Kleine publicationen aus der Auchinleck-Hs. 1. Lob der frauen. 2. A peniworth of witte. 3. Zwei fragmente von King Richard. 4. Die Assumptio Mariae in der schweifreimstrophe. 5. Ueber die sieben todsunden. 6. Das Vater unser. 7. Psalm L. 8. Die feinde des menschen. 9. The king of Tars. [Englische Studien 7-11 (1884-1889)]

Die feinde des menschen.

I.

Þe siker soþe who so seys, [f. 303b] Wiþ diol dreye we our days [v. 2 diol] dwl T(urnbull).] & walk mani wil ways As wandrand wiȝtes. Al our games ous agas, [ 5] So mani tenes on tas Þurch fonding of fele fas, Þat fast wiþ ous fiȝtes. Our flesche is fouled wiþ þe fende; Þer we finde a fals frende: [ 10] Þei þai heuen vp her hende, Þai no hold nouȝt her hiȝtes. Þis er þre, þat er þra, Ȝete þe ferþ is our fa, Deþ, þat derieþ ous swa [ 15] & diolely ous diȝtes. [v. 16 dwlely T.]

II.

Þis world wileþ þus, y wat, Þurch falsschip of fair hat; [v. 18 falschip T.] Where we go bi ani gat, Wiþ bale he ous bites. [ 20] [v. 20 he] om. T.] Now kirt, now care, Now min, now mare, Now sounde, now sare, Now song, now sites, Now nouȝt, now ynouȝ, [ 25] Now wele, now wouȝ, Now is in longing, þat louȝ, Þat o þis liif lites; Now geten, now gan— [v. 29 gentē, n unterpunktet, ms., gete T.] Y tel it bot a lent lan, [ 30] When al þe welþ of our wan Þus oway wites.

III.

Now vnder, now ouer, Now cast, now couer, Now plente, now pouer, [ 35] Now pine, now plawe, Now heþen, now here, Now feble, now fere, Now swift, now swere, Now snelle, now slawe, [ 40] Now nouȝt, now ynouȝ, Now fals, now frouȝ, Þe warld tirneþ ous touȝ [v. 43 tirueþ ms.] Fram wawe to wawe, Til we be broyden in a brayd, [f. 303c] [ 45] Þat our lickham is layd In a graue, þat is grayd [v. 47 zwischen der vorhergehenden und folgenden zeile nachgetr.] Vnder lame lawe.

IV.

When derne deþ ous haþ ydiȝt, [v. 49 ydiȝt] auf rasur geschrieben; dight T.] Is non so war no so wiȝt, [ 50] [v. 50 no] non T.] Þat he no felles him in fiȝt, As fire doþ in tunder. Þer nis no letting at lite, Þat he no tilles til him tite; [v. 54 tittes ms. til] al T.] Þat he haþ sammned in site, [ 55] [v. 55 samned T.] Sone wil he sunder. [v. 56 wel ms.?] Noiþer he stintes ne stokes, [v. 57 he] be T.] Bot ay prickes & prokes, Til he vnclustri al þe lokes, Þat liif ligges vnder. [ 60] When y tent til him take, Hou schuld ich ani mirþe make Or wele in þis warld wake? Ywis, it were wonder!

V.

Deþ, þat deries ous ȝete [ 65] & makes mani wonges wete, Þer nis no liif, þat he wil lete, To lache, when him list. When he is lopen, out of les, No pray noman after pes; [ 70] For non giftes, þat ges, Mai no man til him trist. Our gode frendes haþ he fot Our put þe pouer to þe pot & ouer him yknett his knott [ 75] Vnder his clay kist. Derne deþ opon þe ȝong, Wiþ þe to striue, it is strong: Y wold be wreken of mi wrong, [v. 79 mi] vn T.] Ȝif y way wist! [ 80]

VI.

When þou has gaderd & yglened, [v. 81 ygleued T.] Long ly opon & lened, [v. 82 lened T.] Sparely þi gode spened & loþ for to lete: Þe war leuer swelt vnder sword, [ 85] Þan parti of þi peni hord; Þou wringest mani wrang word Wiþ wanges ful wete, & deþ dinges o þi dore, Þat nedes schal be þi neiȝebore [ 303d] [ 90] & fett þe to fen fore Foule vnder fete, For al þe craft, þat þou can, & al þe wele, þatow wan, Þe mock & þe mad man [ 95] No schul þai neuer mete.

VII.

Seþthorn;en font ous fra filþ wesche, [v. 97 ous] s ü. d. z. geschr. wesche] wasche, a unterpunktet und e übergeschr.] Our fa haue founde we our flesche [v. 98 fonde T.] Wiþ mani fondinges & fresche, & four sum of fendes. [ 100] [v. 100 sum] danach ein buchst. ausradirt.] Is nan so þra of hem þre, Þat ma merres þan he, [v. 102 he] me ms.] Bisier mai nan be, To bring ous out bendes. [v. 104 out] t ü. d. z. geschr.] Man, mene þou þi mis, [ 105] Trowe trustly on þis, Þou no wat neuer, ywis, In world whare þou wendes, No wat gat þatow gas! Þis four er redi on þi pas.— [ 110] [v. 110 er] ar T.] Now haue y founden þi fas: Finde tow þi frendes!