How the wyse man taught hys sone : in drei Texten / herausgegeben von Rudolf Fischer.

Texte.

1. Text α. [Lesarten von H². Überschrift: How the wyse man taght hys son, von späterer Hand hinzugefügt.] [16 taght] þ^t; boþe; wele] wyll; fayre.]

Here foloweth how the goode man taght hys sone.

1.

Lystenyth all and ye shall her, [1 ye] ȝe; shall] well.] How the gode man taght hys sone; [2 þe; gode] wyse; son.] Take gode tente to þys matere, [3 tent.] And fonde to lerne hyt, yf ye conne. [4 fond; lere; hyt fehlt; ye] þe; con.] Thys songe by yong men was bygonne, [ 5] [5 þys; song: by] be; ȝonge; begon.] To make them trysty and stedfaste; [6 them] hem; tyrsty; stedfast.] But jarne that ys ofte tyme evell spon, [7 ȝarn; þat; is; oft; evell] yll; sponne.] Evyll hyt cometh owt at the laste. [8 evyll H ²] evyr C; comys; out; þe; last.]

2.

A wyse man had a feyre chylde, [9 fayre▪ feyri C (Schreibfehler); chyld.] Was wele of XV wyntur age, [ 10] [10 well; wyntur] ȝere.] That was bothe meke and mylde, [11 þat; boþe.] Fayre of body and of vysage, [12 das zweite of fehlt; vesage.] Gentyl of kynde and of corage. [13 gentyll.] For he schulde be hys fadurs heyre, [14 fadur; eyre.] Hys fadur þus in hys langage [ 15] [15 yn.] Taght hys sone, bothe wele and feyre.

3.

And seyde: "Sone, kepe thys worde in hert, [17 sayd; son; þys; word; yn; hart.] And þynke þeron to þou be deed, [18 þenke; to] thyll; ded.] Every day the fyrste werke [19 every] ȝeyri; the] þy; furst; das r in werke ist in H² später unter das Wort geschrieben, Ritson ¹ daher weke.] Loke þys be done in every stedd: [ 20] [20 don; yn; every] ylke; stede.] Fyrste see þy god in forme of bredd, [21 furst; se; þye; yn; brede.] And serve hym wele for hys godenes. [22 wele] wyll.] And aftur þat, sone, be my redd, [23 aftur þat] afturward; be] by; rede.] Go to thy worldely besynes. [24 to] do; þy; worldely] worldys.]

4.

Fyrste worschyp þy god on þe day, [ 25] [25 furst; on H ²] upon C; þe] a.] And, sone, þys schalt þou have to mede: [26 schall; med.] Skylfully what so thou pray, [27 skyllfully; so fehlt; þou.] He wyll þe graunt, withowten drede, [28 wythoutyn.] And sende the all þat þou haste nede, [29 send; þe; al; hast.] As far as mesure longyth to strecche. [ 30] [30 far] for; meser; strech.] Thy lyfe in mesure that thou lede, [31 thy] þis; mesur; þat; þou.] And of þe remenunt þou ne recche. [32 remlant; þat vor þou C; rech.]

5.

And, sone, þy tonge thou kepe also, [33 an; tong; þou.] And be not talewyse in no way; [34 in] be.] Thyn owen tonge may be þy foo. [ 35] [35 owen H ²] own C; fo.] Therfore be ware, sone, y the pray, [36 þerfor; be war; y] i; þe.] Where and when, sone, þou shalt say, [37 wher; schalt.] And by whom þou spekyst oght; [38 by] be.] For þou may speke a worde to day, [39 word.] That VII yere aftur may be forþoght. [ 40] [40 þat; ȝer; aftur] þens; forþoȝt.]

6.

Therfore, sone, be war be tyme, [41 be ware.] Desyre none offyce for to bere, [42 none] no; offys.] For of thy neghburs maugreth thyn, [43 thy] þy; neyborys; maw∣gref; thyn fehlt.] Thou must them boþe dysplese and dere, [44 þou; most; them] hem.] Or ellys thy selfe þou must forswere [ 45] [45 þy; self.] And do not as þyn offyce wolde, [46 thyn; offys.] And gete the maugreth here and þere, [47 þe; mawgrefe; her; þer.] More then þanke a thousandefolde. [48 þen; thank; thousande] M; fold.]

7.

And, sone, yf þou wylt leve at eese, [49 leve] lyf; ese.] And warme among þy neghburs sytt, [ 50] [50 neyburs; syt.] Let no newfangylnes the pleese, [51 lat; no fehlt; newefangylnes; þe; plese; plesee C.] Oftyn to remeve nor to flytt. [52 remewe; flyt.] For yf thou do, there wantyþ wytt, [53 yf] and; þou; þer; wantys; wyt.] For folys they remeve all to wyde; [54 þey; remewe; al.] And also, sone, an ell sygne ys hyt: [ 55] [55 ell] evyl; sagne.] A man þat can nowhere abyde. [56 mon; nowher.]

8.

And, sone, of oon þyng y þe warn, [57 oon] syche; thyng; specyally vor y C; y] i; warne.] And of my blessyng take gode hede, [58 of] on; blyssyng.] Loke þou use nevyr þe taverne, [59 loke fehlt; never; co∣mynly vor þe C; taverne H ²] tavarne C.] And also dysyng y the forbede. [ 60] [60 y] i; þe.] For þese II thyngs, withowten drede, [61 thyse; thyngys; wythowtyn.] And comyn women, as y leve, [62 comon; y] i.] Maken yong men evyll to spede, [63 maks; ȝong; evyle.] And bryngyth þem often to myschefe. [64 and fulle yn danger and yn myschefe.]

9.

And, sone, the more gode thou haste, [ 65] [65 þe, þou; hast.] The raþer bere þe meke and lowe. [66 þe; rather.] Lagh not to moche, for þat ys waste, [67 to fehlt; mych; wast.] For folys byn by laghyng knowe. [68 byn] ben; knone.] And, sone, paye wele þat þou doyst owe, [69 and, sone, quyte wele þat þou owe; wele H ²] þy dettys C.] So that thou be of dettys clere. [ 70] [70 þat; þou; detts.] And þus, my lefe chylde, as y trowe, [71 y] i.] Thou mayste þe kepe fro all daunger. [72 þou; mest; all fehlt; daungere.]

10.

And loke thou wake not to longe, [73 þou.] Neydur use no rere sopers to late; [74 neydur] ne; no] not; soperys.] For were thy complexion never so stronge, [ 75] [75 þy; nevyr; strong.] Wyth furfett þou mayste fordo þat. [76 surfet; mayst.] Of late wakyng fallyth often debate, [77 fallys; oftyn.] On nyghtys for to sytt and drynke. [78 nyȝtys; syt.] Yf þou wylt rewle wele þyn astate, [79 rule; wele fehlt; thyn.] Be tymys go to bedd and wynke. [ 80] [80 tyme; bed.]

11.

And, sone, as fer forthe as thou may, [81 fer forthe] far furth; þou.] On none enquest loke þat þou come, [82 non; loke fehlt.] Nor no false wytnesse bere away [83 fals.] Of no mannys mater all ne some; [84 manys; sum.] For bettur were þe be defe and dome, [ 85] [85 bettyr; were þe] þe were; to vor be C; defe H ²] dere C; dowm.] Then for to be on any enqueste, [86 þen; eny; enquest.] That aftur myȝt be undurnome; [87 þat; aftyr; afturwarde C.] A trewe man had hys quarell leste. [88 quarel; lest.]

12.

And, sone, yf þou wylt have a wyfe, Take hur for no covetyse, [ 90] [90 coveytyse.] But loke, sone, sche be the lefe; [91 þe.] Thou wysely wayte and wele avyse, [92 þou; wysely] wyfe by; wayt; avyse] a wyfe.] That sche be gode, honest and wyse. [93 þat.] Thogh sche be pore, take þou non hede, [94 thogh] þof; non] not.] For sche schall do the more servyse, [ 95] [95 schalt; þe; ser∣vys.] Then schall a ryche, withowten drede. [96 þen; schal; wythowtyn.]

13.

For bettyr hyt ys in reste and pees [97 hyt ys] it is; rest; pes.] A messe of potage and no more, [98 mes.] Then for to have a thousand messe [99 thousand] M; mes.] Wyth grete dysese and anger sore. [ 100] [100 gret; angyr.] Therfore, sone, thynk on thys lore: [101 þys.] Yf þou wylt have a wyfe wyth ese, By hur good sett þou no store, [103 gode; set.] Thogh sche wolde þe boþe feffe and sese. [104 thogh] þof; wold; bothe; feffe H ²] ferse C; sesse.]

14.

And yf thy wyfe be meke and gode, [ 105] [105 þy; wyffe.] And serve the wele and plesauntly, [106 þe; plesantyl.] Loke that þou be not so wode, [107 þat.] To charge hur then to owtragely; [108 þen.] But thou fare with hur esely, [109 thou] then; wyth; esyly.] And cherysch hur for hur gode dede; [ 110] For thyng overdon unskylfully [111 overdon H ²] ever done C.] Makyþ wraþ to growe where ys no nede. [112 makys; wrath; where H ²] þere as C.]

15.

I wyll neyther glose ne paynte, [113 wyl; neythyr; glos; praynt.] But warne the on an other syde: [114 warne] waran H ², warre C, gebessert nach β 106; þe; odur.] Yf thy wyfe come to make a playnte [ 115] [115 a fehlt; pleynt.] On thy servauntys on ony syde, [116 þy; servandys; any.] Be not to hasty them to chyde, [117 be H ²] do C; nott.] Nor wrath þe not, or þou wyt þe sothe; [118 wreth; not mit an∣derer Tinte übergeschrieben; wytt.] For wemen in wrath þey can noght hyde, [119 yn; wrethe; not.] But soone they can reyse a smoke. [ 120] [120 sone; þey; can fehlt; smoke] smokei rofe.]

16.

Nor, sone, be not jellows, y the pray, [121 jelows; y] i; þe.] For yf thou falle yn yelesye, [122 yf] and; þou; in; jelosye.] Let not þy wyfe wyt be no way, [123 be] in.] For thou may do no more folye. [124 þou; foly.] For and thy wyfe may onys aspye, [ 125] [125 þy.] That thou hur any þyng mystryste, [126 þat; thou] þu; hur any þyng] any thyng hur; mystryst; mys∣trystest C.] In despyte of thy fantesye, [127 dyspyte; þy; fantesy.] To do the worse ys all hur lyste. [128 þe; wors; lyst.]

17.

Therfore, sone, y bydd the, [129 thersore; y] i; byd; þe.] Wyrche with thy wyfe, as reson ys; [ 130] [130 wyth; þy.] Thogh sche be sirvunt in degree, [131 thogh] þof; ser∣vant; some vor degree C; degre.] In some degre sche felowe ys. [132 som; felowe] selaw.] Laddys þat are weddyd, so have y blys, [133 ar; weddyd] bundyn; y] i.] That can not rewle þer wyvys aryȝt, [134 þat; wyves.] That makyth wemen, so have y blys, [ 135] [135 þat; makys; y] i.] To do often wronge, in plyght. [136 oftyn; wrong; yn; plyȝt.]

18.

Nethur, sone, bete not þy wyfe, y rede, [137 nethur] nor; y] i.] For therin may no helpe bee. [138 þeryn; help; be.] Betyng may not stonde in stede, [139 stond; yn.] But rather make hur to despyse þe. [ 140] With lone awe, sone, þy wyfe chastyse, [141 wyth; lone vgl. Anm. z. Stelle.] And let feyre wordes be þy ȝerde; [142 fayre; wordys.] Lone awe ys the beste gyse, [143 lone s. o.; þe; best.] My sone, to make þy wyfe aferde. [144 aferd.]

19.

Nodur, sone, þy wyfe þou schalt not chyde, [ 145] [145 nodur] nor.] Nor calle hur be no fowle name, [146 be] by; fowle] vylens.] For sche that schall lye be thy syde, [147 þat; schal; ly; þy.] To calle hur foule hyt ys þy schame. [148 hyt] yt.] When þou þyn own wyfe wyll dyffame, [149 whan; thyne; owen; wyl.] Well may an other man do soo. [ 150] [150 wele; othyr; so.] Softe and feyre men make tame [151 soft; fayre.] Harte, bukk and wylde roo. [152 hert and buk.]

20.

Also, sone, pay ryȝt wele thy tythe, [153 also] and; þou vor pay; ryȝt fehlt C, aus H ² eingesetzt; þy.] And pore men of þy gode þou dele; And loke, sone, be thy lyve, [ 155] [155 and] an; þy; lyfe.] Þou gete þy soule here some hele. [156 that vor þou C; sowle; sum.] Thys worlde hyt ys full fekyll and frele, [157 þys; werld; full fekyll and frele] but fantomye; die vier letzten Wörter dieses Verses sind in H ² mit anderer Tinte durchgestrichen und darüber ist von fremder Hand geschrieben: turnys evyn as a whele.] All day be day hyt wyll enpayre; [158 wyl.] And so, sone, thys worldys weele [159 þys; wele.] Hyt faryth but as a cheryfeyre. [ 160] [160 cheryfayre.]

21.

For all that ever man doyth here [161 þat; evyr; doth.] Wyth besynesse and travell boþe, [162 bothe.] All hyt ys, withowten were, [163 hyt fehlt; wythowtyn.] For owre mete, drynke and clothe. [164 oure; drynk; clothe H ²] slepe C.] More gettyþ he not, withowten othe, [ 165] [165 yetys; wythowtyn.] Kynge or prynce wheþur þat he bee; [166 kyng; pynce; whethyr; be.] Be hym lefe or be hym lothe, [167 loth.] A pore man hath as moche as hee. [168 has; mych; he.]

22.

And many a man her gedryþ gode [169 here; gadrys.] All hys lyfetyme for other men, [ 170] [170 lyfetyme] lyfedayes; othyr.] That he may not, be the rode, [171 þat; be] by; þe.] Hym selfe oonys ete of an henne. [172 self; onys.] But be he dolvyn in hys denne, [173 yn; den.] An other shall come at hys laste ende, [174 othyr; schal; last.] Schall have hys wyfe and catell þen; [ 175] [175 schal; wyf; catel.] That he hath gaderyd, an oþer shall spende. [176 þat; has; gadred; other; schal.]

23.

Therfore, sone, be my counsayle, [177 þer∣for; counseyle.] More then ynogh þou nevyr coveyte. [178 þen; þou] þu; covayt.] Thou wottyst not when deþe wyll þe assayle; [179 thou wottys▪ not] þu ne wost; wan; deth; wyl.] Thys worlde ys but þe fendys beyte. [ 180] [180 þys; werld; bayte.] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

24.

For dethe, sone, ys, as y trowe, [ 185] [185 deth; sone, ys] ys, sone; y] i.] The moost certeyn þyng þat ys; [186 þe; most; certyn; thyng; Wortstellung nach β 146; the moost þyng þat certeyn ys CH ²; uncer∣ten C.] And none so uncerteyn for to knowe, [187 non; uncerteyn.] As ys the tyme of dethe, ywys. [188 þe; deth.] And therfore, sone, thynke on thys [189 þerfore; thynke] þou thynk.] And all þat y have seyde beforne. [ 190] [190 al; y] i; seyd; beforn.] And Jhesu brynge us to hys blys, [191 brynge] brynd.] That for us weryd the crowne of thorne." [192 þe; thorn.]

2. Text β. [Lesarten von B. Beide Hss. sind ohne Überschrift.]

1.

Listniþ, lordingis, and ȝe schulen here, [1 lystyn; lordyng, mit einem grossen Haken am Ende; ye; shall.] How þe wise man tauȝt his sonne, [2 the; wyse; tawght; son.] And take good tent to þis matere, [3 gud; tent] hede; this; mater.] And leerne it also, if ȝe kunne. [4 and thynke to lern yt yff ye conn.] Þis song was maad bi good resoun, [ 5] [5 this sample for yong men was fyrst fonn.] To make men true and stidfast; [6 men] them; trew; stedfast.] And whanne a þing is weel bigunne, [7 when; thynge; ys; well; begonn.] It makiþ a good eende at þe laste. [8 yt; makyth; gud; end; the; last.]

2.

Ther was a wise man, tauȝt his child, [9 a wyse man had a fayre man chyld.] While it was ȝong and tendir of age; [ 10] [10 he tawght hym well in tender age.] Þe child was boþe meeke and mylde, [11 the; boþe fehlt; meeke] gentill; mylde] myelde L, myld B.] Faire of body and of visage. [12 faire] and fayer; of visage] vysage.]

To leerne it hadde a good corage, [13 lern; yt; had; gud.] And to al goodnesse a greet desire; [14 and to please god was his desyre.] With good ensaumple and faire langage [ 15] [15 ensample; Ligatur für and zweimal hinter einander; fayer.] His fadir tauȝt him weel and faire. [16 fa∣der; tawght; hym; well; fayer.]

3.

And seide: "My sonne, take good hede, [17 said; son; gud.] Bi þe morewe every day, [18 by; the; mornyng.] Or þou do ony worldli deede, [19 ony] any; worldly; wordli L; dede.] Lifte up þin herte to god and pray [ 20] [20 lyft; þin] thy; hart.] Devoutly, as þou can or may, Þat þou in grace þi liif may lede, [22 that; thou; thi; lyff.] And synne to flee boþe nyȝt and day [23 fle; both; nyght.] Þat hevenblis may be þi mede. [24 he∣vyn; thy.]

4.

And, sonne, where þat evere þou go, [ 25] [25 wher; þou go] þou cum or go.] Be not to talewiis bi no wey; [26 be well avysed what thou say.] Þin owne tunge may be þi foo. [27 for thyn own tong; thy.] Þerfore be waar what þou doist say, [28 therfor be ware by any way.] Where and to whom, be ony wey, [29 wher; be ony wey] and what þou say.] Take good hede, if þou do seie ouȝt; [ 30] [30 gud; yff; do fehlt; say; owght.] For þou myȝte seie a word to day, [31 thou; myght; say; worde.] Þat VII ȝeer after may be forþouȝt. [32 that; yere; may] myght; forthowght.]

5.

And, sonne, what maner man þou be, [33 thou.] Ȝeeve þee not to ydilnesse, [34 ȝeeve] draw; the; ydylnes.] But take good heede of þi degree, [ 35] [35 hede; of] to; thy; degre.] And þeron do þi bisynesse. [36 theron; thy; besynes.]

Be waar of reste and ydilnesse, [37 be ware; rest; ydylnes.] Whiche þingis norischen slouþe, [38 for þat ys a thyng þat norissheith slowth.] And evere be bisi, more or lesse, [39 and evere be bisi] but ay be besy; lasse.] It is a ful good signe of trouþe. [ 40] [40 yt; ys; ful fehlt; trowth.]

6.

And, sonne, also y waarne þee, [41 y] i; warn; the.] Desire noon office for to beere, [42 desyre; non; offyce; bere.] For þan it wole noon oþir bee, [43 than; yt; wole] will; non; other; be.] Þou muste þi neiȝboris displese and dere, [44 þou muste] but þou must; neyghbowr.] Or ellis þou muste þi silf forswere [ 45] [45 ells; þou muste þi silf] thi self thou must.] And do not as þin office wolde, [46 þin] thy; offyce; wold.] And gete þe mawgre heere and þeere, [47 gett; the; maugre; here; ther.] More þan þank a hundridfolde. [48 than; þank fehlt; hundrid] thowsand; fold.]

7.

And, sonne, as fer as þou may lere, [49 may] mayst; lere] here.] On yvel qwestis þou not comme, [ 50] [50 on no evill quest loke þat thou cum.] Neiþer fals witnes þou noon bere [51 ne∣ther; falce; wytnes; þou noon] þat thou.] On no mannys matere, al neiþer somme; [52 mater; all; neiþer] ne; sum.] Þou were betere be deef and dombe, [53 for hyt were better be def or dume.] Þan falseli go upon a qweste; [54 than; falsly; to vor go L; quest.] Sonne, þinke upon þat dreedful doomme [ 55] [55 sone; thynk; þat] the; dredfull; dome.] How god schal deeme us at þe laste. [56 shall; deme; the; last.]

8.

And, sonne, of oon þing y þee waarne, [57 sun; oon] on; thyng; y] i; the; warne.] And on my blessynge take good hede, [58 blessyng; gud.]

Be waar of usinge þe taverne; [59 be ware; usyng; of vor þe L; the.] Also þe diis y þee forbede. [ 60] [60 and vor also L; the; dyce; y] i.] And flee al letcherie in wil and dede, [61 fle; all; lechery; will.] Lest þou come to yvel preef, [62 cum; yvel] evyll; preef] spede and pref.] For alle þi wittis it wole overlede [63 all; thy; wyttis; yt; wole] will.] And bringe þee into greet myscheef. [64 bryng; þee; into] to; gret; myschef.]

9.

And, sonne, sitte not up at even to longe, [ 65] Neiþer use no rere souperis late; Þauȝ þou be boþe hool an strong, With such outrage it wole aslake. [65-68fehlen.] And of late waking comeþ debate, [69 walkyng; wal∣king L, gebessert nach α 77; cumyth.] And out of tyme to sitte and drink. [ 70] [70 owt; syte; drynke.] Þerfore be waar and kepe þi state, [71 therfor; be ware; þi] the; state] algate.] And go to bedde bi tyme and wynke. [72 bede; bi] be.]

10.

And, sonne, if þou wolt have a wiif, [73 sone; yff; wolt] wilt; wyff.] Take hir not for coveitise, [74 hir] her; covytice.] But wyseli enqweere of al hir liif, [ 75] [75 but wy∣sely wayte and make gud pref.] And take good hede bi myn avice, [76 fehlt.] Þat sche be meeke, curteis and wys. [77 she; meke; curteys; wyse.] Þouȝ sche be poore, take þou noon hede, [78 thowgh; she; pore; non.] And sche wole do þee more service, [79 for she will do the good servyce; good vor service L.] Þan will a riccher, whanne þou hast neede. [ 80] [80 than will a rychar; will fehlt L, aus B eingesetzt; whan; nede.]

11.

And if þi wyf be meeke and good, [81 yff; thy; wyff; meke; gud.] And serviþ þee weel and plesauntly, [82 serve; þee] the; well.]

Loke þat þou be not so woode, [83 þat fehlt; thou; wode.] To charge hir to grevously; [84 her.] But rewle hir faire and eesili, [ 85] [85 rule; hir] þee L, her B; fayer; easly.] And cherische hir weel for hir good dede; [86 cherrysshe; her; well; her; gud.] For overdoon þing unskilfully [87 overdo; thyng; unskilfully] unwysly.] Makiþ gryf to growe, whanne it is no nede. [88 makyth; gryf fehlt; grow; whanne] wher; it fehlt; ys.]

12.

For it is betere with reste and pees [89 yt; is] were; better; rest. pease.] A melis meete of hoomeli fare, [ 90] [90 melys; mete; hoomeli] husbondry and homely.] Þan for to have an hundrid mees [91 than; a hundred messe.] With grucchinge and wiþ myche care. [92 gro∣gyng; wiþ fehlt.] And þerfore leerne weel þis lore: [93 therfor, my son, lerne well the lore.] If þou wolt have a wyf with eese, [94 yff; thow; wylt; wyff; ease.] For ritchesse take hir nevere þe more, [ 95] [95 riches; her; never; the.] Þouȝ sche wolde þee boþe feffe and ceese. [96 thowgh; she; wolde] will; þee] the; both; sease.]

13.

And þou schalt not þi wyf displese, [97 shalt; thy; wyff; displese] dyspyse.] Neiþer calle hir bi no vilouns name; [98 neiþer] ne; call; her; by; violens.] And if þou do, þou art not wys, [99 and yff thou do in any wyse.] To calle hir foule it is þi schame. [ 100] [100 to myssecall thy wyffe yt ys thy schame.] If þou þin owne wyf wilt defame, [101 and yf þou wilt thyn own defame.] No wondir þouȝ an oþir do so. [102 wonder; thowgh; other; soo.] But softe and faire a man may tame [103 soft; fayer.] Boþe herte and hynde, bucke and do. [104 bothe; hart; and fehlt; hynd; boke; doo.]

14.

And y wole neiþir glose ne peynt, [ 105] [105 and y wole neiþir] and, son, i will nother; paynt.] But y waarne þee on þe oþir side: [106 but fehlt; y] i; warn; þee] the; þe] þat; other; syde.] If þi wyf come wiþ a playnt [107 yff; thy; wyffe; cum; wyth.] On man or child at ony tide, [108 or fehlt; chyld; at ony tide] for any dede.] Be not to hasti to fiȝte and chide, [109 hasty; fyght; and] ne; chyde.] Ne wreche, til þou know þe soþe; [ 110] [110 ne wreche B] and be not awreke L; til] or; þe soþe] the sothe owt.] For in wraþþe þou myȝte make a braide, [111 myght; brayde.] Þat aftirwarde schulde rewe ȝou boþe. [112 that VII yere after myght be forthowght.]

15.

And, sonne, if þou be weel at eese [113 sone; yf; well; at] a; ease.] And warme amonge þi neiȝboris sitte, [114 among; thy; neyghbowrs; sitte] sete.] Be not newfangil in no wise, [ 115] [115 new∣fangle; wyse; wisee L.] Neiþer hasti for to chaunge ne flitte. [116 neiþer] ne; hasty; ne] and; flete.] And if þou do, þou wantist witte [117 if fehlt; þou] beide Male thow; wantist witte] art not wyse.] And art unstable on every side; [118 fehlt.] And also men wole speke of itt [119 also fehlt; wole] will; itt] that.] And seie: þis foole can not abide. [ 120] [120 say; this; fole; not B] nowhere L; abyde.]

16.

And, sonne, þe more good þat þou hast, [121 sonne fehlt; the; gud; thou.] Þe raþer bere þee meeke and lowe. [122 the; rather; þee fehlt; meke.] And booste not myche, it is but waast; [123 bost; yt; ys; wast.] Bi boostynge men mowe foolis knowe. [124 for by bostyng men may folys know.]

And loke þou paye weel þat þou doost owe; [ 125] [125 and] but; thow; pay; well; thow; doost fehlt in B.] And bi oþir richesse sette no greet price, [126 by; oþir] myche; ryches; gret; pryce.] For deeþ wole take boþe hiȝe and lowe, [127 dethe; wole] will; both; high.] And þan fareweel al þat þere is. [128 than; farewell; all; ther; ys;]

17.

And þerfore do þou bi my counsaylle, [129 fehlt; councelle L; s. Anm. z. Stelle.] And take ensaumple of oþir men, [ 130] [130 ensaumpull; other.] How litil her good dooþ hem availe, [131 howe; lytle; her] ther; doth; hem]them; avayle.] Whanne þei be dolven in her den, [132 whan; they; dolve; in her den] and rotyn.] And he þat was not of his kyn, [133 and fehlt; was not] never was; hys; kynne.] Haþ his wyf and þat þere is. [134 hath; hys; wyffe; þat þere is] all þat ever ys.] Sonne, kepe þee out of deedly synne, [ 135] [135 sone; þee] the; owt; dedely.] And lerne to gete þee paradys. [136 lerne B] asaye L; þee fehlt; paradyse.]

18.

And of þi trespas make ameendis, [137 fehlt.] And to poore men of þi good þou dele, [138 and of thy good to pore men thow dele.] And of þi foomen make þi freendis, [139 of fehlt; thy; foomen] foyes; thy; frendis.] And love to gete þee souleheele. [ 140] [140 love B] asaye L; þee] the; sowlehele.] For þe world is boþe fals and freel, [141 þe] this; ys; boþe fehlt; false; freel] fykyll.] And every day it dooþ appaire; [142 doth; apayer.] Sonne, sette not bi þis worldis weele, [143 sone; sett; by; this; worldis] world mit grossem Haken; wele.] For it fariþ but as a cherifaire. [144 yt; faryth; but fehlt; as a] as doth a; cheryfayre.]

19.

And deeþ is evere, as y trowe, [ 145] [145 dethe ys ever as in towne.] Þe moost certeyn þing þat is; [146 the moost serteyn thyng that ys.] And no þing so uncerteyn to knowe, [147 thyng; is vor so L; unserteyn; known.] As is þe tyme of deeþ, ywis. [148 ys; the; dethe; ywys.] Þerfore, my sonne, þinke on þis [149 therfor; son; thynke well on this.] And al þat y have seid biforn. [ 150] [150 and B] of L; all; that; y] i; sayd; beforne.] And Jhesu bringe us to his blis, [151 bryng; hys; blysse.] Þat for us bare þe crowne of þorn." Amen. [152 that; þe] a; crown; thorn. Amen fehlt. Am Schlusse von B: Explicit how the wyse man tawght his son.]

3. Text γ. [Lesarten von A.]

1.

Lordynges all, and ȝe wyll her, [1 lordynges] lordyng H ¹ A mit grossem Schnörkel am Ende; all fehlt; here.] How a wys man tawght hys sone, [2 wyse; tauȝht; tawgh H ¹.] Makes good hed to þys mater, [3 makes] take; god; hede; þis.] And fonde to lerne it, yff ȝe con. [4 fond] fynd; it yff A, to þat H ¹; canne.] By ȝong men þys song was bygon, [ 5] [5 þis songe for ȝonge men was begon; fyrst vor bygon H ¹.] To make hem trew and stedefast; [6 hem] them; hen H ¹; stedfaste.] For ȝern þat ys ewyll ysponn, [7 for fehlt H ¹, aus A eingesetzt; ȝerne; is; evyll; spon.] Fowle hit wel come owte at þe last. [8 fowle] evyll; ffolwe H ¹; hit] it; wel come] comes; out; laste.]

2.

Ther was a wys man, had a chyld, [9 ther] yt; wyse.] That was XV wynter of age, [ 10] [10 that fehlt; XV] fully XV.] Of maners he was meke and myld, [11 maneres.] Feyr of body and of vesage, [12 feyr] gentyll; of vor vesage fehlt H ¹, aus A eingesetzt; vsage.]

Jentyl of kend and of lenag. [13 (= A 16) gentyll; of A] and H ¹; kend] kynd; lenag] corage.] Becawse he was hys faderes eyr, [14 (= A 13) bycause; his; faderes fehlt H ¹, aus A eingesetzt; ayer.] Hys fader þus in hys langage [ 15] [15 (= A 14) his; in] on; hys] þis; langage A] lange H ¹.] He tauȝht hys sone boþ wel and feyr. [16 (= A 15) he fehlt; tauȝt A] tauȝh H ¹; his; boþ fehlt; wele; feyre.]

3.

And seyd: "Sone, hawe þys word in hert, [17 have; þis; herte.] Thenke þeron fort thow be ded, [18 thenke] and thynke; then H ¹; fort] when; thow be ded] I ame dede.] Every day thy fyrst werk [19 dey; thy] þe; werke.] That hyt be don in elke a stede: [ 20] [20 loke it be done in every sted.] Go see thy god in forme of brede, [21 se; þi; form; bred.] And thank thy god of hys godenesse. [22 thanke; þi; his; god∣nesse.] And afterward, sone, thys ys my red, [23 afterwarte H ¹; thys ys my red] be my rede.] Go to thy worldely bessynesse. [24 to] do; thy] þi; worldely] werldes; wordely H ¹; besynesse.]

4.

Sone, fyrst wurschep god onys a day, [ 25] [25 sone] bot; worscype; thy vor god H ¹; onys a] on þe; dey.] Þys schalt thow have to thy mede: [26 þys fehlt H ¹, vgl. α] Loke ryghtfully qwath þou wylt pray, [27 loke fehlt; ryghtfolly] H ¹, skyl∣fully A; qwath] what; wyll; praye.] He wul þe grawnte, wytouten dred; [28 wul] wylle; grawnte] grownte H ¹, send A; withouten A, wytout eny H ¹.] He wyl þe help, wan þou hast nede, [29 and send þe all þat thow hast nede.] Als fer as mesur wyl destrech. [ 30] [30 ferre; mesure; wyll; destreche, þe strech H ¹.] Loke mesurly þy lyf þou lede, [31 luke; thy; lyfe.] Of al the remenaunt þou der noȝt rech. [32 and of þe remynant þer þe not reche.]

5.

And, sone, thy tonge þou kepe also, [33 and fehlt H ¹, aus A eingesetzt; son; þi.] Be not to talewys by no way; [34 and tell not all thynges þat þou maye.] Thyn owne tonge may be thy fo. [ 35] [35 thyn owne] for þi; fo A] fe H ¹.] Therfor be war, sone, as i say, [36 þerfor, my son, thynke what i sey; þe vor say H ¹.] Loke hwer and qhan, sone, þou shalt pray, [37 where and when þat þou schall praye; hwr H ¹.] And by qhom, sone, þou seyst owght; [38 by] be; qhom] whome; sone] þat; thou; owht.] For þou may sey a word to dey, That VII ȝere after may be forthouȝht. [ 40] [39,40 fehlen H ¹.]

6.

Sone, of a thyng i þe warn, Of my blessyng take god hede, [42 hete H ¹.] Use not to mekyl þe wyntaverne, Also the dys i the forbyde. [44 the dys vgl. β 60] dedys H ¹.] Thes er II thyng, wytowtyn drede, [ 45] [45 drede vgl. α61] spede H ¹.] And comen wymen, as i leve, They make yowng men ewyl to spede [47 yown H ¹.] And falle in daunger and gret myschef. [48 falle] fallyth H ¹.]

7.

Sone, loke thou wake not to long, Neþer no rer soper use not late; [ 50] Wer thy complection never so strong, Wyt soche mysrule hyt wyl aslake. For late wakyng þer fallyth gret bate, [53 wakyng vgl. α 77] walkyng H ¹.] Be nyght setting atte the drynk. [54 settong H ¹; drynk vgl. α 78, β 70] dryng H ¹.] My sone, and þou wylt rule þy state, [ 55] Be tyme go to thy bed and wynke.

8.

My sone, asse forth as þou mayst her, On no manys qwest þat þou not come,

Ne fals wyttenyse þat þou not ber In no manis qwarell all no sum; [ 60] Beter þou wer be both def and dom, [61 dom vgl. α 85, β 53] don H ¹.] Than for to come on fals enqueyst, That afterward myght be undernom; [63 undernam H ¹.] Þat a trew man had hys quarell ilost.

9.

My sone, and þou wul wedde a wyfe, [ 65] Take hyr for no cowetyse, Loke, sone, by thy lyf, Thou wysely wayte and wel avyse, [68 thou] tho H ¹; and wel avyse, s. Anm. z. Stelle] be wel a by syd H ¹.] Þat sche be clene and good of gyse. Thow sche be por, take þou no hede, [ 70] For sche schall do þe more servyse, Than schall a rycher, wytowtyn dred.

10.

Beter is yn rest and pese A mes of podag and no more, Þan for to habe an hundred mes [ 75] [75 an] han H ¹.] Wyt grete dysese and angur sor. Þerfor, lewe sone, thynk on my lor: [77 thynk fehlt H ¹, vgl. α 101.] If þou wylt have a wyf wyt ese, Be her good sett þou no stor, Thow sche wold þe both fefe and sese. [ 80]

11.

Sone, i can nether glose ne paynt, Kepe þe on þat odyr syde: Yf thy wyf comme to make a playnt [83 yf vgl. α 115, β 107] wayte H ¹.] Uponn thy meyne be tyme or tyde,

Be not to hasty them to chyde, [ 85] [85 them] they in (oder m?) eny H ¹; chyde vgl. α 117, β 109] chylde H ¹.] Wreke þe not, or þou wete þe soth; Womanys wrath þat wyl nat hyde; The, sone, they conne be both rew and smoth. [41-88 fehlen A.] [88 smath H ¹.]

12.

Sone, thy wyf þou schalt not chyde, [89 þi; wyfe; schall.] Ne calle her by no velenys name, [ 90] [90 calle] caule; vy∣lons.] For sche þat schall ly by thy syde, [91 aus A eingesetzt; þe woman þat lyth a nygth by thy syde H ¹.] To calle hyr wykyd, it is thy schame. [92 aus A eingesetzt; ȝyf þou calledest a morw wykyd, hyt ys thy schame H ¹.] Qwan thy weddyd wyf þou dost defame, [93 when þou schall thy wyfe defame; þou vor thy H ¹.] Wele may an oþer man do so. [94 aus A eingesetzt; qwhy blamyst a nodyr man, thow he do so H ¹.] Soft and feyr a man may tame [ 95] [95 soft and] bot sofer and; feyr fehlt.] Both hert and hynde and þe wyld roo. [96 both fehlt; hynd; ro.]

13.

My sonne, bete þou nat thy wyf, y þe redd, Therof may ther non help aryse. Bethyng stant in non othyr stede, But for to make thy neȝgbar þat dyspyce. [ 100] [97-100 fehlen A.] Othyr lone awe thy wyf schastyse, [101 with loue and awe þi wyfe þou chastys; lone] lowe H ¹, s. Anm. z. α 141.] Lette feyr wordys, sone, be thy ȝerd; [102 lette] and late, feyre, wordes, worordys H ¹; sone fehlt; goo vor be H ¹; þi.] For lone awe ys the beste gyse, [103 lone fehlt; s. o.; ys] it is; þe; best.] My sone, to make thy wyf aferd. [104 my sone fehlt; to] forto; þi; wyfe.]

14.

My sone, therfor þus rede i the, [ 105] Werk wyt thy wyf, as reson ys;

Thow sche be servaunt in thys degre, [107 degre] degr mit einem grossen Schnörkel am Ende H ¹.] In som partys thy felow sche ys. They be not wys, so hawe i blysse, That conne not rule her wyfys aryght, [ 110] Hyt makyt ofte hem to do amys, And settyn by goodys wedlek al to lyght. [105-112 fehlen A.]

15.

Sone, be þou not gelos by no wey, For if þou fall in gelosye, Late not þi wyfe wyte be no wey, [ 115] For þou mayst do no mor folye. For if thi wyfe myȝht ons aspye, Þat thou to her wold not tryst, Yn spyte of all þi fantysye, [119 spye, das t schon von Furnivall ein∣gesetzt.] To werke hyr werst, þat is herre lyste. [ 120] [113-120 fehlen H ¹.]

16.

My sone, paye trewely thy tythe, [121 sone, unto y (lies mit Furnivall þi) god pay welle þi tythe.] And pour men of þi good þou dele; [122 pore; thy; gode.] Loke, sone, by thy vayr lywe, [123 ageyn þe devell be stronge and styfe.] In erth gete thy sowle som hele. [124 and helpe þi soule fro peyne of helle.] Thys worlde ys naght but fantysy fele, [ 125] [125 thys werld is bote fantesye fele; worlde] wordel H ¹; fantysuy H ¹; fele fehlt H ¹, aus A eingesetzt.] For day by day hyt dos empeyr; [126 for] and; dey by dey; it; dos] wylle; apare; hempeyr H ¹.] Loke, sone, by thys werldys weell, [127 þerfor be (lies mit Furnivall beware) þe werldes wele; werldys] werdelys H ¹.] Hyt faryth as deth a chereyfeyr. [128 yt; farys; deth fehlt; cheryfeyre.]

17.

Many man here gederes gode [129 aus A eingesetzt; ther ys many a man gederyth to gedyr mech good H ¹.] All hys lyftyme for othyr men, [ 130] [130 and hys vor all H ¹; lyfetyme; odour.]

Þat he may not, by þe rood, [131 þat fehlt H ¹, aus A eingesetzt; for hys wyf vor by H ¹; by] be; the; rode.] Have onys tyme to ete an hen. [132 have s. Anm. z. Stelle] not a; nat H ¹; onys fehlt; tyme A] teme H ¹; an] a; hene.] Be he dolwe in hys den, [133 when he is dolven in his den.] An other schall come atte hys last ende, [134 oþer; comme; at; hys] þe.] Schall have hys wyf and cathell than; [ 135] [135 schall] and; wyfe; catell.] Þat he hath sparyd, an other wyl spend. [136 all vor þat H ¹; has; ysparyd H ¹; oþer; wyll; spende.]

18.

For all þat ever a man doth her [137 here.] Wyt bysenysse and wyt trawayle both, [138 with; bysenys; and wyt trawayle] and travell; bothe.] All hyt ys, wytowtyn wer, [139 hyt] þis; ys] is; hys H ¹; withouten; were.] Not but for mete, drynk and cloth. [ 140] [140 but] bot; drynk] and drynke; clothe.] Mor get he not, wytowtyn oth, [141 withouten; hothe.] Kyng or prynse, whether þat he be; [142 h vor kyng H ¹; or] ne; prince; whetheyr H ¹] wheþer; þat fehlt.] Be hym lef or by hym loth, [143 hym] beide Male he; lefe; by] be; lothe.] A por man schal have as moch as he. [144 a por] at on day davor H ¹; schall; as] als; a H ¹; mych.]

19.

Þerfor, sone, be my counsaylle, [ 145] [145 counsaylle vgl. β 129] counselle A.] Mor þan inowȝhe þou never covete. Thou wotyst not when deth wylle þee asayll; Þis werld is bot deth and debate. Loke þou be not to hyȝe of state, By ryches here sette þou no price, [ 150] For þis werld is full of deseyt; Therfor purchasse paradyce. [152 Wortstellung nach Furnivall; ther purchasse for A.]

20.

For deth, my chyld, is, as y trow, The most ryȝht serteyn thing it is; [154 thing fehlt A, schon von Furnivall eingesetzt.] No thing so unserteyn to know, [ 155] [155 know] unknow A.] As is þe tyme of deth, iwys. And þerfor, sonne, thinke onne thys And all þat i have seyd beforne. And Jhesu bryng us to his blysse, The chyld þat was in Bedlem borne." [ 160] [145-160 fehlen H ¹.] [160 was] w A, mit Furnivall was zu lesen. Am Ende von A: Amen, quod Kate; und die Zeichnung eines Fisches darunter.]