witte, but if̘ it had̛ ben̛ geuyn̛ me;
and̛ therfore there is some makere, that made me so fayre a
persone of mankynde, and̛ wolde not make me foule, as wormes
and̛ serpentes. therfore, as me thinke, thoughe I haue many
housbondes, and̛ if̘ they aƚƚ Called̛ me, I
shuld̛ rather at on̛ Callyng̘ renne to my makere,
then̛ to the voices of hem̛ aƚƚ. I haue also many
childryn̛, sones and̛ doughters; neuer the lese if̘ I
sawe hem̛ haue mete in here handes, and̛ wiste that my
makere hongred̛, I shuld̛ take the mete from the handes of
my Childryn̛, and̛ Ioyfuƚƚ presente it to my makere. I
haue also many possessions, the which I dispose at my wille;
neuerthe-lese if I wiste the wiƚƚ of̘ my makere, I
shuld̛ gladly do leue my wille, and̛ dispose hem to my
makere wille." Then seide oure lady to the spouse of̘ here sone,
"Beholde, doughter, what god̛ hath done to this woman, that is a
paynym̛. he sente to here oon̛ of his frendes, that
Enfourmed̛ here in the holy feithe; and̛ god̛ hym
self̘ vesite here herte, as thou may vnderstonde of the wordes of
the woman̛. for why? whan the man of god̛ prechid̛ to
here oon̛ god̛, that is with oute begynnyng̘ and̛
with oute Endyng̘, that is makere of aƚƚ thing̘, she
answerid̛, that is sothe, she saieth, and̛ credible, that he
þat made me, made aƚƚ thing̘, and̛ hathe aboue
hym̛ no makere; and̛ therfore it is trew that his life is
Euerlastyng̘, that myght gyve me lyfe. And̛ when this
woman̛ had̛ herde that the same makere had̛ take
of̘ mankynde, of̘ the virgine marie, and̛ that he with
his mouthe prechid̛, she answerid̛, and̛ seide, goode
it is to be be-leue the vertuouse wordes of god̛. But than,
goddis frende, say thou [leaf 87, back]
to me, what are tho wordes that
wentyn̛ oute of the mouthe of the makere of aƚƚ thing̘,
I wil leue my wille, and̛ obey to aƚƚ his wordes. Then
preching̘ the frende of god̛ of̘ the passion̛,
and̛ of̘ the Crosse of god̛, and̛ of̘ his
resurreccion̛, The woman̛ answerid̛ with wepyng̘
Eyen̛, and̛ saide, blessid̛ be god̛, that so
paciently shewed̛ his Charite in Erthe, the which he had̛ to
vs in heuyn̛; Therfore I loued̛ hym be-fore that made me.
now I am constreyned̛ and̛ bownde to loue hym̛, for he
hathe shewed̛ to me þe right way, and̛ hathe boughte
me with his preciouse blode. Therfore I am holdyn to serue hym with
aƚƚ my strengthes And̛ membres, for he bought me with his
membres; and ouer that I am̛