The desert of religion / [ed. Walter Hübner].

The desert of religion. Mit dem Bilde des Richard Rolle of Hampole.

Nach drei Handschriften zum erstenmal herausgegeben.

I. Handschriftenbeschreibung und Text.

Das nachstehende Gedicht, dessen Titel aus v. 19 ersichtlich wird, ist uns in drei Handschriften des Britischen Museums—und, soweit ich feststellen konnte, nur in diesen—überliefert:

1) Additional Ms. 37049, fol. 46-67. Die ziemlich umfang∣reiche Handschrift—im ganzen 96 Blätter—stammt, wie der Katalog angibt, aus der ersten Hälfte des 15. Jahrhunderts und ist reich illustriert, wenn auch die Bilder meist recht grobe For∣men zeigen. Die Handschrift enthält eine grosse Reihe religiöser Abhandlungen, teils in Prosa, teils in Versen, z. B. Gedichte über die Mutter Gottes, die Seele im Fegefeuer, eine Vergleichung der Welt mit einem Meere und einer Wildnis, tätiges und be∣schauliches Leben. An der Handschrift sind mehrere Schreiber beteiligt, deren Schriftzüge oft nur schwer zu unterscheiden sind. Der Text des hier abgedruckten Gedichtes ist nur von einer Hand geschrieben; dagegen sind die Illustrationen neben dem Text mit den dazugehörigen erläuternden Worten und ebenso die Zeichnungen symbolischer Bäume, die dem Text stets auf der rechten Seite gegenüberstehen, von einem anderen Schreiber. Zwei Bilder, die in der Hs. C vor, in S vor und hinter dem Ge∣dicht stehen, finden sich hier an falscher Stelle zwischen anderen Texten: fol. 19 ein Sterbender, der um Hilfe gegen den mit einer Lanze eindringenden Tod fleht und für den Maria und Christus Fürbitte einlegen; fol. 36 ein Ritter, ein König und ein Geist∣licher, die die Vergänglichkeit irdischer Macht beklagen.

2) Cotton Ms. Faustina B VI, pars II, fol. 1-23, nach An∣gabe des Katalogs der Stowe-Hss. (vgl. 3) aus der ersten Hälfte des 15. Jahrhunderts. Die Handschrift enthält nur die hier be∣handelte Dichtung und ist von einem einzigen Schreiber her∣gestellt. Die Zeichnungen sind nicht so überladen wie in A, dafür aber sorgfältiger ausgeführt.—Vor der Handschrift findet sich folgende Eintragung von Sir Frederick Madden: In the Index of Contents prefixed by James [Richard James, 1592-1638, Bibliothekar des Sir Robert Bruce Cotton.] to this Ms. the religious Poem now bound separately is ascribed to "Walter Hilton anchorite". On this authority Hilton has been received as the author by Smith in his Catalogue of the Cotton Library, 1697, by Tanner, Bibl. Brit., and by Ritson, Bibliogr. poetica. It appears, however, very doubtful indeed, whether James had

any authority for attributing the Poem to Hilton, and I am inclined to think it arose from his confounding it with the prose tractate by Hilton on Contemplation of Life. F. M.

3) Stowe Ms. 39, fol. 11-32, nach dem Katalog gleichfalls aus der ersten Hälfte des 15. Jahrhunderts, mit prachtvollem Bilderschmuck. Die ganze Handschrift, die im Jahre 1756 vom Rev. Gastrell an Rich. Greene und von diesem im Jahre 1767 an das Britische Museum geschenkt worden ist, weist die Züge einer einzigen Hand auf. Sie enthält ausser dem hier in Frage stehenden Gedicht noch einen religiösen Prosatraktat und eine Dichtung The abbey of the Holy Ghost (nach Angabe des Katalogs vielleicht von John Alcock).

Elongaui fugiens et mansi in solitudine. [fol. 46a.] [s.] f. C]]

Dauid, þat prophet was ay, [1 Dauit C] In þe sawter boke þus we here say: [2 buke C h. w. s. S, f. C] Fleand I fled fra mare and les [3 fro more S] And dwelled in herd wyldernes. [4 hard C] Þis wyldernes be-takens wele [ 5] [5 betokens S] Herd penaunce, þat men suld fele [6 Scharp C, Scherp S] Þat fleys fra þe werld—þat es þe flesch— [7 flees S fro S u. i. world S u. i.] And groves in gastely wyldernes, [8 groffes S gastele wilderneche C] Als men of religioune dose, Þat fleys þe flesch in þe saule∣felose. [ 10] [10 flees S] For qwen man thurgh deuocioune [11 when C u. i. men C] Enters in-to religioune, [12 entres S] He es als man þat suld wende [13 is S als a m. S] In-to þe felde to fyght with þe fende; [14 feght S] Whare-for god-blyssed mot he be, [ 15] [15 blyste S u. i. m. þu b. C] Qwhen he of þe fende faund wald be. [16 When β (= C S) faunded C, fondid S suld S] He went in-to deserte to dwell, Als itt is wryten in þe gospell:

Ductus est Jesus in desertum a spiritu, ut tem[ptaretur]. [a s.] f. C u. t. a diabolo S]

For þe deserte of religioune Is cald a felde of temptacioune. [ 20] Religioune, þat gude men suld hald, May be gude skyll deserte be cald; For als deserte commonly is sene [23 communli C] In stede whare no dayntes bene, [24 whore S] And far fra men deserte it es— [ 25] [25 fer β it] f. S] Þar-for men calles wyldernes: [26 Þer C u. ö.] Ryght swa þe state of religioune, [27 so β] Þat falles to þe lyfe of perfeccioune, [28 fals S lyue C] Suld be scharpe in all thynge Thurgh scharpenes of strayt lyf∣ynge, [ 30] [30 Thorgh S li∣uinge C, liffyng S] Þat es als a thorne-garth to tell [31 is C os S a] f. S ȝert S] Agayn þe wykked gaste of hell, With þe whilk þe herte is closed abowt To hald þas wykked bestes owt. [34 þair C, þos S] And ȝit in wyldernes men sees [ 35] Many wykked wylde bestees, [36 bestes S] As beres, wolves and lyouns: Þeir er bot fendes temptaciouns, Þat þe gude religioune with his myȝt [39 his] f. S] Kepes hym fra both day and nyght. [ 40] [40 K. þam fro S both] f. S] In þis gastely foreste groves [41 gostly S growes C u. ö., groffes S u. i.] Trees with braunches and boghes: [42 bowes C] Sum groves to heven, and sum to hell, [43 Some S u. ö.] Sum to stande, and sum to fell,

Sum to grove in gastely garthe, [ 45] And sum to grub awai with þe swarthe. [46 abgerissen A þe] f. S] Þe fyrste tre of þis forest schene [fol. 46b.] Is þe tre of vertus, þat ay is grene, Þat in mekenes festis his rotes; [49 roytes S] Of hym vertus vpwarde schotes, [ 50] And sprynges and spredes his leues and groves, And buriones bath with braunches and boghes. [52 bouriouns C both S u. i.] Þis tre be-takenes men þat ar mylde [53 be-takins C, betokens S er β u. ö.] And debonere als a chylde. Swylk ar þe varay scolers right [ 55] Of our mayster: god of myght. [56 g. all mighte S] Mekenes falles in hert to dwell Thrugh þir four thynges to tell: [58 Thorgh S u. i. þer S u. i.] Thrugh oft be-thynkyng vp and doune And thrugh veray contrycioune, [ 60] Thrugh sufferance with-outen gruch∣ing, [61 grochinge C] Thrugh haly delyte with-outen changyng [62 holy S chaunginge C] Or thynkyng of his wrechenes [63 wriched∣nes β] Or what god has done hym mar or les. [64 h.] f. C m. and l. C] Þis thoght if he lat noght pas [ 65] [65 let S] And vmthynkyng, what he was [66 vmbithinkinge C him w. h. w. β] And weþne he come; and right se, [67 weithen C] And what he is and wheyder sall he [68 whither C] And what he sall be at his ende And whyderward þat he sall wende— [ 70] [70 whitherward C, wheþer-ward S] Hee sall be many skylles knaw [71 bi C know S] Hym for to meke and for to law. [72 low S] For out of mekenes of dede and thoght Comes all þe vertus þat euer was wroght. [74 euir war C] In seuen braunches of þis tre [ 75] Þe seuen vertus may men se; [76 In s. v. A m. you s. S] And out of ilk a vertu euen Sprynges other vertus in leves seuen, [78 v. and l. S leue C] Þat forth brynges þe froyte of lyfe Þat bath suld couayt man and wyfe. [ 80] [80 both S] Þis is þe tre of whylk we here, Þat Dauyd of spekes in þe sawtere: Þe ryghtwys is als a tre þat standes [83 is] f. C] Be-syde þe course of þe water∣strandes And gyfes his froyte in a conabill tyme— [ 85] [85 Sal gife C, Sall gyf S a] f. S] His lefe sall nother fade ne dwyne. Þe secund tre of þis foreste fayre [fol. 47b.] Is þe tre of vices þat may enpayre, [88 enpare C] Þat groves and festes his rotes on pryde [89 roytes S] And boghes and braunches on ilk a syde, [ 90] [90 b. with br. S] Þat dounward groves ay in-to hell— His froyte is bath bytter and fell. [92 both S] For out of pryde comes all wykkenes [93 wikkednes C, wyckidnes S] Þat euer was wroght her mare or les; [94 more S] For pryde, þat comes of herte and thoght, [ 95] [95 F. þi p. S] Was þe fyrste synn þat euer was wroght. [96] f. C] Pryde was begynnyng of all ill, Pryde is contraryus to alkyn skill, [98 al∣kins β] Pryde brake fyrste þe company And þe ordour in heuen þat was semely. [ 100] [100 ordir C, ordur S] Þar-for fra heuen doune he fell In-to þe depeste pytt of hell. Þe syn of pryde full perlyous is, [103 perilus β] Of wham sprynges all wykkednes. [104 whom S] It blyndes a man and reues hym syght, [ 105] [105 Hit S a] f. S] Þat he knawes noght hym selfe ryght. [106 knowes S] Pryde may be lykkende wele [107 lyckend S] To þe fendes awne wyfe, as I fele, [108 awen S als S] Þat semes gode and delycyous And is straunge and perlyous; [ 110] [110 strang S perilius C, perilous S]

Thrugh þe whilk þe fende he can Make here dronken many a man, Þat ar reche here, wyght and myghty, [113 er riche β] Nobell, wyse, balde and hardy [114 Nobil β bolde S] And—commonly to vnderstande— [115 comunli C, comly S] All maner of men he lyfeande. [116 lifande C, lyffand S] In seuen braunches of þis tre [117 brounches S] Þe seuen vices may men se, [118 In A C] And out of ilk vice doune euen [119 ilk a v. C] Sprynges other vices in leues seuen, [ 120] [120 leffes S] Þat forth brynges þe froyte of dede: Taste itt noght, man I þe red! Þis is þe tre þat in sermoune God bad fell and hew it doune And cast itt in a fyre to bryne, [ 125] [125 brenne S] For no froyte itt will begyne To bere—þat is at say of lyfe, [127 is to s. S] Nother to man ne to wyfe. Þar-for grub itt vp be þe rotes [129 by S roytes S] And all þe braunches þat of hym schotes. [ 130] In þis wod here may yu se [fol. 48b.] Spryngand full fayr a-nother tre, Wyth leues on ilk-a syde be-dene, [133 leffes S] Þat wynter and somer is ay grene [134 ay is β] And beres froyte þat is ay rype, [ 135] [135 ai is C] Þat nane bot meke with hend may grype: [136 none S] Þis is þe tre of mekenes gode, Þat our lady vnder-stode. [138 stude C] In mouthe mekenes schew itt may Thurgh four thynges, þat I sall say: [ 140] Thurgh oft wreyng in schryft of ill, [141 wregh∣ing S] Thurgh deuote prayer, loude or still, [142 deuoute S] Thurgh hert contymel lowinge, [143 contumele loving C, contumly louyng S] Thurgh gode schewyng and tech∣ynge. In werk mekenes may be sene [ 145] Thurgh four thynges, þat here bene: Thurgh whytyng of all þat dett es, [147 wittinge C] Thurgh lely body-buxumnes, [148 lele S bodeli β buxomnes C] Thurgh wyrkyng of gode werkes namly, [149 of] f. S gude S] Thurgh herd lyfe, þe flesch to chasty. [ 150] [150 hard β] For when a man in penaunce lyfes [151 And w. S liues C, lyffes S] And thurgh penaunce his flesch grefes [152 greues β] And fleys delyte and kepes hym chaste [153 flees S kepis S] And for-sakes þat þe flesch lofes maste [154 þe] f. C lufes S] And chastis itt and puttis itt law, [ 155] Þan may men mekenes in hert knaw. [156 Þen S kaw A] Þir tuelf degrese þat I now neuen [157 Þe C] Ledes uerray mekenes euen [158 uerra C] Be thre partes and makes itt lyght [159 By S partis C meknes i. l. S] In hert, in mouthe and wark ryght. [ 160] [160 werk β] With-outen þir tuelf in þir thre [161 and þer S] Verray mekenes may noght be. Þis tre floryschand, þat þu sees, Of mekenes is þe tuelf degrees, Þat in a meke hart fyrst begynnes [ 165] [165 in a man hert C] And sythen vp-ward spredes and sprynges And beres þe froyte, þat ay is swete And delycyous for to ette. [168 A. ful deliciouce C] Þis suld men sett in þair ortȝarde, [169 orthȝarde A, ortȝerd S] Þat groves or clymbes to heuen warde, [ 170] [170 g. and c. S werd S] And dyke itt with depe deuocioune, [171 depe] f. β] Þat wynd of pryde dryfe itt not doune, [172 driffe C noght C] Ne stele þe froyte þat on it groves, Ne breke þe braunches ne boghes.

Ȝit groves here in þis wylldernes [ 175] [fol. 49b.] A tre of grett wykkednes, Þat beres froyte bitter als gall; [177 as S] Þat itt tastes, itt poysouns all. Þe man þat thoght hym for to schryfe [179 for] f. S scriue C] Braunches and boghes a-way suld ryfe; [ 180] [180 Brounches S riue C]

For pryde agaynes god weres all∣ways [181 agayn β weres a. w.] verrays C, veray is S] And his godes, als clerkes says; [182 gudes S] And god weres agayn pryde [183 weres] werais C, veray is S] And abates hir myght on ilk-a syde. Pryde is quene of all vyces, [ 185] Þat to all wykkednes vs entices. Pryde is þe gredy lyonesse, [187 zwischen 192 und 193 A] Þat all gode swelous, as I gesse. [188 gude saules S] Pryde for-dose all grace and vertose [189 g.] gudes S vertuse S, vertoys C] And all gude werkes þat men dose. [ 190] [190 A. g. a. w. AC doys C, wyrkes S] Pryde is þe fyrste þat asayles faste Goddes knyght and leues hym laste; [192 Goddis C lefes C] For when he has ouercommen ryght [193 has] is S] All other synnes thurgh grace and myght, [194 othir S] Þan commes pryde after þat vic∣tory [ 195] [195 Þen S u. i. aftir S] And assayles hym maste stalworthly. [196 moste S] Pryde makes a man to wyn hell sone [197 mas S] And wastes all þe gude þat he has done. Pryde men makes hey state to co∣vayte [199 makes men β] And mastry ouer all other to layte. [ 200] [200 mays∣try S] Bott pryde, as clerkes in bokes cane rede, [201 bukes C i. b.] f. S] May be for-done thurgh gyfte of drede. [202] f. C] þis spreyngand tre, þat þu now sees, [203 springand β] Of pryde is called þe tuelfe degrees. Þe fyrste in proude hert festes his rotes [ 205] [205 Þat C] And sythen vpwarde his boghes schotes; [206 þe b. S, þe bode vp C] Grub and graue als gode gardynere [207 Gub C graffe S gode] f. S gardenere C] A-bowt þe rote bath day and ȝere [208 rute C, royte S] And fell itt doune in-to þe fyre: Heuen þar-for sall be þi hyre! [ 210] Vn-to þi lorde if þu be trew, In his erbere latt itt noght grew, [212 herbere S grow S] In-to his gardyne when he will ga [213 to] f. S] His dyssporte þar in to ta. [214 dissport∣inge C, disportyng S]

In þis deserte is a-nother tre, [ 215] [fol. 50b.] [215 groffes a tre S] Sprynges and spredes, as men may se, [216 as ȝe m. s. S] Þat nother groves in cite ne in toune, [217 nouthir S] Bott in places of religioune. [218 place S] Itt beres froyte þat is full soure [219 frute C] And full bytter of sauoure; [ 220] [220 sououre S] For þe state of religyoune Suld be—thurgh right intencioune— [222 entencioun β] Far fra þe werld, als þe boke telles, [223 Fer fro β world β as S] Als in deserte, war na man dwelles. [224 whar C, wher S] For he þat kepes þat state wele [ 225] [225 s.] f. A] Þe maners of þe werld suld not fele. [226 world S u. i. noght S] Swa man—thurgh right inten∣cioune— [227 So men β, For man A entencioune β] Þat is in þe state of relygioune [228 þ. er β] Ay þis werld suld hate and fle, Þat is ay full of vanyte, [ 230] [230 For it is C] Swa þat his conuersacioune be [231 So β] In heuen be-for þe trinyte. For he suld putt all his tresore [233 tresour S] In heuen, þat sekyrest is þar-fore: [234 sikereste C, syker reste S] Sway may he þan his tresore saue [ 235] [235 So may you þen his tresour s. S] And in heuen itt fynd and haue. [236 haue and finde C] Þe tresore of men relygiouse Is pouert: þat is preciouse, [238 poruertt A] If itt come of a gode will [239 cum S of a gude C, of of a S] With-outen gruchyng loude or styll. Bott þe relygiouse þat loues his saule [241 louis C, lufes S h.] þe S] Suld take ensampell at saynt Paule [242 ensampil C, ensaumpil S] And, als he dyd, þe werld forgett [243 as S] And all þat may relygioune lett.

Þir ar þe tuelfe abusyouns [ 245] [245 þes S] Þat groves in relygiouns. Þis tre suld þai nyght and day Be a-boute to hew a-way With his boghes and with his braunches [249 braunche C, brounches S] Þat in relygioune makes dystaun∣ces, [ 250] [250 distaunce C] Whar þe saule suld duell in wilder∣nes, [251 Whore S wildernece C] Þat has for-saken þe werkes of þe flesch. [252 sake C werk S fleschce C] Þis tre has poysound and broght doune [253 posond S] Many a man of relygioune.

Ȝitt groves here in þis wilderness [ 255] [fol. 51b.] A tre of grete wykkedness [256 wyckidnes S] In tuelfe degrees of þis werlde, [257 degrece C] Als ilk-a day is sene and herde. Þe rotes of þis tre sees men sprede [259 roytes S] Ouer all þe werld on lengh and brede. [ 260] [260 lenght S, hegh C] In hey states þis tre buriounes [261 hegh S] And all þe werld swa confundes; [262 þ. w. it so c. S] For be þis werld is our passage, [263 Fro S be] þurgh C, f. S] By þe whilk we make pryualage; [264 priuelage S, pilgremage C] For be þis way be-houes gange— [ 265] [265 vs g. β] Bott be wele ware, we ga not wrange! [266 b. we w. S go S noght β] Certis þis werld is nothyng elles [267 noght C] Bott wildernes, þat men in dwelles, [268 w. in wham (whom S) m. d. β] And a stede of wrychednes, Of trauels, angers þat ay here es, [ 270] [270 trauails β] Of payne, of syn and of foly, Of senschypp and of velany, [272 vilany C] Of lettyng and of taryinge, Of frawardnes and of scornynge, [274 frawerdnes C, frowardnes S] Of fylth and of corrupcioune, [ 275] Of violence and of opprescioune, Of gyllori and of falshede, [277 gilliori C falsede C] Of tresone, discorde and of drede, Of pompe and pryde and couatyse, Of vayne sleght and of qwayntyse. [ 280] In þis werlde noght els we see Bot wrychednes and vanite. Þis is þe tre þat groves not euen, [283 es S] For itt groves dounward fra heuen. [284 fro β] Þe same tre þat no froyte walde bere, [ 285] When itt was watterd all a ȝere, [286 was] f. S] Þis tre called Austyn in his sermouns Þe tre of tuelfe abusyouns, Þat groves and spredes in þis werlde here In tuelfe degrees, both fer and nere. [ 290] [290 bath C] Þe froyte of þis tre oft has marred And poysound many men of þe werld— Þat has bene in any degree Wryten in leves of þis tree.— [294 leffes S]

In þis wildernes here groves [ 295] [fol. 52b.] [295 groues C] A tre þat has fourtene boghes: Seuen on þe right syde for to rede— Þat ar þe seuen poyntes of þe god∣hede; [298 þ. is s. p. of þe crede C] And seuen apon þe left syde—þat es [299 on S] Seuen poyntes of þe manhede of his flesch. [ 300] [300 flec C] Þir ar ground of þe trouth to se, [301 þe gr. C, grounded S] Þat founded is in þe trynite. [302 es S] For-why, als þe apostell telles, [303 apostil C, gospell S] Criste in þe trouth ay duelles; [304 euermore d. S] Ande þe trouth is in þe thoght, [ 305] [305 A. in þ. t. C] And thoght is in þe hert broght; And þe hert is with-in þe breste, [307 breeste C] And þe body aboute itt neste; Ande þat is þe warde of þe castell [309 Ande] f. β is] f. S þe wall S] Of þe herte, whar trougth suld duell. [ 310] [310 whore S trouth S] For men suld on þis maner wirke Thurgh þe trouth and be noght irke. Right trouth, als says þis clerkes, [313 as S þir C] Is be-gynnyng of all gode werkes. [314 gude S]

Trouth with-outen werkes is ded, [ 315] [315 es C deede C] Of all gude werkes itt is þe hed; [316 gude S heede C, heued S] Thurgh werkes anly na man may— [317 onely S no S] With-outen trouth—god wele pay. Þar-for we suld trow in mynde In his manhede of our kynde. [ 320] For men suld trow with all þar myght [321 þe m. S] In his manhede day and nyght, [322 bath d. C, both d. S] Þat Jesu Criste of myghtes maste [323 moste S] Was consaued thurgh þe haly gaste [324 W. conceyued of þe holy goste S] And of a virgyn, Mary, borne— [ 325] Elles had we all bene for-lorne; And for to trow arly and late [327 A. we sall t. C] Þat Criste tholed vnder Pounce Pilate Mikell reproue and vilany [329 Mikil C, Mekill S velany S] And ded thurgh þe Iues envy; [ 330] [330 d.] f. S Jewes β] And—als swa as I schew ȝow now— [331 als so C, also S os S] In all haly kyrke to trow, [332 holy S k. sal we t. C] And we sall trow, if we vs kepe To commun with all haly felaw∣schepe. [334 common β a. his] f. S felyschipe C, felischepe S] Þis tre be-houes be rotede wele [ 335] [335 t. bus be r. w. β] In our faith, if we will fele And taste þe froyte of itt in heuen: Þat is þ-ioy þat nane kane neuen. [338 no man S]

Ȝitt standes þar in þis foreste fayre [fol. 53b.] [339 Ȝ. her st. S þ.] f. S] A tre þat groves vp to þe ayre; [ 340] Þat has fourtene braunches bryght, [341 haues C broun∣ches S u. i.] Seuen on þe left syde and seuen on þe right. Þe rottes of þis tre euer to last [343 Thre roytes S] In haly kyrke er festend fast [344 holy S er] f. S] And in þe hertes of haly men, [ 345] [345 holy S] Þat couaytes vertuse to kene. [346 v. for t. k. S] Of þe poyntes of trouth, þat men to tentes, [347 of þe tr. S] Hynges all þe seuen sacramentes, In þe whilk men aw to trow, [349 ogh S] Þat in þe tre groveand ar now. [ 350] [350 growande C, gr. nach er S] Baptem fyrste is called ane, [351 Baptyme S one S] Þat is taken at þe fountstane. [352 þ. falles at þe founte to be tane C, þ. falles to be tane at þe fontstone S] Þe secunde is to vnderstande [353 A-nothere β] Confermyng of byschope-hande. Þe thyrd is penaunce mare or les. [ 355] [355 more β] Þe ferth is þe sacrament of þe mes. Þe fyft is ordur of gret myght. [357 order C, ordir S] Þe sext is matrymone ryght. [358 ful r. S] Þe seuent is last a-noyntynge: [359 þe laste enoyntyng S] Þir seuen in our trouth suld hynge [ 360] With haly werkes, þat strenghes wele, [361 holy S] And gode vertus, als we may fele, [362 gude β u. ö.] And namely with þir vertuse seuen Þat in þis tre groves vpward euen, [364 heuene C, seuen S] Þat is fayth, hope and charyte [ 365] And sleght þat thurgh grace bus be, [366 þ.] f. S] Methfulnes, strenght and ryght∣wisnes, [367 Meknes S strengh β ue(r)tues C] Thurgh whilk ilk gode man gouernd es. Þir thre deuyne vertus men calles— And þir four efter—cardynalles. [ 370] [370 þe f. C eftir S] Dyuyne men calles þe fyrst thre, Fayth and hope and charyte; [372 Trouth S a.] f. S] For þir thre ordayns specialy All þe hert to god all-myghty. [374 h. of man S] He þat had þir vertus all, [ 375] A perfite man men myght hym call; For why? he suld be in gode wharte [377 qwy S qwerte β] And ay at rest in pees of herte; Þan suld hym faylle here na thyng, [379 þen S nothing S] Þat gode ware to his lyuyng. [ 380] [380 wer S lyffyng S] Þis is þe tre of þe sacramentes And þe vertuse þat men to tentes, Þat men sall excuse and saue And bryng to blys, als god vouch∣saue.

Here in þis foreste and in þis [fol. 54b.] firthe [ 385] [385 fryrthe A, fryth S] Groves a tre þat getes men girthe: [386 gryrthe A, gryth S] Þe tre of mercy men itt calles, [387 c. righte C] And of pite, þat to all cristen falles. [388 Þe tre of pite also it highte C, And of pite to þam þat falles S] Of þe tre of mercy, als telles clerkes, [389 t. þis c. β] On ayther syde groves seuen werkes; [390 ather C grous C] On þe right syde gastely sprynges, [391 g. werks s. C] And on þe lyft syde bodely hynges, [392 left β bodely bodily werks h. C] Þe whilk I will rekken on raw— Þe gastely werkes ar to knaw: [394 er þer t. β know S] Þe fyrst gastely werke es [ 395] [395 w. þis e. C, w. it is S] To counsayle þaim þat ar redeles. [396 To comforth C er C To counsell þam þat redles is S] Þe secunde es at vnderstande [397 A nother S] To teche and lere þe vnconande. Þe thyrd werk als-swa es þis: [399 also β es S] To chasty þaim þat dose a-mys. [ 400] [400 þam S] Þe ferth is to do solase [401 es S solace C] And comforth þaim þat anger hase. [402 A. to c. C þam S hace C] Þe fift es here for to forgefe [403 es S forgyfe S] Þaim þat hase vs done forgrefe. [404 vs h. C, til vs h. S grife C, grefe S] Þe sext es in herte to haue pite [ 405] [405 es C, f. S] Of þaim þat we in anger se. [406 þam S] Þe seuent is, with-outen faynteys, [407 fantesie C, quayntyse S] To pray ilk day for our enmys. On þe left syde sprynges other seuen, Þat ar bodyly werkes to neuen. [ 410] [410 er bodely S] Twa es: hungry and thyrsthy to fede [411 Two es þe h. S is C thristi C, thresty S] With mete and drynke, þat has nede. Þe thryde es:ay, when nede ware, [413 þe thirde is C, Anoþer es S] To cleth þaim þat ar naked and bare. [414 þam S nakyd S] Þe ferth, als man vnderstandes: [ 415] [415 f. is a. β] To viset þe ligand in godes bandes. [416 godis C] Þe fift es: pore men to herbar [417 is S her∣bere C] And pore pilgryms, þat walkes far. [418 p.] f. S fere C, fair S] Þe sext es, als in boke is founden: [419 is S buk C fundene C, fon∣den S] To vysett presouns þat ar boun∣den. [ 420] [420 presoners C er S bundene C, bonden S] Þe seuent is: to bery þe ded— þe saules in payn may stand in sted, [422 To s. S] Als men may here in sentence say God hym seluen on dome day, [424 Þat gode selfe C domes S] When he sall deme to hell or heuen— [ 425] [425 or] and S, and to C] Þir werkes of mercy sall he neuen. [426 Þere wordes o. m. C h.] f. C] [425-426 umgestellt C]

Here groves in þis forest a tre [fol. 55b.] [427 þ. deserte β] Þat Crist sett thurgh his sciens sle On þe mounte of Synay for to grew, [429 of] f. S grofe S] Bath in þe ald law and in þe new. [ 430] [430 Both S olde lagh a. in n. S] Þe rote of þis tre is full swete [431 royte S] And full delycius for to ete. Þat ar þe commaundmentes ten, Þat ar boden to all cristen men. [434 er bedene to a. c. m. C, er gyfen til c. m. S] Þe first is—with-outen erroure— [ 435] Þat þu sall na fals goddes honoure. [436 s.] f. S no f. godis S] Þe secunde is, trew and certayne: [437 Anoþer S certane C] Þou sall noght take godes name in vayne. Þe thryd is: þi haly day þu kepe. [439 thirde C to k. S] Þe ferth: þi fader and moder wor∣schepe. [ 440] [440 modir β worschipe C] Þe fift: þu sla na man wilfully. [441 slo S no β] Þe sext: with na woman do foly. [442 no w. þu d. f. S] Þe seuent: stele noght þat other mens es. Þe aghtent: bere no fals wittnes. [444 aghten S] Þe neyent: loke þou covayt noght [ 445] [445 nehint C] Þi neghbur wyfe thurgh dede ne thoght. Þe tent: covait noght, whar þu gase, [447 whore S] Na thyng þat þi neghbur hase. [448 Nothing S]

Þir ten commaundmentes on raw Ar taken oute of þe ald law [ 450] [450 Er C, Is S olde S] And closed in twa of þe new, [451 two S] Þat in þe rote þu se grew, [452 Þ. next þe rude þu mai s. g. C, Þ. in þe royte þu may s. g. S] Þat is: þu lufe god þat þe boght [453 loue C] With all þi hert and all þi thoght And all þi vertu and all þi witt [ 455] [455 and þi w. S] And all þi mynde to-gedyr knytt. Þis tre groveand standes ay nere [457 grouande C, grofand S] Þe course þat rennes fra þe gode ryuere. [458 reuere S] Þar-for he gyfes in gode sesoune His froyte to ilk-a nacioune. [ 460] Þe froyte þat groves apon þis tre [461 on C] Was gyfen to Moyses menȝe, [462 menyȝe S] Þat duelled in wildernes, [463 dulled A dwellande ware C in þe w. S] Was fourty ȝere and na les. [464 W. f. ȝ. als clekes witt∣nes C] Þis tre is roted swa fast [ 465] [465 so β] Þat na wynd doune may it cast. [466 no S] If his rotes in þis forest [467 roytes S] Stalworthly be knytt and fest, [468 knytted S] Þan may it spryng and sprede and grew [469 Þen S grofe S sp. in fere C] And burion and bere fair froit and new. [ 470] [470 A. borione and bere froite ful dere C fair] f. S now S]

In þis gastely foreste groves [fol. 56b.] A tre þat hase bot fyue boghes [472 bowes S] And fyue leves, þat ar sene [473 lefes S er grene C] Wynter and somer elyke grene. If þis tre be sadly sett [ 475] And fra enmys grathly gett, [476 fro S grartly S] Þar is nathyng man-saule may greve, [477 nothing S] Bot if þis tre graunt þaim leve. Þir fyue leves hase office sere, [479 f. verteus β] Þat men kepes on sere manere. [ 480] Þis philozophurs, þat war wyse, [481 philosophers S, phylofofers A were S] Of þaim spekes apon þis wyse: [482 Of þam s. and þus saise S] Fra vanytes with all þi myght, Þat ar vnlefull, kepe þi syght; Fra vnlefull heryng þin eres [ 485] Kepe and ditt man-saule þat deres; Þi nese fra all vnlefulnes [487 neese fro v. S] Of smellyng wele kepe with stres. [488 s. þou k. w. S] Be wise in hert ouer all thyng To kepe þi mouth fra vayn spek∣yng. [ 490] Kepe þi fete fra wanton wayes, [491 fote fro S wantons C] Bath be nyghtes and be dayes. [492 bi d. C] Fra thyng þat is vnlefull [493 vnmedfull S] To kepe þi hend is nedefull. All þat god bath lofes and hates [ 495] [495 both S lufes β] In hert and oute gase be þir ȝates. [496 h.] f. S by þer S] Þir ar þe fyue nobill besaundes, [497 þe] f. C fiues C noble S] Þat our lord be-taght to his ser∣uaundes, Þat, whar a seruaunt of þaim toke [499 whore one of þam t. S] And dowbell þaim, als says þe boke, [ 500] [500 dowbeld C, doubill S þam S] He gafe hym powere and hym made [501 g. þam p. a. þam m. S] Keper ouer ten citees brade. A castell mannes hert is called, Þat with vertuse wele is walled; Or els a cite þat hase gates: [ 505] [505 ellis C, elles S] Þir fyue be-takens þe ȝates, [506 betokens S] Be þe whilk men gase oute or in, [507 By S gos o. and inne S] Or þai þe cite lose or wyn. For if þe gates of any cite [509 þe ȝate C, ȝates S, þaites A] Be wele sperd, als þai suld be, [ 510] [510 sparde C s. w. os þam ogh to be S] Þar is na enmys þat may dere [511 nane C, none S] Nane þat with-in þe cite ere. [512 None S were S]

In þis forest ȝitt groves a tre, [fol. 57b.] [513 ȝ.] f. β] Als telles þe boke of pryuete, [514 buk C pry∣uate S] Þat god, þat is maste of myght, [ 515] [515 moste S] Þus says to hym þat kepes itt ryght: [516 til h. C kepis S]

I gyfe þe to ete—with-outen stryfe— [517 g. to þe mete w. o. s. S] Of þe froyte þat sprynges of þe tre of lyfe, Þat standes in-myddes paradyse. [519 Þ. is in S] Itt passes all þe froyt of pryse. [ 520] [520 For it p. C, þat p. S] And he þat kepes noght þis tre, Of þat gude froyt sall noght se. [521-522] f. β] For who sa is synfull and ill, [523 who S is so C, so es S] Þir thre names he beres be skill: Godes thefe and thefes fere [ 525] [525 Godis S þefis S] And mortherer of his doghter dere And godes traytor men hym calles, [527 godis S] Þe synfull man, þat in syn falles. First godes thefe he may be knawen; [529 goodis β, god A] For he wastes þat is noght his awen, [ 530] Þat he hym tok to kepe and welde, [531 Þer S] Of þe whilk hym buse a counte ȝelde. [532 acount C, countes S] Mortherer he hym self mase, [533 Murthirher S] Þat thurgh syn his saule slase; For god ordayned it to blys, [ 535] [534-535] f. S] [535 And puttis it fra goddis seruice C] Þat thurgh grace his doghter ys. [536 d. was S] Godes traytor he is be resone; [537 Goddis C] For he dose god grett tresone, When he ȝeldes to þe fende haly— [539 ȝeldis β holy S] Þat is godes maste enmy— [ 540] [540 goddis C es godis most S] Þe castell of his hert so qweme, [541 wheme S] Þe whilk god toke hym for to ȝeme. [542 tuk god C] For he þat in schryfe his hert lawes [543 schryfte S laghes S] Spekes to god, þat itt wele knawes. For þe preste, þat is of schryfte herer, [ 545] In schryfte is called goddes awn er. [546 godis S] Þis tre sprynges of a mannes hert, [547 Þes thre S a] f. S] Þat vn-to god is convert [548 couerte C] Fra all wikkednes and his synnes, [549 syne C] When he with sare herte on þaim mynnes [ 550] [550 sore S þam S myne C] And schryfes hym clene and tase pennance [551 schriues β takes S] And for þaim haues verray repen∣taunce [552 þam S hase C, haldes S vrai C] And thynkes na mare to do þa synnes; Þis tre to florysch þan be-gynnes. [554 þen S] Þe froyte is satisfaccioune. [ 555] Þat commes oute of confescioune.

In þis forest groves a-nother tre, [fol. 58b.] [557 n.] f. C] Þat in wyldernes sprynges full hee, Þe whilk tre, als I vnderstande, [559 a.] f. S] Sathanas sett itt with his hande. [ 560] [560 i.] f. S] In þe fyrst braunche þu may se [561 m. þu s. C] Sex thynges, þat ar gode to fle. Þir sex ar full mykell in vse, Þat gode begynnyng of lyfe for-dose. [564 duse C] Ane is dasynes of hert anely, [ 565] [565 One es dulnes o. h. only S] Þe secunde is tendernes of body, [566 Þe nachträglich hinzu∣gefügt A A-noþer β tendirnes S] Þe thryd is idelnes of man in qwart, [567 thirde C is] f. S qwert S] Þe ferth is hevines of hert, [568 heuenes S harte C] Þe fift is lythernes of hert with-in, Þe sext is arghnes to be-gyn. [ 570] Other sex in a braunche ar sett, [571 Othir S in braunches er β] þat amendment of life may lett, [572 zwischen 578 und 579 A] [572 reklisnes C] Als tariyng and reklesnes, Sone forgetyng and slawnes, Lachenes alswa and faylyng: [ 575] [575 Lothnes S all so C, also S fallyng S] þir sex mase a grett lettyng. [576 Othir S þen S] Other sex ar spryngand þan, Þat till ill endyng brynges a man; [578 to i. β] Þir ar þa sex þat ar noght gode: [579 Þer er þo sex þat noȝt gude es S] Vnbuxsumnes and vntholemode, [ 580] [580 vntholemodnes S] Gruchyng alswa and drerynes, [581 all so C, also S] Langour, wanhope, þat werst es— [582 L. and w. C] Þir sprynges and spredes on ilka syde Oute of þe tre þat is called accyde. [584 O. of þe t. of accide S]

Þir ar þe vices aghten to knaw, [ 585] [585 Þer S] In whilk men falles þat ar slaw. For þe fende thurgh idelnes can Lett þe gude lyfe of a man And occupie hym in his nedes, If he fynd hym idell in gode dedes. [ 590] [590 in his d. S] Þis tre with braunches and with boghes [591 thre w. brounches S u. i.] And with leves, þat on hym groves, Ware gode to grub and grave a-way [593 Wer S graffe S] Oute of gastely gardyn for ay. [594 O. of gastli or gude gardine ai C, O. of þe gardyn for ones and ay S] For itt is nawther gode ne abell [ 595] [595 nony S gude nor abill C, gude ne abill S] To bere thyng þat is perfectabell [596 perfita∣bill C, prophetabill S] To man þat gode lyfe walde lede; [597 gude liffyng lede S, gud lyfe will l. C] Itt sall him fayle in his maste nede. [598 For it will faile him in his nede C moste S]

In þis forest of delite [fol. 59b.] [599 of grete d. C] Growes a tre þat is full white [ 600] And clene and honest day and houre And full delycios of sauoure, Apon þe qwhilk þe halygaste [599-603 das erste Wort jeder Zeile ausgefallen A] [603 whilk β u. i.] Makes duelling, for itt is chaste. For chastite men calles right [ 605] A tre of grete vertu and might, [606 grot S a. of m. S] Þe whilk has seuen degrece sere [607 degree C, degres S] And seuen braunches spryngand here. [608 spredande C] Þe fyrst degre is—to be-gyn— Clyne consciens of hert with-in. [ 610] [610 Clene S c. þe h. β] Þe secund aght to be full couthe, [611 f.] f. S] Þat is honest speche of mouthe. Þe thryd is kepyng of þe wittes fyfe. [613 þat thirde C þi w. S] Þe ferth is straytnes here of lyfe. [614 h.] f. S stratnes in hert of life C] Þe fift is fleyng of ill company [ 615] [615 compeny S] And þe encheson of grete foly. [616 þe vnclennes S] Þe sext is gode occupacioune. [617 is a g. S] Þe seuent is prayer with deuocioune. [618 prainge β] Now will I schew efter my witt [619 eftir β] Þe seuen braunches, þat commes of itt: [ 620] [620 hitt S] Ane is of maydens, þat will fle [621 One] Flescly dede, to þai maryd be. Þe secund is of anlapy, [623 Another β anlepi C, anelepy S] Þat has bene filed and left foly. Þe thryd is þas þat wedded bene. [ 625] [625 thirde C u. ö. þos þat weddid had bene S] Þe forth is state of wydouse clene. [626 farth C, ferth S s. is S schene S] Þe fift state is of maydens schene [627 clene S] Þat, wils þai lyfe, thynkes schast to bene. [628 chaste β] Þe sext state of clerkes may be, Þat ar ordand in haly degre. [ 630] [630 er ordeynd S] Þe seuent, als boke mas mencioune, [631 as S makes S] Is þe state of men of religioune. [632 þ. s.] f. S] Þis tre to men is full profytabill, [633 f.] f. S prophetabill S] Itt festens þair hertes and mas þaim stabill, [634 Þat f. þe h. S maise C, makes S þam S] Als tre in þe erth roted fast [ 635] Þat wyndes ne stormes doune may cast. [636] f. C] Þis is þe gode tre of continence, [637 Þat is þe tre c. C] Þat men suld kepe with diligence [638 k.] f. S] Fra fleschly filth, þat itt may fyle, And fra þe fende, þat has many wyle. [ 640] [640 fra] f. S m. a w. S]

In þis forest a-nother tre sprynges, [fol. 60b.] [641 In þ. f. ȝit a tre springes C n.] f. S] Þat many scharpe thornes forth brynges, Þat many prykes and makes wrath, [643 mase S] Þat deserues full litell schath. [644 deseruys C litil C scathe C, skath S] Bot men may vnderstand and se [ 645] Þat wikked tonge is þis tre, And þe leves in haly writt [647 lefes β holy S] Is vnderstanden þe wordes of itt. [648 hitte S] And lange itt is to tell be talle [649 bi C tale β] All þe leues grete and smale; [ 650] [650 A. þer S]

Bot men may ten braunches knaw, [651 know S] Þas on þis tre groves hye and law— [652 hinges hee and l. C, groffes hegh and low S] And þat may be cald be skill [653 þais C, þos ten S be s.] skill A] Þir ten synnes þat I neuen will: Idell speche and vayn a-vaunt∣yng, [ 655] [655 Idelschip S] Losengery and bakbiteyng, Leyng and floryschyng thurgh ath, [657 Leghyng S oth S] Stryuyng and gruchyng bath, Frawardnes and sclaunder to neuen [659 Frowardnes S to] no S] To god and to his halows in heuen. [ 660] [660] f. C] Here may men se spryngand wyde Þe tre of þe tonge þat noght can hyde, Þat men may call and halde be skill [663 kal C] Þe tre of þe tonge þat is ill. [664 þ. ay is S] And on þis tre ten leues hynges, [ 665] [665 thre l. S] Þat oute of wikked tonge sprynges, [666 Þ. of wickede oute t. s. C] Þe qwhilk may a man lede [667 whilk S] To þe pitt of hell, þat is to drede. [668 es S] Þis tre beres full many leves, [669 b. m. l. f. C] Þat many sakles oft tyme greves. [ 670] Þis is þe tre þat god in yre Bad hew doune and caste in fyre. [672 in þe f. C] For þe froyte of it was full soure [673 hit S of it is soure C] And bayske and bitter of odoure. A-mange thornes þis tre sprynges; [ 675] For of it commes alkyn synnes, [676 of him β many∣kins C] Þat dyseses bath man and wyfe; [677 deseses S both S, b. nach m. C] Þis tre sprynges now full ryfe. Itt ware gode to hew itt doune And putt itt oute of religioune [ 680] And all swa oute of all þe werlde, [681 also S] For itt fra heuen has many marrede. [682 merrede C]

In þis deserte sprynges a tre, [fol. 61b.] [683 a faire t. C] Þat spredes his boghes bath wyde and hee. [684 b.] f. S] Þis tre is called prowes be name. [ 685] Many braunches beres þe same; [686 bere C] For prowes is a vertu pryse, Itt mase a man hardy and wyse. [688 makes S] Seuen braunches has þis vertu, And seuen leves of grete valu. [ 690] [690 g. vertu S] Þir ar þe braunches first to knaw [691 Þar er S know S] And ay ar groveand on a raw: [692 þai er growande C, ay er groffand S row S] Nobelnes of hert in ilk a chaunce, [693 Febilnes S] Traystyng, sekyrnes and sufferaunce, [694 sikirnes C, sykernes S] Stedfastnes þat mekyll may wayle, [ 695] [695 vaile β] And lastandnes with-outen fayle, Hunger and thryst of rightwisnes, And ilk ane of þir a vertu es. [698 one S of þes S] Bot seuen leues sprynges of itt, Þat men calles and haldes thurgh witt [ 700] [700 be witt C] Seuen victories, þat here awayles, [701 victors S availes β] Of seuen manere of batayles, Thurgh qwhilk a man may not mys [703 noȝt β] Of seuen crounes in heuen blys. [704 corons of blysse S Of þe s. c. of endles blis C] Þe fyrst batayle—to be-gynne— [ 705] Is þe batayle of dedely synne. Þe secund is penaunce harde. [707 A noþer β herde C] Þe thryd is of þe flesch frawarde. [708 third C froward S] In þe werld is þe ferth and þe fift, twa: [709 þe firth and þe fifte in þe werlde þis twa C, In þe ferth and þe fyfte is þis world is two S] Þat ane is welth, þat other is wa. [ 710] [710 þe tane C, þe ton S þe tother is wo S] Þe sext is wikked men and fell. Þe seuent is þe fende of hell. Þir ar called þe seuen degrese [713 Þer C, Þes S] Of prowes, þat a man may chese, And seuen braunches of victory, [ 715] Þat men suld couayte for þe mays∣try, [716 s. chese S] Þat may hym lede þe right way [717 l. thurgh þe r. w. S] To heuen-blys, þat lastes ay. [718 To heuenly life C, Of þe hegh lyste S] Þir batayles suld a man a-byde And fyght fast on ilk-a syde [ 720] And stande stalworthly in þat stoure— God will hym helpe and socoure

And saue and kepe hym and de∣fende Fra þe begynnyng vn-to þe ende.

In þis wylde foreste is a tre [ 725] [fol. 62b.] Grovand, þat gracius is to se. Þis tre may—be gode resoune— Be cald þe tre of perfeccioune; [728 B.] f. S] Þat groves in gastely lyuynge here [729 lifinge C, lyffyng S u. ö.] And is grene all tymes of þe ȝere: [ 730] Of perfite lyuynge tuelf degrese Groves in þe tre þat þu here sese: Conuersion is þe fyrste þat is herd. [733 harde S] Þe secund is despite of þe werld. Þe thyrd is pouert of man and wyfe. [ 735] [735 third C p. of a wyfe S] Þe ferth is settyng of gode lyfe. [736 sottyng S] Tribulacione þe fift is þan. [737 þen S] Þe sext is penaunce of man. [738 of gude m. S] Þe seuent is orisone, als telles þe text. [739 is praier C] Meditacione þe aghtent is next. [ 740] [740 aghen S] Þe neyent is lessone wysly soght. [741 neghente C] Þe tente is clennes of dede and thoght. Þe elleuent is lufe of godes sonn. [743 gode sone C] Þe tuelfte is contemplacioun. [744 twelfe A] Þir groves in ilk a man and wyfe [ 745] [745 ilke man S] Þat thynkes to be-gyn perfite lyfe. [746 to gyfe p. l. S] Þis tre groves and festes his rotes In meke hert, þat vpward schotes His leues—þat is to vnder-stande: [749 leffes S vndirstande S] Þe vertu of þe contynuande; [ 750] Þai sprede in vs, if we þaim kepe [751 þam S] Besely with deuocioune depe. Þat perfeccioune gers vs profe [753 gars β lufe S] And on perfite lyfe to sett oure lofe. [754 lufe S] [753 und 754 umgestellt S] And als þe tre rotet in þe erth fast, [ 755] [755 And tre rotede C] Þat na tempest may itt doune cast, [756 no S] Swa serues men god, with-outen fall, [757 so S] For we suld be his seruandes all. Sum begynnes god wele to pay And faylles lange or þe terme∣day; [ 760] [760 þe] f. C] Bot he is worthy to haue na mede, [761 hafe no S] Þat wele begynnes and fayles in nede. He groves noght in þe tre of lyfe, Wheþer itt be man or wyfe. [764 xwischen] For man þat wele endens sall wende [ 765] [765 endes wele S] To ioie þat neuer sall haue ende. [766 hafe S u. i.]

In þis deserte ȝitt groves a tre [fol. 63b.] Of tuelfe vertus, as men may se. [768 os S] Þis deserte call I noght elles Bot gastely lyfe, als scripture telles. [770 gostly lyff S] When we forsake þis werdly dedes [771 þes S werldeli C, wordly S] And gastely lyfynge lely ledes, [772 gostly S] Þan wende we on to wildernes, [773 þen S vn to C, in to S] Whare hard lyfynge and penaunce es. [774 Whore S herde C] Þir ar þe tuelfe degrese of ver∣tus, [ 775] Þat groves in þe tre, þat here feelus: [776 felous C, folous S] Þe first is verray trouth of Criste. Þe secund is to be baptyste. Þe þryd is fornycacione to fle. Þe ferth is couetus noght to be. [ 780] [780 couatous S to] f. C] Þe fift is glutonie to refreyne. [781 glutteni C, gluteny S] Þe sext is penaunce, with-outen feyne. Lastandnes þe seuent is calde. Hospitalite þe aght we halde. [784 aghten S] Þe neyent is godes to fullfill, [ 785] [785 godis S g. wil C] Þe tent to lefe our propur will. [786 propir C] Þe elleuent is chastite to spyr. [787 spere S] Þe tuelft is besynes of all þir. Þir grese of vertus men may fynde [789 þer groes S] In þe lyfe of saynt Thomas of Ynde. [ 790] [790 s.] f. S Hinde C] Þir tre has full swete sauour; Þis tre beres full many a flour. Þis vertus a mannes hert ledes, Swa þat he na parels dredes, [794 So S pilł S]

And settes itt in a traysting fast [ 795] [795 settis C] And makes itt stabill and lange to last. [796 make C i.] f. S] For he þat will vnder-take [797 vndir S] A gode way for goddis sake, [798 god A] So fast his hert sall be sett [799 So] f. S sall he sette C] On his purpose, þat noght itt lett [ 800] And for na thyng to be a-bayste, [801 nothing S] Bot in god ay seker trayste [802 sikirli C, sykerly S] To full-fill with all his myght Þat he has be-gunnen ryght. Þat is vertus for to chese, [ 805] Þat men may se grew in þir trese, Þat ledes men þe way euen Þat gase to þe kyngdome of heuen. [808 gos S vn to C]

Þis tre groves in wildernes, [fol. 64b.] Whare many rampand lyon es: [ 810] [810 Whore S ravmpande C] Þat ar fendes vgly and fell, Þat kepes þis tre þat groves in hell. [812 kepis C g. to h. S] His froyte is bath bitter and soure [813 bittir C] To þaim þat tastes of his sauore, [814 þam S] In saule and body bath to-geder, [ 815] [815 gedir β] With-outen ende, when þai com þedyr. [816 wheme S þidere C] Þis is þe tre of paynes fourtene [817 peine C] In hell, þat sall be felde and sene, Þat synfull sall be pyned with ay In body and saule eftyr domes∣day. [ 820] Þe fyrst is fire full hate to reken, [821 hote S rekkine C] Þat na maner of thyng may slekken. [822 no S slekine C, slokken S] Þe secund is calde, als says some, [823 sume S] Þat na fire may ouer-come. [824 no S] Þe thryd payn is bath filth and stynke, [ 825] Stranger þan any hert may thynke. [826 Strangir þen a. here S] Þe ferth is hunger sharpe and strange. Þe fift is thryst brenand omange. [828 brinnande C amange β] Þe sext is so grete myrknes, Þat itt may be graped—sa thyk itt es. [ 830] [830 groped so S] Þe seuent is þe horrybell syght [831 horribil β] Of deuels, þat ar full vgly dyght. [832 deuels] þam S] Þe aght payn is vermyn grette [833 aghten S] Þat synfull saules sall gnaw and frette. [834 þ. s. men sall knagh and frete S] Þe neyent is dynghyng of deles hand [ 835] [835 dingginge C, dyngyng S deuels C, deuls S] With melles of iren hate gluand. [836 hote S glowande C, brennand S] Þe tent payn is gnayng with-in [837 gnawinge C, gnaghyng S] Of consciens, þat bites as vermyn. [838 als S] Þe elleuent is hate teres of gretyng Þat þaim sall scald in doune-fallyng. [840 Þat þam skaldes S] Þe tuelfte is schame and senschyng of syn, [841 twelfe A schenschip in s. C] Þat þai sall haue, þat neuer sall blyn. Þe thritene is bandes of iren bernand, [843 thirtende C, thretent S brennand β] Þat þaim sall bynde bath fote and hand. [844 Þai sal be bounden β with bath C, both S] Þe fourtene payne despayre is cald, [ 845] [845 fourtente C dispar C, dispayre S] Þat synfull men in hert sall hald. [846 s. m.] s. saule C, þe synfull S sall in h. h. S] Þis is þe tre of dampnacione To ilk a synfull nacione, When schame and senschipe dobell es [849 schenschipe C dubbell C, doubild S] To saule and body in hell endeles. [ 850] [850 endles hell C]

Now groves here þe last tre of [fol. 65b.] price, [851 grewes C prise β] Þat sprynges to heuen fra paradice, [852 paradise β] Whas froyt sall be to man and wyfe [853 be] f. β to] both S] Geuen in heuen efter his lyfe [854 Be giuene in heuen eftir þaire life β] And all þe ioyes and the blisse∣hedes, [855 blssehedes A, blyssed∣hede S, blissednes C] That men sall haue for þair gode dedes. [856 g. d.] gudnes C]

Seuen blyses þe body þere sall haue, [857 blissednes þar þe b. C] And seuen þe saule þat sall be saue. Þe first blis is brightnes cald— Þat saued bodis in heuen sall hald. [ 860] [860 safid b. S, saued saules b. C] Þe secund blis is swyftnes— Þat bodis sall haue þat rightwis is. [862 es C] Þe thrid blis is strenght and myght— Þat bodys sall haue in heuen bryght. Þe ferth blis is fredome right— [ 865] Þat bodis sall haue in heuenly sight. Þe fift blis is lastand hele— [867 is ay l. S] Þat saued bodis sall ay with dele. Þe sexte blis is grette delite— Þat bodis sall haue of men per∣fite. [ 870] Þe seuent blis is endeles lyfe— Þat saued sall haue with - outen stryfe. [872 Þ. þe saued S] Þe first blis þe saule sall haue Is wisdome to þaim þat sall be saue. [874 þam S safe S] Þe secund blis þat saules sall fele [ 875] With þe bodis, als clarkes wate wele, [876 clerkes wote S] Sall be frenschipe and perfite loue [877 lufe S] Mare þan any man may proue. [878 More þen S] Þe thrid blis, als men may rede, [879 as S] Is verray a-corde and anehede. [ 880] [880 onehede S] Þat ferth blis sall be powere— [881 bl. is gret worschipe (vgl. 883) C] Þat saued saulles sall haue in fere. [882 zwischen 883 und 885 C] Þe fifte blis is worschepe— [883 bl. sal be powere (vgl. 881) C] Þat saved saules sall ay kepe. [884 zwischen 881 und 883 C] Þe sext blis sall be sekernes— [ 885] [885 sikirnes C, sikernes S] Þat saules sall haue þat saved es. Þe seuent blis is ioye perfite— Þat saules sall haue with grete delite. Þis tre sall florysch in heuen-ryke, Whar ioye and blis lastes euer elyke. [ 890] [890 Whore S l. e.] sall laste S ilike C] Now pray we bath day and nyght, [891 we pray both S] Þat god graunt vs grace and myght To taste þe suete froyte of þis tree [893 swet C] With-outen ende in heuen hee.

Of þis gastely wildernes [ 895] [fol. 66b.] [895 How of A] In þe sawter boke þus writen es [896 buk C] In a salme on þis manere, [897 psalme β] Als yu may se writen here: [898 yu] mene C, we S se] fynde C et v. s.] f. S, das ganze Zitat f. C]

Inuenit eum in terra deserta in loco horroris et v. s.

He fand hym in deserte-land [899 fond S] In ugly place traueland, [ 900] [900 trauayland S] In vaste and in wildernes, [901 waste β] Whare all walkes þat wilde es. [902 Whore S] Be þis deserte yu vnderstand [903 By S vndirstand S] Penaunce of hert sorowand; [904 soruande C nach] For when a man for-sakens his flesch [ 905] [905 And ledes his lyfe in wyldernes S] And all thyng þat delycius es [906 thynges S delicious β es] f. S] And lyfes in saule be hardnes, [907 And all thyng þat is vicious S] Þan enters he in-to wildernes. [908 He dwels þan in þis w. C] In þat entent—als men may loke— [909 a. ȝe m. S] Als wildernes is wroght þis boke [ 910] To gar men vnderstande and taste [911 vndirstand S] How vertus may grove in þair gaste, And whilk tre þai sall haunte and vse, And whilk þai sall fell and refuse, And whilk froyte ledes man to lyfe, [ 915] [915 vnto S] And whilk posouns man and wyfe. Take gude kepe to þis tretis, Þat here is writen on englis; [917-918 Kepis wele þis dere presande Þat firste was writen with hali man hand C, Take now þis presand Þat I wryte þe with my hand S] For itt is taken of bokes sere [919 Þat es taken S, For he it tok oute C bokis sar C] And made groveand in treys here. [ 920] [920 m. it C growand β trees β sere S]

Bath þu may study and see, [921 Both þou may S, Þat men may þair on C stodi C] Vertus to folow and vices to flee. Þis litell tretis of sere degreys [923 litil C s.] f. S] Of vices and vertus in þir treys, [924 a.] f. S in þe t. β] A haly man sent itt to his frende [ 925] [925 holy S send S] To haue itt to þair lyfes ende, [926 vn to his l. e. S] And þan to lefe itt in som place, [927 þen S lefte A] Whar gederyng of pepull wase; [928 Whore S pepil β wace C] For was itt nother his will ne rede, [929 it was S] Þat itt suld be lefte in baran stede, [ 930] [930 For to lefe it in baren s. S] For itt may in tyme comyng [931 mighte C] Turne som man to gode lyfeyng. [932 sum to gude S liffyng S, liuinge C] Haly men, perfite and gode, [933 Holy S, For haly C] In-to þis wildernes ȝode, [934 Som tyme in to C w. þai ȝ. S] In werld whilis þai war lyfeand: [ 935] [935 whiles C, whils S] Now ar þai gane to ioye lastand, [936 gon S] Vn-to þe qwilk ioye he vs brynge, Þat for our sake on rode gun hynge, [938 rude C] Þar to duell with haly men [939 þore to S, þar for to C holy S] With-outen ende: amen, amen! [ 940]

Die symbolischen Bäume, auf die der vorstehende Text mehr∣fach verweist, füllen jedesmal die rechte der beiden gegenüber∣stehenden Seiten, also die erste Seite jedes Blattes. Ihre Wurzel ist entweder mit einer guten Macht bezeichnet—meknes, holy kirke, mercy, charite, lawe, hert honest and cleene, stabil trowthe, gra∣cious hert; oder mit einer schlechten—pride, yll compeny, envy, hell, despayre. Die Äste und Blätter tragen dementsprechend die Namen der in dem gegenüberstehenden Textabschnitt auf∣gezählten Tugenden oder Laster.

Die linke Seite, also die zweite Seite jedes Blattes, enthält ausser dem Text des Gedichtes regelmässig das Bild eines Ein∣siedlers oder einer Büsserin, in A und C neben, in S unter dem Text. Die heiligen Personon sitzen betend in einer Wildnis, die meistens nur durch zwei Bäume, bisweilen auch noch durch ein wildes Tier angedeutet ist. Sie preisen, wie aus den unter und neben den Bildern stehenden Worten hervorgeht, das Los des allem Irdischen abgekehrten Eremiten und flehen zu Gott um Schutz gegen Gefahren. In S sind sie nie mit Namen bezeichnet, wohl aber mehrfach in A und C, und zwar finden sich in beiden Handschriften folgende Namen: Saint Antony, Mary Egyptiane, Mary Mawdleyn, Richard Hampole, S. John Baptist, Moyses; in A allein: Paulus þe first hermet und Abraham; in C allein: S. Egidius, S. Hilarion, Goderyke hermit, S. Benedictus, S. Hilda.

Das interessanteste Bild ist das des Richard Rolle of Hampole. Nach A und S wird es hier zum erstenmal ver∣öffentlicht. Das Bild von C wurde kürzlich bereits in den Studies in English and comparative literature, Radcliffe College mono∣graphs 15, Boston and London 1910, S. 115 mitgeteilt, mag aber der Vollständigkeit halber hier nochmals vorgelegt werden.

Unter dem Heiligen sind in A die Verse zu lesen:

I syt and synge Of luf langyng, Þat in my breste is bred. Jesus my kynge And my ioyinge, When wer I to þe ledde?

Über seinem Haupte steht: Armonia odas canora.

In C ist ein Gedicht als Rahmen um das Bild herum∣geschrieben:

A solitari here Hermite-life i lede. For Jesus lóue so dere All flesch-lufe i flede. Þat gastili comforthe clere, Þat in my breste brede, Might me a thowsand ȝeere In heuenly strenghe haue stedd.

Über seinem Haupte ist hier zu lesen: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt celi gloria D[ei].

In S ist der Heilige nicht benannt. Da jedoch diesem Bilde dieselben Worte wie in C—bis auf den vierten Langvers—beigegeben sind, so ist sicherlich auch hier Richard Rolle gemeint. Ob und inwiefern diesen Bildern eine Porträtähnlichkeit mit dem Dichter des Prick of conscience beizumessen ist, mag jetzt der Vergleich zeigen.

Schliesslich erblickt man in A und C noch über dem Haupte der Einsiedler entweder den segnenden Christus oder die Mutter Gottes, oft auch einen Engel oder einen Schild mit den Blut∣malen Christi. Einer dieser Schilde (Hs. A fol. 636) trägt die Be∣zeichnung scutum fidei und dazu die mystische Inschrift:

[figure] shield of faith

• pater non est filius
• pater non est spiritus sanctus
• filius non est pater
• filius non est spiritus sanctus
• spiritus sanctus non est pater
• spiritus sanctus non est filius
• pater est deus
• filius est deus
• spiritus sanctus est deus

Berlin.

Walter Hübner.