Cattle Are Made for Man’s Service. Adam Is Created
| Al erue, and wrim, and wilde der, Qwel man mai ſen on werlde her. | |
| God ſag bi-fore quat after cam, 172 ðat ſingen ſulde firme adam, And him to fremen and do frame, | God knew that Adam would sin, |
| He made on werlde al erue tame, ðe ſulde him her, in ſwinkes ſtrif, 176 to fode, and ſrud, to helpen ðe lif; And him to pine, and loar her, | so He made tame cattle to help him in his labour and to give him food and clothing. |
| God made wirme and wilde der. He pine man wid ſorwe and dred, 180 And don hem monen hiſ ſinfulhed, ðat iſ him loar quan he ſeð, ðan he for ſinne in ſorwe beð. | God made the wild deer to trouble man with sorrow and dread and cause him to moan his sinfulness. |
| Ilk kinnes erf, and wrim, and der 184 Was mad of erðe on werlde her, | Each kind of cattle, reptile, and beast was made of earth. |
| And euerilc on in kinde good, ðor quiles adam fro ſinne ſtod; | [Fol. 4b.] All were good while Adam was pure. |
| Oc der and wrim it deren man 188 fro ðan ðat he ſingen bi-gan; In ðe moſte and in ðe leſte he forleſ Hiſ louerd-hed89 quuanne he miſ-cheſ; | But reptiles and wild beasts hurt man as soon as he became sinful. |
| Leunes and beres him wile to-dragen, | Lions and bears tear him in pieces. |
| 192 And fleges ſen on him non agen; Hadde he wel loked him wið ſkil, Ilc beſte ſulde don hiſ wil; | Flies have no awe of him. |
| Erf helpeð him ðurg godes með, 196 Hiſ lordehed ðor-onne he ſeð. And for hiſe ſinne oc he to munen, ðat moſte and leiſte him ben binumen. | Cattle help him through God’s mercy. |
| Ðiſ ſexte dai god made Adam, 200 And his licham of erðe he nam, | On this sixth day God made Adam of earth, |
| And blew ðor-in a liues blaſt, | and blew into his body a “life’s blast,” |
| A likneſſe of his hali gaſt, | “a likeness of His Holy Ghost, |
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Notes
89 louerd-hel in MS.