The Gersum Project

Patience

1 Pacience is a poynt, þaȝ hit displese ofte,

2 When heuy herttes ben hurt wyth heþyng oþer elles,

3 Suffraunce may aswagen hem & þe swelme leþe,

4 For ho quelles vche a qued, & quenches malyce;

5 For quo-so suffer cowþe syt, sele wolde folȝe,

6 & quo for þro may noȝt þole, þe þikker he sufferes;

7 Þen is better to abyde þe bur vmbe-stoundes,

8 Þen ay þrow forth my þro, þaȝ me þynk ylle.

9 I herde on a halyday at a hyȝe masse,

10 How mathew melede, þat his mayster his meyny con teche,

11 Aȝt happes he hem hyȝt & vche on a mede,

12 Sunderlupes for hit dissert vpon a ser wyse:

13 Thay arn happen þat han in hert pouerté,

14 For hores is þe heuen-ryche to holde for euer;

15 Þay ar happen also þat haunte mekenesse,

16 For þay schal welde þis worlde & alle her wylle haue;

17 Thay ar happen also þat for her harme wepes,

18 For þay schal comfort encroche in kythes ful mony;

19 Þay ar happen also þat hungeres after ryȝt,

20 For þay schal frely be refete ful of alle gode;

21 Thay ar happen also þat han in hert rauþe,

22 For mercy in alle maneres her mede schal worþe;

23 Þay ar happen also þat arn of hert clene,

24 For þay her sauyour in sete schal se with her yȝen;

25 Thay ar happen also þat halden her pese,

26 For þay þe gracious godes sunes schal godly be called;

27 Þay ar happen also þat con her hert stere,

28 For hores is þe heuen-ryche, as I er sayde.

29 These arn þe happes alle aȝt þat vus bihyȝt weren,

30 If we þyse ladyes wolde lof in lyknyng of þewes;

31 Dame pouert, Dame pitee, Dame penaunce þe þrydde,

32 Dame Mekenesse, Dame mercy & Miry clannesse,

33 & þenne Dame pes & pacyence put in þer-after.

34 He were happen þat hade one, alle were þe better,

35 Bot syn I am put to a poynt þat pouerte hatte,

36 I schal me poruay pacyence, & play me with boþe;

37 For in þe tyxte, þere þyse two arn in teme layde,

38 Hit arn fettled in on forme, þe forme & þe laste,

39 & by quest of her quoyntyse enquylen on mede,

40 & als in myn vpynyoun hit arn of on kynde;

41 For þer as pouert hir proferes ho nyl be put vtter,

42 Bot lenge where-so-euer hir lyst, lyke oþer greme,

43 & þere as pouert enpresses, þaȝ mon pyne þynk,

44 Much maugre his mun, he mot nede suffer,

45 Thus pouerte & pacyence arn nedes play-feres.

46 Syþen I am sette with hem samen, suffer me by-houes,

47 Þenne is me lyȝtloker hit lyke & her lotes prayse,

48 Þenne wyþer wyth & be wroth & þe wers haue.

49 Ȝif me be dyȝt a destyné due to haue,

50 What dowes me þe dedayn, oþer dispit make?

51 Oþer ȝif my lege lorde lyst on lyue me to bidde,

52 Oþer to ryde, oþer to renne, to rome in his ernde,

53 What grayþed me þe grychchyng bot grame more seche?

54 Much ȝif he me ne made, maugref my chekes,

55 & þenne þrat moste I þole, & vnþonk to mede,

56 Þe[t] had bowed to his bode, bongre my hyure.

57 Did not Ionas in Iude suche Iape sum-whyle,

58 To sette hym to sewrte, vnsounde he hym feches?

59 Wyl ȝe tary a lyttel tyme & tent me a whyle,

60 I schal wysse yow þer-wyth as holy wryt telles.

61 Hit bi-tydde sum-tyme in þe termes of Iude,

62 Ionas ioyned watȝ þer-inne ientyle prophete;

63 Goddes glam to hym glod, þat hym vnglad made,

64 With a roghlych rurd rowned in his ere;

65 “Rys radly,” he says, “& rayke forth euen,

66 Nym þe way to nynyue, wyth-outen oþer speche,

67 & in þat cete my saȝes soghe alle aboute,

68 Þat, in þat place at þe poynt, I put in þi hert;

69 For Iwysse hit arn so wykke þat in þat won dowelleȝ,

70 & her malys is so much I may not abide,

71 Bot venge me on her vilanye & venym bilyue;

72 Now sweȝe me þider swyftly & say me þis arende.”

73 When þat steuen watȝ stynt, þat stowned his mynde,

74 Al he wrathed in his wyt & wyþerly he þoȝt,

75 If I bowe to his bode & bryng hem þis tale,

76 & I be Nummen in Nuniue, my nyes begynes;

77 He telles me þose traytoures arn typped schrewes,

78 I com wyth þose tyþynges, þay ta me bylyue,

79 Pyneȝ me in a prysoun, put me in stokkes,

80 Wryþe me in a warlok, wrast out myn yȝen.

81 Þis is a meruayl message a man for to preche,

82 Amonge enmyes so mony & mansed fendes;

83 Bot if my gaynlych god such gref to me wolde,

84 For desert of sum sake þat I slayn were,

85 At alle peryles, quod þe prophete, I aproche hit no nerre,

86 I wyl me sum oþer waye, þat he ne wayte after;

87 I schal tee in-to tarce, & tary þere a whyle,

88 & lyȝtly, when I am lest, he letes me alone.

89 Þenne he ryses radly, & raykes bilyue

90 Ionas toward port Iaph, ay Ianglande for tene,

91 Þat he nolde þole, for no-þyng, non of þose pynes,

92 Þaȝ þe fader þat hym formed were fale of his hele.

93 “Oure syre syttes,” he says, “on sege so hyȝe

94 In his g[l]wande glorye, & gloumbes ful lyttel,

95 Þaȝ I be nummen in nuniue & naked dispoyled,

96 On rode rwly to-rent, with rybaudes mony.”

97 Þus he passes to þat port, his passage to seche,

98 Fyndes he a fayr schyp to þe fare redy;

99 Maches hym with þe maryneres, makes her paye,

100 For to towe hym in-to tarce, as tyd as þay myȝt.

101 Then he tron on þo tres & þay her tramme ruchen,

102 Cachen vp þe crossayl, cables þay fasten,

103 Wiȝt at þe wyndlas weȝen her ankres,

104 Sprude spak to þe sprete þe spare bawe-lyne,

105 Gederen to þe gyde ropes, þe grete cloþ falles;

106 Þay layden in on ladde-borde & þe lofe wynnes.

107 Þe blyþe breþe at her bak þe bosum he fyndes,

108 He swenges me þys swete schip swefte fro þe hauen.

109 Watȝ neuer so Ioyful a Iue, as Ionas watȝ þenne,

110 Þat þe daunger of dryȝtyn so derfly ascaped;

111 He wende wel þat þat wyȝ þat al þe world planted,

112 Hade no maȝt in þat mere no man forto greue.

113 Lo! þe wytles wrechche, for he wolde noȝt suffer,

114 Now hatȝ he put hym in plyt of peril wel more;

115 Hit watȝ a wenyng vn-war þat welt in his mynde,

116 Þaȝ he were soȝt fro samarye þat god seȝ no fyrre,

117 Ȝise he blusched ful brode, þat burde hym by sure,

118 Þat ofte kyd hym þe carpe þat kyng sayde,

119 Dyngne dauid on des, þat demed þis speche,

120 In a psalme þat he set þe sauter with-inne;

121 O Foleȝ in folk feleȝ oþer whyle,

122 & vnderstondes vmbe-stounde, þaȝ he be stape fole,

123 Hope ȝe þat he heres not þat eres alle made?

124 Hit may not be þat he is blynde þat bigged vche yȝe.

125 Bot he dredes no dynt þat dotes for elde,

126 For he watȝ fer in þe flod foundande to tarce;

127 Bot, I trow, ful tyd, ouer-tan þat he were,

128 So þat schomely to schort he schote of his ame.

129 For þe welder of wyt, þat wot alle þynges,

130 Þat ay wakes & waytes, at wylle hatȝ he slyȝtes;

131 He calde on þat ilk crafte he carf with his hondes,

132 Þay wakened wel þe wroþeloker, for wroþely he cleped:

133 “Ewrus & aquiloun, þat on est sittes,

134 Blowes boþe at my bode vpon blo watteres.”

135 Þenne watȝ no tom þer bytwene his tale & her dede,

136 So bayn wer þay boþe two, his bone for to wyrk.

137 An-on out of þe norþ est þe noys bigynes,

138 When boþe breþes con blowe vpon blo watteres;

139 Roȝ rakkes þer ros with rudnyng an-vnder,

140 Þe see souȝed ful sore, gret selly to here;

141 Þe wyndes on þe wonne water so wrastel to-geder,

142 Þat þe wawes ful wode waltered so hiȝe,

143 & efte busched to þe abyme þat breed fysches;

144 Durst nowhere for roȝ arest at þe bothem.

145 When þe breth & þe brok & þe bote metten,

146 Hit watȝ a ioyles gyn þat Ionas watȝ inne,

147 For hit reled on roun[d] vpon þe roȝe yþes..

148 Þe bur ber to hit baft þat braste alle her gere,

149 Þen hurled on a hepe þe helme & þe sterne,

150 Furst to murte mony rop & þe mast after.

151 Þe sayl sweyed on þe see, þenne suppe bihoued

152 Þe coge of þe colde water, & þenne þe cry ryses;

153 Ȝet coruen þay þe cordes & kest al þer-oute.

154 Mony ladde þer forth-lep to laue & to kest,

155 Scopen out þe scaþel water, þat fayn scape wolde;

156 For be monnes lode neuer so luþer, þe lyf is ay swete.

157 Þer watȝ busy ouer-borde bale to kest

158 Her bagges, & her feþer beddes, & her bryȝt wedes,

159 Her kysttes, & her coferes, her caraldes alle,

160 & al to lyȝten þat lome, ȝif leþe wolde schape;

161 Bot euer watȝ ilyche loud þe lot of þe wyndes,

162 & euer wroþer þe water, & wodder þe stremes.

163 Þen þo wery for-wroȝt wyst no bote,

164 Bot vchon glewed on his god þat gayned hym beste;

165 Summe to vernagu þer vouched a-vowes solemne,

166 Summe to diana deuout, & derf nepturne,

167 To mahoun & to mergot, þe mone & þe sunne,

168 & vche lede as he loued & layde had his hert.

169 Þenne bispeke þe spakest dispayred wel nere:

170 I leue here be sum losynger, sum lawles wrech,

171 Þat hatȝ greued his god & gotȝ here amonge vus;

172 Lo al synkes in his synne & for his sake marres!

173 I lovne þat we lay lotes on ledes vchone,

174 & who-so lympes þe losse, lay hym þer-oute;

175 & quen þe gulty is gon what may gome trawe,

176 Bot he þat rules þe rak may rwe on þose oþer?

177 Þis watȝ sette in asent, & sembled þay were,

178 Herȝed out of vche hyrne to hent þat falles.

179 A lodes-mon lyȝtly lep vnder hachches,

180 For to layte mo ledes & hem to lote bryng,

181 Bot hym fayled no freke þat he fynde myȝt,

182 Saf Ionas þe Iwe þat Iowked in derne.

183 He watȝ flowen for ferde of þe flode lotes

184 In-to þe boþem of þe bot, & on a brede lyggede,

185 On helde by þe hurrok, for þe heuen wrache,

186 Slypped vpon a sloumbe, selepe, & sloberande he routes.

187 Þe freke hym frunt with his fot & bede hym ferk vp,

188 Þer ragnel in his rakentes hym rere of his dremes;

189 Bi þe haspede he hentes hym þenne,

190 & broȝt hym vp by þe brest & vpon borde sette,

191 Arayned hym ful runyschly what raysoun he hade

192 In such slaȝtes of sorȝe to slepe so faste;

193 Sone haf þay her sortes sette & serelych deled,

194 & ay þe lote, vpon laste, lymped on Ionas.

195 Þenne ascryed þay hym sckete, & asked ful loude,

196 “What þe deuel hatȝ þou don, doted wrech?

197 What seches þou on see, synful schrewe,

198 With þy lastes so luþer to lose vus vchone?

199 Hatȝ þou, gome, no gouernour ne god on to calle,

200 Þat þou þus slydes on slepe when þou slayn worþes?

201 Of what londe art þou lent, what laytes þou here

202 Whyder in worlde þat þou wylt, & what is þyn arnde?

203 Lo þy dom is þe dyȝt, for þy dedes ille!

204 Do gyf glory to þy godde, er þou glyde hens.”

205 “I am an Ebru,” quod he, “of Israyl borne;

206 Þat wyȝe I worchyp, Iwysse, þat wroȝt alle þynges,

207 Alle þe worlde with þe welkyn, þe wynde & þe sternes,

208 & alle þat woneȝ þer with-inne, at a worde one.

209 Alle þis meschef for me is made at þys tyme,

210 For I haf greued my god & gulty am founden;

211 For-þy bereȝ me to þe borde, & baþeþes me þer-oute,

212 Er gete ȝe no happe, I hope forsoþe.”

213 He ossed hym by vnnynges þat þay vnder-nomen,

214 Þat he watȝ flawen fro þe face of frelych dryȝtyn;

215 Þenne such a ferde on hem fel & flayed hem with-inne,

216 Þat þay ruyt hym to rowwe & letten þe rynk one.

217 Haþeles hyȝed in haste with ores ful longe,

218 Syn her sayl watȝ hem aslypped on sydeȝ to rowe;

219 Hef & hale vpon hyȝt to helpen hym seluen,

220 Bot al watȝ nedles note, þat nolde not bityde:

221 In bluber of þe blo flod bursten her ores,

222 Þenne hade þay noȝt in her honde þat hem help myȝt;

223 Þenne nas no coumfort to keuer, ne counsel non oþer,

224 Bot ionas in-to his Iuis Iugge bylyue.

225 Fyrst þay prayen to þe prynce þat prophetes seruen,

226 Þat he gef hem þe grace to greuen hym neuer,

227 Þat þay in baleleȝ blod þer blenden her handeȝ,

228 Þaȝ þat haþel wer his, þat þay here quelled.

229 Tyd by top & bi to þay token hym synne,

230 In-to þat lodlych loȝe þay luche hym sone;

231 He watȝ no tytter out-tulde þat tempest ne sessed,

232 Þe se saȝtled þer-with, as sone as ho moȝt.

233 Þenne þaȝ her takel were torne, þat totered on yþeȝ,

234 Styffe stremes & streȝt hem strayned a whyle,

235 Þat drof hem dryȝlych adoun þe depe to serue,

236 Tyl a swetter ful swyþe hem sweȝed to bonk.

237 Þer watȝ louyng on lofte, when þay þe londe wonnen,

238 To oure mercyable god, on moyses wyse,

239 With sacrafyse vp-set, & solempne vowes,

240 & graunted hym vn-to be god & graythly non oþer;

241 Þaȝ þay be Iolef for Ioye, Ionas ȝet dredes,

242 Þaȝ he nolde suffer no sore, his seele is on anter;

243 For what-so worþed of þat wyȝe, fro he in water dipped,

244 Hit were a wonder to wene, ȝif holy wryt nere.

245 Now is ionas þe Iwe Iugged to drowne;

246 Of þat schended schyp men schowued hym sone.

247 A wylde walterande whal, as wyrde þen schaped,

248 Þat watȝ beten fro þe abyme, bi þat bot flotte,

249 & watȝ war of þat wyȝe þat þe water soȝte,

250 & swyftely swenged hym to swepe & his swolȝ opened;

251 Þe folk ȝet haldande his fete þe fysch hym tyd hentes,

252 With-outen towche of any tothe he tult in his þrote.

253 Thenne he swengeȝ & swayues to þe se boþem,

254 Bi mony rokkeȝ ful roȝe & rydelande strondes,

255 Wyth þe mon in his mawe, malskred in drede.

256 As lyttel wonder hit watȝ ȝif he wo dreȝed,

257 For nade þe hyȝe heuen kyng, þurȝ his honde myȝt,

258 Warded þis wrech man in warlowes gutteȝ,

259 What lede moȝt lyue bi lawe of any kynde,

260 Þat any lyf myȝt be lent so longe hym with-inne?

261 Bot he watȝ sokored by þat syre þat syttes so hiȝe,

262 Þaȝ were wauleȝ of wele, in wombe of þat fissche,

263 & also dryuen þurȝ þe depe, & in derk waltereȝ.

264 Lorde! colde watȝ his cumfort & his care huge,

265 For he knew vche a cace & kark þat hym lymped;

266 How fro þe bot in-to þe blober watȝ with a best lachched,

267 & þrwe in at hit þrote, with-outen þret more,

268 As mote in at a munster dor, so mukel wern his chawleȝ,

269 He glydes in by þe giles, þurȝ glaymande glette,

270 Relande in by a rop, a rode þat hym þoȝt,

271 Ay hele ouer hed, hourlande aboute,

272 Til he blunt in a blok as brod as a halle;

273 & þer he festnes þe fete & fathmeȝ aboute,

274 & stod vp in his stomak, þat stank as þe deuel;

275 Þer in saym & in sorȝe þat sauoured as helle,

276 Þer watȝ bylded his bour, þat wyl no bale suffer;

277 & þenne he lurkkes & laytes where watȝ le best,

278 In vche a nok of his nauel, bot nowhere he fyndeȝ

279 No rest ne recouerer, bot ramelande myre,

280 In wych gut so euer he gotȝ; bot euer is god swete;

281 & þer he lenged at þe last & to þe lede called.

282 “Now prynce, of þy prophete pité þou haue!

283 Þaȝ I be fol, & fykel, & falce of my hert,

284 De-woyde now þy vengaunce, þurȝ vertu of rauthe;

285 Thaȝ I be gulty of gyle as gaule of prophetes,

286 Þou art god, & alle gowdeȝ ar grayþely þyn owen;

287 Haf now mercy of þy man & his mys-dedes,

288 & preue þe lyȝtly a lorde, in londe & in water.”

289 With þat he hitte to a hyrne & helde hym þer-inne,

290 Þer no de-foule of no fylþe watȝ fest hym abute;

291 Þer he sete also sounde, saf for merk one,

292 As in þe bulk of þe bote, þer he by-fore sleped.

293 So in a bouel of þat best he bideȝ on lyue,

294 Þre dayes & þ[r]e nyȝt ay þenkande on dryȝtyn,

295 His myȝt & his merci, his mesure þenne;

296 Now he knaweȝ hym in care þat couþe not in sele.

297 Ande euer walteres þis whal bi wyldren depe,

298 Þurȝ mony a regioun ful roȝe, þurȝ ronk of his wylle,

299 For þat mote in his mawe mad hym, I trowe,

300 Þaȝ hit lyttel were, hym wyth to wamel at his hert,

301 Ande assayled þe segge; ay sykerly he herde

302 Þe bygge borne on his bak & bete on his sydes;

303 Þen a prayer ful prest þe prophete þer maked

304 On þis wyse, as I wene, his wordeȝ were mony:

305 “Lorde to þe haf I cleped, in careȝ ful stronge,

306 Out of þe hole þou me herde, of hellen wombe

307 I calde, & þou knew myn vncler steuen;

308 Þou dipteȝ me of þe depe se, in-to þe dymme hert,

309 Þe grete flem of þy flod folded me vmbe;

310 Alle þe goteȝ of þy guferes, & groundeleȝ powleȝ,

311 & þy stryuande stremeȝ of stryndeȝ so mony,

312 In on daschande dam, dryueȝ me ouer;

313 & ȝet I say, as I seet in þe se boþem,

314 ‘Care-ful am I kest out fro þy cler yȝen

315 & deseuered fro þy syȝt; ȝet surely I hope,

316 Efte to trede on þy temple & teme to þy seluen.’

317 I am wrapped in water to my wo stoundeȝ,

318 Þe abyme byndes þe body þat I byde inne;

319 Þe pure poplande hourle playes on my heued,

320 To laste mere of vche a mount man am I fallen;

321 Þe barreȝ of vche a bonk ful bigly me haldes,

322 Þat I may lachche no lont & þou my lyf weldes;

323 Þou schal releue me renk, whil þy ryȝt slepeȝ,

324 Þurȝ myȝt of þy mercy þat mukel is to tryste.

325 For when þacces of anguych watȝ hid in my sawle,

326 Þenne I remembred me ryȝt of my rych lorde,

327 Prayande him for peté his prophete to here,

328 Þat in-to his holy hous myn orisoun moȝt entre.

329 I haf meled with þy maystres mony longe day,

330 Bot now I wot wyterly, þat þose vnwyse ledes

331 Þat affyen hym in vanyté & in vayne þynges,

332 For þink þat mountes to noȝt, her mercy forsaken;

333 Bot I dewoutly awowe þat verray betȝ halden,

334 Soberly to do þe sacrafyse when I schal saue worþe,

335 & offer þe for my hele a ful hol gyfte,

336 & halde goud þat þou me hetes; haf here my trauthe.”

337 Thenne oure fader to þe fysch ferslych biddeȝ,

338 Þat he hym sput spakly vpon spare drye;

339 Þe whal wendeȝ at his wylle & a warþe fyndeȝ,

340 & þer he brakeȝ vp þe buyrne, as bede hym oure lorde.

341 Þenne he swepe to þe sonde in sluchched cloþes,

342 Hit may wel be þat mester were his mantyle to wasche;

343 Þe bonk þat he blosched to & bode hym bisyde,

344 Wern of þe regiounes ryȝt þat he renayed hade;

345 Þenne a wynde of goddeȝ worde efte þe wyȝe bruxleȝ,

346 “Nylt þou neuer to nuniue bi no-kynneȝ wayeȝ?”

347 “Ȝisse lorde,” quod þe lede, “lene me þy grace

348 For to go at þi gre, me gayneȝ non oþer.”

349 “Ris, aproche þen to prech, lo þe place here!

350 Lo! my lore is in þe loke, lance hit þer-inne.”

351 Þenne þe renk radly ros as he myȝt,

352 & to niniue þat naȝt he neȝed ful euen;

353 Hit watȝ a ceté ful syde & selly of brede,

354 On to þrenge þer-þurȝe watȝ þre dayes dede.

355 Þat on Iournay ful Ioynt Ionas hym ȝede,

356 Er euer he warpped any worde to wyȝe þat he mette,

357 & þenne he cryed so cler, þat kenne myȝt alle;

358 Þe trwe tenor of his teme he tolde on þis wyse:

359 “Ȝet schal forty dayeȝ fully fare to an ende,

360 & þenne schal Niniue be nomen & to noȝt worþe;

361 Truly þis ilk toun schal tylte to grounde,

362 Vp-so-doun schal ȝe dumpe depe to þe abyme,

363 To be swolȝed swyftly wyth þe swart erþe,

364 & alle þat lyuyes here-inne lose þe swete.”

365 Þis speche sprang in þat space & spradde alle aboute,

366 To borges & to bacheleres, þat in þat burȝ lenged;

367 Such a hidor hem bent & a hatel drede,

368 Þat al chaunged her chere & chylled at þe hert.

369 Þe segge sesed not ȝet, bot sayde euer ilyche

370 “Þe verray vengaunce of god schal voyde þis place.”

371 Þenne þe peple pitosly pleyned ful stylle,

372 & for þe drede of dryȝtyn doured in hert;

373 Heter hayreȝ þay hent þat asperly bited,

374 & þose þay bounden to her bak & to her bare sydeȝ,

375 Dropped dust on her hede & dymly bisoȝten,

376 Þat þat penaunce plesed him þat playneȝ on her wronge.

377 & ay he cryes in þat kyth tyl þe kyng herde;

378 & he radly vp-ros & ran fro his chayer,

379 His ryche robe he to-rof of his rigge naked,

380 & of a hep of askes he hitte in þe myddeȝ;

381 He askeȝ heterly a hayre & hasped hym vmbe,

382 Sewed a sekke þer abof, & syked ful colde;

383 Þer he dased in þat duste, with droppande teres,

384 Wepande ful wonderly alle his wrange dedes.

385 Þenne sayde he to his seriauntes, “samnes yow bilyue,

386 Do dryue out a decre demed of my seluen,

387 Þat alle þe bodyes þat ben with-inne þis borȝ quyk,

388 Boþe burnes & bestes, burdeȝ & childer,

389 Vch prynce, vche prest & prelates alle,

390 Alle faste frely for her falce werkes;

391 Seseȝ childer of her sok, soghe hem so neuer,

392 Ne best bite on no brom, ne no bent nauþer,

393 Passe to no pasture, ne pike non erbes,

394 Ne non oxe to no hay, ne no horse to water;

395 Al schal crye for-clemmed, with alle oure clere strenþe,

396 Þe rurd schal ryse to hym þat rawþe schal haue;

397 What wote oþer wyte may ȝif þe wyȝe lykes,

398 Þat is hende in þe hyȝt of his gentryse?

399 I wot his myȝt is so much, þaȝ he be mysse-payed,

400 Þat in his mylde amesyng he mercy may fynde;

401 & if we leuen þe layk of oure layth synnes,

402 & stylle steppen in þe styȝe he styȝtleȝ hym seluen,

403 He wyl wende of his wodschip, & his wrath leue,

404 & for-gif vus þis gult ȝif we hym god leuen.”

405 Þenne al leued on his lawe & laften her synnes,

406 Par-formed alle þe penaunce þat þe prynce radde;

407 & god þurȝ his godnesse forgef as he sayde,

408 Þaȝ he oþer bihyȝt, [&] with-helde his vengaunce.

409 Muche sorȝe þenne satteled vpon segge Ionas,

410 He wex as wroth as þe wynde towarde oure lorde,

411 So hatȝ anger onhit his hert; he calleȝ

412 A prayer to þe hyȝe prynce, for pyne, on þys wyse:

413 “I biseche þe syre now þou self iugge,

414 Watȝ not þis ilk my worde þat worþen is nouþe,

415 Þat I kest in my cuntre, when þou þy carp sendeȝ,

416 Þat I schulde tee to þys toun, þi talent to preche?

417 Wel knew I þi cortaysye, þy quoynt soffraunce.

418 Þy bounté of debonerté & þy bene grace,

419 Þy longe abydyng wyth lur, þy late vengaunce,

420 & ay þy mercy is mete, be mysse neuer so huge.

421 I wyst wel when I hade worded quatsoeuer I cowþe,

422 To manace alle þise mody men þat in þis mote dowelleȝ,

423 Wyth a prayer & a pyne þay myȝt her pese gete,

424 & þer-fore I wolde haf flowen fer in-to tarce.

425 Now lorde lach out my lyf, hit lastes to longe,

426 Bed me bilyue my bale stour, & bryng me on ende,

427 For me were swetter to swelt, as swyþe as me þynk,

428 Þen lede lenger þi lore, þat þus me les makeȝ.”

429 Þe soun of oure souerayn þen swey in his ere,

430 Þat vpbraydes þis burne vpon a breme wyse:

431 “Herk renk! is þis ryȝt so ronkly to wrath,

432 For any dede þat I haf don oþer demed þe ȝet?”

433 Ionas al Ioyles & Ianglande vp-ryses

434 & haldeȝ out on est half of þe hyȝe place,

435 & farandely on a felde he fetteleȝ hym to bide,

436 For to wayte on þat won what schulde worþe after.

437 Þer he busked hym a bour, þe best þat he myȝt,

438 Of hay & of euer-ferne & erbeȝ a fewe,

439 For hit watȝ playn in þat place for plyande greueȝ,

440 For to schylde fro þe schene, oþer any schade keste.

441 He bowed vnder his lyttel boþe, his bak to þe sunne,

442 & þer he swowed & slept sadly al nyȝt,

443 Þe whyle god of his grace ded growe of þat soyle,

444 Þe fayrest bynde hym abof þat euer burne wyste.

445 When þe dawande day dryȝtyn con sende,

446 Þenne wakened þe wyȝ vnder wodbynde,

447 Loked alofte on þe lef þat lylled grene;

448 Such a lefsel of lof neuer lede hade,

449 For hit watȝ brod at þe boþem, boȝted onlofte,

450 Happed vpon ayþer half a hous as hit were,

451 A nos on þe norþ syde & nowhere non elleȝ,

452 Bot al schet in a schaȝe þat schaded ful cole.

453 Þe gome glyȝt on þe grene graciouse leues,

454 Þat euer wayued a wynde so wyþe & so cole;

455 Þe schyre sunne hit vmbe-schon, þaȝ no schafte myȝt

456 Þe mountaunce of a lyttel mote, vpon þat man schyne,

457 Þenne watȝ þe gome so glad of his gay logge,

458 Lys loltrande þer-inne, lokande to toune,

459 So blyþe of his wodbynde he balteres þer vnde[r],

460 Þat of no diete þat day þe deuel haf, he roȝt;

461 & euer he laȝed as he loked þe loge alle aboute,

462 & wysched hit were in his kyth, þer he wony schulde,

463 On heȝe vpon Effraym oþer ermonnes hilleȝ,

464 “I-wysse a worþloker won to welde I neuer keped.”

465 & quen hit neȝed to naȝt nappe hym bihoued;

466 He slydeȝ on a sloumbe, slep sloghe vnder leues,

467 Whil god wayned a worme þat wrot vpe þe rote,

468 & wyddered watȝ þe wodbynde bi þat þe wyȝe wakned;

469 & syþen he warneȝ þe west to waken ful softe,

470 & sayeȝ vnte ȝeferus þat he syfle warme,

471 Þat þer quikken no cloude bi-fore þe cler sunne,

472 & ho schal busch vp ful brode & brenne as a candel.

473 Þen wakened þe wyȝe of his wyl dremes,

474 & blusched to his wodbynde þat broþely watȝ marred,

475 Al welwed & wasted þo worþelych leues;

476 Þe schyre sunne hade hem schent, er euer þe schalk wyst,

477 & þen hef vp þe hete & heterly brenned;

478 Þe warm wynde of þe weste wertes he swyþeȝ.

479 Þe man marred on þe molde þat moȝt hym not hyde,

480 His wodbynde watȝ away, he weped for sorȝe,

481 “With hatel anger & hot, heterly he calleȝ:

482 A! þou maker of man, what maystery þe þynkeȝ

483 Þus þy freke to forfare forbi alle oþer,

484 With alle meschef þat þou may, neuer þou me spareȝ?

485 I keuered me a cumfort þat now is caȝt fro me,

486 My wod-bynde so wlonk þat wered my heued,

487 Bot now I se þou art sette my solace to reue;

488 Why ne dyȝtteȝ þou me to diȝe; I dure to longe?”

489 Ȝet oure lorde to þe lede lansed a speche:

490 “Is þis ryȝt-wys þou renk, alle þy ronk noyse,

491 So wroth for a wodbynde to wax so sone,

492 Why art þou so waymot wyȝe for so lyttel?”

493 “Hit is not lyttel,” quod þe lede, “bot lykker to ryȝt,

494 I wolde I were of þis worlde wrapped in moldeȝ.”

495 “Þenne byþenk þe mon, if þe for-þynk sore,

496 If I wolde help my honde werk, haf þou no wonder;

497 Þou art waxen so wroth for þy wod-bynde,

498 & trauayledeȝ neuer to tent hit þe tyme of an howre,

499 Bot at a wap hit here wax & away at an oþer,

500 & ȝet lykeȝ þe so luþer, þi lyf woldeȝ þou tyne;

501 Þenne wyte not me for þe werk þat I hit wolde help,

502 & rwe on þo redles þat remen for synne.

503 Fyrst I made hem myself of materes myn one,

504 & syþen I loked hem ful longe & hem on lode hade;

505 & if I my trauayl schulde tyne of termes so longe,

506 & type doun ȝonder toun when hit turned were,

507 Þe sor of such a swete place burde synk to my hert,

508 So mony malicious mon as mourneȝ þer-inne;

509 & of þat soumme ȝet arn summe such sotteȝ for madde,

510 As lyttel barneȝ on barme þat neuer bale wroȝt,

511 & wymmen vnwytté þat wale ne couþe

512 Þat on hande fro þat oþer for alle þis hyȝe worlde,

513 Bitwene þe stele & þe stayre disserne noȝt cunen,

514 What rule renes in roun bitwene þe ryȝt hande

515 & his lyfte, þaȝ his lyf schulde lost be þer-for;

516 & als þer ben doumbe besteȝ in þe burȝ mony,

517 Þat may not synne in no syt hem seluen to greue,

518 Why schulde I wrath wyth hem, syþen wyȝeȝ wyl torne,

519 & cum & cnawe me for kyng, & my carpe leue?

520 Wer I as hastif a[s] þou, heere were harme lumpen,

521 Couþe I not þole bot as þou þer þryued ful fewe;

522 I may not be so mal[i]cious & mylde be halden,

523 For malyse is noȝ[t] to mayntyne boute mercy withinne;

524 Be noȝt so gryndel god man, bot go forth þy wayes.”

525 Be preue & be pacient, in payne & in Ioye,

526 For he þat is to rakel to renden his cloþeȝ,

527 Mot efte sitte with more vn-sounde to sewe hem togeder.

528 For-þy when pouerté me enpreceȝ & payneȝ in-noȝe,

529 Ful softly with suffraunce saȝttel me bihoueȝ,

530 For þe penaunce & payne to preue hit in syȝt,

531 Þat pacience is a nobel poynt, þaȝ hit displese ofte. Amen.