• Cleanness (a.k.a. Purity)

  • 1  Clannesse who-so kyndly cowþe comende,
  • 2 & rekken vp alle þe resounȝ þat ho by riȝt askeȝ,
  • 3 Fayre formeȝ myȝt he fynde in forering his speche,
  • 4 & in þe contraré, kark & combraunce huge;
  • 5 For wonder wroth is þe wyȝ þat wroȝt alle þinges,
  • 6 Wyth þe freke þat in fylþe folȝes hym after,
  • 7 As renkeȝ of relygioun þat reden & syngen,
  • 8 & aprochen to hys presens, & presteȝ arn called;
  • 9 Thay teen vnto his temmple & temen to hym seluen,
  • 10 Reken with reuerence þay r[ec]hen his auter,
  • 11 Þay hondel þer his aune body & vsen hit boþe.
  • 12 If þay in clannes be clos þay cleche gret mede,
  • 13 Bot if þay conterfete crafte, & cortaysye wont,
  • 14 As be honest vtwyth, & in-with alle fylþeȝ,
  • 15 Þen ar þay synful hemself & sulped altogeder,
  • 16 Boþe god & his gere, & hym to greme cachen.
  • 17 He is so clene in his courte, þe kyng þat al weldeȝ,
  • 18 & honeste in his hous-holde & hagherlych serued,
  • 19 With angeleȝ enourled in alle þat is clene,
  • 20 Boþe with-inne & with-outen, in wedeȝ ful bryȝt.
  • 21 Nif he nere scoymus & skyg & non scaþe louied,
  • 22 Hit were a meruayl to much, hit moȝt not falle;
  • 23 Kryst kydde hit hym self in a carp oneȝ,
  • 24 Þer as he heuened aȝt happeȝ & hyȝt hem her medeȝ;
  • 25 Me myneȝ on one amonge oþer, as maþew recordeȝ,
  • 26 Þat þus of clannesse vn-closeȝ a ful cler speche.
  • 27 Þe haþel clene of his hert hapeneȝ ful fayre,
  • 28 For he schal loke on oure lorde with a bone chere,
  • 29 As so saytȝ, to þat syȝt seche schal he neuer,
  • 30 Þat any vnclannesse hatȝ on, anwhere abowte:
  • 31 For he þat flemus vch fylþe fer fro his hert,
  • 32 May not byde þat burne þat hit his body neȝen;
  • 33 For-þy hyȝ not to heuen in hatereȝ to-torne,
  • 34 Ne in þe harloteȝ hod & handeȝ vnwaschen;
  • 35 For what vrþly haþel þat hyȝ honour haldeȝ
  • 36 Wolde lyke, if a ladde com lyþerly attyred,
  • 37 When he were sette solempnely in a sete ryche,
  • 38 Abof dukes on dece, with dayntys serued,
  • 39 Þen þe harlot with haste helded to þe table
  • 40 With rent cokreȝ at þe kne & his clutte trasches,
  • 41 & his tabarde to-torne & his toteȝ oute;
  • 42 Oþer ani on of alle þyse he schulde be halden vtter,
  • 43 With mony blame ful bygge, a boffet, peraunter,
  • 44 Hurled to þe halle dore & harde þer-oute schowued,
  • 45 & be forboden þat borȝe to bowe þider neuer,
  • 46 On payne of enprysonment & puttyng in stokkeȝ;
  • 47 & þus schal he be schent for his schrowde feble,
  • 48 Þaȝ neuer in talle ne in tuch he trespas more.
  • 49 & if vnwelcum he were to a worþlych prynce
  • 50 Ȝet hym is þe hyȝe kyng harder in her euen,
  • 51 As maþew meleȝ in his masse of þat man ryche,
  • 52 Þat made þe mukel mangerye to marie his here dere,
  • 53 & sende his sonde þen to say þat þay samne schulde,
  • 54 & in comly quoyntis to com to his feste;
  • 55 “For my boles & my boreȝ arn bayted & slayne,
  • 56 & my fedde fouleȝ fatted with sclaȝt,
  • 57 My polyle þat is penne-fed & partrykes boþe,
  • 58 Wyth scheldeȝ of wylde swyn, swaneȝ & croneȝ;
  • 59 Al is roþeled & rosted ryȝt to þe sete,
  • 60 Comeȝ cof to my corte, er hit colde worþe.”
  • 61 When þay knewen his cal þat þider com schulde,
  • 62 Alle ex-cused hem by þe skyly he scape by moȝt:
  • 63 On hade boȝt hym a borȝ he sayde by hys trawþe,
  • 64 Now t[ur]ne I þeder als tyd, þe toun to by-holde;
  • 65 An oþer nayed also & nurned þis cawse:
  • 66 I haf ȝerned & ȝat ȝokkeȝ of oxen,
  • 67 & for my hyȝeȝ hem boȝt, to bowe haf I mester,
  • 68 To see hem pulle in þe plow aproche me byhoueȝ;
  • 69 & I haf wedded a wyf, sower hym þe þryd,
  • 70 Excuse me at þe court, I may not com þere;
  • 71 Þus þay droȝ hem adreȝ with daunger vchone,
  • 72 Þat non passed to þe place þaȝ he prayed were.
  • 73 Thenne þe ludych lorde lyked ful ille
  • 74 & hade dedayn of þat dede, ful dryȝly he carpeȝ:
  • 75 He saytȝ “now for her owne sorȝe þay for-saken habbeȝ,
  • 76 More to wyte is her wrange, þen any wylle gentyl;
  • 77 Þenne gotȝ forth my gomeȝ to þe grete streeteȝ,
  • 78 & forsetteȝ on vche a syde þe cete aboute;
  • 79 Þe wayferande frekeȝ, on fote & on hors,
  • 80 Boþe burneȝ & burdeȝ, þe better & þe wers,
  • 81 Laþeȝ hem alle luflyly to lenge at my fest,
  • 82 & bryngeȝ hem blyþly to borȝe as barouneȝ þay were,
  • 83 So þat my palays plat-ful be pyȝt al aboute,
  • 84 Þise oþer wrecheȝ I-wysse worþy noȝt wern.”
  • 85 Þen þay cayred & com þat þe cost waked,
  • 86 Broȝten bachlereȝ hem wyth þat þay by bonkeȝ metten,
  • 87 Swyereȝ þat swyftly swyed on blonkeȝ,
  • 88 & also fele vpon fote, of fre & of bonde.
  • 89 When þay com to þe courte keppte wern þay fayre,
  • 90 Styȝtled with þe stewarde, stad in þe halle,
  • 91 Ful manerly with marchal mad forto sitte,
  • 92 As he watȝ dere of de-gre dressed his seete.
  • 93 Þenne seggeȝ to þe souerayn sayden þer-after,
  • 94 “Lo! lorde with your leue at your lege heste,
  • 95 & at þi banne we haf broȝt, as þou beden habbeȝ,
  • 96 Mony renischche renkeȝ & ȝet is roum more.”
  • 97 Sayde þe lorde to þo ledeȝ, “layteȝ ȝet ferre,
  • 98 Ferre out in þe felde, & fecheȝ mo gesteȝ,
  • 99 Wayteȝ gorsteȝ & greueȝ, if ani gomeȝ lyggeȝ,
  • 100 What-kyn folk so þer fare, fecheȝ hem hider,
  • 101 Be þay fers, be þay feble for-loteȝ none,
  • 102 Be þay hol, be þay halt, be þay onyȝed,
  • 103 & þaȝ þay ben boþe blynde & balterande cruppeleȝ,
  • 104 Þat my hous may holly by halkes by fylled;
  • 105 For certeȝ þyse ilk renkeȝ þat me renayed habbe
  • 106 & de-nounced me, noȝt now at þis tyme,
  • 107 Schul neuer sitte in my sale my soper to fele,
  • 108 Ne suppe on sope of my seve, þaȝ þay swelt schulde.”
  • 109 Thenne þe sergaunteȝ, at þat sawe, swengen þer-oute,
  • 110 & diden þe dede þat [is] demed, as he deuised hade,
  • 111 & with peple of alle plyteȝ þe palays þay fyllen;
  • 112 Hit weren not alle on wyueȝ suneȝ, wonen with on fader;
  • 113 Wheþer þay wern worþy, oþer wers, wel wern þay stowed,
  • 114 Ay þe best byfore & bryȝtest atyred,
  • 115 Þe derrest at þe hyȝe dese þat dubbed wer fayrest;
  • 116 & syþen on lenþe bilooghe ledeȝ inogh,
  • 117 & ay a segge soerly semed by her wedeȝ;
  • 118 So with marschal at her mete mensked þay were,
  • 119 Clene men in compaynye for-knowen wern lyte,
  • 120 & ȝet þe symplest in þat sale watȝ serued to þe fulle,
  • 121 Boþe with menske, & with mete & mynstrasy noble,
  • 122 & alle þe laykeȝ þat a lorde aȝt in londe schewe.
  • 123 & þay bigonne to be glad þat god drink haden,
  • 124 & vch mon with his mach made hym at ese.
  • 125 Now in-myddeȝ þe mete þe mayster hym biþoȝt,
  • 126 Þat he wolde se þe semblé þat samned was þere,
  • 127 & re-hayte rekenly þe riche & þe poueren,
  • 128 & cherisch hem alle with his cher, & chaufen her Ioye,
  • 129 Þen he boweȝ fro his bour in to þe brode halle,
  • 130 & to þe best on þe bench, & bede hym be myry,
  • 131 Solased hem with semblaunt & syled fyrre;
  • 132 Tron fro table to table & talkede ay myrþe,
  • 133 Bot as he ferked ouer þe flor he fande with his yȝe,
  • 134 Hit watȝ not for a haly day honestly arayed,
  • 135 A þral þryȝt in þe þrong vnþryuandely cloþed,
  • 136 Ne no festiual frok, bot fyled with werkkeȝ.
  • 137 Þe gome watȝ vn-garnyst with god men to dele,
  • 138 & gremed þer-with þe grete lord & greue hym he þoȝt;
  • 139 “Say me, frende,” quod þe freke with a felle chere,
  • 140 “Hov wan þou into þis won in wedeȝ so fowle?
  • 141 Þe abyt þat þou hatȝ vpon, no haly day hit menskeȝ;
  • 142 Þou burne for no brydale art busked in wedeȝ!
  • 143 How watȝ þou hardy þis hous for þyn vnhap [to] neȝe,
  • 144 In on so ratted a robe & rent at þe sydeȝ?
  • 145 Þow art a gome vn-goderly in þat goun febele;
  • 146 Þou praysed me & my place ful pouer & ful [g]nede,
  • 147 Þat watȝ so prest to aproche my presens here-inne;
  • 148 Hopeȝ þou I be a harlot þi erigant to prayse?”
  • 149 Þat oþer burne watȝ abayst of his broþe wordeȝ,
  • 150 & hurkeleȝ doun with his hede, þe vrþe he bi-holdeȝ;
  • 151 He watȝ so scoumfit of his scylle, lest he skaþe hent,
  • 152 Þat he ne wyst on worde what he warp schulde.
  • 153 Þen þe lorde wonder loude laled & cryed,
  • 154 & talkeȝ to his tormenttoureȝ: “takeȝ hym,” he biddeȝ,
  • 155 “Byndeȝ byhynde, at his bak, boþe two his handeȝ,
  • 156 & felle fettereȝ to his fete festeneȝ bylyue;
  • 157 Stik hym stifly in stokeȝ, & stekeȝ hym þer-after
  • 158 Depe in my doungoun þer doel euer dwelleȝ,
  • 159 Greuing, & gretyng, & gryspyng harde
  • 160 Of teþe tenfully to-geder, to teche hym be quoynt.”
  • 161 Thus comparisuneȝ kryst þe kyndom of heueñ,
  • 162 To þis frelych feste þat fele arn to called,
  • 163 For alle arn laþed luflyly, þe luþer & þe better,
  • 164 Þat euer wern fulȝed in font þat fest to haue.
  • 165 Bot war þe wel, if þou wylt, þy wedeȝ ben clene,
  • 166 & honest for þe haly day, lest þou harme lache,
  • 167 For aproch þou to þat prynce of parage noble.
  • 168 He hates helle no more þen hem þat ar sowle.
  • 169 Wich arn þenne þy wedeȝ þou wrappeȝ þe inne,
  • 170 Þat schal schewe hem so schene schrowde of þe best?
  • 171 Hit arn þy werkeȝ wyterly, þat þou wroȝt haueȝ,
  • 172 & lyued with þe lykyng þat lyȝe in þyn hert,
  • 173 Þat þo be frely & fresch fonde in þy lyue,
  • 174 & fetyse of a fayr forme, to fote & to honde,
  • 175 & syþen alle þyn oþer lymeȝ lapped ful clene,
  • 176 Þenne may þou se þy sauior & his sete ryche.
  • 177 For fele fauteȝ may a freke forfete his blysse,
  • 178 Þat he þe souerayn ne se þen, for slauþe one,
  • 179 As for bobaunce & bost & bolnande priyde,
  • 180 Þroly in-to þe deueleȝ þrote man þryngeȝ bylyue,
  • 181 For couetyse, & colwarde & croked dedeȝ,
  • 182 For mon-sworne, & men-sclaȝt, & to much drynk,
  • 183 For þefte, & for þrepyng, vn-þonk may mon haue;
  • 184 For roborrye, & riboudrye & resouneȝ vntrwe,
  • 185 & dysheriete & depryue dowrie of wydoeȝ,
  • 186 For marryng of maryageȝ & mayntnaunce of schreweȝ,
  • 187 For traysoun, & trichcherye, & tyrauntyré boþe,
  • 188 & for fals famacions & fayned laweȝ;
  • 189 Man may mysse þe myrþe, þat much is to prayse,
  • 190 For such vnþeweȝ as þise & þole much payne,
  • 191 & in þe creatores cort com neuer more,
  • 192 Ne neuer see hym with syȝt for such sour tourneȝ.
  • 193 Bot I haue herkned & herde of mony hyȝe clerkeȝ,
  • 194 & als in resouneȝ of ryȝt red hit my seluen,
  • 195 Þat þat ilk proper prynce þat paradys weldeȝ
  • 196 Is displesed at vch a poynt þat plyes to scaþe.
  • 197 Bot neuer ȝet in no boke breued I herde
  • 198 Þat euer he wrek so wyþerly on werk þat he made,
  • 199 Ne venged for no vilté of vice ne synne,
  • 200 Ne so hastyfly watȝ hot for hatel of his wylle,
  • 201 Ne neuer so sodenly soȝt vn-soundely to weng,
  • 202 As for fylþe of þe flesch þat foles han vsed;
  • 203 For as I fynde þer he forȝet alle his fre þewes,
  • 204 & wex wod to þe wrache, for wrath at his hert,
  • 205 For þe fyrste felonye þe falce fende wroȝt.
  • 206 Whyl he watȝ hyȝe in þe heuen houen vpon lofte,
  • 207 Of alle þyse aþel aungeleȝ attled þe fayrest,
  • 208 & he vnkyndely as a karle kydde areward,
  • 209 He seȝ noȝt bot hym self how semly he were,
  • 210 Bot his souerayn he forsoke & sade þyse wordeȝ:
  • 211 “I schal telde vp my trone in þe tra mountayne
  • 212 & by lyke to þat lorde þat þe lyft made.
  • 213 With þis worde þat he warp, þe wrake on hym lyȝt,
  • 214 Dryȝtyn with his dere dom hym drof to þe abyme,
  • 215 In þe mesure of his mode, his metȝ neuer þe lasse,
  • 216 Bot þer he tynt þe tyþe dool of his tour ryche,
  • 217 Þaȝ þe feloun were so fers for his fayre wedeȝ
  • 218 & his glorious glem þat glent so bryȝt;
  • 219 As sone as dryȝtyneȝ dome drof to hym seluen,
  • 220 [Þi]kke þowsandeȝ þro þrwen þer-oute
  • 221 Fellen fro þe fyrmament, fendeȝ ful blake
  • 222 Weued at þe fyrst swap as þe snaw þikke,
  • 223 Hurled in-to helle-hole as þe hyue swarmeȝ;
  • 224 Fyltyr fenden folk forty dayeȝ lencþe,
  • 225 Er þat styngande storme stynt ne myȝt;
  • 226 Bot as smylt mele vnder smal siue smokes for-þikke,
  • 227 So fro heuen to helle þat hatel schor laste,
  • 228 On vche syde of þe worlde aywhere ilyche.
  • 229 Þis hit watȝ a brem brest & a byge wrache,
  • 230 & ȝet wrathed not þe wyȝ, ne þe wrech saȝtled,
  • 231 Ne neuer wolde, for wylnesful, his worþy god knawe,
  • 232 Ne pray hym for no pité, so proud watȝ his wylle,
  • 233 For-þy þaȝ þe rape were rank, þe rawþe watȝ lyttel;
  • 234 Þaȝ he be kest into kare he kepes no better.
  • 235 Bot þat oþer wrake þat wex on wyȝeȝ, hit lyȝt
  • 236 Þurȝ þe faut of a freke þat fayled in trawþe.
  • 237 Adam in obedyent ordaynt to blysse,
  • 238 Þer pryuely in paradys his place watȝ de-vised,
  • 239 To lyue þer in lykyng þe lenþe of a terme,
  • 240 & þenne en-herite þat home þat aungeleȝ for-gart,
  • 241 Bot þurȝ þe eggyng of eue he ete of an apple
  • 242 Þat en-poysened alle pepleȝ þat parted fro hem boþe,
  • 243 For a defence þat watȝ dyȝt of dryȝtyn seluen,
  • 244 & a payne þer-on put & pertly halden;
  • 245 Þe defence watȝ þe fryt þat þe freke towched,
  • 246 & þe dom is þe deþe þat drepeȝ vus alle.
  • 247 Al in mesure & meþe watȝ mad þe vengiaunce,
  • 248 & efte amended with a mayden þat make hade neuer.
  • 249 Bot in þe þryd watȝ forþrast al þat þryue schuld,
  • 250 Þer watȝ malys mercyles & mawgre much scheued,
  • 251 Þat watȝ for fylþe vpon folde þat þe folk vsed,
  • 252 [Þ]at þen wonyed in þe worlde with-outen any maysterȝ;
  • 253 Hit wern þe fayrest of forme & of face als,
  • 254 Þe most & þe myriest þat maked wern euer,
  • 255 Þe styfest, þe stalworþest þat stod euer on fete;
  • 256 & lengest lyf in hem lent of ledeȝ alle oþer,
  • 257 For hit was þe forme-foster þat þe folde bred,
  • 258 Þe aþel auncetereȝ suneȝ þat adam watȝ called,
  • 259 To wham god hade geuen alle þat gayn were,
  • 260 Alle þe blysse boute blame þat bodi myȝt haue,
  • 261 & þose lykkest to þe lede þat lyued next after,
  • 262 For-þy so semly to see syþen wern none.
  • 263 Þer watȝ no law to hem layd bot loke to kynde,
  • 264 & kepe to hit, & alle hit cors clanly ful-fylle;
  • 265 & þenne founden þay fylþe in fleschlych dedeȝ
  • 266 & controeued agayn kynde contraré werkeȝ,
  • 267 & vsed hem vn-þryftyly vchon on oþer,
  • 268 & als with oþer, wylsfully, vpon a wrange wyse.
  • 269 So ferly fowled her flesch þat þe fende loked,
  • 270 How þe deȝter of þe douþe wern dere-lych fayre,
  • 271 & fallen in felaȝschyp with hem on folken wyse
  • 272 & en-gendered on hem ieaunteȝ with her Iapeȝ ille.
  • 273 Þose wern men meþeleȝ & maȝty on vrþe,
  • 274 Þat for her lodlych laykeȝ alosed þay were.
  • 275 He watȝ famed for fre þat feȝt loued best,
  • 276 & ay þe bigest in bale þe best watȝ halden;
  • 277 & þenne eueleȝ on erþe ernestly grewen
  • 278 & multyplyed mony-folde in-mongeȝ mankynde,
  • 279 For þat þe maȝty on molde so marre þise oþer.
  • 280 Þat þe wyȝe þat al wroȝt ful wroþly bygynneȝ.
  • 281 When he knew vche contre corupte in hit seluen,
  • 282 & vch freke forloyned fro þe ryȝt wayeȝ,
  • 283 Felle temptande tene towched his hert;
  • 284 As wyȝe, wo hym with-inne werp to hym seluen:
  • 285 “Me for-þynkeȝ ful much þat euer I mon made,
  • 286 Bot I schal delyuer & do away þat doten on þis molde,
  • 287 & fleme out of þe folde al þat flesch wereȝ,
  • 288 Fro þe burne to þe best, fro bryddeȝ to fyscheȝ;
  • 289 Al schal doun & be ded & dryuen out of erþe,
  • 290 Þat euer I sette saule inne; & sore hit me rweȝ
  • 291 Þat euer I made hem my self; bot if I may her-after,
  • 292 I schal wayte to be war her wrencheȝ to kepe.”
  • 293 Þenne in worlde watȝ a wyȝe wonyande on lyue,
  • 294 Ful redy & ful ryȝtwys, & rewled hym fayre;
  • 295 In þe drede of dryȝtyn his dayeȝ he vseȝ,
  • 296 & ay glydande wyth his god his grace watȝ þe more.
  • 297 Hym watȝ þe nome Noe, as is innoghe knawen,
  • 298 He had þre þryuen suneȝ & þay þre wyueȝ;
  • 299 Sem soþly þat on, þat oþer hyȝt cam
  • 300 & þe Iolef Iapheth watȝ gendered þe þryd.
  • 301 Now god in nwy to Noe con speke,
  • 302 Wylde wrakful wordeȝ in his wylle greued:
  • 303 “Þe ende of alle-kyneȝ flesch þat on vrþe meueȝ,
  • 304 Is fallen forþ wyth my face & forþer hit I þenk,
  • 305 With her vn-worþelych werk me wlateȝ with-inne,
  • 306 Þe gore þer-of me hatȝ greued & þe glette nwyed;
  • 307 I schal strenkle my distresse & strye al to-geder,
  • 308 Boþe ledeȝ & londe & alle þat lyf habbeȝ.
  • 309 Bot make to þe a mancioun & þat is my wylle,
  • 310 A cofer closed of tres, clanlych planed;
  • 311 Wyrk woneȝ þerinne for wylde & for tame,
  • 312 & þenne cleme hit with clay comly with-inne
  • 313 & alle þe endentur dryuen daube with-outen.
  • 314 & þus of lenþe & of large þat lome þou make,
  • 315 Þre hundred of cupydeȝ þou holde to þe lenþe,
  • 316 Of fyfty fayre ouer-þwert forme þe brede;
  • 317 & loke euen þat þyn ark haue of heȝþe þretté,
  • 318 & a wyndow wyd vpon, wroȝt vpon lofte,
  • 319 In þe compas of a cubit kyndely sware,
  • 320 A wel dutande dor, don on þe syde;
  • 321 Haf halleȝ þer-inne & halkeȝ ful mony,
  • 322 Boþe boskeȝ & boureȝ & wel bounden peneȝ;
  • 323 For I schal waken vp a water to wasch alle þe worlde,
  • 324 & quelle alle þat is quik with quauende flodeȝ.
  • 325 Alle þat glydeȝ & gotȝ, & gost of lyf habbeȝ,
  • 326 I schal wast with my wrath þat wons vpon vrþe;
  • 327 Bot my forwarde with þe I festen on þis wyse,
  • 328 For þou in reysoun hatȝ rengned & ryȝtwys ben euer;
  • 329 Þou schal enter þis ark with þyn aþel barneȝ
  • 330 & þy wedded wyf; with þe þou take
  • 331 Þe makeȝ of þy myry suneȝ; þis meyny of aȝte
  • 332 I schal saue of monneȝ sauleȝ, & swelt þose oþer.
  • 333 Of vche best þat bereȝ lyf busk þe a cupple,
  • 334 Of vche clene comly kynde enclose seuen makeȝ,
  • 335 Of vche horwed, in ark halde bot a payre,
  • 336 For to saue me þe sede of alle ser kyndeȝ;
  • 337 & ay þou meng with þe maleȝ þe mete ho-besteȝ,
  • 338 Vche payre by payre to plese ayþer oþer;
  • 339 With alle þe fode þat may be founde frette þy cofer,
  • 340 For sustnaunce to yow self & also þose oþer.”
  • 341 Ful grayþely gotȝ þis god man & dos godeȝ hestes,
  • 342 In dryȝ dred & daunger, þat durst do non oþer.
  • 343 Wen hit watȝ fettled & forged & to þe fulle grayþed,
  • 344 Þenn con dryȝttyn hym dele dryȝly þyse wordeȝ:
  • 345 “Now Noe,” quod oure lorde, “art þou al redy?
  • 346 Hatȝ þou closed þy kyst with clay alle aboute?”
  • 347 “Ȝe lorde with þy leue,” sayde þe lede þenne,
  • 348 “Al is wroȝt at þi worde, as þou me wyt lanteȝ.”
  • 349 “Enter in þenn,” quod he, “& haf þi wyf with þe,
  • 350 Þy þre suneȝ with-outen þrep & her þre wyueȝ;
  • 351 Besteȝ, as I bedene haue, bosk þer-inne als,
  • 352 & when ȝe arn staued, styfly stekeȝ yow þerinne;
  • 353 Fro seuen dayeȝ ben seyed I sende out by-lyue,
  • 354 Such a rowtande ryge þat rayne schal swyþe,
  • 355 Þat schal wasch alle þe worlde of werkeȝ of fylþe;
  • 356 Schal no flesch vpon folde by fonden onlyue;
  • 357 Out-taken yow aȝt in þis ark staued,
  • 358 & sed þat I wyl saue of þyse ser besteȝ.
  • 359 Now Noe neuer stysteȝ (þat niyȝ[t] he bygynneȝ),
  • 360 Er al wer stawed & stoken, as þe steuen wolde.
  • 361 Thenne sone com þe seuenþe day, when samned wern alle,
  • 362 & alle woned in þe whichche þe wylde & þe tame.
  • 363 Þen bolned þe abyme & bonkeȝ con ryse,
  • 364 Waltes out vch walle-heued, in ful wode stremeȝ,
  • 365 Watȝ no brymme þat abod vnbrosten bylyue,
  • 366 Þe mukel lauande loghe to þe lyfte rered.
  • 367 Mony clustered clowde clef alle in clowteȝ,
  • 368 To-rent vch a rayn-ryfte & rusched to þe vrþe;
  • 369 Fon neuer in forty dayeȝ, & þen þe flod ryses,
  • 370 Ouer-walteȝ vche a wod & þe wyde feldeȝ;
  • 371 For when þe water of þe welkyn with þe worlde mette,
  • 372 Alle þat deth moȝt dryȝe drowned þer-inne;
  • 373 Þer watȝ moon forto make when meschef was cnowen,
  • 374 Þat noȝt dowed bot þe deth in þe depe stremeȝ.
  • 375 Water wylger ay wax, woneȝ þat stryede,
  • 376 Hurled in-to vch hous, hent þat þer dowelled.
  • 377 Fyrst feng to þe flyȝt alle þat fle myȝt,
  • 378 Vuche burde with her barne þe byggyng þay leueȝ,
  • 379 & bowed to þe hyȝ bonk þer brentest hit wern,
  • 380 & heterly to þe hyȝe hylleȝ þay [h]aled on faste;
  • 381 Bot al watȝ nedleȝ her note, for neuer cowþe stynt
  • 382 Þe roȝe raynande ryg [&] þe raykande waweȝ,
  • 383 Er vch boþom watȝ brurd-ful to þe bonkeȝ eggeȝ,
  • 384 & vche a dale so depe þat demmed at þe brynkeȝ.
  • 385 Þe moste mountayneȝ on mor þenne watȝ no more dryȝe,
  • 386 & þer-on flokked þe folke, for ferde of þe wrake,
  • 387 Syþen þe wylde of þe wode on þe water flette;
  • 388 Summe swymmed þer-on þat saue hemself trawed,
  • 389 Summe styȝe to a stud & stared to þe heuen,
  • 390 Rwly wyth a loud rurd rored for drede.
  • 391 Hareȝ, hertteȝ also, to þe hyȝe runnen,
  • 392 Bukkeȝ, bauseneȝ & buleȝ to þe bonkkeȝ hyȝed,
  • 393 & alle cryed for care to þe kyng of heuen,
  • 394 Re-couerer of þe creator, þay cryed vchone,
  • 395 Þat amounted þe masse, þe mase his mercy watȝ passed,
  • 396 & alle his pyte departed fro peple þat he hated.
  • 397 Bi þat þe flod to her fete floȝed & waxed,
  • 398 Þen vche a segge seȝ wel þat synk hym byhoued;
  • 399 Frendeȝ fellen in fere & faþmed togeder
  • 400 To dryȝ her delful deystyné & dyȝen alle samen;
  • 401 Luf lokeȝ to luf & his leue takeȝ,
  • 402 For to ende alle at oneȝ & for euer twynne.
  • 403 By forty dayeȝ wern faren, on folde no flesch styryed,
  • 404 Þat þe flod nade al freten with feȝtande waȝeȝ,
  • 405 For hit clam vche a clyffe cubites fyftene,
  • 406 Ouer þe hyȝest hylle þat hurkled on erþe.
  • 407 Þenne mourkne in þe mudde most ful nede
  • 408 Alle þat spyrakle in-spranc, no sprawlyng awayled,
  • 409 Saue þe haþel vnder hach & his here straunge,
  • 410 Noe þat ofte neuened þe name of oure lorde,
  • 411 Hym aȝt-sum in þat ark as aþel god lyked,
  • 412 Þer alle ledeȝ in lome lenged druye,
  • 413 Þe arc houen watȝ on hyȝe with hurlande goteȝ,
  • 414 Kest to kytheȝ vncouþe þe clowdeȝ ful nere.
  • 415 Hit waltered on þe wylde flod, went as hit lyste,
  • 416 Drof vpon þe depe dam, in daunger hit semed,
  • 417 With-outen mast, oþer myke, oþer myry bawelyne,
  • 418 Kable, oþer capstan to clyppe to her ankreȝ,
  • 419 Hurrok, oþer hande-helme hasped on roþer,
  • 420 Oþer any sweande sayl to seche after hauen,
  • 421 Bot flote forthe with þe flyt of þe felle wyndeȝ;
  • 422 Wheder-warde so þe water wafte, hit rebounde.
  • 423 Ofte hit roled on-rounde & rered on ende,
  • 424 Nyf oure lorde hade ben her lodeȝ-mon hem had lumpen harde.
  • 425 Of þe lenþe of noe lyf to lay a lel date,
  • 426 Þe sex hundreth of his age & none odde ȝereȝ,
  • 427 Of seconde monyth, þe seuenþe day ryȝteȝ,
  • 428 To-walten alle þyse welle-hedeȝ & þe water flowed,
  • 429 & þryeȝ fyfty þe flod of folwande dayeȝ,
  • 430 Vche hille watȝ þer hidde with yreȝ ful graye;
  • 431 Al watȝ wasted þat þer wonyed þe worlde with-inne,
  • 432 Þer euer flote, oþer flwe, oþer on fote ȝede,
  • 433 That roȝly watȝ þe remnaunt þat þe rac dryueȝ,
  • 434 Þat alle gendreȝ so ioyst wern ioyned wyth-inne.
  • 435 Bot quen þe lorde of þe lyfte lyked hymseluen
  • 436 For to mynne on his mon his meth þat abydeȝ,
  • 437 Þen he wakened a wynde on wattereȝ to blowe;
  • 438 Þenne lasned þe llak þat large watȝ are,
  • 439 Þen he stac vp þe stangeȝ, stoped þo welleȝ,
  • 440 Bed blynne of þe rayn, hit batede as fast,
  • 441 Þenne lasned þe loȝ lowkande to-geder.
  • 442 After harde dayeȝ wern out an hundreth & fyfté,
  • 443 As þat lyftande lome luged aboute,
  • 444 Where þe wynde & þe weder warpen hit wolde,
  • 445 Hit saȝtled on a softe day synkande to grounde.
  • 446 On a rasse of a rok, hit rest at þe laste,
  • 447 On þe mounte of mararach of armene hilles,
  • 448 Þat oþer-wayeȝ on ebrv hit hat þe thanes.
  • 449 Bot þaȝ þe kyste in þe crageȝ wern closed to byde,
  • 450 Ȝet fyned not þe flod ne fel to þe boþemeȝ,
  • 451 Bot þe hyȝest of þe eggeȝ vnhuled wern a lyttel,
  • 452 Þat þe burne bynne borde byhelde þe bare erþe;
  • 453 Þenne wafte he vpon his wyndowe, & wysed þer-oute
  • 454 A message fro þat meyny hem moldeȝ to seche,
  • 455 Þat watȝ þe rauen so ronk þat rebel watȝ euer;
  • 456 He watȝ colored as þe cole, corbyal vn-trwe.
  • 457 & he fongeȝ to þe flyȝt, & fanneȝ on þe wyndeȝ,
  • 458 Houeȝ hyȝe upon hyȝt to herken tyþynges.
  • 459 He croukeȝ for comfort when carayne he fyndeȝ;
  • 460 Kast vp on a clyffe þer costese lay drye,
  • 461 He hade þe smelle of þe smach & smoltes þeder sone,
  • 462 Falleȝ on þe foule flesch & fylleȝ his wombe,
  • 463 & sone ȝederly for-ȝete ȝister-day steuen,
  • 464 How þe cheuetayn hym charged þat þe kyst ȝemed.
  • 465 Þe rauen raykeȝ hym forth þat reches ful lyttel
  • 466 How alle fodeȝ þer fare, elleȝ he fynde mete;
  • 467 Bot þe burne bynne borde þat bod to hys come,
  • 468 Banned hym ful bytterly with bestes alle samen,
  • 469 He secheȝ an oþer sondeȝmon & setteȝ on þe doune;
  • 470 Bryngeȝ þat bryȝt vpon borde blessed & sayde,
  • 471 “Wende worþelych wyȝt vus woneȝ to seche,
  • 472 Dryf ouer þis dymme water; if þou druye fyndeȝ
  • 473 Bryng bodworde to bot blysse to vus alle;
  • 474 Þaȝ þat fowle be false, fre be þou euer.”
  • 475 Ho wyrle out on þe weder on wyngeȝ ful scharpe,
  • 476 Dreȝly alle a longe day þat dorst neuer lyȝt;
  • 477 & when ho fyndeȝ no folde her fote on to pyche,
  • 478 Ho vmbe-kesteȝ þe coste & þe kyst secheȝ,
  • 479 Ho hitteȝ on þe euentyde & on þe ark sitteȝ;
  • 480 Noe nymmes hir anon & naytly hir staueȝ.
  • 481 Noe on anoþer day nymmeȝ efte þe dovene,
  • 482 & byddeȝ hir bowe ouer þe borne efte bonkeȝ to seche;
  • 483 & ho skyrmeȝ vnder skwe & skowteȝ aboute,
  • 484 Tyl hit watȝ nyȝe at þe naȝt & noe þen secheȝ.
  • 485 On ark on an euentyde houeȝ þe downe,
  • 486 On stamyn ho stod & stylle hym abydeȝ;
  • 487 What! ho broȝt in hir beke a bronch of olyue,
  • 488 Gracyously vmbe-grouen al with grene leueȝ;
  • 489 Þat watȝ þe syngne of sauyté þat sende hem oure lorde,
  • 490 & þe saȝtlyng of hym-self with þo sely besteȝ.
  • 491 Þen watȝ þer ioy in pat gyn where Iumpred er dryȝed,
  • 492 & much comfort in þat cofer þat watȝ clay-daubed.
  • 493 Myryly on a fayr morn, monyth þe fyrst,
  • 494 Þat falleȝ formast in þe ȝer, & þe fyrst day,
  • 495 Ledeȝ loȝen in þat lome & loked þer-oute,
  • 496 How þat wattereȝ wern woned & þe worlde dryed.
  • 497 Vchon loued oure lorde, bot lenged ay stylle,
  • 498 Tyl þay had tyþyng fro þe tolke þat tyned hem þer-inne;
  • 499 Þen godeȝ glam to hem glod þat gladed hem alle,
  • 500 Bede hem drawe to þe dor, delyuer hem he wolde;
  • 501 Þen went þay to þe wykket, hit walt vpon sone,
  • 502 Boþe þe burne & his barneȝ bowed þer-oute;
  • 503 Her wyueȝ walkeȝ hem wyth & þe wylde after,
  • 504 Þroly þrublande in þronge, þrowen ful þykke;
  • 505 Bot Noe of vche honest kynde nem out an odde
  • 506 & heuened vp an auter & halȝed hit fayre,
  • 507 & sette a sakerfyse þer-on of vch a ser kynde,
  • 508 Þat watȝ comly & clene, god kepeȝ non oþer.
  • 509 When bremly brened þose besteȝ, & þe breþe rysed,
  • 510 Þe sauour of his sacrafyse soȝt to hym euen
  • 511 Þat al spedeȝ & spylleȝ; he spekes with þat ilke
  • 512 In comly comfort ful clos & cortays wordeȝ:
  • 513 “Now noe no more nel I neuer wary,
  • 514 Alle þe mukel mayny [on] molde for no manneȝ synneȝ,
  • 515 For I se wel þat hit is sothe, þat alle manneȝ wytteȝ
  • 516 To vn-þryfte arn alle þrawen with þoȝt of her hertteȝ,
  • 517 & ay hatȝ ben & wyl be ȝet fro her barnage;
  • 518 Al is þe mynde of þe man to malyce enclyned,
  • 519 For-þy schal I neuer schende so schortly at ones,
  • 520 As dysstrye al for maneȝ synne [in] dayeȝ of þis erþe.
  • 521 Bot waxeȝ now & wendeȝ forth & worþeȝ to monye,
  • 522 Multyplyeȝ on þis molde & menske yow by-tyde.
  • 523 Sesouneȝ schal yow neuer sese of sede ne of heruest,
  • 524 Ne hete, ne no harde forst, vmbre ne droȝþe,
  • 525 Ne þe swetnesse of somer, ne þe sadde wynter,
  • 526 Ne þe nyȝt, ne þe day, ne þe newe ȝereȝ,
  • 527 Bot euer renne restleȝ rengneȝ ȝe þer-inne.”
  • 528 Þerwyth he blesseȝ vch a best, & bytaȝt hem þis erþe.
  • 529 Þen watȝ a skylly skyualde, quen scaped alle þe wylde;
  • 530 Vche fowle to þe flyȝt þat fyþereȝ myȝt serue,
  • 531 Vche fysch to þe flod þat fynne couþe nayte,
  • 532 Vche beste to þe bent þat bytes on erbeȝ;
  • 533 Wylde wormeȝ to her won wryþeȝ in þe erþe,
  • 534 Þe fox & þe folmarde to þe fryth wyndeȝ,
  • 535 Herttes to hyȝe heþe, hareȝ to gorsteȝ,
  • 536 & lyouneȝ & lebardeȝ to þe lake ryftes,
  • 537 Herneȝ & hauekeȝ to þe hyȝe rocheȝ;
  • 538 Þe hole-foted fowle to þe flod hyȝeȝ,
  • 539 & vche best at a brayde þer hym best lykeȝ;
  • 540 Þe fowre frekeȝ of þe folde fongeȝ þe empyre.
  • 541 Lo! suche a wrakful wo for wlatsum dedeȝ
  • 542 Parformed þe hyȝe fader on folke þat he made;
  • 543 Þat he chysly hade cherisched he chastysed ful hardee,
  • 544 In de-voydynge þe vylanye þat venkquyst his þeweȝ.
  • 545 For-þy war þe now, wyȝe, þat worschyp desyres,
  • 546 In his comlych courte þat kyng is of blysse,
  • 547 In þe fylþe of þe flesch þat þou be founden neuer,
  • 548 Tyl any water in þe worlde to wasche þe fayly,
  • 549 For is no segge vnder sunne so seme of his crafteȝ,
  • 550 If he be sulped in synne, þat [ne] sytteȝ vnclene.
  • 551 On spec of a spote may spede to mysse
  • 552 Of þe syȝte of þe souerayn þat sytteȝ so hyȝe,
  • 553 For þat schewe me schale in þo schyre howseȝ,
  • 554 As þe beryl bornyst byhoueȝ be clene,
  • 555 Þat is sounde on vche a syde & no sem habes,
  • 556 With-outen maskle oþer mote as margerye perle.
  • 557 Syþen þe souerayn in sete so sore for-þoȝt
  • 558 Þat euer he man vpon molde merked to lyuy,
  • 559 For he in fylþe watȝ fallen, felly he uenged,
  • 560 Quen fourferde alle þe flesch þat he formed hade,
  • 561 Hym rwed þat he hem vp-rerde & raȝt hem lyflode,
  • 562 & efte þat he hem vndyd, hard hit hym þoȝt;
  • 563 For quen þe swemande sorȝe soȝt to his hert,
  • 564 He knyt a couenaunde cortaysly with monkynde þere,
  • 565 In þe mesure of his mode & meþe of his wylle,
  • 566 Þat he schulde neuer for no syt smyte al at oneȝ,
  • 567 As to quelle alle quykeȝ for qued þat myȝt falle,
  • 568 Whyl of þe lenþe of þe londe lasteȝ þe terme.
  • 569 Þat ilke skyl for no scaþe ascaped hym neuer,
  • 570 Wheder wonderly he wrak on wykked men after;
  • 571 Ful felly for þat ilk faute forferde a kyth ryche,
  • 572 In þe anger of his ire þat arȝed mony;
  • 573 & al watȝ for þis ilk euel, þat vn-happen glette,
  • 574 Þe venym & þe vylanye & þe vycios fylþe,
  • 575 Þat by-sulpeȝ manneȝ saule in vnsounde hert,
  • 576 Þat he his saueour ne see with syȝt of his yȝen,
  • 577 Þat alle illeȝ he hates as helle þat stynkkeȝ;
  • 578 Bot non nuyeȝ hym, on naȝt ne neuer vpon dayeȝ,
  • 579 As harlottrye vn-honest, heþyng of seluen;
  • 580 Þat schameȝ for no schrewedschyp schent mot he worþe!
  • 581 Bot sauyour mon in þy self, þaȝ þou a sotte lyuie,
  • 582 Þaȝ þou bere þy self babel, by-þenk þe sum-tyme,
  • 583 Wheþer he þat stykked vche a stare in vche steppe yȝe,
  • 584 Ȝif hym self be bore blynde hit is a brod wonder;
  • 585 & he þat fetly in face fettled alle eres
  • 586 If he hatȝ losed þe lysten hit lyfteȝ meruayle;
  • 587 Trave þou neuer þat tale, vn-trwe þou hit fyndeȝ,
  • 588 Þer is no dede so derne þat ditteȝ his yȝen;
  • 589 Þer is no wyȝe in his werk so war ne so stylle
  • 590 Þat hit ne þraweȝ to hym þre er he hit þoȝt haue;
  • 591 For he is þe gropande god, þe grounde of alle dedeȝ,
  • 592 Rypande of vche a ring þe reynyeȝ & hert;
  • 593 & þere he fyndeȝ al fayre a freke wyth-inne
  • 594 Þat hert honest & hol, þat haþel he honoureȝ,
  • 595 Sendeȝ hym a sad syȝt to se his auen face,
  • 596 & harde honyseȝ þise oþer & of his erde flemeȝ.
  • 597 Bot of þe dome of þe douþe for dedeȝ of schame
  • 598 He is so skoymos of þat skaþe, he scarreȝ bylyue,
  • 599 He may not dryȝe to draw allyt, bot drepeȝ in hast
  • 600 & þat watȝ schewed schortly by a scaþe oneȝ.
  • 601 Olde Abraham in erde oneȝ he sytteȝ
  • 602 Euen byfore his hous-dore vnder an oke grene;
  • 603 Bryȝt blykked þe bem of þe brode heuen,
  • 604 In þe hyȝe hete þer-of Abraham bideȝ,
  • 605 He watȝ schunt to þe schadow vnder schyre leueȝ;
  • 606 Þenne watȝ he war on þe waye of wlonk wyȝeȝ þrynne.
  • 607 If þay wer farande & fre & fayre to beholde,
  • 608 Hit is eþe to leue by þe last ende;
  • 609 For þe lede þat þer laye þe leueȝ an-vnder,
  • 610 When he hade of hem syȝt he hyȝeȝ bylyue,
  • 611 & as to god þe good mon gos hem agayneȝ
  • 612 & haylsed hem in onhede & sayde, “hende lorde
  • 613 Ȝif euer þy mon vpon molde merit disserued,
  • 614 Lenge a lyttel with þy lede I loȝly bi-seche;
  • 615 Passe neuer fro þi pouere, ȝif I hit pray durst,
  • 616 Er þou haf biden with þi burne & vnder boȝe restted;
  • 617 & I schal wynne yow wyȝt of water a lyttel,
  • 618 & fast aboute schal I fare your fette wer waschene;
  • 619 Restteȝ here on þis rote & I schal rachche after
  • 620 & brynge a morsel of bred to banne your hertte.”
  • 621 “Fare forthe,” quod þe frekeȝ, “& fech as þou seggeȝ;
  • 622 By bole of þis brode tre we byde þe here.”
  • 623 Þenne orppedly in-to his hous he hyȝed to Saré
  • 624 Comaunded hir to be cof & quyk at þis oneȝ;
  • 625 “Þre metteȝ of mele menge & ma kakeȝ,
  • 626 Vnder askeȝ ful hote happe hem byliue;
  • 627 Quyl I fete sumquat fat þou þe fyr bete,
  • 628 Prestly at þis ilke poynte sum polment to make.”
  • 629 He cached to his cobhous & a calf bryngeȝ
  • 630 Þat watȝ tender & not toȝe; bed tyrne of þe hyde,
  • 631 & sayde to his seruaunt þat he hit seþe faste
  • 632 & he deruely at his dome dyȝt hit bylyue.
  • 633 Þe burne to be bare-heued buskeȝ hym þenne,
  • 634 Clecheȝ to a clene cloþe & kesteȝ on þe grene,
  • 635 Þrwe þryftyly þer-on þo þre þerue kakeȝ,
  • 636 & bryngeȝ butter wyth-al, & by þe bred setteȝ
  • 637 Mete; messeȝ of mylke he merkkeȝ bytwene,
  • 638 Syþen potage & polment in plater honest;
  • 639 As sewer in a god assyse he serued hem fayre,
  • 640 Wyth sadde semblaunt & swete of such as he hade,
  • 641 & god as a glad gest mad god chere,
  • 642 Þat watȝ fayn of his frende & his fest praysed.
  • 643 Abraham, al hodleȝ with armeȝ vp-folden,
  • 644 Mynystred mete byfore þo men þat myȝtes al weldeȝ;
  • 645 Þenne þay sayden, as þay sete samen alle þrynne,
  • 646 When þe mete watȝ remued & þay of mensk speken,
  • 647 “I schal efte here away abram,” þay sayden,
  • 648 “Ȝet er þy lyueȝ lyȝt leþe vpon erþe,
  • 649 & þenne schal saré consayue & a sun bere,
  • 650 Þat schal be abrahameȝ ayre, & after hym wynne
  • 651 With wele & wyth worschyp þe worþely peple
  • 652 Þat schal halde in heritage, þat I haf men ȝark.”
  • 653 Þenne þe burde byhynde þe dor for busmar laȝed;
  • 654 & sayde sothly to hir-self saré þe madde:
  • 655 “May þou traw for tykle þat þou tonne moȝteȝ,
  • 656 & I so hyȝe out of age & also my lorde,”
  • 657 For soþely, as says þe wryt, he wern of sadde elde,
  • 658 Boþe þe wyȝe & his wyf, such werk watȝ hem fayled,
  • 659 Fro mony a brod day by-fore ho barayn ay byene,
  • 660 Þat selue saré with-outen sede in-to þat same tyme.
  • 661 Þenne sayde oure syre þer he sete “se! so saré laȝes,
  • 662 Not trawande þe tale þat I þe to schewed;
  • 663 Hopeȝ ho oȝt may be harde my hondeȝ to work?
  • 664 & ȝet I a-vow verayly þe avaunt þat I made,
  • 665 I schal ȝeply aȝayn & ȝelde þat I hyȝt,
  • 666 & sothely sende to saré a soñ & an hayre.”
  • 667 Þenne swenged forth saré & swer by hir trawþe,
  • 668 Þat for lot þat þay lansed ho laȝed neuer.
  • 669 “Now innoghe hit is not so” þenne nurned þe dryȝtyn,
  • 670 “For þou laȝed aloȝ, bot let we hit one.”
  • 671 With þat þay ros vp radly as þay rayke schulde,
  • 672 & setten toward sodamas her syȝt alle at-oneȝ;
  • 673 For þat Cite þer bysyde watȝ sette in a vale,
  • 674 No myleȝ fro mambre mo þen tweyne,
  • 675 Where-so wonyed þis ilke wyȝ þat wendeȝ with oure lorde,
  • 676 For to tent hym with tale & teche hym þe gate,
  • 677 Þen glydeȝ forth god, þe godmon hym folȝeȝ.
  • 678 Abraham heldeȝ hem wyth, hem to conueye,
  • 679 In towarde þe Cety of sodamas þat synned had þenne
  • 680 In þe faute of þis fylþe; þe fader hem þretes,
  • 681 & sayde þus to þe segg þat sued hym after:
  • 682 “How myȝt I hyde myn hert fro habraham þe trwe,
  • 683 Þat I ne dyscouered to his corse my counsayl so dere.
  • 684 Syþen he is chosen to be chef chyldryn fader,
  • 685 Þat so folk schal falle fro, to flete alle þe worlde,
  • 686 & vche blod in þat burne blessed schal worþe.
  • 687 Me bos telle to þat tolk þe tene of my wylle
  • 688 & alle myn atlyng to abraham vn-haspe bilyue.
  • 689 “The grete soun of sodamas synkkeȝ in myn ereȝ,
  • 690 & þe gult of gomorre gareȝ me to wrath;
  • 691 I schal lyȝt in-to þat led & loke my seluen,
  • 692 If þay haf don as þe dyne dryueȝ on-lofte,
  • 693 Þay han lerned a lyst þat lykeȝ me ille,
  • 694 Þat þay han founden in her flesch of fauteȝ þe werst,
  • 695 Vch male matȝ his mach a man as hym seluen,
  • 696 & fylter folyly in fere, on femmaleȝ wyse.
  • 697 I compast hem a kynde crafte & kende hit hem derne,
  • 698 & amed hit in myn ordenaunce oddely dere,
  • 699 & dyȝt drwry þer-inne, doole alþer-swettest,
  • 700 & þe play of paramoreȝ I portrayed my seluen;
  • 701 & made þer-to a maner myriest of oþer,
  • 702 When two true togeder had tyȝed hem seluen,
  • 703 By-twene a male & his make such merþe schulde conne;
  • 704 Wel nyȝe pure paradys moȝt preue no better,
  • 705 Elleȝ þay moȝt honestly ayþer oþer welde.
  • 706 At a stylle stollen steuen, vnstered wyth syȝt,
  • 707 Luflowe hem bytwene lasched so hote,
  • 708 Þat alle þe meschefeȝ on mold moȝt hit not sleke;
  • 709 Now haf þay skyfted my skyl & scorned natwre,
  • 710 & hentteȝ hem in heþyng an vsage vn-clene;
  • 711 Hem to smyte for þat smod smartly I þenk
  • 712 Þat wyȝeȝ schal be by hem war, worlde with-outen ende.”
  • 713 Þenne arȝed abraham & alle his mod chaunge[d],
  • 714 For hope of þe harde hate þat hyȝt hatȝ oure lorde;
  • 715 Al sykande he sayde “sir with yor leue,
  • 716 Schal synful & sakleȝ suffer al on payne;
  • 717 Weþer euer hit lyke my lorde to lyfte such domeȝ,
  • 718 Þat þe wykked & þe worþy schal on wrake suffer,
  • 719 & weye vpon þe worre half þat wrathed þe neuer?
  • 720 Þat watȝ neuer þy won þat wroȝteȝ vus alle.
  • 721 Now fyfty fyn frendeȝ wer founde in ȝonde toune
  • 722 In þe Cety of Sodamas & also gomorré
  • 723 Þat neuer lakked þy laue, bot loued ay trauþe,
  • 724 & reȝt-ful wern & resounable & redy þe to serue,
  • 725 Schal þay falle in þe faute þat oþer frekeȝ wroȝt
  • 726 & ioyne to her iuggement her iuise to haue?
  • 727 Þat nas neuer þyn note, vnneuened hit worþe,
  • 728 Þat art so gaynly a god & of goste mylde!”
  • 729 “Nay for fyfty,” quod þe fader, “& þy fayre speche,
  • 730 & þay be founden in þat folk of her fylþe clene,
  • 731 I schal for-gyue alle þe gylt þurȝ my grace one,
  • 732 & let hem smolt al unsmyten smoþely atoneȝ.”
  • 733 “AA! blessed be þow,” quod þe burne, “so boner & þewed,
  • 734 & al haldeȝ in þy honde, þe heuen & þe erþe,
  • 735 Bot for I haf þis talke tatȝ to non ille,
  • 736 Ȝif I mele a lyttel more þat mul am & askeȝ;
  • 737 What if fyue faylen of fyfty þe noumbre,
  • 738 & þe remnaunt be reken, how restes þy wylle?”
  • 739 “And fyue wont of fyfty,” quod god, “I schal forȝete alle
  • 740 & wyth-halde my honde for hortyng on lede.”
  • 741 “& quat if faurty be fre & fauty þyse oþer
  • 742 Schalt þow schortly al schende & schape non oþer.”
  • 743 “Nay þaȝ faurty forfete ȝet fryst I a whyle,
  • 744 & voyde away my vengaunce, þaȝ me vyl þynk.”
  • 745 Þen abraham obeched hym & loȝly him þonkkeȝ,
  • 746 “Now sayned be þou sauiour, so symple in þy wrath!
  • 747 I am bot erþe ful euel & vsle so blake,
  • 748 Forto mele wyth such a mayster as myȝteȝ hatȝ alle,
  • 749 Bot I haue by-gonnen wyth my god, & he hit gayn þynkeȝ,
  • 750 Ȝif I for-loyne as a fol þy fraunchyse may serue;
  • 751 What if þretty þryuande be þrad in ȝon touneȝ,
  • 752 What schal I leue if my lorde, if he hem leþe wolde?”
  • 753 Þenne þe godlych god gef hym onsware,
  • 754 “Ȝet for þretty in þrong I schal my þro steke,
  • 755 & spare spakly of spyt in space of my þeweȝ,
  • 756 & my rankor refrayne four þy reken wordeȝ.”
  • 757 “What for twenty,” quod þe tolke, “vntwyneȝ þou hem þenne?”
  • 758 “Nay, ȝif þou ȝerneȝ hit, ȝet ȝark I hem grace;
  • 759 If þat twenty be trwe I tene hem no more,
  • 760 Bot relece alle þat regioun of her ronk werkkeȝ.”
  • 761 “Now aþel lorde,” quod Abraham, “oneȝ a speche
  • 762 & I schal schape no more þo schalkkeȝ to helpe;
  • 763 If ten trysty in toune be tan in þi werkkeȝ
  • 764 Wylt þou mese þy mode & menddyng abyde?”
  • 765 “I graunt,” quod þe grete god, “graunt mercy,” þat oþer.
  • 766 & þenne arest þe renk & raȝt no fyrre;
  • 767 & godde glydeȝ his gate by þose grene wayeȝ
  • 768 & he conueyen hym con with cast of his yȝe,
  • 769 & als he loked along þere as oure lorde passed,
  • 770 Ȝet he cryed hym after with careful steuen:
  • 771 “Meke mayster on þy mon to mynne if þe lyked,
  • 772 Loth lengeȝ in ȝon leede þat is my lef broþer,
  • 773 He sytteȝ þer in sodomis, þy seruaunt so pouere
  • 774 Among þo mansed men þat han þe much greued;
  • 775 Ȝif þou tyneȝ þat toun, tempre þyn yre
  • 776 As þy mersy may malte þy meke to spare.”
  • 777 Þen he wendeȝ, wendeȝ his way wepande for care
  • 778 To-warde þe mere of mambre wepande for so[rȝe,]
  • 779 & þere in longyng al nyȝt he lengeȝ in wones,
  • 780 Whyl þe souerayn to sodamas sende to spye.
  • 781 His sondes in-to sodamas watȝ sende in þat tyme,
  • 782 In þat ilk euentyde, by aungels tweyne,
  • 783 Meuand meuande mekely togeder as myry men ȝonge,
  • 784 As loot in a loge dor lened hym alone,
  • 785 In a porche of þat place pyȝt to þe ȝates,
  • 786 Þat watȝ ryal & ryche, so watȝ þe renkes seluen.
  • 787 As he stared in-to þe strete þer stout men played
  • 788 He syȝe þer swey in asent swete men tweyne;
  • 789 Bolde burneȝ wer þay boþe with berdles chynneȝ,
  • 790 Royl rollande fax to raw sylk lyke,
  • 791 Of ble as þe brere flour where-so þe bare scheweed,
  • 792 Ful clene watȝ þe countenaunce of her cler yȝen;
  • 793 Wlonk whit watȝ her wede & wel hit hem semed.
  • 794 Of alle fetureȝ ful fyn & fautleȝ boþe;
  • 795 Watȝ non autly in ouþer, for aungels hit wern,
  • 796 & þat þe ȝep vnder-ȝede þat in þe ȝate sytteȝ.
  • 797 He ros vp ful radly & ran hem to mete
  • 798 & loȝe he louteȝ hem to, loth, to þe grounde,
  • 799 & syþen soberly [satȝ] “syreȝ I yow by-seche,
  • 800 Þat ȝe wolde lyȝt at my loge & lenge þer-inne,
  • 801 Comeȝ to your knaues kote I craue at þis oneȝ;
  • 802 I schal fette yow a fatte your fette forto wasche;
  • 803 I norne yow bot for on nyȝt neȝe me to lenge,
  • 804 & in þe myry mornyng ȝe may your waye take.”
  • 805 & þay nay þat þay nolde neȝ no howseȝ,
  • 806 Bot stylly þer in þe strete as þay stadde wern,
  • 807 Þay wolde lenge þe long naȝt & logge þer-oute;
  • 808 Hit watȝ hous innoȝe to hem þe heuen vpon lofte.
  • 809 Loth laþed so longe wyth luflych wordeȝ,
  • 810 Þat þay hym graunted to go & gruȝt no lenger.
  • 811 Þe bolde to his byggyng bryngeȝ hem bylyue,
  • 812 Þat ryally [watȝ] arayed, for he watȝ ryche euer.
  • 813 Þe wyȝeȝ wern welcom as þe wyf couþe,
  • 814 His two dere doȝtereȝ deuoutly hem haylsed,
  • 815 Þat wer maydeneȝ ful meke, maryed not ȝet,
  • 816 & þay wer semly & swete, & swyþe wel arayed.
  • 817 Loth þenne ful lyȝtly lokeȝ hym aboute,
  • 818 & his men amonestes mete forto dyȝt,
  • 819 Bot þenkkeȝ on hit be þrefte what þynk so ȝe make,
  • 820 For wyth no sour ne no salt serueȝ hym neuer.
  • 821 Bot ȝet I wene þat þe wyf hit wroth to dyspyt,
  • 822 & sayde softely to hir self “þis vn-sauere hyne
  • 823 Loueȝ no salt in her sauce ȝet hit no skyl were
  • 824 Þat oþer burne be boute þaȝ boþe be nyse.”
  • 825 Þenne ho sauereȝ with salt her seueȝ vchone
  • 826 Agayne þe bone of þe burne þat hit forboden hade,
  • 827 & als ho scelt hem in scorne þat wel her skyl knewen.
  • 828 Why watȝ ho wrech so wod, ho wrathed oure lorde!
  • 829 Þenne seten þay at þe soper, wern serued by-lyue,
  • 830 Þe gestes gay & ful glad, of glam debonere,
  • 831 Welawynnely wlonk tyl þay waschen hade,
  • 832 Þe trestes tylt to þe woȝe & þe table boþe.
  • 833 Fro þe seggeȝ haden souped & seten bot a whyle,
  • 834 Er euer þay bosked to bedde þe borȝ watȝ al vp;
  • 835 Alle þat weppen myȝt welde, þe wakker & þe stronger,
  • 836 To vmbe-lyȝe lotheȝ hous þe ledeȝ to take,
  • 837 In grete flokkeȝ of folk, þay fallen to his ȝateȝ,
  • 838 As a scowte-wach scarred, so þe asscry rysed;
  • 839 With kene clobbeȝ of þat clos þay clatȝ on þe woweȝ,
  • 840 & wyth a schrylle scharp schout þay schewe þyse worde:
  • 841 “If þou louyeȝ þy lyf loth in þyse woneȝ
  • 842 Ȝete vus out þose ȝong men þat ȝore-whyle here entred,
  • 843 Þat we may lere hym of lof, as oure lyst biddeȝ,
  • 844 As is þe asyse of Sodomas to seggeȝ þat passen.”
  • 845 Whatt! þay sputen & speken of so spitous fylþe,
  • 846 What! þay ȝeȝed & ȝolped of ȝestande sorȝe,
  • 847 Þat ȝet þe wynd, & þe weder, & þe worlde stynkes
  • 848 Of þe brych þat vp-braydeȝ þose broþelych wordeȝ.
  • 849 Þe god man glyfte with þat glam & gloped for noyse,
  • 850 So scharpe schame to hym schot, he schrank at þe hert,
  • 851 For he knew þe costoum þat kyþed þose wrecheȝ,
  • 852 He doted neuer for no doel so depe in his mynde.
  • 853 Allas! sayd hym þenne loth, & lyȝtly he ryseȝ
  • 854 & boweȝ forth fro þe bench in-to þe brode ȝates.
  • 855 What! he wonded no woþe of wekked knaueȝ,
  • 856 Þat he ne passed þe port þe peril to abide.
  • 857 He went forthe at þe wyket & waft hit hym after,
  • 858 Þat a clyket hit cleȝt clos hym byhynde.
  • 859 Þenne he meled to þo men mesurable wordeȝ,
  • 860 For harloteȝ with his hendelayk he hoped to chast;
  • 861 “Oo! my frendeȝ so fre, your fare is to strange,
  • 862 Dotȝ away your derf dyn & dereȝ neuer my gestes,
  • 863 Avoy! hit is your vylaynye, ȝe vylen your seluen;
  • 864 & ȝe ar iolyf gentylmen your iapes ar ille.
  • 865 Bot I schal kenne yow by kynde a crafte þat is better;
  • 866 I haf a tresor in my telde of tow my fayre deȝter,
  • 867 Þat ar maydeneȝ vnmard for alle men ȝette;
  • 868 In sodamas, þaȝ I hit say, non semloker burdes,
  • 869 Hit arn ronk, hit arn rype & redy to manne;
  • 870 To samen wyth þo semly þe solace is better,
  • 871 I schal biteche yow þo two þat tayt arn & quoynt,
  • 872 & laykeȝ wyth hem as yow lyst & leteȝ my gestes one.”
  • 873 Þenne þe rebaudeȝ so ronk rerd such a noyse,
  • 874 Þat aȝly hurled in his ereȝ her harloteȝ speche;
  • 875 “Wost þou not wel þat þou woneȝ here a wyȝe strange,
  • 876 An out-comlyng, a carle, we kylle of þyn heued.
  • 877 Who Ioyned þe be iostyse oure iapeȝ to blame,
  • 878 Þat com a boy to þis borȝ, þaȝ þou be burne ryche?”
  • 879 Þus þay þrobled & þrong & þrwe vmbe his ereȝ,
  • 880 & distresed hym wonder strayt, with strenkþe in þe prece,
  • 881 Bot þat þe ȝonge men, so ȝepe, ȝornen þer-oute,
  • 882 Wapped vpon þe wyket & wonnen hem tylle,
  • 883 & by þe hondeȝ hym hent & horyed hym with-inne,
  • 884 & steken þe ȝates ston-harde wyth stalworth barreȝ.
  • 885 Þay blwe a boffet in blande þat banned peple,
  • 886 Þat þay blustered as blynde as bayard watȝ euer;
  • 887 Þay lest of loteȝ logging any lysoun to fynde,
  • 888 Bot nyteled þer alle þe nyȝt for noȝt at þe last;
  • 889 Þenne vch tolke tyȝt hem þat hade of tayt fayled,
  • 890 & vchon roþeled to þe rest þat he reche moȝt;
  • 891 Bot þay wern wakned al wrank þat þer in won lenged,
  • 892 Of on þe vglokest vnhap þat euer on erd suffred.
  • 893 Ruddon of þe day-rawe ros vpon vȝten,
  • 894 When merk of þe mydnyȝt moȝt no more last,
  • 895 Ful erly þose aungeleȝ þis haþel þay ruþen
  • 896 & glopnedly on godeȝ halue gart hym vpryse,
  • 897 Fast þe freke ferkeȝ vp ful ferd at his hert;
  • 898 Þay comaunded hym cof to cach þat he hade,
  • 899 “Wyth þy wyf & þy wyȝeȝ & þy wlone deȝtters,
  • 900 For we laþe þe, sir loth, þat þou þy lyf haue;
  • 901 Cayre tid of þis kythe er combred þou worþe,
  • 902 With alle þi here vpon haste, tyl þou a hil fynde;
  • 903 Foundeȝ faste on your fete, bifore your face lokes,
  • 904 Bot bes neuer so bolde to blusch yow bihynde,
  • 905 & loke ȝe stemme no stepe, bot strecheȝ on faste,
  • 906 Til ȝe reche to a reset, rest ȝe neuer;
  • 907 For we schal tyne þis toun & trayþely disstrye,
  • 908 Wyth alle þise wyȝeȝ so wykke wyȝtly de-voyde
  • 909 & alle þe londe with þise ledeȝ we losen at oneȝ;
  • 910 Sodomas schal ful sodenly synk in-to grounde,
  • 911 & þe grounde of gomorre gorde in-to helle,
  • 912 & vche a koste of þis kythe clater vpon hepes.
  • 913 Þen laled loth, “lorde what is best?
  • 914 If I me fele vpon fote þat I fle moȝt,
  • 915 Hov schulde I huyde me fro hem þat hatȝ his hate kynned,
  • 916 In þe brath of his breth þat brenneȝ alle þinkeȝ,
  • 917 To crepe fro my creatour & know not wheder,
  • 918 Ne wheþer his fooschip me folȝeȝ bifore oþer bihynde?”
  • 919 Þe freke sayde “no foschip oure fader hatȝ þe schewed,
  • 920 Bot hiȝly heuened þi hele fro hem þat arn combred:
  • 921 Nov walle þe a wonnyng þat þe warisch myȝt,
  • 922 & he schal saue hit for þy sake þat hatȝ vus sende hider,
  • 923 For þou art oddely þyn one out of þis fylþe,
  • 924 & als Abraham þyn em hit at him self asked.”
  • 925 “Lorde, loued he worþe,” quod loth, “vpon erþe!
  • 926 Þen is a cite herbisyde þat segor hit hatte,
  • 927 Here vtter on a rounde hil hit houeȝ hit one,
  • 928 I wolde, if his wylle wore, to þat won scape.”
  • 929 “Þenn fare forth,” quod þat fre, “& fyne þou neuer
  • 930 With þose ilk þat þow wylt þat þrenge þe after,
  • 931 & ay goande on your gate, wyth-outen agayn-tote,
  • 932 For alle þis londe schal be lorne, longe er þe sonne rise.”
  • 933 Þe wyȝe wakened his wyf & his wlonk deȝteres,
  • 934 & oþer two myri men þo maydeneȝ schulde wedde;
  • 935 & þay token hit as tyt & tented hit lyttel,
  • 936 Þaȝ fast laþed hem loth, þay leȝen ful stylle.
  • 937 Þe aungeleȝ hasted þise oþer & aȝly hem þratten,
  • 938 & enforsed alle fawre forth at þe ȝateȝ,
  • 939 Þo wern loth & his lef, his luflyche deȝter,
  • 940 Þer soȝt no mo to sauement of cities aþel fyue.
  • 941 Þise aungeleȝ hade hem by hande out at þe ȝateȝ,
  • 942 Prechande hem þe perile, & beden hem passe fast.
  • 943 “Lest ȝe be taken in þe teche of tyraunteȝ here,
  • 944 Loke ȝe bowe now bi bot, boweȝ fast hence!”
  • 945 & þay kayre-ne con & kenely flowen;
  • 946 Erly, er any heuen glem, þay to a hil comen.
  • 947 Þe grete god in his greme bygynneȝ onlofte;
  • 948 To wakan wedereȝ so wylde þe wyndeȝ he calleȝ,
  • 949 & þay wroþely vp-wafte & wrastled togeder,
  • 950 Fro fawre half of þe folde, flytande loude.
  • 951 Clowdeȝ clustered bytwene kesten vp torres,
  • 952 Þat þe þik þunder þrast þirled hem ofte.
  • 953 Þe rayn rueled adoun, ridlande þikke,
  • 954 Of felle flaunkes of fyr & flakes of soufre,
  • 955 Al in smolderande smoke smachande ful ille,
  • 956 Swe aboute sodamas & hit sydeȝ alle,
  • 957 Gorde to gomorra þat þe grounde lansed;
  • 958 Abdama & syboym, þise ceteis alle faure,
  • 959 Al birolled wyth þe rayn, rostted & brenned,
  • 960 & ferly flayed þat folk þat in þose fees lenged;
  • 961 For when þat þe helle herde þe houndeȝ of heuen
  • 962 He watȝ ferlyly fayn, vnfolded bylyue.
  • 963 Þe grete barreȝ of þe abyme he barst vp at oneȝ,
  • 964 Þat alle þe regioun to-rof in riftes ful grete,
  • 965 & clouen alle in lyttel cloutes þe clyffeȝ aywhere,
  • 966 As lance leueȝ of þe boke þat lepes in twynne.
  • 967 Þe brethe of þe brynston bi þat hit blende were,
  • 968 Al þo citees & her sydes sunkken to helle.
  • 969 Rydelles wern þo grete rowtes of renkkes with-inne,
  • 970 When þay wern war of þe wrake þat no wyȝe achaped,
  • 971 Such a ȝomerly ȝarm of ȝellyng þer rysed;
  • 972 Þer-of clatered þe cloudes þat kryst myȝt haf rawþe.
  • 973 Þe segge herde þat soun to segor þat ȝede,
  • 974 & þe wenches hym wyth þat by þe way folȝed;
  • 975 Ferly ferde watȝ her flesch, þat flowen ay ilyche,
  • 976 Trynande ay a hyȝe trot þat torne neuer dorsten.
  • 977 Loth & þo luly-whit his lefly two deȝter,
  • 978 Ay folȝed here face, bifore her boþe yȝen;
  • 979 Bot þe balleful burde, þat neuer bode keped,
  • 980 Blusched by-hynden her bak, þat bale forto herkken;
  • 981 Hit watȝ lusty lothes wyf þat ouer he[r] lyfte schulder.
  • 982 Ones ho bluschet to þe burȝe, bot bod ho no lenger,
  • 983 Þat ho nas stadde a stiffe ston, a stalworth image
  • 984 Al so salt as ani se & so ho ȝet standeȝ.
  • 985 Þay slypped bi & syȝe hir not þat wern hir samen feres,
  • 986 Tyl þay in segor wern sette, & sayned our lorde;
  • 987 Wyth lyȝt loueȝ vplyfte þay loued hym swyþe,
  • 988 Þat so his seruauntes wolde see & saue of such woþe.
  • 989 Al watȝ dampped & don, & drowned by þenne;
  • 990 Þe ledeȝ of þat lyttel toun wern lopen out for drede,
  • 991 In-to þat malscrande mere, marred bylyue,
  • 992 Þat noȝt saued watȝ bot segor þat sat on a lawe,
  • 993 Þe þre ledeȝ þer-in, loth & his deȝter;
  • 994 For his make watȝ myst, þat on þe mount lenged
  • 995 In a stonen statue þat salt sauor habbes,
  • 996 For two fautes þat þe fol watȝ founde in mistrauþe;
  • 997 On, ho serued at þe soper salt bifore dryȝtyn
  • 998 & syþen, ho blusched hir bihynde, þaȝ hir forboden were;
  • 999 For on ho standes a ston, & salt for þat oþer,
  • 1000 & alle lyst on hir lik þat arn on launde bestes.
  • 1001 Abraham ful erly watȝ vp on þe morne,
  • 1002 Þat alle naȝt [so] much niye hade no mon in his hert,
  • 1003 Al in longing for loth leyen in a wache,
  • 1004 Þer he lafte hade oure lorde, he is on lofte wonnen;
  • 1005 He sende toward sodomas þe syȝt of his yȝen,
  • 1006 Þat euer hade ben an erde of erþe þe swettest
  • 1007 As aparaunt to paradis þat plantted þe dryȝtyn,
  • 1008 Nov is hit plunged in a pit like of pich fylled.
  • 1009 Suche a roþun of a reche ros fro þe blake,
  • 1010 Askeȝ vpe in þe ayre & vselleȝ þer flowen,
  • 1011 As a fornes ful of flot þat vpon fyr boyles,
  • 1012 When bryȝt brennande brondeȝ ar bet þer an-vnder.
  • 1013 Þis watȝ a uengaunce violent þat voyded þise places,
  • 1014 Þat foundered hatȝ so fayr a folk & þe folde sonkken.
  • 1015 Þer faure citees wern set, nov is a see called,
  • 1016 Þat ay is drouy & dym, & ded in hit kynde,
  • 1017 Blo, blubrande, & blak, vnblyþe to neȝe,
  • 1018 As a stynkande stanc þat stryed synne,
  • 1019 Þat euer of synne & of smach, smart is to fele;
  • 1020 For-þy þe derk dede see hit is demed euer more,
  • 1021 For hit dedeȝ of deþe duren þere ȝet.
  • 1022 For hit is brod & boþemleȝ, & bitter as þe galle,
  • 1023 & noȝt may lenge in þat lake þat any lyf bereȝ,
  • 1024 & alle þe costeȝ of kynde hit combreȝ vchone;
  • 1025 For lay þer-on a lump of led & hit on loft fleteȝ,
  • 1026 & folde þer-on a lyȝt fyþer & hit to founs synkkeȝ.
  • 1027 & þer water may walter to wete any erþe,
  • 1028 Schal neuer grene þer-on growe, gresse ne wod nawþer.
  • 1029 If any schalke to be schent wer schowued þer-inne,
  • 1030 Þaȝ he bode in þat boþem broþely a monyth,
  • 1031 He most ay lyue in þat loȝe in losyng euer-more,
  • 1032 & neuer dryȝe no dethe, to dayes of ende;
  • 1033 & as hit is corsed of kynde & hit coosteȝ als,
  • 1034 Þe clay þat clenges þer-by arn corsyes strong,
  • 1035 As alum & alkaran, þat angré arn boþe,
  • 1036 Soufre sour, & saundyuer, & oþer such mony;
  • 1037 & þer walteȝ of þat water in waxlokes grete,
  • 1038 Þe spuniande aspaltoun þat spysereȝ sellen;
  • 1039 & suche is alle þe soyle by þat se halues,
  • 1040 Þat fel fretes þe flesch & festred bones.
  • 1041 & þer ar tres by þat terne of traytoures;
  • 1042 & þay borgouneȝ & beres blomeȝ ful fayre,
  • 1043 & þe fayrest fryt þat may on folde growe,
  • 1044 As orenge & oþer fryt & apple garnade
  • 1045 Also red & so ripe & rychely hwed,
  • 1046 As any dom myȝt deuice of dayntyeȝ oute;
  • 1047 Bot quen hit is brused oþer broken, oþer byten in twynne,
  • 1048 No worldeȝ goud hit wyth-inne, bot wydowande askes;
  • 1049 Alle þyse ar teches & tokenes to trow vpon ȝet,
  • 1050 & wittnesse of þat wykked werk & þe wrake after,
  • 1051 Þat oure fader forferde for fylþe of þose ledes.
  • 1052 Þenne vch wyȝe may wel wyt þat he þe wlonk louies,
  • 1053 & if he louyes clene layk þat is oure lorde ryche,
  • 1054 & to be couþe in his courte þou coueytes þenne
  • 1055 To se þat semly in sete & his swete face,
  • 1056 Clerrer counseyl, counsayl con I non, bot þat þou clene worþe.
  • 1057 For clopyngnel in þe compas of his clene rose,
  • 1058 Þer he expouneȝ a speche, to hym þat spede wolde,
  • 1059 Of a lady to be loued, loke to hir sone,
  • 1060 Of wich beryng þat ho be, & wych ho best louyes,
  • 1061 & be ryȝt such in vch a borȝe of body & of dedes,
  • 1062 & folȝ þe fet of þat fere þat þou fre haldes.
  • 1063 & if þou wyrkkes on þis wyse, þaȝ ho wyk were,
  • 1064 Hir schal lyke þat layk þat lyknes hir tylle.
  • 1065 If þou wyl dele drwrye wyth dryȝtyn þenne,
  • 1066 & lelly louy þy lorde & his leef worþe.
  • 1067 Þenne confourme þe to kryst, & þe clene make,
  • 1068 Þat euer is polyced als playn as þe perle seluen.
  • 1069 For loke fro fyrst þat he lyȝt with-inne þe lel mayden!
  • 1070 By how comly a kest he watȝ clos þere,
  • 1071 When venkkyst watȝ no vergynyté, ne vyolence maked,
  • 1072 Bot much clener watȝ hir corse, god kynned þerinne;
  • 1073 & efte when he borne watȝ in beþelen þe ryche,
  • 1074 In wych puryté þay departed; þaȝ þay pouer were,
  • 1075 Watȝ neuer so blysful a bour as watȝ a bos þenne
  • 1076 Ne no schroude hous so schene as a schepon þare,
  • 1077 Ne non so glad vnder god as ho þat grone schulde;
  • 1078 For þer watȝ seknesse al sounde þat sarrest is halden,
  • 1079 & þer watȝ rose reflayr where rote hatȝ ben euer,
  • 1080 & þer watȝ solace & songe wher sorȝ hatȝ ay cryed;
  • 1081 For aungelles with instrumentes of organes & pypes,
  • 1082 & rial ryngande rotes & þe reken fyþel,
  • 1083 & alle hende þat honestly moȝt an hert glade,
  • 1084 Aboutte my lady watȝ lent, quen ho delyuer were.
  • 1085 Þenne watȝ her blyþe barne burnyst so clene,
  • 1086 Þat boþe þe ox & þe asse hym hered at-ones;
  • 1087 Þay knewe hym by his clannes for kyng of nature,
  • 1088 For non so clene of such a clos com neuer er þenne;
  • 1089 & ȝif clanly he þenne com, ful cortays þer-after,
  • 1090 Þat alle þat longed to luþer ful lodly he hated;
  • 1091 By nobleye of his norture he nolde neuer towche
  • 1092 Oȝt þat watȝ vngoderly oþer ordure watȝ inne.
  • 1093 Ȝet comen lodly to þat lede, as laȝares monye,
  • 1094 Summe lepre, summe lome, & lomerande blynde,
  • 1095 Poysened & parlatyk & pyned in fyres,
  • 1096 Drye folk & ydropike, & dede at þe laste;
  • 1097 Alle called on þat cortayse & claymed his grace.
  • 1098 He heled hem wyth hynde speche of þat þay ask after,
  • 1099 For what-so he towched also-tyd tourned to hele,
  • 1100 Wel clanner þen any crafte cowþe devyse;
  • 1101 So clene watȝ his hondelyng vche ordure hit schonied,
  • 1102 & þe gropyng so goud of god & man boþe,
  • 1103 Þat for fetys of his fyngeres fonded he neuer
  • 1104 Nauþer to cout ne to kerue, with knyf ne wyth egge,
  • 1105 For-þy brek he þe bred blades wyth-outen;
  • 1106 For hit ferde freloker in fete in his fayre honde,
  • 1107 Displayed more pryuyly when he hit part schulde,
  • 1108 Þenne alle þe toles of tolowse moȝt tyȝt hit to kerue,
  • 1109 Þus is he kyryous & clene þat þou his cort askes;
  • 1110 Hov schulde þou com to his kyth bot if þou clene were?
  • 1111 Nov ar we sore & synful & sov[er]ly vch one,
  • 1112 How schulde we se, þen may we say, þat syre vpon throne?
  • 1113 Ȝis, þat mayster is mercyable; þaȝ þou be man fenny,
  • 1114 & al to-marred in myre whyl þou on molde lyuyes,
  • 1115 Þou may schyne þurȝ schryfte, þaȝ þou haf schome serued,
  • 1116 & pure þe with penaunce tyl þou a perle worþe.
  • 1117 Perle praysed is prys, þer perre is schewed,
  • 1118 Þaȝ hym not derrest be demed to dele for penies,
  • 1119 Quat may þe cause be called, bot for hir clene hwes,
  • 1120 Þat wynnes worschyp, abof alle whyte stones?
  • 1121 For ho schynes so schyr þat is of schap rounde,
  • 1122 Wyth-outen faut oþer fylþe ȝif ho fyn were;
  • 1123 & wax euer in þe worlde in weryng so olde,
  • 1124 Ȝet þe perle payres not whyle ho in pyese lasttes
  • 1125 & if hit cheue þe chaunce vncheryst ho worþe,
  • 1126 Þat ho blyndes of ble in bour þer ho lygges,
  • 1127 No-bot wasch hir wyth wourchyp in wyn as ho askes,
  • 1128 Ho by kynde schal be-com clerer þen are;
  • 1129 So if folk be defowled by vnfre chaunce,
  • 1130 Þat he be sulped in sawle, seche to schryfte
  • 1131 & he may polyce hym at þe prest, by penaunce taken,
  • 1132 Wel bryȝter þen þe beryl oþer browden perles.
  • 1133 Bot war þe wel, if þou be waschen wyth water of schryfte,
  • 1134 & polysed als playn as parchmen schauen,
  • 1135 Sulp no more þenne in synne þy saule þer-after,
  • 1136 For þenne þou dryȝtyn dyspleses with dedes ful sore,
  • 1137 & entyses hym to tene more trayþly þen euer
  • 1138 & wel hatter to hate þen hade þou not waschen;
  • 1139 For when a sawele is saȝtled & sakred to dryȝtyn,
  • 1140 He holly haldes hit his & haue hit he wolde,
  • 1141 Þenne efte lastes hit likkes, he loses hit ille,
  • 1142 As hit were rafte wyth vn-ryȝt & robbed wyth þewes.
  • 1143 War þe þenne for þe wrake, his wrath is achaufed,
  • 1144 For þat þat ones watȝ his schulde efte be vn-clene,
  • 1145 Þaȝ hit be bot a bassyn, a bolle, oþer a scole,
  • 1146 A dysche oþer a dobler þat dryȝtyn oneȝ serued,
  • 1147 To defowle hit euer vpon folde fast he for-bedes,
  • 1148 So is he scoymus of scaþe þat scylful is euer.
  • 1149 & þat watȝ bared in babyloyn in Baltaȝar tyme,
  • 1150 Hov harde vnhap þer hym hent & hastyly sone,
  • 1151 For he þe vesselles avyled þat vayled in þe temple
  • 1152 In seruyse of þe souerayn sum tyme byfore.
  • 1153 Ȝif ȝe wolde tyȝt me a tom telle hit I wolde,
  • 1154 Hov charged more watȝ his chaunce þat hem cherych nolde
  • 1155 Þen his fader forloyne þat feched hem wyth strenþe,
  • 1156 & robbed þe relygioun of relykes alle.
  • 1157 Danyel in his dialokeȝ de-vysed sum tyme,
  • 1158 As ȝet is proued ex-presse in his profecies,
  • 1159 Hov þe gentryse of Iuise & Iherusalem þe ryche
  • 1160 Watȝ disstryed wyth distres, & drawen to þe erþe,
  • 1161 For þat folke in her fayth watȝ founden vntrwe,
  • 1162 Þat haden hyȝt þe hyȝe god to halde of hym euer;
  • 1163 & he hem halȝed for his & help at her nede
  • 1164 In mukel meschefes mony, þat meruayl [is] to here;
  • 1165 & þay forloyne her fayth & folȝed oþer goddes,
  • 1166 & þat wakned his wrath & wrast hit so hyȝe,
  • 1167 Þat he fylsened þe faythful in þe falce lawe
  • 1168 To for-fare þe falce in þe faythe trwe;
  • 1169 Hit watȝ sen in þat syþe þat ȝedechyas rengned,
  • 1170 In Iuda, þat iustised þe iuyne kynges.
  • 1171 He sete on Salamones solie, on solemne wyse,
  • 1172 Bot of leaute he watȝ lat to his lorde hende;
  • 1173 He vsed abominaciones of idolatrye,
  • 1174 & lette lyȝt bi þe lawe þat he watȝ lege tylle;
  • 1175 For-þi oure fader vpon folde a foman hym wakned,
  • 1176 Nabigo-de-noȝar nuyed hym swyþe.
  • 1177 He pur-sued in to palastyn with proude men mony,
  • 1178 & þer he wast wyth werre þe wones of þorpes.
  • 1179 He herȝed vp alle israel & hent of þe beste,
  • 1180 & þe gentylest of Iudee in Ierusalem biseged,
  • 1181 Vmbe-walt alle þe walles wyth wyȝes ful stronge,
  • 1182 At vche a dor a doȝty duk, & dutte hem wyth-inne;
  • 1183 For þe borȝ watȝ so bygge baytayled alofte,
  • 1184 & stoffed wyth-inne with stout men to stalle hem þer-oute.
  • 1185 Þenne watȝ þe sege sette þe Cete aboute,
  • 1186 Skete skarmoch skelt, much skaþe lached;
  • 1187 At vch brugge a berfray on basteles wyse,
  • 1188 Þat seuen syþe vch a day asayled þe ȝates,
  • 1189 Trwe tulkkes in toures teueled wyth-inne,
  • 1190 In bigge brutage of borde, bulde on þe walles;
  • 1191 Þay feȝt & þay fende of, & fylter togeder
  • 1192 Til two ȝer ouer-torned, ȝet tok þay hit neuer.
  • 1193 At þe laste vpon longe, þo ledes wyth-inne,
  • 1194 Faste fayled hem þe fode, enfaminied monie;
  • 1195 Þe hote hunger wyth-inne hert hem wel sarre,
  • 1196 Þen any dunt of þat douthe þat dowelled þer-oute.
  • 1197 Þenne wern þo rowtes redles in þo ryche wones,
  • 1198 Fro þat mete watȝ myst, megre þay wexen,
  • 1199 & þay stoken so strayt, þat þay ne stray myȝt
  • 1200 A fote fro þat forselet to forray no goudes.
  • 1201 Þenne þe kyng of þe kyth a counsayl hym takes,
  • 1202 Wyth þe best of his burnes, a blench forto make;
  • 1203 Þay stel out on a stylle nyȝt er any steuen rysed,
  • 1204 & harde hurles þurȝ þe oste, er enmies hit wyste,
  • 1205 Bot er þay at-wappe ne moȝt þe wach wyth-oute,
  • 1206 Hiȝe skelt watȝ þe askry þe skewes an-vnder,
  • 1207 Loude alarom vpon launde lulted watȝ þenne;
  • 1208 Ryche, ruþed of her rest, ran to here wedes,
  • 1209 Hard hattes þay hent & on hors lepes;
  • 1210 Cler claryoun crak cryed onlofte.
  • 1211 By þat watȝ alle on a hepe hurlande swyþee,
  • 1212 Folȝande þat oþer flote, & fonde hem bilyue,
  • 1213 Ouer-tok hem, as tyd, tult hem of sadeles,
  • 1214 Tyl vche prynce hade his per put to þe grounde;
  • 1215 & þer watȝ þe kyng kaȝt wyth calde prynces,
  • 1216 & alle hise gentyle for-iusted on ierico playnes,
  • 1217 & presented wern as presoneres to þe prynce rychest,
  • 1218 Nabigo-de-noȝar noble in his chayer,
  • 1219 & he þe faynest freke þat he his fo hade,
  • 1220 & speke spitously hem to & spylt þerafter.
  • 1221 Þe kynges sunnes in his syȝt he slow euer vch one,
  • 1222 & holkked out his auen yȝen heterly boþe
  • 1223 & bede þe burne to be broȝt to babyloyn þe ryche,
  • 1224 & þere in dongoun be don to dreȝe þer his wyrdes.
  • 1225 Now se, so þe soueray[n] set hatȝ his wrake;
  • 1226 Nas hit not for nabugo ne his noble nauþer,
  • 1227 Þat oþer depryued watȝ of pryde with paynes stronge,
  • 1228 Bot for his beryng so badde agayn his blyþe lorde;
  • 1229 For hade þe fader ben his frende þat hym bifore keped,
  • 1230 Ne neuer trespast to him in teche of mysseleue.
  • 1231 To Colde wer alle Calde & kythes of ynde,
  • 1232 Ȝet take torkye hem wyth her tene hade ben little;
  • 1233 Ȝet nolde neuer nabugo þis ilke note leue,
  • 1234 Er he hade tuyred þis toun & torne hit to grounde;
  • 1235 He ioyned vnto Ierusalem a gentyle duc þenne,
  • 1236 His name watȝ nabu-ȝardan, to noye þe iues;
  • 1237 He watȝ mayster of his men & myȝty him seluen,
  • 1238 Þe chef of his cheualrye his chekkes to make,
  • 1239 He brek þe bareres as bylyue, & þe burȝ after,
  • 1240 & enteres in ful ernestly, in yre of his hert.
  • 1241 What! þe maysterry watȝ mene, þe men wern away,
  • 1242 Þe best boȝed wyth þe burne þat þe borȝ ȝemed;
  • 1243 & þo þat byden wer so biten with þe bale hunger,
  • 1244 Þat on wyf hade ben worþe þe welgest fourre;
  • 1245 Nabiȝardan noȝt for-þy nolde not spare,
  • 1246 Bot bede al to þe bronde vnder bare egge.
  • 1247 Þay slowen of swettest semlych burdes,
  • 1248 Baþed barnes in blod & her brayn spylled;
  • 1249 Prestes & prelates þay presed to deþe,
  • 1250 Wyues & wenches her wombes tocoruen,
  • 1251 Þat her boweles out-borst aboute þe diches,
  • 1252 & al watȝ carfully kylde þat þay cach myȝt,
  • 1253 & alle [þat] swypped vnswolȝed of þe sworde kene,
  • 1254 Þay wer cagged & kaȝt on capeles al bare,
  • 1255 Festned fettres to her fete vnder fole wombes,
  • 1256 & broþely broȝt to babyloyn þer bale to suffer,
  • 1257 To sytte in seruage & syte; þat sumtyme wer gentyle,
  • 1258 Now ar chaunged to chorles & charged wyth werkkes,
  • 1259 Boþe to cayre at þe kart & þe kuy mylke,
  • 1260 Þat sumtyme sete in her sale syres & burdes.
  • 1261 & ȝet nabuȝardan nyl neuer stynt,
  • 1262 Er he to þe tempple tee wyth his tulkkes alle;
  • 1263 Betes on þe barers, brestes vp þe ȝates,
  • 1264 Slouen alle at a slyp þat serued þer-inne,
  • 1265 Pulden prestes bi þe polle & plat of her hedes,
  • 1266 Diȝten dekenes to deþe, dungen doun clerkkes,
  • 1267 & alle þe maydenes of þe munster maȝtyly hokyllen
  • 1268 Wyth þe swayf of þe sworde þat swolȝed hem alle.
  • 1269 Þenne ran þay to þe relykes as robbors wylde,
  • 1270 & pyled alle þe apparement þat pented to þe kyrke,
  • 1271 Þe pure pyleres [o]f bras pourtrayd in golde,
  • 1272 & þe chef chaundeler charged with þe lyȝt,
  • 1273 Þat ber þe lamp vpon lofte, þat lemed euer more,
  • 1274 Bifore þ[e] sancta sanctorum þer selcouth watȝ ofte.
  • 1275 Þay caȝt away þat condelstik, & þe crowne als,
  • 1276 Þat þe auter hade vpon, of aþel golde ryche;
  • 1277 Þe gredirne & þe goblotes garnyst of syluer,
  • 1278 Þe bases of þe bryȝt postes & bassynes so schyre;
  • 1279 Dere disches of golde & dubleres fayre,
  • 1280 Þe vyoles & þe vesselment of vertuous stones.
  • 1281 Now hatȝ nabuȝardan nomen alle þyse noble þynges,
  • 1282 & pyled þat precious place & pakked þose godes;
  • 1283 Þe golde of þe gaȝafylace to swyþe gret noumbre,
  • 1284 Wyth alle þe vrnmentes of þat hous, he hamppred to-geder.
  • 1285 Alle he spoyled spitously in a sped whyle,
  • 1286 Þat salomon so mony a sadde ȝer soȝt to make,
  • 1287 Wyth alle þe coyntyse þat he cowþe clene to wyrke;
  • 1288 De-uised he þe vesselment, þe vestures clene,
  • 1289 Wyth slyȝt of his ciences, his souerayn to loue,
  • 1290 Þe hous & þe anournementes he hyȝtled to-gedere.
  • 1291 Now hatȝ nabuȝardan numnend hit al samen,
  • 1292 & syþen bet doun þe burȝ & brend hit in askes;
  • 1293 Þenne wyth legiounes of ledes ouer londes he rydes,
  • 1294 Herȝeȝ of Israel þe hyrne aboute.
  • 1295 Wyth charged chariotes þe cheftayn he fynde[ȝ],
  • 1296 Bikennes þe catel to þe kyng, þat he caȝt hade,
  • 1297 Presented him þe prisoneres in pray þat þay token,
  • 1298 Moni a worþly wyȝe whil her worlde laste,
  • 1299 Moni semly syre sone, & swyþe rych maydenes,
  • 1300 Þe pruddest of þe prouince, & prophetes childer,
  • 1301 As Ananie & aȝarie & als Miȝael,
  • 1302 & dere daniel also, þat watȝ deuine noble,
  • 1303 With moni a modey moder chylde mo þen in-noghe.
  • 1304 & nabugo-de-noȝar makes much ioye,
  • 1305 Nov he þe kyng hatȝ conquest & þe kyth wunnen,
  • 1306 & dreped alle þe doȝtyest & derrest in armes,
  • 1307 & þe lederes of her lawe layd to þe grounde,
  • 1308 & þe pryce of þe profecie prisoners maked;
  • 1309 Bot þe ioy of þe iuelrye so gentyle & ryche,
  • 1310 When hit watȝ schewed hym so schene, scharp watȝ his wonder,
  • 1311 Of such vessel auayed þat vayled so huge,
  • 1312 Neuer ȝet nas nabugo-de-noȝar er þenne.
  • 1313 He sesed hem with solemneté, þe souerayn he praysed,
  • 1314 þat watȝ aþel ouer alle, israel dryȝtyn;
  • 1315 Such god, such gomes, such gay vesselles
  • 1316 Comen neuer out of kyth, to Caldee reames.
  • 1317 He trussed hem in his tresorye in a tryed place
  • 1318 Rekenly wyth reuerens, as he ryȝt hade;
  • 1319 & þer he wroȝt as þe wyse, as ȝe may wyt here-after,
  • 1320 For hade he let of hem lyȝt, hym moȝt haf lumpen worse.
  • 1321 Þat ryche in gret rialté rengned his lyue,
  • 1322 As conquerour of vche a cost he cayser watȝ hatte,
  • 1323 Emperour of alle þe erþe & also þe saudan,
  • 1324 & als þe god of þe grounde watȝ grauen his name
  • 1325 & al þurȝ dome of daniel, fro he deuised hade,
  • 1326 Þat alle goudes com of god, & gef hit hym bi samples,
  • 1327 Þat he ful clanly bi-cnv his carp bi þe laste,
  • 1328 & ofte hit mekned his mynde, his maysterful werkkes.
  • 1329 Bot al drawes to dyȝe with doel vp[o]n ende;
  • 1330 Bi a haþel neuer so hyȝe he heldes to grounde,
  • 1331 & so nabugo-de-noȝar as he nedes moste;
  • 1332 For alle his empire so hiȝe in erþe is he grauen.
  • 1333 Bot þenn þe bolde baltaȝar, þat watȝ his barn aldest,
  • 1334 He watȝ stalled in his stud, & stabled þe rengne;
  • 1335 In þe burȝ of babiloyne þe biggest he trawed,
  • 1336 Þat nauþer in heuen ne no erþe hade no pere;
  • 1337 For he bigan in alle þe glori þat hym þe gome lafte,
  • 1338 Nabugo-de-Noȝar, þat watȝ his noble fader;
  • 1339 So kene a kyng in Caldee com neuer er þenne.
  • 1340 Bot honoured he not hym þat in heuen wonies,
  • 1341 Bot fals fantummes of fendes, formed with handes
  • 1342 Wyth tool out of harde tre, & telded on lofte,
  • 1343 & of stokkes & stones, he stoute goddes callȝ
  • 1344 When þay ar gilde al with golde & gered wyth syluer,
  • 1345 & þere he kneles & calleȝ, & clepes after help.
  • 1346 & þay reden him ryȝt rewarde he hem hetes,
  • 1347 & if þay gruchen him his grace to gremen his hert,
  • 1348 He cleches to a gret klubbe & knokkes hem to peces;
  • 1349 Þus in pryde & olipraunce his Empyre he haldes,
  • 1350 In lust & in lecherye, & loþelych werkkes;
  • 1351 & hade a wyf forto welde, a worþelych quene,
  • 1352 & mony a lemman, neuer þe later, þat ladis wer called.
  • 1353 In þe clernes of his concubines & curious wedeȝ,
  • 1354 In notyng of nwe metes & of nice gettes,
  • 1355 Al watȝ þe mynde of þat man, on misschapen þinges,
  • 1356 Til þe lorde of þe lyfte liste hit abate.
  • 1357 Thenne þis bolde Baltaȝar biþenkkes hym ones,
  • 1358 To vouche on a vayment of his vayne g[l]orie;
  • 1359 Hit is not innoghe to þe nice al noȝty þink vse,
  • 1360 Bot if alle þe worlde wyt his wykked dedes.
  • 1361 Baltaȝar þurȝ babiloyn his banne gart crye,
  • 1362 & þurȝ þe cuntre of caldee his callyng con spryng,
  • 1363 Þat alle þe grete vpon grounde schulde geder hem samen
  • 1364 & assemble at a set day at þe saudans fest.
  • 1365 Such a mangerie to make þe man watȝ auised,
  • 1366 Þat vche a kythyn kyng schuld com þider;
  • 1367 Vche duk wyth his duthe & oþer dere lordes,
  • 1368 Schulde com to his court to kyþe hym for lege,
  • 1369 & to reche hym reuerens & his reuel herkken;
  • 1370 To loke on his lemanes & ladis hem calle,
  • 1371 To rose hym in his rialty rych men soȝtten,
  • 1372 & mony a baroun ful bolde, to babyloyn þe noble.
  • 1373 Þer bowed toward babiloyn burnes so mony,
  • 1374 Kynges, Cayseres ful kene, to þe court wonnen,
  • 1375 Mony ludisch lordes þat ladies broȝten,
  • 1376 Þat to neuen þe noumbre to much nye were.
  • 1377 For þe bourȝ watȝ so brod & so bigge alce,
  • 1378 Stalled in þe fayrest stud þe sterreȝ an-vnder,
  • 1379 Prudly on a plat playn, plek alþer-fayrest,
  • 1380 Vmbe-sweyed on vch a syde with seuen grete wateres,
  • 1381 With a wonder wroȝt walle wruxeled ful hiȝe,
  • 1382 With koynt carneles aboue, coruen ful clene,
  • 1383 Troched toures bitwene twenty spere lenþe,
  • 1384 & þiker þrowen vmbe þour-with ouer-þwert palle.
  • 1385 Þe place, þat plyed þe pursaunt wyth-inne,
  • 1386 Watȝ longe & ful large & euer ilych sware,
  • 1387 & vch a syde vpon soyle helde seuen myle,
  • 1388 & þe saudans sete sette in þe myddes;
  • 1389 Þat watȝ a palayce of pryde passande alle oþer,
  • 1390 Boþe of werk & of wunder & walle al aboute;
  • 1391 Heȝe houses with-inne þe halle to hit med,
  • 1392 So brod bilde in a bay, þat blonkkes myȝt renne.
  • 1393 When þe terme of þe tyde watȝ to vsched of þe feste,
  • 1394 Dere droȝen þer-to & vpon des metten,
  • 1395 & baltaȝar vpon bench was busked to sete,
  • 1396 Stepe stayred stones of his stoute throne.
  • 1397 Þenne watȝ alle þe halle flor hiled with knyȝtes,
  • 1398 & barounes at þe side-bordes bounet ay-where,
  • 1399 For non watȝ dressed vpon dece bot þe dere seluen,
  • 1400 & his clere concubynes in cloþes ful bryȝt.
  • 1401 When alle segges were þer set, þen seruyse bygynnes,
  • 1402 Sturnen trumpen strake steuen in halle,
  • 1403 Aywhere by þe wowes wrasten krakkes,
  • 1404 & brode baneres þer-bi blusnande of gold;
  • 1405 Burnes berande þe bredes vpon brode skeles,
  • 1406 Þat were of sylueren syȝt & seerved þer-wyth,
  • 1407 Lyfte logges þer-ouer & on lofte coruen,
  • 1408 Pared out of paper & poynted of golde,
  • 1409 Broþe baboynes abof, besttes an-vnder,
  • 1410 Foles in foler flakerande bi-twene,
  • 1411 & al in asure & ynde enaumayld ryche,
  • 1412 & al on blonkken bak bere hit on honde.
  • 1413 & ay þe nakeryn noyse, notes of pipes,
  • 1414 Tymbres & tabornes, tulket among,
  • 1415 Symbales & soneteȝ sware þe noyse,
  • 1416 & bougounȝ busch batered so þikke;
  • 1417 So watȝ serued fele syþe þe sale alle aboute,
  • 1418 With solace at þe sere course, bifore þe self lorde,
  • 1419 Þer þe lede & alle his loue lenged at þe table.
  • 1420 So faste þay weȝed to him wyne, hit warmed his hert
  • 1421 & breyþed vppe in to his brayn & blemyst his mynde,
  • 1422 & al waykned his wyt, & wel neȝe he foles,
  • 1423 For he wayteȝ onwyde, his wenches he byholdes,
  • 1424 & his bolde baronage, aboute bi þe woȝes;
  • 1425 Þenne a dotage ful depe drof to his hert,
  • 1426 & a caytif counsayl he caȝt bi hym seluen.
  • 1427 Maynly his marschal þe mayster vpon calles,
  • 1428 & comaundes hym cofly coferes to lance,
  • 1429 & fech forþe vessel þat his fader broȝt
  • 1430 Nabugo-de-noȝar, noble in his strenþe,
  • 1431 Conquerd with his knyȝtes & of kyrk rafte
  • 1432 In iude, in ierusalem in gentyle wyse:
  • 1433 “Bryng hem now to my borde, of beuerage hem fylles,
  • 1434 Let þise ladyes of hem lape, I luf hem in hert;
  • 1435 Þat schal I cortaysly kyþe & þay schin knawe sone,
  • 1436 Þer is no bounté in burne lyk baltaȝar þewes.”
  • 1437 Þenne towched to þe tresour þis tale watȝ sone,
  • 1438 & he with keyes vn-closes kystes ful mony;
  • 1439 Mony burþen ful bryȝt watȝ broȝt in-to halle,
  • 1440 & couered mony a cupborde with cloþes ful quite.
  • 1441 Þe iueles out of ierusalem with gemmes ful bryȝt,
  • 1442 Bi þe syde of þe sale were semely arayed;
  • 1443 Þe aþel auter of brasse watȝ hade in-to place;
  • 1444 Þe gay coroun of golde gered on lofte,
  • 1445 Þat hade ben blessed bifore wyth bischopes hondes
  • 1446 & wyth besten blod busily anoynted,
  • 1447 In þe solempne sacrefyce þat goud sauor hade,
  • 1448 Bifore þe lorde of þe lyfte in louyng hym seluen,
  • 1449 Now is sette for to serue satanas þe blake,
  • 1450 Bifore þe bolde baltaȝar wyth bost & wyth pryde.
  • 1451 Houen vpon þis auter watȝ aþel vessel,
  • 1452 Þat wyth so curious a crafte coruen watȝ wyly;
  • 1453 Salamon sete him s[eue]n ȝere & a syþe more,
  • 1454 With alle þe syence þat hym sende þe souerayn lorde,
  • 1455 For to compas & kest to haf hem clene wroȝt;
  • 1456 For þer wer bassynes ful bryȝt of brende golde clere,
  • 1457 En-aumaylde with aȝer & eweres of sute;
  • 1458 Couered cowpes foul clene, as casteles arayed,
  • 1459 Enbaned vnder batelment with bantelles quoynt,
  • 1460 & fyled out of fygures of ferlyle schappes.
  • 1461 Þe coperounes of þe canacles þat on þe cuppe reres,
  • 1462 Wer fetysely formed out in fylyoles longe,
  • 1463 Pinacles pyȝt þer apert þat profert bitwene,
  • 1464 & al boiled abof with braunches & leues,
  • 1465 Pyes & papeiayes purtrayed with-inne,
  • 1466 As þay prudly hade piked of pomgarnades;
  • 1467 For alle þe blomes of þe boȝes wer blyknande perles
  • 1468 & alle þe fruyt in þo formes of flaumbeande gemmes,
  • 1469 Ande safyres, & sardiners, & semely topace,
  • 1470 Alabaunderynes, & amaraunȝ & amaffised stones,
  • 1471 Casydoynes, & crysolytes, & clere rubies,
  • 1472 Penitotes, & pynkardines, ay perles bitwene,
  • 1473 So trayled & tryfled a trauerce wer alle,
  • 1474 Bi vche bekyrande þe bolde, þe brurdes al vmbe;
  • 1475 Þe gobelotes of golde grauen aboute,
  • 1476 & fyoles fretted with flores & fleeȝ of golde,
  • 1477 Vpon þat avter watȝ al aliche dresset.
  • 1478 Þe candelstik bi a cost watȝ cayred þider sone,
  • 1479 [V]pon þe pyleres apyked þat praysed hit mony,
  • 1480 Vpon hit baseȝ of brasse þat ber vp þe werkes,
  • 1481 Þe boȝes bryȝt þer abof, brayden of golde,
  • 1482 Braunches bredande þer-on, & bryddes þer seten
  • 1483 Of mony kyndes, of fele-kyn hues,
  • 1484 As þay with wynge vpon wynde hade waged her fyþeres,
  • 1485 In-mong þe leues of þe lampes wer grayþed;
  • 1486 & oþer louelych lyȝt þat lemed ful fayre,
  • 1487 As mony morteres of wax merkked with-oute,
  • 1488 With mony a borlych best al of brende golde.
  • 1489 Hit watȝ not wonte in þat wone to wast no serges,
  • 1490 Bot in temple of þe trauþe trwly to stonde;
  • 1491 Bifore þe sancta, sanctorum soþefast dryȝtyn,
  • 1492 Expouned his speche spiritually to special prophetes.
  • 1493 Leue þou wel þat þe lorde þat þe lyfte ȝemes
  • 1494 Displesed much, at þat play in þat plyt stronge,
  • 1495 Þat his ineles so gent wyth iaueles wer fouled,
  • 1496 Þat presyous in his presens wer proued sum whyle.
  • 1497 Soberly in his sacrafyce summe wer anoynted,
  • 1498 Þurȝ þe somones of him selfe þat syttes so hyȝe;
  • 1499 Now a boster on benche bibbes þerof
  • 1500 Tyl he be dronkken as þe deuel, & dotes þer he syttes;
  • 1501 So þe worcher of þis worlde wlates þer-wyth,
  • 1502 Þat in þe poynt of her play he poruayes a mynde;
  • 1503 Bot er harme hem he wolde in haste of his yre,
  • 1504 He wayned hem a warnyng þat wonder hem þoȝt.
  • 1505 Nov is alle þis guere geten glotounes to serue;
  • 1506 Stad in a ryche stal & stared ful bryȝtȝ,
  • 1507 Baltaȝar in a brayd bede vus þer-of.
  • 1508 “Weȝe wyn in þis won, wassayl!” he cryes.
  • 1509 Swyfte swaynes ful swyþe swepen þer-tylle,
  • 1510 Kyppe kowpes in honde kyngeȝ to serue,
  • 1511 In bryȝt bolleȝ, ful bayn birlen þise oþer,
  • 1512 & vche mon for his mayster machches alone.
  • 1513 Þer watȝ rynging, on ryȝt, of ryche metalles,
  • 1514 Quen renkkes in þat ryche rok rennen hit to cache,
  • 1515 Clatering of conacleȝ þat kesten þo burdes,
  • 1516 As sonet out of sau[t]eray songe als myry.
  • 1517 Þen þe dotel on dece drank þat he myȝt,
  • 1518 & þenne arn dressed dukeȝ & prynces,
  • 1519 Concubines & knyȝtes, bi cause of þat merthe;
  • 1520 As vchon hade hym in helde he haled of þe cuppe,
  • 1521 So long likked þise lordes þise lykores swete,
  • 1522 & gloryed on her falce goddes & her grace calles,
  • 1523 Þat were of stokkes & stones, stille euer more;
  • 1524 Neuer steuen hem astel, so stoken is hor tonge,
  • 1525 Alle þe goude golden goddes þe gauleȝ ȝet neuenen,
  • 1526 Belfagor & belyal & belssabub als,
  • 1527 Heyred hem as hyȝly as heuen wer þayres,
  • 1528 Bot hym þat alle goudes giues, þat god þay for-ȝeten,
  • 1529 For þer a ferly bifel þat fele folk seȝen;
  • 1530 Fyrst knew hit þe kyng & alle þe cort after,
  • 1531 In þe palays pryncipale vpon þe playn wowe,
  • 1532 In contrary of þe candelstik þat clerest hit schyned.
  • 1533 Þer apered a paume, with poyntel in fyngres
  • 1534 Þat watȝ grysly & gret, & grymly he wrytes,
  • 1535 Non oþer forme bot a fust faylande þe wryste,
  • 1536 Pared on þe parget, purtrayed lettres.
  • 1537 When þat bolde baltaȝar blusched to þat neue,
  • 1538 Such a dasande drede dusched to his hert,
  • 1539 Þat al falewed his face & fayled þe chere;
  • 1540 Þe stronge strok of þe stonde strayned his ioyntes,
  • 1541 His cnes cachches to close & cluchches his hommes,
  • 1542 & he with plat-tyng his paumes displayes his lers,
  • 1543 & romyes as a rad ryth þat roreȝ for drede,
  • 1544 Ay biholdand þe honde til hit hade al grauen,
  • 1545 & rasped on þe roȝ woȝe runisch saueȝ.
  • 1546 When hit þe scrypture hade scraped wyth a scrof penne,
  • 1547 As a coltour in clay cerues þo forȝes,
  • 1548 Þenne hit vanist verayly & voyded of syȝt,
  • 1549 Bot þe lettres bileued ful large vpon plaster.
  • 1550 Sone so þe kynge for his care carping myȝt wynne,
  • 1551 He bede his burnes boȝ to þat were bok lered,
  • 1552 To wayte þe wryt þat hit wolde & wyter hym to say,
  • 1553 “For al hit frayes my flesche þe fyngres so grymme.”
  • 1554 Scoleres skelten þeratte þe skyl forto fynde,
  • 1555 Bot þer watȝ neuer on so wyse couþe on worde rede,
  • 1556 Ne what ledisch lore ne langage nauþer
  • 1557 What tyþyng ne tale tokened þo draȝtes.
  • 1558 Þenne þe bolde baltaȝar bred ner wode.
  • 1559 & ede þe Ceté to seche segges þurȝ-out,
  • 1560 Þat wer wyse of wyche-crafte & warlaȝes oþer,
  • 1561 Þat con dele wyth demerlayk, & deuine lettres:
  • 1562 “Calle hem alle to my cort þo calde clerkkes,
  • 1563 Vn-folde hem alle þis ferly þat is bifallen here,
  • 1564 & calle wyth a hiȝe cry; ‘he þat þe kyng wysses,
  • 1565 In expounyng of speche þat spredes in þise lettres,
  • 1566 & make þe mater to malt my mynde wyth-inne,
  • 1567 Þat I may wyterly wyt what þat wryt menes,
  • 1568 He schal þe gered ful gaye in gounes of porpre,
  • 1569 & a coler of cler golde clos vmbe his þrote;
  • 1570 He schal be prymate & prynce of pure clergye,
  • 1571 & of my þreuenest lordeȝ þe þrydde he schal
  • 1572 & of my reme þe rychest to ryde wyth myseluen,
  • 1573 Out-taken bare two & þenne he þe þrydde.’”
  • 1574 Þis cry watȝ vp-caste, & þer comen mony
  • 1575 Clerkes out of caldye þat kennest wer knauen,
  • 1576 As þe sage sathrapas þat sorsory couþe;
  • 1577 Wycheȝ & walkyries wonnen to þat sale,
  • 1578 Deuinores of demorlaykes þat dremes cowþe rede,
  • 1579 Sorsers & exorsismus & fele such clerkes;
  • 1580 & alle þat loked on þat letter as lewed þay were,
  • 1581 As þay had loked in þe leþer of my lyft bote.
  • 1582 Þenne cryes þe kyng & kerues his wedes;
  • 1583 What! he corsed his clerkes & calde hem chorles,
  • 1584 To henge þe harlotes he heȝed ful ofte,
  • 1585 So watȝ þe wyȝe wytles, he wed wel ner.
  • 1586 Ho herde hym chyde to þe chambre þat watȝ þe chef quene;
  • 1587 When ho watȝ wytered bi wyȝes what watȝ þe cause,
  • 1588 Suche a chaungande chaunce in þe chef halle,
  • 1589 Þe lady to lauce þat los þat þe lorde hade,
  • 1590 Glydes doun by þe grece & gos to þe kyng;
  • 1591 Ho kneles on þe colde erþe & carpes to hym seluen,
  • 1592 Wordes of worchyp wyth a wys speche.
  • 1593 “Kene kyng,” quod þe quene, “kayser of vrþe,
  • 1594 Euer laste þy lyf in lenþe of dayes;
  • 1595 Why hatȝ þou rended þy robe for redles here-inne,
  • 1596 Þaȝ þose ledes ben lewed lettres to rede,
  • 1597 & hatȝ a haþel in þy holde, as I haf herde ofte,
  • 1598 Þat hatȝ þe gostes of god þat gyes alle soþes;
  • 1599 His sawle is ful of syence, saȝes to schawe,
  • 1600 To open vch a hide þyng of aunteres vn-cowþe;
  • 1601 Þat is he þat ful ofte hatȝ heuened þy fader
  • 1602 Of mony anger ful hote with his holy speche.
  • 1603 When nabugo-de-noȝar watȝ nyed in stoundes,
  • 1604 He de-vysed his dremes to þe dere trawþe,
  • 1605 He keuered hym with his counsayl of caytyf wyrdes;
  • 1606 Alle þat he spured hym in space he expowned clene,
  • 1607 Þurȝ þe sped of þe spyryt þat sprad hym with-inne,
  • 1608 Of þe godelest goddeȝ þat gaynes ay-where.
  • 1609 For his depe diuinité & his dere sawes,
  • 1610 Þy bolde fader baltaȝar bede by his name,
  • 1611 Þat now is demed danyel of derne coninges,
  • 1612 Þat caȝt watȝ in þe captyuidé in cuntre of iues;
  • 1613 Nabuȝardan hym nome & now is he here,
  • 1614 A prophete of þat prouince & pryce of þe worlde.
  • 1615 Sende in-to þe ceté to seche hym bylyue,
  • 1616 & wynne hym with þe worchyp to wayne þe bote,
  • 1617 & þaȝ þe mater be merk þat merked is ȝender,
  • 1618 He schal de-clar hit also, as hit on clay stande.”
  • 1619 Þat gode counseyl at þe quene watȝ cached as swyþe,
  • 1620 Þe burne byfore baltaȝar watȝ broȝt in a whyle,
  • 1621 When he com bifore þe kyng & clanly had halsed,
  • 1622 Baltaȝar vmbe-brayde hym & “leue sir,” he sayde,
  • 1623 “Hit is tolde me bi tulkes, þat þou trwe were
  • 1624 Profete of þat prouynce þat prayed my fader,
  • 1625 Ande þat þou hatȝ in þy hert holy connyng,
  • 1626 Of sapyence þi sawle ful soþes to schawe;
  • 1627 Goddes gost is þe geuen þat gyes alle þynges,
  • 1628 & þou vnhyles vch hidde þat heuen kyng myntes;
  • 1629 & here is a ferly byfallen, & I fayn wolde
  • 1630 Wyt þe wytte of þe wryt, þat on þe wowe clyues,
  • 1631 For alle calde clerkes han cowwardely fayled;
  • 1632 If þou with quayntyse conquere hit, I quyte þe þy mede.
  • 1633 For if þou redes hit by ryȝt & hit to resoun brynges,
  • 1634 Fyrst telle me þe tyxte of þe tede lettres,
  • 1635 & syþen þe mater of þe mode, mene me þer-after,
  • 1636 & I schal halde þe þe hest þat I þe hyȝt haue;
  • 1637 Apyke þe in porpre cloþe, palle alþer-fynest,
  • 1638 & þe byȝe of bryȝt golde abowte þyn nekke,
  • 1639 & þe þryd þryuenest þat þrynges me after,
  • 1640 Þou schal be baroun vpon benche, bede I þe no lasse.”
  • 1641 Derfly þenne danyel deles þyse wordes:
  • 1642 “Ryche kyng of þis rengne rede þe oure lorde,
  • 1643 Hit is surely soth, þe souerayn of heuen
  • 1644 Fylsened euer þy fader & vpon folde cheryched,
  • 1645 Gart hym grattest to be of gouernores alle,
  • 1646 & alle þe worlde in his wylle welde as hym lykes.
  • 1647 Who-so wolde wel do, wel hym bityde,
  • 1648 & quos deth so he deȝyre he dreped als fast;
  • 1649 Who-so hym lyked to lyft, on lofte watȝ he sone,
  • 1650 & quo-so hym lyked to lay, watȝ loȝed bylyue.
  • 1651 So watȝ noted þe note of nabugo-de-noȝar,
  • 1652 Styfly stabled þe rengne bi þe stronge dryȝtyn,
  • 1653 For of þe hyȝest he hade a hope in his hert,
  • 1654 Þat vche pouer past out of [þ]at prynce euen;
  • 1655 & whyle þat watȝ cleȝt clos in his hert,
  • 1656 Þere watȝ no mon vpon molde of myȝt as hym seluen,
  • 1657 Til hit bitide on a tyme, towched hym pryde
  • 1658 For his lordeschyp so large, & his lyf ryche;
  • 1659 He hade so huge an insyȝt to his aune dedes,
  • 1660 Þat þe power of þe hyȝe prynce he purely forȝetes.
  • 1661 Þenne blynnes he not of blasfemyon to blame þe dryȝtyn,
  • 1662 His myȝt mete to goddes he made with his wordes:
  • 1663 “I am god of þe grounde, to gye as me lykes,
  • 1664 As he þat hyȝe is in heuen his aungeles þat weldes;
  • 1665 If he hatȝ formed þe folde & folk þer vpone,
  • 1666 I haf bigged babiloyne, burȝ alþer-rychest,
  • 1667 Stabled þer-inne vche a ston in strenkþe of myn armes,
  • 1668 Moȝt neuer myȝt bot myn make such anoþer.”
  • 1669 Watȝ not þis ilke worde wonnen of his mowþe one,
  • 1670 Er þenne þe souerayn saȝe souned in his eres,
  • 1671 “Now nabugo-de-noȝar innoȝe hatȝ spoken,
  • 1672 Now is alle þy pryncipalté past at ones,
  • 1673 & þou, remued fro monnes sunes, on mor most abide,
  • 1674 & in wasterne walk & wyth þe wylde dowelle,
  • 1675 As best, byte on þe bent of braken & erbes,
  • 1676 With wroþe wolfes to won & wyth wylde asses.”
  • 1677 In mydde þe poynt of his pryde de-parted he þere,
  • 1678 Fro þe soly of his solempneté, his solace he leues,
  • 1679 & carfully is out-kast to contré vnknawen,
  • 1680 Fer in-to a fyr fryth þere frekes neuer comen.
  • 1681 His hert heldet vnhole, he hoped non oþer
  • 1682 Bot a best þat he be, a bol oþer an oxe.
  • 1683 He fares forth on alle faure, fogge watȝ his mete,
  • 1684 & ete ay as a horce when erbes were fallen,
  • 1685 Þus he countes hym a kow, þat watȝ a kyng ryche,
  • 1686 Quyle seuen syþeȝ were ouer-seyed someres I trawe.
  • 1687 By þat, mony þik thyȝe þryȝt vmbe his lyre,
  • 1688 Þat alle watȝ dubbed & dyȝt in þe dew of heuen;
  • 1689 Faxe fyltered, & felt flosed hym vmbe,
  • 1690 Þat schad fro his schulderes to his schyre wykes,
  • 1691 & twenty-folde twynande hit to his tos raȝt
  • 1692 Þer mony clyuy as clyde hit clyȝt to-geder.
  • 1693 His berde I-brad alle his brest to þe bare vrþe,
  • 1694 His browes bresed as breres aboute his brode chekes;
  • 1695 Holȝe were his yȝen & vnder campe hores,
  • 1696 & al watȝ gray as þe glede, with ful grymme clawres
  • 1697 Þat were croked & kene as þe kyte paune;
  • 1698 Erne-hwed he watȝ & al ouer-brawden,
  • 1699 Til he wyst ful wel who wroȝt alle myȝtes,
  • 1700 & cowþe vche kyndam tokerue & keuer when hym lyked;
  • 1701 Þenne he wayned hym his wyt þat hade wo soffered,
  • 1702 Þat he com to knawlach & kenned hym seluen,
  • 1703 Þenne he laued þat lorde & leued in trawþe,
  • 1704 Hit watȝ non oþer þen he þat hade al in honde.
  • 1705 Þenne sone watȝ he sende agayn, his sete restored;
  • 1706 His barounes boȝed hym to, blyþe of his come,
  • 1707 Haȝerly in his aune hwe his heued watȝ couered,
  • 1708 & so ȝeply watȝ ȝarked & ȝolden his state.
  • 1709 Bot þou baltaȝar his barne & his bolde ayre,
  • 1710 Seȝ þese syngnes with syȝt & set hem at lyttel,
  • 1711 Bot ay hatȝ hofen þy hert agaynes þe hyȝe dryȝt[y]n,
  • 1712 With bobaunce & with blasfamye bost at hym kest,
  • 1713 & now his vessayles avyled in vanyté vnclene,
  • 1714 Þat in his hows hym to honour were heuened of fyrst;
  • 1715 Bifore þe barounȝ hatȝ hom broȝt, & byrled þerinne
  • 1716 Wale wyne to þy wenches in waryed stoundes;
  • 1717 Bifore þy borde hatȝ þou broȝt beuerage in þede,
  • 1718 Þat blyþely were fyrst blest with bischopes hondes,
  • 1719 Louande þeron lese goddeȝ, þat lyf haden neuer,
  • 1720 Made of stokkes & stoneȝ þat neuer styry moȝt.
  • 1721 & for þat froþande fylþe, þe fader of heuen
  • 1722 Hatȝ sende in-to þis sale þise syȝtes vncowþe,
  • 1723 Þe fyste with þe fyngeres þat flayed þi hert,
  • 1724 Þat rasped renyschly þe woȝe with þe roȝ penne.
  • 1725 Þise ar þe wordes here wryten with-oute werk more,
  • 1726 By vch fygure, as I fynde, as oure fader lykes.
  • 1727 “Mane, techal, phares, merked in þrynne,
  • 1728 Þat þretes þe of þyn vnþryfte vpon þre wyse;
  • 1729 Now expowne þe þis speche spedly I þenk.
  • 1730 Mane menes als much as, maynful gode
  • 1731 Hatȝ counted þy kyndam bi a clene noumbre,
  • 1732 & ful-fylled hit in fayth to þe fyrre ende.
  • 1733 To teche þe of techal, þat terme þus menes,
  • 1734 Þy wale rengne is walt in weȝtes to heng,
  • 1735 & is funde ful fewe of hit fayth dedes.
  • 1736 & phares folȝes for þose fawtes to frayst þe trawþe,
  • 1737 In phares fynde I forsoþe þise felle saȝes;
  • 1738 De-parted is þy pryncipalté, depryued þou worþes,
  • 1739 Þy rengne rafte is þe fro, & raȝt is þe perses,
  • 1740 Þe medes schal be maysteres here, & þou of menske schowued.”
  • 1741 Þe kyng comaunded anon to cleþe þat wyse,
  • 1742 In frokkes of fyn cloþ, as forward hit asked;
  • 1743 Þenne sone watȝ danyel dubbed in ful dere porpor
  • 1744 & a coler of cler golde kest vmbe his swyre.
  • 1745 Þen watȝ demed a de-cre bi þe duk seluen,
  • 1746 Bolde baltaȝa[r] bed þat hym bowe schulde
  • 1747 Þe comynes a lof calde þat to þe kyng longed,
  • 1748 As to þe prynce pryuyest preued þe þrydde,
  • 1749 Heȝest of alle oþer, saf onelych tweyne,
  • 1750 To boȝ after baltaȝar in borȝe & in felde.
  • 1751 Þys watȝ cryed & knawen in cort als fast,
  • 1752 & alle þe folk þer-of fayn þat folȝed hym tylle;
  • 1753 Bot how-so danyel watȝ dyȝt, þat day ouer-ȝede,
  • 1754 Nyȝt neȝed ryȝt now with nyes fol mony,
  • 1755 For daȝed neuer an oþer day þat ilk derk after,
  • 1756 Er dalt were þat ilk dome þat danyel deuysed,
  • 1757 Þe solace of þe solempneté in þat sale dured
  • 1758 Of þat farand fest, tyl fayled þe sunne;
  • 1759 Þenne blykned þe ble of þe bryȝt skwes,
  • 1760 Mourkenes þe mery weder, & þe myst dryues
  • 1761 Þorȝ þe lyst of þe lyfte, bi þe loȝ medoes;
  • 1762 Vche haþel to his home hyȝes ful fast,
  • 1763 Seten at her soper & songen þer-after,
  • 1764 Þen foundeȝ vch a felaȝschyp fyrre at forþ naȝtes.
  • 1765 Baltaȝar to his bedd with blysse watȝ caryed,
  • 1766 Reche þe rest as hym lyst, he ros neuer þer-after;
  • 1767 For his foes in þe felde in flokkes ful grete
  • 1768 Þat longe hade layted þat lede his londes to strye,
  • 1769 Now ar þay sodenly assembled at þe self tyme,
  • 1770 Of hem wyst no wyȝe þat in þat won dowelled.
  • 1771 Hit watȝ þe dere daryus þe duk of þise medes,
  • 1772 Þe prowde prynce of perce & porros of ynde,
  • 1773 With mony a legioun ful large, with ledes of armes,
  • 1774 Þat now hatȝ spyed a space to spoyle caldeeȝ.
  • 1775 Þay þrongen þeder in þe þester on þrawen hepes,
  • 1776 Asscaped ouer þe skyre watteres & scaþed þe walles,
  • 1777 Lyfte laddres ful longe & vpon lofte wonen,
  • 1778 Stelen stylly þe toun er any steuen rysed,
  • 1779 With-inne an oure of þe nyȝt an entré þay hade;
  • 1780 Ȝet afrayed þay no freke, fyrre þay passen,
  • 1781 & to þe palays pryncipal þay aproched ful stylle;
  • 1782 Þenne ran þay in on a res, on rowtes ful grete,
  • 1783 Blastes out of bryȝt brasse brestes so hyȝe,
  • 1784 Ascry scarred on þe scue þat scomfyted mony.
  • 1785 Segges slepande were slayne er þay slyppe myȝt,
  • 1786 Vche hous heyred watȝ, with-inne a honde-whyle;
  • 1787 Baltaȝar in his bed watȝ beten to deþe,
  • 1788 Þat boþe his blod & his brayn blende on þe cloþes;
  • 1789 The kyng in his cortyn watȝ kaȝt bi þe heles,
  • 1790 Feryed out bi þe fete & fowle dispysed;
  • 1791 Þat watȝ so doȝty þat day & drank of þe vessayl,
  • 1792 Now is a dogge al so dere þat in a dych lygges;
  • 1793 For þe mayster of þyse medes on þe morne ryses,
  • 1794 Dere daryous þat day dyȝt vpon trone,
  • 1795 Þat ceté seses ful sounde, & saȝtlyng makes
  • 1796 Wyth alle þe barounȝ þer-aboute, þat bowed hym after.
  • 1797 & þus watȝ þat londe lost for þe lordes synne,
  • 1798 & þe fylþe of þe freke þat defowled hade
  • 1799 Þe orne-mentes of goddeȝ hous þat holy were maked;
  • 1800 He watȝ corsed for his vn-clannes, & cached þer-inne,
  • 1801 Done doun of his dyngneté for dedeȝ vnfayre,
  • 1802 & of þyse worldes worchyp wrast out for euer,
  • 1803 & ȝet of lykynges on lofte letted, I trowe,
  • 1804 To loke on oure lofly lorde late bitydes.
  • 1805 Þus vpon þrynne wyses I haf yow þro schewed,
  • 1806 Þat vn-clannes to-cleues in corage dere
  • 1807 Of þat wynnelych lorde þat wonyes in heuen,
  • 1808 Entyses hym to be tene, telled vp his wrake;
  • 1809 Ande clannes is his comfort, & coyntyse he louyes,
  • 1810 & þose þat seme arn & swete schyn se his face.
  • 1811 Þat we gon gay in oure gere þat grace he vus sende,
  • 1812 Þat we may serue in his syȝt, þer solace neuer blynneȝ.
  • 1813 Amen.
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