COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT:
Honorary Director: SIR I. GOLLANCZ, F.B.A., Lrrr.D., KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON, W.C. 2.
Honorary Secretary: \V. A. DALZIEL, ESQ., 67, VICTORIA ROAD, F1NSBURY PA UK, LONDON, N. 4,
Assistant Director : Miss MABEL DAY, D.LiT., KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON, W.C. 2.
r,, . Prof. G. L. KITTUEDGK, Harvard Coll., Cainbr., Mass.
in : Prof. J. W. BRIGHT, Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore.
Hon. Sec. : Prof. CARLETON BROWN, Univ. of Minnesota.
Committee f
DR. HENRY BRADLEY, F.B.A. MR. HENRY L1TTLEHALES.
REV. DR. ANDREW CLARK. PROFESSOR A. W. POLLARD.
PROFESSOR W. P. KER, F.B.A., LL.D. MR. ROBERT STEELE, B.A.
SIR SIDNEY LEE, F.B.A., Ln-r.D. SIR G. F. WARNER, F.B.A., D.LiTT.
Bankers :
THE NATIONAL PROVINCIAL AND UNION BANK OF ENGLAND, 2, PRINCES STREET, LONDON, B.C. 2.
The Subscription to the Society, which constitutes membership, is ^2 2s. a year for the annual publications, from 1921 onwards, due in advance on the 1st of JANUARY, and should be paid by Cheque, Postal Order, or Money Order, crost * National Provincial and Union Bank of England/ to the Hon. Secretary, W. A. DALZIEL, Esq., 67, Victoria Road, Finsbury Park, London, N. 4. The Society's Texts are also sold separately at the prices put after them in the Lists ; but Members can yet back-Texts at the subscription price by sending the cash for them md postage in advance to the Hon. Secretary. This concession will cease it the end of 1921.
Any Member could save time and trouble by sending the Hon. Sec. an order on the Member's Banker to pay his subscription each January, until countermanded. A printed form for this purpose would be sent on application to the Hon. Sec.
THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY was started by the late DR. FURNIVALL in 1864 for the purpose of bringing the mass of Old English Literature within the reach of the ordinary student, and of wiping away the reproach under which England had long rested, of having felt little interest in the monuments of her early language and life.
On the starting of the Society, so many Texts of importance were at once taken in hand by its Editors, that it became necessary in 1867 to open, besides the Original Series with which the Society began, an Extra Series which should be mainly devoted to fresh editions of all that is most valuable in printed MSS. and Caxton's and other black-letter books, though first editions of MSS. will not be excluded when the convenience of issuing them demands their inclusion in the Extra Series. From 1921 there will be but one series of publications, merging the Original and Extra Series.
During the fifty years of the Society's existence, it has produced, with whatever shortcomings, and at a cost of over £35,000, an amount of good solid work for which all students of our Language, and some of our Literature, must be grateful, and which has rendered possible the beginnings (at least) of proper Histories and Dictionaries of that Language and Literature, and has illustrated the thoughts, the life, the manners and customs of our forefathers and foremothers.
But the Society's experience has shown the very small number of those inheritors of the speech of Cynewulf, Chaucer, and Shakspere, who care two guineas a year for the records of that speech. The Society has never had money enough to produce the Texts that could easily have been got ready for it ; and Editors are now anxious to send to press the work they have prepared. The necessity has therefore arisen for trying to increase the number of the Society's members, and to induce its well- wishers to help it by gifts of money, either in one sum or by instalments. The Committee trust that every Member will bring before his or her friends and acquaintances the Society's claims for liberal support. Until all Early English MSS. are printed, no proper History of our Language or Social Life is possible.
ORIGINAL SERIES. (One guinea each year up to 1920.)
1. Early English Alliterative Poems, ab. 1360 A.D., ed. Rev. Dr. B. Morris. 16s. 1804
2. Arthur, ab. 1440, ed. F. J. Furnivall, M.A. 4s. „
3. Lauder on the Dewtie of Kyngis, &c., 1556, ed. F. Hall, D.C.L. 4s. „
4. Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, ab. 1360, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 10*. „
5. Hume's Orthographic and Congruitie of the Britan Tongue, ab. 1617, ed. B. B. Wheatley. 4s. 1865
6. Lancelot of the Laik, ab. 1500, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. 8s.
7. Genesis & Exodus, ab. 1250, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 8*. „
8. Morte Arthure, ab. 1440, ed. B. Brock. 7s. „
9. Thynne on Speght's ed. of Chaucer, A.D. 1599, ed. Dr. G. Kingsley and Dr. F. J. Furnivall. 10*. „
10. Merlin, ab. 1440, Part I., ed. H. B. Wheatley. 2s. 6<f. „
11. Lyndesay's Monarche, &c., 1552, Part I., ed. J. Small, M.A. 3s.
12. Wright's Chaste Wife, ab. 1462, ed. F. J. Furnivall, M.A. Is. M
13. Seinte Marherete, 1200-1330, ed. Rev. O. Cockayne : re-edited by Dr. Otto Claiming. 1866
14. Kyng Horn, Floris and Blancheflour, &c., ed. Rev. J. R. Lumby, D.D., re-ed. Dr. G. H. McKnight. 5s. „
15. Political, Religious, and Love Poems, ed. F. J. Furnivall. 7s. 6d.
16. The Book of Quinte Essence, ab. 1460-70, ed. F. J. Furnivall. Is.
17. Parallel Extracts from 45 MSS. of Piers the Plowman, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. Is.
18. Hali Meidenhad, ab. 1200, ed. Rev. 0. Cockayne, re-edited by Dr. F. J. Furnivall. „
19. Lyndesay's Monarche, &c. , Part II., ed. J. Small, M.A. 3*. 6d. t>
20. Richard Rolle de Hampole, English Prose Treatises of, ed. Rev. G. G. Perry. 1*.
21. Merlin, Part II., ed. H. B. Wheatley. 4s. ()
22. Partenay or Lusignen, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. 6s. f|
23. Dan Michel's Ayenbite of Inwyt, 1340, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 10*. 6d.
24. Hymns to the Virgin and Christ ; the Parliament of Devils, &c. , ab. 1430, ed. F. J. Furnivall. 8s. 1807
25. The Stacions of Rome, the Pilgrims' Sea-voyage, with Clene Maydenhod, ed. F. J. Furnivall. Is. „
26. Religious Pieces in Prose and Verse, from R. Thornton's MS., ed. Rev. G. G. Perry. 5s. [1913]
27. Levins's Manipulus Vocabulorum, a rym ing Dictionary, 1570, ed. H. B. Wheatley. 12s.
28. William's Vision of Piers the Plowman, 1362 A.D. ; Text A, Part I., ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. 6s.
29. Old English Homilies (ab. 1220-30 A.D.). Series I, Part I. Edited by Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 7s.
30. Pierce the Ploughmans Crede, ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat. 2s. Jt
31. Myrc's Duties of a Parish Priest, in Verse, ab. 1420 A.D., ed. E. Peacock. 4s. 1868
32. Early English Meals and Manners : the Boke of Norture of John Russell, the Bokes of Keruynge,
Curtasye, and Demeanor, the Babees Book, Urbanitatis, &c., ed. F. J. Furnivall. 12*.
33. The Knight de la Tour Landry, ab. 1440 A.D. A Book for Daughters, ed. T. Wright, M.A.
34. Old English Homilies (before 1300 A.D.). Series I, Part II., ed. R. Morris, LL.D. 8s.
35. Lyndesay's Works, Part III. : The Historic and Testament of Squyer Meldrum, ed. F. Hall. 2s.
36. Merlin, Part III. Ed. H. B. Wheatley. On Arthurian Localities, by J. S. Stuart Glennie. 12s! 1869
37. Sir David Lyndesay's Works, Part IV., Ane Satyre of the Three Estaits. Ed. F. Hall, D.C. L. 4s.
38. William's Vision of Piers the Plowman, Part II. Text B. Ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 10s. 6d.
39. Alliterative Romance of the Destruction of Troy. Ed. D. Donaldson & G. A. Panton, Pt. I. 10s. 6d.
40. English Gilds, their Statutes and Customs, 1389 A.D. Edit. Toulmin Smith and Lucy T. Smith,
with an Essay on Gilds and Trades-Unions, by Dr. L. Brentano. 21s. 1870
41. William Lauder' s Minor Poems. Ed. F. J. Furnivall. 3s.
42. Bernardus De Cura Rei Famuliaris, Early Scottish Prophecies, &c. Ed. J. R. Lumby, M.A. 2s.
43. Ratis Raving, and other Moral and Religious Pieces. Ed. J. R Lumby, M.A. 3s.
44. The Alliterative Romance of Joseph of Arimathie, or The Holy Grail : from the Vernon MS. ;
with W. de Worde's and Pynson's Lives of Joseph : ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 5s. 1871
45. King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care, edited from 2 MSS., with an
English translation, by Henry Sweet, Esq., B. A., Balliol College, Oxford. Part I. ]0s.
46. Legends of the Holy Rood, Symbols of the Passion and Cross Poems, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 10s.
47. Sir David Lyndesay's Works, Part V., ed. Dr. J. A. H. Murray. 3s.
48. The Times' Whistle, and other Poems, by R. C., 1616 ; ed. by J. M. Cowper, Esq. 6s.
49. An Old English Miscellany, containing a Bestiary, Kentish Sermons, Proverbs of Alfred, and
Religious Poems of the 13th cent., ed. from the MSS. by the Rev. R. Morris, LL.D. 10s. 1872
60. King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care, ed. H. Sweet, M. A. Part II. 10s. ,,
51. The Life of St Juliana, 2 versions, A.D. 1230, with translations ; ed. T. O. Cockayne & E. Brock. 2s.
52. Palladius on Husbondrie, englisht (ab. 1420 A.D.), ed. Rev. Barton Lodge, M.A. Parti. 10s.
53. Old-English Homilies, Series II., and three Hymns to the Virgin and God, 13th-century, with
the music to two of them, in old and modern notation ; ed. Rev. R. Morris, LL.D. 8s. 1873
54. The Vision of Piers Plowman, Text C : Richard the Redeles (by William, the author of the Vision,
and The Crowned King ; Part III., ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 18s.
55. Generydes, a Romance, ab. 1440 A.D. ed. W. Aldis Wright, M.A. Part I. 3s.
The Original Series of the "Early English Text Society."
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*- Texts, edited by the Rev. R. M.rrU, MA LLD Part I, with 2 photolithographic facsimiles. 10s. 6d.
58. The Blickling Homilies, 971 A.D., ed. Rev. R. Morris, LL.D. Part I 8s ,.
59. The " Cursor Mundi " in four Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris Part II 15»
60. Meditaoyuns on the Soper of our Lorde (by Robert of Brunne), edited by J M. Cowper. 2s. 6d „
61. The Romance and Prophecies of Thomas of Erceldoune, from 5 MSS.; ed. Dr. J. A. H. Murray. 10s. M. „
62. The "Cursor Mundi," in four Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part III. 15s.
63. The Blickling Homilies, 971 A.D., ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part II. 7s. »> Ct. Francis Thynne's Embleames and Epigrams, A.D. 1600, ed. F. J. Furnivall. 7s. »
65. Be Domes Dsege (Bede's De Die Judicii), &c., ed. J. R. Lumby, B.D. 2s.
66. The " Cursor Mundi," in four Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part IV., with 2 autotypes. 10s. 187 /
67. Notes on Piers Plowman, by the Rev. W. W. Skeat, M. A. Parti. 21s.
68. The "Cursor Mundi," in 4 Texts, ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part V. 25s.
69. Adam Davie's 5 Dreams about Edward II., &c., ed. F. J. Furnivall, M.A. 5s. „
70. Generydes, a Romance, ed. W. Aldis Wright, M.A. Part II. 4s.
71. The Lay Folks Mass-Book, four texts, ed. Rev. Canon Simmons. 25s, 1879
72. Palladius on Husbondrie, englisht (ab. 1420 A.D.). Part II. Ed. S. J. Herrtage, B. A. 15s.
73. The Blickling Homilies, 971 A.D., ed. Rev. Dr. R. Morris. Part III. 10s. 1880
74. English Works of Wyclif, hitherto unprinted, ed. F. D. Matthew, Esq. 20s.
75. Catholicon Anglicum, an early English Dictionary, from Lord Monson's MS. A.D. 1488, ed., with
Introduction & Notes, by S. J. Herrtage, B.A. ; and with a Preface by H. B. Wheatley. 20s. 1881
76. Aelfric's Metrical Lives of Saints, in MS. Cott. Jul. E 7., ed. Rev. Prof. Skeat, M.A. Part I. 10s.
77. Beowulf, the unique MS. autotyped and transliterated, edited by Prof. Zupitza, Ph.D. 25s. 1882
78. The Fifty Earliest English Wills, in the Court of Probate, 1387-1439, ed. by F. J. Furnivall, M.A. 7s. ,,
79. King Alfred's Orosius, from Lord Tollemache's 9th century MS., Part I. eel. H. Sweet, M.A. 13s. 1883 796. Extra Volume. Facsimile of the Epinal Glossary, cd. H. Sweet, M.A. 15s. ,,
80. The Early-English Life of St. Katherine and its Latin Original, ed. Dr. Einenkel. 12s. 1884
81. Piers Plowman : Notes, Glossary, .fee. Part IV, completing the work, ed. Rev. Prof. Skeat, M.A. 18s. ,,
82. Aelfric's Metrical Lives of Saints, MS. Cott. Jul. E 7., ed. Rev. Prof. Skeat, M.A., LL.D. Part II. 12s. 1885
83. The Oldest English Texts, Charters, &c., ed. H. Sweet, M.A. 20s.
84. Additional Analogs to ' The Wright's Chaste Wife,' No. 12, by W. A. Clouston. Is. 1886
85. The Three Kings of Cologne. 2 English Texts, and 1 Latin, ed. Dr. C. Horstmann. 17s. ,,
86. Prose Lives of Women Saints, ab. 1610 A.D., ed. from the unique MS. by Dr. C. Horstmann. 12s. „
87. Early English Verse Lives of Saints (earliest version), Laud MS. 108, ed. Dr. C. Horstmann. 20s. 1887 83. Hy. Bradshaw's Life of St. Werburghe (Pynson, 1521), ed. Dr. C. Horstmann. 10s. ,,
89. Vices and Virtues, from the unique MS., ab. 1200 A.D., ed. Dr. F. Holthausen. Part I. 8s. 1888
90. Anglo-Saxon and Latin Rule of St. Benet, interlinear Glosses, ed. Dr. H. Logeman. 12s. ,,
91. Two Fifteenth-Century Cookery-Books, ab. 1430-1450, edited by Mr. T. Austin. 10s.
92. Eadwine's Canterbury Psalter, from the Trin. Cambr.MS., ab. 1150 A.D.,ed. F. Harsley, B.A. Pt. I. 12s. 1889
93. Defensor's Liber Scintillarum, edited from the MSS. by Ernest Rhodes, B.A. 12s.
94. Aelfric's Metrical Lives of Saints, MS. Cott. Jul. E 7, Part III., ed. Prof. Skeat, Litt.D., LL.D. 15s. 1890
95. The Old-English version of Bede's Ecclesiastical History, re-ed. by Dr. Thomas Miller. Part I, § 1. 18s. ,,
96. The Old-English version of Bede's Ecclesiastical History, re-ed. by Dr. Thomas Miller. Pt. I, § 2. 15s. 1891
97. The Earliest English Prose Psalter, edited from its 2 MSS. by Dr. K. D. Buelbring. Part I. 15s.
98. Minor Poems of the Vernon MS., Part I., ed. Dr. C. Horstmann. 20s. 1892
99. Cursor Mundi. Part VI. Preface, Notes, and Glossary, ed. Rev. Dr. R, Morris. 10s.
100. Capgrave's Life of St. Katharine, ed. Dr. C. Horstmann, with Forewords by Dr. Furnivall. 20s. 1893
101. Cursor Mundi. Part VII. Essay on the MSS., their Dialects, &c., by Dr. H. Hupe. 10s. ,,
102. Lanfranc's Cirurgie, ab. 1400 A.D., ed. Dr. R. von Fleischhacker. Part I. 20s. 1894
103. The Legend of the Cross, from a 12th century MS., &e., ed. Prof. A. S. Napier, M.A., Ph.D. 7s. Gd.
104. The Exeter Book (Anglo-Saxon Poems), re-edited from the unique MS. by I. Gollancz, M.A. Parti. 20s. 1895
105. The Prymer or Lay-Folks' Prayer-Book, Camb. Univ. MS., ab. 1420, ed. Henry Littlehales. Part I. 10s. ,,
106. R. Misyn's Fire of Love and Mending of Life (Hampole), 1434, 1435, ed. Rev. R. Harvey, M.A. 15s. 1896
107. The English Conquest of Ireland, A.D. 1166-1185, 2 Texts, 1425, 1440, Pt. I, ed. Dr. Furnivall. 15s.
108. Child-Marriages and -Divorces, Trothplights, &c. Chester Depositions, 1561-6, ed. Dr. Furnivall. 15s. 1897
109. The Prymer or Lay-Folks Prayer-Book, ab. 1420, ed. Henry Littlehales. Part II. 10s.
110. The Old-English Version of Bede's Ecclesiastical History, ed. Dr. T. Miller. Part II, § 1. 15s. 1898
111. The Old-English Version of Bede's Ecclesiastical History, ed. Dr. T. Miller. Part II, 2. 15s.
112. Merlui, Part IV : Outlines of the Legend of Merlin, by Prof. W. E. Mead, Ph.D. 15s. 1899
113. Queen Elizabeth's Englishings of Boethius, Plutarch &c. &c., ed. Miss C. Pemberton 15s
it' r™'8 Metrical lives of Saints, Part IV and last, ed. Prof. Skeat, Litt.D., LL.D. 10s. 1900
!i« * A,! yel1' 6dited fr°m the Unique Salisbury Cathedral MS. by Dr. A. Brandeis. Part I. 10s. 116. An Old-English Martyrology, re-edited by Dr. G. Herzfeld. 10s,
ill' ?r°T P°CmS °f the Vernon MS" edited b^ Dr" F- J- Furnivall. Part II. 15s 1901
110 J J! Catechism, ed. by Canon Simmons and Rev. H. E. Nolloth, MA 5s
190 Th I \ ?^™e'sHandlyn5S3rnne(1303).andits French original, re-ed. by Dr. Furnivall. Pt.I. 10s. „ ie Rule of St. Benet in Northern Prose and Verse & Caxton's -Summary, ed by E A. Kock 15s 1907
TJie Original Series of the " Early English Text Society." 5
121. The Laud MS. Troy-Book, ed. from the unique Laud MS. 595, by Dr. J. E. Wiilfing. Part I. 15s. 1902
122. The Laud MS. Troy-Book, ed. from the unique Laud MS. 595, by Dr. J. E. WUlfing. Part II. 20s. 1903
123. Robert of Brunne's Handlyng Synne (1303), and its French original, re-ed. by Dr. Furnivall. Pt. II. 10*. ,,
124. Twenty-six Political and other Poems from Digby MS. 102 &c., ed. by Dr. J. Kail. Parti. 10s. 1904
125. Medieval Records of a London City Church, ed. Henry Littlehales. Parti. 10s. ,,
126. An Alphabet of Tales, in Northern English, from the Latin, ed. Mrs. M. M. Banks. Part I. 10s. „
127. An Alphabet of Tales, in Northern English, from the Latin, ed. Mrs. M. M. Banks. Part II. 10.*. 1905
128. Medieval Records of a London City Church, ed. Henry Littlehales. Part II. 10*.
129. The English Register of Godstow Nunnery, ed. from the MSS. by the Rev. Dr. Andrew Clark. Pt. I. 10*. ,,
130. The English Register of Godstow Nunnery, ed. from the MSS. by the Rev. Dr. A. Clark. Pt. II. 15s. 1906
131. The Brut, or The Chronicle of England, edited from the best MSS. by Dr. F. Brie. Part I. 10s. ,,
132. John Metham's Works, edited from the unique MS. by Dr. Hardin Craig. 15s. „
133. The English Register of Oseney Abbey, by Oxford, ed. by the Rev. Dr. A. Clark. Part 1. 15s. 1907
134. The Coventry Leet Book, edited from the unique MS. by Miss M. Dormer Harris. Part I. 15s. ,,
135. The Coventry Leet Book, edited from the unique MS. by Miss M. Dormer Harris. Part II. 15s. 1908 1356. Extra Issue. Prof. Manly's Piers Plowman & its Sequence, urging the fivefold authorship of the Vision.
136. The Brut, or The Chronicle of England, edited from the best MSS. by Dr. F. Brie. Part II. 15s. ,,
137. Twelfth-Century Homilies in MS. Bodley 343, ed. by A. O. Belfour, M.A. Part I, the Text. 15s. 1909
138. The Coventry Leet Book, edited from the unique MS. by Miss M. Dormer Harris. Pait III. 15s. ,,
139. John Arderne's Treatises on Fistula in Ano, &c., ed. by D'Aicy Power, M.D. 15s. 1910 139 b, c, d, e, Extra Issue. The Piers Plowman Controversy: b. Dr. Jusserand's 1st Reply to Prof.
Manly ; c. Prof. Manly's Answer to Dr. Jusserand ; d. Dr. Jusserand's 2nd Reply to Prof. Manly ; e. Mr. R. W. Chambers' s Article ; /. Dr. Henry Bradley's Rejoinder to Mr. R. W. Chambers
(issued separately). 10s. ,,
140. Capgrave's Lives of St. Augustine and St. Gilbert of Sempringham, A.D. 1451, ed. by John Munro. 10s. ,,
141. Earth upon Earth, all the known texts, ed. , with an Introduction, by Miss Hilda Murray, M. A. 10s. 1911
142. The English Register of Godstow Nunnery, edited by the Rev. Dr. Andrew Clark. Part I IT. 10s. ,,
143. The Wars of Alexander the Great, Thornton MS., ed. J. S Westlake, M.A. 10s. „
144. The English Register of Oseney Abbey, by Oxford, edited by the Rev. Dr. Andrew Clark. Part II.
10s. 1912
145. The Northern Passion, ed. by Miss F. A. Foster, Ph.D. Part I, the four parallel texts. 15s. ,,
146. The Coventry Leet Book, ed. Miss M. Dormer Harris. Introduction, Indexes, etc. Part IV. 10s. 1913
147. The Northern Passion, ed. Miss F. A. Foster, Ph.D., Introduction, French Text, Variants and
Fragments, Glossary. Part II. 15s. ,, [Ail enlarged re-print of No. 26, Religious Pieces in Prose and Verse, from the Thornton MS., edited by Rev. G. G. Perry. 5s.]
148. A Fifteenth-Century Courtesy Book and Two Franciscan Rules edited by R. W. Chambers, M.A.,
Litt.D., and W. W. Seton, M.A. 7s. 6d. 1914
149. Sixty-three Lincoln Diocese Documents, ed. by the Rev. Dr. Andrew Clark. 15s. ,,
150. The Old-English Rule of Bp. Chrodegang, and the Capitula of Bp. Theodulf, ed. Prof. Napier, Ph.D.
7s. fid.
151. The Lantsrne of Light, ed. by Miss Lilian M. Swinburn, M.A. 15s. 1915
152. Early English Homilies, from Vesp. D. XIV., ed. by Miss Ruble D.-N. Warner. Part I, Text. 15s.
153. Mandeville's Travels, ed. by Professor Paul Hamelius. Part I, Text. 15*. 1916
154. Mandeville's Travels (Notes and Introduction). 15s. [At Press. ,,
155. The Wheatley MS., ed. by Miss Mabel Day, M.A. 30s. [Ready. 1917
156. Reginald Pecock's Donet, from Bodl. MS. 910 ; ed. by Miss E. Vaughan Hitchcock. 35s. 1918
157. Harmony of the Life of Christ, from MS. Pepys 2498, ed. by Miss Margery Goates. 20s. [Nearly
Ready. 1919
158. Meditations on the Lifa and Passion of Christ, from MS. Addit. 11307, ed. by Miss Charlotte
D'Evelyn. 20s. [Nearly Ready. „
159. Vices and Virtues, Part II., ed. Prof. F. Holtliausen. 12s. 1920
EXTRA SERIES. (One guinea each year up to 1920.) The Publications for 1867-1915 (one guinea each year] are :—
I William of Palerne; or, William and the Werwolf. Re-edited by Rev. W. W. Skeat, MA 13s. 1867
II. Early English Pronunciation with especial Reference to Shakspere and Chaucer, by A. J. Kill.,
III ^«ton'*Book'ofOiIrte.ye, in Three Versions. Ed. F. J. Furnivall. 5s. 18CS
IV Havelok the Dane. Re-edited by the Rev. W. W. Skeat, M. A. 10s.
V 'chaucer'sBoethius. Edited from the two best MSS. by Rev. Dr. R. Morris. 12*.
VI Chevelere Assigne. Re-edited from the unique MS. by Lord Aldenham, M. A. 3s. Vli. Early English Pronunciation, by A. J. Ellis, F.R.S. Fart II. 10,.
VIII Oueene Elizabetb.es Achademy, &c. Ed. F. J. Furnivall. Essays on early Italian aud German Books of Courtesy, by W. M. Rossetti and Dr. E. Oswald. 13s.
IX Awdeley'sFraternitye of Vacabondes, Harman's Caveat, &c. Ed. E. Viles & F. J. Furnivall. 7s. &d. „
X Andrew Boorde's Introduction of Knowledge, 1547, Dyetary of Helth, 1542, Barnes in Defence of the
' Berde 1542-3 Jul. F. J. Furnivall. 18s. 1870
XI Barb'our's Bruce, Part I. Ed. from MSS. and editions, by Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 12s.
TIT Tn^ftnd in Henrv VIII 's Time : a Dialogue between Cardinal Pole & Lupset, by Thom. Starkey,
Ch?pffitoH?nry^IIL ld.J.M.Cowper. Part II. 12s. (Part I. is No. XXXII, 1878, 8s.) 1871
XIII A Supplicaoyon of the Beggers, by Simon Fish, 1528-9 A.D., ed. F. J. Furnivall ; with A Suppli cation to our Moste Soueraigne Lorde; A Supplication of the Poore Commons; and The Decay e of England by the Great Multitude of Sheep, ed. by J. M. Cowper, Esq. 6s.
XIV. Early English Pronunciation, by A. J. Ellis, Esq., F.R.S. Part III. 10s.
XV Robert Crowley's Thirty-One Epigrams, Voyce of the Last Trumpet, Way to Wealth, &c., A.D.
1550-1, edited by J. M. Cowper, Esq. 12s. 1872
XVI. Chaucer's Treatise on the Astrolabe. Ed. Rev. W. W. Skeat, M.A. 6s.
XVII. The Complaynt of Scotlande, 1549 A.D., with 4 Tracts (1542-48), ed. Dr. Murray. Part I. 10s. ,,
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XXV. Guy of Warwick, 15th-century Version, ed. Prof. Zupitza. Parti. 20s. ,,
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XXX. Lovelioh's Holy Grail, ed. F. J. Furnivall, M. A., Ph.D. Part IV. 15s. 1878
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LXI. Hoccleve's Minor Poems, I., from the Phillipps and Durham MSS., ed. F. J. Furnivall, Ph.D. 15s. 1892 LXII. The Chester Plays, re-edited from the MSS. by the late Dr. Hermann Deimling. Part I. 15s. „
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LXXIV. Seoreta Secretorum, 3 prose Englishings, by Jas. Yonge, 1428, ed. R. Steele, B.A. Part T. 20s. 1898 LXXV. Speculum Guidonis de Warwyk, edited by Miss G. L. Morrill, M.A., Ph.D. 10s. „
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ORIGINAL SERIES.
Forthcoming issues will be chosen from the following :—
Meditations on the Life and Passion of Christ, from MS. Addit. 11307 ; ed. by Miss Charlotte D'Evelyn. [Ready. Harmony of Life of Christ, from Pepysian Library, ed. by Miss Margery Goates. [Ready. The Alliterative Siege of Jerusalem, edited by the late Prof. E. Kblbing, Ph.D. [At Preta. A Stanzaic Exposition of the Feasts of the Church and the Life of Christ based on the Legenda Aurea, ed. from
the MSS. Harl. 3909, Harl. 2250, and Addit. 38666, by Miss F. A. Foster, Ph.D. [At Press. The Earliest English Apocalypse with a Commentary, edited by Dr. Anna C. Panes. Trevisa's Dialogus inter Militem et Clericum, Sermon by FitzRalph, and Begynynge of the World, edited from
the MSS. by Aaron J. Perry, M.A.
A Critical Edition of the Old English Heptateuch (MS. Bodl. Misc. 509), ed. by S. J. Crawford, M.A., B.Litt. The Sege or Battsll of Troy, ed. by Miss Barmcle. The Pepyaian Southern Passion, ed. by Mrs. Carleton Brown. Three Old English Prose Tracts, from MS. Cott. Vitell. A. XV. ; ed. by Dr. S. I. Rypins.
EXTRA SERIES.
The Publications due up to 1920 will probably be chosen from : —
The Owl and Nightingale, 2 Texts parallel, ed. by the late G. F. H. Sykes and J. H. G. Grattan. [At Press.
Th3 Gild of St Mary, Liohfleld, ed. by the late Dr. Furnivall. „
Lydgate'* Minor Poems, ed. Dr. H. N. MacCracken. Part II, Secular Poems. [At Press.
Lydgate's Troy Book, ed. by Dr. Hy. Bergen. Part IV, Introduction, Notes, &c. [At Press.
Lydgate's Siege of Thebes, re-edited from the MSS. by Prof. Dr. A. Erdinann. Part II, Notes, &c.
Secreta Seoretorum : three prose Englishings, ab. 1440, ed. R. Steele, B. A. Part II. [At Press.
The Book of the Foundation of St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London. MS. ab. 1425, ed. Dr. Norman Moore. [Stt.
Piers Plowman, the A Text, re-edited from the MSS. by R. W. Chambers, M.A., Litt.D., and J. H. G Grattan
M.A. [At Press.
King Alisaunder, two parallel texts, ed. from Lincoln's Inn MS. 150 and Laud. Misc. 622 by L. F. Powell, Esq. Caxton's Paris and Vienne, ed. by O. H. Prior, Litt.D. Interludium de Clerico et Puella and Dux Moraud, ed. Prof. J. M. Manly. The "Coventry" Plays, ed. by Miss Block, Royal Holloway College.
Other texts are in preparation. July 1921.
PUBLISHER LONDON: HUMPHREY MILFORD, OXFORD UNIV. PRESS, AMEN COBN.R, B.C. 4.
FROM BRITISH MUSEUM ADD. MS. 39574
tsij fet Society. ©rigw»I £trie8, No. 155. 1921 (for 1917). Price 30s.
*
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THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT. BRIT. MUS. ADD. MSS. 39574, folio 15u.
V
itu}
A COLLECTION OF MIDDLE ENGLISH VERSE
AND PEOSE CONTAINED IN A MS.
NOW IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM
ADD. MSS. 39574
EDITED WITH INTRODUCTION AND NOTES BY
MABEL DAY, M.A.
LECTURER IN ENGLISH, KING'S COLLEGE, LONDON ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY
LONDON:
PUBLISHED FOR THE EARLY ENGLISH TEXT SOCIETY BY HUMPHREY MILFOKD, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
AMEN CORNER, E.C. 4. 1921.
^ • -xx\ C
vOv
©rigtnal ftevieg, 155.
PlllNTDO IS ttllEAT BllITAIN HY RlCHAHD CLAY & SoNS, LlMITEU, BUNGAY, SUFFOLK.
PREFATORY NOTE
BY the courtesy of Mlssrs. Maggs, I became acquainted with and examined this fifteenth-century MS. in the year 1917. I recognised its value as a collection containing some hitherto unknown poems, more especially the Hymn to St. John the Baptist, which by the kindness of Messrs. Maggs I was permitted to transcribe. It seemed desirable that the volume should be secured for the British Museum. About this time the Early English Text Society lost the valued services of Dr. H. B. Wheatley, who had so well helped forward the Society's work as Honorary Secretary from 1864 to 1872, and as Treasurer from 1872 to the time of his death. It occurred to me that the association of his name with an Early English manuscript would have appealed to him as the best tribute to his memory. By a generous consideration on the part of Messrs. Maggs, and with the help of thn Trustees of the British Museum, and the Shakespeare Association (of which Dr. "Wheatley was Chairman), supplemented by contributions from a number of friends, we were enabled to purchase the MS. for the British Museum, on the understanding that it should be named " The Wheatley MS.," and that its publication should be reserved for the Society. The text, edited by Miss Mabel Day, is appropriately assigned to the year of Dr. Wheatley's death, and is dedicated to his revered memory.
I, G. October 2Sth, 1920.
CONTENTS
PAGE
PREFACE .... . vii
I. AN ORISON ON THE PASSION ^ .1
" Ihesu ])«t haste me derc bought."
II. A PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN . . . 6 "Hayle, bote of bale, blissed Qvvene."
III. HYMN TO ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST . . . .15
" Blissed be thow, Baptist, borne & forth broght."
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS . . . .19
"[To Goddis worschipe, ]>at dere us boujte]."
V. LESSONS FROM THE DIRIGE . . . . .59
VI. A SONG OF MERCY AND JUDGMENT . . .65
" There is no creatour but oon."
VII. A PRAYER FOR MERCY. ..... 67
" Almj3ti God, maker of heuene."
VIII. GOD'S COMPLAINT .69
"This is Goddis owne compleynt."
IX. "To GOD" 73
"God, j>at madist al ping of nou^t."
X. "To OURE LADY" 73
" Marye, Goddis modir dere."
XL " To SEYNT IOHN " 74
"Seynt John, for grace ]>ou craue."
XII. HYMN FROM THE SPECULUM CHRISTIANI ... 74 "Marye modir, wel )>ee be."
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE ... 76
XIV. A PRAYER AT THE ELEVATION .... 100 NOTES 101
GLOSSARY .... 119
vi
PREFACE
Description of the Manuscript. — The manuscript (British Museum, Add. 39574) belongs to the beginning of the fifteenth century. It is written on vellum, and contains 88 leaves, which now measure nearly 16 cm. by 10 cm., but which have been much cut down, as can be seen by the larger initials. The number of lines to a page is generally 19, sometimes one or two more. At the end of every 8th folio, with the exception of the 24th, a catch-word is written. The length of the larger initials is two lines of the MS., except in the case of the first, which extends through eight lines, and that on p. 76, which is four lines long. They are illuminated in blue, ornamented in red ; smaller initials, such as those of each Latin verse of the Seven Penitential Psalms, and of the verses of God's Complaint, and paragraph marks, are alternately blue and red, the former beginning each page ; titles, where they exist, and the rubrics of Adam and Eve, are in red. In the second part of the MS. all rhyming lines are bracketed in red. Two poems, VI and VII, are written as continuous prose, the lines being divided by stops or bars, and the verses by paragraph marks. In IV the Latin verses are written in a larger and plain book-hand.
The manuscript is written by two scribes, the change taking place after F. 32 Z>. Both write a book-hand of cursive type, with elements from charter-hand. The first, whom we may call A, uses a more ornamental style ; the second, B, writes a plainer hand. In particu lar, A elaborates the upper loops of letters in the first line of his page ; B, to a much less extent, prolongs the tails in his last line.
Of the ordinary abbreviations, both use ]?*, J?u, wfc, for J?«t, J?ou, we't/i, and employ the ordinary signs for er (re after p ; also, by B, in " where," 76/3, "here," 76/4), ra, ur, TO after p. A stroke through the stem of p denotes a following er or ar, but B also uses a dot on each side of the stem : peresche, IV, 753, perseyue, IV, 842, parties, 77/9, perauenture, 79/6, 80/17, temperal, 90/2O, pa?*adys, 92/2Q, as against the bar in persoonys, IV, 952, perauenture, 86/33, departe, 85/17. The abbreviated form I horn, is written by A with a stroke
vii
VJJi PREFACE
through the h, by B with a mark over the u\ in IX, 11, the form is ihc. Neither scribe distinguishes between capital / and /; small j is used by B alone, in the combination ij = ».
The writing of A, being the more ornamental hand, gives more trouble in the interpretation of its abbreviations. Every final // is crossed, and every final k, with only one or two exceptions, has a small tick or loop following it ; these I have disregarded. Final g is sometimes quite plain, sometimes followed by a mark resembling an es abbreviation, and so used in " Goddes," III, 128, sometimes it has the loop of this without the vertical, sometimes the vertical without the loop. It may be compared with the mark after " crane," III, 124 (see the Facsimile), and I have considered it as merely ornamental. There is also a final crossed A, used only occasionally, as in "swiche," I, 150, neglie, IV, 146, some nine times in all. This I have taken to represent a final -e, as it differs from the others ill its infrequency, and in the assistance which, in the two cases quoted, it gives to the metre. It may also be noted that it is used as an abbreviation in " Ihmu"
The abbreviation for a nasal presents some difficulty. Undoubted cases are very rare, and generally occur when the scribe was afraid he would not have room for his line, e. cj. m, III. 20, panne, in, III, 63, }\ym, III, 84, IV, 319. These are almost the only examples, the others, occurring in such words as " incarnacion," " passion," must, I think, be treated as the similar marks, generally extending over two or three letters, over such words as " vpon," " doun," " lantern," III, 134 (see the Facsimile), and considered merely as flourishes.
In addition, we find crossed / for \ett-, II, 275, s superscript for is, II, 284, the ordinary abbreviation for u»t 111, 6, and a small e superscript appended to r in " here," III, 48.
B represents the nasal abbreviation by a straight line over the preceding letter, and makes much more frequent use of it. He also uses a small i superscript for ri, and, in "qwke," VIII, 15, for ui.
The numbering of the stanzas docs not appear in the MS. Other wise, all additions to the text are enclosed in square brackets ; where words or letters are substituted, or their order is changed, the MS. reading is given at the foot of the page. Omissions are marked with a dagger. The lists of different MSS. of the various poems are derived from Professor Carleton Brown's Register of Middle English Religions and Didactic Verse. The abbreviations used in referring to the MSS are explained in the Introduction to each poem ; in every case the
PREFACE IX
expression "all MSS.," denotes all those I have seen, i.e. those at Oxford and London.
The contents of the volume are entirely religious. The strictly devotional part ends on p. 75 with the Pater Nosier, Ave Maria and Credo, the final prayer on p. 100 being added to fill up the sheet. The choice of the first and last pieces may perhaps be due to the growing devotion to the Holy Name. This was especially marked in England during the fifteenth century, and by 1457 the Feast of the Holy Name is found in the Sarum Gradual, though it was only formally sanctioned by Pope Alexander VI, 1493-1503 (Frerc, Graduate Sarisburiense, 1894).
I. An Orison on the Passion. — This poem has not been printed before. It is also found in MS. Bodley 850, Ff. 90-9 2b, written between 1383 and the end of the fourteenth century, which omits 11. 12, 57-62, 147, MS. e Mus. 232, Ff. 62-65/>, Bodley Add. E. 4, Cambridge Pepys MS. 2125, F. 7Qb, Lambeth MS. 559, F. 134- 134& (as far as 1. 12, ending, "And }et tliou callid hym thi frend, God send vs charite w/t/iouten ende. Amen."), the Gurney MS., and two Longleat MSS. MS. Add. E. 4 has the following rubricated heading : " In seying of j?is orisone stinte]? & abide]? at euery crose & ]?inke whate 36 have seide. For a more deuout prayer fonde Y neuer of J?e passione, who so wolde abidingly sey it." The crosses are at the beginning of each stanza from 11. 21-57, and at 75, 79, 87, 91, 95, 103, 123, 131, 135, 139, 149. A similar arrangement is found in MS. e Mus. 232, where the poem is also divided into stanzas of 4, 8, 12, or more lines.
The Orison has also been identified by Miss Charlotte D'Evelyn as being inserted, with the exception of a few lines which include the opening stanza, in various parts of Meditations on the Life and Passion of Christ, now being edited by her for the Early English Text Society, see pp. xxiv-xxvii. I am indebted to Miss D'Evelyn for an early sight of the proof-sheets of her introduction.
The dialect is East Midland ; OE. a rhymes with OE. o lengthened, e. (j. stoon, ]?eroon, 5, 6, sore, bifore, 21-2 ; once with OE. o, also, doo, 63-4. The infinitive has lost -n : be, 17, quake, 35, wepe, 42, goo, 58, knowe, 75. The pp. has generally lost -n : doo, 64, bete, 66, bounde, 82 ; on the other hand, we have bygone, 48.
Final syllabic -e is preserved ; masculine and feminine endings do not rhyme, with the exception of: knowe, owe, 75-6; blys, is, 99, 100, compared with blys, ryches, 113-4. Some lines show hiatus,
X PREFACE
e.g. 30, 31, G5. As the lines are not strictly octosyllabic, . it is impossible to say whether every final ~e was pronounced.
The lines fall into four-line stanzas, which are not distinguished in the MS. The fourth and fifth stanzas have no pause between them; after stanza 14 six lines have been added (see Note) ; in the case of the first couplet of stanza 26 a variant seems to have intruded into the text. Stanza 35, however, appears to have consisted originally of six lines.
The hymn is more notable for devotional feeling than for poetic art. In general style and dialectal characteristics it resembles '.' The Symbols of the Pas.sion " (Morris, Legends of the Holy Rood, p. 170, E.E.T.S. 46), the latter part of which precedes it in the fragmentary Bodl. MS. Add. E. 4.
II. A Prayer to the Blessed Virgin. — This hymn, of which no other MS. is known, was originally in the Northern dialect. OE. a, a rhyme ; e. g. bare, mare, 35-6, brade, made, 73-4, vptane, nane, 89-90. The present participle ends in -ancle : pray [ancle], 155, weldant, 102, both rhyming with "hand." The infinitive has lost -n, except "goon," 72, but "goo," 172. The past participle ends in -n± vptane, 89, (1 ) seno, 2. Incl. pr. 2s. ends in -s : has, 166. The three pres. pis. in -th, hath, 9, saith, 15, 19, which are not in rhyme, may Avell be due to wholesale scribal alteration of the 3s. Northern -s into the E. Midland -th. It will be noted that they are not in connection with a subject-pronoun.
The metre is too irregular to yield conclusions as to the value of final -e, but masculine and feminine endings appear to rhyme pretty freely, e. g. vmset, lett, 9-10 ; fayn, payne, 177-8.
The poem marks the highest flight of the medieval devotion paid to the Blessed Virgin, as may be seen from the argument in 37-48. It is also most interesting by reason of its quaintly "conceited" pleadings, as the appeal to the Mosaic Law, 157-66, or the poet's description of himself as " God's love-child," 314 ; and in this respect it distinctly stands apart from the general tone of Middle English devotional literature, and has affinity with the religious poets of the school of Donne.
III. Hymn to St. John the Baptist— Of this interesting poem no other manuscript is known. It bears a close resemblance to the poem entitled "Of Sayne lohn J?e Euawngelist " in the Thornton MS., printed in Religious Pieces in Prose and Verse, E.E.T.S., p. 97. Each has eight long alliterative lines, rhyming alternately, a phrase
PREFACE
XI
from the end of the last line being caught up to begin the "bob" which follows, but whereas the Thornton poem varies it slightly, our poem repeats it literally, making the eighth and ninth lines rhyme. Hence, where the Thornton rhyme scheme is ababababccdccd, ours is ababababbbcddc. Again, in the Thornton poem the long lines alliterate in pairs, the only exceptions being 11. 199-200, and 11. 45-6, where four lines have been telescoped into two. Our poet makes an. evident attempt to do this, especially at the beginning of each verse, but in half the verses there is no sign of it. He is also much more partial to lines alliterating aabb, e.g. II, 1, 8, of which there are 11 or 12 cases; the Thornton poem, nearly double the length, has but three. The "bob," here and in the Evangelist poem, differs from all the other arrangements of short lines in the rhyming alliterative poems by rhyming in pairs instead of triplets, thus following the ordinary Romance 6-line stanza of Sir Tliopas. The metre is, however, distinctively alliterative, and the lines have but two stresses.
Similarities of vocabulary and phrase can be found in any two alliterative poems. Those here are, however, sufficiently striking to be cited in detail :
Jon Baptist. 1—2. borne & forth broght
Of a byrde baraii. 20. Ne no man markyd on molde 26-7. He bring vs to pat blys
Tper myrthes nori mys
29-30. whan pou were borne bare
Of pat buxum body. 62. pat Goddes Sone wolde be bowrn
of ]>at body bolde 7?. Faythefull in frestyng
114. |>e poyntcs of pees.
115. his dere derlyng.
136. Goddes darlyng so dere. , 126-7. }>i name is full worthy,
It betokenith Goddes grace. Several of these passages,
Sayne lohn pe Euangelist. 7. That in Bedleme was borne of a
bryde bryghte. 2. And of pe molde merkede 8-9, 12. brynge vs to blysse pare beste
es to byde ;
To byde in his blysse . . . Whare myrthe may noghte
mysse.
106-7. pou broghte thaym to blysse Thorowe mendynge of mysse. 156. Then blyssede }>e body, bare pare
it layo. 184. pat ilke body pat hym bare.
73. Bathe frenchipe and fay the
frayste it bese fun. 237-8. to frayste in paire fare
Faythefull and frendely. 84. pe poyntis of his p?*euate. 153. thi derlynge so dere.
to
138 Thi name es Goddes
grace.
where the same words are used with
PREFACE
a different sense, suggest a vague verbal reminiscence of one poem on the part of the writer of the other. From the method of allitera tion it seems probable that the Evangelist poem was the first. It is certainly superior in its handling of the story, which in our poem is exceedingly confused. Possibly the verses are in the wrong order ; 5 would follow better after 1, and 3 and 4 might be inverted.
The dialect in both is Northern, OE. a rhyming with a, but not with o. In our poem there is more use of final syllabic -e : doute, 5 ; myrthe, 8, 9; blode, 18, ground, 19; swete, 46; dere, 115. The only certain example in the Evangelist poem seems to be " mare/' 20.
IV. The Seven Penitential Psalms.— Of this poem there are several MSS. : at Oxford, Digby 18 (D), Rawlinson A 389 (R), Ash- mole 61 (A), Laud Misc. 174 (L), Digby 102 (D2), Douce 232 (Do.); at the British Museum, Harley 3810, pt. I (H) (two pages are missing, containing stanzas 50-55, and stanza 92.7 to the Latin of 99) ; Royal 17. 0. xvii (Ro), Add. 11306 (Ad) (this MS. is complete, except for stanza 15), Add. 36523 (Ad2), and the MS. here transcribed, Add. 39574 (W) ; at Trinity College, Dublin, MS. 156 (D. 4.8.) ending at Ps. xxxix. 13 (so Carleton Brown ; (1) xxxviii. 13) ; also the Longleat MS., in the possession of the Marquess of Bath, the Porkington MS. 20, belonging to Lord Harlech, Quaritch MS. Item 584, Sale Cata logue 328, ending imperfectly, and in America, J. Pierpont Morgan Lib. MS. 95 (K). This was edited by Ellis and published by William Morris in the Kelmscott Press under the title Psalmi Penitentiales, 1894. D, with full collations from R and A, is edited by Adler and Kaluza in Englisclie Studien, Vol. X, p. 215-55 (Studien zu Richard Rolle de Hampole, III). These three, as can easily be seen, diverge very greatly from our text. Ps. li. ( Vulgate 1.) also exists in five MSS. : Oxford Douce 141, Vernon (V), edited by Horstmann, E.E.T.S. 98, Cambridge Dd.1.1, British Museum Add. 10036 (Ad8), edited by Eurnivall, E.E.T.S. 15, Edinburgh, Advocates MS. 19.3.1.
The differences between these versions are very great, especially in Ps. li. and the following psalms. This was explained by Kaluza and Adler (p. 225) as being due, in the case of Ps. li. and cxxx., to contamination from an older version.1 This, however, cannot account for the large variations that exist. For example, of stanza 53
* In Ps. cxxx (vv. 98-105) the very distinct breaks regularly found after the fourth line would make it extremely easy for A to omit the last four lines of each stanza ; while a comparison of stanza 53 in A and W shows the different rhyme scheme of the former to have arisen from a corruption of the latter
PREFACE Xlll
there are at least four different versions, (1) W, K, Ad, D2, Do, followed by A with different rhymes in the even lines, but the same sense ; (2) E, Eo, V, Ad3 ; (3) D, L ; (4) Ad2 ; v. 104 has three versions, (1) W, K, Ad, D2 Do, H, (2) D, E, Eo, L, (3) Ad2.
Differences such as these are probably due to individual devo tional taste, others are due to scribal errors and misinterpretations. 1. 278, "I stomblo as thei that blynde be" becomes in Ad "as de ( = the) blynde be," and in Ad2 "as doth J?e blynde be." Again, 1. 839 reads in Ad, "And we schulle up to heuene hulle," H "hylle," Eo "helle," where the meaning is clearly "hill," and the rhyme is Kentish. In E the line becomes "And we sclml up to heuene & hel," D " telle." With editorial daring, the scribe of the original of W and K emends to " And gode men schulen in heuene dwelle," while A2, less metrically, has "And crist wM is peple to heuen shall go snell." Many of the variations seem to be caused by imperfect memory, the rhyming words being retained, e.g. stanzas 12, 13, 19.
Emendations have only been made (1) in cases of evident scribal error, e.g. the substitution of "but" for " thow " in 15, or the omission of " hath " in 19, (2) when the omission of a final -e or -n, or a change in the order of words, or the omission of a word not grammatically necessary, disturbs the metre, as " stynke[n]," 43, "sweet[te]," 77, "[vs wasches]" for "wasches vs," 148, "[al]," 253.
Of the various versions, K approaches far more nearly to our text than any of the others I have seen, though neither is derived from the other. It is in a Southern dialect, with, as a rule, pr. pi. ind. in -eth, and several pps. in y-. The only considerable variants it gives, apart from small scribal errors and variations, are : 572 as scrachenis (for "Eyst as a Jring"), 600 Yblessed be that ylke deth, 616 The turmenturus upon me tere, 687 For he was nothur starke ne stef (the rhymes .are: seeth, beeth, pr. pi. fleeth, stef), 693 How he wns for us, 748 as clerkis calle (for "grete and smalle"), 774 Forsake us noght wan have nede, 782 My gostly fo wan y schal fle. K alone agrees with W in 11-16, 75-6, and in the order of 2 2 1—4 ; where all other MSS. read correctly 223, 224, 221, 222.
In the other large divergences of W and K from. D, i.e. 103-4, 231-2, 418-24, 452-6, 477-80, 492-6, 515-8, 719-20, 765-8, 787-92, 826-32, 919-20, Ad always agrees; D2, Do always agree, except in 452-6, where they follow E; H agrees, except in Ps. li., where it agrees with D ; Eo always agrees with D, as do Ad3 and V, which comprise Ps. li. alone. Ad is in the Kentish dialect, and
Xiv PREFACE
the earliest of the MSS. I have seen ; it is ascribed in the British Museum catalogue to the fifteenth or latter part of the fourteenth century ; D2, Do are Southern, D2 belonging to the beginning of the fifteenth century ; H is E. Midland, Eo of a more northern type. L is almost identical with D, and has the prologue stanza.
It is not easy, and often impossible, to decide which of these variants represents the poet's original. It is seen, however, that the MSS. in a Southern dialect, i.e. K, D2, Do, Ad, agree with our text. Of the passages mentioned above, where this group gives different readings from those of D, etc., our group nearly always gives the better reading, though in 765-8, the second line is unmeaning com pared with D, " Thoru} feij? and hope & charite," and the last is weak ; while in 452-6 Do and D2 agree with D, and are unquestion ably the better reading, cp. Adler and Kaluza's text :
Lord, I hertili f»ee biseke ;
The J>eeues tvespasse, it was forjeue,
Hangynge on tre his bones bveke ;
A sorrowful herte & a clene sohreue (D2 & clene yshryue)
Sauej) soule & body eke.
Iii 231-2 D is more striking, and may be original, in 719-20 there is little to choose between the two passages, but in the others the Southern text seems to me always preferable. I append the texts of these passages as printed by Adler and Kaluza.
103-4. A3en hi?nsilf his wepyn he wette]>,
That caste]) his herte to suche perile (cp. Note on this passage) 418-24. & wickedly wrov^te a^eyn J>i glory
Wi|> wordes and wi]> tricchery, '
f»ou demest rijt & hast victory ;
perfore )>i blis now biseche I,
For tolde hit is in mony a story,
pat who so trustej) to ]>\ mercy,
HaJ> eiideles blis in memory. 477-80. A blisful brid was broii3t in cage,
Cou)>e & kid in euery coost,
Whanne we ben drawen in tendre age,
To driue adoim J?e fendis bost. (The meaning of this seems
altogether obscure. ) 492-6. And >enke on Cristis heued & herte !
BoJ^e breste, bodi & bak was bleche,
How it was bete wi)> scourgys smerte ;
To rewe on him I wolde reche,
Alas ! ]>er may no ter out stcrte. (This is an echo of v. 59.) 515-8. But certeynli noon such offryng
PREFACE XV
As of hi?>isilf plesaunt may be.
Thi silf was ofTrid child ful 3onge
And aftir don on rode trc. (Here ours gives the better sense
and is nearer to the Latin.) 787-92. D omits 787-8 and adds at the end That it may be to Jn likyrig,
The lyf, ))at I schal leden here. (The weakness of the lines
suggests that they were a stop-gap.)
826, 828- And raumsuw eke in grete plente . . . 32. That ow3te be take in greet deynte.
His blood he schedde wilfulli, To make oure former fadir free, And alle oure raunsomes bi & by He quitte hi?«silf and non but he.
919—20. Late neuere }>e fend oure soulis schende, (see Note.) But helpe us alle bo|>e now and efte !
On the whole it seems therefore that the Southern texts are nearer to the original poem.
Metre. — The 8-line stanzas of the poern are regularly divided by a distinct pause at the end of the fourth line. Where this does not exist, as in stanza 4 in W and in stanza 36 in all versions except Ad2 and llo, one may fairly assume scribal corruption. The lines consist of four stressed syllables, alternating with one, or frequently two, 'unstressed. Final -e has syllabic value in :
(1) weak nouns, hert[e], 128, 194, 262, 344, 349, 405, 465, 514, herte, 578, 683, 783, 918 (at 569 the handwriting changes), erthe 270, chirche 651, name 665 (K), tunge 757, wille 923, food[e] 381, bonde 895.
(2) strong fern, nouns: soule 11, 290 (K), 304, 372, 946, rode 195, 406, 518, sight[e] 200, syune 235, 346, 443, 912, speche 307, strengh[e] 397, myrth[e] 476, hele 481, ny^t[e] 598, lawe 621, care 706, streng^e 822, 922, blis[se] 936.
(3) Romance nouns : grace 208, 251, 343, 949, gyl[e] (MS. gylt) 310, vice 368, face 424, 897.
(4) strong m. and n. dat. sg. : godde (K) 293, rib[be] 622, J?riste 576.
(5) drede 13.
(6) adjs. with vowel stems : oure 460, pore 413, wyld[e] 223.
(7) weak adjs, : faiife] 694, gode (voc. sg.) 390, longe 244, owne 580,
(8) st. pi, adjs. : alle 908, blynde 278.
(9) adverbs : depe 22, dere 15, 184, 536, more 336, oute 72, sore
Xvi PREFACE
494, 695. (It is significant, however, that all these except "sore" 494, and the comp. " more " precede a pp., which probably had an original prefix ge-.)
(10) inf. : darnpne 158, haue 75, make 20, 109, mende 40, mouthe 143, neghe 146, [w]epe 152, etc.
(11) pr. hid. Isg. : wexe 212 ; pi. fede 301, passe 775.
(12) pr. subj. : lyke 408, graunte (K) 679.
(13) imp. sg. : byholde 433, dense 402, graunt[e] 471, turne 897, vouche 791, 950.
(14) wk. pt. : hadde 873, schulde 655, 725, seyde 308, sweet[te] 77, tau3te 716, £raste 582, wentfe] 316, wolde 368.
(15) strong pt. 2s. : were 421.
There are only a few cases where difficulty arises : " lyfe," ace. sg. 391, where probably the line is a later variation, and the original is to be found in D "That I may lyue in loue & drede " ; " flesch," ace. sg. 428, where the MSS. give many different readings, D, R, A, L inserting "ful" before "freel"; good 361, where we should have to suppose hiatus at the caesura ; theef 589 (see Note) ; God 465, and Lord 794, which seem to be intentional.
Dialect. — The dialect of the poem is East Midland (cp. Adler and Kaluza). There is one Southern rhyme, "goo)?," pr. pi. 760. There are also several examples of OE. y, y in rhyme with OE. e, se, viz. vnknitti[th] 101, mynde 165, 243, 648, felth 252, 382, 502, kynde 642, 917 (possibly a mistake for " hende," which is found in four other MSS.) ; others probably existed in 544 (see Note) and 839 (see above). The only example of OE. i rhyming with e is " telth," 384, 500, which may well be influenced by the vowel of ME. tele, OE. teolian = tilian. In this case it seems more probable that the e, y rhymes are marks of a south-eastern influence on the dialect than that they are due to a sporadic change of i, y, into e.
Authorship. — The opening verses of R attribute the authorship to Richard Maydenstoon (see Note 1), who was born at Maidstone, and became Bachelor and Doctor of Divinity at Oxford, dying at Aylesford in 1396. He was a theological writer of note, the con fessor of John of Gaunt, and the reputed author of a collection of Latin sermons, Sermones dormi secure. Although one must not lay too much weight on the statement in R, the East Midland dialect with its occasional south-eastern rhymes is just what might be expected from an ecclesiastic of Kentish origin, who was mainly connected with Oxford and the Court. A striking parallel between these
Psalms and the Sermones dormi secure is pointed out in the note on 571-2. On the other hand, the symbolism of the sparrow, G01-4, is different, the 21st Sermon explaining this verse to mean that the sparrow watches her nest lest the sparrow-hawk should take her young. 245—6 is paralleled in the Sermones, as in many other medieval writings : " Nihil certius morte et nihil incertiws hora mortis. Um?e ait poeta, Hoc scio qtiod moriar vbi quawrfo nescio." This does not appear to he Latin poetry ; can it conceivably be a translation of these lines, and is the preacher referring to himself ? It is, of course, very common, cp. Parlement of the Thre Ages,
" Ne noghte es sekire to jonre self in certayne bot dethe, And lie es so vncertayne that sodaynly he comes,"
11.635-6;
and, later, Dunbar's Testament of Mr. Andro Kennedy,
" Cum nichill sit certius morte . . . Nescimus quando, vel qua sorte. "
A second version of the Penitential Psalms is that ascribed to Thomas Brampton, and dated 1402, edited in Vol. 7 of the Pub lications of the Percy Society. It is much more definitely ecclesiastical in tone, laying great stress on the necessity of penance, bringing out by force of contrast the purely devotional character of the present version. Compare, for example, stanza 17 with the corresponding stanza in Brampton, v. 22 :
" ^yf tbon, with good avysement, Of tin synnes wilt the schryve, Thi sonle in helle schal nevere be schent Whil thou wilt here thi penaunce dryve,"
or stanza 101 with Brampton, v. 106 :
' ' A law of mercy thou hast gy ven To hyra that wyll no synnes hyde, But clenly to a preest he schryven."
In v. 59 Brampton states the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception (cp. stanza 54 in our version) :
"Of my modyr I, was conceyved In synne, and so was every cliylde (After that Adam was dysccyved) Sauf Cryist alone and Marie mylde." WHEATLEY MS. b
xviii PREFACE
Another typical passage is v. 48 :
" Here no lengere taryen I may, In erthe I schal no lengere dwelle ; Harde peynes I rauste assay, In purgatorye, or ellys in helle."
Brampton is also concerned with the duties of knights, kings, with mention of
" cure kyng, be trewe fay, That schal heretykes alle distrye,"
and priests (vv. 87-96). The only point of contact between the two versions, beyond commonplace phrases like v. 55, " And lese no^t that thou hast bow^t" (cp. 24), is quoted in the Note to 361-8.
V. Lessons from the Dirige. — This piece consists of the Lessons of the Dirige, i. e. Matins of the Office for the Dead, with the Responsories and Versicles, and the Canticle of the Last Judgment which concludes the Office, following the Use of Saruin. The Office itself is found in English in the Prymer, ed. Littlehales, E.E.T.S. 105, pp. 56-70, and in Maskell's Monumenta Ritualia, Vol. Ill (in both of which, it may be noted in passing, the translation of the Lessons is taken from Purvey's revision of the first Wycliffite Bible), and in Latin in the Sarum Breviary, ed. Procter and Wordsworth, Vol. II, pp. 274-9. Our version is the same as that found in an English MS. Primer in the British Museum, Add. 27592, the notice of which in the Catalogue states that it differs from that printed by Maskell, and agrees more with Camb. Univ. MS. Dd. xi. 82, and Bodleian Douce MSS. 246, 275. The translator used a Latin Primer, with the help of Purvey's text. As a rule, he retained Purvey's vocabulary, but brought the order of the words much closer to the Latin, e.g. whe]?er as dayes of men J?i dayes, 60/9 ') ^or ^ naue no wickid }?ing doon, 60/11-12; and similarly in the Versicles and Responses the Latin order is preserved, e.g. my trespasse I dreede, and bifore J?ee I am a-schamyed, 60/32, cp. Prymer, p. 60. In a very few cases this practice leads him into pedantry, as in 61/2O and 63/7, but as a rule it only imparts a poetical character to his style. In many cases he substitutes a simpler English word for a Romance word in Purvey, e.g. "heuy" for "greuousc," 59/9; " seeke " for "enquere," 60/io; " ransake " (Norse) for " enserche," 60/n; "schopyn" for "formed," 60/2 1 ; "goost" for "spirit," 60/28. Several of these, as the first two quoted, are found in the earlier text
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xix
of Hereford, but this is natural, and probably due to coincidence. Where he varies from Purvey in sense, it is for the worse, as in his translations of Job xvii. 14, 62/29-31, and his rendering of mercenarii as "of a merchant," 61/30, and of os as "mouth," 68/7. Both these latter are Of course possible, but the sense is not to be com mended. His rendering of immutatio as " goostly liknesse," 62/8, points to a variant reading imitatio, and testifies to his careful use of his sources. It should also be recorded that the translator of the Prymer, who follows Purvey very closely, was not entrapped by Job xvii. 15, where the text of the Office differs from that of the Vulgate.
Two verse paraphrases of the Lessons are edited by Dr. Kail, E.E.T.S. 124 (Twenty-six Political and other Poems). Of these the second, Pety Job, is a paraphrase, verse by verse, of the nine Lessons, a twelve-line stanza to each verse. The first, called The Lessouns of the Dirige, is less expanded. After the first two lessons, it includes the Kesponsories and sometimes the Versicles, following Sarum Use, and also the Canticle of Judgment. A comparison of the language shows that it is, except in a few important points, founded on our version; cp. for example, Lessons 33-62 with 60/2-13. Again, the same mistranslation of Job xvii. 14 is found in both, and other parallels are recorded in the Notes. Its author's use of the Latin, however, is shown by his correct translation of os and mercenarii, his misunderstanding of nervo, Job xiii. 27, and his rendering of " goostly liknesse " as " folwyng" (see Notes).
VI. A Song of Mercy and Judgment. — There are three other MSS. of this poem, which is in the East Midland dialect : Harl. 1704, ed. Patterson, The Middle English Penitential Lyric, pp. 85-8, Lambeth 853, ed. Eurnivall, E.E.T.S. 24, pp. 18-21, and Brit. Mus. Add. 31042, ed. Brunner, Archiv CXXXII, pp. 321-3. Of these, Lambeth is the longest, containing two verses more than our MS., of which v. 5 corresponds to Harl. v. 3, and v. 6 to Add. v. 4. The order also is different, Lambeth reversing vv. 3 and 4, and then inserting the two additional verses. In his notes, Dr. Patterson points out passages drawn from St. Edmund's Mirror and from the Responses in the Dirige. The echo in 11. 11-12 of the Canticle of Judgment (p. 64) is probably the reason for its standing next after it in the MS.
VII. A Prayer for Mercy.— The dialect of this is also East Midland; the strong pp. has lost -n ; the Southern ind. pr. pi.
XX PREFACE
"askij?" appears once, 20. Final -e is much more often syllabic than in the previous poem.
This poem is also found in MS. Camb. Kk. 1, 6, and printed by Dr. MacCracken in Archiv CXXXI, pp. 43-4, in a collection of religious poems written under apparent Lydgatiaii influence. Our poem, however, is not marked by the "aureate" language which characterises the others.
VIII. God's Complaint. — Of this poem there are eight MSS. : Eodley 596, Kawlinson C. 86, Douce 78, Trinity College, Cambridge 600 (R. 3. 20), Harleian 2380 (defective and incomplete, lacking vv. 6, 8, 10), Lambeth 306, 853 (these two are edited by Dr. Furnivall, E.E.T.S. 15, p. 190), and Adv. 34, 7, 3, of which stanzas 1-7, 11, 12, were printed by Laing in Early Metrical Tales, 1826, pp. 299-303.
The form of the poem is based on the Reproaches, a part of the Liturgy for Good Friday (see Sarum Missale, ed. Dickinson, p. 327), the first three verses, and a fourth which is found in MS. Adv., also following in subject-matter the antiphons of this service, as is shown in the Notes. A Southern English metrical form of the Reproaches, from a MS. of 1330, is given in Wright's Reliquice Antiques, II, 225.
Of the Oxford MSS., Bodley, which belongs to the early fifteenth century, is almost identical, except for its omission of 1. 28, with our text, and might be derived directly from it, but that it has tho correct reading "boght" in 1. 2. The other two are late and inferior, Douce omitting stanzas 6 and 9, and reversing stanzas 4 and 5.
IX. To God. — This and the two following poems have not, as far as I know, been printed before, nor are they found in any other MS. There is a certain likeness in sense between this and the opening of Richard de Castre's Prayer to Jesus (E.E.T.S. 24, p» 15).
XII. Hymn from the "Speculum Christian!. "— This was evi dently an exceedingly popular poem in the Middle Ages. The British Museum has ten MS. versions: Harl. 206, 1288, 2382 (edited by Patterson, The Middle English Penitenital Lyric, pp. 139- 41), 5396, 6580, Lansdowne 344, Royal 8. E. V., 17, A. xxvii, Add. 10052, 15237, 21202, 22121, 37787. In addition, there are at Oxford Laud Misc. 104, 513, Hatton 97, Ashm. 61, 750, Rawl. C. 401, Bodley 89, 61, 850, Rawl. lit. g. 2, Add. A. 268, Eng. th. e. 16 ; at Cambridge Dd. 14. 26. Ill, Ff. 1. 14, 5. 48 (printed in Reliquice Antiques II, 212), Hh. 1. 13, li. 6. 43, Jesus Coll. 51 (Q.G. 3), Pem broke 285, St. John's Coll. 176 (G. 8), Sidney Sussex 55 ; also Tiin.
PREFACE XXI
Coll., Dublin 159 (C. 3. 13), Edin. Univ. Laing 32, Lambeth 559, Greg. MS., Helmingham Hall L. J. 5. 14, Petworth MS. 8, Longleat 29, and St. Outhbert's College MS.
In perhaps the greater number of cases the poem is incorporated in a Latin manuscript of the Speculum Christiani. This was a popular theological treatise belonging to the second half of the four teenth century, as Richard Rolle of Hanipole is quoted under the section " De Tribus Geneiibus Orationurn," and probably written in England, as it quotes the Lambeth Constitutions of 1281. It is inter spersed with some English prose and several English rhymes, which loosely paraphrase or summarise the succeeding Latin text. The amount of verse included varies in different MSS., our poem not appearing in Harl. 1197, 2250. The book is divided into eight Tabulae, the eighth of which consists of a prayer for the Elevation, two hymns to the Blessed Virgin, and two ladders leading to Heaven and Hell. Our poem stands before the first of the hymns, Gaudeflore virginali, a hymn on the Seven Joys of our Lady in Heaven ; see Daniel Thesaurus Hymnologicus, I, 346, Mone, Lateinisclie Hymnen des Mittelalters, Ed. II, p. 76, Gaude virgo, mater C/iristi, and an English version in E.E.T.S. 15, p. 174, "Gaude, the flowre of virginyte." It is with a verse from this hymn that Fabyan concludes each of the seven books of his Chronicle. The English poem can scarcely have been written as a translation of this, nor is it at all likely to be by the same hand as the rest of the verse, which, though often vigorous,1 is very unmetrical, e. g.
" The wise man forsothe wil nat sett his herte On thinge that may not longe stande in qwerte, But on the eende he hath mynde, And nothing settes before that scliuld he behinde ; "
which is a not unfair example of the average standard reached. It was probably inserted, for the benefit of the unlearned reader, as the most accessible representation of the Latin; it may be noted that the latter, though it does not deal with the Five Joys, is headed "Quinque Gaudia Marie." The book was printed by Machlinia, and is described by W. Herbert in Ames's Typographical Antiquities, 1785, Vol. I,
1 E. g. an interesting poem, never printed since the first edition of 1480, on the magnificence of Jerusalem, and its destruction as God's punishment of the covetousness of the Jews. The fire of covetousness, says the poet, still throws up so great a smoke that nearly all men of high rank are hlear-eyed or blind (U.M. Add. 15237, 276-286).
vvl'i PREFACE
A.-A.11
113, where the poem is printed. In the later editions these English elements do not appear.
In the Vernon Manuscript, however, which is dated at about 1385, there is a poem which is simply an expanded form of the present one, each line being lengthened to six feet, and the same rhymes being kept (ed. Horstmann, E.E.T.S. 98, 22). It is interesting to notice that it agrees with our text against the version in the MSS. and printed text of the Speculum in 10-14, 35-8, 43-4, 51-2, as may be seen by comparing with Dr. Patterson's text. In addition, MSS. Eoyal 17 A. xxvii., B.M. Add. 37787, Lambeth 559, Rawl. liturg. g. 2, which are all unattached to the Speculum, give our version.0 Ashmole 61, alone of the Oxford and London MSS., though detached from the Speculum, shows a blending of both types. It is dated by Horstmann as in or before the time of Henry VII. It seems therefore most probable that the present text represents the original form of the poem.
In My re's Duties of a Parish Priest (ed. Peacock, E.E.T.S. 31), there seems to be a reminiscence of our poem in 11. 290-301.
XIII. Life of Adam and Eve. — Other MSS. of this version are : British Museum Harl. 4775 (H, printed Arcliiv 74, p. 353), Harl. 1704 (H2), Harl. 2388 (H3), Egerton 276 (E), Oxford Bodl. 596 (B, printed ArcJiiu 74, p. 345), Douce 15 (D), Douce 372 (D2), Ashmole 802 (A), Lambeth 72 (L). Other versions are: IMS. Auchinleck (Au, ed. Horstmann, Sammlung Altenglischer Legenden, 1878, p., 139), Canticum de Creatione (C, ib. p. 124), MS. Vernon (V, ib.t p. 220). The sources of our version are : (1) the Latin Vita Adae et Evae, (2) a Latin account of the traditional derivation of Adam's name, and of the materials of which his body was made, (3) connecting parts of the Bible narrative to make this into a continuous story.
(1) The legendary history of Adam and Eve, their penance in the waters of Jordan and Tigris, the journey of Eve and Seth to the gates of Paradise, and the death and burial of Adam, with the account of the tables written by Seth, are derived from the Vita Adae et Evae (ed. W. Meyer, Kb'nigliche Bayerisclie Akademie der Wissen- schaften, Abhandlungen der philosophisch-philologische Classe, Bd. 14, Abtheilung 3, pp. 187-250, 1878). This, together with the Greek Apocalypse of Moses (ed. Tischendorf, Apocalypses Apocryphae, 1866), represents an original Jewish Book of Adam. Both are translated and edited by Wells in Archdeacon Charles's Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, II, 123-54.
PREFACE
According to Meyer, the Vita is later than the Latin text of the Gospel of Nicodemus, i.e. than the third or fourth century A.D. The MSS. can be divided into three classes : I, from which, the standard text is taken; II, which was in existence about the year 730, and which has two passages not found in I, namely 90/24, "Also I vndirstood"— 91/23, ''God her iuge," and 88/14, " Thamie Seeth" — "spaken proudly" 99/io; and III, which has the first only of these additions, but which has four interpolations from the Legend of the Eood.
There are many additions to the text of the Vita in this and other English renderings, which are found in several Latin MSS. in the British Museum (Royal 8. F. xvi. 2, Harl. 275, 526, 2432, Arundel 326) ; for example, the statement that Adam and Eve, on leaving Paradise, went into the west, that Adam's long hair floated on the water, that his voice grew hoarse with his cries, that Eve, on coming out of the water, lay as dead for almost a day. But none of these represent the original from which our version was translated, as may be seen from the notes on Adam's vision and prophecy. All are very similar, except that Arundel 326 has two interpolations, telling how Seth, looking into Paradise, saw on the summit of a tree a Virgin seated, holding a crucified Child, and how Adam, hearing this, prophesied of the Virgin Birth and of the Crucifixion. Another MS., Harl. 495, is of quite a different type, sharing none of the readings characteristic of the others, but more resembling the printed text. It is incomplete, beginning with Adam's penance in Jordan, and has no Corpus Adae.
(2) The Latin original of the passage describing Adam's name and the making of his body, though not forming a part of the Vita itself, is found following it in the Latin MSS. above-mentioned, except that in Arundel 326 the last part is missing, the MS. being incomplete. The translation is literal, except that in the Latin the order is reversed, the making of Adam's body being placed first, and then the finding of his name. The MSS. also do not give the Latin verse, which is, however, found in Harl. 956 (a longer and fuller account, followed by Jean d'Outremeuse in Ly Myreur des Histors\ where the clauses are in a different order, and the seventh and eighth are slightly different.
The derivation of Adam's name from four Greek words evidently comes from a Hellenized Jewish source. It makes its first appearance in literature in the Slavonic Book of the Secrets of Enoch, xxx. 13-14
PREFACE
(Charles, Apocrypha, etc., II, 449) : "And I appointed him a name, from the four component parts; from east, from west, from south, from north. And I appointed for him four special stars, and I called his name Adam." The book is dated by Dr. Charles at about the beginning of the Christian era, the place of its composition being Egypt, and its author or final editor being a Hellenistic Jew. The derivation is given in full in the anonymous De Montibus Sina et Sion, 4 (Migne, Patroloyia, IV. 912), formerly attributed to St. Cyprian, where the names of the points of the compass are taken as being those of the stars : Invenimus in Scripturis per singulos cardines orbis terra e esse a Conditore mundi quatuor stellas constitutas in singulis cardinibus. Prima stella, orientalis, dicitur a dvaroXr/, etc. So also in the Commentary on the New Testament ascribed to St. Jerome (Works, ed. Marcianaeus, 1706, Vol. V, p. 847) : Adam a quatuor literis, & a quatuor stellis nomen accepit, quod est, etc., and in the O.E. prose Salomon and Saturn (ed. Kemble, pp, 178, 180). For other accounts, where the stars are not confused with points of the compass, see the Sibylline Omdes, II F, 24-6, St. Augustine, In Joannis Evanc)elium Tractatus IX, § 14, Ven. Bede, In Genesim Expositio IV<
The account of the different components of Adam's body also appears first in the Book of the Secrets of Enoch, xxx. 8 : On the sixth day I commanded my wisdom to create man from seven con sistencies : one, his flesh from the earth ; two, his blood from the dew ; three, his eyes from the sun : four, his bones from stones ; five, his intelligence from the swiftness of the angels and from clouds ; six, his veins and his hair from the grass of the earth ; seven, his spirit from my breath and from the wind.
It will be seen that the differences between this and our account are that (6) in Enoch disappears, and that (7) becomes the fifth, seventh, and eighth parts in our version — his breath from the wind, his understanding from the light of the world, his soul from the Holy Ghost. Also, his blood is derived from the sea, not the dew, and there is no mention of the angels. The version of Jean d'Outremeuse is the pamo in substance, except for the curious statement that the eighth part, "qui fut de la clarteit de monde, senefie tristeure," which evidently arises from a misreading of the Latin Grists, cp. Harl. 956, qwod inter pretatzo- ^ps.
The Ancjlo-Saxon Ritual, quoted by Dr. Charles, has a different account, which is also found in the prose Salomon and Saturn, p. 180;
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the former reads as follows : Pondus limi, inde factus cst caro ; pondus ignis, inde rubeus est sanguis et calidus ; pondus salis, indo snnt salsae lacrimae; pondus roris, inde factus est sudor ; pondus floris, inde est variolas oculorum ; pondus nubis, inde est instabilitas mentium ; pondus venti, inde est anhela frigida; pondus gratiae, inde esfc sensus hominis.
This has diverged a long way from Enoch, and it will be noted that, with the exception of the making of man's breath from the wind, none of the divergences are shared by our version. Salomon and Saturn, however, has in common with our version the fact that the naming of Adam stands before the making of his body ; every where else the order is reversed. The connection of the two can scarcely be original ; the story of the naming tells us that Adam was made of earth brought from the four ends of the world. Accord ing to Rabbinical tradition, it was of different colours, red, black, white and green (Rabbi Eliezer, ed. Friedlander, p. 76). Targ. Jonathan, Genesis ii. 7, says: "And he took earth from the place of the Holy Temple and from the four ends of the world." Hence probably follows the Christian legend that Adam was made at Bethlehem.
(3) The connecting narrative from Genesis follows the earlier Wycliffite text of Hereford, c. 1382, with the exception of the intro ductory extract, the earlier account of the creation of Man, i. 26-31, which is taken from Purvey's revised edition of c. 1388. It is immediately followed by the second account (Genesis ii. 7) from the earlier text, and thus evidently represents an afterthought. We may safely infer that the present text was constructed from a Latin source combined with the English Bible, some time after 1382, and expanded at a later date, after 1388. D prefixes Gen. i. 1 — ii. 3 from the Purveyite version, headed ''Here bigynne]? J?e making of [hcuen] & e[r}?e]." H2, an incomplete MS. containing the beginning and end of this text, has the same structure. The intermediate portion is added in a later hand from a source closely resembling B, with no interpolations from the Bible.
This was by no means the first time that the Corpus Adae, the Vita, and Genesis had been combined. Meyer notes that in Cod. germ. Monac. 3866 three chapters of the Vuljate precede the Vita, i.e. the story is brought up from the beginning to the expulsion from Paradise, and another piece is interpolated after the Vita's brief mention of the slaying of Abel. Except for the Corpus Adae, this
PREFACE
must cover the same ground as our present text. Jean d'Outremeuse (1338-1400) in Ly Myreur des Histors, Vol. I, pp. 308-24 (ed. Borgnet, Bruxelles, 1864), where the story is related in order to ex plain the genealogy of St. Joseph, combines a different form of the Corpus (the Latin of which is found in MS. Harl. 956, F. 103), which he gives on the authority of St. Jerome, with the Vita and the story of Cain and Abel rendered freely after the Bible. There are also other English forms of the story which must now be considered in detail.
In MS. An there are two fragments of a life of Adam and Eve, edited by Horstmann, Altenglische Legenden, 1878, pp. 139-47, dated by Bachinann (Die beiden Versionen des me. Canticwn de Creatione, Hamburg, 1891), 1300-25, and located in the North-East Midlands. The opening is lost, so that we cannot tell whether the Corpus Adae was already connected with it ; the Vita proper is preceded by an account of the fall of Satan (Li^tbern), freely as he tells it in the Vita, and the temptation and fall of man, freely from Genesis. The details mentioned above as not occurring in the printed Vita are not found here. The statement that it was in the /aw that the serpent bit Seth, though not in the Vita, is not one of these, as it arises from a scribal error due to confusion between faciens and faciem ; see Bachmann, p. 48. The fragment breaks off before the birth of Cain, and the second begins in the middle of a vepy brief account of Adam's vision, related not to Seth alone, but to all his children, omitting his prophecy, and combined with his description of the Fall and its consequences. Many characteristic elements are omitted, e.g. the names of the ointments that Eve and Seth brought, the burial of Adam and Abel in Paradise (no place of burial being here mentioned), Eve's prophecy of the two judgments by fire and water, the guiding of Seth's hand by an angel, and the naming of the letters by Solomon. The poem concludes with a short account of O.T. judgments on sin, the Flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the repentance of Nineveh. It appears to be based on a MS. of the Vita intermediate between I and II. Specially noteworthy is the fact that it omits the name of the river (Jordan) in which Adam did penance ; this is said to be a Christian substitution for one of the rivers of Paradise, see Jewish Enclydopedia under " Adam." Here it is simply "J?e flom," 11. 215, 237.
In the same volume, p. 220, Horstmann has published a prose life of Adam and Eve from the Vernon MS., f. 393 (denoted by V)
PREFACE XXV11
This was originally a poem in long lines ; for example, p. 223, 14-8 can be read, by slightly altering the order of the words within the lines :
" So J>at Jhmi Crist ]>i penaimce haj> vnderfonge(n), For \>ou wold so blepeliche dwello }>er-m so longe. I am set to bringe jow \>er 30 schul haue mete, Such as in paradys }e weore wont to haue & eete(n)." J>e corsud angel nom Eue vp bi ]>e hond & ladde hire ... to druye londe ; As soone as Eue comen vp of )>e water was, Hire bodi . . . was grene as eni gras.
See also 221, 1-2, 40-1 , 222, 13-4, 16-7; 223, 7-9; 224, 36-7; 225, 27-8, 34-5; 226, 14-5, 38-9, etc. In many passages, how ever, it is not at all easy to restore the verse form without extensive alterations ; there must therefore have been a long period of corrup tion. The MS. dates from about 1385 (Carleton Brown, Register of Middle English Religious Verse, 1916), the original probably belongs to the beginning of the fourteenth century, and the metre much resembles that of the Southern Legendary.
The rendering of the Vita which we have here closely resembles that in Au; here again the details from the Latin MSS. do not appear. There are many emissions, such as the vision and prophecy of Adam, also passages after p. 222, 42, p. 223, 32. Two legendary additions appear, the thunder-clap at the begetting of Cain (p. 223, 37), and the Divine institution of tithe (p. 224, 15). There are also additions from the Legend of the Eood (E.E.T.S. 46, p. 19 ; 87, p. 1). In this story Adam sends Seth to Paradise for the oil of mercy, directing him to follow the track left by the footsteps of himself and Eve. Seth sees a vision through the gates of Paradise and is given by an angel three kernels of an apple, which he places under Adam's tongue when he is dead. Adam is buried in Hebron, and henceforth the legend traces the story of the rods which grew from the kernels. In the Vernon text Seth and Eve go, as in the Vita, but Seth is given directions as in the Legend, though they are here unnecessary. The vision is omitted, there being only a few lines describing the beauties of Paradise, we are told of the kernels, and of the burial of Adam and Abel by the angels in Hebron. Two lines (rhyming) connect the kernels with the Kood. The interpolations are so short that the piece may have been written as a companion to a Rood Legend, and may even have formed a part of the Southern Legendary, providing the account
PREFACE
of Creation and of the early life of Adam which the Rood Legend omits. In the same way, in the Northern Homilies, the Rood Legend (EE.T.S. 46, p. 62) is interpolated with the Vita, from which it takes Adam's speech to his children, St. Michael's speech to Seth at the gates of Paradise, and the burial of Adam's body by angels (in Hebron, to suit the Kood story).
As regards the connecting matter, the Vita is preceded, as in Au, by the* fall of the angels and of man, but not, as in An, from Genesis, but from a Bible narrative full of interesting legendary details, as for example of the angels that fell from heaven: " Swmne astunte in ]>Q eyr, and siuwme in J?e eorj?e. jit eny mon is elue Inome olpur clue Iblowe, he hit haj? of J?e angelus Ipat fellen out of heuene." Other additions are an account of the murder of Abel, of the begetting of Seth by Divine command, and of the inter-marriage between the children of Seth and of Cain. At the beginning is an account of creation and of the naming of Adam. The stars are here correctly given, as in MS. Harl. 956 and in Jean d'Outremeuse.
The Canticum de Creations (denoted by C), edited by Horstmann in the same volume, pp. 124-38, brings us to a much later date, as the poem itself states that it was written in 1375. There is no Corpus Adae, and no interpolated Biblical matter beyond a very short intro duction describing the Fall of man, and five stanzas telling of Cain's jealousy of Abel, and of the begetting of Seth. These two items, which ure also in V, are found in Cursor Mundi, 1059-65, 1190-1218, E.E.T.S. 57, etc. Its Latin source is not the same as that of the previous poems, but seems to be identical with that of our own version, including the details derived from the Latin MSS. There are, however, two important exceptions : there is no vision or prophecy of Adam, and it is interpolated with the Legend of the Eood. Presumably it was translated from a MS. in which the Vision was accidentally omitted. In the part unaffected by the Legend there are two additions to the Vita text : (1) the institution of tithe by the command of an angel who appears when Satan vanishes after the second temptation (it occurs also in V, but there it is ordered by God himself when Adam is taught to till and sow, a much more probable occasion) ; (2) the story that Eve, when she found that the devil had beguiled her twice, covered her head with a white veil, hence all women cover their heads.
The interpolation with the Rood Legend begins at 1. 619, where Adam, as in V, directs Seth how to find the way to Paradise, though
PREFACE XXIX
its independence of V, and of V's source, is shown by 1. 640, "And al to-bot Seth in J?e face." We also have the vision of Seth at the gates of Paradise, and the gift of the kernels. As a result of the incorporation of the Rood Legend, it was impossible, as in V, to keep the burial of Adam in Paradise, consequently he is buried in Hebron by Seth alone. The prophecy of Eve and the making of the tables by Seth and their finding by Solomon are related, and then the Rood Legend is continued.
Hence this poem is quite independent of the earlier versions, being translated from a different and later Latin version of the Vita, and not following the legendary additions of Y, except where they are also found in Cursor Mundi, and probably in several other places. Its ainl was not to supplement the Legend of the Rood, but to com bine it and the Vita into one story. Hence it wastes very little space on Adam's history before the beginning of the Vita, or on the story of Cain and Abel.
There remain two printed versions in prose, printed by Horstmann in ArcMv, Bd. 74, 1885 ; the first, p. 345, from MS. Bodl. 596, is denoted by B, and the second, p. 353, from MS. Harl. 4775, where it is appended to the Golden Legend, by H. The second is practically identical with our version, the first contains only the Corpus Adae and the Vita. In many passages the language is so similar that it is impossible that the two versions can be derived from independent translations even of the same Latin text, e. g. the Corpus Adae and 81/1-17 ; in others they are evidently derived from different Latin texts, see Note on 81/32—4. B's readings are always the better. It gives the fuller account of Eve's dream : " I saw in my slepe that Caym with his hondes arered bloode of Abel and deuoured it with his mouthe." In the vision of Adam (88/39 — 89/i), where there has been confusion between " currum " and " chores," it omits the chariot, and in 90/11-13, where similarly confusion between "locum" and "lacum" has caused the repetition of a sentence in H, it is correct (see Notes).
The second version (II) stands in very close connection with the present version (W), E (incomplete, extending to "doun," 92/12 only), L, H2, H3, I), D2. All of these omit " ponyschid," 97/iQ, and " lest " 80/iy. In f°ur °f these, H, E, L, and D2, the story is attached to the end of the Golden Legend, forming one of the additional legends which appear in the English versions only (Leyenda Aurea — Legende Doree — Golden Legend, by Pierce Butler, Baltimore,
XXX PREFACE
1899, p. 69).1 H2 and D, as stated above, prefix the Purveyite version of Genesis i. 1 — ii. 3, and then begin the ordinary text, hence repeating i. 26-31. This is evidently a later addition. The inter mediate pages of H2 are supplied in a later hand from a text very like B; they comprise the part of the text (without the Biblical additions) from "for)?," 77/13, to " beynge," 85/4. The same hand has altered " in the vale of ebron," the place of Adam's making, to u In the same place that J[hesu] was borne in, that is to seye in the Cytie of bethlem, which is in the middle of the earth," also from the B-text. E and L are both found in MSS. of the Golden Legend, the former following on the Advent discourse, and breaking off at " falle douw," 92/12, and L following the Concepcio Marie, and followed by " 5 Willes of Pharo," and " 3 Kinges of Collin." « H3 is the nearest to W, but has more scribal omissions. Neither is derived directly from the other.
W is on the whole the best of this group of texts. It alone agrees with the Latin originals in stating that Adam was made in Bethlehem and buried injParadise. In the other texts the scene is Hebron, and in the second case they add : " as the maister of stories tellith," i.e. Petrus Comestor, see his Genesis, cap. xxiv. The Cursor Mundi, which knows nothing of the Vita, gives the Hebron story (11. 9397, 1416), as do V and C as regards the burial ; A men tions no place, but says that Eve was buried with Adam. The '.Afluence of the Eood Legend would make the burial in Paradise impossible, and hence facilitate both alterations. Only B, which is founded on a less corrupt Latin text, keeps Bethlehem and Paradise as the sites.
Other points in which W offers a better text than H are as follows: 76/26 "J>o" for "36," so all other MSS. ; 77/6 " Geon " for " Seon," so all others ; 79/32 "soule hauers " for "soulis heiris," so E, H3; L" soulis of heven"; 86/17 "put "for "puttith," so E, H3; L "puttith"; 81/2O "Oure Lord God delyueride mete to beestis but to us he delyueride mete of aungels " for " Oure lorde god deliuerid vs mete of aungellis," so all others ; 81/33 " suffre as manye and" for " suffre and," so H3, E ; L "suffre and"; 86/14 "hir
1 The note at the end of the " Wiles of Pharao " in D2 : " Here enditli the v. wills of kinge Pharao . . . and also here endith the lives of Seintis that is callid . . . the gilte legende ... and here endith the life of Adam and Eve " shows the process of accretion ; similarly, in MS. Balliol College 228, a fifteenth- century Latin Golden Legend, the Vita follows, though separated from the Golden Legend proper by a blank page, and not mentioned in the Table of Contents.
PREFACE XXXI
brest " for " the brest," so all others ; 87/36 " vagaimt " for " but be vacaunt," so all others; 88/34 "inwardly" for "in worde," so all others ; 89/2O " conuerte " for " comforte," so H3 ; H2, E, L as H ; 90/2 « whanne " for " whom " ; H2, H3 " wlia " ; E, L " whom " ; 91/8 "saaf'for " faire," so all others ; 99/15 " hem" for " hym," so H3 ; H2, L"hym."
Several times H tries to remedy obscurities caused by errors in the MS. from which the scribe copied; see Notes on 78/5, 10, 85/13, 87/36, 95/i6. In 88/34 and 91/iy he lias misunderstood the correct reading ; see Notes.
In the vision and prophecy of Adam the text is particularly confused, and several passages bear witness to marginal corrections becoming incorporated in the text alongside the passages they were meant to correct; see Notes on 88/39, 90/13, 28, 91/Q. In every case B has only one of these ; in the first and last it has the cor rupted text (taking the printed Vita as the standard), in the other two it follows the older version. Otherwise the MSS. all agree.
Nearly all the rubrics are peculiar to W, other MSS. only having those on 80/24, 82/20, and 87/13.
The latest MS. of Adam and Eve which I have seen is MS. Ashmole 802 (denoted by A), f. 19-48, in a collection of Dr. Simon Forman's papers, and signed " forman 1592." Though it contains many additions and accretions, yet where it deals with the original matter it is nearer to our text than any of the others (see Notes on 77/27, 92/ro, 96/8, 16, 31). Especially from the first of these, we may conclude that it is actually descended from our text, although it omits the rubrics peculiar to it. It has much additional astrological and legendary matter, and there are two accounts of the composition of man's body, the first being " of red earth, of the slyme of the earth, and of the Quintessential^ snbstaunce or Beste parte of the 4 elements." After 87/9 we are to^ now> except at Cain's birth, Eve always brought forth twins, a son and daughter who married together (see Note), and after 93/8 the 70 diseases are enumerated. From this point the story is influenced by the Rood Legend. Adam sends Seth alone to Paradise, and directs him by the path he and Eve had made. Eve offers to go with him lest he should lose the way. Adam says that " when he is at the valle of Josophate he hath but 40 daies Jornaye to 'parradise but goe thou alsoe." The angel gives Seth a branch of the Tree of Knowledge to plant on the Mount of Lebanon, " and when that tree doth beare fruite thy father
xxxii PREFACE
schal be made hoole," and prophesies of Christ's coming. The Rood Legend is continued to the story of the Cross of Christ.
XIV. A Prayer at the Elevation. — This is a translation of a Latin Eucharistic Rhythm given by Daniel, Thesaurus Hymnologicus, II, 32 i and Levis, Anecdota Sacra, p. 107, from a missal in the monastery at Novalesa. The translation is almost literal, save that " haue mercy of us " is not represented in the Latin.
[AN ORISON ON THE PASSION]
(1)
IHesu J?rtt haste me dere bought, Write now gostely in my thought, That I may with deuocion Thynk apon thy passion.
P.I.
Jesu, write in my heart the remem brance of Thy Passion.
For, if my hert be hard as stoon, Yhit may tho\v goostely write peroon With nayles and \vitii speerfe] kene, And so shul the letters wele be sene.
(3)
Write in my hert thy speches swete Whan ludas J?e traytour can J?e mete ; That traytour was ful of J?e feende, And }it thow callyd hym thy freende.
(4)
Swete Ihesu, how myght thow soo Calle thi freende so felle a fo 1 Bot, sithen Jwu spaak so lonely To hym ]?«t was ]?ine enemy,
10
15
Thou didst call Judas Thy friend ; how sweet will be Thy speech to Thy true friends in Heaven !
How swete shal ]?i speche be
To them }?at hertly louen the
Whan they in heuene with }?e shul duelle
Forsothe J?er may no tonge telle.
WHEATLEY MS.
20
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
F. u.
Thou wert
condemned ;
(6)
Write how )?ow were bounden sore And drawen forth Pylat byfore, sAvetely Jwi answerde ]?oo at was thi felle foo.
(7)
Write how J?rtt fals enquest Cried ay with-outen rest : " Hong hym on the roode tree, For he wil kyng of lewes be."
25
How Thou barest Thy Cross ;
P. 2.
How Thou
Write vpon myne hertfe] booke Thy fayre and thi rewely looke, For schame of ther liydouse crye J)at walden of }?e liaue no mercy.
(9)
Write, whanne ]?e crosse was forth broght, And }?e nayles of yren wroght, How J>ow began to chyuer and quake, Thi hert was woo if J?ou noght spaak.
(10)
Write how douneward )?ou can loke Whan lewes to J?e ]?e crosse betook ; Thow bare it forth vtith rewly chere, The teres ran douue by thy lere.
(11)
Ihesu, write in my hert depe How )?at j?ow began to wepe Whan \>\ baak to ]?e rode was [b]ent, ,. With rugged nayles thi handes rent.
(12)
Write J?e strokes of hameres stoute, With J?e bloode rennyng al aboute, How the nayles stynten at the boone Whan thow were fill woo-bygone.
43. MS. lent.
30
35
40
45
t. AN ORISON ON THE PASSION
(13)
Ihesu, write }it in myne hert How bloode oute of J?i wouwdea stert ; And with J?i blood write thow so oft In myne hert to hit be soft.
(14)
Ihesu, J?at art so mykel of myght, Write in myne hert J?«t rewful syght, To loke on tin moder fre Whan poll were honged on roode tre.
(15)
Write thi swete modres woo Whan sche sawe [the] to deeth[e] goo ; I-wys if I write al my lyue I schuld neuer here woo dyscryue ; In myne hert ay mote hit be, That harde knotty roode tre, —
(16)
The nayles and the spere also That thow were with to deth[e] doo, The croime and J?e scourges grete That thow was with so sore bete,
(17)
Thi wepyng and thi woundes wyde, The bloode J?at ran doun by \>\ syde, The schame and scorne and grete dispite, The spatil J?«t foulid J?i face white,
(18)
The eysell and J?e bettir galle, And other of thi peynes alle ; For, whiles I haue them in my thought, The deuyl, I hope, sal dere me nought.
(19)
Ihesu, write J?us, J?at I may knowe How mykel loue to the I owe, For, if J?at I wil from the fle, Thow folowest ay to saue me.
50
55
60
65
70
75
Of Thy grief in looking on Thy Mother ;
F. 26.
And of all the attri butes of Thy Passion.
Grant me to know what Thou hast done for me, and how I should love Thee.
4 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
(20)
Ihesu, whan I thenk on the, How \>ou was bounden for loue of me, F 3. Wele ought I to wepe J?at stounde
feat J?ow so sore for me was bounde.
(21)
Bot thow J?at bare vpon thin handes For my synnes so bytter bandes, With loue bondes bynde thow so me feat I neuer depart from the.
(22)
Ihesu, £at was with loue so bounde, feat sutfred for me dedes wounde, Be with me At my dying visite me,
at my death. A _., mn^rn fVio foori(1 awav |iQ fle>
(23)
Teach me to e*«» make me glad to b<3
Symple and poure for loue of the, ^n(j jat me neuer for more ne lasse Loue good to mykil J?at sone sal passe.
(24)
Ihesu, J?at art kyng of lyfe, Teche my soule, J?at is tlii wyfe, To loue best no thing in londe Bot the, Ihesu, here dere housebonde.
F 36
Let me re-
(25)
For othir joye and othir blys, Wo and sorow forsothe it is, And lastis but a litil while, Mannes soule for to bygyle.
(26)
Lat me f e'le what ioye it be To suffre woo for loue of the, How myry it is for the to wepe, How soft in harde clothes to slepe.
105
MS. adds: For othir blys and otliir bewte Is bot foule and sorow to se.
I. AN ORISON ON THE PASSION
(27)
Lat now lone his bowe bende And loue-arowes to my hert sende, That they peers[e] to the rote, For swilk woundes schuld be my bote. 110
(28)
When I am lowe for thi lone, Than am I moost at myne aboue, Fastyng is feest, mornyng is blys, For thi loue pouert is ryches ;
(29)
Tlie liard hey re schuld be more of pryse 115
Jeanne soft sylk or pelour or byse, Defaute for thy loue is plente, And fleschely lust ftil loth schuld be.
(30)
Whanne I am with woo bystad, •
For thi loue thanne am I glad ; 120
To suffre scornes and greet dispite For loue of the is my delyte.
(31)
Ihmi, make me on nyght to wake And in my thought thi name to take, And, whethir the nyght be schort or longe, 125
Of the, Ihesu, ay be my song,
(32)
And this preyer a cheynfe] be To drawe the doun of thi see, That thow may make J?e a duellyng At myn hert at thi lykyng. 130
(33)
Ihesu, I pray, forsake nought me Gyf I of synne gylty be, For to }?at theef J?«t honge the by Redily )?ow gaue hym J?i mercy.
F. 4.
May I think of Thee in the night, and draw Thee into my heart by the chain of prayer.
Thou Who
forgavest the penitent thief, for sake me not when I fall into sin.
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
F. 46.
(34)
Ihesu, \>a\> greet curtasye Maketh me bolde on the to crye, For wele I woot \vitli-outen drede Thi mercy is more ]?anne my mysdede.
(35)
Ihesu, )?at art soo leue and dere, Here and spede this poure preyer ; For Paule, thaft] was so fell and \voode To spille Cristen mennes blode,
135
140
Thou Who didst not forsake St.
K*e?Ugh To the wolde he no preyer make,
Kef t0 And 3it( tllow wolde hJm nought forsake.
(36) Be with me Tlianne may l>ow noght forsake me,
when I die, .
that i may bitlicii t>at 1 preye thus to the ;
live with , . * ,
Thee. At my dying I hoope i-wys
Of thy presence shal I not mys.
(37)
Ihesu, make me thanne to rysc Fro deeth to lyue on swiche wyse Os thow roos on Estre Day, In joye and blys to lyue for ay. Amen.
145
150
Hail, Mary, Queen of Heaven.
F. 5.
Hear me in my wretch edness.
II
[A PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN]
HAyle, bote of bale, blissed Qwene ! To sight so semely is noon sene ; Lady of aungels, qwene of heuen, Emprice of helle is ]?at I [n]eue[n]. Haile Mary, modir of grete mercy, To the with hart I calle and cry, On hast thow here Ip'is wrecched thing That maketh to the this pure pra[i]yng;
141. MS. thas.
4. MS. mene,
II. A PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN
For sere tliynges me hath vmset, That prey to the me wille lett ; For in erthe, in wolthe and woo, Thow hauefs] pi freeiide and I my foo, pow art syker and I am in drede ; Too dee th my synnes wil me lede, And saith me it is no bote Though I falle the too foote. If I myne eghen vn-to the cast, Ther-agayne my synnes er faast, And saith me J>at I doo nought ryght, For I wre thed the with my sight Whanne I behelde wantonnes And sett my thought o[n] wykkednesse. How schal I thanne be so boolde The with myne eghen to be-holde, That haue the wrethed wrongly, — How schal I of the gete mercy ? A ! Lady, what schal I doo If I dar nought loke the too, Or how schal I on the eghen caste That I wote to the haue trespast ? Thus my synnes will me feer For sight that I may nought for-bere ; But here-agayne I wend to say That the, Lady, loue I ay ; And, how soo I me mys-bare, On the my troost was euer-mare. But sone come it in-to my thought That this answere avayleth nought, For Ihmi thi sone hatetli al synne And alle the folyes that men lyf inne. For-why our synne that we noght leue, It is no drede that we hym greue. Lady, who greueth hym and payith the ? How schul his fomen on the see ? For they greue hym so rightwisly, And thow louyst hym so tenderly.
10
My sins tempt me to 1 5 despair.
20 I have sin ned with my sight ;
25
30
35
40
45
F. 56.
How dare I look to thee?
I might answer that, however I sinned, I have ever trusted in thee ;
But that I remember that thy Son hateth all sin.
Who can grieve Him, and yet be acceptable to thee? F. 6.
12. MS. haneth. I written above the line, 22. MS. of.
8 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Whemie ho is wrothe \>o\\ art nought blythe, Alias, alias, that hard syth ! That may I say, alias, alias,
For now is warre thanne ere was. 50
if ye both be Lady, I haue grcued yow bothe,
against me, i , i j i n
who can help And that vnto myiie owen skatlie.
Lady, who schal halde me fro peyne
If (j]e too halde me ngayne ?
If [}]«3 wil me saue, borowed I be, 55
And if |j]e wil nought, may non help me. Wo to you, A ! synnes, synnes, wo yow be, have de-' For fouly haue Me gyled me :
ceived me. .
First ye For soo ye reft me skilwys syght,
small, now Whenne I yow wrought ye semed light, 60
But whenne I w[eie]de my trespas,
Neuer no leede so heuy was.-
Wele I wote I was a fonne r. 6 b. Whenne I troosted yow vpon.
For )?at I ere loghe, now I grete ; 65
Alias, I wroght yow euer yette !
First were ye soft, and now ye prik ;
A, wist I nought ye were soo wyk !
First were ye stille, now are ye hye ;
First ye glo[J>er]ed, now ye wrye. 70
Ye have de- My freiides liaue ye made my foon; my friends? To whom for help may I goon ?
Me schames to loke vp-on brade,
And haue wrechid synnes made.
Not m^sigid; Whcr-to for syght schuld me schame ? 75
sinned, but I }iaue no Ivm w^t/i-outeii blame.
in all my
other senses. I wolde be blynde as any stane,
Soo ]?at othir synnes hade I nane ;
But with my handes I haue done ille,
With mouthe synned agayne skille, 80
With heryng lyked my wantonnes
And hirkcd sone to here goodnesse ;
In hert haue I halden pryde F. 7. Night and day many a tyde ;
54, 55, 56, 58. MS. the. 59. reft crossed out after me.
61, MS. wolde, 70. MS. gloryed.
II. A PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN
On flesshly lykyng liaue I thought, 85
Of couatyse qwyt am I nought,
My feete to ille haue gane, I knowe,
And vn-to goodnesse been fnl slawe ;
Dauid worde haue I vptane,
pat says, " In my flessh is heel nane." 90
A ! Marye qwene, of wymen flonre,
Cristes modir, Goddes boure,
Neuer noo synne in the was ;
"What may I praye the for my trespas ?
Alle thing J?at I knawe in me 95
Is welatesom to thi sone and to the ;
My handes ar lothe, my monthe is filde,
My wikked hert hath ben to wylde,
Alle thing pat I J?ere-of [t]elle
Is filed of J?at foule welle. 100
Lady, whethir is. better I liald me slille,
Or with my mouthe speke the vn-tille ?
Or what wille J?ow amendes take
For my sinnes grete and blake ?
Hert, if thow thi peril wist, 105
It were no wondir if ]?ou woldist brest.
What goodnesse fyndist pou in synne,
That thow lyked soo ther-inne ?
Thow hast fordone thin owen state
And take to helle the euen gate, 110
Thow hast wrethed Ihesu and swete Mary ;
Therfore the aglit to be sory,
For to alle in lieuene art thow lothe
Whiles thoo too ar \vit7i the wrothe,
Dar noon schewe tlie lightsom mode 115
Whiles thei be wrothe J>«t be so good.
Hardely synnos haue sorowful eendes,
prtt maken a man lese swich too frendes,
For more likyng is on hem to se
Than a thousand wynter in synne to be. 120
Hert of ston, wilt thow nought melt 1
For sorow me thynk the aght to swelt ;
Thou art sin- less ; how dare. I ap proach thee, who am ut terly defiled?
F. 76.
Heart of mine, why didst thou rejoice in sin?
Thou hast angered Jesus and Mary; who will show thee friend ship?
99. MS. helle.
J 13. To written above the line.
10
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
P. 8.
Thou canst not gain Heaven till thou hast made peace with them.
Thou art a tree that brings not forth good fruit ; thou wilt be cast into hell.
Jesu, Saviour, save me from damnation.
F. 86.
Mary, be my help in the
gment.
Day of Judgnv
Moses com manded that liewhofound a thing should return it to him who had lost it.
To the blys of lieuen ther the neuer aghttil
Bot Ihesu and Mary wil with the saghtil.
Dry hert, thow haues hard telle
How Crist says in his gospell
Ilk a tre )?at on rote stode
And brought forth no fruyt gode
Shal be hewen doim at the laste,
And in the fyre to brenne it schal be cast.
A ! wrecched hert, fyre bronde,
How longe on rote wenist thow to stoiide 1
Thi fruyte is roten and baysk for synne,
To the fyre thow moost goo to brenne
Bot Ihesu and Mary schewe ther goodnesse,
That thow wrethed vritii thi wikkednesse.
A ! Ihesu, Ihesu, for thy grete vertn,
Schew to me thow hatte Ihesu ;
For that knawes olde anc} [jjyng,
That Ihesu is saueour of alle thyng.
Sane me therfore fro endles schame,
For of saueour thow berest the name ;
How schal thow thin owen name tyne
To put me Avrecche to sorow and pyne 1
Or whi schul we the Ihesu calle
If thow ]?are syuf ul dampne alle 1
My synnes er gretter than me gode ware,
Bot I wote thy mercy is wel mare.
Warne me not, Ihesu, for my mysdede ;
Of thi mercy is me grete nede.
A ! Mary, whanne I began my tale
Th[e] I called bote of bale.
To me this synful be thow bute
Whanne I scbal to J?[at] aweful mute,
To answere of ilk dede and thought,
On J?at dredeful day thow fail me nought.
Lady, Moyses in the olde lawo
Wrote to the folk swich a sawe,
Who-so other marines gode may fynde,
Thei schul nought leue it hem be-liyncle,
139. 'MS. byng. 152. MS, thanne, 154. MS. ]>i,
125
130
135
140
145
150
155
160
ir. A PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN
11
Bot to syker stede it schal be brought,
And gyuen agayn whan it were sought.
But Lady, by fore Ihesu face,
Sayde the aungel, thovv hast foundo grace ;
And I haue losed grace for my trespas, 165
The rf ore to the I come ]?at funden it has.
Of thi grete grace geete me a droope,
And thool me neuer falle in wanhope.
Lady, mankynde trowen it wele
That thow was haylsed with Gabriel 170
And glathed wt't/i the Holy Gaste
When thow couceyued God of myghtes maste.
I pray J?e liartly for that grete blys
Forgyf me that I haue don amys ;
For the aungel taglit tlie al holynes, 175
And I was egged to wikkednes.
Sithen vmthenk tlie J?at []?0u] was fayn
When thow bare Ihesu wit/i-oute payne,
And onely had a child, as clerkes rede,
With-outen losyng of thy maydenhede. 180
For that ioy and blys J?at thow had there,
Haue pite of my rewful fare,
For I brought forth wikkednesse,
And losed al my clenues.
Mary, who myght thy joyes telle 185
Whanne Ihmi thi sone heryid helle
And rose froo deeth on sonnes morne,
That he tholed for vs beforne ]
Lady, what blys had thow tharme,
Whanne thi sone roos bothe God & man, 190
F[rom] deeth Ipak he tholed thare,
Thai thow loked on with sorow & care !
For that grete blys I tlie beseke
With worde of mouthe and hert meke,
Eeyse me fro deeth, )?at ille has wrought, 1 95
And bryng to Ihesu Ipat me dere bought.
Lady, who may wete how J?ou were glad,
Or tellc with tong what ioye']?ow had,
163. Catch-word sayde. 183. fort crossed out after forth.
191. MS. for.
P. 9.
Obtain for me the grace which thou hast found and I have lost.
For thy Joy when Gabriel greeted thee in holi ness, forgive me, who was tempted to wickedness.
For thy Joy when thou broughtest forth thy Son, have pity on me, who brought forth
F. 96.
For thy Joy when He rose from the dead, raise me from death !
For thy Joy when He ascended to Heaven, let me not sink to Hell.
12
F. 10.
For thy Joy when thou wert
crowned in Heaven, have pity on me, left in sorrow on earth.
For love of thy Son, have pity on me, made in His image.
If He be wroth with me, do thou reconcile us.
F. 10 &.
If the Father be angry,
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
When thow sawe vrith thi bodily sight
Thi sone stegli vp with his bodily myght,
And sett hym on his fader right hand
To be Lorde and God alle weldant ?
Of joye, Lady, the vmbethyng,
And thole me neuer to helle doun synk
For my synnes heny as the leede,
That me wil drawe to sorow steede.
Thow were glad, Lady, as telletli the boke,
Wlienne thi sone Ihesu to hym the vptooke ;
Glad thow were whanne 30 two mett,
Abouen aungels kynde there he the sett.
Whanne J?ow sittist coronde in heuene,
To the I pray with mylde steuen,
Haue pite of me in thi wel-fare,
That left is here in sorow and care.
Vmthynk the, Lady, thi sone me wrought,
And sithen on roode me dere bought,
Thi sone made me to his lykiiesse,
Though I fyled me with wykkednesse.
For lone of thi sone visage
Haue rewthe on me, his fyled ymage ;
Of synne and filthe thow make me clene,
For mercy ful thow art and myghty qwene.
If thow say, Lady, thi sone is wrothe,
And synne to hym hath made me lothe,
I wot wele I haue wrethed hym ille,
But thow may saghtil vs if J?ow wille.
Schew hym ]?i eghen pat for hym greete
Whenne he on rode ]?anne payed oure deet ;
Schew hym thi mouthe pat kissed hym swete
Whanne he was $onge and litil $ete ;
Schewe hym thi pappes for my trespas,
That he soked wherine he ^onge was ;
Schew hym thi handes J?«t handild hym soft,
And thi armes Ipat hym bare oft ;
And wele I wote saghtilde I be,
If }?ese tokynes of lone thow schewe for me.
Lady, }it if it be sayde
That the fader of heuene be myspayde
200
205
210
215
220
225
230
235
II. A PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN
13
For my synnes Jwt I haue wrought
In wil, in werk, in worde and thought, 240
Pray thi sone schewe liym for me
What payne he tholed on rode tre,
And sone I hope to gete f orgy f nes
Of my synnes more and les.
Lady, ther is no thing )?at me may dere, 245
If thow aboute be me to weref.
Alle sary hauen ioy of thi gode fame,
To them is ioye J?i blisful name ;
For wele is thi name made, swete Lady,
Of M and A, K and I. 250
M is medycyn to alle seke
pat it wil pray wit/i hert meke.
Thi medycyn, Lady, to me J?ow schewe,
For my grete sekenes wele I knowe.
To the I 3elde me, fayr pray[ande], 255
Lat me neuer perisshe vndir J?i hande.
]f thow for sekenes me wil forsake,
Wil noon to hele me vndirtake.
A is aukwr of holynes,
Where Ihesu goodnesse offyrde is. 260
To J?«t auter I wil my offryng make,
If ther were any Ipat wolde it take ;
But the auter is ryche, J?e keper is grete,
Wit7i my pore offryng wele may th[am] \v[l]ete ;
But Ihesu in the gospel boke 265
pe wedow offring to ]?e most thank toke,
Two mytes of a ferthing prys,
For ]?e maner was gode and wys.
But, swete Lady, J?ow me nought wyte,
I haue now a-nother myte ; 270
fBody and soule ar mytes two,
Omauge J?i offryng thole J?am goo,
And, whethir }?at I wake or slepe,
On thise two mytes gyf J?ow kepe.
The thred leftre of thy name, Lady, 275
R, is ryuer of mercy.
pray thy Son to intercede for me.
Thy name is joy to the sorrowful :
P. 11.
Mis
medicine for the sick ;
Grant me that medi cine.
A is the altar of holiness ;
246. MS. werre. 264. MS. thei.
255. MS. praying.
Like the widow in the gospel.Iwill offer my two mites, — my body and soul.
F. 11 6.
R is the river of mercy ;
271. MS.
14
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Grant me to
'f 5t'
i is for
Justice ;
Grant me a judgment.
F. 12. Remember thy cou5n0f he' who" :
charity.
ifthousuc- me'
the"? y ^
Thy Son is
our Brother.
thouartour
But if ye re-
fuse me as a
tniebrother.
yet help me as a bastard.
My lyf and helo is al in waght But of ]?at water I haue a draglit. Lady, wha[m]e wil J?ow mercy bede, If thei pat pray Tpe may not spede ; Or, if J?e wille of mercy be any tyme dry, Who to ]>G for mercy wil any tyme cry 1 perfore, Lady, schewe thi godenes, Lat me not in \ns thristc goo dryngles. I, Lady, is }?e ferthe leftre, I wote ;
pafc ^^ acordes ynto jri gtate .
For als iustice of lyueraunce we )?e calle, pat God hath sett to help vs alle. pi commission is trewe and large, perfore to me be sclielde and targe, And thole neuer dome passe me agayn, Bot saue me euer fro endles payn. Lady, I am fayn }?at J?ow fares wele ; Haue reuth of my wo \>ai I sore fele ; And a thyng, I p?'«y ]?e, to hert J?ow take, pat Ion ]?i cosyn in his book spake : He says, " Who-so haues ]?e worldes gode, And to PQ nedful n°ght turnes his mode>
Of hym ^at Can J not telle
How charite in hym schalle dwelle."
A, Lady, what blys lias ]?ow and wel-fare !
What sorow haue I and whatkyn care !
How schuld charite in the be
3if J?ow haue no-kyn reuthe of me 1
Lady, comly qwene of hey state,
pis begger mesil crieth at thi 3 ate ;
Sende to me some almes dede,
Or elles I perische in sorow and nede.
Lady, ]?ow art called my sister in J?e book,
^. . , . , TIT
pi sone oure brother ]?at oure kynde took, Brothir and sister, I can na mare, But bryng me oute of my [my s] fare, And, if 36 brothirhede wil me warne,
TT , , , , ., ,
Help me als a godesluf-barne.
279. MS. whanne.
280
285
290
295
300
305
310
III. HYMN TO ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
15
A, Lady, graunt me my Ixme, 315 F. 126.
For his lone pat, made bothe sone and nione,
pat alle pat wil pis lere or rede
pow be J?er help at her moost nede,
And forgyf hem pat haues done mys,
And bryng vs alle to pi sone blys. Amen. 320
Forthy Son's sake, gratit thy help to all who read or learn this hymn.
lit
[HYMN TO ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.]
(1)
BLissed be tliow, Baptist, borne & forth broght Of a byrde baran, bales to bete. Gabriel ful godely to tin fader soght, And seid to pat semely sawes ful swete. "pi wyf schal conceyue a child, doute pe nought," Thorgh J?e grace of grete God pus he gan liym grete, " His name schal be calde Ion, take it in thoght ; Many men in his birth wit/* myrthe schul mete." With myrthe to mete, To the soule sete,
Nedeful to neuen, When we awey wende p[er] we schal long lende, He bring vs to heiien.
10
Blessed be thou, St. John Bap tist, born through a miracle !
F. 13.
Blissed be pou, Baptist, most witty in wone. 15
Was neuer wight in pis worlde more worthi in wede, Ne neuer body better of blode ne of bone, But Crist pat for vs his blode wolde blede ; Ne neuer non gretter on ground myght gone, Ne no man markyd on molde more myghty in mede. 20 pow art stalworth in stowre & stedfast als stone ; Stande stifly vrith vs and neghe vs at nede.
[pow] neghe vs at nede,
And make vs at spede
13. MS. >at.
22. MS. and crossed out before at.
23. MS. je.
None save Christ was ever greater than thou ; be thou our protection !
16 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Of God to gete grace. 25
He bring vs to pat, blys J)er myrthes non mys,
Before his owen face.
(3)
At thy birth, Blissed be po\v, Baptist; whan pou were borne bare ktaen3' Of pat buxum body pat, povf with-in bredde, 30
gether,°thy When pan. were comen to pis world & combrid vriih care thltethyr°te For sorow and for synne pat men were in stede, be JohSn°Uld For [ganien] to-gedir }?ei busked hem ful $are,
Ful many [burnes] aboute pe )?are ]?[ei] wfere] sprede, Cosyns kyde of pi kyn, }?rtt wist of J?i fare, 35
F. 136. As pe lawe was in land J?ider were J?ei lede. As thei toke to rede When J?ei gan hem lede, pai fraynd [a] no[m]e
[pc] child for t[o] calle ; 40
He wrote to J?em alle, " His name is callid loon."
When our Blissed be ]?0u, Baptist, roser of ryght. thydmotherd When )?at me[?is]keful Mary with pi modev mett, thlerwheened & scne lia(i conceyued Cmt ]?at [maste] isfof myght, 45 t>orn.wert Va^> swete ful semely here sawes sche sett. Sche kist here cosyn pertely a-plight, & thorgh J?e grace of here soue ful godely here grett. pere sche cawte in clothes pat, ilk swete wight, pat loutid to Ihesu with-outen any lett. 50
With-outen any leet, Men said, or thei mett,
[po] f[o]des [vn]-borne. God kepe vs wt't/i wyn
And saue vs fro synne 55
p«t we be noght lorne.
34. MS. ham was. 39. MS. o none.
40. MS. A child forth hei calle. 45. MS. bat is ful.
53. MS. oure fadres bo borne.
III. HYMN TO ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST
17
Blissed be Jwu, Baptist, I grete Ipe vrith good,
Al holy my hert J?ow hast in J?i ho[l]de,
pow forgoher of Crist Ipcd rostid on rood,
Bothe in wele and in wo ]?ou wroght as lie wolde. 60
prtt messager J?«t tolde Mary -with ful mylde mode
pat Goddes Sone wolde be bo?mi of }?at body bolde,
p[at] aungel schewed ]?arane in J?«t stede J?er ]?ei bothe
stode, & broght worde of J?«t bright, & trewly ]?anne tolde.
Trewly he tolde 65
To J?i fader many folde, - And neuend [a] no[m]e.
For he wolde ]?e aungel noght leue
Ful sore it gan hym greuo,
He stode doumbe as ston. 70
Thou wert Clirist'sfore- runner; the angel of the Annunci ation proph esied to thy father of thy birth.
F. 14.
Thou, at whose birth Zacharias received his speech, help us at the last day !
Blissed be Jwu, Baptist, to many folk a frende,
Oure iewel of ioy iugged be la we,
Faythful in frestyng, oure foos fro vs fende,
Solace to the sory, s[e]kir in thy sawe ;
S[aghtyng] to synful, socour J?ow sende 75
At ]?e dredef ul day whenne f bemes schul blowe,
pon J?at mylde Mary helde in hir h[e]nde
First whan Jwu were born, as clerkes wele knowe.
As clerkes wele knowe,
pi fader in a throwe 80
[A poyntil] hade he hent ;
Thorgh inyracle of Tpi birthe,
In j?«t tyme of myrth His speche was hyw& sent.
(7)
Blissed be tliow, Baptist, so ware & so wys. 85
In wode and in wildirnesse was J?i wonyng ; p. 14 6.
58. MS. honde. 67. MS. on one. 75. MS. serteyn. 77. MS. honde. WHEATLEY MS.
63. MS. bi. 74. MS. sokir. 76. MS. whennes.
18
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
m the desert Neytliir purpil ne palle ne pelle[s] of price,
JeSedisoft
But of camel skyn )?ow toke J?i clothyn< Hawes ]?ow [hente] and rotes of J?e ryse Wiik borion-and bcre in the blomyng, Hony comes [for] ryche mete, — wanted }?e ]?is ; Folk louely ]?ou lerned vn-to J?i lykyng.
Vn-to ]?i lykyng,
Watir drynkyng,
[pou] toke it in thoght ;
Sydir ne wyne,
Were it neuer so fyue, POU neghed it noght.
90
95
Whenthou Blisscd be ]?ow, Baptist, bothe fer and nere, didstbaptise j)wellyng in deserte vriih ful gode wille; 100
?0lea?cd0as Pow ^aPtis*i Ihesu wit/i-outen any were a dove. jn j,e flume lordan, ]?e faith to f ulfille.
F[ro] }?e incarnacion f the thre[ttethe] ^ere, As fel on J?e twelft day, he peryd []?e tille] ; fpe Holy Gost of heuene he come to }?e J?ere, 105
And as a dowfe on J?e he satt ]?anne ful stille. He sat on J?e ful stille, As it was his wille ;
A voyce sayde in haast,
" pis is my child 110
Bothe nieke and mylde,
In whom me liketh moost."
F. 15.
Because of thy rebuke to Herod, Herodias caused her daughter to ask for thy head, and he granted it.
(9)
Blissed be J?ou, Baptist, for thi prechyng, pow p?-ofet apertely J?e poyntes of pees ; To Herode and Herodias his dere derlyng 115
Eesones and right ]?ow rekynde on ryse. pou sayd ful scharply in J?i saiyng, And stode stedefastly & thoght not to sese,
89. MS. toke. 91. MS. and.
95. MS. he ; t has been erased after it.
103. MS. for. of the thred ^ere. 105. MS. vn to be.
IV. TttE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
He led hym not lawfully in his likyng For Philip his brothir wyf pat he to hym chese. 120 pe wyf pat he chese, Sittyng on deyse,
Gretly gan hy[r] greue. Sche made hir doghter c?mie pi heued for to haue, 125
And Herod g[rau]nt hy[r] leue.
(10)
Blissed be J?ow, Baptist, pi name is ful worthy, It betokenith Goddes grace as clerkes vs [cjlere, And o[n] many moo maners men may it discry, "Who so wil lufly listen and [l]ere. 130
Baptist for baptim, so saith J?e story, Of pat worthy wight pat hath no pere; Prophet and aungel [j>ow] may be callyd holy, And lantern of light pat scyneth ful clere.
pow pat, schinest so clere, 135
Goddes darlyng so dere, As we in bokes rede,
Seint Ion p& Baptist,
Prey for vs to Crist
pat heuen be oure mede. 140
Thy name men ns grace, pray for us that we may win heaven !
F. 15 b.
IV. [THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS]
(1) [To Goddis worschipe, pat dere us bou^te,
To whom we owen to make oure mone Of alle pe synn^s J?at we haue wrou^te
In joupe, in elde, many oone ; In J?ese psalm ys J?ei ben J?oru^ sou^t,
In schame of alle oure goostli foon, And in to Englische pci ben broi^t,
For synne in man to be fordon.]
123. MS. hym. 126. MS. gumnt hym.
127. Baptist: p written above. 129. MS. of.
130. MS. bere. 133. MS. he.
1-8. Supplied from D.
To the glory of God these Psalms were written against the Seven Dead ly Sins, and are here put into English,
20
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCKIPT
Lord, visit me not with Thine anger; I acknow- ledge my gin, and fear Thy vengeance.
D
(2)
Omine, ne in furore tuo arguas me, neque in ira tua corripias me.
Lord, in pi angir vptake me noght,
In thy wroth blame J?ow not me ; 1'or, if my soule be throgh soght,
In many a synne my-self I see : And drede rennith in my thoght
pat thow wil a-wreked be ; But, Loi-de, [thow] haast me dere boght,
Spare a while til I be fre.
10
15
F. 16.
(3)
Miserere mei, Domine, quoniam infirmws sum ; sana me, Domtne, quoniaw conturbata sunt onwia ossa mea.
Have mercy Mercy, Lord, for I am seke ;
am we'ak°; Heele me, for bresid be my bones ;
whenTcome My fleesch is freel, my soule [hath] eke
Ful grete mister to make mones. But, when my cors is cast in creke
And depe doluen vndir stones, Ihesu mercyable and meke,
Lese noght ]>at thow boghtist ones.
20
My soul is grieved; I sin against Thee ever, and my solo hope is in Thy mercy.
Et anima mea turbata est ualde; set tu, Domine, usqweqwo?
And my soule is disturblid sore ; 25
But, Lord, how longe schal it be so? If I do synnes more and more,
Thanne me must suffir peynes moo. [I] lede a lyfe agayn thy lore
So wrecchidly J>«t me is woo ; 30
But thy mercy may me restore,
Ther is no help whanne it is goo.
15. SoK.-, MS. but. 19. So K.
29. So K. ; MS. and.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
21
(5)
Conuertere, Domine, et eripe animam meam ; saluu??i me fac propter misericordiam [tujam.
Turne ]>e, Lord, my soule oute wynne,
Make me saffe for thy mercy ; For fowle vtiih fethir ne fysch \vii7i fynne 35
Is noon vnstedfaster J>anne I. Whan I thenk what is me with-iime,
My consciens maketh a careful cry ; Therfore thy pytee, Lord, vnpynne,
That I may mende me ther-by. 40
Save thou my soul, for no creature is weaker than I.
F. 16 b.
(6)
Quoniam non est in morte qui memor sit tui. In inferno autem quis confitebitur tibi1?
For in deetli is noon )?at the thenkith on ;
Who schal knowlech to the in hello 1 Whan bodyes stynke[n] vnder stone,
Where soules been no man can telle ; Therfore, Ihesu, thow felle oure foon, 45
That al day on vs [y]elpe and [y]helle, And graunt vs, or we hennes goon,
pat we be waschen in mercy welle.
Destroy Thou our enemies, and grant us mercy ere we die, for in death there is no remem brance of Thee,
(7)
Laboraui in gemitu meo ; lauabo per singwlas noctes lectum meura ; lacrimis meis stratum meum rigabo.
I haue trauaylid in my waylyng ;
My bedde schal I wascli euery nyght, 50
And with J>e terys of my wepyng
My bedde-straw water, as it is right. Synne is cause of my mornyng,
I fele me feynt in goostly [f]ight ; Therfore I wepe and water wryngge, 55
As 1 wele owe and euery wight.
33 • MS. meam.
52. Catch-word synne.
46. MS. |>elpo, |)helle. 54. SoK.; MS. sight.
I lament my sins, as I well may,
F. 17.
22
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
i have and cry for '
(8).
Turbatus est a furore oculus meus ; iuueteraui inter omnes inimicos nieos.
Myne eghe f for angir disturblid is,
I eeldid myne eneinys amonge ; Wele I wote I haue doo mys
And greuyd God \vith werkes wrong j 60
And euer when I thenk on this
I crye on Criste with steuen strong, And say, "[Lord Ihesu], kyng of blys,
To thy mercy me vndirfonge ! "
(9)
Discedite a me omnes qui operamini iniquitatem, quoniam exaudiuit Domiuus uocem fletus mei.
Let wrong- Ye J)#t doon wrong, gooth fro me alle,
For God my wepyng voys hath herde. To his fote fayn wil I falle,
And be chastied with his ^erde. F. 17 6. Now, curteys Kyng, to the I calle,
Be noght vengeable, put vp thy swerde ! In heuen when tliow holdist halle, Lat me noght be ther-oute sperde !
65
70
(10)
Exaudiuit Dominus deprecac^'owem meam ; Dominus omcionem. meam suscepit.
His Passion e
The Lord has Oure Lord hath herkenyd my preyer
heard my ., J J * J
prayer, by And receyuid my oryson ; Therfore I hope to haue here
Some p[rofi]t of his passion. He sweet[te] blood 'and water clere,
For betyng was his body broune ; Thow that boghtist man soo dere,
Lat neuer feend drawe vs [a]doun !
75
80
57. So K. ; MS. eghen. 76. So K. ; MS. part.
63. So K. ; MS. Ihesu lord. 80. So K.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
23
(11)
Erubescant, & conturbentur [vohementer] omwes ini- mici mei ; conuertantur, & erubescant ualde uelociter.
Sore a-stonyd and a-schamyd
Worth alle they }?at myn enemys be ! Tarnyd and with schame a-tamyd
Right sone be they, lpai> I may see ! The world, the feend, the flesch [be] namyd 85
Ayens man-kynde enemys three ; Tliat I be noght thorgh hem defamyd,
Derworth Lord, I pray to the. Amen.
May my enemies be dismayed ; let not the world, the devil, or the flesh scathe me!
F. 18.
(12)
BEati quormft remisse simt iniqwitates, & quorum tecta sunt peccata.
Blissed be thei whos werkes wrong
Be forgiuen and synnes hydde, 90
For [thei] J?at God hath vndirfong
In heuen blys ben couth and kydde ; ' But thei J»at ben in lustes long,
And doon no better than beest or bridde, Thei may be sekir of stormes strong; 95
Thoo wrecches are ful woo bytidde.
Blessed be they whose sins are for- given ; but they who live after the flesh have trouble in store.
(13)
Beatus uir cui non imputauit Dominus peccatum, nee est in spmYu eius dolus.
Blissed be he to whom God re[tt]ith
No synne, ne hath in goost no gyle ; For at grete prys [the gode Lord] settith
The man pai> meneth neythir wrong ne wyle. 100 Bot he J>at conscience vnknittiht
And yeuith no force it to defyle, Ayens hym God his wepyn whettith
To wrekyn hym a litel .while.
91. MS. hem.
97. MS. rekkith ; K. rettyt. MS. god lord it.
Blessed be he who does no wrong, but on him who defiles his consci ence will God be avenged.
F. 186.
24 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
(14)
Quotiuiw tacui, inueterauerunt ossa mea, duin clamarem tota die.
icrytoThee, I heelde my pees, Jwfore my bones 105
forgiveness ; Eldyd while I schuld cry al clay ;
for great is ,
my need. I cry, and yit mooste more J?anne ones,
To gete for;ifnes if that I may ; I haue mister to make mones,
That haue doon many a wylde outray ; 110
I cry the mercy, Kyng of Thrones,
I haue trespassed, I say not nay.
(15)
Qwom'am die ac nocte g?miata est super me manws tua, Tiiou imst conuersus sum in eruwpna mea, dmw conftgitur spina.
afflicted me,
presses me- Fo1' Motne ^J (iaJ an(i ^7 "Jght also
nit-rcf°r ^n me ^ny non(^e w[ei]s heuely,
And I am turned i[n] my woo, 115
p. 19. Whiles thornes prykkefn] ])erlously.
Ther prykke[n] me perlously thornes two
Of syniie and pyne, ]?is fele wele I ; And therfore, Lord, sithen it is soo,
I putt me al in thy mercy. 1 20
(16)
Delictum meum cognitu??* tibi feci, & iniusticiam meam non abscondi.
ijjcknow- My gylt haue I made to }?e knowen,
sin, and I haue noght liydde fro the my wrong :
trust iii the T - u -A i. i T i n
power of In snrift shal I be alle a-knowen
Thy Passion. A , ,
Alle my mysdede, and morne among. For certys, Lord, we trist and trowen 125
The welle of g?-«ce vrilh stremys strong Oute of thy faire flessh gan flowen,
When blood oute of thy hert[e] sprong.
113. MS. lothe. 114. So K. ; MS. was. 115. So K • MS I 116, 117. MS.prykktd; K. j.iikkcth, i.rickith. 121. myght crossed out after my.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
25
(17)
Dixi : Confitebor adiwsum mo in-iusticiam meaw Domino ; & tu remisisti impietatem pecca/i mei.
"To God I schal," I seide, "knowlech
Agayns my-self my wrong wit/Mime," 130
And thow, Lord, as lonely lech,
Forg[a]f the trespas of my synne. panne spedith. it noght to spare speclie,
To cry on Crist wil I not blynne That ho ne take on me no wreche 135
For wordes ne werkes pat I begynne.
I said : "I will confess to Christ," and He for gave me.
F. 19 b.
(18) Pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctws in tempore oportuno.
Therfore byseke schal euery seynt
In tyme J?at [is J?er-to] conablo ; For )?ei be trewe & I am ateynt,
Thei ben stedfast and I am vnstable. 140
Ther frenschip fonde I neuer feynt ;
Thanne wil I pray, as thci ben able, That thei wille mouthe my compleynt
To God J?at is so merciable.
I will call upon the saints to be my spokes men, for they are faithful.
(19)
Verunptamen in diluuio aquarum irmH&wtm, ad non approximabunt.
Bot in the floode of waters fele
To hym schal [thei] noght neghe nere, Them neditli noght ]?at ben in wele
The water J?at [vs wasches] here ; Bot we that alle day fro hym stele,
And wrath[en] hym that hath no pere, If he wil vs fro harnies hele,
Vs nedith to [wjepe water clere.
eum
145
150
132. MS. forgyf.
146. So K.
152. So K. ; MS. kepe.
138. So K. ; MS. be re is so. 148. So K. ; MS. wasches vs.
The saints have no need of tears, but we must we<>p for our sins. P. 20.
26
THE WHEATLEV MANUSCRIPT
Tti es refugium meum a tribulacione que circumdedit me ; exultacio mea, erne me a c*Vcwmd[antibua me].
Thou art my Thow art my refute in my wo
refuge, de liver me from the fiends !
That hath envyrounde me aboute ; [Mi ioye, delyvere me of thoo
That me biclippyn al aboute !] The feendes fleen to and fro
To dampne me, this is no dowte ; But, Lord, when I schal hennys goo,
Kepe me fro that rewly rowte !
155
160
I, thy God, will teach thee : re-
thy self from deadly sin !
F. 20 6.
(21)
Intellectum tibi dabo, & instruam te in uia hac qua gradieris ; firmabo super te oculos [meos].
Vndirstondyng I shal the sende, And I schal teche the with-alle,
165
On the myn eghen festyn I schal. I am thy God, haue me in mynde,
I made the fre there thow were thralle ; That no dedely synne the schende,
Lat witte and wisdom be thi walle.
(22)
Nblite fieri sicut equus & mulus, quibws non est intellectus.
Be not fool- iSTe farith noght as mule or hoors,
ish, like , . . .
dumbbeasts, in whiche noon Vndirstondyng is ; 170
remember T, ,. , . , .,
that death -t or so fare thei that jyuen no f oors
must come ! T ,. , , -, , .,
li they doo neuer soo mykil mys. Thenk that thy coruptible coors
Is noght but wormes mete i-.wys ; Therfore in myrth haue thow remoors, 175
And euer among thenk wele on this.
155-6. SoK.
170. MS. be crossed out after whiche.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
27
(23)
In chamo & freno maxillas eorum constringe, qui non approximant ad te.
In bernacle or bridell thovv constreyne
[The] chokes of hem J?at neghes J?e noght ! For certys, Lord, bot thow refreyne,
We schul do synne in euery thoght. 180
The world is noght but synne and peyne
And wrecchednesse Tpai, men han wroght ; Of this meschief I me compleyne
To Ihesn that hath me dere boght.
If thou con strain us not, we sin continually.
F. 21
(24)
Malta flagella peccatovis ; misericordia circumdabit.
Manyon is J?e sadde betyng
That to the synful schal be-tyde, Bot he that is in God trostyng
Shal mercy kepe on enery syde ; Whan wrecches schul ther hondes wryng,
That were so ful of pompe and pryde, Than schul the sauyd soules synge
For blys that they schul in abyde.
sperantew autem in Domino
185
190
Those that trust in God shall be saved, but sinners shall suffer sorely.
(25)
Letamini in Domino, & exultate, iusti ; & gloriamini, omnes recti corde.
In oure Lord be mery and gladde,
3e that of ryghtful hert[e] be, For he J?at was on the rode spradde 195
Now sitteth in his fadres see. In sight of hym .schul we be [cjladde
As aungels that bee | bright [of] blee ; Ihesu, graunt vs to be ladde f
So that we may that sight[e] see ! Amen. 200
178. So K.; MS. of.
198. MS. in bright ; K. brith of.
197. MS. gladde.
199. £oK.; MS. gladde.
Rejoice we in our as cended Lord, and pray that we may cometoHim!
F. 21 6.
28
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
D
(26)
Online, ne in furore tuo arguas me, neque in ira tua corripias me.
Lord, be not Lord, blame me noglit whan thow art wrothe,
me-yi have
fear Thyand judgment.
Vptake me noglit in thy hasty nesse, If I haue lyued as the is lothe,
Viikynde a^eins thy kyndenesse. For wanton worde and ydel othe
And many a werk of wyckednesse, I drede thy dome a^eins me goth
Bot grace go f with ' rightf idnesse.
205
Thou hast
22.
(27)
Quoniam sagitte tue infixe sunt michi, et confirmasti super me manum tuam.
-^or thin arowes ben in me pight,
Thow hast seet fast on me tllin
AlKl> as man with-oute myght,
215
Bot, Lord, meyntyn thow thi right, Supporte thi man that may not stonde,
And comfort thow thi febil knyght That fer is flemyd oute of thy lond.
My sins ?nfflTifygrace
(28)
est sanitas in carne mea, a facie ire tue ; non est pax ossibws meis, a fa[cie peccatorum meorum].
For in my flesche ther is no hele
In presence of thi w[re]th[l]i face, To mY bones is pees ne wele
For synnes that me thus deface. 220
Therfore, when deth schal with me dele,
I se no help, Lorde, bot thi grace ; My wyld[e] will, my wittes frele
Eencombre me when I trespace.
208. £oK; MS. goth. 218. MS. worthi.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
29
(29)
Quoniam iniquitates mee supergresse sunt caput meum, sicut onus [graue] grauate [sunt super me].
For now aboue my heued ere growen 225
The werkes of my wykkednesse, And vp-on me synnes be thro wen
As birdeyn of grete heuynesse. I may me no[whe]u now bestowen
To hyde me fro thy hastynesse ; 230
Neuertheles }it, as we trowen,
Tlii mercy passeth right wisnesse. t
My sins op press me ; I fear Thy wrath, but trust to Thy mercy.
F. 22 b.
(30)
Putruerunt & corrupte sunt cicatn'ces mee, a facie insipiencie f mee.
Now be my woundes roten and rank
Before the face of my foly, And, si then I [fir]st in synne sank, 235
Can I noglit bot mercy cry. Now, Crist ]?at reysed hym pat stank,
The brothir of Marthe and [of] Mary, So bryng me fro this brery bank
To heuen blys aboue the sky. 240
My sin is as a sore dis ease ; Lord , who didst raise Laz arus from corruption, bring me to Heaven !
(31)
Miser factus sum & curuatus sum usqwe in finew ; tota die contristatus ingrediebar.
I wexe a wrecche in-to the last ende,
Croked and careful yede al day ; Myrth may noon come in my myndo
When I thenk on my longe way. I wote wele I mote hennys wende, 245
Bot whedir and when I can not say ; Th erf ore my boxom bakke I bende
That Crist me kepe, for lie best may.
The thought of death op presses me, but I pray to Christ.
F. 23.
229. So K.; MS. nothir. 235. MS. last.
233. MS. insipiciencie. 238. So K.
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Help me by Thy grace to flee the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil !
(32)
Quoniam lumbi mei impleti sunt illusionibws, & non est sanitas in carne mea.
For ful of fayry be my reynes,
And in [my] flesch ther is noon helth ; Th erf ore of grace sende me greynes,
That I may fle all fleschly felth. Let neuer the feende vrith [al] his traynes
Stert vpon me with his stelthe, To sett on me his firy ch[e]ynes,
For weldyng of this worldes welthe.
250
255
We suffer for our first parents' dis obedience, and I must also bewail my own sins.
F. 23 6.
(33)
Afflictus sum, & humiliatus nimis ; rugiebam a gemitu cordis mei.
I was torment and made ful meke,
I rorid for waylyng of my hert ; Oure foorme fadres a [forjwarde breke ;
Therfore alle we be woo-bygert; 2GO
And I ther-to my synnes eke ;
What wonder if my hert[e] smert 1 Therfore thy mercy, Lord, I seke,
For I may noght thy hand astert.
(34)
Domine, ante te omne desidcrium meum, & gemitus meus a te non [est] absconditus.
Let not, Lorde, alle my desire is the byforne,
Lord, my -,r , ,
soul be lost, My sorow is noght fro the hydde ; For, if my soule schuld be forlorne,
Thou hast so greatly suffered !
What were I better than beest or brydde 1 Therfore, Ihesu, of lewis boorne,
God and man in erthe kydde, Lat neuer that tresoure be to-toorne,
That thow were fore soo sore betydde.
265
270
250. So K.
255. K. chaynus.
253. So K,
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
31
(35)
Cor meum conturbatuw est in me ; dereliquit me uirtus mea; & lumen oculomw meomw, & ipswm [nou est rnecum].
My hert in me disturblyd is,
My vertti hath forsaken me, Myn eghen sight \fith me now nys, 275
My Saueour may I noght see ; I erre al'day and do amys,
I stomble as tliei that blynde be, Arid synne ywys is cause of tliis ;
Mercy, Ihesu, for thy pitee ! 280
I am in sore trouble and perplexity through my sin ; have mercy on me, Lord !
F. 24.
(36)
Amici mei & proximi mei aduersum
quaueruwt & steterimt.
My neighbors and thei that frendes were
Neyghden and a-^einst me stode ; In welth a man may wysdom lore,
Bot wele were hym that vnderstode. [N]ow frendes flokken euery-where,
As fowlys doon aftir ther fode ; Bot, be a man dede and broght on bere,
Many be feynt and fewe be gode.
me appropm-
285
In our pros perity onr friends are many, but few remem ber us when we die.
(37)
[Et qui iuxta me erant, de longe steterimt ; et vim faciebant qui querebant animam meam. Thei stode afer that where me nygh,
Thei strenghed hem that my sowle sought, 290
The world was fals, the fend was slygh,
The flesch dide so that me forthought. Therfor to Godde than y fleygh
"With lowly herte, and him besought To yeve confort fro hevene an heegh 295
Of werkis that i hadde myswrought.]
275. MS. is crossed out before nys.
285. MS. how. 289-96. So K.
Temptations assailed me, and I fled to God for comfort.
32 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
(38)
Et qui inquirebant mala mw7ii, locuti sunt uanitates, & dolos tota die med[itabantur]. ?JL™2?1CS And thei that thoght to do me skathe
laDOUlGQ O
SwhVn6' Spekyn wordes al in vayn,
dead The Alld alle the da^» b°tlie late aild ratllG'
mi^st11 e Thei th°snt °n gyk aml vPon trayn- 3°°
F. 2ib. Bot when thei fede moght and inathe, And breres growcn aboue her brayn, Thanne schal the sothe hym-self vnswathe, • How synne hath many a soule slayn.
(39)
Ego autem, tanqwam surdus, non audieba??! ; & sicut mutus non aperiens os suum.
i was as one Bot I as deef man no-[]?ing] herde, 305
and dumb. And, as doumbc that [no mouth vndoth],
but Christ 0 r , , T , , ,
will punish So sp[a]ryd I, and speche sperde ;
Bot whan I spake I seyde soth ; For [he] that lewes so foule with ferde,
That wote how euery gyl[e] goth, 310
Ful sore wil smyte we't/i his $erde,
Bot men [a]mende liem }?«t mys-doth.
(40)
Et fac^us sum sicut homo non audiens, & now habens i was as one in ore suo [redaimicionesl.
who is deaf
butdLord '' ^ ^e"cam as man [that] niyglit noght here, grant that Ne hadde in mouth noon opynnyng ; repent! I saugli the synful gladde of chere, 315
F- 25. And went[e] forth ful sore syghyng.
Bot, Lord, )?at boglitest man so dere,
Let hym no blys in balys bryng, But sende hym myght to amende \iyrn here,
And gmunt hym g?*«ce of vprysyng. 320
300. on added above the line.
301. MS. moght and written over mo the and crossed out. 305. MS. noght. 306. MS. vndoth no mouth. 307. So K. ; MS. speryd. 309. So K.
310. So K. ; MS. gylt. 312. So K. 313. So K.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
33
(41)
Quoniam. in te, Domine f speraui, tu exaudies me, Domine Deus meus.
Lorde, for I haue trest in tlie,
My Lord, my God, thow schalt me here, For reuerence of that Lady f re
That 3af the soke and hath no pore. To that Lady betake I me, 325
That woneth aboue the clowdes clere ; For, while sche sittefth] neghe tli[i] see,
I hope to spcde of my preyer.
(42)
Quia dixi : Nequando supergaud[e]ant michi inimici mei ; et dum commouentur pedes [mei, super me magna locuti sunt].
For I haue seyd, " Lord mercyable,
Let noght [vp me] my foos be gladde ! " 330
For, while I stere my feet vnstable,
Vpon me thei grete wordes made. Bot Crist, that art so comfortable,
Make her floures falle and fade, And the to plese make me able : 335
In synne wil I no more waade.
(43)
Quoniam ego in flagella paratus sum, & dolor meus in conspectu meo semper.
For I am redy to be betyn,
My sorow is euer in my sight, To do [h]is wille wil I gode letyn,
A3eins my God wil I noght fight. 340
Now, Lord, ]?at woldest blode [out] sweten
For hem J?at to deeth were dight, So sende me grace for to gretyn
Water J?at may my hert[e] light !
327. So K. ; MS. sitte, the. 329. MS. supergaudiant.
330. So K. ; MS. vpon. WHEATLEY MS. D
Lord, hear mf, for the sake of Thy Mother !
Let not my enemies flourish, but keep me in Thy grace !
F. 25 b.
I will ohey God's will ; Lord, grant me to weep for sin !
34
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
F. 26.
Pride, lech ery, envy and wrath imperil the soul at death.
(44)
Quoniam iniquitatem meam annwtciabo, & cogitabo pro \ieccato nieo. For I my wrong scbal tell en oute, 345
And for my synne tlionk I schsil How it is perilous to be prow[t]er,
And leclierie may lesyn alle. Ennye and wrath of liert[e] stouto
Slial stand a man in litel stalle, 350
When he is clothed in a clowte,
To woime [witA]-in a wormys walle.
My enemies are strong, but I will !>ray to Christ, whom Judas sold, to save me.
(45)
Inimici aute??i mei uiuurat, & confirmati sunt super me ; & mnltiplicati sunt qui [oderunt me inique].
But myn enemyes ben qnyk and bolde,
And strenghed on me myghtily ; Thei be cncresyd many folde 355
That haue me hatyd wrongfully ; But Goddys Lombe, J?at ludas soldo
For thritty pens vnrightfully, [I] will pray to be in his folde,
To do his byddyng boxomly. 360
(46)
Qui retribuuwt mala pro bonis detrahebant michi, qui sequeba[r] bonitatew.
Thei J?«t for good euel quyten, For I good folowed, bakbytid me ;
F. 2(5 b.
The wicked
me, hut God Bot thei Ipcd thus falsly bakbyten, thenjanl Ful dredeful may ther hertes be ;
For God schal alle ther wordes writen,
And schewe, J?at alle the world schal see, How scharply he schal [al] them smyten, That wolde noght that vice fle.
345. MS. ego cognosce crossed out after meam. 347. MS. prowde. 352. So K.
«**. 361.MS.sequebat.
365
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
35
(47)
derelinquas me, DomiiiQ Dens ineus j ne discesseris
My Lord, my God, forsake me noght,
Depart thow me neuer the fro, Hold vp tlii lions Ipat thow hast wroght,
Forsake noght, Lord, my soule so ! This is thi woorde, thow hast it boglit ;
Elynges it were if thow were goo ; Therfore, Ilie&'u, lett neuer thoght
Ne worde ne decle part vs a-two.
370
375
Lord, for sake not my soul ; Thou hast redeem ed this world, let me not be parted from Thee 1
Intende in adiutorium meuw, Domine, Deus mtutis
To my helpyng take thow liede,
My Lord, my God, and al my helth ! Be neghe me, Lord, whan I haue nede,
And wysse me whan I am in welth. With gostely food[e] thow me fede,
And kepe me from al flesshly felth, And graunt me grace for some gode dede
To so the fruyt of goostly telth.
380
F. 27. Do Thou, Lord, guide me, (e<jd me, keep me from sin, and grant me to per severe I
M
(49)
iserere mei, Deiis, seczmdum magnam misericordiam tuam.
Mercy, God, of my mysdede,
For thi mercy that mykil is ; Let thi pite spryng and sprede,
Of thi mercy that I noght mys. After goostly grace I grede ; -
Gode God, thow graunt me this, That I mote here my lyfe lede
So that I doo no more amys.
385
390
Lord, have mercy upon me, and keep me from sin!
36
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
(50)
Et secMwdwrn'multitudinewi miserace'onuw tuarim, dele iniquitatem raeam. F. 276. And, aftir thi mercyes J?at ben fele,
Lord, for-do my wykkednesse ; no away my Help [me] for to hyde and hele 395
The blames of my bre[c]helnes.
400
temptation i #f any strengh[e] wil me stele
Out of the close of thi clennes, Wys me, Lorde, in wo and wele, And kepe me for thi kyndenes.
Cleanse Thou my soul, and keep me from what displeases Thee I
(51)
Amplius laua me ab iniquitate mea; & a peccato me munda me.
More-ouere wassclie me of my synne,
And fro my gyltes dense me ; Enserche my soule bothe oute & ynne,
That it no more defoulyd bee ; And, as thyn hert[e] cleef a-twynne 405
With doolful deth on the rode tre, So let me neuer werke begynne
Lorde, bot if it lyke the.
F. 28.
Have pity on me, Lord, for at Doomsday all will need Thy mercy.
(52)
Quoniam iniquitatem meawi ego cognosco, ! & peccatum meiw contra me est semper.
For alle my wykkednes I knowe,
And my synne is euer my sight agayne ; 410
And therfore let thi pite growe,
Ihesu, J?at were of lewis slayne ; For ryche and pore, hygh and lowe,
And euerfy] wight, I am certayne, On doniesday, whan thow schal blowe, 415
Of thi mercy wilf be fayne.
395. So K.
397. K. stryngp.
396. MS. brethelnes. 416. So K. ; MS. wil I
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
37
(53)
Tibi soli peccaui, malum coram te feci ; ut iustificeris in sermonibztt [tuis, et vincas cum iudicaris].
To the onely trespassyd haue I,
Wroght wikkedly and the not qwerned ; po werkys askys rightfully
Thow hast ]?e victory when Tpoii art denied. 420
Demyd thow were wrongfully
For me J?«t haue [tin] f [eit]h for[y]emed ; Bot, Lord, let me neuer doo why
That I be fro thi face flemed.
I have sinned against Thee, Who wert un justly con demned for my sin, let me not be banished from Thee !
(54)
Ecce enim in iniquitatibws conceptus sum, & in peccaZis concepit me mater mea.
Byholde, in synne I was conceyued 425
Of my moder, as men ere [a]lle ; Of my fadir noght I receyued
•Bot boon and flesch freel to falle ; Bot sithen thi flesch, Lorde, was perceyued,
Where it was leyd ful streyt in stall, 430
Was ther noon synful man deceyued,
That wolde on [to] thi mercy calle.
?. 28 6.
Lo, I was born in sin, but through Thy Incar nation all may be saved.
(55)
Ecce enim ueritatem dilexistif ; ince/'ta &f occulta sapt'enae tue manifestasti michi. Byholde, thow hast louyd the right,
And schewed me conseil of thi witto, How thorow me?'cy and thorow myght 435
Two kyndes been to-gedir knytte : [Thral is fre and knave is knyght],
God is man, as gospel writte, And, if my soule in pe?*ell is pyght,
Mercy, God, and help thow itt 1 440
422. So K. ; MS. my flesch forbemed.
426. So K ; MS. telle.
433. MS. dilexixisti ; & in occulta.
432. MS. on ; K. to. 437. So K.
Thou hast made know n to roe how God is be come man ; help Thou my soul !
38
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
F. 29.
If I sin, grant me re pentance, for Thou art dearer than worldly joy.
(56)
Asperges me, -Domine, ysopo, & mundabor ; lauabis me, & super niuem dealbabor. With holy water thow schalt me spryng,
And as the snowe I schal be quyte ; For, if my soule in synue synk,
With wepying water it may be qwyte. Deedly draghtos if I drynk, 445
Of repeiitaunce gyf me respyte ; For, on the trestly wlio-so thynk,
In worldes welth is no delyte.
Direct me and give me joy, let me not die un- forgiven !
F. 29 b.
(57)
Auditui meo dabis gaudiw?i & leticiam, & exultabunt ossa humiliata.
To my herying thow schal yeue
Gladnes, to glade my boones meke ; 450
In lovvenes lerne me to leue ;
Be noglit to fer when I the seke ; And let me noght to deeth be dreue,
Derworth Lorde, I the beseke, Til my synnes be foryeue 455
Of thoght and worde and dedejs] eke.
Auerte faciem tnam iniquitates nieas dele.
(58) a peccatis
meis, & omnes
Look not on Fro my synnes turne thi face, trust in Thy Put al my wykkednes awey; repent. Greet is my gilt, gretter thi grace,
And elles fayleth oure f [ey]. Defautes many Ipat me deface
Makes me syng welaway And crye mercy when I trespasse ; I woot ther is noon othir [wey].
460
456.
460. So K.i MS. faith. 464. So K. ; MS. grace.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
39
(5*)
Cor • mundu?» crea in me, Deus, & Bpiritum rectuw innoua in uisceribzt* meis. God, make my hert[e] clene, 465
A rightful goost in me renewe, Fro seuen synnes make me schene,
Wliere-so tliowgoo J?at I may sewe. Alias ! tin t[oMf]ment and thi tene
Made thi brest and bak al blewe ; 470
Now g[mii]ut[e], Crist, it may be sene
TF/t/t-innet my hert, thy hydouse hewe !
Cleanse me from my sin, and let Thy Passion be seen in me I
F. 30-
(60) [e] tua, & spirit um sanctum tuuwi
Ne proicias me a fac ne an f eras a me. Cast me noght fro thi visage ;
Take noght awey thi holy goost ; For in the sight of that ymage
Is fulsomnesse and rnyrth[e] moost. I haue ben wylde & doon outrage,
Vnwisely wroght, as thow wele woost ; T her fore sende me some corage
To fight agaynes the fendes oost.
475
480
Cast me not awny from Thy sight, though I have sinned against Thee.
(61)
Redde michi leticiam salutaris tui, et spm'lu. principal! confirma me. 'Of thyn hele }elde me blisse,
And strenght me \\ith thi spirit cheef ; Alle my fyue wittes thow wysse,
That I may lyf as the is leef ; And, as thow may my laugo?«r lysse, 485
That broghtest man to grete bonchef, So lat me nener mercy mysse
When I am greuyd \vith goostly greef.
469. MS. twroment. 471. MS. gurdnt.
472. So K. ; MS. with inno vtiih my. 473. MS. faciaa.
477. outrage written twice and crossed out the first time.
483. me crossed out after alle. 485. as inserted above the line.
Strengthen and direct me, grant me Thy mercy !
'f. 30 b.
40
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
I will teach the sinful what shame Thou liast suffered for Mum.
(62) Bocebo iniquos uias tuas ; & impij ad te conuertentur.
Tlie wyckod I schal tli[i] weyes teche ;
Tli[e] synful schal to the couuert ; Synful man, beware of wreche,
And thenk en Crist with al thin hert, How he become thi lonely leche,
And for thi sake f ul sore smert ; Ther was no scorne ne spytouse speche,
Dispite ne strook J?«t hym astert.
490
495
Deliver n.e from bloo !• guiltiness, Thou that didst shed Thy blood for us.
F. 81.
(63)
Libcra me do sangumibztf, Dews, Deus salutis [mee, et exultabit lingua mea iusticiam tuam].
Delyuer me fro blameful bloode,
Almyghty God of alle my helth ; Than schal my tonge be myry of moode
To telle[n] of thi ryghtful telth. 500
Thi ryghtful bloode ran doun on rode,
That wasshe vs fro oure flesshly felth, And many a storme agayne [thow] stoode,
To wys vs fro the woiides welth.
Great is Thy glory, Who dost absolve us from deadly sin.
(64)
, labia mea aperies ; & os meu??i annu??[ciabit laud em tuam].
My lyppes, Lorde, thow schal vndoo, 505
And my mouthe schal thi preysyng spelle ; Thi mercy and J?i myght alsoo
Parfitely can no man telle ; For, whanne we dedely synnes doo,
Thei vs denien to goo to hello ; 510
15ot, whanne we sees & can sey ' hoo ! ',
Thi mercy is oure wasshyng welle.
489. So K. ; MS. the. 503. MS. vs ; K. the.
507. |)i inserted above the line.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
(65)
Quoniam si voluisses sacrificing, dedissem utiqwe; [holocaustis non delectaberis].
For, yif thow woldist haue had ofifryng,
I had it ^euen with hert[e] fre ; Bot tho\v schal hauef noon lykyiig 515
In sacrifyce of that degree ; For thow were offrid vp hongyng
For mannes sake on rode tree, And of thin hert gan bloode oute sprynge,
Wherfore my hert I offre the. 520
Thou Barest Thy Hiart for man, I Kive my heart to Thee.
F. 31 6.
(66)
Sacrificium Deo spmYus contribnlatus ; cor cfontritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies].
To God it is a sacrifyce,
The goost ]?at is [ajgreuyd sore ; Meke hert schal thow noght despice,
Whiles repentaunce may it restore. I haue forslowthid, Lorde, tin seruice, 525
And litel leuyd af tir tlii lore, Bot now I repent and aryse ;
Mercy, Ihesu, I wil no more.
I have not served Thee aright; but Thou desir- est repent ance, and I will return to Thee.
(67)
Benigne fac, Domine, in bona uoluntate tua [Sion, ut edificentur muri lerusalem].
With benigne wil do to Syon
pat lerusalem walles were vp wroght ; 530
lerusalem, as saith seint Ion,
Is Holy Chirche, ]?«t errith noght. Too testamentes cordyng in oon,
Thise were walles to-gedir broght, When Crist hym-self was corner stoon, 535
That marines soule had'dere boght.
Thou art the Corner- Stone of Holy Church, whose walls are the two Testaments.
F.32.
515. MS. haue a noon; K. have no. 521. MS. is crossed out after God.
42
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Thon, Who wert sacri ficed for man, shall accept men's sacrifices.
(68)
Tune acceptabis sacrificium holocausta ; tune imponent vitulos]. Thanne shalt thow sacrifyce accepte
Of ryghUvysnesse and treutlie en tier, And caluemi aftir thy precepte
Sail men leyn on thine autier. On Caluarie a calf there crepte,
Crist on crosse both clone and clere ; For teris that his modir wepte,
He schild vs fro the feudes fere ! Amen.
iusticie, [oblaeiones et super altarem tun in
540
Lord hear
F. 32 i
Orant me Thy grace, and keep me in Thy 1-aths !
D
(69) Online, exaudi otacionem, & clafmor meus ad te
nehiat]. Lord, thow herken my preyer, 545
1 And to the lat come my cry ; Wouchesauf to lysten and here
The moon that I make mekely. To cry on the wit/a careful chore
There [nedith] noon "j" so mykil as I ; 550
Therfore my steuen strenght and stere, That I noght speke vnspedely.
(70)
Non auertas faciem tuam a me ; in qiiacunque [die tribulor, inclina ad me "aurem tuam]. Turne noght, Lord, fro me thi face,
Bowe doun thin ere when me is wo, Lat growe greynes of thi grace 555
That quencheth synncs and peynes also ; In wey of charite thow me chace,
[Thi] feyth lat me noght falle fro, And help me J)«t I noght trespace
Vp hope of mercy neuer moo. 560
544. fed erased after fendes. Amen written in a less formal hand. 550. MS. there noon doth ; K. that nedith no man. 558. So K. ; MS. in. trespace crossed out after noght.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
43
(71)
In quacunqwe die inuocaue?'o me].
Eueiy day when I the calle,
Redely tliow listen me, For ryghtful ere tin werkes alle,
Bot mercy is thy propyrte ; Therfore if I frely falle
In-to symies that I schuld fle, Putt me noght oute of thy halle,
But help me turne agayn to the.
te, uelociter [exaudi
565
Have mercy on me when I fall !
(72)
Quia defecerunt sicut fumus die[s] sicut cremium ariierunt],
mei
[et
For my lijf-dayes are liyk smoke
That faylide and a-weyward hy^ede ; My boones [ben] dryode and forsoke,
Ky^t as a J?ing J?at is forfryede : Of Crist may wcle ]?ese wordis he spoke,
That on the crois was doon and diiede ; Whaime his blysful brest was broke,
For drouthe and J?riste lowde he cryede.
ossa mea
570
575
F. 33.
"My life pines away, my bones are dried up ; " these words prefigure Christ.
(73)
Percussus sum ut fenum, & aruit cor meuw, quia oblitus sum comedere panein meum.
Smyten I was lijk gras or hay,
Myn herte waxide drye and deed, For I forgate what maner of way
That I schulde ete myn owne breed. 580
To peyne me was al ]?eir play,
They ]?raste J?ornes J?oru myn heed, Dispitously )?anne spedden they
With blood to make my body reed.
" J was
afflicted and
persecuted,
crowned
with thorns
and
scourged."
569. MS. diei. Catch-words For my. Here the hand witling changes. 571. K. beth drie.
44
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
F 336
"My lamented
given vfnegar.
(74) A uoce gemitus mei adhesit os | meum carni mee.
For the voys of my weylyng 585
Vn-to my fleisch my boones can schrynke ; [Y say my cosy 11 Jon mornynge],
I say my modir in swownynge synk ; I herde a theef me scoornynge ;
Galle and eisel was my drynk; 590
I wepte as a cliild of ^eris ^ing,
On J?is mysclieef whenne I can J?ink.
"Like the
the darkness of man s sin
My plan of
salv.ation.
(75)
Sinrilis factus sum pellicano solitudinis ; facttis sum sicut nicticorax in domicilio.
! was lliaad %-k tlie pellycau,
That VP011 wylde[r]nesse hym-silf sleep,
t0 tllG r°°de I ra11' 595
mawnys soule to suffre deej? ;
, as ]?6 llV2t-Cl'OWe ill llil' llOUS Call
* J >
By nyatfel so to holte and lieeb,
J J > L J
So purposide I to saue man,
For hym I ^af my goost and bree]?. GOO
F 34 e
°ut
torn."
(76)
Vigilaui, et factus sum sicut pas|ser solitarius in tecto. ^ wo°k> all(l was iwaad lijk a sparowe
That in ^Q roof restiJ? t solitary e ; Vpon J?e tre my neest was narowe,
There-on my^te I no briddis carye. As erj?e is hurlyd vndir liarowe, 605
So was J>e fleisch pat sprang of Marye ; In j?is world [is] noon so scliarp arovve
As was ]?e turment that [me gan tarie].
587. So K.
602. MS. restij) so solitarye.
608. So K. ; MS. hadde Ie.
594. So K. 607. So K.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
45
(77)
Tota die exprobrabant f michi inimici mei, et qui laudabant me aduersiwi me iurabawt.
For al the day they [hadde] me [in] scoorne,
Men thafe myn enemy es were, 610
And J?o that preysiden me biforne
Aftirward a^eyns me swere. Thanne was I to-tuggid and to-torne,
Foot and hond, i^en and eere, To ech a lyme lijf [hadde] lorne ; 615
Myn heed ]?ei corownyd wi]? ]?orn of brere.
"My enemies scorned Me, My friends turned against Me ; I endured My Pas- sion."
[78]
Quia cinerem tanqztam panem manducabam, et potum meu??i cum fletu miscebam.
For askis as it were breed I ete,
WiJ? wepyng I mengide my drink among, For loue of man me Jwi^te it swete
To suffre scoorn and sorowe strong ; 620
For, si]?en Adam the lawe lete
Thorn hir J?at of his rib[be] sprong, Was neuere man to mercy meete
Til I hadde suffrid wo and wrong.
F. 34 b.
"I suffered for love of man ; I a lone could atone for Adam's sin."
(79)
A facie ire [et] indignacionis tue, qwm eleuans allisisti me.
A-fer fro J?e face of J?i greuaunce 625
Thow droue me down wij? vprisyng, Fadir, I was to thi plesaunce
Lyfte up as God in God dwellyng ; But, for to stynte al distnrbauwce
Of man J?at synnede not ceessyng, 630
Thow droue me adourc to chose a chauHce,
As man for man the deej? takyng.
609. MS. exprobrabrant ; [hadde] me [in], so K. 615. So K. ; MS, and.
"I was lifted up before Thee.Father, and cast down for man's sake.
F. 35
4(J THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
(80) Dies mei sicut vmbra declinauerunt, & ego sicut
"My My dayes passiden as schadow of li^t,
eSedaway; And I wexide dry e as dooj? the gras ;
turion"" I wente as man witli-outcn my^t, 635
a* God™6 Where-so I trad was blody tras.
Son." Whamie I J?us deolfully was di}t,
That neue/'e dyde ony trespas, Centurio seyde, "We doon vnri^t,
For truly Goddis Sone this was." 640
(81)
Tu autem, Domine, in e,ternu?» pennanes, & memoriale tinwi in geuer&cionem et generacionew.
Thou art For ceertis, Lord, Ipou dwellist eue?-e,
God for ever, . .
as Man Thou Thy mynde abidij? m euory kynde ;
wert s\ain _ . . _. . . , ,
by men. For tin Godlieed was noyed neuere,
There was no ]?ing }?at ]?ee my^te scheende. Th[i] manheed my^te men wel disseue?*e, 645
Tlierof )?ei made a ruful eende,
F. 356. Tlierforo cch man is )?ee the leuere, That J?is mater ha]? wel in mynde.
(82)
Tu exurgens, Domine, misereberis Syou, qilia tempus miserendi eius, q?tia venit tempus.
Have mercy Thow schalt vprisc & Syon rawe,
^or tyme is come of hir mercy ; 650
Syon is Holy Chirche trewe
Of men J?at lyuen Cristenly. A stidefast seed in hir ]?ou sewe,
And taiqtist hir so tendirly How )?at sche schulde sy?nie eschewe 655
And louc thce. moost hertily.
641. pcrmaties ; s added above the line. 645. iS'o K. ; MS. the.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PS ALMS
47
(83)
Quom'am placuerunt seruis tuis lapides eius, & terre eius miserebimtwr.
For pi seruauntis [liir] stoonys lykide,
And on hir J?ei scliulen hauc pyte ; Crist, corner stoon, xij stoones pykide,
[His] xij apostlys for to be. 660
They haue hem-silf a dongeoiw dikide
In Syon, as men may se, That whoso f be wt't/i synne entrikide
May sanely to J?at strengj?o fle.
She is built on the foundation- stones of the Twelve Apostles.
F. 36.
(84) •
Et tiraebunt gentes nomen tuum, Doww'ne, & omraes [reges] terre gloriam tuam.
[And folkns schul tlii name drede, 665
Alle erthely kynges dotite thi blisse, That privest princes of here pryde,
Tliat wantounly here wittes wisse. Right as the lust thu maist men lede,
Save and sle and langour lisse, 670
But wo is hym that doth that dede
Wherfor he mot thi mercy mysse.
All nations shall praise Thee who rnlest all. men.
' (85) Quia edificavit Dominns Syon, et videbitur in gloria
sua.
For God hath housed Syon,
And yn his blisse hit schal be soAven Wan holi chirche be maad on
Yn hevene as we triste and trowen ; And we schulle to gladnesse goon,
That in grace on groimde now growen ; Graunte God that y be on
That be noght out of hevene thro wen !
675
680
657. SoK.
663. So K. ; MS. whoso not be.
660. So-K.', MS. and. 665-80. So K.
May I be among those that rejoice with Thy Church in Heaven !
48
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
God hears the humble, but loves not the proud.
(86)
Respexit in oracionem hnmilium, efc non sprevit pre- cem eorum.]
The orisoun of ]?e meke he si^,
And not dispiside her preyer ; But hem J?at are of herte hi}
Ne be not to him. so leef and dere As tho ]?at alle vices fli}. 685
Of Ihesu Crist a man may lore, For he to noon estaat ne sti$,
But euere was low in word & chere.
(87)
Scribantur hec in generacione altera, populus qui cre- abitur laudabit Dominum.
For our sins In ano]?e?' kyurede lete J?ese be writen,
was Christ so sorely
ted' For who-so may ]?ese wondris wyten
F. 36 6.
Tharene schal preisQ God J?e peple vnbore,
Ou^te to ]?anke God ]?erfore ; And f>at is for we falsly fly ten,
Hys fair[e] flesch was al to-tore ; For ma?mys sake so sore smyten
Was neuere noon sij?en ne bifore.
690
695
(88)
Quia p?*ospexit de excelso sancto suo ; Domimis de celo in terram aspexit.
He saw from For he say fro his holy hei^t,
To er)?e oure Lord say out of heuene, He say man walke vndir pe wei^t
Of alle J?e 'deedly synnes seuene ; 700
He say man J>oru J>e feendis slei^t
Lygge slepynge in [a] synful sweuene ; Th erf ore he vouchide saaf to fi^t
To God and man were oonyd euene.
Heaven how man was oppressed by Satan.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
49
(89)
Ut audiret gemitus conipeditorum, ut solueret filios interemptorutti.
To heere the weilynge and J?e wo 705
Of hem that were in care bounde, And to vnbynde the kynde of J?o
That were killid wij? deedly woiwde, For )?ese causis and for mo
Was God maad man to go on grounde ; 710
Therfore men schulden not falle him fro,
For he suffride for hem many a stoumle.
To redeem man He be came Man.
F. 37.
(90)
Ut annimcient in Syon nomen Domini, & laudem eius in Iherusalem.
For they schulden in Syon teche
Oure Lordis name ]?at holy is, And in Jerusalem hys preisyng preche, 715
Hym-silf he cam and tau^to pis. pere may no wi3t wij?stonde his wreche,
There is no nay Ipere he seith 3his ; Therfore preise we hym wij? speche,
And drede we him to doon amys. 720
He lias taught the Church to
S raise H im eis Almighty.
(91)
In con[u]eniendo popwlos in vnum, et reges ut seruiant Domino.
In gaderynge of peplis in oon,
And of kyngis God to seme, To be stidefast as is the stoon,
In his sendee J?at we not s[w]erue, The wey of trtithe we schulde goon, 725
To trecchery we schulde not [t]erue, And, if we dide ]?us euerichoon,
There schulde no care wire cumfort kerue.
F. 376.
If we are faithful in His service, we shall be happy.
724. So K. ; MS. sterue. 726. So K. ; MS. cerue. WIIEATLEY MS.
50
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
(92)
Kespondit ei in via virtutis sue : Paucitatem dienm meoiiim nimcia miclii.
The Chris- He aiisweride in J?e wey of
tm"un°Goci, " Telle me J>e lytilheed of my dayes."
PUS answer!}? ech a Cristen k
That ^eue]? no force of riche arayes ;
For he Jnnki]? how dee]? is di}!;,
To a-saye ech a man wilk scharpe asayes ;
He haldij? to God his herte vpri^t, And feri[]?] him not of siche afrayes.
730
735
F. 38.
Save me, Lord, for my
swiftly.
(93)
Ne reuoces me in dimidio dierzm meorwwi; in gene?'a- cwne[m] et generac/oraem anni tui.
Ne calle me not in J?e [halfundele]
Of my dayes J?oru-out ]?e ^Ueer, For J?ei slyden as mydday meel,
And passen as J?e cloudis cleer. 740
There ys no surete [ne] no seel
Of mawnys lijf while he is heer; Therfore, Ihesu, J?at knowist me f reel,
Wisse me wha?zne I am in weer.
Thou hast created the world, ani at Thy Will upholdest all creatures.
(94)
Inicio tu, Domiiie, terram f undasti ; & opera mammw simt celi.
745
750
For, Lord, ]?ou bigiwne ]?e grounde ;
Thin handwerkis ben heuenes alle, Al ]?is world, ]?rtt is so rounde,
Of creatnris grete and smalle. Thou hast liem pymied in a pou?ide,
AViJ?-oute warde of wouj or walle, And, while }?ou list, )?ou sanest \iern son^de
And, wha?me pou wilt, J?ei schulen doura falle.
736. MS. fends ; K. feryght. 737. So K. ; MS. myddil.
,7 41. SoK.; MS. of.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
51
(95)
Ipsi peribunt, tu auteni permanes ; | et omnes sicut Testimentum veterascent.
Thei schulen peresche, but J?ou schalt dwelle,
Alle schuleu eelde liyk a clooj?, Al vanyte J?ou schalt down felle, 755
And make it leef J?at now is loo]? ; For J?ere is no tunge that can telle
What peyne it is to se }>ee wroo)?, Whawne J?ou sclialt close J?e gates [of] lielle,
And curse[n] alle J?at }?idir goo)?. 760
F. 38 6.
All tilings pass away, but Thou remainest ; Thou wilt cast the wicked into Hell.
(96)
Et sicut oportorium mutabis eos, et niutabuntur ; tu autem idem ipse es, & a?mi tui non deficient.
And ]?ou shalt as a couorlyte
Hem chaumge, and J?ei schulen chaungid be ; But alwey J?ou art ri^t parfi^te,
Tin ^eeris schulen not fayle J?ee ; pe?'fore wha?me J?ou hast maad us qwyte 765
Thoru my^t of inmortalyte, pa?me sclialt J?ou be al oure delyte
To se ]?i my3tful magiste.
All will change, but Thou re mainest; we shall rejoice in heaven in Thy glory.
(97)
Filij seruoraw tuorw?^ haMtabunt ; & semen eorum in seculuwi dirigetur.
Tin seruautttis sones schulen d^velle & dure,
And in al J?e world her seed schal sprede; 770
For ceertis }?ei ben not [vjnsure,
That J?ee wil serue in. word & deede. perfore now, Ihesu, do J?i cure,
Ne dampne us not whawiie we ben dede, But, eer we passe, make us pure, 775
To ]?e lond of lijf [J?at] ]?ou us lede.
753. permanes : s added above the line.
759. K. yate of. 771. So K. ; MS. eusure.
Thy ser vants shall nourish ; grant, Lord, that we may be saved !
52
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Lord, take me out of prison, re-
D
(98)
E profundis clamaui ad exaudi vocem meam.
te, Domine; Domine,
Fro dalis depe to thee I criede ;
Lord, Lord, Hstne ]?e voys of me ! This depe pn'soiw ]?at I in abyde,
Breke it up, Lord, for thy pyte ! Be Ipon my socour and my gyde,
My goostely Lord, to whom I fle, And lete oute of J?in herte ryde
That I haue doon a^eynfejs ]?ee.
780
Hearken to my prayer, for Thou hast redeem ed mankind!
(99)
Fiant aures tue intendcntes in uocem deprecacionis mee.
Late J?in eeris be maad listnynge 785
Ynto ]?e vois of my preyere, For wel I woot Ipou hast likynge
In man [}?at] ]?ou hast bou^t so dere ; Therfore, what euere I rede or synge,
Listen it, Lord, wij? louely chore, 790
And vouche saaf at myn askynge
My conscience to dense and clere.
Look not on our works, but have mercy on us !
F. 40.
(100)
Si iniquitates obseruaueris, Domine, Domiue, quis sustinebit 1
If ]?oit rewarde al wickidnesse,
Lord, Lord, who schal snsteyne 1 For, by J?e lawe of ri^twijsnesse, 795
Eendelees ]?a?z-ne were oure peyne. But euere we hope to J?i goodnesse,
Whawne J?ou schalt al J?is world affreyue, With mercy and wi]? myldenesse
Tin 1-13 tful doom J?ou wilt restreyne. 800
784. K. agenis.
788. So K.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
(101)
\ /
Quia apud te p?'0piciacio est; & p?-opter legem stinui te, Domme.
V JL J.
sustinui te, Domme.
tuam
For wij> J?ee is for^ifnesse,
I haue J?ee suffrid, Lord, for )?i lawe, Thi lawe schal al vm^t redresse,
Was neuere seyd no so]?ir sawe ; Therfore, wharaie thou schalt bodies blesse,
And deede men out of her demiys drawe, Ihmi, J>at sauerist al swetnesse,
Lete no feend oure goostis gnawe.
805
53
With Thee is forgiveness ; save us from the ttend at the last !
Sustinuit mea in Domino.
(102) mea in uerbo eius ; spe?-auit ammo,
My soule haj? suffrid in his word,
In God my goost haj? had his trist; 810
For synne is scharp as knyues oord,
And makij? hem lame ]?at liggi]? in lust ; Therfore, Ihesu, thou lonely lord,
pere I am roten, rubbe of }?e rust, Or I be brou^t to schippis bord, 815
To sayle in-to J?e sale of dust.
trusted in God ; O de liver me from my sins before I die!
P. 406.
(103)
A custodia matutiua usque ad noctem, speret Israel in Domino.
Fro J?e morn ward into J?e ny^t
Lete Israel triste in God and trowen. Israel bitokene]? ech a wi^t
That God schal se and goostly knowen. 820
To J?is ech Cristen man ha}? ri^t,
pat wole his strengf>e wel bistowen ; He may be sikir, as God haf> hi^t,
That heuene blisse schal be his owne.
By God's promise, the man who trusts Him shall win Heaven.
801. sustinui te ivritten as one word and divided by a stroke.
54
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
(104)
Quia apud Dominum misericordia, & copiosa apud eum redempcio.
For at cure Lord is greet mercy, 825
And plentenous raunsura is hym wi]? ; He payede for us his owne body,
In foorme of breed boj?e lyrae and lith ; Ceertis for OUTQ sake oonly
He was feynt as fowen in frith, 830
So J?at synful may sikirly
At hym gete grace and grith.
(105)
Et ipse redimet Israel ex omnibus iniquitatibus eius.
And he schal bye[n] Israel Fro hise mysdeedis euerilkone,
At the Last Day the fiend shall
and the good Wha?me we schal rise in flesch & felle, in Heaven. And efte be cloj?id in blood and boone. Thanne schal J?e feend, Ipab is so felle,
Fer be flemyd & alle oure foone, And gode men schulen in heuene dwelle ; God ^eue us grace J?at we so doone !
835
840
F. 41 b.
Lord, hear my prayer ; let not the devil deceive us !
(106)
D Omine, exaudi oracionem meam. Auribus perape obsecracionem meam in ueritate tua, & ex|audi me in tua iusticia.
Lord, listne ]?ou myn orisoun,
WiJ? eeris my preyer Tpou perseyue, In so)?fastnes J?ou heere my soun,
And in J?i ri^t J?ou it resseyue ! Ih«su, J?at regnest in J?i regyoun, 845
For hir loue pat }?ee can [conjseyue, Late neuere J?e feend us drawe doim,
]STe dreedful deuel us disseyue !
826. Catch-words: He payede. 846. So K. ; MS. resseyue.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
55
(107)
Et non intres in indicium cum seruo tuo, quia now iustificabitur m conspectu iuo [omnis uiuens]. Come not in doom with Ipi seruaunt,
For no lijf schal be iustifyed 850
In J>i si^t, ne nou^t []?]e faunt
That ]>is day first in cradil cried. For us schal plete no seriaunt,
Al sotilte schal ben a-spyed ; So wel is hym Ipat kepi]? couena[im]t, 855
For word and werk al schal be tryed.
Judge us not, for none can be justified be fore Thee.
(108)
Quia persecutus est inimicus meus amwam mearn, humiliauit in terra [uitam meam]. For-whi myn enemy ha}? pursued
My soule, and lowide my lijf in lond, For, [when] I my^te syniie haue eschewid,
My wil to wi[r]k[e] wolde I not wond. 860
But, Lord Ihesu, put art endewid
WiJ? grace, ]?ou brynge me out of boond, And sende me grace to be vertued,
So J?at I may ]?e feend wij?stoond.
F. 42.
Satan pur sues me ; but, Lord, fcive mo grace to withstand him I
(109)
Collocauit me in obscuris, sicut mortuos seculi. Et anxiatus est super [uie spiritus meus ; in me turbatum est cor meum]. He put me in [placis dork] to be, 865
As J?ei ]?at in J?is world ben dede ; My goost was greeuyd vpon me,
Astonyed was myn herte for drede. This ilke sorowe anoon I se,
Whawne I haue doon a deedly deede ; 870
Therfore, Ihesu ful of pytee,
In ]?is myscheef me rule and rede !
851. So K. ; MS. ne.
859. So K.
865. MS. clerk placis.
855. MS. couenaut.
860. So K. ; MS. wickidnc-s
867. goost altered from
I was sore oppressed for deadly sin ; Lord, direct me!
F. 42 b.
56
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
I remem bered how Christ, be trayed by Judas, gathered his flock.
(110)
Memor fui diemm antiquorwwj meditatus sum in omnibws operibus tuis ; in factis manuuw tumum meditabar.
I hadde mynde of dayes oolde,
Of alle J?i werkis I me bipou^te, How synfully J?at ludas soolde 875
Hym J?at [J?is world \vith hondis] wrou^t, W«tA greet penaurace gaderide his foolde
That scheparde j?at oure soulis boiv^t ; pe cuwfort of oure cares coolde,
Of [Cjdst it cam, for lie it broi^t. 880
Grant me, Lord, sor row for sin !
F. 43.
(Ill)
Expand! inanus ineas ad to ; -anima mea sicut terra sine aqwa tibi.
To J?ee myn hondis, Lord, I spradde ;
My soule is lijk loud watirlees ; I may not wepe, I am so badde,
So bareyn and so sorowlees. Syrane constreyne]? me fill sadde ;
Tlierfore I preye pe, prince of pees, Helpe me J?at I summe teris hadde,
That goostly fruyte [my^te haue] encrees.
885
I have neg lected Thy faith ; but cast me not away ]
(112) Uelociter exaudi me, Doiuiue ; defecit spiritus me us.
Listne, Lord, and heere me ^erne ;
The goost of me forso]?e ha]? failid, 890
For I haue ben ful loop to lerne
ping }?at my^te me haue avayled ; But, Lord, J?at openest pi posterne
For liem J?«t for J?ee han trauaylid, I hope J?ou wilt no bonde sperne, 895
pat is wij? sorowe of symiQ assay led.
876. So K. ; MS. vfith hondis bis \vorld. 880 So K. ; MS trist. 8
SoK.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS
57
(113)
Ke auertas faciem tuaiu a me, & similis ero descenden- tibus m lacuw.
Thi face turne not me fro !
I schal be lijk he??i J?at fallen in lake, pe dampnyd men may wel sey so,
That are bitau^t J?e feendis blake. 900
Uut lete me, Lord, be noon of J>o ;
Thinke how ]?ou diedist for my sake, And grauwte me grace, eer )?at I go,
Of my trespas amendis make.
Thou didst die for me ; let me not perish !
F. 43 6.
(114) Auditam fac michi mane misericordiam tua??i, quiet, in
te
Thi mercy make me heere a-morowe,
For I haue had on J?ee myn hope. Helpe ]?at I were out of [hjorowe,
And alle J?at J?ere-ywne are lope. Lord, J?ou suffridist schame & sorowo,
And bled[dist] manye a blody drope ; Fro goostli bondis )?ou me borowe,
That I were out of synne crope.
905
910
For Thy Passion, rescue me from the bonds of sin!
(115)
ISTotam fac michi mam in qua ambulem, qitia ad te leuaui araimaiu mea??i.
Teche me J?e way ]?at I schal weende,
For I my soule to J>ee haue lift ; pis worldis welj?e ha]? [soone] an eende,
And takij? a-wey [a] mamiys J?rift. perfore, Ihesu. curteys and kynde,
Whos herte was on cros [y]-clift, Late neuere feend oure paj?is blende,
Ke us bitraye neue?-e eft !
915
920
907. MS. lorovve.
916. So K. ; MS. soone.
910. ,S'o K. 915. So K.
918. So K.
The world passes away; let not the fiend betray us !
F. 44.
58
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
(116)
Eripe me de iwimicis meis," Dominef ad te cowfugi ; doce me facere voluwtatem [tuam, quia Deus meus es tu]. Deliver me, DeljuerQ me, Lord, fro my foos felle !
Lord, from n , T
my enemies, For streng]?e to pee lied am 1 ;
and take me . .„ ,, 1£,,,
to Thyself ! Teche me pi wille to iulnlle,
For-whi pou art my God oonli. Down myn enemyes pou felle ; 925
Resseyue me, Lord, to pi mercy, That I may dreedlees in pee dwelle,
And pou, Lord, in me eendeleesly.
Thou shalt lead me to Heaven, where is all
joy.
F. 44 &.
(117)
Spiritus tuus bonus deducet me in terram rectaw. Propter nomera tu[um, Domine, uiuificabis me, in equi- tate tua]. Tin good goost, [Lord], schal me lede
Street in-to pe> lond of ri^t, 930
And, for pi name in ri^tfulheede,
Thou schal t me make qwike £ li^t. panne schal I dwelle[n] out of dreede
Where euere is day and neuere ny^t, For grisly goost schal J?ere noon grede 935
0[n] hem J>at ben in blis[se] bri^t.
Thou shalt scatter my enemies ; spare me, that I may amend my life.
(118)
Educes de tribulacione amwam meam cordia tua disperdes omnes i?nmicos meos. My soule poii schalt brynge out of care,
WiJ) mercy my foo-men disp[arpl]ye, And make ]?e deuel droupe & dare,
That he drawe me to no folye ; And, God, ]?at I be not [maad] bare
Of alle goodnes J?at I can aspie, [3it], 3it, Lord, abyde and spare,
pat I be amendid or I dye.
& in miseri-
940
936. So K. ; MS. of. 941. So K.
938. So K. ; MS. disprauye. 943, MS, and.
V. LESSONS FROM THE DIRIGE
59
(119)
Et perdes omwes qui tribulant anima?n meam, quoniam ego seruus tuns sum.
And po\i sclialt lese hem that dissesen 945 F. 45.
My soule, for I seme thee ; Late no more vppon me resen
)3e goostes }?at han greeued me ; Sende me grace thee to plesen,
And vouche saaf, whawne doom schal be, 950
In-to J?e kingdom of heuene me sey[s]en ;
pus graimte me, God in Pe?-soonys )?re ! AMEN.
Destroy Thou my enemies, and grant that I may have my place in Heaven 1
V. [LESSONS FROM THE DIRIGE.]
Parce michi, Domine. Leccio pn'ma.
Pare me, Lord ; forsoj?e my dayes ben nou^t. What is man, ]?at )?ou magnifiest hym, or wherto settiste J?ou J?in herte towardis hym? pou visitist hym in J?e 5 dawenynge, and sodeynli J?ou p?*ouest hym. How long sparist Ipoii not me, ne suffrist ]?at I swolewe my spotil 1 I haue synned ; what schal I do to ]?ee, 0 }?ou keper of men ? | Whi hast J?ou sett me contrarye to ]?ee, and I am maad heuy to my-silf? Whi takist J?ou not awey 10 my synne, and wherfore berist }?ou not awey my wickid- nesse 1 Lo now I slepe in poudir, and, if ]?ou seke me eerly, I schal not witA-stonde.
Responsorium. I bileeue )?at myn a^einbier lyue)?, and I schal rise of J?e erj?e in ]?e laste day, and in my flesch I 15 schal se God my Saueour.
Ver. Whom I my-silf schal se, and noon otyer, and myn i$en schulen se hym. >
And in my flesch I schal se God my Saueour.
Job vii. 16-21.
F. 45 b.
951. So K. ; MS. resseyuen.
60 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Tedet animam meam vite mee. Leccio ija.
Job x. 1-7. TT anoiej? my soule of my lijf, and I schal leue my JL speche a3eins me, in bittirnesse I schal speke to my soule. I schal seye to God : Wil pou not dampne me. Schewe to me win J?ou wilt deeme me ]?us. WheJ?ir it 5 F. 46. J>inke J?ee good if pou chalen|ge and bere down me J?e
vverk of J?iu handis, and pou. helpist pe counceyl of wickide men 1 WheJ?ir fleischly i^en ben to J?ee, or pou - seest as a man 1 Wheper as dayes of men pi dayes, or pi Cecils ben as memiys tymes, ]?at pou seeke my wickidnesse 10 and ransake my synne 1 And [wite] pou for I haue no wickid ping doon, sipin J?ere is no man Ipai, may ascape fro J?in hond.
R. Thow ]?at reisidist np a3ein La^ar of ]?e monu ment stynkynge, ]?ou, Lord, 3eue hem reste and space of 15 > for^euenesse.
Ver. He J?at is to come to deeme qwike and deedo, and J?e world bi fier. pou, Lord, ^eue hem rest and space of for^euenesse.
Manus tue fecerunt me. Leccio iija. 20
Job x. 8-12. rjlHyne hondis maden me and schopyn me al in cu.ni- I pas, and so sodey?dy J?ou castist me down. Haue F. 46 b. mynde, I biseche J?ee, J?at as myre ]?ou hast maad | me,
and in-to poudir ]?ou schalt a3ein lede me. NQ hast J?ou softid me as my Ik and cruddidist me as chese? WiJ? 25 skyn and fleischis ]?ou clo]pidist me, wij? boones and wij? senewes J?ou ioynedist me to-gydere, lijf and mercy ]?ou 3af me, and pi visitacioim haj? kept my goost.
R. Lord, whanne J?ou comest to deeme ]?e erj?e, Avhere schal I hyde me fro ]?e face of pi wraJ?J?e 1 For I haue 30 synned ri3t niyche in my lijf.
Ver. My trespasse I dreede, and bifore pee I am a-schamyd. Wha?ine pou comest to iuggement wil pou. not condempne me.
For I haue synned i^t myche in my lijf. 35
V. LESSONS FROM THE DIRIGE
61
Quantas habeo iniquitates. Leccio iiija.
AS grete wickidnessis and synnes, felonyes and tres- passis, I haue, schcwe J?ou me. Why hydist ]?ou J>i face and deemest me J>in enemy 1 A^ein }?e leef J>at 5 is taken of J?e wynd J?ou sche| wist [pi my^t], and )?e drye stobil ]?ou pursuest. pou wrytist forsoj?e a^eins me bittirnessis, and J?ou wilt waaste me wi]? )?e synnes of my 3ouj?e. pou hast sette my foot in stockis, and J?ou hast kepte alle my by-pa]?is, and J?ow hast biholde Ipe 10 steppis of my feet, and I schal be wastid as rotenesse, and as closing ]?at is eten of a mo]?]?e.
Rm. Wo to me, Lord, for I haue synned to myche in my lijf. What schal I do, wrecche, whidir schal I fle bub to ]?ee, my God 1 Haue mercy of me whanne J?on 15 comest in ]?e laste day.
Ve?\ My soule is mykil troublid, but }?on, Lord, be helper J?er-to.
Whanne Ipou comest in Ipc laste day.
J,.b xiii 23-28.
F. 47.
Homo natus de muliere. Leccio va.
Job xiv 1-6.
20 1% /TAn born of a wo??iman, lyuynge a schort tyme, is 1_T_J_ fulfillid of al wickidnesse : which goo]? out as a flour and is troden, and flee]? as ]?e schadowe, and | d \vellij? F. 47 & neuere in ]?e silue staat, and J?ou leetist ]?ee wor]?i to opene J?in i3en vpon sich oon, and lede hym wij? ]?ee
25 in-to ]?e iuggement. Who may make hym clene )?at is conseyued of vnclene seed1? Whe]?ir J?ou ]?at art aloone1? Schorte are a ma^nys dayes, and ]?e iioumbre of hise mone]?is is at ]?ee, ]?ou hast sette hise teermys ]?at mown not passe. Go awey ]?erfore a litil fro hym, ]?at he reste
30 til ]?e day desirid come, and as of a marchaunt ]?e dayes of hym.
Rm. Haue no mynde of my sywnes, Lord, wluwne )?ou comest to deeme ]?e world by fier.
Ve>\ Lord my God, dresse my wey in J?i si^t.
35 Whawie J?ou comest to deeme ]?e world by fier.
62 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Quis michi hoc tribuat vt inferno protegas. Lectio vja.
is-46iv* "\1S7"^° 3eueJ? to mc ^at ^OU defence me in lielle, and F. 48. f T J>at ]?ou hyde me til J?i| \vraj?]?e be passid, and J?at
J?ou sette to me a tyme in whilk ]?ou schalt bore recorde 5 of me 1 Trowist J?ou J?at a deed man sclial lyue a^eyn 1 Alle ]?e dayes in j?e wliiclie I now fi^te, I abyde til ]?e tyme J?at my goostly liknesse come, pou schalt calle me, and I schal answere to J?ee ; to J?e werk of J?in hondis J?ou schalt putte oute J?i ri^t half, pou forso}?e hast 10 noumbrid my goyngis, but spare my synnes.
R. Lord, aftir my deede wil )wu not deeme me. Noting wor]?i haue I doon in J?i si^t, J?erfore I praye ]>i mageste ]?at Ipou, God, do awey my wickidnesse.
Ve>\ Moore-oue?'e waysche me, God, of myn vnri^t- 15 wijsnesse, and of my trespasse dense Ipou me, for to )?ee aloone I haue sy lined.
perfore I praye pi maieste J?at ]?ou, God, do awey my wickidnesse.
F. 486. Spiritus meus|attenuabitur, dies mei. Lecc^o vija. 20
Jobxvii. T"^" g°os^ schal be maad J?inne, my dayes schulen be
schortid, and oonly a biryel ouer-bileuej? to me. I haue not synned, and myn i^e dwellij? in bittirnesse. Delyuere me, Lord, and sette me bisidis J?ee ; and whos hond J?at ]?ou wilt, fi^te a3eins me ! My dayes are passid, | 25 my J?ou^tis are waa[s]tid, turmentynge myn herte. pei turnyd ny^t to day, and thanne aftir derknesse I hope li^t. If I susteyne, lielle is myn hows, in derkiies I haue beddid niy bed. I seyde to rotennesse : pou art my fadir and my modir, and to wormes I seyde : pou 30 art my sistir. Where is J?anne myn abidynge and my pacience 1 pou art, Lord my God !
Rm. The dreede of dee]? troublide me, synnynge ech
25. MS. passid, written on a slightly longer word which has been erased.
26. MS. waaftid.
V. LESSONS FROM THE DIRIGE 63
day and not repentynge, for | in helle is no redempcyouw. F. 49. Haue mercy on me, God, and saue me. *> Ver. God, in pi name make me saaf, and in ]?i vertu delyuere me. 5 For in helle is no redempcioure.
Pelli mee consumpt[i]s. Leccio octaua.
MY mouth cleuedc to my skyn, pe fleisch wastid, and al oonly pe lippis are left a-boute my teeth. 20~27' Haue rupe on me, haue rupe on me, namely 30 my 10 fre?idis, for pe hond of cure Lord hap touchid me. Whi pursue 36 me as God, and 30 ben fulfillid wip my fleschis t\ Who schal ^eue to me pat my wordis ben writen 1 Whoo schal 3eue to me pat pei ben grauen in a book wip a poyntel of inw and in a plate of leed, opir pat pei be 15 grauen in a flynt wip a chisel 1 I woot forsope pat inyn a^eynbier lyuep, and in pe laste day I am for to ryse fro J?e erj?e, and eft | I schal be lappid in my skyn, and in F. 496. my flesch I schal se God my Saueour, whom I my-silf schal se, and myn i3en are to byholde on hym, and noon 20 o]?ir. pis is myn hope put up in my bosum.
R. Lord, ^eue hem rest Avi)?-outen eende, and J?e li^t )?at euere lasti]? Ii3tne to hem.
Ver. Thou J?at reridist La^ar fro }?e monument ynge, ^eue to hem, Lord, reste. 25 And the li^t )?at euere laste]? li^tne to hem.
duare de vulua eduxisti me. Leccio ixa.
Hy led[d]ist pou me out of pe wombe1? Wolde Job x.
God pat I hadde be fordoon, pat noon 130 hadde seen me ! panne hadde I ben as J?ou[3J I hadde not ben, 30 fro pe wombe boren to pe biriel. Whepir pe schort- nesse of my dayes schal not ben eendid in schorU Late me, Lord, pat I weyle a litil while my sorowe, or pat | I F. 50 go, and turne not a3eyn, to pe derk erpe, keuorid wip pe derk cloude of pe deep, pe loud of wrecchidnesse and of
1. Catch-word in. 6. MS. consumptus.
64 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
derkenesse, where is schadowe of dee]? and noon ordir, but euerlastynge [o]rrour w*t/i-in dwellynge.
§ Delyucre me, Lord, of eendelees dee]?, in }?at dreedf ul day, whawne J>at }?e heuenys schulen be stirid fro J>e erj?e, whawne }?ou schalt come to iuge J?e world by 5 fier.
§ That day schal be a day of wra]?}?e, and ful of mysclieef and of wrecchidnesse, a greet day and ri$t bittir.
Whanne J?ou schalt come to iuge J>e world by fier. 10
§ What schal I panne, moost wrecche, what schal I seye or what schal I do, whanne I schal schewe no goodnesse bifore so greet a iuge ]
Whanne J>ou schalt come to iuge ]?e world by fier. F. 506. § Now Crist, we aske ]?ee, ha|ue mercy, we biseke J?ee. 15
pou }?at cam to byen us ]?at were loren, wil J?ou not dampne hem ]?at J?ou hast bou^t.
Whawne \>o\\ schalt come to iuge )?e world by fier.
Ver. Brennywgesouliswepen wi]?-oiiteneende, walkiwge by derknesse, and ]?ei seyen echoone of ]?o : Wo ! Wo ! 20 Wo ! how grete are ]?ese derkenesses Jtere AVG go !
Ver. Schapper of alle }?ingis, God J?at foormedist me of }?e sliym of )?e erj?e, and wondirly wij? J?in owne blood hast bou^t us, if my bodi rotye now, J?ou schalt make it arise of J?e sepulcre in J?e day of doom. Heere me, heere 25 me, }?at J?ou comaunde my soule be put in ]?e bosum of Abraham ]?i patriark.
Whanne J?ou schalt come to iuge ]?e world by fier.
B^m. Delyueve me, Lord, of ]?e weyes of helle, J?ou ]?at brake ]?e gatis 'of bras, and visitist helle, and $af li^t to 30 F. 5i. hem, J?at J?ei |?at we|ren in peynes my^ten se ]?ee, criynge
and seiynge : pou art come, oure a^eynbier. Delyuere me, Lord, of J?e weyes of helle. Eeste J?ei in pees. AMEN.
2. MS. errour.
VI. A SONG OF MEKCY AND JUDGMENT
65
VI [A SONG OF MERCY AND JUDGMENT]
(1)
THere is no creatour but oon, Maker of ech a creature, Oon God, and euere oon, For J?re in oon alwey endure.
To J?at Lord we make oiire moone, 5
In whom is al cumfort and cure ; To ]?inke how frelfe] we ben echoon ! J?is world ne is but hard auenture ;
For whose mosto J>er-ynne [e]s sure
Siwnest [schal he be] schamyd and schent; 10
Whanne J?ou J?is world wij? fier schalt pure,
Do mercy bifore J?i iuggeinont.
(2)
§ We asken mercy or J?ou deeme, Leste pou dampne J?at J?ou hast i-wrou $t. What ioye were it ]?e deuel to qweme, 15
To }eue hyin J?at J?ou hast bou^t? And, of J?i si^t if }?ou us fleemo, We weren but lost ri^t as 110113 1 ; Now make us lijk siche as []?e]e seeme, In loue and dreede ]?ou sette oure J^ou^t. 20
For synne us haj? so jporu-sou^t,
J?ere is no trist in oure entent ;
Vnto acount or we ben brou^t,
Do mercy bifore thi iuggement.
There is but one God, to Whom we pray f..r mercy before the Day of Judgment.
Thou hast made and redeemed us ; keep us true to Thee !
F. 51 6.
(3)
§ For ]?ou hast biden us aske and haue ; 25
That ^eue}? us cumfort for to calle ; And pou hast ordeyned, [man] to saue, f Mercy aboue J?i werkis alle^
7. MS. frely. 9. MS. assure. 10. MS. is. 19. MS. \vo.
27. MS. for. 28. MS. man mercy. The stop marking the cud
of a line is after saue.
WHBATLBY MS. F
Thou hast redeemed us ; give us grace to resist the devil !
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Also J?in herte blood for us J>ou gaue,
To make us frc J?at cer weren J>ralle ; 30
Late ueuere J>e deuel J?at soulo depraue
That vvaysclien was in holy wallc.
Cure flcisch is freele J>at makij? us falle ;
Wij? grace wo a-ryse and schulen repcnte,
And J?us we hope ]?at we schalle 35
Haue mercy bifore J?i inggemont.
(4)
§ We askew mercy of al ]?ing,
Thou art kynde in cell degre, F. 52. For J»ou gaue us wij? stoones beyn|ge,
Thou gavest And wij? ]?i spiryt endowid us fre ; 40
groxvti'fiife, W*tA trees J?ou gaue us growynge, Sandtoml" WiJ> beestls, feelynge lijf haue we, St and "W^ aungels, vndirstondynge.
redeem us. ^TJJ, ^ilceQe weddid Vllto J?ee,
And wi}? J?i blood bou^t be we ; 45
3i[t] we ben fals and necligeut, That we mo wen neuere clymbe ne fle pi mercy ne thy iuggement.
§ Whcrfore oure soulis & oure liif
we com mend
our souls to Into bin hondis we bitake, 50
Tl.ee, iu life *
and death. Out of temptacyoun and strijf
To saue us whanne we slepe or wake.
Now, Ihesu, for J?i woundes fijf,
And also for \>\ modiis sake,
pe deuel awey fro us J?ou drijf 55
Whanne deej? schal hise maystryes make.
Thou seydist )?ou woldist us nou^t forsake
Whanne J>ou on rode were al torent ;
Agayn J?i doom we crye and qwake,
Do mercy bifore pi iuggement. 60
34. we written above the line, 46. MS. 3 if.
VII. A PRAYER FOR MERCY
67
(6)
§ And, $eue pou deeme us ri^tfully, 3eue mercy ]?e execucyoun, And, if we haue seruyd J?ee vnkyndcly, Take heede to oure entencyoim. We Decide us synful and sory, Wi]? knowleche and contriciouw ; Oure baptym and J?i mercy We take to oure proteccyoun. Bileeue is oure saluacyouw By la we of J?i comaundement ; Now, Crist, putte al [J?i] pas.syoun Bitwixe us and ]?i iuggeiuent. AMEN.
65
70
F. 52 6.
Judge us with mercy ; we repent of our sins, and trust to Thy Passion in our last Judgment.
VII [A PRAYER FOE MERCY]
(1)
A Liny 3 ti God, maker of heuenc, Eyr and er]?e, watir and wynde, To J?ee I calle wij? mylde steuene,
That flesch and blood took of mankynde. Out of synne my soule vnbynde pat for me diedist on J?e tre ; To ryken I am ful fer bihynde, But, Ihara, ]?ou haue mercy on me.
God, Wlio madest all things, and didst re- dee)n ine, have mercy on me !
§ If I schulde ri^twijs rikenynge make
Fro }?e tyme J?at I was bore, panne woldist )?ou veiiiau'/z|ce take,
panne were I lost [for] euennoore. Thou hast ordeyned salue for elke a soore,
And mercy soulis leche to be ; That J?ou hast bou^t late neuere be lore,
But, Ihe.s'ii, J?ou haue mercy on me.
10
15
F. 53.
By justice I should be lost, but save me through Thy mercy !
71. MS. oure.
WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
(3)
68
Grant me, § WiJ?-Ollteil J>66 110 man
mercy ?hV Pore ne riche, lowe ne hi;e ; edstopariim1'8" pinke POM hast mercy bihi^t who ask it ! TQ alle ^at it askij? mekely.
woful herte and wepiwge i}e I ^eelde me, Lord, Jnis vnto J>ee, And for my mys mercy I crye ; Now, Ihmi, haue mercy on me.
(4) §Thou3 synne my soule fro j?ee haue twynnyd
pinke how dere J?ou hast [me] boi^t ; And, if my freel fleisch haue synned,
Dere Lord, I forsook J?ee nou^t. Ful wickidly eft haue I wroi^t,
Vnchast and out of chary te In word, in wille, in werk, in ]?ou3t;
Now, Ihesu, haue ]?ou mercy on me.
20
Though I have sinned grievously, remember Thou hast redeemed me, and have mercy on me!
25
30
F. 536.
I repent my
sins; graut
Thou me
space to
amend
them!
Jesus, Sav iour, help me ; Mary, pray for me !
§Lord, to )?ee ]?us I me 3elde
WiJ> knowleche and contriciow? ; Of alle | my synnes in [y]out[h] and eelde,
[Grant], ri^twijs God, remyssyoun And space of satisfaccyoun ;
As J?ou art prynce of al pytee, On my beere or I be bo[un],
Ihesu, haue mercy on me.
(6) § Thy ri3t name )?at is Ihesu,
That is to seye, oure saueour. panne I aske it as dewe,
Of J?in help and socour Now sende me help fro heuene tour,
pat li^tist in a mayden fre ; Now, Marye mayde, swete flour,
Praye Ihesu haue mercy on me.
35
40
45
35. MS. Jxwjt.
39. MS. bore.
VIII. GOD'S COMPLAINT
69
(7) § Now mercy, I am in wille no moore
Fro hennys forth to [do] trespace, Now mercy, J?at I be not loore,
Now mercy, Lord, and graunte me grace pat I may se J?i swete face
Th[er] J?ou art God in Trynyte, And in lieuene to haue a place ;
Now, Ih'esu, J?ou haue mercy on me.
AMEN.
50
55
I (irmly pur pose amend ment ; grant fiat I may see Thy Face in Heaven, and have mercy on me !
VIII [GOD'S COMPLAINT]
(1)
TIlHis is Goddis owne compleynt _£. Fro Man to man }?at he ha]? [lijou^ And J>us he seith to hem [a]teynt : " Myn owne peple, what liaue I wroii^t, [pat thon] art to me so feynt, And I J?i lone so for haue sou^t 1 In J?in answer no }?ing }?ou peynt To me, for-whi I knowe ]?i
Haue I not do al }?at me
Haue I left ony ]?ing bihynde 1
Whi wra]?]?ist }wu me 1 I greue ]?ee 110113!.
Why artow to ]?i Lord vnkyndc 1
10
F. 54.
God's com plaint : O My people, what have I done to thee?
I sou^te J?i lone, and Ipad was scene
Wha?me I made J?ee lijk to me ;
On er)?e my worlds boj?e qm'ke & groene
I putte hem vndir J?i pouste ;
Fro Farao J?at was so kene
Of Egypt I delyueride ]?ee,
I killide hym and hise bidene ;
The Reed[e] See atwynne to fle
64. MS. ihat. 3. MS. enteynt.
2. MS. wrou^t. 5. MS. thou hat.
15
I first made thce ; I delivered thee from Pharaoh, and brought thee across tho Red Sea.
20 F. 54 6.
70
THE WilEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
I led th.:e through the wilderness ; I became Man and died for thee.
I bad, J?at drye it schulde be ; I ceesside pe watir and pe wynde ; I bronze pee ouere and maad ]?ee fre ; Whi art pou to pi f reend vnkynde 1
(3)
And fourti ^eer in wildirnesse Wi}? aiwgels foode I }?ee feddc ; Iii-to pe loud of greet richesse To schewe J?ee lone, J?ere I J?ee ledde ; To do pee moore of kyndenesse, To take pi kynde I no-Jnng dredde, I lefte my my^t and took mekenesse, Myn lierte blood for pee I bledde.
Tin soule to saue, my lijf I ledde;
I boonde my-silf pee to vnbynde ;
pus wi]? my wo pi nedis I spedde ;
Whi art J?ou to l?i Lord vnkynde 1
25
30
35
For the I ordeynede Paradys ;
Fre wille was pin affeffement ;
How my^tist pou me moore dispise i gave thee panne breke my owne comamidemewt, andthou And svnue in seuene maner wyse,
didst obey J
Mineeneiny. And to myn enemy so soone assent"?
He put J?ec doun, pou my^tist not rise;
pi strenkj?e, pi witt away was went. Pore, nakid, schamyd and schent, That frenclschip my^te pou noon fynde But me J?at on pe rode was rent ; Why art pou to pi Lord vnkynde 1
40
45
i am thy Man, I loue pee • whom louest
tram to* Me, I am pi f reend ; whi woltow feyne?
forgivrthee, I for3af, and pou me sloii3 ;
Mary Mag*-' Wno ^ departid oure loue in tweynel
st!eThoamas. Turne to me, bij>iuke pee how
pou hast goon mys, come hoom a^eyne, And pou schalt be as welcome now As he p&t neue7'e dide foreyne.
50
55
COMPLAINT
71
Wayte how elide Maryo Mandeleyno, And Avhat [I] seyde to Tlioinas of Yndc. I grauntide pec, blis, wlii louest pou peynel Whi art pou to pi Lord vnkynde 1
60
F. 55 b.
Off a frcend pe faitist precf
Is loue wij? drcde and not displese ;
Was neiiere no ping to mo so leef
As mankyiule pah no J?ing may peso f .
I suffiide for pi synnes reproof,
In hi} lieucne pi soule to ceso ;
I was liangid as a j^ecf ;
pou didist J?e dodo, I liadde pe dissese.
pou canst mo neij?e>' j?auke no plese,
Xe do good deode, no liauo me in mynde ;
I am pi leclie in pi dissose ;
Wlii art []?ou] to pi freend vnkynde?
G5
I have proved My love by dying for thy sins.
Unkynde, for }?ou killidist pi Lord,
And oueiy day po\i woimdist mo nowe ;
pon^ we ben brou^t to oon a-coord,
In couenauwt-briclie J?ou art vntrewc,
And redy a^eyn to rcsoort
'J'o folowe vicis and Ho verluwo;
Al ribaudrie pou canst re[toort ;
Wo is liym pi wraJ?J?o may not oscliewe.
pou art redy to pursuwe
The pore pcple wij? sley^tis blyndo, ;
pou schalt out of J?is world remewe,
J>y-cause pou art to pi freend vnkyndo,
(8)
The deuel to?;iptido me neuere but J?rit;, And pou [me tewptist] fro day to day ; \Vip cursyng aftir veniaiwee to cryo, To stiro [my] wra}?)?e J^ou wilt assay.
But thon ever giie vest Me by re-
.... inaiiiing in
/ O sin.
80
F. 56.
85
58. MS. he.
86. MS. temptist me.
64. MS. yleso. 88. MS. \vi)>.
Thou teniptest My anger continually ;
tllOTl
wouldest betray Me.
72 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
pou woldist, and ony wolde me bye,
Wei wors psm ludas me bitray ;
At my werkis pou hast envye;
Wele neiper wo may )?ee noon pay.
And J?ou me n^tist, as I pec may, Wei bittirly pou woldist me bynde ; I for^af , and pou seidist nay ; F. 566. Thus am I freend and J?ou vnkynde.
90
95
(9) i have I haue bo 11 2 1 pi lone fill dere.
bought thy
love with Vnkvnde, whi forsakist pou myn ?
My life, and * r ., .
thou deniest I 3af J?ee [myn] herte and blood in fere. homage. Vnkynde, whi woldist pou not 30110 me pin 1 Thou art an vnkynde homagere, And vrith my foo pou makist pi. fyn, And seruest me with feble chore, To hym piu herte wole holly enclyn. And I am lord of blisse and pyne, And al[le] ]?ing[is] may lese and bynde ; A3eyns pee my gatys I wil tyne Al pG while J?oii art vnkynde.
100
105
Remoml>er tliat thou nrt in My hand, and turn to Me.
F. 57.
(10)
Man, bij?inke ]?ee what J?ou arte,
Fro whens pou cam, and whidir lpo\i art boim; 110
If Jxni pis day be hool and quarte, To-morowe I may put J?ee dotin. Lete my hie and mekenes melte pin herte ; pou ruwe vpon my passyoun,
My wyde Avoundis depe and smerte, 115
Wip cros[se], nay Us, spero, and corouw.
Late drede and good discrecyoun
Thyn herte holly vp to [me] seende ;
pou hast fyue wyttis and resou?i,
And, if J?ou wilt, pon may be kynde." 120
114. Catch-words My wyde.
IX. TO GOD
73
(11)
A, Lord ! with }?ee we wolen not plete, But, as Ipoii seist, it is and was ; We haue disserued helle lieete, But now we 3elde us vnto )?i gras. We wolen bowe, and |?ou schalt bete And chastise us for oure trespas ; Late mercy for us so now entrete pat nenere no feendis oure soulis clias. A, blisful Lady, fay re of fas, Helpe, for we ben fer bihynde ; Or wepynge we mown scye, " Alias, Wliy were we to oure freend vnkynde? AMEN.
125
130
Man's answer : Lortl, we have sinned ; have mercy on us ; Mary, help us.
IX To God
GOd, J?at madist al }?ing of noi^t, And -with Ipi precious blood us bou^t,
Mercy, helpe, and grace ! As J?ou art verry God and Man, And of J?i syde J?i blood ran,
For^eue us oure trespace !
pe world, oure flesch, J?e feend oure fo, Maid)? us mys-J?inke, mys-speke, mys-do ;
Al ]?us we falle in blame ; Of alle oure symies lasse and moore, Swete I]\esus, us ruwej? score ;
Mercy for J?in holy name !
10
F. 57 6.
O God, for give us tlie sins to which the world, the flesh and the devil have tempted us
X To oure Lady
MArye, Goddis rnodir dere, Socoure & helpe us while we bew here,
Gouerne, wisse, and rede ; As J?ou art modir, mayden, and wijf, dense us fro synne and graimtft good lijf, And helpe us in oure nede !
Mary, Virgin and Motlitr, help us.
5 F. 58.
74 THE WHEATLEY MANtfSCKtPT
XI To Seynt lohn
Saint John, C1 Eynt lohn, for grace Ipou crane
our Lonf, k5 P«t of Lis mercy he wole us sane,
intercede for • 1
And wliaraie we schulen fro liens weende, TIiou gcte us grace to make good eendo,
In lieuene blis wij? hym to reste ! AMEN.
XII [HYMN FROM THE SPECULUM CHRISTIANI]
Mary, Virgin "\/TArye inodir, wel ]?ee be !
and Mother,
prot e p
"\/T
Wl
J_TJL
oer, -\T r 3 i 1 • i
tect and J_TJL Marye m[aydenj, J^inke on
me
me , ]\j;ojir ami muyde was neuerc noon To-gydere, Lady, but J?ou aloone.
Ma[rye] modir, may den clene, 5
Schilde me to-day fro sorowe & tene.
Marye, out of synne lielpe \>o\\. me For thy Five And oute of dette for clinryte.
Marye, for pi ioyes fyuc,
F> 58 b Helpe me to lyue in clene lyue. 10
And for thy For }?e teeris ]?ou weptist vndir J?e rode,
tears by tlie 03 c i r i
Rood. bende me grace of lyues foode,
WherewiJ? [1] may me cloj?e and feecle
And in tru)?e my lijf lede. Help me and Helpe me, Lady, and al myne, 15
And scbilde us alle fro hello pyne ;
Sebilde us alle fro wordli scliame
And fro alfle] wickid fame ;
Schilde us fro vilanyo
And fro al wickid cuwpanye. 20
Swete Lady, mayden mylde,
Protect me A3eyn J?e feend[e] J?ou me schilde ;
from the ,- . r , n
fiend! pat ]?e teeiid me neuere dere,
Swete Lady, ]?oii me were *
2. MS. modir. 5. MS. mayden. 13. MS. me.
XII HYMN FROM THE SPECULUM CHR1STTANI
75
BoJ?e bi day and by ny^t, 25
Dere Lady, fair and bri^t. For my freendis I bidde ]?ee That ]?&{ [mut amemiid] be BoJ?e to soule and to lijf,
Marye, for J?i ioyes fij f. 30
For my foo-mcn I bidde also That I and J?ei may so do pat I ne ]?ei m wra)?}?c dye, Sweto Lady, I ]?ee preyc. [And] ]?o ]?at ben in good[e] lijf-j Marye, for j?i ioyes fijf, Swete Lady, J>ere-y7ine ]iem liolde, Be J?ei 3onge or be J?ei ooldc ; And ]?o ]?at ben in deedly sywne, Ne late hem neuere dye J^ere-ynne. Swete Lady, J?ou liem rede That J?oi amende her mysdede ; Marye, for ]?i ioyes alle, Ne late liem neuere in synne falle.
Preye Ipi sone, heuene kyng, 45
Sende me schrift, house], & good cendyng. Sende me, Lady, sich grace In heuene blis to haue a place. Marye, as I triste now to J?ee,
These preyers )?ou grannie me, 50
And lielpe me to haue J?at ilk blisse Tliat neuere [more] schal [ne] mysse. AMEN.
Pater noster. Aue Maria. Credo in Deuw.
28. MS. amendid mut. 35. MS. for.
I pray to thec for my friends,
F.59.
and for iny enemies,
35 for those who arc in grace,
and for those in 40 deadly sin.
May I re ceive the last Sacra ments at my denth, and enjoy eternal blis
F. 59 6.
76 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
XIII
[LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE]
Here bigywnej? a tretys of Adam and Eue, oure former fadir & modir, how ]?ei weren maad, where & where-of, how }?ei offendiden God, & what penauwce J?ei suifriden here jwfore, how manye sones & dou^tr/s J?ei hadden, & how longe 5 )?ei lyueden in J?is world, & of her eende.
The creation "l^T'Ow takij? hede ,]?at, whtmne oure Lord God hadde _Ll maad heuene [and er]?e] and alle )?e ourne-
F. 60. mentis of he??i, God say J?at }?ei weren gode, and | seyde :
"Make we man to oure ymage and liknesse, arid be 10 he souereyn to J?e fischis of ]?e see and to )?e volatils of heuene and to )?e vnresonable beestis of erj?e and to ech creature & to ech reptile which is moued on )?e er]?e." And God made of nou^t a man to his ymage and lik nesse; God made of nou^t a man to J?e ymage of God; 15 God made of nou^t hem male and female. And God blesside hem & seydo : " Encreesse 30 & be 36 multiplied, and fille 36 J?e er)?e and make 30 it soget, and be 30 lordis to J?e fischis of lp& see and to ]?e volatyls of heuene and to alle lyuynge beestis ]?at ben vpon er)?e." And 20 God seyde : " Lo, I haue 3omm to 3011 ech eerbe berynge seed vpon erj?e and alle trees ]?at han in hem-silf seed in her kynde, ]?at ]?o be in-to mete to 3ou and to alle lyuynge beestis upo?i er]?e and to ech brid of heuene
F. wi and to alle J?ingis J?at ben mouyd on er}?e and in which 25 is a lyuynge soule, J?at ]?o haue to ete." And it was doon so, and God say alle J^ingis whiche he made, and Jx> Averen ful gode (Genesis j°). § The Lord God }?a?me foormede man of )?e slijm of ]?e erj?e and spiride in-to ]?e face of him an entre of bree]? of lijf, and maad is man 30
Adam was into a soule ^euynge lijf. § Adam was maad in ]?e same
Betiiiehem. place of oure Lord God where ]?at Ihesu Crist was boriut ynne, ]?at is, in J?e cytee of Bethleem, which is in ]?e myddil of J?e er]?3 ; and J?ere, of foure corners of J?e
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE 77
world, Adam body was rnaad. § And auwgels brou^ten ]?at erj?e fro J?o foure parties, J?e whiclie auragels ben Mychael, Gabriel, Eafael, and Uryel. And ]?e er]?e J?at )?ese aungels brou^ten was br^t & schynynge as J?e 5 simne, and }?at erj?e was brou^t out of foure floodis, J?i«t is to seye, Geon, Phison, Tygris, and Euf rates. § Thawne is man lijk to ]?e ymage of | God maad,and God blew in his F. ei. face enspirynge of lijf, ]?at is to seye, his soule. § So as he was maad of foure parties of ]?e er]?e, also of foure 10 manor of wyndis he was enspirid. § Thanne oure Lord,
whanne Adam was maad, hadde seue him no name ; and The naming
of Adam.
J?a?me he seyde to J?e foure aungels J?at ]?ei schuldew seche hym a name. § And Michel wente for]? in-to ]?e eest, and ]?ere he say J?e sterre J?at hi^te Annocolura, and
15 he took J>e firste lettre J?e?-of. § And liafael wente for]? in-to J?e south, and foond J?o sterre of J>e south J?at hi^te Dysis, and lie took J?e first lettre J?ere-of. § And Gabriel wente in-to ]?Q north, and foond }?ere ]?e sterre of ]?e north J?at hi^te Arthos, and he took ]?e firste lettre
20 perof. § panne wente Yriel in-to J?e west, and foond J?ere Ipe sterre of ]?e west ]?at hi^te Mensembryon, and he took ]?e firste lettre Iperof. § Thejse lettris weren F. 616. brou^t to oure Lord, and he bad Vriel reden hem, and he radde hem, and seyde, "Adam," and oure Lord sayde,
25 " So schal his name be callid." Versus : Annotele dedit A, Disis D, A contulit Arthos, M Mensembrion ; collige, fiet [Adam]. And 30 schulen vndirstonde J^at Adam was maad of ei^te J?ingis. 0 partye was of ]?e Adam was sliym of ]?e erj?e, where-of his flesch was; and }?ere-of ho
30 is slou}. § AnoJ?e?- partye was of ]?e see, where-of his blood was ; and ]?ere-of he is couetous and bisy. § pe J?ridde partye was of stoonys of ]?e erj?e ; and J?erforo he is hard and bittir. § The foutye partye was of ]?e cloudis, where-of ben hise J?inkyngis wrou^t ; and Ipere-
35 of he ys leccherous. § Tlie fif}?e partye was of Ipe wynd, where-of is maad his breej? ; and Iperof. he is li}t. § The sixte partye was of ]?e surme, and perof ben hise
27. fiet has been added in the margin by the same hand. There is not room for Adam.
35. wag added above the line.
78 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
F. 62. i}en ; and peroi he is fair and cleer. § The seuej?e
partye is of )?e li^t of )?e world, where-of he is maad glad; and }?ere-of he ha)? his vndirstondyng. § The ei^t)?e partye is of J?e Holy Goost, and Iperof is mawnys soule; and peroi ben )?ese holy profetis and alle Goddis 5 children. § Forso)?e )?e Lord God plauntide Paradys of delyte fro J?e bigynnyng, in )?e which he sette man whamie he hadde foormyd hyin. And )?e Lord God brou^te for)? of J?e er)?e ech tre fair in si^t and swete to ete, also )?e tre of lijf in )?e myddil of Paradys, f and a 10 tre of knowyiige good and yuel. § Thanne )?e Lord
Adam is put God took man and putte hym in Paradys of delyte, )?at he schulde worche and kepe it ; and he comaimdide to hym, seiynge : " Of ech tre of Paradys ete ; of J>e tre of knowynge good and yuel ete J?ou not; and what 15
F. tin. euere \ day J?ou etist )?e?'of, wij? dee)? )?ou schalt dye." § The Lord God forso)?e seyde : " It is not good to man to"be aloone ; make we to hym an help lijk to him." § The Lord God foormede of )?e moist er)?e alle )?mgis of )?e er)?e hauynge soule and al volatiyl of heuene ; J?e 20 Lord Cod brou3te hem to Adam, )?at he schulde se what he schulde clepe hem. Al }?ing forso)?e of soule lyuynge, aftir )?e kynde and )?e propirte of it he ^af it name, and ri^t as Adam clepide. hem, sich is )?e name of hem ; but to Adam forso)?e was not founden an helper lijk to hym. 25
The making §Thanne scute Ipe Lord sleep in-to Adam ; and, whanne he was a-slepe, he took 0011 of hise ribbis and fillid flesch for it. And )?e Lord God edifyede )?e rib which he took of Adam in-to a womnian, and brou^te hir to Adam. § Thamie Adam seyde : " pis is now a boon of my 30
F. 63. boonys and flesch of my flesch ; )?is schal be | clepid
ma/my s dcede, for sche is taken of man." Wherfore a man schal forsake his fadir and modir, and schal drawe to his wijf ; .and two sclmlen be in o flesch. § Ei)?ir for- so)?e of hem was nakid, J>at is, Adam and his wijf, and 35
The temp. )?ei schameden not (Genesis iii°). 8 But l?e addir was
tation and . ,,
fun of man. teller )?anvony lyuers on erj?e )?e whiche )?e Lord God made, pe which seyde to p& womnian : " Win comaun-
10. MS. uJds and took man and put hym in paradys.
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE 79
dide God to 3011 f>at 30 sclmldon not ete of ech tre of Paradys?" To whom answerido J?e wowman : "Of £>e fruyt of J?e trees J?at ben in Paradys we eten, but of J?e fruyt of ]?e tre }?at is in ]?e myddis of Paradys comauii-
5 dide us God }?at we schulden not ete, and J?at we schulden not touche it, leste perauenture we dyen." § ForsoJ?e ]?e addir seyde to J?e wowflnan : "pom decj? 366 schulen not dye. God forsoj?e woot ]?at in | what F. 636. euere day 30 elen J?e?-of, 301110 i3en scliulen ben openyd,
10 and 30 scliulen be as goddis, knowynge good and yuel." § Tha?me J?e woininan say ]?at ]?e tre was good and swete for to ete, and fair to ]?e i3en, and dely table in ]?e si3t ; and sche took of ]?e fruyt of it, [and eet], and 3af to hu man, ]?e which eet; and )?e i3en of boj?e ben openyd.
15 § And wharaie J?ei knewen hem-silf to be nnkid, )?ei sewiden to-gydere leuys of fyge trees and maden hem brechis. § And wharaie J?ei herden J?e vois of ]?e Lord goynge in Paradys [in] ]?e schynynge aftir mydday, Adam and his wijf hidden hem fro Tpe face of J?e Lord
20 God in J?e myddil of J?e trees of Paradys. And ]?e Lord God clepide Adam and seyde to hym, " Where artow 1" ; which seyde : "pi voys I herde in Paradys, and I dreclde )?ere-J?oru J?at 1 1 was nakid, and I hidde me." To whom F. 64. seyde ]?e Lord: "Who forsoj>e schewide )?ee J?at J?ou
25 were nakid, but J?at J?ou eet of J?e tre of the which I comaundide )?ee J?at J?ou scliuldist not ete 1 " And Adam seyde: "pe wo?>nnan f>at ]?ou 3auest felawe to me, 3af to me of ]?e tre, and I eet." And J?e Lord seyde to J?e womman : " Whi ditlist J?ou J?at 1 " pe which answeride :
30 " pe addir bigylide me, and I eet." And Ipe Lord God seyde to J?e serpent: "For J?ou hast do )?is J>ing, }?ou schalt be cursid among alle \>Q soule-hauers and beestis of J?c er)?e ; vpon J?i brest J?ou schalt go,, and erj?e ]?ou schalt ete alle dayes of J?i lijf. Vnreste I schal put
35 bitwene J?ee and Tpe womman, and J?i seed and hir seed ; sche schal trede J?in heed, and J>ou schalt aspie to hir hele." § To )?e \vo/?iman forsoj?e God seyde : " I schal multiplie J?i dissesis and J?i | conseyuynges ; in sorowe F, 84 &.
18. MS. and,
80
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
F. es.
Adam and
U0ll>
. 65 b.
J?ou schalt here children, and J?ou schalt be vndir J?o power of >>e man, & lie scbal liaue lordschip on J?ee." § To Adam forsoj?e lie seide : " For j?ou hast herd ]?e vois of Jn wijf, and J?ou hast ete of J?e tre of po which I comaimdide J>at J>ou schuldist not ote, cnrsid is J>e erj?e in J?i werk ; in traueile J?ou schalt ete of it alle J?e dayes of J?i lijf; it schal buriowne to J?ee J?ornes and breris, and J?ou schalt ete J?e eerbis of J?e erj>e ; in ]?o swoot of J?i face or cheer J>ou schalt ete J?i breed, vnto J?e tyme J>at J>ou turne a3eyn in-to J?e erj?e of J?e whicli j?ou art taken ; for poudir J»ou art and i?i-to ^oudir J?ou schalt turne." § And Adam clepide J?e name of his wijf Eue, J?oru J?at J?at sche was modir of alle ]?ingis lyuynge. For J?e Lord God forso]?e made to Adam and to his wijf ,^ lej?eren cootis and cloj?ide \\ern, and seyde : " Se, Adam is maad as oon of | us, knowynge good and yuel. Now J?anne [lest] pe?'aiienture he put out his bond and tako also of J?e tre of lijf and ete and lyue eueremoore, — " And }?e Lord God sente hyin oute of Paradys of delyte ]?at he worche J?e erj?e of ]?e wliich he was taken ; and 20 he J?rew out Adam, and he se[t]te cherubyn bifore Paradys of delyte, and a flawmynge swerd and ply aunt to J?e wey of ]?e tre of lijf to ben kepte.
This }?at suwij? now aftir was doon aftir J?at Adam was cast out of Paradys in-to pis woful place. 25
A Ftir J?at Adam and Eue weren cast out of Paradys, J?ei -LjL wenten in-to ]?e west, and maden hem J?ere a taber- nacle, and J?ere ]?ei dwelten seueue dayes, wepiwge, sorow- ynge, and criynge in grettist tribulacyoun. Aftir J?o seuene dayes J?ei bigunnen to hungir ; ]?ei sou^ten mete and foun- 30 | Jen noon J?at }?ei my3ten ete. § And )?a?me seyde Eue to Adam : " My lord, I hungre soore. Whi go ^e not to seke J?ing ]?at we n^teii ete and J?ereby lyue, if perau- enture oure Lord God wole loke on us, and haue mercy on us, and clepe us a^ein to J?e stide ]?ere we woneden 35 first 1 " § Thanne aroos Adam aftir J?o seuene dayes, and ^ede aboute in )?e lond oj?ere seuene dayes, and foond
16. Catch-word us. 21. MS. sente.
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE
81
no sich mete as J?ei hadden in Parailys. § Thawie seyde Eue to Adam eft: " My lord, I dye for hungw. Wolde God J?at I my3te dye, or ellis J?at I were slayen of J?ee, for-wlii for mo is God wrooj? wij? ]?ee." And J?nnne 5 seyde Adam : " Greet is in heuene and in er]?e bis Avra]?]?e ; whe)?ir it be for J>ee or for me, I noot." § Ami eft seyde Eue to Adam : "My lord, sle me, \>a\> I may be doon awey fro J?e face of God, & fro J>e si}t of hise aungels, so J?at ourc Lord | for^ete to be wrooj? wij? J?ee,
10 so j?at he my^te lede J?ee a^eyn in-to Pnradys ; for-whi for J?e cause of me j?ou art put out perof." § Thanno seyde Adam : " Ene, speke no moore so, leste oure Lord God sende Ids malysoun upon us. How my^te it be J?nt I schulde putte myn hond in-to my flesch, J?at is to seye,"j"
15 bow my^te it be ]?at I schulde sle my fleiscli 1 But aryse, go we and seke we where-wij? to lyue, and ne stynte we not to seche." § Thamie J?ei wenten and sou^ten nyne dayes, but J?ei founden not siclie as pci hadden in Paradys ; nameless siclie J?ei foiinden as beestis
20 ceten. § Tlm?me seyde Adam to Eue : " Oure Lord God delyueride mete to beestis, but to us he deliueride mete of aungels. But make we sorowe [and doo penaunce] bifore J?e si^t of oure Lord J?at made us fourty day|es, if liappily oure Lord God J?at made us for^eue us and
25 ordeyne us Avhere-wiJ? to lyue." § Tha?me seyde Eue to Adam : " My lord, sey me what is penaunce, or how we schulden do penauwce ; leste happily we taken upon us J?at we may not fulfille, and oure preyers be not herd, and God turne his face fro us, if Ave fulfille not )?at we
30 han bihote. § Thou, my lord, why seist J?ou so? Whi Jxm^tist J?ou to do penau7ice, for I haue brou^t )?ee to tribulaciouw 1 " § pa;aie seyde Adam to Eue : " My^tist J?ou nott suffre as manye dayes as I may ; suffre as manye, and ]?ou schalt be saaf. I schal suffre fourty
35 dayes and seuene, for al )?iwg was maad, confermyd, and blessid in seuene dayes. Arise, and go J?ou to J>e flood of Tygre, and bere a stoon wij? J?ee, and stonde J?ere-on in J?e watir vp to J?e necke, and lete no word come out
F. 66.
F. 666.
They do
] ic nance in Jordan and Tigris.
14. MS. repeals How my3te it be . .
15. soule crossed out before fleisch. WHEATLEY MS.
)>at is to seye.
&2 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCtllfcT
F. er. of pi moiij?; for we be?i | vnwoij?i for to praye God, for
ouie lippis ben vnclene, for we eeten of J?e forboden tre. Be }?ere fourty dayes, and I sclial go in-to Ipe flinn Jordan, and be J?ere fourty dayes and seuene, if happily cure Lord God wole haue mercy of us." § And Eue jede 5 in-to J?e watir of Tygre, as Adam bad ; & Adam 3ede in-to the flum Jordan, and leyde his stoon in }?e botme of J?e watir, and stood ]?ere-vpon to ]?e necke in ]?e flood ; and )?e heer of his heed was spied abrood on ]?e watir.
Theiamen- Se now J?c s6rowyngc of Adam here. 10
tat:on of
Adam. g Thanne seyde Adam : " I seye to }?ee, lordan, gadere
to-gydere J?i wawis and alle lyuynge beestis wi]?-i?me ]?ee, and come]? aboute me and maakij? sorowe wi]? me. JSTot for ^ou-silf make 30 sorowe, but al for me ; for 36 han
F> 67 6 not synned, but I wickidly a3eyns my Lord | liaue synned. 1 5
NeiJ?ir 30 diden ony defaute, neij?ir 36 ben bigylid f[ro] 30111-6 sustenauuce, nei]?ir f[ro] 30111-6 metis ordeyned to 3011 ; but I am bigylid f[ro] my sustenaunce which was ordeyned for me."
Se now how alle lyuynge ]?ingis sorowiden to-gydere 20 wi]? Adam.
Whanne Adam hackle maad al l?is lamentaciouw wij? sikynge and soruful toeris, ]?anne allo lyuynge J?iiigis on er]?e, fisch, foul, and beest, cam[e?i] aboute liym makynge sorowe wi]? hym, and J?e watir also soruyngly 25 stood stille in J?at tyme of preiynge. § Thanne Adam wij? teeris criede to ]?e Lord fro day to day, so ]?at his vois wexide hors. § And whanne nynetene dayes of sorowynge weren fulflllid of Adam and of Eue and alle lyuynge j?ingis }?at sorowiden wij? hem for her syniie, 30 F. 63. ]?anne his ad|uersarye J?s feend, stirid wij? wraJ?J?e and
enuye to hem ward, transfyguride hym in-to a fnyr ymage, and wente to )?e flood of Tygre ]?ere Eue \\as sorowynge, and cam to hir and wepte wij? hir.
16. MS. for. 17. MS. for.
18. MS. for. 24. MS. came.
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE S3
Now se how be feend trecherously spak to Eue. Satan de-
reives Eve,
§ Thanne cam be feend to Eue and seyde : " Come out
of bo flood and wepe 110 more, for bou art dischargid of *o forsake al bin obir penaunce, for God hab seen ^oure sorowis, 5 and hab foi^eue ^ou ^oure trespassis at be preyer of me and of alle opera aungelys. perfore come now out, for Adam bi lord is out, and God sente me to bee, to lede Adam and bee to ^oure sustenaunce a^eyii which 36 hadden in Paradys, and losten for ^oure synne. And
10 berfore come out, bat 30 weren at 30111-6 mete bat is
maad redy." § Tliauue Eue wente out of be wa|tir, and F. 686. liir flesch was greene as gras for coold of be watir, and whanne sche cam to loud sche fel down for feblenesse, and lay bere stille as deed almoost a day ; and be deuel
15 took hir up and cumfortide hir, and brou^te hir to Adam.
S And wliaime Adam say hir, he cryede wepynge : " 0 Adam
J J denounces
Eue, where is ]?e werk of ]?i penaunce ; liow is it J>at Satan. oure enemy haj? }nis bigylid J?ee, ]?e which bigylide us fro oure dwellynge place in Paradys and oure goostly
20 ioye 1 " § Wlianue Eue herde ]?is, sche knew hir-silt' bigylid J?oru J?e feend, and fel grouelynge to J?e ei]?e, and ]?anue was hir sorowe doublicl. § Thanne Adam fel down, and his sorowe doublide, and cryede and seyde : " Curside be ]?ou, deuel ; what eylide J?ee at us ; what
25 haue we doon to J?ee ; why doost J?ou sich malice to us ;
haue we ou^t bynome J?ee pi \ ioye or ]?i honour ; whi F. 69. fi3tist pou pus a3ei?is us, )?oii envious deuel and wickid ] "
Se now pe answer of pe deuel to Adam. Satan relates
30 Da/me answeride be deuel sorufully and sevde : "0 cast out of
Heaven Adam, al myn envye, malyce, and sorowe is boru bee, for because he
would not
boru bee 1 am kepte iro my ioye and cast out of myn worship heritage bat I hadde in heue.ne among auugels, and for bee I am cast out in-to erbe."
35 pe answer of Adam to be deuel.
Adam answeride and seyde to be deuel : "What haue I do to bee, or wherfore blamest pou me1? pou were vnknowen to me, ne I wiste not of bee."
84 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Now J?e answer of }?e deuel to Adam.
The deuel seyde to Adam : «' J)ou woost not what J?ou seist, for in ]?at day J?at J?ou were maad, I was cast down fro heuene ; and whanne God blew in J?ee J?e spiryfc of F. 69&. lijf, and j?ou were ma|ad to J?e liknesse of God, and 5 Michel ledde J?ce bifore God, and God seyde : ' Lo, I liaue niaad Adam as oon of us, —
Se now how Michel wolde haue Adam to be worschipid by Goddis ordynaiwce.
" Michel went for)? and clepide alle aungels, and seyde : 10 'Worschipe $ee )?e ymage of God, as God ha]? com- aimdid.' And folk My^hel firsts honouiide him, and clepide and seyde to me : ' Honoure )?e ymage of cure Lord God.' And I answeride and seyde : ' Nay, nay ; I haue not to doone to worschipe Adam.' § Whanne 15 Michel chargide me to worschipe J?ee, I seyde to hym : ' Where-wi}? chargist J?ou me ] I wole not worschipe a foulir ]?an I am. I am fairer ]?an he, and I was afore alle creaturis ; and eer he was, T was maad ; and ]?erfore lie schal worschipe me, and I not hym.' And olpere 20 aungels ]?at herden pis wolden not worschipe hym. F TO. § Tha%|ne seyde My^hel : ' Worschipe J?ou J?e ymage of
God, or God wole be wroo]? wij? )?ee.' And I seyde to hym : ' If God be wrooj? wij? me, I schal sette my seete on ]?e stems of heuene, and be lijk to hym ]?at is alj?ir 25 hi^este.' "
Se now how Lucifer was putt out of heuene for his pryde and vnobedience.
§ " Thamie God was wrooj? wij? me, and comaundide )?at I schulde be dryuen out of heuene, and out of my 30 ioye, wij? mjn aungels ; and so by J?e cause of J?ee we ben cast out of oure dwellynge, and put here in-to erj?e. And anoon I was brou^t in sorowe and angre, for I was put out of al my ioye, and )?ou were put yn alle delycis and murj?is. And J?erfore I bigan to be envyous to 35 |?ee-Avard, and 1 niy^te not suifre J?ee to be so in ioye, ne 23. MS. wrooj> crossed out after wroo}>.
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE
85
lyue in so myche muij>e. But J?anne I wente and bigi- lide the | wowman, and wi]? hir I bigilide J?ee f[ro] alle ]?i delicis, murj?is, and ioyes, ri^t as I was put out of my glorious beynge." § Whawne Adam lierde )?is, he criede 5 wepynge, and seyde : " Lord God, my lijf is in J>in liondis; make J?at J?is wickid aduersarye be fer from me, for lie seki}? euere in al J?at he may to spille my soule. Lord, graunte me J?e ioye ]?at he lees ! " § Whanne Adam J>is lamentacyoun liaddc maad, J?e deuel vaneschide 10 awey fro his si^t, and Adam truly fulfillicle ]?ere fourty dayes and seuene in penaunce in J?e watir of Jordan.
F. 70 6.
Adam coir.-
l>leteshis
penance.
Now se here fityirmoore how Eue spak to Adam.
§ And Eue seyde to Adam : " My Lord God lyuej? ; to ]?ee is graimtid lijf, and my lijf is grauntid to )?ee ;
15 for at Tpe firste tyme, netyir at J?e laste, J>ou were not cursid ; but I am cursid and bigilid, for I kepte | not J?e heestis of God. And now departe me fro J?e li^t of J?is lijf, for I wole be departid fro J?e si^t of )?ee, for I am not worjn to se )?ee, neij?ir to liaue murj?e of J?ee ne
20 cumfort for my wickidnesse ; but I wole weende as fer as I may in-to ]?e west, and clwelle J?erc til J?at I dye." And sche wentc for)? in-to J?e west wi]? greet sorowe, and made liir a wonyinge styde to dwellen yune, and wepte J?ere-ynne bittirly ; and ]?at tyme sche hadd go wij?
25 cliilde J>re monej?is. § And whanne )?e tyme cam of birj?e, sche was trauelid wij? manye dyuerse sijknessis. And sche mette wij? oure Lord, and seyde to hym : " Lord, liauc mercy on me and helpe me," and God herde liir not, neij^e?' hadde mercy on hir. § And sche
30 seyde to hir-silf wi]? moornynge cheere : " Who schal now do my lord to wyten of my wo1? I preye [jou], li^ltis in heuene, whawne ^e turnen a-^eyn in-to )?e eest, j?at 30 schewe my sorowes to Adam myn husbonde." As soone as sche hadde \>m preyed, hir dissesis weren
35 openyd to Adam. § And whanne Adam knew hir sorowes, he seyde : " J)e dissese of my wijf Eue is comen to me, and J?erfore, leste )?e wickid addir J?e feend come
F. 71.
Eve departs into the West.
F. 71 b.
Warned of her sickness by the light s of Heaven, Adam visits her.
2. MS. for.
31. MS. pe.
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
and fi^te wij? hir, I wole go and visyten hir." And lie wente for]?, and foond hir in greet sorowe and dissese. § And anoon whnrane Eue say hi???, sche seyde : " My soule and lijf is wel refreyschid povu pe si^t of Adam." p;wne seyde Eue to Adam : " Now, good lord, preyo 5 for me, pat I my^te be delyuerid fro pese worate peynes." And Adam preyede to God for hir.
Se now here of pe midwyues of Eue and of pe delyuerauwce of Caym hir child.
And J?anne pere camen twelne anngels | and two 10 The birth of vertues, ]?at is to seye, two opere ordris of aungels, stondynge al aboute liir, boj?e on pe ri^t syde and on pe lift syde. § And Michel stood on pe ri^t syde and tonchide hir face and hir brest, and he seyde to hir : " Eue, pon art blessid for Adam, J>at is, for the penaunce 15 and )?e preyers of hym ; for J?oru hise preyers we ben sent to pee, J?at J?ou my^te vndirstonde help and soconr of Goddis aungels. But ryse pou, and make pee redy to PQ. birj?e, for pi tynie is ny^." And sche made hir redy perto, and sche childide a sone AviJ? sorowe. § And 20 anoon pt child roos up and ran iorp and took gras in hise hondis and 3 if to hise modir, and pel clepiden his name Caym. § Tha?me Adam took Eue and hir child, and ledde hem i?«-to pe eest. And cure Lord God F. v-26. sente Michel pe archaungel to sowe dyuerse seedis, | and 25 ^af hem to Adam, and tan^to Adam to wirke and to tilye pe lond and to haue fruyt to lyue by, and alle pe generaciouns aftir hem.
The birth of Now anoon suwynge here aftir Adam cu??ipanyede
wij?hiswijf. 30
§ Thawne Eue conseyuede and bare a sone )?at hi^te Abel, and Caym and Abel woneden to-gydere. And n-ani ^ue sey^e to ^aYm : " My dere sone, as I slepte my-
J^ou^te I say pe blood of Abel pi brojrir falle in pin hondis." And pe same sche toolde to Adam, and Adam 35 seyde : " I drede pat Caym schal sle Abel ; J?erfore J?ei schulen be departid and dwellen a-sundir." And J?ei
ni
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE
maden hem dwellynge placis pat oon fer fro put opere, and maden Caym a tylier of erpe, and Abel a scheparde. And }it aftinvard Caym si 0113 Abel.
Se how Caym sloii3 Abel.
5 § That tyme pat Caym sloii3 Abel, thanne | Adam was F. 73. an hundrid and pritti 3eer oold. Aftir knew Adam Eue his wijf, and gate a soue J?at hi3te Seth. pamie seyde The birth Adam to Eue : " I haue bigeten a sone for Abel, pe which Caym 810113." § Thanne lyuede Adam aftir he 10 bigat Seetli ei^te hundrid 3eer, and bigat ]?ritti sones and two and Jmtty doi^tris. Alle hise children weren sixti and fyue, whiche multiplieden greetly on pe erpe.
§ This )?at sue}? tellip how Caym slou3 Abel, and of pe veniaunce J?at God took of Caym (Genesis ii[i]j°).
15 A Ftir manye dayes. Caym schulde off re of pe fruytis The siayin JTjLof pe evpe and jiftis to pe Lord; Abel forsope offride pe firste bigeten of hys flok and of pe fatnesse of hem. And pe Lord biheld to Abel and to hise 3iftis ; to Caym forsoj?e and to hise 3iftis he bihelde not. And
20 Caym was greet jly wroo)?, and pere-wip fille his cheer. F. 736. And pe Lord seyde to hym : " Win artow wroo}?, and wlii J?ere-wi]? fallij? J?i cheer? Schaltow not resseyue, if J?ou doost wel? ellis forso]?e yuel, anoon in pi 3atis pi "j~ synne schal be at J?ee. But vndir pee schal be
25 pe appetyte of him, and pon schalt haue pe lordschip of him." And Cnym seyde to Abel his bro]?ir, " Go we out," and whanne pei weren in pe fecld, Caym aroos a^eins his bro}?ir Abel and slou3 him. And pe Lord seyde: "Caym, where is Abel pi bro]?ir?" Which
30 answeride : " I woot nere Avhere ; am I pe keper of my bro]?ir ? " And he seyde to hym : " What hast pou do? pe vois of [pe blood of] pi bro)?ir crie]? to me fro pe er}?e. Now J?anne pou schalt be cursid upon pe erj?e, which opencde his monj?, and took pe blood of J?i bro}?ir
35 of p'ui bond. Whanne pou worchist pe evpe he schal
not 3eue to pee \ hyse fruytis; vagaunt and fer fugytif F. 74. pon schalt be on erj?e alle pe dayes of pi lijf." 5. Catch-ivord Adam. 24. MS. |n bi synne.
88 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Se J?e answer of Caym to his Lord God § Thanue Caym seydc to J?e Lord God: "Moore is my wickidnesse ]?an }?at 1 disserue foi^eucriesse. Se, pou caste me out pis day fro pe face of p& erj?e, and fro pi face I sclial be hid, and I schal be vagaunt and fer 5 fugitijf in er£»e ; alle J>arine ]?at schal fynde me schal sle me." And the Lord seyde to hym : " It sclial not be doon so, but al J?at sehal sle Caym schal be seuenefoold poneschid." And pG Lord sette a signe in Caym, J?at Thegener- ech J?at fyndi)? hym schulde not sle him. § And Caym 10 CniT°f passide out fro pe face of pQ Lord, and dwellide fer fugitijf in pe er)?e at J?e eest place of Eden. Caym forso]?e knewe his wijf, which conseyuede and bar r. 746. Ennok; and he bildide a cytee, and | clepide pc name
of it aftir ]?e name of his sone Ennok. § And Ennok 15 gate Irad, and Irad gaat Mauyacl, and Mauyael gaate Matusael, and Matusael gate Lameth, J?e which took two wyues, pe name of J?at oon Ada, and ]?e name of J?at otycre Sella ; and he gaat label, ]?at was fadir of dwellers in tentis and of schepardis ; and )?e name of his broj?ir 20 Tubal, he was J?e fadir of syngers in harpe and orgon. Sella gate Tubalcaym, J?at was an hamer-smyth and a sniyth into alle werkis of bras and of irtw, and J?e sistir of Tubalcaym, Noema. And Lameth seyde to hise wyues Ada and Sella : " Hcere 36 my voys, wyuc-s of 25 Lameth, and herkne 30 my wrord ; for I slou^ a man in-to woundc, a ^onge wexynge man in -to my wannesse. Veniaunce sclial be ^omm of Caym seuenefoold, of F 75 Lameth forsoj?e | seucntisithe seuenfoold." § Forso^e }it
Adam knew hys wijf, and sche bar a sone and clepide 30 pe name of hym Seeth, seiynge : "God sente to me - anoj>ir seed for Abel, whom Caym slou}." But and to Seth is boren a sone, whom he clepide Enos ; J?is bigan inwardly to clepe J?e name of }?e Lord (Genesis iiijto). Adnmre. § And Adam seyde to Seeth: "Sone, heere me, and 35 how i.e was' I sclial telle to J?ce what I say and herde aftir J?at we weren cast out of Paradys. I and pi modir as we weren in orisoun, Michel J?e archaungel, Goddis messanger, cam to me, and I say ordris of aungels as )?icke as wynd beynge
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE 89
in a fair eercle,and I say a chare, andj?e whelis tyerof asfier. panne I was raueschid in-io Puradys, and J>ere I say onre Lord, and his semelaunt was as fier breftiiyngc, and his | cheer was so bri^t J?at I mi^te not endure to P- 756. 5 loke )?ere-upon ; and a greet multitude of aungcls weren a-boute ]?e beemys of )?e bri^tnesse of hys scmelaimt. § And I say a-noj>er wondirful cuiu]>anye of aungels beynge on his ri}t syde and lift syde ; and I was in greet drcede, and made my preyer to God in erj>e. And my 10 Lord God seyde to me: * Wyio J?ou wel J?at J>ou schalt dye, for )?ou foi^ete my coniaundement, and herdist J>e word of J?i wijf which I }af to J?ee to be J?in vndirlyng and )?i soget at ]?i wille, and J>ou obeyedist to hir and not to me.'"
15 Se now here ]?e preyer of Adam folewmge. Adam's
prajer 1o
§ Thanne seyde Adam : "Nowwhanne I herde )?ese God> wordis, I fel down to )?e ei)?e and seyde : ' Lord moost my^tful and moost merciable, God boj?e blessid and meke, ne for^ete not pe worschipful name of | J?i digny te, P. ~f.
20 but conuerte J?ou my soule, for I dye, and my spiryt passij? out of my mouj?. Ne caste me not a-wey fro )?i face, which ]?ou hast maad of J?e sliym of )?e erj?e ; neij?ir putte J?ou liym bihynde, )?at J?ou hast norischid wij? J?i grace. Bihold on me, Lord, how Jn wordis
25 brennen me.' "
Lo now, how God speki}? to Adam. cod-s
" And oure Lord God seyde : ' For J?in herte is sich J?at J?ou louest science and goodnesse, and repentist ]?ee, J?ou schalt not be doon awey fro \>\ kunnyng, and J?e
30 seed J?at come}? of J?ee, J?at wole seme me, schal neuere be lore.' § And wharone I herde J?ese wordis, I honouride liym lowly on J?e er}?e, and seyde: ' J)ou art God vtiih- oute bigynnyng and eendyng, and e[ue>'y] creature owij? to worschipe ]?ee and loue )?ee. pou art aboue alle
35 li^tis s[chy]|nynge, J?ou art veny li^t of lijf, J»ou art sich F. 766. J?at no tuuge may telle^ne comprehenden in witt. § O
4. not written above the line. 33. MS. faded. 35. MS. faded.
90 THE WHKATLEY MANUSCRIPT
J>ilk greet v<*rtu of God, alle creaturis ^euen to J?ae honour and preisi?^g ; whanne Ipon hast maacl mankynde J?oru YI greet vertn, it bihoue]? J?ee to be worschipid.' § And anoon as I hadde preyed J?is,f Michel J?e arch- aungel of God took myn liond and caste me out of 5 Paradys in }?e visitacionns fro ]?e si^t of God. And Michel liclde a ^erde in his liond, wi]? which lie touchide J?e \vat?^'s J?at weren in J>e circuyte of Paradys ; & wi]? j?e which touching of ]?e forseid ^erde ]?ei congyliden to-gydere in-to yse. And I wente vpon hem, and 10 Michel wente wij? me, and ladde me a^eyn in-to ]?e place of Paradys fro )?e which he raueschide me, and efte F 77 a^eynward he ledde me 'to J?e lake )?ere he raueschide
me."
The Se now how Adam schewide to his sone Seeth J?ingis 15
Ad?m.ecy °f J>at weren to-comynge af tir.
§ "Now, my sone Seeth, heere me, and I schal schewe to ]?ee J?e pryuytees ]?at ben to come, and ]?e sacrainentis J?at ben schewid to me ; for win I vndirstood and knevve J?ingis ]?at ben to come in J?is world tempera! J?e whiche 20 God made for mannys kynde, J?at is to seye, I hadde my knowiwge and myn vndirstondyng of J?ing J?at is to-comynge by pe etynge J?at I eet of ^e tre of vndir- stondynge. § Also I vndirstood ]?at God schal schewe him in foorme of fier, and go out of J?e seete of his 25 maieste, and he schal ^eue to men hise heestis, and make hem holy in the hows of his maieste. And God schal F 776. sche|we to hem a meruelous place of his magiste, vpon whiche pel schulen make dwellynge placis in erj?e ; and J?ere }?ei schulen bigge an hous on erj?e to her God. 30 And J?ei schulen breke hise comaundementis, and her holy place schal be brent, and her loud schal be forsake, and ech of hem schal be clryn[ew] fro o]?ir, for pei wolen wraJ>J?e God. And J?e seuej?e day God schal make hem saaf, and brynge hem a^ein to-gydere, and eft J?ei 35 schulen bigge newe housis to her God, and J?anne schal J?e laste hous of God be betir saued J?an J?e first. And
4. MS. >is pis Mijhel. 33. MS. dryue.
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE 91
eft soone schal schrewidnesse overcome ri^twijsnesse, and eft schal God dwelle with men in erj?e to be seyen, and J?nnne schal ri^twijsnesse bigynne for to schyne, and [enjemyes schnlen no moore power haue to [noy] 5 ony man J?at trowij? in God. And he | schal sane his F- rs- folk, and ]?e wickid men sclmlen be poneschid and departid from God, for J?ei wolden not kepe hise heestis ne his lawe, and God schal reyse a saaf peple to be mand wi}?-outen eende. And wickide men echulen put
10 Adam out of his kyngdom, and aftirward who J?at wole of j?at kyngdom lone heuene and er)?e, ny^tis and dayes, and alle creaturis worschipynge to J?e Lord ; and J?ei schnlen not breke hise comaundementis, ne ]?ei schulen not chaunge hise werkis. And men for^etynge J?e
15 comanndementis of God, J?ei schulen be chaungid ; for God schal putt out wickide men, and ri^twise men schulen dwelle as ri^twijsnesse in \>Q si^t of God. And in J?at tyme men schulen be purifyed of her syniie by watir of Cristendom, not | willynge to be purified by F. 786.
20 watir. Wijs is Ipat man J?at amendij? his soule, for win ]?ere schal be a greet day of iuggement a-mong synful men, and her deedis schulen ben enqwerid of ri^twijs God her inse."
Se now how Adam clepide to-gydere alle hise children, Adam cans
„ ' his children
95 and enfoormede hem of manye Jnngis, and to him.
schewide he??i pat he was ny$ ]?e deej?.
ANd whanne Adam was of nyne hundrid and gritty ^eer oold, he wiste wel }?at hise lijf dayes schnlden soone eende. He seyde to Eue : " Gadere to-gydere alle
30 my children bifore me, J>at I may spcke to hem and blesse hem eer I dye." And ]?ei camen to-gydere in J?re partyes bifore his preiynge place where Adam hadde preyed to oure Lord God, and ]?ei camen to-gydere wi]? o vois, seiynge ; "What sey ^e to us, fadirl Win j ben F. 79
35 we gaderid hidir, and win liggist ]?ou in J?i bed1? Sey to us what is Ipi wille, J?at we do it."
4. MS. faded.
92 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
Now Adam spak to hise children.
§ Thanne Adam answeride and seyde: "My children, me is ftil wo, and wij? sorowis I am tnuielid." And hise children seyden to hym : " Fadir, what is it to haue yuel, and wip sorowis to be traueylid 1 "
setu off«re How Seeth spak to Adam his fadir.
to go to
Paradispami s Thawne seide Seeth to Adam his fadir : " Lord my
nsk for Ilie
fruit thereof, fadir, happily }?ou hast desyrid for to etc of )?e fruyt of Paradys, of }>Q which sumtyme ]?ou eete ; and Jwforc, I suppose, Ipou liggist Jnis in sorowe. Wiltow J>at I go 10 and nei^he J?e ^atis of Paradys, and do dust on myn heed, and falle doim to ]?e er]?e biforo J?e 3atis of Paradys, and crye in greet lamentaciotm, preiynge oure Lord, and • F. 796. happily he wole heere me and | seende hy s aungel to me,
to brynge me J?at J?ou desirisU " 15
Now Adam spak to Seeth.
§ Thanne Adam answeride and scyde : " Sone, I desyre no J?ing, but I waxe fid sijk and haue greet pen au nee in my body."
The answer of Seeth to Adam. 20
§ Seeth answeride : " Fadir, I noot what sorowe is ; J?erfore sey ]?ou what it is and hyle it not."
Adam tens Se whi Adam was put in Paradys.
of the Pali. § Thanne seyde Adam : " Heeri]?, alle my children,
whanne God made me and 3 owe modir, and putte ns 25 in Paradys, and ^af us alle J?e trees berynge fruyt to eten of whanne we wolden, but oonly of ]?e tre of knowynge good and yuel, J?at stondij? in pe mj^ddil - of Pa?*adys. § pus God puttc us in Paradys, and' $af me power in J?e eest and in J?e partye J?at is a^ens J>e 30
P. so. nor]?, and to ^oure modir he }af fro J?e south vnto J?e
west, and ^af us two aimgels to kepe us. pe tyme cam J?at J?ese aungels wenten in-to J?e si}t of God hym to honoure. panne anoon J?e feend foond a place in ^oure modir, and counseilide hir to etc of J?e forboden tre; 35 and sche eet, and profride me to etc, and I eet. And
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE
93
,1110011 oure Lord God was wrooj? to us, and seyde to me : ' For J?ou hast forsake my comaundementis, and J?at I ordeynede to J?ee J?ou hast not kepte, se, now I schal caste in-to ]?i body seuenty woundis of dyuerse 5 sor[o]wes ; fro J?e corouw of J?in heed vnto J?e sole of f>i f[oo]t alle dyuerse membris of ]?i body be }?ei turmentid.' Lo, manye sijknessis God ha}? ordeyned us, and to alle oure osprynge." § This Adam sciynge to hise sones, he is taken wij? greet sorowis, and he cr[i]cdo wij? greet 10 vois and seyde : " Wh[at] | sclial I, wrecche, do ]?at am putt in }?ese sorowes 1 "
Se now J?e lamentacyoun of Eue.
And whnnne Eue hadde herd ]?is sorowe of hir hus- bonde, sche bigan to wepe and seyde : " Lord God,
15 putte J?[ese] sorowes in me, for whi I haue trespassid, and nott he." And sche seyde to Adam : "Good syre, ^eue me part of ^oure sorowes, for my defautis maken J?ee to haue sorowes." § And Adam seyde to Eue : " Arise and go wi}? J?i sone Seeth, and nei^he ^e to J?e
20 ^atis of Paradys, and caste erjpe on ^oure heedis and fallij? doun and makij? sorowe in J?e si^t of oure Lord God, if happily he wole haue mercy on us, and happily lie wole comaiuide an aungel to go to ]?e tre of mercy, fro J>e which rerinej? oyle of lijf, and happily he schal 3eue
25 3011 of J?at medicyn, J?«t ^e may J>ere-wiJ? a-noynte me, }?at I my^te be lissid of }?ese sorowis, in J?e whiche I brenne and am ful wery of."
Se now how Seeth and Eue his modir wenten toward Paradys.
30 § Thanne Seeth and Eue his modir wenten towarde Paradys in haaste. And while J?ei ^edeu by J?e Aveye, sod ey nly J?ere cam an addir, a foule beeste wi]?-outen pytee as it were a feend, and boot Seeth wickidly in )?e face. And whanne Eue say J?at, sche bigan to wepe
35 bittirly and seyde: §" Alias is me, wrecche, for I am cursid, and alle J?at kepen not J?e comaundement of God." 5, 9, 10. MS. faded. 6. MS. feet.
F. 80 b.
Adam sends Eve and Seth to Paradise to ask forlhe oil of life.
F. 81.
On the way, a serpent bites Seth in the face
15. MS. bi-
26. Catch-word te.
94 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
And sclie seyde to }?e addre wi]? a greet vois : "O J?ou cursid beest, whi doutist J?ou nott to hirte and to a-noye Goddis yniage, and how arto\v liardy to n^te wij? it, or J>i too]? to greeue so wor]?i a creature 1 " And J?e addiu answeride and sey|do wij? a greet voys : " 0 J?ou Eue, 5 whcj?ir oure schvewidnesse be not a-fore God, ne ha]? not God stirid oure woodnesse a^eins }ou 1 Sey, ]?ou Eue, how were ]?ou so hardy to ete of )?e tre which oure Lord God comaundide J?ee to ete not of? For bifore liadde we no power in 3011, but aftir J?at 30 hadde broke 10 Goddis bidding we hadden power in 3ou."
Se now how Seeth spak to J?e serpent.
§ Thaime seyde Seeth to ]?at cursid worm : " Cursid be )POU of God ! Go awey fro J?e si3t of mew, close J>i 111011)7 and waxe ]?ou dombe, cursid enemy and distrier 15 of ri^twijsnesse ; go fro J?e si^t of Goddis yniage til God calle ]?ee a3eyn to be prouyd what J?ou art. § And J?e worm seyde to Seth : " I may not wij?stonde )?i biddyng, but now I go awey fro J?e yniage of God." . 8-2. | § Seeth and Eue hys modir wenteu to J?e gatis of 20
Paradys, and J?ei tookeii ]?e dust of j?e er)?e and casten on hir heedis and on her facis, and J?ei fillen grouelynge to ]?e erj?e and niaden greet sorowe,f preyinge God to haue mercy on Adam, and ]?at he wolde sende an auwgel to brynge hem of J?e oyle of ]?e tre of mercy to hele wij? 25 Adam.
st. Michael See)? J?e answer of J?e bungel to Seeth.
prophesies
ing of Chris- § The auiigel Mychael appeeride to hem and seyde : "I am [J?e] archaungel Mychael, J?at am ordeyned of God kejier of mawnys body. I sey to J?ee, Seeth, wepe no 30 moore, preiynge for J?e oyle of mercy to anoynte wi)? )?e body of thi fadir Adam, for J?ou my3te not haue of >at oyle of mercy til fyue f>ousinde ^eer, two hundrid, and ei^te and twenti be eendid."
23. MS. sorowe and preyinge.
27. First be above the, line. 29. MS. an.
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE 95
Se here J?e profecye of Cristis co|mynge. P. 826.
§ " Tlianne schal come on erj?e Ihesu Crist, Goddis
sone, and schal be baptisid in ]?e flum Jordan, and he
schul dye and rise a^eyin and go to helle and anoywte
5 J?ere Adam J?i fadir and brynge him [to blisse] and alle
feij?ful deede men wij? hym, whiche anoyntynge schal
dure wij?-outen eende. § Thamie schal Crist Ihesu stye
up, and he wole lede ]?i fadir in-to Paradys to his tre
of mercy. And go J?ou now to J?i fadir and sey to
10 hym, \>Q tyme of hise lijf-dayes ben doon, for aftir sixe dayes his lijf schal passe, and J?anne }?ou schalt see grete wondris in heuene and in erj?e among ]?e bi^t aungels of heuene." § "Whamie Michel J?e archaungel hadde seid J?is, anoon he vaneschide avvey. § And Eue
15 and Seeth turneden a3eyn hoomward, and tooken wij?
hem swete oynementis | (odoramentaf), ]?at is, Nardum F. 83. and Crocum and Calamynte and Cynamoniuw and Canel. § And whanne J?ei cameu hoorn to Adam, J?ei teelden how J?e serpent hadde by ten Seeth his sone.
20 Se now how Adam spak to Eue. Death of
§ And Adam seyde to his wijf : "Biholde what J?ou hast do to us. pou hast brou^t to us a greet dissese, and syune to al oure kynde. But so]?ly al )?is J?at J?ou hast do to us, and alle J?ingis J?at ben doon, schewe to oure
25 children aftir my dee]?, J?at J?ei J?at schulen come of us here-aftir ne shulen not ben wrooj? to bere ]?e dissesis J?at J?ei schulen haue, ne J?e sorowis ; )?anne J?ei schulen curse towardis us, and seye : § ' These dissesis han oure former fadir and modir brou^t us to, ]?;\t weren in J?e
30 higynnyng afore us.' " § Whanne Eue herde ]?is, sche
bygan to wepe and make doel. § And, as Michel seyde F. 836. bifore, aftir sixe dayes Adam diede, and eer lie diede, he seyde to hise children : " Biholde ^e now on me, my children, and see]? now how I dye, and ]?e noumbre of my
35 dayes in J?is world ben nyne hundrid ^eer and thritty. § Whaune I am deed, biriej? me a^ens Goddis ^erd in J?e
16. MS. ordoramenta.
25. MS. to expunged, and of added above the line.
96 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
feeld of his dwellynge place." And whanne he hadde seyd J?is word, he jeeldide up J?e spirit, and ]?e simne waxide derk, and ]?e inoone and ]?e sterris eJ3te dayes lastynge.
Eve and her Se now how Seeth and Eue his modir diden aboute 5 ±udrn?or Adam.
him.
§ And whanne Seeth and Eue his modir hadden leyd for)? the deed body of Adam, ]?anne ]?ei kneliden a-down oon tyuie and saten ano]?ir tyme, and ]?ei greetly sorowiden upon )?at deed body, and euere J?ei lokiden 10 F.SI. | downward towardis )?e er]?p, clappynge her hondis vpon
hecdis, and J?ei puttideu down her heedis to lier knees score wepynge, and alle her children also.
He is buried Se now how My^hel J?e archaungel spak to Seeth.
in Paradise. § And ]?auuc Michel ]?e archaungel spak to Seeth 15 and to Eue his modir as ]?ei weren stondynge at Adams heed. And he seyde to Seeth : " Aryse up fro )?e body of thi fadir, and come to me that )?ou may se pi fadir, and J?e ordynaunce ]?e which oure Lord God purposide to do wi)? hym, for he ha]? mercy on hym at J?is tyme." 20 Th[an]ne alle aungels trumpiden vp, seyinge : " Blessid be [)?ou], God, of J?i makynge, for J?ou art now merciaWe on hym." § Thanne s[ay] Seeth )?e hond of God h olden up and [heljde hys fadir soule, and took it to Seyfnt]
F. 846. Mychael, and seyde: " Lete Tpis soule be [in] | thy 25 kepyuge yn turmentis in-to J?e laste day of dispensacyonn, and J?anne schal I delyuerc hym of hise sorowis. For soj?e, Jeanne he schal sitte on his ioyful trone, J?at haj? cast hym so lowe." And ^it soyde God a^eyn to Michael : " Brynge to me J?re clo)?is of sendel and 30 bismos, and ley oon oner Adam, ano]?ir ouer Eue, and anoj?ir ouer her sone Abel." And alle J?e ordris of aungels wenten bifore Adam, and blessiden ]?e sleep| of J?e last eende of hys deeth.
21. MS. faded. 23. MS. faded. 24. MS. faded.
25. MS. faded. 33. MS. adds of pc sleep, crossed through.
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE
97
Se now here where and how Adam was biryed, and who weren at hys bir[i]yng.
§ Aud archaungels biryeden J?e body of Adam on J?e body of his sone Abel in Paradys. § Seeth and [lii]s 5 modir sayen J?at the aungels dide, and they merveyliden greetly. Thanne seyden the aungels to hem : | "As ^ee han seen these bodyes biryed, yn the same maner biriej? ^oure dede bodyes aftirward." § Thanne sixe dayes aftir that Adam \vas deed, —
F. 85.
10 See now how Eue spak to alle hir childrfen].
tEue knew that cleeth was coinynge towardis hir faste. Sche -gaderyde to-gydere alle hir sones and dou^tris, and seyde : " HeeriJ? me, my sones & dou3tris, what I schal telle to 3011. Aftir the tyme that ^oure fadir and I 15 hadden passid Goddis comaundementis, Mychael the archaungel seyde J>u[s] to us : ' For ^oure synne God wole d[istrie] ^oure kynde, firste by watir, aftirward by iier; and yn these tweyne alle man[n]ys kynde ben [ponyschid] of God.'"
Eve tells her children of the two judgments to come.
20 See)? now here how Eue techith Seeth to make tablis of stoon.
§ " Therfore heere J?ou, my sone | Seeth : make J?ou tweyne tablys, of stoon and of schynynge cley erthe, and wryte there-ynne J?e lijf of ^oure fadir and of me, and tho
25 )?ingis that }ec han herd and seen of us. For whanne God schal iuge al oure kynde by watir, the tablys of erthe wolen loose, and the tablis of stoon wolen dwelle ; forso]?e, whanne God wole iuge mankynde by fier, thanne wole [the tablis of stoon loose, and] the tablis of erthe
30 endure." § And whanne Eue hadde seid this to hir children, sche spredde hir hondis a-brood and lokide vpward to heuene, knelynge on the erthe, and prciede to God. And while sche preyede, hir spiryt passide, and
4. MS. faded. 11. MS. see now how Eue. 17. MS. faded.
WHEATLEY MS.
10. MS. childfe. 16. MS. faded. 18. MS. faded.
H
F. 85 6.
Eve orders Scthto write the story of Adam and her on tables of stone and clay.
Death of Eve.
F.86.
Sb. Michael tells Setli to mourn but six days.
Seth makes the tables.
F. 86 b.
They are found by Solomon.
An angel interprets them to him.
F. 87.
THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
)?anne alle liir children wepten bittirly, and so with greet moornynge biiyeden hir. § And while J?ei mad en sorowe for her modir [fjoure dayes lastynge, Mychael the | archaungel of God appeeride to hem & seyde :
Se now here how Michael the archaungel techi)? Seth 5 how he schulde moorne and how longe.
§ " Man of God, make }?ou noon sorowe for the deeth of thy fadir and of thi modir no lengir than sixe dayes, ne for noon J?at dyen ; for the seuene]?e day ys tooken of on re vprysynge and reste to come of this world, and 10 in the seuene)?e day he took reste of alle hyse werkys."
See)? now how Seeth makij? pe two tablis bifore comaundid to hym.
§ Thanne Seeth made tweyne tablys of stoon and of ertlie, and wroot there-ynne the lijf of hys fadir and of 15 hys modir ; and whanne tho weren maad, he leyde hem yn his fadris oratorye, where hys fadir was wont or vsyd to worschipen almy^ty God ynne. § And aftir Noe flood tho tablis weren founden and seen of manye oon, but )?ei weren not red. § Aftir war^ by longe processe of 20 tyme cam Salamon the wiys kyng, and say these tablis afrid the wrytynge J?ere-ynne, and lie preyede to God that he myjte vndirstonde the wrytynge of tho tablis. § Thanne appeeride to hym the aungel of God, seyinge : " I am J?e aungel that helde the bond of Seth whanne 25 he wroot this wij? an irun, haldynge it in his ri^t hond. And yn these two tablis weren wryten manye wondirfnl profecyes ; and I sey to thee, Salamon, thow schalt knowe ]?e scripture J?at is wryten in these tablis. And ]?ese tablis weren in J?e place where Adam and Eue 30 weren wonyd to preye God, | therfore it bihoue)? thee to make there a dwellynge place to God." § And J?anne Salamon clepide these lettris on )?ese tablis Achiliacos, that is to seye, wij?-outen techyng of lyppis wryten wij? ]>Q fyngir of the ri}t hond of Seeth, the aungel of God 35 holdynge it. § Thanne made Salamon an hous in the
3. MS. faded.
Xlir. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE 99
name of God, men to preyen ynne; and in tho tablis was founden wryten J?at }?at was profecyed of Adam seuene sythis. § And Ennok also profecyede of Noe The flood, and of pe comynge of oure Lord Ihesu Crist.
5 " Lo," he seyde, "oure Lord schal come in hys holy
kny^thood to make iuggement of men, and to dis[c]ryen
. alle the wickide men of her werkis, and of alle the
spekyngis of hem with synners. Wickide men and
gruch|chers, thei seken for to speke aftir her owne P. 876.
10 coueitynge ; thei entriden and spaken proudly." § This is the book of J?e generacyoun of Adam.j In the day in which God made man of nou^t, to the ymage and the liknesse of God he made hem, male and female he made hem of nou^t, and he blesside hem, and he callide the
15 name of hem Adam in the day in the which they weren maad of non^t. § Adam forsothe lyuede an hundrid }eer and gritty, and he gate a sone to the ymage and his liknes, and callide the name of hym Seeth. § And the dayes of Adam ben maad aftir that he gate Seth ei^te
20 hundrid ^eer, and he gate sones and dou^tris ; and al the
tyme in which Adam lyuede ys maad nyne hundrid | ^eer P. 88. and }?ritty (Genesis vto). And alle the sones of Adam weren J>re and J?ritti, and dou^tris two and Jnitty ; and so alle liise children weren J?re score and fyue. Blessid
25 be oure Lord God.
AMEN. Thus eendith thys blessid tretys of oure Fadir Adam.
6. MS. distryen. 11. MS. repeats Adam.
23. in crossed out after weren.
100 THE WHEATLEY MANUSCRIPT
XIV.
[A PRAYER AT THE ELEVATION.]
Here bigynnej? a deuoute preyer and an excellent, that schulde distynctly ben seyd and with greet deuocyoun hetwene J?e Leuacioun of )?e Blessid Sacrament and the thridde Agnus Dei.
HEyl, Ihesu Crist, Word of J?e Fadir, Sone of J?e 5 Virgyn, Lomb of God, HeelJ?e of this world, sacrid F. 88 b. Oost, Welle of pyteo, Word and Flesch boren of ]?e Virgyn Modir, haue mercy of us. § Heil, Ihesu Crist, Kyng of aungels, loye of seyntis, J?e Si^t of pees, liool Godheed, verry Man, Flour and Fruyt of J?e Virgyn 10 Modir, haue mercy of us. § Heyl, Ihesu Crist, Schyner of }?e Fadir, Prince of pees, ^ate of heuene, Br[ee]d of lijf, Vessel of clennesse, Child of the Virgyue Modir, haue mercy of us. § Heyl, Ihesu Crist, Li^t of heuew, Prijs of this World, cure hool loye, Breed of aungels, 15 Gladnesse of herte, Kyng and Spouse of ]?e Virgyne Modir, haue mercy of us. § Heyl, Ihesu Crist, Weye of swetnesse, Trist of soothnesse, oure hy^este Meede, oure verry Loue, Welle of trewe loue, oure Pees, oure Reste, and oure eendelees Lijf, boriw of the Virgyue 20 Modir, haue mercy of us.
AMEN.
12. MS. brid.
NOTES
I. AN ORISON ON THE PASSION.
34. " And the nails of wrought iron."
43. [b]ent : so all the Oxford MSS.
52. MS. Bodley 850 reads : "Myn harde hert till it be soft; " similarly the other two. This is probably the original reading; a later scribe did not under stand the'construction.
55-6. MS. Bodley 850 reads :
" When }>ou loked on ])> modir fre The tyme Ipon hing vpon )>e rode-tre,"
and omits 57-62. This evidently represents tire original version, the poem being a meditation exclusively on the sufferings of our Lord. These six lines, which interfere with the division of the poem into 4-line stanzas, are consequently an interpolation.
98. The two lines following this in the MS (see footnote) are clearly a variant on 99-100. They are found in the Oxford MSS., the second line reading, "Be it foule," etc., and the Meditations (see Preface, p. vii), 11. 1683-4, with the reading, " Be it serwe to hure and foul to se."
129. thow: the Oxford MSS. read " I," but cp. John xiv. 23, et mansionem apud eum faciemus.
134. hym : this is strictly tautological, but is found in the Oxford MSS.
If. HYMN TO THE BLESSED YIRGIX.
4. emprice of belle : " Queen of Heaven and Empress of Hell " is a common medieval title of the Blessed Virgin, especially frequent in Lydgate. The origin may perhaps be found in the epithet of lucifera applied to her by the Fathers ; cp. Cyril, Homiliae Diversae, xi. (Migne, vol. 77, p. 1034), Maria Deipara, Virgo mater, Lucifera . . . per quam prodiit lux vera; Ephraim Syrius, De Sanctissimae D.G. VM. Laudibus (ed. Asscman, vol. iii., p. 535), lucifera virgo. Cp Lydgate, Minor Poems (ed. MacCracken, E.E.T.S., E.S. CVII., p. 323):
"0 blessed lady ! qweerie of \>e heghe heven Whome clerkes calle famperyse of helle."
12. haue[e], MS. haueth. This error presumably arose when the 35. pr. ind. endings were altered from -es to -cth by an East Midland scribe. Probably "hath," 9, " saith," 15, 19 below, are also to be so explained.
54. [je] : MS. the. A scribe has apparently wrongly expanded the " j> " here and in 55, 56, 58. Cp. ",)>yng" for "jyng," 139.
70. wrye : probably the original form was "wreghe," rhyming with " heghe " in the preceding line.
101
102 NOTES.
90. Psalm xxxviii. 3.
91-2. Op. Godric's Song to the Virgin :
" Sainte Marie, Cristes bur, Maidenes clenhad, moderes flur."
99. " But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart ; and they defile the man," Matt. xv. 18.
103. Unless the line is corrupt " amendes " = "to amendes."
127. Matt. vii. 19.
157-62. Deut. xxii. 1-3.
169. The first of the Five Joys.
183. Cp. Psalm vii. 15, et peperit iniquitatem.
265-8. Mark xii. 42-44; Luke xxi. 1-4.
287. iustice of lyueraunce : a justice sent under commission of gaol delivery to try prisoners awaiting the assizes.
297. 1 John iii. 17.
309-10. Matt. xii. 50; Mark iii. 35; Luke viii. 21. Cp. Wright, Reliquiae Antiquae, II., 227, " Thou my suster and my moder, and thy sone ys my broder ; " Quia Amore Langueo, MS. Harl. 1706, F. 10 &. : "Thy syster ys a quene, thy brother ys a kyng."
312. [mysjfare : the two words beginning with my caused scribal confusion.
314. i.e. as a base-born brother. The compound "luf-barne," an illegitimate child, is not found ^in N.E.D. ; but cp. E.D.D.
III. HYMN TO ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.
3. fader: the original word may well have been "sire," as the poet's inten tion was probably to make the lines alliterate in pairs. Cp. note on 63.
8. vfith myrthe schul mete, i.e. shall experience joy. Et multi in nativitate ejua gaudebunt, Luke i. 14.
15. in wone, in the dwelling-place, an expletive, signifying "in the world." Cp. alliterative Alexander Fragment (E.E.T.S. 1.), 598, " Of any wightes in wonne wysest i-holde."
24. at : either the Northern form of " to," or a scribal error caused by the " at " in the line above.
32. Ipat men were in stede, with which men were beset. Cp. Toivneley Plays, xix. 259, " stersman to theym that ar sted in stormes."
44. me|>s]keful : cp. Towneley Inlays, xxix. 388-9, A, marie so mylde . . . Was neuer madyn so menskfull here apon molde.
45. \>at [maste] is: MS. j>«t is ful. Cp. St. John the Evangelist, I., "Of 1. mankynde >at he made, >at maste es of myghte," and II. 172 above: "When thow conceyued God of myghtes maste."
49. Cp. Cursor Mundi, 11062-4 :
"Maria . . . was hir-self )>e first womman )>at lifted fra >e erth iohan."
The incident is found in Petrus Comestor's Historia Scholastica and in the Golden Legend.
53. [vn]-borne : the similarity between v and b in many MSS. would help to account for this error.
J>ei bothe : one would expect " pi sire."
NOTES. 103
64. txzt bright : i.e. Christ. Cp. Luke i. 17.
81. Cp. Luke i. 63 (Purveyite version) : And he axynge a poyntil.
89-90. Hawea . . . rotes of |>e ryse . . . borion-and bere : all these repre sent different inter pretations of the Vulgate locusta. Hawes = oats, though the first example cited in N.E.D. (see "Haw," 4) is of the year 1601. The common medieval form is haver, O.N. hafre. Pliny, in Book xxii., ch. 79 of the Natural History, remarks that the seeds of oats resemble small locusts in appearance, and " locusta " is a botanical term for the spiked inflorescence of grasses. Hence, just as the fruit of the carob tree was called "locust " from its appearance, and taken to be the food of the Baptist, it was evidently thought that he lived on oats and barley. That "locusta" was a root is stated in the Ormulum, 1. 3213, "Hiss mete wilde rotes," also in Trinity College Homilies, E.E.T.S., 53, p. 139, "Moren and wilde uni was his mete." Caxton, in the Golden Legend, F. clxxxviij., though he knows that locust was flesh of some sort, says, " Somme saye that there ben rootes so callyd. " Cursor Mundi agrees with our text, "And liued wit rotes and wit gress," 1. 11109.
[hente] : this restores the alliteration ; " toke " was caught by the scribe from the line above.
104. As fel on ]>e twelft day, i.e. Christ manifested Himself, as at the Epiphany.
[)>e tille] : these words have been transferred to the beginning of the next line, and changed to " vn-to ])e."
105. to }>e : the same mistake occurs in the Towneley Deliverance of Souls, where St. John the Baptist says :
"The holy gost from heuen discende
As a white dowfe downe on me than ; The fader voyce, oure myrthes to amende,
Was made to me lyke as a man." 11. 69—72.
It may have arisen from a misunderstanding of Mark i. 10. In the parallel York Play, 1. 70 has " hym."
131-4. This comes from the opening of the story of the Baptist in the Golden Legend, ch. 86 : "Johannes baptista multipliciter nominatur. Dicitur enim propheta, amicus sponsi, lucerna, angelus, vox, Helias, baptista salvatoris," etc.
132. >at worthy wight, i.e. Christ.
IV. THE SEVEN PENITENTIAL PSALMS. 1-8. This prologue is taken from D, where it is headed : "Here bigynnej) ]>e prologe of )>e seuene salmys in englysche by Richard Hampole heremyte." 11 substitutes for 1. 8 :
" By frere RicRarde Maydenstoon," and adds the verse :
" In Mary ordre of J^e Carme, pat bachilere is in dyuynite ; Sheo bar Jesu in wombe & barme, pat moder is and mayden fre. To \>at childe )>en in hir arme, "Whiclie for vs henge on rode tre, pat he for wreche do vs no harme, Hym to queme J>ese salmes saye we."
104 NOTES.
It is not probable that these verses belonged to the original. The words, " to make oure mone," should be compared with the phrase, apparently peculiar to this poem, "to make mones," 20, 109. It is also improbable that the author should divide his name and description between two verses. The original poem probably had no prologue ; the first form of the prologue was that of D, a later innovator changed the last line and added another verse. LI. 1-8 are printed here in order to make the numbering of the lines the same as that in Adler and Kamza's text.
9. Psalm vi. ; against Anger.
11-16. K, W, differ from all other MSS. here. Presumably the MS. from which they are derived had lost the opening verse.
20. to make mones : so also Ad, H, Ad2, L, D2, Do. D, Ful greet mater of mournyng monys, so A, R, Ro. Cp. 109. N.E.D. does not record any M.E. use of " mone " in the plural.
21. cast in oreke : so K, Ad, R, A ; D, L, read " dyke "; D2 has "greet " ; Do, " But whanne my body ys badde & weke." The word appears to be identical with " cratch " in N.E.D. and E.D.D., a rack, hurdle or bier, but the derivation from Germanic *crippja is not easy to reconcile with the present form. Except for the wealthy, coffins were not commonly used for burials until about the seventeenth century, the body being wrapped only in a winding-sheet (see J. E. "Vaux, Church Folk Lore, 1902). In Brand's Popular Antiquities of Gnat Britain, 1905, Vol. I. , p. 250, there is an illustration of such a burial from a Breviary in the British Museum. Brampton, however, has " whan I am lokyn in leed," v. 47.
85. [be]. So all MSS. but K, which has " flesch ynamed."
89. Psalm xxxii., Vulgate xxxi. ; against Pride.
99. The MS. reading seems to have arisen from a confusion between "the gode lord " of A, H, Ad2, and " oure lord god " of R, Ro.
104. The original reading may be D2, "to wroperele werk in litul whyle," corrupted in A to " God wyll be Avroth ry}ht in a whyle."
109. to make mones : cp. 20. So Ad, H, Ad2, D2, Do, but D, R, A, Ro, mater of greuous gronys.
116-17. Cp. A, With thornes priked. All other MSS. have present tense here. Cp. Dives and Pauper, 1496, v. iiij. col. 2: "The mytre on his [i.e. the bishop's] hede betokeneth J)1 crowne of thornes p* cryste bare on his hede for manues sake. And therfore the mytre hath two sharpe homes in token of ij sharpe thornes " (quoted in Manning, The People's Faith in the Time of Wyclif, p. 14).
118. pyne: the other MSS. read "peyne" ; cp. 181.
123. R, A, Ro read :
"poui^e shrifte wol I from me prowen Alle my misdede, " etc.
This evidently represents the original version. Cp. Ad :
" In scrhifte schal y ben aknowe Of my misdede."
132. Forg[a]f: Vulgate, remisisti. Ad, for3af. All other MSS. have im perative sg. here.
155-6. The scribe has omitted these two lines, misled by th'e similar endings
NOTES. 105
of 154, 156. The original ending of 156 was probably, as in D2, "wijrinne & oute. "
193-4. Op. Brampton, xxx. :
" In herte thei may be nierye and glad, That ryjtfully here lyif lede."
197. sight: D2 has "suyte," K, "sute," probably the original reading.
[c]ladde : so Ad, H, R, L, D2.
201. Psalm xxxviii., Vulgate xxxvii. ; against Gluttony.
217. Cp. Brampton, xxxiii., In my flesch I have non hele.
218,. w[re]th[l]i : so Ad, A ; H, wrof>ely ; D2, Do, wor)>eli.
235. [fir]st : so all MSS. except K.
249. fayry : so R, H, D2, Do ; Ad2) faire ; A, freylty; Ad, hurtynges; D, L, disseises.
259. fadres : so K; Ro, fader ; all other MSS., frendes.
[for]warde : so all MSS. but K.
266. Cp. Brampton, xxxix., My sorwe I may no$t fro the hyde.
285. [N]ow : so Ad2 only.
289-96. The scribe has omitted this verse, misled by the fact that both it and the following verse begin with Et qui.
303—4. ''Then shall the Truth unveil Himself, (showing) how sin," etc. Perhaps the nearest to the original is Ad2 :
pan \vil )>e sothe it-self vnswathe, And shewe >*• envy hath many slayn.
Cp. Ad, And schewe Jnnirjw wham \>e soule ys sclayn.
305. no-[l>ing] : so D, R, A, L ; D2, nowjt y hurd.
310. gyl[e], MS. gylt. This reading is also found in Ad, but the metre requires a dissyllable.
314. opynnyng: perhaps a corruption of "upmenynge" in K; cp. D2, vpnemyng ; Vulgate, redarguciones. This word is omitted in the MS., although there is plenty of room for it in the line.
33L stere : so D, translating Vulgate commoventur.
339. gode : K, H, Ro read "not"; Ad, good, D2, god.
341. [out] : so R, A, Ad, H, Ro, Do.
342. \>at to deeth were: K, "that the to dethe," and so all others, except Ad2) which has a different verse, and L, which reads, "On olyue mount whan it was nijt."
361-8. Cp. Brampton's Penitential Psalms, v. 51 :
Now I am ful lytel bo nude
To manye, that were to me beholde ;
Whan I am deed, and leyd in grounde
Here love is waxen wonder colde.
They bakbyte me manye folde ;
Evyll for good thei quyten me :
I am aferd thei be to bolde
Of ' Ne reminiscaris, Domine ! '
With the first four lines of this verse, compare stanza 36.
385. Psalm li., Vulgate 1, ; against Lust.
397. strengh[>]: K, strynge ; A, Ad3, D2, Do, sterynge ; D, Adj, strong]*; R, Ad2, Ro, fondyng.
106 • NOTES.
419. K, Thi wordis asketh ; so Do. This approaches nearer to the Vulgate.
422. [thi] f[eit]h : MS. my flesch ; K, Ad, D2, thi feyth ; Do, |>y fey. Cp. Numbers xv. 31, "Because he hath despised the word of the Lord . . . that soul shall be utterly cut off."
437. This line is also omitted in Ro. Here the scribe has added an eighth line : I pray to J>e bothe day & nyght. In both cases he has been misled by the similarity of "knytte" and "knyght"; there is no near relation between the MSS.
448. in : so Ad, H, D, D2, Ad3 ; K, Ro, V, R, A, L, Do, has. For the construction, see Kellner, Historical Outlines of English Syntax, p. 76.
503. [thow] : so R, Ad3 ; MS. vs ; K, V, Ad, H, the; L, }ow (probably for jxm) ; Ro omits the pronoun, and D has a different line. The syntax evidently puzzled scribes. D2, keeping the reading of W, changes 504 to ' ' To wasshe vs from J?is worldly welthe."
522. [a]greuyd : so A, Ad ; Do, y-gryuyd.
529-36. Rev. xxi., and Eph. ii. 19-22.
532. This is not stated in Revelation, but was a commonplace of medieval theology ; see Richard Rolle, Libri Psalmorum Enarratio, and St. Remigius, Unarrationum in Psalmos Dauid Liber.
533-4. The walls are made up of the members of the Church ; these lines are therefore probably a corruption of D :
T[w]o (MS. tho) testamentis acorde)) in (MS. into) oon ; The wallis were togidere brou3t, etc.
544. the fendes fere : so K, Ad, Ad2, Ad3; D2, Do, >e feendes fier ; R, H, Ro, helle fyre ; V, helle fere ; A, cursyd fere. Possibly ' ' helle " was altered to " fendes " by a scribe or scribes who did not recognize "fere" as the Kentish form of "fyre."
545. Psalm cii., Vulgate ci. ; against Covetousness. 550. There [nedith] noon : so all other MSS.
565. frely : cp. A, thorow freylty ; Adg, Jmrgh freelness ; cp. also Cursor Mundi 25689, Man . . . }>at frelli fra J>i frenscep fell. For the spelling, cp. "holy," III. 58.
571-2. " Similiter cremium est lardum adustum : a quo scilicet omnis pin- guedo recessit. Corpus ergo christi in cruce fuit . . . sicut cremium : quia sanguine suo preciosissimo fuit euacuatum " (Sermones dormi secure, fol. xlii., 1523, attributed to Richard Maydenstoon). I have not found this in the Commentaries of St. Augustine, Richard Rolle, St. Remigius. or Peter Lombard. The sermon is said to be " collectus ex libro Jacobi de Voragine," but I have not found it in the Golden Legend.
587. The scribe omitted this line, being misled by the two consecutive lines beginning with the same three words.
589. The metre requires "theues," as in R, Ad, Ro, H, (?)>euyse, or "Jues," as in A. Probably "theues" was the original word, altered to "theef " under the influence of Luke xxiii. 39.
593-4. The story of how the pelican slays its young, and, after mourning over them for three days, revives them with its own blood, is found in St. Augustine (Migne, Tom. 36, 37, p. 1299) and in Peter Lombard (Glossa psalterii Dauid, 1478), under this verse. Trevisa, Bartholomew Anglicus, 1582, p. 186, says that the young birds are bitten by the serpent ; similarly, Dives et
NOTES. 107
Pauper, Tenthe Precepte, ciii. St. Augustine doubts the truth of the legend, and explains the allusion as referring to the Virgin Birth of Christ : ' ' Solus enim sic, ideo solitudo : in solitudine natus, quia solus ita natus."
597-600. Cp. St. Augustine : "Post nativitatem ventum est ad passionem : a quibus crucifigebatur ? nuniquid ab stantibus ? numquid a lugentibus ? Ergo tanquam in nocte ignorantiae ipsorum, et tanquam in parietinis ruinae ipsorum. Ecce nycticorax et in parietinis, amat et noctem. Nam nisi amaret, unde diceret, Pater, ignosce illis, quia nesciunt quid faciunt (Luc. xxiii. 34) ? " In Ad2 we have a different idea :
" And as )>e nyght crowe dwell can In an rewayn place or in an heth, So all ]>e tyme here }>at Crist was man, Ful fewe men hym knewe vnnethe."
602. As "so "has no equivalent in the Latin, it probably arises from a scribe's repetition of the first two letters of " solitarye." D2, Do, read "resteth solitari."
603-4. The reference is to Psalm Ixxxiv. 3, " Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young." Cp. St. Augustine, p. 1068 : " Dixerat exsultasse cor suum, et carnem auam, et his duobua reddidit passerem et turturem, cor tanquam passer, caro tanquam turtur. . . . Turturi autem dedit et pullos, id est carni. "
608. MS. hadde le ; so D2.
626. wij> vprisyng : "through my being raised up on the Cross." Other texts read "upliftyng." The commentaries do not take this verse as referring to Christ, but to man exalted by being made in God's image, and cast down in his fall.
659-60. Cp. Rev. xxi. 14. According to St. Augustine, the stones of Sion were the prophets. So Peter Lombard : Lapides sunt prophete ; ibi premissa est predicatio inde sumptum est euangelicum officium. Serui ergo i.e. apostoli agnoscunt in lapidibus, i.e. in prophetis, eloquia dei. So also St. Remigius : apostolis tuis intelligibiles erant prophetae.
665. The scribe has omitted two verses, continuing from the Latin of this stanza to the English of stanza 86.
681, etc. The rhymes in K are : seeth, beeth (pi.), fleeth (IpL), stef (= stiff), which show its southern type. The present version is corrupt in that it has no pause after 684. Cp. D:
At him, j>at alle vices fleye, Crist Jesu, etc.,
and K, Of hem, etc. ; Do, H, of hym.
693. flyten : the rhymes point to a short vowel. The reading of K is there fore probably correct : How he was for us, etc. ; all MSS. agree with this.
702. [a] : K, D2 also omit this, but all other MSS. have it.
736. feri[J>] : so D2 ; Ad, feride.
737. [halfundele] : the difficult word caused trouble ; cp. Do, }>e myddyl del ; L, Calle me not in half dayes of hele.
739-40. " For they pass as imperceptibly as the sun crosses the meridian, or the clouds move in the sky." Ro gives a different version :
For of tyme or it be mydday melle ]3ai glidyn als ]>e clowdes clere ;
108 NOTES.
i. e. many are cut off in middle life. D, L, substitute, " Mi dayes ben scliort, Jn dayes ben fele."
767. schalt ]xm : K reads "sclial hit " ; but Ad, " j^ou schalt ben."
776. [|>at] : so D, R, A, Ad, Ro, L.
777. Psalm cxxx., Vulgate cxxix. ; against Envy.
816. sale : so L; all other MSS. read " dale " here ; probably a reference to the valley of bones, Ezek. xxxvii.
828. bo]>e lyme and lith : so also K, evidently a corruption of Ad, lyet euery lith ; H, ly]>e euery lyjtht. The reference is to the Real Presence, cp. Prayers at the Elevation, E.E.T.S., 98, pp. 24, 25. In MS. Harl. 3810, Pt. 1, pp. 106-13, there is a Miracle of the Blessed Sacrament, in which the refrain of each stanza is :
" God is veiy God in forme of brede."
The meaning is brought out at the expense of metre and rhyme by D2 : In forme of breed J>at on J>e autere lith ; and Do, in auter \>at lyth.
839. R, A read, And we schul up to heuene & helle ; this is an emendation of " heuene helle " found in D2, and as "heuene hylle " in Ad and H. This adds another to the examples of Kentish rhymes.
841. Psalm cxliii., Vulgate cxlii. ; against Sloth.
907. [hjorowe : so D, R, H.
915-6. goone has been transplanted from 915 to 916 by scribal error.
919. blende : the original reading was, I think, " pende," as in R, a Kentish formofO.E. pyndan, to enclose, confine, dam up (of water). The readings of Do, peynes pende ; H, pa> pynde ; D2, peys schende ; and finally D, sonlis schende, show the difficulty this word gave
929. [Lord] : so D, L, R, A, Ad, H, D.2, Do.
936. MS. of ; so Ad, D2.
941. This is corrupt. Except K, all MSS. read " }>ogh " for "J;at" and "now" for "not" (D2, al).
943. [jit] : so Ad, H, Ro, D2, Do.
Ro has an additional verse :
Gloria patri & filio & spm'^ui sancto.
To ]>e fadyr, sone, & \\o\y gost
Be ioy & blys wttAouten hende, pat o god es of myghtes most ;
He fende vs fro )>e fals fende, Kepe vs fro co?nburance in eu^re coste,
pat syn no senschyp vs noght schende, And graunte vs grace we be not loste,
Owte of }>is warld wen we sal wende.
Amen : amen : par charite : amen.
Y. LESSONS FROM THE DIRIGE.
59/12. wzt7i-stonde : Vulgate subsistam ; Purvey, abide; Hereford, stonde still ; Cp. Lessons of the Dirige, 32, "I ne may withstonde |>e y-wisse."
60/3. to my soule : so Hereford ; Vulgate, in amaritudine animae meae ; Lessons, 35, To my soul y wole speke in bitternesse.
60/4. Wil }>ou not: Vulgate, noli.
NOTES. 109
60/n. [wite] jx>u for: so Add. 27592 and Hereford; a literal translation of Vulgate, et scias quia ; Purvey, wite that.
60/26. fleiscMs : Vulgate, caruibus; Purvey and Add. 27592, fleisch.
61/5. [}>i myjt] : so Purvey; Vulgate, potentiam tuam.
61/8. in stockis : Vulgate, innervo; Purvey, in a sloe, but the sg. form is very rare, only one other example being noted in X.E.D. The word presented difficulties ; cp. Pety Job, 265, In a synew thow hast my feet sette; Lessons, 153, In synne \>o\\ settest my fot and hede.
61/23. an^ pou leetist }>eo worj>i: Vulgate, et dignum ducis ; Purvey, and gessist thou it worthi.
61/28. at ]>ee : Vulgate, apud te.
}>at mown not passe : Vulgate, qui praeteriri non poterunt ; Purvey, whiche mouu not be passid.
61/30. of a marchaunt : Vulgate, mercenarii; Hereford, of an hirid man; Lessons, 204, of harde man.
62/8. goostly liknesse : Vulgate, immutatio, (?) v.r. imitatio; Lessons, 234, Tyl my folwyng come to myn insi3t ; Purvey, ehaungyng.
62/12. aftir my deede : secunduin actum.
62/29. I seyde to rotennesse . . . pou art my sistir : Vulgate, Putvedini dixi : Pater metis es ; mater mea, et soror mea, vermibus. Lessons, 267—70, I sayde to stynke and rotenesse, "My fader and moder arn 30 ; " and to wormes y sayde Jjysse : "My systren and my brethern both be 36."
62/31. Where is Jeanne myn abidynge and my pacience? pou art, Lord my God. The office here differs from the Vulgate text ; cp. v. 44, Pety Job.
68/7. My mouth. : Vulgate, os meum. The same mistake is made in Pety Job, 529-30 :
To my skyn my mouth ys, lo, And cleued fast, as ye se may.
]>e fleisch wastid : this represents the ablative absolute ; Purvey, whanne fleiechis weren wastid.
68/27. led[d]ist : Vulgate, eduxisti.
64/2. [ojrrour: so Hereford; MS. errour, so MS. Add. 27592; Purvey, hidousnesse; Vulgate, horror.
64/4. fr° Pe er])« : et terra ; Lessons, 333, from er|>e brej>e.
64/ro. Whanne ]>ou . . . fieri Sarum Manual, Quando caeli movendi sunt et terra; so Prymer, p. 69.
64/ii. What schal I )>anne, moost wrecche, what schal I seye: quid ergo miserrimus quid dicam.
64/i6. wil j>ou not: noli.
64/i 8. The tiarum Breviary here repeats the Responsory, Libera me, etc. (64/3).
64/19. Brenny?ige soulis, etc. This and the following Versicle form the special commemoration for All Souls' Day. After the Repetition, "Whanne Jwu," etc., the tiarum Breviary repeats the Responsory, Libera me, etc.
64/21. }>ere we go: This should read, " Whanne Jxm schalt come," etc* Sarum Breviary, quantae sunt tenebrae ! Dum veneris. So in Lessons, 370, Alias iu jjysternesse we go; MS. B.M. Add. 36683, an English Primer closely following Purvey's text, omits these words.
64/31. in peynes : in poenis tenebrarum.
HO NOTES.
criynge and seiynge . . . aseynbier : this should be the Versicle. 64/32. Delyuere me, Lord, of ]>e weyes of helle. Sarum Breviary has here : Qui portas.
VI. A SONG OF MERCY AND JUDGMENT. 9. Cp. Add. 31042, Who so euer es ])cr in moste sure.
19. siche as [>e]e seeme : such beings as beseem thee. The line as written in the MS. is found in Add., but not in Lambeth, which evades it by a non- rhyming line, " J>i passioun, make us brijt & schene."
27-8. The MS. being written as prose, "man," first displaced within the line, was easily transferred to the next one. 37. of al )>ing : especially.
57-8. Hebrews xiii. 5. This had probably been included among the Words from the Cross in some " Complaint " poem. Cp. the Northern Passion, 1755-60, where Matt. viii. 20 is so reckoned, also Cursor Mundi 24284-6 (The Sorroics of Mary) :
For wite j>ou well, i arn wit >e Wit-vten tuin, and sua sal be Fra nu for euer mare.
VII. A PRAYER FOR MERCY.
12. [for] : so Cb. MS. 28-48. Cb. MS. substitutes :
Mercy for Jry comaundement
That I haue ofte-tymes y-broke, And in )>y seruyse be neclygent
And mony a wylde word haue spooke.
What were to J>e to ben a-wrooke On hym J>at may notyer fjjt ne flee ?
Lette neuer thyn Eris fro me be loke, But euer, good lesu, haue merci on me.
50. [do] : so Cb. MS.
52. Cb. MS. But part wit/t me al of J>y grace.
54. Th[er] : Cb. MS. as.
55. Cb. MS. In Heuene fyer to haue a place.
VIII. GOD'S COMPLAINT.
3. MS. enteynt. Following on this, Bodley 596 reads "entent."
4. Cp. Reproaches : Popule meus quid feci tibi, aut in quo contristavi te ? responds mihi. MS. Adv. probably gives the correct reading:
"Myne awne pepill, quhat have I wroucht To the, that is to me so faynt ? "
15. bo)>e qtuke & greene : i.e. both the animal and the vegetable world. Cp. Genesis i. 29, 30.
17-18. Reproaches: Quia eduxi te de terra Aegypti : parasti crucem Salvatori tuo . . . Ego eduxi te de Aegypto, demerso Pharaone in mare rubrum, et tu me tradidisti principibus Sacerdotum. Ego ante te aperui mare, et tu aperuisti lancea latus meum.
25-28. Reproaches : Quia eduxi te per desertum quadraginta annis, et manna
NOTES. Ill
cibavi te, et introduxi te in terrain satis bonam, parasti cruceni Salvatori tuo . . . Ego te pavi manna per desertum, et tu me caedisti alapis et flagellis.
33. ledde : Douce 78 reads "To by thy soule my lyfe y bedde," so also Bawl. C. 86. Though these are both late MSS., they seem to give the best line.
36. MS. Adv. inserts a verse here :
" My wyneyhard I plauntit the, Full of gade saver and swetnes And nobil seid of all degre ; Bettir in erd nevir sawin wes. Quhy suld thou thus-gat fra me fie, And turne all in-to bittirnes ? The croce, for my reward, to me Thou grathit and gaif, — this is no leis.
Yhit had I evir to the grete hers,
Resistand thame that to the rynd,
And puttand the of mony a pres ;
Quhy arttow to thi freind unkynd ? "
Cp. Reproaches : Ego quidem plantavi te vineam speciosissimam, et tu facta es mihi nimis amara, aceto namque sitim ineam potasti, et lancea per- forasti latus Salvatori tuo. . . . Ego te exaltavi -magna virtute, et tu me suspendisti in patibulo crucis. .After this point there is no more connection with the Reproaches.
38. Fre wille : so Harl., Bodley, Douce, Rawl., Adv. ; the two Lambeth MSS. read " ful riche," but the next two lines point to ours as the correct reading.
56. foreyne : so Bodley; Lambeth 853 reads, "As he that sy?tne neuere dido steyne ; " Lambeth 306, feyne ; Adv., As sum with syn that nevir did nane. The allusion seems to be to the Parable of the Prodigal Son, and the rare word "foreyne" is therefore the original reading. It is not elsewhere recorded in this signification.
57. How dide Marye Maudeleyne : i.e. she turned from a life of sin, and came to Christ. Lambeth 853, however, reads, "what y dide to."
58. And what [I] seyde to Thomas of Ynde : John xiv. 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life : no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
77. ajeyn : the reading of the Lambeth MSS., "also," would improve the metre.
87. "With cursing sufficient to cry out for vengeance, thou wilt assay," etc.
XII. HYMN FROM THE SPECULUM CHRISTIANI.
2. m[ayden] : so Add. 37781, Roy. 17 A. xxvii. ; Rawl. liturg. g. 2, mayde, Vernon, Modur and Mayden mylde : Marie-, }>enk on me !
5. Ma[rye] : so Ashmole, Royal, Lambeth. Cp. Vernon, Marie Mylde, J>at Modur art; And mayden hoi and clene.
8. oute of dstte : i.e. out of sin. The Lambeth scribe has emended to "fro wicked dethe."
10-14. These lines in the Speculum are as follows :
Gete me grace in thys lyue To knowe and kepe ouer all thyng Cristen feith and Goddes byddyng And trewly wynne alle that I nede To me & myn clothe and fede.
112 NOTES.
19-20. In the other MSS. these lines are placed before 11.- 17-18.
26. In the other MSS. this line is, " Helpe me lady with alle thy might."
32. In the other MSS. this line is, " That thei mow here so do."
35. [And] : so Lambeth, Add. 37787 ; Royal, Rawl. liturg. omit.
35-8, 43-4 : the Speculum MSS. omit these lines.
46. A better reading is given in Dr. Patterson's text : shrift and housling.
50. After this point the Speculum MSS. add 10 lines, omitting 51-2.
52. So Royal.
XIII. LIFE OF ADAM AND EVE.
76/7-9. wha?me oure Lord ... of hew : cp. Genesis ii. ],a summary of Genesis i. 1-25, given in full in H2 and D.
76/8. [and er)>e] : so all MSS. except D2.
76/9-28. God say . . . weren ful gode : Genesis i. 26-31, Purvey's revision.
76/28-31. The Lord God . . . soule jeuynge lijf: Genesis ii. 7, Hereford's version.
76/31-78/6. Adam was maad . . . alle Goddis children : cp. MS. Harl. 526, ff. 76-77.
76/34. of foure corners of the world : the reason is given by Rabbi Eliezer : "If a man should come from the east to the west, or from the west to the east, and his time comes to depart from the world, then the earth shall not say, the dust of thy body is not mine, return to the place whence thou wast created " (eel. Friedlandcr, 1916, p. 77).
77/9- of foure maner of wyndis he was enspirid : Cp. Secrets of Enoch, xxx. 8, his spirit from my breath and from the wind.
77/14. Annocolu?t: Latin MS. Anathalim, from Gk. avaro\-fi.
77/17. Dysis : Latin MS. stellam miridianam nomine Dysis, Gk. Suo>, to set. This should of course be the west, as it is in the Vernon text and in Jean d'Outremeuse.
77/19. Arthos : Latin MS. Arthos, Gk. &PKTO*.
77/21. Mensembryon : Latin MS. Mencembrion, Gk. ^ff-n^pivos, southern. Again, naturally, the Vernon text and Jean d'Outremeuse are correct.
77/27. [Adam] : " net " has been added in the margin, but there was not room for " Adam." The error, therefore, appears here for the first time. The same mistake is found in A, which is thus almost certainly descended from our text. See also Notes on 92/IO, 96/8, 16, 31. The Latin verse does not appear in any of the Latin MSS. of the Vita in the British Museum. MS. Harl. 956, however, Avhich gives the account of the making and naming of Adam followed by Jean d'Outremeuse, has the following :
Anathole, disis, arthon, mesembrion, omnes
Qwatuor hee partes esse ferunt«r Adam. Anathole dedit A, disis D, contulit arthon
A, mesembrion M ; collige, net Adam.
The last two lines (with "et" in mistake for "A") are found in Harl. 3362, preceded by a four-line Latin rendering of " When Adam delved and Eve span." 77/31. couetous : Latin vagus, apparently confused with "avarus." 77/32. stoonys of J>e er>e : Latin adds : vnde sunt ossa eius. 77/33. bittir : Latin auarus, evidently written or read as "amarus." 78/5. pese holy profetis and alle Goddis children: Latin epwcopi & sacerdotes
NOTES. 113
& omnes sancti et electi. E, H3, L, D read "goddes chosen," H, D2 simply "goodis." Hence there was probably an illegible word in the English MS. from which both H and this text descend, of which one sciibe was able to read the first two letters. A also reads "children," and adds, "The 9 parte is of fier wher-of he is angrit and moved to wratht. "
78/6-1 1. Forso>e J>e Lord . . . good and yuel : Genesis ii. 8-9, Hereford's version.
78/zo. Paradys : MS. adds, " and took man and put hym in .paradys," which has been caught up by a scribe from the following line. H tries to rationalize it by adding " and he plantid the tree," etc.
78/11-80/23. Thanne >e Lord ... to ben kepte : Genesis ii. 15-iii. 24, Hereford's version. The description of the four rivers, ii. 10-14, is omitted, probably because they have already been enumerated.
78/22-4. Al Jring forso^e . . . name of hem ; Hereford, "al thing forsothe of soule lyuynge that Adam clepid, that is the name of it. And Adam clepide alle thingis hauynge soule, and al volatile of heuene, and alle beestis of the erthe, bi her names."
78/27. fillid : Hereford, fulfillide ; Purvey, fillide ; Vulgate, replevit.
78/32. ma/mys deede : man's act, a translation of Vulgate virago. Cp. 'Apostles Dedes," Wycliffite versions.
78/37. lyuers : Vulgate, animantibus. L emends to " liberdis. "
79/13. [and eet] : scribal omission due to the many short clauses beginning with " and." The words are found in all the other MSS.
79/i8. [in]: MS. and, so also E, H, L, D, D2; Hereford, at; Vulgate, ad; H3, yn. A scribe may easily have confused " in " and " &."
79/34. Vnreste : other MSS., enemytees ; Vulgate, inimicitias.
80/17. [lest]: supplied from Hereford; Vulgate, ne forte. Petrus Comestor in his Historia Scholastica, Liber Genesis, Cap. xxiv., quotes this as an ex ample of aposiopesis. H, L, D2 have further disguised it by making the verbs indicative.
80/21. se[t]te : so the other MSS. ; MS. sente.
80/23. to I* wey of }>e tre of lijf to ben kepte : so Hereford and H3, E, L, D ; H and D2 read, " to kepe the weie towardes the tree of line," following Purvey.
80/26. )>ei wenten in-to >e west : this is not in the printed Vita, but appears in all the Latin MSS. of it in the British Museum. In the Greek Apocalypse of Moses (Charles, Apocrypha, and Pscudepigraplia of the 0. T., II. 138), they go into the east, as is presumed by this version, 85/32, 86/24. In the Book of Adam and Eve, translated by Malan from the Ethiopia, 1882, a Christian work of the 5th or 6th century, God sent them out towards the west, " because on that side the earth is very broad." They could not go out towards the east, because the Garden itself was on the border of the world eastward, beyond which thei'e was nothing but water encompassing the world and reaching to heaven. God would not send them out towards the north, because on that side there was a sea of water, in which the righteous should be washed from their sins at the last day, and if they washed in this they would be cleansed from their sin and forget it ; nor would He send them out towards the south, where the north wind would bring them the smell of the trees of the garden, for in that delight they would forget their transgression.
81/6. wraj>J?e : so all the English prose versions, but the Latin MSS. read WHEATLEY MS. I
114 NOTES
"creatura" (the passage does not appear in the printed Vita). Cp. C, 70, His creature is gret. Evidently " creatura " is corrupted from " creata ira."
81/22. [and doo penaunce] : so H, E, L, D, D2 ; H3, A, omit.
81/32-4. My3tist \>ou nott . . . schalt be saaf : Vita, non potes tantum facere quantum ego, sed tantum fac ut salveris. So H, E, H3, D, D2, following a MS. with "et" in place of "ut." B follows a MS. with the reading of Harl. 526, Numqwid potes in tantos dies facere & non facis. Dico tibi tantos fac vt volueris.
82/i6, 17, 18. f[ro] : MS. for (three times), the same error occurs the first two times in H3.
88/30. This version of the Fall of the Angels is that of the Koran, Chs. 7, 15, 17, 18, 38.
84/8. Here the rubric breaks into a sentence.
84/24-6. Ischalsette . . . is al>ir hijeste : Isaiah xiv. 13-14. Cp. Cleanness :
' ' I schal telde vp my trone in ]>e tramouwtayne & by lyke to J)at lorde j?at |>e lyft made," 11. 211-12.
85/13. My Lord God ... grauntid lijf: Harl. 526, Viuit dominws deus metts, tibi concessa vita. H, my Lorde god leueth to the grace and is graunted to the liffe; this shows a scribal attempt at emendation consequent on the corruption of "lyueth" into "leueth."
85/27. And sche mette wi)> oure Lord : this picturesque detail is found in all MSS. of this version, but is not in the British Museum Latin MSS.
86/20. wif) sorowe : Latin MSS. et erat lugidus, Vita et erat lucidus, referring, of course, to Cain, and to the legend which made him the son of Satan. See Palestinian Targutn, Genesis iv. 1, and PirH de Rabbi Eliezer, ed. Friedlander, p. 150.
86/23. Caym : a play upon the similarity of the name to the Hebrew word for a reed, Kan eh (Wells in Charles's Apocrypha, etc.).
86/32. And Eue seyde to Caym : in the Vita and in B, C, she tells the dream to Adam only.
86/34. in pin hondis : Latin MSS. add : et ore suo deglutivit. This is found in B and C, but not here or in the other prose MSS. There are many variants in the earlier MSS., see Meyer. The passage seems to be founded on a .mis reading of Genesis iv. 11.
87/6. an hundrid and J^ritti 3eer oold : H, H2, L, D add, "For s[o]th Abelle was slaine of Cayme in the yeeris of his age an hundrid and twoo yere."
87/6-9. Aftir knew Adam . . . which Caym slou3 : Genesis iv. 25.
87/9. Thanne lyuede Adam . . . and Jjritty dou3tris : Cp. Genesis v. 4. Petrus Comestor (Historia Scliolastica, ch. xxix.) says: " Legitur Adam triginta habuisse filios, et totidem filias praeter Cain et Abel;" similarily Cursor Ahmdi, 1215-18. The numbers in the text are founded on the legend that, except in the case of Cain, Eve always bore twins, male and female. See Introduction, p. xxix, and 99/22.
87/15-88/34. Aftir manye dayes ... of J>B Lord : Genesis iv. 3-26, Hereford's version. The result of this interpolation is that the story of the birth of Seth is told twice, almost in the same words (87/6-9, 88/29-32).
87/23. ellis forso^e yuel : but if indeed (thou dost) evil.
87/36. vagaunt : H, but be vacaunt. Consequent on the error of " vacaunt "
" vagaunt" (Vulgate, vagus), a scribe has inserted "but be."
NOTES. 115
88/27. 30nge wexynge : so Purvey ; the earlier version reads " litle waxen "; H, litille wexinge, so H2, H3, E, L, D. «
88/34. inwardly: so Hereford; H emends to "in worde"; "inwardly to clepe" translates the Vulgate "invocare."
88/35. And Adam seyde to Seeth : both Latin and English texts of Adam's vision are very confused.
88/39. and I say ordris ... as fler : Vita, et vidi currum tamquam ventum et rotae illius erant igneae ; Harl. 526, & vidi chores tauqttam ventos & rota illius erat ignea. The Englisli version seems to comprise both these, "fair" being originally "fiery." B, who is a careful translator, and uses a different MS., omits the chariot.
89/2. Paradys : in paradiso iusticie, i. e. the Paradise of the just ; B, right-
wisse paradys. This is the highest of the seven heavens, in which is the dwelling
of God, and where the just can hear the voice of God. See Weber, Jiidische
Theologie auf Grund des Talmud und vencaiidter Schriften, Leipzig, 1897,
. 162.
89/2O. conuerte : so H3; other MSS. "comforte"; Vita, converte.
90/3- it bihouej> j>ee to be worschipid : this is not found elsewhere. It seems to be a repetition of " e[uery] creature owij> to worschipe ]>ee," above.
90/5. out of Paradys . . . si^t of God : Vita, de paradiso visitationis et iussionis (v.r. visionis) dei. Harl. 526 reads : in. medio p., etc., hence B, in to the mydel of p. But the reference is to the heavenly Paradise, separated from the world by waters.
90/n. in-to ]>e place of Paradys: so the Latin MSS. ; but Vita, in locum. Adam was outside Paradise when Michael ravished him into the Paradise of Justice.
90/13. to >e lake: this seems to have arisen from confusion in the Latin source between "locum" and "lacum," which has led to the repetition of the whole sentence. It does not appear in B.
90/28. vpon whiche J>ei schulen make dwellynge placis in er]>e : an anticipa tion of the following sentence, not found in Latin or B.
91/9-12. And wickide men . . . to j>e Lord: Vita, et impii punientur a deo rege suo qui noluerint amare legem illius. celum et terra noctea et dies et omnes creaturae obedient ei. This has become in Harl. 256 : et impii ponent Adam regno suo et qui nolueruwt amare regni illius celum et terram, etc. The correct version appears out of place three lines earlier, "and J>e wickid," etc. This points to its having been a marginal correction, which has been taken by a copyist as an addition. It does not appear in B.
91/17. as ri^twijsnesse : Harl. 526, sicut iusticia ; it is not necessary to add "askith" from H, which must be a scribal addition, and appears in no other MS. except L and D2.
91/i8-2o. men schulen be purifyed . . . purified by watir : Vita, purifi- cabuntur homines per aquam a peccatis. condempnati erunt nolentes purificari per aquam. "Condempnati" has in some way become "of Cristendom." The MSS. read " consequent " or "consequentes."
91/32. And pel camen to-gydere in ]>re partyes : cp. Apocalypse of Moses, v. 3, And all assembled, for the earth was divided into three parts.
92/10. I suppose: these' words, which are exceedingly difficult to read in the MS., are only found here and in A.
116 NOTES.
92/18-19 greet penaunce : cp. B, gret sonves and desese. Probably 1. 21 should read "penaunce."
93/6. f[oo]t : so H.
93/15. >[ese] : MS. bi ; B, his ; other MSS. bese.
94/28-95/9. Interpolated from the Gospel of Nicodemus, ch. xix. ; cp. Meyer, p. 20 i. The differences are very great, and the version of the prophecy found in B is much nearer the Latin, \vhich reads : Tune veniet super terram amantis- simus Christus filius dei resuscitare corpus Adae, et cum eo resuscitare corpora mortuorum. Et ipse tilius dei veniens baptizabitur in flumine Jordanis et, dum egressus fuerit de aqua Jordanis, tune de oleo misericordiae suae perunguet omnes credentes in se ; et erit oleum misericordiae in generationem et generationem eis qui renascendi sunt ex aqua et spiritu sancto in vitam aeternam. Tune de- scendens in terris amantissimus filius dei Christus introducet patrem tuum Adam in paradisum ad arborem misericordiae.
95/5. [toblisse] : cp. C, 793-1, "He shal fordon be fendis my^t And leden by fader to blesse bi^t ;" Gospel of Nicodemus, 1275-6, And be baptist in be flonw To brynge bi fadres bale to blysse (E.E.T.S., Extra Series, C., p. 103) ; and Story of the Holy Rood, 211-12 (E.E.T.S., 46, p. 68), "And till all bat will sese of sin Sal he gif blis bat neuer sal blin," in each case after the mention of the oil of mercy. Cp. also Chester Plays, XVII., 193 (The Descent into Hell), "To blis[se] now I will you bringe." The sentence is probably misplaced, and therefore left unfinished and undeleted by a scribe.
95/i6. odoramenta : so L, D, A ; MS. ordoramenta, so B, H2, H3 ; H, D2, adoramenta.
95/17. Canel: originally a gloss on " Cynamonnm " ; as is " swete oyne- mentis" on "odoramenta." Neither of these appear in B.
In the Apocalypse of Moses these spices were taken from Paradise by Adam after the Fall, that he might have wherewith to make offering to God.
95/36. a3ens Goddis 3erd : Vila, contra ortum dei (v.r. diei). " Ortum " has been read as "hortum."
96/8. banne ]>ei kneliden a-down oon tyme and saten anobir tyme : this is peculiar to this MS. and A. It does not appear in the Latin, but the reading of H2, H$, D, which preserve the following "and," suggests that it has been omitted from these texts.
96/i6. as bei weren stondynge at Adams heed : the first three words are a scribal addition which destroys the sense ; Vita, et ecce Michahel angelus apparuit stans ad caput Adae. They are only found in this MS. and A.
96/21-3. Blessid be [bou], God, . . . merciable on hym : Vita, beuedictus es, domine, quia misertus es plasmae tuae.
96/23. Thanne s[ay] Seeth . . . hys fadir soule: Vita, tune vidit Seth manum domini extensam tenentem Adam.
96/28. bat nab cast hym so lowe : i.e. Satan. Vita, qui eum supplantavit. Cp. An. 563-5 :
' ' & afterward ban schal he Sitten in bilke selue se f>at Lhtbern sat, min angel brnt," also 0. 889-90 :
" panne shal he sitten wi}> herte glad
In his trone bat him made," which seems to come from a read ng " plasmavit."
NOTES. 117
96/3o. >re clo)>is of sendel and bismos : Harl. 526, tres pannos de sindone bissinos. " Bismos " is not recorded in N.E.D., the ordinary form being " biis," from O.F. bysse, as in V. The word is omitted in H, D2, and may well be due to a mis-reading of the Latin adjective as "bissmos."
96/31. anojrir ouer Eue : only found in this MS. and A, and apparently due to the scribe's unwillingness to waste a cloth. In V there are only two cloths. The Vita reads : afferte mihi tres sindones bissinas et expandite super Adam, et alias sindones super Abel filium eius. Harl. 526 turns this into : vnum super corpus Ade & alium super corpus filij eius Abel.
In the Book of Adam and Eve, Bk. I., ch. Ixxix., when Cain had murdered Abel, the earth would not receive his body, but threw it up again three times, the first time because he was not of the first creation, the second time becaiise he was righteous and good, and was killed without a cause, the third time that there might remain before his brother a witness against him. So in the Apoca lypse of Moses, the first reason only being assigned (§ 40). See Au. 569-73 ; Cursor Mundi, 1075-84.
96/33- of ]>e last eende of hys deeth : Vita, dormitatio mortuorum. The reading of H, L, D, D2, H3, of his last eende of his dethe, suggests that the three last words are a gloss on the first expression.
97/3- on ]>e body of his sone : so B, A. Harl. 526 reads : & corpus filij QIUS Abel. A scribe has written "super" for "et," catching the word from a few lines above. H, H2, H3, L, D, D2 read : in the vale of Ebronne as the maister of stories tellith.
97 /io. The rubric here breaks into a sentence.
97/i i. Eue : MS. se now how Eue ; this scribal repetition shows that this is not the first MS. to insert the rubrications.
97/17. firste by watir, aftirward by fier : so the Vita, but in this case there would be no need for tables of earth. The most reasonable account is in Jean d'Outremeuse : sains Mychiel ly avoit dit que Dieu feroit II jugement, dont ly uns sieroit par aighe et ly aultre par feu ; mains mils ne savoit liqueis sieroit devant. In C the judgment is to be by water or by fire.
97/i8. ben [ponyachid] : H, H2, H3, L, D, D2, A, have the same omission.
97/28-30. thanne wole [the tablis of stoon loose, and] the tablis of erthe endure: Ha, H3, L, D, have the same omission. H, D2 read : than wille the tablis of stone abide and endure ; A, then will those tables enduer. B is correct ; the passage is a good test of accuracy for a medieval scribe.
98/i4-99/io. Thanne Seeth made . . . and spaken proudly : this passage is only found in MSS. of Class II. of the Vita.
98/J4—99/3. This passage differs so greatly from B, as regards language, that it must have been a fresh translation. The prophecy of Enoch is, however, exactly the same.
98/33. Achiliacos, that is to seye, wijrouten techyng of lyppis. On this passage Meyer gives the following note : "Achiliacas. avv\iaKas = axfipoirof/rovs." The word is first found in the Paris MS. 5327, of the eighth or ninth century, where the passage runs : " achylicas quod est in latino inlabicas hoc est sine labore doctrina scriptas," and next in MS.Clm. 17151, of the thirteenth or early fourteenth century, as, "achilicas quod est latine lapidpas id est sine labiis doctrina scripta." The whole passage, though not a part of the original Vita, is evidently translated from the Greek, and the original Greek word was probably
118 NOTES.
aw\iKcis, i. e. not .made of matter, of heavenly origin. Corrupted to "achylicas," it was then Latinised as "inlabicas," from the Greek x?'^°s> a lip 5 this coined Latin word was afterwards glossed, rightly or wrongly, by various scribes, and also itself either corrupted, or, as in our text, omitted entirely. Of the two MSS. quoted above, the first is wrongly glossed, and the second has the1 wrong Latin word, taken by the scribe from the description of the making of the tables above. In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries the confusion grew worse. Meyer quotes " sillabicas hoc est sine librorum doctrina scriptas " (MS. Clm. 5865), and Harl. 495 reads: " aqwaillicitas qiiod est latine inlapidatas id est sine labiis doctn'na scriptas." It should be noticed that the Auchinleck MS., which is based on a very early form of the Vita, omits all mention of the angel's having assisted Seth, and consequently of the letters. From the account in 98/14-16 we may conclude that this represents the first form of the story.
99/2-4. l^at })&t was profecyed . . . Ihesu Crist : Vita, quod prophetavit septimus ab Adam Enoch dicens ante diluvium de adventu Christi. Cp. Jude 14-16; Enoch i. 9.
99/10-22. This is the book . . . $eer and }>ritty : Genesis v. 1-5, Hereford's text.
99/n. Adam: this word is repeated in H, H2, H3, D, D2, but not in L, which reads, "Adam and."
99/22-24. And alle the sones . . . ]>re score and fyue : cp. 87/9-12.
XI \r. A PRAYER AT THE ELEVATION.
9. Kyng of auwgels, loye of seyntis : laus angelorum, gloria sanctorum.
1 1 . Schyner : splendor.
12. Br[ee]d : panis.
13. Vessel of clennesse : vas deitatis.
17. Weye of swetnesse, Trist of soothnesse : via recta, veritas pcrfecta.
GLOSSARY
aboue, at myn a , in an exalted
position, I, 112 Achiliacos, 98/33, »• Note affeffeinent, estate, possession, VIII,
38 ; cp. med. L. affevatus, affeu-
damentum, etc. Not recorded in
N.E.D.
affreyne, inf. question, IV, 798 agayne, against, IV, 503 aghttil, inf. to direct one's course
or endeavours, II, 123 ajeinbier, redeemer, 59/13 aknowen, pp. confessed of, IV, 123 alMr, of all, 84/25 among, adv. at the same time, IV,
124; euer among, continually,
IV, 176
and, if, VIII, 89 a-plight, assuredly, III, 47 askis, ashes, IV, 617 aspie, inf. search out, IV, 942 ; lie in
wait ( Vulgate insidiaberis), 79/36 astert, inf. escape, IV, 264; pt. 3s.
IV, 496
a-stonyd. pp. astonished, IV, 81 at, to, III, 24; in, I, 130 a-tamyd, pp. tamed, IV, 83 [a]teynt, convicted, VIII, 3 autow, altar, II, 259 a-wreked, pp. avenged, IV, 14
balys, pi. wretchedness, IV, 318
baysk, bitter, II, 133
bemes, trumpets, III, 76
bere, bailey, III, 90
bernacle, bit, IV, 177 ; dim. of O.F.
bernac
bete, inf. amend, III, 2 bettir, bitter, I, 71 betydde, v. bytydde [biclippyn], pr. pi. surround, IV, 156 bidene, together, VIII, 19
bib^t, pp. promised, VII, 19;
bihote, 81/30
biryel, grave, 62/22 ; biriel, 68/30 bismos, fine linen, 96/31, v. Note bitaiut, pp. handed over to, IV,
900
blee, hue, IV, 198 blende, inf. confuse, IV, 919; v.
Note
bloode, bloodshed, IV. 497 blynde, deceptive, VIII, 82 Wynne, inf. cease, IV, 134 bolde, noble, III, 62; cp. O.N.
mann-baldr.
bonchef, good fortune, IV, 486 bonde, vassal, IV, 895 boot, pt. 3s. bit, 93/33 borion-and, v. buriowne borowe, pr. 2s. subj. ransom, IV,
911 ; pp. borowed, II, 55 bote, remedy, deliverance, I, 110;
II, 1 ; bute, II, 153; it is no bote,
it is of no avail, II, 15 bo[un], ready (to go on my journey),
VII, 39
bourn, pp. born, III, 62 boxom, humble, IV, 247; buxum,
courteous, noble, III, 30 boxomly, obediently, IV, 360 brade, broad ; vp-on b., around, II,
73 bre[c]helnes, frailty, IV, 396;
O.E. brycel brennen, pr. pi. burn, 89/25 ; pp.
brent, 90/32 brery, thorny, IV, 239 bresid, pp. bruised, IV, 18 brest, inf. burst, II, 106 briddis, birds, IV, 604 buriowne, inf. sprout, put forth,
80/7 ; pr. p. borion-and, III, 90 [burnes], men, III, 34
119
120
GLOSSARY.
busked, pt. pi. prepared, III, 33
but, unless, IV, 31
bute, buxum, v. bote, boxom
bynome, pp. deprived of, 83/26
byrde, lady, III, 2
byse, fur, I, 116
bytidde, pp. ful woo b., wofully afflicted, IV, 96; betydde, IV, 272. The phrase is generally used in impersonal construction
calamynte, an aromatic herb of the
genus Calamintha, 95/17 calueren, calves, IV, 539 can, pt. did, I, 10; IV, 592; pi.
IV, 586
can el, cinnamon, 95/17 cawte in clothes, pt. 3s. swaddled,
III, 49
ceesside, cese, v. sees, sey[s]en chace, imp. s. drive, IV, 557 chalenge, pr. 2s. subj. accuse, 60/6 chare, chariot, 89/i chastied, pp. chastised, IV, 68 chauwce, lot, fortune, IV, 631 chese, inf. choose, accept, IV, 631 chyuer, inf. shiver, I, 35 cleef, pt. 3s. broke, IV, 405 [cllere, pr. pi. explain, make clear,
III, 128
clowte, cloth, shroud, IV, 351 conable, suitable, IV, 138 cordyng, pr. p. agreeing, IV, 533 couth, part. adj. familiar, at home,
IV, 92
couenauwt-briche, breaking of cove nant, VIII, 76
creke, a hurdle or bier on which bodies were carried to the grave, IV, 21 ; cp. " cratch,2' N.E.D. and E.D.D.
crocum, saffron, 95/17; ace. sg. of L. crocus
crope, pp. crept, IV, 912
cruddidist, pt. 2s. didst curdle, 60/25
cure, do J>i c., give thine attention, IV, 773
dare, inf. lie hidden in fear, IV,
939 deed, death, 88/14; gen. s, dedes,
I, 88 deede, act, 78/32
deet, debt, II, 228
defaute, lack, I, 117; pi. defautes.
faults, IV, 461 dere, inf. injure, I, 74 derworth, dear, IV, 88 dewe, n. right, VII, 43 dht, pp. appointed, IV, 733 ; dealt
with, IV, 637 dikide, pp. built, IV, 661 discry, inf. describe, III, 129 dis[c]ryen, inf. denounce, 99/6 disp[arpl]ye, inf. scatter, IV, 938 dissesen, pr. pi. molest, IV, 945 doluen, pp. dug, buried, IV, 22 dongeouw, castle keep, IV, 661 doo why, inf. act so (that), IV, 423;
dat. inf. I haue not to doone, it is
not my affair, 84/15; pp. doo,
done, IV, 59
drede, wonder, I, 137, II, 42 dredeful, full of dread, IV, 364 driede, pp. drained of blood, IV,
574
dryngles, without drink, II, 284 dyscryue, inf. describe, I, 60
echoone, each one, 64/2O ; echoon. VI, 7
eeldid, pt. Is. grew old. IV, 58; pi. eldyd, IV, 106
eft, again, IV, 920
eghe, eye, IV, 57
eisel, vinegar, IV, 590; eysell, I, 71
eke,;pr. Is. add, IV, 261
elke a, each, VII, 13
ellis, if, 87/23
elynges, tedious, lonely, IV, 374; selenge + -es. This form is not given in N.E.D., and should possibly be emended to elynge, as in the other texts. Ad. reads alone, Ro elong
enqwerid, pp. examined, 91/22
entencyouw, intention, VI, 64
entent, mind, will, VI, 22
entrikide, pp. ensnared, IV, 663
ere, pr. pi. are, IV, 225
euen, straight, II, 110
euene, in exact agreement, IV, 704
euerichoon, everyone, IV, 727
eysell, v. eisel
faast, firm, strong, II, 18 fare, state, III, 35
GLOSSARY.
121
faunt, infant, IV, 851 fayn, glad, II, 293 fayry, enchantment, illusion, trans lating Vulgate illusionibus, scorn- ings, IV, 249 feer, inf. terrify, II, 31; pr. 3s.
feri[]^], IV, 736 fele, many, IV, 145, 393 felth, filth, IV, 382 ferde, pt. pi. dealt, IV, 309 fere, company, IV, 544; in fere,
together, VIII, 99 f[ey], faith, IV, 460 filde, pp. defiled, II, 97 fillid, pt. 3s. supplied, filled in,
78/27 fleeme, subj. pr. 2s. banish, VI, 17;
pp. flemyd, IV, 838 fli^, pr. pi. flee, IV, 685 flum, river, 95/3 ; flume, III, 102 flyten, pt. pi. wrangled, IV, 693 f[o]des, children, III, 53 fonde, pt. Is. found, IV, 141 fonne, fool, II, 63 foorme, adj. first; f. fadres, first
parents, IV, 259 for, because, IV, 693 force, yeuith no f., attaches no
importance, IV, 102 for-do, imp. s. do away with, IV,
394; pp. [fordon], IV, 8 foreyne, inf. wander abroad, VIII,
56; cp. med. Latin foraneus,
canonicus qui non facit residen-
tiam
forfryede, pp. over fried, IV, 572 forslowthid, pp. neglected through
sloth, IV, 525 forsoke, pp. entirely drained of
moisture, IV, 571; O.E. for- +
sucan [forthought], pt. impers. it repented
me, IV, 292
[for]warde, covenant, IV, 259 for-whi, because, II, 41 for[y]emed, pp. despised, IV, 422 fowen, fawn, IV, 830 ; O.F. foun fraynd, pt. pi. asked, III, 39 frel[e], frail, VI, 7 frely, frailly, IV, 565 frestyng, verbal n. proving, III, 73 frith, wood, IV, 830 fulftllid, pp. filled full, 63/n fulsomnesse, abundance, IV, 476
fyn, fee; J?ou makist \>\ f., makest terms of peace, VIII, 102
[gamen], mirth, III, 33
gan, pt. 3s. did, III, 69
gate, path, II, 110
g lath eel, pp. made glad, II, 171 ;
O.N. glaSa
glower] ed, pt. pi. flattered, II, 70 gode, wealth, IV, 339 godesluf-barne, illegitimate child of
God, II, 314 goost, spirit, IV, 466 grede, inf. cry, IV, 935; pr. Is. IV,
389
grett, pt. 3s. greeted, III, 48 gretyn, inf. weep, IV, 343; pr. Is.
grete, II, 65 grith, peace, IV, 832 gruchchers, murmurers, 99/g
v. yeve 3 are, readily, III, 33 3ede, 3eden, v. yede 3erd, garden, 95/36 3erde, rod, IV, 68, 311 3erne, willingly, IV. 889 3 ing, young, IV, 591
[halfundele], half, IV, 737
halle, assembly, hall-moot, or court
of the lord of the manor, IV, 71 happily, perchance, haply, 82/4,
92/8
hard, pp. heard, II, 125 hardely, assuredly, II, 117 hatte, pr. 2s. pass, art called, II,
138 ;pt. 3s. hi^te, 86/31 hawes, oats, III, 89 haylsed, pp. greeted, II, 170 heestis, commandments, 85/17 heete, heat, VIII, 123 hele, health, IV, 217, 481; heel,
II, 90
hele, inf. cover, IV, 151, 395 h[e]nde, hands, III, 77 here-agayne, against this, II, 33 heryid, pt. 3s. harrowed, plundered,
II, 186 hi3te, v. hatte
hirked, pp. grown weary. II, 82 holy, wholly, III, 58, 133 homagere, vassal, VIII, 101 hoo, inter j. halt !, IV, 511
122
GLOSSARY.
hool, whole, VIII, 111 [h]orowe, filth, pollution, IV, 907; O.E. horu, horw-; also horh,
housel, the Holy Eucharist, XII, 46
hurlyd, pp. scarified, torn, IV, 605 ;
(?) cp. Sc. harl, to scrape roads
with a " harl " or scraper (N.E.D.)
hyle, imp. s. conceal, 92/22
into, in (translating Latin in with accusative), 88/23; in-to, to, 88/27; until, 96/26
kerue, inf. cut, injure, IV, 728
knowleche, acknowledgment, con fession, VI, 66 ; VII, 34
kydde, well known, IV, 92; mani fest, IV, 270
kynde, generation, IV, 642; off spring, IV, 707 ; nature, VIII, 30
ladde, pp. led, IV, 199
lappid, pp. wrapped, 63/17
lat, late, v. letyn
law, custom, III, 36
leche, physician, IV, 493; lech, IV,
131
lende, inf. remain, III, 13 lere, cheek, I, 40 lere, inf. learn, IV, 283; [l]ere, III,
130 lese, inf. destroy, IV, 945 ; imp. s.
IV, 24; pt. 3s. lees, lost, 85/8;
pp. loore, VII, 51; loren, 64/i6;
lorne, III, 56 lese, inf. loose, VIII, 106 lett, hindrance, III, 50; leet, IIT, 51 lett, inf. hinder, II, 10 letyn, inf. leave, IV, 339 ; pr. 2s.
leetist, considerest, 61/23 ; imp. sg.
lat, let, IV, 546; late, VII, 15;
liberate, 63/31 ; pt. 3s. lete, left,
IV, 621
leuacioiw, elevation, 100/3 leue, beloved, I, 139 leuyd, pp. lived, IV, 526 liggi]?, pr. pi lie, IV, 812 Ii3tist, pt. 2s. didst descend, VII,
46 lisse, inf. relieve, IV, 670; lysse,
IV, 485
lith, joint, IV, 828 loghe, pt. Is. laughed, II, 65
loore, loren, loine, v. lese
lope, pp. leaped, fallen, IV, 908
loutid, pt. 3s. bowed, III, CO
loue, inf. praise, dant laudem,
89/34
louely, loving, IV, 131, 493 lowide, pp. brought low, IV, 858 lufly, lovingly, III, 130 . lust, pr. impers. it is pleasing, IV, 669 lykide, pt. pi. pleased, IV, 657 ; pp.
lyked, II, 81 lyme, limb, IV, 828 lysse, v. lisse lyueraunce, deliverance, II, 287
malysouw, curse, 81/13
manyon, many a one, IV, 185
mare, more, II, 148
markyd, pp. made, III, 20
mathe, worm, IV, 301
meel, time, IV, 739. The simple
noun in this sense does not seem
to be otherwise recorded in M.E. me|>s]keful, noble, III, 44 mesil, leprous, II, 306 mister, need, IV, 20 mode, mind, II, 298 moght, moth, IV, 301 ; O.E. mohfte mooste, pr. Is. must, IV, 107 morne, inf. mourn, IV, 124 mote, pr. Is. subj. may, IV, 391 ;
pi. mut, XII, 28 mouthe, inf. voice, IV, 143 mute, assembly, II, 154 mylde, mildness, VIII, 113; O.N.
mildi
mynde, memory, IV, 642 mys, fault, VII, 23 mys, pr. pi. fail, III, 27 mys, amiss, IV, 172 [mys] fare, misfortune, II, 312
nardum, nard, 95/i6; ace. sg. of L.
nardus
nameless, nevertheless, 81/ig neghe, inf. approach, IV, 146;
pr. pi. neghes, IV, 178 neuen, inf. name, III, 11; pr. Is.
[n]eue[w], II, 4; pt. 3s. neuend,
III, 67
no-kyn, no kind of, II, 304 noon, not, VIII, 92; non, III, 27;
not recorded in N.E.D. before
1651
GLOSSARY.
123
noot, pr. Is. know not, 81/6, 92/21 noyed, pp. injured, IV, 643
of, above, VI, 37
omange, among, II, 272
onely, alone, II, 179
oonyd, pp. made at one, IV, 704
oord, point, IV, 811
cost, host, IV, 480
or, ere, III, 52; IV, 47, 815; 68/32
[o]rrour, hideousness, 64/2; Vul gate horror
os, as, I, 151
osprynge, offspring, 93/8
ou3t, at all, 83/26
outrage, wrong, injury, violence, IV, 477
outray, deed of violence, IV, 110
owe, pr. Is. ought, IV, 56
palle, fine cloth, III, 87
passid, pp. transgressed, 97/15
pellets], furs, III, 87
pelour, fur, I, 116
pertely, straightway, III, 47
peryd, pt. 3s. appeared, III, 104
pese, inf. satisfy, content, VIII,
64 peynt, pr. 2s. subj. colour, depict
falsely, VIII, 7 pight, pp. set, IV, 209; pyght, IV,
439
plenteuous, plenteous, IV, 826 plete, inf. plead, IV, 853 pouert, poverty, I, 114 pouste, power, VIII, 16 poyntes, distinguishing qualities,
III, 114
[poyntil], pencil, III, 81 prow[t]e, proud, IV, 347; 1. O.E.
prut
pure, poor, lowly, II, 8 pyght, v. pight pykide, pt. 3s. picked, chose, IV,
659 pyne, suffering, punishment, IV,
118
quarte, sound, VIII, 111 quyte, white, IV, 442 quyten, pr. pi. requite, IV, 361 qweme, inf. please, VI, 15; pp.
qwemed, IV, 418 qwyte, free, IV, 444, 765
ransake, pr. 2s. subj. search out,
60/n
rathe, early, IV, 299 rede, n. counsel, toke to rede,
decided, III, 37 rede, imp. s. counsel, X, 3 refute, refuge, IV, 153 regyoun, realm, IV, 845 remewe, inf. depart, VIII, 83 repoort, inf. relate, VIII, 79 resen, inf. rush, IV, 947 resoort, inf. return, VIII, 77 respyte (delay providing) leisure,
IV, 446
re[tt]ith, pr. 3s. imputes, IV, 97 rewarde, pr. 2s. subj. regard, IV,
793
rewly, wretched, IV, 160 ribaudrie, coarse language, scur rility, VIII, 79 rightwisly, justly, deservedly, II,
45
ri3t, justice, IV, 844 ri^t half, right hand, 62/io rikenyuge, rendering of account,
VII, 9
roser, rosebush, III, 43 ruwe, inf. have mercy on, IV, 649 ryches, s. wealth, I, 114 ryken, inf. make payment, VII, 7 ryse jr. w. pees), rows, order, III,
116; O.E. rsew. Cp. York Plays,
XX, 50; Rede youre resouns
right on rawes ryse, brushwood, III, 89
sadde, strongly, IV, 885
saghtil, inf. become reconciled, II,
124; reconcile, II, 226 s[aghtyng], reconciliation, III, 75 sale, hall, VIII, 816 sauerist, pr. 2s. art redolent of
IV, 807
sawe, saying, II, 158 say, pt. Is. saw, IV, 588; 86/34;
pi. sayen, 97/5 ; PP- seyen, 91/2 ;
sowen, IV, 674 scheende, inf. harm, IV, 644; pr.
3s. subj. schende. IV, 167; pp.
schent.VI, 10; VIII, 45 schene, pure, IV, 467 schewed, pt. 3s. appeared, III, 63 schopyn, pt. pi. shaped, 60/21 schynynge, brightness, 79/j8
124
GLOSSARY.
seche, inf. seek, 81/17
see, seat, throne, I, 128; IV, 327
seel, a promise given under seal,
IV, 741
seeme, pr. pi. befit, VI, 19 sees, pr. pi. cease, IV, 511; pt. s. ceesside, caused to cease, VIII, 22 seke, sick, II, 251 sekir, v. syker
semelaunt, appearance, 89/3 sendel, fine linen, 96/30 sene, visible, I, 8; II, 2; IV, 471 sere, various, II, 9 sete, fitting, III, 10 sett, pt. 3s. directed, ordered, III,
46
seyen, v. say
sey[s]en, inf. to put in possession, establish, IV, 951 ; cese, VIII, 66 silue, same, 61/23 skille, reason, II, 80 skilwys, rational, II, 59 sleep, pr. 3s. slays, IV, 594; pt. 3s.
slou}, 87/13
softid, pp. made soft, 60/25 soget, subject, 76/i8 soke, n. suck, IV, 324 sonnes morne, Sunday morning,
II, 187
sotilte, subtlety, IV, 854 sowen, v. say
sp[a]ryd, pt. Is. refrained, IV, 307 spatil, spittle, I, 70; spotil, 59/6 spedith.^r. 3s. profits, IV, 133; pt. Is. spedde, brought to an end, VIII, 35 sperde, pt. Is. shut in, IV, 307 ; pp.
shut, IV, 72; cp. M.L.G. speren sperne, inf. reject, IV, 895; O.N.
sperna
spille, inf. slay, 85/7 spiride, pt. 3s. breathed, 76/2Q spotil, v. spatil spryng, inf. sprinkle, IV, 441 stall, stable, IV, 430 stede, place, II, 161; stide, 80/35;
styde, 85/23 ; steede, II, 206 stede, pp. beset, III, 32 stegh, inf. rise, II, 200; pt. 3s. sth,
IV, 687
steie,pr. Is. move, stir, IV, 331 steuen, voice, II, 212 stide, v. stede stoode, pt. 2s. stoodest, IV, 503
stounde, hour, I, 81 ; hard time,
pang, IV, 712 strenghed, pp. strengthened, III,
354; O.E. strengan strenght, imp. s. strengthen, IV,
551 ; O.E. strengftu, n styde, v. stede
stynten, pt. pi. stopped, I, 47 suffrid, pp. borne, endured, IV 802,
809
swelt, inf. die, II, 122 swere, pt. pi. swore, IV, 612 sweuene, sleep, IV, 702; N.E.D.
records no example of this meaning
between 1000 and 1645 swilk, such, I, 110 syker, secure, II, 13; sekir, sure,
IV, 95 syth, time, II, 48 ; pi. sythis, 99/3
[tarie], inf. weary, harass, IV, 608
teermys, limits, 61/28
telth, tillage, cultivation, worship,
IV, 384,500; O.E. til}? tene, suffering, IV, 469 ; XII, 6 [t]erue, inf. turn, IV, 726 thank, n. to pe most thank, most
gratefully, II, 266 ther, pr. impers. there is need, II,
123
ther-agayne, against that, II, 18 there, whereas, IV, 166 tho, those, 98/16, 23 thole, imp. s. suffer, II, 204 ; thool,
II, 168
throwe, instant, III, 80 tilye, inf. till, 86/26 to, till, I, 52; IV, 615, 704; in the
presence of, III, 10 to-toorne, pp. torn to pieces, IV, 271 to-tuggid, pp. torn to pieces, IV, 613 tour, tower, VII, 45 trayn, deceit, IV, 300; pi. traynes,
IV, 253 trist, pr. pi. trust, IV, 125; pp.
trest, IV, 321
twynnyd, pp. separated, VII, 25 tyne, inf. lose, II, 143 tyne, inj. shut, VIII, 107
)?are, these, II, 146 ]?at, she whom, II, 4 )?ilk, the same, 84/12 poo, then, I, 23
GLOSSARY.
125
}?oru-sou3t, pp. penetrated, VI, 21 ; []?oru3 soU3t], thoroughly exam ined, IV, 5; throgh soght, IV, 11
]?rie, three times, VIII, 85
}>riste, thirst, IV, 576
vmbethyng, imp. s. bethink, II,
203
vmset, pp. surrounded, II, 9 vmthenk, imp. s. bethink, II, 177 vndirfonge, imp. s. receive, IV, 64 vndirstonde, inf. receive, 86/17 vnreste, strife, 79/34 vn-tille, unto, II, 102 vp, upon, IV, 560; [vp], IV, 330;
O.E. uppan
vptake, imp. s. rebuke, IV, 9, 202 ; pp. vptane, taken into posses sion, made my own, II, 89
vagaunt, wandering, 87/36
vertu, divine power, II, 137;
strength, IV, 274 vertued, pp. endowed with virtue,
IV, 863. The earliest example
of this in N.E.D. is 1609 volatils, birds, 76/n
waght, instability, II, 277; cp.
O.E. wagian, to totter walle, well, VI, 32 wanhope, despair, II, 168 wannesse, lividness, Vulgate livorem,
88/27
ward, watch, IV, 817 ware, prudent, III, 85 warne, inf. refuse, II, 313 warre, worse, II, 50 wasshe, pr. 3s. washes, IV, 502;
pp. wayschen, VI, 32 wayte, imp. s. watch, observe, VIII,
57 wede, apparel, in w. used as expletive,
III, 16
weer, doubt, IV, 744; were, III, 101 w[eie]de, pt. Is. weighed, II, 61 welatesom, disgusting, II, 96 weldant, pr. p. ruling, II, 202 weldyng, verb. n. wielding, IV, 256
wele, weal, prosperity, VIII, 92
wend, pt. Is. thought, II, 33
were, inf. defend, II, 246; pr. 2s.
subj. XII, 24 wexe, pr. Is. grow, IV, 212 ; pt. Is.
IV, 241
whatkyn, what kind of, II, 302 wisse, v. wys. with, by, II, 170, 171 wit^-stonde, inf. stand firm, 59/12 wittes, minds, IV, 668 witty, wise, III, 15 w[l]ete, inf. impers. cause nausea,
scorn, II, 264; O.E. -wlsetan
root of O.E. awlsetan, gewlectan,
to defile; cp. O.E. wlatian, to
despise
woltow, wilt thou, VIII, 50 wond, inf. turn, IV, 860 wonde, wand, IV, 212 wone, dwelling-place, III, 15 woneth, pr. 3s. dwells, IV,
pt. pi. woneden, 80/35;
wonyd, accustomed, 98/31 wonyng, dwelling, III, 86 woode, furious, I, 141 woodnesse, fierceness, 94/7 woorde, world, IV, 373 worth, pr. pi. subj. may (they) be,
IV, 82
wou3, wall, IV, 750 wreche, vengeance, IV, 491, 717 w[re]th[l]i, wrathful, IV, 218 write, pt. Is. subj. I, 59 wrye, pr. pi. accuse, II, 70. O.E.
wregan; v. Note wyk, wicked, II, 68 wyn, joy, III, 54 wys, inf. guide, IV, 504; pr. pi.
wisse, IV, 668 ; imp. s. wysse, IV,
380; wys, IV, 399 wyte, pr. 2s. subj. blame, II, 269
yede, pt. Is. went, IV, 242; 3s.
3ede, 82/5; pi. 3eden, 93/3 1 [yeve], inf. give, IV, 295; pr. 3s.
yeuith, IV, 102; pi. 3yuen, IV,
171; pt. 3s. 3af, IV, 324; pp.
3ouiw, 76/21
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