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

Page 753

APPENDIX.

A FEW POEMS FROM THE DIGBY MSS. 2 [These were first printed in Herrig's Archiv, 1897.] AND 86, AND ANOTHER LEAF.

DIGBY 2.

1.: Christ on the Cross, p. 753.
2.: Hail Mary! [These are ryme-beginning poems.] p. 755.
3.: A Resolve to Reform, [These are ryme-beginning poems.] p. 756.

DIGBY 86.

4.: Les diz de Seint Bernard, p. 757.
5.: Ubi sunt qui ante nos fue|runt? p. 761.
6.: Chauncon de noustre Dame (Christ's Dialog on the Cross with his Mother), p. 763.
7.: The sawe of Saint Bede, prest, p. 765.
8.: Coment le sauter noustre dame fu primes cuntroue, p. 777.

A LEAF OF MS.

9.: A Confession of Sins, and a Prayer to Christ, p. 785.

1. Christ on the Cross.

(6 stanzas of 10 lines each, abab ccb ccb. þ is for MS. y.)

(1)

                        Hi sike al wan hi singe,
                      
                        for sorue þat hi se:
                      
                        Wan hic wit wepinge
                      
                        bi-holde a-pon þe tre,
                        Line 4 
                      
                        Hi se ihesu mi suete
                      
                        his herte blode for-lete
                      
                        for þe luue of me.
                        Line 7 
                      
                        His wondis wexin wete:
                      
                        Marie milde and sute,
                      
                        þu haf merci of me!
                        Line 10

(2)

                        Hey a-pon a dune,
                        Line 11 
                      
                        as al folke hit se may,
                      
                        a mile wytt-hute þe tune,
                      
                        a-bute þe mid day,
                        Line 14 
                      
                        þe rode was op a-reride:
                      
                        his frendis werin al of-ferde,

Page 754

                      
                        þei clungin so þe cley.
                        Line 17 
                      
                        þe rod stonit in ston,
                      
                        Mari hir selfe al-hon,
                      
                        hir songe was way-la-way.
                        Line 20

(3)

                        Wan hic him bi-holde
                        Line 21 
                      
                        wyt hey and herte boþe,
                      
                        Hi se his bodi colde,
                      
                        his ble waxit alle bloe;
                        Line 24 
                      
                        He honge al of blode,
                      
                        se hey a-pon þe rode,
                      
                        bi-twixin þefis two.
                        Line 27 
                      
                        Hu soldi singe mor?
                      
                        Mari, þw wepe sor;
                      
                        þu wist of al his woe.
                        Line 30

(4)

                        Wel ofte wan hi siche,
                        Line 31 
                      
                        hi make mi mone;
                      
                        Hiuel hic [[? hit]]  may me like,
                      
                        and wondir nis hit non,
                        Line 34 
                      
                        Wan hi se honge hey,
                      
                        Ande bitter peynis drei,
                      
                        Ihesu my lemmon.
                        Line 37 
                      
                        His wondis sor[e] smerte,
                      
                        þe sper his at his herte,
                      
                        Ande þorit his side gon. [MS. rubd] 
                        Line 40

(5)

                        Þe naylis beit al to longe,
                        Line 41 
                      
                        þe smyt his al to sleye,
                      
                        þue bledis al to longe,
                      
                        þe tre his al to heye,
                        Line 44 
                      
                        þe stonis waxin wete:
                      
                        Allas, ihesu, mi suete,
                      
                        feu frendis hafdis þue; [MS. rubd] 
                        Line 47 
                      
                        But sin Ion murnid,
                      
                        And Mari wepnid,
                      
                        þat al þi sorug seys.

                        Line 50

Page 755

50

(6)

                        Wel ofte wan hi slepe,
                        Line 51 
                      
                        wit soru hic ham þoit soit;
                      
                        Wan hi wake and wende,
                      
                        hi þenke in mi þoit,
                        Line 54 
                      
                        Allas þat man beit wode!
                      
                        bi-holdit an þe rode,
                      
                        and silit hic [han broit] [MS. rubd.] 
                        Line 57 
                      
                        Hir souelis in to sin,
                      
                        for any worlde hit [? worldis.]  win,
                      
                        þat was so der hi-boyt.
                        Line 60

2. Hail, Mary! Digby MS. 2, leaf 6, back.

(A ryme-beginning poem. [See Early English Poems and Lives of Saints, in Philol. Soc. Trans. 1872, and note the frequent central rymes here.] 5 stanzas of 8 lines, aaaa abab.)

(1)

                        Hayl, mari! hic am sori:
                        Line 1 
                      
                        haf pite of me, and merci!
                      
                        mi leuedi, to þe i cri:
                      
                        for mi sinnis, dred ham hi,
                        Line 4 
                      
                        wen hi þenke hat hi sal bi,
                      
                        þat hi haf mis hi-don
                      
                        in worde, in worke, in þoith, foli:
                      
                        leuedi, her mi bon!
                        Line 8

(2)

                        Mi bon þu her, leuedi der,
                        Line 9 
                      
                        þat hic aske wit reuful cher!
                      
                        þu len me her, ['lefdi der' follows, dotted under as a mistake.]  wil hic am fer,
                      
                        do penanx in mi praier;
                        Line 12 
                      
                        ne let me noth ler, þat þu ber,
                      
                        at mi nendin day;
                      
                        þe worlais, þai wil be her,
                      
                        fort[to] take þair pray.

                        Line 16

Page 756

16

(3)

                        To take þar pray, alse hi her say
                        Line 17 
                      
                        þai er redi, boyt nite [Note the absence of the guttural gh. Compare Capgrave's Chronicle, and his St. Katharine, E. E. T. Soc.]  and day;
                      
                        so strange er þai, þat we ne may
                      
                        A-gaynis þaim stond, so way la way,
                        Line 20 
                      
                        but þu gif helpus, mitteful [Note the absence of the guttural gh. Compare Capgrave's Chronicle, and his St. Katharine, E. E. T. Soc.]  may,
                      
                        Wit þi sunes grace;
                      
                        Wan þu comes, þai flet a-wai;
                      
                        dar þai not se þi face.
                        Line 24

(4)

                        Þi face to se, þu grant hit me,
                        Line 25 
                      
                        lefdi ful-fillid of pite,
                      
                        þat hi may be in Ioy wit þe,
                      
                        to se þi sone in trinite,
                        Line 28 
                      
                        þat sufferid pine, and ded for me
                      
                        and for al man-kyn:
                      
                        his flesse was sprade on rode tre,
                      
                        to leysus al of sine.
                        Line 32

(5)

                        Of sine and kar, he maked vs bar,
                        Line 33 
                      
                        Wan he þollid pines sar;
                      
                        to drupe and dar, we athe wel mare,
                      
                        alse for þe hondis doyt þe har,
                        Line 36 
                      
                        wan we þenke hu we sal far
                      
                        wan he sal dem vs alle,
                      
                        we sal haf ned[e þan &] þare,
                      
                        a-pon mari to calle, &c.
                        Line 40

3. A Resolve to Reform.

(A ryme-beginning poem. 3 stanzas of 6, aaab ab. þ is for MS. y.)

(1)

                        No more willi wiked be; [folio 15] 
                        Line 1 
                      
                        Forsake ich wille þis world-is fe,
                      
                        þis wildis wodis, þis folen gle;
                      
                        ich wul be mild of chere:
                        Line 4 
                      
                        of cnottis scal mi girdil be,
                      
                        becomme[n] ich wil frere.

                        Line 6

Page 757

6

(2)

                        Frer menur i wil me make,
                        Line 7 
                      
                        and lecherie i wille asake;
                      
                        to ihesu crist ich wil me take,
                      
                        and serue in holi churche,
                        Line 10 
                      
                        all in mi ouris for to wake,
                      
                        goddis wille to wurche.
                        Line 12

(3)

                        Wurche i wille þis workes gode,
                        Line 13 
                      
                        for him þat boyht us in þe rode;
                      
                        from his side ran þe blode;
                      
                        so dere he gan vs bie:
                        Line 16 
                      
                        for sothe i tel him mor þan wode,
                      
                        þat haytit [? for 'hantith,' practises.]  licherie [MS. Digby 86, c. 1275 A.D., leaf 125, back. Bodleian Library.] 
                        Line 18

4. Les diȝ de seint bernard comenceent .I. ci tres beaus. [(Printed before in Anglia, III. 59, etc., by Varnhagen.)]

(9 stanzas of 6, aab, ccb.)

(1)

                        Þe blessing of heuene king,
                      
                        And of his moder, þat swete þing,
                      
                        Mote we all hauen!
                        Line 3 
                      
                        He ous ȝeue good beginning,
                      
                        And clene lif at oure ending;
                      
                        Þat auhte we alle craven.
                        Line 6

(2)

                        Lestneþ me a luitel þrowe,
                      
                        Ȝe þat wilen ou selven cnowe!
                      
                        Ounwis þau ich be,
                        Line 9 
                      
                        .I. shal hou tellen, alse ich can,
                      
                        Wat holy writ spekeþ of man;
                      
                        Lestneþ nou to me!

                        Line 12

Page 758

12

(3)

                        Seint bernard seiþ in his bok,
                      
                        Þa[t] man is werm, and wermes hok,
                      
                        And wermes he shal feden;
                        Line 15 
                      
                        Wen his lif him is bireued,
                      
                        In his rug and in his heued
                      
                        Shulen grisliche wermes breden.
                        Line 18

(4)

                        Þe fles sal melten from þe bon,
                      
                        Þe senewes sundren euerichon,
                      
                        Þe body hit sal defien.
                        Line 21 
                      
                        Ȝe þat wilen þat soþe .I.-seen,
                      
                        Oundoþ þe graues þere þey been,
                      
                        And lokeþ wat þere lien.
                        Line 24

(5)

                        Mon, þou art a feble fom,
                      
                        Ne hauest þou here non siker hom;
                      
                        Ne seye ich þe bote skil;
                        Line 27 
                      
                        Þi riȝte stude is helles wer;
                      
                        Ihesus lete ous comen þer,
                      
                        Þorou his swete wil! [folio 126] 
                        Line 30

(6)

                        Þi fles stont aȝein þi gost:
                      
                        Wen þou shalt deyen, þou ne wost,
                      
                        Nouþer day ne niȝt.
                        Line 33 
                      
                        Nedes costes þou most deyen,
                      
                        Ne may no rauncoun þe forbeyen;
                      
                        Greyþe þe wiles þou miȝt!
                        Line 36

(7)

                        A fikel wind, mon, is þi lif,
                      
                        And deþ draweþ his sarpe knif;
                      
                        Þou do þe sone sriue!
                        Line 39 
                      
                        If þou counne loke riȝt,
                      
                        Ne hauest þou here bote fiȝt,
                      
                        Þe wiles þou art aliue.
                        Line 42

(8)

For nou þou art wrong, nou þou art riȝt, Nou þou art heui, nou þou art liȝt, Þou skippest alse a ro; 45

Page 759

                      
                        Line 45 
                      
                        Nou þou art sek, and nou þou coverest;
                      
                        Nou þou art riche, and nou þou pouerest;
                      
                        Ne is þis muchel wo?
                        Line 48

(9)

                        Þi fles þe seyþ niȝt and day,
                      
                        .I. wile hauen eise wil .I. may;
                      
                        Þi soule þe seiþ nay:
                        Line 51 
                      
                        If ich þe bere to muchel meþ,
                      
                        Þou wilt me bringen helle deþ,
                      
                        And wo þat lasteþ ay.
                        Line 54

(10)

                        Þus hit goþ bitwenen hem two;
                      
                        Þat on seiþ 'let,' þat oþer 'do,'
                      
                        Ne cunneþ hey ne nere bilinnen;
                        Line 57 
                      
                        Wel we mowen alle .I.-seen,
                      
                        Þe soule auhte maister to been,
                      
                        Þe pris hoe hautte to winnen.
                        Line 60

(11)

                        Mon, be þou nout þi self ouncouþ;
                      
                        Loke wat comeþ out at þi mouþ,
                      
                        Ne findest þou non so fouvel dinghep, [altered from 'dinhhep': l. 64 is written after l. 66.]  [folio :2] 
                        Line 63 
                      
                        Þey þou loke al abouten,
                      
                        And elles wer wiþ-houten,
                      
                        Wel hinderliche þou nim þe kep.
                        Line 66

(12)

                        Þou hauest, man, in þat foule hous,
                      
                        A þing þat is wel precious;
                      
                        Wel dere hit wes .I.-bouht:
                        Line 69 
                      
                        Ich helde þe for wilde and wod,
                      
                        If þou letest so muchel god,
                      
                        Þe deuel hauen for nouht.
                        Line 72

(13)

                        Mon, be waker and be wis;
                      
                        If þou doun fallest, sone aris,
                      
                        Ne li þou none stounde:
                        Line 75 
                      
                        Wiþ alle þi miȝte, if þou dost þis,
                      
                        Þi soule seyt, and soþ hit is,
                      
                        Ioye þou hauest .I.-founde.

                        Line 78

Page 760

78

(14: Man's Three Foes. The First, his Flesh.)

                        Mon, þou hauest þre wikke fon;
                      
                        Here nomes con ich euerich on;
                      
                        Nou ich shal tellen alle:
                        Line 81 
                      
                        Þin owene fles, þe world, þe fend;
                      
                        He þat scholde ben þi frend,
                      
                        He doþ þe raþest falle.
                        Line 84

(15)

                        Þou cloþest him wiþ faire sroud,
                      
                        Þou makest þi fomen fat and proud.
                      
                        If ich hit dourste seyen;
                        Line 87 
                      
                        Þou dost þi self wel muchel wrong,
                      
                        Þou makest þi foman fat and strong
                      
                        To fiȝten þe aȝein.
                        Line 90

(16)

                        Þou do bi counsail and bi red;
                      
                        Wiþdrau him hofte of his bred,
                      
                        And luitel ȝef him to drinken;
                        Line 93 
                      
                        Ne let him noþing Idel gon;
                      
                        Þou do him pines mani on,
                      
                        And ofte do him to swinken.
                        Line 96

(17: Man's Second Foe, the World.)

                        To coveitise of mani þing, [folio 126b] 
                      
                        Þe werld þe draweþ; and misliking
                      
                        Hit giueþ þe more and more.
                        Line 99 
                      
                        Fals he his, and feir he semeþ,
                      
                        And alrebest, wen he þe quemeþ,
                      
                        He bindeþ þe wel sore.
                        Line 102

(18)

                        Þou wost þe world shal gon to nout,
                      
                        Ne hauest þou noþing hider ibrout,
                      
                        Ne nout shalt bere wiþ þe;
                        Line 105 
                      
                        Þou shalt alone gon þi way,
                      
                        Wiþ-oute stede and palefray,
                      
                        Wiþ-oute gold and fe.

                        Line 108

Page 761

108

(19: Man's Third Foe, the Fiend.)

                        Þi þridde fo, þat foule wiȝt,
                      
                        Þe fondeþ boþe day and niȝt,
                      
                        Þeron hise gilles alle:
                        Line 111 
                      
                        Þou wost wel he ne loueþ þe nout,
                      
                        He fondeþ to chaunge þi þout,
                      
                        And do þe for to falle.
                        Line 114

(20)

                        Þou wost he ne wille þe no god;
                      
                        He wolde hauen þin herte blod;
                      
                        Þou be war of his hok!
                        Line 117 
                      
                        Do nou also ich haue þe seid,
                      
                        And alle þre sulen ben aleid
                      
                        Wiþ here owene crok.
                        Line 120

(21)

                        If þou seyst þis spelis hard,
                      
                        Ne may .I. nout swech foreward
                      
                        Holden, ne wel drie;
                        Line 123 
                      
                        A litel þing ich axe þe;
                      
                        Þou sei me soþ, par charite,
                      
                        Þer-of þat þou ne lie. [c. 1275. MS. Digby 86, leaf 126, back, col. 1.] 
                        Line 126

5. Ubi sonnt qui ante nos fuerount?

(10 stanzas of 6, aab, ccb.)

(1)

                        Uuere beþ þey biforen vs weren,
                      
                        Houndes ladden and hauekes beren,
                      
                        And hadden feld and wode?
                        Line 3 
                      
                        Þe riche leuedies in hoere bour,
                      
                        Þat wereden gold in hoere tressour,
                      
                        Wiþ hoere briȝtte rode,
                        Line 6

(2)

Eten and drounken, and maden hem glad; Hoere lif was al wiþ gamen .I.-lad, Men keneleden hem biforen; 9

Page 762

                      
                        Line 9 
                      
                        Þey beren hem wel swiþe heye;
                      
                        And in a twincling of an eye
                      
                        Hoere soules weren forloren.
                        Line 12

(3)

                        Were is þat lawing and that song,
                      
                        Þat trayling and that proude ȝong,
                      
                        Þo hauekes and þo houndes?
                        Line 15 
                      
                        Al þat ioye is went away,
                      
                        Þat wele is comen to weylaway,
                      
                        To manie harde stoundes.
                        Line 18

(4)

                        Hoere paradis by nomen here,
                      
                        And nou þey lien in helle .I.-fere;
                      
                        Þe fuir hit brennes heuere:
                        Line 21 
                      
                        Long is ay, and long is ho,
                      
                        Long is wy, and long is wo;
                      
                        Þennes ne comeþ þey neuere.
                        Line 24

(5)

                        Dreȝy here man, þenne, if þou wilt,
                      
                        A luitel pine þat me þe bit;
                      
                        Wiþdrau þine eyses ofte;
                        Line 27 
                      
                        Þey þi pine be oun-rede,
                      
                        And þou þenke on þi mede,
                      
                        Hit sal þe þinken softe.
                        Line 30

(6)

                        If þat fend, þat foule þing,
                      
                        Þorou wikke roun, þorou fals egging,
                      
                        Þere ne þere þe haueþ .I.-cast,
                        Line 33 
                      
                        Oup, and be god chaunpioun!
                      
                        Stond, ne fal namore adoun
                      
                        For a luytel blast! [folio 127] 
                        Line 36

(7)

                        Þou take þe rode to þi staf,
                      
                        And þenk on him þat þereoune ȝaf
                      
                        His lif þat wes so lef:
                        Line 39 
                      
                        He hit ȝaf for þe; þou ȝelde hit him;
                      
                        Aȝein his fo, þat staf þou nim,
                      
                        And wrek him of þat þef!

                        Line 42

Page 763

42

(8)

                        Of riȝtte bileue þou nim þat sheld,
                      
                        Þe wiles þat þou best in þat feld,
                      
                        Þin hond to strenkþen fonde,
                        Line 45 
                      
                        And kep þy fo wiþ staues ord,
                      
                        And do þat traytre scien þat word;
                      
                        Biget þat mvrie [[? MS.]]  londe.
                        Line 48

(9)

                        Þere-inne is day wiþ-houten niȝt,
                      
                        Wiþ-outen ende, strenkþe and miȝt,
                      
                        And wreche of euerich fo;
                        Line 51 
                      
                        Mid god him-selwen eche lif,
                      
                        And pes and rest wiþoute strif,
                      
                        Wele wiþ-outen wo.
                        Line 54

(10)

                        Mayden moder, heuene quene,
                      
                        Þou miȝt and const, and owest to bene
                      
                        Oure sheld aȝein þe fende:
                        Line 57 
                      
                        Help ous sunne for to flen,
                      
                        Þat we moten þi sone .I.-seen,
                      
                        In ioye wiþ-outen hende. Amen!
                        Line 60

6. Channcoun de noustre Dame. (A Dialog between Christ on the Cross and his Mother.) [Printed before in Anglia, II. 253 seq.]

(9 stanzas of 6, aab, ccb.)

(1)

                        "Stond wel, moder, ounder rode,
                      
                        Bihold þi child with glade mode;
                      
                        Moder, bliþe miȝt þou be,"
                        Line 3 
                      
                        "Sone, how may ich bliþe stonde?
                      
                        Ich se þine fet, and þine honde,
                      
                        .I.-nayled to þe harde tre."
                        Line 6

(2)

"Moder, do wey þi wepinge! Ich þolie deþ for monnes kuinde; Wor mine gultes ne þolie .I. non." [folio 127:2] 9

Page 764

                      
                        Line 9 
                      
                        "Sone, ich fele þe deþes stounde;
                      
                        Þat swerd is at min hertes grounde,
                      
                        Þat me byheyte simeon."
                        Line 12

(3)

                        "Moder, do wei þine teres:
                      
                        Þou wip awey þe blodi teres;
                      
                        Hy doþ me worse þene mi deþ."
                        Line 15 
                      
                        "Sone, hou miȝtte ich teres werne?
                      
                        I se þine blodi woundes herne
                      
                        From þin herte to þi fot."
                        Line 18

(4)

                        "Moder, nou .I. may þe seye,
                      
                        Betere is, þat ich one deye,
                      
                        Þen alle mankyn to helle go."
                        Line 21 
                      
                        "Sone, .I. se þi body .I.-swonge,
                      
                        Þin honde, þin fet, þi bodi .I.-stounge:
                      
                        Hit nis no wonder þey me be wo."
                        Line 24

(5)

                        "Moder, if ich þe dourste telle,
                      
                        If ich ne deye, þou gost to helle:
                      
                        .I. þolie deþ for monnes sake."
                        Line 27 
                      
                        "Sone, þou me bi-hest so milde;
                      
                        .I.-comen hit is of monnes kuinde,
                      
                        Þat ich sike, and serewe make."
                        Line 30

(6)

                        "Moder, merci, let me deye,
                      
                        And Adam out of helle beye,
                      
                        And monkin þat is forlore."
                        Line 33 
                      
                        "Sone, wat sal me þe stounde?
                      
                        Þine pinen me bringeþ to þe grounde;
                      
                        Let me dey[e] þe bifore!"
                        Line 36

(7)

                        "Swete moder, nou þou fondest
                      
                        Of mi pine þer þou stondest;
                      
                        Wiþ-houte mi pine nere no mon."
                        Line 39 
                      
                        "Sone, .I. wot .I. may þe telle, [folio 127b] 
                      
                        Hote hit be, þe pine of helle;
                      
                        Of more pine, ne wot .I. non."

                        Line 42

Page 765

42

(8)

                        "Moder of moder, þus .I. fare;
                      
                        Nou þou wost wimmanes kare;
                      
                        Þou art clene mayden on."
                        Line 45 
                      
                        "Sone, þou helpest alle nede,
                      
                        Alle þo þat to þe wille grede,
                      
                        May and wif, and fowel wimmon."
                        Line 48

(9)

                        "Moder, .I. ne may no lengore dwelle,
                      
                        Þe time is comen, .I. go to helle:
                      
                        I þolie þis for þine sake."
                        Line 51 
                      
                        "Sone, .I.-wis .I. wille founde?
                      
                        .I. deye almest; .I. falle to grounde:
                      
                        So serwful deþ nes never non!"
                        Line 54

7. Here biginneþ þe same of Seint bede, prest.

(7 stanzas of 6, aab, aab, or aab, ccb.)

(1; Of Heaven and Hell.)

                        Holi gost, þi miȝtte
                      
                        Ous wisse and rede and diȝte,
                      
                        And help ous and teche
                        Line 3 
                      
                        To witen ous wiþ þe onwiȝtte,
                      
                        Þat bi day and by niȝtte
                      
                        Þencheþ ous bipeche,
                        Line 6

(2)

                        Makeþ ous to don sunne,
                      
                        And abben to monkunne
                      
                        Swiþe muchel honde.
                        Line 9 
                      
                        He þencheþ ous biwinne,
                      
                        And wonien ous wiþinne,
                      
                        And ouer ous habben honde:
                        Line 12

(3)

                        Ac bidde we crist ȝerne
                      
                        Hou þat he hem werne
                      
                        For his mildenesse,
                        Line 15 
                      
                        For hy þat to hem sulen turne,
                      
                        In helle hy shulen forberne,
                      
                        In hewche þesternesse. [folio 127b:2] 

                        Line 18

Page 766

18

(4)

                        We houten oure suppinde
                      
                        Herien of alle þinge,
                      
                        And louien hine wel swiþe,
                        Line 21 
                      
                        For he ous wille werien,
                      
                        Þat fendes ous ne derien,
                      
                        Þat folle beþ of niþe;
                        Line 24

(5)

                        Ne be we nout here
                      
                        Swiþe fele ȝere,
                      
                        Bote we her, we henne wende:
                        Line 27 
                      
                        Makein ous clene and skere,
                      
                        Þat we in heuene, englene fere,
                      
                        Ben ho wiþ-outen ende.
                        Line 30

(6)

                        In heuene, in þe blisse
                      
                        Þat muchel is midiwisse,
                      
                        And lesteþ euere more;
                        Line 33 
                      
                        Þer-inne is reste and lisse;
                      
                        Ne may þer no mon misse,
                      
                        Þat louieþ godes ore.
                        Line 36

(7)

                        Ac hit saiþ in þe gospelle,
                      
                        Ne may non tounge al telle,
                      
                        Þe blisse þat þer is euere,
                        Line 39 
                      
                        Ne þe pine of helle,
                      
                        Þer-to we beþ wel swelle,
                      
                        Awey hit ne hendeþ nevere.
                        Line 42

(8)

                        Þer-inne is chele and hete,
                      
                        And hounger ounimete,
                      
                        And þurst alles to kene;
                        Line 45 
                      
                        Pikede beþ þe shete,
                      
                        And wormes þer beþ kete,
                      
                        To don þe soule tene.
                        Line 48

(9)

Þerinne is wop and woninge, And muchel bimeninge Þat hoe .I.-boren were; [folio 128] 51

Page 767

                      
                        Line 51 
                      
                        Ac þer nis non hendinge,
                      
                        Ne non aȝein-cher-hinge,
                      
                        Þat enes comeþ þere.
                        Line 54

(10)

                        Wel we owen nimen gome
                      
                        He þat elles þider come,
                      
                        And seruen heuene kinge,
                        Line 57 
                      
                        And bidden him .I.-lome,
                      
                        Þat he ous at þe dome,
                      
                        Of here pine bringe.
                        Line 60

(11)

                        Oute we owre sunnen leten,
                      
                        And munien crist, and beten,
                      
                        Of alle oure misdede;
                        Line 63 
                      
                        To doinde hoe beþ swete,
                      
                        For-þy ous is helle ȝete,
                      
                        Helle þat is ounlede.
                        Line 66

(12: aab, aab. The Seven Chief Sius.)

                        Þe seuene heued sunne
                      
                        Þat we beþ ofte wiþinne,
                      
                        Þe soule wolleþ amerre;
                        Line 69 
                      
                        Hoe beþ of swikele kunne,
                      
                        Þermide þe wiþerwinne
                      
                        Ous alle þencheþ to bicherre.
                        Line 72

(13: aaa, bba)

                        Modinesse, and ouerfastnesse,
                      
                        Onde, wrathes, swikelnesse,
                      
                        Hordom, and ȝeuernesse;
                        Line 75 
                      
                        Þis we houten alle ounderstonde,
                      
                        Þat moni men in londe
                      
                        Bringeþ to sorinesse.
                        Line 78

(14: aab, aab)

                        For þis beþ þe seuene
                      
                        Þat bringeþ out of heuene,
                      
                        Swiþe fele monne;
                        Line 81 
                      
                        Þe weyes beþ in hoere wene
                      
                        Mid wepinde steuene;
                      
                        In-to helle hoe shulen þenne. [folio 128:2] 

                        Line 84

Page 768

84

(15: aab, ccb. The Pride of Rich Folk.)

                        Hoe weneþ monie of þise riche,
                      
                        Þat he henglen ben .I.-liche
                      
                        For hoere proude cloþe,
                        Line 87 
                      
                        And þerfore hoe sulen scriken,
                      
                        And in helle siken,
                      
                        And crien hit foul wrothe.
                        Line 90

(16: aab, aab)

                        So weneþ þis wreche,
                      
                        Þat hoe ne weren riche
                      
                        For-þi þat hoe haytte nabbeþ;
                        Line 93 
                      
                        Ac [? MS. 'et': also in other lines.]  satanas þe wreche
                      
                        Þe soule wille drecche
                      
                        Wen hoe ani got habbeþ.
                        Line 96

(17)

                        Þer iche midiwisse
                      
                        Miȝtte comen to blisse,
                      
                        If he hit wolde her nye,
                        Line 99 
                      
                        And þe wreche may wel misse,
                      
                        Bote he his pouernesse
                      
                        In mildenesse þolie.
                        Line 102

(18: The Sins of Monks and Priests.)

                        Þis monekes weneþ soumme,
                      
                        Þat gedereþ garisoumme,
                      
                        Þat hoe hit shulen brouke;
                        Line 105 
                      
                        Ac wene [? MS. At-wene.]  þe deþ shal comen,
                      
                        Hit shal hem ben binomen,
                      
                        Bitaut hoe beþ þe pouke.
                        Line 108

(19)

                        Þe prest þat singeþ masse
                      
                        Þoru godes herienesse,
                      
                        And wot of techinge,
                        Line 111 
                      
                        And þer-of nul don almesse,
                      
                        In euche sorinesse
                      
                        His soule he may bringe.

                        Line 114

Page 769

114

(20: The Sins of Knights.)

                        Þes kniȝttes beþ wel bolde,
                      
                        For hy abbeþ aquolde
                      
                        Here ani cristine were; [folio 128b] 
                        Line 117 
                      
                        For-þi sa[t]anas þe holde
                      
                        Þe soule wil atholde,
                      
                        And makien hire oun i-fere.
                        Line 120

(21: The Sins of Lawyers.)

                        Þes plaidours beþ wel kene,
                      
                        Þat werieþ red and grene.
                      
                        And al þis ounriȝt demeþ:
                        Line 123 
                      
                        Hy shulen, wiþ-houten wene,
                      
                        To helle þat is so kene,
                      
                        Þer þe fendes remeþ.
                        Line 126

(22: The Sins of Chapmen.)

                        Þis chapmen monie bi strete,
                      
                        Hy beþ swikele ounimete,
                      
                        Hy ne reccheþ þan hy swerien
                        Line 129 
                      
                        For to abben here biȝete;
                      
                        For-þi satanas þe kete,
                      
                        Here soule wille derien.
                        Line 132

(23: The Working Bondman.)

                        Of alle men on londe,
                      
                        Mest swinkeþ þe bonde,
                      
                        And mest biȝet mit riȝte;
                        Line 135 
                      
                        If he couþe ounderstonde
                      
                        And teþege riȝt ounder his honde,
                      
                        To crist he comen miȝtte.
                        Line 138

(24)

                        Ac for alle his biswinke,
                      
                        If he may comen to sottes drinke,
                      
                        And stelen cristes teuþinge,
                        Line 141 
                      
                        Sstrong deþ hit wile him þenke,
                      
                        Depe in helle winke
                      
                        His soule he may bringe.
                        Line 144

(25: The Sins of Proud Ladies.)

Þes proude leuedies Þat louen driweries, And breken here spousinge, 147

Page 770

                      
                        Line 147 
                      
                        And doþ to-gabbie,
                      
                        Þat loveden simonie
                      
                        Of eni gode þinge; [folio 128b:2] 
                        Line 150

(26)

                        Hy draweþ here wede,
                      
                        Mid selkene þrede
                      
                        .I.-frendet and .I.-bounde:
                        Line 153 
                      
                        Swart and swiþe ounlede
                      
                        Bemen hy shulen, and grede
                      
                        Depe in helle grounde.
                        Line 156

(27: Lecherous Monks and Nuns.)

                        Monekes and eremites and nonnen,
                      
                        Þat hem witen ne cunnen
                      
                        Wiþ swecche lecherie,
                        Line 159 
                      
                        Hy shulen to þere oun-winne:
                      
                        Alle here cloþes dounne
                      
                        Ne shulen hem warauntie.
                        Line 162

(28)

                        Soþliche al betere him were
                      
                        Þat hy .I.-boren nere,
                      
                        Þat þider shule wende:
                        Line 165 
                      
                        Warin ich ou here;
                      
                        For ȝe þat enes comeþ þere,
                      
                        Þer ȝe beþ ha-bouten hende.
                        Line 168

(29)

                        Aat [MS. Aat for Ac]  hy weneþ libbie
                      
                        And longe sunegie,
                      
                        And þene at þen ende
                        Line 171 
                      
                        Here sunnen al anendie,
                      
                        And birewsie,
                      
                        And seþþen to heuene wende.
                        Line 174

(30)

                        Ne ben ȝe nout so ownriste
                      
                        Nou to ihesu criste,
                      
                        Þer-to ich ou lere;
                        Line 177 
                      
                        For þer nes non þat weste,
                      
                        Wiþ-houten ihesu criste,
                      
                        Wen his hon day were.

                        Line 180

Page 771

180

(31)

                        For ous ne beþ nout so eþe
                      
                        To-ȝeines houre deþe,
                      
                        Þawe ous moowen so wel hede, [folio 129] 
                        Line 183 
                      
                        Ne speken bote ounþewe,
                      
                        For ous beþ stronge and wreþe
                      
                        To beten oure misdede.
                        Line 186

(32)

                        Nout wiþ criste scolde
                      
                        Beten ous þenne on londe
                      
                        To habben houre riȝtte,
                        Line 189 
                      
                        Wen we him seruen nolde,
                      
                        Ne laufoul ben, ne holde,
                      
                        Her we non forþer ne miȝtte.
                        Line 192

(33)

                        Soþliche, wen we beþ dede,
                      
                        Euerich sal fongen mede
                      
                        After his herihinge,
                        Line 195 
                      
                        Bote we ous þe bet bihede,
                      
                        Þe soule hit shal .I.-frede,
                      
                        Þat fareþ to pininge.
                        Line 198

(34)

                        Þe hali me bindeþ,
                      
                        In here me him þringeþ,
                      
                        And bringeþ him hounder erþe,
                        Line 201 
                      
                        Wor meshim .I.-findeþ,
                      
                        To axnen hoe him grindeþ,
                      
                        Þarto hy shulen worþe.
                        Line 204

(35)

                        He liþ and roteþ lowe,
                      
                        He ne haueþ þat be his owe
                      
                        Of aytte ne of londe,
                        Line 207 
                      
                        Ne nowþer mey ne mowe,
                      
                        Þat þer doren a þrowe
                      
                        Bi hem sitten ne stonde.
                        Line 210

(36)

Ac [MS. At] wer beþ þanne his haytte, Þa he here raytte, And in þis lif wonne? 213

Page 772

                      
                        Line 213 
                      
                        Soþliche hy beþ bi-payȝtte,
                      
                        Swecche oþere hoe beþ bitaiȝtte,
                      
                        Lat him no þonk ne cunne. [folio 129:2] 
                        Line 216

(37)

                        Ac wer beþ þenne his ringes,
                      
                        And his proude þinges,
                      
                        And his golt-peinte gloue?
                        Line 219 
                      
                        Wor al his proude þinges,
                      
                        Ne vailleþ him no þinges
                      
                        Þenne to his bihoue.
                        Line 222

(38)

                        Sothliche, naked and bare,
                      
                        Wiþ wop and wiþ kare,
                      
                        Þou come to þisse liue;
                        Line 225 
                      
                        And so ȝe sulen eft-senes fare;
                      
                        .I. saye þe soth wiþ-oute sware;
                      
                        Greyþeþ ou biliue!
                        Line 228

(39: nine lines)

                        Þe salt þe world forleten and lewe, [[? rvmes]] 
                      
                        Þer-of ȝe shulden þenken ene,
                      
                        And oure sunne aquenche
                        Line 231 
                      
                        Mid beden and mid almesse,
                      
                        Wiþ-outen idelnesse,
                      
                        If ȝe miȝtten at-blenche
                        Line 234 
                      
                        From þe sori satanasse,
                      
                        And from his swikelnesse
                      
                        And from his heuele wrenche.
                        Line 237

(40)

                        If þou fallest in sunne,
                      
                        Ne li þou nout þer-inne;
                      
                        Hieþe þe oup to arisen,
                        Line 240 
                      
                        And shend þe wiþerwine
                      
                        Satanas mid his pine,
                      
                        And doþe also þe wise.
                        Line 243

(41)

For mon nohute nout to abbe soule, Wen his wrecche licome In sunnen be .I.-falle, 246

Page 773

                      
                        Line 246 
                      
                        Ac abbeyes houte dome,
                      
                        And ounwren his sunnen .I.-lome,
                      
                        And crist in fuir pineþ alle. [folio 129b] 
                        Line 249

(42: The Good of Shrift.)

                        Þe mon him let wel sriven,
                      
                        And þene fend out driven,
                      
                        Ne þarf him nout shomie,
                        Line 252 
                      
                        For ne beþ in þisse live,
                      
                        Wepmen ne wimmen fiue
                      
                        Þat ofte ne svnegieþ.
                        Line 255

(43)

                        At [? for Ac]  þes modie gome
                      
                        And leuedies and þe ounrome
                      
                        Louteþ hem also þe ounwise,
                        Line 258 
                      
                        And þes ȝounlinges somme,
                      
                        Þey þat hoe to srifte come,
                      
                        Hoe beþ sottes and shomefaste.
                        Line 261

(44)

                        Hy nulleþ soþ tellen,
                      
                        Þan me shulde hem quellen,
                      
                        Hy ounsweren here misdede:
                        Line 264 
                      
                        For-þi hoe shulen in helle
                      
                        Euere gronen and swelle,
                      
                        And euere-mo ben þer-inne.
                        Line 267

(45)

                        Wenne eni gromeþ sore,
                      
                        Þe grome þuncheþ more
                      
                        Þen al hore oþer pine.
                        Line 270 
                      
                        To þe bi prestes lore
                      
                        Nolden herien godes hore,
                      
                        Þenne hoe hit shullen biwine.
                        Line 273

(46: The Last Judgment.)

                        At þe mounte of olifete,
                      
                        Þer we ous shulen alle .I.-mete;
                      
                        Þe gode and þe ounwreste,
                      
                        Þe day worþ milde and sete;
                        Line 277 
                      
                        And bitter unimete
                      
                        To hem þat forlete
                      
                        To don godes heste.

                        Line 279

Page 774

279

(47)

                        Þer cumeþ god on his rode, [folio 129b:2] 
                      
                        And his side his a blode,
                      
                        And seweþ on he ous boute.
                        Line 282 
                      
                        Afered beþ þenne þe gode,
                      
                        And wo is þenne þe ouermode
                      
                        Þat þer-of ne route.
                        Line 285

(48)

                        "Lokeþ," seyþ god nouþe,
                      
                        "Wat ich for ou ouþe,
                      
                        Wat ich for ou gon þolie;
                        Line 288 
                      
                        Luitel þonk ȝe me couþe,
                      
                        Ne mid werke ne mid mouþe
                      
                        Nolden ȝe me þonkie."
                        Line 291

(49)

                        At [For Ac]  he seyþ þenne to þe gode,
                      
                        And to his milde moder,
                      
                        "Ȝe duden gode dede;
                        Line 294 
                      
                        Ȝe me fedden and srudden,
                      
                        And wel me bihedden
                      
                        Þo ich among ou hede,
                        Line 297 
                      
                        And leide me a softe bedde;
                      
                        Þarfore ich ou wole aredde,
                      
                        For nou ȝe habbeþ nede."
                        Line 300

(50)

                        Þe gode segeþ þenne,
                      
                        "Louerd, were and wenne
                      
                        Duden we þe gode deden?"
                        Line 303 
                      
                        "Ȝuse," he seiþ, "þe poure monne,
                      
                        Þo hoe help neden nen,
                      
                        Bote as hoe for me beden;
                        Line 306

(51)

                        "At [For Ac]  ȝe, mine gode midiwisse,
                      
                        To heueriche blisse
                      
                        To-day ȝe shulen wende;
                        Line 309 
                      
                        And þe at our sede, to sorinesse
                      
                        And to suche þesternesse,
                      
                        And þer ben euere, bouten ende."

                        Line 312

Page 775

312

(52)

                        He seiþ þenne to þe wreche,
                      
                        "Ȝe nolden nout hof me recche; [folio 130] 
                      
                        For hounger ich aswal þroute:
                        Line 315 
                      
                        Ȝe nolden me in fecche,
                      
                        Ou self ȝe weren so frecche,
                      
                        So modi and so proude."
                        Line 318

(53)

                        Hoe gredeþ þenne on heye,
                      
                        Þe wrecches and þe ounweye
                      
                        Þat loueden þe ounredes,
                        Line 321 
                      
                        And siggeþ, "louerd, wiþ oure eye
                      
                        We þe neuere ne seye
                      
                        Þer þou nede heuedest."
                        Line 324

(54)

                        God seyþ, "ȝu se mine
                      
                        Povere ounhole hine
                      
                        Þat to oure dore come:
                        Line 327 
                      
                        For chele hoe heueden pine,
                      
                        For hounger hoe gonnen chine;
                      
                        Þer-of ne nome ȝe gome;
                        Line 330

(55)

                        "Þer-of ȝe nolden hede,
                      
                        Ne ȝeuen hem of oure brede,
                      
                        Ne of drinke ne of cloþe:
                        Line 333 
                      
                        To-day ȝe sulen frede,
                      
                        And ounder-fongen mede,
                      
                        For, me ȝe be wel loþe."
                        Line 336

(56)

                        Hoe ȝerreþ þenne and gredeþ;
                      
                        Þe fendes hem forþ ledeþ,
                      
                        Boþe licome and soule,
                        Line 339 
                      
                        Seþeþ hem, and gredeþ,
                      
                        Stikeþ hem and bredeþ
                      
                        Wiþ pikes and wiþ howeles.
                        Line 342

(57)

Þe soule seyþ to onsuare, "Licom, al þou forfare So wrechede and so ounlede, 345

Page 776

                      
                        Line 345 
                      
                        Wor þou ous hauest .I.-wrout þis fare,
                      
                        And .I.-brout ous ewche kare
                      
                        Þat euere we shulen þolie. [folio 130:2] 
                        Line 348

(58)

                        "At [For Ac]  þe gode and þe clene,
                      
                        Þan hoe .I.-seien ous þenne,
                      
                        Al þat cun þat we of come,
                        Line 351 
                      
                        Nulle hoe neuer ene
                      
                        Birewen ne bimene,
                      
                        Ne þar-to nimen gome.
                        Line 354

(59)

                        "Hem self, hoe beþ so bliþe
                      
                        Þat hoe of wone siþe
                      
                        Moten ane day wonie,
                        Line 357 
                      
                        And þonkeþ god swiþe
                      
                        Ofte and monie siþe,
                      
                        Þat hy hit mosten herie."
                        Line 360

(60)

                        At [For Ac]  ȝif we ous wolden vel diȝtte,
                      
                        And leden ous mid riȝtte
                      
                        Þe wiles þat we her were,
                        Line 363 
                      
                        Ich ou sugge and pliȝtte,
                      
                        At þe domes ȝe miȝtte
                      
                        Ben englene fere.
                        Line 366

(61)

                        At [For Ac]  bidde we oure driȝtte,
                      
                        Þat dayes sop and niȝtte
                      
                        Þat do hour soule bote,
                        Line 369 
                      
                        So þat we miȝtte
                      
                        .I.-seiene ben at siȝtte
                      
                        Among þe hengles briȝtte:
                      
                        Amen, so hit be mote! Amen!

                        Line 373

Page 777

8. Coment le santex noustre dame fu primes cuntxoue. [Printed by Horstmann, Altenglische Legenden, 1881, p. 220 seq.]

(1)

                        Leuedi swete and milde,
                      
                        For loue of þine childe
                      
                        Þat is foul of miȝtte,
                        Line 3 
                      
                        Me þat am to wilde,
                      
                        From shome þou me shilde
                      
                        Bi day and eke bi niȝtte! [folio 130b] 
                        Line 6

(2)

                        Ich wille biginnen here,
                      
                        And tellen þe manere,
                      
                        Nou at þisse stounde,
                        Line 9 
                      
                        Of þi sauter here,
                      
                        Mid wel gode chere,
                      
                        Ou hit wes .I.-founde.
                        Line 12

(3)

                        Send me þine grace,
                      
                        Nou in þisse place
                      
                        So wel for to done;
                        Line 15 
                      
                        Ich nou bidde þi grace,
                      
                        And þer-to lif and space;
                      
                        Here nou mine bone!
                        Line 18

(4)

                        Ariche man was wile,
                      
                        Þat nolde none gile;
                      
                        He louede holi chirche;
                        Line 21 
                      
                        Bi sides him a mile,
                      
                        On abbey of seint gile,
                      
                        His helderne gonne werche.
                        Line 24

(5)

God lif þis man ladde; One sone he hadde, Þat gode dedes dede; 27

Page 778

                      
                        Line 27 
                      
                        Wiþ cloþ and wiþ bedde,
                      
                        His sone faire he sredde
                      
                        In þat ilke stede.
                        Line 30

(6)

                        Monk he þere bicom,
                      
                        Wiþ abit he þer nom
                      
                        Bi his fader wille.
                        Line 33 
                      
                        Him louede god and mon,
                      
                        So faire he bigon,
                      
                        Wor euere he wes stille.
                        Line 36

(7)

                        His fader him bimenede
                      
                        Þat he þer-inne wende,
                      
                        So ȝong sholde .I.-wis. [folio :2] 
                        Line 39 
                      
                        He dede after him sende,
                      
                        Þat is nou þat ende,
                      
                        And made him muchel blis.
                        Line 42

(8)

                        A maister hadde his sone,
                      
                        Þat wiþ him wes .I.-come,
                      
                        Cointe .I.-nou and sley;
                        Line 45 
                      
                        Hit wes his .I.-wone,
                      
                        To techen alle and some
                      
                        Þe ordre fer and ney.
                        Line 48

(9)

                        He hede ofte aboute,
                      
                        Wiþ-innen and wiþ-oute,
                      
                        Wiþ þe louerd on day;
                        Line 51 
                      
                        Þe sone he lek þer oute,
                      
                        He hede for to aloute;
                      
                        Tellen ich ou may.
                        Line 54

(10)

                        Þe leuedi ful of miȝtte,
                      
                        Þat bar oure driȝtte,
                      
                        In a chapele þere,
                        Line 57 
                      
                        Bi day and eke bi niȝtte,
                      
                        Out when he comen miȝtte,
                      
                        Were ware he were.

                        Line 60

Page 779

60

(11)

                        Ou alle ich telle may,
                      
                        On houndred, ewche day,
                      
                        He gretingges seyde;
                        Line 63 
                      
                        Wel he held his lay,
                      
                        And þe ordre, bi mi fay,
                      
                        For loue of þat meyde.
                        Line 66

(12)

                        Wel he hedde bi-wrout,
                      
                        Wor god wes his þout,
                      
                        Þat wes wel .I.-sene;
                        Line 69 
                      
                        He ne les hit nohut,
                      
                        Wor he hit hadde about;
                      
                        Þeron his gode bene. [folio 131] 
                        Line 72

(13)

                        Ne let he none stounde
                      
                        Þat he ne fel to grounde,
                      
                        And on kne was bat,
                        Line 75 
                      
                        And þoute of þe wonde
                      
                        Þat god for al þe mounde
                      
                        On rode heuede .I.-sprad.
                        Line 78

(14)

                        On houndret, to þe meyde,
                      
                        Aue maries he seyde,
                      
                        Bi tale heche daye,
                        Line 81 
                      
                        Ne hit nout ne aleyde;
                      
                        Ac so wel he pleyde,
                      
                        Riȝt soþ for to saye,
                        Line 84

(15)

                        Þat he sau wel briȝtte,
                      
                        Oure leuedi foul of miȝtte,
                      
                        A settres-day .I.-wis,
                        Line 87 
                      
                        Were hoe sat wel riȝtte,
                      
                        .I.-cloþed half bi siȝtte,
                      
                        And seyde to him þis:

                        Line 90

Page 780

90

(16)

                        "Mi monk, ne dred þe nout,
                      
                        For .I. þe haue .I.-bout,
                      
                        And þe ich wille take;
                        Line 93 
                      
                        Þou hauest so goed-ful wraut,
                      
                        Ne worst þou nout bikaut;
                      
                        Goed ne shal þe lake.
                        Line 96

(17)

                        "Ich þonke þe her nouþe,
                      
                        Þat þou, wiþ þine mouþe,
                      
                        Me hauest .I.-paied wel;
                        Line 99 
                      
                        Bi norþe and eke bi [souþe] [The right lower corner of the MS. has come unpasted, and has fallen off. The words are supplied from the Auchinleck MS. in A Penniworth of Witte, Abbotsford Club, ed. D. Laing, and Altenglische Legenden, 1881, p. 221-3.] 
                      
                        Hit shal ben w[el (i)couþe]
                      
                        Þine dedes [euerich del].
                        Line 102

(18)

                        "Ac þou m[ost more say]
                      
                        Wor[me now euche day]
                      
                        Fifti al bi score [folio 131:2] 
                        Line 105 
                      
                        Of aue maries,
                      
                        Fifti on day þries,
                      
                        Wite nou were-fore.
                        Line 108

(19)

                        "Þat is riȝt mi sauter,
                      
                        And þou shalt witen her,
                      
                        Hou hit shal ben do:
                        Line 109 
                      
                        Fifty sege bi-fore,
                      
                        Tene euere bi score,
                      
                        And on anteme þerto,
                        Line 112

(20)

                        "In tokning of þe blisse
                      
                        Þat fel me mid i-wisse
                      
                        Þo þe aungele to me com,
                        Line 115 
                      
                        And seyde me tidinge,
                      
                        Þat of me sholde springe
                      
                        He þat is god and mon.

                        Line 118

Page 781

118

(21)

                        "After, say wel sone,
                      
                        Fifti mid idone,
                      
                        Al for þat ilke blisse
                        Line 121 
                      
                        Þat he wiþ-outen [sore] [Corner of the MS. gone.] 
                      
                        Wolde of me ben [bore]
                      
                        Þat þou þer [of ne misse]
                        Line 124

(22)

                        "Þer-aft[er þou shalt say]
                      
                        Eft [fifti euche day]
                      
                        Bi [þine fingres ten]
                        Line 127 
                      
                        O[f aue maries]
                      
                        [Euche day þries]
                      
                        [Telle hit fele men!]
                        Line 130

(23)

                        ["Fifti at þen ende,]
                      
                        [For I shude wende]
                      
                        [To mi sone þo,]
                        Line 133 
                      
                        [For blis and for to amende,]
                      
                        [Þat he to me gan sende]
                      
                        To me comen and go.
                        Line 136

(24)

                        "He broute me to blisse,
                      
                        Þat neuer ne shal misse,
                      
                        In þat ilke stounde.
                        Line 139 
                      
                        Blesced be þat time,
                      
                        Þat alle brovte of pine,
                      
                        Þat weren þerinne .I.-bounde!"
                        Line 142

(25)

                        "A, leuedi, .I. þe grete,
                      
                        For þou art fair and swete,
                      
                        And goed to serui wel;
                        Line 145 
                      
                        Graunte me þin ore,
                      
                        Wor .I. shal euere more
                      
                        Don þis euerich del.

                        Line 148

Page 782

148

(26)

                        "If ich dourste and couþe,
                      
                        Ich wolde .I.-witen nouþe,
                      
                        Leuedi, here of þe,
                        Line 151 
                      
                        Wi þe failleþ gore,
                      
                        Sleue, and nammore
                      
                        Of cloþ þat ich .I.-se."
                        Line 154

(27)

                        "Þis cloþ þou me ȝeue
                      
                         [Corner of the MS. gone.] [On Se]ttresday aȝein eue,
                      
                        [Þorou] Aue maries.
                        Line 157 
                      
                        [Þo þou] me gvnne greten,
                      
                        [And nolde] to sugen leten
                      
                        [Twies e]wche dayes.
                        Line 160

(28)

                        ["For þou most say more]
                      
                        [Þries fifti bi score,]
                      
                        [Al-so .I. teld þe,]
                        Line 163 
                      
                        [To-day a seveniȝtte]
                      
                        [.I.-clothed al ariȝtte]
                      
                        [Þou shalt me fair .I.-se]
                        Line 166

(29)

                        ["Be here of al scille,]
                      
                        [And say wiþ gode wille]
                      
                        Alle þe gretinges; [folio 131b:2] 
                        Line 169 
                      
                        And I shal þe bringe
                      
                        From mi sone, þe kinge,
                      
                        Þanne gode tidinges."
                        Line 172

(30)

                        Marie wente away,
                      
                        And þe monke euche day
                      
                        Seyde, riȝt þre siþes,
                        Line 175 
                      
                        Mid wel gode wille,
                      
                        Boþe loude and stille
                      
                        Þese Aue maries.

                        Line 178

Page 783

178

(31)

                        Þat day a seveniȝtte,
                      
                        Oure leuedi foul of miȝtte
                      
                        To þat moneke com,
                        Line 181 
                      
                        .I.-cloþed swiþe briȝtte
                      
                        In þat wede al riȝtte,
                      
                        And þonkede þat mon:
                        Line 184

(32)

                        "Fair is, lo, mi wede,
                      
                        For bedes þat þou bede,
                      
                        And þou hauest quemet me:
                        Line 187 
                      
                        Mi sone þe wille rede,
                      
                        Þat noþing þe nadrede,
                      
                        Here ich hit telle þe.
                        Line 190

(33)

                        "Vuene þou art home .I.-come,
                      
                        Þou shalt Abbot bicome,
                      
                        For þin Abbot shal deye.
                        Line 193 
                      
                        Haue euere in þi wone
                      
                        To suggen mi coustome,
                      
                        Þine Aues euche daye.
                        Line 196

(34)

                        "Wend ouer al aboute
                      
                        [A]nd preche inne and oute
                      
                        [Þat] þis is mi sauter;
                        Line 199 
                      
                        [For al] þat euche day
                      
                        [Wille þis] for me saye,
                      
                        I shal hem ben wel ner. [folio 132] 
                        Line 202

(35)

                        "Monek, ich telle hit þe,
                      
                        Þat þou most, al for me,
                      
                        Wenden wide wore,
                        Line 205 
                      
                        And telle þis tidinge,
                      
                        And mine sone bringe
                      
                        Wel fele him bifore.
                        Line 208

(36)

"Wor þoru Aue maries Þat mon shal sayen þries In þe worshipe of me, 211

Page 784

                      
                        Line 211 
                      
                        I shal hem helpen alle
                      
                        Þat to me wilen kalle,
                      
                        For soþ ich telle hit þe.
                        Line 214

(37)

                        "Nis non þat shal deien,
                      
                        Þat wille þries seien
                      
                        Þese Aue maries,
                        Line 217 
                      
                        Wiþ-outen hosel and srifte,
                      
                        Bi daye ne bi niȝtte,
                      
                        Wor none folies;
                        Line 220

(38)

                        "He shal in euche place
                      
                        Wel finden mi grace
                      
                        At his liues ende;
                        Line 223 
                      
                        And he shal hauen space,
                      
                        And finden godes grace,
                      
                        Him al to amende.
                        Line 226

(39)

                        "Gon ich wille henne:
                      
                        Sey hit to mani menne
                      
                        Þis, and make hit couþ,
                        Line 229 
                      
                        Wor seue ȝer after þis
                      
                        Þou shalt deye .I.-wis,
                      
                        Ich telle hit þe wiþ mouþe,
                        Line 232

(40)

                        "So longe is þi time
                      
                        To holden þe and þine,
                      
                        And hem for to teche; [folio 132:2] 
                        Line 235 
                      
                        After þat, of pine
                      
                        Þou worst .I.-brout wiþ mine,
                      
                        Wor .I. shal ben þi leche.'
                        Line 238

(41)

                        Marie wente away;
                      
                        Þe monek rod niȝt and day,
                      
                        Folk to gode bringe;
                        Line 243 
                      
                        Þoru þis ilke þinge
                      
                        And þoru his prechinge,
                      
                        Goed wes þe tidinge.

                        Line 244

Page 785

244

(42)

                        Nou ich bidde here
                      
                        Ou alle wiþ godes chere
                      
                        Þat ȝe suggen þries,
                        Line 247 
                      
                        Wiþ wel gode wille,
                      
                        Boþe loude and stille
                      
                        Þese Aue maries. [(Les ounsse peines de enfer follow, which Stengel printed in his Catalog of this MS.)] 
                        Line 250

A Confession of Sins, and a Prayer to Christ. [From a cut-down leaf of a late 14th-century MS., sent by the Rev. J. R. Burton, Headmaster of Kidderminster Grammar School, to the Deputy-Keeper of MSS. at the British Museum, Mr. G. F. Warner, who kindly showd it to me, and got Mr. Burton's leave for me to copy and print it.]

                      
                        Swete ihesu crist, to þe,
                      
                        Copable wrecche ich ȝelde me,
                      
                        Of sennes þat ich habbe ydo
                      
                        Yn al my lyue hider-to,
                        Line 4 
                      
                        In pride, yn wraþþe, in vyl enuye,
                      
                        Yn glotonye, yn lecherye,
                      
                        Yn sleuþe, lord, yn þy seruyse,
                      
                        And of þis wordles coueytise:
                        Line 8 
                      
                        To ofte ich habbe, yn myne lyue,
                      
                        Ysenȝed wit my wittes fyue,
                      
                        Wit eren yhered, wit eȝen syȝt,
                      
                        Wit senfol speche dey & nyȝt,
                        Line 12 
                      
                        Wit cleppinges, wit kessenge also,
                      
                        Wit hondes yhandled, wit fet ygwo,
                      
                        Wit herte senfolliche yþoȝt,
                      
                        Wit al my body euele y wroȝt;
                        Line 16 
                      
                        And of al my [grete] folye,
                      
                        Mercy, lord, mercy, ich crye!
                      
                        Al-þaȝ ich senȝede euere,
                      
                        Lord, ich for-soc þe neuere.
                        Line 20 
                      
                        Ȝef þou me none med[e]
                      
                        Efter my senful dede, [. . . . .]

Page 786

                      
                        Ak efter, lord, þy grete [pite], [[back]] 
                      
                        Lord ihesu, asoyle þou me,
                        Line 24 
                      
                        And send me ofte, er [y deye],
                      
                        Sorȝe of herte and teres o[f eȝe]
                      
                        For sennes þat ich habbe [ido]
                      
                        Yn al my lyue hider[to];
                        Line 28 
                      
                        And let me neuere b[e so nice]
                      
                        To do no maner dede [of vice],
                      
                        So þat ich, at myn end[yng day]
                      
                        Clene of senne deye [may],
                        Line 32 
                      
                        Srifte and housele at [myn ende],
                      
                        Þat my saule mote [wende]
                      
                        Yn-to þat blisse of [hevenriche]
                      
                        Þer þou regnest, lo[rd, ]. [[Two lines are no doubt left out after l. 22: the sense wants, 'If thou rewardest me according to my sinful deeds, I must go to hell,' or some equivalent words to make a couplet.]] 
                        Line 36

About this Item

Pages

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APPENDIX.

A FEW POEMS FROM THE DIGBY MSS. 2 [These were first printed in Herrig's Archiv, 1897.] AND 86, AND ANOTHER LEAF.

1. Christ on the Cross.

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2. Hail, Mary! Digby MS. 2, leaf 6, back.

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3. A Resolve to Reform.

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4. Les diȝ de seint bernard comenceent .I. ci tres beaus. [(Printed before in Anglia, III. 59, etc., by Varnhagen.)]

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5. Ubi sonnt qui ante nos fuerount?

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6. Channcoun de noustre Dame. (A Dialog between Christ on the Cross and his Mother.) [Printed before in Anglia, II. 253 seq.]

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7. Here biginneþ þe same of Seint bede, prest.

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