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

[The Miracles and Sayings of Christ.]

LAuerdinges, in þat ilk contre þat men clepis galilee, In a tune men clepis chane, Line 13362 Bridel was þar ordained ane; þe bride-gome did þaim þider calle His special freindes alle, Line 13365

Line 13365 And was þar praid forto be Line 13366 vr leuedi, and hir fre meigne: And iesus self, he come þar tille, wid sum desciplis at his wille. þat gedring þan it was ful gret, Line 13370 And mani semli satt in sett. þe folk þat dai ful faire was fed, Of bred and flesse both soþin and bredd, Left þai nouþer for cost no suink, And gode wine þai had to drink. þe wine was noght sparid amang, And þarfor lastid it noght lang. Line 13377 Quen mari wist þar wine was gane, Scho tald it till hir sune a-nane, And þus mildli scho made hir mane, "Mi leue sun, wine haue þai nane." And tille his moder þan said he, "Quat es þat to me and þe? Line 13383 If it be sua þair wine be gnede, [folio 90b:2] On vs ligges noght þe nede; . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Bot ȝeit þan sal we do als hend, In nede þan sal þai find vs frend." Scho cald þe botler hir to, Line 13390 And said, "do þat mi sun biddis þe do, þat he þe biddis be puruaid;" "It sal be done, leuedi," he said. Iesus bad þaim þan on-ane Line 13394 Fille þair grete vesselis of stane Of watir clere, and þai did sua, þan badd iesus þaim to ga For to tast of þat neu wine, Line 13398 And bere it to sir architricline, þat of þat hous was þan husband, And costes te þe bridale fand. Line 13401

Line 13401 þai fild a cope sone in hast, Line 13402 And gaf sir architricline to tast; He drank, and felg gode sauur, Ne drank he neuer sli licur, And cald to him þe boteler, Line 13406 And said him þus, þat all might here, "Quarfor," he said, "þus did þu Has halden þe god wine to nu? Line 13409 þe gode drink suld þu first dispend, And siþen drink þe wers at end, At ende quen men es drunken made. And ȝe þe best has done in bade Ai hiþerto, forþi me think, Line 13414 þe mare es wastid of vr drink." þair fest þai held wid gret gladschip, For suete it was, þair felauschipp, þar himself was vr drightine, Line 13418 And made þaim of þaire water wine. þis was þe formast singne he did, þat was till his disciplis kidd, Quarfor þai gun trastli trou, Line 13422 Fra þat dai in vr lauerd iesu. þan left þe bridgome þe bride, [folio 91a:1] And folud iesu fra þat tide, Ne lai he neuer bi hir side, Line 13426 Bot left hir and all worldes prid, Of wijf he forsoke þe handband, And turned him to þe better hand. Men sais þis was saint iohne, Line 13430 wid iesus loued was better none, He was cosin to iesus crist, And siþen he was ewangelist. þis ilk was iohn þe godspeller, þat lai on iesu brest at super, Line 13435 Of witt he drank þar-of þe well, þat he wid speche gan siþen spell.

Sli signe did crist at his bridale, Line 13438 þat ilk iohn tellis in his tale, Of þat iesu walkand in erth, Of godspellers he was þe ferth. Marc, luca, mathe, his felaus, Line 13442 Bot iohn was sotilest in saus. Forþi to þe arn likest es he, þat es na foul sua fair mai fle, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And es na foul sua gleg of ei, Line 13448 Ne nane þat mai fli sua hei. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

Iesus, he said, a passage made vte-ouer þe se of tibereade, Line 13453 Gret was þe folk him foluand ȝode, To here his preching þoght þaim gode, þair hele to gete þat was seke, Fra fer till him gan þai sek. Line 13457 þis folk was mekil, all for to tell; Iesus clamb vp intill a fell, His apostlis wid him he ledd, Line 13460 Biheld þat folk abute þaim spredd þat folud him in mekil thrang, Him reud þai had fastid lang. þe dalis war wid folk ouerlaid; Line 13464 Philip he cald til him, and said, "Philip, þis folk es wonder fele, [folio 91a:2] Hu redis þu we wid haim dele? Nu haue þai gret mister of mete, Quar sal we þair fode nu gete?" Line 13469 þis he said, þe godspel tellis, To faand him, and for na þing ellis, For he þat made bath sunne & mone wist well quat he had to done. Line 13473

Line 13473 þai folud him fastand dais thre, Line 13474 Of þaim had iesus gret pete, And said, "if þai turn ham þair wai, For þe faint sone faile sal þai. Quen þai mai find na þing to bij, Dede bi strete þan mon þai lij." Line 13479 Philip said, "lauerd, quat cunsaile Mai i giue þat mai þaim waile? Me thinck to do war noght eth, Qua had penis thre hundreth Line 13483 Brede wid to bi, þai er sua fele, It war to ilkan bot a morsele." þan spak andreu, was nan so mild, He said, "we haue wid vs a chi[l]d þat has fiue lauis and fisses tua, Line 13488 Bot quat es þat widvten ma?" þan said vr lauerd, "enoght es þat, I wald þe folk dune all satt." He said, "we sal nu do ful wele;" Of hay þan was þar mekil dele. Line 13493 Quat sal i sai ȝu lange sarmune? Alle right þar þai sett þaim dune. Iesus bliscid þis bred for-melt, And siþen bad it suld be delt; Line 13497 He bliscid siþen þe fisses tuine, And sett his fuisum þaim widine. þat quen it forwid þaim was sett, All þai had enoght at ett. Line 13501 þis bred and fisse was delt abute, Had nan defaut in þat route. Gode men, it was a gret gedring [folio 91b:2] Iesus fedd wid sua litil þing! Line 13505 Fisses tua and fiue laues of bred, þat iesus wid fedd suilk a here. Abute fiue thousand, als it es red, was þe folk þat he þar fed. Line 13509

Line 13509 Quen þai had etin, badd drightin þat þai suld na crummes tine, Line 13511 þe relef gedrid þai in hepis, And fild þar-wid tuelue gret lepes. þus can he sett ai his fusun Quar he will giue his benisun. Line 13515 þe folk all þat he gaf fode, þai thankid god of all his gode, And said, "forsoth þis ilk es he þat sal his folk do sauued be." Line 13519

Efter þat þis signe was done, Noght lang bituix bot alsone, Anoþer he did þat ȝe sal here, Als tellis þis ilk godspellere, Line 13523 Of a man þat born was blind, And soght at iesus grace to find. Iesus was þar, he welk þe strete, wid þis blind þar gan he mete, Line 13527 His disciplis him askid þan, "Lauerd," þai said, "quat has þis man Or his eldris done biforn Line 13530 þat he þugat suld blind be born?" þan said iesus, "has nouþer he þis, Ne ȝeit his ospring done þe mis. Bot for þat goddis werkis mai Line 13534 In him be scheud, fra þis dai, Mi fadir werkis most i do þo-quilis quat i haue dai þar-to. Fra nu bihouis þe sunne him spede Forto do his fadir dede, Line 13539 wirke he most fast forwid night, Ai quilis þe dai it lastes light. To-quiles I in þis worlde be, [folio 91b:2] It has na lightnes bot of me." wid þis vnto þe erd he spitt, Line 13544 And wid þe erd he menged itt,

And tok he of þat smerl a-wei, Line 13546 And smerled þar-wid his aeiþer ei. And said till him, "mi leue freind, To natatori sal þu nu wend, At natatori silole, þar sal þin eien wassen be." Line 13551 He went and weisse his eien þare, And gat his sight in þat siquare. Fra nu thar him namare be ledd, He come again þan to þat stedd. Quen men him sau, þat kneu him are, Fast þai gan on him stare, Line 13557 Sum þai said, "es þu noght he, þis ender dai might noght se?" Sum said nai, and sum said þat ilk, And sum said anoþer þat semes suilk. þe sotht tuix þaim cuth þai noght find, þan ansuerd þaim, he þat was blind, "þis ilk am i, forsoth i sai." Line 13564 "Hu gat þu þan þi sight?" said þai, "Mi sight," he said, "þan gat i þus, þar es a man þat hatt iesus, wid lame he smerd mi eien tua, And badd me siþen forth to ga Line 13569 To natatori sylole, 'Ga wasse þin eien þar,' said he. Quen i had done als he bad me, Als sone eftir might i se." Line 13573 Said þai, "quar es he, þat iesu?" "I ne wat quar he es nu." þai hint him þan, þir felun juus, And led him þan to þe phariseus, þat maistris of þe lau war þan, Line 13578 And frained at þis helid man, [folio 92a:1] To telle þaim hu he gatt his sight, And he said, "þus þat man me dight."

Sum Iuus said, þat stod him bi, Line 13582 "Of gode him semes haue na parti þat haldis of halidai na state,"— For þis was done on þar sabate. And oþer said, "bot hugat moght Sli werk of sinful man be wroght?" þa pharaseus þat ai war felle, Line 13588 Quen þai had striued þaim emell, þai groined and cuth no resun find, þan did þai bring again þat blind. "Quat haldes þu þat man?" said þai. "A prophete," said he, "bi mi fay." Þe maistre Iuus þan bigan Line 13594 To mistrouu of þis seli man, Quaþer forwid blind al had he bene, þai said þat he had alwais sene. þe neist men of his ospring Line 13598 Did þai forwid þaim to bring, "þis es ȝur sun," þai said, "and ȝe Sai þat blind-born man was he; Sais vs nu, bi ȝur laute, Line 13602 Hu es it sua þat he mai se?" His freindes said, "vr sune he es, And blind was born, widvten les." "Hu þat it es sua þat he seis nu?" "we ne wate, bot aske himself hu. Aske him-self, for best he wat Line 13608 Gif ansuer of his auen state." þus gaue þaa seli men ansuer, For-þi þai dred þe Iuus sare, þai had mad, þat men wele wist, A statute again iesus crist, If ani wold him leue or loute, Line 13614 þair synagoge suld be put vte; For-þi him-self badd þai farine. . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]

ȝeit þai cald þe thrid time [folio 92a:2] Line 13618 þis blind and bad him loue drightin. þaisaid, "blisce him þat wones on hight, For þis man es a sinful wight." Line 13621 He said, "i wate noght of his plight, Bot to me, blind, gaf he þe sight." "Hu," said þai, "gart he þe se? Tell vs hu he did wit þe." Line 13625 "Qui quar-to suld i tell ȝu mare, Ne haue i noght all tald ȝu are? Quarfor spir ȝe sua of þat gome? wil ȝe his disciplis bicum?" "we!" said þai, and þai bigan Line 13630 Ful felunli þis man to ban. "Hald ȝe to him," said þai, "þu caitiue, His sal we be neuer our liue, þu mot his disciple be, For disciplis moyses er we, Line 13635 þat was a man widvten sake, we wat þat godd self wid him spake, Of þis man knauyng nan haue we." To þaa Iuus þan ansuerd he, "Of ȝu think me selcuth, Line 13640 Qui ȝe hald him sua uncuth? And sais ȝe wat noght queþen he be þat þus has giuen mi sight to me. I wate, and it of soth es soght, Line 13644 þat sinful man god heris noght, Bot he allane þat dos his will, And haldes him fra dedis ille. þis es þe man þat drightin heris, And helpis oþir for his praieris. Line 13649 Ne it, i-wis, was neuer herd Siþen þe bigining of þis werld, Blind-born man to gett his sight widvten gras of godes might." Line 13653

Line 13653 þan said þai, "þu caitif lorn Line 13654 In sine was alle to-gedir lorn, Queþer þu wenis vs nu here [folio 92b:1] Of þine vnwittes for to lere." wid þis þai scott him als a dog Line 13658 Right vte of þair synagog, "Herd ȝe nu þis lurdane," said þai, "Hu he wald lere vs her vr lai, þat ebber þat in sine was gotin!" Line 13662 Quen iesus wist him þus forschotin, þair strijf he wist, bath les and mare, And þat þai had him wrethed sare. Forþi he thoght him do solace, Line 13666 And mor to scheu him of his grace. Quen þat iesus and he was mett, Ful derworthili his lauerd he gret, Till him spac iesus, "sai me nu sai, Trous þu in goddes sun or nai?" Line 13671 "Quar es he?" he said, "wist i quare, To trou in him ful lef me ware." Iesus said þan, "þu has him sene, And spokin wid, widuten wene," þen said iesus, "mi to-coming [[MS. coinng]] Line 13676 In erd es iugement to bring, þat þai þat noght seis suld se, And þat þe seand blind suld be." þan said sum of þat semble, Line 13680 "Sais þu vs þan þat blinde ee [[read er]] we?" "war ȝe," he said, "widvten sight, þan war ȝe blind widvten plight. Bot nu ȝe sai þat ȝe mai se, In sine þarfor bileft er ȝe." Line 13685

Forþermar ȝeit sal i tell ȝu Sum gestes of þat suete iesu. Als tellis þis ilk ewangelist þat he sau foluand iesu crist. Line 13689

Line 13689 Mont oliuete þan es an hill Line 13690 þat iesus haunted mekil till; For þiþer ȝode he ai vmstunt, þar to prai ofte was his wont. Apon a dai quen him thoght gode, [folio 92b:2] Fra þeþin to þe temple ȝode, Line 13695 For to teche and for to lere þe men þat gladli wald him here. þe pharaseus, þat luued ai strijf, vnto þat kirc þai broght a wijf Line 13699 þat þai in hordam had ouertane, þair lau wold men suld hir stane, In midward of þis temple wide, þar mani man was stad þat tide. Line 13703 Abute hir heued hir har hingand; All wondrid on hir in þat thrang. þan spac an of þaim for alle, Bifor iesus þus made his call, And þai gan him list ilk-ane, Line 13708 "Maister," he said, "þis wommane Has brokin þe band of hir sposaile, And þarwid tan, widuten faile. Moises will we stane alle slike, Line 13712 Queþer þai pouer be or rike; þu giue vs nu þi iugement." Bot þis was noght þair entent, For þai had suorn ilkan þar-till, Line 13716 þis wreche womman for to spill, In wrangwisdede or word þai soght To take him þat þai neuer moght. þai thoght if he bid hir stane, Line 13720 Man of merci was he nane; And if he bad to let hir gang, þan might þai sai he did wrang; To breke þair laue þai soght sua Him forto take bituix þa tua. Line 13725

Line 13725 Quen þai þis wise on iesus soght, wele he wist quat þai thoght, Line 13727 He stoupid dune, and wid his hand He wrat a quile in þe sand. Alle þai crid þan þat þar was, Line 13730 "Giue vs þi dome, and lat vs pas, Ful lange we duell nu," said þai. [folio 93a:1] "Qua warnis ȝu to wend ȝur wai? Bot qua þat es widuten last Line 13734 At hir þe first stane he cast, Hir staning mai he wele bigine, þe man þat es widvten sine." wid þis he loutid dune eft sith, Line 13738 All wex þai dumb þan all suith, Ne wist þai neuer quat forto sai; Ilkan skulked þaim a-wai. þai left þis temple þan allane, Line 13742 Bot iesus crist and þis wommane. Quen iesus lifted vp his heued, And sau nane in þat temple leued, Biheld þis womman standand þare, þat caitef carked in hir kare, Line 13747 "womman," he said, "quar es bicomen þi witherwines þat he [[read þe]] had nomen?" Quakand scho loked hir abute, Line 13750 And iesus bad hir haue na doute; "Lauerd," scho said, "þai er a-wai." "For-þi, womman, to þe i sai, Ga nu forth, mi leue freind, Line 13754 For þu has leue nu forto wend; I dampne þe noght far quar þu far, Bot ga nu forth and sin no mare." He said noght alane, "na mar þu sin," Bot "loke þi will be noght þar-in."

A water þar es widin þat thede, þat þai cald piscine in þar lede,

þis ilk water, als þe stori sais, Line 13762 was mekil renouned in þa dais, Als it war a gode vinere; þarbi lai mani man vnfere, þar-in was won forto descend, Line 13766 Angelis forto þe water to blend, And tid it sua in þat sequar, Quen þis water droued war, þe first seke man þat might win [folio 93a:2] To þat welle to wasse him in, Line 13771 þat quat sekenes was als on him, He suld be helid, ilk a lim. Iesus þan was þare walkand, Line 13774 Come bi þe welle, gret folk he fand þat þar war liggand forto bide, Quen þair hele þaim suld betide. þar fand iesus a man vnfere, Line 13778 þat had bene aght and thretti ȝere, Sua was his limmes him wit-tane, þat of þaim weildnes had he nane; Iesus biheld þis caitiue þare, Line 13782 And of him reud selcuthli sare, And said, "god man, me wid þu mele, Gernis þu to haue þi hele?" Line 13785 "ȝa, sir," he said, "na thing sua gladd, Bot sua wid seknes am i stadd, þat i ne mai to þe water win, Line 13788 For oþer me gas bifor þar-in, [[MS. þai in]] Ne þar es na man, soth to tell, þat will me bere into þe well. Lang haue i ledd in langur lijf, Es nane will reu on me, caitif." Line 13793 "And godman, i þe treuli sai, þu sal be hal nou fra þis dai. Rise, thar þe lij no langir, Do þe to ga wid all þi ger." Line 13797

Line 13797 Up he ras widvten mare, Line 13798 And on his bac his bed he bar. þe dai þat þis man was made fere, þe Iuus it held for hali dere, Line 13801 Quen þai sau him þat birþen vnder, Fast þai gun on him to wonder. "Quat cursed man es yone," said þai, "wirkand again godd and his lai? It semes he has of god nan awe;" And said allsua mani fele sawe, Line 13807 "þu carl, qui brekes þu our lau, [folio 93b:1] þi bedd suld þu nouþer bere ne drau, Suith þu bere again þi birthin, Line 13810 þar waried worth þu wid drithin." "God men," he said, "for godes might, Qui wite ȝe me widvten plight, A blisced man me gaue hailand; Line 13814 At þe well of sylole he me fand, Quen he had made me hal a[n]d fere, 'Ris vp,' he said, 'wid þi litere And do þe suith heþen to ga,' Line 13818 And als he badd, right did i sua. Aght and thretti ȝere in band, I lai widvten might of fot or hand; þe angel lighting ai i bade, Line 13822 Ai till þis man has hale me made. He þat me hal has wroght, widstand his bidding aght [I] noght." þai lete him passe fra þaim emell, And tuix þaim spac þe iuus fell, "þis man es noght wid godd," said þai, "þat brekes þus þe hali-dai, Line 13829 þe liuf he ledes nane mai lede, And all es he again vr lede; He hates till cum to vr bewist, Ne till vr lau wil he noght list, Line 13833

Line 13833 vr halidais noght he for-beris, Line 13834 Bot mani dedis on þaim he geris To be done, vs forto paire; And syden can na man spec so faire. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Ofte he dos vs samen sanck, Line 13840 And þarfor haue he neuer thank; He dos vs mani gadring make, And mani sanking for vs sake, þat we mai drei it nu na mare, Line 13844 For-þi we most vs consale þare þat he be tane, and done in bandis, Qua first on him mai lai þair handis, [folio 93b:1] And qua þis comandment haldis noght þat it be dere apon him boght." wid þis þai partid þair semble, Line 13850 Bot iesus went of þat cite, And in apon anoþer side, vte of þair sight him forto hide, Line 13853 For ȝeit was noght his time commin To be widin þair handes nomin. Might þai neuer lai hand him on, Til þat he-self wald it war don; Line 13857 Quen time come he him-seluen bedd, And noght a fote fra þaim fledd Till þai his suete blodde had schedd, And giuen him-self for vs in wedd. Iesus went vnto þe temple þan, Line 13862 þar spac he wid þis helid man, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] He sau him all for soru bittin, Line 13866 For iuus sua wid him had fletin; He suaged him wid wordes heind, "Fra nu," he said, "bi-houes þe freind

Tent to mi teching and mi tale, Line 13870 For of þi sekenes es þu all hale."

Iesus went fort here and þare, And did miraclis euerai quare, Till it come a solempnite, Line 13874 He come againe in þat cite; wid him come his desciplis lele, And oþer folk foluand fele. Line 13877 Into þe temple þai wid him ȝede, [[MS. ȝode]] And he bigan þaim forto rede, Forto rede and forto sarmone, And tald þaim mani god resune. All said þai þaim þan emelle, Line 13882 "Qua herd euer man sua spelle, Man vnlerd on boken lare!" All wondrid on him, lesse and mare. Iesus þat þair talking herd, Sueteli he þaim sone ansuerd, Line 13887 [folio 94a:1] "Mi lare es noght mine," said he, "Bot his þat it has giuen me, þat neuer ligh, ne neuer salle, Line 13890 Forwit and treuth he has ai hale; He and his lare will last for ai, þis will him-self wittenes and sai. þe man þat spekes of him-self ros wat ȝe, god men, quat he dos? Line 13895 Quen he his auen ros has soght, In his muth sothfast es noght; Bi [[read But]] sothfastnes es in his worthd Line 13898 þat sais of oþer man loueword. Moyses ȝur lau ȝu broght, ȝe wat it, bot ȝe hald it noght, Line 13901 Selcuth me thinc ȝe hate me sua, And, sackeles, sekes me to sla." þan said þa iuues, "selcuth here we, þu missais, þe deuil es in þe; Line 13905

Line 13905 Qua will þe sla? qui sais þu wrang?" He said, "i haue done ȝu emang Werkis suilk als ȝe haue sene, Line 13908 þat ȝe on wondrid ofte for tene. Moises þu gaue in þe ald Lau of circumcision to hald, And ȝe circumsise on hali dai, Line 13912 And noght ne lett ȝe for þe lai. And quarfor hate ȝe me so þan, For i made hale a seke man Apon þe dai of ȝur sabate? Line 13916 Bot demis me noght in mi state, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Sua suld ȝe do, wolde ȝe me tru, And wele i wat it war for ȝu." Line 13921 Mani man war bi and stod, And herd þis folk, sua wrath and wod, þat war comen into þat tune, Line 13924 And herd all þair dispotisiun; Ful mani wordis spac þai fell, þat it war tore all here to telle. [folio 94a:2] Sum said, "quen christ him-self sal schau, Line 13928 Queþen he sal cum, sal no man knau, Ne of quat kin, na quat contre; Bot þis man kin [[MS. kim]] wele knau we, Of þis thede es bath he and his, þe contre quate þat soth es þis." Þan said iesus a word to min, Line 13934 "ȝe wate quat i am, and mi kin, Of ȝur vnwitt qui ne wald ȝe blin, And seke noght sacles sua wid sin? And herken skil and hald resune? ȝe knau me and mi naciune. Line 13939

Line 13939 quat-sum ȝe knau witt ȝe forsoth, ȝe sal na lese here of mi toth, Line 13941 For he þat me mang ȝu has send, Es sothfastnes widvten end. He þat me send, i wat quat es, Bot ȝe ne knau him noght i-wis; If i sai þat i him ne kneu, Line 13946 þan war i leier and vntru, Bath war i fals & als leier, And right suilk als þat ȝe nu er. I knau him, and has knauen euer, Fra him sal i sunder neuer." Line 13951

Siþen soghut þai iesus for to slane, Bot þai might hand lai on him nane. Fain þai wolde him haue nomin, Bot ȝeit his time was noght comin. Mani man bi-gan to trou Line 13956 Fra þat time forth in iesu; Ai fra þat dai for-warde, þe Iuus, wid þair fals forward, And wid þair mani tresun ful rede, þai soght iesu to do to dede. Line 13961

Nou sal ȝe here on quat-kin wise Iesu did lazar rise, Bot ar þat i sua fer will ga, Line 13964 I sal speke of his sistres tua,

þat was martha, widvten lain, [folio 94b:1] And alsua mari magdalain. þis lazar, als sais vr stori, Line 13968 was of a sted hight bethani, He had þir forsaid sistris tuin, þe tane a womman ful of sine. A seli sinful was scho ane, Line 13972 And first als a commen wommane; Of þis womman þe grete fairede, Did mani man of witt to wede. Line 13975

Line 13975 Seuen fendes vte of hir cast he, Line 13976 Als tellis luca þe wangeliste. A seli sinful was scho þis, For all hir sine turned hir al to blis. Scho was liuand þat siquar Line 13980 þat iesus prechid here and þar, And mani apert miracle did, Quarwid to mankin he him kid; And mani seke he gaue þair hele. And als he come bi a castele, Line 13985 A man þat hight symon leprous, At ete he praid him till hous; Iesus him granted his praier, Line 13988 For he him praid wid god cher, Fulfair seruis symond him dight, Als was to slik a lauerd right.

Quen iesus in his sete was sett, Line 13992 wid his desciplis at þe mett, þis sinful womman and forlaine, þis forsaid mari magdalaine, widin þis castel þat i of talde, Line 13996 Might scho do all quat scho walde. þe man þat godd will be bett, ȝe wat, lauerdinges, mai no þing lett. þe word of iesus rase ful brade, Line 14000 And of þe miraclis þat he made. Quen mari wist iesus þar comen, A boist of smerles has scho nomin; A smerl þat was of pris ful dere, [folio 94b:2] þis oygnement wid hir scho bere. For mi tale schortli to tell, Line 14006 Bi-for iesus fete sone scho felle, þar-wid scho fel in suilk a grete, þat wid þe teris scho wesse his fete; On þaim scho wepe hir sinnes sare, And siþen scho drei þaim wid hir hare;

Quar scho fand ani brek or sare, Line 14012 wid hir smerl scho smerld it þare, wid all worschip þat scho him did, Quer scho kist his fete emid. Alle þai wondrid on þis mari, Line 14016 þai sau hir neuer sua sari, Ne left scho noght hir dede for schame. Simon þat sir was of þat hame, wondrid, and said in his þoght Line 14020 (Bot wid mouth he said it noght), "war þis man a right prophete, þis womman wepand on his fete He aght to witt quat scho ware, Line 14024 And lat hir negh him noght sua nere, For scho es womman of sinful state, Als men ouer all þis contre wate."

Þan ansuerd him iesu crist, Line 14028 Quat symon thoght, wele he wist, And said, "herk to me a stund." "Gladli, maistir," said simond. "I[t] was a man quilum was wont Penis forto lene vmstount, Line 14033 þis man him was an okerer, And tua men come þat had mister, And askid him penis to lane; Line 14036 þis riche man lente to þe tane A hundred penis, suilk als ran, And fifti to þat oþer man. Quen it come to þe terme dai, Line 14040 þai had noght quarof to pai; For he þaim sau no catel haue, [folio 95a:1] All þair dett he þaim forgaue, Line 14043 For-gaf it þaim and bad þaim fare. Queþer of þaim bird luue him mare?" "Sir, me tinck, widvten lett, Line 14046 þe man þat he forgaf mast dett,

He þat mast was forgiuen till Line 14048 Ma[s]t au to loue him wid skill." He said, "we be ansuerd symon, þu giues dome wid right resun." Alwais scho wepe apon his fete, Line 14052 And iesus crist biheld and lete, And to symond he said on-ane, "Ses þu nu þis ilk wommane? To mi fete gaue þu water nane, Line 14056 To wasse þam siþen scho ne fane, þu wat þat it es soth i-wis, þat þu me bedd noght forto kiss, Nu siþen i come in-to þin in Line 14060 To kisse mi fete wald scho noght blin. Oygnement þu gaf me noght, And scho hir oygment me broght And smerld has mi fete and schank, Quarfor i cun hir mekil thank. Line 14065 And for þat scho loues me mekil, Of mi loue scho mai be secir. Of hir sinnes es scho mad clene, þai er for-giuen hir all bidene." Line 14069 He said, "mekil þu loued, mari, Mekil es forgiuen þe for-þi, Ga quar þu ga, þi mekil treuth Line 14072 Has þe sauid, and þi reuth; Nu es þu sauf thoru þi fai; I sal þe kepe forth fra þis dai."

Iesus efterward in hij Line 14076 Come prechand into betani, Giuand mani seke þair hele; þe folk him foluand was ful fele. Line 14079 Martha and mari broþer he fand, [folio 95a:2] Lazarun þar was wonand, He gestind wid þir sistris tua, I neuend ȝu, mari and martha. Line 14083

Line 14083 Quen þai wist he suld wid þaim duel, Of þair ioi was tore to tell, Line 14085 And na selcuth, for suilk a gest Come neuer to þair hus to rest. Martha was e husewijf of þat huse, Abut þe seruis was scho fuse, Line 14089 Bot mari serue al ane hir lete, And set hir forwid iesus fete, Bifor his fete scho set hir dune, Forto here his suete sarmune; Line 14093 Nouþer scho tent to mete ne bord, Bot forto herkin goddes word. Martha thoght all scho helpe ne wold, A pituse plaint to crist scho talde; "Sir," scho said, "se ȝe noght hu I am left ane to serue ȝu? Line 14099 Mi sister sittes, als ȝe se, And leues all-ane þe suink on me. Biddis hir, sir, forto rise Line 14102 And help me nu in ȝur seruis." "Martha, martha," þan said iesu, "In mekil besines es þu, Bisi es þu a-bute mani dede, Line 14106 Bot mast of ane a queþer es nede; þe better part has mari chosin, þat hir mai neuer be widlosin." Blisced was þat afflicciun Line 14110 þat mari broght to sli pardun, Alkin thing scho for-soke, Bot ane of alle scho hir toke, Of all thing scho tok till ane, Line 14114 widvten quam es buute nane. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] Es na man þat can telle þe teind Part þis lauerd dos tille his freind,

[folio 95b:1] For es na man wid herte mai thinck, Ne clerk nane mai write wid ink, Ne eie mai se, ne ere mai here, Ne manes witt mai nan cum nere, Hu mekil mede þat vs es dight, Line 14124 If we will se[r]ue þat lauerd right. Leue we nu þir sistris þus, Forto speke of lazarus.

Þis lazarus of bethani Line 14128 Had sistris martha & mari, Mekil he loued his sistris bath, Ne soght he man neuer wid lath, A castel was bath his and þairis, Eftir þar eldris þarof was airis. Line 14133 To þis castel was iesus cald To herberi, als i forwid tald, Soth it es, þis lazarus Line 14136 was seke, als þe stori tellis vs, In his sekenes he languist sua, He had no might a fote to ga; Line 14139 Martha and mari þan was ful wa, For his vnhele and oþer ma, His sistris serued him to hand þat bunden lai in godes band, Line 14143 Bot till him þat sua was bunden, Fer haue þai soght and nan funden, Al if þai soght fand þai na bote, þe seke him saris fra heued to fote. Quen þai sau þar was nanoþer Line 14148 State of couering of þari broþer, Consaile þai toke iesu biseke, For þaire broþer þat was sua seke, Of þair broþer þai suld him sai Line 14152 He loued sua wele, in langur lai, To prai him, if his will it ware, Cum se laȝar þat was unfere; Line 14155

Line 14155 Ful wele þai troud þat he moght þair broþer hale of all his soght. þe saandes soght ouer all iude, [folio 95b:2] And fand him noght in þat cuntre, . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.] And quat ȝe qui? for þis resun, Line 14162 Men soght him sla wid fals tresun. Quen þai him fand noght in þat land, þai fined noght till þai him fand, þir messageris heindli said Line 14166 þe erand þat was on þaim laid; þai praid him als a lauerd dere, For his freind þat was vnfere, Line 14169 A turn till him þat he wald make, For him, and for his frendes sake. "He lijs to die, þi lele and tru, Line 14172 Lauerd," þai said, "on him þu reu!" To þa men þe bodwor[d] bare Iesu gaue þaim suilk ansuare, He said, "gas again ȝur wai, Line 14176 To þaim þat sent ȝu sal ȝe sai þat þai noght for þair broþer murn, To dede sal noght his langur turn, Bot sal mi blis þar-wid bi sene, Line 14180 wele forþermar þam ȝeit has bene." Again þai went wid þair ansuer, Tua dais vr lauerd duelled þar, Line 14183 þan did he his desciplis call, "Buskes ȝu," he said, "ȝe sall vnto iude weind wid me nu." Line 14186 And þai said, "sir, quat thinkes þu? Ne was þu noght bot littel gane Almast þar wid iuus slane? Sir, it es na consail of freind, Line 14190 þat ȝe deþerward nu wend."

Iesus said, "qui sai ȝe sua? Ten tides has þe dai and tua, Qua has to weind on ani wai, Line 14194 Gode es þai ga bi þe light of dai, For quasum walkes on nighter-tale Of drigthing ofte he feindes duale. Bot þat i sai, tak ȝe god kepe, [folio 96a:1] Lazar vr freind es laid on-slepe, þat i tell him weind it es time Line 14200 Forto wakin him of his suime. I haue him luued wele al his sith, And þat es righ[t] i nu him kith." "Sir," þai said, "if he slepe oght, Doute of dede ȝeit has he noght, If he mai slepe hele es at hand." Iesus said, "ȝe mis-vnderstand, Line 14207 For ȝe sal noght lang þar-tille Tiþand þat þu sal like ful ille. For he es dede, þat i of sai, Nu es it gane þe feird dai, Ded and doluen bath es he. Line 14212 Es he noght quik, þat sal ȝe se; For nu þan es i glad and blith þat i was noght wid þaim þat sith. Bot nu þan am i efter send, Diþir-ward nu will i wend." Line 14217 Quen thomas, þat hight didimus, Herd þat dede was lazarus, Als his maistir him tald, iesus, He sight sare, and said þus, Tille his felaus sor-ful said he, Line 14222 "Lauerdinges," he said, "nu here ȝe, Lazarus es noght in liue, Go we deie wid him bliue; List me liue na langer þan nu, Bot if we help haue of iesu. Line 14227

Line 14227 we sal find missing witterli Line 14228 Of ur gode freind of bethani." Tuix ierusalem and þis castel þat ȝe me herd of forwid mele, þar mari woned magdalane, war of milis ful fiftene, Line 14233 þar lazarus was doluen and dede. Iesus sone diderward he ȝode. Lazar was a heiborn man, His kin was ȝeite about him þan, At þat castel his freindes bade, Line 14238 And for lazar gret murning made; witt mari and martha, it sais, þai had bene wepand þar fur dais. þas was fele boden, als i tru, Line 14242 And mani alsua vnboden iu diþer come, both ane and oþer, To cumforte mari for hir broþer. Bi þis come þaim tiþand Line 14246 þat iesus comand was nere hand, þat he was comen into þat stede, wid his felauschip þat he ledd. Martha was neuer so faine, Line 14250 þan weint scho wepand him againe, To fote scho felle him soruful-li, And reuli on him gan scho cri. "Leue lauerd," scho said, "quat rede? Nu es mi broþer fra me dede. Line 14255 Allas, said þu here wid vs bene, Had he noght bene dede, i wene. Of quatkin þing þu mas praie[re], I wat þat drightin wil þe here." Line 14259 "Be still," he said, "þi broþir sal rise." "ȝa," scho said, "on sumkin wise, On domes-dai, wele wat i quen, þen sal he rise wid oþer men." Line 14263

Line 14263 Iesus said, "i am vpras and lijf, Qua trous in me, man or wijf, Line 14265 þou þai war dede ȝeit sal þai liue, þat gift for soth i sal þaim giue. And all þat liue and trous in me, Dede ne sal þai neuer be. Line 14269 Trous þu þis?" "sir," scho said, "ȝa, I trou þis, and nu trou i alsua þat þu ert godes auen sune, Comen emang vs forto wone." Line 14273 MArtha, wel sorful and sari, [folio 96b:2] Scho tald till hir sistir mari, And in hir ere gan scho roune, Line 14276 "And crist es comen to toune, Do þe to spec wid him in hij:" widvten mar vp ras mari, Line 14279 Tilward hir maistr ran scho fast, Men wenid scho had bene a-gast! Quen men hir sau, þat bi hir stod, Renand forth als scho war wod, witt ȝe forsoth of mani man Line 14284 þe teres bi þair chekes þon ran. "Till hir broþer graue scho gas, þar forto suoun," þai said, "allas!" Bot mari was in anoþer tent, Line 14288 wid hir lauerd to spec scho went, For crist þat has his grace hir sent, wid hir sistir hir efter sent. Line 14291 Till him scho ran and fell on knes, "Lauerd," scho said, "als þu nu seis, Dede es þi freind, mi broþer lazar, And þarfor es mi hert ful sare." Line 14295 Scho said, "had þu bene here wid vs Had noght mi broþer deieid þus." Iesus biheld hir a stert, Line 14298 And had gret reuthe at his hert.

Lazar freindes þat þar ware, Line 14300 þai crid and made a reuful chere. Iesus to mari in hir care Mekil luue he scheued þare, Line 14303 Quen he him-self of hir misfare A parti on him-seluen bare, For he wepe sarer þan þas oþer wid þir tua sistris for þair broþer. Tendirli he wepe, and said, Line 14308 "Quare haue ȝe nu his bodi laid?" "Sir," said mari, "cum forth and se, Ful mekil, lauerd, loued he þe. Line 14311 Lauerd, of selcuth þat es sley, [folio 96b:2] þi luuand þus, qui lete þu him dey?" Iesus þair waining vnþerstude, wid þam to þe graue he ȝode. Line 14315 Quen he come þar, widvten hone, He bad þe graue suld be vndone, Of þe tumbe take of þe lidd, Line 14318 And sone his comandment þai did. þan said martha, "lauerd, i trou, wormes bigines at ete him nou. Line 14321 He stinkes, for thre dais er gane Siþen he was loke here vnder stane." Þan said iesus, "martha, do wai, It es na witt i here þe sai, Line 14325 Forgetin has þu sone þi lare þat i þe said a littel ere. If þu wold trou, are said i þe þat sone þu suld a selcuth se, Line 14329 Quarof suld rise a gret leue-word." þe folk all gadrid wid þis word, þe lidd of tumb a-wai þai lifte, And iesus loked vnto þe kiste, Line 14333 And tille his faþer he made a bone. þe fader of heuen it herd ful sone,

"Honurd be þu, fader, euer and ofte, wid angelis þine vp on-lofte, Line 14337 þi sun þe thankes þu dune has send Of þe and hali gast es kend. Faþer i wat i am of þe, And ane þan er we all thre; Line 14341 I haue tane fless here emange mine auen, And i am noght wid þaim knauen. I will all witt for quat resune Line 14344 þat þu has sent me hider dune, And thoru me þi mightes spred, Quar-wid i am luued and dred Line 14347 I will all witt þat here er stadd." wid "lazar, come forth!" he badd, On lazarim he gaue a cri, [folio 97a:1] þat all it herd þat stod him bi. At þis bidding he ras on-nane, Line 14352 He þat liggand was in stane, In winding clath als he was wonden, Heued and fete bath was bunden. "Lous him nu," he said, "forqui, I wate he liues nu witterli." Line 14357 þe folk said, þat þar stod emidd, "Mekil treuth has þu him kidd." Fra þat dai forth tore was to tell þe folk þat foluand iesus fell. Line 14361

Sone ouerall þis tiþand ras Of lazar þat resusced was, I hope þat ferrer was it rijf þan it was forwid of his lijf. Line 14365 þe signes þat ȝe haff herd here, ȝe au, lauer[d]inges, hertli to here; Herd ȝe neuer nane suilk, i wene, For qua þat selli suilk has sene, Line 14369 Do creplis gang, þe blind haue sight; . . . . .

. . . . . [no gap in Göttingen & Laud MSS.] Qua dred ne trus noght his might, Ne þair trouth wold hald right, I sai þat þai war maledight, Line 14375 And namli þas þat has bene bune Quen he vpraisid lazarune. Bot Iuus, þat war bath fell and fals, þat au him menske and worschip als, Als he þat born was of þair kin, Line 14380 And mast he come for þaim to win. . . . . . . . . . . [no gap in the MS.]