fro abuuen cam to him bi-neðen,
Word in herte ðat he ſal queðen; | |
Quan he cam to balaac a-gen,
4004
Swilc wurdes he let vt-ten. | God’s word comes to Balaam, |
| “Hu mai ic ðat folc curſen on, | [Fol. 78.] |
ðor louerd haueð bliſcing don?
ðiſ folk ſal waxen wel and ðen,
4008
And ouer al oðer migtful ben,
Hiſ lif beð bliðe, hiſ ending ſal,
ðe timeð al-ſo ðiſ timen ſal.” | and he blesses Israel. |
Balaac miſliked al ðiſ queðe,
4012
And ledde hem ðeðen on oðer ſtede,
To munt faga, for to ſen wel
Of folc iſrael ðe oðer del. | Balak is greatly displeased. |
He wente on oðer ſtund or ſtede,
4016
Betre timing ðor-fore he it dede,
And wende wenden godes ðogt,
Oc al he ſwinked him for nogt. | He brings the prophet to another place. |
Hef[t] haueð he mad her.vii. alter,
4020
And on ilc brend eft twin der.
Gede eft balaam up on-rum,
ðo ſeide ðuſ quanne hem cam dun, | Again seven altars were raised, and offerings made. |
“ðis folc, ſprungen of iſrael,
4024
Iſ vnder god timed wel;
Al-ſo leun iſ migtful der, | The parable of Balaam. |
So ſal ðiſ folc ben migtful her;
ðiſ leun ſal oðer folc freten,
4028
Lond canaan al preige bi-geten.” | Israel is compared to a lion. |
Ille liked ðanne balaac
Euerilc word ðe preſt balaam ſpac. | Balak was ill pleased with the priest’s words. |
Get he ledde him to munt fegor,
4032
And efte he ſacrede deres mor;
ðor ſpac balaam mikel mor
Of ðiſ folckes migt, or he dede or.
“folc ebru,” quað he, “ðat ic ſe, | [Fol. 78b.]
Balak brings Balaam to Mount Peor. |
4036
Bliſced ſal ben ðe bliſcede ðe; | Again he blesses the Israelites, |
MS. dat.
MS. haued.
MS. dor.