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Clawnbon |pwss Series
SPECIMENS
OF
EARLY ENGLISH
MORRIS.
EonDon
MACMILLAN AND CO.
PUBLISHERS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
©ifotD.
Clawrrbon |p«ss Series
SPECIMENS
OF
EARLY ENGLISH
SELECTED FROM THE CHIEF ENGLISH AUTHORS
A.D. 1250— A. D. 1400
WITH
. By.
R. MORRIS, Esq.
Edi/or of
* Hamp»Us Pricke qf Conscience,' ' The Story of Genesis and Exodus,' &c.
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
MDqCCLXVl
(fCCLXVIl
EonDon
MACMILLAN AND CO.
PUBLISHERS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
©ifotD.
SPECIMENS
OF
EARLY ENGLISH
SELECTED FROM THE CHIEF ENGLISH AUTHORS
A.D. 1250— A. D. 1400
WITH
itamraatwal |ntr0Jm£ti0H, ^aU$, nli (§iasmu
- R: MORRIS, Esq.
Editor of
• HampoUs Pricke qf Conscience! ' The Story of Genesis and Exodus! 6r.
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
MD(;CCLXVII
H<JX
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LlBRAR'i
ASTOn. LENOX AND
nUDEN FOUNDATIONS
PREFACE.
AN intimate and thorough acquaintance with a language
is only to be acquired by an attentive study of its literature.
Grammars and histories of literature are, at best, but guides,
and are far from being wholly trustworthy and reliable ; the
statements and principles they contain need verification as
well as illustration, and this necessitates a certain amoimt of
fiuniliarity with the literature itself.
In studying the later periods of the English language there
is no lack of material, and the student has it in his power to
correct, by his own reading and observation, any errors of
hct that may occur in the text-books he uses.
With the literature of the earlier stages it is far different .
the printed editions of old authors are, on account of their
rarity or price, inaccessible to ordinary readers, who are thus
^ placed completely at the mercy of their guides.
Vi PREFACE,
The necessarily scanty extracts which occur, even in the
best manuals of English literature, are quite inadequate to
convey any clear notion of the dialect, grammar, and voca-
bulary of the writers of the early English period, and hence
it is that most students find their information upon the sub-
ject limited to a list of names of persons, places, and dates,
and some few uninteresting details, which, even in these days
of competitive examinations, are accepted as a knowledge of
English literature.
The aim of the present work is to supplement the ordi-
nary text-books, and furnish students with abundant material
for making themselves familiar with the older forms of Eng-
lish, and by this means enabling them to obtain a sounder
knowledge of the language as spoken and written at the
present day.
The 'Specimens,' which are chronologically arranged, may
be considered as iypes of the English spoken within a century
and a half of a most important period in its history. The
year 1250 has been chosen as the starting-point, because
about this date the language having undergone many
changes owing to the loss of grammatical inflexions and a
simplification of syntactical structure, was entering upon a
new phase in its history, in which we may trace a gradual
approximation to its modern representative, the English of
t/ie present day.
PREFACE, vii
The extracts (in nearly every instance collated with the
original MS.) present continuous narratives of consider-
able length, and embrace a variety of topics, among which
may be mentioned Biblical translations, religious teaching,
proverbs, history, and romance.
The extracts from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales are limited
to two short narratives, because a more extended selection,
by the present editor, is now in the press.
No knowledge of the oldest English or Anglo-Saxon is
required before commencing the following pages, as the
Grammatical Introduction, Notes, and Glossary contain all
that is necessary to enable the student to read the most
difficult specimens with pleasure and profit.
I
I
I
r
CONTRACTIONS.
A. S.
Anglo Saxon.
D.
Danish.
Du.
Dutch.
E. E.
Early English.
Ger.
German.
0. Du.
Old Dutch.
0. E.
Old English.
0. H. Ger. .
Old High German
O.N.
Old Norse.
0. S.
Old Saxon.
Prov. E.
Provincial English.
Sw.
Swedish.
W.
Welsh.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
Grammatical Introduction xi
English Version of Genesis and Exodus i
The Owl and the Nightingale 19
The Story of Havelok the Dane 39
The Romance of King Alexander 52
The Reign of William the Conqueror (Robert of Gloucester) 62
The Life of St. Dunstan 79
Metrical English Psalter 82
Psahns from Hereford's Version 93
The Proverbs of Hendyng 96
Specimens of L3rric Poetry 102
Handlyng Synne (Robert Mannyng of Brunne) . . . .109
De Baptismo (Shoreham) 121
Cursor Mundi 127
Sunday Sermons in Verse 146
Sermon on Matthew xxiv. 43 (Dan Michael of Northgate) . 159
The Pricke of Conscience (Richard Rolle) . . .167
Political Songs (Lawrence Minot) 184
Travels of Sir John Mandeville 196
Alliterative Poems 207
X CONTENTS.
PACK
Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight 220
The Romance of William and the Werwolf . . .237
The Vision of Piers Ploughman 249
The Gospel of St. Mark (Wycliffe) 291
Trevisa's translation of Higden's Polychronicon . . 333
Selections from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales . . . -345
Selections from Gower's Confessio Amantis . . . .367
Notes 379
Glossary 440
Corrections 492
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
-m^T^TTT T^xTi^TTou niAT-cr'nrc
ADDITIONAL CORRECTIONS.
Grammatical Introduction.
Page xvi. line 19, for gender recui genders.
„ xxiv. „ 23, dele qualifying nouns.
„ xxxix. „ 3 from bottom, for healden read healde.
„ liv. lines 13, 14, for -es, -ert, -er read es, ert, «r.
Text.
Page 355, line 196, /or go we, gou we, read gowe, gouwe.
„ 274, „ 837, /or persons read prisons (i. e. prisoners).
„ 278, „ 959, for gustus read gultus (i. e. guilts, crimes).
»» 283, „ 1 143, ybr weyebondes rea(/ we^ebondes (i.e. woodbine's).
us to understand that admixture ot grammduc<ii luim^ ...
is to be found in some of our early English manuscnpts.
^ See Higdea's account of these dialects, p. 33^-
CONTENTS.
Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight .
The Romance of William and the Werwolf
The Vision of Piers Ploughman
The Gospel of St. Mark (Wycliffe) .
Trevisa's translation of Higden's Polychronicon
Selections from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
PACK
2 20
237
249
291
333
345
367
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
I. EARLY ENGLISH DIALECTS.
From historical testimony, and an examination of the
literary records of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries,
we leam that the English speech was represented by three
principal dialects.^
1. The Northern dialect, spoken throughout the Lowlands
of Scotland, Northumberland, Durham, and nearly the whole
of Yorkshire. Roughly speaking, the Humber and Ouse
formed the southern boundary of this area, while the Penine
Chain determined its limits to the west.
2. The Midland dialect, spoken in the counties to the west
of the Penine Chain, in the East- Anglian counties, and in the
whole of the Midland district. The Thames formed the
southern boundary of this region.
3. The Southern dialect, spoken in all the counties south
of the Thames ; in Somersetshire, Gloucestershire, and por-
tions of Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
There is no doubt that the Midland dialect exercised an
influence upon the Southern dialect wherever it happened to
be geographically connected with it, just as the Northumbrian
acted upon the adjacent Midland dialects ; and this enables
us to understand that admixture of grammatical forms which
is to be found in some of our early English manuscripts.
* See Higden's account of these dialects, p. 338.
Xll GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
These dialects^ are distinguished from each other by the
uniform employment of certain grammatical inflexions.
A convenient test is to be fomid in the inflexion of the
plural numheTy presenl tense, indicative mood.
The Northern dialect employs -es, the Midland -^, and
the Southern -eth, as the inflexion for all persons of the plural
• present indicative.^
NORTHERN. MIDLAND. SOUTHERN.
I St pers. hop-^j,^ hop-^,* hop-^/^, we hope.
2nd „ hop-^j, . hop-^, hop-^/^, ye hope.
3rd „ hop-^j, hop-^, hop-^/^, they hope.
The inflexions of the singular number, though no absolute
test of dialect, are of value in enabling us to separate the
West-Midland from the East-Midland.
The West-Midland conjugated its verb in the singular
number and present tense almost like the Northern dialect.
WEST-MIDLAND. NORTHEEN.
I St pers. hope, YiO^es?
2nd „ hop^j, hop^j.
3rd „ hop^j, . hopfj.
Th ^ West-Midland of Shropshire seems to have employed
the Southern inflexion -est and -eth, as well as -es, in the 2nd
and 3rd persons sing, indie.
The East-Midland dialect, like the Southern, conjugated
its verb in the sing. pres. indie, as follows : —
I St pers. hope,
2nd „ hopest,
3rd „ hopeth.
* The Northern, Midland, and Southern dialects are sometimes designated
as Northumbrian, Mercian, and West-Saxon.
^ The Northern dialect often drops the s in the ist person.
^ This -es occurs also in the 2nd pi. imperative instead of -eth,
* The -« is frequently dropped in all persons.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
Xlll
Some of the East-Midland dialects geographically con-
nected with the Northern seem to have occasionally employed
the inflexion -es in* the 2nd and 3rd pers. as well as -es/ and
-efh. It is mostly found in poetical writers, who used it for
the sake of obtaining an extra syllable rhyming with nouns
pi. and adverbs in -es.
The West-Midland is further distinguished from the East-
Midland dialect in employing the inflexion -es for -es/ in the
2nd pers. sing, preterite of regular verbs.
The following differences between the Northern and
Southern dialects are worth noticing.
I. GRAMMATICAL DIFFERENCES.
KORTHERN.
T. -esm all persons of the
pi. pres. indie, and
2. -es in all persons of the
sing. pres. indie.
3. No inflexion oi person in
the sing, or pi. of the
preterite indie, of regular
verbs -ed^ -ed, -ed ; as ist
kroed^ 2nd Iffoed, 3rd
hoed (sing, and plural).
4. Dropping of final e in
strong or irregular verbs,
as spak, spakest ; segh^
sawest.
5. Infinitives drop the final
-en (-e), as stng, to sing.
6. At for to, as sign of the
infinitive, e.g. at fight,
to fight.
-eth,
-e, -est, -eth (-th).
Retention of the inflexions
-ede, -edest, -ede, sing. ; as
I St lovede, 2nd lovedest, 3rd
loDede. -en (pi.), as ist,
2nd, 3rd laveden,
2nd person- of strong verbs
ends in -e, as spek-e,
spakest; sei^e, sawest.
Infinitives retain the final -en
or -e, as sing-en, sing-e, to
sing.
At is wholly unknown in this
dialect.
XIV
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION,
TtonrnzsLss.
7. Sai, suld, shall, should.
8. Present or imperfect par-
ticiples end in -and (or
-ande).
9. Omission of the prefix ^-
or /'- in past participles,
e.g. broken,
I o. The final -en in past par-
ticiples is never dropped.
11. No infinitives in -/', -ie,
or -y.
12. No plurals in -^, except
t'ghen, hosen, oxen, schoon,
13. The plurals br ether, chil-
der^ kuy (ky), hend,
14. The genitive of nouns
feminine in -es,
15. No genitive plurals in
-ene,
16. Adjectives drop all in-
flexions of number and
case, except alter, atther,
atder, of all; bather, of
both.
17. Definite article unin-
flected : jw/ a demonstra-
tive adjective.
jS, per, pir (these).
/p. j^, gJi, /.
Schal, scholde {schulde).
Present or imperfect parti-
ciples end in -inde.
Retention of j- or i- in past
participles, e.g. y-broke^
y-broken (i-broke, i-broken).
The final -en is often repre-
sented by -e, e. g. y-broke
= y-broken; i-fare = i-faren
(gone).
Numerous infinitives in -?",
-/>, or y, as hatie, lavie,
\onki, &c,
A large niunber of nouns
form their plurals in -en.
Children, brethren (brothreri),
ken {kun), honden {honde).
The genitive of noims femi-
nine in -e.
Genitive plural in -ene re-
tained as late as a.d. 1387.
Adjectives retain many in-
flexions of number and
case.
Definite article inflected : }pat
(^t) the neuter of the de-
finite article, and not a
demonstrative adjective.
\ise^ \e^,
Ich (uch\
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
XV
NORTHEBN.
^0- Sco, sho (she).
21. Thai, ihair (ihair), ihaim
(iham) = they, their, them.
22. UrSj ^aures (j^houres),
Mrs, thairs = ours, yours,
hers, theu*s.
23. Absence of the pronouns
ha, or a = he; ^/>/<? = him
(ace); wa« = which, whom
(ace); his {hise, is) = them;
his (is) = her.
24. Use of he f hen = hence ;
/^/^ = thence; wheihen
= whence.
25. *$*«/« = as.
26. Ai==to; fra = from ; //7
= to.
27. Conj. tf/= that.
SOUTHERN.
Heo {hi, hue, ho).
Hit {hi, heo, hue), here (hire,
heore), hem (heom, hueni).
Ure, eowere (y)ure), hire, here
(heore).
Use of the pronouns ha (a),
hine, wan, his (is), his (is).
Unknown in Southern dialect.
Unknown in Southern dialect.
Unknown in Southern dialect.
Unknown in Southern dialect.
II. ORTHOGRAPHICAL DIFFERENCES.
NORTHERN. SOUTHERN.
I. a.
0.
dan (bone),
hon.
&/OoaO,
lof, loo/.
2. iin,
kun}
Ail (hill),
hul.
/«•/,
put.
3. -i,
ch.
aske (to ask),
esse.
dink,
bench.
cloke (clutch),
douche.
kirke (church).
chirche.
' The Kentish dialect substitutes e for u, as ken (kin), bel ^y!^, j^t (^W^.
XVI
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
NORTHERN,
SOUTHERN.
croke (cross),
. crouche.
nke (kingdom),
riche.
skn'ke (screech, shriek),
schriche {schirche).
sek (sack),
zech (seek).
4. Absence of compound
Use of the compound
vowels.
vowels ea, eo (ie, ui)}
6- ^» (^),
hw {wh).
gua/ (what).
hwat.
6./
V.
/^/(feU),
vel
/a (foe),
vo?
II. OUTLINES OF EARLY ENGLISH GRAMMAR.'
With regard to the Alphabet, it is only necessary to men-
tion that ^ and \ are used for ih. An initial 5 (A. S. g)
answers to y (occasionally g)\ 5 final and before / cor-
responds to gh.
NOUNS.
Gander. — The gender of Old English noims are three, —
Masculine, Feminine, and Neuter, agreeing in general with
the Anglo-Saxon or oldest English forms.
Neut. wyf, child, A.S. wif^ ctldy woman, child.
Fem. souly sawel, heorte A.S. sawel, heorta, soul, heart.
{herie\
Masc. drem, A. S. dream, song.
^ The Southern dialect of Kent seems to have pronounced ea as ^, as we
find ea&t^ eald (old), written yeast, yecdd.
^ The Kentish dialect of the fourteenth century, like the modem pro-
vincial dialects of the South of England, has 2 for s, as zinge, to sing ; zay,
say; zede, said,
^ These Outlines are based upon the Southern d\a\ecl.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. XVll
^ft^ A.D. 1350 we find a tendency to limit the use of
t\ie neuter gender, as in the modem stage of the language.
I^clension.— Nouns may be divided into three declen-
sions :—
DIVISION I.
Class i. Nouns of the n declension containing masculine,
feminine, and neuter substantives ending in -e (originally
in -a or -e) and forming the plural in -en (originally in
•an).
Class ii. Nouns (originally feminine) ending in a con-
sonant and forming the plural in -en (originally in -a).
Class iii. Nouns (originally feminine) ending in -e (ori-
in -«) and forming the plural in -en (originally in -a).
DIVISION II.
Class i. Nouns (originally neuter) ending in a consonant
and having the singular and plural alike.
Class ii. Nouns (originally neuter) ending in a vowel (ori-
ginally in -w, -e, or -«, together with some few ending
in a consonant and forming the plural in -en (originally
in -«).
DIVISION III.
Class i. Noims (originally masculine) ending in a con-
sonant and forming the plural in -es (originally in -as).
Class ii. Nouns (originally masculine) ending in a vowel
and forming the plural in -en (originally in -«).
DIVISION I. — Class i.
£.E. SINGULAR. A.S.
Mase, Fern, Neut, Masc, Fern. Neut.
Nom. sterre (star), tonge (tongue), eje (eye). steorra, tunge, edge.
Gen. sterre, tonge, eje. stecrran, tungan, e&gan.
Dat. ) ( stecrran, tunsaiv, ekcjwv.
A t stexre, tonge, eje { ,
Atti / ° ( stcorran, tungaa, ea^.
XVlll
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION
E.E,
PLURAL.
A.S.
Mase,
Fern.
Neut.
Masc.
Fern.
Neut.
Nom.
Ace.
sterren.
tongen,
e3en.
steorran,
tungan,
e&gan.
Gen.
sterrene,
tongene,
ejene.
steorrena.
tungena.
edgena.
Dat.
sterren,
sterren,
e3en.
steomim,
tungum.
eagum,
In like manner are declined: — bee, pi. been; chtrche, pi.
chtrchen; eare^ ere (ear), pi. ear en, eren; flo (arrow), ^l.flon;
fo (enemy), pi. fon ; gome, gume (man), pi. gomen ; to (toe),
pi. ton, toon ; wise (manner), pi. wisen ; woke, wuke (week),
pi. woken.
Lefdye (lady); wri^te, a wright, workman; time; eor\e
(earth) — although belonging to this declension, generally
form the plural in -es.
Class ii.
E.E. SINGULAR.
A.S.
Nom. sawel, sauel (soul).
s^wel.
Gen. sowle, soule.
sawle.
. ^ • > sowle, soule.
Ace. )
sawle.
PLURAL.
Nom. sowlen, soulen.
s^wla.
Gen. sowlene, soulene.
s4wla, sawlena.
^ * > sowlen, soulen.
Ace. )
r s^wlum,
I s£wla.
Thus are declined: — ben (prayer), pi. benen; edder (adder),
pi. eddren ; lay (law), pi. layen, lawen ; syn (sin), pi. synnen,
sunnen; tide (time), pi. tiden. Ni^t (night), wir^t (wight,
creature), remain unchanged in the plural. Cp. the com-
pounds siennight, fortnight. World often forms the geni-
tive singular in -es. Hand, sin, form also the plural in -e, as
honde, sinne, hands, sins.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. xix
Class iii.
E. E. SINGULAR. A.S.
Nom. dore (door). dur-u.
Gen. dore. dure.
^«^- I dore. i^""'^'
Acc. J ( dura.
PLURAL.
Nom. doren. dura.
Gen. dorene. dura (durena).
Dat. ) J ( durum,
Acc. J ' ( dura.
Like dore are declined denne, a den ; gz/ey 2l gift.
To this declension belonged originally cu, cm (cow), pi.
kun, ken (kine). The Northern dialect prefers ky, kye.
Genitive of Feminine NoTins. — From the above de-
clensions of feminine nouns it is seen that the genitive case
is denoted by the vowel -e and not -es, Chaucer has ^heorte
bloody heart's blood; ^widewe sone^ widow's son; ^The Prior -
esse Tale ' the Tale of the Prioress. This rule is well illustrated
in the modern terms Lord's day and Lady day (the day of
our lady, the Virgin Mary).
Dialectical varieties. — As early as the latter part of
the twelfth century we find a tendency in Northern writers
to adopt the -es as the genitive inflexion of feminine as
well as of masculine nouns.
Plurals in -en. — We often find the same words forming
their plurals in -es and -en, even in Southern writers.
DIVISION II. — Class i.
E.E. SINGULAR. A.S.
Nom. and Acc. hors (horse). hors.
Gen.
horses.
horses
Dat.
horse.
^2
hoTse.
XX
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
E.E. PLURAL.
A.S.
Nom. and Ace. hors.
hors.
Gen. horse.
horsa.
Dat. horse.
horsum.
After the same manner are declined: — hus (house); der
(deer) ; dern^ barn (child) ; spel (story) ; schep (sheep) ; wif
(woman, wife) ; 5^r (year). Wilde der, wilde hors, signify wild
animals, wild horses ; horse knaves = horse-servants, grooms.
In modem English, deer, horse, sheep, swine, year, have a col-
lective sense and remain unchanged in the plural.
Shakespeare {AnL and Cleop, iii. 6) uses hors as a col-
lective name :
" The wife of Anthony
Should have an army for an usher, and
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach."
E.E.
ClcLSs ii.
SINGULAR.
A.S.
Nom. and Ace. schip (ship), | J*^* | (tree). scip, treiSw.
Gen.
Dat.!
Ace.
r
schipes,
schipe,
trowes, 1
trauwesJ
trauwe.
trowe.
Nom. and Ace. schipen,
PLURAL.
f trauwen,
, trowen,
L tren.
Gen.
Dat.
Ace.
wen, 1
< trowen, >
L tren. J
f trauwene, "i
schipene.! ^ ^owene, I
«=1''P«' J Ltrene. J
r trauwen, -j
* > schipen, < trouwen, v
scipes,
scipe,
scip,
scipu,
scipa,
scipum,
scipu,
tre6wes.
treowc.
tre<Sw,
treowu.
tre<Swa.
tredwum.
treown.
In the same way are declined i^deovel (devil);/z/ (vat); heved,
heaved (head) ; lim (limb) ; riche (kingdom) ; token (sign) ;
sorwe (sorrow); wonder (marvel); werre (war). Calf, child, ey
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. XXI
^^%%)j Iamb, form their plural in -ren (originally -r«), as —
Calvren (A.S. cealfru)\ children, childern (A.S. ctldru)] eyren
fA.S. (Bgru)\ lambren (A.S. kmbru).
Dialectical varieties. — The Northern dialect avoids the
vise of these plurals in -ren. All except child (pi. childer)
form their plurals in -es.
DIVISION lu,-^ Class
1.
E.E.
SINGULAR.
A.S.
Nom. and Ace.
del (part).
da^l.
Gen.
deles.
dalles.
Dat.)
Ace. J
dele.
PLURAL.
r dsele.
(dsel.
Nom. and Ace.
deles.
daelas.
Gen.
delene.
daela.
l\
^^ ' \ deles. daelum.
Ace.
Thus also are declined : — day; engel (angel) ;y^/(c/ (field); muth*
(mouth); king; ston (stone); wey (way). Fend (enemy),
frend, freond (friend), are used as plurals, the older forms
being fynd or fe6nd, frynd or frednd. Winter has the
pi. winter and winters ; got, gayt (goat) makes the pi. geet
(Northern gayf). Fader drops the -es in the genitive case.
Class ii.
£.E. SINGULAR. A.S.
Nom. and Ace. sone, sune (son). sunu.
Gen. sone, sune. suna.
Dat. )
> sone, sune. suna.
Ace. )
PLURAL.
Nom. sonen, sunen (sune, sunes). suna.
Gen. sonene, sunene. suna.
Dat. sonen, sunen. sunum.
Ace. sone, sime. suna.
xxii GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
In the same manner are declined : — do'^fer (daughter),
do'^frm; moder (mother), pi. modren ; rother (ox), pi. rotheref
suster (sister), pi. susiren. Brother, moder, dopier are i
declinable in the singular. Brother makes the plural br
ihren and bretheren.
Dialectical varieties. — The Northumbrian dialect er
ploys brether, brethere (brethren), and the West-Midland h
the curious pi. defter (daughters).
I. General Remarks on the Declensions,
Case endings. — a. The dative singular of all the decle
sions is denoted by a final -e,
b. In the Northern dialect the genitive -es is often omitte
as man sone (son of man) ; he/d haire (hair of the head).
c. No trace of the genitive plural -ene or -en is to be foui
in the Northern dialects. The genitive in -ene {-en^ -yn),
the other dialects, is often superseded by the dative with
preposition.
d. The A.S. dative pi. -um, in some few cases, is denot"
by -e ; in the majority of instances it is the same as t
nominative.
II. Number.
Plurals in -en. — a. The Northern dialect seems to avo
the use of this inflexion, and the only instances that occ
are eghen (eyes), oxen, hosen, and shoon,
b, Brether (brothers), childer (children), hend (hands), he
(brains), ky (cows) are properly Northern plurals, but a
occasionally found in Midland dialects having Northe
tendencies.
ADJECTIVES.
Adjectives have a Definite and an Indefinite form ; tl
former is used when the adjective is preceded by the d
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. XXlll
finite article, a demonstrative or a possessive pronoun ; the
latter in all other cases.
I. Definite Declension.
Examples — god (good) ; ^e god-e (the good).
E.E. SIKOULAR. A.S.
Max. Fern, Neut. Masc, Fern. Neut.
Nom. god-e, gode, gode. goda, g<5de, g6de.
Gen. { ^^ ^^' \ of all genders. godan, of all genders.
I gode, )
Acc. I ^^ ^^' I gode, gode. godan, godan, gode.
I gode. ;
PLURAL.
Nom.|«°^^'''l g6d-an.
( gode. ;
Gen. /godene,M ^^^
{ gode. )
gode
god-
I gode
Acc. /go^en-j g,<dan.
( gode. J
de. ;
II. Indefinite Declension.
Example — god (good).
E.E. SINGULAR. A.S.
Masc. Fern. Neut. Masc. Fern. Neut.
NoDL^d, god, god. god, god, g6d.
Gen. godes, godre, godes. godes, godre, g6des.
DaL gode, godre, gode. godum, godre, godum.
Acc. godne, gode, god. godne, gode, god.
* This form seldom occurs after a. d. i 200.
XXIV GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
E.E. PLURAL. A.S.
M. F. and N. Masc, and Fern, Neut,
Nom. and Ace. gode, g6de. g6d(-u).
Gen. godre, g6d-ra. g6dra.
Dat. gode, godum. g6dum.
Remarks on the Declension of the Adjective,
a. The vocative of adjectives takes the definite inflexion of
the strong declension, and terminates in -^; as, *0 stronge
god,' * O "^onge (young) Hughe.'
b. The genitive singular of the indefinite declension is
more often expressed by the dative with a preposition than
by the inflexion -es.
Such forms as alleskynnes (all kinds of), noskynnes (no
kind of), are instances of the genitives alles (of all) and nones
(of none).
The Northern dialect frequently employs the contracted
forms alkin (all kind of) ; nankin^ nakin (no kind of) ; ilkin
(each kind of) ; sumkin (some kind of) ; whatkin (what
kind of).
c. The genitive plural -re is retained in but few cases;
beye (both) makes gen. pi. beire (Northern bather) ; its latest
example is alre^ alder, alther (of all).
d. Adjectives qualifying nouns of Romance origin form
their plural in -es, as wateres principales (chief rivers) ; thinges
cspiritueles (spiritual things).
COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES.
The comparative and superlative of adjectives are regularly
formed by adding -ere, -er, and -este, -est to the indefinite
form. The Southern dialect often employs -ore, -or, and -oste,
-ost ; and the Northern -are, -ar, and -aste, -ast, instead of
-ere and -este.
Adjectives and adverbs ending in -lich, -liche, have -laker
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
XXV
or 'ioker in the comparative, and -lakesf or -iokesf in the
superlative. Adjectives and adverbs in the Northern dialect
end in -he, -h'ke, or -/v, instead of -h'chf -liche,
IRREGULAR COMPARISONS.
The following adjectives are irregularly compared :- —
POSITIVE. COMPARATIVE. A. S. SUPERLATIVE. A.S.
er, ere,
ar,
or
aid,
old
bad,
fer
god
heh,
hej
ille
lyte
i (before,
early).
r erst,
I erur, serre, \ arst,
}«• {:!t: V'-'
{badder, 1
wers, \ wyrs,
wors, J
{firre,
fer,
ferre,
L orest,
eldest,
worst.
serest.
yldest.
wyrst.
fyrre,
fyr,
}
ferrest, fyrrest.
best, l^^^''^-
\_ betst.
j(Wgh). iherre, l^^""^^ j J^^'' fhyhst.
(bad), war,^
L hext, J
worst.
^ Lworre, J
werst.
I (long), \ ^^^' I lenger, lengest, lengest.
fj^''^' 1 l^sse, 1
(Uttle), < lesse, ^ ^^^^ > lest, laest.
* Wflr, warre, are not found in the Southern dialect.
XXVI
POSITIVE.
mikel,
michel,
muchel, ^ (much),
miche,
moche J
neg,
ne3,
neh
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
COMPARATIVE. A.S. SUPERLATIVB.
fmo,
1 mor,
mare,
most,
mest,
:}
sare,
sore
I (sore), I
sarre,
sorre,
A.S.
msest.
nyhst,
nehst.
NUMERALS.
NUMERALS.
))e ()?at) forme, fyrste 1
(ton, tone = that one) J
j)e ()?at) oJ)er, tojjer ( = )
that other), J
first.
second.
l>e ()>at) ))ridde.
third.
ferjje,-.
fourth.
fifte.
fifth.
sixte, )
sexte, )
sixth.
seofejje, 1
sevej)e, J
seventh.
ei3teoj)e.
ei3tel)e, /
eighth.
ni)>e,
ninth.
tiK 1
tenth.
tejje. i
Dialeotioal varieties.-
-Twin (two),
thrin (three), yiw.
fone, fune (few), are Northern forms.
The Southern niunerals
answering
to seventh, eighth, &c.,
end in -j>^, -the ; the corresponding Northern numerals end
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. XXVii
in -end (occasionally in -and), as sevend, aghfend, achtand,
rughend, tend, and are due to Norse influence. The Kentish
dialect prefers -ende to -\e, agreeing with the Old Frisian
forms in -nd. Many Midland works have examples of forms
in -n^^e.
DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES.
E.E.
SINGULAR.
A.S.
Masc,
Fern,
Neut,
AftKC.
Fern.
Neut.
Nom.
l>e,
' l>eo,
L]>o,
jl'at, 1
J l>^t. J
se,
seo,
))«t.
Gen.
)>€S,^
rj>are,
tl'ere,
^l,es.
Jjses,
Jjsere,
j>aes.
Dat.
l>an,
"Jjen,
/fare,'
tj>ere,
i-
-)>an.
l)£m,
)>8ere,
l)^m
Ace. .
l>ene,
l>an,
.>ane,
J,o,
l.at. ~1
J>et. J
j)one,
1>^,
jjset.
Abl.
•
• • •
PLURAL.
I'y,
l>y>
l>y.^
]
!^om. and Ace.
J«,]>a.
l>a.
(
Gen.
'))are,l
)>^ra.
Ace. and Dat.
)>an.
\>im.
E.E.
SINGULAR.
A.S.
Masc.
Fern.
Neut.
Masc.
Fern.
Neiit.
Nom.
)>is, )>es
4 r Jjeos,
' Ifues,
.}H«-
l>es,
\>Q(%
))is.
* Not often employed. ^ Sometimes written })ar.
' Properly instrumental, as \>y md = eo magis.
* Retained as late as a. d. 1387.
XXVlll GRAMMATIi
7i4L Jivri
^ODUCTIC
)N,
•e.e.
SINGTH.AR.
A.S.
Masc, Fern.
Neut,
Masc.
Fem,
iV«/^
Gen. j)ises, J)isse,
J)ises.
))ises,
J)isse,
)?ises.
Dat. \ J'!^^' I bisse,
tl>isen, J
J)ise.
J)isum,
l>isse,
J)isum.
^^^ fHsne )>os, 1
Lljeme/ l>ise, J
))is.
PLURAL.
))isne,
),£s,
J)is.
Nom. )?eos, Jjues
, Jjes, l>os,
|)is, l)ise.
l,Ss.
Gen. }jise, J)isse.
J)issa.
Dat. (l''^^' ".
[ )>isen. ^
bisum.
Ace. J)es, J)ise, (
&c.
l)4s.
DialeotiLoal varieties. — a. In the Northern dialect the
definite article is indeclinable in the singular number. The
plural is Jja or Jj^a.
d. In the Southern dialect ^af or ]>e/ is the neuter article ;
in the Northern it is used as a demonstrative adjective, having
for its plural ^as = those.
c, pi'sser, \>tssere^ (g^i^- and dat. sing, fem.) is occasionally,
in the Kentish dialect, used instead of ^tsse (with preposi-
tion); and ]n'ssere^ is^^^* ^^^ ^^^' P^* fem.) for ^tsse (A.S.
^tssa),
d, Demonstrative adjectives peculiar to the Northern dia-
lect are : —
1. p;r, J)^r, ^ere (Icelandic, J>a«, J)«r, ^csr) (these).
2. Swtlk, slike^ silk, sic (such).
3. Ilka, each (one).
e, peilych, }^eHyche {yilk, ^ulk, ]>ilke, ^ulke) (this, suchlike,
these), is peculiar to the Southern dialect.
* peme=\>esne, is peculiar to the Kentish dialect.
^ A.S. \>issere, ' A.S. \>issera.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
XXIX
PRONOUNS.
I. PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
The personal pronouns are — Ich (I), )?«, \>ou (thou), Ae
(he), heo (she), ht/ (it).
E.E.
SINGULAR.
A.S.
[ic, ik, I,«J
j)U, J70U.
Ic,
l,u.
Gen. min, mi,
J)in, ))i.
min,
]jin.
Dat. ) ^
Ace. r''
),e.
me,
J,e.
DUAL.
PLURAL.
DUAL.
PLURAL.
Nom. wit,^
we.
wit.
we.
Gen. unker,
ure, ur.
uncer.
lire.
Dat./"",*^' 1
Lhunke,J
ous, us.
unc,
. us.
Nom. get, git,
3e, 3he, ye.
git,
ge.
Gen. gunker.
r eower, gure,'
[^ure.
• incer
eower.
st}-^' ■
r eow, ow, ou,
L 30U, yow.
- inc,
eow.
E.E.
SINGULAR.
A.S.
MOSCt PSfflm
Neut,
Masc,
Fern, Neut.
["a, heo, hi, "
Nom.-! ha, hy, ho,
Lhe, hue,
. hit,|
it.
he,
he6, hit.
' This pronoun is still preserved in the South-Westem dialects under the
forms Ucb and Utcby.
* /c, Ik, and / are Northern forms.
* The dual of the personal pronouns are seldom employed, and seem to
have been disused before a.d. 1300.
XXX GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
£.£. SINGULAR. A.S.
Masc. Fern. Neut. Masc. Fern. Neut.
Gen. his, hire, his. his, hire, his.
Dat. him, hire, him. him, hire, him.
hit,l
it. J
Ace. \ l*!"^'* \ hi, j- "''' j- hine, hi, hit.
Nom. hi, hii, heo. hi.
Q^^ fhire,here,heore, 1 hira (heora).
( huere, hor. J
Dat. heom, huem, hem, hom. him (heom).
Ace. hi, his, hise, is. hi.
The personal pronouns are frequently used reflectively;
as, Iche me reste, I rest myself.
Self is declined like an adjective (in the oblique cases,
selve sing., selven pi.); so that we easily understand such
forms as Ich sil/= I myself, p« sil/= thou thyself; {Ich) me
syl/^ I myself, where self is placed after the dative of the
personal pronoun. Cp. Fr. moi-mime^ lui-mime, &c.
Dialectical varieties. — a. Zr<? = East-Midland for hi,
they; At? = West-Midland for heo, she; sco, j^^e? = Northern
for heo, she.^
b, A {Ha = he, she, it, they) is peculiar to the Southern
dialect.
c. His (hise, is) = them ; his (is), her, occur in Southern
writers, but are wholly unknown in the Northern dialect.
/j = them, is found in Genesis and Exodus (East-Midland),
where it coalesces with (i) verbs, as caldes = calde es^ called
^ Hine (ine, in) = him, is still retained in the modem Southern dialect ; as,
* I seed tf« ' = I saw him
^ Sbee and ibey (tbay) do not occur in any pure Southern writer before
A.D. 1387
' The oldest form of this pronoun is bes.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. XXXi
them ; dedz's = dede is, placed (did) them : (2) with pronouns,
as hes = he-\-is, he, them ; wes -we-\- is, we, them.
d. The pronomi hit (it) in the West-Midland dialect is
used as a possessive pronoun; as hit dede^, its deeds; hit
cooste^, its properties.
e. Hit or it in the East-Midland dialect coalesces with ( i )
verbs, as sagt = sag it, saw it ; havedit = havede -f //, had it ; wast
= was 4- ity it was : (2) with pronouns, as ghet, get = she, it.
/, Hine, him, is not found in the Northern dialects.
g, paa, \ai (they) ; \air, yir (their) ; }pam, \aim (them) —
are Northern forms, and are not used by Southern writers.
h. pei is a Midland form of jw7z (they).
i. In the Southern dialect the personal pronoun Ich
coalesces (i) with the 3rd pers. pi. as Ichom = I them; (2)
with verbs as Ichot = Ich wot, I know ; Icham = Ich am, I
am; Icholle = Ich wolle, I will. Nuly = ne^wule\y, I will
not. Mosti - moste -h i, I must.
II. POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS.
The possessive pronouns are identical in form with the
genitive case, e.g. «r^ = our, ours, of us; eoure, ore, ^oure =
your, yours, of you ; here = their, theirs, of them.
Dialeotioal varieties. — The Northern forms corres-
ponding to ure, eower, here, are urs, ymres, thairs. In some
of the Midland dialects we find our en (ours), your en (yours),
heren (theirs), all of which are used by WiclifFe. In some
Midland dialects heres and hores = theirs, occur for here,
III. INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS.
E.E.
Ma&c. and Fern. Neut.
Nom. hua, huo, huet, huat, wat.
Gen. huas, huos, wos,
Dat. huam, hwom, wom, huam, wam, wom.
Ace. huam, huan, wan, huet, huat, wat.
XXxii GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
A.S.
Masc. and Fern.
Neut.
Nom. hw£,
hwaet.
Gen. hwses,
hwaes.
Dat. hwto (hwaem),
hw^m (hwaem)
Ace. hwone (hwaene),
hwaet.
Abl. hwy,
hwy.
Dialectical varieties. — a, Wha^ qua (who), quas (whose),
qtiam (whom), quat (what), are Northern forms (and occa-
sionally adopted by some of the Midland dialects) for hua,
huas, huam, huei {wa/),
b. Me is used in the Southern dialect as an indefinite pro-
noun answering to Fr. on^ one, they; e.g. me tet^^ one
esteems ; me seide, one said. The Northern dialect uses man
(Ger. man) in the same way.
Wha (qua) is used indefinitely, e.g. als wha say = 2,% one
may say.
VERBS.
Moods. — There are four moods — Indicative, Subjective,
Imperative, and Infinitive. Besides the ordinary infinitive
there is a gerund (used after io)\ — infin. comen, to come;
ger. to comene. This distinction between the two forms
is not always preserved.
Tenses. — Only two tenses are formed by inflection — the
Present and the Past.
Participles. — The present participle ends in -tnde ; the
past participle has the prefix /- or j/-, unless the verb com-
mences with one of the following prefixes : a-, ai-y bt-j be-,
for-, vor-, of", to-^ un-, wty-.
There are two conjugations of verbs, the Strong (or ir-
regular), and the Weak (or regular) : —
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
XXXlll
I. WEAK VERBS.
Class i.
Infinitive Mood — Zavten, loven, to love.
Indicative Mood.
E.E. present.
Sing. Plural.
A.S.
Sing.
Plural.
I.
lovie, love, lovieth, loveth.
lufige.|-
lufia«.
lufige.i
2.
3-
lovest, lovieth, loveth.
loveth, lovieth, loveth.
PRET.
lufast,
lufa«,
o
lufia^.
hifia^.
I.
2.
3.
lovede, loveden.
lovedest, loveden.
lovede, loveden.
lufode,
lufodest,
lufode.
lufoden.
lufodon.
lufodon.
Subjunctive Mood.
Sing, lovie, love.
Plur. lovien, loven.
lufige.
lufion.
PRET.
Sing, lovede.
Plur. loveden.
lufode.
lufodon.
Imperative Mood
Sing. love.
Plur. a. loviejj, lovej).
b. lovie, love (followed )
by the pronoun). J
lufa.
a. lufia=^
L lufige
>.
OERUND.
to lovienne, lovene.
to lufigenne.
^ The fonn h is used in all persons when the pronoun follows, as lufifre we.
C
XXXiv GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
E.E.
PRES. PART.
A.S.
lovinde.
PAST PART.
lufigende
i-loved, )
y-loved. )
gelufod.
Like lovt'ey to love, are conjugated clept'e, to call ; heriey to
praise; hopt'ef to hope; maktey to make; schunie, to shun;
tholie, to suffer. Many verbs of this class drop the t\ and
are written love, clepe, &c.
Class ii.
Infinitive Mood — Her en (A. S. kyran), to hear.
E.E.
PRESENT.
A.S.
Sing.
Plural.
Sing. Plural.
I.
here,
hereth.
'^- {it:.-
2.
herest, herst,
hereth.
hyrst, hyra¥.
3-
hereth, herth,
hereth.
PRET.
hyr^, hyra^.
I.
herde,
herden.
hyrde, hyrdon.
2.
herdest.
herden.
hyrdest, hyrdon.
3.
herde,
herden.
hyrde, hyrdon
Subjunctive
Mood.
PRESENT.
Sing. here.
hyre.
Plur. heren.
PRET.
hyron.
Sing, herde.
hyrde.
Plur. herden
hyrdon.
Imperative Mood.
Sing. her. hyr.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
XXXV
Plur.
E.E.
r hereth.
\ here.
A.S.
a. hyra^.
d. hyre.
6ERX7ND.
to herenne, heren. to hyrenne.
PRES. PART.
herinde. hyrende.
i-herd. 1
y-herd. J
PAST PART.
ge-hyred.
In the 3rd pers. sing, indie, of verbs having t ox d for the
5t syllable of the root, / is often used for -/<?S or de^, as —
gret ^gredid, cries.
let = lette^y hinders.
let = lede6, leads.
sent =send^, sends.
went = wende6, turns, wends.
If the root of the verb ends in ^ or / doubled, or preceded
f another consonant, the de or te of the past tense and -d
' -t of the past participle are omitted, e.g. —
wenden, to turn, pret. wende, past part, wend,
letten, to hinder, „ lette, „ „ let.
The following verbs, among many others, belong to this
PRESENT.
Callen, to call,
Demen, to judge,
Dippen, to dip,
Greden, to cry,
Hiden,
Huden,
' — 7 — —
^'Tto
hide.
PRET.
calde,
demde,
dipte,
gredde,
fhidde, \
thudde,/
c 2
PAST PART.
icald.
idemed, idemt.
idipt.
igred.
ihid.
ihud.
XXXVl
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
PREIBNT.
PRET.
PAST PART.
Kythe, to shew,
fkydde,
tkudde,
ikid.
ikud.
Kepen, to keep,
kepte.
ikept.
Lenden, to lend.
lende.
" ilent.
^ ilend.
Herd.
Leren, to teach,
lerde.
Lette, to hinder.
lette.
ilet.
Meten, to meet,
mette.
imet.
Schriden, l^^^j^jj^^
Schruden, J
fschridde,
' \ schmdde.
ischrid.
ischnid.
Senden, to send,
sende.
isent.
Wenen, to ween.
wende.
iwend.
Some few verbs have double forms
in the preterite an
.St participle.
PRET.
PAST PART.
Cl^^^^^' I to clothe,
Clethen, J
cledde,
cladde.
icled.
iclad.
Delen, to deal.
fdelte,
1 dalte.
idelt.
idalt.
Leden, to lead,
|ledde,
tladde,
iled.
ilad.
Leven, to leave,
^lefte,
\lafte,
ileft.
ilaft.
Reden, to advise,
redde,
radde.
ired.
irad.
Spreden, to spread,
spredd,
^ spradde.
ispred.
isprad.
Swelten, to die.
f swelte,
\ swalte.
iswelt.
iswalt.
Swetten, to sweat,
f swette,
\ swatte
:]
iswet.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
XXXVll
PRESENT. PRET. PAST PART.
Thretten, to threaten, (*^«"^' '""^^^
L thratte, ithrat.
Cacche (catch), lacchen (seize), techen (teach), make the
)reterites ca^ie, cau^te ; Ic^te, lau^te ; toTjte^ tau^ie.
Habhen {hebban), to have, is thus conjugated : —
Indie. Pres. i. habbe (hebbe, have).
2. hafst (havest, hast, best).
3. hafth (haveth, hath, heth).
Plural, I, 2, 3. habbeth, haveth.
Pret. hafde, havede, hade, hadde, hedde.
Class iii.
Indicative Mood — Tellen (A.S. iellan)^ to tell.
E.E.
A.S.
Sing.
I. telle,
2. tellest,
telstj
3. telleth
telth,
st,l
» J
1. tealde,
tolde,
2. tealdest,
toldest,
3. tealde,
tolde.
. Plural.
telleth.
telleth.
telleth,
tealden,
tolden.
tealden,
tolden.
tealden,
tolden.
Sing.
telle,
'fc
^1
:■}
telst,
tel=6,
tealde,
tealdest,
tealde.
Plural.
tella«.
telle.
tellad.
tella'S.
tealdon.
tealdon.
tealdon.
Subjunctive Mood.
PRESENT.
Sing, telle. telle.
Plur. tellen. tellon.
XXXviii GRAMMATICAL
INTRODUCTION.
E.E.
PRET.
A.S.
Sing, tealde,
tolde.
•
tealde.
Pliir. tealden,
tolden.
}
tealdon.
Imperative Mood.
Sing, telle.
tele.
Plur. telleth.
{
«. tella«,
b, telle.
GERUND.
to tellenne.
to tellanne.
PRES.
, PART
tellinde.
tellende.
PAST
PART.
i-teald, \
i-told.
geteald.
If the root of the verb ends in a double consonant, the
2nd pers. sing. imp. ends in -e, as sullen, to sell, imp. sulle.
In other cases the final -e is dropped. To this class belong
the following verbs : —
PRET.
PAST PART.
Beggen,beyen,1^^
Bigen, biggen, J
bo3te.
ibo3t.
Bringen, to bring,
bro3te.
ibro3t
Reche, to reck,
ro3te.
iro3t.
Seche, to seek,
S03te.
iso3t.
Sullen, ^
r sealde,
\ solde,
iseald.
isold.
Worchen,|^^^^^j^^
Werchen, J
wro3te,
iwro3t.
penchen, to seem,
|))03te,\
ij>03t.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. XXXix
Seggen, seyen, to say, makes the 2nd and 3rd pers. indie.
seisi {sqysf} ; seith (say^ ; 3rd pers. pret. sede (seide).
Legge, to lay, makes 3rd pers. pret. lede (leide).
Willen, to will, makes ist pres. indie, wille, wolle ; 2nd,
wtli, zvolt; '^xdL,wile,wule, "^Vwtlleth; pret. i. wolde, wulde ;
2. woldsi ; 3. wolde,
II. STRONG (OR IRREGULAR) VERBS.
DIVISION I.
(No change of vowel in the preterite plural.)
Infinitive Mood — Holden^ (A. S. heoddan), to hold.
Indicative Mood.
E.E. PRESENT. A.S.
Sing. Plural. Sing. Plural.
1. holde, holdeth. healde, j^' ^^^^^^^•
lb, healde.
2. boldest, holdeth. hylst. healda^.
3. halt, holdeth. hylt, healt, healda^.
PRET.
1. heold, heolden, I u^u v. /u
, , ' , , , ' > heold, heoldon.
held, helden. J
2. heolde, heolden, I ^^^^^^^ ^^,^^^^
helde, helden. J
3. heold, heolden,! ^^,^^^ ^^^^^^^
held, helden. J
Subjunctive Mood.
PRESENT.
Sing, holde. healden.
Plur. holden. healdon.
' In the Kentish dialect it is written bealden (hedde).
xl
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
PRBT. A.S.
E.E.
Sing, heolde,
helde,
Plur. heolden,
helden
he61de.
heoldon.
Imperative Mood.
Sing.
Plur.
hold.
a. holdeth.
6, holde.
to holdenn.
holdinde.
iholden.
heald.
a. healda^.
3. healde.
to healdanne.
healdende.
PAST PART.
gehealden.
The verbs belonging to this division may be divided
three classes : —
I St class, e OT a (originally cb or ea) in the preterite.
2nd class, eo or e in the preterite.
3rd class, (7 or w in the preterite.
Class i.
a, Beren, to bear,
Bidden, to ask, bid,
Bihoten, to promise,
Breken, to break,
fber,
\ bar,
Lbor,
fbed,
tbad,
bihet,
brec,
brak,
L brok,
PAST PART.
iboren.
iboden.
bihoten.
ibroken.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
xli
Eten, to eat,
For^eten, to forget,
Fon, fongen, to take,
3iven, ^even, to give,
Hoten, to command,
Hebben, to heave,
Liggen, to lie,
Sitten, to sit,
Speken, to speak,
Steken, to close,
Stelen, to steal,
Wreken, to wreak,
5. Cumen,
{
:}
to come.
Comeiij
Nimen, to take.
FRET.
et,
at,
{forget,
for3at,
for30t,
r feng,
1 veng,
f^ef,
i3af,
Lyaf,
het,
rhaf,
Uof,
Ihef,
lei,
fset,
\sat,
{spec,
spak,
spok,
r stek,
\stac,
r stel,
[stal
r wrek
L wrak,
fcom,
\ cam,
r nem,
nom,
nam.
}
1
PAST PART.
eten.
for^oten,
for^eten.
ifongen.
i3even,
i30ven.
ihoten.
ihoven.
ileien.
iseten.
ispeken,
ispoken.
istoken.
isteken.
istele.
i-stolen.
iwreken.
iwroken.
i-comen.
icumen.
inomen,
inumen.
xlii
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
Clasi
• ii.
PRES.
PRET.
PAST PABT.
Beten, to beat, | ^^^^' I i-beten.
tbet.
Cnowen, to know, \ J^^^^^' I i-knowen.
[_ knew.
r feol, -1
^;: }»'«"■ ■
fel,
fil,
. vil, vul, -
ifallen.
Gnawen,
gnew,
ignawen.
Hewen, to hew,
[re} *—
2!^^^^">ltohang, \l'^^^ ] ihangen.
Hingen, J [hing, J
Hote, to command, J^ bight,
ihoten.
name.
Lhet,
ibaten.
Lepen, ]
Lhepen,|^^l^^P'
^ leop, "^
lep,
.blip, J
•
ilopen.
L^^^^'jtolet,
Laten, J
let.
ileten.
Slepen, to sleep.
ft^'P' ] islepen.
I slep, J
Swepen, to sweep.
swep.
iswopen.
Wepen, to weep, •< ^'
l wep.
iwepen.
iwopen.
fwesch, 1
Waschen, to wash, ^ weisch.
iwascben.
^ weis,
Waxen, to grow.
fwex,
l^wax.
iwoxen.
iwaxen.
Welde, to wield,
weld.
iwolden.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
xliii
Class iii.
PRET.
Dra3en,
Drawen
.}"
draw,
Faren, to go,
HIe3en, 1
La3en, >■ to laugh,
Laghen, J
Forsaken, to forsake.
Graven, to bury,
Sle, to slay,
Schapen, to create,
Standen, to stand,
Taken, to take.
Waken, to watch.
1
I
rdro3,
S drou3,
Ldru3,
for,
rio3, 1
L lough, J
forsoc,
grof,
{SI03, slow,
S10U3,
slug,
r schop,
\ schup,
stod,
ftoc, ]
] tok, \
I touk, J
r woe, 1
i . wok, [
L wouk, J
PAST PART.
idra3en,
idrawen.
ifaren.
ilo3en.
forsaken.
igraven.
isla3en.
islawen.
isleien.
ischopen.
ischapen.
istanden.
itaken.
i waken.
DIVISION II.
(Change of vowel in the preterite plural.)
JPiNiTiVE Mood — Binden, to bind ; dri/an, to drive ; M/en,
to cleave. (A.S. Bindan, dri/an, Mfan,)
Indicative Mood.
E.E. PRESENT. A.S.
Sing. Plural. Sing.
binde, bindej). binde,
^ ^ 6. Followed by the personal pronoun.
Plural.
r a, binda^,
t b. binde.^
xliv
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
Sing.
E.E.
Plural.
Sing.
drive,
driveth.
drife,
cleve,
cleveth.
clufe.
2. bindest
(binst).
bindej).
binst.
drivest,
driveth.
drifst.
cleves,
clevetlf.
cldfst,
3- bint,
bindej).
bint.
drifth,
driveth.
MPS,
clefth.
cleveth.
chifS,
A.S.
[i
(I-
[I
[I
[i
{::
{I-
1. bond (band), bunden. band,
drof (draf), driven. dr^,
clof (claf, clef), cloven. cledf,
2. bunde, bonde, bunden. bunde,
drive, driven. drife,
clove, cloven. clufe,
3. bond (band), bunden. band,
drof (draf), driven. dr&f,
clef (claf, clof), cloven. cMaf,
Subjunctive Mood.
£.£. PBX8ENT. A.S.
Sing, binde. binde.
drive. drife.
cleve. cliife.
Plural.
drifa^,
drife.
clufa«,
clufe.
binda^,
binde.
drifa=6,
drife.
cliifa«,
cliife.
binda^,
binde.
drifa«,
drife.
clufa'6,
cldfe.
bundon.
drifon.
clufon.
bundon.
drifon.
clufon.
bundon.
drifon.
clufon.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
xlv
E.E. PRESENT. A.S.
Plur.
binden.
bindon.
driven.
drifon.
eleven.
clufon.
PRET.
Sing.
bunde.
bunde.
drive.
drife.
cleve.
clufe.
Plur.
bunden.
bundon.
driven.
drifon.
cloven.
clufon.
Imperative Mood.
Sing. bind.
bind.
drif.
drif.
clef.
cluf.
Plur. a, bindeth.
binda'S.
b, binde-.
binde.
a. driveth.
drifa«.
3. drive.
drife.
a, cleveth.
clufa«.
b. cleve.
cMfe.
OERVND.
bindenne.
to bindanne.
drivenne.
„ drifanne.
clevenne.
„ clufanne.
PRE8. PART.
bindinde. bindende.
drivinde. drifende.
clevinde. cltifende.
xlvi
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
E.E. PAST VAMT. A.S.
ibunden.
gebunden
idriven.
gedrifen.
icloven.
geclofen.
The following verbs belong to this division of the stror
conjugation : —
a. Binden, to bind,
Bersten
' [to
burst,
Bresten,
Biginnen, to begin,
Climben, to climb,
Delven, to dig,
Drinken, to drink,
Eornen, 1 to run,
Yemen, J
Fi^te, to fight,
Finden, to find.
{
Class i.
PRET.
{band,
bond,
bound,
f barst,
brast,
borst,
L brost,
bigan,
bigon,
{clamb, 1
clomb, ^
clemb, J
fdalf, "1
Idelf, J
r drank,
L dronk,
fam,
j om,
Lyam,
ffaght, \
lfo3t, J
r fand, "I
\ fond, [
L found, J
PAST PART.
ibunden,
ibonden.
ibrusten,
ibrosten.
bigunnen.
bigonnen.
iclumben,
iclomben.
idolven.
idrunken.
idronken.
irunnen,
iumen.
ifo^ten.
ifunden,
ifonden.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
xlvii
PRES.
PRET.
PAST PART.
Grinden, to grind,
r grond,
L ground.
igrunden.
igrounden
fBald,
■"
3elden, to requite,
^ 3eld,
. 30ld,
"
i3olden.
Helpen, to help,
halp,
holp,
}
iholpen.
Melten, to melt.
r malt,
t molt.
■
imolten.
Singen, to sing,
sang,
. song.
isungen.
isongen.
Sinken, to sink,
r sank,
\ sonk.
isimken.
isonken.
Swel^en, to swell,
swal,
^ swol.
^
iswol3en.
Swinken,. to labour.
swank,
swonc.
iswunken.
iswonken.
^.Bergen, | ^ .^^ect,
Bermen, J
fbarg,
I berg,
iborwen.
iborwen.
Kerven, to cut.
fkarf,
Lkerf,
}
icorven.
Sterven, to die.
r starf,
1 sterf.
}
istorven.
Werpen, to throw.
"warp,
. werp.
}
iworpen.
Class ii.
PRES.
PRET.
PAST PART.
Abiden, to abide.
abad,
^ abod.
•
abiden.
xlviii
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
PRBS.
Biten, to bite,
Gliden, to glide,
Riden, to ride.
Risen, to rise,
Schinen, to shine,
Schriven, to shrive,
Smiten, to smite,
Striven, to strive,
Writen, to write,
a, Beden
fbat, 1
Ibot, J
/glad. 1
Iglod, J
frad, \
I rod, J
fras, I
L ros, J
r schan, 1
\ schon, J
{schraf, 1
schrof, J
{smat, 1
smot, J
r straf, 1
\ strof, J
fwrat
\ wrot
• 1
t, J
C/<WJ iii.
^ /' itooflfer, ^ ^ ^
Beoden, J L ^^^
f bead, 1
1. J
PAST PART.
ibiten.
igliden.
iriden.
irisen.
ischinen.
ischriven.
ismiten.
istriven.
i writen.
FAST PART.
iboden.
'' T to choose, I^J^^^s, 1 ichosen.
in, J L ^*^^s, J
Chesen
Cheosen, ^
^'■^P*'"' j to creep, ^^^^P' ]
Creopen, J L. crep, J
Fleon, to flee,
Lesen, to lose,
icropen.
r flej, flaw, iflo3en.
\ flei3, vlea3, iflowen.
r leas, iloren.
\ les, ilosen.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
xlix
PRES.
Le3en, to lie,
Schete, to shout,
Seon, to see,
Sethen, to seethe, boil.
Teor
Ten.
^^^^' I to go, conduct, s -
n, J [tea
^•^"g^^'ltobow, (^^^^'
Buwen, J [_ bei^,
L lei3,
schet,
r se3, seg,
-l sei3, saw,
L si3, sagh, .
r seth, "1
\ seath, J
^"t }
Drejen.^^
Drien, J
suffer.
Lute, 1
Lote, J
to bow.
Lote,
Loken, to lock.
Sti^en, J
ascend,
i'^' jto
i3en, J
Wrien
Wri3en
cover.
fdreg, ]
\ drea, [
Ldrei3, J
fleat, 1
I let, J
r leac,
L leak,
steg, staw,
ste3,stegh,
stei3, stih,
sti3,
r wrei3,
\wre3,
U J
PAST PART.
ilo3en.
ilowen.
ischoten.
is03en,
isen.
isoden.
it03en.
ibo3en.
ibowen.
idro3en.
iloten.
iloken.
isti3en.
iwro3en.
General Remarks on the Strong (or Irregular) Conjugation.
1. If the base of a verb ends in -e or -eo, the -e or -eo is
he -e of the inflexions in the present indicative and impera-
tve, as Jle\ = flees ; se}p = sees.
2. Verbs having -d or -/ as the final letter of the root-
d
1 GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
syllable, take -/ instead of -d^ or -i^^ as the personal in-
flexion, as ^;'«/ = bindeth, binds; ^nVi/ = grindeth, grinds;
kali = holdeth, holds ; rtt = rideth, rides ; stonty stent »
standeth, stands. ^
3. The 2nd and 3rd pers. are frequently contracted
thus: ^j/ = eatest; ^/«j/ = bindest ; ^n»^J> = drinks ; drif\^
drives.
4. Verbs whose base originally terminated in g often re-
tain it under the form 5 in the 2nd and 3rd pers. sing,
indie. : as drawen, to draw ; dra^st, drawest ; dra^hy draws ;
fleon, to fly ; flt'^st, fliest ; ^/3j>, flies ; wrien^ to cover ; wrtTji^,
covers.
4. In some verbs the vowel is changed in the 3rd sing,
pres. indie, as holden, to hold ; halt, holds ; hoteUy to com- I
mand, hat, commands ; stonden, to stand, stent, stands. |
III. ANOMALOUS VERBS.
Some verbs originally strong follow the weak conjugation :
leten, to let, pret. letie (orig. let),
gripe, to seize, „ grapte (orig. grap or grop),
slep, to sleep, „ slepte (orig. slep),
treden, to tread, „ trodde (orig. trcBd),
1. Agen, awen, ogen, owen, to own; ist and 3rd sing,
pres. indie, ah, agh (auh, awh, a^, ouh, og, ow); 2nd, awe
(owe); pi. a^en, oyn, ogen, owen {awe); pret. aghte, auhie,
a'^e, ogte, oughte,
2. Am is the ist pers. sing, of the old infinitive wesan, to
be. The other persons are as follows: — 2nd pers. pres.
indie, ert, art; 3rd, is; pret. ist, was, wes ; 2nd, were; pi.
weren, were}
3. An, ist pers. sing., from wmen, to grant. '
^ Sind (are), occasionally occurs, but is not used after 1350.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. 11
4. Beon, ben, to be; ger. beonne, byenne. ist pers. pres.
indie, be, bt, beo ; 2nd, btst, best; 3rd, biih, beth, beeth, buth:
ist, 2nd and 3rd pers. pi. beih, buth; imper. pi. beth,
buth.
5. Cunnen, to be able, to know; ist sing. pres. indie, can,
con; 2nd, cunne, const, canst, cost; 3rd, con; pi. connen,
cunnen ; pret. cuthe, couthe, coude (Eng. could) ; pp. cuih,
couth, known.
6. Daren, to dare, ist sing. pres. indie, dar, der ; 2nd,
darst, derst; 3rd, dar; pi. durren, dorren, dor re ; pret.
dorste, durste.
7. /?<?«, to do; ger. doenne, done, ist sing. pres. indie.
do; 2nd, <i5?j/, ^j/y 3rd, deth; pi. ^/^y pret. dude, dide,
dede ; imp. db/^.
8. Dowen, dowe, to be good, worth; ist and 3rd pres.
daw; pi. dowen, dowe, Deih (properly a present) is some-
times used for doughte (pret.).
9. Gon, to go ; ger. gonne, gone, ist sing. pres. indie.
go ; 2nd, gest, gost; 3rd, geth (pi. goth) ; pret. eode, yode,
yde, yode ; imp. goth ; pp. igon,
10. Mogen, mo'^en, tnowen, to be able, may; ist sing,
pres. indie, mcy {mat, mey); 2nd, mi^t, migt ; 3rd, may
(wtfi) ; pi. mawen, mouen, muwen ; pret. mi^e, mighte {moghte,
moughte).
11. ist sing. pres. indie, mot^ may, must; 2nd, most;
3rd, mot, mut; pi. moten; pret. fwe?x/<?, fwwf/f.
12. ist sing. pres. indie, schal {sset), shall; 2nd, schalt
(sseif) ; 3rd, schal {sset) ; pi. schulen (ssollen, ssolle, ssule, sule) ;
pret schulde, scholde {ssolde).
\\ 13. ist and 3rd sing. pres. indie. \ar/ {therf, \ar, ther),
I need; 2nd, thurfe; pi. thurfen; pret. \urfte, therfte (thurti)?
> Cp. Ger. mutu, nutssU.
\ ' Thirste is sometimes written for durste, taking the signification belonging
to ymfti and dunH.
\ d 2
lii GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
14. Unnen, to grant; ist sing, an,
15. Witen, to know, ist sing. pres. indie, wot {wooi, waf);
2nd, wosf ; 3rd, wof {woo/^ waf); pi. witeth ; pret. wiste^
wusie ; imp. sing, wite^ pi. witeth,
16. ist sing. pres. indie, wille {^olle, wulle)\ 2nd, wilt^
wolt ; 3rd, ze;//<?, wole, wule ; pi. willeth, wolleth.
Negative Forms, — Am, have, wille, witen (know), take
negative forms, as nam, am not ; nis, is not ; nas, was not ;.
nade, had not ; nile, will not ; not, knows not ; nuste, knew not.
Dialectical Varieties. — (a) Weak Verbs,
I. Indicative Mood.
a. Present Tense, (i) For the inflexions of the Northern
and Midland dialects in the indie, pres. tense see p. xii.
(2) The East-Midland dialect has a tendency to omit -/ in
the 2nd pers. sing., z.%findes = findest.
h. Preterite Tense, (i) The Northern dialect drops all the
inflexions of persons in the sing, and pi. of weak (and
strong) verbs, as ist, 2nd, 3rd sing. Iffoed, spak ; ist, 2nd,
3rd pi. loved^ spak, (2) The West-Midland dialect has -es
(-^3) as the inflexion of the 2nd pers. pret. of weak verbs, as
lovedes = lovedest.
The Southern and Midland dialects frequently drop the -«
in all persons of the plural, as lovede = loveden, loved.
The Northern dialect prefers the forms ledde, lefte, redde,
to ladde, la/te, radde (see p. xxxvi.).
II. Imperative Mood.
The Northern and West-Midland dialects (and occa-
sionally the East-Midland) employ -es instead of -eth in the
2nd pers. imperative of weak and strong verbs^ e.g. loves,
love (ye or you).
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
liii
(6) Strong Verbs,
1. The Northern dialect employs the preterites bar, brak,
fy spak, instead of ber^ brek, gef i^ef), spek,
2. The Northern dialect retains the a in pret. belonging
Classes i. and ii. Division II., as —
NORTHERN.
SOUTHERN.
NORTHERN.
SOUTHERN.
band,
bond.
ras.
ros (roos).
bat,
bot.
smat,
smot (smoot)
fand.
fond.
stang.
stong.
glad.
glod.
III. Infinitive Mood.
1. The Northern dialect drops the infinitive ending -en
-e, as well as the genindial -enne}
2. The Southern dialect abounds in infinitives in -te^
e^y), remnants of older forms in -lan^ as hatie^ to hate
\.,S, hat-i-an) ] herye^ to praise (A.S. her-i-an)] makie, to
ake (A.S. mac-i-an). These forms are never employed
• any Northern writers.
IV. Participles.
a. The pres. participle in the Southern dialect ends in
\de, in the Northern -ande {-and), and in the Midland in
uk {-end)?
b. The passive participle of strong verbs ends in -en, but
5 n is often dropped in the Southern and Midland dialects
The genindial inflection is often corrupted by Southern and Midland
ters into -inge, as to sellinge = to sellenne^ to sell. As early as the twelfth
tury we find such forms as to doende—to doenne^ to do; to delende — to
inne, to divide.
' The Mid. Prov. dialects of the Southern counties still retain some of
se infinitives, as souyj to sow ; milky ^ to milk.
' Present participles in -inge {-ing) are not uncommon in the Southern
lect, and the corruption commenced before a.d. 1300.
liv GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
(never in the Northern), as tbroke = ibroken ; icorve = tcarven
(cut)-
The Northern dialect always omits the prefix i- (>/-), as
bunden for ibundm^ corven for tcorven,
{c) Anomalous Verbs.
I. The Northern dialect has the following peculiar forms : —
1. Sal ( = Southern, schal, ssal), shall, takes no inflexion of
person in the indie, mood, e.g. present tense, ist, 2nd,
3rd, sing, sal^ pi. sal; past tense, ist, 2nd, 3rd, sing.
suld, sulde ( = Southern, schulde, scholde, ssolde), should.
2. Wil (pret waldj waldi) = will, follows the same rule.
3. The verb to be is thus conjugated: — ist sing. pres.
indie, -es ; 2nd, -^j (occasionally -^r/) ; 3rd, -es ; pi. ist,
2nd, 3rd, -er (occasionally -^j); pret. sing, ist, 2nd,
3rd, was (occasionally war) ; pi. ware (war),
4. The following contracted forms are of frequent occur-
rence:— ^ = behoves; bud =hehowed; ha ^ to have;
ma = to make ; maSy mase = makes ; ta = to take ; to,
tase = takes ; tan = taken ; slan = slain.
5. Mun, mony shall, never occurs in any Southern dialect
II. The West-Midland dialect contracts schulkn or schuln
(the pi. of schal) into schin {schyn) or schun, e.g. \ay schin
knawe = they shall know.
ADVERBS.
I. COMPARISON.
Adverbs are compared by the aflixes -er (positive) and -est
(superlative).
II. PREFIXES.
a- (before a consonant), an- (before a vowel); as a^en,
again ; amkte, by night ; a^er, yearly ; an-ende, lastly ; anun-
der, under.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. Iv
Occasionally we find q/" instead of a, as of duve, above ;
o/newe, newly ; adoutm = of dune, downwards.
m. TERMINATIONS.
1. Adverbs that now end in -ly formerly ended in -liche,
(The adjectival afi&x sing, is -Itch,)
2. Adverbs are formed from adjectives by adding a final
-tf, as soth, sooth, true ; sothe, soothe, truly.^
3. -^ (genitive); alles, altogether, of necessity, needs;
aynes, against; amiddes, amidst; amonges, amongst; bisides,
besides ; deathes, at death, dead ; days, by day ; lives, alive ;
nedesy of necessity; newes, anew; nt^tes, by night; toged-
deresj together. Enes, ones, once ; neodes, needs ; twies, twice ;
hennes, hence; thries, thrice, — are later forms for en-e,
henn-e {hennen, heon-an); neod-e, twie (iwien, A.S. tzvfwd) ;
thrte {thrien, A.S. \rywd),
4. "linge, as aUinge, altogether ; hedlinge, headlong ; grov-
linge, on the face, prone ; trifiinge, playfully.
5. -en {-e), abouten, about ; be/or-en, befor-n, before ; bmen,
buve, above ; binnen, binne, within ; with-out-en, without.
'der, motion to, huder, thider, whider, hither, thither,
whither.
-en {-e), motion from ; hennen, henne, hence ; thennen,
ihenne, thence; whennen, whenne, whence, which give rise
to the later forms with genitive affix -es, as hennes, thennes,
whennes.
Dialectical varieties. — i. The Scandinavian forms
hethen, hence; quethen {ivhethen), whence; thethen, thence;
sum, as, — are not used in the Southern dialect.
2. The Northern dialect prefers the prefix on- {0-) to a-,
as on-slepe, asleep ; o-bak, aback ; on-rounde, around.
^ The loss of the final -e explains the modem use of adjectives for adverbs,
as right « rijfhtJy/ Awgr *" tong (time).
Ivi GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
3. In the West-Midland dialect we find tn- as an adverbal
prefix, as in-blande^ in-lyche^ alike , in-mydde^ amidst ; i»-
monge, amongst.^ Chaucer uses in-fere^ together.
4. The Southern affix -linge becomes -linges (Sc. -/wm)
in the Northern dialect, as groveltnges, on the face, prone ;
handlinges, hand to hand ; hedltnges, headlong.
5. The Northern dialect employs -gate (way) as a sufl&x,
as al-gate, always ; how-gate, how-so ; tkus-gaie, thus wise ;
swa-gate, so-wise, in such a manner.
6. In-withy within ; ut-with, without ; forwit, before — are
peculiar to the Northern dialect.
PREPOSITIONS.
The Northern dialect employs fra for the Southern from
{vram), Midland fro, from ; at, til, for the Southern to ; amel,
emel, Southern amiddes, amid. Mide^ mid, with ; toppe, above,
are unknown to the Northern dialect.
CONJUNCTIONS.
1. ^ takes a negative form in the West-Midland dialect,
as nif= if not.
2. No'hut occurs in the Midland dialect for only,
3. Warn, warne = unless ; thofquether = nevertheless, are
unknown in the Southern dialect.
4. Ac, but, is not found in the Northern dialect.
INTERJECTIONS.
Quine, quin {^whi-ne, why not) occurs in the Northern
dialect for 0 that !
' A/t'Ae, along (on account of\ among^ aie cottM^tions of A.S, gelici,
g-e/on^, £'emang. Cp. enough = A. S. genob.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. Ivii
The following sentences are intended to supply some
deficiencies in the " Specimens," and to serve as Exercises
on the Grammatical Outlines.
1. Suete Jhesu my soule fode,
Thin werkes bueth bo (both) swete ant gode I
2. Suete Jhesu min huerfe gleem,
Ybore thow were in Bedlehem-
3. Nime 3eme of chirche stevene.
4. Thre maner peyne man fangeth for his senne nede.
5. The wonde swelth and aketh,
So doth the naddre stenge.
6. At the woke end spak the ermyte.
7. I have the leten eddre blod.
8. The wod bigan to springe
Of Rymenhilde weddinge.
9. The quene fader Corineus was ded.
ID. Ac helle king is oreles (pitiless).
11. This wes on oure levedy even.
12. From dethe to lyve he aros thurf oure leoedi lore,
13. Thu schalt beo themperesse peer.
14. That was thin uncle lond.
15. Crist was ycleped hevene king.
16. Heo wep for hire sone blod.
17. Here gode hi solde stille (secretly), and to thapostlene fet
hit caste.
18. He knoweth one (alone) ilc sierre name.
Iviii GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
19. A dosyn of doggen,
20. Gerner oigromme maw.
21. Tuo maner souUn,
22. Here wei to schipe hi nome,
And to ^iht/awelen parays (parish) thulke dai hi come.
23. Pilatus thurf the gywene wille him demde to dethe.
24. AUe sotden day an urthe (on earth) ri3t is to holde he3e.
25. At fourti da^ ende.
26. We nimeth 3eme of manne bure (dwelling).
27. Hit is softest mine bridde,
28. I am loth smale y2?3/(f.
29. Therthe schoke, the sonne dym bycome in thare tyde.
30. Ich am that ly^t
Of alle iher wordle romide.
31. Atten spousynge ther mot be ry^t asent of bothe, of
man and of iher wymman eke.
32. The ni^tingale ^z' ise3e.
33. To there blisse God us bring !
34. Tofore oure levedi thane schrewe he gan lede.
35. Zueche tyeares driveth thane devil vram the herte, as thet
weter cacheth thane bond out of the kechene.
36. He lyest (loses) al his time and (both) the nv^t and tham
day.
37. He restede thane zevende day.
38. Mid grate wille Ich habbe therne Paske ywylned (de-
slred), thet is to zigge therne dyath, thzse ssame, thise
wendinge (departure).
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. lix
39. He 3af him thisne ring.
40. Of thtsen we habbeth vayre vorbysne (example).
41. Alle we habbeth enne vader.
42. To thyssere joyen (joys) schoUe be y-leyd (placed) alle
the joyen that mo3e (may) be yseyd (named).
43. To thyssere joye longye (belong) schoUe alle the joyen
that thyre (to her) folle (may befall) of hyre chylde
God.
44. Thet (that) thet is to moche to onen is to lite to anoihren,
45. For 3yf (if) thy wil rejoth (rejoices) more in enyes kennes
thynges, thou ne onourest (honourest) na3t God
ary3t
46. He ne fond nones kunnes blisse.
47. In euche (each) other es kunnes quede (fault)
Ich the for3eve at thisse nede.
48. Ures forme faderes gult we abigget (suffer for) alle
49. He is etches (each) godes (good) ful.
50. He nemnede evereches (every) owe (own) name.
51. Nou of alle thotherene (the other) kynedoms a3en his non
was.
52. He seel ne nenne othrenne wray (betray),
53. He ssel verst yzy (see) the 3eve dyadliche synnes, of
huychen we habbeth yspeke and of echen ssel him
ssrive (confess)
54. Hi wile deme evrinne be his dedes.
55. Tho (those) scullen habben hardne dom.
ffS. He schal/u/fie (fotd) deth afonge (take).
Ix GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
57. He yze3 (saw) ane graim dyevel.
58. Hii nome an greie loverding.
59. The vissere (fisherman) heth more blisse vor to nime
ane gratne visse (fish) then ane lUilme,
60. Children bevly (avoid) the vela3rede of the greaten,
61. Dyath is to the guoden beginnjTige of live.
62. Me (one) ssel (shall) zeche red (ad\ice) ate yealden and
na3t mid the yonge.
63. Roboam vorlet thane red of theyealden guode men.
64. Of here det're (^^y^both) name me makede anne (one).
65. Mi muth (mouth) haveth tiva're kunne salve.
66. He tek)) ous to knawe the greate thinges vram (from)
the little, the preciouses vram the viles,
67. -4 vul (fell) and ne mi3te no leng (longer) sitte.
68. Ha beat (beats) and smit and (both) wyf and children
ase ha were out of his wytte.
69. The dyevel hine dej) (causes) to worke.
70. The kyngdom of hevene is hyre.
71. Out berste aithere hire e3e (eye).
72. Heore is this worldes wynne (bliss).
73. Here aiiher was of other glad.
74. Al this lond beo (shall be) ymre,
75. Hit is ure. Cure is the maistry.
f6. The kyndom of hevene is heren,
T7' Some ofourm wenten to the grave.
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. Ixi
78. His kinges croune he nom and sette is upe (upon) the
rode heved (head of the cross).
79. Huanne he (cat) heth mid hire (the mouse) long yplayed
thanne he his eth (eats).
80. The guode man yeaf his cou to the preste ; he his nom
and zente hise to the othren thet he hedde.
8 1 . Heo wess (washed) the meseles vet (feet) and wipede is
nessce (softly) and custe is wel suete.
82. Bi than 3e wite (learn) than ende.
83. Evrilc man mid than the (that) he have6, mai biggen
(buy) hevene-riche (heaven).
84. Thou hest yby (been) onbo3sam (disobedient) to thine
vader and to thine moder and to than to huam thou
ssoldest bou3e (obey).
85. Prede is ybounde ine than thet ^elpth (boasts) of his
wytte.
86. And 3et for al than hii bro3te oure loverd to dethe.
87. The stone upe whan ich sitte ich fond ligge in a wei
ther no neod to ston nas.
88. Tho adde he al is wille vor wanne (for which) it was
al ido.
89. This were ure faderes of wan we beth ycome (descended).
90. Icham mid min fon biset ; 3if ichom may overcome, Ich
30U wolle in gret richesse do (place).
91. Ne sixtu (seest thou) wel icham alive, ichoUe segge
hou it is.
92. Ichabhe ysed hit.
93. Thritte wynter /^az^ waned in londe her.
Ixii GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION.
94. Mine wolly have away.
95. To love nuly I noht wonde (cease).
96. Mosii ryden to Rybbesdale.
97. For {wolny, nulni) hi sul fle into the pine of helle.
98. Of hit woe wille I wete (learn),
Gif uO I may hit bales bete.
99. Al get bit (bites) o twinne (in two),
100. AUe hes hadde wi^ migte (force) bigeten (obtained),
101. Alle tves 03en to haven in mode (mind),
102. Frend (friends) sul wit ben.
And trew^e pligt (pledge) nu unc bitwen.
103. Lede^ (pass) samen (together) gunker lif.
104. Ic sal reden (advise) gunc bo^en.
105. Ihesu for love thou stehe on rode,
For love thou se^e thine heorte blode.
106. Thou "^eve us weole (weal) and wuhne (bliss).
107. Enes thu sunge,
108. Thu slowe the holi prophete.
109. And 3et (yet) of graunt (consent) thou my^te^^ fayle.
1 10. Thou wolde^ knawe J)er of the stage.
111. The kid is to seethinge.
1 1 2. And the dragoun stood bifore the womman, thet was
to heringe chiild, that whan she hadde bom chiild, he
shulde devoure hir sone. And she chiildede a sone
male, that was to reulinge alle folkes in an yren 3erd.
7 J J, The kirke he thrette (threatened) for to brmnyng.
114' Thu therofbxL
GRAMMATICAL INTRODUCTION. Ixiii
115. ThvL spex/ foWiche,
116. Hi (they) werthe a slepe.
117. He worth sik.
118. Lucie werth aslepe.
119. Him ne fyt non other mede (reward).
120. That vuel (disease) that thu hast so longe ihad ne
schal no leng ileste, ac thu worst hoi and sound,
wordle withouten ende.
121. Him tho3te he clemde upon this treo.
122. No man ne therste hire brothere nempne (name).
123. Hit schynde bri3te.
124. He (rope) nas isporme ne twevef ac ihroide of strenges
longe and siththe (afterwards) as me knyt a net, iknyt
hard and strong, of hard hors her y-maked.
125 His flesch was tgnawe,
126. And whon he wolde alles bicome mon.
He moste be boren of a wommon.
127. No man wolde of him thenche ene,
He was allinge for3Ute clene.
128. Archebischop was he ymaked, unthonkes the^ (though)
hit were,
129. And myn unthonkes Ich am iwedded.
I.
jLish version of genesis and exodus,
ABOUT A.D. 1250.
he following passages in the life of Joseph are taken from
^tory of Genesis and Exodus, an Early English song, edited for
£arly English Text Society by R. Morris, 1865.
>thing is known of the author of this interesting version ; the
from which it is edited was written shortly before a.d. 1300,
the dialect is most probably the East-Midland of South
.Ik.
le italics in the following extracts are the expansions of the
contractions.
[Lines 1907 — 1994.]
T70r sextene ger ioseph was old,
-'- Qaane he was in-to egipte sold;
He was iacobes gunkeste sune,
Brictest of waspene,^ and of witter wune.
If he sag hise bretSere mis-faren, 5
His fader he it gan vn-hillen & baren;
He wulde 'Sat he sulde hem ten
¥at he wel tSewed sulde ben;
for-^i [he] wexen^ wi^ gret nit5
And hate, for it in ille [herte] WS. 10
^o wex her hertes ni^ful & bold
Q«anne he hem adde is dremes told,
^at his handful stod rigt up soren,
And here it leigen alle he;w bi-foren;
* For wasteme. * MS. wexem.
B
ENGLISH VERSION OF
And sunne, & mone, & sterres ,xi^} 15
wur^eden him witS frigti luue;
¥0 seide his fader, "hu mai t5is sen
^at ^u salt ¥us winded ben,
^at t$ine bretJere, and ic, and she
^at ^e bar, sulen luten 'Se?" 20
¥us he chidden hem bi-twen,
^oge ^hogte iacob si^e it sulde ben.
Hise bre^ere kepten at sichem
Hirdnesse, & iacob to sen hem
sente ioseph to dalen ebron; 25
And he was redi his wil to don.
In sichem feld ne fonde hem nogt,
In dotayin he fond hem sogt;
He knewen him fro feren kumen,
Hate hem on ros, in herte numen; 30
Swilc ni^ & hate ros hem on,
He redden alle him for to slon.
" Nai," q«ad ruben, " slo we him nogt,
O^er sinne may ben wrogt,
Q«at-so him drempte ^601 qwiles he slep, 35
In %is ^istemesse,^ old and dep.
Get wur6 [h]e worpen naked and cold,
Q«at-so his dremes owen a-wold."
%is dede was don wid* herte sor,
Ne wvilde ruben nogt drechen ^or; 40
He gede and sogte an o^er stede,
His erue in bettre lewse he dede;
Vdas dor* qwiles gaf hem red,
^at was fulfilt of derne sped;
fro galaad men wiS chafare 45
Sag he ^or kumen wid spices ware ;
* For endluue. ^ For cistemesse.
' For wiiS, * Fox "Sot.
GENESIS AND EXODUS. 3
To-warde egipte he gunne ten,
ludas tagte hu it sulde ben,
Joseph solde ^ bre^ere ten,
for .XXX. plates to ^e chapmen; 50
Get wast bettre he ^us was sold,
dan^ he ^ov storue in here wold.
Dan r«ben cam ^ider a-gen,
to ^at cist^messe he ran to sen;
He missed loseph and ^hogte swem, 55
wende him slagen, set up an rem;
Nile he blinnen, swilc sorwe he cliued,
Til him he sweren ¥at he lined.
tSo nomen he t$e childes srud,
^e iacob hadde mad im in prud; 60
He kides blod he wenten it,
^o was Sor-on an rewli lit.
Sondere men he it leiden on,
And senten it iacob i«-to ebron.
And shewed it him, and boden him sen 65
If his childes wede it migte ben ;
Senten him bode he funden it.
to iacob sag dat* sori writ,
He gret. and saide Sat "wilde der
Hauen min sune swolgen her." 70
His clotSes rent, in haigre srid,
Long grot and sorge is him bi-tid.
His simes comen liim to sen,
And hertedin him if it migte ben ;
" Nai I nai !" q«at he, " helped^ it nogt, 75
Mai non hertiwg on me ben wrogt;
ic sal ligten til helle dale.
And groten tJor min sunes bale."
* For "San. > For 'Sat.
* For helped.
B 2
ENGLISH VERSION OF
(^or was in helle a sundri stede,
wor ^e seli folc reste dede; 80
t$or he stunden til helpe cam,
Til ih^xu crist fro tJeden^ he[m] nam.)
^e chapmen skiuden here fare,
In-to egipte ledden t$at ware;
wi^ putifar t$e kinges stiward, 85
He maden swiSe bigetel forward,
So michel fe t$or is hem told.
He hauen him bogt, he hauen sold.
[Lines 2037 — 2446.]
Pvtifar trewiS hise wiwes tale.
And haued^ dempt iosep to bale; 90
He bad [him] ben sperd fast[e] dmi,
And holden har6e in prisun.
An litel stund, q«ile he was ^er,
So gan him luuen t$e prisuner.
And him de^ chartre hauet$ bi-tagt, 95.
wis t$o pnsunes to liuen in hagt.
Or for misdede, or for on-sagen,
tJor woren to t$at prisun dragen,
On Sat Se kinges kuppe bed,
And on Se made Se kinges bred; 100
Hem drempte dremes boSen onigt,
And he wurSen swiSe sore o-frigt;
loseph hem seruede Sor on sel,
At here drink and at here mel.
He herde hem m«men(.) he hem freinde for-q«at;
Harde dremes ogen awold Sat. 106
So seide he to Se butuler,
" Tel me Sin drem, mi broSer her.
' For iSeiScn. * For Viaae^. * ^ot ISe.
GENESIS AND EXODUS. 5
Q«et$er-so it wurSe softe or strong [e],
t5e reching wur8 on god bi-long[e]." no
a "ITe drempte, ic stod at a win-tre,
If-L t$at adde waxen buges t$re,
Orest it blomede, and si^en bar
^ beries ripe, wur6 ic war;
=6e kinges [kuppe] ic hadde on bond, 115
^e beries ^or-inne me 'Shugte ic wrong,
And bar it drinken to pharaon,
Me drempte, als ic was wune to don."
<< /^ood is," q«at$ loseph, "to dremen of win,
vJ heilnesse an blisse is ^r-in; 120
^re daies ben get for to cumen,
^u salt ben ut of pnsun numen,
And on 'Sin ofl5z set agen;
Of me ^u ^henke 'San it sal ben,
Bed min herdne to pharaon, 125
=5Sa[t] ic ut of pnsun wurSe don,
for ic am stolen of kinde lond,
and her wrigteleslike holden m bond."
Qua^ ^is bred-wrigte, "liSetS nu me,
me drempte ic bar bread-lepes ^re, 130
And ^or-in bread and o^er meten,
Qailke ben wime ^ kinges to eten;
And fugeles hauen 'Sor-on lagt,
?or-fore ic am \n sorge and hagt,
for ic ne migte me nogt weren, 135
Ne ¥at mete fro hem beren."
^^ lilf^ ^^^^ leuere," q«ad loseph,
ifX « Of eddi dremes rechen swep ;
^u salt, after 'Se 'Sridde dei,
ben do on rode, weila-wei I 140
And fugeles sulen ^i Qeis to-teren,
^at sal non agte mugen ^e weren."
ENGLISH VERSION OF
So^ wur^ SO ioseph seide ^at,
t$is buteler Joseph sone for-gat.
Two ger si^n was Joseph sperd
¥or in pri'sun wi^ uten erd;
Bo drempte pharaon king a drem,
^at he stod bi ^e flodes strem,
And tJeden^ ut-comen .vii. neet,
Eu^rilc wel swi^e fet and gret,
And .vii. lene after ^o,
¥e deden t$e .vii. fette wo,
tSe lene hauen ^e fette freten;
t$is drem ne mai ^e king for-geten.
And o^er drem cam hi;w bi-foren,
.vii. eares wexen fette of coren,
On an busk ranc and wel tidi,
And .vii. lene rigt ^or-bi,
welkede, and smale, and dragte numen,
^e ranc he hauen ¥o ou^-cumen,
To-samen it smiten and, on a stund,
^e fette ^rist hem to ^o gnmd.
¥e king abraid and woe in ^hogt,
^es dremes swep ne wot he nogt,
Ne was non so wis man in al his lond,
^e kude vn-don ^is dremes bond;
¥o him bi-^hogte ^at buteler
Of ^at him drempte in pnsun ^er,
And of ioseph in ^e prisun,
And he it tolde ^e king pharaun.
Joseph was sone \n prisun ^o hogt,
And shauen, & clad, k to him brogt ;
^e king h\m bad ben hardi & bold,
Jf he can rechen ^is dremes wold ;
1 For ISelSeu.
GENESIS AND EXODUS, 7
He told him q«at him drempte o nigt, 175
And iosep rechede his drem wel rigt.
"^is two dremes boSen ben on,
God wile ^e tawnen, king pharaon;
^ .vij. ger ben get to cumen,
In al fulsum-hed sulen it ben numen, 180
And .vij. o^re sulen after ben,
Son and nedful men sulen is sen;
Al ^at ^ise first .vii. maken,
Sulen ^is o^re vii. rospen <k raken;
Ic rede ^e king, nu her bi-foren, 185
To maken la^s and gadere« coren,
^at ^in folc ne wur^ vnder-nimien,
Qwan ^ hungri gere ben forS-cumen."
King pharaon listnede hise red,
^at wui^ him si^en seli sped. 190
He bi-tagte iosep his ring,
And his bege of gold for wurSing,
And bad him .al his lond bi-sen.
And under him hegest for to ben,
And bad him welden in his hond 195
His folc, and agte, & al his lond;
^o was vnder him ^anne putifar.
And his wif ^at him so to-bar.
Iosep to wiue his dowter nam,
QSer is nu qaan ear bi-cam; 200
And ghe ^er him two childer bar.
Or men wur^ of ^at hunger war,
first manassen and effraym;
He luueden god, he geld it hem.
^e .vii. fulsu/w geres faren, 205
Iosep cu^e him bi-foren waren;
^an coren wantede in o^er lond,
i$d ynug [was] vnder his hond.
ENGLISH VERSION OF
Hvnger wex in lond chanaan,
And his .x. sunes iacob for-^an
Sente in to egipt to bringen coren;
He bilef at hom ^e was gungest boren.
^e .X. comen, for nede sogt,
To losep, and he ne knewen him nogt,
And ^g he lutten him frigtilike,
An'S seiden to him mildelike,
"We ben sondes for nede driuen
To bigen coren ^or-bi to liuen."
(losep hen knew al in his 'Shogt
Als he let he knew hem nogt.)
"It semet wel ^at ge spies ben,
And in to ^is lond cumen to sen,
And came ge for non a6er 'Sing,
but for to spien ur lord ^ king."
"Nai," he seiden eu^lc on,
" Spies were we neu^ non,
Oc alle we ben on faderes simen,
For hunger do^ es^ hider cumen."
" Oc nu ic wot ge spies ben,
for bi gure bering men mai it sen;
Hu sulde on man, poure for-geten,
swilke and so manige simes bigeten?
for seldu/w bi-tid self ani king
swilc men to sen of hise ofspring."
a A lou^rd, merci I get is ^or on,
-t\. migt he nogt fro his fader gon;
He is gungest, hoten beniamin,
for we ben alle of ebrisse kin."
" Nu, bi ^e fei^ ic og to king pharaon,
sule ge nogt alle e^n gon,
^ For us.
GENESIS AND EXODUS. 9
Til ge me bringen beniamin,
^a gungeste broker of gure^ kin."
For ^o was losep sore for-dred
^at he wore oc ^hurg hem for-red;
He dede hem binden, and leden dun, 245
And speren faste in his prisun;
Ke ^ridde dai he let hem gon,
Al but ^ ton broker symeon;
^is symeon bi-lef ^or in bond,
To wedde under losepes hond. 250
^s o^ere bre^re, sone on-on,
Token leue and wenten hom;
And sone he weren ^den^ went,
Wei sore he hauen hem bi-ment.
And seiden hem ^an 'Sor bi-twen, 255
"Wrigtful we in sorwe ben,
for we sinigeden qmhim or
On hure broker michil mor,
for we wemeden him merci,
Nu drege we sorge al for-^i." 260
Wende here non it on his mod,
Oc losep al it under-stod,
Iosepes men 'Sor q«iles deden
Al-so losep hem adde beden;
^o bre^re seckes hauen he filt, 265
And in eu^lc ^e silu^r pilt
^at ^or was paid for ^ coren,
And bunden ^ mu^es ^r bi-foren;
Oc ^e bre^ere ne wiste« it nogt
Hu ^is dede wur6e wrogt; 270
Oc alle he weren ou^r-^ogt,
And hauen it so to iacob brogt,
' MS. has pore, a For ISciSca.
lO ENGLISH VERSION OF
And tolden him so of here sped,
And al he it listnede in frigtihed;
And qaan men ^o seckes ^or un-bond,
And in ^e coren ^o agtes fond,
AUe he woren ^anne^ son ofrigt.
lacob ^us him bi-mene^ o-rigt,
" Wei michel sorge is me bi-cumen,
^at min two childre aren me for-nume« ;
Of losep wot ic ending non,
And bondes ben leid on symeon;
If ge beniamin fro me don.
Dead and sorge me segeS on;
Ai sal beniamin wi^ me bi-lewen
^or qailes ic sal on werlde liuen."
^o q«a^ iudas, "us sal ben hard,
If we no^ holden him non forward."
Wex derSe,^ ^is coren is gon,
lacob est bit hem faren agon,
Oc he ne duren ^e weie cumen in,
"but ge wi^ us senden beniamin;"
^ q«a^ he, "q«an it is ned,
And ne can no bettre red,
Bere^ dat* silu^r hoi agon,
^at hem ^or-of ne wante non.
And o^er siluer ^or bi-foren,
for to bigen wi^ o^er coren;
fruit and spices of dere pris,
BereS ^at man ^at is so wis ;
God hunne him e6i-modes ben,
^ And sende me min childre agen."
^60 nomen he for6 weie rigt.
Til he ben cumen vn-io egypte ligt ;
^ MS. ^anno. ^ For ue.
* MS. has derke. * ¥oi ^^x.
GENESIS AND EXODUS. H
And q«anne losep hem alle sag, 305
Kinde ^ogt in his herte was pSag].
He bad his stiward gerken is meten,
He seide he sulden wf6 him alle eten;
He ledde hem alle to losepes bin,
Her non hadden ^o loten miri. 310
"Lou^rd," he seiden ^ eu^lc on,
"Gut silu^ is gu brogt a-gon,
It was in ure seckes don,
Ne wiste ur non gilt ^or-on."
"BeS nu stille," q«ad stiward, 315
"for ic nu haue min forward."
^r cam ^at broker symeon
And kiste is breSere on and on;
Wei fagen he was of here come,
for he was numen ^or to nome! ; 320
It was vndren time or more,
Om cam ^at riche lou^d ^ore;
And al ^ bri^ere, of frigti mod,
fellen bi-fom 'Sat lou^d-is fot.
And bedden him riche pr^ent 325
^at here fader hi[m] adde sent;
And he leuelike it under-stod,
for alle he weren of kinde blod.
^^T" lueS," q«ad he, *'^at fader get,
J-i ^at ^us manige sunes bi-gat?" 330
"lou^rd," he seiden, "get he liue^,
Wot ic ^OT non 'Sat he ne biue^S?
And ^is is gmige beniamin,
Hider brogt after bode-word 'Sin/*
^o losep sag him ^or bi-foren, 335
Bi fader & moder bro'Ser boren.
Him oufr-wente his herte on-on,
Kinde luue gan him ou^r-gon ;
12 ENGLISH VERSION OF
Sone he gede ut and stille he gret,
^at al his wlite wurS teres wet. 340
After ^at grot, he weis is wliten,
And cam %an in and bad hem eten;
He dede hem wassen and him bi-foren,
And sette hem as he weren boren;
Get he ^hogte of his faderes wmies 345
Hu he sette at ^ mete hise smies;
Of eumlc sonde, of eumlc win,
most and best he gaf beniamin.
In fulsiuw-hed he wur6en gla^,^
losep ne ^ht 'Sor-of no sca^, 350
Oc it him likede swi^e wel,
And hem lerede and tagte wel.
And hu he sulden hem best leden,
Quene he cbmen in vnkinde ^den ;*
" And al ^e bettre sule ge speden, 355
If ge wilen gu wi^ trewei^e leden."
Eft on morwen q«an it was dai.
Or or ^e bre^re ferden a-wei.
Here seckes woren alle filt wi^ coren,
And ^e siluer ^r-in bi-foren; 36a
And ^e seek ¥at agte beniamin
losepes cuppe hid was ^or-in;
And q«uan he weren ut tune went,
losep haue^ hem after sent.
^is sonde hem ou^akeS ra^e, 365
And bi-calleS of harme and sca^e ;
" Vn-seli men, qwat haue ge don ?
Gret vn-sel^he is gu cumen on,
for is it nogt min lord for-holen,
^a[t] gure on haueS is cuppe stolen." 370
^ For glade. * Yoi dedesv.
GENESIS AND EXODUS. 1 3
^[o] seiden ^ bre^fe sikerlike,
"Vp q«am ^u it findes witterlike,
He slagen and we agen driuen
In-to ^raldom, eu^rmor to liuen."
He gan hem ransaken on and on, 375
And fond it 'Sor sone a-non,
And nam ^o bre^re eu^lk on,
And ledde hem sorful a-gon,
And brogte hem bi-for iosep
Wid reweli lote, and sorwe, and wep. 380
^ q«at iosep, " ne wiste ge nogt
^at ic am o wol witter ^ogt?
Mai nogt longe me ben for-holen
Q«at-so-eu^e on londe wur5 stolen/'
"Lou^d!" q«ad ludas, "do wi^ me 385
Qwat-so ^i wille on werlde be,
Wi'JS-'San-^at ^u fri^e beniamin;
ic ledde [him] ut on trewthe min,
^at he sulde ef[t] cumen a-gen
to hise fader, and wi^ him ben." 390
^ cam iosep swilc rew^ up-on,
he dede halle ut ^ to^re gon,
And spac mi-eSes, so e gret,
^at alle hise wlite wurS teres wet.
"Ic am iosep, drede^ gu nogt, 395
for gure heKe or hider brogt;
To ger ben nu 'Sat derSe^ is cumen,
Get sulen .v. fulle ben numen,
^at men ne sulen sowen ne sheren,
So sal drugte ^ feldes deren. 400
Rapes gu to min fader a-gen,
And sei^ him q«ilke min blisses ben,
^ MS, his derke.
S'
14 ENGLISH VERSION OF
And do% him to me cumen hider,
And ge and gure orf al to-gider ;
Of lewse god in lond gersen 405
sulen ge sundri riche ben."
Eu^c he kiste, on ilc he gret,
lie here was of is teres wet.
lone it was king pharaon kid
Hu ^is newe tiding wur^ bi-tid; 410
And he was bli^, in herte fagen,
^t losep wulde him ^ider dragen,
for luue of losep migte he timen.
He bad cartes and waines nimen,
And fechen^wiues, and childre, and men, 415
And gaf hem ^or al lond gersen,
And het hem ^at he sulden hauen
More and bet ^an he kude crauen.
losep gaf ilc here twinne snid,
Beniamin most he^ made prud; 420
fif weden best bar beniamin,
^re hundred plates of silu^ fin,
Al-so fele o6re '^Sor-til,
He bad ben in is faderes wil,
And .X. asses wi^ semes fest; 425
Of alle egiptes weKhe best
Gaf he is bre^ere, wi^ herte bli^,
And bad hem rapen hem homward swi^ ;
And he so deden wi^ herte fagen.
Toward here fader he gunen dragen, 430
And qaane he comen him bi-foren,
Ne wiste he nogt q«at he woren,
"Lou«?rd," he seiden, "israel,
losep 'Sin sune grete^ ^ wel,
IMS. be.
GENESIS AND EXODUS. 15
And sendeS ^ bode 'Sat he liue^S, 435
Al egipte in his wil cliueS."
lacob a-braid, and trewed it nogt,
Til he sag al 'Sat wel^e brogt.
" Wei me," qua^ he, ** wel is me wel,
^at ic aue abiden ^us swil[c] sel I 440
And ic sal to min sune fare
And sen, or ic of werlde chare."
Acob wente ut of lond chanaan.
And of is kinde wel manie a man ;
losep wel faire him vnder-stod, 445
And pharaon 'Sogte it ful good;
for 'Sat he weren hirde-men,
He bad hem ben in lond gersen.
lacob was brogt bi-foren 'Se king
for to geuen him his bliscing. 450
" fader dere," qwa'S pharaon,
"hu fele ger be 'Se on?"
"An himdred ger and .xxx. mo
Haue ic her drogen in werlde wo,
'Sog 'Sinke^ me 'Sor-oflfen fo, 455
^g ic is haue drogen in wo,
si^en ic gan on werlde ben.
Her vten erd, man-kin bi-twen;
So linked ^ eu^rilc wis[e] man,
^ wot q«or-of man-kin bi-gan, 460
And 'Se of adames gilte muneS,
^at he her uten herdes wimeS."
Pharaon bad him wnrSen wel
in softe teste and seli mel;
He and hise sunes in reste dede 465
In lond gersen, on sundri stede;
^ For •giDke'6,
1 6 ENGLISH VERSION OF
Si'Sen ^r was mad on scit^,
'Se was y-oten Rames^.
lacob on Hue wunede ^r
In reste fulle .xiiij. ger; 470
And god him let bi-foren sen
Qailc time hise ending sulde ben ;
He bad iosep his leue sune,
On ^hing ^at^ ofFe wel mune,
^at q«an it wur^ mid him don, 475
He sulde him birien in ebron;
And witterlike he it aue^ Yarn seid,
^e stede ^or abraham was leid;
So was him lif^ to wurSen leid,
Qwuor ali gast stille hadde seid 480
Him and hise eldere(.) fer ear bi-foren,
Qauor iesu crist wulde ben boren,
And qwuor ben dead, andqwuor ben grauen;
He ^ogt wi^ hem reste to hauen.
Iosep swor him al-so he bad, 485
And he ^r-of wurS bli^ <k glad.
Or ^an he wiste off werlde faren.
He bade hise kinde to him charen,
And seide qaat of hem sulde ben,
Hali gast dede it him seen; 490
In clene ending and ali lif.
So he for-let ^is werldes strif.
Osep dede hise lich faire geren,
Wassen, and riche-like smeren,
And spice-like swete smaken; 495
And egipte folc him bi-waken
xl. nigtes and .xl. daiges,
swilc woren egipte lages.
' For «ar. « For lef.
I
GENESIS AND EXODUS. ^ \*J
[Lines 3475—2536.]
And pharaon king cam bode bi-foren,
^t losep haue^ his fader sworen; 500
And he it hi;w gatte ^r he wel dede,
And bad hiz« nimen hi;w feres mide,
Wel wopnede men and wis of here[n],
dat^ noman hem bi weie deren;
=6at bere is led, ^is folc is rad, 505
he foren a-buten bi adad;
ful seuene nigt he ^r abiden,
And bi-meni«g for iacob deden;
So longe he hauen ^6e^n numen,
To flu/w iurdon ^at he ben cimien, 510
And oxxer pharan til ebron;
^r is ^at liche in biriele don,
And losep in to egipte went,
Wid^ al is folc ut wi^ him [s]ent.
Hise bre^re comen Yiwi ^anne to, 515
And gimnen him bi-seken alle so;
"Vre fader," he seiden, "or he was dead,
Vs he ^is bodewurd seigen bead,
Hure sinne ^u him for-giue,
Wi=6-^anne-^at we vnder ^e liuen." 520
Alle he fellen him ^or to fot,
To be^en meSe and bedden oc;
Antt l;ie it for-gaf hem mildelike,
And luuede hem alle kinde-like.
Osep an hundred ger was hold, 525
And his kin wexen manige-fold;
He bad sibbe cumen him bi-foren.
Or he was ut of werlde boren ;
" It sal," (\U2^ he, " ben so^, bi-foren
^at god ha^ ure eldere sworen; Cj^o
' For iSat a For wi^.
C
l8 GENESIS AND EXODUS.
He sal gu leden in his bond
He^en to ^at hotene lond;
for godes luue get bid ic gu,
Lested it ^anne, boteS it nu,
^at mine bene ne be for-loren, 535
wi^ gu ben mine bones boren."
He it him gatten and wurS he dead,
God do ^e soule seli red !
Hise liche was spice-like maked,
And longe egipte-like waked, 540
And ^o biried hem bi-foren.
And si^en late of londe boren.
Hise o^re bre'Sere, on and on,
Woren ybiried at ebron.
An her endede, to ful in wis, 545
^e boc ^e is hoten genesis,
^e moyses, ^urg godes red,
Wrot for lefFul soules ned.
God schilde hise sowle fro helle bale,
^ made it ^us on engel tale ! 550
And he ^at ^ise lettres wrot,
God him helpe weli mot.
And berge is sowle fro sorge & grot
Of helle pine, cold & hot !
And alle men, ^e it heren wilen,^ 555
God lene hem in his blisse spilen
Among engeles & seli men,
Wi^uten ende in reste ben.
And luue & pais us bi-twen,
And god so graunte, amen, amen ! 560
* MS. welin.
h
11.
NICHOLAS De GUILDFORD,
A. D. 1250 — 1260.
The Owl and the Nightingale,
:d with Cotton MS. Calig. A. ix., by the editor of the present work.]
poem entitied Hx Owl and the Nightingale (edited for
Tcy Society by Thomas Wright, M.A., F. S. A., 1843)
buted to Nicholas De Guildford, who is mentioned in the
tself as living at Portesham in Dorsetshire.
precise date of the piece is a matter of dispute, some
ascribing it to the reign of Henry HI, and others to that of
i I, but it is probably not later than the time of Henry HL
poem is written in the dialect of the South of England,
ree from any of those broad provincialisms which charac-
i particular county.
[Lines 1 — 94.]
IcH was in one sumere dale.
In one sujje di3ele hale,
I-herde ich holde grete tale
An hule and one ni3tingale.
pat plait was stif and stare and strong, 5
Sum wile softe, and lud among;
An ai))er a3en o)>er sual,
And let ))at wole mod ut al.
And ei|jer seide of oJ)eres custe
pat alre-worste J)at hi wuste; 10
And hure and hure of oJ)ere songe
W holde plaiding supe stronge.
a 2
20 THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
pe ni^tingale bi-gon J)e speche,
In one hume of one breche;
And sat up one vaire bo3e, 15
par were abute blosme i-noje,
In ore waste picke hegge,
I-meind mid spire and grene segge.
Ho was |)e gladur vor ))e rise,
And song a vele cunne wise: 20
Het J?U3te )>e dreim )>at he were
Of harpe and pipe, J)au he nere.
Bet ))U3te ))at he were i-shote
Of harpe and pipe |)an of ))rote.
po stod on old stoc |)ar bi-side, 25
par |>o ule song hire tide.
And was mid ivi al bi-growe,
Hit was |)are hule earding-stowe.
pe ni^tingale hi i-se3,
And hi bi-hold and over-se3, 30
And |)U3te wel w[o]l of ))are hule,
For me hi halt lodlich and fule:
"Unwi3t," ho sede, "awei |)u flo!
Me is the w[o]rs |)at ich ))e so;
I-wis for |>ine w[o]le lete 35
Wel oft ich mine song for-lete;
Min horte at-flijj, and fait mi tonge,
ponne ))U art to me i-|)runge.
Me luste bet speten, |)ane singe
Of j)ine fule 303elinge." 40
.pos hule abod fort hit was eve.
Ho ne mi3te no leng bileve,
Vor hire horte was so gret,
pat wel ne3 hire filast at-schet;
And warp a word |)ar after longe: 45
''Hu />incj?e^ nu bi miiie son^^^.
1 For y>iticl> \>c.
THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE. 2,1
West )>u }iat ich ne cunne singe,
pej ich ne cunne of writelinge?
I-lome J?u dest me grame,
And seist me bo|)e tone and schame; 50
3if ich J?e holde on mine note,
So hit bi-tide Jjat ich motel
And \>u were ut of J)ine rise,
pu sholdest singe an ojjer wise."
pe ni^tingale ^af answare: 55
"3if ich me loki wit ))e bare,
And me schilde wit Jje blete,
Ne reche ich no3t of ))ine ))rete;
3if ich me holde in mine hegge,
Ne recche ich never what J?u segge. 60
Ich wot |)at Jiu art un-milde
Wi|) hom Jjat ne muje from se^ schilde;
And J)U tukest wro|)e and uvele
Whar J)U mi3t over smale fu3ele;
Vor-))i Jiu art loj) al fuel-kunne, ' 65
And alle ho |>e drive)) honne,
And Jje bi-schrichej? and bi-gredet,
And wel n^rewe J)e bi-ledet;
And ek for|)e )>e sulve mose
Hire J)onkes wolde Jie to-tose. 70
pu art lodlich to bi-holde,
And )>u art lo|> in monie volde;
pi bodi is short, J)i swore is smal,
Grettere is )>in heved Jian ))u al;
pin e3ene boj? col-blake and brode, 75
Ri3t swo ho weren i-peint mid wode;
pu starest so l>u wille abiten
Al \>2Lt |)U mist mid clivre smiten;
^ For >e.
20, THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
pi bile is stif and scharp and hoked,
Ri3t so an owel ))at is croked, 80
par-mid Jju clackes[t] oft and longe,
And |)at is on of |jine songe,
Ac |>u ))retest to mine fleshe,
Mid |jine clivres woldest me meshe;
pe were i-cundur to one frogge, 85
[pat sit at mulne under cogge],
Snailes, mus, and fule wijte,
Bo)) l^ine cunde and J)ine ri3te.
pu sittest adai, and fli^st ani^t,
pu cu))est ))at ))U art on un-wi3t; 90
pu art lodlich and un-clene,
Bi l^ine neste ich hit mene,
And ek bi })ine fule brode,
pu fedest on hom a wel ful fode."
[Lines 139— as^-]
pos word a3af J^e ni3tingale, 95
And after fare longe tale
He song so lude and so scharpe,
Ri3t so me grulde schille harpe.
pos hule luste J)ider-ward,
And hold hire e3e no}>er-wa[r]d, 100
And sat to-suolle and i-bol3e,
Also ho hadde on frogge i-suol3e.
For ho wel wiste and was i-war
pat ho song hire a bisemar;
And no|>eles ho 3af andsvare, 105
"Whi neltu flon into l>e bare,
And se wi|)ere unker bo
Of bri3ter howe, of vairur bio?
No pu havest wel scharpe clawe;
Ne kepich no^t \)at \>u me dawe-, w^
THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE. 23
pu havest clivers sujje stronge,
pu tuengst |jar-mid so doji a tonge."
"pu j:03test so doj) J)ine i-Kke,
Mid faire worde me bi-swike;
Ich nolde don ))at ))U me raddest 115
Ich wiste wel |jat Jju me misraddest;
Schamie ))e for ))in un-rede!
Un-wro^ten is pi suikel-hede;
Schild )>ine suikeldom vram pe li3te,
And hud |>at woje amon[g] J)e ri^te. 120
pane J)U wilt )>in un-ri^t spene,
Loke )>at hit ne bo i-sene;
Vor suikedom haved schome and hete,
3if hit is ope and under-jete.
Ne speddestu no3t mid )>ine un-wrenche, 125
For ich am war, and can wel blenche;
Ne helpj) nojt |)at Jju bo to ))riste;
Ich wolde vi3te bet mid liste,
pan J)u mid al Jjine strengfe;
Ich habbe on brede, and ech on leng))e 130
Castel god on mine rise;
"Wel fi3t }>at wel fli3t,' seij) fe wise.
Ac lete we awei jjos cheste,
Vor suiche wordes both un-werste;
And fo we on mid ri3te dome, 135
Mid faire worde and mid w[i]sdome.
pe3 we ne bo at one acorde,
We mu3e bet mid fayre worde,
Wit-ute cheste, and bute fi3te,
Plaidi mid fo3e and mid ri3te; 140
And mai hure ei|)er wat hi wile
Mid ri3te segge and mid sckile."
po qua]) pe hule, "pu schal us seme,
pat kunne and wiUe rijt us deme ."
24 THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
"Ich wot wel," quaj) J?e nijtingale, 145
" Ne Jjaref J>arof bo no tale.
Maister Nichole of Guldeforde,
He is wis and war of worde;
He is of dome su)?e gleu,
And him is lo)> evrich un))eu; 150
He wot insist in eche songe,
Wo singet wel, wo singet wronge;
And he can schede vrom \>e ri^te
pat woje, \>2Lt |)uster from |je lijte."
po hule one wile hi bi-)>o3te, 155
And after ]>z,n J)is word up-bro^te:
"Ich granti wel ))at he us deme,
Vor ))e3 he were wile breme,
And lof him were ni3tingale,
And ojjer wi^te gente and smale, 160
Ich wot he is nu suj)e acoled,
Nis he vor pe no^t afoled,
pat he for ))ine olde luve
Me adun legge and J)e buve;
Ne schaltu nevre so him queme, 165
pat he for Jje fals dom deme.
He is him ripe and fastrede,
Ne lust him nu to none un-rede;
Nu him ne lust na more pleie,
He wile gon a ri3te weie." 170
pe ni^tingale was al ^are
Ho hadde i-lorned wel aiware:
"Hule," ho sede, "seie me soth,
Wi dostu ))at un-wi3tis do))?
pu singist ani3t, and no3t adai, 175
And al Jii song is wailawai;
pu mi^t mid J)ine songe afere
Alle pat i-hereji ))me i-beie;
THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE. 25
J)u schirchest and 3ollest to )>ine fere,
pat hit is grislich to i-here, 180
Hit J)inchest bo)>e wise and snepe
No^t )>at )>u singe, ac )>at ))U wepe.
J)u fli^st ani^t, and no^t adai;
parof ich w[o]ndri, and wel mai :
Vor evrich J)ing )>at schuniet ri^t, 185
Hit luvej> )>uster and hatiet li3t;
And evrich J>ing ))at is lof misdede,
Hit luve)> J>uster to his dede/'
[Lines 254—282.]
pos hule luste suj>e longe,
And was of-toned suj>e stronge; 190
Ho qua)>, "pu hattest ni^tingale,
pu mijtest bet hoten galegale,
Vor J)U havest to monie tale.
Lat J>ine tunge habbe spale!
pu wenest )>at J>es dai bo)> i-no^e; 195
Lat me nu habbe mine ))ro3e :
Bo nu stille, and lat me speke,
Ich wille bon of ))e a-wreke,
And lust hu ich con me bi-telle
Mid ri^te so))e wit-ute spelle. 200
pu seist J>at ichi me hude adai,
par-to ne segge ich nich ne nai;
And lust ich telle )>e ware-vore
Al wi hit is and ware-vore;
*Ich habbe bile stif and stronge, 205
And gode clivers scharp and longe,
So hit bi-cumej> to havekes cunne;
Hit is min hi^te, hit is mi wune,
pat ich me dra^e to mine cunde,
Ne mai noman />are-vore schende ', i-^
26 THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
On me hit is wel i-sene,
Vor ri3te cunde ich am so kene,
Vor-thi ich am loJ> smale fo3le,
pat flo)> bi grunde an bi ))uvele,
Hi me bi-chermet and bi-gredej>, 215
And hore flockes to me lede));
Me is lof to habbe reste,
And sitte stille in mine neste.
[Lines 303—352.]
Wenestu ))at haveck bo J>e worse,
P05 crowe bi-grede him bi ]>e mershe, 220
And go)) to him mid hore chirme,
Ri^t so hi wille wit him schirme?
pe havec fol3eJ> gode rede,
And fli3t his wei, and lat hem grede.
5et ))U me seist of oJ>er )>inge, 225
And telst ))at ich ne can no3t singe,
Ac al mi rorde is jjoning.
And to i-hire grislich )>ing.
pat nis no3t soJ>, ich singe efne
Mid fulle dreme and lude stefne. 230
pu wenist ))at ech song bo grislich
pat j)ine pipinge nis i-lich:
Mi stefne is bold and no3t im-orne,
Ho is i-lich one grete home.
And j)in is i-lich one pipe 235
Of one smale woede un-ripe.
Ich singe bet ))an J>u dest;
pu chaterest so do)) on Irish preost;
Ich singe an eve ari3t time.
And so))))e won hit is bed-time, 240
pe pridde sijje ad middelni3te,
And so ich mine song ad^te
THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE. 27
Wone ich i-so arise vorre
0)jer dai-rim oJ)er dai-sterre,
Ich do god mid mine J>rote, 245
And wami men to hore note.
Ac ))U singest alle-longe ni^t,
From eve fort hit is dai-li3t,
And evre seist J>in o song
So longe so J>e ni^t is long, 250
And evre croweJ> J>i wrecche crei,
pat he ne swikej> ni3t ne dai;
Mid Jjine pipinge J>u adunest
pas monnes earen ))ar ))U wunest,
And makest j)ine song so un-w[o]rJ> 255
pat me ne telj> of ))ar no^t w[o]rJ>.
Evrich mur3j>e mai so longe i-leste,
pat ho shal liki wel un-wreste;
Vor harpe and pipe and fujeles songe
Mislike)), yif hit is to longe, 260
Ne bo j)e song never so murie,
pat he ne shal Jiinche wel im-murie,
5ef he i-leste)) over un-wille;
So ))U mi^t J)ine song aspille.
Vor hit is so)>, Alvred hit seide, 265
And me hit mai ine boke rede,
* Evrich ))ing mai losen his godhede
Mid unmejje and mid over-dede/
[Lines 391 — 410.]
pe ni3tingale in hire )>03te
At-hold al ))is, and longe j)03te 270
Wat ho ))ar-after mi3te segge;
Vor ho ne mi3te no3t alegge
pat ))€ hule hadde hire i-sed;
Vor he spac hope ri^t an red.
28 THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
An hire of-))U3te }>at ho hadde 275
pe speche so for-vorJ> i-ladde,
An was oferd )>at hire answare
Ne wr[o]j>e no^t ari^t i-fare.
Ac no))eles he spac boldeliche,
Vor he is wis ))at hardeliche 280
WiJ> his vo berj> grete i-lete,
pat he vor are^J^e hit ne for-lete;
Vor suich worj) bold jif )>u flijst,
pat w[o]le flo jif )>u vicst;
3if he isij> ))at J>u nart are^ 285
He wile of-bore w[o]rchen bare3.
And forJ>i )>e3 J>e ni^tingale
Were aferd ho spac bolde tale.
[Lines 411 — 446.]
"Hule," ho seide, "wi dostu so?
pu singest awinter wolawo; 290
pu singest so do)) hen a snowe,
Al )>at ho singe)) hit is for wowe;
Awintere Jju singest wro)>e and 3omere,
An evre ))U art dumb asumere;
Hit is for Jiine fule nij>e, 295
pat J)U ne mi3t mid us bo bli))e,
Vor ))U forbemest wel ne3 for onde
pane ure blisse cumej> to londe.
pu farest so do)) J>e ille,
Evrich blisse him is un-wille; 300
Grucching and luring him bo)> rade,
3if he i-so)) J>at men boj? glade;
He wolde )>at he i-se3e
Teres in evrich monnes e3e:
Ne ro^te he })e3 flockes were 305
I-meind bi toppes and b\ Yiete.
THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE. 29
Al-so J>u dost on J)ire side;
Vor wanne snou li)) J>icke and wide,
And alle wijtes habbe)> sor^e,
J)u singest from eve fort amor3e. 310
Ac ich alle blisse mid me bringe;
Ech wijt is glad for mine J>inge,
And blissejj hit wanne ich cume,
And hi3tej> a^en mine kume.
pe blostme ginneth springe and sprede 315
Bojje ine tro and ek on mede;
pe lilie mid hire faire wlite
Wol-cumeJ) me, J>at J>u hit w[i]te,
Bid me mid hire faire bio
pat ich schulle to hire flo j 320
pe rose also mid hire rude,
pat cmnej) ut of J)e J)ome wode,
Bit me )>at ich shuUe singe
Vor hire luve one skentinge."
[Lines 449—555.]
))e hule sede, 325
"pu havest bi-cloped, also )>u bede,
An ich ))e habbe i-^ive ansuare;
Ac ar we to miker dome fare
Ich wille speke toward J)e,
Al-so ))U speke toward me, 330
An J)U me ansuere 3if J)U mijt/'
[Lines 597—^24.]
" J)U atuitest me mine mete,
An seist }>at ich fule wi3tes ete:
Ac wat etestu, Jjat j)u ne 1136,
Bute attercoppe and fule vlije? ^^^
30 THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE,
An wormes, 3if ))U mi^te finde
Among J)e volde of harde rinde?
5et ich can do wel gode wike,
Vor ich can loki manne wike ;
An mine wike boj) wel gode,
Vor ich helpe to manne node;
Ich can nimen mus at heme,
An ek at chirche ine J)e derne;
Vor me is lof to Cristes huse,
To clansi hit wi)) fule muse;
Ne schal J>ar nevre come to
Ful wi3t, ^if ich hit mai i-vo.
An 3if me lust one mi skentinge,
To yernen o))er w[o]nienge,
Ich habbe at wude tron wel grete,
Mit j)icke bo^e no))ing blete,
Mid ivi grene al bi-growe,
pat evre stont i-liche i-blowe,
And his hou never ne vor-lost,
Wan hit snui)) ne wan hit frost;
par-in ich habbe god i-hold,
Awinter warm, asumere cold.
Wane min hus stont bri^t and grene.
Of J>ine nis noj)ing i-sene."
[Lines 659 — 668.]
pe ni^tingale at J>isse worde
Was wd ne3 ut of rede i-wor))e,
An J)03te ^ome on hire mode,
3if ho 03t elles understode,
5if ho ku))e 03t bute singe,
pat mi3te helpe to o)>er J>inge,
Her-to ho moste andswere vinde,
0/>er mid alle boii bi-Yimde.
THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE. 3 1
An hit is suj>e strong to fi3te
A3en so)» and a3en ri3te.
[Lines 707—750-]
"Hule, )>u axest me," ho seide, 370
" 3if ich kon eni oJ>er dede,
Bute singen in sum[er]e tide,
An bringe blisse for and wide.
Wi axestu of craftes mine?
Betere is min on J)an die J)ine; 375
Betere is o song of mine muj>e,
pan al fat evre J>i kun kuj>e.
An lust, ich telle ))e ware-vore:
Wostu to J>an man was i-bore?
To }>are blisse of hoveneriche, 380
par ever is song and mur3j)e i-liche.
pider funde)) evrich man
pat enijjing of gode kan.
Vor-J>i me singj> in holi chirche,
An clerkes ginnej> songes wirche, 385
pat man i-]>enche bi J>e songe
Wider he shal; and ))ar bon longe,
pat he J>e mui^^ ne vor-3ete,
Ac J>ar-of fenche and bi-3ete,
An nime 3eme of chirche stevene, 390
Hu murie is J)e blisse of hovene.
Clerkes, munekes, and kanunes,
par boJ> )>os gode wicke tunes,
Arise)> up to midelni3te,
An singe)> of Jje hovene li3te; 395
An prostes upe londe singe)),
Wane J)e li3t of dale springe));
An ich hom helpe wat I mai,
IcJi singe mid bom nijt and dai;
32 THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
An ho bo)> alle for me jje gladdere, 400
An to j)e songe boJ> J)e raddere.
Ich wami men to here gode,
pat hi bon blij)e on hore mode,
An bidde ))at hi moten i-seche
pan ilke song ))at ever is eche. 405
Nu J)U mi3t, hule, sitte and clinge;
Her among nis no chateringe.
Ich gramiti ))at we go to dome
To-fore j)e sulfe J>e pope of Rome.
Ac abid 3ete noJ>eles, 4i<=
pu shalt i-here an o^r wes;
Ne shaltu for Engelonde
At ))isse worde me at-stonde."
[Lines 835—853.]
" Abid ! abid !" J>e ule seide,
"pu gest al to mid swikelede; 415
Alle J>ine wordes ))U bi-leist,
pat hit Jjinc)) soj) al Jjat )>u seist;
Alle J?ine wordes bo)) i-sliked,
An so bi-semed an bi-liked,
pat alle ))0 Jiat hi avoJ>, 420
Hi wenej> ))at )>u segge soth.
Abid! abid! me shal ))e ^ene,
pu hit shal w[o]r))e wel i-sene,
pat ))U havest muchel i-lo^e
Wone ))i lesing boJ> unwro^e. 42$
pu seist ))at ))U singist mankimne,
And techest hom )>at hi fundie)) honne
Up to Jje songe )>at evre i-lest:
Ac hit is aire w[o]nder mest,
pat ))U darst li3e so opeliche. 430
Wenest fu hi bringe so li^tliche
To Godes riche a\ siiigvn^^"^
THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE. 33
[Lines 903 — 918.]
Wi nultu singe an oder Jjeode,
War hit is muchele more neode?
pu neaver ne singst in Irlonde, 435
Ne j>u ne cumest no^t in Scotlonde:
Hwi nultu fare to Noreweie?
And singin men of Galeweie?
par beo^ men )>at lutel kunne
Of songe J>at is bineo^ J>e sunne; 440
Wi nultu J>are preoste singe,
An teche of J>ire writelinge?
An wisi hom mid J)ire stevene,
Hu engeles singe)> ine heovene?
pu farest so do^ an ydel wel, 445
pat springe)* bi bume J)ar is snel.
And let for-drue ]te dune.
And floh on idel J>ar a-dune.
[Lines 1633 — 1680.]
pe nihtegale i-h[e]rde this,
An hupte uppon on blowe ris, 450
An herre sat J>an heo dude ear;
"Hule," heo seide, "beo nu wear,
Nulle ich wi)> ))e plaidi namore,
For her j>e nust )>i rihte lore;
pu 3eilpest J>at J>u art manne lo)>, 455
An evereuch wiht is wi^ j>e worJ>;
An mid 3ulinge and mid i-grede,
pu wanst wel j>at ))U art un-lede.
pu seist j>at gromes j>e i-fo^,
An heie on rodde j>e an-ho^, 460
An j>e to-twichet and to-schake^,
An summe of j>e schawles make^;
Me J>unch )>at )>u for-leost J?at game,
pu juJpest of pire o^e schame;
i>
34 THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
Me ))unch ))at |)U me gest an honde,
pu ^ulpest of J)ire o^ene schonde^"
po heo hadde J)eos word i-cwede,
Heo sat in one faire stude,
An ))ar after hire stevene dihte,
An song so schille and so brihte,
pat feor and ner me hit i-herde.
par-vore anan to hire cherde
prusche, and jjrostle, and wudewale,
' An fuheles bo))e grete and smale ;
For-))an heom ))uhte Jjat heo hadtle
pe houle over-come, vor-))an heo gradde.
An smigen alswa vale wise,
An blisse wa^ among ))e rise;
Ri^t swa me gred ))e manne aschame,
pat tavele)> and for-leost Jjat gome.
peos hule j)0 heo Jjis i-herde,
"Havestu," heo seide, "i-banned ferde?
An wultu, wrecche, wi^ me fi3te?
Nai, nai, navestu none mi3te.
Hwat grede)) ))eo ))at hider come?
Me J)unc)) ))U ledest ferde tome.
3e schule wite ar 3e fleo heonne,
Hwuch is Jje strenjje of mine kunne;
For ))eo Jje have)) bile i-hoked,
An clivres charpe and wel i-croked,
Alle heo beoJ> of mine kunrede,
An walde come, 3if ich bede;
pe seolfe coc, ))at wel can fi3te,
He mot mid me holde mid ri3te.
For bojje we habbe)> stevene bri3te.
An sitte)) under weolcne bi ni3te."
* MS. sc\\omme.
THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
{Lines 1687 — 179 a.]
35
"Ah hit was linker voreward,
po we come hider-ward,
pat we J)ar-to holde scholde,
par riht dom us ^ive wolde. 500
Wultu nu breke foreward?
Ich wene dom J)e J>ing[j>] to hard;
For ))ii ne darst domes abide,
pu wult nu, wreche, fi3te and chide.
3ot ich ow alle wolde rede, 505
Ar ihc utheste uppon ow grede,
pat oJ)er fiht-lac lete)) beo,
An ginnejj raj)e awei fleo.
For, bi J)e clivres J)at ich bere!
3ef 5e abide)) mine here, 510
3e schule on o))er wise singe,
An acursi alle fi3tinge;
Vor nis of ow non so kene,
pat durre abide mine onsene."
peos hule spac wel baldeliche, 515
For J>ah heo nadde swo hwatliche
I-fare after hire here,
Heo walde neo))eles ^efe answere.
pe ni3tegale mid swucche worde,
For moni man mid speres orde, 530
Have)) lutle strenc))e, and mid his chelde,
Ah neo))eles in one felde
purh belde worde an mid i-lete,
Dej) his i-vo for areh))e swete;
pe wranne, for heo cu))e singe, 525
War com in ))are more^eiing.
To helpe J)are ni3tegale:
For pah heo hadde stevene sma\e,
D 2
3$ THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
Heo hadde gode J)orte and schille,
An fale manne song awille; 530
pe wranne was wel wis i-holde,
Vor ))e3 heo nere i-bred a wolde.
Ho was i-to^en among man[k]enne,
An hire wisdom brohte J)enne;
Heo mi3te speke hwar heo walde, 535
To-vore J)e king }>ah heo scholde.
" Luste)>/' heo cwaj), " late)) me speke :
Hwat! wulle 3e J)is pes to-breke,
An do ))anne swuch schame?
3e, nis he nouJ>er ded ne lame, 540
Hunke schal i-tide harm and schonde,
3ef 3e dojj grij)-bruche on his londe.
LateJ> beo, and beof i-some,
An farej) riht to ower dome,
An late)) dom J)is plaid to-breke, 545
Al-swo hit was erur bi-speke."
"Ich an wel," cwaj) J)e ni^tegale;
"Ah, wranne, nawt for ))ire tale,
Ah do for mire lahfulnesse:
Ich nolde ))at un-rihtfukiesse 550
Me at ))en ende over-kome;
Ich nam of-drad of none dome.
Bi-hote ich habbe, soj) hit is,
pat maister Nichole, )>at is wis,
Bi-tuxen us deme schulde; 555
An 3ef ich wene jjat he wule,
Ah war mihte we hine finde?"
pe wranne sat in ore linde,
"Hwat, nu3te 3e," cwaJ? heo, "his hom?
He wune)) at Porteshom, 560
At one tune ine Dorsete,
Bi pare see in ore utAete*,
THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE. 37
par he demej) manie ri^te dom,
An diht and writ mani wisdom,
An J)urh his mujje and ))urh his honde 565
Hit is J)e betere into Scotlonde.
To seche hine is lihtlich J)ing,
He nave)) bute one woning:
pat his bischopen muchel schame;
An alle ))an ))at of his nome 570
HabbeJ) i-hert and of his dede,
Hwi nullej? hi nimen heom to rede,
pat he were mid heom i-lome
For teche heom of his wisdome.
An ^ive him rente a vale stude, 575
pat he mi^te heom i-lome be mide?*'
"Certes,*^ cwa)) ))e hule, "))at is so^:
peos riche men wel muche mis-do^,
pat lete)) Jjan gode mon,
pat of so feole Jange con, 580
An 3ive)> rente wel mis-liche.
An of him letej) wel lihtliche ;
WrS heore cunne heo beoj) mildre.
An 5eveJ> rente litle childre,
Swo heore wit hi demj> adwole, 585
pat ever abid maister Nichole.
Ah ute we ))ah to him fare.
For ))ar is unker dom al 3are."
"Do we/' the ni3tegale seide:
"Ah wa schal unker speche rede, 590
An telle to-vore unker deme?"
" par-of ich schal Jje wel i-cweme,"
Cwa)) ))e houle, " for al ende of orde.
Telle ich con word after worde;
An 3ef )« pmcp j)at ich mis-rempe, v^v
Jhi stand a^ein and dome crempe;'
38 THE OWL AND THE NIGHTINGALE.
Mid ))isse worde for]> hi ferden,
Al bute here and bute verde,
To Portesham ))at heo bi-come;
Ah hu heo spedde of heore dome 600
Ne chan ich eu namore telle;
Her nis namore of J)is spelle.
III.
EARLY ENGLISH ROMANCE.
BEFORE A.D. I3OO.
The Sloty of Havelok the Dane,
The Lay of Havelok the Dane, an Anglo-Danish Story, which
itains the legend of the origin of the English town of Grimsby,'
in its present form a translation from a French romance
:itled Le Lai de Avelocy written in the first half of the
elfth century, and probably founded upon an Anglo-Saxon
ginal. Of the English translator, who wrote in an East-Midland
Ject, we know nothing.
The following extract, shewing how Grim saved the life of
ivelok, and became the founder of Grimsby, is taken from The
icient English Romance of Havelok the Dane, edited by Sir F.
idden for the Roxburghe Club. (London, 1828.)
[Lines 339—748.1
In that time (Athelwold's), so it bifelle,
Was in the Ion of Denemark
A riche king, and swythe stark.
The name of him was Birkabeyn,
He hauede mani knict and sueyn, - 5
He was a fa}!: man, and wicth,
Of bodi he was the best[e] knicth,
That evere micte leden uth here.
Or stede onne ride, or handlen spere.
Thre chWdren he hauede hi his wif, \<i
He hem louede so his UL
ff
40 THE STORY OF
He hauede a sone, douhtres two,
Swithe fayre, as fel it so,
He that wile non forbere
Riche ne poure, king ne kaysere,
Deth him tok than he bes[t] wolde
Liuen, but hyse dayes were fulde;
That he ne moucte no more Hue,
For gol ne siluer, ne for no gyue.
[wan he that wiste, rathe he sende
After prestes fer and hende,
Chanounes gode, and monkes bothe,
Him for to wisse and to rede;
Him for to hoslon and for to shriue,
Hwil his bodi were on Hue.
Hwan he was hosled and shriuen,
His quiste maked and for him gyuen
His knictes dede he aUe site,
For thorw hem he wolde wite
Hwo micte yeme hise children yunge,
Til that he kouthen speken wit tunge;
Speken and gangen, on horse riden,
Elnictes and sweynes bi here siden.
He spoken theroffe and chosen sone
A riche man was, under mone
Was the trewest[e] that he wende,
Godard, the kinges oune frende;
And seyden, he moucthe hem best loke
Yif that he hem undertoke.
Til hise sone mouthe bere
Helm on heued, and leden ut here;
In his hand a spere stark,
And king ben maked of Denemark.
He we] trowede that be ae^de
HAVELOK THE DANE. 41
And on Godard handes leyde; 45
And seyde, "Here I biteche the
Mine children alle thre,
Al denemark, and al mi fe,
Til that mi sone of helde be;
But that ich wille, that tho[u] suere 50
On auter, and on messe-gere,
On the belles that men ringes,
On messe bok the prest on singes,
That thou mine children shalt wel yeme,
That hire kin be ful ^el queme, 55
Til mi sone mowe ben knicth,
Thanne biteche him tho his ricth,
Denemark, and that thertil longes.
Castles and tunes, wodes and wonges/'
Godard stirt up, and sweor al that 60
The king him bad, and sithen sat
Bi the knictes, that ther ware.
That wepen alle swithe sare
For the king that deide sone;
Jhesu Crist, that makede mone, 65
On the mirke nich to shine,
Wite his soule fro helle pine;
And lene that it mote wone
In heven-riche with godes sone !
Hwan Birkabeyn was leyd in graue, 70
The erl dede sone take the knaue,
Hauelok, that was the eir,
Swanborow his sister, Helfled, the tother,
And in the castel dede he hem do,
Ther non ne micte hem comen to 75
Of here kyn, ther thei sperd were ;
Ther he greten ofte sore,
Bothe for hunger and for kold,
42 THE STORY OF
Or he weren thre winter hold.
Feblelike he gaf hem clothes, 80
He ne yaf a note of his othes;
He hem ne clothede rith, ne fedde,
Ne hem ne dede richelike be-bedde.
Than Godard was sikerlike
Under God the moste swike, 85
That eure in erthe shaped was,
Withuten on, the wike Judas.
Have he the malisun to day
Of alle that enre speken may !
Of patriarck, and of pope ! 90
And of prest with loken kope !
Of monekes and hermites bothe !
And of the leue holi rode,
That God him selue ran on blode I
Crist warie him with his mouth! 95
Waried w[o]rthe he of north and suth !
Offe alle men that speken kunne !
Of Crist, that made mone and sunnel
Thanne he hauede of al the lond
Al the folk tilled intil his bond, 100
And alle haueden sworen him oth,
Riche and poure, lef and loth,
That he sholden hise wille freme,
And that he shulde him nouth greme,
He thouthe a ful strong trechery, 105
A trayson, and a felony, .
Of the children for to make :
The deuel of helle him sone take !
[wan that was thouth, onan he ferde
To the tour ther he woren sperde, no
Ther he greten for hunger and cold;
The knsLue that was sumdeV bo\d,
F
HAVELOK THE DANE, 43
Kam him ageyn, on knes him sette,
And Godard fnl feyre he ther grette,
And Godard seyde, "What is thow? 115
Hwi grete ye and goulen.nou?"
"For us hungreth swithe sore:" —
Seyden he wolden more,
"We ne haue to hete, ne we ne haue
Her-inne neyther knith ne knaue 120
That yeueth us drinken, ne no mete,
Haluendel that we moun ete.
Wo is us that we weren born !
Weilawei nis it no kom
That men micte maken of bred? 125
Us himgreth, we aren ney ded."
Godard herde here wa,
Ther-offe yaf he nouth a stra,
Bot tok the maydnes bothe samen,
Also it were up on hiis gamen, 130
Also he wold[e] with hem leyke,
That weren for hunger grene and bleike.
Of bothen he karf on-two here throtes,
And sithen hem al to grotes.
Ther was sorwe, wo-so it sawe ! 135
Hwan the children bith wawe
Leyen and sprauleden in the blod;
Hauelok it saw, and then bistod.
Ful sori was that seli knaue,
Mikel dred he mouthe haue, 140
For at hise herte he saw a knif,
For to reuen him hise lyf.
But the knaue that litel was
He knelede bifor that Judas,
And seyde, "louerd merci nou! \\^
Manrede, louerd bidd I you !
44 THE STORY OF
Al Denemark I wile you yeue,
To that forward thu late me liue.
Here hi wile on boke swere,
That neure more ne shal I here 150
Ayen the, louerd, shel ne spere,
Ne other wepne here, that may you dere,
Louerd haue merci of me I
To day I wile fro Denemark fle,
Ne neuere more comen ageyn; 155
Sweren Y wole that Bircabein
Neuere yete me ne gat:" —
Hwan the deuel herde that,
Sumdel bigan him for to rewe ;
Withdrou the knif, that was lewe, 160
Of the seli children blod;
Ther was miracle fair and god!
That he the knaue nouth ne slou
But to rewnesse him thit drew.
Of Auelok rewede him ful sore 165
And thouche he wolde that he ded wore,
Buton that he nouth wit his hend
Ne drepe him nouth, that fule fend,
Thoucte he, als he him bistod,
Starinde als he were wod; 170
'* Yif Y late him lines go,
He micte me wirchen michel wo,
Grith ne get Y neuere mo.
He may [me] waiten for to slo;
And yf he were brouct of liue, 175
And mine children wolden thriue
Louerdinges after me,
Of al Denemark micten he be.
God it wite, he shal ben ded,
Wile I taken non otYiet ted; %•*»
HAVELOK THE DANE, 45
I shal do casten him in the se
Ther I wile that he drench [ed] be,
Abouten his hals an anker god,
That he ne flete in the flod/'
Ther anon he dede sende 185
After a fishere that he wende,
That wolde al his wille do,
And sone anon he seyde him to:
"Grim, thou wost thu art mi thral,
Wilte don mi wille al, 190
That I wile bidden the.
To morwen shal maken the fre,
And aucte the yeuen, and riche make,
With-than thu wilt this child take,
And leden him with the to nicht, 195
Than thou sest the mone lith,
Into the se, and don him therinne
Al wile I taken on me the sinne/'
Grim tok the child and bond him faste,
Hwil the bondes micte laste, 200
That weren of ful strong line:
Tho was Hauelok in ful strong pine,
Wiste he neuere her wat was wo:
Jhesu Crist, that makede to go
The halte, and the doumbe speken, 205
Hauelok the of Godard wreken I
Hwan Grim him hauede faste bounden,
And sithen in an eld cloth w^wnden,
A keuel of clutes ful unwraste,
That he [ne] mputhe speke ne fnaste, 210
Hwere he wolde him bere or lede;
Hwan he hauede don that dede,
Hwan the swike him hauede hethede,
That he shulde him forth [lede],
46 THE STORY OF
And him drinchen in the se, 215
That forward makeden he.
In a poke, ful and blac,
Sone he caste him on his bac,
Ant bar him hom to hise cleue,
And bitaucte him Dame Leue, 220
And seyde, "Wite thou this knaue,
Also thou with my lif haue;
I shal dreinchen him in the se,
For him shole we ben maked fre,
Gold hauen ynou and other fe, 225
That hauet mi louerd bihote me."
Hwan Dame [Leue] herde that,
Up she stirte, and nouth ne sat,
And caste the knaue adoun so harde,
That hise croune he ther crakede 230
Ageyn a gret ston, ther it lay.
Tho Hauelok micte sei, "Weilawei!
That euere was I kinges bern!"
That him ne hauede grip or em,
Leoun or w[o]lf, w[o]luine or bere, 235
Or other best, that wolde him dere.
So lay that child to middel nicth
That Grim bad Leue bringen lict,
For to don on his clothes :
'* Ne thenkeste nowt of mine othes 240
That ich haue mi louerd sworen?
Ne wile I nouth be forloren.
I shal beren him to the se,
(Thou wost that houes me;)
And I shal drenchen him therinne; 245
Ris up swithe, an go thu binne,
And blou the fir, and lith a kandel."
Als she shulde his clotVves \v2C![vdd
HAVELOK THE DANE. 47
On for to don, and blawe the fir,
She saw theiinne a lith ful shir, 250
Also brith so it were day,
Aboute the knaue ther he lay.
Of hise mouth it stod a stem,
Als it were a sunne bem;
Also lith was it ther-inne, 255
So ther brenden cerges inner
"JhesuCristl" wat dame Leue,
**Hwat is that lith in ure cleue !
S[t]ir up Grim, and loke wat it menes,
Hwat is the lith as thou wenes." 260
He stu[r]ten bothe up to the knaue,
For man shal god wille haue,
Vnkeueleden him, and swithe unbounden;
And sone anon him funden,
Als he timeden of his serk, 265
On his nth shuldre a kyne merk,
A swithe brith, a swithe fair:
"Goddot!" quoth Grim, "this ure eir
That shal [ben] louerd of Denemark,
He shal ben king strong and stark; 270
He shal hauen in his hand
A Denemark and Engeland;
He shal do Godard ful wo,
He shal him hangen or quik flo;
Or he shal him al quic graue, 275
Of him shal he no merci haue."
Thus seide Grim, and sore gret.
And sone fel him to the fet,
And seide, "Louerd, have merci
Of me, and Leue that is me bi ! 280
Louerd we aren bothe thine, .
Thwe cherles, thine hine.
48 THE STORY OF
Lowerd we sholen the wel fede,
Til that thu cone riden on stede,
Til that thu cone ful wel here 285
Helm on heued, sheld and spere.
He ne shal neuere wite, sikerlike,
Godard, that fule swike.
Thorn other man, louerd, than thoru the,
Sal I neuere freman be. 290
Thou shalt me, louerd, fre maken,
For I shal yemen the and waken;
Thoru the wile I fredom haue:"
Tho was Haueloc a blithe knaue.
He sat him up, and crauede bred, 295
And seide, "Ich am ney dede,
Hwat for hunger, wat for bondes,
That thu leidest on min hondes;
And for keuel at the laste
That in mi mouth was thrist faste. 300
Y was with the so harde prangled,
That I was the with ney strangled."
"Wel is me that thu mayth hete."
"Goddoth!" quath Leue, "Y shal the fete
Bred an chese, butere and milk, 305
Pastees and flaunes, al with suilk;
Shole we sone the wel fede,
Louerd, in this mikel nede.
Soth it is, that men seyt and suereth:
*Ther God wile helpen, nouth ne dereth:'" 310
Thanne sho hauede brouth the mete,
Haueloc anon bigan to ete
Grimdlike, and was ful blithe;
Couth he nouth his hunger mithe.
A lof he het, Y woth, and more, 315
For him hungrede swithe soie.
HAVELOK THE DANE. 49
Thre dayes ther bifom, I wene,
£t he no mete, that was wel sene.
Hwan he hauede eten and was fed,
Grim dede maken a ful fayr bed; 3«o
Vnclothede him, and dede him ther-inne,
And seyde, "Slep sone, with muchel winne;
Slep wel faste, and dred the nouth,
Fro sorwe to ioie art thu brouth."
Sone so it was lith of day, 325
Grim it undertok the wey
To the wicke traitour Godard,
That was Denema[r]k[es] a stiward,
And seyde, "Louerd, don ich haue
That thou me bede of the knaue; 330
He is drenched in the flod,
Abouten his Hals an anker god;
He is witerlike ded,
Eteth he neure more bred;
He lith drenched in the se! — 3?,^
Yif me gold, other fe.
That Y mowe riche be,
And with thi chartre make fre.
For thu ful wel bihetet me,
Thanne I last spak with the." 340
Godard stod, and lokede on him
Thoruthlike, with eyen grim,
And seyde, "Wiltu ben eri?
Go hom swithe, fule, drit, cheri;
Go hethen, and be euere more 345
Thral and cheri, als thou er wore.
Shal [thou] haue non other mede,
For litel, ig do the lede
To the galues, so God me rede!
For thou baues don a wicke dede : ?>3<i
E
50 THE STORY OF
Thou mai[s]t stonden h&i to longe,
Bute thou swithe ethen gonge."
Grim thoucte to late that he ran
Fro that traytour that wicke man;
And thoucte, "Wat shal me to rede? 355
Wite he him on liue, he wile bethe
Heye hangen on galwe tre:
Betere us is of londe to fie,
And berwen bothen ure Hues,
And mine children, and mine wiues." 360
Grim solde sone al his com,
Shep with wolle, neth wit horn,
Hors, and swin wit berd.
The gees, the hennes of the yerd;
Al he sold, that outh douthe, 365
That he cure selle moucte.
And al he to the peni drou :
Hise ship he greythede wel inow,
He dede it tere, an ful wel pike,
That it ne doutede sond ne krike; 370
Therinne dide a ful god mast,
Stronge kables, and ful fast.
Ores god, an ful god seyl,
Therinne wantede nouth a nayl,
That euere he sholde therinne do: 375
Hwan he hauedet greythed so,
Hauelok the yunge he dide ther-inne,
Him and his wif, hise sones thrinne,
And hise two doutres, that faire wore.
And sone dede he leyn in an ore, 380
And drou him to the heye se,
Ther he mith alther-best fle:
Fro iond woren he bote a mile,
Ne were neuere but ane Yvm\^,
S
HAVELOK THE DANE. 51
That it ne bigan a wind to rise 385
Out of the north, men calleth bise,
And drof hem intil Engelond,
That al was sithen in his hond,
His, that Hauelok was the name;
But or he hauede michel shame, 390
Michel sorwe and michel tene.
And thrie he gat it al bidene,
Als ye shulen nou forthwar lere
Yf that ye wilen ther-to here.
In Humber Grim bigan to lende, 395
In Lindeseye, rith at the north ende,
Ther sat is ship up on the sond,
But Grim it drou up to the lond.
And there he made a litel cote.
To him and to hise flote. 400
Bigan he there for to erthe
A litel hus to maken of erthe.
So that he wel thore were
Of here herboru herborwed there,
And for that Grim that place aute, 405
The stede of Grim the name laute,
So that Grimesbi calleth alle
That ther-offe speken alle,
And so shulen men callen it ay,
Bituene this and domesday. 410
E 2
IV.
THE ROMANCE OF KING ALEXANDER.
BEFORE A.D. I3OO.
A French Romance of Alexander, in nine books, consisting of
about 20,000 lines, was composed in the year a. D. laoo, and a free
English translation of this work was made some time before a. d.
1 300, by an unknown author, who has been called Adam Davie,
on account of some religious Poems composed by a person of that
name being found in the MS. containing the Alexandrine Ro-
mance.
The following extracts (the dialect of which is Southern, with
some Midland peculiarities) are taken from the Metrical Romances
of the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Centuries, edited by Henr}'
Weber; 3 vols. Edinburgh, 18 10.
[Lines 4824 — ^4849.]
LoRDYKGES, also I fynde,
At Made so bigynneth Ynde;
Forsothe ich woot, it stretcheth ferrest
Of alia the londas in tha est.
And oth the south half sikerlyk, ^
To the caa taketh of AfFryk;
And tha north half to a mountayne,
That is ycleped Caucasayne.
Forsooth yea shulen vnderstonde,
Twyes is somer in tha londe »o
And neuar more wynter na chela S
That londe is ful of al wele;
Twyes hy gaderen fruyt there.
And wyne, and com m oiv^ ^^te,
1 Weber piiuts cbalen.
• THE ROMANCE OF KING ALEXANDER. 53
In the londe, als I fynde, of Ynde 15
Ben cites fyue thonsynde;
Withouten ydles, and castels,
And boraghs tounes, swithe feles.
In the londe of Ynde thou mighth lere
Nyne thousynde folk of selcouth manere, 20
That ther non is other yliche;
Ne helde thou it noughth ferlich,
Ac by that thou understonde the gestes
Bethe of man and ek of beestes,
That us telleth the maistres saunz fayle; 25
Than mighth thou haue meruaile.
[Lines 4852—4855 ; 4862—4889.]
Listneth of wondres, and sitteth in pes,
In Ynde is a water y-hote Ganges;
There ben inne fysshes of strengthe,
Thre hundreth feet hy ben of lengthe. .30
There is another ydle halt Gangerides
There ben inne castels and of poeple pres;
Hy beeth also mychel and bolde,
As childe of seven yeres olde,
Hy ne ben no more verreyment: 35
Ac hy ben of body faire and gent;
Hy ben natheles faire and wighth[e],
And gode and engyneful to fighth[e],
.\nd have horses auenaunt,
To hem stalworth and asperaunt. 40
Clerkes hy ben with the best[e]
Of alle men hy ben queyntest[e] ;
And evermore hy beth werrende,
And upon other conquerrende.
By the mone and hy the sterren, a^
/fy connen jugge alle werren.
54 THE ROMANCE OF
Hy ben the altherbest[e]
That ben from est into west[e] ;
For hy connen shete the gripes fleigheyng
And the dragons that ben brennyng. 50
Hy ben in wode gode hunteres,
To cacche bores and wilde beres,
And ek lyouns and olyfaunz.
The kyng of these sergeaunz
May leden to bataille 55
Two thousande knighttes saunz faille,
And seven hundreth olifaunz
And fourty thousande redy sergeaunz.
[Lines 4902—4915.]
Michel is the wonder that is under Crist Jesus.
There biyonden is an hyll, is cleped Malleus. 60
Listneth now to me I praie for my loue!
This hyll is so heie that nothing cometh aboue;
The folk on the north-half in thester stede hy beth,
For in al the yer no sunne hy ne seeth.
Hy on the south-half ne seen sonne non 65
Bot in on moneth, atte fest of seint John;
Thoo that woneth in the est[e] partie,
The Sonne and the bote skye
Al the day hem shyneth on,
That hy ben black so pycche son^ 70
Thise naciouns ben outelyng,
And in her owen yemyng*
[Lines 4928—4953.]
A folk woneth biside thoos,
That beeth y-cleped Farangos;
That hauntetli wildernesse and forestes, 75
And nymeth therinne wilde bestes,
* Weber prints pycbes som.
KING ALEXANDER. 55
And flesshe hy eten raw and hoot,
Withouten kycchen[de], God it woot.
Another folk hem woneth by,
That beth y-hoten Maritiny. 80
By the water is her wonynge,
And hy libben al by fysshynge.
Hy nymmeth the fyssh, and eteth it thanne,
Withouten fyre, withouten panne.
Ne hebben hy non other fyre 85
Bote shynyng of the sonne clere.
Another folk there is next, as hogges crepeth.
After crabben and airen hy skippen and lepeth;
Of thomes and busshes ben her garnement,
And of holmen leues, I sigge verrayment. 90
Another folk woneth there biside;
Orphani hy hatteth wide.
When her eldrynges beth elde.
And ne mowen hem-seluen welde,
Hy hem sleeth, and bidelue, 95
And the guttes hy eteth hem-selue;
The guttes hy eten, for loue fyne,
And for penaunce and for discipline.
[Lines 4962 — 4983.]
Another folk there is biside;
Houndynges men clepeth hem wide. 100
From the brest[e] to the grounde
Men hy ben, abouen houndes,
Berkyng of houndes hy habbe.
Her honden, withouten gabbe,
Ben y-shuldred as an fysshe, 105
And clawed after hound, i-wisse.
In wood hy woneth, god it woot.
And libben by the wylde goot.
THE RUm^..^,
Another folk there is ferliche,
Also blak so any pycche;
An eighe hy habbeth and no mo,
And a foot on to goo.
With his foot whan hyt ryneth
He wrieth his body, and wanne it shineth;
For his foot so mychel is,
It may his body wryen, i-wis.
Another folk there is forthers.
That libbeth also palmers,
Ac mete thai ne habben
Bot hawen, hepen, slon, and rabben.
[Lines 5182—5203.]
The gode clerk, men cleped Solim,
Hath y-writen in his latin,
That ypotame a wonder beest is
More than an olifaunt, i-wis;
Toppe and nigge, and croupe and cors.
Is semblabel to an hors.
A short beek, and a croked tayl
He hath, and bores tussh, saunz fayle;
Blak is his heued as pycche.
It is a beeste ferliche;
It wil al fruyt ete,
Applen, noten, reisyns, and whete.
Ac mannes flesshe, and mannes bon,
It loueth best of everychon.
In roche is his wonyying,
In water and londe his purchaceyng.
Bothe hy eteth flesshe and fysshe.
Of no beest[e] drad he nys.
Hynd and forth he toumeth his pas.
Whan he gooth on any cas.
KING ALEXANDER, 57
That no man ne shulde y-wite,
Whiderwarde hy were biwite.
[Lines 6508 — 664 1.]
Now ye schule y-here gestes,
Bothe of wormes and of bestis,
That kyng Alisaunder fond, 145
Tho he wente in Egipte lond.
Sitteth stille, and geveth listenyng,
And ye schule here of wondur thyng.
Certes, lordynges, Alisaunder the kyng
Wolde y-seo al thyng; 150
Weore hit open, weore hit loke,
That he myght here of spoke.
He fond, as the bok tellith us,
A best in the lond y-cleped Cessus.
Homed hit is as an oxce: 155
Berd hit hadde long y-waxe.
Hit hath monnes feet byhynde ;
And his feet to-fore, so Y fynde,
Buth yliche monnes hond[e].
Hit nedeth nothyng to wond[e]. j6o
Hit is a best founde in boke
Wei griseliche on to loke.
Another best also ther ys
That hatte rinocertis, y-wis.
Hit is more than an olifaunt; 165
In wilde wode is his haunt ^
The olifans, in medl^,
And theo lyouns he wol sle.
For, on his snowte, an horn he beres,
That he smyt with lyouns and beres. 170
* Weber prints bont.
58 THE ROMANCE OF
Theo horn is scharp as a sweord,
Bothe by the greyn and at ord.
A best ther is, of more los,
That is y-cleped Monoceros.
In marreys and reods is heore wonyng, 175
No best no haveth his fyghtyng.
To-fore, y-mad is his cors
After the forme of an hors.
Fete after olifant, certis:
Hed he hath as an heortps]. 180
Tayl he hath as an hog:
Croked tuxes as a dog.
Ther nys to hym tygre, no lyoun,
No no best, so felomi.
He hath, in his front strong, 185
An horn foure feet long,
So as Y in bokes fynde;
No raysour is so kervynge.
He sleth ypotanos, and kokadrill[e],
And alle bestes to his wille 190
Homid no best dar him asayle,
No non armed mon, saun faile.
No no mon may him lache.
Bote by that he no snache.
Another best there is, of eovel kynde, 195
Griseliche hit is, after theo feonde.
He schal sterve anon ryght.
That hit may on have a syght.
Cathalebra is hire name:
God ows schilde al fro schame ! 200
Yet ther beon emoten, so Y f^wde,
That beon more t\\atv gteVvowti^s,
KING ALEXANDER. 59
No mon no may heom anoye,
Bote he wol anon ryght dye.
Ethiope and Clante buth two londis ; 205
Ant bytweone heom renneth selcouth strondis.
From Nyl, a water of Paradys
Thennes cometh, and hoteth Tiger y-wis.
In tyme of wynter hit is dryhe ;
And in somur hit over-renneth the contray. 210
Heo noriceth delfyns, and cokadrill,
Of whom after telle Y wol.
Ther woneth a folk, of body lyght;
Broun they beon, and nothyng wight.
For they beon withoute clothes, naked; 215
Hardy, they beon and ful of wrake.
Delfyns they nymeth, and cokedrill[e].
And afyghteth, to heore wille,
For to beore heom to the flod;
And by lond, gef heom thynkith god. 220
Theose beon stronge y-wis:
In winter no eteth they flesch no fisch;
No corn, no fruyt, no other thyng:
Ac they liveth, so theo heryng.
By the water, and gendryth therynne. 225
Feet and bond buth heore vynnes.
They cometh a lond in somer tide,
And makith teyntis wide and side:
And libbeth by flesch and fisch,
So doth other men y-wis. 230
Now listeneth and sitteth stille,
What best is the cokadrille.
He is strong, and of gret valour,
Brode feet he hath four.
6o THE ROMANCE OF
Ac by kynde he is-byreved, 235
That they no haueth no tonge in the heved,
Ayren they liggeth, as a griffon;
Ac they beon more feor aroun.
Twelf fote he is long.
And so olifant he is strong. 240
In hire mouth buth teth treble set.
None bettre bores y-whet.
He beoreth at ones, there he is good,
Ten men over theo flod.
Theo delfyns woneth hire byside; 245
A strong best of gret pryde.
They haveth schuldren on the rygge,
Fxhe as scharpe as sweordis egge.
Whan the delfyn the cokadrill seoth.
Anon togedre wroth the[i] buth, 250
And smyteth togedre anon ryght.
And makith thenne a steorne fyght,
Ac the delfyn is more queynteS
And halt him in the water doune^;
And whan theo kocadrill him over swymmeth, 25 c;
He rerith up his brustelis grymme,
And his wombe al to-rent;
Thus is the cokadrill y-schent.
And y-slawe of theo delfyn
God geve ows god fyn. 260
Monye buth theo merveilles of Ethiope,
That Alisaundre hath y-grope.
There he fond a mounte beming,
And tidvnges herde of his endyng.
' Weber prints queynUr and douner.
KING ALEXANDER. 6l
Hit helpeth noght, ay^ Y saide : 265
Ac therof he was eovil paied.
Yet in Ethiope is a dych,
Merveillous, and eke gryslich.
Nyght and day there is gredyng;
Ac mon may seo no quyk thyng. 270
Ac sot and snow cometh out of holes.
And brennyng fuyr, and glowyng coles;
That theo snow for the fuyr no malt,
No the fuyr for theo snow aswelt.
This is now a wondur thyng, 275
That last to theo worldis endyng.
ROBERT OF GLOUCESTER.
A. D. 1298.
Reign of William the Conqueror,
[Copied and edited from Cotton MS. Caligula A. xi.]
Robert of Gloucester, a monk of the abbey of Gloucesi
lived in the reign of Edward I, wrote a rhymed Ghro
England from the Siege of Troy to the death of He
(1272).
A contemporary MS, in the British Museum has fumis
editor with the present specimen of the Chronicler's h
which represents the Southern dialect of Gloucester. R
Gloucester is supposed to have been the author of a metr
sion of the Lives of Saints. A few of these Lives (inclu<
Life of St. Dunstan) have been printed in Early Engl'ui
edited for the Philological Society by F. J. Fumivall, M.i^
MucHE a)) ))e sorwe ibe ofte in Engelonde,
As 36 mowe her "3 er ihure "3 understonde,
Of moni bataile ))at a)) ibe, -3 ))at men ))at lond nc
Verst, as 36 abbej) ihurd, )>e emparours of Rome,
SuJ)))e Saxons and Englisse mid batayles stronge,
■] suj)j>e hii of Denemarch, )>at hulde it al so longe
Atte laste hii of Normandie, ))at maisters be)) 3Ut I
Wonne hit -3 holdej) ^ut, ichoUe telle in wuch man
po Willam bastard hurde telle of Haraldes suikelhe
Hou he adde ymad him king, and mid such falshe
Vor pat lond him was bitake, as he wel wuste,
To wi'te hit to him wel, *3 Vie ^e\ \.o \v\m \x>\^\fc.
REION OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 6^
As ]>e hende he dude verst, and messagers him sende, ;;2I
pat he understode him bet is dede vor to amende,
"3 }>05te on J>e grete oJ>, )>at he him adde er ydo, 15
To wite him wel Engelond, ;] to spousi is do3ter also;
■] htdde him J>er-of vorewarde, as he bihet ek )>e kinge,
"} bote he dude bi-time, he wolde sende him ofer tidinge,
•3 seche him out ar tuelf monfe, ^ is ri3tes winne,
pat he ne ssolde abbe in al Engelond, an hume to wite
him inne. 20
Harald him sende worde, "]«it folie it was to tniste
To such oJ>, as was ido mid strengj)e, as he wel wuste;
Vor 3if a maide treuj)e ipli3t, to do an fole dede
Al one priveliche, wijjoute hire frendes rede,
pulke vorewarde were uor no^t, j watloker it a3te her,
pat ich suor an oj), j>at was al in J)i poer, 26
Wi)K)wte conseil of al )>e^ lond, of J)ing fat min no3t nas.
per-uore nede oJ> isuore, nede ibroke was.
"] jif Jk)u me wolt seche in Engelond, ne be J)0U no3t so
stume,
Siker Jk)u be ))OU ne ssalt me finde in none hurne." 30
,6i| Po WiUam hurde fat he wolde susteini is trecherie,
He let of-sende is kni3tes of al Normandie,
To conseili him in J>is cas, -3 to helpe him in such nede ;
And he gan of hor porchas largeliche hom bede.
As hii founde suj>pe in Engelond, J)0 it iwonne was, 35
Pe betere was toward him hor herte uor J)is cas.
Pe due Willam is wille among hom alle sede,
pat four J)inges him made mest biginne Jjulke dede.
pat Godwine, Haraldes fader to de)>e let do
So villiche Alfred, is cosin, j is felawes also, 40
D uor Harald adde is of ibroke, pat he suor mid is rijt
hond,
pat he wolde to is hioipe, witie Engelond,
y uor Seint Edward him jef Engelond also.
/
64 REION OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
And uor he was next of is blod, ^ best wurjie jier to,
•] uor Harald nadde no ri3t bote in falshede. 45
pes finges him made mest biginne jmlke dede.
*;) uor he wolde J)at alle men iseye is trewehede,
To ))e pope Alisandre he sende in such cas him to rede.
Haraldes falshede )k) }>e pope ysey })ere,
^ parauntre me him tolde more }>an so)) were, 50
pe pope asoilede -] blessede Willam, -^ alle his
pat into ))is bataile mid him ssolde iwis,
•] halwede is baner fat me at-uore him bere.
po was he ;] alle his gladdore Jjan hii er were.
So ))at ))is due adde a3en heruest al 3are 55
His barons ;] kni3tes, mid him uor to fare.
To })e hauene of Sein Walri })e due wende ))0
Mid ))e men J>at he adde, -] abide mo.
After heruest Jjo hor ssipes ;] hii al preste were,
•;) [wynd] hom com after wille, hor seiles hii gonne arere,
"] hiderward in ]>e se wel glad yen wei nome. 61
So Jjat bi-side Hastinge to Engelond hii come,
Hom J>03te J>o hii come alond, J>at al was in hor bond.
As sone as ]>e due Willam is fot sette alond,
On of his kni3tes gradde, " hold vaste Willam nou 65
Engelond, uor Jier nis no king bote )k)u,
Vor siker Jjou be, Engelond is nou ))in iwis."
pe due Willam anon uorbed alle his,
pat non nere so wod, to robby, ne no maner harm do
>ere,
Vpe ))e lond, J>at is was, bote hom J>at a3en him were. 70
Al an fourtene ni3t hii bileuede J)er aboute,
•] conseilede of batayle, "} ordeinede hor route.
King Harald sat glad ynou at Euerwik atte mete,
So pat per com a messager, ar he adde i3ete,
7 sede, pat due Willam to Haslm^e^ ^^& \eotae, 75
7 Js baner adde arerd, *] \)e coiiXieie 2\ moxftfc.
HSTGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 65
Elarald, anon mid grete herte corageus ynou,
\s he of no mon ne tolde, J>uderward uaste he drou,
He ne let no3t clupie al is folc, so willesfol he was,
3 al for in Jje oJ)er bataile him vel so vair cas. 80
po due WiUam wuste ))at he was icome so nei,
A monek he sende him in message, j dude as ))e sley,
pat lond, )jat him was i3iue, Jiat he ssolde him vp3elde,
0))er come, ^ dereyni ]te ri^te mid suerd in J)e velde.
>if he sede, J>at he nadde none ri3te fer-to, 85
pat vpe fe popes lokinge of Rome he ssolde it do,
*] he wolde }>er-to stonde, al wijjoute fi3te,
Wer Seint Edward hit him 3af, 3 wer he adde }>er-to ri3te.
Harald sende him word a3en, J>at he nolde him take no lond,
Ne no lokinge of Rome, bote suerd -^ ri3t hond. 90
po hit o))er ne mi3te be, eij>er in is side
Conseilede 3 3arkede horn, bataile uor to abide.
pe englisse ial J)e ni3t biuore uaste bigonne to singe,
1 spende al J)e ni3t in glotonie ^ in drinkinge.
pe Normans ne dude no3t so, ac criede on God uaste, 95
And ssriue hom ech after ojjer ))e wule J>e ni3t ylaste,
1 amorwe hom let hoseli mid milde herte ynou.
1 su|))>e J)e due wi)) is ost toward ))e bataile drou,
An stounde he gan abide, ^ is kni3tes rede : —
"3e kni3tes," he sede, ")>at be)> of so noble dede, 100
pat nere neuere ouercome, ne 30ure elderne naJ>emo,
Understonde)) of the kunde of France J)at 3oure eldeme
dude so wo,
Hou mi fader in Paris amidde is kinedom,
Mid prowesse of 30ure faderes mid strengjje him ouercom.
Understonde)) hou 30ure eldeme J>e king nome also, 105
5 held him uorte he adde amended J?at he adde misdo,
1 Richard, l>at was J)0 a child, i3olde Normandie,
pat was due herbiuo're, 3 J?at to such maistrie,
pat at eche parlement pat he in France were,
F
66 REIGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
pat he were igurd wi}> suerd, })e wule he were jiere,
Ne ]>bX ye king of France ne his so[n] hardi nere,
Ne non atte parlement J>at knif ne suerd here.
Understonde)) ek jje dedes, ))at ))ulke Richard dude also,
pat he ne ouercom no3t kinges alone, ac wel more )>er-to,
Ac he ouercom \>e deuel, 3 adoun him caste,
To-gadere as hii wrastlede, 3 bond is honden vaste
Bihinde at is rugge ; of such prowesse ^e jjenche,
Ne ssame ^e no^t ))at Harald, Jiat euere was of lu^
wrenche,
'J biuore 30U was uorsuore, J>at he wolde mid is taile
Tume is wombe toward vs, 3 is face in bataile.
Understonde)) ^e suikedom, J>at is fader 3 he wro^te,
"5 hii }>at mid him here be}>, \>o hii to dej>e bro3te
So villiche Alfred mi cosin, 3 my kunesmen also.
Hou mi3te in eny wise more ssame be ido?
Monie, J?at dude ))ulke dede, ^e mowe her [to day] ise. 1
Hou longe ssolle hor luj?er heued aboue hor ssoldren be ?
Adrawe)) 30ure suerdes, ^ loke wo may do best,
pat me ise 30ure prowesse fram est to ye west,
Vor to awreke yzX gentil blod, ))at so villiche was inome
Of vr kunesmen, vor we mowe wel, vr time is nou icome."
pe due nadde no3t al ised, J?at mid ernest gret i
His folc quicliche to ye bataile sscet.
A suein, J?at het Taylefer, smot uorJ> biuore ))er,
T slou anon an Engliss mon, J?at a baner ber,
"J ef-sone ano)>er baneur, ^ J?e jjridde almest also, 1
Ac h/m-sulf he was aslawe, ar Jie dede were ydo.
pe uerst ende of is ost biuore Harald mid such ginne
So fikke sette, |)at no mon ne mi3te come wifinne,
Wiy stronge targes hom biuore, J>at archers ne dude h(
no3t,
So Jjat Normans were nei to grounde ibro3t.
Willam bijjo^te an queintise, •} bigan to fle uaste.
REIQN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 67
■) is folc uor}> mid him, as hii were agaste,
*;) flowe ouer an longe dale, ^ so vp an-hey.
pe Englisse ost was prout ynou, ))0 he }>is isey,
^ bigonne hom to sprede, -y after J>en wey nome. 145
pe Normans were aboue })e hul, \q othere upward come,
q bitumde hom aboue al eseliche, as it wolde be donward,
"3 ))e othere bine))e ne mi3te no3t so quicliche upward,
"3 hii were biuore al to-sprad, }>at me mi3te bitwene hom
wende.
pe Normans were J?o wel porueid aboute in eche ende, 150
1 stones adonward slonge vpe hom ynowe,
1 mid speres 3 mid flon vaste of hom slowe,
*3 mid suerd 3 mid ax, uor hii }>at upward nome,
Ne mi3te no wille abbe of dunt, as hii ))at donward come,
T hor vant-warde was to-broke, ))at me mi3te wi))inne hom
wende, 155
1 So ])at j)e Normans uaste slowe in ech ende.
Of ])e Englisse al uor no3t ))at fe valeie was nei.
As heie ifuld mid dede men, as J>e doune anhei.
pe ssetare donward al uor no3t vaste slowe to grounde.
So )>at Harald j>oru J)en eie issote was de)>es wounde. 160
1 a kni3t )>at isei, }>at he was to dej^e ibro3t,
3 smot him, as he lay binej)e, 1 slou him as uor no3t.
Fram J>at it was amorwe ])e bataile ilaste strong,
Vorte it was hei mid ouernon and ))at was somdel long.
Moni was ))e gode dunt J)at due Willam 3ef a day. 165
Vor J>re stedes he slou vnder him, as me say,
Vor-priked, and uor-amd aboute, 1 uor-wounded also,
5 debrused a3en dedemen, ar }>e bataile were ido.
] 3ut was Willames grace J>ulke day so god,
pat he nadde no wounde warJ>oru he ssedde an drope
blod. 170
pus lo! )>e Englisse folc vor no3t to grounde com
Vor a fais king, )>at nadde no ri3t to ^^ kinedom,
p 2
68 HBIGN QF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
*j come to a nywe louerd, jjat more in ri3te was.
Ac hor nojjer, as pie may ise, in pur ri^te nas.
'J J>us was in Normannes bond }>at lend ibro3t iwis, 175
p^t an*aunter 3if euermo keueringe J)er-of is.
Of j)e Normans be}> heye men, Jjat be)) of Engelonde
*] J>e lowe men of Saxons, as ich understonde,
So J>at 3e sej? in ei))er side wat ri3te ^e abbe)) ))erto;
Ac ich understonde, J)at it was J)oru Godes wille ydo. 180
Vor \te wule ))e men of J)is lond pur he)>ene were,
No lond, ne no folc a^en hom in armes nere;
Ac nou suJ)J)e J)at ))et folc auenge cristendom,
"3 wel lute wule hulde ]>e biheste ))at he nom,
"3 tumde tx) sleu))e> -} to pmte, 3 to lecherie, 185
To glotonie, -} heye men muche to robberie,
As ))e gostes in a uision to Seint Edward sede,
Wu ))er ssolde in Engelond come such wrecchede;
Vor robberie of heie men, vor clerken hordom,
Hou God wolde sorwe sende in )>is kinedom. 190
Bituene Misselmasse and Sein Luc, a Sein Calixtes day.
As vel iA ))ulke ^ere in a Saterday,
In J)e 3er of grace, as it vel also,
A jjousend and sixe •} ^xti, )>is bataile was ido.
Due Willam was )?o old nyne •] ))ritti 3er, 195
'3 on 3 thritti 3er he was of Normandie due er.
po ))is bataile was ydo, due Willam let bringe
Vaire is folc, )>at was aslawe> an erj)e ))Oru alle j>inge.
Alle )>at wolde leue he ^ef, j)at is fon aner))e bro3te.
Haraldes moder uor hire sone wel 3erne him biso3te 200
Bi messagers, -} largeliche him bed of ire ))inge,
To granti hire hire sones bodi aner))e vor to bringe.
Willam hit sende hire vaire inou, wi))OUte eny thing ware
uore :
So ))at it was ])oru hire wi)) gret honour ybore
To ))e hous of Walth^m, -} ihrojt aner))e ))ere, «o5
REIGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 69
In ))e holi rode chirche, J)at he let him-sulf rere,
An hous of religion, of canons ywis.
Hit was j>er vaire an er}>e ibro^t, as it 3Ut is.
Willam J>is noble due, })0 he adde ido al }>is,
pen vney he nom to Londone he ^ alle his, ii6
As king and prince of londe, with nobleye ynou.
A^en him wij> uair procession ))at folc of toune drou
t) vnderueng him vaire inou, as king of })is lond.
pus com lo Engelond. in to Normandies hond.
-} l>e Normans ne coujie speke fo. bote hor owe speche,
■] speke french as hii dude at om -^ hor children dude allso
teche. 2ir»
So J)at heiemen of ))is lond. that of hor blod come,
Holde)) alle ))ulke speche ))at hii of hom nome.
Vor bote a man conne frenss, me telj> of him lute.
Ac lowe men holdej) to engliss ^ to hor owe speche 3ute.
Ich wene fer ne be)) in al ))e world contreyes none, 221
pat ne holdej) to hor owe speche bote Engelond one.
Ac wel me wot uor to conne bofe wel it is,
Vor ))e more ))at a mon can, the more wurj)e he is.
pis noble due Willam him let crouny king 225
At Londone a mid winter day nobliche Jjoru alle })ing,
Of J>e erchebissop of Euerwik, Aldred was is name,
per nas prince in al |)e world of so noble fame.
Of )>e heyemen of ]>e lond, )>at hii ne ssolde a^en bi-tufne,
He esste ostage strong inou -} hii ne solde no3t wume, 2.-.0
Ac toke him ostage god at is owe wille,
So that 3if eny a3en him was, huld him })0 stille:
5if toward Edgar Atheling eni is herte drou,
pat was kunde eir of })is lond, him huld ))0 stille ynou.
So Jjat Jjo ))is Edgar wuste al hou it was, 235
pat him nas no Jjing so god as to seky cas.
His moder ^ is sostren tuo mid him sone he nom.
To wende- a^en to fe lond fram wan he er com»
^0 REIGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
A wind jjer com ))0 in })e se ;] drof hom to Scotlonde,
So ))at after betere wind hii moste Jjere at-stonde. 240
Macolom king of fe lond to him sone hom drou,
J vor ))e kunne fram wan hii come, honoured hom ynou.
So l>at ))e gode Margarete as is wille to [him] com,
pe eldore soster of Jie tuo in spoushod he nom.
Bi hire he adde an do3ter su)>))e jje gode quene Mold, 245
pat quene was of Engelond, as me aj) er ytold,
pat goderhele al Engelond was heo euere ybore.
Vor )K)ru hire com su))J)e Engelond into kunde more.
In ))e 3er of grace a Jiousend -} sixti jjerto
King Macolom spousede Margarete so. . 250
Ac king Willam })er biuore aboute an tuo 3er
Wende a^en to Normandie fram wan he com er,
As in jje verste ^ere fat he ueng is kinedom.
Ac sone a3en to Engelond a sein Nicolas day he com,
^ kni3tes of bi3onde se, and ofer men also, 25.;
He 3ef londes in Engelond, J)at li3tliche come ))erto,
pat 3ute hor eirs holde)) alonde moni on;
^ deseritede moni kunde men, fat he huld is fon.
So fat fe mestedel of heye men, fat in Engelond bef ,
Bef icome of fe Normans, as 3e nou isef . 260
T men of religion of Normandie also
He feflfede here mid londes, & mid rentes also.
So fat vewe contreies bef in Engelonde,
pat monekes nabbef of Normandie somwat in hor honde.
King Willam bif 03te him ek of f e folc, fat was uorlore, 265
*;) aslawe ek foru him in fe bataile biuore.
T fere, as fe bataile was, an abbeye he let rere
Of Sein Martin, uor hor soulen, fat fere aslawe were,
1 fe monekes wel inou feffede wifoute fayle,
pat is icluped in Engelond, abbey of fe batayle. 270
pe abbeye also of Cam he rerde in Normandie
Of Seinte Steuene, fat is nou, ich wene, a nonnerye.
REIGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 7 1
He bro3te vp moni oJ)er hous of religion also,
To bete J>ulke robberie, }>at him })03te he adde ydo.
1 erles eke ^ barons, )>at he made here also, 275
po^te J>at hii ne come no3t mid gode ri3te j^erto,
Hii rerde abbeis 3 priories vor hor smmes )k),
At Teoskesburi ^j Oseneye, and aboute ojjer mo.
King Willam was to milde men debonere ynou,
Ac to men, |)at him wij>sede, to alle sturnhede he drou. 280
In chirche he was deuout inou, vor him ne ssolde no
day abide,
pat he ne hurde masse 3 matines, -] euesong an ech tide.
So var)) monye of }>is heye men, in chirche me may yse
Knely to God, as hii wolde al quic to him fle, 284
Ac be hii arise, 3 abbe}> itm-nd fram })e weued hor wortibe,
Wolues dede hii nime)> vor)?, }>at er dude as lombe.
Hii to-drawe)) Jje sely bonde-men as hii wolde hom hulde ywis.
J>ey me wepe 3 crie on hom, no mercy J)er nis.
Vnne))e was })er eni hous in al Normandie
Of religion, as abbey o))er priorie, 290
pat king Willam ne feflfede here in Engelonde,
Mid londes, ojjer mid rentes, J)at hii abbe)) here an honde.
As me may wide aboute in moni contreye ise,
Ware-Jjoni ))is lond nede mot J>e pouerore be.
King Willam adde ispoused, as God ^ef J)at cas, 29 5
pe eries do3ter of Flaundres, Mold hire name was.
Sones hii adde to-gadere ^ do3tren boJ>e tuo,
As Roberd J)e Courtehese, •] Willam J)e rede king also,
Henry Jie gode king was jongost of echon.
Do3tren he adde also Cecile het J>at on 300
pe eldoste, J>at was at Cam nonne 3 abbesse.
Constance ))e o))er was, of Brutayne contesse,
pe erles wif Alein, Adele 3ongoste was.
To Steuene Bleis ispoused, as God 3ef ))at cas,
'J bi him adde ek an sone, Steuene was is name, 305
72 REION OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
pat su)))>e was king of Engelond, ^ endede mid ssame.
Macolom king of Scotlond, and Edgar Ajieling,
pat best kunde in Engelond adde to be king,
Hulde hom euere in Scotlond, "} poer to horn nome.
To worn vpe king Willam, wanne god time come. 310
T gret compainie of heye men here in Engelonde
pat ne louede no3t king Willam, were )k) in Scotlonde,
Vor king Macolom [alle] vndenieng, J)at a^en king Willam
were,
*] drou hom to him in Scotlond, 3 susteinede hom )>ere.
Vor Edgar-is wiues brojjer, was kmide eir of J)is londe, ,vt
So ))at hii adde of boj>e J>e londes gret poeir sone an honde.
Ar king Willam adde ibe king volliche ))re ^er,
pat folc of Denemarch, ))at )>is lond worrede er,
Grei))ede hom mid gret poer, as hii dude er ilome,
T mid ))re hondred ssipuol men to Engelond hii come. ,^21
Hii ariuede in j>e north contreye, ;] Edgar Ajjeling
t) king Macolom were J)0 glade ))Oru alle }>ing.
To hom hii come at Homber mid poer of Scotlond,
-] were alle at o conseil to worri Engelond.
Hii worrede al Nor))homberlond, 3 uor)) euere as hii come,
So ))at ))e toun of Euerwik, ^ J)e castel ek hii nome, .12
"] monye heye men also of |e contreie aboute.
So J)at J>et folc binor)>e ne dorste no u[e]r at-route.
•] J)o hii adde al iwonne ))e contreie fer biside,
Hii ne come no uer Sou))ward, ac }>er hii gonne abide 3.^
Bituene J>e water of Trente "^ of Ouse also.
pere hii leuede^ in hor poer vorte winter were ido.
pe king Willam abod is time vorte winter was al oute,
"] JK) com he mid gret poer ^ mid so gret route,
pat hii nadde no poer a3en him uorto stonde, 33
Ac lete l>e king Jie maistrie, ^ flowe to Scotlonde,
■] hom to hor owe lond |)e Deneis flowe 2i^6,
» bi-lcuede?
REIGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR. 73
pe king destraede }>e contreie al aboute })e se,
Of frut I of come J>at fer ne bileuede no3t
Sixti mile fram Jje se, J>at nas to grounde ibro3t. .ho
^ al ))at })e Deneis no mete ne founde |)ere
Wanne hii come to worri, ^ so J)e feblore were.
So }>at 3ute to ))is day muche lond Jier is
As al wast ;] vntuled, so it was \o destrued ywis.
King Willam adauntede that folc of Walis, .U5
T made hom bere him tniage, ^ bihote him ;] his.
pe seue}>e 3er of is kinedom, an alle soule day,
pe quene Mold is wif deide, Jjat er longe sik lay,
In Jje 3er of grace a ))0usend 3 seuenti •;) J)re.
Anon in ])ulke sulue 3ere, as it wolde be, 350
pe king Willam, uorto wite }>e wur)> of is londe,
Let enqueri streitliche ))oni al Engelonde,
Hou moni plou lond, ;] hou moni hiden also.
Were in euerich ssire, ^ wat hii were wurj) ferto;
*;) }>e rentes of ech toun; ^ of })e wateres echone 355
pet wor)>, ;] of wodes ek, J>at ))er ne bileuede none,
pat he nuste wat hii were wor}? of al Engelonde,
T wite al clene }>at worJ> Jierof, ich vnderstonde,
-] let it write clene ynou, ;] })at scrit dude iwis
In )>e tresorie at Westminstre, J)ere it ^ut is, 360
So )>at vre kinges su))))e, wanne hii raunson toke,
I-redy wat folc mi3te ^iue, hii founde Jiere in hor boke.
per was bi king Willames daye worre "^ sorvve inou,
Vor no mon ne dorste him wij)-segge, he wro3te muche
wijF wou.
To hom, )>at wolde is wille do, debonere he was '^ milde, 365
*] to hom )>at [him] wij)-sede, strong tirant ;] wilde.
Wo-so come to esse him ri3t of eni trespas,
Bote he payde him J)e bet, Jje wors is ende was,
T j)e more vnri^t me ssolde him do : ac among ofere na})eles
pom-out al Engelond he huld wel god pes, 370
74 REIGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR^
Vor me mi3te bere bi is daye, "] lede hardeliche
Tresour aboute 3 o))er god oueral aperteliche,
In wodes •} in o))erf studes, so ))at no time nas
pat pes bet isusteined, ))at [))]ar bi his time was.
Game of houndes he louede inou, 3 of wilde best, 375
T is forest •} is wodes, -} mest J)e niwe forest,
pat is in Sou}>-hamtessire, vor ))ulke he louede inou,
T astorede wel mid bestes 3 lese mid gret wou.
Vor he caste out of house -] hom of men a gret route,
1 bi-nom hor lond, ^e |)ritti mile 3 more )>er aboute, 380
■] made it al forest -] lese, J)e bestes uorto fede.
Of pouere men deserited he nom lutel hede.
peruore Jierinne veP mony mis-cheuing,
^ is sone was jjerinne issote Willam Jje rede king,
*j is o sone, Jiat het Richard, ca^te )>er is de)) also. 385
T Richard, is o neueu, brec jjere is nekke ))er to
As he rod an honting^ -} parauntre is hors spumde.
pe vnri3t ido to pouere men to such mesauntere tumde.
Wo-so bi king Willames daye slou hert o))er hind.
Me ssolde pulte out bo))e is eye, ^ makye him pur blind. 390
Heye men ne dorste bi is day wilde best nime no^t.
Hare ne wilde swin, J>at hii nere to ssame ybro^t.
per nas so hey mon non, J>at him enes wi))-sede.
pat me ne ssolde him take anon, ^ to prison lede.
Monye heye men of J>e lond in prison he huld strong.
So J>at muchedel Engelond })03te is lif to long. 396
Bissopes 3 abbodes were to is wille echon,
"3 3if J>at eni him wrajjfede, adoun he was anon.
pre sijje he ber croune a3er, to Midewinter at Gloucestre,
To Witesonetid at Westminstre, to Ester at Wincestre.
pulke festes he wolde holde so nobliche, 401
Wij> so gret prute ] wast, 3 so richeliche,
pat wonder it was wenene it com, ac to susteini such nobleye,
' wel in MS. * \iOTi\.tv!!Q.\t^'^'S».
REIGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR, 75
He destruede J>at pouere vole ^ nom of horn is preye,
So fat he was riche him-sulf, -] ))at lond pouere al out.
Stume he was jjoru-out al, -] heiuol 3 prout. 406
Sui))e )>ikke mon he was, 3 of grete strengj)e,
Gret wombede 3 ballede, 3 bote of euene leng)>e.
So stif mon he was m armes, in ssoldren, ;j in lende,
pat vnne]>e eni mon mi3te is bowe bende, 410
pat he wolde him-sulf vp is fot, ridinge wel vaste
Li^tliche, 3 ssete al-so mid bowe 1 arblaste.
So hoi he was of body ek, ))at he ne lay neuere uaste
Sik in is bed vor non vuel, bote in is dej) vuel atte laste.
As he wolde sometime to Normandie wende, 415
Al )>at a3t was in Engelond he let somony in ech ende
To Salesburi touore him, ))at hii suore him alle J>ere
To be him triwe 3 holde, j)e wule he of londe were.
per-to he nom gret peine of horn, 3 fram Salesburi to Wi3t
He wende, 3 fram }>anene to Normandie ri3t. 420
■J j)e wule he was out of Engelond, Edgar Ajieling
(pat ri3t eir was of Engelond 3 kunde to be king)
Made is 3onge soster, as God 3ef ))at cas,
Nonne in })e hous of Romeseye, Cristine hire name was.
pat folc com }po of Denemarch to Engelond sone, 425
■3 robbede 3 destruede, as hii were iwoned to done.
pat word into Normandie to king Willam com.
So gret poer of thulke lond 3 of France he nom
Mid him into Engelond, of kni3tes 3 squiers,
Speremen auote & bowemen, 3 also arblasters, 430
pat hom jK)3te in Engelond so muche folc neuere nas,
pat it was wonder ware-thoru isousteined it was.
Hii of Denemarch flowe sone, vor hii nadde no poer,
Ac J>et folc of bi3onde se bileuede alle her,
pat vnnejie al )>at londe sustenance hom vond. 435
3 )>e king hom sende her j per aboute in Engdoivd
To dluerse men, to 5nde hom mete, more ]^an Vvoi p^^^ "^^^^ -
j6 REIGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
So J>at in ech manure jjat lond destrued was:
Frut ^ com yei faikde, tempestes )>er come,
pondringe "] li3tinge ek, J>at slou men ilome. 440
Manne orf deide al agrounde, so gret qualm J)er com ])0.
(3rf failede ■;) eke corn, hou mi3te be more wo?
Seknesse com ek among men, }>at aboute wide,
Wat vor honger, wat uor wo, men deide in ech side,
So J>at sorwes in Engelond were wel mony volde. 445
pe king '} oJ)er richemen wel lute Jjer-of tolde,
Vor hii wolde euere abbe y-nou, wanne }>e pouere adde wo.
Sein Poules chirche of Londone was ek vorbamd yo.
King Willam to Normandie f03te su))})e atte laste.
He sette is tounes ;) is londes to ferme wel vaste, 450
Wo-so mest bode )>er-uore; ;] }>ei a lond igranted were
To a man to bere Jieruore a certein rente bi ^ere,
^ ano)>er come and bode more, he were inne anon,
So J>at hii that bode mest bro3te out moni on.
Nere ]>e vorewarde no so strong, me bo3te is out wi)> wou,
So )>at ye king in such manere suluer wan ynbu. 456
po he adde iset is londes so mid such tricherye
So heye, "^ al is ojier thyng, he wende to Normandie,
^ })ere he dude wowe y-nou mid sla3t ;) robberye,
^ nameliche vpe ye king of France, ;] vpe is compainie, 460
So Jjat in ye toun of Reins king Willam atte laste,
Vor eld ;] uor trauail, bigan to febli vaste.
pe king Phelip of France ye lasse Jjo of him tolde,
•3 drof him to busemare, as me ofte dey J?an olde.
•' pe king/' he sede, " of Engelond halt him to is bedde, 465
•3 lijj mid is grete wombe at Reins, a child-bedde."
po king Willam hurde J?is, he made him somdel wro)>,
Vor edwit of is grete wombe, 3 suor anon J>is o^:
''Biye vprisinge of Jhe'su Crist; 3if God me wole grace sende,
Vorto make mi chirchegong, -^ biinge me of |^is bende, 470
Suche wiues ichoUe mid me \ede, ^ swdvVi^x. 2lVl^w^ ^\v^<^.
REIGN OF WILLIAM THE COi^QUEROR. JJ
pat an hondred ])Oiisend candlen ^ mo icholle him tende
Amidde is lond of France, ;) is prute ssende,
pat a son chirchegong ichcholle him make ar ich )>anne
i wende."
I Vorewarde he huld him wel inou, vorto heniest anon, 475
1 po he sey ))at feldes were vol of come echon,
Al j?e contreie vol of fhit, wanne he mi3te mest hann do,
He let gadery is kni3tes '} is squiers also,
I And Jjat were is wiues, J>at he wif him ladde.
He wende him into France, ;) J?e contreie ouer-spradde, 480
;] ^ robbede ^ destniede ; him ne mi3te no-J>ing lette.
pe grete cite of Medes suj)j>e afure he sette,
Vor me ne mi3te no chirchegong wij?-oute li3te do.
pe cite he bamde al clene, ^ an chirche also
Of vr leuedi, )>at Jierinne was, "} an auncre godes spouse, 485
pat nolde vor no thing fie out of hire house.
•} moni mon and womman ek ))er vel in meschaunce.
So J)at a son chirchegong hit was to fe king of France.
King Willam wende a3en, })0 al J)is was ido,
;] bigan sone to grony and to febly also, 490
Vor trauail of ))e voul asaut, ;] vor he was feble er,
*;) parauntre vor wreche also, vor he dude so vuele J>er.
po he com to Reins a3en, sik he lay sone,
His leches lokede is stat, as hor ri3t was to done,
'] iseye -^ sede also, fat he ne mi^te ofscapie no3t. 495
pere was sone sorwe ynou among is men ybro3t,
] he him-sulf deol ynou ] sorwe made also,
;j nameliche uor J?e muche wo J>at he adde anerj>e ydo.
He wep on God vaste ynou, 3 criede him milce -} ore,
^ bihet, 3if he moste libbe, )>at he nolde misdo nan more.
Er he ssolde ))at abbe ydo, vor it was J>o late ynou. 501
Atte laste, ))0 he isei ))at toward is ende he drou.
His biquide in }>is manere he made biuore is de^. .
Willam, pe rede, al Engelond is sone he bique^,
78 REIGN OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.
pe 3ongore al is porchas ; ac, as lawe was ■} wone, 505
Normandie is eritage he 3ef is eldoste sone
Roberd ))e Courtehese; ^j Henry |)e ^ongoste ))0
He bique)) is tresour, vor he nadde sones nanmo.
He het dele ek pouere men muche of is tresorie,
Vor he adde so muche of horn inome in robberye. 510
Chirchen he let rere also, 3 tresour he 3ef ynou,
To rere vp )je chirche of France, J>at he bamde wi)> wou.
pe prisons he let of Engelond deliuery echone,
^ of Normandie also, ))at )>er ne leuede none.
po deide he in ]>e 5er of grace a Jjousend, as it was 515
And four score and seuene, as God 3ef J>at cas.
He was king of Engelond four 3 tuenti ^er also,
T due ek* of Normandie vifty 3er & two.
Of elde he was nyne :i fifty 3er, J)0 God him 5ef such cas.
pe morwe after Seinte Mari day )>e later ded he was. 520
In })e abbey of Cam iburred was )>is king;
^ Henry is 3onge sone, was at is buriing,
Ac nofer of is ofer sones; vor in France yo
Roberd Courtehese was in worre and in wo;
•] Willam anon so is fader Engelond him bique}?, 525
He nolde no3t abide vorte is fader de}>,
Ac wende him out of Normandie anon to Engelonde,
Vorto nime hastiliche seisine of is londe,
pat was him )>o leuere, J>an is fader were.
So J)at j>er nas of is sones bote }>e 3onge Henry j>ere. 550
* er in MS.
rSM LIFE OF ST. DUNSTAN. 79
VI.
The Life of St, Dunstan.
The following legend of St. Dunstan*s adventure with the
Devil (from Lives of Saints) is ■ in the same dialect as the
Reign of William the Conqi^ror ; see page 62.
Seint Dunstan was of Engelond : icome of gode more
. Miracle oure louerd dude for him : er he were ibore.
/ For J)0 he was in his moder wombe : a candelmasse day
I per folc was at churche ynou3: as to the tyme lay
As hi stode mid here li3t: as me do)) 3ut now 535
Here li3t aque3nite overal: here non nuste hou
Her li3t hit brende suyj)e wel : and her li3t hit was oute
pat folc stod in gret wonder : and also in grete doute
And hi speke ech to ojier: in whiche manner hit were
Hou hit queynte so sodeynliche : the li3t that hi here 540
As hi stode and speke ))erof: in gret wonder echon
Seint Dunstanes moder taper: afure wor)) anon
pat heo huld on hire hond: heo nuste whannes hit com
pat folc stod and bihuld : and gret wonder ))erof nom
Ne non nuste wannes hit com : bote ))urf our louerdes grace
perof hi tende here li3t : alle in ))e place 546
>\Tiat was jiat oure louerd Crist : ))e li3t fram heuene sende
And ])at folc ))at stod aboute : here taperes ))erof tende
Bote of ))at holi child : ))at was in hire wombe ))ere
Al Engelonde scholde ))e bet beo ili3t : jiat hit ibore were 550
pis child was ibore neo3e hondred 3er: and fyve and tuenti
ari3t
After that oure suete louerd: in his moder was ali3t
pe furste 3er of ))e crouning : of ))e king Adelston
His moder het Kenedride : his fader Herston 554
Po \\% child was an ur))e ibore : his freond nome ))erto hede
Hi lete hit do to Glastnebury : to norischi and Xo fedi^
/ To tecbe him eke his bileue: pater noster and cxed^
8o THE LIFE OF ST. DUNSTAN.
pe child wax and wel i]>e^: for hit moste nede
Lute 3eme he nom to ]>e wordle : to alle godnisse he drou3
Ech man jiat hurcje of him speke : hadde of him ioye ynou3
po he was of manes wit: to his uncle he gan go 561
pe archebischop of Canterbury : seint Adelm jiat was ))0
pat makede wij) him ioye ynou3: and euere ]>e lengere J>e
more
po he se3 of his godnisse : and of his wyse lore
For deynte ))at he hadde of him: he let him sone bringe
Bifore ]>e prince of Engelond: Adelstan ))e kynge 566
pe kyng him makede ioye ynou3 : and grantede al his bone
Of what jjinge so he wolde bidde: if it were to done
po bad he him an abbei : Jiat he was for)) on ibro3t
Bi ))e toun of Glastnebure : J)at he ne womede him no3t.
pe king grantede his bone: and after him also 571
Edmund his bro))er ))at was king: in his poer ido
To Glastnebury wende sone : ))is gode man seint thmstan
po beye J)e kynges him 3eve leue : Edmund and Adelstan
Of \>e hous of Glastnebure : a gret ordeynour he was 575
And makede moche of gode reule : that neuer er among hem
nas
Ac ))at hous J)at ftirst bigonne : four hondred 3er bifore
And eke jjreo and vyfti: er seint Dunstan were ibore
For ))er was ordre of monekes: er seint Patrik com 579
And er seint Austyn to Engelonde : brou3te Cristendom
And seint patrick deide tuo hondred : and tuo and vyfti 3er
After ))at oure suete leuedi oure louerd here ber
Ac none monekes ))er nere furst : bote as in hudinge echon
And as men ))at drowe to wyldernisse: for drede of godes fon
Seint Dunstan and seint Adelwold : as oure louerd hit bisay
I-ordeyned to preostes were: al in one day 586
per after sone to Glastnebury : seint Dunstan anon wende
He was abbod ))er ymaked : his lyf to amende
And for he nolde bi his wille: no tyme idel beo
A pn'uei smyppe hi his celle : he gan Vvim b\seo 590
THE LIFE OF ST. DUNSTAN, 8 1
For whan he moste of oreisouns: reste for werinisse
To worke he wolde his honden do : to fleo idelnisse
Seruie he wolde poure men : the wyle he mi3te deore
Al })e dai for J)e love of God : he ne kipte of hem non hure
And whan he sat at his wore J)er: his honden at his dede 595
And his hurte mid ihesu crist : his mou)) his bedes bede
So J)at al at one tyme: he was at ))reo stedes
His honden j)er, his hert at god : his mou)) to bidde his bedes
perfore J« deuel hadde of him: gret enuye and onde
O tyme he cam to his smy))))e : alone him to fonde 600
Rijt as J>e sonne wende adoun : ri3t as he womman were
And spac wij) him of his wore : wi)) Ia3inge chere
And seide ))at heo hadde wi)) him: gret wore to done
Treoflinge heo smot her and ))er: in anofer tale sone
J>at holi man hadde gret wonder: ))at heo was and jjere
He sat longe and bi))03te him : longe hou hit were 606
He bi))03te him ho hit was : he dro3 for)) his tonge
And leide in ))e bote fiir: and spac faire longe
Forte j)e tonge was al afure: and si))))e stilla ynou3
pe deuel he hente bi ))e nose: and wel faste drou3 610
He tuengde and schok hire bi ))e nose : ))at ))e fur out blaste
pe deuel wrickede her and ))er : and he huld evere faste
He 3al and huptd and drou3 a3e : and makede grislich here
He nolde for al his bi3ete : ))at he hadde icome ))ere
Mid his tonge he snytte hire nose : and tuengde hire sore 615
For hit. was wi))inne \t ny3te: he ne mi3te iseo nomore
pe schrewe was glad and bli))e ynou3 : \o he was out of
his honde
He fle3 and gradde bi ))e lifte : ))at me hurde in-to al ))e londe
' Out what ha)) ))e calewe ido : what ha)) ))e calewe ido.'
In j)e contrai me hurde wide : how the schrewe gradde so
As god ))e schrewe hadde ibeo: atom ysnyt his nose 621
He ne hi3ede no more J)iderward : to hele him of \q pose.
VII.
METRICAL ENGLISH PSALTER.
BEFORE A.D., I3OO.
The following extracts are selected from The Anglo-Saxon and
Early English Psalter, (Surtees Society, 2 vols. 1845, 1847.)
The Early English Psalter is copied from a MS. written about
the middle of the reign of Edward II, but the language is much
earlier, and represents the speech of Yorkshire and the Northum-
brian dialect as spoken during the latter half of the thirteenth
century.
Nothing whatever is known concerning the authorship of this
version of the Psalms.
For the sake of comparison. Psalms xiv., xxiii., and cii. in a
Midland dialect are repeated from Hereford's version of the
Psalter contained in the Wicliffite version of the Scriptures,
edited by Madden and Forshall, Oxford, 1850.
From the Northumbrian Psalter,
[Collated with Cotton MS. Vespasian D. vil]
PsALM VIII.
2 Laverd, oure Laverd, hou selkouth is
Name ))ine in alle land ))is.
For upe-hoven es ))i mykel-hede
Over havens ))at ere brade;
3 Of mouth of childer and soukand 5
Made ))0u lof in ilka land,
For ))i faes; ))at ))0u for-do
pe fai, ))e wreker him unto.
4 For I sal se ))ine hevenes hegh,
And werkes of ^wat fiiv^i^^ ^\^^Vv\ 10
METRICAL ENGLISH PSALTER. 83
pe mone and stemes mani ma,
pat \OM grounded to be swa.
5 What is man, ))at j)OU mines of him?
Or sone of man, for J)0u sekes him?
6 pou liteled him a litel wight 15
Lesse fra J)ine amigeles bright;
With blisse and mensk }>ou cromied him yet,
7 And over werkes of \\ hend him set.
8 pou under-laide alle ))inges
Under his fete ))at ought forth-bringes, 20
Neete and schepe bathe for to welde.
In-over and beestes of j)e felde
9 Fogheles of heven and fissches of se,
pat forth-gone stihes of J>e se.
10 Laverd, our Laverd, hou selkouth is 25
Name ]>ine in alle land ]>is.
Psalm xiv.
1 Laverd, in ))i teld wha sal wone?
In J)i hali hille or wha reste mone?
2 Whilke ))at in-comes wemles.
And ai werkes rightwisenes; 30
3 pat spekes sothnes in herte his.
And noght dide swikeldome in tunge his,
Ne dide to his neghburgh ivel ne gram;
Ne ogaines his neghburgh up-braiding nam.
4 To noght es lede lither in his sight; 35
And dredand Laverd he glades right.
He ))at to his neghburgh sweres.
And noght bi-swikes him ne deres.
5 Ne his silver til okir noght is givand;
Ne giftes toke over un-derand. 40
pat does J>ese night and dai,
Noght sal he be stired in ai.
6 2
84 METRICAL ENGLISH PSALTER.
Psalm xvii.
2 I SAL love j>e, Laverd, in stalworthhede ;
3 Laverd mi festnes ai in nede,
And mi to-flight Jjat es svira, 4;
And mi leser oute of wa,
Laverd mi helper jiat es alle,
And in him ai hope I salle.
Mi schelder, and of mi hele home,
And mi fonger ai J)er fome. 50
4 Lovand Laverd calle sal I,
And fra mi faas be sauf for-J)i.
5 Um-gaf me sorwes of dede;
Um-griped me weeles of quede.
6 Soreghes um-gaf me of helle ; 55
Bi-sied me snares of dede ful felle.
7 In mi droving Laverd called I,
And to mi God cried I witerli;
And he herd fra his hali kirke mi Steven,
And mi crie in his sight in eres yhode even. 60
8 Stired and quoke J>e erthe yare,
Groundes of hilles to-dreved are;
And ))ai ere stired- [J)] of Jjaim be lath.
For ))at he es with Jiaim wrath.
9 Up-stegh reke in his ire, 65
And of face of him brent Jje fire;
Koles ))at ware doun-falland
Kindled ere of him glouand.
10 He helded hevens, and doune come he;
And dimnes under his fete to be. ;©
11 And he stegh over Cherubin, and flegh jiare;
He flegh over fetheres of windes ware.
12 And he set mirkenes his lurking lang, x
His telde to be in Wa ma-^aii^*.
METRICAL ENGLISH PSALTER. 85
Mirke watxes J)at ware of hewe, 75
In )>e kloudes of ]>e skewe.
13 For levelling in his sight cloudes schire
Forth yheden, haile, and koles of fire.
1 4 And Laverd thonered fra heven, and heghest sire
Gaf his Steven; haile, coles of fire. 80
15 And he sent his arwes, and skatered fa;
Fele-falded levening, and dreved ))am swa.
16 And schewed welles of watres ware,
And groundes of ertheli werld un-hiled are,
For* J)i snibbing, Laverd myne; 85
For* one-sprute of gast of wreth jiine.
17 He sent fra hegh, and up-toke me
Fra many watres me nam he.
18 He out-toke me ]>are a-mang
Fra mi faas ]>at war sa Strang, 90
And fra \a me jiat hated ai;
For samen strenghj)ed over me war jiai.
19 pai for-come me in daie of twinging;
And made es Laverd mi for-hiling.
20 And he led me in brede to be; 95
Saufe made he me, for he wald me,
21 And for-yhelde to me Laverd sal.
After mi rightwisenes al;
And after clensing of mi hende
Sal he yhelde to me at ende. 100
22 For waies of Laverd yemed I
Ne fra mi God dide I wickedly.
23 For al his demes in mi sight ere ))a,
And his rightwisenes noght put I me fra.
24 And I sal be with him wemmeles, 105
And loke me fra mi wickednes.
25 And Laverd to me for-yhelde he sal
^ Printed text reads Fra,
86 METRICAL ENGLISH PSALTER,
After mi rightwisnes al.
And after clennes of my hend swa
In sight of eghen his twa. no
26 With hali halgh bes of J>e;
With man un-derand, mi-derand be.
27 With chosen, and be chosen }>ou sal;
With il-tomed and il tomest[ou] al
28 For |>ou meke folk sauf make sal nou; 115
And eghen of proude meke saltou.
29 For }>ou lightes mi lantern bright,
Mi God, mi mirkenes light.
30 For in ))e be I out-tane fra fanding al.
And in mi God sal I over-fare J)e wal. 120
31 Mi God mifiled es his wai;
Speche of Laverd with fire es ai
Fraisted; for-hiler es he
Of al ))at in him hopand be.
32 For wha God bot Laverd we calle; 125
Or wha God bot our God of alle?
33 Laverd fat girde me with might,
And set un-wemmed mi wai right.
34 pat set mi fete als of hertes ma.
And ouer heghnes settand me swa. 130
35 That leres mi hend at fight nou,
And mine armes als brasen bow set Jjou.
36 And ))0U gaf me for-hiling of hele of J)e,
And ))i right hand on-fanged me ;
And ))i lare in ende me rightid al, 135
And \\ lare it me lere sal.
37 pou to-breddest mi gainges under me,
And mi steppes noght unfest jiai be.
38 I sal filghe mi faas, and umlap ))a;
And noght ogain tome to J)ai wane swa. 140
39 I sal J)am breke, ne stand ))ai mights;
METRICAL ENGLISH PSALTER. 87
pai sal falle under mi fete doun rights,
40 And }>ou girde me with might at fight in land;
And xmder-laide under me [alle] in me riseand
41 And mi faas o-bak Jjou gaf me nou; 145
And hatand me for-lesed J)Ou.
42 J>ai cried, ne was ]>at sauf made ought,
To Laverd, and he herde pam noght.
43 And I sal gnide [J)am] als duste bi-for winde likam ;
Als fen of gates o-wai do Jjam. 150
44 Out-take fra ogain-saghes of folk ))0U sal;
In heved of genge me set with al.
45 Folk whilk I ne knewe served to me;
In hering of ere me boghed he.
46 Outen sones to me lighed jiai, 155
Outen sones elded er ]>ai;
And J)ai halted ))are ]>ai yhode
Fra J)ine sties Jjat ere gode.
47 Laverd lives, and mi God blissed be;
And God of mi hele up-hoven be he. 160
48 God ]>at gives wrekes me to.
And unders folk under me so,
Mi leser artou, night and dai,
Fra mi faes ben wrathful ai
49 And fra in me risand up-heve saltou me; 165
Fra wicke man out-take me to fle.
50 For-J)i in birjjes sal I to ))e schryve,
Lava^d, and to ))i name salm sal I mi ^ live.
51 Heles of his king mikeland.
And als swa mercy doand 170
To his Crist, yaX es David,
And to his sede til in werld j>ar wid.
1 in?
88 METRICAL ENGLISH PSALTER.
Psalm xxiii.
1 Of Laverd es land and fulhed his;
ErJ)eli werld, and alle ))ar-in is.
2 For over sees it grounded he, 175
And over stremes grai))ed it to be.
3 Wha sal stegh in hille of Laverd winli
Or wha sal stand in his stede hali?
4 Underand of hend bi-dene,
And ))at of his hert es clene; 180
In un-nait ))at his saule noght nam
Ne sware to his neghburgh in swikedam.
5 He sal fang of Laverd blissing,
And mercy of God his heling.
6 pis es ))e strend of him sekand, 185
pe face of God Jacob laitand.
7 Oppenes your yates wide,
Ye ))at princes ere in pride;
And yates of ai up-hoven be yhe,
And king of blisse in- come sal he. 190
8 Wha es he kifig of blisse? Laverd Strang
And mightand in fight, Laverd mightand lang.
9 Oppenes your yates wide,
Yhe ))at princes ere in pride;
And yates of ai up-hoven be yhe 195
And king of blisse in -come sal he.
10 Wha es he Jje king of blisse ))at isse?
Laverd of mightes es king of blisse.
Psalm cii.
1 Blisse, mi saule, to Laverd ai isse, 199
And alle jiat with-in me ere to hali name hisse.
2 Blisse, mi saul, to Laverd of alle thinges,
And nil for-gete alle his for-yheldinges.
METRICAL ENGLISH PSALTER. 89
3 pat winsom es to alle ))ine wickenesses,
pat heles alle ))ine sekenesses.
4 pat bies fira sterving ]>i lif derli, 205
pat crounes ]>e with rew))es and with merci.
5 pat filles in godes ]>i yheminges al,
Als erne J)i yhouthe be newed sal.
6 Doand ^mercies laverd in land,
And dome til alle un-right tholand. 210
7 Kouthe made he to Moises his waies wele,
His willes til sones of Israel.
8 Rew-ful and milde-herted Laverd gode,
And milde-herted and lang-mode.
9 Noght wreth he sal in evermore, 215
Ne in ai sal he threte far-fore.
10 Noght after our sinnes dide he til us,
Ne after our wickenes for-yheld us J)us.
1 1 For after heghnes of heven fra land,
Strengh))ed he is merci over him dredand. 220
12 How mikle est del stand[s] west del fra,
Fer made he fra us oure wickenes swa.
13 Als rewed es fadre of sones,
Rewed es Laverd, ))are he wones,
Of ))a ))at him dredand be; 225
14 Fore our schaft wele knawes he,
Mined es he wele in thoght
pat dust ere we and worth noght.
15 Man his dales ere als hai,
Als blome of felde sal he welyen awai. 230
16 For gaste thurgh-fare in him it sal,
And noght undre-stand he sal with-al ;
And knawe na-mare sal he
His stede, whare ))at it sal be.
17 And Laverdes merci evre dwelland, 235
And til ai ou[e]r him dredeand.
90 METRICAL ENGLISH PSALTER.
And in sones of sones his rightwisenes,
1 8 To ))as ))at yhemes wite-word his;
And mined sal ]7ai be, night and dai,
Of his bodes to do ))am ai.
19 Laverd in heven graijied sete his,
And his rike til alle sal Laverd in blis.
20 Blisses to Laverd with alle your mights,
Alle his aungels, fat ere bright^;
Mightand of thew, doand his worde swa,
To here steven of his saghs ma.
21 Blisses to Laverd, alle mightes his,
His hine ))at does ))at his wille is.
22 Blisses Laverd, with wille and thoght^,
Alle ))e werkes ))at he wroghtf.
In alle stedes of his laverdschipe ma,
Blisse, mi saule, ai Laverd swa.
Psalm cm.
1 Blisse, mi saule, Laverd nou;
Laverd, mi God, swith mikel ertou.
Schrift and fairehed schred ))Ou right;
2 Umlappes als kle))ing with light.
Strekand heven als fel with blis;
3 pat hiles with watres overestes his;
pat settes ))in up-steghing kloude,
pat gaas over fetheres of wyndes loude.
4 pat makes ))ine aungels gastes flighand.
And ))in hine fire brinnand.
5 pat groundes land over stajjelnes his,
Noght helde sal in werlde of werld ))is.
6 Depnes als schroude his hiling alle.
Over hilles his watres stand salle.
y FrsL pi snibbing sal \2i fle,
For Steven of ^\ thonet ieie^ \>^.
METRICAL ENGLISH PSALTER. 91
8 Up-steghes hilles and feldes doun-gas,
In stede whilk ]>ou grounded to ]>as. 270
9 Mere set ))Ou whilk over-ga J)ai ne sal,
Ne tume to hile ))e land with-al.
10 pat out-sendes welles in dales ma,
Bitwix mid hilles sal watres ga.
11 Drink sal aUe bestes of felde wide, 275
Wilde asses in ))ar thrist sal abide.
12 Over j)a wone sal foghles of heven,
Fra mid of stanes gif sal ))ai Steven.
13 Fra his overmastes hilles watrand
Of fruite of his werkes filled bes )>e land. 280
14 Forth-ledand hai to meres ma,
And gresse to hinehede of men swa,
pat ))0U oute-lede fra erthe brede.
15 And hert of man faines wyne rede,
pat he glade likam in oyele best^, 285
And brede j>e hert of man sal fest?.
16 Be fulle-filled sal trees of felde ilkan,
And the cedres of Yban,
Whilk he planted with his hand.
17 par sal sparwes be nesdand, 290
Wilde haukes hous-leder of J)a.
18 Hilles hegh til hertes ma;
And ))e stane, bi dai and nights.
Until irchones es to flight?.
19 He made ]>e mone in times lang^; 295
pe sunne, it knew his setel-gang^.
20 pou set mirkenesses, and made es night gode;
In it sal forth-fare alle bestes of wode.
21 Lyoun whelpes romand ))at Jjai reve swa,
And seke fra God mete imto ))a. 300
22 Sprungen es simne and samened er J)ai,
And in par dennes bi-Jouked sal be a\ da\.
92 METRICAL ENGLISH PSALTER.
23 Oute sal man ga unto his werke,
And til his wirkeing til even merke.
24 Hou mikeled ere, Laverd, fine werkes ma; 305
Alle in wisedome made }>ou ))a:
Ilka land ful-filled es it
With J)ine aghte thurgh J)i wit.
25 pis see mikel and roume til hende,
par wormes, of whilke es nan ende; 310
Bestes smaller with the mare.
26 pider schippes sal over-fare;
pis dragoun J)at }>ou made bifom,
For to plaie with him in skom.
27 Alle fra ]>e J)ai abide, 315
pat ))0U gif J)am mete in tide.
28 Giveand ]>e to ))am, gedre ))ai sal;
pe oppenand ]>i hand with al,
Alle sal ))ai, mare and lesse,
Be fulfilled with \>i godenesse. 320
29 pe soth-lik tumand ]>i likam
pai sal be dreved; ))e gast of jiam
pou salt out-bere, and wane sal ))ai,
And in Jjair duste sal tume for ai.
30 Out-send ))i gaste and made ))ai sal bene, 325
And new saltou }pe face of erthe bi-dene.
31 Be blis of Laverd in werld ))is,
And faine sal Laverd in werkes his.
32 pat bi-haldes land, and to qwake makes it;
pat neghes hilles, and ))ai smoke yhit. 330
33 I sal sing to Laverd in mi lif for-))i,
I sal salme to mi God hou lang am I.
34 Winsome to him be mi speche al,
I soth-lik in Laverd like sal.
35 Wane sinful fra erthe, and ^vik ))at isse, 335
Swa ))at ))ai noght be: mi saule, Laverd blisse.
HEREFORlfs ENGLISH PSALTER. 93
VIII.
From Hereford! s Version of the Psalms,
Psalm xiv.
1 Lord, who shal duelle in thi tabernacle, or who
shal eft resten in thin holy hil?
2 That goth in withoute wem ; and werkith ry3ttwis-
nesse. 340
3 Thatspeketh treuthe in his herte; that dide not
trecherie in his tunge. Ne dide to his ne3hebore
euel; and reprof toe not to a3en hise ne3hboris.
4 To no3t is bro3t doun in his si3t the malice doere,
forsothe the dredende the Lord he glorifieth. That 345
swereth to his ne3hebore, and desceyueth not;
5 That his monee 3af not to usure; and 3iftis
upon the innocent toe not. He, that doth these
thingus, shal not be movud in to withoute ende.
FSALM XXIII.
1 Off the Lord is the erthe, and the plente of it; 350
the roundnesse of londis, and alle that dwellen in it.
2 For he upon the ses foundede it; and vpon the
flodis befor greithide it.
3 Who shal Steven vp in to the hyl of the Lord;
or who shal stonde in his holy place? 355
4 The innocent in hondis, and in clene herte, that
toe not in veyn his soule ; ne swor in treccherie to hys
ne3hebore.
5 This shal take blessing of the Lord; and mercy
of God his helthe 3iuere. 360
6 This is the ieneracioun of men sechende God;
of men sechende the face of God of Jacob.
94 HEREFORD'S ENGLISH PSALTER.
7 Doth awei ^oure ^atus, ^ee princis; and beth
rerid out, 3ee euer lastende ^atis, and ther shal gon
in the king of glorie. 36:
8 Who is this king of glorie? a Lord strong and
my^ti, a Lord my^ti in bataile.
9 Doth awei ^oure ^atis, ^ee princis; and beth
rered vp, ^ee euer lastende ^atis, and ther shal gon
in the king of glorie. 37<
10 Who is this king of glorie ? the Lord of vertues,
he is king of glorie.
Psalm cii.
1 Blesse thou, my soule, to the Lord; and alle
thingus that withinne me ben, to his holi name!
2 Blesse thou, my soule, to the Lord! and nile 375
thou not for^ete alle the 5eldingus of hym.
3 That hath mercy to alle thi wickidness ; that
helith alle thin infirmytees.
4 That a^een-bieth fro deth thi lif; that crouneth
thee in mercy and mercy doingis. 38c
5 That fulfilleth in goode thingus thi diseyr; shal
be renewid as of an egle thi ^outhe.
6 Doende mercies the Lord, and dom to alle men
suffrende wrong.
7 Knowen he made his weies to Moises; and to 385
the sones of Israel his willis.
8 Reewere and merciful the Lord, long abidende
and myche merciftil.
9 Into euermore he shal not wrathen, ne into
withoute ende he shal threte. 390
10 Aftir oure synnes he dide not to vs, ne aftir
oure wickidnessis he ^elde to us.
11 For after the hei3te of heuene fro erthe, he
strengthide his mercy vpon men driedende hym.
HEREFORD'S ENGLISH PSALTER. 95
1 2 Hou myche the rising stant fro the going doun, 395
aferr he made fro vs oure wickidnessis,
13 What maner wise the fader hath mercy of the
sonus, the Lord dide mercy to men dredende hym ;
14 for he knew oure britil making. He recordide
for pouder wee be, 400
15 A man as hey his da3es, as the flour of the
feld so he shal floure out,
16 For the spirit shal thur^ paassen in hym, and he
shal not stonde stille; and he shal no more knowen
his place. 405
17 The mercy forsothe of the Lord fro withoute
ende, and vnto withoute ende, vpon men dredende
hym. And the ri3twisnesse of hym in to the sones
of sones,
18 to hem that kepen his testament. And myndeful 410
thei ben of his maundemens, to do hem.
19 The Lord in heuene made redi his sete, and
his reume to alle shal lordshipen.
20 Blisse 3ee to the Lord, alle his aungelis, mi3ti
bi vertue, doende the woord of hym, to ben herd the 415
vois of his sermouJies.
21 Blessith to the Lord alle 3ee his vertues, 3ee his
seruaims that don his wil.
22 Blessith to the Lord, alle 3ee his werkis, in alle
place, 3ee his domynaciouns ; blesse thou, my soule, to 420
the Lord!
IX.
THE PROVERBS OF HENDYNG.
A.D. 1272-I307.
The following illustrations of English proverbial philosophy in
the thirteenth century are taken from MS. Harleian 2253. The
dialect is Southern intermixed with some few Midland peculiarities.
MoN that wol of wysdam heren,
At wyse Hendyng he may lemen,
That wes Marcolves sone ;
Gode thonkes ^ monie thewes
For te teche fele shrewes,
For that wes ever is wone.
Jhesu Crist, al folkes red,
That for us alle tholede ded
Upon the rode-tre,
Lena us alle to ben wys,
Ant to ende in his servys 1
Amen, par charite I
*God biginning maketh God endyng;'
Quoth Hendyng.
Wyt ;) wysdom lumeth ^erne,
Ant loke that none other weme
To be wys ^ hende;
For betere were^ to bue wis,
Then for te were feh ant grys,
Wher-so mon shal ende.
*Wyt ant wysdom is god warysoun;'
Quoth Hendyng.
> Where in MS.
I
PROVERBS OF HENDFNO. 97
Ne may no mon that is in londe,
For nothyng that he con fonde,
Wonen at horn 3 spede, 25
So fele thewes for te leome,
Ase he that hath y-soht^ ^eome
In wel fele theode.
*Ase fele thede, ase fele thewes;'
Quoth Hendyng. .^o
Ne hue thi child never so duere,
Ant hit woUe unthewes leme,
Bet hit other-whyle;
Mote hit al habben is wille,
Woltou, nultou, hit wol spille, 35
Ant bicome a fule,
* Luef child lore byhoveth ; '
Quoth Hendyng.
Such lores ase thou lemest,
After that thou sist 3 herest, 40
Mon, in thyne ^outhe,
Shule the on elde folewe,
Bothe an eve 3 amorewe,
^ hue the fol couthe,
'Whose 3ong lemeth, olt he ne leseth;' 45
Quoth Hendyng.
Me may lere a sely fode,
That is ever toward gode,
With a Intel lore;
3ef me nul him forther teche, 50
Thenne is herte wol areche
For te leme more.
'Sely chyld is sone y-lered;'
Quoth Hendyng.
* MS. has y-so>t.
H
98 PROVERBS OF nENDYNG.
3ef thou wolt fleysh lust overcome,
Thou most fiht^ ^ fle y-lome,
With eye ^ with huerte;
Of fleyshlust cometh shame,
Thah hit thimche the body game,
Hit doth the soule smerte.
'Wei fyht*, that wel flyth;'
Quoth Hendyng.
Wis mon halt is wordes ynne;
For he nul no gle bygynne,
Er he have tempred is pype.
Sot is sot, ;) that is sene;
For he wol speke wordes grene,
Er then hue buen rype.
' Sottes bolt is sone shote ;'
Quoth Hendyng.
Tel thou never thy fo-mon
Shome ne teone that the is on,
Thi care ne thy wo;
For he wol fonde, 3ef he may,
Bothe by nyhtes ^ by day.
Of on to make two.
' Tel thou never thy fo that thy fot aketh ;'
Quoth Hendyng.
3ef thou havest bred *] ale,
Ne put thou nout al in thy male,
Thou del hit simi aboute.
Be thou fre. of thy meeles,
Wher-so me eny mete deles,
Gest thou nout withoute.
*Betere is appel y-3eve then y-ete;*
Quoth Hendyng.
1 MS. has fist. » MS. has fy>t.
PROVERBS OF HENDYNG. 99
AUe whyle ich wes on erthe,
l^ever lykede me my werthe,
^ox none wynes fylle;
IBote myn ■] myn owen won, 90
'Wyn "3 water, stokes ;) ston,
Al goth to my wille.
*Este bueth oune brondes;'
Quoth Hendyng.
3ef the lacketh mete other clotht, 95
Ne make the nout forthy to wrotht,
Thah^ thou byde borewe;
For he that haveth his god ploh.
Ant of worldes wele y-noh,
Ne wot he of no sore we. 100
'Gredy is the godles;'
Quoth Hendyng.
3ef thou art riche ;) wel y-told
No be thou noht^ tharefore to bold,
Ne wax thou nout to wiide; 105
Ah ber the feyre in al thyng,
3 thou miht habbe blessyng,
-] be meke j mylde.
* When the coppe is follest, thenne ber hire feyrest ; '
Quoth Hendyng. no
Thah thou muche thenche ne spek thou nout al;
Bynde thine tonge with bonene wal,
Let hit don synke, ther hit up swal;
Thenne myht^ thou.fynde frend over-al,
* Tonge breketh bon, "J nad hire-selve non;' 115
Quoth Hendyng.
> MS. has J>aJ>. » MS. has noJ>t. » MS. has my>t.
H 2
lOO PROVERBS OF HSNDFNG.
Hit is mony gedelyng,
When me hym ^eveth a lutel thyng,
Waxen wol un-saht^.
Hy telle he deth wel by me, 120
That me 3eveth a lutel fe,
Ant oweth me riht naht.
'That me lutel ^eveth, he my lyf ys on;'
Quoth Hendyng.
Mon that is luef don ylle, 125
When the world goth after is wylle,
Sore may him drede;
For 3ef hit tyde so that he falle,
Men shal of is owen galle
Schenchen him at nede. 130
' The bet the be, the bet the byse ;'
Quoth Hendyng.
Thah the wolde wel bycome
For te make houses roume,
Thou most nede abyde, 135
Ant in a lutel hous wone,
Forte thou fele that thou mowe
Withouten evel pryde.
* Under boske shal men weder abide;'
Quoth Hendyng. 140
Holde ich no mon for un-sele,
Otherwhyle thah he fele
Sumthyng that him smerte:
For when mon is an treye ;) tene,
Thenne hereth God ys bene 145
That he byd myd herte.
' When the bale is best,
Thenne is the bote nest;'
Quoth Hendyng.
^ MS. \a.i saVt.
PROVERBS OF HENDYNG. JOI
Such mon haue ich lend my cloth, 150
That hath maked me fol wroth,
Er hit come a^eyn.
Ah he that me ene serveth so,
Ant he eft bidde mo,
He shal me fynde unfeyn. 155
' Selde cometh lone lahynde hom;*
Quoth Hendyng.
3ef thou trost to borewyng,
The shal fayle mony thyng,
Loth when the ware; 160
3ef thou haue thin oune won,
Thenne is thy treye overgon,
Al wythoute care.
'Owen ys owen, 3 other mennes edneth;'
Quoth Hendyng. 165
Moni mon seith, were he ryche,
Ne shulde non be me y-lyche
To be god 1 fre;
For when he hath oht bygeten,
Al the fredome is forjeten 170
Ant leyd under kne.
* He is fre of hors that ner nade non;'
Quoth Hendyng.
Mon, that munteth over flod,
Whiles that the wynd ys wod 175
Abyde fayre *j stille ;
Abyd stille ^ef that thou may,
3 thou shalt haue another day
Weder after wille.
*Wel abit that we] may tholye*/ \^<i
Quoth "fteiiAyxi^*
lOa PROVERBS OF HENDYNG.
That y telle an evel lype,
Mon that doth him into shype
Whil the weder is wod;
For be he come to the depe, . 185
He may wrynge hond 3 wepe.
Ant be of drery mod.
*Ofte rap reweth;' Quoth Hendjrng.
* * * * *
Riche 1 pore, ^onge 3 olde, 190
Whil 5e habbeth wyt at wolde,
Secheth ore soule bote;
For when ^e weneth alrebest
For te haue ro ant rest,
The ax ys at the rote* 19-;
* Hope of long lyf
Gyleth mony god wyf;' Quoth Hendyng.
Specimens 0/ Lyric Poetry,
[Collated with Harl. MS. 2253.]
The following short poems, from the same MS. and in the
same dialect as the Prwerbs of Hendyng, are taken from ^
Specimens of Lyric Poetry, edited by T. Wright, M.A., for the
Percy Society. London 1842.
I.
[Pages 27—30.]
Bytuene Mershe ant Averil
When spray biginneth to springe, 200
The Intel foul hath hire wyl
On hyre lud to synge;
Ich libbe in iove-longinge
For semlokest of alle thynge,
He may me blisse bringe, 205
irRIC POETRY. 103
Icham in hire baundoun.
An hendy hap ichabbe y-hent,
Ichot from heuene it is me sent,
From alle wymmen mi loue is lent
Ant lyht on Alysoun. 210
On heu hire her is fayr y-noh,
Hire browe broune, hire e3e blake,
With lossmn chere he on me loh;
With middel smal ant wel y-make;
Bote he me woUe to hire take, 215
Forte buen hire owen make,
T-onge to lyuen-ichulle forsake,
Ant feye fallen a-doun.
An hendy hap, etc.
Nihtes when y wende ant wake, 220
For-thi myn wonges waxeth won;
Levedi al for thine sake
Longinge is y-lent me on.
In world nis non so wyter mon
That al hire boimt^ telle con; 225
Hire swyre is whittore then the swon.
Ant feyrest may in toune.
An hendy, etc.
Icham for wowyng al for-wake,
Wery so water in wore; 230
Lest eny reve me my make,
Ychabbe y-^yrned 3ore.
Betere is tholien whyle sore.
Then mournen euermore.
Geynest under gore, 235
Herkne to my romie.
An hendy, etc.
I04 LYRIC PCmTRV.
II.
[Pages 29— 30J
With longyng y am lad.
On molde y waxe mad,
A maide marreth me; 240
Y grede, y grone, un-glad,
For selden y am sad
That semly forte se;
Levedi, thou re we me !
To routhe thou havest me rad; 245
Be bote of that y bad,
My lyf is long on the.
Levedy, of alle londe
Les me out of bonde,
Broht icham in wo, 250
Have resting on honde,
Ant sent thou me thi sonde,
Sone, er thou me slo;
My reste is with the ro:
Thah men to me han onde, 255
To love nuly noht wonde,
Ne lete for non of Jk).
Levedi with al my miht
My love is on the liht,
To menske when y may; 260
Thou rew ant red me ryht,
To dethe thou hauest me* diht,
Y de^e longe er my day;
Thou leve upon mi lay.
Treuthe ichaue the plyht, 265
To don that ich haue hyht,
Whil mi lif leste may.
LYRIC POETRY. 105
Lylie-whyt [hire] hue is.
Hire rode so rose on rys,
That reveth me mi rest. 270
Wymmon war ant wys,
Of prade hue bereth the pris,
Burde on of the best ;
This wonmion woneth by west,
Brihtest under bys : 275
Hevene y tolde al his
That 6 nyht were hire gest.
III.
[Pages 41—43-]
Of a mon Matheu thohte,
Tho he the wyn3ord whrohte,
Ant wrot hit on ys boc; 280
In marewe men he sohte,
At under mo he brohte,
Ant nom and non forsoc,
At mydday ant at non
He sende hem thider fol son, 285
To helpen hem with hoc;
Huere foreward wes to fon,
So the furmest hevede y-don,
Ase the erst undertoc.
At evesong even neh, 290
Ydel men ^et he seh
Lomen habbe an honde;
To hem he sayde an-heh,
That suythe he wes undreh,
So ydel forte stonde. 295
So hit was bistad.
That nomon hem ne bad,
Huere lomes to fonde;
IC6 LYRIC POETRY.
Anon he was by-rad,
' To werk that he hem lad, 300
For nyht nolde he nout wonde.
Huere hure a nyht hue nome,
He that furst ant last come,
A peny brod ant bryht;
This other swore alle ant some, 305
That er were come with lome,
That so nes hit nout ryht;
Ant swore somme unsaht, '
That hem wes werk by-taht,
Longe er hit were lyht; 310 i
For ryht were that me raht
The mon that al day wraht.
The more mede a nyht.
Thenne seith he y-wis,
"Why, nath nout uch mon his? 315
Holdeth nou or pees;
A-way! thou art unwis,
Tak al that thin ys.
Ant fare ase foreward wees.
3ef y may betere beode, 320
To mi latere leode,
To leve nam y nout lees;
To alle that ever" hider code,
To do to day my neode,
Ichulle be wraththe-lees." 325 1
This world me wurcheth wo,
Roo-les ase the roo,
Y sike for im-sete;
Ant mourne ase men doth mo.
For doute of foule fo, 33®
Hou y my sunne may bete.
LFRIC POETRF. I07
This mon that Matheu 3ef
A peny that was so bref,
This frely folk imfete;
5et he 3ymden more, ^^s
Ant saide he comewel ^ore,
Ant gonne is loue for-lete.
IV.
[Pages 43—44.]
Lenten ys come with love to toune,
With blosmen ant with briddes romie,
That al this blisse bryngeth; 340
Dayes-e^es in this dales,
Notes suete of nyghtegales,
Uch foul song singeth.
The threstelcoc him threteth 00,
A-way is huere wynter wo, 345
When woderove springeth;
This foules singeth ferly fele,
Ant wlyteth on huere wynter wele,
That al the wode ryngeth.
The rose rayleth hire rode, 350
The leves on the lyhte wode
Waxen al with wille;
The mone mandeth hire bleo,
The lilie is lossom to seo,
The fenyl ant the fille; 355
Wowes this wilde drakes
Miles murgeth huere makes,
Ase strem that striketh stille;
Mody meneth, so doth mo,
Ichot ycham on of tho, 360
For love that likes ille.
io8 LrRic POSTRy.
The mone mandeth hire lyht,
So doth the semly sonne bryht,
When briddes smgeth breme;
Deowes donketh the dounes, 365
Deores with huere deme rounes,
Domes forte deme;
Wormes woweth imder cloude,
Wymmen waxeth wounder proude,
So wel hit wol hem seme, 370
3ef me shal wonte wille of on:
This wimne weole y wole for-gon,
Ant wyht in wode be fleme.
XI
ROBERT MANNYNG OF BRUNNE.
(A.D. 1 2 60-1340.)
obert Mannyng, commonly called Robert of Brunne, (from
>irthplace, Brunne or Bourn in Lincolnshire, seven or eight
5 from Market Deeping,) translated, in the year a. d. 1303,
iam of Waddington's Le Manuel det Pechiez. into English,
jr the title of Handfyng Synne,
2tween the years 1337 and 1338 Mannyng translated the
ich rhyming chronicle of Piers (or Peter) de Langtoft into
lish verse at the request of Dan Robert of Malton, prior of
Gilbertine order of which Mannyng was a canon,
he following tale is extracted from' Roberd of Brunnh's
ilyng Synne, edited for the Roxburghe Club by F. J. Fumi-
M.A. London 1862.
The Tale 0/ Pers the Usurer.
[CoUated with Harl. MS. 1701.]
Seynt Joun J>e aumenere
Say)) Pers was an okerere,
And was swyj>e coveytous,
And a nygiin and avarous,
And gadrede pens unto store, 5
As okerers doun aywhore.
Befyl hyt so upon a day
pat pore men sate yn J>e way,
And sprede here hatren on here barme
A^ens j)e sonne J>at was warme, 10
And rekenede ))e custome houses echoun,
no ROBERT OF BRUNNE'S
At whych )>ey hade gode, and at whyche noun;
pere J>ey hadde gode, J>ey preysede weyl,
And J)ere yey hadde noght, never a deyl.
As ))ey spak of many what, 15
Come Pers forJ> yn Jiat gat,
pan seyde echoun J>at sate and stode,
"Here comJ> Pers jjat never dyde gode."
Echoun seyde to oJ>er janglande,
pey toke never gode at Pers hande ; 20
Ne noun pore man never shal have,
Coude ne never so weyl crave.
One of hem began to sey
"A waiour dar y wyj> 30W ley
pat y shal have sum god at hym, 25
Be he never so gryl ne grym."
To J)at waiour )>ey grauntede alle,
To 3yve hym a ^yft, ^yf so my3t^ befalle.
pys man upsterte and toke J)e gate .
Tyl he com at Pers ^ate ; 30
As he stode sty lie and bode J>e quede,
One com wy)) an asse charged wy)> brede
pat yche brede Pers had^ boght,
And to hys hous shulde hyt be broght.
He sagh Pers come jjer wyj? alle, 35
pe pore Jjoghte *now aske y shal/
Y aske )>e sum gode, par^ charyte,
Pers 3yf J>y wyl be.
Pers stode, and lokede on hym
Felunlyche wy)) y3en grym. 40
He stoupede down to seke a stone,
But, as hap was, J>an fonde he none.
For ))e stone he toke a lofe,
And at )>e pore man hyt drofe.
* MS. has pur.
HANDLTNG SYNNE. IIT
pe pore man hente Yiyi up belyve, 45
And was jierof ful ferly blyj)e.
To hys felaws faste he ran
WyJ> J)e lofe, )>ys pore man.
"Lo" he seyde ">vhat y have
Of Pers 3yft, so God me save !" 50
Nay, )>ey swore by here fryft,
Pers jave never swych a 3yft.
He seyde, 3e shul weyl imdyrstonde
pat y hyt hade at Pers honde;
pat dar y swere on \t halydom 55
Here before 30W echomi.
Crete merveyle hade ))ey alle
pat swych a chaunce my3t hym befalle.
pe )>rydde day, J>us wryte hyt ys,
Pers fyl yn a grete syknes; do
And as he lay yn hys bedde,
Hym )K)ghte weyl jiat he was ledde
WyJ> one that aftyr hym was sent
To come mito hys jugement.
Before the iuge was he broght 65
To 3elde acounte how he hadde wroght;
Pers stode ful sore a drad,
And was abashed as mad,
He sagh a fende on the to party
Bewreyyng hym ful felunly; 70
Alle hyt was shewed hym before,
How he had^ lyved syn he was bore ;
And namely every wykked dede
Syn fyrst he coude hymself lede;
Why he hem dyde, and for what chesun, 75
Of alle behoveJ> hym to 3elde aresoun.
On the touJ)er party stode men ful bry3t,
pat wulde have saved hym at here my3t,
112 ROBERT OF BRUNNE'S
But j)ey myghte no gode fynde
pat my3t hym save or unbynde. 80
pe feyre men seyde, what ys to rede?
Of hym fynde we no gode dede
pat god ys payd of, — but of a lofe
pe whych Pers a[t] the pore man drofe;
5yt 3ave he hyt wyj> no gode wylle, 85
But kast hyt aftyr hym wy)> ylle,
For Goddys love 3ave he hyt no3t,
Ne for almes dede he hyt hade thoght.
No))eles, J)e pore man
Hade jje lofe of Pers |)an. 90
pe fende hade leyd yn balaunce
Hys wykkede dedes and hys myschaunce;
pey leyde )>e lofe a3ens hys dedys
pat hade no3t elles, J)ey mote nedys.
pe holy man tellej> us and seys 95
pat |>e lofe made even peys.
pan seyd J>ese feyre men to Pers,
"5yf )>ou be wys, nou J)OU leres
How ))ys lofe )>e helpe|) at nede
To tylle jjy soule wy)> almes dede." 100
Pers of hys slepe gan blynke,
And gretly on hys dreme gan )>ynke,
Syghyng wy)) mornyng chere,
As man J>at was in grete were
How ))at he acouped was, 105
Wy)) fendes fele for hys trespas,
And how )>ey wulde have dampned hym J)ere,
5yf mercy of Jesu Cryst ne were.
Alle J)ys yn hys herte he kaste, —
And to hym self he spak at )>e laste, — no
pat for a lofe yn eveyl wylle,
Halp me yn so grete perel,
HANDLYNG SYNNE. II3
Moche wolde Yiyi helpe at nede
Wy)> gode wyl [to] do almes dede.
Fro ]>at tyme ]>an wax Pers 115
A man of so feyre maners,
pat no man my3t yn hym fynde,
But to )>e pore bojje meke and kynde;
A mylder man ne my3te nat be
Ne to the pore, more of almes fre; 120
And reuful of herte also he was,
pat mayst Jhdu here lere yn J>ys pas.
Pers mette upon a day
A pore man by the way,
As naked as he was bore, 125
pat yn J)e see had alle lore.
He come to Pers j)ere he stode,
And askede hym sum of hys gode,
Sumwhat of hys clo))yng,
For the love of heuene kyng. 130
Pers was of reuful herte,
He toke hys kjntyl of, as smerte,
And dede hyt on the man aboue,
And bad hym were hyt for hys loue ;
The man hyt toke and was ful bly)>e ; 135
He 3ede and solde hyt asswyjie.
Pers stode and dyde beholde
How |)e man pe kyrtyl solde,
And was |>arwy|) ferly wro)>e
pat he solde so sone hys clojje; 140
He my3te no lenger for sorow stande
But 3ede home fill sore gretande;
And seyde, hyt was an euyl sygne.
And |)at hym self was nat dygne
For to be yn hys preyere, 145
perfor nolde he fe kyrtyl were,
I
114 ROBERT OF BRUNNE^S
Whan he hadde fill longe grete.
And a party )>erof began lete 3 —
For communlych aftyr wepe ^
Fal men sone on slepe, — 150 ,
As Pers lay yn hys slepyng,
Hym jjoghte a feyre sweuenyng,
Hym jHDghte he was yn heuene ly^t.
And of God he hade a syght
Syttyng yn hys kyrtyl clade, 155
J)at J)e pore man of hym hade,
And spak to hym ful myldely: —
"Why wepest J)OU, and art sory?
Lo, Pers/* he sayde "|)ys ys ))y cloth.
For he solde hyt, [3yt] were )>ou wroth; 160
Know hyt weyl, 3yf Jiat J>ou kan,
For me )k>u 3aue hyt ))e pore man,
J)at you 3aue hym yn charyt^,
Euery deyl J)OU ^aue hyt me."
Pers of slepe oute breyde, 165
And jjoghte grete wunder, and sejien seyde,
"Blessyd be alle pore men,
For God almy^ty louejj hem;
And weyl ys hem jiat pore are here,
J)ey are wyj) God boJ>e lefe and dere, 170
And y shal fonde, by ny3t and day.
To be pore, ^yf })at y may.'*
Hastly he toke hys kateyl,
And 3aue hyt to pore men echedeyl.
Pers kallede to hym hys clerks 175
pat was hys notarye, and bad hym herk^: —
"Y shal ye shewe a pryuytd,
A )>yng )>at J>ou shalt do to me;
y wyl J)at ))0u no man hyt telle;
My body y take \^ Yieie to ^e^e igo ^
BANDLYNG SYNNE. II5
To sum man as yn bondage,
To lyue yn pouert and yn seniage;
But )K>u do J>us, y wyl be wroJ>,
And Jk)u and J>yne shal be me loJ>.
5yf )K>u do hyt, y shal ))e 33rue 185
Ten pownde of golde wel wyj> to lyue;
po ten pownde y take J)e here,
And me to selle on bonde manere;
Y ne recche [neuer] vn to whom,
But onlych he haue ])e crystendom; 190
pe raunsun jjat Jiou shalt for me take,
parfore ))Ou shalt sykemes make
For to 3yue hyt ble))ely and weyl
To pore men every deyl,
And wy)>holde ))er-of no J>yng, 195
pe mountouns of a ferj)yng/'
Hys clerk was wo to do J>at dede.
But only for manas and for drede.
For drede Pers made hym hyt do,
And dede hym plyghte his trouj)e j>er-to. 200
Whan hys clerk hade mad hys othe
Pers dede on hym a foule clothe ;
Vnto a cherche boJ)e Jjey ^ede
For to fulfylle hys wyl yn dede.
Whan J>at ))ey to ))e cherche com 205
" Lorde," ))Oghte ))e clerke, " now whom
My^t y fynde, J>ys yche sele
To whom y my^te selle Pers wele."
pe clerk lokede euery where,
And at ))e laste he knew where 210
A ryche man (was) jjat er hade be
Specyal knowlych euer betewe,
But jHirghe myschaunce at a ksus
AUe bys gode ylore was;
I 2
Il6 ROBERT OF BRUNNE's
' 3ole' J>us J>at man hyghte, 215
And knew J)e clerke wel be syghte.
pey spak of olde a-queyntaunce,
And 5ole tolde hym of hys chaunce.
"3e" seyde )>e clerk, "y rede Jjou bye
A man to do )>y marchaundrye, 220
pat Jhdu mayst holde yn seruage
To restore weyl J>yn dammage."
pan seyde 5oIe, "on swych chaflfare
Wulde y feyn my syluer ware."
pe clerke seyde "lo one here, 225
A trewtf man an a dubonure,
pat wyl seme ))e to pay,
Peyneble, al )>at he may.
*Pers' shalt J>ou calle hys name,
For hym shalt )>ou hatie moche frame. 230
He ys a man fill gracyous
Gode to Wynne vn-to )>yn hous,
And God shal ^yue )>e hys blessyng.
And foysyn, yn alle fyng."
pe clerke ^aue alle hys raunsun 235
To )>e pore men of J>e toun, —
Plenerly, alle )>at he toke,
Wy)>helde he nat a fer)>ynge noke,
pe Emparoure sente hys messageres
Alle aboute for to seke Pers, 240
But J>ey ne my^te neuer here
Of ryche Pers, )>e toUere
Yn what stede he was nome,
No whydyrwarde he was become;
No J>e clerke wulde telle to none 245
Whydyrwarde ))at Pers was gone.
Now ys Pers bycome bryche,
pat er was bo)>e stoute and ryche.
HANDLYNG SYNNE. II7
Alle ])at euer any man hym do bad,
Pers dyde hyt wyj> herte glad. 250
He wax so mylde and so meke,
A mylder man J>urt no man seke;
For he mekede hym-self ouer-skyle
Pottes and dysshes for to swele.
To grete penaunce he gan hym take, 255
And moche for to faste and wake,
And moche he louede )>ohnodnesse
To ryche, to pore, .to more, to lesse.
Of alle men he wulde haue doute,
And to here bydd)nig mekly loute; 260
Wulde J)ey bydde hym sytte or stande
Euer he wulde be bowande;
And for he bare hym so meke and softe,
Shrewes mysdede hym ful ofte,
And helde hym foltede or wode 265
For he was so mylde of mode.
And J)ey jjat were hys felaus
Mysseyde hym most yn here sawes;
And alle he suflfrede here upbreyde,
And neuer naght a3ens hem seyde. 270
3ole hys lorde wel undyrstode
pat al hys grace and hys gode
Com for )>e loue of Pers
pat was of so holy maners;
And whan he wyst of hys bount^, 275
He kallede Pers yn pryuyt^:
" Pers," he seyde, " pou were wurj>y
For to be wurscheped more than y.
For )>ou art weyl wyj> Jesu,
He shewe)> for J>e grete vertu; 280
parfor y shal make J)e fre,
Y wyl ]>at my felaw J>ou be."
Il8 ROBERT OF BRUNNE'S
par-to Pers grantede noghte
To be freman as he besoghte;
He wulde be, as he was ore, 285
Yn )>at seniage for euermore.
He J>ankede J>e lorde myldely
For his grete curteysy.
Sy)>)>en Jesu, Jjurgh hys my3t,
Shewede hym to Pers sy3t, 290
For to be stalwor)>e yn hys fondjmg
And to hym haue loue longyng.
"Be nat sorowfiil to do penaunce;
Y am wyj> )>e yn euery chamice;
Pers, Y haue mynde of )>e, 295
Lo, here J>e kyrtyl ))at )>ou ^aue for me;
p'erfor grace y shal J>e sende
Yn alle godenesse weyl to ende."
Byfyl J>at seriauntes and squyers
pat were wunt to seme Pers, 300
Went yn pylgrymage, as yn kas,
To )>at cuntre J>ere Pers was.
5ole ful feyre gan hem kalle,
And preyde hem home to hys halle.
Pers was )>ere, J>at yche sele, 305
And euerychone he knew hem wele.
Alle he seruede hem as a knaue
pat was wunt here seruyse to haue.
But Pers nat ^yt J>ey knew^.
For penaunce chaunged was hys hew^; 310
Nat forjjy jjey behelde hym fast^.
And oftyn to hym here y^en )>ey kast^
And seyde " he jjat stonte here
Ys lyche to Pers tollere."
He hydde hys vysege al J>at he my3t^ 315
Out of knowlych of here sy3t^;
HANDLYNO SYNNE, II9
NoJ)eles jiey behelde hym more
And knew hym weyl, al ])at were J>ore,
And seyde, " Jole, ys ^one l>y page ?
A ryche man ys yn J>y seniage. 320
pe emparoure boj)e fer and nere
HaJ> do hym seche J>at we fynde here."
Pers lestnede, and herde hem spekyng,
And ]>at ))ey hade of hym knowyng;
And pryuyly awey he nam 325
Tyl he to )>e porter cam.
pe porter hade hys speche lore,
And heryng also, syn he was bore ;
But l>urgh J)e grace of swete Jesu
Was shewed for Pers feyre vertu. 330
Pers seyde, "late me fur)> go."
pe porter spak, and seyde, "3o*"
He J)at was def, and domnbe also,
Spak whan Pers spak hym to.
Pers oute at )>e 3ate wente, 335
And )>edyr 3ede, jiere God hym sente.
The porter 3ede up to j)e halle,
And J>ys merueyle tolde hem alle;
"And j)e squyler of ]« kechyn,
Pers, J)at ha)> woned here yn, 400
He askede leue, ry3t now late,
And wente furj> out at J>e gate.
Y rede 30U alle, 3eue)j gode tent,
Whederwarde J)at Pers ys went.
Wyj> Jesu Cryst he ys pryu^, 345
And J)at ys shewed weyl on me.
For what tyme he to me spak,
Out of hys mouJ> me Jjoghte brak
A flamme of fyre bryght and clere,
pe flaumme made me boJ)e speke and here; 350
IZO ROBERT OF BRUNNB'S HANDLTNG STNNE.
Speke and here, now, boJ)e y may.
Blessed be God and Pers to day!"
pe lorde and J)e gestes alle.
One and oJ)er ])at were yn halle,
Hade menieyle ]>at h)rt was so, 355
pat he my^te swych myracle do.
pan asswy)>e Pers ])ey soghte
But al here sekyng was for nojte;
Neuer Pers )>ey ne founde,
Ny3t ne day, yn no stounde; 360
For he Jiat toke Ennok and Ely,
He toke Pers, furgh hys mercy.
To reste wy))Outyn ende to lede.
For hys meknes and hys gode dede.
Take ensample here of Pers, 365
And partejj wyj? )>e pore, 3e okerers.
For 30W shal neuer come joye wyj)-ynne.
But 3e leue fyrst J>at synne;
And 3yue to almes ])at yche J>yng
pat 3e haue wune wyj? okeryng. 370
Now wyj> Gode leue we Pers;
God 3yue us grace to hys manersl
XII.
WILLIAM De SHOREHAM.
(a.d. 1307— 1327.)
De Baptismo,
William de Shoreham, so called from Shoreham, near Otford,
3ut four miles and a half from Sevenoaks,) was originally a
ik of the Priory of Leeds, but was appointed vicar of Chart-
ton by Walter Archbishop of Canterbury (131 3- 1337). The
rt poem De Bapttsmo (a copy of which is contained in 7he
^ous Poems of William de Sborebamy edited for the Percy
iety by T. Wright, M.A., London 1849) is copied from the
litional MS. 17,376 in the British Museimi, by the present
or. The dialect of course is Southern.
Cristendom his that sacrament
That men her ferst fongeth;
Hit openeth ous to the hevene blisse
That many man after longeth
Wei sore; 5
For who that entreth ther.
He his saufFe evere-more.
Nou ferst ich wille telle 30U
Wet may be the materie,
Wer-inne cristninge may be mad,
That bringeth ous so merie
To honoure.
Hi3t mo3t be do ine kende water,
And non other licour.
122 DE BAPTISMO.
Therfore ine wine me ne may, 15
Imie sithere ne inne pereye,
Ne ine thinge that nevere water nes,
Thor3 cristninge man may reneye,
Ne inne ale.
For-thie hi3t were water ferst, 20
Of water neth hit tale.
Ne mede ne forthe no other licour
That chaungeth wateres kende,
Ne longeth naujt to cristendom,
Tha3t som foles hit wende 25
For wete;
For suich is kendeliche hot,
Tha3t ther no feer hit ne hente.
Ac water is kendeliche cheld,
Tha3 hit be warmd of fere ; 30
Ther-fore me mey cristni ther-inne.
In whaut time falthe a 3ere
Of yse ;
So mey me nau3t in ewe ardaunt,
That neth no wateris wyse. 35
Also me may inne sealte se
Cristny wel mitte beste ;
And eke inne othere sealte watere,
Bote me ine to moche keschte
Of sealte; 40
For 3ef that water his kende lest,
That cristninge stant te-tealte.
DE BAPTISMO. 123
Ac 3yf ther were y-mengd licour
Other wid kende watere,
Ich wo3t wel thrinne to cristnye 45
Hit nere nefur the betere,
Ac wonde;
For bote that water his kende have,
That cristnynge may nau3t stonde.
In water ich wel the cristny her 50
As gode himself hyt di3te;
For mide to wessche nis nothynge,
That man cometh to so li3te,
In londe;
Nis non that habben hit ne may 55
That habbe hit wile founde.
This bethe the wordes of cristninge
Bi thyse Englissche costes.
*' Ich cristni the in the vader name,
And sone and holy gostes 60
And more."
Amen! wane hit his ised ther-toe
Confermeth thet ther to fore.
The wordes scholle be i-sed
Witheoute wane and eche; 65
And onderstand hi more bi sed
In alle manere speche
Ine lede;
That ^verich man hi sigge more
And cristny for nede. 70
124 ^^ BAPTISMO.
Ac 5if man scholde i-cristnid be
That neth none deathes signe,
The pope for te cristny hyne
So nere nau3t te digne
The leste; 75
Ther-fore hi beth in cherche brou3t,
To cristny of the preste.
Ac he that ^if so large water
The fend fram ous to reave,
In nede for to crystny men, 80
5ef alle men i-leave
At felle;
Olepi me mot hym depe ine the water,
And eke the wordes telle.
And wanne hi cristneth ine the foun^t, 85
The prestes so thries duppeth,
In the honur of the Trinity,
Ac gode ^eme kepeth
The ned;
On time a clothe that water i-kest 90
Ac ope the heuede to bede.
Ac water i-kest another love^
Cristneth the man alyve,
Ac hit his sikerest in the heeved
Ther beth the wittes fyve, 95
Wei, brother,
Ne non ne may i-cristened be,
Ar 3e his boren of moder.
1 halve I
DE BAPTISMO. 125
3et gret peryl hy undergothe
That cristneth twyes eiine, loo
Other to ^eve asent ther-to,
Other for love of kenne
For-hedeth,
Wanne child ari^t cristnynge heth,
And that other nau3t for-bedeth. 105
Bote hi this conne, hit his peril
To thise medewyves;
For ofte children scheawith quike,
I-bore to schorte lyves,
And deyeth;
Bote hi ari^t i-cristned be,
Fram hevene evere hi weyeth.
Ac 3if that child i-cristned his
Ac ine fot [th]at me hit weveth,
Thise habbeth forme ther-of 115
A Latin that ham gevieth
To depe;
And ich schel seggen hit an Englisch,
Nou ther-of neme ^e kepe.
The prest taketh that ilke child 120
In his honden by-thuixte,
And seith " ich ne cristni thei nau^t,
3ef thou ert i-cristned,
Eftsone ;
Ac 3yf thou nart ich cristni the;" 125
And deth that his to donne.
126 DE BAPTI8M0.
Ac 3et ther beth cristnynges mo,
Ac no man ne may di^tti;
For hi beth Godes grace self,
Men of gode ine wil to ri3ti, 130
And Wynne, .
Wanne hi wolde i-cristned be,
And more mid none ginne.
That on his cleped cristninge of blode,
Wanne suche bledeth for Criste; 135
That other of the Holi-Gost,
That mo3e mid none liste
Be i-cristned.
And deyeth so wanne hi beth deede.
In heuene hi beth i-gistned. 140
The children atte cherche dore
So beth y-primisined ;
And that hi beethe eke atte fount
Mid oyle and creyme alyned,
Al faylleth; 145
Hi^t wortheth^ cristnynge,
And that child ther-to hit availleth.
* worcheth is written in the margin of the MS.
XIII.
CURSOR MUNDI. (CURSUR O WERLD.)
ABOUT A.D. 1320.
The Cursor Mundi is a metrical version of Old and New Tes-
tament history interspersed with numerous mediaeval legends.
It seems to have been a very popular book with our forefathers,
and one MS. has the following Rubric,
" This is the best book of all
The Course of the World men do it call."
There are several MSS. of this work, but the Cottonian MS.
Vespasian A. iii., in the Northim[ibrian dialect, has furnished the
following extracts.
The Visit of the Wise Men, and the Flight into Egypt.
Fra he [Christ] was bom fe day thritteind,
pai oiferd him )>aa kinges heind,
Wit riche giftes )>at }>ai broght;
pat he was bom bot |)at yeire noght.
And sum sais bot fe neist yeire 5
Foluand, and sum wit resun sere
Sais, yere after J«ii com.
John gilden-moth sais wit ]>is dome,
pat he fand in an aid bok,
pis kinges fre }>ar wai ])ai tok, i©
A tuelmo[n]th, ar fe nativity,
For elles moght not kinges thre,
Haf raght to ride sa ferr owai
And com to Crist ))at ilk day.
128 THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN,
He sais fat in fe bok he fand 15
Of a prophet of Estrinland,
Hight Balaam, crafti and bald,
And mikel of a stern he tald,
A Sterne to cum J>at suld be sene,
Was neuer nan suilk befor sua scene. 20
Us telles alsua John gildenmoth
Of a folk ferr and first uncuth,
Wonnand be fe est occean,
pat biyond )>am ar wonnand nan.
Amang squilk was broght a writte, 25
O Seth J)e name was laid on it;
O suilk a stem J)e writt it spak
And of J)ir ofFerands to mak.
pis writte was gett fra kin to kin,
pat best it cuth to haf in min, 30
pat at ]>e last fai ordeind tuelve,
pe thoghtfulest amang fam selve.
And did |)am in a montain dem,
Desselic to wait fe stem.
Quen ani deid o fat do^ein, 35
His sun for him was sett again,
Or his neist fat was fere.
Sua fat ever fan ilk yere
Quen fair corns war in-don,
pai went in to fat montaine son, ,40
par fai ofFerd, praid and suank,
Thre dais [and] nofer ete ne dranc;
pus thorn ilk oxspring fai did,
Til at fe last fis stern it kyd.
pis ilk stern fam come to warn, 45
Apon fat mont in forme o bam.
And bar on it liknes of croice,
And said to faim wit man[ne]s woice,
AND THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. 1 29
pat )>ai suld wend to Juen land.
pai went and tua yeir war waP]kand. 50
pe stern went forth-wit, )>at fam ledd,
And ferlilic fan war J>ai fedd;
pair scrip{)es, quer fai rade or yode,
pam failed neuer o drinc ne fode.
pir kinges rides forth fair rade, 55
pe stem alwais jjam for-wit glade.
pai said, "far we nu to yond king,
pat sal in erth haf nan ending;
pis king we sal be ofFrand nu,
And honur him wit truthes tru; 60
Al J)e kinges o J)is werld,
For him sal be quakand and ferd."
pai folud o I is stem fe leme,
Til ))ai come into Jemsalem,
Bot fra )>ai come far als-snith, 65
pe stern it hid and can unkyth,
pom J)e might of sant drightin,
For Horods sak his wij)erwin;
pat wist j>of-que))er fe kinges noght,
Bot wend haf funden |>at J>ai soght. 70
pai toke fair gesting in fe tun,
And spird him efter up and dun;
Bot J)e burgeses o J)e citd
Thoght ferli quat |>is thing suld be;
pai asked quat ]>ai soght, and fai 75
Said, "a blisful child, par fai.
He sal be king of kinges alle.
To hend and fete we sal him falle,
Sagh we an stem fat ledd us hidir."
pan fai gedir fam to gedir, 80
And spak hir-of wit gret wondring.
And word cum til Herod fe kyng,
K
130 THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN,
pat ))ar was suilk kynges cummiin,
And in )>at tun gestening had nummun.
Quen he jiis ti))and undirstod, 85
Him thoght it no]>er fair na god,
For wel he wend, ))at fill o suik,
To be put ute of his kingrike.
And did he suith to samen calle
pe maisters of his kingrik alle, 90
And fraind at )>aim if yai wist,
Quar suld he be bom, ))at Crist
pat suld J)e king of Jues be.
pai said, "in Bethleem Jude."
For J)e prophet had written sua, 95
And said "pou Bethleem Juda,
pof })OU be noght J)e mast cit^,
pou es noght lest of dignity ;
O ]>e sal he be bom and bred,
Mi folk of Israel sal [he] lede." . 100
Herod faa kings cald in dern.
And spird fam quen fai sagh j)e stem;
"Gais," he said, "and spirs welle gem,
And quen yee funden haf j)e bam,
Cums again and tels me, 105
For wit wirscip I wille him se."
"Sir," ))ai said, "fat sal be yare."
Quen J)ai went in |>air wai to far,
And left Herod, ))at fals felun,
pe stern ))ai sagh befor fam bon; no
And herbi semis, sua J)inc me,
Sagh nan it bot J)a kinges thre;
Bituix ))e lift an[d] j)e erth it glade,
Sua fair a stern was never made;
Right fra the tun of Jerusalem, 115
It ledd j)am into Bethleem;
.
AND THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. 131
Ute over ))at hus \zxi stode the stem,
par Jhesus and his moder wem.
pai kneld dun and broght in hand,
Ilkan him gaf worfi ofFrand; 120
pe first o ))am ]>at Jasper hight,
He gaf him gold wit resun right,
And }>at was for to sceu takning
O kynges alle }>at he was kyng;
Melchior hun com }>air neist, 125
Hei[n]d he was, bath godd and prist,
Wit recles for-wit him he felle,
pat agh be brint in kirc to smelle;
It es a gum ]>at cums o firr;
Bot Attropa gaf gift o mir, 130
A smeri o selcuth bittumes,
pat ded man core wit smerid es;
For roting es na better rede,
In taken he man was [and] suld be dede.
O J)ir thre giftes, sais sum bok, 135
At ans alle thre he tok,
Ful suetlik, wit smiland chere,
Biheild j)aa giftes riche and dere.
Joseph and Maria his spuse,
Ful fair j>ai cald )?am til huse, 140
Fair fai did }>air conrai dight ;
Wit )ie child war fai |)at night,
Wit-uten pride, |)e soth to telle.
Had )>ai na bedd was spred wit pelle;
Bot ))at J)ai faand, wit-uten wand, 145
pai tok and Ranked Godd his sand;
Ful fain war l)ai, |)ai sua had spedd.
paa kinges thre ar broght to bedd,
Thre weri kinges o |)air wai,
pe feirth a child, wel mare ))an )>ai; 150
K 2
132 THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN,
pat wist )>ai wel and kyd wit dede,
Fill wel he wil t>am quit |»air made.
]>ai had in wil )>at ilk night,
To torn be Herods als })ai hight,
6ot quils ))ai slepand lai in bedd, 155
An angel com |>at |>am for-bedd
To wend |>am bi him ani wai,
(For he was traitur, fals in fai),
Ano|>er wai j^at |:ai suld fare.
pe morun quen j/ai risen ware, 160
And |>ai had honurd |>ar |)e child,
pai tok }>air leve at Man mild,
And thanked Joseph curtaisli
O fair calling and herbergeri;
paa kinges ferd ano))er wai. 165
Quen that Herods herd |)er-of sai,
Ful wrath he wex, |)at wrangwis king,
And herd him driven al til hejang.
He sett his waites bi ))e stret,
If )>ai moght wit |)aa kinges mett, 170
He commandid son )?ai suld be slan.
If |)ai moght ofer be over-tan.
Bot God wald not fai mett ))am wit;
pai ferd al sauf into fair kyth.
Quen Herods sagh he moght not sped, 175
Sua wa was him fat he wald wede ;
For fat his wil sua moght not rise,
He thoght hirti wenge on oj^er wise.
He made a purveance in hi,
pat mani saccles suld it bii; 180
For he moght find nan wit sak.
On fe sakles he suld ta wrake.
Qua herd ever ani slik
Purveance sa ful o suike,
AND THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. 133
pat far ^ chesun of a barn 185
Sua mani wald ))at war for-fam ?
He commandid til his knygbtes kene,
To sla the childer al be-dene,
Wit-in J)e tun of Bethleem;
And ute-wit mani bamtem 190
Did he sacclesli o liif,
Ful waful made he mani wiif.
Wit-in ))e land left he noght an
O tua yeir eild, }>at he ne was slan;
Tua yeir o less, I tel it yow, 195
For sua he wend to sla Jhesu;
Alle for noght can he to strive,
Moght he noght Jhesu bring o live:
Ar he self wald, |)at mighti king;
To ded it moght na man him bring, 200
And not yeitt J)an fat he ne suld ris^,
Al at his aun devise;
It was a mikel sume o quain
O faa childer fat war slain;
An hundret fourti four thusand, ^05
Thorn Jhesu com to liif lastand.
Bot seven dais for-wit, we rede,
At Herod had gest do fis dede,
par Joseph on his sleping lai.
An angel |;us til him can sai: 210
"Rise up Josep and busk and ga,
Maria and fi child al-sua.
For yow behoves nu alle thre.
In land of Egypt for to fle;
Rise up ar it be dai, aij
And folus forth J)e wildrin wai;
Herod fat es fe child fa,
Fra nu wil sek him for to sla;
134
pare sal yee bide stil wit fe bam,
Til |)at I eft cum yow to warn." 220
Son was Joseph redi bun,
Wit naghtertale he went o tun,
Wit Maria mild, and |)air mein6,
A maiden and fair suanis thre,
pat servid )/am in )>air sends; 225
Wit |)aim was nan bot war and wis.
For SCO rad Jjat moder mild;
And in hir barm sco ledd hir child.
Til fai come at a cove was depe^.
par J)ai |)am thoght to rest and slepe; 230
par did fai Mari for to light,
Bot son J)ai sagh an ugli sight.
Als )>ai loked |>am biside,
Ute o ))is cove fan sagh |>ai glide
Mani dragons, wel sodanli; 235
pe suanis fan bigan to cri.
Quen Jhesus sagh ))am glopnid be,
He lighted of his moder kne.
And stod apon faa bestes grim,
And fai ))am luted under him. 240
pan com \>e propheci al cler
To dede, fat said es in sauter :
"pe dragons wonand in fair cove,
pe laverd agh yee worthli to lufe."
Jhesus he went befor fam fan, 245
Forbed |jam harm do ani man.
Maria and Joseph ne for-fi
For fe child war ful dreri;
Bot Jhesus ansuard f aim onan :
"For me drednes haf nu yee nan, 250
Ne haf yee for me na bam site,
» Dipe MS.
AND THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. I35
For I am self man al.parfite,
And al J?e bestes fat ar wild,
For me most be tame and mild."
Leon yode ))am als imid, 255
And pardes als \q dragons did,
Bifor Maria and Joseph yede,
In right wai fam for to lede.
Quen Maria sagh ]>aa bestes dute,
First SCO was gretli in dute, 260
Til Jhesus loked on hir blith,
And dridnes bad hir nan to kith.
" Moder," he said, " haf ))Ou na ward,
No))er o leon ne o lepard,
For J)ai com noght us harm to do, 265
Bot ))air servis at serve us to."
Bath ass and ox at wit ]>am war,
And bestes fat fair hamais bar,
Ute o Jerusalem fair kyth,
pe leons mekli yod fam wit, 270
Wit-uten harm, or ox or ass,
Or ani best fat wit fam was.
pan was fulfild fe propheci,
pat said was foru Jeremi,
" Wolf and wefer,' leon and ox, 275
Sal comen samen, and lamb and fox."
A wain fai had fair gere wit-in,
pat draun was wit oxen tuin.
Forth fair wai fai went fra fan,
Wit-uten kithing of ani man. 280
Maria forth fam foluand rade,
Gret hett in wildernes it made;
O gret travail sco was weri,
A palme tre sco sagh hir bi;
Joseph SCO said, " fain wald I rest, 285
136 THE VISIT OF THE WISE MENy
Under Hs tre, me thine wer best"
" Gladli," said he, " ))at wU resun."
Son he stert and tok hir dun,
Quen SCO had sitten }>ar a wei,
Sco bihild a tre was hei, 290
And sagh a fnit ]>ar-on hingand,
Man clepes palmes in )>at land.
" Joseph," SCO said, " fain wald I etc
O ]>is frut, if I moght gete ;"
" Maria me thine ferli o fe 295
pat se ))e gret heght o Jns tre,
)>e frut hu suld man reche unto,
pat man his hand mai to nan do?
Bot I site for an ofer thing,
pat we o water haf nu wanting; 300
Ur water purveance es gan.
And in ))is wildemes es nan,
NaJ)er for us, ne for ur fee,
Ne for nan of ur mein^/'
Jhesus satt on his moder kne, 305
Wit a ful blith cher said he,
" Bogh )>ou til us suith J)Ou tre.
And of j)i frut ))OU give us plenty."
Unnethe had he said fe sune,
Quen ))e tre it boghed dune, 310
Right to Maria, his moder, fote,
pe crop was evening to fe rote.
Quen alle had eten frut inogh,
Yeit it boghud dun ilk bogh.
Til he wald comand it to rise, 315
pat gert it lute in his servis.
To J)at tre ))an spak Jhesu :
" Rise up," he said, " and right ye nu,
I wil ))Ou, fra mi forward.
JkND THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. \y]
Be planted in min orcherd, 320
Amang mi tres o paradise,
pat ))OU and ))ai be of a prise ;
Vnder ))i rote J>ar es a spring,
I wil ))at ute ))e water wring;
Mak us a welle, for mine sake, 325
pat alle mai plenty o water take/'
Wit J)is stert up J)e tre stedfast;
Under J)e rote a welle ute-brast,
Wit strand suete, and clere, and cald;
Alle dranc inogh ilkan \2X wald, 330
Wit alle J)e bestes in ))at place,
pai loued ai drightin of his grace.
Apon j)e morn, quen it was dai,
And ))ai ware busked to fair wai,
Jhesus him turnd to \t tre, t,^*}^
And said, " J)Ou palme i comand j)e,
pat o ))i branches an be scorn.
And wit mine angel hejjen born.
To planted be in paradise,
par mi fader mirthes es." 340
Unnethes he had ))is word spoken.
An angel com, a bogh was broken,
And born awai it was alson;
His comanment was noght vndon,
pe bugh til heuen wit him he bar; 345
pai felle in suim, al fat ))ar war.
For angel sight fai felle dun mad.
Jhesus ]i»an said, " qui er yee rade ?
Quer it es sua yee wat it noght,
pat handes mine J)is tre has wroght, 350
And I wil nu ))is ilk tre
Stand in paradis to be,
To mi santes insted of fode
13H THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN,
A! in Jns way to yow it stode."
Sil?en forth fai ferd jiair wai, 355
And Joseph can to Jhesu sai,
'' Laverd |hs is a mikel hete.
It greves us, it es sua grete;
If |k>u redes )iat it sua be,
We wil jie wai ga be |ie se, 360
For jiar es tuns in for to rest,
pat we to ga me thine it best"
" Joseph nu dred |»e nog^t i sai,
For i sal mak jie scort }>i wai,
pat |k)u on thritt^ dais lang 365
Joraes sal haf bot a dai-gang."
Als )>ai togedir talked sua,
pai loked )>am on-fenrum fra.
And sun bigan )>ai for to se,
O land of Egypt sum cit^ 370
pan )>ai wex ful glad and blith,
And come )>am tille a citd suith ;
par J)ai fand nan o fair knaing.
At \>2Lt J)ai cuth ask at )>air gesting.
In yaX siquar )>ai come to tun, 375
Was preistes at fair temple bun
To do J)e folk, als J)ai war sete,
Ma sacrifices to fair maumet.
Bot Maria ner was gesten ]i»ar,
To se ))at kirck hir sun sco bar; 380
Quen SCO was cummen fat kirck witin,
Man moght a selcuth se to min,
pat al fair idels, in a stund,
Grovelings fel unto J)e grund,
Dun at J)e erth alle war fai laid. 385
pan come J)e propheci was said, —
" Quen he," it sais, ** J)e laverd sal
AND THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT, 1 39
Cum til Egypti, J)air idels alle
Sal falle dun, als J)ai war noght,
pe quilk jjai wit J)air handes wroght." 390
O Jjat tun was a laverding,
Quen him was tald o J)is tij)ing,
He gadir[d] folk and duelled noght,
And to j)e temple he J)am broght;
For to wreke })am he was bun, 395
pat J)us did cast J)air goddes dun.
Quen he jjam sagh in temple lii,
Hiis godds and his maumentri,
He com to Maria wituten harme,
par SCO hir child bar in hir arme; 400
Honurand forwit him he felle.
And til his folk fus he can telle :
" pis child if he ne war Godd Almight,
Ur godds had standen al upright,
Bot for he is Godd mighti sene 405
Ures ar fallen dun be-dene;
Quat dos or goddes or mai do ger,
Bot we ne wrick )>e wisliker;
pe wark of him sua mai we dred,
Als wittnes on ur eldres dede, 410
Hu it be-tide to Pharaon;
Wit al his folk he was fordon,
For fai wald noght apon him tru,
Sua ful o might and o vertu,
Al fai drund in J)e se; 415
I tru on him, alsua do yee."
Was noght a temple or-quar in tun,
pat J)ar ne fel sum idel dun.
140 THE OIL OF MERCY.
The Oil 0/ Mercy,
Adam had pastd nine hundret yere,
Naa selcut, Jjof he wex vnfere, 420
For-wroght wit his hak and spad,
Of himself he wex al sad;
He lened him J)an apon his hak,
Wit Seth his sun fus-gat he spak:
" Sun he said j)Ou most now ga 425
To paradis, J)at i com fra,
Til cherubin J)at [is] )>e yate-ward."
"Yai Sir, wist i wyderward
pat tat vncuth contre ware,
pou wat j)at i was never jjare." 43c
pus he said, ''i sal \e sai
How-gate J)Ou sal tak J)e wai;
Toward J)e est end of J)is dale
Find a grene gate })OU sale;
In J)at way sal j>ou find forsoth, 435
pi moders and mine our bather sk)g[t]h,
Foluand thoru J)at gresse gren,
pat euer has sijjen ben gren,
pat we com wendand als unwis,
Quen we war put o paradis, 440
Vnto fis wreched warld slade,
par i first me self was made ;
Thoru ))e gretnes of our sin,
Moght na gres groue sij^en J)ar-in.
pe falau slog[t]h sal be J)i gate, 445
O paradis right to the yate."
"Fader," he said, ''sai me J)i wille,
Quat sal i sai, J)at angel tille."
"pou sal him telle I am vnfere.
For I haue liued so tsmliiv ^. ^€\i, 4,^0
THE OIL OF MERCY. T41
Ai in striif and soruuing stad,
pat o mi liif I am al sad;
pou prai him }>at he word me send,
Quen I sal o })is werld wend.
AnoJ)er erand sal )?ar be, 455
pat he wald send me word wit J)e,
Quedir jjat I sal haue it in hii,
pe oile me was hight o merci.
pe tim )>at I lest paradis.
Welle i knau now mi foliis, 460
Again godds wil have i wroght,
And jjat sumdel have I now boght,
Mi soni has ai si))en ben neu,
Nou war it time o me to reu."
Seth went him forth, wit-outen nai, 465
To paradis })at ilk way.
pe slogth he fand J)at him gan wiss
Tilward J)e ^ate of paradis;
Quen j)ar-of son [he] had a sight,
Al was he gloppend for })at light; 470
pe mikel light J)at he sagh J)ar,
A brennand fire he wend it ware.
He seuid him als his fader badd,
And 3ode forth and was noght raadd.
pis angel at J)e 3atte he fand, 475
And asked him of his errand.
Seth J)en sette him spelle on end,
And tald him warfor J)at he was send,
Tald him of his fader care,
Als he him taght sum yee herd are, 480
To send him word wen he suld dei.
To live moght he na langar drei ;
And wen J)at drightin had him tight,
To send him pe oile J?at he him YiigVit..
142 THE OIL OF MERCY.
Quen cherabin J)is errand herd, 485
Mikelik he hun answard,
"Ga to j)e ^atte he said and loutte
pi bed in war [d], J)iself wit-outte,
And tent to thinges at J)i might,
pat sal be sceud iin-to })i sight" 490
Quen Seth a quil had loked in,
He sagh sua mikel welth and win,
It es in erth na tung may telle,
pat flour J)at frutte, ]>at suette smelle,
O blis and ioy sua mani thing. 495
In middes J)e land he sagh a spring,
Of a welle J)at es utenemes,
pat oute of ran four gret stremmes,
Tyson, Fison, Tigre, Eufrate;
pis four mas al J)is erth wate. 500
Out over j)at welle j)an lokes he,
And sagh J)ar stand a mikel tre.
Wit braunches fel, o bark al bare,
Was J)ar no leve on, less na mare.
Seth bigan to thine for-qui 505
pat J)is tre bicom sua dri;
O J>e steppes umthoght he than,
pat welud war for sin of man;
pat ilk scha did him to min,
pat })is tre was dri for Adam sin. 510
He com })an to J)at angel scene.
And sceud him al J)at he had sene ;
Quen he his sight al had him tald,
He badd him eft ga to be-hald;
He loked in eft, and stod ))er-oute, 515
And sagh fe thing J)at gart him doute.
pis tre, J)at i of forwit said,
A neddur hit hade al umbilaid.
THE OIL OF MERCY. J 43
Cherubin, J)at angel blyth,
Bad him ga lok Jje thrid syth; 520
pis tre was of a mikel heght,
Him thoght J)an at J)e thrid sight
pat to j)e sky it raght j>e toppe;
A new-born bam lay in ))e croppe,
Bondon wit a suej)el band, 525
par him thoght it lay suelland.
He was al ferd wen he J)at sei,
And to ))e rotte he kest his he,
Him thoght it raght fra erth til helle,
Quare under he sagh his broJ)er Abelle; 530
In his saul he sagh him J)are,
pat Caim slogh, forwit, ful o care.
He went agayn J)an for to scau,
To cherubin al J)at he sau;
Cherubin wit chere sa milde, 535
Bigan to tel him o )>at child;
"pis barn," he said, "fat )?ou has sene,
Is Goddes sun, wit-outen wene;
pi fader sin now wepes he,
pat he sal clens, simi time sal be, 540
Quen J)e plentez sal cum o time,
pis is J)e oile J)at was hight him;
Til him and til his progeni,
Wit pit^ sal [he] sceu his merci."
Quen Seth had under-standen wele, 545
pat angel said him ilk dele.
His leve wald [he] tak at Cherubin;
Pepins, J)en, he gave him thrin,
pe quilk o J)e appel tre he nam,
pat his fader ete of; " Adam, 550
pi fader," he said, "J)an sal Jjou say,
pat he sal dei J>e thrid day
144 ^^^ OIL OF MERCY.
Efter })at J)OU be commun ham,
And, als he was, turn into lam;
Bot J)ou sal tak J)is pepins })re, 555
pat I toke o )?at appel tre.
And do Jjam under his tong rote;
pai sal til mani man be bote,
pai sal be cedre, ciprese, and pine;
O J)am sal man have medicen. 560
pe fader in cedre J)Ou sal take,
A tre of heght )?at has na make ;
And cipres, be J)e suete savTir,
Bitakens our suete sauveur,
pe mikel suetnes, J)at es )>e sun; 565
pe pine to here a frut es won,
Mani kirnels of a tre mast
Gain gifes o )?e Holi Gast."
Seth was of his errand fain.
And sune com til his fader again. 570
" Sun," he said, " has )jou sped oght,
Or has }>ou ani merci broght?'*
"Sir, Cherubin, jje hali angel
pat es yateward J)e gretes wel,
Sais it sal negh )?e warlds end, 575
Ar J)at oile Jje may be send,
Thoro birth of a blisful child,
pat sal fra harm })e werld schild;
O })i ded he bad me sai,
Sal be to dai )?e thfid dai." 580
Adam was for )?is tijjand blith;
Sua glad was he never his sith,
Quen he herd he suld live na mare;
pan he logh, bot never are.
And J)us on Godd began to cri, 585
" Laverd inogh now lived have i ;
THE OIL OF MERCY. I45
pou tak mi saul out of fe flexs,
And do it ware J)i wille es."
Quat of J)is werld he was ful sad,
pare never a dai J)ar-in was glad, 590
pat lived nine hundret yeir and mare.
And alle his Hue in site and care,
And leuer was si)>en to lenger in helle,
pan langer in J)is live to dwelle.
Adam al[s] him was tald beforn, 595
Was ded apon J)e thrid mom.
Dolven he was ))Oru Seth his sun,
In j)e dale J)at hat Ebron.
pe pipins war don under his tung,
par ras o fam thre wandes yong, 600
Son of an ellen heght J)ai ware,
pai stod J)an stille and wex na mare;
Ful many yeir ilike grene,
Halmes was o J)am sene.
Stille ai stod j)aa wande3 thre 605
Fra Adam tim until Noe;
Fra Noe quen jje flod ras.
Til Abraham J)at haly was;
Fra Abraham ai stil stod jjai,
Til Moyses J)at gaf J>e lai, 610
Ever stod J)ai stille in an,
Witouten wax, witouten wain.
XIV.
SUNDAY SERMONS IN VERSE.
ABOUT A.D. 1330.
The following curious Sermons and Tales, in the Northumbrian
dialect, iUustrating mediaeval preaching, are taken from English
Metrical Homilies y edited by John Small, M.A., Edinburgh 1862.
From the Sermon/or the Second Sunday in Advent.
The Signs of the Doom.
[Pages 25-33.]
Sain Jerom telles that fiften
Ferli takeninges sal be sen
Bifor the day of dom, and sal
Ilkan of thaim on serdai fal.
The first dai sal al the se 5
Boln and ris and heyer be
Than ani fel of al the land,
And als a felle up sal it stand,
pe heyt thar-of sal passe the felles
Bi sexti fot, als Jerom telles, 10
And als mikel the tother day
Sal it sattel and wit away,
And be lauer than it nou esse,
• For water sal it haf wel lesse.
The thride dai mersuine and qualle 15
And other gret fises alle
Sal yel, and mak sa reuful ber
That soni sal it be to her.
The ferthe day freis water and se
Sal bren als fir and glouand be. 20
THE SIGNS OF THE DOOM. 147
The fift day sal greses and tres
Suet blodi deu that grisU bes.
The sexte day sal doun-falle
Wer/des werks, bathe tours and halle.
The sevend day sal stanes gret 25
To gider smit and bremly bete.
And al the erthe the achtande day
Sal stir and quae and al folc flay.
The neynd day the fels alle
Be mad al euin wit erthe salle. 30
The tend day sal folc up crep,
Als wod men of pittes dep.
The elleft day sal banes rise
And stand on graues thar men nou lies.
The tuelft day sal stemes falle. 35
The thretend day sal quek men dey alle,
Wit other ded men to rise,
And com wit thaim to gret asise.
The faurtend day at a schift
Sal bathe brin erthe and lift. 40
The fifetende day thai bathe
Sal be mad newe and fair ful rathe;
And al ded men sal rise,
And cum bifor Crist our iustise.
Than sal Crist dem als king ful wis, 45
And ger the sinful sare grise,
Sa grisli sal he to thaim be,
That thaim war leuer that thai moht fle
Fra that dom that he sal dem
Than al this wer/d, sa bes he brem 50
Tille thaim that sinful cumes thar,
And forthi sal thai gret sar,
And say alias that we war bom!
Shamlic haf we us self forlorn.
L 2
14.8 THE SIGNS OF THE DOOM.
Than salle thair wike dedes alle
Stand and igaines thaim kalle,
And with thair takening ber witnes
Of thair sin and thair wiknes.
Of mikel soru sal J)ai telle,
For Satenas wit feres felle,
To bmd thaim he sal be ful snelle,
And bremli draw thaim till helle,
Thar thai sal euermare duelle,
And wafullic in pines welle,
And endeles of soru telle.
This bes thair dom that her in sin
Ligges, and wil thair sin noht blin,
Bot wald thai think on domes dai
Thaim bird lef thair plihtful play.
Alias 1 Alias 1 quat sal thai say
Bifor him that mihtful may,
Quen al the men that was and esse
Sal se thair sines mare and lesse,
And al the angeles of the heuin,
And ma fendes than man mai nefen.
Igain-sawe may thar nan be.
Of thing that alle men may se.
Of this openlic schauing
Hauls Godd schawed many takwing,
Of a takwing that I haf herd telle,
That falles wel til our godspelle.
Tale of a Monk,
A blak munk of an abbaye
Was enfermer of all[e] I herd say.
He was halden an hali man
Imange his felaus euerilkan;
An cloyster monk loued him ful wele,
And was til him ful speciel,
TALE OF A MONK. 1 49
For riuelic togider drawes
Faithe lufreden god felawes.
Fel auntour that this enfermer 90
Was sek, and he that was til him der
Com to mak him glad and blithe,
And his lufrederie til him to kithe;
He asked him hou he him felid,
And he his stat alle til him telid, 95
And said fill hard fel I me,
To dede I draw, als ye mai se.
His felau was for him sary.
And praied him ful gei*n forthie,
That yef Godd did of him his wille, too
That he suld scheu his stat him tille*
This seke monk hiht to com him to,
Yef he moht get lef thar-to :
I sal, he said, yef I may,
Com to the my stat to say. 105
Quen this was sayd, he deyed son.
And his felau asked his bon.
And prayed Godd for his mercye,
That he suld schew him openly.
Other wakand or slepand, no
Of his felaw state sum tithand,
And als he lay apon a niht.
His felaw com wit lemes liht.
And tald him bathe of heuin and helle,
And he prayed he suld him telle 115
His state, and he said wel far I
Thorn the help of our Lefdi,
War scho ne hafd ben, I hauid gan
To won in helle wit Satan.
His felau thoht herof ferly, 120
And asked him quarfor and qui,
150 TALE OF A MONK.
And sayd, we wend alle wel that thou
Haued ben an hali man til nou:
Hou sal it far of us kaytefes,
That in sin and foli lyes, i2«;
Quen thou that led sa hali life,
Was demed tille hell[e] for to drife.
Quen this was said, the ded ansuerd
And tald his felaw hou he ferd,
And said son quen I gaf the gaste, 130
Till[e] my dom was I led in haste,
And als I stod my dom to her
Bifor Jesus, wit dreri cher,
Of fendes herd Ic mani upbrayd.
And a boc was bifor me layd, 135
That was the reuel of sain Benet^
That Ic hiht to hald and get.
This reul thai gert me rapli rede.
And als I red, sar gan I drede.
For overlop moht I mac nan, 140
Bot of the clauses euerilkan,
Yald Ic account hou I thaim held.
And my consciens gan me meld;
It schawed thar ful openlye
That I led mi lif wrangwislie, 145
For in the reul es mani pas,
That than igain me casten was,
Quar-thoru almast haued I thare
Ben demid til helle for to fare.
Bot for I lufed wel our Lefdye 150
Quil I lifd, Ic hafd forthie
Ful god help thar thorn hir mercy.
For scho bisoht Crist inwardlie
That I moght in purgatorie
Clens mi sin and mi folye. 155
TALE OF A MONK. 151
Forthi hop I to far ful welle,
For mi soru sal son kele;
Forthi my frend I prai the,
That thou ger felaus prai for me.
Quen this was said, awai he went, 160
And his felawe ful mikel him ment,
And efter this siht mani a day
Gert he for his sawell prai.
rmonfor the Third Sunday after the Octave of Epiphany,
TJx Miractdous Stilling of the Tempest on the Sea of Galilee,
[Pages 134-144O
Sain Matheu J>e wangeliste
Telles us to dai, hou Crist 165
Schipped into the se a time.
And his decipelis al wit him.
And quen J)air schip com on dep,
Jesu seluen fel on slep.
And gret tempest bigan to rise, 170
That gert J)e schipmen sar grise.
Thai wakned Crist, and said yare,
Help us lauerd, for we fo[r]fare.
And Crist, als mihti Godd, ansuerd
And said, foles qui er ye fered; 175
Als qua sai, Godd es in J)is schip
That mai wel saue this felauschip.
And crist comanded wind and se
To lethe, and fair weder be.
And sa fair weder was in hie, 180
That al his felaues thoht ferlie.
And said, quatkin man mai this be.
Til him hues bathe winde and se.
This es the strenthe of our godspelle
Als man on Ingelis tong mai telle. iftcj
152 THE STILLING OF THE TEMPEST
Al hali kirc, als thine me
Mai bi this schippe tokened be,
That Crist rad in and his fdawes,
Imang dintes of gret quawes.
For schip fletes on the flode, 190
And hali kirc wit costes gode,
Fletes abouen this werldes se,
Flouand wit sin and caitift^;
God cresten men er hali kirc,
pat Goddes wil wille gladli were. 195
pis sehip ful gret wawes kepes,
And erist tharin gasteli slepes
Quen he tholes god men and lele,
Wit wic men and fals dele,
That betes thaun wit dede and word 200
Als se bare betes on sehip bord.
For wit ensampel, mai we se
That al this werld es bot a se.
That bremli bares on banc wit bale,
And gret fisehes etes the smale. 205
For riche men of this wer/d etes,
That pouer wit thair trauail getes.
For wit pouer men fares the king,
Riht als the quale fars wit the elringe.
And riht als sturioun etes merling, 210
And lobbekeling etes Sperling,
Sua stroies mare men the lesse.
Wit wa and werldes wrangwisnes,
And schathe that lesse tholes of mare
Smites als storm of se ful sare. 215
And forthi that erist tholes this,
Ite sembeles that he slepand is;
Bot thai that thol thir strange stowres,
Thai waken Crist and askes socoures
ON THE SEA OF GALILEE. 153
Wit orisoun, that es prayer, 220
That wakenes Crist, and gers him her
Al thair wandreth and thair wrake,
And wit his miht he geres it slake.
For rightwis cristen man praier
Es til Jesus sa lef and dere, 225
That quat-sa-ever we ask tharin,
And we be out of dedeli sin,
Our lauerd grauntes it us son,
Yef sawel hel be in our bon.
For yef we prai God that he 230
Grant that igain our sawel be.
Us au to thine na ferlye
Thoh Godd it wames ouertlye.
For bi ensampel mai we se
That praier mai unschilful be; 235
Als ef thou prai Godd that he
Apon thi fais venge the,
Thi praier es igain his wille,
Forthi wil he it noht fulfille;
Or yef thou prai efter catele, 240
That es igain thi sawel hele;
Or efter wer/des mensc and miht.
That geres foles fal in pliht;
Or ef thou praye him that he leche
Thi fandinges and thi wandrethe, 245
That dos in to the sawel gode,
Yef thou it thol wit milde mode ;
Wit resoun mai thou Godd noht wite,
Yef he the silc askinges nite,
For yef he graunt the thi schathe, 250
Thou war noht lef til him, bot lathe.
Forthi es godd that we him praye
Ihing that our sawel hele mai;
154 'T^^ STILLING OF THE TEMPEST.
For ar we bigin our prayer,
Wat he quarof we haf mister. 255
Bot for our godspel spekes of se,
Quarbi this werld mai bisend be,
Forthi wil I schaw other thinges,
That er apert biseninges;
Bitiuxe this wlanc werld and se, 260
This werldes welth to do lie.
Bi sake water of the se,
Ful gratheli mai bisend be
This werldes welth, auht, and catel,
That wer/des men lufes ful wel, 265
For sake water geres men threst.
And wer/des catel geres men brest.
The mar thou drinkes of the se.
The mare and mar threstes ye;
And ai the richer that man esse, 270
The mar him langes efter riches.
And in se dronkenes folc ful fele.
And sua dos [many] in wer/des catele;
For water drunkenes the bodie,
And catel the sawel gastelie; 275
For catel drawes man til helle,
Thar wattri wormes er ful felle,
And of thir wormes wil I telle
A tal, yef ye wil her mi spelle.
Tale of a Usurer.
An hali man biyond the se, 280
Was bischop of a gret cit^;
God man he was, and Pers he hiht,
And thar bisyd woned a kniht,
That thoru kind was bond and thralle,
Bot knihthed gat he wit catelle. 285
TALE OF A USURER. I 55
This catel gat he wit okering,
And led al his lif in corsing,
For he haunted bathe dai and niht
His okering, sine he was kniht,
Als fast as he did bifore, 290
And tharwit gat he gret tresore.
Bot Crist that boht us der wit pine,
Wald noht this mannes sawel tine,
Bot gaf him graz himself to knaw,
And his sin to the bischop schaw. 295
Quen he him schraf at this bischop,
This bischop bad him haf god hop,
And asked him, yef he walde tac
Riht penanz, for his sinful sac.
Ful gladli wil I tac, he said, 300
The penanz that bes on me laid;
And the bischop said, thou sal mete
A beggar gangand by the strete.
And quat-als-euer he askes the,
Gif him, this sal thi penanz be. 305
And fill wel paid was this kniht,
For him thoht his penanz fill liht.
And als he for hamward, he mette
A beggar that him cumly grette,
And said, lef sir, par charit^, 3*0
Wit sum almous thou help me.
This kniht asked quat he wald haf;
Lauerd he said, sum quet I craue.
Hou mikel, he said, askes thou me;
A quarter lauerd, par charit^. 3^5
This kniht granted him his bone,
And gert met him his com sone.
This pouer man was will of wan,
For pok no sek no hauid he nan,
156 TALE OF A USURER.
Quarin he moht this quete do; 320
And forthi this kniht said him to,
This quete, I rede thou selle me,
For ful pouer me thine the.
The pouer said, layth thine me
To selle Goddes charity, 325
Bot len me sum fetel tharto,
Quarin I mai thin almous do.
And he ansuered and said, nai.
For al that this beggar moht sai,
He said, this thou selle me, 330
For fetil wil I nan len the.
The beggar moht na better do,
Bot said this corn igain him to,
And toe thar for fif schilling.
And went him forthe on his begging. 335
Quen this corn to the kniht was said,
He did it in an arc to hald,
And opened this arc flie thrid daye
And fand tharin, selcouthe to say.
Snakes and nederes thar he fand, 340
And gret blac tades gangand,
And arskes and other wormes felle.
That I kan noht on Inglis telle.
Thai lep upward til his visage,
And gert him almast fal in rage. 345
Sa was he for thir wormes ferde,
Bot noht forthi that arc he speride,
And to the bischope in a ras
He ran, and tald him [al] his cas.
The bischop sau that Godd wald tak 350
Of this man sin wrethful wrac.
And said, yef thou wil folfille
Wit worthi penanz, Goddes wille.
TALE OF A USURER. 1 57
And clens wit penanz riht worthi,
Al thi sinnes and thi foli, 355
i red that thou self "the falle
Nakid imang tha wormes alle,
No gif thou of the self na tale,
Bot bring thi sawel out of bale.
Thoh tha wormes thi caroin gnawe, 360
Thi pynes lastes bot a thrawe;
And than sal thi sawel wende
To lif of blis, witouten ende.
This okerer was selli radde,
To do that this bischop him badde, 365
Bot of mercy haft he god hop,
And gern he prayd the bischop,
And said, lef fader, I pray the,
That thou prai inwardli for me.
That God gif me his graz to fang 370
One mi bodi, this penanz Strang.
The bischop hiht this man lelye,
To pray for him riht inwardlye.
This man went ham thoh he war rad,
And did als his bischop him badde; 375
For imang al thir wormes snelle,
Als nakid als he was bom, he felle.
Thir wormes ete that wreche manne.
And left nathing of him bot ban.
The bischop went into that toun, 380
Wit clerkes in processioun,
And come into this knihtes wanes,
And soht fill gern his hali banes;
And til this forsaid arc he yod,
And opened it wit joiful mod, 385
And riped imang tha wormes lathe,
Bot nan of thaim moht do him schathe,
158 TALE OF A USURER^
And forthe he gan tha banes draw,
And thai war als quite als snaw.
Quen al tha banes out-tan ware 390
Tha wormes gert he brin ful yare,
And bar thir bannes menskelye,
And fertered thaim at a nunrye;
Thar Godd schewes mirakelle and miht,
And gifes blind men thar siht, 395
And croked men thar geres he ga,
And leches seke men of wa,
And schewes wel wit fair ferlikes,
That thas banes er god relikes.
This tale haf I nou tald here, 400
To ger you se on quat maner,
That the mar catel that man haues,
The mar and mare his hert craues;
And namlic thir okerers,
That er cursed for thair aferes; 405
Bot yef thai her thair lif amend,
Thai wend til wormes witouten end,
That sal thaim reuli rif and rend.
In helle pine witouten end.
That wist this bischop witerlye, 410
And forthi did he quaintelye,
Quen he gert wormes ete this man,
To yem his sawel fra Satan.
For wormes suld his sawel haf rended,
Quar-sa-euer it suld haf lended, 415
Yef he no hauid wel ben scriuen,
And his caroin til wormes giuen.
Bot for his fleis was pined here.
His sawel es now til Godd ful dere,
Thar it wones in plai and gamen, 420
Godd bring us thider alle samen. Amen !
XV.
DAN MICHAEL OF NORTHGATE.
A. D. 1340.
n the year 1340 Dan Michael of Northgate (Kent), "a brother
he cloister of St. Austin of Canterbury," translated into Eng-
the French treatise Le Somme des Vices et des Vertm^ by
re Lorens (a.d. 1279), under the title of 7i6e Ayenbite oflnwyi
morse of Conscience). This work is preserved in Arundel
.57, which also contains two short Sermons, probably translated
n a Latin original, by the same author,
'hese Kentish productions are the most valuable specimens
ch have been preserved of the Southern dialect in the
-teenth century.
Sermon on Matthew xxiv, 43.
JoR to sseawy \t lokynge of man wyj)-i«ne. Jjellyche
uorbysne / oure Ihord ih^ju crist zayj). 'pis uorzojje
jXaY \^^ y^^ y^ uader of )>€ house wyste huyche time
\>yef were comynde : uorzojje he wolde waky / and nolde
t ))olye ))et me dolue his hous.' Be ))ise uader of house
may onderstonde / J)e wyl of skele. to huam be-longej)
che mayn^. p03tes. and his besteriinge. wyt. and dedes /
wel wiJ)-oute: ase wy]j-inne. Jjet is to zigge / huych
yn6 I to moche slac / and wylles-uol ssel by : bote yef
ilke uaderes stefhede hise strayny / and ordayny. Vor
e yef he hym a lyte of his bysyhede wyj>-dra3j): huo
y zigge / bou ))03tes. e3en. earen. tonge. and alle ojjre
:tes: become)) wylde. Hous. is inwyt / in huychen ))e
l6o SERMON ON MATTHEW XXIV. 43.
uader of house wone)>. j>e hord of uirtaes gadere^ Vor
huych hord : j>et ilke zelue hous ne by y-dohic / h^tydw
he wake|>. \er ne is na^t on )>yef : ac uele. ac to eche
u/rtue : ech vice wayte)>. paries he^lyche by )« fyeoe : is
onderstonde )« dyeuel. a-ye huam and his kachereles / ^e
ilke zelue uader / jja^les yef he ne were na^t onk)sti: his
hous mid gr^te strengjje wolde loky. pe uader of j>e house/
ate uerste guoinge in: he zette sle^jje / to by doreward
))et y-knauj) huet is to uorlete : and huet y% to wyhiy. huet
uor to bessette out of j?e house, huet uor to onderuonge
into J)e house. Nixt ))an : ha zette strengj*. \eX }ie vyendes/
\ei sle^jje zent to zygge / to keste out : strengj>e wyJ)dro5e. )>et
his uoule lostes wy))dro3e : and wyj>-zede. Ri3tnesse uorzofe
ssel zitte amydde / ))et eche« his o^en yef|), Hueraore:
huyche time )« ))yef is comjmde / me not ac eche tyme
me ssel drede. pise zuo y-di3t : na^t longe to fe wakynde
))e slep of zenne benym)). Vor al )>et lyf is to waky. Zome
messagyers sle^j^e ssel lete in. |-et zome jjinges mo^e telle/
J)et me may a-waki myde. pus |)e messagyer of dyaj>e acsef
inguoynge : he is onderuonge. Me him acsej) ' huo he ys.
huannes he com)), huet he hej) yso^e.' He ansuere)>. he
ne may na3t zigge : bote yef \ex by he3liche clom. Huich
y-graunted : )jus he begyn|). * Ich am drede / and be-
Jjenchinge of dyaj?e. and dyaj) [is] comy/ide : ich do you to
wytene.' Sle3)>e spec]) uor alle. and acseJ). *And huer is
nou ))e ilke dyaj). and huanne ssel he come?' Drede zay)>.
' Ich wot wel )>et he ne abyt na3t to comene / and nyej
he is. ac ))ane day / o))er ))ane tyme of his comynge: ich
not.' Sle3)>e zay)). 'And huo ssel come myd hyre?* Drede
zayj). *A ))Ouzend dyeulen ssoUe come mide hire, and
brenge mid ham / greate bokes / and bemynde hokes /
and chaynen auere.' Sle3)>e zayj). * And huet wyllej) hy do
mid alle jjan?' Drede zayj). *Ine ))e bokes bye)> y-write
alle j)e ze/men of men. and hise brengej) / Jjet be ham hi
SERMON ON MATTHEW XXIV. 43. 161
ouercome men. of huychen ))e zewnes Jjerinne bye}>
e. }»et bye)) to hare ri3te. Hokes hi brengej) / )>et J>o
'ej) to hare ri3te ouercomej) : hire zaulen be streng}>e :
bodye dra^ej) out and hise bynde)) mid ))e chaines /
in to helle hise dra3e))/ Sle3)>e zay)). 'Huawnes
e?' Drede zayj). 'Vram helle/ Sle3j)e zayj). 'And
is helle. and huet yze3e )>e ine helle?' Drede zayj).
3 is wyd / wy))-oute metinge. dyep / wy))-oute botme.
f brene on J)olyinde. Vol of stenche / wy[J)]-oute com-
•un. per is zor3e. ))er is j)yesternesse. jjer ne is non
))er is groniynge wyjj-oute ende. J^er ne is non
of guode. non wawtrokiynge of kueade. Ech Jjet
le is : hate)) him zelue : and alle o))ren. per ich yze3
lanyere tormens. ))e leste of alle / is more jjawne alle
nen Jjet mo3e by y-do ine ))ise wordle. per is wop.
rindinge of te)). ))er me gej) uram chele in to greate
)f uere. and buo))e on))olyinde. pere alle be uere /
by uorbemd. and myd wermes ssolle by y-wasted /
ia3t ne ssolle wasti. Hire wermes / ne ssolle na3t
. and hare ver ne ssel neure by ykuenct. No rearde
;1 j)er by y-hyerd / bote, wo: wo. wo hy habbej):
'o hy grede)). pe dyeules tormentors pynej). and to-
3 hy bye)) y-pyned. ne neure ne ssel by ende of pyne :
•este. pellich is helle / an a ))Ousend zyjje worse.
>is ich yze3 ine helle / and a ))0usendzi))e more worse.
1 com uor to zygge you.' Sle3J)e zayj). ' God wet ssolle
. Nou bro))ren and zostren y-hyre)) my red. and yuej)
Bye)) sle3e. an wake)) ine youre bedes / porueynde
s. na3t onlyche beuore gode: ac be-uore alle men.'
odness zay)). * Do we to worke godes nebsseft / ine
/ and ine zalmes : glede we hym. bye)) sobre / and
)) / uor youre uo j)e dyuel / ase ))e lyoun brayinde
boute ))an: ))et he wyle uor-zuel3e.' Streng))e zay)).
jtonde)) hym: stronge ine byleaue. Bye)) glede ine
H
l62 SERMON ON MATTHEW XXIV. 45.
god Go]ie]> you mid godes annes. ye hauberk of ly^ funt
sseld of beleaue. nyme]^ Jiane hehn of hel]ie. and yt hofy
gostes '^ zuord : J)et is godes word' Ry3Dtnesse ay^
' Lybbe we sobreliche. ry(3t]uollychc an bonayrelyche. So-
brelyche: ine ous zelue. ry3taollyche : to oare emciisteiL
bonayrelyche : to god )>et we nolle]> )>et me do to ous
zelue : ne do we hfi v^i to o]>ren. and ))et we wyDeJ^ \ti
me do to ous zellue : do we hit to o]>re men. and nor zc^
|>et is ri3t' Sle3]ie zayj). * per is ano)>er wyJ>-oute )« gates
uayr. andgled. hit ]>mg]> )>e[t] he bre[n]g]> glednesse.' Hy3[t]-
nesse zayJ). ' onderuonge]> hym. be cas he ous ssel gledye.
uor }>e8 ilke uerste: gratlyche he ous hej> y-mad of-dret*
Sle3))e zay]> to yt messagere. 'Guo in. and huo you art
and huamies ]>ou comst. and huet ]>ou hest yzo^e: zay
ous/ pe messagyrz ay)). 'Ich am loue of lyue eureles-
tynde. an wykiynge of ye contraye of heuene. Yef ye me
wyllej) y-here : habbe)> amang you. clom / and reste. Najt
uor zo))e amang gredynges and noyses : ych ne may by
yherd.' Ri3[t]uolnesse zay]). * Yef we longe godes drede/
and be-j)enchinge of dyajie were stille : ry3t hit is / }>et Jie
spekinde / wel more we by stille/ Wykiingge of y% lyue ^
wyJ)-oute ende / zay)>. 'peruore bye)> stille / and yheref
myd wylle. Ich come uram heuene. and }>elliche )>inge8
ich y-ze3 Jjer. ))et no man ne may dyngneliche zigge.
pa3les zomjjyng ich wylle zigge : ase ich may. Ich yze3
god. ac be ane sseawere ine ssede.'
* Ich yze3 jie ilke onspekynde / an on-todelinde magest^
of |>e holy trinytd. be-gynnynge / ne ende ne he)>. Ac and
ly3t }>er-inne wonej) / ))et me ne may na3t come to. Vnwr
yo ly3te byej) y-))orsse mine e3en / and J)e zy3j)e )>yester.
Hyt ouergej) uorzo))e alle wyttes / and alle zy3j)es. J)e ilke
bry3 [t]nesse. and j)e ilke uolnesse. pa3les a lytel ich yze3
oure Ihord iesu crist / ine ri3t half zittinde. Jjet is to zygge :
ine ye lyue wyJ)-oute ende regnynde. pa3 he ouer alle
SERMON ON MATTHEW XXIV. 43. 1 63
S8ep]>es by zuo uayr: }>et ine him wylnej) Jie angles to
zyenne. Yet nou J)e woimden and J)e toknen of Jie pas-
sion he he)> ine his bodye. huermyde he ous bo3te. be-uore
J>e uader uor ous stant uor to bydde. Ich y-ze3 nyxt iesu
crist Jje ilke blisfolle mayde / and moder J>e like zodes-* /
and oure Ihordes iesu cristes / myd alle wor}>ssipe and
reuerence / y-nemned marie / ine fe wondenioUe trone
zittynde / aboue alle J>e holy ordres of angles / and of
men: an-he^ed. hire zone iesus uor ous byddinde. and to
huam hi is uol of merci. Ac J>e ilke wonderuolle magest^ /
and J)e bri3tnesse of ]>e moder / and of J>e zone : ich ne
TDYite na3t longe Jjolye / ich wente myne zi3j>e uor to yzi /
Ipe ilke holy ordres of }>e gostes: ))et stondej) beuore god.
of huichen ^ eurelestinde holynesse of J)e zi3J)e of god /
an of ]>e loue. ne hit ne ssel lessi: ne hit ne ssel endi /
ac eure wexe and blef)>. Ac na3t J>e ilke degrez / and
dingnetes / heryinges alsuo / huyche hyre makyere hy
berej> no man uollyche ))enche / ne na3t ne may by yno3
to telle, pjerefter ye profetes ich y-ze3. Mid J)e patmrkes
wonderlyche glediynde ine blisse. uor J>et hy yze3en ine
goste: uolueld hy yze)). }>et ine longe anoy onderuynge /
yet ouet of blysse wyJ>-oute ende chongeden. Ich y-zej
J>e apostles ine tronen zittynde. ]>e trib3 / and ))e tongen /
alle preste. and of poure / and of zyke : zuo blisuoUe and
holy / of oure Ihord iesu crist / and zuo he3e / yno3
alneway ich am wondrinde. Ich y-ze3 / ac uollyche ich
ne my[3]te al yzy / ]>e innumerable uela3rede of J)e holy
martires / mid blisse and wor))ssipe / y-corouned. jjet be ^e
pinen of ))ise time / huyche hi beren to ))0 blisse / ))et wes
ysseawed ine ham : hy come ferto. Hyre holynesse / and
hyre blysse: long time ich me lykede. Ich yze3 to ))e
bl3rssede heape of coniessouis, amang huam / men apostles /
and techeres / }>et holy cherche mid hare techinge wereden.
* godes or zones f
M 2
164 SERMON ON MATTHEW XXIV. 43.
and alsuo uram alle heresye / wy[j)]-oute wem habbe|>
yclenzed : sseawej). and hy uele habbej) y-ta^t. ss3aie]> ase
sterren / ine eurelestynde wy[])]-oute ende. per bye)>
Monekes J)et uor claustres / and uor strayte cellen. wel
moche / an clyerer J>anne ))e zonne: habbej) wonyinges.
Vor blake and uor harde kertles / huyter J^ane J>e snaw.
and of alle zofthede / and nesshede / cloJ)inge habbe]> an.
Vram hare e^en / god wype}) alle tyeres. and jiane kyng
hy ssolle ysy me hys uayrhede. Alast / to j>e iiela3rede of
maydynes ich lokede.- of huychen / blysse / ssepjje / agray-
j)inge / and melodya. huyche none mannes speche : dingse-
lyche may telle. And hy zonge )>ane zang: }>et non ofer
ne may zynge. Ac and })e zuete smel ine hare regyon /
zuo zuete ys: })et alle manyre zuete smelles ouercom)».
And to hare benes : oure Ihord arist. to alle ojaren :
zittinde he Ihest/ Sle^jje zayj). *Hyt lykej> )»et J?ou zaysL
Ac uor of echen of )>e holy ordres / wondres )k)u hest
y-zed : we byddej) jiet ))Ou zigge ous / huet is hare dede
ine mennesse / and huet is ))e f<wuers[ac]ion of uela3rede:
zay ous/ pe wylny[n]gge of ))e lyue wyJ?-oute ende zay|».
' Vor zo)>e ich wylle zygge. pe dede of alle ine mennesse /
ys zeueuald. Hy lybbe)>. hy smackej?. hy louyeji. hy byejj
glede. hy herye}). hy bye}) zuyfte. hy bye}) zikere/ Slejjje
zayJ). ' pa3 ich zomdel })is onderstonde : uor ham J>et
Iheste}) / of echen zay/ wylnynge of })e lyue wy[})]-oute ende
zay}). *Zuo by hyt. Hy lybbe}) be lyue wy})-oute ende.
wy})-oute enye tyene. wy [J)]-oute enye lessinge. wyjj-oute enye
wyJ)Stondynge. Hyre lyf is J)e zy3})e and })e- knaulechynge
of })e holy trinyt^. ase zay]) oure Ihord iesus. J)is is Jiet lyf
wy))-oute ende / })et hy knawe ])e zo})e god / and huam \t
zentest iesu crist. and })eruore ylyche hy byej) / uor hy
y zye]) : ase he is. Hy smackej) ))e redes and ])e domes of
god. Hy smackej) j)e kendes / and ))e causes / and \t
be^7nny[n]ges of alle ])inges. Hy louyej) god wyJ)-oute enye
(
SERMON ON MATTHEW XXIV. 43. 1 65
comparisoun. uor J)et by wyte)> huerto god his he)) y-brojt
aorJ>. hy louyej) ech ojjren : ase ham zelue. Hy byej) glede
of god onzyginde. hy bye)) glede of zuo moche of hare
o^ene holynesse: and uor }>et ech loue)) o))ren ase hww
zehie. ase moche blisse he)) ech of ojjres guode: ase of
[lis 03ene. peraore by ziker / uor eurych he)) aseuele
Myssen : ase he he)) uela^es. and aseuele blissen to echen :
ise his o^ene of alle. and ))eruore eureich more loue))
Ny^VLte comparisoun god: j)et hym and ojjre made /
)anne him zelue / and alle o))re. More hy bye)) glede
vy))-oute gessynge of godes holynesse : ))anne of his 03ene /
md of alle ojjre myd hym. Yef jjanne on onneajje nym))
d his bUsse. hou ssel he nyme zuo uele and zuo manye
jlyssen? And }>eruore hit is yzed. guo into jje blysse of
>yne Ihorde. na3t ))e blisse of ))ine Ihorde / guo in to ))e.
lor hy ne may. perefter / hy heriej) god wyj)-oute ende /
«ryj)-oute werynesse. ase hyt is y-wryte. Lhord / y-blyssed
)y j)0 }>et wonye)) ine ))yne house / in wordles of wordles :
jsoUe [hy] herye pe, Zuyfte hy byej). uor huer }>et }>e gost
vyle by: uorzo))e ))er is ))et body. Alle hy byej) my[3]t-
lolle. Zykere hy byej) of zuyche lyue. of zuo moche
^sdome. of zuo moche loue. of zuo moche blysse. of
suyche heryinge. of zuyche holynesse. j)et non ende. non
essynge. non uallynge doun ssolle habbe. Lo alyte ich.
labbe yzed to you. of ))an j)et ich yze3 ine heuene. Na3t
lor zo}>e ne may zigge / ase ich yze3 / ne na3t ase hy
)yej>: ne my3te ysy.' Sle3j)e zayj). •Vorzoj)e ine heuene
fre onderstondej) pet j)Ou were, and zoj) j)ing j)er j)Ou yse3e.
ind zoj) l)OU best y-zed.' Strengjie zayj). 'Huo ssel ous
odele uram cristes loue? tribulacion. oj)er zor3e. and oj)re.
sykere byej). uor noj)er dyaj) / ne lyf and oj)re/ Ry3t zayj).
Doj) out J)ane uerste messagyer. hyt ne is na3t ri3t j)et he
)leue ine j)e house / myd Jie ry3tuolle. Vor ry3[t]uolle
oue : dej) out drede/ Strengj)e zayj). * guo out drede. J)0u
l66 SERMON ON MATTHEW XXIV. 43.
ne sselt na3t by ine oure stedes/ Drede zay)>. *Huet
habbe ich mis-do. do. do. ich uor guode zede.' Tem-
perancia zayj). *BroJ)ren and zostren / ich zigge to you.
nawmore smacky / ]>a;ine be-houej). ac smacke to sobrrt^.
pou drede / guo out myd guode wylle. jjole jiane dom /
J)et ri^t hej) y-demd. be auenture Jie my3t eft by (Mider-
uonge. yef wylnynge of lyf wy)>-oute ende / o)>erhuyl let
of.' pe makyere zayj). pus / j)us nou ssel eurich hys
heuynesse / ssake a-way / uram drede / to }>e lone of fe
heuenelyche contraye him-zelue wende. Zuo by hit.
XVI.
RICHARD ROLLE DE HAMPOLE.
ABOUT A.D. 1340.
ichard Rolle de Hampole, commonly called Hampole, was an
istine monk of the Priory of Hampole (about four miles from
caster), who died in the year a. d. 1349.
I was the author of a metrical version of the Psalms (with
mentary), portions of the book of Job, and some very excel-
prose treatises, as yet inedited. About 1340 he wrote, both
iglish and Latin, a poem called Ihe Pricke of Conscience ; from
h the following selections are taken.
lis poem, in the Northumbrian dialect, has been edited from
. in the British Museum, by Richard Morris, for the Philo-'
al Society, London 1863.
The Pricke of Conscience,
The Wretchedness o/Man*s Birth,
[Lines 432—439.]
Alle mans lyfe casten may be,
Principaly, in ))is partes thre,
pat er ))ir to our undirstandyng,
Bygynnyng, midward, and endyng.
per J>re partes er jjre spaces talde 5
Of )>e lyf of ilk man, yhung and aide.
Bygynnyng of mans lif, Jjat first es,
Contenes mykel wrechednes;
[Lines 464 — 509.]
And [when man] was born til ))is werldys light,
He ne had nouther strenthe ne myght, 10
Nouther to ga ne yhit to stand,
Ne to crepe with fote ne with hand.
1 68 RICHARD ROLLE DE HAMPOLE'S
pan has a man les myght Jjan a beste
When he es born, and es sene leste;
For a best, when it es born, may ga
Als-tite aftir, and ryn to and fra; 15
Bot a man has na myght ]>ar-to,
When he es born, swa to do;
For J)an may he noght stande ne crepe,
Bot ligge and sprawel, and cry and wepe.
For unnethes es a child bom fully 20
pat it ne bygynnes to goule and cry; *
And by Jjat cry men knaw Jjan
Whether it be man or weman,
; For when it es born it cryes swa;
If it be man it says " a. a," 25
pat J)e first letter es of J>e nam
Of our forme-fader Adam.
And if J)e child a woman be,
When it es born it says " e. e."
E es J)e first letter and ))e hede 30
Of J)e name of Eve jjat bygan our dede.
parfor a clerk made on J)is manere
pis vers of metre J>at es wreten here:
Dicentes E. vel A, qtiot-qtwi nascuntur ah Eva,
'* AUe jjas," he says, " J)at comes of Eve, 35
pat es alle men J)at here byhoves leve.
When jjai er born, what-swa Jjai be,
pai say outher a. a, or e. e/'
pus es here ))e bygynnyng
Of our lyfe sorow and gretyng, 40
Til whilk our wrechednes stirres us,
And Jjarfor Innocent says j)us:
Omnes nascimur eiulanies,
ut naturcB nostrcB miseriam
exprimamus, 45
PRICKE OF CONSCIENCE. 169
He says, "al er we bom gretand,
And makand a sorowful sembland,
For to shew ))e grete wrechednes
Of our kynd J)at in us es."
pus when ^ tyme come of oure birthe, 50
Al made sorow and na mirthe;
Naked we come hider, and bare,
And pure, swa sal we hethen fare.
[Lines 528—555.]
pus es a man, als we may se.
In wrechednes borne and cayteft^, 55
And for to life here a fon dayse,
par-for Job ))us openly sayse:
Homo nahis de muliere, brevi vtvens
tempore, repletur muUts miseriis.
He says, "Man that born es of woman, 60
Lyfand short time to, ful-fild es ))an
Of many maners of wrechednes."
pus says Job, and swa it es.
Alswa man es borne til noght elles
But to travayle, als Job yhit telles: 65
Homo nascitur ad laborem,
sicut avis ad volaium.
He says, "Man es born to travaille right
Als a foul es to })e flight."
For littel rest in ))is lyf es, 70
Bot gret travayle and bysynes;
Yhit a man es, whan he es born,
pe fendes son, and fra God es lorn
Ay, til he thurgh grace may com
Til baptem and til cristendom; 75
pus may a man his bygynnyng se,
Ful of wrechednes and of caytift^.
170 RICHARD ROLLS DE HAMPOLE^S
The Middle 0/ Man's Life,
pe tother part of J)e lyf, men calles
pe mydward, aftir jjat it falles,
pe whilk reches fra })e byg)amyng 80
Of mans lyfe im-til })e endyng.
[Lines 662 — 707.]
A man es a tre, )«it standes noght harde,
Of whilk ))e crop es turned donward,
And J)e rote to-ward ))e firmament,
Als says ))e grete clerk Innocent. 85
He says, " what es man in shap bot a tre,
Turned up ))at es doun, als men may se.
Of whilk ))e rotes ))at of it springes,
Er })e hares jjat on \t heved hynges; .
pe stok, nest ))e rot growand, 90
Es j?e heved with nek folowand;
pe body of ))at tre J)ar-by
Es ))e brest with ))e bely;
pe bughes ar \t armes with j?e handes.
And ))e legges, with \e fete )«it standes; 95
pe braunches men may by skille calle
pe tas and ))e fyngers alle;
pis es ))e leef ))at hanges noght faste,
pat es blawen away thurgh a wynd blaste.
And ))e body alswa of })e tre, 100
pat thurgh j?e son may dried be."
A man ))at es yhung and light.
Be he never swa stalworth and wyght,
And comly of shap, lufly and fayre.
Angers and yvels may him appayre, 105
And his beut^ and his strength abate.
And mak hym in ful wayk state,
I
PRICKS OF CONSCIENCE. 171
And chaunge alle fayre colour,
pat son fayles and fades, als dos l>e flour.
For a flour )>at semes fayre and bright, no
Thurgh stormes fades, and tynes J)e myght.
Many yvels, angers, and mescheefes,
Oft comes til man J)at here lyves,
Als fevyr, dropsy and jaUnys,
Tysyk, goute and other maladys, 115
pat hym mas strength and faymes tyne
Als grete stormes dose a flour to dwyne;
parfor a man may likend be
Til a flour, j?at es fajrre to se,
pan son aftir )>at it es forth broght, 120
Welkes and dwynes til it be noght.
[Lines 728 — 829.]
In the first bygynnyng of ))e kynd of man
Neghen himdreth wynter man lyfed ))an,
Als clerkes in bukes bers witnes;
Bot sythen bycom mans lyf les, 125
And swa wald God at it suld be;
Forwhi he sayd ))us til Noe:
Non permanehit spiritm mem
in homine in CBternum, quia caro
est, erunt dies iUius centum 130
viginii annorum,
"My gast," he says, "sal noght ay dwelle
In man, for he is flesshe and felle;
Hys days sal be for to life here.
An hundreth and twenti yhere." 135
Bot swa grete elde may nane now here.
For sythen mans lyfe bycom shortere,
For-whi ))e complection of ilk man
Was sythen febler )«in it was }>an;
172 RICHARD ROLLE DE HAMPOLE^S
Now es it alther-feblest to se, 140
parfor mans life short byhoves be;
For ay ))e langer )>at man may lyfe,
pe mare his lyfe sal hym now griefe,
And })e les him sal thynk his lyf swete,
Als in a psalme, says j>e prophete : 145
Si autem in potentaiibus ocloginta an-
ni, et amplius eorum labor ei dolor"
" If in myghtfulnes four scor yher falle,
Mare es )«iir swynk and sorow with-alle."
For seldom a man ))at has J>at held, 150
Hele has, and himself may weld ;
Bot now falles yhit shorter mans dayes,
Als Job, ))e haly man, j?us says:
Nunc paucitas dierum meorum
finietur brevi, 155
" Now," he says, " my fon days sere
Sal enden with a short tym here."
Old Age.
Fone men may now fourty yhere pas,
And foner fifty, als in somtym was;
Bot als tyte als a man waxes aide, 160
pan waxes his kynde wayke and calde,
pan chaunges his complexcion
And his maners and his condicion;
pan waxes his hert hard and hevy.
And his heved feble and dysy; 165
pan waxes his gast seke and sare.
And his face rouncles, ay mare and mare ;
His mynde es short when he oght thynkes,
His nese ofte droppes, his hand stynkes,
His sight wax[es] dym ))at he has, 170
His bax waxes croked; stoupand he gas
PRICKS OF CONSCIENCE. 1 73
Fyngers and taes, fote and hande,
Alle his touches er tremblande.
His werkes for-worthes yaX he bygynnes;
His hare moutes, his eghen rynnes; 175
His eres waxes deef, and hard to here,
His tung fayles, his speche is noght clere ;
His moudie slavers, his tethe rotes.
His wyttes fayles, and he ofte dotes;
He is lyghtly wrath, and waxes fraward, 180
Bot to turae hym fra wrethe it es hard;
He souches and trowes sone a thyng,
Bot ful late he tumes fra ])at trowyng;
He is covatous and hard haldand
His chere es drery and his sembland; 185
He es swyft to spek on his manere,
And latsom and slaw for to here;
He prayses aid men and haldes ))am wyse,
And yhung men list him oft despyse;
He loves men ))at in aid tyme has bene, 190
He lakes ))a men ))at now are sene;
He is ofte seke and ay granand,
And ofte angerd, and ay pleynand;
Alle ))ir, thnrgh kynd, to an aid man falles,
pat clerkes propertes of eld calles. 195
Yhit er )>ar ma ]>an I haf talde,
pat falles to a man ))at es aide.
pus may men se, wha-so can.
What ye condicions er of an aid man.
The End of Man's Life,
pe last ende of mans lyfe es hard, 200
pat es, when he drawes to ded-ward.
For when he es seke, and bedreden lys,
And swa feble ))at he may noght rys,
174 RICHARD ROLLE DE HAMPOLES
pan er men in dout and noght certayn,
Wethir he sal ever cover agayn. 205
Bot yhit can som men, ]>at er sleghe,
Witte if he sal of ))at yvel deghe
By certayne takens, als yhe sal here,
pat byfalles when ))e ded es nere;
pan bygynnes his frount domiward falle, 210
And his browes heldes domi w)rth-alle;
pe lefte eghe of hym j?an semes les,
And narower )«in ye right eghe es;
Hys nese, at J)e poynt, es sharp and smalle,
pan bygynnes his chyn to falle; 215
His pouce es stille, with-outen styringes,
His fete waxes calde, his bely clynges.
And if nere ))e dede be a yhimg man,
He ay wakes, and may noght slepe )«in;
And an aide man to dede drawand 220
May noght wake, bot es ay slepand;
Men says, al ))ir takens sere
Er of a man )>at ))e dede es nere.
The World.
[Lines 12 1 1 — 1292.]
pe world here, who-so wille,
Unto four thinges may liken[d be] by skille. 225
First ))e world may lykend be,
Mast properly, unto ^ se;
For ))e se, aftir ))e tydes certayn,
Ebbes and flowes, and falles agayn,
And waxes ful ken, thurgh stormes ))at blawes, 230
And castes up and doun many gret wawes;
Swa castes })e world, thurgh favour,
A man to riches and honour;
PRICKS OF CONSCIENCE. 175
And fra yaX aga)ni he castes hym doun
Til povert and to tribulacioun. 235
And ysL er \>e grete stormes kene,
And \>e wawes, ))at in l>e world er sene.
Yhit may ))e world here ))at wyde es,
Be likend to a wildernes,
pat ful of wild bestes es sene, 340
Als lyons, libardes, and wolwes kene,
pat wald worow men bylyve,
And rogg )>am in sonder and ryve;
Swa ))e world es ful of mysdoers.
And of tyrauntes )>at men ofte ders, 245
pe whilk er bisy, nyght and day,
To nuye men in alle ))at ))ai may.
pe world alswa may lykend be
Til a forest, in a wilde cuntr^,
pat es ful of thefs and outlawes, 250
pat, commonly, til forestes drawes,
pat hald pases, and robbes and reves
Men of ))at J)ai have, and noght ))am leves;
Swa es ))e world here ))ar we duelle,
Ful of thefs, ))at er devels of helle, 255
pat ay us waytes, and er bysy
To robbe us of our gudes gastly.
pe world may yhit, als yhe sal here.
Be lykend, on ^ fierth manere,
To a feld ful of batailles 260
Of enemys, jjat ilk day men assayles.
For-why here we er, on many wyse,
Alle umset with sere enmys.
And, speciali, with enmys thre,
Agaynes wham us byhoves armed be: 265
pa er J>e world, j?e fende, our flesshe,
pat, to assayle us here, er ay freshe;
\^6 RICHARD ROLLS DE HAMPOLE'S
And j?arfor byhoves us, day and nyght,
Whilles we lif here, agayn ))am fight.
pe world, als clerkes understandes, 270
Agayn us fightes with twa handes.
With j)e right hand and j)e left; fere twa
May be-taken bathe wele and wa;
pe right hand es welthe, als I halde.
And ))e left hand es angre calde; 275
For ))e world assayles sum men awhile,
With \>e right hand ))am to bygile,
pat es welth, als I sayde before.
Of worldly riches and tresore;
And assayles men, nyght and day, 280
With ))e left hand ))am to flay,
pat es, with angre and tribulacion,
And povert and persecucion,
pe whilk jjer clerkes jie left hand calles
Of ))e world, J)at ofte sythes falles. 285
Bot with ye world comes dam fortone,
pat ayther hand may chaung sone;
For sho tumes about ay hir whele.
Up and doune, als many may fele;
When sho hir whele lates obout-ga, 290
Sho tumes sum doune fra wele to wa.
And, eft agaynward, fra wa to wele ;
pus tumes sho obout oft hir whele,
pe whilk J>ir clerkes noght elles calles,
Bot happe or chaunce, ))at sodanli falles, 295
And j?at men haldes here noght elles,
Bot welthe and angre in whilk men dwelles.
parfor worldly happe es ay in dout,
Whilles dam fortune tumes hir whele about.
Angre men dredes and walde it fle, 300
And in welthe men wald ay be;
PRICKE OF CONSCIENCE. 177
Bot parfit men, )>at ]>air lif right ledes,
Welthe of j^e world ay flese and dredes;
For welthe drawes a man fra ))e right way
pat ledes til ))e blisse ))at lastes ay. 305
[Lines 14 12 — H73']
pe life of ))is worid es ful imstable,
And ful variand and chaungeable,
Als es sene in contrarius manere,
By ))e tymes and vedirs and sesons here.
For \>e worid and woridis life togider 310
Chaunges and tumes oft hider and J)ider,
And in a state duelles ful short while,
Unnethes ]>e space of a myle.
And for-j?i ))at ))e worlde es swa unstable
AUe ))at men sese ]>ar-in es chaungeable; 315
For God ordayns here, als es his wille,
Sere variaunce for certayn skille,
Of ]>e tyms, and wedirs, and sesons,
In taken of ))e worldes condicions,
pat swa unstable er and variande, 320
pat ful short while may in a state stande.
For God wille men se, thurgh swilk takens sere,
How unstable ]>\s world es here,
Swa ))at men suld mare drede and be abayste,
Over-mykel in ]>e world here to trayste. 325
Ofte chaunges ]>q tymes here, als men wel wate,
Als ))us; now es arly, now es late.
Now es day, now es nyght,
Now es myrk, now es light;
And ))e wedirs chaunges and ))e sesons, 330
pus aftir the worldes condicions;
For now es cald, now es hete,
Now es dry, and now es wete;
N
178 RICHARD ROLLS DE HAMPOLE'S
For now es snaw, hail, or rayn,
And now es fair wedir 2ig2Lyn;
Now es \>e wedir bright and shynand,
And now waxes it alle domland;
Now se we J)e lyfte clere and faire,
Now gadirs mystes and cloudes in J>e ayre.
Alle ))er variance to understande,
May be takens of J>is worid swa variande;
And yhit er J>ar other ma takens sere
Of \>e unstablenes of j?is lif here.
For now es mirthe, nou es mnmyng,
Now es laghter, and now es gretyng;
Now er men wele, now er men wa,
Now es a man frende, now es he faa;
Now es a man light, now es he hevy,
Now es he blithe, now es he drery;
Now haf we i^y, now haf we pyn,
Now we wyn, and now we tyn;
Now er we ryche, now er we pur,
Now haf we or-litel, now pas we mesur;
Now er we bigg, now er we bare,
Now er we hale, now seke and sare ;
Now haf we reste and now travaile,
Now we fande our force, now we fail;
Now er we smert, now er we slawe,
Now er we heghe, now er we la we;
Now haf we ynogh, now haf we noght.
Now er we aboven, and now doun broght ;
Now haf we pees, now haf we were,
Now eese us a thyng, now fele we it dere ;
Now lofe we, now hate ; now saghtel, now strife.
per er ))e maners here of j?is lyfe,
pe whilk er takens of J)e unstabelnes
Of }>is worldis lyfe, J>at chaungeable es.
PRICKE OF CONSCIENCE. 179
BeafL
[Lines 1818— 1829.]
Four, skilles I fynd writen in som stede,
Why men suld specialy drede ))e dede;
An es for J>e dede stoure swa felle 370
pat es mare payne ))an man can telle,
pe whilk ilk man sal fele within,
When j)e body and })e saule salle twyn.
Another es for \>e sight ))at he sal se
Of devels, ))at about hym ))an salle be. 375
pe thred es for ))e acount J>at he sal yheld
Of alle his lyf, of yhouthe and elde.
pe ferth es, for he is uncertayne
Whether he sal wend til ioy or payne.
[Lines 1 836 — 1851.J
First aght men drede ))e ded in hert, 380
For ))e payn jf \>e dede ))at es swa smert,
pat es J>e hard stour at J>e last ende,
When })e saule sal fra ))e body wende;
A doleful partyng es ))at to telle,
For ]>ai luf ay togyder to duelle; 385
Nouther of ))am wald other forga,
Swa mykel lof es bytwen j?am twa;
And j?e mare J>at twa togyder lufes,
Als a man and his wyfe oft pnives,
pe mare sorow and mumyng 390
By-hoves be at j?air departyng.
Bot ))e body and ))e saul with ))e lyfe
Lufes mare samen j?an man and his wyfe,
Whether ))ai be in gude way or ille.
And ))at es for many sere skylle. 395
N 2
l8o RICHARD ROLLE DE HAMPOLE'S
[Lines 1884 — 1929]
Dede wil na frendshepe do, ne favour,
Ne reverence til kyng, ne til emperour,
Ne til pape, ne til bisshope, ne na prelate,
Ne til nan other man of heghe estate,
Ne til na religiouse, ne til na seculere.
For dede over al men has powere.
And thurgh ))e dede hand al sal pas,
Als Salamon says, j?at wyse was :
Communionem
mortis scito,
"Knaw jjou," he says, "))at ))e dede es
Comon to al men, bathe mare and les."
pus sal dede visite ilk man,
And yhit na man discryve it can.
For here lyves nan under hevenryke,
pat can telle til what J)e ded es lyke.
Bot ))e payn of dede J?at al sal fele
A philosopher ))us discrived wele;
For he lykend mans lyf til a tre
pat war growand, if it swa mught be,
Thurgh a mans hert and swa shuld sprynge,
pat obout war lapped with the hert strynge,
Afid ))e croppe out at his mouth mught shote,
And to ilka ioynt war fested a rote;
And ilka vayne of \^ mans body
Had a rote festend fast ]>arby,
And in ilka taa and fynger of hand
War a rote fra ))at tre growand,
And ilka lym, on ilka syde.
With rotes of j?at tre war occupyde;
Yf ))at tre war tite pulled oute
At a titte, with al \t rotes oboute,
PRICKE OF CONSCIENCE. l8l
pe rotes suld J>an rayse ))ar-with
Ilka vayn and ilka synoghe and lith;
A mare payne couthe na man in hert cast 430
pan ]>is war, als lang als it suld last.
And yhit halde I ^ payne of (iede mare,
And mare strange and hard ))an ))is ware;
pos a philosopher when he lyfed,
pe payn of l>e dede here discrived. 435
parfor ilk man, als I byfor sayde,
Aght to drede J)e bitter dedes brayde,
For bathe gode and ille sal it taste;
Bot ille men aght drede it maste.
For dred of ded mast pyns wythin x^o
A man J>at here es ful of syn.
[Lines 2216 — 2233.]
pe secund skil, als byfor es redde,
Why ))e dede es swa gretely [to] drede,
Es for ))e grisly sight of fendes
pat a man sal se, when his lyf endes. 445
For when ]te lyf sal pas fra a man
Devels sal gadir obout hym J>an,
To ravissche J)e saul with )>am away
Tyl pyne of helle, if ))ai may.
Als wode lyons J)ai sal J>an fare 450
And raumpe on hym, and skoul, and stare,
And grymly gryn on h)Tn and blere,
And hydus braydes mak hym to fere ;
pai sal fande at his last endyng
Hym in-to wanhope for to bring, 455
Thurgh thretynges J>at ))ai sal mak,
And thurgh ^ ferdnes ))at he sal tak.
Ful hydus sightes ))ai sal shew hym
pat his chere sal make grisly and grym.
1 82 RICHARD ROLLE BE HAMPOL^S
[Lines 2300 — 23 11.]
For j?ai er swa grisely, als says ))e buke, 460
And swa blak and foule on to loke,
pat al \e mea here of mydlerd
Of ))at sight mught be aferd;
For al j?e men here of this lyfe
Swa grysely a sight couth noght descryfe, 465
Ne, thurgh wyt, ymagyn ne deme,
Als ))ai sal in tyme of dede seme;
Ne swa sleygh payntur never nan was,
pogh his sleght mught alle other pas,
pat couthe ymagyn of ))air gryslynes, 470
Or paynt a poynt aftir ))air liknes.
[Lines 2334—2356.]
Bot I wille shew yhow aparty
Why ))ai er swa foul and grisly;
For sum tyme when )>ai war bright angels,
Als j?a er ])at now in heven duels; 475
Fra ))at blisful place, thurgh syn, ))ai felle,
And bycome j?an foule devels of helle,
And horribely defygurd thurgh syn,
pat ))ai war wyth fild, and hafdend ))arin;
For war-ne syn war ))ai had ay bene 480
Bright aungels, als ))ai war first sene;
And now er ))ai made foule and ugly,
purgh fylyng of ))air syn anly;
pan es syn mar foule and wlatsome,
pan any devel ))at out of helle may come ; 485
For a thyng es fouler ))at may file,
pan ))e thyng ))at it fyles, and mare vile;
parfor says clerkes of grete cunnyng,
pat syn es swa foule and swa grisly thyng.
PRICKS OF CONSCIENCE, 1 83
pat if a man mught properly se his syn 490
In j)e kynd lyknes ))at it falles be in,
He shuld for ferdnes titter it fle
pan any devel ))at he mught se.
[Lines 2364—2373.]
Sen ))e devel ))us has tane his uglines
Of ))e filth of syn, ))at swa filand es, 495
pan aght \>e saul of synful with-in
Be ful foule, ))at es alle slotered in syn;
parfor a man aght, war-so he wendes,
Mare drede syn ))an \>e syght of fendes,
pat sal aper til hym at his dede day; 500
Bot his syn he sal se fouler ))an jiay,
Of whilk he wald noght hym right shrife,
Ne repent hym here in his lyfe.
XVII.
LAWRENCE MINOT.
A.D. 1352.
Lawrence Minot lived and wrote about the middle of the
fourteenth century. He composed ten poems in celebration
of the following battles and exploits of King Edward III:—
The Battles of Halidon Hill (1333) and Bannockbum (1314);
Edward's expedition to Brabant (1339); the Sea-fight of Swine
at the mouth of the West Scheldt (1340); the Siege of Toumay
(1340); the Landing of Edward at La Hogue (1346) ; the Siege
of Calais (1346); the Battle of Neville's Cross (1346); the Sea-
fight with the Spaniards off Winchelsea (1350) ; and the Capture
of Guisnes (1352).
The present extracts, the dialect of which is Northumbrian,
are from the Poems of Lafivrence Minot in Political Poems and
Songs relating to English History y Vol. L, edited by T. Wright, M.A.
(Rolls' Series), London 1859.
Political Songs,
[Collated with Cotton MS. Galba E. ix.]
[Pages 63— 69.]
I.
How Edward the King come in Brahand
And toke Homage o/alle the Land.
God, that schope both se and sand,
Save Edward king of Ingland,
Both body, saul and life.
And grante him joy withowten strif 1
For mani men to him er wroth, 5
LAWRENCE MINOT'S POLITICAL SONGS. 1 85
In Fraunce and in Flandres both;
For he defendes fast his right.
And tharto Jhesu grante him might,
And so to do both night and day.
That yt may be to Goddes pay. 10
Oure king was cumen, tre[w]ly to telle,
Into Brabant for to dwelle;
The kayser Lowis of Bavere,
That m that land than had no pere,
He, and als his sons two, 15
And other princes many mo,
Bisschoppes and prelates war thare fele,
That had fill mekille werldly wele,
Princes and pople, aid and ^ong,
Al that spac with Duche timg, 30
AUe thai come with grete honowre,
Sir Edward to save and socoure,
And proferd him, with alle thayre rede,
For to hald the kinges stede.
The duke of Braband, first of alle, 25
Swore, for thing that might bifalle,
That he suld both day and night
Help Sir Edward in his right,
In toun, in feld, in frith and fen.
This swore the Duke and alle his men, 30
And al the lordes that with him lend,
And tharto held thai up thaire hend,
Than king Edward toke his rest.
At Andwerp, whare him liked best;
And thare he made his mon^ playne, .sf
That no man suld say thare ogayne.
His mon^, that was gude and lele
Left in Braband ful mekille dele ;
1 86 LAWRENCE MINOT'S
And alle that land, untille this day,
Fars the better for that jomay. 40
When Philip the Valas herd of this,
Tharat he was fid wroth iwis;
He gert assemble his baroimes,
Princes and lordes of many tomies.
At Pariss toke thai thaire comisaile, 45
Whilk pointes might tham moste availe;
And in alle wise thai tham bithought
To stroy Ingland, and bring to nought.
Schipmen sone war efter sent.
To here the kinges cmnandment; 50
And the galaies men also,
That wist both of wele and wo.
He cumand than that men suld fare
Tille Ingland and for nothing spare,
Bot brin and sla both man and wife, 55
And childe, that none suld pas with life.
The galay men held up thaire handes,
And thanked God of thir tithandes.
At Hamton, als I understand,
Come the gaylayes unto land, 60
And ful fast thai slogh and brend,
Bot noght so mekille als sum men wend.
For or thai wened war thai mett
With men that sone thaire laykes lett.
Sum was knokked on the hevyd, 65
That the body thare bilevid;
Sum lay stareand on the sternes;
And sum lay knoked out thaire hemes,
Than with tham was non other gle.
POLITICAL SONGS. 1 87
Bot fill fain war thai that might fie. 70
The galay men the suth to say,
Most nedes turn another way;
Thai soght the stremis fer and wide,
In Flandres and in Seland syde.
Than saw thai whare Cristofer stode, 75
At Armouth, opon the flude.
Then wen[te] thai theder alle bidene
The galayes men, with hertes kene,
Viij. and xl. galays, and mo,
And with tham als war tarettes two, 80
And other many of galiotes,
With grete noumber of smale botes;
Alle thai hoved on the flode
To stele sir Edward mens gode.
Edward oure king than was noght there, 85
Bot sone when it come to his ere,
He sembled alle his men fulle stille,
And said to tham what was his wille.
Ilk man made him redy then.
So went the king and alle his men 90
Unto thaire schippes ful hastily,
Als men that war in dede doghty.
Thai fand the galay men grete wane,
A hundereth ever ogaynes ane;
The Inglis men put tham to were 95
Ful baldly, with bow and spere;
Thai slogh thare of the galaies men
Ever sexty ogaynes ten;
That sum ligges ^it in that mire
Alle hevidles, withowten hire. 100
1 88 LAWRENCE MINOT^S
The Inglis men war armed wele,
Both in yren and in stele;
Thai faght ftil fast, both day and night,
Als lang as tham lasted might.
Bot galay men war so many, 105
That Inglis men wex alle wery ;
Help thai soght, bot thare come nane.
Than unto God thai made thaire mane.
Bot sen the time that God was bom,
Ne a hmidreth ^ere biforn, no
War never men better in fight
Than Ingliss men, whils thai had myght.
Bot sone alle maistri gan thki mis;
God bring thaire saules untille his blis!
And God assoyl tham of thaire sin, 115
For the gude wille that thai war in! Amen.
Listens now, and leves me,
Who-so lifes thai salle se
That it mun be ful dere boght
That thir galay men have wroght. 120
Thai hoved stille opon the flode,
And reved pover men thaire gude ;
Thai robbed, and did mekille schame.
And ay bare Ingliss men the blame.
Now Jhesu save alle Ingland, 125
And blis it with his haly hand I Amen.
11.
Edward, oure cumly king.
In Braband has his woning,
With mani cumly knight;
And in that land, trewly to telle, 130
POLITICAL SONGS. 1 89
Ordains he stille for to dwelle
To time he think to fight.
Now God, that es of mightes maste,
Grant him grace of the Haly Gaste,
His heritage to win I 135
And Mari moder, of mercy fre,
Save oure king and his men^^
Fro sorow and schame and syn.
Thus in Braband has he bene,
Whare he bifore was seldom sene, 140
For to prove thaire japes;
Now no langer wil he spare,
Bot unto Fraunce fast wille he fare,
To confort him with grapes.
Furth he ferd into Fraunce, 145
God save him fro mischance
And alle his cumpany!
The nobille due of Braband
With him went into that land,
Redy to lif or dy. 150
Than the riche floure-de-lice
Wan thare ful litille prise,
Fast he fled for ferde;
The right aire of that cuntr^
Es cumen, with all his knightes fre, 155
To shac him by the herd.
Sir Philip the Valayse,
With his men in tho dayes,
To batale had he thoght;
He bad his men tham purvay 160
190 LAWRENCE MINOT^S
Withowten lenger dday.
But he ne held it noght.
He broght folk fill grete wone,
Ay sevyn oganis one.
That ful wele wapnid were; 165]
Bot sone whe[n] he herd ascry
That king Edward was nere tharby,
Than durst he noght cum nere.
In that morning fell a myst,
And when oure Ingliss men it wist, 170
It changed alle thaire chere;
Oure king unto God made his bone,
And God sent him gude confort sone,
The weder wex ful clere.
Oure king and his men held the felde
Stalwortly, with spere and schelde,
And thoght to win his right.
With lordes, and with knightes kene
And other doghty men bydene,
That war ful frek to fight. 180
When Sir Philip of France herd telle
That king Edward in feld walld dwelle,
Than gayned him no gle;
He traisted of no better bote,
Bot both on hors and on fote 185
He hasted him to fle.
It semid he was ferd for strokes,
When he did felle his grete okes
Obout his pavilyoune;
Abated was than alle his pride, 190
POLITICAL SONGS.
For langer thare durst he noght bide,
His host was broght alle doune.
191
The king of Berne had cares colde,
That was ful^ hardy and bolde
A stede to umstride, 195
The king als of Naverne
War faire feld^ in the ferene
Thaire heviddes for to hide.
And leves wele, it es no lye,
The felde hat Flemangrye 200
That king Edward was in.
With princes that war stif and bolde,
And dukes that war doghty tolde
In batayle to bigin.
The princes, that war riche on raw, 205
Gert nakers strike and trumpes blaw,
And made mirth at thaire might;
Both alblast and many a bow
War redy railed opon a row,
And ful frek for to fight. 210
Gladly thai gaf mete and drink,
So that thai suld the better swink,
The wight men that thar ware.
Sir Philip of Fraunce fled for dout,
And hied him hame with alle his rout; 215
Coward, God giff him care !
For thare than had the lely flowre
Lome alle halely his honowre,
MS. fur. '' ferd?
19^ LAWRENCE MINO'fS
1
230 I
That sogat fled for ferd;
Bot oure king Edward come ful stille.
When that he trowed no harm him tille,
And keped him in the berde.
III.
[Pages 75— 8o.]
How Edward at Hogges unto land wan.
And rade thurgh France or ever he hlan.
Men may rede in Romance right 225
Of a grete clerk that Merlin hight;
Ful many bokes er of him wreten,
Als thir clerkes wele may witen ; .
And ^it in many priv^ nokes
May men find of Merlin bokes. 230
Merlin said thus with his mowth,
Out of the north into the sowth
Suld cum a bare over the se,
That suld mak many man to fle ;
And in the se, he said ful right, 235
Suld he schew ful mekille might;
And in France he suld bigin^
To mak tham wrath that er tharein,
Untille the se his taile reche sale
AUe folk of France to mekille bale. 340
Thus have I mater for to make,
For a nobille prince sake;
Help me God, my wit es thin;
Now Laurence Minot wille bigin.
A bore es broght on bankes bare, 145
With ful batail bifor his brest;
POLITICAL SONGS. 1 93
For John of France wille he noght spare *
In Normondy to tak his rest,
With princes that er proper and prest.
Alweldand God, of mightes maste, 250
He be his held, for he may best,
Fader, and Sun, and Haly Gaste.
Haly G^ste, thou gif him grace
That he in gude time may bigin.
And send to him both might and space 255
His heritage wele for to win;
And sone assoyl him of his sin,
Hende God, that heried helle.
For France now es he entrid in.
And thare he dightes him for to dwelle. 260
He dwelled thare, the suth to telle,
Opon the coste of Normondy.
At Hogges fand he famen felle.
That war alle ful of felony;
To him thai makked grete maistri, 265
And proved to ger the bare abyde.
Thurgh might of God and mild Mari,
The bare abated alle thaire pride.
Mekille pride was thare in prese.
Both on pencelle and on plate, 270
When the bare rade withouten rese
Unto Cane the graythest gate.
Thare fand he folk bifor the ^ate
Thretty thowsand stif on stede.
Sir John of France come al to late; 275
The bare has gert thaire sides blede.
He gert blede, if thai war bolde,
For thare was slayne and wounded sore
I^ LAWRENCE MOmfS
Thretty thowsand txewl j tolde.
Of pitaile was thare mekiDe more,
Knightes war tfaare wek two sccnne
That war new dubbed to that dance.
Hehn and hevyd thai have forlore.
Than misliked John of France.
More misliking was thare then.
For fals treson alway thai wroght;
Bot fro thai met with Inglis men,
AUe thaire bargan dere thai boght
Inglis men with site tham soght.
And hastily quit tham thaire hire.
And at the last forgat thai noght,
The toun of Cane thai sett on fire.
That fire ful many folk gan fere,
When thai se brandes o-ferrum flye;
This have thai wonen of the were,
The fals[e] folk of Normundy.
I sai 50W lely how thai lye
Dongen doun alle in a daunce;
Thaire frendes many ful faire forthi
Pleyn tham untille John of France.
Franche men put tham to pine
At Cressy, whan thai brak the brig,
That saw Edward with both his ine.
Than likid him no langer to lig;
Ilk Inglis man on others rig
Over that water er thai went,
To bataile er thai baldly big,
With brade ax and with bowes bent.
With bent bowes thai war ful bolde,
For to felle of lYve ¥t?lt^\%Ocv xcvk^ \
POLITICAL SONGS. 195
Thai gert tham lig with cares colde,
Ful sari was sir Philip then.
He saw the toun o-femim bren,
And folk for ferd war fast fleand;
The teres he lete ful rathly ren 315
Out of his eghen, I understand.
Then come Philip, ful redy dight,
Toward the town with alle his rowt,
With him come mani a kumly knight,
And alle umset the bare obout. 320
The bare made tham ful law to lout,
And delt tham knokkes to thaire mede :
He gert tham stumbille that war stout;
Thare helpid nowther staf ne stede.
Stedes strong bilevid stille 325
Biside Cressy opon the grene.
Sir Philip wanted alle his wille,
That was wele on his sembland sene.
With spere and schelde and helmis schene,
The bare durst thai noght habide. 330
The king of Berne was cant and kene,
Bot thare he lest both play and pride.
o 2
xvin.
SIR JOHN MANDE\'ILLE.
A.D. 1300— 137 1.
Sir John Mandeville was bom about a.d. 1300, commenced
his travels in the year 1322, and wrote an account of them
in English in the year 1356. The following extracts, in tie
Midland dialect, are copied from The Faiage and Trawale qfSr
John MaumUville, ed. from the edition of 1725, by J. O. Halliwdl,
London 1839.
The Prologue.
[Collated with Cotton MS. Titus C. xvi.]
[Pages 1-5.]
For als moche as the lond be^onde the see, that is to
seye, the holy lond, that men callen the lond of promys-
sioun, or of beheste, pass)aige alle othere londes, is the most
worthi lond, most excellent, and lady and soverejm of alle
othere londes, and is blessed and halewed of the precyous
body and blood of oure Lord Jhesu Crist ; in the whiche lond
it lykede him to take flesche and blood of the virgyne Marie,
to envyrone that holy lond with his blessede feet; and there
he wolde of his blessedness^ enoumbre him in the seyd
blessed and gloriouse virgine Marie, and become man, and
worche many myracles, and preche and teche the feyth and
the lawe of crystene men unto his children; and there it
lykede him to sufFre many reprevynges and scomes for us ;
and he that was kyng of heuene, of eyr, of erthe, of see and
of alle thinges that ben conteyned in hem, wolde alle only
THE PROLOGUE, I97
ben cleped kyng of that lond, whan he seyde, Rex sum
Judeorum, that is to seyne, / am kyng 0/ Jewes ; and that
lond he chees before, alle other londes, as the beste and
most worthi lond, and the most vertuouse lond of alle the
world : for it is the herte and the myddes of alle the world :
wytnessynge the philosophere, that seyth thus: Virtus re-
rum in medio consistit: that is to seye, the vertue of thinges is
in the myddes ; and in that lond he wolde lede his lyf, and
suffre passioun and deth, of Jewes, for us; for to bye and
to delyvere us from peynes of helle, and from deth with-
outen ende; the whiche was ordeynd for us, for the synne
of oure formere fader Adam, and for oure owne s)aines also :
for as for himself, he hadde non evylle deserved: for he
thoughte nevere evylle ne dyd evylle : and he that was kyng
of glorie and of joye, myghten best in that place sufFre
deth; because he ches in that lond, rathere than in ony
othere, there to suffre his passioun and his deth; for he
that wil pupplische ony thing to make it openly knowen, he
wil make it to ben cryed and pronounced in the myddel
place of a town; so that the thing that is proclamed and
pronounced, may evenly strecche to alle parties : righte so, he
that was formyour of alle the world, wolde suffre [deth] for
us at Jerusalem ; that is the myddes of the world ; to that ende
and entent, that his passioun and his deth, that was pup-
plischt there, myghte ben knowen evenly to alle the parties
of the world. See now how dere he boughte man, that he
made after his owne ymage, and how dere he a3en-boghte
us, for the grete love that he hadde to us, and wee nevere
deserved it to him. For more precyous catelle ne gretter
raunsoun, ne myghte he put[te] for us, than his blessede body,
his precyous blood, and his holy lyf, that he thralled[e] for us ;
and alle he offred[e] for us, that nevere did[e] synne. A dere
God, what love hadde he to us his subjettes, whan he that
nevere trespaced[e],wolde for trespassours suffre dethe I Righte
198 THE PROLOGUE.
wel oughte us for to love and worschipe, to drede and serm
suche a Lord ; and to worschipe and preyse suche an holy
lond, that brought [e] forth such fruyt, thorgh the whiche
every man is saved, but it be his owne defaute. Wel may
that lond be called delytable and a fructuouse lond, that was
bebledd and moysted with the precyouse blode of cure Lord
Jhesu Crist; the whiche is the same lond, that oure Lord
behighte us in heritage. And in that lond he wolde dye,
as seised, for to leve it to vus his children. Wherfore every
gode cristene man, that is of powere, and hath whereof,
scholde peynen him with alle his strengthe for to conquere
oure right heritage, and chacen out alle the mysbeleevynge
men. For wee ben clept cristene men, aftre Crist our
fadre. And 3if wee ben righte children of Crist, we oughte
for to chalenge the heritage, that oure fadre lafte us, and do
it out of hethene mennes hondes. But now pryde, covetyse
and envye han so enflawmed the herte^ of lordes of the
world, that thei are more besy for to disherite here neygh-
bores, more than for to chalenge or to conquere here righte
heritage before seyd. And the comoun peple, that wolde
putte here bodyes and here catelle, for to conquere oure
heritage, thei may not don it withouten the lordes. For a
semblee of peple withouten a cheventeyn, or a chief lord,
is as a flok of scheep withouten a schepperde ; the which
departeth and desparpleth, and wyten never whidre to go.
But wolde God, that the temporel lordes and alle worldly
lordes weren at gode acord, and with the comon peple
wolden taken this holy viage over the see. Thanne I
trowe wel, that within a lityl tyme, oure right[e] heritage
before seyd scholde be reconsyled and put in the hondes
of the right heires of Jhesu Crist.
And for als moche as it is longe tyme passed, that ther
was no generalle passage ne vyage over the see ; and many
men desiren for to here speke of the holy lond, and han
THE PROLOGUE. I99
jrof gret solace and comfort ; I Jo' n Maundevylle, Knyght,
e be it I be not worthi, that was bom in Englond, in the
»rn of Seynt Albones, passede the see, in the ^eer of our
)rd Jhesu Crist mcccxxii, in the day of Seynt Michelle;
d hidre to have ben longe tyme over the see, and have
yn and gon thorghe manye dyverse londes, and many pro-
nces and kingdomes and iles; and have passed thorgh-
it Turkye, Tartarye, Percye, Surrye, Arabye, Egypt the
ghe and the lowe\ Ermonye the litylle and the grete ; thorgh
r^bye, Caldee, and a gret partie of Ethiope ; thorgh Ama-
•yne, Inde the lasse and the more, a gret partie; and
orgh out many othere iles, that ben abouten Inde ; where
srellen many dyverse folkes, and of dyverse maneres and
wres, and of dyverse schappes of men. Of whiche londes
id iles, I schalle speke more pleynly hereaftre. And I schal
jvise 30U sum partie of thinges that there ben, whan time
halle ben, aftre it may best come to my mynde; and
►ecyally for hem, that wylle and are in purpos for to visite
e holy citee of Jerusalem, and the holy places that are
ereaboute. And I schalle telle the weye, that thei schulle
)lden thidre. For I have often tymes passed and ryden
e way, with gode companye of many lordes: God be
onked.
And 3ee schulle undirstonde, that I have put this boke
It of Latyn into Frensch, and translated it a^en out of
rensche into Englyssch, that every man of my nac[i]oun
ay undirstonde it.
But lordes and knyghtes and othere noble and worthi
en, that conne Latyn but litylle, and han ben be^onde the
«, knowen and undirstonden, ^if I seye trouthe or no^,
id 3if I erre in devisynge, for for^etynge, or elles ; that thei
owe redresse it and amende it. For thinges passed out
• longe tyme from a mannes mynde or from his syght,
* Omitted in the printed editions.
200 THE BYQTNNYNG OF MACHOMETE.
tumen sone into for^etynge : because that mynde of man
ne may not ben comprehended ne withholden, for the freehk
of mankynde.
Chapter XII.
0/ the hygynnyng of Machomete,
[Pages 139-143-]
And ^ee schulle understonde, that Machamote was born
in Arabye, that was first a pore knave, that kepte cameles,
that wenten with marchantes for marchandise; and so be-
felle, that he wente with the marchandes in to Egipt : and
thei weren thanne cristene, in tho partyes. And at the
desertes of Arabye, he wente into a chapelle, where a
Eremyte duelte. And whan he entred into the chapelle,
that was but a lytille and a low thing and had but a lytyi
dore and a low, than the entree began to wexe so gret
and so large and so high, as though it had[de] ben of a
gret mynstre, or the ^ate of a paleys. And this was the,
firste myracle, the Sarazins seyn, that Machomete dide in
in his 30uthe. Aftre began he for to wexe wyse and ryche;
and he was a gret astronomer : and aftre he was govemour
and prince of the lond of Corrodane ; and he governed it
fulle wisely, in such manere, that whan the prince was ded,
he toke the lady to wyfe, that highte Gadrige. And Macho-
mete felle often in the grete sikenesse, that men callen the
fallynge evylle : wherfore the lady was fulle sory, that evere
sche toke him to husbonde. But Machomete made hire to
beleeve, that alle tymes, whan he felle so, Gabriel the Angel
cam for to speke with him; and for the gret[e] light and
brightnesse of the angelle, he myghte not susteyne him fro
fallynge. And therfore the Sarazines seyn, that Gabriel
cam often to speke with him. This Machomete regned in
Arabye the jeer of oure Lord Jhesu Crist 610; and was of
THE BYGYNNYNG OF MACHOMETE. ^OI
: generacioun of Ysmael, that was Abrahames sone, that
gat upon Agar, his chamberere. And therfore ther ben
razines, that ben clept Ismaelytenes ; and summe Aga-
jnes, of Agar : and the othere propurly ben clept Sarra-
les, of Sarra : and summe ben clept Moabytes, and summe
nonytes; fro^ the two sones of Loth, Moab and Amon,
It he begatt on his doughtres, that weren aftirward grete
hely princes. And also Machomete loved [e] wel a gode
remyte, that duelled in the desertes, a myle fro Mount
nay, in the weye that men gon fro Arabye toward
Jdee, and toward Ynde, o day journey fro the see, where
; marchauntes of Venyse comen often for marchandise.
id so often wente Machomete to this heremyte, that alle
; men weren wrothe : for he wolde gladly here this here-
rte preche, and make his men wake alle nyghte : and ther-
e his men thoughten to putte the heremyte to deth : and
it befelle upon a nyght, that Machomete was dronken of
de wyn, and he felle on slepe ; and his men toke Macho-
;tes swerd out of his schethe while he slepte, and there-
th thei slowgh[e] this heremyte, and putten his swerd alle
>dy in his schethe a3en. And at morwe, whan he fond
I heremyte ded, he was fulle sory and wroth, and wolde
ve don his men to deth : but thei alle with on accord [seyde].
It he himself had[de] slayn him, whan he was dronken,
d schewed him his swerd alle blody : and he trowed [e], that
ei hadden seyd soth. And than he cursed [e] the wyn, and
e tho that drynken it. And therfore Sarrazines, that be
vout, dr3niken nevere no wyn: but summe drynken it
ivyly. For 3if thei dronken it openly, thei scholde be
preved. But thei drynken gode beverage and swete and
»rysshynge, that is made of Galamelle : and that is that
en maken sugre of, that is of right gode savour: and it
gode for the breest. Also it befalleth sumtyme, that
» MS.ybr.
202 THE CONTREES AND YLES BEYONDE CATHAY.
Cristene men becomen Sarazines, outher for povertee or
for symplenesse, or elles for here owne wykkednesse. And
therfore the archiflamyn or the fiamyn, as oure erchebis-
shopp or bisshopp, whan he resceyveth him, seyth thus,
La ellecy Syla. Machomete rores alia ; that is to seye, There
is no God but on, and Machomete his messager.
Chapter XXVI.
Of the Contrees and Ties that ben beionde the lond of Cathay ; and
of the Frutes there; and of xxii Kynges enclosed <ivitbm the
Mountaynes,
[Pages 363-269.]
Now schalle I seye 30U sewyngly of contrees and yles, that
ben be3onde the contrees that I have spoken of. Wherfore
I seye 30U, in passynge be the lond of Cathaye, toward the
high Ynde, and toward Bacharye, men passen be a kyng-
dom, that men clepen Caldilhe ; that is a fulle fair contre.
And there groweth a maner of fruyt, as though it weren
Gowrdes : and whan thei ben rype, men kutten hem a-to,
and men fynden with-inne a lytylle best, in flesch, in bon
and blode, as thogh it were a lytille lomb, with-outen wolle.
And men eten bothe the frut and the best : and that is a
gret merveylle. Of that frute I have eten; alle though it
were wondirfuUe: but that I knowe wel, that God is mer-
veyllous in his werkes. And natheles I tolde hem, of als
gret a merveylle to hem, that is amonges us : and that was
of the Bernakes. For I tolde hem, that in oure contree
weren trees, that baren a fruyt, that becomen briddes
fleeynge : and tho that fellen in the water, lyven ; and thei
that fallen on the erthe, dyen anon : and thei ben right gode
to mannes mete. And here-of had[de] thei als gret mer-
vaylle, that summe of hem trowed, it were an inpossible
thing to be.
In that contree ben longe apples, of gode savour ; where- of
THE CONTREES AND YLES BEYONDE CATHAY. 203
sn mo than an 100 in a clustre, and als manye in another:
id thei han grete longe leves and large, of 2 fote long
r more. And in that contree, and in other contrees there
X)uten, growen many trees, that beren clowe gylofres and
Dtemuges, and grete notes of Ynde and of Canelle and of
lany other spices. And there ben vynes, that beren so
rete grapes, that a strong man scholde have ynow to done,
>r to bere o clustre with alle the grapes. In that same
igiomi ben the momitaynes of Caspye, that men clepen
"ber in the contree. Betwene the mountaynes, the Jewes
f ten lynages ben enclosed, that men clepen Goth and
[agoth : and thei mowe not gon out on no syde. There
eren enclosed 22 kynges with hire peple, that duelleden
Btwene the mountaynes of Sythye. There Kyng Alisandre
lacede hem betwene tho mountaynes; and there he
loughte for to enclose hem thorgh werk of his men.
ut whan he saugh, that he myghte not don it, ne brynge
to an ende, he preyed[e] to God of Nature, that he wolde
arforme that that he hadd[e] begonne. And alle were it so,
lat he was a payneme and not worthi to ben herd, 5it God
f his grace closed[e] the mountaynes to gydre : so that thei
wellen there, alle faste y-lokked and enclosed with high[e]
lountaynes alle aboute, saf only on o syde ; and on that
^de, is the sea of Caspye. Now may sum men asken, sith
lat the see is on that o syde, wherfore go thei not out on
le see syde, for to go where that hem lyketh ? But to this
uestioun, I schal answere, that see of Caspye goth out
e londe, undre the mountaynes, and renneth be the
esert at o syde of the contree; and aftre it streccheth
nto the endes of Persie. And alle though it be clept
see, it is no see, ne it toucheth to non other see: but
is a lake, the grettest of the world. And though thei
olden putten hem in to that see, thei ne wysten never,
here that thei scholde aryven. And also thei conen no
204 THE CONTREES AND FLES BEYONDE CA THAT.
langage, but only hire owne, and no man knoweth but
thei: and therfore mowe thei not gon out. And also jec
schulle undirstonde, that the Jewes ban no propre lond of
hire owne for to dwellen inne, in alle the worid, but only
that lond betwene the mountaynes. And ^it thei ^elden
tribute for that lond to the Queen of Amazoine, the whiche
that maketh hem to ben kept in cloos fulle diligently, that
thei schalle not gon out on no syde, but be the cost of hire
lond. For hire lond marcheth to the mountaynes. And
often it hath befallen, that simmie of the Jewes ban gon
up the mountaynes, and avaled down to the valeyes: but
gret nombre of folk ne may not do so. For the mountaynes
ben so hye and so streght up, that thei moste abyde there,
maugree hire myght. For thei mowe not gon out, but
be a littille issue, that was made be strengthe of men ; and
it lasteth wel a 4 grete myle. And aftre, is tfiere 3it a
lond alle desert, where men may fynde no watre, ne for
dyggynge, ne for non other thing. Wherfore men may
not dwellen in that place : so is it fulle of dragounes, of
serpentes and of other venymous bestes, that no man dar
not passe, but 3if it be be strong wyntre. And that streyt[e]
passage, men clepen in that contree, Clyron. And that
is the passage, that the queen of Amazoine maketh to ben
kept. And thogh it happene, sum of hem, be fortune,
to gone out; thei conen no maner of langage but Ebrew;
so that thei can not speke to the peple. And ^it natheles,
men seyn thei schulle gon out in the tyme of Antecrist,
and that thei schulle maken gret slaughtre of Cristene men.
And therfore alle the Jewes, that dwellen in alle londes, !
lernen alle weys to speken Ebrew, in hope that whanne
the other Jewes schulle gon out, that thei may understonden
hire speche, and to leden hem in to Cristendom, for to
destroy e the cristene pepVe. ¥01 iVve ^ewes seyn, that they
knowen wel, be hire prophecyes, tJcv^X \)cv€\ ol ^"Jiw^Yi^ 's^cc^^ .
? CONTREES AND YLES BEYONDE CATHAY. ^05
and spreden thorgh out alle the world; and that
ene men schulle ben nndre hire subieccioun, als
thei han ben in subieccioun of hem. And ^if that
^yte, how that thei schulle fynden hire weye, aftre
Lve herd seye, I schaUe telle 30U. In the time of
, a fox schalle make there his trayne, and mynen
where k)nig Alisandre leet make the 5ates : and so
schalle mynen and perce the erthe, til that he
asse thorgh, towardes that folk. And whan thei
fox, thei schulle have gret merveylle of him, be
thei saugh[e] never suche a best. For of alle othere
lei han enclosed amonges hem, saf only the fox.
me thei schulen chacen him and pursuen him so
llle that he come to the same place, that he cam fro.
nne thei schullen dyggen and mynen so strongly,
thei fynden the 3ates, that Kyng Alisandre leet make
stones and passynge huge, wel symented and made
or the maystrie. And tho ^ates they schulle breken,
on out, be fyndynge of that issue. Fro that londe,
toward the lond of Bacharie, where ben fuUe yvele
fulle cruelle. In that lond ben trees, that beren
thogh it were of scheep; where of men maken
and alle thing that may ben made of wolle. In
tree ben many Ipotaynes, that dwellen somtyme
itre, and somtyme on the lond: and thei ben half
I half hors, as I have seyd before : and thei eten
an thei may take hem. And there ben ryveres of
[lat ben fulle byttere, three sithes more than is the
the see.
tt contree ben many griffounes, more plentee than
other contree. Sum men seyn, that thei han the
ward as an egle, and benethe as a lyoun: and
ei seyn soth, that thei ben of that schapp. But
in hath the body more gret and \s moi^ %\xat^^
206 THE CONTREES AND YLES BEVONDE CATHAT.
thanne 8 lyouns, of suche lyouns as ben o this half; and
more gret and strongere, than an loo egles, suche as we
han amonges us. For o griffoun there wil here, fleyngc
to his nest, a gret hors, ^if he may fynde him at the
poynt^, or 2 oxen 3oked to gidere, as thei gon at the
plowgh. For he hathe his talouns so longe and so large
and grete upon his fete, as though thei weren homes of
grete oxen or of bugles or of ky3n; so that men maken
cuppes of hem, to drynken of: and of hire ribbes and
of the pennes of hire wenges, men maken bowes fulle
stronge, to schote with arwes and quarelle.
^ Omitted in the printed editions.
XIX.
ALLITERATIVE POEMS.
ABOUT A.D. 1360.
Author unknown — Dialect West-Midland (Lancashire).
The following extracts are from Early English Alliterative Poems,
dited for the Early English Text Society by R. Morris,
.ondon 1864.
The Deluge, .
BoT J)at o\er wrake J)at wex on wy^e^, hit ly^t
pur3 J)e faut of a freke J)at fayled in trawj)e.
Kdam in obedyent^ ordaynt to blysse,
per pryuely in paradys his place wat3 devised,
To lyue J)er in lyky«g J)e lenj)e of a terme, 5
& the/me enherite J)at home J)at au«gele3 for-gart,
Bot J)ur3 j)e eggywg of Eue he ete of an apple.
pat en-poysened alle peple3 ])at parted fro hem boj)e,
For a defence J)at wat3 dy3t of dry3tyn seluen,
& a payne J)er-on put & pertly halden ; 10
pe defence wat3 J)e fryt J)at jie freke towched,
& J)e dom is J)e de))e J)at drepe3 vus alle.
Al in mesure & mej)e was made ])e vengiau^ce,
& efte amended w/U a mayden J)at make had neu^r.
Bot in J)e J)ryd wat3 for-J)rast al J)at J)ryue schuld, 15
' obedyence ?
ao8 THE DELUGE.
per wat5 malys mercyles & mawgre much scheued,
pat wat3 for fyl))e vpon folde )xrt ))e folk vsed,
pat ))en wonyed^ in ))e worlde wiU-outen any mayst^ ;
Hit wem jje fayrest of forme & of face als,
pe most & Jje myriest )xrt maked wern euer,
pe stytest *, ))e stalwor))est j)at stod euer on fete ;
& lengest lyf w hem lent of lede3 alle oj)^,
For hit was ))e forme-foster jwt ))e folde bred,
pe ajjel auncetere3 suwe^ j)at Adam wat5 called,
To wham god hade geuen alle j)at gayn were,
Alle )>e blysse boute blame j)at bodi my^t haue,
& )>ose lykkest to J)e lede J>at lyued next aft^,
Forj)y so semly to see sy^eii wem none.
per wat3 no law to hem layd bot loke to kynde,
& kepe to hit, & alle hit cors clanly ful-fylle ;
& ]>enne fouwden j)ay fylj)e in fieschlych dede3
& controeued agayn kynde contrary werke3,
& vsed hem vn-])ryftyly vchon on o^er,
& als with oJ)^r, wylsfuUy, vpon a wrange wyse.
So ferly fowled her flesch j)at J)e fende loked,
How ))e de3t?r of j)e dou])e wem derelych fayre,
& fallen in fela3schyp w/tA hem on folken wyse
& en-gendered on hem Ieau«te3 mt/i her Iape3 ille.
pose wem men me])ele3 & ma3ty on vr))e,
pat for her lodlych layke3 alosed j)ay were.
He wat3 famed for fre j)at fe3t loued best,
& ay )>e bigest in bale j)e best wat3 halden ;
& ))e«ne euele3 on erj)e emestly grewen
& multyplyed mony-fold in monge3 mankynde,
For )>at J)e ma3ty on molde so marre J)ise oJ)^r,
pat ))e wy3e J)at al wro3t ful wro])ly bygy«ne3.
When he knew vche contre compte in hit seluen,
& vch freke forloyned fro fe ry3t waye3,
* It looks like wori>ed in the MS. ^ siy/est or stytbest ?
THE DELUGE, 2O9
Felle temptande tene towched his hert;
As wy3e, wo hym withiwne, werp to hym seluen : . 50
** Me forj)y«ke5 ^^^ much J>at eu^ I mon made,
Bot I schal delyu^ & do away })at doten on j)is molde,
^ fleme out of ))e folde al j)at flesch were3,
I'^ro ))e bume to )>e best, fro brydde3 to fysche^ ;
Al schal dou« & be ded & dryuen out of er))e, 55
Xhx tuer I sette saule uine ; & sore hit me rwe3
J>at tuer I made hem myself; bot if I may her-aft^r,
I schal wayte to be-war her wrenche^ to kepe."
l>e«ne 'm worlde wat^ a wy3e wonyande on lyue,
l^ul redy & ful ry^twys, & rewled Yiym fayre ; 60
In )>e drede of dry3tyn his daye3 he vse3,
^ ay glydande wyth his god his gr^ce wat3 K more.
tiym wat3 ))e nome Noe, as is i;i-nogh^ knawen,
Ke had j)re J>ryuen su«e3 & j)ay J)re wyue3 >*
Sem soj)ly )>at on, )>at o)>^r hy3t Cam 65
Sl the lolef lapheth wat3 gendered ))e j)ryd.
Now god in nwy to Noe con speke,
Wylde wrakful worde3 in his wylle greued :
" pe ende of alle-kyne3 flesch j)at on vrthe meue3,
Is fallen forJ> wyth my face & forjjer hit I jjewk ; 70
WiU her vn-wor))elych werk me wlate3 wi'tA-i«ne,
pe gore j>^r-of me hat3 greued & jje glette nwyed ;
I schal strenkle my distresse & strye al togeder,
Bo))e lede3 & londe & alle j)at lyf habbe3.
Bot make to ))e a manciouw & )>at is my wylle, 75
A cofer closed of tres, clanlych planed ;
Wyrk wone3 J>^ri«ne for wylde & for tame,
& ))e«ne cleme hit wiU clay comly w/U-i«ne,
& alle j>e endentur dryuen daube wiU-outen.
And Yis of lenjje & of large j)at lome Jx?u make, 80
pre hundred of cupyde3 ^oxa holde to j)e lenjje.
Of fyfty fayre ou^r-)>wert forme l>e brede ;
I
2IO THE DELUGE. ^ .
& loke euen j)at J>yn ark haue of he3)>c ]irett^,
& a wyndow wyd vpon, wro3t vpon lofte,
In Jje compas of a cubit kyndely sware, 85
A wel dutande dor, don on j>e side ;
Haf halle3 ))eri«ne & halke3 ful mony,
BoJ)e boske^ & boure^ & wel boiwden pene3 ;
For I schal waken vp a wat^r to wasch alle )>e worlde,
& quelle alle ))at J>at ^ is quik w/U quauende flode3. 90
Alle )>at glyde3 & got3, & gost of lyf habbe3,
I schal wast with my wrath yzX wons vpon vr))e ; *
Bot my forwarde with j)e I festen on j)is wyse,
For jwni in reysou« hat3 rengned & ry3twys ben eu^ ;
pou schal ent^ j)is ark wi't^ j)yn a))el bame3 95
& )>y wedded wyf ; with ))e J)^u take
pe make3 of j)y myry su«e3 ; j)is meyny of a3te
I schal saue of mo«ne3 saule3, & swelt jjose o^.
Of vche best j)at bere3 lyf busk jje a cupple,
Of vche clene comly kynde enclose seuen make3, ^^
Of vche horwed, in ark halde bot a payre,
For to saue me j)e sede of alle ser kynde3 >
& ay j)(?u meng mth J)e male3 J>e mete ho-beste3,
Vche payre by payre to plese ayj)^ oyer ;
With alle \t fode J)at may be fouwde frette j)y cofer, 105
For sustnauwce to yow-self & also' jjose oDper"
Ful gray])ely got3 J)i8 gOd ma« & dos gode3 hestes,
In dry3 dred & dauwger, j)at durst do non oj)er.
When hit wat3 fettled & forged & to \t fuUe gray})ed,
pewne con dry3ttyn hym dele dry3ly ])yse worde3 : no
" Now Noe," quoth oure lorde, " art j>t?u al redy ?
Hat3 })(?u closed j)y kyst with clay alle aboute ?"
" 5e lorde mih j)y leue," sayde ))e lede J)e«ne,
*' Al is wro3t at J)i worde, as )>(?u me wyt lance3."
*' Enter in j)en?/e/' q«<?M he, " & haf J)i wyf w/U J>e, 115
^ So in MS.
THE DELUGE. 211
me^ wiU-outen J)rep & her j)re wyue^ ;
s I bedene haue, bosk l^er-inne als,
je am staued, styfly steke3 yow l^ennne ;
n daye^ ben ^ seyed I sende out bylyue,
owtande ryge )>at rayne schal swyj)e, 120
1 wasche alle j)e worlde of werke3 of fyl))e ;
► flesch vpon folde by fonden on lyue ;
in yow a^t in j)is ark staued,
It I wyl saue of J)yse ser beste^."
)e neu^r styste3^ (j)at niy3[t] he bygy«ne3), ^*5
jr stawed & stoken, as ))e steuen wolde.
sone com j)e seuenjje day, when samned wern jdle,
oned in j)e whichche J)e wylde & j)e tame,
[led j)e abyme & bonke3 con ryse,
)ut vch walle-heued, in ful wode streme3, 130
) brymme J)at abod vnbrosten bylyue,
el lauande logh^ to j)e lyfte rered.
lust^ed clowde clef alle \n clowte3,
vch a rayn-ryfte & nisched to j)e vr))e ;
ler in forty daye3, & J)en j)e flod ryses, 135
ilte3 vche a wod and )>e wyde felde3 ;
in j)e wat^r of j)e welkyn w/'t^ J)e worlde mette,
deth mo3t dry3e drowned j)eri«ne ;
3 moon for to make when meschef was cnowen,
t do wed bot the deth in j)e depe streme3. 140
irylger ay wax, wone3 j)at stryede,
\n-io vch ho«j, hent j)at j)er dowelled.
jng to j)e fly3t alle J)at fie my3t,
biu-de wiU her bame ])e byggywg j)ay leue3,
d to ])e hy3 bonk j)er brentest hit wern, 145
ly to ))e hy3e hylle3 j)ay [h]aled on faste ;
vat3 nedle3 her note, for neu^ cowj)e stynt
raynande ryg [&] j)e raykande wawe3,
1 MS. reads len, * stynte^ ?
P 2
\ I
212 THE DELUGE.
Er vch bojjom wat^ bmrd-ful to j)e bonke3 egge3,
& vche a dale so depe )>at demmed at j>e brynke3. '5*
pe moste mou«tay«e3 on mor ))e«ne wat3 no more dry3e,
And })rr-on flokked j)e folke, for ferde of j)e wrake.
Sy))en j)e ^vylde of ))e wode on ))e wat^ fiette ;
Suwme swymmed J)^r-on )>at saue hemself trawed,
Su/wme sty3e to a stud & stared to )>e heuen, 155
Rwly wyth a loud rurd rored for drede.
Hare3, hertte3 also, to )>e hy3e ru/inen,
Bukke3, bausene3 & bule3 to ye bonkke3 hy3ed,
& ailed cryed for care to J)e ky«g of heuen,
Re-cou^er of j>e creator j)ay cryed vchone, 160
pat amounted jje masse, ))e mase his mercy wat3 passed,
& alle his pyt^ departed fro peple j)at he hated.
Bi j)at j)e flod to her fete flo3ed & waxed,
pen vche a segge se3 wel J)at synk hym byhoued ;
Frende3 fellen in fere fajjmed to-geder 165
To dry3 her delful deystynd & dy3en alle samen;
Luf loke3 t^ ^^ & ^^s leue take3.
For to ende alle at one3 & for eu^r twy/ine.
By forty daye3 wem faren, on folde no flesch styryed,
pat J)e flod nade al freten vfitA fe3tande wa3e3 ^, 170
For hit clam vche a clyffe cubit^j fyftene,
Ouer j)e hy3est hylle J)at hurkled on er))e.
pe«ne mowrkne in \e mudde most ful nede
Alle })at spyrakle i«-spranc^ no sprawlywg awayled,
Saue j)e ha)>el vnder hach & his here strauwge, 175
Noe )>at ofte neuened j)e name of oure lorde,
Hym a3t-su;w in )>at ark as al>el god lyked,
per alle lede3 in lome lenged druye.
pe arc houen wat3 on hy3e with hurlande gote3,
Kest to kyj)e3 vncouJ>e J)e clowde3 ful nere. igo
Hit waltered on ^ wy\de ftod, ^etit as hit lyste.
THE DELUGE. 21^
Drof vpon jje depe dam, in. daiwg^ hit semed,
With-oute« mast, o\er myke, 6)p€r myry bawe-lyne,
Kable, oJj^ capstan to clyppe to her ankre^,
Hurrok, o}^er hande-helme hasped on roj)er, 185
Oj>^r any sweande sayl to seche aft^r hauen,
Bot fiote forthe ^Ah J)e flyt of j)e felle wynde^ ;
Wheder-warde so )>e wat^r wafte, hit rebouwde.
Ofte hit roled on-roiwde & rered on ende,
Nyf oure lorde hade ben her lode^-mon hem had lumpen
harde. 190
Of J>e lenj)e of Noe lyf to lay a lei date,
pe sex hundreth of his age & none odde 5ere3,
Of secou«de monyth, j)e seue«j)e day ry3te3,
To-walten alle thyse welle-hede3 & j)e wat^r flowed,
& )>rye3 fyfty )>e flod of folwande daye^, 195
Vche hille wat3 j)er hidde w/tA yj>e3^ ful graye ;
Al wat3 wasted )>at j)er wonyed J)e worlde w^'t^iwne,
per eu^ flote, oJ>«- flwe, oj)^r on fote 3ede,
pat ro3ly^ wat3 J?e remnauwt j)at ))e rac dryue3,
pat alle gendre3 so ioyst wern ioyned wyth-i«ne, 200
Bot quen j)e lorde of j)e lyfte lyked hymseluen
For to my«ne on his mon his meth )>at abyde3,
pe« he wakened a wynde on watt^re3 to blowe ; ,
pewne lasned J)e Uak' j)at large wat3 are,
pen he stac vp j)e stange3, stoped jje welle3, 205
Bed blymie of \q rayn, hit batede as fast,
pewne lasned J)e I03 lowkande togeder.
Aft^ harde daye3 wern out an hundreth & fyft^.
As J>at lyftande lome luged aboute,
Where \e wynde & j)e weder warpen hit wolde ; 210
Hit sa3tled on a softe day synkande to grouwde,
On a rasse of a rok, hit rest at J)e laste,
On )>e mounte of Mararach of Armene hilles,
' MS,jrf3. ' rtviy? ^ So in MS.
:ZI4 THE DELUGE.
pat ol>^r-waye3 on ebrv hit hat )je thanes. k:
Bot j>a3 ))e kyste in the crage3 wem closed to byde, 115 h^
3et fyned not j)e flod ne fel to the bo)jeme3, hA
Bot j)e hy^est of )je egge3 vnhuled wem a lyttel, id
pat j)e burne by«ne lorde byhelde j)e bare er))e ; ()n
pe«ne wafte he vpon his wyndowe, & wysed )>^oute f^a
A message fro j>at meyny hem molde3 tcr seche, 220 It
pat wat3 J>e rauen so ronk j)at rebel wat3 tvaer; y
He wat3 colored as j)e cole, corbyal vntrwe. ^
pen^ he fonge3 to )je fly3t, & fa«ne3 on \^ wynde3, \
Houe3 hy3e vpon hy3t to herken tyj>y«ges. )e
He crouke3 for comfort wheii catayne he fynde3 ; i%% t
Kest vpon a clyffe j)er costese laiy drye, fl
He hade )>e sm'elle of )>e sniach & smolt^j jjedei* sorte,- }
Falle3 on )>e foule flesch & fylle3 his wombe, I L
& sone 3ederly forr-3ete 3isterday steuen, I \,
How j)e cheuetayn hy»2 charged Jwrt J>e kyst 3eme'd. 230 I \
pe rauen rayke3 hy»2 forth J>at reches ful lyttel 1 1
How alle fode3 j)er fare, elle3 he fynde mete ;
Bot ))e burne bywne lorde J>at bod to his come,
Ba«ned hym ful bytt^rly w/U bestes alle samen,
He seche3 an o\er sonde3-mon & sette3 on \^ douwe^ ; 235
" Brynge3 J>at bry3t vpon borde bles^sed & sayde^"
" Wende worj)elych wy3t \us w6ne3 to seche,
Dryf ou^r ))is dy/wme wat<?r; if )m?u druye fynde3;
Bry«g bodworde to bot, blysse to v«^ alle ;
pa3 j)at fowle be false, fre be ym euer." 240
Ho wyrle out on \t weder on wy«ge3 ful scharpe,
Dre3ly alle alonge day J>at dorst neu<?r ly3t ;
& when ho fynde3 no folde her fote on to pyche^
Ho vmbe-keste3 J>e coste & ))e kyst seche3.
Ho hitte3 on J>e euentyde & on ))e ark sitte3 ; 745
iSToe nymme-^ hir anon & naytly hir staue3.
^ MS. illegible. * ^ot douene. "^ %adde1
THE DELUGE. 2l5
Noe on ano))^ day nymmt^ efte J>e dovene,
Sc bydde3 hir bowe OMer jje borne efte bonke3 to seche ;
& ho skyrme^ vnder skwe & skowte3 aboute,
Tyl hit wat3 ny3e at J>e na3t & Noe j)en seche3. 250
On ark on an euentyde houe3 \e dowue,
On stamyn ho stod & stylle hym abyde3 ;
What ! ho bro3t in hir beke a bronch of olyue,
Gr^cyowjly vmbe-grouen al vfiih grene leue3 ;
pat wat3 \q syngne of sauyt^ Jwt sende he;w oure lorde, 255
& j)e sa3tly«g of hy»2self wit^ |;o sely beste3.
pen wat3 |:er ioy in j)at gyn where lu^wpred er dry3ed,
& much comfort in fat cofer fat wat3 clay daubed.
Myryly on a fayr mom, monyth J>e fyrst,
pat falle3 formast in fe 3er, & \q fyrst day, 260
Lede3 lo3en in J at lome & loked ] ^-oute,
How fat watt^re3 wern woned & fe worlde dryed.
Vchon loued oure lorde, hot lenged ay stylle,
Tyl fay had tyj^ y«g fro fe tolke fat tyned hem \er'inne ;
pen gode3 glam to hem glod fat gladed hem alle, 265
Bede hem drawe to f e dor, delyu^r hem he wolde ;
pen went fay to fe wykket, hit wait vpon sone,
Bof e fe bume & his barne3 bowed f^r-oute ;
Her wyue3 walke3 hem wyth & f e wylde aft^r,
proly frublande in fronge, frowen ful fykke. 270
Bot Noe of vche honest kynde nem out an odde
& heuened vp an auter & hal3ed hit fayre,
& sette a sakerfyse f^-on of vch a ser kynde,-
pat wat3 comly & clene, god kepe3 non of<?r.
When bremly brened fose beste3, & fe brefe rysed, 275
pe savo«r of his sacrafyse S03t to hym euen
pat al spede3 & spylle3 ; he spek<?j with fat ilke
in comly comfort ful clos & cortays worde^ :
" Now Noe no more nel I neu<?r wary,
Alle JfC mukeJ mayny [on] moJde, for no manive^ syrma^, ^%^
21 6 THE DELUOE.
For I se wel J>at hit is sothe, J>at alle mamie3 wytte3
To vnj>ryfte arn alle j)rawen with \0'3^i of her hertte^,
& ay hat3 ben & wyl be 3et fro her bamage ;
Al is ))e mynde of ))e man to malyce enclyned,
For-j)y schal I neu^r schende so schortly at ones,
As dysstrye al for mane^ sy«ne [in] daye^ of j)is er|)e.
Bot waxe^ now & wende3 forth & wor))e3 to monye,
Multyplye^ on j)is molde & menske yow bytyde.
Se-sou«e3 schal yow neu^ sese of sede ne of heraest,
Ne hete, ne no harde forst, vmbre ne dro3)je, 290
Ne ))e swetnesse of somer, ne ))e sadde wynt^,
Ne J>e ny3t, ne )>e day, ne j)e newe 3ere3,
Bot eu^r rewne restle3 rengne33e j)^-i«ne."
perwyth he blesse3 vch a best, & byta3t hem j)is er)>e.
pe« wat3 a skylly skyualde, quen scaped alle )>e wylde ; 295
Vche fowle to ))e fly3t J>at fy))ere3 my3t seme,
Vche fysch to ))e flod ))at fynne coujje nayte,
Vche beste to j)e bent J>at jjat^ hyies on erbe3 ;
Wylde worme3 to her won wryj)e3 m j>e er))e
pe fox & ))e folmarde to J>e fryth wynde3, 300
Herttf J to hy3e he))e, hare3 to gorste3,
& lyoiwe3 & lebarde3 to \e lake-ryft^ j,
Heme3 ^ haueke3 to ))e hy3e roche3 ;
pe hole foted fowle to ])e flod hy3e3,
& vche best at a brayde jjer hym best lyke3 ; 305
pe fowre freke3 of J>e folde fonge3 \q empyre.
Lo ! suche a wrakful wo for wlatsiww dede3
Parformed ))e hy3e fader on folke \dX he made ;
pat he chysly hade cherisched he chastysed ful harde*.
In de-voydy«ge J)e vylanye J>«t venkquyst his \tyfty 310
» So in MS. 2 MS. bardee.
DESTRUCTION OF SODOM, 21 J
Destruction of Sodom,
[Lines 946 — 972.]
e god in his greme bygywne^ on-lofte ;
:an wedere3 so wylde ))e wynde3 he calle3,
/rojjely vp-wafte & wrastled togeder,
re half of ))e folde, flytande loude. 315
e3 clustfred bytwene kesten vp torres,
)ik })iwder-J>rast ))irled hem ofte.
Fueled adouw, ridlande J>ikke,
flauwkes of fyr & flakes of soufre,
aolderande smoke smachande ful ille, 320
)Oute Sodamas & hit syde^ alle,
0 Gomorra J)at \e grouwde laused ;
L and Syboym, ))ise ceteis alle faure,
lied wyth })e rayn, rostted & brewned,
iayed jjat folk J>at in ))Ose fees lenged; 325
:n ))at })e helle herde J>e houwde^ of heuen
ferlyly fayn, vnfolded bylyue.
barre3 of J>e abyme he barst vp at one3,
J)e regioiw to-rof in riftes ful grete,
1 alle in lyttel cloutes J)e clyffe3 aywhere, 330
: leue3 of J)e boke fat lepes in twywne.
e of J)e brynston bi J>at hit blende were,
ees & her sydes sunkken to helle.
wern J)0 grete rowtes of renkkes w^'t^iwne,
ly wern war of J>e wrake J)«t no wy3e achaped, 335
om^rly 3arm of 3elly«g J)er rysed ;
at^red J)e cloudes J)at kryst my3t haf rawj)e.
[Lines 1009 — 1051.]
roJ)U« of a reche ros fro ))e blake [pit],
e in j)e ayre & vselle3 J)er flowen,
^ eweyed ?
21 8 DESTRUCTION OF SODOM.
As a fomes ful of flot Jjat vpon fyr boyles, i^ m^w
When bry3t brewnande bronde3 ar bet J)^ an-vnder. . w^^^
pis wat3 a vengaiwce violent J>at voyded j)ise places, Ij^
pat foiwdered hat3 so fayr a folk & )je folde sonkken. 1^^
per faur<? citees wern set, nov is a see called,
pat ay is drouy & dym, & ded in hit kynde, 345 1 5,
Bio, blubrande, & blak, vnblyj>e to ne3e, ||
As a stynkande stanc ))at stryed sywne, 1^,
pat eu^r of sy«ne & of smach, smart is to fele ; II
Forjjy ))e derk dede see hit is demed eu^r more.
For hit dede3 of de|)e duren J>ere 3et. 350 '
For hit is brod & ho}ptm\Q^, & bitter as J>e galle,
& no3t may lenge in ))at lake |)at any lyf bere3,
& alle }pe coste3 of kynde hit combre3 vchone ;
For lay ))<?r-on a lump of led & hit on loft flete3,
& folde J><?r-on a ly3t fyj><?r & hit to fou«s synkke3. 355
& \er [j)at] wat^r may waiter to wete any er)>e,
Schal neu^r greue^ \er-on growe, gresse ne wod nawj>fr.
If any schalke to be schent wer schowued j>^r-i«ne,
pa3 he bode in J)at boJ>em broJ)ely a monyth.
He most ay lyue in J)at lo3e in losyng eu^r-more, 360
& neu^r dry3e no dethe, to dayes of ende.
And, as hit is corsed of kynde & hit cooste3 als,
pe clay ))at clenges ))<?r-by arn corsyes strong,
As alum & alkaran^, that angr^^ arn boj)e,
Soufre so«r, & saundyu^r, & o\er such mony ; 365
& J)er walte3 of ))at wat^r in waxlokes grete,
pe spuniande* aspaltou;^ \2X spysere3 sellen;
& suche is alle j)e soyle by j)at se halues,
pat fel fretes J)fe flesch & festred* bones.
& \ex ar tres by ))at terne of traytowres ; 370
& J)ay borgou;^e3 & beres blome3 ful fayre,
^ grene ? ^ alfeatran ? * augre = ai^e ? .
* spinnandel * fe&bes'l I
DESTRUCTION OF SODOM. 21 9
St pe fayrest fryt J>at may on folde growe,
As orenge & o^r fryt & apple garnade ;
Also red & so ripe & rychely hwed,
As any dom my^t device of dayntye3 oute ; 375
Bot quen hit is bnised^ ojjer broken, ol^er byten in twynnej
No worlde3 goud hit Wyth-i«rie, bot wydowande^ d,skes ;
Alia j)yse ar teches & tokenes to trow vpon 3et,
& wittnesse of ))at wykked werk & )je wrake aft^,
pat oure fader forferde for fy\\>e of J>ose ledes. 380
*■ The MS. seems to read wy«dowande.
XX.
SIR GAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT.
From the same MS., and in the same dialect, as the AlBtera-
ti've Poems,
[FYTTE THE FIRST.]
I.
SiJ>EN )>e sege & J>e assaut wat3 sesed at Troye,
pe bor3 brittened & brent to bronde3 & aske3,
pe tulk J>at J)e tra;wmes of tresoiw \er wro3t,
Wat3 tried for his tricherie, J>e trewest on erthe,
Hit wat3 Ennias j)e athel, & his high<? kynde, 5
pat sij)en depreced pr(?uinces, & patroiwes bicome
Welne3e of al J>e wele \n ))e west iles,
Fro riche Romulus to Rome ricchis hym swyjje,
W/'t^ gret bobbauwce j)at bur3e he biges vpon fyrst,
& neuenes hit his aune nome, as hit now hat; 10
Ticius to Tuskan [turnes], & teldes bigywnes;
Langaberde \n Liuwbardie lyftes vp homes;
& fer ou^r J)e French flod Felix Bruto^
On mony bonkkes ful brode Bretayn he sette3,
wyth wywne; 13
Where werre, & wrake, & wonder,
Bi syj)e3 hat3 wont Jwrr-iwne,
& oft bo))e blysse & blunder
Ful skete hat3 skyfted sywne.
II
wai
Boide bredden )>eT-inTve, ^baieX ^•a.x Xol^^w,
Ande quen j)is Bretayn wat3 bigged bi J)is burn rych, 20 j
SIR OAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT. 221
In mony turned tyme tene J>at wr03ten;
Mo ferlyes on J)is folde han fallen here oft
pen in any o^r J>at I wot, syn J)at ilk tyme.
Bot of alle J>at here bult of Bretaygne kywges 25
Ay wat3 Arthur })e hendest, as I haf herde telle ;
For-))i an ZMnter in erde I attle schawe,
pat a selly in si3t su/wme men hit holden,
& an outtrage awenture of Arthure3 wond^re^;
If 3e wyl lysten ))is laye bot on littel quile, 30
I schal telle hit, as-tit, as I in toun herde,
with tonge;
As hit is stad & stoken,
In stori stif & stronge,
WiU lei lett?res loken, 35
In londe so hat3 ben longe.
III.
pis kywg lay at Camylot vpon kryst-masse,
With mony luflych lorde[s], lede3 of )je best,
Rekenly of |?e rou«de table alle ))0 rich brej)^r,
WM rych reuel ory3t, & rechles merges; 40
per towmayed tulkes bi-tyme3 ful mony,
lusted ful lolil^ j)ise gentyle kni3tes,
SyJ)en kayred to ]>e court caroles to make.
For J)er ))e fest wat3 ilyche ful fiften dayes.
With alle ^ mete & J>e mir))e J)at me« cou)>e a-vyse ; 45
Such glaumande gle glorious to here,
Dere dyn vp-on day, dounsyng on ny3tes,
Al wat3 hap vpon he3e in halle3 & chambre3,
With lorde3 & ladies, as leuest hem J)03t;
With all J>e wele of ]>e worlde J>ay woned J>er samen, 50
pe most kyd kny3te3 vnder kryst^j seluen,
& ))e louelokkest ladies J>at eu^ lif haden,
& be pe comlokest kyng )>at J)e couit YvaXAft?*-,
:Z22 SIR GA WAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIQST.
For al wat3 j)is fayre folk in her first age,
on sille;
pe hapnest vnder heuen,
Ky«g hy3est mo« of wylle,
Hit were ^ now gret nye to neuen
So hasdy a here on hille.
IV.
Wyle nw-^er wat^ so ^ep J)at h/'t wat^ nwe cu/«men, fe
pat day doubble on j)e dece wat3 )je douth serued,
Fro ))e ky«g wat^ ciuwmen w/U kny3t^j in to ))e halle,
pe chaiwtre of ))e chapel cheued to an ende;
Loude crye wat3 J>er kest of clerke3 & oj)er,
Nowel nayted o-newe, neuened ful ofte; 6i
& syj)en riche forth ruwnen to reche honde-selle,
5e3ed 3eres 3iftes on hi3, 3elde hem bi bond,
Debated busyly aboute J>o giftes;
Ladies la3ed ful loude, J>03 J>ay lost, haden,
& he J)at wan wat3 not wro))e, J>at may 3e wel trawe. ;
Alle ))is mirj)e J>ay maden to j)e mete tyme;
When J)ay had waschen, worj)yly j)ay wenten to sete,
pe best burne ay abof, as hit best semed;
Whene Guenore ful gay [watz] grayj)ed in j)e myddes,
Dressed on J)e dere des, dubbed al aboute, 75
Smal sendal bisides, a selure hir ou^
Of tryed Tolouse, of Tars tapites i«-nogh^,
pat were enbrawded & beten wyth ))e best gewmes,
pat my3t be preued of prys wyth penyes to bye,
in daye; 80
pe comlokest to discrye,
per glent with y^en gray,
A semloker J)at eu^r he sy3e,
Soth mo3t no mon say.
SIR OAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT. 223
V.
Bot Arthure wolde not ete til al were serued, 85
He wat3 so loly of his loyfnes, & suw-quat child gered,
His lif liked hym ly3t, he louied ))e lasse
hw^er to lenge lye, or to longe sitte,
So bisied him his 3onge blod & his brayn wylde;
& also anoj)^ maner meued him eke, 90
pat he j)ur3 nobelay had nomen, he wolde neu^r ete
Vpon such a dere day, er Yiym deuised were
Of su/w auenturwj \yng an vncouj)e tale,
Of siuw mayn m^uayle, j)at he my3t trawe,
Of ^ alderes, of araies, of oD^er auenturwj, 95
Oj)^r sum segg hym bi-so3t of siww siker kny3t,
To loyne wyth hym in iustywg in lopard^ to lay,
Lede lif for lyf, leue vchon o^er,
As fortune wolde fuhun how jje fayrer to haue.
pis wat3 [))e] kywges couwtenau^ce where he in court
were, 100
At vch farand fest amo«g his fre meny,
in halle;
per-fore of face so fere,
He sti3tle3 stif in stalle,
Ful 3ep in j)at nw-3ere, 105
Muche mirthe he mas mth alle.
VI.
Thus per stondes in stale )>€ stif ky«g his-seluen,
Talkkande bifore \>e hy^e table of trifles ful hende ;
There gode Gawan wat3 g^'^y^^d, Gwenore bisyde,
& Agr^uayn a la dure mayn on ))at o]>er syde sittes, no
Bo))e ]>e kywges sister suwes, & ful siker kni3tes ;
Bischop Bawdewyn abof bi-gine3 j)e table,
' Of of in MS.
224 ^^^ OAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIQST. .
& Ywan, Vryn son, ette wit hyOTseluen;
pise were di3t on ye des, & derworj)ly senied,
& si))en mony siker segge at )je sidborde3. n?
pen ye first cors come with crakky«g of tnwwpes,
Wyth mony baner ful bry3t, j>at J)er-bi henged,
Nwe nakryn noyse with ye noble pipes,
Wylde werbles & wy3t wakned lote,
pat mony hert ful hi3e hef at her towches; no
Dayntes dryuen J>er-wyth of ful dere metes,
Foysouw of fe fresche, & on so fele disches,
pat pine [were] to fynde ye place ye peple bi-fome
For to sette ye syluen<?r^, J>at sere sewes halden,
on clothe; "5
Iche lede as he loued hym-sehxe
per laght w/U-outen lojje;
Ay two had disches twelue.
Good ber, & bry3t wyn hoye,
VII.
Now wyl I of hor seruise say yow no more, 130
For vch wy3e may wel wite no wont j)at yer were;
An oJ)^r noyse ful newe ne3ed biliue,
pat ye lude my3t haf leue liflode to each.
For vneye wat3 ye noyce not a whyle sesed,
& \>e fyrst co«rce i« J>e court kyndely serued, 135
per hales in at ye halle dor an aghlich mayst^.
On ye most on ye molde on mesure hygh^;
Fro ye swyre to ye swange so sware & so yik,
& his lyndes & his lymes so longe & so grete.
Half etayn in erde I hope ))at he were. 140
Bot mon most I algate my«n hym to bene,
& J)at ye myriest i« his muckel yzt my3t ride;
For of bak & of biest al were his bodi stume.
I SIR OAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT. 225
Bot his wombe & his wast were worthily smale,
& alle his fetures fol3ande, \n forme J)at he hade, 145
ful dene;
For wonder of his hwe men hade,
Set in his semblauwt sene;
He ferde as freke were fade,
& ou^-al enker grene. 150
VIII.
Ande al gray))ed in grene ))is gome & his wedes,
^' A. strayte cote ful stre3t, ))at stek on his sides,
A mere mantile abof, mensked wzU-iwne,
^ixh pelure pured apert ))e pane ful clene,
» ^tih blyj>e blau/^ner ful bry^t, & his hod boJ)e, 155
Pat wat3 la3t fro his lokke3, & layde on his schulderes ;
Heme wel haled, hose of yzX same grene,
J^at spenet on his sparlyr, & clene spures vnder
Of bry3t golde, vpon silk hordes, barred ful ryche,
^ scholes vnder schankes, J)ere ))e schalk rides; 160
^ alle his vesture uerayly wat3 clene verdure,
fioj)e j)e barres of his belt & o]>er blyj)e stones,
l^at were richely rayled in his aray clene,
Aboutte hy;w-self & his sadel, vpon silk werke3,
l)at were to tor for to telle of tryfles J)e halue, 165
l)at were enbrauded abof, wyth bryddes & fly3es,
^ith gay gaude ^ of grene, ]>e golde ay in myddes ;
t)e pendauwtes of his payttrure, ]>e proude cropure,
His molaynes, & alle ]>e metail anamayld was J)e«ne,
J)e steropes J>at he stod on, stayned of ]>e same, 170
& his arsou/13 al after, & his a))el sturtes,
pat euer glem^ed & glent al of grene stones.
pe fole j)at he ferkkes on, fyn of J>at ilke,
sertayn ;
^ MS, gaudi.
M
226 SIR QAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIGBf.
A grene hors gret & ]»ikke, i» he
A stede ful stif to strayne,
In brawden brydel quik.
To )je gome he wat3 ftil gajn. [^
IX. ^^
Wei gay wat3 j)is gome gered in grene,
& ))e here of }«* bed of his hors swete;
Fayre fannand fax vmbe-foldes his schulderes;
A much herd as^ a busk ou^ his brest henges,
pat wyth his hi3lich here, J)at of his hed reches, .
Wat3 enesed al vmbe-tome, a-bof his elbowes,
pat half his armes J)er vnder were halched in J)e wyse ^'5 1 .
Of a ky«ge5 capados, j>at closes his swyre. * I
pe mane of j)at mayn hors much to hit lyke, I "
Wei cresped & ce^wmed wyth knottes ful mony,
Folden in wyth fildore aboute J)e fayre grene,
Ay a herle of J>e here, an o)^er of golde 190
pe tayl & his toppywg twywnen of a sute,
& bou«den boj)e wyth a bande of a bry3t grene,
Dubbed wyth ful dere stone3, as J>e dok lasted,
Syj)en J)rawen wyth a j)wong a ))warle knot alofte,
per mony belle3 ful bry3t of brende golde rungen. 195
Such a fole vpon folde, ne freke ))at hym rydes,
Wat3 neu^ sene \n j)at sale wyj) sy3t, er )>at tyme,
mih y3e ;
He loked as layt so ly3t,
So sayd al J)at hym sy3e, 200
Hit semed as no mon my3t,
Vnd^r his dyntte3 dry3e.
X.
Whe))^r hade he no helme ne hawb[e]rgh nau))^,
Ne no pysan, ne uo plate l^at pented to armes,
^ MS. reads bis. "^ ^&^.%\w\J5»,
SIR OAWAFNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT. 2^7
schafte, ne no schelde, to schwne ne to smyte, 205
his on honde he had a holyn bobbe,
grattest in grene, when greue^ ar bare,
ax in his oji^r, a hoge & vn-mete,
tos spar))e to expou/i in spelle quo-so my3t;
le of an eln3erde )>e large lenk)>e hade, 210
.yn al of grene stele and of golde hewen,
burnyst bry3t, mth a brod egge,
I schapen to schere as scharp rasores;
le of a stif staf ]>e stume hit bi-grypte,
it3 wau«den Wyth ym to )>e wande3 ende, 215
dgrauen w/U grene, in gracons^ werkes ;
lapped aboute, J>at louked at )>e hede,
ifier ]>e halme halched ful ofte,
tryed tassele^ ))erto tacched i«-noghe,
toiw3 of j)e bry3t grene brayden ful ryche. 220
\>e\ helde3 hym i«, & j)e halle entres,
de to ]>e he^e dece, dut he no woj)e,
d he neu^r one, bot he3e he ouer loked.
5t word ))at he warp, "wher is," he sayd,
ouemour of j)is gy«g? gladly I wolde 22^,
segg in sy3t, & wz't^ hyw-self speke
raysoiw."
To kny3te3 he kest his y3e,
& reled hy^^ vp & douw.
He stemmed & con studie, 230
Quo wait j)er most renou«.
XI.
vat3 lokywg on lenfe, J)e lude to be-holde,
h mow had meruayle quat hit mene my3t,
hajjel & a horse my3t such a hwe lach,
•we grene as j)e gres & grener hit semed, a>y^
' gracious ?
Q2
228 SIR QAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT.
pen grene aiimayl on golde lowande hry^ter ;
Al studied J>at ^r stod, & stalked hym nerre,
Wyth al ))e wonder of ]>e worlde, what he worch schulde.
For fele sellye3 had |)ay sen, hot such ncuer are,
For-}>i for fantoiww & fayry^e ))e folk j)ere hit demed ; 240
}>er-fore to answare wat3 ar3e mony aj^el freke,
& al stouned at his steuen, & ston-stil seten,
In a swogh^ sylence j)ur3 J>e sale riche
As al were slypped vpon slepe so slaked hor lote3
in hy3e; 24;
I deme hit not al for doute,
Bot sum for cortaysye,
Bot let hym j)at al schulde lOute,
Cast vnto ))at wy^e.
XII.
pe«n Ar))Owr bifore J)e hi3 dece J>at auenture byholde3, 250
& rekenly hym reu^renced, for rad was he neu«-,
& sayde, **wy3e, welcum iwys to J>is place,
pe hede of J)is ostel Artho«r I hat ;
Li3t luflych adouw, & lenge, I \>e praye,
& quat-so j)y wylle is, we schal wyt aft^r." 255
" Nay, as help me," qt^of/i ))e haj)el, ** he J>at on hy3e
syttes.
To wone any quyle in J>is won, hit wat3 not myn emde;
Bot for J)e los of ))e lede is lyft vp so hy3e,
& ]>y bur3 & ]>y burnes best ar holden
Stifest vnder stel-gere on stedes to ryde, 260
pe wy3test and 3e worJ)yest of ))e worldes kynde,
Preue for to play wyth in o]>er pure layke3;
& here is kydde cortaysye, as I haf herd carp,
& pat hat3 wayned me Viidex, \-wyls> at ^is tyme.
Se msLy be seker bi \>^s biaMndi \^\. \ \i^x^ \\fc\^, ^j^
SIR OAWAFNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, 22g
I passe as in pes, & no ply^t seche;
had I founded in fere, in fe3ty«g wyse,
aue a haubergh^ at home & a helme bojie,
jchelde, & a scharp spere, schinande bry^t,
ie oj)^ weppenes to welde, I wene wel als, j;o
; for I wolde no were, my wede^ ar softer,
if ^ou be so bold as alle burne3 trflen,
wyl grant me godly J)e gomen ji^t I ask,
bi-ry3t/'
Arthottr con onsware, 275
& sayd, "syr cortays kny3t.
If )x?u craue batayl bare.
Here fayle^ J7(?u not to fy3t,"
XIII.
ay, frayst I no fy3t, in fayth I j)e telle,
arn aboute on ))is bench bot berdle3 chylder; 2.H0
[ were hasped in armes on a he3e stede,
re is no mon me to mach, for my^te^ so wayke.
-))y I craue in ))is court a crystemas gomew,
• hit is 30I & nwe ^er, & here ar 3ep moiiy;
iny so hardy in )>is hous holde^ hy/w-seluen, 285
so bolde in his blod, [&] brayn in hys hede,
dar stifly strike a strok for an o^r^
chal gif hym of my gyft j)ys giserne ryche,
ax, fat is heu^ i«-nogh, to hondel^ as hym lykes,
[ schal bide ye fyrst bur, as bare as I sitte. 290
iny freke be so felle to fonde jiat I telle,
)e ly3tly me to, & lach j)is weppen,
uit clayme hit for eu^r, kepe hit as his auen,
[ schal stonde hym a strok, stif on fis flet,
»3 yoM wyl di3t me fe dom to dele hym an o\ef\ z<^^
barhy;
230 SIR QAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIQHT.
& 3et gif hym respite,
A twelmonyth & a day;
Now hy3e, & let se tite
Dar any her-i«ne 03t say." 300
XIV.
If he hem stowned vpon fyrst, stiller were )>a»ne
AUe j>e hered-men m halle, )>e hy3 & jie 1036 ;
pe renk on his roiwce Yiym niched in his sadel,
& runisch-ly his rede y3en he reled aboute,
Bende his bresed bro3e3, blycande grene, 305
Wayued his berde for to wayte quo-so wolde ryse.
When non wolde kepe hy/» wiU carp he co^ed ful hy^e,
Ande rimed hy;w ful richl<?y, & ry3t hym to speke:
" What ! is j)is Arjjures ho«j," quoth j>e ha)>el fewne,
"pat al jje xom rewnes of, Jjur^ ryalmes so mony? 310
Where is now your soarquydrye & your cowquestes,
Your gryndel-layk, & your greme, & yo«r grete wordes ?
Now is Jie reuel & )>e renoiw of J)e roiwde table
Ou^-walt wyth a worde of on wy3es speche;
For al dares for drede, w/Uoute dynt schewed !" 315
Wyth J>is he la3es so loude, j)at j>e lorde greued;
pe blod schot for scham in-to his schyre face
and lere;
He wex as wroth as wynde,
So did alle j)at )>er were, 320
pe kywg as kene bi kynde,
pe» stod jiat stif mon nere.
XV.
Ande sayde, "hajiel, by heuen )>y« askywg is nys,
& as ))<?u foly hat3 frayst, fynde )>e be-houes;
/ know no gome )>at is gast of \y grete wordes. 325
Gif me now ))y gesenve, vpoiv ^o^e:>> \N2i\a&^
Sm GAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT. 23 1
schal bayjjen j>y bone, \faX ym boden habbes."
tly lepe5 ^^ ^7^ to» & ^^3^ ^^ ^^s honde;
feersly jiat oj)^ freke vpon fote ly^tis.
V hat5 Arthure his axe, & })e halme grype3, 330
txirnely sture3 hit aboute, })at stryke with hit j)03t.
stif mon hym bifore stod vpon hy3t,
re )>en ani in j)e ho«j by )>e hede & more;
th stume schere^ )>er he stod, he stroked his berde,
lyth a couwtenaiwce dry3e he dro3 dou« his cote, 335
more mate ne dismayd for hys may« dinte3,
any bume vpon bench hade br03t hym to drynk
of wyne,
(jawan, })at sate bi ))e quene.
To ))e ky«g he can enclyne, 340
"I be-seche now vfiih sa3e3 sene,
pis melly mot be myne."
XVI.
bide 3e, wor)>ilych lorde," (\mth Gawan to j)e ky«g,
d me bo3e fro )>is benche, & stonde by yow j)ere,
I wyth-oute vylanye my3t voyde )>is table, . 345
at my legge lady lyked not ille,
olde com to yo«r couwseyl, bifore yo«r cort ryche.
mej)ink hit not semly, as hit is soJ> knawen,
such an askywg is heuened so hy3e in your sale,
3e 30«r-self be talenttyf to take hit to yo«r-seluen,
il mony so bolde yow aboute vpon bench sytten, 351
vnder heuen, I hope, non ha3er er of wylle,
better bodyes on bent, j)er baret is rered;
m j)e wakkest, I .wot, and of wyt feblest,
est lur of my lyf, quo laytes fe soJ)e, 355
for as much as 3e ar myn em, I am only to prayse,
bou«t^ bot yo«r blod I in my bod^ knowe;
' chere?
232 SIR QAWAYNE AND THE QREEN KNIGHT.
& syjjen )>is note is so nys, J)at no^t hit yow falles,
& I haue frayned hit at yow fyrst, folde^ hit to me,
& if I carp not comlyly, let alle })is cort rych 360
bout blame."
Ryche to-geder con roun,
& syj)en jiay redden alle same,
To ryd J)e kyng wyth crouw,
& gif Gawan Jje game. 365
XVII.
pen comaiwded )>e ky«g Jje kny3t for to ryse;
& he ful radly vp ros, & ruchched hym fayre,
Kneled dou« bifore )>e ky«g, & cache^ ))at weppen;
& he luflyly hit hym laft, & lyfte vp his honde,
& gef hym godde3 blessywg, & gladly hym biddes 370
pat his hert & his honde schulde hardi be boJ)e.
" Kepe ))e cosyn," quo^h )>e ky«g, " )>at )x?u on kyrf sette,
& if )m?u rede3 ^Y^ ^73^? redly I trowe
pat ^ou schal byden jie bur jiat he schal bede aft^."
Gawan got3 to j)e gome, with giseme in honde, 375
& he baldly hym byde3, he bayst neu^r j)e helder.
pen carppe3 to syr Gawan j)e kny3t in )>e grene,
" Refourme we oure forwardes, er we fyrre passe.
Fyrst I [h]ej)e fe, ha])el, how )>at ^ hattes,
pat ^u me telle truly, as I tryst may?" 380
" In god fayth," quo/h )>e goode kny3t, " Gawan I hatte,
pat bede \>e ))is buffet, quat-so bi-falle3 aft<?r,
& at ))is tyme twelmonyth take at ))e anoj)^r,
Wyth what weppen so )m?u wylt, & wyth no wy^ elle3
on lyue." . 385
pat oJ)^r onsware3 agayn,
"Sir Gawan, so mot I fryue,
As I am ferly fayn,
pis dint )>at ym scYv^X ^irjM^r
SIR GAWAVNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT, 233
XVIII.
Bi gog/' quofh fe grene kny3t, " syr Gawan, me lykes, 390
)at I schal fange at J)y fust j)at I haf frayst here;
t J70u hat3 redily rehersed, bi resoiw ful trwe,
31anly al )>e couenauwt J)at I j)e kywge asked,
>af )>at ))mi schal siker me, segge, by )>i traw)>e,
)at )x?u schal seche me )>i-self, where-so )m?u hopes 395
may be funde vpon folde, & foch jie such wages
V.S ))<?u deles me to day, bifore ))is doufe ryche."
' Where schulde I wale j)e,'' quo^k Gauan, *' where is \>y
place ?
wot neu^ where J>mi wonyes, bi hym yaX me wro;t,
^e I know not )>e, kny3t, )>y cort, ne ))i name. 400
3ot teche me truly })er-to, & telle me howe )x?u hattes,
k I schal ware alle my wyt to wynne me ))eder,
fe )>at I swere )>e for sofe, & by my seker trawe))."
*pat is in-nogh in nwe-3er, hit nedes no more,"
)uofh )>e gome m ))e grene to Gawan )>e hende, 405
' Gif I ye telle trwly, quen I Jie tape haue,
fe )x?u me smo)>ely hat3 smyten, smartly I )>e teche
^f my ho«j, & my home, & myn owen nome,
Den may )m?u frayst my fare, and forwarde3 holde,
k if I spende no speche, Jjewne spede3 you ]>e better, ^ 1 o
^"or you may leng in |)y londe, & layt no fyrre,
bot slokes;
Ta now )>y grymme tole to fe,
& let se how you cnoke3."
"Gladly syr, for soJ)e," ' 415
Quofh Gawan; his ax he strokes.
XIX.
The grene kny^t vpon grounde grayj>ely hym dresses,
V littel ]ut w/li pe hede, pe lere he dfiskoxiere'^,
234 S^^ GAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT.
His longe louelych lokke^ he layd ouer his croiw,
Let j)e naked nee to ))e note schewe. 420
Gauan gripped to his ax, & gederes hit on hy^t,
pe kay fote on Jje folde he be-fore sette,
Let hit douw ly3tly ly^t on j>e naked,
pat j)e scharp of J>e schalk schyndered J)e bones,
& schrank ^m^ ]>e schyire grece, and scade hit in twy«ne,
pat |)e bit of j)e broiw stel bot on J)e groiwde. 426
pe fayre hede fro })e halce hit [fel] to ye er^e,
pat fele hit foyned wyth her fete, )>ere hit forth roled;
pe blod brayd fro j)e body, )>at blykked on J>e grene;
& naw)>er faltered ne fel J)e freke neu^-J)e-helder, 430
Bot styjjly he start forth vpon styf schonkes,
& ru[n]yschly he ra^t out, )>ere as renkke3 stoden,
La3t to his lufly hed, & lyft hit vp sone;
& syjjen bo3e3 to his blonk, j>e brydel he cachche^,
Steppe3 in to stel-bawe & stryde3 alofte, 435
& his hede by })e here in his honde halde3;
& as sadly )>e segge hym in his sadel sette.
As non vnhap had hym ayled, )>a3 hedle^ nowe\
in stedde;
He brayde his blnk^ aboute, 440
pat vgly bodi jiat bledde,
Moni on of hym had doute,
Bi j)at his resoiw3 were redde.
XX.
For j)e hede in his honde he halde3 vp euen,
To-ward J)e derrest on J>e dece he dresse3 j)e face, 445
& hit lyfte vp \>e y3e-lydde3, and loked ful brode,
& meled ^us much y/tth his muthe, as 3e may now here.
" Loke, Gawan, jxni be grayfe to go as j>^u hette3,
& kyte as lelly til \o\i me, lude, fynde,
' MS. ho we = he wete "i "^ \i\\aS8.\
SIR GAWAFNE AND THE GREEN KNIGHT. 2 $5
As you hat3 hette in )>is halle, herande j)ise kny3tes ; 450
To ))e grene chapel )x?u chose, I charge fe to fotte,
Such a dunt as yovL hat^ dalt disserued j;;^ habbe3,
To be 3ederly 3olden on nw-3eres morn;
pe kny^t of J)e grene chapel men knowen me mony;
For-J)i me for to fynde if ^ou frayste^, fayle3 ^ou neu^r, 455
per-fore com, o^ recreaiwt be calde jie be-houes."
With a runisch rout j)e rayne3 he torne3,
Hailed out at )>e hal-dor, his hed in his hande,
pat J)e fyr of ]>e flynt fla3e fro fole houes.
To quat kyth he be-com, kn[e]we non J?ere, 460
Neu^r more jien l>ay wyste fr^zm quefen he wat3 wownen ;
what j>ewne?
pe ky«g & Gawen )>are,
At j)at grene fay la3e & gre^ne,
3et breued wat3 hit ful bare, 465
A m^ruayl among j)0 mewne.
XXI.
pa3 Arji^r jie hende ky«g at hert hade wonder,
He let no semblauwt be sene, bot sayde ful hy3e
To {>e comlych queue, wyth cortays speche,
"Dere dame, to day demay yow neu^; 470
Wei by-co»2mes such craft vpon cn'stmasse,
Laykywg of ent^lude3, to la3e & to syng.
Amo«g )>ise, kynde caroles of kny3te3 & ladye3 ;
Neu^r-j)e-lece to my mete I may me wel dres,
For I haf sen a selly, I may not for-sake." 475
He glent vpon syr Gawen, & gaynly he sayde,
" Now syr, heng vp ]>yn ax, j)at hat3 i«-nogh he wen."
& hit wat3 don abof )>e dece, on doser to henge,
per alle men for m^ruayl my3t on hit loke,
& bi trwe tytel J)^-of to telle fe wonder. 4^%o
pe/fne pay bojed to a borde pise burnes to-gedei,
236 SIR OAWAYNE AND THE GREEN KNIQHT,
pe ky«g & )>e gode kny^t, & kene me« he/w serued
Of alle dayntye3 double, as derrest my3t falle,
Wyth alle maner of mete & mynstralcie bo})e;
Wyth wele wait })ay |>at day, til worjjed an ende, 485
in londe.
Now Jjenk wel, %yr Gawan,
For woj>e )>at )m?u ne wonde
pis auenture forto frayn,
pat ynx hat3 tan on honde. 490
XXL
[E ROMANCE OF WILLIAM AND THE WERWOLF.
ABOUT A. D. 1360.
Jthing is known concerning the author of the English Romance
^tlliam and the Werewolf except that he translated his work
1 the French at the command of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of
2ford and nephew to King Edward II, who died a. D. 1361.
he poem in its English form is supposed to have been written
it the year 1360. The dialect is Midland (Shropshire),
he following extract is taken from The Ancient Romance of
iam and the Wenwoi/y edited by Sir F. Madden for the
burghe Club, London 1832.
[Pages I— 15^1
' bifel in jiat forest j)ere fast by-side,
e woned a wel old cherl fat was a couherde,
fele winteres in j)at forest fayre had kepud
nnes ken of jie cuntr^ as a comen herde,
us it bi-tide j)at time, as tellen cure bokes. 5
cowherd comes on a time to kepen is bastes,
•t by-side J>e bonv^ fere fe bam was inne.
herd had wij) him an hound his hert to li3t,
: to bayte on his bestes wanne fai to brode went ;
herde sat fan with hound a3ene )>e hote sunne, 10
u^t fully a furlong fro fat fayre child,
)U3tand kyndely his schon, as to here craft falles,
t while was fe werwolf went aboute his praye,
lat behoued to fe bam to bring as he mi3t.
child })an darked in his den dernly him own, xc^
yas a big bold bam, j breme of his age,
238 THE ROMANCE OF
For spakly speke it coujje tho -} spedeliche to wawe ;
Lovely lay it a-long in his lonely denne,
•3 buskede him out of J)e buschys, )>at were blowed grene
•J leved ful lovely, })at lent grete schade, 2
") briddes ful bremely on j)e bowes singe,
What for melodye ^aX Jjei made in Jje mey sesoun.
pat litel child listely lorked out of his cave,
Faire floures for to seche )>at he bifore him seye,
1 to gadere of ye grases })at grene were -} fayre ; 25
^ whan it was outwent so wel hit him liked
pe savour of )>e swete sesoun -} song of Jje briddes,
pat [hit] ferde fast aboute floures to gadere,
•5 layked him long while to lesten J>at merjje.
The couherdes hound j>at time, as happe bytidde, 30
Feld foute of j)e child and fast )>ider fulwes,
'3 sone as he it sei^, soJ)e for to telle,
He gan to berke on )>at bam and to baie it hold,
pat it wax nei3 of his witt, wod for fere.
And comsed )>an to crye so kenly and schille, 35
'3 wepte so wonderfast, wite Jhdu for sothe,
pat J)e son of jie cry com to J)e couherde evene,
pat he wist witerly it was j)e voys of a childe.
Than ros he up radely -} ran fider swij>e,
•] drow him toward fe den bi his dogges noyce ; 4P
Bi j)at time was the barn for here of that hounde,
Drawe him in to his den -} darked fer stille,
"3 wepte evere as it wolde awede for fere ;
*] evere \>e dogge at )je hole held it at abaye
*] whan )>e kouherd com fidere he koured lowe, 45
To bihold in at j)e hole whi his hound berkyd.
panne of-saw he ful sone j)at semliche child,
pat so loveliche lay -} wep in )jat lo)>li cave
Cloped ful komly for ani kud kinges sone,
In gode clones of gold agie)^ed Wl fv^^, 50
WILLIAM AND THE WERWOLF. 239
Wi)> perrey and pellure pertelyche to ))e ri3ttes.
pe cherl wondred of })at chaunce 3 chastised his dogge,
Bad him bliiine of his berking, -} to )>e barn talked,
Acoyed it to come to him, -} clepud hit oft,
•3 foded it wij) floures -} wij> faire by-hest, 55
■3 hi3t it hastely to have what it wold 3eme,
Appeles -} alle ))inges ))at childem after wilnen ;
So for to sei3 al J)e so))e so faire J)e cherl glosed,
pat j)e child com of ))e cave and his criynge stint.
pe cherl ful cherU jiat child tok in his armes, 60
■3 kest hit :i clipped -} oft crist J>onkes,
pat hade him sent jjo sonde, swiche prey to finde.
Wi3tliche wiJ) ye child he went to his house,
And bitok it to his wif ti^tly to kepe;
A gladere wommon under god no mi3t go on erjje, 65
pan was the wif wij) jie child, witow for soJ>e.
Sche kolled it ful kindly ^ askes is name,
3 it answered ful sone -} seide William y hi3t,
pan w^as ))e god-wif glad -} gan it faire kepe,
pat it wanted nou3t yaX it wold have 70
pat })ei ne fond him as faire as for here state longed,
•5 Jjc beter be 36 sure, for barn ne had )>ei none
Brou3t for)> of here bodies, here bale was J>e more.
But so)>ly J)ai seide ))e child schuld weld al here godis,
Londes and ludes, as eyer, after here lif dawes; 7r
But fram j>e cherl and J)e child nou chaunge we oure tale,
For i wol of J)e werwolf a wile nou spake.
Whanne )>is werwolf was come to his wlonk denne,
•] hade brou3t bilfoder for the barnes mete,
pat he had wonne wiJ) wo, wide-wher aboute, 80
pan fond he nest 3 non ei3 for nou3t nas fer leved.
•3 whan ye best J>e barn missed so balfully he ginnej),
pat alle men upon molde no mi3t telle his sorwe,
For TeuYwhe gan he tore, j rente al his hide,
240 THE ROMANCE OF
^ fret oft of j)e er}>e :i fel doun on swowe, %
■J made |>e most dool fat man mi3t devise.
*J as ))e beste in his bale )>er aboute wenle
He fond j>e feute al fresh, where for)> J)e herde
Hadde bore l>an bam beter it to 3eme ;
Wi3tly J)e ^ver^volf j)an went bi nose, 90
Evene to j)e herdes house, ^ hastely was j>are.
pore walked he aboute j)e walles to winne insi3t,
1 at J)e last lelly a litel hole he findes,
pere pried he in prively, :i partiliche biholdes
Hou hertily j>e herdes wif hules jiat child, 95
' 1 hou fayre it fedde 3 fetisliche it bafede,
"5 wrou3t wij) it as wel, as 3if it were hire owne.
panne was j)e best blij)e inou for )>e bames sake,
For he wist it schold be warded wel j>an at )>e best,
^ hertily for jiat hap to heveneward he loked, 100
^ j>roliche Jjonked god mani )K)usand si)>es
^ sej>j)en went on is way whider as him liked,
But whiderward wot i never, witow forsoj)e.
Ak now^e 36 j>at arn hende haldes ow stille,
^ how j)at best ))erwe bale was brou3t out of kinde, 105
I wol you telle, as swithe, trewly the sothe.
Werwolf was he non wox of kinde.
Ac komen was he of kun jiat kud was ful nobul,
For j>e kud king of Spayne was kindely his fader,
He gat him, as god gaf grace, on his ferst wyve, no
^ at f)e burj) of j)at barn fe bold lady deyde.
Si))))en pat kud king so bi his conseyl wrout
AnoJ)er wif jiat he wedded, a worchipful ladi,
pe princes dou3ter of Portingale, to prove j>e sofe.
But lelliche fat ladi in 3ouJ)e hadde lerned miche shame, 115
For al j)e werk of wiche-craft wel ynou3 che cou3j)e,
Nede nadde 3he namore of nigramauncy to lere,
Ofconinge of wicchecrail ^eV yM»i"^^^ c.o\»>^^.
WILLIAM AND THE WERWOLF, 2^1
as j>at bold quene of burnes yclepud.
rst child was fostered fayre as it ou^t, 120
-} ladies it lovely to kepe,
.t frely bam fayre for to wexe.
i moder on a time, as a mix, j)OU3t
how fetis it was, ^ freliche schapen,
?ou3t sche j)roly j)at it no schuld never, 125
t king j)er, as )>e kinde eyre,
nges ferst sone were )>er alive ;
sche stifly, as stepmoderes wol alle,
y a despit to here stepchilderen ;
foure-schore unnej)e findestow on gode. 130
: hadde fat quene take hire to rede,
t barn in bale botles for ever,
:huld wi3tli in j)is world never weld reaume ;
It anon sche made of so grete streng)>e,
nens of charmes, j)at evel chaunche hire tide. 135
e ))at womman j)er wi3t hadde )>at worli child
loynted fe childe wel al abowte,
L werwolf wi3tly j)er- after ;
ig of man so mysse hadde ^he schaped,
welt he after as wel as to-fore ; 140
IT likenes );at longej) to man-kynne,
werwolf, ne wait he never after.
is witty werwolf wiste him so schaped,
was bi jje craft of his kursed stepmoder,
le went away he wold, 3if he mi3t, 145
sum wicked torn, what bitidde after ;
)oute bod, he braydes to })e quene,
so hetterly to have hire astrangeled,
h was nei3 di3t, to deme J)e soJ>e,
gan sche crie so kenely ^ lowde, 150
les -} mi3thi men manliche to hire come,
rusten pe best, nad he be J>e li^ttete,
B
2^2 THE ROMANCE OF
"3 fled away Jje faster in to ferre londes,
So J>at partely in to Poyle he passed j>at time,
As ))is fortune bifel Jwit i told of bifore ; 155
pus was )>is witty best werwolf ferst maked,
But now wol i stint a stounde of })is steme best
•] tale of ))e tidy child )>at y of told ere.
4f 4f « * » *
Leue lordes now listenes of )>is litel bam,
pat ))e kinde kowherde wif keped so fayre ; 160
3he wist it as wel or bet as ^if it were hire owne,
Til it big was -} bold to buschen on felde,
^ couj)e ful craftily kepe alle here bestes,
*) bring hem in J)e best lese, whan hem bi-stode nede,
■3 wited hem so wisly })at wanted him never one. iH
A bowe also )>at bold barn bigat him Jwit time,
T so to schote under J)e schawes scharplyche he lemed,
pat briddes ^ smale bestes wi)> his bow he quelles,
So plenteousliche in his play })at pertly to telle, ^
Whanne he went horn eche ni3t wij) is drove of bestis, «;« ^
He com himself ycharged wi)> conyng -} hares,
WiJ) fesauns, -} feldfares, and oJ>er foules grete,
pat jje herd, ^ his hende wif, -} al his hole meyn^,
pat bold barn m\f his bowe by )>at time fedde ; 1
•J 5it hadde fele felawes in jie forest eche day, '75 ^
5ong bold barnes J>at bestes also keped,
*] blij)e was eche a barn ho best mi^t him plese,
^ folwe him for his fredom -} for his faire j)ewes,
For what jiing Willam wan a day wi)> his bowe,
Were it fe)>ered foul, or foure foted best, »*•
Ne wold J)is William never on wi)>-hold to him-selve,
Til alle his felawes were ferst feffed to here paie ;
So kynde :i so corteys comsed he jiere,
pat alle ledes him lovede ^at loked on him ones,
7 bJesseden })at him baie -^ \>xo\v5^\. Wxo >|^ ^8<5\Vkfc, i^l i
WILLIAM AND THE WERWOLF. 043
lanhed 3 murjje schewed )>at child evere.
after on a time, as tellus oure bokes,
barn his bestes blyfeliche keped,
perour of Rome rod out for to hunte,
forest feifely for to telle ; 190
menskful meyn^, })at moche was -} nobul ;
ip, jiat J)ei founde ful sone a grete bor,
vij) hound ^ horn harde alle sewede ;
/r entred in a wey evene to attele
iittenet J)at bore, ^ j)e abaie se)>))en, 195
marked he is way "] so manly he rides,
wies were went, ne wist he never whider ;
ram his men, fejily for to telle,
ne of hound ne mi^t he here sowne,
r living lud lefte was he one. 200
on his stif stede a sty for)) J)anne takes,
after his houndes, oj)er horn schille ;
►er a werv^'olf ri3t bi )>at way jienne,
r a gret hert, as J)at god wold,
m ))urth chaunce )>ere ))e child pleide, 205
kowherdes bestes i carped of bifore.
jianne hastely jiat huge best folwed,
IS is stede mi3t strecche on to renne ;
he com by l>at bam 3 aboute loked,
-} J)e wilde hert were aweye boJ>e, 210
dst in j>is world were ye\ were bicome,
^ard he schuld seche to se of hem more ;
Diheld he aboute, '] )>at barn of-seye,
3w fetys it was, j freliche schapen ;
;t of seg ne sawe he never are, 315
of lykame, lik him nas none,
d a semblant )>at ever he say wi)> ei3yen,
wend witerly for wonder of j)at child,
it were'offeyrye, for fairenes )>at it we\t,
R 2
244 ^^^ ROMANCE OF
T for J)e curteys cuntenaunce J)at it kudde Jiere.
Ri3tly J)enne ))emperour wendes him evene tille.
pe child comes him agayn, -y curtesliche him gretes,
In hast J)emperour hendely his gretyng him ^eldes,
And, anon-ri3ttes after, askes his name,
"} of what kin he were kome komanded him telle.
pe child J)anne soberliche seide, " Sir at ^oure wille,
I wol 30W telle, as-tyt, trewely alle ))e so))e,
William sire, wel y wot, wi3es me calles ;
I was bore here fast bi, by J)is wodes side ;
A kowherde, sire, of ))is kontrey is my kynde fader,
And my menskful moder is his meke wive ;
pei han me fostered 1 fed faire to J)is time,
■3 here i kepe is kyn as y kan on dayes ;
But sire, by crist, of my kin know i no more."
Whan ))emperour hade herd holly his wordes,
He wondered of his wis speche, as he wel mi3t,
■3 seide, " l>ow bold barn bilive i ))e praye,
Go calle to me ))e cowherde ))0w clepus ))i fadere,
For y wold talk [wij?] him tij)inges to frayne."
" Nay sire by god," qua)> J)e bam, " be 3e ri3t sure."
" Bi crist" [quo)) j^emperour] , " J)at is krowned heye kii
heven,
For me no harm schal he have, never in his live,
Ac peraventure ))urth goddis [grace] to gode may it tui
For-J)i bring him hider, faire barn, y preye."
" I schal sire," seid6 ))e child, " for[j)]y saufliche y hop<
I may worche on 30ur word to wite him fro harm."
" 3a safliche," seide J)emperour, " so god 3if me ioie."
pe child wi[3]tly Jeanne wende, wiJ)-oute ani more.
Comes to ))e couherdes hows, ^ clepud him sone,
For he fei3[J)]liche wen[de] J)at he his fader where,
J seide pan " swete sir, s\o'\'^o\i criste help,
Gop yond to a gret lord \^\. ^^.^Vj '\% x^^^^.
VILLI AM AND THE WERWOLF, 345
t frek, for soJjc, J)at i have seie,
3 wi3tli wij) 30U to speke ;
2 goj) til him swijje, lest he agreved wex." 255
' seide J)e couherde, " seidestow i was here?"
;s," seide ))e child, " but he swor formest,
have no harm ; but hendely for gode .
1 com speke wiJ) him ^ passe a3ein sone."
xhing, for)) go J) wiJ) ))e gode child, 260
mperour Jjei etteleden sone ;
ion-ri3t, as he him of-seie,
1 ))e couherde -] curteysly seide,
le felawe be ))i fei3j), for no J)ing ne wonde,
jemperour, so ))e crist help ? " 265
crist," qua)) ))e couherde, " )>at king is of heven,
It so hardi to ne3h him so hende,
have him seie so me wel tyme ! "
. seide ))emperour, " J)e so))e for to knowe
ilk wei3h, i wol wel ))0U wite ; 270
' Rome to ri3tleche y weld,
jrde i J)e coniure 3 comande att alle,
ng J)at ))0u most in J)is world lovest,
le ti3tly truly ))e so))e,
old barn be lelly ])in owne, 275
Df o))er kin, so ))e Crist help."
omsed to quake, for kare and for drede,
ast witerly ))at he was his lorde,
; hert be-))0u[3]t 3if he him gun lye,
jtely perceyue, pertilich him ))0u[3]t; 28
y, as-tyt, he told him J)e so))e,
fond in ))at forest ))ere fast biside,
mly clo))ing for any kinges sone,
w ok, ))urth help of his dogge ;
le hade him fed ] fostered vii winter. z%%
'ide pemperour, " y con ]pe grel iLViOi^"^,
246 THE ROMANCE OF
pat l>ou hast [seid] me Jje sojje of )>is semly childe,
1 tine schalt )>ou nou3t J)i trawayle, y trow at )>€ last,
Ac wend schal it wi)> me witow for so))e ;
Min hert so harde wilnes to have J)is bame, 290
pat i wol in no wise )>ou wite it no lenger."
Whan ))emperour so sayde, so)>e for to telle, j^
pe couherde was in care, i can him no)>ing white ; ^
Ac witerly dorst he nou^t weme Jje wille of his lord,
But graunted him goddeli, on godis holy name, 395
For to worchen his wille, as lord wi)) his owne.
Whan William, ))is wor)>i child, wist jje sojje.
And knew jiat ))e cowherde was nou^t his kinde fader,
He was wi3tliche awondered ^ gan to wepe sore,
^ seide saddely to him-self sone J)er-after : 3«>
" A ! gracious gode god, )>ou5 grettest of alle !
Moch is ))i mercy, -} ))i mi^t, 3 J)i menske, -} ))i grace !
Now wot i never in ))is world of wham y am come,
Ne what desten^ me is di^t, but god do his wille !
Ac wel y wot witerly, wi))Oute ani faile, 305
To ))is man -} his meke wif most y am holde.
For )>ei ful faire han me fostered -} fed a long time,
pat god for his grete mi3t al here god hem ^eld !
Bot not y never what to done to wende ))us hem fro,
pat han al kindenes me kyd, ^ y ne kan hem 3elde." ,v^
'' Bi stille barn," quaj) ))emperour,— " blinne of ]>i sorwe.
For y hope ))at hal ))i kin hastely here after [may be kud] ;
3if ))0u wolt 3eue ))e to gode, swiche grace may ^e falle,
pat alle ))i frendes fordedes faire schalstow quite." 3U
" 5a sire," qua)) ]>e couherde, " 3if crist wol J)at cas may t}'de,
"3 god lene him grace to god man to wor))e/^
■;) )>an, as-tit, to ))e child he tau3t )>is lore,
"3 seide, " J)Ou swete sone, sej)))e )>ou schalt hennes wende,
Whanne ]>o\i komest to koMTt among \>e kete lordes,
J knowest alle J)e ku\i\>ea )p.l \.o Y.ov>x\.\a.\s%^'5>, ' 1,10
\^
WILLIAM AND THE WERWOLF. 247
Bere J)e boxumly 3 bonure, ))at ich bum )je luve ;
Be meke 3 mesurabul, nou^t of many wordes ;
^e no tellere of talis, but trewe to \>i lorde,
"3 prestely for pore men profer j>e ever
Tor hem to rekene wi)) )>€ riche in ri3t 3 in skille ; 335
Be fei3tful ^ fre, 3 ever of faire speche,
■3 servisabul to J)e simple, so as to ))e riche
■3 felawe in faire manere, as falles for J)i state,
So schaltow gete goddes love ] alle gode mennes.
Leve sone J)is lessoun me lerde my fader, 330
pat knew of kourt jje jjewes, for kourteour was he long,
^ hald it in ))i hert, now i ))e have it kenned,
pe bet may jie bi-falle, )>e worse bestow nevere."
pe child weped al-way wonderliche fast.
But J)emperour had god game of }>at gomes lore, 335
1 comand[ed]e ])e couherde curtesli 3 fayre
To heve up }>at hende child bihinde him on his stede.
tl he so dede deliverly, fou^h him del jiou^t,
*] bikenned him to crist, Jjat on croice was peyned.
panne J)at bam, as bilive, bygan for to glade, 340
pat he so realy schuld ride, 3 redeli as-swithe
Ful curteisl^ of j>e couherde he cacc[h]es his leve,
^ se))J>en seyde, '* swete sire i beseche 30U now))e,
For godes loue gretes ofte my godelych moder,
pat so faire ha)) me fed ] fostered til now))e, 345
^ lellyche, ^if our lord wol J)at i liif have,
Sche ne schal no3t tyne hire travayle, treuly for so))e ;
^ gode sire, for godes love, also grete)) wel oft
Alle mi freyliche felawes, ))at to J)is forest longes,
Han pretilyche in many places pleide wi)) ofte ; 350
Hugonet and huet, ))at hende litel dwery,
^ abelot, 3 martynet, hugones gaie sone,
"3 j)e cristen akarin, ))at was mi kyn fere,
^ j>e irewe kinnesman, pe payenes sone,
248 WILLIAM AND THE WERWOLF.
^ alle o))er frely felawes J>at J)Ou faire knowes, 355
pat god mak hem gode men for his mochel grace.
Of )>e names ))at he nemned )>emperour nam hede,
■3 had gaynliche god game, for he so grette alle
Of his compere J>at he knew so curteysliche 3 faire ;
-] J)an bekenned he kouherde [to] Crist •) to al halwesS 360
■J busked for)) wi)) J>at barn, blive on his gate.
pe kouherde kayred to his house, karful in hert.
And nei3 to barst he for bale, for j>e bames sake.
■3 whan his wiif wist, wittow for sojie.
How J)at child from here-warde was wente for ever more,
per nis man, on J)is mold, J)at mi3t half telle
pe wo :) j>e weping ))at wonmian made ;
Sche wolde have sleie hire-self j>ere so))ly as blive,
Ne hade J)e kind kouherde conforted here )>e betere,
*3 pult hire in hope to have gret help J)er-of after. 370
' MS. reads bal alwes.
XXII.
WILLIAM LANGLANDE.
A.D. 1362.
According to tradition, Langlande, or Longlande, was a native
of Gleobury Mortimer, in Shropshire. He is supposed to have
been a monk near the Malvern Hills (Worcestershire), where he
composed his great poem entitled TJ&e Fision of Piers Ploughman
(or, as it is expressed in Latin, Visio Willhelmi de Petro Plough-
man)^ which was most probably written shortly after the plague
which ravaged England A. D. 136 1-2. It is an allegorical poem,
or series of poems, in which the author satirizes the vices and
abuses of the age, the degeneracy of the prelates and priests,
political corruptions, the avarice and rapacity of the nobility, and
the oppression of the poor by the rich.
The dialect is Southern, with Midland peculiarities. The extracts
from Piers Ploughman have been copied expressly for the present
work from the Vernon MS. in the Bodleian Library.
From the Vision of Piers Ploughman.
In a somer sesun
Whon softe was \t sonne,
I shop me into a schroud
A scheep as I were
In habite of an hermite 5
Unholy of werkes,
Wende I wydene in )>is world
Wondres to here ;
Bote in a Mayes morwnynge
On Malveme hulles 10
Me bifel a ferly,
A feyrie me Jjouhte.
250 FROM THE VISION OF
I was weori of wandringe,
And wente me to reste
Undur a brod banke i
Bi a Boume syde;
And as I lay and leonede,
And lokede on jje watres,
I slumberde in a slepyng,
Hit sownede so murie. -
penne gon I meeten
A mervelous swevene,
pat I was in a wildemesse,
Wuste I never where.
And as I beo-heold in to the Est ^
An-hei^ to jje sonne,
I sauh a tour on a toft
Wonderliche i-maked^,
A deop dale bineoj>e,
A dungun jjerinne, ^o
With deop dich and derk
And dredful of siht.
A ffeir feld ful of folk
Fond I j>er bitwene,
Of alle maner of men, 35
pe mene and J)e riche,
Worchinge and wondringe,
As J)e world askej).
Some putten hem to the plou3,
And pleiden hem ful seldene, 40
In eringe and in sowynge
Swonken ful harde,
pat monie of J)eos wasturs
In glotonye distruen.
And summe putten hem to pruide, 45
^ MS. reads i-make\i.
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 25 1
Apparaylden hem jjerafter
In . cuntenaunce of clojjinge,
Queinteliche degyset.
To preyere and to penaunce
Putten heom monye, 50
For ])e .love of ur Lord
Liveden ful harde,
In hope for to have
Hevene-riche blisse ;
As ancres and hermytes 55
That holden hem in heore celles,
Coveyte not in cuntr^
To carien aboute,
For non Ukerous lyflode
Heore licam to plese. 60
And summe chosen chaffare;
To cheeven )>e bettre,
As hit seme)) to ure siht
pat suche men scholden.
And summe mur))hes to maken, 65
As munstrals cunne.
Bote japers and jangelers,
Judas children,
Founden hem ffantasyes,
And fooles hem maaden, 70
And habbe)) wit at heor wille
To worchen, 3if hem luste.
pat Poul preche)) of hem
I dar not preoven it heere ;
Qui loquitur turpiloquium 75
Hee is Luciferes hyne.
Bidders and beggers
F?iste aboute eoden,
Til heor bagges and heor balies
252 FROM THE VISION OF
Weren faste i-crommet; 80
Ffeyneden hem for heore foode,
Fou^ten atte alle.
In glotonye, God wot,
Go heo to bedde,
And rise)> up wi)> ribaudye, ^
pis Roberdes knaves;
Sleep and sleu5j)e
SuweJ) hem evere.
Pilgrimes and pahners
Plihten hem togedres, 90
Ffor to seche seint Jeme,
And seintes at Roome.
Wenten forj) in heore wey,
Wij) mony wyse tales,
And hedden leve to ly^en 95
Al heore lif tyme.
Grete lobres and longe
pat loj) weore to swynke,
CloJ)eden hem in copes,
To beo knowen for bi'ej)ren ; 100
And summe schopen to hermytes,
Heore ese to have.
I ffont^ j>ere ffreres,
Alle J)e ffoure ordres,
Prechinge J)e peple 10;
For profyt of heore wombes ;
Glosynge jje gospel.
As hem good likej);
For covetyse of copes,
ConstreueJ) hit ille. no
For monye of ))is maistres
Mowen clo)>en hem at lyking,
* Y ox fond.
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 253
For monye and hire marchaundie
Meeten oft togedre.
SeJ)J)e charite ha)> be chapmon, 115
Cheef to shriven lordes,
Mony ferlyes han bifalle
In a fewe 3eres ;
But holychirche biginne
Holde bet togedere, 120
pe moste mischeef on molde
MoiinteJ) up faste.
per prechede a pardoner,
As he a prest were;
And brouht up a Bulk 125
With Bisschopes seies,
And seide that himself mihte
A soylen hem alle,
Of ffalsnesse, and fFastinge,
And of vouwes i-broken. 130
pe lewede men likede him wel,
And leevej) his speche ;
And comen up knelynge
And cusseden hise Bulle.
He bouchede hem with his Brevet, 135
And blered heore ei3hen,
And rauhte wi)) his Ragemon
Ringes and broches.
Weore ))e Bisschop i-blesset,
And worj) bo)>e his eres, 140
Heo scholde not be so hardi
To deceyve so J>e peple.
Save hit nis not bi ))e Bisschop
pat the boye preche));
Bote ))e parisch prest and he 145
Departed [e] ))e selver,
2.54 FROM THE VISION OF
pat have schulde )>e pore parisscKens
3if }>at heo ne weore.
Parsones and parisch prestes,
Playne)> to heore Bisschops, 150
pat heore parisch haj) ben pore
SeJ)J)e )>e pestilence,
And aske)) leve and lycence
At Londun to dwelle,
And singe J)er for simonye, 155
For selver is swete.
per hove)) an hundret
In houves of selk,
Seriauns hit semej)
To serven atte Barre, 160
Pleden for pons
And poundes )>e lawe ;
Not for love of ur Lord
Unloseth heore lippes ones,
pow mihtest beter meten J)e myst 165
On Malveme hulles,
pen geten a mom of heore mouj),*
Til moneye weore schewed.
I sauh )>e Bisschops bolde,
And Bachilers of divyn 170
Bicoome Clerkes of a Counte
pe kyng for to serven.
Erchedekenes and Dekne,
pat Dignity haven
To preche J)e peple 175
And pore men to feede,
Beon lopen to Londun
Bi leve of heore Bisschopes
To ben Clerkes of )>e Kynges Benche,
pe cuntr^ to schende. 180
PIERS PLOUGHMAN, 255
Barouns and Burgeis,
And Bondemen also,
I sauh in jiat semble,
As 56 shul heren heraftur:
Bakers, bochers, 185
And breusters monye ;
Masons, minours,
And mony o))er craftes.
Dykers and delvers,
pat don heore dedes ille, J90
And drive)) for)) )>e longe day
With Deu vaus save, dam Emme,
Cookes and heore knaves
Cryen, " Hote pies, bote !
Goode gees and grys ! 195
Go we, dyne, gou we !"
Taverners to hem
Tolde \t same tale,
WiJ) good wyn of Gaskoyne,
And wyn of Oseye, 200
Of Ruyn and of Rochel,
pe Rost to defye.
Passus Primus de Vistofu,
What ))is mountein bemene))
And ))is derke dale,
And ))is feire feld ful of folk, 205
1 schal ow schewe.
A lovely ladi on leor,
In linnene i-cloJ)ed,
Com adoun from ))e loft.
And clepte me feire, 210
And seide, " Sone, slepest })OU ?
Sixt )>ou ))is peple,
Al hou bisy ])ei ben
256 FROM THE VISION OF
Aboute )>e mase?
pe moste parti of j)e peple
pat passe)> nou on eorjje, 2
Haven heo worschupe in )>is world,
Kepe ])ei no betere;
Of oper hevene )>en heer
5eveth \>ei no tale."
Ich was a-ferd of hire fface,
pauh heo feir weore,
And seide, " Merci, madame,
What is J)is to mene ?"
" pis Tour and )>is Toft/' quo)> heo,
" Treujje is J)ere inne;
And wolde ))at 36 wrou3ten,
As his word techej)!
Ffor he is ffader of ffei,
pat formed ow alle
Bojje wij) ffel and wij) fface, 230
And 3af ow fyve wittes,
Forte ^ worschupen him,
While 3e beo)) heere.
And for he hihte )>e eorjje
To serven ow uchone, 235
Of woUene, of linnene,
To lyflode at neode,
In mesurable maner
To maken ow at ese;
And comaundet of his cortesye 240
In comune J)reo J)inges ;
Heore nomes be)> neodful,
And nempnen hem I jjenke,
Bi Rule and bi Resun;
Rehersen hem her-aftur. 245
^ For for to.
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 2^]
" pat on clo))ing is,
From chele ow to save;
And J)at o)>ur mete at meel
For meseise of jiiselven;
And drink whon ))OW drui3est; ^50
But do hit not out of resun,
pat JK)u weore )?e worse
Whon ))ou worche scholdest
" Dreede dilitable drinke,
And )>ou schalt do ))e bettre. 355
Mesure is medicine,
pauh j)Ow muche 3eor[n]e.
Al nis not good to J)e gost
pat J)e bodi lykej),
Ne lyflode to J)i licam j6o
pat leof is to ]>e soule;
Leef not J)i licam
For lyjere him teche)),
pat is ))e wikkede wor[l]d
pe to bitraye. 365
For j)e ffend and J)i fflesch
Folewen to gedere
And schendej) \>\ soule,
Seo hit in J)in herte;
And for )>ou scholdest beo war, ^70
I wisse )>e j>e bettre."
" Madame, merci!" qua)> I,
" Me like)> wel )>i wordes;
Bote ])e moneye on )>is molde
pat men so faste holden, 275
Tel me to whom
pat Tresour appende))."
"Go to J)e gospel," qua)> heo,
" pat God sei)) himsdven ;
s
158 FROM THE VISION OF
Whon j>e peple him aposede 280
WiJ) a peny in Jje Temple,
5if heo schulden worschupe
perwi)> Cesar heore kjnig.
" And he asked of hem,
Of whom spac J)e lettre, 285
And whom jje ymage was lyk
pat j>er inne stod.
" ' Ceesar,' J>ei seiden,
* We seoj) wel uchone/
" pene * Reddtte* qua)) God, 290
* pat to Cesar falle)>,
^/ qua sunt Dei Deo,'
Or elles do ^e ille;
For Rihtfoliche Resoun
Schulde mien ou alle, 295
And kuynde Wit be Wardeyn
Oure Weoljie to kepe,
And tour of ur tresour,
To take hit at nede,
For husbondrie and he 300
Holden to gedere."
penne I fraynede hire feire,
For him }>at hire made,
" pat doun in jjat deope dale,
pat dredful is of siht, .:^05
What may hit mene, madame,
Ich ))e biseche?"
" pat is \t Castel of care," quod heo;
"Hose^ comej) )>er-inne
Mai Banne jiat he bom was, 310
To Bodi or to soule.
per-inne Wone|» a Wiht
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 2.59
pat Wrong is i-hote,
Ffader of ffalsnes,
He foundede him selven. .^15
Adam and Eve
He eggede to don ille ;
Counseilede Caym
To cullen his Brojier;
Judas he Japede 320
Wi)> ye Jewes selver,
And on an ellene treo
Hongede him after.
He is a lettere of love,
And ly3ej> hem alle 325
pat trustej) in heor tresour;
per no tru)>e is inne."
penne hedde I Wonder in my Wit
What Wommon hit weore,
pat suche wyse wordes 330
Of holy writ me schewede ;
And halsede hire on )>e hei3e.nome,
Er heo )>eonne 3eode,
What heo weore witerly
pat teche)> me so feire. 335
"Holi churche Icham," qua)) heo,
" pou ouhtest me to knowe ;
Ich J)e imdurfong furst,
And yi feij> )>e tau3te;
pow brou3test me borwes 340
My biddyng to worche.
And to love me leelly
While J>i lyf durede/'
penne knelede I on my kneos,
And cre3ed^ hire of grace; 345
' For creyed or crei$d.
8 2
z6o FROM THE VISION OF
And preiede hire pitously
To preye for ur sunnes,
And eke to teche kuyndely
On Crist to bi-leeve,
pat Ich his wille mihte worche 350
pat wrouhte me to mon.
"Tech me to no Tresour,
Bote tel me l)is ilke,
Hou I may save my soule,
pat seint art i-holde." 355
" Whon alle tresour is i-tri3ed," quod she,
"Treujie is )>e Beste;
I do hit on Deiis cantos,
To deeme J)e sojje,
Hit is as derworjje a dnirie 360
As deore God him selven.
For hose trewe of his tonge,
Telle)> not elles,
Do)) his werkes l)erwil),
And doj) no mon ille, 365
He is acounted to jje gospel
On-grounde and on-lofte,
And eke i-Hknet to ur Lord,
Bi seint Lucus wordes.
Clerkes )>at knowen hit, 370
Scholde techen hit aboute,
For cristene and uncristene
Him cleymej) uchone.
"Kynges and knihtes
Scholde kepen hem bi Reson, 375
And Rihtfuliche Raymen
pe Reahnes abouten,
And take trespassours,
And byiideiv Yieta ^^X^,
I
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 26 1
Til treu])e hedde i-termynet 380
pe trespas to J)e ende.
Ffor David in his dayes
He dubbede knihtes,
Dude hem swere on heor swerd
To serve tnijje ever; 3*5
pat is J)e perte profession
pat apendej) to knihtes;
And not to faste a ffriday
In ffyve score 3eres,
But holden wi)> hem and wij> heore 390
pat asken Jje treujjei.
And leven for no love
Ne lacching of 3iftus.
And he J?at passej) J>at poynt
Is apostata in J)e ordre. 395
"But Crist kyngene kyng
Knyghted ten^,
Cherubin and Seraphin,
And al )>e foure ordres,
And 3af hem maystrie and miht, 400
In his maiest^,
And tau^te jjorw ])e Trinity
Treul)e for to knowen;
And beo boxum at his biddynge.
He bad hem not elles. 405
" Lucifer wij> legiouns
Lerede hit in hevene;
He was lovelokest of siht
Aftur ur Lord,
Til he brak boxumnes \\o
porw host of him selven;
"penne fel he wi)> his felawes
' These two lines not in V. MS.
262 FROM THE VISION OF
And fendes Wcomen
Out of hevene in to hefle
Hobleden faste, 415
Summe in ye eir, and summe in )>e eorjie,
And summe in helle deope;
Bote Lucifer louwest
Li3l) ^^ ^^™ ^^^»
For pniide )>at he put out, 420
His peyne ha)> non ende.
And alle J?at wrong worchen,
Wende )>ei schulen,
After heore dej) day
And dwellen wi)> )>at schrewe. 42?
"Ac heo J>at worchen )>at word,
pat holi writ teche)>,
And endej) as Ich er seide
In profitable werkes,
Mouwen be siker )>at heore soules 430
SchuUen to hevene,
per Treujje is in Trinity,
And corounej) hem alle.
For I sigge sikerli,
Bi siht of ye textes, 435
Whon alle tresor is i-tri^et,
Treujje is ye beste;
Lere)> hit )>is lewed men,
For lettrede hit knowej),
pat treujje is tresour 440
Triedest on eorjje."
" Yit have I no kuynde knowing," quod I,
" pou most teche me betre,
Bi what Craft in my Corps
Hit cumsej), and where." 44-;
"pou dotest dafFe," quaj) heo.
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 1*63
"Dulle are ^i wittes;
Hit is a kuynde knowynge,
pat kennej) Jje in herte,
For to love )>i Lou[e]rd 450
Levere yen )>i selven,
No dedly sunne to do,
Dy3e l)au3 J)OU scholdest;
pis I trouwe beo treuj)e,
Hose con teche Jje betre. 455
"Loke ))Ou suffre him to seye,
And se)>)>e teche hit forJ)er;
For ))us teche)) us his word;
Worch ))Ou J)er-aftur;
pat Love is J)e levest )>ing 460
pat ur Lord askej).
And eke Jje playnt of p>ees
Prechet J)e l)in harpe :
per j>ou art murie at yi mete
Whon me biddej) Jie ^edde. 465
For bi kuynde knowynge in herte
Cumse yer a-ffitte.
"pat ffallej) to Jje flfader
pat formede us alle;
He loked on us wij> love, 470
And lette his sone dye
Mekeliche for ure misdede.
Forte amende us alle.
And 3it wolde he hem no wo
pat wolde him )>at pyne, 475
But mekeliche my mou]>e
Merci he bysou^te,
To have pit^ on yoX peple
pat pynede him to dej)e.
" per j>ou miht seon ensaumple 480
264 FROM THE VISION OF
In l)iself one,
Hou he was mihtfiil and meke,
pat merci gon graunte
To hem )>at heengen him hei3e
And his herte J>urleden. 485
"For-))i I rede Jje, mihtful of mayn
Be meke of J>i wordes,
For J)e same mesure J>at ^e meten,
Amis o])er elles,
5e schul be weyen )>er-wi)> 490
Whon ^e wenden hennes.
" For ))au3 ^e ben trewe of tonge
And treweliche winne,
And eke as chast as a child
pat in chirche wepej>, 495
Bote 3e liven trewely
And eke love )>e pore,
And such good as God sent
Treweliche parten,
5e nave no more merit 500
In masse ne in houres,
pen Malkyn of hire maydenhod
pat no mon desyrej).
" For James J)e gentel
Bond hit in his Book, 505 .
pat TreuJ>e wijjouten ffey
Is febelore ]>en nou^t.
And ded as a dore-nayl,
But )>e deede folewe.
Chastity wij)OUten charit^ 510
Wite 1)0U forsoJ>e;
Is as lewed as a Laumpe
pat no liht is inne.
"Moni chapeleyns ben chast,
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 265
But Charit^ is aweye; 515
Beo no men hardore )>en J)ei
Whon heo beoJ> avaunset,
Unkuynde to heore kun,
And to alle cristene
Chewen heore charity, 520
And chiden after more;
Such charit^ wiJ>outen chastity
WorJ> claymed in helle.
For yeos be)> wordes i-writen
In )>e Ewangelye, 525
Dafe, et dabitur vohis^y
For-l)i I seye, as I seide
Bi siht )>e textes,
Whon alle tresor is i-tri^et
TreuJ)e is J>e beste." 530
From the Passus Secundus de Vtsione.
Now ffals and fFauvel
FareJ) forJ> to gedere,
And Meede in )>e middel,
And al }^ meyn^ aftur.
I have no while to telle 535
pe tayl J>at hem folweJ>;
Of so mony maner men
pat on molde liven
Bote gyle was for-goere,
And gilede hem alle. 540
SoJ>nesse sauh hem wel,
And seide bote luyte,
Bote prikede on his palfrey,
And passede hem alle,
And com to )>e kynges Court.. 545
'he V. MS. here abraptly terminates with the words "/)r 7 dele ow alle"
266 FROM THE VISION OF
And Concience tolde;
And Concience to )>e kyng
Carpede hit aftur.
"Now, be Crist," quod )« kyng,
*' 3if I mihte chacche 55
Ffals o|>er ffauwel.
Or eny of his ffeeres,
I wolde be wreken on J>is wrecches
pat worchen so ille,
And don hem hongen bi Jje hals, 5
And al l)at hem mayntenen;
Schal never non uppon molde
Meyntene jie leste,
But riht as jje lawe lokej),
Let fallen of hem alle." 560
And comaunde Jje cimstable
pat com at J)e furste.
To a-tache ))e Traytours,
For eny Tresour,
Ich hote 3e fFetre ffals faste 565
For eny kunnes ^iftus,
And gurdej) of gyles hed,
Let him go no forjier;
And bringej) Meede to me
Maugre hem alle." y,o
Symonye and Sivile
I seende hem to warne,
pat holichirche for hem
Worj) harmet for evere;
And 3if ^e chacche ly3ere 575
Let him not askape
To ben set on )>e pillori
For eny preyere.
Dreede at J>e door stood,
PIERS PLOUGHMAN, 267
And J>e dune herde, 580
And wihtliche wente,
To wame ])e ffalse,
And bad him faste to fle,
And his feeres eke.
pen ffals for fere 585
Fleih to J)e ffreeres,
And gyle doJ> him to go,
A-gast for to dy3e ;
Bote marchaundes metten wij) hym
And maaden him to abyden, .:;9o
Bi-sou3ten him in heore schoppes
To sullen heore ware,
Apparayleden him as a prentis
pe peple for to serve.
Li3tliche Ly^ere 59."^
Leop awey l)ennes,
Lurkede thorw lones,
To-logged of monye.
He nas nou3wher welcome.
For his mony tales, 600
Bote over al i-hunted,
And hote to trusse.
Pardoners hedden pit^.
And putten him to house.
Wosschen him and wrongen him, 605
And wounden him in cloutes.
And senden him on Sonendayes
Wij) seales to churches.
And 3af pardun for pons
Pound-mele aboute. 610
pis leornden ^is leches,
And lettres him senden,
For to ben wij) hem
Watres to loke.
268 FROM THE VISION OF
Spicers speeken wi)> him, 615
To aspien Jieore ware;
For he kennede him in heore craft,
And kneu3 monye gummes.
Munstrals and messagers
Metten wij) him ones, 620
And wi)> heoden him half a 3er
And ellevene wykes.
Ffreres wij> feir speches
Fetten him Jiennes,
For knowynge of comers 625
Kepten him as a ffrere;
Bote he ha)> leve to lepen out,
As ofte as him lykej>.
And is welcome whon he wole,
And wone)> wij> hem ofte. 6.^0
And alle fledden for fere,
And flowen into hnimes;
Save Meede )>e mayden.
No mon dorste abyde.
But trewely to telle, 6.^^
Heo tremblede for fere,
And eke wepte and wrong hire hondes
Whon heo was atachet.
From the Passus Teriius de Visione,
Now is Meede l)e mayd i-nomen
And no mo of hem alle, 640
Wi)> Beodeles and Baylyfs
I-brouht to j)e kyng.
pe kyng clepet a Cler[ke],
I knowe not his nome.
To take "Nleede >^ uva^j^e^ 6j.s
And maJjLeti Yvvte tX e^^.
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 269
"IchuUe assayen hire myself,
And so))liche aposen,
What mon in ))is world
pat hire weore leovest. 650
And 3if heo worche be my vdt.
And my wil folewe,
I schal for3ive hire Jje gult,
So me God helpe ! "
Corteisliche J>e clerk ])0, 6-.s,
As ))e kyng hihte,
Tok ))e mayden bi )>e middel
And brouhte hire to chaumbre;
per was murjje and munstralsye,
Meede wij) to plese. 660
Heo )>at woneJ> at Westmmistre
Worschipe)) hire alle,
Gentiliche wiJ) joye;
pe Justise soone
Busked him in to ]>e hour 66?
per ))e Buyrde was inne,
Cumfortede hire kuyndely,
And made hire good chere;
And seide, " Moume ))Ou not, Meede,
Ne make ))Ou no serwe; 670
For we wolen wysen ^e kyng,
And j)i wey schapen.
For alle Concience craft
And Casten, as I trouwe."
Mildeliche Jjenne Meede 675
Merciede hem alle
Of heore grete goodnesse.
And 3af J)em uchone
Coupes of clene Gold,
And peces of selver, ^^
270 FROM THE VISION OF
Rynges wi)> Rnbyes,
And Richesses inouwe;
penne tok )>ei leve
pise lordynges at Meede.
WiJ) l)at J>er come Qerkes (
To Cumforte )« same.
We bidde)> ])e be blijie;
For we beo)> l)in owne,
Fforte worche )>i wil,
While ur lyf dure)). 690
:|c « 4c ♦ *
pemie com )ier a confessour,
I-copet as a ffrere;
To Meede J)e mayden
Fill mekeliche he loutede,
And seide ful softely, 695
In schrift as hit weore,
"pau3 fFals hedde folewed |>e
pis ffiftene winter,
I schal asoyle )>e myself
For a summe of whete, 700
And eke be J)i Baude,
And Bere wel )>in emde
Among Clerkes and knihtes,
Concience to falle."
penne Meede ffor hire misdede 705
To J>at mon knelede,
And schrof hire of hir sunnes,
Schomliche, I trouwe;
Heo tolde him a tale,
And tok him a noble, 71°
For to ben hire beodemon
And hire Baude after.
penne Vie ^cso^Vft^e \v\i^ ^owtv^.
PIERS PLOUGHMAN, 2y I
And to hire seide,
"We han a wyndow in worching 715
Wol stonden us ful hei^e,
Woldustow Glaze Jje Gable
And grave )>erinne j)i nome,
Siker schulde J>i soule ben
For to dwellen in hevene." 720
"Wuste I J>at," quoth )>e wommon,
per nis noujjer windou ne Auter
pat I ne schulde maken ojjer mende
And my nome write
pat uche mon schulde seye 725
Ich were suster of house."
Bote God to alle good folk
Such gravynge defendet,
An seij) Nesciat sinistra^
Quid faciat dextra. 730
Lete not ))i luft bond
Late ne rajje
Beo war what l)i riht bond
Worcbej) or delej).
Meires and maistres, 735
And 3e )>at beoJ> mene
Bitwene )>e kyng and j)e comuns
To kepe ))e lawes,
As to punisschen on pillories
Or on pynnyng stoles, 740
Brewesters, Bakers,
Bocbers and Cookes,
For }>ese be men uppon molde
pat most harm worcben
To l)e pore people 745
pat al scbal a-buggen;
pei punisschen pe peple
272 FROM THE VISION OF
Priveliche and ofte,
And reche)) jK)rw Regatorie,
And Rentes hem bugge|», 750
WiJ) J>at ])e pore peple
Schulde puten in heore wombe.
For toke Jjei on trewely,
pei timbrede not so hye,
Ne bou3te none Boigages, 755
Beo 3e certeyne.
Bote Meede ])e mayden
pe meir heo bi-sou^te
Of alle suche sullers
Selver to taken 7^
Or presentes wi}K)uten pons,
As peces of selver,
Rynges wi)> Rubyes,
pe Regratour to favere ;
" For my love," quod J)e ladi, 765
" Love hem wel uchone,
And soffre hem to sulle
Sum del a^eyn Resoun."
Bote Salamon J)e sage
A sarmoun he made, 7<°
To amende meires
And men )>at kepe)> )>e lawe ;
And tolde hem )>is teeme,
pat I wol telle nouJ>e,
Ignis devorabit tabernacula eorum 775
qui lihenter accipiunt munera.
Among )>is lewede men
pis Latin amounte]>,
pat ffuir schal falle
And brenne atte laste 7^^*
pe houses and >^ Yioavsi^
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 273
Of hem J>at desyrej>
For to have jiftes
In 30uJ)e or in elde.
pe kyng com from counseyl, 785
And cleped aftur Meede,
And of sente hire aswijje
Seriauns hire to fette,
And brou3te hire to boure
WiJ) blisse and wi)> joye. 790
Corteisliche Jje kyng
Cumse)> to telle,
To Meede )« mayden
Melodyes wordes :
** Qweynteliche," quo)> ])e kyng, 795
" Wrout hastou ofte,
Bote worse wroutest ))Ou never
pen whon J)Ou fals[e] toke.
Ac I forgive ^e ))is gult,
And graunte J>e my grace; 800
Hennes to )>i de)> day
Do so no more."
" Ichave a kniht hette Concience,
Com late from bi3onde;
3if he wilne Jje to wyf, S05
Wolt ))OU him have ?"
" 3«> lord," quaj> J>at ladi,
" Lord forbeode hit elles !
Bote Ich holde me to oure heste,
Honge me sone." 810
penne was Concience i-clepet
To comen and apeeren
To-fore ^e kyng and his Comisel,
Clerkes and ojjere.
Kneol/nge Concience %^^
274 FROM THE VISION OF
To ))e kyng loutede.
" Woltou wedde )>is wommon," quod )« kyngj
" ^\{ I wol assente ?
Heo is fayn of fi felawschupe,
For to beo fi make." 820
" Nay!" quaf Concience to J>e kyng,
'* Crist hit me forbeode !
Er Ich wedde such a wyf,
Wo me bityde!
Heo is frele of hire fflesch, 825
Ffikel of hire tonge,
Heo make]> men misdo
Moni score tymes;
In trust of hire tresour
TeoneJ) ful monye." 830
•X- -x- -x- * *
" Sisours and Sumpnours,
Suche men hire preisen;
Schirreves of schires
Weore schent 3if heo nere ;
Heo do)> men leosen heore lond 835
And heore lyves after;
And letejj passe persons,
And payejj for hem ofte,
And 3eve)) J)e Jayler Gold
And grotes to gedere, 840
To unflfetere )>e ffalse
And fleo where hem lykef;
Heo take)) J)e trewe bi \t top
And ti3e)) him faste,
And honge)) him for hate 845
pat harmede nevere.
Heo J>at ben curset in cons[is]torie
Counted Vut ivoX ^X. z. "^x^ss^Ocifes
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 375
For heo CopeJ> ^ Comissarie,
And CoteJ) ))e Clerkes. 850
Heo is asoyled as sone
As hire self lykej>;
" Heo may as muche do
In a mooneJ> ones,
As ure secre seal 855
In seven score dayes.
Heo is priv^ wij> ))e pope,
Provisours hit knowen;
Sir Simonie and hire sel
Asselen the Bulles. «6o
Heo blessede the Bisschopes,
P0U3 J>at ))ei ben lewed;
Provendreres, persuns,
Preostes heo mayntenej>.
per heo is wel wij> ^ kyng, 865
Wo is fe Reaume;
Ffor heo is fFaverable to fFals, '
And foulej) Treu)>e ofte.
" Barouns and burgeis
Heo bringej) to serwe, 870
Heo Buggejj wi)> heore Juweles
Ur Justises heo schendef,
Heo lihj> ^.^eyn J>e lawe
And lettej) so faste,
pat feij> may not han his for)> 875
Hir fflorins gon so ]>ikke;
Heo ledej) ))e lawe as hire luste
And love dayes makej>;
pe Mase for a Mene mon
pau3 he mote evere, 880
Lawe is so lordlich
And lop to maken eende ;
T 2
276 FROM THE VISION OF
Wi)K)uten presentes or pons
Heo plese)) ful fewe.
Clergye and Covetise
Heo Couple)? to gedere.
pis is ))e lyf of ))e ladi;
Ur Lord 3ive hire serwe!
And alle J>at meynteneji hire,
Ur Lord 3ive hem care!
Ffor pore may have no pouwer
To pleyne, J)au3 hem smerte.
Such a Mayster is Meede
Among Men of goode."
Passtis Qutnhis de Vtsione, ut supra.
pe kyng and his knihtes
To ))e Churche wenten
To heere Matyns and Masse
And to j>e Mete aftur.
pene wakede I of my wink,
Me was wo wi)) alle,
pat I nedde sadloker i-slept,
And i-se3e more.
Er I a fFurlong hedde i-fare
A fFeyntise me hente,
pat fForJjer miht i not a fote
For defaute of sleep,
I sat softeliche a-doun,
And seide my beoleeve.
And so I blaberde on my Beodes,
pat brouhte me aslepe.
pen sauh I muche more
pen I beofore tolde,
Ffor I sauh \q ffeld ful of ffolk,
pat icYi oi \>\ioxe qI ^Oae^^^t^^
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 277
And Concience wif a Crois 915
Com for to preche;
He preide J)e peple
Have pit^ of hem selve
And prevede J)at fis pestilences
Weore for puire synne, 920
And J>is soujjwesteme wynt.
On a saterday at even,
Was a perteliche for pruide,
And for no poynt elles;
Piries and Plomtres 935
Weore passchet to ))e grounde,
In ensaumple to Men
pat we sholde do ))e bettre;
Beches and brode okes
Weore blowen to ))e eor))e, 930
And turned upward ))e tayle,
In toknyng of drede
pat dedly synne or domesday
Schulde fordon hem alle.
* * * * *
penne ron Repentaunce, 935
And Rehersed his teeme;
And made William to weope
Water wi)) bo))e his e3en.
Pemel Proud-herte
Platte hire to grounde, 940
And lay longe ar heo lokede
And to ur ladi criede,
And beohi3te to him
pat us alle maade,
Heo wolde unsouwen hire smok, 945
And setten ))er an here,
Forte fayten hire fflesch
278 FROM THE VISION OF
pat ffrele was to synne.
"Schal never liht herte me hente.
Bote holde me lowe
And suffre to be mis-seid.
And so dude I nevere;
And nou I con wel meke me.
And merci beseche,
Of al ]>at Ichave i-had 9ss|
Envye in myn herte."
♦ ♦**.*
Envye wif hevi herte
Asket aftur schrift,
And gretliche his gustus
Biginne]> to schewe.
As pale as a pelet,
In a palesye he seemede;
I-clo)>ed in a Caurimauri,
I cou))e him not discreve,
As a leek J>at hedde i-le3en 965
Longe in ))e sonne,
So loked he m]> lene chekes
Lourede he foule.
His Bodi was Boiled,
For wraj>))e he bot his lippes,
Wro))liche he wrong his fust,
He jKJu^te him a-wreke
Wij) werkes or wi)> wordes,
Whon he sei3 his tyme.
Venim or vemisch 975
Or vinegre, I trouwe,
Walle)) in my wombe
Or waxe)), ich wene.
I ne mihte mony day don
As a moil oxihx.^,
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 279
Such wynt in my wombe
Waxe)) er I dye.
**Ichave a neih^ebor me neih,
I have anny^ed him ofte,
Ablamed him behynde his bak 985
To bringe him in disclamidre
And peired him bi my pouwer
I-pmiisched him ful ofte;
Bilowen him to lordes
To make him leose selver, 990
I-don his fFrendes ben his fon
Wi)> my false tonge;
His grase and his good hap
Greve)) me ful sore.
Bitwene him and his meyn^ 995
Ichave i-mad wraJ>J>e
Bo))e his lyf and his leome
Was lost ]>orw my tonge.
Whon I mette him in ye market
pat I most hate, 1000
Ich heilede him as hendely,
His frend as I weore;
He is dou3htiore yen I,
I dar non harm don him;
Bote hedde I maystrie and miht, 1005
I mor))erde him for evere.
"Whon I come to ye churche,
And knele before ye Roode,
And scholde prei3e for ye peple
As ye pres[t] us techej>, 10 10
p.enne I crie uppon my knes
pat Crist 3ive hem serwe,
pat ha)) i-bore awei my Bolle
And my brode schete.
28o FROM THE VISION OF
"From })e Auter I tome 1015
Myn ei3e, and biholde
Hou Heyne haj> a new Cote,
And his wyf anojier.
pene I wussche hit weore myn,
And al J>e web after. 1020
Of his leosinge I lauhwe,
Hit likej) me in myn herte;
Ac for his wynnynge I wepe,
And weile ))e tyme;
I deme men ]>at don ille, 1025
And 3it I do wel worse.
For I wolde J>at uch a wiht
In J>is world were mi knave,
pus I live loveles,
Lyk a lujier dogge; 1030
pat al my brest Bolle)),
For bitter of my galle.
May no suger so swete
Dryve hit from myn herte?
Ne no dtopendton 1035
A-swagen hit unnej>e
3if schri[f]t schulde hit ))enne swopen out
A gret wonder hit were.
" 3^8 rediliche," quod Repentaunce,
And Radde him to goode : 1040
'^Serw for heore sunnes
SaveJ) men fill monye."
"Icham sori," quod Envye,
"I ne am but seldene o))er,
And J>at make)) me so mad, 1045
For I ne may me venge."
penne com Covetyse,
I cou^e Vdm xvoX. ^?>c\eN^,
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 28 1
So hungri and so holewe
Sire Hervi him loked. 1050
He was bitel brouwed,
Wi)) twei blered ei^en
And lyk a le))eme pors
LuUede his chekes,
In a toren Tabart 1055
Of twelve wynter Age ;
But 3if a lous coujje lepe,
I con hit not i-leve
Heo scholde wandre on J)at walk,
Hit was so Jjredbare. 1060
"Ichave ben covetous," quod J>is Caityf,
"I be-knowe hit heere.
For sum tyme I servede
Simme atte Noke,
And was his pliht prentys 1065
His profyt to loke.
"Ffurst I leornede to ly^e,
A lessun or tweyne;
And wikkedliche for to weie
Was myn o))er lessun; 1070
To Winchestre and to Wych
Ich wente to )>e fFeire,
Wi)> mony maner marchaundise,
As my mayster hihte.
Bote nedde ))e grace of gyle 1075
I-gon among my ware,
Hit hedde ben unsold J>is seven ^er,
So me God helpe!
"penne I drou^ me among J>is drapers,
My Donet to leome, 1080
To drawe )>e lyste wel along,
pe lengore hit semede;
28a FROM THE VISION OF
Among J>is Riche Rayes
Lemde I a Lessun,
Brochede hem wi]> a pak-neelde, 1085
And pletede hem to-gedere,
Putte hem m a pressour,
And pinnede hem Jier Inne,
Til ten 3erdes o)>er twelve
Tolden out J>rettene. 1090
" And my wyf at Westmimstre
pat woUene cloJ> made;
Spak to \t spinsters
For to spinne hit softe;
pe pound J)at heo peysede 1095
A quatnin more peisede
pen myn Auncel dude,
Whon I weyede treujie.
"I bouhte hire barly
Heo breuh hit to sulle, noo
Peni ale and piriwhit
Heo pourede to-gedere,
For laborers and louh folk
pat liven be hem-selven.
"pe Beste in )>e Bed-chaumbre, 1105
Lay bi \q wowe;
Hose Bummede jierof
Bouhte hit ))er after,
A Galoim for a Grote,
God wot no lasse ! mo
Whon hit com in Cuppe-mel,
Such craftes me usede.
Rose fe Regratour
Is hire rihte name;
Heo ha)) holden hoxterye 1115
pis Ellevene wynter.
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 283
Bote I swere nou,
pat sunne wol I lete,
And never wikkedliche weye,
Ne fals chafFare usen; 1120
Bote weende to Walsyngham,
And my wyf alse,
And bidde Jie Rode of Bromholm
Bringe me out of dette."
* * ik * *
A jjousent of Men ]>o 1125
prongen to-geders,
Weopyng and weylyng
For heore wikkede dedes,
Cri3inge upward to Crist,
And to his clene moder, 1130
To have grace to seche seint treuj>
God leve Jiei so mote.
Bote J>er were fewe men so wys
pat cou))e J>e wei J>ider.
Bote bustelyng for)) as bestes 1135
Over valeyes and hulles;
Til was late and longe
pat ))ei a leod metten,
Apparayled as a Palmere
In Pilgrimes wedes. 1140
He bar a bordun i-bounde
WiJ> a brod lyste,
In a weyebondes wyse
I-wriJien aboute;
A Bagge and a BoUe 1145
He bar bi his syde;
An hundred of ampoulles
On his hat seeten,
284 FROM THE VISION OF
Signes of Synay,
And Schelles of Gal)rs, 1150
Moni Cros on his cloke,
And kei3es of Rome,
And ))e vemicle bi-fore,
For men schulde knowe,
And seo be his signes 1155
Whom he souht hedde.
pis ffolk frajniede him feire,
From whenne J)at he coome.
" Ffrom Synay," he seide,
"And from ))e sepulcre; 1160
In Be))leem and Babiloyne,
I have ben in bo})e;
In Ynde and Assye,
And in monye o))er places.
3e mouwe seo be my signes, 1165
pat sitte)) on myn hat,
pat I have walked ful wyde
In weet and in dniye.
And souht goode sejmtes
For my soule hele." 11 70
"Knowest ]>ou ouht a Corseynt,
Men calle)) seynt Treu))e?
Const ])0U wissen us )>e wey,
Wher >at he dwelle>?"
"Nay, so God glade me!" 1175
Seide \t gome J>enne,
" Sauh I nevere Palmere,
Wij) pyk ne wij) schrippe,
Such a seint seche
Bote now in J>is place." 1180
** Peter I" quod a plou3 Mon,
And putte ioiY ^^s ^^^^^
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 285
"I knowe him as kuyndeliche
As Clerk doJ> his bokes;
Clene Concience and Wit 1185
Tau3hte me to his place,
And dude enseure me se)>))e
To serve him for ever,
Boj)e to sowen and to setten,
While I swynke mihte. 1190
I have ben his felawe
pis fiftene wynter,
Bo))e i-sowen his sed,
And suwed his beestes,
And eke i-kept his Corn, 1195
I-caried hit to house,
I-dyket and i-dolven,
I-don what he hihte,
Wijjinnen and wi]>outen
I wayted his profyt. laoo
per nis no laborer in J>is leod
pat he lovej) more.
For jjauh I sigge hit my self,
I serve him to paye;
I have myn hure of him wel, 1205
And ojjerwhile more.
He is )>e presteste payere
pat pore men habbe)>;
He wijjhalt non hyne his huire,
pat he hit na)> at even. 1210
He is as louh as a lomb,
Lovelich of speche;
And 3if ^e wollen i-wite
Wher fat he dwellej),
I wol wissen on J>e wey 1215
Horn to his place."
286 FROM THE VISION OF
Passus Sextus de Vistone, ut supra.
[For] kuynde wit wolde
pat uche mon wrouhte,
Wi)> techinge or wij> tilynge,
Or travaylynge of hondes; 1220
Actyf lyf or contemplatyf
Crist wolde hit alse.
For so seij> \t Sauter
In Psalm of Beati omnes,
He J>at get his fode her 1225
Wi]) travaylinge in Treujie,
God givej) him his blessyng
pat his lyflode so swynkej>.
" Yit I preye ))e/' quod Pers,
"Par charity, 3if J>ou conne 1230
Eny lyf of leche Craft,
Lere hit me, my deore;
For summe of my servauns,
Beo]> seke o))er while,
Of alle Jie wike heo worche)) not, 1235
So heor wombe akej>."
" I wot wel," quod Hunger,
"What seknesse hem eilej>;
pei han maunget over muche,
pat make)) hem grone ofte. 1240
Ac Ich hote )>e," quod Hunger,
"An ]>ou )>in hele wylne,
pat jK)u drynke no dai
Til ))0u have dynet sumwhat.
Ete not, Ich hote ))e, 1245
Til hunger Jie take,
And seiide Ipe sum. of his sauce
To saver >e \»^ \ie\.eife\
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. ^87
Keep sum till soper tyme,
And ffaste you not to longe, 1250
And Rys up ar appetyt •
Habbe i-^eten his fulle.
Let not sir surfet
Sitten at J>i Bord.
And 3if ]>ou di3ete Jie ]>us, 1255
I dar legge bojie myn eres,
pat fl5syk schal his forred hod
For his lyflode sulle,
And eke his cloke of Calabre,
Wi]>- knappes of gold, 1260
And beo fFayn, be my fFeiJ> !
His fFhisyk to lete,
And leome to labre wi)> lond,
Leste lyflode fFaile.
per beoJ> mo ly^ers )>en leches, 1265
Ur Lord hem amende !
pey don men dy^en ])orw3 heor drinke,
Er destenye wolde."
"Bi seint Poull" quod Pers,
"peos beo)> prophitable wordes! 1270
pis is a loveli lesson,
Ur Lord hit J>e for-3elde !"
Wend ]>ou whon j)i wille is,
Wei J)e beo for ever.
"I beo-hote )>el" quod Hungur, 1275
"Heonnes nul I wende,
Er I hav i-dynet bi J>is day.
And i-dronke bo))e."
" I have no peny," quod Pers,
**Poletes to bugge, 1280
Noujjer gees ne grys,
Bote twey grene cheeses,
288 FROM THE VISION OF
And a fewe Craddes and Craym,
And a ferf Cake,
And a lof of Benes and Bren 1285
I-Bake for my children;
And I sigge, bi my soule!
I have no salt Bacon,
Ne no Cokeneyes, bi Crist!
Colopus to maken. 1290
"Bot I have porettes and percyl
And mony Col plontes,
And eke a Cou and a Calf,
And a Cart Mare
To drawe a-feld my donge, 1295
Whil ))e drouh))e lastef;
Bi )>is lyflode I mot lyven
Til Lammasse tyme.
Bi j>at, Ich hope forte have
Hervest in my Croft, 1300
penne may I dihte J>i dyner,
As j>e deore lyke))."
Al ))e pore peple
Pesecoddes fetten,
Bake Benes in Bred 1305
pei brouhten in heor lappes,
Chibolles Cheef mete
And ripe chiries mony.
And proferde Pers )>is present
To plese with Himgnr. 13 10
Honger eet J>is in haste,
And asked aftur more,
penne J>is folk, for fere,
Fetten him monye,
Poretes and peosen, 1315
For \t\ ViVm p\e^^ ^^^<e^
PIERS PLOUGHMAN. 28g
From yaX tyme j>at l>iilke weore eten
Take he schulde his leve
Til hit to hervest hijede.
pat newe corn com to chepynge. 13*0
pemie was l>at folk fayn,
And fedde Hunger ^eome,
Wi)> goode Ale, and glotonye,
And gart him to skpe.
And l>o nolde j)e wastor worche, 1335
But wandren aboute,
Ne no beggere eten Bred
That Benes inne coome,
But Coket and Cler-matin,
An[dJ of dene whete; 1330
Ne non halfpeny Ale
In none wyse drynke,
Bote of j)e Beste and J^e Brouneste
pat Brewesters sullen.
Laborers )>at have no lond 1335
To lyven on bote heore honden,
Deyne not to dyne a day
Niht olde wortes;
Mai no peny ale hem paye,
Ne no pece of Bacun, 1340
Bote hit weore ffresh fflessch
Or elles flBisch i-ffri3et,
Boj)e Chaud and plus chaud,
For Chele of heor mawe.
Bote he beo heihliche i-huret, 1345
Elles wol he chide,
pat he was werkmon i-wroujt
Warie j)e tyme;
And Corse 3eme j)e kyng,
And aJ his Counseil aftur, \^v^
u
290 VISION OF PIERS PLOUGHMAN.
Suche lawes to loke
Laborers to chaste.
Ac while Hunger was mayster heer,
Wolde yer non chyde,
Ne strive a3eyn )>e statues,
So steorneliche he lokede.
I wame 30U, alle werkmen,
Wynne)> while 36 mowe,
Hunger hiderward a3eyn
Hi3e)> him 3eorne.
He wole a-wake Jjorw watur
pe wastours alle;
Er ffyve 3er ben folfult,
Such fFamyn schal aryse,
porw fflodes and foul weder,
Ffruites schul fayle,
And so sei)> Saturnes,
And sente us to wame.
XXIII.
JOHN DE WYCLIFFE,
A,D. 1324-1384,
John Wycliflfe was born at the village of Hipswell, near Richmond,
Yorkshire, about the year 1324, and died at the vicarage of Lutter-
worth, (Leicestershire), A.D. 1384. He was the first Englishmaa
who undertook a complete version of the Scriptures in his native
tongue. This great work is supposed to have been completed about
the year 1380. WyclifFe was the author of many religious treatises
written in English, among which may be mentioned a Harmony
qf the Gospels and the Apology for the Lollards.
The Gospel of St. Mark is taken from The Holy Bible in the
Earliest English Versions made from the Latin Vulgate, by John
Wycliffe and his FolltkverSy edited by the Rev. J. Forshall and Sir
F. Madden. Oxford, University Press, 1850, 4 vols. 4to.
Here Bygynneth the Gospel of Mark,
CAP. L
pE bigynnynge of jje gospel of Jhesu Crist, fe sone of 1
God. :• As it is writun in Ysaie, |je prophete, Lo ! I sende 2.
myn angel bifore J)i face, j?at schal make ]f\ weye redy bifore
J>ee. :•• pe voyce of oon cryinge in desert. Make 36 redy 3
j)e weye of \t Lord, make 36 his pa})is ri3tful. ;• Jhon 4
was in desert baptisynge, and prechinge })e baptym of
penaunce, in to remiscioun of synnes. :• And alle men of 5
Jerusalem wenten out to him, and al \t, cuntre of Judee;
and weren baptisid of him in J)e flood of Jordan, know-
lechinge her synnes. :• And John was cloJ)id wij) heeris 6
of cameljs, &nd a girdil of skyn abowte his leenivs*, ^Tv^\vfc
u 2
292 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
eet locustus, and hony of ))e wode, and preclude, seyinge, >
7 A strengere )>an I schal come aftir me, of whom I kndinge
am not wor)>i for to vndo, or vndynde, J>e ]?wong of hii
8 schoon. :• I haue baptisid 30U in water; forso|>e he sihal
9 baptise 50U in )>e Holy Goost. :• And it is don in )oo
dayes, Jhesus came fro Nazarej? of Galilee, and was baptisid
10 of Joon in Jordan. :• And anoon he styinge vp of ^
water, say^ heuenes openyd, and ye Holy Goost cimmiynge
1 1 doim as a culuere, and dwellynge in hym. :•• And a voys
is maad fro heuenes, fou art my sone loued, in J>ee I hane
12 plesid. :• And anon ye Spirit puttide hym in to desert >
13 And he was in desert fomty dayes and fourty ni3tis, and
was temptid of Saj>anas, and was wi)> beestis, and angeKs
14 mynystriden to hym. :• Forsot)e aftir )>at Joon was taken,
Jhesus came in to Galilee, prechinge the gospel of ye kyng-
15 dam of God, :• and seiynge. For tyme is fulfillid, and )«
kyngdam of God shal come ni3; for)>inke jee, or do ye
16 penaunce^ and bileue ^ee to )>e gospel. :• And he passynge
bisidis \e see of Galilee, say Symont, and Andrew, his
brother, sendynge nettis into ye see; sojjely J>ei weroi
17 fishers. :• And Jhesus seide to hem, Come 3ee after me;
18 I shal make 30U to be maad fishers of men. :• And anoon
19 ye nettis forsaken, ye\ sueden hym. :• And he gon for)»
Jjennes a litil, say James of Zebede, aiid Joon, his bro))er,
20 and hem in ye boot makynge nettis. :•• And anoon he
clepide hem; and Zebede, her fadir, left in }>e boot wi^
21 hind seruauntis, l>ei sueden hym. :•• And ye\ went^
forj) in to Cafarnaum, and anoon in )>e sabotis he gon
22 yn into ye synagoge, tau3te hem. :• And )>ei wondreden
on his techynge ; sojiely he was techynge hem, as hauynge
23 power, and not as scribis. *:• And in ye synagoge of hem
24 was a man in an vnclene spirit, and he criede, ;•• seyinge,
What to vs and to |^ee, ]^ou Jhesu of Nazare})? haste ]k)U
cummen bifore >e tyme toi vo ^^^x\<S\^ n's^I X ^oot Jat
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 293
art ye holy of God. :•• And Jhesus fretenyde to hym, 25
inge, Wexe dowmb, and go out of j?e man. :•• And ]>e 26
lene goost debrekynge hym, and cryinge wij? grete vols,
ite awey fro hym. ;•• And alle men wondriden, so )>at 27
soujten togidre amonge hem, seyinge, What is )>is
^e? what is )>is newe techyng? for in power he com-
dith to vnclene spiritis, and fei obeyen to hym. ;•• And 28
tale, or (yying, of hym wente for)> anoon in to al j)e
tree of Gralilee. :• And anoon l>ei goynge out of }>e 29
agoge camen in to J>e hous of Symont and Andrew, wij>
les and Joon. :•• Sojjely and J>e modir of Symontis wif 30
in feueris restide, or lay; and anoon }>ei seien to hym
lir. :• And he cummynge to, reride hir up, )>e bond of 31
taken, and anoon j)e feuere left hire, and she mynystride
hem. :• Forsofe })e euenynge maad, whenne )« sone 32
ite doun, J>ei brou^ten to hym alle hauynge yuel, and
ynge deuelis. :•• And al j?e cite was gaderid at )>e ^ate. :•• z^
1 he helide many )>at weren traueilide with dyuers 34
Is, and he castide out many deuelis, and he suflfride hem
for to speke, for |)ei knewen hym. :• And in }>e 35
rewynge ful erly he rysynge, gon out, wente in to desert
:e, and preiede Jiere. :• And S}Tnont suede hym, and })ei 36
weren wi)> hym. :• And whanne j)ei hadden founden 37
1, j)ei seiden to hym. For alle men seeken |)ee. :• And 38
sei}> to hem. Go we in to ]>e nexte townes and citees,
and })ere I preche, for to l>is ))ing I came. :•• And he 39
i prechynge in J>e synagogis of hem, and in alle Galilee,
castynge out fendis. :• And a leprous man cam to hym, 40
ichynge hym, and, ))e knee folden, seide, 3if jkdu wolt,
maist dense me. :•• ForsoJ>e Jhesus, hauynge mercy on 41
1, strei^t out his bond, and, touchynge hym, seij) to
1, 1 wole, be )k)u maad clene. :• And whanne he hadde 42
le, anoon J)e lepre partide awey fro hym, and he is
\sj<i :- And be pretenyde to hym, and aivooivV^ \fvsX\fc \^
294 ^^^ GOSPEL OF MARK.
44 hym out, :•• and seij) to hjnn, Se J)Ou, seie to no man ; bat
go, shewe J)ee to |>e princis of prestis, and ofire for jA
clensynge })0 jjingis J)at Moyses badde, in to witnessyngc
45 to hem. :• And he, gon out, biganne to preche, and diflfame,
or puplishci j?e word, so Jjat nowe he mi^te nat opynly go
in to \t citee, but be wij> out forj) in deserte placis; and
)>ei camen to gidre to hym on alle sydis. :•
CAR IL
1 And eft he entride in to Caphamaum, after ei3te dayes. ^
2 And it is herd, \2X he was in an hous, and many camen
togidre, so ))at it tok nat, ne))er at the 5ate. And he spac
3 to hem a word. :• And j>ere camen to hym men bryngyngc
4 a man sike in palesie, )>e whiche was borun of foure. :• And
whanne \€\ mi^te nat offre hym to hym for )>e cumpanyc
of peple, )>ei maden j>e roof nakid, wher he was; and
makynge opyn, )>ei senten doun \^ bedd, in whiche ^e
5 sike man in palasie lay. :•• Soj?ely whanne Jhesus say ^e
fei|> of hem, he seiJ) imto |)e sike man in palasie, Sone,
6 J)i synnes ben for50uen to Jjee. :• Forsojje j>ere weren
summe of J)e scribis sittynge and ))enkynge in her hertis, :-
7 What spekij) he [>us? He blasfeme|>; who may foqeue
8 synnes, no -but God alone? :• pe whiche j>ing anoon
knowen by J)e Holy Goost, for \€\ ))0U3ten so wi|>-inne
hem-self, Jhesus seiJ) to hem. What |;enken 5ee j>ese jiingis
9 in 30ure hertis? :• What is li3tere for to seie to the sike
man in palasie, Synnes ben for30uen to J)ee, or for to seie,
10 Ryse, take \\ bed, and walke? :• Sojjely l>at jee witc
J)at mannes sone ha|> powere in er)>e to for3eue synnes,
11 he sei|) to )>e sike man in palasie, :• I seie to |>ee, ryse
13 up, take j>y bed, and go in to ))in house. :• And anoon
he 1003 vp, and, J)e bed taken vp, he wente bifore alle
vi\t\\ so ))at aWe meiv ^oivdriden, and honouriden God,
1$ seyinge. For we sayeti tv^u^x ^o. v kcA V^ -«^\:i«. ^S5t
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 295
eftsone to |)e see, and al )>e cumpanye of peple cam to
hym ; and he tau^te hem. :•• And whenne he passide, he 14
say Leui Alfey sittynge at l>e tolbojje, and he sei}) to hym,
Sue }pau me. And he rysynge suede hym. ;• And it is 15
don, whenne he sat at )>e mete in his hous, many publicanys
and synful men saten togidre at j>e mete wi|> Jhesu and
his disciplis ; solely J)ere weren manye )>at foleweden hym. :•
And scribis and Pharisees seeyinge, for he eet wi]> pupli- 16
canys and synful men, seiden to his disciplis, Whi 3oure
maister etij> and drinki]> wij> puplicanys and synners? :•
pis ])ing herd, Jhesus seij) to hem, Hoole men han no 17
nede to a leche, but })ei ))at han yuele; forsojje I cam
not for to clepe iuste men, but synners.:- And disciplis 18
of Joon and )>e Pharisees weren fastynge; and J)ei camen,
and seien to hym, Whi disciplis of Joon and of Pharisees
fasten, but )>i disciplis fasten nat? :• And Jhesus seiJ) to 19
hem, Whet)er )>e sonnys of weddyngis mown faste, as long
as )>e spouse is wi]> hem? Hou longe tyme j>ei han j)e
spouse wi)> hem, Jjei mowe nat faste. :• Forso})e dayes 20
shulen come, whenne Jje spouse shal be taken awey fro
hem, and j>anne jjei shulen faste in J)oo days. :• No man 21
sewejy a pacche of rude, or newe, cloJ)e to an old clo)>e, .
ellis he takij> awey })e newe supplement, or pacche^ and a
more brek)mge is maad.:- And no man sendij) newe wyn 22
in to oold^ botelis, or wyne vesselis, ellis the wyn shal berste
|»e wyn vesselis, and |je wyn shal be held out, and )>e wyne
vesselis shulen perishe. But newe wyn shal be sent in to
newe wyn vesselis. :•• And it is don eftsoone, whanne j>e 23
Lord walkide in the saboj>is by )>e comes, and his disciplis
bigunnyn to passe forj>, and plucke eris. ;• SoJ)ly j?e 24
Pharysees seiden. Loo ! what don })i disciplis in sabotis, jjat
is nat leeueful. :• And he seij? to hem, Radde 3ee neuere 25
what Dau)rth dide, whanne he hadde neede, and he hungride,
and pel pat weren wip hym ? ;• Hou he -weivle *m \g \^ ^^
296 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
hous of God, vndir Abia)>ar, prince of prestis, and eete
loouys of proposicioun, })e whiche it was nat leefiil to ete,
no-but to prestis alone, and he 5aue to hem J>at weren v^
27 hym. :• And he seide to hem, pe sabote is maad for man,
and nat a man for ])e sabote ; and so mannys sone is lord
also of the saboth. :••
CAP. III.
1 And he entride eftsoone in to the synagoge, and J^er ms
2 a man hauynge a drye bond. ;• And j)ei aspieden hym, ^
3 he helide in saboJ)is, for to accuse hym. ;•• And he seij> to
4 }>e man hauynge a drye honde, Ryse in to the mydil. :- And
he seij) to hem. Is it leeueful to do wel in ye sabo]»is, or
yuele ? for to make a soule saaf, whejjer to lese ? And )«
5 weren stille. :• And he biholdynge hem aboute wi]> wrafe,
hauynge sorwe vpon the blyndnesse of her herte, seif to
J)e man, Holde forj) }>in honde. And he helde for)>,
6 and )>e honde is restorid to hym. :•• Solely Pharisees
goynge out anoon, maden a counseil wi)> Herodyans a3eins
7 hym, hou fei shulden lese hym. ;• Forsoj)e Jhesus wi^
his disciplis wente to J>e see; and myche cimipanye from
8 Galilee and Judee suede hym, :• and fro Jerusalem, and
fro Ydume, and bi3endis Jordan, and fei )>at aboute Tyre
and Sydon, a grete multitude, heerynge Jie l>ingis Jiat he
9 dide, camen to hym. :• And Jhesus seiJ) to his disciplis,
J)at J)e litil boot shulde seme hym, for )>e cumpanye of
10 peple, lest fei oppressiden hym ; :•• solely he helide many,
so j>at J)ei felden fast to hym, j)at )?ei shulden touche hym
1 1 Forsojje hou many euere, hadden soris, or woundt's, ;•• and
vnclene spiritis, whenne })ei seien hym, felden down to hym,
12 and crieden seyinge, pou art ^e sone of God. :•• And
gretely he manasside hem, })at })ei shulden nat make hym
J3 opyn, or knowen. :•• Aivd he styinge into an hil, clepide to
14 hym whom he woVde*, and \€\ Q."axc\&w \a \c5YDL. v kad
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 297
he made, J>at yere weren twelue wij) hym, and fat he
shulde sende hem for to preche. ;• And he ^aue to hem 15
power of heelynge siknessis, and of castynge out fendis. :•
And to Symomit he putte name Petre, :• and James of '
Zebede and Joon, the bro)>er of James, and he putte to
hem names Boonerges, fat is, )je sones of fondrynge; :•
and Andrew and Philip, and Barfolomewe and Mafew, 18
and pomas and James Alfey, and padee and Symount
Cananee, :•• and Judas Scarioj>, fat bitraide hym. :•• And J>ei '^
comen to an hous, and fe cumpanye of peple came togidre
eftsoone, so fat fei mi^te not nefer ete breed. :• And 21
whanne his kynnesmen hadden herdde, fei wenten out for
to holde hym; sothely fei seiden, for he is turnyd in to
wodenesse. :• And fe scribis fat camen doun fro Jerusalem, 22
seiden. For he haf Belsebub, and for in fe prince of
deuels he castif out fendis. :•• And, hem gadrid togidre, 23
he seide to hem in parablis, Hou may Safanas caste out
Safanas ? :• And if a rewme be departide in itself, fe ilke 24
rewme may not stonde. :•• And if an hous be disparpoilid on 25
it-self, filke hous may not stonde. :•• And if Safanas haf 26
risen a^eins hym-self, he is disparpoilid, and he shal not
mowe stonde, but haf an ende. :• No man, gon in to a 27
stronge mannes hous, may take awey his vessels, no-but he
bynde firste the stronge man, and thanne he shal diuersly
rauyshe his hous. :- Trewly I seie to 30U, for alle synnes and 28
blasphemyes, by whiche fei han blasfemed, shulen be for-
^ouen to fe sones of men. :• Sofely he fat shal blasfeme 29
a3eins fe Holy Gost, shal not haue remissioun in to with
outen eend, but he shal be gilty of euerlastynge trespas. :• For 30
fei seiden. He haf an unclene spirit. :•• And his modir 31
and breferen comen, and fei stondynge wif-oute forf,
senten to hym, clepynge hym. :• And a cumpany sat 32
aboute hym; and fei seien to hym, Lo! fi modk, ^xvd
/i breperen wip-outen forp seken fee. :•• KivA \v^ ^xss>^n^\- ^-^
298 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
ynge to hem seij), Who is my modir and my brej>eren? :-
34 And biholdynge hem aboute, [)at saten in ]>e cumpas of
35 hym, he seij>, Lo ! my modir and my bretheren. :• ¥otso\
who |>at do)) [)e will of God, he is my brother, and my
sister, and modir. :•
CAP. IV.
1 And eft Jhesus bigan for to teche at the see ; and myche
cumpany of peple is gedrid to hym, so })at he styinge in to
a boot, sat in \>e see, and al j>e cumpany of peple was
2 aboute \>e see, on [)e lond. :• And he tau3te hem in parablis
many ))ingiSi And he seide to hem in his techynge,
3 Heere ^ee. :• Loo I a man sowynge go)) out for to sowe. :•
4 And l^e while he sowij), an oj>er seed felde aboute j>e
wey, and briddis of heuene, or of the eire, camen, and eeten
5 it. :• ForsoJ>e an ojjer felde doun on stony placis, wher it
had[de] nat myche erj)e; and anoon it sprong vp, for it
6 hadde nat depnesse of er})e. :• And whenne )>e sunne rose
vp, it welwide for heete, and it dried vp, for it hadde not
7 roote. :• And an oJ)er felde doun into J)ornes, and |>omes
8 stieden vp, and strangliden it, and it ^aue not fruyt. :•• And
an oJ)er felde doun in to good lond, and ^aue fruyt, styinge
vp, and wexinge; and oon brou3te })ritty fold, and oon
9 sixtyfold, and oon an hundridfold. :- And he seide, He
10 j)at ha|) eris of heeryng, heere. :•• And whenne he was
singuler, or by hym silf, |)e twelue ))at weren wij> hym
11 axiden hym for to expowne fe parable. :• And he seide
to hem. To 50U it is ^ouen for to knowe fe mysterie, or
pryuite, of j^e kyngdam of God. So|>ely to hem j>at ben
12 wiJ)-oute for)), alle ))ingis ben maad in parablis, :•. |)at
J)ei seynge se, and se nat, and j>ei heerynge heere, and
vnderstonde not; J)at sum tyme j>ei be conuertid, and
j^ s/nnes be for^ouen to hem. :• And he seij> to hem,
Wiitn not jee \>is paia\Ae^ ^xv^Vo^^^^^ '^>Si\'5:\s.>MX55f«^
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 299
alle parablis? :• He ]>at sowij), sowij) a word. :• These 14
so))ly ben \>zX aboute ]>t weye, where ]>e word is sowun ; ^S
and whenne )>ei han herd, anoon comej> Sa|)anas, and
takij) awey l>e word )>at is sowun in her hertis. :• And 16
also I'cse ben l>at ben sown on a stoon, j>e whiche whanne
j)ei han herd Jje word, a-noon taken it wij) ioye; :• and ))ei 17
han nat roote in hem-silf, but ))ei ben temporal, fkaf /j, /tzj/fw
fl h'/yl fyme; afterward tribulacioun sprongen vp, and per-
secucioun for jje word, anoon ]>ei ben sclaundrid. :• And 18
l>ere ben oJ)er [)at ben sowun in J)omis; J)ese it ben,
|)at heeren )>e word, and myseise of j>e world j ;- and 19
disseit of richessis, and oj^er charge of coueitise entrynge
ynne, strangulen ))e word, and it is maad wi|)-outen fruyt. :•
And j?ese it ben j>at ben sowun on good lond, ))e whiche 20
heren |)e word, and taken, and maken fruyt, oon J)ritti-
fold, oon sixti-fold, and oon an hundrid* :• And he seide 21
to hem, Wher a lanterne come, J)at it be put vndir a bushel ?
wher not, ))at it be put vpon a candil stike? :• Forso|>e 22
|)er is no j^ing hid, pat shal not be maad opyn; nej)er ony
J)ing is preuy, )>e whiche shal not come in to apert. :• If 23
ony man haue eeris of heryng, heere he. :• And he seide to 24
hem, Se 3ee what ^ee heeren. In what mesure ^ee meten,
it shal be meten to 30U, and be kast to 30U. ;• Soj^ely it 25
shal be ^ouen to hym [)at haj), and it shal be taken awey
from hym l>at haj) not, also |)at J)at he hal>. :• And he 26
seide. So J)e kingdom of God is, as if a man caste seed in to
|ie er})e, :- and he slepe, and // ryse vp in ni3t and day, and 27
brynge for)) seed, and wexe faste, ))e while he wote not. :■•
Forsothe |)e erj)e by his owne worchynge makij> fruyt, 28
first an erbe, or grene corn, afterward an eere, afterward ful
fruyt in the ere. :• And whanne of it-silf it haj> brou3t 29
forj? fruyt, anoon he sendi|> a sikil, or hook, for rype corn
comejj. :•• And he seide, To what ))ing shulden we likene 30
J>e kyngdom of God? or to what parab\e sYwAexv^^ c.Qrax-
300 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
31 parisoune it? :• As a com of seneueye, |)e which whann
it is sowun in l^e er))e, is lesse I>an alle seedis J>at ben in
32 er)>e ; :• and whanne it is bredd, or qi^kmed, it sty^e)) vp
in to a tree, and is maad more than alle wortis, or erhis ; and
it shal make grete braunchis, so that briddis of heuene mowe
l^ dwelle vndir the shadewe l>er-of. :•• And in many siche
34 parablis he spac to hem a word, as fei mitten heer^; :• so|>ely
he spak not to hem wi|>-outen parable. Forso))e he ex-
pounyde to his disciplis alle jjingis on-sidis bond, or hyhm
35 ^^^ * And he seij) to hem, in J>at day, whenne euenyng
36 was maad, Passe we a^einward. :• And \t\ leeuynge fe
cmnpanye of peple, taken hym, so l>at he was in J>e boot;
37 and ojjer bootis weren wi|> hym. ;•• And a greet storme
of wynd is maad, and sente wawis in to J)e boot, so )>at
38 )>e boot was ful. :• And he was in fe hyndir part of
J)e boot, slepynge on a pilewe. And \€\ reysen hym,
and seien to hym, Maistre, pertenej) it nat to l>ee, )«it
39 we perishen? :• And he rysynge vp, manasside to )«
wynd, and seide to fe see, Be stille, wexe doumb. And
40 J)e wynd ceeside, and greet pesiblenesse is maad. :•• And
he seij) to hem, What dreden ^ee? Nat 3it han jee fei)>?
And \€i dredden wij> greete dreed, and seiden to eche o))er,
Who, gessist ))Ou, is J)is } for ))e wynd and l>e see obeyshen
to hym.
CAP, V.
1 And j>ei camen ouer \t wawe of ))e see into ]>e cmitree
2 of Genazareth. ;• And anoon a man in vnclene spirit ran
3 out of a biryel, to hym goynge out of )>e boot. :- pe
whiche man hadde an hous in graues, or biriels, and nether
4 wij) chaynis ne vax^tt eny man bynde hym. :• For oft
tymes he bounden in stockis and chaynes, hadde broken [»e
chaynes, and hadde brokun (le stockis to smale gobetis, and
5 no man mijte daunte, or make tame^ hym. :• And euer more,
ni^t and day, in biriels aiid\v\\\\^,V^\4^% ^x^\^'^^^'»x\\sfc\?^^
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 3OI
lym-silf wij) stoones. :• Solely he seynge Jhesus afer, ran, 6
ind worshipide hym. :• And he cryinge wij) greet voice, 7
leide, What to me and to )jee, Jjou Jhesu, j?e sone of
jod hieste? I conioure )>ee bi God, J)at J)OU tourmente
lot me. :• Forsojje Jhesus seide to hym, pou vnclene 8
ipirit, go out fro \q man. :• And Jhesus axide hym. What 9
lame is to jjee? And he sei|) to hym, A legioun is name
o me; for we ben manye. :•• And he preide hym myche, 10
>at he shulde nat put hym out of |)e cuntreie. :• ForsoJ)e 1 1
►ere was )>ere aboute |)e hill a flock of hoggis lesewynge
n feeldis. :- And J>e spiritis preieden Jhesu, seyinge, 12
5ende vs into hoggis, jjat we entre into hem. :• And 13
inoon Jhesus grauntide to hem. And J>e vnclene spiritis
jntriden in to the hoggis, and wij? greet bire, or haste, )>e
loo was cast doun in to J>e see, to tweyne )70usynde, and
hei ben strangelid in j)e see. :• Sojjely jjei jjat fedden 14
lem, fledden, and tolden in to j>e citee, and in to )>e feeldis ;
md }>ei wenten out, for to see what was don. :• And jjei 15
:amen to Jhesu, and fei seen hym })at was traueilid of
»e fend, sittynge clojjid, and of hoole mynde; and j>ei
Ireden. :• And )>ei tolden to hem, )>at say en, hou it was 16
ion to hym fat hadde a fend, and of l>e hoggis. :• And 17
>ei bygunnen for to preie hym, )>at he shulde go awey fro
ler coostis. :• And when he stiede in to a boot, he J>at was 18
:raueilid of \t deuel, bygan to preye hym, )>at he shulde be
Ni^ hym. :• Sojjly Jhesus resceyued hym nat, but seij) 19
:o hym, Go Jk)u in to })in hous to )>ine, and telle to hem,
lou many fingis fe Lord ha]> don to fee, and hadde
nercy of fee. :•• And he wente forf, and bigan for to 20
3reche in Decapoly, thai is, a cuntree often citees, how manye
>ingis Jhesus hadde don to hym ; and alle men wondriden. :•
\nd whanne Jhesus hadde stiede in to \t boot eftsoone 21
Duer fe see, myche cumpanye of peple cam togidre to hym,
md was aboute pe see. :•• And oon oi \^ Y^xiciSa qi\ ^^.
302 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
synagogis, by name Jaynis, cam, and seyinge hym, fel doun
23 at his feet, :• and preiede hym myche, seyinge, For whi my
dou5ter is in \te laste Jjingis; come 1k)u, putte fin hond
24 on hire, J)at she be saaf, and lyue. ;•• And he wente forj) wi|>
hym, and myche cumpanye of peple suede hym, and op-
25 presside hym. :• And a womman j)at was in Jje flux of
26 blood twelue ^ere, :• and hadde suflfride many j>ingis of ful
many lechis, and spendid alle hir fingis, and no-)>ing pro-
27 phitide, but more hadde worse, :•• whanne she hadde herd of
Jhesu, she cam in j>e cumpanye byhynde, and touchide
28 his cloj), :- SoJ)ly she seide. For if I shal /lym touche or his
29 clo)>, I shal be saaf. :• And anoon J)e welle of blood is
dried vp, and she felide in body j)at she was helid of )>e
30 wound, or sikenesse. ;• And anoon Jhesus knowynge in
hym-silf j>e vertu |)at was gon out of hym, he, turned to
31 the cumpenye, seij), Who touchede my clojjis? ;• And his
disciplis seiden to hym, pou seest j>e cumpenye pressinge
32 jjee, and seist J)OU, Who touchide me? :• And Jhesus
lokide aboute, for to see hir ))at hadde don J)is })ing. :•
33 Forsoj>e J)e womman dredinge and quakynge, witynge )>at
it was don in hir, cam, and fel down bifore him, and seide
34 to hym al treuj>e. :• ForsoJ)e Jhesus seide to her, Dou3tir,
))i feij> hath maad Jjee saf ; go in pees, and be saf fro }>i
35 sykenes. :• ^li him spekynge, messageris camen to \t
prince of the synagoge, seyinge. For |)i doujtir is deed;
36 what traueilist j?ou )>e maistir fer|>ere? ;• Forsoj>e \t
word herd ))at was seide, Jhesus sei)> to ))e prince of |>e
37 synagoge, Nyle l>ou drede, oonly byleue ))0u. :• And he
resceyuede not ony man to sue him no-but Petre, and
38 James, and John, J>e broJ)er of James. ;• And fei camen
in to J)e hous of \q prince of J)e synagoge. And he si3
39 noyse, and men wepinge and weilinge moche. :• And he
gon yn, seiJ) to hem, What ben ^ee troublid, and wepyn?
40 pe wenche is not deed, Y>\x\. ^\e^i^, *.- K\A \^\ 's^'c.oroeden
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 303
Mm. For80]>e alle kast out, he taki}> ])e fadir and modir
of fe wenche, and hem })at weren wij) him, and j?ei
entren yn, where Jie wenche lay. ;• And he holdinge j>e 41
hond of j)e wenche, seij) to hir, Tabita, cumy, ]>at is
interpretid, or expowntd^ Wenche, to Jiee I seie, rise ))Ou. :•
And anon J>e wenche roos, and walkide; soJ)ly she was 42
of twelue 5eer. And |)ei weren abaischt wi)> greet stoney-
inge. :•• And he comaundide to hem greetly, })at no man 43
schulde wite it. And he comaundide to ^iue to hir for to
ete. :•• And Jhesus gon out J>ennis, wente in to his owne i
cuntree ; and his disciplis folwiden him. :•
CAP. VI.
And J>e saboj> maad, Jhesus bigan for to teche in a 2
synagoge. And manye heeringe wondriden in his techinge,
sepnge, Of whennis to l>is alle Jjese }>ingis? and what is
>e wysdom )>at is ^ouun to him, and suche vertues }>e
whiche ben maad by his hond ? :•• Wher j>is is not a smyj), 3
or carpenter, jie sone of Marie, })e brojjer of James and
Joseph and Judas and Symound ? wher and his sistris ben
nat here with vs? And j>ei weren sclaundrid in him. :•
And Jhesus seide to hem, For a prophete is not wi)>-outen 4
honour, no-but in his owne cuntree, and in his hows, and in
his kyn. ;•• And he my3te not make })ere ony vertu, no- 5
but heelide a fewe sike men, l>e hondis put to. :• And he 6
wondride for |)e vnbileue of hem. And he wente aboute
castelis in enuyrown, techinge. ;• And he clepide twelue, and 7
bigan for to send hem bi tweyne ; and 3af to hem power of
vnclene spiritis, :•• and comaundide hem, pat )>ei schulde 8
not take ony J)ing in })e weye, no-but a ^erd oonly, not a
scrippe, not bred, neijjer money in l>e girdil, :• but schoon 9
wij> sandalies, |w/ ben opyn abom, and |)at J)ei weren not
cloj^id wi|) tweie cootis. ;• And he seide to hem, Whidir 10
euere^ee scbuJeii entr^ in to an hous, dwe\\^'^e\^x^,>c^'s^
304 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
11 gon out |>ennis. :• And who euere schulen not resseyne,
ne heere 50U, ^e goynge out fro [>ennes shake awey Jc
12 powdre fro 30ure feet, in to witnessinge to hem. ^ And
|)ei goynge out, prechiden, [)at men schulden do pe-
13 naunce. :• And jjei castiden out many fendis, and anqyn-
tiden with oyle manye syke men, and )>ei weren heelid. :-
14 And kyng Eroude herde, forsojje his name was maad opyn,
and he seide, For Johne Baptist hajj risun a^en fro deed
15 men, and therfore vertues worchen in hym. :•• So^y
ot>ere seiden. For it is Ely; but oJ)ere seiden, For it is a
16 prophete, as oon of prophetis. :• pe whiche |>ing herd,
Eroude seij>, Whom I haue bihedid, John, )>is ha|> risun fro
17 deed men. ;• Forsoj>e jje ilke Eroude sente, and held
Joon, and bond him in to prisoim, for Erodias, pe wyf of
18 Philip, his broker; for he hadde weddid hir. :•• Soj>ly
Johne seide to Eroude, It is not leeflful to )>ee, for to haue
19 jje wyf of yi broker. ;• Erodias forsojje leide aspies to
20 him, and wolde sle him, and mi3te not. ■:•• Soply Eroude
dreddfe John, witinge him a iust man and hooly, and kepte
him. And him herd, he dide many J>ingis, and gladly
2 1 herde hym. :•• And whanne a couenable day hadde fallun,
Eroude in his birj>e day made a soupere to j>e princis, and
22 tribunys, and to jje firste, or gretieste, of Galilee. :• And
whanne ))e doubter of j>ilke Erodias hadde entrid yn, and
lepte, and pleside to Eroude, and also to men restynge, \%
kyng seide to ))e wenche. Axe j>ou of me what |>ou wolt,
23 and I schal ^yue to j>ee. ;• And he swoor to hir, For what
euere ))0U schalt axe, I schal 3yue to ))ee, )>ou5 )>e half of
24 my kyngdom. :• pe whiche, whanne sche hadde gon out
seide to hir modir. What schal I axe ? And she seide, pc
25 heed of John Baptist. ;• And whanne she hadde entrid
anon wijj haste to j>e kyng, she axide, seyinge, I wole ^
anoon thou 3yue to me in a dische the heed of John
26 Baptist :• And \t tytig \i^s ^oi>j Iw \^ ^^ and for
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 305 ;
men sittinge to-gidere at mete he wolde not hir be maad
Bory ; :- but a manquellere sent, he comaundide |>e heed of 27
John Baptist for to be brou3t. And he bihedide him in pe
prison, :- and brou^te his heed in a dische, and jaf it to 28
J« wenche, and jie wench 3af to hir modir. ;•• pe which 29
]nng herd, his disciplis camen, and token his body, and
puttiden it in a buriel. :• And apostlis comynge to-gidere 30
to Jhesn, tolden to hym alle )>ingis, )>at j>ei hadden don,
and tau^t. :•• And he seij) to hem, Come ^e by ^ou-selue 31
in to a desert place; reste ^e a litel. Forso)> jjere weren
manye J>at camen, and wenten a3en, and jjei hadden not
space for to ete. :•• And jjei sti^ynge in to boot, wenten in 32
to a desert place by hem-selue. :• And jjei sy^en hem ss
goynge awey, and manye knewen, and goynge on feet fro
alle citees, jjei runnen to-gidere ))idir, and came bifore
hem. :•• And Jhesus goynge out sy^ moche cumpanye, and 34
hadde mercy on hem, for )>ei weren as scheepe not hauynge
a shepherde. And he bigan for to teche hem manye
]>ingis. :•• And whanne moche our was maad now, his 35
disciplis camen ny^, seyinge, pis place is desert, and now
)>e our hsLp passid; :•• leeue hem, jjat ))ei goynge in to 36
]>e nexte townes or vilagis, bye to hem metis whiche )>ei
schulen ete. :• And he answerynge sei)) to hem, ^yue ^e to 37
hem for to ete. And jjei seiden to hym, Goynge bye we
loues wi)> two hundrid pens, and we schulen ^yue to hem
for to ete. ;•• And he sei)) to hem, Hou many loues han 38
36? Go 36, and se. And whanne jjei hadden knowun, j>ei
seien, Fyue, and two fyschis. :•• And he comaimdide to 39
hepi, that jjei schulden make alle men sitte to mete aftir
campenyes, vpon greene hey. :•• And j>ei saten down by 40
parties, by hundridis, and fyfties. :• And j)e fyue looues 41
taken, and two fyschis, he biholdynge in to heuene, blesside,
and brak loouis, and 3af to his disciplis, jjat jjei schulden
putte bifore hem. Andhedepartidetwofyscb\s\.o^<^\ v "^^^ \i
306 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
43 alle eeten, and weren fillid. ;• And \t\ token J>e relyues of
broken mete, twelue coflfyns full, and of ]« fyschis. :- ,^
^ Soj>li ))ei that eeten, were fyue jjousynd of men. :- And j.
anon he constreynede his disciplis for to sti3e vp in to a ^
boot, )>at )>ei schulden passe bifore him ouer ]>e see to
46 Bethsayda, ))e while he lefte jje peple. :• And whanne he
47 hadde^left hem, he wente in to an hil, for to preie :• And
whanne euenyng was, jje boot was in )>e myddil see, and he
48 aloone in the lond ; :•• and he sy3 hem trauelinge in row-
ynge; soj>li jje wynd was contrarie to hem. And aboute
[)e fourjje waking of jje ny^t, he wandrynge on ])e see
49 cam to hem, and wolde passe hem. :• And |>ei, as |«i
sy3en him wandrynge on j)e see, gessiden [him] for to be
50 a fantum, and creiden; :• forsof) alle sy3en hym, and ^d
weren disturblid. And anon he spak wil^ hem, and seide
51 to hem, Triste 3e, I am; nyle 3e drede. ;•• And he cam vp
to hem in to j)e boot, and the wynd ceesside. And \d
52 more wondriden wi|)-ynne hem ; :•• for ))ei vndirstoden not
53 of fe looues ; sojjli her herte was blyndid. :• And whanne
J)ei hadden passid ouer |>e see, jjei camen in to |>e lond
54 of Genazare)), and setten to londe. :• And whanne jid
55 hadden gon out of jje boot, anon j>ei knewen him. :• And
J)ei rennynge ))ur3 al j>at cuntree, bigunnen to here aboute
in beddis hem J)at hadden hem yuele, where )>ei herden him
56 be. :• And whidur euere he entride yn to vilagis and townes,
or in to citees, ))ei puttiden syke men in stretis, and preieden
him, ))at ))ei schulden touche eit>er |)e hem of his cloJ>; and
how manye euere touchiden him, weren maad saf. :••
CAP. VII.
1 And Pharisees and summe of scribis comynge fro Jeru-
2 salem, camen to-gidere to him. :•• And whanne )>ei hadden
seyn summe of his disciplis ete breed wi)) comune hondis,
S ihai tSj not waischutty Y^WA'axo^^^w. v ^o^'s.^^ 'ebaxisees and
TEE GOSPEL OF MARE. 307
De Jewis eten not, no-bat ^i waisschen ofte her hondis,
oldinge ^ tradxcioans, or siaiutu, of eldere men. :• And 4
ei tumjnge ajen firo chcpynge, eten not, no-but ^i ben
raischan; and manje othere ];ingis ben, ^t ben takun
3 hem for to kepe, waischingis of cuppis, and cnieds, and
*f vessels of bras, and of beddis. :- And Pharisees and 5
crflns axiden him, seyinge, Whi gon not ^i disciplis aftir ^
radidonn of eldere men, but wi)» comyne hondis ^i eten
ired ? :• And he answeringe seide to hem, Ysaie propheciede 6
rel of 300, jpocritis, as it is writun, pis peple worschipi)»
ne with lippis, forso^ her herte is fer fro me ; :- in ve}Ti 7
rewli Jiei worschipen me, techinge doctrinys and preceptis
>f men. ;• Forso)» 36 forsakinge \e maundement of God, 8
lolden ]ie tradidouns of men, waischingis of cnietis, and
mppis; and manye ojiere ]Hngis lyke to )>es ^e don. :• And 9
3e sdde to hem, Wei ^e han maad ]>e maundement of God
?oyde, Jiat je kepe ^oure tradidoun. :• Forso)> Moyses seide, lo
iVorschipe )yi fadir and ]>i modir; and he \qX schal curse
adir or modir, by dee|> deie he. :• So)>li ^e seyen, If a man ii
dial seye to fadir or to modir, Corban, fat is, \\Tiat euere ^ifte
is] of me, [it] schal profite to |yee; :• and ouer ^e suffren not 12
im do ony Jang to fadir or modir, :• brek}'nge j)e word of God 13
»7 30ure tradidoun, ]«it ^e han 30uun; :• and 36 don manye 14
fere suche ]>ingis. And he eftsoone depinge to \e cumpanye
f peple, seide to hem, 3e alle heere me, and vndirstonden. ;•
Jo J>ing wij>-outen man is entringe in to him, J>at may defoule 15
lim; but ))0 J^ingis }«it comen forj> of man, JK) it ben j>at
lefoulen a man. :- Forsoj> if ony man haue eeris of heeringe, i6
leere he. :- And whanne he hadde entrid in to an hous, fro 17
le cumpany of peple, his disciplis axiden him ]>e parable. :•
^nd he self to hem. So and je ben vnprudent, or vnwyse, 18
Vndirstonden 36 not, for al j>ing wij)Oute-forJ> entringe in to
a man, may not defoule him ? :• for it ha]> not entrid into his v%
herte, hut in tope wombe, and byne})e it go^ owl, ^Mt^r^"^^
X 2
308 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
30 alle metis. :• Sojjli he seide, For Jje fingis )>at gon out of a
21 man, J)0 defoulen a man. :• Forso)> fro wi)>ynne, of )« herte
of men comen for)> yuele jjou^tis, auoutries, fomicacioims,
2 2 mansleyngis, :• Jjeftis, couetises, or ouer hard ke^ynge of gaodttf
wickednesses, gyle, vnchastite, yuel y3e, blasphemyes, pride,
23 folye. ;• Alle )>es yuelis fro wi[)ynne comen forJ>, and defooka
24 a man. :• And Jhesus risynge jjennis, wente in to ]>e endes rf
Tyre and Sidon. And he gon in to an hows, wolde no man
25 wite ; and he mi^te not dare, or be priuy, :• So]>li a womman,
anon as sche herde of him, which wonmianis dou3tir hadde I
26 an vnclene spirit, entride, and fel doun at his feet.:- So]ilij«
womman was he)>ene, of jje generaciomi of Sirefen. And she
preide him, )>at he wolde caste out a deuel fro hir dou^tir. >
27 pe which seide to hir, Suffre j)Ou )>e sones be fulfild first; it
is not good to take ))e bred of sones, and sendc to houndis.>
28 And she answeride, and seide to him, Forso)>e, Lord; f<»-
whi and litle welpis eten vndir J)e bord, of J)e crummes of
29 children. :• And Jhesus sei)> to hir. For )>is word go, J>e fend
30 is went out of \\ dou^tir. :• And whanne she hadde gon hoffl,
she fond J)e wenche sittinge on j)e bedd, and J>e deuel goa
31 out fro hir. :• And eftsoone Jhesus goynge out fro )>e endia;
or coostis, of Tire, cam jjur^ Sidon to Jje see of Galilee, J>at 'n
32 bitwixe fe myddil endis of Decapoleos. :•• And |>ei leeden to
him a deef man and doumb, and preieden him, )>at he putte
33 to him j>e bond. :• And he takynge him asydis fro J>e cum-
panye, sente his fyngris in to his litle eeris; and spetinge
34 towchide his tunge. :• And he biholdynge in to heuene, sor-
35 wide wijjynne, and sei)), Effeta, Jjat is, Be )>ou openyd, :- And
anon his eeris weren openyd, and Jje bond of his timge is un-
36 bounden, and he spak ri^tly. :•• And he comaundide to hon,
))at )>ei schulden seye to no man ; forso)> how moche he co-
37 maundide to hem, so moche more Jjei prechiden more, > and
by pat J)e more \»ei wondriden, seyinge. He dide wel alle )>ingis*
and deef men he made lo Yvt^i^, ^xA ^ovflsfc^ Cot to spd^e.
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 309
CAP. VIII.
Jk) dayes, whanne moche cumpenye of peple was wi)> i
1, and hadde not what J)ei schulden ete, his disciplis ga-
to gidere, he seij> to hem, :•• I haue rew)>e on j)e cum- 2
e of peple, for loo ! now )>e jjridde day )>ei susteynen,
yden me, and han not what J>ei schulen ete ; :• and if I 3
hem fastinge in to her hous, ])ei schulen faile in ]>e
; forso})e simmie of hem camen fro fer. :•• And disciplis 4
eriden to him, Wherof a man schal mowe fille hem wi)>
js here in wildimesse? ;• And he axide hem. How manye 5
IS han 5e ? pe whiche seiden, Seuene. :•• And he co- 6
idide J)e cumpanye to sitt[e] doun on })e erj)e. And he
ige seuene looues, and doynge Jjankynges, brak, an(i
0 his disciplis, ]>at ])ei schulden putte for)>. And |>ei
1 for)> to J)e cumpany. :• And )>ei hadden a fewe smale 7
s ; and he blesside hem, and comaundide for to be put
J. And Jjei eeten, and ben fulfild ; and )>ei token vp )>at 8
of relyf, or smale gohatisy seuene leepis. :• Forso)> )>ei j)at 9
I, weren as foure J)Ousand of men ; and he lefte hem. :••
anon he wente vp in to a boot, wi)) his disciplis, and 10
in to )>e partis of Dalmamytha. :• And Pharisees wenten 11
md bigunnen to seke, or axe, wi)> him, axynge a tokene
Til fro heuene, temptinge hym.:- And he sorwynge wij)- 13
in spirit, sei)). What sekij> )>is generacioun a tokene ?
ly I seie to 30U, if a tokene schal [not] be ^ouun to J)is
racioun. :•• And he leeuynge hem, wente vp eftsoone in 13
boot, and wente ouer J)e see. :• And \€\ for3aten to take 14
i, and J>ei hadden not wi|> hem no-but o loof in ])e boot. :•.
he comaundide to hem, seyinge, Se ^e, and be 3e war of 15
urdow3 of Pharisees, and sourdow^ of Eroude. :• And )>ei 16
;en oon to another, seiynge, For we han not breed.:- pe 17
[1 }>ing knowun, Jhesus sei)> to hem, What )>enke ^e, for
u not breed? Jit je knowen not, ne vii&i^\.oiA'ecv\ 'jjx
310 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
i8 36 han ^oure herte blyndid. :• 3e hauynge y3en, seen not, and
19 3e hauynge eeris, heeren not; nejjer ^e han mynde, :- whannel
brak fyue looues in to fine )>ousande, and hou manye coffyns
ful of brokene mete ^e token vp? pei seyn to him, Twelue.:?
20 Whanne and seuene looues in to four jjousande of men, how.
many leepis of brokene mete ^e token vp ? And Jiei seyen,
21 Seuene. :• And he seide to hem. How vndirstonden ^e not
22 3it ? ;• And J)ei comen to Bethsayda, and J)ei bryngen to him
a blynd man, and preieden hym, J)at he schulde touche him.:-
23 And ))e hond of j>e blynd man takim, he ledde him out of fe
streete, and spetynge in to his y3en, his hondis put to, he
24 axide him, if he sy3 ony J)ing. :• And he biholdinge, seif, I
25 se men as. trees walkynge. :• Aftirward eftsoones he puttide
hondis on his y3en, and he bigan for to se, and he is re-
a6 storid, so ))at he sy3 clerely alle )>ingis. :•• And he sente him
in to his hous, seyinge. Go in to )>i hous ; and if thou schalt
27 go in to ))e itreete, seye to no man. :• And Jhesus entride yn
and his disciplis in to J)e castels of Sezarie of Philip. And in
J)e weye he axide his disciplis, seiynge to hem. Whom seyn
28 men me for to be? :• pe whiche answeriden to hym, seiynge,
Summe, John Baptist ; oj>ere seyriy Helye ; but o)>ere seyn, as
^9 oon of jje prophetic. ;• panne he seij) to hem, But whom seye
3e me for to be ? Petre answeringe, sei)> to him, pou ert
30 Crist. ;• And he j>retenyde hem, fat J)ei schulden nat seie to
31 ony man of him. :• And he bigan for to teche hem, for it
bihouejj mannis sone suffre manye J)ingis, and to be reproued
of fe hi3este prestis, and of eldere men, and scribis, and to
32 be slayn, and aftrr j>re dayes, for to rise a3en. :• And he spak
playnli jje word. And Petre takynge him, bygan for to blame
33 him. :•• pe which turnyd, seynge his disciplis, manaside Petre,
seiynge. Go aftir me, Sajjanas ; for J)OU sauerist not Jk) |angis
34 ))at ben of God, but J>o Jjingis Jjat ben of men. :• And Jie cum-
panye of peple gederid, wij> his disciplis, he seide to hem, If
ony man wole sue me, de^xv^^ V^ Ymccl-^'^^ •»sssi take he his
I
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 3IT
cros, and sue he me. :• Sojjly who so wole make his soule, 35
^haf w, his lyf^ saf, he schal leese it ; forsojje he )>at schal ^
leese his soule, that ts, his lyf, for me and ))e gospel, schal
mak it saf. :•• SoJ)li what profitejj it a man, if he wynne al Jjc 36
world, and do peyringe to his soule ? :• or what chaungyng 37
schal a man 3yue for his soule ? :• ForsoJ) who ))at schal 38
kno[w]leche me, and my wordis in J)is generacioun auoutresse,
and mannis sone schal knowleche him, whanne he schal
come in ])e glory of his fadir, wi)) his aungels. :•• And he seide 39
to hem, Treuly I seie to 30U, for fer ben summe of men
stondinge here, j>e whiche schulen not taste deej), til \€\ sen
jie rewme of God comynge in vertu.
CAP. IX.
. And aftir size dayes Jhesus took Petre, and James, and i
John, and ledi)> hem by hem selue aloone in to an hi^ hil ;
and he is transfigurid byfore hem. And his clo))is ben 2
maad schynynge and white ful moche as snow, and which
maner clo))is a fullere, or walker e of clo\^ may not make white
on erj)e. :• And Helye with Moyses apperide to hem, and \€\ 3
weren spekynge wij> Jhesu. :• And Petre answeringe seij> 4
to Jhesu, Maistir, it is good for vs for to be here ; make we
here )>re tabernaclis, oon to Jjee, oon to Moyses, and oon to
Helye. :•• SoJ)li he wiste not what he schulde seie ; forsojje 5
J>ei weren agast by drede. :• And Jjer is maad a cloude 6
schadewinge hem; and a voys cam of J)e cloude, seyinge,
pis is my mooste deereworjje sone, heere yt him. :• And anon 7
Jid biholdinge aboute, sy^e no more any man, no-but Jhesus
oonly wi)> hem. :•• And hem comynge down fro J>e hil, he 8
comaimdide hem, )>at \€\ schulde not telle to any man J)0
]nngis }«it j)ei hadde seyn, no-but whanne mannis sone ha)>
risun fro deede spiritis. :•• And )>ei heelden \t word at hem 9
silf, sekynge what [this] schulde be, whanne he hath r\s\Mv feo
deede. :- And fi^i axiden him, seyinge, 'WlaaX \^Tlcyt^ ^^I'Ol \^
312 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
Pharisees and scribis, for it bihoue]> Helye for to come first:-
1 1 pe which answeringe sei]> to hem, Whanne Helye schal come
first, he schal restore alle J'ingis; and hou it is writan in
to mannis sone, ])at he suffre many ]>ingis, and be despisid.:-
12 But I seie to 30U, for and Helye is comim, and )>ei diden to
him what euere )>ingis )>ei wolden, as it is writun of him.:-
13 And he comynge to his disciplis, sy^ a greet cumpany
14 aboute hem, and scribis axynge wi]> hem. :• And anon al }t
cmnpanye seynge Jhesu, was astoneyed, and )>ei dreden; and
15 })ei rennynge to, greeten him.:- And he axide hem, What
16 seken ^e among 30u?:« And oon of ]>e ciunpany answeringe
seide, Maistir, I haue brou3t to |>ee my sone hauynge an
17 vnclene spirit;:. )>e which wher euere he schal take hym,
hirtij) him, and he froJ)iJ>, or vomep, and betij> to gidere wif
tee)), and wexi)> drye. And I seide to ]>i disciplis, ]>at yd
18 schulden caste hym out, and ]>ei my^ten not.:* J>e which
answeringe to hem seide, A ! |k)u schrewid generacioun and
out of bileue, hou longe schal I be at 30U, how longe schal I
19 suffre you ? Brynge ^e hym to me. :•• And )>ei brou3ten hym
to. And whanne he hadde seyn him, anon )>e spirit trou-
blide him; and he cast doun in to ]je erj)e, was walewid
20 froJ)inge. :• And he axide his fadir, Hou moche of tyme it
31 is, sijjen ))is J)ing fel to him?:- And he seij), Fro childbed;
and ofte he haj) sent him and in to fier and in to watir, J>at
he schulde leese him ; but and if J)Ou maist ony J>ing, help
22 vs, hauynge mercy on us. :• So))li Jhesus seij) to him, If jiou
maist bileue, alle fingis ben possible to a man bileuynge..^
23 And anon the fadir of ))e child criynge wij> teeris seide,
24 Lord, I bileue ; help J)OU myn vnbileuefulnesse. :•• And whanne
Jhesus hadde seyn fe company of peple rennynge to-gidere,
he manaside to J)e vnclene spirit, seyinge to him, pou deef
and doiunb spirit, I comaund }>ee, go out fro him, and entre
25 not more in to Wm.:- And he criynge, and moche to-breid-
ynge him, wente out iio \i\m •, ^w^V^ \^ \s!aa^ ^^ <Xa^ so
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 313
J>at manye seiden, }>at he was deed. :•• Forsoj? Jhesus holdynge 26
his hond, lifte vp him ; and he roos. :• And whanne he hadde 27
• entrid in to an hous, his disciplis axiden him priuely, Whi
my^ten not we caste hym out ? :• And he seyde to hem, pis 28
kynde in no )>ing may go out, no-but in preier and fastinge.:-
And )>ei gon fro J>ennis, wenten forj> in to Galile; and he 29
wolde no man wite. :• He tau3te his disciplis, and seide to 30
hem, For mannus sone schal be bitrayed in to J)e hondis
of men, and yei schulen sle him, and he slayn, on )je J)ridde
day shal rise a^en. :•• And j>ei knewen not \>e word, and 31
dredden for to axe him. :• And J)ei camen to Cafamaum. 32
Which whenne he was in J>e hous, axide hem, What tretiden
3e in ])e weie ? :•• And J)ei weren stille ; so))li J)ei disputiden 33
among hem in )>e weie, who of hem schulde be more. ^ And 34
he sittinge clepide ))e twelue, and seij) to hem. If jany man
wole be J>e first among 30U, he schal be J>e laste, and myny-
stre of alle. ;•• And he takinge a childe, ordeynede him in )>e 35
myddil of hem ; whom whanne he hadde byclippid, he sei|>
to hem, ;•• Who euere schal receyue oon of suche children in 36
my name, he receyuej> me; and who euere receyueth me,
he receyuej> not me aloone, but him jjat sente me. ;• John 37
answeride to him, sayinge, Maistir, we sy^en sum oon for to
caste out fendis in ))i name, J)e which sue)) not vs, and we
ban forbedun him. :» Soj>li Jhesus sei)) to him, Nyle 3e forbede 38
him; )>er is no man )>at do)> vertu in my name, and may
soone speke yuele of me. :• Forsofe he Jjat is not a^ens vs, 39
is for vs. :• Sojili who euere schal ^yue drynke to 30U a cuppe 40
of cold watir in my name, for 3e ben of Crist, treuly I seie
to 30U, he schal not leese his mede. :* And who euere schal 41
sclaundre oon of )>es lide bileuynge in me, it is good to him
yeX 2L mylne stoon of assis were don aboute his necke, and
[he] were sent in to J>e see. :•♦ And if \>m bond sclaundre ))ee, 42
kitt it awey;" it is good to J>ee feble to entre in to lyf, \j^xv
Yizujuge tweybondis go in to helle, in to fiei Y^X ivevx^x^ %^A
314 STH^ GOSPEL OF MARK.
43 be quenchid, :• where )>e worm of hem deiej> not, and )« fi«r
44 is not quenchid. :• And if \>i foot sclaundre )>ee, kitt it of ; it
is good to J>ee for to entre crokid in to euerlasting lyf, )>an
hau}Tige twey feet to be sent in to helle of fier, J«it neuer
45 schal be quenchid, :• where J)e worm of hem deie|> not, and fe
46 fier is not quenchid. :• pat if J)in y^e sclaundre |>ee, cast it
out ; it is good to Jjee for to entre gogil y^ed in to rewme of
God, J)an hauynge twey y^en for to be sent into helle of fier.:-
47 where J)e worm of hem deie)> not, and J)e fier is not quenchid.:-
48 Forso)) euery man schal be saltid, or mood sauori^ wij> fier,
49 and euery slayn sacrifice schal be sauorid wi)> salt. :•• Salt is
good J)ing ; Jjat if salt be vnsauori, in what J>ing schulen je
make it sauori? Haue 3e salt in 30U, and haue 36 pees
among 30U. :•
CAP. X.
1 And Jhesus risynge up fro )>ennis, cam in to ])e endis of
Jude ouer Jordan; and eftsoones J)e cumpanyes of peple
camen to-gidere to him, and as he was wont, eftsoone he
2 tau3te hem. :• And Pharisees comynge ny^, axiden him, If it
be leefful to a man for to leeue, or forsake^ his wyf ? tempt-
3 inge him. :• And he answeringe seij> to hem. What comaun-
4 dide Moyses to 30U ? :• pe whiche seiden, Moyses suflfride to
5 write a libel of forsakinge, and to forsake. :• To whom Jhesus
answeringe sei)), To ))e hardnesse of 30ure herte Moyses
6 wroot to 30U J)is precept. :• Forso)>e fro Jje bigynnyng of
creature God made hem male and female; and he seide,:-
7 For Jjis J)ing a man schal leeue fadir and modir, and schal
8 clefe to his wif,:- and )>ei schulen be tweyne in o fleisch.
9 And so now \€\ ben not tweyne, but o fleisch. :• perfore Jjat
10 ))ing ))at God ioynede to-gidere, no man departe. :•• And
eftsoone in J)e hows his disciplis axiden him of J>e same
1 1 Jjing. :• And he seij> to hem, Who euere schal leeue his wyf,
12 and wedde anol)er, he dof auoutrie vpon hir.*:-. And if ^
wyf schal leeue Wr YiOseboxiA^, ^xA \i^ ^^^^^ \.Ci ^xio]^r,
THE GOSPEL OF MARK, 315
]> auoutrie. :• And jjei offriden to him litle children, 13
schulde touch hem ; sofeli disciplis fretenyden to men
2. :• Whom whanne Jhesus hadde seyn, he baar heuye, 14
or}^ilt, and sei)) to hem, SuiFre 3e litle children for to
0 me, and forbede 36 hem not, forsoj) of suche is ))e
)m of God, :• Treuli I seie to 30U, who euere schal not 15
; Jje kyngdom of God as jjis litle child, he schal not
1 to it. :• And he biclippinge hem, and puttinge hondis 16
em, blesside hem. :• And whanne Jhesus was gon out 17
veye, o man rennynge bifore, fe kne bowid, preiede
dynge, Goode maistir, what schal I do, j>at I receyue
tinge lyf ? :• Forsofe Jhesus seide to him. What seist 18
I good ? No man [is] good, no-but God aloone. :• pou 19
tiowen J)e comaundementis, do }>ou non auoutrie, sle
ile not, seie not fals witnessinge, do no fraude, wor-
i J)i fadir and modir. :•• And he answeringe seij) to him, 20
, I haue kept alle J)ese ))ingis fro my 30uj>e. :•• So)>li 21
biheld him, and louyde hym; and he seide to him,
failijj to J)ee ; go J)OU, selle J)Ou what euere J)ingis JK)u
nd 3yue to pore pien, and J)Ou schalt haue tresour in
; and come, sue J)Ou me. :• pe which maad sorwful 22
«rord, wente awey momynge, forsoj) he was hauynge
30Ssesciouns. :• And Jhesus biholdinge aboute, seij) to 23
:iplis, How hard J)ei ))at han money schulen entre in
yngdom of God. :• Forso))e J)e disciplis weren stoneyed 24
.vordis. And Jhesus eftsoone answeringe seiJ) to hem,
sones, how hard J)ing it is, men tristynge in richessis
mtre in to ))e kyngdom of God. :• It is lifter, or esyer, 25
1 for to passe J)orw a nedlis y^e, ))an a riche man for
i in to ))e kyngdom of God. :• Whiche wondriden more, 26
J at hem selue, And who may be maad saf ? :• And 27
biholdinge hem, sei)) to hem, Anentis men it is im-
e, but not anemptis God ; for alle j)ingis ben possible
tis God. :- And aftirward Petre bigatv fox \a %^^^ 'v.^ ^-^
3l6 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
29 him, Loo ! we han left alle )>ingis, and han sued J)ee. :• Jhesus
answeringe seij), Treuli I seie to 30U, )>er is no man J>at schal
leeue hous, or brej>eren, or sistris, or fadir, or modir, or
30 sones, or feeldis for me and for )>e gospel, ;. J)e which schal not
taken an hundridfold so moche now in J)is tyme, housis, and
bre)>eren, and sistris, and modris, and sones, and feldis, wij>
persecuciouns, and in Jje world to comynge euerlasting lyf.:-
31 Forso)> many schulen be,)>e firste ]je laste, and J>e laste )«
33 firste. :• Forso)>e J>ei weren in Jie weye sti^ynge to Jerusalem ;
and Jhesus wente bifore hem, and J>ei wondriden, and folow-
inge dredden. And eftsoone Jhesus takinge to twelue, bygan
33 to seye to hem, what J)ingis weren to come to him. :• For lo !
we sti3en to Jerusalem, and mannus sone schal be bitrayed
to )>e princes of prestis, and to scribis, and to cldere men;
and J>ei schulen dampne him by dee|>, and )>ei schulen bytake
34 him to he)>ene men. :» And J)ei schulen scome him, and
byspeete lum, and beete him ; and J>ei schulen sle him, and
35 in J)e J)ridde day he schal ryse ajen. :• And James and Jon,
Zebedees sones, camen ny^ to him, seyinge, Maistir, we
36 wolen, jjat what euere we schulen a}j,e, Jx)u do to vs. :* And
37 he seide to hem. What wolen ^e J>at I do to 30U ? :•. And \t\
seiden, 3yue to us, j>at w^ sitten Jjat oon at J)i ri^jialf, and )«
38 toj>ir at )>e left, in ))i glorie. :- ForsoJ>e Jhesus seij? to hem,
5e witen not what 3e schulen axe; mown ^e drynke \t
cuppe, j>e which I am to drynke, or be waischun wij> ^ bap-
39 tym, in which I am baptisid ? :- And J>ei seiden to him. We
mown. Soj>li Jhesus seij) to hem, Treuli ^e schulen drynke
j)e cuppe jjat I drynke, and 36 schulen be waischun wi}> fe
40 baptym, in which I am baptisid ; :•• sojili for to sitte at my
ri3thalf or lefthalf is not myn to 3yue to 3011, but to which it
41 is ordeyned. :- And j>e ten beeringe hadden endignacioun of
42 James and John. :* Soj>li Jhesus clepinge hem, sei}> to hem,
^e witen, ))at l>ei J)at semen, or ben seyn, to baue princehed of
fblkis, lordschipen, or hen lordis, ol \v^tsx, "wv^ V ^^vaces of
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 317
hem han power of hem. :• ForsoJ) it is not so in 30U, but who 43
euere schal wolle be maad more, schal be ^onre mynystre, :•
and who euere schal wolle be )>e firste in 30U, schal be 44
seruaunt of alle. :-. Forwhi and mannis sone cam not, ))at it 45
schulde be mynystrid to him, but fat he schulde mynystre,
and 5yue his soule, or lyf, redempcioun, or ayn-biyng^ for
manye. :•• And J>ei camen to Jerico ; and him goynge for)> 46
fro Jerico, and his disciplis, and a ful moche cumpany of
peple, J>e sone of Tymey, Bar)>ymeus, blynd, saat bisydis })e
weye beggynge. ;• pe which whanne he hadde herd, for it is 47
Jhesus of Nazare)>, bigan to crie, and seye, Jhesu, )>e sone of
Daui)>, haue mercy on me. :• And manye J>retnyden hym, )>at 48
he schulde be stille; and he criede moche more, Jhesu, J>e
sone of Daui]>, haue mercy on me. :• And Jhesu stondinge 49
comaundide hym for to be clepid; and \€\ clepiden )>e
blynde man, seiynge to him. Be J)Ou of betere herte, ryse vp,
he clepij> J)ee. :•• pe which, his cloj) cast away, sturtinge cam 50
to him. ;•• And Jhesus answeringe seide to him, What wolt 51
))Ou I schal do to J)ee ? pe blynde man seide to him, Maistir,
}>at I se.;-. SoJ)li Jhesus seide to him. Go Jjou, ))i fei)> haj> maad 52
fee saaf. And anon he sy3, and suede him in ))e weye. :•
«
CAP. XL
And whanne Jhesus cam ny^ to Jerusalem and to Betanye, i
to j)e mount of Olyuete, he sendi)> two of his disciplis, and
sei)> to hem,:. Go ^e in to J>e castel fat is a3ens 30U; and anon 2
3e entrynge in fidur schulen fynde a colt tyed, on j>e which
non of men sat ^it ; vnbynde ^e, and br}Tig him. :• And if 3
ony man schal seie ony J)ing to you, seie ^e, fat he is nede-
ful to J>e Lord, and anon he schal leeue him hidur. ;• And 4
fei goynge forf, founden a colt bounden byfore f e ^ate wif-
outeforth, in fe meeting of tweye weyes ; and fei vnbounden
him. ;•• And summe of men stondinge fere seiden to hem, 5
What don jje, vnhjudinge pe colt ? :• And Y^. ^ddi^iv \.o\vR.m, ^
31 8 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
7 as Jhesus comaundide to hem ; and )>ei leften hem. :• And
)>ei brou^ten J>e colt to Jhesu, and )>ei puttiden to him her
8 cloJ)is, and Jhesus sat upon him. :•• Forsoj>e manye strewiden
her cloJ)is in )>e weye, so)>eli oj>ere men kittiden bowis, or
9 hraunchis, fro trees, and strewiden in }>€ weye. :• And \€\ )wit
wenten bifore, and fat sueden, cryeden, seyinge, Osanna,
10 blessid is he fat come J) in j>e name of j)e Lord;;- blessid Y
kyngdom j>at comef of oure fadir DauiJ); Osanna in hi3tees.:'
11 And he entride in to Jerusalem, in to j)e temple; and alle
fingis seyn aboute, whanne )>e our was now euenyng, he
12 wente in to Betany^, wij) twelue. ;• And ano])er day, whanne
13 he wente out of Betanye, he hungride. :•• And whanne he
hadde seyn a fyge tree afer hauynge leeuys, he cam, if hap-
pily he schulde fynde ony j>ing j>erynne; and whanne he
cam to it, he fond no fing, out-taken leeuys ; for it was no
14 tyme of fygis. :• And Jhesus answeringe seide to it. Now no
more wi)>-outen ende ony man ete fniyt of J)ee. And his
15 disciples herden ; and j>ei camen to Jerusalem. :• And whanne
he hadde entrid in to fe temple, he bigan for to caste out
men sellinge and biggynge in fe temple; and he tumyde
vpsodoun j>e boordis of chaungeris, and jje chaieris of men
16 sellinge culueris; :• and he suffride not, fat ony man echulde
17 here a vessel fur3 fe temple. :•• And he tau^te hem, seyinge,
Wher it is not writun, For myn hous schal be clepid fe
hous of preiynge to alle folkis ? forsof 3e han maad it a den
18 of feues. :• pe which fing herd, )>e princes oT prestis and
scribis sou^ten hou fei schulde leese him ; forsof J>ei dreden
hym, for al fe ciunpanye of peple wondride on his teching.:-
J 9 And whanne euenyng was maad, he wente out of fe citee.:-
20 And whanne fei passiden eerly, fei sy^en the fige tree maad
21 drye fro J>e rootis. :• And Petre hauynge mynde, seide to him,
Maistir, lo ! J>e fyge tree, whom fou cursedist, haf dryed vp.:.
22 And Jhesus answering seif to him, Haue ^e fe feif of God;:-
2^ treuli I seie to jou, ]pat vj\iO e;uet^ %€\\ \.o \\% \NiiI^ Take, and
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 319
sende in to ]« see ; and douti]> not in his herte, but bileue]>,
for what eoere he schal seje, be it maad, it schal be maad to
him. > perfore I seie to ^u, alle ]>ingis what euere ]>ingis 3e 24
preiynge schulen axe, bileue ^e ]iat 36 schulen take, and )>ei
schulen come to 30U. > And whanne 36 schulen stonde for 35
to preie, for3yue 3e, if 3e han ony )>ing a3ens ony man, )>at
md 30iire fadir ]iat is in heuenes, for3yue to 30U 30ure synnes. :•
|lat if 3e schulen not for3yue, nei)>er 30ure fadir )>at is in 26
leuenes, schal foi3yue 30U 30ure synnes. :• And eftsoone )>ei 27
:ainen to Jerusalem. And whanne he walkide in to )>e
emple, ^ hi3este prestis, and scribis, and eldere men camen
U3 to him, and sei[d]en to him, :• In what power doist ]k)u 28
les ^ingis ? or who 3af to }>ee )>is power, ]iat Jk>u do J>es ]>ingis ?>
FoTSOfe Jhesus answeringe sei]> to hem. And I schal axe 30U 29
> word, and answere 3e to me, and I schal seie to 30U, in
irbat power I do fes ]>ingis. :- \Mie)>er was j>e baptym of John 30
^heoene, or of men? answere 3e to me. > And j>ei jK>U3ten 31
iri^iime hem sdue, seiynge, K we schulen seie of heuene,
lie schal sei to vs, Whi )>erfore bileuen 5e not to him ; > if 32
ire schulen seie of men, we dreden )>e peple ; for alle men
liadden John, for he was verily a prophete. :• And )>ei answer- 3$
ing^ seyen to Jhesu, We witen neuere. And Jhesu answer-
inge sei]» to hem, Nei)>er I seie to 30U, in what power I do
^)nngis.>
CAP. xn.
And Jhesus bigan to speke parably, or in parahlis, A i
man planntide a vyne3erd, and puttide aboute an hegge, and
dialf a lake, and bildide a tour, and hirede it to er)>e tilieris,
and wente for]» in pilgrymage ; > and sente to )>e er^ tilieris 2
in tyme a seruaunt, )>at he schulde receyue of |>e fruyt of j>e
iryne3erd at Jie erj>e tilieris. :- pe whiche beten him takun, 3
and leften him >x>yde. > And eftsoone he sente to hem 4
an(^r seroaunt, and )>ei woundiden him in |>e heed, and
ponjrsdieden wjj^ chidingis, or reprouyngiz. > And eSxsQOtkfc^J^ ^
320 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
sente anoj>er, and |>ei slowen him, and ojiere mo, betynge
6 summe, but sleynge ojjere. :• perfore 3it he hauynge a sone
most derewor)>, and to hem he sente him )>e laste, sejdnge,
For by hap J>ei schulen schame my sone, or drede wi>f reue-
7 rence, :■• Forsoj^e ye tenauntis seyden to hem self, or to gidere,
pis is )>e eier ; come ^e, sle we him, and J)e eritage schal be
8 oure. :• And j)ei takynge him, castiden out wi)K)ute \e vyne-
9 3erd, and slowen. :• perfore what schal the lord of \e vyne-
5erd do ? He schal come, and leese ))e tenauntis, and 3yuc
10 \t vyne3erd to o))ere; :• Wher 3e han not rad j)is scripture,
pe stoon ])e which men bildinge han dispisid, ]>is is maad in
1 1 to j)e heed of j)e corner ? :• pis )>ing is maad of j>e Lord, and
1 2 is wondirful in oure y3en. :• And j)ei sou3ten for to holde him,
and j)ei dreden j)e cumpanye of peple ; so)>li j>ei knewen for
to hem he seide J)is parable ; and him left, Jjei wenten away.:-
13 And J)ei senden to him summe of )« Farisees and Erodians,
14 for to take hym in word. :• pe whiche comynge seyn to hym,
Maistir, we witen for J)OU ert so)>fast, and reckist not of ony
man; soJ)ly nei))er ))0u seest in to face of man, but Jk)U
techist J)e way of God in treu))e. Is it leefful for to 3yue tri-
15 bute to Cesar, or we schulen not 3yue ? :• pe whiche witinge
her priuey falsnesse, sei)> to hem, What tempten 3e me?
16 brynge 36 to me a peny, J)at I se. :• And ]>ei offriden to him.
And he sei)) to hem, Whos is ))is ymage, and J)e in wrytinge?
1 7 pei seien to him, Cesaris. :• Forso]>e Jhesus answeringe sei^
to hem, perfore 3elde 3e to Cesar )>at ben of Cesar, and to
God ))0 J)ingis J)at ben of God. And alle wondriden on him.:-
18 And Saducees, J)at seyen no resurecioun to be, camen to
19 him, and axiden him, seyinge, :•• Maistir, Moyses wroot to vs,
J)at if J)e broJ)er of a man were deed, and lefte a wyf, and
lefte not sones, his broj^er take his wyf, and reyse vp seed to
20 his broJ)ir. :• perfore seuene brij)eren weren; and })e firste
21 took a wyf, and is deed, no seed left. :•• And ))e secunde took
hir, and he is deed, and iid)^ei \\^Vi^\.^ ^eed. And |>e ]>ridde
THE GOSPEL OF MARS!. 32 1
:• And seuene tooken hir, and lefte not seed. And ))e 22
man Jjc laste of alle is deed. ;- panne in )>e resureccioun, 23
ine j>ei schulen rise a^en, whos wyf of J)ese schal sche be?
seuene hadden hir [to] wyf. :•• And Jhesus answeringe 24
to hem, Wher ^e erren not J)erfore, not knowinge })e
tuns, no})er J)e vertu of God ? :•• Forso))e whanne ))ei 25
en rise a^en fro deed men, neij)er J>ei wedden, noJ>er ben .
id, but J)ei schulen be as aungels of God in heuenes. :•
of deed men, )>at j^ei lysen a3ein, han ^e not rad in })e 26
of Moyses, on })e bousche, hou God seide to him,
ge, I am God of Abraham, and God of Ysaac, and
of Jacob ? ;• He is not God of deede men, but God of 27
ige men; J)erfore ^e erren moche. :• And oon of })e 28
is, J)at hadde herd hem sekynge to gidere, cam ni^, and
ge )>at he hadde wel answerid hem, axide hym, which
)e firste maundement of alle. :• Jhesus answeride to him, 29
5 firste of alle comaundementis is, Heere, Israel, J)e Lord
Dd is oon ; :• and J)OU schal [t] loue ]>e Lord ))i God of 30
I herte, and of al J)i soule, and of al J)i mynde, and of al
tu, or my^te, pis is J>e firste maundement. :• Forso))e J)e 31
ide is lyk to ))is, pou schalt loue J)i nei3ebore as )>i silf.
3 non o))ir maundement more J)an ))ese. :• And J)e scribe 32
to him, Maister, in treujje J)OU has wel seid ; for o God
d J>er is non, out-taken him ; :• and J)at he be loued of al 33
, and of al Jjou^t, or mynde, and of al vndirstondinge,
)f al )>e soule, and of al streng)>e, and to loue the nei3e-
as him silf, is more )>an alle brend ofFringis and sacri-
:• Jhesus forso})e seyinge )>at he hadde answerid wysely, 34
to him, pou ert not fer fro ))e kyngdom of God. :• And 35
no man durste axe him. And Jhesus answeringe seide,
ige in J)e temple, perfore how seyn scribis, Crist for to
sone of Daui)> ? :• To whom DauiJ) him silf seide in })e 36
y Gost, pe Lord seide to my lord, Sitte on my ri3thalf^
utte fin enemyes J)e stool of \\ feet. :• peifot^I3^>3J^\ss!Ck. vv
Y
322 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
silf sei)> him a lord, and wherof is he his sone ? And moche
38 ciimpany gladli herde him. :• And he seide to hem in his .
teching, Be 36 war of scribis, J)at wolen wandre in stoolis,
39 and be salutid in chepinge,:- and sitte in synagogis in }t
40 firste chaires, and J)e firste sitting places in soperis ; :- fe
whiche deuouren \t housis of widewis, vndir colour of long
41 preier; )>ei taken lenger dom.:- And Jhesus sittinge a3eins
)>e treserie, biheld hou J)e cumpany of peple caste money
in to )« tresorie; and manye riche castiden many J)ingis.:'
42 SoJ>li whanne o pore widowe hadde comen, sche sente tweye
43 mynutis, J^at is, a fer)>ing. :• And his disciplis clepid to gidere,
he seij) to hem, Treuly I seie to 30U, for {)is pore widowe
44 sente more ))an alle, J)at sente in to \e tresorie. :• Sol)li alle
sente of )>at J)ing ))at was plenteuous to hem ; but }>is of hir
myseste sente alle )>ingis Jjat she hadde, al hir lyflode.
CAP. XIII.
I And whanne he wente out of )>e temple, oon of his dis-
ciples seiJ) to him, Maistir, bihold, what maner stoones, and
2 what manere bildingis. :• And he answeringe sei}> to him,
Seeste Jjou alle ))es greete bildingis ? J)er schal not be left a
3 stoon vpon a stoon, Jje which schal not be distroyed. :•• And
whanne he sat in )>e mount of Olyuete a3ens )>e temple, Jjei
axiden hym by hem silue, Petre, and James, and John, and
4 Andrew,:- Seie |)0u to vs, whanne J)es ))ingis schulen be maad,
and what tokene, whanne alle ))es )>ingis schulen bigynne for
5 to be endid. :• And Jhesus answeringe bigan for to seie to
6 hem, Se 36, Jjat no man disceyue 30U ; :• for many schulen
come in my name, seiynge, For I am ; and )>ei schulen dis-
7 ceyue manye.:- So))li whanne 3e schulen heere batels and
opyniouns of bateils, drede 3e not ; forsoJ>e it bihoue]> J«se
« ))ingis for to be don, but not 3it anon Jje ende. :• For folk schal
rise vpon folk, and rewme vpon rewme, and er))e mouyng
schal be by places aud Vvmiv^wx \ blgynnyngis of sprwis
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 3^3
)cn] J)ese )>ingis. :• So)>li se 36 30U silf, for ]>ei schulen take 9
>u in counceils, and ^e schulen be beten in synagogis ; and
I schulen stonde bifore kyngis and domes-men for me, in
I witnessing to hem. :• And ui to alle folkis it bihouej) first 10
5 gospel for to be prechid. :• And whanne })ei schulen lede 1 1
►u bitrayinge, nyle je Jjenke what ^e schulen speke, but
leke 3e )>at J)ing J)at schal be 3ouen to 30U in )>at our ; so}>li
ben not spekinge, but ))e Hooly Gost.:- Forso))e a broJ)er 12
hal bitraye J>e brojjer in to deej), and })e fadir )>e sone, and
►nes schulen ryse to gidre a^ens fadris and modris, and
mysche hem by dee)>. :• And 3e schulen be in hate to alle 13
en for my name ; but he J>at schal susteyne in to )>e ende,
s schal be saf. :• ForsoJ>e whanne 3e schulen se ))e abhomy- 14
icioun of discomfort, stondinge wher it owi)> not; vndir-
onde he J)at redij); J)anne J)ei J>at be in Judee, flee in to
His. :• And he ))at is aboue ye roof, come he not doun in to 15
i hous, nei)>er entre he, )>at he take ony )>ing of his hows ; :•
id he })at schal be in ye feeld, turne not a3en byhynde for 16
1 take his clo)>.:- SoJ)li wo to hem J)at ben *wi)) childe, and 17
Drischinge in yo dayes. :• perfore preie 3e, Jjat J>ei ben not 18
3n in wyntir. ;• ForsoJ) ye ilke dayes of tribulacioun schulen 19
2 suche, whiche manere weren not fro ye bygynnynge of
•eature, ye which God made, til now, neij^er schulen be. :•
nd no -but ye Lord hadde breiggid )>o dayes, al fleisch, 20
- mankynde, hadde not be saf; but for ye chosene whom
* chees, ye Lord haj) breigged [)>e] dayes, or maad schorL >
nd Jjanne if ony man schulde seie to 30U, Lo ! here is Crist, 21
o I there, beleue 3e not.:- For fals Cristis and fals prophetis .22
:hulen ryse vp, ai>d schulen 3yue tokenes and grete wondris,
) disceyue, if it may be don, 3he, J>e chosene.:- perfore se 3e; 23
o I I haue bifore seid to 30U alle J)ingis. :• But in Jjo dayes, 24
Ur ydX tribulacioim, ye sunne schal be maad derk, and ye
one schal not 3yue hir schynyng,:- and sterris of heuenes ^s
•hal be fallinge doun, and vertues ))at be in Yiew^tife^, ^^xj^scl
Y 2
324 ^^JS? GOSPEL OF MARK.
a6 be mouyd.:« And )>anne yei schulen se mannis sone comynge
27 in cloudis of heuene, wi)> greet vertu and glorie.:- And ]ianne
he schal sende his aungels, and schal gedre his chosene fro
foure wyndis, fro )>e loweste )>ing of er)>e vnto J)e hi3este fing
28 of heuene.:- Forso))e of }>e fyge tree leme 36 })e parable
Whanne now his braunche schal be tendre, and leeujrs ben
29 sprongen out, ^e witen for somer is in )« nexte. :•• So and
whanne ^e schulen se alle ]>ese J)ingis ben maad, wite 3e, fat
30 it is in )>e nexte in ye doris.:- Treuly I seye to you, forjas
generacioun schal not passe awey, til alle J>ese )>ingis be don.:-
31 Heuene and erj)e schal passe, forso))e my wordis schulen not
32 passe.:- Treuly of J)at day or our no man woot, ne)>ir aimgdis
33 in heuene, ne)>er J)e sone, no-but )>e fadir.:* Se 36, wake 36,
34 and preie 3e ; soJ)li 3e witen not, whanne tyme is. :• For as a
man )>e which gon fer in pilgrimage, lefte his hous, and 3af
to his seruauntis power of euery work, and comaundide to Je
35 porter, J)at he schulde wake. :• perfore wake 36, forso)>e 36
. witen not, whanne ye lord of J)e hous come}>, in )>e euentide,
36 or in )>e mydny3t, or kockis crowynge, or morwynge;:- lest
37 whanne he schal come sudenly, he fynde 30U slepinge.:- For-
soJ)e J)at })at I seie to 30U, I seie to alle. Wake 36.
CAP. XIV.
1 Forsojje pask and ]>e feeste of J)erf looues withourifen sour-
dow^ was aftir J)e secunde day. And \e hi3este prestis and
scribis sou3ten, hou \€\ schulden holde him wi}> gile, and sle.:-
2 So))li ))ei seiden. Not in Jje feeste day, lest perauenture noyse
3 were maad in \e peple. :•• And whanne he was at Betanye, in
)>e hous of Symount leprous, and restid, a wonunan comynge,
hauynge a box of precious oynement spikanard; and the box
4 brokun, helde out on his heed.:- Forso)> Jjer weren sunune
beringe vnworJ)ily, or heuyh\ wi})-ynne hem silf, and seyinge,
5 Wherto is J)is loss of oynement maad?:» For }>is oynement
my3te haue be sold more }>an for ]>re hundrid pens, and be
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. ^7,^
aun to pore men. And )>ei groyneden in to hir.:- So})li'6
esus seide, Suffre hir; what be 36 heuy to hir? she ha)>
•0U3t good work in me. :• For euer more 3e schulen haue 7
ire men wij) 30U, and whanne 3e schulen wolle, 36 mown
> wel to hem ; forsoj) 3e schulen not euermore haue me. :•
le dide )>at J)at she hadde ; sche bifore cam for to anoynte 8
Y body into buriynge. :•• Treuli I seie to 30U, where euere 9 *
} gospel schal be prechid in al ))e world, and J)at J)is zvom-
m haj> done, schal be told in to mynde of hir.:- And Judas 10
:arioJ), oon of J)e twelue, wente to )>e hi3este prestis, )>at he
hulde bitray him to hem.;- pe whiche heerynge ioyeden, u
id bihi3ten hem to 3yue him money. And he sou3te how
: schulde bitraye him couenably.:- And ))e firste day of 12
rue loues, whenne pask was offrid, disciplis seyn to him,
Tiidir wolt ))OU we go, and make redy to )>ee, J>at ))Ou ete
Lsk?:- And he sendi)) tweyne of his disciplis, and seij> to 13
jm, Go 3e in to J)e citee, ^nd a man beringe a galoim of
itir schal renne to 30U, or came ayns y)u ; suwe 3e him. :-.
nd whidir euere he schal entre, seye 3e to )>e lord of J)e 14.
)us. For J)e maister seij>, Wher is my fulfilling, or eiyng place,
iiere I schal ete pask wij> my disciplis?:*. And he schal shewe 15
30U a greet souping place strewid, and J>ere make 3e redy
vs.:- And his disciplis wenten for)>, and camen in to j>e 16
iee, and founde as he hadde seid to hem ; and ))ei maden
dy pask. :- SoJjU euen maad, he cam wi)> twelue, :• And hem ^^
tinge at J>e mete, and etinge, Jhesus sei)>, Treuli I seie to
u, for oon of 30U Jjat eti)> wi)> me, schal bitraye me.:- And 19
i bigimnen for to be sori, and to seie, ech by hym silf,
'he))er I ? :- pe which seij> to hem, Oon of twelue )>at puttij> 20
I )>e bond wij> me in J>e plater.:' And soj>li mannis sone goj>, 21
it is writun of him; forso)) wo to ))at man, bi whom mannis
ne schal be bitrayd. It were good to him, if )>at ilke man
idde not be borun. :• And hem etinge, Jhesus took bred, 22
id blessinge brak, and 3af to hem,, and seij), Take 3e ; })is
326 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
33 is my body. :• And ))e cuppe takun, he doynge gracis jaf to
34 hem, and alle dmnkun )>erof. :• And he seij> to hem, pis is
my blood of J>e newe testament, J)e which schal be shedd out
25 for manye. :• Treuly I seie to 30U, for now I schal not diynke
of J)is fruit of vyne, til in to J)at daye whanne I schal drynke
36 it newe in J>e rewme of God. :• And ))e ympne, or henyngt^
37 seid, \€\ wenten out in to J)e hil of Olyues.:- And Jhesus sei^
to hem, Alle ^e schulen be sclaundrid in me in }>is ni3t; for
it is writun, I schal smyte J)e schepherde, and J>e scheep of
28 the floe schulen be disparplid.:- But aftir that I schal ryse
29 a3en, I schal go bifore 30U in to Galilee. :• ForsoJ> Petre sdj
30 to him, And if alle schulen be sclaundrid, but not I.:- And
Jhesus sei)> to him, Treuly I seie to )>ee, for J)Ou to day bifore\
J)e cok in J)is ny3t twyes 3yue vois, )>ries Jjou ert to denye
31 me.:- And he spak more, And if it hihoue me to dye to gidere
32 wi)) J)ee, I schal not denye thee. :• So)>li and lyk manere alle
seiden. And J>ei camen in to a place, to whom J>e name
GeJ)samany. And he seij) to his disciplis, Sitte 3e here, Y
33 while I preie. :• And he taki)) Petre and James and John wi)>
34 him, and bigan for to drede, and to heuye. :• And he seij) to
hem. My soule is sorwful til to j>e dee)> ; susteyne 3e, or ahidt
35 3^, here, and preie 36 wi)) me. :• And whanne he hadde gon
forth a litel, he felde down on ))e erj)e, and preiede, Jjat, if
* 36 it my3te be, \t our schulde passe fro him. :• And he seide,
Fadir, alle ))ingis ben possible to J)ee, turne fro me fis
37 cuppe; but not ))at I wole, but J)at J)at ))Ou.:- And he cam^
and fond hem slepynge. And he seij) to Petre, Symount,
38 slepist Jjou? my3tist ))0U not wake wij) me oon our ?:• Wake
3e, and preie 3e, ))at 3e entre not in to temptacioun ; forsoJ)e
39 J)e spirit is redy, but J)e fleisch syk. :•• And eftsoone he goynge
40 preiede, \t same word seyinge.:-And he tumyd ajen eftsoone,
fond hem slepinge; so))li her y3en were greuyd. And J)ei
41 knewen not, what \€\ schulden answere to him.:- And he cam
))e l)ridde tyme, and seij) to hem, Slepe 3e nowe, and reste
THE- GOSPEL OF MARK. 327
5e ; soJ)li it sufficij>. pe our come)> ; loo ! mannis sone schal
be bitrayed in to hondis of synful men. :• Ryse ^e, go we ; 42
loo I he J)at schal bytraye me is ny^.:- And, 3it him spekinge, 43
Judas Scario]>, oori of j>e twelue, cam, and wij) him moche
cumpeny wi}) swerdis and staues, sent fro ))e hi3este prestis,
and scribis, and fro ))e eldere men.:- Forso))e J)e traitour 44
hadde 30uun to hem a tokene, seyinge, Whom euere I schal
kisse, he it is ; holde 36 him, and lede 3e warly, or queyntely, :-
And whanne he cam, anon he cominge to him, sei)), Maistir; 45
and he kisside him. :• And J)ei layden hondis in to him, and 46
heelden him. :• So)>li oon of men stondinge aboute, ledinge 47
out a swerd, smot }>e seniaunt of J)e hi3este prest, and kitte
of to him an eere. :• And Jhesus answeringe sei)) to hem, As 48
to a J)ef 3e han gon out wij) swerdis and staues, for to take
me ?:• ForsoJ) day by day I was at 30U, techinge in J)e temple, 49
and 3e heelden not me; but ))at )>e scripturis be fulfillid.:-
panne him forsakun, alle his disciplis fledden.:- So))li sum ^i
3ong man, clo)>id wiJ) lynnen clo)) on J)e bare, suede him ;
and J)ei heelden him.:- And )>e lynnen clo)) forsakun, he nakid 52
flei3 awey fro hem.: -And ))ei ledden Jhesu to ))e hi3este prest. 53
And all camen to gidere in to oon, )>e prestis and ]>e scribis
and eldere men.:- Forso)) Petre suede him afer til wi))-ynne 54
in to ])e halle of ))e hi3este prest. And he sat wi)) ]>e myny-
stris, and warmyde him at ]>e fier. :- Forso))e j>e hi3este prestis, 55
and al ye counceil, sou3ten witnessinge a3ens Jhesu, ))at j>ei
schulen 3yue him to dee)) ; ne))er ))ei founden. :• So))li manye 56
seiden fals witnessinge a3ens him, and ye witnessingis weren
not couenable.:- And summe risynge sou3ten fals witnessing 57
a3ens hym, seyinge, :• For we han herd him seiynge, I schal 58
vndo ))is temple maad wi)) hondis, and aftir ]>e ))ridde day I
schal bilde a no)>er not maad wi)) hondis.:- And ye witnessing £9
of hem was not couenable. :• Forso))e ye hi3este prest rysinge 60
vp in to )>e myddel, axide him, seyinge, Answerist you not
ony )nng to yo })ingis ))at ben put to yee of yese ? :• So))li he 6|i
328 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
was stille, and no )>ing answeride. Eftsoone }>e hi3est prest
axide him, and seide to him, Ert ))Ou Crist, ))e sone of blessid
62 God ? :• So)>li Jhesus seide to him, I am ; and ^e schulen se
mannis sone sittinge on }>e ri^t half of )>e vertu pf God, and
63 comynge in cloudis of heuene. ;• Forso}> })e hi3est prest, kit-
64 tinge his clo))is, seij>, What 3it desyren we witnessis ? :• 3e ban
herde blasphemye. What semej> to 30U? pe whiche alle
65 condempneden him for to be gilty of dee}>.:« And summe
bigxmnen for to bispitte him, and to hide his y^en, and
sm>le him wij> boflfatis, and seie to him, Prophecie Jk)U.
66 And )>e mynystris beeten him wij> strokis, or boffatis.:-* And
whanne Petre was in })e halle bynej>en, oon of }>e hand
67 maydens of )>e hi^est prest cam. :• And whanne sche hadde
seyn Petre warmynge him, sche biholdinge him seij), And
68 J>ou wast wij> Jhesu of NazareJ). :• And he denyede, seyinge,
NeJ)ir I woot, nej)er I haue knowun, what ))Ou seist. And he
69 wente for j> bifore )>e halle ; and anon ))e cok song. :• Eftsone
forso))e whanne a no)>er hand mayde hadde seyn him, she
bigan for to seie to men stondinge aboute, For J>is is of hem.:-
70 And he eftsone denyede. And aftir a litil, eftsoone )>ei J>at
stooden ny^, seiden to Petre, Verily J)Ou ert of hem, forwM
71 and Jjou ert of Galilee.:- So))li he bigan for to curse and
72 swere. For I knowe not ))is man, whom 3e seyn.:- And anon
eftsoones ))e cok song. And Petre bi)>ou3te on J)e werd fat
Jhesus hadde seid to him, Bifore J)e cok synge twyes, J)ries
I ))Ou schalt denye me. And he bigan for to wepe. And
anon J)e morwe maad, J)e hi3este prestis, makinge counceil
wi)) )>e eldere men, and scribis, and al ))e counceil, byndinge
Jhesu, ledden, and bitooken to Pilat.
CAP. XV.
3 And Pilat axide him. Art ))Ou kyng of Jewis ? And he
3 answeringe sei)) to him, pou seyst. :• And {)e hi3este prestis
4 accusiden him in manye fingis.:- Pilat forsoJ>e eftsoone axide
THE GOSPEL OF MARK. 329
lim, seyinge, pou answerist not ony )>ing? Seest ))OU, in
low manye })ingis J>ei accusen J>ee ? :•• Forso)>e Jhesus more 5
10 J>ing answeride, so })at Pilat schulde wondre. :• ForsoJ) by 6
I solemne day he was wont to leeue to hem oon bounden,
^hom euere J)ei axiden.:- Forso)> J)ere was he J)at was seid 7
Barabas, J)at was boundun wi)> sleeris of men, and )>at hadde
ion manslau3tre in seduciomi, fhaf is, dehaat in cytee, :• And 8
^banne )>e cmnpany hadde sti^e vp, he bigan for to preye,
IS he euermore dide to hem.:- Sojjely Pilat answeride to 9
lem, and seide, Wolen ^e I leeue to 30U )>e kyng of Jewis ? :•
5oJ>li he wiste, J>at )>e hi^este prestis hadden taken him by 10
muye.:- Forso)>e ))e bischopis stireden J)e cumpenye of peple, n
|>at more he schulde leeue to hem Barabas. :• Forso)) eftsoone 1 2
Pilat answeringe sei)) to hem, What )>erfore wolen ^e I schal
do to )>e kyng of Jewis ?:• And )>ei eftsoone crieden, Crucifie 13
aym, or put hym on the cros,:- Forso)) Pilat seide to hem, 14
So)>li what of yuel ha)) he don ? And ))ei crieden more,
Crucifie him.:- So))li Pilat willinge for to do ynow to ))e 15
peple, lefte to hem Barabas, and bitook to hem Jhesu,
smyten, or betun, wi)) scourgis, ))at he schulde be crucified. :-
Forso))e kny^tis ledden him wi))ynne, in to ))e floor of ))e 16
moot halle, and clepiden to gidere al \t cumpenye of kny3tis, :•
and clo))iden him wi)) purpur. And fei foldinge a corowne 1 7
of J)omes, puttiden to him;:* and bigunnen for to greet him, 18
sayinge^ Hail, ))OU kyng of Jewis.:- And ))ei smyten his heed 19
wi}) a reede, and bispatten him ; and puttinge her knees ))ei
worshipiden him.:- And aftir ))at ))ei hadden scornyd him, 20
t)ei vnclo))iden him fro purpur, and clo))edyn him wi)) his
clo))is, and ledden him, ))at )7ei schulde crucifie him.:- And 21
|)ei constreyneden sum man passynge for)), Symount of Sy-
renen, comynge fro ))e town, ))e fadir of Alysandre and Rufe,
t)at he schulde take his cross.:- And ))ei ledden him in to a 22
place Golgoj)a, })at is interpretid, or expowned, \e place of
Caluarie.:- And fei ^auen him for to drynke wyn meddelid 23
330 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
24 wi)> myrre, and he took not:- And J)ei cracifi}Tige him de-
partiden his clo^is, sendinge lot, who schukle. take what :-
25 Forso)> it was J>e )>ridde our, fha/ mm clepen vndrun^ and \i\
26 crucifieden him. :• And J)e title of his cause was writun, Jhesus
27 of Nazare)), k>Tig of Jewis.:- And J>ei crucifien wi)> him twey
28 feues, oon at ]>e ri3thalf, and oon at his lefthalf.:* And )«
prophecie is fulfild )>at sei)>, And he is gesside, or ordeyned,
29 wi)) wickide men. ;• And passinge for)> J>ei blasfemyden him,
mouynge her heedis, and seyinge, Fy^ X ^u j«it distroyest
30 J)e temple of God, and in J)re dayes ^en bildest it ; :•• J>ou
31 comynge dovi-n fro ]>e cros, make )>i self saf.:- Also and )«
hi^este prestes scomynge him, ech to o))er, wi}> scribis,
seiden, Crist, kyng of Yjrael, maade o))ere men saf, he maye
32 not saue him silue.:- Come he down now fro \e cross, jiat
we se, and bileue. And J)ei J)at weren crucified wi)> him,
33 puttedyn wrong, or /ah repref, to him.:- And J>e sixte our,
or mydday, maad, derknessis ben maad vpon al J)e er))e til in
34 to J)e nyn)>e our, thai w, noon. :• And in j)e nynj)e our Jhesus
criede wi)) greet vois, seyynge, Heloy, Heloy, lamazabatany,
)>e which interpretid is. My God, my God, whi, or wherto,
35 hast J)0u forsake me?:- And summe of men stondinge aboute
36 heeringe seiden, Lo ! he clepi)) Hely. :- So))li oon rennynge,
and fillinge a sponge wi)) vynegre, and puttinge aboute to a
reede, 3aue him drynke, seyinge, Suffre ^e, se we, if Hely
^7 come for to do hym down.:- Forso)) Jhesus, a greet vois sent
38 out, deiede, or sente out the bre\, :- And jje veil of ))e temple
is kitt in to tweyne fro ))e hi3este til to down, or bynethe,:-
39 Forso)) centurio seynge, ))e which stood euene a^enst, for so
criynge he hadde deied, sei)), Verrili, J)is man was Goddis
40 sone. :• So))li ))ere weren and o))ere wymmen biholdinge fro
affer, among whiche was Mary Mawdeleyn, and Man of
41 James the lasse, and modir of Joseph, and Salome, :•• And
whanne Jhesus was in Galilee, )>ei folowiden him, and myn-
ystriden to him, s^ud matvy^ o\ei^ wjimmen, >^\. \a ^dere
TBE GOSPEL OF MARK. 331
eden vp wij) him to Jerusalem.:' And whanne euentyd 42
J now maad, for it was J>e euentyd bifore ]>e sabo)>, :• Joseph 43
Arma)>ie, ))e noble decurioun, fka/ hadde ten men vndir
t, cam, J)e which and he was abidinge \q rewme of God ;
I hardily he entride in to Pilat, and axide J)e body of Jhesu. :•
•so)>e Pilat wondride, if he hadde now deied. :• And cen- ^^
o axid to, or bron^ tOy he axide him, if he were now
d ; and whianne he hadde knowun of centurio, he ^af J>e
ly of Jhesu to Joseph. :• SoJ)li Joseph byitige him lynnen 46
|>, and doynge him doun, wlappede in )>e lynen clo)>, and
tide in a newe sepulcre )>at was hewen in a stoon, and
ewid to a stoon at )>e mou)> of the sepulcre.
CAP. XVI.
kiarie Mawdeleyn forsoJ)e, and Marie of Joseph biheelden, 47
sre he was putt.:- And whanne \q sabo)> hadde passid, i
lie Mawdeleyn, and Marie of James, and Salome bou3ten
lementis, )>at ))ei comynge schulden anoynte Jhesu :• And 2
eerly in oon of woke dayes, J)ei camen to J)e sepulcre, J)e
me now sprungen vp. :• And fei seiden to gidere, Who 3
al turne a^en to vs J)e stoon fro J)e dore of J)e sepulcre ? :•
d J>ei biholdinge sy^en ))e stoon walewid awey, forsoj) it 4
5 ful greet.:- And j)ei goynge yn into )>e sepulcre sy^en a 5
ig oon^ hilid wi)> a whit stoole, sittinge at J)e ri3t half; and
weren abaist, or greeili a/erd,:- pe which seij> to hem, 6
le 5e drede ; ^e seken Jhesu of Nazarejj crucified ; he ha)>
m, he is not heere ; lo ! ))e place where ))ei puttiden him. :•
t go 5e, seye ^e to his disciplis, and to Petre, for he schal 7
byfore 30U in to Galilee ; jjere ^e schulen se him, as he
ie to you. :• And )>ei goynge out fledden fro J>e sepulcre ; 8
50j>e drede and quakynge hadde assaylid hem, or gon
to hem, and to no man \€\ seiden ony J)ing, forsoj) )>ei
dden.:- SoJ)ly Jhesus, rysinge erly in \^ first day of ^ 9
like, apperide Grste to Mary Mawddeyiv, cS. ^^V^xsvV^
332 THE GOSPEL OF MARK.
10 hadde cast out seuene deuelis.:- She goynge tolde to hem
11 )>at weren wij) him, hem weylinge and wepjnage.:- And ])ei
heeringe J>at he lyuede, and was seyn of hir, bileueden not.:*
12 So)>li after J>es ))ingis tweyne of hem wandringe, he is
schewld in an oJ>er lyknesse, or figure, to hem goynge in
13 to a toun. :• And }>ei goynge toolden to oJ>ere, nej)ir ))ei
14 bileuyden to hem. :• ForsoJ) at })e laste, hem enleuene rest-
inge, Jhesus apperide to hem, and reprouyde J>e vnbileue
of hem, and J)e hardnesse of herte, for }>ei bileuyden not to
15 hem, Jjat hadden seyn him to haue risun fro deede.:- And
he seide to hem, 3e goynge in to al ))e world, preche J)e
16 gospel to ech creature.:* He Jjat schal bileue, and schal be
baptisid, or cristenyd, schal be sauyd; so)>li he )>at schal
1 7 bileue not, schal be dampned. :•• ForsoJ> J>ese tokenes schulen
sue hem, J)at schulen bileue. In my name J)ei schulen cast
18 out fendis; J>ei schulen speke wiJ) newe timgis;:- J>ei schulen
do awey serpentis ; and if J)ei schulen drynke ony venym,
or deedli \ing, that bryngi}p dee^, it schal not noye hem.
pei schulen putte hir hondis vpon sike men, and })ei schulen
19 haue wel.:-And so)>li J)e Lord Jhesu, aftir J)at he hadde spoke
to hem, is takun vp in to heuene, and sitti)) on ]>e ri3thalf
20 of God. :• So))li Jjei gon forJ> prechiden euerywhere, the
Lord worchinge wi)), and conferminge j)e word wij> signes
folowinge.
Here endi)> ]>e gospel of Mark,
XXIV.
JOHN DE TREVISA.
A.D. 1387.
John Trevisa was a native of Cornwall, but resided chiefly in
Gloucestershire, being vicai- of Berkeley, and chaplain to Thomas
Lord Berkeley. He is said to have been the author of an English
version of the Old and New Testaments ; of which, however,
nothing is now known.
His best-known work is a translation of HigderCs Polychronicon^
which was completed in a. d. 1387. It was printed by Gaxton in
1482, with a continuation of the narrative from 1357 to 1460.
The first volume of a complete edition oihigderCs Polychronicon,
with Trevisa*s translation, has been published under the direction
of the Master of the Rolls, but as the English MS. selected for
that edition is not, philologically, a very important one, the con-
temporary MS. Tiberius D. vii. (collated with Harl. MS. 1900) in
the Southern dialect has been resorted to for the following extracts.
The second extract, 736^ Norman Invasioriy exhibits more of the
translator's provincialisms than are apparent in the former one ;
and may be advantageously compared with Robert of Gloucester's
narrative of this event (p. 62) in the same dialect.
I.
Description of Britain.
As Fraunce passej) Britayn, so Brytain passe)> Irlond yn
fayr weder 3 noblet^, bute no^t yn heljie ; for \\% ylond ys
best to brynge for)) tren, 3 fruyt, 3 roj^eron, 3 oJ>ere bestes,
3 wyn growe)> J)er-ynne in som places, pe lond haj) plenty
of foules 1 of bestes, of dyvers manere kinde; J)e lond ys
plentuos 1 ))e se also; J)e lond ys noble, copious, -^ r^cte oC
334 DESCRIPTION OF BRITAIN.
noble welles, •] of noble ryvers wij> plent6 of fjrsch. par ys
gret plent^ of smal fysch ^ of eeles, so J)at cherles in som
place feedej) sowes wij> fysch. par buj) ofte ytake dolphyns,
-} se-calves, ;i balenes, (gret fysch, as hyt were of whaales
kunde) ;| dj-vers manere schyl-fysch, among }>e whoche schyl-
fysch buJ) moskles fat habbe]> wijiynne ham margey pedes
of al manere colom* oP hu3*|Of rody ;| red, of purpre ;| of blu^',
-] specialych 3 moost of whyte. par ys also plenty of schyl-
fysch fat me dyej) wij> fyn reed ; ^e rednes fer-of ys wondre
fayr ;| stable, ;| steynej) nevere wij> cold ne wij> heete, wij>
weete ne wif dry the, bote evere J>e elfer j>e hu ys J>e veyrer;
far buf also salt welles ;j hoote welles, fer-of eomej) stremes
of hoot bafes, to-deled in dyvers places acordyng ifor man ]
womman, ;i for al maner age, 3ong 3 old^.
Basilius seif fat fe water J>at eomef ^ passef by veynes
of certyn metayl takef in hys com-se gret heete. pys ylond
ys plentuous of veynes of metayls, of bras, of yre, of leed, of
tyn, "3 of selver ; also yn f is ylond, under j>e torf of J>e lond,
ys good marl yfounde. pe thryft of f e fatnes dryef hymsylf
ferynne, so fat evere f e fykker f e feeld ys ymarled J>e betre
com hyt wol bere. per ys also anofer maner whyt marl, fe
lond ys fe betre four score ^er fat f erwif ys ymarled.
Yn f is ylond growef a ston fat hatte gagates ; ^ef me
axef hys feymesse — ^a ys blak as gemmes buj>; ^ef me axef
hys kunde — a brennef yn water 3 quenchef in oyle ; ^ef me
axef hys my3t--3if a ys yfroted ;j yhat a ^ holdef what hym
ney3hef; 3ef me axef hys goodnes— hyt heelef fe dropesy^'
hyt be ydrongke ; y tend in f e fuyr hyt feref away serpentes ;
3ef hys ys hat hyt holdef what hym ney3hef, as succuus
a ston fat so hatte.
par buf scheep fat beref good wpUe ; far buj> meny hertes
J wyld^ bestes, "] few^ wolves, f erfore scheep buf }>e more
^ Harl. MS. reads and bewe. ' For bw or hew. * For biw or blewe,
* Harl. MS. reads be, » Harl. MS. has iV. « For an.
DESCRIPTION OF BRITAIN. 335
sykerlych^, wiJ>oute kepynge ylefte yn fe foold; 3 yn ))is
ylond also buj> meny cites •] tounes faire, noble, ;j ryche ;
meny greU ryv^TS ^ stremes wij) gret plenty of fysch ; meny
fayr^ wodes ^ gret^ wij> wel meny bestes, tame ^ wylde. pe
eorjje of J)at lond ys copious of metayl oor ;j of salt^ welles ;
of quareres of marbel, of dyvers manere stones, of reed, of
whyt, of nasche, of hard, of chalk, •} of whyt lym ; far ys
also whyt cley *J reed for to make of crokkes ^ steenes ^
ojjer vessel, ^ bamd tyyl to hele wij> hous ^ churches, as hyt
were in J>e o^r Samia ))at hatte Samos. Also Flaundres
lovej) ))e wolle of J)is lond, ;) Normandy J>e skynnes ;| j>e
fellys ; Gaskuyn ye yre-jye leed ; Irlond Jie oor 3 Jie salt ; al
Europa love)) ;j desyrej> ))e whyt^ metayl of ))is lond.
Brytayn haj> ynow of al matyr fat neodej> bugge 3 sulle,
ojjer ys neodfol to mannes use ; far lakkef nevere salt 3 yre,
farfore a versefyour in hys metre preysef fis lond in fis
manere : —
Engelond ys good lond fruytfol of fe wolle, bote a kornere!
Engleond fol of pley ! freomen wel worfy to pleye ! freomen,
freo tonges, fe hert^ freo! Freo buf alle fe leden; here bond
ys more freo, more betre fan here tonge.
Also Engelond hy3t of lond, * flour of londes al aboute ;'
fat lond ys fol payd wif fruyt ^ good of hys oune. Straange
men fat neodef fat lond wel efte releuef ; whan hongur
grevef, fat lond al men such feedef ; fat lond ys good ynow;
wondur moche fruyt beref 3 com ; fat lond ys wel at eese,
as long as men lyvef in peese. Est 3 west al lond knowef
havnes ry^t wel of Engelond ; here schyppes foondes j ofte
helpef meny londes. par mete, far monay men habbef
more comyn alway, for beer fat creftes-men wol gladlych^
3eue 3yftes yn lond 3 yn strond. Wel wyde men spekef of
Engelond. Lond [of] bony, mylk, chyse ! f is lond schal here
fe pryse as al londes ry3t. pis ylond haf neode to noone ;
al londes mot seeche help neodes of f is alone of lykyng
33^ DESCRIPTION OF BRITAIN.
j>er woon. Wondrye ray^U Salomon the rychesse ]>at ]>ar ys
an; ^eme wolde Octavian.
In Brytayn buj) hoot^ welles wel arayed ^ yhy3t to J>e
use of mankunde. Maystere[sse] of j>ulke welles ys j>e gret^
spyryt of Minerva. Yn hys hous fuyr duyrej) alwey J)at never
chaungej> into askes, bote j)ar j)e fuyr slakej> hyt chaungejj
yn to stony clottes.
Yn Brytayn buj) meny wondres, noj^eles foure buj> most
wonderfol. pe furste ys at Pectoun ))ar blowej? so strong
a wynd out of j)e chenes of ))e eorfe J>at hyt castej) up
a^e clojjes Jiat me caste)) yn. pe secunde ys at Stonhenge,
bysydes Salesbury, ))ar gret^ stones ^ wondur huge bu])
arered an hy3, as hyt were ^ates, so ))at jjar semej> ^ates yset
apon ojjer^ 3ates ; nojieles hyt ys no^t clerlych yknowe no))er
parceyvet hoU3 ^ wharfore a buj) so arered ;i so wonderlych
yhonged. pe Jiridde ys at Sherdhol ))ar ys gret holwenes
undur eorJ)e ; ofte meny men habbej) ybe })erynne ^ ywalked
about wij)ynne ^ yseye ryvers ^ streemes, bote nowhar
connej) hy fynde non ende. pe feurj)e ys ))at reyn ys yseye
arered up of J)e hulles, ^ anon yspronge aboute in j>e feeldes.
Also |)er ys a gret pond Jiat conteynej) )>re score ylondes
covenable for men to dwelle ynne, ))at pound ys by-clypped
aboute wij) sixscore rooches ; apon everych rooch ys an egle
hys nest ; and })re score ryvers eornej) into to }>at pound and
non of ham alle eornej) into J)e se bot on. par ys a ponnd
yclosed aboute wiJ) a wal of tyyl ^ of ston ; yn \2X pound
men waschej) ^ bafej) wel ofte, and everych man feelej) ))e
water hoot ojier cold ry3t as a wol hymsylf. par buj> also
salt^ welles fer fram J)e se ^ buj) salt al ])e woke long forto
Saturday noon, and fersch^ fram Saturday noon forto Mone-
day. pe water of ])is welles whanne hys ysode turnej) into
smal salt, fayr j whyyt. Also J>ar ys a pond ])e water ))er-of
haj> wondur worchynge, for {)ey al an ost stood by Jje pond ;j
turnede Jje face J>yderward J>e water wolde drawe vyolentlych^
DESCRIPTION OF BRITAIN. 337
toward J>e pond 3 weete al here clojies ; so scholde hors be
drawe yn J>e same wyse, bote-jef Jje face ys aweyward fram
J)e water j>e water noyej> no3t. per ys a wel non streem
eomej> J>arfram nojier J>erto, and 3et four maner fysch buj>
ytake j)ar"ynne. pat welle ys bote twenty foot long 3 twenty
foot brood -] no3t deop, bote to fe kneo, and ys yclosed wij)
hy3^ bankkes in everych syde.
Yn J>e contray aboute Wynchestre ys a den; out of ))at
den alwey bloweJ> a strong wynd, so J>at no man may endure
for to stonde tofor^ l)at den. par ys also a pond J)at turne)>
tre into yre -] hyt be ))er-ynne al a 3er; and so tren buj)
yschape into whetstones.
Also J>er ys yn fe cop of an hul a buryel ; everych man
Qwit] comeJ> •} mete)) J>at buriel a schal fynde hyt evene ry3t of
hys oune meete, -} 3ef a pylgrym ojier eny wery man kneoleJ>
J)er-to, anon a schal be al fersch and of werynes schal he
feele non nuy. Fast^ by Jie ministre of Wynbumey, fat ys
no3t fer fram Bathe, ys a wode J>at berej> moche fruyt. 3^^
|>e tren of J>at wode falle into a water ojier grounde []?at] Jiar ys
ny3 ;j lygge J>ar al a 3er J>e tren teorneJ> ynto stoones. Under
J)e cit^ of Chestre eomej) ))e ryver Dee, fat now to-deleJ>
Engelond ;| Wales ; fat ryver everych monthe chaungef his
fordes, as men of fe contray tellef, -} levef ofte fe chanel.
Bote whefer fe water drawe more toward Engelond ofer
toward Wales, to what syde fat hyt be fat 3er, men schal
habbe f e wors ende ;i be overset, ;i fe men of f e of er syde
schal habbe f e betre ende, ;i be at here above. Whanne fe
water chaungef , so hys cours hyt bodef such happes. pis
ryver Dee eometh ;| comef out of f e lake fat hatte Pimbil-
mere. Yn f e ryver is gret plenty of samon, nof eles in the
lake ys never samon yfounde.
Tak heede how gret ly3t ;j bry3tnesse of God hys myldenes
haf byschyne Englysche men seyf the fat hy tumede furst
to ry3tfol byleve; so fat of no men yn on provynce buf
z
338 DESCRIPTION OF BRITAIN.
yfounde so meny hole bodies of men after here dee^ yn
lyknes of everlestyng j>at schal be after j>e day of doom, as
hyt wel semej> in j>is holy seintes, Etheldred, Edmund J>e kyng,
Elphege ;| Cuthbert. Y trowe fat hyt ys ydo by special
grace of God Almy^ty, for fe nacion )>at y% yset, as hyt
were, wi)>oute j>e worlde scholde take heed to dujrryng of
bodyes withoute comipcion ;i rotjmg, and be J>e more bold
3 studefast for to tryste on J>e fynal arysyng of ded^ bodyes
for to leste evere more after jie day of doome
De incolarum Unguis,
As hyt ys yknowe hou^ meny people bu)> in J>is ylonde, jier
buj> also of so meny people longages :i tonges; nojjeles
Walschemen 3 Scottes fat buj> no3t ymelled wij> o\^xe nacions
holdej) wel ny3 here furste longage ;i speche. Bote jet
Scottes, fat were some tyme confederat ^ wonede wif !«
Pictes, drawe somwhat after here speche. Bote fe Flem-
ynges fat wonef in f e west syde of Wales habbef yleft
here straunge speche ;| spekef Saxonlych ynow. Also
Englysch^ men f eyj hy hadde fram f e bygynnynge f re maner
speche, Souf eron, Norf eron, 3 Myddel speche (in fe myddel
of fe lond) as hy come of fre maner people of Germania;
nofeles, by commyxstion 3 mellynge furst with Danes 3
afterward wif Normans, in menye fe contray longage ys
apeyred, 3 som usef strange wlaffynge, chyterynge, harrynge
-J garrynge 3 grisbitinge. pis apeyryng of fe burfe-tonge
ys bycause of twey f inges, — on ys for chyldem in scoles
a3enes fe usage and manere of al ofer^ nacions buf com-
pelled for to leve here oune longage, 3 for to construe here
lessons 3 here f ingis a Freynsch 3 habbef suf the f e Normans
come furst into Engelond. Also gentilmen children buf
ytaujt for to speke Freynsch fram tyme fat a buf yrokked in
here cradel, 3 connef speke 3 pleye wif a child hys brouch;
and uplondysch^ men wol lykne hamsylf to gentile men 3
DESCRIPTION OF BRITAIN. 339
>nde]> wij> gret bysynes for to speke Freynsch for to be
aore ytold of
pys manure wa^ moche y-used tofore J>e furste moreyn *]
s sej>the somdel ychaunged, for John Cornwal, a maystere
>f gramere, chaungede ]>e lore in gramere scole, •] con-
truccion of Freynsch into Englysch ; j Richard Pencrych^
umede ])at manere techynge of hym, 3 ojiere men of Pen-
;rych^; so ))at j)e ^er of oure Lord, a j>ousond ))re hondred,
bure score '} fyve of )»e secunde kyng Richard after J>e con-
quest nyne, in al ))e gramere scoles of Engelond chijdern
euej) Freynsch ^ construe)) ;j lurnej> an Englysch, •] habbe]>
)ex-by av^aujitage in on syde ^ desavauntage yn anoj>er;
lere avauntage ys Jiat a lurnej> here gramere yn lasse tyme
j>an childern were ywoned to do — disavaimtage ys j>at now
:hildren of gramere scole connej) no more Frensch Jian can
iiere lift heele, ;) jjat ys harm for ham, ;j a scholle passe Jie
se •] travayle in strange londes, ^ in meny caas also. Also
gentil men habbej> now moche yleft for to teche here chil-
dern Freynsch. Hyt seme)) a gret wondur hou3 Englysch J>at
ys J>e bur))-tonge of Englyschemen ^ here oune longage
3 tonge ys so dyvers of soon^ in J)is ylond, ^ the longage of
Normandy ys comlyng of anoj^er lond, ^ haj> oa manere
soon among al men fat spekej> hyt ary3t in Engelond.
No|>eles j>er ys .as meny dyuers manere Frensch yn )>e rem
of Eraunce as ys dyvers manere ikiglysche in J>e rem of
Engelond.
Also of ye forseyde Saxon tonge fat ys deled a fre, ^3 ys
abyde scarslych^ wij> feaw uplondysch^ men ;j ys gret wondur,
for men of )>e est wij> men of fe west, as hyt were imder
Jie same part of heyvene, acordeJ> more in soimynge of
speche fan men of fe norJ> wif men of f e souf ; ferfore hyt
ys fat Mercii, fat buf men of myddel Engelond, as hyt were
parteners of f e endes, undurstondef betre f e syde longages,
* For soun.
Z 2
340 THE NORMAN INVASION.
Nor|>eron and SouJ>eron, fan Norj)em 3 Sou)>em undur-
stondej> oyj>er o})er.
Al 1)6 longage of J>e Norfhumbres, "] specialych at Jorke,
ys so scharp, slyttynge, "^ frotynge, ^ unschape jwit we
Soujieron men may j>at longage mme|;e undurstonde. Y
trowe j)at ys bycause Jiat a bu)) ny3 to strange men •] aliens
J>at spekej> straungelyche, •] also bycause })at J>e kynges of
Engelond wonej> alwey fer fram j>at contray, for a bu|> more
ytmud to ))e souj> contray; •] ^ef a goj> to }>e norj> contray
a goj) wi)> gret help •] strengthe. pe cause why a buj> more
in j)e souJ> contray ))an in j^e Nor)) may be [for] betre comlond,
more people, more noble cytes, ^ more profytable havenes.
IL
7^ Norman Irwaston.
Whanne Harold was yset op in ))e kyngdom he* J)03te no^t
on J)e covenantes ))at were ymade bytwene hym •] William;
he huld hym-sylf deschargede of ))e 0)), vor William hys
dou3ter fat he hadde yspoused was ded wyfinne age of
wedlok, and also vor William was ocupyed wyj) werres in
londes fat were ny3 hym.
Bote William warnede hym of covenaunt ybroke ^ mellede
manas wyf prayers. Harold seyde fat a nyse folly cove-
naunt scholde no3t be yholde, ^ nameUche f e byhest of
ofere menne kyngdom, wyfoute comyn assent of alle fe
senatours ; f are^ a lewede of scholde be ybroke, namelyche
while hyt was compelled to be yswore vor nede in a
nedfol tyme.
In fe menetyme William arayef al fat nedef vor fe
journey ^ getef assent of fe lordes of hys lond, and
purchaseth favour of Alisaunder fe pope, wyf a baner fat
hym was sent.
THE NORMAN INVASION. 34I
pues were Jie causes why Due William axede ^ chalengede
Englond a^enes Harold: — pe dej) of Alvredus j)at was hys
cosyn, J>e sone of Emma on Alvredus, hadde yproc[u]red
his deth; J>e secunde J>e exilyng of Robert Archebyschop
of Canturbury ; j>e frydde cause was, vor kyng Edward hadde
byhote due William fat a scholde be kyng after hym ef he
dyede wyjjoute chyldem ; j Harold was yswore to volvulle
)>at byheste.
pe lordes of Normandy consaylede among hemsylf what
was beste to do of J>ys journey ; •] William J>at was the due
hys sewer, J)e sone of Osbert, consaylede to leve and vorr
sake J>e journey, bo))e vor scarst^ of vy3tynge ;j vor stryngfe,
hardynes •] stumnes ^ cruwelnes of enemyes. pe oJ>ere
lordes were glad here-of •] pot/? here answere ^ here wordes
oppon J>es William hys mou]>, al as he wolde sygge,
Whanne he com tovore )>e due he seyde that he was redy
to ))e journey ^ alle J>e o))ere lordes; fanne my3te no3t fe
lordes wyfdrawe vor schame.
Whanne due William •] hys men were longe ytaryed in
Seynt Valeric hys haven, vor )>e wynd was a3enes ham, J>e
pupel grucchede ^ seyde fat hyt was a wodnes to ehalange
by stryngfe ofere menne lond, j namelyche while God strof
a3enes ham, -} God moste graunte ham good wynd ef hy
scholde seyle. Due William made brynge out Seynt
Valerieus hys holy body •] sette hym fer-oute vor to have
wynd. Anone lykynge wynde vulde fe seyles.
panne due Willam cam toward Englond, after Michel-
masse day "] londede at Hastynge in a plas J>at hatte Pevene-
seye. In his goynge out of hys schyp a slod wyj> hys o voot
3 stykede in fe'sond; •] fe kny3t J>at was nexte eriede to
him anon •] seyde: — *Now Ser Erie fou boldest Englond^
fou sehalt ry3t neulieluf be kyng/ panne he chargede fat
by scholde taJte no prayes, -} seyde j)at a most spare fynges
p^t scholde be hys oune. And [he] lefle so vyll^iv^ da^N^^.
34^ THE SORMAN INVASION.
Harold com vram werre of Noreganes ^ horde tyfynges
hereof 3 hvede wel vast 3 hadde bote veaw^ knj^tes aboute
hym, vor he hadde ylost meny stalword men in J>e rafcr^
batayle, 3 he hadde no5t jsent vor more help; and, |>cy3
a hadde, men were wroJ>e ^ wolde have wy)>drawe ham,
vor hy moste have no part of J« prayes in J>e batayk of
Noreganes. Bote Harold sent vorf spyes vor to aweytc
•] se j>e numbere ^ j>e string)>e of hys enymyes. Due Wfliam
touk )m[es spyes] and ladde ham aboute hys tentes 3 hys
pav}'lons -^ vedde ham ry3t realyche ;) sent ham to
Harold a^e.
panne hy tolde Harold tyjiynges ;) seyde I>at al )«it were
in due William his ost were prustes, vor hy hadde J>e chekes
;) bo|>e lyppes yschave. Englysch^ men usede ]«t tyme
j>e here of here overlyppes to-sched •] no^t yschore. 'Nay/
quaj> Harold, ' hy bej> no prustes bote a bej) wel stalword
kny3tes.' panne quaj> Gurth, Harold hys 3ungeste broj>er;—
* why wolt j)OU unware vy3te w}'J> so meny orped men. We
swore hym never non oJ> ; J>anne hyt ys betere fat J)Ou fat art
yswore to hym wyjTdrawe fe vor j>e^ a tyme ^ lete us fat be)»
no3t yswore vy^te vor j>e contray ; *] ef we habbef fe maystry
wel hyt ys, ^ ef we bef overccMne fe cause •] )>e querel ys
saf to fe/
3ut due William sent a mon to Harold ^ profede hym
fre weyes : — Ofer fat a scholde leve fe k)aigdom, ofer holde
fe kyngdom of due William •] regne undyr h5rm, ofer hy
tweyne scholde vy^te eyf er wyf ofer in fat querel, in sy3t
of bofe ostes, namelyche, while Kyng Edward was ded fat
hadde ygraunted hym Englond, ef he dyede wyf oute heyr
^ by consayl ^ assent of Stigandus, fe archebyschop ;) of
fe erles, Godwin ^ Siward, in token fare-of Godwin hys
sone •;] hys nevew were ysent to due William. Bote Harold
wolde no^t assente to fe monk* hys message, bote seyde fat
* So in MS. * MS. mong.
TBS NORMAN INVASION 343
ise scholde be dereyned by dent of swerd, j prayede
le jjat God scholde deme bytwene ham tweyne.
ne ))e o&tes in eyjier syde come to Jie place of ye
in |>e day of Seynt Kalixt, J>e pope, fe te|)e day of
er, in a Saturday, in )>e plas )>ar ^e Abbay of Batayl
d, as we buj) enformed.
ny^t to-vore J)e batayle Englysche men ^af ham to
^ to drynke ^ woke al ny^t. Erlyche amorwe votmen
re axes made a gret stryngjje of schyldes ^ sette ham
lers •] hadde yhad Jie meystry nadde ^ Normans
d to vie.
ig Harold stod on hys veet by hys baner wyj) his twey
n (};at baner was afterward ysent to ))e pope), pe
ms ))e ny3t tovore J)e batayle schrof ham of here
\ -;} were yhousled. Erlyche amorwe vootmen ;) archers
set in J>e batayl ^ Jianne kny^tes, wyj> whynges in ey{>er
\ William conforted hys men to Jtc batayl "^ was ware
s haburjon was ytornd in ^ out, •] amendede j>at hap
bourd ;j seyde — * pe stringjje of an erldom schal tome
kyngdom.' Bote, ar J>e scheltroms come togedders,
J>e Normans syde, ))at hy3te Tailefer by hys name, cast
irord 3 pleyde to vore J)e ostes -] slou^ a banyour of
5che men Jjat came a3enes hym, 3 dede eft J>e same of
r ;i so a SI0U3 J)e ))rydde 3 was yslawe hymsylf.
ne anone J)e scheltroms smyte togedders wyji Roland
)nge, ))at was bygonne in J>e Normans syde. pe
i durede vram undern of J)e day to eveson[g] tyme,
nojier party wolde wyj)drawe (bote )>e due hys archers
here vorj)). panne J)e due made a token to hys men
scholde feyne to vie, :i by ))at weye Englysche men
)ygyled 3 desarayed ham, as hyt were, vor to pursywe
ese on here enymyes. Bote whanne Englysche men
o out of aray fe Normans arayede ham efte j tomede
344 ^^^ NORMAN INVASION.
z^e oppon J>c Englysche men j)at were out of aray ;j chasede
ham in eveiyche syde. Atte laste Harold was yhyt wyf an
arewe ;j loste hys on ye ;j was yhurt on J>e breyn -} vul don in
j>at plas, ;i on of )>e kny3tes stykede hym in J>e pj^ whyle
a lay J>are ; J>arevore William potte ))at kny3t out of chevalry,
vor he hadde ydo an vnkunnynge dede. pat day William
loste |>e J>re beste hors fat he hadde, ;j [hy] were jrstyked
ry3t under hym ; bote he bar hym so j>at no blod com out d
hys body.
Whanne J>e victory was ydo, William buryede hys men
j)at were yslawe, 3 grauntede hys enemyes to do ye same,
who )>at wolde, and sent Harold hys body to Harold hys
moder wy)>oute eny myde, as hue hadde yprayed; and
hue buryede hym at Waltham in fe Abbay of Chanons
J)at Harold hadde yfounded.
Bote Girald Cambrensis in hys bok, fat hatte Itenerarm,
wol mene fat Harold hadde meny woimdes 3 loste hys lyft
ye wyj) a strok of an arewe 1 was overcome ;j scapede to fe
contray of Chester ;| lyvede far holyliche, as me trowef , an
anker hys lyf in Seynt James celle vaste by Seynt Johan hys
cherche 3 made a gracyous ende, j fat was yknowe by hys
laste confessyon; 1 fe comyn fame in fat cyt^ acordef to
fat sawe.
XXV.
GEOFFREY CHAUCER.
1328 — 1400.
Chaucer was bom in London, about the beginning of the reign
of Edward III, in the year 1328, and died A. D. 1400; and was
buried in Westminster Abbey.
Chaucer's writings are very numerous, but his most famous
and best-known work is The Canterbury Tales, written about
1390.
His chief minor poems comprise the following :
(ja) The Court of Lo^; The Assembly of Fowls ; The Cuckow
and the Nightingale; The Flower and the Leaf; (written in
the earlier period of the poet's life).
(Ji) Chaucer's Dream; The Book qfthe Duchess; The Romaunt
of the Rose; The House of Fame; (middle period),
(r) Troilus and Creseide; and The Legend of Good Women;
(later period).
The prose works of Chaucer are (besides a portion of the
Canterbury Tales), The Boke of Consolacion of Philosophie, translated
from Boethius' De Consolatione Philosophiae; The Testament of Love;
and a Treatise on the Astrolabe,
The present extracts are copied, with some few corrections
and additions, from MS. Harleian 7334 (collated throughout with
Lansdowne MS. 851) by the editor of the present work.
I.
The Par doner es Tale,
In Flaundres whilom was a companye
Of 3onge folkes, that haunted[en] folye,
As ryot, hasard, stywes, and tavernes;
Wher as wij> lutes, harpes, and gytemes,
34^ THE CANTERBURY TALES.
Thay daunce and play at dees boj>e day and night, 5
And ete also, and drynk over her might,
Thurgh which j>ay doon fe devyl sacrifise
WiJ)inne j>e develes temple, in cursed wise.
By superfluity abhominable.
Her othes been so greet and so dampnable, 10
That it is grisly for to hiere hem swere.
Our blisful Lordes body J>ay to-tere;
Hem J)Oughte Jewes rent him^ nought y^ough;
And ech of hem at oj>eres synne lough.
And right anoon j>er come tombesteris, 15
[Fetis and smal, and 3onge fruytester[i]s,
Singers wij) harpes, baudes, wafer[er]es,]
Whiche j)at ben verray })e develes ofl&ceres,
To kyndle and blowe Jie fuyr of leccherie,
pat is anexid imto glotonye. 20
The holy wryt take I to my witnesse,
That luxury^ is in wyn and dronkenesse.
Lo, how that dronken Loth unkyndely
Lay by his doughtres tuo imwityngly,
So dronk he was he niste what he wrought [e]. 25
Herodes, who-so wel J>e story sought [e] ^
Whan he of wyn was repleet at his fest[e] *,
Right at his oughne table 3af his hest[e] *
To sle J>e baptist Johan ful gilteles.
Seneca seij) a good word* douteles; 30
He saij) he can no difference fynde
Bituyx a man that is out of his mynde,
And a man )>e which is dronkelewe;
» MS. hem. * Lansd. MS. 851, lycberie,
' Lansd. MS. reads as follows : —
And \>erefore sore repente bim ouhte.
Herodes, who so wil \>e story secbe,
\iere mmt ^e leren '^ 6e ensampie teche.
* From Lansd. MS. 851. * "LMtt^.'^^.Va& Set«t uV ^vafAwxedes,
TWS PARDONERES TALE. 347
But that woodneS) fallen in a schrewe^,
Persevereth lenger j>an doth dronkenesse. 35
O glutonye, fill of corsidnesse;
O cause first of oure confusioun,
O original of oure dampnacioun,
Til Crist had[de] bought us^ wij) his blood agayn!
Lo[keth], how dere, schortly for to sayn, 40
Abought was first )>is cursed felonye;
Corupt was al ))is world for glotonye.
Adam our fader, and his wyf also,
Fro Paradys to labour and to wo
Were dryven for ))at vice, it is no drede. 45
For whils ))at Adam fasted, as I rede.
He was in Paradis, and whan )>at he
Eet of the fruyt defendit of a tre.
He was out cast to wo and into peyne.
O glotony, wel ought us on ))e pleyne ! 50
O, wist a man how many maladyes
Folwith of excesse and of glotonyes,
He wolde be jie more mesurable
Of his diete, sittyng at his table.
Alias! J>e schorte j>rote, ))e tendre mou)>, 55
MakeJ> pat Est, West, North and South,
In erfe, in ayer, in watir, man to swynke,
To gete a sely glotoun mete and drynke.
Of j>is matier, O Poul, wel canstow trete.
Mete unto wombe, and wombe [ek] unto mete 60
Schal God destroyen bojie, as Powel sai)>.
Alias I a foul ))ing is it by my faij)
To say J>is word, and fouler is j>e dede,
Whan men so drynke« of J)e whyt and rede^
The correct reading perhaps, is, But woodnes, \>at is faUen in a scbrewe,
e Lansd. MS. reads Bot wodenes [\>at] isfalne in a scbrewe. ' MS. ouC.
Lansd, MS, Wien men so drenken of\>e white "] 0/ V< rzdt.
348 THE CANTERBURY TALES.
That of his ]irote he maki)> his priv6 6i
Thurgh J)ilke cursed sperfluit^.
Thapostil wepyng saij> ful pitously,
Ther walkith many, of which 30U told have I,
I say it now wepyng with pitous vois,
Thay are^ enemys of Cristes croys, 70
Of which ))e ende is deth, wombe is her God.
« « 4c 4c 4c ♦
How gret cost and labour is J>e to fynde!
These cokes how ))ey stamp, and streyn, and grynde,
And tome substaunce into accident,
To fulfille j>y licorous talent*! 75
Out of the harde boones gete j)ay
The mary', for )>ay caste nou3t away
That may go j>urgh J)e golet softe and soote;
Of spicery and levys, barke and roote,
Schal ben his sause maad to his delj^ 80
To make him have a newe appetit.
But certes he ))at haimte]> suche delices,
Is deed Jjer whiles j>at he lyvej> in vices.
A licorous Jiing is wyn, and dronkenesse
Is ful of stryvyng and of wrecchednesse. Sj
O dronke man, disfigured is J>i face.
Sour is J>i breji, foul artow to embrace;
And )>urgh Jii dronken nese* sowneJ> Jie soun^
As though thou seydest ay, Sampsoim, Sampsoun;
And 5it, God wot, Sampson drank never wyn. 90
Thow fallist, as it were a stiked swyn;
Thy tonge is lost, and al J)in honest cure,
For dronkenes is verray sepulture
Of mannes witt and his discrecioun,
^ Lansd. MS. V^e hen, > Lansd. MS. To fulfil al Sec,
* Lansd. MS. tcads mery, * MS. reads dronkenesse.
* Lansd. MS. tcads And Vorube \x drongw twisa ^«tn^*V«»»».
THEPARDONERES TALE. 349
In whom Jjat drynk ha]) dominacioun. 95
He can no counseil kepe, it is no drede.
Now^ keep 30W from ])e white and from ])e rede,
[And] namely fro j)e white wyn of Leepe,
That is to selle in Fleetstreet or in Chepe.
This wyn of Spayne crepith subtily 100
In oJ)er wynes growyng faste by,
Of which J>er riseth such fumosit^,
That whan a man hath dronke draughtes J>re,
And wenejj ])at he be at horn in Chepe,
He is in Spayrie, right at j)e toun of Lepe, 105
Nought at the Rochel, ne at Burdeaux toun;
And ])anne wol[e] J>ai say, Sampsoun, Sampsoun,
But herken, lordyngs, o word, I 30U pray,
That alle ])e soverayn actes, dar I say,
Of victories in J>e Olde Testahient, no
porugh^ the verray God omnipotent
Were doon in abstinence and in prayere;
Lokith the Bible, and J>er ^e may it hiere.
Loke Atthila J>e grete conquerour,
Deyd in his sleep, with schame and dishonour, 115
Bleedyng ay at his nose in dronkenesse;
A captayn schuld ay lyve in sobrenesse.
And over al this, avyse 30W right wel,
What was comaunded unto Lamuel;
Nought Samuel, but Lamuel say I. 120
Redith the Bible, and fyndej) expresly
Of wyn ^evyng to hem J>at han justice.
No more of J>is, for it may wel suffice.
And now I have /-spoke of glotonye.
Now wil I 30W defende hasardrye. 125
Hasard is verray moder of lesynges,
And of deceipt, and cursed forsweringes;
1 MS. Ne « MS. Tbot Vorug>%
350 THE CANTERBURY TALES.
Blaspheme of Crist, manslaught, and wast also
Of catel, and of tyme; [and] forthermo^
It is reproef, and contrair to honour, 130
For to be halde a comun hasardour.
And ever j>e heyer he is of astaat,
The more is he holden desolaat^
If )>at a prince use hasardrie.
In alle governance and policie 135
He is, as by comun opinioun,
Holde ])e lasse in reputacioun.
Stilbon, j>at was iholde a wis embasitour,
Was sent into Corinthe with gret honour
Fro Lacidome, to make hir alliaunce; 140
And whan he' cam, him happede par chaimce.
That alle j>e grettest j>at were of J>at lond
Playing atte hasard he hem fond.
For which, as soone as Q^at]* it mighte be.
He stal him hoom a^ein to his contr^, ^ 145
And saide ther, *I nyl nou3t lese my name,
I nyl not take on me so gret diffame,
30W for to allie unto noon hasardoures.
Sendejj som o))er wise embasitoures,
For by my trouJ)e, me were lever dye, 150 j
Than I 30W scholde to hasardours allye.
For 3e, J>at ben so glorious in honoures, '
Schal not allie 30W with hasardoures,
As by my wil, ne as by my tret^.'
This wise philosophre ])us sayd he. 155
Lo eek how ])at J>e king Demetrius
The king of Parthes, as J>e [book] saith us.
Sent him a paire dees of gold in scorn,
^ Lansd. MS. reads ") cjfo\>er mo, ' Lansd. MS. reads pe more
ybalden is be dissolute, ' MS. bim. * Supplied from the Lansd. MS.
THE PARDONERES TALE. 351
For he had used hasard J>er to-fom;
For which he hield his gloir and his renoun 160
At no valieu or reputacioun.
Lordes may fynde ojjer maner play
Honest y-nough to dryve away Jje day.
Now wol I speke of ojjes fals and grete
A word or tuo, as o)>er bookes entrete. 165
Gret swering is a }>ing abhominable,
And fals swering is more reprovable.
The hyhe God forbad sweryng at al,
Witnes on Mathew, but in special
Of sweryng saith the holy Jeremye, 170
Thou schalt say soth )>in oJjes, and not lye;
And swere in doom, and eek in rightwisnes;
But ydel swer3nig is a cursednes.
Bihold and se, J)er in j)e firste table •
Of hihe Goddes heste honurable, 175
How )>at Jje secounde heste [of him] is j)is;
Tak not in ydelne[s] his^ name amys.
Lo, he rather forbedith such sweryng,
Than homicide, or many a corsed J>ing.
I say as by order j)us it stondith; 180
This knoweth he J>at J>e hestes understondeth.
How j)at j>e second best of God is that.
And for)>ermore, I wol })e telle a[l] plat,
That' ve[n]gance schal not parte fro his hous.
That of his othes is outrageous. 185
' By Goddes precious hert, and by his nayles,
And by Jje blood of Crist, Jjat is in Hayles,
Seven is my chaunce, and also cink and tray !
By Goddis armes, and })0U falsly play.
This daggere schal Jjurgh Jjin herte goo!' 190
This fruyt come}> of \>e bicchid^ boones tuo,
Lansd. MS. reads my, ^ MS. The. ' Lansd. MS. beccbed.
35^ THE CANTERBURY TALES.
Forswering, ire, falsnes, homicide. '
Now for the love of Crist J>at for us dyde,
Levith 30ure othis, boj>e gret and smale.
But, sires, now wol I telle forJ> my tale. 195
These riottoures J>re, of which I 30U telle,
Longe erst j)an prime rong of eny belle,
Were set hem in a tavern for to drynke ;
And as j)ay sat[te], j>ay herd a belle cUnke
Biforn a corps, was caried to j?e grave; 200
That oon of hem gan calle unto his knave,
* Go bet,' quo)> he, * and axe redily,
What corps is j>at, [j)at] passeth her for])by^;
And loke J)Ou report his name wel/
* Sire,' quod he, * but Jjat nede]) never a del ; 205
It was me told er ^e com heer tuo houres;
He was? pardy, an old felaw of ^oures.
And sodeinly he was i-slayn to night;
Fordronk as he sat on his bench upright,
Ther com a privd thef, men clepen Deth, 210
That in Jjis contrd al J>e peple sleth;
And with his spere he smot his hert a-tuo.
And went his way wij)OUte wordes mo.
He haj) a Jjousand slayn J>is pestilence.
And, maister, er 3e come in his presence, 215
Me thinkej) j)at it is ful necessarie,
For to be war of such an adversarie;
Bej) redy for to meet him evermore.
Thus taughte me my dame, I say nomore.'
*By seinte Mary!' sayde )>e tavemer, 220
' The child sai)> soj) ; for he haj> slayn |)is jeer,
Hens over a myle, wi)>inne a gret village,
Boj)e man and womman, child, [and hyne], and page;
I trowe his habitacioun be J>ere.
1 Lansd. MS, itads Wbat cor^s U U\al ^os&e^ Jos%\^w
THE PARDONERES TALE^ 353
To ben avysed gret wisdom it were, 225
Er ])at he dede a man J>at dishonour.'
*3e, Goddis armes!' quod J>is ryottour,
* Is it such peril with him for to meete ?
I schal him seeke by way and eek by strete^
I make avow to Goddis digne boonesi 230
Herknejj, felaws, we J>re ben al oones;
Let ech of us hold up his hond to other,
And ech of us bycome ojjeres bro)>er,
And we wil slee j)is false traitour Deth;
He schal be slayne, [he] that so many sleeth, 235
By Goddis dignet^, er it be night !'
Togideres han j)ese J>re here trouJ>es plight
To lyve and deye ech of he[m] wij) oJ)er,
As J)Ough he were his oughne swome^ brother.
And up J>ai startyn, al dronke in )>is rage, 240
And for]) J>ai goon towardes J>at village.
Of which j)e tavemer ha]) spoke biforn.
And many a grisly oth jjan han jjay swom,
And Cristes blessed body Jjay to-rent[e],
Deth schal be deed, if Jjat J)ey may him hent[e]. 245
Right as J)ay wolde have torned over a style,
Whan }>ai han goon nought fully [half] a myle,
An old man and a pore with hem mette.
This olde man ful mekely hem grette,
And saide J)us, * Lordynges, God 30W se !' 250
The proudest of J)e ryotoures ])re
Answerd a^ein, *What? carie, wij) hard[e] grace*.
Why artow al for-wrapped save J)i face?
Why lyvest Jjou [so longe] in so gret age'?'
This olde man gan loke on his visage 255
And saide J)us, *For ])at I can not fynde
A man, J)Ough J)at I walke[d] into Inde,
Vyrwhitt reads borm. ' MS, reads vn^ fnescZ^aunce, ^ 'NIS* ^«t oxv a|^%«
A a
70 (
354 ^^^ CANTERBURY TALES.
NeiJ>er in cit^ noon, ne in village,
That wol chaunge his 30uJ>e for myn age;
And Jjerfore moot I have myn age stille 260
As longe tyme as it is Goddes wilk.
And Deth, alias ! ne wil not have my lif.
Thus walk I lik a resteles caytif.
And on the groimd, which is my modres gate,
I knokke with my staf, eriy and late, 265
And saye, * Leeve moder, let me in.
Lo, how I wane, fleisch, and blood, and skyn.
Alias! whan schuln my boones ben at rest?
Moder, with 30W wiP I chaimge my chest,
That in my chamber longe tyme haj> be,
3e, for an haire clout to wrap in me*.'
But 3et to me sche wil not do ])at grace.
For which ful pale and welkid is my face.
But, sires, to 30W it is no curtesye
To speke imto an old man vilonye, 275
But he trespas in word or elles [in] dede'.
In holy writ ^e may your-self wel rede,
A3ens an old man, hoor upon his hede,
3e scholde arise; wherefor I yow rede,
Ne doth unto an old man more harm now, 280
Namore than 30 wolde men dede to 30W
In age, if that 36 may so long abyde.
And God be with 30U, wherso 3e go or ryde !
I moot go Jjider as I have to goo.*
* Nay, olde cheri, by God I J>ou schalt not so,' 385
Sayde )>at o)>er hasardour anoon ;
Thou partist nou3t so lightly, by seint Johan 1
rhou spak right now of ])at* traitour DeJ>,
That in )>is contre alle oure frendes slej>;
' Lansd. MS. reads ivold. ^ Lansd. MS. reads wrappe me, ' Lansd.
'M.^, reads Bot be trespas in worde, e^^er w dedt, ^ 'S-assA.^fiS.twwii ]iilit.
.1
THE PARBONERES TALE. 355
Have her my trouth, as fou art his aspye; 290
Tel wher he is, or elles ))Ou schalt dye,
By God and by J>at holy sacrament!
For soply J)OU art oon of his assent
To slene^ us ^onge folk, you^ false theef.'
* Now, sires, ])an if jiat 30W be so leef 295
To fynde DeJ>, torn up ])is croked way,
For in )>at grove I laft him, by my fay,
Under a tree, and J>er he wil abyde;
Ne for 30ur bost he nyi him no ])ing hyde.
Se 3e J>at 00k? right j)er ^e schuln him fynde. 300
God save 30W, Jjat bought a^ein mankynde.
And 30W amend/ pus sayde ])is olde man.
And everich of ])ese riotoures ran,
Til }>ay come to J>e tre, and j)er ]?ay founde
Of florins fjm of gold y-coyned rounde, 305
Wei neygh a seven busshels, as hem' thought [e].
No lenger ]?anne after Deth[e] J>ay sought[e] ;
But ech of hem so glad was of }>at sight [e],
For J>at )>e florens so faire were and bright[e],
That doun J)ai sette hem by ])at precious hord. 310
The 3ongest of hem spak J>e firste word.
* Bre])eren,' quod he, * takef keep what I schal say[e] ;
My witte is gret, })Ough }>at I bourde and play[e].
This tresGur ha]) fortune to us given
In mirth and jolyt^ our lif to lyven, 315
And lightly as it comth, so wil we spende.
Ey, Goddis precious dignity ! who wende
To day, Jjat we schuld have so fair a grace?
But might[e] J>is gold be caried fro J)is place
Hom to myn hous, or ellis unto ^oures, 320
(For wel I wot fat J>is gold is nou3t oures),
Than were we in heyh felicity.
1 MS, reads scbewt, « MS. reads >e. * "WS^. me.
A a 2
356 THE CANTERBURT TALES.
But trewely by day it may not be;
Men wolde say that we were j)eves stronge,
And for oure tresour doon us for to honge. 32s
This tresoiu* moste caried be by night [e]
As wysly and as slely as it might[e].
Wherfore I rede, J>at cut among us alia
Be drawe, and let se wher j>e cut wil falle;
[And] he J>at haj) j)e cut, wi]) herte bli)>e 330
Schal renne to )>e toun, and Jjat ful swithe,
To bring us bred and wyn ful prively;
And tuo of us schal kepe subtilly
This tresoiu* wel; and if he wil not tarie,
Whan it is night, we wol ])is tresour carie 335
By oon assent, j>er as us like]) best/
That oon of hem J>e cut brought in his fest,
And bad hem drawe and loke wher it wil falle;
And it fel on the 3ongest of hem alle;
And forj) toward J>e toun he went anoon, 340
And al-so soone as he was agoon,
That oon of hem spak [j)us] unto Jjat o})er;
*Thow wost wel J>at })OU art my swome broJ>er,
Thy profyt wol I telle ]>e anoon.
Thow wost wel Jjat our felaw is agoon, 3451
And her is gold, and J>at ful gret plenty.
That schal departed be among us J>re,
But naj)eles, if I can schape it so.
That it departed were bitwix us tuo,
Had I not doon a frendes torn to ))e?' 350
That oJ)er answerd, * I not how }>at may be ;
He wot wel Jjat |)e gold is wi}> us tway[e]*
What schulde we J>an do? what schuld we say[e]?'
* Schal it be counsail?' sayde J>e ferste schrewe,
* And 1 schal telle J>e in wordes fewe 351
What we sc\i\3l!L dooiv., ^.tA \s«!cy%^ >x ^^ -ahoute.'
THE PARDONERES TALE. 357
Lunte/ quod }>at oj)er, *wij)0ute doute,
by my troujie I wil the nought bywray[e]/
>w/ quod fe first[e], * j)Ou wost wel we ben tway[e],
wo of us schuln strenger be Jjan oon. 360
I, whanne he is sett, and J>at anoon,
as [Jjough] thou woldest with him pley«;
'. schal ryf him thurgh J>e sydes tweye,
[that] ))OU strogelest wij> him as in game,
nth )>i dagger loke ))OU do ])e same; 365
•an schal al J>e gold departed be,
jre frend, bitwixe J)e and me;
may we [bo)>e] oure lustes al fulfiUe,
►lay at dees right at our owne wille.*
us accorded ben J>ese schrewes twayn, 370
J j>e j)ridde, as ^e herd[e] me sayn.
s congest, which J>at wente to )>e toun,
St in hert he rollith up and doun
eautd of J)e florins newe and bright[e] ;
)rd 1' quod he, * if so were J>at I might[e] 375
al )>is gold unto my self alloone,
is no man )>at lyvej? under J>e troone
)d\ J>at schulde lyve so mery as 1/
tte last J)e feend, oure enemy,
his thought, j)at he schuld[e] poysoun beye, 380
/hich he mighte sle his felaws tweye.
[ly, J)e feend fond him in such lyvynge,
he had[de] leve to sorwe him to brynge.
s witterly was his [ful] entent[e]
m hem bo)>e, and never to repent [e]. 385
brth he goj), no lenger wold he tary[e],
e toun unto a potecary[e],
)rayde him Jjat he him wolde selle
Doysoun, )>at he might his rattis quelle.
» MS. gold.
358 THE CANTERBURT TALES.
And eek ]>er was a polkat in his hawe, 390
[pat], as he sayde, his capouns had i-slawe;
And said he wold him wreke, if j^at he might[e],
On vennyn, ])at destroyed him by night[e].
Thapotecary answerd: 'And J)OU schalt have
A J>ing J>at, also God my soule save, 395
In al J>is world j)er nys no creatm-e,
That ete or dronk had of fis confecture,
Nought but j>e mountaunce of a com of whete,
That he ne schuld his lif anoon for-lete ;
5e, sterve he schal, and J>at in lasse while, 400
Than })OU wilt goon a paas not but a myle,
The poysoun is so strong and violent.'
This cursed man haj) in his bond i-hent
This poysoun in a box, and sins^ he ran
Into the nexte stret imto a man, 40S
And borwed him large hotels }>re;
And in j)e two his poysoun poured he;
The J>rid he keped[e] clene for his drynke.
For al )>e night he schop him for to swynke
In carying the gold out of Jjat place. 4'°
And whan j)is notour, with sory grace,
Hath^ fillid with wyn his [grete] hotels ])re.
To his felaws a3ein repaireth he.
What nedith it [therof] to sermoun* more?
For right as J>ay had[de] cast his deth bifore, 4'5
Right so fay ban him slayn, and )>at anoon.
And whan j>is was i-doon, ])an spak ])at oon: —
* Now let us drynk and sitte, and make us mery
And sij)j)en we wil his body bery.'
And afterward it happed him par cas, 430
To take the hotel ])er Jje poysoxm was.
And drank, and 3af his felaw drink also, ;
* Lansd. MS. reads se^en, * "^^.l)adv ^ \(&.\^^ wrtMMn tr.
THE PRIORESSE TALE. 359
For which [anon] )>ay sterved[e]^ bojje tuo.
But certes I suppose fat Avycen^
Wrot never m canoim, ne in non fen, 425
Mo wonder sorwes of empoisonyng,
Than hadde J»ese wrecches tuo here endyng.
Thus endid been J>ese homicides tuo,
And eek Jtc fals empoysoner also.
O cursed synne ful of cursednesse ! 430
O traytorous homicidy! O wikkednesse ' !
O glotony, luxurie, and hasardrye * !
Thou blasphemour of Crist with vilanye,
And o)>es grete, of usage and of pride !
Alias ! mankynde, how may it bytyde, 435
That to J>y creatour, which })at ))e wrought[e],
And wij> his precious herte-blood jje bought[e],
Thou art so fals and so imkynde, alias I
'Now, goodmen, God for3eve 30W ^our trespas;
And ware yow fro the synne of avarice.' 440
The Prwresse Tale,
O Lord, oure Lord, J>y name how merveylous
Is in ])is large world i-sprad! (quod sche)
For nought oonly J>y laude precious
Parformed is by men of heih degre.
But by mouthes of children J>y bounty 445
Parformed is, [for] on oure brest souk)nige
Som tyme schewe Jjay J>in heriynge.
Wherfore in laude, as I best can or may,
Of J>e and of J>y white lily flour.
Which J>at j>e bar, and is a mayde alway, 450
To telle a story I wil do my laboiu-;
Nought )>at I may encresce ^oure honour,
' Lansd. MS. reads storuen. * Harl. MS. reads Amycen, ' Lan&d. MS.
ds O trayteres homicideres, * Lansd. MS. reads O lujcurie* O "bosordtje.
360 THE CANTERBURY TALES.
For sche hir silf is honour and [Jierto] roote
Of bounty, next hir Sone, and soules boote.
O modir mayde, o mayde mooder fre ! 455
O bussh imbrent, brennyng in Moises sight [e].
That ravysshedest doun fro J>e deit^,
Thurgh j)in humblesse, J>e gost )>at in the alight [e] ;
Of whos vertu, he in J)in herte jMght[e],
Conceyved was J>e Fadres ss^ience; 460
Help me to telle it in \y reverence.
Lady, J>i bounty, and Jjy magnificence.
Thy vertu and J)i gret humiHtd,
Ther may no tonge expres in no science;
For som tyme, lady, er m«i pray[e] to }>e, 465
Thow gost bifom of ])y benignity,
And getist us J>e light, Jjiirgh J)y prayere.
To gyden us J>e way to \>y Sone so deere.
My connyng is so weyk, o blisful queene.
For to declare ])y grete wOrJ)inesse, 470
That I may not fis in my wyt susteene ;
5ut as a child of twelf month old or lesse.
That can unne)>es eny word expresse.
Right so fare I, and )>erfor I 30U pray[e],
Gydeth^ my song, J)at I schal of 30W say[e]. 475
Ther was in Acy, in a greet citee,
Amonges £risten folk a Jewerye,
Susteyned by a lord of }>at contre,
For foul usure, and lucre of felonye,
Hateful to Crist, and to his compaignye; 480
And Jjurgh J>e strete men might[e] ride and wende.
For it was fre, and open at everich ende.
A litel scole of Cristen folk J)er stood
Doun at \t for^r end, in which fer were
THE PRIORESSE TALE. ^6l
Children an heep y-comen of Cristen* blood, 485
That lered in fat scole, 3er by ^ere,
Such maner doctrine as men used[e] )>ere;
This is to say, to synge[n] and to rede,
As smale childer doon in her childhede.
Among )>ese children was a wydow sone, 490
A litel clergeoun, ])at seve ^er was of age,
That day by day to scole was his wone;
And eek also, wherso he saugh Jjymage
Of Cristes moder, had he in usage,
As him was taught, to knele adoun, and say[e] 495
His Ave Maridy as he go}> by J>e way[e].
Thus ha)> J>is widow hir litel child i-taught
Oure blisful lady, Cristes moder deere.
To worschip ay, and he format it nought;
For cely child wil alway soone leere. 500
But ay whan I remembre of J>is matiere,
Seint Nicholas stont ever in my presence,
For he so ^ong to Crist dede reverence.
This litel child, his litel book lem3mge,
As he sat in J>e scole in his primere, 505
He O alma redemptoris herde synge,
As children lerned her antiphonere ;
And as he durst, he drough him^ ner and neere.
And herkned ever J>e wordes and J>e note,
Til he J)e firste vers coujje al by rote. 510
Nought wist he what J>is Latyn was to say[e],
For he so ^ong and tender was of age;
But on a day his felaw gan he pray[e]
To expoune him )>e song in his langage.
Or telle him what J>is song was in usage; 515
This prayd he him to construe and declare,
Ful often tyme upon his knees bare.
i MS. cristes. « MS. bem.
362 THE CANTERBURY TALES.
His felaw, which ]>at elder was ^an he,
Answerd him )>us: 'pis song, I have herd seye.
Was maked of our blisful lady fre, 520
Hire to saluen, and eek hire to preye
To ben our help and socour whan we deye.
I can no more expoune in this matere;
I leme song, I can no more gramer[e].'
*And is )>is song i-maad in reverence 525
Of Cristes moder?' sayde Jhs innocent;
*Now certes I wol do my diligence
To conne it al, er Cristemasse be went;
Though j>at I for my primer schal be schent.
And schal be betyn Juries in an hour, 530
I wol it conne, our lady to honoure/
His felaw taught him hom-ward prively
From day to day, til he coujie it by rote,
And Jjan he song it wel and boldely;
Twyes on )« day it passed [e] )>urgh his J)rote, 535
From word to word accordyng with the ncrte.
To scole-ward and hom-ward whan he went[e];
On Cristes moder was set al^ his entent[e].
As I have sayd, Jjurghout )« Jewrye
This litel child, as he cam to and fro, 540
Ful merily J)an wold he synge and crie,
O alma redempioris^ evermo;
The swetnes ha}> his herte persed so
Of Cristes moder, that to hir to pray[e]
He can not stynt of syngyng by J>e way[e]. 545
Oure firste foo, )>e serpent Sathanas,
That hath in Jewes hert his waspis nest,
Upswal and sayde: *0 Ebreik peple, alias!
Is ))is a )>ing to 30W J>at is honest.
That such a boy schal walken as him lest 550
* Lansd. MS. it^ids set was, "asA oicceAA oX.
TBE PRIORESSE TALE. 363
In 30ure despyt, and synge of such sentence,
Which is a^ens your lawes reverence?'
Fro j>ennesforth Jje Jewes han conspired
This innocent out of J>is ^orld to enchace^,
An homicide J>erto han 3e[t] )>ay hired. 555
That in an aley had a priv^ place;
And as ]>e childe gan forjjby [for] to pace,
This false Jewe him hent, and huld ful faste,
And kut his Jjrote, and [in a pute him caste*].
I say in a wardrobe ])ay him j)rew[e], 560
Wher as J>e Jewes purgen her entraile.
O cursed folk! O Herodes al newel
What may 30ur evyl entente 30U availe?
Morther wol out, certeyn it wil nought faile,
And namly J>er )>onour of God schuld[e] sprede; 565
The blood out criej) on ^our cursed dede.
O martir soudit^ to virginity,
Now maystow synge, folwyng ever in oon
The white lomb celestial, quod sche,
Of which J>e grete evaungelist seint Johan 570
In Pathmos wroot, which seith j)at Jjay [)>at] goon
Bifore j)e lamb, and synge a song al newe.
That never fleischly wommen J>ay [ne] knewe.
This pore widowe waytej) al J>is night,
After j)is litel child, but he cometh nought; 575
For which as soone as it was dayes light.
With face pale, in drede and busy J)Ought,
Sche ha)> at scole and elles wher him sought;
Til fynally sche gan of hem aspye.
That he was last seyn in J>e Jewerie. 580
With moodres pit^ in hir brest enclosed,
Sche go}>, as sche were half out of hir * mynde,
^ Lansd. MS. reads cbace, ^ The Harl. MS. reads and ^reui fainv va
e las/^. ' Lansd, MS, reads soundede, * Laxi&d.'NV^. om\\&\)Vr.
364 THE CAKTERBVKT TALES.
To every place, wher sche ha^ supposed
By liklihede hir child [e] for to fynde;
And ever on Cristes mooder meke and krnde 585
Sche cried, and atte laste yas sche wrought [e],
Among j>e cursed Jewes sche hhn sought [e].
Sche fre}'ned, and sche prayed [e] pitonsly
To every Jew }>at dwelled in }pt place.
To telle hir, if hir child wente Jier by ; 590
Thay sayden nay; but Jhesu of his grace
3af in hir ]K)ught, wi|nnne a litel space,
That in )«tt place after hir sone sche cryde,
Wher as he was cast in a put bysyde^.
O grete God, that parformedist |nn laude 595
By mouth of innocentz, lo, here ^y might I
This gemme of chastit^, J«s emeraude,
And eek of martirdom Jie ruby bright[e] !
Ther he with J>rote y-corve* lay upright[e],
He Alma redempioris gan to synge 600
So lowde, ))at al \t place bigan to rynge.
The Cristen folk, ))at ))urgh )>e strete went[e],
In comen, for to wonder upon J>is thing;
And hastily for the provost J>ay sent[e].
He cam anoqn, wi)>oute tarying, 605
And heriede Crist, ))at is of heven Ring,
And eek his moder, honour of mankynde,
And after \2X })e Jewes let he bynde.
This child with pitous lamentacioun
Up taken was, syngyng his song alway; 610
And with honour of gret processioun,
Thay caried him unto ]?e next abbay.
His modir swownyng by J)e beere lay;
Unne})e might[e] })e poeple ))at was there
This newe Rachel bringe fro J)e beere. 615
' Lansd, MS. omits as, oadi it^i^ ^utu. "* \RS>, v-feu<.
THE PRIORESSE TALE. 365
.With torment and with schamful deth echon
This provost doj) J)ese Jewes for to sterve,
That of ))is moerder wist, and \2X anoon;
He wolde no such cursednesse observe;
Evel schal have, J)at evyl wol deserve. 620
Therfore with wilde hors he dede hem drawe,
And after J)at he heng hem by J)e lawe.
Upon his beere ay lith J)is innocent
Biforn J)e chief auter whiles J)e masse last[e] ;
And after J)at, J)abbot with his covent 625
HaJ) sped hem for to burie him ful fast[e] ;
And whan J)ay halywater on him cast[Q],
3et spak J)is child, whan spreynde was \q water ^,
And song O alma redemptoris mater.
This abbot, which J)at was an holy man, 630
As monkes ben, or elles oughte be.
This 3onge child to conjure he bigan.
And sayd: *0 deere child, I halse J)e,
In vertu of J)e holy Trinity,
Tel me what is \y cause for to synge, 635
Sith that J)y J)rote is kit at my semynge.'
*My J)rote is kit unto my nekke-boon,'
Sayde J)is child, ' and as by way of kynde
I schulde han ben deed long tyme agoon;
But Jhesu Crist, as 3e in bookes fynde, 640
Wol ))at his glorie laste and be in mynde;
And for \q worschip of his moder deere,
3et may I synge 0 alma lowde and cleere*
* This welle of mercy, Cristes moder swete,
I loved alway, as after my connynge; 645
And whan ))at I my lyf schulde leete.
To me sche cam, and bad me for to sjmge
This antym verraily in my deyinge,
' Lansd. MS. reads hol^ water.
366 THE CANTERBURY TALES.
As ^e have herd; and, whan yaX I had[de] songe,
Me jK)ught[e] sche layde a grayn under my tonge'.
*Wherfor I synge, and sjmge moot certeyne 651
in honour of }>at blisfiil mayden fre.
Til fro my tonge taken is j>e greyne.
And after )«tt jnis saide sche to me:
* My litil child, now wil I fecche }«, 655
Whan ))at \e grayn is fro J>i tonge i-take;
Be nought agast, I wol the nought forsake.'
This holy monk, this abbot him mene I,
His tonge out caught, and took awey }>e greyn;
And he .^af up Jie gost ful softely. 660
And whan \e abbot hath J>is wonder seyn,
His sake teres striken doun as reyn;
And gruf he fel adoun unto Jie grounde,
And stille he lay, as he had[de] ben y-bounde.
The covent eek lay on \e pavyment[e] 665
Wepyng and herying Cristes moder deere.
And after j>at Jjay rise, and forj> )«ty went[e,]
And took away J)is martir fro his beere,
And in a tombe of marble stoones cleere
Enclosed [e] ))ay ))is litil body sweete; 670
Ther he is now, God lene us for to meete!
O 5onge Hughe of Lyncoln; slayn also
WiJ) cursed J ewes (as it is notable,
For it nys but a litel while ago),
Pray eek for us, we synful folk unstable, 675
That of his mercy God so merciable
On us his grete mercy multiplie.
For reverence of his modir Marie. Amen.
^ The metre would be improved by the following reading :—
Me \>ougbt a grayn scbe layde &c.
XXVI.
JOHN GOWER.
A. D. 1325 — 1408.
JohnGower, spoken of by his contemporary and friend Chaucer
as the * Moral Gower/ was a person of condition, being connected
with a knightly family of Kent, and possessed of considerable pro-
perty. He studied at Merton College, Oxford, and adopted the
profession of the law.
Gower is the author of three well-known poetical works, the
Speculum Meditantu, written in French ; the Fox Clamantisy written
in Latin; and the Confessio Amanthy in English (a.d. 1393).
The Confessio Amantis has been several times printed, — by Cax-
ton, in 1483 ; by Berthelet, in 1532 ; and by Pauli, in 1857. The
following extracts, selected from the Fifth Book, are transcribed
from Harl. MS. 3869 in the British Museum.
The Tale 0/ the Caskets,
In a cronique J)is I rede,
Aboute a king, as moste nede,
Ther was of knyhtes and squiers,
Gret route and ek of oflficers :
Some of long time him hadden served 5
And Jjoghten Jjat J)ei have deserved
Avancement, and gon wijjoute;
And some also ben of ])e route
368 THE TALE OF THE CASKETS.
That comen bot awhile agon
And ))ei avanced were anon. 10
These olde men upon ))is J>mg,
So as }>ei dorst, a3ein ye king,
Among hemself compleignen ofte;
Bot J)er is no))ing seid so softe
That it ne com)) out ate laste. 15
The king it wiste, and als-so faste
As he which was of hih pradence :
He schop ))erfore an evidence
Of hem ))at pleignen in Jjat cas,
To knowe in whos defalte it was. 20
And wij>inne his oghne entente
That no man wist[e] what it mente,
Anon he let tuo cofres make
Of o semblance, and of o make,
So lich, jjat no lif J>ilke Jjrowe 25
That on mai fro Jjat o))er knowe,
Thei were into his chambre broght,
Bot no man wot why J)ei be wroght,
And natheles Jje king haj) bede
That J)ei be set in priv^ stede, 30
As he Jjat was of wisdome slih;
As he Jjerto his time sih,
Al prively, ))at non it wiste,
His oghne hondes ))at o kiste
Of fin gold and of fin perreie, 35
The which out of his tresorie
Was take, anon he felde full^.
That ojjer coffre of straw and mull^
Wij> stones meined, he felde also.
Thus be ))ei fulle boJ)e tuo, 40
So J)at erliche upon a day,
THE TALE OF THE CASKETS. 369
He bad wij)inne, ]?er he lay,
Ther schblde be to-fore his bed,
A bord upset stfid faire spred;
And ))anne he let Jxe cofres fette, 45
Upon J)e bord and dede hem sette.
He knew J)e names wel of tho
The which a3ein him grucch[d]e so,
BoJ)e of his chambre and of his halle ;
Anon he sende for hem alle, 50
And seide to hem in ))is wise; — -
Ther schal no man his happ despise:
I wot wel 3e have longe served
And God wot what ^e have deserved;
Bot if it is along on me 55
Of J)at 3e unavanced be,
Or elles it belong on 30U,
The soJ)e schal be proved nou.
To stoppe wij) 30ure evele word,
Lo! hier tuo cofres on the bord. 60
Ches which 30U list of boJ)e tuo,
And witej) wel J)at on of tho
Is wij> tresor so full begon.
That if 3e happe }>erupon,
3e schull be riche men for evere, 65
Now ches and tak which 30U is levere.
Bot be wel war er j>at 36 take,
For of J)at on I undertake
Ther is no maner good Jjerinne,
Wherof 3e mihten profit winne. 70
Now goj) togedre on on assent.
And take)) 30ure avisement;
For, bot I 30U J)is dai avance,
It stant upon 30ure oghne chance,
Bb
370 THE TALE OF THE CASKETS.
Al only in defalte of grace; 75
So schal be schewed in J>is place
Upon 30U alle wel afyn,
That no defalte schal be myn.
Thei knelen alle, and wij> o vols,
The king Jjei jKmken of J>is chois; 80
And after )«tt ))ei up arise
And gon aside and hem avise;
And ate laste ]>ei acorde
(Wherof her tale to recorde
To what issue ))ei be falle). 85
A knyht schal speke for hem alle.
He knelej) doun unto Jje king
And seij) ))at }>ei upon J>is J>ing,
Or for to winne pr for to lese,
Ben alle avised for to chese. 90
Tho tok ))is knyht a ^erde on honde
And goJ> J)ere as J)e cofres stonde,
And wij) assent of everichon
He leij) his 3erde upon j>at on,
And seiJ) J)e king hou J>ilke same 95
Thei chese in reguerdoun be name,
And preij) him j>at J>ei mote it have.
The king which wolde his honour save,
Whan he haj) herd J)e commun vois,
HaJ) graunted hem here oghne chois, 100
And tok hem J)erupon J>e keie;
Bot, for he wolde it were seie, .
What good ))ei have as J>ei suppose.
He bad anon ))e cofre "unclose,
Which was fulfild wi]) straw and stones! 105
Thus be ))ei served al at ones.
This king J>anne in [jte] same stede,
AESON REGAINS HIS TOUTH. 37 1
Anon J>at ojjer cofre undede,
Wheras Jjei sihen gret richess
Wei more Jjan }>ei cou))en gesse. no
Lo! seij) }>e kyng, nou mai 3e se
That Jjer is no defalte in me;
For))i miself I wole aquite,
And berej) ^e ^oure oghne wite
Of J>at fortune haj> 30U refused. 115
Thus was J>is wise king excused:
And J)ei lefte of here evele speche,
And mercy of here king beseche.
Aesm regains his Youth at the Hands 0/ Medea,
Jason, which sih his fader old,
Upon Medea made him bold, 120
Of arte magique, which sche cou|)e.
And preij) hire, J>at his fader 30u]>e
Sche wolde make a5einward newe.
And sche J)at was toward him trewe,
Behihte him, \2X sche wolde it do, 125
Whan J)at sche tune sawh ))erto.
Bot what sche dede in ))at matiere
It is a wonder J>ing to hiere,
Bot 5it for }>e novellerie
I jjenke tellen a [gret] partie. 130
pus it befell upon a nyht.
Whan }>er was noght bot sterre-liht,
Sche was vanyssht riht as hir liste,
That no wyht bot hir-self it wiste,
And ))at was ate mydnyht tyde, 135
The world was stille on every side,
Wi]) open hed and fot al bare
B b 2
373 AESON REGAINS HIS YOXTT^
Hir hir to-sprad sche gan to fare.
Upon hir clofes gert sche was
Al specheles, and on ]>e gras, 140
Sche glad forJ> as an addre doJ>.
Non o}>erwise sche ne goj>,
Til sche cam to ])e fresshe flod,
And J)ere awhile sche wiJ>stod
And J)ere sche tomed hire aboute 145 y
And thries ek sche gan doun loute;
And in ])e flod sche wette hir her,
And J>ries on ))e water Jjer
Sche gaspe]) wij> a drechinge onde,
And JK) sche tok lur speche on honde. 150
Ferst sche began to clepe and calle
Upward unto J)e sterres alle;
To wynd, to air, to see, to lond
Sche preide; and ek hield up hir hond
To Echates (and gan to crie), 155
Which is goddesse of sorcerie,
Sche seide : * Helpej> at J)is nede,
And as ^e maden me to spede,
Whan Jason cam J)e flees to seche,
So helpe me now, I 30W beseche.' 160
Wij> J)at sche lokej) and was war,
Doim fro J)e sky j>er cam a char,
The which dragons aboute drowe.
And \o sche gan hir hed doun bowe,
And up sche styh, and faire and wel 165
Sche drof forj) boJ)e chare and whel.
Above in J)air among J)e skyes;
The lond of Crete and ])0 parties
Sche soughte, and faste gan hire hye,
And Jjereupon the hulles hyjie 170
AT TH^ HANDS OF MEDEA. 373
Of Othrin & Olimpe also,
And ek of o])re hulles mo,
Sche fond and gadrej> herbes suote;
Sche pullej> up som be J)e J)e rote,
And manye wij> a knyf sche sherj), 175
And alle into hir char sche berj).
Thus whan sche haj) ])e hulles sought,
The flodes Jjer format sche nought
Eridian and Amphrisos,
Peneie and ek Spercheidos ; 180
To hem sche wente and ]>er sche nom
Bo))e of l>e water and of ye fom.
The sond and ek |>e smale stones,
^\^liche as sche ches out for J>e nones,
And of J)e rede see a part, 185
That was behovelich to hire art,
Sche tok; and after J)at aboute,
Sche soughte sondri sedes oute.
In feldes and in many greves.
And ek a part sche tok of leves; 190
But })ing, which mihte hire most availe,
Sche fond in Crete and in Thessaile.
In^ dales and in nyhtes nyne,
WiJ) gret travaile and wi)> gret peyne,
Sche was pourveid of every piece, 195
And 'tomeJ> homward into Grece.
Before ye gates of Eson,
Hir char sche let awey to gon
And tok out ferst J>at was Jjerinne,
For yo sche J)Oghte to beginne 300
Suche thing, as semej) impossible
And made hir selven invisible,
1 The MS. has ])re.
374 AESON REGAINS HIS YOUTH
As sche )>at was wi|> air enclosed
And mihte of no man be desclosed ;
Sche tok up turves of }>e lond, 305
WiJ)Oute helpe of mannes bond,
Al heled wij> fe grene gras,
Of which an alter mad J>er was
Unto Echates, ^ goddesse
Of art magique and the maistresse ; 210
And eft an oJ)er to mvente,
As sche whiche dede hir hole intente.
Tho tok sche feld-wode and verveyne.
Of herbes be noght betre tweyne,
Of which anon wijjoute let 215
These alters ben aboute set
Tuo sondry puttes faste by
Sche made, and wij> \2X hastely
A wether, which was blak, sche slouh.
And out ))erof ]>e blod sche drouh 220
And dede into the pettes tuo;
Warm milk sche putte also )>erto
Wij> hony meynd, and in such wise
Sche gan to make hir sacrifise,
And cried and preide for)> wi))al 225
To Pluto )>e god infernal.
And to J)e queene Proseq)ine.
And so sche soghte out al }>e line
Of hem, \2X longen to J>at craft,
Behinde was no name laft, 230
And preide hem alle, as sche wel couj>e
To grante Eson his ferste youjje.
This olde Eson broght forJ> was J)0,
Awei sche bad alle ojjre go
Upon peril )>at mihte falle, 235
AT THE HANDS OF MEDEA. 375
And wij> j>at word J)ei wenten alle
And leften J>ere hem tuo alone.
And )K) sche gan to gaspe and gone,
And made signes manyon,
And seide hir wordes J)erupon; 240
So J)at wij) spellinge of hir charmes
Sche tok Eson in bothe hire armes,
And made him for to slepe faste
And him upon hire herbes caste;
The bleeke wether )k) sche tok 245
And hiewh ])e fleissh, as do)) a cok;
On eij)er alter part sche leide,
And wiJ) J)e charmes J>at sche seide
A fyr doun fro J)e sky alyhte,
And made it for to brenne lyhte. 250
And whan Medea sawh it brenne,
Anon sche gan to sterte and renne
The fyri aulters al aboute.
Ther was no beste which goj) oute
More wylde, ))an sche semej> J>er. 255
Aboute hir schuldres hyng hir her,
As ))Ogh sche were out of hir mynde
And tomed in ano})er kinde.
Tho lay J>er certein wode cleft,
Of which J>e pieces now and eft 260
Sche made hem in the pettes wete,
And putte hem in the fyri hete,
And tok J)e brond wi)> al ))e blase,
And J)ries sche began to rase
Aboute Eson, J)er as he slepte. 265
And eft wiJ) water, which sche kepte,
She made a cercle aboute him )>ries,
And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes;
376 AESON REGAINS HIS YOUTH
Ful many anoJ)er J>ing sche dede,
Which is noght writen in J)is stede. 270
Bot \o sche ran so up and doun,
Sche made many a wonder soun;
Somtime lich unto J>e cock,
Somtime unto \e laverock,
Somtime kaclej> as an hen, 275
Somtime spekej> as don ))e men.
And riht so as hir jargon strangej)
In sondri wise hir forme change}),
Sche semej) fai[r]e and no womman;
For wij> J)e craftes J>at sche can 280
Sche was, as who seij>, a goddesse,
And what hir liste, more or lesse,
Sche dede, in J>e bokes as we finde.
That passe)> over mannes kmde;
But who })at wole of wondres hiere, 285
What ))ing sche wroghte in )>is matiere.
To make an ende of \?X sche gan.
Such merveile herde nevere man,
Apointed in \q newe mone,
Whan it was time for to done, 290
Sche sette a caldron on J>e fyr,
In which was al ])e hole atir,
Wheron \t medicine stod.
Of jus, of water and of blod,
And let it buile in such a plit^, 295
Til \2X sche sawh })e spume whyt^;
And J)0 sche caste in rynde and rote
And sed and flour, ))at was for bote,
WiJ) many an herbe and many a ston,
Wherof sche haj) ))er manyon. 300
And ek Cimpheius, J)e serpent,
AT THE HANDS OF MEDEA. 377
To hire ha)) alle his scales lent,
Chelidre hire 5af his addres skin,
And sche to builen caste hem in,
A[nd] part ek of J>e homed oule, 305
The which men hiere on nyhtes houle;
And of a raven, which was told
Of nyne hundred wynter old,
Sche tok ))e hed wi)> the bile,"
And as ])e medicine it wile, 310
Sche tok J)er after J)e bouele
Of ))e seewolf, and for fe hele
Of Eson wij> a thousand mo
Of J>inges, Jjat sche hadde J)0,
In J)at caldron togidre^ as blive, 315
Sche putte and tok }>anne of olyve
A drie braunche hem wij) to stere,
The which anon gan floure and here
And waxe al freissh and grene a3ein,;
Whan sche J)is vertu hadde sein, 320
Sche let J)e leste drope of alle
Upon ))e bar[e] flor doun falle;
Anon ])er sprong up flour and gras
Where as \t drope falle was.
And wox anon al medwe grene, 325
So J)at it mihte wel be sene.
Medea J)anne knewe and wiste
Hir medicine is for to triste.
And goj) to Eson ])er he lay
And tok a swerd was of assay, 330
With which a wounde upon his side
Sche made, J>at J>er out mai slide
The blod wij)inne, which was olde
And sek and trouble and fieble and cold.
376 AESON REGAINS HIS YOUTH
Ful many ano))er J>ing sche dede,
Which is noght writen in J>is stede. 270
Bot JK) sche ran so up and doiin,
Sche made many a wonder soun;
Somtime lich unto ))e cock,
Somtime unto J)e laverock,
Somtime kacle)> as an hen, 275
Somtime spekej> as don J>e men.
And riht so as hir jargon strange}>
In sondri wise hir forme changej>,
Sche semej> fai[r]e and no womman;
For wi)> \q craftes \2X sche can 280
Sche was, as who seij>, a goddesse.
And what hir liste, more or lesse,
Sche dede, in J>e bokes as we finde.
That passejj over mannes kinde ;
But who ))at wole of wondres hiere, 285
What ))ing sche wroghte in J>is matiere,
To make an ende of J)at sche gan.
Such merveile herde nevere man.
Apointed in \q newe mone,
Whan it was time for to done, 290
Sche sette a caldron on J>e fyr,
In which was al \t hole atir,
Wheron J>e medicine stod.
Of jus, of water and of blod.
And let it buile in such a plit^, 295
Til \2X sche sawh ))e spume whyt^;
And \o sche caste in rynde and rote
And sed and flour, J)at was for bote,
Wij) many an herbe and many a ston,
Wherof sche haj) \tx manyon. 300
And ek Cimpheius, J)e serpent,
AT THE HANDS OF MEDEA. 377
To hire ha}) alle his scales lent,
Chelidre hire ^af his addres skin,
And sche to builen caste hem in,
A[nd] part ek of })e homed oule, 305
The which men hiere on nyhtes houle;
And of a raven, which was told
Of nyne hundred wynter old,
Sche tok Jje hed wij> the bile;
And as })e medicine it wile, 310
Sche tok ))er after J)e bouele
Of Jje seewolf, and for J)e hele
Of Eson wi}) a thousand mo
Of }>inges, })at sche hadde })0,
In Jjat caldron togidre, as blive, 315
Sche putte and tok Jeanne of olyve
A drie braunche hem wij> to stere,
The which anon gan floure and here
And waxe al freissh and grene a3ein.;
Whan sche })is vertu hadde sein, 320
Sche let })e leste drope of alle
Upon })e bar[e] flor doun falle;
Anon })er sprong up flour and gras
Where as })e drope falle was.
And wox anon al medwe grene, 325
So ))at it mihte wel be sene.
Medea Jeanne knewe and wiste
Hir medicine is for to triste,
And go)) to Eson })er he lay
And tok a swerd was of assay, 330
With which a wounde upon his side
Sche made, Jjat Jjer out mai slide
The blod wijjinne, which was olde
And sek and trouble and fieble and cold.
378 AESON REGAINS HIS YOUTH.
And Jjo sche tok unto his us 335
Of herbes al Jje beste jus
And poured it into his wounde,
That made his veynes fuUe and sounde.
And \o sche made his wounde[s] clos
And tok his hand, and up he ros. 340
And \o sche 3af him drinke a drauhte,
Of which his 30u))e a3ein he cauhte,
His hed, his herte and his visage
Lich unto twenty wynter age;
Hise hore heres were away 345
And lich unto J>e freisshe may,
Whan passed ben )>e colde schoures,
Riht so recouereJ> he his floures.
NOTES.
I.
English Ferjton of Genesis and Exodus,
Page 1, line i. ger=yer= year. In this poem an initial g often stands for
yb or y^ sometimes represented in Old English writers by the Saxon character
3. Compare ^»*esfe= youngest (p. i, 1. 3). g (final) = ^i& or y (Modem
English «;), as sag = sagb= say =s3iw, g before t=^ = gbt as n^/= right
(p. I, 1. 13), \>bogte= thought, nogt=^ nought = not, sogt= sought, wrogt=
wrought (p. 2, 11. 22, 27, 28, 34). g before -en answers to the modem w, as
ogen = o'^n = own, dragen = drawn. In some few cases g before -en answers
to ai, as dagen, O. E. slawen = slain. O. E. bagd= bowel = hail.
1. 2. Quane=^wbanne=yfhtn (see 1. 12). The Southern dialect never
represents the A.S. bw (O.E. bu^ Mod.E. wb) by qu or qw. It is exceed-
ingly common in the Northumbrian dialect, and is often to be met with in
the East and West Midland dialects.
1. 4. Bricte$tofwaspene= brightest of form ; waspene an error of the scribe,
(who probably wrote from dictation,") for wa&teme^ A.S. wdstm: (i) growth,
increase, fruit; (2) form, stature. The root of the word is probably the
A.S. weaxan, to wax, grow, increase. Cp. Shakespere's * man of wax's man
of puberty, a man of full growth.
of witter wune=oi good ability. w«//cr=wise, skilfal; still preserved in
wit, witty y to mt, wist. The A.S. word answering to witter was witol= wise,
knowing. O.E, wytuol (wit-fid), intelligent. wune=k.S, wune^ gewunoy
practice, custom, use. Mod. E. wont from wun-ian, to «/o», dwell, inhabit,
stay, exist
1. 5. 6reS«rff=6fT?tS«r= brethren. In O.E. we find flfe3/'«r= daughters,
^<f= hands.
I. 6. To his father he did discover and lay bare.
gan contracted from bi-gan (began) is often used as a tense auxiliary = did,
as gan love = did love.
vn-billen = O.E. un-belle = ««-<&«/«= un-cover. A, S. bilan, to cover, con-
ceal, from whence Hell= the hidden place.
II. 7, 8. He would (desired) that they should so conduct thenv.«.lv«& ^!aa.^
they should he weU-hehzYed,
380 NOTES.
1. 7. He sulde= they should, sulde = sbulde = shoxsld. In this poem an
initial s (properly ss) = sb, as soren = sboren = shorn (p. 1, 1. 13),
bem = themselves. The personal pronouns are often used by O. £. writers
for the compound forms.
te'i = to conduct A.S. te6n (pret. teah, pp. ge-togen), to iug, tow, draw,
lead. The root is found in wanton = wan-towen, un-trained, wilful; and
is connected with A.S. tibtan, to draw, whence our word tigtt,
1. 8. wel-^ewed= well-behaved. Reived is from A.S. \>eaw, ]>eau, a manner,
habit, from ]>eon, to thrive, flourish. It exists in Mod. E. tbeives,
1. 9. for-^i = for that (reason) = therefore, wherefore.
wexen ivifS gret nifS = waxed in great envy = became very envious. vifS=
in; sometimes it = from. m5 = A.S. nl^, «|?5, wickedness, malice, strife.
(Ger. neid, envy, spite), hence ni^-a, a wicked wretch. O.E, nOSing, an
abject, a vile fellow, a miser. In the North of England niAing is used for
sparing.
1. II. «iS/m/ = envious ; 6o/fif=bad. Cp. the modem use of the word
forward.
1. 13. sortfn = shorn, cut, reaped. Sbear has often the $ense of to cut or
reap, in O.E.
1. 14. And theirs ( = their sheaves) there lay all before him.
H(ertf= theirs, fV= there; it was oftea=Aere was.
bem seems to be an error for bim.
P. 2, 1. 16. nmr^eden= honouTed (umrfSed in 1. 18 is the pp.), from A.S.
wur^ian, to honour, hence Eng. wor€bip = A.S. wur^-scipet honour, O.E.
wor\>-scbipe. The same root is seen in wortb, wortby.
frigti= frighty, fearful, timid.
1. 17. s^«=seen=be seen, appear.
1. 20. sulen= sbtden= ^2\\ (pi.), luten, from A.S. lutian, to bow, incline,
bow down to, do obeisance to. The O.E. ttmfcr-/ott/= subject, servant
Of. under-lowton\ subjicio, subjecto; from lowtyh\ conquinisco, inclino,
(Prompt. Parv.). In the North of England, to bow, in the rustic fashion, is
still termed to lout. The modern word lout, originally a menial, contains the
same root.
1. 2T. cbidden = cliodet pl. P'et. See Grammatical Introduction, article
Verb.
1. 22. "Sog* = though, nevertheless; sjSe = siSe«, afterwards.
1. 24. Hirdnesse sherds. The root is the A.S. beord, berd, b6rd, flock;
berd, wealth, treasure, board.
1. 25. to dalen ehron=\o the vale of Hebron.
1. 28. so^/= sought, having sought.
1. 29. froferen kumen = coming from afar (at a distance), fro = O.Norse^,
from, is still found in forward {=froward, O.'E. fraward)^ frowctrdnesi
fromward in O.E. has often the same signification.
feren = a-far. O. E. feme -fame = distant. A.S. feorran, far from ; feor «
O.E./«*, far. Chaucer uses the phrases /«-«£ Z>a/wes =■ distant saints, farh
cart= a distant cart. The aflSx -en denotes motion from, or to, as in O.E.
bennen, tbennen^ wbanen = benn-e, tbenn-e, wbann-e = hence, thence, whence.
kumen = kumende = coming. The rhyming of the present participle with
the past participle or infinitive in -en is not uncommon.
/. S<^, on ros = arose. In \. ^i \\\ft v*e^o%\^on. is placed after the verb for
the sake of the rhyme, hem \% m liht ^^.^a??^ ^yA 'ma ^.tcosasoN^ cm«..
NOTES,, 381
1. 30. numen^nomen:^ taken. The A.S. tUman, to take, seize (pretnaw,
O.E. now), still exists in numb, benumb, nimble. A.S. be-nyman, to take,
take away, deprive. North. Prov. Eng. nim, to steal, take up hastily.
In O.E. «oiny«=nttm6« — numbed = taken with the palsy. *I benome, I
make lame or take away the use of one's lymmes.' Je perclos (Palsgrave),
Benomme or benombe of one's lymbes, perclus (Palsgrave). This man is
taken or benomed (Horman). See Promp. Parv. p. 358. Nimble = O.E.
nymyl= handy or skilful in taking, and hence quick of limb, active.
1.31. Swilc = such, in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries was the Northern
and Midland form of the word. In the Southern dialect the i becomes u, the /
is dropped, and the c is softened into cb. In eariier writers we find the form
swulcb, from whence sivucb and such. Each (O.E. ilk, ucb, ich, and ecb)
and which (O.E. whilk, hwuch) have undergone similar changes. Such or
swilc is a compound, being derived from &wa (so) and lie ^like) ; which or
while —wha (who) + lie ; eaeb or ilk = <s (one) + lie.
I. 32. They all counselled to slay him.
redden, pi. pret. = advised, planned. A.S. reed, counsel, advice, opinion ;
rddan, to counsel, advise. Eng. riddle = A.S. rdd-els.
II. 32, 33. do-n, slo=s\iiy. This is a Midland form for the Northern
s/a = day = Southern sle for slea. A.S. sledn (pret. s/oZ>, pp. slagen), to
strike, beat, kill. The root taking various forms is seen in sledge-hammer,
A.S. siege, slaughter, O.E. sla^t=daght; A.S. sUge, a slaying, O.N.
datr, slaughter. Cp. Ger. schlagen, to strike; scblact, battle; schlachten, to
slay.
1.34. 0^er= other =OT.
1. 35. "Sot-^ki/m = there-whilst= whilst.
slep = slept : lept, wept were formerly written lep, wep, and belonged to
the strong or irregular class of verbs.
1. 36. I^istemesse is an error for eistemesse- cistern, pit (Lat. cistema),
1. 37, Yet let him be cast, naked and cold.
wut^ IS from weor^an, to be, to become. We have weor^an in the
phrases *wo worth the day!* *wo worth the hour!* The verb was thus
inflected in A.S. : —
Ind. Pres. 1. weorlSe, 2. wyrst, 3. wyr^.
„ Pret. I. weard, 2. wurde, 3. weariS,
„ Imper. weor^,
L 38* What-so-«i;«r his dreams may signify.
ow-en = og-en, pi. = ought (may be).
a<vold= in force, meaning (see wold, p. 3, 1. 52). If a-^wold were the
inf. it would be written a-wold-en or a-wold-e. A.S. wold, power, dominion ;
wealdan, to rule, wield.
1. 39. sor= sorrowful. This refers of course to Reuben only.
1. 40. drechen= to delay, from A.S. drican, to vex, trouble; and hence
to hinder, delay, dretch. Wedgwood connects it with dregs and drag.
1.41. gede = yede = went. The A.S. verb gangan, gan, to go, or gang, had
the two preterites ge6ng and e6de. The substitute of ie or ye for Ae e6 has
given rise to the form yede or gede.
1. 42. erue ^ A.S. yr/e, erfe, cattle, animals ; also wealth, inheritance.
Zwstf— pasture. Prov. Eng. leasowe, leese. O.E. leswen, to pasture; from
A.S. Idsu, a pasture ; Iceswian, to pasture, feed.
1. 43. r*rf= advice, counsel (see note to \.^i%
382 NOTES.
1. 44. fulJUt qfdeme sped ^faifilltd in secret haste (speed).
For q/* we should perhaps read on =* in; and instead of derne we might read
derue, bold, wicked.
1. 45. cbafare^ehap-fare^chzffeTt merchandise. A.S. eedp, a bargain,
sale; whence Eng. cheap; eedp-<m, to buy. eedpian^O.'E. eope, bnj,
cheapen,
1.46. spices-ware — spices. Cp. waters-ware, collection of waters (see 1. 72,
p. 84). The A.S. wdru, ware, merchandise, is used as an affix in bixrd-ware,
iron-ware (see 1. 84, p. 4).
F. 3, 1. 47. gunne » pi. did (see note to 1. 6). ten » to go (see note to 1. 7).
1. 50. cZ>apm^« = merchants (see note to 1. 45),
1. 51. wast = was + t^wzs it.
1. 52. s/orw« = should die. The A.S. steorfan; O.E. starve, to die (prct
stearf; O.E. starf, sterf; pret. ge-storfen, O.E. storvett), is the root of the
Eng. starve, starvation. As early as 1340 sterue was used in the same tense
as the modem verb * to starve.*
wo/rf= power (see note to 1. 38).
1. 55. 'Si&o^/« = appeared, from the A.S. ^incan, to seem, appear. It is
used impersonally, as in Tnethinks =^it appears to me.
sw^m 3= astonished, from the A.S. swima, a stupor, giddiness, O.N. svimra,
to be dizzy. Cp. the expression * a swimming in the head.'
1. 56. wende ^weened, thought, supposed. A.S. wtnan^ to think, tcMii.
s/a^^ns slain (see note to 1. i, p. i).
rem ss cry. A.S. hream, din, wailing, clamour; breman, to cry out, O.N.
rymia, to bellow ; breima, to resound.
1. 5 7. Nile =ne + wile = will not.
blinnen = ce^e, leave off. A.S. blinnan (pret. blan, pp. blunnen), from bi
( = be) and linnan, to cease.
swilc sorwe be cliued= such sorrow he endured, cliued seems to be=s
cleaved; but as the verb to cleave is generally used as a strong verb, it is
probable that the reading is corrupt. Perhaps we ought to read bim dreued
« troubled (afflicted) him. cliued and lined should be written cltued[e'] and
liued[e], being preterites and not p. participles.
1. 59. nomen = numen, pret. pi. took (see note to 1. 30, p. 2).
srud—sbrud= shroud, clothing. Bailey explains shroud as to cover, shelter.
A.S. scrud, garment, clothing; scr^dan, to clothe.
1. 60. ^e, which. The A. S. \>e (indeclinable) was used in all cases for a
(m.), seo (f.), \KBt (neut.), which.
marf=pp. made. Notice that the pret. would be mad-e.
im = him; /r«rf= pride, A.S.^r^, pr^t, pr&t, O.E, prute, proud. The
O.E, ptrot, trut, was an interjection of contempt, Fy! Ger. trotz, scorn.
O.D. prat, arrogant.
1. 61. Heiszn error for In; blod ^^blood,
wenten= pret, pi. turned. A.S. tvend, a turn, change; wendan, to go,
proceed (pret. wende, Eng. went); whence O.E. went, a turning, course, way,
road. We must connect went with wind; A. S. windan.
1. 62. "So ="80 = then, the root o£ tbe-n, the-n-ce^O.E. tba-nne, dpa-nnres.
rewli = rueful = sorrowful, piteous. A. S. reCw, bre6w ; (i) grief, contrition ;
(2) raw, rear ; bre6wan, bre6wsian, to rue, grieve^ repent ; breOuhlic, cruel,
moumfuJ; bre6wnes, Tepta^X!a!ct,
lit = stain, spot. O .N . lito, lo sta:m.
NOTES. 383
1. 63. Sondere men = messengers. The usual form is sondes-men, from the
A.S. sond, sand or sending, mission, messenger.
1. 65. hoden, pret. pi. had. A.S. betdan (3rd sing, hp, pi. budoUy
pret. head, pp. ge-boden), to bid, offer. From this root we get bdd, a
prayer, request; bydd, Eng. beadle, a messenger, preacher (see note to
1. 67. p. 3).
1. 66. wede= weed =g2iTment, Cp. widow's tt/^«cfe. Trench confounds the
A. S. wdd, a garment, with we6d, herb, grass, weed.
1. 67. «S'«i/tf«=(pl. pret.) they sent.
6o<i^ss message, word. A.S. bod, ge-bod, command; bod-a, a messenger;
bodian, to tell, preach (see note to 1. 65, p. 3).
funden = ^Ttl. pi. found.
1. 69. ^^/= cried. A.S. grdtan, greotan (pret. grit). North Prov. Eng.
greet, to cry out, weep.
dler=pl. die«-«» beasts, animals. A.S. de6r, animal, wild beast; deer being
originally a neuter noun, like swine, has no separate form for the plural.
1. 70. £«/o/^M = swallowed. A.S. swelgan, swilgan, to swallow, swill
(pret. swealb, swealg^O.'E. swal, swol; pp. ge-swolgen).
1. 71. Z>a«grtf = sack-cloth. A.S. bar, hair; bar-a, cloth made of hair.
srid=sbrouded= clothed (see note to 1. 59, p. 3).
1. 72. gro/ = bewailing, mourning. This substantive is formed from the
verb greten, to weep (see note to 1. 69, p. 3).
sorg« = sorrow. AS. sori& = care, anxiety. The g has been softened
down to w, Cp. morrow. A.S. morgen^
1. 74. bertedin, console ; literally, to encourage. Cp. berting, consolation,
encouragement (1. 76).
1. 75. 9«a/=g«a5 = quoth.
1. 76. wrogt = u/rougbt= worked. The same root occurs in wrigbt,
1. 77. sal = sbal = shsiW.
ligten = aligbt=i descend. A.S. libtan, alibtan, to alight, descend. Eng. to
ligbt upon a thing.
til = to. O.N. tU, to. A.S. til, end, object. O.E. tylle, to lead, reach,
touch. A.S. tiUan, to procure, get, till.
1. 78. groten=: to greet, bewail (see note to 1. 69, p. 3).
6a/« = destruction. A.S. bealu, bealo, bale, woe, evil; whence Eng. bale,
haUftd.
P. 4, 1.79. s2/n</ri = separate. A.S. sttndtfr = separate, asunder; sundor,
apart ; sundrian, to separate ; sundrig, sundry, separate.
stede= place. Eng. stead; Cp. home-stead, bed-stead. A.S. stede, styde.
O. £. stude, place, station ; stede, stable, steady {sted-ig) ; steadfast (sted-fcest).
The root of all these words is the A. S. standan, to stand.
1. 80. sell = good, blessed. A.S. sdl, time, opportunity, luck, happiness;
sdl, prosperous, good; scelig, happy (Ger. selig), whence Mod. E. silly,
originally harmless, guileless, simple.
reste dede= did rest.
1. 81. s/wwfen = abode, passed the time. A.S. stund, a stound, space of
time. O.E. stound-mele, at intervals. Ger. stund, an hour.
1. 82. 1Seden = e^en = thence, O.N. '^alSan,
nam, took (see note to 1. 30, p. 2).
L 83. skiuden = (pret. pi.) sbifted, changed. Norse sftt/ia, D%»>» ^fexll^> Na
change, shift
384 NOTES,
1.83. fare = A. S. fcer^faru, journey, course, way. faran, to go (pret ftur,
pp. ge-faren). Cp. wzy-faring, wel-fare.
1. 84. ledden^ ^ret. pi. led.
«;ar«= purchase, property, goods (see note to 1. 46, p. 3V
1.85. s//tt;arrf= steward. O.N. s^varrfr, from stjd, Norse s/i, domestic
occupation ; stta, to be busy about the house, to take care of cattle. O.N.
&tia, sheep-house. Cp. Dan. sti, a sty.
1. 86. They made quickly covenant (bargain) of purchase.
swi^e= quickly. A.S. sttfe, strong; sufwe, very; swi^an, to strengthen.
bigetel = ^To^ertyy purchase; from A.S. begedtan^ he-getan^ to gtifheget,
obtain.
/orw/arrf= covenant; from the k.S. fore-word^ bargain.
1. 87. So micbel=zs much. A.S. mycel, micel, great, mickle. Other O.E.
forms are mucheU mocbeU mocbe (whence Eng. much), and tnikel.
/«= property, wealth. k.S.feob (Ger. vieb)^ cattle, money, riches, whence
Eng. fee. Cp. Lat. pecns, cattle, and pecuniae money.
bem told= valued by them. The A.S. tellan^ to tell, signif3dng to reckon,
estimate ; whence tal, number ; tale, reckoning.
1. 88. They have bought for themselves, bim is probably an error for bem
= them-selves.
1. 89. trewi^ = trowetb = believes. A. S. treiw, tre6we, trust, pledge,
truce (O.E. trewe, trewes) ; tredwe, true ; tre6wtan triewian, to trust, confide,
trow ; treows-ian, to give one's word, to bind ; tre6u^, troth, truth.
wiwes = wiues = wife's.
1.90. baued=baue^ = hzs.
dempt= demt= deemed^ doomed, condemned. A.S. dem-a, a judge; demon,
to judge, deem, examine, doom; d6m, doom, trial. O.E. demster, deem-
ster, judge.
6ai^ = punishment (see note to 1. 78, p. 4).
1.91. s^rt/s fastened, shut up. Bailey has s^r, to shut as a door.
A.S. sparran, to shut, Ger. sperren. Cp. Du. sperre, sparre, rod, rafter, bar,
spar.
1. 92. bar^e, an error for barde, hard, straitly.
1. 93. stund= time (see note to 1. 81, p. 4).
1. 94. prisuner = the one who has the care of the prison, the jailor.
1. 95. cbartre, an error for cbwartre. A.S. cwart-em, a prison, a guard-
house.
6/-/ag'/= handed over, assigned, entrusted to; from O.E. bitecbe or hitaiki*
A. S. hetdcan, deliver to, betake, commit.
1. 96. "80 = the. A.S. \>a, the plural of the definite article.
prisunes = prisoners. Cp. O.E. trumpes, trumpeters ; buntes, huntsmen.
bagt= agt=z care, sorrow, Ger. acbt, care ; acbten, to mind. A.S. eabtan,
to meditate.
1. 97. Or = or, either, or.
misdede = misdeed, fault, trespass.
on-sagen = urv-sage = wicked speech. A.S. sagu, speech ; sagan, secgan, to
say ; whence the Eng. saw, a saying, a proverb. O.E. sootb-saw, a true sajring.
1. 98. woren = waren = weren, were.
1. 99. bed= presented, offered (see note on 1. 65, p. 3).
J. loi. bo%en ontgt=\)olYi m ^t xi\^\* Qmg/=o« nigt, a night. The
form on (o before a cotisotvault^ \^ ^tt^«rtt^\>^ '^ot^wjL^Tvv^^ \s) on or 0*
NOTES. 385
the corresponding Southern preposition. Cp. o-frigbt= afright^ frightened, in
the next line.
1. 102. And they became very sore afraid. -^
1. 103. onsel-'dL time, on a time. A.S. se/, time (see note on 1. 80, p. 4).
1. 105. He heard them mourn, he enquired wherefore.
/retnde=Jrainde =en(\uiTed, asked. The A.S. /regnan, to enquire, was a
strong verb, and made the pret./r«^«, the pip. frugnen.
1. 106. ogen awold '^at= would cause that (see note on 1. 38, p. 2).
P. 5, 1. no. The interpretation will depend on God.
r«Ci&/»g'= interpretation, is from the A.S. recarit say, tell, interpret; whence
reckon.
I. 112. waxen buges- full-grown boughs (for waxen^ see note on 1. 9, p. i).
6tt^es= boughs. A.S. hob^ a bough; from bugan^ beogan^ to bend (pret
beaby bedg ; pp. ge-bogen\ whence Eng. bow, bay, 6ay-window ; buxum =
O.E. bugb-som, obedient, pliant.
II. 113, 114. First it bloomed (flowered), and afterwards it bore the ripe
berries (grapes), as I became aware (or perceived).
so = as, seems needed before wur^.
Orest=arst=ersf, first. A.S. <Er; O.E. ar, er, or, before, ere (superl.
terest, terost, first).
1. 116. iSbugte = iSoite= appeared (see note on 1. 55, p. 3).
tt;ro»^= wrung, squeezed; the pret. oiwringen, to wring, squeeze.
1. 118. als=al + se=al + swa,^s.
wune= wont, accustomed (see note on 1. 4, p. i).
1. 120. ibtft/«^ss«= health, wholeness. A.S. bdl-nes, from bdl, bdl, whole.
The Eng. wbole, formerly written bed or bol, has no right to the w ; wbole-
some, beal{k.S. bdlan, to heal), bealtby, are from the same root. The O.E.
word belend (A.S, bdlend) signified the healing one, the Saviour.
1. 125. Present my petition to Pharaoh.
berdne=emde=eTT2ind, message. A.S. cerend, cerende, message, news.
1. 126. wur^e don = may be taken. Do is often used by O.E. writers in the
following senses : (1) to cause, make ; (2) to place, put.
1.127. ^'wfe /onrf= native land, the land of one's kin. A.S. cynde,
natural; cynd, nature; from cyn = kin, race, kindred, kind; cyn, akin,
Cp. the * kindly (natural) fruits of the earth.* The O.E. unkind signifies
unnatural, ungrateful.
L 128. wrigteleslike=u/rigte-les-like, innocently. A.S. tt/r^i&/, an accusation,
blame, fault ; from wrigan, to accuse, bewray.
1. 129. bred<tfrigte=bread-wrigbt, bread-maker, baker, wrigte (Eng.tvrigbt)
is the A.S. wyrbta, a workman, artificer; from wyrcan (pret. worbte, Eng.
wrougbt), to work, still existing in wbeelwrigbt. Sec.
li^^, imp. listen. O.N. bly^z, to listen ; bliod, a sound, voice. Cp. A.S.
blystan, to Hsten; O.N. blust, an ear.
1.130. 6r«arf-/(^s = bread-baskets. A.S. leap, basket, hamper. Prov.
Eng. leep, a basket.
!• 133- /ugeles= fowls. A.S. Jiigol, flugol, a bird ; from fleogan, to fly.
This shows that in fowl an / has been dropped, which is retained in the noun
fly (A.S. Jleoge). Cp. Gti.fliegen, to fly; wogel, a bird.
lagt= seized from. A.S. laccan, gelceccan, to catch, seize, latcb.
1. 135* wcrwi = protect, guard, defend. A.S. warian, vjerian, \o ^t^cOk.^>
protect kee/> off; wdrian, to beware ; from wt^r, ca.M.\ioMS, war^, onjoore.
C C
386 NOTES.
1. 136. berate bear away.
1. 137. It were liever to me = I had rather.
1. 138. Of pleasant (lucky) dreams to tell the meaning. • '
eddi =A.S. eddig, blessed, happy; from edd, happiness.
recben = tell (see note to 1. 1 10, p. 5).
staep = swap = swop, blow, force ; and hence meaning.
1. 140. Be put (hung) on the cross, alas !
rode =A.S. r6d, cross, rood, Fris. rode, the gallows.
weila-wei =A.S. wdrld-wa, well-a-wayl well-a-dayl wd^woe, sorrow,
grief.
1. 141. to-teren-ttM in pieces, to answers to the Lat. dw-, Ger. zer,
to-hreak (=A.S. to-4frecan, Lat dis-rumpere) occurs in Eng. Bible, "all to-
brake his head.**
1. 142. That no money (wealth) be able to save thee.
agte = moTity. The plural agtes, moneys, occurs in 1. 376, p. 10. A.S.
<Bbt= property, cattle, possessions ; from agon, to own,
mugen = mogen = he able. A.S. magan; whence Eng. may, main,
migbt, &c.
P. 0, 1. 143. It became true (was ftdfilled) as Joseph had said.
so1S = sootb, true, truth ; as in Eng. /or-sootb, sooib-sayer,
1. 146. u/fiS uten erd= in a distant or foreign land, uten = distznt, foreign.
A.S. tt/c, without, out, abroad; utan, beyond.
erd= abode, dwelling-place. A.S. eard, country, region ; eardian, to dwell,
settle in ; eardung, dwelling ; eardung-stow, dwelling-place.
1. 149. neet=neat. A.S. n^ten, nlten, cattle, beast O.N. mtut, an ox;
whence neat-berd. The meaning of the word is * unintelligent,* from A.S.
nitan, ne-witan, not to know.
1. 150. Every one very fat and large (great),
Euerilc, softened into euericb, is the origin of every, tie = icb = eacb.
1. 151. "80= those (see note to 1, 96).
1. 152. Who brought (did) the fat (ones) to grief.
1. 153. freten, eaten; from Jrete, to eat AS. /retan (pret. Jr<st, pp.
gefreten) ; whence Eng. fret, to rub, wear, consume. With this root is
connected Jritter, fritters, and wart (A.S. vrat), Du. vraet,
1. 157. On a rank (strong) bush and well-favoured (in lull bloom).
tidi is used by Shakespeare in the sense of * in good condition,' plump.
In O.E. tidi has the sense of timely, good, beautiful, from A S. tld, time, tide;
whence tid-an, to happen, he-tide. Cp. O. Swedish tidig, beautiful,
I. 159. Withered (faded) and small, and drought-seized (struck).
welkede= faded. Ger. welken, to fade. A S. wealowian,wealwian, to fade,
wither.
drugte numen = drought (dr3mess)-taken (see note on 1. 30, p. 2).
II. 161, 162. To-gether they smote, and in a stound (second)
The fat ones thrust to the ground.
To-samen = together. A. S. (prefix) sam = together ; sama, the same; SOM'
man, to assemble.
^rist bem, an error for ^risten, pi. thrust. A. S. \>r<2stian, to twist, press.
1. 163. a6rmW= awoke; literally to start suddenly. A.S, bredan, bregdan,
to weave, braid, gripe, drive. O.N. bregma, in addition to these meanings,
signifies to change, to a^aiVt o\iX o^ i^te^, %v«iv O.N. brag^S, signifies a
quick motion; whenceliie0.^.ataV<ud,^\Q'w»;\^\a.^\a.^^^ ^^^d,
NOTES. 387
is, originally, to raise a sudden shout, to accuse. Bailey has the word bread,
appearance, which may be compared with the Prov. E. braidt to pretend,
resemble, from the O. N. bra^, gesture ; bragr, habit ; at braga, to imitate.
Shakespeare uses braid for manners.
iSbogt= thought, anxiety, care. Cp. the phrase * take no thought*
I. 166. Who could explain the meaning of the dreams.
vn-donsxun-do, to discover, explain.*
1. 168. %€U- what. O.E. writers use ther for where, then for when,
1. 171. hogt, seems to be an error for sogt= sought, looked for.
1. 174. woW— force, signification (see note on 1. 38, p. a).
P. 7, 1. 178. tawnen = show, make known. Du. toonen, to show.
1. 180. yii/sttw-ibtfrf= fulsome-head, abundance, plenteousness.
nt^m^sr passed. The O.E. nime, signifies to take the way, to go, pass.
1. 182. «^flJ^/ = needful, necessitous, severe.
is = his = them. This pronoun is used by Robert of Gloucester and Dan
Michel of Kent. See Grammatical Introduction, article Pronouns.
I. 184. rosp«n= rasp, diminish. Du. raspen, to grate.
raJten = consume. O.N. raka, to scrape ; Sw. r(ika, to shave.
II. 185, 186. I advise the king now here before (the famine)
To make bams and gather com.
Ui^es= bams. Dan. lade, a bam.
11. 187, 188. That thy folk be not surprised (taken unawares)
When the famine years are forth come (come to pass).
i&««^'= hungry, famine. The O.E. hunger, is often used for famine
(see 1. 209, p. 8). The Gothic hugrjan, to hunger, suggests that A.S.
hugu, little, scarce, is the root of the word.
I. 190. That became to him afterwards good fortune.
$eli sped- happy speed, prosperity (see note on 1. 80, p. 4).
II. 191, 200. He gave Joseph his ring And his collar of gold for honour,
And bad him all his land mle, And under him highest for to be ; And bad
him wield in his hand His folk, and wealth, and all his land. There was
under him Potiphar And his wife, that him so falsely bore (witness) against.
Joseph to wife his daughter took, Either now or formerly when she (first) be-
came (known to him).
1. 192. hege- collar, is from the A.S. betgan, b&gan, to bend ; beah, beh,
beag, signifies a ring, bracelet, collar, crown.
warding = honour, worship (see note on 1. 16, p. 2).
1. 198. to4tar- bore against, accused falsely.
1. 204. gf^= requited, 3delded. A.S. gyld, payment; also a guild, club;
gyldan (pret. geald, pp. galden), to pay, yield.
1. 205. ,/Wsttm = ful-some, plenteous (see 1. 180, p. 7).
faren « passed, gone ; from faren, to go. A. S. faru, a joumey, fare ; faran,
to go (pret./)r, pp. gefaren).
1. 206. Joseph could (knew how to) make them aware beforehand.
1. 208. y«tt^ 5= enough. A.S. ge-nog, suflScient. O.N. nogr, abundant.
P. 8, 1. 210. /or-'Sa« =sfor-that (reason), therefore.
1. 212. 6i/^«.fo7ea/= remained. A.S. belifan, to remain, abide (pret.
belaf, beleaf),
L 213. /»• uede sog/- peaceable by necessity. sogt=sagt. A.S. saht,
peaceable; or perhaps sogt ss sought, ^nvtVi to seek (food) i^tt\,i\*\,'^.'^.
J. 21$. htOm^did obdstnce (see luten, I. 20, p. i),
C C 2
388 NOTES.
JrigtiUke^^imdiy, frightened-like; from /rigti, timid, fearful (see 1. 16,
p. a).
1. 216. An^j an error for and,
mildelike = mildly, meekly. The Southern form of the adv. would be
mildelicbe,
1. 217. so«^s = messengers (see note on 1. 63, p. 3).
1. 219. Joseph them knew perfectly in his mind. For ben read bem, them.
1. 220. Also he pretended (as) he knew them not. Read so or also before
be knew.
I. 223. came should be cunu, pi. come.
1. 227. Oc = A.S. ac, but.
sitnen = sons.
1. 228. do^ «s= compels them (see is, them, in 1. 182, p. 7). Bates
may be an error for us.
I. 230. gure bering^youi bearing, behaviour.
II. 231-234. How should one man, poor, forgotten. Such and so many sons
beget ? For seldom it betides (befalls) any king himself Such men to see of
his offspring.
1. 237. boten =^nzmed, called. A.S. bdtan (pret. batte), to call, name;
bdtan (pret. bit, bebt, pp. bdien), to promise.
1. 239. /« 5 = faith.
og=ow = owe.
\. 2/^o. e^en=be^en'=hence. O.'b^.b^an.
P. 9, 1. 243. /or-rfrtfrf=: afraid, in great dread; for, intensitive (Lit, per-
Ger. ver-), as in for-go,for~bid, &c.
1. 244. oc = also. Dan. og, and.
^burg = 1Surg = through.
/or-r^rf= deceive. A.S. for-rddan, to miscounsel, deceive; from rM,
counsel (see note on 1. 32, p. 2).
1. 246. speren (see note on 1. 91, p. 4).
1. 248. /on = that one, the first, &c. So /o/2>«*=«that other, the second.
1. 250. To wedde = iox security, as hostage. A.S. wed, pledge, earnest;
weddian, to bargain, contract, wed ; wed-ldc, wedlock.
1. 251. on-on = anon = in one (instant), immediately, at once.
1. 254. 6/-m^«/= bemoaned, bewailed. A.S. bemdnan, to bemoan; from
Tudnan, to moan.
1. 256. Wrtgtful = ^i\ty (see note on 1. 128, p. 5).
1. 257. sinigeden = ip\. pret. sinned. A.S. singian, to sin.
quilum or = awhile ere (before) ; quil-um = awhile, formerly. The um, as in
O.E. ferr-um, afar, is the A.S. ymbe, O.E. urnbe, um, around, quilum is
sometimes written umquile.
•I. 259. werneden, pi. denied, refused. A.S. wyman, to warn, forbid,
refuse, deny.
1. 260. drege = suffer. A.S. dreogan (pret. drec^, pp. drogen), to bear,
suffer, work.
1. 261. Knew none of them in his mind.
Wende = weened.
bere non = none of them.
mod = mind. A.S. mdrf, mood. The O.E. modi (Eng. moody), signifies
proud, exalted.
J. 366. put = tknist. O ."E.. pult ; TiwN.. -tutte, \a ^^'^VxssX^^'ss^'ww.
NOTES. 389
1. 268. bunden, pret. pi. bound. Cp. the phrase ' our hounden duty/
1. 271. o«w-'Sog'/= over-anxious, frightened.
P. 10, 1. 273. s^rf= speed, success.
1. 274. ^i§'/i6«rf=frighty-hood, fear (see 1. 16, p. 2).
1. 278. 6/-wtf««^=bemoaneth (see note on 1. 254, p. 9).
1. 279. Very great sorrow is me become (befallen).
WeU by O.E. writers, is used as an adv. = very.
1. 280. aren = 2xt. This part of the verb *to be' is of Norse origin.
1. 284. 2>earf=dcrfS = death.
sfg'tf^ = falleth, alighteth, cometh. K.^.sigan, to fall, to set; sdgan^ to
cause to descend.
1. 285. hi-lewen = hi4even =xtm2,m (see hilef, note on 1. 212, p. 8).
1. 287. us sal ben bard = to us it shall be hard = it will go hard with us.
1. 288. no=ne=not; like the Scotch na.
ybrwarrfs: covenant, agreement (see note on 1. 84, p. 4).
1. 289. Wex derfie =fzm\ne (dearth) came, der^e^deartb, A.S. dedre,
deart precious. The O.E. dur\>ey d^rjjtf = value, worth.
1. 290. est may be an Aror for 1?/^=: again.
6//=biddeth, commandeth.
1.291. duren^ pi. dare. A.S. d^aran, to dare: (1st pers. sing.) dear,
(2nd pers. sing.) dearst; pi. durron, pret. dorste; Eng. durst,
1, 293. quan it is net/ = since it is necessary.
1. 294. And (I) know no better plan.
can = know. A. S. cunnan .* ( 1 ) can, ( 2 ) cunne, canst ; pt. cunnon, pret. .d^'S^
(Eng. could) , pp. ge-c&^ ; Eng. couth, in uncouA = unknown, and hence strange.
1. 296. That to them thereof there lack none.
wante, in O.E. often signifies * to lack;' as in the modem phrase * it wants
so many to make up the nimiber.'
1. 299. of dere pris — of great price, of precious vaflue (see note on
1. 289, p. 10).
I. 301. God grant him well disposed to be.
bunne, grants A.S. unnan, to grant, give. This root still exists in the
phrases * he otuned to having done it ; * * I have owned to it.* own has here
nothing to do with the verb owe, but signifies granted, or conceded (see Owl
and Nightingale, 1. 547, p. 36).
fit$i-WK)dIes=«tyt-WK)£ferf= easy-minded, well-disposed, kind. A.S.M'S, easy;
ed^e, easily ; edfS'mdd, easy-minded (see 1. 138, p. 5).
II. 303» 304- Then took they forth the way right.
Till they were come into Egypt quickly.
ligt= light, easily, quickly. Cp. the expression * to get off lightly.*
P. 11, 1. 306. Natural thought in his heart was then.
iSag — 8a = "So, then.
1. 307. gerken = to prepare. A. S. gearcian, to prepare, make ready. The
Elizabethan writers employ the verb yark in the sense of * to make up.*
meten= mete=meaX. The n is added to the vowel-ending for the sake of
the rhyme.
1. 309. biri'=z city. A.S. byri, byrig, burh, burg =Eng. borough. The
bury is of frequent occurrence as an afiSx in local names; as Canter- 62/ry,
"Sew-bury, Sec. The French bourg is bdtrowed from the Teutonic dialects,
whence Eng. burgess, Fr. bourgeois, a citizen.
L 310, None of them bad then cheerful co\inteiiaLtxe%.
39^ NOTES.
1. 412. dragen 'St to draw (near), go to a place.
1. 413. /imm=: prosper, fare well. A.S. Hma, time; ge-tinUan, to happen,
fall out (well).
1. 414. He bad them take carts and waggons (wains).
1.417. i&tf/= promised. A.S. batan (pret. bet^ pp. bdten), to command,
promise (see note on 1. 237, p. 8).
1.418. 6e/= better. A.S. 6e/, better; bitan, to make better, amend,
remedy; hence O.E. heety kindle, or repair a fire. From the root bet, we
get £ng. 600/, booty y bootless. A.S. bdt^ bdtu, boot, remedy^ atonement
to bdte = to boot, with advantage, moreover.
1. 419. Joseph gave each of them two changes of raiment.
1. 423. Also many others there-to.
fele—mzny. Pi..%, feoda, f€La, many.
1. 425. vn^ semes /est =\ozdcd (fastened) with burdens, seme is the A.S.
seam, a horse-load, seam (eight bushels.)
1. 428. And bad them hasten home quickly (see note on 1. 401, p. 13).
1. 434. gretelS = greeteth (pret. grette), A.S. grdtan, to salute, bid welcome.
Du. groetertj to salute.
P. 15, I. 436. c/mtfi5 = cleaveth, adheres, clings. A.S. divan, Du. kleeven,
to stick to, adhere to.
1. 438. Wei me. me is the dative after the interjection wel, Cp. the use
of the dative in the phrase * woe is me.'
I. 440. That I have thus awaited such time, i. e. that I have lived to sec
this day.
II. 441, 442. And I shall to my son go, And see (him) ere I from (this) world
depart (see 11. 487, 488, p. 16).
chare =cbaren = to depart. A.S. cerre, a turn, bending; cerran, to turn,
pass over. Du. keeren, to turn. We retain this root in a-jar^acbar, on the
turn. Gawain Douglas uses on-cbar for ajar, char is a turn of work ; whence
char-woman. ** As the maid that milks, and does the meanest chares** — Ant.
and Cleop. iv. 13 ; v. 2.
I. 452. How many years be (are) on thee.
II. 453-462. An hundred years and thirty more Have I endured (lived) in
(the) world's woe, Yet (they) appear to me few Though I have passed them
in woe. Since I began in world to be. Here in (a) strange land among man-
kind. So thinketh every wise man Who knoweth whereof mankind began,
And who of Adam's guilt considereth. That he here in strange (foreign)
lands dwelleth.
drogen, pp. of dregen, A. S. dredgen (pret. dreag, dreob, pp. ge-drogen),
to suffer, endure, finish.
1. 455. fo=fa = {ew, A.S. feawa^ fea; Goth, favs; Icelandic /dr(m),
fd(/). fdttin).
1. 458. See note on 1. 146, p. 6.
1. 461. mun^S = considers. A.S. munan, gemunan, to consider. It is still
retained in the expression * mind what you are about.*
1. 462. wune^ = dvfdh. A.S. ivunian, to dwell, inhabit; wunung^O.^.
woning, a dwelling (see 1. 469, p. 16).
1.463. wur(Sen wel = {a.Te well. A.S. w^or^an, to become (sec note on
1. 37. P- 2).
1. 464. sell m*/— good sustenance (meal).
P. 16, 1. 468. ^-oten— ca3\t^ (^%tt -aou on. U 2^7, p. 8).
NOTES. 391
1. 358. ferdetty pi. went. A.S. feran, to go ($Ttt.ferde) iferd, an expedition.
1. 361. fl^/ie = owned. A.S. agan^ to own.
1. .^65. This messenger overtaketh them quickly.
rart$tf = quickly. A.S. brciitSt swift, quick; breed, quick; whence ratbe
(Milton), early ; rather, sooner.
I. 366. And accuses (calls after) tbem of injury and loss.
II. 367-370. Unhappy (wretched) men, what hare ye done ?
Great misfortune is come upon you.
For it is not hidden from my lord
That one of you hath his cup stolen.
1,368. vn-sel^ebe^vn-seliSe = misery, grief. A.S. un-sdl, unhappy; un-
salig =vn-seli (1. 367, p. 12), miserable, wicked; un-s<El^, misery, adversity
(see note on 1. 80, p. 4).
1. 369. /or-^o/«i — concealed, hidden. A.S, /br-belan, to hide; bdlan
(pret. bcsl, pp. ge-helen), to cover, hide.
I. 370. gure on = one of you.
F.13, 1. 371. si>tfr/i^tf-= confidently, boldly. O.E. siker, secure, safe. Gcr.
sicber ; Fris. sikur.
II. 373-374. Upon whom thou findest it indeed.
Let him be slain and let us again be driven
Into thraldom (slavery) evermore to live.
vntterli1te=m.iittd, truly, witter signifies wise, true (see note on 1. 4, p. I ;
1. 382, p. 13).
'• 375- ransciken = to search, ransack, Sw. ransaha, to search for stolen
goods, from O.N. rannr, a house, and Sw. soka, to seek.
on and on = one and one, singly.
1. 380. r«vc/f/o/iff= sorrowful cheer (see notes onl. 62, p. 3 ; 1. 310, p. 11).
w«^=O.E wop, weeping. Cp. O.E.^tf/and grot, lamentation ; lop, a leap.
1. 382. o wol {-wel) witter ^ogt=oi very wise thought, of very keen
perception, i. e. very discerning (see 1. 372, p. 13).
1. 387. Provided that thou spare Benjamin.
fri^e=^\o protect. A.S, Jreo^ian, to give peace or security; freofSu,
peace, security.
1. 388. on trewtbe iw««=upon my promise (pledged troth).
1. 392. /o"S*rtf = others, pi. of to1Ser=^at o^er, that other, the other.
J' 393» «««-'S«s= scarcely, with difficulty. A.S. un'ealS, uneasy; uned^e,
uneasily (see 1. 301, p. 10).
e gret=be-gret=\it wept (see 1. 69, p. 3).
1. 394. Seel. 340, p. 12.
1. 396. For your safety first hither brought.
iftej&= safety (see note on 1. 120, p. 5).
^» 39 /• ^o, an error for two,
1. 398. Yet shall five fully be passed.
1. 401. i^o^^ ^ = haste you. Du. ra^ nimble. O.N. ropa, to hasten.
Perhaps this is connected with Eng. rap ok/ = utter with violence. Sw. rapp,
a blow ; Bavarian rappen, to snatch ; Eng. rapt.
1. 402. And say (tell) him what (how great) are my pleasures (bliss).
P. 14, 1. 408. lie i^tf==each of them (see 11. 310, p. ll ; 370, p. 12).
1. 409. ^'<i=made known. A.S. cy^an, to make known, declare, tell; cyS,
knowledge. Cp. un-eofU^, unknown,'and hence strange, rude (set I, v^ V^ « "V^\«
L 4.10, umr^ bi-Hd'shaLd come about, had Yiappeo!^.
394 NOTES.
Cp. O.E. to barrow. Christ was said to barrow hell when, after His cracifizion*
He delivered the souls of the righteous who had died and had been hdd
captive by Satan since the beginning of world. From bere, an army, is
derived the A.S. bere-beorgan {beorgan = to protelct), lodge, barbour (O.E.
barborow); whence barbour zndbarbinger= barbour-ager, Cp. messenger,
from message ; and scavenger, from scavage.
n. 505, 506. That bier is led, this folk is quick, They went about (along)
by Adad.
rad= A.S. rod, rdd, active, prepared, whence ready. Du. rede, plain,
straight.
1. 506. foren, pret. pi. oifaren, to go (see 1. 205, p. 8).
1.508. Wwi^nm|^= lamentation. A.S. bemdnan, to bewail; mcenan, to
moan (see 1. 254, p. 9).
1. 509. numen, pp. of nimen, to take, gone (taken the way).
1. 510. ^«m= river, stream. A.S. /fwm, Prov. Eng. flem, Jiume, a mill-
stream. SoTseflauma, to flow. The m is merely a silffix, tiie root being
A.S. Jiowan, to run,^ow.
1. 511. ouer pbaran=^over faren, to pass over; from faren, to go.
1.512. biriele = tomb, sepulchre. A. S. byrigels, a sepulchre, burial (-place) ;
from byrgan, to bury. Du. bergben, to hide ; Ger. bergen, to conceal.
1. 518-522. Us he this message bad say, *Our sin thou for him (for his
sake) forgive, Provided that we under tliee live.* They all fell there at his
feet (literally to tbefeet to bim). To beg (entreat) mercy and oflfer (the) oath
(of fealty to him).
be^en = beden = bidden, to entreat. A. S. b4d, prayer. * To bid one's beads *
was to say one's prayers (see 11. 589, 59 r, p. 81); the bead being originaDj
used for the purpose of helping the memory. Cp. beadsman, a petitioner ; bead-
roll, a list (of persons to be prayed for) ; beadbouse, an almshouse.
mefSe = A.S. mceS = measure, moderation ; m€et, modest, moderate ; mtBtan,
metan, to measure, mete (out).
bedden oc = offer oath, oc is an error for o/=oj> = oath, A.S. atb.
1. 527. S2&6« = kin, kindred, relations. A.S. sib, peace, kindred; whence
gossip ( = God-sib), which originally signified a godfather or godmother, i.«.
one related in God by the ordinance of baptism.
P. 18, 11. 534, 535. Listen to it (my prayer), and promise it now.
That my petition be not forlorn {lost sight of).
Lested=leste'^ = listen to. A.S. blystan, to hear, attend to; blist, hearing.
O.N. blust, an ear.
1.537. See 1.501, p. t;.
!• 538. Perhaps (since red=i advice) we ought to read God do "Stf sotde [o»]
seli'Sped= May God place the soul in bliss (happy-speed) (see 1. 190, p. 7).
1. 545. toful in wis = to Jul iwis = very completely in sooth (indeed), t. e. fully.
1. 548. le^fful soules ned=the need of precious souls, leffid, from lef, dear,
signifies dear, precious.
1. 550. engel tale =Eng\ish. speech.
1. 552. May God help him (richly) effectually.
weli= A.S. welig, wealthy, rich ; from wel, well.
mo/— may. A.S. nuit, may, can, must, ought (2nd pers. mos/, pret. mosle).
!• 553' And preserve his soul from sorrow and tears (see 1. 72, p. 3).
berge=pTeserse. A.S. beorgan, bergan, to protect, shelter; whence har-
bour (see note on \. 50^, v* ^l5«
NOTES, 393
1. 472. £m/m^= death.
1. 473. leue sune=:de3LTf 1>eloved son.
1. 474. "Sar-q^™ thereof.
muney remember (see note on I. 461, p. 15).
1. 475. That when it should be done with him, i.e. when he was dead.
1. 477. And truly he there hath to him said.
1. 47Q. So was (it) pleasing to him to be laid.
li/=le/=lie/, pleasing, dear (see note on 1. 327, p. 11).
1. 480, sA7/e= quietly, alone.
1. 48 1 . bim = to him.
eldere = elders. The more common form is eldem.
1. 483. ^att«« = buried. A.S, grafan, to carve, dig; whence ^rave.
1. 487. Or '5a« = ere that.
off werlde= from the world.
1. 492. ^r-/ff/= left, departed. A.S. forldtauy to quit; from Idtan, to
allow, permit, let go, dismiss. Ger. lassen, to permit. The radical notion
is to * loosen'. Ger. (Prov.) lass, slow, slack. O.N. latr, slow ; whence Eng.
latBt lazy, loiter, &c.
strif= strife, is used here for trouble.
1. 493. Joseph caused his body to be honourably prepared (for burial).
/iVi& = body. A.S. lie, lice, a corpse {Ger. leicbe) ; ^f/hence licb-wake, the
vigil held over a dead body ; licb-geUe, the gate where the corpse is set down
on entering a churchyard to await the arrival of the minister.
geren = to set in order, prepare. A.S. gearo, gearu, ready, prepared;
yare (Shakespeare) ; gearwian, gyran, to make ready, prepare ; whence Eng.
geca^, (A.S. gearwa, preparation, clothing.) Wedgwood connects O.Fr.
garbe, gracefulness, good fashion, Italian garho, comeliness, behaviour, Eng.
garb (originally signifying the mode of doing anything), fashion of dress,
with the A.S. gearwan, Goth, garawjan, to prepare.
1. 494. Wash and richly anoint.
smeren = to anoint, smear, A.S. smeru, fat, grease. O.N. smSr, fat,
butter. OJE. smore, or smoor, to daub. A.S. smdrian, to smear {smorian,
to suffocate). Du. smeeren. Ger. scbmieren,
1. 495. And spice-like (with spices) sweet to be scented.
smaken=: to scent. A.S. smcec, taste, savour, smack; smaccan (Ger.
scbmatzen, O.N. smattd), to taste, smack the lips. Connected with this
root are the Prov. Eng. smoucb, a loud kiss ; smatcb, a taste ; smattering
( = O. E. smackering).
1. 496. And Egypt's folk kept a vigil for him.
bi<vakenss\)evf iked ; from waken, to keep a vigil, or watcb. A.S. wcecan,
to watch.
P. 17, L 501. ^a//!e = granted. A.S. geatan; O.N. geta, to grant.
1. 503. ^es= companions. h.S. fera, gefera, ^ companion; from/era«,
to go, journey. Cp. O.E. play-fere, a play-fellow.
1.503. ivopnede =zrmed (weaponed). A.S. u/cipn, a weapon; wdpened'
mann, a male ; wdpen-getcec, a wapen-tdke or hundred (so called because the
inhabitants within such districts were taught the use of arms).
wis 0/ ber en = wise, skilful in armed expeditions (skilful in conducting
expeditions).
beren = 3irmy, expedition. A.S. bere, an army, troop; berian^ 6er^an,\.'Ck
act as an annjr, to nvage; whence to barry (^Sc. b€iTy,io>a,s^"^Y^aTT<w)Va^\
394 NOTES.
Cp. O.E. to barrow. Christ was said to barrow hell when, after His cmcifizion,
He delivered the souls of the righteous who had died and had been held
captive by Satan since the beginning of world. From bere^ an anny, is
derived the A.S. bere-beorgan {beorgan = to protfiCt), lodge, barbour (O.E.
barborow); whence barbour and barbinger=barbour-ager. Cp. meaengert
from message ; and scavenger, from scavage.
II- 505, 506. That bier is led, this folk is quick, They went about (along)
by Adad.
ra«/=A.S. rddt rddy active, prepared, whence ready. Du. red*, plain,
straight.
1. 506. foren, pret. pi. oifaren, to go (see 1. 205, p. 8).
I. 508. 6tm«mn|'=: lamentation. A.S. bemdnan, to bewail; nuenan, to
Tnoan (see 1. 254, p. 9).
1. 509. numen, pp. of nimen, to take, gone (taken the way).
1. 510. ^«m = river, stream. A.S. /fwm, Prov. Eng. Jlem, flume, a mill-
stream. SoTse flautna, to flow. The m is merely a suffix, Ae root being
A.S. flowan, to run,^ow.
1. 511. ouer pbaran = over faren, to pass over; from^^irw, to go.
1. 512. hiriele = tomb, sepulchre. A. S. byrtgels, a sepulchre, burial (-place) ;
from byrgan, to bury. Du. bergben, to hide ; Ger. bergen, to conceal.
I. 518-522. Us he this message bad say, *Our sin thou for him (for his
sake) forgive, Provided that we under tliee live.' They all fell there at hii
feet (literally to tbefeet to bim). To beg (entreat) mercy and oflfer (the) oath
(of fealty to him).
be^en = beden = bidden, to entreat. A. S. bid, prayer. * To bid one's beadi '
was to say one's prayers (see 11. 589, 591, p. 81) ; the bead being originally
used for the purpose of helping the memory. Cp. beadsman, a petitioner ; bead-
roll, a list (of persons to be prayed for) ; beadbouse, an almshouse.
meSe = A.S. wwe 5 = measure, moderation; mtst, modest, moderate; matan,
metan, to measure, mete (out).
bedden oc = offer oath, oc is an error for o/=oj> = oath, A.S. atb.
1. 527. sibbe = \i\Ti, kindred, relations. A.S. sib, peace, kindred; whence
gossip ( = God-sib), which originally signified a godfather or godmother, t.<.
one related in God by the ordinance of baptism.
P. 18, 11. 534, 535. Listen to it (my prayer), and promise it now,
That my petition be not forlorn {lost sight of).
Lested =leste^ = \\ittTi to. A.S. blystan, to hear, attend to; blist, hearing.
O.N. blust, an ear.
1.537. See 1.501, p. 17.
I- 538. Perhaps (since red= advice) we ought to read God do ^ soule [on]
seli-sped= May God place the soul in bliss (happy-speed) (see 1. 190, p. 7).
1. 545. toful in wis = to Jul iwis — very completely in sooth (indeed), t. e. fiilly.
1. 548. lefful soules »tfrf=the need of precious souls, leffid, from le/, dear,
signifies dear, precious.
1. 550. engel tale =Eng\ish speech.
1. 552. May God help him (richly) effectually.
weli= A.S. welig, wealthy, rich ; from %vel, well.
mo/ = may. A.S. mot, may, can, must, ought (2nd pers. most, pret. mosie).
!• 553- And preserve his soul from sorrow and tears (see 1. 72, p. 3).
berge = preserve. A.S. beorgon, bergan^ Vo ^totect, shelter ; whence bar-
hour (see note on I. 50^, v ^IV
NOTES, 395
1. 554. pine^^^m, A.S,pinany Dn, pijne, pain; pijnen, O.N. pina, to
torture. Ger. pein, pain ; whence Eng. to pine.
1. 556. God grant them in His bliss to live joyfully.
/m«=: grant. Many editors of O.E. works print leue ( = Ieve, give leave
to), for lenet as if from A.S. lefan, to permit ; lene is from lanan, to give,
lend.
spilen = ^.S, spilian, semi-Saxon, spilettf to divert oneself. O.H.Ger. spil,
sport, joy.
11.
^the Owl and the Nightingale,
P. 19, 1. I. one- ane=z a (see 11. 3, 4, p. 19).
I. a. su\>t=sui\>e=s'wi\iey very.
rfjt3e/e= secret. A.S. digelian, to hide; digel, digle, secret. Bosworth
connects it with deagan, to steep, wet, dye,
bcde^A.S, bal, a hiding-place, connected with bele^ to cover. It is
generally considered as = Prov. Eng. bcde, hole, hollow.
II. 3, 4. I heard hold great talk An owl and a nightingale.
1. 5. plait = plaid, pleading, debate. Fr. plaid, suit at law ; plaider, to sue,
plead; whence Eng. plea (see 1. la, p. 19).
I. 6. lud among =\oud at intervals. lud= A.S. blud, loud ; O.N. bliod;
Ger. laut, sound.
II. 7, 8. And each against (the) other swelled (out with wrath, anger).
And let out all that evil mood.
wole= evil. A.S. wdl, plague ; wal, slaughter.
1. 9. euste= habits. O.N. kostr, habits, character ; probably connected with
A.S. ceosan. Du. hiesen, kieren, to choose; O.E. kire, choice, custom.
1. 10. alre-worste = the worst of all. aire is the gen. pi. of a/, all ; in later
English this became al-d-re, al-d-er and al-tb-er,
bi tottste^ they wist, knew.
1. II. bure and bure=Yx.bure d bure = t6te a t6te, in company with,
together (Coleridge). More probably bure and bure = at intervals, alternately ;
from the A.S. buru, for a time.
ofo^ere «o«^tf = of (each) other's song.
]. la. bolde, pi. pret. held.
P. 20, 1. 14. bume =comtx, A.S. birtie^ angle, comer, bom.
6reci&« as brake, woody glen. This word has puzzled Marsh and Coleridge,
who have suggested heecb,
1. 15. up=upe=^\xpoxi,
1. 16. hlosme t-noj^^ enough (abundance) of blossoms (flowers). A.S.
Mosma, a bloom, flower; f«03«= enough (adj. pi. agreeing with blosme),
1. 17. If hegge (A.S. beg is masc.) be considered as fem., ore=anre, one;
otherwise it ^ane, one, as in 11. a, 4.
1. 18. I'meind=ii-'menged= mingled, mixed. A.S.mengian, to mix; ming,
ming4e.
spire (O.N. spira, Dan. s^iW) = sprout, twig. O.E. spyre, *the sharp seed
of com diat springs from the ground.' Prov. E. spire, a young tree, a spire,
O.N. spir, point, top.
s^g0^A,S, S0cg, sedge.
396 NOTES.
1. 19. She was the more jo3rfTil on account of (for) die twigs.
rise = branch, twig. A.S. bris, Dan. riis, branch, spray.
1. 20. And sang in notes of many kinds.
a M an = in. a is used before consonants ; an before Towds.
vele cunne = of many kinds, diverse, various.
wise = guise J mode. Ger.toets^, mode, way.
1. 21. It seemed that it were the tone.
Dreim. A.S. dream = songj melody, music, joy; dreman, to play, rejoice.
Dan. druntf a booming sound. Drayton speaks of a drumbiing tabor ; whence
Eng. drum, to drum,
I. 22. )>att«=>a3 = though.
be refers to dreim which is masc.
II. 23, 24. It seemed better (rather) that it were shot from harp, &c
1. 26. When the owl sang ber(sclf) at times (intervals).
1. 27. bi-growe = hegrowen, overgrown.
I. a8. It was the dwelling-place of the owl.
)>are = of the (gen. fem.).
«ard!tn^-5/ou/e= dwelling-place (see erd in Gen. and Ex^ 1. 146, p. 6).
II. 29-32. The nightingale saw her. And beheld her and looked over, And
thought very contemptibly of the owl. For one holdeth her loathsome and
foul.
lodlicb = A.S,ldd-lic=^h3itefu\ ; IdiS, evil, harm ; IdS, hateful, evil; Id^an,
to loathe ; Du. leed, Ger. leid, grief, eviL
1.33. C7>m'«3/= coward, caitiff; from O.E.mgbt; O.Sc, loiebt; Sw.vig,
brave, active.
yio =fleo = flee. Cp. so = seo = see Q, 34).
1. 35. wole lete=fo\i\ (vile) voice. A.S. leoiS, song. Coleridge explains it by
face (see lote, 1. 310, p. 1 1).
1. 36. for-lete = \eaive off, forsake. A.S. Jbr-ldtan, to quit
I. 37. borte=beorte=ht2iTt.
a/^z> = becomes faint; literally, flutters, fleeth away.
/a//=faltereth, faileth. Coleridge treats /a// as if=/ai&J>, fails. I take it
to be the 3rd pers. sing, of/alte, to falter. O. N.fatra, to bungle ; Dzn.faute,
to fail ; Sp./al/a, to fail.
II. 38-40. When thou art pressed (near) to me I would rather spit (be sick)
than sing Of thy foul cackling (chattering).
luste=liste = it were pleasing. The root exists in listless, lust, Itisty, &c.
^o^elinge = gaggling. Svf. gaggen, to stutter. The same root seems to
exist in gag {O.E.gaggyn, to strain by the throat, suffocate), goggle, jog, lo
shake.
1. 41. The owl refrained (kept silence) until evening.
pos = \>eoSf fem. this.
fort = forte =/or'to, until. We find this form used as late as 1 387.
1. 42. /tfngss longer. In A.S. we find leng and lengre. Cp. bet and betre.
bileve = Temgim (quiet) (see bi-lewen. Gen. and Ex. 1. 285, p. lo).
1. 44. That wellnigh she lost her breath.
/nas/= breath (or windpipe) (see 1. 210, p. 45). O.E.fnaste, to breathe.
A.S. fruEst, puff, blast, rage ; /«<8s/ia^, windpipe. It is probably connected
with A.S. fneosung, a sneezing ; from nose, nose. (The dilation of the
nostrils is a weU-knovfn s\gn. o? ?lw^'5i>) O^. srtieeze, s-nore (to make noises
through the nose).
NOTES. 397
at-scbet =wzs expended, spent; from A.S. at, from, away; sceotan, to
shoot, dart (pret sceat). The preterite ss^/=shot, is used by Robert of
Gloucester. In another part of this poem, 1. 162 1, we have at scbote,
destroyed (by a shot). Coleridge derives at-scbet from A.S. scedan, to hurt,
scathe, and makes it signify burst,
1.45. warp = utter ; literally, to throw out. A.S. weorpan (pret, wearp,
pp. geworpen) ; Ger. werfen^ to cast, turn ; whence motdd^varp, a mde (i. e.
a caster up of mould or earth), wbarfy warped, &c.
1.46. Hu \>inc\>e = Hu \>inc\> ])ff = How seems it thee? what do you
think?
P. 21, 1. 47. West=wost='kaowest.
1. 48. writelinge. Coleridge renders it * trills in a song.* A.S. wrifSan, to
writhe, twist.
1. 49. Often thou causest me offence (indignation).
grante= A.S, gram, furious, fierce; grama, anger, wrath; gramian, to
anger, Cp. A.S. grim, fury, rage; grima, a ghost ; grom, fierce. Du. grim-
men, to snarl, grin ; whence Eng. grim, grumpy, grumble.
1.50. tone=teone=tene, pain, wrong, injury. A.S. teon, teona, injury;
teonan, tynan, to anger, incense. It is probably connected with A. S. tyndan,
tendon, to kindle, Prov. Eng. tende; whence Eng. tinder.
1. 51-54- If I held thee in my power. So betide it that I might! An (if)
thou wert out of thy branches. Thou shouldest sing in another (different)
manner.
note — A.S. notu, power, possession ; notion, to use, possess.
1. 56. /o^'= enclose, guard. A.S. locan, to shut, close. The O.E. loke,
loin, signifies (i) to keep close, guard; (2) to conclude, decide. Cp. O.E.
lokinge, custody, care.
6ar« = grove. A.S. bearu, grove. Norse barr, tree; whence 6flr and s-^ar.
1. 5 7. blete = blede = foliage. A. S. bleed, leaf, blade (of grass).
1. 58. recbe=czK, reck. A.S. rec, care; recan {pret. robte, O.E. rogbte),
to take care ; recce-leas, reckless.
I. 60. segge=^{sub].) mayest say.
II. 61, 62, I know that thou art cruel (unmild, savage, fierce) With those
that may not from thee shield (themselves).
1. 63. /iiit«s/= annoys, harrasses. A.S. tucian, to punish, torment.
wro\>e (adv.) is the A.S. wrdi^e, fiercely, furiously; from wrd^, wrath,
anger.
uvele= A.S. y/ele, evilly, badly; from y/el, evil, vile. The u represents y
as in O.E. bul=ba=^bill, &c.
1. 64. ^3tffe = fowls, birds.
1. 65. fuel-kunne (dat. after /oJ>) ^fii^el-kunne, fowl-kind, birds.
1. &6. alle bo = alle beo = they all.
bonne = beonne «= hence.
1.67. bi-scbricbe\> ^fihntk or scream at. scbircbe\>==sbrieketb, screecbetb.
scbircbe is a softened form of skrike ; Swed. skrika, to cry ; whence screecb
and shriek.
bi-gredet =hoot, call after. A.S. grcedan, to cry, call, say. O.E. grede
(sb.), cry, voice ; grede, to cry, murmur, grumble ; whence ^^erf, and greedy
(Goth, gredags, hungry), originally a crjring for food.
L 69. ek/or\>e'Beyen; em-fortb (used by Chaucer) wo^d bt. -a. V»^^«.
398 NOTES.
sulvi'^ very t is the definite form (after the article) of self ,
mos«>= hedge-sparrow. A.S. rndse, a tit-moKse.
I. 70. Hire i>onkes (gen. absolute) » with her will, wilHngly. A.S. Jhmk,
]>anc, thank, will.
to-tose =■ hurt, injure. A. S. teosu, teso, hurt, injury ; probablj connected with
tease ; A. S. tdsan, to annoy, assault.
I. 73. swore =sweore, neck. A.S. stveora^ swira, neck; O.E. sufire, suere,
II. 75-78. Thine eyes are coal-black and broad.
Right as they were painted with woad ;
Thou starest as if thou wouldest bite
All that thou mightest with claws smite.
1. 78. WMs/=wi3/— mightest.
1. 80. ott/c/ = awl. A.S. «/, awelt fork, awl.
1. 84. mesbe ={m2ish, s-mash) beat, tear in pieces. Sw. maska.
1. 85. i-cundur= more Uke. A.S. gecynde, natural (see kinde 1. 127, p. 5),
and cunde^ nature (1. 89, p. 23).
1. 86. That sitteth at the mill under the wheel. Coleridge leaves eoggi
unexplained in his Glossarial Index. It seems to signify a wheel, cog, Sw.
htgge, an individual prominence in an indented wheeL
l.S'j./ule wi}te =^{oui creatures. wigte=^A.S. wibt, creature, animal,
thing, wigbt.
1. 89. sittest is to be pronounced sitst,
1. 94. Thou feedest Aem on a very foul food.
1. 95. \>os word= ]>eos word= these words, word in A.S. is plural as well as
singular.
030/"=: uttered, gave out.
1. 96. /a/tf = argiunent, being feminine, requires \>are, the fem. of the
definite article.
I. 98. Right as (if) one were touching a shrill harp.
grulde = to shake (if the true reading), may be from the Du. grillen, to
shiver, tremble. Coleridge suggests A.S. grillan, to provoke, the original
meaning of which was to shiver; whence O.E. griUe, cold, shivering. For
grulde, I would suggest glude = glewde, from A.S. gUowian, gliwian, to play
on an instnmient, sing ; whence Eng. glee.
scbille= shnU. O.N. skryla, to cry in a high note. Low Ehi. schrdl,
harsh, sharp. The form scbille is very common in early English. It i$
formed by metathesis from sbrille, the secondary form being scbirlle, and by
loss of the r we get scbille. The Sc. skirl, signifies to cry with a shrill voice.
II. 99-104 are parenthetical; it is the nightingale who is now represented
as speaking.
1. 99. /us/« = listened.
1. 100. no][>er-ward=neoj>er-ward=dovmwzids. A.S. ni^Ser^weard, neo^er-
ward, from neo^e, down, nelSer, below, still existing in he-neatb, nethermost.
1. 10 1, to-suolle = to-swol^e = exceedin^y swollen, enraged. Cp. i-swolyt,
swollen, 1. 102, p. 22.
1-60/3^ = puffed up, swollen with rage. A.S. belgan, to enrage, make angry.
Sw. hulna, to swell, bulge. The O.E. bollen, or bolnen, is used by Widiflc,
and exists in bole, the round stem of a tree, and bowl.
1. 103. i-war= A.S. ge-w<Br, wary, cautious, aware.
J. 104. a hisemar^'xsi scottv, mo<2^ei>j . N..^. (»i-sm6*, mockery, reproach ;
from smere, fat ; smirion, to \itsmcar \ Usm4Tlan,\a*vos^V^sNa^K-
NOTES. 399
1. io6. Wbi nslhi = wbi tie wilt tbou = why wilt thou not ? why don*t you ?
So nile ^e often means dorCtyoUf do not.
^« ^fleon = flee.
1. 107, 108. And sec which of us two be
Of brighter hue, of fairer colour (complexion).
1. 109. No \>u bavest=bQsi tbou not J Daniel Rogers uses no is^ is it
not so ? So the O. E. no sbalt tbou, shalt thou not ?
I. no. Ne kepicb=Ne hepe icb = l care not. I have no fear; hepen^keep
guard, take care, take note of. As a noun, ^tfp — care, in phrase * take Jeep* to
take care.
P. 23, 1. 112. Thou twingest therewith as doth a (pair of) tongs.
/u«n^5/=twingest. Dan. tvinge, to twinge.
tonge = tongs, A. S. tange. The pi. tangen, or tongen, is not uncommon in
O. E. writers.
II. 113, 114. Thou thoughtest as do those like thee,
With fair words to deceive me.
i-4ike or f-//ci&«= compeers ; from the A.S. ge-lic, like.
6i-«w^tf= deceive, mock. A.S. bi-swicany to deceive, from swic, deceit,
treachery; swica, a traitor; swican, to deceive; swicdom, fraud, deceit
(see 11. 118, 119, p. 23).
nolde=^ne tt«/rf«= would not.
radd!»/s=advisedest; see 1. 116, where WMsraflWffs/=misadvisedest (see red
in 1. 43, p. 2, and for-rede, 1. 243, p. 9, and unrede, 1. 117, p. 23, folly, want
of wisdom).
1. 117. Shame on thee for thy wickedness !
1. 118. Un-wro^ten. Coleridge accepts this as a correct reading, and ex-
plains it by undone f destroyed; but the meaning is evidently the reverse.
The sense which best suits the context is uncovered, revealed, made known.
The verb werke, to work, makes the pp. tvro^t, and not wro^en. The correct
reading is un-wro^en = uncovered, disclosed; from K.^.unwreon, to reveal;
wreon, to cover (pret. wreab, pp. ge-wrogen), whence Eng. rig, heunray.
1. 120. bud, imp. hide.
f&03«=: wrong, wickedness. A.S. wob: (l) a bending, turning; (2) error,
wrong, perversity, ilw^ard contains the same root. A.S. a-wob, awry.
O.S. flvwA, (the a = q/'=ofF); whence gawk and gawky; wo}e is sometimes
written wou (see 1. 378, p 74).
1. 121. spene = swene = scbewen, to shew, exhibit.
1. 123. bete =hztt. A.S. bite, hate; whence A.S. bM, O.E. batil, fierce.
1. 124. q^=open, apparent.
tm<i!»'-3«/«= understood. A.S. under-gitan, to perceive, discover. Cp. A.S.
andget, the understanding. O.E. get, mode, fashion.
1. 125. un^wrencbe=ev\[ designs, tricks. A.S. untvranc, vice (disingenuous-
ness), wrence, a trick. The O.E. wrencbe, is often used (as it was no doubt
originally) in a good sense = art, device.
1. 126. war = wary (see 1. 103, p. 22).
blencbe = to zvoid, Jlincb. Hamlet: " If he do blencb, I know my course."
If 1 27. to \n-iste = very bold. A. S. \>rist, bold, daring ; )>ristian, dare, presume.
1. 128. /is/^ = wiles, craft. A.S. list, perhaps connected with Du. leest,
form, make (Eng. shoemaker's last). Ger. leisten, model, form.
1.134. tti»-w«rs/U«««-«T«s/« = wicked. A.S.ttniOT-es^weik.,mckftd\ vjroB&t,
good. O.N. bres, spirited.
400 NOTES.
1. 135. fo tue on = take we on, let as proceed, fo ^fob, take. A.S./^«, to
take (pret.^n^, pp. ge-fongen) ; whence fangs, faiger,
1. 136. wisdome. Wright prints Hornet which is an adv. «= frequently ;
Stevenson gives the reading isome^ peaceably.
1. 140. P/a/f// m«V//o3ff= plead (debate) with (mutual) consent. foye==k.S.
fog, agreement ; from fegan, to join ; gefeig, rule.
1. 141. bure «J)«- = each of us.
1. 142. scM« = skill, prudence, wisdom. O.N. «Z'i/, separation, discrimina-
tion; Dan. shille, to sever; A.S. scylan, to distinguish, divide,
1. 143. }pu scbal us seme. The printed edition (and the MS.) exhibit this
reading; but as the O.E. tb and w a5e often confounded in MSS., the correct
reading may be Wu scbal us deme, &c., f . e. Who shall arbitrate for us, that
can and will decide equitably between us: s«n« = arbitrate ; A.S. seman,
arbitrate, judge.
P. 24, 1. 146. ]>ar</=>a;/=need. A.S. J>eai/, need, want; ]>«w^, poor;
\>ear/an, \>urfany to need.
1. 149. gleu = A.S. gledw, skilful.
1. 150. un\)eu = vice (see 1. 8, p. i).
1. 153. scbede = distingais\i, separate. A.S. sceadan, Oer. scbeiden, to
divide. It still exists in water-Si&^rf, shedding of hair. Bailey has shead, to
distinguish.
1. 154. >«s/tfr = A.S. ]>«os/^, darkness. Ger.^n5/tfr, dimness ; k.S.^eoster-
ties, darkness.
1. 158. wile = one while, a while, at one time, formerly (see 1. 155, p. 24).
brevie = stem, severe. The literal meaning of breme is fiery, raging, eager;
from breunen, to bum, as brimstone, burning-stone. Cp. Du. bremen, to burn
with desire ; Fris. brimme, to roar.
1. 159. lof=leo/=dezT, The meaning of the line is And dear to him
were tiie nightingale.
1. 160. gente and smale = gentle and small.
1. 161. su]>e acoled=ytxy much cooled down.
1. 162. He is not for thee befooled.
1. 164. legge = {sMh].) should lay.
b^ive = ahuve — above.
1. 165. 7w«w»5 = please. A.S. cweman, to please, delight; from ctoiman, to
come. The Eng. wbim, is probably from the same source.
I. 167. i&/m = himself.
ripe = o{ mature judgment.
fastrede — inflexible, impartial, firm in counsel. A. S.fa^t-rdd, constant, firm,
bold (see red, 1. 43, p. 2).
II. 168, 169. /ws/ i&/m = pleaseth him.
1. 170. He will go in (the) right way.
I. 172. a/war^ = everjrwhere.
1. 177. afere = to frighten, afear.
I. 178. i-6crff = ft^rtf = voice, sound, noise.
P. 25, 1. 179. sci&/rci&tfs/=shriekest (see I. 67, p. 21).
3o//«s/=yellest. A.S. galan (pret. gol, pp. ge-galen); O.N. gala, to sing;
A.S. gala, a nightin-gale.
/ere = m7itt, companion (see 1. 502, p. 17).
I. 180. grislich. A.S. grisUc,YLOxr\>\fc, grisly \ from a-grisan (pret. agros),
to dread, fear. Get. grau&in^ to ^Yvu^^ti.
NOTES. 401
1. 181. s>i«^= foolish. O.N. sndpr^ foolish (Coleridge), snepe, from the
Fris. snopSj snubbe, to reprove sharply, Eng. snub. O.E. snaipe, to reprove,
would seem to mean * worthy of reproof.* Cp. N. Prov. Eng. sneap, to snub.
1. 185. scbuniet= shuns, A.S. scunian, to shun, avoid. The O.'E. scbunien
(jsbonneTi)^ signifies also to shove, draw aside ; whence Eng. sbunt.
1. 187. )>at is lof misdede=ihait misdeed (wickedness) is dear to, i.e. that
loves wickedness.
1. 190. of'toned=YtTy angry, vexed; from teone, anger (see 1. 50, p. 21).
ofy as a prefix, has an intensitive meaning, like /or in forgive , forhreah.
1. 192. galegale=cYiaX\^T&[ ; more literally a wanton licentious talker; from
gdly wanton, and galan, to sing, talk (see note on 1. 179, p. 25).
1. 194. spale=a, turn, change, rest. Cp. the expression *a spell of work,*
* a fresh spell.*
1. 196. mine \>ro^e = my turn. ]>ro3« = A.S. \>rabt \>rag (O.E. tbrowe), time,
season, space, opportunity.
1. 198. a-«wc^« = avenged. A.S. wrecan (pret. wrdc, pp. ge-wrecen),
revenge, punish, wreah^ exile ; whence ivrcec-a, an exile, mretcb.
1. 199. 6/-/W/e = excuse, defend.
1. 200. s^«//e = fable (as in phrase ealdra cwena spell , old wives' fables).
A.S. spell, O.N. spjallf discourse, rumour, language. A.S. spellian, to
declare, relate. This root still exists in gospel.
1. 201. bude =:h\^t.
1. 202. nicb ne «a/=a strong expression of denial or disapproval; to nikhe
nay, is to deny strongly, nicb seems to be A. S. nic = ne, not, and ic, I, not I.
1. 203. /«s/=/«s/e/i& = listeneth.
1. 208. biUe — A.S. bibt, hope, delight; bibtan, to rejoice,
1. 210. scbende = Xo reprove, blame. A.S. sceond, O.E. sbonde, shame, dis-
grace ; scendan, to shame, disgrace, sbend.
P. 26, 1. 213. /o3/e = birds ; the dative after the adj. lo\>, hateful.
1. 214. flo\> =fleo\> = flieth.
J)ttt;efe = underwood. A.S. \fufe, twig, branch.
1. 215. bi-cbennet= chiiptih about, or around. A.S. cyrm, noise, O.E.
cberme, cbarme, hum, noise of birds (see 1. 221; p. 26), whence *a cbarm of
goldfinches' = a flock of those birds.
1. 217. Me is lo/=l had rather (see 1, 183, p. 25).
1. 220. mersbe = A.S. mersc, marsh, fen, bog; probably connected with
mere, a lake, pool, sea, meer.
1. 222. scbirme = fight, contest. Fr. escrimer, to fence. O.E. sJeirmen, to
fight. Dan. skjerm, defence. Du. scberm, a screen ; scbermen to defend.
1. 223. /o/3ci> = folio weth. A.S./o/g'/aw to follow. Bosworth connects it
with /o/c, people, folk.
1. 224. Jfi3/= flieth; /a/=letteth.
1. 227. rorde = reorde = yo\Qt, singing. A.S. reord, reard, reason, lan-
guage ; reordian, to speak.
j>om«^ = confused noise, din. A.S. \>uning, noise. The printed text
reads woning =wonying, which means wbining; but the reading and meaning
here given suits the context much better ; for further on, 1. 234, the owl says
his voice is like the sound of a great born. The root of \>oning is seen in
A.S. \>unnan, to din, thunder; whence tbunder, O.E. tboner, Cp. Ger.
donner, thunder ; Norse duna, to thunder ; Eng. din, s-tun.
1. 230. fulle dreme=Mi note (see 1. a 1, p. 20).
Dd
40a NOTES.
ste/ne ^yoice. A.S. ste/en, stemn, voice, sound, message.
1« 233. un-ome=^Tude. A.S ,un6me, vigorous, bold, unomdske, rudely,
occurs in Haveloh the Dane, 1. 1941.
1. 240. «o>J»«=:stfo]>]>*— afterwards; from A.S. a5, late, lately; si^-fki,
si5-t$an, seoi^'Sa, afterwards, since. Since is from the O.E. sinnes, from sin,
a contraction of siiS-iSan. Cp. Low Ger. stn/, and Du. sinds, since.
tt/on = bufon = bwan, when.
1. 241. sijv = time. A.S. m5, path, way, turn, time; si^an, times, ^ridde
si\>et third time.
1. 242. adiite = digbie=aid3ipU order, prepare. Ger. dicbten, A.S. dibtan,
to set in order, dispose ; dibt, a disposing.
P. 27, 1. 243. Mo = tseo = see.
vorre = veorre = zizt (see 1. 29, p. 2).
1. 244. rfa«-rim = break of day. A.S. dag-rim, day-dawn.
1. 246. «o/tf = good, benefit, labour. A.S. notu (see 1. 51, p. 21).
1. 152. s«//^«)> = ceaseth. A.S. svn^an, to cease.
I* 353. a</un^s/=dinnest, stunnest. A.S. dyne, thunder, din; dynian, to
thunder, din.
!• 254. pas monnes earen = ihe ears of the man.
J>ar = where. O.E. \>ai often signifies tobat.
1. 256. me ne tel\> o/J>ar= one esteemeth not thereof.
1. 257. mttr3)^c = mirth. A.S. myrb^, pleasure, from myrg, pleasure. O.E.
murgen, make merry (see 1. 261, p. 27, 1. 357, p. 107).
I. 258. That she shall {mur^\>e is fem.) please very badly.
1. 262. \>incbe wel un-murie = ^tpedn doleful (unmerry, unpleasant).
1. 263. over un<ville ^beyond what is desirable, or wished for. A.S. o«-
will, desirable.
1. 264. as^z7/ff = spill, spoil. A.S. spillan, destroy, spoil. Low Ger. spillen,
to spill, waste.
1. 267. godbede — goodness, good-bead.
1. 268. ttnm^]7C = want of moderation. A.S. unmcete (see me1Se,\. ^22, p.^'j)-
over-dede = excess, over-deed, over-doing.
1. 270. At-bold=atbeold=Testi2Lined; from at (A.S. cet) and bolden, to
hold.
1. 272. alegge = cd\\ in question, confute. A.S. a-lecgan, lay down, bring
forth reasons, allay, suppress; lecgan (O.E. ligge), to lay, place.
P. 28, 1. 275. o/-\>u}te, pret. of o/'|?tf«^c = repent. O.E.for-tbinke,
1. 276. so/or-vor\> i4adde = \ed so far, i.e. carried so far.
1. 277. q/errf= afraid. A.S. of-fcered, very frightened, affrighted.
1. 280. i&arf/(e/xci&tf = hardily, boldly.
1. 281. With his foe beareth (putteth on) a bold face.
1. 282. artf3>ff = fear. A.S. earb, earg, idle, timid ; yrAS, fear ; yrgfSo, sloth.
arej, in 1. 285, signifies fearful, afraid. The root still exists in arcb, sly, mis-
chievous (Ger. arg, bad), arrant, as if arw-and, from O.E. arwe, bad + am/,
the ending of the imperfect participle.
1. 286. o/-6ortf = forbear. Cp. of-jpinke, of/erd (U. 275, 277, p. 28).
bare^ = baret = debate, contest, quarrel. O.N. baratta,
1. 291. Thou singest as doth a hen in the snow.
J. 293. 30W2«rtf = sorrowful. A.S.geomor, grim, sad ; geomrian, to groan,
bewaiJ. Prov. Eng. yammer.
I 2g2, /orb€rnest=\i\r[ii%%\ gte«L^7,«tt\i>im\^^^ws«>s«s^^
NOTES. 403
onde =^A,S. anda^ malice.
1. 300. un-wille = A.S. un-willa, unpleasant; willa^ pleasure.
1. 301. Gn/cCi&m^= murmuring. Fr. groucber, O.E. grucbe, to grieve,
munnur, complain ; whence Eng. grudge.
luring =s\ounng, Du. loeren, to frown; Low Ger. luren, to look dis-
pleased.
bo\> = beo\> = are.
rflcfe= present, ready.
!!• 305* 306. He cared (recked) not though companies were mingled
(huddled together) by heads and hair, /. e. were fighting and pulling one
another by the hair.
P. 29, 1. 307. ]>ire (fem. dat.), thy.
1. 314. And rejoiceth against (on account of) my coming (see bi^t, I. 208,
p. 25).
1. 318. l>u bit wile =^ thou may know it.
1. 319. Bid = bit =hiddeth.
1. 321. rwflfe=roflfe = complexion. A.S. rude; Low Ger. rood, redness;
whence ruddy.
1. 324. Skentinge=z merry song. O.E. skente, to amuse, delight. O.N.
skemta.
1 326. Thou hast returned answer as thou besougljtest (desired).
bi-cloped=bi-cleoped, from A.S. cleopian. O.E. clepe, to cry, call ; Scotch
clepj to tattle. Chaucer uses clappe, to boast, praise.
bede is the 2nd pers. pret. of hidden, to entreat. Cp. speke = spakest, (1. 330,
p. 29).
1. 328. ar= before (the same as or, in 1. 358, p. 12).
ttnytfir = of us two. A.^.uncer.
1. 332. Thou twittest me as to my meat (food).
a/w«/fes/=a/-M/z/M/=reproachest. A.S. <Bt<uitan, reproach, from wite,
punishment (O.E. wite, blame) ; witan, witian, to punish, blame.
1.335. attercoppe = A.S, attercoppa, a spider. It signifies hterally poison-
cup, from attor, atter, poison, and cuppa, a cup. Co6-web (O.E. copwe/t),
retains the last syllable only of the original word. In some of the Teutonic
dialects the spider is called a koppe, on account of its carrying a bag. The
O. Sw. kopp, signifies a bee.
fule t;/«3ff = foul (nasty) flies; vU^e = vli}en {A.S. Jleogan).
P. 30, 1. 337. Among (in) the crevices of the hard bark.
volde=/old, bend, crevice. A.S. feald, a fold.
11.338, 339. Yet I can do much good service, For I can guard men's
dwellings.
wihe, in 11. 338, and 340, signifies service, ofilice, duty. A.S. wyce. In the
Onnulum we find wikenn, office, duty, charge, while Lajamon uses wihenares,
ministers, attendants, wihe, in 1. 329, signifies a dwelling; A.S. wic, a
dwelling-place, castle, bay (cp. wicb, as an element in local names); vnc-
nian, to dwell.
1. 343. at should be written atte or ate.
derne= dark. A.S. dearn, dark; dymian, to hide.
1. 345, To cleanse it from the foul mouse.
1. 347. i'VO=^t'/on = to take, seize (see I. 135, p. 23).
1. 349. To desire other dwelling-place.
^^gmen^A,S,geomian^ to desire, yeam\ geom, ^tsao>a&, t-i-^^N \^*wu%
D d 2
404 NOTES.
eagerly, carnesdy, O.E. ^erne; whence Eng. earnest. See 1. 362, p. 30, where
^ome = ^eom€y has the meaning of intently, earnestly.
1. 350. tron = treon=: trees.
1. 351. no\>ing blete = not at all despicable, blete, wretched, miserable.
A.S. bleat (Sc. blate), miserable.
1. 353. That ever continueth (standeth) alike blooming (flourishing).
i-blowe=i-blowen = blown (as in *a fuU-blotun rose'). A.S. bldwian, to
bloom, blow, flourish ; whence blossom^ and bloom,
1. 354. bis bou—bis beow, refers to the ivy, and signifies its hue, colour,
appearance.
vor-lost=for-leose\> — to lose, lose wholly.
1. 355* When it snoweth nor when it freezeth.
1. 356. i-bold= A.S. ge-bealdf residence, bold; from ge-bealdafif bealdan,
to keep, preserve, bold.
1. 361. Was wellnigh out of patience become, i.e. had nearly lost all com-
mand of herself.
P. 31, 1. 377. Than all that ever thy kin (species) could (were able to do).
1. 382. ^wcfej' = endeavours to go, seeks. A.S. fundian, to endeavour to
find, go forward. The O.E. Junden also signifies to go, walk.
1. 385. ginne\> = beginne\> - do. It is here used as a tense auxiliary, and the
pret.^an (corrupted into can and con) = did (see L 6, p. i).
1. 389. 6«-3C/c = beget, obtain (see bi-yetel^ 1 86, p. 4).
1. 390. nime 3cm« = may take heed, attend to. ^eme = A.S. gjme, care,
anxiety, gyman^ to take care of, regard,
1. 393. «//c/tc-/i/n^s = establishments, stations. wice = wike (in 1. 339),
dwelling, tunes = enclosures, towns.
1. 398. wat I mat, is our phrase wbat I can, what I am able to do.
P. 32, 1. 400. bo = beo = they.
1. 401. raddere = the readier, the more disposed.
1.405. \>at ever is ecbe = thit is everlasting. ecbe = eternal. A.S. ece,
from Scan, to prolong, eke.
1.406. clinge '=^f/ither, dry up (used by Shakespeare). A.S. clingan, to
shrink, wither. In Sussex they speak of a clung bat, a dry stick.
1. 407. Her among = among them.
1. 409. \>e sulfe \>e pope = \)e sulfe {sulve) pope = iAie very pope, the pope
himself.
1. 411. an o)f>er wes{e] = \n another wise (manner).
1. 413. cf/-s/o«f/tf = withstand.
1. 415. Thou goest (farest) wholly with deceit.
1. 416. 6«-/«s/=beliest. A.S. ledgan, to lie, deceive.
1. 417. }pinc}p so> = appeareth true.
1. 418. i-sliked=: made sleek, or smooth, feigned, deceitful. O.'S.sleikja,
Dan, slikke, to lick.
1. 419. bi-semed= beseemed, made seemly, or fair. Spenser uses seemed in
the sense of beseemed. O.'N. sama, to fit, be fitting or becoming; Dan.
sommelig, seemly.
bi-liked. Coleridge says * rendered likely or probable.* It may also signify
* made pleasing;' from O.E. liken, liki, to please.
U. 420, 421. That all those that hear (take in) them {i.e. thy words),
Thty ween that thou speakesV \!tve \i>3L\fe..
W, 422-425. Stop I Stop\ otve s\«J\ \ffaca.^ '^^n '^V^^cw ^K^'-^VK^-veU
NOTES. 405
seen That thou hast greatly lied, When thy leasing (lies) is made manifest
(bewrayed).
1. 427. Jundiej} bonne (i^onne) = goeth hence (see 1, 382, p. 31).
1. 429. aire wonder mesi= most wonderful of all.
1. 433. nci&e= kingdom. O.E. rike = A.S. rice, kingdom.
F. 33, 1. 433. an oder (&8er) \>eode = in another land. A.S. ]>e6d, a
country ; \>e6dan, to join, associate.
1. 437. Hwi nuleu = 'why will you not? why don't you?
1. 438. singin (singen) men = sing to men.
1. 442. beom or bom= them, is required after tecbe.
1. 443. wist =: shew, teach. A.S. wUian, to instruct, shew ; from Wis, wise.
1. 445. j'dle/ tt/e/ = useless (worthless) well, on-idel (1. 448) = in vain.
A.S. idel, vain; Du. ijdel; O.E. idel, empty, vain; O.N. audr, empty,
vacant. O.Fr. vuide, waste, void.
1. 446. s«tf/= swift. Sc. snell, sharp, active. A.S. snel, quick; snele,
quickly.
1. 447. for-drue=^for'drugen=^ATy up. A.S. for-drugan, Jbr-drttwian, to
dry up, parch ; drugan, to dry ; drugalS, drought, drjmess.
rfw«tf= heath. A.S. dUn, a hill, down.
1.450. bupie =hopped.
hlowe = blowen = blooming.
1. 451. i&tfrrtf= higher. A.h.bedh, high; h}rre, higher; bybst, bebst
{O.E. bext, best), highest
1. 452. beo nu tt/ear=he now aware (sure).
1. 454. nust=ne wust=ne wost, knowest not.
1. 455. 3^«/^s/=yelpest, boastest. A.S. geaip, a loud sound, clang; gilp,
glory, pride ; gilpan (pret. gealp, pp. gegolpen), to glory, boast ; whence
Evig.yelp.
manne /o]> = hateful to men.
1.456. wtfr«/Ci& tt/«i/= every creature.
wor\> = wro^ = displeased.
1. 457. And mid howling (yelling) and crying.
1. 458. te;a«s/~tt/ff«s/=weenest.
«n-/ed!ff= inexcusable, wicked. A.S. un-ldd, from Idd, excuse, way (Eng.
lode) ; Iddian, to excuse, clear.
1. 459. ^ow2« = men, grooms, A.S. gutna, a man ; whence Eng. groom,
hndc-groom.
1. 460. an-bo'6 = an-hangeth, hang up.
1. 461. to-twicbet=pvi]l or pluck at. A.S. twiccian, to pull, iwitcb.
1.462. sci&a«//«s = scarecrow, literally spectacle', from A.S. scedwian, to
look, sbow.
1. 463. ))K«Ci&=})tt«c]>=seemeth (see 1. 465, p. 34).
P. 34, 1. 465. gest an hofide = \x'\ts\. to deceive. Cp. the O.E. phrase here
an (on) bande = accuse falsely.
1. 467. i'Cwede = spoken; from A.S. cw^an (pret. ctt/<e'S, quoth, pp.gecwe-
den), to say, speak ; cwiddan, to speak ; cwide, cwi^e, speech, saying ; whence
he-quest, and bequeath.
1. 470. brihte = bri^te = clearly.
1.473. }>rostle = z thrush. The A.S.prostle, \>rosle, a thrush, is derived
from a root signif3ring brown. In East Anglia throsde= thrush.
wude-wale = wode-wale = wood-pecker.
406 NOTES.
11. 475-477. Because it appeared to them that she had
The owl overcome, wherefor they shouted (applause)
And sang also in many wise.
vale=fale—fele, many,
1. 479. gred \>e manne ascbame^^cxytUti shame upon the nun.
1. 480. That phyeth at dice and loseth the game.
tavele\> is from the A.S. tafel, UeJI, a dice or gaming table, a game at
dice ; taflan^ to play at dice.
gome = game. A. S. gamertt game, joy, sport ; gamenian, to sport ; whence
Eng. gamey gamble (vulg. gammorit nonsense), gambol,
1. 482. i-banned ferde =\evitd (thine) army. The O.E. bannen=to
assemble an army ; whence ban, to proclaim, forbid, curse. A. S. abannan,
to proclaim, command ; abannan Ht, to call out, assemble.
1. 486. tome, adv. = in vain. A.S. torn, empty, void. O.E. tome, leisure,
still existing in the phrase * I have no time (leisure).*
1. 496. weolcne=s]Ly, Wright prints weoluce. It is the modem word
welkin ; A. S. welcn, wolcen ; from tuealcan (pret. weole), to roU, turn, revolve,
Eng. walk (the pret. walked in O.E. was welk),
P. 36, 1. 502. ]nng\> = \nnc\> = seems,
1. 506. utbeste = 0.E, out-bese, outcry; from A.S. «/, out, and bds, com-
mand, he-best.
1. 507. fibt-lac = fighting. 4ac occurs as an affix in wedlock, knowledge, &c.
1. 508. ra))£ = quickly.
1. 5 1 4. onsene = A.S. on-sedn, aspect, face, countenance; from se6n, to see.
1. 5 16. bwatlicbe = quickly, soon. A.S. bw<Bt4ice ; from bwcet, sharp, quick,
bold.
1. 517. Gone after her army.
1. 519. Perhaps ne dradde is to be understood after ni^tegale. The mean-
ing of the line is The nightingale was not frightened with such words.
I. 520. orflfe = point. A. S. 6rd, O.N. oddr, a point ; whence Eng. odd.
II. 523, 524. Through big words, and with (bold) countenance.
Causes his foe for fear to sweat
1 526. War com = were y come =hzd come. War may be read J?ar, there,
and com would mean came.
P. 36, 1. 529. ]>orte = \)rote = ihvozt.
1. 530. And sang willingly (with pleasure) to many men.
1. 532. a wolde = in the wood. A.S. weald, wald, grove, wood, wold;
whence threshold (O.E. thresh-wold), from \frescian, to beat, tread.
1. 541. To you (two) shall betide harm and disgrace.
1. 542. do]> gri]hbruche = commit a breach of the peace. A. S. grip, peace,
protection ; grip-brice, peace-breaking, brucbe is only a softened form of
A.S. hrice, a breach.
1. 543. /■^om£ = peaceable, reconciled together. A.S. ge-some, from sam-
nian or somnian, to collect.
1. 547. an, first person sing, ofunnan, to grant (see 1. 301, p. lo).
1. 549. Ah do, for ah [hit] rfo = but I do it.
1. 556. ivule is evidently an error for wulde, would, were willing.
1. 558. linde (fern.) = the linden tree.
P. 37, 1. 569. That his bishops may greatly shame.
I. 5 72 . Why wiU they not betake \!s\wa&tV« t% v^ «i\insel ? 1. e, why will they
not take thought togetlict?
NOTE\S. 407
1. 579. Ieiep = ip2iss by, leave tumoticed.
1. 581. And giveth rent (income, revenue) very indifferently.
mis4icbe = indifferently, badly. A. S. missen-lic, misselic, dissimilar, various.
1. 583. lete\} = esteem, think
1. 584. litle cbildre= to little children.
1.585. adwole= in error. A.S. dtoola, error; dtvelian, to err, mistake.
Cp. Goth, dvals, foolish. Prov. Eng. dwaule, to talk incoherently,
i. 586. That ever abideth (endureth), master Nichol.
1. 587. ute we \>ab to bim fare =hvit out let us nevertheless go to him.
I. 589. Do we = do we, let us do.
!• 593. ende o/orde = (7) ende or orde, end or beginning.
1.595. WMs-r^mpf = misstate, misplead. O. N. remfta, to strive,
i. 596. Do thou oppose and stop judgment.
cr«n/« = cramp, interrupt, stop. Du. krimpen, to crimp, contract, de-
crease. We have the same root in crump and crumple.
II. 598, 599. All without army and without retinue,
Until they reached Portesham.
III.
17)e Story ofHavelok the Dane,
The reader will find it convenient to recollect that in this romance ct, ctb
(^ = cbi) are written for gbt (or 3/), as hnict=knigbt; wictb = wigbt. Occa-
sionally the c is omitted, as moutbe = mouctbe = migbte. d is often omitted
after a liquid, as Ion, lond; gol, gold, &c.
P. 39, 1. 3. stark = strong. A.S. stare, O.E. sterc, strong, severe, sharp;
whence Eng. starcb.
1. 5. s«ey« = domestic servant, swain. A.S. swdn, herdsman, servant;
O.N. sveinn, a boy ; Dan. svend, a bachelor.
P. 40, 1. 16. /i&an = when.
wo/d!e= would, is often written wulde.
1. 1 7. fidde = completed, numbered.
\. 21. bende=viezT. A.S. gebende (O.E. ibende),bende; whence bandy,
the sense of near.
1. 22. botbe. To suit the rhyme we should read bede, or bade. Icel.
bddir, both; O.Sax. bide.
1. 24. bodon = boslen = to administer the sacrament, to bousel (see 1. 26,
p. 40). A.S. htisel, offering, oblation; O.N. bunsl, sacrifice.
I. 27. gt/M/l?=be-quest (see 1. 467, p. 34).
1. 32. gangen = A.S. gangan, to go; whence Sc. gang, to go, Eng. ^ang^-
way, gang.
1. 42. And in his hand bear a strong spear.
P. 41, 1. 49. belde = eld=nge.
1. 51. messe'gere = Tnzss-ge2iT, apparatus of the mass.
1. 59. «/on^«s= fields, plains. Prov. Eng. wo«^. A.S. wang, a plain, field,
meadow (cp. Wanste2id = wang-stede).
1. 66. mirh mcb^d9.Tk night. mtHc = dark, mt*rfe^. k.^. mvrc^ ^ia:C«.,
darkness.
4o8 KOTES.
F. 42, 1. 80. fehUlihe^itthly, badly, scantOy.
I. 81. He gave not (the consideration of) a nut for his oaths,
i. 87. Widbuten 0/1 = except on.
II. 95, 96 wflri« = curse, waried, cursed. A.S. warg-ian, to curse.
1. icx). tilled^dnwn. A.S. ft/wn, to get, gain; Eng. iiU. The O.E.
tillen signifies not only to till the ground, but to gain or procure food by
some means or other.
P. 43, 1. 115. What is /i&ow=What is there to you? what is the matter
with you? The printed text reads tbow which is evidently an error for
yow, to you.
1. 116. goulen=yow\. This is a northern form oiyuUen^ to yell.
1. 122. Half part (half as much) as we may (can) eat.
moun = pi. pres. of motven, be able.
1. 124. nis it «o = is (not) there no?
1. 131. Uyke= to play. A.S, Idcan, to play; Idc^ play. Vulg. Eng. /orit,
sport.
1. 132. W«*« = pale. A.S. blac, bloc, O.N. bleikr, Du. bleek ; whence
bleak and bleach. The original meaning of black, Wedgwood says, is pale.
1. 133. karfy pret. of kerven, to cut, carve. A.S. ceorfan (pret. cearf,
pp. ge-corfefi\ cut, hew, engrave.
1. 134. And afterwards (hacked) them all to pieces.
^o/ies = pieces. A.S. ^rfi/, meal; "Dvl. grut, broken, grain; Eng. grit,
grots, groats, grouts, grounds.
1. 136. bitb tuawe=bi the wawe—hy the wall. t««m/c = wall = A.S. twiA;
whence Eng. wain-scot, Du. wagen-schot (the latter syllable we have in
sbide, a lath, from O.E. scbeden, to divide).
1. 146. manredle = homage. The -rede is an affix common to many O.E.
words, and still exists in kin-d-red.
P. 44, 1. 1 48. To that forward = on that condition (promise).
1. 157. Nor never yet conceived me.
^•0/= begot, conceived.
1. 160. lewe = luke (warm). A.S. bleowan, to warm; hleow, bleo, shelter,
shade, lee.
1. 164. tbit=tho-\-it='\htn it. It may be merely another form for /!6a/;
it occurs however in Genesis and Exodus.
I. 166. rf>o«Ci&«=/'i&o^i& = though, nevertheless.
II. 167, 168. no«/i&(l. 167) = mowc/'^ = might; 1. 168, =/i03/=«o^i&/=not.
drepe = 'k\\\, slay. A.S. drepan, to strike, hew, wound.
1. 171. //««s = alive. Chaucer frequently uses the gen. form in this sense.
1. 174. waiten — to watch for, lie in wait for.
1. 175. brouct 0/ Hue = brought from life, put to death.
1. 183. hals = ueck. A.S. heals, beds; whence O.E. balse, Prov. Eng.
hawse, to embrace.
1. 184. flete = s^\m, float. A.S. fleotan, to float, swim. Sc.flete, to flow;
whence fleet, fleeting, flutter.
1. 209. keuel of clutes = (coy ering), coat of rags, keuel = covel = A.S. cufle,
a cowl, clute = A. S. clUt, a little clot, clout, seam, patch. O.E. chute signifies
to mend.
I. 213. hetbede = bettede= commanded.
P. 46, 1. 219. cleue = co\Xai^e. k.^. cleaja, O .^ . klefi.
1. 22 2. with, perhaps au enoi ?o\ wU.
NOTES. 409
11. 229, 230. The final rhymes were originally adoun and croune.
^' 2 34- ^'■fi? = griffiiif fron* O.E. gripen, to seize.
em = A.S. erttf earn, eagle.
1. 235. woluine=:2i she-wolf, just as viVcen = she-fox. Cp. O.E. dovene, a
female dove.
1. 244. i&ottM = 6i-i&ottM = behovest.
i. 246. Wnntf = within. A.S. hinnan, Cp. bute^ without. The first syl-
lable is the prefix hi or fee, as in beyond, beside, dec.
P. 47, 1. 250. sbir—sbire, sheer, clear, bright. A.S. &cir, pure, clear, sbeer.
O.N. sleirr, clean.
1. 253. i/= there.
s/it?m = flame. A.S. stint, vapour, smoke.
1. 256. c^^M = tapers. Ger. kerze, Fr. cierges, church tapers.
inne. Sir F. Madden suggests tinne, ten, as the correct reading ; but more
probably it is negbinne, nine.
1. 257. wat—cwa\> = spake, quoth.
1. 261. sturten — sierten, pret.pl. started.
1. 265. serk:= A.S. syrce, serce, a shirt.
1. 266. Jtyne tnerk, a king's (or royal) mark. A.S. cyne, royal; whence
cyne-dom, Eng. kin-g-dom.
1. 282. cberles = churls. A.S. ceorl, a man, countrjonan ; Icel. karl, a
man ; Ger. kerl, a fellow.
i&tw = servants, hinds. A.S. bina (for bigna), a domestic, a member of a
family. O.N. bidn, a family. A.S. bige, biwa; whence Eng. bive.
P. 48, 1. 300. tbris^e\ = thrust.
1. 301. prangled = compresstd, stifled. Dw. prangen, to compress.
1. 303. inayib = mayst, mayest.
1. ^o^. fete =:fette= to fetch. The Promptorium Parvulorum records the
two forms ^^fetcbyn or fettyn, zffcro.** A.S.feccan, fettan; Get. fassen, to
seize.
1. 306. ^aM«w= pancakes. Yr.flan, zjlawn, a custard, or egg-pie.
al with 5ii{/^=with all such, suchlike.
1. 309. men is here the indefinite pronoun. Ger. man, O.E. me, one.
seyt = seytb = saith.
!• 313. Grundlike is evidently an error for grudilike, ravenously, greedily.
Coleridge explains it * deeply.*
i. 314. mtVie = moderate. A.S. mal^ian, to measure, use gently. Coleridge
connects it with A.S. mi^an, to hide, dissemble.
P. 49, 1. 339. bibetet =^ipTomised it ; it is not an error for bibetest, for hibeten
is a strong verb, and the 2nd pers. pret. is bibet-e; the t is the pronoun it joined
to the verb. This seems to have been common in the East Midland dialects,
as we find traces of it in the Ormulimi, and Genesis and Exodus.
1. 348. ig for ic=OJE.icb, I.
I. 349. ^a/«es= gallows. A.S. galga, a gallows, gibbet, cross.
so God me rede is equivalent to the modern expression * so help me God.'
1. 350. tt'/^^* = wicked. The O.E. wicke often signifies weak, poor, as if
from A.S. wican, to be weak, to decay.
P. 50, 1.355. ^^* ^^ol me to rede = Whzt shall I do? literally, what
shall (be) to me for counsel, 1. e. what is the best plan to adopt in this
emergency.
^- 35^f 357' -^ef him know that he (HaveloW) \s ^.Vwe^Vt V^\>^'Cew V^Vx^^'^^
4IO NOTES.
High hang on (the) gallows-tree. The O.E. /r«=wood, and is used as an
affix = beam in rode-tre, the cross. Dan. tre, wood.
1. 365. Al be sold, qy. for al is sold. The pret. requires us to read solde.
doutbe — might avail, or be worth anything. Sc. dow, to avail, prosper, be
able. A. S. dugan (3rd sing, deab, pi. dugon ; pret. dubte, dobte). Du. doogen,
to profit, avail ; whence do in the phrases * this will do,* * how do you do ;'
and dougbty (A.S. dybtig, fit, useful, brave).
1. 367. to tbe peni d>-ott = turned into money.
1. 369. tere, an. . , pike = tar and pitch. ter= A.S. tyro, teor, tearo, signifies
resin, /ar, afnd is connected with tedr, z tear, or drop, pike — O.E. pyccbe,
A.S. pic, Gei.pecbj Du. pik, pitch.
1. 370. doutede = k2iTtd, doubted.
^ri^^ = A.S. crecca, Du. kreke, creek, haven. led. kryki, comer, from krohr,
a hook. The O.E. cryke signifies also a brook (and still does so in America).
1. 376. bauedet=bauede + ity had it (see note on 1. 339, p. 49).
1. 378. )>rm«tf = three ; twin, for two, is very common in O.E. writers.
P. 51, 1. 386. 6m* = the north wind. O. H^Ger. hUa. In Switzerland, on
the lake of Geneva, the north wind is called the hise.
1. 392. tbrie — ihnct ', twie occurs in O.E. for twice. They are much
older forms than the O.E. twies and tbries; the e represents A.S. adv.-
ending -en.
W(/tf«* =• subsequently. It also signifies presently. Marsh szys it is of
Dutch origin, being compounded of the particle by and the demonstrative
pronoun dien; by-dene = theT thy, therefor ; and hence immediately, &c.
1. 395. lende = to proceed. A.S. gelandian, to land, arrive. Dan. lande,
to go ashore.
^' 399* cote = A.S. cote, cottage, cot. Cp. sbeep-cote, dove-cote.
1. 400. flote = company. The O. Yi.flote, a crowd, is probably connected
vi'\X\i fleet znd float.
1. 402. ertbe = erde, to dwell. A.S. eardian, to dwell. Cp. errf.land, abode,
1. 146, p. 6; earding-stowe, 1. 28, p. 20.
1. 403, 404. So 3iat they well were Of their harbour (dwelling) har-
boured (lodged) there (see note on 1. 553, p. 18).
1. 405. aute = augbte = owned.
1. 406, laute = laugbte, took. A.S. laccan, gelaccan, to seize, (pret. ge-
Icebte), whence latcb.
IV.
Tbe Romance of King Alexander,
P. 52, 1. «;. We ought to read • And oth[e] south half, and on tbe south
quarter.* othe = O.E. a]>e, on the.
11. II, 12. cbele^cbills, cold; «/«/* = weal, wealth. If we must read
cbalen = cbealen, then wele should be welen.
P. 53, 1. 17. y dies = islands. The Promptorium Parvulorum has " ilde,
betwene too freshe waters, amnis ; ilde, londe in the sea, insula,** With the
double forms ydle atid ylde^ cotcv^att O.'^. -wwdle ^vA world.
I. 22. Nor hold ^o\i \\. (tio\^ maTv€C^<yQs».
NOTES. 411
ferlicb—ferltcbe—fc2iTM, A.S. fdrlic, sudden, from /dry sudden (also
sudden fear), fearful, horrid.
1. 23. ^fs/« = tales, stories, relations. Lat. gerere^ gestum, to do; whence
gest or ^15/, a feat or deed done, and thence a relation, story.
1. 31. bait, an error for batte, called.
1. 38. en^_y«^/= ingenious. O.E. engine^ device. Fr. engitij contrivance,
craft, from Lat. ingenium,
1. 39. auenaunt= Fr. avenant, graceful, beautiful.
1. 40. stalwortb (often written stalward) = A.S. stal<veor^, worth taking
or stealing.
1. 42. queynteste ^qasiinttst O.Fr. cotntf neat, fine, trim. Lat. cognitus,
known ; and hence familiar, agreeable.
P. 54, 1. 54. sergeaunz = menservants. Fr. sergent, a beadle. Ital. sergente,
a Serjeant, beadle, servant. Mid. Lat. serviens ad legem, a sergeant-at-law.
1. 60. is c/tf^rf= called; ycleped is no doubt the correct reading.
1. 70. That they are soon as black as pitch.
1. 71. o«/(e/yn^= lying beyond others, external ; 4yng is an adv. suffix, as in
dark-ling (in the dark) ; bead-long (O.E. bead-lynge; Sc. beadlins).
1. 75* bauntetb — frequent. Fr. i^an/fr, to frequent, haunt; Bret. Z>en/, a way.
P. 55, 1.88. a^£is = eggs; from O.E. ey (A.S. cBg, pi. cegru), an egg;
whence eyry.
1. 89. ^anf6f}f«n/= garment; from Fr. gamir^ provide, supply, adorn;
gametnent, garnishing, decking, munition; whence gamisb, garrison. (O.E.
garsone.)
1. 104. gabbe=]6kmg. A.S. gabban, to scoff, delude. O.E. gabben sig-
nifies to talk; whence gab, gabble. Cp. Dan. and Sc. gab, the mouth. O.N.
gabba, to mock, lie. Du. gabberen, to joke.
P. 56, 1. III. An eigbe = one eye,
1. 113. rynetb—reynetb = Tzineih.
1. 114. vjrieth = cowers, hides; tvryen, to cover (1. 116). See unwro^en,
1. 118, p. 23.
1. 120. bawen=hsivfs. baw = A.S. baga,hsiw, hedge; whence baw-ihom,
a hedge-thorn.
bepenss]d^. iW^ = the fruit of the wild rose. A.S. biop ; "Sorse bjupa,
slon = sloes. A.S. sld (Du. sleeuwe), a sloe. Du. slee, sleeuw, dull, blunt, sour.
ra66«n = turnips. Du. raap, a turnip. Eng. rape seed.
1. 136. ^ttrci&ac<?y«^= subsistence; from purcbacen, to procure. Fr. pour-
cbasser, to pursue after, to obtain the object of pursuit. Ital. procacciare, to
cbase for, procure
1. 139. Hynd andfortb=byndenfortb — h2ickw2irds.
1. 140. on any cas = on any adventure.
P. 57, 1. 142. biwiie, pp. gone; from witen, to go. A.S. witan, to
depart.
1. 160. to wonde= to fear, also to hesitate, delay. A.S. wandian.
1. 167. medU=Yr. medlee, now melee, tumult, conflict, medlay; from
medler, meller, to mix, mell.
P. 58, 1. 1 73. greyn and ord= edge and point.
1. 173. more /os= of greater renown (fame). Fr. los, report Lat. laus,
praise.
1. 1 7/;. wamffys= marshes. Fr. marais, maiih. (\\2\. mar«^<t ^ \cosv>j
place^, from Fr, mare, a standing water.
4.12 NOTES,
1. 1 76. No beast neither has his (mode of) fighting.
1. i84.^/o«/i = fierce, cruel. Ti.felle, cruel, ^trce; felon, cruel, rough;
felonUy anger, cruelty, treason.
I. 188. Jeervynge should evidently be hervyndct cutting.
II. 193, 194. Nor no man may him take (latch).
But it be (except) that he take (him) unawares.
snacbe = to take suddenly or unawares. Eng. snatch,
I. 196. Horrible it is after the (like the) devil (fiend).
P. 59, 1. 206. selcoutb = stizngCt wonderful; literally seldom known, rare.
A. S. selde, seldom, and c«)>, known.
II. 209, 3 10. drybe contray. The O.E. for dry is often written
draye.
1. 218. qfygbteib = a/aitetb = reduce (to subjection). Fr. af alter ; O.E.
afaitye^ to manage, subdue.
1. 228. &ide = K.S. sidy ample, great. O.E. sicfe=long, as in phrase *wide
and side.'
P. 60, 1. 235. 6yr«/frf= bereaved (of a member or part of the body).
1. 242. 3'-tt'Atf/= sharpened. A.S. bwcet, sharp, keen; bwettan, to sharpen.
1. 2; 7' supply is before al.
1. 262. v-^qptf = investigated, searched out. A.S, grdpian, to fed, grope;
whence gripe, grapple.
P. 61, 1. 274. aswelt= is put out, is quenched. A. S. asweltan, to die, depart;
sweltan, to die, perish; whence swelier (O.E. swelte^ swelter, to die, faint).
Reigii of William the Conqueror,
P. 62, 1. 2. er, for ber-after, hereafter.
1. 12. To keep (defend) it well for him, and he well to him trusted.
P. 63, 1. 2i.fole dede = 2i foolish deed.
1. 25. watloker = much rather, the more (see 1. 516, p. 35).
1. 28. nede is here an adv. = of necessity, and is equivalent to O.E. nedes^
needs.
1. 7 2. of-sende = send for ; so of-dksen, to ask for. The negative and «-
tensitive use of this prefix has already been pointed out. »
1. 34. ^orci&as = winning, booty (see 1. 136, p. 56). f
1. 42. biofjpe = behoof. A. S. bebdfan, to behove, to be fit, need. heb6flic=
O.E. bebovely, oehoveful, needful.
witie = Semi-Saxon witen, to protect, defend, keep.
P. 64, 1.51. asoilede = absolved, zsso'Hed, O.Fi. assoiler, to acquit Lat,
abwlvere, loose from.
1. 5.:?. bere, sbj. should bear; the pret indie, would be ber, or bar,
1. 58. abide mo = to await more (men).
1. ^g. preste = Tezdy. Lat. prcesto, in readiness; whence to press for a 1
soldier, press-gzng, press-money, &c.
1. 74. i^ete = i-yete = ezten. In the South of England the people say I have
a-yeat an apple.
P. 65, 1. 82. sle^=s\7, ci^^x.^. O.^.dot^, w*&?j, Norse sUg, expert,
clever ; whence sicigbf .
NOTES, 413
1. 84 dereyni^^Vr. desraigner, try, prove.
1. 86. lokinge = award judgment, decision ; from lokit to enclose, keep,
decide (see 1. 56, p. 3i).
1. 107. iiolde = i}olderi, pp. restored. Heame's copy reads bit ^elde.
P. 66, 1. 116. wrastlede=v/Tes1}ed. A.S. wrastlian, v/raxlian, to wrestle ;
from tvr<Bstian, to writhe, twist, wrest.
i. 118. /m)>^=A.S. (ySw, bad, wicked. Cp. Ger. liederlicb, loose, dis-
orderly. Du. ladder^ a loose person.
torencbe= A.S. turenc^ deceit, stratagem.
1. 135. baneur=iht bannerer, banner-bearer.
^* ^37* ^««w = contrivance, skill (see engyneful, 1. 38, p. 53).
1. 139. ne dude bom m>3/= rendered their efforts useless.
P. 67, 1. 142. 0^05/^= aghast, frightened. Gothic us-gaisjan^ to frighten.
1. 154. no wille .... ofdunt=vio power of striking. </w«/=dint, stroke,
blow. A.S. dynt, stroke, blow ; whence dent^ dint,
1. 165. a day = in (that) day.
1. 166. as me 5qy = as one saw.
1. 167. uor-amd might signify hotly pursued, as if from umen^ to run;
but h.S.ymany O.E. urnen, are strong verbs, and therefore the pp. would be
urnen^ not amd. The true reading is «or-arm£f= harassed, for the stroke
over the syllable ard in the MS. stands for m ox n; uor-amid is from A.S.
earmian^ to grieve, trouble ; earm^ miserable.
1. 168. debrused =hT\xhtd. O.Fr. bruiser ^ Fr. briser, to bruise, crush. I
P. 68, 1. 174. bor noJ>cr = neither of them.
1. 176. an-^unter^ in doubt, doubtful. an = on or in; aw«/^ = aventure,
adventure, chance.
keueringe = Tecovtnn^. The O.E. vb. cover, is frequently used for to
recover.
1. 198. an er^e = into earth, burial.
1. 199. /o«=:foes. A.S. /a, enemy; from^aw, to hate.
i. 20 r. *j largelicbe, &c. = and liberally proferred him of her wealth.
P. 60, 1. 230. esste= asked. A.S. 4Bscian, to ask (see esse 1. 367, p. 73).
"P.^Otl. 2^1. goderbele = good fortune, happiness; from ^oflfe = good,
Ae/*= health. Cp. O.E. wro^erbele, misfortune.
1. 248. into kunde more = more into natural right.
1. 262. y«;^<ilp = endowed. Yx.fieffer, to convey ihtjief 01 fee (Mid.Lat.
feudum, property in land distributed by the conqueror to his companions in
arms, as a reward for their services) to a new owner.
1.265. «or/or« = ruined, /or/om. Cp. ^or« (Milton), for ^ozcn.
P. 71, 1. 279. debonere =¥t. debonnaire^ courteous, affable =£f? bon aire,
good-humoured. Cp. Fr. de mal aire, bad-humoured.
1. 285. w«/erf= altar. A.S. wtfo/bcT, altar.
1. 287. bulde=^2iy. Cp. A.S. bild, battle; byldere, a butcher.
1. 295. as God ie/\>at cas = as God gave that hap, /. e. as God had ordained.
P. 72, 1. 328. no u[e]r= no farther (see 1. 330).
af-route — to advance with troops, make raids (see next line following).
i. 334. rott/e = army. O.Yi. route, crowd, troop.
P. 78, 1. 344. vn/w/tfrf= uncultivated, untilled (see notes to 1. 77, p. 3, and
1. 100, p. 42).
1.345. adauntede—sohdntd. Tr.dompter, cfonter, to t&ma. ^.doai^No
subdue, from Lat domiiare.
414 NOTES.
1. 353. biden = bides of land. A bide of land »= as much as conid be tilled
by a single plough. The word bide is still used as a measure of land in
Norway.
1. 358. al c/tf«tf= thoroughly.
1. 359. scrit^ like scroll = z register, literally a slip or shred of parchment.
A.S. scrHd; Low Ger. scbroode^ a part, fragment.
1. 368. e;Mfc=end. It may be an error for emde, errand.
P. 74, 1. 374. }^at \far for ]>an \far, than there.
1.378. astorede = stored, filled. O.Fi, estorer, to erect, build, garnish.
Lat. insiaurare, repair, renew.
1. 386. \)er to, Heame's copy reads a tuo, in two.
1. 387. spwrnrfle = stumbled. A.S. spuman, to kick, stumble ; spomincg, a
stumbling-block.
1. 390. pw blind = entirely blind, pur = pure, entire. In Widif, Exod.xxi.
26, it means * blind of one eye.' It has now the meaning of almost blind.
P. 75, 1. 408. ball€de = hald. The original meaning seems to have been
(i) shining, (2) white (as in bald-faced stag). A.S. b<el, a funeral pile, a
burning.
1. 409. lende = \oins, pi. lenden. A.S. lendenu, the loins. The root-mean-
ing is probably broad. Lat. lumbus, whence Fr. lotnbe. O. Fr. lopte; Sc.
lunyie ; Eng. loin. Lanky is probably connected with lende ; Fris. lunk,
hip-bone.
1.412. ar6/as/e = arbalast ; Mid. Lat. arcubalista (see arblasters, I. j^yi,
p. 75), crossbow.
1. 4 1 4. non vuel = non uuel — no evil, sickness ; in is de\> vuel «= in his death
fell ; vuel = vul = 0. E. vil or//, fell.
1.416. a3/=noble. A.S. cebt.
P. 76, 1. 441. Mamie or/"= men's cattle.
qualm = A.S. cwealm, pestilence, death, destruction. Dan. qu<ele, to choke.
Swed. qual, sickness ; qualm, hot, stifling weather.
1. 450. sette .... to ferme = Mid. Lat. dare or ponere adfirmam, to let on
lease; jirma, rent. k.%. feorm, supper, board, hospitality. Lands were
once let on the condition of supplying the lord with so many night's enter-
tainment for his household.
1. 457. /r/cZ?frytf = treachery, is another form of trickery.
1. 468. c(/iK/zV= twitting, reproach. A.S. ed-witan, to reproach, twit.
erf- = Lat. re- (see atwite, 1 332, p. 29).
1. 470. cbircbegong =^ churching, literally church-going.
bende = sickness, is another form of bond.
1. 471. atten = at\>en — zt the; before a consonant it is atte, as atie laste,
atte beste, &c.
P. 77, 1. 490. grony = to groan, complain (of being ill). A.S. grdnan, to
lament, groan is connected with grunt; O.E. gruny, to groan ; Ger. grunzen,
to growl, mutter.
1. 494. lecbes = surgeons, physicians. A.S. Idee, a physician, leecb.
1.497. deol = dole, sorrow. Sc. dule, grief; Fr. deuil, mourning; Lat.
dolere, to grieve.
P. 78, 1. 505. porcbas, conquest (see 1. i j6, p. 56).
J. 509. rfcle = distribute. A.S. dcel, a part, dole, deal; dalan, to divide,
dispense.
J. 528. seisine = possess\oiv. ¥ x . saUlne, %€vCvcy., ^xoww wuswr ^Ns^ v&te..
NOTES. 415
VI.
The Life of St, Durutan.
P- 79, 1. 531. mor£ = root ; Prov. Eng. moor, root. The etymology is un-
certain.
1. 536. aqueynte, pret. was quenched. Cp. O.E. adreynte, drowned.
1. 545. jmr/j for \ntrb, through. Cp. O.E. \of=tbog, though.
P. 80, 1. 558. «>^ = throve. OjE. the, to thrive, flourish = A.S. \eon, to
thrive (pret. }pdb, pp. ge^gen, ge^ungen).
1. 565. cfeyn/« = pleasure, dainty. It literally signifies (i) toothsome, nice,
(2) rare. Cp. O.E. daintitb, dainty; Welsh dant, a tooth; dantaidd, tooth-
some, delicate.
1. 567. feontf— petition, prayer, boon. A.S. ben, prayer; from biddan, to
ask. Cp. Icel. beidne, petition, from beida, ask, bid.
1. 583. budinge =:sccrcsy, biding; from O.E. bude, to hide; whence O.E.
bidinges, a secret place. Du. bueden, to protect, cover. Norse bide, lair of a
beast.
P. 81, 1. 591. or«sott«5=: orisons, prayers.
1. 594. be ne Jtipte, &c. = he took not of them no (any) reward.
1. 596. hedes bede=viov\d offer prayers. Cp. our phrase to * bid beads.'
1. 604. 7Veq/?m^c = playfully, triflingly. -inge is an adv.-ending= 4y.
trifle signifies literally * small piece.* A.S. trifdan, to pound.
1. 611. &/as/« = blazed. A.S. blase, a torch, blaze.
1. 61a. «mcil'tf<fe= wriggled; probably coimected with writbe, wring,
wrinkle, &c. A. S. wrigan, to tend to, move to.
1. 615. snytte = wiped. A.S. snytan, snite, clean. The literal meaning of
snite is to blow the nose ; O. N. snyta, to blow the nose ; snite is of course
connected with snout.
1. 618. lifte = z\T, as in a-loft. A.S. lyft; O.N. lopt, sky, air; d-lopt, on
high ; Dan. loft, ceiling, loft ; lofte, to lift, raise.
1. 619. ca/««/c = bald-pate. A.S. calu, bald. Lat. callow.
1. 621. atom ysnyt bis nose = at home with his nose suited (his nose being
snited),
1. 622. bi^ede =hsist€n€d, A.S. bigan, bigian, endeavours, hasten. Dan.
bige, to pant for.
pose =co\d in the head. It may be the Fr. pousse, asthma, from "LzX. pulsus ;
pursy = Fr. poussif.
VII.
Metrical English Psalter,
P. 82, 1.6. lof= A.S. I6f, praise; Idflan, to praise; lof-sang, a hymn,
psalm ; I6fsum, laudable, lovesome.
P. 83, 1. 17. mensk = hono\ii. It is a sb. from the A.S. mennisc : (i)
mankind; (2) human; whence O.E. mens^e, gracious.
\. 22. In-over is a translation of Lat. insuper.
1.24. stibes^piths, ways. A.S. sri^, a way, pa'OR.\ sdgan ^\^\.«X>^'»
4l6 NOTES.
yp. gestigen), to go, climb, ascend; whence stile {k.S. stigel), stirrup {A.S.
&tig-rap)t stair (A.S. stager); O.E. stegb =^Frov, Eng. stie, steye, ladder.
See up-stegby ascended, 1. 65, p. 84.
1. 27. /«/(/= tabernacle. A.S. teld, tent, tabernacle; teldtan^ to pitch a
tent. Cp. * tilt* of a cart.
1. 28. mo««=: shall. O.N. muriy shall, may, must
1. 29. «/5w-/es = pure, spotless. A.S. wem^ womm, spot, blemish, w&rn;
wemman^ to spoil, corrupt.
1. 35. es lede = L3it. deductus est.
1. 39. o^ir= usury; O.N. 0^, from aw^fl, to increase, fA-*.
P. 84, 1. 45. to-jfligbt^ refuge. A.S. geberg.
I. 46. User = liberator, deliverer ; from A. S. leosan, leasan, lysan, to loosen,
redeem; whence O.E. lesnesse, forgiveness.
II. 53, .i;4. Um'gaf=Lzt. circum dederunt; um-griped—L^t. prcevenerunt.
The prefix um = A.S. y?nb, around, about; as in O.E. urn-gang, circuit; utn-
tbinke, consider.
wseles=weles = wells, pits. A. S. w<bI. A whirlpool, in Lancashire still called
a tueele.
quede = evil. Du. kwaad, bad ; O. E. quede, the devil.
1. 56. Bi-sied=bi-si^ed=c^me upon. A.S. be-sigan, to descend.
1. 57. rfrot//«^= persecution. O.E. drove, to trouble, persecute; A.S.
dre/an, to make muddy, disturb, vex. Chaucer uses drovy, troubled. See
to-dreved, troubled, 1. 68, p. 84.
1. 63. The MS. reads of, but the correct reading is evidently Jw)/'=]»^A,
though; so that ]fcf'}paim be /a/i> = though it be displeasing to them.
1.6.^. rtf^e= smoke, reek. A.S. rec; Du. rooir, smoke.
1. 68. Kindled, often written hinled. O.N. kynda, to set fire to; Icyndill,
a light, candle. Norse kynnel, a torch, whence cannel coal (coal that burns
like a torch).
1. 69. i&^/cfef/= bowed, from belde, to incline to, bend; A. S. byldan, bed-
dan, to incline, bend ; whence beel, Cp. O. N. bdlla, to incline ; bella, to
pour (Prov. Eng. bele, to pour out).
1. 73. /ttr^/n^= hiding-place, lair. O.N. lurJ<a, to lie in wait, lurlc;
whence lurcb and lurcber.
P. 85, 1. 75. Waters that were dark of hue (colour, appearance).
1. 76. sJ(ewe = s\iy. A.S. scua, a shade, cloud. O.N. sky, a cloud;
Cp. Ger. wolke, cloud, with Eng. welkin, the sky.
1. 77. /«/emn^= lightning. O.E. levin, lewenynge, lightning; Dan. lyn.
Norse ly6n, lightning ; lygne, to lighten.
1. 84. ^rownrfffs = foundations.
1.85. snibbing = snubbing, rebuke, reproach. Swed. snwWa, to reprove;
O. N. snubba, to cut short. Dan. snubbed, stumpy ; snubbe, to curtail ; whence
snub-nose (See note on 1. 40l,"*p. 181).
I. 86. one-sprute = a sprouting or spurting forth. Cotgrave has " regailler,
to spurt or sprout (as water) back again." Swed. spruta. Norse sputra,
spryta, to spurt, spout.
P. 86, 1. III. balgb for balgb[e']= A.S. balga, a saint. Chaucer has
balews, saints.
I. 121. w«;?Zed=\indefiled. A.S. he-fCdan, to befoul, defile; befyled,
defiled. O.N. fvil, stirkm^; ^la,\.o ^XxtCk.. C^.O.E.)He, a wicked wretch.
J. 123. Fraisted = tried, ipMiAtd. O.^. Jresta,\o>s>i.
NOTES. 41;
1. 131. atjigbt-^to fight. The use of the preposition at=to, before verbs
in the infinitive mood is good evidence of Danish influence in the Northum-
brian dialect.
I. 133. for-biling of bele of \>e = L2it, proiectionem salutus tu<s. A,S. ge^
scildnesse bcelu iSinre; Eng. version, ** shield of thy salvation."
!• izg* filgbe=k,S, fylgean^ to follow.
Km/qp= lap about, surround, seize. O.E wlapj to fold. A cognate root
is seen in Ital. inviluppare ; Fr. envelopper.
1. 140. ogain torne—tom back, return.
to = unto = until.
watte = may be consiuned. A. S. wana^ lack (as in w/a«-hope, u/a/t-ton, &c.) ;
wanian, diminish, wane.
P. 87, 1.145. o-bak=on-bakj on the back. The A. S. version has bee;
Lat. version dorsum ; Eng. version * necks.*
1. 149. gnide = A.S, gnidan, break (in pieces), rub, comminute.
/i^am = face, countenance; literally the body. A.S. /«c, form, body;
licbamoy the living body.
I. 152. ^£n^e = people, gentiles. A.S. genge, troop, host; probably con-
nected witfi O.E, gangan, to go.
II. 155, 156. Ow/8n = foreign, strange (see 1. 146, p. 6).
1. 167. 6/r);M = nations. A.S. ge-byrd, a family, lineage; from bSran, to
bear ; whence birtb, &c.
P. 88, 1. 177. winli =}oyouSj winsome. A.S. win, pleasure; mne, a
friend ; uynlic, joyous ; wynsum, pleasant, winsome (see 1. 203, p. 89).
1. 181. In un-nait=L2Lt. in vano. O.E. in ydel, vain, useless; A.S. unnet,
useless, from neotan, to use, enjoy.
1. 186. /ai/anrf= seeking. O.E. laiie, O.N. leyta, to seek, discover.
P. 89, 1. 205. bies, for o^am-6/« = redeems ; Op. O.E. wilh-begge, to redeem.
The use of the verb begge or fey^ = buy, for redeem, is not uncommon in O.E.
writers.
1. 207. ^M= satiates.
1. 321. est del = west del. The del (A.S. deal) is in these words merely an
zf5x=part.
1. 223. rewed es translates the Lat. miseretur.
1. 226. scbaft=fTzme, form. A.S. sceaft, gesceaft, creature; scapan (pret.
scopy pp. gescapen\ to form, sbape, create.
1. 230. welyen = welwefi = 'wi*AitT. A.S. wealwian, wealowigan, to roll up,
dry up, wither, wallow.
P. 90, I 257. iS/lrtf^anrf= spreading, covering, from stre1ee = A.S. streccan,
to stretch. O.H.Ger. strac, rigid, straight ; straccben, to be stiff. A.S. strec,
rigid, violent. O. E. strek, bold, powerful. By metathesis we get O. E. sterk —
starht starch.
fel =A.S. fel, skin. It still exists in fell-monger.
1. 258. ot/crfs/!es = highest parts. The -est or -ost as the superlative suffix
of adv. is seen in overmost, O.E. over-m-est; utter-est=utter-m-ost, and upperest
ssupper-m-ostt
1. 263. groundes ( = Lat. fundavit), from O.E. grounde, to lay the foun-
dation of, establish. The A. S. equivalent of groundes is stealSelade, from
sta^l-ian, to found, set fast; whence O.E. statbelnes (A.S. std^el-nes), sta-
bility, foundation. We have another form of this root in stead, stedfasty
steady, &c.
4l8 NOTES.
P. 01, 1 271. Mere = A.S. gemaret boundary, limit ; Du. meere, boundary,
fnere.
1. 282. gresse = gnss. The Southern dialect generally prefers the softer
form gers, A.S. g^ers. Cp. tbrist for thirst, 1. 276.
1. 294. ircbones= urchins, hedgehogs (we still have stfa-«rcibm), from Greek
iXivos (connected with AxayOa, a thorn ; fccvrcii^, to prick). The A.S. term
for hedgehog is igil or il (connected with <e/, a/, an awl).
1. 296. setel'gange= A.S. setl-gong, setUgang, sMUset, setting (literally seat-
going). The first element is retained in the word settle.
1. 299. roma«rf=ramanrf= roaring. h.S.hream, cry, scream; hreman,\o
cry, weep.
P. 92, 1. 309. roMm^= A.S. rum, space, spacious; whence roomy; roam,
to walk at large ; O.E. rume, to clear a space, make room.
til hende is an error for tilende, stretching, leading. O. N. til, to.
IX.
The Proverbs of Hendyng.
Throughout this poem ue=eo = e.
P. 96, 1.4. /i&onit« = thoughts.
11. 16, 17. And take care that (thou) forbid none other to be wise and
good.
1. 18. bue=beo = he.
1. ig./eb = A.S. /ah. O.E. f oh: (i) of different colours; hence (2) a
dress of various colours, particoloured.
grys = Ft. gris, a kind of fur.
1. 21. warysoun = warison. Ft. guerison, a reward.
P. 97, 1. 24. con /onde = C2iTi attempt, can do.
1. 29. As many lands, so many customs.
1. 32. lerne. The rhyme requires lere, to learn.
1. 33. other-tvbyle = somet\mcs ; whyle, like the Sc. whyles, has occasionally
this signification.
1. 35. Woltou, nultou = wilt thou (or) wilt thou not. i.e. willing or un-
willing.
1. 37. Luef=leof—leue, dear, beloved.
1. 44. fol couthe = 'weW assured, full sure.
1. 47. /ode = 3. child ; literally z/ostered one. A.S. fedan, to feed, nourish.
P. 98, 1. 59. Though it may appear game (pleasure) to the body.
1. 64. ^/tf = music. A.S. gle6, music, song, joy, glee,
1. 66. sot = A.S. and Fr. sot, a fool, as in besotted, sot, &c.
1.80. male = bsig, chest, mail. O.H.Ger. malaba. Ital. mala, coffer,
trunk; O.Fr. male, a great budget.
1. 88. wertbe=werdi= destiny. A.S. weord, wyrd, fate. Eng. wierd,
1. 89. There should be only a comma after the woTd/ylle.
1. 90. Some such word as wil must be supplied after myn,
won = desire.
J. 93. £s/c= pleasant, dew. A..S.€s<<^ agreeable, delicate.
ow/i* = one* sown.
NOTES. 419
1. 97. Provided thou delay to borrow, i.e. if you do not get into debt.
P. 100, 1. 117. gedelyngt literally a needy person; from A.S. gdd, want,
need. It is generally considered, however, to represent the A.S. gcedeling, a
companion, ^//ow, vagabond.
1. 119. «n-sai&/= dissatisfied, discontented, unfriendly. A.S. sai&/, peace,
agreement; sabtlian, reconcile (settle a difference), make peace; whence
O.E. sagbtle, to reconcile.
1. 123. (5/= /«/*= favour.
1. 125. that is luef— that bim is luef— that prefers.
1. 130. Scbencben — to pour out, give to drink. A.S. scene, drink; scencan
(Sc. sldnk), to pour out, give drink.
1. 139. Under bush shall men abide the storm.
1. 144. treye=k.S. trega, vexation, tribulation; tregian, to vex.
U. 147, 148. best=begbest='hi^tst\ nest=negbest=ne2iTest.
P. 101, 1. 153. ene = oncc. Cp. ttvi-e, tbri-e, twice, thrice. This e repre-
sents an older n.
1. 155. ««^y« = unfain, unwilling (to lend).
I. 156. Sddom Cometh loan laughing home.
1. 160. When to thee were loth, /. e. when thou wert least inclined.
1. 164. ednetb. Coleridge considers this an error for endetb^ but it may be
an error for edunt, reproach.
1. 172. He is free of horse that ne'er had none.
ner as a contraction for never is very uncommon in O.E.
1. 174. munte= to go over, cross. A.S. myntan^ to propose, to set forth.
1. 179. after wille — according to one's desire.
P. 102, 1. 182. lype = A.S. bl^p, leap.
1. 188. Oft haste repenteth.
1. 191. wyt at tuolde =vit (wisdom) at command.
1. 192. ore =eoure— your.
soule-bote = sovl-hoot, salvation of the soul.
1. 194. ro = A.S. row; O.N. r^, peace. Cp. O.E. roo/^s, restless; Eng.
un-ru4y.
X.
specimens of Lyric Poetry,
P. 103, 1. 206. haundoun = power. Fr. bandon, power, authority. The
literal meaning is proclamation. Cp. Ital. bando, Eng. banns.
1. 207. An bendy bap = z (piece of) good fortune.
1. 208. Icbot=icb wot=l know.
1. 215. be = bue=beo, she.
1. 217. forsake = refuse.
1. 218. feye = ne2iT to die, dead. A.S. fage, dying.
1. 220. At night when I turn (in bed) and watch.
1. 221. tt;on^«= cheeks. A.S. wang, jaw, cheek; wang-tootb, a grinder,
is still used in the North of England.
J. 22}^. may = A.S. mag, maid ; nuBg^ (GeLmogd"^— ixv^v^^^^'WJk. TMx\yxtv,
£62
420 NOTES,
to be able; the Kteral meaning is probably ^//-,grofwi. Cp. A.S. macg^i
man.
1. 232. I have yearned of yore, Le, I have long been in great anxiety
(distress).
1. 235. Geynest under gore = O most lovely one under dress, t. e. O thou the
loveliest that wearcst female apparel. geyn=gain, elegant, as in un-gain-ly.
O.H.gegn, convenient, suitable ; gegna: (l) to meet, (2) answer, fit. Sc.^ow,
to suffice.
gore, a narrow slip let into a womarfs dress; hence the dress itself. O.N.
gdrot to rend (Coleridge). Wedgwood connects gore with A.S. ^ar, a spear;
Eng. gore, to pierce.
1. 256. roi/w = n/«e = song. A.S. run, a conversation; O.E. rotwne or
rounde, one in the ear ; Du. roenen. Ger. raunen, to whisper.
P. 104, 1. 242. sa^=A.S. sad, satisfied.
1. 256. nuly = ne->wut-i=l will not.
P. 105, 1. 2 73. Burde = lady. This is merely another form (by metathesis)
of bride,
1. 275. 6ys = Fr. his, purple. Lat. hyssus.
1. 286. hoc = book, scythe.
1. 287. /o /on = receive, fon and bon (hang) are common contractions of
fongen and bongen,
1. 292. Lomen = tools. A.S. I6ma, tood. utensil. The weaving-machine
being one of the most important pieces of furniture in O.E. houses, the
word loom received the special meaning which it now has ; and from the
weaving-machine being handed down from father to son, we have evidently
the compound term beir4oom, now applied to any valuable hereditary pro-
perty.
1. 294. undreb = out of patience, from dreben {dregen), to suffer (see 1. 453,
p. 15)-
I. 295. So idle for to (see them) stand.
II. 296-298. It had so bestead (happened)
That no man them had offered
Their tools to engage. i.«. no one had asked their services.
P. 106, 1. 305. aUe ant so»w = all and together, one and all.
1. 311. raht^ pret. ofrecbe, tell, reckon, give. A.S. recan (pvet. reabt).
1. 321. leode = men, people. A.S. Ie6d, U6da, a countryman, a man;
le6de, people ; whence lewd = O.E. lewed, the laity.
1. 322. This does not mean 'I am not the less to be believed,* but *I am
not to be accounted false/
lees = A . S. leas, false.
1. 328. un-sete = A.S. un-sidu, vice, wickedness; from sidu, manner, cus-
tom, duty ; side, modesty.
P. 107, 1.334. un/ete = not feat, not good, feat =¥1. fait, made, done;
from LsLt.facere; O.Ti.faire; whence O.Yx.faicture, the making, form, or
workmanship of a thing; whence ^aA/rfs. O.E fetise, well-made, neat;
O. Fr. faictis. Lat. facticius.
1. 344. tbretetb = tires (himself with singing); from tbrete, A.S. ]ireotan,
tire, weary.
1. 350. rayletb=^iputs on (as a garment). A.S. brngel, a garment; whence
night-rat/.
1. 357. Afiies»=rMadtm(J^ K.'&.mewAe,TMcA.,w^\!u
NOTES. 42,1
murgetb = rejoice with, be merry. A. S. myrg, pleasure ; murge, joyfiil.
w«i^fs= mates, companions (a softened form of which we have in match),
A.S. macay a husband, mate.
1. 358. striketb = TVLas^ flows, trickles. A.S. strican, to go on ; whence * to
strike sail.'
P. 108, 1. 365. Dews moisten the downs.
donketb, from O.E. donke, to damp, moisten. Milton uses dank (O.E. donk),
moist. It is probably connected with Du. donker, Ger. dunkel, dark;
Prov. Eng. danker y a dark cloud.
I. 372. wunne weole = i!t{\s delightful happiness, tvunne is gen. fern, ofwyn
or wun ; A.S. tuyn, joy, delight. weole=A. S. «/«/«, wealth, bliss, tt/eal.
1. 373. ^tfwe = banished, exiled. A.S. Jliam, a flight; flyman^ to banish.
XL
The Tale of Per s the Usurer.
P. 109, 1.4. nygun = z. niggard. O.N. nyggia, to gnaw, rub, scrape;
nuggjen, stingy. Sw. njuggj sparing. The same root is contained in niggle.
1. 9. ^a/re« = clothes. O.E. hater, clothing; A.S. hateru, clothing; Ger.
bader, a rag.
barme = bosom, lap. A.S. bearm.
P. 110, 1. 19. janglande= jangling y chattering. O.Fr.janglert to prattle,
tattle, jest, lie. Du.jangelen, to yelp.
1. 26. ^y/= sharp, stem. O.E. gn7, cold, shivering; Du. grillen, to
shiver, tremble.
P. Ill, 1. 55. balydom = balidom, reliques of the saints, on which sacred
(holy) oaths (dooms) were formerly taken.
1. 69. tbe to party = ihe one side, to = /a = tone = that one, the one.
P. 112, 1. 96. ^s= weight. Fr. poiser^ peser^ to weigh ; from poids (LaL
pondus), weight ; whence to poise.
1. 103. «S>y^i&y«^= sighing. O.E. sigbe and sike; A.S. sicany Low. Ger.
sucbten, to sigh ; whence sougb, Sc. soucb, the sound of the wind.
1. 105. acouped=aculped= accused, from Lzt. culpa; whence culprit (as if
a corruption of culpatusj the old Law Latin for an accused person).
P. 113, 1. 132. kyrtyl = A.S. cyrtel. Dun. kjortel, a garment, either for man
or woman.
as-smerte = at once, smartly, quickly. Cp. as-sujy)>ey immediately, 1. 1 36.
P. 115, 1.198. monos = menace. Yr. menace; \taX. minaccia ; Lzt. mina,
viinacia, threats.
1. 207. sele =mzn. A.S. sel^ gesell^ companion.
P. lie, 1. 247. brycbe = humble, low, mean. Du. bracks rejected, damaged.
P. 117, 1. 253. ott^-s^y/c = exceedingly ; literally, immoderately. See skile,
reason, 1. 142, p. 23.
1. 254. swele = to swill, wash. A.S. swiliany to wash.
1. 265. /o//ccfe = foolish. Ft. folt foolish. It may be connected with
Spanish /a/to, a fault; f altar ^ to fail, be deficient.
P. 118, 1. 313. stonte = sto«/=standeth.
P. 119, 1. 339. squyl€r = 7i swiller or scullion. O.E. squillary^ «MiL«^\
from O.E. su^^/e or s^ut'/Ie, to wash. O.N. sfeola ; "Dwv. sfejlU^Xa t«s&r.*
42:j NOTES.
XII.
De Baptismo,
P. 122, 1.16. sitbere — dAcr. Yr.cidre; Lzt. sicera.
1. 18. This christening one may refiise.
Tl>on — fbeos = this.
U. 30, 21. For though it were water fiist,
Of water hath it (now) no particle.
1. 33. /or/i&e = froth, scum (of anything). O.S. /roda, scum; Low Ger.
fratben, steam, vapour.
1. 35. 7^a3/=/ia3= though.
1. 32. In what time falleth in the year.
fcdtbe =fattetb^ happeneth.
1. 34. eive ar</ia«n/= burning water, brandy.
1. 37. mitte ^s/e=wiih the best.
1. 39. kescbte is evidently an error for j^es/=casteth.
1. 43. /ie-/Sea//Se= overturned, worthless. A.S. tealttan^ to tilt, shake, be in
jeopardy.
P. 123, 1. 45. tbrinne=tber-inne, therein.
U. 52, 53. For [where]-¥nth to wash is nothing
That man cometh to so easily.
1. 6f. Without diminution and (or ?) increase.
1. 66. more (and in 1. 78) = mo3e= may.
P. 124, 1. 78. iif=ge/= gzvt,
1. 81. i'leave = A.S. ge-ledf, permission, leave.
1. 82. At/elle = tbat/elle = thzt fell, sinned.
1. 83. Olepi = onlepi = once.
1. 89. TTje ned=tbe nede = (\x behoveth) thee of necessity.
1.92. love = alve = beUfe = side, place.
1. 98. 3e = he. i&w = is.
P. 126, 1. 100. That christeneth one (child) twice.
1. 103. For-bedetb =for-budetb =J6r'bidetb, conceals.
1. 108. scbeaiuitb quike = zpp€ZTS a\iye.
1.112. weyetb = depsiit. O.E. weyen, to go astray; A.S. wagan, to
deceive, elude, weyetb may be an error for weyvetb, waiveth.
1 . 1 1 4 . /o/ =/et = vet = vat, vessel .
t^«/e/ib = contriveth, makes shift with.
P. 126, 1. 140. i'gistned=T€ctiyed or entertained as guests. O.E. gest,i
stranger, guest; Goth, gasts^ a stranger ; Welsh gtvest, lodging, entertain-
ment; Fr. giste, lodging. See gesting, lodging* 1. 71, p. 129.
XIII.
Cursor MundL
P, 128, 1. 18. s^«r« = star. This is a Northern form of the word, cor-
responding to the SoutVveitv"Etv^v^ sterre\ O.^.sejama; Goth, stairno, star;
Du. sterren, to twmk\e; O.^.stimaA^ ^wxsx.
NOTES. 423
1. 22. first uneuib^i (for z long) period uncouth, unknown, first =:A.S.
/yrst, space of time, period ; O.E. /rest, Jurst^ delay.
1. 25. Among squilk= A manges quilJty amongst which (whom).
1.34. Z)«ss*/w= secretly, closely. A. S. rf^/^*/, darkness; dygel-lic, secret,
close.
1. 44. kyd, pret. of kytbe, to shew. A.S. c0an, to make known.
P. 129, 1. 51. /ortb^t=for-tuit=he(oTe (see I. 127, p. 131). Cp. O.E.
in-wit, within ; ut-wit, without, &c.
1. 53. scrips = wallets, scrips. Fris. skrap, a pocket; O.N. sitreppa; Fr.
escbarpe, a wallet, scrip.
1. 60. trutbes tru = true thoughts.
1. 63. leme ■= light. A. S. ledma, ray of light, flame; letman, to shine, ^-/Mm.
1. 66. can unkytb = did hide, disappear (see 1. 44).
1. 67. sant drigbtin = \io\y lord.
1. 68. wi^erwin = zxi enemy, opponent. Mz/Jwr = wi))- = against, in witb-
stand; win = A.S. ivin, war; winnan, to contend, struggle.
1. 69. )>o/^tttf>er= though whether, nevertheless. A. S. |)fai-i&tt/<c'S«re, yet,
moreover, nevertheless.
1. 72. sp/rrf= enquired. O.E. spere, Sc. speer, to ask. A.S. spirian, to
inquire ; also to track.
P. 130, 1. 87. ])atyul o stt/*=that (man) full of treachery.
1. 107. ]>at sal be yare = that shall be quickly (done).
1. no. 6o» = 6ow« = bound, ready (to start), from buinn, pp. of Icel. vb.
bua, to prepare, set out ; whence bounds in the expression • the ship is bound
for New York' (see 1. 3il, p. 133).
P. 131, 11. 131, 132. An ointment (balm) of wonderful bitterness
That (a) dead man's body is anointed with.
smerl = A.S. smirels, ointment ; from smirv, fat. Eng. smear.
1. 133. For roting=foT (preventing) decay.
1. 136. At ans = at anes, at once.
1. I4I. cowrat = entertainment. The same root is contained in Fr. conroyer,
to curry, dress leather ; Fr. ar-rayer, to array.
digbt = set in order, prepare.
1. 150. The fourth a child, much greater than they.
P. 132, 1. 168. i&ej>m^ = scorn. O.N. bd^ung, contempt, scorn.
I. 174. ^/i& = country. A.S. cy1S, a region.
1. 180. That many innocent (one's) should suffer for it.
1. 181. 50^" = fault, guilt; saccles, innocent, guiltless. A.S. sacan, to con-
tend ; sacu, strife, crime.
1. 182. ta wrake — toke vengeance.
I. 183. am sliJt = any such, dik = sunlk = silk, such ; whence (by dropping /)
Sc. sic, such.
P. 133, 1. 186. for-fam, pp. of for/are, to perish, destroy.
II. 203, 204. There was a great distress of weeping Of those children that
were slain. The phrase * sweem of mornynge,' tristicia, occurs in the Promp.
Parv. y warn = whining, mourning.
sume (cp. stvem in 1. 55, p. 3) = trouble, grief.
1. 208. gest=gessed, guessed, thought, decided. Du. gbissen, to reckon,
estimate. It may be an error for gert, caused.
1. 211. busk and ga = get ready and go. ^s^ = Icel. bua, to prepare ; at
buast {^at buasc), contracted from at bua sig, s\gn\^ts * \.o \i«w^ wv€^ %\k^C
424 NOTES.
1. 216. twWriw = wilderness ; probably A.S, wlld-de6ren, pertaining towfld
beasts.
P. 134, 1.229. rot^=cave, den. Holland translates in seeretis recesahui
by * in secret coves or nooks.* Lat. cavus, hollow ; Portuguese «w«, hole,
pit.
1. 337. ^/o^/rf= terrified. Prov. Eng. ^/op, gloppen, to stare, feel aston-
ished ; O/S.gldpa, to stare, gape.
1. 247. n«ybr->/ = nevertheless.
1. 251. 6rtrn-«/c = child-sorrow, sorrow that a mother feels for her child.
site — O.'ii. s&t, sorrow, sin. See site, to sorrow, 1. 798, p. 136.
P. 135, 1. 259. dtite perhaps signifies * to obey.* The Cambridge MS. reads
routes to advance, march on.
1. 282. beft= bete = hezt,
P. 136, 1.287. \>at wil resun = th3it reason demands, i.e. that is reason-
able.
1. 3S9. a fvei=z little (?) but it might signify * in the way.*
1. 395. Mary, I am surprised at you I
1. 319. fra mi forward = from (at) my command.
P. 137, 1. 320. orcberd:= orchard— ort'}erd. A.S. tuyrt-geard, from wyrt
= herb, and geard =y2iTd, enclosure.
I. 322. 0/ a prise = of one value.
1. 329. s/ranrf= stream. This is not an uncommon meaning of the word in
O. E. writers.
P. 138, 1. 373. o J)a/r Jmaing — of their knowing, i.e. of their acquaintances.
I. 375. siquar = si\>e'quar— time-ware, time, period.
1.378. maumet =ido[. The O.Fr. mabommet, an idol, mahumerie,
idolatry, shew the word is borrowed from the name of Mahomet. Cp. O.E.
maunutry, idolatry ; mawTnent, an idol. It is often confounded with mam-
met, a doll, puppet.
P. 139, 1.400. bar in bir arme. The Cambridge MS. reads hare in
barme ( = bosom, breast).
II. 407, 408. What he does (to) our gods, or may cause to be done, he
may do to us if we work (act) not more wisely. It may mean * what do
our gods or may do here that we act the better (for it).
1. 408. v/rick should be wark; and wark in 1. 409 should be wrick =:wrehe,
vengeance ; as the Cambridge copy reads wrecbe.
1. 415. drund=were drowned. The metre requires drunkened (see 1. 274,
p. '54)-
1. 417. or-7«ar = otherwhere, anywhere.
P. 140, 1. 423. Z?a^ = hatchet. Fr. bacber^ to hack; bacbette, a small axe.
1. 427. yflt/«-M'arrf= gate-keeper. Cp. dore-ward, hot-ward, door-keeper,
boat-keeper, &c.
1. 436. our bather slog[t']b = the steps of us both, bather, gen. pi. of bathe,
both ; Cp. altber, of all. slogth = trace, footprints ; whence Eng. slot, sleuth,
sleuth-hound. O.N. slod, a path, track, way ; Prov. Eng. cart-slood, cart-rut.
1. 438. gren. The Cambridge MS. reads sene,
1. 445. falau = dry, faded ; O. E.fallewe, pale. A. S./ealwe, pale, yellowish or
reddish. Ger. falb, pale, faded. Chaucer uses the phrase bis bewefalewe —
his pale hue.
P. 141, 1. 480. s«ms="Dwv.som, ^%.
J. 483 . tight = dighty decided, de\«m\u^d. Ttv^ ^^.t£5atv\^<L'^SS»,'wa.4& di\t.
NOTES. 4ii5
P. 142, 1.486. Mik€lik^mekelik=meek\y.
1. 497. utenemes = utemest, most remote, outmost. A.S. ut-etna^ outer-
most.
1. 503. fel =fele = many.
1.509. scba = scbaw = g;royt, wood. O.N. skogr^ Dan. skov, a wood;
O.N. skuggi, O. Du. scbawe, Sc. scug, shade, shelter.
F. 143, 1.525. sue])el 6am/=swaddling-band. A.S. swe^el. Du swadel,
a swathing band.
1. 526. suelland = squelland = squezling^ crying.
1. 528. be = egb€—ye=eye,
F. 144, 1.554. /am = loam. AS. lam; Dw, leem, clay, earth; probably
connected with lime (O.N. //m, glue) and s-lime,
1. 555. pepins= pippins, pips, seeds. Dan. />r^/'«, to shoot, spring forth,
peep,
!• 559- and pine. The Cambridge MS. reads and palme pine, and in I.506
it reads palme for ^*ntf.
I. 561. The Cambridge MS. reads pe/adir hi cidre sbal ]>ou take, i. e. by
(or in) the cedar thou shalt understand (God) the Father.
1. 568. Gain gifes. The Cambridge MS. reads gode ^iftis,
F. 145, 1. 600. wande, like the O.E. lerd, signifies a branch, stem.
1. 604. Holmes (so in MS.) = branches. Eng. balm, batdm, stalk of corn.
The Cambridge MS. reads bolynes, and if this be a correct reading, balmes
should be printed balines ^holiness. The Cambridge MS., in the Midland
dialect, however, is not to be always trusted as a true version of the older
Northumbrian copy.
1. 611. in a« = in one (place). Chaucer employs the phrase *ever in oon*
= ever in one state.
1. 61 3. Without increase or diminution.
XIV.
Sunday Sermons in Ferse.
1^.14^6,1. I $. mersuine = meer-&wine = seZ'hog, porpoise, dolphin. A.S.
mere-swln. In France the porpesse (hog-fish) is known by the name of
marsouin. O.N. marsvin, sea-swine or sea-hog.
qualle = vrhzle. The qu represents bw in the A.S. btval, a whale, as in
walrus.
F. 147, 1. 28. ^ay = frighten. The printed copy incorrectly reads slay,
Harl. MS. 4196 has the reading here given ; see 1. 28 1, p. 1 76, where the word
occurs again.
I. ^6. queh = quihe = living.
1. 39. at a scbifl (like O.E. at a hrayd) = m a turn, in a twinkling, in a
moment
F. 148, 1. 69. bird = it behoved. A.S. h^rian, to become, behove.
plibtful - pligbtfuly dangerous, plibt is connected with pledge. A.S. plibt —
(l) a pledge, wager; (2) obligation, danger.
1. 76. Igain-sawe - ogain-sawe = contradiction, denial.
L 83. enfonner- the Infirmarius of the Abbey.
F. 149, 1. 88. riuelic, from ritie, Eng. rife^ frequently. Dw. riif, ca^^.cs^s^^
O.N. r^^, liberal; ri/kaf to increase.
4^6 NOTES.
1. 89. Supply and after Faitbe.
lufreden = good-will, love. The suffix -redtn = 'red as in kin-d-red, &c.
1. 90. Fel auntour = fe\\ adventure, it happened by chance.
1. 95. telid = shtwtd, told.
1, 96. /iil bard= very afflicted. Cp. the phrase * to go bard with one.'
1. 118. War scbo ne bafd ben = war-ne scbo bafd ben — unless she had been
(at hand to help me), war-ne = if not, imless ; it is sometimes written warn =
Old Saxon ne wart, unless. Fris. wara, but. Some have explained war-ne by
were it not, but compare its use in the following passages : —
" For here has na man pajm swa Strang,
pat he ne has som tyme hope omang,
*******
Elles suld )>e hert, thurgh sorow and care,
Over-tjrte fayle, warn som hope ware ;
***•»**
And men says, * warn hope ware it suld brest.* "
Hampole's Prtcke ofConsc., 11. 7264-7266.
P. 150, 1. 140. ov«r/o/> = omission, from O.E. ouerlepe, to leap (skip) over,
omit.
1. 143. »i«/rf= accuse. A. S. m«/rf, evidence, proof ; mddian. D^n. melde,
to discover, betray.
T. 152, I. 201. se bare = sea-waves, bares in 1.304 = flows. '^^^ ^^
in a river = tidal toave.
1. 214. And (the) harm (scathe) that the less (poor men) suffer on account
of the more (greater).
P. 163, 1. 222. wandretb=^^tT\\. O.N. vandrcedi, danger, difficulty.
1. 249. m/« = refuse; perhaps from A.S. nytan, not to know.
P. 164, 1. 257. bisend =httckentd. A.S. bysen^ example, resemblance;
bysenian, to give an example. See 1. 259, where biseninges= tokens.
1. 277. wattri, an error for attri, poisonous.
P. 166, 1.287. cors««^= dealing (as a broker); from O.Fr. couracier, a
broker, dealer ; whence • horse-cowrs^.*
1. 318. will q/" wan = destitute of dwelling, homeless. O.E. wille, to go
astray ; wan = wane = dwelling.
1. 319. pok no sek = p6kc (bag) nor sack.
P. 160, 1.342. arsJt« = water-newts. Prov. Eng. ask, a lizard; A.S.
apexe, a lizard. Garnet says that ask is probably connected with Gaelic
easg, eel, the first element in a\>exe (Ger. eidecbse), a lizard, newt, signifying
prickly, sharp. See note on bedge-bog, urcbin, 1. 294, p. 91.
1. 345. rag^e = madness. Lat. rflt6/cs, rage, madness. Sicilian ra^^/a. Fr.
rage ; Portug. raivar, to rage, rave.
1. 348. in a ras = in a great hurry. ras = A.S. ras. O.E. res. O.N. rds,
race, rush, force ; rase or race = tidz\ currents, as the Race of Aldemey.
P. 167, 1. 358. Nor give thou of thyself any account, t. e. take no tfiought
of thyself.
1. 364. selli rarfflfe = dreadfully (wonderfully) afraid. selli = A.S. sellic,
wonderful ; sellice, wonderfully ; from seld, seldom, rarely. Cp. O.E. selcoutb,
seldom known, wonderful.
1. 386. riped =se2iTched. O.E. ripe, to try, search; A.S. ripan, to cut;
whence reap^ ripy &c.
P. 158, 1. 393. /crtercd=etvs\vr«^^^. 0.^\. iertre,^ iKKva&.
NOTES. 427
/
XV.
Sermon on Mattbew xxiv, 43.
To this Sermon in Arundel MS. 57, there is the following marginal note : —
Vor to ssake av/ey beuinesse / and drede : and bys wende / into love of God.
For to shake away heavmess and dread, and turn it (her, i. e. dread) into the
love of God.
Note. — M, ie — t\ v = f ; z •= s.
P. 169, 1. I. \>eUycbe = \hxs. \>ellycbe = K.S. \>yllic, \>ylc Q>iJ, the ; lie, like),
the like, such. O.E. tbilke, tbulke, this.
1. 2. uorbysne = A.S. forebysetif example (see bysend, 1. 257, p. 154).
1. 5. dolue = should undermine, dig through, from delve (pret. dalf), to dig.
\>olye =io suffer, endure; A.S. \>6lian.
I. 6. wyl o/skele^sihe will of reason.
1. 7. 6«/'mm^« = bestirrings, emotions.
U. 8-10. Such a household shaU be too (much) slack (slothful) and wilful,
unless the same father's stiffness (strength) restrain and order them (aright).
• 1. 13. inwyt=inneT wit, inner sense, conscience.
P. 100, 11. 1-3. For which treasure, that this same house be not broken
through, chiefly he watcheth.
I. 4. J?a3itfs = nevertheless.
1. 5. kacbereles = CAtchpoUst servants. The O.E. cacbe, catch, signifies to
drive away.
1.6. on/osA' =un-lusty, careless, idle, literally unwilling; from A.S. lust,
lysty pleasure, desire.
1. 9. uorlete = A.S. for-latan, to forgo, relinquish.
tuylny== A.S. wilnian, to desire; wiln, a wish.
1. 10. bessette= to be-shut, to shut out.
1. 11-13. Next that, he setteth strength ; that strength should withdraw the
fiends whom sleight (prudence) commands (sends to say) to be cast out, that
is, foul lusts should be withdrawn (abstained from) and reproved.
1. 21. ysoie=ysagen = sttn.
I. 22. beilicbe clom = z profound silence. Chaucer uses clom as an inter-
jection = hush I It is evidently connected with Prov. Eng. clam, clem, to
pinch, starve. A.S. clam, bond ; Du. ^/^mm^n, to pinch, compress.
II. 24, 25. icb do you to wytene = I assure you, literally I do (cause) you to
wit (know), wytene is the gerundial infinitive (see to comene, come, 1. 27).
1. 27. a6y/«a3/=abideth not, delayeth not.
1. 32. cbaynen aw^e = chains on fire, fiery chains.
1. 34. andbise brenge)> = ^nd (they) bringeth them, bise, (ace.) them.
P. 101, 1. 6. comste = comestu — comest thou.
1. 7. yze^e >e = sawest thou ; \>e = thou thyself.
1. 9. Vol of brene on'\>olyinde = Ml of intolerable burning (see \>olye, I. 5,
p. 159).
1. 12. wantrokiynge = default, want, wan-^un, as in wan-bope, despair,
here used intensitively; -trokiynge, want; A.S. trucan, to fail, abate; whence
truchle.
4a8 NOTES.
1. 17. 6ttoJ)« = 5o)»«= both (are).
1. 27. y-byre]> = byere\> = heaiT,
yue\> youre —yeue^p ycare = give ear, listen.
P. 102, 1. I. bauberJt. O.Fr. bauherc ; O.H.Ger. bals-bere; A.S. heals-
beorgt coat of male, bahergeon (bealsy neck ; beorgan, to cover).
1. 10. bit l>ing\> \>et, &c. = it seems that, &c.
\.\iybe cos = perchance.
1. 19. longe godes drede = on account of the fear of God. longe = ilmg-
along of. A.S. gelang, owing to; gelingarit to happen. Chaucer uses '/twj
on,' on account of. Shakespeare has • long ofy Cymbelinc, v. 5.
I. 26. sseci«/fri? = shower, mirror; i&edey sbade^ diadow. The phrase ac
be, &c. = but by (as in) a glass darkly.
1. 27. onspekynde = un-sptsikingf ineffable.
on-todelinde = un-io-deal-ing, indivisible.
1. 30. y-)>orsse = tbrasbedf struck (dazzled, blinded). A.S. \>erscan (pret
]>arscy pp. ge\forscen), to tbresb, beat.
1. 3.:^. bal/= sidt, part.
P. 103, 1. I. ssepi>es ={ofrms. A.S. sceppan, to form, shape.
1. 5. zodes may be for zones = o£ the Son, or for godes = of God.
1. 9. an'be}ed=an'biglhed—ex2.\ted. The an- is the same prefix as in on-
banged.
1. 16. 6/^ = endures. The context seems to require bleue=^bleuen=bi-
leuen, to endure, continue, last.
1.17. beryinges = pT3iise$, honours. O.E. bery, AS. bSrian, to praise,
honour (see 1. 23, p. 164).
1.24. alle preste = 2ill the proudest, highest; preste=pretteste=pTO}idesX.
A.S. pryt, prut, pride.
P. 104. 1. 6. buyter qualifies clo\)inge in 1. 7.
1. 7. neisbede = tenderness, delicateness. A.S. bnasc, tender, soft, nesb, nasty
( = O.E. nasky).
1. 16. lbesi= blest = ]isientih.
Hyt lyhe);> \>et ]>ott zoys/ = What thou sayest pleaseth (us).
1. 19. niennesse == comm\m\oxiy fellowship. A.S. ge-mdne, communion;
ge-mdnnes, fellowship. The ge { = Lat. con) = Gothic ga, an older form of
which is seen in Ger. gan-z, all.
1. 26. be lyue = Ye lyue (?) = the life.
P. 105, 1. 3. onzy^mrfe = un-see-ing, invisible.
1. II. gessynge=^les$ynge = d\m\n\i^iovi, gessynge, if correct, would signify
deeming, thought.
11' 30, 31. and oJ>r« = et cetera.
XVI.
The Pricke of Conscience,
P. 108, 1. 15. .4/s-///e = as-soon, immediately, tite, soon, is connected with
tide, time.
1. 2 7. forme-fader = first father, forefather, forme = A. S. frumf first ; frym,
original. It is of course connected with ^rm^r.
P. 169, 1. 47. sembland, somOamt^ \<\V^'ea s€m6Za«/= appearance.
pure =pouer = pooi.
NOTES. 429
1. 56. fon^few (see 11. 158, 159). The n represents e in \.S,feavhe, few.
P. 170, 1. 96. by sW/e=with reason, rightly.
1. 105. Angers — XxoMHeSy grievances. Lat. angered to strain; angora
anguish, vexation.
^«/s = evils, diseases, ills,
appayre = impair. Fr. />/re', Lat. pejor^ worse.
P. 171, 1. III. (y«^s= loses. O.N. tyna^ to lose; A.S. teOn^ loss.
1. 114. 7fl««ys= jaundice. Yt. jaunisse; (lom jaune, yellow.
P. 172, 1. 150. held = eld =SLge.
1. 165. flfysy = dizzy. A.S. djs-ig, foolish, erring. O.E. dizze^ to stun.
1. 167. rownc/^s = wrinkles. Sc. runhle, a wrinkle. Gti. runzeU Sw. rynka^
A.S. wrinclian^ to wrinkle. The root rinc or rt/«<:= crooked, bent, appears
in ring. O.N. bringr^ a circle; Dan. krinkel, crooked; Eng. crinkle, crumple
(Sc. crunJele), crimpy crank, shrink (A.S. scrincan, Sw. skymkd).
1. 168. His mynde es short = Yi\s memory is short.
1. 169. i&a«rf=a«fl?= breath. O.N. awrfw:, breath.
P. 173, 1. 174. 7^r-wor/-&^s = come to nothing. A.S. for-weor^an, to
become nothing, be undone, perish.
1. 175. OTOtt/les = falls off, moults. Du. muiten, to moult.
1. 178. s/ai/crs = slobbers, drivels. O.N. slafra, to lick; slefa, slaver,
drivel ; whence slow-worm (Norse sleva).
1. 182. soi/Ci&« = suspects. O. Fr. soucher, to suspect, be suspicious.
1. 184. £>arrfi&a/flra»{f= hard-holding, i.e. close-fisted, stingy.
1. 187. latsom: not late-some, hut tolatsom = losiiti, irksomt. A.S. wlatian,
wlatian, to loathe, irk.
slaw = A.S, slaw, slow, idle, lazy. Du. slee, blunt; O.N. sliofr, Dan. slov,
blunt, dull ; whence sloth, sleeueless (as in sleeveless errand, late), which last
should be written sleeve ; sloe (so called because of its rough flavour).
1. 191. /a*«s = blames. O.E. lac, fiiult, defect, lack; Du. lack, want; Sw.
lak, vice, fault.
P. 174, 1. 205. cover agayn = agqyn cover = recover.
P. 176, 1. 242. «'oro«'= to strangle. Sc. worry, to strangle, choke ; Ger.
w'drgen. Eng. worry. Dogs that worry sheep seize them by the throat.
1. 243. rogg. Sc. rug, to tear in pieces. Norse rugga, to shake, rock ;
whence rug, rugged,
P. 170, 1. 290. lates obout-ga = causes to revolve.
P. 177, 1. 312. a = ane = one. Cp. to = ta = tan&, the one (1. 69, p. ill).
P. 178, 1. 337. domland=d2iTk, cloudy, is formed from a verb domle or
dromle, to be disturbed, with which we may compare Prov. E. droumy, dirty ;
drumly, muddy ; drumble, to be disturbed, confused (Shaks. " Look how you
drumble.**) Sc. drum, dull.
1. 353. or-litel=ouer little = very little.
L 354. bigg seems here to mean * well furnished.* A.S. byggan, to build,
inhabit. O. Sw. bygga, to prepare, build. In the North of England bug, or
hig, signifies swollen, elated, as if connected with bulge. Dan. bugne, to bend,
bulge.
1. 363. Now eese us a tbyng = 'Now to us a thing is pleasant.
P. 179,1. 370. dede s/owr«= death-struggle, the agony of death. O.N.
stura, sorrow, disturbance. Du. stuer, fierce. O. Sc. stour, battle, conflict,
Sc. stottme, stem,
P. ISO, I 402. dede ^a;i(/«: death's hand.
430 NOTES.
1.427. titte = tug, pull. O.E. tytte, to pull suddenly. A.S. tibtan, to
draw, tighten.
P. 181, 1. 429. ilka synogbe and litb — eich. sinew and joint. A.S. litb,
Ger. g-liedy a limb, joint. Norse lide, to bend the limbs ; whence litby, lithe,
(pliable), lithesome, lissome (active, pliant).
1. 451. raumpe = TSLmp, stamp with the feet. Ital. rampare, to ramp,
clamber ; whence romp, rampage, &c.
skoul = scovfX. Dan. shdey to cast down the eyes. Prov. Eng. skeUy.
Dan. shele.
stare = 0.^. star, sight, look; stara, to gaze, stare.
1. 452. blere = to put out the tongue, to make grimaces, wry mouths. It
is probably connected with Du. hlaeren, to roar, blare.
P. 182, 1. 479. Jild =^ defied ;Jiland, defiling (1. 495, p. 183). A.S.^lan,
Du. vuylen, to make foul or filthy ; whence O.E.JUe, a vile wretch.
P. 183, 1. 497. s/o/«rerf= bespattered. Prov. Ger. scblott, mud; scbluten,
to dabble in the wet and dirt. Prov. Eng. slotcb, z sloven ; dutch, mud.
With these words are connected slut, Dan. slatte ; Ger. scblottern, to dangle,
wabble.
XVII. '
Political Songs.
P. 185, 1. ig. frith and fen = forest and marsh. Gsid. frith, a heath, deer-
park, forest. Prov. Eng. frith, unused pasture land, brushwood.
P. 186, 1. 64. laykes lett= spoilt their sport. layke= A.S. lac, sport, lark.
P. 187, 1. 83. hoved= remzincd. Prov. Eng. hove = to float on the water,
remain in a place ; whence hov-er. Welsh hofian, to fluctuate, suspend, hang
over.
1. 93. wane = quantity. Some etymologists connected it with won or wan
the preterite of O.E. ivynne, to win, but others make it equivalent to A.S.
hiuon, quid, paullulum; comparing it with Lat. quid, quanti, quot, &c.
P. 189, 1. T41. japes = hosists. Fr.japper, to yelp, jape is a softened form
of the root gab ; O.E. gabbe, to lie, deceive.
P. 190, 1. 16^). ascry = Syf. anskri, outcry, alarm.
1. 180. frek = ho\d, daring. A.S. free, bold, daring; whence freca, a bold
one. 0,E.fre}<e, a man, knight.
1. 183. Then availed him no glee.
P. 191, 1. ig'j.feld. Mr. Wright alters this to ferd, frightened, but
/c/t/= hidden. Prov. Eng. feel, to hide.
1. 206. na^ers = kind of kettle-drums.
1. 208. alblast= O.E. arblast, a cross-bow. Lat. arcubalista.
P. 193, 1. 270. pencelle =^ pennon, banner. Fr. pencel. LzUpenna.
1. 272. graythest gate = the most direct (nearest) way.
P. 194, 1. 282. dubbed, from O.E. dub, to arrange, prepare, decorate. O.Fr.
addouber, to dress, arm at all points ; Fr. douber, to rig or trim a ship.
1. 294. 0'ferrum = zTzr. Cp. whil-om, O.E. quil-um or um-quile, awhile,
formerly. The -urn is the A.S. ymbe, about. Cp. O.E. umgang, circuit;
uni'Set (1. 324). TiencVv c^o\ft% um-strofe€ = circumference, from Fuller.
J. 303. f»« = egben=eye%.
P.* 196 , 1 . 3 30. cant ^ cni^Xy . O .^x . colni ,'^\w ."^x . ctmU ^m'».V'«s«.^T;ix<e?H^ .
NOTES. 431
XVIII.
The Foiage and Travaile of Sir John Maunde^ville,
P. 198, I. 23. cbeventeyn = ch\thzm. Fr. cbef, from Lat. caputs the head.
P. 204, 1. 8. ai/aferf= descended. Fr. d valj downwards ; d mont et d valy
towards the hill and towards the vale, upwards and downwards. * To vail
his flag' = * To lower his flag.' * vailed lids,' Hamlet.
XIX.
AUiterati've Poems, The Deluge,
P. 207, 1. I. tty3^3 = men. A.S. wig-a, a warrior; from ttngf war.
1. 2. /aw/ = fault. Yi.faute; Sp./alta, defect, offence, failing; from Lat.
fallere.
1. 6. /or-^ar/= lost. It literally signifies for-did, ruined; from O.E. gar,
ger, to do, cause, make (see 1. 396, p. 158).
1. 7. «^g>'n^ = instigation. O.N, egg, an edge; eggia, to sharpen, instigate.
1.9. rf^yenc^ = prohibition. O.E. defend; Fr. defendre, prohibit, forbid;
whence fend, fender, fence.
1. 10. /ay«tf= penalty. Yi. peine, hat. poena.
perdy = apertly = oipevly, plainly.
1. 12. drepei= destroys. A.S. drepan, to strike, hew, wound.
I. 15. /or-)>ras/= overwhekned; from threste, tbruste. A.S. ]>r<Bsticn, to
rack, twist, torture.
P. 208, 1. 16. mow^tf = displeasure. Fr. mal, ill, gr^, will, pleasure.
1. 21. sty test may be written for s/){/«s/= sturdiest, boldest; or for stytbest,
strongest, most stubborn. A.S. sty^, firm.
1. 25. ^ay« = suitable, good. Sc. gane, to suflSce, be fit. O.N. gegn,
conveniwit.
I. 26. 6o«te= without. Cp. O.E. binne, within; buve, above.
1. 29. loke to kynde = Vi€€p to nature, 1. e. observe the laws of nature.
I. 37. onfoUten wise=ahcT the manner of men.
I. 44. in monger = among. Cp. O.E. in-middes, amidst.
1. 48. /or/qyn«rf= gone astray, departed; from Fr. loin, far, which we
have in pur4oin, O.Fr. purloigner.
P. 209, 1. 50. werp = to throw out, to utter, speak.
1. 54. bume = main. A.S. beom, warrior, chief.
1. 63. in-nogbe knawen = enough (well)-known.
1. 67. «tt7= anger; nwyed, grieved (1. 72). Ital. annoiare; Fr. ennuyer,
to vex, annoy, grieve.
1. 72. ^orff= sin, but literally vileness, filthiness. A.S. g6r, dirt, mud. Cp.
Eng. gorbelly, gorcrow,
gletU = wickedness, but literally filth, dirt. Ptov. Yxs.%, ^lut, ^\. %Veu%N
slime. O.Kg'la/a, wet.
434 NO TE Sf.
North Prov. Eng. skimet to look aside. O.N. skima, to glance around;
skima, a glimpse; A.S. sciman, to glitter; Eng. shimmer .
I. 357. Iumpred=jumpre= trouble. Cp. O.E. jumbre, jumpre^ to shake
together, agitate. •
*^ 1. 264. /o/ite = person, here refers to God. It literally signifies an am-
bassador. O.N. t&Hr^ an interpreter; ttdha, to interpret.
1. 265. glam - word. Sw. glamma^ to chatter, talk ; glam, talk. Cp.
O. N. glam, clash, clangour ; Sc. glamer, noise.
1. 270. >rMWa«dIff= urging onwards. O.E. \froble, to press on.
P. 210, 1. 293. rengne^ie=:rengnei = co\iTses, A.S. bring, a ring, circuit.
1. 295. Then was a design manifested when escaped all the wild (animals).
skylly = skylle = Ttsison, design, skill, skyualde seems to be another form of
^hifte, ordained; A.S. scyftan, to order, appoint.
1. 301. ^ors/tfj = places overgrown wiUi furze, or gorse. Welsh gores,
gorestf waste, open. Prov. Eng. gorsty, overgrown with furze.
Destruction of Sodom,
P. 217, 1. 315. flytande- chiding, roaring. A.S.Jlitan, to scold, quarrel.
1. 318. ridlande = pouTing. O.N. reda, to tremble, shake. Du. riideren,
to shiver. Ger. riitteln, to shake, sift, riddle.
1. 334. Rydelles-redeles-'^iXYiOMl advice, uncertain what to do.
1. 336. ^omerly = A. S. geomorlic, doleful, sorrowful ; geomor, sad, grim ;
from geomrian, to grieve, groan.
5arm = Welsh garm, shout, outcry, garmio, to set up a cry.
1. 338. ro]>un of a reebe - a cloud of smoke ; recbe, reke, vapour, smoke,
reek (A.S. rSe, smoke), reeking.
1. 339. vsc//f3 = ashes. A.S. ysela, ysla, spark, hot ashes.
P. 218, 1. 340. ^0/= boiling fat. O.N. ^0/, grease swimming on the
surface of broth. Low Ger. Jflot, cream. The same root is contained in
feet, flood, &c.
1. 341. 6e/= kindled; from O.E. bete, to make up the fire.
1. 346. blubrande =huhhlmg, boiling up. Cp. Prov. Eng. blob, blab, a
bubble, drop ; blubber, to bubble, foam. Chaucer uses blubber in the sense
of bubble.
1.358. scbalke =mzn. A.S. sceale, a servant, soldier, man; marsbal
(Mid. Lat. marescalcus), is from the O.H.Ger. mdbre (Eng. mare), horse, and
scbalk, a servant. Cp. Fr. marecbal, a blacksmith; seneschal (Mid. Lat
siniscalcus, famulorum senior, the steward) is from Goth, sineigs, old (superl.
sinista), and skalks, a servant.
!• 353. coste^ of kynde^the properties of nature, natural properties (see
1. 9. P- 19>-
1. 359. bro)pley= filthy, nasty, vile ; from O.E. brathe, brotbe, fierce, rough,
bad, abominable. O.N. bradi, anger.
1. 367. The bituminous (sticky) asphalt that spice-mongers sellen.
1. 370. /er«« = lake, tarn. O.N. tjom.
NOTSsr. 433
1. 141. w^ger^ more wildly, more fiercely.
1. 145. 6r«»»/«s/= highest, steepest. O.E. brent, high, steep, is connected
with Dan. bryn, edge, eminence ; Welsh bryn, a hill.
1. 146. A is an error for and,
i&tf/«r/y (= quickly, hastily) is connected with A.S. bdte, hate ; bdtel, fierce;
beitan, to pursue, drive. Cp. N. Prov. Eng. better, eager, earnest.
1. T46. [i&]a/tfrf= rushed. Fr. baler, to bale, baul, tow. Ger. bolen, to
fetch, drag.
1. 148. ray^ami(?=: rushing, from O.E. rayke, N. Prov. Eng. rake, O.N. reka,
to go.
P. 212, 11. 149, 150. Ere each valley was brim-full to the edges (tops) of
the hills. And every vaUey as deep that overflowed at the brinks.
brurd~/ul = (all to the brim. A.S. brerd, breord, margin, rim, bank;
brord, point, blade or spire of grass.
1. 154. Some swam thereon that believed (trowed) themselves safe.
1. 156. rurd=cry, A.S. reord, speech, language.
1. 157. byie =high grounds, heights.
1. 158. by^ed—]i2istencd, hied. A.S. bigan, to hasten; bige, diligent.
Du. biigben, Dan. bige, to pant.
1. 160. Re-couerer of )>e creator may signify * recovery (safety) of the
Creator,' or * Saviour of the creature.*
L 161. mase=inese—ine\>e, moderation, pity, compassion.
1. 167. Friend looks to friend and his leave takes.
lu/=le/= dezT, beloved (one).
1. 172. burkled^ rested, settled. Prov. Eng. burkle, to squat; burcb, to
cuddle. Eng. ruck; Low Du.burken, to squat down.
1.173. mourkne= to rot. O.N. morkinn, rotten; morkna, to rot.
O.E. morkin, a wild beast found dead, carrion.
F. 213, 1. 183. myke= Du. mik, the crutches of a boat, which sustain the
main boom or the mast and sail when they are lowered for the convenience
of rowing.
1.185. Hurrok =ozT, Dan. rykke, to draw. Prov. Eng. orruck-boles,
oar-drawing holes. Eng. rullocks.
1. 187. flyt= motion, is connected with Eng. Jlit, flitter, flutter.
1. 190. Ny/= ne + if- if not.
/um^»i= befallen. A.S. limpan (pret. lomp), to happen, concern.
1. 191. a lei dati= a true date (period) ; lei = leal, loyal.
1. 199. ro3/y = roughly. It seems to be an error, however, for retvly, sad,
sorrowfrd.
1. 200. ioyst= rejoiced, happy, jojrful.
1. 204. /a5»«^= became less; from O.E. lasse, less.
1. 305. stangei = pools, wells. Lat. stagnum, a standing water. O.Fr.
estang, a pond.
1. ao6. Bid leave off the rain, it abated at once.
1. 212. rflss£= eminence, is still used in the North of England for a
mound, hill-top, and is an affix in local names. N. Prov. Eng. raise,
O.N. reysa.
P. 214, 1. 215, *yste = chest, ark.
1. 235. doune = dovne = dovene=z female dove (see 1. 247, p. 215). Cp.
vixen, a female fox; O.E. wolvene, a female wolf.
P. 216, 1. 249, siyrme} = looks about, seems Xo \)t ^^o'^^. Iqotn. ^^ "^^
i!(.24 NOTES'.
North Prov. Eng. skime, to look aside. O.N. skima, to glance around;
skimot a glimpse; A.S. sciman, to glitter: Eng. shimmer,
1. 357. Iumpred=jumpre= trouble. Cp. O.E. jumbre^ jumpre, to shake
together, agitate. '
*^ 1. 264. /o/ite = person, here refers to Grod. It literally signifies an am-
bassador. O.N. t&lir, an interpreter; tidlta^ to interpret.
1. 365. glam= word, Sw. glamma, to chatter, talk; glam, talk. Cp.
O. N. glam^ clash, clangour ; Sc. glamer, noise.
1. 270. >rM6/ami*= urging onwards. O.E. ]>rohlej to press on.
P. 210, 1. 293. rengne^ie = rengnei= courses. A.S, bring, a ring, circuit.
1. 295. Then was a design manifested when escaped all the wild (animals).
skylly = skylle = reason, design, skill, skyualde seems to be another form of
fki/te, ordained; A.S. scyftan, to order, appoint.
!• 301. ^ors/tfj = places overgrown with furze, or gorse, Welsh goresy
gorestf waste, open. Prov. Eng. gorsty, overgrown with furze.
Destruction of Sodom,
P. 217, 1. .^15. flytande= chiding, roaring. k.S.flitan, to scold, quarrel.
1. 318. nd/andl? = pouring. O.N. reda, to tremble, shake. Du. riideren,
to shiver. Ger. riitteln, to shake, sift, riddle.
1. 334. Rydelles = redeles= "without advice, uncertain what to do.
1. 336. ^omerly = A. S. geomorlicj doleful, sorrowful ; geomor, sad, grim ;
from geomrian, to grieve, groan.
larm = Welsh ganriy shout, outcry, garmio, to set up a cry.
!• 338. ro\>un of a recbe = a cloud of smoke ; recbet reke, vapour, smoke,
reek (A.S. rSc, smoke), reeking.
1. 339. vsc//e3 = ashes. A.S. ysela, ysla, spark, hot ashes.
P. 218, 1. 340. ^0/= boiling fat. O.N. ^0/, grease swimming on the
surface of broth. Low Ger. flot, cream. The same root is contained in
fleet, flood, &c.
1. 341. het- kindled; from O.E. bete, to make up the fire.
1. 346. 6/«6ra«diff= bubbling, boiling up. Cp. Prov. Eng. hloh, blab, a
bubble, drop ; blubber, to bubble, foam. Chaucer uses blubber in the sense
of bubble.
1.358. scbalke = man. A.S. sceale, a servant, soldier, man; marshal
(Mid. Lat. marescalcus), is from the O.H.Ger. mabre (Eng. mare), horse, and
scbalk, a servant. Cp. Fr. marechal, a blacksmith; seneschal (Mid. LaL
siniscalcus, famulorum senior, the steward) is from Goth, sineigs, old (superl.
sinista), and skalks, a servant.
!• 353* coste} of kynde^the properties of nature, natural properties (see
1. 9, p. 19).
1. 359. bro]>ley= filthy, nasty, vile ; from O.E. bratbe, brothe, fierce, rough,
bad, abominable. O.N. br<Bdi, anger.
1. 367. The bituminous (sticky) asphalt that spice-mongers sellen.
1. 370. terneMzlat, tarn. O.N. tjorn.
NOTES. 425
Sir Gafiuayne and the Green Knight,
P. 220, 1. 2. brittened= destroyed. A.S. hrytan, to break; bryttian, to
crumble ; brytta, a fragment ; brytlic, broken in pieces ; whence Eng. brittle,
1. 8. Fro = from the time that.
1. 9. bobhaunce = ^ndey boasting. Fr. bobance.
1. 19. skete^O.N. skj6tt, quickly.
P. 221, 1. 27. / atde scbawe=\ will endeavour to shew, attle (So. ettle),
to endeavour; N. Prov. Eng. ettle, attle; O.N. aetla^ to intend.
1. 29. outtrage awenture — an extraordinary adventure.
1. 43. kayre=: to go, literally to turn one's steps to a place. A.S. cdrran,
Ger. ^ei&re».
I. 49. OS /^«s/ i&^m }>03/=as seemed best to them.
P. 222, 1. 60. yep = quick. A.S. g(sp, crafty.
1. 6r. doutb = doutbe=ihe noble, doughty one (see 1. 365, p. 50).
1. 65. Christmas celebrated anew, proclaimed full often. Nqyte — O.'N.
neytOt to use, employ.
1. 66. bondeselle^ ^fts. It is still preserved in hansel , an earnest, some-
thing given or done to make good a contract. A.S. bond^ hand, and
sellan, to give, bestow.
P. 223, 1. 99. fulsun- k.S. fulestan, fylstan^ to aid, favour; fylst, help.
1. 104. stifle = to direct, rule, set in order. A.S. stibtan, to govern,
dispose; whence O.E. stickler, umpire; stickle for, to maintain one's right.
P. 224, L 129. /o/«= sound. Sw. late, cry, voice; l&t, sound; lata, to
sound.
1. 140. etayn — A,S. edten, a giant.
I. 142. in bis muckel = in his muchness or greatness of size.
P. 225, 1. 165. /or = tedious, difficult. O.N. tor (used as a prefix), diffi-
culty, trouble.
1. 173. ^itit«= rides. It is connected with^r^, a sudden movement,
jerk. A.S. /rician (whence the O.E.^rke), to dance.
P. 226, 1. 181. /a;e = hair. A.S. feax.
1. 188. cemfned= heat, knotted. O.E. cam, camous, crooked, curved.
Bret, kamm, crooked, Fr. cambrer, to bow, crook; whence cambering^
cambrel.
1. 194. \>warle knot= a garland. A.S. >w<s/, ribbon, garland.
P. 227, 1. 306. bolyn bobbe= a branch of holly.
1. a 1 6. paeons = gracious, pleasing, beautiful; graeons may signify
Grecian.
1. 222. dutbenowo]>e=he feared no harm; dut=dutte, doubted, feared.
1. 230. s/«»»i^(/= stood still. O.N. stemma, to stop, dam. Other forms
of the root are seen in stammer = A.S. stamer, stammering; O.N. stama,
to stammer; Sc. stammer, to stagger; O.E. stamber, to stumble.
P. 228, 1. 234, swogbe = {i) swooning, (2) dead, dee^.
Ff 2
43^ NOTES.
U. 244, 345. As all were fallen asleep, so ceased their words in hie
(suddenly).
P. 229, 1. 267. founded in fere = come in company.
1. 390. bur= blow. O.E. hire, violence, force, rush. Welsh bur, violence,
rage.
1. 294. Jlet= floor. A. S.J^tt, a room, palace.
1. 395. di^t me <fom= give me permission.
1. 296. barlay — by our lady.
P. 280, 1. 304. runiseb4y= fiercely. O.E. runiscb, strange, uncouth, fierce;
A.S. run, mystery (see 1. 457, p. 235).
I. 305. bresed 6ro3e3 = bristly (^shaggy) brows.
1. 310. rows = ros = renown, praise. Sc. ruse, Dan. rose, to praise.
!• 312' gryndel-lay k = yalom, boldness, literally fierceness, anger; from
O.E. grryndel, angry, Norse grina, to wry the mouth, grin; grinale, sour-
looking. 4ayk is the Norse form corresponding to the A.S. -lac, in know-
ledge, wedlock.
P. 231, 1. 327. bay\>en \>y bone= grant thy request.
P. 238, 1. 413. bot slokes= but stay, stop talking ; sloke =Eng. dake.
1. 418. lut=lout— inclination, stooping (see 1. 30, p. 3).
P. 284, 1. 420. no/«= tool, weapon (see 1. 51, p. 3i).
I. 424. sebyndered- shivered, splintered. Prov. Eng. sbinder^ to shiver to
pieces. Our word shin, seems originally to have signified a splinter. Cp.
shin-bone. Ger. scbien bein ; from scbiene, a splint.
II. 438, 439, >a3 hedlei nowe in s/(P<^= though headless now on steed,
or though headless he were on steed.
1. 440. bluk=: bulk. O.E. bouk, body; bluk may be an enor for bluni-
blonk, horse.
1. 443. By the time his reasons (conduct) were explained.
P. 235, 1. 459. fole boues= the hoofs of the foal, his horse's hoofs.
XXL
The Romance of William and the Wertivolf,
P. 237, 1. 4. ken=kun = kin = co'ws, kine.
1. 9. bayte on = to set on (as in bait a bull). Icel. beita, to bait, hunt with
hawk or dog. O. Fr. abetter, to incite, animate, abet.
1. 12. Clouitand kyndely bis 5cio« = mending (patching) shoes according to
custom. A.S. clut, a patch. Cp. cloet, dish-c/o«/, &c.
1 15. darked= was hiding (for fear). O.E. dare, to lie motionless, to be
stu 3ified or terrified. Low Ger. be-daren, to be still, quiet. To dare birds
is to catch them by frightening them with a hawk, &c. Prov. Eng. dor, to
frighten, stupify ; dor, a fool.
bim own ^^ him one = himself.
P. 238, 1. 31. Feldfoute= felt the smell, got scent. foute=/ewt ^^txzccoi
a f >x or beast of cVvslSC b-y \\vt o^omx.
P. 239, 1. 81. non ci^^ivo e^-g^. 't\\ft"VSS>.\«jA&win«iv
NOTES. 437
1. 82. ginne\>. Sir F. Madden thinks that some such verb as herke, is
wanting after ^mn«]> = beginneth. It seems probable that ginne\> = hovfl
utter, send out, from A.S. ginan^ to open,^a«/i».
P. 241, 1. 139. All the form of man so amiss had she shaped (trans-
formed).
P. 243, 1. 193. T huntyng=an buntyng- a hunting.
1. 205. \>ttrtb = \>ttrgb = \ntr^ - through.
P. 245, 1. 267. to ne}Jj bim so bende = to approach him so near.
P. 246, 1. 314. fordedes-fayre dedes- kind actions.
P. 247, 1. 353. ^J'« = ib"wfe = kind.
XXII.
The Vision of Piers Ploughman.
P. 240, 1. 4. scbeep = scbeepe = shepherd.
P. 250, 1. 38. as^e))= require, demand.
P. 252, 1. 82. Fou^ten atte[n\ alle {ale) = ioMf^t at the ale.
1. 86. Roberdes knaves. In the Statutes of 5 Ed. Ill, c. 14, a class of male-
factors guilty of robbery and murder, are called Roberdesmen,
1. 91. seine Jeme^St. James of Compostello.
1. 104. Alle \>e jffbure ordres=2\\ the four orders, i,e, the Franciscans,
Augustines, Dominicans, and Carmelites.
P. 253, 1. 135. boucbede i&em= stopped their mouths.
1. 137. i?a^ewio« = catalogue, list. The full expression is ragemon rolle^
or rolle of ragman; whence rigmarole.
P. 254, 1. 167. mom ^ sound, (made by closed lips); whence mi/m,
silence; mumble (O.N. mumla, to mutter). Cp. O.E. mummyn (" as they
that noght speke), muHo." — Prompt. Parv. To cry mum = to cry silence.
P, 250, 1. 322. ellene=ellerne=ddeT (tree). See Shakespeare's Love's
Labour's Lost, v. 2.
1. 340. 6orw«s= sureties, sponsors.
P. 260, 1. 362. bose = invo se = who so.
P. 262, 1. 416. summe in \>e eor\>e. According to the popular creed of
the middle ages, the less guilty of the rebellious angels were permitted to
occupy the different elements on earth instead of being condemned to the
pit.
I. 446. daffe=iL fool, is connected with daff^ to daunt; daft^ stupid, deaf,
P. 263. 1. 465. ^dde — to sing. A. S. geddian, to sing ; Norse gidda, to
shake ; whence Eng. giddy.
II. 474, 475. toolde. In the first line wolde signifies desired ; in the second
it seems an error for wrobte, did.
P. 266, 1. 531. ^flttve/=/av«/= deception by flattery, cajolery; to curry
favour^ is a corruption of curry favel, Favel (Fr. fauveau^ from fauve,
yellow) was the name of a horse, for its colour, as Bayard^ Dun, Lyard.
P. 267, 1. 580. dune= din. Wright's text reads doom, judgment, decision.
1.598. 7'o-/o^^«flf«/o-/M^§'Cflf= pulled about by the ear or hair. O.E.Zttg.
the car; Sw. Jugga, to pvU one by the \ia\i.
438 NOTES.
P. 267f 1. 602. And bidden to pack off.
F. 268, 1. 6ai. wi)> beoden—wi]>-beolden':^vf\i^ddL.
P. 272, 1. 749. recbe\> = become rich. Wright's text reads ricben.
Regatorie. Rcgrating, or the buying np of provisions and other things
cheaply and selling them deariy, was one of the great sources of oppression
of the poor by the rich in the middle ages.
P. 276, 1. 909. 6/a6ercfe = babbled, gabbled. Dan. blabhre, to gabble. The
root is retained in blab (see 1. 346, p. 218).
P. 277, 1. 919. \>is pestilences. This refers to the three pestilences in the
reign of Edward III. The first lasted from May 31, 1348, to Sept. 29,
1349; the second lasted from Aug. 15, 1361, to May 3, 1 362; the third
raged from July 2, to Sept. 29, 1369.
1. 926. passcbet- dashed, beaten. O.E. pash, t!t> dash.
P. 278, 1. 959. gusius = gestes = deeds.
1. 963. Catirimauri=2. moth-eaten garment.
P. 270, 1. 1 00 1, betlede-b€ilsede= saluted, greeted. Dan.bilse, "Eng.bail
P. 281, 1. 1064. atte NoJce=^atten oke-aX the oak. Cp. Jobn Nokes,
John at the oaks ; Jobn Styles, John at the stile.
I. 1080. Done/ = grammar, elements; from Donatus, whose treatise was
the foundation of the mediaeval grammars.
P. 282, 1. 1085. ^ait-n««/cfe= pack-needle. Du. naelde, O.N. ndl, a
needle; neelde, seems to be a contraction of needle. Cp. Goth, netbla.
O. H.G. nadala, ndlda, a needle. The root nod, signif3dng a prick or sting,
occurs in A.S. naddre, O.E. nedder, an adder.
1. 1097. Auncel (Wright's text reads auncer)^ a small vessel or cup.
1. 1 107. ftttmmcrfg = drank. Prov. Eng bum, drink; bumpsy, tipsy. Cp.
Eng. bumper.
1. 1 1 15. boxterye = huckstery. Ger. bSker, a retailer, a petty dealer.
Prov. Ger. bukler, a huckster.
P. 288, 1. 1 1 23. Rode of Brombolm. At the Priory of Bromholm, in
Norfolk, there was a celebrated cross said to be made of fragments of the real
cross, and much resorted to by pilgrims. It was brought from Constantinople
to England in 1 223.
P. 284, 1. IT 53. vemicle, diminutive of Veronike; a copy of the picture
of Christ which is supposed to have been miraculously imprinted upon a
handkerchief preserved in the church of St. Peter at Rome. (Tyrwhitt).
P. 288, 1284. >«/=A.S. ]>eor/, unleavened.
XXIII.
Gospel of St, Mark,
P. 309, V. 9. ^o6a/f5 = fragments, gobee signifies a morsel, mouthful;
Gael, gob, the mouth. Cp. gobble, goblet (Fr. gobelet, a vrids-moutbed vessel).
P. 314, V. 46. gogil-y}ed= goggle-eyed, which signifies literally a full,
rolling eye ; from goggle, to shike, joggle ; Gael, gog, a nod.
P. 315, V. 27. aneTitis=^^s le^rds^ with respect to. A.S. ongean, against,
opposite ; Sw. gent.
NOTES. 439
XXIV.
Description of Britain.
P. 384, 1. 6. mar gey perles. The term margey = margery^ is a corruption
of margariie, a pearl ; Gr. fjuxpyapirrfa.
1. 24. a ys = ba >s = he is. This pronoun (signifying also Si&«, tV, /i&c^), is
still used in the Southern counties.
F. 335, 1. 8. steenes= stone vessels. Spenser uses stean in this sense.
P. 338, 1. 23. tt//a^«^e= babbling. A.S. w<eflan, to whiffle, babble,
speak indistinctly. N. Prov. Eng. wbiffler, a silly, trifling fellow ; wbiffle-
whajfle^ nonsense.
The Norman Invasion,
P. 842, 1. 18. o;^£f= valiant, daring, literally headlong, from O.N 4
verpa^ to throw, warp.
XXV.
Hje Pardoneres Tale.
P. 848, 1. 77. mflry = marrow. A.S. mearg, marrow; Prov. Eng. merowe,
delicate; A.S. merwey mearut tender, soft.
P. 861, 1. 187. \>e blood of Crist \>at is in Hayles. The Abbey of Hailes in
Gloucestershire, founded by Richard king of the Romans, brother to Henry
III. This precious relique, which was afterwards caUed ' the blood of Hailes,'
was brought out of Germany by the son of Richard, Edmund, who bestowed
a third part of it upon his father's Abbey of Hailes. (Holinshed v. ii. p. 275.).
P. 852. 1. 209. uprigbt signifies flat on the back.
P. 859. 1 425. Fen: the name of the sections of Avicenne's great
work entitled Canun,
XXVI.
The Tale of the Caskets.
P. 868, 1. 38. mulle= dust. Cp. O.E. mulloh, rubbish; Low Ger. mullen,
to rub.
1. 39. meined=:meinged= mingled or mixed.
P. 372, 1. 149. drecbinge onde = 3i heavily-drawn breath.
P. 876, 1. 241. spellinge of bir cbarmes = \!tit recital of her charms. The
A. S. spellian^ signifies to recite ; whence spell^ an incantation, as in magic
spell.
1. 245. bleehe is an error for 6/a^« = black.
GLOSSARY.
[TTfe nwnbers refer to the pages of the Notes where the etymology and
derivations are given.]
A, one.
A, aU.
A, in, one.
A, he, it, they.
Abaist, AbajTst, Aba3rste,
abashed, humbled,
terrified.
Abashed, frightened.
Abaye, at bay.
Abbe, to have.
Abbei, an abbey.
Abbe|>, pi. have.
Abbod, an abbot
Abbodes, abbots.
Abid =a6tV, endures,
suffers.
Abid, imp. stop.
Abide, Abiden, pp.
awaited.
Abide, Abiden, Abyde,
to await, to delay.
Abidende, patient, en-
during, [ries.
Abit, Abyt, abides, tar-
Abiten, to bite.
Ablame, to defame.
Abod, abode, stayed,
awaited, remained,
refrained.
Abof, above.
Abraid, arose, started
(out of sleep). 386.
Abouten, about.
Aboven, above.
Abuggen, to atone for,
expiate.
Abute, Abuten, aboMt.
Abyd, put off.
Abyme, the deep, abyss,
Abyt, abideth,
Ac, but.
Achaped, escaped.
Achtande, eighth.
Acoled, cooled.
Acordc, to agree.
Acordyng, agreeing, fit.
Acouped, accused. 421.
Acoye, to entice, decoy.
Acquyte, to acquit.
Acsi, to ask.
Acursi, to curse.
Adai, by day.
Adaunte, to subdue,
conquer. 413.
Adde, had.
Adi3te, to set in order,
(see Di3te). 402.
Adonward, down.
Adrad, afraid, in dread.
Adrawe, to draw.
Adun, Adoune, down,
downwards.
Adunest, dinnest. 402.
Adwole, in error. 407.
Afer, Aferr, far, afar.
Aferd, Aferde, fright-
ened, afraid.
Aferes, dealings, affairs.
Afoled, befooled.
Afure, on fire. [412.
Afyghte, to endeavour.
Afyn, finaUy, lastly.
Agast, Agaste, aghast,
frightened, terrified.
413.
K^eti, K^eyei, ^%^\t^
Aghlich, horrible, ter-
rible.
Agh, pres. ought.
Aght, pret ought
Agon, Agoon, gone, ago.
Agray>inge, decoration,
ornament.
Agre)>ed, adorned.
Agte, owned. 391.
Agte, possessions, mo-
ney, wealth. 386.
Agtes, payments. 386.
Ah, but
Ai, Ay, ever, aye.
Aire, heir.
Airen,Ayren,eggs. 41 1.
Aijjer, either, each.
Aiware, everywhere.
Ake, to ache.
Al, (I) aU, whole, (2)
quite, very.
Al a, a whole.
Alblast, a crossbow. 430.
Aid, Aide, old.
Alderes, elders.
Alegge, to call in ques-
tion. 402.
Algate.yet, nevertheless.
Alijte, pp. descended.
Alle, pi. all. pivelong.
Alle longe, the entire,
Alle = a/*. 437.
AUiaunce, alliance.
Almesse, Almous, alms.
Almest, almost.
Along, Alonge, on ac-
count of. 428.
GLOSSARr.
443
;n, bedridden.
Berge, to protect 394.
Bid = 6//, bids.
)ier.
Berke, to bark.
Bidde, to pray.
efell.
Berking, barking.
Bidde = fcffflfe, to offer.
ire.
Bering, behaviour.
Bide, to abide.
racelet collar.
Bern, Berne, a child.
Bidene, forthwith, im-
Bemynde, burning.
mediately, subse-
;, a beggar.
BerJ), bears.
quently. 410.
, beheld.
Berwen,to preserve. 394.
Bidder, a beggar.
, promised.
Bes, shaU be, is.
Bie,to buy, redeem. 4 1 7.
iiche, needful,
Besette, to exclude. 427.
BifaUe, befallen.
sary.
Best, Beste, a beast.
Bifel, Bifil, Bifyl, befell.
eak.
Besteriinge, emotions.
Bifor, Bifore, Biforen,
;, to commend.
Bestow, shalt thou be.
Biforn, before.
e, to acknow-
Besoghte, besought.
Big, Bigg, richly en-
.
Bet, better. 392.
dowed, furnished with
otection.
Bet, did beat.
arms. 429.
trong, bold.
Bet, * go bet,' hasten.
Bige, Bigge, to build.
Belyfe, Belyve,
Bet, kindled, made up
429.
, quickly, at
the fire. 392.
Bigen, to buy.
Bete, to repent, to a-
Bigete, Bigeten, to ob-
= be along, be
mend one's Ufe. 392,
tain, beget.
count of.
Bete, to beat.
Bigetel, what is obtained
;am, ray.
Betel-brouwed, having
by conquest, or pur-
, to denote.
overhanging brows.
chase. 404.
.
having a heavy look.
^iggy^ge, buying.
3ent, curved.
Beten, ornamented.
Biginne, Big3mne, to
) to be, (2) are.
Betere, Betre, better.
begin.
een.
Betewe, between.
Biginning, beginning.
ne, prayer.
Beth, Be>, is, are.
Bigonne, pp. begun.
ope of a hill.
Bethe = 6tfrfe, to com-
Bigraven, carved.
d.
mand.
Bigrede, to scream.
, to deprive.
Beihe^ bathe, both.
shout. 397.
on, to be.
Be)?03te, Be>ou3te, be-
Bigrowe, overgrown.
:o offer.
thought.
Bigrypte, seized.
on, messenger.
Be Sen, to entreat. 394.
Bihalde, to behold.
messenger.
Bewreyyng, bewraying.
Biheld, Biheild, beheld.
2. 394.
accusation.
Bihete, to promise.
n, messengers.
Beye, to buy.
Bihetet, promisedst it.
prayers.
Bi, be, by.
Bihinde, Bihynde, be-
;, promised.
Bicalle, to call after.
hind.
, belief.
accuse.
Bihold, Biheold. beheld.
)be.
Bicam, became.
Bihote, to promise.
I bear.
Bicchid boones, dice.
Bihuld, beheld.
Jeoren, to bear.
Bicherme, to chirp as
Bii, to atone for, expiate.
ei>, are.
birds do.
Bikenned, commended.
e, bore.
Bicloped = bicleoped.
Bile, the bill (of a bird).
e, noise.
spoken. 403.
Bilef, remained. 387.
T.
Bicom, became.
Bileist, speakest falsely.
2rde, a beard.
Bicome, pp. gone.
beliest.
beardless.
Bicume, Bicumen, ( i ) to
Bileve, belief.
Doise.
become, befall, hap-
Bileve, Bileven,Bilewen,
:ren, to bear.
pen, (2) pp. befallen.
torenuin.
44»
GLOSSARY
Atuitest, reproachest,
twittest. 403.
At-vore, before.
A|>, hath.
AJ>el, noble, a noble-
man, knight.
Au = agb = oWt ought.
Aucte = agbt, wealth.
Auen, Ann, Aune, own.
Auht,possessions, goods.
Aumayl, enamel.
Aumener, an almoner.
Auncel, a smaU vessel or
cup, a pair of scales.
Auncetere, ancestor.
Auncre, a nun.
Aungel, angel.
Aunter, adventure.
Auntour, chance.
Auntour, adventure, */el
auntour t* it happened.
Aute=:a^i&/, owned.
Auter, an altar.
AuJ>er, either.
Avale, in many.
Avale, to descend, let
down. 431.
Avance, Avaunse, ad-
vance.
Avancement, advance-
ment.
Avauntage, advantage.
Ave, to have.
Avenaunt, pleasant,
beautiful. 411.
Avenge, pi. took.
Aventures, adventures.
Avere, on fire.
AvelJ, hath.
Avise, to advise, to take
note of, to heed.
Avisement, caution,
heed.
Avoutrie, adultery.
Avow, vow. [tious.
Avysed, advised, cau-
Awake, to arouse.
Awede, to go mad.
Awei, SLvrsiy,
Aweyward, away from.
Awoid ^ awolde, cause,
produce. 385, 387.
Awold, in signification.
381.
Awondered, astonished.
Awreke, to avenge. 40 1 .
Axe, Axen, to ask.
Axeste, askest thou.
Ay, ever.
Ayen, again, against.
Ayenboghte, redeemed.
Ayer, air.
Ayeyn, again, against.
Aywhore, everywhere.
A)af, gave out, uttered.
A3e, A;en, A3ene, A3ein,
A3eyn, again, against,
back, towards.
A3ein-ward, back.
Aienes, Ajens, against.
Ajen-bie, to redeem.
A3en-biyng,redemption.
A3en-stonde, A3ein-
stonde, to withstand,
oppose.
A3er, yearly.
A3t, noble. 414.
A3te, ought.
Ajte, eight.
A3tsum, anxious (see
Hagt). 384.
Bac, the back.
Bad, Bead, offered.
Bad, entreated.
Baie, at bay.
Balaunce,peril,jeopardy.
Bald, bold. [boldly.
Baldeliche, baldly.
Bale, sorrow, grief, cala-
mity, ruin. 383,
Balfully, sorrowfully.
Balie, the belly.
Ballede, bald. 414.
Ban, Bane, a bone.
Baner, a banner.
Baneur, Banyour, ban-
ner-bearer.
Banne, to curse.
Bannes = banes, bones.
Bar, bore.
'Bate, «L ^ove, vVl*
Bare, openly.
Baren, to lay bare, to
expose.
Baret, Barej, strife, con-
test. 402. [bargain.
Bargan, strife, contest,
Barlay, by our lady.
Barm, Barme, bosom,
lap. 42 1 «
Bam, Bame, a child.
Bamage, childhood.
Barnde, burnt [424.
Barn-site, child-sorrow.
Bam-tem, progeny, des-
cendants.
Baroun, a baron.
Barred, striped.
Barst, burst.
Bataile,Batayle, a battle,
an armed host.
Bate, to abate.
Bath, Bathe, both.
Bather, of both.
Baude, a broker, go-
between.
Baundoun, Bandoun,
power, jurisdiction,
rule. 419.
Baussene3, badgers.
Bawe-lyne, bow-line.
Bayst, abashed, flinched.
Bayte, to set on. 436
BayJ>en, to grant.
Be, by.
Bead, bad, commanded.
Be-bedde,to supply with
bed, or lodging.
Bebledd, covered with
blood.
Becom, became.
Bed (pl.Bedden),offered.
384.
Bed, Bede, a prayer. 415.
Bede = 6icfe, to abide.
Bede, Beden, to oflFer.
415.
Bede = 6e</, bad, com-
manded.
Bede, promisedest
Beden, Bedene, bidden.
\- ■^^'ONR., '^v^^eas.^ Corth-
GLOSSARr.
445
*cred.
bodf dwelt
dy.
bidden, asked,
ommands.
forbodes, por-
le, message.
3ofFet, a blow,
>ghe, a bough,
oghe, to bow.
Bogte, Boht,
It. [for.
xpiated, atoned
. bent,
•ke, a book,
buck,
he, boldly,
owl.
swollen. 398.
!olne, to swell,
bone.
eon, to be.
of/n, ready. 423.
•ne, petition, re-
, boon. 415.
>ound, estab-
I.
i) force, mean-
[2) prison.
= bonden,
den, bound.
, of bone.
I bank, pi. Bon-
Bonkkej.
, debonair, cour-
)oat.
3re, a boar.
)orde, a table,
a bird.
>p. bom.
;, a pledge.
rag, borrowing.
;es,lands in towns
by a particular
re.
mcj, produces,
Borne, Bourne, water,
stream, bum,
Borugh,a town,6oro»^ib.
Borwe,a pledge,security.
Borwj, a city.
Bosk, Boske, a bush.
Bost, boast, pride.
Bot, Bote, but, except.
Bot, bit, pierced.
Bot (to)=«/o boot, for
security. 392.
Bote, */or bote* to boot.
Bote, remedy, salva-
tion. 392.
Bote-yef, unless.
Botel, bottle.
Botles, bootless, irre-
mediable.
Botme, the bottom.
Bothen, BotJen, both.
Bo)>em, pit, bottom.
Bo)>eme3, valleys, bot-
toms.
Bo}>emle3, bottomless.
Botounj, buttons.
Bouche, to stop one's
mouth.
Bouele, bowel.
Boun, ready. 423.
Bounty, goodness,
bounty.
Bour, room, chamber.
Bourde, to jest, joke.
Bourde, a jest.
Bout, Boute, without.
Bou^te, bought, atoned,
expiated.
Bowande, obedient.
Bowe, to go, hasten.
Boxum, obedient. 385.
Boxumly, obediently.
Boxumnes, obedience.
B03, Boje, a bough.
B03, Bo3e, a bow,
Bo3e, to hasten.
Brae, broke.
Brad. Brade, broad.
Brak, broke. [386.
Brayd, started, turned.
Brayde, to start, rush
to, awake.
Brayde, (i) * /« (or at) a
brayde* in a turn, in
a trice, (2) an assault.
386.
Bra3rinde, roaring.
Brayden, embroidered.
Breadlepes, bread-
baskets. 385.
Brec, broke. [395.
Breche, a woody glen.
Bred, Brede, bread.
Brede, breadth, abroad.
Bred-wrigte, a baker.
.S85.
Bref, short.
Breke, to break.
Brem, Breme, ( i ) quick,
active, vigorously ,vio-
lently, (2) fierce, an-
gry, (3) lofty, proud.
400.
Bremli, Bremly, Brcme-
ly, violently, rapidly,
fiercely, vigorously.
Bren, Brenne, to bum.
Brend, Brende, Brenned,
burnt.
Brene, a burning.
Brennand, buming.
Brennyng, buming.
Brent, bumt.
Brentest, highest. 433.
Bresed, rugged, shaggy.
Brest, Breste, to burst.
Brether,BreJ>er,Bre'Scre,
BrilJere, brethren,
brothers.
Bre)>e, vapour, steam,
breath. [brewers.
Brewesters, female
Breuh, brewed, [ened.
Breygid,abridged,short-
Bricteste, brightest
Brig, a bridge,
Brihte, clearly.
Brin, Brinne, to bum.
Brinnand, buming.
Brint, bumt.
Brittened, broken, de-
stroyed. 435.
Brijt, Bryjt, bright
Bri3tnesse, brightness.
Broche, a brooch.
GLOSSARY
Bilfoder, food.
Bilike, to make likely,
or to render pleasing.
404.
Bilonge, to belong to,
depend upon.
Biloi^ed, shut up.
Bi-lowen, to accuse
falsely. [ment
Biraene, to bemoan, la-
Bimening, lamentation.
Biment, bemoaned, la>
mented. 388.
BineoSe, Bineo)>e, be-
neath.
Binime, Bin3rme, to de-
prive of, rob. 381.
Binne, within. 409.
Binom, took away, de-
prived of.
BioO>e, behoof. 41 2.
Bique)>,bequeathed.405 .
Biquede, bequest. 405.
Bird, behoved. 425.
Bire, haste, rush. 436.
Biri, city, town. 389.
Biriele, a tomb, sepul-
chre. 394.
Bi-rolled, rushed about.
Bir))e, nation, tribe. 4 1 7.
Bischriche, to shriek,
scream. 397.
Bischopen, to bishops.
Bisay = hesaWy ordained.
Bise, the north wind.
410. [seech.
Biseke, Biseken, to be-
Bisemar, scorn, mock-
ery, shame. 398.
Biseme, to render
seemly. 404.
Biseo, to ordain, ap-
point.
Bisen, to rule over.
Bisend, betokened,
likened. 426.
Biseninge, token, sign.
Bisied, came upon. 416.
Bisides, besides.
Bisop, Bissop, bishop.
Bisojt, besought.
Bispeke, bespoken,
agreed.
Bispitte, to spit on.
Bistad, alleged,
Bistad, happened, placed
(in peril).
Bistod, Bistode, stood,
stood still.
Biswike, to deceive,
cheat, defraud. 399.
Bisy|>e3, betimes, at
times.
Bit, biddeth, bids.
Bitagte, Bitaucte, gave,
assigned. 384.
Bitake, to entrust to,
hand over, assign, be-
queath. 384.
Biteche, to entrust, give
(see Bitake).
Bitelle, to speak, plead.
Bitide, to betide, befall.
Bith, by the. 408.
Bitid, befallen, [over.
Bitook, gave, handed
Bitraye, to betray.
Bituene, Bitwen, be-
tween.
Bituixen, Bituxen, be-
twixt, between.
Bitweone, between.
Bitwixe, betwixt.
Bitymes, betimes.
Bil>03te, bethought.
Bive, to tremble. 390.
Biwaken, to keep a vigil
for the dead. 393.
Biwite, gone. 4II.
Bijendis, beyond. [4*54.
Bi3ete, to obtain, get.
Bi3ete, possessions.
Bijonde, beyond.
Blabere, to babble,
mutter. 438.
Blabered, babbled.
BlacBlak, Blake, black.
Blan, cease (see Blinne).
Blase, blaze, flame.
Blaste, blazed.
"B\wK«i«, ^ Vxsvi of
Xaiviw ox l\«»
Blede, to bleed.
Blef |>, remains (see Bi-
leve).
Bleeke, Bleike, pale,
livid. 408. [399.
Blenche, to flinch, waver.
Blende, mixed.
Bleo, colour, complex-
ion, hue.
Blere, to blear the eye,
deceive.
Blere, to put out the
tongue, to make
grimaces. 430.
Blete, poor, mean. 404.
Blete, foliage. 397.
Blethely, blithefully,joy-
fiiUy.
Blin, Blinne, Blinnen, to
cease, stop. 382.
Blisse, to bless.
BHssing, blessing.
Blive, quickly.
Bio, blue.
Blod, Blode, blood.
Blome, flower, bloom.
Blonk,a horse,originaD7
a white horse.
Blosme, Blostme, bios- ■
som, bloom. 395.
Blosmen, blossoms.
Blou, to blow.
Blowe, blooming.
Blubrande, bubbling,
boUing. 434.
Bluk = 6Mit=6tt/*,body.
436.
Blunder, confusion,nim.
Blycande, shining.
Blykked, shone.
Bl3mne, to cease.
Blyssen, blisses, jo]rs.
Bly|>eliche, joyfully.
Bo = heo^ to be. [434.
Bobbaunce, boast, pridOi
Bobbe, a branch.
Boc, a book.
Bocher, butcher.
Bod ^a&o^^, awaited.
Bod, sb. delay.
'^^5^,'^'^^^^ ^svessage,
V^
ffered.
ibod, dwelt
ody.
bidden, asked,
383.
:ommands.
forbodes, por-
de, message.
Boffet, a blow,
t.
•oghe, a bough.
Boghe, to bow.
Bogte, Boht,
ht. [for.
expiated, atoned
I, bent,
oke, a book.
I buck.
:he, boldly.
)owl.
swollen. 398.
Bolne, to swell,
bone.
^o«, to be.
^f/n, ready. 423.
one, petition, re-
t, boon, 415.
bound, estab-
d.
(i) force, mean-
{2) prison.
1 = honderif
iden, bound.
5, of bone,
a bank, pi. Bon-
Bonkkej.
3, debonair, cour-
is.
boat.
•ore, a boar.
Borde, a table,
a bird,
pp. bom.
e, a pledge,
yng, borrowing,
jes, lands in towns
I by a particular
ire.
unej, produces^
s.
GLOSSARY.
Borne, Bourne, water,
stream, bum,
Borugh.a tovm^borougb,
Borwe,a pledge,security.
Borwj, a city.
Bosk, Boske, a bush.
Bost, boast, pride.
Bot, Bote, but, except.
Bot, bit, pierced.
Bot fto)»/o boot, for
54^curity. ^^2,
Bote, *for bote* to boot.
Bote, remedy, salva-
tion, 3<)2,
Bote-yef, uule^j.
Botei;' bijttle.
Botles, bootless^ irre-
mediable.
Botme, the bottom.
Bothen, BotJen, both.
BoJ>em, pit, bottom.
Bol>eme3, valleys, bot-
toms.
Bo)>emle3, bottomless.
Botounj, buttons.
Bouche, to stop one's
moutfi.
Bouele, bowel.
Boun, ready. 423.
Bounty, goocbess,
bounty.
Bour, room, chamber.
Bourde, to jest, joke.
Bourde, a jest.
Bout, Boute, without.
Bou^te, bought, atoned,
expiated.
Bowandcj obedient,
Bowe, to gOt Hasten.
Boxtim, obedient. 3S5.
Bojcamly, obediently*
Boxumnes, obedience.
B03, Boje, a bough.
B03, Bo3e, a bow,
Bo3e, to hasten.
Brae, broke.
Brad. Brade, broad.
Brak, broke. [386.
Brayd, started, turned.
Braydc, to start, tusVi
to, awake.
Brayde, (i) » in Qot of) a
V
445
brayde* in a turn, in
a trice, (2) an assault.
386.
Bra)rinde, roaring,
HrFivden, cmbtoider^d.
Breadlepes, bread-
baskets. 385.
BrcL^ broke. [395*
Breche, a woody glen.
Bred, Brtvir. hrc^^ni
Brede, breadth, abroad.
Bred-wrigte, a baker.
B85.
Bref, short.
Breke, to break.
Brem.Breme, 1) quick,
active, vigorously .vio-
lently, (2) fierce, zxi"
gry» (3) lofty» proud.
400.
Bremli, Bremly, Breme-
Ij, violently, rapidly,
fiercely, vigotously.
Brcn. Brenne, to bum.
Brend, Brende, Brenned,
burnt
Brene, a burning,
Brennand, burning.
Brennyng, burning.
Bfent, burnt.
Brentest, highest 433.
Brqsed, rugged, shaggy,
Brest, Breite, to burst,
Brether, Bre>er3retyerc,
BrilJere, brethren,
brothers.
BreJ>e, vapour, steam,
breath. [brewers.
Brewcsters, female
Breuh, brewed, [ened*
Brey g Id.abn dgijd.short-
Brit:teste, brightest
Brig, a bridge,
Brihte, clearly.
Brht Brinne, to bum.
Britmand, burning*
Brint bunit.
Brittened, broken, de-
stroyed. 435.
446
GLOSSARV^
Brod, Brode, broad.
Broht, Brohte, Broucte,
Brouthe, Brojt,
Brojte, brought.
Bronch, a branch.
Bronde3,brands, embers,
ashes.
BroJ>ley, filthy. 434.
Bro3e3, brows.
Broune, brown.
Brurd-ful, full to the
brim. 433.
Brusten, to burst.
Bruttenet, cut in pieces.
435.
Bryche, low, mean. 42 1.
Brydde, a bird.
Brynstone, brimstone.
Bue, Buen, to be.
Bues, obeys.
BueJ>, are.
Buffet, a blow.
Buges, boughs. 385.
Bugge, Bygge, to buy.
Bugh, a bough.
Bugles, buffaloes.
Buile, Builen, to boil.
Buk, Buke, a book.
Bukke^, bucks.
Bule3, bulls.
Bult, built.
Bummed, tasted, drank.
Bun, ready.
Buo)>e, both. 428.
Bur, a blow. 436.
Burde,Buyrde,a woman,
lady. 420.
Buriinge, burial.
Bum, Burne, a man, a
nobleman. 431.
Burgeis, a burgess,
citizen.
Buryel, tomb.
Burje, a city, borough.
Buschen, to busk, go out.
Busk, a bush.
Busk, Buske, (i) to pre-
pare (for a journey),
(2) to go on a
journey, to go (one's
way). 425.
Bustelyng, wandering
about, uncertain what
way to take.
Bute, without
Bute-if, except,
Buton, but
Bu}>, are.
Buve, above.
By, to be.
Bycom, became.
Byclippe, to surround.
Byclippe,Byclepe,to call.
Byd = bytt prays.
Bydde, to pray.
Byddinde, pizying.
Byde, Byden,to remain,
abide.
Byde3, abides.
Bydene (see Bidene).
Bye, to buy.
Bye]>, be, are.
Byfalle, to befall.
Byfyl, befell.
Bygile, to beguile.
Bygete, to obtain.
Bygeten, begotten.
Byggyng, a building.
429.
Bygonne, begun.
Byholde, to behold.
Byhove, to behove.
Byleave, belief.
Byl3rve, quickly, imme-
diately.
Bynne, within.
Bynejjen, beneath.
Byrad, determined, re-
solved.
Byreve, to deprive, be-
reave.
Bys, purple. 420.
Byse, to be wary, cau-
tious.
Byschyne, pp. shone
upon.
Byside, besides.
Bysou3t, besought.
Byspeete, to spit on,
Byta3te, assigned.
BylYvuvxte, betwixt
'Byt\3Lene,'ft^V«^cyftfc,\i^
Vween.
By wraye, to accuse, be-
tray. 385.
Cacche, Cache, to catch,
drive away, chase.
Cald, Calde, cold.
Calewe, bald. 415,
CaUing, invitation.
Cam, came.
Can, know, knows.
Candlen, candles. 389.
Cant, crafty, brave. 430.
Capados, a hood, or
close cap.
Care, sorrow.
CarefuUy, sorrowfully.
Carien, to wander. '
Carl, churl, man. 409.
Caroin, a dead body,
carrion.
Carpe, Carppe, to talk.
Cas, Case, hap, chance,
adventure, circum-
stance, occurrence.
Casten, to devise, plan.
Casten, pp. cast.
Catel, Catele, Catelle,
wealth.
Caytif, a wretch.
Cajrtefte, Caytifte,
wretchedness.
Caurimauri, a worm-
eaten garment
Ca3te, caught.
Cellen, cells. [Sely).
Cely, good, gentle (see
Cemmed,twisted,folded.
435-
Cerges, tapers. 409.
Certeyn, certain.
Ceteis, cities.
Chacen, to drive out
Chacche, to drive, catch.
Chafare, chaffer. 382.
Chalange, Chalenge,
claim.
Chapman, Chapmon, a
merchant. 382,
Chare, Char, a car.
QXNaxe., Charen, to turn.
\ ^^•^•
OLOSSARY.
447
, sharp,
chaste.
«, chance, for-
adventure.
he, chance, to
1. [able,
^eable, change-
in, chains.
e.
chose,
cold,
a shield.
chill, cold. 410.
, chinks, fissures,
ige, market.
, turned,
cheer, face,
a churl, rustic,
. 409.
gladly, joyfully,
mp. choose,
^hees, chose,
n, to prosper,
jed.
to choose.
, strife.
, reason. [431.
iteyn,a chieftain.
1, to eschew,
les, a kind of
, Fr. ciboule,
r, Childre, Chil-
, Chyldem, chil-
sde, childhood,
en, churches,
egong, church-
a cherry.
;, noise, chirping
irds.
choice. [go.
:, take (the way),
cheese. [fully.
, choicely, care-
inge, chirping,
:ering.
esse, a cistern.
clad.
, purely, cleanly,
arity,
to cleaDse,
Clef, cleaved.
Cleme, to daub with
plaster. 432.
Clene, pure, clean.
Clenge, to cling.
Clennes, cleanness,
purity.
Clensing, cleansing.
Clepe, Clepen, to call.
403.
Clept, called, y-^lept.
Clepyng, calling.
Clere, clear. [clerk.
Clergeoun, a young
Clerken, of clerks, of
men in holy orders.
Clerlych, clearly.
Cler-matin, a kind of
fine wheaten bread.
Cleve, a cottage. 408.
Cle)ane, to claim.
Clinge, Clynge, to with-
er, shrivel. 404.
Clinke, to ring, toll.
Clippe,to embrace,clasp.
Clive, to cleave, adhere
to. 392.
Clived, suffered. 382.
Clom, silence, peace.
427.
Clos, Cloos, close, secret.
Clottes, clods.
Clou3tand = cloutand,
patching. 436.
Clout, a piece, frag-
ment, rag. 408.
Clowte3, pieces.
Clupie, to call.
Clute, a rag. 408.
Cnoke, to knock.
Coc, cock.
Cofre, Cofer, chest, ark.
CofFyn, a basket,
Cogge, a wheel. 398.
Cokeneye, a lean
chicken. [bread.
Coket, a kind of fine
Col, Cole, a coal.
Col plontes, cabbage-
plants, coleworts.
Com, came. \mciv\..
Comanment, comnvwid.-
Combrej, destroys.
Comen, Comyn, com-
mon.
Comene, to come.
Comers, commerce.
Comlyng, a stranger.
Comlych, comely.
Commun = comen, pp.
come.
Compaignye, company.
Compers, companions.
Compleynen, to com-
plain.
Comse,Comsen, to com-
mence, begin, en-
deavour.
Comynde, coming.
Comynge=tfO»i«i*, to
come.
Con, aux. vb. did.
Con, Can, knows, pi.
Conne, Cunne, * Con
tbonhet give thanks.
Cone, Conne, Conen, pi.
to know.
Conne,Connen, to learn.
Confort, comfort.
Conninge, knowledge.
Conrai, a course, enter-
tainment. 425.
Conseile, to counsel.
Contene, to contain.
Contray ,Contraye, Con-
treie, a country.
Contrarius, diverse, con-
trary.
Conyng, a rabbit.
Coostej, coasts.
Cop,Coppe,top, hill-top.
Corageus, courageous.
Coren, com.
Cors, body.
Cors, course.
Corse, to curse.
Corsed, cursed.
Corseynt, a relique, the
body of a saint.
Corsyes, curses. [426.
Corsing, horse-dealing.
V
448
Cortcisliche, coutte-
ously.
Cosiu, cousin.
Cost, expense.
Cost,Coste,coast,bordcr.
Costes, Costej, customs,
laws, properties. 395.
Cote, a coat.
Cote, a cot. 410.
Cou, cow.
Coude, Couth, Couthe,
Cou|)e, could, knew.
Cou3de, Cou3J>e = cou]>e,
knew.
Couherde, a cow-herd.
Coust, couldst.
Coupe, a cup.
Covatous, covetous.
Cove, a cave, cavem.
434.
Covent, convent.
Covenable, convenient.
Covenably, conveni-
ently.
Cover, to recover.
Covetyse, covetousness.
Crabben, crabs.
Craft, force, art.
Craftes, abilities.
Crages, crags, rocks.
Crake, to crack.
Craven, to ask.
Craym, cream.
Creftesman, craftsman.
Crei, cry.
Crepe, to creep.
Crempe, to stop. 407.
Cresped, crisped, curled.
Cresten, christian.
Creyme, chrism, oil used
in anointing, [tian.
Cristen, Cristene, chris-
Cristni, Cristny, Crist-
nye, to baptize.
Cristnynge, baptism.
Crijinge, crying.
Croft, a field.
Croice, Crois, cross.
Croked^ crooked.
Crokkes, crocks, pots.
Cronique, a chronide.
Crop, Croppe, top*
OLOSSARF.
Cropure, crupper.
Cros, a cross.
Croune, a crown.
Crouny, to crown.
Crounyng, coronation.
Croys, a cross.
Crudde, curd.
Cnmmies, crumbs.
Cullen, to kill.
Culvere, a dove.
Cum =: com, came.
Cumand, to conmiand.
Cumandment, com-
mandment
Cum, Cumen, to come.
Cumly, comely, fair.
Cummen, pp. come.
Cums, imp. come.
Cumse to conmieuce.
Cunde, kind.
Cunne, kin.
Cunne, to know.
Cunnyng, knowledge.
Cuntenaunce, counten-
ance, form, pretence.
Cupide3, cubits.
Cuppe-mel, cup by cup.
Cure, care.
Curtaisli, courteously.
Curteisl^, Curtesliche,
Curteysly, Curteys-
liche, courteously.
Curteys, courteous.
Curteysy, courtesy.
Cusse, to kiss.
Custe, habits. 395.
Cut, a lot.
Cu)?e, knew, could.
CuJ>est, knewest.
Cwa|>, spoke.
Daffe, a fool.
Dai, day.
Dai-li3t, daylight.
Dai-rim, daybreak. 402.
Dai-sterre, day-star.
Dalf, digged. 427.
Dalt, dealt.
D»m, ocean.
Dare, to tremble, to lie
hid. 436.
Darked, lay hidden.
436.
Darst, darest, durst
Dat=«a/, that.
Daunger, danger.
Daunsyng, dancing.
Daunte, to tame. 413.
Dayes-e3e, daisy.
Dayntes, Dayntyej,
dainties, rarities.
De="5e, the.
Dead = £fea'S, death.
Debaat, sedition.
Debonere, debonair,
courteous. 413.
Debrekynge, breaking.
Debrused, bruised. 413.
Dece, the dais, the high
table.
Ded, Dede, dead, * Dede
Se,* Dead Sea.
Ded, Dede, death. 429.
Ded, Dede, deed.
Dede, did, caused.
Dedly, deadly.
Deed, death.
Deede, dead.
Deef, Def, deaf. [tell.
Deeme, to deem, judge,
Dees, dice.
Defalte, fault.
Defaute, want. [431.
Defence, prohibition.
Defende, to forbid, pro-
hibit.
Defendet, forbidden.
Defigured, disfigured.
Defye, to digest.
Degyset, disguised.
Deide, died.
Del, Dele part dis-
tributing, deal, 417.
Dele, to divide, dis-
tribute, have dealings
with. 414,
Delful, doleful
Delices, delicacies,
D«,liveriy, dextrouly.
\
Delt, distributed, di-
vided, dealt.
Delvie, to dig.
Delver, a digger.
Dem, Deme, (i)to deem,
judge, decide, doom,
(2) to name, call. 384.
Deme, cause, doom, cen-
sure.
Demes, dooms, decrees.
Demmedjdaomied, filled
up.
Dempt, condemned.
DemK judges, thinks.
Deol, dole, grief. 414.
Deop, Deope, deep.
Deore, dear, beloved.
l)eores, lovers.
Dc»re, to dare.
Deowes, dews.
Dep, Depe, deep, deeply.
Departe, to separate,
divide.
Depe, to dip.
Der, a beast. 383.
Der, Dere, (i) dear, be-
loved, precious, joy-
ful, joyous, (2) rarity,
dainty. 389.
Dere, Deren, to hurt,
injure.
Derejmi, to contest,
prove. 413.
Derk, Derke, dark.
Derknesse, darkness.
Dem, Deme, secret, se-
cretly. 403.
Derrest, noblest. [389.
Deii$e, dearth, Bunine.
Derworth, Derworbc,
precious, beloved.
Derwor]>ly, honourable.
Desavauntage,disadvan-
tage.
Desclosed, disclosed.
Descrijfe, to describe.
Deserite, to disinherit.
Despit, a wrong, [tiny.
Desten^, Destenye, des-
Destrue, to destroy.
Desparple, to scatter.
OLOSSARV.
Desselic, secretly. 423.
Dette, debt. [death.
Deth, DeJ>,Dethe,DeJ>e,
DeJ>, does, causes.
Devise, Devyse, to tell,
describe. [tioning.
Devisynge, telling, men-
Devoydynge, doing, or
putting away.
Deye, to die.
Deyl, part, share, deal.
Deynt^, pleasure,dainty.
415.
Deystyn^, destiny.
De3e, to die.
Dejter, daughters.
Dich, a ditch. [der.
Diffame, to defame, slan-
Dighte,( I ) to prepare,set
in order, (2) ordain,
determine,doom, pret.
Dighte,pp.Dight, 40 2 .
Digne, to. deign.
Diht, composes.
Diht,condemned, doom-
ed (see Dighte).
Dihte, to prepare. 402.
Dilitable, delectable,
pleasant.
Dimnes, darkness.
Dingnet^, dignity.
Dingneliche, Dingne-
lyche, properly, fitly,
worthily.
Dint, a blow. 413.
Disceyve, to deceive.
Disclaundre, disrespect.
Discreve, Discrive, Dis-
cryve, to describe.
Disparpled, Disparpoil-
ed, scattered.
Distruen, to destroy.
Di3ele, secret. 395.
Di3t, pp, arranged, or-
dained.
Di3te, ordained.
Di3te, to give (see
Dighte). 402.
Di3tti, to ordain.
Do, to cause, place, give.
Doande, Doende, dom^.
449
Doghty, doughty, vali-
ant. 410.
Dok, tail.
Dolve (pret. subj. of
Delve^ to dig, break
through),digged.42 7.
Dom, Dome, doom,
judgment, opinion,
permission,pl.Domes,
decisions. 384. [429.
Domland, cloudy, dark.
Don, Done, (i) to do,
cause, put, (2) done,
taken, put. [438.
Donet, a grammar.
Dong, Donge, dung.
Dongen (pp. of Dinge,
to beat), beaten.
Donke, to moisten. 421.
Donne, to be done.
Donward, downward.
Dool, grief, dole. 414.
Dor =8or, there.
Dor, Dore, a door.
Doreward,a doorkeeper.
Dorst, Dorste, durst.
Doser, back of a seat.
Dostu, doest thou.
Dotest, ravest, speakest
foolishly. Wright's
text reads Doted,
Do|>, causes, doth.
Douhtre, a daughter.
Doumbe, dumb.
Doun, Doune, down.
Dounes, hills, downs,
Doun-falland, descend-
ing.
Dout, Doute, fear.
Doute, to fear.
Douthe, availed, was of
value. 410.
Douth,Dou]>e, doughty,
valiant(men),knights.
4io» 435-
Dovene, Dovne, a fe-
male dove. 433.
Dou3htiore, braver.
Dowed, availed. 410.
Dowelle, to dwell.
45*
Far, Fare, Faren, to go,
proceed, act, behave.
Fare, way, course.
Fare, Faren, gone, de-
parted. 384.
Fars, fares. [400.
Fastrede, firm in counsel.
Farmed, embraced.
Faure, Fawre, four.
Faurtend, fourteenth.
Faut, a fault. 431.
Fauvel, Fauwel, Favel,
flattery. 437.
Fax, hair. 435.
Fay, faith.
Fayli, to fail.
Fa)m, glad.
Faymes, beauty, [craft.
Fa}Ty3e, magic, witch-
Fayten, to mortify
Fe, Fee, cattle, money,
property, /(Pe. 384.
Feblelike, feebly ,poorly,
niggardly.
Febli, to become feeble.
Feblore, feebler.
Febly, to become feeble.
Feche, Fecche, Fechen,
to fetch.
Feend, fiend, devil.
Fees, cities.
Feer, fire.
Feere, a companion.
Feffede, endowed, be-
stowed. 413.
Feh, a dress of various
colours. 418.
Fei, faith, [courteous.
Feir, Feire, fair, civil,
Feirth, fourth.
Feith, Fei>, faith.
Feij>ely, Fei3e)?ly, Fei3>-
liche, truly.
Fel, Felle, fierce, cruel.
Fel,FeUe,ahill,pl.Fels,
Felles, hills.
Fel, Felle, the skin,
hide. 417.
Fel, Fele, many. 392.
Felau, Felaw, Felawe, a
fellow, companion.
GLOSSARF.
Felawschape,Felayshyp,
fellowship.
Feld, (I) felt, (2) hidden.
Feld, Felde, a field.
Feldfare, a bird so called.
Felde, (I) feU, (2) filled.
Fele, many.
Fele, to feel, experience.
Felefalded, manifold,
multiplied.
Felle, hardy, fierce,
cruel, horrible, dread-
ful. 412.
Felon, Felun, (i) a
wretch, (a) wretched,
wicked. 413.
Felonye, shame, dis-
grace, crime,
Felunliche, Felunly,
wickedly, fiercely.
Fen, the name of the
sections of Avicenne's
great work entitled
Canun.
Fen, dirt, mud, marsh.
Fend, an enemy, fiend,
devil.
Feng, took.
Feole, many.
Feor, Fer, Ferr, far.
Ferd, Ferde, Fered, fear,
fright.
Ferd, Fer<fe, went, de-
parted, fared. 391.
Ferde, Verde, army,
host. 391.
Ferdnes, fear.
Fere, (i) fire, (3) bold,
courageous, (3) to
frighten.
Fere, (i) a mate, com-
panion, (2) akin, * in
fere^ together, in
company.
Feren, companions.
Feren, afar. 380.
Ferene, fern, brake.
FerforK far.
Ferkkes, rides. 435.
Ferli, Ferly,^^ i )a marvel,
wonder, (3) marvel-
lous, strange, (3) won-
derfully, greatly.
Ferlich, FerUche, (i)
marvellous,wondrous,
( 2)wonderfully,*yfer/y
feU^ very much. 41 1.
Ferlikes, marvels, mira-
cles.
Ferlilic, Ferlyly , wonder
fully, greatly.
Ferme, form, [farther.
Ferre, (i) distant, (2)
Fersch, fresh. [426.
Fertered, enshrined.
Ferthe, fourth.
FerJ>ing, Fer)>3mg, a
fourth part, a fiu-
thing.
Fesauns, a pheasant.
Fest, (l) fist, (2) loaded.
Fest, Festfc, a feast
Fest, Festen, to fasten,
to confine.
Fested,Festend,fasteQed .
Festnes, fiistness, sta-
bility.
Fet, feet.
Fet, Fette, fat.
Fete, Fette,(i) to fetch,
(2) fetched.
Fetel, Fetil, a vessel.
Fetis, Fetys, neat, nice,
pleasant, comely.
Fetisliche,neatly, nicely.
Fetre, to fetter.
Fette, Fetten, to fetch.
Fettled, prepared, made
ready. 433.
FeJ>ered, feathered.
FeJ>ly=/«>/y, truly.
Feute, scent.
Feye, dead. 419.
Fey, faith.
Feyne, to feign.
Feyntise, (i) deceit, (a)
faintness.
Feyr, Feyre, fair, beau-
tiful, [witchcraft
Fejrrie, Feyrye, magic,
Feymesse, complexion,
beauty.
e, even.
de, old age, old.
grown old.
Eldeme, elders.
elder,
ges, elders,
eleventh.
= ellerne, an
-tree. 437.
an ell. [wise.
211is, else, other-
elles, provided,
le, a staff of an
1 length.
a fish so called,
older.
1 uncle. [dor.
sitour, ambassa-
ten, fellow Chris-
ude, emerald.
son)mg, poison-
rsoner, poisoner,
ided, embroider-
:e, to drive out.
jnmens, enchant-
its.
ce, to increase.
, to come to an
tur, crevices.
to end.
5, Endyng, death.
)nes, once. 419.
1, entangled. It
r be an error for
sed, bordered,
mied.
ner, the Infirma-
of an abbey,
med, inflamed.
angel.
English,
leful, skilful,
ny.
, bright.
, an enemy,
one (ace), [dow.
nbre, to oversha-
GLOSSARV.
Enpoysened, poisoned.
Enqueri, to inquire.
Enseure, to insure.
Entrete, to treat of.
Eode, went.
Eome, to run.
Eor>e, earth.
Eovil[e], evilly, badly.
Er, (i) before, (2) are.
Erand, an errand.
Erd, land, abode. 386.
Erde, earth.
Erding-stowe, dwelling-
place, abode.
Ere, (i) an ear, (2) are.
Eres, ears.
Erf, Erfe, cattle. 381.
Ering, earing.
Erl, an earl.
Erliche, Erlyche, early.
Em, Eme, an eagle.
Emde, an errand.
Ernest, earnest.
Emestly, quickly.
Erst, first. [that.
Erst >an = «r >fln, ere
Ert, art.
Erth, earth.
Erthe, to dwell.
ErJ>e, earth, ground.
Er)>eli, earthly, [quake.
Er|>e-movyng, earth-
Ertou, art thou.
Erur, before.
Erve, cattle. 381.
Es, is.
Esse, (i) is, (2) to ask.
Esste, asked.
Est, the east.
Este, pleasant 418.
Et, ate.
Etayn, a giant. 435.
Ete, to eat.
Eten, to eat.
Ette, ate.
Ethen, hence.
E^en= belSen, hence.
EtSi-modes, kind, merci-
ful. 389. [435.
Ettle, to come, arrive.
Evele3, evils.
Gg 2
Evereuch, every.
Everilc, each. 386.
Evre, ever.
Evrich, every.
Evreich, every, each.
Evrelestynde, everlast-
ing.
Evylle, sickness.
Ewe ardaunt, brandy.
Expoune, Expowue, to
expound.
Ejrr, the air.
Eyre, heir.
E3e, an eye.
E3en, eyes.
Fa, Faa, a foe. 413.
Faand, fotmd.
Faas, Faes, foes.
Fade, hostile.
Fader, a father.
Fagen, fain, glad. 390.
Faght, fought
Fai, faith.
Faines, gladdens, re-
joices.
Faire, Fajrre, feir, hon-
ourable, courteous,
worthily.
Fais, foes.
Faku, fallow. 424.
Fale^fele, many.
Falle, (I) to befaU, (2)
fallen.
Fals, false.
Falshede, falsehood.
Falthe, feUeth, falls.
Fah, falters, fails.
Famen,foemen,enemies.
Fand, found.
Fande, to try, tempt
Fanding, temptation,
trial, pi. Fandinges.
Fang, Fange, to take.
Fannand, waving, flow-
ing, [flies.
Fannej, fans, flutters,
Fantoum,Fantum,an ap-
parition, a phantom.
45*
Far, Fare, Faren, to go,
proceed, act, behave.
Fare, way, course.
Fare, Faren, gone, de-
parted. 384.
Fars, fares. r4^'^*
Fastrede, firm in counsel.
Fa)>med, embraced.
Faure, Fawre, four.
Faurtend, fourteenth.
Faut, a fault 431.
Fauvel, Fauwel, Favel,
flattery. 437.
Fax, hair. 435.
Fay, faith.
Fayli, to fail.
Fa3m, glad.
Fajrmes, beauty, [craft.
Fa}Ty3e, magic, witch-
Fayten, to mortify
Fe, Fee, cattle, money,
property, /«. 384.
FebleUke, feebly,poorly,
niggardly.
Febli, to become feeble.
Feblore, feebler.
Febly, to become feeble.
Feche, Fecche, Fechen,
to fetch.
Feend, fiend, deviL
Fees, cities.
Feer, fire.
Feere, a companion.
Feffede, endowed, be-
stowed. 4 1 3.
Feh, a dress of various
colours. 418.
Fei, faith, [courteous.
Feir, Feire, fair, dvil,
Feirth, fourth.
Feith. FeiJ>. faith.
Feihely. FeijeHy.FeijJ*-
liche, truly.
Fel, Fdle, fierce, cruel.
Fd,FeUe,ahill,pl.Fels,
FeUes. hills.
Pel, FeUe, the skin,
hid^^. 417.
>Hiw. Fcbw» Fdbiwe» *
\
QLOSSARF.
FclawschapeJ'elajrshyp,
fellowship.
Feld,(i)felt, (2) hidden.
Feld. Felde, a field.
Feldfare, a bird socaUed.
Felde. (I) fell, (2) filled.
Fele, many.
Fele, to feel, experience.
Felefalded, manifold,
multiplied.
Felle, hardy, fierce,
cruel, horrible, dread-
ful. 412.
Felon, Felun, (l) a
wretch, (2) wretched,
wicked. 412.
Felonye, shame, dis-
grace, crime.
Felunliche, Felunly,
wickedly, fiercely.
Fen, the name of the
sections of Avicenne's
great work entitled
Canun,
Fen, dirt, mud, marsh.
Fend, an enemy, fiend,
deviL
Feng, took.
Feole, many.
Feor, Fer, Ferr, hi.
Ferd, Ferde, Fered, fear,
fright.
Ferd, Fer<ife, went, de-
parted, fared. 391.
Ferde, Verde, army,
hosL 391.
Ferdnes, fear.
Fere, (i) fire, (2) bold,
courageous, (3) to
firighten.
Fere, (i) a mate, com-
panion, (2) akin, ' 01
fere,* together, in
company.
Feren, companions.
Feren, afar. 3S0.
Ferene, fern, brake.
FcrforK far.
Ferkkes, rides. 435.
lous, strange, (3) won-
derfully, greatiy.
Ferlich, Ferliche, (i)
marvelloas,wondroQS,
( 2)wonderfully,*yWy
fele,* very much. 41 1.
Ferlikes, mianrds, mira-
cles.
Ferlilic, Ferlyly, wonder
fully, greatly.
Ferme, farm, [farther.
Ferre. (i) distant, (2)
Fcrsch, fresh. [426.
Fertered, enshrined.
Ferthe, fourth.
FerJ>ing, FerJ»yng, a
fourth part, a fu-
thing.
Fesauns, a pheasant
Fest, (i) fist, (2) loaded.
Fest, Feste, a feast
Fest, Festen, to fasten,
to confine.
Fested,Festend,fasteoed.
Festnes, fiistness, sta-
bility.
Fetfeet
Fet, Fette, fat
Fete, Fette, (i) to fetch,
(2) fetched.
Fetd, Fetil, a vessel.
Fetis, Fetjrs, neat, nice,
pleasant, comely.
Fetisliche,neatly , nicely.
Fetre, to fetter.
Fette, Fetten, to fetch.
Fettled, prepared, made
ready. 432.
FeJ>ered, feathered.
Fe}»ly=/«>/y, truly.
Feute, scent
Feye, dead. 419.
Fey, faith.
Feyne, to feign.
Feyntise, (i) deceit, (2)
faintness.
j Feyr, Feyre, fair, beau-
I tifiiL [witchcraft
Feyrie, Fejrrye, magic,
Feymesse, complexion.
V
faith, [tending.
de, fighting, con-
ig, fighting.
, feeble.
s, fourth.
^e.
ide, fifteenth.
fth.
i)fight,(2) fights.
:, fiehting, con-
. 406.
deceitful, ^cW^.
, defiling. 416.
lefiled.
e, gold wire.
0 defile.
, to follow. 417.
agirl(?)
lied. [fine.
yn, (i)end, (2)
'C.
-Jristy a long
od, delay. 423.
fishes.
1) a fight, (2)
ts.
to fight.
le, a flame.
Ti, a priest.
;s, pancakes. 409.
ces sparks. [en.
to terrify, fright-
l, fleeing, flying.
fleece.
, Fleih, flew.
leyng, flying.
Fleissh, flesh.
ily, fleshly,
flew.
, (i) to banish,
banished, exiled.
to flee,
lych, carnal.
1 floor.
to float, swim.
, floats.
, floated,
flesh.
ge, flying, [flesh.
\lust, lust of the
GLOSSARF.
Flej, flew.
Flighand, flying.
Flitte, to remove.
Flijst, fliest.
Flijt, flies.
Flo, to flay.
Flo=/tfo, to flee.
Flo, an arrow.
Flod, Flode, a flood.
Floh=/oJ>, flows.
Flon, arrows.
Flon=^tfo«, to flee.
Flor, floor.
Flot, boiling fat. 434.
Flote, a company. 410.
Flote, floated.
FloJ> =/tfoJ>, flies, fly.
Flowe, Flowen, pi. flew.
Flojed, flowed.
Flude, a flood.
Flum, a stream, river.
394.
Flwe, flew.
Fl3rt, current, course
(from Jlinet to re-
move).
Fl3rtande, striving, con-
tending {from Jlite or
Jly teyto chide). 434.
Flyth, flies.
Flyjes, flies.
Fly3t, flight.
Fnast, breath. 396.
Fnaste, to breathe.
Fo we, let us proceed.
400.
Fo, foe.
Fo, few. 392.
Foch, Foche, to fetch.
Fode, food.
Fode, person, creature,
child, pi. Fodej, crea-
tures. 418.
F oded =fondedf tempt-
ed, enticed.
Foghles.Fogheles, birds.
Fol, full, very.
Folcouthe, well assured.
Folde, earth.
Folde3, imp. turn over
to, assigci.
453
Fole, foal. [foolish.
Fole, (i) a fool, (2)
Folewe, to follow.
FolfiUe, to fulfill.
Folfult, fulfilled.
Folken, of people.
Folmarde, a polecat.
Folpayd,richly endowed.
Foltede, foolish. 421.
Folwing, following.
Foly, foolishly.
Folowand, Foluande,
Folwande, following,
corresponding.
Fol3e, to follow. 401.
Fom, foam.
Fomon, an enemy.
Fon, Fone, few. 429.
Fon, ceased. 432.
Fon, to take. 420.
Fon, foes. 413.
Fond, Fonde, found.
Fonde, to try, attempt,
engage.
Fondyng, temptation.
Foner, fewer.
Fonge, to take, receive.
Fongej, takes.
Fonger, receiver.
Font, found.
Foo, foe, enemy.
Foondes, harbours.
For, went. 384.
For s=feort far.
Forbedd, forbad.
Forbede, Forbeode, to
forbid.
Forbedun, forbidden.
Forbere, to forbear, ab-
stain.
Forbeme, to consume.
Fordedes, good deeds.
Fordon, Fordo, (i) to
ruin, destroy, (2) un-
done.
Fordred, sore afraid.
Fordronk =fordronkent
exceedingly drunk.
Fordrue, dried up. 405.
Foren, ipne^ dei5a.tted>
454
Foreward, Forewarde,
Forward, Forwarde,
a promise, coTenant,
agreement.
Forfare, to destroy.
Forferde, destroyoi.
Forga, to forego.
Forgaf, forgave.
Forgart, lost. 431.
Forgete, to forget.
Forhede, to hide. 422.
Forhele, to hide, keep
secret. 373, 391.
Forhiler, concealer.
Forhiling, refuge, asy-
lum, [den. 391.
Forhole, Forholen, hid-
Forleost, loseth.
Forlese, to destroy.
Forlet,(i) leaves off, (2)
left. 393, 396.
Forlete, to leave, refuse.
Forloren, Forlorn, for-
lorn, lost, ruined, de-
stroyed. [4^1.
Forloyned, gone astray.
Formast, first.
Forme, first. 428.
Forme-fader, Formere-
fader, Forme^foster,
first father.
Formest, first.
Formyour, creator.
Fomes, furnace.
Fomumen, taken away,
deprived of.
Forquat, Forqui, for-
what, wherefore.
Forred, covered with fur.
For-red, deceived. 388.
Forsake, to refuse.
Forsoc, refused,
Forsoth, Forso}>, For-
sothe, forsooth, truly,
indeed.
Forst, frost. [falsely.
Forswere, to swear
Forsweringe, perjury.
Forsweringes, peijuries.
Fort, Forte, Forto, xni-
til, for to.
OLOSSARF.
Forth, forwards. [423.
Forthe, scum, froitb.
ForK way, passage.
Forthan, For)>an, for
that reason, therefore.
For)> cumen, pp. come to
pass.
For|>e =/3irJ»i, therefore,
ForJ>er, to further.
Forthers, For|)er, fur-
ther, moreover.
Forthfare, to go forth.
Forthi, Forthie, there-
fore, wherefore, al-
though, [fore.
ForSi, therefore, where-
For|>inke, For^ynke, to
repent. [forth.
Forthledand, leading
For)>rast, thrust down,
overwhelmed. 431.
Forjjwit, before. 423.
Fortone, fortune.
Fortune (be), perchance.
Forvorth, far forth, far.
Forwake, to be weary
with watching.
Forward, Forwarde, co-
venant, agreement.
Forwhi, wherefore.
Forwit, before. 423.
Forworthes, come to
nothing, perish. 429.
Forwrojt, overworked,
fatigued.
Forj, a furrow.
For3af, forgave. [387.
For3elde, to requite.
Forjet, forgot.
For-3ete, to forget.
For3eten, forgotten.
For3et3mge, forgetfiil-
ness. [forgive.
For3eve, For3yve, to
For30ven, forgiven.
Fot= fatf vat, vessel,
422.
Fot, Fote, a foot.
Fotte, to fetch.
Fouled, Fowled, defiled.
Founde, to establish.
Founde -fonde^ to seek.
Founde, to go, come.
Founde, pp. found.
Foundere, to destroy.
Founde[re]de,destroyed.
Foun3t, the baptianal
fount.
Founs, the bottom.
Fourtene ni3t, fortnight
Foute, scent.
Fou3ten, fought.
Fojme, to fence, push
aside.
Foyson, Foysoun, Foy-
syr, plenty, abun-
dance.
Fo3e, consent. 400.
Fo3le,Fo3ele,a bird, fowL
Fra, from. 383.
Frainde, enquired.
Fraiste, to try, seek.
Fram, from.
Frame, advantage.
Fraward, forward.
Frajm, Frayne, to ask,
enquire, seek. 385.
Frayst, sought. 416.
Frayst, Frayste, to seek.
Fraysted, tried.
Frayste3, seeks. •
Fredom, generosity.
Freeltie, frailty.
Freinde, enquired. 385.
Freis, Freisshe, fresh.
Frek, bold, hardy. 430.
Frek, Freke, a man,
person, pi. Freke3.
430.
Frele, frail.
Freliche, Frely, (i) no-
ble, good, (2) richly,
beautifully.
Freme = queme^ to
please.
Frend, Freind, a friend.
Freo, free,
Freomen, freemen.
V Ftet, Frete, to eat. 386.
to furnish, fill.
he, Freliche,
1, noble,
timid, fearfiil.
ed, fear,
ke, timidly.
Fr3rth, a wood,
[tect.
to preserve, pro-
om. 380.
freezes. [ring.
ge, rubbing, jar-
to foam,
g, foaming.
, forehead,
rutte, FTytt fruit,
anne, birds.
, Fugele, Fu3ele,
,bh-d.
re.
lie, foul. 4 16.
omplete, fulfilled,
fool.
Fulfilt, ful-
l, filled full.
, fulness,
perfect.
1, abundant. 387.
ihed, abundance,
teousness. [435.
, to aid, assist.
, follows,
ite, fumes arising
I excessive drink-
Funden, found.
>, Fundie|>, goes,
o. 404.
•e.
5t, first.
le first,
ire.
a bird,
ights.
;, defiling,
iding.
ceased,
farther,
feather, pi. Fy-
GLOSSARF.
Fyjt, fight, contest.
Ga, to go. [go.
Gaes, Gaas, Gais, imp.
Gabbe,to lie, joke. 41 1.
Gadere, Gaderen, Ga-
dre, Gadery, to ga-
ther.
Gaf, gave.
Gain, good. 431.
Gainges, goings, paths
(see Ga).
Galegale, chatterer. 400,
401. [409.
Galues, the gallows.
Galwe-tre, the gallows.
Galle, gall.
Game, Gamen, play,
sport, pleasure.
Gan, did.
Gan, pp. gone. [ing.
Gangand, going, walk-
Gangen, to go. 407.
Gar, to make.
Gare, ready, >artf. 393.
Gamement, garment.
Garryng, having a harsh
gutteral sound.
Gart, made.
Gast, aghast.
Gast,Gaste, ghost, spirit.
Gastlic, spiritually.
Gat, gate, path, way.
Gatte, Gatten, granted.
393.
Gaude, ornament.
Ga3m, good, service-
able, useful. 431.
Gaynliche, pleasantly.
Gaynly, kindly.
Ge, ye.
Gede, went.
Gedel3mg = gadling,
vagabond. 419.
Gedere, Gecfre, to ga-
ther, lift up.
Gef, (i) if, (3) gave.
Gees, geese.
Geld, requited (see
3elde). 387.
Gendered, bom.
455
Gendrej, kinds.
Gendrye, to engender.
Genge, nations. 417.
Gent, gentle.
Gentiliche, nobly.
Ger, to compel, to make.
Ger, Gere, year.
Gered, behaved, man-
nered.
Gered, clothed.
Geren, to prepare, set
in order. 303. [389.
Gerken, to prepare.
Gem, Geme, earnestly.
Gers, Geres, compels.
Gert, (i ) did, caused, (2)
girded.
Geseme, Giserne, axe.
Gesse, to think, suppose.
Gesse, to deem, sup-
pose, order, place.
Gessynge, judging, cen-
suring.
Gest = gert (p, 133, 1.
208), caused.
Gest, goest. 405.
Gest, guest, stranger.
Gest, made.
Gestening, Gestning,
lodging. 422.
Gestes, deeds, stories.
Get, yet.
Gete, to get.
Gett, handed down,
transmitted.
Gel>, goes.
Geve, Gcven, to give.
Geven, given.
Ge3mest, fairest (see
Gayn). 420.
Ghe, she.
Gif, Gife, to give.
Gilden-moth, golden
mouth.
Gile, to beguile.
Gilt, guilt, [vice, craft.
Ginne, contrivance, de-
Ginne, to begin.
GinneJ>, howls. 436.
, Gvtdft, ^dfti*
45<5
Givand, giving, [glided.
Glad, Glade, Glode,
Gbuldore, more glad.
Glade, glad.
Glade, to become glad,
to gladden.
Gladur, more gbd.
Glam, word. 434.
Glaumande, boisterous.
Gle, song, glee. 418.
Gled, Glede, glad.
Glede, to rejoice, be
glad,
Glednesse, gladness.
Glediynde, rejoicing.
Glemered, glimmered.
Glent, looked, glanced,
shone.
Glen, skilful. 400.
Glod, came.
Gloir, glory.
Glopnid, Gloppend,
terrified, frightened.
423.
Glosed, spoke pleasant-
ly, flattered.
Glosjrnge, interpreting.
Glotonie, gluttony, [ing.
Glouand, burning, glow-
Glydande, going, walk-
ing.
Gnide, to break in
pieces. 417.
Gobet, Gobat, a piece,
morsel. 438.
God, Gode, good.
Goddeli, goodly, plea-
santly.
Godelych, good, goodly.
Goderhele, welfare,
safety. 413.
Godhede, goodness.
Godles, goodless, having
no goods.
Godnisse, goodness.
Godspelle, gospel.
Golet, gullet.
Gome, man. 405.
Gome, Gomcn, spott,
play, game. 406.
Gon, Gone, to go.
\
GLOSSARF.
Gone, to ga^, jrawn.
Gonge, to go (see
Gange).
Gonne, i^ began, did.
Goon, to go.
Goot, a goat.
Gorde, rushed.
Gore, dress. 430.
Gore, filth. 431.
Gorste3, gorse, heath.
Gost, G<Kte, spirit.
Gote3, streams.
Got), goes.
GoJ>, goes.
Qol>, imp. go.
Goud, good. [408.
Goule, Goulen, to howl.
Gou we, let us go.
Grzd—gret, cries
(shame upon).
Grad, Gradde, cried.
Grai)>e, to ordain.
Gram, Grame, anger,
wrath, disgust, grief.
397.
Gramere, grammar.
Granand, groaning.
Granti, to consent,
grant.
Gratlyche, greatly.
Gratheli = graiibeli,
readily, easily.
Grattest, greatest
Graunte, Graunti, to
grant.
Grave, to bury.
Graven, buried.
GrayJ>e, ready.
Gray}>e, to prepare.
Graybed, placed, seated.
Grayl^ed, prepared,
dressed. [diest.
GrayJ>est, nearest, rca-
Grayj>ely, quickly, rea-
dily, fimaly.
Graz, grace.
Grede, cry, to cry. 397.
Gredy, greedy, [noise.
Gxcd^^, Gredynge,
Gief5X\, ^eaJiJt^.
v'
Grei)>ede, prqnred.
Greme, to anger, wrath.
Gren, Grene, green.
Gienne, to grin.
Gres, Gresse, grass. 41S.
Greses, grasses.
Gret, wept 383, 392.
Gret, Grete, great;
comp. Grettcr.
Gret, Grete, to cry,
weep. 392.
Gretande, mourning,
weeping, sorrowing.
Gretes, of the great
Grete, to greet
Qtttt—grette, wept
Gretely, greatly.
Greten, to greet.
Greten, wept.
Gretli, greatly.
Gretliche, greatly.
Grette, greeted, sahted.
Gretyng, greeting.
Greved, grieved.
Grreve, grove.
Grevi, to be heavy.
Gre)m, Greyne, grain.
Gre3rthe, to prepare, or-
der, build.
Greythede, prepared,
made.
Griefe, to grieve.
Grim, savage, fierce.
Grindinge, gnashing.
Grip, dragon. 409.
Grrisbritinge, a gnashing
or grinding of the
teeth. [fear. 400.
Grise, to be afraid, to
Grislich, Grisliche, hor-
rid, horrible, fright-
ful.
Griseliche, horrible.
Grisely, Grisly, horrid,
horrible. [406.
Grith, safety, peace.
Gril>bruche, breach of
the peace. 406.
Grocching, grumbling.
Ck^QosR., man. 405.
, Grony, to groan,
It. 414.
lamented, be-
led. [wail. 383.
1, to lament, be-
weeping,
;, pieces.
, to grow. [417.
ded, established,
des, foundations,
ling, on the face,
iTelling.
ind, growing.
e, to pout the
grumble,
lide, murmured,
ling, murmuring,
nbling. 403.
flat on the face.
;, struck, caused
luiver. 398.
, ground.
\iik%=^gruudiliJee,
:dUy.
>harp. [rowful.
stern, grim^ sor-
y, fiercely,
ne, pi. rough,
ne, sharp, [teeth.
to gnash the
el-layk, boldness,
pigs.
I kind of fur. 418.
y, Gryslich, hor-
ness, hideousness.
>u.
jude, good,
julte, guilt, tres-
, fault.
runne, begun, did.
, young.
St, youngest,
ogo.
5e, going.
Guode, good.
3ure,your, of you.
, to strike off.
=gestesy deeds.
Gyden, to guide.
GLOSSARF.
Gylen, to beguile.
Gyn, vessel, engine.
Gyng, host, assembly.
Gyteme, a guitar.
Gjrve, a gift.
Ha, he.
Habbe, I have.
Habbe, Habben, to have,
Habbej, hast.
Habide, to abide.
Hach, hatch, cover.
Haf, have.
Hafd, Haft, had.
Hagt, anxiety, griefi
sorrow. 384.
Haire-clout, a garment
of horse-hair. 383.
Haigre, hair cloth. 383.
Hak, a hatchet.
Hailed = baled, rushed.
Halched, fastened.
lialce = bals, neck.
Hald, Halde, Halden,
to hold.
Haldand, holding.
Halden, held in good
repute, esteemed.
Halden, pp. held.
Hal-dor, the hall-door.
Hale, to rush. 433.
Hale, recess, hole. 395.
Hale, whole.
Halely, wholly.
Half, side. [416.
Halgh, holy, a saint.
Hali, holy.
Halke, comer, recess.
Halmes, stalks. It may
be an error forHalines,
holiness (see note
P- 425).
Halp, helped.
Hals, the neck. 408.
Halse, entreat, conjure.
Halt, holds.
Halve, half.
Halvendele, half.
Halves, shares.
Hnlwede, hallowed,
Haly, holy.
457
Halydom, reliques of
saints. 421.
Haljrwater, holy water
Hal3ed, hallowed.
Ham, them.
Ham, Hame, home.
Hamward, homeward.
Han, to have. [429.
Hand = an^, breath.
Hap, Happe, good for-
tune, hap, chance.
Hapnest, most fortu-
nate, happy.
Harde, severe.
Hardeliche, courage-
ously, boldly.
Hare, their, theirs.
Hamais, furniture.
Harryng, grating, rough.
HarSe= i&ar<i«, hard.
Hasardour, a gambler,
gamester.
Hasardrie, Hasardrye,
gambling, playing at
dice.
Hasped, enclosed, en-
veloped, fastened
(with a hasp.)
Hastly, hastily.
Hat, Hatte, is called,
named, designated.
JJ92-
Hatande, hating.
Hate, to command. 392.
Ha)>el,a noble, a knight.
Hatiet, hates.
Hatren, clothes. 421.
Hattest, art called,
Hatj, has. [411.
Haunte, to frequent.
Haunted, practised.
Haubergh, hauberk.
Haved = b(W^, has.
Havede, had.
Handlen, to handle.
Haveck, Haveke, a
hawk.
Havekej, hawks.
Haven, to have, pret.
458
Havest, Haves, hast.
Havkes, hawks.
Havid, Haved, had.
Havis, has.
Hawbergh, hauberk.
Ha we,enclosure, garden.
457- [nes. 4"-
Hawen, hawthorn ber-
Hajer, more fit.
He, eye. 425.
He — ^«o, she,
He, bot or bue, they.
Heape, assembly,
Hed, Hede. the head.
Hede, heed.
Hedde, Hedden, had.
Hedle3, headless.
Heed, the head.
Heengen, pi. hang.
Heeved, the head.
Hef, rose, swelled.
Hegest, highest.
Hegge, a hedge.
Hegh, Heghe, high,
Heghest, highest.
Heghnes, highness,
height.
Heght, height.
Hei, Heie, high.
Heiemen, Heyemen,
noblemen.
Heihliche, greatly.
Hcilede = beilsede, sa-
luted. 438.
Heilnesse, health. 385.
Heind = bend^comteoMS,
Heivol, haughty,
Hei3e, high.
Heijte, height.
Hel, Hele, salvation.
Held, Helde = eW, old
age, age.
Helde = bolde, esteem.
Helde, to bend down.
416.
Helder, rather.
Hele, to heal.
Hele, salvation, health.
Heled, covered. 379.
Heles, covers.
Heling, salvation.
OLOSSARF.
Helm, a helmet.
Hel)>e, health.
HeltSe, safety.
Hem, them.
Heme, a shirt, skirt.
Hend, Hende, hands.
Hende, near. 467.
Hende, urbane, cour-
teous.
Hendely, courteously.
Hendest,most courteous.
Hendy, gracious.
Henge, to hang, [hence.
Hennes, (i) hens, (2)
Hens, hence.
Hent, Hente, seized.
Heo, (i) they, (2) she.
Heom, them.
Heonnes, hence.
Heor, Heore, their.
Heore, theirs. 411.
Her = «r, before.
Her-bi, hereby.
Her, (i) hear, (2) here.
Her, Here, the hair.
Her, of them.
Her- of, hereof.
Herande, hearing. [394.
Herbergeri, lodging.
Herbivore, here before.
Herborw, harbour,
abode. 394.
Herborwed, lodged,
sheltered. 394.
Herd, hard.
Herde, a keeper of
cattle.
Herdes =erdest lands.,
Herdne, an errand. 385.
Here, an army. 393.
Here, of them, their.
Here, to hear, pret.
Herde.
Here, a hair shirt.
Here, the hair.
Here-ward, her-ward.
Heres, theirs.
Keren, an army. 393.
Hwve, to praise. 428.
V
V
Herke, Herkne, to
hearken.
Herle, fiUet.
Hemes, brains.
Heme3 = «nf«s, eagles.
Herre, higher. 405.
Hert, a hart.
Herte, the heart.
Herte-blood, heart's
blood. [383.
Herteden, consoled.
Herting, consolation,
comfort.
Herttes, Herttej, harts.
Hervest, harvest.
Herye, to praise. 428.
Heryinge, praise.
Her3mg, hearing. •
Hest, hast.
Hest, highest. 419.
Hestes, behests.
Het=tf/, ate.
Het, it. [mised. 393.
Het, was called, pro-
Hete, (i) heat, (2) hate.
Hete, bid. 392. [433.
Heterly,quickly, hastily.
Heth, He>, hath.
Hethe, to entreat.
HeJ>e, heath. [408.
Hethede, conunanded.
Hethen, HetSen, hence.
Hel>ene, heathen.
HeHng, scorn. 423.
lien = bete, heat.
Hette, called, promised.
Hetterly, fiercely. 433.
Hettej, promisedest.
Heu, hue.
Heve, heavy.
Heved, the head.
Hevede, had.
Heven, to raise.
Heveneriche, the king-
dom of heaven.
Hevenlyche, heavenly.
Hevidles, headless.
Hevy, heavy.
Hevyd, the head.
'S^K'j^HftYe, hay.
leight.
igh.
e, great, high.
le, chiefly.
height.
(i) they, (2) she.
, haste, to hasten.
hides of land.
hither.
ard, hitherward.
lither. [quickly.
iste, *in hie,*
leld.
:o hear.
hewed, cut.
:alled, was called,
lised.
gh.
.ihte, was called,
nanded, pro-
i. 392.
•y-
I cover. 379.
overed.
:overing. [vants.
1) him, (2) ser-
ie, servants,
ie, hanging.
r, hair,
se, herds.
) her, (2) their,
let on hire.
arrives.
}e, high,
hasten. 415.
hastened.
:, long.
it, it.
omised. 392.
)y, honour. 401.
0 rejoice, [est.
= bi^este, high-
she, (2) who.
0, they.
ej, she-beasts,
to hobble,
•ok, sickle,
hood.
uge.
GLOSSARY.
Hogt=/o,§'/, taken.
Hoked, hooked.
Hokes, hooks.
Hoi, whole, sound.
Hold =*toW, held.
Holde to, to go to.
Holde, beholden, in-
debted, [hold.
HolAt^beolde, should
Holde, faithful.
Holden, held, kept.
Hole, whole.
Holewe, hollow.
Holly, wholly.
HoUyn, holly.
Holw, hollow.
Holyliche, adv. holy.
Hom,(i) home,(2)them.
Homicidy, murder.
Hond, hand.
Hond, Honde, hound.
Honde, hands.
Hondele, to handle.
Honden, hands.
Hondselle, hansel, gift.
Honge, Hongen, to
hang.
Honger, hunger.
Honne, hence.
Hontinge, hunting.
Honurand, honouring.
Hoor, hoar, hoary.
Hoot, hot.
Hop, hope, trust, [ing.
Hopand, hoping, trust-
Hor, their, of them.
Hordom, whoredom.
Hore,(i) hoary,{2) their.
Hors, pi. horses.
Horte=i&«)r/^,the heart.
Horwed, unclean. 432.
Hose, whose.
Hoseli, Hosle, Hoslon,
to housle, to admi-
nister the sacrament.
407.
Hote, hot.
Hote, to command. 392
Hoten, called.
Hotene, promised.
HotetS, imp. ptomise.
459
Hoteth, is called.
Hou, how.
Houle, an owl.
Houve, cap, hood.
Hove, to abide, dwell.
Hoved, abode.
Hoven, raised.
Hovene, heaven.
Hovenriche, the king-
dom of heaven.
Hoves, behoves.
Hoves, hoofs.
Hovej, hovers.
How=i&«)w, colour,
hue, 404.
How-gate, how-so.
Hoxterye, huckstry.
438.
Hu, Hu3, colour, hue.
Hu, how.
Huam, whom.
Huanne, when.
Huannes, whence.
Hud, imp. hide.
Hude, to hide.
Hudinge, secresy. 415.
Hue, they.
Huer, where.
Huere, their.
Huerto, whereto.
Huermyde, wherewith.
Huervore, wherefore.
Huet, what.
Huichen, which.
Huimes=: i&«m«s, cor-
ners, hiding-places.
Hul, a hill.
Huld, held.
Hulde, to hold.
Hulde, pi. held.
Hulde, to flay. 413.
Hulde, should hold.
Hule, an owl.
Hules, protects.
HuUes, hiUs. [dred.
Hundret,Hundreth, hun-
Himger, famine.
Hungren, to hunger.
Hungri-ger, famine-
460
Hunne, to grant. 389.
Hno, who.
Hupte, hopped.
Hurde, heard.
Hure, our, of us. 400.
Hure, Huire, hire, re-
ward.
Hure and hure, alter-
nately. 395.
Hurkled, rested. 433.
Hume, comer. 395.
Hurrok, an oar. 433.
Hurte, the heart.
Hus, Huse, a house.
Huych, Huyche, which.
Huyre, hire.
Huyter, whiter.
Hwan, when.
Hwar, where.
Hwat, why, what.
Hwatliche,quickly. 406.
Hwe, hue, colour, com-
plexion.
Hwed, hued, coloured.
Hwere, where.
Hwet, what I lo !
Hwi, why. [interval.
Hwil, Hwile, while, an
Hwo, who.
Hwuch, which, what.
Hy, she.
Hy, they.
Hyh, Hyhe, high.
Hyht, promised.
Hynd, hinder, back-
wards,
ll3me, him.
Hyne, a servant, hind.
Hyng, Hynge, to hang.
Hyre, (1) her, (2) their.
Hyghte, was called.
Hy3, Hyje, high.
Hy3e, heights.
Hy3ed, hastened.
Hy3est, highest.
Hy3e3, hastens, [height.
Hy3t, (i) called, (2)
I bake, pp. baked. [/^^,
Jbanned, summoned.
Ibe, Ibeo, been.
\
GLOSSARF.
Ibere, sound, noise. 400.
Iblesset, pp. blessed.
Iblowe, blown. 404.
I-bore, bom.
Ibounde, pp. bound.
I-broken, broken.
I-bro3t, pp. brought.
Ic, I.
leaned, pp. carried.
Ich, (I) I. (2) each.
Ichabbe, Ichave, I have.
Icham, I am.
Ichcholle, I will.
Iche, each.
I-clepet, pp. called.
Ichot — / wot, I know.
Icholle = icb wolle,lwiU,
IchuUe, I will.
I-cloJ>ed, pp. clothed.
Iduped, pp. called.
Icome, pp. come.
Icopet, coped, having a
cope.
I-cristned, I-cristnid, I-
cristened, pp. baptized.
Icundur, more like. 398.
Icwede, spoken. 405.
Icweme, to please.
Idel, (1) idle, (2) idoL
Idelnisse, idleness.
Idolven, pp. dug.
Ido, Idon, done, caused.
Idyket, pp. ditched.
I fare, gone.
I-fn3et, pp. fried.
Ifuld, pp. filled.
Ig,I.
Igain, Igaines, against
Igain-sawe, contradic-
tion. 384.
I-gistned, pp. lodged, en-
tertained. 422.
I-gon, gone.
Igranted, pp. granted,
1-had, pp. had.
Ihert, pp. heard.
Ihold, residence. 404.
Iholde, esteemed.
I-hote, called.
I-kept, pp. kept
I-kest, casts, cast.
II, bad wicked.
Iladde, led.
Haste, lasted.
I-leave, permission.
I-leve, to believe.
I-leaen, lain. [peers.
Dike, ( I ) alike, ( 2) com-
Iliknet, compared.
Ili3t, pp. lit
Ilk, (i) same, (3) each.
Ilka, each.
Ilkan, each one.
like, same.
lUe, bad, wicked.
Home, frequently.
Ilyche, alike.
Imad, pp. made.
Imang, Imange, among.
Imeind, mixed. 395.
Imid, amid, amidst.
In-come, to come in.
In-don, pp. collected, ga-
thered.
Ine =egb€H, eyes. 430.'
Ine, in.
In-middes, amidst.
In-monge3, amongst.
Inne, adv. in.
In-nogh, Innoghe,
enough, sufficiently,
*innogbe knawen,*
well-faiown.
Inomen, taken.
Inou, enough.
Inouwe, pi. enough.
Ins:3t, insight.
In-spranc, entered,
sprang in.
Insted, instead.
In-wis = riMS, truly.
Inwyt, Innerwit, con-
science.
I-ordeyned, pp. ordamcd.
loyeden, pi. rejoiced.
I-potayne, hippopota-
mus.
Irchones, Irchounes,
I hedghogs. 418.
\ \\^,\«x.»
OLOSSARr.
461
-redy, ready.
s, them.
sed, pp. said.
sei, Isey, saw.
seo, to see.
set, pp. set.
sej>, pi. see.
!seye, pi. saw.
!se3en, seen.
Islept, pp. slept. [404.
!sliked, made smooth.
Isome, peaceable. 406.
Isowen, sown, [tained
isousteined, pp. sus-
spoused, pp. spoused.
!ssote, pp. shot.
[ssue, hole, opening.
[susteined, pp. sustained.
;-termynet, pp. ended.
:)>e3, throve. 415.
tide, to betide.
•trised, Itri3et, pp. tried,
proved.
tumd, pp. turned.
vel, evil, disease, sick-
ness.
TO, seize. 403.
[war, wary. 398.
[wis, truly.
[wite, to blame.
[woned, wont, accus-
tomed.
wonne, pp. won.
■wri>en, pp. twisted, en-
twined.
wrou3t, pp. worked.
vryis — iwis, indeed, in
truth.
[-3ete, eaten. 412.
•3oIde, restored. 413.
anglande, talking. 421.
anglers, chatterers,
apers, jesters, [vices.
apes, Jape3, jokes, de-
aunys, jaundice.
eaunte3, giants,
olef, pleasant,
blil^, joyfully, merrily,
oiy, pleasant, joyful.
[opard^, jeopardy.
Jornes, journeys.
Joyfnes, youth.
Joyst, rejoiced.
Juge, judge.
Justise, judge.
Jumpred ^jumpre^ sor-
row, trouble. 434.
Kachereles, catchpolls.
Kalle, to cry out, ex-
claim.
Karf, cut. 408.
Karful, sorrowful.
Kas, accident, * as yn
haSt as happened.
Kateyl, wealth.
Kay, left.
Kayred, departed, went.
Kayser, emperor.
Kaytefes, wretches.
Kechjrn, kitchen.
Kei, key.
Kei3es, keys.
Kele, to cool.
Ken, kine.
Ken, Kene, keen, strong.
Kende, (i) kind, nature,
(2) natural.
Kendeliche, naturally.
Kendes, natures, kinds.
Kene, bold, keen.
Kenly, keenly.
Kenne, kin.
Kenne, shew.
Kenned, shewn, taught.
Kenne}>, teaches.
Kepe, Kepen, to keep
watch, care for, re-
g^d. 399.
Kepe3, regards.
Kepich, care I. 399.
Kepud, kept.
Kepynge, care.
Kertles, mantles.
Kerve, to cut. 408.
Kervynge, cutting.
KtsciiXt = Jiescbt, casts.
Kest, (i) cast, (2) kissed.
Keste, to cast.
Kesten, pi. pret. cast.
Kete, noble.
Kevel, covering. 408.
Keveringe, recovering.
Kid, made known. 385.
Kinde, natural (form).
Kindely, by nature.
Kingrik, Kingrike, a
kingdom.
Kinnesman, kinsman.
Kipte, took.
Kirc, Kirke, church.
Kith, Kithe, to shew.
423-
Kithing, knowledge.
Kitte, to cut.
Kle}>ing, clothing.
'Kxi2.mg= knowing t ac-
quaintances.
Knau, know. [ledge.
Knaulechyng, know-
Knave, boy, servant.
Knawe, to know.
Kneo, a knee.
Kneole, to kneel.
Kneolynge, kneeling.
Kneu3, knew.
Kniht, knight.
Knihthed, knighthood.
Knoleche, to acknow-
ledge.
Knowen, (i) to know,
(2) known, [ledging,
Knowlechinge, acknow-
Knowlych, knowledge.
Knowing, Knowyng,
Knowynge,kuowledge.
Koles, cosds.
KoUed, embraced.
Komen, pp. come.
Kontrey, country.
Koured, cowered.
Kouthe, known.
Krike, creek. 410.
Kud, known, renowned.
Kudde, revealed, mani-
fested.
Kueade, evil.
Kumen = hvmende,
coming.
Kumly, comely. -
Kun, kin.
native, (3) natural,
right.
Kunne, kin, race, nation.
Kunnes, * eny kunnes*
of any kind, any
kind of.
Ku)>)>es, customs.
Kuvere, recover.
Kuynde, natural.
Kuyndely, kindly.
Ku3mdliche, naturally.
Kyd, appeared. 423.
Kyd, Kydde, renowned,
well-known. 423.
Kyn, kine. [race.
K3m, K3mde, kin, kind,
K3md, K3mde, nature.
K3mde, rightful.
K3mdely, according to
custom.
K)me, royal. 409.
Kyngene, of kings.
Kyrf, cut, stroke, *on
hyrf^ one blow.
Kyrtyl, a mantle. 421.
Kyst, Kyste, chest, ark.
Kyth, city, countfy.
kingdom. 423.
Ky}>e3, kingdoms, re-
gions.
Lacche, to take, have.
4IC.
Lacching, receiving.
Lace, belt, girdle.
Lach, to take, have.
Lad, Ladde, led.
Laft, Lafte, left.
Laght,Lagt,took. 385.
Laghter, laughter.
Lahynde, laughing.
Lai, law.
Laite, to seek. 417.
Laitand, seeking.
Lake-ryftes, lake-rifts,
lake-fissures.
Lake, to blame. 429.
Lam, loam, dust. 425.
Lance3, gives, affords,
Lang, Lange, long. \mg.
Lang-mode, long-sviRei-
:A
GLOSSARY.^
Lange, to long for.
Langar, Langer, longer.
Lapped, wrapped, en-
closed.
Lare, Lore, instruction.
Largeliche, largely, libe-
rally.
Lasse, less.
Lasned, became less.
Lastand, lasting, ever-
lasting, [tended.
Lasted, reached, ex-
Lastende, lasting.
Lat, lets, permits.
Late, imp. let.
Latere, latter.
Lates, lets.
Lath, Lathe, loath, dis-
pleased, loathsome,
displeasing. 429.
La^es, bams. 387.
Latsom, loath, disin-
clined. 429.
Lauer, lower.
Laumpe, lamp.
Lauhwe, to laugh.
Laused, opened.
Laute, took. 410.
Lavande, flowing. 432.
Laverd, lord.
Laverding, a lord, noble.
Laverdschipe, lordship.
Laverock, lark.
Law, Lawe, low^
Lay, (l) a song, (2) law.
Layke,to play, 430, 408.
Laykes, sports.
Laykej, sports, devices.
Layk)mg, sport, play,
amusement
Layt, La3rte, to seek.
Layt, lightning.
Laytes, seeks.
La3rth, wicked.
Laje, to laugh.
La3ed, laughed.
La^es, laughs.
Lajinge, laughing.
La^t, seized, taken, fast-
tivt^. •>>'^^, \\o.
Leche, to heal.
Leche, a physician. 4T4.
Leche-craft, the healing
art.
Leches, physicians.
Led, lead, [pass, live.
Lede, to lead, direct, to
Lede (lif for lyf), try
(life for Ufe).
Lede, Leden, language,
tongues. 420.
Lede, man, person, pe(h
pie. 420.
Ledes, people.
Ledej, men, mortals.
Leed, lead.
Leef, leaf.
Leelly, truly, faithfully.
Leendis, loins.
Leepis, baskets. 385.
Lees, less.
Lees, false. 420.
Leete, to leave.
Leeve, to believe.
Lef, Lefe, to leave.
Lef, pleasing, dear,
^ lef sir* dear sir.
Lef, permission.
Lefdye, lady.
Lefe, beloved.
Leefiil, Lefiil, Leevefiil,
permissible, lawful.
Leffiil, dear, precious.
394-
Legge, (I) lay, (2)
liege.
Leide, laid.
Lei, Lele, loyal, true.
Lelliche, Lelly, Lel-
lyche, Lely, truly.
Lely-flowre, lily-flower.
Lelye, truly.
Leme, a light 433.
Len, Lene, to lend.
Lend, lent. [414*
Lende, Lenden, loins.
Lende, to proceed. 410.
Lene, lean. [395*
Lene, to grant, permit
Leng, Lenge, to dwell.
leap,
longer,
long.
1, dwelt, [longer,
•e, Lengore,
It, longest,
e, Len}>c, length,
jave.
5one, abode.
., the season of
t.
I man. 420.
people.
lear, pleasant.
, limb,
lion.
le, leaned,
eaped, ran.
:ountenance.
, to learn.
Leosen, to lose,
ge, loss,
t, dearest,
aped.
Lepen, to
hasten,
danced,
leaps, runs,
taught,
ountenance.
0 teach, learn.
, taught.
, to learn.
;sse, less,
ip. loose, release,
leadow, pasture.
0 destroy,
deliverer. 4 1 6.
to become less.
;e, lessening, di-
ition.
)st, loses.
lease.
este, (i) least, (2)
rivance, device
to last.
^ tested t imp.
1 to. 394.
Lestne, to listen,
nge, pasturing,
ndrance.
GLOSSARY.
Lete, to forsake, leave,
to leave off.
Lete, to let, permit.
Lete, voice. 396.
Lett, Lette, put a stop
to, to hinder.
Lexeme, leathern.
Leve, leaf. [to live.
Leve, (i) to believe, (2)
Leve, to forsake, leave
off.
Leve, Leue, to grant.
Leve, leave, permission.
Leve, pi. dear.
Leved, having leaves.
Leved, Levede, re-
mained.
Levedi, Levedy, lady.
Levelike, kindly. 390.
Leven, to believe.
Levening, lightning.
Levere, rather, liefer.
Leves, imp. believe.
Levest, most pleasing,
lievest,
Levej, pi. leave.
Levej, leaves (of trees).
Lewde, Lewed, lay-men,
ignorant, unlearned.
Lewe, warm. 408.
Lewed-men, laymen.
Lewse, pasture. 381.
Ley, to lay.
Leyd, laid.
Leyke, to play. 408.
Lhest, listens.
Lhord, Lhorde, lord.
Libardes, leopards.
Libbe, to live.
Licam, the body. 393.
Lich, (I) like, (2)
body. 393.
Lichame, body.
Licour, liquor.
Lif, life.
Li{=lef, pleasing, [time.
Lif-dawes, life-days, life-
Lifd, lived.
Life, Lyfe, to live.
Liflode, sustenance, live-
Hhood..
463
Lift, Lifite, firmament,
sky. 415.
Lift, the left.
Ligge, to lie. [lied.
Lighed, spoke falsely.
Light,, active.
Light, (i) to lighten, to
set light to, (2) to
alight, descend.
Ligten, to descend.
Liht,(i)faUen,(2)Ught.
Lih)>, lies.
Lik, like. [383.
Likam, body, form.
Like, to delight, please.
3QO.
Likerous, pleasant, de-
lightful.
Likes, pleases.
Liknes, likeness.
Linde, linden-tree.
List, pleases.
Listely, pleasantly.
Listes, wiles. 399.
Lit, stain. 582.
Litele, to make little.
Lith, limb, member^
Li'Se, to listen. 385.
Lither, bad, wicked, un-
toward.
Lives, alive. 408.
Lijt, light, imp. alight.
Li^t, Lijte, to lighten,
amuse.
Lijte, easy, easily.
Li3ter, easier.
Li5J>, lies.
Li3tliche, easily ,quickly.
Lijtinge, lightning.
Lijttere, quicker.
Llak, lake. [called.
Lobbekeling, a fish so
Lobres, lubbers ;
Wright's text reads
Lobies,
Lode3-mon, a pilot.
Lodlych, loathsome.
396. [415.
Lof, (i) love, (2) praise.
Lofe, to love.
464
GLOSSAkr.
Loi'=leo/, dear, pleas-
ing. 40 1.
Lofle, *upon Iqfie/
*onlofte,* on high,
above, aloft,
Lofden, pi. loved.
Logh, laughed.
Loghe, deep. 432.
Loh, laughed.
Lok, Loke, to look.
Loken, locked up.
Lokej, looks.
Loki, to enclose. 397.
Lokkej, locks.
Lokyng, looking.
Lokynge, custody.
Loky, to guard. 397.
Lomb, Lombe, lamb.
Lome, ark, vessel, tool.
430.
Lomen, Lomes, tools.
Lond, Londe, land.
Lone, (i ) a lane, (2)loan.
Longage, language.
Longe, to belong. [428.
Longe, on accoimt of.
Longes, belongs.
Loovis, Lovis, loaves.
Lopen, pp. run.
Lordlich, lordly.
Lordynge, Loverdynge,
a lord, lordling.
Lore, instruction, know-
ledge, wisdom.
Lore, pp. lost. [out.
Lorked, lurked, stole
Lome, lost.
Los, fame. 411.
Lossom, Lossum, love-
some, lovely.
Lostes, lusts.
Losyng, perdition.
Lote, sound. 435.
Lote, cheer. 390, 391.
Loten, faces. 390, 391.
Lote3, voices.
Loth, Lo>, indisposed,
disinclined.
ho\>et disinclination,
displeasure.
Lo}>li, loathsome.
Louh, low.
Louked, fastened,
looped.
Loure, to scowl.
Lout, Loute, to stoop,
to bow, obey. 380.
Loutede, did bow.
Loutte, imp.bend, stoop.
Louwest, lowest.
Lovand, praising.
Love = alve =? balvef side
part.
Love, to praise.
Loveles, without love.
Loverd, Lord, [lonely.
Loveliche, pleasantly,
Lovelokest,most lovely.
Lovelych, lovely.
Lovye, to love. [ing.
Lowande, shining, glow-
Lowkande, closing.
L03, the deep. 432.
Lo3e, ( I ) pi. low, ( 2 ) pit.
Lojen, pi. laughed.
Lud, loud. 395.
Lud, man, servant.
Lud, language, song.
Lude, a man, a knight.
Ludes, servants, vassals.
Luef, favourite, beloved.
Luef (is), prefers, loves.
Lufe, to love.
Lufly, Luflych, lovely,
pleasantly.
Luflyly, courteously,
lovingly.
Lufieden, Lufredene,
love.
Luft, left.
Luged, lodged.
Lullede, lolled, hung.
Lumpen, befallen.
Lur, loss.
Luring, louring. 403.
Lurking, hiding-place,
lair. 416.
Lume, to learn.
Luste, pleased.
Lut, Lout, bend. 380.
LmV^, Uttle.
Lutel, little.
Lul>er, wretched.
Lutten, did obeisance.
380.
Luyte, little.
Lybbe, to live.
Lyf, life.
Lyf=lef love, favour.
Lyfand, living.
Lyftande, lifting, float-
ing.
Lyflode, subsistence,
livelihood.
Lyft, lifted, eittolled.
Lyfte, to raise, build.
Lyfte,(i)Hfted,(2)sky.
Lygge, to lie.
Lyghtly, easily, soon.
Lyht, lightcth, de-
scends.
Lyht, Lvhte, light
Lyk, like.
Lykame, body, shape,
form.
Lyke, to please, delight,
*lyked not tile,* be
not displeased.
Lyke3, pleases.
Lyking, pleasure.
Lykkest, most like.
Lykne, to liken, com-
pare.
Lykyng, pleasure.
Lylie-whyt, white as a
Hly.
Lym, limb.
Lyndes, loins.
Lyoune3, lions.
L3rpe, a leap.
Lyste, pleased.
Lyte, little.
Lyve, life.
Ly3e, to lie to, deceive.
Ly3en, to tell Kes.
Ly5ere, liar.
Ly3t = /y3/e, to alight.
Ly3t, light, active.
Ly3t, easily, lightly.
Ly3t, befell, happened.
Ly3t, Ly3te, light.
M^^^^ U^htly, quickly^
Ma, more.
Maad, pp. made.
Mac, make.
MsLch = macbet to
match.
Mad, frightened, as-
tounded.
Mad, pp. made.
Maiest^, majesty.
Ma i ster,Maist ir, master.
MaUtcrSt chiefs, masters.
Maistre, Malstrie, mas-
tery, victory*
Makiiidj making,
M ake.com panion,eqTJ5J ,
match. 43 T.
Maked, Mikede, made.
Makes, Makej. couples,
(male sind female),
wives.
Makye, to make.
M aky ere,makeT,cTeatoT.
Male, bag, mail. 4T8,
Malys, malice.
Man, one.
Manas.menace, threats.
Maniisside, charged.
Mancioan, mansion,
Mandeth, mends, im-
proves.
Miners, virttics,
Manhed, humanity,
kindness.
Mankunde, mankind.
Man-kynne, mankind.
Manliche* maQly.
Manne, men's,
Manqtieller man-kiUer»
executioner,
Maiirede,hi>mage, 408.
Manslau3tTe, man-
slaughter,
Mansleynge, man-
slaughter, murder.
Mantiie, a mantjt.
Maiiycfe, manner.
Mar, Mare, more,
greater.
Marchantes, Marchaun-
tes, Marchaundes,
merchants.
OLOSSART.
Marchaundise, mer-
chandise.
Marchaundrie, Mar-
chaundryej merchan-
dise, bu^mets.
M a rt^ we, morrow, morn-
ing.
Marge[r]y pedes, pearls.
43«.
Marrcys, marsh- 4II.
Mas, mikes,
Mase, moderation.
Masse, prayer,
Maste, most, greatest.
Mate, afraid.
Mater, Materie» sub-
stance, matter,
Maugre,in spite of. 431.
Mauinenlri, idols.
Maumet, an, idol. 424.
MaunJemens, com-
mandments.
Maunget, eaten,
Mavtre, stomach, maw.
Mawgre, displeasure.
May, maid, maiden.
419.
Maydenhod, maiden-
head.
Maydynes, maidens.
MsjfH, (1) strength,
m a in , ( 2 ^ great, main,
powerful, Strang.
Ma)m^, Ma3my, ser-
vants, household.
Maynteiie, to mamtain.
Ma vBier, master, knight.
Mayiteresse, mistress.
Maystrie, mastery.
Maysterj, masters, su-
periors.
Mayth, maycst.
Majty, mighty.
Me, one, they.
MeddcHd, mixed. 411.
Mede, meed, pay.
Mede, mead.
Medecin, medicine.
Mede-wyves, midwives.
Medle, conflict. 411.
465
Meede, reward.
Meel, meal.
Meer, lake.
Meete, measurement.
Meeten, to dream.
Meine, household, do-
mestics,
Meined, mixed. 395.
Me ires, mayors.
Meke, meek,
Meke, to make meek.
Mekelichc, meekly.
Mekille, much.
Mekli, Mekly, meekly.
Mel, meal.
Meld, Melde, to rebuke,
accuse. 436.
Mele, to speak.
Melle, to mix. 41 1.
Melly, conflict, contest.
411.
Mellynge, mixing. 411.
Melodye, melody.
Men, one, they.
Mene, to mean, signify.
Mene, mean, middle.
Merie, pleasantly.
Meneth, pi. sorrow,
grieve.
Meng, imp. mix, ^q^,
Memuisse, relloW^ship.
428.
Mensk, Menske, ho-
nour.
Menske, tohonour. 41 5 .
Mensktd, adorned.
Menskelye, honourably,
decently.
Menskfiil, honourable,
tespetrted.
Ment, 1) remembered,
(2) hcmoaned,
Meny,Men3^, company,
host.
Merciede, thanked.
Mere, boundary. 418.
Merk, mark.
Merke, dark.
Merges, mirths, sports.
Mersuine = meerswine.
466
Mervayle, Mervayllc,
Merveyle, Merveylle,
marvel, wonder, mi-
racle.
Mervelous, marvellous.
Mesagyr, Messager,
Messagere, Messa-
gyer, messenger.
Meshe, to tear in
pieces. 398.
Mesauntere, misfortune.
Meseise, uneasiness,
trouble.
Mesur, Mesure, modera-
tion.
Mesurable, Mesurabul,
moderate, temperate.
Mest, most.
Mestedel, most part.
Met, mete, to measure.
Mete, meat.
Mete, proper, meet.
Meten, meat. 38.
Meten, to measure, pp.
measured.
Mett = mete^ to meet.
Metinge, measurement.
Meth, Me>e, MetJe,
mercy, pity, modera-
tion. 394.
Me)>ele3, immoderate,
extraordinary.
Me)>ink, methinks.
Meve, to move.
Mevej, moves.
Mey, may.
Meyn6, household.
Meyntene, to maintain.
Meyny, assembly,
household, family.
Miche, much.
Mid, with.
Mid, middle.
Mide, with.
Midward, middle.
Mightand, mighty.
Miht, might.
Miht, mightest.
Mihti, mighty.
Mihtful, mighty.
Mikel, much, great.
OLOSSART.
Mikeland, great.
Mikeled, made great,
increased.
Mikelik, meekly.
Mikle, great (distance),
far.
Milce, pity.
Mildelike, meekly.
Miles, maidens. 420.
Min, mind, remem-
brance.
Min, Mine, to bear in
mind.
Mined, mindfid.
Mines, rememberest,
thinkest.
Mirk, Mirke, dark. 407.
Mirkenes, darkness.
Mirknesses, darknesses.
Mirthes, joys, pleasures.
Mis, Misse, to lose.
Misbeleevynge, unbe-
lieving.
Mischance, misfortune.
Mischeving, misfortune.
Mischief, misfortune.
Misdede, misdeeds.
Misdo, to do amiss.
Misliche, badly. 407.
Misliked, was dis-
pleased.
Misliking, displeasure.
Misrempe, to misplead.
407.
Mis-seid, slandered.
Missely, badly.
Mist = f»«3/, mightest.
398.
Mister, need.
Mithe, to satiate, ap-
pease. 409.
Mitte, with the.
Mix, wretch.
Mi3thi, mighty.
Mo, more.
Moch, Moche, much,
great.
Mochedel, very much.
Mochel, great.
Mod, Mode, mood.
Moder, mother, mo-
ther's.
Mody, moody, proud.
388.
Moght, Moht, might
Mokynes, embossed or-
naments.
Mold, Molde, earth,
world, mould.
Molde3, dry lands.
Mom, a sound, mutte^
ing- 437-
Mon, man, one.
MooiS. money.
Mone, shall. 416.
Mone, the moon.
Mongej, In-mongej,
amidst.
Moni, many.
Mont, mount.
Montain, mountain.
Mony, Mouye, many.
Monye, money.
Monyth, a month.
Moon, moaning, mourn-
ing.
MooneJ>, month.
Mor, a moor.
More, greater.
More = mo3^, may.
More, root.
Momyng, mourning.
Monm, tihe mom, morn-
ing.
Morwe, morrow, morn-
ing.
Morwn)mge, morning.
Mose, hedge-sparrow.
398.
Moskles, mussels.
Most, Moste, must.
Most, Moste, greatest
Moste, might.
Mot, Mote, must, may.
394-
Moun, be able. 408.
Mountouns, amount.
Mourkne, to rot, decay.
433.
Moumen, to moiun.
\ \&<3^1e.%, falls off. 439.
Mowen, to be able, may.
Mowe, mayest.
Mowen, pi. may.
Mowth, mouth.
Moje, pi. may.
Mo3t = mo/, must.
Mo3t, might.
Much, great.
Muckel, greatness,
muchness. 435.
Mudde, mud, mire.
Mugeri, to be able. 386.
Mught, might.
Mukel, great, greatness.
Mulle, dust. 439.
Mune, to consider. 392.
Munstrals, minstrels.
Munteth, purposes, or
intends (to go). 419.
Muthe, mouth.
Mum3mg, mourning.
Murge, to make merry.
421.
Murgeth, pi. make
merry.
Murie, pleasant.
Murbhe, Mur3>e, mirth,
pleasantness. 402.
Muje, may.
Myche, much, very.
Myd, with.
Myddes, midst.
Myddes, middle.
Myde, with.
Mydlerd, middle-earth,
the world.
Myghtfulnes, might,
strength.
Myht, mightest.
Myke, the crutches of
a boat, which sus-
tain the mainboom,
or the mast and sail,
when they are lowered
for the convenience
of rowing. 433.
Mykel, much.
Mykelnhede, greatness.
Mylde, meek.
Myldely, meekly, hum-
bly.
QLOSSARV.
Mylder, meeker.
M3mde, memory.
Mynen, to und^mine.
Mynn, Mynne, to re-
collect, remember.
Myrk, Myrke, dark.
407.
Myriest, most pleasant.
M3rry, pleasant, ami-
cable.
Myryly, pleasantly, joy-
ously.
Myschaunce, mistakes,
misdeeds, misfortune.
Mysdede, wronged.
Mysse, amiss, badly.
Mysseyde, slandered.
My3t, might.
My3te3, mights, powers.
Na, Naa, no.
Nabbe, to have not.
Nad=nadlp, had not.
Nadde, Nade, had not.
Naghertale, night-time.
Naght, naught.
Naht, not.
Nai, denial.
Nakers, kettle-drums.
Nakryn, of kettle-
drums.
Nam, took, went, took
the way.
Namare, no more.
Nameliche, Namely,
Namlic, chiefly, espe-
cially.
Nan, Nane, none.
Nan-mo, Nan-more, no
more.
Nart, art not.
Nas, was not.
Nasche, soft. 428.
Nat, not.
Natheles, nevertheless.
NaJ)er, neither.
Nathing, nothing.
Nau]>er, neither.
Nau3t, not.
Nave, have not.
Naw>er, neither.
Hh 2
467
Nayte, to use. 435.
Nayted, celebrated.
Naytly, neatly, deftly.
Na3t, not.
Ne, nor, not.
Nebsseft, image.
Nee, neck.
Nedde, had not.
Neddur, Nedere, adder,
serpent.
Nede, of necessity,
needs.
l^ede,*/idnede;^*/ul
needs,' of necessity.
Nedful, necessitous. 387.
Nedle3, needless, useless.
Nedys, needs, of neces-
sity.
Neet, neat, cattle. 386.
Nefen, Nefhe, to name.
Nefur, never.
Negh, Neghe, to come
near.
Neghburgh, neighbour,
Neghes, approaches.
Neh, Neih, nigh, near.
Neist, next.
Nei3, nigh.
Nei3hebor, neighbour.
Nek, Nekke, tiie neck.
Nel, will not.
Neltu, wilt thou not.
Nem, took.
Neme 3e, take ye.
Nenmed, named.
Nempnen, to name.
Neod, Neode, need,
work.
Neodes, of necessity.
Neodful, needful, neces-
sary.
Neo3e, nine.
Ner, nearer.
Nere, near.
Nere, were not.
Nerre, nearer.
Nes, was not.
Nese, nose.
Nesshede, delicacy, soft-
ness. 428.
468
Nestland, nestling.
Neth, hath not.
Ncu, new.
Neveu, nephew.
Neven, Nevene, to name.
Nevenes, names.
Never \>e helder, never
the more (see Hel-
der).
Nevre, never.
Newed, renewed.
Ne3e, to approach.
Ne3ed, approached.
Ne3h[e], to approach.
Ne3hebore, neighbour.
Nich, denial.
Nich = nicbty night.
Nightes, by night.
Nigramauncy, necro-
mancy.
Niht, night.
NU, Nile, will not.
Nime, to take.
Nis, is not.
NiC, envy. 380.
NiCfiil, envious. 380.
Kite, to refuse. 426.
Niwe, new.
Nixt, next.
Niy3t, night.
No = ne, not. 389.
No-but, only.
Nobelay, nobleness.
Noblete, nobility, noble-
ness.
Nobleye, nobility.
Nobliche, nobly.
Noght, Noht, not.
Noke, notch, nook, cor-
ner.
Nokes, comers, pas-
sages.
Nolde, would not.
NolleJ>, pi. will not.
Nom, took.
Nombre, number.
Nome, pi. took.
Nome, security, 390.
Nome, name.
Nomen, taken.
Non, none.
OLOSSARV.
Non, None, noon.
Nonne, a nun.
Nonnerye, a nunnery.
Nout, not.
Noutber, neither.
Nou3t, not.
Norischi, to nourish.
Norysshynge, nourish-
ing.
Not, knows not.
Not but = »o-6«/, only,
except.
Note, devices, plans,
power, business. 397,
402.
Note, nut.
Note, weapon, tool.
397. 436.
No]>eles, nevertheless.
Notemuges, nutmegs.
Nol^er, nei^er.
NoJ>erward, down-
wards, 398.
Nou, now.
Nout)er, neither.
Nou3where, nowhere.
Nowel, Christmas.
Nowt)e, now (then).
Nowther, neither.
Noyce, noise.
Noye, to annoy.
No3t, not.
Nu, now.
Nul, will not.
Nultou, wilt thou not.
Nuly, I will not.
Numen, taken. 381,
386.
Nummun = nomen^
taken.
Nust, knowest not.
Nuste, knew not.
Nuy, annoy, harm.
Nwe, new.
Nwe, anew, recently.
Nwe-3er, new-year.
Nwy = anno>', angeri
431.
Nwyed, annoyed, made
^Lii^. [year.
Nw-3eres, new-year's.
Nye3, nigh.
Nyf, if not.
Nyghtegale, nightin-
gale.
Nygun, a niggard, mi-
ser. 421.
Nyht, night.
Nyhtes, by night.
Nyle, will not.
Nyme, to take.
N)rmme3, takes.
Nym]>, receives.
Nys, extraordinary,
foolish.
N)rwe, new.
Nyxt, next.
Ny3e, nigh.
Ny3t, Ny3te, night.
O, of.
O, one.
Obak, on the back.
Obedyent, obedience.
Obeyshen, to obey.
Obout, about.
Obout-ga, to revolve.
Oc, also, 388.
Oc = o^, oath.
Odde, odd, uneven.
Of, off, from.
Of-dret, sore afraid.
Oferd, afraid.
O-ferrum, afar. 430.
Oiferand, Offrand, offer-
ing.
O-firr, afar.
Of-saw, perceived.
Of-scapie, to escape.
Of-seie, perceived.
Of-sende, send for. 4 1 2.
Of-seye, perceived.
Of))U3te, repented. 402.
Oftoned, very angry.
401.
Og, owe, ought.
Ogain, again.
Ogain-saghes, contra-
diction, reproaches.
Ogaines, Oganis,
<:^^>rc«.,^^inst
Oght, Oht, ought.
Ok, Oke, Ook, oak.
Okerer, Okerere, a
usurer.
Okering, Okeryng,
usury.
Okir, usury. 416.
Olepi, only.
Olt, old.
On, one.
Onan, anon.
Onde, breath. 439.
Onde, jealousy. 403.
On-dep, adeep, in the
deep.
One, alone, self.
Onderstonde, to under-
stand, [stood.
Onderstonde, pp. under-
Ondervonge, to receive.
Ondervonge, pp. re-
ceived.
Ondervynge, pret. pi.
received.
On-end, at last.
Ones, once.
One-sprute, outburst.
416.
Onewe, anew, again.
Onej, once.
On-fanged, up-took.
On-ferrum, afar.
On-grounde, aground.
Onigt, at night. 384.
On-loft, On-lofte, above,
on the surface, aloft.
Onlosti, idle, slothful.
427.
Onlyche, only.
OnAyve, alive.
Onnea|>e, scarcely.
Onon, anon. 388.
On-raw, in row, in ar-
ray.
On-rounde, around.
Onsagen, wicked
speech. 384.
Onsene, face, 406.
On-sidis, aside.
On-slep« On-slepe,
asleep.
GLOSSARF.
On8pek)mde, ineffable.
Onsware3, answers.
On-J>oliynde, On-J>oly-
inde, intolerable, un-
bearable. 427.
On-todelinde, indivisi-
ble.
Onzyginde, invisible.
Oo, ever, aye.
Oon, one, *in oon,* in
one state.
Oo)>, oath.
Ope, open.
Openlic, openly.
Opon, upon.
Oppenand, opening.
Oppenes, imp. open.
Opyn, open, manifest.
Oor, ore.
Or... or, either... or.
Or = ttr, our.
Or, Ore = eower^ your.
Orcherd, orchard. 424.
Ordayny, to order, rule.
Orde, point, end. 406.
Orde)mour, ruler, or-
dainer.
Ore, mercy.
Ore, your. 419,
Ore, before.
Oreisouns, prayers.
Orenge, orange.
Oreste, first. 385.
Orf, cattle.
Or-quar, anjrwhere.
Orisoun, prayer.
Or-litel, over-httle, too
little.
Orped, valiant. 439.
Or-quar, anywhere.
Ory3t, aright.
0th, on the.
0]>, Othe, oath,
0]>er, or.
01>erwhile, sometimes.
Other-whyle, some-
times.
01)ren, dat. others.
Ou, you.
Ouet, fruit.
Ouhte, ought.
459
1 Oune, own, one's own,
j Ous, us.
, Out-bere, to take out,
Outen, foreign, strange.
! 417.
Out-taken, excepted,
I excluded.
! Outelyng, external.
' Out-toke, took out.
Outtrage, extraordinary.
i Oujt, Oujte, ought.
Overal, ever3rwhere.
Overcome, overcomes,
surpasses.
Overestes, uppermost
parts. 417.
Over-fwre, to overgo.
Over-ga, to overgo.
Overgc]>, surpasses,
overgoes.
Overgon, overgone,
passed.
Overlop, omission.
Overmastes, highest,
uppermost.
Over-mykel, overmuch,
too much.
Over - pharan = over-
farertf to pass over,
394.
Over-skyle, extraordi-
narily. 421.
Over-spradde, over-
spread.
Overtan, overtaken.
Over-tSogt, frightened.
389.
Over-J>wert, across,
athwart.
Over-wait, overturned.
Over-walte3, overflows.
Over-wente, turned
over. 390.
Ow, you.
Owai, away.
Owe, Owen, own.
Owel, awl. 398.
Owen, ought.
OwiJ>, ought, owes.
. Own=alone, *ibiwottW,'
470
Oxspring, offspring.
Oyncment, ointment
Oje, Ojcn, Ojene, own.
Ojt, ought.
Pacche, patch.
Paie, pleasure, liking.
Paid, pleased.
Pak-neelde,pack-needle.
438.
Paleys, palace.
Palesye, palsy.
Pane, cloth.
Papc, pope.
Parauntre, perhaps.
Parfit, Parfite, perfect.
Parforme, to perform.
Parisschens, parishion-
ers.
Parten, to share.
Partiliche, plainly.
Party, Partye, side, part.
Pas, Passe, to surpass.
Pas, passage.
Passet, passed.
Pases, paths.
Passchet, blown, dashed.
438.
Passynge, surpassing.
Pay, pleasure.
Payd, Payde, pleased.
Paye, to please.
Payne, penalty.
Payenes, pagans.
Payneme, pagan.
Payttrure, the defence
for the neck of a
horse.
Pees, peace.
Peine, penalty.
Pelle, a rich cloth, pall.
Peire,to impair, defame.
Pellure, Pelure, a kind
of rich and costly fur.
Penanz, Penaunce,
penance.
Pencelle, banner. 430.
Pendauntes, the drop-
ping ornaments of
horse-gear.
Pennes, feathers.
GLOSSARY.
Pens, pence.
Pented, appertained.
Peosen, pi. pease.
Perce, to pierce.
Percyl, parsley.
Pereye, perry.
Perrey, jewellery.
Persun, parson.
Pertelyche, apertly,
openly.
Pertene, to appertain.
Pertiliche, Pertly, clear-
ly, openly, plainly.
Pes, peace.
Pesecoddes, pea-shells.
Pette, pit.
Peyn, Pe)me, pain.
Peynen, to endeavour.
Pe3meble, painstaking,
earnestly.
Peyned=/yn«rf, tor-
mented.
Peys, weight. 421.
Peyse, to weigh.
Pike, pitch. 410.
Pilewe, pillow.
Pilt, thrust. 388.
Pine, torment.
Pinen, torments.
Piries, pear-trees.
Piriwhit, perry.
Pitaile, foot-soldiers.
Plaidi, to plead. 400.
Plait, pleading. 395.
Plas, place.
Plat, Platte, flat.
Plate, steel armour for
the body.
Plaunte, to plant.
Pla3me, to complain.
Playnt, complaint.
Pleiden, to plead.
Pleide, played.
Plenty, plenty.
Plenteousliche, plente-
ously.
Plentez, fulness.
Plese, to please.
Plete, to plait.
V
Ple)m, Plcjme, to com-
plain.
PIe3mand, complaining.
Ple3mly, plainly.
Pliht, bound.
Plihten, to pledge.
Plihtfiil, dangerous.
425.
Plont, plant, [plough.
Plou, PI0U3, Plowgh,
Plyghte, Plyht, pledged.
Plyjt, harm.
Poeir, Poer, power.
P<*, poke, pocket.
Pons, pence.
Ponysche, to punish, to
torment.
Porchas, what is obtain-
ed by conquest. 414.
Pore, poor.
Poretes, Porettes, Icda.
Pors, purse.
Ponreid, provided,
guarded.
Porve3mde, providing,
doing.
Pose, a cold in the
head. 415.
Potecary, apothecary.
Potte, to put.
Pouce, pulse.
Ponder, dust.
Pound, a pond.'
Pouwer, power.
Pover, Povere, poor.
Poverore, poorer.
Povert, poverty.
Pourveid, provided.
Powdre, dust.
Poynt, a particle.
Prangled, compressed.
409.
Preie, to pray.
Preisen, to praise.
Preistes, priests.
Preiynge, prayer.
Preije, to pray.
Prentys, apprentice;
Preostes, priests,
^xftoveo, to prove.
Pt
Pi
Pi
P:
V
Preste, a prifest.
Preste, ready. 412.
Preste, proudest. 428.
Prestely, quickly, readi-
Presteste, prompt, most
punctual.
Pretilyche, prettily.
Preve, tried, proved.
Preve, to prove.
Prevy, secret.
Preye, to pray.
Preyere, prayer.
Preyse, to praise.
Princehed, dominion,
rule.
Pris,Prise, prize, honour,
value.
Frist =prest, active,
quick.
Prisuner, a jailor.
Prisunes, prisoners.
Priv^, Privei, Prjrve,
secret, familiar.
Priveliche, secretly.
Prjrvete, secret.
Promysioun, promise.
Prout, proud.
Provendreres, holders of
benefices.
Prud, Prude, Pruide,
pride. 382.
Prute, pride.
Prys, Pryse, price, prize.
Pryvyte, a secret.
Puire, pure.
Pult, put.
Pulte, to put, thrust.
PuppUsche, to publish.
Pur, pure.
Pur-blind, wholly blind.
414.
Purchacen, to procure.
411.
Pure, poor.
Pured, refined,
Purpos, purpose, mind.
Purpre, Purpur, purple.
Purvay, to get ready.
Purveance; ordinance,
jAoL
GLOSSARF.
Pute, Putte, pit.
Puttide, put.
Pyk, pike.
Pyn =pyne, sorrow.
P3me, to torment.
Pynen, Pynes, tor-
ments.
Pynnyng-stole, a stool
of punishment, a
cucking-stool.
l?yns=pyneSf torments.
Pysan, gorget of mail
or plate attached to
the helmet.
Pyt4, pity.
Qua, who.
Quae, to quake.
Quain, whining, weep-
ing.
Quaintelye, knowingly,
cunningly.
Quakand, quaking.
Qualle, whale. 425.
Qualm, disease. 414.
Quar, where.
Quarbi, whereby.
Quare, where.
Quarfor, wherefore.
Quarin, wherein.
Quar-of, whereof
Quar-]>oru, where-
through.
Quarelle, dart, arrow.
Quareres, quarries.
Quat, what. [ever.
Quat-als-ever, whatso-
Quat, QuaJ), quoth, said,
answered.
Quatkin, what kind.
Quat-sa-ever, whatso-
ever.
Quatso, whatsoever.
Quavande.waving, flow-
ing.
Quawes, waves.
Quede, a wretch. 416.
Quede, evil. 4 16.
Quedir, whether.
Queintise, a stratagem.
QueinteUche, quaintly,
gaily.
Quek =quik, living.
Quelle, to kill.
Queme, to please. 40O.
Quen, when.
Quer, whether.
Quet, Quete, wheat.
Que]>en, whence.
Queynte, quaint. 411.
Queynte, quenched.
Queyntely, craftily,
cautiously.
Qui, why.
Quic, alive.
Quicliche, quickly.
Quil, Quile, while,
time.
Quilk, which.
Quils, whilst.
Quiste, bequest. 407.
Quit clayme, to give up
the claim to a thing.
Quit, Quite, to reward.
Quite, white.
Quoke = quok, quaked.
Quo-so, whoso,
Quyle, while.
Raadd, afraid.
Rabben, turnips. 41 1.
Rac, wind, rack, or
driving clouds.
Rad, active. 394.
Rad, Rade, frightened,
afraid.
Rad, rode.
Rad, promised.
Radde, frightened,
afraid.
Radde, pret. read.
Raddere, readier.
Raddest, advisedest.
Rade, ready.
Rade, rode.
Rade, road, way.
Radly, quickly, readily.
Rage, madness, fever.
42^.
Ragemon, a roll. 437.
Raght, reached.
Raht, reckoned. 420.
473
Raken, to consume.
387. [391-
Ransaken, to ransack.
Rap, haste, hurry.
Rape, to hasten. 391.
Rapli, quickly.
Ras, rose.
Ras, rush, haste, hurry.
Rase, to run. 348.
Rasse, eminence. 433.
Rathe, RaSe RaJ>e,
soon, quickly. 391,
Rathly, quickly.
Rattis, rats, [reacbed.
Rauhte, obtained,
Raumpe, to ramp. 430.
Raunsoun, ransom.
Raw|>e, mercy, pity.
.S82.
Raykande, rushing,
rapid.
Rayke, to go. 433.
Rayke3, goes.
Rayle, to deck, orna-
ment, to set in order.
Rayled, arrayed.
Ra3rmen, to roam. It
may also signify to
rule.
Raynande, raining.
Raysoun, reason, argu-
ment.
Rajt, reached, went.
Realych, royally.
Rearde, sound. 433.
Reawere, piteous, kind.
Reche, to reach, take.
Reche, smoke, reek.
4.S4-
Reche, to reck^ care.
397-
Rechen, to tell. 385.
Reching, interpretation.
385.
Rechles, careless.
Recles, incense. 4.^4.
Recoverer, recovery,
or recoveror.
Red,imp.advise,propose.
Red, Rede, counsel, ad-
vice. 381.
GLOSSARr.
Redde, related.
Redden, pi. counselled.
Rede, remedy. 381.
Rede, to advise. 381.
Rede3, advisest.
Redly, readily.
Redy, ready.
Reed, red.
Refourme, to confirm,
re-establish.
Regn)mde, reigning.
Regratour, retailer.
Reke, reek, smoke. 4 1 6.
Rekenly,nobly,princely.
Rele, to roll, pace.
Relyf, remainder.
Relyves, remnants,
leavings.
Rem, cry. 382.
Rem, realm.
Ren = renne, to run.
Rended, rent.
Reneye, refuse, forsake.
Rengned, reigned.
Rengne33e, courses. 434.
Renk, a knight.
Reiakkes, men, people.
Renne, to run.
Rennynge, running.
Rent, Rente, revenue.
Repreve, to reprove.
Reprevynges, reproofs.
Reprof, reproof.
Rere, to raise.
Rerde, Rerid, reared,
raised.
Res, haste. 348.
Resceyve, to receive.
Rese, haste.
Reste, rested.
Resteles, Restlej, rest-
less, unceasing.
Resun, reason, right.
Reu, to repent. 383,
.^91-
Reuful, piteous, sorrow-
ful.
Reuful, merciful, kind.
Reuli, sorrowfully,
dom.
Reuel, Rcul, rule.
Reve, to bereave.
Revel, feasting, festi-
vity.
Rew, imp. have pity.
Rcwe, to pity. 382.
Rewed, merciful.
Reweli, Rewli, sorrow-
ftJ. 382, 391.
Rewful, merciful.
Rewle, to rule, direct
Rewme, realm.
RewJ>e, pity. 382.
Reyn, rain.
Reysoun, reason, right
Ribaudye, ribaldry.
Riche, kingdom. 405.
Richeliche, richly.
Richesse, riches.
Ricchis, sets out, goes.
Ridlande, pouring. 434.
Rif, rife, rive, tear.
Riftes, fissures, open-
ings (see Ryve).
Rig, back.
Righte, to set right.
Riht, right.
Rihtfolle, righteously,
equitably.
Rihtfuliche, rightfully.
Rike, kingdom.
Rimed, spake loudly.
Riped, searched. 426.
Risand, Riseand, rising.
Rise, branch. 396.
Rith, right.
Rivelic, frequently,
often. 425.
Rwe, to repent. 382.
Rwe3 (me) repents me.
Ri3t, Ri3te, right.
Ri3ti, to set right.
Ri3tly, rightly.
Ro, a roe.
Ro, peace. 419.
Robberie, robbery.
Roche, rock.
Rode, rood, cross. 386.
Rode-tre, the cross.
. Rode, complexion.
Rody, ruddy, flesh-
coloured. [429.
^^SS — ^^SS^f *^ ''^'*^*
Rok, rock.
Role, to roll.
Romand, roaring. 417.
Ron» ran.
Ronk, rank, bold.
Roo, the roe.
Rooless, restless.
Rooch, a rock.
Roode, cross.
Rore, to roar.
Rps, rose.
Rospen, to rasp, dimi-
nish. 387.
Rot, Rote, root.
RoJ>er, rudder,
RoJ>eron, oxen.
Ro^un, a cloud.
Roting, decay.
Rotte = ro/«, root.
Roume, broad, roomy.
418.
Rounce, horse, steed.
Roun, to take counsel.
Roune, prayer, song.
420. [429.
Roimcle, to wrinkle.
Rous, praise, renown.
4.^6.
Rout, company, host.
413.
Rout, rush.
Routhe, pity, mercy.
Rowt, army.
Rowtande, rushing,
pouring. 432.
Rowtes, companies.
Roje, rough.
Rojly, roughly. 433.
Ruchched, Ruched, set-
tled, righted, rolled.
Rude, complexion. 402.
Rueled, rushed.
Rulen, to rule.
Rungen, pi. rang.
Runisch, fierce, sudden.
436.
Runischly, fiercely.
Runneo, pi. ran.
GLOSSARY.
Rurd, noise, cry. 433.
Rwly, piteously.
Ryalmes, realms.
Ryche, rich (men).
Ryd, to release.
Rydelles, perplexed.
434-
Ryden, ridden.
Ryf=ry/e, rive, pierce.
Ryg, Ryge, shower,rain.
432.
Ryht, aright.
Ryn, Rynne, to run.
Ryne, to rain.
Rynnes, runs.
Rys, a branch, twig.
Rysed, rose.
Ryve, to tear, rive.
Ry3t, prepared.
Ry3t, right, righteous-
ness.
Ryjtej, aright.
Ry3tfol, rightful.
Ry3tnesse, equity.
Rystwys, righteous.
Ry3tvolle, righteous.
Ry3tvolliche, rightfully,
righteously.
Sa, so.
Saaf, safe, whole.
Sac, fault. 423.
Saccles, innocent.
Sacclesli, innocently.
Sad, staid, sober, tired,
weary.
Sad, satisfied. 420.
Saddely, sorrowfully.
Sadloker, more heavily.
Saf, safe.
Safliche, safely.
Sag, Sagh, saw.
Saghs, saws, words.
Saghtel, peace, concord,
419.
Sak, sake.
Sak, fault, sin. 423.
Sakerfyse, sacrifice.
Sal, Sale, Sail, shall.
Said, sold,
Sale, hall.
473
Salme, to sing psalms.
Salt, shalt.
Saltou, shalt thou.
Saluen, to salute.
Same, Samen, together,
*alle samen* alto-
gether.
Samened, Samned, ga-
thered, collected.
Sand, message. 383.
Sant, holy.
Santes, saints.
Sar, Sare, sorrowfully,
sorely.
Sare, sore, sorrowful.
Sari, Sary, sorry.
Sarmoun, discourse, ser-
mon.
Sattle, to settle.
Sau, saw.
Sauf, Saufe, Sauffe, safe.
Saufliche, safely.
Saugh, Sauh, saw.
Saul, Saule, the soul.
Saun, Saunz, without.
Saundyuer, Sandiver,
red ochre.
Sauveur, saviour.
Savur, savour.
Savyte, safety.
Sawel, Sawell, the soul.
Sawes, words.
Sawh, Say, saw.
Sa3e3, words.
Sa3tled, settled.
Sa3tlyng, reconcilia-
tion, peace.
Scade, divided.
Scaped, escaped.
ScatSe, scathe, harm,
wrong. 390.
Scau, to shew.
Scene, bright, sheen.
Sceu, to shew.
Scha = sc^att/, wood,
grove. 425.
Schadewe, a shadow.
Schaft, (i)form, make,
(2) an arrow. 417.
V ScKa.lk., Sdvi.\k&^\s«aw>
474
Schaltow, shalt thou.
Schamie, imp. be
ashamed.
Schankes, legs.
Schapc, Schapen, to
shape, devise, plan,
prepare.
Schapp, shape.
Scharplyche, sharply,
quickly.
Schauing, manifestation,
appearance.
Schaw, Schawe, to shew.
Schawe, a wood, grove.
Schawles, a scaiecrow.
Scheawith, pi. appear.
Schede, to separate, dis-
tinguish. 400.
Scheep ^scbeepe, shep-
herd.
Schel, shall.
Schelde, a shield.
Schelder, shielder.
Schenchen, to pour out,
to give drink. 419.
Schende, to destroy,
ruin, spoil, to hurt,
harm, 401.
Schene, bright, sheen.
Schent, destroyed,
beaten.
Schere, to cut.
Schete, to shoot.
Schethe, a sheath.
Schew,Schewe,to shew.
Schift, turn, instant.
Schild, Schilde, shield.
Schilde, to shield.
SchiUe, shrill. 398.
Schilling, shillings.
Schire, bright clear.
409.
Schirche, to shriek. 400.
Schirme, to fight, con-
tend. 401.
Schirreves, sheriffs.
Scho, she.
Schok, shook.
Scholde, should.
Scholdest, shouldest.
Scholes, hangs dovm i^)
GLOSSARY.
Schome, shame.
Schomliche, modestly.
Schonde, shame, dis-
grace.
Schonkes, legs.
Schoon, shoes.
Schop, Schope, created,
devised, made,
planned.
Schopen, pi. became,
turned to.
Schote, to shoot.
Schowved, pushed,
shoved.
Schraf, shrove.
Schred, clothed.
Schrewe, wretch, fiend,
villain.
Schrewid, wicked.
Schrippe, scrip.
Schrof, shrove.
Schroud, Schroude,
clothing, shroud, gar-
ment, [fcss.
Schryve, to shrive, con-
Schuld, Schulde, should.
Schulden, pi. should.
Schuldren, Schuldres,
shoulders.
Schule, shall.
Schulen, SchuUe, Schul-
len, pi. shall.
Schuln, pi. shall.
Schuniet, shuns. 40 T.
Schyl-fysch, shell-fish.
Schyndered, shivered.
436.
Schyre, bright.
Schwne, shun, ward off.
Sckile, skill 400.
Sclaundrid, offended.
Sco, she.
Scor, score.
Scorn, shorn, cut.
Scrippes, wallets. 423.
Scrit, a writing, a roll
of parchment. 414.
Scriven, shriven.
Scued, shewed.
Sechende, seeking.
Sechej, seeks.
Seckes, sacks.
Seculere, a layman.
Sed, Sede, pp. said.
Sed, Sede, seed.
Seg, a man, person.
Seg, Segge, a man, per-
son, Imight.
Sege, siege.
Sege^, falls, alights. 389.
Segge, sedge.
Segge, may say.
Segge, Seggen, to say.
Seh, saw.
Seid, Seide, said.
Seidestow, saidest thou.
Seie, to say.
Seie, seen.
Seigen, to say.
Seiles, sails.
Sein, saint.
Sein, seen.
Seised, possessed.
Seisine, possession. 414.
Seist, sayest.
Seith, says.
Seiynge, saying.
Sek, a sack.
Sek, Seke, sick.
Sekand, seeking.
Seke, to seek.
Sekenesses, sicknesses,
diseases.
Seker, sure, certain.
Sekes, seekest.
Seknesse, sickness.
Seky, to seek, to look
for.
Sel, seal.
Sel, time. 385.
Selve, Selven, sdf, selves.
Selcouth, Selcouthe,
strange, wonderfiil.
412.
Selcut, Selcuth, wonder,
wonderful 41a.
Selden, Seldene, seldom.
Seldum, seldom.
\ Sek^man. 421.
^
Seli, good, blessed,
simple. 383.
Seli-red = seli-sped, suc-
cess, bliss.
Seli-sped, prosperity,
good fortune, happi-
ness. 387.
Selk, silk.
Selkouth, marvellous,
wonderful, great.
SeUi, Selly, (i) greatly,
wondrously, (2) a
marvel.
Sellye3, marvels.
Selven, himself.
Selure, canopy.
Selver, silver.
Sely, blessed, happy,
good, well-disposed,
simple. 383.
Semblance, appearance,
form.
Sembland, face, coun-
tenance, appearance.
Semblant, Semblaunt,
appearance, counte-
nance.
Semblaunce, appear-
ance.
Semble, Semblee, as-
sembly.
Sembled, assembled.
Seme, to arbitrate, de-
cide. 400.
Semes, loads. 39 a.
Semet, Semis, seems.
Semloker, more seemly.
Semly, seemly, beau-
tiful.
SemIokest,most seemly,
pleasant.
Semynge, appearance,
* at my semynge^* as
appears to me.
Sen, ( I ) to see, to appear,
(2) seen, (3) since.
Send, Sende, sent.
Sendal, fine silk.
Sene, seen.
Bene, truthful
Seo, to see.
GLOSSART.
Seolfe, self, very.
Seon, to see.
Seoth, sees.
Seo]>, pi. see.
Ser, Sere, diverse.
Serdai, different days.
Sergeaunz, Servauntes,
soldiers, servants.
Seriauu, sergeant (at
law).
Serk, a shirt. 409.
Sermoune, (i)word, dis-
course, (2) to dis-
course, relate.
Servage, service, vassal-
age.
Servaunt, a servant.
Servie, to serve.
Servis, service.
Servisabul, serviceable.
Serw, Serwe, sorrow.
Sese, to cease.
Sesons, Se-soune3, sea-
sons.
Sest, seest.
Sesun, season.
Sete, seat.
Setel-gange, setting.
418.
Se|>, pi. see.
Set>en, afterwards.
SeJ>J>e, Se)>>en, since,
afterwards.
Settand, setting.
Settej (on), lights upon.
Seuid, followed.
Seve, seven.
Severe, seventh.
Sevend, seventh.
Sewid, Sewede, followed.
Sewes, dishes.
Sewyngly, in order.
Sextene, sixteen.
Sexty, sixty. [Se)m.
Sey, Seye, to say, pi.
Seyde, said.
Seyed, passed. 432.
Seyl, sail.
Se)rn, seen.
Seyt, says.
Seyynge, saying.
475
Se3, saw.
Shadewe, shadow.
Shamlic, shamefully.
Shap, shape.
Shape, to make, form.
Shel, Sheld, shield.
Shep, sheep.
Sheren, to reap.
Shete, to shoot.
Shir, bright, clear. 409.
Sho, she.
Shole, Sholen, pi. shall.
Sholden, should.
Shome, shame, disgrace.
Shop, put (see Schop).
Shote, pp. shot.
Shote, to shoot.
Shrife, to shrive.
Shrewes, wretches,
wicked persons.
Shulde, should.
Shuldre, the shoulder.
Shule, Shulen, pi. shall.
Shynand, shining,
Shype, a ship.
Sibbe, relations. 394.
Sidbordej, side-boards.
Side, long. 412.
Sigge, to say.
Sih, saw.
Siht, sight.
Sik, sick.
Sikenesse, sickness.
Siker, (i) true, sure,
certain, (2) to assure.
Sikerest, securest, safest.
Sikerli, Sikerlike, truly,
indeed, boldly. 391.
Silc, such.
Sille, seat.
Sine, since.
Sines, sins.
Singin, to sing.
Sinigeden, sinned. 3S8.
Sins, afterwards.
Siquar, period, time.
424.
Sist, seest.
Sit, sits.
Svtft, (^l\ vsn^'<9i ^ <C!^>^si
476
Sith, since. [402.
SiJ>e, time, pi. SiJ>es.
Sithen,Si|>en,Si^e, then,
since, afterwards, sub-
sequently.
Sithere, cider. 422.
Si|>be, afterwards.
Sitten, pp. sat.
Sitte3, sits.
Si3t, sight.
Skatere, to scatter.
Skele, skill, reason. 434,
Skentinge, song. 403.
Skete, quickly, soon.
434-
Skewe, sky. 416.
Skille, reason, right.
400.
Skilles, reasons.
Skivden, changed,
shifted. 383.
Skoul, to scowl. 430.
Skowtej, to scud about,
search out.
Skwe, the sky, clouds.
Skyes, clouds.
Skyfte, to shift, change.
Sky lie, reason.
Skylly, skill, purpose,
design. 434.
Skyrme3, to look nar-
rowly about. 433.
Skyvalde, manifesled,
devised. 434.
Sla, to slay.
Slac, slow.
Slade, dale.
Slagen, slain.
Slake, to abate.
Slan, slain.
Slavers, slobbers. 429.
Slaw, Sla we, slow. 427.
Sla3t, slaughter, murder.
Sle, Slee, to slay.
Slegh, Sleghe, wise,
crafty. 412.
Sleght, skill, craft.
Slely, slyly, prudently.
Sien, Slene, to slay.
SJep, sleep, * on dep!
asleep.
GLOSSARY.
I Slep, slept.
I Slepand, sleeping.
' Slepe, to sleep.
' Slepyng, sleep.
! Sleu>e, sloth, idleness.
Sley, prudent, sly.
Sleygh, crafty, skilful.
Sleynge, slaying, mur-
der.
Sle3e, prudent. 412.
Sle3J>e, prudence.
Slih, prudent, wise.
Slik, such. 423.
Slo, to slay.
Slogh, slew.
Slogth, path, step.
Slokes, imp. stop. 436.
Slon, to slay. 381.
Slon, sloes. 411.
Slonge, pi slung.
Slotered, defiled, be-
spattered. 430.
Slou, Slouh, Slow, Slowe,
Slowgh, slew,
Smach, smell, flavour,
stink. 393.
Smachande, smelling,
savouring.
Smacke, to taste, en-
joy.
Smaken, to scent. 393.
Smacky, to taste, enjoy,
long for. 393.
Smal, Smale, small.
Smeren, to anoint. 393,
Smerl, a giun, balm,
ointment. 423.
Smerld, embalmed.
Smeit, (i) smart, active,
(2) severe.
Smerte, *as smerte*
smartly, at once.
Smerte, to smart.
Smiland, smiling.
Smit, smites.
Smolderande, smoulder-
ing.
Smoltes, smells.
Smot, smote.
Smy|>J>e, a smithy.
Snache, to seize sud-
denly, snatch.
Snaw, snow.
Snel, Snelle, quick,
quickly, suddenly.
405-
Snepe, foolish. 401.
Snibbing, rebuke. 416.
Snou, snow.
Snyte, to wipe. 415.
So = seo, to see.
Sobreliche, Sobrelyche,
soberly.
Sobret^, sobriety.
Socoure, assistance,
help, succour.
Sodanli, Sodeynliche,
suddenly.
Sogat, thus.
Soght, Sogt, Sogtc,
Sohte, sought. 387.
Som, some.
Somdel, somewhat.
Some, together, * alU
ant some,' one and
all. 420.
Somer, summer.
Somony, to summon.
Somwat, somewhat.
Son, soon.
Son, sound.
Sond, sand.
Sond, Sonde, word, mes-
sage, messenger. 383.
Sonde, dish. 390.
Sonder (in-), asimder.
Sondere-men, messen-
gers. 383.
Sondes, messengers.
Sonde3-mon, a messen-
ger.
Sone, soon.
Sone, a son.
Song, sang.
Sonkken, pi. sank.
Sonne, the sun.
Sor, sorrowful.
Sore, sorrow.
\ Sote^ sorely, sorrow-
k
Soreghcs, sorrows.
Soren, shorn, reaped.
Sorewe, sorrow.
Sorful, sorrowful.
Sorge, sorrow. 383.
Son, sorry, sorrowfiil.
Sot, a fool. 418.
So)>nesse, truth.
So)>)7e, ajf^erwards. 402.
Sottes, fool's
Soth, So]>, Sothe, So}>e,
true, truth.
Sothly, SoJ?ly, truly.
Soukand, sucking.
Souht, Soujt, sought.
Sourquidrye, pride.
Sowe, sown.
Spac, spake.
Spad, a spade.
Spak, spake.
Spale, spell, rest. 401.
Sparlyr, calf of the leg.
Sparse, battle.
Sparwe, a sparrow.
Spec, spoke.
Specheles, speechless.
Specialych, specially.
Sped, succeeded.
Sped, speed, haste.
Spedd, Spedde, suc-
ceeded.
Speddestn, succeedest
thou.
Spede, to succeed, pros-
per.
Spedej, prospers.
Spek, imp. speak.
Spek, Speke, to speak.
Speke, spakest.
Speke, pi. spoke.
Speke, Speken, to speak.
Spelle, delay, rest.
Spelle, a (false) speech.
Spelle, discourse, tale,
story. 401.
Spellinge, reciting, a
magical incantation.
439-
Spende, spent.
Spene, expend, or=s
scbewen, to shew.
GLOSSARF.
Spenet, fastened.
Sperd, Sperde, fastened,
confined, imprisoned.
Spere, a spear.
Speren, to shut up, con-
fine. 384.
Speride, shut up, en-
closed.
Sperling, a fish so called.
Speten, to spit, vomit.
Spetos, sharp.
Spetynge, spitting.
Spicelike, with spices.
Spicers, sellers of spices.
Spices-ware, spicery.
382.
Spilen, to enjoy, have
pleasure. 395.
Spille, to destroy, ruin,
spoil. 402.
Spird, inquired. 423.
Spire, twigs. 395.
Spirs, imp. inquire.
Spoke, spoken.
Spoushod, spousehood,
marriage.
Spousi, to espouse.
Spraule, Sprawel, to
sprawl.
Sprawl)mg, straggling.
Spray, sprig, branch.
Sprede, Spreden, to
spread.
Sprong, sprang.
Sprongen, Sprungen, pp.
sprung forth, risen.
Spume, foam, scum.
Spuniande, sticky.
Spumde, stumbled. 414.
Spuse, spouse.
Spylle3, spoils. 402.
Spyrakle, spirit.
Spysere3, spice-mongers.
Srid, clothed.
Srud, change of clotji-
ing. 382.
Ssame, shame.
Ssame, to be ashamed.
Sscet, shot.
Sseawe, to shew.
Sseawere, minoi. \iZ»
477
Sseawy, to shew, ap-
pear.
Ssedde, shed.
Ssede, shade.
Ssel, shall.
Sseld, a shield.
Ssende, to destroy.
Ssetare, shooter, archer.
Ssete, to shoot.
SsepJ?e, form.
Ssep])es, forms. 428.
Ssipe, a ship.
Ssipvol, shipfull.
Ssire, shire.
Ssolde, should.
Ssoldren, shoulders.
SsoUe, pi. shaU.
Ssrifte, shrift.
Ssriue, pi. shrove.
Stac, closed, shut. 432.
Stad, placed.
Stale, Stalle, a place,
seat.
Stalword, Stalworth,
Stalwor]>e, strong,
brave. 411.
Stalworthhede, stedfast-
ness.
Stalwortly, strongly,
stubbornly.
StalworJ)est, bravest.
Stamyn, threshold.
Stanc, a pool. 433.
Stan, Stane, a stone.
Stang, a pool. 433.
Stangej, pools.
Stant, stands.
Stare, stark, strong. 407.
Stareand, Starinde, star-
ing, gaping.
Stark, strong.
Stat, state.
Sta|>elnes, foundation.
417.
Staued, Stawed, stowed,
placed in safety.
Stauej, stows, places in
safety.
Sted, Stede, place, 383.
Stede a steed, horse.
4/8
Stefbede, sdffiicss,
strength.
Stefbe, Toicc 40a.
Stegh,Stegbe, to ascend.
4«5.
St^giL. ascended.
Stek, folded.
Stdce;, imp. shut or
fasten op. 433.
Stel-bawe, stirrups.
Stde, handle.
Stele, to steaL
Stel-gere, stcd-gear,
armour.
Stem, Stcme, Ught,
flame. 409.
Stemmed, stopped,
stood stilL 435.
Steome, stem.
SteoraUche, sternly.
Stepmodcr, a step-
mother.
Stepmoderes, step-
mothers.
Stcre, to stir.
Stem, Stcme, a star.
42a.
Stemcs, stars.
Sterre, a star.
Sterrcn, stars.
Stert, started.
Sterte, (i) to start, (2)
started.
Sterve, to die. 382.
Stenred[e], died. Star-
ven is a better read-
ing.
Steven, voice, com-
mand. 401.
Steyne, to stain.
Ste3en, to ascend.
Sties, paths. 415.
Stif, stiff, stubborn,
brave.
Stif, strong, bold.
Stiffuly, strongly, quick-
ly-
Stifly, strongly.
Stihes, paths. 415.
Stille, quietly, secretly.
Stint, Stinte, to stop.
GLOSSARY.
\ Stirte, started.
■ Stiward, steward. 384.
Sti^e, Sti^en, (i) to as-
cend, (2) ascended.
: Sti;ede. ascended.
Stijtles, rules, directs.
435.
I Stoc, stock, trunk.
Stod, stood
Stok, stock, trunk.
Stoken, enclosed.
' Stoken, pp. shut iq>.
i «i.
j Ston, stone.
: Stond, imp. stand.
Stcmde, Stonden, to
stand.
Stoneyinge, astonish-
ment.
■ Stont, stands.
Stope, to stop (up).
! Storve, should die (see
! Sterve).
; Stound, Stounde, a short
period of time, a mo-
ment, an intervaL
' 383.
. Stouned, Stowned, as-
tounded.
- Stoupand, stooping.
' Stoupe, to stoop.
Stour, Stoure, a conflict,
agony. 429.
Stowres, attacks.
Stra, a straw.
Strand, stream. 424.
Strang, Strange, stnnig.
Strange)>, becomes
strong.
StrajTie, Strajmy, to
restrain, rule.
Strecche, to stretch,
move.
Streght, straight.
Streitlidie, strictly, nar-
rowly.
Streijt, stretched.
Strekand, stretching,
covering. 4 1 7.
S\icnv, stream.
Streuie}^ streams.
Strendsss/jrerae, race,
progeny.
Strenger, stronger.
Strengh)>ed, strengtbeo-
cd.
Streng)>e,strength,force.
Strengthide, strengthen-
ed.
Strenkle, to scatter.
Strenthe, force, mean-
ing, signification.
Strai|>e, strength.
Strete, a street.
Streyt[e], narrow.
Strejt, straight.
Strif, strife. 393.
Striif, strife, trouble.
Strike, to strike up, to
play-
Strike, to run, flow.
421.
Stroies, destroys.
Strondis; strands,
streams.
Strye, to destroy.
Stryed, destroyed.
Stude, a place.
Stunde, a moment (see
Stound), short period
of time. 383.
Stunden, to abide. 333.
Stunden, pi. abode.
Sture3, stirs
Sturioun, sturgeon.
Stume, stem.
Sturten, pi. started.
Sturtes, stirrups.
Sty, a path, road.
Styfly, strongly, safely.
Styh, ascended.
Styinge, ascending.
Stynkande, stinking.
Stynt, Stynte, to stop.
St3rringes, movements.
St)rryed, stirred, moved.
Styste3=s(y«/e3, stops.
St)rtest, strongest.
Sty)>ly stiffly.
Sty3e, to grow up. *
Sual, swelled.
Suanis, swains, servants.
Suank, laboured, toiled.
Sue, Swe, to follow.
Suein, a swain, man.
Suelland, squealing, cry-
ing. 425.
Sueme, tribulation. 382.
Suerd, a sword.
Suere, to swear.
Suet, Suete, to sweat.
Sue^l-band, swaddle-
band. 425.
Suetlik, sweetly.
Suetnes, sweetness.
Suette, sweet.
Sue)m, swain, servant.
407.
Suffirende, suifering, en-
during.
Suich, Suiche, such.
Suik, Suike, treachery.
Suikedom, treachery,
falseness.
Suikeldom, treachery,
deceit.
Suikelhede, fraud, de-
ceit, treachery.
Suilk, such.
Suim, swoon.
Suith, Suithe, Sui)>e.
very quickly.
Sui'Se, quickly.
Suld, Sidde, should.
Sule, Sulen, pi. shall.
Sulfe, very, self.
Sulle, Sullen, to sell.
Sullers, sellers.
Sulve, very, same. 398.
Sulver, silver.
Sum, as. 424.
Sumdel, somewhat.
Sume = suim, grief, af-
fliction. 382, 425.
Sumere, summer.
Summe, some, certain.
Sumpnour, summoner,
apparitor.
Sumquat, somewhat
Sundri, separate. 383.
Sune, sound.
GLOSSARY.
Sune, son.
Sunen, Sunej, sons.
Sunkken, pi. sank.
Sunne, sun.
Sunne, sin.
Sunne-bem, a sunbeam.
Suor, swore.
Suote, sweet.
Sunrise, service, course.
Susteene, Susteine, Sus-
teini, to sustain.
Suster, a sister.
Susteyne, to sustain.
Suth, truth.
Suth, south.
Su])e = swt\>e, very.
Su]>])e, afterwards.
Suwe, to follow.
Suwe]>, pi. follow.
Suythe, much, greatly.
Swa, so.
Swal, swelled.
Swange, loins.
Sware, square.
Swe=sweyedi rushed.
Sweande, flowing.
Swele, to wash. 421.
Swelt, Swelte, to destroy.
Swem, troubled, grieved.
382.
Swep, meaning. 386.
Sweord, a sword.
Sweordis, swords.
Swerd, a sword.
Swere, Sweren, to swear.
Swete, to sweat.
Swetnesse, sweetness.
Swevene, Swevenyng, a
dream.
Swe3mes, servants.
Swike, to cease. 402.
Swike, a traitor. 399.
Swikedam, deceit, fraud,
treachery. 399.
Swikeldome, treachery,
deceit.
Swilc, Swilk, Swilke,
such. 381.
Swin, swine.
Swink, Swinke, to la-
bour, toil, work.
479
Swi'Se, very quickly.
.S84.
Swo, so.
Swoghe, (i) swoon, (2)
deep.
Swolgen, pp. swallowed.
383.
Swon, a swan.
Swonken, laboured,
toiled.
Swore, the neck. 398.
Sworen, sworn.
Swuch, Swych, such.
Swymmed, swam.
Swynke, to labour.
Sw)rre, the neck.
SwyJ?e, heavily, fast.
384.
Syghyng, sighing.
Syk, sick, weak.
Sykerlyk, Sykerlyche,
truly, indeed, secure.
Sykemes, security.
Sylvener = sy/v£r«i, sil-
ver dishes.
Symented, cemented.
Syn, Synne, since.
Syngne, sign, token.
S3mkande, sinking.
S3mkke3, sinks.
Synoghe, sinew.
Syth, time.
Sythen, afterwards.
Sythes, Sy]>e3, times.
Sy3e, Sy3en, saw.
Sy3t, Sy3te, sight.
Ta, to take.
Taa, a toe.
Tabart, coat.
Tac = take, to take.
Tachched, attached.
Tades, toads.
Taght, Tagte, taught.
Tak, take.
Take, pp. taken.
Taken, a token, sign.
Takening, Takning,
Takninge, a token,
sign.
Tal, tale, discouTse.
48o
Tald, TaMc told. 384.
Tale, speech, tidings,
news, qnestioa, ac-
count, report.
Tale, to telL
Taknttyf, desirous.
Talis, tales.
Talkkande, talking.
Tan, Tane, taken.
Targes, targets.
Tars tapites, Tharsian
tape^ry.
Tas, toes.
Tat, that.
Taujte, tan^^t.
Tarele, to play at dice.
406.
Taremers, keepers of
tarems.
Tawnen, to shew. 387.
Tc, to.
Tech, imp. teach.
Teche, Techen, to
teach.
Techeres, teachers.
Teches, Techches,
marks.
Tecme, theme.
Tcld, Telde, tabernacle,
tent. 416.
Telde, to raise up.
Teldes, habitations,
dwellings.
Telid, shewed.
Tellus, tells.
Tels, imp. tell.
Tel|>, telleth, esteems.
Temptandc, tempting.
Ten, to go, to conduct.
380.
Tend, tenth.
Tende, pret. lighted.
Tende, to kindle, light
np. 398.
Tene, grief, tribulation,
anger, sorrow. 398,
401.
Tent, attend.
TeoneJ>, grieveth.
Tare, to tar. 410.
Terne, lake, pool, 434.
GLOSSARY.
Te-teahe, in jeoponhr,
in rain. 422.
Teyntis, tents.
Thla, those.
Thcder, thither.
Thah, though, pro-
vided.
Thaim, them.
Thair, their.
Thanes, men, nobles.
Thanne, then, when.
Thapotecary, the apo-
thecary.
Thankynges, thanks.
Thar, thare, there,
where.
Thar, need.
Tharby, thereby.
Tharin, therein.
Tharto, thereto.
Tharwit, therewith.
Thayre, their.
Thajt = rfwj, thoug^.
Thefe, thieves.
Thenche, to think.
Thennes, thence, [thou.
Thenkeste, thinkest
Thco, pi. the.
Theodc,countries, lands.
Theose, these, those.
Ther, there.
Ther-offe, thereof.
Therinne, therein.
Thester, dark, darkness.
400.
Thertil, thereto.
Thew, virtue.
Thewes, virtues, mo-
rals, good manners.
Thider, Thidre, thither.
Thine, appears.
Thes, these.
Thit = /*o + i/, then it.
Tho, those.
Thoght, apypeared.
Thoghtfulest, the most
thoughtful.
Thoh, though.
Thol, Thole, suffer.
TKo\a.tvd, bearing, en-
Thole, Tholien, Thol
to suffer, to endi
permit, be patient
Thoner, thunder.
Thonered, thundered
Thonk,thought, than
Thoo, then.
Thoos, those.
Thore, there.
Thoru, through.
Thoruthlike, throug
ont4ike, piercing
Thouche, though.
Thoucte, thought.
Thouth, thought, d(
vised.
Thouthe, thought.
Thow, an error for Y*
you.
Thu, thou.
Thunche, to appear,
seem.
Thurgh,Thur3, thron
Thral, Thrall, Thra]
slave.
Thralled [e], enslavec
brought into bonds
Threste, to thrust.
Threstelcoc, a thnisl
Threstes, thirsts.
Threte, to threaten.
Threte, to tire. 420
Thretend, thirteenth
Thretynges, threats.
Thrid, Thridde, thii
Thrie, Thries, thria
Thrin, Thrinne, thr*
Thrist, thrust.
Thritti, thirty.
Thritteind, thirteent
Throwe, time.
paa, the, those.
)?aim, them,
fare, of the, to the.
J?aref= J>ar^ need. 4
f are-vore, therefore,
farwyj), therewith.
)ras = Jb«s, of the.
J: as, those,
fan, pauh, J^au3,
\
GLOSSA RY.
lough.
pincj>e = |>i«^J> R ap-
nevertheless.
pears to the.
thither.
pinge, sake.
lough.
pingj), appears.
ley.
pir, these.
I, felliche, pel-
pire, of thy, to thy.
I, pellyche, the
pirled, pierced.
, such.
pis (obliq. case Itise,
iat. and ace.) the.
\>i&se\ this.
% to think.
pis, pise, these.
5, to seem, appear.
piselven, thyself.
f'enke, to think.
pistemesse = cisternesse.
, to appear, seem.
cistern, pit.
>, tennis, thence.
po, those.
iforth, thence-
po, then.
1.
pof, though.
.). the.
pofque>er, nevertheless.
po, the, these.
423-
. land, nation.
poghte, (l) seemed, ap-
Jiese.
peared, (2) thought.
f.), this.
pole, imp. suffer.
lere.
polemodness, polemod-
ere, )?ir, these.
nesse, patience, en-
inleavened.
durance.
T, thereafter.
polye, to suffer, endure.
le, therefore.
folyinde (see On >oly-
e, therein.
inde.)
e, therefore.
pondringe, pondrynge,
through.
thunder.
:ese.
ponken, to thank.
I.), the.
ponkes, thanks.
at.
thoughts. 398.
thence. 383.
ponkes (hire), willingly.
manner, custom.
398.
poning, noise, din. 401.
, behaved, con-
ponne, then, when.
ed. 380.
porte = /i&ro/«, throat.
thieves.
poru, through.
manners, cus-
poruout, throughout,
porw, porw3, torough.
», qualities, vir-
pos, these.
JJidir, f idur, thi-
pos = J)eos, this.
pouhte, seemed.
lick.
pou3t, thought.
thickly.
pousend, a thousand.
'ilke, this, these.
pousendji^e, thou-
jTf/i^s, or pink];>,
sand times.
ars.
pousent, pousynde.
, to think.
thousand.
, to seem.
pow, thou.
seems.
P03, though.
li
481
po3les, nevertheless.
p03t, p03te, thought.
p03tes, thoughts.
prawen, bound, twisted,
predbare, threadbare.
preo, three.
prep, contradiction,
gainsaying. 432.
prete, (1) to threaten,
(2) a threat.
pretene, to enjoin^
threaten.
pretty, thirty.
prettene, thirteen.
\ ridde, third.
pries, thrice.
priste, daring. 399.
pritti, thirty.
proliche, heartily.
proly, quickly.
proly, thoroughly, cer-
tainly.
pronge, throng, crowd.
prostle, a thrush. 405.
prote, the throat.
frowe, time.
prowen, thrown,
crowded.
pro3e, time, turn. 40I.
prublande, crowding.
434.
pryd, prydde, third.
prye3, thrice.
pryfit, thrift, luck, good-
ness.
pryven, grown up,
thrifty.
pu, thou.
X\x = vm^ how.
puder, thither.
puder-ward, thither-
ward.
fulk, pulke, this,
these.
punch ss pMncibJ>, ap-
pears (see penche.)
punc)>, appears, seems.
punder-|>nist, thunder-
bolt.
furf, purh, purgh,
through. 415.
482
purleden, pi. pierced.
jTurt, needed.
purth = \^urby through.
):ur3, through.
jTuster, darkness.
f uvele, underwood.
401.
f'u3te, seemed, ap-
peared.
J^warl-knot, a hard
knot, a garland.
pyef (obliq. case \>yeve)t
a thief.
pyester, dark. 400.
pyesternesse, darkness.
pykke, thickly.
pyse, these.
py3, thigh.
pwong, a thong.
^ag, then.
"Sar-offe, thereof.
"^^hurg, through.
"Se, who, which, that.
"Ser, there.
'Seden=cfeflfe«, deeds.
"Seden, "Se^eu, thence.
Senke, to think.
"Sewed, behaved.
tSis, these.
Sider, thither.
tShogt, anxiety.
"Shogte, "Shugte, ap-
peared. 382.
fJhurg, through.
•Sistemesse, darkness.
"So, those.
Soge, nevertheless,
Uor, there.
tfor-bi, thereby.
•Sor-fore, therefore.
"Sor-offen, thereof.
tJor-on, thereon.
"Sraldom, slavery.
"Sridde, third.
•Srist, thrust.
"Su, thou.
Tidde, befeU.
Tide, time, at inter-
vals.
Tidi, beautiful. 386.
Tight, determined. 424.
GLOSS ARV.
Tilieris, tillers, * cr>c-
tilierisy husbandmen.
Til, Tille, to. 383.
Tilled, brought. 408.
Tilward, toward.
Tilynge, tilling.
Tim, time.
Timen, to have suc-
cess, be prosperous.
392.
Timbred, built.
Tine, to lose. 429.
Ti>and, tidings, news.
Time, to turn.
Timenden, pi. turned.
Tite, quickly, sud-
denly. 428.
Titte, a tug, pull,
wrench. 430.
Titter, quicker, more
quickly.
Tithand, Ti>ing, tid-
ings, news.
Tije, to tie.
Ti3t, soon, quickly.
Tijtly, quickly, at once.
To, the one. 421.
To, until.
To-bar, falsely accused.
387-
To-breddest=/o-6re(fd'<?s,
makest broad.
To-breidynge, tearing.
To-breke, break vio-
lently.
To-broke, pp. broken in
pieces.
Toe, took.
To-deled, divided.
To-dreved, troubled.
To-flight, refuge.
To-for, before.
To-fore, before.
Toft, a field,
To-gadere, To-geder,
Togider, together.
Tok, took.
Tokenes, tokens.
Toknen, tokens, signs.
Tolden, reckoned. 384.
Tole, tool.
Tolke, man, person.
434-
Tollere, a taker or re-
ceiver oi toll.
To-logged, pulled about
by the ear. 437.
Tombesteris = tomblUs-
teres^ dancing-women.
Tome, in vain. 406.
Ton, the one.
Tone = teone, grief, an-
ger. 397.
Tong, Tonge, tongue.
399-
Tonge, a pair of tongs.
Top, Toppe, top, head.
Topp)Tige, mane.
Tor, difficult, tedious.
Toren, torn.
To-rent, rent in pieces.
Tormens, torments.
Tom, turn, stratagem.
Tome, to turn.
To-rof, rent in pieces.
Torres, Tours, towers.
To-samen, together.
386.
To-sprad, spread about
To-suolle, swollen. 398.
To-teren, to tear in
pieces. 385.
Tother, To>ir, the se-
cond, that other.
TotJere, the others.
To-tose, hurt, to tease.
398.
To-twiche, pull at. 405.
Toun, a town.
Tour, a tower.
Tovore, before.
Toumayed, jousted.
Touber, that other, the
other.
Towalten, burst,
welled up.
Towardes, towards.
Towche, to touch.
Towches, touches.
Traisted, trusted.
Trammes, devices,
plans.
GLOSSARV.
483
Travail, labour, fatigue.
Trayne, device, deceit.
Trayste, to trust.
Trawaylc = travayUy
labour.
Trawed, trowed, be-
lieved.
Traw)> truth.
Tre, timber, plank,
beam.
Tremblande, trembling.
Tren, trees.
Treoflinge, playfully.
415.
Tresore, Tresour, trea-
sure.
Tresorie, treasury.
Tretiden, disputed.
TreuJ>e, Treuthe, troth,
pledged word, faith.
Trewe, true.
Trewed, believed.
Trewely, Trewly, truly.
TrewitJ « /rott/s, be-
liepes. 384.
Trewthe, pledged word.
391.
Treye, sorrow, grief,
trouble. 419.
Triedest, the most tried,
most proved.
Tricherie, treachery.
Triwe, true, faithful.
Tro, a tree.
Triste, to trust.
Tron, trees. 404.
Trone, throne.
Trost, Troste, to trust.
Trou))e, troth, promise.
Trow, Trowe, to trow,
believe, trust.
Trow3mg, opinion.
Tru, true.
Truage, hostage.
Trumpes, trumpets.
Trusse, to pack (off.)
Tristing, trusting.
TruJ>e, truth.
Tryed, valuable, costly.
Tuelf, twelve.
Tuelft, twelfth.
Tuengst, twingest. 399.
Tuengde, twinged,
twitched.
Tuin, two.
Tukest, takest ven-
geance, annoy. 397.
Tulk, man. 434.
Tulkes, men, warriors.
Tun, Tune, a town.
Tunes, towns (see
Wicke tunes.) 404.
Tung, Tunge, tongue.
Tug, two.
Turned tyme, time
elapsed, gone by.
Turves, pi. of turf.
Tussh, tusk.
Tuxes, tusks.
Twa, Twaye, Twa)m,
two.
Twei, two.
Twelf, twelve.
Tweye,Tweyne,Twyes,
two, twice.
Twinne, two.
Twyn, Twynnc, to part,
separate.
Twynne, two.
Twynnen, joined.
Tyde.to betide, happen.
Tyene, anger, sorrow.
Tyl, to.
Tylle, to lead. 383.
Tyme, to befall.
Tyne, to lose. 429.
Tyned,enclosed, shut up.
Tyred, attired.
Tysyk, consumption.
Tyte, soon.
Tyl>yng, tiding.
TyJ>ynges, tidings, news.
Uch, Uche, each.
Uche a, every.
Uchon, Uchone, each
one.
Ugly, horrible.
Uglines, loathsomeness.
Ule, owl.
Umbe-grouen, about
grown, covered.
11 a
Umbefoldes, encircles.
Umbe-tome, twisted.
Umbilaid, encircled.
Umbre, showers.
Umgaf, surrounded.
Umgang, circuit.
Umgriped, embraced.
Umlappe, to encircle.
Umset, surrounded.
Umthoght, bethought.
Umstride, to bestride.
Unavanced,unadvanced.
Unbileve, unbelief.
Unbilevefulnesse, un-
belief.
Unblyjje, sad, joyless.
Unbond, unbound.
Unbounden, pi. un-
bound.
Unbrent, unbumt.
Unbrosten, unburst.
Uncoul>e, strange,
foreign. 423.
Uncuth, strange, un-
known.
Undede, undid, opened.
Under, noon. 390.
Underand, innocent,
(see Deren).
Unders, puts under,
subjects.
Understanden, pp. un-
derstood.
Understod, received.
Undertoc, agreed.
Undertok, undertook,
took.
Underveng, received.
Underjete, understood.
399-
Undirstonden, pp. un-
derstood.
Uhdon, to explain.
Undreh, impatient, dis-
satisfied. 420.
Undren, Undrun, the
third hour of the
day. 390.
Undurfong, received.
Un-et5es, scarcely, not
484
Unfere, feeble, sick.
Unfest, unstable.
Unfete, bad. 420.
Unteyn, reluctant.
Unfiled, undefiled. 416.
Unglad, sorrowful.
Unhap, misfortune,
accident.
Unhiled, uncovered.
379-
Unhillen, to disclose.
379-
Unhuled, uncovered,
disclosed.
Unker, of us (two). 403.
Unkeveleden, unco-
vered. 408.
Uukinde, Unkuynde,
unnatural, unJdnd.
Vnkyth = Unkyebe, to
become invisible.
423.
Unlede, wicked. 405.
Unlose, to unloose.
Unmete, extraordinary.
Un-me|>e, immodera-
tion. 403.
Unmilde, savage.
Un-murie, unpleasant.
402.
Unnait, vanity. 417.
Unne>e, scarcely. 391.
Unnethes, scarcely.
Unprudent, unwise.
Un-ome, rude. 402.
Un-rede, folly, wicked-
ness (see Red).
Unright, wrong.
Un-rihtfulnesse, wrong.
Unrijt, wrong, unright.
Unsaht, angry, dis-
pleased, unfriendly.
419.
Unschilfiil, unreason-
able.
Unsele, imfortunate,
391.
Unseli, unhappy,
wretched.
UnselSehe, misfortune.
391.
GLOSSARF.
Unsctc, rice. 420.
Unsouwen, to unsow,
Uke off.
Unl>eu, vice (sec
Thewe).
Unthewes, vices.
Unl>ryftely, wickedly.
Unthryfte, imprudence,
folly, misfortune.
Untille, unto.
Untrewe, untrue.
Untuled, uncultivated,
untilled.
Unwemmed, pure, spot-
less. 416.
Un-werste, wicked,
wrong. 309.
Unwille,unpleasant 403.
Un-wille, desirable,
wished for. 402.
Unwis, unwise.
Unwi3t, coward. 396.
Un-wi3tis, cowards.
Un-worl>, displeasing,
useless.
Unwor]>elych, unwor-
thy, bad.
Unwraste, beggarly,
poor. 399.
Un-wrenche, craft,
wicked devices. 399.
Unwreste, badly. 399.
Unwro3e, discovered.
399-
Unwro3ten = ununroytn^
discovered. 399.
Up, Upe, upon.
Upbraiding, reproach.
Up-brayd, upbraiding.
Upe, up.
Upehovene, upraise.
Upheve, to raise.
Uphoven, raised.
Upon, open.
Uprisinge, resurrection.
Upset, set up.
Upsodoun, up-side-
down.
Upstegh, rose up.
U^e^Ke, to go up.
Upsterte, started iq».
Upswal, swelled up
(with anger).
Up-wafte, up-waft
Up-3elde, to yield.
Ur, Ure, our.
Uselle3', ashes (hot).
434.
UsQ, employs, passes.
Ut, Ute, out.
Ute-brast, outburst
Ute we, let us go out
Ut-comen, pi. out-came.
Uten, foreign. 386.
Utenemes, uttermost
425.
Utheste, outcry, ahim.
406.
Utlete, outlet, bay.
Uoel=v«/, felL
Uvele, badly. 397.
Vader, father.
Vair, Vaire, good, fiur,
well. •
Vale=i;ea/e, many.
Valeie, a valley.
Vallynge, falling.
Vantward, vauntward.
Variand, Variande,
changing.
Vaste, fast.
VarJ>, fareth, acts.
Vajntt, Vayne, vein.
Vel, feU.
Velde, field.
Vela3es, companions.
Vela3rede, fellowship.
Vele, many.
Veng, took, possessed.
Venkquyst, vanquished,
destroyed.
Ver, Vere, fire.
Ver, Verre, farther.
413.
Verayly, truly.
Verde, retmue. foU
lowers.
Vermeile, red.
Verrayment, Verrey-
\ \s«»l^ truly.
Vers, verse.
Verst, first.
Verveyne, vervain.
Vewe, few.
Villiche, vilely, foully.
Vilonye, dishonour,
shame.
Vinde, to find.
Vli3e, flies. 403.
Vo, foe.
Vol, full.
Vole, Volk, folk, people.
Void, field, earth.
Volde, fold. 403.
Volliche, Vollyche,
fully.
Volnesse, fulness.
Volveld, fulfilled, per-
fected.
Vome, foam.
Vomeb, foameth (at the
mouth).
Vor, for.
Voramd, pursued or
troubled. 413.
Vorbamd, burnt, con-
sumed.
Vorbed, forbad.
Vorberrid, consumed.
Vorbysne, example.
427.
Vorewarde, covenant,
promise.
Vorlete, to refuse. 427.
Vorlore, ruined. 413.
Vorlost, loses. 404.
Vorpriked, pierced.
Vorrt =feorre, afar.
402.
Vorsuore, perjured.
Vorte, for to.
Vorth, Vorl>, forth.
Vorjjan, therefore.
Vor-j?i, wherefore.
Vorwounded, severely
wounded.
Vor3ete, to forget
Vorzuel3e, to swallow,
devour.
Vorzol)e, forsooth.
Vou], fonJ,
GLOSSARY.
Voyde, to leave.
Voyde, to make void,
empty.
Voys, voice.
Vram, from.
Vrom, from.
Vuel = ttve/, evil, sick-
ness. 414.
Vuele = uvele, wickedly,
evilly.
Vus = UuSf us.
Vyage, voyage.
Vyende, fiend.
Vylanye, crime, sin.
Vylanye, shame, dis-
grace.
Vyne3erd, vineyard.
Vynnes, fins.
Wa, (i) woe, (2) sor-
rowful.
Wa = bwa^ who.
Waferis, sellers of cakes.
Wafte, wafted, threw.
WafuUie, Wafullic, wo-
fuUy.
Wailawai, well-a-dayl
alas I
Wain. sb. decrease.
Waines, waggons.
Waiour, a wager.
Waisching, washing.
Waischun, washed.
Waiten, to lie in wait.
Waites, watches.
Wakan, to stir up.
Wakand, waking.
Wake, to keep awake,
keep watch, to keep
a vigil for the dead.
Waken, Wakene, to
raise up, stir up.
WakeJ>, Wakye]), imp.
watch.
Waking, sb. watch.
Wakkest, weakest.
Wakne, to awaken.
Wakned, excited.
Waky, to keep watch.
Wakynde, watching.
Wal, waU.
485
Wald, Walde, would.
Wale, to seek.
Walewid, rolled. 417.
Walkand, walking.
Walkere, a fuller of
cloth.
Walld, would.
Walle-heved, well-head,
spring.
Walle, to boil up.
Walt, exercised, em-
ployed.
Walt, rolled. 432.
Waher, to flow.
Waltere, tossed.
Waites, Waltej, rushes
or wells out, flows.
432-
Wan, Wane, when.
Wan, which.
Wan, got, won.
Wand, Waand, delay.
Wandes, Wandej,
branches, wands,
staves.
Wandre, to walk,
wander.
Wandreth, Wandrethe,
sorrow, trouble. 426.
Wandrynge, walking.
Wane, Wanne,Whanne,
when.
Wane, to decrease,
diminish. 4 17.
Wane, diminution.
Wane, dwelling (see
Won).
Wane, quantity. 430.
Wangelist, evangelist,
Wanhope, despair.
Wanne, when.
Wante, to lack. 389.
Wantede, failed.
Wanting, lack.
Wantrokiynge, lack.
427.
Wapnid, weaponed,
armed.
War, Ware, cautious,
crafty, prudent.
486
War, Ware, were.
Ward, regard.
Warde, to guard.
Wardeyn, guardian.
Wardrobe, a jakes.privy.
Ware-vore, wherefore.
Ware->oru, where-
through.
Ware, to guard.
Ware, to employ, use.
Ware, goods.
Ware, where.
Waren, to make aware.
Warie, to curse. 408.
Waried, cursed.
Warld, world.
Warly, craftily, cau-
tiously.
Wame, unless. 426.
Warni. to warn.
Warp, uttered (pret. of
Werpe, to throw).
.397.
Warpen, to cast, to
hurl.
Warso, whereso
WarJ>oru, where-
through.
Wary, to curse.
Warysoun, reward. 418.
Wasche, to flood, over-
whelm.
Waschen, washed.
Waspene = Wastemet
form. 379.
Wassen, to wash.
Wast, was it.
Wast, the waist.
Wast[e], to waste,
destroy.
Wasti, to waste, con-
sume.
Wastours, destroyers.
Wat, what.
Wat=yttw'5, spake.
Wate, wet.
Water, flood.
Watloker, the rather,
the more so. 41a.
Watrand, watering.
Wattere3, waters.
GLOSSARK.
Wzttn = attri, poison-
ous. 403.
Watj, was. [closed.
Waundcn, wound, cn-
Wawe, (pi. Wawes.
Wawej, Wawis),
wave.
Wawe, wall. 408.
Wax, sb. increase.
Wax, became.
Waxlokes, waves.
Waxen, to become,
grow, multiply.
Wayk, Wayke, weak.
Wa3med, brought.
Wayte, to keep guard,
watch, to watch for,
to see, to lay wait,
to watch an oppor-
tunity to do harm.
Wayve, to wave, shake.
Wa3e3, waves.
Wear, careful. [388.
Wedde, pledge, security.
Wedden, to wed, marry.
Wede, clothing.
Wede, to go mad.
Weden, garments.
Weder, storm, weather.
Wedere3, storms.
Weeles, wells.
Weepe, to weep.
Wei, Weie, way.
Weila-wei, Weilawei,
alas I well-a-day 1
Weis, washed. 390.
Wei, very.
Weld, Welde, Welden,
to wield, govern, rule.
Wele, weal, bliss.
Wele, well.
Well, rich. 394.
Welkes, fades. 417.
Welkede, withered.
Welkid, withered, faded.
Welkyn, sky, firma-
ment. 406.
Welle, to boil. 433.
Welt = tt^//e, exercised.
Welth, WcIK WcKe.
wealth.
Wclud, withered. 417.
Welwidc, withered.
Welyen, to wither. 417.
Wem, blemish. 416.
Wcmles, Wemmdes,
pure, unblemished,
unspotted.
Weiiche, young maiden.
Wendand, going, de-
parting.
Wend, Wende, thought,
weened.
Wende, to go.
Wend, thought, be-
lieved.
Wcndes, goes.
Wane, to ween, suppose.
Wene, doubt.
Wenene, whence.
Wenges, wings.
Wenten, pi. turned.
Weolcne, sky, welkin.
406.
Weole, weal, wealth.
421.
Weoljye, wealth.
Weore, were.
Weori, weary.
Wepyng, weeping.
Wep, wept.
Wep, weeping. 391.
Wepe, Wepen, to weep.
Weping, weeping.
Wepne, Weppen, Wep-
pene, weapon.
Wer, were.
Werbles, warbles, notes.
Were, wert.
Were, (i) war, battle,
(2) doubt.
Wereden, pi. protect.
Weren, to defend, guard.
385.
Were3, enjoys, wears.
Werinisse, weariness.
Werk, work.
Werke3, works.
V Wetlde wo, world's woe.
Werldys, world's.
Werme, worm, reptile.
Wcm, were.
Wcme, to refuse, deny.
388.
Wemeden, pL refused.
Werp, uttered.
Werre, war.
Werren, wars.
Werrende, warring.
Werthe, (l) honour. (2)
destiny. 418.
Wery, weary.
^Yerynesse, weariness.
Wes, was.
Wes = w/s«, mode.
Wessche, to wash.
West =«ros/, knowest.
Wete, wet.
Wette, wetted.
Weve, to toatve, forbid.
Weved, altar. 413.
Wex, increased, became.
Wexe, to grow, become,
to increase.
Wexe, imp. become.
Wexen, pp. increased.
Wey, Weye, way.
Weye, to depart.
Weye, to weigh.
Weyebondes,waistband.
Weyen, pp. weighed.
Weyk, weak.
Weylinge, Weylyng,
wailing.
Wha, who.
Wham, whom.
Whanne, when.
Whannes, whence.
Whare, where.
Whaut, what.
Wheder, whether.
Whel, a wheel.
Whenne, whence. 432.
Whichche, hutch, ark.
Whider, whither.
Whil, While, while,
time.
Whilk, which.
Whilles, whilst.
White =u///e, to blame.
GLOSSARY,
Whittore, whiter.
Whyle, sometimes.
Whon, when.
Whos, whose.
Wic, Wicke, wicked.
409.
Wiche-craft, Wicche-
craft, witchcraft.
Wickenes, sin.
Wicke-tunes, establish-
ments. 404.
Wicth ^wigbij brave.
Wid, (i) with, (2) wide.
Wide-wher, far.
Wider, whither.
Widew, a widow.
Wie3h=wi3, a person.
Wif, wife, woman.
Wight, active, brave.
Wiht, person, creature.
Wihtliche, quickly.
Wike, duties. 403.
Wike, wicked.
Wike, habitation, dwell-
ing. 403.
Wikkedliche, wickedly.
Wiknes, wickedness.
Wil, will.
Wildrin, wilderness.
434.
Wile, will.
Wile, formerly.
Will, destitute. 426.
WiUe, pleasure.
WiUesfol, wUfiil.
Wihie, Wilnen, to de-
sire. 427.
Wiln3mgge, desire.
Wilte, Wiltu, wilt thou.
Win-tre, a vine.
Win, joy, bliss.
Windes-ware, winds.
Wink, sleep.
Winli, winsome. 415.
Winne, bliss, safety.
Winne, to get.
Winsome, joyful, win-
some, kind, lenient.
Wintre, winter, year.
Wirche, to work.
Wirchen, to woik, dio.
487
Wis, wise.
Wise, mode, manner.
396.
Wisi, to instruct, teach.
405.
Wisliker, the more
wisely.
Wisly, wisely, safely.
Wiss, Wisse, Wissen,
to instruct, teach, di-
rect, shew. 405.
Wist, took care of.
Wiste, knew.
Wisten, pi. knew.
Wit, Wite, to go,
vanish. 411.
Wite, to bear witness,
*God it wite^ so help
me God.
Wite, to keep, preserve.
Wite, blame, fauh. 403.
Wite, to learn, know.
Wite (he), let him
learn.
Wite, to hide.
Wited, took care of.
Witen, to learn.
Witerlike, Witerly,
truly.
Witeword, precept, in-
struction.
WiJ>, from.
Wi}>ere, which of two.
Wi}>erwin, an enemy.
423.
Wi>halt, withholds.
With-holden, pp. with-
held.
Wi|>innen, within.
WiJ>oute forth, without.
Wi^outen, WiJ>owten,
without.
Wi^-8an-5at, provided.
Withuten, WiSuten,
without, except.
Wi)>stod, remained,
stayed.
Wi}>-segge, to gainsay.
Witie, to keep.
Witin, within.
488
Witow, Wittow, know
thou.
Witter, wise, good. 379.
Witterly, truly.
Wittes, senses.
Witty, wise.
Witute, Wituten, with-
out.
Wit)mge, knowing.
Wive, dat. wife.
Wives, women.
Wiwes, wife's.
Wijes, men. 430.
Wi3t, quickly.
Wi3tes, creatures. 398.
Wi3tli, soon.
Wijtliche, Wi3tly,
greatly, quickly, soon.
Wlatsum, detestable,
hateful. 479.
Wlappede, wrapped.
Wlates, * me wlate-^*
I am disgusted. 429.
Wlite, features. 390.
Wlonk, beautiful, plea-
sant.
Wlyteth, look (pleased).
390-
Wo, sorrowful.
Wod, wood.
Wod, raging.
Wod, Wode, mad, un-
controlled.
Wodenesse, madness.
Wode, wood.
Woderove, woodruff.
Woede = tt/eorfe, weed.
Woso, who-so.
Woke, week.
Wol, wiU.
Vfo\=woley contempt-
ibly.
Wolawo, alas I well-a-
day I
Wol-cume, to welcome.
Wold, power, significa-
tion. 381, 419.
Wold, wood. 406.
Wolde, desired.
Wolde, would.
WoJdest, wouldest.
GLOSSARY.
Woldustow, wouldest
thou.
Wole, wiU.
Wole, evil. 395.
Wolen, pi. wiU.
WoUe, wool.
Wollene, woollen.
Wolt, wilt.
Wone, custom.
Woltou, be thou will-
ing, wilt thou.
Wolvine, a she-wolf.
409.
Wolwes, wolves.
Womb, Wombc, belly.
Wombede, bellied.
Wommon, a woman.
Won, abode, dwelling.
Won, treasure, earning.
Won, will, opinion.
Won, Wone, to dwell.
393-
Wonde, to refrain.
Wonde, to fear (to
speak out), to delay.
411.
Wonde, to cease.
Wonder, very, * wonder
fast* very fast.
Wonderliche, very, won-
derfully.
Wonderuolle, wonder-
ful.
Wondri, to wonder.
Wondringe, wandering.
Wonand, dwelling.
Wone, wont.
Wone, to dwell. 392.
Wone, custom.
Woned=«/a/i^(f, de-
creased. 417.
Wonen, to dwell, re-
main. 392.
Wonen, pp. gained.
Wones, Wone3, dwell-
ings.
Wonges, cheeks. 419.
Wonges, meadows. 407.
Woning, Woninge,
V
Wonne, pi won, got
Wonne, pp. got.
Wonnen, pp. came, got
(to a plaice).
Wont, want, lack.
Wont, dwelt.
Wony, to dwell. 39a.
Wonyande, lives.
Wonye, to dwell.
Wonying, Wonyingc,
Wonyng, abode,
habitation.
Wop, weeping. 391.'
Wopnede, armed. 393.
Wore, work.
Worch, imp. work.
Worche, Worchen, to
work.
Worching, Worchingc,
making, working.
Worchipful, honour-
able.
Wore, were.
Wore, wert.
Woren, pi. were.
Woice, voice.
Worldis = worldisb,
worldly.
Worli=twrJ)/i, good.
Worme, reptile.
Wit, with.
Wome, to deny (see
Weme).
Wordle, world.
Worow, to strangle,
429.
Worpen, cast.
Worre, war.
Worri, to make war
upon.
Wors, worse.
Worschupe, worship.
Worschupe, Worschu-
pen, Worschipe,
Worschippe, Wors-
sipe, to worship, to
honour.
Wot, Woot, Wote,
know.
WoTtes, herbs.
■Wor)>=iwol>, angry.
Wor>e, to become.
Worthe, to become,
imp. *woribe bim,*
let him be.
Worked, came to.
Wor)>clych, worthy,
good.
WorJ>e3, imp. become,
turn.
Worthi, worthily.
Wor]>ilych, honourable.
Wosschen, pp. washed.
Wost, knowest.
Wostou, knowest thou.
Wo>e, harm.
Wou, wrong. 399.
Wouke, week.
Wounder, very.
Wo we, wall. 408.
Wowe, wrong, injus-
tice. 399.
Wowe, to woo.
Wowyng, wooing.
Wox=tooxe, pp. be-
come.
Wo3e, wickedness. 399.
Wo3t = wo/, know.
Wrak, Wrake, ven-
geance.
Wraht, wrought.
Wrakful, angry, venge-
ful, full of vengeance.
Wrange, wrong.
Wrangwis, wicked.
Wrangwislie, badly,
Wrangwisnes, sin, un-
righteousness.
Wranne, wren.
Wrastle, to wrestle.
413.
Wrathen, to be angry.
Wrathful, angry,
Wraththelees, without
wrath, not displeased.
WraJ>l>e,to make angry.
Wrecche, a wretch, vil-
lain.
Wrecche, wretched.
Wrecche, vengeance,
wreah
GLOSSARY,
Wrecchede, wretched-
ness.
Wreche, vengeance,
punishment.
Wreche, 'W'recche,
wretched.
Wreched, wretched.
Wrechednes, wretched-
ness.
Wreke, Wreken, to
wreak, avenge.
Wreken, pp. avenged.
Wrenche3, devices. 399.
Wreten, (i) to write,
(2) written.
Wrethe, wrath.
Wrethful, wrathful,
angry.
Wrick, work.
Wrickede, wriggled.
415.
Wrie, Wryen, to cover.
399-
Wrigtful, guilty. 385.
Wrigtleslike, inno-
cently. 385.
Wring, flow.
Writ, writes.
Writelinge, trills in a
song. 397.
Wroght, laboured.
Wrohte, made.
Wrong, squeezed,
wrung.
Wrongen, wrung (dry).
Wrot, Wroot, wrote.
WroJ>e, (l) displeased,
(2) angrily.
Wro|)ly, Wro))ely,
angrily, fiercely.
Wrout, Wrouhte,
Wrou3te, worked,
wrought, made, did,
acted.
Wro3t, Wro3te, worked,
made, did.
Wry}>es, wriggles,
crawls.
Wu, who.
Wu, how.
Wuch, which.
489
Wude, a wood.
Wudewale, a bird called
the witwall, 405.
Wulde, would.
Wule, will.
Wulle, pi. will.
Wule, while.
Wult, wilt.
Wune, ability. 379.
Wune, to dwell. 393.
Wune, custom, wont.
Wune, won.
Wunes; customs.
Wunne, joy, bliss. 421.
Wultu, wilt thou.
Wurche, to work.
Wume, to refuse (see
Weme).
Wur'S, (l) became,
(2) is.
Wur« (he), let him be.
(2) worthy.
Wur>e, ( l) worth, value,
Wur-Se, (i) to be, (2)
may be. 381.
Wur^e wro3t, was
done.
Wur'Seden, worshipped,
honoured. 380.
Wur'Sed, honoured.
Wur«en, to be (in rest).
WurSen, to worship,
honour.
WurSen, pi. became.
Wur'Sing, honour.
Wusche, to wish.
Wuste, knew.
Wyd, wide.
Wydene, wide.
Wyderward, whither-
ward.
Wydowande, withering,
dry.
Wydow, widow's.
Wyf, wife, woman.
Wyght, active.
Wyht, creature.
Wighthe = wigbt€t
brave.
49©
Wylger, wilder.
Wylle, to desire.
Wyllc, pleasure, * myd
wylle* willingly.
Wyllesvol, wilful.
W'yliie. Wylny, to de-
sire. 427.
WylnvTige, Wybiingge,
desire.
Wylsfully, wilfully.
W>inmon, a woman.
W\ii, wine.
WjTidej, turns, goes.
Wynes fille, fill of plea-
sure.
Wynne, to get, win.
W}'nnynge, gains.
Wynjord, vineyard.
Wyrle, whirled, rushed.
Wyse, manner.
Wysed, directed.
Wysen, to instruct.
Wysly, wisely.
Wyt, knowledge.
Wyt, Wyte, to learn.
379-
Wyte, Wytene, to
know, learn.
Wyter, wise. 379.
Wyttes, senses.
Wybdraj)), withdraws.
Wy|>-zede, to refuse.
Wy5, man, person.
Wyje, a man, creature.
430.
Wy3es, men.
Wyjt, active, brave.
Wyjt, loud, merry.
Wyjt, wight, crea-
ture.
Wyjtest, bravest.
Yaf, gave.
Yald. yielded.
Yare, quickly. 423.
Yateward, gatekeeper.
424.
Ybe, been.
Ybiried, pp. buried.
YbJyssed, pp. blessed,
ybore, bom, borne.
GLOSSARY.
"VT)roke, broken.
Ybrojt, pp. brought.
Ych, I.
Ychabbe, I have.
Yche = ilk^ same.
Ycham, I am.
Ychot, I wot, I know.
Ycharged, pp. loaded.
Ychaunged , pp.changed.
Yclenzed, pp. purified,
cleansed.
Ycleped, Yclepud,
Yclept, pp. called.
Yclosed, pp. closed.
Ycoroimed, pp. crowned.
Ydel, idle, useless. 405.
Ydle, an isle. 410.
Ydemd, pp. deemed.
Y-dijt, pi. determined,
resolved.
Ydo, done.
Ydolve,broken through.
Y-don, done.
Y-dronke, drunk.
Yef, if.
Yef)>, gives.
Yfounde, pp. found.
Yeme, Yemen, to pro-
tect. 404.
Yem3mg, rule.
Yemen, to desire. 403.
Y-ete, pp. eaten.
Yeve, to give.
Yeven, pp. given.
Y-froted, pp. rubbed.
Y-graunted, pp. granted.
Ygrope, pp. searched
out. 412.
Yhad, pi. had.
Yhat, made hot.
Yheld, Yhelde, to give,
yield.
Y-hent, tal^en.
Yher, Ybere, a year,
years.
Yherd, pp. heard.
Yhere, to hear.
Yhit, yet,
Yholde, pp. held, kept.
Yhoten, pp. called.
Yhouthe, youth.
Yhung, young.
Yhurt, pp. hurt.
Y-hyerd, heard.
Y-h)rre}>, imp. hear.
Y-hyjt, ordained.
Yif, imp. give.
Yif, if.
Y-knauJ>, knows.
Y-knowe, known.
Y-kuenct, pp. quenched.
Ylaste, lasted.
Y-left, pp. left.
Ylent, pp. come.
Ylered, pp. taught.
Yliche, alike, like.
Y-lokked, shut jjh
Ylond, island.
Ylore, Ylost, pp. lost.
Ylle, wickedly.
Y-mad, pp. made.
Ymake, adv. to match.
Ymaked, pp. made.
Ymarled, having a soil
consisting of marl.
Ymelled, pp. mixed.
Ymengud, Ymeyned,
pp. mixed.
Ympne, a hymn.
Ynemned, pp. named.
Ynne, in.
Ynoh, Ynou, Ynou3,
enough. 387.
Ynowe, pi. enough.
Ynoj, Ynuj, greatly,
sufficiently, enough.
Yod, went.
Yoten, pp. called.
Youre=y^artf, ear.
Yprimismed, pp. dressed,
covered,
Ypyned, pp. tormented.
Yre, Yren, Ym, iron.
Y-rokked, pp. rocked.
Yschape, pp. trans-
formed.
Yschave, shaven.
Yschent, pp. destroyed,
\ ruined.
Yse, ice.
Yse, to see.
Ysent, pp. sent.
Yseo, to see.
Yset, pp. set, esta-
blished.
Ysey, saw.
Yseye, seen.
Y-shuldred, having
shoulders.
Yslawe, slain.
Ysnyt, pp. wiped. 4115.
Ysode, sodden, boiled.
Ysoje, seen. 427.
Yspoused, pp. spoused.
Yspronge, sprung,
sprinkled.
Ysseawed, shewn.
Ystyked, pp. stabbed.
Yswore, sworn.
Ysy, to see.
Ytake, taken.
Ytaryed, pp. tarried.
Ytau3t, pp. taught.
Y|>e3, waves.
YJ>orsse, struck. 428.
Ytold, pp. esteemed,
told.
Ytumd, turned.
Yunge, young.
Yvels, diseases.
Y-take, taken.
Y-used, pp. used.
Yvels, diseases.
Y-wasted, consumed.
Y-waxe, grown.
Ywhet, pp. sharpened.
412.
Ywis, Ywys, truly.
Ywite, to learn.
Y-write, Y-wryte,
written.
Y-zed, pp. said.
Y-zeje, sawest. 437.
YzyeJ>, pi. see.
YveJ>, imp. give.
YwyteJ>, imp. know,
learn.
Yzed, pp. said.
Yze)), pi. see.
Yzej, saw.
GLOSSARY,
Yze5en, pi. saw.
Yzi, to see.
Yzoje, seen.
Yzy, to see.
Yje, eye.
Yjen, eyes.
Y3e-lydde3, eyelids.
Yjeve, given.
Y-3ymed, pp. been
anxious, grieved for.
Zang, song.
Zaulen, souls.
Zay, imp. say.
Zayst, sayest.
ZayJ>, says.
Zede. said.
Zelf, self.
Zelve (obliq. case), self.
Zennen, sins.
Zente, sent.
Zevevald, sevenfold.
Zigge, Zygge, to say.
Ziker, sure, confident.
Zittinde, Zittynde,
sitting.
Zofthede, delicacy,
softness.
Zomdel, somewhat.
Zome, some.
ZomJ>yng, something.
Zone, son.
Zonge. pi. sang.
Zorje, sorrow.
Zostren, sisters.
ZoJ>, true.
Zuete, sweet.
Zuord, sword.
Zuyfte, swift.
Zyenne, to see.
Zykere, pi. sure, con-
fident.
Zynge, to sing.
ZyJ>e, time.
Zy3te, Zy3)>e, sight.
3a, yea.
5af, gave.
3al, yelled.
3are, ready, prepared.
491
3arkede, prepared.
3arm, cry. 434.
3ate, gate.
3atus, 3atis, gates.
3a ve, gave.
36, 3he, yea.
3edde, to sing, recite.
437.
3ede, went.
3ederly, certainly, truly,
perfectly, wholly.
3ef, gave.
3ef, if.
3eilpe, to boast. 405.
3eld, imp. requite, pret.
gave,
3eldingus, gifts.
3elde, (l) to yield,
(2) to requite.
3ene, to shew.
3eode, went.
3eome, eagerly, earn-
estly, quickly.
3eorne, to desire.
3e)>, active, brave,
quick.
3eme, care. 404.
3eme, to preserve, to
take care of.
3ellynge, yelling.
3e3ed, proclaimed.
396.
3er, a year.
3erd, 3erde, rod, staff.
3eme, earnestly, readily.
3eme, to desire.
3et, 3ete, yet.
3eve, to give.
3he = 3^, yea.
3if, if.
3ifte, a gift.
3ive, to give.
3ode, went.
30I, Christmas.
5ollest, yellest. 400.
3olden, requited, re-
turned.
jong, 3onge, young.
3ongore, younger.
492
3orne, eagerly,
jorc. long ago, yore.
30U, 30W, you.
jour, your,
joures, your.
30u]>e, youth,
joven, given.
30W, you.
3omere, sad, com-
plaining. 293.
3omerly, sad, piteous.
303elinge, chattering.
396.
3ulinge, yelling.
3ulpe, to boast.
3ut, jute, yet.
3yf,if.
jyfte, a gift,
jjrmden, yearned, de-
sired,
jyve, to give.
CORRECTIONS AND EMENDATIONS.
Page
3*
line
61,
for He ' read In.
4.
»»
92,
hartSe
, harde.
6,
♦»
155.
And
, An.
8,
„
219.
hen
, hem.
28,
♦»
278,
wr[o]|>e
, w[o]r|)e.
53.
„
31,
halt
, hatt.
348,
>*
66,
i»
sperfluite
, superfluity.
383, line 4 from bottom, /or e^en read "SeiSen.
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B 2
4 CLARENDON PRESS SERIES.
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» « « » «
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CLARENDON PRESS SERIES, 6
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*****
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peculiar circumstances of the period in which they were written — a
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lastic terminology, but also much of the Bealistic doctrine — ^have ceased
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*****
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5. The Golden Treasury of Ancient Greek
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Classic Poets, with Introductory Notices and Notes. By R, S.
Wright, M.A., Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford. (Crown 8vo.,
cloth, price 88. 6d )
The arguments in favour of selections from the ancient classics grow
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Greek poets, it seems better that students who cannot work through
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detached passages of varied excellence, than that they should spend
all their strength on whole works of which many parts are inferior in
interest. Not all parts even of the best Greek poems are of eqtial
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critical instructioTV aa those which are less fine ; and when the con-
structive art liaa been obaecvedL va. %il«^ ^VXa^wka, there is much to
be said in favour oi am^^er TWi^<b «sA^Va& ^\s^\sss^^xjs.\Kis. -^^asasi
CLARENDON PRESS SERIES. 7
extended and, so far, a more complete survey of the general poetical
world of Greece.
Again a collection as well of the less known and accessible gems of
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view to examinations.
No collection adapted to either of these purposes has yet been pub-
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together in a convenient form the finest passages of extant Greek verse
from the Iliad to the later epigrammatists, so far as the limits of about
seven thousand lines will allow.
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8vo., cloth, price 7«. Qd ) [Nearly ready,
TMs work seeks to set before students of the English language a
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in writers of the latter part of the thirteenth and the whole of the
fourteenth centuries : a most important period in the history of our
language, though it has been but imperfectly investigated even by the
best writers on the subject. Existing text-books on the history of
English literature and language not only pass over much that is im-
portant in this period, but they also deal in a very unsatis&ctory way
with many chief authorities, whose style, language, and position are
thought to be sufficiently illustrated if twenty or thirty lines are devoted
to thsoL There is in fact no real knowledge of this period to be met
with. This present work is intended, pa^tiallv at least, to fill this
blank. It presents a series of specimens selected so as to form a con-
Aected and continuous whole. Each passage chosen is of considerable
length (the extracts varjring from 200 to upwards of 1200 lines); so
that the grammar, vocabulary, and manner of each author are com-
pletely represented to the student.
These specimens are arranged in chronological order, and illustrate
the leading dialects of the early English period. They will be found
to be (for the most part) new ; having been chosen from works which
have not usually been quoted and are not well known. In many oases
the passages are re-edited from the best MSS. ; a few of them now
appear for the first time.
CLARENDON PRESS SERIES.
The work has a grammatical Introduction, Notes, and a Glossary ;
and it is hoped that it may be within the reach and capacity of all
who take an interest in the origines of our mother-tongue. It lays
bare some of the strong foundations on which our lang^ge is bmit
up ; it throws some light on the ethnological and historical character-
istics of its period ; religion, manners, domestic habits, ranks and orders,
of a very important time in the annals of this country are illustrated
by it.
It is, however, specially intended for students in colleges in which
the English language forms a part of the regular routine of instruction,
and for candidates for the CivU and Indian Civil Service.
In course of Preparation.
I. Classics.
1. Sophocles. By the Rev. Lewis Campbell, M.A.,
Professor of Greek at St. Andrews, late Fellow of Queen's
College, Oxford.
2. Homer, Iliad I-XII. By D. B. Monro, M.A.,
Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford.
3. Homer, Odyssey I-XII.
4. — I — Odyssey XIII-XXIV. By Robinson Ellis,
M.A., Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford.
5. A Golden Treasury of Greek Prose, being a col-
lection of the finest passages in the principal Greek Prose
Writers, with Introductory Notices and Notes. By R. S.
Weight, M.A., Fellow of Oriel College, and J. E. L. Shadwell,
B.A., Student of Christ Church.
6. Horace. With English Notes and Introduction.
By the Rev. E. Wick ham, M.A., Fellow of New College,
Oxford. Also a small Edition for Schools.
7. Livy I-X. By J. R. Seeley, M.A., Fellow of
Christ's College, Cambridge; Professor of Latin, University
College, London. Also a small edition for Schools.
8. Cicero. Select Letters. By the B;ev. A. Watson,
M.A.^ Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford.
9. Cicero. The "Pbili^^^ic Orations. By the Rev. J. R.
King, M, A., "EeWo^ ollBLw\«^^^^%^,QTSsst^.
CLARENDON PRESS SERIES. 9
10. Selections from the less known Latin Poets. By the
Rev. North Pindeb, M.A., late Fellow of Trinity College,
Oxford.
11. Selections from Xenophon (adapted for the use of
Schools). With English Notes and Maps, by J. S. PhillpotTS,
B.C.L., Fellow of New College, Oxford ; Assistant Master in
Rugby School.
I a. The Commentaries of C. Jul. Caesar. Part I. The
Gallic War, with English Notes, &c.,by Charles E. Moberly,
M. A., Assistant Master in Rugby School ; late Scholar of Baliiol.
Also, to follow : Part II. The Civil War: by the same Editor.
13. Select Epistles of Cicero and Pliny (for Schools).
With English Notes, by the Rev. C. E. Prichard, M.A., late
Fellow of Baliiol.
14. Selections from Plato (for Schools). With English
Notes, by the Rev. B. Jowett, M. A., Regius Professor of Greek,
and J. Purves, B.A., Baliiol College,
15. The Elements of Greek Accentuation (for Schools) :
abridged from his larger work by H. W. Chandler, M.A.,
Fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford.
16. Cornelius Nepos (for Schools). With English Notes,
by Oscar Browning, M.A., Fellow of King's College, Cam-
bridge, and Assistant Master at Eton College.
II. Mental and Moral Philosophy.
I. The Elements of Deductive Logic, designed mainly
for the use of Junior Students in the Universities. By the
Kev. T. Fowler, M.A., Fellow and Tutor of Lincoln College,
Oxford. (Crown 8vo., cloth, price Zs. 6d.) lEeady.
III. Mathematics.
1. An Elementary Treatise on Quaternions. By P. G.
Tait. M.A., Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University
of Edinburgh ; late Fellow of St. Peter s College, Cambridge.
[In tits Press,
2, A Course of Lectures on Pure Geometry. By H. J.
Stephen Smith, M.A., F.E.S., Fellow of Baliiol College, and
Sfivili&n ProfeBRor of Geometry m t^ie TSxaN^wsvVj ^il^-sSsst^*
10 CLARENDON PRESS SERIES.
IV. History.
1. A History of Germany and of the Empire, down to
the close of the Middle Ages. By J. Bbtce, MA., Fellow of
Oriel College, Oxford.
2. A History of British India. By S. Owen, M.A.,
Lee's Reader in Law and History, Chxist Church ; and Reader
in Indian Law in the University of Oxford.
3. A History of Greece. By E. A. Feeeman, M.A.,
late Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford.
4. A Constitutional History of England. By the
Rev. W. Stubbs, M.A., late Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford,
and Regius Professor of Modem History.
5. A Church History of the First Three Centuries. By
the Rev. W. W. Shiblby, D.D., Canon of Christ Church, and
Professor of Ecclesiastical History.
V. Law.
1. The Institutes of Justinian, with Notes and an
English Translation. By J. Bbyob, M.A., Fellow of Oriel Col-
lege, Oxford.
2. Commentaries on Roman Law; from the original
and the best modern sources. In Two Volumes, demy 8vo.
By H. J. Roby, M. A., formerly Fellow of St. John's College,
Cambridge ; Professor of Law at University College, London.
VI. Physical Science.
I. A Treatise on Natural Philosophy. In four Volumes.
By Sir W. Thomson, LL.D., F.R.S., Professor of Natural Phi-
losophy in the University of Glasgow, and P. G. Tait, M.A.,*
Professor of Natural Philosophy in the University of Edinburgh ;
late Fellow of St. Peter's College, Cambridge. Vol, /. nearly
2. Also, by the same Authors, a smaller work on the
same subject, forming a complete Introduction to the subject.
80 feir as it can 'be ox.'^'dlvTke^Vs^ t\i& help of Elementary Geometry
and Algebra. \l'wt^ Pren.
CLARENDON PRESS SERIES, 11
{. Forms of Animal Life. Illustrated by Descriptions
and Drawings of Dissections. By G. RoLLESTOK, M.D., F.R.S.,
Linacre Professor of Physiology, Oxford. [/n the Press.
\.. On Laboratory Practice. By A. Vernon Harcourt,
♦M.A., Lee's Reader in Chemistry at Christ Church, and H. G.
Madan, M.A., Fellow of Queen's College, Oxford.
;. Geology. By J. Phillips, M.A., F.R.S., Professor
of Geology, Oxford.
). Handbook of Astronomy, Descriptive and Practical.
With very numerous illustrations and tables. By 6. F. Chambers,
F.R.A.S. [In the Press,
VII. English Language and Literature.
[. On the Principles of Grammar. By the Rev. E.
Thbing, M.A., Head Master of Uppingham School.
Also, by the same Author, a Gradual, designed to
serve as an Exercise and Composition Book in the English
Language.
I. The Philology of the English Tongue. By the Rev.
J. EarleI M.A., late Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford, and late
Professor of Anglo-Saxon.
}. Reading Books. Tie First y for Junior classes in
Schools, in Two Vols. Vol. i. Prose. Vol. ii. Verse.
Hie Second, for more advanced Readers, in Two Vols. Vol. i.
Prose. Vol. ii. Verse. By the Author of '* Mademoiselle Mori."
J.. Typical Selections from the best English Authors
from the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Century, (to serve as an
higher Reading book,) with Introductory Notices and Notes,
being a Contribution towards a History of English Literature.
VIII. French.
By Mons. Jules Bue,
Honorary M. A. of Oxford ; Taylorian Teacher of French, Oxford ;
Examiner in the Oxford Local Examinations from 1858.
I. A French Grammar. A complete theory of the
French language, with the rules in French and ^gUsh^ and
numeroua Examples to serve as &ret'£x.«IC^&«^^xiH^^^3^s^!tS^^a^«
12 CLARENDON PRESS SERIES.
2. A French Grammar Test. A book of Exercises on
French Grammar; each Exercise being preceded by Gi-ammatical
Questions.
3. Exercises in Translation No. i, from French into
EngUshy with general rules on Translation ; and containing
Notes, Hints, and Cautions, founded on a comparison of the 1
Grammar and Genius of the two languages.
4. Exercises in Translation No. 2, from English into
French, on the same plan as the preceding book.
5. Exercises on French Idiomatic Locutions.
6. A new method of French Analysis.
7. Theory of French Pronunciation.
IX. Miscellaneous.
1. The Principles of Music. By the Rev. Sir F. A.
Gore Odseley, Bart., M.A., Mus. Doc, Professor of Musio,
Oxford.
2. A Handbook of Pictorial Art, with numerous Il-
lustrations, and Practical Advice. By the Rev. R. St. John
Tyuwhitt, M.A., late Student and Tutor of Christ Church.
X. English Classics.
Designed to meet the zvants 0/ Students in English Literature:
under the superintendence of the Rev, J, S, Brewer, M,A,, of
Queen's College, Oxford, and Professor of English Literature
at King's College, London,
There are two dangers to which the student of English
literature is exposed at the outset of his task; — his reading
is apt to be too narrow or too diffuse.
Out of the vast number of authors set before him in books
professing to dea\ m\5[v \}kvs» ^\i5c>^^^\. \sr. \:ssss^'$, ^w:i\^\idch to
CLARENDON PRESS SERIES. 13
select: he thinks he must read a little of all; he soon
abandons so hopeless an attempt ; he ends by contenting
himself with second-hand information; and professing to
study English literature, he fails to master a single English
author.
On the other hand, by confining his attention to one or
two writers, or to one special period of English literature,
the student narrows his view of it; he fails to grasp the
subject as a whole ; and in so doing misses one of the chief
objects of his study.
How may these errors be avoided ? How may minute
reading be combined with comprehensiveness of view ?
In the hope of furnishing an answer to these questions the
Delegates of the Press, acting upon the advice and ex-
perience of Professor Brewer, have determined to issue a
series of small volumes, which shall embrace, in a convenient
form and at a low price, the general extent of English
Literature, as represented in its masterpieces at successive
epochs. It is thought that the student, by confining himself,
in the first instance, to those authors who are most worthy
of his attention, will be saved from the dangers of hasty and
indiscriminate reading. By adopting the course thus marked
out for him he will become familiar with the productions of
the greatest minds in English Literature ; and should he never
be able to pursue the subject beyond the limits here pre-
scribed, he will have laid the foundation of accurate habits of
thought and judgment, which cannot fail of being serviceable
to him hereafter.
The authors and works selected are such as will best
serve to illustrate English literature in its hutorical aspect.
As " the eye of history," without which history cannot be
understood, the literature of a nation is the clearest and
most intelligible record of its life. Its Noughts and its
emotions, its graver and its less serious moda^^ \t& ^xa-
14 CLARENDON PRESS SERIES.
gress, or its degeneracy, are told by its best authors in their
best words. This view of the subject will suggest the safest
rules for the study of it.
With one exception all writers before the Reformation are
excluded from the Series. However great may be the vahie
of literature before that epoch, it is not completely national
For it had no common organ of language; it addressed
itself to special classes ; it dealt mainly with special subjects.
Again ; of writers who flourished after the Refdrmation, who
were popular in their day, and reflected the manners and
sentiments of their age, the larger part by far must be
excluded from our list. Common sense tells us that if
young persons, who have but a limited time at their disposal,
read Marlowe or Greene, Burton, Hakewill or Du Bartas,
Shakspeare, Bacon, and Milton will be comparatively
neglected.
Keeping, then, to the best authors in each epoch — and
here popular estimation is a safe guide — the student will find
the following list of writers amply sufiicient for his purpose :
Chaucer, Spenser, Hooker, Shakspeare, Bacon, Milton,
Dryden, Bunyan, Pope, Johnson, Burke, and Cowper. In
other words, Chaucer is the exponent of the Middle Ages
in England ; Spenser of the Reformation and the Tudors ;
Hooker of the latter years of Elizabeth; Shakspeare and
Bacon of the transition from Tudor to Stuart; Milton of
Charles I and the Commonwealth ; Dryden and Bunyan of
the Restoration ; Pope of Anne and the House of Hanover;
Johnson, Burke, and Cowper of the reign of George HI to
the close of the last century.
The list could be easily enlarged ; the names of Jeremy
Taylor, Clarendon, Hobbes, Locke, Swift, Addison, Gold-
smith, and others are omitted. But in so wide a field, the
difficulty is to keep the series from becoming unwieldly»
without dimimshixig \\& coiK^t^^xL%\s^^^'5j3», ^^\^:^&^^%bould
CLARENDON PRESS SERIES, U
the plan prove to be useful, some of the masterpieces of the
authors just mentioned may be added to the list.
The task of selection is not yet finished. For purposes of
education, it would neither be possible, nor, if possible, desir-
able, to place in the hands of students the whole of the works of
the authors we have chosen. We must set before them only the
masterpieces of literature, and their studies must be directed,
not only to the greatest minds, but to their choicest produc-
tions. These are to be read again and again, separately
and in combination. Their purport, form, language, bearing
on the times, must be minutely studied, till the student
begins to recognise the fiill value of each work both in itself
and in its relations to those that go before and those that
follow it. ^
It is especially hoped that this Series may prove useful
to Ladies' Schools and Middle Class Schools; in which
English Literature must always be a leading subject of
instruction.
A General Introduction to the Series. By the Rev.
Professor Brewer, M.A.
1. Chaucer. The Prologue to the Canterbury Tales;
the Knight's Tale ; the Nun's Priest's Tale. Edited by R.
Morris, Esq., Editor for the Early English Text Society,
&c. &c.
2. Spenser. Faerie Queene, Book I., with the Poet^s
letter to Sir Walter Raleigh. Edited by the Rev. G. W.
EiTCHiN, M.A., formerly Censor of Christ Church.
3. Hooker. Ecclesiastical Polity, Book T. Edited by
the Rev. R. W. Church, M.A., Rector of Whatley; formerly
Fellow of Oriel College.
4. Shakspeare. The English Historical Plays; the
five Great Tragedies ; Julius Caesar ; and The Tempest. Edited
by the Rev. W. G. Clark, M.A., Fellow of Trinity College,
Cambridge, and Public Orator ; and J. Aldis Wright, M.A.,
Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge.
16 CLARENDON PRESS SERIES.
5. Bacon. Essays; Advancement of LeamiDg. Edited
by J. Alois Wright, M.A.
6. Milton. Allegro and Penseroso ; Comus; Lycidas;
Paradise Loot ; Samson Agonistes.
7. Dryden. Stanzas on the Death of Oliver Cromwell;
Astraea Bedux ; Addus Mirabilis ; Absalom and Achitophel ;
Reli^o Laici ; the Hind and Panther. Edited by the Rev.
Pbofessoe Brewer, M.A.
8. Bunyan. Grace Abounding; The Pilgrim^s Progress.
9. Pope. Essay on Man, with the Epistles and Satires.
Edited by the Rev. M. Pattison, M.A., Rector of Lincok
College, Oxford.
10. Johnson. Rasselas; Lives of Pope and Dryden.
Edited by the Rev. J. Eraser, M.A., Rector of Ufton-Nervet ;
formerly Fellow of Oriel College.
11. Burke. Thoughts on the Present Discontents ; the
two Speeches on America ; Reflections on the French Revolution,
Edited by Goldwin Smith, M.A., Fellow of University College,
Oxford ; late Regius Professor of Modem History.
12. Cowper. The Task, and some of his minor Poems.
Edited by the Rev. T. L. Claughton, M.A., Vicar of Kidder-
minster ; formerly Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford, and
Professor of Poetry.
The volumes will be (as nearly as possible) uniform in shape and
size ; and at the same price. There will be a biief preface, biographical
and literaiy, to each ; and each will have such short notes only as aie>
absolutely needed for the elucidation of the text. %
S^v.
"1
Published for the University of Oxford, by MAOMILLAN and 00,
\
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