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

XIX. SAINT JULIANA

(ROYAL MS.)

Her cumseð þe uie of seinte iuliane. ant telleð of [f. 56 r] liflade hire.

IN ure lauerdes luue þe is feader of frumschaft. ant on his deorewurðe sunes nome. ant o þes hali gastes. {that} glideð of ham baðen. alle lewede men. {that} understonden ne mahen latines ledene. [ 5] liðin. & lustnin ane meidenes liflade. {that} is of latin iturnd into englisch. {that} te lif hali lefdi. in heouene luuie us þe mare. ant of þis lihinde lif: leade us wið hire ern [f. 56 v] dunge. þe is icoren of crist in to þe eche of heouene.

Þeos meiden. ant tis martir. wes iuliane inempnet. in nichomedes [ 10] burh. & of heðene cun icumen. ant hire fleschliche feder wes affrican ihaten. of þe heðene mest þeo {that} cristene weren{punctel} derfliche droh ham to deaðe. ah heo as þeo {that} te heouenlich feder luuede. leafde al hire aldrene lahen. & bigon to luuien þene liuiende lauerd þe lufsum godd. {that} wisseð ant weldeð al {that} is on worlde{punctel} & al {that} iwraht is. Þa wes [ 15] biþon time as redegunge telleð. Maximian þe modi keiser ine Rome heinde ant heriende heðene mawmez. wið unmeð muchel hird & unduhti duheðe. & for demde alle þeo{punctel} þe on drihtin bilefden. þes Maximian luuede an heh mon of cunne ant eke riche of rente elewsius wes ihaten. ant weren as feolahes þurh muche freontschipe. [ 20] þis meidenes feder & he. weren swiðe wel to gederes. as he sumchere iseh hire utnume feir. ant freoliche. he felde him iwundet. {that} wið uten

lechnunge of hire libben he ne mahte. Affrican wiste wel {that} he wes freo boren. & {that} him walde bicumen a freo boren burde. ant ȝettede him his dohter. & wes sone [f. 57 r] ihondsald al hire unwilles. ah [ 25] heo truste on him þat ne trukeneð namon{punctel} {that} trusteð treowliche on him. ant euch deis dei eode .to ch'i'rche to leornen godes lare. ȝeornliche to witen hu ha mahte best witen hire unweommet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ah as ha wende hire summes weis to witene{punctel} sende him to seggen. {that} nalde [ 30] ha lihten swa lahe ne nehlechen him for nan liuiende mon. er þen he were under Maximian hehest in rome {that} is hehreue. Sone so he iherde þis. he bi ȝet et te keiser {that} he ȝettede him reue to beonne as {that} he iȝirnd hefde. ant he as me þa luuede. lette leaden him into cure . & te riche riden in. & tuhen him ȝont te tun{punctel} from strete to. strete. [ 35] ant al þe cur wes bitild. {that} he wes in. wið purpre wið pal. & wið [34, 36. ture tur MS.] ciclatun. & deorewurðe claðes. as þe {that} heh þing hefde to heden. ant [37. ciclatur MS.] þa he hefde þis idon{punctel} he sende hire to seggen. {that} he hefde hire wil iwraht. & heo schulde his wurchen.

Iuliane þe edie iesu cristes leouemon of his blisfule luue balde [ 40] hire seoluen. sende him to onswere [f. 57 v] bi an of hire sonden. Elewsius wite þu hit wel ireadi. wraðði so þu wraðði. no lengre nulich hit heolen þe. ȝef þu wult leauen þe lahen {that} tu list in. ant leuen in godd feder. & in his deorewurðe sune. & iþe hali gast. ichulle wel neomen þe. ȝef þu nult no{punctel} þu art wundi of me. & oðer luue sech þe. [ 45] Þa þe reue iherde þis{punctel} he wreððede him swiðe. & hire feder cleopede. ant feng on to tellen him. hu his dohter droh him from deie to deie. ant efter {that} he wende to habben his iwil so ha him þis word sulliche sende. Bi {that} ilke godd quoð hire feder {that} me is lað to gremien beo hit soð {that} tu seist to wraðer heale seide ha hit. ant nu ichulle o great [ 50]

grome al biteachen hire þe. to wurchen þi wil. & al {that} te wel likeð as mit tin ahne. & me cleopede hire forð biuoren hire feder. & he feng feire to fondin his dohter Mi deorewurðe dohter hwer fore uor sakestu þi sẏ. ant ti selhðe. þe weolen ant te wunnen {that} walden awakenin ant waxen of þi wedlac. {that} ich þe to reade. for he is inoh [ 55] lauerd elewsius ine rome. & tu maht beon leafdi dohter ȝef þu wel wult. Iuliane þe eadie onswerede him & seide as þeo þat [f. 58 r] ine godd hire hope hefde. ȝef he wule leuen an god al mihti. þenne mei he speoken þrof & inoh raðe speden. ant ȝef {that} he nule nawt. ne schal wiuen on me. wiue þer his wil is. þa hire feder iherde þis{punctel} [ 60] þa feng he to swerien. Bi mi kinewurðe lauerd apollo. ant bi mi deore leafdi diane. {that} ich muche luuie. ȝef þu haldest her on. ichulle leoten deor to teoren ant to luken þe. & ȝeouen þi flesch{punctel} fuheles of þe lufte. Iuliane him onswerede & softeliche seide. ne wen þu nawiht leoue feder. {that} tu affeare me swa. for iesu crist godes sune [ 65] {that} ich on leue & luuie as lauerd lufsumest on liue. þah ich beo forbernd. & to loken limel. nulich heronont buhen þe nawiht Þa feng eft hire [feder] on wið olhnunge to fondin ȝef he mahte eisweis wenden hire heorte. & seide hire lufsumliche. {that} ne schulde ha nane wunne lihtliche wilnin{punctel} {that} he ne schulde welden. wið {that} ha walde hire þonc wenden [ 70] Nai quoð {that} meiden schuldich don me to him {that} is alle deoulen bitaht. & to eche deð idemet. to furwurðen wið him world abuten ende. for his wedlakes weole oðer for eni wunne. for soð ich hit segge un wurð is hit me. ichulle {that} he hit wite wel. ant tu [f. 58 v] eke mid him {that} ich am iweddet to an {that} ichulle treowliche to halden ant wið uten les [ 75] luuien. þe is unlich him. & alle worldlich men. ne nullich him nowðer leauen. ne lihen for weole ne for wunne. for wa. ne for wunne þet ȝe mahen don me. þa feng hire feder te wreððen swiðe ferlich & swiðe hokerliche freinede. Me hwet is he þes were {that} tu art to iweddet. {that} tu hauest wið uten me þine luue ilene[t] for hwam þu letest lutel of [ 80] [80. ilenet] MS. defective here.]

{that} tu schuldest luuien. ne ich neuer {that} ich wite nes wið him icnawen. For gode quoð þet meiden þin harm is þe mare nawt forþi þet tu nauest ofte iherd of him ȝare. {that} is iesu godes sune. þe forto lesen moncun {that} forloren schulden beon{punctel} lette his deo'r'wurðe lif on rode. ne ich ne seh him neuer {that} me sare for þuncheð. ah ichim luuie ant [ 85] leue as on lauerde. ne schal me firsin him from{punctel} nowðer deouel ne mon. For mi lif quoð hire feder þe schal laðin his luue for þu schalt beon ibeaten. mid besmes swa bittre {that} tu wummon were. schal to wraðer heale iwurðen. Swa muche quoð ha ich iwurðe him þe [89. wraðel MS.] leouere{punctel} So ich derure þing for his luue drehe. {that} ti wil is{punctel} wurch nu. [ 90] & he het hatterliche strupen hire steortnaket. & beten hire swa luðere {that} hire leofliche lich{punctel} liðeri al oblode. & swa ha duden so luðere {that} te blod ȝet adun of þe ȝerden. & heo bigon to ȝeien. Beaten so ȝe beaten ȝe beliales bu [f. 59 r] deles. ne mahe ȝe nowðer mi luue ne min bileaue lutlen toward him mi lufsum leof mi leowinde lauerd ne [ 95] nullich leauen ower read {that} for readeð ow seoluen. ne ower mix mawmex {that} beoð þes feondes fetles heien ne herien. for teone ne for tintreow {that} ȝe mahen timbrin. Na quoð he is hit swa hit schal sutelin [98. schal] salch MS.] sone. for ichulle biteachen mislich þi bodi to elewsium þe riche reue irome ant he schal for swelten ant for reden þe efter es wille wið [ 100] allescunnes pinen. ȝe quoð þis meiden {that} mei crist welden. for ne mahe ȝe nawt don me bute hwet he wule þeauien ow to muchelin mi mede & te murðe {that} lið to meiðhades menske for euer so ȝe mare merrið me her{punctel} so mi crune bið brihtre & fehere. for ichulle bliðeliche drehen euer euch derf for mi deore lauerdes luue. ant softe me [ 105] bið euch derf hwen ich him serui þah þume to elewsium willes biteache{punctel} ne ȝeue ich for inc nowðer. {that} ȝe me mahen harmen. for so ȝe mare me her harmeð. so mare ȝe me helpeð seoueuald to heouene.

& ȝef ȝe me doð to deaðe hit bið me deorewurðe ant ich schal þer þurh bliðe bicumen into endelese blissen ant ȝe schulen wrecches [ 110] áwei ower wurðes {that} ȝe iboren weren sinken to wraðer heale ow to þe bale bitter deope into helle. Hire feder affrican þurh þis bittre teone bitahte hire to elewsium þe luðere [f. 59 v] reue. ant he lette bringen hire biuoren him to his heh seotel as he set in dome as reue of þe burhe . . . [ 115]

[f. 61 r] þa elewsius iseh þis {that} ha þus feng on to festnen hire seoluen þohte {that} he walde anan don hire ut of dahene & bed swiðe bringen hire brune of wallinde breas ant healden on hire heauet {that} hit urne endelong hire leofliche bodi dun to þe helen ant swa me dude sone. ah hire hende healent wiste hire unweommet. elewsius [ 120] warð wod ut of his witte. ant nuste hwet seggen & het swiðe don hire ut of his ehsihðe. & dreihen hire into darc hus & prisunes pine. ant he duden sone. Heo as ha þrinne wes in þeosternesse hire ane feng te cleopien to crist ant bidden þeos bone.

Lauerd godd al mihti. mi murhðe ant mi mede mi sy ant mi [ 125] selhðe þu isist hu icham bistaðet ant bi stonden festne mi bileaue steor me ant streng me. for al mi strencðe is uppon þe. mi fedeR. & mi modeR for ich nulle for saken þe{punctel} habbeð for saken me & al mi nest falde cun me heaneð þet schulden mine freond beon{punctel} beoð me mest feondes ant mine hinen me beoð mest heauen ah habbich þin [ 130] anes help icham wil cweme ne leaf þume neuer liuiende lauerd as þu wistest daniel bimong þe wode leuns ant te þreo chil [f. 61 v] dren

ananie zacharie misael inempnet. bi wistest unweommet from þe ferliche fur of þe furneise swa þu wite ant witen me to witen me from sunne. lauerd þurh þis lease lif{punctel} lead me to lestinde to þe hauene [ 135] of heale as þu leddest israeles folc þurh þe reade sea buten schip druifot ant hare fan senchtest {that} ham efter sohten afal þumine famen ant to drif drihtin þen deouel {that} me derueð. for ne mei na mon wið uten þi strencðe stonden him aȝeines lef me {that} ich mote i seon him ȝet schent{punctel} {that} weneð me to schrenchen ant schunchen of þe [ 140] weie{punctel} {that} leadeð to eche lif. wite me from his lað ant wið his crefti crokes. wite me wið mine unwines {that} tu beo euer iheret ant iheiet in heouene ant in eorðe beo þu áá iblescet as þu were ant art. ant euer schalt beon in eche blisse. amen.

XIX. SAINT JULIANA

(BODLEIAN MS.)

I þe feaderes & i þe sunes & i þe hali gastes Name. [f. 36 v] Her Biginneð þe liflade. ant te passiun of seinte Juliene.

In ure lauerdes luue þe feader is of frumscheft. ant iþe deore wurðmunt of his deorewurðe sune. & iþe heiunge of þe hali gast. þe of ham ba glideð. an godd unagin euch godes ful. Alle leawede [ 5] [5. bað̣ẹ MS.] men. þe understonden ne muhen latines ledene. lideð & lusteð þe liflade of a meiden. [f. 37 r] {that} is of latin iturnd{punctel} to englische leode. wið þon þat teos hali leafdi. in heouene luuie us þe mare. & þurh þis lihnide lif{punctel} leade us to {that} eche. þurh hire eadi erndunge. {that} crist is swiðe icweme. [ 10]

Þeos meiden & teos martyr {that} ich of munne{punctel} wes Juliene inempnet. i Nichomedese burh. Al of heaðene cun icumen & akennet. [12. Alḷ MS.] & hire fleshliche feader affrican hehte. þe heande & heascede mest men þe weren cristene. & droh ham þurh derue pinen to deaðe. Ah heo as þeo {that} te hehe heouenliche lauerd hefde his luue ilenet. leafde [ 15] [15. ileuet MS.] hire ealdrene lahen & bigon to luuien þen áá liuiende goð þe lufsume lauerd. {that} schupte alle sche'a'ftes & wealdeð & wisseð efter þet his wil is. al {that} ischeapen iS.

Wes iþon time as þe redunge telleð. þe modi Maximien keiser irome. heriende. & heiende heaðene maumez. wið unimeað [ 20] muchel hird. & wið heh duheðe. & fordemde alle þeo þe o drihtin bilefden. Þes mihti maximien luuede an eleusium biuoren monie of his men. Akennet of heh cun. & swiðe riche of rente. & ȝunge mon of ȝeres. þes ȝunge mon eleusius. {that} þus wes wel wið þe kinge. hefde iunne feolahschipe to affrican. & wes iwunet ofte to cumen wið him [ 25] [25. inune MS.] [f. 37 v] to his in. & iseon his dohter.

As he hefde en chere bihalden swiðe ȝeorne hire utnumne feire. & freoliche ȝuheðe{punctel} felde him iwundet in wið in his heorte wið þe flan þe of luue fleoð. swa {that} him þuhte þet ne mahte he nanes

weis wið ute þe lechnunge of hire luue libben. Ant efter lutle [ 30] stounde wið ute longe steuene. wes him seolf sonde to affrican hire feader. & bisohte him ȝeorne {that} he hire ȝeue him. & he hire walde menskin wið al {that} he mahte. As þe þing i þe world {that} he meast luuede. Affrican wiste {that} he wes swiðe freo iboren. ant walde wel bicumen him a freo iboren burde. & ȝetede him his bone. Ha wes [ 35] him sone i hondsald þah hit hire unwil were. AH ha truste upon him [36. After were, al erased.] {that} ne truked na mon. ha trewliche him truste on. & eode to chirche euche daheðes dei. to leornin godes lare. biddinde ȝeorne wið reowfule reames. {that} he wissede hire o hwuche wise ha mahte witen hire meiðhað. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [ 40]

Ah heo forte werien hire wið him summe 'h'wile: [f. 38 r] sende him to seggen. {that} nalde ha nawt lihten se lahe to luuien. Ne nalde ha neolechin him for na liuiende mon. ear þen he were under Maximien. hehest i Rome. {that} is heh reue. He ase timliche as he hefde iherd þis. biȝet ed te Keiser þet he ȝette him al {that} he walde. [ 45] & lette as me luuede þa leaden him i cure up o fowr hweoles. & teon him ȝeonte tun þron from strete to strete. Al þe cure ouertild {that} he wes itohen on{punctel} wið purpres & pelles. wið ciclatuns & cendals & deorewurðe claðes. AS þe {that} se heh þing hefde to heden. ant se riche refschipe to rihten & to readen. þa he hefde þus idon. sende hire þus [ 50] to seggen hire wil he hefde iwraht. Nu his ha schulde wurchen. Juliene þe eadie ihesu cristes leofmon of his blisfule luue balde hire seoluen, & sende him al openliche bi sonde to seggen. þis word ha [53. al] ṭọ al MS.] send te for nawt þu hauest iswechte. wreaðe se þu wreaðe. Do {that} tu do wult nule ich ne ne mei ich lengre heolen hit te ȝef þu wult [ 55] leauen. þe lahen þet tu liuest in ant leuen i godd feader. & in his deorwurðe sune. & i þe hali gast folkene froure. an godd [f. 38 v] {that} is igret wið euches cunnes gode{punctel} Ich chule wel neome þe. & ȝef {that} tu nult no{punctel} þu art windi of me. & oðer luue sech þe. Þa þe hehe reue iherde þis ondswere{punctel} bigon to wreðen swiðe. & cleopede hire [ 60] feder forð. & feng on to tellen. hwuch word ha sende him. Efter {that} he wende forte habben idon al {that} he wilnede. Affrican hire feader wundrede him swiðe. & bigon to swerien. bi þe ilke godes {that} me is lað to gremien. beo hit soð {that} tu seiist{punctel} to wraðer heale. ha sehð hit. ant

ich wulle o great grome al biteachen hire þe. & tu do hire. al {that} tu [ 65] wult. He þonkede him. & heo wes icleopet forð. & affrican hire feader feng on earst feire on{punctel} to lokin ȝef he mahte wið eani luue speden. Juliene quoð he mi deorewurðe dohter. sei me hwi þu forsakest þi sy & ti selhðe? þe weolen & te wunnen. þe walden awakenen. & waxen of þe wedlac {that} ich reade þe to: hit nis nan [ 70] [70. ṭreade MS.] eðelich þing. þe refschipe of rome. ant tu maht ȝef þu wult. beon burhene leafdi. & of alle þe londes þe þer to liggeð. Juliene þe eadie ontswerede him & seide. ȝef he wule luuien. & leuen g'o'dd. al mihti{punctel} þenne mei he [speoken] þrof. & speden inoh reaðe. for ȝef he {that} nule no{punctel} ich segge þe {that} soð is. ne schal he wiuen on me. Sei nu [ 75] hwet ti wil is. affrican wreaðede & [f. 39 r] swor swiðe deopliche. for þe drihtfule godd apollo mi lauerd. & mi deore leafdi þe deorewurðe diane {that} ich muche luuie. ȝef þu haldest her on{punctel} ich schal leote wilde deor to luken & toteore þe & ȝeoue þi flesch fode to fuheles of þe lufte. Juliene him ondswerede. & softeliche seide. Ne lef þu [ 80] nawt leoue feader {that} tu offeare me swa{punctel} ich swerie aȝein. þe ihesu crist godes sune. {that} ich on leue. & luuie as leoflukest. & lufsumest lauerd. þah ich cwic beo forbearnd baðe lim & lið ileitinde leie. Nulle ich þe her onont þreate se þu þreate buhe ne beien.

[A]ffrican feng eft on. & to fondin ongon ȝef he mahte eanis weis [ 85] wið olhnunge wenden hire heorte. & leoftede luueliche. & seide hire sikerliche. {THAT} ne schulde ha lihtliche wilni na wunne{punctel} {that} ha ne schulde wealden. wið þerean {that} ha walde hire wil wenden. Nai quoð ha {that} nis nawt. schulde ich do me to him. {that} alle deoflen is bitaht. & to eche deað fordemet. to forwurðe wið him worlt buten ende iþe putte [ 90] of helle? for his wedlackes weole oðer for ei wunne. To soðe ich hit segge þe. Vnwurð hit is me. Ich chulle {that} he wite hit ful wel. & tu eke mid al{punctel} i'c'h am to an iweddet {that} ich chulle treowliche wiðute leas luuien. {that} is unlich him & alle worltliche men. ne nulle ich neauer mare him lihen ne lea [f. 39 v] uen. for weole ne for wunne. for [ 95] wa ne for wontreaðe {that} ȝe me mahen wurchen.

Hire feader feng on to wreaððin swiðe ferliche & easkede hire hokerliche. Ant hwet is he þes were {that} tu art to iweddet. {that} tu hauest wið ute me se forð þi luue ilenet. {that} tu letest lutel. of al {that} [99. ileuet MS.]

tu schuldest luuien. Ne ich nes neauer {that} ich wite ȝet. wið him [ 100] icnawen. for gode quoð þe meiden þin hearm is þe mare. Nawt for þi {that} tu nauest iherd of him ȝare. {THAT} is ihesu godes sune. {that} forte alesen moncun {that} schulde beon forloren al{punctel} lette lif o rode. Ich ne seh him neauer & {that} me of þuncheð. Ah ich him luuie & wulle don. & leue on as o lauerd. Ne schal me firsen him from. Nowðer [ 105] deouel ne mon. for mi lif quoð hire feader þe schal laðin his luue. for þu schalt habbe þrof hearm & scheome baðe & nu þu schalt on alre earst. as on ernesse swa beon ibeaten wið bittere besmen. {that} tu were wummon of wummone bosum to wraðerheale eauer iboren iþe worlde. Swa muche quoð {that} meiden ich beo him þe leouere. se ich [ 110] derfre þing for his luue drehe. [wurch] þu {that} ti wil is. Ȝe quoð he [111. After drehe an erasure of three letters MS.] bliðeliche. ant swiðe heatterliche. strupen hire steort naket. & leggeð [112. leggeð corr. out of leggen MS.] se luðer [f. 40 r] liche on hire leofliche lich{punctel} {that} hit liðeri o blode. Me [113. {that}] & MS.] nom hire & dude swa {that} hit ȝeat adun of þe ȝerden. ant heo bigon to ȝeien. Beaten se ȝe beaten ȝe beliales budeles. ne mahe ȝe nowðer [ 115] mi luue ne mi bileaue lutlin towart te liuiende godd mi leofsume leofmon. þe luuewurðe lauerd. ne nulle ich leuen ower read þe forreadeð ow seolf. ne þe mix maumez þe beoð þes feondes fetles{punctel} heien ne herien. for teone ne for tintreohe {that} ȝe me mahe timbrin. Na nult tu quoð affrican. hit schal sone sutelin. for ich chulle sende [ 120] þe nu & biteache þi bodi to eleusium þe riche {that} reue is ouer rome. ant he schal þe forreaden. & makie to forswelten. as his ahne wil is þurh al þet eauer sar iS.

Ȝe quoð þis meiden {that} mei godd welden. ne mahe ȝe nawt do me bute þet he wule þeauien & þolien ow to donne to mucli mi mede [ 125] [125. mutli MS.] & te murhðe {that} lið to meiðhades menske. for eauer se ȝe nu her mearreð me mare{punctel} se mi crune schal beon brihttre ba & fehere. for þi ich chulle bliðeliche & wið bliðe heorte drehen eauer euch derf. for mi leofmones luue þe lufsume lauerd & softe me bið euch sar in his seruise. þu wult þu seist aȝeoue me to eleusium þe luðere. [ 130] a ȝef [f. 40 v] me for nawiht ne ȝeoue ich for inc nowðer. Þet ȝe mahen ane pine me here. Ah hit ne hearmeð me nawt ah helpeð & heueð up & makeð mine murhðes monifalde in heouene. ant ȝef ȝe

doð me to deað. hit bið deore to godd. & ich schal bliðe bicumen to endelese blissen. ant ȝe schulen wrecches wei ower wurðes. [ 135] {that} ȝe weren iþe worlt iboren & i broht forð se wraðer heale ȝe schule sinken adun to sar & to eche sorhe. to bitternesse ant to bale deope into helle.

[A]ffrican hire feader bitterliche iteonet bitahtte hire eleusium þe luðere reue of rome & lette bringen hire biuoren his [ 140] eh sihðe. as he set & demde. þe hehe burh domes. . . . . . .

[{THAT}]a eleusius seh {that} ha þus feng on to festnin hire [f. 41 v] seoluen isoðe bileaue{punctel} þohte he walde don hire [143. After hire, of MS.] anan ut of dahene: & bed biliue bringen forð brune wallinde bres. & healden hit se wal [f. 42 r] hat hehe up on hire heaued. {that} hit urne [ 145] enddelong hire leofliche lich adun to hire helen. Me dude al as he [146. heạlen MS.] het. Ah þe worldes wealdent {that} wiste sein iuhan his ewangeliste unhurt iðe ueat of wallinde eoli þer he wes i don in. {that} ase hal com up þrof{punctel} as he wes hal meiden. þe ilke liues lauerd. wiste him unwemmet. his brud of þe bres {that} wes wallinde. swa {that} ne þuhte [ 150] hit hire buten ase wlech weater al {that} ha felde. Eleusius wod þa nuste hwet segen. Ah hehte swiðe don hire ut of his eh sihðe. & dreaien in to dorc hus tc prisunes pine ant swa ha wes idon sone.

[H]eo as ha þrinne wes i þeosternesse hire ane. feng to [ 155] cleopien to crist & bidde þeos bone. lauerd godd al mihti mi murhðe & mi mede. mi sẏ & al þe selhðe. {that} ich efter seche þu sist al hu ich am bisteaðet & bistonden. festne mi bileaue. Riht me & read me. for al mi trust is on þe. Steor me & streng me for al mi [159. Between mi and trust, erasure of five letters MS.] strengðe is of þe. Mi feader & Mi moder for þi {that} ich nule þe [ 160] forsaken{punctel} habbe forsake me. & al mi nestfalde cun. {that} schulde beo me best freond{punctel} beoð me meast feondes. & mine in hinen{punctel} alre meast hea[r]men. herewurðe healent. habbe [f. 42 v] ich þin anes help. ich [163. heamen MS.] am wil cweme ne forleaf þu me nawt luuiende lauerd. as þu biwistest daniel bimong þe wode liuns ilatet se luðere. & te þreo [ 165] children þe chearre nalden from þe lahen {that} ha schulden luuien.