Elde makiþ me geld [folio 54b]
and [Furn. hat stets an = a'] growen al grai;
When eld me wol feld,
nykkest þer no nai;
Eld nul meld
no murþes of mai;
When eld me wol [wold] aweld,
mi wele is awai;
Eld wol [wold] keld
and cling so þe clai;
Wiþ eld i mot held
and hien to mi dai.
When eld blowiþ, [Ms. blowid] he is bolde, [Ms. blode]
his ble is sone abatid;
Al we wilniþ to ben old —
wy is eld ihatid?
Moch me anueþ,
Þat mi dribil druiþ
And mi wrot wet;
Eld me awarpeþ,
Þat mi schuldren [schuldern, Ms. schulden] scharpiþ,
And ȝouþe me haþ let.
Ich [Ms. ihe] ne mai no more
Grope vnder gore,
Þoȝ mi wil wold ȝete. [Ms. ȝeite]
Yȝoket ich am of ȝore
Wiþ last and luþer lore,
And sunne me haþ biset.
Iset ich am wiþ sunne,
Þat i ne mai noȝt munne
Non murþis wiþ muþe;
Eld me haþ amarrid,
Ich wene, he be [he] bicharred,
Þat trusteþ to ȝuþe.
Al þus eld me fordeþ, [Ms. for dede]
Þus he toggiþ vte mi teþ [Ms. ted]
