Die Kildare-gedichte; die ältesten mittelenglischen denkmäler in anglo-irischer überlieferung von Dr. W. Heuser ...

B. Ms. Harl. 1706 (Papier, 15. saec.).

Auf die Zehn Gebote und Sieben Todsünden folgen noch: Septem virtutes, 7 opera charitatis etc. etc.; zuletzt 4 virtutes cardinales, 8 beatitudines. Die Decem Mandata finden sich in gleicher Fassung auch in Ms. Harl. 5396.

Decem Mandata.

Thou schalte haue on god and no moo And ouer alle þinge loue him also. Goddys name in ydel take þou nouȝte, Ne swere by noþinge þat god haþ wrouȝte. Haue mynde to halowe þi holyday Wiþ alle þi mayn, man and maye. Þi faþer and modyr worschipe boþ Wiþ counselle, comforte, meete and clooþ. Þou schalt not slee lowde ne stylle Wiþ tonge ne knyfe ne wycked wylle. Lechery schalt þou noon doo In wylle ne worde ne dede also. Þou schalt not stele þi neyȝbores þinge, By gyle ne raueyn ne wronge wiþholdynge. Þou schalte not speke no false wytnessynge, In worde ne dede make no lesynge. Þi neyȝbores þinge coueyte þou noon, Ne vnmeuable þinge, feld ne towne. Þi neyȝbores wyfe desyre þou nouȝte, Seruant ne mayden ne oþer auȝt. Þese ben þe hestes tenne Þat god comaundeþ to alle men.

Sieben Todsünden.

Pryde ys hede of alle kynne synne Þat makeþ mannes soule fro god to twyne. To wicked hyȝnes he wolde ay And loueþ to myche ys owne noblye; Hym self he preyseþ in hys þouȝte, And oþer men he setteþ at nouȝte.

Enuye foloweÞ pryde comenlye. [Inuidia] Whan men faren welle, he is sorye; Whan men faren yuel, he ioyeþ wiþ ynne; He laweþ neu[e]r, but at synne. Wraþe vn to þise two ys knytte; [Ira] To take vengeaunce ys alle hys wytte, To slee, to smyȝte, to procure woo, To wary folke, to sclaunder also. The couetouse man knoweþ no skylle, [Auaricia] Alle þis world maye not hym fylle; The worldes welþe he wylleþ ay Wiþ ryȝte or wronge gete, wheþer he may. Glotenye haþ grete appetyte [Gula] To eete erly and late hys delyȝte. He loueþ no mesure of etynge, And aye he wold be drynkynge. The sixte synne ys lecherye, [folio 306] [Luxuria] To many a soule yt worcheþ noye. But men yt leue and hem amende, In fyre of helle þ[e]i schulle be breende. Slownesse ys a cursed þinge, [Accidia] For yt ys ay wery of wylle doynge. Good werke hym loþeþ to bygynne, And lytyl þere of wolle he blynne. Þese ben þe synnes seuene Þat reuen a man þe blysse of heuene.