¶Cam.xxxiijm.
¶ Of the reſceyuynge of oure lorde Jeſu by the tweyne
ſiſtres Martha and Marie· and of the two manere of lyuynge/
that ben actyf and contemplatyf / in holy chirche. [There are two cam.xxxiijm-s. In the electronic edition, the second has been incorporated into the first as a second part.]
¶ Of the reſceyuynge of oure lorde Jeſu by the tweyne ſiſtres Martha and Marie
Byfelle vppon a tyme that oure lorde Jeſu went with his diſciples in to Bethanye / that was cleped the caſtel of marthe and marye / and come into the hous of hem· and they / that loueden hym with alle her hertes / weren glad and ioyful of his comynge. And Martha / the elder ſiſter / that hadde the cure of the houſeholde anone beſied hir and went faſte aboute to ordeyne for the mete couenable to hym and his diſciples· bot hir ſiſtre Marie / forȝetynge alle bodily metes / and deſirenge ſouereynly to be ſedde goſtely of oure lorde Jeſu / ſette hir doun on the grounde at his feete and caſtynge her eiȝen and hir herte and her eres into hym onely / with more ioye and likynge than may be ſpoken/ was fedde gooſtly and comforted in the bliſſed wordes of oure lorde Jeſu· for he wolde not be ydel / bot / as his comune manere was / occupied hym with ſpekynge of edificacioun and wordes of euerelaſtynge lyf. Martha / that was ſo beſily occupied aboute the mynyſtracioun and the ſeruice of oure lorde Jeſu and his diſciples / ſeenge hir ſuſtre Marie ſo ſittynge as it were in ydelneſſe / toke hit heuyly and compleyned hir to oure lorde as he hadde take no rewarde therto / and prayed hym that he wolde bidde her ſiſter riſe and helpe hir to ſerue. And than was Marie aferde leſte ſche ſchulde haue be taken fro that ſwete reſte and gooſtly likynge that ſche was ynne / and nouȝt ſche ſeide bot hynge doun hir heued / abidynge what oure lorde wolde ſeie. And than oure lorde / anſwerynge for hir / ſeide to Martha / that thouȝ ſche was beſy and trowbled aboute many thinges· neuertheles one thing was neceſſarie / and that was the beſte Marye chaſe· the whiche