[ LXXIV. ]
(HOW A WOMAN'S HAND WAS CLEARED FROM THE STAINS OF BLOOD.)Addit. MS. 9066.
[leaf 71 (cont'd)]
ÞEre was a woman some tyme leuyng̘, þat ofte was shreuyn of̘ here synnes, safe of̘ oon̛ of̘ here synnes that she had̛ done in here yonge age, that she durste neuer telle to no preste, for shame; but she went on pilgremage, and̛ fasted̛ and grete penaunce did̛. On a nyght, as she lay in her bedde, she had̛ a dreme slepyng̘. she thought that she sawe Iesu Criste come to here, and̛ seide, "se my woundes, that I suffred̛ for the, and̛ put thy handes in my syde, and̛ fele my herte, that was Clouen̛ with a spere for the; for it shaƚƚ stonde the in litiƚƚ profite, but if̘ thou shewe thy privey synne, that thou kepiste in thyn herte." She a-woke, and̛ was a-ferde; and̛ on morowe she loked̛ on here hande, and̛ [it] was aƚƚ blody, that no hote watyre ne couthe, ne no nothere licoure myght washe it a-waye. She was sory, and̛ wente to a good̛ preste, that she knewe, that same day, and̛ tolde hym that dreme, and̛ the synne also, and̛ how longe she was and̛ had̛ lyen there in. and̛ when she was assoyled̛, and̛ had̛ take here penaunce, Anone the blode was a-waye from̛ here hande, be shewyng̘ of here synne. And̛ euer more after kepte here oute of dedly synne, while that she leuyd̛, and̛ did̛ many good̛ dedes; and̛ afterwarde wente to blisse, where Iesu Criste brynge vs for þe worthynesse of his blessyd̛ passion̛!