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

þe stori of iacob be-gines here, And alsua of his sonis sere.

IAcob was selcuth riche of fe, Of alkins gode he had plente, He was ful riche als we rede, Loued and lele in ilka lede, Line 4040 Bot þou he loued his sonis ilkan, Sua wele as ioseph loued he nan; For he was fair, widuten sake, Of breder had he nan his make, Line 4044 All his breþer war herdis, i say, Bot he duelled at ham al-way. þis was ioseph þat lele þat dredd þat loueword had sua spedili spredd, þat wise, þat chast, þat gentile, Line 4049 þat siþen suffrid sua gret perele; Bot of þa perelis þat he was inne, Sumquat to tell i sal biginne, Line 4052 And hou he cam vte of his wa, Into his wele, ȝe sal here alsua. Ioseph saw a niht in sueuen, þe quilk es worthi forto neuen. Line 4056

Line 4056 Him thoght his fader þair corn schare, þar his elleuen breþer ware, Him-self was an þe feld biside, To gadir corn in heruist tyde; Line 4060 His breþer scheuis he sau lutand Til his alone, þat was standand. Anoþer drem þar efter sone, [folio 29b:1] Him thouth bath sune and mone, And of þe mast þat war in heuen Honurd him sternis elleuen, Line 4066 All loutid him on þair manere, Right als he þair lauerd were. He tald it þaim and þai said, "hou May þis be-tyde? quat wist þu? Line 4070 For to be lauerd ouer vs all? þat bliss sal þe neuer fall." Fra þis time forth, dai ne naght, wid ioseph war þai neuer saght, Line 4074 Enuye þai had til him sua strang, þai soght him ay to greue with wrang. Ne wald þai neuer apon him se, Fra þat day bot wid enmite. Line 4078 Ioseph was mast at ham duelland; His breder mast in wildrenes beand, wid þair fe bituene þa lawis, Als it bi-tid in þas dawis; Line 4082 Bi þir storijs men may wele se Men liued þat time mast wid fe. þir breder þat i spac of are, Amang þa fellis duelland war, Line 4086 þat nan koud tydand of þaim tell, For þay sent na man þaim emell. þair fadir, þat of þaim witt wald, Ioseph his sone til him he cald, Line 4090

"Sun," he said, "þu most al-gate Go wit of þi breder state;

Lang es siþen we of þaim herd, þiair fe als wold i wit hou ferd." Line 4094 "Fader," he said, "i wil ful fain, þi bidding wil i noght stand agayn." He went forth and wist noght quar Graytly quere his breder ware, Line 4098 Bot ar he to his breder wan, [folio 29b:2] wil he went and met a man, "Quat sekes þu here, sun," said he, "Sir, my breder, and mi fader fe." þan ansuerd þat man to him, "þu sal þaim find in dotaym." Line 4104 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] He went him forth and ferder soght, Til he þaim fand he fined noght. Quen þai him sau cum ioseph þair broder, Ilkan of þaim said þan til oþer, Line 4110 "Lo! quer þe dremer nou es comen! Be miht god he sal be nomen, Lat vs do him to dreri dede, Line 4113 Loke quat his drem sal stand in-sted." Ful fain þai were þai þar him fand, Nou þai may haue him to wille in hand. If þai bifor him auht for-bar Line 4117 Nou þai wil him noght spar. On was eldest of þa elleuen, þe quilk ȝe herd me ruben neuen, Quen he herd þai wild him sla, Line 4121 Na wonder þan þow him was wa, Stynt it wold he if he moght, þe foly þat his breder on him soght. All he sau þaim in a will Line 4125 þair broder sacles for to spille. "Mi breder," he saide, "dos ȝe naght sua, I rede noght ȝe ȝoure broder sla, Line 4128

Line 4128 þat es ȝour aun fless and blod, To murder him it es noght god; And if ȝe do, for-soth mi will Sal ȝe neuer haue þer-till. Line 4132 And if ȝe do suilk an vtrack, Fu sekir may ȝe be of wrake, And ȝoure schending be mast cuth; All men sal ȝou haue in mouth; Line 4136 þat baret rede i noght ȝe breu [folio 30a:1] , þat ȝou for euer eftir rew. He has ȝou na-thing done, for-qui ȝe haue noght again him bot enuy; And wit his fader þat he be slane, His lijf-dais all tell i for-gan." Line 4142 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] "For man þat liuand es, na wijf, Ne sal he schape fra vs wid þe lijf." Quen ruben sau þar was nan oþer, Bot algat þai wild sla þair broþer, "For godes luue, do way," he said, "þat na hand on him be laid, Line 4150 þat na blod off him be schedd, Bot if he algat suld be dede, Do it þan wid suilk a wile þat ȝe noght ȝour handis file. Line 4154 In þis wast i wot a pitt, Drey and waterles es itt, þar ouer it standis a mekil tre,— Cast him þer inne and lat him be. Bituix and he o-liue be broght, Line 4159 þen may we say we sau him noght; His cirtil sul we riue and rent, And blodi til his fadir it sent. And say to him þat we it fand Line 4163 widin þe wildreness ligand;

And say we þat he riuen es wid wild bestis in wildrenes. þan wil na man of vs mak saue, Line 4167 þat we him suld haue done of daue. Dos," said ruben, "as i ȝou say," For he wild lede him quick a-way. "Gladly," said þay at þat hete; Line 4171 þai hent Ioseph bi hend and fete, And nakind him and kest him dun, And left him þar als in prisun. Siþen þai sett þaim doun and ete [folio 30a:2] , þen sau þai comand bi þe strete Line 4176 Marchandes of an vncuth lede Of egipt, as we in bokis rede, wid camaylis þat gret birdins bar Of spices and of oþer ware. Line 4180 Emang þas breder an þar was Quas name þat was cald Iudas, He said, "quat bote were it til vs þat we for-did vr broder þus? Line 4184 Bote take we him vte of ȝon den, And selle we him to ȝone chepmen, þat þai may lede him in fer land To be þair thral euer-mar liuand. If it sua tyde þat he die þare, Line 4189 It es til vs bot littel care; And if he be þer-inne lyuand, His fadir of him heris no tiþand." þar was ioseph in seruage sold Line 4193 For tuenti besauntis tan and told. Nou es Ioseph ledd vte of land, God hald ouer him his hali hand. Ruben þat mast of þaim was i-wis, He wist noght of þis marchandis, Apon þe morn he cam and soght Line 4199 þe pitt, bot ioseph fand he noght.

He murned mare þan i can tell, Almast in suounyng doun he fell, Til his breder ȝode he sone, Line 4203 And þai him tald quat þai had don. Quat bote es langer to make mane For thing þat couering es þar nane? His fadir þai sent widuten bade Ioseph kirtil al blodi made; Line 4208

Quen his fadir his cirtil kneu, Miht na man gamen him no gleu: [folio 30b:1] "A best," he said, "mi son has rent, Allas þat euer i him out sent! þat way þat was sua wild to wend, þat al mi loue on him gan lend. Line 4214 Allas! wittles was i þat day! Of him has bestis made þar pray; þis was his clath, þat es wele sene, A! quat þat best was wonder kene þat has me reft mi dereling dere, Mi ioy, mi gladnes of mi chere. Line 4220 Ioseph, þu was mi ioy allon, Nou art þu ded, and i haue non; Ioseph þat was fre and fair, of all myn ahut suld haue ben air, For þi suetenes and þi fair heu. Line 4225 Mi care sal euermare be neu; I wald sinc in-to hell depe, wid mj son þar-for to wepe." Line 4228 Bot all his murni[n]g for to rede, Or for to speke, it were vnspede; His oþer sonis cam ilkan sere For to mende þair fader chere, Line 4232 Bot al for noght com þai him nere, Of confort wald he nathing here, Es noght his murning may a-mend I trou bi-fore his liues ende. Line 4236

Line 4236 Leue we nou of iacob and his care, To tell of ioseph and his fare.

Þir chapmen þat has ioseph boght, Into egipt þai him broght, Line 4240 þar he eftsonis was sald Til a dohuti berne and bald, To putyfar þe kinges stuard, Line 4243 þan was he sald wid neu forward, þat held ioseph in mensk and lare Al þou þair treuthes sundri ware; For þai war of sarasin lede, [folio 30b:2] Line 4247 And ioseph held euer his in hede. Sir Putifar wele vnderstod þat ioseph was of gentil blode, In all þe dedis þat he wroght, Line 4251 God was wid him in dede and thoght; þe wardaynschip of al his ahut Has putifar ioseph bitaght. þan was ioseph loued and dred, Line 4255 For wisdam all his werkis ledd, And for he was curtais and hend, Of all folk þan fand he frend. Putifar went into contre, Line 4259 And ioseph duelled wid his meyne, And has his godis all in hand, vnder him selue all weldand. Ioseph was ferli fair in face, Line 4263 And fild wid-all in godes grace, His ladi hir eye apon him kest; Forward of fole es eth to fest, Foli it was, and sua scho fand, Line 4267 Hir loue to set bot it miht stand. Scho kithid it ay quilis scho moght, And ioseph lete he wist it noght, And wist and dilled it as þe wise, And ay scho praysed his seruise. Line 4272

Line 4272 Sua land in herte scho has it hid þat at þe last must it be kid, For qua-sua euer es glad or blith, Priue loue at end wil kith. Line 4276 Ofte scho menyd to him hir mone, Bot euer scho fand ioseph in one; Quen scho sau þat, þan wex hir care, And longing had scho ay þe mare, In hir foli sua was scho fest, Line 4281 þat dai ne niht had scho no rest. [folio 31a:1] For quatkines pine es harder þan threst þan warn þe thing man louis best? And to be putt in suilk prisun, þat reuis man miht and resun? Line 4286 In prisun i hald þat bodi stad, Of quam þe hert es nu glad, For quan hert has þat it wil wiss, þe bodi may haue na mar blis, Line 4290 Ne no mar wa þan wil to wane, widuten wil es liking nane. Hert and wil er bath as an, þat bath er er reft fra mani an, Line 4294 Thoru strenth of luue þat nan mai stere, þow his hert all stel it were;— Hert of stele and bodi of bras, Stranger þan euer samson was, Line 4298 þat luue ne may him meke wid miht, Sum tyme a loue wid an eye siht; Ful hard it es wid him to dele, So wil he make mans fless frele, Line 4302 Quen his loke alone may bring Into his thraldam þe king; And, maugre his, he dos him loute, For euer he ledis him wid doute. For-þi if þu be suilk a gome Line 4307 þat þu wil algate loue ouercome,

Quen þu seis him bone to þe, Stalworthli þu fra him fle, Fle and turne þu noght þi ey; Or ellis if þu be ful sly, Line 4312 Thoru þin eye þe sal be schent, An aru þat es wid wild fir brent, First to brinne þi hert wid-ine, And siþen to strangil þe in sine. Line 4316 Fleand þu folow noght, i rede, For sua þu may þe driue to dede, To dede vmquile and to langure [folio 31a:2] Quen þu art soght fra þi socure; Line 4320 For better it es betime to stint, þan folu þe prai þat es tint; Qua folous lang widuten torne, Oft his [fote] sal find a spurne, Line 4324 Reu his res þan sal he sore, And venge his harm wid foli more. Sua did þis wijf þat i of rede, Scho folud ioseph quere he ȝede, Line 4328 And for scho foluand fand a spurne, Scho waited him wid a wic turne, Hir-self in godes grame and gilt, Line 4331 And almast made him to be spilt. Hou scho broght him sua to fonde, For to tell i wil noght wonde; Line 4334 Scho soght on ioseph mani a dai, And euer he ansuerd hir wid nay. Ioseph, þat was hir purueour, Line 4337 Apon a day wid mekil onur In chambir hendely he hir grett, And said, "madam, cum to ȝour mett." "ȝis," scho said, "bot ar þu ga, Line 4341 Spek wid me a word or tua." "Lang," he said, "may i noght duell;" And þus bigan scho for to spell. Line 4344

Line 4344

"Ioseph," scho said, "to þe lemman, Hendest of all i make my man, Be-tuix þi-self alone and me Here sal i scheu my priuete. Line 4348 þi loue me has broght to grund, þat i may neuer mare be sound, Bot if my bot may rise of þe, And þat þu wil my lemman be, Line 4352 worldes welth to welde in wone Enow þu sal haue al-lone; To my lauerd sal þu be sua dere, [folio 31b:1] þat oþer nan sal be þi pere." Line 4356 Scho hals him wid þis And proferd him hir muth to kiss, And drou him þan towar[d] hir bedd, Bot ioseph, þat vr lauerd dredd, Line 4360 "Do way," he said, "þi foli wille, wilt þu me and þi-self spill? Putifar me has betaght Line 4363 Land, and lythe, and all his aght; And for he traistes nu in mi leute, To kepe his gode he traistes in me, All es me taght and noght vte-tane, Bot þu þat art his wijf allane, Line 4368 Of þe haue i no kines miht, And if i hadd it war no right; He þat has giuen me suilk pouste, Him to be-tray, godd forbede it me, And we awe noght wid na resun Line 4373 Til vr lauerd do suilk tresun; And leuere me es be pouer and lele, þan falsli to winne catele. Line 4376 For-þi leuedi, wid mode and mayn, þu drau þi foli wille agayn, For qua bigines wil any thing, Line 4379 He aue to thinck apon þe ending."

Scho said, "allas, ioseph, þis day, And has þu ansuerd me wid nay? If i lyue þu sal it proue An ille freind to þi bihoue. Line 4384 I sal þe make wid mi hosband þe most hatid of all þis land." Scho drou his mantel bi þe pane; Quen ioseph sau no better wane Line 4388 He drou, and scho held, þe tassel brac, þe mantel left, and he gaf bac. Þan fell þat wijf to feloni, [folio 31b:2] And sone scho soght a tricchori, Scho gaf a cri þat all miht here, Line 4393 þe folk þat in þat palays were "Leuedi," þai said, "quat es at ȝou?" Scho said, "ne herd ȝe noght hou ȝone traytur Ieu me wold schend, þat mi lauerd haldes for his frend? He wald haue forced me in hy Line 4399 Had i noght mad titter cry, And quan i crid ful sone i-fledd, And left wid me a tokin in wedd; His mantil es be-left wid me, Here þe soth may ilk man se Line 4404 þat þai may se þe vylany, þe quilk he soght on his leuedi." "Sir," scho said to Putifar, "was neuer don to leudi mar Line 4408 Scham, þat liuand was in lede, þan þi gedling of vnkud sede. Ioseph sohut on me in boure Forto do me dis-honoure, Line 4412 Suilk it was þe vilani þat he gan seke on my bodi. For-þi as þu art man for-þe, Loke on him i-wrokin be." Line 4416

Line 4416 Putifar þan comandid sone þat Ioseph suld be tane and done In kinges presun for to ly, widuten ransum for to by. Line 4420 Allas! ioseph bath war and wijs, Ille es þe quit þi treu seruis, For þi godnes and þi treuth-hede, Ful ille es ȝolden ye þi mede! Line 4424 Suilk es tresun of womman, Stranger in world es funden nan, And god amend hir þat es suilk, [folio 32a:1] And giue man grace to fle all suilk.

Nou es Ioseph in presun strang Lou! as ȝe haue herd wid wrang, And siþen liked him ful wele, Line 4431 For all es turned him to sele, For sone was ioseph haldin dere wid þe mayster iaolere, Thoru þe miht of goddes grace Line 4435 Ouer all þe presunes þat þar was: Or þat in presun were, or band, All hadd þaim Ioseph vnderhand, He ferd ay wid sua mekil strijft, Line 4439 þat all was done as he wald scift. þus can god help man in nede, And namly þat him wil loue and drede. In þis time þat ioseph ferd þus, were tua men of þe kinges hous Line 4444 To presun sent for þair mis-dede, (Bot quat it was can i noght rede), þe spenser and þe botoler bath, þe king wid þaim was wonder wrath; Bot þe mayster iaoler Line 4449 To ioseph taght þaim vnto fere. Quen ioseph sau þaim alsua suith, To confort þaim he was ful blith,

Bot als þai lay in þat presun A-niht, þai mett a visioun, Line 4454 And of þi[s] sueuen þat þai had sene, Ayder of þaim gan to oþer it mene. Droupand o day he sau þar chere, And askid qui þai murnand were. þe botoler for bath gau ansuere, Line 4459 "Sir," he said, "we er þe droupander For tua sueuenis we sau in sight, In vr slepe þis ilk night." Line 4462 "And quat war þa? for þi leute [folio 32a:2] þin aune dreme first tell þu me." "Me-thoght i sau a win tre, And a bohu wid branches thre; Line 4466 vp-on þis tre, on ilk-a bohw, Me-thoght þar hing grapis enohw, And of þe grapis þat þar-on hang In a covpe me-thoght i wrang. Line 4470 Me-thoght þe king was at his mett, And i þat coupe in hand him sett." "God wat," said ioseph, "wid þe miht of heuen, Line 4473 I sal vndo þe wele þi sueuen. Or þis thrid day began, þu sal be vte of presun tan, And clensid be bifor iustise, Line 4477 And putt again in þi seruise. Quen þu es in welth bifor þe king, For goddes loue of me haue mening, þat i may thoru þe help of þe Line 4481 Out of þis presun l[i]uerid be. First men stal me fra mi thede, And presuned me, sacles of dede." þe spenser said, "me thoght i bar A lepe, as i was wont do ar, Line 4486

Line 4486 wid bred þat i bar on mj heued, Me thoght wid rauins it was me reued. A mekil rauin mi basket hent, Line 4489 Aboute mi hefd it raue and rent." "Certis," said ioseph, "bes it noght lang, Bi-tuix and þu on galuis hang, It sal wid-in thre dais be, Line 4493 þar sal na ransun ga for þe." Right as Ioseph said biforn, He was hangyd on þe thrid morn; þe botoler was lesid þat ilk day, Line 4497 And ioseph still in presun lay, wid langur lengand and wid care, [folio 32b:1] Lang he was forgetin þare! wildnes of welth of þis botoler, Line 4501 For-gatt ioseph his drem-reder, For man þat weltris in his welis, And for his welth na fautes felis, If he haue freind þat lijs in wo Line 4505 Ful oft he is forgetin so. Lang was it said, and ȝeit sua bes, 'Sone hert forgetis þat eyen ses', Bot i dar sai, and god it wate, Line 4509 'Qua lely loues forgetes late'. Ioseph lay in þat langing, Bi-tuix and Pharao þe king Line 4512

SAu in his slep suilk a sueuening, þat he comandid bi-for him bring Clerk and kniht, erle and baron, T[o] scheu til him his vision, Line 4516 To wit if ani man þer ware Coude telle to quat euidens it bare. Bot þar was neuer an of þaim all Coude say quat þar-of suld fall. Line 4520 Þan bigan þe botoler say Of ioseph þat in presun lay,

To þe king þus spac he þan, "Sir," he said, "i knau a man Line 4524 þat if he forth war brohut in place, I vnderstand he has þat grace, If þi drem, widuten bide, He sal þe tell quat may bityde. Line 4528 Sir king, þu was anis wid me wrath, And wid þe maistir spenser bath, In presun war we don in bande, þar-in a Iuen child we fand; Line 4532 Eyder of vs a drem we sau, And he vs bad þaim til him schau, And we bigan him for-to telle, [folio 32b:2] He told vs all þat siden fell." Line 4536 "Ga to þe presun," said þe king, "And do him suith bi-for me bring; Loke cloding neu on him be done, And þat he cum bi-fore me sone." Þe botoler to þe presun lepp, Line 4541 And sone þar-out he tok ioseph, And did apon him neu clothing, And brohut him bifore þat gadering. On ioseph siht it was wele sene, Line 4545 þat he had lang in presun bene, For lene he was, and wan in face, As he þat lang was fra solace. þe barnage mekil farli thoght, Line 4549 þat he to kinges rede was broght. Þan cald þe king ioseph nerre And said, "i haue soght nere and ferr To find a man mi drem to rede, Bot hider-to miht i noght spede. Line 4554 Bot coud þu tell me quat it ware, Mi grace þu suld haue euer-mare." "Sir," he said, "þu scheu it þan, And i sal rede it als i can. Line 4558

Line 4558 I am al bone þi wille to do, Line 4559 If god wil giue me grace þar-to."

"Me-thoght in drem þis ender niht, þat i com in a medow sliht, Floures and gress i-now i fand, Line 4563 And ky fourtene þar-ine gangand; þe seuen of þaim me thoght ferli were selcuth fat and fair ky; þe toþer seuen i ȝode to se þaim also selcuth, thoght me, Line 4568 þair hide was clungen to þe bon, So lene sau i neuer non, Lene and hungri bath war þai, [folio 33a:1] þai draf þe toþer seuen a-way. Line 4572 In þat medu so lang þai ware þat þai had etin þe erd al bare. Me-thoght siþen i folud a sty Into a feild and sau me by, Fourtene eris stand of quete, Line 4577 þe seuen of þaim war wonder grete, Sua wele war sett me thoght selcuth; Bot of þe toþer me thoght vncuth, þai war sua clungen, dri, and tome. Of þis, ioseph, say me þi dome, Line 4582 And giue me þar-of a god consaile, And þe ne sal i neuer faile. þu sal gode office haue ful tite, And all for-giuen þe þi wite." Line 4586 Þan said ioseph, "leue sir king, Godd has þe schaud a fair warning, þar-fore au þu wele wid right Line 4589 To honour him wid mayn and miht, Siþen he bi-fore has warnid þe, Againes þi wa to saued be. Line 4592 For thoru þis for-bisin here, Witt þu þar sal be seuen ȝere

Of plente be in þi kingrike þat er þa seuen fat bestes lick, Line 4596 þat oþer seuen nedi nete Bitakins seuen ȝere hunger grett, þat oþer neist sal be foluand Line 4599 þat neuer was suilk bifor in land, þat suilk diffaute sal be of bred, þe folk sal be for hunger dede. Sir king, þis es þi visyoun, Line 4603 Loke þi selue wid gode resun, For bath þir dremes er als on. For-þi i rede þat þu on-an Do gete þe a gode purueour, [folio 33a:2] þat in þis nede may þe socure, Line 4608 In ilk a land men for to sett To gadir of ilk þe fijfte mett, Of þat time þat es plente." "Certis, ioseph, sua sal it be, Line 4612 Bot for þu art sua mekil of prijs, And þar-to þu art bath war and wijs, So þat non es funden suiche, Steiward of all my king-riche Line 4616 Sal þu be made, and hy iustise, For wele i traist in þi seruise." "Nay, sir, bot tas noght in despit, For first þan wil i ma me quit Line 4620 Of plight of putifars wijf." "Do queþer," he said, "þar-of na strijf." "Sacles i am, and dere haue boght." "I wat þu tellis it me for noght, Line 4624 þi sacles schame wele sene it es, And god es wid þi werkis, i-wis." Quen þat þe barnage of egipt Sau him haue suilk a worschip, Line 4628 wonder þaim thoght hou þat he was to þe king mad sua priue,

For qui, he was a man vnsen, And had in gret misliking ben. Line 4632 "we wend wele, sir, he had ben dede." "Nay," said þe king, "god forbede, He was presuned wid ille rede, Sua has he liued in mekil dred, Line 4636 And þat es sene in his visage; Men haue him don ful gret vtrage. Of mj dremes nou has he Teld me quat þer-of wil be, Line 4640 And for i wat noquar his make, I wil þat he here vnder-take All þe worschip of mi land, [folio 33b:1] And þat wil i ȝe vnderstand, Line 4644 þat all be wroght wid his consail, For all mi land it sal auail. þe seuen craftes wele he can, And es a selcuth wis man." Line 4648 All his barnage less and mare vnto ioseph an ath þai suare, Till him as wardayn for to tent And for to do his comandement. Line 4652 Of his aune hand tok þe king And did on ioseph hand his ring, And clething on him let he fall, Line 4655 Suilk as him selue was cled wid-all, To ride and ga widuten letting, And knele bifor him als a king: þan said þe king, "ioseph, lo! þu wost þat i am pharao, Line 4660 Sal non sua bald be in mi land, widuten þe stir fott or hand." . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] His name þai changid for þat onur And cald him þe worldes saueour;

þe king him did a wijf to take, Hiht assener, a doghti make. Line 4668

Ioseph thoght on his mistere, Gart gadir him seriant and squier To gadir him writhes fer and ner, Quare þat euer þai funden were, Line 4672 And bernys made wid-in þat ȝere, A thousand sett in stedis sere. And siþen comandid he him-selue Depe celers for to delue, Line 4676 And thoru his aun witti rede Fild þaim wid wines, quite and rede. Quen þe folk þus sau him dele Line 4679 wid win and corn, fless and mele, And fild þe lathes here and þar [folio 33b:2] . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] þe land of egipt less and mar. Line 4684 þus ferd he in þa seuin ȝeris, þat ma þan a thousand celers Fild he wid wines neu and fress, And lardineris wid saltid fless; Line 4688 Gerneris and granges fild he wid sed, Ma þan i wid tung can red, In ilk a stede a sere wardain. þan went he to þe king a-gain, Line 4692 For to rest him wid þe king, Aftir his mekil trauailing. Quen þa seuen ȝere war vte, Plomen ouer all þe land aboute, Line 4696 As þai war wont, þair sede to sau, Bot alkines welth bigan wid-drau. þe erde clang for hete and drohut, And so bigan þe drech cum vte, Line 4700 For þat dreþ þat was sua strong, Corn no griss on erde non sprong.

þan died þe bestes vp all bidene For þat hunger þat was sua kene, þat bi þe formast ȝere was gan, Line 4705 vnethes was þar best left an. þe wrecched pore miht find na fode, þai were so fele þat beggand þai ȝode, þe flockis war sekand in þe land, Line 4709 Be hundris and be thousand, þat soght þaim rotis als þe suyn,— Soru it was to se þat pin. þe childer and þe men of elde Line 4713 For hunger lay dede in þe feilde; Before þe king þai come wid cri, And said, "lauerd, þu haue merci Of þi folk for hunger er dede, was neuer mar nede of brede. Line 4718 þou men ouerall haue saun feldes, [folio 34a:1] Of corn es noght on þat vp-ȝeildes; þe qualm has bestis all ouer-gan; Bot if sum bote of þe be tan, þi folk sule dey vp all bidene Line 4723 wid qualm, þis hunger es sua kene."

ÞE king sau þis, and wep ful sore, And sau men bodis bolnnand wore, For wit ȝe wele, þat in þat tide, Had he in hes herte na pride. Line 4728 "Lordi[n]ges," he said, "wele wot ȝe Mi steuard ioseph al fedis me, For derworthili es he þar-tille, He es all lord, and þat es skill; Line 4732 Bot gas and falles him to fote And prais him he do ȝou bote; And þat he giue ȝou of his corn Ar ȝe for hunger be for-lorn." Line 4736 To ioseph went þai criand þan, "þu reu on vs, þu blisful man,

And lene vs sumquat of þi sede, was neuer ar sua mekil nede, Line 4740 Lene vs sunquat wid þi skep." "I sal ȝou lene," said ioseph.

Ioseph was ful of pite, Line 4743 Did threches sone in þat contre, Quen þe sede was dight and bone, He sald ilk an his porciun, Sua þat þai miht skilfully þai and þair meyne liue þar-bi. Line 4748 In bokis find we of a wile þat ioseph did þat was sotile, þe chaf of corn he kest vmquile, Into þe flum þat men call Nile, Line 4752 For-qui þ[a]t watir þat rennis þare, To iacob hus it has þe fare. þis hunger þat i here of tell [folio 34a:2] In landis all aboute it fell, Line 4756 Men mist it noquer in no land, And seuen ȝere it was lastand. þan iacob and his sonis ware wid hunger in point to for-fare, Line 4760 Soruful þai were, was na selcuth, þai had noght to put in þair mouth. þou þai had siluer and gold rede, þai miht noght find to by na bred, þir childer oft for hunger grett, Line 4765 And iacob ne wist hu þair hunger to bett. Oft he lifted vp his hend To godd þat he him help suld send, And grant him sone menskli to dey, Ar þat hunger lang to drey. Line 4770 Bot vr lauerd godd all-miht Heris man prayer, and þat es riht, For þou he proue his freind wid pine, þar-for wil he him noght tine; Line 4774

Line 4774 Iacob quen he was mast in siht, God him confortid widuten liht. Line 4776

Be-tid þan, in a littel quile, Iacob ȝode walkand bi þe Nile, He sau apon þe watris reime Chaf cum fletand wid þe streme. Line 4780 Of þat sight wex he ful blith, And til his sonis he tald it suith, "Childer," he said, "ȝe list and lete, I sau chaf on þe water flete; Line 4784 Queþen it comis i can noght rede, Bot doun it fletis ful god spede. If it be comen fra fer land, Line 4787 Loke quilk of ȝu sal take on hand, For vs all take þis trauaile, þar-of es gode we ta consaile. Agayn þe flum to folu þe chaf, [folio 34b:1] Corn þare sul we find to haf." Line 4792 Ruben þan said his resun, "Lo," he said, "I am al-redi boun, vr aller nedis to vnder-ta, Gif me tresur and lat me ga." Line 4796 His breder said, "may we ga all In goddes name, and sua we sall." "Tresur enohut wid ȝu ȝe take, And i ȝou pray for goddes sake, Line 4800 Quen ȝe funden haue ȝour fang þat ȝe duell noght þar to lang. Bot gas warli in vncuth land, Line 4803 God hald ouer ȝou his hali hand." Þire breder went vte of canaan, For þare was Iacob wonand þan; þar ȝongest broder þai left at hame, Beniamyn þan was his name, Line 4808 þai heyed þaim apon þair way, þan sone to egipt com þai.

Bot quen þai sau corn plente, Glader men miht neuer be, Line 4812 Bred to sell þai fond and bohut, And to Ioseph siþen þai soght. And men þaim taght quilk was Ioseph, And doune þai knelid at his step. Coud þai of him na knaulag take, And vnkudly to þaim he spac. Line 4818 "Childer," he said, "queþen er ȝe?" "Sir," þai said, "of a contre þar in es mani a nedi man, Line 4822 Of a land men calis canaan." Line 4821 þan said Ioseph ful vncuthly, "Bot er ȝe comen þis land to spy?" "Nai," þai said, "lord godd forbede, Bot we er comen for mekil nede, Line 4826 For þis hunger it es vte-neme; [folio 34b:2] We er all a manes barnteme, þar es hunger in vr king-riche, was þar neuer bi-for non suiche. Line 4830 þe folk dies vp all bidene, Suilk a hunger was þar neuer nan sene. And þar-for haue we hider sohut, And a parti mone wid vs broght, Redi penis we haue to tell Line 4835 If we may find here aught to sell. For-þi we pray þi lauerd-hede, þat þu wil help vs in þis nede, Of þi mekil plente here To selle vs, be it neuer so dere. Line 4840 Thar þe lauerd, haue na mistrouing þat we suld cum for ani oþer thing."

"I sall ȝou selle, bot telles nu me, Quat kines a man ȝurfaderes he?" "Sir, iacob es vr fader name, Line 4845 An ald man we left at hame.

Elleuen breþer we er lyveand, Ane at hame and ten in þis land." "And quat es he, þat es þe lest?" "Sir, beniamin hight he, ȝongest." Quen he biheld þaim all oraue, Line 4851 wele ilk an he coud þaim knaue, He thoght apon his fadir care, And þar-for syhid he ful sare. Line 4854 Þair siluer he tok and gaf þaim corn, And to þair in did it be born; He gart waite at a priue tide, And did his siluer coupe to hide Line 4858 In a sec þe corn biside, and bad þaim to þe mete a-bide. Quen þai had etin and war boune For to wend ham vte of toun, Line 4862 Ioseph bi-gan þan his sarmon, [folio 35a:1] And þus þaim he scheud his resun. "Gode men," he said, "ȝe sal fare, Bot of vr king I warne ȝou are, I am noght king ouer þis land, Line 4867 Bot ilk man sal wele vnderstand, þe king of þis land hat Pharao, þat all his will can gar be do; Line 4870 Ouer-all es dredd, and he es riche, þat was þar neuer bifor non suiche: Of him i tell ȝou witterly Of thef wil he haue na merci, Line 4874 For-qua so es tan wid stoln thing, He wil þat do him to hing. I say noght þis bot þat ȝe Ar like treu men for to be. Line 4878 Godd giue ȝou wele for to founde, And bring ȝou ham hal and sounde, Hal and fere ȝur fader to se, Line 4881 God grant ȝou þat it so may be."

"Sir, godd ȝou for-ȝelde," said þay, "Of all ȝour gode, and has god day." Quen þai forth fully war gan, Line 4885 Ioseph sergauntis called on-an, "Childer," þai [[read he]] said, "we serue þe king, And we misse sumquat of his thing, If he it wit he wil be wroght, And god for-bede, þat war vs loth. ȝon er theues we lelemen wende, Line 4891 And he a thif þaim hider sende. Foluis þaim and ransakis þair ware, Ar þat þai pass or fra vs fare, If in þair sekkes ahut be funden Line 4895 Loke þai all be tan and bunden." . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Þe sargantes þat war brim as bar, þai ran and ouer-tok þaim þar. "Theues!" þai said, "ȝe sal a-byde, [folio 35a:2] wend ȝe þe kinges tresur to hide? He þat ȝou has done socoure, Line 4903 Stolin ȝe haue of his tresur. In an ille time did ȝe dis dede, For suilk þar-of sal be ȝour mede." "Certis," þai said, "leue lordinges, Haue we noght tan of þe kinges; we er bath treu men and lele, Line 4909 war we neuer wont to stele, we ne haue wid vs trussed noght, Bot thing þat we lely haue boght, And vr aun lele bigetyn thing, Line 4913 For goddes loue dos vs na letting." Apon þair sekes laid þai hand, þat coupe þai soght and sone þai it fand. "A! traitours, nou es it sene, Queþer þat ȝe be foule or clene." Line 4918

Line 4918 þan war þa breder bunden hard, And sone broght bifor þe steuard, And presond to þe thrid morn, Line 4921 þat ma folk miht cum biforn; þe quilis sent ioseph þe ȝepe Men þair harnays for to kepe. Line 4924 Þe thrid morn comandid he, A gadring of þe land suld be. Forth war broght þe breder ten, was þar neuer sorier men, Line 4928 þai fell doun at ioseph fete, And merci soght wid reuful grete. þe folk askid quat þai suld be, Line 4931 "Theues," said ioseph, "of a contre þat þaim es fer, as þai me tald, And þat es sene on þair dedes bald; For quilis i sold þaim of mi sede, Line 4935 Mi coupe þai stale a-way to lede. Seriantis sent i sone on hand, [folio 35b:1] And in þair ger mi coupe þai fand; I resceyuid þaim and warned noght, Of all þat euer þai me bi-soght, Line 4940 Mete and drinck i gaf þaim bath, And bad þaim kepe þaim ay fra skath, And siþen i praid godd al weldand, Lede þaim safly into þair land, Line 4944 And þar-apon stale þus mi thing:— If ȝe giue dome we sal þaim hing." Þan spac ruben þe eldest broder, Stille menand til þe toder, Line 4948 "Nou es comen vr alde sake, Into wandred sin and wrake, þat i ȝou said þis oþer ȝere, Bot þan my rede wild ȝe noght here, Of ioseph vr broder lele, Line 4953 wid wrange ȝe sald him for catele;

ȝe salde him alle egain mi assent, And þat find ȝe nou in present; Line 4956 Don ȝe haue þe sine ȝe wate, ȝour repentanse es comen ouer late. Naquiþer-war may we nu stire, þair will bihouis vs suffre here. Line 4960 Lauerd, help! þat all has wroght! In oþer help ne traist i noght." He menid him þus wid murnand chere, And wend ioseph miht it noght here. "Allas!" þai said, "þat euir we ware Born, if we sal þus for-fare." Line 4966

Ioseph ras vp fra his stede; To galuus wend þai þan be ledd. Bot ioseph herd þair murning sare, And left þaim as noght ne ware; First he wild þaim make a-gast, Line 4971 And siþen reu on þaim at þe last. Quen he sau þair murnyng mane, [folio 35b:2] vnto þe court he spac on-ane: "Gode men, listines, all and sum, Ar þat ȝe giue ani dome. Line 4976 A word," he said, "es soth may fall; All-þou þat þai be theues all þat þa war breder all at hame, þai mengid me þe ȝongest name; Line 4980 Nou wil i do to þaim þat grace, þat þai þe ȝongest bring in place þat þai left at þair fadris ine, þe quilk es cald beniamin. Line 4984 And toquilis wil i ane of þir ten, þat þai giue to name ruben, Duell in hostage here wid me Til þat þe ȝongest be comen to be. þe term es fourti dais sett, Line 4989 þat i of þaim mi couenand gett.

Bot þai me þan mi couenand bring, For-soth þair hostage sal i hing; Line 4992 And if þai couenand hald, i-wiss, I sal for-giue þaim all þi miss. þus-gat wil i proue þaim nou." Line 4995 "Sir," þai said, "godd ȝeild it ȝou, For if þat ȝe haue lijf þar-to, ȝour comandement sul ȝe do." Line 4998 þair leue þai tok and war ful blith, And hied þaim in þair way ful suith. vr lauerd ledd þaim in þair fare, þat þai com to þar fader ȝare. Line 5002 þai kist þair fader al sone, And did þair seckes be vndone. "Say me," quot iacob, "hou es þis, þat of mi childer an i miss?" Line 5006 "Sir, he es in egipt." "allas, qui?" "For þar vs toke þe hei bayli, To schap wid gile were we fayn." [folio 36a:1] "And quat hope ȝe? sal he be slain?" "Nay, sir," þai said, "god wid schild, Him sal deliuere ȝour ȝongest child." "Qui, hou, sal beniamyn cum þare?" "Sir ȝa, elles þai wil Ruben for-fare, ȝour eldest sun heued or hang." "And haue ȝe terme?" "ȝa sir." "hu lang?" "Fourti dais;" "þan dred i sare, ȝe must hast ȝou on ȝour fare." Line 5018 Ne had þai soiurnid but a stound, Iacob said, "time es to found, Fettis me hame ruben bliue, Or elles hald ȝe noght mi liue. Line 5022 Ledis wid ȝou beniamyn, God grauntt ȝou grace diþer to win. Lauerd! miht-ful king!" he said, "þat paradis to man puruaid, Line 5026

Line 5026 And bitaght adam lenthe and wide, And eue þat wroght was of his side; On flode þu sauedd noe here, Line 5029 And tempt abraham þi dere Of his a sun offrand to make, And he it wild do for godes sake,— þat was my fader isaac,— Line 5033 Till þat þe angel for him spac; And sauid me mi broþer fra, Esau þat wilde me sla, Saue mi childer hal to me, Line 5037 And haue of ioseph saule pite." Þir childer tok wid þaim to spend, þai buskid þaim in þair way to wend, So lang þai went apon þair way, þat into egipt sone com þai. Line 5042 þai soght and sone þe steuard fand, At a gerner him standand, þar he liueranse made of corn, [folio 36a:2] þai grett him all on knes biforn. Line 5046 Quen ioseph gan his breder se, Mekil ioy in hert had he, And ruben þat for him was nomin, Had mekil ioy quen þai war comin. Him sterid all his bodi wid-ine, Line 5052 Ioseph biheld þan beniamyn, Line 5051 For quen þe tan þe toþer sy, No-gates miht þair bodijs ly, He hent him in his armis þare, Line 5055 And kised him sexti sith or mar; And grett on him ful tenderly, And siþen on binck he sett him by. "Hou faris," he said, "vr fadris stat?" "Mi fadir faris wele, sir, i wat. Line 5060 Knaulage of ȝoures haue i nan." "Parfay, broder, and all es an."

"Knauest þu me?" "sir," he said, "nay, I sau ȝou neuer bifor þis day. we er noght sibb." þis said he, Line 5065 "þe soth þan sal i scheu to þe. First wald þai me haue slayn, þir ten, And siþen me sald to vncuth men, And all was for i tald a drem Line 5069 þat comen es nou to gode, i tem; I hat ioseph, ȝur broþer am i." þai fel in suoune and crid "merci!" þan þai wend widuten wene Line 5073 þai suld be hangid all bidene. Bot ioseph confort þaim þar chere, And wepand said, "my breder dere, ȝour gilt i haue forgiuen ȝou, Line 5077 For-gif me myn, i prai ȝou nou, For-giue me dat i did ȝou take, And bunden be widuten sake. Line 5080 þe coupe into ȝour seck put i, [folio 36b:1] And presuned ȝou ful spitusli, And schent you siþen in menes siht; I am a-knau i did vnriht. Line 5084 Mi wreche es me nou al ouer-gan, To me i pray ȝou ȝe haue nan, Bot rape ȝou suith bone to ga, For i wil algate it be sua. Line 5088 Mas ȝour ger alredi tift, ȝour seckes sal i fille o gift, To fete my fadir sul ȝe founde, Line 5091 And sais him i am hale and sound. For ȝeit haue we bi-fore to bide, Fiue ȝere of þis hungery tyde, þat sal mani man and wiif Ar it be endid for-ber þair lijf. Line 5096 Bes noght dred, bot mas god chere, For ȝour hele god sent me here.

Noght ȝour rede but godes sand, was i þus sent into þis land, As Pharao fadir has me made, Line 5101 And lord ouer-all his landes barde [[read brade]] ." "Sir, gladli all ȝoure biddyng Sal be til vs as comanding, Als suith as we mai be graith, Line 5105 we sal do as ȝe haue said. þat we haue done miss we repent ay, For-giue it vs, lauerd, we ȝou pray, Siþen god wild suilk cas suld fall." He said, "i haue for-giuen ȝou all. Til ȝour fader nou ȝe sal, Line 5111 And tel him ȝe er sound and hal, He mas soru ay for ȝour sake, þis tyding his soru slake." "We sal make na lang duelling, Line 5115 Bi-tuix and we him to ȝou bring." "Takis ruben ham wid ȝou [folio 36b:2] And leuis wid me beniamin nu." He clad him wid pall of affrick, And siþen gaf him giftes riche; Line 5120 He keist þaim all, in signe of saght, And siþen to godd he þaim bi-tagh[t]. And efter ȝede ham till his in, wid his ȝong broder beniamyn; Line 5124 Of pall he did on him clathing, And on his handis sett riche ring. Þir breder ȝede forth þar way, Line 5127 And to þair fadir sone com þai, Siluer and gold þai wid þaim ledd, And clathing bath for bac and bedd. For-getin haue þai all þat care Line 5131 þaim was don thoru Ioseph þare, þai com ham noght presunes lick, Bot as þai ware knihtes rike; Line 5134

Line 5134 Clad þai ware wid riche wede, þair camayles charged all wid sede. þair fader lay vnfere in bedd, Line 5137 He miht noght stir him of þat sted; þer cam to him a messager, And tald him softli in his ere, Line 5140 "Sir," he said, "here gode tydand, þi sonis er knithes here at hand." "þu lies," he said, "bi godd sua dere, þai er na knightes, ne knightes pere." "Sir, bi þe faith i aw to ȝou, Line 5145 þai er knithes, als i trou, For þai er clad in riche pall, And giue riche giftes ouerall. Line 5148 Siluir and gold þai haue plente." "Sais þu soth?" "ȝa, sua mote i the, And if þat þu noght trous me, Line 5151 Ris vp and cum þi-selue nou to se!" [folio 37a:1] "I may noght rise, i am sua lame;" And wid þat word þai com al hame, In at þe dor, apon a route, Haylisand þair fadir gan þai loute. "Sir," þai said, "we bring tyding, Fra þi sonis tuynne g[r]eting, þat es, fra beniamyn vr broder, Line 5159 And fra ioseph, þat es þe toder." [[MS. has torder]] Quen iacob, þat in bed was won, Herd þaim neuen ioseph his sun, þan bigan his hert to liht, And in his bed to sitt vp-right. Line 5164 His hefd was all bar for elde, Apon his sonis he þan bihelde, And sau þaim clad in pal sua riche; "Seys me þan, widuten suiche, Line 5168 Quat er ȝe make mening nou Of ioseph, mi sone, be-tuix ȝou?

Thritti ȝere es it siþen so gan, Line 5171 Siþen he wid wilde bestes was slan. ȝe gabb, and certis ȝe do gret sin, þat ȝe of him make ani mine." Line 5174 "Fadir," þai said, "mistrou vs noght þat we þe haue na gabing broght, For ioseph hale and sound left we." "Lauerd, quar-euer i sal him se:" Line 5178 "Certis sir, ȝa, god may wele geue." "I wild," he said, "na langer liue." "ȝe sal haue lijf langer þan dider." "Quat! haue ȝe broght him wid ȝu hider?" Line 5182 "Nay, sir, bot ȝe sal to him fare, He has sent efter ȝou his chare, we sal ȝou make þar-in a bedd, In to egipt sul ȝe be ledd." Line 5186 þan wex iacob ferly fain, His bodi bigan to quick again. "Gif me mi clathes," þan said he, [folio 37a:2] "And hastily þat we graithed be, Childer," he said, "lat vs gang, Line 5191 For in-to egipt thinc me lang." Israel wid þis vp lep, þat bi-for miht noght strid a step widuten asking ani help of son, Line 5195 þat quake wid ilk a lim [[MS. lin]] was won. þat first for eld miht noght wel spec, To hast his sonis wald he reke, Line 5198 He cries on þaim as ȝong man were; þan said ruben, "leue fadir dere, I rede stedfastlyer ga." Line 5201 "And quat art þu, þat biddes me sua?" "Ruben ȝour sun." "and quat thing, Es of Ioseph? and no lesing." Line 5204

Line 5204 "Of egipt, sir, þat riche land, Line 5205 Es he mayster and al weldand." "Hou sua, es þar nan oþer king?" "Ȝes, bot he tentis to na maner thing, þe ward he has of þat king-riche, Line 5209 And demes bath þe pouer and riche. He delis wid þe corn of þat contre, þis es þe soth, trou ȝe me." Line 5212

Israel made an offrand suyth, As þai war wont in þat sith. God cam to him in vision, And said to iacob his resun, Line 5216 "Iacob, iacob, listen vnto me; wid þi fadir i was, as i am wid þe, Al-mihti god thar þe noght drede, wend til egipt emang þat lede, Line 5220 For i my self sal þe þar lede, And many a man gar of þe sprede. And þar for-soth sal þu die, Ioseph þi sone sal loke þin eye." Line 5224 Þan was iacob buskid ȝare, [folio 37b:1] wid all men þat wid him ware; His sonis all wid þair flittyng, Line 5227 wid wijf and barn and oþer thing, In waynis war þai put to lede, þat ioseph sent þaim ful of sede. His meyne þat him folud diþer, Quen þai war gadrid al to-gider, Line 5232 Sex and sexti soum o lyuis þai were, widuten sonis wijfes; And ioseph had him sonis tuin, Manassem and effraim, Line 5236 þat in egipt his wijf him bare, þat þe king had getin him þar. Quen iacob cam egipt nere, He sent Iudam his messager, Line 5240

Line 5240 To tell iacob comen was in land, And bere ioseph þar-of tydand. Line 5242 Quen ioseph of his fadir herd, wid his court agayn him he ferd, Quen þai had kist a mile and mar, His blissing gaf he him right þar. Quen ioseph wid his fader mett, Line 5247 Tendirly wid eye he grett, þai grett for gladnes, as I trou. Iacob said to ioseph, "nou Of dede wil i me neuer mene, Line 5251 Nou i þi face, leue sone, haue sene." Bot certaynli, þe soth to say, Qua-so had ben be-stadd þat day, And hadd þat suete meting sene, Line 5255 þou he thre dais had fastand ben, Of mete and drinck, in myn entent, I hope he suld haue had na talent. "Sone, i wend lang siþen gan, Line 5259 wid wild bestis þu hadd ben slain, Qua-fore i fell in gret sekenes. [folio 37b:2] I-loued be godd þat þu liuand es! Sone, qui held þu þe fra me? Line 5263 Quat clath was þai me broght to se þat blodi was, and i ne wate hou?" "Noght of mi bodi, and þat se ȝe nou." "Into sysen quen i þe sent, Line 5267 To seke þi breder, þat þider went?" "So did i, fadir, mistrou ȝe noght, þair mete to þaim i redi broght; Bot als suith as i þar was comyn, wid ill consail was i nomin." Line 5272 "And quy, leue sone?" "i sal ȝou say, Ne menis ȝou noght, nou mani a day, Of a drem ful lang siþen gan?" Line 5275 "Leue sone, was þu þar-fore tan?"

"Ȝa, fadir, vnethes ne schapid i, Til marchandes cam me for to bi, And to þis land me gan bring, Line 5279 And siþen me sold vnto þe king. In presun siþen, i may noght layn, was don þar i suffrid payn; þat was thoru putifars wijf, Line 5283 þat wold haue broght me of mi lijf. Quar-for to presun was i don, Me borud nan, bot godd alon; He þat til his in nede es beste, Line 5287 In him i haue mj hope al fest. He has me liuerd al of mi care, And putt me in welth, na man mare. þe lordschip al of þis land, Line 5291 To reule and kepe es in mi hand, For-þi, leue fader, lett ȝe noght, All ȝoure will it sal be wroght, Bath for mi breder and for ȝou, For i ouer-all haue pouste nou. Line 5296 To mi lauerd ȝe come wid me, [folio 38a:1] I sal ȝou do a-quayntid be; I sal to ȝou ask sum rescett, And wele i wate it for to gett." Line 5300 "Gladli, sone, þan go we sone, To thanc him he has for þe done; Knele i sal bifor þe king, Line 5303 And thanck him of his gret helping, Als his aune in al þat i may, And þu sal be his seruant ay. I sal þe to þe king biteche, And siþen þe mi blissing reche, Line 5308 And þan i will me lay to dey;— To liue i may na langer drey."

Iacob went þan wid his route, His sonis tuelue him al aboute, Line 5312

Line 5312 His berd was side wid mekil har, Apon his hefd his hat he bar, Line 5314 As man of elde and lang for-liuen, And mani a baret bifore had driuen. Quen þai war comin bifore þe king, þat loutid him all wid þair haylsing; Of his come þe king was fayn, Line 5319 And of his sete him ras agayn, Kiste him and sett him on binck him by, And honurd him dereworthly. þe king þan did his lettris write, Line 5323 To samen all widuten lite, þe best þat was in his kingriche, And did to make a fest ful riche. Quen iacob sau al plente were, Line 5327 And all aboute to make him chere, He praid to gode men þat þar were To listen a quile his word to here. þe king bad þaim all listen þan, Line 5331 And þus Iacob his tale bigan,— "Pes haue Pharao, þe king! [folio 38a:2] Godd giue him his brod blissing! Gode men, i am, als ȝe may se, Line 5335 An ald man, þou ȝe knau noght me, Na mare do i ȝou, es na selcuth, For i am in þis land vncuth. vte of ebron born am i, Line 5339 þar lijs vr eldris, þar sal i ly; þar lijs adam, þe formast man, And eue of quam we all bigann. þe folk þat of þaim to was bredd, For þai na-thing godd ne dredd, Line 5344 On þaim he tok vengans ful sare, Bot eyth on-liue he left, na mare;— þat was noe right-wis, of quan Bi-com vr faithful abraham, Line 5348

Line 5348 þat dred god, and loued him sua, þat for his loue his sone wald sla, þat was ysaac, his dere, His sone i am, þat ȝe se here. Line 5352 I am sex skor and ten ȝere ald, Mi fadir hiht ysaac, as i tald: Quen he was to his ending bon, Line 5355 I had of him my [[MS. his]] broder benisun; Mi broþer esau me bi-soght To dyserit me, if þat he moght, He flemed me vte of mi land, Line 5359 Thoru godd i haue it ȝit in hand. þir tuelue mi sonis þai er, ilk-an. Thritti ȝere es siþen gan, þat i had tint mi sone sua dere, Ioseph, þat i haue funden here; Line 5364 þat he es funden i loue godd sua, He saue him fra þe feind his fa." He gaf þaim all his blissing. And to iacob said þe king, Line 5368 "A wisman es þi sone ioseph, [folio 38b:1] In all egipt es non sua ȝep; For he bath saued me and mine, Fra mekil nede and mekil pine. Line 5372 Frist was he here as vr thrall, Nou vnder me es he mast of all. I giue him woning-sted to lend, For euer mar, widuten end, Line 5376 Till him and to his breder elleuen, To chese quar þi seluen wil neuen." Iacob quen he leue had laght, Line 5379 wid his sonis and all þair aght, went to a stede for þair ese Of pasture gret, þat hiht ranese. In þat stede þair lijf þai ledd, Ioseph þaim gaf quarof be fedd, Line 5384

Line 5384 For faute of bred þat ilk tide, was ouerall þe world so wide; Bot in na land sua mekil nan, As in egipt and canaan. Line 5388 . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Sua lang haue þai boght þair sede, þat þair siluer wex all nede; Line 5392 Quen þat þai had nethir worth ne quare, þat þai miht for þair liuelad spare, þe folk of egipt com bi-dene, Bifor ioseph, þaim to mene. Line 5396 "Lauerd," þai said, "to þe we say, þat all vr aght it es away. Nou haue we noght quar-wid we may Lenthe vr liues nou fra dis da. Line 5400 Es vs noght left bot erde bare, And all vr bodis ful of care. Landes and liþes with bodi we bede, þat þu vs take in þi bundhede. Line 5404 In thraldam tak vr landes all, For sede we may þaim saw wid-all." þai sold þair landis þan for nede, [folio 38b:2] And ioseph boght þaim all for sede. In all egipt left he na land Line 5409 vn-boght in-to þe kinges hand, vte-take þe land of þat lede þat was taght preistes forto fede, To kepe þaim selue for þair hald, þe king þaim fand as it es tald. Line 5414 Þus coude ihoseph, i said ȝou, waite his lauerd þe kinges prou; Bath he did his lauerdes biȝate, Line 5417 And halp þe nedeful in þair state, Quilis þaim lastid þat sesune þere. Iacob þar liued seuentene ȝere, Line 5420

Line 5420 In aa contre þat hiht iessen; Of him was bred ful mani men. Quen it drou to his last day, To ioseph dusgat gan he say, Line 5424 "If i fond euer grace in þe, þu lay þi hand vnder mi the, And hith me treuli, wid couenand, þat i noght be doluen in þis land. Bot hite me treuli þu þi selue Line 5429 Sal me wid min eldris delue." "Fadir, treuli i þe hite, It sal be done, wid all mi mihte," And þar-to an ath he him suar. Line 5433 Nou lijs iacob in bed of car, And draues fast to his endyng; And ioseph did bifor him bring Bath effraym and manasse, Line 5437 To blisse his childer praid he. Iacob in bedd him laid vpright, For elde all dim him wex þe siht; He laid aboute þaim eyder arme, Line 5441 And kist þaim oft apon his barm. [folio 39a:1] "Mi suete sone, ioseph," nou he said, "Of þe am i noght al vn-puruaid, þi fruit i se bi-for myn eye, Nou recc i neuer quan i dey." Line 5446 He laid his hand apon þair croun, And gaf þaim serekines benisoun. "Sone," he said to ioseph, "nou Line 5449 Most i pass, godd bitheche i ȝou. God, þat was vr eldris wid, Grant ȝou bring in-to ȝour kid. Line 5452 þou ȝe be flemed here a quile, He sal ȝou bring fra þis exile." His sonis he bifore him cald, And mani resunes he þaim tald, Line 5456

Line 5456 Bath þat þai suld ouer bide, And in þair last dais bitide. Quan he endid of his saue, His sonis blissed he on a rau; Line 5460 He gaf ilk-an sere benisun, And efter laid his hefd doun, And went vte of þis wrecched world, And to his former fadris ferd; Line 5464 And broght es in to grace of grith. vr lauerd vs graunt to duell him with! Nere seuen skor ȝere of elde, was þis iacob at his done helde. Line 5468 Bot thre ȝere þer was him wan, His sonis him bar to canaan, And laid him þar his eldris by, þer he disyrid him-self to ly Line 5472 Be ysaac and bi abraham, In ebron, biside olde adam. þis ilk iacob, þat i of mele, Hight bath iacob and israele. Line 5476 þe folk of israel of him sprang, þat king pharao held in thrang. In egipt held he þaim ful hard, [folio 39a:2] As i sal tell ȝou sone forward. Line 5480 Siþen he died, ioseph, þat wise, And endid in vr lauerdes seruise; And first was birid in þat contre, Siþen born til his erde was he. Line 5484 þe ospring þat of ioseph bredd, was mekil in þat land spred, Quat of him, and quat of his breder sede, War thritti thousand as we rede. Line 5488 Half sex skor was ioseph þat day, Quen he went all ledis way. þe quilis þat ioseph reyned þar, His breder in egypt reynid war; Line 5492

Line 5492 Efter þai liued had mani a day, Dede and doluie þar war þai. Line 5494