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

XXII. GENESIS AND EXODUS

JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN

xii. ger or ysaac was dead. [f. 37 v] Jacobes sunes deden un red. FOr sextene ger ioseph was old. Quane he was in to egipte sold. He was iacobes gunkeste sune. [ 5] Brictest of wastme and of witter wune. [6. waspene MS.] If he sag hise breðere mis faren. His fader he it gan vn hillen & baren. He wulde ðat he sulde hem ten. ðat he wel ðewed sulde ben. [ 10] for ði wexem wið [him] gret nið. And hate for it in ille lið. ðo wex her hertes niðful & bold. Quanne he hem adde is dremes told. ðat is handful stod rigt up soren. [ 15] And here it leigen alle hem bi foren. And sunne & mone & sterres .xi^e. Wurðeden him wið frigti luue. ðo seide his fader hu mai ðis sen. ðat ðu salt ðus wurðed ben. [ 20] ðat ðine breðere and ic & she. ðat ðe bar sulen luten ðe. | ðus he chidden hem bi twen. [f. 38 r] ðoge ðhogte iacob siðe it sulde ben. Hise breðere kepten at sichem. [ 25] Hirdnesse & iacob to sen hem. sente ioseph to dalen ebron. And he was redi his wil to don.

Jn sichem feld ne fond e hem nogt. [29. fonde MS.] Jn dotaym he fond hem sogt. [ 30] He knewen him fro feren kumen. Hate hem on ros in herte numen. Swilc nið & hate ros hem on. He redden alle him for to slon. Nai quad ruben slo we him nogt. [ 35] Oðer sinne may ben wrogt. Quat so him drempte ðor quiles he slep. Jn ðis cisternesse old and dep. [38. ðisterness MS.] Get wurð e worpen naked and cold. [39. wurðe MS.] Quat so his dremes owen a wold. [ 40] ðis dede was don wid herte sor. Ne wulde ruben nogt drechen ðor. He gede and sogte an oðer stede. His erue in bettre lewse he dede. Vdas dor quiles gaf hem red. [ 45] ðat was fulfilt of derne sped. fro galaad men wið chafare Sag he ðor kumen wid spices ware. | To warde egipte he gunne ten. [f. 38 v] Judas tagte hu it sulde ben. [ 50] Joseph solde ðe breðere ten. for .xxx. plates to ðe chapmen. Get wast bettre he ðus was sold. dan he ðor storue in here wold. Ðan ruben cam ðider a gen. [ 55] to ðat cisternesse he ran to sen. He missed joseph and ðhogte swem. Wende him slagen set up an rem. Nile he blinnen swilc sorwe him cliued. [59. him] he MS.] Til him he sweren ðat he liued. [ 60] ðo nomen he ðe childes srud. ðe iacob hadde madim in prud.

Jn kides blod he wenten it. ðo was ðor on an rewli lit. Sondere men he it leiden on. [ 65] And senten it iacob in to ebron. And shewed it him. and boden him sen. Jf his childes wede it migte ben. Senten him bode he funden it. ðo iacob sag dat sori writ. [ 70] He gret and seide ðat wilde der. Hauen min sune swolgen her. His cloðes rent in haigre srid. Long grot and sorge is him bi tid. | His sunes comen him to sen. [f. 39 r] [ 75] And hertedin him if it migte ben. Nai nai quat he helped it nogt. Mai non herting on me ben wrogt. ic sal ligten till helle dale. And groten ðor min sunes bale. [ 80] ðor was in helle a sundri stede Wor ðe seli folc reste dede. ðor he stunden til helpe cam. Til iesu crist fro ðeden hem nam. [84. hem] he MS.] ðe chapmen skinden here fare. [ 85] Jn to egipte ledden ðat ware. Wið putifar ðe kinges stiward. He maden swiðe bigetel forward. So michel fe ðor is hem told. He hauen him bogt he hauen sold. [ 90] [90. hauen] a corr. out of e MS.]

Pvtifar trewið hise wiwes tale [f. 40 r] And haued dempt iosep to bale. He bad ben sperd [him] fast[e] dun. And holden harde in prisun. An litel stund quile he was ðer. [ 95]

So gan him luuen ðe prisuner. And him de chartre haueð bi tagt. Wið ðo prisunes to liuen in hagt. Or for misdede or for on sagen. ðor woren to ðat prisun dragen. [ 100] On ðat ðe kinges kuppe bed. [.¶] And on ðe made ðe kinges bred. Hem drempte dremes boðen onigt. And he wurðen swiðe sore o frigt. Joseph hem seruede ðor on sel. [ 105] At here drink and at here mel. He herde hem murnen. he freinde for quat. Harde dremes ogen awold ðat. [107. he hem freinde MS.] ðo seide he to ðe butuler. Tel me ðin drem mi broðer her. | [ 110] Queðer so it wurðe softe or strong. [f. 40 v] ðe reching wurð on god bi long. Me drempte ic stod at a win tre. [¶] ðat adde waxen buges ðre. Orest it blomede and siðen bar. [ 115] ðe beries ripe wurð ic war. ðe kinges [cuppe] ic hadde on hond. ðe beries ðor inne me ðhugte ic wrong. And bar it drinken to pharaon. Me drempte als ic was wune to don. [ 120] Good is quað joseph to dremen of win. heilnesse an blisse is ðer in. ðre daies ben get for to cumen. ðu salt ben ut of prisun numen. And on ðin offiz set agen. [ 125] Of me ðu ðhenke ðan it sal ben. Bed min herdne to pharaon. ða ic ut of prisun wurðe don.

for ic am stolen of kinde lond. And her wrigteleslike holden in bond. [ 130] Quað ðis bred wrigte liðeð nu me. [¶] me drempte ic bar bread lepes ðre. And ðor in bread and oðer meten. Quilke ben wune ðe kinges to eten. And fugeles hauen ðor on lagt. [ 135] ðor fore ic am in sorge and hagt. | for ic ne migte me nogt weren. [f. 41 r] Ne ðat mete fro hem beren. Me wore leuere quad Joseph. [¶] Of eddi dremes rechen swep. [ 140] ðu salt after ðe ðridde dei. ben do on rode weila wei. And fugeles sulen ði fleis to teren. ðat sal non agte mugen ðe weren. Soð wurð so ioseph seide ðat. [ 145] ðis buteler joseph sone for gat. Two ger siðen was joseph sperd. ðor in prisun wið uten erd. Ðo drempte pharaon king a drem. [No^t] ðat he stod bi ðe flodes strem. [ 150] And ðeden ut comen .vii. neet. Euerilc wel swiðe fet and gret. And .vii. lene after ðo. ðe deden ðe .vii. fette wo. ðe lene hauen ðe fette freten. [ 155] ðis drem ne mai ðe king for geten. An oðer drem cam him bi foren. .vii. eares wexen fette of coren. On an busk ranc and wel tidi. And .vii. lene rigt ðor bi. [ 160] Welkede and smale & drugte numen. ðe ranc he hauen ðo ouer cumen. | To samen it smiten and on a stund. [f. 41 v] ðe fette ðrist hem to ðo grund.

ðe king abraid and woc in ðhogt. [ 165] ðes dremes swep ne wot he nogt. Ne was non so wis man in al his lond. ðe kude vn don ðis dremes bond. ðo him bi ðhogte ðat buteler. Of ðat him drempte in prisun ðer. [ 170] And of ioseph in ðe prisun. And he it tolde ðe king pharaun. Joseph was sone in prisun ðo sogt. [173. ðo sogt] ðohogt MS.] And shauen & clad & to him brogt. ðe king him bad ben hardi & bold. [ 175] Jf he can rechen ðis dremes wold. He told him quat him drempte o nigt. And iosep rechede his drem wel rigt. ðis two dremes boðen ben on. God wile ðe tawnen king pharaon. [ 180] ðo .vij. ger ben get to cumen. Jn al fulsum hed sulen it ben numen. And .vij. oðere sulen after ben. Sori and nedful men sulen is sen. Al ðat ðise first .vii. maken. [ 185] Sulen ðis oðere vii. rospen & raken. Jc rede ðe king nu her bi foren. To maken laðes and gaderen coren. | ðat ðin folc ne wurð vnder numen. [f. 42 r] Quan ðo hungri gere ben forð cumen. [ 190] King pharaon listnede hise red. ðat wurð him siðen seli sped. He bi tagte iosep his ring. And his bege of gold for wurðing. And bad him al his lond bi sen. [ 195] And under him hegest for to ben. And bad him welden in his hond. His folc and agte & al his lond.

ðo was vnder him ðanne putifar. And his wif ðat hem so to bar. [ 200] Josep to wiue his dowter nam. Oðer is nu ðan ear bi cam. [202. ðan] quan MS.] And ghe ðer him two childer bar. Or men wurð of ðat hunger war. first manassen and effraym. [ 205] He luueden god he geld it hem. ðe .vii. fulsum geres faren. Josep cuðe him bi foren waren. ðan coren wantede in oðer lond. ðo [was] ynug vnder his hond. [ 210] Hvnger wex in lond chanaan. And his .x. sunes iacob for ðan. Sente in to egipt to bringen coren. He bilef at hom ðe was gungest boren. | ðe .x. comen for nede sogt. [f. 42 v] [ 215] To josep and he ne knewen him nogt. And ðog he lutten him frigtilike. Anð seiden to him mildelike. We ben sondes for nede driuen. To bigen coren ðor bi to liuen. [ 220] Josep hem knew al in his ðhogt Als he let he knew hem nogt. [¶] Jt semet wel ðat ge spies ben. And in to ðis lond cumen to sen. And cume ge for non oðer ðing. [ 225] but for to spien ur lord ðe king. Nai he seiden euerilc on. Spies were we neuer non. Oc alle we ben on faderes sunen. For hunger doðes hider cumen. [ 230] Oc nu ic wot ge spies ben. for bi gure bering men mai it sen.

Hu sulde on man poure for geten. [233. Hu suld sulde onman MS.] swilke and so manige sunes bigeten. for seldum bi tid self ani kinge. [ 235] swilc men to sen of hise ofspringe. A louerd merci get is ðor on. migt he nogt fro his fader gon. He is gungest hoten beniamin. for we ben alle of ebrisse kin. | [ 240] Nu bi ðe feið ic og to king pharaon. [f. 43 r] sule ge nogt alle eðen gon. Til ge me bringen beniamin. ða gungeste broðer of gure kin. [244. gure] pore MS.] For ðo was josep sore for dred. [ 245] ðat he wore oc ðhurg hem for red. He dede hem binden and leden dun. And speren faste in his prisun. ðe ðridde dai he let hem gon. Al but ðe ton broðer symeon. [ 250] ðis symeon bi lef ðor in bond. To wedde under josepes hond. ðes oðere breðere sone on on. Token leue and wenten hom. And sone he weren ðeden went. [ 255] Wel sore he hauen hem bi ment. And seiden hem ðan ðor bi twen. Wrigtful we in sorwe ben. for we sinigeden quilum or On hure broðer michil mor. [ 260] for we werneden him merci. Nu drege we sorge al for ði. Wende here non it on his mod. Oc Josep al it under stod. Josepes men ðor quiles deden. [¶] [ 265] Al so Josep hem adde beden. |

ðo breðere seckes hauen he filt. [f. 43 v] And in euerilc ðe siluer pilt. ðat ðor was paid for ðe coren. And bunden ðe muðes ðor bi foren. [ 270] Oc ðe breðere ne wisten it nogt. Hu ðis dede wurðe wrogt. Oc alle he weren ouer ðogt. And hauen it so to iacob brogt. And tolden him so of here sped. [ 275] And al he it listnede in frigtihed. And quan men ðo seckes ðor un bond And in ðe coren ðo agtes fond. Alle he woren ðanne sori ofrigt. [279. ðanno MS.] Jacob ðus him bi meneð o rigt. [ 280] Wel michil sorge is me bi cumen. ðat min two childre aren me for numen. Of josep wot ic ending non. And bondes ben leid on symeon. Jf ge beniamin fro me don. [ 285] Dead and sorge me segeð on. Ai sal beniamin wið me bi lewen. ðor quiles ic sal on werlde liuen. ðo quað iudas us sal ben hard Jf we no holden him non forward [ 290] Wex derke ðis coren is gon. Jacob eft bit hem faren agon. | Oc he ne duren ðe weie cumen in [f. 44 r] but ge wið us senden beniamin. ðo quað he quan it is ned. [ 295] And [non] ne can no bettre red. Bereð dat siluer hol agon. ðat hem ðor of ne wante non. And oðer siluer ðor bi foren. for to bigen wið oðer coren. [ 300]

fruit and spices of dere pris. Bereð ðat man ðat is so wis. God hunne him eðimod us ben. [303. eði modes MS.] And sende me min childre agen. ðo nomen he forð weie rigt. [ 305] Til he ben cumen in to egypte ligt. And quanne Josep hem alle sag. Kinde ðhogt in his herte was. He bad his stiward gerken is meten. He seide he sulden wið him alle eten. [ 310] He ledde hem alle to Josepes biri. Her non hadden ðo loten miri. Louerd he seiden ðo euerilc on. Gur siluer is gu brogt a gon. Jt was in ure seckes don. [ 315] Ne wiste ur non gilt ðor on. Beð nu stille quad stiward for ic nu haue min forward | ðor cam ðat broðer symeon. [f. 44 v] And kiste is breðere on and on. [ 320] Wel fagen he was of here come for he was numen ðor to nome. Jt was vndren time or more. Om cam ðat riche louerd ðore. And al ðo briðere of frigti mod [ 325] fellen bi forn ðat louerd is fot. And bedden him riche present. ðat here fader hi[m] adde sent. And he leuelike it under stod. for alle he weren of kinde blod. [ 330] LJueð quad he ðat fader get. ðat ðus manige sunes bi gat. louerd he seiden get he liueð. Wot ic ðor non ðat he ne biueð.

And ðis is gunge beniamin. [ 335] Hider brogt after bode word ðin. ðo josep sag him ðor bi foren. Bi fader & moder broðer boren. Him ouer wente his herte on on. Kinde luue gan him ouer gon. [ 340] Sone he gede ut and stille he gret. ðat al his wlite wurð teres wet. After ðat grot he weis is wliten. [343. peis MS.] And cam ðan in and bad hem eten. | He dede hem wassen him bi foren. [f. 45 r] [ 345] [345. and him MS.] And sette hem as he weren boren. Get he ðhogte of his faderes wunes. Hu he sette at ðe mete hise sunes. Of euerilc sonde of euerilc win. most and best he gaf beniamin. [ 350] Jn fulsum hed he wurðen glaðe. Josep ne ðoht ðor of no scaðe. Oc it him likede swiðe wel. And hem lerede and tagte wel. And hu he sulden hem best leden. [ 355] Quane he comen in vnkinde ðeden. And al ðe bettre sule ge speden. Jf ge wilen gu wið treweiðe leden. Eft on morwen quan it was dai Or or ðe breðere ferden a wei. [ 360] Here seckes woren alle filt wið coren. And ðe siluer ðor in bi foren. And ðe seck ðat agte beniamin. Josepes cuppe hid was ðor in. And quuan he weren ut tune went. [ 365] Josep haueð hem after sent. ðis sonde hem ouertakeð raðe. And bi calleð of harme and scaðe.

Vn seli men, quat haue ge don. Gret vn selðehe is gu cumen on. | [ 370] for is it nogt min lord for holen. [f. 45 v] ða gure on haueð is cuppe stolen ð[o] seiden ðe breðere sikerlike. Vp quam ðu it findes witterlike. He slagen [be] and we agen driuen. [ 375] Jn to ðraldom euermor to liuen. He gan hem ransaken on and on. And fond it ðor sone a non. And nam ðo breðere euerilk on. And ledde hem sorful a gon. [ 380] And brogte hem bi for iosep. Wid reweli lote and sorwe and wep. ðo quat iosep ne wiste ge nogt. ðat ic am o wol witter ðogt. Mai nogt longe me ben for holen. [ 385] Quat so euere on londe wurð stolen. Louerd quad judas do wið me. Quat so ði wille on werlde be. Wið ðan ðat ðu friðe beniamin ic ledde ut on trewthe min. [ 390] ðat he sulde ef cumen a gen. to hise fader and wið him ben. [392. wið on an erasure.] ðo cam iosep swilc rewðe up on. he dede halle ut ðe toðere gon. And spac un eðes, so e gret. [ 395] ðat alle hise wlite wurð teres wet. | Jc am iosep dredeð gu nogt. [f. 46 r] for gure helðe or hider brogt. Two ger ben nu ðat derke is cumen. Get sulen .v. fulle ben numen. [ 400] ðat men ne sulen sowen ne sheren. So sal drugte ðe feldes deren.

Rapeð gu to min fader a gen. And seið him quilke min blisses ben. And doð him to me cumen hider. [ 405] And ge and gure orf al to gider. Of lewse god in lond gersen. sulen ge sundri riche ben. Euerilc he kiste. on ilc he gret. Ilc here was of is teres wet. [ 410] Sone it was king pharaon kid. Hu ðis newe tiding wurð bi tid. And he was bliðe in herte fagen. [413. herte] h corr. out of b.] ðat Josep wulde him ðider dragen. for luue of Josep migte he timen. [ 415] He bad cartes and waines nimen. And fechen wiues and childre and men. And gaf hem ðor al lond gersen. And het hem ðat he sulden hauen. More and bet ðan he kude crauen. [ 420] Josep gaf ilc here twinne srud. Beniamin most he made prud. | fif weden best bar beniamin. [f. 46 v] ðre hundred plates of siluer fin. Al so fele oðre ðor til. [ 425] He bad ben in is faderes wil. And .x. asses wið semes fest. Of alle egiptes welðhe best. Gaf he is breðere wið herte bliðe. And bad hem rapen hem homward swiðe. [ 430] And he so deden wið herte fagen. Toward here fader he gunen dragen. And quane he comen him bi foren. Ne wiste he nogt quat he woren. Louerd he seiden israel. [ 435] Josep ðin sune greteð ðe wel.

And sendeð ðe bode ðat he liueð. Al egipte in his wil cliueð. Jacob a braid and trewed it nogt. Til he sag al ðat welðe brogt. [ 440] Wel me quað he wel is me wel. ðat ic aue abiden ðus swil sel. And ic sal to min sune fare. And sen or ic of werlde chare. Acob wente ut of lond chanaan. [No^t] [ 445] And of is kinde wel manie a man. Josep wel faire him vnder stod. And pharaon ðogte it ful good. | for ðat he weren hirde men. [f. 47 r] He bad hem ben in lond gersen. [ 450] Jacob was brogt bi foren ðe king. for to geuen him his bliscing. fader dere quað pharaon. [453. derer MS.] hu fele ger be ðe on. An hundred ger and .xxx. mo. [ 455] Haue ic her drogen in werlde wo. ðog ðinkeð me ðor offen fo. ðog ic is haue drogen in wo. siðen ic gan on werlde ben. Her vten erd man kin bi twen. [ 460] So ðinked euerilc wis[e] man. ðe wot quor of man kin bi gan. And ðe of adames gilte muneð ðat he her uten herdes wuneð. Pharaon bad him wurðen wel. [ 465] in softe reste and seli mel. Him and hise sunes in reste dede. [467. Him] He MS.] Jn lond gersen on sundri stede Siðen ðor was mad on scite. ðe was yoten Ramese. [ 470]

Jacob on liue wunede ðor Jn reste fulle .xiiij. ger. And god him let bi foren sen. Quilc time hise ending sulde ben. | He bad iosep hise leue sune. [f. 47 v] [ 475] On ðhing ðat off e wel mune. [476 offe MS.] ðat quan it wurð mid him don. He sulde him birien in ebron. And witterlike he it aueð him seid. ðe stede ðor abraham was leid. [ 480] So was him lif to wurðen leid. Quuor ali gast stille hadde seid. Him and hise eldere. fer ear bi foren. Quuor iesu crist wulde ben boren. And quuor ben dead and quuor ben grauen. [ 485] He dogt wið hem reste to hauen. Josep swor him al so he bad. And he ðor of wurð bliðe & glad. Or ðan he wiste off werlde faren. He bad hise kinde to him charen. [ 490] And seide quat of him sulde ben. Hali gast dede it him seen. Jn clene ending and ali lif. So he for let ðis werldes strif. Osep dede hise lich faire geren. [ 495] Wassen and riche like smeren. And spice like swete smaken. And egipte folc him bi waken. xl. nigtes and .xl. daiges. swilc woren egipte lages. | [ 500] first .ix. nigt de liches beðen. [f. 48 r] And smeren and winden and bi queðen. And waken is siðen .xl. nigt. ðo men so deden ðe adden migt.

And ebrisse folc adden an kire. [ 505] Nogt sone deluen it wið yre. Oc wassen it and kepen it rigt. Wið vten smerles seuene. nigt. And siden smered .xxx. daiges. Cristene folc haueð oðer laiges. [ 510] He ben smered ðor quiles he liuen. Wið crisme and olie in trewðe geuen. for trewðe and gode dedes mide. ðon ben ðan al ðat wech dede. Sum on. sum. ðre. sum .vii. nigt [ 515] Sum .xxx. sum .xii. moneð. rigt. And Sum euerilc wurðen ger. ðor quiles ðat he wunen her. don for ðe dede chirche gong. elmesse gifte and messe song. [ 520] And ðat is on ðe weches stede. Wel him mai ben dat wel it dede Egipte folc aueð him waked. xl. nigt and feste maked. And hise sunes .xxx. daiges. [ 525] Jn clene lif and ali laiges. | [526. daiges MS.] So woren forð .x. wukes gon. [f. 48 v] get adde jacob birigeles non. And pharaon king cam bode bi foren. ðat josep haueð his fader sworen. [ 530] And he it him gatte ðor he wel dede. And bad him nimen him feres mide. Wel wopnede men and wis of here. dat noman hem bi weie deren. ðat bere is led ðis folc is rad [ 535] he foren a buten bi adad. ful seuene nigt he ðer abiden. And bi mening for iacob deden.

So longe he hauen ðeðen numen. To flum iurdon ðat he ben cumen. [ 540] And ouer pharan til ebron. ðor is ðat liche in biriele don. And josep in to egipte went. Wid al is folc ut wið him [s]ent. [544. ent with a letter, apparently w, erased before it.] Hise breðere comen him ðanne to. [ 545] And gunnen him bi seken alle so. vre fader he seiden or he was dead. vs he ðis bodewurd seigen bead. Hure sinne ðu him for giue. Wið ðanne ðat we vnder ðe liuen. [ 550] Alle he fellen him ðor to fot. To beðen meðe and bedden oc. | And he it for gaf hem mildelike. [f. 49 r] [553. gaf] gaff in catch-word.] And luuede hem alle kinde like. Osep an hundred ger was hold. [¶] [ 555] And his kin wexen manige fold. He bad sibbe cumen him bi foren. Or he was ut of werlde boren. It sal quað he ben soð bi foren. ðat god hað ure eldere sworen. [ 560] He sal gu leden in his hond. Heðen to ðat hotene lond. for godes luue get bid ic gu Lested it ðanne hoteð it nu. ðat mine bene ne be for loren. [ 565] Wið gu ben mine bones boren. He it him gatten and wurð he dead. God do ðe soule seli red. Hise liche was spice like maked And longe egipte like waked. [ 570] And ðo biried hem bi foren. And siðen late of londe boren.

Hise oðre breðere on and on. Woren ybiried at ebron. An her endede to ful in wis. [ 575] ðe boc ðe is hoten genesis. ðe moyses ðurg godes red Wrot for lefful soules ned. | God schilde hise sowle fro helle bale. [f. 49 v] ðe made it ðus on engel tale. [ 580] And he ðat ðise lettres wrot. God him helpe weli mot. And berge is sowle fro sorge & grot. Of helle pine cold & hot. And alle men ðe it heren welin. [ 585] God leue hem in his blisse spilen. Among engeles & seli men. Wið uten ende in reste ben. And luue & pais us bi twen. And god so graunte amen ameN. [ 590]