Orologium sapientiae or the seven poyntes of trewe wisdom, aus ms. Douce 114 / [ed. K. Horstmann].

Sentite de domino in bonitate, et (in) simplicitate cordis que∣rite [ 25] [25 Lib. sapientiae 1, 1.] illum; quoniam inuenitur ab hijs qui non temptantillum, apparet autem eis qui fidem habent in illum. ¶ Þees wordes of euerlastynge wisdam beþ þus miche to seye in englische: ffeleþ of owre lorde in godnesse, and secheþ him in simplenesse of herte; for he is foundene of hem þat temptene him not, and he appereþ to hem þat hauene [ 30] feiþ in to him.—Þere was sumtyme a deuowt discyple of wisdam, þe whiche aftere þat in his ȝowþe hadde gone to diuerse scoles & lerede sere sciences of mannus doctrine & worldlye wisdam, aftere he cam to more age and was towchede bye ... to þe trewe love of owre lorde Jhesu, [34 desire fehlt?] him þowhte miche veyne trauayle in þe forseyde sciences; wherefor (he) [ 35] [35 miche in moche corr.; ne überschrieben.] preyede continuelye and deuowtlye to godde, þat he wolde not suffre him departe fro þis lyfe til he cam to þe knowelechyng and þe kunynge of soþefast & souereyne philosophye . And in þe mene tyme as he went fro studye to studye and fro scole to scole, sechynge bisilye þat he de∣sirede, but in none manere soþefastlye fyndynge but onelye as a ymage [ 40] or a liknesse þere-offe: be-felle vpon a tyme, as he was in hees deuowte meditaciones & preyeres, þere aperede to his siht as hit were a wondere grete and large rownde hows like to þe spere of þe firm(am)ente, alle of brihte sch(i)nynge golde, sette alle-abowte with fayre preciouse stones; in þe whiche hows, þat was departede in þe middes, þere were tweyne [ 45]

mansiones, one above & anoþere beneþene; & eche of hem continede diuerse doctours & maystres and wondere (fele) disciples accordyng to [2 ms. wondere, mit ausgestrichenem w; fele fehlt.] hem. ¶ In þe neþere mansione were maystres & discyples of alle naturele sciences & of alle craftes vndere sonne; ¶ þe wheche alle haddene as hit were a manere veyle vpon here faces; & amonge þe grete swinke & tra∣uayle [ 5] þat þei haddene eche off hem in his science & crafte, þei were com∣fortede with amanere of swete drinke, þe whiche qwenchede not fullye here thriste, but hit, generynge a manere of dryenesse, made hem more thristlewe and more. ¶ And whan þe forseyde (disciple) hadde abedene [9 disciple über∣schieben von anderer hand.] a while in þoo scoles and tastede of here drinke, his stomake ouerturnede [ 10] & beganne to haue a vomyte . Where-fore he laft þoo scoles & forsoke [11 ms. hane] þees sciences, and went vp to þe seconde mansione: þe whiche was wondere feyre and diuerse-maner curioselye depeyntede & arayede. And whanne he come þere-to & stode be-fore þe dore, he fonde þer þis-manere superscripcione: 'Þis is þe scole (of) soþfaste diuinyte, where þe may∣stresse [ 15] [15 of überschr. v. a. h.] is euerlastynge wisdam, þe doctrine is verite and trewþ, & þe ende euerlastynge felicite'. And whanne he hadde radde þis superscripcione, in alle hast he entrede in to þat scole, coueitynge with alle his in∣warde desyre to be made a discyple of þat scole, where-bye he hopede to come to þat ende þat he hadde longtyme desyrede. ¶ But in þis scole [ 20] were þre ordres boþe of discyples & of doctours: Summe setene on þe grounde bye þe dore; þe wheche lakkedene trewe taste of diuinyte & haddene here beholdynge & siht to þoo þinges þat were wiþowtforthe. ¶ Þei þat were of þe secounde ordre, profytede not feruentlye, but in a manere semede as þe stodene stille. ¶ But þei þat were off þe thridde [ 25] ordre, setene nihe þe maystre & þei, drinkynge þe water of helefulle wisdam þat came owt of his mowþe, þei were made so drunkene þat þei forȝetene hem-selfe & alle oþere wordlye þinges, hauynge here hertes & here eyene euer vpwarde to þe mayster and feruentlye rauischede in to his loue & heuenelye þinges. ¶ And whenne þe discyple hadde bisilye [ 30] be-holdene þees þinges, he was gretlye awondrete, and namelye of þat þinge þat in one scole & of one soþfastnesse þer was so grete diuersite & vnliknesse in manye maystres & discyples. ¶ And þanne he herde, as him þowhte, a voyce, spekynge to him in þes-manere wordes: ¶ 'Þoo þre ordres þat þou hast seene, beþ þre manere of studiyng & techynge holye [ 35] writte. ¶ Þe first manere is fleschelye: & þat havene þei þat bene copiose and habundant in þe letterere science with-owt þe spiryte; þe wheche þe more kunynge þat þei bene, þe more þei bene blowne & fillede with pryde, & bene noyes boþe to hem-selfe & to oþere; þe wheche sekene not in here kunynge goddes wirchepe & louynge or to sowle-hele and [ 40] edificacione of hem-selfe & oþere, but þei bisiyne hem onelye abowt here owne worldlye promocione. ¶ Þe secounde manere of lerenynge and techynge holyewrit is bestelye: & þat is in hem þat in scole-excersyse in a symple manere sechene þoo þinges þat bene nedefulle to sowle-hele, but þei beþ necligente and slowe to profyte in þe feruour of charite & [ 45]

loue to godde and heuenelye þinges. ¶ Þe thridde manere is spirituele and gostlye: & þat is in hem þat with alle here mihtes & hertlye affecciones trauayle and bysyene hem to gete þoo þinges þat longene to perfeccione, so þat, as here vnderstandynge profyteþ in kunynge, so here sowle and here affeccione be fillede with þe wisdam of godde; þe wheche tastene [ 5] and beholdene þe swetnesse of owre lorde, and be here kunynge of holye write techene and ledene hem-selfe & oþere in to blessede ende.' ¶ Where∣fore þe forseyde discyple, levynge alle þe toþere, souerenlye desyrede to haue his abidynge and dwellynge with hem, and offrede him to be with hem a trewe discyple of þat heuenelye maystre, euere-lastynge wisdam: [ 10] And so he, neyhinge to þe mayster, beganne to speke to him in þis manere: 'O þou souereyne and euerlastynge wisdam, siþene hit is so þat [12 am rande: Disciple.] allemenne by kynde desyrene for to haue kunynge, and in þe, vniuersele prynce & auctour of kynde, alle-manere tresores of wisdam and kunynge beþ hidde, and also þou art makere of alle þinge and hast alle manere [ 15] of science & alle þinge þou seest & knowest: þere-fore I aske of þe with a gredye desyre of alle mye hert þat þou opune to me þe tresorye of þi souereyn wisdam, & þat compendioslye and in schorte wordes—for þei þat nowe beþe, lovene & haueþ likynge in schorte speche; and of makynge bokes is none ende; alle þe worlde is fillede with dyuerse doctrines, and [ 20] þere beþ a twosende manere of livynge: one liveþ in þis manere & anoþere in þat manere. ¶ Þer beþ so manye bokes & tretees of vyces and vertues & of dyuerse doctrynes, þat þis schort lyfe schalle raþere haue ancude of anye manne þanne he maye owþere studye hem or rede hem. ¶ Where-fore, þou euerlastynge sovereyne wisdam, I desyre and [ 25] aske of þe þat þou teche me in schort manere þat heuenelye diuinite, þe whiche with-owt errour standeþ in þi wisdam & in trewe love of þe, blessede Jhesu.'

¶ Þe mayster, euerlastynge wisdam, answerede þus: ¶ 'Mye dere [29 am rande: Magister.] sone, wille þou noht sauere in kunynge to hye, but drede! here me nowe [ 30] and I schalle teche þe þinges þat beþ profitable to þe; I schalle ȝive þe a chosene ȝifte, for myne doctryne schalle be þi lyfe. ¶ Where-fore, takynge owre biginnynge of helefulle disciplyne at þe drede of godde, þe wheche is þe beginnynge of wisdam, I schalle teche þe be ordre VII poyntes of mye loue, whereinne stant souerene wisdam and þe perfec∣cion [ 35] of alle gode and rihtwislyuynge in þis worlde. ¶ Þe first poynt is þe maner and properte of me & my love, & howe þou schalt haue þe to me in felynge of þat love also welle in bitturnesse as in sw(e)tenesse. ¶ Þe secounde poynt stant in declarynge of mye lovue in mye bittere passione þat I suffrede for þe, and conformynge aȝeyne of þi love to [ 40] me. ¶ Þe þridde is in gladde suffrynge of tribulaciones & aduersitees for love of me, bye ensample of mye suffraunce & myne chosene loveres þat suffrede disese for me. ¶ Þe ferþe is, howe þou schalt kepe (þe) in trewe gostlye lyfe þat is grondet in þe love of me, & howe þou schalt flee & eschewe þat is contrarie here-to in offense of me. ¶ Þe fyþeþ schalle [ 45] [45 l. fyfþe.] teche þe to kunne dye, & desire to dye for þe love of me. ¶ Þe sixte

is in declarynge of mye souereyne love schewede in þe holye sacra∣mente of mye flesche & blode for þe, and (how) þou schalt worþilye receyve hit & wirchepe hit fore þe love of me. ¶ Þe seuenþe poynt techeþ þe howe (þou) schalt in alle þinge þat þou seest kume loove and wirchepe [4 þou überschr.] me, and with alle þi sowle souereynlye love me.' [ 5]

¶ Þanne spake þe discyple and seyde: 'O heuenclye doctour & soue∣reyne [6 am rande: Discipulus.] mayster of euerlastynge wisdam, þis hit is þat I haue longe-tyme feruentlye desirede & with alle myne bisynesse sowht. O lorde, welle were me ȝif I knowe þis lessone of love declarede in þe VII forseyde poyntes of love! what scholde I more desyre? for seynt Austyne seythe: [ 10] 'loue parfitelye, & do what þou wilte'. But nowe, for als myche as þere may no manne love parfytelye þat he knowthe not: teche me, if hit be þi wil, after þe first poynt forseyde, what is þe proprete of þei name & þe manere of þei loue, and so forþ by processe þat hye wisdam & lessone of loue comprehendet in þe VII poyntes before-seyde.' [ 15]

(I.) ¶ Þe maystere, euerlastynge wisdam, seyde: 'ffirst off þe properte [16 a. r.: Sapiencia.] of þe name and þe loue of euerlastynge wisdam, & how þe discyple schalle haue hym in felynge of þat loue boþe in beternesse and in swetnesse. ffirst, if þou wolt wite þe properte and resone of my name, þou schalt vnderstande þat I am clepede of hem þat livene in erþe euerlastynge [ 20] wisdam. Þe whiche name is most conuenient and best acordynge to myne nobleye. ffor þowhe hit so be þat euerye persone of þe holye trinite taken by hit-selfe is wisdam, & alle þe persones to-gydere one euerlastynge wisdam, neuerlese, for als miche as wisdam is proprelye applyede to þe sone and also hit falleþ to him by resone of his genera∣cione [ 25] specialye, þerefore (þe) bylouede sone of þe fadere is takene & vnder∣stande in þat-manere significacione of wisdam custumablye, nowe as godde & nowe as manne, nowe as he þat is spowse of his chirche & nowe as sche þat is spowse & wyfe of euerye chosene sowle, þat maye seye of euer∣lastyng wisdam in þees wordes of þe boke of wisdam: hanc amaui et [ 30] exquisiui a iuuentute mea & quesiui eam sponsam mi assumere, & a mator factus sum forme illius—þat is to seye: 'sche þis I haue louede & I haue vtturlye sowhte fro myne ȝowþe & I haue desyrede for to haue to mye spowse, and I am made a lovere of hir forme and schappe'. and also in þe selfe boke þus: Super salutem & omnem pulcri∣tudinem [ 35] dilexi sapienciam & proposui pro luce habere illam, venerunt mi omnia bona pariter cum illa—'abouene heele & alle bewte I haue louede wisdam & I haue purposede for to haue hir as for mye lihte, & alle godes haue comene to me with hir'. Also of mye worþi∣nesse [39 l. haue?] hit is writen þus: Sapiencia speciosior est sole et super om∣nem [ 40] disposicionem stellarum luci comparata inuenitur prior, candor est enim lucis eterne & speculum sine macula diuine maiestatis & ymago bonitatis illius—þat is to seye: 'wisdam is feyrere þanne sonne & in comparisone of hir to liht she is fowndene pas∣synge aboue alle þe disposicione of sterres, she is forsoþe þe bryhtnesse [ 45]

of euerlastynge liht and þe mirrour with-owt wemme of goddes maieste & þe ymage of his godenesse'. Also þus: Melior est sapiencia cun∣tis opibus preciosissimis & omne desiderabile non potest ei comparari, longitudo dierum in dextra eius & in sinistra illius diuicie & gloria—'wisdam is bettur þanne (alle) manere of moste pre∣ciouse [ 5] godes, & alle þat may be desyrede may not be in comparisone lyke to hir; þe lengh of ȝeres is in hire righ(t) syde and in hir lift seyde [7 seyde st. syde.] richesses & ioye'. ¶ And þus miche towchynge þe proprete & þe worþe∣nesse of mye name.—¶ But nowe, tochinge my loue, be-holde with a ioyefulle mynde howe hable I am to (be) louede, howe louelye to (be) [ 10] [10 be überschr.] clippede and kyssede of a clene sowle. O, blessede is þat sowle to wham is grauntede in alle here lyfe, þowhe hit be but one tyme, to feele þat hit be (so); and þowh hit be so þat deþ falle þere-bye, hit schalle not [13 so fehlt.] be to him greuowse. ffor, soþelye, I am euer redye to him þat loveþe me for to loue aȝenewarde, & with him I am present in chirche & atte borde, [ 15] in þe weye & in cloyster & in þe market, so þat þere is no place but þat þere is present charite (of) godde; for amonge alle oþere spowses þe [17 of fehlt.] goddelye wisdam haþ þis sengulere proprete þat sche may be present ouer-alle to þe desyre of hire louere, & alle þe sihynges for hire and desyres & alle-maner dedes & seruyses sche as present knoweþ anone. [ 20] Also þe sengulere prerogatyfe of mye godenesse and loue is so grete, þat, who-so tasteþ þer-of þowh hit be but one lytele drope, aftere þat he schalle halde alle þe lustes & lykynges of þe worlde but as dritte. Mye love descharges hem þat beþ ouerleyde with þe heve birþene of sinnes, hit purifyeþ & makeþ clene þe conscience, hit strengþeþ þe mynde [ 25] & þe sowle, hit ȝeviþ fredam to hem þat beþ parfyte, & cowpleþ & knitte hem to here euerlastynge beginnynge. ¶ And what more: who-so takeþ me into his spowse & loueþ me above alle þinge, he lyveþ with tran∣quillyte & reste, he deeþ with sykernesse, & in a manere he biginneþ here þe blisse & þe ioyes þat schole laste euer worlde with-owte ende. [ 30] ¶ We spekene manye þinges & ȝite we faylene in owre wordes: for þe hye worþinesse of mye love þere maye none tunge of meune ne of awnge∣les pleynlye telle; hit maye be in experience felt, but hit may not be fullye tolde or spokene; & þere-fore alle þees wordes of þe makynge of [34 ms. makynde.] goodelye love beþ but as sodenlye raþere owt caste þan in effecte ple∣nerlye [ 35] fulle spokene.'

¶ Þenne seyde þe discyple to him-selfe þus: 'O lorde godde, howe [37 a. r.: Discipulus.] manye gode þinges here I spokene, souereynlye fayre and worþi spowse! [38 ms. spowseur.] Why þanne makest þou dissimulacione or feynynge, whye assayest not wheþer þou mayht haue hire in to þi amyke or loue? O, howe blessede [ 40] were þou if þou mihteste wede hir and haue hir into þi spowse! ffor þou art ȝonge & hable to love, & þer maye none herte so clene be so solitarye by lakke of love. ¶ Where-fore nowe in fulle deliberacione I [43 in st. mi?] haue vtterlye sette þat I schalle putte mye-selfe to þe deþ, so þat I maye hir gete in to amyke & spowse of me.' [ 45]

¶ And þanne euerlastynge visdam with a gladde & graciose chere [1 a. r.: Sapiencia.] godelye saluede hym and seyde schortlye in þees wordes: 'Fili, prebe mi cor tuum: Sone, ȝiffe me þi herte!" & anone as (þe) discyple herde þis worde, for þe grettenesse and feruour of loue his herte meltynge and as he were rauyschede owt of him-selfe, þonkede hir louelye & seyde þus: [ 5] [5 a. r.: Discipulus.]

¶ 'Aa souereyne ioye of mye herte þat I maye have so worþi a spowse, þe howre of heele & of gostlye ioye, þe tyme of graciose visitacione & þe daye þat owre lorde haþ made specialy to me! In whiche drede is [8 ms. of st. þat.] turnede in to loue, & graciose experience of homelynesse ȝiueþ me more pleyne triste to speke ferþermore to þe what me lykeþ. ¶ Where(fore) I [ 10] [10 ms. where.] schalle opune mye mowþe and þe pryuetees þat I haue longtyme borne close in þe chaumbre of my hert nowe I schalle opune to þe, þat knowest best by experience in þe craft of love þat who-so loueþ specialye coueteþ to (be) louede aȝey(n)warde senglerlye. Wherfore þe feruent affeccione of mye herte to þe, þat hast hit senglerlye in þi handes, coueteþ & desireþ, [ 15] þat, as hit senglerlye loueþ þe, so þou do aȝeynwarde; þat is, þat I soue∣reynlye desire þat þou woldest knowe me by name and senglerlye hau∣ynge by-louede chese to þi-selfe amonge þi most speciale frendes & lovers. Not þat I desyre þat þou scholdest loue me alone a-bove alle oþer, but þat þou woldest schewe to me and ȝiue me þi speciale love amonge alle [ 20] oþere þat bene louede of þe. ffor þat is þinge þat pitteþ me in to ang∣wische and sorowe, þat þere beeþ so manye hertes louynge þe þorhe moste brennynge charite þe whic(h)e beþ before me & passene me in loue & in chewynge of loue in dede to þe. ¶ Where-fore I drede sore leste þou, þat art louere of lilyes & fedde among lilyes, felynge þe swete [ 25] smelle of hem schalt forȝete me þat am butte as brere or a nettele, and so schalle I falle in to harme for loue of oþere. fforȝiue me, þou my loue, þat I speke so! fore, as þou knowest welle, hit is proprete of fer∣uent love þat hit kan not pitte lawe & masure to wordes and þat hit haþ no rewarde to none oþere but onelye to þat þe louer is occupyede with [ 30] [30 rewarde = regarde.] him þat loueþ.'

¶ Þanne seyde wisdam: 'Þi love, þowh hit be feruent, neuerlese [32 a. r.: Sapiencia.] hit semeþ sumwhat blendete, in as miche as þou felest of goddelye and heuenlye þinges in manere of erþlye þinges; & þere-fore þou errest in þi dome, ffor so is hit not: But þou schalt vnderstande þat þe wisdam of [ 35] godde is love. Wherfore, riht as (þe) beynge of godde þat is in alle þinges [36 þe fehlt.] is not departede ne þe lasse þerfore in hit-selfe, riht so his loue is neuer þe lesse, þowh he loue alle þinges þat he haþ made. ¶ And þer-fore with-owt preiudyse of alle oþer take þis saddelye in þi mynde þat I am in alle tymes & euerye howre so loueradenlye bisye abowte þe as þei [ 40] alle oþere pitte a-bakke I ȝaf entente onelye to þe & as I scholde seng∣lerlye answere to þi loue by hit-selfe.'

¶ Þanne seyde discyple: ¶ 'Þis is a blessede worde & moste worþi [43 a. r.: Discypulus.] in alle to be acceptede of me. ¶ Nowe is mye sowle magnifyede abowen

alle þe dayes of mye life! ¶ Where-fore nowe alle þe worlde be gladde & ioyefulle with me for so godelye loue of mye belovede, & so grete desy∣rede love schewede to me. ¶ And þere-fore, o þou swettest and best euerlastynge wisdam, I aske of þe þat neiþer life ne deþ ne no-manere fortune departe me fro þe, but þat owre loue strenger þan þe dethe maye [ 5] last euer with-owt ende.—¶ But ȝitte haue I for to playne to þe, soue∣reyne love & euerlastynge wisdam, of þe maner of þi louynge: þat sum∣tyme, whenne þou wolt, þou art so homelye, so godelye and so lykynge in sensyble felynge of þi blessede presence, & sumtyme in contrarye maner so strange & so ferre, as þei þou haddest forȝetene & fulle for∣sakene [ 10] me: and þanne sihþe I & sorowe gretelye—and no wonder: ffor [11 l. sihye.] þe with-drawynge of þat þinge þat is louede aȝeynes þe wille of him þat loueþ, as I knoweleche þat I haue oft-syþes felt in experience, semeþ to me souereyne labore & sorowe in loue; and þer-fore þis hit is þat I haue aȝeynus þe, þou moder of love, euerlastynge wisdam, impugnynge or [ 15] lakkynge þi loue þat þou hast here-before so gretelye commendete . for whi, soþelye, riht ofte-siþes, what-tyme þat þe mynde and þe þowht of þe louer weneþ for to haue þe restfullye in þe prywe chaumbere of his herte and troweþ þat he haþ cleppede þe to hym with hees louynge [19 ms. louelye.] armes with-owte departynge for euer: sodenlye, alas, I not whidere þou [ 20] fleest aweye, and art not seene, but leuest þe sowle fulle of sorowe aftere þe. And so whyle þe herte of þe louere brenneþ, þe sowle thristeþ after þe and bodye seeke mowrneþ, couetynge þe onelye ioye of þe hert with alle hees inwarde affecciones; ¶ and ȝit þou as hit were takynge non rewarde, ȝiveste no-maner felynge answere aȝeyne . Whatte is þis? semeþ [ 25] hit not to wikkede a þinge and to cruele, not willynge condescende to him whom þou haste so woundet with loue?'

Þanne answerede wisdam and seyde: ¶ 'Þe makynge and kynde of [28 a. r.: Sapiencia.] euerye creatour maye answere for me, in as miche as þou mayest þerinne se mye souereyne mithe, mye souereyne wisdam & mye souereyne god∣nesse: [ 30] and if þat sufficenot to þe, halde þe payede on holye writte, where þou maye fynde me sufficyantlye, for þat (is) as an amorose lettere to þe [32 is fehlt.] in to solace and conforte of þe; for alle þat beþ written þere, beþ writene to þi conforte, to strengþe þi hope & norichynge þi charitee. ¶ Nowe þen, semeþ þe, be not þees sufficient resone and prefe of loue to þe [ 35] louere?'

¶ Þe discyple seyde: ¶ 'Oo þu maystresse of alle love, whye [37 a. r.: Discipulus.] spekest þou so? art not þou a trewe louer? ȝe, and for to speke better: soþelye, þou art love hit-selfe, and with-owt anye dowte þou knoweste þe condiciones of þe lovynge herte . Wherfore hit falleþ not to þe so [ 40] straungelye to speke of love, for þou woste welle þat hit is to litele and not I-nowh to him þat loveþ, what-so-euer hit be þat is not his be∣louede; ffor þere is no-þinge suffysaunte to him þat loveþ, but onelye þe presence of (þat) þat he loueþ. And þer-fore þat is þat makeþ me [44 þat überschr. v. a. h.] sorowfulle be-for so worþi a face of þi goddenesse: þe changynge & þe [ 45]

comynge & goynge of þe, for þat turmenteþ sore þe sowle þat is not ȝit fullye saddete and stablete in þe moste parfyte degre of loue. ¶ Þees & seche-manere siþhinges & longynges of þe herte and spekynges of love, Oo þou euerlastynge wisdam, hireste and puttest not þine entente þer-to, but feyneste as þou toke none forse ne no rewarde þer-of.' [ 5]

Wisdam: 'I take hede to alle þat þou seyste, and see alle þe de∣syres [6 a. r.: Sapiencia.] of þi herte: but abyde a while and schewe to me wordes þat I aske of þe, & answere to mye questione: what is þat þinge þat þe heuenelye spirytes and angeles owene for to seche and have here entente to sove∣reynlye in here wirchynge?' [ 10]

Disciple: 'Oo þou souereyne maystresse of heuenelye discipline, [11 a. r.: Discipulus.] howe scholde I, so symple and vnkunynge, answere to þat hye questione? But þere-fore I prey þe answere for me!'

Wisdam: 'Þou schalt þer-fore vnderstande þat angeles, spirytes & [14 a. r.: Sapientia.] parfyte lyveres sechene no-þinge so miche in here worchynge as to con∣forme [ 15] alle here dedes to mye wille, as goddelye wisdam seiþ: Meus cibus est vt faciam voluntatem patris mei qui in celis est—'Mye mete is þat I do þe wille of mye fader þat is in heuene': and so þis is þe mete of angeles & parfyte lyveres: þat þei have delyte souerenlye for to fullefille (þe wylle) of here lorde in hem-selfe & vniuersalye in alle [ 20] [20 þe w. a. r.] creatours. Where-fore þei scholdene more likynglye be stirede to þat dede or þat warke þat is fowle and abiecte in his kynde þan to a noþer þat is mor wircheppfulle & not mye wille; and so grete scholde be þe fredam of affeccione in a prouede discyple, þat not onelye he scholde not be bownde in love to bodylye delytes, but also he scholde not so miche [ 25] bisye him in wille for spirituele or gostlye confortes so ferreforþe þat he pitte hem in his desyre more lovynglye þanne him þat is ȝiuere of hem [27 ms. him] & souereyne gode takene in hit-selfe. ¶ Wherfore consydere and take hede to þei-selfe what þou sekest or what þou loueste. ffor vnparfyte menne sechene þoo þinges þat beþ of þe ȝifte of þe lovede, & not him∣selfe; [ 30] for ow(þ)ere þei eschuene here one harmes as seruantes, or elles þei [31 ms. owere] sechene here owne winnynges and profytes as marchandes. ¶ But nowe, for to answere, autor, pleynlye to þi principale questione of þe comynge [33 ms. conynge] & goynge of mye confortable visitaciones where-bye þe amorowse sowle, as þou seyste, is turmentede & disesede: þou schalt vnderstande þat sum∣tyme [ 35] & rihte ofte-syþes be-syde oþere causes nowe passede-ouer þe sowle hit-selfe is cause of seche-manere wiþdrawynge of gostlye comfort: what-tyme þat þe wyndowe is stokene by sume manere of stoppynge aȝeynus þe sonne-beme, or elles vnreuerence is done with-inforthe to so worþi a geste, where-bye sche þe lovede but not in þat parfytelye louede [ 40] is constreynede & made to go owte; of whome seyþe holye write þat here delytes beþ for to dwelle with þe sones of menne. Summetyme also, what-tyme þat I come, I ȝive likynge & ioye in dwellynge with mye louede not opunlye but pryuelye, so þat fulle fewe, & onelye þei þat beþ most experte, mowe knowe þe pryuetes of so worþi a presence.—¶ And for [ 45]

als miche as þou desyrest þat I scholde schewe to þe summe tokenes of myne most pryue & moste certeyne presence: first þou schalt bisilye examyne þi-selfe what þou arte in þe absence of mye grace: and anone þou schalt fynde þat þat þou secheste. ffor siþene þat I am souereyne godenesse, with mye presence I fullefille alle þinges with godenesse, & so [ 5] as þe sonne is knowene bye hees bemes and his lihte, so is mye presence knowene bye hir moste plentevows godenesse. Nowe þanne, if þou dist euer prove þe godenesse and þe likynge of mye presence, or elles þe barey∣nesse [8 ms. barenynesse] & myslikynge of myne absence, bringe forþ in to knowynge & telle hit opunlye, so þat þou mayhte knowe þe flowres amonge þe wedes.' [ 10]

¶ Þe discyple seyde: ¶ 'If alle þe membres of mye bodye werene [11 a. r.: Discipulus.] turnede in to tunges & alle myne veynus & senues migh(t)e speke with mannus voys, þei miht not expresse nor parfytelye (telle) owt þat þou [13 telle fehlt.] askest of me. Neuerles þat litele þat I haue knowene in experience as þou haste ȝiuene hit, I schalle telle owt, þat I maye haue of þe more [ 15] pleyne & fulle informacione of þe materes before-seyde. ¶ Wherfore, O þou souereyne godenesse, I knoweleche soþelye, þat, what-tyme þou tur∣neste a-weye fro me þi graciose face fulle of godenesse and swetnesse and þou wiþdraweste þine inwarde comforte and hydest þi liht in þine handes, þanne þe wrecchede sowle sodenlye is chaungete and is made [ 20] as seke & vnlistye; & þenne foloweþ werynesse of þe bodye & hardnesse of herte, & sorowe of þe spiryte is felte so ferreforþe þat þanne mye sowle is fulle of þe lyfe; and þanne mislykene alle þinges, þowh þei bene goode, þat beþ owþere seene or herde. Also þine absence bringeþ in to me hatynge of þe place, fulsumnesse of þe celle, & despysynge of [ 25] breþerne dwellynge with me . & þanne mye sowle beginneþ for to slumbre for hevinesse, so þat sumtyme for þe pusillanimite and febelnesse of spiryte he wote neyþer wheþene hit comeþ or wheder hit goþ. ¶ Þenne also I fele mye-selfe by moste certeyne experience redye and liht to falle in to vices, & for to with-stande temptaciones weyke, and feble and vn∣mihtye [ 30] to alle gostlye excercyses. ¶ Wherfore, who-so secheþ me in þat tyme, he fyndeþ but a voyde howse; ffor þe goode hosbonde þat filleþ alle hees meyne with blessynge and gladdenesse, is gone owt (&) hathe lafte þe dwellynge-place woide & bare. ¶ Bute aȝeynewarde, whanne þou, þat feyrest day-sterre and brihtnesse of euerlastynge liht, rysest vp in myddes [ 35] of þe derkenesse of my herte: a, lorde, whiche a blessede chaunge is þenne of goddes righte hande! ffor þanne alle þe derke clowde of malen∣colye complexione is dissoluede and putte owte of þe sowle, with alle∣manere hevenesse & sorowe, and hit lihtnete as þe daye with ioye. ¶ Þanne lawheþ þe herte, þe sowle gladeþ, þe conscience is clerede, & alle in∣warde [ 40] mihtes & affecciones to-geder reiocynge loovene & wirchepene godde, for he is so gode & for his mercye so grete euer with-owt ende. Þanne alle þat be-fore were harde & scharpe & þat semedene in maner im∣possyble, be-comene liht and softe: ffor þanne is fastyng swete, wakynge semeþ schort, & alle oþere excercises, þowh þei beþ grete, for þe miht [ 45] of loue semene but litele & smale. And þanne in þat tyme of gostlye

grace I purpos for to amende my lyfe & myne maners, & for to do many goode dedes: þe wheche, whanne þat grace passeþ aweye, alasse I brynge not to effecte. ¶ But wheþere alle þees comene of me or of þe, I coueyte to be enformede.'

Wisdam: 'Of þe hast þou nowthe but faylyng and losse & goynge [ 5] [5 a. r.: Sapiencia.] to nowhte, but alle be-spokene & oþere like knowe welle þat by mye presence beþ ȝivene to þe. Wherfore þis is þe pleye of loue þe whiche [7 a. r.: ludus amoris] I am wonte to vse in an amarose sowle. ¶ And yf þou wolte knowe more specialye what is þe pleye of love: wete welle þat hit is ioye and sorowe, þe wheche one aftere a noþer, of mye presence & of myne ab∣sence, [ 10] fallene to (þe) lovere: for þat is þe proprete of love, þat in pre∣sence [11 þe fehlt.] of þat þinge þat is louede hit is hidde & not knowene, but in ab∣sence þer-of hit scheweþ hit-self & is more knowene.'

Discyple: 'Þis pleye of love, as hit semeþ to me, is raþere of [14 a. r.: Discipulus.] mowrnynge & sorowe þanne of solace & ioye. But I wolde wite howe [ 15] þe discyple þat is not fullye experte, schalle haue him & kepe him in þat diuerse-maner visitacione?'

Wisdam: 'In þe daye & tyme of goodes & prosperite forȝete not [18 a. r.: Sapiencia.] yveles and aduersite, and in þe daye & tyme of yvelles & aduersite haue in mynde goodes and prosperite, so þat þou lifte not þi-selfe vp ouer [ 20] mesure in tyme and presence of grace, ne in þe absence þer-of þou kaste not done þi-selfe to miche; and specialye þat þou take not vn∣pacientlye þat diuerse graciose visitacione; comynge and goynge þowh hit so be, ȝit þat þou schalt alleweye bisilye seche mye face.'

Disciple: 'O lorde, if þou woldest take entente and se, soþelye [ 25] [25 a. r.: Discipulus.] þou scholdest welle knowe þat þe tariynge & longe abydynge of þat þinge þat is louede is grete affliccione & sorow to þe herte.'

Wisdam: 'With-owte anye dowte, þis turnynge abowte of þe whele [28 a. r.: Sapiencia.] of love he schale suffre, what-so-euere he be, þat welle love—and no [29 l. wole] wondre: ffor to lovers of þis worlde fallene not alle-weye prosperites, [ 30] but also amonge ofte-siþes aduersites; & if þou knowe hit not by expe∣rience, [31 ms. þowe st. knowe] aske of anye of hem þat knowene and he teche þe þat who-so . . . [32 l. who-so wil be welle?] welle he schalle nedes trauayle. ¶ Þer beþ manye loueres to slowe and to weyke in wirchynge, þe whiche for a tyme ȝivene hem to love and wolde (be) loueres, but with-owt trauayle; to þe wheche but hit falle [ 35] anone aftere hire desyre þat þei coueytene, þei cesene sone fro þei be∣ginnene; & þees menne þer-fore comen not to þe fruyte of love. Wherfore [37 ms. beginnone?] to hem as to vnworþi of love hit maye (be) seyde þus: Milicie species amor est, discedite segnes—þat is þus miche to seye: 'Love is a maner of knihthode; goþe ȝe aweye þer-fro þat beþ cowardes!' ¶ Wher∣fore [ 40] a feruent lover þat wille to þe fruyte of loue þat he desyreþ, he most be bisye and abydynge & seruysable; and he schalle not lihtlye leve of, þowh he fynde him putte fro his desyre a thowsande siþes, but alle∣weye

he schalle be of gode hope, þenkynge þat continuele trauayle ouer∣comeþ alle þinges . for what is softere þanne water, or harder þanne stone? & ȝit by ofte fallynge & smytynge of water þe stone is persede . & for to telle gode tydynges to þe & alle oþere trewloveres likynge for to hire: wite þou welle þat þis goddelye spowse þat þou trauaylest for, welle [ 5] be preyede & haþ lykynge in seche-manere seruyses done to hir. ¶ Wher∣fore preye & aske ofte-siþes, & leue not, & I be-hete þe soþelye entre after þe desyre of þi herte: ffor in alle þis worlde is none fow(n)dene þat is so liht to be askede of & preyede, so redye to hir & so godelye to answere, as is sche þis þine most goddelye spowse. ¶ Wherfore, [ 10] who-so wole loue me, he most in alle tyme be bisye to loke to me as to his loue, as I am wonte continuelye to be-holde mye louer. ffor he wotenot wheyne sche þat he loueþ and abydeþ wole come ow(þ)ere fro [13 ms. owere] þe este or þe west or fro þe northe or þe sowþe; ¶ and also he wotenot what tyme, wheþer erlye or late or at mydedaye or þe cokkescrowynge, [ 15] sche wole come and knoc at his dore & aske entre. ¶ ffor oft-tymes, whanne þe spiryte sekynge me mowrneþ & is sorye for he fyndeþ not me: afterwarde, whenne he weneþ not, he schalle haue me, his louede, presente with him. ¶ Wherfore suffyceþnot for to spende one owre of tyme with þe belovede, but hit is nedefulle þat he þat loueþ be ofte∣siþes [ 20] bisye to seche his be-lovede, and alle-weye to be redye to loue; & þat he tryste not more vpon hees merytes þanne one myne gode wille, if he wole have & feele in experience mye preciouse presence. ¶ And for to menge with þees swete wordes blamyng wordes, þat beþ scharpe but neuerlasse loueradene: þou most be vndernomene sadlye, for, soþelye, [ 25] in s(e)che-maner excercyses of loue þou arte (to) be reprehendet & blamede. ¶ Whi, for schame, þou, þat haste takene vpon þe þe knihthode of loue and hast be-hoten to kepe þis forseyde owre philosophye & sette þi scholder to bere þe swete ȝokke þer-of; whye, I seye, arte þou so hardye to stande be-for so worþi a spowse with a vnstable herte flechynge, eyene [ 30] turnede abowte in vttrest endes of alle þe worlde, and sche with con∣tinuele lokynge & a briht graciose face alle-weye be-holdeþ þe? ¶ howe schamfulle is hit to þe, to ȝiue þine entente to alle þinges þat þou herest with-owtforthe, wher-þorhe þou mayht not here þat þe wisdam of godde spekeþ to þe with-in-forþe? ¶ O, howe fowle is hit to þe disciple of love, [ 35] in so miche to forȝete him-selfe þat he takeþ not entente to þe wordes of him þat is abowte him everywhere by his presence! Where-for worþi∣lye he wiþdraweþ him-selfe fro þe, siþene he fyndeþ not þe neyþer in þi-selfe ne in him, but with-owt þe and him, in grete noyse of þe worlde. ¶ Wherfore I prey þe, amende þees defawtes & take (hede) howe vncome∣lye [ 40] hit is þat a sowle seche owht in owtwarde þinges, þe whiche bereþ þe kyngdame of godde with-in (hit)-selfe, as þe apostle seiþ: Regnum Dei intra vos est &c.: 'þe kyngdame of godde is with-in vs'—& þat is rihtwisnesse, pees & ioye in þe holye goste." And þus endeþ þe first lessone of þe first poynte of love.— [ 45]