Companion to the English prose works of Richard Rolle : a selection / from the edition by Carl Horstman.

A Talkyng of þe Love of God

[folio 367]

Heer Is a tretys: A talkyng of þe loue of God.

Þis tretys Is a talkyng of þe loue of God; and is mad forto sturen · hem þat hit reden: to louen him þe more, and to fynde lykyng · and tast in his loue. Hit falleþ for to reden hit · esyliche and softe, so as men may mest · in Inward felyng · and deplich þenkyng · sauour fynden; and þat not beo-dene, but biginnen and leten · in what paas so men seoþ · þat may for þe tyme · ȝiuen mest lykynge; and whon men haþ conceyued · þe maters wiþ redyng: Inward þenkyng · and deoplich sechyng · wiþ-outen eny redyng · vppon þe selue maters, and of such oþere · þat god wol senden · hose wole sechen, schal ȝiuen inward siȝt · and felyng in soule · and swetnes wonderful, ȝif preyere folwe. But hose wole in Meditacion · swete fruit fynden: hit mot be taken in wone · wiþ þreo poyntes þat folewen: affyaunce, and continuaunce, and louh herte and clene; þat he truste sikerliche · to fynden þat he secheþ, and þat his þouȝt beo harde iset · and ful bisyliche I-kept, and holden him-self vn-worþ · out of godes ȝifte, and wlate on him-seluen · þorw siht of his fulþe. ¶ Men schal fynden lihtliche þis tretys in Cadence · after þe bigynninge · ȝif hit beo riht poynted; & Rymed in sum stude;

to beo more louesum · to hem þat hit reden. God ȝiue vs grace · so for to rede: þat we mowen haue heuene · to vre Mede. Amen.

Ihesu soþ God, Godes sone; Ihesu soþ God soþ mon, mon Maydens child. Ihesu myn holy loue, mi siker swetnesse. ¶ Ihesu myn herte, my sele, my soule-hele. Ihesu, swete Ihesu; Ihesu, deore Ihesu; Ihesu, almihti Ihesu. Ihesu mi lord, my leof, my lyf; myn holy wey, myn hony-ter. Ihesu, alweldinde Ihesu: Ihesu þou art al þat I hope. ¶ Ihesu mi Makere · þat me madest of nouȝt, and al þat is in heuene · and in eorþe. ¶ Ihesu my Buggere · þ[at] bouȝtest me so deore, wiþ þi stronge passion · wiþ þi precious blod, and wiþ þi pyneful deþ on Roode. ¶ Ihesu my Saueour · þat me schalt sauen, þorw þi muchele Merci · & þi muchele miȝt. Ihesu my weole & al my wynne: Ihesu þat al my blisse is inne. ¶ Ihesu also þat þou art · so feir and so swete, ȝit art þou so louelich · louelich and louesum, þat þe holy angeles · þat euere þe biholden: ben neuere folle · to loken on þi face. ¶ Ihesu þou art al feir, whon þe sonne aȝeyn þe: nis bote a schade, and schomeþ aȝeyn þi brihte leor · of hire þesternesse. ¶ Þou þat ȝiuest hire liht · and al þat liht haueþ: Lihte my þester herte. Graunte þat þi brihtnesse · clanse my soule: þat is vnseliche, wiþ sunne foule I-fuiled. Lord mak hire worþi: to þi swete wonynge. Cundele me wiþ þe blisse: of þi brenninde loue. ¶ Swete Ihesu my leoue lyf, Let me beo þi seruaunt, and lere me for to loue þe, & mak me for to serue þe · louynde lord: so þat onliche þi loue · be euer al my lyking, my þouȝt and my longyng; amen, Ihesu heuene kyng. ¶ Swete lord wo is me · þat I am þe so fremde: Bote also þou hast bodiliche · torned me from þe world, torn me also herteliche · to þe · lord of soþ loue, and studefast beo-leeue; þat I haue no mong, felauȝschupe ne speche, ne non oþer tellyng · wiþ no worldliche þing. For wel ichot lord, þat fleschlich loue and gostlich, erþliche loue and heuenlich: mowe none wyse · bedden in a brest. ¶ Hose-euere haue longe defaute of gostly cumfort · and heuenly murþes: hit is forþi þat he haueþ · or þat he wilneþ to haue: cumfort of eorþe · þat is fikel and fals, fayleþ whon men lest weneþ · and ate mest neode; hit is I-meynt wiþ bitternesse · and bleendynge of bales. ¶ Nis no blisse otewiþ · þat hit nis to deore abouȝt, as hony þat me likkeþ · on prikkynde þornes. ¶ Nis he a sori Chapmon · þat ȝiueþ al þat he haþ · for a þing þat nouȝt nis, and leueþ a precious þing Þat beete may alle bales, þat me beodeþ him for nouȝt, & bi-hoteþ him muche meede · þat he hit wole taken? A derworþe lord · þou beodest vs þi Ioye, þe lykyng of þi deore loue · þe socour of þin helpe; and berest hit on vs stifliche · al wiþ-outen askyng; and þerto þou bi-hotest vs · wiþ þat we wollen hit taken: heuene-riche blisse · þat is wiþ-outen ende. And we vs turne þerfro · as þeiȝ hit nouȝt ne weore; and bugge þe schadewe of þe world, a seynynge of þat is nouȝt, but fikel faylynde and fals · and tollyng to serwe; and ȝit ne haue we hit for nouȝt · but buggen hit wiþ bisynesse, wiþ angwysch and daunger · and hard swink and teone. A Ihesu þin ore, whi haue I likyng In oþer þing þen in þe · þat bouȝtest me so deore? ¶ Whi ne beholde i algates · wiþ eȝe of myn herte, hou þou henge for my loue · streyned on Roode, þin armes wyde I-spradde · þi derlyng to cluppe, wiþ toknyng of trewe loue ·

þat sprong out of þi syde? ¶ Whi nul I beo þi derlyng, and loue þe ouer alle þing, and comen to þi cluppyng, to cleuen in þin armes · and cluppen þe swete? A derworþe lord · muchel is þi myldeschupe, þat spraddest so þin armes · bodiliche on Roode, and in toknyng of þat · openest þi grace, þat sprad is so wyde · wiþ loueliche tollyng, & open is and redi · to alle þat in synne · beoþ gostliche storuen. Clepeþ hem to lyue · and to loue-cosses, as Moder doþ hire deore sone · þat hereþ hit wepen: Takeþ hit in hire armus · and askeþ him so sweteliche: 'Ho leof, ho lef!' heo doþ him hire bitwenen(!), 'ho wole be bi-clupped · and cusse me swete; who haþ do my deore · who haþ do þe so?' Heo ȝeueþ him hire pappe · and stilleþ his teres. Þat pappe beo my lykyng, my mournyng my longyng, swete Ihesu heuene kyng: to souken of my fulle; þat þorw þe speres openyng, in feole mennes gounyng, wiþ dewyng of þi deore blood · stilleþ alle bales. And wher eny mon wene þat he schal · haue part of þat ilke sok · of þi deore herte · in heuene-riche blisse, and þere be þi derlyng, in þi deore cluppyng, bote he þe heere cluppe · hongynge on Roode, and parte of þi passion · þorw holy meditacion, wiþ loue-lykynde þouȝt · and reuþe of his herte? Nay, sikerliche nay, ne trouwe þat no mon! ¶ Whose euere wol haue part · þer of þi blisse: he mot dele wiþ þe · heer of þi pyne. Nis he nouȝt good felawe · ne felauschupe worþi: þat nul scoten i þe los · as i þe biȝete. Hym bihoueþ scoten · after his euene: þat wol be þi felawe · louynde lord; he mot þi steppes folwe · þorw sore and þorw sorwe, in peyne and in pouert · and þolyng of wo, wiþ schome and wiþ schenschupe · ȝif hit so falleþ, for to clymbe to þi weole · & lastinde winnes. Ne trowe no mon wiþ ese · to steiȝe to þe sterres; ne bugge wiþ delyces · þin endeles bl[i]sse. A swete lord Ihesu, whi wiþ armes of loue · ne cluppe I þe so faste: þat no þing from þi loue · departe myn herte? ¶ Whi ne cusse I þe lord · sweteliche in soule: wiþ a lykinge cos · of a swete menyng · & hertliche þonkyng · of þi gode dedes? Whi nis me vnworþ · vche worldliche þing, aȝeyn þe muchele delyt · of þi swetnesse? ¶ Whi ne fele I þe lord · in my brest roote? ¶ Whi art þou me so fremde · þow þat art so swete? ¶ Whi ne con I loue þe, and loueneliche wouwe þe, wiþ sweete loue-wordes · and lykynge þouȝtes: Aller þing swettest · aller þing louelokest; þi worþ and þi worschupe · ne may no tonge telle. ¶ Weylawey my deore lord, þe vnsely bitternesse · of my foule sunnes! my worldliche þewes · and flescliche lustes: aren be-twene þe and me, and lette me to come to þe, and stoppe me þe felyng · of þi swetnesse. ¶ Mi sunnes haþ me fuiled · wiþ monyfold fulþe, and makeþ me so wlatsum · and fere of þi face, and wrieþ me schomeliche · and worþ i am þi wreche: þat I ne dar þe neiȝe · loueliche lord, ne comen in þat fulþe · to þin eȝe-sihte, but ȝif I fele me lad · wiþ drauȝt of þi grace. ¶ A Ihesu þin ore · what schal þenne þe pris Of þi deore blood don · þat sched was on Roode? ¶ What schal þe large brok don · of þi softe syde; þe stremes of þe rede blod · þat stryked doun so breme: of þi derworþe feet · and of þin holy hondes? Nis hit for to wasschen · sunfole soules? nis hit forte saluen hem · þat seke ben in sunne? Ho is þenne vnwasschen · þat haþ þis holy wetyng, þat helinde dewyng · wiþ-Inne his herte? ¶ Who þar felen him sor · or sek vn-salued, þat salue so mihti · haþ at his wille: as ofte as he takeþ hit · wiþ

herte in his muynde, wiþ a studefast hope · and trewe be-leeue? ¶ Euer be þou blessed · myn heueneliche leche, þat madest us of þi-self · so mihti medicyne! As my trust is þer-inne · let hit beo my bote, þat is of alle Medicine · fruit and Roote. Ȝif myn eueles ben muchele · and ouerdon sore, þe miȝt of þat medicine · is monyfold more. As wisliche as a drope · of þi derworþe blod · miȝte wasschen awey · alle Mennes sunnes: also wisliche lord · þat il[k]e fyf welles, þat of þi blessede bodi · sprongen o blode, my soule mote wasschen · of alle maner sunnes, þat [it] I-fuiled is wiþ · þorw my fyf wittes; of al þat ichaue amis · seȝen wiþ myn eȝen, herd wiþ myn Eren · or tasted wiþ Mouþe, or elles eny wyse a-gult · in sunfol speche, or luþerliche lyked · in sauor of neose, and þat ichaue wiþ eny lyme · misliche feled, and wiþ my flesch sunget · in eny kunnes wyse. Let þy woundes hele · þe woundes of my soule; þi deþ sle in me · fleschliche lykynge, worldliche leetes · and bodiliche lustes, and make me lyuen in þe · liuinde lord, þat I be to þe world ded · and a-lyue to þe; so þat I mai verreyliche · sigge wiþ þe apostle, Paulus: Viuo ego, iam non ego, viuit autem in me Christus, «I liue not Ich · but Crist lyueþ in me». Þat is Poules wordes · and þus for to siggen: In liue not in lyue · þat I liuede: but Crist liueþ in me · þorw wonyinde grace, þat from deþ of sunne · me torneþe and quikneþ · to lyf þat is blisful · of gostliche hele, ffrom alle worldliche loue · & fleschliche lustes · al one forto lyuen · in likyng of Crist. ¶ A deore lord þin ore · wel weore him bigon, þat feled in his soule · þat seli word to siggen; to goderhele weore he boren · & to muche blisse: for eueri grome were him gome, & eueri wo winne.

A Milde Marie · moder of Merci, socour of serweful · and cumfort of care: Nartou lodesterre to alle þo þat in þe séé Of þis worldes anguissche · seilen and faren? Þou þat art qween of angeles, ladi of alle schaftes; to whom is bitakene · þe cure and þe cumfort · of hem þat hem felen · caytif wrecches, ¶ ȝe þat in hor owne eȝen · seon hem-self wrecches, and sechen þin helpe · wiþ trust hope of herte; in þin aduocatye is put · þe cause of vre sunnes, to stonden at domesday · vr aller Iugges mooder, in help & in Meyntenaunce · of vre soule-hele. ¶ Þenk heer on þis wrecche · Moder and Mayden, þat falleþ þe tofote · in hope of þin helpe, cryinde reuþely · after þi grace. Pese me ladi, for þi muchele merci, to þi derworþe sone · þat Ichaue wiþ sunne · schomeliche and lihtliche · so fele tyme a-gulte. ¶ Mi sunnes ben so gastliche · grisliche and grete; makeþ me so wlatsum · and stinkinde foule: þat I ne dar him neihȝen · ne folwe my neode. I haue wiþ hem willes · my soule forschupped: from þe liknesse of god · to þe deuel of helle; wraþþed haue I willes · þorw fulþe of my sunne · mi makere mi buggere · þat bouȝte me so deore: wiþ his derworþe deþ · from þraldam of helle; þat wolde raþer suffre · to dyen on Roode, þen to þolien in his siht · þe wlatynge of sunne. ¶ Him-self souȝte my pes · in myn owne gultes, as his hedde be þe gult · moni tyme and ofte: wiþ sturyng of my concience · & preching of wyse; wiþ hard wrake þat I sauȝ · of oþer mennes sunnes; wiþ bi-heste of blisse · & vnimete mede, þat holi writ vs be-hat · ȝif we leten sunne; wiþ ȝiftus of grace · bodiliche & gostliche, anentes worldliche weole · to don al my wille, and to schilde me from myn enemy · þat I haue ay folewed · and ȝiue

me to his wille · and to his luþer lore · and flowen f[ro] þe loue of him · my derworþe lord god: þat wiþ his derworþe blod · bouȝte me so deore. He wusch me wiþ cristendam · of Adames sunne, and I me fuylede siþen · mony-fold worse; he helede my soule · þat woundet was þenne Þorw myn eldres gult · ofe Adam & Eue, and I haue slayn hit al out . . . þat I haue feole tyme wrouȝt · and longe leyȝen þer-inne. ¶ Siþen þorw his grace · he prented in my soule: þe ymage of him-selue, and I enprented aboue: þe liknesse of helle. Allas, my deore ladi, allas what haue I don! hou haue I chaunged þat prente · and dampned my-seluen! ¶ Allas þat euere I was so wood · so foule for to fallen! þat me ne schomede not · to worche þat fulþe: þat is me nou so gryslich · and schomeful to nempne! Allas whi ne dredde i not · his sute and his werkes, þat is me now so dredful · to nempnen his nome! He fel willes · þat furst fel foule, but wiþ-outen knowyng · or warnyng of wreche; ac I was war þerbi · and bi mony oþure, bi warnyng and wissyng · on mony-maner halue, and fel in þe selue · and in moni mo. Hee fel in pruide · þat hedde sum matere, siþen þat he was so feir · and so briht an angel; and I fel in þe selue · wiþ-outen eny matere, þat nouȝt haue of my-self · but sunne and flesches fulþe. He fel ones · and I fel feole siþes. He aȝeyn his makere · and I aȝeyn my makere · and myn eft makere · aȝeynes my lord: þat bouȝte me wiþ his herte blod · and ȝaf me al him-seluen. He forsok vr lord god · þat suffrede him to gulten, and wiþ-outen sparyng · drof him al to wreche; and I forsok þat ilke lord · þat letteþ my gultus, and secheþ me and folweþ me, whon so euere I from him fle, and calleþ me loueliche · to ȝift of his grace. ¶ Allas allas nou fynde I me grisloker in my gultes, þen þe grislihed of him · þat helle gryseþ offe. ¶ Allas ȝif I seo my-self · I ne may soffre my-self; and ȝif i ne seo my-self nouȝt · þenne gyle I my-self . . . . þen stynkinde careyne, and muche more wlatsum · bifore godes face: þen eny fulþe so foul · þat eny mon may þenken; so þat me gryseþ of my-self · and wlate of my fulþe; þat I ne may soffre mi-self · þat wrouȝte haue al þis serwe. A lord þyn ore, þat I may sike sore! Whi ne griseþ of me · boþe my mete and my drynk, my schroud and al oþer þing · þat me scholde helpe? Hou may rihtwysnesse þole . . . . þat þer ne riseþ aȝeyn me · alle þyne schaftes, wiþ schome & wiþ schendschupe · wiþ gounyng & wiþ spornyng, to fihten on þis traytur · þis tiraunt and þis tormentor, þat haþ al his schappere · so fouliche dispiset? ¶ Whi nam I hunted wiþ hem · foule as a dogge? For þei mowe alle crie · and siggen in heore kuynde: «Þees is þe foule corselyng · þat haþ vr aller makere · þat maade vs to his worschupe · so schomeliche offendet; þat vseþ vs in his werkes · to schome of vr lord. ¶ Þees is he þat more beyȝ · in wille & in werk, to þe deueles tollyng · þen to godes drawyng, and more haþ rewarde · to þe deueles gyle, þen to godes benfeȝ · þat bouȝt him on Rode; and hedde more likyng · in þe Malice of þe deuel, þen he hedde delyt · in Godes goodnesse; and ches muchel raþere · to beo þe deueles cundle, þen wiþ endeles lyf · godes child of heuene. ¶ Whon god daunselede him muchel · & worschuped him feyre: he ne set hit at nouȝt · ne dredde not his wreche; but more dredde to wraþþen · a worldliche wrecche: þen schomeliche offenden · god þat him wrouȝte; and more was aschomet · to don in monnes siht an eþeliche

truifle · of vnsittyng þing: þen mony a foul sunne · in siht of god almiȝti. ¶ More him delyted · forte enbrace Mock, and styngk of worldliche Mok · þat gyleþ so foule, þen baþen in þe lykyng · & in þe loue-cluppyng, in þe brennynge loue · of þe holygost. ¶ Al-beo þat on defendet · and aȝeyn þe lawe, and þat oþur nomeliche · I-ȝiuen vs in heste. Þat on is wonnen wiþ swynk · & wiþ muchel anguissche, and endeþ atte laste · wiþ ȝeldyng of wreche; Trauayle þe wynnyng, drede in þe keping, serwe in þe leosyng · and helle at þe ende. ¶ Þat oþur nis not so deore a-bouht · bute is ful muche menskeful, wiþ waxinde likyng · & bodiliche fyndyng, & bringeþ atte laste · endeles blisse.

God seiþ hit him-self · þat hose secheþ him furst, & ouer al oþur þing · askeþ his blisse, al þat him be-houeþ · to bodiliche neode, schal be graunted þe[r]-wiþ · and ȝiuen in þat boone — Luc.: Querite primum regnum dei &c. // Þis is he þat al day · torneþ god his hindewine, and hertliche louteþ · to cluppe worldes dweole. ¶ Þis is þat blynde wrecche · þat in his owne eȝen Weneþ him so vertuous · & is ful of vices; leeteþ him feir and freoly · and haþ þe deueles liknesse; and weneþ þat he beo witti · and al ful of sleiȝþe: and lokeþ on his chaffare · þat he is afolte, þat sold haþ his soule · for stinkynde lustes, and chaungeþ god for þe deuel · and heuene for helle. He halt him ful douȝti, stalworþe & hardi, and al day is ouercomen · of him þat haþ no miȝte Forte wiþ-stonde þe moste wrecche of þe world: þat wolde aȝeyn him fihte. He leteþ him gentil · and is þe deueles þral, and demeþ hem wrecches · and makeþ hem his harlotes, þat ben so gentil of blod · þat god is heore fader. Þus he lokeþ him-self · wiþ a fals eȝe, seoþ þat þat is nouȝt · and demeþ al wrong. Hit is þe deueles Mirour · þat he in lokeþ, and þe fendes argumens · þat him þinkeþ resouns, þat he bobbeþ him wiþ · and ledeþ as him lykeþ.» A Ihesu Crist þin ore, hou schal I euer dryȝen · to þenken on þi domes: aȝeynes my gultes · þat alle þyne schaftes · þus harde mouwen acusen? And not onliche þus, but ȝit mowe þei criȝen · and siggen in heore wyse: ¶ «Þees is þe deueles Maumet, þat haþ vs alle wrongliche Vsed in his werkes · aȝeynes vr kuynde. He hedde godes liknesse · and torned him-self out of þat In to þe liknesse · of vch of vs alle; he is more eorþly · þen euer was eorþe, fikelore þen þe wynt, more veyn þen is þe eir, hattore in his lustes · þen is þe fuir þat brenneþ; hardore þen eny ston · of wikkede herte: aȝein his euencristne · þat Crist representen; caldore of charite · þen forst in his kuynde. ¶ What schal I more siggen? he ne dredde not god · ne mon he ne louede, but mengede his owne wikkednesse · among moni oþure, and dude þat in him was · ladde hem his weies, and was to hem ensaumple · and ledere to synne, wiþ vnclene speches · wiþ lecherous lokynges, wiþ schrewede dedes · and mony luþer leetes. ¶ Ne þhouȝte him nouȝt inouh · þat godes deþ on Roode Weore lost anontes him-self · but anontes mony mo, and dude þat in him was · as þe deueles promotour · and godes oune traytor, to leden hem to sunne. He bar him as he weore a god · siþen þat he nolde Beo ilad bi godes wille · ne bi no lawe, but as him lyked him-self · aȝeyn godes hestes Strayen out of lawe · in wrong and in outrage, as mon al laweles: & don what him luste. ¶ Ȝif God ne dude for him · al þat he wolde: he gruyned aȝeynes him · as þauȝ he weore his knawe; and ȝif he eny tyme · letted for [t]o

sunne, hit was not for godes loue · but for Monnes drede, or for bodiliche harm: or worldliche enchesun. Boþe of goode and of euel: he wolde be loued, as þeiȝ he weore god self · of whom alle þing þat is, boþe goode an vuel, is ordeynt for goode. ¶ What schal I of him · more speke? his pruide passeþ Lucifer · þat fel into helle; his gult Adames gult · þat cast him out of paradis, and nouȝt onliche him · but alle monkuynde. For þey hedde muchel þat hem drowe · to be proud offe, and he nedde but wrecchednesse: þat scholde him wiþdrawe.» Allas my foule fulþe: and my muchel vnsleihþe! What schal I nou to rede? whoder schal I now gon? Wher schal I me beo-turnen · nou alle þing is þus risen · aȝeynes me one: and wondreþ þus on me? ¶ Aȝeynes alle schaftes: haue I mis-taken, and my deore lord god: luþurliche dispiset, and alle his holy angeles: greuousliche I-erred, and alle his holy halewen: foule deshonoured, and myn euencristne: in mony maner greued, and alle creatures: haue I mis-vset, Anselmus. A serwe and sikyng, criȝing & gronyng, wher be ȝe ryue: ȝif ȝe here faylen? ¶ wher be ȝe feruent: ȝif ȝe heere slaken? Nou ne wot I whoderward · I may me best bi-tornen, ffor I haue maked me fon: in alle kunnes halue. ¶ Allas allas my lord god · stured is to wraþþe, and no þing ne haue I me laft · þat al nis offendet: þat scholde me helpe · or eny good wille. ¶ Ȝif I ha wraþþed þe sone, nis þe moder erred? And ȝif þe Mooder be wroþ, hou is þe sone quemed? Who schal pese me wiþ þe sone · ȝif þe Moder beo my fo? ¶ Or who schal me geten þe Moder loue · ȝif þe sone me hate? ¶ But deore lord of Merci · þat art al merci, and þou his deore Mooder · þat art ful of grace: ȝif I haue ow boþe a-gult · ne be ȝe ful of Merci? And wherto schulde merci · ȝif gultus ne weore? ¶ Schal þe Malice of myn euel · passen oure goodnesse? or alle myne sunnes: ben more þen oure Milce? ¶ Ne art þou lord bi-come mon · and taken hast vr kuynde? And þou my deore ladi, bicomen art his Mooder? ¶ and hast al þi menske · in heuene & in eorþe, for resun of sunful · and wreche to slaken? ¶ Þou lord bicome mon · and a Mylde Maidenes barn, þat hard deþ and schendful: þoledest for þyn enemys; and þou his deore Mooder · wiþ Maydenes menske, þe swerd of þi peyne: þurlede þi soule — animam tuam pertransiuit gladius. And þat wolde ȝe þole · for Merci al-one: to sechen hem þat weoren at-reiȝt · and drawen hem þat fledden. ¶ And I þat seche Merci · and truste in ȝor Merci, and knoweleche my gult · wiþ sore herte-sykes, schulde fayle Merci · þer welle is of Merci, þat is to alle synful · so ryf and so large? ¶ Wher is þenne þat word · of cumfort & blisse, þat þou seidest þi-self · derworþe lord: Nolo mortem peccatoris, «I nul not, þou seist, þe deþ of þe synful, but I wole he turne · and stunte of his sunne, and ryse to my grace · in lyf wiþ-outen ende». And þat also þou seist: In quacumque hora ingemuerit, saluus erit, «Whon so euere þe sunful · forþinkeþ his sunne, & wilneþ for to stunten, anon he schal be saued»? ¶ Ne seidest þou not lord · to þe þeef on Roode, þat euer seþþen he couþe · hedde I-vsed þefþe, þat in þe selue day · he scholde ben in blisse? and for no more decert · but for he kneuȝ his gultes, and þe for his saueour · & asked þi Merci? Ne was he put in no delay · to ligge longe in peyne, but seidest so redily · wiþ so mylde steuene: Hodie mecum eris in paradyso. Nart þou derworþe lord · þe Merciable ffader, þat þou liknest þe to · as

telleþ þe gospel, ¶ þat whon so euere þe luþer sone · beo he neuer so gulti, þenkeþ in his herte · to seche þi Merci: anon þou seost him a-fer · in þat ilke þouȝt, and eornest aȝeynest him · wonderliche swiþe, and er he speke eny word · but in þe þouȝt al-one, so þat hit be studefast · and wil for to rysen, ¶ þou fallest aboute his nekke · and cluppest him & cussest, wiþ chere ful blisful · & welcomest him hom, and clepest alle frendes · and makest a feste, slest þe fatte feste-calf · for þi sone sake, and biddest hem beo glade · and bliþe blissen wiþ þe, þat þi sone is founden · þat þou heddest loren � Occurrit filio prodigo videns eum a longe. And whon þow heng on Rode · preyedest to þi ffader · for þat ilke traytors · þat duden þe to þe deþ: Pater ignosce illis, quia nesciunt quid faciunt. And hedden alle Merci · þat hit wolden asken; and of alle þing · most was þi ȝernyng, þat þei wolden eny wey · þi merci vnderfonge. Þat Merci is so plentiuous · so redi and so large: profred and presed · euer ar men hit asken. For asken hit ne mai me not · ne haue þat ilke grace, but þou hit specialich · put hit in vr wille. And ȝit of alle þinge · þen furstest þou most · aftur heor soulus · þat merci for-soken. Ne art þou lord vr fader, and maked vs hast þin eires · of þi grete blisse, and in þe pater noster · biddest clepe þe so, and þat we asken of þe · al þat vs likeþ, and þat not luitel · but al hol þi-seluen, wiþ al þat vs nedeþ · to bodi and to soule? ¶ Hou schulde euere þe child · failen of his askyng: anentes such a ffader · þat muchel more loueþ þe child, þen he doþ his owne bodi · or deeþ þe child him-seluen? Nai sikerliche nay · ne may he neuer faylen Of þat or better þerfore, but ȝif hit beo mis-asked. ¶ And al-beo þou vr ffader · Lord in persone, of þe ffader þou art bicome vr broþer · in persone of Crist; vr Iuge & vr domes-mon · þat al þe world schal demen, art bi-comen vr broþer · of flesch and of blod. ¶ And sei[st] derworþe lord · þorw þe prophete, as fader al ful of loue · wordes so swete: Numquid potest mater obliuisci filii vteri sui: & si illa obliuiscatur, ego non obliuiscar tui, ¶ «Þouȝ þe moder miȝte for-ȝeten · þe child þat heo bar, þou ne maiȝt forȝite mon · þat wole to þe callen»; but seist þat al þi likynge · & al þi delices, euer is wiþ vs for to wone · and dwelle wiþ mon — Salomon: Delicie mee, esse cum filiis hominum.

A þou Blisful moder · þat art vr oune Moder, þou ne askest neuer wreche · of no monnus sunnes, but were þe gult neuer so gret · ne sunnes so monye, askest ay merci · wiþ moderliche reuþe; and þerfore bicome þou · Ihesu Cristes moder, & moder of sunfole · to bringen hem to grace. ¶ How scholde I desafyen · to fallen in ȝor grace: þat am ȝou boþe so sibbe · ȝoure sone and ȝor broþur, and þou lord my Iuge · and myn oune broþer, ¶ and þou ladi my Moder · and my Iugges Modur, and of þe selue Iuge · asignet to my counseil, to be myn aduocatrix · beo-fore him in þe dom! ¶ Wher may be grace · ȝif heer beo reddour; or eny hope founden · ȝif hit heere fayle? hou scholde I euer dreden · to fynden alle fauour, and vnimete merci · bi-fore so sib a Iuge, ¶ þat haueþ me so frendly · ȝif þat I seche merci · while tyme is of merci · bi-tauȝt so leof an helpe? ¶ Who schal my cause sauen · ȝif heo ne may suffisen, þat haþ hit vndertaken · þat and alle suche, and haþ hit of offyse · for sunfol to causen: and is þe Iuge hire owne · to forþeren al hir wille?

ÞEnk on þi Caytyf · lord God almihti, and þou his Mylde Mooder · þat ben so ful of Merci; þow Lord ffauerynde · and þou ladi be-sechinde; let me neuer faylen · þat I Merci ne fynde; or elles sei me where · is eny of more Merci, and more mihtful þen ȝe · and largore of grace, ¶ þat in ȝour defaute · whon ȝe me forsaken, schul my neode beeten · and graunten my bone. ¶ But siþen onliche in ow · & in non noþur, is welle of alle Merci · þat euermore floweþ: ffor þat muchel Merci · clanse my soule, and wasch hit of þat fulþe · þat hit is fuyled wiþ: ¶ þat I þorw or grace · askape þat wreche, þat is me worþiliche · for gult of my dedes; and schild me from þat serwes · nou and euer-more, þat beþ to þe dampnede · greyþed in helle; þat I wiþ alle þo þat ben · blisful in heuene, may ow boþe blessen · ay wiþ-outen ende, amen.

Ihesu my derworþe lord · Ihesu myn oune Fader; swete Ihesu heuene kyng, mi druri my derlyng, mi deoring mi louyng, myn hony-brid my swetyng; myn hele & myn hony-ter, min hony-lyf min halewy. Swettore art þou þen hony · or Milk in Mouþe, Meode Meþ or piȝement · maad wiþ spices swete, or eny lykinde licour · þat ouȝwher may be founden. Ho ne may loue lord · þi leoue lofsum leore? What herte is so ouer-hard · þat ne may to-melte, in þe monyg of þe · loueliche lord? And ho ne may loue þe · swete Ihesu? For in-wiþ þeselue aren · alle þinges gedered, þat euer may maken eny mon · loueworþ to oþer. ¶ Feirnesse, louesum leor, flesch whit vnder schroud, makeþ mony mon beo bi-loued · and þe more deore. ¶ Summe freodam & largesse · þat leuere is: menskeliche to ȝiuen · þen quedliche to wiþ-holden. ¶ Summe wit and wisdam · and hap of þe world. ¶ Summe Miht and strengþe · to ben kud Kene in fiht · his riht to defenden. ¶ Summe nobleye & hendelek · and gentrise of kuynde. ¶ Summe gret Cortesye · and loþles leetes. ¶ Summe mylde and Mekenesse · & deboner herte, wiþ swete louereden · and godliche dedes. ¶ And ȝit ouer alle þeose · kuynde mest; sibbe frendes · vchon louen oþur. Now my derworþe loue · my swete lyf my lykyng, my louelichest leof · myn herte and myn halewy, mi longyng mi mournyng · mi soule swetnesse: þou art lufsum of leor · mi swete Ihesu; þow art also schene · þat alle angeles lyf: is to biholden · þi loueliche face. ¶ For þi leor is so briht · and vnimete lofsum, þat ȝif þe for-wariede · þat wallen in helle, mihten hit [se] wiþ eȝen · and loken þer-onne, al þat pyninde pich · þat þei wallen Inne, ne wolde hem þinke · bote a softe baþ baþinge; ¶ ffor ȝif hit so mihte beo · derworþe lord, leuere hem were euer-more · in wo forte dwelle, and on þi lofsum leor · euer-more to loke, þen in alle blisse ben · euer wiþ-outen ende, and of þat briȝt blisful leor · forgon þat swete sihte. ¶ Þou art so schene & so briht · þat þe sonne weore desk, ȝif hit to þi blisful leor · mihte ben I-euenet. ¶ Ȝif I wol loue eny mon · for his feirnesse, forsoþe derworþe lord · I wol loue þe, mi leoue blessede lord: moder-sone feyrest, of alle þing swettest · founden in tast. ¶ A swete Ihesu gode leof · let me beo þi seruaunt, and lere me for to loue þe · louynde lord, þat onliche þe loue of þe · be euer al my likyng, mi ȝeornyng mi longyng, mi þouȝt and al mi worching. Amen.

BOte my swete lord · for þat sibbe frendes Kuyndeliche loueþ hem · vchon to oþer, þou cloþedest þe wiþ oure flesch · mon boren of wommon; þou toke

of hire swete flesch · wiþ-outen hire wemmyng · monkuynde follich, to þole al þat mon mai þole, and don al þat mon doþ · wiþ-oute synne one, and bicom vr broþur · of Fader and of Mooder, to maken hol [loue] vnbeden · bituenen vs alle. ¶ Who is þenne þat ne may · & ouȝte to be kuynde, to louen his oune broþur of flesch and of blod? ¶ Nou my swete Ihesu · my derworþe broþur: my sibbe kun haue I leeued · for þe loue of þe, and þeiȝ heo me forsaken · ne reccheþ me noþing, whiles þat I mai haue þe · al one for hem alle. ¶ For ȝif I þe haue · what scholde I more asken? I nouh þat me neod is · ne may me frendes lakken. Þou art me more þen Fader · more þen Moder; Broþur or Suster · or eny worldliche frend, nouȝt aren hem to telle · aȝein þe al one. A swete Ihesu · mi derworþe broþer, of flesch and of blod · of fader & of moder: ¶ Mi swete derworþe lord · let me beo þi seruaunt, & teche me forte loue þe · benyngne lord, þat onliche þe loue of þe · beo al my likyng. ¶ Wel artou swete · and louelich ouur alle, ffor in þe one is founden · þe pris of alle beute, þe pris of al richesse · of loue and of largesse, of wit & of wisdam · of miht and of strengþe. In þe is pris of sibreden · & of alle frendschupe, of al loueliche þing · þat mon may wiþ [in] loue ben. But ouer al oþur þing · þat makeþ þe so louelich, & so loueworþ to me · my derworþe lord, vnimete more: þin ouerharde hurtes, þi schome and þi woundes · þi pyne & þi passiouns, þi deore deþ on Roode · þat was so schendful for me; heo asken al hol my loue · and reuen al myn herte. A swete Ihesu leoue lyf · let me beo þi seruaunt, and lere me forte loue þe · louynde lord, þat onliche þe loue of þe · beo euer al my likyng, mi ȝeornyng and my longyng, my þouȝt & al mi worching. amen.

BOte moni for richesse · lemmon cheoseþ; ffor eueriwher mai men · wiþ catel loue chepen. ¶ Bot is þer eny Ricchore þen þou · my leue lyf my lemmon, þat richeliche regnest · in heuene & in eorþe? Þou art kud Cayser · þat al þis world weldeþ; ffor as þe prophete seiþ · Dauid in his psalme: Domini est terra & plenitudo eius, «þin is þe eorþe · and al þat þer-in woneþ». þin is þe heuene · and al þat þerin lyueþ; þin is al þe wyde world · and al þat þer is inne. ¶ Al is þin my swetyng · and al þow wolt hit ȝeue me, ȝif I wiþ al myn herte · al-one wol þe. But þou lord þi-seluen · art wiþ-outen ende, vnymete more worþ · þen ben alle þeose. Þerfore wol I loue þe · my leue lyf my deore, and al-one for þi loue · alle þinges leten, þat mihte myn herte · from þi loue leden, or ben encheson þerof · to louen þe þe lasse. [A swete Ihesu &c.]

BOte what is Richesse worþ · or muche forto welden, þer wiþ-outen largesse · freodam lakkeþ? ¶ And ho is freore þen þou · or largore of ȝifte, þat furst madest al þis world · and ȝeue hit to my wille. Þow ȝeue me such lordschupe · ouer alle þi schaftes, and puttest vnder my feet · al þat þou schope. But I hit wikkedliche fordude · þoru my foule synnes. And þou for þi freodam · ȝaf for me þi-selue, to leese me from þraldam · þat I was put inne. ¶ Ȝif I eny þenne wole · for largesse louen, þe al one wol I louen · swete Ihesu. For oþure þat ben large men · and corteis I-kudde, ȝiuen of heore goodes · after þat hem lykeþ: but þou sweete Ihesu · largest of alle, ne ȝeuest not one of þi good · to wouwe wiþ þi lemmon, bote [ȝeue] þi-self for me · in prys of my soule, þat

þin owne herte-blood · ne woldest not wiþholden. So derworþe dreweri · ne so deore ȝifte, ne ȝaf neuer in þis world · lemmon to oþur. And also þat þou for me · ȝaf so þy-seluen, þou hast me hiȝed to þe · and ȝaf me al þi-seluen, to sitten on þi riht hond · coround in þi riche, wiþ euer-lykynde loue · to regnen in blisse. ¶ Who is þenne largore · þen þou art of ȝifte, or so loue-worþi · [as þou] swete Ihesu? Wher may me eny loue · so worþiliche setten, whose secheþ eny þing · þat eny loue askeþ, as on þe my lemmon · þat art loue-welle, and ȝeldest alle þat þe louen · wellynde stremes? A swete Ihesu &c.

But largesse is luyte worþ · and luyte loue worþi, þat riht rulynde wit · and wisdam wonteþ. Ȝif I wol eny þenne loue · for wit or for wisdam, þen wol i loue [þe] · swete Ihesu; for þi wit is wonderful · and wiþ-outen make. ¶ Þou art wisdam i-clept · and wit of þi fader; ffor he þorw þat wisdam made · boþe heuene and eorþe, and als his swete willes was · al þis world wrouȝte, schop þe sonne and þe séé · and alle maner schaftes, and al he dihte wonderliche · as hit best semede. In-wiþ þe my leue lyf · is welle of alle wisdam, þat haþ so wonderliche wit · sprad so wyde-where: al þat is and euer was · and euer schal betyden, al hit is before-hond · to þi wit knowen. Ne may þer-wiþ no wisdam · in al þis world be founden, bute hit of þat welle · of þi wit streme. ¶ A swete Ihesu swete lef · swettest ouer alle, ȝif me wit to loue þe, let me beo þi seruaunt, þat I euere serue þe, and teche me forte qweme þe · louynde lord, so þat onlich þi loue be euer al my likyng.

BOte mony mon for strengþe · and mony for his hardischupe, is ofte muchel i-leten of · and loued and honoured. And is eny so hardi, so bold and so douȝti: as þou art my leue lyf · founden in a-say? Nay forsoþe swete lef · þou berest þe pris of alle; for þow þi-self al one · ne dreddest not þyn oune bodi, to fihten a-ȝeyn alle · þe deuelen of helle; þe wȝuche of hem alle · so is lest lodlich, miȝte he him schewen · [in] þe makyng þat he is, alle scholde ben agast · and grysen of him one, ffor no mon mihte him i-seo · and in his wit wone, but ȝif þi grace special · baldes his herte. Þou art ȝit þer-wiþ · so vnymete mihti, þat wiþ [þi] deore hondes · nayled on Roode, þou bounde helle-dogges · and raftes hem heore preye, þat þei faste helden · for Adames sunne; and as a kene kempe · robbedest helle, and laddest out þi deore leef · þat is monnes soule, to þi briȝte boure · ful of alle blisse, to wonen in þi cluppyng · euer wiþ-outen ende. ¶ And þerfore ȝif me lykeþ · stalworþe lemmon, louen þenne wol I þe · louely Ihesu, þat art al mihti · and strengest of alle. Strengþe me to loue þe · [swete Ihesu], þat al my feblesse maiȝt · strengþen at þi wille, and wiþ þin heiȝe hardinesse · bi niȝtes and bi dayes, aȝeyn my wiþerwines · bolden mi soule. A swete Ihesu miȝti leof · strengest of alle, strengþe me to loue þe, let me beo þi seruaunt · derworþe lord, &c.

Noble men and gentil · and of heiȝ kuynde: mony wimmen leeten · menske forte loue. A swete Ihesu Merci · on what herre mon, mai I sette my loue · ȝif þat I þe lete? Wher is eny gentilore · þen þi-self founden? Þou art þat ilke kynges sone · þat þis world weldeþ, and kyng wiþ þi ffader · kyng of alle

kynges, and lord al-miȝti · lord of alle lordes. And ȝit art þow ouer þis · boren of mylde Marie, of Dauides kunreden · þe kyng of Abrahames blod. Of herre cunreden þen þou art · nis non vnder sonne. Louen wol I þenne þe · swete Ihesu, as þe gentileste leof · þat euer was in eorþe, þat neuer was no lac · ne last wiþ I-founden; and þat com þe nomeliche · of kuynde of þi fader, of whom is al gentilrie · and cortesye sprongen. Let me be þi seruaunt · gentil and hende, and lere me forte loue þe · my derworþe lord, so þat in þe loue of þe · my lyking and my Ioye, wiþouten eny oþur mong · euer be rooted fast.

MEkenesse and myldeschupe · are swete loue-tacches, and makeþ ofte mony mon · leof and dere. And þou Ihesu my leoue leof · for þi muchele Mekenesse, as witnesseþ holi writ · to lomb were þou euenet. For aȝeyn alle schomes & serwes · þat men duden þe, neuer ne opnedest þou þi mouþ · to grucchen aȝeyn. And ȝit to eken al þat · al þe schome & sunne, þat synful wrecches of þis world · vche day recheles · don aȝeyn þi godhed · as þou no god ne were, þou þolest al myldelich, and takest hit lihtlich, ne takest not sodeynlich · wreche of vr gultes; but þorw þi muchele myldeschupe · abydest vs longe, euer sechinde loue · & beodyng of grace. And þerfore my lemmon · my Ioye & my blisse, euer glad mai I ben · & blisful to wisse, þe false murþes of þis world · to leuen & misse, & euer resten in þe · to cluppen & cusse. A swete

Ihesu my leoue leof · my loueliche lemmon, mi derworþe derlyng · mi soule swetnesse: ¶ þreo foos fihten · aȝeynes me faste: þe false world and my flesch · þe þridde is þe deuel; ¶ þe world to make me fals · and tolle me to þefþe; ¶ mi flesch to mony fulþes · of vntounes lustes; ¶ þe deuel wiþ wiþ his sleihþes · and wiþ his queynte crokes, to trappe me loþliche · to drawe me to helle. And for I was so ouer-arwh · and wok of my-selue, þei be-segede me · and kene besetten: And maden me mony a res · wiþ grennynde beere, fful grimme and ful grisly · as wolues as hit weore; wenden in heore wyse · wiþ sum kunnes ginne, wiþ a poynt of chekmat · comen me wiþ-inne; and forsoþe ful neih · hedde i foule fallen, bi-trapped in heore clokes · and cauȝt til heore preye. And so dude I sikerly · þorw my foule sunne, so fer þat I hedde · be worþi to helle, ne hedde onliche i-ben · þin vnymete Merci, þat euer is so redi · and þi swete grace; þat after long abode · whiles I lay in sunne, and wolde not arysen · for non of þi callynges, ne for þi milde wouwynges · þat þou þenne madest, al [min] vnþonkes · derworþe lord, drouh me from myn enemy, so freoly & so frendly, þat I so wrecchedly · folewode so faste. ¶ Þat euer beo þou blessed · in heuene and in eorþe, heiȝed and heried · of al þat þou schope! for whon þe bale was most · þen was þe bote next; þe grace of þe holigost · hit taylede so. For whonne þou seȝe hit beo so · þat I ne wolde arysen, ne my-self stonden · aȝeynes my foos, ne blenchen heore wyles, heore crokes and heore gyles, but slouȝ slugginde lyen · slumbrinde in sunne: ¶ Þenne come þou my leof · my lemmon my deore, wiþ liht leytinde loue · to seche me here. ¶ Þou felle for me gostly · from heuene to eorþe, and ruddest me raply · of al þat þer was; ȝif I lyȝe lodly · þou reysedest me redily, and ȝif I fallynde was · þou breyde me aȝeyn. ¶ At þe poynt of my fal · whon I most dradde, þou kuddest þe quikly · to make res-

cous. And al fihte þou þus · vche day neowe, to wite me and were me · in gostliche weorre. Þou vnderfonge bodiliche · for me for to fihten, here in worldliche lyf · aȝeynes hem alle: ¶ wiþ pouert and wiþ schome · aȝeyn þe saut of þe world; wiþ peyne & wiþ passion · aȝeyn þe flesches lustes; wiþ louhnesse and Mekenesse · wiþ loue and studefastnesse, aȝeyn þe þridde fo þe fend: and al þou ouercome. ¶ And tauȝtest me beo þi-self · sendest me miȝte, forto weorre wiþ hem · in þe selue wyse, þat I ne dredde meschef: ne recchen of worldlich wo, of seknesse bodiliche · or gostlich fondynge, wrong of luþer monnes werk · or of wikked mouþes, of schome or of schendschupe · wiþ-oute mi gult, but euer stonde wiþ þe · in studefast herte, and þole þonkyndeliche · al þat þou sendest. For alle suche bales · hose riht kennes, as witnesseþ holy writ · beoþ toknes of blisse—¶ Iacobus: Omne gaudium existimate, fratres, cum in variis temptacionibus incideritis. Þer art þou redilich · and stondest bi-sydes: wiþ alle þat beþ so biset · and troubled in care / or in anguisse · or wandreþ wawes Of þis worldly séé · seilen and faren; / þi-self steerest þe schip · & ledest to þe hauene Of euer-lastynde pes · þer alle weoles aren, / and art in vch a such fiht · in þe vanwarde, & makest scheld of þi-self · þi lemmon to sparen. // Now mi dere lemmon · whonne hit so fareþ / þat hose harde be stond · haueþ þe to feere, / euer wolde I fihten · and seilen in care / wiþ eni worldliche wo · to haue þe so neere. / Euer-lastinde fiht · leuer me ware, / to ben so sikerlich · scheld at þi baneere, / þen after fikelynde weole · for a gynge fare, / and leuen þe my lemmon · my derlyng my dere. ¶ A my deore lemmon · whil I þe harde cluppe, wiþ loue-likynde þouȝt · lastinde in herte, / al siker am I schild · aȝeyn þat me werren, ne þar i dreden here res · ne beo þei neuer so smerte. / Þer wol I resten · and taken my truwe, þi-self stoppest my foos · and makest hem to sturte, / and so me witerliche witest · euer while i dwelle, of heore ferliche affrayes · þat comen ouerþhwerte. // A mi swete lemmon · my derlyng my deore, / hold euer my þouȝt · in siht of þi chere, / þat I ne flitte þe from · in fiht þat is here, / but euer schild me wiþ þi-self · to fiht in þi feere. ¶ Mi swetyng mi derlyng, min hony-brid mi luffyng, swettest of alle þing: ȝif me þat lastyng / of þi loue-likyng. Do me for to serue þe, lere me forte loue þe · louynde lord: so þat onliche þi loue · be al my likyng.

A Ihesu my swete loue · þat þou art wondur riche, as al-weldinde lord · in heuene and in eorþe: and pore þenne þou bi-come · for me þat am so wrecched, whon þou in þi childhod · weore leyd in þe cracche; schend þou weore and schomed · of wikked mennes mouþes, fondet after wiþ þe fend · on fele cunne wyse, and siþen atte laste · schendfuliche & schomeliche, wiþ strong deþ & pyneful · hongede on þe Roode. ¶ Pore were þou furst boren · of þi leue mooder, þat mayden is and moder · of þe þat art hire fader. For in þe borwh of Bethleem · ne fonde þou no leuþe, wher in þi Bury-tyd · þou mihtest þe resten, but in a wouhles hous · a-midde þe strete, þat was a symple refuit · in so cold a tyme. Þer weore þou wounden · and swaþeled in Ragges, and after coldliche i-leyd · in a beestes Crubbe. So woldest þou be conuersaunt · and comuyn wiþ bestes, to maken vs caytyues · þat beestlich liuen

heere, wiþ þi-self conuersaunt · in heuene-riche blisse. Þus poreliche bi-gunne þou · Ihesu my swete lemmon, for to lede þi lyf · in londe for me. // But whon þou eldore weore · þow wox more pore. For furst in þi childhod · þou heddest to þi foode / þe Milk of þi mooder brest · þe Maydenes pappe, and þi Moder redi · euer whon þou woldest, & whon þou sore weptest · to stille þe þerwiþ: ¶ But whon þou eldore was: þou þat alle feddest, boþe foules in þe flyht · & fissches in þe flod, men & alle beestes · þat heere lyf leden, þoledest for defaute of mete · mony hote honger, in bote of vre sunne · as telleþ holy writ. ¶ And þou þat þe heuene · and al þis world wrouȝtest, ne heddest in al þis wyde world · whon þou scholdest dyen, wher-on þou miȝtest · þin holy hed resten. ¶ But euer bi-foren heddest þou · in ȝouþe and in elde, wher-wiþ þou mihtest · hulen þin holy bones. ¶ But atte laste of þi lyf · in þi meste neode, whon þou for me so reuþly · heng vppon þe Roode, þer ne heddest þou so muchel · of al þis worldes wynne, wher-wiþ þin holy bodi · þou mihtest inne folden. ¶ Al þus my swete lemmon · pore þou were þi-seluen, & to pouert of þis world · sannest þow þe toke. Pouert þow louedest · and pouert þou tauȝtest, and treweli þou be-hiȝtest · þin endeles blisse / to alle þat here for þi loue · pouert and pyne, Mesey[s]e and Mischeef · in pacience taken. ¶ A swete lord · hou scholde i ben riche / here vppon eorþe: & þou my leof so pore? . . . as þi-self weore pore · for þe loue of me, for to beo riche wiþ þe · in þin oune blisse; ffor wiþ pouert & wiþ wo · schal me wele buggen.

But pouert wiþ menske · is eth forte þolen. (B)ut þou lord for my loue · wiþ al þat ilke pouert, þou weore schomeliche ischent · reuyled and dispyset. For often men þe seiden · schomeful wordes / & scornful hokeres: longe weore al to tellen. // But [more] schome þoldest þow · þat neuer sunne wrouhtest; weore I-taken as a þeof · & brouȝt bifore luþer men, heþene houndes · fforte be demed of hem, þat art þi-self demere · and Iuge of alle worldes. ¶ And þou lord þat art lyf · of al monkuynde, weore dempned to þe deþ · & þat to schomeliche deþ, and þe mon-quellere · was to lyf i-saued; ffor alle þei criȝede on þe · so grisliche and loude: «honge Ihesu on Roode · & leese out Barraban», and was þat Baraban a þef · worþi forte dyen, þat wiþ tresun in þe Borwh · hedde a mon quelled! // But more schome þow þoledest · my sunne for to beeten, whon sunfol men so viliche · in þi face spitten. A mi swete lemmon · my derlyng my deore, ho mihte more schome þolen · cristen or heþen, þen þat men so lodlich · in his face spitten? and þou in þi louesum leor · þat angeles to biholden: nare neuer folle, such schome þoledest! & al þe þhouȝte menske · for þe loue of me, so þat þou miȝtest wiþ þat foule spittyng · wassche my soule, & maken hit louelich · & schene in þi sihte. For-þi þou biddest me · euer þenke þer-vppon, and seist on þis wyse: Scito quoniam propter te mortificamur tota die; [propter te sustinui] obprobrium, operuit confusio faciem meam, «Vnderstonde, þou seist, and þenk · þat I for þe loue of þe · suffre schome & bismare: schendful spittyng · of vnworþi men, heþene houndes · amidde my face. And þerfore ne dred þe nouȝt · ffor þe loue of me, to þole worldes schome · despyt and wikked wordes Of wikked mennes mouþes · wiþ-outen þi gult». ¶ And schome

of alle schome · soffredest þou lord, whon þou weore honged · al mooder-naked: wiþ-oute cloþ or clout · be-twene two þeues. Also þei seiden · þe envyous Iewes: «He is worse þen a þef · & more schome worþi, and þerfore hong him heiȝe · bi-twene hem boþe, as he þat is heore mayster · & worse þen þei». ¶ A Ihesu my lyues loue · my derworþe lemmon, herte may to-bersten · þat þeron þenkeþ, folliche as hit was · in þi deolful deþ! ¶ Þou þat art worschupet · of al Monkuynde, of alle bales bote · and angeles blisse: mon for to worschupen & sauen from pyne, woldest of wikked men · þole so muche schome. ¶ Men speken mony tyme · of wondres þat fallen, of selcouþ þinges, þat in þis world misliche · ofte be-tyden: ¶ But þis was þe moste wonder · þat euer bifel in eorþe, wonder ouer wondres · seþþe þis world bigon: þat onlepi kuynde kyng · coround in heuene, þat schop alle schaftes · and weldeþ alle þing, to worschupen his enemys · wolde so mekelich, he þat is so louelich · honge so schomelich, bi-twene two þeues · as he were a þef. ¶ A swete Ihesu swete leof, tech me forte loue þe · so deore as þou louedest me · my deore lemmon; so þat onlich þi loue · beo euer al my likyng, my mourning my longyng, wiþ-outen eny endyng, amen.

But my swete lemmon · Inouh were þi pouert · [&] þi muchele schome · wiþ-outen oþer peynes. But þe ne þhouȝte neuer Inouȝ · for to buggen folliche · my loue al enterliche · whil þi lyf laste. // A swete Ihesu Merci: what pris settest on me? Ne was neuere vnworþi þing · half so deore abouȝt! For al þi lyf in eorþe · euer was in muche swynk · for me vnworþi wrecche, and euer þe lengor þe more; þat bifore þin endyng · so harde þou swonk, & trauayledest so sore: þat red blod þou swatest�Factus est sudor eius sicut gutte sanguinis decurren[tis] in terram; ffor as seynt Luc seiþ · in his holy gospel: þou weore in so strong swynk · þat þi swot as blod-dropes, ron from þin holy bodi · doun vppon þe ground. ¶ But what tonge may tellen · what herte may þenken · for serwe or for rouþe, of þat harde boffetyng, þat horlyng and defoulyng, þat þou þoledest schomelich: at þi furste takyng; whon þat Iudas Scariot · brouȝte helle-houndes, wiþ treson þe to taken · & bringe til heore princes. And hou heo þe bounden · so egerlych & so faste, þat þe blod sprong out · at þe fynger nayles: as holy halwen hit siggen · & writen is in boke. And bounden þe so harde · & ladde þe forþ ruydlich, betynde reuþlich, on Bac & on scholdres: and on vch a syde. And bi-foren þe princes, buffeteden [þe] & scornden · & blyndfellede þyn eȝen, pleieden a-Bobbeþ · & maden þe heor fool, & spitten in þi face · mony tyme & ofte, and maden hit so wlatsum · so bleyk & so blo: wiþ betyng & bustyng · and spittyng & spoutyng; wiþouten eny merci: þei dihte þe so. Þei grenneden vppon þe · and waggeden heor heuedes · and blatten out heore tonges · and bonteden on þe schomeliche · and maden þe þe mouwe. Siþen by-fore Pylate · hou þow weore naked · bounden til a pyler · and scourget so sore; so þat þow ne miȝtest · none weys wrenchen: ne heore smarte lassches · bi none gate blenchen. ¶ Þer weore þou for my loue · wiþ harde knotti scourges, swongen and beten · so smart and so sore: so þat þi louely leor, þat was so briht and so cleer, was al to-fouled and I-schent, þi skin to-riuen

and to-rent; þer stremed on vche syde a flood, of water and of red blod: þow lord wiþ so meke mood · þoledest al heore wille. Siþen on þin hed was set · a Coroune of scharpe þornes: so þat after vche a þorn · þe rede blod gon folwen. ¶ Siþen ȝit þei beoten doun · þe coroune vppon þin hed; and dresseden hit and þraste, and duden hit sitte faste, so þat þe scharpe þornes · wente in to þe brayn. ¶ Setten a reod in þin hond · in stude of kynges septre, in scorn & in heþing, and maden to þe heor knelyng, and seiden «heil be þou kyng»: and spatten in þi teeþ. And aftur al þat vileny, ne wolde þei not be þerbi, but luþurli & falsly · dempned þe to þe deþ.

A derworþe lord · what schal I nou don? Nou mai I liue no more, for serwe and for sore: now my dere lemmon · schal vnderfonge deþ. Nou mai I Murne strongly, nou mai I wepe bitterli; nou may I syke sore · & serwen euer-more. // A, now me leden him forþ · to mount of Caluarie, to þe qualmstouwe · to don him þere o dawe. A, my deore lemmon · he bereþ þe Roodetre: on his bare scholdre · for þe loue of me; his bodi is so tendre · his bones longe and lene: al stoupynde he goþ · þat del hit is to seone. ¶ A, mi swete lemmon, þe duntes þat þei smyte þe, þe serwe þat þei don þe! on vche a syde þei þreste þe · forþward vnwrestly, criȝinde hidously, to þi deþ hastily; & al þou þoledest louely: for me wrecche vnworþi. Lord þat art almihti, ȝif me for þi merci · muynde of þat vileny, and felyng at myn herte: þi peynes hou þei smerte. // A swete Ihesu leoue lyf, hou mony men nou folewe þe · for to wondren on þe; þy frendes ben sori · and serwhfol in herte; þi foos folwen hokerly, and lyken in heore maystri, and horlen þe lodly · in al þis worldes sihte. // Allas: nou þei han I-brouȝt him · þider þer þey wolen him slen. Now þei casten him doun · and leien him on þe cros. Now þei streynen out his lymes · his senwes al to-bersten; his liþes breken out of Ioynt: þat non of hem may lasten. ¶ Allas my deore lemmon · hou may men for reuþe, aȝeyn so muchel fordede · do þe al þat wo? To þe þat art so loueli, so feir and so freoly, and þoledest so mekeli · al þat þei wolde do! ¶ A Ihesu now þe driuen · þe blunte vnruide nayles: þorw þi feire hondes · and þi frely feet. Nou bersteþ þi skin · þi senwes and þi bones; min herte cleueþ in my brest: for reuþe of þi mones. ¶ A Ihesu swetyng, wher is eny wepyng, wher is welle of teres, to lauen on my leores, þat I neuere bi day · stunte nor be nihte, nou I seo þi feire lymes · so reuþli I-dihte. Þe blood of þi woundes · springes so breme, and stremeþ on þi white skin · so reuþe to sene; þy Moder lokeþ þeron · þat virgyne clene: hir serwe sit þe sarre · þen þin as ich wene. ¶ A: now þei setten vp þe cros · & setten vp þe Roode-treo, & þi bodi al be-bled · hongeþ þer-onne. ¶ A: Ihesu now þei setten þe cros · in to þe morteis: þi Ioyntes sturten out of liþ · þi bones al to-scateren, þi woundes ritten a-brod · for-goled so wyde: lord þat þe was wo bigon · in þat ilke tyde! ¶ A, my deore lemmon · whon þou heddest al bled, þou wox al druye · and gonne þhirste sore; þei boden þe to drinken · Eysel and Galle, but whon þou tastedest þerof · þow woldest no more. // A: my swete lemmon · teken al þyn oþer wo, þei bonteden vppon þe · whon þou heng on roode, so mylde and so meke · as hit weore

a lomb; louȝwhen þe to bisemare · grennynde foule, wiþ schome schakinde here hed · in hoker & in scorn, ¶ seiden in vbbreid · «lo wher he hongeþ, þat couþe saue oþer men: and saueþ nouȝt him-seluen». ¶ Weo: lord: vre loue is luitel worþ · þat costen þe so deore, and ȝit vnne we hit nouȝt · þat þou hit haue here, but folwen vr lustes · in þe deueles fere, as þauȝ he be beter þen þou: and more worþ were. ¶ Allas allas for reuþe · þat I schal þe my lemmon, so foule seo demeynet: and myn is al þe gult; ¶ al for-drawen and for-rent, bi-spit & schomeliche schent, to sauen vs þer we weore: for þat was al þi cause. ¶ A Ihesu swete lemmon: hou mai I nou libben: Nou I seo þe leoue lyf · þe loue of myn herte, mi derlyng my longyng, mi blesset lord my swetyng, wiþ armes white and louely · streyned so streytly · wiþ-outen eny merci · naked on þe Rode: so þat men may tellen · al þin holy bones. ¶ Þer þow hongedest reuþly, so cold and so blodi; al rau and wori: is þi swete bodi. ¶ A swete Ihesu · deore lemmon, nou þou diȝest for me, hongynge on Rode-tre, & letest þin hed falle doun · þat del hit is to se. þe white of þin eȝen · is tornd upward. ¶ A Ihesu · nou deskeþ þe sonne. Nou þe eorþe trembleþ: and þe stones bersten. Nou þe temple cleoueþ · for serwe of my lemmon. Nou rysen vp þe dede, in witnesse of þi godhede: & walken in Ierusalem · as writen was biforen. ¶ Allas noþing ne serwes · ne noþing ne rewes: for my deore lemmon · þat pineful deþ and schendful, wiþ-oute sake of sunne · soffred on þe cros. ¶ A mi deore lemmon, mi serwe mi blisse · myn only lyues loue, þat diȝedest so strong deþ: for al þis worldes lyf; þe pynfolest & reuþfolest · þat euer þolede eni bodi, or mihte dyen onne: for þe loue of me: ¶ A swete Ihesu þin ore · Let me nou dyen · in þi blisful armes, from al þe loue of þis world · in to þe loue of þe; so þat only þi loue · beo euer al my lykyng.

But ȝit my derworþe leof · whon þei hedden þe slayn · al at heor wille, ne þȝouȝte hem not þat Inouȝ, þat þei seȝe þi dede bodi · so reuþli honge on Roode; ne wolde þei not spare þe · de[d] ne o-lyue, but brouhte forþ Longius · þat was a blynd kniht, and token him a scharp sphere · to stinge þorw þin herte, so þat hit clef a-two · and of þat ilke welle of lyf, þorw þat grisly wounde: runne two floodes: ¶ þi Riche precious blod · þat al þe world bouȝte, and þat deore holy water · þat al þis world wosch Of sake and of synne, þat þei were fallen Inne: what þorw heore oune gult · & Adames sunne. ¶ A Ihesu swete lemmon · hou kuyndeliche openest þou me: þi derworþe herte · lyues and deþes, / fforte knowen witerli · al þi loue þer-inne, and writen hit dernely · in myn herte trewely, wiþ trewe loue-lettres: of þin herte-blood. ¶ Wiþ wronge þenne schulde I þe · al myn herte wernen: seþþe þou hit bouȝtest · so harde & so dere: myn herte wiþ þin herte · mi loue wiþ þi loue, mi soule wiþ al þi blisful bodi: & þin holy soule! ¶ A, swete Ihesu gode leof · let me be þi seruaunt, & do me forte loue þe · louynde lord; set as depe þi loue · to brennen in myn herte: as þou wiþ þe speres ord · was stongen for me; so þat onliche þi loue · be euer al my lykyng, mi ȝerning mi longyng, swete Ihesu heuene kyng, in þouȝt and al my worching, wiþ-outen eny makyng · of eny oþur mong.

LAdi seinte Marie · Moder & Mayden, muche was þe serwe · set at þin herte, whon þou at þi sones deþ · stoode him so neih! Þou seiȝ al his serwes · þat

was so harde bi-lad: ¶ I-streyned on þe Roode · his bodi al on bloode, þe kene coroune vppon his hed: þat loueliche foode; ¶ His syde wiþ þe speres ord · opened so wyde; bi feet and bi hondes · to-reiht on vch a syde, þe stremes of his deore blood · þat gunne doun glyde: Ladi wo was þe bi-gon: in þat ilke tyde. ¶ Þou lokedest on his swete leor · þi derlyng þi deore, houngynge reuþliche · on Roode in þeues feere; þe peyne of his passion · þe chaungyng of his cheere, þin herte stongen þorw-out · þi deþ als hit weore � animam tuam pertransyuit gladius. ¶ Þou fel swonynde doun · ofte als I wene, and sikedest & sobbedest · ful sore bitwene; þi rode wox al won · þin heuȝ al grene, þat was biforehond so briht · so feir & so clene. ¶ Ladi þe teres · þat þou þere leete, þi breste & þi chekes · maden al weete; þou lokedest vpward · to him þat was so swete, & euer at þe ende · ful sore þou dudest wepe. ¶ Whon þou bi-heolde his woundes · so grisly and grete, and þat þou scholdest him for-gon · & bodiliche leete: þen wox in þi breste · my ladi so swete, monyfold serwe · and muchel vnymete. ¶ Ladi for þat serwe · þat sat þe so sore, þat þou heddest for him · and he for þe ȝore, to slaken out of serwe · al þat þer-Inne wore: led hem to þi blisse · al þat he þolede fore.

LAdi Milde Marie · Mooder of Merci, help of alle helplese · and sunful of hele, socour of alle serwe · & boote of alle bale, to alle þat trusten in þe · and sechen þin helpe: ¶ help me Marie · milde queene, ladi of heuene ... Emperisse and Mayden · & Godus deore Mooder. Derworþe ladi · for to saue synful: Ihesu Crist bicom þi sone · and dude þe þat menske; ffor vre sake weore þou maad · Maiden Godes Mooder. Neore þow nouȝt as þou art · hiȝed ouer alle, qween of alle blisse: ȝif synful ne weore. For-þi ouȝten sunful · calle to þe sikerly, for whom þou hast þin heyȝnesse · and þi muchele grace. ¶ Maiden and Moder þou art: and his Mooder þou art, his hondewerk þou art · his spouse and his douȝter: his þat welde and wrouȝte · alle maner schaftes, þat regneþ ay in blisse · wiþ-outen eny ende. ¶ A swete ladi Marie · muchel is þat menske: euer to ben in blisse · such a sones Mooder, wiþ al hol Maydenhod · and Maydenes menske; and hast him so in baundoun · and al at þi wille: þat he wole al þat þou wolt · ouer-al be forþed. And forte schewen vs þis · he streihte þe his Riht arm · as he heng on Roode · and bouwede touward þe · his derworþe hed · as ȝif he seide to þe: «Moder al þat þou wolt · schal ben at þi wille». ¶ A swete ladi · whi ne haue I euere · by-fore myn herte eiȝen · ȝoure þreo serwes: þi sone i-streyht on Roode · þorw-driuen feet and hondes · wiþ Irene nayles, blodi his syde; and þou stode him bi · and seynt Ion þe Ewangelist, weopynde on eiþer half · wiþ serewhful sykes. ¶ Whi ne bi-holde I euere · þis in myn herte, and þenke þat hit was for me · and for oþur sunfol, þat he rudde out of helle · and ȝaf vs heuene-blisse? ¶ Þis þouȝt wolde sikerliche · cundle a brennynde loue; þat weore þe herte neuer so cold · ne schulde neuer sunne · ben folfuld in dede · þer [þat] þouȝt ware.

A Ladi þi Ioye · þou heddest of his vprist, after al þi serwe · þe þridde day of his deþ; whon þou wiþ þin eiȝen · seȝe him o-lyue, in vndedliche lyf · to liuen wiþ-outen ende! Þer com þe cumfort · and Ioye after care: whon þou

seȝe him glorifyet · boþe god and mon, his bodi þat was seuenfold · briȝtor þen þe sonne; blisful was þe swete siht · þe to loken onne! // Ladi for þat blisse · þat þou heddest þenne, bring me to þat blisse · þat þou wonest Inne. And parte wiþ me of þi deol · in herte for to felen · sum of his serwe · þat þou for him heddest. And help me þat I here mote dyen · in oure boþes loue: and rysen at domes-day · in oure boþes blisse; Þat I may þer felen · þe fruit of bugginge: and ȝe brouken of me · þat was so dere bouȝt.

A swete Ihesu sweete leof · my lemmon my deore lord, swettest of alle þing · my leue lyf my lyues loue: // þou me hast defendet · aȝeyn myn enemys þreo, wiþ al þi lyf · wiþ þi deþ, and madest of me vnworþi: þi lemmon and þi spous, // and brouȝtest me so seliliche · out of þe false word, as þin owne derling · to þin owne boure, ¶ and as I weore þin owne brid · here in to þi cage, to wone wiþ þi-self · in þis holy place, þat no mon of al þis word · ne þar me wiþ delen: but þi-self al one · ¶ Ihesu my deore lemmon; where þat I may þe sen · In muynde so priuely · and wouwe þe so louely · and cluppe þe swetely · and clepe þe so redili, and as I were þi druri · ay dwelle þe bi; ¶ wiþ a loue longyng · and a stille mournyng, þat me ne schal beo lykyng · in þouȝt of worldliche þing, but in Ihesu heuene kyng, mi leue lyf mi derlyng, þat haþ me loueliche lad · in to þis seli wonyng. ¶ A lord blessed mote þou be · þat hast ordeynt for me · boþe mete and drinke: cloþing and oþer þing · & me ne þar not swynke, but only tende to þe: Ihesu blessed mote þou be. ¶ A swete Ihesu swete leof · my lyues loue my swetyng, þou hast maad me of nouht, fro þe deþ þou hast me bouȝt, ffrom þe world in to þi chaumbre: leue lord þou hast me brouȝt, and more blisse þou hast me hiȝt: þen wiþ herte may be þouȝt. ¶ A, swete Ihesu my deore lemmon · þat þus muchel hast don for me: what may I þenke · what may I speke · what may I worþly don: for þe loue of þe? what may I ȝelde þe · what may I þole for þe · aȝeyn þat þou hast þoled for me? ¶ A, mi swete spouse · mi deore loue: me be-houeþ þat þou beo · eeþ for to paye, as I wot wel þat þou art; for a wrecche bodi and a weyk · I haue heer on eorþe, þat I hedde of þi ȝifte · ful feir & ful clene, but I haue muchel enpeyred hit · and lodliche I-fuiled. ¶ But ȝit such as hit is, I ȝiue hit þe enterlyche · to þi seruise: nayled and sprad faste in my roode · in þis holy ordre, as þou weore nayled for me · in þin harde roode. ¶ And here wol I dwellen · wiþ þe my swete lemmon: and neuer-more wol I · of my Roode comen, neuer whil þat I lyue: for þe loue of þe; þen wol I beo grauen · heer vnder þe eorþe · as þou weore grauen for me: and on domes-day wol I rysen aȝeynes þe, and wenden þenne al hom wiþ þe: and wonen in þi blisse · þat þou greiþest nou · vche day to me. ¶ A swete Ihesu leoue lyf · so murie and so swete hit is · forte dwellen heere, on Rode as þi fere, to þole pyne for þi loue · þat bouȝtest me so dere.

FOr whon I in my soule · wiþ al hol muynde · seo þe so reuþly · hongen on Rode · þi body al on blode, þi limes al to-reyȝte · þi Ioyntes al to-pliȝte, þi woundes and þi leoue leor · þat was so briht and so cleer, ben now mad so grisli · and þow lord so mekely · tok hit al so louely · for me þat was þin enemy: þenne fele I redili · a tast wonder ferli · of þi derworþe loue · þat

precious druri, þat fulleþ myn herte so · þat al worldliche wo: hit makeþ me þinken hony-swet · whoderward so euer i go. ¶ Swete lord þin ore · where is eny blisse · aȝeyn þe tast of þi loue · at þin owne come: Whon þyn oune Moder · so louely of chere, þyn owne bodi on þe cros · derworþe deore, in þe selue liknesse · þat þou þenne were, beodeþ me to cluppen · as myn owne fere. ¶ Þenne ginneþ þe loue · to springen at myn herte, and glouweþ vp in my brest · wonderliche hote: þe loue-teres of myn neb · rennen ful smerte, my song is likynge of loue · al wiþ-oute note. I lepe on him raply · as grehound on herte, al out of my-self · wiþ loueliche leete: and cluppe in myn armes · þe cros bi þe sterte, þe blood I souke of his feet · þat sok is ful swete. ¶ I cusse and I cluppe · and stunte oþerwhile, as mon þat is loue-mad · and seek of loue-sore: i loke on hire þat him bringeþ · and heo biginneþ to smyle, as þauȝ hire likede wel · and wolde i dude more. I lepe eft þer i was · and auntre me þore, i cluppe and I cusse · as I wood wore: I walewe and i souke · i not whuche while, and whon I haue al don · ȝit me luste more. ¶ Þenne fele I þat blood · in þouȝt of my Mynde, as hit weore bodilich · warm on my lippe: and þe flesch on his feet · bifore and beohynde, so softe and so swete · to cusse and to cluppe. Heo openeþ hire Mantel · þat ladi so kuynde and happeþ vs þer-vnder · in þat muri fitte; ȝif eni mon vs askeþ · þeer men may vs fynde, as hem þat lykeþ þer þei ben · & loþ is for to flitte. ¶ Swete lemmon leoue lyf / mony wo haue þei · þat are not holliche wiþ þe: in þin holi cluppyng. But wel is me þat I may, euermore niht and day, al þis world forsaken · and beo wiþ þe al one. ¶ Also my swete Ihesu · my deore lyues loue, as þou on þe roode · sperred wiþ þe nayles · ȝeue þi soule out of þi bodi · for þe loue of me: ¶ also my swete lemmon · I as on my Rode · sperred in myn ordre · from worldliche murþes · and fleschliche lustes · in peyne wiþ þe, ȝeue my soule · and my bodi · and al myn herte blisse: wiþ al þe lust of my lyf · to þe loue of þe. And I preye þe derworþe lord · for þyn holy nome: þat þou receyue loueli · of me wrecche vnworþi · þat ȝifte so freoly · al in to þi merci, þat I neuer loue oþur þing · but al one þe. ¶ For I ne may nouȝwher my loue · my bodi ne my soule: bi-setten better elles-where · þen on þe al one, so louelich lord as þou art · so worþiful and so precious, in bodi & in soule: and eke in deite, þat hast only in þi-self · alle maner þinge: wherfore eny þing · mai be loue-worþi. ¶ For ȝif I my wrecche loue · beode for to sullen, and sette þeron as heiȝ pris · as herte may beo-þenken: ȝut weore al þat for nouȝt · þat þou ne most hit hauen. For sikerliche my swete lemmon · þou hast don more þerfore: and ȝit woltou more don · þen I my-self con þenken: And þerfore I coude not · ymagen so heiȝ pris, þat þou nast don heer-tofore · moni-fold more. For lord whon þat I nas nouȝt · þenne þou me maadest: and þat lyk þi-seluen; and for þou madest me lord · al þat I am: I am al þat I am · holden to þe one. For in þat ilke makyng: þou madest me so clanly · so feir and enterly, wiþ-outen lac of eny lyme: lyk þi-self al-one, wiþ al my fyue wittes · resonable as angel, and þin holy angel · a-signet my seruaunt, and nouȝt onliche he: but also þi-seluen; and don me muchel more, ȝiue me wiþ my cristendam · al hol þi-seluen, and muchel more þen I con · my-self vnderstonden. ¶ But ȝit þow [þat]

madest me · þou art so noble in þi-self · an hondred þousend fold · and vnymete more: þen al þis world may þenken. And also muchel as þou art worth · am I holden to þe, þat al þi-self hast ȝiuen to me: and madest me of nouȝt. // Wherfore in þat wit · þat þou lord hast ȝiuen to me, wot I wel forsoþe and seo · þat I am holden · fully to loue þe for me, and þat þou hast me don · muchel more monyfold · þen I con seon or knowen; and ȝit a þousend-fold · and vnimete more · am I holden for þat þou art · more þen for my-seluen.

But swete Ihesu my lyues loue · nouȝt onliche madest þou me of nouȝt: But þerto, whon I was loren þorw myn oune defaute, þou founde me and bouȝtest me · aȝeyn wiþ þi blod. But what ȝeue þou for me · to bugge me to blisse? forsoþe lord a deore prys: þi-self to þe deþ. ¶ But swete lemmon leoue lyf · of my furste makyng: am I holden to þe · muchel more þen I am · & more þen I con þenken; and siþen of my fyndyng · & of my deore buggyng, þat þou me bouȝtest wiþ þi deþ · am I nou double holden. But so muchel monyfold · and vnimete more: is in þat deore buggyng · þi derworþe loue i-kud · þen was in þat makyng, þat I ne wot what I may siggen · ne rikene þeronne. ¶ But ouer in(!) al þis worldes wit · may nempnen or þenken · am I holden so fer · and so muchel more: þat al þat euer may beo þouȝt · al nis as riht nouȝt · aȝeyn þat I am holden. ¶ But ȝit my swete derlyng · my lyues loue my swetyng, not onliche madest þou me of nouȝt · and after whon þat I was loren · aȝeyn þou bouȝtest me wiþ þi deþ · so deore vppon þe Roode: But ȝit ouer al þis · þou hast me trewely be-het · al þi-self in blisse; þou þat me madest so · and me so deore bouȝtest, woldest wedde me to þe · & ȝiuen euermore þi-self · al hol to be myn owne.

A swete Ihesu my leoue lyf · my lemmon my gode lord, mi swetyng my derlyng · swettest ouer alle þing: ¶ what schal I nou siggen? ffor nou am I þrefold holden for to louen þe · // In as muchel as I am · // and þrefold more þen I con · // and þrefold wiþ-outen meþ more þen in al þis world: wiþ herte may beo þouȝt. ¶ On is for my makyng · ¶ anoþer for my buggyng, þe þridde is for my weddyng: to þe myn owne spouse. ¶ A Mi swete lemmon: what schal I nou don: þat I nam but o-fold · and I-holden to þe · al my-self þrefold, muche more vche fold: þen herte may þenken? ¶ Nou swete Ihesu leoue lyf · my derworþe lemmon: al þe þouȝt þat i con · onliche hit is for þe, where þat I may fynde loue: Inouȝ for to ȝeue þe. // And þauȝ I wuste where · so muche loue to fynden: ne haue I wher to leggen hit · ne wher-in to don hit. ¶ For wel I wot þe soþe · þat þauȝ my sely herte · weore widdore and largore · þen is al þis wyde world: ȝit weore hit not suffisant · half þat loue to holden, ne þe þousend part · þerof to biclosen; ffor wel I wot sikerly · þat neede hit moste bersten: wiþ strengþe of loue-longyng · to þe my leoue lord. ¶ Swete Ihesu my leoue lyf · my lemmon so deore, ffeir swetely and freo · and louely of chere, let me beo þi seruaunt · and serue þe here: þat I may in þi blisse · sitte þe neere. ¶ Swete Ihesu my lyues loue, þat sittest so heiȝe in heuene aboue, ¶ what schal I don · ¶ what schal I seyen · ¶ what schal I þenken in þi loue? For hit is so wonder muchel · wiþ-outen eny bigynnynge, þat þou me formedest

furst · and madest lyk þiself of nouȝt; ¶ and eft ȝit hit is so muchel in þe middel worchyng: þat wiþ þi bodiliche lyf · þou hast me siþen longe I-souȝt, and wiþ þi deþ þat was so hard · vppon þe Roode so deore bouȝt; and heiȝtest me more monyfold: þen wiþ herte may be [þ]ouȝt. For al þi-self al one · alweldinde lord, verrey god and soþfast mon · in bodi and in soule, þou hast me hiȝt trewely · forte ben myn oune, in more blisse endeles · þen herte may þenken. And tokne special · bifore mony oþure, þow takest me of þi cortesy · as þin owne druri: Drawen out of þis false world: my trichour and myn enemy, and put me her priueli · to lere me louely · ffor to singgen swetely · in þin oune cage: so þat þou beo al my song · wiþ loue-teres euer among, þat i do neuer þat wrong · to maken eni oþur mong · of no worldliche þrong · til tyme of myn heþen-ȝong, þat I heþene to þi-self: make my passage.

But swete Ihesu leue lyf · my lyues loue mi lemmon, loue þe wol I as I con · and leten for no mon. For nou wot I what I wol don. Siþen þat þe loue of þe · is so vnymete muchel ¶ þat I ne con not þenken þerof no bigynnyng · for my furste makyng; ¶ ne I ne con seo þerof · mesure in þe middel · for my middel buggyng · wiþ þi deore diȝing; ne I ne con þer-onne · þenke non endyng · for my trouþe pliȝtyng · þat I made at chirche-dore: whon I was a child ȝyng · to þyn owne weddyng: ¶ Swete Ihesu swete leof · siþen I ne con of þi loue · be-gynnyng ne endyng, forsoþe swete lemmon · swettest of alle þing, a-midde þi loue I wol me don · bitwene to þin armes; ¶ and þere wo I lslepen and waken, and þere my preyers maken, murþes in mournyng · þer wol I taken, and al þis worldes lykyng · for þi loue forsaken. ¶ Þer wol I cluppen & cussen, and swete loue-sawes ine wissen, and in a lykynde baþ · baþen of blisse, þer flowe teres of loue · wiþ-outen eny lisse. ¶ Þer wol I souken of þi syde, þat openeþ aȝeyn me so wyde, wiþ-outen eny fluttiyng · þer wol I a-bide, as hit was opened for me · so blessed be þat tyde. ¶ Þer wol I lyuen and d[e]ye, bi-loken in þyn armes tweyȝe, and þe my lef loueliche preye, þat þou me so wiþ þi loue t[e]yȝe, þat I may of þi merci wiþ þi-self steiȝe, to loue þi fader in siht of his eyȝe. ¶ A swete Ihesu swete lef · my deore herte my lyues loue, mi lyf · mi deþ · mi blisse: ffor þou ordeyndest me · to þi deore lemmon, Bi-twene þin armes ley I me, bi-twene myn armes cluppe I þe; nou ȝif me felyng · in þe wiþouten ending, and hold me in þi kepyng, swete Ihesu heuene kyng. Amen.