Sawles Warde, ed. by R. M. Wilson
Author: Unknown
Date: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Corpus of Middle English Prose and VerseTitle:Sawles warde : an early Middle English homily

Responsibility:edited from the Bodley, Royal and Cotton mss. byR.M.

Wilson

Edition:Bodley, Royal and Cotton mss.

Extent:xlvi, 115 p. ; 23 cm.

Publisher: Printed by T. Wilson for members of the School of English Language in the University of Leeds

City:Kendal

Date:1938

Series:Leeds School of English language texts and monographs; no. 3

Note: With: The conflict of wit & will / edited by Bruce Dickins View Source Description and Table of Contents |View Full Header of the Electronic Edition

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Her bigineđ Sawles Warde: Si sciret paterfamilias qua hora fur uenturus esset, vigilaret utique et non sineret perfodi domum suam.

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Ure Lauerd i ţe godspel teacheđ us ţurh a bisne hu we ahen wearliche to biwiten us seoluen wiđ ţe unwiht of helle ant wiđ his wernches. “ef ţes lauerd wiste”, he seiđ, “hwenne ant hwuch time ţe ţeof walde cume to his hus, he walde wakien, ne nalde he nawt ţolien ţe ţeof forte breoken hire.” Ţis hus ţe ure Lauerd spekeđ of is seolf ţe mon; inwiđ, ţe monnes wit i ţis hus is ţe huse-lauerd, ant te fulitohe wif mei beon Wil ihaten; ţet ga ţe hus efter hire, ha diht hit al to wundre, bute Wit ase lauerd chasti hire ţe betere, ant bineome hire muchel of ţet ha walde; ant tah walde al hire hird folhin hire oueral, ef Wit ne forbude ham, for alle hit beođ untohene ant rechelese hinen, bute ef he ham rihte. Ant hncche beođ ţeos hinen? Summe beođ wiđvten ant summe wiđinnen. Ţeo wiţvten beođ
ţe monnes fif wittes — sihđe ant herunge, smechunge ant smeallunge, ant euch limes felunge. Ţeos beođ hinen vnder Wit, as under huse-lauerd, ant hwer se he is emeles, nis hare nan ţe ne feaređ ofte untoheliche ant gulteđ ilome, ođer i fol semblant oder in vuel dede. Inwiđ beođ his hinen in se moni mislich ţonc to cwemen wel ţe husewif aein Godes wille, ant swerieđ sometreadliche ţet efter hire hit schal

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gan. Ţah we hit ne here nawt, we mahen felen hare nurđ ant hare untohe bere, aţet Wit cume forđ ant ba wiđ eie ant wiđ luue tuhte ham ţe betere. Ne biđ
neauer his hus for ţeos hinen wel iwist, for hwon ţet he slepe ođer ohwider fare from hame — ţet is hwen mon foret his wit ant let ham inrđen. Ah ne bihoueđ hit nawt ţet tis hus beo irobbet, for ţer is inne ţe tre[sor] ţet Godd ef himseolf fore — ţet is monnes sawle. Forte breoke ţis hus efter ţis tresor ţet Godd bohte mid his deađ ant lette lif o rode is moni ţeof abuten, ba bi dei ant bi niht: vnseheliche gasttes wiđ alle unwreaste ţeawes; ant aein euch god ţeaw ţe biwiteđ i ţis hus Godes deore chatel vnder Wittes wittunge ţet is huse-lauerd is eauer hire unţeaw forte sechen inong abute ţe wahes, to amurđrin hire ţrinne.

Ţet heaued ţrof is ţe feont, ţe meistređ ham alle. Aeines him ant his keis ţe husebonde, ţet is Wit, warneđ his hus ţus: vre Lauerd haueđ ileanett him fowre of

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his dehtren, ţet beođ to vnderstonden ţe fowr heaued-ţeawes. Ţe earste is Warschipe icleopet, ant te ođer is ihaten Gastelich Strengđe, ant te ţridde is Meađ ; Rihtwisnesse ţe feorđe.

Wit ţe husbonde, Godes cunestable, cleopeđ Warschipe forđ ant makiđ hire durewart, ţe warliche loki hwam ha leote in ant ut, ant of feor bihalde alle ţe cuminde — hwuche beo wurđe inong to habben, ođer beon bisteken ţrute. Strengđe stont nest hire, ţet ef ei nle in Warschipes vnţonkes warni Strengđe fore, ţet is hire suster, ant heo hit ut warpe. Ţe ţridde suster, ţet is Meađ, hire he makeđ meistre ouer his willesfule hird ţet we ear of speken, ţet ha leare ham mete, ţet me meosure hat, ţe middel of twa uueles (for ţet is ţeaw in euch stude, ant tuht forte halden) ant hateđ ham alle ţet nan of ham aein hire nohwer wiđ vnmeađ ne ga ouer mete. Ţe feorđe suster, Rihtwisnesse, sit on hest as deme, ant beateđ ţeo ţe agulteđ, ant cruneđ ţeo ţe wel dođ, ant demeđ euchan his dom efter his rihte. For dret of hire nimeđ

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his hird, euch efter ţet he is, warde to witene: ţe ehnen hare, ţe muđ his, ţe earen hare, ţe honden hare, ant euch alswa of ţe oţre wit, ţet onont him ne schal nan unţeaw cumen in.

As ţis is ido ţus, ant is al stille ţrinne, Warschipe ţet aa is waker, is offearet lest sum fortruste him, ant feole o slepe ant foreme his warde, ant sent ham in a sonde ţet ha wel cnaweđ, of feorren icumen, forte offearen ţeo ţe beođ ouerhardi, ant ţeo ţe emelese beođ halden ham wakere. He is underuon in ant swiđe bihalden of ham alle, for lonc he is ant leane, ant his leor deađlich ant blac ant elheowet, ant euch her ţuncheđ ţet stont in his heaued up. Warschipe hat him tellen biuoren hwet he beo ant hweonene he comme ant hwet he ţer seche.

“Ne mei Ich,” he seiđ, “nohwer speoken bute Ich habbe god lust. Lustniđ me ţenne: Fearlac Ich hatte, ant am Deađes sonde ant Deađes munegunge ant am icumen biuore hire to warnin ow of hire cume.” Warschipe, ţet best con bisetten hire wordes ant ec hire werkes, spekeđ for ham alle, ant freineđ hweonene ha cume ant hwuch hird ha leade. Fearlac

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hire ontsweređ: “Ich nat nawt ţe time, for ha ne seide hit me nawt; ah eauer lokiđ hwenne, for hire wune is to cumen bi stale ferliche ant unmundlunge hwen me least weneđ. Of hire hird ţet tu easkest, Ich ţe ondswerie: ha lihteđ hwer se ha eauer kimeđ wiđ a ţusent deoflen, ant euchan beređ a gret boc al of sunnen iwriten wiđ swarte smeale leattres, ant an unrude raketehe gledread of furc, forte binden ant to drahen into inwarde helle hwuch se he mei preouin ţurh his boc, ţet is on euch sunne enbreuet ţet he wiđ wil ođer wiđ word ođer wiđ werc wrahtte in al his lif-siđe, bute ţet he haueđ ibet earţon wiđ sođ schrift ant wiđ deadbote.” At Warschipc hire easkeđ: “Hweonene cumest tu, Fearlac, Deađes munegunge ?” “Ich cume,” he seiđ, “of helle.” “Of helle ?” ha seiđ, Warschipe, “ant hauest tu isehen helle ?” “e,” seiđ Fearlac, “witerliche, ofte ant ilome.”

“Nu,” seiđ ţenne Warschipe, “for ţi trowđe treoweliche tele us hwuch is helle ant hwet tu hauest isehen ţrin.” “Ant Ich,” he seiđ, Fearlac, “o mi trowđe bluđeliche, nawt tah efter ţet hit is — for ţet ne mei na tunge tellen — ah efter ţet Ich mei ant con, ţertowart Ich chulle reodien.

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“Helle is wid wiđute met ant deop wiđute grunde; ful of brune uneuenlich, for ne mei nan eorđlich fur euenin ţertowart; ful of stench unţolelich, for ne mahte in eorđe na cwic ţing hit ţolien; ful of sorhe untalelich, for ne mei na muđ for wrecchedom ne for wa rikenin hit ne tellen. Se ţicke is ţrinne ţe ţosternesse ţet me hire mei grapin. For ţet fur ne eueđ na liht, ah blent ham ţe ehnen ţe ţer beođ wiđ a smorđrinde smoke, smeche forcuđest, ant tah i ţet ilke swarte ţeosternesse swarte ţinges ha iseođ, as deoflen ţet ham mealliđ ant derueđ aa ant dreccheđ wiđ alles cunnes pinen, ant iteilede draken grisliche ase deoflen ţe forswolheđ ham ihal ant speoweđ ham eft ut biuoren ant bihinden, ođer-hwile torendeđ ham ant tocheoweđ ham euch greot, ant heo eft iwurđeđ hal to a swach bale bute bote as ha ear weren. Ant ful wel ha iseođ, ham to grisle ant to grure ant to echen hare pine, ţe lađe helle-wurmes, Page 172
tadden ant froggen, ţe freoteđ ham ut te ehnen ant te nease-gristles, ant snikeđ
in ant ut neddren ant eauroskes, nawt ilich ţeose her ah hundret siđe grisluker, et muđ ant et earen, ed ehnen ant ed neauele, ant ed te breoste-holke as meađen i forrotet flesch, eauerete ţickest. Ţer is remunge i ţe brune ant tođes hechelunge i ţe snawi weattres. Ferliche ha flutteđ from ţe heate into ţe chele, ne neauer nuten ha of ţeos twa hweđer ham ţuncheđ wurse, for eiđer is unţolelich. Ant i ţis ferliche mong ţe leatere ţurh ţe earre derueđ ţe mare. Ţet fur ham forbeameđ al to colen calde, ţet pich ham forwalleđ ađet ha beon formealte, ant eft acwikieđ anan to drehen al ţet ilke ant muchedeale nrse a wiđuten ende.

At tis ilke unhope is ham meast pine, ţet nan naueđ neauermare hope of nan acouerunge, ah aren sikere of euch uuel to ţurh-leasten i wa from worlde into worlde aa on echnesse. Euch aţrusmeđ ođer, at euch is ođres pine, ant euchan heateđ ođer ant him seoluen as ţe blake deouel; ant eauer se ha i ţis world luueden ham mare, se ha ţer heatieđ ham swiđere; anteiđer Page 173
curseđ ođer ant fret of ţe ođres earen, ant te nease alswa. Ich habbe bigunne to tellen of ţing ţet Ich ne mahte nawt bringe to eni ende, ţah Ich hefde a ţusent tungen of stele ant talde ađet ha weren alle forwerede. Ah ţencheđ nu herţurh hwuch ţe rneaste pine beo: for ţe leaste pine is se heard ţet hefde a mon islein ba mi feader ant mi moder ant al ţe ende of mi cun, ant ido me seoluen al ţe scheome ant te hearm ţet cwic mon mahte ţolien, ant Ich isehe ţes mon i ţe ilke leaste pine ţet Ich iseh in helle, Ich walde, ef hit mahte beon, ţolien a ţusent deađes to arudden him ut ţrof, swa is ţe sihđe grislich ant reowđful to bihalden. For ţah neauer nere nan ođer pine bute to iseon eauer ţe unseli gastes ant hare grisliche schape, biseon on hare grimfule ant grurefule nebbes, ant heren hare rarunge, ant hu ha wiđ hokeres edwiteđ ant upbreideđ euchan his sunnen, ţis schendlac ant te grure of ham were unimete pine — ant hure ţolien ant abeoren hare unirude duntes wiđ mealles istelet ant wiđ hare eawles gledreade hare dustlunges as ţah hit were a pilche-clut euchan towart ođer i misliche pinen. O helle deađes hus, wununge of wanunge, of grure ant of granunge, heatel ham ant heard wan of alle wontreađes, buri of bale ant bold of eauereuch bitternesse, ţu lađest lont of alle, ţu dorc stude ifullet of alle dreorinesses,

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Ich cwakie of grisle ant of grure, ant euch ban schekeđ me ant euch her me rueđ
up of ţi munegunge, for nis ţer na steuene bituhhe ţe fordemde bute “wumme”, ant “wa is me” and “wa beo ţe” and “wa beo ţe”. “Wa” ha eieđ ant wa ha habbeđ, ne of al ţet eauer wa is ne schal ham neauer wontin. Ţe swuch wununge ofearneđ for ei hwilinde blisse her o ţisse worlde, wel were him ef ţet he neauer ibore nere. Bi ţis e mahen sumdel witen hwuch is helle, for iwis Ich habbe ţrin isehen a ţusent siđe wurse; ant from ţeonne kimeđ Deađ wiđ a ţusent deoflen hiderwart, as Ich seide, ant Ich com ţus,” quođ Fearlac, “forte warnin ow fore, ant tellen ow ţeos tidinges.”

“Nu, Lauerd Godd,” quođ Warschipe, “wardi us ant werie, ant rihte us ant reade hwet us beo to donne, ant we beon ţe warre ant wakere to witen us on euch half under Godes wengen. ef we wel werieđ ant witeđ ure hus ant Godes deore tresor ţet he haueđ bitaht us, cume deađ hwen he wulle, ne ţurue we nowđer beon ofdred for hire ne for helle, for ure deađ biđ deore Godd, ant inong into heouene. Of ţeos fikelinde world ne of hire false blisse ne neome we neauer eme, for al ţet is on eorđe nis bute as a schadewe, for al wurđeđ

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to noht bute ţet deore tresor, Godes deorewurđe feh ţet is us bitaht to witene.

Ich habbe ţeruore sar care, for Ich iseo,” seiđ Warschipe, “hu ţe unwhiht wiđ
his ferd ase liun iburst geađ abuten ure hus, sechinde eornliche hu he hit forswolhe. Ant tis Ich mei”, seiđ Warschipe, “warnin ow of his lađ ant for his wrenches; ah Ich ne mei nawt aeines his strengđe.”

“Do nu”, quođ Strengđe, Warschipe suster, “ţet te limpet to ţe, ant warne us of his wiheles, for of al his strengđe ne drede we nawiht: for nis his strengđe noht wurđ bute hwer se he ifindeđ eđeliche ant wake, unwarnede of treowe bileaue. Ţe apostle seiđ: “Etstont ţen feont, ant he fliđ ananriht.” Schulde we ţenne fleon him? e, nis Godd ure scheld? and alle beođ ure wepnen of his deore grace, ant Godd is on ure half ant stont bi us i fehte. ef he schute towart me wiđ weole ant wunne of ţe world, wiđ este of flesches lustes, of ţulliche nesche wepnen Ich mahte carien summes weis, ah ne mei me na ţing heardes offearen, ne nowcin ne na wone falsi min heorte ne wursi mi bileaue towart him ţet eueđ me alle mine strengđen.”

“For ba me ah,” quođ Meađ, “ant for heart of nowcin ant for wone of wunne, dreden ant carien. For rnoni for to muchel heard of wa ţet he dreheđ foret ure Lauerd, ant ma ţah for nesche ant for flesches licunge foremeđ ham ofte.

Bituhhen heard ant nesche, bituhhe wa of ţis world ant to muche wunne, bituhhe Page 176
muchel and lutel is in euch worldlich ţing ţe middel wei guldene. ef we hire haldeđ, ţenne ga we sikerliche, ne ţerf us nowđer for deađ ne for deouel dreden. Hwet se beo of heardes, ne drede Ich nawiht nesches, for ne mei na wunne ne na flesches licunge ne licomlich este bringe me ouer ţe midel of mesure ant of mete.”

Rihtwissnesse spekeđ nu. “Mi suster,” ha seiđ, “Warschipe, ţe haueđ wit ant schad bituhhe god ant uuel, ant wat hwet is in euch ţing to cheosen ant to schunien, readeđ us ant leaređ forte eme lutel alle fallinde ţing ant witen warliche ţeo ţe schulen a lesten. Ant seiđ as ha sođ seiđ, ţet ţurh unweotenesse ne mei ha nawt sunegin, ant tah nis nawt siker of ţe unwihtes strengđe, as ţeo ţe halt hire wac, ţah ha beo muche wurđ to ure alre ehnen, ant demeđ hire unmihti onont hireseoluen to etstonden wiđ his turnes, ant deđ ase ţe wise. Mi suster Strengđe is swiđe bald, ant seiđ ţet nawiht heardes ne mei hire offearen, ah ţah ha ne trust nawt on hire ahne wepnen, ah deđ o Godes grace, ant ţet Ich demi riht ant wisdom to donne. Mi ţridde suster, Meađ, spekeđ of ţe middel sti bituhhe riht ant luft, ţet lut cunnen halden, Page 177
ant seiđ i nesche ha is bald, ant heard mei hire offearen, ant forţi ne elpeđ ha of na sikernesse, ant deđ as ţe wise. Mi meoster is to do riht ant riht forto demen, ant Ich deme me seolf ţet Ich ţurh me ne do hit nawt: for al ţet god is of Godd ţet we her habbeđ. Nu is riht ţenne ţet we demen us seolf eauer unmihtie to werien ant to witen us ođer ei god to halden wiđute Godes helpe. Ţe rihtwise Godd wule ţet we demen us seolf eđeliche ant lahe, ne beo we neauer swucche, for ţenne demeđ he us muche wurđ, ant gode, ant halt for his dehtren. For ţah mi forme suster war beo of euch uuel, ant min ođer strong beo toeines euch nowcin, ant mi ţridde meađful in alles cunnes estes, ant Ich do riht and deme, bute we wiđ al ţis milde beon ant meoke, ant halden us wake, Godd mei mid rihte fordemen us of al ţis ţurh ure prude; ant forţi is riht dom ţet we al ure god ţonkin him ane.”

Wit ţe husebonde, Godes cunestable, heređ alle hare sahen and ţonkeđ God eorne wiđ swiđe glead heorte of se riche lane as beođ ţeos sustren, his fowr dehtren ţet he haueđ ileanet him on helpe forte wite wel ant werien his castel, ant Godes deorewurđe feh ţet is biloke ţrinne. Ţe willesfule husewif halt hire al stille, ant al ţet hird ţet ha wes iwunet to dreaien efter hire turneđ

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ham treowliche to Wit hare lauerd ant to ţeos fowr sustren. Vmben ane stunde spekeđ eft Warschipe ant seiđ: “Ich iseo a sonde cumen, swiđe glead-icheret, feier ant freolich ant leofliche aturnet.” “Let him in,” seiđ Wit, “ef Godd wule, he bringeđ us gleade tidinges, ant ţet us were muche neod, for Fearlac, Deađes sonde, haueđ wiđ his offearet us swiđe mid alle.” Warschipe let him in, ant he gret Wit, ţen lauerd, ant al ţet hird seođen wiđ lahhinde chere, ant ha eldeđ him his gretunge, ant beođ alle ilihtet, ant igleadet ham ţuncheđ of his onsihđe, for al ţet hus schineđ ant schimmeđ of his leome. He easkeđ ham ef ham biluueđ to heren him ae hwile. “e,” quođ ha, Rihtwisnesse, “wel us biluueđ hit, ant wel is riht ţet we ţe liđeliche lustnin.”

“Hercniđ nu ţenne,” he seiđ, “ant eornliche understondeđ. Ich am Murđes sonde, ant munegunge of eche lif, ant Liues Luue ihaten, ant cume riht from heouene, ţet Ich habbe isehen nu ant ofte ear ţe blisse ţet na monnes tunge ne mei of tellen. Ţe iblescede Godd iseh ow offruhte ant sumdel drupnin of ţet Fearlac talde of deađ ant of helle, ant sende me to gleadien ow, nawt forţi ţet hit ne beo al sođ ţet he seide, ant ţet schulen alle uuele fondin ant ifinden. Ah e, wiđ ţe fulat of Godd, ne ţurue na ţing dreden, for he sit on heh Page 179
ţet is ow on helpe, ant is alwealdent ţet haueđ ow to witene.”

“A,” seiđ Warschipe, “welcume, Liues Luue, ant for ţe luue of Godd seolf, ef ţu eauer sehe him tele us sumhwet of him ant of his eche blisse.” “e, i seođ,” quođ

Liues Luue, Murhđes sonde, “Ich habbe isehen him ofte, nawt tah alswa as he is — for ; aein ţe brihtnesse ant te Iiht of his leor ţe sunne-gleam is dosc ant ţuncheđ a schadewe; ant forţi ne mahte Ich nawt aein ţe leome of his wlite lokin ne bihalden, bute ţurh a schene schawere bituhhe me ant him ţet schilde mine ehnen ; Swa Ich habbe ofte isehen ţe hali ţrumnesse, Feader ant Sune ant Hali Gast, ţreo an untodealet. Ah lutle hwile Ich mahte ţolie ţe leome, ah summes weis Ich mahte bihalden ure Lauerd Iesu Crist Godes sune, ţet bohte us o rode, hu he sit blisful on his Feader riht half ţet is alwealdent, rixleđ i ţet eche lif bute linnunge, se unimete feier ţet te engles ne beođ neauer ful on him to bihalden. Ant et Ich iseh etscene ţe studen of his wunden, ant hu he schaweđ ham his feader to cuđen hu he luuede us ant hu he wes buhsum to him ţe sende him swa to alesen us, ant bisecheđ him a for moncunnes heale.

“Efter him Ich iseh on heh ouer alle heouenliche wordes ţe eadi meiden his moder, Marie inempnet, sitten in

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a trone se swiđe briht wiđ immes istirret, ant hire wlite se weoleful ţet euch eorđlich liht is ţeoster ţeraeines. Ţear Ich iseh as ha bit hire deorewurđe sune se eornliche ant se inwardliche for ţeo ţet hire seruiđ, ant he hire etteđ
bliđeliche al ţet ha bisecheđ.

“Ţet liht ţa Ich ne mahte lengre ţolien, Ich biseh to ţe engles ant to ţe archangles ant to ţe ođre ţe beođ buuen ham, iblescede gastes ţe beođ a biuore Godd ant seruiđ him eauer, ant singeđ a unwerget. Nihe wordes ţer beođ, ah hu ha beođ i-ordret ant sunderliche isette, ţe an buue ţe ođre, ant euchanes meoster, were long to tellen. Se muche murhđe Ich hefde on hare onsihđe ţet ne mahte Ich longe hwile elleshwider lokin.

“Efter ham Ich iseh towart te patriarches ant te prophetes ţe makieđ swuch murhđe ţet ha aren nuđe i ţet ilke lont of blisse ţet ha hefden of feor igret ear on eorđe, ant seođ nu al ţet isođet ţet ha hefden longe ear icwiddet of ure Lauerd, a he hefde ischawed hom i gastelich sihđe. Ich iseh ţe apostles, poure ant lah on eorđe, ifullet ant bigoten al of unimete Page 181
blisse, sitten i trones, ant al under hare uet ţet heh is i ţe worlde, arowe for te demen i ţe dei of dome kinges ant keiseres ant alle cunreadneg of alles cunnes ledenes.

Ich biheolt te martyrs ant hare unimete murhđe ţe ţoleden her pinen ant deađ for ure Lauerd, ant lihtliche talden to alles cunnes neowcins ant eorđliche tintreohen aeines ţe blisse ţet Godd in hare heorte schawede ham to cumene.

Efter ham Ich beheolt ţe cunfessurs hird ţe liueden i god lif ant hal[il]iche deiden, ţe schineđ as dođ steorren i ţe eche blissen, ant seođ Godd in his wlite ţet haueđ alle teares iwipet of hare ehnen.

Ich iseh ţet schene ant ţet brihte ferreden of ţe eadi meidnes ilikest towart engles, ant feolahlukest wiđ ham blissin ant gleadien ţe, libbinde i flesche, ouergađ flesches lahe ant ouercumeđ cunde, ţe leadeđ heouenlich lif in eorđe as ha wunieđ. Hare murhđe ant hare blisse, ţe feierleac of hare wlite, ţe swetnesse of hare song, ne mei na tunge tellen. Alle ha singeđ ţe ţer beođ, ah hare song ne mahe nane buten heo singen. Se swote smeal ham folheđ hwider se ha wendeđ, ţet me mahte libben aa bi ţe swotnesse. Hwamse heo bisecheđ fore is sikerliche iborhen, for aein hare bisocnen Godd

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himseolf ariseđ ţet alle ţe ođre halhen sittende iheređ.”

“Swiđe wel,” quođ Warschipe, “likeđ us ţet tu seist. Ah nu ţu hauest se wel iseid of euch a setnese of ţe seli sunderlepes, sumhwet sei us nu hwuch blisse is to alle iliche meane.” And Liuea Luue hire ondsweređ: “Ţe imeane blisse is seouenfald, lengđe of lif, wit, ant luue, ant of ţe luue a gleadunge wiđute met, murie loft-song ant lihtschipe, ant sikernese is ţe seoueđe.” “Ţah Ich ţis,”

seiđ Warschipe, “sumdel understonde, ţu most unwreo ţis witerluker ant openin to ţeos ođre.” “Ant hit schal beon,” seiđ Liues Luue, “Warschipe, as ţu wilnes.”

“Ha liuieđ a in a wlite ţet is brihtre seoueuald ant schenre ţen ţe sunne, ant eauer in a strengđe to don buten euch swinc al ţet ha wulleđ, ant eauermare in a steal in al ţet eauer god is wiđute wonunge, wiđuten euch ţing ţet mahe hearmin ođer eilin, in al ţet eauer is softe ođer swote; ant hare lif is Godes sihđe ant Godes cnawlechunge, as ure Lauerd seide: “Ţet is,” quođ he, “eche lif, to seon ant cnawen sođ Godd ant him ţet he sende, Iesu Crist ure Lauerd, to ure alesnesse”; ant beođ forţi ilich him i ţe ilke wlite ţet he is, for ha seođ him as he is, nebbe to nebbe. Ha beođ se wise ţet ha witen alle Godes reades, his runes, ant his domes ţe

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derne beođ, ant deopre ţen eni sea-dingle. Ha seođ i Godd alle ţing, ant witen of al ţet is ant wes ant eauer schal inrđen, hwet it beo, hwi, ant hwerto, ant hwerof hit bigunne.

Ha luuieđ God wiđute met, for ţet ha understondeđ hu he haueđ bi ham idon ţurh his muchele godlec ant hwet ha ahen his deorewurđe milce to elden, ant euchan luueđ ođer ase muchel as himseoluen.

Se gleade ha beođ of Godd ţet al is hare blisse se muchel ţet ne mei hit munne na muđ ne spealie na speche. Forţi ţet euch-an luueđ ođer as himseoluen, euchan haueđ of ođres god ase muche murhđe as of his ahne. Bi ţis e mahen seon ant witen ţet euchan haueđ sunderlepes ase feole gleadschipes as ha beođ monie alle, ant euch of ţe ilke gleadschipes is to eauereuchan ase muche gleadunge as his ahne sunderliche. et ouer al ţis, hwen euchan luueđ Godd mare ţen himseoluen ant ţen alle ţe ođre, mare he gleadeđ of Godd wiđuten ei etlunge ţen of his ahne gleadunge ant of alle ţe ođres. Neomeđ nu ţenne eme: ef neauer anes heorte ne mei in hire underuon hire ahne gleadunge sunderliche — se unimete muchel is ţe anlepi blisse — hu nimeđ in hire ţus

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monie ant ţus muchele? Forţi seide ure Lauerd to ţeo ţe him hefden icwemet: Intra in gaudium etc. “Ga,” quođ he, “into ţi Lauerdes blisse. Ţu most al gan ţrin, ant al beon bigotten ţrin, for in ţe ne mei hit nanesweis neomen in.”

Herof ha herieđ Godd ant singeđ a unwerget eauer iliche lusti in his loft-songes, as hit iwriten is: Beati qui habitant etc: Eadi beođ ţeo, Lauerd, ţe i ţin hus wunieđ; ha schulen herien ţe from worlde into worlde.

Ha beođ alle ase lihte ant ase swifte ase sunne-gleam ţe scheot fram est into west as tin ehlid tuneđ ant openeđ: for hwer se eauer ţe gast nle, ţe bodi is ananriht wiđute lettunge. For ne mei ham naţing aeines etstonden, for euchan is almihti to don al ţet he wule, e, makie to cwakien heouene ba ant eorđe wiţ his an finger.

Sikere ha beođ of al ţis, of ţulli lif, of ţulli wit, of ţulli luue ant gle Page 185
adunge ţrof, ant of ţulli blisse, ţet hit ne mei neauermare lutlin ne wursin, ne neome nan ende. Ţis lutle ich habbe iseid of ţet ich iseh in heouene, ah nower neh ne seh ich al, ne ţet et ţet ich seh ne con ich half tellen.”

“Witerliche,” quođ Warschipe, “wel we understondeđ ţet tu hauest ibeo ţear ant sođ hauest iseid trof efter ţi sihđe. Ant wel is him ţet is war ant bisiđ him hu he mahe beast halden his hus ţet Godes tresor is in aeines Godes unwine ţe weorređ ţertowart a wiđ unţeawes: for ţet schal bringen him ţider as he schal al ţis ţet tu hauest ispeken of, an hundret siđe mare, of blisse buten euch bale fondin ant ifinden.” Quođ Strengđe: “Hwen hit swa is, hwet mei tweamen us from Godd ant halden us ţeonne? Ich am siker ine Godd ţat ne schal lif ne deađ ne wa ne wunne nowđer todealen us ant his luue ţat al ţis us haueđ iarcket Page 186
ef we as treowe tresurers witeđ wel his tresor ţet is bitaht us to halden as we schulen ful wel under his wengen.”

“Varpeđ ut,” quođ Warschipe, “Farlac ure fa. Nis nawt riht ţet an hus halde ţeos tweien: for ţer as murđes sonde is and sođ luue of eche lif, farlac is fleme.”

“Nu ut!” quođ Strenđe, “Farlac, ne schaltu na lengere leuen in ure ende.” “Nu,”

quođ he, “Ich seide for god al ţet ich seide; and ţah it muri nere nes na lessere mi tale ţen wes Murhđes sondes ne unbihefre to ow, ţah it ne beo so licwurđe ne icweme”. “Eiđer of ow haueđ his stunde to speokene, ne nis incker nođres tale to schunien in his time. Ţu warnest of wa, he telleđ of wunne. Muche neod is ţet me ow ba eornliche hercni. Flute nu, Farlac, ţah, hwil Liues Luue is herinne, and ţole wiđ efne heorte ţe dom of Rihtwisnesse: for ţu schal ful bliđeliche beon underfon in as ofte as Liues Luue stutteđ forto spekene.”

Nu is Wil ţet husewif al stille ţet er wes so willesful, al ituht efter Wittes wissunge ţet is husebonde ; ant al ţet hird halt him stille ţet wes iwunet to beon fulitohen ant don efter Wil, hare lefdi, ant nawt efter Wit; lustneđ nu his lare ant fondeđ eauereuchan efter ţet him limpeđ to ţurh ţeos twa sonden ţet ha iherd habbeđ ant ţet fowr sustren lerden ţruppe: for euch unţeawes inong his warde te witene and te warden treowliche.

Ţus ah mon te ţenchen ofte ant ilome ant wiđ ţulliche ţohtes awecchen his heorte, ţe i slep of emeles foret hire sawle heale, efter ţeos twa sonden; from helle sihđe biseon to ţe blisse of heouene; to habben farlac of ţet an, luue toward ţet ođer, ant leaden him ant his hinen, ţet beođ his limen, alle nawt efter ţat his Wil, ţe untohe lefdi, and his lust leaređ, ah efter ţet Wit nle ţet is husebonde, tuhten ant teachen ţet Wit ga euer biuore ant teache Wil efter him to al ţet he dihteđ ant demeđ to donne ant wiđ ţe fowr sustren ţerfore, ţe fowr heued-ţeawes — Warschipe, Strencđe in Godd, ant Međ and Rihtwisnesse —
witen Godes treosor ţet is his ahne sawle i ţe hus of ţe bodi from ţe ţeof of helle. Ţulli ţoht makeđ mon te fleon alle unţeawes ant ontent his heorte toward ţe blisse of heouene. Ţet ure Lauerd eue us ţurh his hali milce, ţet wiđ ţe Feder ant e Sune ant e Hali Gast rixleđ in ţreohad a buten ende. Amen.

Par seinte charite biddeđ a paternoster for Iohan ţet ţeos boc wrat.

Hwase ţis writ haueđ ired Ant Crist him haueđ swa isped, Ich bidde par seinte charite Ţat e bidden ofte for me Aa paternoster ant Aue Marie, Ţet Ich mote ţet lif her drehen Ant ure Lauerd wel icwemen I mi uheđe ant in min elde Ţet Ich mote Iesu Crist mi sawle elde. Amen.

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