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

(LAMBETH MS.)

ich em nu alder þene ich wes awintre & a lare. [f. 59 v] Ich welde mare þene ich dede mi wit' ahte bon mare. Wel longe ich habbe child ibon a worde & a dede þa'h' ich bo a wintre ald to ȝung ich em on rede. vnnet lif ich habbe iled. & ȝet me þingþ ilede. [ 5] þenne ich me bi þenche wel ful sare ich me adrede. mest al {that} ich habbe idon bi fealt to child hade. Wel late ich habbe me bi þocht{punctel} bute God me nu rede. Fole idel word ich habbe iqueðen soððen ich speke kuðe. fole ȝunge dede idon{punctel} þe me of þinchet nuðe. [ 10]

Mest al {that} me likede er nu{punctel} hit me mis likeð þa muchel fulieð his wil{punctel} hine solf he biswikeð. Ich mihte habbe bet idon. hefde ich þe iselþe. Nu ich walde ah ich ne mei{punctel} for elde & for un helþe. Elde me is bi stolen on. er ich hit wiste. [ 15] ne michte ich seon bi fore me. for smike ne for miste. Erȝe we beoð to done god. & to ufele al to þriste. Mare eie stondeð men of monne þanne hom do of criste. þe wel ne doð þe hwile þe ho muȝen. wel oft hit schal rowen{punctel} þenne ȝe mawen sculen & repen {that} ho er sowen. [ 20] Do he to gode {that} he muȝe þe hwile {that} he bo aliue. ne lipnie na mon to | muchel to childe ne to wiue. [f. 60 r] þe him solue forȝet for wiue ne for childe{punctel} he scal cumen in uuel stude bute him God bo milde. Sendeð sum god bi foren eow. þe hw[i]le {that} ȝe muȝen to houene. for betere is an elmesse biforen{punctel} þenne boð efter souene. [ 26] Alto lome ich habbe igult a werke & o worde. Al to muchel ich habbe ispent. to litel ihud in horde. Ne beo þe loure þene þe solf{punctel} ne þin mei. ne þin maȝe. Soht is {that} is oðer's' monnes frond betre þen his aȝen. [ 30]

Ne lipnie wif to hire were. ne were to his wiue bo for him solue ech .Mon. þe 'h'wile {that} he bo aliue. Wis is þe to him solue þench þe hwile þe mot libben. for sone wule hine forȝeten þe fremede & þe sibbe. þe wel ne deð þe hwile he mai{punctel} ne scal wenne he walde. [ 35] Monies monnes sare iswinc habbeð oft un holde. Ne scal na mon don afirst. ne slawen wel to done. for moni mon bihateð wel þe hit forȝeteð sone. Þe .Mon. þe wule siker bon to habben Godes blisse. do wel him solf hwile {that} he mai{punctel} þenne haueð he his mid iwisse. [ 40] þes riche .Men. weneð bon siker þurh walle & þurh diche. þe deð his echte on sikere stude he hit sent to heueneriche. for þer ne þerf he bon of dred of fure ne of þoue þer ne | þerf he him binimen þe laðe ne þe loue. [f. 60 v] þer ne þerf he habben kare of ȝeve ne of ȝelde. [ 45] þider he sent. & solf bereð to lutel & to selde. þider we sculen draȝen & don wel ofte & ilome. for þer ne scal me us naut binimen mid wrangwise dome. þider ȝe sculen ȝorne draȝen. walde ȝe god ileue. for ne mei þer hit ou binimen king ne reue. [ 50] Al {that} beste {that} we hefden þider we hit solde senden for þer we hit michte finden eft. & habben buten ende. Þo þe er doð eni God for habben godes are. al he hit scal finden eft þer & hundred fald mare. Þe þet echte wile halden wel hwile þe he muȝe es welden. [ 55] Giue hies for godes luue{punctel} þenne deþ hes wel ihalden. Vre swinc & ure tilþe is ofte iwoned to swinden. Ach {that} þe we doð for godes luue{punctel} eft we sculen al finden. Ne scal nan ufel bon un bocht. ne nan god unforȝolden. vfel we doþ al to muchel. & god lesse þenne we sculden. [ 60] Þo þe mest doð nu to gode. & þe lest to laðe. Eiðer to lutel & to muchel scal þunchen eft hom baþe. Þer me scal ure werkes weien bi foran þe heuen king. and ȝeuen us ure swinkes lan efter ure erninge. Ech mon mid {that} he hauet. mei buggen houene riche. [ 65]

þe mare haueþ & þe þe lesse{punctel} baþe hi | muȝen iliche. [f. 61 r] Al se mid his p'e'nie alse oðer mið his punde. {that} is þe wunderlukeste chep{punctel} {that} eni mon efre funde. & þe ðe mare ne mai don{punctel} do hit mid his gode þonke. Alse wel se þe þe haueð golde fele manke. [ 70] & oft god kon mare þonc þen þe him ȝeueð lesse. & his werkes & his weȝes his milce. & rihtwisnesse. lutel lac is gode lof{punctel} {that} kumeð of gode wille. & ec lete muchel ȝeue of þan þe herte is ille. Houene & horþe he ouer sich. his eȝen boð swa brichte. [ 75] Sunne & mone & houen fur boð þestre aȝein his lihte. Nis him noht for holen ni hud. swa muchele boð his mihte. nis hit ne swa derne [idon] ne [a] swa þostre nihte. he wat wet þenkeð & hwet doð alle quike wihte. Nis na lauerd swich se is crist. ne king swuch ure drihten. [ 80]

houene & orðe & al {that} is biloken is in his honde. he deð al {that} his wil is{punctel} a wettre & alonde. He makede fisses in þe se & fuȝeles in þe lifte. he wit & waldeð alle þing & scop alle scefte. he is hord buten horde & ende buten ende. [ 85] he ane is eure an ilche stude wende þer þu wende. he is buuen us & bi noþen. bi foren & bi hinden. þe þe deð godes wille uwer he mei him finden. Helche rune he iherð & wat alle deden. he þurþ sicheþ uches monnes þonc. Wi hwat scal us to rede. [ 90] We {that} brokeð godes hese & gulteð swa ilome. hwet scule we seggen oðer don et þe muchele dome. Þa þe luueden unriht & ufel lif | leden. [f. 61 v] Wet sculen ho seggen oðer don{punctel} þen þe engles bon of dred. hwet sculen we beren biforen us mid hom scule we iquemen. þo þe neure god ne dude þe houenliche deme. [ 96] þer sculen bon doule swa fole {that} wulleð us for wreien. & nabbeð hi naþing forȝeten of al {that} ho iseȝen.

Al {that} we mis duden her{punctel} ho hit wulleð kuðe þere. [buten wé habbe hit ibét. ðe hwile wé her wére] [ 100] Al ho habbeð in hore write{punctel} {that} we mis duden here. þach we nusten ne ni seȝen. ho weren ure ifere. Hwet sculen ordlinghe's' don. þa swicen & ta forsworene hwi boð fole iclepede. & swa lut icorene. wi hwi weren ho bi ȝeten to hwon weren ho iborene. [ 105] {that} sculen bon to deþe idemet. & eure ma for lorene. Ech .Mon. scal him solue þer bi clepie & bidemen. his aȝen werch & his þonc te witnesse he scal temen. ne mei him na .Mon. alsa wel demen ne alswa rihte for nan ne knauð him ase ȝere{punctel} buten ane drihte. [ 110] Ech .Mon. wat him solue best{punctel} his werkes. & his wille. Þe ðe lest wat bi seiþ ofte mest{punctel} þe hit al wat is stille. nis nan witnesse alse muchel se monne's' aȝen horte. Wa se seið {that} he bo hal. him solf wat best his smirte. Ech .Mon. scal h[i]m solf demen to deðe oðer to liue. [ 115] þa witnesse of his aȝen werch{punctel} hine þer to scal driue. Al þet ech .Mon haueð idon soððen he com to monne sculde he | hit sechen o boke iwriten he scal iþenchen þenne. [f. 62 r] Ah drihten ne demeð nenne .Mon. efter his biginnigge. ah al his lif scal bon suilch boð his endinge. [ 120] ȝef {that} his uuel al hit is uuel & God ȝefe god his ende. God ȝeue {that} ure ende bo god. & wite {that} he us lende. þe .Mon. {that} uuel don na god. ne neure god lif leden. er deð & dom come to his dure he mei him sare adreden. {that} he ne muȝe þenne biden are. for {that} itit ilome. [ 125] for þi he is wis þe biet & bit & bet bi fore dome. Wenne deð is attere dure wel late he biddeþ are. Wel late he latheð uuel werc{punctel} þe ne mei hit don ne mare.

{that} achten we to leuen wel. for ure drihten solf hit seide. A hwilke time se eure .Mon. of þinchþ his mis dede. [ 130]

Oþer raþer oðer later{punctel} milce he scal imeten. Ac þe {that} þer naf[ð] nocht ibet{punctel} wel muchel he haueð to beten. Monimon seit hwa rechð of pine þe scal habben þende. Ne bidde ich na bet bo alesed a domes dei of bende. lutel he wat wet is pine. & lutel he hit scaweð [ 135] hwice hete is þer þa saule wuneð hu biter wind þer blaweð. hefde he bon þer enne dei oðer twa bare tide{punctel} nolde he for al middenerd þe þerdde þer abiden. þet habbeð iseid þ[e] comen þonen þa hit wisten mid iwissen. wa wurð sorȝe seueȝer. for souenihte blisse. [ 140] In hure blisse þe | þe ende haueð. for endelese pine. [f. 62 v] betere is wori water drunch{punctel} þen atter meind mid wine. Swines brede is swiðe swete. swa is of wilde dore. alto dore he is abuh{punctel} þe ȝefð þer fore his swore. Ful wombe mei lihtliche speken of hunger. & of festen{punctel} [ 145] swa mei of pine þe ne cnauð þe scal a ilesten. Hefð he ifonded summe stunde{punctel} he wolde al seggen oðer. Et lete him were wif. child. suster. feder & broðer. Al he walde & oðerluker don & oðerluker þenchen Wenne he bi þohte on helle fur þe nawiht ne mei quenchen. [ 150] Eure he walde her inne wawe & ine wene wunien{punctel} Wið {that} þe mihte helle pine bi flien & bi sunien Et lete him were al world wele & orðliche blisse. for to {that} muchele blisse cumen is murþe mid iwisse. Iwule nu cumen eft to þe dome {that} ich er ow of sede [ 155] A þa dei & at ta dome us helpe crist & rede. þer we muȝen bon eþe offerd & herde us adreden. þer he scal al son him bi foren his word & ec his deden. Al scal þer bon þenne cud þer men luȝen her ent stelen. Al scal þer bon þanne unwron{punctel} {that} men wruȝen her & helen. [ 160] We sculen alre monne lif iknauwen al se ure ahen. þer sculen eueningges bon þe riche & þe laȝe. Ne scal na mon skamie þer ne þerf he him a dreden. Gif him her of þincþ | his gult & bet his misdede. [f. 63 r] for him ne scameþ ne ne gromeð þe sculen bon iborȝen. [ 165]

Ach þo þre habbeþ scome & grome & oft fele sorȝe. Þe dom scal sone bon idon ne lest he nawiht longe. ne scal him na mon mene þer of strengþe ne of wronge. þe sculen habbe herdne dom þa her weren herde. þa þe uuele holden wreche men & uuele laȝe redde. [ 170] Ec efter {that} he efþ idon sal þer þenne [beon] idemet. [bliðe mei hé ðenne beon. þe god háfð wel icwemed] Alle þa þi sprunge boþ of adam & of eue. Alle hi sculen cumen þider for soðe we hit ileueð. þa þe habbeð wel idon efter hore mihte. [ 175] to houene riche hi sculen faren forð mid ure drihte. Þa þe habbeð doules werc idon. & þer inne bo ifunde. hi sculen faren forð mid him in to helle grunde. Þer hi sculen wunien a buten are & ende. Ne brekeþ neure drihte helle gate for lesen hi of bende. [ 180] Nis na sullic þech hom bo wa & hom bo uneade. Ne scal neure eft crist þolie deþ for lesen hom of deaþe. Enes drihten helle brec his frond he ut brochte. him solf he þolede deð for him . wel dore he hom bohte. Nalde hit mei do for mei. ne suster for broðer. [ 185] nalde hit sune do for fader. ne na mon for oðer. Vre alre lauerd for his þrelles ipined wes a rode. vre bendes he unbon[d] & bohte us mid his blode. We ȝeueð | uneðe for his luue a stuche of ure brede. [f. 63 v] Ne þenke we noht {that} he scal deme þa quike & þa dede. [ 190] Muchele luue he us cudde. walde we hit understonde {that} ure eldre misduden{punctel} we habbeð uuele on honde. Deþ com in þis middenerde þurh þes doules honde. & sake & sorȝe & swinc a watere & a londe. Vre forme fader gult. we abuȝeð alle. [ 195] [eal his óf spring efter him. en hearme is bi fealle.] þurst & hunger. chele & hete. helde & unhelðe. þurh him deð com in þis middenerd & oðer uniselðe. Nere na mon elles ded ne sec ne nan unsele.

ac mihten libben eure ma a blisse & a hele. [ 200]

lutel hit þuncheð moni mon. ac muchel wes þa sunne. for hwam alle þolieð deð þe comen of hore cunne. Hore sunne & ec ure aȝen sare us mei of þinche. þurh sunne we libbeð alle in sorȝe & in swinke. Suððen God nom swa muchele wrake for are misdede{punctel} [ 205] We þe swa muchel & swa ofte mis doð. we muȝen eðe us adrede. Adam and his of sprung for are bare sunne. Wes fele undret wintre an helle pine & an unwunne. þa þe ledden hore lif mid unriht & mid wrange. buten hit gode's' milce do ho sculen bon þer wel longe. [ 210] Godes wisdom is wel muchel & alswa is his mihte & nis his milce naut lesse. ac bi þan ilke iwichte. Mare he ane mei for ȝeuen. þen | al folc gulte cunne. [f. 64 r] Sulf douel mihte habben milce. ȝif he hit bigunne. Þa þe godes milce secheð{punctel} he iwis mei ha ifinden. [ 215] Ac helle king is are les with þa þe he mei binden. þe þe deþ is wille mest{punctel} he haueð wurst mede. His baþ scal bon wallinde. his bað scal bon berninde glede. Wurst he deð his gode frond{punctel} þenne his fulle fond{punctel} God scilde alle godes frond. a wih swilche freonde. [ 220] Neure in helle hi com. ne þer ne come reche. þach ich elches worldes wele. þer me mahte feche {that} his wulle seggen on þat wise men us seiden. & aboken hit writen þer [me] mei hit reden. Ich hit wille seggen þan þe hit hom solf nusten. [ 225] warni hom wið hore unfrome. ȝif ho me wulleð lusten. vnderstondeð nu to me edi men & arme. Ich wulle tellen of helle pin{punctel} & wernin ow wið herme. In helle his hunger & þurst{punctel} twa uuele iuere. þas þolieð þa [þe] weren maket niþinges here. [ 230] Þer is waning & wow. efter eche streche.

ho fareð from hete to hete. & hech to frure þe wreche. þenne hi bið in þere hete{punctel} þe chele him þunchet blisse. þenne hi cumeð eft to þe chele{punctel} of hete hi habbeð misse. hi hem deð wa inoch nabbeð hi nane blisse. [ 235] Nute hi hweþer hem deþ wurs mid neure nane wisse. hi walkeð eure & secheð reste | ac 'ho' ne muȝen imeten. [f. 64 v] for þi þe ho nolden þe hwile {that} ho mihten here sunne beten. ho secheð reste þer nis nan. for þi ne muȝen hi es finden. Ac walkeð weri up & dun{punctel} se water deþ mid winde. [ 240] þo boð þa þe weren her a þanke unstedefeste. & þa þe gode biheten heste & nolden hit ileste. þa þe god werc bigunnen & ful enden hit nolden. Nu witen her. & nuðe þer. & nusten hwat hi wolden. þer is bernunde pich hore saule to baþien inne. [ 245] þa þe ledden here lif in werre & in winne. þer is fur {that} is undret fald hattre. þene bo ure. Ne mei quenchen salt weter ne uersc of þe burne. þis is {that} fur {that} efre bernd ne mei nawiht hit quenchen{punctel} Þer inne boð þa þe was to lof wreche men to swenchen. [ 250] þa þe weren swikelemen & ful of uuel wrenchen. þa þe mihten uuel don. þe þe lef hit wes to þenchen. Þe luueden tening & stale. hordom & drunken. & a doules werche bliþeliche swunken. Þa þe weren swa lese {that} me hom ne mihte ileuen. [ 255] Med ierne domes men. & wrongwise reuen. {that} oðer monnes wif lof. his aȝen et lete. þo þe sungede muchel{punctel} a drunke & an ete. þe wreche mon binom his ehte. & leide his on horde. {that} lutel let of godes borde. & godes worde. [ 260] & þo þe his aȝen nalde ȝeuen þer he isech | þe node [f. 65 r] Ne nalde iheren godes sonde. þenne he hit herde bode. Þe {that} is oðers monnes þing. loure þene hit sculde. & weren to gredi of solure & of golde. & þa þe untrownesse duden þon þe ho scu'l'den bon holde. [ 265]

& leten þet ho sculden don. & duden {that} ho wolden. Þa þe weren eure abuten þisse worldes echte. & duden al {that} þe laþe gast hechte to & tachte. & alle þe þen anigewise doulen i quemde. Þa boð nu mid him in helle fordon & fordemet. [ 270]

(EGERTON MS., SECOND COPY.)

Bute þá þe óf ðufte sare heore mis dede. [f. 69 r] & gunne heore gultes beten & betere lif laede. Þer beoð neddren & snaken. éuete & frute. þa tereð. & freteð. þe uuele speke. þe nið fulle. & te prute. Neure sunne ðer ne scinð. ne mone ne steorre. [ 275] þer is muchel godes hate. & muchel godes eorre. AEure ðer is uuel sméch. ðusternesse & eie. nis ðer neure oðer liht. ðene þe swierte leie. Þer ligget ladliche fund. in strange raketeȝe. {that} beoð þa ðe wére mid gode on heuene wel heȝe. [ 280] Þer beoð ateliche fund. & eisliche wihte. þas scule þa wrecche i fon. þe suneȝede ðurh sihte. Þer is ðe laðe sathanas. & belzebud sé ealde. eaðe hi muȝen beo óf dréd. þe hine scule bi healde. Ne mei nan heorte hit iðenche. ne tunge ne can telle. [ 285] hu muchel pine na hu uele sunden inne helle. Wið þa pine ðe þer beoð. nelle ich eow naht leoȝen. nis hit bute gamen & gléo. eal {that} man mei hér dreoȝen. End ȝut ne deð heom naht sa wá. in ða laðe bende. | {that} hi witeð {that} heore pine sceal neure habbe ende. [f. 69 v] [ 290] Þar beoð þa heðene men. þé wǽre laȝe liese. þe nes naht óf godes bi bode. ne óf godes hése. [U]uele cristene men. hi beoð heore ifere. þa ðe heore cristen dom. uuele heo'l'de hére. [Ȝ]ut hi beoð á wurse stede. on ðeré helle grunde. [ 295] ne sculen hi neure cumen út. for marke ne for punde. [N]e mei heom naðer helpen þer. ibede ne elmesse.

for nis naðer inne helle. áre ne for ȝiuenesse. Sculde him éch man ðe hwile hé muȝe óf ðas helle pine. & werni ech his freond þer wið swa ich habbe mine. [ 300] Þá ðe sculden heom ne cunne. ich heom wulle teche. ich kan beon ȝief ich sceal. lichame & sawle leche. Léte wé {that} god for but. ealle manne cunne. & do wé {that} hé us hét. & sculde wé us wið sunne. Luuie we god mid ure heorte. & mid al ure mihte. [ 305] & ure émcristen eal us sulf. swa us lerde drihte. Eal {that} me rǽt & eal {that} me singð. bi fore godes borde. eal hit hanget & bi halt. bi ðisse twam worde. Ealle godes laȝe he fulð. ðe niwe & ða ealde. þe ðe ðas twá luue háfð. & wel hi wule healde. [ 310] Ac hi beoð wunder earueð healde. swá ófte gulteð ealle. Fór hit is strang to stande lange. & liht is to fealle. [A]ac drihte crist hé ȝiue us strengðe. stande {that} wé mote. & óf ealle ure gultes 'unne' us cume to bote. Wé wilnieð éfter woruld wéle. ðe lange ne mei leste. [ 315] & leggeð eal ure iswinch. ón ðinȝe unste'de' feste. Swunche wé for godes luue. healf {that} wé doð for aehte. [f. 70 r] ne béo wé naht swá óf bicherd. ne sa uuele bi kehte. ȝif wé serueden gode swa wé doð erminges. mare wé hedden en héuene. ðenne eorles hér & kinges. [ 320] Né muȝen hi werien heom wið chele. wið þurste ne wið hunger. ne wið ulde. ne wið deaðe. þe uldre ne ðe ȝeonger. Ac ðer nis hunger ne ðurst. ne dieð. ne unhelðe ne elde. of þisse riche wé ðencheð ófte. & of þere to selde. Wé scolden ealle us biðenche ófte. & wél ilome. [ 325] hwét wé beoð to whán wé scule. & óf hwán wé come. Hú litle hwile wé beoþ hér. hú lange elle's' hwáre. hwét wé muȝe habben hér. & hwét finde þere. Ȝief wé were wise men. ðis wé scolde ðenche. bute wé wurðe us iwer. ðeos woruld wule us for drenche. [ 330] Mest ealle men he ȝiueð drinche. óf ane deofles scenche. hé sceal him cunne sculde wél. ȝif hé hine nele screnche.

Mid ealmihtiȝes godes luue. ute wé us bi werien. wið ðises wrecches woreldes luue. {that} hé maȝe us derien. Mid festen aelmes & ibede. werie wé us wið sunne. [ 335] Mið ða wepne ðe god haueð. bi ȝiten man cunne. Léte wé þe brade strét. & ðene wei bene. þe let {that} niȝeðe dél to helle of manne. & ma ich wéne. Gá wé ðene naerewne wei. & ðene wei grene. ðer forð fareð litel folc. ac hit is feir & scéne. [ 340] Þé brade strét is ure iwill. ðe is us lað to forlǽte. þa ðe eal folȝeð his iwill. fareð bi ðusse stréte. Hi muȝen lihtliche gán mid ðere under hulde. ðurh ane godléese wude 'in to' ane bare felde. [f. 70 v] [Þ]e naerewei is godes hése. ðer forð fareð wél fiewe. [ 345] {that} beoð ða ðe heom sculdeð ȝeorne wið ǽche un ðeawe. [Þ]as gað unieðe ȝeanes ðe cliue. aȝean þe heaȝe hulle. ðas leteð eal heore aȝen will. for godes hése to fulle. [G]a wé alle þene wei. for he us wule bringe. mid te feawe feire men. be foren heuen kinge. [ 350] Þer is ealre murhðe mest. mid englene sange. ðe is a þusend wintre ðer. ne ðincð him naht to lange. Þe ðe lest haueð. hafð swa michel {that} hé ne bit namare. þe ða blisse for ðas for lét hit him mei reowe sare. [N]e mei nan uuel ne na wane beon inne godes riche. [ 355] ðeh þer beoð wununges fele. aech oðer uniliche. Sume ðer habbeð lesse murhðe. & sume habbeð mare. aefter ðan þe dude her. efter ðan {that} he swanc sare. [N]e sceal ðer beon ne bried ne win. ne oðer cunnes éste. god ane sceal beo eche lif. & blisse. & éche reste. [ 360] [N]é sceal ðer beo fah ne graei. ne kuning ne 'er'mine. ne aquierne. ne martres cheole. ne beuer né sabeline. [N]e sceal ðer beo sciet ne scrud. ne woruld wele nane. eal þe murhðe þe me us bi hat. al hit sceal beo god ane. [N]e mei na murhðe. beo swa muchel. se is godes sihte. [ 365] [H]e is soð sunne & briht. & dei ábuten nihte.

[H]e is aelches godes ful. nis him na wið uten. na god nis him wane þe wunieð him abuten. Þer is wéle ábute gane. & reste abuten swinche. þe mei & nele ðider cume. sare hit him sceal óf ðinche. [ 370]

(EGERTON MS., FIRST COPY.)

Þer is blisse a buten treȝe. & lif a buten deaþe [f. 12 v] þe eure scullen wunien þer. bliþe muwen ben eþe Þer is ȝeoȝeðe bute ulde. & hele a buten vn helðe nis þer so're'we ne sor. ne neure nan vn sealþe Þer me scal drihte sulf i seon. swa he is mid iwisse [ 375] he one mai & scal al beo. engle & manne blisse And ðeh ne beod heore eȝe naht. alle iliche brihte ði nabbed hi nouht iliche. alle of godes lihte On þisse 'liue' hi neren nout. alle of one mihte ne þer ne scullen hi habben god. alle bi one ȝihte [ 380] Þo scullen more of him seon. þe luuede him her more & more icnawen & iwiten. his mihte & his ore On him hi scullen finden alþat man mai to lesten hali boc hi sculle i seon. al þat hi her nusten Crist scal one beon inou. alle his durlinges [ 385] he one is muchele mare & betere. þanne alle oþere þinges Inoh he haued þe hine haueð. þe alle þing wealded of him to sene nis no sed. wel hem is þe hine bi healdeð God is so mere & swa muchel. in his godcunnesse {that} al {that} is. & al þat wes is wurse. þenne he & lesse [ 390] Ne mai it neure no man oþer segge mid iwisse hu muchele murhðe habbet þo. þe beod inne godes blisse To þere blisse us bringe god. þe rixlet abuten ende þenne he vre soule vn bint. of licames bende Crist ȝyue us leden her swilc lif. & habben her swilc ende [ 395] þat we moten þuder come. wanne we henne wende. AmeN.

Notes

• 2. ịḥc̣ ich MS. mi ịc̣ḥ ahte; wit in margin MS.
• 14. un helẹþe MS.
• 27. ịḷich MS.
• 28. ịḥ ich MS.
• 45. ȝeve] v corr. out of f MS.
• 50. þer] {that} MS.
• 82. ịṣ his MS.
• 83. After fuȝeles in, k deleted.
• 100. Supplied from MS. e.
• 105. ẉ hwon MS.
• 108. temen] demen MS.
• 111. before werkes, werhes deleted.
• 130. þing̣chþ MS.
• 132. þe] we MS.
• 144. abuh] abuṭẹh MS.
• 152. Before þe, me deleted.
• 163. skamie] smakie MS.
• 178. mid ṃịḍ MS.
• 172, 196. Supplied from MS. e.
• 203. ḥọṛẹ ure MS.
• 207. bare] þare MS.
• 210. do] doṇ MS.
• 218. baþ MS. scal] scab MS.
• 229. ịṣ his MS.
• 236. wurs] þurs MS.
• 237. mọuȝen MS.
• 255. lese] lele MS.
• 267. weṇren MS.
• 269. iquemde] iquende MS.
• 283. is ịṣ MS.
• 290. After habbe, l erased.
• 308. eal] Eeal MS.
• 309. Ealle] alle MS. niwe] corr. out of r.
• 338. let] lec MS.
• 344. wude] wade MS.
• 388. hem] e above ị MS.