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

OROLOGIUM SAPIENTIAE OR THE SEVEN POYNTES OF TREWE WISDOM, AUS MS. DOUCE 114.

Einleitung.

Die hier folgende abhandlung aus ms. Douce 114 (näheres über dieses ms. siehe Anglia 1875, s. 102 ff.) ist dieselbe, die nachmals von Caxton gedruckt wurde unter dem titel: The seuen points of true Wisdom or Orologium Sapientiae, 96 foll. (zusammengedruckt mit The seven Profits of tribulacion, 32 foll., und The Rule of St. Benet, 20 foll.; ein quartband, Emprynted at westmynstre, o. j., wahrscheinlich aus 1490; vgl. W. Blades, Life and typogr. of W. C.). Caxton's druck ist nur in in fünf exemplaren erhalten: Cambridge Publ. libr. (AB 4. 64), Durham Cath. libr. (unvollständig und befleckt), Earl of Dysart (unvoll∣ständig), Earl Spencer (fast vollständig, bis auf ein stück des ersten blattes), W. Stuart (sehr unvollständig); vgl. W. Blades a. a. o. Ein anderes älteres ms., ausser ms. Douce, ist noch im Cajus Coll. Cambridge vorhanden, welches ich noch nicht ge∣prüft habe. [Ausserdem findet sich das 5. kapitel (über die kunst zu sterben) allein im ms. Douce 322, fol. 20 ff., neben einer reihe anderer abhandlungen über denselben gegenstand.] Der englische text nennt sich einen auszug aus dem lateinischen Orologium Sapientiae, dessen verfasser, ein Domi∣nikanermönch, unbekannt sei. Das lateinische original ist bis jetzt noch unbekannt. Dagegen ist im ms. Harl. 4386 (15. jahr∣hundert) ein französischer text erhalten mit dem titel: Cy co∣mence le liure qui est dit orloge de sapience, lequel fist frere Jehan de soushauie de l'ordre des frere prescheurs; anfang: Salomon en son liure de Sapience ou premier chapitre dit

(dann folgt das citat: Sentite de domino &c., lib. Sap. 1, 1). Diese abhandlung ist von bedeutender länge, 162 foll. um∣fassend. Auf dem letzten blatte stehen verse, mit dem titel: (En) ces vers cy apres escrips trouuerez les noms de ceulx qui ont fait et fait faire ce liure; diese verse, beginnend Ceste doctrine couronnee (s. Les mss. français IV, s. 157) geben das datum des originals: 'MCCC. IIIIXX et neuf', und geben an, dass es geschrieben sei 'En la ville de Chasteneuf par un frere religieux de la nacion de Lorraine'; vgl. W. Blades a. a. o. Ueber den verfasser bemerkt Blades: 'Little is known of Jehan de Soushavie, or Souaube, as a French copy has it. Biblio∣graphers generally call him Henry de Suso, probably after the example of Echard, in his Script. Ord. Praed.' Der englische text umfasst kaum die hälfte des französischen.—Das ms. schreibt nicht selten y statt þ; ich habe überall þ gesetzt.

These be þe chapiters of this tretys of þe seuene poyntes of trewe [fol. 89b] loue & euerlastynge wisdame, drawen oute of þe boke þat is writen in latyne & callyd Orologium Sapiencie.

Cap. I. Off þe propirte & þe name and þe loue of euere-lastynge wis∣dame, and how þe disciple þere-of schalle haue hym in felynge of [ 5] þat loue as wel in bitternesse as in swetnesse.

Cap. II. Off þe loue of Jhesu in his bitter passyone þat hee suffred for mane, and how mane schalle confourme his loue aȝenwarde [8 Ms. enfourme st. confourme.] to hyme.

Cap. III how þe disciple of Jhesu, euerlastynge wisdome, schalle gladly [ 10] suffre tribulacyouns and aduersites for his loue by ensaumple of his suffraunce and of his chosen louers.

Cap. IIII how þe forseyde disciple schalle kepe hym in trewe goostly lyfe þat is growndid in þe loue of Jhesu, and how hee schalle flye and eschewe þat is contrarye þerto. [ 15]

Cap. V how the forseyde disciple schalle leren to kunne dye, & desyre to dye for þe loue of Jhesu.

Cap. VI. Off þe souereyne loue of oure lorde Jhesu schewed in the holy sacramente of his blissed body, and how it schalle worthily be receyued of þat longith þere-to. [ 20]

Cap. VII how the forseyde disciple schalle in alle thinges loue, preyse and worschep god, euerelastynge wisdame, & how he schal wedde hym to hym and bycome his disciple.

My moste worschipful lady aftir ȝowre hyȝ worþynesse, & derrest-loued goostly douȝhter after ȝour vertuous meeknes, y, ȝowre trewe chape∣leyne, vnworthy þe name of þe fader, considerynge ȝowre excellente wis∣dame bothe to god and to þe worlde and felynge by experiens by the sparcles of gostly communicacyon ¶ The heet of the fyre of loue to [ 5] [5 Von hier andere hand bis fol. 190^a (halb), die eckig und schnör∣kelig ist, y und þ oft verrvechselt; sie ist von anderer hand öfters ver∣bessert oder überschrieben.] oure lord Jhesu þat he of his grace haþ sente in to ȝowre herte; fort norche sumwhat & fede þat graciose fyre of lovue, & to comfort ȝowre gostlye wisdam namelye in þis wikkede worlde þat is fulle of deceyuable wisdam & fals feynede loue, I am stirede to wryte aftere myne simple kunnynge to ȝowe, as ȝe deuowtlye desyrene, a lytele schort tretyse [ 10] of euerelastynge wisdam & þe trewe loue of Jhesu, drawne owt in eng∣lische of þat deuowt contemplatyfe boke wrytene clergialye in latyne þe whiche is clepede þe Orloge of wisdame—& þat name was ȝivene þere-to, as hit is seyde in þe proheme of þe self boke, bye-cause þat þe matere þere-of was schewede to him þat wrote hit as in a visione vndere þe [ 15] fygure and liknesse of a wondere fayre Orloge, sette & arayede with passynge feyre Roses, and with Cymbales swete sownynge, þat ȝevene wondere likyng & heuenelye sowne, stirynge and excitynge vpwarde to hevene þe hertes of alle þat hit hyrne. Off þe whiche boke þe processe stant for þe moste parte in gostlye reuelaciones and deuowt ymagina∣ciones, [ 20] in manere of spekynge bye-twix þe maystre, euerlastyng wisdam, & þe deuowt discyple þat wrote þe boke; whose name is vnknowen to vs, but, as we mowe soþelye byleve, hit is wryten in þe boke of lyfe; Neuerlese, as hit scheweþ, he was a frere prechour. Butte for als miche as in þe forseyde boke þere beþ manye maters and long processe towch∣ynge [ 25] him þat wrote hit and oþere religiose persones of his degre, þe whiche, as hit semeþ to me, were lytel edificacione to wryte to ȝowe, my dere ladye, & to oþer deuowte persones þat desyrene þis drawynge owt in englische: þere-fore I leve seche materes & take onelye þat me þinkeþ edifiyng to ȝowe; and also I folownot þe processe of þat boke [ 30] in ordere, but I take þe materes in-sindrye, as þei acordene to mye pur∣pos. Ne I translate not þe wordes as þei bene wrytene, one for a noþere, þat is to seye þe englische worde for þe latyne worde—by-cause þat þere beþ manye wordes in clergiale teremes þe wheche wold seme vn∣saverye so to be spokene in englische: and þere-for I take þe sentence [ 35] as me þinkeþ most opune to þe comine vnderstandyng in englische. ¶ And þus, considerynge alle þe processe of þe forseyde boke, þat is, to stirre deuowte sowles to þe trewe love of owre lorde Jhesu, þe euerlastyng wis∣dam of þe fadere of heuene: after mye simple vnderstandyng hit may be comprehendet as in effecte in to VII poyntes þat longene to þe trewe [ 40] loue of owre lorde Jhesu, aftere þe VII ȝifftees of þe holye goste, þe whiche is souereyne love of þe fadere & þe sone, and welle & rote of alle trewe love. ¶ And whiche þees VII poyntes of loue beþe, hit schalle be declarede aftere in þe proheme of þis tretee, þat stant in a deuowte

ymaginacione howe þe forseyde discyple came first to þe scole of trewe diuinyte & howe þe soueryne doctour, euerlastyng wisdam, Jhesus, tawht him þees VII poyntes of his love, of þe whiche þis tretee is writene in englische. Butte ȝit at þe bigynnyng of þis werke, towchynge mye-selfe, soþelye I knowleche myne variaunce in wille þere-to: ffor sum-tyme for [ 5] love & likynge þat I have hadde in þe forseyde boke Orologium sapiencie, and also for gostlye comfort of ȝowe specialye & oþer deuowte persones þat desyrene hit, I haue be stirede to þe translacione þere-of in to eng∣lische in manere before-seyde; but þer-wiþ consideryng þe multitude of bokes & tretees drawne in englische, þat nowe bene generale cominede, [ 10] mye wille haþ bene wiþdrawne, dredynge þat werke sumwhat as in waste. Neuerlese, for als miche as þe kynde of manne in þis lyfe haþ likynge in chaunge and diuerse þinges, boþe bodilye & gostlye, and summe folke delytene in one & summe in anoþer; and felynge mye-selfe not lettede þere-bye fro oþere gostlye excercyses, but raþere confortede: whanne I [ 15] haue leysere and tyme, I have take vpon me þat symple werke in cer∣teyne tymes, whanne myne affeccione falleþ þere-to, after þat owre lorde Jhesus wole send me his grace in þis place of grace. ffor þe whiche grace in alle þinges, as hit is nedefulle to me in þis wrecthede lyfe, I bes(e)che alle þoo þat redene or hirene þis tretee, to preye to him þat [ 20] is welle of alle grace, owre lorde Jhesu Cryste; and he also for his mercye graunte hem alle summe newe gostlye confort and encresce of grace þere∣bye, & gostlye tast of þat heuenely wisdam & trewe loue of him þe whiche is tretede in þis boke. Amen.

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]

Cap. II. ¶ Off þe seconde poynt of loue, þat stant in declarynge of þe loue of Jhesu in his bitter passione þat he suffrede for manne, and howe (man) schalle conforme his loue aȝeynwarde to him.

Discyple: 'O þou euerlastyng wisdam, þat fro þat hye trone, þat [ 5] [5 a. r.: Discipulus.] to seye fro þe herte of þine euerlastynge fadere, come done in to þis valye of wrecchedenesse & sorowe and XXXIII^ti ȝere suffredest þe exyle of þis worlde, & also þat þou woldest schewe þi sovereyne charite where∣þorhe þou louedest mankynde, bye þe misterye of þi most bittere passione and hardest deþ suffrede for manne: bye þis vnspekable charite of þi deþ [ 10] I beseke þe with alle myne inwarde affecciones, þat þou woldest voche∣ssauffe to schewe þe to me in þat forme and disposicione þat þou suff∣dest þorhe þe sorowe of þi bitterest passione.'

Wisdam: ¶ 'In als miche as of þe gretenesse of love and sorowe [14 a. r.: Sapientia.] in þe passione of mye deþ bye palenesse and a manere of derkenesse in [ 15] þe flesche I seme more fowle, In so miche to an amerowse herte & a welle-disposede sowle I scholde be bettere louede. ffor riht as he þat loueþ coueteþ kyndlye to be lovede aȝeyne, riht so he askeþ of his be∣louede a tokene & schewynge of his love—ffor loue þat is hidde and in close, is not knowene but onelye to him-selfe þat loueþ, and þer-fore [ 20] loveres beþ abowte, as miche as þei mowene, for to have tokenes and preves of loue schewede of hem þat þei lovene. ¶ And oft-siþes hit falleþ þat, þowh þe tunge be stille and speknot, tokenes and signes with∣owt-forthe schewene and openene þat is hidde in þe herte, & þe strenghe of love with-in closede. ¶ Also hit falleþ oft-siþes þat þat þinge þat [ 25] summe menne demene as fowle and vnsemelye in him þat þei love not, oþere, þat lovene him, presene and comende þat selfe þinge as feyre [27 ms. & presene] and comelye.'

Discyple: 'Soþelye, in þe love of þis worlde I knowe welle þat [29 a. r.: Discipulus.] hit is so as þou seyste: But howe þat maye be in a manne crucifyede, [ 30] I see not ȝit clerelye. ffor, þowh hit so be in a manne or womman þat is be-lovede after þe love of þis worlde, sum-tyme is foundene þinge þat displeyseþ to him þat loueþ, neuerlese þere beþ manye oþere þinges con∣venyent to loue þe wheche pleysene and lykene him þat seþ hem. ¶ But þis be-lovede þorghe þe bitternesse of deþ alle deformede, how he scholde [ 35] be seene louelye, I kanne not vnderstande; whose disposicione, no won∣der, semeþ more contrarie to loue, in as miche as he of bloonesse and wondes semeþ alle fowle and fulle of sorowe with-inforþ & with-owte∣forþ and scheweþ no-maner bewte or likynge to þe sihte of loveres—howe þanne seyst þou þat he is so louelye, þe wiche euidence in dede [ 40] scheweþ wrecthedfulle and vnlovelye?'

Wisdam: ¶ 'Trewe loueres take not myche fors of þe thorne þat [42 a. r.: Sapientia.] bereþ þe rose, so þat þei mowe haue þe roose þat þei desyrene; and also [43 ms. hane] trewe wismene telle not more deynte of fayre schrynes or cofres peyntede with golde þat havene in hemselfe butte erþe or oþere fowele þinges, þanne [ 45]

þei done of oþere seche vesseyles fowle with-owtforþ, but fulle of pre∣ciouse ornamentes with-inforthe. ¶ So þe spowse of þi sowle, euerlast∣ynge wisdam, with-owtforþ semeþ as in despite fowle and abiecte, but with-in-forþ sche is fulle of grace and hevenelye lihte. Þe flesche with∣owtforþ semeþ dede, ¶ But þe bryhtnesse of þe godde-hede, þat is not [ 5] seyne, schyneþ with-inforþ so ferreforthe þat angeles of godde desyrene continuelye to loke vpon him. Wherefore þe disposicione and þe forme of þe dedelye body with-owtforþ is not, as þou supposeste, to be hal∣dene fowle and vnsemelye, but þe moste fayre and apparyschande come∣lynesse. ¶ ffor þou schalnot take hede & considere not what he semeþ [ 10] þat seene, but what þat he haþ suffrede, and where-of and whye. ¶ If þou aske wher-off he haþ suffrede: soþelye, of his passynge loue and charyte; and if þou aske wherfore: soþe hit is þat for to make þe feyre & semelye þorhe his abieccione and vnsemelynesse, and with hees woundes to hele þe & with his dethe to ȝive þe euerlastynge lyfe. ¶ And so if þou [ 15] (se þi) be-lovede with þe eye of loue, þou schalt mowe se him fulle of charite & loue; þe whiche not onelye schewede is love bye wordes, as manye loveres of þis worlde done, but also he prouede him-selfe trewe lovynge in dedes: in to þe deþ he lovede. ¶ Wherfore hit foloweþ opunlye þat þe abieccione and vnsemelynesse of þe vttere manne, þat [ 20] he toke of þe bitternesse of passione, is raþer chewynge and profe of loue þanne mater of reprefe. ¶ Ne hit is not here-aȝeynus þowh he þat loueþ not, see not þis. ffor þe liht is noyes & grevous to seke eyene, & is confortable & likynge to clene and clere eyene.'

Discyple: 'Soþelye and with-owt anye dowte, hit is so as þou [ 25] [25 a. r.: Discipulus.] seyste, & blessede beþ þoo eyene þat so seene, for þat longeþ not to alle menne, but onelye to fewe: þat beeþ þei þat feruentlye lovene. But nowe, þou euerlastynge wisdam, I be-seche þe þat þou more specialle telle me þe processe of þi passione in schort, to have hit þe more fresche in mynde, and for to stire me more feruentlye to þei loue; & howe I [ 30] schalle conforme me to þat passione aftere trewe loue.'

Wisdam: ¶ 'Be-fore þe feste-daye of paske, aftere þe sopere mad [32 a. r.: Sapientia.] with myne discyples, whanne þe tyme was come of mye passynge owt of þis worlde to þe fader: I went forþ with myne XI discyples in to þe mounte of Olevete: Where I beinge in agonye, after þat I hadde longe∣tyme [ 35] preyede & hadde vnderstande in mye mynde so cruele maner of [36 so st. þe?] turmentes þat wer for to come to me, þanne was mye swote as dropes [37 ms. wher st. wer] of blode rennynge downe in to þe erþe. ¶ Soþe, vnneþus any manne livynge vnder heuene (wolde) be-leve what-manere angwysches & howe [39 wolde fehlt.] grete & dredefulle mynde of deþ þe delycate kynde þanne felte in þat tyme [ 40] after þe nature of manne. ¶ After sone comene þe sones or cheldrene of derkenesses as an hooste, takynge me despiteslye & byndynge cruelye, & so laddene me as a thefe in to þe Cite: and þere þo cursede creatours spendet þat niht in diuerse maner of turmentrye abowte me . & vpon þe morowe I was ladde & browht be-fore Justyse Pilate, and in manye maner [ 45]

accusede, & atte þe laste to þe dispittese dethe of þe cros dampnede; & so, cruelye leiynge þe heve crosse vpon myn tender scholders, þe laddene me despitouslye owt of þe cytee vn-to þe place of Juwes: [3 l. burying-place] where þei hengene me bytwix two thefes, to þat ende þat mye deþe scholde seme þe fowlere & more abhomynable. ¶ And so I hangynge [ 5] on þe crosse and on alle sydes vmbylappede with þe moste bitter sorowes [6 ms. vnbylappede] of deþ, mye clere & shinynge eyene wer alle dasewede and derkede, myne goddelye eres fillede with scornes and repreves, mye smelle dise∣sede with fowle stynke of þe place, mye swettuste mowþe with drynke of galle made bittere; & so alle-torene, betene & woundete I schede mye [ 10] [10 ms. so alle & soo—tene betene] blode, þat ranne downe on alle sydes of mye delycate bodye. ¶ Oo, if þou haddeste seene me in þat howre & tyme so wrecthedelye and pite∣vouslye hangynge on þe crosse, I trowe þat þi spiryte scholde have faleyde for sorowe.' [14 l. faylede]

Discyple: ¶ 'Who schalle ȝive me þat ȝifte þat I maye in þis [ 15] [15 a. r.: Discipulus.] howre after myne desyre see þi lovelye face vndere þis sorowfulle forme and likenesse, so þat I maye wasche hit with þe grettest schorowe of [17 l. schowere passion fehlt.] teres, goynge owt of mye opunede herte? O þou myrrour of clannesse and of alle vertues, In to whomme angeles desyrene to loke and be-holde with vnwerye felicite: who schalle ȝive to mye herte so souereyne in∣warde [ 20] felynge of compassione, þat miht passe alle oþere þe wheche in þi (passion) senglerlye beþ ravischede, so þat I miht schede plentevouse teres of alle eyene and have wepynge voyces & sorynge of alle tunges, where∣with I scholde mowe ȝylde aȝeyne to þe þankynges and conforme me in dede to þat preciose passione þat þou suffredest for me? Wherfore, þou [ 25] maystresse of þe discyplyne of godde, O euerlastyng wisdame, teche me, I be-seche þe, howe I schalle mowe bere in mye bodye þine swetteste wondes and in what maner I maye halde hem continuelye in mye mynde, so þat here-bye I schewe to hevenelye and erþlye creatours what þonkynge I halle ȝilde for so manye benefyces with-owt noumbre, largelye ȝivene [ 30] me wrecche of passynge habundaunce of þi pytee.'

¶ Wisdam: 'Tochynge þi first desyre, þou-schalt vnderstande þat none manne ȝildeþ bettere þonkynges and rewardes to mye passione þanne he doþ þat not onelye bye wordes but also bye dedes foloweþ hit, con∣formynge him mekelye to myne steppes, þat is to seye, settynge at nowht [ 35] prospiryte and dredynge not aduersitee, and goynge allewey towarde þe heythe of gostlye perfeccione bye a brennynge desyre. ffor I seye for soþe, þat as manye sedynge(s) of teres as beþ ryveres of watres were not [38 l. schedynges] to me so acceptable & likynge—þowh hit so be ȝitte þat dewote teres comynge of inwarde compassione beþ fulle pleisynge be-for godde. ¶ And [ 40] for to teche þe ferremore howe þou schalt conforme þe to myne passiones: Atte þe bigynnynge þou schalt turne aweye þine eyene, þat þei senot bye likynge veyne þinges; þine eeres þou schalt stoppe, þat þei heerenot wikkede & noyes wordes; & for þoo þinges þat beþ swete þou schalt

take þinges þat beþ bittere. ¶ Putte aweye fro þe superflue & inordinate [1 ms. incidinate] delyces of þi bodye: Pees & reste of þi herte seke onelye in me. Re∣ceve [2 ms. receveþ] gladdelye alle-manere tribulaciones, & wronges & harmes done to þe þou schalt pacientlye suffre and in alle þinges desyre to be in despyte, lerene to breke þi wille in alle þinges, & (for) love of þi saviour þat dyede [ 5] [5 for a. r.] for þe þou schalte be bysye to slee alle þe lustes of þi flesche. ¶ Loo, sone, þees beþe þe firste princyples and techynges þe wheche euer∣lastynge wisdame ȝiveþ to þe & seche oþer here loveres; þe wheche beþ writene and gravene in þis opune boke as þou seeste, þat is to seye, in mye bodye crucifyede. And for to telle ȝit in more specialle manere howe [ 10] þou schalt be crucifyede to me & conformede to mye passione: þou schalte offere to me þi-selfe & alle þat þou haste; & þoo þinges þat þou haste ones offrede þou schalt not in any manere take to þe aȝeyne bye propre wille; & þou schalt abstene þe not onlye fro þoo þinges þat beþ super∣flue, but also oþere-whyle fro hem þat beþ levefulle: & if þou kepe þis, [ 15] þanne has þou þine handes naylede to mye crosse. ¶ Also þou schalt [16 a. r.: manus confixe cruci christi.] do þat is gode, & suffre euenelye þinges þat beþ yuele; & þou schalt [17 ms. ydele] gedere to-gedere þine chaunghable wille and seuerede þowhtes, & whanne þou haste gederede hem to-geder, þou schalt stable hem in me, sove∣reyne gode: & þanne hast þou naylede þine feete to mye crosse bye þine [ 20] inwarde affeccione. ¶ Also þis schalle be þi crosse þat þou schalt bere if þou wolt be mye trewe lovere: ¶ what-tyme þou ȝivest þine entente to þe excercyse of vertues & to fulle-fillynge of myne comandementes after þi power and neuerlese þou haste þerfore scornynges & detracciones of enuyose folke þat hatene þe, & also þerefore þou semeste in here eyene [ 25] so wrecchede and so miche in despyte þat þei arette not þi pacience in þat parte to vertue ne to grace þat is in þe, butte raþer to vnmyth and cowardyse, þat þou, willynge to avenge þe, darrest not or kannest not; & þou aȝeynwarde not onelye suffreste þis pacientlye and gladelye for þe love of godde, but also of more habundaunt charite þou preyeste þe [ 30] fader þat is in hevene bisilye for hem & devowtlye art a-bowte to ex∣cuse hem, recommendynge hem to me. Whoso-euer in þis-manere con∣trariosetee ouere-comeþ so him-selfe to þe wirchepynge & folowynge of þe crucifixe, he schalle welle wite, þat also-ofte as he doþ þis, so ofte he makeþ þe deþ of his lorde freschelye quikene in his sowle & bereþ with∣inne [ 35] him-selfe þe ymage of him þat was crucifyede for him. ¶ Also, whanne þou leueste þin dere freendes & kinnesmenne for þe love of þi sauiour, þanne settest þou þe as mye lovede discyple & broþere bisyde mye crosse, hauynge inwarde compassione of me. ¶ Also bye ensample of mye trewest moder & mye louede discyple take þe mynde of myne [ 40] passione alleweye in þi herte bye inwarde þowht þer-vpon, & in preyere bye deuowte spekynge, & in dede and worchynge bye affectuose folow∣ynge: and who-so-euere fullefilleþ þis, he is trewe folowere of Jhesu, and he schalle ministre to him plentevous delyces of hym-selfe. Wher∣fore lette þe tokene of þi love be fullefillynge in dede: ffor who-so is [ 45]

felawe & partyner of grete tribulacione, he schalle be felawe in soue∣reyne [1 ms. & st. in] ioye.'

¶ Discyple: 'Lorde, I wote welle þat mane haþnot of him-selfe ne hit is not in his owne power or miht for to dresse hees steppes in þe weye of rihtwisliuynge & soþfast folowynge of þi passione. Wherfore I [ 5] lift vp myne eyene, myne handes to þe, mye mercyfulle sauiour, deuowt∣lye besekynge þe þat þe ymage and likenesse of þi wirchepfulle passione be effectuelye pryntede in mye sowle þorhe þi vertuese grace, & þat it worche in me continulye his helefulle effecte to þe loo(vyng &) wirchepynge [9 ms. loo; & fehlt.] of þi blessede name. ffor as þou, lovelye wisdam, best knoweste, þere [ 10] were no-þinge in þis life swetter ne mor likynge to mye hert þan þat [11 ms. where] I miht continuelye with deuowt herte haue inwarde compassione & wep∣ynge sorowe of þi passione. But, alasse, I am so constreynede with a manere of dryenesse and hardenesse of herte, þat in þe mynde þer-of I am not compuncte ne sorowefulle, as hit were worþi þat I scholde be. [ 15] ¶ Where-fore, þou benigne wisdam of þe fadere, teche me howe I schalle do in þis mater.'

¶ Wisdam: 'Þe mynde of mye passione schalle not be hadde passynglye & with hast, & namelye whanne þere is tyme I-nowh, suffi∣ciant & conuenyent, but with a sadde and bidynge hertlye mynde & with [ 20] a maner wepynge compassione: for, butte þis swete tre be chiwede and defyede with þe teþe of affectuese discrccione, þe sauer þer-of, þoghe hit be neuer so grete, schalle not movene be felte. ¶ And if hit so be [23 l. mevene] þat þou maiht not wepe or haue sorowe with him þat wept and hadde sorowe for þe, at laste þou schalt be ioyfulle, & ȝelde thonkynges with a [ 25] deuowt affeccione for so grete benefices ȝivene to þe frelye by þat pas∣sione. ¶ And ȝit, if hit so be þat neiþer þou art mevede bye compas∣sione ne be ioye, but þou feiest þe ouerleyde with a maner harde herte in mynde of þat passione: neuerlese in þat-maner hardenese continue forþ in þe mynde of þat helefulle passione to þe loowynge of godde, & [ 30] [30 ms. þi st. þe.] þat þou maiht not haue of þi-selfe, comitte hit to þoo swete handes of him, þi sauiour. ¶ Neuerlese be perseuerant askynge, knokkynge & sechynge, tille þou haue þi askynge; smyte twyes vpon þe harde flinte, þat is (to) seye, with inwarde mynde of herte & owtwarde excercyse of [34 to überschr.] bodye, as be liftyngvp of handdes & eyene to þe crucifixe or be knokk∣ynge [ 35] on þi breest or be deuowt knelynges, so continuynge in seche∣maner deuowte excercyses tille þe water(s) of teres largelye passene owt: [37 ms. water] wher-of resone may drinke watres of deuocione & þe bodye be hablede to receiuynge of grace.—¶ And þou schalt vnderstande þat oft mynde of myne passione amonge oþer benefices with-owt noumbre souereynelye [ 40] hit schalle profyte to þe in tweyne maner of solaces: þat is to seye, for to putte aweye vnskylfulle hevenesse, & for to lesse þe peyne of purga∣torie. As tochynge þe firste, howe þat þe mynde of mye sorowe putteþ owt vnskilfulle heuinesse & sorowe of þe sowle: I schalle schewe þe better by ensample þanne by worde. ¶ Þer was a discyple of wisdam, whose [ 45]

name be writene in þe boke of life, þe whiche abowte þe first biginynge of his conuersione was so ouerleyde with a inordinate sorowe and vnskil∣fulle heuynesse, þat for þe tyme he hadde neyþere wille to rede ne to preye ne to do anye gode werke. And vpon a daye, whanne he, beynge in his celle, was grevouslye ouerleyde with þis passione and turmentede with [ 5] vnbylevede sorowe, þere came from abovene a vois in his mynde, seiynge to him in þis manere: 'Whi sittest þou here so ydele & dulle and heuye in þi-selfe? Rys vp nowe & trette devoutlye my passione in þi mynde: & in myne bitternesse þer-of þou schalt ouer-come þine inordinate sorowe.' ¶ And anone as þat broþere herde þis, he rose vp & ȝafe him to medi∣tacione [ 10] of þe passione of owre lorde Jhesu: & fro þat tyme he was so helede by continuele replicacione þer-of, þat he felt neuer aftere siche a passione in hys sowle.—¶ And howe þis most profitable meditacione of mye passione schalle relese þe peyne of purgatorye: I schalle schewe þe. ¶ Loo, þe auctore and maker of kynde loueþ no-þinge inordinate in [ 15] his kynde, & also þe rihtwisnese of godde loueþ none wikkednesse or sinne vnpunychede, but þat hit schalle eyþere here in þis worlde or after in a noþer be dewelye correctede. But þat gret peyne and longe in [18 ms. correttede] place of purgatorye þat is dewe, after þe rihtwisnesse of godde, to þe sinfulle man for gret sinnes þat mowe not here be dewelye punichede, [ 20] ȝe not to þe þowsaunde part, he maye make schort & lihtlye recompen∣sede, þat kowde take hit of þe tresorye of þat preciose passione of þe innocente lambe with-owt wemme, Jhesu; for his most preciouse tresour, [23 l. þis?] for his grettust charite & most worþi persone & most greuose sorowe and peyne, is suffisante and passynge aseþe. ¶ Wherfore a manne miht [ 25] so applye him þer-to & so deuowtlye drawe to him of his meryte and satisfaccione, þat, þowh he scholde after his desert be punichede & purgede a thowsande ȝer, be vertue þere-of he scholde sone be de∣lyuerede.'

Discyple: ¶ 'Mye lorde, I (be)-seche þe for þi souereyne godenesse, [ 30] [30 a. r.: Disciplus.] teche me sinfulle wrechte þis profytable crafte! for, alasse, myne owne merytes sufficenenot; wherfore hit is fulle nedefulle to me for to loke aftere þe merytes of oþere.'

Wisdame: ¶ 'If þou wolde þe longe & bitter peyne of purgatorye chaunge and turne into temperele peyne, þat is liht & schorte, þou schalle [ 35] be bisye to kepe and fullefille þees þinges þat folowene. ¶ ffirst of alle, with inwarde compunccione and sorowe of herte þou schalt gretelye weye þe grevosetee of þine sinnes, knowelechynge aȝeynus þi-selfe þine vnriht∣wisnesse to owre lorde, be-þenkynge most bitterlye what þou hast deser∣uede, seynge þus: 'lorde, I have sinnede, ȝe I have sinnede passynge þe [ 40] noumbre of þe grauele of þe see'. ¶ After þou schalt mekelye despyse þi-selfe be-fore þe eyene of þe hye euerlastynge domesmanne and halde þi-selfe so fowle þat þou schalt not mowe dur þine vnclene eyene lifte vp to hevene with þe puplicane ne with þine pollute lippes nemene þat gloriose name; Ne þou schalt not halde þi-selfe as mane, butte as a [ 45] fowle worme; ¶ And þine dedes or werkes, þowh þei bene gode and

merytorye, þou schalt sette at nowht. ¶ And so wrectedefulle & sorow∣fulle þou schalt abyde þe grace of þo hye iustyse be-fore hees ȝates, seyinge þus with profounde sorowe of þi herte: 'ffader, I have sinnede in to heuene & be-fore þe, & so I am not worþi nowe to be clepede þi sone: and þer-fore do to me as to one of þine hirede seruawntes'. ¶ After [ 5] þis þou schalt with souereyne affeccione magnifye & comende þe meryte of mye passione, þenkynge þat atte me is most copiose & plentevows redempcione, & þat þe leeste drope of þat most preciose blode þat largelye ranne owt bye alle þe partes of mye bodye fulle of woundes hadde be suffycant for þe redempcione & satisfaccione of alle þe worlde: [ 10] ¶ But I wolde largelye schede mye blode & plentevouslye in to þe prefe of mye grete love and souereyne pytee & in to comfort of alle wrectes. ¶ At þe laste þou schalt seche with a meke and a feruent affeccione þe [13 and aus but korrigiert.] hande of þi helpere, & þe meryte of þe most mercyfulle aȝeynbigger [14 ms. aȝenyn] with-owte ende aske in to þi helpe, no-þinge dowtynge: ffor þat welle [ 15] of pyte springynge mercye is more redye to ȝive mercye þanne þou art to aske hit.'

Discyple: 'Oo sovereyne graciose worde to me and hem þat beþ [18 a. r.: Discipulus.] like to me wrecchede sinneres, with sovereyne ioye to be takene, for als miche as we fyndene so redilye in þi passione where-þorhe we mowe [ 20] wasche owre sinnes and do aweye peynes & fynde grace & deserue euer∣lastynge blisse! ¶ What schalle I mow ȝilde aȝeyne to mye lorde for alle þoo gret benefices þat he haþ ȝivene to me? Oo mye godde, I be∣seche þe, teche me, þin vnworþi seruant, howe þat I maye onelye of þi grace pleyse þe, for als miche as I fayle of myne owne infirmite and þe [ 25] lytelnesse or vnworþinesse of myne werkes!'

¶ Wisdam: 'Þou schalt have alleweye in þine herte þe mynde of myne passione, & alle tribulaciones and aduersitees þat þou suffreste re∣ferre to hit, & in as miche as hit is possible to þe, þou schalt as hit were cloþe þe with þe likkenesse þer-of. Also, what-tyme, of mye prive dispen∣sacione, [ 30] I wiþdrawe þine inwarde confort & leve þe as desolate, þou schalt to þe likenesse of þe werrey crucifixe not seche confort elleswher, but pacyentlye abyde with him and have þine inwarde beholdynge vpwarde to þe fader þat is in hevene, forsakynge þi-selfe, & alle þi þowht kast∣ynge into him: And þanne, with-owte dowte, more þat is þe forsakynge & [ 35] desolacione of (þi) innere manne, with þi wille onede to godde, so myche [36 þi fehlt.] þe more þou schalt be like to þe crucifixe & more acceptable to his be∣louede ffader: for, soþlye, þis is þe poynt of aduersite be þe whiche þe best prevede knihtes sette in þe cheltrone of Criste bene most streytlye examinede. ¶ Also folowe not þin lustes, but (with-stonde) hem mannelye: [ 40] [40 with-stonde a. r.] & þanne schalde þou with him þat þou loueste drinke þe galle of bittur∣nesse; desire þe hele of allemenne; to þine sovereynes ȝive deuowte obe∣dience, & be abowte to bringe alle þine werkes to þe perfeccione of vir∣tues & a god ende; also alle mishappes & alle sorowfulle þinges þat fallene to (the), þou schalt committe to þe godenesse of godde, & so [ 45] [45 the überschr.]

kepe þe frelye in euerye dede as a manne þat were in þe tyme of pass∣ynge owt of þis world. ¶ Also þou schalt euere seche continuele refute in þe wounde of mye syde, as a dowve in þe hole of þe stone: ffor in þat place þou schalt euer fynde þe moste copiowse remissione of sinnes, þe most plente of graces, & a siker defense fro alle yveles þat bene fallene.' [ 5]

Discyple: 'Ȝitte have I a lytele peticione to putte to þe, euer∣lastynge [6 a. r.: Discipulus.] wisdame, of þis mater of þi swettust passione þe wheche þou hast so schortlye ouer-passede: þat is to seye, howe þat wirchepfulle moder, [8 so st. to] þi trewest berere, hadde hir whanne sche stode by þi crosse and sawe here louede sone be-fore here eyene hangyng þer-vpon.' [ 10]

Wisdam: 'Off þis matere I ȝive þe leve to hir & to bysilye enqwer [11 a. r.: Sapiencia.] & aske of hir mowþe what þou wolt. Stabat iuxta crucem Jhesu mater eius.'

Discyple: 'O Marie, Jhesu moder, what herte haddeste þou whanne [14 a. r.: Discipulus.] þou stode bisyde þe crosse and behelde Jhesu, þe blessede fruyte of þi [ 15] wombe, hangynge þer-vpon? soþelye, resone telleþ & experience proveþ & strenghe of love scheweþ, þat þou wer passingley sorowfulle, for þou [17 ms. wher] lovest passynge. ffor siþene hit is so þat þe onelye mynde of þe passione of þi sone makeþ summe deuowte creatours as þei wer halfe-dede for þe grete inwarde compassione þat þei havene þer-of, what wrowht þe pre∣sence [ 20] and þe siht of þat cruel passione in hir þat bare him, sauiour of þe worlde, so innocentlye suffrynge! and siþene þis mynde is so feruent in þe hert of þe sinnere, howe miche more feruentlye wrowht hit in þe mynde and þe sowle of þat holyest virgine, his modere! Also we knowene welle þat þe (more) feruentlye þat he þat is experte in love loveþ anoþere, [ 25] [25 more fehlt.] & þe more wirchepfulle, more delectable and more profytable þe presence of him þat he loveþ is to him: þe more departynge & wantynge of him bringeþ to þe lover more sorowe; and soþ hit is, as I beleve with-owt anye dowte, þat þe blessede presence of him þat sche louede, hir owne sone, with-owte comparisone passede þe presence of alle dedelye crea∣tours [ 30] in alle maner of grace: wherfore hit foloweþ þat his departynge & deþ passede alle oþer in sorowe. ¶ Lettet hir þen telle vs & answer to vs, þowh sche be absent in bodye, but presente in spiryte, sumwhat of þe sorowe and þe ioye þat sche hadde of hir blessede lovede sone, in þees-maner wordes.' ¶ Marie: 'He þat of his grace vochedesauffe to [ 35] chese me, his meke hande-maydene, in to his modere, he knitte and con∣streynede mye herte to him with so brenny(n)ge love, þat mye spiryte miht neuer receyve sovereyne ioye or souereyne sorowe butte onelye of him and in him. Wherfore in him I hadde alle þinge, and his love was to me fulle possessione of alle þe worlde. ¶ Mye sowle was þer as Jhesus [ 40] was, & I livede more soþfastlye in him þan in mye-selfe; & schortlye to seye, alle heuenelye & erþlye godes his blessede desyrede presence browht to me. ¶ What-tyme þanne þat I sawe with myne eyene him þis myne onegotene sone, þat preciose tresour of mye herte, so despyttuslye hang∣ynge with thefus vpon þe crosse and so angwyschede with sorowe of þe [ 45]

bitter deth: A, lorde, howe sorowfulle & pynefulle was þis siht to me! Mye herte was awey fro me, for he hadde takene mye (harte) fro me & helde [2 harte überschr. v. a. h.] hit with him crucifyede. I hadde loste mye voys for criynge & grette sorowynge, in so myche þat vnneþes I miht speke; and so I faylede in bodye for sorowe and felle downe. But after I hadde sumwhat takene [ 5] aȝeyne spiryte, I brake in to þees-maner wordes" 'O þou ioye and confort of mye herte, but nowe I see þe with fulle grete mornynge and sorowe; alas, alasse, howe wrecthedlye se I þe nowe so hangynge on tre! O þou halfe mye lyfe, O onelye confort of mye lyfe, take with þe, I preye þe, þi most sorowfulle moder, for I desyre gretelye to dye & maye no lengure [ 10] live with-owte þe! soþelye, I se þe dye in whom stant alle mye lyfe and alle mye hele. Oo, who schalle ȝive me þat I miht dye for þe?' And whanne his most sorowfulle moder hadde seyde þees wordes, & oþer lyke to hem, þe sone as forȝetynge his owne pyne & sorowe confortede swette∣lye his moder, & so diynge and passynge aweye he toke his leve of me [ 15] and commendet me to hys discyple, þe whiche he sengulerelye lovede. And whenne þe herte of þe moder herde þe voyce of hir sone so dele∣fullye spekynge with passynge sorowe, þe swerde of bitter mowrnynge peresede þe sowle of þat treweste moder. And whanne I kowde fynde none oþer confort, with a grete luste I kissede þe hote blode þat droppede [ 20] downe in to erþe owt of þe wondes of mye der sone, in so miche þat þe moder face was alle blodye of þe slayne sones blode. Oo if þou haddest in þat sorowfulle howre seyene þe woo of þe moder havynge compassione of þe sone, & sorowe of þe sone makynge mone for þe moder, I wote welle þat þou mihtestnot have seyene & herde þis with-owte an Inwarde [ 25] wounde of sorowfulle compassione.'

Discyple: 'Oo, howe harde is þat herte þat herte þat off inwarde styrynge [27 a. r.: Discipulus.] haþ not compassione of þe and of þi sorowe, blessede maydene and moder; howe yvele drye bene þoo eyene þat seene þe so sorowfullye wepynge & ȝit þei mowe not wepe with þe! But what schalle I seye? [ 30] Lo, þou most pytevous moder, nowe I standynge be-for þe with a wep∣ynge mynde, I be-seche þe and charge þe on goddusbehalfe, þat þou ȝive to me þi der tresour, my kynge and mye lorde, þat for me suffrede passione an dethe, and þat vndere þis forme in þe whiche I be-holde with þe innere eye of contemplacione him nowe in þi barme vnder crosse so [ 35] pale dede; þat þat compassione & (sorowe) þat was þat tyme ȝivene to þe to [36 a. r. v. s. h. sorowe] þe as to his moder in bodilye presence, þat hit be grantede as hit falleþ to me sinfulle wrecthe at þe leste spirytuale in mynde of mye sowle.—¶ Per beþ summenne þe wheche bene ioye(full) of clannesse of here lyfe, [39 ms. ioye] þer beþ oþer þat presumene of þe multitude of here merytes, & sumtyme [ 40] þat reioycene hem of þe worþinesse of gostlye excercyses: But what schalle I triste inne? Soþelye, alle mye hope & alle mye solace onelye hangene vpon þi passione, my lorde Jhesu, and of þe gretnesse and worþinesse of þine merytes, and of þe pyte of þine most benigne modere, as þou onelye knoweste þat hast consideracione to myne infirmite and pouerte: [ 45]

And þerfore þis mynde of mye lordes (passione) is to be stokene affectueslye [1 passione fehlt.] in þe chaumbere of mye herte & bothe by worde and dede, helpynge þi grace, to be folowede and with alle-maner wirchepe & reuerence to be magnifyede. ¶ Oo euerlastynge wisdame of þe fader of heuene, oo nowe I brynge in to mye socour & helpe þi swettust moder, presentynge hir [ 5] to þe & hidynge me byhynde hir bakke, for I darre not lift vp myne eyene be-fore þe face of þi blisse; butte by hir I desyre to be herde. Where-fore I beseche þe þat þou wille have in mynde alle þe seruyces and bisinesses þat þou toke of hir in þi yow(þ)e & þe ȝeres of þi chyldhode, [9 ms. þowe st. yowþe] in swaþinge, in clippynge and kyssynge & alle oþer seruices done to þe; [ 10] and also have in mynde alle þe sorows þat sche standynge vnder crosse with pytevous compassione suffrede in þat tendere moder-hert for þe! Graunt me, lorde, þat, as I se þe nowe with inwarde affeccione & þe eyene [13 ms. þi eyene] of trewe beleve so dedelye and sorowfullye, þat I maye see þe so glo∣rioselye above þe sterres of heuene, sittynge on (thy) fadres riht hande [15 thy überschr.] [ 15] in blisse with-owte ende. And also þou, blessede maydene & most pyte∣vows moder, þat standynge by þe crosse of þi dere sone feldest effec∣tuoselye in þi sowle þe wondes of his passione & þer-wiþ þou was made rede with spryngynge of his blode, & alle-onelye þou keþedest to him parfyte bileve in to þe laste ende: grant me, meke maydene, mye dere [ 20] ladye, þat, as I bringynge to mynde with an inwarde deuocione alle þees wondes of þi sorowe clippe þe with armes of mye herte, and as berynge þe felawechippe I lede þe hows bye þe ȝate of þe Citee Jerusalem, as in ensaumple of þoo þinges þat bene passede, so þou, moder of grace, at þe laste ende mye sowle, & þe sowles of alle þe discyples of euer∣lastynge [ 25] [25 ms. let st. at] wisdam, whan þei passene owte of þe bodyes, take in to þine armes, & bringe hem with ioye to þat heuenelye Jerusalem, þer to abyde with þei der sone & þe in blisse with-owte ende. amen.'

Cap. III. ¶ Howe þe disciple of euerlastynge wisdam schalle gladdelye suffre tribulaciones & aduersitees for his love, bye ensample of his [ 30] suffrance & of hees chosene loveres.

Consolamini, consolamini, popule meus, dicit dominus deus vester: þat is in englische: beþ confortede, beþ confortede, mye pepele, seiþ ȝowre lorde godde.—A seeke sowle gostlye þe whiche [34 ms. þe þe] after daye & tyme of prosperite was fallene in to þe niht of aduersite, [ 35] beganne to mowrne and with a sorowfulle herte make his complaynte to [36 ms. complanyte] godde, with inwarde compassione, hit bringyng to mynde þe diseses þat he hadde suffrede, sore wepynge & teres chedynge. ¶ And whanne þe discyple forseyde seynge & herynge þis hadde not at hande redye where∣thurghe he miht confort þat spiryte so trauaylynge in aduersitees for [ 40] Cryste: loo, þere-with in a visione a fayre ȝonge manne aperede stand∣ynge be-fore hym, þe whiche toke hym in to hande an Instrumente of musyke, þat is clepede a sawtrye, market a crosse abovene, & þer-with plentewslye fillede his mynde with gostlye sentence, byddynge þat he

scholde likynglye and wyslye pleye þere-vpon & singe and make gladde sorowfulle & delefulle hertes in here lorde godde; & also many oþer þat [2 ms. deddfulle] stode nihe him and were trauailynge with diuerse sekenesses of sowle and oþere diseses, preyede him mekelye þat he wolde do so in to solace and confort of here trauayle. ¶ Where-fore he takynge þat sawtrye of [ 5] þe ȝonge mannus hande & vnderstandynge þe purpos, be-fore his paciente beganne to pleye & singe & toke his dyte of þe prophetes worde be-fore þus: 'beþ confortede, beþ confortede, mye pepele, seiþ ȝour lorde godde'. ¶ And whanne he hadde seyde þees wordes of confort & oþere for to abate þe sorowe of (þat) mowrnynge spiryte, he wolde not be confortede, but [ 10] [10 þat fehlt.] wax more sorye & more—ffor soþe hit is: þat-tyme þat mowrnynge and sorowe is in his cowrse, swete wordes and likynge makene oft-siþes sorow∣fulle hertes more sorowfulle, as hit is seyde þat minstrallesye makeþ him þat is merye (more) merye & him þat (is) sorye more sorye: ¶ And so a [14 more fehlt.] deuowte sowle þat is feruent in love of godde, þe more swetelye þat he [ 15] feleþ bye experience in him-selfe þe confort of godde aftere bitter prefe, so miche more of vnseyne before ioye he falleþ alle in to teres. ¶ In þe selfe maner hit be-felle nowe in owre purpos, þat to þe forseyde mowrn∣ynge sowle matere of ioye was turnede in to occasione of sorowe: for he þat scholde bye resone have lawhede, be-ganne to wepe with-owte mesure. [ 20] And whanne he was askede whie he wepte & what him eylede or what he suffrede, he answerede and seyde: ¶ 'Loo, I vnselye, while þat I was in ȝonge age, I sowht abowte to gete me a wyfe, þat I miht with hir likynge falawechepe lede a blessede lyfe; and what-tyme I hadde seyne manye & hadde chose of hem alle, one þat was feyrest of alle oþere as [ 25] [25 l. choise] to mye siht was likynge & pleysant in myne eyene. ¶ Pe wheche with pleysant wordes & large behestes ȝivynge and proferynge here-selfe to me, [27 ms. hehestes] levynge alle oþere I ascentede to hyre & toke hir in to mye spowese. And whanne I hadde dwellede a while with hire & hadde hope to haue hadde grete prosperyte and wel of hir companye: Alasse, of a frende sche [ 30] is made (an) enemye, and þe lambe is turnede in to a lyone; & so þorhe hire alle mye lyfe is fillede with sorowe & wrecthedenesse; & schortlye to seye, þe tyme wolde not suffyse if I wolde telle alle þe aduersitees and diseses þat sche haþ turmentede me wiþ in to þis tyme. But hit is [34 wil st. wiþ] beste to me for to seye with þe prophete: Secretum meum michi: 'Mye [ 35] pryuetee I schalle kepe pryve to mye-selfe'. Neuerlese þis þat I have seyde so in generale schortlye haþ broken owt violentlye of þe habun∣dance of herte with wepynge (&) teres schedynge at þe stirynge of þe swete voyce of þi confortynge'. And whanne þe discyple hadde herde þis, he vnderstode þat þis was þe misterye of þe weddynge of euer-lastynge wis∣dam, [ 40] þe whiche is wonte for to preve hire louers with temperele tribu∣laciones and diseses, and whanne þei beþ prevede, to knitte hem in to hire love & frenchippe. And þanne he turnede him to hire & seyde in þis maner: 'Oo þou depe consele vnbesewht of godus wisdame, whi be∣tust þou so and scowregest hem þat loue þe, & suffrest hem þat takene [ 45] [45 ms. soo wregest.]

litel fors of þe for to go pruwdelye with an vp-streyht nekke? Knowest not welle, þou þat art formere & makere of alle menne, þe feble grounde of mannus infirmyte, & þat þe bodye þat is here in corrupcione ouerleythe so miche þe sowle þat hit maye not alleweye be-hold & take hedde to þoo þinges þat beþ to come here-after, but raþere is constreynede to falle [ 5] to þoo þinges þat beþ here seyene in þis lyfe? O most mercyfulle lorde godde, beholde and see benignelye oure tribulaciones & diseses, & ȝiue vs þe vertue of pacience, and with þine most fre confortes conferme fro abouene & stable þoo hertes þat beþ feble & vnmihtye!'

¶ Wisdam: 'A ȝonge hynde-fowne þat is newe-borne sekeþ refute [ 10] of þe modere & for to sowke here tetes; but whanne hit is growene & waxene eldere, sche leueþ þe moder milke & goþ vp to þe hye hilles & þere (is) fedde & felawechipede with þe flokke. And so þou þat art passede [13 is fehlt.] childescondicione þat haþ nede to be fedde with milke, & art come nowe to saddenesse of mannus ȝeres, hit is tyme þat þou, wenede fro milke and [ 15] drawene fro tetes, be ioynede and felawechipede in þe noumbre of stronge menne. ¶ Where-for bye ensomple of hem þou schalt lerne what þou schalt do & howe pacientlye þou schalt ber alle manere of aduersitees, so þat, whanne þou art provede with tribulaciones as þei were, þou maye be felawchepede to here noumbre with ioye with-owt ende. ¶ Lift vp [ 20] þi hert and be-holde bihynde þi bakke & see þe grete companye of seyntes with-owt noumbre þat haue bene fro þe biginnynge of þe worlde: & þou [22 ms. hane] schalt mowe vnderstande þat alle þoo þat pleysedene me sengulerelye were also in sengulere manere provede by suffraunce of aduersitees. And for to passe ouere Abraham, Moysen & oþer patriarkes, profetes & oþer [ 25] with-owt noumbre þat were goddes derlynges: loo, what Dauyd, of whome se(y)þ godde: 'I have fondene a manne after myne owne herte', spekeþ [27 ms. seþ oder sey] in þe sawtere þus: 'lorde, howe grete tribulaciones haþ þou schewede to me, manye and wikkede, and þou turnede to mercye haste qwikenede me & haste eftersones browht me aȝeyne to reste fro þe depe diseses of [30 l. efte * von hier andere hand mitten auf [fol. 109] .] of þe erthe'. Take hede howe Joseph, þat was ordeynede by godde lorde of Egipte, first by enuye was solde of hees breþerne in to Egipte, and þer falselye acusede and diffamede of a wikkedde womman, & so putte in to prisone wrongfulle & þer laye longe tyme. And so, if þou take hedde, howe þat holye profete Ysaie was sawene with treene sawe, [ 35] Jeremye þat was halewede in his moder-wombe was stonede to dethe, Eȝechiel was cruelye braynede, Daniel cast in to þe pitte of lyons, Job & Thobie harde asayede with temptaciones of þe worlde* and of þe fende, þe Machabes with wondirfulle turmentrye putte to cruelle deth, and oþere faders with-oute nowmbre of the olde lawe alle proued with dyuerse and [ 40] grete tribulacyouns. fforþermore ȝit byholde my derrest-loued frendis, þe apostles, leuynge in this worlde in grete pennurie, in hunger and thirste, in colde and nakednesse, in prisones and betynges, and alle maner of disseses of this lyfe putte hem-selfe wilfully to, and ȝit neuer failynge in tribulacyons, nor grucchynge nor plai(n)ynge, as þou doste, but [ 45] [45 grucchynges; plaiynges]

pacient in despitis and reproues, & ioyful for my sake in alle manere of sorowes and diseses. ¶ Also who dare byholde inwardly þe holy martirs, suffrynge so many turmentis with-oute noumbre and harde dethes, and com∣playne hem of tribulacyouns? ¶ Also confessours & virgyns, þat suffred heer in penaunce-doynge longe martirdome & ȝit alle-daye in þe brode [ 5] weye of byleue for þe loue of god suffren ful harde, both ȝonge men and olde, maydens and wydowes and weddid folke, with grete deuo∣cyone: whos grete tribulacyone and disese, and hit were knowen, by resone schulde stoppe thy mouth of playnynge and putte þee in silence. ¶ hast þou not in mynde þat notabil ensaumpel of þat deuoute weddyd [ 10] womman þe whiche schewid to þe in confessyone how sche hadde lyued with her husbonde twenty ȝeere þe whiche was not in maners like to a man but as a ferse lyone, ofte-syþes with a naked sworde ferde as he wolde haue slayne hir and with betynges and many dispites alle-tymes turmentid her so, þat holy womman, þat welnere euery houre atte þe siȝte [ 15] of hym þat she dredde and loked to haue ben sodeynly slayne and dede? [16 tilge þat] ¶ And ȝit þat deuoute womman paciently sufferyng alle þis and not chidynge or grucchynge aȝen, preyed þee so deuoutly forto praye for þat wicked man! ¶ And thanne, as þou knowest wel, þou liftynge vp thyne yen towarde heuene knokedist on thy breste and with a schameful [ 20] hert knowlechedist þat þy suffraunce of disese was but as noȝt and þat þou were but as ydel in rewarde of hir! ¶ Ȝit also, forto conclude this letter and teche the pacience in aduersites: fyndest not in þoo bokes þat þou redist aldaye so likyngly, þat is to saye þe Colacyons of faders and [24 a. r. in rot: Colaciones patrum & vitas patrum.] þe lyues of faders, how ¶ Arsanye, Marcharie, & Poule ¶ and oþere holy [ 25] faders in desert liuynge many ȝeeris and ferre fro alle þe worlde, ¶ suffr∣ynge tribulacyouns and disseses with-oute noumbre in grete deuocyoun [27 ms. þat st. in] and pacyence ladden an holy and wonderful lyfe to alle mennes sighte? Arte þou not aschamed, whan þou byholdist alle suche and coueytist with alle þy herte forto be noumbred in to hir felawschip, and ȝit thou wolte [ 30] not folow her suffrynges in the leste poynte? wolte þou be ouerlayde with sompnolence and ydelnesse amonge so many douȝty knyghtes? Nay, god for-bede! betyde þe it neuer! ¶ ffor loo þou arte now turned into mannes astate, and þerfore cast aweye now childe-hode, and dresse and make the redy to stronge and myghty batayles!' [ 35]

Disciple: ¶ 'Sooþly, the mynde of so many worthy faders is as [36 a. r.: Discipulus.] it were a likynge mynstralsy in a feste of delicate wyne, and to euery soule sette in tribulacyouns hit schalbe swetter þanne hony. ¶ Wher∣fore, what-tyme þat y byhelde with þe Inner ye of myn herte þese gloryous doughty knyghtes of þe hye halle of heuene and her wonderful [ 40] deedis, I see my-selfe but as a pore litil worme, and þat litil disese þat I wente y hadde suffred, atte þe siȝte of hem I lese and softly seke and mourne. ¶ But I wolde witte wheþer casuel fortune, and tribulacyons aȝens þe wille ben heelful and meedful; and why þou arte wonte forto viset thy frendes raþere be aduersites and diseses?' [ 45]

(Wisdam:) ¶ 'In one questyone as hit schewith, þou askest three doutes forto be assoyled to þe: þat is to sey, of þe fallynge or comynge of tribulacyouns, and of þe maner of hem, and of þe causes of hem. And as to þe firste: halde this sentence sadly groundid þat what-maner aduersite fallith to þe, hit is done and sente by his [ 5] wille and prouidence by whos vertue alle þinges ben made and kepte in her beynge: so þat in þat partye hit shal not be clepyd casuel but ordeyned be god. ¶ And as to þe secounde, þat is of tribu∣lacyouns þat comen aȝens þe wil: þou schalte knowe & vndirstonde þat, þouȝh þat thinge þat is aȝens þe wille, in partye is not meritorie, neuer∣þeles, [ 10] if a wise soule and by vndirstandynge wole gladdely suffre þat þat is sent and commith firste aȝens þe wille, and so bowe þat wille þat was firste rebelle mekely to þe ȝerde of the scourge of god, makynge vertue of nede, no doute but þat þat semyd byfore as venemous and wicked schalle after bycome holsum & merytorie and schalle profite to þe goostly [ 15] encrese of vertues. ffor righte so forsothe þe euerlastynge wisdam of god fro þe beginnynge of þe worlde haþ drawen to hym aȝens her firste wille creatours with-outen noumbre & compellid hem þat were firste rebelle [18 ms. hym] to entre into lyfe. ¶ But touchynge the thirde questyone, þat is, why þat þey þat beth goddes chosen childer ben heer in this worlde ouer∣layde [ 20] with aduersitees: take this for an open skille and resone, þat, for als myche as þe wittes of man beþ redy to yuel fro his firste ȝouth, ¶ þerfore þe waye of rightwismen is resonabely to be hegged with the þornes of tribulacyouns, leste þat wicked likynge mynister mater of tres∣passynge; ¶ so þat euery chosen soule (mon) ben heere in this wrecchid [ 25] [25 mon fehlt.] lyfe ouerlayde with contynuel tribulacyons, þat þereby hee be compelled as aȝens his wille forto drawe vpward to the euerlastynge lyfe in an oþere worlde.'

¶ Disciple: 'I beleue wel þat temporel tribulacyons and disseses [29 a. r.: Discip.] beth profitable and meritorye, soo þat þey passe not the myȝte and þe [ 30] possibilite of hym þat suffriþ hem. ¶ But lo now, þe pyneful presence of hem greuith so moche and dissesith oþere-while (þat) þey semen pas∣synge [32 þat fehlt.] mannes myȝhte forto bere.'

¶ Wisdam: 'þis is comunly þe condycions and manere of wrec∣ches þat hem þinkiþ her oowne dissesses and tribulacyons passen alle other; [ 35] and euery man felynge his owne harmes is moor sory for hem þan for oþere mennes harmes, and hee þat trowiþ hym by any maner of tribu∣lacyone passyngly greued, whan þat goth awey and another commith, þe selfe difficulte of complainynge abidith. Wherfore alle excepeyone putte awey, sub-mitte the to goddes wille and take gladly his scourges, for hee [ 40] is þe trewe god þat wole not suffre hem þat beth his chosen to be tempted aboue myghte, but hee schalle make with temptacyone also comforte, þat þey mowe bere hit. ¶ Why þanne ȝit quakest þou and why dredist? ffor soþ, hee is most pitevous, and þerfore hee wil helpe; hee is alþere∣wisiste, and þerfore hee wote beste what is expedient and profitable to euery [ 45] manne; and also hee is moost myȝhty, ¶ and þerfore his alþer-strengest

hande fulfillith and parfourmith, þere as a man of hym-selfe failith. ¶ Wher∣fore caste þy þouȝte in god and committe þee to hym and putte alle þy care in to hym, for hee haþ cure (&) charge of the. Go nere and sey tristely to hym: ¶ 'My dere fader, þy wil be fulfilled and not myn'. ¶ And what∣tyme tribulacyone commith to þe, go oute gladly aȝens so worthy a gest, [ 5] benignely hym receiuynge, and seye in this maner with gladde herte: ¶ 'Welcome be þou, my frende tribulacyone!"

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'A, lorde god, how liȝte is þis to seye, but how [8 a. r.: Discip.] harde to parfourme in dede þat is seyde! for þe bitter woundes of heuy tribulacyons ben ful soor and peynful!' [ 10]

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Ȝif hit so were þat tribulacyons greuyd not, þey [11 a. r.: Sap.] myȝt not sooþly be cleped tribulacyons: ¶ Wherfore tribulacion for þe tyme þat hit lastith is noyous & gendrith heuynesse. ¶ But what-tyme it is passed and ouercom, hit souereynly gladith and comfortith. ¶ hit haþ schort bitternesse, but longe comforte and gladnes. ¶ Tribulacyone [ 15] þat fallith often-sithes, by custumabil berynges and pacyence atte þe last is ouercome, ¶ soo þat ouþere hit semith not tribulacyone or ellis it is liȝhte forto bere—¶ as a man þat is wonte to merueylous and gaste∣ful thinges, for custum takith þe lasse fors of hem. þe grete habundaunce of the swetnesse of god in so moche were not to þe so meritorye ne so [ 20] [20 ms. in st. ne] grete preisynge worthy as tribulacyone pacyently suffred þorowgh feruent charite. ffor we fynde moo þat be prosperite of þe worlde haue fallen [22 ms. ffolowe st. for we] þanne þoo þat be aduersites broken han fallen fro her goostly pur∣pos. ¶ And sooþly, if hit so were þat þou haddest souereyn kunnynge of alle þe VII artes and passedist in eloquence and sotilte of argu∣mentis [ 25] alle þe philosophres and logicyans, alle þat schulde not helpe þe nor forþer so moche to good liuynge as þis o þinge þat is neces∣sarye to hele the soule, þat is to seye: þorouȝ charite of a clene herte and good conscience and feith not feyned to forsake þy-selfe and commit the alle-holly to god in alle-maner tribulacyone and forto obey [ 30] pacyently to his wille—ffor þat at was spoken of byfore, is comun boþ to good men and to ille, but þis is oonly propre to hem þat beþ chosen. þere is so grete passynge worthynesse of euerlastynge blisse in regarde of temporel passyouns, þat, who-so wolde wisely byholde and take hede, hee schulde raþer chese wilfully to be turmentid many ȝeeres in an hoot-brenn∣ynge [ 35] ouene of fire þanne to be preued of þe leste mede þat is reserued [36 l. prived] to hym in the blisse þat is to come. ¶ And why so? for þe trauaile and dissese hath an ende, but þe mede and the blisse is withouten ende.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'O þou souereyn and vnspekabil pite, how soue∣reyn [39 a. r.: Discipulus.] swete and likyngely þese organes sowne in þe eeres of hym þat is [ 40] sorowful! O wonderful dignacyone of thy pite aboute vs, in as miche as thou settest thy herte so aboute a wrecchid man þat is turmentid and desolate, and þat þou vouchest-saufe so to lessen oure sorowe and coum∣forte hem þat beþ heuy and mournynge! ¶ ffor while þou singest so sweetly, þe spirit þat suffrith sorowe is liȝtenyd, & thy heuenly melody [ 45] [45 ms. in st. &]

dryueþ aweye for þe tyme þe spirite of sorowe þat disesith the mynde, so þat it maye be þe liȝter boren. And if it so were þat me were ȝeuene choys, I hadde leuere continuelly suffre aduersite so with þy alþer∣swettist coumforte, þanne to lacke aduersite and þer-with not to haue þy most precyous oynement. ¶ Wherfore do now forth with me þat þou [ 5] hast bigunne; for þat man þinketh þat he suffreþ is as noȝt, to whome euerlastynge wisdam so sweetly harpith in aduersite.'

¶ Wisdam: ¶ 'Wolte þou now heere þe harpe of goostly musike [8 a. r.: Sapiencia.] faire & sweetly sownynge? ¶ Sitte vp and take hede bisely to þe pre∣cyous fruyte of temporel aduersites! Riȝhte as in an harpe þe strynges [ 10] in porcyone streyned and wasted ȝeuen a swete sowne to hym þat herit, riȝht so euery chosen man what-tyme þat hee is ouerlayde with aduer∣site, hee is as in manere by strengthe oute of hym-selfe constreyned and more pleinly made able forto ȝelde a swete & heuenly melodye. ffor þou schalte vndirstonde þat temporel tribulacyone is dispised of þis moost [ 15] wode worlde, but of the hiȝe domes-man god hit is halde and demed ful precyous: ffor tribulacyon quenchith þe wrath of þe hiȝ Justise and tur∣nith his harde rightwisnesse into frende-schip and myldenesse. And hee þat suffrith gladly aduersite for god, hee is made like to god in his passyone, and þerfore hee is knytte to hym as to his like felawe by þe [ 20] knot of loue. ¶ Riȝte as the daye-sterre schewiþ byfore to þis worlde þe neyȝh risynge of þe sone, ¶ Riȝht so doth goostly tribulacyon: ffor hit schewith þe neyȝhynge of þe hye heuenly sone comynge to coum∣forte a soule þat is in tribulacyone. And riȝhte as a derke nyȝte goth tofore a briȝte schinynge daye, and þe colde scharpnesse of wynter goth [ 25] byfore þe likynge hete of somour, riȝte so tribulacyone comunly goþ by∣fore bothe þe inner & þe vtter coumforte of good soulles. ¶ What is þanne moor profitabil þan (þ)is most precyous tresoure? Soþely, no∣thynge: [28 ms. is] for hit doþ awey synne, slekith purgatory, putteþ awey tempta∣cyons; hit clensith fleschlynesse, reneueþ þe spirit, strengþeþ þe hope [ 30] and gladith þe chere; hit bryngeth cleernes of conscience and ȝeueþ con∣tynuel plente of inwarde ioyes and likynge. ¶ hit genderith forsakynge of þe worlde, but hit getith the loue of famyliarite of god; hit is wonte forto lessen fleshly freendes, but comunly it encresith þe grace of god; ¶ hit is a streyt wey, but þere-with siker and compendyous & schorte, [ 35] ledynge to lyfe. Wherfore euery witty man now take hede how grete a fole hee were þat wolde ofte-syþes take hede to þe profit of tribula∣cyone & þer-with desyred not his supportacyone. ¶ O lorde god, how many beth and haue ben þe whiche schulde haue done the most horribil synnes and þat schulde haue fallen into grettest crymes, but hit hadde [ 40] so be þat þorow þe pitevous despensacyone of god þey hadde be pre∣serued by the mene of tribulacyouns! ¶ And what more? schortly: þere maye no tonge telle nor herte thenke how profitabil it is to suffre ad∣uersites pacyently.'

Disciple: ¶ 'O lorde Jhesu, how openly now it schewith what þou [ 45] [45 a. r.: Discip.] arte! ¶ ffor soth it is þat þou arte þe souereyne worthy wisdam, with∣oute

comparyson to alle deedly creatours; þe whiche schewist and bryngest oute in to þe liȝte of knowynge þy soþfastnesse with the swete sauoure of thy oute-spekynge, so þat þou leuist no place of dowtynge þere-of in vs. Wherefore hit is no wonder þouȝ þat man suffre alle aduersites gladly, þe whiche in hem is comforted by þe so sweetly. But now, my swete [ 5] fader, loo I fallynge downe atte thy feet, with a deuoute affeccyone of my herte I ȝelde þonkynges to þe ffor alle my present aduersites & also for alle the grete betynges and scourgynges with þe whiche þou vouche∣dist-safe to chastyse and leren me into þis tyme; þe whiche semyd to me sumtyme so greuous as þey hadde come fro þe wroþ enmye, But [ 10] now in a wonderful maner alle þese dreedful thinges ben sone passed, Riȝte as þe morowe-clowde, & so þey beþ now byfore my siȝte, þorough thy gracyous worchynge, as they hadde neuer been; and so I am com∣pellid forto saye with þe wise man: Modicum laboraui: ¶ 'I haue traueylid but litil', ¶ Et inueni michi multam requiem: ¶ 'And I [ 15] haue fonde to me miche reste'. ¶ ffor, sooþly, what-tyme þat I as with þe yen of an amarous herte byholde þe, oonly tresoure of my herte, and clippe the with the inwarde affeccyone of alle my desyres, I forȝet alle sorowful þinges and þat passen oute of mynde alle þoo þat myghte haue traueile or sorowe.—¶ But now forþermore, þou euerlastynge and soue∣reyn [ 20] wisdame, þe principale coumforte of myne herte, ¶ I beseke þe, þat, as þou hast tauȝte me to bere paciently tribulacyouns and aduer∣sites, so þou enfourme me how þat I schalle booþ in prosperite and ad∣uersite lyue rightwisly and plesingly to þy loue, & þat compendyously and in schorte sentence.' [ 25]

Cap. IIII. How þe disciple of Jhesu, euerlastynge wisdam, schalle kepe hym in trewe goostly life þat is growndid in þe loue of Jhesu, and how hee schalle flee and eschewe þat is contrarye þere-to.

(Wisdam:) 'I-see þat felawschip of Seintes þe whiche as morowe∣sterres [29 l. See] schyneden in þe dirke nyȝhte of þis worlde, and as grete liȝhtes [ 30] schedden oute þe beemes of her clere kunnynge. Þou schalte fynde sum þe whiche passyngly were parfitely groundid not oonly in actif lyfe and vertue but also in contemplatif: Of whos techynge and ensaumpil þou maist take þe most parfite doctrine and lore of trewe goostly life. ¶ Neþles I will∣ynge forto condescende to thyne experiens & vnkunnynge, ¶ I schalle [ 35] [35 l. inexperiens] ȝeue þe schortly summe principles of goostly liuynge as for a memoryal; the whiche hauynge alweye atte hande, þou schalte mow be sette in righte wirchynge. Wherfore, if þou desire forto haue þe perfeccione of goostly lyfe þat is to be desyred of alle men, and if þou wille & hast affeccion to take hit vpon þe manfully: þou schalte first with-draw þe fro yuel [ 40] felawschypes and noyous famyliarites and fro alle men þat wolde lette þy good purpos; sekynge alle-wey oportunite, where and what-tyme þou mayste a place of reste, and þere take þe priue silences of contemplacyone [43 l. haue a] and flee the periles of turblaunce of þis noyous worlde. ¶ Alle-tymes [44 ms. fele st. flee] it longith to thee principally to studye to haue the clannes of herte, þat [ 45]

is to saye, so þat closynge thy fleschly wittes þou be turned into þy∣selfe and þat þou haue, in als myche as hit is possibil, þe dores of thyne herte bisily closed fro þe formes of oute-warde thinges and ymagy∣nacyouns of erthely þinges—¶ ffor, sooþly, amonge alle goostly exer∣cises clennes of herte hath þe principalite, as a fynalle entencyone and [ 5] rewarde of alle þe trauailes þat a chosen knyghte of Criste is wonte forto receyue. ¶ Also þou schalte louse þyne affeccione with alle þi [7 ms. þe st. þi] diligence fro alle þoo þinges þat myghte lette þe fredam þere-of, and fro euery thinge þat in any maner hath myghte and powere forto bynde and drawe þat affeccione to hit, after þat it is writen in Moyses lawe: ¶ Mane∣at [ 10] vnusquisque apud semetipsum & nullus egrediat(ur) hostium domus sue: ¶ 'Euery man dwelle by hym-selfe, and no man passe þe [12 erg. die septimo.] dore of his hous vpon þe sabot-daye'; þat is þus moche forto seye: fforto dwelle a man by hym-selfe or in hym-selfe, is to vndirstonde þat hee gadir alle þe variaunte þouȝhtes and affecciouns of his herte and haue [ 15] hem knytte to-gadirs into oon soþfaste and souerayne gode, þat is god; and forto kepe þe sabbate, is to haue þe herte free & vnbounden fro alle fleschly affeccione þat myȝt defoyl þe soule, and fro alle worldly cures and besynesses þat myghte distracte hit; and so ri••t sweetly in pees or herte as in þe hauene of scilence, and þe loue & felynge of his maker [ 20] god. ¶ Aboue alle oþere þinges, forsoþ, lat þis be þy principalle entente & besynes þat þou haue alweye thy soule and þy mynde lifte vp in con∣templacyone of heuenly thinges, so þat þe erthely freelte lafte hit be bisily drawen vp to þoo þinges þat beþ abouen. ¶ And what þinge so∣euer be þat is dyuerse fro these: þowȝh hit seme grete in hit-selfe, as [ 25] [25 ms. come st. seme] chastisynge of the body, fastynge, wakynge and siche oþere exercises of vertue, þey schulbe taken and demyd as secundarye and lesse worth, and in so miche expedient and profitabil as þey profeten & helpen to þe clennes of herte. ¶ And herfore hit is þat so fewe comen to per∣feccione, for þey dispiseden her tyme and her myghtes in mene thinges [ 30] [30 l. disposeden] þat beþ not myche profitabil, and the dewe remedyes þey leuen and putten by-hynde. ¶ But if þou desirest forto come by a riȝte weye to þe ende of thyne entente, þou schalte souereynly desire to contynue clennesse of herte, & reste of spirite and tranquillite, and forto haue þy herte bisely lifte vp to god.' [ 35]

Disciple: 'Who is here in þis deedly body þat maye alle-weye be [36 a. r.: Discip.] knytte to þat sprituel contemplacyone?'

Wisdam: ¶ 'Þere maye no deedly man be alwey ficched and sette [38 a. r.: Sap.] in to þis contemplacyone. ¶ But for þis cause þat sentence byfore is seyde þat þou knowe where þou schalte haue fycched and sadly sette þe [ 40] entencyone of thy spirite, & to what destynacyone þou schalte alweye draw þe biholdynge of þy soule: Þe whiche what-tyme þat þe mynde may get, ¶ þanne be hee gladde; and whanne he is distracte and drawen aweye, þanne be he sory and sieke, as often as hee felith hym-selfe de∣parted fro þat biholdynge. But ȝif þou wilte paraunter with a complain∣ynge [ 45]

voyce come aȝens me and sey þat þou maiste not longe abyde and dwelle in oon-maner astate: þou schalte knowe and vndirstande þat þe vertue of god maye do and worche moor þan any man may þenke. ¶ Wherfore hit fallith ofte-syþes þat þat thinge to þe which a man byndeth hym atte þe begynnynge with a-maner violence and difficulte, afterwarde [ 5] hee schalle do hit liȝtely and atte þe laste with grete likynge, soo þat hee contynue and leue not, fro þat firste he hath bigunne.—¶ here now, my dere sone, the discipline of þy fader; take hede bisily to myn wordes and write hem in thy herte as in a boke! ¶ Wille thou not folowe þe multitude of hem þat beþ goon abacche after þe desyres & þe lustes of [ 10] her herte is: in þe whiche deuocyone is slaked, charite is coldid and meke ¶ Obedience is cast doune; þe whiche coueiten to be ouere oþer men in prelacye and seken bisely worschipes and delicatly seruen to þe wombe; ¶ þe whiche ouer mesure sechen ȝiftes and folowen rewardes—þe whiche in this worlde receyuen þat þey coueiten as for þe mede of her worch∣ynge, [ 15] but in an oþere worlde þey schulde be laft voyde of ioye euerlast∣ynge. [16 l. schulle] Wherfore folowe not þese-maner folke, but take hede bisily to þoo worthy floures, holyest faders, þe whiche spradden oute þat swete odour of her souereyn holynesse & (were) bisye to take her purpos with [19 were fehlt.] suche entente and conuersacyon as hit is now schewed to þe. ¶ Wher∣fore, [ 20] wheþer þou ete or drynke or any oþere thinge do, lat euermore this voys of thy swete fader sowne in thyne eeres, þus amonischynge and seiynge: ¶ 'My sone, turne aȝen in to þy herte, with-drawynge thee fro alle oute-warde thinges in as myche as hit is possibil to the, and with a feruente loue cleuynge euere to þe souerayne god, þat is god, and [ 25] hauynge alweye thy mynde lifte vp in contemplacyone of heuenly þinges, soo þat alle thy soule with þe myȝtes and strengthes þere-of gaderid to∣gedir into god be made oon spirite wiþ hym, in whom stante þe souereyn perfeccione of oure weye and liuynge in this worlde'. ¶ Soo þan this schorte doctryne, for þe forme and the manere of þy liuynge be it ȝeuen [ 30] to þe, In the whiche stant souereynte of alle perfeccione, and in þe whiche, if þou wilte bisely studye and trewly fulfille hit in effecte, þou schalt be blessid & in maner bigynne euerlastynge felicite in þis frele body: Þis is, my sone, þat heelful weye, þat þyne Arsenie tauȝte of þe aungel kepte hym-selfe and badde his disciple kepe, þat is to seye: 'fflee, [ 35] kepe scilence and be in rest—þese', hee seide, 'beþ þe principales of gostly hele'. ¶ Also this souerayne doctryne þe goodly wisdam schewyd and openyd to a disciple þat þou knowest, ¶ what-tyme þat hee enfourmed hym oponly of his astate. For what-tyme þe forsaide disciple purposed hym in maner forto occupien hym with þe sciencis founden of man, þere [ 40] bygan many vanites growe vpon hym as hit were vpon his bakhalfe, and than (he) bygan to aspire more þan hit byhoued to temporel avauncementis [42 he fehlt.] and worschepys. And whanne his tyme cam for þe whiche hee hadde longe tyme trauayled, & schulde be putte vp to þoo worschepis þat hee desyred, he byganne to þenke with-inne hym-selfe what was moost speed∣fulle [ 45] to hym and what schulde most plese god. And so hit byfelle vpon

a tyme þat after matyns hee felle downe in his prayer ful streyt, with alle deuocyone askynge of god þat hee wolde vouche-saufe to schewe to hym what hym was beste to do. And atte þe laste risynge vp fro his prayer and lenynge hym vpon a deske, ¶ hee sawe in a visyone as hit were a fayre ȝonge man comynge to hym; the whiche toke hym by [ 5] the hande and ledde hym into a chirche, where-inne was biggyd a litil celle, and þere-in dwellid an olde man man solitarye, ledynge anchares life; and hee was olde & hore, hauynge a longe berde, and the grace of god schyned in hym. And bisyde þe celle of þe forseyde olde man þere apperid a ladder streiȝt vpon hiȝe; in (þe whiche) þe forseyde ȝongelynge goynge [ 10] [10 þe whiche fehlt.] vpwarde and downwarde as hit were played, and clepynge þe broþere þat sawe þis, seide to hym þus: 'Come nere and herken þe lesson þat [12 ms. and seide] I wole rede to þee'. to whome anoon þe broþere gladdely rennyng coueited firste to see þe boke where-of hee schuld here þat lessone. ¶ And þanne hee sawe in his handes a wonder olde boke of a litil quan∣tite, [ 15] þe whiche as to þe siȝhte semyd as of noon reputacyone and as forlette was noon hede take to. ¶ But þanne þat ȝongelynge bygan to rede in these wordes: ¶ ffons et origo omnium bonorum homini spirituali est in cella sua iugiter commorari—þat is to seye: 'þe welle and þe bigynnynge of alle goodis to a sprituel man is to dwelle [ 20] bisily in his celle'. Þe whiche woordis of þat ȝongelynge mowȝe y-radde on þat olde boke ¶ so swetly sowneden in þe broþeres ceres, and in his herte so likyngly wrouȝt, þat hym þouȝt to hym-selfe alle to-gedir meltid in to heuenly loue; soo þat of þe vertue and effecte of þoo heuenly wordes hit opunly was schewed and knowen what hee was þat radde [ 25] þoo wordes. And whan after þe requeste of þe broþere þe forseyde ȝongelynge hadde rehersed efte-sones þe forseide wordes ffons & origo omnium bonorum &c., ¶ þe broþere for ioye þat hee hadde þere-of in his herte, brake oute and sayde: ¶ 'O lorde, how precyous and pro∣fitabil is this heelful doctrine!' & þan he asked who he was of þe nowmbre [ 30] of wise men þat broȝt forþ þis schorte fructuous seiynge. ¶ The ȝonge∣lynge answerid and seyde: 'hee þat souereyne Arsenye'. ¶ And whanne þe broþer ferþermore made instaunce þat hee schulde rede hym more of þe forsaide boke, hee bygan efte to rede and seyde: ¶ E conuerso ffons & origo omnium malorum sunt discursus inutiles euan∣geliȝancium [ 35] [35 ms. inutilis] —¶ þat is: 'Þe welle and bigynnynge of alle yueles or wickednesse beþ þe vnprofitabile rennynges aboute of prechours'. Þe whiche worde þe forseyde broþere takynge wiþ a-maner turbulaunce and grucchynge of herte, was aboute to argue & make resones into þe con∣trary, alleggynge for hym þe goynge aboute þorowe alle þe worlde of þe [ 40] holy apostles oonly for þe cause of prechynge; but hee took noon hede to þat þese wordes were not oonly of prechours, but also of alle þoo generally þat coueiten in goostly liuynge to plese god—ffor opun soþ it is þat to euery suche man bigynnynge of alle yuels is if hee wole lose his bridel to vnprofitabil rennyngis aboute. Wherfore þe forseide [ 45] ȝongelynge, noȝt answerynge to resone of þe broþere, of alle myldenes

seide: ¶ 'wit þou wel, broþere, þat þe forseyde philosofer, þat is to sey ¶ Arseny, reproueþ ful muche vnprofitabil rennynges aboute'—and here∣with þe visyone passed aweye. ¶ And thanne the forsayde broþer, felynge schedde into hym-selfe an heuenly comforte, beganne to thenke [4 ms. & st. an] and haue in mynde þoo þinges þat hee hadde herde and seene byfore, [ 5] and merueiled greetly whoo was þat philosophir Arseny—¶ ffor þat tyme hee ȝaf alle his diligence to worldely philosophye and to þe maistirs þere-of, but of goostly philosophye and the techers þere-of he took not so myche hede. And thanne hee seyde thus to hym-selfe: ¶ 'Loo how many bokes of dyuerse philosophirs þou hast redde and herde aleggid þe auc∣tours [ 10] of hem, but of this Arsenye ¶ þou fonde noon mencyone made in eny of hem'. And thanne atte þe laste hee þouȝt þus: 'paraunter þis is þat Arseny, ¶ þe moost famouse philosophir, of cristen doctrine þat souereyne anker, whome þou hardest sumtyme alleggyd, þogh hit be now oute of thy mynde; and in prefe here-of paraunter it is þat þou [ 15] sawe þe forsaide olde man, dwellynge in a litille celle; & by þat olde boke þat þat ȝongelynge helde in his hande and radde vpon, is vndir∣stonde þe boke of lyfe of fadres & her collacyons: ¶ þe whiche book as an olde forlet þinge, is litil take hede to of many men, & neþeles þe [19 ms. is as] crnel of alle perfeccyone and the soþfaste science of cristen philosophy [ 20] [20 l. curnel?] by certeyne experience is knowen and contyned þere-inne'. ¶ Wherfore þe forseide broþere, erely on þe morowe risynge and takynge þe for∣seide boke of þe librarye & willynge to knowe sooþly wheþere þere-inne were contened þe forseide Arseny ¶ and his seiynge byforeseide: anoon as hee hadde opuned hit, hee fonde booþ hym and his sentence, þe [ 25] whiche þe forseyde ȝongelynge hadde redde, clerely writen in þat boke. ¶ Wherfore þe forseide broþere sufficiently, as hym þouȝte, by these wordes byfore-spokene enformed and tauȝte, lefte þe scoles of naturel sciens and worldely wisdome, and took hym oonly to þis scole of goostly science and heuenly wisdame, desirynge forto conforme hym to þe sei∣ynges [ 30] of þe forseide Arsenye'.

¶ Discyple: 'Þyne forseide wordes, as þey comen oute of an heuenly schryne, meue me so in alle parties, þat þorowe her most lik∣ynge swetnesse þe feruoure of deuocyone is in me encresed and a pleyne weye of more parfite life is ȝeuen to myn vndirstondynge, alle-maner [ 35] difficulte and doute putte awey'.

Cap. V. Howe the forsayede discipylle of euerlastyng wysdome shalle [37 überschrift von anderer hand auf korrektur.] lerne to kunne dye, & desyre to dye for þe luf of Jhesu.

(Discipulus:) 'Syþen hit is so þat deþ ȝiuith noȝte to man, but [39 Disp. a. r. Im anfange fehlt wol ein satz.] raþer takith fro and pryueþ hym of þat he hath, wher-of profetith this [ 40] doctryne of deth? hit semith wonderfulle, and þerfore teche me, heuenly maister wisdome!' [42 Sap. a. r.]

¶ (Sapiencia:) 'Þou schalte vndirstande þat hit is a science moost profitabil and passynge alle oþer sciences, forto dye . for a man to knowe þat hee schalle dye, þat is comun to alle men, in as myche as [ 45]

þere is no man þat may euere lyue or þat (hase) hope or triste þere-of: [1 hase überschr. v. a. h.] ¶ But þou schalte fynde fulfewe þat hauen þis kunnynge to kunne dye: for þat is a souerayne ȝifte of god. ¶ Sooþly, a man forto kunne dye, is forto haue his herte and his soule in alle tymes vpwarde to þoo þinges [4 ms. & st. in] þat beþ abouen; þat is to seye, ¶ þat, what-tyme deth comith, if fynde [ 5] hym redy, so þat he receyue it gladdely with-oute any withdrawynge, riȝhte as hee þat abidith þe desired commynge of his dere-loued felowe. But alas for sorowe, þou schalte fynde in somme religyous als wel as in veyne seculers ful many þat haten so miche þe dethe þat vnnethes wole they haue hit in mynde or here speke þere-of. ¶ Þey wolde not go fro [ 10] this worlde, and cause is: for þey lerid not to kunne dye. Þey spenden miche of her tyme in veyne spekynges and harlotryes and oþere suche vayne þinges: ¶ And þerfore, what-tyme deth commith sodeynly, for als miche as hee fyndeth hem vnredy, hee drawith oute of þe body þe wrec∣chid soule and ledith hit to helle—as he wolde ofte-syþes haue done [ 15] to þe, hadde not þe hande of the grete mercy of god with-stande hym. Wherfore leue þou veyne thinges to hem þat beþ veyne, and ȝif good entente to my doctrine; þe whiche schalle profite þe moor þanne choyse golde and thanne the bokis of alle þe philosophres þat haue ben. ¶ And þat this doctrine of me more feruentlye meve the, and þat hit be alwey dwellynge ficchid in þy herte, ¶ þerfore vndir a felable ensaumple I schalle ȝeue the þe misterie of (t)his doctrine, þe whiche schal profet þe greetly [22 ms. his] to þe bigynnynge of goostly hele and to a stabil foundement of alle vertues. ¶ See now þerfore the liknesse of a man diynge and þerwith spekynge with the!' [ 25]

And þan þe disciple herynge þis, bygan to gadir alle his wittes fro outewarde thinges and in hym-selfe bisily consider and byholde þat liknesse sette byfore hym, and þat was: Þere apperid byfore hym þe liknesse of a faire ȝonge man, þe whiche was sodeynly ouer∣come with dethe in hasty tyme forto dye and hadde noȝte disposid [ 30] for þe hele of his soule byfore; the whiche with a careful voys cryed and seyde: ¶ 'Circumdederunt me gemitus mortis, dolores in∣ferni [32 ms. doloris] circumdederunt me—¶ þat is: þe weymentynges of dethe hauen vmbylapped me and the sorowes of helle haue envyrouned me. ¶ Allas, my good euerlastynge, where-to was I borne in to this world, [ 35] and why, after þat I was borne, hadde (I) not perchyd anoon? ¶ ffor loo [36 I fehlt.] þe beginnynge of my life was with wepynge and sorowe, and nowe the ende and the passynge is with grete care and mournynge. ¶ O deth, how bitter is þy mynde to a likynge herte and norisched vp in delyces! ¶ O how litil trowed I þat y schulde so sone dye! but now þou, wrec∣chid [ 40] deth, sodeynly as out of a wayte as a theef hast fallen vpon me! ¶ Now for sorow wryngynge myne handes I ȝelde outwarde goynge, desirynge to flee deth: ¶ But þere is no place to flee to fro it. ¶ I loke [43 ms. fele st. flee] on euery syde, and I fynde no counseyler nor comforter. hit is vtterly [44 ms. in st. I] ficched & sette, and þerfore hit maye not be chaunged. I hir þat horribile [ 45] voys of deth seiynge in this manere: "Þou arte the sone of deth. Nor ric∣chesses

nor resoune nor kynnes-men nor frendes mowen delyuere the fro my hande; þe ende is come, þe ende is come; it is demyd, and þerfore it muste be done". ¶ O my god, schal I now nedys dye? maye not þis sentence be chaunged? schalle I now so sone go fro this worlde? O þe grete cruelte of deth! Spare, I praye þe, to þe ȝowþe, spare to þe age [ 5] þat is not ȝit fully rype! ¶ Do not so cruelly with me, (take me) not so vnpurveyed fro þis liȝte of life!'

¶ Disciple, herynge þese wordes, turned to hym and seyde: ¶ 'ffrende, thy wordes semen to me not sauerynge disciplyne. Wost þou not þat þe dome of deth is euen to alle? ¶ ffor hit takith no per∣sone [ 10] byfore other and it sparith no man; hit hath no mercy, neiþer of þe ȝonge ne of þe olde; hit sleeþ as wel þe ryche as þe pore, and soth hit is þat riȝte many byfore the parfit fulfillynge of her ȝeeres ben drawen aweye fro þis life. Trowest þou þat deth schulde haue spared the allone? ¶ Naye, for þe prophetis be dede'.—¶ Þe liknes or þe [ 15] ymage of deth answerid and seyde: ¶ 'Sooþly', he seyde, 'þou arte an heuy comforter. Nor my wordes sownen foly; but þey ben raþer like fooles þe whiche hauen lyued yuel in to her deth & þat hauen wroȝte þoo þinges þat ben worthy deth, and ȝit þey drede not dethe; whanne hit neyȝh, þey ben blynde and like to vnresonabil bestes, þat seen not [ 20] byfore her laste ende and þat is to come after deth. ¶ And þerfore I wepe not sorowynge þe dome of deth, but I wepe for þe harmes of vndisposed dethe; ¶ I wepe not for þat I schalle passe hennes, but I am sory for þe harmes of þoo dayes þat ben passed vnprofitabil and withoute eny fruyte. ¶ Erramus a via veritatis &c. in li^o sapiencie: ¶ Allas, [ 25] how haue I lyued? 'I haue erred fro þe weye of sooþfastnesse, & þe liȝte of riȝtwisnesse hath not schyned into me, and the (sune) of vndirstond∣ynge was not receyued into my soule. ¶ Allas, what profetid hit to me, pryde, or þe boste of ricchesses what hath þat holpen me? ¶ Alle þoo ben passed as a schadowe and as þe mynde of a geste of oon daye [ 30] passynge forthe.' ¶ And þerfore now is my worde & my speche in bitter∣nesse to my soule, and alle my wordes ful of sorowe, and myne yen daswed. ¶ O who schalle mow ȝeue to me þat I myghte be after myn olde dayes, whan I was cloþed with strengthe and with beute and hadde many ȝeeres byfore me to come, þat I myȝte knowe þe yuel(s) þat hauen [ 35] sodeynly fallen vpon me in þis oure? ¶ I toke no fors to þe grete worthynes of tyme, but frely ȝeuynge me to lustes I ladde my life and spendid my dayes alle in vanite: ¶ And þerfore now, riȝhte as fisches ben cawȝte with þe hoke, and as briddes ben take with þe grenne, so am I taken in an yuel tyme, þat hath come vpon me sodeynly! þe tyme [ 40] is passed and sliden aweye and maye not be clepid aȝen of eny man. ¶ Þere was noon houre so schorte, but þat I myȝhte þere-Inne haue goten goostly winnynges, þat passen in value alle erthly goodes with∣oute comparyson. ¶ Allas I wrecche, why haue y despendid so many gracyous dayes in moost veyne and longe spekynges, and so litil fors [ 45] haue taken of my-selfe? ¶ O þe vnspekabil sorowe of my herte! why haue y so ȝeuene me to vanyte, and why in alle my life leernyd y not to dye? ¶ Wherfore ȝee alle þat ben here and seen my wrecchednesse, ȝee þat ben iocounde in þe floure of ȝouþe and haue ȝit tyme able, by∣holdiþ

me and takith hede of myne myscheues & sorowes, and eschewith ȝoure harme in my peryle; spende ȝee in god ȝoure floure of ȝoure ȝouth & occupy ȝee þe tyme in holy werkes, ¶ lest þat, ȝif ȝee do like to me, ȝee suffre þe peynes of me! O euerlastynge god, to þe I knowleche complainynge þe wrecchednes þat I suffre: þe wantone ȝowþ in me [ 5] [5 ms. þy wr] ¶ hatid wordes of blamynge for my trespasse; y wolde not obey to hem þat tauȝten me, and I turned aweye the ere fro hem þat wold goodly cownseyle me; I hatid disciplyne & myne herte wolde not assente to reprehencyouns. ¶ And þerfore now I am fallen into a deep pitte and am kauȝte with þe g(r)ynne of dethe. ¶ hit hadde be better to me ȝif I [ 10] [10 ms. gynne] had neuer be borne, or ellis þat I hadde perisched in my moder wombe, þanne þat I hadde so vnprofitabil spendid þe tyme þat was graunted to me forto do penauns, & mysvsed hit in pryde.' [13 ms. mysesed]

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Loo we alle dyen, as water fallith downe into þe [14 ms. and as] erthe þat turneþ not aȝen. ¶ And god wole noȝt mannes soule perische, [ 15] but hee withdraweþ his streiȝte (arm), þat he be not fully loste þat is of [16 arm fehlt.] hymselfe abiecte. Wherfore here now my cownseile, and forþenke þe & do penaunce for thy misdedis þat ben passed, & turne þe to þy lorde god: for hee is ful benigne & mercyfulle. And ȝif hit so be þat þe ende be gode, hit sufficith to hele of soule'.—¶ Þe ymage of deth sayde: ¶ 'What [ 20] woorde is þis þat þou spekist? schalle I turne me & do penaunce? Seest not þe angwisches of deth þat ouerlaieþ me? ¶ Loo I am so greetly feerid with þe drede and horrour of deth and so bounden with þe bondes of deth, þat I maye not see or knowe what I schalle do; but riȝt as þe partriche constreyned vndir þe clawes of þe hawke is as halfe-dede [ 25] [25 ms. is constr.] for drede and angwische of þe dethe, riȝte so alle witte is gone fro me, þenkynge noȝt ellis but how I myȝte in any manere askape this perelle of deth, the whiche neuerþeles I maye not askape. ¶ Oo þat blessid penaunce and turnynge fro synne be-tyme: for þat is siker. ¶ fforsoþ, hee (þat) hath late turned hym and ȝeuith hym to penaunce, hee schalbe [ 30] [30 þat a. ṙ.] in dowte & vncerteyne: for hee woot not wheþer his penaunce be trewe or feyned. ¶ Woo to me þat so longe suffred forto amende me life, for I haue so longe I-taryed to gete my hele! ¶ Loo, alle my dayes ben passed, thritty ȝeere of myne age ben passed and loste and wrecchedly perysched and be gone so neglegently, þat I wote not wheþer I haue [ 35] dispendid one daye of hem alle in þe wille of god and the exercises of alle vertues so worthily and parfitely as paraunter y myȝte or schulde haue done, or ellis if I euer didde to my maker so plesynge seruise and acceptabil as myne astate askith. ¶ Allas for sorowe, þis hit is wherfore alle myn inwarde affecciouns ben so woundid. ¶ A, god euerlastynge, [ 40] how schamefastly schalle I stande atte þe dome byfore þe and alle thy seyntes, whanne I schalbe compellid to ȝiue answere and resone of alle þat I haue done and lefte vndone; and what schalle I sey here-to? But atte þe nexte is my tribulacyone þat I schalle passe forþe fro this worlde. Takith heed of me now bisily, I praye ȝow! ¶ Loo, in þis houre I wolde [ 45] haue more ioye of a litil schorte prayer, as an Aue maria seide devoutly

of me, þanne of a þousand pownde of siluer or golde. ¶ Oo my god, how many godes haue I necglegently loste! ¶ Sooþly, now I knowe þat as to þe gretnesse of heuenly medis hit schulde more haue avayled to me a besy kepynge of my herte and alle my wittis with clannes of herte, þanne, þat loste or be inordynate affeccione defouled and ineffecte, thritty [ 5] [5 ms. laste] ȝeeris in þe whiche any oþer man hadde bisyed hym by prostracyons forto gete me rewarde of god here or in blisse. ¶ Oo, ȝe alle þat seen my wrecchednesses, hauith compassyone of me and mercy vpon me! and alle the while ȝour strengþes suffysen and the tyme helpith, gederith into heuenly bernes heuenly tresoures, þe whiche mowen resseyue and take [ 10] ȝow into euerlastynge tabernacles what-tyme þat ȝee failen, and þat ȝee [11 ms. fallen] ben not lafte voyde in suche an houre þat is to come to ȝow, as ȝee seen me now voyde and of alle goodis dispoylled.'

¶ Disciple: 'My loued frende, I see þat þy sorow is ful grete, and þerfore I haue compassyone of thee with alle myn herte, adiurynge [ 15] the by god almyghty þat þou ȝeue me cownseyle wherby I may be tauȝte þat I falle not in suche peryl of indisposid deth.'—¶ Here-to seyde the ymage of deth: ¶ 'Þe best counseyle and souereyn prudence & most pro∣uidence stante in this poynte: þat þou dispose the, while thou arte hool and stronge, by trewe contricyone & clene and hole confessyone and by [ 20] dewe satisfaccyone, & alle wicked and noyous thinges þat schulde with∣drawe or lette the fro euerlastynge helthe, þat þou kaste aweye fro the, and þat þou kepe þe so in alle tymes as þey þou schuldiste passe oute of þis worlde þis daye or to-morowe or atte þe vtterist with-in þis seuen∣nyȝte. Putte in þy herte as þey thy soule were now in purgatorye and [ 25] hadde in penaunce for thy trespasses X ȝeere in þe fourneys of brenn∣ynge fyre, and oonly this ȝeer is grawnted the for thy helpe; ¶ and so [27 l. i-grawnted. recche not] byholde ofte-syþes þy soule amonge the brennynge coles, criynge: ¶ 'O thou best be-loued of alle frendes, helpe þy wrecchid soule, haue mynde of me þat am now in so harde prisone, haue mercy on me alle-desolate [ 30] & suffre me no lenger to be turmentid in this dirke prisone! ffor I am for∣saken of þis worlde: ¶ þere is noon þat schewiþ kyndenes or þat wole putte hande to helpe me nedy. ¶ Euerychon seken her owne profit & hauen for∣sake me and lafte me in þese veniabil brennynge flawmes alle-desolate."

¶ Disciple aȝenwarde: ¶ 'Sooþly, þis doctryne of the were most [ 35] profitabil, who-soo hadde hit by experience, as þou hast it. ¶ But þogh it so be þat þy wordes ben seen ful stirynge and bitynge, neuerþeles þey profeten litil as to many folke: for þey turnen awey her face, þat þey wole not see in to her ende. ¶ Þey hauen eyen, but þey seen not, Eerys (but) heere not; þey wen to lyue longe, and for they drede not vn∣disposed [ 40] deth, ¶ þerfore they wrecches (not) to see byfore þe harmes þere-of. What-tyme þat þe Messanger commith of deth, þat is to saye harde and grete siknesse, þanne comen frendes and felowes to þe siek man forto visyte hym & coumforte hym, and þanne alle prophecyen and byheten him [44 ms. þe st. him] good & þat hee nedith not to drede þe deth, ¶ and þat þere is no peryl [ 45] þere-of, but þat it is but a rennynge of the humeris vnkyndely or stopp∣ynge of þe synowes or veynes, þat schalle sone passe ouer. ¶ Þus þe

frendes of the bodye ben enmyes to þe soule: ffor what-tyme þe sieknes contynuelly encreseþ and hee þat is seke euere hopith of a-mendemente, atte þe laste sodeynly hee failith and with-oute fruyte of hele ȝeldith vp þe wrecched soule. ¶ Riȝte so þese þat heren þy wordes, whiche leuen alle to-gadir to mannes prudence and worldely wisdam, þey casten by∣hynde [ 5] hir backe þy woordes and wil not obey to thyne heelful coun∣seyle.'—¶ Þe ymage of deth seyde: ¶ 'Þerfore what-tyme þey ben taken with the grenne of deth, whanne þere fallith vpon hem sodeynly tribu∣lacyone and angwische, þey schulle crye and not by harde, for as myche as they hadden wisdam in hate and dispiseden to hir my cownseyle. [ 10] ¶ And riȝte as now ful fewe be founden þat ben conpuncte þorowe my woordes forto amende hem and turne her life into better, so forsoþ for the malyce of this tyme and defaute of goostly feruonr and the wicked∣nesse of þe worlde now in his helde ¶ þere beth ful fewe so parfitely disposed to deth, the whiche (with) grete abstraccyone fro þe worlde and [ 15] deuocyone of herte coueyten to dye for þe desyre of euerlastynge life and with alle hir inwarde affeccyouns desyren to be with cryste, but raþer aȝenwarde for þe moste parte þey so sodeynly with þe bitter deth ouer∣comen ben founden atte þat tyme alle indisposed, in manere as I am now ouercome. And if þou wolte know þe cawse of so grete and so [ 20] comun a parayle, ¶ loo þe inordynate desyre of worschyp, þe superflewe cure of þe bodye, erþely loue & to myche besynes aboute worldely liuynge blenden many hertys of þe comu(n)ate and bryngen hem atte laste to þese myscheves. ¶ But sooþly, if thou with fewe desyrest to be saued fro this peryle of vndisposed dethe, ¶ heere my cownseyl and ofte-syþes [ 25] sette byfore thyne eyen þis þat þou now seest, my sorowful persone, and bisily brynge hit to thy mynde: and þou schalte fynde sone þat my doctryne is to þee most profitabil. ffor þou schalte so profyt þere-by, þat not oonly þou schalte not drede to dye, but also þat deth þat is to alle leuynge men dreedful þou schalte abyde and receyue with the desyre [ 30] of þy herte, in þat it is þe ende of trauayle and þe bigynnynge of felicite euerlastynge; ¶ þis þinge oonly I-do, þat þou euery daye brynge me inwardly to thy mynde and bisily take entente to my wordes and write hem saddely in thy herte. ¶ Of the sorowes and angwisches þat þou seest in me, take hede and thenke vpon þoo þat ben to come in hasty [ 35] tyme vppon the; haue mynde of my dome, for siche schalbe thy dome. Oo, how blessed arte þou þat euere haddest this houre of deth byfore thyne eyen: and so blessed is hee the whiche what-tyme þat his lorde commith and knockith on þe ȝate, (he) fyndeþ redy to let hym Inne. ¶ ffor by what-maner deth hee be ouerleyde, hee schalbe purged and brouȝte [ 40] to þe siȝte of alle-myghty god, and the passynge oute of his spirite schalbe þe blessid entre of euerlastynge blisse. ¶ But woo is me wrecche! Where trowest thou schalle abyde þis nyȝhte my spirite? whoo schalle take my wrecched soule, ¶ and where schalle hit be herboured atte nyȝte in þat vnknowen cuntrey? ¶ O how desolate schalbe þanne my soule & abiecte [ 45] passynge alle oþere soulles! ¶ Þerfore hauynge compassyone of my-selfe amonge þise bitter wordes I schedde oute teerys as the ryuere. ¶ But what helpith it to wepe or to multiplye many bitter woordes? hit is con∣cludid

and maye not be chaunged. ¶ Oo my god, now I make an ende of my wordes & maye no lenger make sorowe: ffor loo, now is þe houre come þat wole take me fro þe erþe. ¶ Woo is me, now I see & know þat I maye no lenger lyue and þat deth is atte þe nexte. ¶ ffor loo þe handes vnweldy bigynnen to rancle, þe face to be pale, þe siȝte to [ 5] dasewe & the yen to goo inne; þe liȝte of þe worlde I schalle no more see, and þe astate of an oþere worlde byfore the eyen of my soule in my mynde ¶ I begynne to byholde. Oo my god, how dreedful a siȝte! ¶ Loo, þe cruel bestes, þe horrible faces of deuiles, and blak forschapen þinges with-oute noumbre haue envyrouned me, aspiynge and abidynge [ 10] my wrecched soule þat schalle in haste passe oute, If perauenture it schulde be taken to hem forto be turmentid as for her lotte. ¶ Oo þou moost riȝtwis domes-man, how streyte and herde ben thy doomes, charg∣ynge and harde demynge me wrecche in þoo þinges þe whiche few folke chargen or dreden, ¶ ffor as myche as they semen but smale and litil. [ 15] Oo þe dreedful siȝte of þe riȝtwys Justise þat is now presente to me by dred and sodeynly to come in dede! ¶ Loo, the deth-swete peresynge þe membres is comen, þat witnessith þe kynde perysched & ouercome þe spirite. ¶ Now farith wel, felawes & frendes most dere! for now in my passyng hennes I caste þe eye of my mynde into purgatorye, whedir I [ 20] schalle now be ledde, & oute þere-of schalle I not passe tille I haue ȝolden þe lest farþinge of my dette for synne. ¶ þere y biholde with þe ye of my herte wrecchednes and sorowe & many-folde peyne & tur∣mentynge. ¶ Allas me wrecche, þere I see amonge oþere peynes þat longen to þat place risynge-vp flaummes of fire and the soulles of wrec∣ched [ 25] folke caste þere-Inne vppe and downe and to and (fro), þat rennen as sparcles of fire in-myddes of þat brennynge fyre, riȝhte as in a grete towne alle on fyre and in þe fyre and þe smoke þe sparcles ben boren vppe and downe; soo þe soulles, weymentynge for sorowe of her peynes, (&) cryen euerichone and seyn þese wordes: ¶ "Miseremini mei, mise∣remini [ 30] mei, saltem vos amici mei: ¶ hauith mercy on me, atte the leste ȝee þat ben my frendis! Where is now the helpe of my frendes? where ben now the good byhestes of oure kynnes-men and oþer by whos inordynate affeccyone wee toke no fors of oure-selfe and so encresed we þis peyne to oure-selfe? ¶ Allas, why haue we done so? ¶ loo þe leste [ 35] peyne of þis purgatorye þat we mowe felen passith alle-maner Iwe(l)s of [36 ms. his. l. now. ms. Jewes] þat temporelle worlde; þe bitternesse of peyne þat we mow felen in an houre semith as grete as alle the sorowe of þe passynge worlde in an hundreth ȝeere. ¶ But passynge alle oþere manere of turmentis & peynes hit greuiþ me most þe absence of þat blessed face."—¶ þese þat I haue [ 40] now sayde in my laste passynge, I leue to þe as for a mynde, and so passynge I dye.'—

Atte þis visyone þe disciple made grete sorowe, and for drede alle his bones quakeden; and thanne turnynge hym to god, he seyde þus;

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Where is euerlastynge wisdam now? ¶ Lorde, [ 45] [45 a. r.: Discipulus.] hast þou forsaken me, þy seruaunt? þow woldest teche me wisdam & [46 ms. I st. &]

now I am brouȝte in to þe deth. ¶ O my god, how miche byndith me the presence of deth þat I haue seen! the Image of deth hath so rauesched (me) alle to-gadir, þat vnneþes wote I wheþere, þat I haue seen, be so in dede or ellis in liknesse. ¶ O lorde of lordes, dreedful & mercyful, I þonke þe with alle my herte þy specyalle grace & I beheet amendemente, ffor [ 5] I am made afferde with passynge grete drede. A forsoth, I perceyued (neuer in) alle my lyfe þe periles of deth vndisposed so opunly as I haue now in þis houre; I beleue for certeyne þat þis dreedful siȝte schalle availe to my sowle for euere. ¶ ffor certeyne, now I knowe þat wee haue here noon lastynge cite, and þerfore to þe vnchaungeabil state of [ 10] þe soule þat is to come I dispose me with alle my myȝhte. I purpos me forto leren to dye, & I dispose me to amende my lyfe with-oute any with∣drawynge. ¶ ffor seþen y am so made aferde oonly of the mynde, what schulde be of the presence? ¶ Wherfore now (I) do awey fro me þe soft∣nesse [14 ms. do awey fro me do awey] of beddynge, þe precyosite of clothinge, and slout(h)e of slepe me [ 15] lettynge. ¶ O thou holy and mercyful sauyour, putte me notte to so bitter a deth! Loo I fallynge downne byfore thee, with wepynge teeres I aske of þe þat þou punysche me here at thy wille, so þat þou reserue not my wicked dedes into þe laste ende. ¶ ffor, soþly, in þat horribil place þere is so grete sorowe & peyne, þat no tunge may suffyce to telle. [ 20] O how grete a fole haue I be in to þis tyme, in as myche as I haue so litil fors taken of indisposed deth and of þe peyne of purgatorye þat is so grete, and how grete wisdame is to haue these thinges often byfore the eyen! ¶ But now, sethen I am so fadirly admonestid & tauȝte, I opun myne eyen and drede it greetly.' [ 25]

¶ Wisdam answerynge seyde: ¶ 'þese thinges þat ben seyde, [26 a. r.: Sapiencia.] my sone, in alle tymes haue in mynde, while þou arte ȝonge and hole & myghtye & mayȝht amende thy lyfe. ¶ But what-tyme þou comest to þat houre in soþnes and mayȝht noon oþere wise helpe thy-selfe, þanne is þere noon oþere remedye but þat þou committe (þe) to þe mercy of god [ 30] onely and þat þou putte my passyone bitwix the and my dome, lest þat þou dredynge more þanne nedith my riȝhtwisnesse, þou falle downe fro thy hope. And now, for as myche as þou arte afferde with passynge [33 ms. hepe] drede, be of good comforte, vndirstandynge þat þe drede of god is be∣gynnynge [34 ms. a (st. of) good] of wisdam. ¶ Seche thy bokes nad þou schalte fynde how [ 35] many goodes & profetys the mynde of deth bryngeth to manne. ¶ Wher∣fore haue mynde of þy creatoure and maker in þe daye of thy ȝouth, or þat þe power turne aȝen into his erþe whens hee cam fro, and þe spirite [38 l. body?] turne aȝen to þe lorde þat ȝaf hym. ¶ And þou blesse god of heuene [39 ms. blessed] with alle thy herte, and be kynde, for þere ben ful fewe þat perceyuen [ 40] with her herte þe vnstabilnesse of this tyme, þe deceyte of dethe þat in alle tyme lyeth in wayte, and þe euerlastynge felicite of þe cuntre to come. ¶ Lyfte vppe thyne eyen and loke aboute þe bisily and see how many þere ben blynde in her sowle and closen her eyen, þat þey loke not into her laste ende, and stoppen her eeris, þat þey heere not forto [ 45] be conuerted and helid of synne; and þerfore her losse & dampnacyone

schalle not longe tarye. ¶ Also, byholde þe companye with-oute noumbir of hem þat ben now loste þorowe þe myschief of vndisposed deth: [2 ms. & st. of] ¶ Nowmbre þe multitude of hem, ȝif þou maye, and take hede how many haue ben þe whiche in þy tyme dwellynge with the, now ben dede & passed heþen fro þis erthe; how grete a multitude of breþerne & felawes [ 5] and oþere of thy knowleche in so fewe ȝeerys ben gone byfore the, þat arte ȝitte a ȝonge man and lafte ȝitte alyve, and þey didde; aske of hem [7 didde = dyed] alle and seche of euericheon, and they schul teche thee and answere to þe, wepynge and mournynge, & sey thus: ¶ 'O how blessid is hee þat seeþ byfore and purueyeþ for þese laste thynges and kepith hym fro [ 10] synne and doþ after þy cownseyle & in alle tyme disposith hym to þis laste houre!' ¶ Wherfore puttynge abacke alle thinges þat schulde with∣drawe the here-fro, ordeyn for þy hous and make þe redy to þat laste wey of euery manne & to þe houre of dethe: ffor in certeyn, þou wost not what houre hit schalle come and how nye hit is. ¶ And þerfore [ 15] riȝte as (a) trauelynge man standynge in þe hauen byholdith bisily a schyppe þat swiftely seylith towarde ferre contreyes þat hee schulde go to, lest þat hit schulde ouer-passe hym, ¶ Righte so alle þy lyfe and alle thy wirkynge be dressed and sette to þat ende þat þou haue a blessid obyte, so þat þou maye come atte þe laste to þe place of immortalite & euer∣lastynge [ 20] felicite.' AMEN.

Cap. VI. ¶ Off þe souerayne loue of oure lorde ihesu in þe holy sacramente of his blessid body, & þat longiþ þere-to.

(Disciple:) 'O souereyn and euerlastynge wisdam, for as miche as [24 a. r.: Discipulus.] the grete profyte of þy doctrine hath stired me with a feruente desyre forto [ 25] go to þe scoles of vertue and to ȝeue myn hole entente to hem in þe whiche I haue sufficientlye leryd how I schalle booþ lyue and dye; sooþly, in þe excersise and fulfillynge of hem in dede I knowlech of myn owne infirmite me vnmyȝty and ofte-syþe cast downe: wherfore I flee to þe, alle∣myghty, & to þy souereyne myghte, and aske of þe þat þou vouche-saufe [ 30] of thy grete pite to schew me þe remedyes þat I schal haue recours to in aduersites þat fallen.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'þe seuen sacramentis of holy chirche ben VII remedyes, þorow þe whiche a man is in manere new-boren into a sprituel [34 ms. now st. new.] creature and norysched & kepyd & þorowe grace broȝte vp to þe souerey(n) [ 35] degre of perfeccyone. Amonge the whiche sacramentis in a specyalle [36 ms. and st. in] excellente manere springith oute of þe sacramente of the awter þe schin∣ynge of goddes loue and a maner ryver of heuenly grace, blessidly brenn∣ynge devoute sowlles and swetly makynge dronken in goostly loue, as hit sooþly is knowen. ¶ ffor riȝte as drye stickis ȝeuen kynde mater to [ 40] bodily fyre forto brenne more feruently and maken þe flawmes þere-of to sprynge vp and sprede alle-aboute, ¶ so, forsoþ, þis worschepful sacra∣mente, þat is noryschynge of goostly hete, ȝeuith grete encrese to þe [43 l. noryscher] fyre of goddes loue and norischith hit, whan hit is devoutely receyved. ffor amonge alle þe tokens of loue þere is no-thinge þat so raueschith [ 45]

alle-holy to hym þe wille of the lover as is þe desyred presence of hym [1 ms. desyred þe p.] þat is loved, for þat passith alle oþere thinges. Wherfore in my laste soper I ȝaf my-selfe to my disciples in sacramente, and to hem and alle oþere mynistirs of this sacrafyce ¶ I haue lefte þat grete powere in þe vertue of my wordes þat þey maye haue me presente bodily þe whiche [5 ms. þat þe whiche] [ 5] am presente euerywhere be my godhede goostly.'

Disciple: 'I beseche þe, my lorde, þat þy seruaunte may speke a [7 a. r.: Discipulus.] worde in thyne eres and þat þou be not wrothe to þy seruaunte—ffor, sooþly, þou arte my lorde and I thy seruaunte . for I haue wel vndir∣stande þou hast seyde þat þou arte in this sacramente not figurally, but [ 10] really and bodily: ¶ And if hit be so, I preye the mekely to be tauȝte, for þat schulde ȝeue grete mater to loue the feruently.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'In most certeynte and soþfastly and with-oute eny [13 a. r.: Sap.] doute I am conteyned in þis sacramente god and man, with body and soule, flesche and blode, as I wente oute of my moder wombe & hanged [ 15] on the crosse and sette on þe fader riȝhte hande.' [16 l. sitte]

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'I beseche the, my lorde, be not displesid ȝif I [17 a. r.: Discip.] speke: for this þat I schalle seye, commith not of þe rote of mysbyleue, but of ful grete merveyle . for ȝif I dare seye, hit semith ful grete won∣der how þat schappely body of my lorde with alle his membrys and me∣sures [ 20] in alle-maner perfeccyone maye be conteyned vndur þat litil forme þat wee seen of þe sacramente, as to proporcyone vnlike in mesure.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'How þat my body is contyned in þe sacramente, [23 a. r.: Sap.] þere maye no tunge telle ne witte vndirstande ne mannes resone maye comprehende: ¶ But oonly by feith it is conueniente to knowe þis, in as [ 25] myche as hit is þe grete worchynge of goddes vertue onely. ¶ And þerfore hith longith to þe forto byleue þis soþfastly and to by-warre of presumptuous serchynge in this mater curiously. ¶ Neuer-þe-les I coueitynge forto profet to þy deuoute sympilnesse, forto excyte thi fer∣uoure [29 ms. the st. thi] more þanne to þe schewynge of þat thinge þat is oonly knowen [ 30] to god, ¶ I schalle answere to thy sympil wordes, takynge þe weye of an∣swere of þoo þinges þat ben knowen in her owne kynde and ȝitte vn∣knowen to þe, to þoo thinges þat passen þe knowynge of alle deedly creatours. ¶ Telle me þerfore, if thou canste, how þat a litil pupille of the eye maye be siȝte close in hit alle þe grete circumferens þat hit seeith [ 35] [35 ms. circumcumferens. ms. semith.] of þe firmamente, or in what maner ¶ a broken glasse maye receyue a parfite Image in euery broke parte þere-of, seþen these thinges ben not euen in proporcyone. And þouȝh hit so be þat þese symple ensaumples be(re) raþere vnliknesse, as euery thinge of kynde in þis purpos hath more [39 ms. be] vnliknesse þanne liknesse, neuerþeles of these thinges maye be taken [ 40] this convenyent skille, þat, seþen nature may worche so many and grete merueyles kyndely, ¶ why maye not þe vertue of þe auctour and maker of kynde strecche hym to gretter merueiles manyfolde in his worch∣ynge? ¶ Also, if hit seme possibil þat þe maker of the worlde seyde and alle thinges were made of noȝte, why schulde hee not turne one thinge [ 45]

in to an oþere þorow his priuey power? ¶ And þerfore, riȝhte as alle thinge þat hee wolde he made, riȝhte so þere is no thinge to hym in∣possibil þat hee wole haue done. Wherof þanne haste þow wonder? ¶ fferþermore þou byleueste þat dyuyne wisdame fedde fyve þousande menne with fyve loues: & I aske of þe what mater þat was þat serued [ 5] þenne to his alle-myȝhte?'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'To þese þinges I kanne noon answere of my sym∣plicite, [7 a. r.: Discipulus.] but þat I opunly knowleche þat þe worchynges of god ben ful meruelous.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Ȝit I putte to þy symplenesse this questyone [ 10] [10 a. r.: Sap.; ms. þe þy] here-to accordynge: sey me wheþere þou byleve þat þou haste a sowle, or þat þere ben any thinges invisibil?'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'I beleve not þat I haue a sowle, but I knowe hit wel, in as miche as I haue the knowynge here-of be my mevynge and of my witte & felynge and seche oþer. ¶ Also resone techith þat þere [ 15] ben many thinges in her kynde þe whiche mow not be comprehendit by the siȝte ne by oþere bodily wittys, and perauenture þere ben moo of þe werkes of god vnsene þanne þoo þat mannes witte maye compre∣hende, as a besy sechere maye fynde in þe ordre of alle thinge.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Of þe byforeseide wordes gedir to þy purpos [ 20] [20 a. r.: Sap.] þat þe vndirstandynge of euery blessed spirite passeth miche more þe [21 ms. passed] vndirstandynge of euery wise man (þan þe vndirstandynge of a wise man passeth) þe vndirstandynge of an ydiot; and neuerþeles experiens techith þat many vnlettird men halden as impossibile many thinges of þe whiche clerkes hauen certeyn kunnynge and knowynge, as hit pre∣uith [ 25] principally in gemetrye and astronomye. Soo to oure purpos: þogh this mater passe þe kunnynge and knowynge of erthely men þe whiche hauen but as a blynde vndirstondynge ȝitte of þoo þinges þat ben most opun in kynde, neuerþeles þey þat haue þe kunnynge of hem þat ben in blisse, seen thees thinges parfitely in god. ¶ heere what seiþ here-of [ 30] [30 a. r.: Eccici.] þe wise man in holy writte by þese wordes, ¶ þere as he seiþ: 'summe man þat besyeþ hym daye and nyghte and brekith his slepe forto know alle thinge, & I haue vndirstonde þat þere maye no man fynde resone of alle þe werkes of god þat ben done vndur sone, & þe more he trauelith to fynde, þe lesse hee schalle fynde'. ¶ Loo also a grete philosophir þat [ 35] sotelly and bisely ȝaf hym to knowe a certeyne naturelle mater and myghte not come þere-to by his witte, atte þe laste hee seyde: ¶ 'Leve wee þese thinges to hem þat ben strenger', þat is to sey more kunnynge. ¶ Seþen þanne hit is so of these thinges þat ben of kynde and opunly in erthe seen, þoo thinges þat ben heuenly and mowe not be seen, but [ 40] passen alle nature, who schalle mowe knowe? ¶ Þerfore seyde oure lorde to Nichodeme: ¶ 'If I haue spoken and tolde ȝow erþely thinges & ȝee leue not: and I wolde speke to ȝow heuenly thynges, how schulde ȝee mow leue hem?' Alle suche wittys and conceytes in errour of þoo þinges þat touchen þe feith, ryseþ ofte-syþes of þat grounde þat a man [ 45] [45 ms. reseyueþ st. ryseþ]

ymaginith and demith of goodly thinges as hee wolde of manly thinges, and of þoo þinges þat ben aboue kynde as of þoo þat ben in kynde. ¶ But so schulde hee not do, and namely in þis purpos hym byhoueþ to be warre. ¶ ffor, in soþ, goddes body is not in þat maner in þe sacra∣mente as a body in a place þat is mesurid þere-after, but hit is þere in [ 5] a maner þat is sprituel; and if thou aske me what manere þat is, I sey þe þat it is suche a manere as is propirly longynge to this sacramente, þe whiche forto know þyne ymagynacyone maye not atteyne to. ¶ Wher∣fore thyne vndirstondynge as blynde moste be constreyned & brouȝte in to þe bondage of criste, forto haue alweye byfore thyne eyen how [ 10] miche of myghte is þat vertue with-oute ende, to þe whiche alle-maner [11 ms. þat vertue þat] mater obeychith and seruith atte wille, þouȝ a man maye not see þis be defaute of þe myghte in seiynge of þe inner eye. A comune ensaumple ynowȝ þou haste here-of by a childe boren in prisoune & longe-tyme norysched þere-inne, þe whiche wolde halde it a grete meruaile who-so [ 15] wolde telle hym many thinges of þe cowrs of sterres and þe disposicyone of this worlde, þat wee knowen & seen and merveile not þere-of. ¶ Wher∣fore þe wisdome of god, condescendynge to mannes ignoraunce, þe for∣seide thinges hath lefte to men oonly forto byleve, in as miche as þey passen þe myghte of mannes witte. ¶ To þe whiche byleve trewe men [ 20] leeuynge as to a sadde foundemente, hauen more certeynte þere-of þenne if they schulde leeue to her owne vndirstondynge or oþere mennes in thinges knowen and proporcyoned be kynde.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Sooþly, with most euydente persuasiones and re∣sounes [24 a. r.: Disc.; ms. euydence] þou preuist to me þe feith of þis sacramente and takest a-wey [ 25] from myn herte noyous wonderynges and dreedful thoghtes þat greven and disesen a seeke soule. ¶ ffor of these þat þou haste seyde I per∣ceyve welle þat it is a fonned witte þat sechith thinges þat ben im∣possibil [28 ms. þat þat it] and coueitith to knowe þe wonderful werkes of god allone, and neuerþeles ȝitte hee faylith in knowynge of werkes of þe selfe kynde. [ 30] What nede is to me to seche or knowe more? ¶ I woot welle and saddely by-leue þat þou arte souereyn and endles myghte þat maye do alle thinges, and souereyne & euerlastynge wisdame þat knowest and seest alle thinge, and pleyne and vnchaungeabil sooþenesse þat maiste not lye or deceyue. Wherfore þou arte þe ende of my byleue & þe [ 35] anker of myne hope, now and euermore, knowynge þat blessid is þat manne þat tristeþ and hopith in þe. ¶ Wherfore now ȝee alle, þe in∣warde affeccyouns of my soule, beth gladde and blythe, ffor I haue foun∣den þat I haue soȝte, and þat I haue longe-tyme desyred now I haue [44 l. haddeste] goten! Why arte thou, my soule, sorye, and why disturblest me? Þou [ 40] haste souȝte ihesu ¶ and þou haste founden Jhesu. Ofte-syþes into þis tyme þou hast complayned þat þy loued Jhesus was awey fro the, and what-tyme þou seye an oþere man gladde of the presence of hym þat hee loued, þou haste envy in þy herte and madeste sorow, for as myche as thou fondist not hym presente þat þou louedist, and in this maner [ 45] seydest: ¶ 'O wolde god þat hee my beloued were siche one þat wolde

ofte-sythes, if hee wolde not alwey, be with me and lyue with me, soo þat I maye haue ioye and likynge of his presence and oþere-while com∣forte in my tribulacyouns and diseses.' ¶ But now this voys of sorowe [3 ms. his st. my] is turned into þe voyce of gladnesse, ffor now I fynde hym presente for whome I made sorowe as absente. ¶ Wherfore now alle ȝee þat louen [ 5] god, beþ gladde with me, ffor I haue founden my beloued, not oonly after þe godhede wherby he is to alle men presente, but also after þe manhede sacramently to me presente. ¶ And þerfore hit is a wonder þat I maye henne-forwarde be drawen aweye fro þe chirche and þat I dwelle not þere daye and nyghte, where I haue my lorde presente, not [ 10] oonly goostly, but also bodely, and not oonly as god allemyghty, but [11 ms. of st. as] also as my broþere and beloued frende. ¶ O lorde, how blisful hadde I sumtyme ben, if I myȝte haue receyued into my mouth at þe leste one drope of þat precyous blode rennynge oute of the opun woundes of my lorde, my beloued: ¶ But now with my bisy diligent consideracyone I [ 15] begynne to take hede þat not onely I receyue one drope or tweyne of þat precyous blode rennynge oute of þe handes or of þe fete or fro þe herte of hym, but also I receyve alle his blode holy, and his body is ioyned to my body. ¶ O lorde, how worthily schulde þis presence of so grete a ȝifte meve þe affeccyone of mannes herte! What maye be [ 20] schowid more of loue þanne þe homly knittynge to-gedir of hym þat is loued to hym þat loueþ? And þouȝ it be þat hee maye not be sene [22 ms. sone be st. be sene] here in þe sacramente so opunly as in heuene, neuerþeles þe feruente affeccyone of man levynge to þe foundemente of feith, sholde be so saddely stablyd, þat þe presence of this sacramente schulde ouercome [ 25] alle erthely thinge and affeccyone in herte. Wherfore þis sacramente maye welbe clepyd þe sacrament of loue, in as myche as hit knittith to∣gedir þe loved with the lover. ¶ Now, my sowle, be þou coumfortid: for þat þou haste souȝte, þou hast founden; and þerfore receyue and take criste in sooþnes and in presence as þat Symeon ¶ Riȝtwis & dreedful [ 30] receyued hym in his bodily presence. ffor þouȝ þat Symeone receyved hym visebily, neuerþeles þou receyuest hym as (in) feithfulnesse in sooþ∣nes as fully. ffor riȝte as my bodily eye maye not see now in þe sacra∣mente þine humanyte þat is þere presente, so þe forseyde Symeone be∣rynge þee in his armes myȝhte not see þe godhede but oonly with þe [ 35] eyen of byleve, as I see now presente. But what is þat to me of bodily siȝte, syþen þoo eyen ben affermed blessed þat seen not after þe flesche, as þe scrybes & þe pharyses bodily, but as they chosen disciples gostely? [38 ms. closen] ¶ What wolte þou, my soule, desyre more to knowe of thy beloued? certeynly & with-oute eny doute, þou haste hym in þe sacramente pre∣sently, [ 40] þouȝh hee be invisibile. ¶ But now take hede to goddes ordy∣nacyone and see þat þis mysterye is done and made miche more con∣uenientlye vndir an oþere liknesse of his propir persone. ¶ ffor whoo [43 l. þan of] myghte be so fers or harde þat wolde presume to take hym and ete hym in þe forme of flesche and blode? ¶ Wherfore þe dyuyne wisdame, dispo∣synge [ 45] alle thinges in þe best manere, ordeyned þat þe flesche and blode

beynge vndir þe liknesse of brede and wyne, þe whiche seruen communly to mannes refeccyone, ¶ þis sacramente schulde be taken. ¶ What myȝhte be founde more semely, more couenabely or more liȝhte, þat schulde so accorde to vs & ȝit leve not þe soþfastnesse of hit-selfe? Wherfore, o [4 ms. hit st. ȝit] euerlastynge wisdame, what-tyme þat I consyder (&) byholde these and [ 5] seche oþere þyne grete werkes and merueyles so passyngly disposed and ordeyned, ffor wonderynge I fayle in my-selfe, criynge inwardlye and seiynge: '(O) þe hye worthynes of þe ricchesse of wisdam and cunnynge of god! what arte þou in þyne olde beynge, þat arte so grete & so worthy in so vertuos worchynge of creatours made of the?' [¶ hec pertinent [ 10] [10 ms. of of; ms. hic] ad sacerdotem specialiter.] ¶ Wherfore now, my kynge and my god, þat vouchedist-safe to chese me vnto þe offyce of preste, noȝte of myne deserte, & woldest make me mynistir of so grete mysteryes, þat I maye euery daye receyue & offre þe, þat lambe with-oute wemme, I aske of the þat þou teche me how þat I schalle worthily receyue the, so þat hit be [ 15] to thy lowvynge and hele of my soule, knowynge for certeyne þat þere was neuer kynge so grete and so gloryous þat was so worschipfully and so reuerently receyved of any cite, ne none moste dere frende, com∣mynge fro fer contre, so gladdely & effectuosly salwed and grete of his [19 l. affectuosly.] specyalle frende, ¶ Ne no loved spouse so amorously and hertely re∣ceyued [ 20] of his spouse and so reuerently tretid, as my soule this daye de∣syreth forto receyue þe, my worthiest Emperoure, swettist frende and derrest-loued geste and most likynge spouse, and forto brynge þee into my goostly hous and into þe preueist chaumber of my herte, and þere forto do to þe alle-maner reuerence and loue and forto ȝelde to þe alle [ 25] þe worschepis þat is possibil to be ȝolden of a pore creature to his god and to his maker.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ '(Whanne) þou comest vp to the worschepful awter: [28 a. r.: Sapiencia. Whanne f.] byholde with thy ynner eye of byleue þat holy bodye in flesche and blode of thy god, þat is to seye, in this manere, þat most certeynly and with-oute [ 30] eny doute þou beleue wiþ alle þy herte & knowleche with thy mowþe þat þat hoost is verrey goddes sone, borne of þe virgyn Marye and þat was dede and rysen fro deth to lyue, domesman of alle booþ quycke and dede; and after þis with dewe reuerence and souereyn worschyp with [34 ms. with st. of] thy lorde god haue mervaile inwardly with a meke deuocyone þat so grete [ 35] a lorde to so litil vnworthy seruaunte, and so hye a nobley to siche a wrecchid worme, and so worthy a mageste to so vile a meselle voucheþ∣safe to come; and þenne sey with drede & reuerence: ¶ 'Lorde, y am not worthy þat þou entre into myne hous, but tristynge of thy grete pite & mercy I come so sieke to þe leche of lyfe, tristinge to þe welle of mercy, [ 40] nedy to þe lorde of heuene and erthe, þe schepe to his hirde-man, þe creatour to his makere, mournynge and desolate to þe my pitevous coum∣forter and myghtyest delyuerere'. ¶ Afterwarde with most ardente desyre and wiþ þe inwarde luste of herte receyue thy worthy spouse, hauynge souereyn delite of his blessid & swettist presence. And þat one thinge is [ 45] [45 ms. presente] inspecialle þat schulde passynge alle oþere thinges stire & meve an ama∣rows

soule: þat is to seye, whanne hee thinketh þat hee hath presente his dere-loved spowse and frende, for whos loue hee dyeþ euery daye as to þis worlde and despisith alle erthely loue. Loo þese fonned lovers of this worlde, what-daye þey seen þe how(s) where þey haue in mynde þat her loued amyke or spouse dwellith, alle þat daye þey ben þe more [ 5] gladde and mery. ¶ Take heed þanne heereby how worthily he schulde be gladde and souereynly reioyce hym þat receyueþ vndir this visibil fourme not a foule creatoure but þe maker of alle thinge, not a close filthe but þe wisdome of god becomen man. hyt is wondir þat an ama∣rows sowle maye be þat daye sorye for any temporalle thinge in þe [ 10] whiche he hath receyued his byloued makere god: ffor with-oute doute, hee haþ þenne in hym-selfe so grete mater of ioye, þat worthily it schulde devoure & putte to noȝte alle chaunce of heuynesse & sorowe, Riȝte as þe grete see wolde a drope of Eyselle or vynegyre caste þere-inne. ¶ fferþermore, if þou desirest to knowe in experience þe swete sauoure [ 15] of þis sacramente whiche is ȝitte vnknowen to the: be besye aboute firste forto witdrawe þy sowle fro seculere nedys and fro vices and fleschely lustes, so þat byfore þe receyvynge þere-of þou haue profounde contri∣cyone & clere and opun confessyone, and þat þou be drawe þere-to by inwarde deuocyone more þanne by vsed custome; with most ardaunte [ 20] affecciouns & most holy meditacyouns as with rede roses and white ly∣lyes þou schalte arraye aȝens hym the geste-chaumbre of thy herte and make hit redye to so worthy a spowse by inwarde pees. And what∣tyme þou feliste hym presente, clippe hym bytwix þe armes of þy herte þorowe þe oute-castynge of alle ert(h)ely loue and þe inwarde closinge of [ 25] þat heuenly spowse. Afterwarde a devoute soule schalle make me to here his voyce, syngynge to me with þe songes of Syone, where-of þe melody made of þree-maner proporcyouns ȝeldith allþer-swettest sowne: þat is to saye, of parfite forȝettynge of erthely thinges, & feruente affec∣cyone of euerlastynge thinges, and a maner bigynnynge of lovynge of [ 30] þe blyssed spirits. Wele is hym þat maye perceyue & fele these thinges with inwarde taste & þat maye knowe hem by soþfaste experience more þanne by wordes or writynges!'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'O þe wondirful hardnesse & blyndnesse of my herte, [34 a. r.: Discipulus.] wherfore I maye wel be sorye! ffor in þe moste habundaunce of goostly [ 35] rycchesses so longe-tyme I haue dwellid moost pore, and in þe copye of grete delytes I haue be a wrecche, and in þe grete passynge mesure of þe ȝiftes of grace I haue be voyde and drye. ¶ Oo my god, to þee I make my playnte with inwarde sorowe of herte, þat I haue ben so longe fro the and þou hast be so nye to me; þou were with me and I was [ 40] not with þe. ¶ ffor medelynge and settynge my-selfe in worldely besy∣nesses and oþere superflue vanites, I toke litil fors of the; ffor ofte-syþes I haue hadde my-selfe so tedyously to þe, as þey þou, my god, haddest not be presente to me. ¶ But now puttynge awey alle-manere dis∣simulacyone, as þouȝ I were waked fro slepe, I haue opuned myn eyen, [ 45] clippynge thy presence with moste affeccyone and desyre of body and soule. ¶ ffor als ofte as I thenke & haue in mynde þy blessed presence,

my spirite bigynneþ to gladde for ioye, as hee þat receyueþ a good mes∣sage commynge fro fer contre. ¶ And þerfore it is now conueniente þat, as þou hast fedde me with thy blessid presence as with þe brede of lyfe and vndirstandynge, so þou enforme me ferþermore, ȝeuynge me drynke of þe water of heelful wisdam, answerynge me, þy seruaunte, to þoo [ 5] þinges þat I schalle aske the: what good þou ȝeuest be þy presence to þe man þat devoutely receyueþ thee in þe sacramente?'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'I prey þe, fro whenne commith þis questyone? [8 a. r.: Sap.] Wheþer arte þou a lover or a marchaunt? ¶ Trowest þou þat þis questyone is conueniente to an amarows herte? ¶ hee þat loueþ in∣wardly, [ 10] ¶ soo þat hee haue þat þinge þat hee loueþ, takith not myche fors of oþere þinges. ¶ What thinge haue I better or more precyous þanne my-selfe? And hee þat haþ þat louiþ, what schalle hee desire more? hee þat ȝeuith alle hym-selfe to his frende, what, I praye þe, kepiþ hee fro hym? ¶ Loo, in þe sacramente I ȝif my-selfe to þe and [ 15] I take aweye thy-selfe fro the and I turne þee into me; ¶ ffor in soþ þou schalte not turne me in to þe as þe mete of thy flesche, but þou schalte be chaunged and turned into me. But perauenture þou arte not ȝitte parfite in loue, wherfore þou coueytest not oonly loue, but also summe rewarde þere-of. ¶ And þerfore I schalle now answere by a [ 20] questyone, like to thyne askynge: telle me what helpith or profetith to þe eyre þe schinynge of þe sonne, what-tyme þat hit schyneþ hoot with alle his vertue and with-oute clowde atte myddaye-tyme? ¶ Or elles what profeten þe briȝte sterres and specially þat fayre sterre ¶ Lucifer to a derke nyghte? Or ellis what fayrehede bryngeþ þe hote sommer∣tyde [ 25] to the erthe þat is byfore clongen with þe colde froste of wynter?'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Sooþly, alle þese, hit is no doute, bryngen with [27 a. r.: Discipulus.] hem grete fruyte & grete bewte.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Alle þese semen to þe grete and gloryous, for as [29 a. r.: Sap.; ms. seuen.] myche as þey ben knowen communlye and comprehendid by syȝte. But [ 30] for soþe, þe sprituel ȝiftes þat ben ȝeuen in þe sacramente in her maner ben miche more: ffor þe leste grace makynge a man gracyous þat hee receyueþ in þe sacremente þe whiche (he) deuoutely takith, hit schalle more clarefye þe soule here-after with his sprituel liȝtenynge þanne any [34 ms. listenynge] sunne maye liȝten the clene eyre, ¶ ffor as myche as sprituel thinges [ 35] with-oute comparysone passen bodily thinges; and so forthe þou mayȝhte conceyue of oþere liknesses. Also my body gloryfied þat is receyued here in þe sacramente trewly with grace, schalle more liȝten & worschepen with his liȝte alle þe courte of heuene and euery chosen soules ¶ þanne the cours of sterres and the varyaunce of tymes mowen help or forþer [ 40] in any maner þis erthe. ¶ And also my soule þat is contenyd in þe sacramente, is of more liȝte in hir maner þanne ben alle the daye sterres—and alle þese schulbe ȝeuen here-after to a trewe sowle by vertue of þis sacramente, with-oute oþere graces and profetes þat fallen euery daye grete & with-oute noumbir, þat ben ofte-syþes rehersed and spoken of.' [ 45]

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'I am astonyed in þat I heere so many worthy [1 a. r.: Discipulus.] merueyles and worchynges of this gloryous sacramente. ¶ But I prey þe þat þou dispise not oon doute þat I putte and opun to the: Seþen hit is so þat þou, alle-myghty god, vouchedist-safe to magnifye þis wor∣schepful sacramente ¶ wit so many gloryous myracles and profetys [ 5] with-oute noumbre, not oonly for the tyme to come, but also in this tyme presente, why is alle þis so hidde and abstracte, þat vnneþes is hit perceyued of any man, and, if I dare seye, þe vertue þere-of is not seen forto apere to trewe belevynge menne? ¶ What is done aboute oþer menne, I woot not, in as myche as I am not (a) curyous sercher of [ 10] oþere mennes conscyens, but þus am I experte of in my-selfe ¶ oþere∣while [11 ms. þus st. þis] þat, what-tyme I schulde come to þat holy sacramente wher-of I haue herde so many goodes spoken, I haue founden my-selfe, boþe in goynge þere-to & goynge þere-fro, in so grete hardnesse of herte & a maner dulnesse of sperite, þat of alle þe goostly liȝteyngis and goodly [ 15] graces þat come fro þat sacramente to my dome, I haue be lefte so voyde, þat I myȝte not fele in my-selfe the swete taste þere-of in any manere, but I was lefte so desolate, withe-oute fruyte, as þey þat sacra∣mente hadde noon effecte in hit-selfe. ¶ O þe wonderful counseile of almyghty god, wheþer þy seruaunte fonned & vnwise dorste be so bolde [ 20] forto reprehende & vndirnime in þis party his lorde, þat alþer-wisest and with-oute reprehencyone alle thinge in þe beste manere disposynge? I praye the, why haste þou so hidde so many and grete goodes? were hit not better þat thou haddest ordeyned þe feith of so grete mysterijs with more opun signes & more euydente experymentȝ?' [ 25] [25 ms. euydence]

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Knowest þou not þat, while þou arte heere, þou [26 a. r.: Sap.] walkeste forþ by feith & not be kyndely felynge? ¶ ffor þat thinge þat [27 ms. wakkeste] bodily witte schewiþ and experience proueþ, how maye feith receyue? Naye, fayth moste nedis fayle where þat opun schewynge of resone hath place; & so folowith þat þe worþy merite of feith schulde perysche, [ 30] ¶ ffor, as þe wiseman seiþ: 'ffeyþ haþ no meryte to þe whiche manis [31 ms. maner st. manis] reson ȝeuith experience'. ¶ And þerfore, if þou wolte committe to expe∣rience þe misterye of this sacramente, nedith feith, and þe meritis of [33 l. nedis?] feith most perysche and fayle. And what, if hit so falle þat a chosen soule felith rennynge þouȝtes þat ben dreedful? ¶ Sooþly, if he feghte [ 35] aȝens hem lawfully by his wille, hee schalbe crowned þerfore. ¶ Opun, I praye the, the boke of thy herte and see with how opun knowynge þe mysterye of this sacramente is ȝeuen of god to be knowen in þe hertes of summe chosen, þe whiche, þouȝ hit be not alweye, Neþeles sumtyme of grace and specyal priuilege in a maner vnspekabil perceyuen [ 40] and felen the sooþnesse of this sacramente, In so myche, þat, if hit be pos∣sibil forto be any knowynge more certeyne þanne the knowynge of feith, by þat knowynge hit is ȝeuen to hem of god forto fele and knowe þe moste soþfaste beynge of þis sacrament. ¶ Wherfore of these thinges þat ben seide opunly, gadir to thy mynde þat þis sacramente is neuer þe lasse soth by∣cause [ 45]

þat þe sprituel effecte þere-of is invisibil or not perceyued with bodily wit. ffor þe goodly liȝte is þere noȝt siche-maner liȝte þat maye be com∣prehended or seen with bodily eye or þat spredith hit-selfe to outewarde thinges, but þat maye be seen of þe goodly vndirstondynge onely, or ellis of þat siȝte þat is in blisse and þat is propurly liȝte in his owne beynge.' [ 5]

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'O lorde, how few ben þere in this worlde þat with [6 a. r.: Discipulus.] diligent besynesse taken hede & chargen þe moste precyous vertue and profite of this worthy sacramente! ffor summe ben þat goon to þis sacramente comunlye as by custume, folowynge þe manere of þe comu∣nate hyinge hem forto go þere-to, but raþere goo þer-fro, and not of in∣warde [ 10] deuocyone, but of lakke of sprituel feruoure. ¶ And þerfore as they comen voyde þere-to, soo þey goon voyde and with-oute grace þere∣fro, as vnclene beestes, þat weren reproued in þe olde lawe; for they thenke not bisily nor taken hede what þey receyue ne how myche good or how miche ille on the tone parte and þe toþere þere-off folowen to [ 15] hem þat welle or yuel receyuen hit; and if hit so be þat hit come to [16 ms. wille] her mynde paraunter schortly and passyngly, anoon as a litil smale sparcle in her herte hit is sodeynly I-qwenched & apperith no more.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Þere ben þree maner of menne þat receyue me [19 a. r.: Sap.] in þe sacramente: summe ben alle-vndisposed, as þoo þat ben combred [ 20] with deedly synne; summe ben welle disposed, as þey þat ben passynge lyvers; ¶ summe þere ben in a mene manere disposed, as þey þat ben vndeuoute. ¶ Þe firste man deseruen euerlastynge deth and temporal [23 l. men; ms. de∣syren] malysone; ¶ þe secounde euerlastynge lyfe and sprituel goostly beny∣sone; ¶ þe thridde etynge drye brede and vnsauery mete to hem, fele [ 25] not þe swetnesse þere-offe.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'What, and a frele manne haue paraunter done [27 a. r.: Discip.] somme pryue synnes, and in his goynge to þat sacramente is contrite and doth þat hee maye after þe ordynaunces of holy chirche: wheþer dare þis synneful man goo þere-to, tristynge of thy grace?' [ 30]

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Sooþly, if hee be contrite and doþ after þe coun∣seyle [31 a. r.: Sap.] of goostly leches, þanne, propurly to speke, hee is not a synner. ¶ ffor Marie Maudeleyne, ¶ what-tyme þat sche was compuncte or con∣tryte in herte and came to þe fete of oure lorde and wasche hem with her [34 l. wesche] teerys, sche hadde þe name of a synful womman, neuerþeles after þat [ 35] tyme sche was not a synner, ffor criste hadde forȝeuen her synnes.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Euery man is habundaunte in his owne witte. [37 Discip.] ¶ But, sooþly, in þis purpos I trowe feithfully þat þe goodly mysteryes of þis sacramente passen alle-maner vertue of manne and ben aboue alle þe merueiles werkes of god in þis worlde. ¶ ffor who is þat lyueþ in þis [ 40] worlde so clene and so innocently þat (he) is a worþy mynistre or recey∣uoure of þis sacramente, or who maye presume of hym-selfe to receyue hym whome Petir, þe prynce of apostles, putte fro hym, seiynge þus: 'Go fro me, lorde, for I am (a) synneful man'; and hee whos feiþ Jhesus com∣mendith [44 ms. who seiþ st. whos feiþ]

syngulerly in Israel, ¶ seyde þus to hym: ¶ 'Lorde, y am not worthy þat þou schuldist entre into myne hous'—¶ who is þanne boren of womman þat maye make hym and ordeyne hym worthily to so grete mysteryes?'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Amonge alle þat euer were boren of womman, [ 5] [5 a. r.: Sap.] þere rose neuer one þat myghte of his vertue oonly or of þe riȝhtwis∣nesse of his werkes sufficiently ordeyne hym þere-to as of worthynesse, þouȝh it were so þat oon man hadde alle þe naturelle clennesse of alle aungellis or alle þe cleernesse of seyntes gloryfyed or alle þe meritis of holy lyuers in erthe by streiȝtnesse of liuynge: Of alle these withoute þe [ 10] grace of god hee were not able to receyue so hye and grete mysteryes.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Oo euerlastynge godde, how dreedful is hit to me and siche as I am synners forto here this! ¶ Allas, allas, lorde god, syþen aungelles be not clere in thy siȝte and menne of grete worch∣ynges [14 l. worthynes?] ben not worthy of her owne riȝhtwisnes forto receyue the, ¶ what [ 15] schalle falle of vs þat ben walwed euery daye in þe claye of synnes, þe which hauen litil or noȝte of deuocyone ne be not, as hit nedid, com∣puncte of oure owne necgligences? ¶ with what drede is to vs forto come worthily to þat sacramente and skilfully to drede lest þat þat schulde be to vs into forȝevynge, turne in to soroweful lassynge?' [ 20] [20 l. lastynge = blame?]

¶ Wisdam: ¶ 'Take hede bisily þat þis sacrament of pite is [21 a. r.: Sap.] ordeyned into remedy aȝens synne. Wherfore, what-tyme a man doth what hee maye in ablynge hym to grace, hit sufficiþ, ffor god askith not of man þat hee seeþ impossibile to hym; and þerfore, what-tyme hee þat receyueþ þe sacramente doþ þat hee maye, þe pite of god fulfillith by [ 25] grace þat þat a man maye not come to with-oute grace. Wherfore, if alle oþere thinges ben like, a man schalle raþere go to þat sacramente vpon triste of þe pite of god, þanne hee schall absteyne þere-fro by conside∣racyone of his owne freelte, þowȝ hit be so þat þe toon and þe toþere for þe place and for þe tyme is commendabil. ¶ Whoo is hee þat so [ 30] vnwisely dare sey þat þey þat ben goostly sieke schulde not come to hym þat toke fro vs oure sieknesse and infirmytes? Wherefore hit maye con∣ueniently be seyde, þat, as his commynge into mankynde was into sal∣uacyone of synful menne, ¶ soo þis heelful hoost is ordeyned to trewe [34 ms. þat hee] cristen menne into remedy of synnes. ¶ ffor hee, þe wisdame of god, [ 35] atte his laste soper in þe ordynaunce of this heelful sacramente seyde thus: 'þis is my body, þat (I) schalle ȝeve for ȝow', and 'þis is my blode, þat schalle be schadde for ȝowe in þe remyssyone of synnes'. ¶ Wherfore, what-tyme þou hast done þat is in þe, go þere-to tristely wiþ-oute ouer∣grete drede, In ffeith and charite, no-þinge doutynge of his endles pite.' [ 40]

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'O þis gracyous and loveraden worde, þat I wrec∣chid synner hauynge conscyence of myne own wickednesse dare neyȝh [42 ms. wicked wickednesse] & come to þe lorde of mageste! ¶ But now ȝitte I praye thee þat þou wolte telle me wheþere hit be better to go ofte-syþes to þis heelful [44 ms. heuenful] sacramente or selden.' [ 45]

¶ Wisdame: ¶ To þis questyone take þe commune and knowen sentence of þat worthy doctour Austyne, ¶ þe whiche seiþ þat boþ ben commendabyle as for þe place & þe tyme—þat is to seye, þat for reue∣rence oþere-while hit be lafte, and for deuocyone hit be taken. ¶ But sooþly, to hem þe whiche felen her deuocyone encresed with reuerens [ 5] of þe sacramente in ofte receyuynge þere-of, to hem hit is profitabil ofte goynge þere-to.'

¶ Disciple: 'But what seyste of hem þe whiche semen alle-wey dwellynge as in one-manere affeccyone, in as myche as þey fele not ne conne perceyuen þere by hem-selfe myche profyte on þe toon halfe nor [ 10] [10 ms. parfyte] myche notabil fayle on þe toþer halfe; ¶ and ȝit also þey felen hem∣selfe ofte-syþes ouercome with a maner harde herte and dreynesse of deuocyon, and þoȝh it so be þat þey seyen euery daye psalmes and preyers þat þey haue in custome to seye, and ofte-syþes maken hem clene by confessyone, ȝitte dwelle þey alwey as in an harde herte & [ 15] drye of deuocyone and fele not any taste of sprituel grace. ¶ And also ȝitte I schalle reherse more-ouere one þinge þat is ful pyneful to de∣voute soulles, and sorowful, as they ofte-syþes here-of kunne playne: þat is to sey, þat oþere-while atte þe tyme of receyuynge of þe sacramente grace semith withdrawe more notabely þanne hit was wonte to be, ¶ In [ 20] so miche þat hit semith as þey hit forsoke hym þat was after hym cri∣ynge. ¶ Soþly, þis semith to me an harde thinge and also a sorowful.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Manye causes þere ben and many maneres by þe whiche þis hardnesse is wonte to turble a devoute soule, as þey seyen þat ben experte. Þe whiche alle now ouere-passynge, take þis onely in [ 25] sikernesse: þat what-tyme by diligent serchynge of þy conscyence þou hast no mynde þat þou hast ȝeven any cawse þere-to, but þat þou haste done þat in þe is: if it so falle by suffraunce of god, þe whiche is wonte in a thousande maners forto turble and preve his chosen peple, þat suche an hardnesse of herte falle, lette not þis thinge falle ne breke [ 30] downe nor herefore notabily withdrawe þe fro (t)his heelful sacramente, knowynge þat þe pite of god worcheþ þe hele of soule oftesyþes in [32 in st. &?] moste siker ¶ what-tyme þat þe soule onely loueþ vpon þe foundemente of feith, with-oute any specyalle goostly swetnesse as myche as they it hadde habundaunce in felynge of goostly graces and comfortes and par∣aunter [ 35] þenne hee wolde not kepe hym in hem wisely and warly as hit nedid. ¶ And þerfore suche graces oþere-while ben profitabil withdrawen, þat, whanne þey ben withdrawen, þey schulde be þe more bisily souȝte after, and whanne þey comen, þe more wisely be kepte, soo þat þere-by the loued soule be putte to excercise of vertue in þe scole of meeknes. [ 40] [40 l. louing] ¶ And one thinge is in þis matier notable and þat þou schalte bisily take hede to: þat is to saye, þat þis goostly sauoure and inwarde taste of de∣uocyone is not þe dewe effecte of feith, þat longith to þis tyme here in þis worlde, but hit is propurly longynge to þe blysse þat is to come here-after. ¶ And þerfore, whanne hit is ȝeuene in þe sacramente or [ 45] ellis, ȝiue thonkeynges to god þe ȝiver, and what-tyme it is not ȝiven, suffre pacyentlye, knowynge þat it is not in thy powere, but in þe soue∣reyne

& moste benigne ȝiuer þere-of, þe whiche wille not ȝive hit as þou wolte or whanne þou wolte, but whanne hit likith hym, after þat hee demith to his lovynge and thy profet. ¶ Also þou schalte vndirstonde þat þat souerayne god is so plentivous wiþ-oute ende, þat, þe more hit be taken, þe more he þat takith hit is made able to receyue hit. ¶ Wher∣fore [ 5] hith fallith oftsyþes touchynge þis sacramente, þat, þe more þat a man withdrawith hym þere-fro be inordynate drede, þe more þorouȝh his dif∣ferrynge fro daye to daye hee schalbe vndisposed. Wherfore it is better, alle thinge consyderyd, forto go þere-to by stirynge of drede, and better it is to go þere-to euery weke or euery daye with trewe meekenes & [ 10] knowynge of his owne imperfeccyone, þanne ones in þe ȝeere by pre∣sumpcyone of his owne riȝhtwisnesse.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Telle me, I praye þe, what tyme is or what oure [13 a. r.: Discip.] þe whiche hee þat goþ þere-to schalle principaly take hede to and with alle his myȝhte dispose hym and ordeyne hym to his grace.' [ 15]

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Þat is þe tyme of holy receyuynge & goostly etynge þere-of: ffor þanne heuene is in manere opuned & þe loued sone of þe fadir is sente in to þat soule þat is wel disposed, and þere-to bodily is oonyd—and þerfore is it clepid in latyne ¶ Missa, þat is: of þe fader sendynge.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'How is it of hem þat with souereyn desyre coueyten [ 20] [20 a. r.: Discip.] forto receyve þee in þe sacramente and ȝitte þey mowe not haue þat þey desyren? for þey seen byfore hem þe preste stondynge and þe receivynge and þey with desyre of herte coueyten forto receyue þe, & þere is noon þat wole ȝif þee to hem and fille her hungry soule with thy desyred pre∣sence; and þou wotist welle þat hit is ful pyneful to a desirynge sowle [ 25] forto see coueytid mete & not mowe taste þere-of.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Þere beþ summe þatte in this borde receyue me [27 a. r.: Sap.] sacramently and neuerþeles gone þere-fro fastynge, ¶ and þere beþ [28 ms. and neuer and neuerþeles] summe þat come not to þis borde and neuerþeles of þe plente þere-of þey ben habundauntly and goostly drunken; ffor þe (laste) men felen and [ 30] [30 ms. firste] receyuen onely þe sacramente goostly and þe vertue þere-of effectuoslye'.

¶ Disciple: 'Ȝitte ben þere lefte tweyne dowtes to me touchynge [32 a. r.: Discip.] þis mater: oon is, wheþere hee þat etith þe booþ bodily & goostly, hath more vertue of the thanne hee þat oonly receyueþ þee goostly, towch∣ynge þe effecte of þe sacramente; and the cause of þe doute is: ¶ ffor [ 35] þou knowest whoo it is þat seiþ þus: ¶ Crede & manducasti: þat is to seye, 'beleve and þou haste eten'. ¶ Þe secound dowte is: how longe abi∣dith this worschepful sacramente, after hit is receyued of man.'

¶ (Wisdam:) 'Soþly, touchynge þe firste: hee hath more mater of devocyone & grace þat receyveþ booþ to-gedir þanne hee þat takith but [ 40] þe tone; for hee hath both to-gedir þe ȝiver with þe ȝifte, & þe cause with þe effecte. ¶ And of þe secounde dowte: þou haste Inowȝ þe sen∣tences of faders, þat is to seye, þat so longe-tyme dwellith goddis body [43 tilge is to] as ben hole þe spices of þe sacramente.

And for an ende þis schalte þou praye to þat holy sacramente: [ 45] [45 a. r.: Oracio deuota.]

Heyle, moost holye goddes bodye in þis sacramente soþely conteyned, [1 ff. in rot.] I knowlech þee with my lippes, I loue þe with alle my herte, I desyre the with alle myne inwarde affeccyons. I beseche þee þat þou vouche-saufe, so benignely & gracyously þis daye to viset my seke soule coveitynge forto receyue þe, heelful sacrafyce and welle of alle graces, [ 5] þat I maye be ioyfull to haue founden hele in body and sowle be þy [6 ms. ioyfully] gracyous presence. ¶ Lorde, byholde not to my wickednesse and many∣maner necgligences, but to þyne endles mercyfulle ȝiftes: ¶ ffor in soþe, þou arte þat vndefouled lambe þat þis daye arte offeryd to thy euer∣lastynge fader for þe redempcyone of alle þe worlde. ¶ Oo þou manna, [ 10] aungellis mete, Oo þou alþere-swettist drynke, brynge in to myne in∣warde mouþe þe hony-swete taste of thy heelful presence, kyndel in me thy charite, caste oute vyces, ¶ hylde in me vertues, encrese graces and ȝif me hele of body and soule! ¶ Bowe, I beseche the, þyne heuene & come downe to me, soo þat I be knitte and oned to þe, be made one [ 15] spirite wiþ þe! ¶ O þou worschepful sacramente, I beseche þe þat þorouȝ þee alle myne enmyes bee putte fro me and synnes forȝeve and alle yuels be þy presence be excluded. ¶ Gode purpos þou ȝeue me, myn maneris þou amende, and alle my dedys þou dispose in thy wille. ¶ Myne vndirstandynge by þe, swete Jhesu, be here liȝtenyd with a newe liȝte, [ 20] [20 Jhū (?) ausgewischt.] myne affeccyone be flawmed and kyndelyd, my hope be strengthed; so þat my lyfe in amendemente euer profet in better likynge, and atte laste I mowe haue a blessed hennes-passynge to lyfe euer-lastynge.' AMEN.

Cap. VII. How the disciple of euerlastynge wisdame schalle in alle thinges loue, preyse and worschep hym, Jhesu, & wedde hym [ 25] to hym þorowe trewe love, and by-come his disciple.

Sic dicetis in confessione: Opera domini vniuersa bona valde: ¶ Þus schulle ȝee seye in knowlechynge: þat alle þe werkes of god ben ful good.

Disciple: 'With a curyous meditacyone y walke aboue in heuene, I [ 30] go beneþen aboute þe erthe, I seche þe depnesse of þe see, I con∣sider alle this worlde wiþ his lustes and likynges, ¶ I merveile vpon þe woddes with the grene leues & I beholde þe medowes grene and with [33 ms. þat with] many fayre floures of dyuerse coloures arayed: & what-tyme I consider alle these and byholde euerichone, with a swete manere of goostly myn∣stralsye [ 35] alle they kyndelyn myn herte in to lovynge (&) preisynge of þe creatoure and maker. ¶ And what-tyme with a restful contemplacyone I [37 ms. þat st. with] take bisily hede how souereynly fayre and welle þou, dyuyne wisdame, ordeynest alle thinges þat ben made, booþ good and ille, Riȝtwise and vn∣riȝtwise, so þat in alle makynge þou leuyst nothinge inordynate, and with [ 40] grete reuerence(!) disposest vs: I begynne thanne greetly to be gladded [41 l. prouidence?] in sowle, & with a ioyful voyse I am constreyned to breke oute into þese wordes: ¶ 'Alle þe werkes of god ben riȝte goode.' ¶ But what-tyme I bigynne to ouergo alle these and brynge to my mynde þe, þat arte soue∣reyn god vnmade & euerlastynge wisdame, byfore alle oþere chosen to [ 45]

be þe specyalle spowse of my herte, ffor passynge wonder & stoniynge of mynde I haue no more spirite, but alle-to-gedir failynge in my-selfe, I am greetly reioyced & gladdid in the. ¶ Wherfore, my lorde, byholde now þe principalle affeccyone of my herte & teche me to loue the and glorifye þy gloryous name—for þat is þat byfore alle þe ioyes of þis [ 5] worlde I coueite and desyre; ¶ and, lorde, þou þat knowest alle thinges, þou wost welle þat fro my childehode I haue this euer desyred and sowȝte.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Knowest þou not þe prophetys seiynge in this maner: þat lovynge and preisynge bysemith to hem þat ben riȝhtwise in [ 10] herte; ¶ and also: þat louynge and preisynge is not feyre in þe mouþe of þe synnere?'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Ȝis, forsoþ, lorde, and þerfore woo is me! ffor what I schalle answere and sey, I woot neuere; and if I wil Justifye my-selfe, myne owne mouþe schalle dampne me. ¶ But what, schalle I [ 15] [15 ms. schalle I seye] not þerfore love þe and preyse þe, for I knowe my-selfe vnclene? See wee not þat froskes and vnclene wormis, genderit of þe poudere of erthe, [17 ms. genderith] in standynge watirs and pittis criynge in her manere and as they mowen lovyne and preysen þe, her creature and make(r)? ¶ ffor, þowȝh it so be þat þey kunne not ne mowe not synge swootly as þe larke and þe nyght∣yngalle [ 20] nor knoweþ as a resonabil man (her) creatour, neuerþeles þis þey [21 ms. creatour man] done, þat þey ȝiven mater to hem þat knowen þe forto loue þe & prayse the. ¶ O þou my fader of mercy, I knowe sooþly & knowlech þat hit is more semely to me, wrecchid synner, forto ligge prostrate byfore the & with wepynge and with sorowe aske forȝevenes of my synnes, þanne [ 25] to love þe and preyse þe with a defoulid mowþe; but neuerþeles, trist∣ynge vppon thy pitevous goodnes and thy grete mercy schewed to alle deedly creatours, I coueite to preyse þe with alle my inwarde affeccyouns, besechynge þe, my lorde god, þat þou dispise me noȝte þat am but an vnclene worme & a deed dogge & a stinkynge careyn.' [ 30]

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Hee is aboute to clippe þe wynde & folowe þe [31 a. r.: Sap.] schadowe þe whiche trowith forto preyse me of his worthynes, & he takith vpon hym thinge þat is impossibil þat trauailith forto prayse me to þe fulle riȝtful. Neuerþeles hit schalle not be cesid fro my preisynge, but it falliþ to þe and to alle creatours forto love & prayse hir maker— [ 35] for þere is no creatoure but þat hit loueþ and preyseþ his maker and former, or atte þe leste schewith hym to be preysed. ¶ Also þou schalte vndirstande þat in þe eery(s) of goddes mageste it sownith more sweetly an holy meditacyone þan maye hyȝ wordes spoken with-oute inwarde vndirstondynge, and sorowe of herte þanne oonly criynge of mouþe, and [ 40] trewe meeknesse þanne chauntynge & broken voys. And þat þou maye better vndirstonde þat I haue seyde, vndir one ensaumple, take hede to me and see: þat, þowȝ it so be þat alle my life in erþe was to þe ioye & lovynge of þe hiȝ fader of heuene, neuerþeles hee was þe more ex∣cellently in manere glorifyed and clarefyed in me what-tyme þat I know∣lechynge [ 45]

hym in þe crosse & aȝen-byinge mankynde suffred þe sorowful dethe be obedyence. Pere ben many þe whiche loven & preysen me with criynge woordes, . . . with displesynge dedys; þey worschepen me with [3 l. but displesen me with d.] her lippes, but hir herte is ferre fro me. ¶ And also þere ben many þe whiche in prosperite preysen & loven god, but in aduersite þey stiren [ 5] impacyence aȝens hym: ¶ And þerfore her lovynge and preysinge is not acceptabil to god, for it is not clene. ¶ But þat louynge & preysinge byfore god is most acceptabil & plesynge þat is of hem þe whiche as welle in aduersite as in prosperite of alle her herte and alle-tyme know∣lechen and loven god, and þouȝ they ben in manere scourgyd & disesed, [ 10] ȝit þey ȝeldyn þonkeynges to god for alle.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'I beseche þe, suffre þy seruaunte forto speke a worde to þe herte of his lorde. ¶ Sooþly, I knowleche me in þese for∣seide thinges into þis tyme haue fayled greetly, and þat I aue more loued thee and preysed thee in prosperite þanne in aduersite. ¶ But now I [ 15] offre me alle-holye as in sacrafyce to þy wille, here-to þat, wheþer so euer fallen to me good or yvel, I wolde neuer þelesse love þee and preyse thee, ¶ but in alle thinges ȝive þonkeynges to þe, & alle þese susteyne pacyently; and if it were to thy ioye my deth raþere þanne my life, ¶ sooþly, I wolde putte gladdely to þe deth my lyfe þat ȝitte is likynge [ 20] in ȝouth; and þoo ȝeerys in þe whiche I myghte lyve, if I were not [21 ms. I lyve] ouere-come by dethe, I wolde so offre to þe, my lorde, as in sacrafyce. ¶ Wherfore, als longe as I am heere in þe prisoune of my wrecchid body, I coueyte and aske of the to be enfourmed how I schalle mowe come to þat poynte þat I maye of alle my herte and of alle my sowle [ 25] and of alle my strengthes in alle tymes, in as miche as hit is possibil, contynuelly to loue thee, worschep thee, and preyse the.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Who-so-euere hee is þat in alle his dedes hath [28 a. r.: Sap.] god in his entente and kepith hym fro synnes and leuith not þe exer∣cises of vertues, hee leuith not to loue & prayse god contynuelly. But [ 30] forto make a-seth to thy clene entencyone: þou schalte vndirstonde after þe sentences þat þou knowest to þe of faders, þat what-tyme a mannes soule is purgid of erthely thinge and vyces and clensed of alle þe degrees of passyouns and, in as myche as hit is graunted to mannes freelte, is commen to vnmouabil tranquillite and reste of soule and parfite clannes, [ 35] [35 ms. commun] hee þis schalle come to þe vnbroken perseueraunce of my lovynge and preisynge, þe whiche is þe ende and fulfillynge of alle þe perfeccyone of a sprituel manne; and þenne what-tyme þat hee is so purged of vices & fleschly passyouns & is knytte to þat souerayne good strongely, ¶ hee schalle with-oute stintynge loue god & preyse god, refourmed into aungellis [ 40] liknesse.'

¶ Discipulus: ¶ 'Now more-ouere, o þou beste-beloued wisdame, [42 a. r.: Disciple.] after þese swete wordes þat þou haste broȝte oute fro þe priue chaumber of þy goodly wisdame, I desyre þat þou vouche-saufe forto enfourme me of certeyne dowtes. ¶ And firste: where I maye fynde þe moste sterynge [ 45] and the principalle mater of þy lovynge & preisynge?'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'In contemplacyouns of þat souereyne & most ex∣cellente [1 a. r.: Sap.] mageste of god: In þe whiche, as in þe welle & begynnynge of hem, alle good þinges for euer wonderfully ben conteyned; and after∣warde in þe ryvers of particlare goodes þat goon oute fro þat soue∣reyne gode, þe whiche bene ȝeuene to creatours in dyuerse maner, [ 5] more or lasse, as hit likiþ hym þat is cause of cawses forto comun hem to hem.'

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'To þat hye contemplacyone of dyuyne mageste I [8 a. r.: Discipulus.] þat am febil and sieke maye not ryse vp & come to; but þat I leue þer∣fore to hem þat ben strenger & moor myghtye in soule. ¶ Neuerþeles [ 10] þerfore I schalle not cese, so as I kanne, fro þy louvynge & preisynge. And sooþly, oþere thinge kanne I not synge swetter of god þanne þat is writen in þe sawter: þat is to seye: 'ffor þat oure lorde is swete to alle his creatours and þat his mercy is abouen alle his werkes'. ¶ Oo my god, my mercy, In þis songe my soule is ioyeful and my conseyence [ 15] liȝtenyd. ¶ ffor, sooþly, as ofte as I thenke in my herte what þat I was sumtyme & what myschevis I haue skaped and fro what periles þou haste kepte me & froo what sorowes þou haste delyuered me: In alle þese and many moo, whanne I brynge hem to mynde, I maye not cese fro þy lov∣ynge & praisynge. Wherfore, my god and my mercy, froo þese and alle [ 20] [20 ms. fro st. for] oþere benefices with-oute noumbre I coveite and desyre þat þere be of me to þe suche a manere and so swete a praisynge & lovynge (as) of þoo blessid sperites in heuen what-tyme þat in þe first siȝte of thy goodly mageste þey reioyced hem þat þey were confermyd for euere in þy lov∣ynge (&) praisynge, þe yvel spiritis departed fro þe with-oute ende. Also [ 25] [25 l. & departed fro þe e. sp.] I desyre þat my praisynge be as grete and as likynge as is þat of holy sowlles what-tyme þese ben delyuered oute of þe prysone of purgatorye and firste presentid to þe presence of thy blysse, þere to see and by∣hold þy swete face with vnspekable ioye. ¶ And also be it as grete as schalbe the lovynge and preisynge in þe stretes of heuenly Jerusalem [ 30] ¶ after þe laste generalle resurreccyone, whan þey þat ben þy chosen, departid fro the wicked and dampned, with a gladde and mery herte schullen preyse and love god and be ioyfulle of her sauacyone for euer∣more. ¶ Oo þou swete and benigne maystir, now wolde I also knowe how I myȝte turne into þy preisynge and lovynge þoo affeccyouns þat I [ 35] fele oþere-while risynge with-Inne, of þe whiche I dowte wheþere þey come of kynde or of grace; ¶ and also how I myȝhte turne into þe lovynge and praisynge of þe, my creatoure & maker, not onely good þinges but also yvel þinges, as ben ydel sterynges wrouȝte by þe wicked aungellys; and generally ȝive to þy preisynge alle þinges, wroȝt, herde [ 40] and seen, & felyng, perceyued and knowen.' [41 ms. felyng]

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'To þese thre questyouns by ordre we ȝiven to [42 a. r.: Sap. Responsio ad primum.] þe þees-manere answers. ffirste, as touchynge þe affeccyouns þat þou spekiste of: hit is harde to knowe one fro anoþere by-cause of her grete liknesse, and þerfore alle suche affeccyons þat ben clene and honeste, [ 45]

as is ioye of sperite & likynge sterynge þee to inwarde gladdenesse orellis hit fallith oþere-while to swete teeres—alle suche affeccyouns & sterynges, þe whiche þou woste not whanne þey comen ne whider þey goon, ¶ alle suche swete affeccyouns anoon as þou felist, þou schalte offre hem vp to the creatour & maker of alle thinges with inwarde de∣uocyone, [ 5] in maner of þat acceptabil sacrafyce þat Abel offred to god, soo þat þey ben despendid into þe louvynge of hym þat is auctour and maker of kynde and ȝiver of grace: And soo suche ȝiftes of grace þe whiche in þat manere ben of nature and as of hem-selfe not merytorye, þorow þe forseide ende mowen be made in manere above kynde & mery∣tory. [ 10] ¶ Touchynge þe secounde demaunde: as often as þou feliste þe [11 a. r.: Resp. ad secdm.] blaspheme suggestyouns or stirynges of wicked spiritis bigynne to ryse with-inne þe, ¶ anoon ryse vp quyk in spirite and seye þus: 'þou hyȝest alle-myghty god, þat my sowle maye fulfille þe place and offys of þis wicked spirite by þe whiche hee schulde haue loved þe if hee hadde [ 15] stande in euerlastynge blysse, I coueyte & desyre þat as ofte as þis wicked spirite puttith in to my mynde þese fewe abhomynabil þowȝtis [17 l. fowle?] aȝens my wille, ¶ soo ofte with alle my desyre vnspekabil lovynge & þonkeynge be to þe into euerlastynge blysse; and as ofte as I suffre þese wicked stiryngis put in me of þe fende, soo ofte I offre to þee lov∣ynge [ 20] and thankeynge with alle myn affeccyone'—and soo þou myghte see howe þat to hem þat loven god alle thinges turnen in to þe beste, as wel the yvel as þe good, in as miche as þe wicked suggestyone of þe spirite turneþ so into þe profet & mede of sowle. ¶ Of þe laste thinge þat þou askedist þou schalte do in þis manere: ¶ What-tyme þou per∣ceyuest [ 25] [25 a. r.: Resp. ad tercium.] or seest in any manere þe passynge feyrnes of dyuerse þingis, as is þe wodde ful of grene trees, or midowe ful of feyre floures, or þe felde sowen with dyuerse cornes, and suche-maner fayre creatours, lifte vppe thyne herte and thyne eyen & strecche vppe þyne handes into heuene, & sey with alle þe inwarde affeccyone of þy herte in þese wordes: [ 30] ¶ 'Oo þou gentil and alþer-feyrest wisdame, after þe excellent preroga∣tifes and graces of þis thinge, a þowsande þowsande of heuenly spirites ministrynge to þe þey salowe the on my byhalfe, and ten þousande syþes an hundreth þousand sperites þat ben aboute þe þey glorifyen þe, & þe vniuersel melody of alle creatours þey preyse the & louve the for me, now [ 35] and euer with-outen ende Amen."

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'Oo euerlastynge god, syþen þy preisynge and louv∣ynge [37 a. r.: Discip.] is so likynge here in þe weye of this life, what is it in þe cuntrey of blisse; and syþen so likynge is þe mynde þere-of here, what is þe presence þere-of elles-where! ¶ But allas, by this wonderful & vnspek∣able [ 40] swetnesse of þy preisynge, oo þou goodly wisdame, my herte is booþ gladded and also with grete sorow woundid: ¶ ffor what-tyme þat I thenke how þat I am in þis valey of wrecchidnesse and consider me so ferre fro þe parfyte lovynge of þe blissed sperites, by - twene þe voyce of ioyful preisynge breken oute also þere-with þe teeres of sorow∣ful [ 45]

mournynge. ¶ Oo my god, whoo schalle amonge so many traueiles, angwisches and sorowes, þat here ben, coumfort me and gladde my sowle?'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Loo, now þou hast where-þorowȝ þou mayste com∣forte [4 a. r.: Sap.] þee for þe tyme, þat is to seye þis boke of swete and likynge [ 5] preisynge of god; þe whiche if þou wolte ofte-syþes rede and byholde, þou mayste þere-by in aduersites be coumforted. ¶ ffor goostly likynge & gladnesse of diuyne lovynge & preisynge here is a-manere enterludy ernest of heuenly ioyes, where alle my chosen children with ful mouthe & ioyful herte schul loue me and glorifye me with-outen ende.' [ 10]

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'O þou desyre and ioye of my sowle þat maye not [11 a. r.: Discip.] be expressed by worde, my swettist loue passyngly feyre and aboue alle oþere with-oute comparyson most gentil, þou knowest wel þat þis is þe condicyone & propirte of feruente loue þat (þat) þinge þat a man loveþ inwardly, hee desireth þat hit schulde be plesaunte to oþere, and coueitiþ [ 15] þat hit scholde be loved and preysed of alle oþere with-oute preiudice of hym-selfe; and as þou hast tauȝte, þy syngulere prerogatif of loue is siche, þat to þe moo þat þy lover cominith þe with-oute envie, þe [18 ms. cōmith] more parfitely hee schalle haue þee in hym-selfe. ¶ Wherfore, þou be∣nigne spowse, euerlastynge wisdame, þat arte besy of þe hele & saua∣cyone [ 20] of alle oþere, þenke and schewe a weye conveniente by þe whiche þis love of þee and þe goostly weddynge of þee maye be multi∣plyed, [22 ms. and of þe holy goost] or ellis, as hit is waxen olde & febil in myche ydel folke, þat hit maye be sumwhat renewed, soo þat þou suffre not þis goostly weddynge of þe perysche in oure dayes, but þat þou schedde in to þe hertes of [ 25] dyuerse folke summe-maner grace of renewynge þere-of, so þat þou suffire þee to be goostly weddid in oure dayes as þou haste ben here-byfore to thy chosen derlynges. ¶ Bow þe downe, I beseche þe, by compas∣syone to oure infirmites & consider þe malyce of the tyme þat now is, & teche vs and schewe sum specyalle maner whereby þey þat ben not par∣fite [ 30] in thy loue, but as children þat haue nede to be fedde with milke mowen be partyners of þy blessynge.'

¶ Wisdame: ¶ 'Sooþly, I am euer redy and in alle tymes, to ful∣fille [33 a. r.: Sap.] þat þou askest & to assente in to þis goostly weddynge, if þere were any þat wolde feruently desyre it and traueil þer-fore. ¶ But in wonder [ 35] maner many desyren forto haue this likynge ernes, but fewe wole tra∣uaile þerfore. ¶ Neuerþeles I haue byheiȝt in þe gospelle þat I schalle dwelle with trewe cristen men into þe worldes ende & þat I schalle neuer suffire þe schyppe of Petir, þat is holy chirche, perysche, þowȝh hit be ofte-syþes schaken & turbled in dyuerse maners. And so fro þe bigynn∣ynge [ 40] of holy chirche as I haue chosen in dyuerse astates dyuerse per∣sones to my loved frendes, ¶ soo now schalle I schewe the certeyne dyuerse exercises & worchynges of loue by þe whiche men of dyuerse degrees & astates schullen mowe goostly be weddid to me and bycome my specyalle disciples, and how my love maye be contynuelly renewed [ 45]

by hetynge; more-ouer alle þoo þat wole be deuoute folowers of this [1 ms. to alle] doctryne of euerlastynge wisdame, þe whiche is groundid and founde vpon þe stoone of þe apostles trewþe, of þat blessynge þat was byhoten in þe sede of trewe Abraham ¶ to oure lorde Jhesu criste, þeye schullen be partyners & heyres euere with-outen ende. ¶ Wherfore [ 5] what-so-euere he be þat coueitith and desirith to be a loveraden disciple of euerlastynge wisdame, of what maner condicyone þat he be or of what astate or ordre or religyone, man or womman, hee schalle besely kepe þese thinges þat folowen; ¶ þe whiche ben so temperyd & ordeynid þat þey hauen noon difficulte or hardnesse in hem-selfe, but þat euery [ 10] [10 ms. afficulte] man maye do hem with-oute preiudice of his professyone and astate. ¶ ffor, sooþly, dyuyne wisdame purposith not be these thinges forto make or ordeyne any specyal bonde or professyone or any-maner constreinynge, but onely a-maner newe stirynge by free wil of deuocyone þat haþ by∣fore in manere slepte; In þe whiche hee þat wole laboure and bisye hym [ 15] to fulfille hit, hee doþ welle & commendabely; & hee þat wole not do it, ¶ þerfore synneþ not nor trespasseþ. ¶ Wherfore alle oþere þinges euery [17 ms. and þerfore] disciple of wisdame schalle forsake, and leve fleschely loue, if hee haue any, & take into his spowse and amyke þat feyre euerlastynge wisdame of god. And if any man paraunter be so bounden be any maner priuate [ 20] love, þat hym þinkiþ to harde to hym so sodeynly to be constreyned þere-fro, atte þe leste lette hym haue a good purpos forto withdrawe hym fro þat vicyous loue also sone as hee maye þorough any occasyone, by þe helpe of god. And þoo men þat ben noȝte bounden þorough erþely loue, but neuerþeles in to þis tyme þey hauen ben necgligente and slowe [ 25] or dulle in þis loue of Jhesu, ¶ þey schullen as in a newe maner wedde [26 ms. ȝee st. þey] þis goostly spouse and renewe hem-selfe into his loue with a devoute affeccyone. ¶ And þat schal be done in this manere: þat is to seye: as þey were wonte to serue hym as her lorde be drede, þey schullen be aboute bisily to plese hym and drawe to hym as to her swete spows by [ 30] goostly and feruente love, euermore þenkynge the excellence and good∣nesse of þis dyuyne spowse, and how blessed be þoo þat mowen be honoured wiþ her frendischyp in this lyfe. ¶ And þis weddynge, or elles renewynge of olde weddynge, for more feruente stiringe of deuocyone schalle (not be) done onely with-inne-forth in þe sowle, but also with∣oute-forth [ 35] [35 not be überschr.] by summe signes priuely, as by three prostracyons, with a Pater noster & Aue Maria ¶ atte echone of hem, to þis entente þat hee in hem ȝeueþ hym-selfe & offrith hym alle-holily to so worthy a spowse, askynge of her erneste of þat weddynge, þat is to sey, summe newe grace in token of booþ her loues & trewth to oþere þe whiche neiþer deth ne lyfe [ 40] ne noon oþer creatoure schalle mowe breke euer with-outen ende. ¶ And [41 ms. euery] for as myche as fleschely lovers vsen to haue in her clothes summe worde or token write in mynde of her veyne fleschely loue, ¶ soo schalle þe disciple of wisdame have writen sumwhere priuely þe name of his trewe heuenly spowse Jhesus, to brynge hym þe ofter to his mynde—ffor [ 45]

mannes mynde is so frele, þat hit fallith lightely fro good purpos þat beþ begunne, but hit be bi signes ofte-tyme renewed. ¶ Also þe devoute [2 ms. boþ; ms. ȝee st. þe] worschepers & disciples of euer-lastynge wisdame mowen, if þey wolen, euery daye saye or rede þe schorte seruyse of þat wisdam þat is writen in latyne to clerkes. ¶ And they that kunne not rede or elles ben occu∣pyed [ 5] lawefully on oþere halfes or ellis wole chaunge þat seruyse into schorter deuocyone, þey schollen in þe stede þere-of seye VII Pater noster, ¶ þat is for the seven houres, þat is to seye for euery houre a pater noster. ¶ And this schalbe her entente in þe seiynge of þis ser∣uyses: þat dyvyne wisdame kepe her hertes and her bodyes, þat þey [ 10] be not combred & gnared with þis fonned worlde þat is now in þese dayes ful of vanite & wickednesse, warely and wisely, so þat þey be [12 worldly ausradiert; ms. wor. ely mit ausradiertem ld] preserued & kepte fro alle wickednesses and peryles. Also atte þe borde, or þey begynne to ete, þey schul sey a pater noster, & after mete anoþere or ellis De profundis, ¶ as for a sprituel almes to þoo sowlles þat in [ 15] purgatorye hauen moste nede; ¶ Takynge hede how perylous hit is to ete with-oute rewarde þe almes of hem þat ben passed and not serve to hem by needful helpes trewly, and on þe toþere syde, how merytory it is to helpe hem þat in noon maner mowe helpe hem-selfe, and with how grete kyndenesse þey ben gladde forto receyue for her refreschynge [ 20] in so grete wrecchednesse þe leste drope or þe leste crumme þat fallen downe fro her lordes bordes. And þat (þ)is devoute exercises be þe [22 ms. is] more acceptabil to pitevous sowlles, hit is to witte þat on a tyme as a [23 ms. þat as] devoute persone of religyone, approbate amonge oþere, toke on newe þese prayers to seye & namely þat De profundis ¶ ffor desolate soulles [ 25] with inwarde deuocyone, þere apperyd to hym in a visyone many soulles þe whiche were in peynes of purgatorye, ¶ and by her fowle habyte & sorowful chere þat þey schewed þey didde to vndirstonde pitevously þat þey hadde nede of goostly benfetys and helpe; amonge þe whiche one specyal come to þe forseyde persone & asked wepyngly þat he wolde [ 30] lette hym be þat begger of hym to whome hee schulde euery daye atte þe mete ȝive þat De profundis as for his sprituel almes.—Of þe whiche visyone hee was afterwarde stired more feruently to þat goostly almes. ¶ Also þe disciple of euerlastynge wisdame schalle sey ones on þe daye a pater noster to þat swettist and moste heelful name Jhesus, to þat en∣tente [ 35] þat hee, oure lorde oure saveoure, alle þe disciples of euerlastynge wisdame and þe holy moder holy chirche saue and kepe (fro) alle ad∣uersytes & defende fro þe deceytes of alle enmyes; and for þe reuerence of so worthy a name seiynge owþer byfore or after þees ¶ Benedictum sit nomen Domini nostri ihesu cristi dei & gloriose virginis [ 40] marie matris eius ineternum & vltra, amen—¶ and here-of ben Indulgencys. Þe resone and the cause of þis preyere to þis name is þis: Þat hee, swete Jhesus, þe whiche in þese laste dayes, þat sorowe is to seye, is quenchid as to deuocyone and caste out fro þe hertes of myche folke, þe whiche sechen þoo þinges þat ben to her owne propir temporel [ 45]

profite and not to þe worschyp of Jhesu criste; þat þis swete name maye be quykenyd & broȝte into þe hertes of cristen men moor plentivously & renewede, schalle þe forseyde exercises of pite and charite be seyed and contynued;—for þis castynge oute of Jhesu fro hem þat were sumtyme his beloved frendes, hee, euerlastynge wisdame, apperynge in visyone [ 5] to summe creatoure, hath complayned with a pitevous voyce and criynge [6 ms. creatours] to hym.—¶ Also þese dayes folowynge schullen be kepte in specyalle deuocyone to this dere spowse, euerlastynge wisdam: þat is to sey, þe firste daye þat is ordeyned by holy chirche for þe story of wisdame to be songen, þat is to seye þe ffirste sondaye of Auguste; ¶ and also what∣tyme [ 10] þat byfore þe vigil of Natiuite of oure lorde is begunne at euen∣songe þat anthem O sapiencia &c.; ¶ and þoo dayes þat folowen into þat gloryous nyȝte in þe whiche þe sone of þe fader of heuene, þat euerlastynge wisdame, vouched-saufe to be boren into þis worlde, summe specyalle mynde be made þere-of in priuate prayers by an antheme or [ 15] colecte or þe Pater noster. ¶ And who-so wolde in þese dayes synge a specyalle messe of þat euerlastynge wisdame, hit were plesynge to hym, ihesu. ¶ Also þere ben ȝit þree dayes in the ȝeere þe whiche schulde be hadde in mynde and principally kepte of alle þe disciples & lovers of wisdam, soo þat þey in eche of þese do summe sprituel seruise to þis [ 20] goostly spowse. ¶ And þe firste daye (is þe day) of þe circumcisione of oure lorde: ffor in þis daye begynneþ þe ȝeere, and after þe olde custom of certeyne landes þey þat ben knytte to-gedir by love specyalle vsen to ȝeve eche oþere ȝeerys-ȝiftis and desyren good ȝeere to come to hem. ¶ Soo in þe selfe manere, forto excyte and stir þe slumberynge [ 25] sowl into þe loue of god, euery devoute and loved disciple of wisdame in this daye schalle in his entente come to his oonly-loved spowse, dyuyne wisdame, and aske of hir trewlyche a ȝeeris-ȝifte: prosperite & good ȝeere goostely to hym-selfe and to alle þe disciples of hir (&) to alle holy chirche, seiynge þerfore summe specyalle preyer, or ellis þey þat mowen, [ 30] offer a tapir of a serge byfore þe auter or þe crucifix in þe worschip of hym þat is euerlastynge liȝte, in token þat þe trewe disciple know∣lechith & wole þat hee haue alle his hele and welfare in þis vnstabil tyme onely of his dyuine spowse and þat is loue allone maye brenne and liȝte in his herte; and thanne schalle hee aske, þat, if hit so be þat paraunter [ 35] þis loue be quenchyd be any occasyone, þat hit maye so mercyfully be aȝen liȝtenyd þat hit neuere after mow be quenchyd. ¶ Þe secounde daye is þe sondaye ¶ In Quinquagesime, ¶ with þe tweyne dayes folow∣ynge, þat is clepyd ¶ Schroftyde ¶ and in latyn Carnipriuium: ¶ And this tyme is halde alle in vanytes and lustes and likynges of the flesche with [ 40] fonned lovers of þe worlde: ¶ ffor þanne ben wonte forto come to-gedir frendes and felawes & feest oþere lustely and with grete excesse in fed∣ynge of þe foule flesche in many maners. Wherfore in contrarye manere her-of and in token þat þat dyuyne spouse schalbe to her disciple alle maner of ioye and solace & loue boþe in þis worlde and þat is to come, [ 45] ffor sterynge and excitynge of deuocyone & qwickenynge of his dulle

herte euery trewe disciple schalle worschep his forsaide spowse þis tyme in manere as hit is seyde byfore, with specyalle devocyone & trewe entencyone. ¶ þe þridde daye is þe firste daye of þe moneþ of Maye, ¶ whanne the summer bewte þat is to alle men, beestes and bryddes ioyfully, begynnith in þe growynge of þe erthe feyre to schowe: And [ 5] [5 l. ioyfull] thanne is þe custome of dyuerse contrees þat ȝonge folke gone on þe nyȝte or erely on þe morow to Medowes and woddes, & þere þey kutten downe bowes þat haue fayre grene leves, & arayen hem with flowres, and after þey setten hem byfore þe dores where þey trowe to haue amykes in her lovers, in token of frendschip and trewe loue. ¶ Soo in [ 10] goostly maner, þat of a flesche custome be made deuocyone, as hit is ordeyned by holy chirche of þe firste daye of Nouembre, ¶ þat þinge [12 ms. Nouembre] þat is done of suche fleschely lovers to a deedly creature, of these disciples be done deuoutely to þe maker of alle creatures, and þat þe more bisily and feruently in as myche as with-oute doute þis goodly [ 15] amyke passith alle erthely creatours and ȝiftis of grace: ¶ Wherfore þat daye þese disciples, to excitynge of her deuocyone to her dere-worth goodly spouse, schullen offre bodily liȝte, seiynge summe devoute prayer, recommendynge hem to her spouse affectuosly.—¶ To þe disciples also of wisdame is to be worschepyd specyally þat worþy moder of þe soue∣reyne [ 20] kynge euerlastynge wisdame, þe whiche voucheþ-safe to take hem as her owne sones to her derrest-loued sone & haue þe cure of hem be moderly affeccyone. ¶ Wherfore euery deuoute disciple of wisdame schalle worschep hir euery daye with þe aungellis gretynge IX tymes seyde. Aue Maria ¶ hee schalle seye on þe morowe what-tyme þat hee [ 25] ryseþ firste of his bedde, knelynge, to þis entente þat alle þe good dedys þat hee schalle do þat daye, he puttid deuoutely into þe handes [27 l. puttith] of her, þe quene of heuene, soo þat what-tyme so reuerente & best-loued [28 so st. þe] moder schalle presente hem to her sone þe souereyne kynge, þat þey mowen be plesaunte and acceptabil to him atte þe reuerence of so [ 30] [30 ms. hem] worthy a medyatoure; þe whiche paraunter schulde be but litil worthe or fowle, not acceptabil, if þey were presentid inmediatly by þe handes of a synneful manne. And atte euen laste, whanne hee is towarde bedde, affore alle oþere preyers seiynge þat Aue Maria, þat hee maye þe more sikirly slepe, ¶ hee schalle aske of hir þat, what-so-euer hee haþ þat [ 35] daye lafte vndone þat hee sholde haue done, by hire bee fulfillid, and þat hee hath yvel I-done by hir be relesyd and forȝeven, and þat hee hath wel done by hir be keped and ratifyed. Also þey schul seye VII tymes Aue Maria ¶ to þat swettist herte of goddes moder, þat is þe [39 ms. soo st. to] moost pitevous refute of alle synful creatours, þat sche mercyfully opun [ 40] þat priue chaumbre of euerlastynge wisdame þorow her medyacyone and bowe hit to alle þe disciples of this wisdame, her sone, in þe laste pas∣synge-oute of her spirites, & þat sche þanne vouche-saufe defende hem fro alle enmyes and brynge hem with hir to þe paleys of heuene fynale. And atte þe laste euery ȝeere þe nexte daye þat folowiþ All-sowllen∣daye, [ 45]

ffor alle these disciples of euerlastynge wisdame þat ben dede, and for her dere frendes, þey þat ben prestes schullen seye a masse, and þey þat ben not, offre or sey an hundreth Pater noster, puttynge þere-to this supplicacyone in her prayers: þat oure lorde god alle-myghty by his euerlastynge wisdame mercyfully helpe and socoure holy chirche, [ 5] in late tyme desolate, & þat hee put hit into pees & tranquillite now and euere amen. ¶ fferþermore, if þere were any creatours soo febil or sieke or so occupyed in lawefulle occupacyouns þat þey were lettid þere-by fro þe forseide exercise, or ellis if they were of so harde herte and secu∣lere affeccyone þat for her dulnesse þey kowde not alle þe forseyde [ 10] techynge applye to þe entente þat is seyde, ¶ lette hem seye IX pater noster with so many Aues, ¶ And do þe forseyde suffrage with a gene∣ralle entencyone þat oþere done with a specyalle: & hit sufficith.—¶ Now atte þe laste', quod dyuyne wisdame, 'forto go aȝen sumwhat to oure firste purpos: þou mayhte consyder þat þus myne ful profitabil doctryne þat [ 15] semith but symple in spekynge, but sooþly hit is ful of alle goostly fruyte in worchynge; And þerfore hit schalle (be) taken of þe with souerayne deuocyone. ¶ ffor as þou seest & mayhte fele in experience, þere-by þe feruoure of deuocyone is kyndelyd, goddes seruyse is encresed, mannes neyȝburgh is profitabely edefyed, and to þe sowlles in purgatorye pite∣vous [ 20] helthe is ministred. ¶ And hit maye not displese to any man by riȝte resoune examyned, but hit be to þe envyous bakbiter and detrac∣tour, or to hem þat haue her vndirstondynge blyndet and hir affeccyon indurate & hardnet. Wherefore kepynge þe ordre of charite here drawe, firste rere a deuocyone to thy-selfe, & after be aboute forto profyte to þe [ 25] [25 ms. þere statt rere] hele of þyne neyȝhbores soulle.'

[¶ Nota oracionem pro discipulis eterne sapiencie!]

¶ Disciple: ¶ 'O þou souereyn herty loue of my soule, to whome [28 a. r.: Discip. ex cap^o. secunde partis Orolog' sapie.] onely I haue committed me alle-hollyly, desirynge þat hit be contynued perpetuelly: ¶ now also at þe laste I haue a worde to speke to þe and [ 30] firste I ȝelde þonkyngis to þec, my best-beloued spowse, for þese and alle oþere benefyces with-oute noumbre þat þou haste ȝiven to me of þy grace. ¶ To þe be louvynge and ioye worlde with-outen ende. I be∣seche þee with brennynge desire of alle my herte and by þe inwarde stirynge of thy mercyes and by þe vertue of þat rose-rede blode þat þou [ 35] schaddest habundauntlye in þy passyone for mannes saluacyone, þat alle þoo þe whiche hauen purposed hem to wedde þe, euerelastynge wisdame, in manere byfore-seyde, & þat willen to serue þe & worschep þe with þe forseide devoute excercises of preyers, or ellis bisyen hem to commun hem forth to oþere trewe cristen sowlles: þat alle these þou, my kynge [ 40] & my god, blysse with an hee(l)ful blessynge: for, sooþly, þou arte þat blessed fruyte þat of olde tyme was byhoten to þe worlde, in þat poynte syngulerly preuilegyd þat who-so euere þou blessdest, hee schalle trewly bee blessed. ¶ Wherfore blesse þou, my fader, þese children þat ben þy lovers & disciples, with þe blessynge of alle patriarkys and alle thy [ 45]

chosen derlynges þe whiche pleseden þee fro the begynnynge of the worlde, þat þey mowe atte þe laste be gaderid & ioyned to her blessed nowmbre with ioye. ¶ þy louely and gloryous name I beseche þe be clepyd vpon hem in heelful defendens in alle dyuerse periles of þis worlde. þyne euerlastynge wisdame teche hem and dresse hem in alle her [ 5] dedys: þe aungel of pees kepe hem in prosperite, heelful of body and sowle falle to hem, Lorde, ȝif hem tyme and space of penaunce, þat by verrey contricyone and clene confessyone and dewe satisfaccyone þey mowe be turnyd byfore hir deth to þee, her creatoure and her maker, & parfitely to þe reconcyled; ¶ and also, whanne þey ben trauelynge atte [ 10] her laste passynge fro this lyfe, þat þey mowe be sikirly holpen and de∣fendid with þe worthy receyvynge of þy holyest body in sacramente, so þat þey be neuere ouercome with sodeyne and vndisposid deth. ¶ Lorde, for thy name do hem þis grace, þat as þey mow serven þe with þese devoute excercises & seruises, soo in þe lest houre of her ȝeeldynge vp [ 15] þe goost be they blessid of þe, and of þy swete moder, þat is þe moder of mercy, be þey brouȝte gloryously to þe kyngedome of heuene; ¶ where alle þe company and multitude of blessid spirites after þe exile and sorowe of þis life schullen be ioyfully make drunken of grete plente of goddes hows, seiynge þe kynge of blesse and lorde of vertues in thy godhede, [ 20] Jhesu criste, ¶ oure lorde, whiche with þe fader and þe holy gost lyuest & regnest god euere worlde with-outen ende. AMen.

Thus endiþ þe tretys of þe VII poyntes of trewe loue & euer∣lastynge wisdame drawen oute of þe—(boke that is wryten in [24 Die letzten worte sind mit dem letzten blatte der hs. ausgefallen.] later named Orologium sapiencie). [In einer fortsetzung werde ich die varianten der anderen hs. und des textes Caxton's bei nächster gelegenheit nachbringen.] [ 25]

BERLIN.

K. HORSTMANN.