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

Various Readings to XXXVIII from Halliwell's MS. [Halliwell does not name the MS. he used; he only says: the text of his ed. was chiefly (!) taken from a MS. in private hands. His MS. is much younger; it omits final -e in miȝte, hiȝte, tauȝte, brouȝte, moste, wolde, wente, but adds it in come, breke, &c. Most readings are deteriorations or arbitrarily made to help the sense; some few contain the original reading or help to find it, where the Vernon-text is spoiled; none can with certainty be ascribed to a later or new revision with the French text.] (Ed. 1849 for private circulation.)

Title in verse om.

1

He that.

2

wille helpene

3

ffor ther was . i|wrowght

5

ther was . evyl

6

But evyl . wes . þe om.

7

ffadur

8

ever inst. of on eorþe . syst

9

oone . art in trinite

10

in unite

11

Withoute

12

ought ovre

13

Worshyp

14

crownyd kyng ys

15

throwgh . beth

16

Alle goodnesses . seth (i- om.).

17

graunt us to thencke & worken

18

fro.

19

Alle we to have helpe we nede

20

Thawgh we be not . alle om. thede

21

i-bore

22

oon

23

not inst. of we.

24

Ebru . that ofte beth wryte

25

ffrensh . spechyne

26

in this w. sechyne

27

dryht

28

As om. awght . is

29

Loovyng to synge . full ȝorne

30

syche . als . lorne

31

No mones ay ne be adrede

32

Ne his ledone shall not be hed

33

To herien God . hath wrowght

34

al om. thys w.

35

I wyl . shewe

36

hem . can . i-knowe

38

In . I-chul

39

ffor-why . was furst wrowght

40

And therafter

41

fadur hade to byn hys

42

The ioy and myrthe of p.

43

It to w. and it to welde . syche

44

shulde ther to hevyn

45

But . hit alle

46

And s. shall here how he f. w.

47

hye kyngessone sone

49

But ther werene fowre systren i-boren

50

And om. prisoner . wes

51

heryn

52

they cussyde . sawght

53

he sone lyght

55

This castel M.

56

Therin

57

telle forthe we shul

58

to us sayd wysly

59

þer om. i- om.

60

i-ȝevyn

61

name . I-nempned om. byn

62

men . I- om.

63

myȝhti . rihtwys

64

And of . to om.

65

Lord þe om.

66

Off all the nomes how

67

Whe shulle ȝow telle that ȝe shul wyten

68

domesday . I- om.

69

shulle

70

somdele . pyne

71

it be wrytene in Englysshe . dark

72

And have no savor aforen a clark

73

lewde . lytell

75

And who so . wytur . wyce

76

ȝorne

77

michel of lintel

79

fynden

80

fay

81

byfalle . Goddys

83

ȝef ȝe . er

84

made (I- om.)

85

Tho inst. of ffor-þi. I om.

88

hathe alle

90

seventh

91

Lusteneth to my talking (lordynges om.)

92

at the begynnyng

93

Hede i-wrowght h. w. so mychel gynne

94

þe om. angels so feyre and bryght and feyre (!) w.

95

þer om. aftur

96

in here

97

waxed

98

That . anonryȝht cast

99

ffelle

100

ȝet wes . þo om. sevyn sythe

101

Bryȝhtur . forsoþe om. she

103

And alle-so the mone shon

104

As the sonne dothe in

105

nowght

106

profyt

107

And alle . that shupte weren

110

whiche sorewe . dyel

111

they byth browght

112

osprynge

113

thay byth

114

dulfulle

116

And . telle ȝow

118

serve

119

Godhede al

120

fayled

121

flyne

122

shulde byne

123

Blossome . ryce

124

And om. bettur . yce

125

though . he om. alle welle done

126

valley . Ebrone

127

shope A. at the last

129

the holy Trynite

130

soul so f. and fre

131

showe

132

to have . owe

133

hyme

134

cast slepe . al om.

135

nome

136

come

137

ȝef . to byne is wyfe

138

h. hyme . ȝef hyme is wytte fyfe

139

dele the evyll fro . goode

140

hem wel

141

ȝef . ȝet . worship

142

lordship

143

That . londe

144

Shulde byne . his owne honde

145

And feyrelak . myche

146

And alle

147

wonyne inne

148

and ¹ om. sorowe

149

god

150

byth

151

lyven . ȝonge

152

And all tho that of hem two spronge

153

tale . sowles . fro hevyn

155-6

Tho Adam and hys osprynge shulle hevyne aȝeyne fulfylle, So blessed and bryȝht be thowrgh Goddys wylle

157

Ryȝht as the s. . told

158

Bryȝhtur . is nowe by s.

159

they . hevyn wynde

160

To ioy and bl. . eynde

161

dethis

162

alle

163

ffro . ilke om.

164

styen

166

Among gret myrthe . angels

167

To lawes

169

Thet . wes . thowgh

170

Thet . wes i-cleped

171

Thet . at l.

172

holde Goddys

173

Thet . was that to hym

174

appull he shuld never ete

175

Of that

176

So hym s. and hyȝht

177

Thet whensoever the appull he ȝete

178

that lyfe he shulde

179

alle the kynne . come

180

have the same dome

181

heoled . hest aryȝht

182

hym ȝef . mychel

183

welde . worldis

184

Withoute . sorewe

185

Seysone to Adam delyuerd wes tho

186

wonnen

187

myche

188

Away full s. hit all

190

And browght . myche

191

appul ȝete

192

Goddys hest he dede forlete

193-4

And sethyn his lawes he breke, The lawe of kynde and the lawe set eke

195

he om. dede aftur is wyfys

196

heoled . hest

197

Thus is . rufull

198

Was om. I-cast

199

i-dryven

200

in the w. to lyvyne

201

forsakyn

202

dylfull . himself i-takyne

203

hath hym boryne

204

Mirth wyth ryȝht he hath forloryn

205

That m. . þat om. welle have

206

shall he now . crave

207

Out om. i-pult

209

con

210

That A. had trespast so

211

hadyn hocowre

212

That mon shuld wonyn in the blessed honowre

213

Hit he hade . prude

215

mychel . here

216

alle . aftur

217

when . hade i-l. here longe in c.

218

At the l. dye

219

helpe here

220

ne most

221

to . bespekyn

222

wold not foreward brekyn

223

ffulle evull . mychel he

224

þus om. this w.

226

mychell

227

ne om.

228

But hit peyred thowrgh his wonnyng

229

But for the wonnyng of him hit was not long

230

Nere that synne was so.

231

ȝef . alle

232

And synne w. h. by all his myȝht

233

synne . is alle oon

234

And Adam dede wone

235

Goddys hest breke

236

the appul he ȝete

237

lost is

238

to pyne

239

þe om. kynkes . ȝet

240

usyth thilke

242

synnes

243

feyror wes . er om. thynk

245

Now is he . is servaunt and

246

understondeth

247

And when . servid thorgh thewdome

248

He dede withoute

249

And servise ne thrall they mow

250

eritage

251

is om.

252

So sone his er. is

253

Ne in curt. noo

254

Me owed not to answer ne him u.

255

mote

256

That myȝht swewe (!)

257

myȝht

258

that kynde

259

be boren

260

ne om. ȝete none of

261

And that have I-wyst with wynne

262

lawes withoutyn

263

Theke too

264

And the tother. M. of S.

265

Moysen ȝeven

266

ȝet i-holdyn nes

267

Of mon . evir dede synne

268

of syche mon mynne

269

thenk other k.

270

Who seche a wondur myȝht do or

271

Sey . stede

272

As I before dede

273

ffor now is tyme that I hit telle

274

ffor it be|hovyth to our spelle.

275

Ther wes . myche

277

hede

278

Of alle seche wyt of alle syche wone

279

And of all seche chere

280

his fadur dere (in his manere om.)

281

oone . they were

282

oone studfastnes

283

volnes . they were ful ryȝht

284

thei werene

285

fadur . alle begoon

286

belye . kyndome

287

Alle that was of hys b.

288

hit wolde

289

And foure dowghtryne hede this k.

290

And to uche he wes lovyng

291

ȝef one . fulnes

292

wit . wysnes

293

befalle

294

ȝet wes alle this volnesse

297

kyndam

298

hit om. iustisyn

299

nomen

300

dowghtur is M.

301

douȝter om.

302

Sothe

303

systur we clepon

304

And Pes . fourth

305

Withoute these . worship

306

Ther may . lordship

307

er

308

Hede . dede

309

bothe str.

310

wes

311

insyȝht . ryȝhdome

312

he wes

313

de|lyverd

314

That in sorewe h. pyned ichoon

315

And of . thei hadyn dowte

316

But hadde him in here rowte

317

And thei deden him

318

pyned . sore om. withoute. Title om.

319

she syȝh

320

The prison hede here hert swyth nyȝh

321

She myȝght here no lenger hold

322

Tofore . come sheo wold

323

shewe . here

324

ffor to

325

quod sheo . fadur myne

326

328

grace . goodnesse

329

alle I haue . thorgh the

331

sorfull wrecche p.

333

among

334

pyne thu hast him doon

335

Thei maden him a. in theke gret synne

336

Thorgh here feyre behest withoute blynne

337

him om. and inst. of ȝif . appulle eten

338

And Goddis lawes forleten

339

have alle . God

340

Therfore they seyde that tre wes him forbode

341

And lyed to him therof. heo om. rowghton

342

falsnes . they

343

Therfore let falsnes ȝelden be

344

wrecche om. prisoner thou ȝeve to me.

346

grace

347

And of alle thi dowghtryne I am the aldest

348

One hem alle I am baldest

349

They dowghtur I ne were

350

But my swetnesse

351

Grace

352

swetnes

353

And thorgh thy nowne pyte

354

I-chulle . to om. sanite

355

grace

356

Tylle he haue i-funde thyne ore. Title om.

357

So sone Sothe this werk syȝth

358

here sistur heore h. ȝyȝth

360

hade . him om. demyd (I- om.) . eynde

361

here mode

362

before . anon up stode

363

ffadur, I beseche the to here me.

364

ne om. may not. hit om.

365

hit om. a om.

366

Of my systere Mercyes w.

367

here wylsfull sermon

368

out om.

369

suche inst. of swiþe . that I hit syȝh

370

nyȝh

371

I sey . þe om.

372

owest not

373

she

374

Sothe and Ryȝht therwith

375

And om.

376

volnesse I-comyn I.

378

Mercies . rufull

379

ȝef sheo . saue om. here

380

Savyn alle . she . for besechyn

381

Then never mysdede shulde byn ab.

382

fadur shuldest be dreded

383

And thou art alle sothefaste k.

384

stabull . all

385

Therfore . wowgh

386

aȝeyns me i-nowgh

387

him con

388

That he never grace i-fynde

389

Grace he hath alle forlore

390

wes i-warned . before

391

shulde we . thike

392

That pyte of hymself hade non.

393

Hes dome he m. stonde to . sygge

394

alle . abygge. Title om.

395

i-hereth

396

And up her stode

397

I am heo seyth

398

kyng and ryȝht

399

Ryȝht domes byth with the

400

And alle thy werkys byth

401

deeþ om. mevyn

402

Hath dome deserved as ȝe ȝevyn

403

þat om. fre was

405

hede hem boo

406

went

407

betoke . wrath . wo

408

And to synne and wrecchedome his fo

409

for ever thole dethe

411

to him thy hest hestyst

412

Thorgh sothe then deth to him thou hettyst . After 412 H has 2 vv. more: And he dede thi hestes breke, And oon him thou wolldest by ryȝht be wreke.

413

ȝef

414

gylt

415

And Sothe beryth

416

And els nedlyche no d.

417

ȝef

418

Then dome . i- om.

419

not to

420

wolle sygge

422

Aftur here gult as hit heore doth befalle

423

this . syggeth

424

And allso . they iuggeth

425

Nere nowther . ne om.

426

Ne non of hem mercy u.

427

As a diswaryed mon mysrad

428

he his myslad

429

helpyth . whersere he wynde

430

And his foon fyȝhtyth with him in u. eynde

431

And han stripte . alle

432

him alle bare maked

433

And him . alle

434

They thenketh he shalle be in prison strong

435

His foon maden him agultyn wondur sone

436

comyth aftur . here

437

hym heo iuggeth

438

E. aftur Sothe that wolle sygge

439

And Pes with hem may not byn

440

he . flyn

441

ne bydyth

442

Ther as werre is nyȝh-honde

443

myȝht

444

And so of londe they byn i-d.

445

Ther where not in the w. i-levyd

446

Nothyng but it wes dystryed.

447

drownt

448

Save . soules . where

449

In Noeis flood in the shippe wer heo

450

sonys

451

haden

452

alle . is ther leved no more

453

owght to

454

on so drury dome

456

withoute. Title om.

457

So longe that . atte last

458

here fadur she

459

dowghtur and of the i-nome

460

volnesse . I am i-come

462

too systren . han

463

they

464

neuer come

465

ffor thing that eny mon may do

466

Mercy myȝht not hem.

467

And . no kynnes thyng

468

I myȝht not come hem amyng (!)

469

And the . alle . owne

470

Therfore I am owt of

472

tyll that

473

sustres

474

sawghtnes . so ende

475

And

476

Thawgh . byn set

477

wyten and knowe Pes

478

maystur sheo is

479

In reste and pes I con maken

480

Whi shalle

481

When eny g. dede . for me om.

482

have me be in thowght

483

But . ne om. lovyd me

484

systur nyll

485

I-chylle

486

He (!) . oweth

487

þe om. byth . i-send

488

a evyn

489

shullen

490

ȝevyn . demyn evyn

491

ne om. dome

492

we f. byn

493

stonden (at- om.)

494

loke sethin

495

foure fadur

496

ne byth not of

497

But I

498

We clepyn aȝeyne the d.

499

al om. Sothe and Ryȝht wold

500

To Mercy and me hit doth not q.

502

Therfore fadur myne thou hit

503

goodnesse

504

Ther wonteth . Pes woll

505

Wyt ne w. is

506

But Pes therwyth be f.

507

lovyth . withoute

508

withoute

509

oweth to byn . gret

510

lord of

511

Therfore . owest

512

systur that prayeth the

513—517

om.

518

Til om. d. shuld be

519

flyn

520

Tylle my systryn byn at oone

522

is . tho beren

523

sye

524

were inst. of al.

526

Thei myȝht never togedur c.

527

Leve fadur. I

528

wyt . wysdome

529

And om. Wysdam men

530

mychell . lovest

532

in thy werk browghtest

533

byth oon . volnesse

534

and strengthe and hyenesse

535

All I chull

536

kyng more of ryȝhtwesnys

537

In so myche fadur I take more ȝ.

539

furste inst. of for þe

540

of the p. rueth

541

And therfore me rueth well

542

cleputh

543

ffadur thou art . mekefulle

544

Heere . here over

545

Alle here wyll I chull don

546

And make at oone S. & heere.

547

Taken

548

wollen it . beden

549

And I alle one woll dome the dome

550

a i. oweth

551

make

552

to cusse . sawght sone

553

dryvyn . werre with myn honde

554

thi

555

Who so this afore bese con

556

openly i-se

557

betokenyng

558

Is the insyȝht of God

559

ffadur, withoute God is m. n.

560

hath alle

561

hath fulled utryȝht

563

thawgh

564

volnesse

565

ȝeve . blesseng

567

han . I owe t.

568

make

569

Adam om. forlest hit was

570

The world . alle

572

Mon myȝht not himself do keveryng

573

ne myȝht him . no

574

And . myȝht not

575

most it nede

576

Goddys sone shuld m.

577

And mon shuld deth tholyn with sorewe r.

578

shuld uprysen aȝeyn fro

579

ffor ells . forloren

580

i-wrowght.

581

wheche l. wych b.

582

grace and whiche s.

583

to alyȝht ches

584

ffor oon sele shepe

585

His fadur blysse he levede and ther-fro ȝeode

586

To seche theke shepe in uncowthe ȝode

587

Ther is not seche an h. non om.

588

non om. mercyfulle a l.

589

syche a

590

meche l. on him

591

ilyke . him wolde

592

sothen suffre deth

593

Sore he awght his handys to wrynge

594

That this lord wold greve for enythyng.

595

Herketh . at this frome

596

this sheperd

597

tydyngus comyn

598

prophetys

600

Elias

601

Ant D. . Ieromie

602

And D.

603

Eliseu

604

Thei seyn . ryȝht well

605

Long . of hem

606

But herkynth. The Latin quotation om.

607

I-boryn

608

son . i-ȝevyn

609

shulle

610

alle this shull byn

612

rewfull . of ryȝht

613

al om. byn

614

And prince . seyn.

615

These buth . nomes . nowe i-leven

616

to him ȝevyn

617

ȝef . wolle heryn telle

618

wondurfulle

619

Seche . wes . I- om. ny saye

620

Ne n. weryn by no monis day

621

Ne never shull come

622

As was when God mon b.

623

sye (I- om.)

624

I- om.

625

fete . bere

627

hede his fote or his hond forloren

628

he weren so bothe i-boren

629

Where thei . too

630

Nay sotheli, thei nere not soo.

631

ffor thawgh the toon hede of kynde to myche

632

And that o. to lytell and beth of diverse lyche

633

ȝet . nede om. byn

634

a forshapon lym

635

And . mychill . byn

636

myȝht seche a mon i-syn

637

That monkynde hade uwtryȝht

638

That he nere to mychill ne to lytyll in syȝht.

640

forshapon thyng

641

a good h.

642

Seche . befall

643

who-so isyȝh seche a shapyng

644

clepon . wonderfulle

645

ȝet is hit . thousondfold

647

clepud

648

sothefast . and monne

649

ne om.

650

And eke . all thyng is . I- om.

651

withoute synne he is e.

652

wone therof dede

653

Ne shap therto non nes

654

I-red

655

nys non then he that is of so gret myȝht

656

to erthe inst. of dude

657

ooure . nome

658

al om. wes become.

65

als wolde

660

boryn . wymmon

661

That same shap

662

mons

663

And God myȝht not in no m.

664

Alyȝht bote . stede . in om.

665

stede . siker om. he

666

Ther God inne to alyȝhte ches

667

that is comlyche

668

Mychell . and feir om.

670

This . c. mychell of the f.

671

meere . betwynnen too

672

He hath no feyrelac.

673

withowtyn

674

And so . aboutyn

675

no maner

676

harme

677

hie . sownde

678

And . I- om. from rofe to grownde(!)

679

Ther may non evyll thyng

680

Ther to do eny grevyng

681

And eke hit is so levelych

682

So dredfull and comlyche

683

tho . beth

684

thei fleth

685

ffoure s. toure ther beth abowte

686

wyte þe hole t. withowte

687

And allso ther beth . baylys

688

So om. stronge

690

Ther may . here feyrship. I- om.

691

ne om.

692

it thenk . it spelle.

693

trysti . fast

694

dyche buth all becast.

695

cornels . so om.

697

Seven barbacanes . byth

699

700

ne om. socoure

701

Ther shalle never fo stonde him wyth

702

thidur . fle seche

703

sycoure . abowte

704

alle peynted is abowte

705

colours . byth

706

The furst the fondement is all g.

707

fast lythe

708

is him that this myrthe sythe

710

colur lesseth (ne om.)

711

And sethyn . abouten om. hue

712

Is bothe . eke om. blue

713

cleputh

714

And hyt s. over all feyre and b.

715

ovenast

716

I- om.

717

withinne . withoute

718

abowte

719

raddur . euere om.

720

Hit semyth it barnede all

722

As is the swan when heo is swymbyng

723

the l.

724

After om. Enlong on the.

725

Ther never there comyth wo ny wowgh

726

But

727

Amyd the toure a walle dede sprynge

728

That never is drye but ernynge

729

stremys . strykyn

730

on

732

Mechell

733

That man nedeth non.

734

aryȝht . watur

735

thike toure

736

thorne . meche

737

As whyte as yuory

738

somers . when heo

739

all do

740

byth

741

oo feyre in order i-ioyned byth

742

So feyre thyng in erthe . i-syth

743

abowte it i-bend

744

to him . i-send

745

Ther nes never so feyre a chayere

746

To kyng ne to emperour.

747

But meche more worship . Inouȝ om.

748

Ther God to alyȝht ches

749

Suche a c. is ther non

750

wes . thyke

751

here-aftur . ne om.

752

dyȝht

753

hit om. and hit alle dede

754

a. himself in thilke . feyre om. stede

755

kyndam

756

that st. myche

757

That

759

and hele and sycornesse

761

maydons body . fre

762

Ther . nas om. hoe

763

I- om. was

764

As . mayde

765

mere betwynne too

766

That hoe shuld us shylde from

767

vs om.

768

Hoe . here. After 768 H has 2 vv. more: ffor hoe may allerbest, And hoe woll allerblyvest

769

true . trysti

770

maydons body. forþi om.

771

That therin never synne come

772

And to serve God alle here hert shoe nome

773

wyst here maydenhode . muche om.

774

With grace and wyth s.

775

to the roche fast

776

grenship

777

That is . maydonis

778

alle here

779

here . þat om. true

780

e. hit is grene and newe.

781

hire om. apertenent

782

To . and fundement

784

feyreshipe

786

That in good hope wes here lyvyng

787

Hoe wes

788

serve . with

789

and þe om.

791

brande

792

Ther is noon . mychill

794

hoe . alle

795

And shoe is i-tend . fyre

796

To servyn here God ab.

798

kepyn . hie . withowtyn

799

þat om. abowten heere me syth

800

thei byth

801

strenghe . slyȝhship

802

Ryȝht|wesnes . warship

803

hath inst. of wiþ.

804

That non evylle ther may com withinne

805

what . baylys

806

cornels byth . feyre.

807

throwen inst. of I-cast . abowte

808

the hoole toure withowte

809

bayli

810

That be|tokynth heere

811

nes

812

Goddys . she

813

myddyll bayly

815

otmast

816

Betokenyth here hoole spousayle

817

ffulle ryȝht me hem clepeth b. thre (forþi om.)

818

That hadyn . here om. bayle

819

ffor hoe here-self is m.

820

ffor shoe is . weddes (!)

821

these . in inst. of teon

822

to an ende . I- om. byn

823

And the sevyn barbacanes abowte

824

so gret . byth wr. withowte

825

kepyn these

826

aroo

827

byth sevyn vertuce that han wyth w.

828

To om.

829

Prude . begynnyng

830

evyll thyng

831

The whiche al matyd and overcome w.

832

sheo

833

heore true

834

heore

835

sheo m. to

836

heere

837

And all-so she dystried

838

hire om. largenes on iche

839

evermore . hoe

840

pacyens . sheo

841

heere gostly

842

Dystryed slowth in

843

walle . alle of g.

844

fylleth . a om.

845

so deled is

846

goodnes inst. of Meth . wiþal om.

847

And . lovyd

848

That he heere ȝeve full grace outryȝht

849

þe om. gr. withoute let

850

Socur alle the w. i-ȝet

851

Therfore . here

852

One i-blessed . ladi om.

853

whiche . byn

854

Bote heere poverte that heo wes inne

855

Ther was no mon-kynnes a.

856

That myȝht dere the castell of nothyng

857

fynde was overcome

858

him all benome

859

so om. freo

860

spak . neddur . treo

861

come . blyve

862

hed inst. of pouste

863

be heo this byrd

866

Therfore of here soule . is

867

And to . gestnyng

868

of hire so ȝyng

869

To brynge him out

870

gareson

871

feyre good

872

Whill . meche

873

then other that ever made was

874

And tho the sonne of ryȝht|wesnes here ches

875

And on heere when he shadowe wolde

876

He feyred . thowsonde

877

fast ȝate

878

And om. owt-goyng . l. hit fast

879

let we be st.

881

O

882

helpest . flyth

883

comyn

884

knocked . con grede

885

He knocketh & gredyth . con

886

Help . me om. mayde

887

888

And therof thou let me cleche

889

Of thilke grace that alle is thoor

890

To hem that in herte gostly byth poore

891

Be-se how

892

Of . alle

893

That is the fynd

894

And the w. and my f. they styntyth

895

Withoute ene mystre . voth

896

hoe

897

G. perlyment they han i-nomen

898

is formest forth i-comen

899

ostes . doth

900

prude . slowth

901

with too ostys hath me

902

with c. and hate he wold me fonde

904

gloteine . foule

905

G. fyȝht they han . i-nomen

906

as a champyon

907

swete mayde

908

I ha forloren alle the m. After

H. has 2 vv. more: Thow that art to alle febulle leche, Thow let me of thy dyches cleche.

908

I ha forloren alle the m. After

H. has 2 vv. more: Thow that art to alle febulle leche, Thow let me of thy dyches cleche.

909

Theras the c. is so stabull

910

And om. is there con|stabull

911

I have . i-told

912

And . by a thousond

913

goodnes

914

Out om. comyn (I- om.)

915

God Allmyȝht

916

alyȝht

917

And hyre he nome . monhed

918

he kend . Godhed

919

bar . floure

920

The mayde . heere creature

921

that child . I- om.

922

A . i-ȝevyn

923

I trowe this be w.

924

That he for us was thus i-b.

925

So mychill wondur I knowe of n.

926

too kyndys in oon to bryng

928

Hath that that shulde to him falle

929

And n. ne om. wonteth here myȝht

930

But ether of hem han here ryȝht

931

This . Goddys

932

fro

933

To make at oon his systryn that were at woore

934

ffor the prison that was forlore

935

To kyndes . I wotte

936

ffor he is sothefast . suthfast

938

And the ende of his dedyn i-dyȝht

939

And this all abowte thou well be-se

940

And . wold

941

boryn of a.

942

become

944

in to heele ever

945

other

946

And calleth mon his leve brother

947

myslyche i-gon and unȝemed

948

londe . i-flemyd

949

syst

950

mayst not of thiself ha k.

951

Ne om.

952

And syker be thou here-oon

953

That he that woll . leve

954

him brynge and lede to is o. lond

955

And soone herkyn thou to me

956

I

957

ffor my . weryn

958

is lyȝht . beryn

959

To mercies bone

960

forthe I am i-c.

961

I . þe om. sue

962

And I-chulle . take

963

have

964

I-chull crave

965

ffor now I am

966

Ther|fore I-chull crave

967

And am fre of byrth in every towne

968

Men owghton to here

969

ffor I have kept

970

lawes withowte

971

I-chylle . batell

972

And sycur make the of . ful om.

973

ffor I-chull over alle that fyȝht

974

And the maystry have alle with ryȝht

975

Ne on erthe thow nedest to thenk els n.

976

good

977

wheche frensship whose taketh

978

When God alle thys world shalle deme

979

That us sch. so meche swetnesse

980

And so gret vertu of

981

And theke bysenes . lytull tellit

982

And sylden in the w. this vertu is do

985

And . and pacyens

986

Lovyn . mekenesse &

987

ffor when a mon ȝevyth him to the worldys weele

988

And goodys fallyn to him mony and fele

989

He thenketh no good in maner thyng

990

to bryng

991

And when worldly godys han the mastri (a last om.)

992

Hit maketh mon so rebell and hye

993

That he waxeth wonder prowde

994

mysdyth . boþe om.

995

He wylneth no thyng of largenessse

996

lordship . hyenesse

997

vertu of

998

Alle . prude . forȝetyn

999

Thes synnes mow not Crist sue

1000

ffor thei beth of evyll vertue

1001

And whos his vertu levyth nowght

1002

Whi shuld he wyllen o.

1003

Of his . kyndome

1004

That he thorgh plee and bataylle wone

1005

And ever aȝeyns his byddyng woll do

1006

And aȝeyns here soulys allso

1007

And . prude . hienesse

1008

And loveth nothyng b.

1009

Therfore . han

1010

fro

1011

dowt for he that aftur hym don

1012

Lest they shullen the way aftur hym gon. After 1012 H. has 2 vv. more: But ȝef thei hem amende Of that that they dude God afende.

1013

But to this I graunte welle thou

1014

That hit may befalle to a mon

1015

To have . lordship & gret

1016

townes . ryches

1017

And may ȝet Goddis wylle don and holde

1018

And lyve well God to plese and he w.

1019

And byn in charyte and b.

1020

sothenesse . riȝhtwesnes

1021

wyllyt not els

1022

al om. and his love so clere

1023

How . aske

1024

How that . god om.

1025

And how

1026

And by whom oure ryȝht aȝeyn come

1027

Lusteneth

1028

ȝow telle

1029

Tho that . bor (I- om.)

1030

& so d. fynde

1031

riht om. nothyng wyst

1032

But forte ha be lord & s. was his tryst

1033

ere was, but

1034

þat om. boren (I- om.). to om. was come

1035

fynde sye hym mon and in monis wede

1036

But he wyst not . ne of what dede

1037

He sey him mon and knewe that he was of monkynde

1038

But never to synne Cryst had myende

1039

devyll . swiþe om. art thou

1040

Whether . comyn art

1041

Alle . wyde om. ȝeve.

1042

And thou wolle abowe & worship me. Latin om.

1044

I am thy Lord thou shalt fynde me so. Lat. om.

1045

What thenketh the, mayst thou not understond

1046

Seyde the fynde, I am Lord of alle this londe

1047

And therof in sesyne longe I ha be

1048

hie . ȝeve

1049

I knowe . I wot

1050

But of the ny of thy thowght.

1051

Sykur thou takyst full mychill on honde

1052

beneme . londe

1053

na no pouer

1054

Wenest thou . beneme

1055

þorw om.

1056

ffulle fast . thei con it dyȝht

1057

wo so breke . hest

1058

ever be myne . synne lest

1059

And on endeles dethe he shuld dye

1060

And the k. of h. of ryȝht nyl not wrye

1061

What woldest thou seche f. b.

1062

be|speke. Lat. om.

1063

onswered

1064

And seyde that f. myȝht not be holde

1065

Ac om. Thow thiself formest dedest hit b.

1066

monkynne

1067

seydes the tre was him

1069

And ȝef he wolde

1070

And wolde Goddys beheste lete

1071

ffor om. alle

1072

And om. He shuld deth suffer never non

1073

or ells he hede be

1074

I trowe reson hit nere

1075

That thou hadest.

1076

And woldest not holde anont the H 2 vv. more: The covenand that thou shuldest ha do, Thou foule fynde, monis fo. Lat om.

1077

O I am . fynd

1078

I am . overcome

1079

comyth

1080

Syche . seche

1081

so bold darst be

1082

To . aȝeyns.

1083

I have all i-l. anon

1084

But so hit may not.

1086

That is in my p.

1088

I wot not with whom I shuld desseysed be. Lat. om.

1089

Swete Ihesu tho con segge

1090

And om. I wolle . for-bygge

1091

buggen here (to his f. om.)

1092

shull cost . dere

1093

quod

1094

Bote as . heere that he go

1095

Vt

1096

ryȝht, quod . good om.

1097

Ne om. I kepe no thyng to-ȝeyns r.

1098

Ne thorgh mastry beneme the hit

1099

Lat. om. Quod the fynde and er he delyverd be

1100

Thu . as myche worth

1101

is worth at thys f.

1102

thyke . shulle. Lat. om.

1103

Blythelyche . al om. do.

1104

lytille fyngur

1105

seche a

1106

alle the . i-syn. Lat. om.

1107

fynde to Ihesu tho

1108

I wot

1109

ffor all the world deme thou myȝht

1110

ffor of the my pouere is lost by ryȝht.

1111

ȝeve thi fyngur . sygge

1112

So fowle and unworthy chaffere to bygge. Lat. om.

1113

O quod Ihesus and alle . to h. ransom

1114

han him

1115

ȝit om. don er . have him

1116

Thow most suffre on e. wondur & wo

1117

amende

1118

suffre dethe . strong om.

1119

onswered to

1120

Alle . i-sayde hit shall.

1121

to be

1122

aftur and ȝef the dome tho

1123

I woll ȝet

1124

that thrall

1125-6

Tho the fynde wyst well this That thorwgh is deth mon shulld ha blys

1127

And so the fynde wes overcome

1128

i-nome

1129

And the worme swolewe that the last

1130

Then he is . i-teyed

1131

O . take hede . me inst. of þe

1132

truly . loved

1133

thole deth and pyne withowte

1134

fro p. and

1135

misdede

1136

evyll inst. of lodliche . ur

1137

synne dede

1138

Ne with fylth was fownde . stede

1139

ffor alle . lymys . ever hade mon

1140

Seth A. to syenge furst b.

1141

He wolde . alle om. I- om.

1142

makyn . al om.

1143

ffor oure gret gult here

1144

A crowne . thorne

1145

oure syȝht myspende allso

1146

eynen . blynwherved

1147

alle . was om. de|fouled

1148

And allso with g. boffettys they him s.

1149

vnwreste & om. so vyle

1150

They ȝevyn him galle to dryng and eysile. After 1150 H has 2 vv. more: The Iewes deden this to him for gret vylny, Bote he suffred hit alle pacyently.

1151

ffor unlawfull werk us avonde

1152

He was peersed thorgh foot & honde.

1153

evyll thowghtys . ful smert

1154

A speere was smyte thorgh is syde to is hert.

1155

thonne for us do

1156

telle of his soore

1157

No mon is hit may thenk hit so

1158

Syche peyne he tholed and wo.

1159

is hit but he m. ha.

1160

Of seche a frynde that hade so gre cherite.

1161

Seche buth . dyntes

1162

suffred . withoute

1163

And he suffred . to be b.

1165

he suffred . hondred fold

1166

Of sorewe . when . dye wold

1167

eny fynd

1168

Legge . hond om.

1169

lovyd

1170

That he onnethe wold weynde hit fro

1171

ne for no

1172

That he wes hurt and peyned with ever|more

1173

Tyll his f. wyttys wer i-l. utryȝht

1174

strength

1175

his s. & his h.

1176

His . his

1177

his . he om. wes browght to an ende

1178

Er the soule fro . wolde wynde

1179

Kynde myȝht for no maner thyng

1180

Han suffred the halfondele of that peynyng

1181

But

1183

honged

1184

To the fadur his soule he ȝyf with mylde voyce

1185

showed

1186

payed

1187

withowtyn

1189-90

om.

1191

And ever M.

1192

Mercyfull

1193

ffor deyl I may not hit say

1194

peyne . hoe tholed theke

1195

But

1196

Wes fulfylled thon (þo bi om.)

1197

As hit were with a swyrde in theke stonde

1198

Thorghe here sowle she hade gret woonde

1199

But here . hondred

1200

Tho here sone fro d. aryse w.

1201

nowght nere the p.

1203

She sye oponly . in om. thyng

1204

and the endyng

1205

the whiche . fynde

1207

Oure trowth and oure b.

1208

Stode alle in oure Laydy tho

1209

the dysciplys were

1210

But oure Lady wes ever in on

1211-12

In fast beleve both stylle and lowde, Ther myȝht nothyng brynge here owte

1213

full of

1214

Mayde clene full of bewte

1215

Oure b. in heere tho wis (!)

1217

sheo . heere

1218

That us forbowght of thrall thus.

1219

Whan I herd now

1220

meche

1221

conselth

1222

he dede

1224

overcome hit to an e.

1225

Ther nes never no mon

1226

forbigge

1227

And he

1228

Ther we ichon come may

1229

abovone inst. of come

1231

nou om.

1233

i-syn

1234

he may . els byn

1235

But oon

1236

theke

1237

is

1238

þe God om. I er seyde . þe om.

1239

Thre persons in Trynite

1240

And oon God in Maieste

1241

Me may as clerkys con rede

1242

I-syn that he is God by his dede

1243

dedys . dede

1244

Wer om. . he dede inst. of I-meynt . in f.

1245

Now tak hede . myst i-syn

1246

That this thyng may well byn

1247

ffor who so hede . swyrd

1249

þe om. fyre dede

1250

Tyll hit w. red bernyng in that stede

1252

While . brande

1253

to-dele . styell

1254

steell fro the fyre to thro

1255

who so . þe om.

1256

Too kyendes he may syn and of w.

1257

steyll . kervyth

1258

barneth

1259

alle . one swyrde

1260

And allso hit faryth of.

1261

To kyndes . wyte

1262

very . very

1263

He shewed gret myraculle and privete

1264

chane

1265

gestnyng . he om.

1266

turned watur in to

1267

were

1268

With . bade fylle hem

1269

As by his monhede he bade do watur theryne

1270

And by his Godhede he t. the water to wyne

1271

And all this dede wes don

1273

owher that . ȝode

1274

Muche om. ffolk him sewed bothe evyll and goode

1275

þat om ffyve thousond folk he fed

1276

Wyth tweye fysshes and fyve loovys of bred

1277

relyf . left

1278

ther were

1279

that b. to-breke

1280

haþ om. fulfylled eke

1281

syn (I- om.)

1283

That foure dayes long

1284

Lay in is towmbe that he stonk

1285

lowde

1286

come

1287

Riht om.

1288

areysed

1289

dede . i-syn

1290

byn

1291

That God . made and dyȝht

1292

that sw. mayde aliȝht

1294

hope . trowthe

1295

He is thre persons in Trynite

1296

And oon God in unite

1297

han herd

1299

And . no mon may

1300

Ne thowght

1301

this hie

1302

myche

1303

hevyn heȝh

1304

In erthe & benethen fer & nyȝh

1305

Bowen . thike

1306

Therfore this vertu no mon telle con

1307

Of his m. ne of

1308

a om. that aryvede (!) fleth

1309

towchin

1310

that that I

1311

hade i-lore

1312

The blys of paradys and hevynne

1313

fynde hede syche

1315

But for monkynde the w. was wr.

1316

And the fynde . underbrowght.

1317

Seche

1318

alle

1319

was no mon . goodshipe

1320

holyshipe

1322

And ȝet the fynde ladde

1323

But

1324

Hath him

1325

Ouercome and shent

1326

with him to ha done

1327

he dede of

1329

herbifore om.

1330

In helle that he myȝht hem spylle

1331

crosce as Cryst honged he con c.

1332

his soule ha nome

1333

But ȝet

1334

of h. anowre

1335

the inst. of Godes.

1336

and there i-bonden him f.

1337

is g. is s. ȝode

1338

To helle for hem . hade

1339

longe hadyn

1340

longed to goon out of that styde

1341

ȝatys . alle to-breke

1342

te-dasshed alle . fyndes

1343

The maystri of helle he hede anon

1344

drowgh out alle hisen

1345

beleved his comyng

1346

servid . hert trysti and true

1347

Seche streyngthe wes . I- om. er

1348

shalle be

1349

moost

1350

fynd . this

1351

The fynde was armed f. strong

1352

And wyst f. long

1353

Bote Cryst with his strengthe him o.

1354

And his gret prey

1355

Therfore thus seyth Ysay

1356

And profecyeth

1357

myȝhtfull . byn

1358

no mon may thenk ny syn

1359

ne om. redyn

1360

hert thenk is . dedyn

1361

owt him to

1362

to love. ful om.

1363

He is . shild

1364

and all oure

1368

That he ȝif . savyn

1369

alle oon . dede

1371

han herd

1373

But

1374

clepud . profecy

1375

is to c.

1376

ffor om. Whill he on erthe here to walk nome

1377

fulfylled . thyng

1378

holy . byddyng

1379

Now . shull i-heryn

1380

i-holpe weryn

1381

synged . furst om.

1382

ete

1383

And all that thorgh Adamis kynde gete weryn

1384

bere . we om. beryn

1385

they hadyn his cors

1386

hit myȝht not els falle

1387

furst

1388

fflesshely of him we comy[n] uchon

1389-90

And for the synne that Adam in Paradys dede, All we that of him come shuld ha byn in sory stede

1391

grave (!)

1392

ȝeynbowght thorgh gostli

1393

to om.

1394

alle quemed

1395

by alle ryȝht

1396

That us so helpeth and us so hath dyȝht

1397

he om. wassheth

1398

And forbowght us hevyn to wynne

1399

Ther was never fadur to his child

1400

nas om. meke and myld

1401

ffor from

1402

ȝede

1403

tymes

1404

Er that he to aryse ches

1405

ȝet he rose up on the

1406

Erli in the marnyng on a Sonday

1407

When . to|breke

1408

This beryȝth Seynt Austyn wytnes and thus doth speke.

1409

And Cryst with him drow

1410

levedyn

1411

ffro

1412

And then he

1413

showed sone

1414

ȝete . drong and ȝode

1415

dayes . wes . fully

1416

his lawes sycurli

1417

Opon a day the dysciples were

1418

I-gedred to-gedre all in fere

1419

In a certeyn place ther hem among he come

1420

Of here m. hem he u.

1421

wonhope . they weryn

1422

And ȝet they syen him lyves mon

1423

þo om. ȝet myȝhten they

1424

Verely belevyn hit

1425

But ȝet here dowte to us doth be-heve

1426

ffor hit fasteneth.

1427

ffor to us this dowte is sicurnesse as I fynde

1428

Of the misbeleve of Thomas of Iynde

1430

Beleve that Cryst aȝeyn rysen was

1431

Tyll he hede i-hauled (!) is wondes wyde

1432

Longes

1433

i-syn his wondes . wete

1434

That he hade with nayles thorgh the fete.

1435-6

om.

1437

I wot.

1438

Lord . God

1440

Thu levyst this . syst

1441

I-blessed mote all tho byn

1442

That this belevyth and don hit not syn

1443

Oponliche thyke same day

1444

ffast and sycor he made oure fay.

1445

dysciplys . ȝete

1447

bad . togedur to gon

1448

Thorgh the w. to prechyn uche mon

1449-50

om.

1451

That they shuld be-levyn in God Allmyȝht

1452

And his lawes folewyn as hit is ryȝht

1453

ffadur nome. in₂ om.

1454

holigostys that precedit hem fro

1455

Thawgh mon were now i-boren (eft at þe frome om.)

1456

To h. he myȝht not comen, H. adds: But he beleve in God ryȝht welle, And that shall him save fro helle.

1457-8

ȝef he i-folewed be and be [of] good lyfe, Thawgh he dye his soule shalle be in no stryfe.

1459

ffulle opynly . showeth us beforen

1460

iche . most twyes be boren

1461

And ȝef he shull twyes boryn byn

1462

Onus of oure modur furst we mot be boryn

1463

And efte of the watur of vertu

1464

Therto us ordeyned s. I.

1465

And om. When we this Crystendam han i-wys

1466

Vr sotheli fadur then he is

1467

we alle then . byth.

1468

Sykor un|kyndely he dyth

1469

seche a. ne om. loveth not

1470

He of the appull ȝete never r. n.

1472

Oure herytage

1473

lawes

1474

Of oon p. therof he hath not m.

1475

Ther nere never i-wyst ne holden

1476

Hent he him|selvyn come w.

1477

furst . that ever

1478

He br. . us benome

1479

But another that come fro hevyn without feyn

1480

He hath us get

1481

fflesshely wes the furst m.

1482

myche . apon

1483

out om.

1485

But o. gostili fadur

1486

Browght us aȝeyn

1487

When he downe fro hevyn come

1488

to hye

1489

He that . to the erthe him beyȝh

1490

He that fro. he om. steyȝh

1491

hali . that all folk him seyȝh

1492

That by him stode full nyȝh

1493

The way to us he made i-wys

1494

When he steyȝh to hevyn that holi blysse

1495

A sothefast way and to ever-duryng lyfe

1496

His feyre pray he hadde him wythe

1497

out of h. with him nome

1498

To meche ioy and blys he made hem come

1499

To that ioy and blysse . wynde

1500

Ther to lyvyn w. eynde

1501

dede

1502

is . and byth oon God ther

1503

Thre persons in Trinite

1504

And oon God in unite

1505

well inst. of mon

1507

And thawgh . these

1508

Byn syndry seyd as they shuld be

1509

On . w. dowte

1510

Maker of alle this world withinne and without

1511

Ioy, honoure, worship and lovyng

1512

Be to that God oure hevyn kyng.

Instead of the last vv. in MS. Vernon, H. has the following further passage explaining how Jesus is prince of peace: [This passage is found in the French text, except the 15 tokens, which were added in the Engl. translation, the 2 last (vv. 1597-1612) being, however, adapted from a passage in the Fr., where vv. 1619-46 precede v. 1597.]

Lusteneth ȝet forther of Ysayes spelle, ffor now ȝe han herd me telle How swete Ihesu oure fadur wes: Herkenyth how he is now Prince of Pes. Line 1516 Beforen I tolde ȝow uchon How he is into hevyn i-gon: Ryȝht so, the sothe truly to syggen, He shalle aȝeyn come this world to iuggen, In bodi and soule and Godhede, Line 1521 To deme bothe queke and dede. [vv. 1523-96 added to the Fr.] But fyftene dayes before the dome ffyftene tokyns ther shull come. Line 1524 The furst day the see up ryse shall And stonden on hye as a wall, ffourti cupetys herre i-wys Then eny hill in the world is. Line 1528 That other day heo wole i-sonkyn byn, That eny mon unnethe may here i-syn. The thrid day heo woll be notheles As full as heo furst wes, Line 1532 And then woll whalles and grete fysshes with fynne And all other smale fysshes that byn ther-inne Gedryn hem on the watur uchone; But that wot no mon but God allone What is the betokenyng Line 1537 Of the loude cry and ȝeiyng Thet heo wolleth with loude stevyn ȝevyn and crye up to hevyn. Line 1540 And on the fourthe day heo shall With red fyre brennen alle, And alle other watrys in every stede Shullen brenne as red as eny glede. The fyfthe day the tren that don stonde And floures and erbis in uche londe, Blod thei shullen blede Line 1547 In stede of here dewe, withoute drede. The sixte day byth not bold Palyse ne pylere ne no strong-hold, Castell, toure, boure ne halle, But thei shulle to-skatur and down|falle. Line 1552 The sevynth day the stones uchon Wolle lepe to-gedre and fyȝht anon, That thorwgh the fyȝht that there woll byn Line 1555 The stones woll breke and all to-flyn. The eyȝhte day betokynth gret wrache, All ȝende the world the erthe shall quake, Line 1558 And men wolle flyn into uche hurne, The erthequake shall be so loude and sturne; And on thylke dredfull byttur day [vv. 1561-6 taken from the Fr.] The pepull woll crye weloway, Line 1562 And sey to monteynes: 'falleth on us! Erthe to-clyf and hyde us, That we this fere and erthequake ne syn, Line 1565 How wroth oure creature woll byn.' ffor in alle hye hevyn-blys Non so holi ne so good is, Line 1568 Patryarch, apostelle, ne martire, Confessor, ne virgine with so feyre attyre, Prynce, potestate, ne angell, Ne non so bryȝht archangelle, Line 1572 That nold never synne done, But he shall dredyn aȝeyne that dome; ffulle sore mowe heo then dreden That byth alle full of synfull deden! The nynthe day alle the valeis that byth, Line 1577 And the hylles that we so hye syth, Shull be made smethe and playn, And into here kynde shull they not turne aȝeyn. Line 1580 The tenthe day shull all manere men Gon out of here holes and of here den, And renne abowte as they were wod, As they cowthen nowther evyll ne good, Line 1584 Ne thawgh here hert shulde to-breke, On word myȝht not oon with other speke. The elevynth day the mone and the sterres alle Shulle adown to erthe falle. Line 1588 The twelfthe day the bones of uche ded mon Shull come togedre uchon, Line 1590 Thawgh they be dryvyn nere so wyde, At here byrynes [From A.-S. byrgen] here soules they shull abyde. The threttenyth day all maner men Shull dyen anoon that lyven then, That heo mowe togedre with other aryse Line 1595 And takyn here dome of God ryȝht|wyse. The fourteneth day, ther may no thyng werne, [In Fr., 1597-1618 follow after 1646.] But alle the world on fyre shall berne,

Hevyn and erthe shull byn aleyde, [Fr. enflambirunt] And the foure elementes shull be un|teyede; Line 1600 ffor thike fyre shall clansyn the eyre And makyn all thyng bryȝht and feyre, And all the world shan (!) i-clansed byn; Line 1603 But watur ther shall no mon eft i-syn, Ne never fyre in the world me syth, When that fyre shall ben aquenchith. The fyftenethe day God wol taken Hevyn and erthe, and all hit newe maken, Line 1608 Not otherweys then hem beforen wrowght— Loke thou thenke ne wylle hit nowght— But he wole newen hem i-wys Line 1611 In bettur state then heo weryn i-wys. Ther-aftur Ihesu wole his dome demyn. The angeles shulle come and blowe the bemyn. ffurst shull in body and soule aryse Alle that dyedyn in his servise, And all that eke that shull to the blysse fonde Line 1617 Shul furst aryse and on the ryȝht syde stonde. [In Fr. 1619-46 follow after 1522.] Then shall Ihesu come ryȝht this, And his body tornen and showe to us What peyne he suffred for ur sake Line 1621 And how lodlyche he was for us i-take, Wyth scorges i-betyn withoute gryth, That the blode barst oute on icha lyth, And how vylensli he wes ladde ȝet, With crowne of thornes on his hed set, And how he suffred that the nayles stode Line 1627 Thorgh fete and honden into the rode, And how the spere that him wonded smerte Browght blod and watur from his hert; And then Cryst woll clepe and calle And sey: 'thus myche I suffre[d] for ȝow alle.' Line 1632 Then helpeth ther no pledyng there, Ne forsakyng, ny answere; Ne helpyth us ther castell ne toure, Nowther palyse, halle, ne boure; Line 1636 All thyng then shall torne to nowght That is with monis hond i-wrowght. Ther shull the synfull quake And here tethe togedur hacke and shake. Line 1640 Ther may segge thenne no mon But that uchon shull seyn here mar|tyrdom, And beforyn hym his iuggement sycorly Shall byn i-wryten apertely, [al. Fr.] Line 1644 And allso his synnes ther shull be knowe Tofore alle maner men bothe hie and lowe. [In Fr. here follow 1651-6, 1597-1618.] Then woll swete Ihesu to hem be-syn That shull that day i-saved byn, Line 1648 And sey with mylde stevyn and swete: "When I was hongry ȝe ȝeve me mete, When I was afurst ȝe ȝeve me dryng, When I was nake ȝe ȝeve me clothyng, When I was herberlasse ȝe herberde me fayne, Line 1653 Bothe in heete, in cold, in wynde and rayne, And ȝe comforted me in prison eke, And loked to me when I was seke: Comyth, my blessed children uchon, And receyvyth the blysfull ioy anon That to ȝow byth rewarded withoutyn endenge ffro this worldis begynnyng." Line 1660 Then shulle the blessed byn receyved [r. reysed, Fr. raui] an hyȝhe In hevyn to walke Ihesu nyȝhe. And the cursede shull in erthe byn, Of hevyn-blys they shull no-thyng i|syn, Line 1664 But ȝet wyth the up-receyveng [r. reysyng, Fr. rauissement] they shulle agryse When the saved shull upryse, So wery, so wrecched, so lodlyche, I-charged with synne so hevyleche, That all hevyli on the erthe they shull steke, Line 1669 When [r. O þat? Fr. Deske] thei heryn the domesmonis speke. Wyth gret and grymfull wrathe full sone Thei shull heryn a full hard dome: "Goth with the develys and accurssed bestes, Line 1673 ffor ȝe heded not my lawes and my hestes, Into the fure that shall last for euere; ffor ȝe han disserved here non other!" [Fr. 4 vv. more.] The blessed shull blysfull gon In bodi and soule everichon, Line 1678 As bryȝht as ys the sonne, withoute fayle; Never hem nedeth to have travayle, But ioy and blys that shall laste ever|more. In good tyme the[i] were i-bore Line 1682 That to that feste mowe takyn That God wole with hem in hevyn makyn! So myche ioy shall byn at theke feste, That ever withouten ende shall leste: ȝe, more ioy then hert may thenkyn,

Or eye i-syn, or ȝere i-herkyn; Line 1688 Seche ioy God hath i-grethed there To hem that han loved him here. And when they byth so endeles, Line 1691 Thenne he is aryȝht Prince of Pes. But theke that byth into helle i-nome, Thei shull never out come, And in theke stynkyng deth [r. dep] -pytte Thei shull byn i-pyned and to peyne i-knytte. Line 1696 In gret sorewe and pyne thei byth full sore: ffor thei lyvyn in wanhope evermore [Fr. La premiere peine si ert tristesce] — Thei wolde dyen ȝef thei myȝhte, But ȝet here soule may not thorgh ryȝhte. [vv. 1699-1700 added.] Line 1700 Uchon others peyne shall i-syn, That here peyne shall dowble byn. Another peyne they shull have of derknes, With gret sore and gret hevynes. [Fr. La tierce sera peuur] And the four[th]e is fyre that may not be queynte, Line 1705 And in stynkynge watur they shulle be dreynte, [vv. 1706-8 added.] And pycche wallyng ever among. Wayleway ever shall byn here song. flor hidor or thidur wher-sere heo turne, [Fr. E puis hidur de ver le diable] They syn the foule fynde in uche horne; Line 1710 That he lothest were to syn, He shall ever to-foryn hem byn. And the stenche is over-alle there so strong, [vv. 1713 and 5 added.] And byttur wormys there styketh among, Neddris, snakys and taddis there strykyth, No place shall he there i-syn that him lyketh. Line 1716 Evermore withoutyn ende they shull be wepyng, And wrynge here hondes with gret weyl|yng. [Fr. Cruissant de denz reschinerunt] Then shall the systere sey to the brother, The fremed and the sybbe uchon to other: Line 1720 "A, waryed wrecche, what [H whad] doost thou here? A-cursed be the tyme thou i-boryn were! I may not for nothyng suffre the, So foule thy synne stynketh on me. ffor [mi]-nowne gret synne I styke in pyne, Line 1725 But a thousonde-fold more I suffer for thyne! Ȝe, but thou waryed wrecche forlore, Accurssed be the tyme that thou were i-bore! Line 1728 I am for-styfyd [= stifled] among, Thi synne stynketh on me so strong!" Thus shall uchon to other menyn his sorewe Ever withoutyn ende on evyn and morewe. Line 1732 [vv. 1733-6 added.] Thawgh the[r] sete [H the fete] a mon for the nonys And he myȝht lestyn [H leftyn] in flesshe and bonys, Half the sorewe he myȝht not telle Ne the peynes that byth in helle. Line 1736 Ther is nowther solace ne love i-wys, Ther is wepyng, pyne, and sorewe withoute blys. In theke foule stynkyng pytte Line 1739 They shull in sorowe for ever be knytte. Long is ever and long is oo, But thei shull never come out of wo. [1741-2 added.] The fynde shall here prince byn that they served er, Sore withowten ende peyned they shull be ther.— Line 1744 Ihesu in hevyn, as I seyde before, Is [H As] Pryns of Pes and shall byn ever|more; His pes shall falle [r. faile] never, And his ioy and his blys that is ever. Love, swetnesse, and pley Line 1749 In hevyn hit neweth fro day to day. The furst ioy that there shall byn, The blessed shall hit i-syn Line 1752 The swete face of his Lorde there, His God and his shapere; In his feyreship he may him showen, [Fr. s'esmirra] And all thyng in him may knowen. So full he shall byn of ioy and skyle That he shall have all that he wyle; What-sever he wylneth, withouten gabbe, Line 1759 Be-se on him and he may it habbe. Of hevyn he may i-se the wydnes, The feyreshepe and the heynes; And he may i-se the dereworth quene, Goddis modur so bryȝht and shene, The swete ma[i]de Seynt Marye, Line 1765 And all the feyre company Of angels so feyre and bryȝght, They woll makyn him ioye with here myȝht; Line 1768 The apostlys and the martiris, The confessors and the virginis, Alle wolle him ioy makyn— Well is him that thidur may takyn! And alle is fryndys he shall knowe there Line 1773 That he hede in this world here, ffadur and moder, syster and brother;

Miche ioy everichon shall make with other, Ȝe, more then eny hert may under|stonde, Line 1777 When thei hem syn in theke londe. So myȝhti thei shull byn everuchon That whidur thei wolle thei may gon. [1780 and 1784 to be transp.] And thei shull be so lyȝht and swyft That whidur-sever they thenk they may be lyft. And so slye and crafty [Fr. si sotils] they shull byn alle That thei shull do all thyng that in here hert doth falle. Line 1784 And where-sere the toon the tother metyth, With lovely chere thus he him gretyth: 'I-blessed be the Lord that the wrowght And hidur to this blysse and ioy the browght! Line 1788 I-blessed be the tyme that thou i-bore were, So myche ioy I have that i se the here; So myche blys I see on the That all my blisse neweth me!' Line 1792 Thet other answereth him anonryȝht: 'Ever i-blessed be God Allmyȝht, That seche ioy hath i-ȝeve to the; Therfore my ioy doubleth me. Line 1796 On the I se mychelle ioy and blys, That all my ioy newed is; And ever here is myrthe and gret song, And ever I se oure shapere among, That i-like himselvyn us hath wrowght Line 1801 And sethyn to this ioy us browght! Mi ioy is doubled an hondred-fold, ffor I have all that I wolde.' Line 1804 Meche is the murthe that is at that feste, That ever withoutyn ende shall leste. He that is lest feyre there Shall shyne as the sonne for ere [r. so clere] ; No nyd is thenne that sonne [H sinne] be there i-wys, [v. 1809-10 to be transp.] They shull [r. That shall] shyne seven-sythe bryȝhter then heo now is. When all thei shull be so bryȝht, Then by alle maner of ryȝht Line 1812 He most be feyre and bryȝht and more clere That more deserved that ioy here. So mony wonynges me may ther i-syn, And gret compani of angels that woll ther byn Line 1816 In the ioy so mony and so ryche: In diverse ioyes never oon other i-lyche. [The French text has 54 vv. more at the end.] In which ioyes God, of his hiȝ grace, In hevyn ȝeve ȝow alle a place. Amen.

Here endyth the Castel of Love,
Made i-wys for lewde mennis behove.