to gete gret mede; Line 10 And precious was to holy churche: Doctur he was and tauhte to worche Cristene men heore God to plese, In charite to lyue and pese.

OÞer elles þou maiȝt sei þat Ambros [Vel dicitur Ambr. ab ambra et syos, quod est Deus, quasi ambra Dei: Deus enim per eum quasi per ambram ubique redolet; fuit enim et est bonus odor Christi in omni loco.] Line 15 Is seid of ambra and syos: Syos is to seyn "God" riht, [Ms. Good st. God.] And ambrum good sauour pliht. Þenne, for he wiþ good preching Made men knowe God ouer alle þing, Line 20 God is good sauur to vche mon Þorwh his techinge, þat good con. For Ambros is and also was Good Cristes sauour in eueri plas.

OÞer þou maiȝt wel diuise [Vel dicitur ab ambor (engl. ambrum), quod est pater luminis, et sior (engl. sion), quod est parvulus: quia pater in multorum filiorum spi|rituali generatione, luminosus in sacrae scripturae expositione et parvulus in sua humili conversatione.] Line 25 Þe nome of Ambros in þis wyse: Ambrum is to seye fadur of liht, And syon a luytel child ful riht. Þen Ambros him seluen Is fadur of moni gostliche children, Line 30 He was lihtful in expounyng Holy writ, wiþouten lesyng, In conuersaciun he was eke Riht as a chyld wondurliche meke.

OÞur þou maiȝt expoune hit, and not varie, Line 35 As seiþ þe bok, iclept Glosarie: Ambrum is heuenlich smel of sauour: So sauerede he in halle and bour In gode fame and contemplaciun, He hedde gret deuociun. Line 40 Celestis Ambrosia, wiþouten lete, Is vndurstonden Angles mete: Þat is to seyn þat inward siht Þat Ambrose hedde in God Almiht.

ÞIs word also Ambrosium Line 45 Is to seyn al and sum An heuenliche honycombe:

Þat hedde seint Ambrose in his wombe Þorwh swetnesse of exposicioun Of holy writ in religioun. [35-50 Vel sicut dicitur in Glossario: ambrosia, esca angelorum, ambrosium coeleste mellis favum: fuit enim coelestis odor per odoriferam fa|mam, sapor per contemplationem intimam, coeleste mellis favum per dulcem scri|pturarum expositionem, esca angelica per gloriosam fruitionem. (Die Erklärung V. 37 nicht im lat., vgl. V. 23; sie scheint vom englischen Dichter selbst hinzugefügt zu sein). — (51-54 Zusatz.)] Line 50 Now haue I expouned his name, And hou he sauered in gode fame. Herkneþ nou, hosbonde and wyf, And i schal tellen ou of his lyf, [Ejus vitam scripsit Paulinus Nolanus episcopus ad Augustinum.] Riht as a clerk, was clept Paulin, Line 55 Wrot hit to seint Austyn.

AMbrose of Rome was prefecte, [Ambrosius, filius Ambrosii praefecti Romae, cum in cunabulis in atrio praetorii esset positus et dormiret, examen apum subito veniens faciem ejus et os ita complevit, ut quasi in alveolum suum intrarent pariter et exirent.] And of his wyf wiþouten lette He gat a child, was clept Ambrose, Þat mon was aftur of gret lose. Line 60 Hit bifel vppon a day, Whil he was ȝong, in cradel he lay. And, forte stille him of his wepe, Rokked he was and fel on slepe; Þer he lay wiþ open mouþ. Line 65 Þen ful a cas wondur selcouþ: For sodeynliche a cumpaygnye Of beon þer come, swiþe monie, His mouþ þei fulden and his face — Þat men seȝen wel in þat place, — Line 70 Þei fullen in and out blyue As þeiȝ his mouþ hedde ben heor hyue. And afturward þei toke þe fliht [Quae postea evolan|tes in tantam aeris altitudinem sublevatae sunt, ut humanis oculis minime vide|rentur.] In to þe eir so fer on hiht Þat no mon mihte on eorþe wiþ eȝe Line 75 Seo þis ben whodur þei dude fliȝe. Whon his fadur þis wondur hedde seyn, [Quo peracto territus pater ait: Si vixerit infantulus iste, aliquid magni erit.] He seide, as mon þat was riht fayn: "Þis child, i wot, so mot i þeo, Sum gret mon schal he beo." Line 80 Whon þis child com to fourtene ȝere [Postea cum adolevisset et videret matrem et sororem, sacram vir|ginem, manus sacerdotibus osculari, ipse ludens sorori dextram offerebat, asse|rens et sibi id ab ea fieri opportere.] Of age, he wente ofte tyme in fere Wiþ modur and sustur to þe churche, Goode dedes forte worche. He tok good hede to vndurstonde Line 85 Hou þei cussed þe prestes honde. Whon he com hom, he wolde, iwis, Profre his sustur his hond to cus, And he wolde sei on his pleying Þat moste heo do nedelyng. Line 90 For he was ȝong, non hede heo tok, [Illa vero, ut adolescentem et nescientem quid diceret, respuebat.] Heo wolde him bidde go to his bok. Whon he was lettred and vndurstod, [Romae igitur litteris eruditus, cum causas prae|torii splendide peroraret,] Monye causes, bi þe rod! In þe noble cite of Rome Line 95 Sikerliche he vndurnome, Rihtfuliche he hedde in meude [Ms. he st. hem.] And lawefuliche brouhte hem to ende. Whon þe emperour parceyued þis, [a Valentiniano imperatore ad regendam Liguriam Emiliamque provinciam directus est.] To him he sende anon iwis, Line 100 To gouerne þe prouinces of Lygurie And also of Emylye. Whon þat he com to Melan, [Cumque Mediolanum venisset et ibi|dem episcopus tunc deesset, convenit populus, ut sibi de episcopo provideret.] Þer of þe bisschop ded was þan, Þe peple gedrede euerichon Line 105 To chese to bisschop sum god mon. But heretykes dwelled hem amon(g), [Sed cum inter Arianos et catholicos de eligendo episcopo seditio non modica oriretur,] Weren called Arrianus, of wit ful strong, Þat sumwhat weren out of bileeue. Gode feiþful men and þei þenne streue Line 110 Who schulde beo bisschop and hed; Þei neore not alle in on red,

Þer ros a gret sediciun Tofore þat ilke elecciun. Ambrose þenne wiþ gret res [illuc Ambr. causa sedandae seditionis perrexit.] Line 115 Tok þider þe wey, to make al pes. As sone as he þenne comen was Þider as þe pepul was gedred in plas, [Et statim vox infantis insonuit, dicens Ambrosium episcopum (engl. directe Rede),] A vois anon of an innocent Was herd of alle, verement!: Line 120 "I put ȝou alle in sad hope, Ambrose schal ben oure bisschope." Þei sented alle to þat vois, [sented = assented.] [cujus voci omnes unanimiter consenserunt, Ambrosium episcopum acclamantes (engl. dir.).] "Ambrose", þei crieden wiþ gret noys, "To vr bisschop we wol haue; Line 125 Þat he assente, onliche we craue". Whon þat he þus vndurstod, [Quo ille cognito, ut eos a se terroribus removeret, ecclesiam exiens (129 ist Ausfüllsel) tribu|nal conscendit et contra consuetudinem suam tormenta personis adhiberi jussit (135-140 erklär. Zusatz).] Wiþ fere he wolde ha torned heore mod, And ȝit he dude anoþur þing: To þe juges seete he wente hiȝing Line 130 And aȝeynes his olde wone Sum men tofore him dude he come, Als he sat for juggement, And hem comaunded to turment— For þe pepul schulde wel se Line 135 Þat he hedde ben ful of cruwelte. Þis holy mon caste þat, For he disired non such stat, And for þei schulde ha lost heor hope Him haue had to heore bisschope.— Line 140 But þe peple for al his gyse [Quod cum faceret, populus nihilominus acclamabat: Pecca|tum tuum super nos.] Cried on him vppon þis wyse: "Let beo þi fare, mak hit not þus! Þi sunne þer of falle hit on vs." Þen was he stourbled in þouȝt and eȝe [Tunc ille turbatus domum rediit et philosophiam profi|teri voluit. Quod ut ne faceret, revocatus est.] Line 145 And wente him hamward in gret hyȝe; He wolde to philosophye him (ha) pro|fessed. [im Ms. fehlt ha oder haue.] But he was called aȝeyn and cessed. And for he nolde bisschop haue ben, [Publicas mulieres publice ad se ingredi fecit, ut, his visis, ab ejus electione populum revocaret.] He made þe moste comun wommen Line 150 Openliche come to his in, Þat bisschopriche for he nolde wyn, And, þauȝ he dude not bote good, He wolde haue mad þe peple wood, Anoþur mon forte haue chose Line 155 And of him laft heore purpose. Þe peple euere and ay in on [Sed cum nec sic proficeret, sed semper populum peccatum suum super nos acclamare videret,] On him þei criede euerichon Þat þei wolde bere al þe synne, Þat bisschophede so he wolde winne. Line 160 He sauȝ þat he þus miht not spede: [fugam media nocte concepit; cumque Ticinum se pergere putaret, mane ad portam civitatis Mediolanensis, quae Romana dicitur, invenitur.] Þe nexte niht wiþoute nede He stal awey and wolde haue gon To þe toun of Ticinun anon. Þiderward, þe soþe to say, Line 165 He wende he hedde holden þe way. Whon hit was day, he loked aboute: Þen sauȝ he wher he stod þer oute: At on of þe ȝatus of Melan, Þat is called þe ȝate Roman. [Qui inventus cum custodiretur a populo, missa relatio est ad clementissimum imperatorem Valentinianum.] Line 170 Þenne men sone him fonde At þe ȝate, þer he dude stonde. Þei him kepte and word sent To þe emperour Valentinian, verrement, Hou þei to bisschop him hedde ichose, Line 175 Preyeden him assente to heor purpose. Þe emperour þenne ful joyful was [Qui summo gaudio accepit, quod judices a se directi ad sacerdotium peterentur.] Þat him schulde falle so feir a caas Þat a juge, þat he hedde isent

To kepe his lawes wiþ good entent, Line 180 Was ichose so feiþfuliche A bisschop to beo verreyliche. Þe prefecte, þat corteis was of wille, [Laetabatur enim probus praefectus, quod verbum suum fuerat in eo adimple|tum; dixerat enim, cum proficiscenti mandata donaret: vade, age, non ut judex, sed ut episcopus.] Was glad þat he þat schulde folfille; For, whon Ambrose was to Melan sent, Line 185 Þe prefecte seide wiþ good talent: "Go forþ now, as no domusmon, But as bisschop ouer mony on." Whil þat þeos tiþinges þus hynge, [Pendente relatione, iterum absconditur, sed inventus, cum ad|huc esset catechumenus, baptizatur et VIII die in episcopalem cathedram sublima|tur.] Ambrose him hudde, wiþoute lesynge; Line 190 But he was founden amongus hem. He leued wel, but him lakked baptem: Þen was he cristened in watur cler And þe eihteþe day set in bisschops chayer. Þenne at þe four ȝeres ende [Cum autem post annos IV Romam ivisset et soror sua, sacra virgo, ejus dex|tram oscularetur, sibi ridens ait: Ecce, ut dicebam tibi, sacerdotis manum oscularis.] Line 195 To Rome forsoþe gan he wende. His sustur þat maiden was, an holy wom|mon, His riht hond heo custe anon. He smyled and seide: "suster, hit is wust, Þou hast cussed a prestes fust; Line 200 I seide þe sum tyme hit moste so be, But neuerþeles þou leuedest not me."

HIt bifel afturward sikerliche [Cum autem in quandam civitatem pro quodam episcopo ordinando ivisset et ejus electioni Justina imperatrix et alii haeretici contradicerent, volentes ut aliquis de sua secta ordinaretur,] Þat in a cite voyded a bisschopriche. Þider he went al in certeyne, Line 205 A bisschop þer forte ordeyne. Whon þer on ichosen was, Þen nolden heo assente to þat caas, Þe emperice, was clept Justine, Ne oþur heretykes monye and fyne, Line 210 For þei wolden þat þe eleccioun Hed fallen vppon on of here sori reli|gioun. [Of secte of þe arian st. of þe secte of arian wie 213. 276. 286.] Þen a maiden of secte of þe Arian [una de Arianorum virginibus impudentior caeteris (tribunal con|scendit et) beatum Ambrosium per vestimentum apprehendit, volens ipsum ad partem mulierum trahere, ut ab iis caesus de ecclesia cum injuria pelleretur.] Hedde þouȝt haue wrouȝt Ambroses ban; To seint Ambrose anon heo stert Line 215 And tok him smartly bi þe skert, To þe wymmen heo wolde him haue drawe, And þei him wolde ha smite ful fawe, Him boren an honde þen vuel talent And, bi þe lawe! þenne him haue schent Line 220 And from his churche wrongfuly Haue put him out wiþ vileny. Þenne to hire he seide corteisly: [Cui Ambr. ait: Etsi ego indignus tanto sacerdotio, tibi tamen non convenit in qualemcunque sacerdotem manus injicere: unde timere debuisti judicium Dei, ne tibi aliquid con tingat.] "Prest ich am, þauȝ i beo not worþi. Forsoþe, þou art vuele itauht, Line 225 To set hond on prest bi semeþ þe nauht. Godus dom þou scholdest haue in drede; Þou nost what may falle to þi mede." Hit byfel as he seid: [Quod dictum exitus confirmavit: nam die alio mortuam ad sepulcrum usque deduxit, gratiam pro contumelia rependens; quod factum omnes perterruit:] Heo was on morwen ded on bere ileyd. Line 230 Touward hire graue of his godnesse Þen he hire ladde for al hire schrewed|nesse. Þen alle men þat þis wondur herd Of God and him woxun aferd.

AFtur þat, in certeyn, [Post hoc Mediolanum reversus, innumeras insidias a Justina imperatrice pertulit, muneribus et honoribus adversus eum populum excitante.] Line 235 To Melan he tornde aȝein. Þen Justine, þat emperice,

Of maners wox boþe wylde and nice, And of þe peple heo worschiped moni on And ȝiftus ȝaf to vche mon, Line 240 Hem to sture aȝein Ambrose— Þat was iwis an vuel purpose. Þei weoren aboute, of vuel wil [Cum ergo multi eum in exsilium pellere niterentur,] To haue put him in exil. A schrewe þer was among oþur— [unus eorum caeteris infelicior in tantum furorem excitatus est, ut juxta ecclesiam domum sibi locaret ac in ea quadrigam paratam haberet, quo procurante Justina facilius raptum ad exsilium deportaret.] Line 245 I trouwe he was þe deueles broþur— Þat was so wod in his doyng Þat bi his chirche he made his dwellyng And in his hous he hedde redye A cart, seint Ambrose to carie Line 250 Out of þe lond, fox of fyl, Whon he weore dampned to exil, Þat no bodi wox so bolde In londe him aftur forte holde; Þis was þe cast of Justine, Line 255 Þe emperice, a schrewe ful fyne. But bi Godus ordinaunce [Sed Dei judicio ipso die quo eum rapere arbitrabatur, in eadem quadriga de ea|dem domo in exsilium pulsus est. (Cui tamen Ambr. reddens bona pro malis, sumptus et necessaria ministravit.)] Þenne bifel þis ilke chaunce: He þat hedde arayed þe cart He was exiled swiþe smart Line 260 Vppon þat ilke same day Þat wende to ha lad Ambrose away, In þe same cart he was caried Out of þat lond, and foule ihariȝed. [wende = wende he, wie 714 wolde, 961 knewe, Theod. 314 leued.]

SEint Ambrose was þe furste man [Cantus et officium in ecclesia Mediolanensi cele|brari instituit.] Line 265 Þat in þe churche of Melan Ordeyned offyces and songe And melodye of vois and tonge. In þe cite of Melan [Erant et tunc temporis Mediolani multi a daemonibus obsessi, qui se torqueri ab Ambrosio magnis vocibus clamabant;] Was þat tyme moni a man Line 270 Þat wiþ þe deuel acumbred were And weren ibrouht in muchel fere; Þe deuel made hem crie in heore turment Þat Ambrose hedde hem ischent. But Justine, þat wikked womman, [Justina autem et multi Arianorum, cum simul habitarent, dicebant Ambrosium pecunia homines comparare qui se ab immundis spiritibus vexari mentirentur et ab Ambrosio dicerent se torqueri.] Line 275 Wiþ heretykes of þe secte of Arrian, Þat to gedere token heore dwellyng, On Ambrose maden a lesyng: Þei seiden hit was soþ verrey Þat Ambrose wiþ his money Line 280 Hedde hured men to þat entent, To seiȝe þat þe deuel hem dude turment, And eke of Ambrose verreyliche Þis lesyng þei maden falsliche.

HIt bifel sodeynliche þan [Tunc subito unus ex illis Arianis qui adstabant, arreptus a daemonio in medium prosiluit atque clamare coepit: Utinam sic torqueantur ut torqueor, qui non credunt Ambrosio!] Line 285 Þat on of þe secte of Arrian Wiþ þe deuel sone was take; For wod he grenned and gon to quake, He fel adoun among hem alle And gon to crye and to calle: Line 290 "I wolde þat alle þat nou ne purpose, [ms. non statt nou.] Þat nou ne byleeue on Ambrose, [ms. non statt nou.] Þat þei ne weore turmented als am I — I suffre serwe, sikerly!" Confuys þenne was þat cumpaygnye; [At illi confusi in piscinam demersum hominem necaverunt.] Line 295 Þer þei him slowen for his crye And þenne wiþ heore oune honde Þey him dreynte in a ponde.

A maister heretyk þer was on, [Quidam haereticus, acerrimus disputator et durus et inconvertibilis ad fidem, cum audiret Ambrosium praedicantem, vidit angelum ad aures ejus loquentem verba quae populo praedicabat.] An hard mon of conuercion Line 300 And a scharp mon of wit

To plede aȝeynes holy writ. Vppon a day he com to here Seint Ambrose preche, þe peple to lere, And he sauh at Ambroses ere Line 305 An angel speke þe wordus þere Þat to þe peple he dude preche — Wel forte lyue he dude teche. Of þat siht he was ful feyn, [Quo viso fidem quam persequebatur coepit defen|dere.] To cristene feiþ he tornde aȝeyn Line 310 And defended strongliche Þat he hedde dispysed falsliche.

A coniuror þer was also [Quidam aruspex daemones advocabat et ipsos ad nocendum Am|brosio transmittebat, sed (reversi daemones renuntiabant, quod) non solum ad ipsum sed nec etiam ad fores domus suae appropinquare valebant, (quoniam ignis insupera|bilis omne illud aedificium communiret, ut etiam longe positi urerentur.)] Þat þouȝte to Ambrose worche wo; He calde vp fendes and forþ hem sende, Line 315 Seint Ambrose forte schende. But þei nedde pouwer, wiþ no gin, To neihe þe hous þat he was in, Ne nouþur nuyȝe his persone — God ȝaf him grace, þat sit in trone. Line 320 Hit bifel bi þat coniurour [Prae|dictus vero aruspex cum a judice propter quaedam maleficia torqueretur, clamabat amplius ab Ambrosio se torqueri.] Þat he was take and put in tour. Whon he was turmented for his misdede, He seide seint Ambrose him put in drede; On seint Ambrose he cried out — Line 325 Þei wondred on him þat stoden about. Þer was a mon in Melan [Quendam daemoniacum Mediolanum in|gredientem daemon dimisit, egredientem invasit; interrogatus de hoc daemon ait Am|brosium se timere.] Þat þe fend was fallen on. In to þe citee whon he schulde go, Þe deuel wolde him fleo fro; Line 330 And whon þat he schulde outward wende, In to þat mon he wolde lende. He was asked hou þat was. Þe fend onswered in þat cas And seide: awei from him he fledde, Line 335 For seint Ambrose sore he dredde.

ANoþur mon bi nihtes tale [Alius quidam nocte ejus cubiculum adiit, ut gladio ipsum necaret, prece ac pretio a Justina inductus; sed cum dextra gladium elevasset, ut ipsum percuteret, continuo aruit manus ejus. (Die bei Grässe l. c. hier folgende Erzählung von der Verweisung des Kaisers aus der Kirche fehlt im engl. wie auch in der Edit. princ.; sie folgt später ausführlich.)] In to seint Ambroses chaumbre stale: Justyne, þat wikked emperice, Him hedde i huired to beo so nice, Line 340 Þat holy mon forte sle And afturward awey to fle. Þis mon wiþ his riht hond His swerd out drouh, as brennyng brond, Forte haue smiten þis holy mon; Line 345 But his arm druyed vp anon, He ne mihte on none wyse Þerwiþ aftur do no seruyse.

ANoþur mon þe fend hedde take, [Quidam a daemonio arreptus clamare coepit ab Ambrosio se torqueri. Cui Ambr.: Obmutesce, diabole, quia non te torquet Ambrosius sed tua invidia, quia illuc homines adscendere conspicis unde tu turpiter corruisti, nam Ambrosius nescit inflari. At ille statim obmutuit.] And turmented him wiþ muchel wrake Line 350 And maad him crie in his wodnes: "Ambrose me pyneþ wiþ wikkednes." Ambrose seide: "pes, þou foule fende! Ambrose þe doþ no þing schende, But þyn envye, for þat þou sest Line 355 Of cristen men, boþe lest and mest, Steyhȝe vpward from whennes þou fil; Ambrose nis not inflat of wil." Þe fend þenne ouercome wes And of his criȝing heold his pes. Line 360

HIt bifel vppon a day, [Quadam vice cum beatus Ambr. per civitatem pergeret, quidam casu lapsus est et in terra prostratus jaciebat: quod videns alter ridere coepit. Cui A.: Et tu, qui stas, vide ne cadas. Quo dicto statim lapsum doluit suum qui riserat alienum.] As Ambrose wente bi þe way, A mon slod aȝeynes his wil, Adoun to þe eorþe sone he fyl. Anoþur mon, þat þer was, Line 365

Line 365 Stod and louh at þat cas. Seint Ambrose þenne wiþ deuocion Seide: "þou þat stondest, fal nouȝt adoun!" Vnneþe seint Ambrose þus hed seid, Þe mon fel doun, on eorþe was leid, Line 370 And sori was for his oune fallyng Þat of þe toþur monnes fal made lauh|wyng.

ÞEr was also þat tyme a mon [Quadam etiam vice A. ad palatium Macedonii, magistri officiorum, ut pro quodam in|tercederet, venit; sed cum fores clausas invenisset nec intrandi copiam habere po|tuisset, ait: Et tu quidem venies ad ecclesiam et non clausis januis ingredi, sed apertis januis non valebis.] Þat was icalled Macedon, He was chef mayster of offyces, Line 375 Hem to rule and punissche vices. Ambrose toward him went vppon a day, For a pore mon him to pray; But he his ȝate fond ischut, Þat ingoinge miht he non get. Line 380 Þer of seint Ambrose was sumwhat irke And seide to him: "þou schalt come to kirke, And, þouh þe dore al open stonde, In þer at schalt þou not fonde."

HIt bifel sone afturward [Elapso aliquo tempore metuens inimicos Macedonius ad ec|clesiam fugit et patentibus januis aditum reperire non potuit.] Line 385 Þat Macedon hedde enemys hard; To chirche needes fleo moste he þo, Þe dore was open, he miht not in go. Þen was fallen þe purpose Of þe holy mon seint Ambrose. Line 390

HE was of so gret abstinence, [Fuit etiam tantae abstinentiae, quod quotidie nisi in sabbato et die dominico et festis praecipuis jejunabat.] For loue of god and reuerence, Þat he fasted alway, Saue saturday and sonday And oþur principal festes, Line 395 He spared not for no gestes.

HE was of so gret largesse [Tantae etiam largitatis erat, quod omnia quae habere poterat ecclesiis et pauperibus, nil sibi retinens, tribuebat.] Þat he deled al his richesse To holichirche and to pore men; Nouȝt to him self wolde he kepe þen. Line 400

HE was of so gret compassion [Tantae compassionis, ut, cum aliquis lapsum suum sibi confitebatur, sic amarissime flebat, quod illum similiter flere compellebat.] Þat he wolde for deuocion, Whon eny mon dude to him knoweleche [dude wohl zu tilgen.] His sunne wolde and his wreche, He wolde wepe so bitterly Line 405 And þer of beo so sory, Þat þe mon þat him so hedde ischriue Schuld him repente sore to liue; For his sunnes he wolde constreyne A mon to wepe and suffre peyne. Line 410

HE was so ful of mekenesse [Tantae humilitatis et laboris, ut libros quos dictabat propria manu scribebat, nisi cum infirmitate corporis gravaretur.] And of trauayl: boþe more and lasse Þe bokes þat he made, God hit wot, Wiþ his oune hondes he wrot, But he were greued in his bodi Line 415 Wiþ seknes oþur wiþ maladi.

HE was so ful of pite [Tantae autem pietatis et dul|cedinis, ut, cum alicujus sancti sacerdotis vel episcopi sibi obitus nuntiaretur, sic ama|rissime flebat, ut vix consolari valeret.] And of swetnesse, parde, Þat, whon men tolden him tiþing Of bisschopes oþur prestes diȝing, Line 420 He wolde so wepe and gret deol make, Þat no cumfort wolde he forþ take. Whon men made him þen askyng [Cum autem interrogaretur cur viros sanctos, qui ad gloriam proficiscebantur, sic fleret, ajebat: Ne putetis me flere quod recesse|rint, sed quia me praecesserunt et quia difficile invenitur qui tam dignus ejus officii habeatur.] Whi þat he made such serwyng

And wepte for holy men and murie Line 425 Þat passed weren vp to glorie, He wolde onswere: "ne leeue ȝe nouht Þat i þus wepe and falle in þouht, Out of þis world for þei ben gon To him þat mad vs euerichon, Line 430 But for þei ben gon tofore me, And for hit is hard, so mot i þe, Forte fynden aftur such a mon Þat such an offys so wel do con."

HE was of so good constaunce [Tantae etiam constantiae et fortitudinis, quod imperatoris vel principum vitia non palpabat sed eos voce libera constantissime arguebat.] Line 435 And strong in spiryt in eueri chaunce: Þouh emperour or kyng in dede were nice, He nolde not suwe hem in no vice, But he wolde in certeyne Wiþ opene vois him wel repreyne. Line 440

ÞEr was a mon þat wikkedliche [Cum quidam vir quoddam flagitium perpetrasset et coram eo adductus fuisset, dixit A.: Oportet illum tradi Sathanae in interitum carnis, ne talia deinceps audeat perpetrare. Quem eodem momento, cum adhuc sermo esset, more ejus immundus spiritus discer|pere coepit.] An vuel dede hedde don openliche. Tofore Ambrose whon men him brouht, He seide, as hit was in his þouht: "Hit bihoueþ, seid Ambrose, þat þis man Line 445 Beo bitaken to Sathan, Þat wheþer he beo hard oþur nessche Him to chastise in his flessche." Þat word vnneþe Ambrose hadde seid, Þat þe mon al wod abreyd, Line 450 A wikkede spirit þe bodi torment, So þat þe soule schulde not be schent.

VPpon a tyme bi godus dome [Quadam vice, ut ajunt, cum beatus A. Romam pergeret et in quadam villa Tusciae (engl. Trissye) apud quendam hominem nimium locupletem hospitatus fuisset, illum hominem super statu suo sollicite requisivit.] Seint Ambrose tok þe wei to Rome, And in a toun, þat hette Trissye, [Ms. trissye st. Tuscie.] Line 455 He was herborwede, sikerlye, At a riche monnes hous, Þer he in dwelled and his spous. Seint Ambrose apposed þis man Of his stat hou hit stod þan. Line 460 He seide: "Sire, so mot i þe, [Cui ille respondit: Status meus, domine, semper felix exstitit et gloriosus; ecce enim divitiis infinitis abundo, servos et famulos quam plures habeo et omnia semper ad vota habui nec unquam mihi aliquid adversum accidit vel quod contristaret evenit.] Ich am in gret prosperite, Mi self, mi wyf and min hous, We ben wondur glorious: Ich haue plente of richesse, Line 465 Men and wymmen, more and lesse, Me to serue niht and day Euer more to my pay; Ich haue moni a mon ful fyn, Children, nevues and cosyn, Line 470 I haue alle þing at my wille, Þer nul no wiht me greue ne spille; I hedde neuere aduersite, Ne gret serwe ful non on me." Whon seint Ambrose þeos wordes herd, [Quod audiens A. vehementer obstupuit et his qui erant secum in comitatu dixit: Surgite et hinc quantocius fugiamus, quia dominus non est in loco isto; festinate, filii, festinate, nec in fugiendo moram facite, ne nos hic divina ultio apprehendat et in peccatis illorum pariter nos involvat.] Line 475 Wondurliche he was aferd, And to hem þat were of his cumpaygnye He bad hem faste þeonnes heiȝe, "For i wot wel now in þis space Þat God nis not in þis place; Line 480 Hiȝe we faste on vre goyng, And as we gon makeþ no dwellyng, Leste þorwh Godus veniaunce Vs falle vppon sum mischaunce For þis ilke monnes sinne, [of causal, mit dem Infin. als Gerund.] Line 485 Of his hous now dwellen inne."

Vnneþe Ambrose and his meyne [Cum ergo fugerent et aliquantulum processissent, subito se terra aperuit et hominem illum cum universis qui ad illum pertinebant ita ab|sorbuit, ut nullum inde vestigium remaneret.] Weoren passed out from þat citéé, Þat sodeynliche opened þe eorþe: Þer lafte nouþur þe þridde ne feorþe Line 490 Þat in þat hous dwelled and swonken, But alle in to þe eorþe þei sonken, Þat of hem no steppe was seyn; Þer þe hous stod al was pleyn. Whon seint Ambrose þis biheold, [Quod cernens A. dixit: Ecce, fra|tres, quam misericorditer Deus parcit, cum hic adversa tribuit, et quam severe irasci|tur, cum semper prospera elargitur.] Line 495 Wiþ his meyne þat stod in feld, He seide: "lo, how merciful God is To hem þat soffren here iwis In þis world aduersite, And of his grace sendeþ so to be, Line 500 And hou he punisscheþ, her mow ȝe se, Hem þat han al prosperite." In þat ilke same plas, [In eodem autem loco fovea quaedam pro|fundissima remansisse dicitur, quae (usque hodie in hujus facti testimonium) perse|verat.] Þere as bifel þis cas, Is a deop put alway, Line 505 Þat euer schal laste, as men say.

OF alle maner vuel þe rote [Cum autem A. radicem omnium malorum, avaritiam, magis ac magis in hominibus crescere cerneret et maxime in his qui erant in potestatibus constituti, (apud quos omnia pretio vendebantur,) nec non et in his qui erant sacris ministeriis deputati, vehementer ingemuit et se de hujus saeculi aerumna liberari instantius exo|ravit.] Is auarice iclept and ihote. And whon he sauh þat in monkuynde Auarice was most in muynde, Line 510 Among holy churche and worldly men, Muche deol he made þen; Out of þis world, so sori place, He preyed God þat in schort space He schulde him bringe at his wille, Line 515 And þat his soule schulde not spille. God hit him graunted specialiche: [Qui cum se id obtinuisse gauderet (im engl. erklärt),] An angel him warned priueliche. Whon he was war of þat day Þat he schulde passe hennes away, Line 520 Þerof he was joyful and feyn And tolde his breþeren in certeyn [revelavit fratribus quod usque ad resurrectionem dominicam secum esset.] Þat til þe feste of þe resureccioun He schulde wiþ hem dwelle her doun.

A fewe dayes tofore he fel seek, [Ante vero paucos dies quam lectulo detineretur, cum XLIIII psalmum cum notario dictaret,] Line 525 He was aboute — i telle ow ek — Forte endyte wiþ wit ful cler Þe foure and fourtiþe psalm of þe sauter, And wiþ him was his notarie: Þat sauh on him a siht of glorie: [subito ipsi, vidente notario, in modum scuti brevis ignis caput ejus operuit atque paulatim per os ejus, tanquam in domum habitator, intravit.] Line 530 Sodeynliche in maner of a scheld A schort fuir his hed þen held And lutlum and lutlum [lutlum by little, alter dat. plur.] In to his mouþ crep hole and sum, As þouh hit hedde ben in to his hous; Line 535 Þen wex his face al glorious [Tunc facies tanquam nix effecta est, sed postmodum ad suam speciem reversa est.] And lyk to snouh hit wox al whit, But aftur to his oune kynde turned hit. Þat day he made an endyng [Ipso igitur die scri|bendi et dictandi finem fecit nec ipsum psalmum explere potuit, post igitur paucos dies infirmitate corporis laborare coepit.] Of writyng and endyting, Line 540 Þat psalm þen mihte he not parfourme — Nere Godus wille, þat mihte men mourne. A fewe daies aftur þat Wiþ seknes he was al to squat.

ÞEn þe eorl of Ytalie [Tunc comes Italiae cum Mediolani esset, nobiles convocavit, dicens, quod, tanto viro recedente, periculum esset ne Italiae interitus immineret;] Line 545

Line 545 At Melan was and mad him murie; But, whon he herde of þis tiþinge, He made del and gret mournynge And gedered to gedre alle þe grete Of þat citéé on an aftur mete, Line 550 And seide to hem: he dredde peril, Leste þer schulde falle sum il To þat ilke cuntray, Whon þat Ambrose wer gon away; Þerfore he preyed þat þei schulde gon [rogavitque ut ad virum Dei accederent rogantes ut sibi adhuc spatium vivendi (uno anno) a domino impetraret.] Line 555 To seint Ambrose swiþe anon, To preye him preye God wiþ good face Forte sende him lengor space, Wiþ hem to dwelle sumwhat more, Ȝif þat his swete wille wore. Line 560 Riht so þei seiden and he hem herd, [Quod ille ut ab illis au|divit, respondit: Non ita inter vos vixi, ut me vivere pudeat, nec mori timeo, cum bonum dominum habeamus.] But riht anon he onswerd: "I haue not liued amongus ȝou Þat i am not aschomed nou, [not pleonastisch.] Ne i drede not to dye, iwis: Line 565 We haue to lord þe kyng of blis." Four dekenes of his, [Eo tempore quatuor ejus dyaconi invicem convene|runt tractantes inter se quis post ejus obitum bonus esset. Cum ergo a loco in quo vir Dei Ambrosius jacebat, longe essent et Simplicianum ita silenter nominassent, ut vix invicem se audirent, ille ab iis longe positus tertio exclamavit: senex, sed bonus.] Whon þat þei herden of þis, Þei come to gedere in þat plas Þer he seek ileyd was, Line 570 Sumwhat also þei stoden afer, For þat he scholde not hem her. Þei gonne to treten in þat hour Who mihte be best his successour; Amonges hem softly þei seiden þan Line 575 Hit were best chese Simplician. Al þouh þei made no gret nois, He onswerd, as he hed herd heore vois, Þries he seide wiþ mylde mod: "He is old, but he is god." Line 580 Alle foure þen woxen aferd, [Quod audientes territi fugerunt et nonnisi illum post ejus obitum elegerunt, (in loco autem in quo jacebat vidit Jesum ad se venientem et sibi vultu alacri arridentem.)] Whon þat þei his vois herd. But neuerþeles, whon he was ded, Symplician þei chosen to heore hed.

ÞE bisschop of Vercellenen — [Honoratus vero, episcopus Vercellensis, qui beati Ambrosii obitum exspectabat, cum se sopori dedisset, vocem tertio se clamantis audivit: surge, quia mox est reces|surus.] Line 585 Honoratus him cleped men — He bod Ambrosus passyng. But as he fel on slepyng, He herde a vois þries þo Seiȝe: "rys, for nou he schal forþ go!" Line 590 He ros and þenne to Melan went [Qui consurgens Mediolanum concitus venit et ei dominici corporis sa|cramentum dedit; moxque ille manus in modum crucis expandit et ultimum spiritum inter verba oris efflavit.] And ministred to Ambrose þe sacrement. And he in maner of þe crois His hondus streihte, wiþoute nois; In preyers, as he bisied him most, Line 595 To god he ȝeld vp þe gost. Þis mon regned in lyf ful fyne [Floruit circa annos domini 379 (!)] Aboute þe ȝeres þre hundred heihti and nyne Of þe date of vr lord, An holi mon in dede and word. Line 600 To þe chirche an ester niht [Cum autem in nocte paschae corpus ejus ad ecclesiam fuisset delatum, plurimi infantes bapti|zati eum viderunt, ita ut aliqui eum sedentem in cathedra tribunali dicerent (606 Zus.), alii adscendentem digito suis parentihus demonstrarent, nonnulli vero stellam super corpus ejus se videre narrarent (614 Zus.).] As men him beren forþ riht, Cristen children and innocent Seiden þei sauh him verrement As a juge sitte in a chayer, Line 605 Riht as þe sonne briht and cleer; Summe wiþ heore fyngres, verreyliche,

Scheweden heore frendes openliche Vpward hou þei sauh him stihe Wiþ heore bodiliche eiȝe; Line 610 Summe seiden þey seȝen wel a fyne A sterre ligge briht and schyne Euene aboue vppon his brest — [Ms. vppen.] Signe hit was of wel god rest.

ÞEr was a prest, sat at a fest, [Quidam presbiter cum in convivio cum multis aliis esset et sancto Ambrosio detrahere coepisset, eum continuo plaga per|culit et de convivio ad lectum ductus vitam finivit (621 Zus.).] Line 615 Wher men of Ambrose speeken mest; Þe prest bigon him to bakbyte And bi his godnes he set luyte: Wiþ seknesse he was smiten anon, Þat to his bed þen moste he gon — Line 620 I not wher he dude him schriue, But þer he mad ende of his lyue.

ALso in þe cite of Cartage [In urbe Cartha|giniensi cum tres episcopi simul convivarent et unus eorum beato A. detraxisset, re|latum est quid illi presbitero qui sibi detraxerat accidisset.] Þ(r)e bisschops of gret parage [Ms. þe st. þre.] Weren iset at a fest Line 625 And iserued at þe best, But on of hem gon to bacbyte Seint Ambrose wiþ gret dilyte. Þen of þe prest on him told Hou hit bifel, þat was so bold Line 630 To speke harm of þat mon, And hou vengaunce ful him vppon. He onswerde: so god him spede, [Quod cum ille vili|penderet, subito letale vulnus accepit et extremum continuo diem clausit. —] Þerof tok he but luytel hede. And sodeynliche a deþes wounde Line 635 Him tok, anon he fel to grounde — Þer he made his laste ende For bacbytyng of Godus frende.

NOte ȝe nou þis, for hit is able: [Notandum, quod beatus A. in multis commendabilis fuisse videtur. Primo in liberalitate, quia omnia quae habebat pauperum erant; unde refert de se ipso (646 Zus.), quod imperatori petenti basilicam sic respondit (et est in decreto XXIII qu. VIII, convenior etc.):] In mony þinges he was comendable, Line 640 Furst in liberalite: For alle þinges þat hedde he To pore folk forsoþe he ȝaf Þat bedreden weore or wente wiþ staf. Þerfore of him a tale men telle, Line 645 Þat is as soþ as gospelle:

AN emperour to him sent, Þat he schulde wiþ good talent Ȝelde vp a noble churche to him — For he þouȝte, wiþ wille ful grim, Line 650 Hit to heretykes haue ȝiue, Þat were not worþi þer in to lyue — He seide þat he was of al þing lord And wolde hit haue at o word. Ambrose onswerde wiþ honour: [Si a me peteret quod meum esset, id est fun|dum meum, argentum meum et huiusmodi meum, non refragarer, quamquam omnia quae mea sunt pauperum sunt (663-675 nicht im latein. Text bei Grässe).] Line 655 "Ȝif þat, he seide, þe emperour Asked of me þing þat myn wer, Þouh hit were gold or seluer Oþur elles hous or lond, Hit scholde beo redi to his hond, Line 660 And þauh al þat i haue here, i wot wel, Is pore mennes catel — So ich hit holde, and euer schal be Þorwh Godus oune charite. But holichirche to God doþ longe, Line 665 Þerfore as wel he mihte me honge As make me ȝiue him such a þing; Hit weore a cursed doyng, For, þauh he beo muchel of miht, To such þing haþ he no riht". Line 670 Þus þis gode mon, iwis, Knouleched þat al þat was his Was pore mennes at heore nede — Such a prelat god wol spede.

ALso he was comendable, wiþouten les, [Secundo in munditiae puritate: fuit enim virgo; unde refert Hieronymus eum dixisse: virginitatem non solum efferimus sed etiam servamus.] Line 675 In puirte of clannes: For he was a mayden clene — Leeue hit wel wiþouten wene! — Seint Jerom telleþ he herde him say Þeos wordus to him vppon a day: Line 680 "We speken not onliche of maydenhede, But we hit kepe also in dede."

IN studefastnesse also of fe [Tertio in fidei firmitate; unde dixit, cum imperator peteret basilicam, (et est in eodem ca|pitulo): prius est ut animam mihi quam sedem auferat.] Comendable he was al wei. Þer as i aboue seid: Line 685 Whon þe emperour him vpbreid, For þat þe chirche he wolde haue had, Seint Ambrose raþur him bad Furst his lyf take him fro Þen his feiþ — he seide him so. Line 690

IN couetise of martirdom, [Quarto in martirii aviditate; unde legitur in epistola sua de basilica non tradenda, quod praepositus Valentiniani Ambrosio mandavit dicens: Tu contemnis Valentinianum, caput tibi tollo.] Forte come to þat blessede hom, He was to comende witerli. I schal ȝou telle þe skile whi. Whon Valentinian þe emperour Line 695 His churche coueyted wiþ errour — As i tolde ȝou a luitel bifore —, An officer greued Ambrose sore For he nolde not þerto assent, And sende word to him wiþ gret talent: Line 700 "Þen þou wolt not fulfille Mi lord, þe emperoures, wille, Þin heued þerfore I wol haue, Þi lyf, þi self schaltou not saue." Ambrose onswerde loueliche: [cui Ambrosius: Deus permittat tibi ut facias quod minaris, atque utinam Deus avertat eos ab ecclesia, in me omnia tela sua convertant et meo sanguine sitim suam expleant. (713-4 Zus.).] Line 705 "God ȝiue þe grace smartliche To parfourne þi manase, Whon euer þe luste and what place! Wolde god þat on þat maneer From holi chirche to turne heore vuel cher [to vor d. Infin., weil wolde erst folgt; oder ist V. 710 and vengen st. avengen verschrieben?] Line 710 Þei wolden and vengen hem al on me And kele heore þurst in sleing me!" Of his deþ he ȝaf luyte, Þat þerwiþ his chirche wolde quite.

IN bisynes of orisoun [Quinto in orationis instantia; (unde dicitur de eo et habe|tur in libro XI hystoriae ecclesiasticae): Ambr. adversum reginae furorem non se manu defensabat aut telo, sed jejuniis et continuatis vigiliis, sub altari positus per obsecrationes defensorem sibi et ecclesiae Deum parabat.] Line 715 He was comendable of deuocioun. Aȝeines þe emperice Justine Þat proued he wel wiþ hert ful fine, For aȝeynes hire woodnes He schewed alle goodnes, Line 720 He fendet him not aȝeynes hire Nouþur wiþ scheld ne wiþ spere, But wiþ wakyng and preyer, Vndur an holy auter He preied God his chirche defende Line 725 And of mendyng grace hire sende.

HE was comendable and ȝep [Sexto in lacryma|rum abundantia: habuit enim tria genera lacrymarum, scilicet lacrymas com|passionis pro aliorum culpis, — unde dicit Paulinus de eo in legenda, quod, cum aliquis lapsum sibi confitebatur, sic amarissime flebat, quod illum similiter flere compellebat (vgl. V. 401 ff.) —,] In habundaunce of teres and wep. Þreo maner of teres here He vsud — nou ȝe mowe hem lere: Line 730 Furst he hedde teres of compassiun, For he wolde wepe for deuociun For hem þat hedden don amis And gulti weren in heore dedis; Paulin seiþ for þat of him aboue: [aboue, s. v. 401.] Line 735 Whon eny wiht him schrof to him forloue Of eny gult þat he hedde don,

Þerfore he wolde wepe anon, And riht so he wolde constreyne Þe mon to wepe for his peyne. Line 740

ANd teres he hedde of deuociun [lacrymas devotionis pro aeternis desi|deriis, — unde supra dictum est a Paulino, quod, cum interrogabatur cur sanctos qui moriebantur sic fleret, respondit: Ne me putetis flere quod recesserint, sed quia me ad gloriam praecesserunt (s. oben V. 417 ff.) —,] Euer to preye, in feld and toun, Out of þis world forte go — Þat was his disyr euer mo; Þerfore — tofore as hit is seid —, [s. oben 417 ff.] Line 745 Whon þat Paulin him wolde vpbreid And aske whi he wepte so sore, Whon holi men dyed him bifore Þat in to joye weren ipast Þat wiþouten ende schal last, Line 750 He bad him leeue neuer þe mo Þat he made deol and wepte so [im Ms. fehlt ne?] For þei passed þis world fro, But for þei weore tofore him go To þe kyngdom of blis, Line 755 Þat euer schal laste wiþouten mis.

OF compassioun eke he hedde þe tere [lacrymas compassionis pro aliorum injuriis, — unde ipse dicit de se (et est in decreto in superiori capite:) Adversus milites Gothos lacrymae meae arma sunt mea, satis enim munimenta sacer|dotis sunt, aliter nec debeo nec possum resistere (765-6 Zus.).] For hem þat wronges suffreden here. Þe knihtes þat weren fers and grim He onswerde, þat weren sent to him Line 760 From Valentinean þe emperour Þat þouȝte him to worche harde stour, He seide: "ich vse nouþur spere ne charmes, Mi bitter teres beoþ myn armes" — And so þei schulde to alle clerkes Line 765 Þat suwen wole seint Ambrose werkes — "Þeos, he seide, ben prestes defens, Oþur nul i make no resistens."

ÞE bok also bereþ witnes: [Septimo in forti constantia; cuius constantia maxime in tribus apparet: primo in defen|sione catholicae veritatis, — (unde dicitur in libro XI ecclesiasticae hystoriae, quod) Justina, mater Valentiniani imperatoris, Arianae haereseos alumna, coepit con|turbare ecclesiarum statum, comminari sacerdotibus depulsiones et exsilia, nisi Arimi|nensis concilii decreta revocarent (785-790 erklär. Zus.), quo bello ecclesiae murum ac turrim validissimum pulsabat Ambrosium. (Ein im lat. hier folgender anderer Aus|spruch über des A. Glaubensmuth aus der praefatio desselben Buches fehlt im engl.) —.] He was comendable in studefastnes. Line 770 Þat bisemed in þreo þinges Þat he vsud in his liuinges: Furst in defendyng — as þe bok seiþ — Of soþnes of holichirches feiþ. Whon þe modur of Valentinian, Line 775 Þat Justine men called þan, Þe whuche meyntened mani a man In þe heresy of Arrian, Bigon to distorble þe stat Of holichurche, and mony prelat Line 780 And prestes manased to exile, But ȝif þei wolde reuoke þe counsyle Þat was iholde in þe citéé Þat men cleped Arimminence: [Ms. Arimninence.] In þe whuche alle þe clergye Line 785 Hedde dampned þe heresye Of þe Arrianes lore And heretykes icorsed þerfore, And þer vppon was mad a decre, Þat euermore schulde iholde be; Line 790 Ambrose of hire tok non hede, But stod studefast at þat nede And he him self was wal and tour, [Ms. hin st. him.] To kepe holichirches honour, And he on hond tok þat batayle — Line 795 Hem he distruyed wiþoute fayle.

HE was comendable ek parde [secundo in tuitione ecclesiasticae libertatis, — unde, cum imperator auferre vellet quandam basilicam, opposuit se Ambrosius contra imperatorem, (sicut ipse testatur et est in decreto XXIII quaest. VI):]

In kepyng of þe liberte Of holichurche wiþ honour. Þerfore, whon þe emperour Line 800 A chirche from him wolde haue take, He hit wiþstod for Godus sake And he onswerd, as mon wel sage, To hem þat wer sent on message(!): "I am comaunded, he seide, of knihtes [convenior ipse a comitibus ut per me basilicae fieret matura traditio, dicentibus imperatorem iussisse (:jure suo tradi debere);] Line 805 Þorwh þe emperoures mihtes Þat i schulde wiþouten irke Delyuere vp to him a kirke. I onswered (!) wiþouten lesyng: [respondi: si patrimonium petit: invadite, si corpus: occurram, vultis in vincula: imponite, (vultis in mortem: voluntatis est mihi); (non ego me vallabo con|fusione populorum) nec altaria tenebo vitam obsecrans, sed pro altaribus gratius im|molabor; mandatur tradere basilicam, urgemur igitur praeceptis regalibus, sed con|firmamur scripturae sermonibus.] Ȝif þat ȝe aske weddyng, Line 810 Takeþ me forþ wiþ ou away — I schal ȝou suffre, par ma fay; Ȝif my bodi ȝe wolde hent, I wol come to ȝou, verreyment; Ȝif ȝe wole me bynde wiþ bondes, Line 815 I schal neuere fleo ȝor hondes, Nouþur to chirche ne to auter, Beo ȝe neuer so strong ne feer; But for þe auter wiþ god wil I schal me putte in to peril. Line 820 I am comaunded delyuere þe chirche: Þat were a wondur werk to worche! Þe biddyng of þe emperour Þreteþ me wiþ gret irrour, But holy writ comfermeþ me Line 825 Þat seiþ þus, in good lewte: [Þat bezieht sich auf holy writ, während lat. Qui respondit auf Ambr.; allerdings sind die 827-8 folg. Worte aus Job 2, 10 (Vulg.: quasi una de stultis mulieribus locuta es.) — Die ganze Rede des Ambr. ist aus verschiedenen Stellen seiner Schriften zusammengetragen.] [Qui respondit (engl. bezieht anders): Tanquam una ex insipientibus locuta es; noli gravare te, imperator, ut putes te in ea quae divina sunt jus habere; ad imperatorem palatia pertinent, ad sacerdotes ecclesiae.] Þou hast ispoken on þe gyse As on of þe wymmen þat weren vnwyse. "Þerfore, emperour, greue not þe, Ne trowe þou not, he seide, parde, Line 830 No maner riht þat þou maiȝt haue In heuenlich þinges noþur hem craue; Paleises longen to emperours, And halewed chirches ben prestes tours. Ȝif seint Naboth wiþ his oune blood [Sanctus Naboth vineam suam proprio cruore defendit; si ille vineam suam non reddidit, nos trademus Christi ecclesiam? tributum Caesari est, non negetur, ecclesia Dei est, Caesari utique non donetur.] Line 835 His vynȝard defendet wiþ herte god, For he hit wolde not vp ȝelde: I hope þat god schal ben vr schelde, Þat sunful dede schul we not worche [þat st. þat þat.] To ȝelde þe emperour vr churche. Line 840 Þe tribute is duwe to Cesar — Hit to deniȝe vche mon bi war! — Holychirche is godus al one, Þe emperour þerwiþ haþ not to done. Ȝif he aske ouȝt þat is myn, [Si de me aliquid compellaretur aut posceretur: fun|dus aut domus aut aurum aut argentum, id quod juris mei esset libenter offerrem; templo Dei nihil possum decerpere nec detrahere, cum illud custodiendum, non decerpendum acceperim.] Line 845 Lond or rente or gold so fyn, Wiþ gode wille I wolde him take And þerof no daunger make; But I mai not ȝiue awei Godus temple, ne hit bitray, Line 850 Ne to no temperel lord hit ȝelde, Þouh he beo gret in toun and felde; Forte kepe hit is me take, Nouȝt to ȝelde vp, for godus sake."

HE was also comendable, [tertio in objurgatione vitii et omnis iniquitatis, — (unde legitur in hystoria tripartita in quadam chronica, quod,) [der engl. Text mit eigenem Titel.]] Line 855 For he hem wolde blame þat wer not stable, And repreyne hem of wikkednesse, Boþe more and eke lesse.