The minor poems of the Vernon ms. ... (with a few from the Digby mss. 2 and 86) ...

[XXXV. þe Spore of Loue. [So the title in v. 21, 1081; in the heading the title is Þe Prikke of loue. A local reference, v. 163 ff., seems to imply that the poem was written in Leicester. The translation is very free, with frequent additions, omissions, and contractions.] ] [folio cclxxxiiib] (A free translation of St. Edmund's Speculum.)

Her beginneþ þe Prikke of loue, Þat profitable is to soule be-houe.

God þat art of miȝtes most, ffader and Sone and holigost, Þow graunte hem alle þi blessyng Þat herken wel to þis talkyng. Line 4 ffor, lewed and lered, more and lesse, Hit wol ow teche holynesse; To loue God wiþ fyn chere Hit wol ou teche, my leoue and dere. Line 8

Line 8 ffor mony a tyme ȝe cone me preye Þer-of a lesson ow to seye; Ȝoure dulnesse sum what to scharpe Ȝe han me preyed for to carpe. Line 12 ffor bisynes of worldli þing To monye hit is a gret lettyng, And eke ȝor owne frelete, Þat makeþ ow ȝeore heui to be Line 16 Of or-self and ȝoure liuinge, Þorw þe ffendes entysynge. Þerfore þis bok to ow I make Ȝoure discumfort for to slake, Line 20 Þat is cald "þe spore of loue," Þat stureþ or loue to god aboue. Riht as þe spore makeþ hors to renne, So schal þis bok sone god [MS. good] ou kenne, Line 24 Þat is souereyn holynesse. Ȝe schul fynde heer-in swetnesse: Loke ȝe take herto good hede! ffor I schal telle ȝou, as I rede. Line 28 Þis may be ȝor halyday werk, Hit wol a-vayle boþe lewed and clerk.

Of Meditacion of þi-self knowyng. [The poem begins with Chap. 3 of the Spec.]

Takeþ good hede, of alle þinge Þis tweyne to loue, good þei wil þe bringe: Line 32 Þe ffurste Is Meditacion, Þe toþer is Contemplacion; Þenk of þi-self þat is to say, And on God, eueriche day. Line 36 Þou maiȝt not loue God riȝt wel But ȝif þou knowe him furst sumdel, Ne þi-self neuer þe more. Þat God is best wite wel þerfore; Line 40 And wene not þi-self be best, Al þi while þen hast þou lost. Þi-self loke þat þou knowe, ffor þat schal make þe Meke & lowe Line 44 And able to knowe þe grete bounte Of God þat sitteþ in Maieste.

Bi-þenk þe þenne, whil þou hast quart, In Bodi and Soule what þou art. Line 48 Þi bodi was gendred of foul matere, Þat is wlatsum for to here. [vv. 51-86. This passage is wanting in the Spec.] Bi al þin Issuwes hit is wel sene Þat þou art not wiþ-Inne ful clene. Line 52 Nyne Issuwes þou hast, I wene, Ȝif þou loke hem al bi-deene: Tweyne Eren þou hast, ben ful of wore, Þyn Eȝen ben goundi whon þei ben sore, Line 56 Þi Neose-þurles ben ful of snit, And þi Mouþ of glet and spit, Þyn Issuwes þat aren in priuete ffor schome þou letest no mon hem se. Line 60 Þerfore, seint Bernard as he vs telles: [cf. The sayings of St. Bernard.] Þou proude mon, þou art nouȝt elles But of Muk bretful a sekke; Mon, schuldest þou not so muche rekke Line 64 Of þi-self þen of anoþer, ffor Rot is þi ffader, worm þi broþer, ffor gendred he is riht of þe same As þou. Proud mon, þou art to blame, Line 68 Þat þow berest þe so stoutli And hast þow non enchesun whi! Heddest þow be maad of stones riche, Sonne or Mone or bodi heuenliche, Line 72 How nobliche þow heddest be wrouȝt! As Lucifer þow miȝtest haue þouȝt. Of his beute proud he was: Þerfore him tidde a wel foul cas, Line 76 In heuene he durede but a while. Riht so pruide wol þe be-gyle And caste þe doun riht to grounde, Þi soule in peyne hit schal be bounde. Line 80 Þi bodi, þat now is hol and sounde, So foul rot hit schal be founde, Hit schal not turne to gras nor flour, But in to wlatsum and foul odour. Line 84 Þus maiȝt þou knowe þi bodily staate, Þi fleschli lust forto abate.

Meditacion of þe Soule.

Of þi soule ȝit þenke þow What staat hit is Inne now, Line 88 And what þou hast don her-bi-foren— Or elles þou maiȝt sone be loren. Þenk hou muche wikkednesse Þou hast don, and [left] [om.] goodnesse, Line 92 How luitel good þow hast wrouȝt, Þi tyme hast spendet aboute nouȝt; Of werk and word þat is gon And of þi tyme schal leue riht non Line 96 Þat þou ne schalt ȝelde ful streit acounte, Þou nost hou muche hit wol amounte. Ȝif þou weore bounde for to telle [exemplum] In þe séé þe smale grauelle, Line 100 Or sterres in þe ffirmament, Þow heddest gret neode, verrement, fforto a-vise þe wonder wel! So most þou rikene eueridel Line 104 Werk, and word, and þouȝtes alle, Þat ben wel mo þen grauel smalle; And of þi tyme þat is past. Þerof þou maiȝt ben sore agast Line 108 To þenke þus what þi soule haþ ben! What hit is now, is good to sen. So chaungeable is þi soule, my frende, Þat nouȝt þe pleset adai to þe ende; Line 112 Now art þow sori, now art þow glad, Now art in hope, now art adrad; Ȝit wilnest þow þing þat neuer ne was. Þou art more frele þen is þe glas: [vv. 116-121 wanting in the Spec.] Line 116 Wiþ-oute touche hit lasteþ ay, Þi soule is frelore atte assay: Þorw siht wiþ-oute & þouȝt wiþ-Inne Hit may be broken, wiþ dedly synne. Line 120 Þerto assentest þou lihtly, And for to be fondet þou art redi, And forte wiþ-stonde hastou no miȝt, But þorw þe grace of god almiht, Line 124

Line 124 Þat kepeþ þe vp whon þou schuldest falle. ·ffrom mony mischeues he con þe calle: Whon þou art loren he þe fyndes, Of Bondus of synne he þe vnbyndes; Line 128 To þe deuel whon we were sold, He Raunsound vs, boþe ȝonge & old; Dedly synne whon þou hast don, He vengeþ him not þer-on anon, Line 132 But Corteisliche he þe abydes; Þi schome & synne ȝit he hydes. He blames þe whon þou dost mys, And euere he techeþ þe, I-wys, Line 136 In hungur & þurst he þe fedes, Among þin enymys he þe ledes, In hete and chele he þe refresches, Slepyng, wakyng he þe redresses. Line 140 Heron þou þenke boþe Euen & morn! And eke, hou mony men han be lorn, Boþe be water and londe also, Þat God ne haþ not tendet to Line 144 As to þe so bisyli. And þerfore sei, "sire, graunt Merci," [The Spec. has a complete prayer, beg. Gratias ago tibi, &c.] Whon þow be-þenkest þe day or niht Hou god þe kepeþ wiþ-oute dispit Line 148 In Bodi or soule, erli or late.— Þus maiȝt þou knowe þin owne astate. To loue god bi alle resoun ffor þis fordede þou hast enchesoun. Line 152 Þis þouȝt is Meditacion. Now forþ to Contemplacion.

Of Contemplacion in creature.

Contemplacion is to seye: Siht of god and his nobleye. Line 156 Þat maiȝt þou se be þin Inwit In creature, and in holy writ, And siþen in his owne kynde. Of þeose ȝif we wol haue good mynde, Line 160 Þe nobleye of god [we se] in his werkes, As men mowe seo, Lewed & Clerkes.

Þou þat neuere seȝe Duyk Henri, [exemplum] Þat þe newe werk of Leycetre reised on hiȝ: Line 164 Þer-bi maiȝt þou wel wyte and se Þat he was lord of gret pouste Þat hit made of his owne cost— I hope he naue þeron not lost. Line 168 Þe makyng of vche a creature Such is [r. Schewis?] godes miȝt wiþ-oute Mesure. And bi þe ordre of vch a kynde His wit we sen but we be blynde; Line 172 And bi þe creatures meyntenyng Of his godnes we han witeryng. So long and Brod as is þis world, Heiȝ and dep, scheweþ him a lord Line 176 Of Miht and pouwer gret saunȝfaile, Al made of nouȝt wiþ-oute trauayle. [vv. 179-192 wanting in the Spec.] Eyr & ffuir on heiȝ ben founde, Water and Erþe heuy at grounde: Line 180 Of his wisdam hit scheweþ a part, And so to Ioyne hem a ful gret art. Hedde fuir and water to-geder ben set, Not wysli don men wolden han let, Line 184 Þat On þat oþer wolde distruye; Hedde Eir be Ioyned to eorþe so druye, Hit wolde for chyne, for to seye soþ, No fruit wolde bere as hit now doþ. Line 188 Water and Erþe are meynt to-gidere, ffor grene þing schulde not al to-whidere. Gret wit and wisdam, as I ow tolde In God ȝit ȝe may be-holde: [In the MS. vv. 189-190 & 191-2 are transposed.] How summe creaturs al-on Han beoynge of him, as stok and ston; And summe, as treo and gras and flour, Han lyf, but Ioye non ne no dolour; Line 196 Summe ben & liuen & fleon [r. felen] lykyng, As Beest and ffoul and ffisch fletyng; Ouer alle þeose Mon bereþ þe pris, ffor he haþ reson to make him wys— Line 200 Þat makeþ hym peringal lo here To Angeles of heuene, to ben heor feere.

So muche may ȝit be monnes grace Þat he mai passen an Angeles place. Line 204 Seynt Austyn, þe grete clerk, seiþ riȝt so: An Angeles place he wolde for-go ffor to haue þe worþi stede Þat God haþ ordeynd for Monhede. Line 208 Herof I rede þou take good keepe! Elles þou art worþi gret schendschip, But þou lyue aftur þi degre, Seþþe þou hast such a dignite Line 212 Alle þing to beo þin vnderloute, A-boue, bi-neþe, and al aboute. ffor al þing in eorþe, mon, in sum wyse Was maad of god for [MS. þor] þi seruyse: Line 216 Hors & Neet and eke Chamayle, Þe to ese in þi trauayle; Lyn, fforre, fflax, Selk and Wolle, Þat diuersliche God ȝeueþ at folle, Line 220 Þe to kepe from chele and hete; Beest, fisch & foul, & fruit, to þi mete. Þe þinkeþ par aunter hit is not so, ffor venymous bestes þei don vs wo. Line 224 Þe harmful creatures, verrement, Weore maad til vre amendement, Þei ben to vs a Chastisyng, And eke a wel feir techyng. Line 228 [vv. 229-234 wanting in the Spec.] Whil þou hast in þin hond a ȝerd, [exemplum] Þe Child þer-of is sore aferd, Of his vntiȝt [= Germ. Unzucht] ful sone slakes And to his lore good keep he takes; Line 232 Hit makeþ þe child boþe meke & lowe, A-Mendeþ him wel him-self to knowe. Þe venymous beestes wel muche we dreden: Þe beter þerfore vre lyf we leden. Line 236 ffor summe to vs þei beo nuyouse, Godes werk we knowe ful meruilouse— Of Godes wisdam a wonder cast! [240 ff. wanting in the Spec.] But of his goodnes be-hold atte last, Line 240 How Creatures þat ben Iure, [So V. and MS. Sim.] Þe Sky, Heuen, Sterres and heore nature

God haþ maad forte mowe endure Euermore wiþ-outen eny gendrure; Line 244 But þulke on eorþe eueri day þei rote, As on is ded, anoþur is gote— Such vertu in kuynde God con faste, Þat longe I-nowh so mihte þei laste, Line 248 Ȝif his wille were for euere and ay; So multiplye þei euer vche a day, Þat summe ben olde & summe be newe, Þorw þe godnesse of his vertue.— Line 252 Þus mowe ȝe knowe boþe more & lesse Godes Miȝt, his wit, and his goodnesse In creatures, as I haue told, How gret, how good, how monifold. Line 256 Seþþe he haþ maad for vs al þis, But we him loue we don amis. Ȝif þow loue ȝiftes in þin entent, Loue him wel raþer þat hit þe sent, Line 260 Þat is god al þing aboue. Þerfore me þinkeþ we schulde him loue; And for him-self ȝit wel more, Whon we be-þenken vs of þis lore. Line 264 Þis þe furste Contemplacioun In Creatures of gret Renoun.—

Þe secunde contemplacion In holy writ.

ÞE secunde contemplacion is hit Þat I seide, in holi writ. Line 268 Þei þow be lewed and con not rede, Noþeles ful wel ȝit may þou spede To herkene þe ffrere Sarmounyng And oþer priue Carpyng, Line 272 And loke ȝif þou mowe ouȝt þer lere Þin vnderstondyng to make more clere. Þer maiȝt þow lerne, as I trowe, Good from vuel for to knowe, Line 276 Sinne to hate, vertu to loue, And to ȝerne þe Ioye aboue, Þe pyne of helle for to drede, Nouȝt loue þis world but for þi nede; Line 280

Line 280 Alle þinges þat we of prechen, Summe of þeos poyntes forsoþe þei techen. Þerfore I prey ȝou, takeþ good hede After holi writ ȝoure lyf to lede, Line 284 Godes wille so to knowe þer-Inne Þat ȝe mowe hate dedly sinne. And þat ȝe mowe knowe wȝuch hit bene, I schal hem riken alle bedene, Line 288 And þe spices þat of hem launches. Pride þe furste, haþ six [7 in the Spec.] Braunches: [vv. 289 & 290 are transp. in the MS.] Þe furste is cald vnbuxomnes: Of herte hit is a gret hiȝnes, Line 292 Makeþ mon to leeten þat him is boden [orig. beden] And to don þat is forboden Of God or Mon, his ouerlyng. Þe secounde spice is Bostyng, Line 296 Þat makeþ mon forto him auaunte Of good þat he wolde neuere haunte. Þe þridde spice is Ypocrisye— Schewest þe beter to Monnes eiȝe Line 300 Þen þou art þi-self wiþ-Inne, And leetest as þou heddest neuer do synne. Þe feorþe is clept Arrogaunce, Þat schewes oþur mennes mischaunce Line 304 And openeþ al out heore wikkednes, So þat þyn may seme þe les; Of oþer mennes schendschipe To þe þow takest worschipe. Line 308 Þe ffyfþe spice, hit is dispyt, Oþer menne goodnes setteþ [r. settest?] luit, Þow seist hit is not worþ a Bore, So þat þin may seme þe more. [The 6th in Spec., impudentia, is om.] Line 312 Þe Sixte is cald Elacion, Boldnesse of vuel þat þou hast don; Þat makeþ mon for to fonde Correxion hou he may wiþ-stonde. Line 316 Þeos ben þe spices most comuyn of pride, Þat spreden in þis world ful wyde. Pruide in heuene furst bi-gon, And seþþen in eorþe to mony a Mon. Line 320

Line 320 Of þeos þreo þinges as I schal telle, Of Pruide moni on haþ þe smelle: Of godes of kuynde, or of grace, Or elles of worldes purchace. Line 324 Strengþe, feirnesse, good wit, or kynne Bi kynde þis mon haþ him wiþ-Inne; ffeiþ, Hope, Loue and Charite [al. Spec.: Scientia, virtus, gratia, bona fama, & dignitas.] Goodes of grace þei ben, parde; Line 328 ffeir Cloþes, Lond, Hous and Rent Worldes purchase ben, verrement. Of þeos þreo þinges pruide is born, Þat makeþ mony a mon to be forlorn. Line 332 Þe secunde synne, hit is Envy: Of oþur mennes wele hit is sori, And of heor harm hit is fayn. Þreo spices hit haþ, as men sayn: Line 336 In herte hit is furst, þorw vuel wille; In word: þi neiȝebor Bakbyte and spille; In werk, hit makeþ lered and lewed To his neiȝebor forte beo schrewed. Line 340 Wraþþe to þi soule Is mischaunce— Of þi neiȝebor hit wilneþ veniaunce; Ȝif þou in herte bere hit longe, Hattreden hit engendreþ swiþe stronge. Line 344 Herof comeþ cheste and Manasyng, Vileynous wordes, and eke grucching, Discord, Repref, deynous lokyng— Þeos ben alle a foul ofspring. Line 348 Þe ffeorþe is slouþe in godes seruise. [vv. 350-398 differ from Spec.] Þe Braunches þerof I wol deuyse: Þe furste is feyntise wiþ-oute likyng, Þat makeþ þe heui wiþ alle þing; Line 352 Þat toþer is a tendernesse, Þat suffreþ no disese nor duresse; Recheleschipe is þe þridde— Þou takest no kep what men þe bidde; Line 356 Þe feorþe is called Idelnesse, Whon þou ne wolt worche, more ne lesse. Þe ffyfþe is cald Auarice, Þat haþ mony a sori spice: Line 360

Line 360 Þerof comeþ treson, and Robberie, fforsweryng, Oker, and Symonye, Þefþe, Beryng of fals witnesse, Lyȝing, and of herte hardnesse, Line 364 Þat makeþ þe no reuþe to haue Of hem þat þe good craue. Glotonye is þe Sixte synne, Þat fouleþ mon wiþ-oute and wiþ-Inne. Line 368 Þe furste spice is of glotenye To ete more þen þou mayȝt defye, Whon þou art in hele nomeli; Anoþer is to ete to lustili. Line 372 Glotonye makeþ mon in hast To breke holychirche fast. Þe þridde makeþ bisili to þenche What maner of mete his lust may quenche. Line 376 Þe feorþe, þat makeþ mon as ded, Þat is foul drounkenhed— Þat is dedly, bi enchesoun Þat hit bi-reueþ mon his resoun; Line 380 But ȝif hit come wiþ-oute fayle Of feble brayn or gret trauayle, Or þe drinke be strengor þen men wenen, ffor venial synne we hit demen. Line 384 Lecherie is on of [MS. of of] þe seuene, Þat greueþ muche vr lord of heuene. In to þis synne whon tweyne falle Þat ben sengle, is lest of alle; Line 388 But ȝif þe wommon a Mayde be, Worse is þat, þe secounde degre; Þe þridde is clept Holorie, Þat wedlak brekeþ, is synne ful hye; Line 392 Incest þe ferþe, whon þou lyst bi Þi gostly kyn or bodili; Þe worste of alle is Sodomye, Vn-kyndely synne, foul Ribaudye— Line 396 Þerfore haþ God taken gret wreche. Of dedly synne her endeþ my speche.

Of þe Seuene blessynges of þe gospel, Seuene dedli Synnes remedie.

But of heore remedies nou wol I telle Þat crist seiþ in þe holi gospelle. Line 400 Þo ben þe benisouns seuene; Aȝeyn þeose synnes þei ben ful euene. "Þe Meke of spirit þei ben blest, ffor heoren is þe Ioye þat euer schal last:" Line 404 Þis Blessyng aȝeyn pride is riht, Þat be-reueþ mon God almiȝt. "Þe Mylde beþ [on erasure; r. ben] blessed þat loueþ no strif, ffor þei schul haue þe lond of lyf": Line 408 Aȝeynes Envye þat was sayd, Of oþur mennes hauyng þat neuer was payd, But of Mischef of his neiȝebore He is glad, and of his lore. Line 412 "Blessed ben þo þat Mournen I-wis ffor heore frendes þat þei mys; Þei schul ben cumforted wonder wel": Aȝeynes wraþþe hit is sumdel, Line 416 Þat discumforteþ mon him-selue And þo abouten him, ten or twelue. "Þe Merciful ben blessed, for-þi God of hem schal haue merci": Line 420 Þat is aȝeyn Couetyse, Þat to þe nedful wol not diuyse. "Þat hungren and þursten riȝtwysnesse, Þei [MS. þat] [schul] ben fulled more and lesse": Line 424 Aȝeyn þe Slowe þat nouȝt wol wirke; Of alle gode dedes him þinkes irke. "I-blessed ben alle of herte clene, ffor godes owne face þei schul sene": Line 428 Herof þe gloten may aske riȝt nouȝt, ffor of his foule wombe is al his þouȝt. "Þat louen pes þei blessed ben alle, ffor Godes children men schul hem calle": Line 432 Þe Lechour in herte he haþ no rest; Of þis [r. pes] þerfore his part is lest.

Aȝeyn þi woundes now hastou salue, Þe blessynges ȝiuen of godes bi-halue. Line 436 Ȝit ben þei spedful to lest [&] most, Seuen ȝiftes of þe holigost.

Of þe Seuen ȝiftes of þe holigost.

Whon þou art hol sound, þe to lede Tak heer furst þe spirit of drede, Line 440 Þat makeþ mon furst from vuel to wynne; Þe spirit of pite, wel forto bigynne Gode werkes; þat han a wel gret fo Of worldes wele and eke of wo: Line 444 Þe spirit [of] cunnyng techeþ vs dispise Þe worldes wele [ȝif we ben wyse]; [So MS. Sim.; V. and eke of wo] Þe spirit of strengþe, to suffre þe wo. Þeose foure to bisy lyf longen into, Line 448 Þat we callen Actyf lyf. Þe oþer þreo rulen Contemplatyf. In Creatures to knowen God verrement, Þe spirit vs techeþ of entendement; Line 452 Þe spirit of counseil, what is to do In writ, what is to leue also; To knowe god In his owne kynde, Þe spirit of wysdam vs bringeþ to mynde. Line 456

Of þe Seuene vertues. [In the Spec. the 10 Com|mandments precede.]

After þis ȝit is good to knowe Þe seuen vertues alle be rowe, ffor aftur þis lyf þei wol þe bringe To blisse þat neuer schal haue endynge. Line 460 ffeiþ, Hope, and Charite, Diuine vertues þei ben alle þre; Strengþe, Mesure, Riht, qweyntise Of kuyndelich vertues þei beren þe prise. Line 464 A bodilich Iurneye hose schulde go, [exemplum] Þreo þinges him were nedful þerto: ffurst, þat he wuste whoder he schulde; And wille, his Iurney to be forþ-fulde; Line 468 Þe þridde, Hope for to spede— Elles þer-of nolde he take hede.

ffeiþ of God ȝiueþ vs witerynge Of vr Iurney þat is endynge; Line 472 Hope vs ȝiueþ strengþe and miht To come to him as heo han tiht; But wille þen ȝiueþ vs Charite— How miȝte we þenne for-go þeose þre? Line 476 [The 4 cardinal virtues form a separate chapt. in the Spec.] Ne þe foure oþure neuer þe more. Her þou now þe skile þerfore! Þer may no mon God wel qweme But he cunne good from vuel deme, Line 480 Þe gode to hente, þe vuel forsake, Of twei godes þe better to take. Þat hit is good, vche mon troweþ, ffor to ȝelde alle þing þat him oweþ, Line 484 And for to wiþ-holde more or lesse Is vuel: þat techeþ vs Rihtwysnesse. [vv. 483-6 corrupted.] Of twey goodes þe beter to hente, Qweyntise vs techeþ, verremente. Line 488 Good þing men mihte mis-vse, I-wis: Þerfore Mesure neodful is. Vuel mihte mon to muche doun bringe: Strengþe þerfore is nedful þinge, Line 492 To [MS. Ta] make mon hard to suffre wo. To ten Comaundemens now wol I go.

Of þe ten Comaundemens.

ÞEose biddinges wol I not ouer-hippe. On God þou schalt worschippe. Line 496 His nome þou ne schalt in Idel munginge (!). [r. munge, minge] Halewe þin halyday, þe þridde biddinge. Þeose rulen þi lyf, alle þre, To þe holi Trinite. Line 500 A-ȝeyn þe furste biddyng þou mischeuest, On eny wicchecraft ȝif þou bileeuest. Aȝeyn þe secunde þi-self þou derest, Horible oþes whon þou swerest— Line 504 Ȝit maiȝt þou swere wiþ-outen synne ffalsede to dampne, þe riȝte to wynne. Aȝeyn þe þridde þou dost wronge Whon þou lyst in þi bed so longe Line 508

Line 508 Þat Matyns nor Masse herest þou non, To ffreres prechinge wolt þou not gon— Þer-Inne of swetnesse þou felest no tast; Bote to þe tauerne þe þinkeþ more hast Line 512 Þen to visyte þe seke or þe pore, Þat liggen a-tome or at þi dore; Ȝif þou dost þus, soþ to say, Þou halewest not wel þyn halyday. Line 516 Godes curtesye her maiȝt þow se: To him-self he ȝaf biddynges but þre; Þe seuen þat comen herafter nou To þe and to þi neiȝebores prou. Line 520 ffader and Moder þow most honoure; Wiþ foul cher not on hem to [om. to] loure; Ȝif heo of þyne habbeþ gret nede, But þou hem helpe, vuel schalt þou spede. Line 524 Loke þat þou sle no mon, Wiþ hond ne wiþ wepene non, Ne þorw þyn owne gilerye Nouȝwhere to puite him for to dye; Line 528 Sle no mon wiþ tonge, biddynge, Beo tisement ne bi procurynge; In herte Coueyte no mon to spille— To borwe him raþure is godes wille, Line 532 Ȝif þou hit may do lawefully, Elles of þis biddynge þow art gulti. Stele non oþure monnes good. ffrom fals witnes þow torn þi mood. Line 536 Þi neiȝebores good þow schalt not desyre, Wyf nor Mayde-child for heor white swire. Loke þou do no Lecherie, Line 539 Þi-self for þat wol most anuye. [vv. 539-40 ought to follow v. 534.] But i prei þe, þou seist, telle me þe skile Whi god forbed raþur vuel wille Of worldes good, and of Monnes wyf, Þen to bi-reue a Monnes lyf. Line 544 ffor, hose is in wille for to stele, Wiþ oþer monnes wyf or wiþ to dele, Hit is hardore him-self þer-from to holde Þen from monslauȝt, be þou bolde! Line 548

Line 548 ffor þerof kyndeliche vche monnes sone Haþ gret Abhomynacione; But wraþþe haþ him his resun raft, Wiþ him þerof horrour is laft, Line 552 After þe dede or elles be-foren— Elles mony mon schulde be for-loren.

Of twelue articles of vre be-leue.

But no mon may, þe Bok hit seiþ, Plese God wiþ-outen feiþ. Line 556 Þerfore mo þinges is good to meue: Þe twelue articles of vre bi-leue. Of alle þe twelue þis is þe most: Þat ffader & Sone and Holi gost Line 560 On God Almihti in Trinite Euer was, and is, and euer schal be; Heuene and eorþe he haþ wrouȝt, And al þis world he maade of nouȝt. Line 564 Þe ffader sende his sone Ihesu Þorw þe holygost vertu, God and Mon of Mayde Marie To be boren, and for vs to dye, Line 568 And buried was, þorw his good wille, To sauen vs alle þat we ne schulde spille. To helle he wente whon he was ded, Þe soule Ioyned to his godhed; Line 572 ffrom helle he hem fette swiþe blyue Þat him hedde serued in heore lyue. Vp he ros þe þridde day, As he was God and Mon verray; Line 576 Riht so schul we, as seiþ seint poule, Rysen vp in bodi and in soule At þe grete day of doom— Þerof I rede we take good goom! Line 580 Þen schal he demen al apert Vche mon after his decert. [orig. dicert] God and Mon to heuene he went; Þe holigost to þe Apostles sent. Line 584 Þorw him so mowe we heuene wynne, Ȝif we dyen out of dedly synne. [All these form 5 articles in the Spec.; the 7 last are the 7 sacraments.]

Of þe seuene Sacramens.

Off [r. On] þe seuene sacramens ȝit mote we trowe, Þat I schal rikene al be Rowe. Line 588 Þe ffurste, hit is cristendom, Þat cryst receyued in þe fflom; Hit makeþ vs clene of þat synne Þat we be boren vchone Inne, Line 592 And openeþ to vs heuene-ȝate, Elles may no mon come in þer-ate. But þorw gret temptacion Þat grace miȝte be struied soon: Line 596 Þerfore is Confirmacion— Þat non may but Bisschop don; Þe holigost hit stableþ riȝt In þe, aȝeyn þe fend to fiht. Line 600 But after þeose we sungen al day: Þerfore penaunce hit doþ a-way Dedly synne and venial, [orig. veniel] Þat is to seye gret synne and smal; Line 604 Þreo parties hit haþ, verrey penaunce, Þerof þe synful mai ha fyaunce: ffor-þinke þe synne wilfulliche, And schriue þe þenne verreiliche, Line 608 And make a-mendes to þi miht— Of al þi synnes þen art þow quiht. [= quit] But leste in penaunce mon schulde fayle, Him neodeþ cumfort in þat trauayle: Line 612 Hosul þerfore, in Bredes heuȝ Godes bodi, we tan, of gret vertu; Vre gostli strengþe hit holdeþ Inne, Þat we ne falle liȝtli aȝeyn to synne. Line 616 But in a wel-ruled halle, Þat ben þer-Inne þei serue not alle, Out of array for þenne hit were— In holichirche þe same manere: Line 620 Ordre of presthod is maad þerfore, Vs to serue lasse and more Of Sacramens and vre rihtynges— Presthod haþ power of alle þeos þynges; Line 624

Line 624 Gret worschip owen we alle þer-to: Prest sacres þat bodi, þat aungel ne may do. But god schop mon forte restore Þe noumbre of angeles þat is forlore, Line 628 Þorw kyndelich generacioun, And þerto he ȝaf his benisoun Þat Monkynde mihte multiplie, Wiþ-oute synne of Lecherye Line 632 Mon and wommon to-gedere Ioyne; Þerfore he ordeynde Matrimoyne, Þat dedli synne hit doþ a-wei— But þe venial wol I not sey. Line 636 But of þis world whon we schul wende, Gret peyne we han þenne at vr ende: Þerfore is holi Oynement, Þat vs aleggeþ, verreyment, Line 640 Of peyne we han þenne bodily, And of þat we dreden gostly; Such vertu God herto con lene To folfille þe penaunce þat naþ mad clene. Line 644

Of þe seuene dedes of Merci.

Bute at þe dredful domes-day Mon schal haue an hard a-say, ffor he schal þenne a-posed be Of þe dedes of Charite. Line 648 Þerfore is good now to witen Wȝuche hit ben, as hit is writen. Þe ffurste is, fede þe hungri. Ȝeue drinke to þe þursti. Line 652 Þe þridde, þe naked for to cloþe. To herborwe þe pore be þou not loþe. Visyte hem þat ben in prisoun bounde. Cunforte þat seknesse haþ cast to grounde. Line 656 Of þeose sixe þe gospel spekeþ. Þe seueþe Tobye vs he þat techeþ: To burie þe dede Is Charite— In Bodi and soule quit schal hit be. [The rest of the chapter in the Spec. is omitted. as well as the foll. chapter: De septem petitionibus orationis dominicae.] Line 660

Of þe seuene druweries [r. doweres] of Monnus bodi. [The Engl. text is more detailed than the Spec., which in 1 chapter contains: de dotibus corporis & anime & de penis inferni.]

ÞI Bodi schal haue druweries seuene, As Monye þi soule, boþe to in heuene, Of þe [whuch] schal rise þi grete blis— Þer-bi maiȝt wyte what heuene is. Þi bodi schal schyne so wondur feire, No foulnesse schal hit a-peyre; Seuenfold briȝtore þen is þe sonne Vche bodi schal be þat haþ hit wonne. Line 668 Ȝit was þer neuere foul of fliȝt As þi bodi so swift and liȝt, ffor in a twynclyng of an eiȝe ffrom erþe to heuene þou maiȝt styȝe. Line 672 In bodi þou schalt ȝit be so strong Þat al þe erþe, wyd, dep, and long, Þou schalt mowe posse hit as a bal; As þou wolt welde hit, þou schal. Line 676 Þou schalt ben fre, þat nou art bonde, Þat no þing schal a-ȝein þe stonde To lette þe to passe whoder þou schal, Erþe ne water ne stonene wal; Line 680 As oyle synkeþ þorw hol vessel, So schal þi bodi perse al þing wel. Vre bodies þat here ben seke and sore, Þei schul haue hele for euer-more; Line 684 We schul beo so wel atese Þat hunger ne ferst nor no dissese Nouþer wiþ-Inne ne wiþ-oute, Hurt nor langour we schul not doute. Line 688 Þerto gret lykynge in þat lyue We schul han in vr wittes fyue, Vche a wit wiþ-outen anguisch Schal haue his lykyng wiþ a wusch: Line 692 ffeir siht lyking to þin eiȝe; Þyn Eres ful of melodye; Tast, and Smel, and þy felyng, Þei schul be ful of gret lykyng; Line 696 And al þis Ioye schalt haue to-gider— Vr lord of heuene bring vs þider!

In þis lyf whon we best fare, Whon we be-þenk vs, we mai ha care Line 700 Þat mischef of deþ schal vs be-tyde; Þerfore vr blisse may not a-byde: But in heuene wiþ-oute stryf Bodi and soule schal euere ha lyf; Line 704 Þerof þou maiȝt þe wel affye, ffor bodi and soule þei schal neuur dye.

Of þe doweres of þe soule.

ÞI soule schal haue þis [MS. his] warisun: Of wit and wisdam so gret foysun Line 708 Þat creatures alle, hiȝe & lowe, In heuene & eorþe, þou schalt knowe; Gret Ioye schal þat be, sikerliche! ffor mon disyreþ kuyndeliche Line 712 To knowe þing þat is vnkud; ffrom þi knowyng nouȝt schal ben hud. ffrendschipe wiþ-outen enemyte, Þat schal ben a-noþer fe; Line 716 Such frendschipe in heuene among hem is Þat vs [Sim. vche] is fayn of oþeres blis. A-cord and pes wiþ-outen stryf, fforsoþe, hit schal be þere so ryf: Line 720 Þe bodi and soule, þat striuen here, Vche to oþer schal be so dere Þat þe bodi schal noþing wille But þat [þe] soule wol al be skille; Line 724 Þyn eȝen ben of so good assent, Þat on lokes nowher verreyment But ȝif þat oþer loke þer-wiþ; Þer schul ben alle in so good kiþ Line 728 Þat Bodi and soule vche wiþ oþer Schul to-geder no þing soþer. Worschipe wiþ-outen vileny Þer schul we haue, sikerly; Line 732 As kynges in trone sitte we schal, Crouned wiþ Angeles peryngal. Þe soule, þat her haþ luitel maystrie Or þauȝ þe bodi be in gret anuye, Line 736

Line 736 So gret miht þer schal hit haue Þat nouȝt aȝeynes hit schal quich nor quaue. But trust nis non in worldes wele, Nou art þou sek, nou art in hele, Line 740 Nou artou pore, now artou riche— Þe blisse of heuene nis þat not liche: ffor þe meste part of þy Blis Schal be sikernesse of al þis. Line 744 Þe seueþe blisse: þi soule in heuene Schal þonke God wiþ hiȝe steuene, As Angeles don wiþ gret likynge, "Holi, Holi, Holi" is heore syngynge. Line 748

Of þe peynes of helle, & amonesting.

Hit is no neod now for to telle More of þe peynes þat ben in helle. In bodi & soule þei han gret nuye, Of al þis Ioye þe contrarye.— Line 752 Ȝif þou be-þenke þe, my dere frend, wel Of al þis Ioye eueriche a del Þat god haþ ordeyned for þi solace Whon þou schalt sen him in his face, Line 756 Þou hast gret Matere, sikerliche, Him to loue souereynliche Þat such knowynge and such wit Ȝiueþ vs of him in holy writ. Line 760 Nou hast þou matere of holy speche Vnwysore þen þou for to teche; And whon þou spekest wiþ eny mon Þat more good con lere þen þou con, Line 764 Sum of þeos Materes þou maiȝt enqwere, Wel more good for to lere.—

Of þe þridde Manere of contemplacion in god him-self.

Tac hede nou & þou schalt se Of Contemplacion þe þridde degre, Line 768 Of God hym-self wiþ-outen doute, Of Godhed wiþ-Inne, monhed wiþ-oute. Þre þinges þou þenke, as I þe rede, Of crist vr lord in his monhede: Line 772

Line 772 Of þe Incarnacion þe grete Mekenes, And of his liuyng þe holynes, And of his passion þe charite. At ones þou maiȝt not þenke þise þre; Line 776 I schal departe hem, as I may, Be þe houres of niht and day; Wiþ double Contemplacione In vche an houre of god þou mone: Line 780 Ones of his passioun, And eft of oþer sesoun.

Contemplacion at Matines tyme.

At Mateynes þenk, aftur or bi-foren, Wȝat time & vre, place crist was boren. Line 784 Þe tyme was wynter, ȝif þou be-holde, Þe vre was midniȝt, wonder colde, Þe place, as doctours seyen and trowes, Was a toren hous wiþ-outen wowes. Line 788 In Riche cloþus was he not wrapped, In Cracche wiþ ragges he was happed, Bi-twene an Oxe and an As— Gret Meknes þer I-schewed was! Line 792 Be-þenk þe of þat cumpaignye Of Iosep and of swete Marie, Hou bisy þei weren to kepe þat fode Þat for us schulde dyen on Roode; Line 796 Of þe herdes deuocion, And of þe Angeles þat songen abouen "Ioye be to god þat is on hiȝ"— In herte so syng þou priuely.— Line 800 Þenk how Iudas also outrayde At midniȝt, whon he crist be-trayde; Hou þe Iewes þei him be-caste, And as a þeef þei bounden him faste, Line 804 And as a feloun þei forþ him lad. Whon þe traitour a Cos him bad, In speche he was so Meke & hende: His traytur he calde his dere frende. Line 808 In dede also he schewed non awe, fforbed al hise wepne to drawe,

And Malcus ere, þat Peter of smot, Line 811 Heled hit aȝeyn, not chid nor flot. [vv. 811-12 and 813-14 are transp. in the MS.] Biforen Anna i-lad and Cayphas Vileynesliche þer I-boffeted was, And petur þryes wiþ-Inne a þrowe ffor-sok him, ar cok hedde þries crowe. Line 816 And alle þe Apostles euerichon A-wey þei fledde, wiþ him lafte non. [vv. 817-18 ought to precede v. 813.]

Of contemplacion at prime: of þe passion, and of þe Resureccion.

Off þe passion þenk at prime, Of cristes vprist þe same tyme. Line 820 Crist in to a ȝard at prime him [r. he, cf. v. 826.] ladde And fals witnesse aȝeyn him hadde, Þat seiden hou he hedde god dispised, Þe cuntre al tornd and dyuised Line 824 ffrom Ierusalem to Galyléé. And in his face þen spitten heo, Þei hudden his face & bobed his hede And scorned him and bad hym rede Line 828 Ho him smot þo wiþ his fuste. Nout he ne seide, þouȝ he wel wuste.

Of þe Resurexion.

ÞEnk also at prime, whon crist vp ros— Þerof wydewhere sprong þe loos— Line 832 Vyue siþes apecred he þat day To his derlynges, soþ to say: ffurst to Maudeleyn, þat was him dere, Whon heo þhoute him a gardynere. Line 836 To hire and oþure, verrement, As þei comen from his Monument; And seide "al heil! God saue ȝow." And siþen to Peter—but we nute how. Line 840 Þe ffeorþe tyme as a straunge pilgrim To twey disciples, þat knew not him, Toward Emaus, þe goode Castel; In bred brekyng þen kneuȝ þei him wel. Line 844

Line 844 Þe ffyfþe tyme to þe apostles ten, But Thomas was not wiþ hem þen; But þat hit was he þei nouȝt bileeued, ffor a gost to hem he furst bi-semed, Line 848 Til he schewede boþe foot and honde Amiddes hem þer he con stonde, "Pees to ȝow" he seide þon— Þei kneuȝ him wel whon he was gon. [The Spec. adds the 5 other apparitions.]

Biforen vndurne: Of þe passion, and of Witsuntyd.

ÞEnk how crist at vndurne-tyde Was dispoyled, boþe bak and syde, And to a piler þenne was he bounde And skourged so sore wiþ mony a wonde Line 856 Þat from þe foot to þe heued Hol skin was on [him] luitel be-leued. Wiþ Mantel of Red þei him cladde, Bi-foren þe folk þei forþ him ladde, Line 860 ffor Septre a reod token him in honde, Crouned him wiþ þorn, I vndurstonde, [In the MS. vv. 867-8 precede v. 863.] And þenne þei kneled him be-forn And called him kyng al in scorn. Line 864 Vp-on Pilate þen gunne þei crye Ihesu on Rode to Crucifye. He bar his Cros wiþ gret anuye To þe place þer he schulde dye. Line 868

Bifore vndurne of þe holigost.

ÞEnk also at þis same vre Þe holigost wiþ gret honoure Crist his apostles sende amonge, So wonderliche to speke wiþ tonge Line 872 Þat folk þat weoren of oþur langage Heo[m] vnderstoden, & seiden outrage Þat of wyn dronken þey were. Þe holygost also schewed him ful clere Line 876 In fuir, to make hem hard and bolde, ffor þei schulde not in mischef folde.

At Midday: of þe anunciacion, And of þe passion.

At Middai be-þenk þe witerli Hou Gabriel grette vr swete ladi, Line 880 Þenne conceiued heo crist Ihesu Þorw þe holigost vertu. But whi wolde he take flesch & blode And siþen dye for vs on Rode, Line 884 Siþen he miȝte ha saued Monkynde Bi an Angel, as I fynde? But þen schulde we ha loued be riȝt Þe Angel more þen god Almiȝt; Line 888 He wolde we loued him be-foren al oþur: Þerfore him-self bi-com vr broþur.

Also of þe passion.

ÞEnk hou crist was don on Rode— His bodi þen ron al on blode; Line 892 Bi-twene twey þeues he hynged; Galle & Eysel to him þei menged To drinke, for þurst whon he him pleined. ffor vre gult so was he peyned. Line 896 In al þis world þow [MS. þorw] peynes alle Vpon o Mon miȝte falle And he miȝte suffre as muche more As alle men þat nou ben bore, Line 900 Þe same deþ twye or þrie Þat crist suffrede þouȝ he miȝt dye, Þat peyne ȝit were not so liche Nouþur neiȝ so as his so miche. Line 904 Hit semeþ wel þenne bi þat i telle His peyne passeþ þe pyne of helle Þat pure creature miȝte þole, i-wis, ffor euere so may neuer on his. Line 908

At Noon: of þe passion, and of þe Assencion.

BE-þenk þe at þe vre of noon: Whon crist hed seid þat al was don, Mildeliche wiþ-outen bost To his ffader he ȝeld his gost, [The Spec. here gives the 7 words of Christ on the Cross; the Engl. text follows the Horae de Cruce, No. XIX.]

And to him he made a cri Hely lamaȝabatani, Þat is to seye aftur þe Book "ffader, whiere þou me forsok?" Line 916 As hos seiþ, þus here for to spille; A, lord, for hit was þi wille. A blynd kniht þen atte laste A Spere þorw [his] [MS. þin] herte þraste, Line 920 Þat Blod and water þen out ȝede. Þerof we schulde take good hede: Þe blynde kniȝt þerof cauȝte his siht, And vre Bapteme þere hedde miȝt. Line 924 Lord, ȝif me grace day and niht To þenke how deolfulliche þou were diht! Þe sonne for deol þen lees his liht, ffor to be wreken of his dispiht; Line 928 Hulles and dales þei al to-schoken, And þe stones al to-broken.

At Non of þe Assencion.

ÞEnk also at þe vre of non Of Ihesu Assencion Line 932 On þe Mount of Olyuete, Whon al þe Apostles þer gunne mete, And his deore Moder Marie, In al heore siht vp gon he styȝe, Line 936 And sitteþ on his ffader riht hond, Þat weldeþ boþe Séé and Lond. Þe Apostles bi þe wey þat was geyn To Ierusalem þei torned a-ȝeyn, Line 940 In preyer & fastynge þer for to abyde, As he hem bad, til witsontyde.

At euensong-tyme: of þe passion, and of þe Maunde. [MS. Monhede]

At Euensong-tyme þenk verreyli: ffor ded was founden his swete bodi, Line 944 Ioseph þenne of Aramathi Tok him doun deuoutli, Of Pilat, þat þenne was heiȝ Iustise, He asked no more for his seruyse. Line 948

Line 948 Þi pouwer, lord, whon þow were ded, Hit was hud in þy godhed; [cf. XIX, v. 131.] As gras is stomped for medicyne, So were þou fruscht wiþ muche pyne; Line 952 Allas for deol, boþe euen and Morn, Þe Croune of blisse lai vnder a þorn! [Cf. XIX, v. 131: Heu corona glorie iacuit sub spina.]

Now of þe Maunde of Ihesu crist.

At euensong-tyme of his Maunde Þenk; wiþ hou gret Charite Line 956 He wuȝsch his owne apostles feete, And of his Bodi alle þei ete As he heom ȝaf in bredes heuȝ, And to Iudas, þat waried Ieuȝ, Line 960 Þauȝ he him wuste in synne derne, His flesch & blood ȝit nolde he him werne. Ensaumple herof þe prest may haue Non hosul to werne hose wol hit craue, Line 964 In priue synne þouȝ he him knowe— To warne hym stilly is best, I trowe.

At cumplin-tyme: of his passion, and of his buriinge.

At Cumplin þenk wiþ good entent Hou crist in to a gardyn went Line 968 After þe Maunde, forto prey His ffader þat passion to don a-wey; Þe Monhede of hym so sore dredde þat Þat blod & water þer so he swat Line 972 Þat hit dropped doun in þat place In to þe eorþe from his face.

Of þe buryinge of Ihesu crist.

ÞEnk at Cumplyn: þe bodi of crist Was leid in graue til his vpryst, Line 976 Þat Ioseph diȝte for him-self hadde; And in Sendel he him cladde, Wiþ Mirre and Aloyne, good oynement, He Baumede him, wiþ good entent.— Line 980 Lord, ȝif me grace swetnes to fynde Þeos Vres þus to haue in mynde,

Þat suffredest for me þis harde paas! At myn ende hit be my solas.— Line 984

Of Contemplacion of god in his owne kynde.

Þus schaltou þenke on his Monhed. Now schal I teche of his godhed, Þat from vr knowyng sumdel is hud, And in foure wise to vs is kud: Line 988 In Creature, and in holy writ— Þerof Ichaue my tale quit; Þe þridde be Reuelacion, Þe ffeorþe be monnes reson. Line 992 Bi Reuelacion God scheweþ him-selue As he dude to þe prophetes twelue And to oþere Mony on, Or be Miracle open I-don. Line 996 Bi reson þus God maiȝt þou kenne, Ȝif þou wolt þe be-þenke whenne Þou were nouȝt or þou boren were; Of oþer Creatures þe same manere, Line 1000 Þat comen & gon eueriche day; Þe soþe þer-bi wel wite þou may And bi reson vndertake Þat þei miȝt not hem-seluen make; Line 1004 Heore biginnynge seþþen þou maiȝt se, And of hem-self þei mowe not be, Þenne mostou nede grante sum þing Þat neuer hedde no bi-gynnyng, Line 1008 Oþur þynges of whom comen alle, God Almihti þat men calle. But twei goddes ȝif þat þer were, Þer moste nede be sum manere Line 1012 Of diuersete hem bi-twene— Al on elles moste þei bene; Þen moste þat on, as wel I wot, Sumwhat haue þat þe toþer hedde not; Line 1016 Þen hedde þat on, sikerliche, Ouþer to luyte or to muche; Ȝif þat he hedde to luitel, He were not god almihtful; Line 1020

Line 1020 And to muche ȝif þat he hadde, A sori god were and a badde Þat to muche miȝte not do him fro— To alle þing for þat is so. Line 1024 Siþen two goddes þenne mowe not be, On-lepi god þen graunte we. But Ioye is non here in no two afye (!) [r. in to affye] Wiþ-outen riht good cumpaynye. Line 1028 Siþen God is ful of Ioye and blis, In Godhed Cumpaynye þer is. Be-twene lasse þen two mai hit not be: Two persones in God þen mai we se. Line 1032 But cumpaignie were nouȝt, I wene, But þer were loue hem bi-twene: Þe þridde persone, I wol warante, In Trinite þen moste we graunte, Line 1036 To make loue and Charite In þe holy Trinite. And þus mowe we knowe anon Þreo persones and God but on. Line 1040 In þi-self þou maiȝt a-tame [exemplum] Open ensaumple of þis same: In þi soule þou seost ful wel Miht and Connynge þou hast sumdel; Line 1044 Þi miȝt & Connynge þe wiþ-Inne To loue hem boþe þou const not blynne; Þi miht is furst, and þenne cunnynge, And of hem boþe comeþ louynge. Line 1048 Þe same manere in god aboue: Miht and Connynge and eke loue. Þe ffader we callen þe furst Miht, Connynge þe Sone, of him comeþ riht; Line 1052 Þe holigost loue we calle, Þat comeþ of boþe, knowleche we alle. Al Monkynde [knoweþ] in toun and felde Þe ffader waxeþ feble in his elde, Line 1056 Þe Sone in his ȝouþe is not wys, Of Monnes gost comeþ Malys. In god lest men wolde wene þe same, Þe ffader haþ miȝt, þe Sone wisdame; Line 1060

Line 1060 His miht is euer gret inlike, Þe sones wisdam may nouȝt be swike. Þe Holigost he haþ goodnesse, Wiþ-outen Malys More and lesse. Line 1064 To knowe god þus furst men come Bi resun—so maiȝt þou, ȝif þou take gome Þin herte to god vp so to lifte, In þeose þreo wyse as I skifte: Line 1068 By his werk, and holy writ, And bi resun of monnes wit And of him-self in double kynde. Wel ouȝte we þenne haue him in mynde, Line 1072 Þat al þis world wiþ þat þer-Inne Ȝaf, and him-self, vr loue to wynne. Nou þou him knowest & his bounte, Loue him wel for Charite Line 1076 Euer-more to þi lyues ende! To Ioye & blisse þen schaltou wende, Þat he haþ ordeyned for vre solace. Lord, bring vs þider for þi grace. Amen. Line 1080 Þus endeþ þe spore of loue— God grant vs þe blisse of heuene aboue. [Then follows the well-known 'Disputacion bytwene þe bodi and þe soule,' ed. before by Th. Wright, Walter Mapes, p. 340 ff., and extant in 5 other, partly very old MSS. (MS. Auch., ed. in Owain Miles, Edinb. 1837, Laud 108, Digby 102, Reg. 18 A x, and Simeon), mostly printed, wherfore I omit it here. Cf. Anglia II. p. 225.]