The Idolaters Are Slain
| “Nai, for gode,” quad moyſes, “It iſ a ſong wikke and redles.” | |
| Moyſes cam ner and ſag ðiſ plages, 3576 And ðiſ calf, and ðiſ ille lages; So wurð he wroð, o mode ſarp, Hiſ tables broken dun he iſ warp, | and seeing the idolatry of the people, he brake them in pieces. |
| And dede ðat calf melten in fir, 3580 And ſtired it al to duſt ſir, And mengde in water and forð it of, And gaf ðat folc drinken ðat drof. ðo wiſte he wel quilc hauen it don, 3584 Sene it was here berdes on. ðo gredde he lude, “goð me to, Alle ðe god luuen so.” | The calf he burnt and ground to powder, and mixed it with the water they drank. |
| Frend ne broðer ne ſpared he nogt 3588 On of hem ðat haued ðiſ wunder wrogt; | Moses caused the idolaters to be put to death. |
| Of ðo ðe weren to ðiſ red, | [Fol. 70.] |
| .xxx. hundred to ðe dead woren ðane don ſone a-non, 3592 ðurg ſtrengðe of moyſes and aaron; On oðer ſtede men writen ſen, xxiii. ðhusent ðat ðor ben; | The number slain were about 3000. |
| Ðo woren on liue ſumdel les. 3596 On oðer dai quad moyſes, “Michel ſinne haue ðe don,336 Ic ſal gon ſeken bote her on.” | On the morrow, Moses reminded the people of their sin. |
| Eft he ſteg up to munt ſynay, 3600 for to bi-ſeken god merci. “Louerd,” quad he, “ðin meðe iſ god, Merci get for ðin milde mod! Or ðu ðiſ folc wið milche mod, 3604 Or do min name ut of ðin boc.” | He returned to Mount Sinai to seek God’s mercy. |
| God anſwerede, “of ſal ic don Hem, ðe arn nogt to ben ðor-on; Go, led ðiſ folc, min engel on | God promises to send his angel before the people. |
MS. wlages.
ge?
? milde-hod.
MS. moð.
Notes
336 MS. Michel ſinne quað haue ðe don.