Die evangelien-geschichten der homiliensammlung desms. Vernon / ed. Carl Horstmann.

Die Evangelien-Geschichten der Homiliensammlung des Ms. Vernon, ausgezogen von Dr. Carl Horstmann.

1) De conuersione marie [fol. 126.] Magdalene. [Die Evangelien, wozu die ein∣zelnen Legenden gehören, s. in mei∣nen Altengl. Legenden p. XXVII, Anm. Ms. Vernon folgt in den ersten Legenden, bis Nr. 12, gerade der al∣testenerhaltenen Hs. dieser ursprüng∣lich im nördlichen Dialekte abgefass∣ten Homiliensammlung, dem v. Small edirten Ms. Edinb. (Small "English Metr. Homilies", Edinb. 1862). welches leider nur bis zu Mariä Reinigung reicht (Nr. 12); auch Nr. 4 findet sich dort nicht. Ms. Harl. 4196 und das mit diesem wörtlich übereinstimmende Ms. Cotton. Tib E VII weichen bedeutend von dieser ältesten Version ab, in der Zahl und Folge der Evangelien und Legenden, wie auch im Text, der nehr eine freie Bearbeitung zu nen∣nen ist; namentlich im Anfang feh∣len, bis auf Nr. 2, die gesammten im Ms. Edinb. und Ms. Vernon vorhan∣denen Legenden; dafür finden sich einige andere: Anastasia, Stephan, Johannes Evang., Thomas Canterb. (ganz ausradirt); weiter fehlen Nr. 14 (Marina), 16 (Placidas). 17, 18, 19, die 7 Miracles by godes body, und alle Legenden nach Theophilus; die bei∣den Legenden von Nr. 12 und Nr. 3 finden sich im 2. Theile des Ms. Harl. wieder; Nr. 45 (Petrus Tholonarius) steht im Harl. an ganz anderer Stelle, fol. 54 (zum Evang. Abiit Jhū trans mare Galil.).—Andere Mss. sind noch: Ms. Cambr. Dd 1, Ms Cambr. Gg V, Ms. Ashm. 42.]

Seint Luc., þe goode gospelere, Telleþ vs . in what Manere þat þis ilke . synful Marie hedde forȝiuenes . and mercie. HE seiþ: . In þat ilke toun [ 5] woned a Mon . þat hihte symoun. þer Marie wonede . þat tyme þat scho hedde wille . penaunce forte do. þulke symon . was a Mesele, But crist hedde . ȝiuen him his hele; [ 10] he hedde inouh . onne to lyue [11 Ms. oune.] And almus . to pore men . to ȝiue. ffel auntur . þat he preyede crist To ete wiþ him . at his beo wyst. And crist, . þat syknesse from him cast, [ 15] he com . and eet wiþ him . as agest. And sone . whon Marie . herde telle þat crist wolde . to þe mete dwelle, heo com . þer crist him self sete. And sore heo gon . forte wepe, [ 20] And wiþ teres . heo wosch his feet þat heo . of hire eȝen leet, And wipte hem . wiþ hire here, And custe hem . wiþ louelich chere, And smired hem . wiþ smereles swete, [ 25]

þat alle feled swetnesse . þat þer seete.— heo hedde ibouȝt . Oynement To smere hire oune . bodi gent, To Make smellen . hire bodi, while heo haunted . hire foly.— [ 30] þis symon, . þat i spak of are, Bi heold þis wommon . louely fare, And þouhte, ȝif crist . were prophete, he ouhte witen . ho hondlede his fete, And also he ouhte witen þat ho [ 35] weore not worþi such dedes do: ffor sunne made hire . vnworþi To neihȝen . þat is so holy. And as symoun . þouhte þis, Crist wuste . what he þouȝte, iwis, [ 40] And seide: symoun, . tak hede to me: Ichaue sum þyng . to speke wiþ þe. symoun onswerde . and seide hym tille: sey on, Mayster, . what is þi wille. Crist set him . ensaumple þon [ 45] And seide: . hit was ariche mon, þis riche mon bedde . dettours fele: [47 Ms. douhtres.] summe weore false . and summe weore lele: A Mon ouhte him . fifty penys, A noþur . an hundred . or þe pris. [ 50] Nouþer of hem nedde . a peny to ȝelde. And he kudde corteysliche . and belde [52 Small: curtaysi.] And forȝaf hem . heore dette boþe wiþ oute stresse . wiþ oute loþe. wheþer of þeos two . louede him mare? [ 55] [55 Ms. he.] symon onswerde . crist ful raþe And seide he . þat he most for ȝaue [57 him.] wiþ rihte more loue schulde . to him haue. Crist seide: þou hast . demed riht, ffor þus fareþ dette . of synful wiht. [ 60] I com hider in . a couþ (!) mon, watur to my feet . þou beode me non, And þis wommon . haþ wassche my feet wiþ þe teres . þat heo leet, And hire hed . haþ heo made bare [ 65] [65 Ms. þat st. haþ.] And wipe(d) my feet . wiþ hire hare; þou cust me nout, . siþe i com in: To Cusse my feet . heo ne con blyn; þerfore . for ȝiuen is hire syn, ffor muche loue . þat heo kudde heer in: [ 70] þe lasse . þat mon loueþ me, þe lasse synne . for ȝiue mai be, Bote, for hire loue is . to me so lele, I. for ȝiue . hire synnes fele. Go, he seide, . wommon, in pees, [ 75] ffor alle þi synnes . for ȝiuen is. þis tale . haue i told ow, To schewen ow . what maner and hou þat, whon crist comeþ . in to vre hertes, To leue vr synnes . he us ertes, [ 80] And make us aske him . forȝiuenesse Of alle vr synnes . more and lesse.

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2) Monachus quidam post mor∣tem reuelat socio suo statum suum.

A blac Monk . In an Abbay was ffermer, as I. herde say; he was holden . an holy mon A Mong his felawes euerichon. A Cloyster Monk . louede hym wel [ 5] And was to him ful speciel— ffor comuynliche . to gedere drawes Trust . and trewe . and goode felawes. ffel aunter . þat þis ilke ffermere was seek. . and he þat was him dere [ 10] Com to make him . glad and bliþe And his loue . to him (to) kiþe. he asked him . hou he ferde . and felede. And he his stat . to him telde, And seide: . ful harde fele I. me, [ 15] To deþ i drawe, . as þou miht se. his felawe was . for him sori, And preyed hym . ful ȝeorne forþi: ȝif god dude . of him his wille, he schulde schewe . his stat him tille. [ 20] þis seke mon hiȝte . to come him to, ȝif he mihte gete . leue þer to. I. schal, he seide, . ȝif I. may, Cum to þe, . my stat to say. whon þis was seid, . he diȝede sone. [ 25] And his felawe . asked his bone And preied god . for his merci þat he schulde schewe him . openli, Oþur slepynge . or wakynge, Of his felawes stat . sum tiþinge. [ 30] And as he lay . on a niht, his felawe com . wiþ lemes liht And tolde him boþe . of heuene . and helle. And he preyed . he schulde him telle his stat . and he seide: wel fare I [ 35] þorwh þe help . of vre ladi; Neore heo, . I. hedde beo gon, To wone in helle . wiþ sathan.

his felawe þhouȝte . her of ferly, And asked him . wherfore and whi, [ 40] And seide: . we wende þat þow hedde beo euere holy . til now; hou schal hit fare . of vs caytyues þat in synne . and folye lyues, whon þou þat laddest . so holy lyf [ 45] were dampned . to helle . forte drif? whon he hed seid, . þe dede onswerd And tolde his felawe . hou he ferd, And seide anon: . whon I. ȝaf þe gast, To my dom . was I. lad . in hast; [ 50] And as i stod, . my dom to here, Bi fore Ihc̄ . wiþ dreri chere, Of fendes hedde I. mony vbbreide; And a Bok was . bi fore me leyde, þat was þe Rule . of seint Benete [ 55] þat I. hihte . to holde and gete. þe rule þei made . me to rede. And as I. radde, . sore gon i drede; Ouer lepe . mihti make non, Bote of þe clauses . euerichon [ 60] harde a countes . I. gan ȝelde, And my concience . gon (me) melde: hit schewed þere . ful openliche þat I. ladde my lyf . wrongwysliche: ffor in þe Rule . is mony a paas [ 65] þat aȝeyn me . I. cast was; wherfore ich hedde . almest riht þare Beo demed to helle . forte fare. Bote, for I. louede wel . vr ladi while i liuede, . I. hedde forþi [ 70] Good help þere . þorwh hire merci, ffor heo bi souhte crist . inwardly þat I. mihte . in purgatori Clause my sunne . and my foli. þerfore I. hope . to fare ful wel, [ 75] ffor my serwe . schal sone akel. þerfore, my frend . I. preye þe þou make my felawes . preye for me. whon þis was seid, . awey he wente. And his felawe . ful muchel him mente, [ 80] And afturward . mony a day Made he for his soule pray. þis tale . haue I told ow To schewe . in what maner and hou we schul be demed . and ȝelde a counte [ 85] what vr synne . may a mounte, ffor al schal come . to rounge i wis þer þat heere . mis taken is, [88 Ms. þei st. þer.] Beo þe leste . idel þouht, ffor þer for ȝiuen . is riht nouht. [ 90]

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3) Tod des Johannes. [Diese Erzählung "in stude of tale".] )

þe kyng heroude . wiþ muchel miht Refte his broþur wyf, . þat hiht herodyas. . and seint Jon herde wiþ what kines synne . heroud ferde, And snibbed him foule . of his synne, [ 5] And bad him . þat he schulde blynne. wherfore heroude . as feloun Dude seint Jon . in his prisoun. herodias, . þat wikked wommon, wolde ful fayn þat Jon weore slon: [ 10] he greued . hire fleschlich lykyng. þerfore heo wolde . to deþe him bring. Enchesun to hym . fond heo nan, ffor heroudes, . þat hedde him tan, Sayh þat he was . an holy man, [ 15] And þhouȝte loþ . to ben his ban— ffor of seint Jon . stod him awe, And sunged þe lasse . for his sawe, And herde his wordes . wiþ good wille, And dude muche . þat he seide him tille. [ 20] heroudes made a feste . and calde Princes þer to . and bernes balde. And as he . wiþ his gestes sete And mad him glad . and dronk and ete, Bi fore him com . a ȝong laas, [ 25] þat herodias . douhter was, And Toumbede . so wel wiþ alle: Alle þat weren gedered . in þat halle Alle weren a payed . wiþ hire play. And heroudes . to hire gon say: [ 30] what so þou wolt, . aske me, fful bleþeliche . wol I. graunte þe. he swor his oth . he wolde folfille Al hir askyng . and hire wille: þeih þou, he seide, . aske haluendel [ 35] Mi kinedom, . I. graunte hit wel. þis Mayde ron . to hire modur swiþe And bad hire . þat heo scholde liþe what þe kyng . hire hedde i bede. Modur, heo seide, what to rede? [ 40] [40 Small: and askid hir moder quat scho rede.] hire modur was fayn, . whon heo þis herde, And sone hire douhtur . heo onswerde And seide: . loke þou aske nouht But þat seint Jones hed . beo brouht In a disch sone . bi fore þe. [ 45] þis Mayden ron . to þe kyng, And seide: sire, . þis is myn askyng—

ȝif þou wolt . my wille beo done, Graunte me . myn askyng sone: ȝif me in a disch . I. weued [ 50] Seint Jon, . þe Baptist, heued. Vuel a payed . was þe kyng, whon he herde . hire askyng. him þhouȝte schome . aȝein to calle þat he hedde hiht . bi foren hem alle, [ 55] And for he hedde . i sworen his oth, To wraþþe þe Mayde . him was loth. þerfore he sente . his quellere son And bad . hire wille . schulde beo don. his quellere dude . as he him bad [ 60] And made þis Mayde child . ful glad: ffor he brouht hire, . as he hedde iseid, seint Jones hed . in a disch ileyd. þus was þis Mayde . seint Jones ban, þat was for riht . and soþsawe slayn. [ 65] Bote for him . hed he nouht . tynt his hede. ȝif he wolde haue weued as a Reode, ȝif he nedde nout . snibbed þe kyng, But loued his dedes . in alle þing, þen miht he han gon . quit a way [ 70] And liued . in worldes wele . and play. But he dude . bettre i wis: ffor nou is he . in wel more blis, And heroudes . and herodias Beon in helle . wiþ sathanas. [ 75] Now ȝe han herd . hou seint Jon stod ffor sothfastnesse . and schedde his blod. þerfore . in vr gospel . seiþ crist To þe folk of s. Jon þe Baptist: wende ȝe . of s. Jon . to fynde [ 80] A Reod . þat weueþ wiþ þe wynde? Nay, . But so studefast is he þat noþing makeþ him twifold be. ffor he schal stonde . in studefastnes And þole deþ . for rihtwysnes. ...

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4) De milite depauperato dili∣gente matrem domini.

HIt was a kniht . bi ȝonde þe séé þat riche mon . was wont to be And vche ȝeer . was wont to make A ffeste . for vre ladies sake. But he spendet . so largely, [ 5] þat in pouert . he fel in hih. A. good wommon . he hedde to wyue. þat louede vr ladi . al hire lyue. þe fend was . to hire ful kene— þat was aftur . ful wel i sene. [ 10] ffor, whon tyme com . he schulde make A. ffeste, . and hedde nouȝt . to take, Durste he nouht . dwelle at home, But wente in to desert . for schome And dwellede þere . him al one, [ 15] Til þe tyme of feste . was gone. þus dude þe kniht . mony a ȝere And made mournyng . and vuel chere. þe ffend sauh . he was sori, And wolde do skaþe . to his ladi, [ 20] But mihte he neuere . come hire nere ffor holy lyf . and goode preyere. Bote to hire lord . in wildernesse he com . in monnes liknesse And asked him whi . he weore sori. [ 25] And he tolde him . þe resun whi. I. was, he seide, . a Riche mon, And my Catel . is from me gon; And a feste . I. was wond to make, And nou haue I. nouht to take: [ 30] þerfore þar þe . þenke . no ferly þei I. heo careful . and sori. þe ffend onswerde . and seide him to: ȝif þow wolt . my wille do, I. schal þe make . wel bettre fare [ 35] þen bi fore dude þou . euer are, Richesse plente . I. schal þe ȝiue, wher of þou mayht . ful murie liue. þe kniht hihte . to don his wille. And he onswerde . and seide him tille: [ 40] Go swiþe . and graue vp þe gold þat þere lyth . vndur þe Mold, And aftur cum . and spek wiþ me; And loke þou bringe þi wyf wiþ þe, þat day schaltou bringe hire þe wiþ, [ 45] ffor wiþ ow boþe . wol I. me kiþ. þe kniht wust not . hit was þe fende, But tok leue . and hom gon wende, And com and fond . þer gold leyd þer þe deuel hedde him seid. [ 50] þis kniht was fayn . of his fynding And þouhte folfulle . his hihtyng þat he hihte . to þe fende: Elles he þouhte . him self vnhende, ȝif he ne heold . þat he him bad [ 55] þorwh whom . so muchel murþe he had. More þen he was . wont to do Made he feste . and calde men þerto. whon tyme com . þat þe fend hedde set To come to him . þer he him met, [ 60] he bad his wyf scholde . wiþ him wende— ffor so hadde he hiht . to þe fende.

his wyf was for him . selly rad And ordeynde hire . as he hire bad. On heore palfreys . rod þei baþe. [ 65] [65 Ms. bare.] And bi a Chapel . eode þei raþe. þis ladi . to hire lord spake And seide: sire, . I. rede we make In þis Chapel . vre preyere, þat god vs kepe . boþe hol and fere. [ 70] þis kniht was ful . of Jolyte, And of preyere . no fors made he, And seide: . wel mote þou lihte and prey, ffor I. wol fare forþ . in my wei; And ȝif þou dwelle longe, . i wol beo wroþ. [ 75] A. sire, seide heo, . þat were me loþ. þis ladi a lihte . not forþi And made hire preyere inwardli. And fel on sleepe . in hire preyere. But heer may ȝe . gret ferly here: [ 80] ffor vr ladi . þer heo lay Com forþ, . and steih . on hire palfray, In hire liknes, . and forþ heo rod Riht to þis kniht . þat hire a bod. þis kniht wende witerli . heo ware [ 85] his wyf, . and forþ gunne þei fare. whon þei come þere . þe steuene was set, wiþ sathanas . þei boþe met. whon sathanas . sayh vr ladi, he kneouh hire wel, . and made a cri [ 90] vppon þis kniht . and seide soone: Allas traytur, . what hast þou done? I. bad þe bringe . þi wyf to me, And cristes modur . her i se! honged beo þou . bi þe hals, [ 95] ffor ffikel mon art þou . and fals. who was a bascht . but þis kniht! And of his palfrey . gon he liht, And fel doun . to vr ladi feete And asked hire Merci, . and sore gon wepe. [ 100] heo chidde him . as kniht vn hende þat made such forward . wiþ þe fende, And bad he scholde . waxe wys And beo bisy . in hire seruys. heo seide: . do a wey . þe fendes ȝifte, [ 105] And god schal wel . þi catel lyfte. whon þis was seid, . heo wente a wey. And þis kniht leop . on his palfrey, And rod to þe Chapel, . and fond his wyf . bi fore þe a(u)ter . slepond, [ 110] And þonked Marie . inwardly þat saued him . and his ladi Be þis tale . may we seon alle þat alle þat wolen . on Marie calle heo helpeþ hem . in alle nede [ 115] And schildeþ hem . from wikked hede. Preye we þerfore . þat heo vs spede, vr lyf in penaunce . þat we lede, And at vre endynge . heo vs lede To heuene blisse, . to take vre mede. [ 120] AMEN . I. rede . alle we synge, ffor of þat blisse . is non endynge.

5) Quidam pergens ad scm Ja∣cobum abscidit verenda sua.

(But for i seide . þat sathanas wayted vs . as þef in paas, I. wol ou telle . of a pilgrym how Sathanas . bi gyled him.) [1-4 sind die letzten Verse der der Erzäblung vorangehenden Erklärung des Evangeliums.]

HIt was a Mon, . as I. herde say, [ 5] þat to seint James . hiȝt his way. And þat day . þat he schulde wende he made a feste . to al his frende. ffel auenture . þat he was so glad. þat sathanas made . him ful maad [ 10] And made him sungun . dedly wiþ a wommon . in lecheri. Whon he hedde . his sunne don, On his wey he wente him son. And he þat made him . falle in blame [ 15] Mette him in liknes . of seint Jame And asked himwhodur . he wolde wende. But he wust not . hit was þe fende. he seide: . I. make my viage To seynt Jemes . In pilgrimage. [ 20] þe fend onswerde . and asked son: wostou not what . þou hast i don In Lecherie . aȝeynes me? I. am seint Jame . þat speke wiþ þe; þou art vn worþi . me to seke, [ 25] þi viage . is not worþ a leke; wenest þou . þi synne . from me hyde? whon þou hit dust, . I. was bi syde; þi viage may not . paye me, But ȝif þou do þat . I. bidde þe. [ 30] þis mon wende . þat he seint Jem were, And seide: . lord, ich am al redi here Euere to beo . boxum þe to And don . al þat ȝe bidde me do. Go swiþe, he seide, . and gelde þe, [ 35] þat I. þi repentaunce . may se, And kut þi þrote a two . riht sone, ffor þenne hastou . my wille I. done, whon þou hast . þi self i slon, To heuene . wol I. make þe gon. [ 40]

þe pilgrym wende . to paye seint Jame And dude him self . muche schame, ffor he cutte . a wey ful raþe his Membres . and his pendauns baþe, And seþþe he cutte a two . his þrote: [ 45] so he dude him . luyte note. þo was sathanas . ful redi And tok þe soule . gredily, And made gret Joye . of his pray, And touward helle . he tok þe way. [ 50] Seint peter . and seint Jem . him mette, And boþe heo gunnen . his wey to lette. seint Jem seide . to þe fende: whodur woltou . wiþ my pilgrym wende? he onswerde . and seide: to helle, [ 55] þer he schal . for his seruyse . dwelle; ffor he was . his oune bone, þerfore of hym . part hastou none, wiþ riht . and resun . he is myn, To wende wiþ me . to helle pyn. [ 60] seint Jame onswerde . for his man And seide: þou lyȝest, . traitur sathan! þou wost wel, þef, . þou hast þe wouh, ffor my Mon . him self not slouh: [64 Sm: for in mi nam himself he sloh.] he wende wel . þou heddest ben I., [ 65] whon þou madest him . do þis foli; he was in dede . to me boxume; þerfore schal he . wiþ me come. þe fend seide: . þat may not be, wiþ riht and lawe . may þow se [ 70] þat he is myn . þorwh Jugement: ffor, whon he . on his vyage went, he fuylede his soule . dedlye wiþ þe sunne . of lecherye, siþen . wiþ his owne knyf [ 75] he refte him self . his owne lyf; sei me, Jame, . on what kyn wyse Mai he more dye . In my seruyse? Loke ȝif I. wiþ rihte . or lawe Mai him wiþ me . to helle drawe. [ 80] seint Jame onswerde and seide him to: wrong ne wol I non do; Bote ȝif we wolle . þe soþe trye, Go we to dom . of vre ladye, And as heo demeþ . hit schal be, [ 85] ffor þat is riht, . as þynkeþ me. And seint peter, . his felawe, seide: . þis is riht . good lawe; Marie, he seide, . is gode Justise, heo wol don riht . on alle wyse. [ 90] whon þei come bi fore . vr ladi, heo demede sone . þorwh hire Merci þat þe soule . to þe bodi schulde tornen . and don penaunce worþi, And seide: þis soule . as hit nou is [ 95] May not come . to heuene blis, Ar hit beo clansed . in bodi Of synne . wiþ penaunce worþi; þerfore . þis Juggement ȝiue I þat hit torne . to þe bodi [ 100] And clanse hit wiþ schrifte . and penaunce And kepe hit seþþen . from mis chaunce. þe ffend . for þis dom . was sori And vuel payed . þat vre ladi hedde i reft him . wiþ riht Jugge∣ment [ 105] þat mon wyþ gyle . þat he hedde Ischent. whon þis soule . was comen a ȝeyn To þe bodi, . hit was so fayn. [108 Sm.: this man was fain.] A Monk in Denyn (!) . he him ȝold, [109 Sm. Cluny.] And þis tale . to his Abbot told [ 110] hou he was schent . bi gylerie And I. saued . bi vre ladi. Gerant he hihte, . and fro þat tym [113 Sm. Georard.] þat he to crist hedde . I. ȝolden hym holy mon he was . and good [ 115] And seruede god . wiþ miht and mood. But þer his þrote . was kut wiþ knyf A Red Marke was . al his lyf, And þere his Membres . were by fore hedde he not aftur . but a bore. [ 120] Beo þis tale . may we seo þat wys . and war . bi houeþ vs beo þat sathanas . ne make vs rayke ffrom rihtwysnes . to synful layke, ffor, ȝif he fynde vs . out of strete, [ 125] he byndeþ vs boþe . hond and fete, þat is to sigge: . ȝif he vs fynde In dedly synne, . he may vs bynde wiþ wikked wille . and make vs wende ffrom synne to synne, . and so vs schende: [ 130] ffor, as he made . þis pilgrym go ffrom synne to synne, . him self to slo, so makeþ he mon . go gostly ffrom Couetyse . to Glotony, ffrom Glotony . to Lecherye, [ 135] And so to Pruyde . an(d) to Envye, And atte laste . in his prisoun he doþ him self . þef . and ffeloun.

u. s. w.

6)

a. how þe deuel apperede to seynt Martyn.

(ffor noþing is, . as I. seide are, þat woundeþ sathanas so sare As doþ þe tokne . of Meknes, ffor aȝein fendes . mest hit is.). þat may ȝe . be seint Martin se. [ 5] ffor in his lyf . fynde we þat, as he was . in Orisoune, þen com þe fend . as kyng w^t Croune, Cloþed in palle . and riche wede, And seide: Martin, . I. wol þe lede [ 10] To heuene, . þat is þi longe rest; ffor wite þou wel . þat I. am crist: þat maiht þou . beo my feirnes se; þerfore i wole . þat þou loute to me. And Martyn . þorwh grace wyst [ 15] þat he was not . Jhū crist, And seide to hym . wiþ mylde chere: I. wol not seo . my lord here, But in þat blisse . þer he euer is. And for þis .o. word . of Mekenis [ 20] þe fend wente away . as reke And fleih him . for his onswere meke.

b. þat meknesse eschapet þe deueles wyles.

And of seint Antoyne . fynde we þat so Meke . and . Mylde . was he þat þorw . Mekenes . mony a tym [ 25] he fledde fendes . from hym. And on a tyme . as he stod, he sauh . al þe eorþe was sprad wiþ panters . and wiþ grones (!) blake, [29 Sm.: gylders st. grones (groues?).] þat sathanas . hedde I. leyd . to take [ 30] ffor Monnes soule, . as a foulere [31 for zu tilgen.] Takeþ foules . wiþ his pantere. þen seyde Antony, . þi gode hermyte: Lord, what þing . schal passe quite And in þeos snarles . not beo tan? [ 35] And God onswerde: . Mekenesse alon.

c. þat amon tryste holly in god.

A noþur hermyte . hette Makarie, To whom þe fend hedde . gret Envye. And on a day . þe fend him mette. fful fayn he wolde . his weyes lette, [ 40] And seide: þou dost . me gret dispyte, ffor wiþ no synne mai I. þe smyte, And al þe penaunce . not forþi þat I. seo þe do, . al do I.: þou fastes muche, . and I. faste ay, [ 45] ffor I. ete nouþur . Niht . ne day, þow wakest muche, . and so I. do, ffor I. haue nouþur . Reste ne Ro; Bote wiþ .o. þing . þou passest me, so þat I. may not . do to þe. [ 50] what is þat? . quaþ Makari. Of þi Mekenes, . he seide, speke I., ffor wiþ Mekenes . þou passest me; þat schendeþ me, . whon I. hit se. ffor so Meke . was Makarye [ 55] þat of his Mekenes . was ferlye. In hermitage . longe woned he, In ffelde, . by syde . a gret Citéé: Out of þat Citéé . was he fledde, And as an hermite . such lyf he ledde [ 60] þat his Mekenes . and his gode lyf was sone . to al þe Cuntre ryf. Anoþur hermyte . com him tille And serued him . al at his wille. ffel auntur . þat þis Makarye [ 65] Com to þe Citéé . riuelye, To sulle þere . his hondewerk. And so fel auntur . þat a Clerk spac wiþ a Burgeys douhter so, þat synful pley . þei pleyed þo. [ 70] whon child in wombe . schaped was, ffadur . and . Modur asked þis laas who hedde i don . wiþ hire folye. heo seide: þe hermyte Makarie. fful wroþ weore alle . hire frendes þan [ 75] wiþ Makarie, . þat holy man. þei token him . and duden him schame, As he hedde spilt . þat wommones fame: A boute þe Market . þev hym ledde And beoten him . þat his bodi bledde, [ 80] And made him fynde . borwes þan To ffede . and . Cloþe . þis womman. þe toþur hermyte, . þat serued him, was bi syde . þat ilke tym, [84 Ms. bi seyd st. bi syde.] And þhouȝte gret schome . of (t)his chaunce, [ 85] And wepte for his Mayster . penaunce. Makari preyed him . þat he schulde in þat cas . his borwh be. And he bi com . his Borwh þare, ffor him was wo . for his mis fare. [ 90] To him self . seide Makari: A. wyf haue I. now, and forþi Bi houeþ me worche fastore and Mare, Boþe niht . and . day, . þen I. dude are: Elles may I. not . wiþ my dede [ 95] Mi seluen . and my lemmon fede. Niht . and . day . wrouhte . Makari And sente þis wommon . aparti þat he wiþ his werk . mihte gete. And þerwiþ . heo bouht hire mete. [ 100]

þis wommon eode . wiþ childe . ful longe And þolede pyne . wondur stronge: heo miht haue non . diliueraunce, Er heo hedde told . þorwh what chaunce heo hedde Conceyued, . and of wham, [ 105] And quite seint Makarie . of Blam. whon hire frendes . herden þis, heo seȝen wel . heo hedden do mis, whon þei beoten . seint Makari. þerfore þei wolde . crie him Merci. [ 110] And seint Makari . herde sey þat þei wolde come: . he fleyh a wey, ffor he dredde . to leose Mekenes wiþ loue word . and derworþnes— ffor loue word . and worldes blis [ 115] Makeþ Mon leose . Mekenes i wis. þerfore crist fleyh . Monnes louyng, whon þe Jewes . wolde make him kyng: ffor worldus serwe . and pouert holdeþ Mekenes . in Monnes hert, [ 120] And worldus welþe . makeþ mon ful mad. And þerfore . Makarie hit fled. þeos þreo tales . I. haue ow tolde, To make ow . in oure herte holde þat euere þe holyore . þat mon is [ 125] þe more loue he . Mekenes.

u. s. w.

7) how a bisschop bylay a nonne.

AN Erchebisschop . bi ȝonde þe séé was wonynge . in a riche Citéé. An holi mon . and good . he was; But ffurst he fel, . and siþen he ras, ffor þe fend hedde . to him Envye [ 5] And made him falle . in Lecherye, In a wondur . foul Manere, As ȝe may . bi þis tale here. A Nonneri was . in þat Contre, ffyue Mile . fro þis Bisschop Cite. [ 10] And in þis ilke forseid . Nonnerie Dwelled Nonnes . wondur Monye, þat serued god . and vre lady And heold hem wel . from vileny. Aunter fel . þat to þat house [ 15] Come Maydenes, . Ihū crist to spouse: þeos Maydenes were sent . veil to take Of þat Bisschop . of whom i spake. þis Bisschop, . as þe Maner was, Reuested him . to singe his Mas. [ 20] þeos Maydens come . bi fore þe autere And tok heore veil . in feir Manere. And þis Bisschop . his eȝe vp kest To on of hem, . þat was feirest: his loue was sone . on hire ikest, [ 25] so harde, . þat he . mihte haue . no rest, ffor sathanas dude . his Maistri And tempted him . wiþ lecheri. To þis Mayde . he caste his eȝe, And him þhouȝte . he scholde dye [ 30] But he hedde . of hire his wille, þat mihte wiþ hire . his lust folfille. her mowe ȝe seo . on what seruyse þe ffend serueþ . wiþ his queyntyse, ffor ȝerne he lokeþ . on what wyse [ 35] he may make vs leose . paradyse, him þinkeþ ful loþ . Men come þer Inne, þerfore he makeþ vs . falle in synne. þeos Maydens, . whon þei halewed ware, þei toke heore leue, . hom to fare, [ 40] þei wente hom . to heore Nonneri. But þis Bisschop lefte . ful sori. he was fondet . inwardly wiþ brennynde lust . of lecheri, ffor he mihte nouþur . ete ne drinke, [ 45] Ne a nihtes . slepe . ne wynke; [46 Small: Ne haue night rest, ne slepe no wynk.] ffor loue him þhouȝte . his herte barst. And he by þouhte him . atte last hou he mihte . þis Mayde fonge, To slake his lust . þat was so stronge. [ 50] Lettres he sente . hastifly To þe Abbesse . of þe Nonnery And bad heo schulde come . a non him to, þe neodes . of hire hous . to do. whon þe Abbesse . þis tiþing herde, [ 55] To þe Bisschop . sone heo ferde. As sone as heo was . come þare, þe Bisschop schewed hire . his care. so muche serwe, he seide, . I. drye, þat for loue . almost i. dye; [ 60] Bote þou helpe me . of þis cas, Of me þou leosest . help and gras; I haue I. holden þin hous in riht And holpen þe . wiþ al my miht: Nou þou miht . my trauayl ȝelde, [ 65] ȝif þou wolt . to my longyng helde; I preye þe . þou graunte me . my wille And make þat Nonne . come me tille þat I. halewede heere . þe ȝondurday, [69 Sm. ȝistirdaye.] ffor al gate wiþ hire . wol I. play; [ 70] Elles, forsoþe . I. þe say, I. dye . ar come . þe þridde day; To do þe good . I. haue I. mynt, And ȝif I dye, . þou hast hit tynt;

And ȝif þou helpe me . in þis nede, [ 75] wel i schal quite . þe þi mede, ffor nou I. may . seo and fynde ȝif þou to me . beo ouht kynde; Blyue graunte me . my bone And make þat Nonne . cum to me sone. [ 80] A non he nempned . þe Nonnes nome, he nolde lette . for no schome. whon þis Abbes . þis wordus herd, heo was wondred . and a ferd, ffor heo wende neuere . such wordus to here [ 85] þ^t þis Bisschop wolde speke . of such Matere. heo stod . and bi þouht hire þo what god þis Bisschop . hedde hire do, ffor hire hous . and hire couent: ffor boþe he hedde . hem ȝiuen and lent; [ 90] heo bi þouhte hire . furþurmore þat þorwh him was heo . Abbes þore. þerfore þhouȝte . hire ful loþ ffor eny þing . to make him wroþ: þerfore heo graunted . him his bone [ 95] And wente hom . to hir Nonneri sone. þe Nonne . ful priuely . heo calde And tolde hire . what þe Bisschop wolde, And seide: . but heo dude . his wille, þat Nonnerie . wolde he spille. [ 100] þis ȝonge Mayde . was vn mihti To stonde aȝeyn . þis foly, And seide anon: . my ladi, To don his wille . ich am redi. þe Mayde wente . to þe Bisschop þore [ 105] And Made . of hir self . an hore. Allas Allas . heo nedde i wist what forward . heo made wiþ crist! fforsoþe, . ȝif heo hedde . I. sene hou feir heo was . and hou clene [ 110] whil þat heo was . Mayden schene, hedde heo not sunged, . as I. wene. Allas þat heo ne vndurstood hou crist (þat) hire bouhte . on þe Rood [114 Ms. fehlt þat,] had taken hire . as his lele spouse [ 115] [115 and st. had; so Sm.] And brouht hire . to his owne house! Me þinkeþ heo chaunged . wrecchedly, whon heo lafte crist, . hire lotebi, And tok hire . to a synful Mon, To bi come . his lemmon. [ 120] A. lord, . sereweful . hedde heo ben, ȝif heo . hire owne stat . hedde sen: hou feir heo was . gostly and briht whil hire Maydenhod . was hiht; [124 Small: was hir tight.] Loþ hedde hire ben . don þat synne, [ 125] ffor Gold . or . seluer . or worldus wynne! But for heo was . as wommon wayk, heo sentede sone . to synful layk, þat Made hire bi fore god . ful loþe, In bodi . and in soule boþe: [ 130] ffor þer heo lees . hir Maidenhede, And þer wiþ al . hire blisful mede þat Maydens schulde haue . in þat blis, þat crist, heore lemmon, . schal hem kis. [134 Small: thare st. þat.] And alle þat wole . þis tale here, [ 135] Good ensaumple . þei mowe lere vn siker . of hem self . to beo, ȝif þei wole vndurstonde . and seo hou wys mon . þe Bisschop was, And hou foule . he fel in plas: [ 140] so stifliche . aȝeyn him ras þe fend . þat him felde in plas. vuele we ouhte . lauhwe . and kenne, [143 Sm. kinc st. kenne.] who(n) we on þis Bisschop þenke: ffor þat þef . þat Made him falle [ 145] Is faste a boute . to slee vs alle. But mon makeþ hym . ofte schurne And casteþ him wiþ his owne torne, whon þat he . him schriueþ of synne And kepeþ no more . falle þer Inne. [ 150] A. lord, . muchel is þi Merci, ffor euer, lord, . þou art redi To forȝiue vs . vre folye, As ofte as we . merci crye! Beo vr synne . neuer so vily, [ 155] þou for ȝiuest hit vs . frely, þat alle men may . þenke ferly Of þi pite . and þy mercy. þar no mon falle . in wonhope þat þenkeþ wel . on þis Bisschope: [ 160] ffor þis Bisschop, . of whom I. telle, so deope in fulþe . of synne felle, þat he was worþi . beo brend in helle, Euer more . þer Inne to dwelle— ȝif hit nedde beo . þorwh þi mercj [ 165] þat made him rise . of synne in heih. þerfore schulde alle men . loue þe And boxum . to þi wille be. ffor þou þat Makest . þe doumbe speke, þorwh schrift . þou madest þe Bis∣schop breke [ 170] þe ffendes bond . and his Maystri. we ouhte wel blesse þe . derworþly! kepe I. no lengore heere dwelle, But forþ i wole . vr tale telle, hou þe Bisschop . wiþ penaunce ras [ 175] Out of his synne . wiþ godus gras.

whon þis Bisschop . þis synne hedde don, vr lord sende . him grace son And made him þenke wel . on his state. And he bigon sone . for to grate, [ 180] And seide: allas . þat I. was born! schomelich haue I. my self for lorn. I. am a Bisschop . and schulde (wel) lyue, Good ensaumple . to oþure ȝiue: And I. haue so . my self I. schent, [ 185] þat I. weore worþi . to be brent. Allas þat euere I. was a clerk! whi tok I. on me . godus merk? fforsoþe, I. am wel more to blame And to þole . wel more schame [ 190] þen ben þis symple lewed menne, ffor hem I. schulde . lere . and kenne, And now I. am . wel worse þen þay! I. haue I. pleyed . a careful play, ffor I. haue broken . godus hous [ 195] And reft ichaue . Ihc̄ his spous. Allas Allas . þat I. was born. ffor alle men mowe . dryue me to sko(r)n. hou schal I. fare . on domes day, whon I. schal . beo flemed a way [ 200] ffrom godus face . in to pyne of helle, wiþ outen ende . þer Inne to dwelle. whon he him bi þouhte of helle pyn, And what heo þolen . þat ben þer In, And of þat Joye . þat he hedde tynt, [ 205] To sle him self . he hedde I. mynt. so sereuhful . was þis Bisschope, þat almost he fel in wonhope. But godus grace . was sone redi And þolede him not . to Miscari, [ 210] But cumforted him . wiþ swete fare, And leched his serwe . and his care, [212 Small: lethed st. leched.] And maad him sone . han good hope þat þe leste blodus drope Of þat ilke . derworþe blode [ 215] þat Ihc̄ lette . on þe Roode was of wel more . derworþenes þen Alle Mennes synne . or wikkednes. And sone he gon . calle and crye At þe ȝates . of Mercye. [ 220] he let make him . a priue stude, þer he mihte lyue . wiþ watur and brede. A. pore hous . was sone purueyd, And pore atyr . þer In was leid. þere wonede . þe Bisschop longe [ 225] In serwe of herte . and penaunce stronge. whon Parisschens . comen him to, Mony neodes . wiþ him to do, he made his seruauns . to hem say þat he in godus bendes lay; [ 230] ffor he defendet . his seruauns þei schulde not telle . his penauns. þis Erchebisschop . liuide þare In strong penaunce . and in care; wiþ heire ful hard . his flesch he clad, [ 235] wiþ Bred . and watur he was fed. he wrouhte þe bodi . serwe I. nouh þat him to fulþe . and synne drouh, he quitte hit . þat hit hedde him do wiþ pyne . and vn reste . and vn Ro: [ 240] his foule flesch . drouh him to synne, þerfore he made hit . pore and þunne. þe lewed folk . weore vuel payed And for heore Bisschop . faste þei prayed, ffor þei wende alle . þat he sek ware; [ 245] And for him was . heore hertes sare. Erles, . Barouns, . and knihtes, persons, . vikeres, . and prestes þhouȝten of heore Bisschop ferly, And pleyned hem . and asked why [ 250] þat þei mihte not . heo(r) Bisschop se, And wel þei wende . þat ded weore he. summe manasede . his dore to breke, But þei mihte . wiþ him speke. ffayn wolde his Chaumberleyn . hem stille, [ 255] And feire . he graunted hem heore wille: he bad hem . in þe paleys dwelle, And seide he wolde . his lord telle Al heore longyng . and heore wille And make þe Bisschop . come hem tille. [ 260] þe Chaumburleyn . to chaumbre ȝode And tolde his lord . wiþ sori moode what þe folk . þouhte to do Bote þei mihte . come him to. whon þe Bisschop . herde þis, [ 265] Careful was his herte I. wis; he chaunged sone . his sori wede And forþ in to þe halle ȝede. þe folk sauh wel . his pore state, And sore for him . þei gonne grate, [ 270] ffor wel hem þhouȝte . þat he sek was: ffor pale . and clongen . was his fas, his skin . was clungen . to þe Bon, ffor flesch on him . was þer non. whon folk heore wille . hedde I. spoken, [ 275] A ȝein to Chaumbre . he was loken. his frendes seȝe wel . bi his face þat he hedde Mester . of solace,

And made him boþe . wel ete and drinke And leue his outraious . swynke. [ 280] But euere . he þouhte . of þat syn þat greued his herte . ful sore wiþ In. And whon þe lewed folk . wel herde þat heore bisschop . beter ferde, þei weore fayn . and come sone [ 285] To him . and asked him abone: þat he schulde . on an heiȝ feste day synge hem masse, . þo preyed þay. [288 Ms. To synge; Small: gern st. þo.] þe Bisschop sone . him bi þouht þat synge hem Masse . mihte he nouht, [ 290] Til he weore schriuen . of his synne þat beot his herte . so sore wiþ Inne. But not forþi . him was ful loþ To werne hem . or to make hem wroþ. he graunted hem. þe Masse to synge. [ 295] And heo weore fayn . of his bihotynge. Boþe Olde . and. ȝonge, . more . and. lasse Come forte here . þe Bisschopes masse vppon an heih . ffeste day, fforte heren hit . fayn weore þay. [ 300] whon þe Bisschop . to synge was graid And riche atyr . on auter leyd, he stood stille . and gon to preche, As he þat couþe þe folk wel teche; he preched . on so feir manere, [ 305] þat hit was Joye . him to here. And whon his sarmoun . endet was, þe folk a non . vp aras And þonked Ihū . in þat plas þat ȝaf þe Bisschop . such a gras. [ 310] But he Made hem sitte . adoun aȝeyn, And seide: . ȝe ouhte . ben vn fayn Of me . þat schulde beo . oure Bis∣schope, ffor I. am worse . þen ȝe hope; Ȝe wene wel nou . euerichon [ 315] þat I. beo . a ful holy mon, And I. seye forsoþe . þat ȝe Beo foule diseyued . on me: ffor my self . I. haue so schent, þat I. weore worþi . to beo brent, [ 320] ffor I. am a wrecche, . a lechour, An vuel Mon, . and godus tratur. Bifore him . al þe folk he cald And to hem . al his sunne he tald. whon he hedde seid . his sunful dede, [ 325] he caste of him . þat holy wede, þat is to seye . his vestiment, And þorwh þe folk . bare fot he went. þe ffolk . bigon . to wepe . and crie And bad him torne . a ȝeyn in hiȝe. [ 330] þei seide: . vr lord is redy To take þe . to his Merci. we wole, þei seide, . on vs take Al þi synne . and al þi sake; þerfore, ffadur, . we preye þe [ 335] Torn aȝeyn . and bisschop be. heore preyere . miht not a uayle, he wolde not don aftur . heore coun∣sayle, But dude him forþ . as he weore wod, wiþ serwe . and wiþ dreri mood, [ 340] A. wey he ron . and sore he wepte. [341 Sm. gret st. wepte.] And wiþ a wommon . sone he mette þat bar a soukyng child . in arm, In feire cloutus . I. wrapped warm. þis child was not . half ȝer old, [ 345] And spac þere . wordus bold To þe bisschop . and asked whi he was so careful . and sori. þe child spac þorwh þe holy gost And bad him torne a ȝeyn in hast: [ 350] Go a non . and syng þi mes, ffor al þi synnes . for ȝiuen is. þis child spac redeliche . wiþ mouþe, But bi kuynde . speke hit ne couþe, But for Miracle spac hit þare [ 355] And bad him leue . al his care þus wiþ mouþe, . as I. haue sayd, And þus . for þis Bisschop . layd. [358 Sm.: Thar it in noriz arm was laid.] þis Bisschop wondrede . in his þouht, But certeynliche . wuste he nouht [ 360] wheþer þis ȝonge child . spak him tille wiþ gode gost . oþur wiþ ille; þerfore wolde he nouht . torne a ȝeyn [363 Ms. vous st. vois, Sm. norz.] Ne to þis childes vois . be bayn, But dude him forþ . as he weore mad, [ 365] ffor riht repentaunce made him drad. And an Angel . bi wey he mette In Monnes forme, . and feire him grette And seide: . god sende me to þe, þat biddeþ þe bold . and siker be [ 370] þat al þi sunne . for ȝiuen is; And þerfore torn . and sing þi mes. þe Bisschop ferde . as he were mad. And þis angel . to chirche him lad, And dude his vestiment . him on, [ 375] And made him synge . his Masse son. þe Bisschop song . his Masse son. And siþen was . so holy amon, þat boþe lewed . and lered sayde þis Auenture was . biforen him layde [ 380]

To Make him beo . þe beter man And stiffore stonden . a ȝein sathan.

8) hou a bisschop myskepte seynt Jones child.

whon holichirche . bi gon newely, seint Jon was euere . ful bisy In Ordeynyng . of prestes . and clerkes, And in castyng . of Churche werkes; And Mony Bisschops . ordeynde he, [ 5] A boue þe lewed folk . to be. And as he com . a chirche to se, A. wondur feir child . sauh he. But no for þen . þis ilke childe was so vntoun . and so wylde, [ 10] þat al þe skaþe . þat he mihte do he dude, . whon he gon to þro. And seint Jon hedde . gret pite þat such a child schulde . dampned be. seint Jon bi tauhte . þis ilke childe [ 15] To a Bisschop, . to make hym mylde. he seide: Bisschop, . I. Comaunde þe þat þis tresour . wel ȝemed be; kep me þis child, . for I. beo teche hym to þe . as good Leche; [ 20] Lete þou nouht him . miskari, ffor, ȝif he do, . to þe take I.! þis Bisschop tok . þe child him to, And Baptiȝede him, . and made him do þe þyng þat fel . to cristendom. [ 25] But vuele felawes . to him com And drouh him furst to dronkenes, And siþen to lust . of his flesch, Aftur to þefþe . and Robberi, And made his mayster . ful sori— [ 30] ffor þat Bisschop . I. calle his Mayster To whom seint Jon . tok hym to fayster. ffor luþur men hedde . such Maistri, To tyse þis ȝonge mon . to foly, þat þe Bisschop . miht him not holde, [ 35] But let hym gon, . wher þat he wolde. þeoues weore . of hym ful fayn, ffor to heore wille . wox he ful bayn; so styf . and stalworþe mon. wox he, þat þei let him . heore Mayster be. [ 40] Longe he eode . wiþ his felawes And Robbed trewe men . in wode∣schawes. And seynt Jon com . a noþur tym And asked his Mayster aftur him, And seide: wher is my tresore? [ 45] Mak him a non . cum me byfore! þis Bisschop stood . as he were schent, ffor he wust not . what seint Jon ment: he wende he asked . seluer . or . golde, Or vestimens . of Riche folde. [ 50] And þerfore . to seint Jon . seide he: I. wot neuere what . ȝe aske me. And seint Jon asked: . wher is he, þat child, . þat i beo tok . to þe? whon þis Bisschop þis askyng herde, [ 55] he weop wel sore, . and þus onswerde: Allas . þat euere . I. him sawe! he is by come . an Outlawe. seint Jon wep, . and seide him tille: Allas . whi keptust hym . so ille? [ 60] To hym hastou . vuel kepere bene, þat is nou wel . on hym i sene. An hors, he seide, . sadele me, ffor I. wole hym seche . where he be. And seynt Jon eode . þer he was, [ 65] And fond hym sittynde . in a paas. whon þis felawes . seint Jon sawe, To him þei gonne . alle drawe. But heore Mayster . kneuh his face, And fleyh a non . out of þat place: [ 70] so muche schome . of hym he þhouhte, þat loken on hym . dorst he nouhte, But fleih from hym . faste rennynge. And seint Jon suwed him . faste cle∣pynge, And seide: leue sone, I. preye þe [ 75] Torn a ȝeyn . and spek wiþ me! whi fleostou . þi ffadur, whi? Al þi synne . on me take I. Atte laste . þis outlawe stood, And loked doun . wiþ dreri mod, [ 80] And to seint Jon . fel doun to feete And sore bi fore him . he gon wepe. And seynt Jon seide: . my lore þou lete, And good forȝiuenes . I. þe by heete: þi synnes I. take . alle to me, [ 85] And I. schal preye . to god for þe, And sikerliche here . I. þe bi hihte Good forȝiuenesse . of al þi plihte. þis Mon fel . to seint Jones feete And sore bi gon he . forte wepe, [ 90] And seide: . I. graunte . my foly; Of me, fadur, . þou haue merci! he folewede seint Jon . to þe churche And hihte him . al his wille to worche, And was so good mon . from þat tym, [ 95] þat alle men hedde . Joye of hym. heer may ȝe seo . a tale þat schewes þat muche skaþe don . vuel felawes, ffor vuel felawes . ofte drawes fful goode men to synful plawes. [ 100] þerfore is god . we drawe hem tille þat gladly worcheþ . godus wille.

ffor crist . in vr gospel schawes Ensaumple to drawe to goode felawes: ffor vr gospel seiþ . where . and when [ 105] Crist was founde . among wyse men, And not among . vn wyse felawes To tille Men . to ille plawes.

u. s. w.

9) þat spiritualte scholde not be sold.

þe bok of kynges . telleþ vs hou þe prophete . helyseus Of Lepre heled . an heþene Man þat mihti was . and hiȝte Naaman. But ȝifte of hym . wolde he non take, [ 5] ffor him þhouhte hit were . synne and sake To sulle þe ȝifte . þat god hym ȝaue. But he hedde . an vuel knaue þat wolde gladly . Catel haue, ffor Couetyse . him to synne draue. [ 10] ffor he ran . aftur Naman, whon he was . fro his Mayster gon, And seide: . my maister sendeþ me To take sum cortesye . of þe, ffor ffrendes beoþ . comen hym to, [ 15] And sum good bi houeþ hym . hem to do. Naaman . ȝaf him Robes two And feir won . of suluer also. And in his hous . he hudde ful raþe þe suluer . and þe Robes baþe. [ 20] But his Mayster . þorwh prophecy wuste al his dede . and his gylery. And Gyeȝi . as nout ne ware Com to his Mayster hous . ful ȝare. And his Mayster . asked him sone [ 25] [25 Ms. As st. And.] ffrom whenne he com . and what he hedde done. And he seide: . sire, . nouhwhere. And his Mayster . onswerde hym þere And seide: . I. sauh ful wel þi þefþe, Of Naaman . hastou take ȝifte; [ 30] þerfore þou . and þi sones vchon schul beo vn hole, . as was Naaman. And riht as helyseus hihte so fel him . for his owne plihte, ffor Gyeȝi . and al his ofspryng [ 35] weore vn hole . for þis mis takyng. þorwh þis Resun . is symonye Clept lepre . in Bok gostlye, As þis lepre . and oþur mo Com crist in vre soule . to slo; [ 40] Of Adam lepre . Monkynde hedde smite, Til crist com . and helede hite, Riht as he heled . Bodily þis forseid vn hole mon . in hiȝ. [Dieses Exemplum, bei Gelegen∣heit der Heilung eines Aussätzigen durch Christus, ist gegen die Symo∣nie gerichtet; die das Exemplum ein∣leitenden Verse lauten:

Envye and wraþþe . and ffelenye May be clept . Lepre gostlye, And Couetyse . and symony; þat was wel seene . on Gyeȝi: ffor Gyeȝi . and al his kynde, As we in Bok of kynges fynde, was vnhol . þorwh symony þat muche spilleþ . now Clergy: ffor hit is seene . wherwiþ men Buyes wiþ worldus catel . prelacyes And þyng . þat Godus ȝifte schulde be; ffor worldus weolþe . selle we Euere whon we don . gostly dede ffor ȝifte . more þen for Godus mede. As dude sum tyme . Gyeȝi þat wox vn hol . þorwh his gileri.

] )

u. s. w.

10) hou a knyt dude his pen∣aunce among wormes.

AN holy mon . bi ȝonde þe séé was Bisschop . of a gret Citéé, Good mon he was; . and pers he hihte. And þer bi syde . woned a knihte þat þorwh kynde . was bonde and þral, [ 5] But kniht hood gat he . wiþ catel. þis Catel gat he . wiþ Okeryng And lad al his lyf in Corsyng, ffor he haunted . boþe day and niht his Okeryng, . siþen he was kniht [ 10] As faste as he dude . bi fore, And þer wiþ gat he . gret tresore. But crist þat bouht us . wiþ his pyn wolde not . þis monnes soule tyn, But ȝaf (him) grace . him self to knowe [ 15] And his synne . to þe Bisschop schowe. whon he him schrof . to þe Bisschope, þis Bisschop bad him . han good hope And asked him . ȝif he wolde take Riht penaunce . for his soule sake. [ 20] fful gladliche . wol I. take, . he seide, þe penaunce . þat on me is leyde.

þe Bisschop seide: . þou schalt meete A. Beggere . soone . in þe strete, And what so euere . he askeþ þe [ 25] ȝiue him, . and þat schal þi pen∣aunce be. wel a payed . was þis kniht, ffor him þhouȝte . his penaunce liht. And as he eode homward, . he gon meete A. Beggere, . þat feire gon hym grete [ 30] And seide: leoue sire, par charite wiþ sum almus . þou helpe me! þe kniht asked him . what he wol∣de haue. Lord, he seide, . sum whete . I. craue. hou muchel, . he seide, . askest þou me? [ 35] A. quarter, lord, . Ich aske þe. þis kniht . graunted hym his bone And let mete . his Corn . ful sone. vuel payed was þo . þe pore mon, ffor poke . ne . sak . hedde he non [ 40] wher Inne he mihte . þis whete do. And þerfore seide . þe kniht hym to: þis whete . I. rede þou sulle me, ffor ful pore . me þynkeþ þe. þis pore mon seide: . loth is me [ 45] To sulle . Godus Charite; But lene me . sum vessel þer to [47 Ms. velles st. vessel.] wher In . I. may . þyn almus do. he onswerde . and seide nay, ffor al þat þis Beggere . preye may, [ 50] And seide: . þis corn . þou sulle me, ffor vessel . wol I. non lene þe, þe Beggere mihte . no better do, But solde þis corn . a ȝeyn hym to And tok þerfore . fyue schilyng, [ 55] And went hym forþ . on his Beggyng. whon þis Corn . to þis kniht was solde, he dude hit In . a whucche to holde. And openede his whucche . on þe þridde day And fond þere . a selcouþ þyng . he say: [ 60] [60 fond ist zu tilgen.] snakes . Neddres .þer gon he fynde, And grete Blake todus . goinde, Askes, . and oþur wormes felle [63 Sm. arskes.] þat I. con not . on Englisch telle. þei leop vp to ward . his visage [ 65] And maad him al most . falle in Rage: So was he . for þeos wormes ferd. But not forþi . þe whucche he sperd. And eode to þe Bisschop . in a Res And tolde to hym . al þe caas [ 70] þe Bisschop sauh . þat God wolde take. Of þis Monnes sunnes . wrake, And seide: . ȝif þou wolt folfille wiþ worþi penaunce . godus wille And clause wiþ penaunce . riht worþi [ 75] Al þyn almus . and þi foly, I. rede . þat þou þi self . falle Naked . among þe wormes alle; ȝiue þou of þi self . no tale, To bringe þi self . out of Bale; [ 80] þeih þe wormes . þi Careyn gnawe, þi peyne lasteþ . but a þrawe, þenne schal . þi soule wende To lyuen in blisse . wiþ outen ende. þis Okerere . was selly Rad [ 85] To do . þat þe Bisschop bad, But of Merci . he hedde good hope. And ȝerne he preyed . þe Bisschope And seide: leue ffadur, . I. preye þe þat þou preye . Inwardliche for me [ 90] þat god ȝiue me his grace to fonge On my bodi . þis penaunce stronge. þis Bisschop hihte . þis mon trewely To preye for him . Inwardly. þis mon wente hom . swiþe i rad [ 95] And dude . as þe Bisschop bad, ffor among . þe wormes snelle As naked as he was boren . he felle. þeos wormes eeten . þis wrecched mon And lafte no þing . but bare bon. [ 100] þe Bisschop wente . in to þe toun, wiþ Clerkes . in gret processioun, And com in to þe knihtes wones And souhte ful ȝeorne . his holy bones, To þis forseyde whucche . he ȝode, [ 105] And openede hit . wiþ Joyful mode, And groped a mong . þe wormes laþe, But non of hem mihte . don him skaþe, And forþ he gon . þe bones drawe, And þei weore . as whit as snowe [ 110] whon alle þe bones . weore out tan, he let brenne . þe wormes ilkan, And beere þis bones . ful worschuply And buriede hem . in an Nonnery. þere God scheweþ . Miracle and miht, [ 115] And ȝiueþ blynde Men . heore siht, And croked men . he makeþ go, And leeseþ seke men . of wo, And scheweþ wel . wiþ feire ferliches þat þe bones beoþ . goode Relikes. [ 120] þis tale haue I. nou told ow here To make ow seo . on what Manere

þat þe More catel . þat mon haueþ þe More . and More . his herte craueþ, And nomeliche . þis Okereres, [ 125] þat ben Cursed . for heore aferes: But ȝif . þei here . heore lyf amende, þei wenden to wormes . wiþ outen ende þat schal hem ofte . tere and reende In helle pyne . wiþ outen ende. [ 130] þat wuste þis Bisschop . witerly, And þerfore he dude . queyntely, whon he let wormes . ete þe Man, To kepe his soule . from sathan: ffor wormes schulde . his soule han rendet, [ 135] wher so euere . hit hedde i leendet, Ȝif he ne hedde . wel beo schriuen And his Careyn . to wormes ȝiuen. But for his flesch . was pyned here, his soule is now . to God ful dere, [ 140] þere hit woneþ . wiþ pley and game. God bryng vs þider . al in same!

AMEN.

11) hou macarye say þe deuel beryng hys boystes.

(And of þat seed . þat sathan soweþ A good tale . seint Jerom schoweþ:) Off an hermyte, . an holy mon, þat woned in wast . him self al on. An(d) as he . in his Celle sat, [ 5] he sauh þe ffend . go bi þe ȝat, Boystes fele . on him he bare, Riht as he . a Leche ware. þer bi syde . was an Abbey, And þiderward . he tok þe wey. [ 10] þat holy mon, . þat sauh þe fende, Asked hym . whodur . he wolde wende. To þat abbey. . he seide, i gange, ffro þenne I. haue . I. beo to lange. þis hermyte þhouhte . gret ferly [ 15] Of his Boystes, . and asked why he Ber on him . þe Boystes alle. wiþ hem, he seide, . hoselen i schalle Alle þe breþeren . of þat Abbeye, ffor wiþ hem wol I. fonde to pleye, [ 20] And hose O Medicine . wol forsake Anoþur I. schal . make him take: Ȝif he wol not . of glotonye, I. schal hym hosele . wiþ Envye, Oþur wiþ sum oþur . spicerye [ 25] Of pruyde . and . Onde . and ffelenye, Oþur wiþ sum oþur . louely drynke þat may make hym . of synne þynke. þis hermyte . let þat feond go And ba hym come . a ȝeyn riht so. [ 30] þe hermyte preiede god . in þat neode To lette þe ffend . in þat dede. þis ffend to þat Abbey ede And fondede . ȝif he mihte spede. whon þe ffend hedde don . al þat he mihte, [ 35] he com sone a ȝeyn . bi þis hermyte; wiþ careful chere . sore he sihte, ffor þat he . spede ne mihte. þis hermyte asked . him ful sone: hou hastou sped? . what hastou done? [ 40] he seide: I. haue . I. sped ful ille, ffor non of hem wolde . do my wille, wolde non of hem . my lore list, Bote on, þat hihte . Teotist, ffor I. fynde hym . redi to do [ 45] My wille euere . whon I. come hym to. whon þis was seid, . he wente a wey. And þe hermyte eode . to þat Abbey. þe Monkes come . hym alle a ȝeyn. ffor of his come . þei weore fayn. [ 50] he asked aftur . Teotistas, And þei tauht hym . wher he was, ffor alle þei woneden . in heore celle, As hit to hem . heore ordre felle. wiþ Teotist . þis hermyte mette, [ 55] And eiþer . feire oþur grette. þis hermyte asked . ȝif he weore ouht ffondet . wiþ fleschelykynge . in þouht. he onswerde . and seide nay, ffor him þhouhte . schome to say. [ 60] þis hermyte . him onswerde þan And seide: . ich am a ful old man, And ȝit not aday . to þe ende May I. my flesch . from fondyng wende: hou maiȝt þou . in þi ȝouþe [ 65] wiþ flesclich fondyng . beo vnkouþe? þis Maner spac . þe hermyte him tille To make him schewe . his þouhtes wille. And Teotist . asked Merci And seide: leue fadur, . so am I., [ 70] so harde i fondet . wiþ lecheri þat my flesch . may . I. not chasti. þis hermite . tauhte þenne . hou þat he schulde stif a ȝeyn . sathanas be. And whon þis Monk . was brouht in state, [ 75] þis hermyte wente . hom his gate. And sone aftur . eft he sawe þe fend touward . þe Abbey drawe.

And soone aftur . he com aȝeyn. And þis hermyte . bi gon to frayn [ 80] And asked him . hou he hedde isped. And he onswerde . as he weore mad And seide: allas . and weylaway, þat euere I. com . to þat abbay! ffor bi no maner . may I. wynne [ 85] Of þe lordeyns . þat wone þer Inne, ffor non of hem . lykeþ my play, But alle þei cacche . me away, In hem part . may i haue riht non ffor alle þe craftus . þat I. con; [ 90] ffor Teotist, . þat me was left, Is nou from me . schomely reft: To me was he wont . to beo bayn, And nou is he . me stiuest a ȝeyn; þerfore i seo . þat me ne dare [ 95] To þat Abbeye . drawe no mare. þis hermyte . þonked God almihti þat made þe ffendes craft . Empti. þis tale . ful openly schowes what seed . þe fend of helle sowes. [ 100]

u. s. w.

12)

a. hou vr lady gaf a good wyf a sherge.

A Tale of þis feste [Candlemas day.] . I. haue herd hou hit . of a wydewe ferd þat louede vr ladi . so wel þat heo let make hire . a Chapel, And vche day . deuoutely [ 5] heo herde Masse . of vre ladi. ffel auntur . þat hire prest was gon On his ernde, . and Masse hedde heo non. And com þis Condulmasse . feste, And heo wolde han, . as wyf honeste, [ 10] hire Masse; . and for heo mihte gete non, heo was a ful sori . wommon. In hire Chapel . heo made preyere And fel aslepe . bi fore þe Autere. And as heo lay a slepe, . hire þhouhte [ 15] þat heo in to a Chirche . was brouhte, And sayh þer come . a gret Cumpany Of feire Maydenes, . wiþ a ladi, And alle þei sete . on Rowe ful raþe, And olde men . and ȝonge baþe [ 20] Com aftur hem . and sete hem by. And a Clerk brouhte . serges in hiȝ, And eueri mon . he ȝaf on, And so he ȝaf . þe slepynde wommon. And twey Clerkes . heo saih comande [ 25] In sorplys, . wiþ serges in hande; And aftur hem, . Reuested raþe, Com sodekne . and dekne baþe; And Crist him self . com þer nest, Reuested . as a Masse prest. [ 30] þei eode to þe Auter . gladly greyde, And priue preyere . þer þei seide, And Clerkes bi gonne . sone þe mes, As Costum . in holichirche is. whon þei come . to heore offrand, [ 35] þis ladi eode, . wiþ serge in hand, And offred furst, . as Comely Qwene, And aftur hire . oþure bi deene. þis wommon sat euer stille, . as hire þouht, ffor offre hire condel . wolde heo nouht. [ 40] þe prest a bod . by fore þe autere, But heo nolde . come hym neere. And word to hire . sende vre ladi And seide þat heo dude . vyleny To make þe prest . bide hire so longe, [ 45] And bad heo schulde . rise and gange And offre hire serge, . as oþur hedde don. And heo onswerde . and seide son: wel mote þe prest . þe Masse forþ synge, ffor my condel . wol not I. him bringe; [ 50] But go and sey . to my ladi: þat God haþ sent me . holden wol I. A. ȝeyn eode . þis Messagere And tolde his ladi . hire onswere. his ladi bad him . anon go [ 55] And take þe serge . wiþ strengþe hire fro, ȝif heo wolde not . wiþ gode wille hit ȝelde. But whon he com, . faste heo hit heolde ffor al þat he mihte . preye and say, [59 Ms. sayh.] stifliche heo heold . hire condul ay. [ 60] And he ron to hire . atte laste And drouh þe serge, . and heo heold faste, þis Condul brac . bi twene hem two— And heo a wok . of slepe riht þo And fond a trounsun . redi Broken [ 65] And faste . in boþe hire hondes loken. heo þhouȝte þer of . ful gret ferly, And þonked god . and vre lady þat wolde such pryuite hire schowe, And let men hit . wiþ tokne knowe: [ 70] ffor redi tokne . was þis trounsun Of þis ferly . a visioun. þis trounsoun . for relyk heo heold Al hire lyf . (wiþ) worschipe and beld,

And ȝit doþ, . as we fynde i told, [ 75] fful feire Miracles . mony fold. Beo þis tale, . as þinkeþ me, May we vr ladies cumfort se þat wolde proue . þis wyues wille And hire longyng . wiþ Joye folfille, [ 80] And not al one . in heuene riche, But in eorþe here . wiþ feir ferliche, ffor feir ferliche . was þis trounsoun þat heo gat . wiþ deuocioun.

u. s. w.

b. hou on abbesse wyt chylde was delyuered þorou vr lady.

(ffor do a Mon neuer so gret synne, And he haue wille . hit to blynne And asken hire Merci . riht Inwardly, he may beo syker . of Merci.) ÞAt may we seo . by a ladi [ 5] þat was . In a Nonneri. But as heo eode vppon a day A. boute neodes . of hire Abbay, In Cloutes . beo þe wey . heo fond A ȝong Maydechild . weopand. [ 10] And hedde pite . of þat fyndyng, And let hit . in to hire Nonnery bryng, And let hit beo . ful wel i kept. And siþen to boke . heo hit set, And made hit Nonne . in þat Nonneri, [ 15] And louede hit . ful Inwardly— ffor heo louede, . as god wommon, hire gostly douhtres euerichon. And so wel ordre . louede ho þat no mis . mihte hire douhtres do [ 20] þat heo ne chastised hem . in hiȝ And made hem leue . heore foly. Goode wymmen . louede hire forþi, Bote fooles . hatede hire dedly. To hire hedde . þe fend envye [ 25] And fondet hire . inwardlye, ffor niht . and day . he was bysy To tende lust . in hire body. And atte laste . in lecheri he made hire falle . wrecchedly: [ 30] ffor hire spenser . kneuh hire fleschly. And hire wombe . wox gret in hiȝ. But feire heo bar hire not . forþi, As wymmen doþ . þat don foly. heo bi þouhte hire . niht . and . day [ 35] To whom heo miht best . hire coun∣seil say. And hir þhouhte wel . þat best mihte ho hire derne dede . to hire vndo whom heo hedde . from fyndyng fed And feire . in Nonne wede . I. cled, [ 40] ffor heo was holden . to hire mast, To beo to hire trewe . and studefast. heo clepte þis Nonne . pryuely And seide to hire: . douhtur, Merci! I. haue a derne . priuite [ 45] To telle . by twene þe . and me; But ded me were leuere . to be þen þou of my dede . outed me, ffor, ȝif þou me . þer of Melde, I. haue lost . worldus belde. [ 50] þis Nonne onswerde . and seide: ladi, ffor al þis worldus gold nolde I Do þing þat were . a ȝeyn þe; þerfore ladi, . tel þou me wiþ oute doute . þi pryuete, [ 55] ffor þenne maiht þou proue . my lewete; Tel baldeliche . þi wille to me, ffor siker may þou . of me be! þis Abbes leued . wel hire sawe, And al hire synne . heo gon hire schawe, [ 60] And seide: leue douhtur, . me is wo, ffor grete wiþ childe . nou I. go. þis Nonne onswerde . and seide: ladi, Beo þou þerfore . no þing sory! ffor wel i schal . þi Counseil hele [ 65] And don wiþ þe . as douhtur lele; ffor, whon þis child is boren, . þen schal I Don hit of dawe . so pryuely þat no wiht schal . þe wepyng here, And delue hit seþþe . in vre herbere. [ 70] þis Abbes leued hire . ful wel And wende þat heo weore . trewe as stel. But hos saueþ a þef . from hongynge, Or bringeþ vp such . a foundelynge, Of neiþer geteþ he . menske ne mede, [ 75] Ne socour, . whon þat he haþ nede. ffor þat was sene . ful openly In þis fyndynge, . þat hire ladi Beo wried . to þe Bisschop sone And tolde him . what heo hedde i done. [ 80] who was wroþ . but þis Bisschope! ffor of þis abbes . he hed(d)e hope þat heo hedde ben . a good wymman, And for þouhte . þat heo hedde mis tan. hire douhtres . herde . of hire foly, [ 85] And summe were glade, . and summe sori. ffor badde wymmen . weore ful fayn þat þei hedde chesun . hire a ȝeyn. And wiþ here lettres . preyed þay þat þe Bisschop schulde . sende hem day, [ 90]

To proue her abbesse . synful play, þat heo mihte not . þer a ȝeyn say. whon day was set, . þe tyme com neih þat þis abbes . schulde peynes dreih And beo dilyuered . of hire childe: [ 95] heo made hire mone . to Marie mylde. þat niht . in hire Chapel . heo wok þat wyues scholde on þe Morwe hire lok: ffor þe Bisschop . a ȝeyn þe Morwen somounde wyues . hym bi foren, [ 100] þat þei schulde . him þe soþe say wher þis Abbes . were a May. And þerfore was þis abbes . aferd, whon heo . of þis tiþing herd. heo weop ful sore . on vre ladi [ 105] And asked hire help . and Merci. whon heo was weori . of hire preyer, heo fel on slepe . bifore þe Auter. To hire com sone . vre ladi And snibbed hire . of hire foly; [ 110] On hire wombe . heo leyde hire hond: And þis abbes . was, al slepand, Dilyuered . of a knaue childe, And siþen was . good mon and Milde. vr ladi tok þis child, . al warm, [ 115] And leyde hit . in an Angles Barm, And bad him bere . þat child . riȝt tyte vppon hire half . to an hermyte þat wonede þeoþene Myles seuene. And þis childes nome . gon heo ne∣mene. [ 120] Bid him, heo seide, . þis child Baptise And bring hit vp, . as good norise. whon þis was seid, . heo wente a way. And þe Abbesse a wok . þer heo lay. On hire bare kneos . heo hire sette, [ 125] And sweteliche . vr ladi grette, And seide: ladi, . I. þonke þe, fful wel hastou . dilyuered me. And in þat Chapel . al þat niht heo þonked vr ladi . til day liht. [ 130] þe Bisschop com . wiþ his clergye A Morwe . to þat . Nonnerye, To ȝiue riht laweful . Juggement Of þis abbes . þat was so schent. But he let wyues . not forþi [ 135] Loke allerfurst . hire bodi, And maad hem swere . þat þei schulde say ȝif þat heo weore . a clene may. And whon þei hedde . hire bodi sene, heo semed a Mayden, . as clene [ 140] As heo neuer hedde . i touched bene. And þeose wyues come . alle bydene And sworen þat heo was . Mayden clene. And þe Bisschop . was þenne ful kene On þat Nonne . þat tolde hym þe tale, [ 145] And bad heo schulde . be brend in Bale As wikked wommon . þat wikkedly hedde i lyȝed , on hire Lady. þis Abbesse hedde . on hire pite þat heo for hire . scholde i damp∣ned be, [ 150] And tolde þe Bisschop . pryuely þe soþe . and hou vr lady Diliuerede hire . and made hire al quite And sende hire sone . to þat hermyte, To Norische . and to sette to lore. [ 155] And þe Bisschop . wiþ swetly swore A soylede hire . and þonked Mari þat is to synful . euere redi. þe Bisschop . to (þe) hermyte . sende his sonde þat þere hire child . In Cradul fonde. [ 160] And whon hit was . of seuen ȝere, þe Bisschop made hit . a good scolere. And whon þis ilke Bisschop . was ded, þis Clerþ was Bisschop . in his stedd'. Beo þis tale . may ȝe rediliche se [ 165] þat no synful . þar schamed be, haue þei do neuere . such foly, ȝif þei calle . on vre ladi. þerfore, ȝif ȝe in synne falle, I. rede þat we . on Marie calle [ 170] þat heo purchace vs . grace to rise, And siþþe dwelle . in hire seruyse Euermore . to vr lyues ende: And siker may we beo . to wende In to þat court . þer heo is Qwene. [ 175] þider heo bringe vs . alle bi dene!

AMen.

13) De quodam heremita vo∣cato non electo.

WE fynden I. writen . of an hermyte þat lyuede longe . w^t outen wyte, ffor he woned . in wildernesse And serued God . In rihtwysnesse. But sathanas . þorwh Onde . and nyþe [ 5] Com aȝeyn hym, . his Maystrie to kiþe. To him he com . in knaue liknes, And dude greten hym . In wildernes, And seide: . þi Modur . and þi frende haþ maad me hider . forte wende, [ 10] And grette þe wel . and preyede þe þat þou come to hem . wiþ me,

fforte despende . þi fadur þyng þat he lafte . aftur his endyng; ffor, while he lyuede, . faste preyed he [ 15] þat þou his sekatur . mihte be. þat day, he seide, . þi fadur dyed— But falsliche . as a þeef . he lyȝed. þeos wordus seide . þe fend of helle, To bringe þis hermyte . out of his Celle. [ 20] þis hermyte wende . þat al soþ were þat þis Messager . tolde hym þere. hamward wiþ hym . gon he wende— ffor wuste he not . hit was þe fende. whon he com hom, . his ffadur he fond [ 25] In good stat . and styf hosebond. But sone . whon he his Modur sawe, Out of his siht . went his felawe. And his ffadur . ful feire hym cald. And al to gedere . his fadur he tald [ 30] how sathanas . made him comen hom— ffor of his hom come . him þouhte schom. But worldes wele . sone hym gert puyte serwe and schome . out of his hert: ffor so longe . in his fadur house [ 35] was he, . þat he þouhte to spouse. he tok hym wyf, . as fool vnwys, And dyȝed . in sathanas seruys. Beo þis tale . þat I. haue her told May we seo: þauh we be cald [ 40] To Religiun, . not forþi May we no(t) wite . sikerly wheþer we beo chosun . in blisse to beo— As we may . bi þis hermyte seo: ffor he was cald, . and not chosun, [ 45] ffor his dedes . made him beo loren.

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14) hou seynt Maryne was diffamed. [Eine andere Version der Marina enthält Ms. Harl. 2253 fol. 64; ähn∣lich im Stoffe ist Theodora im Ms. Vernon fol. 92.]

A Riche mon . by olde dawes þouhte to leue . þis worldus plawes, And turnede hym . to Religioun, And þer to . made he . hym boun. A douhtur he hedde. . þat he bi tauhte [ 5] To his frendes . wiþ al his auhte, And bad þei schulde take . to hire entente. And so . to an Abbeye . he wente And Monk he was . I. schore þare. And so boxum lyf . ladde he þare [ 10] þat his Abbot . louede hym mare þen eny Monk . þat wonede þare. he lyuede longe . in þat Abbay And seruede God . boþe niht and day. But him dradde . þat god schulde tyne [ 15] his douhtur, . þat was clept . Maryne; ffor hire . was his herte sare, ffor in Ordre . he wolde heo ware. his Abbot sauh him beo sori And asked hym . wherfore . and whi [ 20] he made such chere . . and he hym tald þat he hedde a sone, . þat was cald Maryn. . and fayn, he seyde, . I. wolde þat he weore brouht . to Godus folde. his Abbot wolde . þis child fayn haue, [ 25] ffor he wende . hit weore a knaue, And bad him go . aftur hym swiþe. But her may ȝe . gret' ferly liþe! þis Monk . aftur his douhtur ede, And cloþed hir wel . in Monnes wede, [ 30] And tauhte hire . hou heo schulde lyue And al hire herte . to Ihc̄ ȝiue, And bad þat heo schulde . neuer mare Lete mon wite . þat heo wommon ware. whon he hedde tauht hire . hire lessoun, [ 35] he brouht hire . in to Religioun. And ffrere Maryn . heo was cald, And for a good Monk . heo was told, ffor heo was good . and seruisable And in Religiun . ful stable. [ 40] hire wommonhed . so wel heo hud, þat to no mon . hit was kud. heo woned . in hire ffadur Celle, And he tauht hire . þat to hire felle: hou heo schulde . boþe Niht . and day [ 45] hire seruise . and hire sauter say. And whon deþ hedde . hire fadur tan, heo wonede . in hire celle al an, In hard penaunce . and goode preyere: þat maade hire . to crist . leef and dere. [ 50] ffel auntur . þat hire breþur ede In labour, . to don heore dede: heore labour was . ston beryng Toward þe werk . of heore buyldyng. And for Maryn was . wys and war, [ 55] heo was set . to lede a Car. ffer fro þe Abbey . was a quarere, And þer was wonynge . a Breustere.

þer lay Maryne . ofte a niht, whon heo mihte not come . hom bi liht. [ 60] ffel auntur . þat a ȝong sweyn hedde þis Breusteres douhter bi leyn. And whon þe child . in wombe was seene, hire frendes weore . at hire ful kene And asked ho hadde . hire bi leyn. [ 65] And heo tolde hem . þat frere Maryn hedde forced hire. . and þei weore wraþe And tolde his Abbot . ful raþe þat Maryn hedde . þat may for leyȝen. And his Abbot . seide þer a ȝeyn, [ 70] ffor he wende not . hit soþ mihte be: so wel frere Maryn . leeued he. he clepte to hym . Maryn soone And asked ȝif he . þe synne hedde done. And mayde Maryne . hire bi þouhte [ 75] hou gultiles crist on Rode . hire bouhte: þerfore on hire . wolde heo take þis foreseid synne . for cristes sake, And seide: leue ffadur, . preye for me þat my synne . for ȝiue be! [ 80] I. may not seyn . a ȝeyn þis chaunce þat I. nam worþi . gret penaunce. whon þis abbot . herde þis, he was ful wroþ . wiþ hire i wis, And seide: Maryn, . allas allas, [ 85] þat þou in þis hous . I. ȝolden was! þi ffadur was . an holy Man, And þorwh him þou were . hider tan; Allas þat euere . þou come her Inne! ffor þou hast schent . þis hous wiþ synne. [ 90] And for þou hast . þis Abbey schent, I. do þe here . out of Couent; ffor þou hast . so wraþþed Ihc̄, þou mayht no more . wone wiþ vs. þo was Maryn . I. do to þe ȝate. [ 95] And sore bi gon heo . forte grate And hard penaunce . he(o) tok hir on, [97 Ms. he.] Riht as heo hedde . þe dede i don. On werke dayes, . whon þe Couent fforþ atte ȝate . to labour went, [ 100] þei sayh Maryn . sitte so schent. And summe of hem . ful sore hir ment And bred or while . to hire brouhte þay: And þer wiþ lyuede heo . mony a day. þis Breusters douhtur, . of whom . I. ment, [ 105] þat hedde Maryn . þus I. schent, hedde a knaue child . at hire tym. And some, whon heo hedde . I. wened hym, heo bi tauhte hit . to ffrere Maryn, And seide: lo.Mon, . þis child is þyn; [ 110] I. haue wel fed hit . ȝit hider to, ffeed now hit forþ, . ȝif þou wolt do! wiþ Maryn . hire sone . lafte ho. And Maryn tok . þis child hire to And ȝaf hit . gladliche . to ete [ 115] Of such almus . as heo mihte gete. And two wynter . heo fedde hit þare, Riht as hit . hire owne ware. [118 Ms. hit ware (hit also doppelt).] whon Maryn hedde . I. lad hire lyue In þis penaunce . ȝeres fyue, [ 120] þe Couent hedde . of hire pyte And preyede . þe Abbot þat he schulde lete Maryn . come hem among, And seiden: his penaunce . was to strong, ffor atte ȝate . is he to longe, [ 125] And vs þinkeþ . þat is wronge: Bi fore vs alle . his sunne he tolde, And haþ leyen . atte ȝate ful colde; And þenne . wol he neuer go, But dwelle stille . in alle wo. [ 130] we preye þat he . mote come In, ffor god haþ for ȝiuen hym . his syn. But vnneþe . wiþ gret barete Mihte þei leue . at þe Abbot gete þat Maryn mihte come . fro þe ȝate. [ 135] But atte laste . he gat in late, ffor þei preyed . for him so faste þat he was i fet . atte laste. whon heo byfore . þe abbot com, þe Abbot schewed hire . his doom. [ 140] he seide: to penaunce . ȝiue I. þe þat to vs alle . þou driuel be: þe Couent schon . schaltou smere And watur . to vre foreyn bere, ffor þou hast . a Mayde forleyn, [ 145] þou schalt clansen . vre foreyn, And vre Cuchene . schaltou make clene And wassche vr vessel . al by dene; And, aftur i seo . þi Mekenesse, þi trauayle schal I. make lesse. [ 150] Maryn . in to þe kechene went And dude . al his Comaundement, wiþ oute grucchynge . wel dude ho Al þat þe abbot . bad hire do. But sone aftur . dude god his wille [ 155] Of hire . and tok hire hym tille. And þe Abbot, . whon heo was ded, Tok sone . wiþ his couent red.

Out of þe Chirche ȝerd . he dude hire delue Al one in felde . by hire selue, [ 160] And seide . two Monkes: . goþ in hyȝe And wasscheþ . ffrere Maryn bodye, And aftur . delf hit in þe felde, þat sathanas . þe soule ne welde; þe more schome . þat þe bodi dryes, [ 165] þe fastore þe soule . from pyne flyes. To flermerye . þis Monkes went, To do þe Abbotes . Comaundement. But whon þei sauh . he was wommon. þei fellen criȝynge . to þe Erþe vchon, [ 170] And seiden: . ladi, . Allas Allas, A ȝeyn þe we han . mis taken vs, In word . and dedes . mony on! þerfore to þe . we make . vre Moon. preye for vs . þat god vs amende! [ 175] ffor we seon oþur . þen we wende: we wende þat þou . a Mon hedde ben, But, ladi, . now is oþur sen; þerfore, ladi, . sore we vs mene þat euer we dude þe wo . or tene; [ 180] ffor openliche . we may heere se þat Godus werkes . are priue, ffor he wol make . no dune ne ȝelpe þer he wiþ his grace . wol helpe. þeos Monkes . to heor abbot ron [ 185] And seide frere Maryn . was wommon. ffeorly hym þhouȝte . of þis tiþing And to þe Cors . he com rennyng. And sone . whon he þe soþe seih, he fel and seide, . criȝinge ful heih: [ 190] Ladi Maryne, . for Godus sake Let God no wreche . on me take, ffor vnwitynge . I. dude þe mis, As mon þat ofte . deseyued is. þerfore I. preye þe . forȝiue hit me, [ 195] þe muchel schome . þat I. dude þe. whon he hedde seid þis . and more, wiþ herte . and wiþ wepyng sore, he let keuere . þe cors riht þare wiþ pal . and wiþ riche fare [ 200] And siþen beren hit . derworþ(l)ye wiþ Joyful song . in Chirche to lye. þer was þis corseynt . leid in toumbe, And ȝiueþ nou hele . to def and doumbe, And oþure seke men . ful fele [ 205] han ȝit . at hire toumbe . heore hele. þis Breusteres douhtur . wox wood, And com criȝinde . wiþ grisly mood And tolde þe folk . as wodewose wilde who gat on hire . þis forseyde childe. [ 210] hire frendes say . þat for hire synne þe fend was comen . hire wiþ Inne. And harde wiþ Ropes . þei hire band And ladde hire siþen . sore wepand To Marynes toumbe, . and woken hire þare. [ 215] And God sende hire . good hele fulȝare. þis longe tale . I haue ou told To Make ow . in oure hertes bold, ffor þat mon . ful blessed is þat con lyuen . in Mekenis [ 220] And grucche not . a ȝeyn mis sawe. ffor, þei me do hym wrong . a þrowe, he may beo siker . of goode Mede, ȝif he suffre mekeliche . his misdede. ffor euer þe more . wrongwysnes [ 225] þat gode men þolen here . gultiles, þe more schal heore mede beo Bi fore crist . þat is so freo.

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15) Pater noster for seynt bernardes palfray.

WE fynde I. write . þat seynt Bernard Eode enes . to a Cite ward Aboute his owne . Abbey nedes, And sauh a plouh mon . don his dedes. seynt Bernard . bad hym god spede [ 5] And spac to hym . of soule nede. And as he spac . on þis Manere, he asked what . was his preyere. he seide: . preyere con I. non But my pater noster . al on. [ 10] seint Bernard . onswerde þon Anon . to þis plouh Mon: what þenkestou, good mon, . al weis, whon þou þi pater noster . seis? þen, seide he, . is al my þouht [ 15] On crist . þat me on Rode bouht. seynt Bernard þenne . seide him to: wel is þe . þat so may do! ffor so fareþ hit . not wiþ me þat Mon of Ordre . schulde be: [ 20] ffor my þouht goþ . boþe fer and neer Or while . whon I. seye . my preyeer. þis plouh mon seide: . þat were ferly þat þou schuldest . ben worse þen I: þou hast good pees . in þyn Abbay, [ 25] þou ouhtest vuele . lete þi þouhtes (s)tray. seint Bernard . onswerde hym þan And seide: . þou art an holy man; But fond now . ȝif þou may wiþ outen Idel þouht . þi paternoster say [ 30]

Of al þis ilke . longe day, And I. wol ȝiue þe . my palfray. ho was fayn . but þis plouh mon! And pater noster . he by gon. But, ar he mihte . þreo wordus say, [ 35] was al his þouht . on his palfray: Lord, he þouhte, . wher I. schal haue Boþe sadel . and Bridel . and þe knaue? þis pater noster . was I. seid sone. But he sauh wel, . whon he hedde i done, [ 40] þat he þouhte . idel þouht þer In. And, as he wolde hit eft by gyn, þis hors was in his þouht . al weys. And so lost he . hors and herneis: ffor seynt Bernard . wuste what he þouht; [ 45] þerfore of hym . ȝaf he riht nouht. þus fareþ hit ȝit . of folk ful fele þat þenkeþ more . on heore catele In preyere . þen of soule hele, And so . heore owne selue . þei tele. [ 50] ffor God wol not . heore preyere here þat preyeþ hym . on such manere.

u. s. w.

15) þe story off placidas.

AN heþene kniht . hihte placidas, But heþene Mon . longe he was, ffor coude he nout . of Cristendome, And ȝit þat tyme . he woned in Rome. But þo . ȝif þer eny weore, . wist, [ 5] þat leeued . and loued . Ihū Crist, schulde hard passiun . and pyne drie And on schomely deþ dye; þerfore . was cristendom þo hyd, ffor no cristene mon . dorste beo kyd. [ 10] þerfore placidas . was not to wyte Of Cristendom . ne here of hite. But noble kynde . of gentyl bloode Drouh hym a non . to Maners goode, ffor reuþe of herte . and Charite [ 15] Euere . to þe pore . schewed he, ffor he helped . wiþ almus dede Alle þat of hym hedde nede; And ofte he bouhte . of prisoun Caytyf men . wiþ gret Raunsoun; [ 20] And oþur goode dedes . dude he fele— But longe hit were . alle to mele: ffor Crist . to Cristendom hym cald ffor his goode dedes . mony fold— As I. schal forþurmore . ȝou telle, [ 25] whon I. come þerto . in my spelle. But furst bi houeþ me . to sey ow On what manere . and how sire placidas . for his goodnes, And for his miht . and his prouwes [ 30] hedde in Rome . ful gret pouste. ffor artilous . and wys was he, he was stif . to stonde in stour, And war . aȝein mis Auentour: þerfore . Traian, . þe Emperour, [ 35] heold hym . in hold, . in gret honour: he was Mayster . in alle fihtes Ouer alle . þe Emperoures knihtes. In alle his neodes . was he wys And trewe . in his lordes seruys. [ 40] Of gentel kynde . he hedde a wyf, An hende ladi . and good of lyf: ffor hende heo was . of al hire dede, And helped alle . þat hedde nede: ffor no pore . com to hire hous [ 45] [45 Ms. þat com.] þat heo ne ȝaf . sum almous; In word . and . werk . was heo stable And to hire lord . seruisable. A good gederyng . was of hem two, ffor such folk . beo nou ful fo. [ 50] þei hedde twey knaue children . in same, And of hem hedde þei Joye and game, ffor þei suwed . wiþ miht of Moode [53 of st. and.] Boþe ffadur . and Modur . in maners goode. sire placidas . ouer alle þyng [ 55] Louede venerye, . þat is hontyng. And as he eode . vppon a day wiþ his honters . for to play, A. feir herde of deor . he sawe. And toward heom . gon he drawe. [ 60] But in þe herde . an hert he seih þat was so gret, . hoge . and heih þat such an hert hedde he neuer sene. And hym to take . he was ful kene. þis hert . he chased . vp .and . doun, [ 65] In wode . and . pleyn, . dale . and doun, so faste . þat he wente in hast ffrom alle men . in to a wast. In þis wast . was a gret Clyf, þat was ful heih, . brod . and stif: [ 70] In to þis clif . þis hert vp lep And stod on ston, . þat stag vp step. And placidas . suwed hym so neih [73 Ms. placidaci.] And sauh þis grete hert . I. lope so heih þat of his lupe . ferly hym þouht, [ 75] And to hym reche . mihte he nouht. And as he stod . on hym starande, he sauh . bi twene his hornes . stande

A Crois, . and crist þer on . hangande. And in swou (!) . he fel nerhande, [ 80] ffor he mihte not wel . sitte vpriht: so a frayed he was . of þat siht, But faste he leop doun . of his stede, And þouhte luytel . of his knihthede. And vp he sturte . from eorþe in heih, [ 85] And þouhte of hym self . gret ferly, And seide: . of whom . a gast am I. þat schulde beo kniht. bold . and hardi? And faste hym self . gon he blame, ffor him þouhte . of hym self . gret schame. [ 90] he steih on stede and houede stille To loke on þat ferly . his fille. And sone he sauh . more sel ouþ, ffor þe hert spak to hym . wiþ mouþ And seide : . whi hast þou chased me? [ 95] I am come . to take þe: To me . leof and dere þou is ffor þyn almus . and þi godnis; I. am þi lord . and þy kyng, Bute þou hast of me . no knowyng. [ 100]

ÞEn þhouȝte þis kniht . wel more ferly, And onswerde . ful Myldely And seide: . what þow art . þou me schowe, þat I. may þe . for lord knowe, And aftur . tel me þy wille, [ 105] And gostlich wol I. hit folfille; Tel me þerfore what þu ert. And God spak to hym . in þat hert And tolde hym . hou he made of nouht þis world, . and hou he adam wrouht, [ 110] And hou he . Mon on Rode bouht Anf from helle . wiþ his deþ hym brouht, And muchel þyng . he tolde hym þere þat nou . longe (to) tele were. fful muchel I. gladet . was placidas, [ 115] whon crist hedde i seid hym . what he was; he fel on kneo . deuouteliche And þonked crist . inwardliche þat cristene feiþ . hedde hym told And from mis bileeue . hedde hym cald, [ 120] And seide: lord, . þou me say hou I. schal serue . þe to pay! Crist onswerde . and seide hym þan how he schulde bi come . cristene man, "And aftur . come to me . here, [ 125] Mo of my priuetes . to lere!"

Whon þis was seid, . hom he ede, þenkyng on crist . and on his rede. he fond al his men . in o place, But hedde he no talent . to chase [ 130] whon he com hom, . his wyf he told how crist . to his knowynge . him cald. heo worschiped God, . as good ladi, And þonked hym . Inwardly þat such miracle . wolde hym schowe [ 135] And from misbyleeue . so feire hem drawe. And seide: . vre false Maumetes beoþ nouht þat ben of ston . and Metal wrouht, And we han ben . to longe vn wyse And lad vre lyf . in heore seruyse: [ 140] þerfore . wol we now . hem forsake And vs . to cristes seruise . take. A boute Midniht . ros heo and he And lafte slepynge . al heore Meyne, And tok wiþ hem . heore childre two. [ 145] And to a Bisschop . gunne þei go þat wonede . priuely in Roome And was hed . of cristendome. And þis Bisschop . ful feire hem cald. And placidas . his wille hym told [ 150] And to þe Bisschop . gon he schawe þe feire Miracle . þat he sawe. þe Bisschop þonked . Ihū crist, And in his nome . hem Baptist, And ȝaf newe nome . to placidas [ 155] And cald hym . atte fantston Eustas, And his wyf he called . Theophiste, And his eldore sone . Teopiste, And his ȝongere sone . he cald Agapite, . we fynde i told,— [ 160] And cumforted hem . of godus grace. And hom þei wente . to heore place.

Erly a Morwe . Ros sire Eustas And eode to wode, . as he wolde chas. And wente from his men . In hast [ 165] And com in to . þat ilke wast þer he þis fore seid ferly . sawe. And to þe Roche . gon he drawe: And sauh þulke Miracle . þare þat he bi fore . sauh ȝare. [ 170] he lihted of his hors . in heiȝe And þonked crist . derworþlye And seide: lord, . I. þonke þe þat þou hast mad . þi kniht . of me! And comen ich am . eft þe tille, [ 175] To wite more . of þi wille.

Crist onswerde . and seide þan To seint Eustas, . þis holy man: þow hast wel I. sped, . Eustas! ffor þou hast geten . nou my graas [ 180] And þou hast cast . sathanas And fald hym . as traitour in plas—

And wiþ þe . is he wroþ . forþi. But of o þyng . þe warne I: þat he wol fonde . ful bisily [ 185] T(o) Cuiþe to þe . his feleny: he wol þe fonde . on mony wyse, ffor þou leuest . his seruyse— þeih he do so, . nis no ferly: ffor me he fondet . bysily. [ 190] þerfore . bi foren . warny þe, To make þe stif . a ȝeyn hym be And ouer come . his wikkednes wiþ pacience . and Mekenes; Let Mekenes . beo þi scheld . and spere, [ 195] ffor þer wiþ maiȝt þou . best þe were: ffor þer wiþ feld I. his Maystri And made hym ligge . and criaunt cri; þerfore, þeih he . beo breme . and wood, Loke þat þou beo . Meke of Mood, [ 200] ffor he schal fonde þe . as fast As he dude Job. . but atte last schal I. ful wel . dilyuere þe Of fondyng . and take þe to me; þe blisse of heuene . I. þe bi hihte, [ 205] To make þe stalworþe . and wihte A ȝeyn þe fend, . þat is my fo, þat schal þe don . schome and wo. But þeih he reue þe . þi catele, And lond . and leode, . and worldus wele, [ 210] And euer þe more . he þe fondes: þe more þonke þou . godus sondes; ffor, euere þe more . he fondeþ þe, þe more schal . þi Meede be. such wordus seide crist . to Eustas, [ 215] To make hym suwe . his owne tras. ffor hose wol come . to his blis ffondyng . he mot þole i wis; ffor, euere þe betere . and þe holyere þat cristene Men . in þis world here, [ 220] [220 here st. er, oder er (are) fehlt.] þe fastore . fondeþ sathanas To fonden hem . as his dedly fos. þat ȝe may seo . bi vre gospelle, þerfore . al þis tale . i telle: ffor seint Matheu . þer telleþ vs [ 225] how sathanas fondet Ihc̄. þerfore . ferly is hit non þeih sathanas fonde . synful mon— As ȝe mihte here me . longer telle, whon I. hedde vndon . þe gospelle; [ 230] But heer my prechynge . leue wol I And tellen ow forþ . of Eustas stori.

Whon crist hedde I. cumforted . sire Eustas, Boþe wiþ his word . and wiþ his graas, And warned hym . of sathanas [ 235] þat hym to fonde . ful bisy was, And hihte hym . heueneriche . to mede ffor þis trauayl . and his good dede, And tolde . what was . heuene riche: Of þis tale . gon Eustas wel lyke [ 240] And seide: lord, . I. am redie ffor þi loue . forte dye; But leoue lord, . ȝif me miht To stonde a ȝeyn . þe fend in fiht, þat I. ne leose . wiþ grucchyng [ 245] þe Muchele Meede . of my fondyng! A ȝeyn þe fend . I. falle in place, But þou helpe me . wiþ þi grace.

Crist onswerde . and seide: Eustas, siker beo þou . of my gras! [ 250] ffor ich ouhte . wiþ skile and riht To helpe . in alle neode . my kniht; Go forþ, . beo bold and hardi, ffor i schal helpe þe . trewely! whon crist hedde seid þis . and mare, [ 255] Out of his siht . he wente ȝare. And hamward glad eode . sire Eustas— But he hedde no wille . deor to chaas! what crist seide . his wyf he told And bad hire ben hardi . and bold [ 260] Aȝeyn þe fend . þat hym schulde fonde, As crist hedde i don hym . to vndur∣stonde.

HIs wyf onswerd . as wommon wys: þeih þe fend . a ȝeyn vs rys And do vs teone . and wandreþe, [ 265] whon Ihc̄ wole . he may hit leþe. þerfore me þynkeþ . hit is resoun þat we beo redi . euere and boun To soffre mekelyche . þe fendes greef, As longe as crist wole . ȝiue vs leue— [ 270] ffor we wite wel . we may not do, But crist ȝiue vs leue . þer to. þerfore, . ȝif þe fend vs fonde, þonke we vr lord . al his sonde And to his wille . boxum beo we [ 275] þat bouht vs deore . on Rode tre. ffayn was Eustas . of þis onswere And redi . to þe fendes were. And sathanas . bi gon in hiȝe To kuiþe a ȝeyn hem . his Maistrie: [ 280] ffor furst he slouh . al heore meyne, And no lyuynde best . hem left he Bote hem selue . and heore childre two— ffor cristene men . may he not slo.

vppon þe niht . com þeues fele [ 285] And tok heore auhte . and heore catele. But for al þis . grucched þei nouht, ffor on Ihc̄ . was al heore þouht. But whon þei hedde . no cloþ to were, þei ne mihte for schome . dwelle no lengere, [ 290] But vppon aniht . þei eode Of toune . for pouert . and nede. And in þe cuntre . þer be syde þei eode from toun . to toun . wel wyde And wiþ heore trauayle mony a day [ 295] As pore werkmen . lyueden þay.

PE Emperour . a Mong al þis Made a gret feste, . as costum is Of kynges, . whon þei hedde conquered heore fon . þat aȝeyn hem wered. [ 300] And whon þis feste . al ordeynd was, þe kyng let calle . placidas, ffor he was woned . to sette þe Mes And serue þe Emperour . atte des— And Mayster . of his knihtes alle [ 305] he was, . and bern best . in halle. sire placidas . was longe i souht In Rome, . but founden was he nouht. Gret ferly . of hym þei þouht, ffor alle his men . to eorþe weore brouht, [ 310] Coude no mon telle . of hym tiþing, ffor his paleys . empti þei fynd; wuste no mon . whodur he was comen Ne ho his goodes . hedde I. nomen. ffolk weore . for hym sori, [ 315] ffor þei louede him . inwardli, ffor he was . so curteis and hende þat alle goode men . weore his frende.

Evstas dredde . men schulde hym knowe, And out of kith . fer gon he drawe, [ 320] In oþur londe . wolde he be. And faste he drouh . toward þe se: ffor schipen he wolde . to oþur þede, his lyf in pouert . forte lede. And whon he com . to þe séé, [ 325] A schip ful redi . þer fond héé. In to þe schip . he wente raþe, wiþ his wyf . and his children baþe. And for his wyf . was feir womman, þe Mayster . of þe schip . was tan [ 330] In hire loue, . and þerfore he wolde þis ladi . from hire lord holde. þis was wel . in his dedes sene, ffor on Eustas . he was ful kene: ffor, as sone . as he com to londe, [ 335] he bad hym leye . schip huyre in honde, And, for Eustas . hedde nout to ȝelde, ffor his schip huyre . his wyf he heolde. But God kepte wel . þat ladi, ffor non mihte . touche hire bodi. [ 340]

SIre Eustas was . ful sori Man, whon his wyf . was from him tan. But not forþi . forþ gon he go And tok wiþ hym . his children two. A gret watur . was in his gate, [ 345] But þer was nouþur . brugge ne bate; þis watur was boþe . dep and brade. And þer ouer . bi houede him wade. But dorst he not boþe . bere atones his children two . for doute of stones: [ 350] Adred he was . to snaper raþe And drenchen hym . and his chil∣dren baþe. þerfore furst . þat on ouer he bare, And lafte þat oþur . sittyng þare. And wood a ȝeyn, . as woful wrecche [ 355] þat oþur child . forte fecche. But whon he com . a midde þe flad, On eiþer half . he fond vn glad: ffor a wolf com . from wode rennande And tok þe child . þat he lefte on lande, [ 360] And to þe wode . þer wiþ he ran, And made Eustas . ful sori man. But ofte comeþ care . vppe care: þat was sene . on Eustas þare ffor as he was . in water wadande, [ 365] he sauh a Leon . cum faste rennande And tok his oþur sone . in hast And ron wiþ al . to wode ful fast. wiþ tonge . telle may no man þe serwe þat Eustas . hedde þan; [ 370] Almost . for deol . þat ilke tym In þat watur . hed de dreynt hym. But Ihū crist, . as lord hende, Cumforted him . a ȝein þe fende And sende him boþe . grace and miht [ 375] To þenke what fondynge . he hym hiht, And hou he dyed . for hym on Rode. And sore wepynge . to londe he ȝode, And seide: Ihc̄, . I þonke þe þe sondes . þat þow sendest me! [ 380] þou hihtest me monye . harde þrawes, And soþ i fynde . alle þi sawes. In heuene . and eorþe . beo don þi wille, ffor gladlich wul I. hit folfille And gladly þole . for þi sake [ 385] Al worldus care, . wo and wrake;

ffor þou þoledest . more for me þen euer may I þole for þe; þerfore, my lord, . hit is riht þat I. þe suwe . aftur my miht. [ 390]

SIre Eustas wende . in al his care þat boþe his sones . Eten ware: God . his children . saued baþe And kepte hem . from schome and scaþe. ffor as plouh men . heore lond schulde here, [ 395] þei sayh beestes . two children bere Touward wode, . and þei hem Bayted wiþ houndes . þat þei on hem slayted. so neih suwed . þe dogges alle, þat boþe þe children . lette þei falle. [ 400] þis plouh men token . þe children þare And kepten hem . wiþ louely fare. Boþe þe children . weore norischt In o Toun, . but neiþer wist where his broþur . was bi come; [ 405] But boþe þei wuste . þei were bi nome ffrom wylde Beestes . þat hem bare Touward þe wode, . as I. seide are.

NOw wol we leue . þeos children two, And to heore fadur wol we go. [ 410] whon Eustas hedde . his children tynt, So sle hym self . he hedde I. mint; But Ihū crist, . as I. seide are, Cumforted hym . and lesed his care. But ȝit was . his herte so sare, [ 415] þat of his hed . his her he tare, And seide: lord, . me is ful wo, ffor carfuliche . nou may I. go; I. am now wilde . as is þe Ro, ffor al my frendes . beo taken me fro, [ 420] ffor I. haue nouþur . wyf . ne sone, þat me to cumforte . weore wel wone. Me þynkeþ . þat more is . my fondyng þen Job þat lay . on his Muddyng: ffor frendes come . to leese his care, [ 425] But no frend . leeseþ myn vuel fare; þerfore me þynkeþ . my fondyng mare, ffor nou I. am . of blisse ful bare. But a mong al þis . þonked he Ihc̄ þat bouhte hym . on þe tre, [ 430] And seide: Ihc̄, . I. þonke þe, ffor as þou wolt . beo houeþ hit be. But ofte he seide: allas allas, ffor i seo þis world . ouer gas, I. seo þis world is . so chaungable, [ 435] þat nout þat is þer Inne . is stable; ffor now is mon . in gret pouste, And now pore . and Meseise . is he— As I. may . bi my self seo þat riche mon . was I. wont to beo, [ 440] But now is . my richesse a way, And al my solas . and my play— where is now . worldus weole and blis? Me þinkeþ þe world . euere worse is: hit bi hoteþ wel, . and is fals [ 445] And makeþ mony mon . deseyued als. þerfore, . world, here . I. þe forsake And to Ihū crist . I. me take. Ihū . Ihū, þou lene me grace To suwe in worldes wo . þi trace! [ 450]

As Eustas eode, . a toun he fand þer riche men . weore wonand. And he dwelled . in seruyse þore ffiftene wynter . and sumdel more, ffor of þe Toun . he was puyndere, [ 455] And dude trewely . his Mestere. In al his dedes . he was so trewe, þat alle him louede . þat him knewe. And þer bi syde . his sones two, þat wylde Beestes . baar hym fro, [ 460] weore dwellyng euere . whil he was þare. But Eustas wuste not . what þei ware.

A luyte stounde . wol I. bere dwelle, And of heore Modur . wol I. telle þat is to sei . of Eustas wyf, [ 465] hou Mekeliche . heo ladde hire lyf. þat Maryner . of whom I. tolde Ladde þat ladi . whodur he wolde, he brouhte hire . in to his cuntre; On sodeyn deþ sone dyed he, [ 470] But touched he neuere . hire bodi. And heo þonked . god almihti, And honest lyf . gon heo þen lede And fedde hire . wiþ hire nelde and þrede. ffel aunter . þat þe Emperour [ 475] hedde Mester . of Eustas socour, ffor he was seget . of his faas. And sone he missed (!) . placidas In ilke a leode . In ilke a lond. And Messageres . sone hym fond. [ 480] But þei weore knihtes . þat were sent, þerfore Eustas . sone hem kent, ffor longe he hedde . heore Maister bene. whon he heom sauh, . he gon hym mene, And seide: crist, . I. þonke þe! [ 485] Myn owne knihtes . ȝonder ise, þei ride feire . in riche wede, And I. go . in pouert . and nede; But of richesse . pris make I. nan, ffor to þe, crist, . I. haue me tan. [ 490] þerfore, lord, . I. preye þe þat to þi blis . þou bringe me,

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þat I. may seo . childre . and wyf And lede wiþ hem þere . blisful lyf. Anon to Eustas . spac a steuene [ 495] And seide: . þi seete is diht . in heuene, þer in blisse . þi wyf . schalt se, And boþe þi sones . In Joye wiþ þe.

Whon Crist hedde gladet . þus Eustas And fuld hym ful . of Joye and gras, [ 500] þeos twey knihtes . cume þer Rydynge And saih Eustas . al one stondynge. And þei drouh . to him ful ȝare And heiled him . wiþ louely fare, But nouþur of hem . sire Eustas kneuh, [ 505] ffor penaunce hedde . chaunged his heuh. As þei asked of him . ȝif þat he [507 As st. And?] wuste where . such a mon mihte be þat was hote . placidas, þat euer ȝit . nome couþ was [ 510] In Rome, . þere wiþ muchel belde [511 þere = þer he.] þe Emperours honour . vp heolde: he was. þei seiden, . so hende a kniht And of so gret pouwer . and miht. þat alle his foos . he felde in fiht, [ 515] And placidas . in Rome he hiht. who so coude tel vs . where weore he, Or in what lond . he mihte founde be, we wolde hym ȝiue . seluer and golde, And riche Robes . mony folde. [ 520]

Evstas onswerd . and seide þan: I. haue not herd . of such a Man, Of hym con I. telle . no tiþand, ffor such mon is non . in þis land. whon þis was seid, . he gon hem pray [ 525] þat þei schulde ete . wiþ him þat day; so feire he spak, . as hende gome, þat hom wiþ hym . he made hem come, And bad his hostes . feede hem þat day And sette heore costes . in his lay— [ 530] ffor sum tyme . was he heore frende, þerfore was he þere . to hem hende. his host made hem . wel ateys wiþ goode metes . mony weys. But on of hem . sauh sone Eustas [ 535] Lette teres falle . and wupte his fas— ffor Eustas miht not . for bere to wepe In þat tyme . þat þeos knihtes ete, þerfore wepte he . ofte ful sare, And wupte his face, . as nout ne ware. [ 540] þeos knihtes þhouȝte . gret ferly whi Eustas wepte . so inwardly— ffor whon he mihte not . forbere hym, he went out . mony a tym, And whon he his fulle . hedde wepte, [ 545] he com In . and þe fuir he bette. Ofte . ful Corteisliche . he bad þat his gistes . schulde make glad, þat . o . kniht . was wel parseuaunt And tok good hede . to his sem∣blaunt— [ 550] And atte laste . hym þhouȝte he was wondur lyk . to placidas. And to his felawe . Rouned he And seide: . but I. deceyued be, þis ilke mon . Is Placidas [ 555] þat vs now . so good chere maas. his felawe bi heold hym . in wardliche, And seide to him: . he is ful lyke. And euere þe more . þat þei him sawe, þe betere gonne þei . hym knawe, [ 560] And seide: þat is he, . me þinke; I rede we make hym . wiþ vs to drynke. ffor by his heued . schul we seo ȝif we of hym . may siker beo— ffor Eustas hedde . beo wounded sare [ 565] And in his hed . þe wounde he bare, And þe knihtes . þe wounde knewe, whon hit was old . as wel as newe, fforþi wolde þei . þe wounde iseo, þat þei of him mihte . siker beo. [ 570] þei made him sitte, . as nout ware, And wiþ heore hondes . þei schedde his hare And fond redi tokne . þat he was heore hende lord, . sire placidas.

But þer me mihte . pite sen, [ 575] whose bi syde . hedde þer ben: ffor loueliche . heore lord þei cussed, And seide: . to longe . we han þe missed! ffor Joye of herte . ffaste wepte þei baþe. And ladde hym forþ . wiþ hem ful raþe, [ 580] ffor was þer non . a byde . a byde, (!) Ne he ne mihte hym . no lengur hyde. þe hosebonde men . þat woned a boute Come rennynge to hem . in gret route, hem þhou te ferly . of þat cas, [ 585] And eoden a while . wiþ sire Eustas. þeos knihtes tolden hem . alle be deene [587 Ms. be deede.] what mon Eustas . hedde I. bene, how his strengþe . and his wisdome hedde i worschiped . þe toun of Rome, [ 590]

how bold a Mon . In Rome he was, And was I. clept . sire Placidas. þis hosebondes þhouȝte . gret ferlych, ffor heo wende not. he hedde beo such; þei custe hym alle . and let hym go. [ 595] And þus wente Eustas . hem fro.

SIre Eustas to þe knihtes told his ferly chaunces . mony fold: how he was clept . to cristen lawe þorwh Miracle . þat crist dude him schawe, [ 600] And hou he hedde . i lost his ladi And boþe his sones . wrecchedli. þei weore ful careful . of þis tale, But his fyndyng . bet al heore bale, þei weore so fayn . of his fyndyng [ 605] þat rouhte þei . of non oþur þyng. And fiftene dayes . wente þay And coome to Rome . þe laste day. þe Emperour Traian . was dede, And Adrian was . In his stede, [ 610] þat was . a ful fel payen And on cristene men . ful keen. But notforþi . ful glad he was, whon he hedde founden . placidas. þe Emperour tolde . placidas [ 615] how he was greued . wiþ his fas, And bad he schulde . an host atyre, And cheose folk . in his Empyre, And fonde to wreke hym . of his foos þat a ȝeyn hym . wiþ Batayle a Ros. [ 620]

NOw is sire Eustas . lord . and syre, And al þe lond . at his atyre. Now schul ȝe here . bi his dedes how crist hym halp . in al his nedes. sire Eustas . wrouhte . ful wysli [ 625] And gedered al . þe Bacheleri þat mihte beo founde . in al þat lond, On eiþer half . þe see . wonand. Beo þat tyme . weore his sones two In stat . Batayle . forte do, [ 630] [630 Ms. in stat of Batayle.] ffor muchele men þei weore . and stiþe: And þerfore weore þei . I. chose swiþe, In to þis Batayle . forte wende wiþ heore fadur, . Eustas þe hende. whon þei come bi fore . sire Eustas, [ 635] þei semed Men . ful bolde in plas, But knowyng of hem . hedde he nan, ffor þei weore ȝonge . from hym tan. But þorwh kynde . he loued hem mare þen eny oþur . þat þer ware, [ 640] ffor þei weore . Corteis of chere, Goodlich hym þouȝte . heore manere: þei drouh to hym . as treo to Rynde wiþ goode Maners . of comelich kynde. whon Eustas hedde . þeos sones huyred [ 645] And al his men . wsyliche atyred, þey went hem forþ . heore fos to fere, As men þat wolde hem . wysliche were. And wel þe folk . þei made a ferd, ffor alle heore fos . þei conqwerd. [ 650]

Whon sire Eustas . hedde þe Maistri Of alle his fos, . as mon mihti, he . and his host . weore . al weri. And soiourne bi houeþ hem . forþi. fforth þei eode alle . to a Cite [ 655] þer þei mihte . I. esed be. In þat Cite . woned Eustas wyf And ladde ful honestliche . hire lyf; wiþ hire Nedle . and hire þrede fful honestliche coude heo. hire fede. [ 660] sire Eustas hedde men . so mony þat vnneþe . hedde þei . herbory. hym self lay . In a Castele, And in þat Toun . his folk so fele. And his twey sones, as aunter fel, [ 665] Tok at heore Modur hous hostel— ffor felawes þei were . euere in same, And bi twenen hem was . muchel game, And nouþur wuste . what oþur was, But þorwh kynde . and Godus gras, [ 670] And eiþer was . special to oþur As Mon is . to his owne broþur.

Whon Eustas folk . in þat Citéé hedde soiourned . dayes þre, þe two breþeren pleyed in same [ 675] And spac of childhed . and of game. And as þei spac . of heore childhede, heore Modur sat ner . and dude hire dede, And hedde gret Joye in herte . þat þay so sweteliche speken . of gomen and play. [ 680] þe Eldor broþur, as auntur felle, Bi gon aluytel tale . to telle. I. þenke, he seide, whon I. was ȝonge, Or I. coude redili. speke wiþ tonge, þat my ffadur . was mon of miht [ 685] And Mayster . ouer moni a kniht— But what he hihte . con I not telle. But wel I. wot . þis aunter felle þat he ladde . my Broþur and me wiþ vre Modur . to a Cite, [ 690] Mi broþur was . ȝongore þen I. And oþyng wot I. sikerly: þat my fadur . to schip me bare And my Modur brouhte . my broþur þare.

And alle foure, . as I. þenke me, [ 695] To gedere in a schip . weore we. But my Modur . sauh I. no mare. But I wene . sum mon . heold hire þare: sore I. sauh . my ffadur grate, As he lad vs . bi þe gate; [ 700] þerfore ich wene . heo was him reft: þerfore I. wot wel . he hire left. And forþurmore . ȝit wot I. me þat to a watur . coome we þre, And my ffadur . my Broþur bare [ 705] Ouer a watur, . and laft him þare. And as he com . a ȝeyn wadynge, A. wylde beest . com rennynge And in his Mouth . he bar my Broþur. And to me . com Rennynge a noþur [ 710] And to wodeward . he me bare, But my ffadur . sauh I no mare. And houndes bot . þe Beest sare And made hym leue me . ful ȝare. siþen I. haue . beo wonande [ 715] wiþ hem . þat me on felde fande, In þat toun . from whenne . we boþe come þat tyme . þat we torned . to Rome. ÞIs tale . þe ȝonger broþur herde. And whon hit was don, . he onswerde [ 720] And seide: be God . of Cristendome, whom cristene Men . seruen in Rome! Beo þis tale . wot I witerly þat we ben breþren . riht fleschly: ffor goode men . þat me norischt [ 725] Tolde ofte . how þei me rauischt ffrom a wolf . þat to wode bar me, Riht as a noþur best . bar þe. þerfore now, broþur, . we wol vs cus, ffor þi Broþur . I. am I. wis. [ 730] Longe weore to telle . eny man þe Joye . þat was bi twene . hem þan.

Heore Modur sauh wel . heore cussyng And herde . al heore louely . talkyng. heo herde . beo heore tale . þat þei ware [ 735] þe sones . þat heo in bodi . bare; soone hedde heo . of hem knowyng, þer þe eldore spac . of schippyng. heore visages . bi heold heo faste And kneuh hem wel . atte laste. [ 740] But heo hedde Meth, . as worschip∣ful wyf, ffor heo nas nout . to hastyf. But a non heo ros . and eode ful swyþe To hire lord, . and bad hym lyþe. Lord, heo seide, . þou rewe on me [ 745] And herkne . what I. schal telle þe! ffor, pore wommon . þei I. be, I. was lad out . of þi cuntre— ffor heo wuste . þat þo knihtes . weore þaynes, [749 knihtes weore ist wol zu tilgen.] þat þere weore to gederet, . were Romaynes, [ 750] And hire self . was of Rome: Of his cuntre . heo seide . heo come. heo hedde wel at led . forte schawe hire sones talkyng . and here sawe, [754 Ms. hire sawe.] And asked leue to turne . to þat land [ 755] þar hire sones . weore wonand. [756 Ms. þat st. þar] But as heo schulde . hire neodes schowe, hire owne lord . gon heo knowe. And sone heo gon . chaunge hire word And fel on kneos . bi fore hire lord, [ 760] And seide: lord, . such Joye i se þat I. may not . wel speke wiþ þe: ffor, lord, . ȝif I. dar hit kiþe, I. was sum tyme . þyn owne wyue, ffor wiþ tokne . I. con þe schowe [ 765] þat for þi wyf . þow maiȝt me knowe. wiþ redi tokne . heo tolde hym sone þing þat was . bi twene hem done, And þat Miracle . þat he sawe, þat made hym torne . to cristen lawe, [ 770] And siþen . how þei fondet ware And mad . of worldus blisse . ful bare, And hou heo was . from hym reft In a schip . þer he hire left. SIre Eustas . þonked in wardly [ 775] Ihc̄ . þat þorwh . his Mercy hedde hym so . to his wyf wissed; And hire ful sone . comely he kissed. heo asked sone . ȝif he out wiste where Agapyt was . and Teopiste. [ 780] he onswerde . and seide: nay, ffor slayn þei were . þat ilke day whon þat I. fro þe went, ffor two bestes . hem al to rent.

Heo onswerde . and seide þan: [ 785] Gode tiþinges of hem . tellen I. can: At myn hous . ben two Bachileres þat longe haþ in ȝor court . ben veres, And neuer ȝit . wuste þay þat þei weore breþeren, . til to day. [ 790] To day I. herde hem . speke in same Of heore childhed. wiþ pley. and game. þe eldore furst . his tale bi gan And seide his fadur . was wys man

And vndur hym, he seide, . hedde he [ 795] Mony knihtes . in his pouste, And siþen, he seide, . as þynkeþ me, he ladde my Modur . to aséé, Mi ffadur . to aschip me bare, And a ȝonger broþur . hedde I. þare, [ 800] And alle foure . In schip we ware; But my Modur . sauh I. no mare, Mi ffadur sauh I . sore grate, As he wente . bi þe gate; And siþen þat ilke tale . tolde he [ 805] þat ȝe, lord, . tolde . nou to me— ffor sire Eustas . tolde hire þare how beestes . to wode ward . hem bare. ȝit tolde heo Eustas . furþur mare Al þat þe ȝongere . onswerde þare, [ 810] And seide: whon þe eldore his tale hed told, þe ȝongore onswerde . as bern bold, And seide: . bi god . of cristen dome, whom cristen Men . seruen in Rome, [814 Ms. mon.] we beþ breþeren . riht bodily, [ 815] ffor from a wolf . taken was I, As þei me tolde . þat me norischt And from þat wolf . me Rauischt. And wiþ þis louely . talkyng hedde eiþer of oþur . good knowyng. [ 820] And þerfore, . but I. beo deceyued, On ȝow . þe childre . I. Conceyued. þerfore I. rede . þat ȝe hem calle And make hem telle . bi fore vs alle þat tale þat þei . in myn hous told, [ 825] And þenne may we beo . siker and bold þat þey vre sones beoþ . baþe. And Eustas . let calle hem raþe. And whon þei come hoþe . hym bi foren, he asked hem . wher þei weore bo∣ren. [ 830] þei seide: . we wot neuer whare, But we wite wel . þat we breþeren are. To gedere haue we . longe i bene, But we ne mihte neuere wite . ne wene þat we weore Breþeren, . til to day: [ 835] ffor, as we speken . of gamen and play, hedde eiþer of oþur . good knowyng þorwh vre tale . and vre talkyng.

Heore tales eft . gunne þei telle. And Eustas saih wel . bi heore spelle [ 840] þat þei weore . his sones baþe. [841 Ms. bones.] And Ihc̄ þonked . he ful raþe. what Mon mihte . for bere to wepe þat sauh hem foure . to gedere meete? ffor write ne telle . may no man [ 845] þe Joye . þat þe foure hedde þan, whon fader and modur . and eiþer broþur kneuh on O day . vchone . oþur. heer mow ȝe seo . hou God con schifte þat furst wol falle . and siþen lifte: [ 850] he falleþ men . wiþ fondyng ille And lifteþ hem . wiþ weole and wille. ffor Abraham . so fonded he, As in þe Bible . fynde we, And goode Job . and Tobie, [ 855] God let hem beo fondet . in wardlye; But siþen was god . to hem ful hende And mensked hem . wiþ murþe as frende, And more weolþe . and worldus lykyng he ȝaf hem aftur . heore fondyng [ 860] þen euer hedde . þei be fore, In lond . and . Bestes . and . Tresore, And in ful blessed . Barnteme, And lente hem long lyf . and queme; siþen . aftur heore endyng day [ 865] he brouht hem to blisse . þat lasteþ ay. And crist, his sone, . God wolde not spare To beo fondet, as I. seide are, And siþen slen him . as wyrling, And now of heuene and eorþe . is kyng. [ 870] And euer þe more . suffraunce and Meþ þat Mon haþ . in wo . and wandreþ, [872 Ms. þan st. þat.] þe hiȝore he is . beo fore crist . I. wis, whon he schal wone . in heuene blis.

ÞErfore I. rede . we þole fondyng, [ 875] And make þer aȝeyn . no grucchyng: ffor do a Mon . neuer so good dede, wiþ grucching . he leoseþ his Meede. But he þat haþ . good suffraunce In wo . and . serwe . and penaunce, [ 880] And þonkeþ ȝerne . godus sondes, whon he hym . wiþ wo fondes: ffor siker beo he . þat he schale wel ben I. bet . of al his bale, ffor, þeih he haue . no worldus blis, [ 885] God wol ȝelde hym . In heuene I. wis. As we may seo . bi seint Eustas þat hedde a ȝeyn grucchinge . gras, ffor grucched he . wiþ no fondyng, But þonked God . in alle þyng; [ 890] ffor he hedde . Meknesse . and loue, whon god wolde hym . wiþ fondyng proue; ffor he spak not . a ȝeyn his wille, But heold his tonge . from wordes ille

And þonked god . of his loue, [ 895] whon al his welþe . was from hym gone. [896 Ms. þis st. his.] þerfore ȝaf god hym . welþe wel more In þis world . þen he hedde bi fore, And siþen Blisse . wiþ outen ende. þer Mekenesse . makeþ vs lende. [ 900] But þis prechyng . leue wol I., And torne a ȝeyn . to vre stori.

Whon Eustas hedde . I founden baþe wyf . and . Childre, . he ladde hem raþe wiþ hym, . and his host, . al to Rome. [ 905] þer þei heold lawe . of Cristendome, Euer til Ihū . wolde hem bye, Called hem to hym . wiþ Marterie. And þerfore . schortly (is) to telle how hit of his endyng . felle. [ 910] whon Eustas hedde . ouercome his fos And to Rome a ȝeyn . I. comen was, Ded was þe Emperour . Traian, And in his stude . was Adrian. þis Adrian, of whom I. mene, [ 915] was wikked Mon . and fel paene, And on cristene men . ful kene. And on Eustas . was wel seene how ȝerne aboute . he was to struiȝe Boþe Cristene lawe . and his vertue. [ 920] ffals Maumetes þenne . honoured he And wende non oþur god . mihte be. And as he schulde . a tyme of ȝere [923 as st. ass, askes?] worschipe his god . on his Maneere And þonken him feire . for heore Maistris, [ 925] [925 Ms. hem st. him.] þat Eustas gat . of his Enemis: heore Temple was . ful proudly sprad And Adrian . was þider . I. lad. But sire Eustas . dwelled þer oute, ffor wolde he . no fals godus a loute, [ 930] But preied crist . inwardly þat he schulde han . of him merci, And of his sones . and his leuedie, And schilde hem . from Idolatrie. Adrian loked . him a boute [ 935] And wende þat placidas . furst in Route schulde come hym next, . his god to loute; And men cald hym . he stod þer oute. He send word . and bad him come And leeue on his god, . as worþi gome. [ 940] he onswerde . and seide þan: I. leeue in crist, . as cristene man, To him mi sacrifise . I. make þat þolede deþ . for my sake. þei tolde þe Emperour . ful raþe. [ 945] And he was neih wod . for wraþe, And sende eft sone . men him to And bad hym soone . his wille do, wiþ his sones . and his wyf, ffor elles schulde he . leose his lyf. [ 950] But furst fonded he . to drawe heore hertes . from cristen lawe Boþe wiþ feir speche . and manace. But Crist hem strengþed . wiþ his grace: so for al þat . he mihte do [ 955] wolde þei nouht . beo boxum hym to. ffor alle foure seide . wiþ o steuene: we han vs take . to God of heuene, And leuere is vs . vre deþ to take þen vre lord Ihc̄ . forsake. [ 960]

ÞEnne was þis Emperour . ffeloun fful wroþ . and al out of Resoun, And let leden hem . wiþ oute þe toun And þer setten on hem . a Lyoun. But whon þe Lyoun . com hem neer, [ 965] he fayned hem . on feir maner, And doun he fel . bi foren heore feete, And as he coude . he gon hem grete. þe Emperour . gret ferly þouht þat þe Lyoun . woriede hem nouht, [ 970] And wroþore þenne . on hem he was. ffor þer was ȝit . an . Oxe of Bras, But hit was boþe grettore and more þen þreo Oxen . þat þer wore, But schapen . as an Oxe . hit was, [ 975] And holwh wiþ Inne, . and al of Bras— ffor Cristene Men . weor don þer Inne, fforte be brent . sore in pyne, whon þei nolde . crist forsake Ne sacrifise . to Maumetes make. [ 980] A. Boute þis Oxe . þornes men drowe And set hit on fuire . and made hit glowe. And whon hit was . al Red Glouwande, Eustas was bounde . foot and hande, (he and) his wyf . and his sones baþe [ 985] weore cast . in þat vessel raþe.

But furst apreyere . made Eustace And asked . in his preyere . a space Euere . til his preyere . weore don. And to crist . made he . such a Boon: [ 990] Lord, he seide, . þat made of nouht þis world . and me on Rode bouht,

here my preyere . and graunte me My Boone . þat I. nou aske þe! I. preye þe, crist, . þat þou hem Rede [ 995] And socoure hem . at heore nede And schilde hem from alle . harde þrawes þat louen me . and my felawes; I. preye þe, lord, . þou help hem alle Euere . whon þei . to vs calle, [ 1000] And let hem neuere . miskari þat of vs . Make Memori. ȝit aske I anoþur Boone: þat, whon we . in þat Bras . beo done. þow Make hit cold, . þat Men mowe se [ 1005] þi Godhed . and þi pouste. And siþen . to þi blisse . vs bringe, ffor in þis world . is symple dwel∣lynge!

Whon þis was seid, . a steuene on∣swerd An(d) seide: Eustas, þi bone is herd: [ 1010] Cum forþ . wiþ þi felawes, . to take þe Joye . þat neuer more . schal slake! whon Eustas hedde graunt . of his bone, he . and (his) wyf . and twey children . wer done In to þis glowynde Bras. . but þei feled [ 1015] No maner hete, . for crist hit keled. And alle foure, . whon hit was colde, To God heore blessed soules . ȝolde. þe Emperour . þe fifti (!) day Com þere . þis holy Martirs lay, [ 1020] And wende þei weore . to poudur brent. But whon he sauh hem, he was schent, ffor alle þei lay . in feir Colour. And careful was . þis Emperour, ffor wo hym was . þat Cristen men [ 1025] schulde Miracle sen . and þis Mar∣tirs ken. ffor Cristene Men . and paynymes baþe Coome forte seo . heore bodyes raþe, And Ihc̄ . þonked þei alle . by dene, ffor no Brennyng . was on hem sene: [ 1030] ffor al þe folk . þat gedred was þere sayh boþe heore cloþing . and heore here, And of fuir . non I. touched wore. þat made Adrian . a schomed ful sore.

ÞE heþen folk þouȝte . gret ferly [ 1035] And seide: crist is . God almihty. þe Cristene folk . heore bodies beer To eorþe wiþ worschipe . and gret chere. And Cristene folk . þer aftur longe, whon holy chirche . was stif and stronge, [ 1040] Let make a feir chirche . þer þey lay. þer God doth Miracles . mony a day. Of þeos Martires . is mad no feste, ffor alle seyntes, . lest and meste, Beoþ worschiped . in holichirche . þat day [ 1045] þat þei dyed . for cristes lay. In heuene for vs . ȝeorne heo pray þat God vs schulde . from tene and tray, ȝif we wol calle on hem . in nede And honoure hem . in word . and dede. [ 1050] vre lord Ihc̄ . ȝif vs grace, þorwh preyere . of seint Eustace And of his . swete felawes. þat lyueþ wiþ hym . in blisful plawes, þat we mowe liue . in Riht wysnes, [ 1055] And in fondyng . haue Mekenes, And wende in to þat muchele blis þer he now . wiþ his felawes Is. AMEN . I. rede . þat we say, ffor now is ende . of þis play. [ 1060]

17) hou an hermyt putte an∣oþur in wanhope.

TO wildernes com . a ȝon(g) Mon, To lyue . as an hermyte . al on. ffondet he was so inwardly wiþ lust . of his owne body, þat pees ne reste . miht he non haue. [ 5] And to a noþur hermyte . he hym schraue. þis hermyte was . an holy mon, But flesches fondynge . hedde he non. þerfore þat tyme . vn wys was he And vnskilful, . as þinkeþ me. [ 10] ffor whon þis Mon hedde . schri∣uen him to, he seide hym not what . he schulde do, But seide: I. con no skile of þe, so foule þouhtes . þou schewest me; ffor God, me þynkeþ, . maiȝt þou not pay [ 15] þat suffrest so . þi þouhtes . stray

And þenken vpon . so wylde dedes, þat draweþ men . to helle gledes; Me þinkeþ þat þou . vn worþi is To serue God . In wildernis; [ 20] þerfore go schrif þe . wher þou wile, ffor of þe con I. no maner skile. þis ȝonge hermyte . was ful sori, And seide: allas . þat boren was I.! I. wolde beo saaf, . but I. ne may. [ 25] As wel may I . go lyue in play Among þeos worldes men, . as tyne Mi Joye . and aftur . go to pyne; wiþ goode wille . better me is To take my part . of worldus blis, [ 30] þen her to þole . pyne and wo And in oþur stude . also. whon he hedde seid þis . and mare, To þe world wente he . wepinge sare. And as he eode . wiþ leores weete, [ 35] An old hermyte . he gon mete. þis Olde hermyte . appollo hihte And kneuh þis ȝonge mon . wel be sihte. And asked hym . whodur he wolde. And al his fondynge . he hym tolde [ 40] And seide: leue fader, . me is wo, ffor to þe world . nou I. go; God wolde I. serue, . but I. ne may, so I. am fondet . Niht . and . Day Boþe wiþ my flesch . and wiþ þe fende; [ 45] þat makeþ me . to þe world . now wende. ffor at þat hermyte . I. me schraf, And no Maner penaunce . he me ȝaf, But seide þat I. am . not worþi To serue God . . and þerfore go I., [ 50] To lyue in þis worldus weolþe. and play And take my Joye . whil I. may. what bote is hit þole here tene and tray, siþen I. may not serue . god to pay? Bettre is me . sum Joye here take, [ 55] þen here pyne . and in helle wrake. Appollo, þe hermyte, . onswerde þan And seide: I. am . a ful old man, And ȝit wel liuen . I. ne may wiþ oute flesch fondynge . a day; [ 60] þerfore . þar þe þinke . no ferly þei þow beo fondet . Inwardly; þe more þat God . loueþ þe, þe more fondyng þe . sendeþ he. And, leoue sone, . þat hermyte [ 65] þat schrof þe, . is muche to wyte, ffor, þer he scholde (haue) . wiþ wordus hende Cumforted þe . aȝeyn þe fende, þer he dude . as an eber fole And made þe leue . Cristes scole; [ 70] [70 Ms. make.] ffor neuer flesches fondynge . hedde he, þerfore . ful unwys . was he. þow may wel . beo þy fondyng se þat god loueþ hym . lasse þen þe. þerfore do beo . my counsayle— [ 75] ffor muchel hit may . þe a vayle— And torn a ȝeyn . to þi Celle And stille . in godus seruise dwelle; And I. schal preye god . þat he Take . al þi flesches fondynge from þe [ 80] And lete hit falle . on þat hermyte þat made þe . wiþ mys cumfort wyte, þat he may . of þy fondyng proue, And lere hym to haue . in schrift sum houe. þis ȝonge hermyte . of þis red was fayn [ 85] And tornde to his Celle . a ȝayn. And appollo ȝeode . priuely To þat ilke hermytory þer þis oþur hermyte . was wonynde, And set him on his knes, . god prey∣inde, [ 90] And seide: lord, . þat herewode helle, I. preye þe . þat þou fondyng felle Of þat ȝonge mon . and mak hit lihte On þat olde mon, . to proue his mihte, þat he may lerne . esy to be [ 95] To hem þat ben . fondet for þe. whon his preyere . was brouȝt to ende Aperteliche . he sauh þe fende stonde wiþ arwes . and wiþ bouwe And scheote In . at a wyndouwe, [ 100] And his Arwes . ful euene smat Riht on þe Olde Mon . þer he sat. And such fondynge . sone he felede, þat vp he ros . as he weore dwelede, And euere from wouh . to wouh . he ede, [ 105] ffor flessches lust . made him . al∣mest wede. And of him . his abyt . he caste, As mad mon . þat mihte haue no reste, And eode to tounward . atte laste. And appollo . suwed hym faste, [ 110] And bi his nome . hym he calde And asked hym . whodur he walde. And him þhouȝte þo . so muche schome þat his abyt . was laft at home, þat he stod . as he mad wore. [ 115] And he spac to hym . more . and more

And asked where . his abyt was. And he onswerde: . allas allas, ffor cast ich am . in Caytif Cas þorwh fondynge . of sathanas! [ 120] ffor schomely . on myn olde tas To toune I renne . þe deueles ras, I. falle in fiht . a ȝeyn þe fende, ffor now . to þe world . I. wende To take me wyf, . for I. may nouht [ 125] wone her, . so is my flesch in flouht; Mi foule flesch . prikeþ me so, þat almet wod . hit makeþ me go. appollo bad him . þenken þer on [129 Ms þen st. þer.] what he hedde seid. to þe ȝonge mon [ 130] "þat schrof hym . of fondynge þe to And was redi . penaunce to do; But þere . to luyte skile heddest þou, And þerfore art þou . fonded nou: ffor wiþ þi word . þou madest him go, [ 135] his owne soule . forte slo. þerfore I. preyed god . þat he schulde make his fondynge . fal on þe, þat þou miht lerne . esy to be To Men þat schriuen hem . to þe." [ 140] whon he hedde seid þis. and mare. þis hermyte fel . on kneos riht þare, And seide : fader, . I. aske merci! I. seo wel I. dude . gret foly; I preye þe . preye god . for my plihte, [ 145] ffor good aMendement . I. hihte. Appollo seide . to hym raþe: sitte we on kneos . and preye we baþe þat God . þe fendes fondyng slake And boþe from þe and him. hit take. [ 150] þei preyed god . so inwardly, þat he herde heore preyere . in hi: ffor heore fondynge . ȝeode al a way, And euer siþen . good pes hedden þay. Beo þis tale . þat I. haue told [ 155] seo ȝe how . flessches lust . is cald wodnes: for riht resun makeþ hit wyse men leose, . al heore wit. ffor ho is wodore . þen þat mon þat muche skile . and resun con [ 160] And wot þat mon . for dedly synne Leoseþ þe blisse . þat may not blynne, And goþ siþen wod . wosande And lepeþ . in þe fendes bande?

u. s. w.

18) hou stoones onswerde seynt Bede.

(ffor wel is hem þ^t wiþ prechyng Mai tille soules . to almihti kyng, ffor alle þat to hym . soule ledes [ 5] siker may þei . ben . of meedes. And þeih prechor . no mon drawe ffor synful wille . to Cristen lawe, Leose may he not . his trauayle, ffor of god . Mede . may he not fayle, [ 10] ffor God . þat his entent . knawes Is wel payed . of his sawes.)

Þat may we seo . beo seint Bede þat muche ferde . wiþ such good dede. And writen in his lyf . we fynde þat he was in his elde . blynde. But not forþi . he preched ay, [ 15] And nomeliche . on þe haly day; þeiȝ he weore blint, . wolde he not leue þe fend . soules forte reue. Ones as he eode . to prechyng, his knaue was weory . on a Mor∣wenyng; [ 20] fforte resten him . he hedde gret wille, And bad his Mayster . houe stille, And seyde: muche folk . comeþ here, Godus word . of þe to here. seint Beede wende . hit soþ ware, [ 25] And preched godus word . riht þare. his knaue rested . him I. nouh And at his Mayster . faste he louh, ffor no mon herde . his prechynge but he. A ffeir Miracle . her may ȝe see: [ 30] whon he hedde seyd . what he walde, þe harde stones . on hym . calde And seide to hym, . as þei weore men: I. blessed beo þou . þat so con ken! ffor þeih þi knaue . queyntely tele, [ 35] wel hastou preched . soule hele. heer may ȝe seo . wiþ oute fayle þat god was payed . of his trauayle. so is he of alle . verreyment þat prechen his word . wiþ good en∣tent. [ 40]

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19) hou a wyf (h)ongede hoere husbondes scherte at hoere bed forto haue moynde off hym.

A tale . heere nou ȝe schal A. cordynge . to vre Mater al. sum tyme þer was, . Ich vndurstonde, A kniht . þat riche was of lond. [4 Ms. he st. þei.] þis ilke kniht . hedde a wyf: [ 5] More he louede hire . þen his lyf.

hit fel a tyme . he moste go Ouer þe séé . his wyf fro. whon he ouer þe séé . was diht, soone þer com . a luþur . wiht [ 10] To þat ladi, . hire forte a say And to defoule hire, . ȝif he may. But ouer come hire . mihte he neuere: so wel heo loued . hire lord euere. Atte laste, fel þat cas, [ 15] As God of heuene, ȝaf þe graas, þat hir hosebonde, . þat gode kniht, Com hom a ȝeyn, . for hire to fiht. whon þat he was . hom I. come, heo welcomede him, . as was hire wone. [ 20] heo not for bar, . but al hym tolde hou þat oþur . be gyle hire wolde. þis kniht þer of . was sore a nuyed And wilnede muche . he weore de∣struyed. he let hym arme . feir and weele, [ 25] ffrom þe Croune . to þe heele, And wente to seche . þat luþur wiht þat hedde for hym . þat tresun diht, ffor muche hit greued . his entent þat his wyf . wolde so haue schent. [ 30] But atte laste . wiþ him he mette. And harde strokes . on hym he sette, And also . his meyne, and he woundede sore . þat kniht so fre. But þat kniht . atte laste [ 35] him ouer com, . to deþe him þraste. þat kniht hedde also . mony wounde, þat dye he moste . in a stounde, whon tiþing com to his wyf þat he hedde . i lost his lyf, [ 40] Gret serwe . heo hedde in herte þat he for hire . schulde dye so smerte, And glad heo was . also forþi þat he hedde ouercome . hire enemy. ffor serwe heo nuste . what to do, [ 45] þat he so kyndely . dude so. heo tok his schurte . þat ilke stounde, Al Bloodi . wiþ mony a wounde, And heng hit . at hire beddes feet, wiþ wepyng . and wiþ mournyng ek, [ 50] ffor heo wolde euere haue. Remem∣braunce Of þat kyndenesse . and þat chaunce, To worschipe him . and for him pray Euer so . to hire endyng day. And whon heo was . I. tempted ouht [ 55] To eny synne . beo wei of þouht, heo loked sone . vppon þat schurte: And hit was . a wey ful smerte, whon heo þouhte . on þat kyndenesse þat hire lord dude . for hire dresse, [ 60] þat he wolde . so kuyndelye ffor hire loue . fihte and dye. And whon þis þhout . com hire vppon, Al wikkednesse . hire weyuede anon, ffor euer heo hedde hit . in hir mynde [ 65] þat he hedde don . a dede kynde. so schulde . eueri cristene mon þenken on Ihū . god al on, þat Monnes soule . weddet to wyue; wiþ outen ende . he ȝaf hit lyue, [ 70] ffeir he maad hit . of Beute To his liknesse . vppon to seo. [Folgt noch die weitere Ausfüh∣rung des Vergleichs: Christ ist der Bräutigam der Seele, die vom bösen Feinde bestürmt wird, aber Christ kämpft für sie.]

20) Von St. Martin.

(ffor cristes limes . pore men are, And ȝif we hem helpe, . crist we smere, ffor al þat euere . we to hem do, To crist him self . we don hit to):

As we may . bi seint Martin se, [ 5] þat was so ful . of Charite. he mette goynge . beo þe way A naked pilgrym . on a day, þat preyed him . wiþ reuthly mode þat he schulde helpe him . wiþ sum goode. [ 10] But seynt Martyn . hadde I. ȝiue so ffor Godus loue . his good hym fro, þat forte ȝiue . hedde he no mare, But Cloþing . þat he on hym bare. wo was þis kniht . þat tym, [ 15] whon þis pilgrym . spac to him! he Rod in Curtel . and Mantel . al on, ffor oþur cloþyng . hedde he non. whon Martyn . hedde longe bi þouht what he mihte ȝiue, . and hedde nouht, [ 20] wiþ swerd his Mantel . atwo he schare And ȝaf þe pore pilgrim þare þe haluendel, . and wiþ hym laf þe toþurdel. . and foles hym draf To scorn, . for vn comely [ 25] he seemed to hem . þat ȝeoden hym bi. And whon Martyn . was in bedde, Com crist, . wiþ þe half Mantel cledde þat Martyn ȝaf . þe pore Man, And to aungeles . he spac þan [ 30]

And seide: . to day Martyn clad me wiþ his cloþ . þat ȝe on me se. And in þis deede . wol crist vs kenne þat al þat we ȝiue . to pore menne, wiþ oute fayle . we ȝiue hit hyme, [ 35] ffor vche pore mon . is godus lyme.

u. s. w.

21) how þe deuel entyset men to slep wen þey scholde hyre godes wordes.

AN holy Mon . at sarmoun seete And þhouȝte þ^t sarmoun . wonder swete. And as he loked . him bi syde, A ffend he sauh . bi him glyde, And bar a picher . on his hande [ 5] And eode wiþ þe cuppe . aboute bir∣lande; And vche mon . þat his Cuppe heped And dronk þerof, . anon he sleped. þus doþ þe fend . forte lette þe folk þat ben . at sarmoun sette, [ 10] To here . þat is spoken þare. ffor he þat wot wel . þat gostly lare [12 þat wohl zu tilgen.] Techeþ hem . to leue his trace And torne from his seruyse . to grace— ffor he þat godus word . wel pre∣cheþ, [ 15] þe synful mon. wiþ word he techeþ hou he schal leue . þe fendes seruise; And for he makeþ . þe fend agrise, þerfore þe fend . fondeþ to spere wiþ slep . synful Monnes Ere, [ 20] þat he ne here . þe soule hele, But faste he fondeþ mon to tele. vre lord vs schilde . from his teolyng, And to þe blisse of heuene . vs bryng. AMen I. rede . we alle synge, [ 25] ffor of þat blis . is non endynge.

amen.

22) hou þe deuel wolde haue encombred seynt Edmund.

(whon we þenke . on cristes sawes, þe fend his fondyng . from vs drawes.)

Þat was wel . on seint Edmund sene, On whom . þe fend was ful kene. ffor in his lyf . writen fynde we [ 5] þat holi Mon . and good was he, But god þoled . not forþi þe fend fonded hym . so inwardli. ffor as he . on his bed was leide And his priue . preyere seide, [ 10] þe fend fel on hym . and him held so harde, . þat he hedde . neiþer in weld Tonge . ne hond. . but, as he lay And mihte not bringe . þe fend away, he þouhte . on cristes passion— [ 15] And þe ffendes strengþe . a wei gon flen.

u. s. w.

23) hou þe foundour off clere∣uaus was saued by a mesel.

Hit was an Erl . of muche miht Bi ȝonde þe séé, . sir Tebaut he hiht, Men called Bloys . his Cuntre: þe hous of Cleruaus . foundet he. þis ilke Erl. deseised . a kniht [ 5] Of his londes . wiþ vnriht: þerfore God was . wroþ wiþ him. And as he rod . bi þe wey . a tym, A sek Mon . bi þe wey he fand, sum help for godus loue . askand. [ 10] þe Erl hedde reuþe . of þat Caytif And graunted him mete and cloþ . his lyf, And bad sone . men schulde make A spitel hous . for þat Mesel sake. þis Mesel liuede longe . in þat hous [ 15] And was fed . of þe Erles almous, Til god of him . his wille hedde done. And aftur hym . dyed þe Erl sone. whon þei were dede, . amonk hem sawe Gostly þus . as I. schal schawe: [ 20] þis ilke Monk, . wiþ oute les, was Monk of Cleruaus profes: And was lad gostly . and sawe ffeole folk . to heore dom drawe, And he sauh crist sitte . comeli [ 25] In Trone, . and þe Mesel him bi þat þe Erl Tebaut . hedde fed wiþ his almus, . housed, and cled: so feir and briht . was þat Mesel, þat half his murþe . miht no mon tel. [ 30] And as þis Mesel . bifore crist. seete, Crist spac to him . wordus swete, Crist pleyed wiþ hym . as pley fere, And seide to him . wiþ Milde chere: þi seknes makeþ þe . sitte me nere [ 35] And makeþ þe to me . leof and dere; In pacience . þou toke my sonde And weore not in seknesse . gruc∣chande:

þerfore þou schalt . wiþ outen ende Beo wiþ me . in Blisse . as frende. [ 40] þis Monk . þis herde . and seide: good is To þole gladliche . wo and seknis. But as he stod, . him þhouȝte he sawe Twei Blake dogges . sir Tebaut drawe, þei ladde him bi fore crist . to dome. [ 45] And sone, . whon sir Tebaut was come, he was . chalanged . as ffeloun Of wrong . diseritede . wiþ oute re∣soun— ffor he hedde, . as furst seide I, Desseritet a kniht . wrongwysly. [ 50] And as he schulde . to helle beo done, þis forseide Mesel . asked a bone, And seide: lord, . I. preye þe Of sir Tebaut . haue pite And slake his dom . for my sake! [ 55] ffor to me, lord, . lette he make A spitel hous, . and fond he me And cloþed me, lord, . for þe loue of þe; þerfore, lord, . at þis tym I. prey þe, lord, . haue merci of hym, [ 60] such merci . as þou heddest . of me haue nou of him, . I. preye þe! þenne hedde crist . of Tebaut Merci And sende hym . in to purgatori, þorwh þe preyere , of þat leprous [ 65] Of whom Tebaut dude . his almous.

u. s. w.

24). Of a monk desirede to seo þe leste blis of paradys.

An holi Monk . hedde gret longyng To seo in his lyf . sum toknyng, And forte seo . þe leste blis þat in þe Joye . of heuene is. And whon þis Monk . com to feir elde, [ 5] To worchen ouht . he was vnbelde: Of Couent labur . was he mad fre, And nout but þat he wolde . dude he— As Monk þat la his lyf . good is, In elde . is wel worþi . to habbe blis. [ 10] ffel auntur on a day . þat þe Couent To heore werk . alle þei went, whon Chapihtre was don . aftur prime, As Monkes don . in somer tyme. And þis gode mon, . of whom I. telle, [ 15] sat in þe cloystre, . as aunter felle, And sauh a foul . bi hym sitte, And þouhte . þat fayn wolde he . ta∣ken hitte: so wondur feir. þis foul him þhouȝte, þat his herte . was al in flouhte. [ 20] vp he ros . þis foul to nyme, And hit hupte feire . by foren hyme. he folewed hit . in to þe gate, Til he com . to þe muchele ȝate. þe foul him ledde . forþur more [ 25] In to a gret wode . þat was þore, And so ferforþ . þis foul him tilled, þat atte laste . in wode he willed. Aftur þis foul . þis Monk him drouh, And hit fleih . and sat on a bouh [ 30] And bi gon . to synge so swete, þat him to heere . þe Monk doun seete. þe brid song song(!) so Murie, . him þhouȝt, þat þenne to ryse . mihte he nouht, Til þat song weore . i brouht to ende. [ 35] And bi þat tyme . he mihte wel wende þat vndurne schulde rynge . in þat abbey, whon þe foul . fleih a wey. þe Monk a Ros . and hamward went, And wende to come hom . er þe Couent. [ 40] And as he hamward . was comynde, A Mos grouwen wal . he gan fynde [42 Ms. As st. A.] þer þe ȝate . was wont to be. And gretliche . Merueylede . he And wondur him þhouȝte. . and went about [ 45] And fond þe ȝate . þer he com not out. A newe porter . fond he þare þat he hedde seyen . neuer are. þe porter asked him . in hiȝ Of what hous he was. . and him þhouȝt ferli, [ 50] And seide: . I. am Monk . of þis Abbey And wente riht nou out . me to pley. þe porter seide . he kneuh him nouht. And wondur . þis Monk þhouȝt, And seide . what hihte þis abbai, [ 55] And hou men . cleped hit ay: hous and werk . bi heold he newe, And Monkes . þat he neuer knewe; wust he not . hou to go To churche, . his preyere forte do. [ 60]

þe porter . him to chirche lad, ffor wood semed he . and mad. þe prior . him to parlur . calde And asked his nome. . and he him tolde hou he went out . of þat Abbay [ 65] And folewed a foul . þis ilke day: "ffor so gret woundur . þinkeþ me þat I. þis hous . al chaunged se, þat neuer wot I. what I. may In þis caas . of my self say. [ 70] ffor in þis hous . Nouys was I, And aftur Monk . ȝeres moni, A(nd) now I. seo . no felawe þat euere I. kneuh . or euer sawe." þe prior stod . and asked him [ 75] ho was Abbot . þat ilke tym þat he out . of þe abbey went. And þat Abbot, . of whom he ment, was ded bi fore . þreo hundred ȝere, As þei founden . in Cronicles þere. [ 80] And in Cronicles . founden þay hou an Old Monk wente . him to play, And neuer mon siþen . herde telle Of þis Monk . what by felle. And þer bi wust þei . þat hit was he, [ 85] And þonkede god—. and so do we! whon þei wuste . þat he hedde out bene þreo hundred winter . al beo dene, þis tale bi gon he . forte telle, And what made hym . so longe dwelle. [ 90] þis longe tale . I. haue ow told To make ow . in oure hertes bold þat muchel is . þe meste blis þat in þe Joye . of heuene is, siþen þe leste Joye . is slyke [ 95] þat made þe Monk . so wel to lyke, þat of þreo hundred ȝer . and mo þhuȝte him nomore . þen vres two.

u. s. w.

25) Carp.

AN holy prest . was clept carpus, And louede . so inwardliche Ihus, þat he was wroþ . for vche sawe þat was seid . a ȝein cristes lawe; ffor hose spak ouht . a ȝein crist, [ 5] wiþ him hedde Carpus . no loue i wist. But Cristendam . was þo so newe, þat fewe men . hit trewely knewe. And monye . þat þo cristen (!) wore [9 cristen st. heþen?] Com to cristen hem . þorwh prechor lore. [ 10] But false prechours . þer weore fele þat Made Cristen folk . vn lele And turned hem . from cristen lawes To mis bileeue . þorwh heore sawes. þis forseid prest, . þat Carpus hiht, [ 15] spac aȝein hem . wiþ al his miht, And stod stif . in godus fiht, And tauhte þe folk . to leeue riht. ffel auntur . in þat place þore An vuel mon . wiþ false lore [ 20] he maad . a cristen mon . mis take And cristendom . al forsake. And Carpus was . þerfore so wroþe, þat he preied crist . þat þei boþe schulde in þis world han . hard mis∣chaunce, [ 25] But þei come sone . to repentaunce. And crist herde . his bone raþe And sente seknes . on hem baþe. In gostly siht . was Carpus lad And sayh hem boþe . so harde bi stad, [ 30] þat on a stude . he saih hem lye, To falle . riht in to helle redye. And wel a payed was he . þat þay so neih þe pyne of helle . lay. And for þei fel not . a doun so sone [ 35] As Carpus . wolde þei hedde i done, he seide: Ihc̄, . let hem falle! And Ihc̄ onswerde . at his calle And seide: . Carpus, . whi preyest þou þat þeose men falle . in to helle nou? [ 40] wost þou nouȝt . þat I hem wrouht And wiþ my blod . on Rode hem bouht? Beo þou not in þi bedes . so greued in wo, ffor I. loue Monkynde . more þen so! ffor wite þou wel þat . ȝit were I [ 45] To dye . for Monkynde . al redi, ȝif I. mihte . eft sones drie pyne for Mon . and for him dye; I. wolde no mon . to helle were sende þat wolde his lyf . of synne amende. [ 50] þerfore go scheuȝ þe . to hem in siht, And fonde to make hem leue . heor synnes riht, And scheuȝ hem . my muchel Merci And þe loue . þat to Monkynde . haue I. Out of his siht . eode Carpus [ 55] And þonked for his Merci . Jesus. And to þeos twei seke men . he went And brouht hem . to amendement, And tolde hem . what he sauȝ and herde. And better euere siþen . þei ferde, [ 60]

ffor cristen men . bi come þei raþe And ȝolde to god . heore soules baþe. Beo þis tale may we alle se þat muche loue . and Charite Ihc̄ haþ to Monkynde, . whon he [ 65] wolde eft for men . dyen on tre.

u. s. w.

26)

An hermite woned . in wildernes, And preued his disciple . Boxumnes. And put in þe eorþe . a welwed tre And bad his disciple þat he schulde watre hit . and make hit springe [ 5] And Lef . and . fflour . and ffruit forþ bringe. his gode disciple . seide not nay, But watrede þat tree . vche day, fful fer . þe water fecched he, And waterde hit . ȝeres þre. [ 10] whon he hedde watred hit . so longe, God alouwed . his trauayle stronge And made þat tre . feir apples bere: In world was þer . non feirere. þis Miracle wolde . his Maister kiþe, [ 15] And brouȝte . of þeos apples swiþe To an abbey . þat was þer nere, And tolde hem . on what Manere A. druye tre . bar apples grete, And bad hem . of þe apples ete. [ 20] And tok ensaumple . of þat dede And hedde wiþ Buxumnes . good mede. Beo þis luytel tale . mai we seo þat good is . Boxum forte beo. But Monnes herte . is kyndely [ 25] In his dedes . ofte wilfuly.

u. s. w.

27) Conuersio Taysis meretricis.

A Good luyte tale . here lys Of a wommon . þat hihte Tays. ffor hire feirhed . fooles to hire gon drawe, And mony soules . gon heo slawe. And an hermyte, . þat hiȝte pasmid, [ 5] Made hire hit leue . and hire folwid. he com and ȝaf hire . penies twelue, And seide he wolde syngen . wiþ hire him selue. And in to a chambre . heo him ledde, And schewed hym . a feir bedde, [ 10] And bad him a non . don his wille. And he a non . seide hire tille: þis stude is not . priue I. nouh. And Innore more þo heo hym drouh In to a Chaumbre, . gayliche greide, [ 15] And suche wordes . to hym heo seide: here may . no mon vs seo, But god, . þat nout mai hud . from him beo. And he asked . ȝif heo . leued riht þat nout is hud . from god al miht. [ 20] And heo seide : ȝe, . wel leeue I þat he sihþ . alle þing, . as al mihti. And he seide : . þat is gret ferly hou þou art so bold . and hardy To do bi fore his eȝen . þeos dedes [ 25] þat Men to pyne of helle . ledes, As lechour . and spous breke, wher of . þe fuir of helle. doþ wreke; so longe may þou . þi lord wreþ, þat in þe wol he . cuiþe his wreþ [ 30] And in to helle fuir . þe caste, But þou leue þi synne . in haste. heo was adred . of þe pyne of helle And to þe hermytes feet . heo felle, sore wepynge, . and asked merci, [ 35] And seide heo wolde . beete hire foly. I. am, quaþ heo, . a synfol Caytyue, wiþ penaunce . I. wol beete my lyue; ffadur, þou haue . merci of me And ȝif me leue . to folwe þe! [ 40] To wildernesse . heo wiþ hym eode And bette wiþ penaunce . hire mis∣dede. May I. not . of hire penaunce telle, ffor longe hit weore . þeron to dwelle. Bote to ou schortliche . forte speke, [ 45] heo tok on hire bodi . such wreke, þat to God . hire soule ȝaf ho. so graunt vs God . þat we may so! Lord, send vs . þe holi gost And ȝif vs grace . vr synnes (to) wast, [ 50] þat we ne drede . wo ne wandreþ, But ȝif vs mekenesse . and Meþ, And bring vs . to þat ilke blis þer meke men . wiþ crist is.

amen.

28) hou a kyng ferde hys bro∣thur wyt Munstralcie. [Dieselbe Erzählung in Barlaam & Josaphat.] )

(þer nis . Emperour ne kyng þat he nis oþur while . in Mournyng, ffor, whon he þenkeþ . on his endyng, Drede of deþ . slakeþ his lykyng.)

As hit bi fel . of a riche kyng, [ 5] þ^t neuer mihte lauȝwhe . in gladyng.

his Broþur þouȝte . of him ferly, And askede him . wherfore and whi he was so careful . and sori, þat nouȝt mihte make hym . loke gladly. [ 10] þe kyng seide . he wolde him say his onswere . on a noþer day. In þe kynges lond . was a costum: þat whon vche mon schulde . han his dom Bi fore his enemys . schulde men stande [ 15] Aȝein his deþ . him gleo makande; And þer bi schulde he wite . þen sone he schulde . to schomely deþ . beo done. On Morwe . þe kyng made blowe wiþ Trompes . and made Joye and plawe [ 20] Bi fore his Broþur paleis ȝate, And made his broþur . forte grate, ffor he wende be slayn . in hiȝ, And wuste neuere . wherfore ne whi. þe kyng com . to beo holde his chere. [ 25] And spac to hym . on þis manere: Broþur, quaþ he, . what eyleþ þe? þou art vn bliþe, . as þinkeþ me; þou weore wont . beo glad fere, whi makest þou . so heuy chere? [ 30] he onswerde . and seide þon: Ich ouhte wel . beo sori mon, wel ouhte I. make . heui chere, ffor toknyng of mi deþ . ich here; hou may I., broþur, . bliþe beo [ 35] while I. my deþ . bi fore me seo? þo louh þe kyng . and to hym seide: so is my deþ . bi fore me leyde, ffor deþ I. wot wel . schal me take; þerfore may I. no good chere make. [ 40] þerfore þar þe þenke . no ferly þeih þou seo me . ofte sory. ȝesterday . þou askedest me whi I. was euer mournynge . and dreri, And whi. I. such semblant . made, [ 45] þat no þing . mihte me glade: Nou haue I. told þe . Resoun whi. And lyf . and lymes . þe ȝef I. I haue þis luttel tale . ou told To make ou . in oure hertes hold [ 50] þat worldes wele . euere menged is wiþ Mournyng . and wiþ drerines, whon mon þenkeþ hou sone he schal passe from þis worldus weole al.

u. s. w.

29) De festo corporis xpi.

a) videmus in altari formam panis, non carnis, et quare.

(es ist dies, wie es in den letzten vorhergehenden Worten heisst, ein "ensaumple, þat is writen . In þe legent—Of þe holy . sacrament").

A. Jew sum tyme . and a Cristene mon were felawes . in þe wey vppon. And bi þe wey, . as riht was, þe Cristene Mon herde . Rynge to Mas. þe Cristene Mon seide: a bydme here, [ 5] whil I. go . to my preyere! þe cristene mon wente in to þe churche. And þe Jew . bi gon to grucche, ffor hym þhouȝte . his felawe was To longe biddinge . atte Mas. [ 10] þe Jew ros vp . and forþ ede In to þe Churche, . to take hede. þen sauh he . atte weuede þe prest holde . ouer his heuede A ffeir child, . I. woundet sore [ 15] In ffot, in hond. . ȝit sauh he more þat þer nas nouþur . wyf . nor mon Of alle þat in þe Chirche . were on þat ne helde vp here hondes . and sat on kneo; And from þat child . sauh come fle [ 20] Anoþur such . as he sauh stonde, A(nd) lihte bi twene . vche monnes honde. þe Jeuh a Bod, . til þe prest vsede . þe Eukarist, þen sauh he him . ete þe child [ 25] þat he bi twenen . his hondes held, And al þat weore . in þe churche þer mide þe Jeuh þhouȝte . þat so heo dude. þe Jeuh was agrise . and wente him hyde þer his felawe . him bad abyde, [ 30] And bi him self . he seide þan: A grisly lyf . haþ Cristen Man. þe Cristene Mon . aftur þe Mas Com to þe stude . þer þe Jew was. þe Jeuh asked: . hou farestou? [ 35] þe Cristene mon seide: . better þen þou; ffor siþen ichaue . my god seye, þe lihtore ich holde . al my weye. þe Jew seide: . beo my scolle, wel ouhte þi wombe . be fulle; [ 40] hedde I. so muchel I. ȝete, þis þreo dayes . nolde I. no mete. fforsoþe, . quaþ þe cristene mon, To day sayȝ I. siht of non,

Non eorþliche . kunnes mete [ 45] þat my Mouþ . mihte ete. Let beo! . I. sauh wiþ myn eȝen two where þou . and oþur mo vche of ow . heold . a child blodie, And siþen ȝe eten hit, . I. nul not lye; [ 50] wherfore i seye . þat oure lawe Is not good. . bi þat sawe þe Cristen mon bi gon . to beo wroþ. þou lyest, Jew, . þou art me loþ; ȝoure lawe is fals, . and so ȝe ben, [ 55] ȝe wol not leeue . but þat ȝe sen; þerfore al one . I. go þe bi, [57 I ist zu tilgen.] I. kepe no more . þi cumpaygni. þe Jew seide: . ffelawe, greef þe nouht, þeih I. telle þe . what I. sayh . and þouht! [ 60] Ac tel me . bi sum oþur preue wher bi . I. may . þe soþe leue! þis is þe skile, . quaþ þe Cristene man, þat god nout soffreþ . þe þan þat þou seȝe . wiþ þin eȝe [ 65] þe sacremens . þat ben so sleȝe, þat his fflesch mihte . so ben hud To vs cristene . wiþ inne þe bred; And þy kun . made hym dye, þerfore al blodi . þou hym seȝe. [ 70] ffelawe, quaþ þe Jew. þon, help þat I. were . a Cristene mon; ffor leuere ichaue . cristned ben þen euere seo . such asiht aȝen. þo was þe Jew cristned, . and oþur mo, [ 75] ffor þe Miracle . þat fel þo. þis Bred . þat is godus flesch, what feiror preue . wolde men esch þat vche part . is godus entere? þeih hit weore parted . in þreo quar∣tere, [ 80] And þeih hit weore . an hundred dole, vche part is his bodi al hole.

u. s. w.

b) Demanu sacerdotis per hos∣tiam penetrata.

BE fel sum tyme . In Engelonde þer was a prest, . ich vndurstonde, þat ladde not his lyf, . as was tolde, Also clanliche . as he scholde. God wolde he scholde . hymamende, [ 5] And he hym . astrong vuel gon sende: so he wende . almost . to dye. And on a day . þis siht he seȝe: A child . boþe he seih and herde And asked hym . hou he ferde, [ 10] In his hond . bret ful he beere Of bernynge Obeleis . a paniere. þe prest asked: . what is þat, And þou þat askest . of my stat? he seide: . Ich am Godes Messagere, [ 15] And þeos Obeleis . þat ben here þus monye . vnworþily þou fong, whon þat þou . þi Masse song; And ȝif þat þou nult . I. leue me, scheuh forþ þyn hond, . and þou schalt se. [ 20] þe prest heold forþ . his hond anon. And þe child . tok vp on Of þe obeleys . þat were so rede, And pult hit . in þe prestes hond amidde. hit fel þorwh þe prestes hond . on (!) [ 25] And þe child . a wey gan gon. þe prest let men . come hym to And tolde hem . whi he ferde so: Lo; quaþ he, . hou I. am diht! who sauh euere . such a siht, [ 30] þat þorw his hond . me mihte se [31 þat st. þar?] As brod as was . þat obele? And he not . I maymed nas, And afturward . song mony a mas, And (bar) an hole . þorwh his hond. [ 35] [35 fehlt das Verb.] þus þat soþe . men hit fond. After for a þousend pound . of golde þe prest no more . synne wolde, But serued god . wiþ gret drede, And afturward . to heuene ȝede. [ 40]

Dann folgt, von welchen Päpsten die einzelnen Theile der Messe ge∣stiftet worden, die einzelnen Theile der Messe, der Inhalt des Canons der Messe, und die Ablässe, verbun∣den mit der Verehrung des Sacra∣ments. [Der letzte Theil (über den Ab∣lass) ist in gekreuzten Reimen; da∣rin begegnet die Angabe: þe laste pope þat was nou—of Jon . þat was hiht—Al þe pardoun . he graunteþ ow—And doublet hit wiþ his miht. Diese Verse fehlen in Harl. 4196.] Dann folgen:

c) Septem Miracula de corpore xpi. [Den Wundern geht noch eine Einleitung in ca. 100 Versen voran, welche die Bedingungen zum wür∣digen Empfange des Sacraments (Liebe und Glauben) behandelt und mit den Worten schliesst: Lo her a tale al and sum—þat is in Vitas Patrum.]

A. Narratiocuiusdam religiosi.

Hit was a Mon . of Religioun. Of alle Men . he hedde gret renoun, And, for þe fend wolde . him haue schent, he leeuede not . in þe sacrament, And seide . hit was not Jhesu [ 5] þat conceyued was . þorwh gret vertu, Ne Ihū was not . þat oble þat was reised . atte sacre And þat þe folk . honourede to; To leeue . hit was not to do. [ 10] Bi fore two Abbotes . þus he tolde— þis Abbotes write þis tale . to holde, hit scholde be told . to eueriche mon þat is aȝeyn . þe Cristendom, Til hit beo preued . bi Clergye [ 15] wher hit beo treuþe . or heresye. þis Abbotes schewed him . þe rihte wey, wiþ alle þe ensaumples . þat þei couþe sey. And al he seide . hit was lye, But ȝif he seȝe hit . wiþ his eȝe [ 20] "Don þen so . þat I. hit seo, þen wol I. leue . þat hit so beo." þis Abbotes preide . a ful seue niht þat he wolde schewe him, . to trouwe his miht, In fflesch, . in Blod . on þe auteer, [ 25] To Conferme . his trouþe cler. And him self preyde . specialy þat god wolde schewe hym in Body, "Lord, . for no mis bileeue, þat þow scholdest . wiþ me greue, [ 30] But forte schewe . þe riht soþnes þat þow art sacrament . of þe Mes, þat I. may make . oþer certeyne, whon I. wiþ eȝen . haue þe seyȝene." þis Abbotes lyȝe . in orisoun [ 35] Til þat þe seueniht . were don. þe sonenday . to churche þei come, þat oþur Mon . wiþ hem þei nome. A sege was ordeynt . for hem þre, To bi holde . al þat priuite [ 40] Of þat holy sacrament þat scholde be schewed . in here present. Bi twene hem sat . þis ilke mon Of whom . þe Miracle furst bi gon. whon þe oble was . on þe auter leid [ 45] And þe prest . þe wordes hed seid, Alle þre . þouȝte hem . verreylik', By fore þe prest . a Child lay quik, In feir forme, . of fflesch and blod; þis say þei þre . þer þey stod. [ 50] whon þe prest scholde parte . þe sacrament, An Angel . from heuene was sent And sacrefyed . þe child riht þore: As þe prest hit brac, . þe angel hit schore, þe Blod . in to þe Chalis Ron [ 55] Of þat child, . boþe God . and Mon. þe prest ȝede . to þe hiȝeste degre, To hosel him . as hit fel to be; hem þhouȝte þe prest brouȝte . on þe patin Mosseles of þat child . newe slayn, [ 60] And beed him a Mossel . of þat fflesch, wiþ al þe blod . þer on al fresch. þen gan he crie . wiþ loude steuene: Merci, . Godus sone . of heuene! þe Bred I. sauh . on þe Auter lyȝe [ 65] hit is þi bodi, . I seo wiþ eȝe; Of þe Bred . þorwh sacrament To fflesch and Blod . hit is went: þis I. beo leeue, . and euere I. schalle, ffor verreyliche . we seon hit alle. [ 70] whon he . and þei weore . alle certeyne, In forme of Bred . hit tornde aȝeyne. he dude him hosel . as oþur wore, And was a good mon . for euer more. And al oþure . beo þe bettre [ 75] þat hereþ þis tale. or redeþ þis lettre. [Folgt die Beschreibung der Oblate, ihrer Bestandtheile und Be∣schaffenheit; so wie sie weiss ist, soll auch des Menschen Seele beim Em∣pfang weiss und sündenlos sein, sonst droht ihm Verdammniss.]

u. s. w.

B. Narratio presbiteri paro∣chialis.

A parisch prest . was in a Toun Of ful gret . discrecioun,

fful good . and rihtful he was, And god sende hym . of his gras. Of his parischens . he vndurstode [ 5] whuche wer vuel . and wȝuche wer gode: Two he hedde . forte gete þat nolde neuere . synne lete. And hit felde . on an Asterne, þat þe prest scholde . non hosul werne [ 10] But hit were . for þe gretur synne, Inobedience . or Corsyng Inne: þis prest was . in ful gret þouht wher he schulde hosele hem . or nouht. he preyede to God, . heuene kyng, [ 15] þat he wolde sende him . tokenyng wheþer he scholde hem . hosul for∣bede; To ȝiue hit hem . he hedde gret drede. ffrom god he hedde . þis onswere: þat vch on scholde . heor oune charge bere, [ 20] And þat he scholde . werne hit none But ȝiue hit forþ . to euerichone. "Do as Ihū dude . in dede, And þou schalt no mon . hit forbede, No more þen he . dude Judas [ 25] þat hedde I. don . a gret trespas. Ihū ȝaf alle . wiþ mylde mood, whon Bred was turned . to flesch and blod. ffor summe þat hit take . hit schal hem saue, And summe þerfore . peyne schal haue, [ 30] Aftur þey aren . of synne clene, Also schal hit . on hem beo sene." Ȝit preyed he god . of More grace: þat he mihte knowe . be þe face whuche resceyued hit . worþily, [ 35] And wȝuche to haue hit . not worþi. And (god) graunted him . his wille To knowe þe goode . from þe ille. þe folk . þat to þe prest went fforte receyue . þe sacrament, [ 40] Of somme þe face . was also briht As þe sonne . In somer liht; And (of) summe þe visage . was also blak, þat noþing miht hit . Blakore mak; Of somme hit was . as red as blod, [ 45] starynge . as þei weore wood; Of somme . þe visage . was bolled stoute, As boþe heore eȝen . welleden oute; And summe nymped . wiþ feet and hondes, As dogges don . þat gnawen heore bondes; [ 50] And somme hedde visages . of Meselri; And somme were lyk . foul Maumetri. Moni wondres . weore on hem seene, Mo þen he couþe . þenne deme. þe prest, . whon he sauh alle þise, [ 55] Of þat siht . he gan to grise, ffor þat siht . he was hidouse And dredful . and Meruilouse.

Ȝit preȝede he god . wiþ good entent þat he mihte wite . what al þis ment. [ 60] And god almihti . louede him wel And wolde schewe him . eueridel: þo Men . þat weore so briht As þe sonne . on day liht þo Men aren ȝit . in Charite, [ 65] And clene of synne, . and wor∣schupeþ me; þo Men . þat were so blake, þat no þing mihte hem . blakore make þo weore lechours . foul wiþ Inne And haue no wille . to leue heor synne; [ 70] þo Men þat weore . so red as blood þey are tirauns . wikked of mood, heore Euencristen . for to slo wiþ dede . and wiþ word also: þo þat þow sauh . wiþ Bollen visage [ 75] þo aren Envyous . and ouer outrage; And þo þ^t nymped . her fingres and hendes Are Bacbyteres . bi twene frendes; þo þat þou sauh . Meseles bi siht þey loue more good . þen god al∣miht; [ 80] þo þat þou sauh . lik Maumetrie On worldly þinges . þei most affye, More loue þei catel . þat he haþ sent þen þei don hym . þat al haþ lent. þeose maner men . are riht in wille [ 85] In heore synne to leue stille, And þerfore schal . þe sacrament Of hem aske . heor Jugement þat þei haue resceyued him . vnworþily And serued þe fend . wiþ ful Envy. [ 90] þis tale is told . for loue of þo þat in synne . to hosul go, Or ben in wille . to torne aȝeyn; Al heore trauayle . þei don in veyn.

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C. Narracio felicis presbiteri.

(þe sacrament . of þe auteer hit makeþ hem . of peynes cleer. And þat may I. schewe . apertely Bi a tale of seynt Gregori):

Seint Gregori seiþ . for þe same: [ 5] hit was a prest, . ffelix his name, Bi syde he wonede . in a paþe: was a wassching . In an hote baþe. þis prest ofte . þider ȝede, To wassche him, . whon he hedde nede. [ 10] þis prest þer . euer he fonde A Mon, to wassche him, . to foot and honde, he drouȝ his hosen of . and his schon, And redi was hem . on to don, At eueri tyme . he þider com [ 15] his herneis feire . of he nom, And seruede him . at eueri tyde In þat watur . and ofte beo syde. þis prest . þat com þider so ofte, þat þis mon þer . seruede so softe, [ 20] he ne askede hym . neuer more wheþen he was . ne hou he com þore; But eueri tyme . he was redi And seruede him . ful apertely. þis prest þouȝte . he serueþ me wel, [ 25] his trauayle . wol I. quite sum del. On a day . he þider þouhte And twey loues . wiþ hym he brouhte. In to þat baþ . ȝeode þat prest And wusch him . as he dude nest. [ 30] þis mon was þere . him aȝeyn, To serue him wel . he dude his Mayn. þis prest, . whon he scholde go, he ȝaf þis mon . þis loues two And þonked him muchel . his ser∣uyse, [ 35] And more he scholde haue . oþur wyse. þis Mon onswerde . þis prest a ȝeyn: þis bred ȝe bringeþ . to me in veyn, ffor neuer more . schal I. ȝete Bred . ne non oþur mete: [ 40] I. am a Mon þat is ded, þat neuer more . schal ete bred. þe prest asked: . on what manere Is hit . þat þou wonest here? þis Mon onswerde . in þat tyde: [ 45] I. was lord here . ar I. dyede; And þis seruise . þat I. am Inne Is þe peyne . for my synne; Bote I. þe preye . par charite Offre on þe Auter . þes loues for me, [ 50] And I. beseche þe . ouer alle þynge þat sixe Masses . for me þou synge: And heo weore songen, . I. hope to wende In to þe Joye . wiþ outen ende; And whon þe sixte masse . is left, [ 55] ȝif þou ne fynde me . her eft, Trouwe þenne . forsoþe i wis þat for þi preyere I. am in Blis. þis prest . al þat wike longe ffor þis mon . preyede and songe. [ 60] And whon þe wike . was al gon, þe prest com þidere . and fond non; he hopede wel . þat he was brouht To blisse, . for he ne fond him nouht. Beo þis tale . ȝe may se [ 65] þat hit is . gret Charite Masses . for þe dede . to synge, þe soules of pyne . forte bringe.

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D. hou a man of souþfolk was saued þorou a masse.

A Mon in souþfolk . ones dyed, Bi sydes sudburi, . as men seid. ffor þat mon . such grace was diht þat him was graunted . to come a niht fforte speke . wiþ his wyf, [ 5] To mende þe fautes . of his lyf. ȝef a Masse, he seide, . were for me don wiþ agood monnes . deuocion, I. hope . to Joye . for to go And beo dilyueret . of al my wo; [ 10] I. preye þe, dame, . par charite To trauayle . so muche for me. heo graunted hym . þat ilke bone, And ros vppon þe morwen . sone, And to þe ffreres . sone heo eode [ 15] þer heo hopede . best to spede. heo com and spac . wiþ a ffrere And preyed heo moste . his masse here, And for hire hosebondes soule . to synge, And heo wolde ȝiue hym . offringe. [ 20] þe ffrere . dude hire a Mes In Comuyn, . as þe seruise is. whon þis Masse . I. songen was, heo wente hom . a good pas. þe niht aftur . þenne com he. [ 25] slepestou? he seide . . nay, seide heo. Are ȝe ȝit, heo seyde, in blis? þe Masse for ow . I. songen is.

þe Masse, he seide, . þou dudest do, A parti hit helpeþ . me þerto; [ 30] Mi part ich hedde . of þat Mes As of þing . þat Comuyn is. ȝif on weore specialy . for me seid, Of my peyne . I. were ful leyd, ȝif þe prest were . of lyf so good, [ 35] þat God his preyere . vndurstood; I. hope þenne . grace to haue þat his Masse . mihte me saue. Ofte he seide . to his wyf: A prest, . Aprest . of clene lyf! [ 40] On þe Morwen . forþ heo eode To þe ffreres . eft to spede, And schewed hit . to þe priour, And preyed him . of socour. ȝif he hedde . eny broþur [ 45] þat he kneuh . beter þen oþur, "þat wol synge . me a Mes ffor a Mon . þat ded is, At myn ese he schal haue To apitaunce . what he wol craue." [ 50] þe prior spac . to a ffrere And preyed him . on alle manere þat he wolde . a Masse synge ffor þat soule . heo made preyinge. þe ffrere was . an holy mon. [ 55] And ar he . his Masse bi gon, he preyed to god . his orison, wiþ a gret . deuocion, þat hit mihte . ben him to pay þe Masse þat he scholde . synge to day. [ 60] whon þe Masse was don . to þe ende, he bad þe wommon . hom wende, "And whon þou more . eft heres, Cum and sey . to vre ffreres!" þe niht aftur, . lustneþ now! [ 65] he com and seide: . slepestou? Nay, heo sayde, . hou fare ȝe? wel, he seide, . and so worþ þe. sire, . weore ȝe a payed . of þat Mas þat for ow to day . songen was? [ 70] ȝe, he seide, . graunt Merci! þat Masse to me . is more worþi þen al þe world . an hundred siþe, Ne miht haue mad me . neuer so bliþe: his preyere was . to god so dere, [ 75] ffor al þat he preyede . he wolde here; þeih he hedde preiȝed . for a þou∣sund mo, ffrom peyne to blisse þei hedde i go, ffor what þing . he hedde asked bone God wolde ha graunted . him ful sone. [ 80] haue good day! . for now I. wende To þat Joye . wiþ outen ende. God lete þe neuere . þer of mis, þou . ne he, . to haue þat blis. þe wyf com sone . on þe Morn [ 85] And fel on knes . þat ffrere bi forn, And tolde him þer . eueridel hou he for his preyere . was wel. And þat ffrere . ful wel he lette, And þonked God, . for Joye . he grette. [ 90] wel weore hym . at his endynge hedde such aprest . for him to synge. In þis tale . schewed is Of alle þing . good is þe mes, þe sacrament . on þe Auter, [ 95] Ouer alle passeþ . his pouwer. In þe Masse . þei hem a fye þe soules þat are . in purgatorie.

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E. Narracio bede.

Þat tyme seint Bede . was liuonde weore Mony kynges . in þis londe. Bi twene two . was gret Batayle— þerfore i telle . þis Meruayle— þat on hiht Edfride . of North Cuntre, [ 5] þat oþur . of lindeseye was he. Edfride hedde . gret seygneri, seynt Andreu hosbonde . of hely. þis Batayle was . bi boþe heore a sent Bi sydes a watur . men calleþ Trent. [ 10] sire Elfride broþur . hette Eleswynne, he was slayn . þat Batayle Inne. On boþe partys . ne was non so feir a kniht . of fflesch and bon, Ne non so douhti was . of Armes [ 15] þerfore seint Bede . pleynede his harmes. A noþur kniht . was feld doun Nerhonde ded, . and fel in swoun: þe nome . of þis ȝonge kniht Ruyna, . seiþ seint Bede, . he hiht. [ 20] whon þis Ruyna . hedde long leyn, he keuerde, . and seet vp aȝeyn, And stopped his woundes: . þei schulde not blede, And, as he mihte, . þennes he ȝede To seche him help . sumwher to haue, [ 25] Of frendes fynde . him to saue. As he wente . wiþ muchel drede, he was taken . wiþ kyng Coldrede.

And brouht him . to a lordyng, An Erl, . þat heold of þe kyng, [ 30] þe Erl asked him . what he was, And wher he hedde ben . in hard cas. ffor doute of deþ . he was a friht And dorste not seye . he was a kniht; he seide: sire, ȝif þi wille be, [ 35] I. am an hosebonde mon . of þe cuntre, I. was wont . to lede vitayle To knihtes þat weoren . in Batayle; And nou I. am a pore mon, þus fro þis Batayle . I. com, [ 40] And wolde fonde . to haue my lyf, Til I. may come . to my wyf. þis Erl dude . a leche bi stoundes To tente to hym, . to hele his woundes. þat tyme was here . mony þeodes, [ 45] Mony vsages, . and mony leodes, ffor vche akyng . in þat dawes vsede his . diuerse lawes; summe were cristene . in vre fay, And summe leeuede . in paynymes lay: [ 50] þerfore þat tyme . was muchel þro, And ofte was boþe . werre and wo. ȝif a kniht . miht oþer men take, he scholde hem sulle . or in seruage make; wherfore itelle so . of þis kniht: [ 55] þe Erl let him bynde . eueriche niht, þat he ne scholde . from hym fle Ne stele a wey . to his cuntre. ffor al þat þei . mihte him bynde Ofte loos . þei dude hym fynde; [ 60] Neuer so faste . þeih heo him bounde, Loos a noþur tyme . þei him founde. þis bounden kniht . Ruyna hedde a Broþur, . þat hihte Tymma. þis Tymma was prest . Religious, [ 65] ffor he was Abbot . of an hous; so longe he liuede . in þat estre, þat his nome . heet Tymmestre; þat tyme, . as ich vndurstonde, hit was . in Northhumberlonde. [ 70] þis Abbot hedde tiþinges certeyne þat Ruyna was . in Batayle slayne. he com to Trent, . þis Abbot Tymma, And fond a bodi . lyk to Ruyna; honorabliche . he dude hit graue [ 75] In his chirche . þer he wolde hit haue, And song þerfore . day and oþur: he wende hit hedde . ben his broþur. þauh Tymma hedde . chosun wrong, his broþur hedde . þe goodus of þe song— [ 80] ffor God al wot . and wust hit þere ffor whom he made . his preyere—: þeih men a niht . þis kniht bounde, A Morwe . þei hym . loos founde, Men mihte hym neuere . bynde so fest [ 85] þat þei (!) þat tyme . nolde al to berst. [86 þei st. þe bondes.] þe men þat hedde . þis kniht in holde þis wondur . to þe Erl . þei tolde. þe Erl hedde . þer of gret wondur þat þis bondes . weore so in sondur; [ 90] he seide him self . wolde wiþ him speke And wite whi . his bondes dude breke. Bi fore þe Erl . was he set, And þe Erl . feire he gret. sey me, he seide, . þou belamy, [ 95] Const þou wel . on sorcery? sum wicche craft . I. trouwe þou bere þat þi bondes . þe not dere, fforsoþe, he seyde, . sumwhat þou dos þat euer more . þei fynde þe loos. [ 100] he seide: wicche craft . con I nouht, Ne for me . schal non beo wrouht, Ne I. nul . by fendes craft [103 Ms. nul be by.] vn bounde beo, . bi no wicche craft. sire Erl, he seide, . hit is a noþur: [ 105] In my cuntre . I. haue a Broþur þat leeueþ wel . þat I. beo slayn, ffor I. com not hom aȝeyn; ffor me he syngeþ. vche day a Mes— prest, . abbot . forsoþe . he is. [ 110] I wot wel . þat is þe enchesun þat my Bondus . here (ben) vndon; ffor no þing . ne haues pouwer Aȝeyn þe sacrament . of þe auter. ffor ȝif I weore ded, . in oþur werld, [ 115] his preyere . for me weore I. herd, To bringe me out. of peyne and wo, And siþen to blisse . forte go. Al þat Meyne . and þat Erl Leeuede wel . he was no cherl, [ 120] And as he to fore hem . hedde i seid, whon þei on hym . furst hond leyd; Bi his semblaunt . and feir beryng hym semed wel . a gret lordyng, Bi his speche . þei vndurstood [ 125] þat he was mon . of gentil blod. þe Erl tok him . in priuite— wheþen he was . telle scholde he, "sey me soþ, . and, as I. am trewe kniht, þou schalt no skaþe haue . be my miht." [ 130]

"seþþhe þou me bi hotest . pes and griþ, I. am þe kynges mon . Eldriþ, Armes I. bar . in þat Batayle, wiþ my pouwer . him to auayle." so me þhouȝte, . seide þe Erl, [ 135] þou semed not . to ben a cherl; Bote for þi knowlechyng . her me bye þou weore worþi . for to dye, ffor þou halp . þer to slo, þat al my kynde . is ded me fro; [ 140] Bote, for I. er . sikerde þe, scha(l)t þou haue . no skaþe for me. he eode and sold him. for Raunsoun At Londone . to a ffrisoun— A ffrisoun, . ȝe schul vndurstonde, [ 145] Is a Mon . of ffrys londe. þis ffrisoun scholde . þis Mon forþ lede, And dude on him . bondes for drede, ffor a skapyng . bi þe weye he dude bondes . on him leye. [ 150] Bot þat vaylede . him no þyng Neuer a day, . þat byndyng: ffor in þat tyme . þe masse was songen, þe bondes to barst . and al to sprongen. þis ffrison þhouȝte: . hou may þis beo? [ 155] he may riht wel . from me fleo; happyliche . hit a vayleþ nouht, þe Catel . þat I. wiþ him bouht. þe ffrison seide: . wolt þou wel Restore a ȝeyn . al my Catel: [ 160] And I. schal ȝiue þe leue . to go To þi Cuntre . þat þou com fro. But furst þou schalt me trouþe pliht, And trewely hold hit . wiþ al þi miht, To bringe þe Catel . I. ȝaf for þe, [ 165] And elles I. graunte þe . not fre. he graunted him . al þat he seide And trouþe in hond . wiþ hym he leide. þis Ruyna wente . to kyng loer, þat was kyng . of Caunturber, [ 170] he was seint Andreus . suster sone, And Ruyna was wont . wiþ hym to wone. Of al his stat boþe wo . and wele Ruyna told him eueridele. þe kyng ȝaf him . his Raunsun. [ 175] And bar hit to londun . to þat ffrisun. seþþe eode he hom, . þis kniht Ruyna, To his broþur, . Abbot Timma, And tolde him . of al his wo fare And of his cumfort . in al his care. [ 180] þis Abbot . wel vndurstood þat his Masse . dude him gret good And þe sacrament . gon hym borwe Out of seruage . and out of sorwe. þis tale telleþ vs . seynt Bede [ 185] In his gestes . þat we Rede. Bi þis tale . may men lere þat Masses . helpeþ vs wel here; ffor vs liuynge . hit makeþ Memorie, Also . for þe soules . in purgatorie. [ 190] vche mon . schal leeue þat riht þat helpen hit wolle . as (hit) dude þe kniht.

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F. Of a man þ^t was closed in amyne.

Hit was a Mon . bi ȝonde þe séé, A. Mynour, wonede . In a Citee— Mynours þei makeþ . in hulles holes, As men don . þat secheþ coles— þe Mynour souht stones . vndur molde [ 5] þat Men of maken . seluer and golde. he wrouhte . and holede . in þe hille. A perilous chaunce . fel hym tille: A gret parti . of þe Myne ffel doun þer . and closed hym Inne. [ 10] his felawes alle . þat weren hym hende, þat he weore ded . wel þei wende; þei eode and tok hem . alle to Rede, And tolde his wyf . þat he was dede. þis wommon bi menede . hir hose∣bonde sore— [ 15] God leeue . þat mony such wymmen wore!— heo helped his soule . in alle þynge In almes dede . and in offringe. heo Offred for him . atte Auter fful of wyn . a picher, [ 20] And feir lof . wiþ al, Eueri day as principal, And al þat twelf moneþ . stabely, Bote o day . þat passed forby.— ffewe suche wymmen . we fynde [ 25] þat to heore hosebondes . are so kynde! Bote þis wyf . wiþ al hire miht Dude for him . day . and . niht.— hit fel . at þe twelfmoneþ ende his felawes . to þe hul gon wende. [ 30] And come . to þat same stude eft þer þei heore felawe . in werk left. Riht þere . þei furst bi gon þei percede þorwh in . to þe Mon: þe Mon . In good stat þei founde, [ 35] Liuinge, wiþ outen wem . or wounde.

Euerichone . þei hedde ferly, And þat was . gret Resun why. Alle þo men . weore in gret weer how he hedde lyued . al þat ȝer. [ 40] Bote þenne he tolde hem . euerichon how he hedde lyued . þer al on: I. haue I. liued : gracious lyf þorwh cortesye . of my wyf: Eueri day . heo haþ me sent [ 45] Bred . and . wyn . to present; But o day, þenne . eet I. nouht, ffor my mete . me nas not brouht. þei ladde þe mon . in to þe toun, And tolde þis Miracle . vp and doun, [ 50] ffurst . þorwh þe Citéé, And seþþe . þorwh al þe contre; hit com in spekyng . atte laste þat day . þat he dude faste. he tolde hem . þe dayes name, [ 55] And his wyf . seide þe same: þat day heo offrede . neuer a del þe goode ffriday . hit mihte be wel. Now may ȝe here . þat almes dede Gostlyche wole . a mon fede, [ 60] And so may ȝe . wel vnderstande þat God is payed . of good offrande. ffor al þis tale . in ȝor lyues Trustneþ not . in ȝor wyues, Ne in ȝour children . no þing, [ 65] Makeþ or self . ȝour offring! so kynde a wommon . as I. of tolde Liueþ not now, . beo ȝe bolde! Ne no clerk . þat þis redes schal fynde non nou . of so kynde dedes. [ 70]

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30) De angelo ethermitaincon∣trarium odorantibus.

(of no synne . comeþ so foul stinke As of þe fulþe . of lechery: As here a tale . scheweþ openly.) IN wildernesse . an hermyte fand A ded monnes bodi . stinkand. [ 5] And þouȝte þat he wolde . gladly haue ffelawes to helpe . þe bodi graue. And god sende . to him an Angel, In monnes fourme, . and helped him wel. ffor stunch . þe hermite his neose held [ 10] þat of þat mouled flesch . he feled, And his felawe . wondur him þouȝt þat of þat bodi . wef hedde he nouȝt But hondeled hym . louelich, as wyf hondeled hire child . þat is a lyf. whon he was grauen, . com asquiere, wiþ Rose garlaund, . rydynge hem nere, syngynge he rod . as mon at ese. And for him heold . þe aungel his nese And pleyned of stunch . þat he feled. [ 20] And þe hermyte . ȝerne hym bi heold, And seide: . stynch fele . I. now . non; þou art, felawe, . a wondur mon, ffor Muche stynk . riht now feled I, þerfore of þe . þhouhte me ferli [ 25] þat þow heold not . for stynk þi nes Of þis cors . þat here i grauen Is; Bote whon þou . þe ȝonge squiȝer bi held, þou held þi nese . and stink þou feld. þe Angel seide . to him þan: [ 30] þat squier is . asynful man And haþ muche . in his bodi stinkyng synne . of lecheri, þat I. ne may . þole his smel, ffor Mon am I. non, . but Angel; [ 35] And þis cors . þat we grauen here Is to god . ful lef and dere, his lyf made . his soule swete, þat men ouhte cusse him . hondes and fete, ffor good mon he was . and holy, [ 40] þerfore þar þe þinke . no ferly þat I. him hondled . so louely, ffor nouȝt stinkeþ . but synne gostly. And tok leue . and bad good day And wente . from þe hermyte a way. [ 45] heer may we seo . þat fleschlich lust Makeþ Monnes soule . Rote and Rust And bi fore god . hore and Moule, ffor noþing is . to god so foule.

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31) hou on demed on oþur for brekynge off hys fast.

TWo Monkes . woned in a Celle. And on of hem, . as aunter felle, Ede on a ffriday . good to gete, And sauh a ȝong mon . erly ete. And for vuel mon . demed he him, [ 5] And seide: . whi etest þou in vntym? þis ilke Monk was . not forþi A. good mon in god . and holy.— And gostly miht . hedde his felawe Alle his þouhtes . to seo and knawe. [ 10] And whon þe Monk . hom was come, his felawe sauh . þat grace was from him nome,

And to him . he seide sone: sei me, broþer, . what hastou done? In sum þing hastou . mad god wroþe, [ 15] In . word . or in dede . or in boþe. þe Monk bi þouhte him . Inwardly, And seide: . of no gret synne, . þenk I. And his felawe . asked him þan: spak þow to day . to eny mon? [ 20] ȝe, quaþ he, . ȝusterday spak I To a Mon, . for he eet erlJ, ffor me þhouȝte . he ouhte a byde his Mete on fryday . til Non tyde; I. spac to him . ful scornfuly— [ 25] wel may beo . I. dude foly— And blamed him . for he eet erly, ffor of his hunger . nout feled I.; ffor hunger . makeþ mon ryuelJ Breke his fast . and ete erly. [ 30] preye for me, . leue felawe, forþi þat god for ȝiue me . þis foly. þei preyede boþe . a fourtenniht, And god for ȝaf . þat Monk his pliht, And his felawe . wiþ lemes liht [ 35] þe grace þat he let . on him liht(!). Beo þis tale . may we alle seo þat siker schulde . vche good mon beo A Monnes state . in misdede wite, Or he blamed him . for hite; [ 40] And nomeliche . he þat gulti is Ouhte blame his neihȝebor þe les. þerfore, . ȝif þou wolt . chastise oþur, Or þi felawe . or þi Broþur. Loke þat þou . beo so clene, [ 45] þat no fulþe . be on þe sene; þen may þou . ful boldely Blame him . þat doþ foly.

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32) Of seynt Osewold þe kyng.

IN Engelonde . by olde dawes were kynges . VII., as Jestes schawes. In Bamburn . In Northumburlande was on of þe seuen kynges wonande, þat hihte Osewold, . þat a seint is nouwe, [ 5] As holy chirche . ouhte wel knowe. In his lond . by a watur þon woned an hermyte . þat hihte good mon. whon he hedde woned þere . XXX . ȝere, he wende wel . no mon . were his pere [ 10] In holy liuynge, . and not forþi was he sum þyng . in herte modi And þonked crist . þat he was sich, þat non mihte . ben hym lich. But as he hym . so holy held, [ 15] On þis maner . god his pruyde feld. þis hermyt sat . by a water brimme And saih twey sely fissehes swimme: þe more fondet . þe lasse to gete And folwed bit . and wolde hit ete. [ 20] And God schewede . Miracle þare: Riht as Men . þe ffissches . speke baþe. þe lasse ffisch seide . to þe Mare: I. preye þe . þat þow me spare, ffor þis holy hermytes . loue [ 25] þat sitteþ here . on Banke a boue. þe More ffisch . onswerde þare: ffor his loue . wol I. not þe spare, But to my mete . I. wol þe take. And eft . þe luytel ffisch spake [ 30] And seide: leue ffeere, . I. preye þe ffor kyng Oswoldes loue . spare me. At þat word . he let him go quite. And gret ferly . þhouȝte þe hermyte how kyng in paleis . mihte be [ 35] Of better lyf . þen was he. Touward þe Borwh . he hit plette. And wel sone . þe kyng he mette. whon kyng Oswold . sauh þe hermyte, Of his palfrey . he lihte doun tyte, [ 40] And made him chere . wiþ louely fare, And asked his Benisun . sul ȝare, And seide to him . what he wolde. And priueliche . þe hermyte him tolde what he . of þeos ffissches herde, [ 45] And spyed his lyf . hou he ferde. þe kyng meked . his holynes, And seide: in me . nis no goodnes, I. lede my lyf . in Jolyte wiþ þeos knihtes, . as þou miht se, [ 50] I. liue in worldes weole . and winne, And in me . is not bote sinne. þe hermyte seide: . þat may not beo; But for his loue . þat dyed on treo, Let me . al þi lyf . wite, [ 55] þat I. may take . ensaumple . of hite! þe kyng tok him . his owne Ryng, And seide: ber þis þe quen . in tok∣nyng And bid hire do . riht so bi þe As heo is wont . to do by me! [ 60] þe hermyte ede to þe Qwen and told his ernde. . and feire heo hym cald. In kynges wede . was he cladde, And in to halle . þe Qwen him ladde;

knihtes, . squiȝers . a bouten him drouh, [ 65] Ladies, . Maydenes . feire I. nouh. he wusch . and was set to Mete. And a non . as he was sete, plente was brouht . of Bred . and . wyn, And riche messes . of þe Cuchyn. [ 70] But sone whon he . þer of hedde taste, To Almus hit was ȝiuen . In haste. þe hermyte sat . and was ful wo þat þei bare . his mete him fro. þe Qween asked . of him tiþandes, [ 75] so þat from Bred . he heold his handes, And wiþ talkynge . heo heold him ay Til al was brouȝt . and boren a way. And atte laste . on Bord was brouht A Lof . þat payed him riht nouht: [ 80] Blac hit was . and siuedi, And cut to fore him . curteisli, And feir water . set þer bi, And þe Qween bad hym . don gladly. At euen he was . to chaumbre led [ 85] And brouht wiþ þe Qwene . in Bed. þe Qwen gon hym . hule and Cus And huld him wake . Maugrei his. þis Caityf hermite . was hungri And felede hete . of hire Bodi, [ 90] And made buskyng . to leyke on grene. And aftur help . cried þe Qwene: Out of Bedde . he was drawe And in a ffat . wiþ cold water þrawe, Longe he was holden . in þat water [ 95] And longe he gon . his teþ to chater. he was take vp . and leyd aȝeyn Riht beo þe Qwen. . and heo was bayn To cusse him . and to make him redi his fflessches lust . to do lecheri. [ 100] his fflesch eft . made manas As a Mon . þat fayled graas— Alle ȝe wite . what I. mene! And aftur help . cried þe Qwene: And of Bedde . he was tan, [ 105] And Duppet eft . in fflum Jordan, And holden doun . til he was cold, Of fflessches lust . to ben vn bold. And bi þe Qween . ȝit he was leid. Allas Allas, . ofte he seid; [ 110] Leuere him weore . atome to ben þen so be seruet . wiþ þe Qwen. ffor þat niht . he was þris þus serued . wiþ þe kynges seruis; his lust and lykyng . hit was Bated, [ 115] ffor þries in þat niht . he was baþed. And sone i lapped . in an heire, And keuerd him . wiþ cloþes feire. On þe Morwen . þe Qwen him cald And asked him . ȝif he more wold [ 120] Beo gestned, . as he was þat niht. And he seide: nay, . bi godus miht! fful luytel I. þonke þe . þis gestnyng, ffor long I. nouh . I haue beo kyng. þe Qwen seide: . nou þou hast sene [ 125] þe kynges lyf . al bi dene; I. wene þou liuest . more ateise þen my lord . in his paleyse, ffor longe haþ he . my lord bene And ȝit am I. a Mayden . clene. [ 130] ȝif þou haue neode . to eny þing, send word to me, . or to þe kyng, And gladly . we wole þe ȝiue Mete . and . Drinke, . whil þat we lyue. he tok his leue . and ȝeode his gate, [ 135] And was fayn . he hedde þe ȝate. Beo þis tale . may we se þat no mon ouhte wene . þat he Beo so good . and so holy Mon þat lyk to him . in world beo non. [ 140] ffor he þat weneþ . þat he so is Gabbeþ . wiþ priue pruyde I. wis.

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33) þe story off Theofle

A Busschop woned . in a Cuntre þat hihte Cisyli . bi ȝonde þe séé. [2 Ms. Eisyli.] he hedde a clerk . þat Theophil hiht And serued hym . trewly . and riht: so qweynte he was . and so wys, [ 5] þat alle hym louede . for his seruis. þe Bisschop hym ȝaf . in his pouste Lond and leode, . gold . and ffe. To alle his goodes . tok he tent And spendet . wisly al his rent. [ 10] Theofle, . of whom I. telle þis tale, was þis Bisschopes . Officiale, And bar hym feire . and Corteysly, And gat him frend . in his Bayly; Chast he was . of his Bodi, [ 15] ffor he louede . no lecheri; he was boþe . Corteis and hende, And alle goode men . weren his frende; was non holde . so wys in werk As Theophele, . þe Bisschopes clerk. [ 20] þe pore folk . þat hedde neode Louede him . for his Almus dede: þo þat weore naked . he hem cled, þo þat weore hungri . heo hem fed. [24 Ms. heo st. he.]

Alle him louede . for his godnes, [ 25] Olde . and ȝonge, . more and les. ffel aunter . þat þe Bisschop dyed, ffor muchel seknesse . þat he dried. sone so þe Bisschop . was ded, Lered and lewed . toke to Red [ 30] what Mon . þat was wysest, þat mihte ben . heore Bisschop best. Lered folk . and lewed baþe To Bisschop ches . Theophele raþe, On Theophele . was al her hope, [ 35] þerfore þei ches him . to Bisschope. But þe fend . þorwh onde . and nyþe Bi gon on him . his Maistrie kiþe, And his herte made . hard and stiþe, þat wolde he not . þe folk liþe [ 40] Ne graunten hem . heore askyng, Ne be Bisschop . for no þyng. "I. am not worþi . forte be Mon of so gret . a dignite; Geteþ ow þerfore . a noþer mon [ 45] þat ow beter . lere con; sikerly, . dar ȝe not hope þat I. wol beo . ȝoure Bisschope." þe folk was . ful vuel payed And Theophele . ful ȝerne prayed [ 50] þat he schulde ben . heore prelate. Bot he nolde graunte hem . no gate. And þei seide . he dude ille þat stod a ȝeyn . godus wille. But herwiþ . wolde þei leue nouht: [ 55] Aȝein his wille . þe folk him brouht Bi fore þe Erche Bisschop . sone, To make him graunte . hem heore bone. whon he com þer, . sore dude he grete, And fel to þe Bisschopes feete, [ 60] And preyed him . sor godes sake þat he schulde not . him Bisschop make. I. am, quaþ he, . a synful Mon And to luytel good . I. con ffor to haue . such dignite: [ 65] þerfore, sir Bisschop, . I. preye þe At þis tyme . þou me spare And mak anoþur Bisschop ȝare. þe Bisschop ȝaf him . dayes þre, To loke . hou hit mihte best be, [ 70] And bad him come . þe þridde day To him his wille . forte say. But euere his herte was in o state, ffor wolde he not . be prelate. whon þe Bisschop . sauh his wille, [ 75] wolde he no lengore . speke him tille, But made a noþur . Bisschop sone And set him deorely in trone. þat oþur Bisschop . T. heold In his seruise . wiþ muchel beld. [ 80]

Now schul ȝe here. (wiþ) what queyn∣tise þe fend gilede . T. þe wyse. he made men sone . uppon him lye And T. to his lord . beo wrye. þe Bisschop leuede . þat he herde say, [ 85] And pult him out . of his offys a way. And T. þhouhte gret ferly, ffor he nuste . wherfore ne whi þat he was don . from his Baily; And þerfore was he . ful sori. [ 90] In his owne hous . not forþi Liuede he feire . and Corteisli, he clepte gistes . to his hous, And fedde þe pore . wiþ almus. But sathanas, his fo, . wiþ his wiles [ 95] Gederede a ȝeyn him . queynte giles And made him þenke . on his Maistrie, On his lordhed . and his Bailye, what he hedde ben . and what he was. And sone he seide: . allas allas, [ 100] þat euere I. was . Qweinte and wys And hedde men . in my seruis þat were i wont . dai . and niht To serue me . wiþ al heore miht! Now ȝiue men . of me no tale [ 105] Ne recche wheþer i be . sek or hale, Nou seo I. wel . in vche place Me is fallen . luitel grace, ffor no mon deþ . me honoure, Nouþer in halle . ne in boure. [ 110] Now is T, . þat lord was, so foule i cast . in þe plas, þat no mon wolle . him lord calle, Nouþer in Boure . ne in halle. Allas, quaþ he, . þat I. was born! [ 115] schomely . is my Joye . forlorn. so muchel care . fel in his herte, As þe ffend of helle . gerte, þat leuere him were . to be dede þen such lyf . for to lede; [ 120] ffor him þhouhte . þat he wolde fayn Ben . in his Baylie . a ȝein, þat neuer rouhte he . what to do To couenaunt, . þat he come þer to. þe ffend mad him . to þenke in hast, [ 125] þorwh miht . of þe holigost, hou he mihte geten . his Bayli aȝein þat he wolde . han so fayn. he bi þouhte him . ful hastely þat he mihte come . to his Bayli [ 130] þorwh wicche craft . and sorcerye, þat Clerkes clepen . Nigramauncie.

In þat Citéé . woned a Jewh þat hedde idon muchel . a ȝein Ihū: soules hedde he . raft him fro [ 135] And made hem . to helle go, he was bi come . þe deueles man, And in his seruyse . liuede he þan wiþ wicche Craft . and sorcerye To lede his lyf . ful priuelye. [ 140] Theophele herte . was euere in flouht, And on þis Jew . ful wel he þouht. so fer forþ . þe Jewh (!) him ladde And mad him . so wood . and Madde, þat he eode . vppon a niht [ 145] To þe Jewes hous . ful riht, And knokked . faste . atte ȝate, And preied ȝerne . him in late, And he nolde his knokkyng blyn, Til þe Jew . let him come In. [ 150] þe Jew sauh . his druri chere, And what hym eiled . wolde he here, And asked him . what was his wille And for what nedes . he com him tille. T. tolde . þe Jew his tale [ 155] hou he hedde ben . Officiale And was don out . of his Baily, But he wuste neuere . wherfore ne whi; "ȝif þou miht . me socoure And bringe me . to myn honoure, [ 160] þi trauayle . I wolde þe ȝelde I. wis wiþ ȝiftus . and wiþ gret Riches; ffor leuere me were . to be dede þen þus schomeliche . my lyf lede, wiþ oute welþe . and or praunce [ 165] þat I. haue lost . wiþ ferli chaunce; þerfore, my frend, . I. preye þe þat, ȝif þou may, . þou helpe me." þe Jewh bad him . leue his care, And seide . þat wel schulde he fare, [ 170] And bad him come . þat ilke tym On þe morwe . to speke wiþ him. whon þat T. herde þis, his herte was ful . of Joye and blis, And sone he eode . hom aȝeyn, [ 175] ffor he was neuer er . so fayn. And com vppon . þat oþur niht To þe Jewh, . as he hedde hiht. þe Jewh ladde him . on an hulle, þer folk were wont . to pleie heore fulle, [ 180] And bad he schulde not . ben aferd ffor noþing þat he sauh . or herd. ȝif þou, he seide, . wolt haue þy wille, Loke þat þou . holde þe stille, Loke þat þou . make not on þe [ 185] þe tokne . of þe Rode tre, Ne þenk on crist . ne on Marie, But cum wiþ me . ful boldelye, I. schal þe lede . to my kyng, þat schal folfulle . þi longyng. [ 190] whon þat T. herde al þis, he was no þing . a ferd I. wis, But seide: lord, . fayn wol i. do Al þat euere . þou seist me to. whon T. com . to þis hille, [ 195] he was siker . to han his wille. Muche folk . þen sauh he þare ffeire atired . and riche fare, And a middes þe gaderyng sauh he sitte . a Modi kyng. [ 200] þe Jewh him ladde . in to þe plas þer al þe folk . I gedered was, And on knes . boþe hem sette And þe kyng . feire þey grette.

ÞE prince bigon . wroþ to be, [ 205] And seide: Jewh, . hit is wonder of þe, whi hastou brouht . þis mon to me? Lord, quaþ he, . I. schal telle þe: þis Mon þat I. haue . I. brouht here haþ beo mon . of gret pouwere: [ 210] he was þe Bisschopes . Officiale, But he is brouht now . in such bale þat his Bisschop . haþ mad him quite Of his Baily . wiþ outen wite, And he not . wherfore . ne whi [ 215] he is don out . of his Baily; þerfore, lord, . he is sori And comeþ to asken ow merci. I. prey ow, lord, . of ȝor gras þat ȝe help him . in þis cas; [ 220] To do þi wille, . he is redi, And bi come þi mon . gladly.

ÞE deuel onswerde . and seide þan To þat ilke . vncely man: ȝif he wol ben . of my meyne [ 225] And be riht trewe . and torne to me, Grettor lord . schal he be þen euer ȝit . in world . was he, And more . beo þe haluendele hauen . of þis worldes wele [ 230] þen euer ȝit . hedde he aare, And muchel better . schal he fare; But, or I. him . in seruyse take, I. wol þat he . Ihū forsake And Marie, . his Moder, baþe: [ 235] ffor þei make me . ofte wraþe: Aȝeyn me . beo þei ful þro, ffor my seruauns . þei take me fro;

þerfore, ȝif he . hem forsake And aftur Omage . to me make, [ 240] þen wol I. make . him mi kniht And socoure him . wiþ al mi miht. And þat schal he . to Morwe se, And for his lord . holde me, ffor to Morwe, . or hit beo Non, [ 245] he schal ben . in his Bayli don. whon þat T. herde þis, him þhouhte he hedde . muche blis. And þonked þe fend . of his bi hete, And fel on knes . and custe his feete, [ 250] And seide: I. wol by come þi mon, wiþ al þe wit . þat I. now con, ffor Crist . and Marie . I. forsake And to þe, lord, . I. me take. At þat word . les he godus gras, [ 255] And in to him eode . sathanas. ÞE ffend of helle . bad him tyte Comferme þe couenaunt . wiþ a scrite. Theophele . on þe eorþe . gan sit', And wiþ his hond . wrot a writ, [ 260] And selede hit . wiþ his Ryng, And aftur he tok hit . to his kyng. And tok his leue . at þe ffende And to þe Cite . gon he wende, T. eode . in to his hous, [ 265] A Glad mon . and a Joyous. þe Bisschop . on þat ilke niht þouhte he hedde . don vn riht, þo he dude out . of seruise Theophele, . þat was queynte and wise. [ 270] And þerfore . vppon þe morn he made T. cum him bi forn, And seide: T., I. was vn wys whon I. dude þe . from my seruys: I. haue I. do . my seluen scaþe; [ 275] But I. þe preye . beo not wraþe! ffor I. wot . þat þi counsayle May to me . muchel a vayle, þerfore, T., now I. þe pray þat þow take . þin Offys to day. [ 280] T. onswerde . and seide him tille þat gladly wolde he . don bis wille, But, he seide, . him þhouhte gret ferly whi he was don . from his Bayly; And, sire, he seide . not forþi [ 285] To do ȝor wille . I. am redi. þo tok he . his Offys a ȝeyn: was he neuer er . so fayn.

Now is T. lord and sire, And . Lered . and . lewed . at his atyre, [ 290] Olde . and ȝonge . of al þat lond Alle þei dude bowen . to his hond, Dorste no mon don . aȝeyn his wille. But alle weore fayn . hit to folfille: In Juggement . was he qweynte. [ 295] Riht he dude . in eueri pleynte. And neuer . beo þe haluendele In his Bayli . was he so wele. þe Jewh, . þat hedde I. holpen hym, Com to him . mony a tym, [ 300] And spac to hym . ful priuely, And bad him þenke . witerly, þorwh whom . he com to his Bay, To þonken his kyng . derworþly. And seide: me þinkeþ . þou ouhtest riht [ 305] To worschipe him . wiþ al þi miht þat al þis wele . haþ ȝiue þe; To him þou ouhtest . trewe to be, And worschipe him . as for þi kyng, And loue him . ouer alle þing. [ 310] T. herde gladly . his Counsayle And þonked muche . his trauayle. wel worþ þe kyng, . he seide, and þe, ffor treweliche haue ȝe . holpen me! T. hedde longe . his pouste [ 315] In Pruide of herte . and Jolyfte, And serued þe fend . wiþ al his miht To whom he hedde . his seruice hiht. But God, . þat alle craftes con, wolde not suffre . þat synfol mon [ 320] To leosen . al þat grete mede Of þe Muchele . almus dede þat he hedde . bi fore done, But hedde of him . Merci sone; Ihū Crist . of his pite [ 325] Made him . in his herte se what he hedde don, . and hou he was ffallen in þe Deueles . cas, And how þe fend . bitter and felle hedde mad his careful seete . in helle, [ 330] þer he schulde be . wiþ outen ende And taken þe seruise . of þe fende whos seruaunt . he was bi come, And to what lord . he hedde him nome, And hou he hedde . his lord forsake [ 335] And to þe fend . hedde him take; Now hedde he lost . þe muchel blis þat to goode men . I. ordeynd is. And sore bi gon he . forte wepe And gret deol . and serwe leete. [ 340]

Allas, quaþ T., . þat I. was born, ffor foule I haue . my self I. lorn!

whom may I. now . aske merci? I. haue forsake crist . and Mari And I. take me . to my foule fo; [ 345] wo is me, . go wher I. go! A. Ihū, Ihū, . wo is me! wot I. neuere . whodur to fle: ffor Marie haue I. left, and þe, And to þe ffend . I. take me: [ 350] ȝif I. euere . gete Merci, Alle cristene folk . may haue ferli. But, lord Ihū, . not forþi seint Dauid seiþ . þat þi Merci Is a boue . alle þi werkes, [ 355] And þerto graunteþ . alle grete clerkes; And siþþe þi werkes . þat þou made Ben in hem self so long and brade And þi Merci is . more þen alle, ȝit wol I. fonde . on þe to calle. [ 360] T. seide þis . and more, wiþ Careful herte . and sikyng sore. ffor nou to longe hit . ware To telle þat . he seide þare, Of þis tale . I. leue þe lengþe [ 365] And telle not . but þe strengþe hou T. gat . þe Maystri þorwh þe help . of vre ladi. I. blesset be . þe Maide Mari, ffor euere in neode . heo is redi [ 370] To gete vs of hire sone . Merci; And ȝeorne we ouhte . on hire to cri, ffor, do we neuere . so synful dede, Euere heo helpeþ vs . in nede; wel is him . þat niht . and day [ 375] Mai hire honoure . and serue to pay. T. In al his wo . and Care þouhte on Marie, . þat Ihū bare, he þouhte . þat heo was wel wone ffor synful mon . to preye hire sone. [ 380] To hire Chapele . sone he ron, As hit were . a wood Mon, And kneled bi fore . hire autere wiþ careful herte . and druri chere, And seide: Modur, . ladi Mari, [ 385] Of me caytyf . þou haue Merci! Lady, . prey þi sone for me þat for me dyed . on þe tre, Ladi, let him . not me tyne þat þolede for me . harde pyne! [ 390] Lauedi, . schewe here þi miht And reue þe fend of helle . his kniht! Ladi, let hit . nou beo sene þat þou of heuene . art mihti Qwene! Ladi, . fond his wraþþe . to slake [ 395] þat wolde þe . Qwene of heuene make: ffor I. my self . am not worþi To aske wiþ mouþe . þi sone Merci. But ȝif I. haue now . help of þe, wiþ outen ende . in helle i be; [ 400] þerfore haue reuþe . of me Caytif And mak crist graunte me . lyme . and lyf, þat alle cristene men . may se þi miht and þi Merci . on me! suche wordes . T. seide, [ 405] þat he in orisun . was leyde. ffourti dayes . was he þare In gret trauayle, . pyne and care, In gret serwe . and wepyng, In muche fastyng . and wakyng. [ 410] so longe was T. In destaunce, In gret trauayle . and penaunce, þat atte laste . vre ladi hedde pite of him . and merci— ffor what synne . þat mon may do, [ 415] Euere in neode . helpeþ ho To alle þat wole aske . hire Merci. Blessed beo heo, . as vre ladi!— whon þe fourti dayes . were gon, heo com . to þat sely Mon [ 420] þer he was . falle on slepe ffor gret serwe . and for wepe.

Vre ladi asked him . what he walde, And whi . so faste . on hire he calde. þou hast, quaþ heo, maad me vn Ro [ 425] And maad me come . hider þe to; vndurstond . what þou hast done, ȝif þou beo worþi . han þi bone. I. haue wel herd . þi preyere, But I. not . on what manere [ 430] þat I. may preye . my sone for þe, ffor þou forsoke . mi sone . and me. hou dar I. stonde . bi fore his trone To make him graunte . þe þy bone? ffor þu hast vs . boþe forsake [ 435] And to vr fo . þou hast þe take. þat þou hast don . a ȝeyn me, holliche . I. forȝiue hit now þe; But whon me doþ . my sone wrong, wite þow wel . me þinkeþ strong: [ 440] þeih my sone beo . ful of Merci And loueþ monkynde . as wel as I., Notforþi . his Rihtwisnis so muchel . in him seluen is, þat him bi houeþ . euere do riht [ 445] And deme þe Mon . aftur his pliht. þerfore me þinkeþ . gret ferly. þat þow askest . of me Merci, whon þou hast don . so strong outrage, þat þou hast don . þe fend Omage. [ 450] whon þat T. þis herde; In his herte . he was a ferde;

But he sauh . him bi houed nede To onswere . for his owne dede. And sone he spac . to vre ladi [ 455] And seide: ladi, . wel wot I þat my mouþ . nis not worþi fforte aske . of þe Merci, ffor wiþ þe ffend of helle . I. spake And my Cristendom schomely brake; [ 460] But, swete ladi, . notforþi I. wot wel . þat kyng Daui was muchel beter mon . þen I., And ȝit he fel . in gret foly And made sle . þe kniht vrri [ 465] And to cheues . tok his leuedi; wiþ monslauht . and spousbruche he deseruet . greefly . wreche; And, leoue ladi, . notforþi Of him dude god . ful good Merci. [ 470] A noþer þing . makeþ me fayn: whon I þenke . on þe Maudelayn þat ladde hire lyf . in gret folye, In Jolyte . and lecherye, And not forþi . þi sone Ihc̄, [ 475] þat died on þe Rode . for vs, Made hire . of synne so clene, þat no synne . was on hire sene. þerfore, my ladi, . I. hope wele þat þin help may . my serwe kele. [ 480] wel I. wot . þi sone bouhte me Also dere . as he dude þe; ȝif synne ne were, . þu neddest beo quene, Ne Godes Modur . in heuene bene. þerfore me þinkeþ . I. may wel fonde [ 485] To preie þat þou . bere myn ernde To þi sone . for mi misdede, þat tok for vs . in þe Monhede. whon . T. hedde . þus I. spoken, þer he was . In Chirche I. loken: [ 490]

Vre ladi, . Moder of Merci, Onswerde him . ful swetely: I. loue, quaþ heo, . Monkynde so weel, þat I. wol fonde . þi care to kel, And . to my sone . nou gon wol I., [ 495] fforte aske . for þe Merci. But, or I. do . þis grace to þe, I. wole þat þou . siker be þat þou schalt wel . þi lyf amende And from þe fend . þe defende. [ 500] And for þou hast ben . his seruaunt, I. wol þat þou . wiþ mouþ graunt: þat he is wrecche . and vnworþi, And my sone is . god almihti, þat of me tok . flesch and blode, [ 505] And for Monkynde . dyed on Rode, And bi nom þe fend of helle . his prai, And ros from deþ to liue . þe þridde day. And steih to heuene . as mihti kyng, And mad of nouht . alle þyng, [ 510] And schal deeme . boþe goode and ille, And al þe prophecye . fulfille; ȝif þ^u leeue þis . studefastly, To do þin erende . fonde wol I. . T. herde þis . and was fayn, [ 515] And seide . to vr ladi a ȝeyn: Ladi, al þis . leeue I. so wel, þat þer of doute I. neuer a del, And graunte wiþ mouþe . openly Al þat þou hast seid, . Ladi. [ 520] At þis word . heo wente him fro. And he fel on slepe . riht so, And Ros vp . wiþ Joyful mode, And kneled þere . vr ladi stode, And made to hire . his Orisoun [ 525] wiþ ful good . deuocioun. þere he knelede . dayes þre, Neiþer ete ne drinke . wolde he. vr ladi, . on þe þridde niht, Com to hym . wiþ leomes liht, [ 530] And seide heo hedde . i gete him graunt þat he mihte beo . hire sone ser∣uaunt; Mi sone, quaþ heo, . haþ grauntet me þat þi synnes . for ȝiue be. But her aftur . kep þe wel, [ 535] þat þow falle . In non vncel. T. Onswerde hire . and seide, þer he In Orisun . was leyde:

Swete ladi, . wel is me! I. blessed euere . mote þou be! [ 540] Now þou hast, ladi, . wel I. done, I. preye þe graunte . me my bone: swete ladi, . Mak me haue þat vnsely . Cirograue þat þe fend . made me write, [ 545] ffor elles of him . am I. not quyte; May I. neuer . siker be, Til þat scrit . beo brouht to me þat I made . wiþ þe fende. To ben his seruaunt . and his frende; [ 550] Ladi, mak me haue . þat scryte, ffor þer of is . al my wite. whon þis was seid, . heo wente him fro. But of þat stude . nolde he go, But þer in Orisun . he lay, [ 555] sore wepinge . niht . and day.

On slepe he fel . þe þridde niht, ffor gret trauayle . lusten him miht. And as he lay . faste slepynge, þulke scrit Marie gon bringe, [ 560] On . T. breste heo leyde þe scrite, And wente a wei . from him tyte. whon þat T. was wakande, þe scrit on his breste . he fonde. þe Joye . þat he made þon [ 565] wiþ tonge telle . may no mon; þe Joye . þat he hedde in herte Made him for Joye . lepe and sterte. vppon þe Morwe . sonday was: To Chirche ede þe folk, . to here heor Mas [ 570] And, forte make . heore preyere, Godes seruise . forte here. þe Bisschop com . to þe Chirche, Godes seruise . forto worche. þider com T. faste rennande [ 575] And brouhte þe scrit . in his hande. Aftur þe Offring . of þe Mes þe Bisschop, . as þe custom is, ffrom þe auter . he com doun, To sigge þe ffolk . a sarmoun. [ 580] Theophele gon . þe Bisschop mete, And sone he fel . to his feete, And sore by gon he . forte wepe, And spac to him . wiþ wordes swete And tolde . al to gedere . his cas: [ 585] whos mon bi comen . he was, And hou a Jewh . wiþ sorcerye hed mad him falle . in gret folye, And how þe Blisfol Qwen . Marie Gat him forȝiuenes . and Mercye. [ 590] whon þat T. þis tale hedde told, þe Bisschopes herte . wox ful cold, so muche ferli . him þouht þat wel speke . mihte he nouht. T. spak . on such Manere, [ 595] þat lered . and lewed . mihte him here, And to comferme . al his sawe, þe scrit he made rede . and schawe. whon þe folk . herde þis, Gret ferli . hem þhouhte i wis. [ 600] þe Bisschop mad rede . þe scrite, And aftur preche hit . in pulpite, And bad þe folk . ensaumple take To do penaunce . for sinne and sake: here, quaþ he, . may ȝe lere [ 605] how . schrifte, . penaunce, . and preyere Makeþ for ȝiue . Monnes syn, ffalle he neuere . so depe þer In; þat may ȝe see . ful witerly In þis clerk . þat gat Mercy [ 610] wiþ preyere . and penaunce worþi, And þorwh help . of vre Ladi. wel is him . þat niht . and day May serue . þat mihtful Qwen to pay! In wonhope . þar no mon falle [ 615] þat on þe mylde Qwen . wol calle, And do Riht penaunce . for his syn, And aftur no more . falle þer in. ffor T., þat ȝe seon here, sunged . in so strong manere, [ 620] þat al þe world . may þinke ferli hou euere he mihte . gete Merci; þerfore he þouhte . queynteli, whon he preyede . vre ladi, ffor to ben . his atorne, [ 625] To stonde bi fore þe Trinite And gete him þere . forȝiuenes Of his synne . More and les.

Ladi, bliþe . may þei be þat han in heuene . such aturne, [ 630] þat fayleþ neuer more . in nede, haue mon do neuere . so synful dede. wel ouhte we . boþe . day . and niht honoure hire . wiþ al vr miht.— whon he hed seid þis . and mare, [ 635] he let brenne þe scrit . þare þat . T. made . of couenaunt, whon he bi com . þe deueles ser∣uaunt. whon þe folk hedde herd . and sene Al þat þe Bisschop . wolde mene, [ 640] ffor Joye . þei beo gonne to crie And þonked god . and vre ladie. þe Bisschop . to þe auter ȝode, And song his Masse . w^t Joyful mode, And ȝaf . T. þe fflesch and blode [ 645] þat Ihc̄ schedde . on þe Roode. And sone, . whon he hoseled was, As briht þo . schon his fas As doþ sonne . In someres tyde. And al þe folk . þat stod beo syde, [ 650] ffor Joye of herte . to þe erþe þei flawe, whon þat þei . þis Miracle sawe: ffor non of hem . þat þer was Miht loke . for brihtnes of his fas. whon þis Miracle . was done, [ 655] T. tok his leue sone And ȝeld vp . al his bailye, his Offys . and his grete Maistrie, And ȝeode . in to his owne hous And ȝaf his goodes . in almous, [ 660] Al his gold . and his tresore, Al his lond . and his store, Al he ȝaf, . and lefte him nouht, ffor his loue . þat on Rode him bouht;

To him he torned . al his þouht [ 665] And no þing . of him selue rouht. whon he hedde ȝiuen . al his catel And left him self . neuer a del, In to þat stude . a non he ȝode þer vr ladi . bi fore him stode. [ 670] And riht þere . þ^t he sauh hire stande, In þat stude he . was euere dwellande, Til þat god . him seknes sent, wherfore . out of þis wold . he went. ffor in þat stude . sek he lay [ 675] Euer til þe þridde . day Vre lord dude . of him his wille And clepte him to heuene him tille. T. gon harde pyne drie And wel he wuste . whon he schulde die; [ 680] he was in gret deuociun, And clepte men . of Religiun; And whon he hedde . icust hem alle, his eȝe lides . let he falle. And so to heuene blisse . he eode, [ 685] And for his trauayle . to take mede.

u. s. w.

34) hou a prest lay by amayden.

AN holi Mon . was parisch prest And loued a frend . þ^t woned him nest, Muche loue . was hem bi twene, þat was wel . in heore dedes sene. þis Mon, þat was . þe prestes frende, [ 5] was ful of almus, . corteis and hende, And hedde a good wommon . to wyf þat in leute . ladde heore lyf; Bi twene hem . vre lord sende A Maide child, . or þei last wende. [ 10] þis prest, . of whom I. spac langare, Louede þis child . wiþ muchel fare. þe ffader . and Modur diȝede boþe And left hit noþur . mete ne cloþe. whon oþur Men . þis child for sok, [ 15] þis forseyd prest . to him hit tok And norissched hit . wiþ muchel belde Euere . til hit was come to elde. so longe woned . þis Mayde þare, þat heo þis prestes keyes bare; [ 20] he fond hire euere . trewe I. wis, þerfore he louede . hire seruis. But forsoþe . hit was foly To prest . or clerk . holde hym by wommon, . sib . or . ffremde, [ 25] ffor chaunce mai falle . þat no mon wende. þis prest was . an holy man, ffor al to goode . he hedde him tan: þe fend hedde . to hym Envye And fondet him . wiþ lecherie, [ 30] he maade his almus . ful þunne, And mad him . w^t þis Maide to sunne. But whon he hedde . his sunne don, he repented . him ful soon, Careful he was . and sori— [ 35] And þat me þinkeþ . was no ferly, ffor he hed houen hire . of ffantston And aftur he hedde . hir soule slon. [38 Ms. his st. hir.] þis wommon sone . he dude him fro And wolde him self . for serwe slo. [ 40] But God cumforted hym . in hi And made hym han hope . of Merci. he þouhte to lyue . in serwe and care, But schriue him wolde he neuer mare, ffor him weore leuere . to dye son [ 45] þen Mon schulde wite . what he hedde don, ffor he hedde ben . so holi a Man, And muche schome . þhouȝte hym þan þat mon schulde here hym . such þing do, þerfore he þouhte . penaunce to do. [ 50] I. wole, he seide, . my lyf lede In pyne, . to bete my synful dede, But neuer more . wol I. me schriue To Prest . ne . Clerk . þat is a lyue, ffor schome hit were . þat erthli man [ 55] schuld wite . þat I. haue mis tan; ffor beete wiþ god . hou I. may, Mi synne wol I. to no mon say. þe ffend mad him . to haue such wille, ffor so he wolde . to helle him tille. [ 60] þis prest bi gon . to faste . and wake And muche serwe . him self to make; Masse dorste he . synge non, But held him . as a cursed mon. Al a twelf Moneþ . he lyuede so [ 65] In gret penaunce, . serwe and wo. whon þat ȝer . was come to ende, þis prest . ful witerliche wende þat his sunne . hedde beo forȝiuen, þeih he þer of . weore not schriuen. [ 70] And to þe Auter . gan he gon And baldeliche . song his Masse a non. And whon þe sacringe . was don, Godus flesch and blod . ful son was so out of his siht . I. nomen, [ 75] þat he wuste neuer . wher hit was bi comen.

And þerfore was he . ful sori, And wel wuste he . þerbi þat his penaunce . was not worþi To beete his sunne . clanly. [ 80] he þouhte double . his trauayle, To loke ȝif hit mihte avayle; [82 Ms. ȝif he hiht st. ȝif hit.] And more penaunce . þat oþur ȝere he dude in fastynge . and preyere þen he hedde don . euer ȝit; [ 85] ffor so he wende . his synne to bet. he song a Masse . at an Autere sone aftur . þat oþur ȝere. But riht such auenture . fel hym þare As he dude . at þe auter are: [ 90] [90 he st. hit?] ffor Godes flesch . and blod baþe was out of his siht . raþe, whon he schuld hit . han him wiþ Inne; And þerbi wust he . þat his synne Miht neuer more . beo for ȝiuen, [ 95] But he were . þer of I. schriuen. And sone he schrof hym . to a prest And put þe fend . out of his brest. Whon he was schriuen, . his Masse he song. And whon he schulde . þe Cors fong, [ 100] he wende to take . But on vbble; And bi fore him . sauh he ligge þre: On þat he hedde mad . þat tym, And oþur two . þat weore from him. [104 fehlt do nach weore.] þis prest sauh . þis Miracle swete, [ 105] And alle þreo . Ostes . he eete, And þonked god . þat tauht him þan what schrifte doþ . to synful man. herby may we . alle i seo þat synne may not . for ȝiuen beo [ 110] But Mon in schrifte . hit folliche say, ffor þenne a non . hit is a way.

u. s. w.

35) hou a mon wyt drou almes dede forto gadere money.

HIt was enes . a Gardinere, þat was to god . boþe leue and dere, ffor holi mon . he was, I. wis, And luytel he ȝaf . of worldus blis. he gat him . wiþ his sore swynke [ 5] Boþe . Cloþinge, . and . Mete, . and . Drinke, And wiþ þat . he mihte gete he helped þe pore . to þe mete, he fedde þe pore . þat hungred sare wiþ al þat euere . he mihte spare. [ 10] he gat his soule . Blisful mede wiþ preyere . and wiþ almus dede. But sathanas . of helle gert A. wikked þouht falle . in his hert: he made him þenke . hou he schuld fare, [ 15] whon he weore old, . sek, . and sare. ho schal, he seide, . me cloþe and fede, whon I. may do . no monnes dede? þerfore wol I. don . as þe wyse, And gete me a gret del . of penyse, [ 20] þat may me . in myn elde fede And holde me . from pouert and nede. he lafte his almus . atte last And penies gedrede . he so fast, þat wiþ his werk . and his seruys [ 25] he fulde a Galun . of penys. ffel aunter . þat his fot was sare And wox ful of fulþe . and ware; so faste bi gon . his foot to rote, þat þerwiþ mihte he do no note. [ 30] he sent sone . aftur leches wyse And spendet on hem . al his penyse, But non of hem . mihte don him bote Ne hele þe seknes . of his fote. whon al his penys . I. spendet ware, [ 35] his ffot greued him . ful sare. And called þe wisest leche . him to And asked him what weore best to do. he onswerde and seide ful tyt þat him by houeþ his fot of smit, [ 40] "ffor ȝif þe Rotynge . passe þe lith, þow lyuest not . ful longe þer wiþ." þis Mon was dred . for his dede, And leued wel . þe leches Rede, And seide: I. wolde fayn . to Morn [ 45] þat my foot were . from me schorn. þe leche hihte . to come him to On þe Morn, . his wille to do. þis seke Mon . in þe niht Bi þouht him . on his owne pliht; [ 50] he þouhte wel . he was vn wys, whon he leyde . in hord penys. And ofte he seide . þer he lay: Allas Allas . and weilaway, þat euere I. drouh me . to catel! [ 55] ffor þat I. wyte . myn vncel; God sende me . euere I. nouh Bi fore or I. to Catel drouh, And siþen I. drouh . to poruiaunce Me is fallen . vn cely chaunche. [ 60] whon he hed seid þis . and mare, In his bed . he wepte ful sare,

And seide: lord, . to þe I. crie, fful of pite . and of Mercye, help me, lord, . in þis nede, [ 65] And þenk on myn . almus dede þat I. dude bi fore . þat I. was Tempted . þorwh Sathanas, þat tempted me. wiþ Couetis And made me make . hord of penys. [ 70] whon he hedde mad . his preyere, wiþ wepyng . and wiþ dreri chere, he sauh an angel . stonde him bi. And asked him . ful myldely wher al þe stor . of penies . ware [ 75] þat he was faste . aboute to spare. And he onswerde . ful Mekely And seide: lord, . wel wot I þat I dude . ful gret folJ; But not forþi . ich aske god Merci. [ 80] þe Aungel touched . þo his fote. And sone he feled . Joyful bote, þat mihte he . no sornes fele, Neyþer in To . ne in hele, But erly . to his werk . he ede [ 85] And dude ful stalworþly . his dede. þe leche com . þat ilke day, fforte smite . his fot a way, And sauh him worchen . in þe feld; And stille stod . and him bi held, [ 90] And þonked vr lord . Ihū Crist þat of his seknes . hym warischt. Al þis tale . I. haue ow told To make ow . in oure herte bold þat euer þe more . þat mon spareþ [ 95] þe worse . comunliche . he fareþ, ffor God may wel . Mon sustene, As crist . in vre gospel wol mene.

u. s. w.

36) Of an holy Monk þ^t hedde awicked broþer.

(þat may ȝe . bi a tale here, þat seint Gregori . wol telle, how preyere makeþ . þe fend of helle Leose his preye, . þat he wel wende To haue in helle . wiþ outen ende.) [ 5]

HE seiþ . hit was ones a Clerk þat lefte þe fend . and al . his werk And made him monk . In an Abbey, To serue god boþe niht . and day. In gret penaunce . his lyf he led [ 10] And his seruise . to alle he bed; his godnesse was . to alle so rif, þat alle him loue(d) . for his goode lyf. he hedde a broþer, . was worldly mon, And in þat abbey . woned he þon; [ 15] was he neiþer . Meke . ne Mylde, Bute in alle his dedes . wylde, Louede he no þing . bute foly, Jolyte, . and Lechery; Religioun . louede he nouht, [ 20] Bute to pley . ȝaf he al his þouht; whon me spac . of rihtwysnes, Of Ordre, . and of holynes, Al heore Resun . and al heore sawe him þhouȝte not . worþ an hawe, [ 25] he wende, . whon þis lyf was gon, þat oþur lyf . was þer non. his lyf was folsum . to hem alle þat deled wiþ hym . In Court or halle. ffor his broþur sake . not forþi [ 30] Men þoled him . in his foly And fond him boþe . Cloþ and Mete, ffor coude he non . hym selue gete. ffel auntur . þat he wox seke, And God of heuene . wolde mak him meke. [ 35] In Care bed . he lay so longe: his vuel bi gon . to waxe stronge, þat he drouh faste . to þe deþ, þat almost . he lafte þe breþ.

ÞE Couent . for his broþur sake [ 40] Com to him . chere to make, þei stode bi him, . whon he schuld die; And strong pyne . þey sauh him drie. As þis seke mon . lay þrowande, A. Dragun he saih . bi him stande, [ 45] Lodlych he was . and gris(l)y, And him to strangle . al redy. þis seke Mon . bi gon to crie And bad þe Monkes . Reuthfulye: Goþ henne, he seide, . alle a way [ 50] And let þis Dragun . take his pray! ffor her i seo a dragun . stande, Grislich on me . gapande, I. wot he wol me . kippe . and ryue And reue reuþly me . of my lyue; [ 55] To strangle me . he haþ gret doute, while ȝe stonde . me aboute: þerfore goþ henne . and lete him do his dede . wherfore he com me to; wharto scholde ȝe . longe her dwelle? [ 60] wel I. wot . I. go to helle. As wel may I. take my dede As ligge þus longe . in careful rede. whon þe Couent . herde þis, sori þei weore . alle I. wis, [ 65] And asked Ihū crist . Merci, And preyed God . Inwardli þat he schilde hym . from þe fende And make þe Dragun . from him wende.

þei bad him . þat he schulde sayn. [ 70] And he seide: . I. wolde fayn But God hit wot . þat I. ne may Til þis Dragun . beo gon a way, ffor he so faste . myn hondus haþ bounden And in his clauwes . my lymes woun∣den, [ 75] þat may I neiþer sture fot ne hande: so heuy on me . he is liggande; þe ffoom of his mouþ . makeþ me wlate, ffor hit makeþ . al my chekes wate; wiþ him now . me þinkeþ vn couþ, [ 80] ffor al myn hed . is in his Mouþ. þo fel þe Couent . alle on knes And preyed þat god . schulde hym lees; þei wepte . and preyed god so faste, þat þe Dragun . atte laste [ 85] Lafte þere . al his pray And let him ligge . and wente a way. þis seke mon . bi gon to crie And þonked God . ful Joyfulye, And seide: lord, . I. þonke þe [ 90] þat þis Dragun . is went from me; I. seo wel . þat þe swete preyere Of þeose gode men . þat ben here han driuen þis ffend . out of þis place; þerfore schal I. þorwh godus grace [ 95] ffrom þis day forþ . my lyf amende, ffor in Religiun . wol I. ende: ffor al þis world . I. here forsake And to Religiun . I. me take. And good mon was he . from þat tym [ 100] And wel from folye . heold him. her may ȝe seo . þat goode preyere Is to vre lord . lef . and dere, þat hit may þe fend . from vs driue And rere mon . from deþe to lyue, [ 105] ffrom deþ of synne . to lyf of grace þat makeþ mon suwe . cristes trace. As dude þis mon . of whom I. telle, ffor preyere saued him . from helle.

37) þe conuersioun off Pelagie.

In Antioche . bi ȝonde þe séé A wommon woned . I(n) a Citéé, Dame pelagi . was heo cald, Of hire Bodi . was heo ful bold. ffeir wommon . heo was I. nouh, [ 5] And mony a Mon . to synne heo drouh: ffor Comune made heo . hire bodi In fflessches lust . and Lecheri. Barouns, knihtes, . and . squyeres Come to hire . from diuerse cuntres, [ 10] And Riche men . of vche a leode Come to hire . for hire feirhede, And ȝaf hire gold . and riche mede, To folfulle . þe flessches lust wiþ dede. Pelagi . ful feire . hem cald [ 15] And good chep. hire flesch he(o) sold, And was euer more . redi To sunge wiþ hem . in lecheri. Of þis seruise . serued Pelagi, Til crist wolde hele . hire Dropesi. [ 20] And I. wol telle . on what maneere he maad hire soule . hol and feere, And maad hire han . Repentaunce And for hire synne . do riht penaunce.

ÞE Erche Bisschop . of þat Citéé, [ 25] þer heo liuede . in hire Jolyte, Let maken . a gret semble Of alle þe Bisschops . of þat Cuntre. whon alle þe Bisschops . I. gedered ware And dwelled . in þat Citéé þare, [ 30] ffel aunter . þat þei alle seete On a day . In comune streete. And as þei seete, . to gedre spekynge, so com dame pelagi . Rydinge, To schewe þe ffolk . hire feirhede, [ 35] hire dubbyng, . and hire riche wede: ffor cloþed heo was . in riche fold, Couched wiþ riche perre . and gold. worldlich men, . boþe ȝonge and old, suwede hire . mony fold, [ 40] To haue siht . of hire colour, þat schyned as lilie . and Rose flour. þeos Bisschops sauh . þis wommon Ryde, And heore Eȝen . þei gonne to hyde, ffor wolde þei nout . bi holde þat pride, [ 45] þat walkeþ . in þis world . so wyde. But on of hem . not forþi Bi heold þis wommon . witerli, þat alle his felawes . þhuȝte ferli, ffor good Mon was he . and holi: [ 50] Nones . was his rihte name, fful loþ hym was . to come in Blame. whon seint Nones . hedde longe isene þis fool wommon, . of whom I. mene, sore bi gon he . forte wepe, [ 55] And seide to hem . þat bi him seete: we may here . good ensaumple take þis worldus blis . to forsake And forte ordeyne vs . to þat blis, þat to goode men . redi is: [ 60]

ffor þis wommon, . þat ȝe sauh ride, Is in muchel worldes welþe . and pride, wiþ muchel bisynes . and studi heo haþ tiffet . hire bodi, And mad hire feir . on alle wys, [ 65] fforte paye . hire lotebys: Muche more ouhte we . vs greiþe vre soule . þat synne haþ mad leiþe, fforte paye . God almihti þat is vre soules . lotebi, [ 70] we ouhte make . vr soule so clene þat no fulþe . weore þer on . seene, To paye Ihc̄, . vre lemmon, [73 Ms. preye st. paye.] þat died on Rode . for synful mon. whon he hedde seid þis and mare, [ 75] he eode hamward, . wepyng ful sare, ffor þat he . so longe hedde sene Dame pelagi . þat was so schene. Lord, he seide, . for ȝiue þou me þat I. haue synged . a ȝein þe! [ 80] ffor þe feirnes . of a wommon hedde wel neih . my soule slon. þat wommon hihte . þat folk to pay— And so dude heo . ful wel to day— And to paye God . I. haue hiht [ 85] But ofte i breke foreward . wiþ pliht. Lord, . I. preye þe . forþi haue pite of me . and merci! whon seint Nones . hedde seid þis And graunted þat he hedde . I. don a mis, [ 90] To Reste he eode. . and as he lay, A wonder sweuene . him þhouȝte or day. him þhouȝte . þat at his Masse he stode, And, as he loked . to þe Roode, A. Blac Douue, . as pich, he sauh [ 95] And faste a boute his hed . flauh, ffoul hit was, . boþe hed and schanke, And so foul him þhouȝte . þat hit stanke, þat riht him þhouȝte . he schulde dye ȝif he þat stunch . schulde longe drye. [ 100] him þhouȝte hit fleih . þere ful longe, But not forþi . his Messe he songe. whon þis Masse . was brouht to ende, him þhouȝte . þat homward gon he wende. And as he eode, . him þhouȝte he sauh [ 105] þat þis douue . to him flauh, Blac hit was . and foul stinkande. And him þhouȝte he tok hit . in his hande And caste hit . in a watur ston: And vp him þhouȝte . hit Ros a non, [ 110] And as whit . as eny snowe, þat mihte he no fulþe . þer on knowe, And to heuene . hit fleih him fro. And he waked of his sleep . riht þo. sunday was . on þe Moren. [ 115] And he clepte his clerk . him beo foren And tolde him al his sweuene . ful raþe. And aftur þei eode . to churche baþe. þis Bisschop . at þe heiȝe Mes prechede, . as þe costum is, [ 120] And made þe folk . wiþ wordes swete ffor heore synnes . sore wepe. And as þe Bisschop . preched þare And al þe folk . wepte ful sare, Pelagi, of whom . I. spac langare, [ 125] Com to churche . wiþ muchel fare: More to schewe . hire feir hede þen for preyere . or almus dede. But whon heo herde . þis Bisschop speke, ffor serwe hir þhouȝte . hir hert wolde breke: [ 130] so sore heo rewed . hire foly þat heo hedde don . In lechery, þat sore bi gon heo . forte wepe And deolful teres . gon heo leete; so muche watur . þer heo gret, [ 135] þat al hire Breste . made heo wet. And al þe folk . þat was þare þhouȝte ferly . þat heo wepte so sare— ffor ȝit was heo . heþene wommon And neuere com . to churche ar þon. [ 140] whon þis Bisschop . hedde I. preched And cristene lawe . þe folk teched, þis wommon spied . faste I. nouh To loke . to what place . he drouh. whon heo wuste . wher he was lent, [ 145] such a lettre . to him heo sent: þe ffendes douhter, . pelagi, þat muchel haþ lyued . in Lecheri, Greteþ wel Nonus, . þe Bisschope, And seiþ þat in him . is al hire hope. [ 150] ffader, heo seide, . I. preye þe þat þou haue . Merci . of me, And for his loue . þat dyed on tre Cristene wommon . mak me be: ffor cristene Men . haue I. herd say— [ 155] And so herd I. þe . preche to day— þat crist . ful harde pyne driȝed ffor synful Mon . and aftur diȝed,

And þat he is . euer redi To han of synful mon . Merci, [ 160] As ofte . as Mon on hym wol calle And schriuen him . of his synnes alle; þerfore, my lord, . þeih hit beo so þat I. haue beo longe . cristen fo, Cristene wommon . wol I. be [ 165] And euer more liue . In Chastite. þerfore . haue Merci of me And let me come . and speke wiþ þe. þis lettre makeþ . þe Bisschop fayn. And he sent hire soone. word aȝeyn [ 170] And seide: . þou spekest to me . of goode neodes, And wite þow wel . crist wot þi dedes; And also . wite þow witerly þat a synful mon . am I: þerfore, . ȝif þow wolt . wiþ me speke [ 175] And þe deueles bondes . breke, Bi fore my ffelawes . cum to me, And þenne may þow . speke wiþ me— ffor wol I. not . be my self al on, whon I. schal speke . wiþ eny wom∣mon. [ 180] whon Pelagi . herde þis, hire þhouȝte heo hedde . muche blis. heo eode . to þe Bisschopes ȝate And preyede . forte haue inlate. And whon seint Nonus . herde hir calle, [ 185] he clepte . þe oþure Bisschopes alle, And bi foren hem . euerichon Let he come . þat wommon. And sone heo fel . to eorþe plate, And sone bi gon heo . forte grate, [ 190] so ofte heo cussed . þe Bisschopes feete, þat wiþ hire teres . heo made hem wete. And seint Nonus . faste preyande vnneþe made hire . Rise and stande. And seide: wommon, . I sigge to þe [ 195] þat wyse men . for beodeþ me To cristen such wommon, . but heo fynde Goode Borwes . þat may hire bynde To take on honde . þat heo blinne hire folye . and no more . falle þer Inne. [ 200] whon þis was seid, . heo was sori And fel to eorþe . ful reuþli, And seide: . þou schalt my synnes bere And for my soule . schaltou ons∣were, But þou Baptiȝe me . in hast [ 205] And fulle me . wiþ þe holi gost; I. swere by God . in Trinite þat harde schal I. Chalange þe Bi fore Ihū cristes . face, But þow make me . han his grace [ 210] And make me sone . cristene wom∣mon; ffor longe haue I. serued sathan. whon heo hed seid þis . and mare, Alle þe Bisschopus . þat weore þare wepte for Joye . of hire penaunce [ 215] And for hire reuþly . Repentaunce, And sente to þe Bisschop . of þat Cite And made him come . to þat asemble, [218 Ms. hem st. him.] And sende him word . of þis wommon how heo to Ihū . hedde hire tan. [ 220] þe Bisschop . sende hem a ȝayn A prioresse, . þat hihte Romayn, To beo . at hire cristenyng . þare And forte teche hire . gostly lare. whon pelagisauh. Dame Romayn, [ 225] Of hire come . heo was fayn. seint Nonus asked hire . what heo hiht. And heo seide: . pelagi wiþ Riht; But not forþi . Men calleþ me Margarite . In þis Cite: [ 230] ffor hem þhouȝte mi flesch . feir and white, þerfore men clepeþ me . Margarite; But fader and Modur . not forþi Cleped me furst . Maide Pelagi. Nonus bad . heo schulde hire schriue [ 235] Cleneliche . of al hire lyue. And heo onswerde . and seide þan: I. haue I. ben so wikked a womman, þat, ȝif I. schulde . Rikene wel þe þridde part . or haluendel [ 240] þe synnes . of my bodi þat I. haue don . in lecheri, I. schulde sen hem . so muchel amounte, þat of hem schulde . beo non a counte, ffor al þe watur . of þe séé [ 245] To my synne mai not . tokned be. But schortly . forte schawe Mi synnes . and my careful plawe: I. haue beo so longe . in þis toun In þe fendes fold . and his prisoun, [ 250] þat I. haue do more synne . me on þen euer dude . eny wommon;

And good hope I. haue . not forþi þat God wol han . of me Merci. seint Nones . Pelagi Baptist [ 255] In þe nome . of Ihū crist, And let hire hote . pelagi, And hoseled hire . ful Joyfuli, And aftur bi tauht hire . atte Messe To Dame Romayn, . þe prioresse. [ 260] And þat day ete þei . al in same, wiþ muche Joye . and gostly game. And as þei at þe Mete . seete, þei herd a gost . goule and grete, so þat þei mihte . alle I. here [ 265] þe ffendes goulyng . and his bere, ffor loude . he gon ȝelle . and crie, And spac . and seide apertelie: Nonus, Nonus, . wo þe be! fful muche schome . þou hast do me: [ 270] heþene Men . þritti þousonde hast þou losed . out of myn honde And maad hem alle . cristene be; fful sore may I. warie þe, ffor al þat muchel folk . I. wis, [ 275] þat Deuelen . In Elyopolis is, Out of my seruise . hastou nome, ffor cristene þei ben . alle bi come. wo worþ þe Modur . þat þe bare, ffor þou enpeirest . al my fare! [ 280] ffor I. may sigge . weilaway, And Corse I. may . þat ille day þat þou weore . of þi Modur born, ffor schomelich . driuest me to scorn, þou reuest me . al my Meyne. [ 285] ffoule olde wrecche, . wo þe be! ffor now þow dost . me dispyte, þou reuest me . my Margarite þat was þe beste Oxe . of my plouh; Aȝeyn me . þou hast don wouh, [ 290] ffor in hire was . my moste hope. To me þou art . an vuel Bisschope, May I. no lengore . þole þe, Bot on þe . wol I. venget be. And þou, my ladi . Margarite, [ 295] whi hastou left me . so tyte? Careful and sori . mai I. be, whon I. þe Misse . in þis Citéé. wiþ muchel wrong . and vn Re∣soun Dost þow me . þis tresoun, [ 300] Me þinkeþ þow farest . as Judas, þat Traitur . aȝein Ihū was: ffor he was . to Crist so dere, þat he made him . his tresorere, But false Judas . not forþi [ 305] Lafte his lord . trayturli And dude vuel . a ȝeyn goode And made his lord . honge on Rode: so dostou . Margarite, wiþ me, ffor to my fo . þou takest þe: [ 310] þow wost þat ich haue . longe i ben þi lord, . and mad þe . traile and gren In siclatoun . and in scarlet, In Blu of Ipre . and in Burnet; But now I. se . þou art vnkynde, [ 315] ffor fals . and ffikel . I. þe fynde, ffor þou dost vuel . a ȝeyn goode; On þe haue I. fed . an vuel foode. þis was þe ffendes playnt wiþ cri, And seide to Nonus . and pelagi. [ 320] But Pelagi . blessed hire And mad him fle . wiþ begger beere. þe þridde niht . not forþi Eft he com . to pelagi, And pleyned him . ful reuþfuli, [ 325] And asked hire . wherfore and whi heo hedde laft him . so reuþli, And bad hire haue . of him Merci. Ladi, he seide, . þou rewe on me And torn a ȝeyn . to Jolyte! [ 330] ȝif þow, he seide, . wolt han mare of Gold . and seluer . and riche fare, I am Redi . to make þe haue Al þat euere þin herte . wol craue. þerfore, my ladi . Margarite, [ 335] Torn . and leue me . not so tyte! ffor cristen men, . þat wot þi lyf, Mai me foule . to scorn drif, whon þei heere . speke of þe: so foule hastou . gabbed me. [ 340] þerfore, ladi, . torn aȝeyn, And to þi wille . I. wol be bayn. þen onswerde . seint Pelagi And seide: Ihc̄, . þorwh his Merci, haþ take me out . of þi pouste, [ 345] I. blesset euere . mot he be! þerfore to him . I. me take, And, sathanas, . I. þe forsake: hated þou beo . euere of me, And alle þat euere . serue þe. [ 350] And forte do þe . more schome, I. Comaunde þe . In Godus nome þat þou neuere more . be so bold . þat þou more fonde me. heo blessed hire: . and he wente a wey [ 355] Al on twenti . deuele wey.

SEint pelagi . on þe Morn Clept hire seruauns . hire beo forn, And made hem bringe . al hire catel, And bi tauht hit . vch a del [ 360] To seint Nonus, . þat holy mon, þat hedde mad hire . cristene wommon,

And bad him . þat he schulde (hit) dele In almus . for hire soule hele, But furst a mong hire seruauns [ 365] heo deled . an hundred Besauns. And sone aftur . þe seueþe day hire goode cloþus . weore don a way, And on a niht . ful priueli wiþ here . heo cloþed . hire bodi, [ 370] And eode forþ, . þat no mon w st But heo al one . and Ihū crist, To þe Mount . of Olyueet, þer hire bones . liggeþ ȝit,— þer Ihc̄ made . his preyere, [ 375] As seiþ seint Jon . þe gospelere; Jerusalem . hit is ful nere, As seiþ boþ pilgrym . and palmere.— þer heo made . a luytel hous, And seide heo hihte . pelagius, [ 380] And made hem alle . þat wonede þere wene þat heo . a Mon were. þer heo ladde so holy lyf, þat ouer al . hire word gon drif, ffor holy hermyte . heo was told, [ 385] And Pelagius . heo was cald. Now is Dame pelagi . hermite, þat was bi fore . so feir and white, þat hire to seo . was gret delyte: þerfore Men calde hire . Margarite. [ 390] ffor I. wol tellen ow, . as I. con, hou men wuste . heo was wommon. þe Bisschop Nonus, . of whom I. spac. hedde a Mon . þat hihte Jac. And seue winter . aftur þat day [ 395] þat pelagi . was went a way, þis Clerk askede . leue þo In to Jerusalem . forte go his pilgrimage, . in þat stiþe þat Ihc̄ Roos . from deþe to lyue. [ 400] seynt Nonus . ȝaf him leue in hast. And wuste . þorwȝ þe holy gost þat pelagi . sum whoder was gon, To liue in penaunce . beo hire al on; þerfore þouhte he . þo on hire, [ 405] And bad þis Clerk . he schulde spire A Mong hermytes . þat serued Ihc̄ Aftur Dame . Pelagius. ffor holy Mon, . he seide, is he And ful wel he con . cumforte þe. [ 410] þis Clerk wust not . of whom he ment. But on þe Morwen . his wei he went, And to Jerusalem . he wente in hiȝe, And com þer Ihc̄ . wolde dye. And sone he herde . muche driue [ 415] Of seint pelagius . lyue. And faste he spered . and sone he fond where seint Pelagi . was wonand. And at hire dore . he bad vn do. And seint Pelagi . com him to, [ 420] In lyknes . of an Old hermite, þat was sum tyme . so feir and white. seint pelagi . kneuh him ful wel, But he kneuh hire . neuer a del, ffor trauayle, . ffastyng . and wakyng [ 425] hedde brouht hire . out of knowyng: þerfore he wende . þat heo mon were— And so wende alle þat wonede þere. And sone heo asked . what he wolde, And what he was. . and he hire tolde. [ 430] Icham, he seide, . wiþ Nonus, þat greteþ þe wel, . pelagius. And heo þo . onswerde þon: Nonus is . an holy Mon, Euer more . wel mote him be! [ 435] sei him . þat he preye for me. heo wolde no more aske . hou he ferde, But faste on hire . þe dore heo sperede. And sone he herde hire . synge and say hire seruise þat felde . to þat day. [ 440] þis Clerk made þer . his Orisoun, And aftur he eode . in to þe toun. And in þat holy stude . he dwelled þere Two dayes . in goode preyere. And com vppon . þe þridde day, [ 415] To loke what pelagi . wolde say. And herkned stille . vndur þe wowe ȝif he mihte . hire steuene knowe, And longe he stood . and herde nouht. And þerof . gret ferli . him þouht, [ 450] And atte dore . he called fast, And pult hit vp . at þe last And com him in, . and sone he fond seint pelagy . liggand. þis Clerk . from stude to stude . ron [ 455] And tolde þe hermytes . vchon þat seint pelagius . was ded. And þei come rennyng . in þat sted And founde soþ . þat he seide. And worþiliche . þe cors þei leide, [ 460] fforte wassche, . vppon a ston, And fond . þat heo was wommon. þen wuste þis clerk . witerly wel . þat heo was . pelagy,

And loude bi gon he . forte cri [ 465] And þonked God . almihti þat he mihte . sikerliche telle what of seint pelagi . felle. þis cors was leid . derworþly In Riche schryne, . as was worþy. [ 470] þer seke men . han bote of bale, ffor at hire Toumbe . ben seke mad hale. Lord, muchel is þi Merci To hem þat wol leue . heore foly; þat was wel sene . on Pelagi, [ 475] þat lay in gostly . dropesi, þat is to seie . Lecheri, þat makeþ . þe soule . ful heui; But þou, lord, . not forþi heledest hire . of þis Dropesi. [ 480]

38) hou a knyt forȝaf anoþur knyt hys fadur ded.

Hit was ones . ariche kniht, þat slouh anoþer kniht . in fiht. þis ilke kniht, . þat was slayn, hedde to sone . a feir ȝong man, þat wiþ his fadur bane . was wraþe [ 5] And waytede him euere . wiþ scaþe. þis kniht, þat hedde . þat oþur I. slon, heold him in a Castel . of ston. þis ȝonge kniht . spied him Erly . and . Late . Tyde . and tym. [ 10] þe olde kniht hedde . of him such doute, þat dorst he nouȝwhoder . wenden oute; þerfore he heold him . þere in griþ, ffor loþ him was . to mete him wiþ; þis kniht . for his fo . was a drad [ 15] And in his Castel . harde bi stad. But on a goode friday . hit fel þat he lay . in a Carnel, And sauh þe folk go . Bare foote To Churche, . for heore soule bote. [ 20] And sore for þhouȝte him, . þer he lay, þat he ne mihte go . to chirche þat day; he lay þer . him þhouȝte longe, To dwelle from chirche . him þhouȝte stronge. And good herte . he tok him to [ 25] And of he gon . his schon do. I. haue, he seide, . lyf but on, To Chirche i go . sone a non. And al Bare foot . toward þe churche he ȝeode, . Godus wille to worche. [ 30] And soone he mette . wiþ his fo, þat was redi . him to slo. And sone . whon his fo . him mette, wiþ mys sawe . grimly (he) him grette: Traitur, he seide, . þou art tan; [ 35] whi weore þow . my ffadur Ban? þis olde kniht . ful reuþfuly ffel to his foot . and asked merci, And seide: . for his loue . I. þe pray þat diȝede on Roode . as to day, [ 40] Al Monkynde . from helle to buy: Of me to day . þou haue Mercy And, for his loue . þat dyed on tre, þi ffadur deþ . for ȝiue þow me!

Þis ȝonge kniht . ful stille stod, [ 45] ffor godus grace . chaungede his mood, And sone bi gon he . forte say To him þat flat . on eorþe lay: Mi ffadur deþ . for ȝiue I. þe, ffor cristes loue . þat dyede for me. [ 50] he bad hym rise . wiþ swetely cheere And loueliche . he custe him þere, And dude of his schon . ful raþe. And to þe Churche . eode þei baþe, And boþe þei offrede . at þe Mes [ 55] To þe holy Crois, . as Costum is. þis ȝonge kniht . was ful corteis And put þe olde . bi fore al weis, þe ȝonge com aftur, . and kneled a doun wiþ ful good . deuocioun. [ 60] And as he schulde . þe ymage kis, As cristene monnes . Costum is, þe ymage þat was nayled . on Rode heriede him . wiþ Joyful moode And custe him . wiþ louely chere, [ 65] þat alle þhouȝte ferly . þat þer were. þis ȝonge kniht . was al a Baischt Of þe semblaunt . of Ihū crist; Not forþi . him þhouȝte þat tym þat Ihū crist . þonked him [ 70] þat he lafte . for his sake On his fo . veniaunce to take And hedde his reuþe . of þat mon þat hedde his owne . fadur slon. þe folk bi gon . loude to cri [ 75] And þonked god . Almihti þat he wolde . such Miracle schowe, To make hem alle . seo and knowe þat he folfulleþ . godus wille To don euere good . aȝein ille, [ 80] And don of his herte . wreche, And loue his fo . outurliche. ffor so dude . vr lord Ihc̄, whon he diȝed . on Rode for vs:

he preiȝede for hem . wiþ mylde moode, [ 85] ffor þulke þat pyned him . on þe Rode.

u. s. w.

39) hou Gregory preyde for a dampned man.

AN Emperour . was onus In Roome, þat was ful rihtwys . in his dome, he was I. called . sire Traian— Allas he diȝede . heþene man! he was ful . of debonerte, [ 5] Of Murþe, . and Merci, . and pite, But, for he diȝede . sareȝin, his soule eode . to helle pyn. Allas Allas, . þat such akyng schulde go to helle . for mysleeuyng! [ 10] Moni ȝeres . her aftur come seint Gregory, . þe pope of Rome, Bi fore þe Emperoures . ȝate. And for him . sore gon he grate: he herde speken . of his godnes, [ 15] Of his murþe, . and of his rihtwysnes, And þerfore hedde he gret pite þat such a kyng schulde . dampned be. he preyed for him . and seide: Ihc̄, þow haue Merci . of Traianus [ 20] And bring his soule . out of helle, And lete him not longe . þer in dwelle! he knelede bi fore . an Auteer. And as he was . in his preyere, he fel aslepe. . and as he lay, [ 25] he herde an Angel . to him say: þi lord crist . haþ grauntet þe þat Traianus . wel may be; But loke þou preye no more for mon þat to þe pyne of helle . is gon: [ 30] vn skilful is . such preyere, hit is not riht . þat god hit here. her mai ȝe seo . what treuþe may do To mon þat ȝiueþ . his herte þer to; fforsoþe he haþ . his bone in hast [ 35] þat in treuþe . is studefast; And þeih he preie . vnskilfulli, As dude þe pope . Gregori, Euere schal his preyere . and his bede stonde him in ful Muchel stede. [ 40]

40) Qd alex. inclusit iudeos infra montes capseos.

ÞE kyng of Babiloynes . toun hedde mony Jewes . in his bann don And flemed hem . in to wildernes, ffor heor synnes . and heor wikkednes. And aftur he lette . maken a cri [ 5] þat non of hem were . so hardi To passe out . of þat wildernes— þat fer bi ȝonde . paynym is. þis wildernesses, . as Bok vs telles, Is loken a boute . wiþ heȝe hulles. [ 10] Mony wynter . aftur þis fare þe kyng Alisaundre . com þare, whon he hedde . al þis world con∣quered And al folk was . of him a fered. þis forseide Juwes, . þat wonede þare, [ 15] Glosede þe kyng . wiþ muchel fare þat he wolde . ȝiue hem leue . to gange Out of þat wildurnesse . so strange. he asked, . as þe Bok . vs telles, whi þei weore sperred . in þe hulles. [ 20] A seriaunt . to þe kyng onswered And seide þo Jewes . þere weore isperred, ffor þei so ofte . god for sok And to false Maumetes . tok, "And euere . vn kuynde . þei han bene, [ 25] þat haþ ben ofte . on hem i seene: ffor God haþ don . for hem wel mare þen euer for folk . dude he are, And euere þei don . vuel a geyn And to heore lord . ben vn bayn; [ 30] þerfore wol he, . as good riht is, þat þei wone . in wildernis." whon þe kyng . þes wordus herde, To þe Jewes . he onswerde: siþen ȝe han . oure god forsaken [ 35] And to Maumetes . ȝe han ow taken, I. schal fonde . to sperre ȝow mare Now, ar euere . I. hennes fare. And a non he lette . calle werkmen And maade hem worche . in cleiȝ and fen, [ 40] fforte stoppe alle þe Corneres Bi twene þe valeys and þe hulles. [40, 2 Ms. baūdon st. bann don?] But whon he sauh . þat Monnes tra∣uayle Mihte not . to such werk . auayle, Ne Monnes werk mihte not folfulle [ 45] þe kynges desyres . and his wille: þe kyng him self . knelede þare And preyede God . wiþ louely fare þat he schulde folfille . his longinge And vche hul . to oþur bringe. [ 50] And a non . as he hedde prayed, þe grete hulles, . þat wyde were strayed,

weore so faste . to gedere fest, þat so(u)þ . ne North, . Est . ne west May no þing passe . out of þat lond, [ 55] But hit beo . þe ffoul fleoand. ȝit dwellen . mony Jewes þare, And so schul þei . euer mare Til a ȝeyn . domes day: þen schul þei alle . þeonnes stray, [ 60] In Moni londes . schul þei wende, And Cristendom . schul þei schende, ffor ouer al . þer þei go Cristene folk . schul þei slo; þei schul leue . on Antecrist [ 65] And wene þat he beo Ihū crist. Al þis tale . I. haue ow told To make ow . in oure hertes hold þat al þat Cristene mon . wol craue [69 Ms. men.] In studefast trouþe . he may haue. [ 70] þat may ȝe seo . bi þis kyng þat wiþ goode treuþe . gat his askyng— And ȝit was he heþene mon. And þerbi may we . seon vchon þat cristene mon . ouhte muche more [ 75] Gete, ȝif he in trouþe wore, þen saraȝin . þat trouweþ nouht þat Jhū Crist on Roode . haþ hym bouht.

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41) De tribus sororibus patris beati gregorij.

Seint Gregori . a tale vs telles, þer he . on þis gospel spelles, þat falleþ wel . to vre matere; þerfore I. rede . þat ȝe hit here. he seide his fadur . hedde sustren þreo, [ 5] þat in Religiun . wolden beo: þe Eldeste hiȝte . Tarcilla, And þat oþur . Gordiana, þe þridde was cald . Emyalan— ffor soþe heo was a good womman. [ 10] Alle þei weore . Maydenes clene, And muche loue . was hem bi twene, And alle þre . hedde þei o wille: [13 Ms. þere st. þre.] To leue þis world . wiþ costes ille. A. Bisschop spoused . hem to crist, [ 15] At home . in heore owne beo wyst, And ȝaf hem veil . and Nonne wede, And tauht hem . holy lyf to lede. þei woned . in heore owne hous And serueden . Ihū crist, heore spous. [ 20] Dame Tarcilla, . þat was eldest, Al hire lyf . to crist heo cast, And serued him . wiþ al hire miht, And was in preyere . day . and niht. And Dame Emyalan . wiþ grace [ 25] ffolewede . hire sustur trace. Bote heore sustur . Gordian Bigon to ben . a foul womman, ffor heo ne mihte . wel reste in hous: heo was so walkynge . and so fous; [ 30] To pley and rage . þhouȝte hire swete, wiþ laddes lawes . in þe strete, hire þhouȝte heui . in stude to dwelle þer me spac . of heuene or helle. hire sustres . for hire weore ful wo, [ 35] And ofte þei seiden . bi twene hem t(w)o: Allas, vr sustur . is a fole, ffor heo draweþ not . to vre scole. þei chidden hire ofte . and mildely And bad heo scholde leue . hire foly [ 40] And þenke on Ihū, . hire lemmon, To hos seruise . heo hedde hire tan. whon heo herde . heore snibbyng, wiþ semblaunt . schewed heo mourn∣yng, And ofte þei wende . þat heo hedde care [ 45] And þat heo wolde . leeue heore lare; But euere . whon here snibbyng was don, [47 Ms. hire.] To plei . and rage . eode heo son. þus ladde heo moni day . hire lyue And sore heo longed . to beo wyue. [ 50] Moni ȝeres eode . and dayes, As seint Gregori . vs sayes, Til crist wolde take . Dame Tarcilla Out of al þis . worldus wa. God sente to hire . on a niht [ 55] An holi Mon, . þat felix hiht— In Rome hedde he ben . longe pope— he seide to þis wommon . In slope: Tarcilla douhtur, . Come wiþ me, þi longe woniinge place . to se! [ 60] In muchel blis . schalt þow wone In heuene . wiþ Ihū, Marie sone. her aftur . was heo seek in hast And to Ihū . heo ȝeld þe gost. And com sone aftur . on a niht [ 65] To hire suster . wiþ leomes liht, And seide: Emyalan, . þou come, To pleye wiþ Ihc̄, . þi Bruid gome! sustur, heo seide, . I. telle þe þat þou schalt hastili . come to me [ 70] And lyue in blis . wiþ outen ende wiþ crist, . þat is vre boþe frende.

whon heo herde þis, . heo was ful fayn And seide . to Tarcilla . aȝein: ȝif I. schul come . my self al an, [ 75] what schal falle . of Gordian?— "heo is bi come . so foul a womman, þat to þe world . heo haþ hire tan. þerfore þar þe not . for hire site, ffor of vre ordre . heo is quite!" [ 80] whon þis was seid, . heo wente a way. And Dame Emyalan, . as heo lay, was so seek, . þat atte last heo ȝeld to Ihū crist . þe gost. whon heore suster . Gordian [ 85] sauh þat heo was . laft al an, þo stod heo . of no mon awe, And to husbonde . gon heo drawe: heo tok a mon . to hire husbonde þat hedde beon ffermer . of heore londe: [ 90] heo forsok Ihū, . hire lemmon, And tok hire . to a synfol Mon. Certes, me þinkeþ . he(o) chaungedille, whon heo tok . a synfol mon hire tille And forsok . hire lemmon . Ihū, [ 95] To whom heo hedde . I. mad a vou To holde him . to hire lyues ende And to him . wiþ hire sustres wende. But for heo brac . Ihc̄ couenaunt And spoused hire . to a seruaunt, [ 100] þerfore heo lees . þat Joye wiþ riht þat vre lord . hedde hire hiht. Beo þis tale . may ȝe wel seo þat nomon may wite . wher þat he beo To heuene chosun, . or to helle. [ 105] ffor þeos wymmen, . of whom I. telle, hedden alle þreo . O. longyng To serue god . in alle þyng; But on of hem . chaunged hire moode And for sok him . þat bouht hire on Roode; [ 110] heo ended not . in his seruise. þerfore ouhte vs . ful sore a gryse: ffor þei a Mon . bi ginne ful riht To serue god . wiþ al his miht, wot he neuere . what chaunce may [ 115] [115 Ms. whot st. wot.] ffalle hym . bi fore his ende day: ffor mony men . bi ginneþ wel And endeþ . wiþ ful muchel vncel.

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42) Of a nonne þat feynede heore self a foul.

Seint Basyl . telleþ . soþfastly þat in a lond . was a Nonneri, þer Nonnus wonede . mony on. And a mong hem . was a wommon þat cast hire loue . so inwardly [ 5] To vre lord . God almihti, þat of hire self . no þing heo rouht, But euere on Ihc̄ . was al hire þouht. hire felawes heold hire . al for wood ffor hire chere . and hire sori mood. [ 10] hire felawes drof hire . to heþing And calde hire Oule . and foule þing, ffor alle þe Nonnes . þat were þare wolde þat heo . an honged ware; And summe on hire . watur kest [ 15] Boþe on hed . and on brest, And summe smered . hire Mouþ . w^t oute wiþ grounden Mustard . al a boute. Bute heo made . no grucchyng ffor al heor muchele . scornyng, [ 20] But al heo þolede . Myldely, And was . in hire seruise . redi: ffor heo smerede . al heore schoos, And heore vessel . clene heo wochs, And al þe good . þat heo mihte do [ 25] In heore Cuchen . al dude ho. hire hed was bounden . aboute wiþ a sely . lynnene cloute; And for heo was . so vnsemely, þei lette of hire . heþely. [ 30] And ȝit was heo . ful derworþi Bi fore vr lord . God Almihti. þus ladde heo . longe hire lyf. But mad heo neuere . hire goodnes rif, ffor faste hire holynes . heo hidde. [ 35] But atte laste . vre lord hit kidde: ffor an hermite . woned þer bi syde, þat was knowen . In world ful wyde, Poyternus . he hihte, To him sende God . his aungel brihte, [ 40] þat such wordus . to him seide þer he in his orisun . was leide: þow wenest, he seide, þat þou ert fful holy mon . and clene of hert, But I. wot where . a wommon is [ 45] þat haþ in hire . more holynes þen þou heddest . euere in þe; And ȝif þou wolt, . þou miht hire se: wiþ redi tokne . I. schal þe bynde hou þou schalt . þat Mayde fynde: [ 50] To þat Nonnerie . þou go to Morn And calle þe Nonnus . þe by forn,

And heo þat haþ hire hed bounden wiþ cloutes, . al abouten wounden, þat is heo, . þat holy may, [ 55] þat serueþ god . boþe niht and day; hire felawes doþ hire teone . and tray, And al takeþ . heo in play And preyeþ for hem . þat doþ hir mis; þerfore wiþ god . ful deore heo is. [ 60] And þou sittest here . þe alon And þolest teone . of no mon, þo(u) wenest þou beo . al holy And beo fore God . ful worþy, þou letest þin herte. ful wyde stray [ 65] And þenkest . of worldus gomen and play: þerfore i telle þe . witerli þou art not half . so holi As þat ilke . blisful may þat þoleþ so muche . tene and tray. [ 70] vppon þe morwen . þis ilke hermyte To þis Nonneri . wente ful tyte. And as sone . as he com þare, þe Nonnes made him . muche fare: so holi Mon . and good was he, [ 75] þat alle weore fayn . hym to se. þei asked sone . what was his wille, And on what erende . he com hem tille. he onswerde . and seide þan: Among ow is . a good womman [ 80] þat I. am come . forte se, ffor of hire wol I. Blessed be. he loked aboute him . wyde whare And askede . ȝif þei weore alle þare. Me þinkeþ, he seide, . þat I. heer mis [ 85] ffor whom I. hider . comen is. þei seide . to þis holy mon: we beoþ here . euerichon, But . O. Caitif wiht þat schulde not come . in Monnes siht: [ 90] heo is so . vnsemely And so wiþ taken . wiþ foly, þat heo falleþ . not to come Bi fore Men: . heo is so fulsome. þo onswerde . þis holy Mon [ 95] And seide: . I. wol seo þat wommon. þo eode a Nonne . hire to calle, And brouht hire forþ . bi foren hem alle. sone . whon þe hermyte . hire seih, To hire feet . he fel in heih. [ 100] heo was a frayed . of þis torne And sone heo gon . schome and schorne, heo fel wiþ him . on eorþe plate, And so bi gon heo . for to grate. And mony Nonnes . of þat hous [ 105] seide . to Poternious: Rys vp, ffader, . and ly not longe, ffor to þi self . þou dest gret wronge! þou art good mon . and holy, þow makest þi self . to vnworþi: [ 110] þow lyst her . bi fore a fol sage þat liueþ in wodnesse . and in Rage. þo onswerde . þis holy Mon And seide . to hem euerichon: ȝe lyȝen, he seide, . apertely, [ 115] þis wommon eyleþ . no foly, But ȝe ben fooles, . and heo is wys, þat schal beo sene . at godus assys; ffor wite ȝe wel . þis Mayden is Of muchel more . derworþnes [ 120] By fore Ihū cristes . face þen al þat stonden . in þis place; An Angel haþ told me . hire stat, þerfore . hire goodnes . wel I. wat. þo come þis Nonnes . euerichon [ 125] And fulle doun . bi fore þis wommon, And askeden . for ȝiuenesse sone Of þe misdedes . þat þei hedde hire done. þei seide: we ben . worþi blame, ffor we han don þe . muchel schame. [ 130] þis Blessede mayde . myldely ffor ȝaf hem alle . Inwardly And preyed for hem . god almihti þat he of hem . schulde haue Merci. And al þat sauh hire, . more and les, [ 135] honoured hire . In derworþnes. worldes Blisse . heo pouȝte to fle, ffor in worschipe . wolde heo not beo; heo wente a way . vppon a niht And com neuer aftur . In Monnes siht, [ 140] Mihte neuer aftur . Mon in lande Of þis wommon . here tiþande. Bote we may leeue . þat god hire tok To Paradys, . for heo forsok Al þis wrecchede . worldus blis [ 145] þat no þing . bote diseyuable is. Beo þis tale . may ȝe seo wel þat God is . bi þe haluendel Beter payed . of þat feirnes þat in Monnes soule is, [ 150] when he is out . of dedly synne, þen of al þis worldus . wynne. ffor þis wommon was . In Body ffoul . and loþ . and vnsemely; But hire soule . notforþi [ 155] was to God . ful derworþi.

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43) Of a monk þat was abac∣bytere.

A Monk was . In Religioun, And to Bakbyting . was euer boun. On him he bar . a Monk wede, But Monk . was he non . in dede: Leof he was . his Mouþ to spille: [ 5] Of his felawes . he spac euer ille. ffel auntur . þat he schulde dye, As we schul alle, . boþe lowe and hiȝe. Whon he was ded, . an holy mon ȝeode a Morwenyng . hym al on [ 10] In heore Cloystre, . biddynge his bede. And sauh þis Monk sitte . in a stede, And bot his tonge . al in Morcelles And eet hit in, . as hound eteþ felles: þus dude he ofte . and mony tym, [ 15] while þis holy mon . bi heold hym; And euere as his tonge . out schot, hit glowed . as a synder clot. þis mon, þat sauh . al þis fare, was a dred . and grisede sare, [ 20] And ȝit he coniourde hit . riȝt þare þat he schulde tellen . what he ware. And seide: what artou . þat þer sittes? whi gnawes þou þi tonge and bittes? On Godus nome . I. Coniure þe [ 25] what þou art . þou telle me! þis woful wiht . onswerde þare And seide to hym, . wepynge ful sare: I. was sum tyme . þi felawe— fful wel ouhtest . þou me knawe, [ 30] ffor so I. hihte . . and whon I. dyed— Allas þat euere . I. lesyng lyȝed! ffor þis peyne . þat þou seost me drie I. þole, . for I. was wont . to wrie Mi ffelawes . beo hynde heore Bac: [ 35] ffor muchel vuel . bi hem I. spac; Mi tonge brenneþ . as a Cole: þat Bacbyting . makeþ me þole; Of muchel serwe . may I. telle, ffor endeles . I. am in helle; [ 40] Mai I. no lengore . here sitte. whon þis was seid, . a wei he whitte. þis Reuþful tale . I. haue ȝou told To make ou . in oure hertes hold what pyne is diht . to þe Caytiues [ 45] þat in Bacbytinge . leden heore liues.

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44) Of amon and of mardocheus.

MOny winter . witerly, Or crist weore boren . of vre ladi, A Riche kyng . hiȝte Andwere, þat stif was . on stede . and stere, Mihti kyng . he was I. wis, [ 5] he liuede muchel . In weolþe . and blis. his Blisse may I. not telle ȝou, ffor longe hit weore . to schewe hit nou, But þing þat toucheþ . to vre matere I. wol ȝow telle, . ȝif ȝe wol here. [ 10] þe kyng louede . a kniht so wele, þat he Comaundede . men schulde knele Bi fore hym . In vche a streete, Ouer al . þer men . mihte him meete: AMon . was þe knihtes nome. [ 15] On him fel muchel . worldus schome. ffor in þis ilke . kynges lande was muche folk . of Jewes wonande: Of heore kuynde . þe kyng him tok A Qween to wyue, . as telleþ þe Bok, [ 20] But of hire kuynde . no mon nist Bote hire Em, . þat hire norischt. hire Em was cald . Mardocheus, As þe Bible . telleþ vs. Twey Men . he herde speke [ 25] how þei of þe kyng . wolde hem wreke, he herde hem seye . bi tweone hem two þat þei þe kyng . wolde slo. þe kyng he warned . of his scaþe, And he dude hem . to deþe baþe. [ 30] Godus lawes . he loued so wele, þat no mon mihte . make him to knele To AMon, . þe proude gome, To risen a ȝeyn him . at his come. AMon was wroþ, . whon he þis sawe, [ 35] But wrathþe in chere . wold he not schawe, ffor he þouȝte . veniaunce to take On alle þe Jewes . for his sake: ffor he was Jewh, . þerfore wolde AMon venie him . of þe Jeowes vchon. [ 40] he purchasede pouwer . of þe kyng, wiþ feir speche . and lesyng, þe Jewes to deþe . forte bring wiþ tokenyng . of þe kynges Ryng— ffor no mon dorste . beo þer a ȝeyn, [ 45] Ne to þe lettres . ben vn bayn þat seled weore . wiþ þe kynges Ryng, ffor hit was . ful redi tokenyng. whon aMon hedde . his lettres sent, schomely weore alle. þe Jewes schent. [ 50]

þey wepte faste . and weore sori— And þerof . was no ferli. And Mardocheus . was I. wis fful sori, . whon he herde of þis. And to þe Qween . word he gan sende [ 55] And bad heo schulde . hire folk de∣fende, þat þey neore morþred . and I. sleyn, But make þe kyng . calle al a ȝeyn þat hire fo . amon hedde don; Anon, he seide, . þou aske þis bon!— [ 60] what heo onswerde . here leue I, And passe forþ . ful schortli. þis Riche kyng . bi heold his Qweene— Astur heo hihte, . of whom I. mene. [64 Ms. Aftur st. Ester.] Bi hire semblaunt . þe kyng saiȝ sone [ 65] þat heo wolde . aske him a Bone. he bad hire schewe . hir wille him to: Gladli, he seide, . hit schal beo do; [68 Ms. heo st. he.] ffor what so euere . þou askest me fful bleþeliche wol I. graunte þe; [ 70] þeih þou half my kingdam . craue, Redi forsoþe . þou schalt hit haue. þe Qweene onswerde . and seide him to: ȝif ȝe, . lord, . my wille wol do, ȝe come to Morwe . and ete wiþ me, [ 75] And let AMon . ȝoure felawe be! þe kyng hire grantede . sone hire wille And bad AMon . hit schulde folfulle. vppon þe Morwen . to waytyng Com aMon . redi wiþ þe kyng. [ 80] But þe Qweene wolde not þat day To þe kyng . hire wille say, But preyed him . on þe Morwe to come wiþ sire aMon, . þe proude gome, To ete wiþ hire, . and þenne wolde ho [ 85] Al hire wille . seyen him to. Aftur mete . þat ilke day fful glad eode aMon . him to play. And Mardocheus . stille sat Bi fore him . at þe kynges ȝat, [ 90] ffor wolde he . In nonewyse Aȝein hym . of his seete arise. wiþ him was AMon . wondur wraþe. And to his paleys . wente he raþe, And calde his frendes . and his wyf, [ 95] And schewede to hem . his Joyful lyf. he seide: Ich haue . gret plente Of lond and leod, . and feir meyne, Riche mon . Ich am . and bold, And best a Mong . beernes told; [ 100] so wel þe Qween . loueþ me, As ȝe to day . mouwen alle se þer heo to hire feste . called no mon [103 þer st. þat?] wiþ þe kyng . bute me al on. But al þis weole . and al þis blis [ 105] May no þing . glade me .I. wis, while I. Mardocheus se, þat wol not knele . bi fore me: he woneþ . at þe kynges ȝate; Dedliche . þat Jeu . I. hate. [ 110] his wyf . and his frendes baþe Onswerde . and ȝaf him red . ful raþe þat he schulde for þat Jewes sake A Muchel heiȝ Gibet make And at þe kyng . leue gete [ 115] To honge þe Jeuȝ . on þe gibete. heore counseil . was sone i don, And a Gibet . was redi son. [118 Ms. Gibert.] þe kyng . þat niht . miht haue no rest. þerfore of him . þe cloþus he kest [ 120] And let rede a Bok . bi fore him Of deedes . þat weore don . in his tym. And whon þe kyng . herde rede Of Mardocheus . goode dede, hou he warnede þe kyng . of skaþe, [ 125] he askede his knihtes . ful raþe what Cortesye . or what Meede hedde Mardocheus . for his good dede. And þei onswerde . and seiden vchon: Meede þerfore . hedde he riht non. [ 130] þen bi gon . þe day to springe. And AMon com . to aske þe kynge Mardocheus . forte hange. Bote in erli . do(r)ste he not gange, [134 Ms. doste st. dorste.] ffor no mon was . In londe so bald [ 135] To come In, . bote þe kyng him cald. þerfore . þer oute . stod AMon stille, To abyde . þe kynges wille. þe kyng bi þouȝte wat maner belde he mihte . to Mardocheus ȝelde. [ 140] And as he studied . þer aboute, he asked . what mon . stod þer oute. AMon, þei seide, . stondeþ þare. And he bad him cum in . ful ȝare, And bad him soone seyen . his avys [ 145] hou and on what manerewys

þat ilke mon . schulde menske take whom þe kyng . wolde Menskeful make. Amon . wende wel þat hit weore he þat Mensked of þe kyng . schulde be, [ 150] And seide: . þat mon þat þe kyng wolde to Menske . and worschupe bring schal beo clad . In worschupeful wede And set vppon . þe kynges steede, And þe beste mon . in þe þeode [ 155] schal menskefuly . his Bridel lede þorwh out . al ȝour Citéé, þat alle men . him mai se, And seþþhe . þus schal he mensked beo On whom þe kyng . wol menske seo. [ 160] þe kyng onswerde. and seide him to: Diht þe anon, . þat al weore do! I. Comaunde þe . þou do riht þus wiþ þe Jew . Mardocheus— Loke þat hit . forȝeten ne be!— [ 165] Of þis . þat þou hast . told to me! AMon herde þis . and was sori And went a wey . ful carefuli, But noþeles . him bi houeþ so [169 Ms. so st. do.] þat þe kyng . hedde seid him to. [ 170] To Mardocheus hous . he eode And dude on him . ful riche wede, And set him on . þe kynges stede, And hym gon . his Bridel lede; [174 Nach hym chlt selue.] he dude al þat . þe kyng him bad [ 175] And Made Mardocheus . ful glad. whon þis was don, . he eode hame, wiþ muche serwe . and worldus schame. ffor serwe his oune cloþus he rent, And seide: allas, nou am I. schent! [ 180] Allas Allas . þat me is wo! ffor fallen I. am . a ȝeyn my fo. As he lai þus . in serwe and care, þe kynges Messager . com þare And bad him . to his mete gange, [ 185] And seide þe kyng abod him lange. vp he ros . in al þat cyte [187 cyte syte = sorrow.] And to þe kyng . he com ful tyte. And to þe Qweenes chaumbre . raþe To heore mete . eode þei baþe. [ 190] Aftur mete . þe kyng bad sone þat þe Qween . schulde . aske hire bone, And seide: . what so þou askest me fful gladly . wol I. graunte þe. þe Qween bi gon . to syke sare, [ 195] And seide to him . wiþ louely fare: sire, I. prey ow . þat ȝe haue merci . of my folk . and me, þat we mote lyf . and limes haue, ffor þis is al . þat I. ow craue; [ 200] ffor demed am I., and al my kynde, Ouer al þer mon may vs fynde, fforte brenne . and forte slo; hit nis no ferly . þeyh me beo wo. þe kyng was wroþ . and seide hire to: [ 205] ho was so bold . þat dede to do? sire, heo seide, . vre foule fo þat me . and al my kuynde wol slo, þat is . sir AMon, . þat sitteþ here, þat is ȝor felawe . and ȝor feere. [ 210] whon þe Qween . þis hedde seid, On hire bed . heo hire leyd. þe kyng Ros vp . and eode a way, ffor he wuste neuere . what he mihte say. whon þe kyng . forþ was gon, [ 215] To þe Qween . eode . sire Amon, To preyen hire . to make sauhtlyng Bi twenen hym . and his lord, þe kyng. As he bifore . hire bed stood, þe kyng com in . wiþ grimli mood [ 220] And seide: what dele, . me þinkeþ þat he wol force þe Qweene . bi fore me! whon þis was seid, . vp stod þe Qween, þat seide . to þe kyng riht þen: þat heiȝe Gibet . he let reise [ 225] þat stondeþ ȝonder . in his paleise, To honge þer on . Mardocheus, þat good haþ ben . to ow and vs. þe kyng Comaundet . þo ful son þat men scholde honge . amon þeron. [ 230] þus was Amon . aftur mete honged . on his owne Gibete Al þis tale . haue I. told ow To sette . redi ensaumple how þat ofte we seo . falle such chaunce [ 235] þer an vuel mon . wol take veniaunce Of mon . wiþ whom he is wraþe, And on him self falleþ . al þe scaþe.

u. s. w.

45) here his told hou perys tollere Cast awhyt lof to a beggere.

Hit was a Riche Mon . of lande ffer bi ȝonde þe séé . wonande, Muche him delytede . in Marchaundys, ffor to þis world . he was ful wys;

Pers Tollere . he was cald [ 5] And best . a mong Borgeis tald. But pore folk . louede he nouht, ffor nouht of heore Meseyse . him rouht; In þis world . hatede he no mare þen hem þat pore . and nedful ware; [ 10] he was so fer . from charite þat on þe pore . miht he not se. ffel aunter . þat in þat Citéé, þer pers wonede . wiþ game and gle, Pore folk . on a winteres day [ 15] Aȝein þe sonne sat . bi þe way, And preised alle . þulke hous þat þei hedden . I. take almous, And þat hous . lakked þei vchon þat þei hedde . non almus tan. [ 20] And as þei suche . wordus warpe, Of Pers Tollere . gunne þei carpe And waried him . for wikked mon þat good for godus loue . ȝaf non. And as þei þus . of pers spak, [ 25] A bold beggere . heore speche brak And seide: what wol ȝe . ȝiue me, And I. schal go, . þat ȝe may se, To fonde . ȝif I. gete may Almus . of pers Tollere to day? [ 30] And þei onswerde . and seide him to: þat schalt þou . ne no mon do; þeiȝ ȝou coude more . of beggeri þen euere coude . sir Tirri, Neuer more . at pers hous [ 35] schulde no mon . geten almous, was neuere Beggere . þat þer bade At his hous gete . bite . or snade, ffor we herde neuere . þat Beggere Mihte gete almus . of pers tollere. [ 40] þerfore we alle . ȝiue þe taske þat þou mai him . wel almus aske; And þou of him . almus gete, siluer, or Cloþ, . oþur mete, we wol ȝiue þe . þe Maystri [ 45] Of Beggyng . and of Beggeri. Couenaunt . wiþ him þei made, And alle . riht þer . þei him a bade. To pers hous . þe beggere ȝode And he . at his ȝate stode. [ 50] þers gan hamward . gon And say þis Beggere . a non, And souhte ful ȝerne . staf or ston, To caste . at þis pore Mon. And as he souhte . and nouȝt mihte fynde, [ 55] his owne seruaunt . com hym be hynde And in a lep (!) . bred he bare. And Pers tok . a lof þare And caste þis lof . in stude of a ston, And smot þer wiþ . þis pore Mon. [ 60] þe Beggere tok . þis lof ful swiþe And com . to his felawes . blyue. his felawes þhouȝte her of . ferli And calde him Maister . of Beggeri. Pers . on þe þridde day [ 65] fful sek . In Godus bendes lay. And as he lay, . þer he sawe Mony ffendes . to him drawe, And on his oþur half . he sauh stande Aungelus, . ful briht . schinande, [ 70] And bi fore hym . he sauh hange Twey wihtes . wiþ stringes strange. [72 wihtes, Harl. weight scales,] þe ffendes leide . in a weye scale [73 weye scale.] Alle pers synnes, . grete and smale, ffoule þei weore . and ful heui; [ 75] On hem to loke . him þhouȝte lothli, And ȝit kneuh he . ful wel þare þat þei . his owne synnes ware. þe goode angeles, . þat bi him stood, souhte ful ȝerne . aftur sum good, [ 80] In to þat oþur scale . to ley, But non almus dede . founden þei, And vuel payȝed . þei weore vchon þat þei goode dedes . mihte fynde non. An Angel spac . and seide son: [ 85] No good dede . haþ þis mon don þat we . in þis scale mai Aȝeyn þeos foule synnes lai, But vnne þe . a seli laf, Two dayes a go . þat he hit ȝaf. [ 90] þis lof . ful sone in scale scale . was leid, And þe synnes . al vp breid, ffor þat euene weiȝte . was seene. þat made þe ffendes . sore a tene. Pers sauh þis . and was ful glad; [ 95] ffor he hedde ben . bi fore vuel rad. Angeles spac . to pers þan And bad him ben . a good man, And seiden: . ȝit schaltou lengore lyue, Bote loke þat þow . more almus ȝiue; [ 100] ffor ȝif þou do not, . þou schalt wende To helle to wone euere . wiþ outen ende. whon þis was seid, . þei went him fro. And pers wok . of his slep . riht þo, And bi þouht him . hou he hedde sene [ 105] his wikkede dedes . al by deene And ful openly . he sauh þare his synnes . þat for ȝeten ware.

And in his þouht . sore gon he grate, fful sore him rewed . his owne state, [ 110] And seide: . siþen a sely laf, þat I. myn vnþonkes . ȝaf, haþ to day . þus holpen me, Lord, . good mon . ouȝte I. to be. ffrom þat day forþward . was he [ 115] Mon of most . Charite þat Mon in al þe lond . wist; ffor so wel . louede he crist, þat pore men . at pers hous hedden more good . and Almous [ 120] þen at eny oþur fyue. þerfore þei preyed . for his lyue, And alle his frendes . more and les þonkede God . for his godnes. ffel aunter . vppon a day [ 125] þat pers mette . bi þe way A pore schip broken . marinere, And preyede pers . wiþ piteuous chere þat he schulde . don him sum good, ffor his loue . þat died on Rood. [ 130] Pers dude of . his ouer claþe And ȝaf hit þis naked mon . ful raþe. he þonked him . for his almus dede, þat he clad him . In so riche wede; But notforþi . he was ful loþ [ 135] fforte were . so riche a cloþ; wolde he not lete hit . on him dwelle, But heng hit . in a Bot . to selle. whon pers sauh . what he hedde i don, In to his paleys . he wente son [ 140] And in his chaumbre . sore he wept, And seide his ȝift . was vuel be set. Allas, he seide, . I. wot þat I Am so synful . and vnworþi, þat Godus seruaunt . wolde not haue [ 145] þat luitel ȝift . þat I. him ȝaue! I. seo wel . þat I. haue no mede Bi fore god . for myn almus dede; I. wende þis mon schulde . for me pray; Allas, Ihū, . what may I. say! [ 150] As he sat . in þis care, On a slep . he fel riht þare. And as he lay . þer slepande, he sauh Ihc̄ bi fore him stande, A Crois vppon his hed he bare, [ 155] And asked pers . wiþ loueli fare: Pers, he seide, . what eileþ þe? whi wepestou? . tel þou me! And he onswerde, . þer he was leide, And to vre lord crist. he seide: [ 160] I. ȝiue almus . in good entent Of þat . þat God vs haþ I. lent, And þe pore . vr almus takes And wol not preye . for vre sakes, wol þei not . wiþ vre cloþ hule, [ 165] [165 þei st. þem.] But don hit a wei . þer þei wole; And for ei wolde not . preye for me, þerfore I. wepe, . as ȝe may se. And crist seide: . bliþe mai þou be, ffor, lo, . ichaue . þe cloþ on me! [ 170] þat ilke cloþ . is on me here þat þou ȝaf . to þe Marineere. whon pers sauh þis, . he was glad, ffor wel he kneuh . þat crist was clad wiþ þat ilke cloþ . þat he [ 175] hedde ȝiue þat day . for Charite. And Ihc wente . out of his siht. And pers wok . and sat vpriht, And seide: lord, . I. þonke þe þat rediliche . hastou schewed me [ 180] þat al þat I. to pore men do wiþ oute fayle . I. do þe to; Now seo I. wel . þat boþe is on þow and vche a pore mon; And þerfore . reste wol I. haue non [ 185] Til I. beo . a pore Mon.

His Clerk ful sone . to him he calde, And al his counseil . to him he tolde, And bad him take . ten pound and buye Marchaundise . and Mercerye. [ 190] And a non he seide: . þou me lede ffeor in to a noþur . þeode, And sul me . to sum cristene mon, ffor to pouert . I. haue me tan, And al þat þou may . take for me [ 195] ȝif pore Men . for charite! ffor sikerliche . I. telle þe þat pore mon . wol I. be. þis Clerk seide: . a, sire, Merci, þenkeþ not . on such foli! [ 200] And pers seide . þenne him to: But þou sone . my wille do, To saraȝines . schal I. sulle þe, But þou anon . wol sulle me. þis Clerk was . for þis manas . adrad [ 205] And dude anon . as he him bad. he chargede hors . wiþ Merceri, And ledde pers . priueli ffer in to . an vnkouþ cuntre, And solde him þere . In a Citéé [ 210] To a Mon . þat Joyle hihte, þat hedde beo mon . of muche mihte, But fallen in pouert . he was, And þorwh pers . out of pouert ras.

þis Clerk of pers . made marchaun∣dis [ 215] And solde him . for þritti penis, And ȝaf al þat . he tok for him To pore men . þat ilke tym— ffor so bad . pers him do, whon he þer of . spac him to. [ 220] Pers lafte . In Joyle seruyse And serued him wel . In alle wyse, þat þorwh him . in aluytel while Good Riche Mon . bi com Joyle. ffor Pers, . from þat ilke tym [ 225] þat he bi gon . to seruen hym, Ladde his lyf . so holily, þat men þhouȝte . of gret ferly. ffor . oþur while . wesch he dissches, And oþur while . he gotted fissches, [ 230] þe fuir in halle . he made and bette, And bar þe askes . from þe flette, halle . and Chuchyn . mad he clene, And oþur housus . alle bi deene; In alle þing . Boxum was he, [ 235] To Maister, . and wyf, . and to meyne. so luitel . of þis world he ȝaf, þat proude seruauns . called him daf And for a mad mon . þei him heold, ffor wel þei wende . þat he weore dweled; [ 240] And alle þei leete . of hym heþeli And dude him schame . and vileni. he preyede for hem . inwardli þat God of hem . schulde haue merci. But Ihc̄ com . to leese his care [ 245] And cumforted him . wiþ loueli fare, And schewede him . aperteli Alle þulke penyes . þritti þat for him self . weore ȝiuen and told. whon he to Joyle . was I. sold, [ 250] And bad hym serue . ȝit Joyle wiþ outen grucchyng . ȝit a while, Euer til þat . he knowen ware, "ffor þenne, he seide, . wel schaltou fare: ffor þenne schal I. take . þe me to, [ 255] wiþ outen ende . to liuen in Ro." he was fayn . of Cristes siht And fayn also . of his beo hiht.

HE seyde: lord, . wel is me! And of þi cumfort . I. þonke þe. [ 260] And Ihū wente . out of his siht. And pers þouhte on him . day . and . niht. And sone aftur . þat ilke tym þat crist hedde þus . cumforted him, Marchaundes, . of þat ilke lande [ 265] þat pers hedde ben . to fore wonande, Com in to . þat ilke Citéé þer pers wonede . in pouerte, heore Marchaundyse . forte selle. And sire Joyle, . as aunter felle, [ 270] Called hem alle . to his Ostelle, And to þe Mete . he made hem dwelle. And whon þat pers . þer hem sawe, Euerichon . he gon hem knawe; But was non of hem . þat him kneuh: [ 275] so penaunce . hedde chaunged his heuh. And as þei . at þe mete seete, Pers miht not . for bere to wepe— And ȝit þe ffuir . gon he beete And serued hem . to honden and feete, [ 280] But ȝeorne his face . from hem he hud, ffor loþ he was . to ben I. kud. And on of hem . his eȝen vp kest, As riuedly . in halle doþ gest, And seide: me þinkeþ: þat þis fuwere [ 285] Is ful lyk . to pers . Tollere. his oþur felawe . seide þo: fforsoþe, . me þinkeþ riht so. þe þridde seide: . so þinkeþ me; But I. beo gabbet, . þat is he! [ 290] þe feorþe bi gon . to seye . and swere: þat is, he seide, . pers tollere; I rede we rysen vp . him to take, ffor þe Emperoures . sake þat Day . and Niht . for Pers cares, [ 295] ffor he wot neuere . hou he fares. whon pers sauh wel . þat þei wolde Leggen hond on him . and him holde, ffaste he drouh . touward þe ȝate, To fonde . ȝif he mihte gete out late. [ 300] But atte ȝate . was a portere, þat neiþer mihte . speke ne here, ffor boren he was Doumbe . and Def. And Pers gon clepe on him . such a wef, And seide: porter, . I. comaunde þe [ 305] þat þou þe ȝates . open me! At þat word . God, as Curteis leche, ȝaf þe Doumbe . heryng . and speche. þis porter . onswerde pers þer— þat speke . ne heere . miht he neuer er— [ 310] And seide: sire, . ful gladly. And opened him . þe ȝate in hiȝ. so wondur fayn . was þis portere þat he mihte . boþe speke . and here, þat loude . gan he calle . and cri [ 315] And þonked God . Almihti.

þeos Men, þat comen out . pers to take, þhouȝte wondur . hou þe porter spake, And sone þei askede . on what manere þat he mihte . boþe speke . and here. [ 320] And he onswerde . and seide þan þat he, . þat ilke pore man þat in vre Cuchene . is squilere, Eode out . at þis ȝate here; And whon I. hedde . opened þe ȝate, [ 325] A. fflaume . of brennyng fuir . ful hate Com of his mouþ, . and touched raþe Min Eren . and my tonge . baþe, And wiþ (þis) ilke . touchyng he ȝaf me boþe . speche . and heryng; [ 330] To god I. wot . he is ful dere þat þus haþ mad me . speke and here. þeos men ron out . and faste þei souht. But pers tollere . fynde þei nouht. Coude no mon telle . whodur he was come, [ 335] Ne in to what stude . he was nome: ffor neuer syþe . þat ilke tym herde men . no tiþinge of him. But siker may we ben . I. wis þat he was taken . in to blis; [ 340] ffor he þis worldus blisse . for sok, we mai wel leue . þat god hym tok In to Paradys . Blis, þer he nou bliþe . and blisful is. þis longe tale . haue I. ow told [ 345] To make ow . In oure herte bold þat whos euer deþ . almus dede To pore folk . þat haþ neode, To God him self . almusdede ȝiues, ffor God him selue . to him cheues. [ 350]

u. s. w.