Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 [extracts]

IX. ANCRENE WISSE (CORPUS MS.)

B. THE OUTER RULE

Ȝe mine leoue sustren bute ȝef neod ow driue & ower [f. 112 v] meistre hit reade · ne schulen habbe na beast bute cat ane. Ancre þe haueð ahte · þuncheð bet husewif ase Marthe wes · ne lihtliche ne mei ha nawt beo Marie marthe suster wið griðfullnesse [f. 113 r] of heorte. for þenne mot ha þenchen of þe kues foddre · of heorde [ 5] monne hure · Olhnin þe heiward · wearien hwen he punt hire · & ȝelden þah þe hearmes. ladlich þing is hit wat crist hwen me makeð i tune man of ancre ahte. Nu þenne ȝef eani mot nedlunge habben hit · loki {that} hit namon ne eili ne ne hearmi · ne {that} hire þoht ne beo nawiht þron ifestnet. ancre ne ah to habben na þing {that} utward drahe hire [ 10] heorte. Na chaffere ne driue ȝe · ancre {that} is chepilt · {that} is · buð forte sullen efter biȝete · ha chepeð hire sawle þe chapmon of helle. þing þah {that} ha wurcheð ha mei þurh hire meistres read{punctel} for hire neode sullen · hali men sumhwile liueden bi hare honden.

Nawt deore dehtren ne wite ȝe in ower hus of oðer monne [ 15] þinges · ne ahte ne claðes · ne boistes · ne chartres · Scoren ne cyrograffes · ne þe chirch uestemenz · ne þe calices · bute neode oðer strengðe hit makie{punctel} oðer muchel eie. Of swuch witunge is muchel vuel ilumpen ofte siðen. IN wið ower wanes ne leote ȝe namon slepeN ·

ȝef muchel neod mid alle makeð breoken ower hus · hwil hit eauer is [ 20] ibroken · habbeð þrinne wið ow a wummon of cleane lif deies ant nihteS. FOR þi {that} wepmen ne seoð ow ne ȝe ham · wel mei don of ower clað beo hit hwit beo hit blac bute hit beo unorne · warm & wel iwraht · felles wel itawet · & habbeð ase monie as ow to neodeð to bedde & to rugge. [ 25]

Nest flesch ne schal nan werien linnene clað bute hit beo of hearde & of greate heorden. Stamin habbe hwa se wule · hwa se wule beo buten. Ȝe schulen in an hetter ant igurd liggen · swa leoðeliche þah {that} ȝe mahen honden put [f. 113 v] ten þer under. Nest lich nan ne gurde hire wið na cunne gurdles: bute þurh schriftes leaue. Ne [ 30] beore nan irn ne here · ne ilespiles felles · ne ne beate hire þer wið{punctel} ne wið scurge i leadet · wið holin ne wið breres · ne biblodgi hire seolf{punctel} wið ute schriftes leaue · nohwer ne binetli hire · ne ne beate bi uoren · ne na keoruunge ne keorue · ne ne neome ed eanes to luðere disceplines · temptaciuns forte acwenchen · ne for na bote [ 35] aȝein cundeliche secnesses · nan uncundelich lechecreft ne leue ȝe ne ne fondin · wið uten ower meistres read{punctel} leste ow stonde wurse. Ower schon i winter beon meoke · greate & warme. I sumer ȝe habbeð leaue bearuot gan & sitten & lihte scheos werieN · Hosen wið ute vampez{punctel} ligge in hwa se likeð · Ischeoed ne slepe ȝe nawt · ne [ 40] noh wer bute i bedde. Sum wummon inohreaðe wereð þe brech of here ful wel icnottet · þe streapeles dun to þe vet ilacet ful feaste · ah eauer is best þe swete & te swote heorte. Me is leouere {that} ȝe þolien wel an heard word{punctel} þen an heard here. Ȝef ȝe muhen beo wimpelles & ȝe wel wullen{punctel} beoð bi warme cappen · & þer uppon hwite oðer blake veiles. [ 45] Ancren summe sungið in hare wimplunge{punctel} na leasse þen leafdis. Ah þah seið sum {that} hit limpeð to euch wummon cundeliche forte werien wimpel · Nai · wimpel ne heaued clað nowðer ne nempneð hali writ{punctel} ah wriheles ane · Ad corinthios · Mulier uelet caput suum · Wummon seið þe apostle schal wreon hire heaued. wrihen he seið [ 50] nawt wimpliN. wrihen ha schal hire scheome · as eue sunfule dohteR · i mungunge of þe sunne {that} schende us on earst alle · ant nawt drahe þe wriheles to tiffunge & to prude · Eft wule [f. 114 r]

þe apostle {that} wummon wreo i chirche hire neb ȝetten · leste uuel þoht arise þurh hire onsihðe · Et hoc est propter angelos. hwi þenne [ 55] þu chirch ancre iwimplet openest þi neb to wepmonnes ehe{punctel} toȝeines þe sist men{punctel} spekeð þe apostle · ȝef þu þe ne hudest. ah ȝef {that} ei þing wriheð þi neb from monnes ehe · beo hit wah beo hit clað · i wel i rund windowe · wel mei duhen ancre of oðer wimplunge. Toȝeines þe þe þus ne dest{punctel} spekeð þe apostle nawt toȝeines oþre · {that} [ 60] hare ahne wah wriheð wið euch monnes sihðe. þer awakenið ofte wake þohtes of · & werkes oðerhwileS. Hwa se wule beon isehen{punctel} þah ha atiffi hire nis nawt muche wunder{punctel} ah to godes ehnen ha is lufsumre{punctel} þe is for þe luue of him{punctel} untiffet wið uteN. Ring ne broche ne habbe ȝe · ne gurdel imembret · ne glouen ne nan swuch [ 65] þing {that} ow ne deh to habben. A meoke surpliz ȝe mahen in hat sumer werien. Eauer me is leouere se ȝe doð greattre werkes. Ne makie ȝe nane purses forte freondin ow wið · bute to þeo {that} ower meistre ȝeueð ow his leaue · ne huue ne blod binde of seolc · ne laz buten leaue · Ah schapieð & seowið & mendið chirche claðes · & poure monne hettren. [ 70] na swuch þing ne schule ȝe ȝeouen wið uteN schriftes leaue · namare þen neomen · {that} ȝe ne seggen him fore{punctel} as of oðre þinges · kun oðer cuððe · hu ofte ȝe under uengen · hulonge ȝe edheolden. tendre of cunne limpeð nawt ancre beonne. A mon wes of religiun · & com to him efter help his fleschliche broðer · & he tahte him to his þridde [ 75] breðer · þe wes dead biburiet. Þe ondswerede wundrinde · Nai quoð he nis he dead? ant ich quoð þe hali mon [f. 114 v] am dead gaste∣liche. Na fleschlich freond ne easki me fleschlich froure. Amices & parures · worldliche leafdis mahen inoh wurchen · ant ȝef ȝe ham makieð{punctel} ne makie ȝe þrof na mustreisun · veine gloire attreð alle [ 80] gode þeawes · & alle gode werkes. Criblin ne schal nan of ow for luue ne for hure. Taueles ne forbeode ich nawt. Ȝef sum riueð surpliz oðeR measse kemese{punctel} oþre riuunges ne riue ha nawt nome∣liche oueregede · bute for muche neode. Helpeð ow wið ower ahne swinc se forð se ȝe eauer mahen to schriden ow seoluen & feden ȝef [ 85] neod is · & þeo þe ow seruið. As sein Jerome leareð · ne beo ȝe neauer longe ne lihtliche of sum þing allunges idel · for anan rihtes þe feond beot hire his werc þe i godes werc ne swinkeð · & tuteleð anan toward hire. foR hwil he sið hire bisi{punctel} he þencheð þus · for nawt ich schulde nu cume neh hire{punctel} ne mei ha nawt iȝemen to lustni [ 90]

mi lare. Of idelnesse awakeneð muchel flesches fondunge. Ini∣quitas Sodome{punctel} saturitas panis & ocium · {that} is · SodomeS cwedschipe com of idelnesse & of ful wombe. Irn {that} lið stille gedereð sone rust · weater þe ne stureð nawt{punctel} readliche stinkeð.

Ancre ne schal nawt forwurðe scolmeistre · ne turnen ancre hus to [ 95] childrene scole · hire meiden mei learen sum oðer meiden · {that} were pliht of to leornin amonge wepmen · oðer bimong gromes. ah ancre ne ah to ȝemen bute godd ane · þah bi hire meistres read ha mei sum rihten & helpen to learen. Ȝe ne schulen senden leattres · ne underuon leattres · ne writen bute leaue. Ȝe schulen beon i doddet · [ 100] oðer ȝef ȝe wulleð ischauen fowr siðen i þe ȝer · to lihtin ower heaued · beo bi þe her ieueset{punctel} [f. 115 r] hwa se swa is leouere · ant as ofte ileten blod & ȝef neod iS{punctel} oftre · Þe mei beo þer buten{punctel} ich hit mei wel þolien. Hwen ȝe beoð ilete blod{punctel} ȝe ne schule don na þing þe þreo dahes {that} ow greueð · ah talkið to ower [ 105] meidnes · & wið þeawfule talen schurteð ow to gederes. Ȝe maheN swa don ofte hwen ow þuncheð heuie{punctel} oðer beoð for sum worltlich þing sare oðer seke · þah euch worltlich froure is unwurðe to ancre. Swa wisliche witeð ow in ower blodletunge{punctel} & haldeð ow i swuch reste{punctel} {that} ȝe longe þrefter mahen i godes seruise þe monluker swinken · [ 110] ant alswa hwen ȝe feleð eani secnesse. Muchel sotschipe hit is leosen for an dei{punctel} tene oðer tweolue. Vesscheð ow hwer se neod is as ofte as ȝe wulleð · & ower oþre þinges. Nes neauer fulðe godd leof · þah pouerte & unorneschipe beon him licwurðe. VNder∣stondeð eauer of alle þeose þinges · {that} nan nis heast ne forbod {that} [ 115] beoð of þe uttre riwle · þet is lute strengðe of. for hwon {that} te inre beo wel iwist as ich seide i þe frumðe · þeos mei beon ichanget hwer se eani neod oðer eani skile hit easkeð · efter {that} ha best mei þe leafdi riwle seruin as hire eadmode þuften · ah sikerliche wið uten hire þe leafdi feareð to wundre. Ancre þe naueð nawt neh [ 120] honde hire fode{punctel} beoð bisie twa wummen. An eauer þe leaue ed hame{punctel} an oþer þe wende ut · hwenne driueð neod · & þeo beo ful

unorne wiðuten euch tiffunge · oðer a lutel þuftene{punctel} oðer of feier ealde. Bi þe wei as ha geað{punctel} ga singinde hire beoden · ne ne halde na tale wið mon ne wið wummon · ne sitte ne ne stonde · bute {that} [ 125] leaste þet ha eauer mei ear þen ha ham cume. Nohwider elles ne ga [f. 115 v] heo bute þider as me send hire · wið ute leaue · ne ne eote ha ne ne drinke ute · Þe oþer beo eauer inne · ne wið ute þe ȝeten: ne ga wið ute leaue. Ba beon obedient to hare dame in alle þing · bute i sunne ane · na þing nabben þet heo hit nute · ne underuo na [ 130] þing · ne ne ȝeoue nowðer{punctel} wið uten hire leaue. Na mon ne leote ȝe in · ne þe ȝungre ne speoke wið namon bute leaue · ne ga ha nawt ut of tune: wið uten siker fere · ȝef hit swa mei beon{punctel} ne ne ligge ute. ȝef heo ne con oboke{punctel} segge bi pater nostres · ant bi auez hire ures · & wurche {that} me hat hire wið ute gruchunge. habbe eauer hire [ 135] earen opene toward hire dame. Nowðer of ȝe wummen ne beore from hare dame · ne ne bringe to hire nane idele talen{punctel} ne neowe tidinges · ne bitweonen ham seolf{punctel} ne singen ne ne speoken na ne worldliche spechen · ne lahhen swa ne pleien{punctel} þet ei mon {that} hit sehe {punctel} mahte hit to uuel turnen. Ouer alle þinges leasunges & luðere wordes [ 140] heatien. hare her beo icoruen · hare heaued clað sitte lahe · eiðer ligge ane. Hare cop beo hehe isticchet · & bute broche. na mon ne seo ham unleppet ne open heaued. lah locunge habben. Heo ne schulen cussen na mon · ne cuðmon ne cunnes mon · ne for na cuððe cluppen · ne weschen hare heaued · ne lokin feaste o na mon{punctel} ne toggin [ 145] wið ne pleien. Hare weden beon of swuch schape · & al hare aturn swuch{punctel} þet hit beo edscene hwerto ha beoðiturnde. Hare lates lokin warliche · {that} nan ne mahe edwiten ham{punctel} in hus ne ut of hus. On

alle wise forbeoren to wreaðen hare dame · & as ofte as heo hit doð{punctel} ear ha drinken oþer eoten{punctel} makien [f. 116 r] hare venie · o cneon [ 150] dun biuoren hire & seggen · mea culpa · & underuon þe penitence {that} ha leið up on hire lutinde hire lahe. Þe ancre þrefter neauer mare {that} ilke gult ne upbreide for na wreaððe · bute ȝef ha eft sone falle i {that} ilke · ah do hit allunge ut of hire heorte. Ȝef ei strif ariseð bitweone þe wummen{punctel} þe ancre makie eiðer to makien oþer venie o cneon to þer [ 155] eorðe · & eiðer rihte up oþer{punctel} & cussen on ende · ant te ancre legge on eiðer{punctel} sum penitence · mare up o þe ilke þe greatluker gulte. Þis is a þing witen ha wel {that} is gode leouest{punctel} Sahtnesse & some · & te feond laðest · for þi he is eauer umben to arearen sum leaððe. Nu sið þe sweoke wel · {that} hwen fur is wel o brune{punctel} & me wule {that} hit aga{punctel} [ 160] me sundreð þe brondes · & he deð nond {that} ilke. luue is ihesu cristes fur · {that} he wule {that} bleasie aa i þin heorte · ant te deouel blaweð forte puffen hit ut. Hwen his blawunge ne geineð nawt · he bringeð up sum uuel word · oðer sum oþer nohtunge · hwer þurh ha to hurten eiðer frommard oþer · & te hali gastes fuR cwencheð hwen þe [ 165] brondes þurh wreaððe beoð isundret. for þi halden ham i luue feaste to gederes · Ant ne beo ham nawt of hwen þe feond blawe · nomeliche ȝef monie beon iueietsomet{punctel} & wel wið luue ontende. Þah þe ancre on hire meidnes for openliche gultes legge penitence{punctel} to þe preost noðe∣leater schriuen ham hwen neod is · ah eauer þah wið leaue. Ȝef ha [ 170] ne cunnen nawt þe mete graceS · seggen in hare stude{punctel} pater noster biuoren{punctel} & aue Maria · & efter mete alswa · ant a Credo mare · & segge þus on ende · feader · Sune · hali gast al mihti godd · ȝeoue ure dame his grace · [f. 116 v] se lengre se mare · & leue hire & us ba neomen god ende · for ȝelde alle þe us god doð · & milci hare sawle þe us god [ 175] idon habbeð · hare sawle & alle cristene sawleS.

Bitweone mel ne gruchesi ȝe nawt · nowðer frut ne oðerhwet{punctel} ne drinken bute leaue . & te leaue beo liht in al {that} nis sunne. Ed te mete na word · oðer lut{punctel} & teo stille. Alswa efter þe ancre complie · aþet prime · ne don na þing ne seggen{punctel} hweR þurh hire silence mahe [ 180] beon isturbet. Nan ancre seruant ne ahte bi rihte to easkin iset hure · bute mete & hure {that} ha mei flutte bi{punctel} ant godes milce. Ne mis leue nan godd{punctel} hwet se tide of þe ancre · {that} he hire trukie. þe meidnes wið uten ȝef ha seruið þe ancre alswa as ha ahen · hare hure schal beon þe hehe blisse of heouene. Hwa se haueð ehe of hope toward [ 185] se heh bure{punctel} gleadliche wule ha seruui & lihtliche alle wa · & alle teone þolien. wið eise & wið este ne buð me nawt bliSSe.

Ȝe ancres ahen þis leaste stucche reden to ower wummen euche wike eanes · aþet ha hit cunnen. Ant muche neod is {that} ȝe neomen to ham muche ȝeme · for ȝe mahen muchel beon þurh ham i godet · & [ 190] iwurset. On oðer half ȝef þet ha sungið þurh ower ȝemeles{punctel} ȝe schule beo bicleopet þrof biuore þe hehe deme · & for þi as ow is muche neod · & ham ȝet mare{punctel} ȝeornliche leareð ham to halden hare riwle · ba for ow & for ham seolf{punctel} liðeliche & luueliche · for swuch ah wummone lare to beonne · luuelich & liðe · & selthwenne sturne. Ba is riht {that} ha [ 195] ow dreden & luuien · ant þah {that} ter beo eauer mare of luue{punctel} þen of drede · þenne schal hit wel fearen · Me schal healden eoli & win ba i wunden efter godes lare · ah mare of softe eoli{punctel} þen of [f. 117 r] bitinde win . {that} is Mare of liðe wordes{punctel} þen of suhinde · for þer of kimeð þinge best{punctel} {that} is luue eie. lihtliche & sweteliche foRȝeoued [ 200] ham hare gultes · hwen ha ham icnaweð & bihateð bote. Ase forð

as ȝe mahen of mete & of claðes · & of oþre þinges þet neode of flesch easkeð{punctel} beoð large toward ham{punctel} þah ȝe nearowe beon & hearde to ow seoluen. Swa deð þe wel blaweð{punctel} went te nearewe of þe horn to his ahne muð{punctel} ant utward {that} wide. Ant ȝe don alswa as ȝe wulleð {that} [ 205] ower beoden bemin wel & dremen{punctel} i drihtines earen · nawt ane to ower ahnes{punctel} ah to alle folkes heale · as ure lauerd leue þurh þe grace of him seolf {that} hit swa mote ameN. Hwen ower sustres meidnes cumeð to ow to froure{punctel} cumeð to ham to þe þurl{punctel} earunder & ouer-under · eanes oðer twien · & gað aȝein sone{punctel} to ower note gastelich [ 210] ne biuore Complie ne sitte ȝe nawt for ham ouer riht time · swa {that} hare cume beo na lure of ower religiun{punctel} ah gastelich biȝete. ȝef þer is eani word iseid {that} mahte hurten heorte{punctel} ne beo hit nawt iboren ut{punctel} ne ibroht to oþer ancre{punctel} {that} is eð hurte. To him hit schal beon iseid{punctel} þe lokeð ham alle. Twa niht is inoh {that} ei beo edhalden · ant {that} beo [ 215] ful seldene · ne for heom ne breoke silence ed te mete{punctel} ne for blod∣letunge · bute ȝef sum muche god oðer neod hit makie. Þe ancre ne hire meiden ne plohien 'nane' worldliche gomenes ed te þurle · ne ne ticki to gederes · foR ase seið seint Beornard. vnwurðe þing is to euch gastelich mon · & nomeliche to ancre{punctel} euch swuċh fleschlich [ 220] froure · & hit binimeð gastelich {that} is wið ute met utnume murhðe · & {that} is uuel change as is iseid þruppe.

Of þis boc redeð hwen ȝe beoð eise euche dei{punctel} leasse oðer mare. Jch hopie {that} hit [f. 117 v] schal beon ow ȝef ȝe hit redeð ofte{punctel} swiðe biheue{punctel} þurh godes muchele grace · elles ich hefde uuele bitohe [ 225] mi muchele hwile. Me were leouere godd hit wite do me toward rome{punctel} þen forte biginnen hit eft forte donne. Ȝef ȝe findeð {that} ȝe doð alswa as ȝe redeð{punctel} þonckið godd ȝeorne · ȝef ȝe ne doð nawt{punctel} biddeð godes are · & beoð umben þeronuuen {that} ȝe hit bet halden efter ower mihte. [ 230]

Feader · Sune · hali gast · an almihti godd wite ow in hiS warde · he gleadie ow & frouri ow mine leoue sustren · ant for al {that} ȝe for him dreheð & dreaieð · ne ȝeoue ow neauer leasse · þen al to gedere him seoluen · Beo he aa iheiet from world in to worlde aa on ecnesse · AMeN. Ase ofte aS ȝe habbeð ired eawiht her on{punctel} greteð þe leafdi [ 235] wið aN aue{punctel} for him {that} swonc her abuten · Jnoh meaðful ich am þe bidde se lutel · ¶ Explicit · Jþench o þi writere i þine beoden sum chearre{punctel} ne beo hit ne se lutel. Hit turneð þe to gode{punctel} {that} tu bidest for oþre.

Notes

• 75. to his] is on erasure.
• 76. breðer] er on erasure.
• 77. Before nis, d erased.
• 104. After beoð, al greiðe struck out.
• 120. towundre MS.
• 141. laḥhe MS.
• 161. hond MS.
• 177. gruchesi] ch on an erasure.
• 191. ȝef above þurh deleted.
• 225. godes] d corr. out of g MS.