Cursor mundi (The cursur o the world). A Northumbrian poem of the XIVth century in four versions. Ed. by the Rev. Richard Morris ...

¶ Lauerdinges, in þat ilk contre þat man clepes galilee, In a tun yee call þe chane Line 13362 Bridall was þar broiden an; þe bridgom did alle þider call His specialiest freindes all, Line 13365

Line 13365 And was þar-for to be Line 13366 Vr lauedi and hir fre meigne. And iesus self he com þar-till, Wit sum disciplis at his will. þat gadring þar was ful gret, Line 13370 And mani semli sett in sete. þe folk þat dai ful fair was fedd, O bred and flexs bath soþen and bredd, Left þai noght for cost ne suinc, Line 13374 And god wine had þai for to drinc. þe win þam was noght spard amang, And þar-for lasted it nog[ht] lang. Quen maria wist þair win was gan, Sco tald it til hir sun o-nan, Line 13379 And mildeli sco made hir man, "Leifsun," sco said, "wine haf þai nan." And til his moder þan said he, "Quat es þat to me and þe? Line 13383 If it be sua þair win be gnede, On us ne leses noght þe nede. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Cotton & Laud MSS.] Bot we sal do þo queþer als heind, [folio 74a:1] In nede þan sal þai find vs freind." Sco cald þe boteler hir to, Line 13390 Said, "do þat mi sun þe bides do, þat he þe biddes be puruaid." "It sal be don, leuedi," he said. Iesus badd þam þan o-nan Line 13394 Fil þair gret wessels o stan O water clere, and þai did sua, þan bad iesus þam to ga For to tast o þat neu win, Line 13398 And ber it to sir architricline, þat o þat hus was þan husband, And costes to þe bridal fand. Line 13401

Line 13401 þai fild a cupp þan son in hast, Line 13402 And gaf it þe architricline to tast; He dranc and feild gode sauur, Dranc he neuer ar sli licur, And cald til him þe boteler, Line 13406 And said him þus, þat all moght her, "Quarfor," said he, "þus has þou Halden þe god wine to now? Line 13409 þe god drinc suld þou first despend, And siþen drinc þe wers at end, At end quen man es drunken made; And yee þe best has don in bade Ai hider-to, for-þi me thinc Line 13414 þe mar es wasted o yur drinc." þair fest þai heild wit gret gladscip, For suete it was, þair felauscipe, þar he-self was, vr drightin, Line 13418 And made þam o þair water win. þis was þe formast sign he did, þat was til his disciples kyd, Quar thoru þai can traistili tru, Line 13422 Fra þat dai in vr lauerd iesu. þan left þe bridgom his bride, And folud iesum fra þat tide, Ne lai he neuer bi hir side, Line 13426 Bot left hir and all werldes pride, O wijf for-sok he hand-band And turnd him to þe better hand. Men sais þat þis was sant Iohan, Line 13430 Wit iesu luued was better nan, He was cosin to ihesu crist, And siþen [h]e was ewangelist. Line 13433 þis ilk was ion þe gospeller, [folio 74a:1] O iesu brest lai at supe[r], O wijt he dranc þar o þe well, Line 13436 þat he wit spede can efter spell.

Sli signe did crist at þis bridall, Line 13438 þat ilk Iohn telles in his talle, O þat iesu walkand in erthe, O gosspellere he was þe ferth. Marc, luca, Matheu, his felaus, Line 13442 Bot iohn was sothlist in saus. For-þi to þe arn lickest es he, þat es na foxl sua ferr mai se, Line 13445 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Cotton & Laud MSS.] And es na foxl sa gleg of ei, Ne nan þat mai flei sua hei; Line 13449 Bot for propheci i dar noght sai Quere þis was þat ilk or nai.

¶ Ihesus, he sais, a passage made Vte ouer a see o tibariade, Line 13453 Grett was þat folk him foluand yode, To here his preching thoght þam god, þair hele to get þai þan war seke, Fra ful ferr can þai till him seke. þis folk was mikel, all for to tell; Iesus clamb vp vn-til a fell, Line 13459 His a-postels wit him he ledd, Bi-held þat folk a-bute þam spredd þat folud him til mikel thrang, Him reud þat þai fasted lang. [[MS. land]] þe dales was wit folk ouer-laid; Line 13464 Philip he cald til him and said, "Philip, þis folk ar wonder fele, Hu redes þou we wit þam dele? þai haf gret mister nu o mete, Line 13468 Quar sal we nu þair fode gete?" þis he said, þe gospel telles, To fand him and nathing elles, For he þat wroght bath sun and mone Wist well wat he had to don. Line 13473

Line 13473 þai folud him fastand dais thre, Line 13474 þar-of had iesus gret pite, "And if þai," he said, "turm ham þair wai, Bi þe wai son faile sal þai. Quen þai sal find nathing to bij, Ded bi þe stret þan mon þai lij." Line 13479 Philipp said þan, "lauerd, quat consail Mai i youu giue þam mai auail? [folio 74b:1] Me-thinc to do þat war noght eth, Qua had o penis thre hundreth Bred for to bi, þai ar sua fele, War til ilkan bot a morsel." Line 13485 þan spac andreu, was na sa mild, "We haf wit vs," he said, "a child þat has fiue laues and fisches tua, But quat don þai wit-vten maa?" þan said vr lauerd, "i-nogh es þat, Dun i wald þe folk all saitt. Line 13491 We sal," he said, "do nu ful wele;" For hai þar was a mikel dele. Quat sal i sai yow lang sermun? All right þar war þai sett dun, Line 13495 Iesus blissed þis bred for-melt, And siþen badd it suld be delt. He blisced als þe fisches tuin, And sett his fusun þam wit-in, Line 13499 þat quen all forwit þam was sett, All þai had i-nogh at ette. þis bred and fische was delt a-bute, Had nan defaut in al þat rute. Godmen it was a gret gadring, Line 13504 Iesus fedd wit sua litel a thing, Tua fisches and fiue laues o bere, þat iesus wit fedd suilk a here; Abute fiue thusand als it es redd, Was þat folk þat he þar fedd. Line 13509

Line 13509 Quen þai had eten, þat drightin Bad þam late na crummes tin, Line 13511 þe releif gadir þai in hepes, And fild þar-wit tuelue mikel lepes. þus can he sett all his fusun Quar he will giue his benisun, Line 13515 þe folk all þat he gaf his fode, þai thancked godd of all gode, And said for soth, "þis ilk es he, þat sal his folk do saued be." Line 13519

¶ Efter þat þis signe was don, Noght lang bi-tuix bot alson, A-noþer he did þat yee sall here, Als telles vs þis ilk gospellere, Line 13523 Of a man þat born was blind, And soght at iesu grace to find. Iesus was þar he welk þe stret, Wit þis blind þar can he mete; Line 13527 Him asked his disciplis þan, [folio 74b:2] "Lauerd," þai said, "wat es þi nam, Or his eldres don bi-forn Line 13530 þat he þus-gat suld blind be born?" þan said iesus, "has noþer he þis, Ne als his oxspr[i]ng don þe mis, Bot for þat godds werckes mai Line 13534 In him be sceued fra þis dai. Mi fader werkes most i do To-quils þat i haf dai þar-to, Fra now behoues þe sun him spede For to do his fader dede. Line 13539 Wirk i most al for-wit night, Ai quils þe dai it lestes light, To-quils i in þis werld be, It has na lightnes bot o me." Wit þis vn-to þe erth he spitt, Line 13544 And wit þat erth he menged it,

And tok he o þat smerl a-wai, Line 13546 And smerd þar-wit his oþer ei. And siþen he said til him, "leif freind, To natatorie nu sal þou wende, At natatori sylee Line 13550 þar sal þin eien wassed be." He went and wess his eien þare, And tok his sight in þat siquare; Fra nu thar him namar be ledd, Line 13554 He com again [[MS. repeats again]] þan to þat stedd. Quen men him sagh þat kneu him are, Fast þai can on him to stare, Sum þan said, "es þou noght he þis endir day þat moght noght se?" Sumsaid, "he? nai," sum said, "þis ilk," And sum, "bot an þat semes suilk," þe soth tuix þam cuth þai noght find; þan ansuard he þam þat was blind, "þat ilk es i, for-soth i sai." Line 13564 "Hu gat þou þan þi sight?" cuth þai. "Mi sight," he said, "þan gatt i þus, þat es a man þat hatt iesus, He smerd wit lam min eien tua, And bad me siþen for to ga Line 13569 To natatorie siloe, 'Ga wasse þin eien þar,' coth he. Quen i had don þat he badd me, Als suith þan moght þai wele se." [folio 75a:1] "Quar es," coth þai, "he, þat iesu?" "I ne wat," coth he, "quar es he nu." þai hint him þan, þir felun Iues, And ledd him to þe phariseus, Line 13577 þat maisters o þat lau war þan, þai fraind at þis seli man To tell þam hugat he gatt his sight, And he said, "þus þat man has me dight."

Sum Iuus said þat stode þam bi, Line 13582 "O godd him semes ha na perti þat haldes of hali-dai na stat,"— For þis was don on þair sabbat. And oþer said, "bot hugat moght Sli werck o sinful man be wroght?" þaa phariseus þat war ful fell, Line 13588 Quen þai had striued þam emel And groigned, cuth na resun find, þai did þan bring again þat blind; "Quat haldes þou þat man?" said þai. "A prophet," said he, "be mi lai." þe maisters Iuus þan bigan Line 13594 To mistru o þis sinful seli man, Quere-for wit blind he had ai bine, þai said þat he had alwai sene. þe neist men of his oxspring Line 13598 Did þai þan be-for þam bring, "þis es yur sun," þai said, "and yee Sai þat blind man born was he; Sais hus nu, be yur leute, Line 13602 Hu es it sua þat he mai se?" His freindes said, "our sun he es, And blind was born, wit-vten les." "Hu es it sua þat he seis nu?" Line 13606 "We ne wat, bot ask him-seluen hu. Yee ask him-seluen, for best he wat Giue ansuar of his aun stat." þus gaf þaa seli men answar Line 13610 For-qui þai dred þe Iuus sar, For þai had made, þat wel men wist, A statut agains Iesum crist, If ani wald him leue or lute Line 13614 þair synagoges suld be put vte; For-þi þai badd þam him-self frain, þai wald ha ben awai ful fain, Line 13617

Line 13617 Yeit þai cald þe thrid time þis blind and badd him luue drightin. [folio 75a:2] "Blisce him," þai said, "þat wons on hight, For þis man es a sinful wight." He said, "i wat noght of his plight, Bot to me, blind, he gaf þe sight." "Hu," coth þai, "gert he þe se, Line 13624 Tell vs hu he did wit þe?" "Wi, quar-to suld i tell yow mare? Ne haf i noght tell yow ar. Quar-for spir yee o þat gom? Line 13628 Wil yee discipls his bicum?" "We," coth þai, and þai began Ful felunli þis man to ban. Line 13631 "Hald þe til him," coth þai, "caitif, Sal we be neuer his vr lijf, þou mot his disciple be, Disciple moyses ar we, þar was a man wit-vten sak, Line 13636 We wat godd self wit him spak; O þis man knaulage nan ha we." To þaa Iues þan ansuard he, "Her-of thinc me al selcuth, Line 13640 Qui yee hald him sua vncuth, And sais yee wat noght queþen he be þat þus has giuen mi sight to me. I wat, and it o soth be soght, Line 13644 þat sinful man godd heres noght, Bot he allan þat dos his will, And halds him fra dedis ill. þis es aman þat drightin heres, Line 13648 And helpes oþer for his praieres; Ne it i-wiss was neuer herd Sin þe biginning o þe werld, Blind born man to get his sight [[MS. gett]] Wit-vten grace o godds might." Line 13653

Line 13653 þan said þai, "þou caitif for-lorn In sin was all to-gedir born, Line 13655 Queþer þou wenis vs nu here O þine vn-wittes for to lere." Wit þis þai scott him als a dog Right vte o þair synagog, Line 13659 "Herd yee þis lurdan," coth þai, "Hu he wald lere vs nu vr lai, þat beggar þat in sin was goten!" Line 13662 Quen iesus wist him þus for-scotten, þair strijf he wist bath less and mare, And þat þai had him wrethed sare. For-þi he thoght him do solace, [folio 75b:1] And mare to sceu him of his grace. Quen þat iesus and he war mette Line 13668 Ful derworthli his lauerd he grett, Til him spak iesus, "sai me nu, sai, Traus þou in godd sun or nai?" Line 13671 "Quar es he," said he, "wist i quar, To trou in him ful leif me war." Ihesus said þan, "þou has him sene, And spoken wit þe wit-vten wene." þan said iesus, "mi to-cumming Line 13676 In erth es jugement to bring, þat þai þat noght seis suld se, And þat þe seant blind suld be." þan said sum o þat semble, Line 13680 "Sais þou vs þan þat blind er we?" "War yee," he said, "wit-vten sight, þan war yee soth wit-vten plight, Bot nu yee sai þat yee mai se, Line 13684 In sin þar-for be-left er yee."

¶ Yeit forþermar sal i tel yow Sum gestes [[MS. geftes]] o þat suet iesu, Als telles þis ilk ewangelist þat he sagh foluand iesu crist. Line 13689

Line 13689 Mont oliuet it es an hill Line 13690 þat iesus hanted mikel till, For yede he ai vmstunt, For þar to prai oft was he wont. Apon a dai quen him thoght god, Fra þeþen he to þe temple yode, For to teche and for to lere Line 13696 þe men þat gladli wald him here. þe phariseus, þat luued ai strijf, Vnto þat kirk þai broght a wijf þat þai in hordam had ouertan, Line 13700 þair lagh wald man suld hir stan, In to midward þis temple wide, þar mani man war stad þat tide. Abute hir hefd hir har hingand; Line 13704 All wonder on hir in þat thrang. þan spak an o þaim for alle, Be-for ihesus þus made his call, All þai gaf him list ilkan, Line 13708 "Maister," said he, "þis womman þe band has broken of hir sposail, And þar-wit tan, wit-vten fail. Moyses wil we stan all slike, [folio 75b:2] Queþer þai pouer be or rike; Line 13713 þou gif us nu þe Iugement." Bot þis was noght þof þair entent, For þai had suorn ilkan þar-till, þis wreche womman for to spill, Line 13717 In wrangwis dede or word þai soght To tak him þat þai neuer moght. þai thoght if he wald bid hir stan, Man o merci was he nan; Line 13721 And if he badd at latt hir gang, þan moght þai sai he did þam wrang; To brek þair lagh þai soght him sua Him for to tak bituix þem tua. Line 13725

Line 13725 Quen þai þis wais on iesu soght, Well he wist all quat þai thoght, He stuped dun, and wit his hand He wrat a quil in to þe sand. Line 13729 Alle þai cried þan þat þar was, "Giue vs þi dome, and lat vs pas, Vs thinc to lang we duell," said þai. "Qua warns yow to wend a-wai? Bot qua þar es wit-vten last Line 13734 At hir þe first stan he cast, Hir staning mai he wel begin þe man þat es wit-vten sin." Wit þis he luted dun eft-sith, Line 13738 þai wex dumb all þan als suith, Ne wist þai neuer quat to sai; Bot ilkan sculked þaim awai. þai left þis temple þan all allan, Line 13742 Bot iesu crist and þis womman. Quen iesus lifted vp his heued, And sagh nan in þat temple leued, Biheld þis womman standand þar, þat caitiue carked in hir care, "Womman," he said, "quar ar þai cum|men þin wiþerwins þat þe had nummen?" Quackand sco loked hir a-bute, Line 13750 Iesus badd hir þan haue na dute; "Lauerd," sco said, "all þai er a-wai." "For-þi, womman, to þe i sai, Ga þe nu forth, mi lef freind, Line 13754 For þou has leue nu for to wend; I damp þe not quar-so þou far, Bot ga nu forth and sin na mar." [folio 76a:1] He said noght allan, "namar þou sin," Bot "lok þi will bi noght þar-in."

¶ A water þar es wit-in þair thede, þat es cald piscene in þair lede, Line 13761

Line 13761 þis ilk water als þe stori sais, Was mikel renumed in þaa dais, Als it war a gode vinere; Line 13764 þar-bi lai mani vn-fere, þar-in was won for to descend, Angels þe water for to blend, And tid it sua in þat siquar, Line 13768 Quen þis water all droue war, þe first seke man þat moght win In to þat wel to wassche him in, þat quat sekenes þar was on him, He suld be heled, fra þat tim. Line 13773 Iesus wit his was þan walcand, Com be þe well, gret folk he faand þat þar [war] liggand for to bide, Quen þair hele þam suld bi-tide. þar fand iesus a man vnfere, Line 13778 þat had ben aght and thritte yeire, Sua herd him was his limes þan þat he o þaim had weldnes nan. Iesus be-heild þis caitif þar, Line 13782 And reud him selcuth sare, "Godman," he said, "wit me þou mele, ȝerns þou nu to haf þi hele?" Line 13785 "Ya, sir," he said, "na thing sa gladd, Bot sua wit seckenes am i stadd þat i ne mai to water win, For oþer me gas bi-for þar-in, Line 13789 Ne þar es naman, soth to sai, þat wil me bere vnto þe welle. Lang haf i lede in langur lijf, Es nan wil reu on me, caitef." Line 13793 "And godman, i þe truli sai, þou sal be hale nu fra þis dai. Rise, þar þe lij na langer, Do þe to ga, wit all þi ger." Line 13797

Line 13797 Vp he ras wit-vten mar, Line 13798 And on his bak his bedd he bar. þe dai þat þis man was made fere, þe [[MS. Ie]] Iues heild it for hali dere, Quen þai sagh him þe birthin vnder, Fast þai can on him to wonder. [folio 76a:2] "Quat cursed man es yon," coth þai, "Wirckand gains godd and his lai? It semes o godd has he nan au." þai said als mani felun sau, Line 13807 "þou carl, qui brekes þou vr lau, þi bedd noiþer aght þou ber ne drau, þou ber again suith þat birthin, Line 13810 þar weried wortht þou wit drightin." "Godmen," he said, "for godds might, Qui wite yee me wit-vten plight, A blisced man me gaf heliand; Line 13814 At þe well o syloe me fand, Quen he had made me hale and fere, 'Rise vp,' he said, 'wit þi litere And do þe forth,' he said, 'to ga.' And als he badd, right did i sua. Aght and thritte yeir in band, Line 13820 þat i moght stir ne fot ne hand, þe angel lightand ai i bade, Ai til þis man me hale has made. He þat me nu mi hele has broght, Wit-stand his biding agh i noght." þai lete him pass fra þam emell, Line 13826 And tuix þam spak þaa Iues fell, "þis man es noght wit godd," coth þai, "þat wirckes þus on hali dai, Line 13829 þe lijf he ledes mai nan lede, And þar-on he es again vr lede; He hates to cum to vr bewist, Line 13832 Ne till vr laghes will he noght list,

Vr halidai noght he for-beres, Line 13834 Bot mani dedes o þaim he geres Be don vs alle for to pair; And þou can naman speke sa fair. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Cotton & Laud MSS.] Oft he dos vs sammen sank, [[MS. snak]] And þar-for haf he neuer thank. He dos vs mani geddering mak, Line 13842 And mani sancking for his sak, þat we mai drei it nu namar, For-þi we most consail ta þar þat he be tan, and don in band, Line 13846 Qua first on him mai lai his handes; And qua þis couenand haldes noght þat it be dere apon him boght." Wit þis þai scaild þair semble, Line 13850 Bot iesus went fra þat cite, And in apon an-oþer side, [folio 76b:1] Vte o þair sight him for to hide, For yeit was noght his time cummen To be wit-in þair handes nummen. Ne moght þai neuer lai hand him on, Til þat he self it wald war don; Line 13857 Quen time com he him-seluen bedd, And noght a fote fra þaim he fledd Til þai his suete bodi had schedd, And gin him self for vs in wedd. Iesus went to þe temple þan, Line 13862 þar spak he wit þis heeld man, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Cotton & Laud MSS.] He sagh him al for soru biten, Line 13866 For Iues sua wit him had fliten; He suaged him wit wordes heind, "Fra nu," he said, "þe behoues freind

Tent to mi teching and mi tale, Line 13870 For o þi seknes er þou al hale."

¶ Iesus went him forth here and þar, And did meracles euer-ai-quar, Til it come a solempnite, Line 13874 He com a-gain in þat cite; Wit him com his disciples lele, And oþer folk als foluand fele. Line 13877 In-to þe temple þai wit him yede, And he began þaim for to rede, For to redde and to sermon, And tald þam mani god reson. All þai said þam þaim emell, Line 13882 "Qua herd euer man sua spell, Man vnlerd o boken lare!" All wondred on him, less and mare. Iesus þat þair talking herd, Line 13886 Suetli he þaim sun ansuard, "Mi lare es noght mine," said he, "Bot his þat it haues giuen to me, þat neuer leigh, ne neuer sale, Line 13890 For wijt and treuth he has ai hale; He and his lare will lasten ai, þis will he self wittnes and sai. þe man þat spekes he-self o roos Line 13894 Wat yee, godmen quat he dos? Quen he his aun roos has soght, In his muth sothfast es noght; Bot sothfastnes es in his word Line 13898 þat sais of oþer man loueword. Moyses þur lagh þaim broght, [folio 76b:2] Yee wat it bot yee hald it noght, Selcut me thinc yee hatte me sua, And, saccles, me sekes to sla." Line 13903 þan said þaa Iues, "selcut her we, þou missais, deuel es in þe;

Qua will þe sla? qui sais þou wrang?" "I haf you don," he said, "o-mang Werkes suilk als yee ha sene, Line 13908 þat yee wonder on oft for tene. Moyses yow gaf in þe ald Lagh circumcision to hald, Yee circumcise on hali dai, Line 13912 Noght yee waand will for þe lai. And quar-for sua hate yee me þan, For i mad hale a sek man Apon þe dai o yur sabaot? Line 13916 Bot demes me right in mi state, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Cotton & Laud MSS.] Sua suld yee do, wald yee me tru, And well i wat it war for yow." Line 13921 Mani man war þar-bi and stode Bi þis folk, wrath and wode, þat war cummen to þat tun, Line 13924 And herd o þair disputisun; Ful mani wordes spak þaa fell, þat it war tor all her to tell. Sum said, "quer crist him-seluen sal scau, Line 13928 Queþen he sal cum sal naman knau, Ne o quat kin, ne quat contre; Bot þis man kinred wel knau we, O þis thede bath es he and his, Line 13932 þe contre was, and sotht it es." ¶ þan said iesus a word to min, "Yee wat quat i am, and mi kin, O yur vn-witt quine wald yee blin, And seke noght sakles sua wit sin, And herken seil and hald resun? Yee kneu me and mi nacion. Line 13939

Line 13939 Quat-sum yee knau wite yee for soth, Sal yee na leis here o mi toth, Line 13941 For he þat me mang yow send, Es sothfastnes wit-vten end. He þat me sent, i wat quat es, Line 13944 Bot yee knau him noght i-wiss; If i said þat i him ne kneu, þan war i leier and vn-treu, Line 13947 Bath i war fals and als lier, [folio 77a:1] And right suilk als þat yee nu er. I knau him, and has knaun him euer, Fra him sal i sundre neuer." Line 13951

þan soght þai iesu for to slan, Bot þai moght hand lai on him nan. Fain þai wald him þan had numen, Bot yeit his time was noght cummen. Mani man bigan to tru Line 13956 Forth fra þat time in iesu; Ai fra þis dai forther ward, þe Iues, wit þair fals forward, And wit þair mani tressunful red, þai soght ihesu at do to ded. Line 13961

¶ Siþen sal yee here quat wise Ihesu did lazar to rise, Bot ar þat i sua ferr sal ga, Line 13964 I sal spek of his sisters tua,

þat was martha, wit-vten lain, And als sua mari magdalain. þis lazar, als sais vs vr stori, Line 13968 Was of a stede hight bethani; He had þis forsaid sisters tuin, þe tan a womman ful o sin. A seli sin-ful sco was an, Line 13972 And first als a comun womman; O þis womman gret fairhede Did mani man a wai to wide. Line 13975

Line 13975 Seuen feindes vte of hir cast crist, Als telles lucas euangelist. Line 13977 A seli sinful was sco þis, For alle hir sin turnd to blis. For sco was liuand þat siquar þat iesus preched hir and þar, And mani a-pert meracle did, Line 13982 Quar wit to man kind he him kid, And mani seke he gaf þair hele. And als he com be a castel, A man þat hight symon leprus, Line 13986 At ete he praid him til his hus; Iesus grant him his praier, For he him praid wit ful god cher, Ful fair seruis symon him dight, Line 13990 Als was to suilk a lauerding right.

¶ Quen iesus in his sete was sett, Wit his disciplis at þe met, Line 13993 þis sinful womman and for-lain, [folio 77a:2] þis forsaid mari magdalain, Wit-in þis castel i of tald, Line 13996 Moght sco do all quat sco wald. þe man þat godd will þat be bett, Yee wat, lauerdings, mai nathing lett. þe word o ihesu was risen brade, And o meracles þat he made. Line 14001 Quen mari wist iesus þar cummen, A bost sco has o smerles nummen; A smerl þat was o pris ful dere, þis vntement wit hir sco bere. Line 14005 Bot for mi tale scortli to tell, Be-for iesu on knes sco fell, þar-wit sco fell on suilk a grete, þat al sco was vr lauerd fete; Line 14009 On þaim sco wepe hir sinnes sare, And þan þam dries wit hir hare;

þar sco fand ani breck or sare, Line 14012 Wit hir smerl sco smerd þare, Wit all wirschip þat sco him did, Euer sco kist his fete e-mid. All þai wondrid on þis mari, Line 14016 þai sagh hir neuer sa sari, Sco left hir dede for na scam. Simond þat sir was o þat ham, Wondre[d], and said in his thoght (Bot þou wit muth he said it noght), "If þis man war right prophet, Line 14022 þis womman wepand on his fete He aght to wijt al quat sco were, To lat hir negh him not sa nere, For sco es womman o sinful stat, Als men ouer al þis contre wat." Line 14027

¶ þan ansuard him sun iesus crist, Quat simon thoght, ful wel he wist, "Here to me," he said, "a stund." "Gladli, maister," said symond. "It was a man quilum was wont Penis for to lene vm-stunt, Line 14033 þis man he was an okerer, And tua men com þat had mister, And asked him penis to lan; Line 14036 þis riche man lent to þat tan An hundreth penis, suilk als ran, And fifti to þe toþer man. Line 14039 Quen it com to þe term dai, [folio 77b:1] þai had noght quar-of for to pai; For he þam sagh no catell haf, All þair dett he þam for-gaf, Line 14043 For-gaf it þam and badd þam fare. Queþer o þir tua aght luue him mare?" "Sir, me thinc, wit-vten lett, Line 14046 þe man þat he for-gaf mast dett,

He þat was mast for-giuen till Line 14048 Mast aght to luue him wit skill." "Wel ansuard," he said, "symon, þou has giuen dom wit resun." Alwais sco wepe a-pon his fete, Line 14052 And iesus hir bi-held and lete; And to symon he said onan, "Sais þou," he said, "now þis womman? To mi fete [þu] gaf water nan, Line 14056 To was þaim siþen sco ne fan, þou wat þat it was soth i-wiss, þat þou me bedd for to kiss, Nu siþen i com al to þin in Line 14060 To kiss mi fete wald sco not blin. Vngnement þou gaf me noght, And sco hir vnttement me broght And smerd has me fote and schank, Quar-for i can hir mikel thank. Line 14065 And for sco has me luued mikel, O mi luue mai sco be seker, Sco es made of hir sinnes clene, þai er forgiuen hir al bi-dene." Line 14069 "Mikel þou luued," he said, "mari, Mikel es þe forgiuen for-þi, Ga quar þou ga, þi mikel treuth Has þe saued, alsua þi reuth; Nu er þou sauf al thoru þi fai, Line 14074 I sal þe kepe forth fra þis dai."

¶ Iesus efterward in hij Com precheand into bethani, Giueand mani seke þair hele, Line 14078 þe folk him foluand was ful fell. Martha and mari broþer he fand, Lazaruin þar was wonnand, He gestind wit þir sisters tua Line 14082 I neuend ar, mari and martha.

Quen þai wist he suld wit þam duell, O þair gladnes war tor to tell, Line 14085 And na selcut, for suilk a gest [folio 77b:2] Com neuer vn-to þair hus to rest. Martha was huswijf o þat hus, Line 14088 Abute þe seruis was sco fus, Bot mari serue allan hir lete, And sett hir forwit iesu fete, For-wit his fete sco sett hir dun, Line 14092 For to here his suete sermon; Naþer sco tent to mete ne bord, Bot for to herken godds word. Line 14095 Martha thoght sco helpe ne wald, A spitus plaint to crist sco tald; "Sir," sco said, "se yee noght hu I am left an to serue yow? Line 14099 Mi sister sittes, als yee see, And leuis allan þe suinc on me. Sir, yee bidd hir for to rise, Line 14102 And helpe us now in vr seruise." "Martha, martha," þan said iesu, "In mikel bisenes ert þou, Bise ert þou bot mani dede, Line 14106 Bot mast of an þou-queþer es nede; þe better lott has mari chosen, þat hir mai nagat be wit losin." Blisced was þat affliccion Line 14110 þat mari broght to sli pardon, Alle thinges hali sco for-soke, Bot an of al thing sco hir tok, O mani thing sco tok til an, Line 14114 Wit-vten quam es beute nan. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Cotton & Laud MSS.] Es naman can tell þe teind Line 14118 Part þis lauerd dos til his friend,

Bot es naman wit hert mai thinc, Ne na clerc þat mai writ wit inc, Ne ei mai se, ne ere mai here, Line 14122 Ne mans wijt þar mai cum nere, Hu mikel mede þat vs es dight, If we wil serue þat lauerd right. Leue we nu o þis sisters þus, Line 14126 Al for to tell o lazarus.

¶ þis lazarus o betani Had sisters martha and mari, Mikel he luued his sisters bath, Line 14130 Ne soght he neuer man wit lath, A castel was bath his and þairs, Thoru eldres þar-of war þai airs. To þis castel was iesus cald [folio 78a:1] Til herberi, als i for-wit tald, Line 14135 Soth it es, þis lazarus Was seke, als stori telles vs, In his sekenes he languist sua, Line 14138 þat he na fote had might to ga; Martha and mari þan was ful wa, For his vnhele and oþer maa, His sisters serued him to hand Line 14142 þat bunden lai in godds band, Bot bute til him þat sua was bunden, Mikel ha þai soght, nan haf þai funden, þof þai him soght fand na bott, Line 14146 þe sare him sekes fra hede to fote. Quen þai sagh þat þar was nanoþer Stat o couering o þair broþer, Consail þai tok iesum biseke, Line 14150 For þair broþer þat was sa seke, O þair broþer þai suld him sai He luued sa wele, in langur lai, To prai him, if his will it were, Cum se lazar þat was vn-fere; Line 14155

Line 14155 For wel þai trud þat he moght Line 14156 þair broþer sauue of al his soght. þe sandes soght ouer all Iude, [[Laud MS. has ynde, which rimes with fynde]] Faand þai him noght in þat contre, [No gap in Cotton and Laud MSS.] And wat yee qui? for þis resun, Line 14162 þai soght him sla wit fals tresun. þof þai him faand noght in þat land, þai fined noght til þai him faand, þir messagers þair errand said Line 14166 Hendli, [[MS. hundli]] þat was on þam laid; þai praid him als lauerd dere, For his freind þat was vn-fere, Line 14169 þat he til him a turn wald mak, For him, and his tua sisters sak. "He lijs to dei, þe lel and tru, Line 14172 Lauerd!" þai said, "of him þou reu!" ¶ To þaa men þat bodd-word bar Iesus þam gaf suilk ansuar, Line 14175 "Gais a-gain," he said, "your wai, To þam þat yow sent sal yee sai þat þai noght for þair broþer murn, To ded sal noght his langur turn, Bot sal mi blis þar-wit be sene, Line 14180 Wel forþermar þan yeitt has bene." Again þai went wit þair ansuar, [folio 78a:2] Tua dais vr lauerd was lengand þar, þan did he his disciplis call, Line 14184 "Buskus yow," he said, "yee sal Vnto Iude weind wit me nu." And þai said, "sir, quat thinckes þou? Ne was þou noght bot littel gan Almast þar-wit þe juus slan? Line 14189 It es, sir, na consail o freind, þat þou þider-ward nu weind."

¶ Iesus þan said, "qui sai yee sua? Ten tides has þe dai and tua, Line 14193 Qua has to wenden ani wai, God es to go bi light o dai, For qua walkes on nightertale Line 14196 O dreching oft he findes duale. Bot þat i sai, ta yee god kepe, Lazar vr freind es laid on-slepe, þat i til him weind it es time Line 14200 For to wacken him of his suime. I haf him luued well oftsiþe, And þat es right nu i him kiþe." ¶ "Sir," þai said, "if he slepe oght, Dute o ded yeit has he noght, Line 14205 If he mai slepe hele es at hand." Iesus said, "miss yee vnderstand, For yee sal here noght lang þer-till Tiþand þat yow sal like wel il. Line 14209 For he es ded, þat i of sai, Nu es it gan þe firth dai, Ded and doluen bath es he. Line 14212 Es he noght quik, þat sal yee se; For þan es i nu gladd and blithe þat i was noght wit þaim þat sithe. Bot nu þan am i after send, Line 14216 þiderward nu will i wend." ¶ Quen thomas, þat hight didimus, Hard þat ded was lazarus, Als his maister him tald, iesus, Line 14220 He sighed sar, and said þan þus, Til his felaus soruful said he, "Lauerdings," he said, "þis here yee, Lazarus es noght o liue, Line 14224 Go we dei wit-him biliue; Neuer list me langer liue nu, Bot if we help haf o iesu. Line 14227

Line 14227 We sal find missing witerli [folio 78b:1] Of vr god freind o bethani." Line 14229 Tuix ierusalem and þis castell þat yee me herd of forwit mel, þare mare wond magdalene, Line 14232 War noght o miles bot fiftene, þar lazarus was doluen and ded. Iesus þan þider-ward him yede. Lazar was a heie-born man, Line 14236 His kin war yeit abute him þan, At þat castel his frendes bade, And for þair frend gret murning made; Wit mari and martha, it sais, Line 14240 þai had ben wepand þar four dais. þar was fele boden, als i tru, And mani als-sua vnbonden Iuu þider com, bath an an oþer, Line 14244 To comforth mari for hir broþer. Bi þis was cummen grait tiþand þat iesus cummen was nerhand, þat he was cummen into þat sted, Wit his felauscip þat he ledd. Line 14249 Martha was neuer half sua fain, Sco went þan wepand him again, To fete sco fele him sarili, Reuli on him þan can sco cri. "Leif lauerd," sco said, "quat rede? Mi broþer nu es fra me ded. Line 14255 Allas, had þou her wit vs bene, Mi broþer had noght ben ded, i wen. O quatkin thing þou mas praier, I wat þat drightin wil þe here." Line 14259 ¶ "Bi still," he said, "þi broþer sal rise." "Ya sal," sco said, "on sumkin wis, On domes-dai, wel wat i quen, Rise sal he þan wit oþer men." Line 14263

Line 14263 Iesus said, "i am vpris and lijf, Qua trous in me, or man or wijf, þof þai war ded yeit sal þai lijf, þat gift for-soth i sal þam gif. Line 14267 And all þat liues and troues in me, Ded ne sal þai neuer be. Trous þou þis?" sco said, "sir ya, I trou þis, and i trou alsua Line 14271 þat þou ert godds aun sun, Cummen amang vs for to won." Martha, ful soruful and sari, [folio 78b:2] Til hir sister sco tald mari, Line 14275 And in hir ere sco can to run, "Crist," sco said, "es cummen to tun, Do þe to speke wit him in hi:" Wit-vten mare vp ras mari, Line 14279 Til-ward hir maister ran sco fast, Men wen[d]all sco had bene a-gast! Quen men hir sagh, þat bi hir stod, Rennand forth als sco war wod, Wijt yee for-soth o mani man Line 14284 þe teres o þair chekes ran. Til hir broþer graue sco gas, Oft sith for soru sco said "allas!" Bot mari was in a-noþer tent, Line 14288 Wit hir lauerd to speke sco went, For crist þat had his grace hir lent, Wit hir sister hir efter sent. Line 14291 Til him sco ran and fell on knes, "Lauerd," sco said, "als þou nu seis, Ded es þi freind, my broþer lazar, And þar-for es mi hert ful sare." "Had þou," sco said, "ben here wit vs Had noght mi broþer deied þus." ¶ Iesus biheild þan hir a-stert, Line 14298 And had gret reuthnes in his hert.

Lazar freindes þat þar were, Line 14300 þai cried and mad a reuful chere. To mari iesus in hir care Mikel luue he hir sceud þar, Quen he him-self of hir misfare, A parti on him-seluen bare, Line 14305 For he wepe sarer þan þas oþer Wit þar tua sisters for þar broþer. Tenderli he wep, and said, Line 14308 "And quar haf yee his bode laid?" "Sir," said mari, "cum forth and se, Ful mikel, lauerd, luued he þe. Lauerd, o selcut þat es slei, Line 14312 þi lufand þus, qui let þou dei?" ¶ Iesus þair waining [[MS. wamming]] vnderstod, Wit þaim sun to þe graue he yod, Quen he come þar, wit-vten hon, He bad þe graf suld be vndon, Line 14317 Of þe tumb tak of þe lidd, And son his commament þai did. þan said martha, "lauerd, i tru [folio 79a:1] Wormes biginnes at ete him nu. He stinkes, for thre dais es gan Line 14322 Sin he was loken vnder þis stan." þan said iesus, "martha, do wai, It es na wijt i here þe sai, Forgeten has þou son þi lare Line 14326 þat i þe said a littel are. If þou wald tru, ar said i þe þat son þou suld a selcut se, Line 14329 Quar-of suld rise a gret luue-word." þe folk all gedird wit þis word, þe lid o tumbe awai þai lift, Iesus he loked vnto þe lift, Til fader his he made a bon. Line 14334 þe fader of heuen it herd ful son;

"Honurd be þou, fader, euer and oft, Wit angels þine þar vp olof[t], Line 14337 þi sun þe thankes þou dun has send Of þe an haligast es kend. Fader, i wat i am o þe, And an ar we þou all thre; Line 14341 I haf tan flexs emang mine aun, And þof i am noght wit þam knaun. I will all wijt for quat resun þat þou has sent me hider dun, Line 14345 And has thoru me þi mightes spred, Quar-wit þat i am luued and dred I will all wijt þat here ar stade." "Lazar," wit þis, "cum forth!" he badd, On lazaro he gaf a cri, Line 14350 þat all it herd þat stod him bi. At his bidding he ras on-nan, He þat ligand þar war in stan, Line 14353 In windingclath als he was wonden, Bath fete and hand þar was he bunden. "Louses him nu," he said, "for-qui I wat he liues nu witterli." Line 14357 þe folk said, þat þare stode e-mid, "Mikel frenscip has þou him kidd." Fra þat dai forth tor war to tell þe folk þat foluand to iesu fell. Line 14361

¶ Son oueral þis tiþand ras O lazar þat vpraisid was, I hop ferrer þat it was rijf þan it was forwit of his lijf. Line 14365 þir signes þat yee haf herd her, [folio 79a:2] Yee aght, lauerdings, in hert to bere; Yee herd neuer nan slic, i wene, For quat þat selli suilk has sene, Do crepels gan, þe blind haf sight, Mesels þat war drerili dight, Line 14371

Line 14371 To hele sua mani a reuful wight; Qua dred ne troud noght his might, Ne heild noght wel þe reuel o right, I sai þat þai war maledight, Line 14375 And namli þaa þat has ben bun Quen he vpraised lazarum. Bot Iuus þat war fell and fals, þat aght him mensk and wirscip als, Als he þat born was o þair kin, Line 14380 And mast for þaim he com to win. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in Cotton & Laud MSS.]