The Pearl.
I.
[Fol. 39a.] Description of a lost pearl (i.e. a beloved child).
Perle plesaunte to prynces paye,
To clanly clos in golde so clere,
Oute of oryent I hardyly saye,
4 Ne proued I neuer her precios pere,
So rounde, so reken in vche araye,
So smal, so smoþe her sydeȝ were.
Quere-so-euer I Iugged gemmeȝ gaye,
8 I sette hyr sengeley in synglure;
The father laments the loss of his pearl.
Allas! I leste hyr in on erbere,
yot]? got.
Þurȝ gresse to grounde hit fro me yot;
I dewyne for-dolked of luf daungere,
12 Of þat pryuy perle with-outen spot.
A FATHER VISITS HIS CHILD’S GRAVE,
He often visits the spot where his pearl disappeared,
Syþen in þat spote hit fro me sprange,
Ofte haf I wayted wyschande þat wele,
Þat wont watȝ whyle deuoyde my wrange,
16 & heuen my happe & al my hele,
Þat dotȝ bot þrych my hert þrange,
My breste in bale bot bolne & bele.
and hears a sweet song.
Ȝet þoȝt me neuer so swete a sange,
20 As stylle stounde let to me stele,
For-soþe þer fleten to me fele,
To þenke hir color so clad in clot;
moul]? mould.
O moul þou marreȝ a myry mele.
24 My priuy perle with-outen spotte,
Where the pearl was buried there he found lovely flowers.
Þat spot of spyseȝ myȝt nedeȝ sprede,
rot]? rote.
Þer such rycheȝ to rot is runnen;
Blomeȝ blayke & blwe & rede,
28 Þer schyneȝ ful schyr agayn þe sunne.
Flor & fryte may not be fede,
Þer hit doun drof in moldeȝ dunne,
Each blade of grass springs from a dead grain.
For vch gresse mot grow of grayneȝ dede,
32 No whete were elleȝ to woneȝ wonne;
Of goud vche goude is ay by-gonne.
So semly a sede moȝt fayly not,
spryngande] The MS. reads sprygande.
Þat spryngande spyceȝ vp ne sponne,
36 Of þat precios perle wyth-outen spotte.
[Fol. 39b.] In the high season of August the parent visits the grave of his lost child.
To þat spot þat I in speche expoun
I entred in þat erber grene,
In augoste in a hyȝ seysoun,
40 Quen corne is coruen wyth crokeȝ kene.
Beautiful flowers covered the grave.
On huyle þer perle hit trendeled doun,
Schadowed þis worteȝ ful schyre & schene
Gilofre, gyngure & gromylyoun,
44 & pyonys powdered ay by-twene.
Ȝif hit watȝ semly on to sene,
From them came a delicious odour.
A fayr reflayr ȝet fro hit flot,
Þer wonys þat worþyly I wot & wene,
48 My precious perle, wyth-outen spot.
AND THERE FALLING ASLEEP, HE DREAMS.
The bereaved father wrings his hands for sorrow, falls asleep upon the flowery plot, and dreams.
Bifore þat spot my honde I spenn[e]d,
For care ful colde þat to me caȝt[e];
A denely dele in my hert denned,
52 Þaȝ resoun sette my seluen saȝt[e].
I playned my perle þat þer watȝ spenned
Wyth fyrte skylleȝ þat faste faȝt[e],
Þaȝ kynde of kryst me comfort kenned,
56 My wreched wylle in wo ay wraȝte.
I felle vpon þat floury flaȝt[e],
Suche odour to my herneȝ schot;
I slode vpon a slepyng slaȝte,
60 On þat prec[i]os perle with-outen spot.
II.
In spirit he is carried to an unknown region,
Fro spot my spyryt þer sprang in space,
My body on balke þer bod in sweuen,
My goste is gon in godeȝ grace,
64 In auenture þer meruayleȝ meuen;
I ne wyste in þis worlde quere þat hit wace,
Bot I knew me keste þer klyfeȝ cleuen;
Towarde a foreste I bere þe face,
where the rocks and cliffs gleamed gloriously.
68 Where rych rokkeȝ wer to dyscreuen;
Þe lyȝt of hem myȝt no mon leuen,
Þe glemande glory þat of hem glent;
For wern neuer webbeȝ þat wyȝeȝ weuen,
72 Of half so dere adubmente.
HE SEES A BEAUTIFUL FOREST,
[Fol. 40a.] The hill sides were decked with crystal cliffs.
Dubbed wern alle þo downeȝ sydeȝ
With crystal klyffeȝ so cler of kynde,
Holte-wodeȝ bryȝt aboute hem bydeȝ;
76 Of bolleȝ as blwe as ble of ynde,
The leaves of the trees were like burnished silver.
As bornyst syluer þe lef onslydeȝ,
Þat þike con trylle on vch a tynde,
Quen glem of glodeȝ agaynȝ hem glydeȝ,
80 Wyth schymeryng schene ful schrylle þay schynde.
The gravel consisted of precious pearls.
Þe grauayl þat on grounde con grynde
Wern precious perleȝ of oryente;
Þe sunne bemeȝ bot blo & blynde,
84 In respecte of þat adubbement.
The father forgets his sorrow.
The adubbemente of þo downeȝ dere
Garten my goste al greffe for-ȝete
So frech flauoreȝ of fryteȝ were,
88 As fode hit con me fayre refete.
He sees birds of the most beautiful hues,
Fowleȝ þer flowen in fryth in fere,
hweȝ] Or hiweȝ.
Of flaumbande hweȝ, boþe smale & grete,
Bot sytole stryng & gyternere,
92 Her reken myrþe moȝt not retrete,
and hears their sweet melody.
For quen þose bryddeȝ her wyngeȝ bete
Þay songen wyth a swete asent;
So grac[i]os gle couþe no mon gete
96 As here & se her adubbement.
No tongue could describe the beauty of the forest.
So al watȝ dubbet on dere asyse;
Þat fryth þer fortwne forth me fereȝ,
Þe derþe þer-of for to deuyse
100 Nis no wyȝ worþe þat tonge bereȝ.
I welke ay forth in wely wyse,
No bonk so byg þat did me dereȝ,
All shone like gold.
Þe fyrre in þe fryth þe feier con ryse,
104 Þe playn, þe plontteȝ, þe spyse, þe pereȝ,
& raweȝ & randeȝ & rych reuereȝ,
As fyldor fyn her b[o]nkes brent.
The dreamer arrives at the bank of a river,
I wan to a water by schore þat schereȝ,
108 Lorde! dere watȝ hit adubbement!
[Fol. 40b.]
The dubbemente of þo derworth depe
Wern bonkeȝ bene of beryl bryȝt;
which gave forth sweet sounds.
Swangeande swete þe water con swepe
112 Wyth a rownande rourde raykande aryȝt;
In þe founce þer stonden stoneȝ stepe,
In it, stones glittered like stars
As glente þurȝ glas þat glowed & glyȝt,
A]? As.
A stremande sterneȝ quen stroþe men slepe,
in the welkin on a winter night.
116 Staren in welkyn in wynter nyȝt;
For vche a pobbel in pole þer pyȝt
Watȝ Emerad, saffer, oþer gemme gente,
Þat alle þe loȝe lemed of lyȝt,
120 So dere watȝ hit adubbement.
WHICH CAUSES HIS GRIEF TO ABATE.
III.
His grief abates, and he follows the course of the stream.
The dubbement dere of doun & daleȝ,
Of wod & water & wlonk playneȝ,
Bylde in me blys, abated my baleȝ,
124 For-didden my [dis]tresse, dystryed my payneȝ.
Doun after a strem þat dryȝly haleȝ,
I bowed in blys, bred ful my brayneȝ;
Þe fyrre I folȝed þose floty valeȝ,
128 Þe more strenghþe of ioye myn herte strayneȝ,
As fortune fares þer as ho frayneȝ,
Wheþer solace ho sende oþer elleȝ sore,
Þe wyȝ, to wham her wylle ho wayneȝ,
132 Hytteȝ to haue ay more & more.
No one could describe his great joy.
More of wele watȝ in þat wyse
Þen I cowþe telle þaȝ I tom hade,
For vrþely herte myȝt not suffyse
136 To þe tenþe dole of þo gladneȝ glade;
He thought that Paradise was on the opposite bank.
For-þy I þoȝt þat paradyse
Watȝ þer oþer gayn þo bonkeȝ brade;
I hoped þe water were a deuyse
140 By-twene myrþeȝ by mereȝ made,
By-ȝonde þe broke by slente oþer slade,
I hope[de] þat mote merked wore.
The stream was not fordable.
Bot þe water watȝ depe I dorst not wade
144 & euer me longed a more & more.
[Fol. 41a.] More and more he desires to see what is beyond the brook.
More & more, & ȝet wel mare,
Me lyste to se þe broke by-ȝonde,
For if hit watȝ fayr þer I con fare,
148 Wel loueloker watȝ þe fyrre londe.
Abowte me con I stote & stare
To fynde a forþe, faste con I fonde,
But the way seemed difficult.
Bot woþeȝ mo i-wysse þer ware,
152 Þe fyrre I stalked by þe stronde,
& euer me þoȝt I schulde not wonde
For wo, þer weleȝ so wynne wore.
Þenne nwe note me com on honde
The dreamer finds new marvels.
156 Þat meued my mynde ay more & more,
THE FATHER SEES HIS LOST CHILD DRESSED IN WHITE ROBES.
More meruayle con my dom adaunt;
I seȝ by-ȝonde þat myry mere,
He sees a crystal cliff,
A crystal clyffe ful relusaunt,
160 Mony ryal ray con fro hit rere;
at the foot of which, sits a maiden clothed in glistening white.
At þe fote þer-of þer sete a faunt,
A mayden of menske, ful debonere;
Blysnande whyt watȝ hyr bleaunt,
164 (I knew hyr wel, I hade sen hyr ere)
As glysnande golde þat man con schere,
So schon þat schene an vnder schore;
He knows that he has seen her before.
On lenghe I loked to hyr þere,
168 Þe lenger I knew hyr more & more
The more I frayste hyr fayre face.
Her fygure fyn, quen I had fonte,
Suche gladande glory con to me glace,
172 As lyttel byfore þerto watȝ wonte;
He desires to call her but is afraid,
To calle hyr lyste con me enchace,
Bot baysment gef myn hert a brunt,
at finding her in such a strange place.
I seȝ hyr in so strange a place,
176 Such a burre myȝt make myn herte blunt
Þenne vereȝ ho vp her fayre frount,
Hyr vysayge whyt as playn yuore,
Þat stonge myn hert ful stray atount,
180 & euer þe lenger, þe more & more.
IV.
[Fol. 41b.]
More þen me lyste my drede aros,
So he stands still, like a well trained hawk.
I stod ful stylle & dorste not calle,
Wyth yȝen open & mouth ful clos,
184 I stod as hende as hawk in halle;
He fears lest she should escape before he could speak to her.
I hope þat gostly watȝ þat porpose,
I dred on ende quat schulde byfalle,
Lest ho me eschaped þat I þer chos,
188 Er I at steuen hir moȝt stalle.
Þat gracios gay with-outen galle,
His long lost one is dressed in royal array—decked with precious pearls.
So smoþe, so smal, so seme slyȝt,
Ryseȝ vp in hir araye ryalle,
pyece] MS. looks like pyete.
192 A prec[i]os pyece in perleȝ pyȝt.
She comes along the stream towards him.
Perleȝ pyȝte of ryal prys,
Þere moȝt mon by grace haf sene,
Quen þat frech as flor-de-lys,
196 Doun þe bonke con boȝe by-dene.
Al blysnande whyt watȝ hir beau uiys,
Vpon at sydeȝ & bounden bene
Wyth þe myryeste margarys at my deuyse,
200 Þat euer I seȝ ȝet with myn yȝen;
Wyth lappeȝ large I wot & I wene,
Dubbed with double perle & dyȝte,
Her kirtle is composed of ‘sute,’ ornamented with pearls.
Her cortel of self sute schene,
204 With precios perleȝ al vmbe-pyȝte.
She wore a crown of pearls.
A pyȝt coroune ȝet wer þat gyrle,
Of mariorys & non oþer ston,
Hiȝe pynakled of cler quyt perle,
208 Wyth flurted flowreȝ perfet vpon;
Her hair hung down about her.
To hed hade ho non oþer werle,
here heke] In the MS. it is lere leke.
Her here heke al hyr vmbe-gon;
Her semblaunt sade, for doc oþer erle,
Her colour was whiter than whalebone.
212 Her ble more blaȝt þen whalleȝ bon;
Her hair shone as gold.
As schorne golde schyr her fax þenne schon,
On schyldereȝ þat leghe vnlapped lyȝte;
Her depe colour ȝet wonted non,
The trimming of her robe consisted of precious pearls.
216 Of precios perle in porfyl pyȝte,
[Fol. 42a.]
Pyȝt watȝ poyned & vche a hemme,
At honde, at sydeȝ, at ouerture,
Wyth whyte perle & non oþer gemme,
220 & bornyste quyte watȝ hyr uesture.
A wonderful pearl was set in her breast.
Bot a wonder perle with-outen wemme,
In myddeȝ hyr breste watȝ sette so sure;
A manneȝ dom moȝt dryȝly demme,
224 Er mynde moȝt malte in hit mesure;
I hope no tong moȝt endure
No sauerly saghe say of þat syȝt,
So watȝ hit clene & cler & pure,
228 Þat precios perle þer hit watȝ pyȝt,
THE MAIDEN ADDRESSES HER FATHER.
Pyȝt in perle þat precios p[r]yse.
No man from here to Greece, was so glad as the father, when he saw his pearl on the bank of the stream.
On wyþer half water com doun þe schore,
No gladder gome heþen in to grece,
232 Þen I, quen ho on brymme wore;
Ho watȝ me nerre þen aunte or nece,
My Ioy for-þy watȝ much þe more.
Ho profered me speche þat special spyce,
The maiden salutes him.
236 Enclynande lowe in wommon lore,
Caȝte of her coroun of grete tresore,
& haylsed me wyth a lote lyȝte.
Wel watȝ me þat euer I watȝ bore,
240 To sware þat swete in perleȝ pyȝte!
V.
The father enquires of the maiden whether she is his long-lost pearl,
“O perle,” quod I, “in perleȝ pyȝt,
Art þou my perle þat I haf playned,
Regretted by myn one, on nyȝte?
244 Much longeyng haf I for þe layned,
Syþen into gresse þou me aglyȝte;
Pensyf, payred, I am for-payned,
& þou in a lyf of lykyng lyȝte
248 In paradys erde, of stryf vnstrayned.
and longs to know who has deprived him of his treasure.
What wyrde hatȝ hyder my iuel vayned,
& don me in þys del & gret daunger?
Fro we in twynne wern towen & twayned,
252 I haf ben a Ioyleȝ Iuelere.”
SHE TELLS HIM OF HER BLISS.
[Fol. 42b.]
That Iuel þenne in gemmyȝ gente,
Vered vp her vyse with yȝen graye,
Set on hyr coroun of perle orient,
256 & soberly after þenne con ho say:
The maiden tells him that his pearl is not really lost.
“Sir ȝe haf your tale myse-tente,
To say your perle is al awaye,
Þat is in cofer, so comly clente,
She is in a garden of delight, where sin and mourning are unknown.
260 As in þis gardyn gracios gaye,
Here-inne to lenge for euer & play.
Þer mys nee mornyng com neuer here,
Her were a forser for þe in faye,
264 If þou were a gentyl Iueler.
Bot Iueler gente if þou schal lose
Þy ioy for a gemme þat þe watȝ lef,
Me þynk þe put in a mad porpose,
busyeȝ] Looks like husyeȝ in MS.
268 & busyeȝ þe aboute a raysoun bref,
The rose that he had lost is become a pearl of price.
For þat þou lesteȝ watȝ bot a rose,
Þat flowred & fayled as kynde hyt gef;
Now þurȝ kynde of þe kyste þat hyt con close,
272 To a perle of prys hit is put in pref;
& þou hatȝ called þy wyrde a þef,
The pearl blames his rash speech.
Þat oȝt of noȝt hatȝ mad þe cler;
Þou blameȝ þe bote of þy meschef,
276 Þou art no kynde Iueler.”
A Iuel to me þen watȝ þys geste,
& iueleȝ wern hyr gentyl saweȝ,
The father begs the maiden to excuse his speech, for he really thought his pearl was wholly lost to him.
“I-wyse,” quod I, “my blysfol beste,
280 My grete dystresse þou al to-draweȝ,
To be excused I make requeste;
I trawed my perle don out of daweȝ,
Now haf I fonde hyt I schal ma feste,
284 & wony with hyt in schyr wod schaweȝ,
& loue my lorde & al his laweȝ,
Þat hatȝ me broȝ[t] þys blys ner;
Now were I at yow by-ȝonde þise waweȝ,
288 I were a ioyfol Iueler.”
[Fol. 43a.] The maiden tells her father that he has spoken three words without knowing the meaning of one.
“Iueler,” sayde þat gemme clene,
“Wy borde ȝe men, so madde ȝe be?
Þre wordeȝ hatȝ þou spoken at ene,
292 Vn-avysed, for soþe, wern alle þre,
Þou ne woste in worlde quat on dotȝ mene,
Þy worde byfore þy wytte con fle.
The first word.
Þou says þou traweȝ me in þis dene,
296 By cawse þou may with yȝen me se;
The second.
Anoþer þou says, in þys countre
Þy self schal won with me ryȝt here;
The third.
Þe þrydde, to passe þys water fre,
300 Þat may no ioyfol Iueler.
VI.
He is little to be praised who loves what he sees.
I halde þat iueler lyttel to prayse.
Þat loueȝ wel þat he seȝ wyth yȝe,
& much to blame & vn-cortoyse,
loueȝ] Looks at first sight like lyueȝ—MS. rubbed, but read leueȝ.
304 Þat loueȝ oure lorde wolde make a lyȝe,
Þat lelly hyȝte your lyf to rayse,
Þaȝ fortune dyd your flesch to dyȝe;
Ȝe setten hys wordeȝ ful westernays
loueȝ] Read leueȝ. To love nothing but what one sees is great presumption.
308 Þat loueȝ no þynk bot ȝe hit syȝe,
is] The MS. reads īs.
& þat is a poynt o sorquydryȝe,
Þat vche god mon may euel byseme
To leue no tale be true to tryȝe,
312 Bot þat hys one skyl may dem[e].
DEATH IS THE ROAD TO PARADISE.
Deme now þy-self, if þou con, dayly
As man to god wordeȝ schulde heue.
To live in this kingdom (i.e. heaven) leave must be asked.
Þou saytȝ þou schal won in þis bayly;
316 Me þynk þe burde fyrst aske leue,
& ȝet of graunt þou myȝteȝ fayle;
Þou wylneȝ ouer þys water to weue,
This stream must be passed over by death.
Er moste þou ceuer to oþer counsayl,
320 Þy corse in clot mot calder keue,
For hit watȝ for-garte, at paradys greue
Oure ȝore fader hit con mysseȝeme;
Þurȝ drwry deth boȝ vch ma dreue,
324 Er ouer þys dam hym dryȝtyn deme.”
[Fol. 43b.] The father asks his pearl whether she is about to doom him to sorrow again.
“Demeȝ þou me,” quod I, “my swete
To dol agayn, þenne I dowyne;
Now haf I fonte þat I for-lete
328 Schal I efte for-go hit er euer I fyne?
Why schal I hit boþe mysse & mete?
My precios perle dotȝ me gret pyne,
What serueȝ tresor, bot gareȝ men grete
332 When he hit schal efte with teneȝ tyne?
Now rech I neuer forto declyne,
Ne how fer of folde þat man me fleme,
If he loses his pearl he does not care what happens to him.
When I am partleȝ of perleȝ myne.
336 Bot durande doel what may men deme?”
ALL MUST ABIDE GOD’S DOOM.
“Thow demeȝ noȝt bot doel dystresse,”
Þenne sayde þat wyȝt “why dotȝ þou so?
For dyne of doel, of lureȝ lesse,
The maiden tells her father to suffer patiently.
340 Ofte mony mon for-gos þe mo;
Þe oȝte better þy seluen blesse,
&] in or an (?).
& loue ay god & wele & wo,
For anger gayneȝ þe not a cresse.
344 Who nedeȝ schal þole be not so þro;
Though he may dance as any doe, yet he must abide God’s doom.
For þoȝ þou daunce as any do
Braundysch & bray þy braþeȝ breme,
When þou no fyrre may, to ne fro,
348 Þou moste abyde þat he schal deme.
Deme dryȝtyn, euer hym adyte,
Of þe way a fote ne wyl he wryþe,
Þy mendeȝ mounteȝ not a myte,
352 Þaȝ þou for sorȝe be neuer blyþe;
He must cease to strive.
Stynst of þy strot & fyne to flyte,
swefte] MS. sweste.
& sech hys blyþe ful swefte & swyþe,
Þy prayer may hys pyte byte,
356 Þat mercy schal hyr crafteȝ kyþe;
Hys comforte may þy langour lyþe,
& þy lureȝ of lyȝtly leme,
All lies in God’s power to make men joyful or sad.
For marre oþer madde, morne & myþe,
360 Al lys in hym to dyȝt & deme.”
THE BEREAVED PARENT ASKS HIS CHILD’S PITY.
VII.
[Fol. 44a.]
Thenne demed I to þat damyselle,
Ne worþe no wrath þe vnto my lorde,
raue] rane (?).
If rapely raue spornande in spelle.
364 My herte watȝ al with mysse remorde,
As wallande water gotȝ out of welle;
The father beseeches the pearl to have pity upon him.
I do me ay in hys myserecorde.
Rebuke me neuer with wordeȝ felle,
368 Þaȝ I forloyne my dere endorde,
Bot lyþeȝ me kyndely your coumforde,
Pytosly þenkande vpon þysse;
Of care & me ȝe made acorde,
372 Þat er watȝ grounde of alle my blysse;
He says that she has been both his bale and bliss.
My blysse, my bale ȝe han ben boþe,
Bot much þe bygger ȝet watȝ my mon,
Fro þou watȝ wroken fro vch a woþe.
And when he lost her, he knew not what had become of her.
376 I wyste neuer quere my perle watȝ gon;
Now I hit se, now leþeȝ my loþe,
& quen we departed we wern at on,
God forbede we be now wroþe,
380 We meten so selden by stok oþer ston;
Þaȝ cortaysly ȝe carp con,
I am bot mol & marereȝ mysse,
Bot crystes mersy & mary & Ion,
384 Þise arn þe grounde of alle my blysse.
And now that he sees her in bliss, she takes little heed of his sorrow.
In blysse I se þe blyþely blent
& I a man al mornyf mate,
Ȝe take þer-on ful lyttel tente,
388 Þaȝ I hente ofte harmeȝ hate.
Bot now I am here in your presente,
I wolde bysech wythouten debate,
He desires to know what life she leads.
Ȝe wolde me say in sobre asente,
392 What lyf ȝe lede, erly & late,
For I am ful fayn þat your astate
Is worþen to worschyp & wele I wysse,
Of alle my Ioy þe hyȝe gate
396 Hit is in grounde of alle my blysse.”
[Fol. 44b.] The maiden tells him that he may walk and abide with her, now that he is humble.
“Now blysse burne mot þe bytyde;”
Þen sayde þat lufsoum of lyth & lere,
“& welcum here to walk & byde,
400 For now þy speche is to me dere;
Maysterful mod & hyȝe pryde
I hete þe arn heterly hated here;
My lorde ne loueȝ not forto chyde,
All are meek that dwell in the abode of bliss.
404 For meke arn alle þat woneȝ hym nere,
& when in hys place þou schal apere,
Be dep deuote in hol mekenesse;
My lorde þe lamb, loueȝ ay such chere,
408 Þat is þe grounde of alle my blysse.
SHE DESCRIBES HER MODE OF LIFE.
All lead a blissful life.
A blysful lyf þou says I lede,
Þou woldeȝ knaw þer-of þe stage;
She reminds her father that she was very young when she died.
Þow wost wel when þy perle con schede,
412 I watȝ ful ȝong & tender of age,
Bot my lorde þe lombe, þurȝ hys god-hede,
He toke my self to hys maryage,
Now she is crowned a queen in heaven.
Corounde me quene in blysse to brede,
416 In lenghe of dayeȝ þat euer schal wage,
& sesed in alle hys herytage
Hys lef is, I am holy hysse;
Hys prese, hys prys & hys parage,
420 Is rote & grounde of alle my blysse.”
MARY IS THE EMPRESS OF HEAVEN.
VIII.
The father of the maiden does not fully understand her.
“Blysful,” quod I, “may þys be trwe,
Dyspleseȝ not if I speke errour;
Art þou þe quene of heueneȝ blwe,
424 Þat al þys worlde schal do honour?
Mary, he says, is the queen of heaven.
We leuen on marye þat grace of grewe,
Þat ber a barne of vyrgyn flour,
No one is able to remove the crown from her.
Þe croune fro hyr quo moȝt remwe,
428 Bot ho hir passed in sum fauour?
Now for synglerty o hyr dousour,
We calle hyr fenyx of arraby,
Þat freles fleȝe of hyr fasor,
432 Lyk to þe quen of cortaysye.”
[Fol. 45a.] The maiden addresses the Virgin.
“Cortayse quen” þenne s[a]yde þat gaye,
Knelande to grounde, folde vp hyr face,
“Makeleȝ moder & myryest may,
bygynner] MS. reads bȳgyner.
436 Blessed bygynner of vch a grace!”
Þenne ros ho vp & con restay,
& speke me towarde in þat space:
She then explains to her father that each has his place in heaven.
“Sir fele here porchaseȝ & fongeȝ pray
440 Bot supplantoreȝ none with-inne þys place;
Þat emperise al heuenȝ hatȝ,
& vrþe & helle in her bayly;
Of erytage ȝet non wyl ho chace,
444 For ho is quen of cortaysye.
ALL OTHERS ARE KINGS OR QUEENS.
The court of God has a property in its own being.
The court of þe kyndom of god alyue,
Hatȝ a property in hyt self beyng;
Alle þat may þer-inne aryue
Each one in it is a king or queen.
448 Of alle þe reme is quen oþer kyng,
& neuer oþer ȝet schal depryue,
Bot vchon fayn of oþereȝ hafyng,
& wolde her corouneȝ wern worþe þo fyue,
452 If possyble were her mendyng.
The mother of Christ holds the chief place.
Bot my lady of quom Iesu con spryng,
Ho haldeȝ þe empyre ouer vus ful hyȝe,
& þat dyspleseȝ non of oure gyng,
456 For ho is quene of cortaysye.
Of courtaysye, as saytȝ saynt poule,
We are all members of Christ’s body.
Al arn we membreȝ of ihesu kryst,
As heued & arme & legg & naule,
460 Temen to hys body ful trwe & t[r]yste;
Ryȝt so is vch a krysten sawle,
A longande lym to þe mayster of myste;
Look that each limb be perfect.
Þenne loke what hate oþer any gawle,
464 Is tached oþer tyȝed þy lymmeȝ by-twyste,
Þy heued hatȝ nauþer greme ne gryste,
On arme oþer fynger, þaȝ þou ber byȝe;
So fare we alle wyth luf & lyste,
468 To kyng & quene by cortaysye.”
[Fol. 45b.] The father replies that he cannot understand how his pearl can be a queen.
“Cortayse,” quod I, “I leue
& charyte grete be yow among,
Bot my speche þat yow ne greue,
472.....
Þy self in heuen ouer hyȝ þou heue,
To make þe quen þat watȝ so ȝonge,
What more-hond moȝte he acheue
476 Þat hade endured in worlde stronge,
& lyued in penaunce hys lyueȝ longe,
With bodyly bale hym blysse to byye?
He desires to know what greater honour she can have.
What more worschyp moȝt ho fonge,
480 Þen corounde be kyng by cortayse?
IX.
That cortayse is to fre of dede,
Ȝyf hyt be soth þat þou coneȝ saye,
She was only two years old when she died, and could do nothing to please God.
Þou lyfed not two ȝer in oure þede,
484 Þou cowþeȝ neuer god nauþer plese ne pray,
Ne neuer nawþer pater ne crede,
& quen mad on þe fyrst day!
I may not traw, so god me spede,
488 Þat god wolde wryþe so wrange away;
She might be a countess or some great lady but not a queen.
Of countes damysel, par ma fay,
Wer fayr in heuen to halde asstate
Aþer elleȝ a lady of lasse aray,
492 Bot a quene, hit is to dere a date.”
The maiden informs her father that there is no limit to God’s power.
“Þer is no date of hys god-nesse,”
Þen sayde to me þat worþy wyȝte,
“For al is trawþe þat he con dresse,
496 & he may do no þynk bot ryȝt,
As mathew meleȝ in your messe,
In sothfol gospel of god al-myȝt
In sample he can ful grayþely gesse,
500 & lykneȝ hit to heuen lyȝte.”
The parable of the labourers in the vineyard.
“My regne, he saytȝ, is lyk on hyȝt,
To a lorde þat hade a uyne I wate,
Of tyme of ȝere þe terme watȝ tyȝt,
504 To labor vyne watȝ dere þe date,
THE PARABLE OF THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD.
[Fol. 46a.] The lord of the vineyard hires workmen for a penny a day.
Þat date of ȝere wel knawe þys hyne;
Þe lorde ful erly vp he ros,
To hyre werkmen to hys vyne,
508 & fyndeȝ þer summe to hys porpos,
Into acorde þay con de-clyne,
For a pené on a day & forth þay gotȝ,
Wryþen & worchen & don gret pyne,
512 Keruen & caggen & man hit clos;
At noon the lord hires other men standing idle in the market place.
Aboute vnder, þe lorde to marked totȝ
& ydel men stande he fyndeȝ þer-ate,
“Why stande ȝe ydel” he sayde to þos,
516 Ne knawe ȝe of þis day no date?
“Er date of daye hider arn we wonne,”
So watȝ al samen her answar soȝt;
“We haf standen her syn ros þe sunne,
520 & no mon byddeȝ vus do, ryȝt noȝt.”
He commands them to go into his vineyard, and he will give them what is right.
“Gos in-to my vyne, dotȝ þat ȝe conne.”
So sayde þe lorde & made hit toȝt.
“What resonabele hyre be naȝt be runne,
524 I yow pray in dede & þoȝte.”
Þay wente in to þe vyne & wroȝte,
& al day þe lorde þus ȝede his gate,
& nw men to hys vyne he broȝte;
528 Wel neȝ wyl day watȝ passed date,
At an hour before the sun went down the lord sees other men standing idle.
At þe day of date of euen-songe,
On oure byfore þe sonne go doun
He seȝ þer ydel men ful stronge
hem] MS. hen.
532 & sa[y]de to hem with sobre soun;
“Wy stonde ȝe ydel þise dayeȝ longe.”
Þay sayden her hyre watȝ nawhere boun.
Tells them to go into the vineyard.
“Gotȝ to my vyne ȝemen ȝonge
536 & wyrkeȝ & dotȝ þat at ȝe moun.”
Sone þe worlde by-com wel broun,
&] MS. & &.
Þe sunne watȝ doun & hit wex late;
To take her hyre he mad sumoun;
540 Þe day watȝ al apassed date.
THE PAYMENT OF THE LABOURERS.
X.
As soon as the sun was gone down the “reeve” was told to pay the workmen. [Fol. 46b.]
The date of þe daye þe lorde con knaw,
Called to þe reue “lede pay þe meyny,
Gyf hem þe hyre þat I hem owe,
544 & fyrre, þat non me may repreue,
Set hem alle vpon a rawe,
To give each a penny.
& gyf vchon in-lyche a peny.
Bygyn at þe laste þat standeȝ lowe,
548 Tyl to þe fyrste þat þou atteny;”
The first began to complain.
& þenne þe fyrst by-gonne to pleny
& sayden þat þay hade trauayled sore,
Þese bot an [h]oure hem con streny,
552 Vus þynk vus oȝe to take more.
Having borne the heat of the day he thinks that he deserves more.
More haf we serued vus þynk so,
Þat suffred han þe dayeȝ hete,
Þenn þyse þat wroȝt[e] not houreȝ two,
556 & þou dotȝ hem vus to counterfete.
Þenne sayde þe lorde to on of þo,
wrang] MS. wanig.
“Frende no wrang I wyl þe ȝete,
Take þat is þyn owne & go;
The lord tells him that he agreed only to give him a penny.
560 & I hyred þe for a peny a grete,
Quy bygynneȝ þou now to þrete;
Watȝ not a pené þy couenaunt þore?
Fyrre þen couenaunde is noȝt to plete,
564 Wy schalte þou þenne ask more?
More weþer louyly is me my gyfte
To do wyth myn quat so me lykeȝ?
Oþer elleȝ þyn yȝe to lyþer is lyfte,
568 For I am goude & non by-swykeȝ.”
“Þus schal I,” quod kryste, “hit skyfte,
The last shall be first, and the first last.
Þe laste schal be þe fyrst þat strykeȝ,
& þe fyrst þe laste, be he neuer so swyft,
572 For mony ben calle[d] þaȝ fewe be mykeȝ.”
Þus pore men her part ay pykeȝ,
Þaȝ þay com late & lyttel wore,
The maiden applies the parable to herself.
& þaȝ her sweng wyth lyttel at-slykeȝ,
576 Þe merci of god is much þe more.
THE APPLICATION OF THE PARABLE.
[Fol. 47a.]
“More haf I of ioye & blysse here-inne,
Of ladyschyp gret & lyueȝ blom,
Þen alle þe wyȝeȝ in þe worlde myȝt wynne
580 By þe way of ryȝt to aske dome.
Wheþer wel nygh[t] now I con bygynne,
She came to the vine in eventide, and yet received more than others who had lived longer.
In euentyde in-to þe vyne I come,
Fyrst of my hyre my lorde con mynne,
584 I watȝ payed anon of al & sum;
Ȝet oþer þer werne þat toke more tom,
Þat swange & swat for long ȝore,
Þat ȝet of hyre no þynk þay nom,
588 Paraunter noȝt schal to ȝere more.”
The father says that his daughter’s tale is unreasonable.
Then more I meled & sayde apert,
“Me þynk þy tale vnresounable,
rert] ert (?).
Goddeȝ ryȝt is redy & euer more rert,
592 Oþer holy wryt is bot a fable;
In sauter is sayd a verce ouerte
Þat spekeȝ a poynt determynable,
‘Þou quyteȝ vchon as hys desserte,
pretermynable] MS. pertermynable.
596 Þou hyȝe kyng ay pretermynable,’
Now he þat stod þe long day stable,
& þou to payment com hym byfore,
Þenne þe lasse in werke to take more able,
600 & euer þe lenger þe lasse þe more.”
GOD IS NO NIGGARD.
XI.
“Of more & lasse in godeȝ ryche,”
Þat gentyl sayde “lys no Ioparde,
In heaven, the maiden says, each man is paid alike.
For þer is vch mon payed inliche,
604 Wheþer lyttel oþer much be hys rewarde,
For þe gentyl cheuentayn is no chyche,
Queþer-so-euer he dele nesch oþer harde,
gyfteȝ] MS. gysteȝ.
He laueȝ hys gyfteȝ as water of dyche,
608 Oþer goteȝ of golf þat neuer charde;
God is no niggard.
Hys fraunchyse is large þat euer dard,
no scoghe] In the MS. it looks like rescoghe.
To hym þat matȝ in synne no scoghe
No blysse betȝ fro hem reparde,
The grace of God is sufficient for all.
612 For þe grace of god is gret I-noghe.
[Fol. 47b.]
Bot now þou moteȝ me for to mate
Þat I my peny haf wrang tan here,
Þou sayȝ þat I þat com to late,
616 Am not worþy so gret lere.
Where wysteȝ þou euer any bourne abate
Euer so holy in hys prayere,
Those who live long on the earth often forfeit heaven by sinning.
Þat he ne forfeted by sumkyn gate,
620 Þe mede sum-tyme of heueneȝ clere;
& ay þe ofter, þe alder þay were,
Þay laften ryȝt & wroȝten woghe
Mercy & grace moste hem þen stere,
624 For þe grace of god is gret in-noȝe.
Innocents are saved by baptism.
Bot in-noghe of grace hatȝ innocent,
As sone as þay arn borne by lyne
In þe water of babtem þay dyssente,
628 Þen arne þay boroȝt in-to þe vyne,
Anon þe day with derk endente,
Þe myȝt of deth dotȝ to en-clyne
Þat wroȝt neuer wrang er þenne þay wente;
632 Þe gentyle lorde þenne payeȝ hys hyne,
Þay dyden hys heste, þay wern þere-ine,
Why should not God allow their labour.
Why schulde he not her labour alow,
hem] MS. hym.
Ȝy[rd] & pay hem at þe fyrst fyne
636 For þe grace of god is gret in-noghe?
PARADISE WAS LOST THROUGH AN APPLE.
Inoȝe is knawen þat man-kyn grete,
Fyrste watȝ wroȝt to blysse parfyt;
Our first father lost heaven by eating an apple.
Oure forme-fader hit con forfete,
640 Þurȝ an apple þat he vpon con byte;
And all are damned for the sin of Adam.
Al wer we dampned for þat mete,
To dyȝe in doel out of delyt,
& syþen wende to helle hete,
644 Þer-inne to won with-oute respyt;
But there came one who paid the penalty of our sins.
Bot þer on com a bote as-tyt.
Ryche blod ran on rode so roghe,
& wynne [&] water, þen at þat plyt
648 Þe grace of god wex gret in-noghe.
[Fol. 48a.] out] MS. out out.
Innoghe þer wax out of þat welle,
Blod & water of brode wounde;
Þe blod vus boȝt fro bale of helle,
652 & delyuered vus of þe deth secounde;
The water that came from the pierced side of Christ was baptism.
Þe water is baptem þe soþe to telle;
Þat folȝed þe glayue so grymly grounde,
Þat wascheȝ away þe gylteȝ felle,
656 Þat adam wyth inne deth vus drounde.
Now is þer noȝt in þe worlde rounde
Bytwene vus & blysse bot þat he with-droȝ
& þat is restored in sely stounde,
660 & þe grace of god is gret in-nogh.
XII.
Repentance must be sought by prayer with sorrow and affliction.
Grace in-nogh þe mon may haue,
Þat synneȝ þenne new, ȝif hym repente,
Bot with sorȝ & syt he mot hit craue,
664 & byde þe payne þer-to is bent,
Bot resoun of ryȝt þat con not raue,
Saueȝ euer more þe innossent;
Hit is a dom þat neuer god gaue,
668 Þat euer þe gyltleȝ schulde be schente.
The guilty may be saved by contrition.
Þe gyltyf may contryssyoun hente
& be þurȝ mercy to grace þryȝt;
Bot he to gyle þat neuer glente,
672 At in-oscente is saf & ryȝte.
INNOCENTS ARE SAVED BY RIGHT.
þus] MS. þus þus. Two sorts of people are saved, the righteous and the innocent.
Ryȝt þus I knaw wel in þis cas,
Two men to saue is god by skylle;
face] MS. fate.
Þe ryȝt-wys man schal se hys face,
676 Þe harmleȝ haþel schal com hym tylle,
Þe sauter hyt satȝ þus in a pace:
The words of David.
“Lorde quo schal klymbe þy hyȝ hylleȝ
Oþer rest with-inne þy holy place?”
680 Hymself to on-sware he is not dylle;
“Hondelyngeȝ harme þat dyt not ille,
Þat is of hert boþe clene & lyȝt,
Þer schal hys step stable stylle,”
The innocent is saved by right.
684 Þe innosent is ay saf by ryȝt.
[Fol. 48b.]
The ryȝtwys man also sertayn
Aproche he schal þat proper pyle,
Þat takeȝ not her lyf in vayne
688 Ne glauereȝ her nieȝbor wyth no gyle;
saȝ] satȝ (?). The words of Solomon.
Of þys ryȝt-wys saȝ salamon playn,
How kyntly oure con aquyle
By wayeȝ ful streȝt he con hym strayn,
692 & scheued hym þe rengne of god a whyle,
As quo says “lo ȝon louely yle,
Þou may hit wynne if þou be wyȝte,”
Bot hardyly with-oute peryle,
696 Þe innosent is ay saue by ryȝte!
David says no man living is justified.
An-ende ryȝtwys men, ȝet saytȝ a gome
Dauid in sauter, if euer ȝe seȝ hit,
“Lorde þy seruaunt draȝ neuer to dome,
For] MS. sor.
700 For non lyuyunde to þe is Iustyfyet.”
For-þy to corte quen þou schal com,
Þer alle oure causeȝ schal be tryed,
Alegge þe ryȝt þou may be in-nome,
704 By þys ilke spech I haue asspyed;
Bot he on rode þat blody dyed,
Delfully þurȝ hondeȝ þryȝt
Pray to be saved by innocence and not by right.
Gyue þe to passe when þou arte tryed
708 By innocens & not by ryȝte.
CHRIST BLESSED LITTLE CHILDREN.
Ryȝt-wysly quo con rede,
He loke on bok & be awayed
When Jesus was on earth, little children were brought unto him.
How Ihesuc hym welke in are þede,
712 & burneȝ her barneȝ vnto hym brayde,
For happe & hele þat fro hym ȝede,
touch] MS. touth.
To touch her chylder þay fayr hym prayed.
The disciples rebuked the parents.
His dessypeleȝ with blame let be hym bede,
716 & wyth her resouneȝ ful fele restayed;
Christ said, “Suffer little children to come unto me,” etc.
Ihesuc þenne hem swetely sayde,
“Do way, let chylder vnto me tyȝt.
To suche is heuen-ryche arayed,”
720 Þe innocent is ay saf by ryȝt.
XIII.
[Fol. 49a.]
Ihesuc con calle to hym hys mylde
No one can win heaven except he be meek as a child.
& sayde hys ryche no wyȝ myȝt wynne.
Bot he com þyder ryȝt as a chylde,
724 Oþer elleȝ neuer more com þer-inne,
Harmleȝ, trwe & vnde-fylde,
With-outen mote oþer mascle of sulpande synne;
Quen such þer cnoken on þe bylde,
728 Tyt schal hem men þe ȝate vnpynne,
Þer is þe blys þat con not blynne,
Þat þe Iueler soȝte þurȝ perre pres
& solde alle hys goud boþe wolen & lynne,
732 To bye hym a perle [þat] watȝ mascelleȝ.
The pearl of price is like the kingdom of heaven, pure and clean.
This makelleȝ perle þat boȝt is dere,
Þe Ioueler gef fore alle hys god,
Is lyke þe reme of heuenesse clere
736 So sayde þe fader of folde & flode,
For hit is wemleȝ, clene & clere,
& endeleȝ rounde & blyþe of mode,
ryȝtwys] MS. ryȝtywys.
& commune to alle þat ryȝtwys were,
740 Lo! euen in myddeȝ my breste hit stode;
My lorde þe lombe þat schede hys blode,
He pyȝt hit þere in token of pes;
Forsake the mad world and purchase the spotless pearl.
I rede þe forsake þe worlde wode,
744 & porchace þy perle maskelles.”
FORSAKE THE MAD WORLD.
The father of the maiden desires to know who formed her figure and wrought her garments.
“O maskeleȝ perle in perleȝ pure
Þat bereȝ,” quod I, “þe perle of prys,
Quo formed þe þy fayre fygure?
748 Þat wroȝt þy wede, he watȝ ful wys;
Her beauty, he says, is not natural.
Þy beaute com neuer of nature,
Pymalyon paynted neuer þy vys,
Ne arystotel nawþer by hys lettrure
752 Of carpe þe kynde þese properteȝ.
Her colour passes the fleur-de-lis.
Þy colour passeȝ þe flour-de-lys,
Þyn angel hauyng so clene corteȝ
priys] The MS. has triys.
Breue me bryȝt, quat-kyn of priys
756 Bereȝ þe perle so maskelleȝ.”
[Fol. 49b.] The maiden explains to her father that she is a bride of Christ.
“My makeleȝ lambe þat al may bete,”
Quod scho, “my dere destyné
Me ches to hys make al-þaȝ vnmete,
760 Sum tyme semed þat assemblé
When I wente fro yor worlde wete.
He calde me to hys bonerté,
‘Cum hyder to me my lemman swete,
She is without spot or blemish.
764 For mote ne spot is non in þe:’
He gef me myȝt & als bewté.
Her weeds are washed in the blood of Christ.
In hys blod he wesch my wede on dese,
& coronde clene in vergynté,
768 & pyȝt me in perleȝ maskelleȝ.”
The father asks the nature of the Lamb that has chosen his daughter,
“Why maskelleȝ bryd þat bryȝt con flambe
Þat reiateȝ hatȝ so ryche & ryf,
Quat-kyn þyng may be þat lambe,
and why she is selected as a bride.
772 Þat þe wolde wedde vnto hys vyf?
Ouer alle oþer so hyȝ þou clambe,
To lede with hym so ladyly lyf
So mony a cumly on vnder cambe,
776 For kryst han lyued in much stryf,
& þou con alle þo dere out-dryf,
& fro þat maryag al oþer depres,
Al only þyself so stout & styf,
780 A makeleȝ may & maskelleȝ.”
THE LAMB AND HIS BRIDES.
XIV.
“Maskelles,” quod þat myry quene,
“Vnblemyst I am wyth-outen blot,
& þat may I with mensk menteene;
784 Bot makeleȝ quene þenne sade I not,
The Lamb has one hundred and forty thousand brides.
Þe lambes vyueȝ in blysse we bene,
A hondred & forty þowsande flot
As in þe apocalyppeȝ hit is sene;
St. John saw them on the hill of Sion in a dream, in the new city of Jerusalem.
788 Sant Iohan hem syȝ al in a knot,
On þe hyl of syon þat semly clot.
Þe apostel hem segh in gostly drem
Arayed to þe weddyng in þat hyl coppe,
792 Þe nwe cyte u Ierusalem.
[Fol. 50a.]
Of Ierusalem I in speche spelle.
If þou wyl knaw what-kyn he be,
My lombe, my lorde, my dere Iuelle,
796 My ioy, my blys, my lemman fre,
Isaiah speaks of Christ or the Lamb.
Þe profete ysaye of hym con melle,
Pitously of hys debonerté
gyltleȝ] MS. reads gystleȝ.
Þat gloryous gyltleȝ þat mon con quelle,
He says that He was led as a lamb to the slaughter.
800 With-outen any sake of felonye,
As a schep to þe slaȝt þer lad watȝ he
nem] MS. men.
& as lombe þat clypper in lande nem,
So closed he hys mouth fro vch query,
804 Quen Iueȝ hym iugged in Iherusalem.
In Jerusalem was Christ slain.
In Ierusalem watȝ my lemman slayn
& rent on rode with boyeȝ bolde;
Al oure baleȝ to bere ful bayn,
808 He toke on hym self oure careȝ colde,
With buffets was His face flayed.
With boffeteȝ watȝ hys face flayn,
Þat watȝ so fayr on to byholde;
For synne he set hym self in vayn,
812 Þat neuer hade non hym self to wolde,
He endured all patiently as a lamb.
For vus he lette hym flyȝe & folde
& brede vpon a bostwys bem,
lomb] The MS. reads lomp.
As meke as lomb þat no playnt tolde.
For us He died in Jerusalem.
816 For vus he swalt in Ierusalem:
THE LAMB WAS SLAIN IN JERUSALEM.
Ierusalem, Iordan & galalye,
Þer as baptysed þe goude saynt Ion,
His wordeȝ acorded to ysaye;
820 When Ihesuc con to hym warde gon
He sayde of hym þys professye,
The declaration of St. John, “Behold the Lamb of God,” etc.
“Lo godeȝ lombe as trwe as ston,
Þat dotȝ away þe synneȝ dryȝe!”
824 Þat alle þys worlde hatȝ wroȝt vpon,
Hym self ne wroȝt neuer ȝet non,
Wheþer on hym self he con al clem,
Who can reckon His generation, that died in Jerusalem?
Hys generacyoun quo recen con,
828 Þat dyȝed for vus in Ierusalem?
[Fol. 50b.]
In Ierusalem þus my lemman swatte,
Twyeȝ, for lombe watȝ taken þere,
By trw recorde of ayþer prophete,
832 For mode so meke & al hys fare,
Þe þryde tyme is þer-to ful mete
In apokalypeȝ wryten ful ȝare.
In the New Jerusalem St. John saw the Lamb sitting upon the throne.
In mydeȝ þe trone þere saynteȝ sete,
836 Þe apostel iohan hym saytȝ as bare,
Lesande þe boke with leueȝ sware,
Þere seuen syngnetteȝ wern sette in-seme
& at þat syȝt vche douth con dare,
840 In helle, in erþe & Ierusalem.
XV.
The Lamb is without blemish.
Thys Ierusalem lombe hade neuer pechche
Of oþer huee bot quyt Iolyf
Þat mot ne masklle moȝt on streche
844 For wolle quyte so ronk & ryf,
teche] MS. tethe. Every spotless soul is a worthy bride for the Lamb.
For-þy vche saule þat hade neuer teche,
Is to þat lombe a worthyly wyf;
And þaȝ vch day a store he feche,
No strife or envy among the brides.
848 Among vus commeȝ non oþer strot ne stryf,
vchon enle] vch onlepi (?).
Bot vchon enle we wolde were fyf,
Þe mo þe myryer so god me blesse.
In compayny gret our luf con þryf
852 In honour more & neuer þe lesse.
None can have less bliss than another.
Lasse of blysse may non vus bryng
Þat beren þys perle vpon oure bereste,
For þay of mote couþe neuer mynge,
856 Of spotleȝ perleȝ þa[y] beren þe creste,
Al-þaȝ oure corses in clotteȝ clynge,
& ȝe remen for rauþe wyth-outen reste,
We þurȝ-outly hauen cnawyng;
Our death leads us to bliss.
860 Of [o]n dethe ful oure hope is drest,
Þe lonbe vus gladeȝ, oure care is kest;
He myrþeȝ vus alle at vch a mes,
Vchoneȝ blysse is breme & beste,
864 & neuer oneȝ honour ȝet neuer þe les.
THE VISION OF SAINT JOHN.
[Fol. 51a.] tale] MS. talle, but tale in the catchwords. What St. John saw upon the Mount of Sion.
Lest les þou leue my tale farande,
In appocalyppece is wryten in wro
I seghe, says Iohan, þe loumbe hym stande,
868 On þe mount of syon ful þryuen & þro,
About the Lamb he saw one hundred and forty thousand maidens.
& wyth hym maydenneȝ an hundreþe þowsande
& fowre & forty þowsande mo
On alle her forhedeȝ wryten I fande,
872 Þe lombeȝ nome, hys fadereȝ also.
He heard a voice from heaven, like many floods.
A hue fro heuen I herde þoo,
Lyk flodeȝ fele laden, runnen on resse,
& as þunder þroweȝ in torreȝ blo,
876 Þat lote I leue watȝ neuer þe les.
Nauþeles þaȝ hit schowted scharpe,
& ledden loude al-þaȝ hit were.
He heard the maiden sing a new song.
A note ful nwe I herde hem warpe,
880 To lysten þat watȝ ful lufly dere,
As harporeȝ harpen in her harpe,
Þat nwe songe þay songen ful cler.
In sounande noteȝ a gentyl carpe,
884 Ful fayre þe modeȝ þay fonge in fere
Ryȝt byfore godeȝ chayere,
So did the four beasts and the elders “so sad of cheer.”
& þe fowre besteȝ þat hym obes,
& þe alder-men so sadde of chere,
888 Her songe þay songen neuer þe les;
Nowþe-lese non watȝ neuer so quoynt,
For alle þe crafteȝ þat euer þay knewe.
Þat of þat songe myȝt synge a poynt,
892 Bot þat meyny þe lombe þay swe,
For þay arn boȝt fro þe vrþe aloynte.
As newe fryt to god ful due
This assembly was like the Lamb, spotless and pure.
& to þe gentyl lombe hit arn amoynt,
896 As lyk to hym self of lote & hwe,
For neuer lesyng ne tale vn-trwe,
Ne towched her tonge for no dysstresse.
Þat moteles meyny may neuer remwe,
900 Fro þat maskeleȝ mayster neuer þe les.”
[Fol. 51b.] The father replies to the maiden.
“Neuer þe les let be my þonc,”
Quod I, “my perle þaȝ I appose,
I schulde not tempte þy wyt so wlonc,
904 To krysteȝ chambre þat art Ichose,
He says he is but dust and ashes.
I am bot mokke & mul among,
& þou so ryche a reken rose,
& bydeȝ here by þys blysful bonc
908 Þer lyueȝ lyste may neuer lose,
Now hynde þat sympelnesse coneȝ enclose,
He wishes to ask one question,
I wolde þe aske a þynge expresse,
& þaȝ I be bustwys as a blose
912 Let my bone vayl neuer þe lese.
THE ABODE OF CHRIST’S BRIDES.
XVI.
Neuer þe lese cler I yow by-calle
If ȝe con se hyt be to done,
As þou art gloryous with-outen galle,
916 With-nay þou neuer my ruful bone.
whether the brides have their abode in castle-walls or in manor.
Haf ȝe no woneȝ in castel walle,
Ne maner þer ȝe may mete & won?
Jerusalem, he says, in Judea.
Þou telleȝ me of Ierusalem þe ryche ryalle,
920 Þer dauid dere watȝ dyȝt on trone,
Bot by þyse holteȝ hit con not hone
Bot in Iudee hit is þat noble note;
As ȝe ar maskeleȝ vnder mone,
But the dwelling of the brides should be perfect.
924 Your woneȝ schulde by wyth-outen mote.
Þys moteleȝ meyny þou coneȝ of mele,
Of þousandeȝ þryȝt so gret a route,
For such “a comely pack” a great castle would be required.
A gret cete, for ȝe arn fele,
928 Yow by-hod haue with-outen doute;
So cumly a pakke of Ioly Iuele,
Wer euel don schulde lyȝ þer-oute;
& by þyse bonkeȝ þer I con gele
932 & I se no bygyng nawhere aboute,
I trowe al-one ȝe lenge & loute,
To loke on þe glory of þys grac[i]ous gote;
If þou hatȝ oþer lygyngeȝ stoute,
936 Now tech me to þat myry mote.
[Fol. 52a.] The city in Judæa, answers the maiden, is where Christ suffered, and is the Old Jerusalem.
“That mote þou meneȝ in Iudy londe,”
Þat specyal spyce þen to me spakk,
“Þat is þe cyte þat þe lombe con fonde
940 To soffer inne sor for maneȝ sake,
Þe olde Ierusalem to vnder-stonde,
For þere þe olde gulte watȝ don to slake,
The New Jerusalem is where the Lamb has assembled his brides.
Bot þe nwe þat lyȝt of godeȝ sonde,
944 Þe apostel in apocalyppce in theme con take.
lombe] The MS. reads lompe.
Þe lombe þer, with-outen spotteȝ blake,
Hatȝ feryed þyder hys fayre flote,
& as hys flok is with-outen flake,
948 So is hys mote with-outen moote.
THE OLD AND NEW JERUSALEM.
Of motes two to carpe clene
Jerusalem means the city of God.
& Ierusalem hyȝt boþe nawþeles,
Þat nys to yow no more to mene,
952 Bot cete of god oþer syȝt of pes.
In the Old city our peace was made at one.
In þat on oure pes watȝ mad at ene,
With payne to suffer þe lombe hit chese,
In the New city is eternal peace.
In þat oþer is noȝt bot pes to glene,
956 Þat ay schal laste with-outen reles,
Þat is þe borȝ þat we to pres,
flesch] MS. fresth.
Fro þat oure flesch be layd to rote;
Þer glory & blysse schal euer encres,
960 To þe meyny þat is with-outen mote.
XVII.
The father prays his daughter to bring him to the blissful bower.
“Moteleȝ may so meke & mylde,”
Þen sayde I to þat lufly flor,
“Bryng me to þat bygly bylde,
964 & let me se þy blysful bor.”
Þat schene sayde, þat god wyl schylde,
His daughter tells him that he shall see the outside,
“Þou may not enter with-inne hys tor,
Bot of þe lombe I haue þe aquylde
968 For a syȝt þer-of þurȝ gret fauor.
Vt-wyth to se þat clene cloystor,
but not a foot may he put in the city.
Þou may, bot inwyth not a fote,
To strech in þe strete þou hatȝ no vygour,
972 Bot þou wer clene with-outen mote.
XVIII.
[Fol. 52b.]
If I þis mote þe schal vn-hyde,
The maiden then tells her father to go along the bank till he comes to a hill.
Bow vp to-warde þys borneȝ heued,
& I an-endeȝ þe on þis syde
976 Schal sve, tyl þou to a hil be veued,
Þen wolde [I] no lenger byde,
Bot lurked by launceȝ so lufly leued,
He reaches the hill, and beholds the heavenly city.
Tyl on a hyl þat I asspyed
980 & blusched on þe burghe, as I forth dreued,
By-ȝonde þe brok fro me warde keued,
Þat schyrrer þen sunne with schafteȝ schon;
In þe apokalypce is þe fasoun preued,
984 As deuyseȝ hit þe apostel Ihoñ.
A DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW JERUSALEM.
As St. John saw it, so he beheld it.
As Iohan þe apostel hit syȝ with syȝt
I syȝe þat cyty of gret renoun,
Ierusalem so nwe & ryally dyȝt,
988 As hit watȝ lyȝt fro þe heuen adoun.
The city was of burnished gold.
Þe borȝ watȝ al of brende golde bryȝt,
As glemande glas burnist broun,
Pitched upon gems,
With gentyl gemmeȝ an-vnder pyȝt;
992 With banteleȝ twelue on basyng boun,
the foundation composed of twelve stones.
Þe foundementeȝ twelue of riche tenoun;
Vch tabelment watȝ a serlypeȝ ston,
As derely deuyseȝ þis ilk toun,
996 In apocalyppeȝ þe apostel Iohan.
The names of the precious stones.
As þise stoneȝ in writ con nemme
I knew þe name after his tale;
i. Jasper.
Iasper hyȝt þe fyrst gemme,
1000 Þat I on þe fyrst basse con wale,
He glente grene in þe lowest hemme.
ii. Sapphire.
Saffer helde þe secounde stale,
iii. Chalcedony.
Þe calsydoyne þenne with-outen wemme,
1004 In þe þryd table con purly pale;
iv. Emerald.
Þe emerade þe furþe so grene of scale;
v. Sardonyx.
Þe sardonyse þe fyfþe ston;
vi. Ruby.
Þe sexte þe rybe he con hit wale,
1008 In þe apocalyppce þe apostel Iohan.
[Fol. 53a.] vii. Chrysolite.
Ȝet Ioyned Iohan þe crysolyt,
Þe seuenþe gemme in fundament;
viii. Beryl.
Þe aȝtþe þe beryl cler & quyt
ix. Topaz.
1012 Þe topasye twynne how þe nente endent;
x. Chrysoprasus.
Þe crysopase þe tenþe is tyȝt;
Iacyngh] Iacynth (?). xi. Jacinth.
Þe Iacyngh þe enleuenþe gent;
Þe twelfþe þe gentyleste in veh a plyt,
xii. Amethyst.
1016 Þe amatyst purpre with ynde blente;
Þe wal abof þe bantels bent,
Masporye as glas þat glysnande schon,
I knew hit by his deuysement,
1020 In þe apocalyppeȝ þe apostel Iohan.
As Iohan deuysed ȝet saȝ I þare.
Þise twelue de-gres wern brode & stayre,
The city was square.
Þe cyte stod abof ful sware,
1024 As longe as brode as hyȝe ful fayre;
Þe streteȝ of golde as glasse al bare,
The wall was of jasper.
Þe wal of Iasper þat glent as glayre;
Þe woneȝ with-inne enurned ware
1028 Wyth alle kynneȝ perre þat moȝt repayre,
Þenne helde vch sware of þis manayre,
Twelve thousand furlongs in length and breadth.
Twelue forlonge space er euer hit fon,
Of heȝt, of brede, of lenþe to cayre,
1032 For meten hit syȝ þe apostel Iohan.
NO SUN NOR MOON IN HEAVEN.
XIX.
As Iohan hym wryteȝ ȝet more I syȝe
Each “pane” had three gates.
Vch pane of þat place had þre ȝateȝ,
So twelue in poursent I con asspye
1036 Þe portaleȝ pyked of rych plateȝ
Each gate adorned with a pearl.
& vch ȝate of a margyrye,
A parfyt perle þat neuer fateȝ;
Vchon in scrypture a name con plye,
1040 Of israel barneȝ folewande her dateȝ,
Þat is to say as her byrþ whateȝ;
Þe aldest ay fyrst þer-on watȝ done.
Such light gleamed in all the streets, that there was no need of the sun or moon.
Such lyȝt þer lemed in alle þe strateȝ
1044 Hem nedde nawþer sunne ne mone.
[Fol. 53b.]
Of sunne ne mone had þay no nede
lompe] MS. lombe. God was the light of those in the city.
Þe self god watȝ her lompe lyȝt,
Þe lombe her lantyrne with-outen drede,
1048 Þurȝ hym blysned þe borȝ al bryȝt.
Þurȝ woȝe & won my lokyng ȝede,
moȝt] MS. noȝt.
For sotyle cler moȝt lette no lyȝt;
The high throne might be seen, upon which the “high God” sat.
Þe hyȝe trone þer moȝt ȝe hede
1052 With alle þe apparaylmente vmbe-pyȝte,
As Iohan þe appostel in termeȝ tyȝte;
Þe hyȝe godeȝ self hit set vpone.
A river ran out of the throne;
A reuer of þe trone þer ran out-ryȝte
1056 Watȝ bryȝter þen boþe þe sunne & mone.
NO CHURCH IN HEAVEN.
Sunne ne mone schon neuer so swete;
A! þat foysoun flode out of þat flet,
it flowed through each street.
Swyþe hit swange þurȝ vch a strete,
1060 With-outen fylþe oþer galle oþer glet.
No church was seen.
Kyrk þer-inne watȝ non ȝete,
Chapel ne temple þat euer watȝ set,
God was the church; Christ the sacrifice.
Þe al-myȝty watȝ her mynyster mete,
1064 Þe lombe þe saker-fyse þer to reget;
The gates were ever open.
Þe ȝates stoken watȝ neuer ȝet,
Bot euer more vpen at vche a lone;
Þer entreȝ non to take reset,
an-vnder] MS. an-vndeȝ.
1068 Þat bereȝ any spot an-vnder mone.
The mone may þer-of acroche no myȝte
To spotty, ho is of body to grym,
There is no night in the city.
& al-so þer ne is neuer nyȝt.
1072 What schulde þe mone þer compas clym
lyȝt] Or syȝt.
& to euen wyth þat worþly lyȝt,
Þat schyneȝ vpon þe brokeȝ brym?
The planets, and the sun itself, are dim compared to the divine light.
Þe planeteȝ arn in to pouer a plyȝt,
1076 & þe self sunne ful fer to dym.
Aboute þat water arn tres ful schym,
Þat twelue fryteȝ of lyf con bere ful sone;
Trees there renew their fruit every month.
Twelue syþeȝ on ȝer þay beren ful frym
1080 & re-nowleȝ nwe in vche a mone.
[Fol. 54a.]
An-vnder mone so gret merwayle
No fleschly hert ne myȝt endeure,
As quen I blusched vpon þat baly,
1084 So ferly þer-of watȝ þe falure.
The beholder of this fair city stood still as a “dased quail.”
I stod as stylle as dased quayle,
french] fresch (?).
For ferly of þat french fygure,
Þat felde I nawþer reste ne trauayle,
1088 So watȝ I rauyste wyth glymme pure;
For I dar say, with conciens sure,
Hade bodyly burne abiden þat bone,
Þaȝ alle clerkeȝ hym hade in cure,
1092 His lyf wer loste an-vnder mone.
A PROCESSION OF VIRGINS.
XX.
As the moon began to rise he was aware of a procession
Ryȝt as þe maynful mone con rys,
Er þenne þe day-glem dryue al doun,
So sodanly on a wonder wyse,
1096 I watȝ war of a prosessyoun,
Þis noble cite of ryche enpresse
Watȝ sodanly ful with-outen sommoun
of virgins crowned with pearls,
Of such vergyneȝ in þe same gyse
1100 Þat watȝ my blysful an-vnder croun,
& coronde wern alle of þe same fasoun
in white robes,
Depaynt in perleȝ & wedeȝ qwyte,
with a pearl in their breast.
In vchoneȝ breste watȝ bounden boun,
with gret] MS. with outen.
1104 Þe blysful perle with gret delyt.
As they went along they shone as glass.
With gret delyt þay glod in fere,
On golden gateȝ þat glent as glasse;
Hundreth þowsandeȝ I wot þer were,
1108 & alle in sute her liureȝ wasse,
Tor to knaw þe gladdest chere.
The Lamb went before them.
Þe lombe byfore con proudly passe,
golde] MS. glode.
Wyth horneȝ seuen of red golde cler,
1112 As praysed perleȝ his wedeȝ wasse;
Towarde þe throne þay trone a tras.
There was no pressing.
Þaȝ þay wern fele no pres in plyt,
Bot mylde as maydeneȝ seme at mas,
1116 So droȝ þay forth with gret delyt.
[Fol. 54b.]
Delyt þat hys come encroched,
To much hit were of for to melle;
The “alder men” fell groveling at the feet of the Lamb.
Þise alder men quen he aproched,
1120 Grouelyng to his fete þay felle;
Legyounes of aungeleȝ togeder uoched,
Þer kesten ensens of swete smelle,
Þen glory & gle watȝ nwe abroched.
All sang in praise of the Lamb.
1124 Al songe to loue þat gay Iuelle,
Þe steuen moȝt stryke þurȝ þe vrþe to helle,
Þat þe vertues of heuen of Ioye endyte,
To loue þe lombe his meyny in melle,
1128 I-wysse I laȝt a gret delyt;
Delit þe lombe forto deuise,
With much meruayle in mynde went.
Best watȝ he, blyþest & moste to pryse,
1132 Þat euer I herde of speche spent,
The Lamb wore white weeds.
So worþly whyt wern wedeȝ hys;
His lokeȝ symple, hym self so gent,
A wide wound was seen near his breast.
Bot a wounde ful wyde & weete con wyse
1136 An-ende hys hert þurȝ hyde to-rente;
Of his quyte syde his blod out-sprent,
A-las! þoȝt I, who did þat spyt?
Ani breste for bale aȝt haf for-brent,
1140 Er he þer-to hade had delyt,
HE WISHES TO CROSS THE STREAM.
The lombe delyt non lyste to wene,
Þaȝ he were hurt & wounde hade,
In his sembelaunt watȝ neuer sene,
Joy was in his looks.
1144 So wern his glenteȝ gloryous glade.
I loked among his meyny schene,
How þay wyth lyf wern laste & lade,
The father perceives his little queen.
Þen saȝ I þer my lyttel quene,
1148 Þat I wende had standen by me in sclade;
Lorde! much of mirþe watȝ þat ho made,
Among her fereȝ þat watȝ so quyt!
Þat syȝt me gart to þenk to wade,
1152 For luf longyng in gret delyt.
XXI.
[Fol. 55a.] Great delight takes possession of his mind.
Delyt me drof in yȝe & ere,
My maneȝ mynde to maddyng malte;
Quen I seȝ my frely I wolde be þere,
1156 Byȝonde þe water, þaȝ ho were walte,
I þoȝt þat no þyng myȝt me dere
To fech me bur & take me halte;
He attempts to cross the stream.
& to start in þe strem schulde non me stere,
1160 To swymme þe remnaunt, þaȝ I þer swalte,
Bot of þat munt I watȝ bi-talt;
When I schulde start in þe strem astraye,
Out of þat caste I watȝ by-calt;
It was not pleasing to the Lord.
1164 Hit watȝ not at my prynceȝ paye,
THE FATHER OF THE MAIDEN AWAKES.
Hit payed hym not þat I so flonc,
Ouer meruelous mereȝ so mad arayde,
Of raas þaȝ I were rasch & ronk,
1168 Ȝet rapely þer-inne I watȝ restayed;
For ryȝt as I sparred vn-to þe bonc,
Þat brathe out of my drem me brayde;
The dreamer awakes,
Þen wakned I in þat erber wlonk,
1172 My hede vpon þat hylle watȝ layde,
Þer as my perle to grounde strayd;
and is in great sorrow.
I raxled & fel in gret affray,
& sykyng to my self I sayd:
1176 “Now al be to þat prynceȝ paye.”
Me payed ful ille to be out-fleme,
So sodenly of þat fayre regioun,
Fro alle þo syȝteȝ so quykeȝ & queme.
1180 A longeyng heuy me strok in swone,
& rewfully þenne I con to reme;
He addresses his pearl;
“O perle,” quod I, “of rych renoun,
So watȝ hit me dere þat þou con deme,
1184 In þys veray avysyoun;
If] MS. inf.
If hit be ueray & soth sermoun,
Þat þou so stykeȝ in garlande gay,
laments his rash curiosity.
So wel is me in þys doel doungoun,
1188 Þat þou art to þat prynseȝ paye.”
[Fol. 55b.]
To þat prynceȝ paye hade I ay bente,
& ȝerned no more þen watȝ me geuen,
& halden me þer in trwe entent,
1192 As þe perle me prayed þat watȝ so þryuen,
As helde drawen to goddeȝ present,
To mo of his mysterys I hade ben dryuen.
Men desire more than they have any right to expect.
Bot ay wolde man of happe more hente
1196 Þen moȝten by ryȝt vpon hem clyuen;
Þer-fore my ioye watȝ sone to-riuen,
& I kaste of kytheȝ þat lasteȝ aye.
Lorde! mad hit arn þat agayn þe stryuen,
1200 Oþer proferen þe oȝt agayn þy paye;
GOD GIVE US GRACE TO SERVE HIM.
The good Christian knows how to make peace with God.
To pay þe prince oþer sete saȝte,
Hit is ful eþe to þe god krystyin;
For I haf founden hym boþe day & naȝte,
1204 A god, a lorde, a frende ful fyin.
hyl] MS. hyiil.
1864 edition had “hyiil”, with note “hye-hil or hyul?”
Ouer þis hyl þis lote I laȝte,
For pyty of my perle enclyin,
& syþen to god I hit by-taȝte,
1208 In krysteȝ dere blessyng & myn,
Þat in þe forme of bred & wyn,
God give us grace to be his servants!
Þe preste vus scheweȝ vch a daye;
He gef vus to be his homly hyne,
1212 Ande precious perleȝ vnto his pay. Amen. Amen.
Notes to The Pearl.
The Notes were printed in a group, immediately before the Index. They have been distributed among the three poems for convenience.
| Page 1. | l. 2, to, very. 8 sengeley in synglure, ever in singleness (uniqueness). Now is Susan in sale sengeliche arayed. Pistel of Susan, Vernon MS., fol. 317. 11 dewyne, pine; for-dolked, for-wounded (severely hurt). 16 heuen my happe, increase my happiness. 17 þrych my hert þrange, through my heart pierce. 20 stylle stounde, a secret sorrow. 23 O moul þou marreȝ a myry mele, O mould (earth) thou spoilest a merry discourse. |
| P. 2. | l. 27 Blomeȝ blayke & blwe & rede, Flowers yellow, blue, and red. 49 spenned, wrung. 51, 52 A secret grief in my heart dinned (resounded), Though reason set myself at peace. 53 spenned, allured, enticed away. 54 Wyth fyrte skylleȝ þat faste faȝt, With trembling doubts that fast fought (struggled). |
| P. 3. | l. 76 bolleȝ = boleȝ, trunks of trees. 78 on vch a tynde, on each branch. 92 reken myrþe, pleasant, joyous mirth. |
| P. 4. | l. 99 Þe derþe þer-of, the value (preciousness) thereof. 101 in wely wyse, in joyful mood. 102 dereȝ, injuries, harms. 103 fyrre, farther. 105 raweȝ & randeȝ, borders and paths. 107 I wan to, I reached. Winne in O.E. was used much in the same way as we now employ the word get. 112 Wyth a rownande rourde raykande aryȝt, With a murmuring (whispering) sound flowing aright. 113 founce, bottom; stepe, bright. 114 glente, shone; glyȝt, glistened. 115 A[s] stremande sterneȝ, as glittering stars; stroþe, stout, brave. 119 loȝe, deep. 125 dryȝly haleȝ, strongly (or deeply) flows. 126 bred ful = bred-ful = bretful (?), full to the brim. |
| P. 5. | l. 131 wayneȝ, grants. 132 hitteȝ, seeks. 138 gayn, opposite. 142 I hopede þat mote merked wore, I supposed that building was devised. 149 stote & stare, stand (loiter) and gape. 150-1 To fynde a forþe, faste con I fonde, Bot woþeȝ mo I-wysse þer ware, To find a way fast did I go, But paths more indeed there were. 153 wonde, cease, abstain (from fear). 155 nwe note, a new matter. 163 blysnande whyt, glistening white. See 197. |
| P. 6. | l. 165 schere, purify, refine. 169 Þe more I frayste hyr fayre face. The more I examined her fair face. frayst (fraist) usually signifies to try, tempt. 170 fonte, tried, examined, found. 176 Such a burre myȝt make myn herte blunt, Such a blow might make mine heart faint. 179 Þat stonge myn hert ful stray atount, Should we not read—Þat stonge myn hert ful stray a stount (?), “full stray a stount” = a blow full stray. 187 chos, was following, was seeking. 188 Er I at steuen hir moȝt stalle, Before I could place her within reach of discourse. 190 seme = semely, seemly. |
| P. 7. | l. 208 flurted, figured. Cf. flurt-silk, figured-silk. 210 Her here heke al hyr vmbe-gon, Her hair eke (also) all her about gone. 212 Her ble more blaȝt, her complexion whiter. 213 schorne golde schyr, refined gold pure. 216 porfyl, hem of a dress, or rather an embroidered hem. 217 poyned, ornamented, trimmed. 223-4 A manneȝ dom myȝt dryȝly demme, Er mynde moȝt malte in hit mesure, A man’s judgment might greatly dim, Before (his) mind could discourse of it in sufficient terms of praise. 226 No = ne (nor) would be a better reading. 230 wyþer half, opposite side. |
| P. 8. | l. 243 myn one, myself. 244 layned, kept secret, hidden. 251 Fro, from the time that. towen & twayned, made two and separated. |
| P. 9. | l. 272 is put in pref, has been proved. 275 bote of þy meschef, the remedy of thy misfortune (misery). 290 Wy borde ȝe men so madde ȝe be? Why should you talk, so foolish you are? |
| P. 10. | l. 307 westernays, wrongly, in vain? It may be another form of westernways, from the A.Sax. wéste, barren, empty; wéstern, a desert place. Or is it connected with A.Sax. winstre, the left hand? 320 Þy corse in clot mot colder keue, Thy body in earth (clods) must colder plunge. 321 for-garte forfeited. 322 ȝore fader for form-fader, first-father. 323 drwry = drery, dreary (?). boȝ (= bos = bus?) vch ma (man?) dreue, behoves each man to drive (go). See B. l. 687. 327-8 Now haf I fonte þat I for-lete Schal I efte forgo hit er euer I fyne? Now I have found what I have lost. Shall I again forego it ere ever I die? |
| P. 11. | l. 336 durande doel, lasting grief. 343 For anger gayneȝ þe not a cresse, For anger avails the not a cress, (i.e. not a mite). Cf. the following passage from “Piers Ploughman,” p. 174, l. 5629: “Wisdom and wit now Is noght worth a kerse.” 353 Stynst (stynt?) of þy strot & fyne to flyte, Leave off thy complaining and cease to chide. 354 blyþe is here used as a substantive in the sense of bliss, joy. swefte = swift. 356 hyr crafteȝ kyþe, manifest her powers. 359-60 For marre oþer madde, morne & myþe, Al lys in him to dyȝt & deme. For to ruin, or make foolish, grieve or to soothe, All lies in him to order and doom. 363 If rapely raue, etc. = If rapely I raue, etc. (?) 368 Though I go astray, my dear, adored one. |
| P. 12. | l. 369 lyþeȝ, grant. 374 Bot much þe bygger ȝet watȝ my mon, Fro þou watȝ wroken fro vch a woþe. But much the greater yet was my moan (sorrow), From (the time) thou wast banished from every path. 377 now leþeȝ my loþe, now my sorrow ceases (is softened). 382 marereȝ = mareȝ (?). 386 mate, dejected. 402 I hete þe, I promise the. |
| P. 14. | l. 446 in hyt self beyng, in its very being. 455 gyng, company. 460 Temen, are united, joined. tryste, trusty, faithful, firm. |
| P. 16. | l. 511 wryþen, toil, literally to turn, twist. 512 keruen, dig. caggen, draw. man = maken, make. Cf. ma = make, ta = take, tan = taken. 522 toȝt, binding, firm. 524 pray (so in MS.), read pay. 536 at ȝe moun, that ye are able. |
| P. 17. | l. 560 a grete, in the gross, a head. 563 plete, plead, ask for. 572 be = he (?). |
| P. 18. | l. 575 Þaȝ her sweng wyth lyttel at-slykeȝ, Though their labour (blow) with little falls off (fails to accomplish much). 605 chyche, niggard. 608 goteȝ, streams; charde, past tense of charre, to turn, deviate. |
| P. 19. | l. 617 bourne abate = burne abade, man continued. 626 by lyne, by lineage descent. |
| P. 20. | l. 645 Bot þer on com a bote as-tyt, But there came one as a remedy at once. 659 in sely stounde, in a happy moment. 671 glente, fell, slided. |
| P. 21. | l. 680 dylle, slow, sluggish. 681 dyt = dyde, did (?), or dotȝ, does (?). 690 oure, prayer. |
| P. 22. | l. 726 sulpande synne, defiling, polluting, sin. 727 bylde, building. 735 reme, realm. |
| P. 23. | l. 752 Of carpe, discourse of. 754 hauyng, condition, behaviour. 757 bete, save, ransom. 759 make, wife. 775 vnder cambe = under-cam, came under, took an inferior position (?). |
| P. 24. | l. 802 & as a lombe þat clypper in lande nem, And as a lamb that a shearer has taken, etc. 813-4 For us he let himself be scourged and buffetted, and stretched upon a rough tree (i.e. nailed to the cross). |
| P. 25. | l. 836 as bare, (?) al bare, openly. See 1025. 837 Lesande þe boke with leueȝ sware, Opening the book with leaves square. 839 & at þat syȝt vche douth con dare, And at that sight each doughty (one) did tremble (with fear). 849 enle = eneli = onely or onlepi (?) = singly, alone. |
| P. 26. | l. 865 talle farande = tale farande, pleasing story. 873 hue, cry, voice. 876 lote, sound. |
| P. 27. | l. 896 lote, features. 909 hynde = hende, gentle, courteous (one). 911 bustwys as a blose, boisterous (wild) as a blaze (flame). 916 With nay þou neuer my ruful bone, Do thou never refuse my mournful request. |
| P. 28. | l. 948 So is hys mote with-outen moote, So is his building without mote (blemish). |
| P. 29. | ll. 975-6 & I an-endeȝ þe on his syde Schal sve, tyl þou to a hil be veued, And I opposite thee on this side Shall go, till thou to a hill be passed. 980-81 & blusched on þe burghe, as I forth dreued, Byȝonde þe brok fro me warde keued, And looked on the city, as I forth drove (urged), Beyond the brook that cut me off from (the object of my desire). |
| P. 30. | l. 1018 Masporye = was pure (?). 1022 brode & stayre, broad and steep (high). 1026 þat glent as glayre, that shone as amber. |
| P. 31. | l. 1030 fon, ceased, the preterite of fine. 1038 fateȝ = fadeȝ, fades. 1041 whateȝ = watȝ, was. |
| P. 32. | ll. 1065-66 Þe ȝates stoken watȝ neuer ȝet, Bot euer more vpen at vche a lone. The gates shut were never yet, But ever more open at every lane. 1073 to euen with, to equal with, to match with. 1084 falure = fasure, form (?). |
| P. 33. | l. 1124 to loue, to praise. 1127 in melle = in-melle = i-melle, among. Cf. in-lyche and i-lyche, etc. |
| P. 34. | l. 1141 Þe lombe delyt non lyste to wene, The lamb’s delight none desired to doubt. 1146 laste and lade, followed and preceded (?). 1161 Bot of þat munt I watȝ bi-talt, But from that purpose I was aroused (shaken). 1163 bi-calt = bi-called (?), called away. |
| P. 35. | l. 1165 flonc = flong (?), flung. 1193 helde, willingly (inclined). |