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

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Title
Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 [extracts]
Author
Hall, Joseph, 1854-1927.
Publication
Oxford,: The Clarendon press,
1920.
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Subject terms
English language -- Middle English, 1100-1500 -- Readers.
Cite this Item
"Selections from early Middle English, 1130-1250 [extracts]." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/CME00035. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 11, 2024.

Pages

Page 176

XXI. THE BESTIARY

Natura leonis ia.

Ðe leun stant on hille . & he man hunten here. [f. 4 r] Oðer ðurg his nese smel . Smake ðat he negge. Bi wilc weie so he wile . To dele niðer wenden. Alle hise fet steppes . After him he filleð. [ 5] Drageð dust wið his stert . ðer he [dun] steppeð. Oðer dust oðer deu . ðat he ne cunne is finden. driueð dun to his den . ðar he him bergen wille.

ija.

An oðer kinde he haueð . wanne he is ikindled. [ 10] Stille lið ðe leun . ne stireð he nout of slepe. Til ðe sunne haueð sinen . ðries him abuten. ðanne reiseð his faðer him . mit te rem ðat he makeð.

iija.

Ðe ðridde lage haueð ðe leun . ðanne he lieð to slepen. [ 15] Sal he neure luken . ðe lides of hise egen.

Significacio prime nature.

Welle heg is tat hil . ðat is heuen riche. vre louerd is te leun . ðe liueð ðer abuuen. wu ðo him likede . to ligten her on erðe. [ 20] Migte neure diuel witen . ðog he be derne hunte. hu he dun come. Ne wu he dennede him . in ðat defte meiden. Marie bi name . ðe him bar to manne frame.

ija & iija. [ 25]

Ðo ure drigten ded was. & doluen also his wille was. In a ston stille he lai.

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til it kam ðe dridde dai. His fader him filstnede swo. [ 30] ðat he ros fro dede ðo. vs to lif holden. wakeð so his wille is So hirde for his folde. He is hirde. we ben sep . Silden he us wille. If we heren to his word . ðat we ne gon nowor wille. [ 35]

Natura aquile.

KIðen i wille ðe ernes kinde. Also ic it o boke rede. wu he neweð his guðhede. hu he cumeð ut of elde. [ 40] Siðen hise limes arn unwelde. Siðen his bec is alto wrong. Siðen his | fligt is al unstrong. [f. 4 v] & his egen dimme. Hereð wu he neweð him. [ 45] A welle he sekeð ðat springeð ai. boðe bi nigt & bi dai. ðer ouer he flegeð & up he teð. til ðat he ðe heuene seð. ðurg skies sexe & seuene. [ 50] til he cumeð to heuene. So rigt so he cunne. he houeð in ðe sunne. ðe sunne swideð al his fligt. & oc it makeð his egen brigt. [ 55] Hise feðres fallen for ðe hete. & he dun mide to ðe wete. Falleð in ðat welle grund. ðer he wurdeð heil & sund. & cumed ut al newe. [ 60] Ne were his bec untrewe. His bec is get biforn wrong.

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ðog hise limes senden strong. Ne maig he tilen him non fode. him self to none gode. [ 65] ðanne goð he to á ston. & he billeð ðer on. Billeð til his bec biforn. haueð ðe wrengðe forloren. Siðen wið his rigte bile. [ 70] takeð mete ðat he wile.

Significacio.

AL is man so is tis ern. wulde ge nu listen. Old in hise sinnes dern. [ 75] or he bicumeð cristen. & tus he neweð him ðis man. ðanne he nimeð to kirke. Or he it biðenken can. hise egen weren mirke. [ 80] Forsaket ðore satanas. & ilk sinful dede. Takeð him to ihesu crist. for he sal ben his mede. Leueð on ure loue[r]d crist. [ 85] & lereð prestes lore. Of hise egen wereð ðe mist. wiles he dreccheð ðore. His hope is al to godeward. & of his luue he lereð. [ 90] ðat is te sunne sikerlike. ðus his sigte he beteð.

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Naked falleð in ðe funt fat. & cumeð ut al newe. buten alitel wat is tat. [ 95] his muð is get untrewe. His muð is get wel unkuð. wið pater noster & crede. Fare he norð. er fare he suð. leren he sal his nede. [ 100] bidden bone to gode. & tus his muð rigten. tilen him so ðe sowles fode | ðurg grace off ure drigtin. [f. 5 r]

Natura Serpentis. ja. [ 105]

AN wirm is o werlde . wel man it knoweð. Neddre is te name . ðus he him neweð. ðanne he is forbroken & forbroiden . & in his elde al forwurden. Fasteð til his fel him slakeð . ten daies fulle. ðat he is lene & mainles & iuele mai gangen. [ 110] he crepeð cripelande forð . his craft he ðus kiðeð. Sekeð a ston ðat a ðirl is on. Narwe buten he nedeð him . Nimeð vnneðes ðurg. for his fel he ðer leteð . his fles forð crepeð. walkeð to ðe water ward . wile ðanne drinken. [ 115] Oc he speweð or al ðe uenim. ðat in his brest is bred . fro his birde time. drinkeð siðen inog . & tus he him neweð.

ija.

Ðanne ðe neddre is of his hid naked. [ 120] & bare of his brest atter. If he naked man se . ne wile he him nogt neggen. Oc he fleð fro him . als he fro fir sulde.

Page 180

If he cloðed man se cof he waxeð. For up he rigteð him redi to deren. [ 125] to deren er to ded maken if he it muge forðen. wat if ðe man war wurðe · & weren him cunne. figteð wið ðis wirm · & f[a]reð on him figtande. ðis neddre siðen he nede sal. makeð seld of his bodi · & sildeð his heued. [ 130] litel him is of hise limes · bute he lif holde.

[Significacio.]

Knov cristene man · wat tu crist higtest Atte kirke dure · ðar ðu cristned were. ðu higtes to leuen on him · & hise lages luuien. [ 135] to helden wit herte · ðe bodes of holi k[i]rke. If ðu hauest is broken. Al ðu forbredes · forwurðes & forgelues. Eche lif to wolden · Elded art fro eche blis. So ðis wirm o werld is. [ 140] Newe ðe fordi · so ðe neddre doð. It is te ned. Feste ðe of stedefastnesse · & ful of ðewes. & help ðe poure | men · ðe gangen abuten. [f. 5 v] Ne deme ðe nog[t] wurdi · ðat tu dure loken. [ 145] up to ðe heueneward. Oc walke wið ðe erðe mildelike among men. no mod ðu ne cune · mod ne mannes vncost. oc swic of sineginge. & bote bid tu ðe ai · boðe bi nigt & bi dai. [ 150] ðat tu milce mote hauen · of ðine misdedes. ðis lif bitokneð ðe sti. ðat te neddre gangeð bi. & tis is ðe ðirl of ðe ston. ðat tu salt ðurg gon. [ 155] Let ðin filðe fro ðe · so ðe wirm his fel doð.

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Go ðu ðan to godes hus · ðe godspel to heren. ðat is soule drink · sinnes quenching. Oc or sei ðu in scrifte · to ðe prest sinnes tine. feg ðe ðus of ði brest filde · & feste ðe forðward. [ 160] fast at tin herte · ðat tu firmest higtes. ðus art tu ging & newe. forðward be ðu trewe. Nedeð ðe ðe deuel nogt · for he ne mai ðe deren nogt. oc he fleð fro ðe · so neddre fro de nakede. [ 165] On ðe cloðede ðe neddre is cof · & te deuel cliuer on sinnes. Ai ðe sinfule bisetten he wile. & wið al mankin he haueð nið & win. wat if he leue haue of ure heuen louerd. [ 170] for to deren us · So he ure eldere or dede. do we ðe bodi in ðe bale · & bergen ðe soule. ðat is ure heued geuelic · helde we it wurðlic.

Natura formice.

Ðe mire is magti · mikel ge swinkeð. [ 175] In sumer & in softe weder · So we 'ofte' sen hauen. In ðe heruest · hardilike gangeð. & renneð rapelike · & resteð hire seldum & fecheð hire fode · ðer ge it mai finden. gaddreð ilkines sed. [ 180] boðen of wude & of wed. Of corn & of gres. ðat ire to hauen es. haleð to hire 'hole' · ðat siðen hire helpeð. ðar ge wile ben winter | agen. [f. 6 r] [ 185] caue ge haueð to crepen in · ðat winter hire ne derie.

Page 182

Mete in hire hule ðat . ðat ge muge biliuen. ðus ge tileð ðar wiles ge time haueð. so it her telleð. oc finde ge ðe wete . corn ðat hire qwemeð. [ 190] Al ge forleteð ðis oðer seð ðat ic er seide. Ne bit ge nowt de barlic beren abuten. oc suneð it & sakeð forð . so it same were. get is wunder of ðis wirm . more ðanne man weneð. ðe corn ðat ge to caue bereð . al get bit otwinne. [ 195] ðat it ne forwurðe . ne waxe hire fro. er ge it eten wille.

Significacio.

Ðe mire muneð us mete to tilen. Long liuenoðe ðis little wile. [ 200] ðe we on ðis werld wunen. for ðanne we of wenden . ðanne is ure winter. we sulen hunger hauen . & harde sures. buten we ben war here. do we forði. so doð ðis der . ðanne be we derue. [ 205] On ðat dai ðat dom sal ben . ðat it ne us harde rewe. Seke we ure liues fod . ðat we ben siker ðere. So ðis wirm in winter is . ðan ge ne tileð nummore. ðe mire suneð ðe barlic ðanne ge fint te wete. ðe olde lage we ogen to sunen . ðe newe we hauen moten. [ 210] ðe corn ðat ge to caue bereð . all ge it bit otwinne. ðe lage us lereð to don god . & forbedeð us sinne. It bet us erðliche bodes . & bekned euelike. It fet ðe licham & te gost . oc nowt o geuelike. vre louerd crist it lene us ðat his lage us fede. [ 215] nu & o domesdei . & tanne we hauen nede.

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Natura cerui.

Ðe hert haueð kindes two. & forbisnes oc al so. ðus it is on boke set. [ 220] ðat man clepeð fisiologet. He drageð ðe neddre of de ston. ðurg his nese up on on. of ðe stoc er of ðe ston. for it wile ðerunder gon. [ 225] & sweleð it wel swiðe. ðerof him brinneð siðen. of ðat attrie ðing. wiðinnen he | haueð brenning. [f. 6 v] he lepeð ðanne wið mikel list. [ 230] of swet water he haueð ðrist. he drinkeð water gredilike. til he is ful wel sikerlike. Ne haueð ðat uenim non migt. to deren him siðen non wigt. [ 235] oc he werpeð er hise hornes. in wude er in ðornes. & gingid him ðus ðis wilde der. So ge hauen nu lered her.

Significacio. prima. [ 240]

Alle we atter dragen off ure eldere. ðe broken drigtinnes word ðurg ðe neddre. ðer ðurg haueð mankin. boðen nið & win. golsipe. & giscing. [ 245] giuernesse & wissing. pride & ouerwene. swilc atter i mene. Ofte we brennen in mod.

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& wurden so we weren wod. [ 250] ðanne we ðus brennen. bihoueð us to rennen. to cristes quike welle. ðat we ne gon to helle. drinken his wissing. [ 255] it quenchet ilc siniging. forwerpen pride euril[c] del. so hert doð hise hornes. gingen us tus to godeward. & gemen us siðen forðwarð. [ 260]

Natura. ija.

Ðe hertes hauen anoðer kinde. ðat us og alle to ben minde. Alle he arn off one mode. For if he fer fetchen fode. [ 265] & he ouer water ten. wile non at nede oðer flen. Oc on swimmeð bi forn. & alle ðe odre folegen. weðer so he swimmeð er he wadeð [ 270] Is non at nede ðat oðer lateð. Oc leigeð his skinbon. on oðres lendbon. gef him ðat biforn teð. Bilimpes for to tirgen. [ 275] Alle ðe oðre cumen mide. & helpen him for to her[t]ien. beren him of ðat water grund up to ðe lond al heil & sund. & forðen here nede. [ 280] ðis wune he hauen hem bi twen ðog he an hundred to giddre ben.

Page 185

Significacio. ija.

Ðe hertes costes we ogen to munen. Ne og ur non oðer to sunen. [ 285] oc eurilc luuen oðer. also he were his broder. wurðen stedefast his | wine. [f. 7 r] ligten him of his birdene. helpen him at his nede. [ 290] god giueð ðer fore mede. we sulen hauen heuenriche. gef we bi twixen us ben briche. ðus is ure louerdes lage luuelike to fillen. her of haue we mikel ned . ðat we ðar wið ne dillen. [ 295]

Natura Wulpis.

A wilde der is . ðat is ful of fele wiles. fox is hire to name . for hire queðsipe. husebondes hire haten . for hire harm dedes. ðe coc & te capun. [ 300] ge feccheð ofte in ðe tun. & te gandre & te gos. bi ðe necke & bi ðe nos. haleð is to hire hole . for ði man hire hatieð. hatien & hulen . boðe men & fules. [ 305] Listneð nu a wunder . ðat tis der doð for hunger. goð o felde to a furg . & falleð ðar inne. In eried lond er in erðchine . forto bilirten fugeles. Ne stereð ge nogt of ðe stede a god stund deies. oc dareð so ge ded were . Ne drageð ge non onde. [ 310] ðe rauen is swiðe redi . weneð ðat ge rotieð. & oðre fules hire fallen bi . For to winnen fode.

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derflike wiðuten dred . he wenen ðat ge ded beð. he wullen on ðif foxes fel . & ge it wel feleð. ligtlike ge lepeð up . & letteð hem sone. [ 315] gelt hem here billing raðe wið illing. tetoggeð & tetireð hem . mid hire teð sarpe. Fret hire fille. & goð ðan ðer ge wille. [ 320]

Significacio.

Twifold forbisne in ðis der. to frame we mugen finden her. warsipe & wisedom. wið deuel & wið iuel man. [ 325] ðe deuel dereð dernelike. he lat he ne wile us nogt biswike. he lat he ne wile us ðon non loð. & bringeð us in a sinne. & ter he us sloð. he bit us don ure bukes wille. [ 330] Eten & drinken wið unskil. & in ure skemting. he doð raðe a foxing. | He billeð one ðe foxes fel. [f. 7 v] wo so telleð idel spel. [ 335] & he tireð on his ket. wo so him wið sinne fet. & deuel geld swilk billing. wið same & wið sending. & for his sinfule werk. [ 340] ledeð man to helle merk.

Significacio.

Ðe deuel is tus ðe [fox] ilik. mið iuele breides & wið swik. & man al so ðe foxes name. [ 345]

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arn wurði to hauen same. for wo 'so' seieð oðer god. & ðenkeð iuel on his mod. fox he is & fend iwis. ðe boc ne legeð nogt of ðis. [ 350] So was herodes fox & flerd. ðo crist kam in to ðis middel erd. he seide he wulde him leuen on. & ðogte he wulde him fordon.

Natura aranéé. [ 355]

Seftes sop ure seppande . sene 'is' on werlde. leiðe & lodlike . ðus we it leuen. man'i'kines ðing. alle manne to wissing. ðe spinnere on hire [webbe] swid[e] ge weveð. [ 360] festeð atte hus rof . hire fodredes. o rof er on ouese . so hire is on elde. werpeð ðus hire web . & weueð on hire wise. ðanne ge it haueð al idigt . ðeðen ge driueð. hitt hire in hire hole . oc ai ge it biholdeð. [ 365] til ðat ðer fleges faren . & fallen ðer inne. wiðeren in ðat web . & wilen ut wenden. ðanne renneð ge rapelike . for ge is ai redi. nimeð anon to ðe net . & nimeð hem ðere. bitterlike ge hem bit . & here bane wurðeð. [ 370] drepeð & drinkeð here blod. doð ge hire non oðer god. bute fret hire fille & dareð siðen stille.

Page 188

Significacio. [ 375]

Ðis wirm bitokneð ðe man . ðat oðer bi's'wikeð. on stede er on stalle . stille er lude. in mot er in market . er oni oðer wise. he him bit . ðan he him bale selleð. & he drinkeð his blod . wanne he him dreueð. [ 380] & ðo fr'e'teð hem al . ðan he him iuel werkeð.

Natura cetegrandie.

Cethegrande is a fis. ðe moste ðat in water is. ðat tu | wuldest seien get. [f. 8 r] [ 385] gef ðu it soge wan it flet. ðat it were á neilond ðat sete 'one' ðe se sond. ðis fis ðat is vnride. ðanne him hungreð he gapeð wide. [ 390] vt of his ðrote it smit an onde. ðe swetteste ðing ðat is o londe. ðer fore oðre fisses to him dragen. wan he it felen he aren fagen. he cumen & houen in his muð. [ 395] of his swike he arn uncuð. ðis cete ðanne hise chaueles lukeð. ðise fisses alle in sukeð. ðe smale he wile ðus biswiken. ðe grete maig he nogt bigripen. [ 400] ðis fis wuneð wið ðe se grund. & liueð ðer eure heil & sund. til it cumeð ðe time. ðat storm stireð al ðe se.

Page 189

ðanne sumer & winter winnen. [ 405] ne mai it wunen ðer inne. So droui is te sees grund. ne mai he wunen ðer ðat stund. oc stireð up & houeð stille. wiles ðat weder is so ille. [ 410] ðe sipes ðat arn on se fordriuen. loð hem is ded & lef to liuen. biloken hem & sen ðis fis aneilond he wenen it is. ðer of he aren swiðe fagen. [ 415] & mid here migt ðar to he dragen. sipes on festen. & alle up gangen. Of ston mid stel in ðe tunder. wel to brennen one ðis wunder. [ 420] warmen hem wel & heten & drinken. ðe fir he feleð & doð hem sinken. for sone he diueð dun to grunde. he drepeð hem alle wið uten wunde.

Significacio. [ 425]

Ðis deuel is mikel wið wil & magt. So witches hauen in here craft. He doð men hungren & hauen ðrist. & mani oðer sinful list. tolleð men to him wið his onde [ 430] wo so him folegeð he findeð sonde. ðo arn ðe little. in leue lage. ðe mikle ne maig he to him dragen. ðe mikle. i mene ðe stedefast. in rigte leue. mid fles & gast. [ 435] wo so listneð deueles lore. on lengðe it sal him rewen sore.

Page 190

wo so festeð hope on him. he sal him foDIV2en to ¶helle dim. |

Natura Sirene. [f. 8 v] [ 440]

IN ðe se senden selcuðes manie. ðe mereman is a meiden ilike. on brest & on bodi . oc al ðus ge is bunden. fro ðe noule niðerward . ne is ge no man like. oc fis to fuliwis mid finnes waxen. [ 445] ðis wunder wuneð in wankel stede. ðer ðe water sinkeð. sipes ge sinkeð . & scaðe ðus werkeð. mirie ge singeð ðis mere . & haueð manie stefnes. manie & sille. oc it ben wel ille. [ 450] sipmen here steringe forgeten . for hire stefninge. flumeren & slepen. & to late waken. ðe sipes sinken mitte suk. ne cumen he nummor up. [ 455] Oc wise men & warre. agen cunen chare. ofte arn atbrosten . mid he[re] brest ouel. he hauen herd told of ðis mere . ðat tus unie mete. half man & half fis. [ 460] sum ðing tokneð bi ðis.

Significacio.

Fele men hauen ðe tokning. of ðis forbisnede ði[n]g. wið uten weren wulues fel. [ 465] wiðinnen arn he wulues al. he speken godcundhede. & wikke is here dede.

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here dede is al vncuð. wið ðat spekeð here muð. [ 470] twifold arn on mode. he sweren bi ðe rode. bi ðe sunne & bi ðe mone. & he ðe legen sone. mid here sage & mid here song. [ 475] he ðe swiken ðer imong. ðin agte wið swiking ði soule wið lesing.

Natura elephantis.

Elpes arn in Inde riche. [ 480] on bodi borlic berges ilike. he to gaddre gon o wolde so sep ðat cumen ut of folde. & behinden. he hem sampnen. ðanne he sulen oðre strenen. [ 485] Oc he arn so kolde of kinde. ðat no golsipe is hem minde. til he noten of a gres. ðe name is mandragores. Siðen he bigeten on. [ 490] & two ger he ðer mide gon. ðog he ðre hundred ger. on werlde more ¶wuneden her. | bigeten he neuermor non. [f. 9 r] so kold is hem siðen blod & bon. [ 495] ðanne ge sal hire kindles beren. In water ge sal stonden. In water to mid side. ðat wanne hire harde tide. ðat ge ne falle niðer nogt. [ 500] ðat is most in hire ðogt. For he ne hauen no lið. ðat he mugen risen wið.

Page 192

Hu he resteð him ðis der. ðanne he walkeð wide. [ 505] herkne wu it telleð her. for he is al unride. A tre he sekeð to fuligewis. ðat is strong & stedefast is. & leneð him trostl[i]ke ðer bi. [ 510] ðanne he is of walke weri. ðe hunte haueð biholden ðis. ðe him wille swiken. wor his beste wune is. to don hise willen. [ 515] Sageð ðis tre & under set. o ðe wise ðat he mai bet. & hileð it wel ðat he it nes war ðanne he makeð ðer to char. him seluen sit olon bihalt. [ 520] weðer his gin him out biwalt. ðanne cumeð ðis elp unride. & leneð him up on his side. slepeð bi ðe tre in ðe sadue. & fallen boden so to gaddre. [ 525] gef ðer is noman ðanne he falleð. he remeð & helpe calleð. remeð reufulike on his wise. hopeð he sal ðurg helpe 'ri'sen. ðanne cumeð ðer on gangande. [ 530] hopeð he sal him don ut standen. Fikeð & fondeð al his migt. ne mai he it forðen no wigt. Ne canne ðan non oðer. 'oc' remeð mid his broðer. [ 535] manie & mikle cume ðer 'se'cande. wenen him on stalle maken.

Page 193

oc for ðe helpe of hem alle. ne mai he cumen so on stalle. ðanne remen he alle a rem. [ 540] so hornes blast. oðer belles drem. For here mikle reming. rennande cumeð a gungling. raðe to him luteð. his snute him under puteð. [ 545] & mitte helpe of hem alle. ðis elp he reisen on stalle. & tus | atbrested ðis huntes breid. [f. 9 v] oðe wise ðat ic haue gu seid.

significacio. [ 550]

Ðus fel adam ðurg a tre. vre firste fader ðat fele we. Moẏses wulde him reisen. migte it no wigt forðen. After him prophetes alle. [ 555] migte her non him maken on stalle. on stalle iseie. ðer he er stod. to hauen heuenriche god. He suggeden & sorgeden. & weren in ðogt. wu he migten him helpen ovt. [ 560] ðo remeden he alle onder steuene. alle hege up to ðe heuene. for here care. & here calling. hem cam to crist heuen king. he ðe is ai in heuene mikel. [ 565] wurð her man & tus was litel. drowing ðolede in ure manhede & tus adam 'he' under gede. reisede him up & 'al' man kin. ðat was fallen to helle dim. [ 570]

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Natura turturis.

IN boke is ðe turtres lif . writen o rime wu lagelike . ge holdeð luue al hire lif time. gef ge ones make haueð . fro him ne wile ge siðen. muneð wimmen hire lif . ic it wile gu reden. [ 575] bi hire make ge sit onigt . o dei ge goð & flegeð. wo so seit he sundren ovt . i seie ðat he legeð. Oc if hire make were ded & ge widue wore. ðanne flegeð ge one & fareð . non oðer wile ge more. buten óne goð . & one sit. [ 580] & hire olde luue abit. In herte haueð him nigt & dai. so he were oliue ai.

Significacio.

List ilk lefful man her to . & herof ofte reche. [ 585] vre sowle atte kirke dure . ches hire crist to meche. he is ure soule spuse luue we him wið migte. & wende we neure fro him ward . be dai ne be nigte. ðog he be fro ure sigte faren be we him alle trewe. non oðer louerd ne leue we . ne non | luue newe. [f. 10 r] [ 590] leue we ðat he liueð ai up on heuen riche. & ðeðen he sal cumen eft . & ben us alle briche. for to demen alle men . oc nout on geuelike. hise loðe men sulen to helle faren . hise leue to his riche.

Natura pantere. [ 595]

Panter is an wilde der. Is non fairere on werlde her. he is blac so bro of qual. mið wite spottes sawen al. wit & trendled als a wel. [ 600] & 'itt' bicumeð him swiðe wel. wor so he wuneð ðis panter.

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he fedeð him al mid oðer der. of ðo ðe he wile he nimeð ðe cul. & fet him wel til he is ful. [ 605] In his hole siðen stille. ðre dages he slepen wille. ðan after ðe ðridde dai. he riseð & remeð lude so he mai. ut of his ðrote cumeð asmel. [ 610] mid his rem forð oueral. ðat ouer cumeð haliweie. wið swetnesse. [ic] it gu seie & al ðat eure smelleð swete. be it drie be it wete. [ 615] For ðe swetnesse off his onde. wor so he walkeð o londe. wor so he walked. er wor so he wuneð. Ilk der ðe him hereð to him cumeð. & folegeð him up one ðe wold. [ 620] for ðe swetnesse ðe ic gu haue told. ðe dragunes one ne stiren nout. wiles te panter remeð ogt. oc daren stille in here pit. als so he weren of dede offrigt. [ 625]

Significacio.

CRist is tokned ðurg ðis der. wos kinde we hauen told gu her. for he is faier ouer alle men. so euen sterre o'uer' erðe fen. [ 630] ful 'wel' he taunede his luue to man. wan he ðurg 'holi' spel him wan. & longe he lai her in an hole. wel him dat he it wulde ðolen. ðre daies slep he al on on. [ 635]

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ðanne he ded was in blod & bon. vp he ros & rémede i wis. of helle pine of heuene blis. & steg to heuene vuemest. ðer wuneð wið | fader & holi gast. [f. 10 v] [ 640] Amonges men a swete [s]mel. he let her of his holi spel. wor ðurg we mugen folgen him. in to his godcundnesse fin. & ðat wirm ure wiðerwine. [ 645] wor so of godes word if dine. ne dar he stiren. ne noman deren. ðer wile he lage & luue beren.

Natura columbe. & significacio.

ÐE culuer haueð costes gode. [ 650] alle wes ogen to hauen in mode. seuene costes in hire kinde. alle it ogen to ben us minde. ge ne haueð in hire non galle. simple & softe be we alle. [ 655] ge ne liueð nogt bi lagt. Ilc robbinge do we of hac. ðe wirm ge leteð & liueð bi ðe sed. of cristes lore we haue ned. wið oðre briddes ge doð as moder. [ 660] so og ur ilk to don wið oðer. woning & groning if lic hire song. bimene we us. we hauen don wrong. In water ge is wis of heuekes come. & we in boke wið deules nome. [ 665] In hole of ston ge makeð hire nest. In cristes milce ure hope is best.

Notes

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