Bi-luken ille, in fendes red.
On nigt him cam ſonde fro gode,
3932
Agen ðiſ kinges red for-bode, | |
And ðat he ne curſe non del
ðiſ folc ðat god bliſcede wel.
O morgen ſeide he, “fare ic nogt,
3936
for bode iſ me fro gode brogt.” | God forbids Balaam to curse the Israelites. |
Balaac ſente richere an[d] mo
Medes, and oðer men to ðo.
“Sondes, ſondes,” quað balaam,
3940
Or he ðeſe oðere medes nam, | Balak’s second message to the prophet. |
“Ðog balaac king me goue hold,
Hiſ huſ ful of ſiluer and of gold,
Ne mai ic wenden her bi-neðen;”
3944
Godes wurd iſ cumen alſ it iſ queðen;
Oc or or ge wenden agen,
ðiſ nigt ic ſal fonden and ſen.”
Quat tiding so it cam on ðe nigt,
3948
On morgen, at ðe daiges ligt, | Balaam’s answer to the messengers. |
Vp-on hiſe aſſe hiſ ſadel he dede,
To madian lond wente he hiſ ride,
And wente iſ herte on werre ðhogt;
3952
Wicke giſcing it haueð al wrogt. | He consents to go with the princes of Moab, |
| ðuſ rideð forð ðiſ man for-loren, | being influenced by covetousness. |
An angel drog an ſwerd him bi-foren,
ðiſ aſſe wurð ſo ſore of-dred,
3956
Vt of ðe weige it haueð him led.
Sellic ðogte balaam for-ði,
And bet and wente it to ðe ſti
Bi-twen two walles of ſton; | [Fol. 77.]
An angel meets him in the way. The ass is frightened, |
3960
Eft ſtod ðiſ angel him a-gon,
ðiſ aſſe iſ eft of weige ſtired,
So ðat balames fot iſ hird; | and turns aside to the wall, |
And he wurð ðo for anger wroð,
3964
And ðiſ prikeð and negt ſloð; | so that Balaam’s foot is crushed. |
MS. ginges.
MS. queden.
MS. haued.
? agen.
? stirt.
? hirt.