Title:Pricke of Conscience
Author:Anonymous
Editor:Richard Morris
Source:GALBA E IX, HARLEY 4196
Edition:Electronic Version
Responsibility:CARTAH
Extent:pp. 259, ll. 9624
City:Berlin
Date:1853
Copyright:Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
Note:Northern Version, late 14c. Originally prepared for use by the Middle English Dialect Project. [See also Southern Version, Anglo-Irish Version, Latin Stimulus conscientiae prose translation.]
Text ID:Morris 1853

The Pricke of Conscience
Anonymous
Richard Morris, ed. — Berlin 1853

PartCONTENTSPage/Line
PROLOGUE 1/1
Part IMANS WRECHEDNES 11/370
Part IIyE WORLD 26/932
Part IIIyE DED 46/1664
Part IVPURGATORY 74/2690
Part VyE DAY OF DOME 108/3966
Part VIyE PAYNES OF HELLE 173/6421
Part VIIyE IOYES OF HEVEN 203/7532
EPILOGUE 256/9533

[PROLOGUE]/[CONTENTS]

001
yE MYGHT OF yE FADER ALMYGHTY,
yE WITTE OF yE SON ALWYTTY,
AND yE GUDNES OF yE HALIGAST,
A GODDE AND LORDE OF MYGHT MAST,
BE WYTH US AND US HELP AND SPEDE,
NOW AND EVER, IN AL OUR NEDE;
AND SPECIALY AT THIS BYGYNNYNG,
AND BRYNG US ALLE TIL GUDE ENDYNG. AMEN.
BEFORE AR ANY THYNG WAS WROGHT,
AND AR ANY BYGYNNYNG WAS OF OGHT,
AND BEFOR AL TYMES, ALS WE SAL TROW,
yE SAM GOD AY WAS yAT ES NOW,
yAT WONED EVER IN HIS GODHEDE,
AND IN THRE PERSONS AND ANHEDE.
FOR GOD WALD AY WITH yE FADER AND yE SON
AND WYTH yE HALIGAST IN ANHEDE WON,
ALS GOD IN A SUBSTANCE AND BEYNG
WITH-OUTEN ANY BYGYNNYNG;
BYGYNNYNG OF HYM, MYGHT NEVER NAN BE,
HE WAS AY GOD IN TRINITE,
yAT WAS AY ALS WYS AND FUL OF WYTTE,
AND ALS MYGHTY ALS HE ES YHITTE,
WUHeAS MYGHT AND WYTTE OF HIM-SELVE WAS TAN,
FOR NEVER NA GOD WAS BOT HE ALAN.
yE SAM GOD SYTHYN WAS yE BYGYNNYNG,
AND yE FIRST MAKER OF ALLE THYNG;
002
AND ALS HE IS BYGYNNYNG OF ALLE,
WYTH-OUTEN BYGYNNYNG SWA WE HIM CALL,
ENDE OF AL WYTH-OUTEN ENDE,
yUS ES IN HALY BOKES CONTENDE;
FOR ALS HE WAS AY GOD IN TRINITE
SWA HE ES, AND AY GOD SAL BE;
AND ALS HE FIRST BYGAN ALLE THING,
SWA SAL HE, AT yE LAST, MAK ENDYNG
OF ALLE yING BOT OF HEVEN AND HELLE,
AND OF MAN, AND FENDE, AND AUNGELLE,
yAT AFTIR yIS LYFE SAL LYF AY,
AND NA QWIK CREATURE BOT yAI,
ALS MEN MAY SE IN yIS BOKE CONTENDE,
yAT WILLE IT SE OR HERE TO yE ENDE.
AND GOD THAT MAD MAN SAL AY BE yAN,
ALS HE IS NOW, GOD AND MAN.
ALLE THYNG THURGH HIS MYGHT MADE HE,
FOR WITH-OUTEN HYM MYGHT NATHING BE.
ALLE THYNG yAT HE BYGAN AND WROGHT
WAS BYFOR yE BYGYNNYNG NOGHT.
ALLE THING HE ORDAYND AFTIR IS WILLE
IN SERE KYNDES, FOR CERTAYN SKYLLE;
WHAR-FOR yE CREATOURS yAT ER DOM,
AND NA WITT NE SKILLE HAS, ER BUGHSOM
TO LOF HYM, ALS yE BOKE BERES WYTNESSE,
ON yAIR MANER ALS yAIR KYND ESSE.
FOR ILK A THYNG yAT GOD HAS WROGHT,
yAT FOLOWES yE KYND AND PASSES IT NOGHT,
LOVES HIS MAKER AND HYM WORSHEPES,
IN yAT AT HE yE KYND RIGHT KEPES;
SEN yE CREATURES yAT SKILL HAS NANE,
HYM LOVES IN yE KYNDE yAT yAI HAF TANE;
yAN AGHT MAN yAT HAS SKILLE AND MYNDE
HYS CREATUR WORSHEPE IN HIS KYNDE,
AND NOGHT TO BE OF WERS CONDICION
yAN yE CREATOURS WITH-OUTEN RESON.
MANS KYND ES TO FOLOW GODDES WILLE
AND ALLE HYS COMANDMENTES TO FULFILLE;
003
FOR OF ALLE yAT GOD MADE, MARE AND LES,
MAN MAST PRINCIPAL CREATURE ES,
AND ALLE yAT HE MADE WAS FOR MAN DONE,
ALS YHE SAL HERE AFTIRWARD SONE.
GOD TO MANS KYND HAD GRETE LUFE
WHEN HE ORDAYND, FOR MANS BYHUFE,
HEVEN AND HERTH AND yE WERLD BRADE,
AND AL OTHER THYNG, AND MAN LAST MADE
TIL HYS LYKNES AND SEMELY STATURE;
AND MADE HYM MAST DIGNE CREATURE
OF AL OTHER CREATURS OF KYNDE;
AND GAF HYM WYTTE, SKILLE AND MYNDE,
FOR TO KNAW GUDE AND ILLE;
AND yARE-WITH HE GAF HYM A FRE WILLE
FOR TO CHESE, AND FOR TO HALDE
GUDE OR ILLE, WETHIR HE WALDE;
AND ALSWA HE ORDAYND MAN TO DWELLE
AND TO LYF IN ERTHE, IN FLESSHE AND FELLE,
TO KNAW HIS WERKES AND HIM WORSHEPE,
AND HIS COMANDMENTES TO KEPE;
AND IF HE BE TIL GOD BOUSOM,
TIL ENDELES BLIS AT yE LAST TO COM;
AND, PYNE OF HELLE, yAT HAS NAN ENDE.
TIL PYNE OF HELLE, yAT HAS NAN ENDE.
ILK MAN yAT HERE LYVES, MARE AND LESSE,
GOD MADE TIL HIS AWEN LYKNESSE;
TIL WHAM HE HAS GYVEN WITTE AND SKILLE
FOR TO KNAW BOTHE GUDE AND ILLE,
AND FRE WILLE TO CHESE, ALS HE VOUCHES SAVE,
GUDE OR ILLE WHETHER HE WIL HAVE;
BOT HE yAT HIS WILLE TIL GOD WIL SETTE,
GRETE MEDE yARFOR MON HE GETTE;
AND HE yAT TIL ILLE SETTES HIS WILLE
GRETE PAYNE SAL HAVE FOR yAT ILLE;
WHAR-FOR yAT MAN MAY BE HALDEN WODE,
yAT CHESES yE ILLE AND LEVES yE GUDE.
SEN GOD MADE MAN OF MASTE DIGNITE
OF ALLE CREATURES, AND MAST FRE,
004
AND MADE HIM TIL HIS AWEN LIKNES,
IN FAIR STATURE, ALS BEFOR SAYDE ES,
AND MASTE HAS GYVEN HIM, AND YHIT GYVES
yAN TIL ANY OTHER CREATURE yAT LYVES,
AND HAS HIGHT HIM YIT yAR TO
yE BLISE OF HEVEN, IF HE UELE DO;
AND YHIT WHEN HE HAD DONE MYS,
AND THURGH SYN WAS PRIVED OF BLYS,
GOD TOK MANS KYND FOR HIS SAKE
AND FOR HIS LOVE yE DEDE WALD TAKE,
AND WITH HIS BLODE BOGHT HIM AGAYNE
TIL yAT BLISSE FRA ENDELES PAYNE;
yUS GRETE LUFE GOD TIL MAN KYDDE,
AND MANY BENYFICES HE HIM DYDDE;
WHAR-FOR ILK MAN, BATHE LERED AND LEWED,
SULD THYNK ON yAT LOVE yAT HE MAN SHEWED,
AND ALLE yIER BENEFICE HALD IN MYNDE,
yAT HE yUS DYD TIL MANS KYNDE,
AND LOVE HYM AND THANK HIM ALS HE CAN,
AND ELLES ES HE AN UNKYND MAN,
AND SERVE HIM, BATHE DAY AND NYGHT,
AND yAT HE HAS GYVEN HIM, USE IT RYGHT
AND HIS WITTES DESPENDE IN HIS SERVICE,
ELLES ES HE A FOLE AND NOGHT WISE;
AND KNAW KYNDLY WHAT GOD ES
AND WHAT MAN SELF ES yAT ES LES;
HOW WAKE MAN ES IN SAUL AND BODY,
AND HOW STALWORTH GOD ES, AND HOW MYGHTY;
HOW MAN GOD GREVES yAT DOSE NOGHT WELE,
AND WHAT MAN ES WORTHI yAR-FOR TO FELE,
HOW MERCYFUL AND GRACYOUSE GOD ES,
AND HOW FUL HE ES OF GUDENES;
HOW RIGHTWES GOD ES AND HOW SOTHEFAST,
AND WHAT HE HAS DONE AND SAL DO AT yE LAST,
AND ILK DAY DOS TO MAN-KYNDE;
yIS SULD ILK MAN KNAW AND HAF IN MYNDE.
005
FOR yE RIGHT WAY yAT LYGGUS TIL BLYS,
AND yAT LEDYS A MAN THEDER, ES yYS;
yE WAY OF MEKENES PRINCIPALY,
AND OF DREDE, AND LUF OF GOD ALMYGHTY,
yAT MAY BE CALD yE WAY OF WYSDOM;
IN-TYL WHILK WAY NA MAN MAY COM
WYTH-OUTEN KNAWYNG OF GOD HERE,
AND OF HIS MYGHT, AND HIS WERKES SERE,
BOT HERE HE MAY TIL yAT KNAWYNG WYNNE.
HYM BYHOVES KNAW HIM-SELF WITH-INNE,
ELLES MAY HE HAF NA KNAWING TO COME
IN-TIL yE FORSAYDE WAY OF WYSDOME.
BOT SOM MEN HAS WYTTE TO UNDERSTAND,
AND YHIT yAI ER FUL UNKUNAND,
AND OF SOM THYNG HAS NA KNAWING
yAT MYGHT STYRRE yAM TO GUDE LYFYNG;
SWYLK MEN HAD NEDE TO LERE ILK DAY
OF OTHER MEN, yAT CAN MARE yAN yAY;
TO KNAW yAT, MYGHT yAM STIR AND LEDE
TIL MEKENES, AND TIL LUFE, AND DREDE;
yE WHILK ES WAY, ALS BEFOR SAYDE ES,
TIL yE BLIS OF HEVEN yAT ES ENDELES.
IN GRETE PERILLE OF SAUL ES yAT MAN
yAT HAS WITT AND MYNDE AND NA GUDE CAN,
AND WIL NOGHT LERE FOR TO KNAW
yE WERKES OF GOD AND GODE LAW,
NE WHAT HYM-SELF ES yAT ES LEST;
BOT LYVES ALS AN UNSKYLWYS BEST,
yAT NOTHER HAS SKIL, WITT, NE MYNDE;
yAT MAN LYFES AGAYN HIS KYNDE.
FOR A MAN EXCUSES NOGHT HIS UNKUNNYNG,
yAT HIS WITTES USES NOGHT IN LERYNG,
NAMLY, OF yAT AT HYM FEL TO KNAW
yAT MYGHT MEKE HIS HERT AND MAKE IT LAW,
BOT HE yAT CAN NOGHT, SULD HAF WILLE
TO LERE TO KNAW BATHE GUDE AND ILLE;
AND HE yAT CAN OGHT, SULD LERE MARE
TO KNAW ALLE yAT HYM NEDEFUL WARE;
006
FOR AN UNKUNNAND MAN, THURGH LERYNG,
MAY BE BROGHT TIL UNDIRSTANDYNG
OF MANY THYNGES, TO KNAW AND SE
yAT HAS BENE, AND ES, AND YHIT SAL BE,
yAT TIL MEKENES MYGHT STIR HIS WILLE,
AND TIL LUFE, AND DREDE, AND TO FLE ALLE ILLE.
MANY HAS LYKYNG TROFELS TO HERE,
AND VANITES WILLE BLETHLY LERE,
AND ER BYSY IN WILLE AND THOGHT
TO LERE yAT yE SAUL HELPES NOGHT;
BOT yAT NEUDEeFUL WAR TO KUN AND KNAW,
TO LISTEN AND LERE yAI ER FUL SLAW;
FOR-yI yAI CAN NOGHT KNAW NE SE
yE PERYLS yAT yAI SULD DREDE AND FLE,
AND WHILK WAY yAI SULD CHESE AND TAKE,
AND WHILK WAY yAI SULD LEF AND FORSAKE.
BOT NA WONDER ES, YF yAI GA WRANG
FOR IN MYRKNES OF UNKNAWYNG yAI GANG,
WITH-OUTEN LYGHT OF UNDERSTANDYNG
OF yAT, yAT FALLES TIL RYGHT KNAWYNG.
yAR-FOR ILK CRISTEN MAN AND WEMAN
yAT HAS WITTE AND MYND, AND SKILLE CAN,
yAT KNAWS NOGHT yE RYGHT WAY TO CHESE,
NE yE PERILS yAT ILK WISE MAN FLESE,
SULD BE BUGHSOM AY, AND BYSY
TO HERE AND LERE OF yAM, NAMELY,
yAT UNDERSTANDS AND KNAWES BY SKILLE,
WILK ES GUDE WAY AND WILK ES ILLE.
HE yAT RIGHT ORDIR OF LYFYNG WIL LUKE
SULD BYGYN yUS, ALS SAYS yE BOKE;
TO KNAW FIRST WHAT HYM-SELF ES,
SWA MAY HE TYTTEST COME TO MEKENES,
yAT ES GRUND OF AL VERTUS TO LAST,
ON WHILK AL VERTUS MAY BE SETTE FAST;
FOR HE yAT KNAWES WELE, AND CAN SE
WHAT HIM-SELF WAS, AND ES, AND SAL BE,
A WYSER MAN MAY HE BE TALDE,
WETHER HE BE YHUNG MAN OR ALDE,
007
yAN HE yAT CAN ALLE OTHER THYNG,
AND OF HIM-SELF HAS NA KNAWYNG.
FOR HE MAY NOGHT RIGHT GOD KNAW NE FELE,
BOT HE CAN FIRST HIM-SELF WELE:
yAR-FOR A MAN SULD FIRST LERE
TO KNAW HIM-SELF PROPELY HERE;
FOR IF HE HYM-SELF KNEW KYNDELY,
HE SULD HAF KNAWYNG OF GOD ALMYGHTY,
AND OF HIS ENDYNG THYNK SULD HE
AND OF yE DAY yAT LAST SAL BE.
HE SULD KNAW WHAT yIS WORLDE ES,
yAT ES FUL OF POMPE AND LYTHERNES,
AND LERE TO KNAW AND THYNK WYTH-ALLE
WHAT SAL AFTER yIS LYF FALLE.
FOR, KNAWYNG OF ALL yIS SHULD HYM LEDE
AND MYND WITH-ALLE, TIL MEKENES AND DREDE,
AND SWA MAY HE COM TO GUDE LYVYNG,
AND ATTE yE LAST TIL A GODE ENDYNG;
AND WHEN HE SAL OUT OF yIS WORLD WENDE,
BE BROGHT TIL yE LYFE, yAT HAS NA ENDE.
yE BYGYNNYNG OF ALLE yIS PROCES
RYGHT KNAWYNG OF A MAN SELF ES.
BOT SOM MEN HAS MYKEL LETTYNG,
yAT LETTES yAM TO HAF RIGHT KNAWYNG
OF yAM-SELFE, yAT yAI FIRST SULD KNAW,
yAT yAM TIL MEKENES FIRST SULD DRAW.
AND OF yAT, FOUR THYNGES I FIND
yAT MASE A MANS WYTT OFTE BLYND,
AND KNAWYNG OF HYM-SELF LETTES,
THURGH WILK FOUR, HE HYM-SELF FORGETTES.
OF yIS SAYNT BERNARD WITNES BERS
AND ER yA FOUR WRYTEN IN yIS VERS.
FORMA, FAVOR POPULI, FERVOR JUVENILIS, OPESQUE
SURRIPUERE TIBI NOSCERE QUID SIT HOMO.
yAT ES "FAVOR OF yE FOLK AND FAYRNES,
AND FERVOR OF THOGHT AND RICHES,
008
REVES A MAN SIGHT, SKYLLE AND MYNDE,
TO KNAW HYM-SELF, WHAT HE ES OF KYNDE."
yUS yER FOUR LETTES HIS INSIGHT
yAT HE KNAWS NOGHT HIM-SELFE RIGHT,
AND MAS HIS HERT FUL HAWTAYNE
AND FUL FRAWARD TIL HIS SOVERAYNE.
yIR FOUR NORISCHES OFTE POMPE AND PRIDE,
AND OTHER VICES yAT MEN CAN NOGHT HYDE.
FOR IN HIM, IN WHAM ANE OF yER FOUR ES,
ES SELDEN SEN ANY MEKENES;
ALSWA yAI LETTE A MAN yAT HE NOGHT SESE
yE PERILS OF yE WERLD, NE VANITESE,
NE OF yE TYME OF yE DEDE yAT ES TO COME;
THYNKES NOGHT NE OF yE DAY OF DOM,
NE HE CAN NOGHT UNDIRSTAND NE SE
yE PAYNES, yAT AFTER yIS LYFE SAL BE
TO SYNFUL MEN yAT HERE LOFES FOLY,
NE yE BLISE yAT GUDE MEN ER WORTHY;
BOT IN HIS DELYTIS SETTES HIS HERT FAST,
AND FARES ALS yIS LYFE SULD AY LAST,
AND GYFFES HIM NOGHT BOT TO VANITE,
AND TO AL yAT LYKYNG TO HYM MYGHT BE.
SWYLK MEN ER NOGHT LED WITH SKYLLE,
BOT yAI FOLOW, AY, yAIR AWEN WILLE
AND OF NOGHT ELLES THYNKES, NE TAS HEDE.
WHAT WONDER ES YF yAI HAF NA DREDE;
FOR WHAT yAI SULD DREDE, yAI KNAW NOGHT,
yARFOR yAI CAN HAF NA DREDE IN THOGHT,
OF yAT yAT MYGHT yAM TO DREDE BRYNG,
AND yAT ES THURGH DEFAUT OF KNAWYNG.
YHIT SOM MEN WILLE NOGHT UNDERSTANDE
yAT yAT MUGHT MAK yAM DREDANDE,
FOR yAI WALD NOGHT HERE, BOT yAT yAM PAYS,
yARFOR yE PROPHET IN PSAUTER SAYS:
NOLUIT INTELLIGERE
UT BENE AGERET.
HE SAYS "HE HAS NO WILLE TO FELE,
NE TO UNDERSTAND FOR TO DO WELE".
009
yIS WORDES BY yAM MAY BE SAYD HERE,
yAT WIL NOGHT UNDERSTAND NE LERE
TO DREDE GOD AND TO DO HIS WILLE,
BOT FOLOWES yAIR LIKYNG AND LYVES ILLE.
SOM UNDERSTANDES ALS yAI HERE TELLE,
BOT NA DREDE IN yAIR HERTES MAY DWELLE,
AND THURGH DEFAUT OF TROUTHE yAT MAY BE;
FOR yAI TROW NATHYNG BOT yAT yAI SE,
BUT GROCHES WHEN yAI DREDFUL THYNG HERE;
yARFOR yE PROPHET SAYS ON yIS MANERE:
NON CREDIDERUNT
ET MURMURAVERUNT.
yE PROPHET SAYD "yAI TROWED NOGHT,
AND GROCHED" AND WAS ANGRED, IN THOGHT;
yUS ER MANY yAT TROWES NA THYNG
yAT MEN yAM SAYS OGAYN yAIR LIKYNG,
BOT GROCHES GRETLY AND WAXES FRAWARD,
WHEN MEN SAYS OGHT, yAT yAM THYNK HARD.
SOM CAN SE IN BUK SWILK THYNG AND REDE,
BOT LIGHTNES OF HERT REVES yAM DREDE,
SWA yAT IT MAY NOGHT WITH yAM DWELLE
AND yARFOR SAYS GOD yUS IN yE GOSPELLE:
QUIA AD TEMPUS CREDUNT, ET IN TEMPORE
TEMPTACIONIS RECEDUNT.
"TIL A TYME", HE SAYS, "SOME TROWES A THYNG
AND PASSES yAR-FRA IN yE TYME OF FANDYNG."
ALSWA yOS SAYS yE PROPHET DAVID,
IN A PSALME yAT CORDES yAR-WYTH:
ET CREDIDERUNT IN VERBIS EIUS. ET LAU-
DAVERUNT LAUDEM EIUS, CITO, FECERUNT
ET OBLITI SUNT OPERA EIUS.
HE SAYS, "IN HIS WORDES, TROWED yAI
AND LOVED HIS LOVYNG ALS yAI COUTH SAY,
BUT TYTE yAI HAD DON, AND FORGAT
HIS WERKES, AND THOGHT NA MAR OF yAT;"
SWILK MEN ER AY SWA UNSTEDFAST,
yAT NA DREDE MAY WITH yAM LAST,
010
FOR yAI ER SWA WILDE, WHEN yAI HAF QUERT,
yAT NA DREDE yAI CAN HALD IN HERT;
BOT WHA-SWA CAN NOGHT DREDE MAY LERE,
yAT yIS TRETICE WIL REDE OR HERE;
YF yAI REDE OR HERE, TIL yE HENDE,
yE MATERS yAT ER yAR-IN CONTENDE,
AND UNDIRSTAND yAM AL AND TROW,
PARCHAUNCE yAIR HERTES yAN SAL BOW,
THURGH DREDE yAT yAI SAL CONSAYVE yAR BY,
TO WIRK GUDE WERKES AND FLE FOLI.
yARFOR yIS BUKE ES ON YNGLESE DRAWEN,
OF SERE MATERS, yAT ER UNKNAWEN
TIL LAUDE MEN yAT ER UNKUNNAND,
yAT CAN NA LATYN UNDERSTAND,
TO MAKE yAM yAM-SELF FIRST KNAW
AND FRA SYN AND VANYTESE yAM DRAW,
AND FOR TO STIR yAM TIL RIGHT DREDE,
WHEN yAI yIS TRETISCE HERE OR REDE,
yAT SAL PRIKKE yAIR CONSCIENCE WITH-YN,
AND OF yAT DREDE MAY A LOFE BYGYN
THURGH COMFORT OF IOYES OF HEVEN SERE,
yAT MEN MAY AFTIRWARUDe REDE AND HERE.
yIS BUK, ALS IT-SELF BERS WITTENES,
IN SEVEN PARTES DIVISED ES.
(I.) yE FIRST PARTY, TO KNAW AND HAFE IN MYNDE,
ES OF yE WRECHEDNES OF MANS KYNDE.
(II.) yE SECUNDE ES OF yE CONDICIONS SERE
AND OF yE UNSTABELNES OF yIS WERLD HERE.
yE THRED PARTE ES IN yIS BUKE TO REDE
(III.) OF yE DEDE AND WHI IT ES TO DREDE.
(IV.) yE FERTHE PART ES OF PURGATORY,
WHAR SAULES ER CLENSED OF ALLE FOLY.
(V.) yE FIFT ES OF yE DAY OF DOME,
AND OF TAKNES yAT BEFOR SAL COME.
(VI.) yE SEXT ES OF yE PAYNS OF HELLE
yAR yE DAMPNED SAL EVER-MARE DWELLE.
(VII.) yE SEVEND ES OF yE IOYS OF HEVEN.
yER ER yE PARTES OF yIS BUK SEVEN,
011
AND OF ILKA PARTE FYND MEN MAY
SERE MATERS IN yIS BUK TO SAY.
GA WE NOW TIL yAT PARTE yAT FIRST ES,
yAT SPEKES OF MANS WRECHEDNES;
FOR ALLE yAT BYFOR ES WRYTEN TO LUK,
ES BOT ALS AN ENTRE OF yIS BUK.

[PART I: MANS WRECHEDNES]/[CONTENTS]

HERE BYGYNNES yE FIRST PART
yAT ES OF MANS WRECHEDNES.
FIRST WHAN GOD MADE AL THYNG OF NOGHT,
OF THE FOULEST MATERE MAN HE WROGHT
yAT WAS OF ERTHE; FOR TWA SKYLS TO HALDE;
yE TANE ES FORTHY yAT GOD WALDE
OF FOUL MATERE, MAK MAN IN DESPITE
OF LUCIFER yAT FEL ALS TYTE
TIL HELLE, ALS HE HAD SYNNED THURGH PRIDE,
AND OF ALLE yAT WITH HIM FEL yAT TYDE;
FOR yAI SULD HAVE yAN yE MARE SHENSHEPE,
AND yE MARE SOROW WHEN yAI TUK KEPE,
yAT MEN OF SWA FOUL MATERE SULD DUELLE
IN yAT PLACE FRA WHILK yAI FELLE.
yE TOTHER SKILLE ES yIS TO SE;
FOR MAN SULD HERE yE MEKER BE
AY, WHEN HE SESE AND THYNKES IN THOGHT,
OF HOW FOUL MATER HE IS WROGHT;
FOR GOD, THURGH HIS GUDNES AND HIS MYGHT,
WALD, yAT SEN yAT PLACE IN HEVEN BRIGHT
WAS MADE VOYDE THURGH yE SYN OF PRIDE,
IT WAR FILLED OGAYNE ON ILKA SYDE
THURGH yE VERTU OF MEKENES,
yAT EVEN CONTRARY TIL PRYDE ES;
yAN MAY NA MAN yIDER COME
BOT HE yAT MEKE ES, AND BOGHSOME;
yAT PROVES yE GOSPELLE yAT SAYS US,
HOW GOD SAYD TIL HIS DISCIPLES yUS:
012
NISI EFFICIAMINI SICUT PARVULUS, NON INTRABITIS
IN REGNUM CELORUM.
"BOT YHE", HE SAYDE, "BE ALS A CHILDE,
yAT ES TO SAY, BATHE MEKE AND MYLDE,
YHE SAL NOGHT ENTRE, BE NA WAY
HEVENRYKE yAT SAL LAST AY."
yAN BYHOVES A MAN AY HERE SEKE,
yAT MAY TITTEST MAKE HIM MEKE;
BOT NATHYNG HERE MAY MEKE HIM MARE
yAN TO THYNK IN HERT, ALS I SAYDE ARE,
HOW HE WAS MADE OF A FOUL MATERE,
AND ES NOGHT ELLES, BOT HERTHE HERE.
FOR-yI SAYS A CLERK, ALS I NOW SAY,
'WHAT ES MAN BOT HERTH AND CLAY,
AND POUDRE yAT WITH yE WYND BREKES?'
AND yARFOR IOB yUS TO GOD SPEKES:
MEMENTO, QUESO, QUOD SICUT LUTUM FECERIS
ME, ET IN PULVEREM REDUCES ME.
HE SAYS, "THYNK, LAVERD, yAT ALS yOW MADE ME
FOUL ERTHE AND CLAY HERE TO BE,
RIGHT SWA yOU SAL TURNE ME AGAYNE
TIL ERTHE AND POUDRE"; yIS ES CERTAYN.
yAN SAYS OUR LAVERD GOD ALMYGHTY
AGAYNE TIL MAN, yUS SHORTLY:
MEMENTO, HOMO, QUOD CINIS ES,
ET IN CINEREM REVERTERIS.
"THYNK MAN", HE SAYS, "ASKES ER-TOW NOW,
AND IN TO ASKES AGAYN TURN SAL-TOW."
yAN ES A MAN NOGHT ELLES TO SAY
BOT ASKES AND POUDER, ERTHE AND CLAY;
OF yIS SULD ILK MAN HERE HAF MYNDE
AND KNAWE yE WRECHEDNES OF MANS KYNDE,
yAT MAY BE SENE, ALS I SHEWE CAN,
IN AL yE PARTYS OF yE LYFE OF MAN.
ALLE MANS LYFE CASTEN MAY BE,
PRINCIPALY, IN yIS PARTES THRE,
yAT ER yIR TO OUR UNDERSTANDYNG;
BYGYNNYNG, MIDWARD, AND ENDYNG.
013
yER yRE PARTES ER yRE SPACES TALDE
OF yE LYF OF ILK MAN, YHUNG AND ALDE.
BYGYNNYNG OF MANS LYF, yAT FIRST ES,
CONTENES MYKEL WRECHEDNES;
yARFOR I WILLE, AR UIe FORTHIR PAS,
SHEW YHOU WHAT A MAN FIRST WAS;
SOME TYME WAS WHEN A MAN WAS NOGHT,
BEFOR yAT HE WAS GETEN AND FORTH BROGHT.
HE WAS GETEN AFTIR, ALS ES KNAWEN,
OF VILE SEDE OF MAN WITH SYN SAWEN;
HE WAS CONSAYVED SYNFULLY
WITH-IN HIS AWEN MODER BODY,
WHAR HIS HERBER WITH-IN WAS DIGHT,
ALS DAVID SAYS IN yE PSAUTER RIGHT:
ECCE IN INQUITATIBUS CONCEPTUS SUM, ET IN
PECCATIS CONCEPIT ME MATER MEA.
"LO", HE SAYS, "ALS MAN-KYND ES
I AM CONSAYVED IN WYKKEDNES,
AND MY MODER HAS CONSAYVED ME
IN SYN AND IN CAYTEFTE."
yAR DUELLID MAN IN A MYRK DUNGEON,
AND IN A FOUL STED OF CORUPCION,
WHAR HE HAD NA OTHER FODE
BOT WLATSOM GLET, AND LOPER BLODE,
AND STYNK AND FILTHE, ALS I SAYDE AR,
WITH yER HE WAS FIRST NORISSHED yAR.
AFTIR-WARDE, WHEN HE OUT CAME
FROM yAT DUNGEON, HIS MODER WAME,
AND WAS BORN TIL yIS WERLDYS LIGHT,
HE NE HAD NOUTHER STRENTHE NE MYGHT,
NOUTHER TO GA NE YHIT TO STAND,
NE TO CREPE WITH FOTE, NE WITH HAND.
yAN HAS A MAN LES MYGHT yAN A BESTE
WHEN HE ES BORN, AND ES SENE LESTE:
FOR A BEST WHEN IT ES BORN, MAY GA
ALS TITE AFTIR, AND RYN TO AND FRA;
014
BOT A MAN HAS NA MYGHT yAR-TO,
WHEN HE ES BORN, SWA TO DO;
FOR yAN MAY HE NOGHT STANDE NE CREPE
BOT LIGGE AND SPRAWEL, AND CRY AND WEPE.
FOR UNNETHES ES A CHILD BORN FULLY
yAT IT NE BYGYNNES TO GOULE AND CRY;
AND BY yAT CRY MEN KNAW yAN
WHETHER IT BE MAN OR WEMAN,
FOR WHEN IT ES BORN IT CRYES SWA:
IF IT BE MAN IT SAYS "A.A",
yAT yE FIRST LETTER ES OF yE NAM
OF OUR FORME-FADER ADAM.
AND IF yE CHILD A WOMAN BE,
WHEN IT ES BORN IT SAYS "E.E."
E. ES yE FIRST LETTER AND yE HEDE
OF yE NAME OF EVE yAT BYGAN OUR DEDE.
yARFOR A CLERK MADE ON yIS MANERE
yIS VERS OF METRE yAT ES WRETEN HERE:
DICENTES E. VEL A. QUOT-QUOT NASCUNTUR AB EVA.
"ALLE yAS", HE SAYS, "yAT COMES OF EVE,
yAT ES AL MEN yAT HERE BYHOVES LEVE,
WHEN yAI ER BORN WHAT-SWA yAI BE,
yAI SAY OUTHER A.A, OR E.E."
yUS ES HERE yE BYGYNNYNG
OF OUR LYFE SOROW AND GRETYNG,
TIL WHILK OUR WRECHEDNES STIRRES US;
AND yARFOR INNOCENT SAYS yUS:
OMNES NASCIMUR EIULANTES,
UT NATURE NOSTRE MISERIAM
EXPRIMAMUS.
HE SAYS, "AL ER WE BORN GRETAND,
AND MAKAND A SOROWFUL SEMBLAND,
FOR TO SHEW yE GRETE WRECHEDNES
OF OUR KYND yAT IN US ES."
015
yUS WHEN yE TYME COME OF OUR BIRTHE,
AL MADE SOROW AND NA MIRTHE;
NAKED WE COME HIDER, AND BARE
AND PURE, SWA SAL WE HETHEN FARE;
OF yIS TWA TYMES WE SULD THYNK yAN,
FOR yUS SAYS IOB, yE RIGHTWES MAN:
NUDUS EGRESSUS SUM DE UTERO MATRIS
MEE, ET NUDUS REVERTAR ILLUC.
"NAKED", HE SAYS, "FIRST I CAM
HYDER, OUT OF MY MODER WAM,
AND NAKED I SAL TURNE AWAY."
SWA SAL WE AL AT OUR LAST DAY.
yUS A MAN ES, AT yE FIRST COMYNG,
NAKED, AND BRINGES WITH HIM NATHYNG;
BOT A RYM yAT ES FUL WLATSOME,
ES HIS GARMENT WHEN HE FORTH SAL COM,
yAT ES NOGHT BOT A BLODY SKYN
yAT HE BYFOR WAS LAPPED IN,
WHILS HE IN HIS MODER WAM LAY,
yE WHILK ES A FOUL THYNG TO SAY,
AND FOULER TO HERE, ALS SAYS yE BUKE,
AND ALDIR-FOULES ON TO LOKE;
yUS ES A MAN, ALS WE MAY SE,
IN WRECHEDNES BORNE AND CAYTEFTE,
AND FOR TO LIFE HERE A FON DAYSE,
yAR-FOR IOB yUS OPENLY SAYSE;
HOMO, NATUS DE MULIERE, BREVI VIVENS
TEMPORE, REPLETUR MULTIS MISERIIS.
HE SAYS, "MAN yAT BORN ES OF WOMAN
LYFAND SHORT TIME TO FUL-FILD ES yAN
OF MANY MANERS OF WRECHEDNES."
yUS SAYS IOB, AND SWA IT ES,
016
ALSWA MAN ES BORNE TIL NOGHT ELLES
BOT TO TRAVAYLE, ALS IOB YHIT TELLES:
HOMO NASCITUR AD LABOREM,
SICUT AVIS AD VOLATUM.
HE SAYS, "MAN ES BORN TO TRAVAILE RIGHT
ALS A FOUL ES TO yE FLIGHT."
FOR LITTEL REST IN yIS LYF ES,
BOT GRET TRAVAYLE AND BYSYNES;
YHIT A MAN ES, WHEN HE ES BORN,
yE FENDES SON, AND FRA GOD ES LORN
AY, TIL HE THURGH GRACE MAY COM
TIL BAPTEM AND TIL CRISTENDOM;
yUS MAY A MAN HIS BYGYNNYNG SE
FUL OF WRECHEDNES AND OF CAYTIFTE.
yE TOTHER PART OF yE LYF, MEN CALLES
yE MYDWARD, AFTIR yAT IT FALLES,
yE WILK RECHES FRA yE BYGYNNYNG
OF MANS LYFE UN-TIL yE ENDYNG.
yE BYGYNNYNG OF MAN, ALS I TALDE,
ES VILE AND WRECHED TO BEHALDE;
BOT HOW FOULE ES MAN AFTIR-WARDE
TELS yUS, OPENLY, SAYNT BERNARDE:
HOMO NIHIL ALIUD EST, QUAM SPERMA
FETIDUM, SACCUS STERCORUM ET ESCA VERMIUM.
SAYNT BERNARD SAYS ALS yE BUKE TELLES,
yAT "MAN HERE ES NATHYNG ELLES
BOT A FOULE SLYME, WLATSOME TIL MEN,
AND A SEKFUL OF STYNKAND FEN,
AND WORMES FODE" yAT yAI WALD HAVE,
WHEN HE ES DEDE AND LAYDE IN GRAVE.
BOT SOM MEN AND WOMEN FAYRE SEMES
TO yE SYGHT WITH-OUTEN, ALS MEN DEMES,
AND yAT SHEWES NOGHT ELLES BOT A SKYN;
BOT WHA-SWA MOGHT SE yAM WITH-IN,
FOULER CARION MOGHT NEVER BE
yAN HE SULD yAN OF yAM SE.
yARFOR HE yAT HAD ALS SHARP SYGHT,
AND CLER EGHEN AND ALS BRIGHT
017
ALS HAS A BEST yAT MEN LYNX CALLES,
yAT MAY SE THURGH THIK STANE WALLES,
LITTEL LYKYNG SULD A MAN HAF yAN
FOR TO BEHALD A FAIRE WOMAN,
FOR yAN MUGHT HE SE, WITH-OUTEN DOUTE,
ALS WELE WITH-IN ALS WITH-OUTE,
AND IF HE WITH-IN SAW HIR RIGHT,
SHO WAR FUL WLATSOM TIL HIS SIGHT;
yUS FOUL WITH-IN ILK MAN ES,
ALS yE BUK SAYS AND BERS WITNES.
yAN MAY WE SE ON yIS MANERE,
HOW FOUL yE KYND OF MAN ES HERE;
WHAR-FOR I HALD A MAN NOGHT WITTY
yAT HERE ES OVER-PROWDE AND IOLY,
WHEN HE MAY ILK DAY HERE AND SE
WHAT HE ES, AND WAS, AND SAL BE.
BOT PROUD MAN OF yIS TAS NA HEDE
FOR HYM WANTES SKILLE, yAT HYM SULD LEDE,
WHEN HE ES YHUNG AND LUFFES LAYKYNG,
OR HAS ESE, AND WELTH, AND HIS LYKYNG;
OR IF HE BE AT GRETE WORSHEPE,
WHAT HYM-SELF ES yAN, HE TAS NA KEPE;
WHAR-FOR HIM-SELF yAN KNAWES HE LESTE
AND FARES ALS AN UNRESONABEL BESTE,
yAT HIS AWEN WILLE FOLOWES, AND NOGHT ELLES,
AND yAR-FOR yE PROPHET IN yE PSAUTER TELLES:
HOMO, CUM IN HONOREESSET, NON INTELLEXIT, COMPARATUS
EST IUMENTIS INSIPIENTIBUS, ET SIMILIS FACTUS EST ILLIS.
"MAN WHEN HE IS TIL WORSHEPE BROGHT
RIGHT UNDERSTANDYNG HAS HE NOGHT:
HE MAY BE LIKEND AND HE ES LYKE yAN
TIL BESTES, yAT NA SKYLLE NE WITTE CAN;"
yARFOR ILK MAN yAT HAS WITTE AND MYNDE,
SULD THYNK OF yE WRECHEDNES OF HIS KYNDE,
yAT ES FOUL, AND VILE, AND WLATSOM;
FOR HE MAY SE FRA HIS BODY COM,
018
BATHE FRA ABOVEN AND FRA BYNETHE,
ALKYN FILTHE WITH STYNKAND BRETHE;
FOR MAR FILTHE ES NANE, HARD NE NESSHE,
yAN ES yAT COMES FRA A MANS FLESSHE;
AND yAT MAY A MAN BATHE SE AND FELE,
yAT WIL BYHALD HIM-SELF WELE,
HOW FOUL HE ES TO MANS SYGHT,
AND yARFOR SAYS SAYNT BERNARD RIGHT:
SI DILIGENTER CANSIDERES QUID PER OS,
QUID PER NARES, CETEROSQUE MEATUS
CORPORIS EGREDITUR, VILIUS STERQUILINIUM
NUNQUAM VIDISTI.
"IF yOW WILLE", HE SAYS, "ENTENTYFLY SE,
AND BY-HALD WHAT COMES FRA yE
WHAT THURGH MOUTHE, WHAT THURGH NESE, COMMONLY,
AND THURGH OTHER OVERTES OF HIS BODY,
A FOULER MYDDYNG SAW yOW NEVER NANE,"
yAN A MAN ES, WITH FLESCHE AND BANE.
AL yE TYME yAT A MAN HERE LYVES,
HIS KYND NA OTHER FRUYT GYFES,
WHETHER HE LYF LANG OR SHORT WHILE,
BOT THYNG THAT ES WLATSOME AND VILE,
ALS FILTH AND STYNK AND NATHYNGE ELLES,
ALS INNOCENT yUS IN A BOKE TELLES:
HERBAS ET ARBORES, INQUIT, INVESTIGA: ILLE DE SE
PRODUCUNT FLORES, FRONDES ET FRUCTUS; ET
TU DE TE LENDES, PEDICULOS ET LUMBRICOS.
ILLE DIFFUNDUNT OLEUM, VINUM, ET BALSAMUM; ET
TU DE TE SPUTUM URINAM, ET STERCUS: ILLE
DE SE SPIRANT SUAVITATEM ODORIS; ET TU
DE TE REDDIS ABHOMINATIONEM FETORIS.
QUALIS EST ARBOR, TALIS EST FRUCTUS.
yIS GRET CLERK TELLES yUS IN A BUKE:
"BEHALDE", HE SAYS, "GRAYTHELY AND LOKE,
HERBES AND TRESE yAT yOU SEES SPRYNG,
AND TAKE GUDE KEPE WHAT yAI FORTH BRYNG;
019
HERBES FORTH BRINGES FLOURES AND SEDE,
AND TRES FAIR FRUYT AND BRAUNCHES TO SPEDE,
AND yOU FORTH BRINGES OF yI-SELF HERE
NITES, LYSE, AND OTHER VERMYN SERE.
OF HERBES AND TRES, SPRINGES BAUM FUL GUDE,
AND OYLE AND WYNE FOR MANS FUDE;
AND OF yE COMES MYKEL FOUL THYNG,
ALS FEN, AND URYN AND SPYTTYNG;
OF HERBES AND TRES COMES SWETE SAVOUR,
AND OF yE COMES WLATSOME STYNK, AND SOUR;
SWILK ALS yE TRE ES WITH BOWES,
SWILK ES yE FRUYT yAT ON IT GROWES."
AN ILLE TRE MAY NA GUDE FRUYT BERE,
AND yAT KNAWES ILK GUDE GARDYNERE.
A MAN ES A TRE, yAT STANDES NOGHT HARDE,
OF WHILK yE CROP ES TURNED DONWARD,
AND yE ROTE TO-WARD yE FIRMAMENT,
ALS SAYS yE GRETE CLERK INNOCENT:
QUID EST HOMO, SECUNDUM FORMAM, NISI QUEDAM
ARBOR EVERSA, CUJUS RADICES SUNT CRINES;
TRUNCUS EST CAPUT CUM COLLO; STIPIS EST PECTUS CUM
ALVO, RAMI SUNT ULNE CUM TIBIIS; FRONDES SUNT
DIGITI CUM ARTICULIS; HOC EST FOLIUM QUOD A VEN-
TO RAPITUR, ET STIPULA A SOLE SICCATUR.
HE SAYS, "WHAT ES MAN IN SHAP BOT A TRE
TURNED UP yAT ES DOUN, ALS MEN MAY SE,
OF WHILK yE ROTES yAT OF IT SPRINGES,
ER yE HARES yAT ON yE HEVED HYNGES;
yE STOK NEST yE ROT GROWAND
ES yE HEVED WITH NEK FOLOWAND;
yE BODY OF yAT TRE yAR-BY
ES yE BREST WITH yE BELY;
yE BUGHES ER yE ARMES WITH yE HANDES
AND yE LEGGES WITH yE FETE yAT STANDES:
yE BRAUNCHES MEN MAY BY SKILLE CALL
yE TAS AND yE FYNGERS ALLE;
yIS ES yE LEEF yAT HANGES NOGHT FASTE,
yAT ES BLAWEN AWAY THURGH A WYND BLASTE,
020
AND yE BODY ALSWA OF yE TRE,
yAT THURGH yE SON MAY DRIED BE."
A MAN yAT ES YHUNG AND LIGHT,
BE HE NEVER SWA STALWORTH AND WYGHT,
AND COMLY OF SHAP, LUFLY AND FAYRE,
ANGERS AND YVELS MAY HYM APPAYRE,
AND HIS BEUTE AND HIS STRENGUTHe ABATE,
AND MAK HYM IN FUL WAYK STATE,
AND CHAUNGE ALLE FAYRE COLOUR,
yAT SON FAYLES AND FADES, ALS DOS yE FLOUR.
FOR A FLOUR yAT SEMES FAYRE AND BRIGHT,
THURGH STORMES FADES, AND TYNES yE MYGHT.
MANY YVELS, ANGERS, AND MESCHEEFES
OFT COMES TIL MAN yAT HERE LYVES,
ALS FEVYR, DROPSY, AND IAUNYS,
TYSYK, GOUTE, AND OTHER MALADYS,
yAT HYM MAS STRENGUTHe AND FAYRNES TYNE,
ALS GRETE STORMES DOSE A FLOUR TO DWYNE;
yARFOR A MAN MAY LIKEND BE
TIL A FLOUR, yAT ES FAYRE TO SE,
yAN SON AFTIR yAT IT ES FORTH BROGHT,
WELKES AND DWYNES TIL IT BE NOGHT;
yIS AUGHT TO BE ENSAMPLE TIL US;
FOR-WHI IOB, IN A BOKE, SAYS yUS:
HOMO,QUASI FLOS,EGREDITUR ET CONTERITUR, ET FUGIT VE-
LUD UMBRA ET NUNQUAM IN EODEM STATU PERMANET.
"MAN", HE SAYS, "ALS A FLOUR BRIGHT,
FIRST FORTH COMES HERE TIL yIS LIGHT,
AND ES SONE BROKEN AND PASSES AWAY,
ALS A SHADU ON yE SOMERS DAY;
AND NEVER MARE IN yE SAME STATE DUELLES,"
BOT AY PASSAND, ALS IOB TELLES;
OF yIS yE PROPHET WITNES BERES,
IN A PSALME OF yE PSAUTER, THURGH yIS VERS
MANE, SICUT HERBA, TRANSEAT, MANE FLOREAT
ET TRANSEAT; VESPERE DECIDAT, INDURAT ET ARESCAT.
021
THE PROPHET SAYS yUS, ALS WRITEN ES,
"ARELY A MAN PASSES ALS yE GRES,
ARELY AT yE BYGYNNYNG OF yE DAY,
HE FLORESSHE AND PASSES AWAY;
AT EVEN LATE HE IS DOUN BROGHT,
AND FAYLES, AND DRIES, AND DWYNES TO NOGHT.
IN yE FIRST BYGYNNYNG OF yE KYND OF MAN
NEGHEN HUNDRETH WYNTER MAN LYFED yAN,
ALS CLERKES IN BUKES BERS WITNES;
BOT SYTHEN BYCOM MANS LYF LES
AND SWA WALD GOD AT IT SULD BE;
FOR-WHI HE SAYD yUS TIL NOE:
NON PERMANEBIT SPIRITUS MEUS
IN HOMINE IN ETERNUM, QUIA CARO
EST, ERUNT DIES ILLIUS CENTUM
VIGINTI ANNORUM.
"MY GAST," HE SAYS, "SAL NOGHT AY DWELLE
IN MAN, FOR HE IS FLESSHE AND FELLE;
HYS DAYS SAL BE FOR TO LIFE HERE
AN HUNDRETH AND TWENTI YHERE."
BOT SWA GRETE ELDE MAY NANE NOW BERE,
FOR SYTHEN MANS LYFE BYCOM SHORTERE.
FOR-WHI yE COMPLECTION OF ILK MAN
WAS SYTHEN FEBLER yAN IT WAS yAN;
NOW ES IT ALTHER-FEBLES TO SE,
yARFOR MANS LIFE SHORT BYHOVES BE;
FOR AY yE LANGER yAT MAN MAY LYFE,
yE MARE HIS LYFE SAL HYM NOW GRIEFE,
AND yE LES HIM SAL THYNK HIS LYF SWETE,
ALS IN A PSALME, SAYS yE PROPHETE:
SI AUTEM IN POTENTATIBUS OCTOGYNTA AN-
NI, ET AMPLIUS EORUM LABOR ET DOLOR.
"IF IN MYGHTFULNES FOUR SCOR YHERE FALLE,
MARE ES yAIR SWYNK AND SOROW WITH-ALLE."
FOR SELDOM A MAN yAT HAS yAT HELD,
HELE HAS, AND HIM-SELF MAY WELD;
022
BOT NOW FALLES YHIT SHORTER MANS DAYES,
ALS IOB, yE HALY MAN, yUS SAYS:
NUNC PAUCITAS DIERUM MEORUM
FINIETUR BREVI.
"NOW," HE SAYS, "MY FON DAYS SERE
SAL ENDEN WITH A SHORT TYME HERE."
FONE MEN MAY NOW FOURTY YHERE PAS,
AND FONER FIFTY ALS IN SOMTYM WAS;
BOT ALS TYTE ALS A MAN WAXES ALDE,
yAN WAXES HIS KYNDE WAYKE AND CALDE,
yAN CHAUNGES HIS COMPLEXCION
AND HIS MANERS AND HIS CONDICION;
THAN WAXES HIS HERT HARD AND HEVY,
AND HIS HEVED FEBLE AND DYSY;
yAN WAXES HIS GASTE SEKE AND SARE,
AND HIS FACE ROUNCLES, AY MARE AND MARE;
HIS MYNDE ES SHORT WHEN HE OGHT THYNKES,
HIS NESE OFTE DROPPES, HIS HAND STYNKES,
HIS SIGHT WAX DYM yAT HE HAS,
HIS BAK WAXES CROKED, STOUPAND HE GAS
FYNGERS AND TAES, FOTE AND HANDE,
ALLE HIS TOUCHES ER TREMBLANDE:
HIS WERKES FOR-WORTHES yAT HE BYGYNNES,
HIS HAIRE MOUTES, HIS EGHEN RYNNES;
HIS ERES WAXES DEEF, AND HARD TO HERE,
HIS TUNG FAYLES, HIS SPECHE IS NOGHT CLERE.
HIS MOUTHE SLAVERS, HIS TETHE ROTES,
HIS WYTTES FAYLES, AND HE OFTE DOTES;
HE IS LYGHTLY WRATH, AND WAXES FRAWARD,
BOT TO TURNE HYM FRA WRETHE IT ES HARD;
HE SOUCHES AND TROWES SONE A THYNG,
BOT FUL LATE HE TURNES FRA yAT TROWYNG;
HE ES COVATOUS AND HARD HALDAND,
HIS CHERE ES DRERY AND HIS SEMBLAND;
023
HE ES SWYFT TO SPEK ON HIS MANERE
AND LATSOM AND SLAW FOR TO HERE;
HE PRAYSES ALD MEN AND HALDES yAM WYSE,
AND YHUNG MEN LIST HIM OFT DESPYSE;
HE LOVES MEN yAT IN ALD TYME HAS BENE,
HE LAKES yA MEN yAT NOW ARE SENE;
HE IS OFTE SEKE AND AY GRANAND,
AND OFTE ANGERD, AND AY PLEYNAND;
ALLE yIR, THURGH KYND, TO AN ALD MAN FALLES,
yAT CLERKES PROPERTES OF ELD CALLES.
YHIT ER yAR MA yAN I HAF TALDE,
yAT FALLES TO A MAN yAT ES ALDE.
yUS MAY MEN SE, WHA-SO CAN,
WHAT yE CONDICIONS ER OF AN ALD MAN.
yE LAST ENDE OF MANS LYFE ES HARD,
yAT ES, WHEN HE DRAWES TO DED-WARD.
FOR WHEN HE IS SEKE, AND BEDREDEN LYS,
AND SWA FEBLE yAT HE MAY NOGHT RYS,
yAN ER MEN IN DOUT AND NOGHT CERTAYN,
WETHIR HE SAL EVER COVER AGAYN.
BOT YHIT CAN SOM MEN, yAT ER SLEGHE,
WITTE IF HE SAL OF yAT YVEL DEGHE
BY CERTAYNE TAKENS, ALS YHE SAL HERE,
yAT BYFALLES WHEN yE DED ES NERE;
yAN BYGYNNES HIS FROUNT DOUNWARD FALLE,
AND HIS BROWES HELDES DOUN WYTH-ALLE;
yE LEFTE EGHE OF HYM yAN SEMES LES,
AND NAROWER yAN yE RIGHT EGHE ES;
HYS NESE, AT yE POYNT, ES SHARP AND SMALLE,
yAN BYGYNNES HIS CHYN TO FALLE;
HIS POUCE ES STILLE, WITH-OUTEN STYRINGES,
HIS FETE WAXES CALDE, HIS BELY CLYNGES.
AND IF NERE yE DEDE BE A YHUNG MAN,
HE AY WAKES, AND MAY NOGHT SLEPE yAN;
AND AN ALDEMAN TO DEDE DRAWAND
MAY NOGHT WAKE, BOT ES AY SLEPAND;
MEN SAYS, AL yIR TAKENS SERE
ER OF A MAN yAT yE DEDE ES NERE.
024
WHILES A MAN LYVES HE IS LYKE A MAN;
WHEN HE ES DEDE WHAT ES HE LYKE yAN?
yAN MAY MEN HIS LIKNES SE
CHAUNGED, ALS IT HAD NEVER BENE HE;
AND WHEN HIS LYF ES BROGHT TO yE ENDE,
yAN SAL HE ON yE SAME WYS HETHEN WENDE,
PURE AND NAKED, RIGHT ALS HE CAM
yE FIRST DAY FRA HIS MODER WAM.
FOR HE BROGHT WITH HIM NATHYNG yAT DAY,
AND NOGHT SAL HE BERE WITH HIM AWAY,
BOT IT BE A WYNDYNG CLATHE ANELY,
yAT SAL BE LAPPED OBOUT HIS BODY;
yUS WRECHEDLY ENDES yE LYF OF MAN.
AND IF WE BEHALDE WHAT HE ES yAN,
WHEN yE LYFE OF HYM PASSES OWAY,
yAN ES HE NOGHT BOT ERTHE AND CLAY
yAT TURNES TIL MARE CORRUPCION,
yAN EVER HAD STYNKAND CARION.
FOR yE CORRUPCION OF HIS BODY,
YF IT SULD LANG OBOVEN ERTHE LY,
IT MYGHT yE AYR SWA CORRUMPUD MAK,
yAT MEN yAROF yE DEDE SULD TAKE,
SWA VILE IT ES AND VIOLENT;
yARFOR yE GRET CLERK SAYS, INNOCENT:
QUID ENIM FETIDIUS HUMANO CADAVERE,
QUID HORIBILIUS HOMINE MORTUO.
HE SAYS, "WHAT-KYN THYNG MAY FOULER BE
yAN A MANS CARION ES TO SE:
AND WHAT ES MAR HORIBEL IN STEDE
yAN A MAN ES WHEN HE ES DEDE?"
ALSWA UIe SAY, NATHYNG ES SWA UGLY,
ALS HERE ES A MANS DEDE BODY;
AND WHEN IT ES IN ERTH LAYD LAWE,
WORMES yAN SAL IT AL TO-GNAW,
TIL yE FLESSHE BE GNAWEN OWAY AND BYTEN;
FOR-WHY WE FYNDE yOS IN BUK WRITEN:
025
CUM AUTEM MORIETUR HOMO, HEREDITA-
BIT VERMES ET SERPENTES.
yE BUK SAYS yUS, "yAT WHEN A MAN
SAL DIGHE HE SAL ENHERITE yAN
WORMES AND NEDDERS," UGLY IN SIGHT,
TIL WHAM FALLES MANS FLESSH, THURGH RIGHT,
yARFOR IN ERTHE MAN SAL SLEPE,
OMANUGe WORMES, yAT ON HYM SAL CREPE,
AND GNAW ON yAT STYNKAND CARCAYS,
ALS ES WRYTEN IN A BOK yAT SAYS:
OMNES IN PULVERE DORMIENT, ET
VERMES OPERIENT EOS.
yAT ES "IN POUDER SAL SLEPE ILK MAN,
AND WORMES SAL COVER HYM yAN;"
FOR IN yIS WORLD ES NANE SWA WITTY,
SWA FAIR, SWA STRANG, NE SWA MYGHTY,
EMPEROUR, KYNG, DUKE, NE CAYSERE,
NE OTHER yAT BERS GRETE STATE HERE,
NE RICHE, NE PURE, BOND NE FRE,
LERED OR LAWED, WHAT-SWA HE BE,
yAT HE NE SAL TURNE AT yE LAST OWAY,
TIL POUDRE AND ERTHE AND VYLE CLAY;
AND WORMES SAL RYVE HYM IN SONDRE;
AND yARFOR HAF I MYKEL WONDERE
yAT UNNETHES ANY MAN WILLE SE
WHAT HE WAS, AND WHAT HE SAL BE.
BOT WHA-SO WALD IN HERT CAST
WHAT HE WAS, AND SAL BE AT yE LAST,
AND WHAT HE ES, WHYLES HE LYVES HERE,
HE SULD FYND FUL LITEL MATERE
TO MAK IOY WHILLES HE HERE DUELLES,
ALS A VERSIFIOUR IN METRE yUS TELLES:
SI QUIS SENTIRET, QUO TENDIT, ET UNDE VENIRET,
NUNQUAM GAUDERET, SED IN OMNE TEMPORE FLERET.
HE SAYS, "WHA-SO WILLE FELE AND SE,
WETHEN HE COM AND WHIDER SAL HE,
SULD NEVER BE BLYTHE BOT IOY FORSAKE,
AND ALLE TYME GRETE AND SOROW MAKE."
026
WHAR-TO yAN ES MAN HERE SWA MYRY,
AND SWA TENDRE OF HIS VILE BODY,
yAT SAL ROTE AND WITH WORMES BE GNAWEN,
AND SWA UGLY TO SYGHT MAY BE KNAWEN?
LOVERD WHA-SO OF HIM yAN HAD SYGHT,
AFTIR yAT WORMES HIM SWA HAD DIGHT,
AND GNAWEN HIS FLESSHE UN TO yE BANE,
SWA GRYSLY A SIGHT SAW HE NEVER NANE,
ALS HE MYGHT SE OF yAT VILE CARCAYS:
FOR SAYNT BERNARD yOS IN METRE SAYS:
POST HOMINEM VERMIS, POST VERMEN, FETOR ET HORROR,
ET SIC, IN NON HOMINEM VERTITUR OMNIS HOMO.
"AFTIR MAN", HE SAYS, "VERMYN ES,
AND AFTIR VERMYN STYNKAND UGLYNES;
AND SWA SAL ILK MAN TURNED BE yAN
FRA A MAN INTIL NA MAN."
yOS MAY ILK MAN IN yIS PARTE SE,
WHAT HE WAS, AND WHAT HE SAL BE,
AND WHAT HE ES AY WHILS HE HERE LYFES,
AND WHATKYN FRUYT HIS KYND HERE GYVES.
HERE MAY MEN SE, ALS WRITEN ES,
MIKEL OF MANS WRECHEDNES,
AND MYKEL MARE YHIT MAY MEN TELLE;
BOT HERE-ON WILLE I NA LANGER DUELLE.
GA WE NOW FORTHER-MAR AND LUKE,
TO yE SECUND PART OF yIS BUKE,
IN WHILK MEN MAY HAF UNDERSTANDYNG
OF yE WORLD, AND OF WORLDYSSHE LYFYNG.

[PART II: yE WORLD]/[CONTENTS]

HERE BYGYNNES yE SECUNDE PART yAT
ES OF yE WORLD.
ALLE yE WORLD SO WYDE AND BRADE,
OUR LORD SPECIALI FOR MAN MADE,
AND AL OTHER THYNGE, ALS CLERKES CAN PROFE,
HE MADE ANLY TO MANS BY-HOVE.
SEN HE AL yE WORLD AND ALLE THYNGE WROGHT
TIL MANS BY-HOVE, yAN MAN AGHT NOGHT
LUFE NOWTHER WORLDISSHE THYNG NE BODILY,
MARE yAN OUR LORD GOD ALMYGHTY,
027
NE ALS MYKEL AS GOD, yOGH yAT WAR LES;
AND WHA-SO DOS, UNKYND HE ES;
FOR GOD WAR WORTHY MARE TO BE LUFED
yAN ANY CREATURE, AND SWA BYHUFED,
SYN HE ES MAKER OF ALTHYNGE,
AND OF ALLE CREATURES yE BYGYNNYNGE.
yIS SAY UIe BY MEN yAT GYVES yAM MYKEL
TIL yIS WORLD, yAT ES FALS AND FIKEL,
AND LUFES ALLE THYNGE yAT TIL IT FALLES;
SWILK MEN WORLDISSHE MEN, MEN CALLES
yAT yAIR LUF MAST ON yE WORLD SETTES,
AND yAT LUF, yE LUF OF GOD LETTES.
yARFOR GUDE IT ES yAT A MAN HIM KEPE,
FRA WORLDISSHE LUF AND VANY WORSHEPE.
FOR THURGH LUF OF yIS WORLD AND VANITE,
A MAN AT yE LAST FORBARD MAY BE,
OF yE BLISFUL WORLD yAR AL IOY ES,
WHAR yE LYFE OF MAN SAL BE ENDLES,
yAT DOS TO GOD HERE yAT HYM FALLES,
yAT WORLD yER CLERKES 'WORLD OF WORLD' CALLES.
WHI ALLE yE WORLD yAT GOD WALDE MAKE
FOR MAN, OF WHILK I BYFOR SPAKE,
yAT SWA GENERALY HERE IS TANE,
MAY BE UNDIRSTANDEN MA WORLDES yAN ANE;
FOR A GRETE CLERK SAYS, yAT HIGHT BERTHELMEWE,
yAT TWA WORLDES ER PRINCIPALY TO SHEWE,
yAT yE ELEMENTES AND AL yE HEVENS
CONTENES, ALS HE yAM IN BOKE NEVENS,
AND ALLE yE CREATURES yAT GOD WROGHT,
SWA yAT WITHOUTEN yA WORLDES ES NOGHT.
yE TAN ES GASTLY, INVISILE AND CLENE,
yE TOTHER ES BODYLY AND MAY BE SENE.
yE GASTLY WORLD, yAT NA MAN MAY SE,
ES HEVEN, WHAR GOD SYTTES IN TRINITE,
AND yE NEGHEN ORDRES OF ANGELS,
AND HALY SPIRYTES IN yAT WORLD DUELLES,
028
AND yIDER SAL WE COM AND yAR LYF AY,
IF WE yEDERWARD HALD yE RIGHT WAY.
yAT WORLD WAS MADE FOR MANS WONNYNG
OMANG ANGELS IN IOY AND LYKYNG,
EVERMARE yAR-IN FOR TO DUELLE,
AS MEN MAY HERE yER CLERKES TELLE.
NOW HEIR-ON WILLE I NA LANGER STAND,
FOR AFTER-WARD COMMES yIS MATERE TIL HAND.
yE TOTHER WORLD yAT MEN MAY SE,
IN TWA PARTES DIVISED MAY BE,
yE WHILK ALLE BODILY THYNG MAY HALD,
AND AYTHER PART MAY A WORLD BE CALD,
AND BATHE MEN MAY SE AND KNAWE;
BOT yE TAN ES HEGHE, AND yE TOTHER LAWE;
yE HEGHER RECHES FRA yE MON EVEN
TIL yE HEGHEST OF yE STERNED HEVEN;
yAT WERLD IS FUL BRIGHT AND FAYRE,
FOR yAR ES NA CORRUPCION, BOT CLER AYRE,
AND yE PLANETTES AND STERNES SHYNAND,
AND SERE SIGNES AND NOGHT ELLES yAR WONAND.
yE LAWER WERLD, yAT LAWEST MAY FALLE,
CONTENES HALY yE ELEMENTES ALLE,
yAT ON yE ERTHE AND ABOUT yE ERTHE STANDES,
WHAR SERE MANERE OF MEN WONNES IN SERE LANDES.
IN yIS WERLD ES BOTHE WELE AND WA,
yAT ES OFTE CHAUNGED TO AND FRA,
yAT TIL SOM ES SOFTE AND TIL SUM HARDE,
ALS YHE MAY HERE OR SE AFTIRWARDE.
yIR WORLDES BYFOR ALS WAS GODDES WILLE,
FOR MAN WAS MADE FOR CERTAYN SKILLE;
yE HEGHEST WORLD, yAT PASSES ALLE THYNG,
WAS MADE FOR MANS ENDLES WONNYNG;
FOR ILK MAN SAL HAFE yAR A PLACE
TO WONE AY IN IOY, yAT HERE HAS GRACE.
yAT WORLD WAS MADE TO OUR MOST AVANTAGE,
FOR yAR FALLES TO BE OUR RIGHT HERITAGE.
yE TOTHER WORLD, yAT IS LAWER,
WHARE yE STERNES AND PLANETS ER,
029
GOD ORDUAeYND ANLY FOR OUR BYHUFE,
BY yIS SKILLE, ALS I CAN PRUFE.
yE AYRE FRA yEyEN, AND yE HEAT OF yE SON
SUSTAYNS yE ERTHE HERE, yAR WE WON,
AND NURISSHES ALLE THYNG yAT FRUYT GYVES,
AND CONFORTES BEST, AND MAN, AND ALLE yAT LYVES;
AND TEMPERS OUR KYNDE AND OUR COMPLEXIOUN,
AND SETTES yE TYMES OF YHERE IN SESON,
AND GYFES US LIGHT HERE, WHAR WE DUELLE,
ELLES WAR yIS WORLD MYRK ALS HELLE;
YHIT yE BODYS OF yE WORLD IN yAIR KYNDE,
SHEWES US FOR BISENS TO HAF IN MYNDE,
HOW WE SULD SERVE GOD IN OUR KYNDE HERE,
ALS yAI DO yAR, ON yAIR MANERE.
yE LAWEST WORLD WAS ALSWA MADE FOR MAN,
FOR yIS SKYLLE, ALS CLERKES SHEW CAN;
FOR yAT MAN SULD BE yAR-IN WONNAND,
GODDES WERKES TO SE AND UNDIRSTAND,
AND HIS COMMANDMENTES AND HIS WILLE
TO KNAWE, AND KEPE, AND TO FULFILLE,
AND TO BE PROVED HERE IN GASTLY BATAYLS,
OF GASTLY ENMYS yAT MAN OFT ASSAYLS;
SWA yAT yURGH GASTLY STRENTH AND VICTORI,
HE MAY BE MADE IN yIS WORLD WORTHY
TO HAF yE COROUN OF BLISSE ENDELES
IN yE BLISFUL WORLD yAT HEGHEST ES.
TWA WORLDES HERE TO-GYDER MAY FALLE
yAT MEN MAY ERTHELY WORLDES CALLE.
AN ES yIS DALE, WHAR WE ER WONNAND,
ANOTHER ES MAN yAR-IN LYFAND;
yIS DALE WHAR WE WON THURGH, CLERKES CALDES
yE MARE WORLD, AND yE MAN yE LES.
OF yE LES WORLD WIL I NOGHT SPEKE YHIT,
FOR AFTIRWARD I SAL SPEKE OF IT;
BOT OF yE MARE WORLD YHIT WIL I MARE SAY,
AR I PAS FRA yIS MATIR AWAY;
yAN WIL I AFTER SHEW, ALS FALLES,
SKILLE WHY MEN A MAN WORLD CALLES.
030
yE MARE WORLD GOD WALD LAW ON ERTH SETT,
FOR IT SULD BE TIL MAN SUGGETTE,
FOR TO SERVE MAN, AND MAN NOGHT IT;
AND yUS ORDAND GOD, FOR MANS PROFIT.
BOT NOW yIS WORLD yAT MAN LYFES IN,
WAXES SWA LITHER AND FUL OF SYN,
AND OF WELTHES yAT ARE BOT WAYN,
yAT MANY MAS yE WORLD yAIR SOVERAYN,
AND GYVES yAM yAR-TO AL yAT yAI MAY,
AND SERVES IT BYSILY, NYGHT AND DAY,
AND MAS yAM-SELFE yE WORLDES THARLLES.
yAS MEN WORLDESSHE MEN MEN CALLES,
FOR ABOUT WORLDISSHE THYNGES yAI HERE TRAVAILE
FUL BYSILY, yAT AT yE LAST SAL FAYLE;
BOT WALD yAI DO HALF SWILK BYSINES
ABOUT GODDES OF HEVEN, yAR AL GUDE ES,
yAI SULD HAF ALLE yAT GUDE ES yARE,
yAT NEVER SAL FAILLE, BOT LAST EVER MARE.
yE WORLD yAT ES HERE, ES NOGHT ELLES,
BOT yE MANERS OF MEN yAT yAR-IN DWELLES;
FOR yIS WORLD MEN MAY NOGHT KEN,
BOT BY yE CONDICIONS OF yE WORLDIS MEN.
FOR WHAT MUGHT MEN BY yE WORLD UNDERSTAND
IF NA WORLDISHMEN WAR yAR-IN DWELLAND?
ALLE yAS MEN yAT yE WORLD MAST DAUNTES,
MAST BISILY yE WORLD HERE HAUNTES;
AND yAS yAT yE WORLD SERVES AND LOVES,
SERVES yE DEVEL, AS yE BUK PROVES;
FOR yE WORLD HERE, ES yE DEVELS SERVAND,
yAT BRYNGES HIS SERVAUNTES TIL HIS HAND;
yARFOR GOD HIM PRINCE OF yE WORLD CALLES,
yAT ES OF WORLDISMEN yAT TO HIM FALLES;
FOR-yI yIS WORLD ES PERILLIUS TO LUFE,
BY MANY SKILLES, AS CLERKES PROVE.
yIS WORLDE ES FIKEL AND DESAYVABLE,
AND FALS AND UNSIKER AND UNSTABEL.
MANY MEN yE WORLD HERE FRAISTES,
BOT HE IS NOGHT WISE yAT yAR-IN TRAYSTES:
031
FOR yE WORLD LAGHES ON MAN AND SMYLES,
BOT AT yE LAST IT HIM BYGYLES;
yARFOR I HALD yAT MAN NOGHT WITTY
yAT ABOUT yE WORLD IS OVER BYSY;
FOR A MAN MAY NOGHT GODDES SERVAND BE,
BOT HE yE MANERS OF yE WORLD FLE,
NE LOFE GOD, BOT UHEe yE WORLD DESPISE,
FOR yE GODSPEL SAYS ON yIS WYSE:
NEMO POTEST DUOBUS DOMINIS SER-
VIRE, QUIA AUT ENIM UNUM ODIO HA-
BEBIT ET ALTERUM DILIGET, AUT UNUM
SUSTINEBIT ET ALTERUM CONTEMPNET.
HE SAYS "NA MAN MAY SERVE RIGHTLY
TWA LORDES TO-GEDIR, yAT ER CONTRARY,
FOR OUTHER HE SAL yE TANE HATE
AND yE TOTHER LUF AFTIR HIS STATE,
OR HE SAL yE TANE OF yAM MAYNTENE;
AND yE TOTHER DESPYSE", yUS ES OFTE SENE.
yE WORLD ES GODDES ENMY BY SKILLE,
yAT CONTRARIUS ES TO GODDES WILLE;
AND SWA ER AL yAT yE WORLD LUFES,
ALS yE APOSTEL SAYS yUS AND PROFES:
QUI VNLT ESSE AMICUS HUJUS MUNDI,
INIMICUS DEI CONSTITUITUR.
HE SAYS, "WHA-SO yE WERLDES FREND WIL BE,
GODDES ENEMY yAN ES HE;"
yAN SULD WE NOGHT ASSENT yAR-TO,
NE NATHYNG yAT LYKES TIL yE WORLD DO;
FOR WORLDISSHE MEN HERE GOD MYSPRAYS,
yARFOR yE APOSTEL YHIT, yUS SAYS:
NOLITE DILIGERE MUNDUM, NEC EA
QUE SUNT IN MUNDO.
"LUFES NOGHT yE WORLD HERE", SAYS HE,
"NE yAT, yAT YHE IN WORLD MAY SE;"
FOR AL yAT IN WORLD MEN TEL CAN,
ES OUTHER YHERNYNG OF yE FLESSHE OF MAN,
OR YHERNYNG OF EGHE, yAT MAY LUKE,
OR PRIDE OF LYFE, ALS SAYS yE BUKE:
032
OMNE QUOD EST IN MUNDO, AUT
EST CONCUPISCENCIA CARNIS, AUT
CONCUPISCENCIA OCULORUM, AUT
SUPERBIA VITE.
"YHERNYNG OF FLESSHE ES A THYNG
yAT FALLES TIL LUST AND FLESSHE LYKYNG;
YHERNYNG OF EGHE, ALS I CAN GESE
FALLES TO WORLDES RYCHESE;
PRIDE OF LYF yAT SOME IN HERT KEPES,
FALLES TO HONOURS AND WORSHEPES;
LUST AND LYKYNG, yAT ES FLESSHELY,
ENGENDRES yE SYN OF LYCHERY;
WORLDES RICHES OF GRETE PRYSE
ENGENDRES THE SYN OF COVATYSE;
HONOURS NURYSHES, ALS MEN MAY SE,
VAYN GLORY, VAUNTYNG AND VANITE.
DE EREMITA QUI QUIDEM SEQUEBATUR
MUNDUM A SE FUGIENTEM, ET POSTEA
FUGIEBAT MUNDUM TUNC SE SEQUENTEM;
MUNDE VALE] TIBI VE] FUGIENS ME, DUM
SEQUERER TE, TU SEQUERIS MODO ME,
IAM RESPUO DESPICIENS TE.
SEN GOD MADE yE WORLD, ALS SAYS HALY WRIT,
TO SERVE MAN, AND NOGHT MAN TO SERVE IT,
WHAR-TO SERVES MAN yE WORLD yAN,
AND MAS HYM yE WORLDES BONDMAN,
WHEN HE MAY SERVE GOD AND BE FRE,
AND OUTE OF SERVAGE OF yE WORLD BE?
BOT WALD A MAN RYGHT KNAW AND FELE
WHAT yE WORLD ES, AND BYHALD IT WELE,
HYM SULD NOGHT LYST, ALS I UNDERSTAND,
MAKE yE WORLD NA GLADE SEMBLAND,
FOR LO] WHAT SAYS BARTHELMEW
yAT SPEKES OF yE WORLD, ALS I WIL SHEW:
HE SAYS, "yE WORLD ES NA THYNG ELLES
BOT AN HARD EXIL, IN QWILK MEN DUELLES,"
033
AND ALSWA A DYM DULFUL DALE,
yAT ES FUL OF SOROW AND BALE,
AND A STED OF MYKEL WRECHEDNES,
OF TRAVAIL AND ANGERS, yAT HERE AY ES,
OF PAYNE, OF SYN AND OF FOLY,
OF SHENSUHeEPE AND OF VELANY,
OF LETTYNG AND OF TARYING,
OF FRAWARDNES AND OF STRIVYNG,
OF FILTHE AND OF CORRUPCION,
OF VIOLENCE AND OF OPPRESSION,
OF GILRY AND OF FALSHEDE,
OF TRESON, DISCORDE AND OF DREDE;
IN yE WORLD, HE SAYS, NOGHT ELLES WE SE
BOT WRECHEDNES AND VANITE,
PRIDE AND POMPE AND COVATYSE,
AND VAYN SLEGHTES, AND QWAYNTYSE;
yE WORLD, HE SAYS, TYL HYM DRAWES
AND TILLES, AND LUFES yAM, yAT HIM KNAWES;
AND MANY HE NUYES AND FON AVAYLES.
HIS LUFERS HE DESAYVES AND FAYLES;
HIS DESPISERS HE WAYTES AY,
ALS SHADOW TO TAK TO HIS PRAY;
BOT yA yAT WILLE HIM FOLOW, HE LEDES
AND yAM SCORNES AND TARIES IN HIS NEDES;
yE WHILK A WHILE HE HERE SOCOURS,
AND yAM HEGHES WITH RYCHES AND HONOURS.
BOT HE WAYTES TO BYGILLE yAM AT yE LASTE,
AND IN TO POVERT AGAYN yAM CAST;
WHAR-FOR WORLDES WORSHEPE MAY BE CALD
NOGHT ELLES BUT VANITE, AND SWA I IT HALD.
AND WORLISSHE RICHES, HOW-SWA yAI COME,
I HALD NOGHT ELLES BOT FILTH AND FANTOME.
yE WORLD HAS MANY WITH VANITE FILED,
AND WITH PRIDE AND POMPE yAM OFTE BYGYLED,
034
yARFOR AN HALY MAN, ALS YHE MAY HERE,
SPEKES TO yE WORLD ON yIS MANERE:
O MUNDE IMMMUNDE, UTINAM ESSES ITA IMMUNDUS, UT ME
NON TANGERES, AUT ITA MUNDUS, UT
ME NON COINQUINARES]
yIS ES ON INGLISHE yUS TO BYMENE:
"O yOU WORLD", HE SAYS, "UNCLENE,
WHYN MUGHT yOU SWA UNCLEN BE,
yAT SULD NEVER MARE NEGHE ME,
OR BE SWA CLENE AND NOGHT VILE,
yAT yOU SULD NEVER MARE ME FILE."
yE WORLD HERE WHO-SO WILLE
UN-TO FOUR THINGES MAY LIKEN BY SKILLE.
FIRST yE WORLD MAY LYKEND BE,
MAST PROPERLY, UNTO yE SE;
FOR yE SE, AFTIR yE TYDES CERTAYN,
EBBES AND FLOWES, AND FALLES AGAYN,
AND WAXES FUL KEN, THURGH STORMES yAT BLAWES,
AND CASTES UP AND DOUN MANY GRET WAWES;
SWA CASTES yE WORLD, THURGH FAVOUR,
A MAN TO RICHES AND HONOUR.
AND FRA yAT AGAYN HE CASTES HYM DOUN
TIL POVERT AND TO TRIBULACIOUN.
AND yA ER yE GRETE STORMES KENE
AND yE WAWES, yAT IN yE WORLD ER SENE.
YHIT MAY yE WORLD HERE yAT WYDE ES,
BE LIKEND TO A WILDERNES,
yAT FUL OF WILD BESTES ES SENE,
ALS LYONS, LIBARDES AND WOLWES KENE,
yAT WALD WOROW MEN BYLYVE,
AND ROGG yAM IN SONDER AND RYVE;
SWA yE WORLD ES FUL OF MYSDOERS
AND OF TYRAUNTES yAT MEN OFTE DERS,
035
yE WHILK ER BISY, NYGHT AND DAY,
TO NUYE MEN IN ALLE yAT yAI MAY.
yE WORLD ALSWA MAY LYKEND BE
TIL A FOREST, IN A WILDE CUNTRE,
yAT ES FUL OF THEFS AND OUTLAWES,
yAT, COMMONLY, TIL FORESTES DRAWES,
yAT HALD PASES, AND ROBBES AND REVES
MEN OF yAT yAI HAVE, AND NOGHT yAM LEVES;
SWA ES yE WORLD HERE yAR WE DUELLE,
FUL OF THEFS, yAT ER DEVELS OF HELLE;
yAT AY US WAYTES, AND ER BYSY
TO ROBBE US OF OUR GUDES GASTLY.
yE WORLD MAY YHIT, ALS YHE SAL HERE,
BE LYKEND, ON yE FIERTH MANERE,
TO A FELD FUL OF BATAILLES
OF ENEMYS, yAT ILK DAY MEN ASSAYLES.
FOR-WHY HERE WE ER ON MANY WYSE
ALLE UMSET WITH SERE ENMYS,
AND, SPECIALI, WITH ENMYS THRE,
AGAYNES WHAM US BYHOVES ARMED BE:
yA ER yE WORLD, yE FENDE, OUR FLESSHE,
yAT, TO ASSAYLE US HERE, ER AY FRESHE;
AND yAR-FOR BYHOVES US, DAY AND NYGHT,
WHILLES WE LIF HERE, AGAYN yAM FIGHT.
yE WORLD, ALS CLERKES UNDERSTANDES,
AGAYN US FIGHTES WITH TWA HANDES,
WITH yE RIGHT HAND AND yE LEFT; yERE TWA
MAY BE TAKEN, BATHE WELE AND WA;
yE RIGHT HAND ES WELTHE, ALS I HALDE,
AND yE LEFTE HAND ES ANGRE CALDE;
FOR yE WORLDE ASSAYLES SUM MEN AWHILE,
WITH yE RIGHT HAND yAM TO BYGILE;
yAT ES WELTH, ALS I SAYDE BEFORE,
OF WORLDLY RICHES AND TRESORE;
AND ASSAYLES MEN, NYGHT AND DAY,
WITH yE LEFT HAND yAM TO FLAY;
yAT ES WITH ANGRE AND TRIBULACION,
AND POVERT, AND PERSECUCION,
036
yE WHILK yER CLERKES yE LEFT HAND CALLES
OF yE WORLD, yAT OFTE SYTHES FALLES.
BOT WITH yE WORLD COMES DAM FORTONE,
yAT AYTHER HAND MAY CHAUNG SONE;
FOR SHO TURNES ABOUT AY HIR WHELE,
UP AND DOUNE, ALS MANY MAY FELE;
WHEN SHO HIR WHELE LATES OBOUT GA,
SHO TURNES SUM DOUNE FRA WELE TO WA,
AND, EFT AGAYNWARD, FRA WA TO WELE;
yUS TURNES SHO OBOUT OFT HIR WHELE,
yE WHILK yIR CLERKES NOGHT ELLES CALLES,
BOT HAPPE OR CHAUNCE, yAT SODANLI FALLES,
AND yAT MEN HALDES HERE NOGHT ELLES,
BOT WELTHE AND ANGRE IN WHILK MEN DWELLES.
yARFOR WORLDLY HAPPE ES AY IN DOUT,
WHILLES DAM FORTUNE TURNES HIR WHELE ABOUT.
ANGRE MEN DREDES AND WALDE IT FLE,
AND IN WELTHE MEN WALD AY BE;
BOT PARFIT MEN, yAT yAIR LIF RIGHT LEDES,
WELTHE OF yE WORLDE AY FLESE AND DREDES;
FOR WELTHE DRAWES A MAN FRA yE RIGHT WAY
yAT LEDES TIL yE BLISSE yAT LASTES AY,
US AGHT TO DREDE WORLDLY WELTHE yAN
FOR SAYNT IEROM SAYS, yE HALY MAN:
QUANTO IN VIRTUTIBUS CRESCIMUS,
TANTO AMPLIUS TIMERE DEBEA-
MUS, NE DE SUBLIMIORI CORRUAMUS.
"yE MARE", HE SAYS, "yAT WE WAX UPRIGHT
IN WELTHE, AND IN WORLDLY MYGHT,
yE MARE WE SULD HAVE DREDE IN THOGHT,
yAT WE FRA yE HEGHER FAL NOGHT;"
TYL yIS ACORDES yE WORDES OF SENEK,
yAT SAYS yUS, ALS YHE HERE ME SPEK:
TUNC TIBI SALUBRIA CONSILIA ADVOCA,
CUM TIBI ALLUDIT PROSPERITAS MUNDI.
037
SENEK ON yIS MANER SAYS:
"WHEN WELTHE OF yE WORLDE WITH yE PLAYS,
SEK yAN GUDE CONSAYL WYTH-ALLE."
FOR WELTHE MAS MEN IN PERILS FALLE,
yAN ES WORLDES WELTHE TO DREDE yARFOR,
ALS SAYS yE GRETE CLERK, SAYNT GREGOR:
SI OMNIS FORTUNA TIMENDA EST, MA-
GIS TAMEN PROSPERA QUAM ADVERSA.
SAINT GREGOR SAYS ON yIS MANERE:
"IF ILKA CHAUNCE BE TO DREDE HERE,
YHIT ES HAPPE OF WELTHE TO DREDE MARE
yAN CHAUNCE OF ANGRE," yAT SMERTES SARE.
FOR ANGRES MANS LYF CLENSES, AND PROVES,
AND WELTHES HIS LIF TROBLES AND DROVES,
AND yE SAUL OF MAN MAY LIGHTLY SPILLE;
FOR WELTHES, yAT MEN HAS HERE AT WILLE,
SEMES TOKENYNG OF ENDELES PYN.
FOR LO] WHAT SAYS HERE SAYNT AUSTYN:
SANITAS CONTINUA ET RERUM HABUNDAN-
CIA, SUNT ETERNE DAMPNACIONIS INDICIA.
HE SAYS, "CONTINUEL HELE HERE
AND PLENTE OF WORLDLY GUDES SERE,
ER TAKNES, ALS IN BOKE WRITEN ES,
OF yE DAMPNACION yAT ES ENDLES."
AND TO yIS WORDES, yAT SUM MEN MYSPAYS,
ACORDES SAYNT GREGOR, yAT yUS SAYS:
CONTINUUS SUCCESSUS TEMPORALIUM, FU-
TURE DAMPNACIONIS EST INDICIUM.
HE SAYS, "CONTINUEL HAPPY COMMYNG
OF WORLDLY GUDES, ES A TAKENYNG
OF yE DAMPNACION yAT SAL BE,"
AT yE LAST DAY, WITH-OUTEN PITE.
BOT yE WORLD PRAYSES NAN, BOT yA ANLY
yAT TIL ALLE WORLDES WELTHES ER HAPPY,
AND ON WORLDLY THYNGES SETTES yAIR HERT,
AND FLESE AY yE STATE OF POVERT;
038
SWILK MEN PURCHACES AND GADERS FAST,
AND FARES ALS yIS LYFE SULD AY LAST;
TIL yAM yE WORLD ES FAVORABEL
IN ALLE yAT yAM THYNK PROFITABEL.
yE WORLD yAM LOFES, AND yAI LUF IT,
AND FOR yAI FOLOW yE WORLDES WIT,
AND MYKEL CAN OF WORLDES QWAYNTYS,
yE WORLD yAM HALDES GUDE MEN AND WYS,
TIL yAM COMMES GUDES HERE MANY-FALDE
TO yAIR DAMPNACION, ALS I TALDE.
FOR-WHY TIL HEVEN MAY NA MAN COME,
yAT FOLOWES yE WORLDE AND WORLDES WYSDOME,
yE QUILK, ALS SAYS WYSE MEN AND WITTY,
ONENCE GOD ES BOT FOLY.
SAPIENCIA HUIUS MUNDI EST
STULTITIA APUD DEUM.
MANY MEN yE WORLD HERE FRAYSTES,
BOT HE ES NOGHT WYSE yAT yAR-IN TRAISTES;
FOR IT LEDES A MAN WITH WRENKES AND WYLES,
AND AT THE LAST IT HYM BYGYLES;
BOT HE MAY BE CALLED WITTY AND WYSE,
yAT yE WORLD CAN FLE AND DISPISE,
AND HATES yE MANERS yAT IT LOFFES,
AND THYNKES AY WHYDER HYM BYHOVES;
AND ON yIS LYFE HERE TRAYSTES NOGHT,
BOT ON yE TOTHER SETTES HIS THOGHT.
FOR NA SYKER DUELLYNG FYNDE WE HERE,
ALS yE APOSTEL SAYS ON yIS MANERE:
NON HABEMUS MANENTEM CIVITATEM,
SED FUTURUM INQUIRIMUS.
"NA SYKER WONNYNG-STED HERE HAF WE,
BOT WE SEKE ANE, yAT SAL AY BE."
FOR ALS GESTES WE HERE SOIOURNE
AWHILE, TIL WE SAL HETHEN TOURNE;
yAT MAY FAL SONER yAN SOM WENES,
FOR WE DUELLE HERE ALS ALIENS,
TO TRAVAIL, HERE IN yE WAY, OUR LYMS,
TIL OUR COUNTRE-WARDE, ALS PILGRYMS.
039
yARFOR yE PROPHET SAYS TIL GOD THUS,
ALS yIS VERS IN yE PSAUTER SHEWES US:
NE SILEAS, QUONIAM ADVENA EGO SUM APUD
TE ET PEREGRINUS, SICUT OMNES PATRES MEI.
"BE NOGHT STILLE LOVERD" SAYS HE,
"FOR I AM A COMMELYNG TOWARDE yE,
AND PILGRYM, ALS ALLE MY FADERS WAS."
yUS MAY AL SAY yAT IN yIS WORLD SAL PAS,
yAT ES TO SAY, BE NOGHT SWA STILLE,
yAT yOW NE MAKE ME HERE KNAW yI WILLE;
AND SWILK COMFORT TO MY SAUL SHEW SWYTHE,
yAT MUGHT MAKE IT IN yE GLADE AND BLYTHE:
AND SAY THOS TO IT: "I AM THY HELE,
FOR yOU ERT MY PILGRIM LELE."
yIS WORLD ES yE WAY AND PASSAGE,
yURGH WHILK LYES OUR PILGRIMAGE;
BY yIS WAY BYHOVES US AL GANG,
BOT BE WE WAR WE GA NOGHT WRANG.
FOR IN yIS WORLD LIGGIS TWA WAYS,
ALS MEN MAY FYND yAT yAM ASSAYS;
yE TANE ES WAY OF THE DEDE CALDE,
yE TOTHER ES WAY OF LYFE TO HALDE,
yE WAY OF DEDE SEMES LARGE AND EESY,
AND yAT MAY LEDE US OVER-LIGHTLY,
UNTIL yE GRYSLY LAND OF MIRKNES,
yAR SOROW AND PYN EVER-MARE ES.
yE WAY OF LYFE SEMES NAROW AND HARDE
yAT LEDES US TIL OUR CONTRE-WARDE
yAT ES yE KYNGDOM OF HEVEN BRIGHT,
WHARE WE SAL WON AY IN GODDES SIGHT
AND GODDES AWEN SONS yAN BE CALDE,
IF WE yE WAY OF LYFE HERE HALDE.
yE LIFE OF yIS WORLD ES FUL UNSTABLE,
AND FUL VARIAND AND CHAUNGEABLE
ALS ES SENE IN CONTRARIUS MANERE,
BY THE TYMES AND VEDIRS AND SESONS HERE.
FOR yE WORLD AND WORLDIS LIFE TO-GIDER,
CHAUNGES AND TURNES OFTE HIDER AND yIDER,
040
AND IN A STATE DUELLES FUL SHORT WHILE,
UNNETHES, yE SPACE OF A MYLE.
AND FOR-yI yAT yE WORLDE IS SWA UNSTABLE,
ALLE yAT MEN SESE yAR-IN ES CHAUNGEABLE;
FOR GOD ORDAYNS HERE, ALS ES HIS WILLE,
SERE VARIAUNCE, FOR CERTAYN SKILLE,
OF yE TYMS AND WEDIRS AND SESONS,
IN TAKEN OF yE WORLDES CONDICIONS,
yAT SWA UNSTABLE ER AND VARIANDE,
yAT FUL SHORT WHILE MAY IN A STATE STANDE.
FOR GOD WILLE MEN SE, THURGH SWILK TAKENS SERE,
HOW UNSTABLE yIS WORLD ES HERE,
SWA yAT MEN SULD MARE DREDE AND BE ABAYSTE,
OVER MYKEL IN yE WORLD HERE TO TRAYSTE.
OFTE CHAUNGES yE TYMES HERE, ALS MEN WELE WATE,
ALS THUS, NOW ES ARLY, NOW ES LATE,
NOW ES DAY, NOW ES NYGHT,
NOW ES MYRK, NOW ES LIGHT,
AND yE WEDIRS CHAUNGES AND yE SESONS,
yUS AFTIR yE WORLDES CONDICIONS;
FOR NOW CS CALD, NOW ES HETE,
NOW ES DRY, AND NOW ES WETE.
FOR NOW ES SNAW, HAIL OR RAYN,
AND NOW ES FAIR WEDIR AGAYN;
NOW ES yE WEDIR BRIGHT AND SHYNAND,
AND NOW WAXES IT ALLE DOUILAND;
NOW SE WE yE LYFTE CLERE AND FAIRE,
NOW GADIRS MYSTES AND CLOUDES IN yE AYRE.
ALLE yER VARIANCE TO UNDERSTANDE
MAY BE TAKENS OF yIS WORLD SWA VARIANDE;
AND YHIT ER yAR OTHER MA TAKENS SERE
OF yE UNSTABLENES OF yIS LIFE HERE.
FOR NOW ES MIRTHE, NOW ES MURNYNG,
NOW ES LAGHTER AND NOW ES GRETYNG;
NOW ER MEN WELE, NOW ER MEN WA,
041
NOW ES A MAN FRENDE, NOW ES HE FAA;
NOW ES A MAN LIGHT, NOW ES UHEe HEVY,
NOW ES HE BLITHE, NOW ES HE DRERY;
NOW HAF WE IOY, NOW HAF WE PYN,
NOW WE WYN, NOW WE TYN;
NOW ER WE RYCHE, NOW ER WE PUR,
NOW HAF WE OR LITEL, NOW PAS WE MESUR;
NOW ER WE BIGG, NOW ER WE BARE,
NOW ER WE HALE, NOW SEKE AND SARE;
NOW HAF WE REST AND NOW TRAVAIL,
NOW WE FANDE OUR FORCE, NOW WE FAIL;
NOW ER WE SMERT, NOW ER WE SLAWE,
NOW ER WE HEGHE, NOW ER WE LAWE;
NOW HAF WE YNOGH, NOW HAF WE NOGHT,
NOW ER WE ABOVEN, AND NOW DOUN BROGHT;
NOW HAF WE PEES, NOW HAF WE WERE,
NOW EESE US A THYNG, NOW FELE WE IT DERE;
NOW LOFE WE, NOW HATE, NOW SAGHTEL, NOW STRIFE.
yER ER yE MANERS HERE OF yIS LYFE,
yE WHILK ER TAKENS OF UyEe UNSTABELNES
OF yIS WORLDIS LYFE, yAT CHAUNGEABLE ES.
BOT ALS yIS LYFE ES AY PASSAND,
SWA ES yE WORLDE, ILK DAY, APAYRAND;
FOR yE WORLD TIL yE ENDEWARDE FAST DRAWES,
ALS CLERKES BY MANY TAKENS KNAWES.
yARFOR yE WORLD, yAT CLERKES SEES PUS HELDE,
ES ALS MYKEL TO SAY ALS yE WER ELDE.
TWA ERTHELY WORLDES TIL yIS LIFE FALLES,
ALS ES SAYD BY-FOR, yAT CLERKES CALLES
yE MARE WORLD OF ERTHE, AND yE LES;
FUL CHAUNGEABLE AYTHER WORLD ES.
yE MARE WORLD ES yIS WORLD BRADE,
AND yE LES ES MAN, FOR WHAM IT ES MADE,
042
AND ALS THE MARE WORLD ES ROUND SETTE,
SWA yE LES WORLD MAN ROUND FOR TO METTE,
FOR IN yE BREDE OF MAN ES CONTENDE,
ALS LANG SPACE FRA yE LANG FYNGER ENDE
OF yE RIGHT HANDE, WITH ARMES OUT SPREDANDE,
TIL yE SAME FYNGER ENDE OF yE LEFT HANDE,
ALS FRA yE HATEREL OBOVEN yE CROUN,
ES SENE TYL yE SOLE OF yE FOT DOUN.
yAN IF A MAN UHeIS ARMES OUT SPREDE
NA MAR ES yE LENGTHE, yAN yE BREDE;
SWA MAY MEN METTE A MAN WITH-OUTE,
ALS A COMPAS ROUND ABOUTE.
yOS HAS yE LES WORLD yAT MAN ES,
SHAP OF yE MARE WORLD AND LIKNES;
BATHE yER WORLDES, I DAR WELE SAY,
SAL FAIL ATTE yE LAST AND PASSE AWAY;
FOR AY yE MARE ELDE yAT yAI BERE,
yE MARE yAI APPAIR AND ER FEBLERE,
ALS MEN SEES yAT TIL yAM TAS TENT,
AND yARFOR SAYS yUS INNOCENT:
SENUIT IAM MUNDUS, UTERQUE MACROCOSMUS UETe
MAJOR MUNDUS, ET MICROCOSMUS ET MINOR MUN-
DUS, ET QUANTO PROLIXIUS UTRIUSQUE SENECTUS PRODUCITUR,
TANTO DEXTERIUS UTRIUSQUE NATURA TURBATUR.
HE SAYS yUS, ALS IN LATYN ES TALDE,
"AYTHER WORLDE NOW WAXES ALDE,
AND yE LANGER yAT yAIR TYM ES SOGHT,
AND yE ELDE OF AYTHER OF yAM FORTH BROGHT,
yE MARE IN MALYS AND FEBELNES
yE KYND OF AYTHER TROBLED ES."
OF BATHE yER WORLDES GRET OUTRAGE WE SE
IN POMPE AND PRIDE AND VANITE,
IN SELCOUTHE MANERS AND SERE DEGYSE
yAT NOW ES USED OF MANY WYSE,
IN WORLDIS HAVYNG AND BERYNG,
IN VAYN APPARAIL AND IN WERYNG,
043
yAS TAS OVER MYKEL VAYN COTTAGE,
AND TORNES AL UNTIL OUTRAGE.
FOR SWILK DEGISES AND SUILK MANERS,
ALS YHONG MEN NOW HAUNTES AND LERS
AND ILK DAY ES COMONLY SEN,
BYFOR yIS TYME NE HAS NOGHT BEN;
FOR yAT SOMTYME MEN HELD VELANY
NOW YHUNG MEN HALDES CURTASY;
AND yAT SOM TYME WAS CURTASY CALD,
NOW WILLE YHONG MEN VELANY HALD.
NOW MANY MEN SE OFTE CHAUNGYNG
OF SERE MANERS OF GYS OF CLETHYNG;
FOR NOW WERS MEN SHORT AND NOW SYDE,
NOW USES MEN NAROW AND NOW WYDE;
SOM HAS yAIR CLETHYNG HYNGAND ALS STOLES,
SOM GAS TATIRD ALS TATIRD FOLES;
SOME GASE WRYNCHAND TO AND FRA,
AND SOME GAS HYPAND ALS A KA;
yUS USES YHONG MEN ALL NEW GETT,
AND yE WORLD yAI ALL AWKEWARD SETT,
THURGH SWYLK UNCOMLY POMP AND PRYDE,
yAT yAI SCHEW WHEyER yAI GANG OR RYDE;
SWA MYKELL PRYDE, ALS NOW ES, I WENE,
WAS NEVER BIFORE yIS TYME SENE,
OF SWILK COMES yIR GYSES yAT WE SE.
BOT I DRED yAT yAI MAY TAKENS BE
OF GRET HASTY MYSCHEVES TO UNDERSTAND
yAT TYLL yE WORLD ER NERE COMMAND.
yARFORE IN yAIR GYSES yAI SALL FALL,
FFOR yARE-WYTH yAI WRETH GOD yAT SESE ALL;
AND HIS WRETH AT yE LAST SALL WITH yAM METE,
WHARFORE yUS SAYS DAVID yE PROPHETE:
ET IRRITAVERUNT EUM IN ADVENCIONIBUS SUIS,
ET MULTIPLICATA EST IN EIS RUINA,
"AND yAI STYRD GOD TYLL WRETH", SAIS HE,
IN yAIR NEW FYNDYNGES OF VANITE,
AND IN yAM IS FALLYNG MANY-FALD,"
AND yAT ES THURGH PRYDE yAT I OF TALD;
044
yIS MAY BE SAID, ALS yE BOKE PROVES
BE yAM yAT NEW GYSES CONTROVES.
FFOR yAI DO SWA yE WORLDE TO PLESE,
FFOR PRYDE MARE yAN FOR yAIR EESE.
AND yA, yAT WITH SWYLK GYSES GOD GREVES,
SALL FALL IN MANY GREVOS MYSCHEVES;
AND FOR yAI WILL NOGHT BE LED WITH SKYLL,
GOD LATES yAM AWHILE HAVE yAIR WILL;
BOT AT yE LAST ON yAM WILL SENDE
VENGUEeAUNCE, BOT IF yAI yAM HERE AMENDE:
yAN MOST yAI BIFORE SCHEW SOM TAKEN,
yAT GOD HAS yAM LEFT AND FORSAKEN;
AND yAT MAY BE KNAWEN BI SERE GYSE.
yARFOR SAYS DAVID IN yIS WYSE:
ET DIMISI EOS SECUNDUM DESIDERIA CORDIS EORUM,
IBUNT IN ADVENCIONIBUS SUIS.
yE PROPHET DAVID HERE SPEKES yUS,
IN GODES NAME, ALS yES VERSES SHEWES US.
"I LEFT yAM", HE SAYS, "OUT OF COVERT,
AFTER yE YHERNYNGES OF yAIR HERT,
IN yAIR FYNDYNGES SALL yAI GA."
yIS MAY BE SAID BE ALL yA
yAT GOD SUFFERS FOLOW VANYTESE,
AFTER yAIR LYKYNG yAT yAI CHESE;
yE WHILK TYLL yE WORLD MASE yAM GAY,
AND TURNES yAM AL FRA GOD OWAY,
yAI SALL AT yE LAST FRO HETHEN WENDE
IN yAIR SYN, TYLL PYNE WITH-OUTEN ENDE,
BOT yAI SWYLK VANYTESE FORSAKE
AND AMENDES HERE BE TYME MAKE;
YHIT HAS yE WORLD, ALS MEN SESE AND HERES,
MA OTHER CONTRARIUS MANERES;
FOR NOW ES VERTOW TURNED TO VYCE,
AND PLAY AND BOURD UNTYLL MALICE;
NOW ES DEVOCYON, ON SOM SYDE,
TURNED TYLL POMP AND TO PRYDE;
NOW ES WYSDOM HALDEN FOLY
AND TURNED INTYLL TRECHERY.
045
AND FOLY IS HALDEN UNOWe WYSDOME,
WITH PROUD MEN AND UNBOWSOME.
NOW ES LUFF TURNED TYLL LYCHERY,
AND RYGHTWISNES TYLL TYRAUNTRY;
yUS ES yIS WORLD TURNED UP yAT ES DOUNE,
TYLL MANY MANS DAMPNACYOUNE,
yE WILK FOLOWES yE WORLDE SWA FRAWARD;
AND yARFORE yAI MON FELE PAYNE FUL HARD,
AFTER yIS LYFE yAT yAI HERE LEDE,
AND yAT AGHT yAM GRETLY TO DREDE.
BOT IT SEMES yAT SWILK MEN ER WODE,
FOR yAI HALD GUD THING EVELL AND EVELL GUDE;
WA SALL yAM BE, ALS WE HERE CLERKES TELL,
FFORWHI CRIST SAYS IN yE GOSSPELL:
VE VOBIS QUI DICITIS MALUM BONUM,
ET BONUM MALUM]
HE SAYS: "WA TILL YHOW yAT SAYS WITH WILL
yAT ILLE ES GUD AND GUD ES ILL;"
yAT ES TO SAY yAM SALL BE WA
yAT HERE MYSTURNES yAIR LYFE SWA.
yUS ES yE WORLD, AND yE LYFE yARE-IN,
FFUL OF VANYTE AND OF SYN.
BOT SOM MEN LUFES yIS LYFE SWA MYKELL
AND yE WORLD yAT IS SWA FYKELL,
yAT yAI WALD NEVER PART yAR-FRA,
BOT LYFE HERE AY, IF IT MOGHT BE SWA;
FOR yAI LUF SWA yIS WORLDES VANYTE
yAT yAI WALD NEVER OTHER LYFE SULD BE.
yAI WILL NOGHT KNAW yE PERYLS ALL
OF yIS LYFE, NE WHAT AFTER SALL FALL;
BOT FOR yAI LIFE HERE IN DELICES SERE
yAI THINK NO HEVENE ES BOT HERE,
BOT AT yE LAST, WHEN yAIR LYFE SALL STYNT,
yAN SALL ALL IOY BE FRA yAM TYNT.
BOT WALD A MAN UNDERSTAND WELE
WHAT yIS WORLD ES AND WHAT HE SALL FELE,
WHEN HE SALL WEND FRA yIS WORLD OWAY,
HIM SULD NOGHT LYST, NOUTHER NYGHT NE DAY,
046
MYRTHE HERE NE BLYTHE CHERE MAKE,
BOT ALL yE WELTHES OF yIS WORLD FORSAKE,
AND LYF IN PENAUNCE AND IN POVERT,
FFOR yE DRED yAT HE SULD HAFE IN HERT,
IF HE WALD KNAW AND TROW HOW HARD
HIM BIHOVED SUFFER AFTERWARD;
BOT OGAYNE yAT DRED YHIT MOGHT HE,
THURGH HOPE OF HERT, CONFORTED BE,
IF HE THINK WELE OF HEVEN BRYGHT,
WHARE HE SALL WON IF HE HERE LYF RYGHT,
yUS MAY ILK MAN DO AND THYNK,
IN WHASE HERT GRACE OF GOD MAY SYNK.
AND HE yAT WILL NOGHT THYNK OF THIS
AND YHERNES TO HAVE NANE OTHER BLYS,
BOT yIS WRECHED LYFE yAT HIM THYNK GUDE,
HE ES OUTHER CLOMSED, OR WODE;
OR IT ES A SIGNE OF SUSPECYON
yAT HE ES IN WAY OF DAMPNACYON.
HERE HAVE I SHEWED ON SERE MANERE
yE CONDICYONS OF yIS WORLD HERE,
AND OF yE WORLDES UNSTABILNES,
AND OF yE MANERS yAT IN yE WORLD ES;
AND NOW WILL I PASS, FORTHER-MARE
TO yE THRED PART AND SE WHAT ES yARE;
FFOR yAT PART NOW WILL I BEGYN
TO SHEW YHOW MATERS yAT ER WITHIN,
yAT SPECIALY SPEKES, AS I SALL REDE
OF yE DED, AND WHI IT ES TO DREDE.

[PART III: yE DED]/[CONTENTS]

HERE BIGYNNES yE THRED PART
yAT ES OF yE DED.
DED ES yE MAST DRED THING yAT ES
IN ALL yIS WORLD, ALS yE BOKE WITNES;
FFOR HERE ES NA QWYK CREATURE LYFAND
yAT IT NE ES FOR yE DED DREDAND
047
AND FLESE yE DED AY WHILS IT MAY
BOT AT yE LAST HE MOST BE yE DEDES PRAY.
DED, OF ALL yAT IT COMES TO, ABATES
AND CHAUNGES ALL MYGHTES AND STATES,
NO MAN MAY WELE OGAYN IT STAND;
WHARE yAT IT COMES IN ANY LAND,
yAT ES TO SAY, BODILY DED,
OGAYNS yE WHILK NO MAN MAY HELP NE RED,
FFOR ALL yAT LYF HAS BIHOVES IT FELE,
yAT AGHT ILK MAN TO KNAW WELE.
BOT BI yE NAME OF DED MAY BE TANE,
AND UNDERSTANDEN MA DEDES yAN ANE,
FFOR ALS yIR CLERKES FYNDES WRITEN AND REDES,
THRE MANERS OF DEDES ER yAT MEN DREDES.
ANE ES BODILY DED, yAT THURGH KYND ES,
ANE OTHER GASTELY, yE THRED ENDELES.
BODILY DED, yAT IS KYNDELY,
ES TWYNYNG BETWENE yE SAULE AND yE BODY;
AND yAT DED ES FULL BYTTER AND HARD,
OF WHILK I SALL SCHEW YHOW AFTERWARD.
GASTELY DED ES TWYNYNG THURGH SYNNE,
BITWENE GOD AND MAN SAULE WITHIN;
FFOR ALS yE SAULE ES LYF OF yE BODY,
SWA yE LYFE OF yE SAULE ES GOD ALLMYGHTY;
AND ALS yE BODY, WITH-OUTEN DOUT,
ES DED WHEN yE SAULE ES PASSED OUT,
yE SAULE OF MAN ES DED RYGHT SWA,
WHEN GOD ES DEPARTED PAREFRA;
FOR WHARE SYN ES, ES yE DEVELL OF HELL,
AND yARE WHARE yAIER, WILL GOD NOGHT DWELL.
FOR DEDELY SYN AND yE DEVELL AND HE
IN A STEDE MAY NOGHT TO-GYDER BE;
yARFOR WHEN yE SAULE ES WOUNDED WITH SYN,
GOD PASSES OUT, AND yE FENDE GASE IN;
yAN ES yE SAULE ONENCE GOD DED,
AY WHILS SYN AND yE DEVELL DWELLES IN yAT STEDE;
AND ALS yE BODY MAY BE SLAYNE
THURGH WAPEN yAT MEN MAY ORDAYNE,
048
SWA ES yE SAULE SLANE THURGH SYN;
WHARFOR GOD AND IT BIHOVES TWYN.
yAN ES GASTLY DED TO DRED WELE MARE,
yAN BODILY DED yAT NANE WILL SPARE,
IN-ALS-MYKELL AS yE SAULE NAMELY
ES BETTER AND MARE WORTHY yAN yE BODY;
FFOR ALL-IF yE SAULE THURGH SYN BE DEDE
FRA GOD ALLMYGHTY yAT ES THE HEDE,
YHIT MAY IT AY LYF AND BE PYNED,
BOT yE BODY ES DEDLY HERE THURGH KYNDE.
OF BODILY DED ES NO GAYN-TURNYNG,
FFOR OF ERTHLY LYF IT ES ENDYNG,
AND RYGHT ENTRE AND WAY IT ES
TILL IOY OR PAYN yAT ES ENDELES.
YHIT IF yE SAULE THURGH SYN BE SLAYNE.
IT MAY THURGH GRACE QWYKEN OGAYNE,
AND yE GASTLY WOUNDES OF SYN
THURGH PENAUNCE MAY BE HELED WITHIN;
FFOR ALL-IF GOD BE RYGHTWYSE AND MYGHTY
HE ES FULL OF GUDENES AND OF MERCY,
AND TO TURNE HIM TYLL MAN MARE REDY ES HE
yAN ANY MAN TILL HIM WILL BE;
FOR ALL-IF HE yE DEDE OF BODY THAT GREVES
ORDAYND TIL ALLE yAT HERE LYFES,
yE DEDE OF SAUL WILD NOGHT HE
OF NA MAN yOGH HE SYNFUL BE;
FOR yE LIFE OF yE SAULE MARE HIM PAYS
yAN yE DEDE, FOR yUS HIM-SELF SAYS:
NOLO MORTEM PECCATORIS, SED UT MAGIS
CONVERTATUR ET VITAT.
"I WILLE NOGHT yE DED OF SYNFUL MAN,
BOT yAT HE MAY BE TURNED AND LYF yAN;"
yAN MAY yE SYNFUL yAT HIS SAUL HAS SLAYN
BE TURNED yURGH GRACE, AND LYF OGAYN.
ENDLES DEDE ES yE DEDE OF HELLE
THAT ES MAST BITTER AND MAST FELLE.
HELLE ES HALDEN A FULL HIDOS STEDE,
yE WHILK ES FULL OF ENDELES DEDE,
049
AND OF PAYNES AND SOROW yAT NEVER SAL BLYN,
AND YHIT MAY NAN DIGHE yAT ES yAR-IN;
BOT IF yAI MUGHT DIGHE, ALS BODY HERE MAY,
OF ALLE SOROW yAN DELYVERD WAR yAY;
yAI SAL FELE yAR MANY A DED BRAYDE,
BOT yAI SAL AY LYF yAR-WITH, ALS I SAYDE;
FOR yE DED OF HELLE ES A LIF AY DYAND,
AND A DED yAT ES AY LIFAND.
DEDE OF HELLE ES NOGHT ELLES TO SAY,
BOT PAYNS AND SOROW yAT SAL LAST AY,
yE WHILK SAULES SAL FELE WITH-OUTEN ENDE,
yAT TILLE yAT GRISELY STED SAL WENDE.
OF yIS DED MAY MEN REDE AND LUKE
YNOGHE, IN yE SEXTE PART OF yIS BUKE,
yAT SPEKES OF yE PAYNS OF HELLE;
yARFOR HERE-ON I WILLE NA LANGER DUELLE,
BOT OF BODILY DEDE I WILLE SPEK MARE
yAT ES ENTRE AND WAY, ALS I SAYD ARE,
TIL LYF OR DED yAT HAS NAN HENDE,
ALS ES AFTIRWARD IN yIS PART CONTENDE.
BODILY DEDE HERE DREDES FUL MANY,
FOR TWA SKILLES PRINCIPALY;
ANE ES FOR yE PAYNE yAT A MAN HAS,
WHEN yE DEDE HYM ASSAYLS, AND SLAS.
yE TOTHER ES, FOR WHEN HIS LIF SAL HERE ENDE,
HE WHAT NEVER WHIDER HE SAL WENDE;
FOR IN DOUT HE ES AND UNCERTAYN
WHETHER HE SAL TIL IOY OR PAYN;
BOT HOW-SWA HE SAL AFTIR FARE,
yE PAYN OF DEDE HERE ES BITTER AND SARE;
yARFOR ILK MAN yAT OF DEDE HAS MYNDE
DREDES GRETELY yE DEDE HERE THURGH KYNDE;
AND SWA IT SEMED, ALS SAYS yE BOKE
yAT CRIST DID IN MANHEDE yAT HE TOKE,
FOR HE BYFOR, AR HE DEYGHED ON yE RODE,
FOR DREDE OF DEDE HE SWET BLODE;
FOR HE WYST, AR HE TIL yE DEDE SULD PASSE,
WHAT yE PAYN OF yE DEDE WASSE,
050
yAN MAY WE yARBY TROW RIGHT WELE
yAT yE PAYN OF yE DEDE ES HARD TO FELE.
OF yE DEDE HERE MEN MAY THYNK WONDER.
FOR ALLE THYNG IT BRESTES IN SONDER,
ALS IT SCULKES BY DIVERSE WAYS;
yARFOR yE HALY MAN IN BOKE yUS SAYS:
MORS OMNIA
SOLVIT.
"yE DEDE", HE SAYS, "LOUSES ALLE THYNG
AND OF ILK MANS LIF MAS ENDYNG."
yE DEDE ES SWA SUTIL AND PRYVE,
yAT NA MAN MAY IT PROPERLY SE;
AND FOR-yY yAT NA MAN MAY SE IT,
yARFOR MAY NA MAN KNAW NE WITT,
NE YMAGYN THURGH WITTE WHAT IT ES,
NE WHAT SHAPPE IT HAS AND LYKNES.
BOT WHAT DEDE ES PROPERLY TO SAY,
WHA-SWA WILLE, SHORTLY WITE HE MAY.
DEDE ES NOGHT ELLES TO TELLE SHORTLY,
BOT A PARTYNG OF yE SAUL AND BODY,
ALS I BYFOR APARTY SAYDE.
yIS MAY BE CALDE yE DEDIS BRAYDE,
AND A PRIVACION OF yE LIFE,
WHEN IT PARTES FRA yE BODY IN STRIFE.
AND ALS YHE MAY SE AND WATE WELE,
yAT MYRKNES KYNDLY ES NOGHT TO FELE,
BOT OVERALLE WHAR NA LIGHT ES
yAR ES PROPERLY MYRKNES;
RIGHT SWA yE DEDE ES NOGHT ELLES
BOT A PRYVYNG OF LYF, ALS CLERKES TELLES;
FOR WHAR-SWA-EVER yE LYF FAYLES
yAR ES yE DEDE yAT yAN ASSAYLES.
yUS yE DEDE yAT MEN DREDES MAST,
WHEN yE LYF FAYLES MEN BYHOVES TAST.
051
FOUR SKILLES I FYND WRITEN IN SOM STEDE,
WHY MEN SULD SPECIALY DREDE yE DEDE:
AN ES FOR yE DEDE STOURE SWA FELLE
yAT ES MARE PAYNE yAN MAN CAN TELLE,
yE WHILK ILK MAN SAL FELE WITH-IN,
WHEN yE BODY AND yE SAULE SALLE TWYN.
ANOTHER ES FOR yE SIGHT yAT HE SAL SE
OF DEVELS, yAT ABOUT HYM yAN SAL BE.
yE THRED ES FOR yE ACOUNT yAT HE SAL YHELD
OF ALLE HIS LYF, OF YHOUTHE AND ELDE.
yE FERTH ES, FOR HE ES UNCERTAYNE
WHETHER HE SAL WEND TIL IOY OR PAYNE;
WHA-SWA WIL OF yER FOUR TAKE HEDE,
HYM AGHT GRETELY HERE yE DEDE TO DREDE.
OF TWA OF yERE FOUR, BYFORE I SPAKE,
NOW WIL I OTHER TWA TIL yAM TAKE;
FOR OF TWA I SPAK FIRST GENERALY,
NOW I WILLE WITH OTHER TWA yAM SPECIFY.
FIRST AGHT MEN DREDE yE DED IN HERT,
FOR yE PAYN OF yE DEDE yAT ES SWA SMERT,
yAT ES yE HARD STOUR AT yE LAST ENDE,
WHEN yE SAULE SAL FRA yE BODY WENDE;
A DOLEFUL PARTYNG ES yAT TO TELLE,
FOR yAI LUF AY TOGYDER TO DUELLE;
NOUTHER OF yAM WALD OTHER FORGA
SWA MYKEL LOF ES BYTWEN yAM TWA;
AND yE MARE yAT TWA TOGYDER LUFES,
ALS A MAN AND HIS WYFE OFT PRUVES,
yE MARE SOROW AND MURNYNG
BYHOVES BE AT yAIR DEPARTYNG.
BOT yE BODY AND yE SAUL WITH yE LYFE
LUFES MARE SAMEN yAN MAN AND HYS WYFE,
WHETHER yAI BE IN GUDE WAY OR ILLE,
AND yAT ES FOR MANY SERE SKYLLE.
A SKYLLE ES, ALS YHE SAL NOW SE,
WHY yAI WALD AY TOGYDER BE;
FOR-yY yAT GOD, ALS SAYS HALY WRIT,
FIRST BODY AND SAUL TOGYDER KNYT;
052
ANOTHER FOR THE TANE MAY NOGHT DO
BOT IF yE TOTHER HELP yAR-TO;
yE THRED FOR yAI BATHE TOGIDER SAL COME
BYFOR GOD AT yE DAY OF DOME;
yE FERTHE, FOR WHEN yAI ER COMEN THEDER,
yAI SAL AY AFTER DUEL TOGIDER.
yARFOR yAIR PAYNE AND SOROW ES MARE
WHEN yE TANE SAL FRA yE TOTHER FARE.
yIS TWYNNYNG MAY BE CALD yE DEDE,
yAT FLEYGHES ABOUT FRA STED TIL STEDE,
THURGH ALLE LANDES, FER AND NERE,
AND SPARES NAN OF WHAM HE HAS POWERE,
FOR PRAYER NE GYFTE yAT MEN MAY GYFE.
WHARE HE COMES HE LATTES NANE LYFE,
NE FOR LUF NE AWE ER NANE SPARDE;
FOR yE DEDE TIL NA MAN TAS REWARDE,
NE RICHE NE POVER HE SPARS, HEGH NE LAW,
yAT HE NE yE LYF WIL FRA yAM DRAW,
yE DEDE HAS MERCY OF NA WIGHT,
ALS SAYNT BERNARD yUS SHEWES RIGHT:
NON MISERETUR MORS INOPIE,
NON REVERETUR DIVICIIS, NON SA-
PIENCIE, NON MORIBUS,
NON ETATI.
HE SAYS "yE DEDE OF POVERT NA MERCY HAS,
NE TO RYCHES NE REWARD TAS,
NE TIL WYSDOM yAT WYSE MEN SCHEWES,
NE TIL ELDE OF MAN NE TIL GUDE THEWES."
DEDE WIL NA FRENDSHEPE DO NE FAVOUR,
NE REVERENCE TIL KYNG NE TIL EMPEROUR,
NE TIL PAPE, NE TIL BISSHOPE, NE NA PRELATE,
NE TIL NAN OTHER MAN OF HEGHE ESTATE,
NE TIL NA RELIGIOUSE, NE TIL NA SECULERE,
FOR DEDE OVER AL MEN HAS POWERE.
AND THURGH yE DEDE HAND AL SAL PAS,
ALS SALAMON SAYS, yAT WYSE WAS:
COMMUNIONEM
MORTIS SCITO.
053
"KNAW yOW," HE SAYS, yAT yE DEDE ES
COMON TO AL MEN, BATHE MARE AND LES."
yUS SAL DEDE VISITE ILK MAN,
AND YHIT NA MAN DISCRYVE IT CAN,
FOR HERE LYVES NAN, UNDER HEVENRYKE,
yAT CAN TELLE TIL WHAT yE DED ES LYKE.
BOT yE PAYN OF DEDE yAT AL SAL FELE
A PHILOSOPHER yUS DISCRIVED WELE;
FOR HE LYKEND MANS LYF TIL A TRE
yAT WAR GROWAND, IF IT SWA MUGHT BE,
THURGH A MANS HERT AND SWA SHULD SPRYNGE,
yAT OBOUT WAR LAPPED WITH yE HERT STRYNGE,
AND yE CROPPE OUT AT HIS MOUTH MUGHT SHOTE,
AND TO ILKA IOYNT WAR FESTED A ROTE;
AND ILKA VAYNE OF yE MANS BODY
HAD A ROTE FESTEND FAST yARBY,
AND IN ILKA TAA AND FYNGER OF HAND
WAR A ROTE FRA yAT TRE GROWAND;
AND ILKA LYM ON ILKA SYDE
WITH ROTES OF yAT TRE WAR OCCUPYDE;
YF yAT TRE WAR TITE PULLED OUTE
AT A TITTE WITH AL yE ROTES OBOUTE,
yE ROTES SULD yAN RAYSE yAR-WITH
ILKA VAYN AND ILKA SYNOGHE AND LITH.
A MARE PAYNE COUTHE NA MAN IN HERT CAST
yAN yIS WAR, ALS LANG ALS IT SULD LAST.
AND YHIT HALDE I yE PAYNE OF DEDE MARE
AND MARE STRANG AND HARD, yAN yIS PAYN WARE;
yOS A PHILOSOPHER WHEN HE LYFED,
yE PAYN OF yE DEDE HERE DISCRIVED.
yARFOR ILK MAN, ALS I BYFOR SAYDE,
AGHT TO DREDE yE BITTER DEDES BRAYDE,
FOR BATHE GODE AND ILLE SAL IT TASTE;
BOT ILLE MEN AGHT DREDE IT MASTE,
FOR DRED OF DED MAST PYNS WYTHIN
A MAN yAT HERE ES FUL OF SYN,
yARFOR yE PROPHET SAYS IN A STEDE,
AND SPEKES yUS UN-TIL yE DEDE:
054
O MORS QUAM AMARA MEMORIA
TUA HOMINI INIUSTO.
"O yOU GRYSELY DEDE," SAYS HE.
"FUL BITTER ES yE MYNDE OF yE,
UNTIL yE SYNFUL MAN" NAMLY,
yAT FOR HIS SYN ES PAYNWORTHY;
yARFOR ME THYNK HE ES UNSLEGHE
yAT MAS HYM NOGHT HERE REDY TO DEGHE;
FOR yE DEDE ES PRIVY AND SODAYNE,
AND yE TYME OF HIS COMMYNG UNCERTAYNE.
A MAN FOR CERTAYNE SAL DIGHE AT yE LAST,
FOR HIS LYF IS NOGHT BOT ALS A WYND BLAST.
BOT HE WAYTE NEVER WHAT TYME NE WHAN;
FOR SWA CERTAYNE ES HERE NA MAN
yAT CAN yE TYME OF yE DEDE FORLUKE,
FORyI SAYS SAYNT BERNARD IN A BOKE:
QUID IN REBUS HUMANIS CERCIUS EST
MORTE; QUID INCERCIUS HORA MORTIS INVENITUR.
HE SAYS: "WHAT ES TIL MAN MARE CERTAYN
yAN yE DEDE ES yAT ES SWA SODAYN;
AND WHAT ES MARE UNCERTAYN THYNG,
yAN ES yE TYME OF THE DEDE COMMYNG",
ALSWA SAY NATHYNG yAT MAY BE;
yAN MAY NA MAN HERE yE DEDE FLE.
yARFOR A MAN HYM SULD REDY MAKE,
BYFOR AR yE DEDE COM HYM TO TAKE,
AND PUT HYM BYFOR AND DED BYHYNDE,
SWA yAT DED MAY HYM REDY FYNDE;
yARFOR SAYNT AUSTYN yE HALY MAN
SAYS yUS, ALS I SHEW YHOW CAN:
NESCIS QUA HORA VENIAT MORS,
SEMPER VIGILA, UT, QUOD NESCIS QUANDO
VENIAT, PARATUM TE INVENIAT
CUM VENERIT, ET ADHOC FORTE
NESCIS QUANDO VENIAT, UT SEMPER
SIS PARATUS.
"MAN yAN KNAWES NOGHT," SAYS HE,
"WHAT TYME yE DEDES COMYNG SAL BE;
055
WAKE AY ALS yOU HAD NA KNAWYNG
OF yE TYME OF DEDYS COMMYNG,
yAT yE DEDE MAY FYND yE, WHEN IT SAL COM,
AY REDY TIL GOD AND BUGHUSOeM;
AND TO yAT PERCHAUNCE KNAW yOU NE MAY
yE COMMYNG, FOR yOU SHULD BE REDY AY."
yAN BYHOVED US OUR LYF SWA CAST
ALS ILK DAY OF OUR LIF WAR yE LAST;
AND ILK DAY BE REDY AND LIF WELE,
ALS WE SULD ILK DAY yE DED FELE,
AND BYDE NOGHT TIL yE DEDE US VYSET,
yARFOR yOS SAYS SAYNT AUSTYN YHET:
LATET ULTIMUS DIES, UT OBSERVENTUR
OMNES DIES, SERO PARANTUR REME-
DIA CUM MORTIS IMMINENT
PERICULA.
"yE LAST DAY OF MAN IS HYD", HE SAYS,
"FOR HE SHULD KEPE WELE AL yE OTHER DAYES,
FOR OVER LATE MEN ORDAYNS REMEDY,
WHEN PERELS OF DEDE COMES SODANLY."
FOR IF A MAN yAT UNREDY ES,
BE TANE WITH DEDE IN HIS WYKEDNES,
TURNE AGAYNE yAN MAY HE NOGHT
FOR TO AMEND yAT HE HAS MYSWROGHT;
IN yAT STATE, yAT HE ES IN TANE,
HE SAL BE DEMED WHEN HE ES GANE;
WHARFOR A MAN FOR DREDE OF LETTYNG
SHULD NOGHT ABYDE yE DEDES COMMYNG,
BOT MAKE HYM REDY, AR HE FEL HARDE,
AND KEPE HYM AY WELE AFTIRWARDE,
FOR WHEN yE DEDE ES AT yE YHATE,
yAN ES HE WARNED OVER LATE.
yE DEDE FRA A MAN HIS MYND REVES
AND NA KYNDELY WITTE WITH HYM LEVES,
FOR yAN SAL HE FELE SWILK PAYN AND DREDE,
yAT HE NE MAY THYNK OF NA MYSDEDE,
BOT OF HIS PAYN AND OF NOGHT ELLES,
ALS yIS GRETE CLERK SAYNT AUSTYN TELLES:
056
TYMOR MORTIS TOTAM ANIMAM SIBI VENDICAT,
UT NEC DE PECCATIS TUNC LIBEAT COGITARE.
yE DREDE OF yE DED WHEN IT FAYLES A MAN,
CHALANGES AL yE SAUL TYL IT yAN;
SWA yAT HYM LISTE yAN HAF NA THOGHT
OF HIS SYNNES yAT HE HERE HAS WROGHT.
yAN FOLOWES yAT MAN NA WYS REDE
yAT ABYDES yE COMMYNG OF yE DEDE,
AND HASTES HYM NOGHT TO CLENSE HYM SONE
OF AL HIS SYNS yAT UHEe HAS DONE;
FOR WHEN yE DEDE COMES TIL A MAN
IT ES OVER LATE TO BYGYN yAN;
BOT I REDE A MAN HE AMEND HYM HERE,
OR yE DEDE COME, OR HIS MESSANGERE;
FOR IF HE WILLE SWA BYFOR BE WAR.
yE DEDE yAN WELE LES DREDE HYM yAR;
HIS MESSANGERE MAY BE CALLED SEKENES,
yAT COMES BYFOR ALS OFTE FELLED ES;
FOR SEKENES OFTE A MAN SWA PYNES
yAT THURGH yAT PAYN HYS MYND HE TYNES,
FOR HE MAY yAN THYNK ON NOGHT ELLES
BOT OF yE PAYN yAT WITH HYM DUELLES.
BOT WHEN yE DED COMES AFTIRWARD
AND HYM BYHOVES FELE MARE HARD,
yAN SAL HE BE IN SWYLK DREDE SETTE,
yAT HE SAL GOD AND HYMSELF FORGET,
AND yAT ES SKYLLE FOR HE WIL NOGHT,
WHYLES HE HAS HELE, HAF GOD IN THOGHT,
yARFOR HE SAL yAN HIS MYNDE TYNE
AND yARFOR yUS SAYS SAYNT AUSTYNE:
HAC ANIMAVERSIONE PERCUTITUR
PECCATOR, UT MORIENS OBLIVISCATUR
SUI, QUI DUM VIVERET OBLITUS
EST DEI.
"yE SYNFUL", HE SAYS, ALS ES WRITEN,
"WITH PYNE OF yE DEDE ES SMYTEN,
yAT HE THURGH PAYN yAT HIM BYHOVES DRIGHE,
HYM-SELF FORGETIS WHEN HE SAL DIGHE,
057
yAT WHYLLES HE MUGHT LIF HERE BODYLY,
FORGATTE HIS GOD yAT ES ALMYGHTY."
MANY SYNFUL HAS HERE NA GRACE
TO HAF TYME OF REPENTANCE, NE SPACE;
FOR WHILES yAI LYF yAI HAVE NA MYNDE
OF GOD, BOT FORGETTES HYM, ALS AY UNKYNDE.
ME THYNUKe yAN yAT IT ES SKILLE AND RIGHT
yAT THURGH DEDE GOD REVE yAM MYND AND MYGHT;
yUS SAL yAI DYGHE AND HEVEN BLIS TYNE
AND BE PUTTED TIL ENDELES PYNE,
yAT TIL GOD HERE ER SWA UNCURTAYS,
yARFOR DAVID IN yE PSAUTER SAYS:
VOS SICUT HOMINES MORIEMINI, ET
SICUT UNUS DE PRINCIPIBUS CADETIS.
HE SAYS: "ALS MEN YHE SAL DIGH ALLE,
AND ALS ANE OF yE PRINCES YHE SAL FALLE."
yAT ES YHE DIGHE OF yE SAME MANERE,
ALS MEN DIGHES IN yIS WORLD HERE,
AND ALS yE SPYRITES yAT FRA HEVEN FELLE,
BE CASTEN DON INTILLE HELLE.
yARFOR TIL A MAN IT WAR WYSDOME
TO REPENTE HYM OR yE DEDE COME,
AND HAF GOD IN MYNDE WHYLES HE LYFES HERE,
ALS yE PROPHET BIDDES ON yIS MANERE:
MEMENTO CREATORIS TUI ANTEQUAM VE-
NIAT TEMPUS VISITACIONIS SUE.
"THYNK," HE SAYS, "AND HAF IN yI THOGHT
OF HYM yAT MADE yE FIRST OF NOGHT,
WHILLES yOU LYFFES, AR yE TYME SAL BE,
WHEN HE WITH yE DEDE SAL VISET yE."
FOR WHEN DEDE HERE ASSAYLES A MAN
HE MAY NOGHT THYNK WELE ON GOD yAN,
FOR yE DEDE HIS MYNDE AWAY yAN BREKES,
AND yARFOR DAVID yOS TIL GOD SPEKES:
QUONIAM NON EST IN MORTE
QUI MEMOR SIT TUI.
"LORD", HE SAYS, "yAT MAN ES NOGHT
IN DEDE, yAT OF yE HERE HAS THOGHT."
058
BOT MEN MAY UNDERSTAND HEREBY
DEDE OF SAULE THURGH SYN NAMLY;
FOR HE yAT HAS AY GOD IN THOGHT,
IN DEDE OF SAUL SEMES HE NOGHT;
AND HE yAT OF GOD ES MYNDLES
IT SEMES yAT HE IN SAUL DEDE ES.
GOD VISITES US IN ILKA STEDE
WHARE WE MAY FELE TAKENS OF DEDE,
AND IF WE COUTHE UNDERSTAND WELE,
ILK DAY WE MAY TAKENS OF DEDE FELE;
yARFOR ME THYNK ALLE THIS LIF HERE SEMES
MAR DEDE yAN LYF, yUS WYSMEN DEMES;
FOR yE BOKE SAYS, ALS IT BERCS WYTTENES,
yAT A MAN, WHEN HE FIRST BORNE ES,
BYGYNNES TOWARDE yE DEDE TO DRAWE
AND FELES HERE MANY A DEDE THRAW,
ALS SERE YVELS AND ANGERS WHEN yAI BYFALLE,
yAT MEN MAY yE DEDE THRAWES CALLE,
AND OTHER PERILS AND QUATHES MANY,
yAT COMMES TO MEN OFTE SODANLY.
yAN ES OUR BIRTHE HERE BYGYNNYNG
OF yE DEDE yAT ES OUR ENDYNG;
FOR AY yE MARE yAT WE WAX ALDE
yE MARE OUR LIF MAY BE DED TALDE.
yARFOR WHYLLES WE ER HERE LYFFAND
ILK DAY ER WE yOS DIGHAND;
yAN SEMES OUR LYF NATHYNG ELLES
BOT ALS A DEDE, ALS yE BOK TELLES,
AND TIL OTHER LYF WYN WE NOGHT,
TIL yE DEDE yIS LIFE TIL ENDE HAF BROGHT;
BOT WHEN yE DEDE HAS MADE ENDE,
yAN WATE WE NEVER WHYDER WE SAL WENDE;
WETHER WE SAL TIL WELE OR WA,
BOT TIL yE TANE BYHOVES US GA.
FOR-WHY TIL GUDE MEN yE DEDE ES WAY
TIL yE BLISSE OF HEVEN yAT LASTES AY,
AND TIL ILLE MEN YHATE AND ENTREE
TIL yE PYN OF HELLE yAT AY SAL BE;
059
yARFOR DAVID, yAT WAS SWA HALY,
SPEKES yUS TIL GOD ALMYGHTY:
QUI EXALTAS ME DE PORTIS MORTIS, UT AN-
NUNCIEM OMNES LAUDACIONES TUAS, IN PORTIS FILIE SYON.
"LOVERD", SAYS DAVID, "yOU ERT HE
yAT FRA yE YHATES OF DEDE LIFTES ME,
yAT I MAY SHEW OVER ALLE THYNGES
SPECIALY ALLE yI LOVYNGES,
IN yE YHATES OF DOGHTER SYON."
yAT, ALS CLERKES SAYS yAT CAN yAR-ON,
ES HALY KYRK yAT GOD FIRST CHES,
THURGH WHILK MEN COMMES TO yE SIGHT OF PES.
BY yE YHATES OF DEDE, ALS MEN MAY SE,
yE DEDE OF HELLE MAY UNDERSTANDEN BE
FRA WILK GOD LIFTES US DAY AND NYGHT,
TO SHEWE HIS LOVYNGES WITH ALLE OUR MYGHT,
AND TO SERVE HYM AND HIS WERKES TO WYRK
IN STEDFAST TROUTHE OF HALY KYRK,
SWA yAT WE MAY AFTERWARDE WENDE
TIL yE SIGHT OF PEES yAT HAS NAN ENDE.
HEGHE IN HEVEN ES yAT FAIR SIGHT,
yAT ALLE SAL SE yAT HERE LYVES RYGHT;
BOT ALLE yAT SAL COM TIL yAT STEDE
BYHOVES PASSE HETHEN THURGH BODILY DEDE;
FOR yAT DEDE TO yAM ES NOGHT ILLE
yAT LYFFES HERE AFTER GODDES WILLE,
AND IN yAT LIF STEDFASTLY DUELLES;
AND yARFOR SAYNT AUSTYN yUS TELLES:
MALA MORS PUTANDA NON EST QUAM
BONA VITA PRECESSIT, NEQUE ENIM FACIT
MALAM MORTEM, NISI QUOD SEQUITUR
IPSAM MORTEM.
HE SAYS: "NA MAN ILLE DEDE SHULD WENE
yAR, WHAR GUDE LYF BYFOR HAS BENE;
FOR NATHYNG MAS ILLE DEDE TO TAST,
BOT yAT yAT FOLOWS yE DEDE MAST",
yAT ES DEDELY DEDES yAT SUM WILLE DO,
AND YHIT SAYS SAYNUTe AUSTYN yOS yARTO:
060
NON POTEST MALE MORI QUI BENE VIXIT,
ET VIX BENE MORITUR QUI MALE VIXIT.
HE SAYS: "HE MAY NOGHT ILLE DEDE FELE
yAT IN GODDES LAGHE HAS LYFED WELE;
AND UNNETHES MAY MEN SE BY SKILLE,
yAT HE DYGHES WELE yAT HAFES LYFED ILLE."
BOT HE yAT HATES yIS LYFES LYKYNG
THAR NOGHT DREDE yE DEDES COMMYNG;
FOR AFTIR HIS DEDE NA PAYN HYM DERS,
yARFOR SAYS CATON yUS IN A VERS:
NON METUIT MORTEM,
QUI SIT CONTEMPNERE VITAM.
HE SAYS: "HE yAT yIS LIF DESPYSE
THAR DRED yE DEDE HERE ON NA WYSE;"
SWA DID MARTIRS yAT yE DEDE SOGHT,
FOR BY yIS LYF SETTE yAI RIGHT NOGHT;
AND OTHER HALYMEN YHERNED TO DYGHE
FOR TO BE WITH GOD IN HEVEN HYGHE,
ALS yE BOKE OF yAIR LYFES SHEWES US,
AND SWA DID SAYNT PAUL yAT SAYS yUS:
CUPIO DISSOLVI
ET ESSE CUM CRISTO.
"I YHERN", HE SAYS. "BE LOUSED AWAY
FRA yIS LIFE AND BE WITH CRIST AY."
HALY MEN THOGHUTe yIS LYF BOT WAST,
yARFOR yAIR YHERNYNG TIL GOD WAS MAST;
AND FOR-yI yAT yAM THOGHT ALLE yIS LYFE
NOGHT BOT TRAVAIL, ANGRE, AND STRIFE,
yAI YHERNED yE ENDE OF yAIR LYF DAYS,
AND yARFOR yE HALY MAN yOS SAYS:
MELIUS EST DIES MORTIS
QUAM DIES NATIVITATIS.
HE SAYS: "BETTER ES yE DAY OF DEDE
yAN yE DAY OF BURTHE", AND MARE STANDES IN STEDE.
FOR-WHY A GUDE MAN DIGHES TO WEND TO REST,
WHARE HIS LYF SAL BE ALTHER-BEST
061
WHEN yE SAUL FRA yE BODY SWIPPES,
ALS SAYNT JOHAN SAYS IN yE APPOCALIPPES:
BEATI MORTUI QUI IN DOMINO
MORIUNTUR.
"BLESSED BE ALLE yAS yAT IN BODY
DIGHES HERE IN GOD ALLE-MYGHTY."
FOR yAS yAT MEN SESE IN GUDE LYFE ENDE
DIGHES IN GOD, AND yAI SAL WENDE
TIL yE BLISSE OF HEVEN yAT ES SWA HYGHE,
WELE ES HYM yAN yAT SWA MAY DIGHE.
BOT ALLE-YF HALY MEN MAY DIGH WELE,
YHIT yE PAYN OF DEDE BYHOVES yAM FELE,
yAT ES MARE yAN MAN CAN YMAGYN
WHEN yE BODY AND yE SAULE SAL TWYN;
yE WILK yAM AGHT DRED APARTY,
THURGH MANSKYND OR ELLES WAR FERLY:
FOR SEN CRIST, ALS I SAYD BEFOR, HAD DRED
OF THE DED, THURGH KYND OF HIS MANHED,
yAN AGHT ILKMAN, BATHE MARE AND LES,
DREDE yE DEDE HERE yAT SWA BITTER ES.
yE SECUND SKIL, ALS BYFOR ES REDDE,
WHY yE DEDE ES SWA GRETELY DREDE,
ES FOR yE GRISLY SYGHT OF FENDES
yAT A MAN SAL SE WHEN HIS LYF ENDES.
FOR WHEN yE LYF SAL PAS FRA A MAN
DEVELS SAL GADIR OBOUT HYM yAN,
TO RAVISSCHE yE SAUL WITH yAM AWAY
TYL PYNE OF HELLE, IF yAI MAY.
ALS WODE LYONS yAI SAL yAN FARE
AND RAUMPE ON HYM, AND SKOUL, AND STARE,
AND GRYMLY GRYN ON HYM AND BLERE,
AND HYDUS BRAYDES MAK HYM TO FERE;
yAI SAL FANDE AT HIS LAST ENDYNG
HYM IN-TO WANHOPE FOR TO BRING,
THURGH THRETYNGES yAT yAI SAL MAK,
AND THURGH yE FERDNES yAT HE SAL TAK.
FUL HYDUS SIGHTES yAI SAL SHEW HYM
yAT HIS CHERE SAL MAKE GRISLY AND GRYM.
062
yAT SIGHT HE SAL SE WITH GASTLY EGHE
WITH PAYN OF DEDE yAT HE MOST DREGHE.
HERE-OF yE PROPHET IEREMY
SPEKES yUS IN HIS PROPHECY:
OMNES INIMICI EIUS APPREHENDERUNT
EUM INTER ANGUSTIAS.
HE SAYS: "OMANG HIS GRETE ANGUYS
HYM yAI SAL TAK AL HYS ENMYS."
NA VONDER ES IF yE DEVELS COM yAN
IN yE ENDE OBOUT A SYNFUL MAN,
FOR TO FLAY HYM AND TEMPTE AND PYN,
WHEN yE DEVEL COM TO SAYNT MARTYN
IN yE TYME OF DEDE AT HIS LAST DAY
HYM FOR TO TEMPTE AND FOR TO FLAY:
AND IN yE LIFE OF SAYNT BERNARD
WE REDE yAT WHEN HE DROGH TIL DEDEWARD,
yAT yE DEVEL yAT ES GRISELY AND GRYM,
TIL HYM COME AND ASKED HYM,
BY WHAT SKILLE HE WALD, AND BI WHAT RYGHT;
CHALANGE yE KYNGDOM OF HEVEN BRIGHT;
yAN ANSWERD BERNARD yUS MEKELY,
AND SAYD: "I KNAW yAT I AM UNWORTHY,
THURGH MYN-AWEN DESERT, TO HAF IT
WHEN I SAL OUT OF yIS WORLD FLIT.
BOT MY LORDE IHESU CRIST FUL OF MYGHT,
yAT IT HAS AND WELDES THURGH DOBLE RYGHT,
THURGH RIGHT OF HIS FADERS HERITAGE,
AND ALSWA FOR OUR GRETE AVAUNTAGE,
THURGH RIGHT OF HYS HARD PASSION,
yAT HE THOLED FOR OUR RAUNSON,
yE TA RIGHT FRELY HE GRAUNTED ME,
AND yE TOTHER TIL HYM-SELF HELD HE;
OF WAS GYFTE I CHALAUNeGE IT BY SKILLE,
ALS yE LAGH OF HIS MERCY WILLE."
AND WHEN yE DEVEL HERD HYM yUS SAY,
ALLE SKOMFIT HE VANYST OWAY;
AND yE HALYMAN WHEN yIS WAS DONE
TORNED OGAYNE TIL HYM-SELF SONE,
063
AND HE YHELDED yE GAST TO GOD AND DYGHED,
AND SWA yE SAUL TIL HEVEN FLYGHED.
AND YHIT ES MARE WONDER TO TELLE
yAT GOD WALD SUFFER yE DEVEL OF HELLE,
APERE TIL HYMSELF yAT ES OF MYGHT MAST,
WHEN HE SULD DYGH AND YHELD yE GAST,
ALS DOCTURS SAYS OF HALY WRIT,
IN BUKES THURGH WHILK MEN MAY KNAW IT.
yAN SEMES IT WELE yAT GOD WIL yUS
SUFFER yE DEVEL APERE TIL US
IN TYME OF DEDE, AT OUR LAST ENDE,
WHEN WE SAL OUT OF yIS WORLD WENDE,
SEN HALY MEN yAT HERE LIFFED RIGHT
MUGHT NOGHT DYGH WITH-OUTEN yAT SIGHT,
NE GODYS MODER yAT HE LOFFED MARE,
WALD NOGHT FRA yAT SYGHT SPARE,
BOT yAT HE GRAUNTED AT HIR ASKYNG
yAT IN yE TYME OF HIR PASSYNG
yAI SULD NA POWER HAF HIR TO DERE,
NE yAT yE SYGHT OF yAM SHULD HIR FERE;
AND YHIT SEN GOD HYMSELF SPARD NOGHT,
FOR AT HIS DEDE yE DEVEL TIL HYM SOGHT
IN HIS MANHEDE FOR SWA yAN HE WALDE,
ALS MEN SAYS yAT ER GRET CLERKES CALDE.
yAN ER WE CERTAYN, WITH-OUTEN WERE
yAT AT OUR LAST ENDE yAI SAL APERE.
BOT A GRET PAYNE yAN TIL US SAL yIS BE
yE SIGHT OF yAM WHEN WE yAM SE;
FOR yAI ER SWA GRISELY, ALS SAYS yE BUKE,
AND SWA BLAK AND FOULE ON TO LOKE,
yAT AL yE MEN HERE OF MYDLERD
OF yAT SIGHT MUGHT BE AFERD;
FOR AL yE MEN HERE OF yIS LYFE
SWA GRYSELY A SIGHT COUTH NOGHT DESCRYFE,
NE THURGH WYT YMAGYN NE DEME,
ALS yAI SAL IN TYME OF DEDE SEME,
NE SWA SLEYGH PAYNTUR NEVER NAN WAS,
yOGH HIS SLEGHT MUGHT ALLE OTHER PAS,
064
yAT COUTHE YMAGYN OF yAIR GRYSLYNES
OR PAYNT A POYNT AFTIR yAIR LIKNES;
FOR IN yIS LIF HERE MAY NA MAN
SE yAM IN yE FOURME yAT yAI HAF yAN,
FOR IF yAI HAD SWA LARGE POWERE,
IN SWILK FORME TO SHEW yAM HERE,
OUT OF WITTE yAN yAI SHULD MEN FLAY,
SWA ORRIBLE AND SWA FOUL ER yAI;
FOR-WHY SWA HARDY MAN HERE ES NANE
NE yAT EVER WAS LIFFAND IN FLESSHE AND BANE,
yAT SAGHE A DEVEL IN HIS FYGUR RIGHT,
yAT HE NE FOR FERDNES OF yAT SIGHT
SHULD DIGHE, OR AT yE LESTE TYN HIS WITT,
ALS SON AFTER ALS HE HAD SENE IT;
BOT IN SWILK FOURME, ALS I UNDIRSTAND,
yAI SHEW yAM TIL NA MAN LIFFAND,
BOT TIL yAM TIL WHAM yE DEDE ES NERE;
FOR GOD HAS RESTREYNED yAIURe POWERE
yAT yAI MAY NA MAN TEMPTE NE GREVE,
FERRER FORTHE, yAN yAI HAFE LEVE.
BOT WHEN yE DED ASSAYLLES A MAN,
IN yE FOULEST FIGURE yAI APERE yAN;
yARFOR AGHT ILK MAN DREDAND BE
AGAYNE yE TYME WHEN HE SAL yAM SE.
BOT I WILLE SHEW YHOW APARTY
WHY yAI ER SWA FOUL AND GRISLY,
FOR SUM TYME yAI WAR BRIGHT ANGELS,
ALS yA ER yAT NOW IN HEVEN DUELS,
FRA yAT BLISFUL PLACE THURGH SYN yAI FELLE,
AND BYCOME yAN FOULE DEVELS OF HELLE,
AND HORRIBELY DEFYGURD, THURGH SYN
yAT yAI WAR WYTH-FILD AND HARDENED yARIN.
FOR WARNE SYN WAR yAI HAD AY BENE
BRIGHT AUNGELS, ALS yAI WAR FIRST SENE;
AND NOW ER yAI MADE FOULE AND UGLY
THURGH FYLYNG OF yAIR SYN ANLY,
yAN ES SYN MAR FOULE AND WLATSOME,
yAN ANY DEVEL yAT OUT OF HELLE MAY COME;
065
FOR A THYNG ES FOULER yAT MAY FILE,
yAN yE THYNG yAT IT FYLES, AND MARE VILE,
yARFOR SAYS CLERKES OF GRETE CUNNYNG,
yAT SYN ES SWA FOULE AND SWA GRISLY THYNG,
yAT IF A MAN MUGHT PROPERLY SE HIS SYN
IN yE KYND LYKNES yAT IT FALLES BE IN,
HE SHULD FOR FERDNES TITTER IT FLE
yAN ANY DEVEL yAT HE MUGHT SE;
HERE MAY MEN SE AND UNDIRSTANDE
HOW FOUL ES SYN AND HOW FYLANDE.
BOT MEN SESE NOGHT NE KNAWES WHAT IT ES,
yARFOR MEN DREDES IT WELE yE LES.
BOT IF A SYNFUL MYGHT SE WITH-OUTE
HOW FOUL yE SYN ES, yAT HE BERS OBOUTE,
HE SULD NEVER MAKE IOY NE HAF LYKYNG,
UNTIL HE WAR DELYVERD OF yAT FOUL THYNG.
SEN yE DEVEL yUS HAS TANE HIS UGLINES
OF yE FILTH OF SYN, yAT SWA FILAND ES,
yAN AGHT yE SAUL OF SYNFUL WITH-IN
BE FUL FOULE yAT ES ALLE SLOTERED IN SYN;
yARFOR A MAN AGHT, WAR-SO HE WENDES,
MARE DREDE SYN yAN yE SYGHT OF FENDES,
yAT SAL APER TIL HYM AT HIS DEDE DAY.
BOT HIS SYN HE SAL SE FOULER yAN yAY,
OF WHILK HE WALD NOGHT HYM RIGHT SHRIFE,
NE REPENT HYM HERE IN HIS LYFE.
yE THRED SKILL TIL OUR UNDIRSTANDYNG
WHY US AGHT DREDE yE DEDE COMMYNG,
ES FOR yE ACONT FUL STRAYT AND HARDE,
OF ALLE OUR LIF yAT HAS BENE FRAWARDE,
yAT US BYHOVES YHELD IN GOD SIGHT
ALS WELE OF WRANG ALS OF RIGHT,
OF ALLE THYNG yAT EVER WE WROGHT,
IN WERK, IN WORDE, IN WILLE, IN THOGHT,
AND OF ALLE yE TYMES yAT PASSES OWAY
FRA OUR BYGYNNYNG TO OUR LAST DAY,
ALLE SAL yAN BE SHEWED AND SENE,
BATHE GUDE AND ILLE, FOUL AND CLENE,
066
AND BE REHERCED ALS yE BUKE TELLES,
BYTWENE GRYSELY FENDES AND BRIGHT ANGELS;
yAI SAL DISPUTE yAN OF OUR LIFE
WITH GRETE DISCORDE AND GRETE STRIFE.
yE AUNGELS SAL REHERCE yE GUDE,
AND yE DEVELS yE YVEL, WITH GRETE MUDE.
ALLE yE WERKES yAT WE HERE HAF WROGHT,
BYTWENE yAM yAN SAL BE OUT SOGHT,
AND ILKA THOGHT AND ILKA WILLE,
ALS WELE yE GUDE ALS yE ILLE;
AND ILKA WORDE yAT SPOKEN HAF WE
GUDE OR ILLE WHETHER yAI BE,
ALLE SAL BE REHERCED, ALS I SAYDE ARE.
BYTWEN yAM yAN yAI SAL NAN SPARE,
BOT ANLY SYN yAT ES WELE CLENSED HERE,
AND GUDE DEDE yAT ES DON ON RIGHT MANERE.
yAN SAL WE BATHE HERE AND SE
AL yE PRIVETESE yAT EVER DID WE,
yARFOR SAYS GOD IN yE GODSPELLE,
ON yIS MANERE, ALS I WILLE YOW TELLE:
NICHIL EST OPERTUM QUOD NON REVELETUR, NEC
OCCULTUM QUOD NON SCIATUR.
NATHYNG HERE SWA COVERED AND HYDDE,
yAT SAL NOGHT yAN BE SHEWED AND KYDDE,
NE SWA PRIVE ES NATHYNG yAT TOUCHES MAN,
yAT SAL NOGHT BE KNAWEN yAN.
yAN MOST US ABYDE, WE MAY NOGHT FLE,
UNTIL AL OUR LYF EXAMYND BE,
AND ALLE OUR DEDYS, BATHE GUDE AND ILLE,
BE DISCUSSED, AFTER GODDES WILLE;
yAN SAL WE SE ALLE OUR SYN HALELY
AND WHAT WE ER FOR OUR SYN WORTHY.
AND ALLE OUR DEDYS yAT GUD HERE SEMED
yAN SAL BE DISCUSSED HALY AND DEMED,
SWA yAT WE MAY SE AND KNAW BY SIGHT,
WHETHER WE yAM DIDE WRANG OR RYGHT;
AND WILK WAS DON ON WRANG MANERE,
AND WILK WE DYD PARFITELY HERE;
067
yARFOR SEYNT ANSELME, ALS yE BUKE SHEWES US,
SPEKES TYL yE SAUL AND SAYS yUS:
"WRECHED SAUL," HE SAYS, "WHAT MAY THOU SAY
WHEN yOU PARTES FRA yE BODY AWAY,
yAN yE BYHOVES ACOUNTE YHELDE
OF ALLE yI LYF OF YOUTHE AND ELDE,
HOW yOW HAS HERE LED yI LYFE,
AND HOW yOW HAS SPENDYD yI WITTES FIFE,
FRA yE FIRST DAY yAT UyOUe HAD WITTE
UNTO yE LAST DAY yOW SHULD HETHEN FLITE.
yAN SAL WALAWAY BE yI SANG,
FOR yOU HERE DISPENDED yI TYM WRANG,
BATHE IN WERK AND WORD, IN THOGHUTe AND WILLE,
AND YHIT WHEN yOU MUGHT HELPE, yOU HELD THE STILLE.
yOU HAS DONE MANY SYNFUL DEDE,
TO GREVE GOD yOU HAD NA DREDE;
BOT WHEN YOU SESE ALLE yI TRESPAS
yAN SAL yOU SAY 'ALLAS] ALLAS]'
WHEN ALLE yI LIFE SAL BE THURGH SOGHT
UNTO yE LEST THYNG, yAT EVER yOU WROGHT,
WHETHER yOU BE LERED OR yOU BE LEWED;
yI SYNS SAL yAN BE MANY SHEWED,
yAT yOW HAS DONE HERE IN yE LIFE
OF WHILK yOU COUTHE yE NEVER SHRIFE;
AND yA SAL BE SHEWED BYFOR yE
FUL FOULE AND UGLY SYNS TO SE,
OF WHILK yOU SAL HAF MARE DREDE AND AWE,
yAN OF yA yAT yOU MUGHT HERE KNAWE.
YHIT SOM DEDYS yAT yE THOGHT HERE DON WELE
yOU SAL yAN SE FOUL SYNS AND FELE,
yAN BYHOVES yE RESAYVE SONE
EFTER yI WERKES yAT yOU HAS DONE;
yAT ES TO SAY OUTHER IOY OR PAYNE,
yOU MAY ON NAWYSE BE yAR AGAYNE."
yOS SAL ILK MAN, AT HIS ENDYNG,
BE PUTTED TIL AN HARD REKENYNG,
AND BE ARESONED, ALS RIGHT ES
OF ALLE HIS MYSDEDYS, MARE AND LES.
068
NA SYN yAN UNREKEND SAL BE,
yOGH IT WAR NEVER SWA PRIVE.
ALLE yE GUD DEDYS yAT WE HAF DONE
ONENCE OUR SYNS SAL yAN SEM FONE;
AND YHIT WE ER UNSYKER IN THOGHT
WETHER yAI SAL BE ALOWED OR NOGHT;
FOR I FYND WRYTEN THRE SKILLS WHY
yAT NA MAN MAY TRAYSTE SIKERLY
IN HYS GUDE DEDYS, yAT HE DUS HERE.
yIR THRE SKILS ER GUDE TO LERE,
ANE ES FORTHY yAT ALLE THYNGES
yAT GUDE ER, ANLY OF GOD SPRINGES,
yAN ER AL GUDE DEDYS yAT ER WROGHT
GODDES AWEN DEDYS AND OURS NOGHT;
BOT ALLE OUR SYNS yAT MAY BE KNAWEN,
COMMES OF OUR-SELVEN yA ER OUR-AWEN,
FOR-WHY, WITH-OUTEN GOD WE SYN SONE,
BOT NA GUDE WITH-OUTEN GOD ES DONE.
ANOTHER SKILLE ES ALSWA FORyI,
yAT WE ER COMONLY MARE REDY
AN HONDRETH SYTHES HERE FOR TO SYN,
yAN ANES A GUDE DEDE FOR TO BYGYN;
SWA MAY WE AY REKKEN AND REDE
AN HONDRETH SYNS AGAYNE A GUDE DEDE.
yE THRED SKILLE ES yIS TO SHEW OMANG,
FOR OUR GUDE DEDYS ER OFTE DONE WRANG,
NOGHT OF RIGHT MANER ALS yAI SULD BE
OR PARCHAUNCE DONE OUTE OF CHARITE.
ALLE OUR SYNS ER HERE CERTAYNE
AND BY RIGHT AND SKILLE ER WORTHY PAYNE:
BOT FOR OUR GUDE DEDYS CERTANLY
WE WATE NOGHT WHAT WE ER WORTHY;
WHARFOR OUR GUDE DEDYS WE SHULD NOGHT PRAYSE
AND yARFOR yUS SAYNT AUSTYN SAYSE:
MALA NOSTRA NON SUNT PURA MALA, SED BONA
NOSTRA NON SUNT PURA BONA.
HE SAYS "OUR ILLE DEDYS ER PUR ILLE WROGHT,
BOT OUR GUD DEDIS PUR GUD ER NOGHT."
069
HERE TO ACORDES, ALS yE BUK TELLES US.
YSIDRE yE GRETE CLERK, yAT SAYS yUS:
OMNES IUSTICIE NOSTRE QUASI PANNUS
MENSTRUALE.
HE SAYS "ALLE OUR RYGHTWYSNES ER SENE
ALS A CLATHE, FILED OF THYNG UNCLENE;"
WHARFOR CERTANLY HERE WATE NANE
HOW HE SAL FARE, WHEN HE ES HETHEN GANE.
BOT COMFORT OF GUD HOPE MAY HE FELE,
yAT HERE LYVES WELE, TO FARE WELE;
FOR WE AWE TO TROW, WITH-OUTEN WERE,
yAT GOD SAL HYM YHELDE yAT DOSE WELE HERE.
BOT YHIT ES HE NOGHT SYKER IN yIR DAYS,
FOR-WHY, yE HALY MAN yOS SAYS,
NESCIT HOMO UTRUM DIGNUS SIT
ODIO VEL AMORE.
FOR CERTAYN, HE SAYS, "A MEN WHAT NOGHT,"
yOGH HE HAD NEVER SWA MYKEL GUDE WROGHT,
"WHETHER HE WAR WORTHY AFTER HIS DEDE
TO HAFE LUF OF GOD OR HATREDE."
AND ISIDRE, ALS A BUKE SHEWES US,
ACORDES yAR-TO, yAT SAYS yUS:
SERVUS DEI DUM BONUM AGIT, UTRUM
SIT EI AD BONUM INCERTUS EST.
HE SAYS, "HE yAT ES GOD SERVAND,
WHEN HE GUDE DUS, OUTHER WITH TUNG OR HAND,
HE ES NOGHT CERTAYNE YHIT IN THOGHT,
WETHER IT BE GUDE TIL HYM OR NOGHT."
WHARFOR OUR LYFYNG HERE ES HARDE,
ALS yE HALY MAN SAYS, SAYNT BERNARDE:
QUIS, SINE TREPIDACIONE ET TIMORE,
HANC VITAM DUCERE POTEST?
"WHA," HE SAYS, "MAY yIS LYFE HERE LEDE
WITH-OUTEN TREMBLYNG AND DREDE?"
ALSWA SAY HERE, MAY LYF NA MAN
WITH-OUTEN DREDE, yAT WITTE CAN;
FOR AL-IF A MAN HERE AFFORCE HIM AY
FOR TO DO ALLE yE GUDE yAT HE MAY,
070
YHIT MAY HIS GUDE DEDIS BE SWA WROGHT,
yAT PARCHAUNCE GOD ALLOWES yAM NOGHT;
AND yARFOR SAINT BERNARD PLEYNED HIM HERE
OF HIS LYF, yAT SAYS yUS ON yIS MANERE.
TERRET ME TOTA VITA MEA, QUA DILIGENTER DISCUSSA,
APPARET MIHI AUT PECCATUM AUT STERILITAS;
ET SI QUIS IN EA FRUCTUS VIDETUR, SIC EST
AUT SIMULATUM, AUT IMPERFECTUM, AUT ALIO
MODO CORRUPTUM, UT POSSIT AUT NON PLACERE
DEO AUT DISPLICERE.
yER ER BERNARD WORDES yAT SAYS:
"AL MY LYFE HERE ME FLAYS,
FOR IF IT ENTENTYFLY DISCUSSED BE,
IT SEMES NOGHT ELLES HERE UNTIL ME
BOT OWTHER SYN, yAT yE SAUL MAST DERES,
OR BARRAN THYNG, yAT NA FRUYT BERES;
AND IF ANY FRUYT yAR-IN SEME,
IT MAY BE yUS BE SKIL TO DEME,
OUTHER FEYNED THYNG TO SHEW IN SYGHT,
OR THYNG, yAT ES NOGHT ALLE DONE RYGHT,
OR, ON OTHER WYSE, CORRUMPED WITH-IN,
yAT ES TO SAY, FILED WITH SYN;
SWA yAT OUTHER yAN MAY IT NOGHT
PAY GOD ALMYGHTY, yAT ES SWA WROGHT,
OR PARAUNTER IT HYM MYSPAYS;"
yOS yE HALY MAN, SAYNT BARNARD, SAYS.
WHAT MAY A SYNFUL MAN SAY yAN,
WHEN HE, yAT WAS SWA HALY A MAN,
COUTH NA FRUYT HERE IN HIS LIFE SE?
yAN AGHT yE SYNFUL DREDAND BE
OF UTHeIS LIFE HERE, yAT ES UNCLENE,
IN WHILK NA FRUYT MAY BE SENE.
yE FERTH SKILLE AND yE LAST TO TELLE,
WHY MAN DREDIS yE DEDE SWA FELLE,
ES FOR HE WATE NOGHT WHETHER HE SAL WENDE
TYLLE IOY OR PAYNE AFTIR HIS LYFES ENDE.
FOR SWA WYSE AND WITTY MAN ES NANE,
yAT WATE, WHEN yE DEDE HIM HAS TANE,
071
FOR CERTAYN, WHEDERWARD HE SAL GA.
WHETHER HE SAL WEND TIL WELE OR WA.
yAN AGHT ILK MAN, BATHE YONG AND ALDE.
HAF DREDE FOR yIS SKILLE yAT I TALDE.
FOR WHEN yE DEVELS AND yE ANGELS
HAS DESPUTED OUR LIF, ALS yE BUK TELLES,
AND DISCUCION MADE, ALS FALS TO BE,
yAN SAL WE CERTANLY HERE AND SE
OUR CERTAYNE DOME, yAT WE SAL HAVE;
WETHER WE SAL BE DAMPNED OR SAVE.
AND OUTHER yAN WEND TO JOY OR PYNE;
yARFOR yE HALY MAN SAYS, SAYNT AUSTYNE:
BENE UNUSQUISQUE DE DIE NOVISSIMO
FORMIDARE DEBET, QUIA UNAM QUEMQUE
IN QUO INVENERIT SUUS NOVISSIMUS DIES,
CUM DE HOC SECULO EGREDITUR, TALIS IN DIE
NOVISSIMO INDICATUR.
"ILK MAN" HE SAYS, "yAT SAL PAS AWAY
SHULD HAF DREDE OF HYS LAST DAY;
FOR IN WHAT STATE SWA HE BE yAN,
SWILK ALS HIS LAST DAY FYNDES A MAN,
WHEN HE SAL OUT OF yIS WERLD WENDE,
SWILK MON HE BE DEMED AT yE ENDE."
yARFOR OUR LAST DAY yAT SAL FALLE,
OUR DAY OF DOME WE MAY CALLE.
BOT AT yE GENERAL DAY OF DOME
WITH OUR BODYS WE SAL COME,
BYFOR IHESU CRYST ALLEMYGHTY KYNG,
yAT SAL yAT DAY DEME ALLE THYNG.
yAN SAL HE DEME ILKA NACYON,
AND MAK A FYNAL DECLARACYON
OF ALLE yE DOMES BYFOR SHEWED,
IN TYME OF DEDE, TO LERED AND LEWED.
FOR yE BODYS SAL WEND TO yE SAME STEDE
TIL WHILK yE SAUL ES DEMED AFTIR yE DEDE;
AND OUTHER yAN HAVE FUL IOY TOGYDER,
OR FUL SOROW WHEN yAI COM THYDER,
AND EVER-MARE AFTIR TOGYDER DUELLE,
WHETHIR yAI WEND TO HEVEN OR HELLE.
072
BOT IN ERTHE SAL DUELLE yE BODIS ALLE,
UNTIL yAT DREDFUL DAY SAL FALLE,
WHEN yE DOME SAL BE MAST STRAYT AND HARDE,
ALS yIS BUKE SHEWES AFTIRWARDE.
BOT FIRST, ALS SONE ALS yE SAUL NAMLY,
THURGH yE DEDE ES PASSED FRA yE BODY,
IT SAL BE DEMED, AFTIR HIS WERKES,
TIL IOY OR PAYNE, ALS SAYS yER CLERKES.
yE SYNFUL SAUL yAN GAS STRIK TO HELLE,
IN PYNE WITHOUTEN ENDE TO DUELLE;
yE CLENE SAUL yAN GAS UP EVEN,
WITH-OUTEN LETTYNG, TIL yE BLIS OF HEVENE.
BOT MANY SAULES, yAT ER SAVE,
AR yAI COM TO BLIS, PAYNE BYHOVES HAVE
IN PURGATORI, AND DUELLE yAR-IN
UNTIL yAI BE CLENSID OF AL SYN,
yAT ER SCHRYWEN AND NOGHT CLENSED HERE,
AND yAR BE FYNED ALS GOLD yAT SHYNES CLERE.
FOR IN HEVEN MAY NA SAUL BE SENE,
UNTO IT BE FYNED AND CLENSED CLENE,
OUTHER HERE THURGH PENAUNCE, ALS CLERKES WATE
OR IN PURGATORI THURGH FIRE HATE.
WHARFOR yE SAUL yAT ES CLENSED WELE
OF AL DEDELY SYN AND OF VENIELE,
THURGH PENAUNCE HERE AND ALMUSDEDE,
yE ANGELS ALS TIT yAN SAL LEDE,
WHEN IT ES PASSED FRA yE BODY AWAY,
TIL yE BLIS OF HEVEN yAT SAL LAST AY;
yARFOR WHASWA WILLE FOLOW WYSDOME,
HE SULD BEFORE, AR HE SAW yE DEDE COME,
MAK HIM REDY AND CLENSE HYM CLENE
OF AL SPOTTES OF SYN yAT MUGHT BE SENE,
THURGH SHRYFTE OF MOUTHE AND REPENTANCE,
AND THURGH ALMUSDEDE AND PENAUNCE;
SWA yAT DEDE FYND HYM CLENE OF SYN,
WHEN yE BODY AND yE SAUL SAL TWYN.
AND WHYLES HE LYFFES TIL HE HETHEN WENDE,
THYNK HE SULD AY OF HIS LYFES HENDE,
073
SWA MAY HE HYM KEPE FRA ALLE FOLYS,
AND yARFOR SAYS yUS SALAMON yE WYS:
IN OMNIBUS OPERIBUS TUIS, MEMORARE
NOVISSIMA TUA, ET NON PECCABIS
INETERNUM.
yAT ES ON INGLIS yOS TO SAY;
HE SAYS "THYNK ON yI ENDYNG DAY,
AY WHEN yOU SAL ANY WERK BYGYN
AND yAN SAL yOU NEVER MARE SYN."
AND yARFOR yOU MAN IN yI WERK BE SLYGHE,
AND THYNK AY WELE yAT yOU SAL DIGHE;
THYNK yOU SAL DYGHE, yOU WATE NEVER WHAN,
NE IN WHAT STATE yOU SAL BE yAN,
NE yOU WHATE NEVER IN WHAT STEDE
yOU SAL DYGHE, NE OF WHAT DEDE.
yARFOR AT MORNE, WHEN yOU SESE LYGHT,
THYNK ALS yOU SAL DYGH AR NYGHT;
WHEN yOU GAS TO SLEP, IF yOU BE WYSE,
THYNK ALS yOU SULD NOGHT WITH yE LYF RYSE,
FOR SAYNT AUSTYN SAYS yUS IN A BUKE,
"LET AY yI HERT ON yI LAST DAY LUKE."
WHA-SWA WILLE THYNK AY ON yIS MANERE,
AND BE WAR, AND MAKE HYM REDY HERE,
AND OF ALLE HYS SYN CLENSE HYM WELE,
AR yE DEDE COM yAT HYM BYHOVES FELE,
yAN MAY HE ESCHAPE AND PASSE LIGHTLY
yE BITTER PAYN OF PURGATORY,
AND COM TIL yE BLISSE OF HEVEN BRIGHT;
yAR AY ES DAY, AND NEVER NYGHT.
HERE ES yE THRED PARTE OF yIS BUKE SPEDDE
yAT SPEKES OF yE DEDE, ALS I HAF REDDE.
ON yIS PART I WILLE NA LANGER STAND,
BOT PASSE TO ANOTHER NEGHEST FOLOWAND;
yAT ES yE FERTHE PART FOR TO SPECIFY,
yE WHILK SPEKES OF PURGATORY,
WHAR MANY SAULES FELES FUL HARDE,
ALS YHE SAL HERE SONE AFTIRWARDE.
074

[PART IV: PURGATORY]/[CONTENTS]

HERE BYGYNNES yE FERTH PART
yAT ES OF PURGATORY.
MANY SPEKES, AND IN BUKE REDES
OF PURGATORY, BUT FON IT DREDES;
FOR MANY WATE NOGHT WHAT IT ES,
yARFOR yAI DREDE IT WELE yE LES.
BOT IF yAI KNEW WELE WHAT IT WARE,
OR TROWED, yAI WALDE DREDE IT yE MARE.
AND FORTHY yAT SUM HAS NA KNAWYNG
OF PURGATORY NE UNDIRSTANDYNG,
yARFOR I WILLE NOW SPEKE APARTY,
IN yIS BUKE OF PURGATORY.
AND FIRST SHEW YHOW WHAT IT ES,
AND WHARE IT ES, ALS yE BUKE WITTENES;
AND WHATKYN PAYNS ER yAR-IN,
AND WHILK SAULES GAS yEDER, AND FOR WHAT SYN;
AND ALSWA WHAT THYNG ES MAST CERTAYN,
yAT yAM MUGHT HELP AND SLAKE yAIR PAYN.
OF yIR SEX POYNTES I WIL SPEK AND REDE,
AND SWA I SAL yIS FERTH PART SPEDE.
PURGATORY ES NATHYNG ELLES
BOT A CLENSYNG STED yAR SAULES DUELLES,
yAT HAS SYNNED, AND HAD CONTRICYON,
AND ER IN yE WAY OF SALVACION,
AND ER NOGHT PARFYTLY CLENSED HERE
OF AL VENIEL SYNS SERE.
BOT yAR BYHOVES yAM PAYNE FELE,
TIL yAI BE CLENSED PARFYTELY AND WELE
OF ALKYN SYN yAT yAI EVER WROGHT,
IN WORDE, IN DEDE, IN WILLE OR THOGHT.
FOR SWA PURED AND FYNED NEVER GOLD WAS,
ALS yAI SAL BE, AR yAI yETHEN PAS.
WHARFOR yE PAYN yAT yE SAUL yAR HENTES
ER MARE BITTER yAN ALLE yE TOURMENTES
yAT ALLE yE MARTERS IN ERTHE THOLED,
SEN GOD WAS FOR US BOGHT AND SOLD.
FOR yE LEST PAYN OF yE PAYNS yAR SERE
ES MARE yAN ES yE MAST yAYN HERE,
ALS SAYS A GRETE CLERK yUS SHORTLY,
075
IN A BUKE OF yE PAYNS OF PURGATORY:
MINIMA PENA PURGATORII EST MAJOR
MAXIMA PENA MUNDI.
HE SAYS, "yE LEST PAYN yAT ES yARE
IN PURGATORI, ES WELE MARE
yAN yE MAST PAYN yAT MAY BE
IN AL yIS WERLD, TO FELE OR SE."
FOR yE PAYNE yAR, ES MARE BITTER AND FELLE
yAN HERT MAY THYNK, OR TUNG TELLE,
ALS yE BUKE SAYS, TROW WHA SWA WILLE.
FOR SUM CLERKES SAYS, AND PRUVES BY SKILLE
yAT BYTWEN yE PAYNE OF HELLE NAMLY
AND yE PAYN OF PURGATORY
ES NA DIFFERENCE BOT AT yE TANE
HAS ENDE, AND yE TOTHER HAS NANE.
yE PAYNS OF HELLE SAL NEVER SEES,
NE yE SAULES yAR-IN NEVER HAF RELEES;
BOT IN PURGATORI SAULES DUELES STILLE
UNTIL yAI BE CLENSED OF ALLE ILLE,
AND MARE PAYN FELE, ALS I UNDERSTANDE,
yAN EVER FELED MAN HERE LYFANDE;
FOR yAI SAL HAF A DAY yARE
ALS MYKEL BITTER PAYN OR MARE,
ALS A MAN MNGHT THOLE HERE OF PENAUNCE
A YHERE AND FELE ALS MYKEL GREVAUNCE;
AND ALS MYKEL DRIGHE yAR FOURTY DAYS,
ALS FOURTY YHERE HERE; yUS CLERKES SAYS;
SWA ES yE PAYN yAR A DAY TO SE
ALS MYKEL ALS HERE A YHERE MAY BE.
BOT EVER A DAY OF PENAUNCE HERE
MAY STAND IN-STEDE yAR FOR A YHERE,
ALS GOD SAYS OPENLY AND WELE,
THURGH yE PROPHET EZECHYELE:
DIEM PRO ANNO
DEDI TIBI.
yAT ES ON INGLYS yUS TO SAY,
"FOR A YHERE I GYF yE DAY."
076
yE PAYN yAR yE SAULES AVAYLES NOGHT
WHEN yAI TIL PURGATORI ER BROGHT,
BOT FOR TO CLENS yE SAUL OF SYN,
AND FOR NA MEDE IN HEVEN TO WYN;
yOGH yAI A THOUSAND YHERE WAR yARE,
yAIR MEDE IN HEVEN SHULD NEVER BE yE MARE.
yAN SERVES yAT PAYNE yAR, OF NOGHT ELLES
BOT TO CLENSE yAM OF SYN, yAT yARE-IN DUELLES.
BOT PENAUNCE TO THOLE HERE WITH GUDE WILLE,
SERVES HERE TIL TWA THYNGES BY SKILLE.
ANE ES TO CLENSE HERE yE SAULE WELE
OF DEDLY SYN AND OF VENIELE;
ANOTHER TO HAF IN HEVEN MARE MEDE;
TIL yER TWA MAY PENAUNCE US LEDE.
FOR yE SAUL FOR ILKA PENAUNCE HERE,
SAL HAF SPECYEL IOY IN HEVEN SWA CLERE,
yAT WITH-OUTEN ENDE SAL LASTE,
IF yAI THOLE PAYNE HERE WITH HERT STEDFAST.
HERE MAY MEN SE, ALS yE BUKE WITTENES,
AND UNDERSTAND WHAT PURGATORI ES.
NOW WIL I SHEW YOW SHORTLY
WHAR, ALS CLERKES SAYS, ES PURGATORY.
yE STEDE, yAT PURGATORY ES CALDE,
UNDER yE ERTHE ES, ALS I HALDE,
ABOVEN yE STEDE, ALS SOM CLERKES TELLES,
yAR CRYSOM DEDE CHILDER DUELLS,
yAT FRA yE SIGHT OF GODDES FACE
ER PUTTED FOR EVER, WITH-OUTEN GRACE.
yAT PLACE ES NEGHEST ABOVEN HEL PITTE,
BYTWEN PURGATORY AND ITTE.
yUS STANDES yE STEDE OF PURGATORY,
OBOVEN yAM BATHE IN yAT PARTY.
ALLE yAT ER yAR PAYN BYHOVES HAFE,
BOT yAI HAF GRACE AND ER SAVE.
BOT FRA yE OTHER STEDES, TIL yE DAY OF DOME,
SAL NEVER MARE SAULE OUT COME;
077
FOR yAN SAL yAI COME TIL yE LAST IUGEMENT,
AND WITH yE BODYS AGAYN TIL HELLE BE HENT.
BOT FRA PURGATORY SAULES MAY WYNNE
TIL BLISSE WHEN yAI ER CLENSED OF SYNNE.
ABOVEN yAT YHIT ES yE FERTHE STEDE,
yAT CRIST VISITED WHEN HE WAS DEDE;
AND yA yAT yAR WAR WITH HYM OUT TUKE
AND LEFT NANE yARYN, ALS SAYS yE BUKE.
NE FRA yAT TYME ALS WE HERE CLERKES TELLE
COM NEVER NAN YHIT yEDER TO DUELLE,
NE NEVER NAN FORTHWARD SAL COM;
AND yAT STEDE CLERKES CALLES LYMBUS PATRUM
yE WHILK A FRE PRESON ON INGLYS ES,
WHARE yE HALY FADERS DUELLED IN MYRKNES.
ALLE yIR FOUR STEDES MEN MAY HELLE CALLE,
FOR yAI ER CLOSED WITH-IN yE ERTHE ALLE;
AND FOR HELLE yAI MAY ALLE BE TANE,
OF WHILK FOUR PURGATORY ES ANE.
yARFOR HALY KYRK yAT FOR SAULES PRAYS,
CALLES PURGATORY HELLE, yAT yUS SAYS:
DOMINE IHESU CRISTE LIBERA ANIMAS
OMNIUM FLDELIUM DEFUNCTORUM, DE
MANU INFERNI]
"LOVERD DELIVER OUT OF HELLES HANDE
ALLE CRYSTEN SAULES yAT yAR ER DUELLANDE;"
yAT ES TO SAY, OUT UOFe PURGATORY
yAR yE SAULES ER CLENSED PARFYTELY.
BOT FRA yE LAWEST HELLE, WITH-OUTEN DOUT,
NA SAUL MAY BE DELYVERD OUT;
FOR OF MERCY yAR ES NA HOPE;
yARFOR yUS SAYS yE HALY MAN IOBE.
QUIA IN INFERNO NULLA EST REDEMPCIO.
"IN HELLE", HE SAYS, "ES NA RAUNCEON."
FOR NA HELPE MAY BE IN yAT DUNGEON,
yAT ES TO SAY, IN yE LAWEST HELLE,
WHAR yE DAMPNED SAULES SAL AY DUELLE,
WHAR MESSE NE PRAYER HELPES NOGHT,
TIL yAM yAT ER yEDER BROGHT.
078
FOR NA THYNG MAY ABATE yAIR PYNE,
AND yARFOR yUS SAYS SAYNT AUSTYNE,
SI SCIREM PATREM MEUM AUT MATREM
IN INFERNO, PRO EIS NON ORAREM.
HE SAYS, "IF MY FADER OR MODER WARE
IN HELLE, AND I WIST yAM yARE,
I WALD NOUTHER NYGHT NE DAY,
FOR yAM BYD BEDE HERE, NE PRAY."
FOR-WHY, ALMUSDEDE, NE MESSE, NE PRAYERS
HELPES NA SAUL yAR, BOT PARCHAUNCE DERS,
yE TWA LAWEST STEDES, yAT I NEVEND AR,
ER yE HELLES yAT SAL LAST EVER MAR.
BOT PURGATORY SAL NOGHT LAST AY;
IT LASTES NA LANGER yAN TO DOMESDAY,
FOR AFTIR yAT DAY, ALS CLERKES CAN SE,
NA STEDE OF PURGATORY SAL BE,
BOT HELLE, FUL OF DEVELS WITH IN,
SAL AY LAST, FOR VENGEAUNCE OF SYN.
NOW SOM HAS WONDER, AND MAY ASK WHY
GOD HAS SWA ORDAYNED PURGATORY,
AND HELLE YMYDDES yE ERTHE SWA LAW;
yE SKYLLE WHY MAY BE yIS TO KNAW;
yE SYN yAT ES IN ERTHE WROGHT
FRA ERTHE UNPUNYST PASSES NOGHT.
yAN NEDLY BYHOVES BE PUNYST SYN,
OUTHER OPON ERTHE OR WITH-IN,
yAT ES OUTHER HERE yAR WE DUELLE,
OR IN PURGATORY OR IN HELLE;
FOR SYN ES SWA HEVY AND SWA HARDE,
yAT IT DRAWES yE SAUL AY DUNWARDE;
UNTIL PAYN AND PENAUNCE HAF WASTED yAT SYN
yE SAUL MAY NEVER TYLLE HEVEN WYN;
YHIT SAYS yIR GRETE CLERKES NAMLY,
yAT TWA STEDES ER OF PURGATORY;
yE TANE ES COMON, ALS YHE HERD ME TELLE,
yAT WITH-IN ERTHE ES, OBOVEN HELLE;
AND yE TOTHER ES SPECIELE, THURGH GRACE,
yAT ES OBOVEN ERTHE, IN SERE PLACE.
079
FOR IN yE COMON STEDE SOM ER NOGHT AY,
BOT ER HERE PUNYST, OUTHER NYGHT OR DAY,
IN SERE STEDES SPECIALY IN GAST,
WHAR yAI HAF SYNNED IN BODY MAST.
AND yAT MAY BE THURGH HELPE AND SPEDE
OF PRAYER OF FRENDES AND ALMUSDEDE,
TIL WHAM yAI OFTE IN GAST APERE,
THURGH SPECIEL GRACE, IN SERE STEDES HERE,
FOR TO HAST yAIR DELIVERANCE
OUT OF yAIR PAYN AND yAIR PENAUNCE,
yAT, ALS I AR SAYDE, GRETELY GREVES,
AND FOR WARNYNG OF FRENDES yAT LYEFES.
HERE MAY MEN PROPERLY BY SKILLE SE
WHAT PURGATORY FALLES TO BE.
NOW WILLE I REDE FORTHERMARE,
AND SHEW YHOW OF SUM PAYNES yAT ER yARE.
IN PURGATORY, ALS yE BUKE WITTENES,
ES DIVERSE PAYNS, SOM MAR, SOM LES,
AND MANY MARE yAN I CAN NEVEN;
BOT I FYND WRYTEN PAYNS SEVEN,
yAT MAY BE CALLED PAYNS OF PURGATORY;
AND yA SEVEN I WILLE HERE SPECEFY,
OF WHILK MEN SAL SOM FELE AND SE,
ALS TITE ALS yE DED-COMYNG SAL BE,
yE FIRST PAYN ES OF yA SEVEN,
ALS YHE HERD ME BYFOR NEVEN,
yE GRETE DREDE yAT yE SAUL ES IN
WHEN yE BODY AT IT SAL TWYN;
FOR yE SAUL SESE yAN ABOUT IT STANDE
GRYSLY DEVELS AGAYN IT RAUMPANDE,
ALS WODE LYONS TO WAYT yAIR PRAY,
AND TO RAVISSHE IT WITH yAM AWAY.
AND yAT SYGHT ES A PAYN FUL GREVOUS;
FOR yE DEVELS ER SWA FOUL AND YDOUS,
yAT SWA HARDY MAN WAS NEVER NANE
LYFAND HERE IN FLESSHE AND BANE,
080
yAT SAW yE SYGHT yAT yE SAUL yAN SESE,
yAT NE HE FOR FERDELAYK IS WITTE SHULD LESE,
THOGH HE WAR NEVER OF HERT SWA BALDE,
ALS IN yE THRED PARTE OF yIS BOKE WAS TALDE.
A GRETE PAYN AGHT yIS SYGHT TO BE
TIL yE SAULE yAN, yAT IT SAL SE.
yE SECUNDE PAYN NEGHEST FOLOWANDE
ES yE GRETE DREDE, TO UNDERSTANDE,
yAT yE SAUL SAL HAFE WYTH DOLE AND CARE,
UNTIL yE DOME BE GYFEN, HOW HE SAL FARE.
FOR yE ANGELS SAL yARE REDY BE
AND yE DEVELS SWA GRISLY TO SE,
yAT SAL DISPUT OF ALLE HIS LYFE
BYTWEN yAM yAR, WITH GRETE STRYFE.
HIS SYNS SAL yAN BE SHEWED FUL MANY,
ALS I TALD BYFOR IN yE THRED PART NAMLY.
yE SAUL yAN SAL BYTWENE yAM STANDE,
AND yE ANGELS ON HIS RYGHT HANDE,
AND DEVELS ON yE LEFTE SYDE.
yAN MOT yE SAUL IN GRETE DRED ABYDE,
UNTIL yAT STRYFE BE BROGHT TO ENDE,
AND TIL IT WITTE WHYDER IT SAL WENDE,
AND WHETHER IT SAL BE DAMPNED OR SAVE;
yAN SAL yE SAUL A GRETE DREDE HAVE,
ALS A MAN yAT ES IN MYDDES yE SE
IN GRETE PERILLE, AND MAY NOGHT FLE,
WHEN TEMPESTES FALLES AND STORMES SMERT,
yAN HAS yAT MAN GRETE DREDE IN HERT;
HE MAS yAN VOWES, AND CRYES ON CRIST,
FOR, HE ES AFERED yAT HE SAL BE PERYST;
AND yAT DREDE TIL HYM ES A GRETE PAYN;
FOR OF HIS LYF HE ES UNCERTAYN;
AND ALS A MAN HAS DREDE BODILY,
WHEN HE ES ACOUPED OF FELONY
BYFOR KYNGES IUSTICE, AND yE CUNTRE,
yAT CHARGED ES IF HE GILTY BE,
HE WATE NOGHT WHETHER HE SAL BE SPILT,
OR BE DELYVERED OF yAT GILT.
081
UNTIL yAI HAVE GYVEN yAIR VERITE,
AND OUTHER yAR-OF MADE HYM QWTE
ALS yE LAGHE WALDE, OR MADE HYM GILTY.
IF HE yAN HAF DREDE, IT ES NA FERLY,
FOR IN GRETE DOUT OF LYFE ES yAT MAN.
BOT YHIT HAS THE SAUL MARE DREDE yAN.
TIL yE DOME BE GYVEN AND IT MAY SE
WHETHER IT SAL DAMPNED OR SAUFE BE.
FOR IF IT DOME OF DAMPUNAeCION HERE,
IT GAS TIL HELLE WITH-OUTEN RECOVERERE;
AND yE SAUL yAT ES SAMPNED TIL yAT PLACE
THAR NEVER HOPE TO HAF MERCY NE GRACE.
WHAT WONDER ES yAN IF yE SAULE DREDE HAVE
yAT DOUTES WHETHIR HE SAL DAMPNED OR SAVE.
OF yE TWA MANERS OF PAYNS OF DREDE
YHE HERD ME APARTY BYFOR REDE,
yE WHILK ES DECLARED IN A STEDE,
IN yE THRED PART yAT SPEKES OF yE DEDE.
ALLE yIS MATERE MEN MAY SE yARE,
yARFOR HERE I WIL SPEK yAR-OF NA MARE.
yE THRED PAYN ES A MANER OF EXIL
WHEN yE SAULES HERE AGAYN yAIR WIL
ER EXILD FRA yIS LYF TIL PAYN,
WITH-OUTEN ANY TURNYNG AGAYN;
FOR yAN SAL yAI HAF GRETE MURNYNG,
WHEN yAI ER FLEMED FRA yAIR LYKYNG,
FRA ALLE yAIR FRENDES LEFE AND DERE,
AND FRA ALLE yE DELYCES yAT yAI HAD HERE.
yE MURNYNG yAT yAI HAF ON yIS WYSE,
TIL yAM SAL BE GRETE PAYN AND ANGUYSE.
yE FERETH PAYN ES SERE MALADY,
yAT yE SAULS SAL HAF IN PURGATORY.
FOR yAI SAL HAF yAR YVELS SERE,
FOR SERE SYNS, yAT ER UNCLENSED HERE;
SOM FOR PRIDE yAT yAI HAF HERE-IN BENE,
SAL HAF yAR ALS A FEVER COTIDIENE,
082
yAT yE SAULE SAL PYN MAR BITTERLY
yAN EVER FYVER PYNED HERE MANS BODY.
SOM SAL HAF yAR, FOR COVATYSE,
ALS yE DROPSY TO GREGE yAIR ANGWYSE.
SOM SAL HAF IN ALLE yAIR LYMMES OBOUT,
FOR SLEUTHE, ALS yE POTAGRE AND yE GOUT.
SOM, FOR ENVY, SAL HAF IN yAIR LYMS,
ALS KYLLES AND FELOUNS AND APOSTYMS.
SOM FOR IRE SAL HAVE ALS yE PARLESY,
yAT YVEL yE SAUL SAL GREFE GRETELY.
SOM FOR GLOTONI SAL HAF yARE,
ALS yE SWYNACY, yAT GREVES FUL SARE.
AND SOM, FOR yE SYN OF LECHERY,
SAL HAF ALS yE YVEL OF MESELRY.
yUS SAL yE SAULES, ALS GOD VOUCHES SAVE,
FOR SERE SYNS, SERE MALEDYS HAVE,
yAT HERE HAS HADDE REPENTANCE
AND HAS NOGHT FUL-FILED HERE yAIR PENAUNCE.
yIR MALADIES yAR yE SAUL MAR GREVES,
yAN IT DOS ANY BODY yAT HERE LYVES.
THYNK WE WHAT PAYN HAS yE BODY,
yAT HAS HERE BOT A MALADY
IN yIS LIF, LASTAND ALLE A YHERE,
OR NOGHT BOT THRE DAYS, OR FOUR HERE.
yAT MALADY GREVES yE BODY SARE,
BOT YHIT IT GREVES yE SAUL VELE MARE
IN PURGATORY, yAR ES IT PYNDE,
FOR yE SAUL ES OF MARE TENDER KYNDE;
FOR ALS A LYTEL THYND yIN EGHE LOKAND
MAY GREVE MARE yAN IT MAY yI HAND,
SWA FELES yE SAULE MARE PENAUNCE
yAN yE BODY, WHEN IT HAS GREVAUNCE.
BOT NOW MAY SOM SAY HERE AGAYNE,
AND ASKE HOW yE SAUL MAY FELE PAYNE,
yAT ES NOGHT ELLES BOT A SPIRIT,
yAT MAY NOGHT BE FELED, SWYLK ES IT;
083
FOR IT ES SWA SUTIL, yAT AFTIR yE DEDE,
IT MAY OCCUPY NA STEDE.
TIL yIS, yUS MEN ANSWER MAY,
ALS MEN MAY HERE GRETE CLERKES SAY.
yE SAULE yE LYFE OF yE BODY ES
OF ILK MAN HERE, BATHE MARE AND LES.
AND WITH-OUTEN yE LYFE IS NA FELYNG,
FOR FELYNG MAY BE IN NA DEDE THYNG.
yAN ES ALLE yE FELYNG HALELY
IN yE SAUL, AND NOGHT IN yE BODY;
FOR WHEN yE SAUL ES PASSED AWAY,
yE BODY ES NOGHT BOT ERTHE AND CLAY,
yAT ES A DEDE THYNG, ALS A STANE;
yE WHILK MAY FELE NA THYNG BE IT ANE.
ALSWA YHIT MAY SOM yOS ASKE MARE,
HOW MAY yE SAULE yAT DUELLES yARE,
BE PYNED WITH SERE MALEDY
yAT FALLES TIL SERE LYMES OF yE BODY,
SEN IT HAS NOUTHER BODY NE HEDE,
NE LYM yAT MAY OCCUPY STEDE.
TIL yIS, MEN MAY ANSWER yUS SHORTLY:
yE SAUL, AL-IF IT HAF NA BODY,
IT SAL BE PYNED ALS IN LYMS SERE,
THURGH WHILK IT HAS MAST SYNNED HERE.
SWA SAL yE SAUL, FELE PAYN AND WA,
AND TIL OTHER SAULES IT SAL SEME SWA.
FOR ILKAN TIL OTHER SAL SEME yAN,
ALS yAI HAD SHAP OF BODY OF MAN;
yUS SAL ILKA SAUL OTHER SE,
FOR NAN OF yAM MAY FELED BE.
NA MAR yAN HERE A MAN ANDE MAY,
WHEN IT PASSES FRA HIS MOUTHE AWAY.
AND yIS MAY BE PRUVED BE yE GODSPELLE.
THURGH yE ENSAMPEL OF yE RYCHE MAN IN HELLE,
AND OF LAZAR yAT HE WARD METE
yAT IN ABRAHAM BOSOM HAD HIS SETE.
084
ABRAHAM BOSOM ES NATHYNG ELLES,
BOT HEVEN yAR HALY SPYRITES DUELLES.
WHEN yE RYCHE MAN, yAT IN HELLE SAT LAWE,
LAZAR IN ABRAHAM BOSOM SAWE,
HE CRYED TIL ABRAHAM AND PRAYED WITH-ALLE
yAT A DROPE OF CALDE WATER MUGHT FALLE
TIL HIS TUNG, FRA LAZAR FYNGER ENDE,
ALS ES IN yE GODSPEL CONTENDE.
BOT AL-IF HE yUS SPAK TO HYM,
YHIT HAD HE NA TUNG NE OTHER LYM,
NE LAZAR, ALS YHE SAL UNDERSTANDE,
HAD NOUTHER FYNGER, NE FOTE, NE HANDE,
FOR yAI BATHE WAR SPIRITES ANLY,
yAT NOUTHER HAD LYMMES NE BODY.
yE TANE WAS IN BLIS SOVERAYNE,
yE TOTHER WAS IN ENDLES PAYNE.
BOT yE RYCHE MAN SAULE FELED IN HELLE
PAYNE, ALS HE HAD BENE IN FLESSHE AND FELLE;
AND LAZAR SAULE TIL HIM SEMED yAN
ALS HE HAD BODY AND LYMES OF MAN.
YHIT HAS MEN HERD SOM CLERKES MAYNTEUNEe
SWILK AN OPINION, ALS I WENE,
yAT A SAULE, yAT ES IN PURGATORY
OR IN HELLE, HAS OF yE AYRE A BODY
FOR TO THOLE PAYNE, IN LYMS SERE,
AFTER yAT HE HAS SYNNED HERE.
BOT WHETHER yE SAUL HAF BODY OR NOGHT,
HE SAL FELE PAYNE, AFTER HE HAS WROGHT.
yE FIFTE PAYNE ES yE FIRE HATE,
yAT NA MANER OF THING MAY ABATE,
BOT ALMUSDEDE AND MESSE AND PRAYERE,
yAT FRENDES DUS FOR yE SAUL HERE.
TO ABATE yAT FIRE, yA THRE ER BEST,
FOR yA THRE MAY BRING yE SAUL TO REST.
yAT FIRE IS HATTER AND MARE KENE,
yAN AL yE FIRE yAT HERE ES SENE;
085
FOR ALS yE FIRE OF ERTHE, yAR WE WON,
ES HATTER yAN yE BEME OF yE SON,
RYGHT SWA yAT FIRE ON yE SAME MANERE,
ES HATTER yAN yE FIRE ES HERE.
ALLE yE WATERS, yAT MEN MAY REKKEN,
A SPARK yAR-OF MAY NOGHT SLEKEN.
WE SE yE FIRE yAT HERE ES, GREVES SARE
yE BODY, yAT STANDES yAR-IN BARE;
BOT MARE GREVES yE FIRE OF PURGATORY
yE SAUL, yAN yIS FIRE DUS yE BODY.
FOR yE FIRE HERE, OF STRENTHE ES LES
yAN yE FIRE OF PURGATORY ES;
AND yE BODY WITH FLESSHE AND BANE,
ES HARDER yAN yE SAUL BY IT ANE;
AND yE SAUL MARE TENDER AND NESSHE
yAN ES yE BODY WITH yE FLESSHE.
SEN yAT FIRE ES MARE HATE yARE
yAN yE FIRE ES HERE, ALS I SAYD ARE,
AND yE SAUL ES SWA TENDER OF KYNDE,
yAN SEMES IT yAT IT ES MARE PYNDE
THURGH yAT FIRE, yAN yE BODY MUGHT BE
WITH ALLE yE FIRE OF CRISTIANTE;
FOR A SPARK OF yAT FIRE ES MARE HATE
yAN AL yE FIRE OF ERTHE, ALS CLERKES WATE.
MANY SAULES DUELLS IN yAT FIRE STRANG.
BOT SUM DUELLES SHORT WYLE, AND SUM LANG,
AFTIR yAIR SYN ES MARE OR LES,
AND AFTIR yAIR PENAUNCE FULFILD ES,
BOT NA SAUL MAY yETHEN PAS,
UNTIL IT BE ALS CLENE ALS IT FIRST WAS,
WHEN HE WAS HOVEN AT FUNSTANE
AND HIS CRESTENDOME yAR HAD TANE.
SOM CLERKES, yAT SPEKES OF PURGATORY,
SAYS yAT yE FIRE yARE IS BODILY,
AND NOGHT GASTLY ALS yE SAULE ES;
FOR yE SAULE, ALS yE BOKE BERS WYTNES,
MAY BE PYNED WITH FIRE BODILY,
ALS IT MAY BE WITH yE AWEN BODY.
086
BOT yAT FIRE WIRKES NOGHT THURGH KYNDE
IN yE SAULE, yAT yAR-WITH ES PYNDE,
ALS DOS yE FIRE yAT BRINNES HERE,
BOT IT WIRKES ON WONDERFUL MANERE,
ALS GOD HAS ORDAYND, FORWHY, IT ES
AN INSTRUMENT OF GODDES RYGHTWYSNES,
THURGH WILK yE SAULE MOST CLENSED BE
IN PURGATORY, AR IT MAY GOD SE.
ALLE yE FIRE yAT ES yAR-IN,
ES BOT A MANER OF FYRE TO WAST SYN,
AND NOGHT DIVERS FIRES, LES AND MARE,
BOT A MANER OF FIRE, ALS I SAYD ARE,
yAT ALLE VENIEL SYNS yAN SAL WASTE,
yAT ES UNCLENSED HERE, LEST AND MASTE.
FOR ALS FYRE yAT CAFFE SON MAY BRYN,
GOLD MAY MELT yAT ES LANG yAR-IN,
RYGHT SWA yE FYRE yAR THURGH LANG HETE
yAT WASTES SMALE SYNS, MAY WAST GRETE,
AND ALS yE HETE OF yE SON yAT COMON ES,
SOM MEN GREVES MARE, AND SOM MEN LES,
RIGHT SWA yE FYRE yAT ES yARE,
SOM SAWLES PYNS LES, AND SOM MARE;
FOR yE SAWLES BYHOVES DUELLE yAR-IN,
AFTIR yE CHARGE ES OF yAIR SYN.
BOT SOM SAWLES yAR SAL BE DELYVERUDe SONE,
yAT LARGE PENAUNCE HERE HAS DONE;
SOM SAL DUEL yAR MANY A YHERE,
yAT LITEL PENAUNCE HAS DON HERE.
AND LANG LYGYN IN yAIR SYN;
AND yARFOR SAYS yUS SAYNT AUSTYN:
NECESSE EST QUOD TANTUM URAT DOLOR,
QUANTUM ERAT AMOR; TANTO ENIM QUISQUIS
TORQUETUR DIUCIUS, QUANTO AFFECTUS EIUS
VENIALIBUS AHHEREBAT FORCIUS.
SAYNT AUSTYN SAYS "NEDEFUL IT ES,
yAT SOROW WAR ALS MYKEL AND NA LES
FOR ILKA SYN AND ILKA TRESPAS,
087
ALS LUF AND DELYTE IN SYN WAS."
AND ALSWA HE SAYS ON yIS MANERE,
yAT AY yE STYTHER yAT ILK MAN HERE
GYVES HIS LYKYNG AND WILLE
TIL VENIEL SYNS, OUTHER LOUD OR STILLE,
yE LANGER SAL HE PYNED BE
IN PURGATORY;" yUS SAYS HE.
yIS FIRE, ALS BYFORE WRYTEN ES,
SOM SAULES PYNES MARE, AND SUM LES,
AFTIR yAT yAI yAT COMMES yAR-IN,
BRYNGES OUGHT WITH yAM yAT MAY BRYN.
FOR BYFOR AR yAI MAY GOD SE
BYHOVES ALS THRE THYNGES BRINNED BE,
yAT ES AT SAY, ALS WODDE, AND HAY,
AND STUBBLE, yAT MAY SONE WAST AWAY;
yA ER VENIEL SYNNES yAT MAY FALLE,
BATHE GRETE AND SMALE, AND MEN WITH-ALLE,
yE MAST VENIEL SYNS SAL yAR BRYN LANGLY,
ALS WODDE BRINNES, yAT ES SADDE AND HEVY,
yE LEST VENIEL SYNS SAL BRIN SONE,
ALS STOBBLE, yAT SON BRINNES AND SON ES DONE.
BOT SWA SON BRINNES NOGHT yE MENE SYNNES;
yAI BRIN MAR SLAWLY ALS HAY BRYNNES.
yUS SAL BE BRYNNED AND WASTED yARE,
ALS VENIEL SYNS, BATHE LES AND MARE;
AND AL DEDLY SYNS OF WILK MEN ER SHRYVEN,
AND yE GILT GOD HAS FORGYVEN,
FOR WHILK yE PENAUNCE ES NOGHT FULFILLED HERE,
SAL yARE BE WASTED ON yE SAM MANERE
AND yE SAULES IN yAT FIRE BE PYNED
UNTO yAI BE ALS CLENE ALS GOLD FYNED.
AND WHEN yAI ER FYNED AND MADE BRIGHT
yAI SAL BE BROGHT BEFOR GODDES SIGHT,
TIL HEY PARAYDISE, yAT BLISFUL PLACE
WHAR AY ES REST, IOY AND SOLACE.
yE SEXT PAYNE ES yIS TO TELLE;
yAT yE SAULES UNCLENSED, yAT SAL DUELLE
088
IN PURGATORY, SAL BE BUNDEN FASTE
WITH BANDES OF SYN, WHILLES yAI MAY LASTE,
ALS MEN yAT ER BONDEN IN PRYSON,
yAT NA MAN MAY FOR GYFUTe NE RAUNSON,
OUT OF yAT HARD PAYN yAM WYN,
UNTIL yE FIRE HAF WASTED yAIR BANDES OF SYN.
yUS ER yAI BUNDEN BY HEND AND FETE,
ALLEN BYDONEN, IN yAT BRINNAND HETE.
ME THYNK yAT NA PAYNE MAY BE MARE
yAN yA SAULES HAS, WHYLES yAI ER yARE.
GRETE DOLE yAYMAK, SOMTYME, AND SAROWE;
FOR yAI MAY NATHYNG BEGG NE BOROWE,
TO HELP yAM, yAT yAI WAR OUT BROGHT,
NE yAIR AWEN PRAYER HELP yAM NOGHT;
FOR yAR ES NOUTHER STEDE NE SPACE,
HELPE NE FRENSHEPE TO PURCHACE;
BOT yE GUDE yAT yAI DID HERE, yAI SAL yAR FELE;
OR IF yAIR FRENDES, yAT LUFFES yAM WELE,
FOR yAM HERE PRAY OR DO ALMUS DEUDEe;
ALLE yAT MAY HELP yAM IN yAIR NEDE.
FUL HARD PAYN yAR yAI FELE,
BOT AT yAI ER SAVE yAI WATE WELE;
BOT SUM TYME SWA MYKEL PAYUNe yAI HAFE,
yAT yAI TAK NA KEPE yAT yAI ER SAVE;
WHARFOR WE SHULD THYNK, yAT LYVES HERE,
WHAT PAYN IT ES, ON yIS MANERE,
TO BE SWA PYNED, AND FELE SWA SARE
FOURTY WYNTER, OUTHER LES OR MARE,
OMANG DEVELS, yAT yAN HAS LEVE
SOM TYME TO TURMENT yE SAULES AND GREVE,
AY WHILES yAI HAF ANY SPOT OF SYN;
FOR ARE, MAY yAI NOGHT OUT OF PAYN WYN,
TIL yAI BE CLENSED AND MADE RIGHT CLENE
OF ALLE SPOTTES OF SYN yAT MAY BE SENE.
AND WHEN yAI ER yUS CLENSED WELE
yAN SAL yAI NAMARE PAYN FELE,
089
BOT ALS TITE yAR-EFTER yAI SAL WENDE
TILLE yE BLIS yAT ES WITH-OUTEN ENDE.
yE SEVEND PAYN OF PURGATORY ES
yAT yE SAULES ER ALS IN WILDERNES,
yAR DEFAUT ES OF ALKYN THYNG
OF WILK MAN MUGHT HAF LYKYNG;
yAIR PAYN ES TURNED MANYFALDE.
NOW ER yAI IN HETE, AND NOW IN CALDE;
FOR SUMTYME yAI SAL BE PYNED LANG
WITH HETE, AND SOM TYME WITH CALD OMANG.
yAI SAL HAF yARE BATHE HUNGER AND THREST,
AND TRAVAYL GRETE, WITH-OUTEN REST.
yAI ER DUNGEN yARE, TO EKE yAIRE PAYN,
WITH SMERT STORMES ALS OF WYND AND RAYN,
AND WITH STORMES OF HAYLE, SHARPE AND KENE,
SWYLK STORMES WAS NEVER HERE SENE,
ALS yE SAULS SAL yAR HERE AND SE.
yUS SAL yAI ON SERE-WYSE PYNED BE,
SUM MANY WYNTER FOR yAIR SYN,
AR yAI TIL yE SIGHT OF GOD MAY WYN.
SWILK MANER OF PAYNS yAI SAL HAVE yARE,
WITH OTHER MA, yAT SAL GREVE SARE.
BOT A GRETE PAYN YHIT yIS SAL BE,
yE GRETE YHERNYNG yAT yAI HAF TO SE
yE FACE OF GOD, yAT ES SWA BRIGHT,
AND yE LANG TARIYNG FRA yAT SYGHT.
BOT TIL yAT SIGHT yAI MAY NEVER WYN,
UNTIL yAI BE CLENSED yAR OF AL SYN.
HERE HAF I TALDE YHOW APARTY,
OF SUM PAYNS OF PURGATORY.
NOW I WILLE SHEW, ALS yE BOKE TELLES,
WHILK SAULS IN PURGATORY DUELLES.
yE SAULES yAT TO PURGATORY MOST WEND
AFTIR yE DEDE, WHEN yIS LIFE HAS END,
NEDLY BYHOVES DWELLE yAR-IN,
UNTO yAI BE CLENSED OF AL SYN,
THURGH BITTER PAYNES yAT ER yARE.
BOT SUM SAL FELE LES, AND SUM MARE,
090
AFTIR yAIR SYN ES MARE OR LES,
ALS IN yIS PART BYFOR WRYTEN ES,
OR AFTIR yAIR SYNS ER MANY OR FONE,
AND AFTIR yAI HAF HERE PENAUNCE DONE.
BOT ALLE SAULES SAL NOGHT DUELLE IN yATSTEDE,
FOR SUM HERE yAT ALS TITE AFTIR yAIR DEDE,
SAL WEND STRYKLY TIL HEVEN BLIS,
ALS INNOCENTES yAT NEVER DYD MYS,
AND OTHER SAULES OF MEN PARFITE,
yAT IN NATHYNG HERE HAS DELYTE,
BOT ANLY IN GOD yAT BOGHT yAM DERE,
IN LYFFED AY IN PENAUNCE HERE.
SOM yAT yE DEDE HERE SODANLY TAS.
IN DEDELY SYN STRIK TIL HELLE GAS;
AND yAT ME THYNK ES NA FERLY,
FORWHY DEDELY SYN ES SWA HEVY
yAT IT MAY WITH-IN A LITEL STONDE
A SAUL DRAW DOUN TIL HELLE GROUNDE.
BOT yE SAUL yAT OF DEDLY SYN ES SHRYVEN,
SWA yAT yE GILT BE HERE FORGYVEN,
IF yE PENAUNCE yAT ES HERE AIOYNT
BE NOGHT FULFILLED AT yE DEDES POYNT,
AND yE SAUL yAT ES NOGHT CLENSED WELE
OF SMALE SYNS yAT ER VENIELE;
yIS TWA MANERS OF SAULES ER SAVE,
BOT IN PURGATORY yAM BYHOVES HAVE
FUL BITTER PAYN, AND DUEL STIL yARE
UNTO yAI BE CLEN, ALS I SAYD ARE,
ALS yAI WAR FIRST WHEN yAI HAD TANE
HALY BAPTEM AT yE FONT STANE.
YHIT SAYS SOM CLERKES ON yIS MANERE,
yAT SWA CLEN OF SYN ES NAMAN HERE,
NE SWA PARFITE IN yE LAW OF CRIST,
NE YHIT A CHILDE, yAT ES NEW BAPTIST,
yAT TIL HEVEN SAL WEND AFTIR yE DEDE,
yAT HE NE SAL PAS FORTH BY yAT STEDE,
091
AND SE yE PAYNS yAR ILKAN.
BOT YHONG INNOCENTES SAL FELE NAN,
FOR yAI COUTHE NEVER NA SYN WIRK,
AND PASSES IN yE TROUTHE OF HALY KYRK.
yARFOR yAI SWIPPE yURGH PURGATORY
ALS A FOUL yAT FLYES SMERTLY,
WITH-OUTEN PAYN yAT MAY DERE,
OR ANY SIGHT yAT MAY yAM FERE,
BOT UNNETHES ANY OTHER MAY
PASSE QWYTE THURGH PURGATORY AWAY,
yAT yE FIRE NE SAL NOGHT FYND IN yAM TO BRYN,
AR yAI PASSE THURGH SOM VENIEL SYN,
SWA STRAYT yAI SAL BE EXAMYND yAN;
FOR IT ES NAN SWA PARFITE MAN
yAT HE NE THYNKES, SOME TYME, SOM VAYN THOGHT
yAT HE LATTES PAR AND CHARGES IT NOGHT;
OF SWILK HYM BYHOVES CLENSED BE
OR HE MAY yE BRIGHT FACE OF GOD SE;
FOR ALS GOLD, yAT SHYNES CLERE AND BRIGHT,
SEMES FYNED CLENE YNOGHE TIL MANS SIGHT,
WHAR IT PUT IN FIRE TO FYN MARE
YHIT SULD IT LEVE SUM DROS yARE;
RIGHT SWA yE SAULES, ON yE SAME MANERE,
OF PARFIT MEN, yAT SEMES CLENE HERE
OF AL SYN, AND ES TO GOD REDY,
YHIT WHEN yAI SAL PAS THURGH PURGATORY,
yE FIRE yAR, yAT ES WITH IN,
SAL FYND IN yAM SUM DROS OF SYN,
ALS LIGHT SPECHE, OR THOGHT IN VAYN,
FOR WHILK yAM BYHOVES FELE SUM PAYN,
FOR SWA FYNED NEVER NA GOLD HERE WAS
THURGH FIRE, ALS yAI SAL BE AR yAI PAS.
HERE HAF I SHEWED SWILK SAULES SAL BE
IN PURGATORY, ALS CLERKES CAN SE.
NOW WILLE I SOM SYNS HERE SPECIFY
FOR WHILK yAI DUELLE IN PURGATORY.
092
MANY MANERS OF SYNS, yAT GREVES,
REGNES OMANG MEN yAT LEVES;
OF WILK SUM ER DEDLY TO FELE
AND SUM ER NOGHT BOT VENIELE,
yA SYNS yAT ER CALD DEDLY
SAL NOGHT BE PURGED IN PURGATORY,
BOT yAI SAL BE PUNYST AY IN HELLE;
AND WHILK yAS ER I WIL YOW TELLE.
yIR ER yA HEDE SYNS yAT ER DEDELY;
PRIDE, HATREDEN, AND ENVY;
GLOTONY AND SLEUTHE IN GODDES SERVISE,
AND LYCHERY AND COVATYSE,
SACRILEGE, AND FALS WYTTENESSYNG,
AND SLAGHTER AND FORSWERYNG,
THEFTE ALSWA AND RAVYN,
ILKAN OF yIR ES A DEDLY SYN.
AND WRETH ES DEDLY SYN OMANG,
IF IT BE HALDEN IN HERT LANG:
AND YHIT DRUNKENES ES DEDLY TO FELE,
IF IT BE OVER CONTINUELE;
WHA-SWA FELES HYM HERE GYLTY
IN ANY OF yIR SYNS DEDLY,
BOT-IF HE HYM AMENDE, AR HE HETHEN WENDE,
HE SAL NOGHT AFTIR HIS LYFES ENDE
WEND STREK TIL PURGATORY,
BOT EVEN TIL HELLE WITH-OUTEN MERCY.
BOT IF HE WILLE HYM REPENT AND SHRIFE
OF ALLE SWILK SYNS HERE IN HIS LYFE,
FRA HELLE PYNE yAN ES HE SAVE;
BOT PAYN AND PENAUNCE HYM BYHOVES HAVE
IN PURGATORY, ALS I WENE,
UNTIL HE BE MADE OF ALLE SYN CLENE;
FORWHY PENAUNCE FOR SYN, ALS I SAYD ARE,
MOST BE FULFILLED OUTHER HERE OR yARE.
SYNS yAT ER VENIELE MAY DERE,
BOT yAI ER NOGHT SWA HEVY TO BERE,
ALS ER DEDLY, FOR yAI MAY BE HERE
FORDON ON LIGHT MANERE.
093
FOR ALS MEN HERES yER CLERKES SAY,
ILK MAN HERE LYGHTLY MAY
SWILK REMEDYS THURGH GRACE WYN,
yAT MAY FORDO AL VENIEL SYN;
yAT ES TO SAY, IF HE CLENE BE
OF DEDLY SYN, AND WIL IT FLE;
FOR I FYND WRITEN TEN THYNGES SERE,
yAT VENIEL SYNS FORDUS HERE.
yAS TEN ER yIR yAT I NOW REDE;
HALY WATER AND ALMUSDEDE,
FASTYNG, AND HOUSIL OF GODDES BODY,
PRAYER OF yE PATER NOSTER NAMLY,
GENERAL SHRIFTE, yAT ILK DAY MAY BE,
BENYSSOUN OF BISSHOPE OF HIS DIGNITE;
AND BENYSSOUN OF PREST, yAT GYYEN ES
NAMLY, IN yE END OF yE MES;
KNOKYNG OF yE BREST OF MAN yAT ES MEKE,
LAST ENOYNTYNG GYVEN TO yE SEKE.
yER TEN PUTTES VENIEL SYNS AWAY,
ALS MEN MAY HERE yER CLERKES SAY.
BOT SWA MANY VENIEL SYNS SERE
MAY BE GADYRD ATANS TOGYDER HERE,
yAT yAI MAY WEGHE ON yE SAUL ALS HEVY
ALS A SYN DUS yAT ES DEDLY,
yAT SLAS yE SAUL AND GOD MYSPAYS;
AND yARFOR yE POET ON yIS WYSE SAYS:
DE MINIMIS GRANIS FIT
MAXIMA SUMMA CABALLO.
"ALS OF MANY SMALE CORNES ES MADE
TIL A HORS BAK A MYKEL LADE,"
RIGHT SWA MAY VENIEL SYNS MANY
MAK A MYKEL SYN DEDLY.
FOR yAI GADIR ON yE SAUL FUL THYK,
AND CLEVES TOGYDER ALS DOS PYK,
BOT IF yAT SWYTHE BE DONE OWAY,
AY ALS yAI COM, WITH-OUTEN DELAY;
094
FOR SWA PARFITELY MAY NANE LYF HERE,
WITH-OUTEN VENIEL SYNS SERE.
FOR A MAN SYNS ALDAY yAT HERE DUELS
ALS yE BOKE SAYS yAT yUS TELS.
SEPTIES IN DIE CADIT
IUSTUS
"SEVEN SYTHES AT yE LEST OUFe yE DAY
yE RYGHTWYS FALLES," yAT ES TO SAY,
IN SERE SYNS yAT ER VENIEL,
BOT SOM ER MARE, AND SOM LES TO FEL.
IN SWA MANY VENIEL SYNS WE FALLE,
yAT NA MAN CAN REKEN yAM ALLE;
BOT SUM OF yAM REHERCE I CAN,
ALS SAYNT AUSTYN TELLES, yE HALY MEN.
FOR IN A BOKE HE REHERCES SOM,
yAT MAST ES USED OF CUSTOM,
AND TO TELLE yAT SYNS HE yUS BYGYNS,
AND SAYS yAT yER ER VENIEL SYNS.
FIRST WHEN A MAN ETES OR DRINKES MARE
ANYTIME, yAN MYSTER WARE;
WHEN yOU MAY VAILE THURGH WYTTE AND SKILLE
AND WILLE NOGHT HELP BOT HALDES yE STYLLE;
WHEN yOU SPEKES SHARPPELY TIL yE PURE,
yAT SUM GODE ASKES AT yI DORE;
WHEN yOU ERTE HALE AND MAY WELE LAST
AND ETES WHEN TYM ES TO FAST;
WHEN yE LYST SLEPE AND WIL NOGHT RYSE,
AND COME OVERLATE TYL GODDES SERVISE;
OR WHEN yOU ERT IN GUDE STATE
AND SAYS yI PRAERS EVER LATE;
OR WHEN yOU SAYS PRAIER OR ORISON
WITH OVER LITEL DEVOCION;
WHEN A MAN LIST DELE IN BED
WITH HIS WYFE yAT HE HAS WED,
HYS LUST ANLY FOR TO FULFILLE,
AND TO GETTE A CHILD ES NOGHT IN WILLE;
095
WHEN yOU VISITES MEN OVERLATE
yAT SEK ER AND IN FEBEL STATE,
OR MEN yAT LYES IN PRISON,
OR IN ANY TRIBULACION,
OR MEN yAT ER SYNFUL AND SARY,
OR SAULES yAT ER IN PURGATORY;
FOR TO VISITE yAM IT WAR GRETE NEDE,
THURGH PRAIER AND THURGH ALMUSDEDE;
WHEN yOU PAYNES yE NOGHT AFTIR yI STATE
TO ACCORDE yAM yAT ER AT DEBATE;
WHEN yOU SPEKES OVER BITTERLY
TIL ANY MAN WITH NOYSE OR CRY;
WHEN yOU PRAYSES ANY MAN MARE
THURGH FLATERYNG, yAN MISTER WARE;
WHEN yOU IN KIRK MAKES IANGLYNG,
OR THYNKES IN VAYN ANYTHYNG;
BE IT WITH-OUTEN, BE IT WITH-IN,
YHIT IT ES A VENIEL SYN;
WHEN yOU ERT OVER LYGHTLY WRATHE,
OR SWERES AND MAY NOGHT HALD yIN ATHE;
WHEN yOU BANNES ANY MAN,
IN WHAM yOU FYNDES NA GILT TO BAN;
WHEN yOU SUPPOSES ANY WYKKEDNES,
THURGH SUSPECION yAR NA ES.
yIR SMALE SYNS SAYNT AUSTYN TELLES,
THURGH WHILK MANY SAULES DUELLES
IN PURGATORY, IN PAYNE AND WA.
BOT YHIT yAR ER FUL MANY MA
OF VENIEL SYNS, BE MANY A SCORE,
OVER yAS yAT I HAF TALD BYFORE.
BOT SWA WITTY ES NANE ERTHELY MAN,
yAT ALLE VENIEL SYNS REKEN CAN;
FOR OFTE SYTHES OF yE DAY MEN FALLES
IN SYNS, yAT CLERKES VENIEL CALLES,
THURGH WERK, OR WORDE, OR THOGHT IN VAYN,
AND ILKA SYN ES WORTHY PAYN,
096
yE WHILK MOST BE FORDONE CLENLY,
OUTHER HERE OR IN PURGATORY.
yARFOR I REDE ILK MAN, WHYLES HE LYFFES HERE,
yAT HE USE yA TEN THINGES SERE
yAT FORDUS, ALS I SAYDE ARE,
ALLE VENIEL SYNS, BATHE LES AND MARE.
AND IF ANY FAL IN DEDLY SYN
RYSE HE UP, AND LIGG NOGHT LANG yAR-IN,
AND GA TO yE PREST HYM TO SHRIFE,
AND TAK HIS PENAUNCE IN HIS LIFE,
AND HAF HE FORTHYNKYNG AY IN THOGHT,
FOR yAS SYNS yAT HE HAS WROGHT,
AND DO HE PENANCE WITH AL HIS MYGHT,
AND BE IN PRAYERS, BATHE DAY AND NIGHT,
AND FAST AND GA WOLWARDE, AND WAKE,
AND THOLE HARDES FOR GODDES SAKE;
FOR NA MAN MAY TO HEVEN GA,
BOT-IF HE THOLE HERE ANGER AND WA.
AND WHEN GOD SENDES A MAN ANGWISE
HE SULD THOLE IT WITH-OUTEN FAYNTISE,
BE IT SEKENES, OR OGHT ELLES yAT GREVES,
LOSSE OF CATELLE, OR OF FREUNeDES yAT LYVES,
OR UNKYNDNES, FALSUHeED, OR TRESON,
OR ANY OTHER TRIBULACION,
THOLE HE IT MEKELY AND THYNK IN THOGHT
yAT WITH-OUTEN CAUSE COMMES IT NOGHT.
BOT GOD WATE WELE yE CAUSE WHY,
PARCHAUNCE IT ES FOR HIS FOLY,
TO CHASTY HYM ON SWILK MANERE,
FOR HIS SYNS yAT HE DYD HERE,
OR IT MAY BE HYM HERE TO PRUVE,
OR TO MAKE HYM MAR DREDE GOD AND LUFE.
yARFOR SEN GOD OFTE VOUCHES SAVE
yAT A MAN HERE SWILK ANGERS HAVE,
OUTHER FOR HIS SYN OR HYM TO FANDE;
LOVE HE HIM yAN OF ALLE HIS SANDE,
097
AND TAKE MEKELY yAT GOD HIM SENDES,
AND FLE ALLE THYNG yAT HE DEFENDES.
FOR THURGH NUYES AND ANGERS SERE,
HE MAKES A MAN, ALS HIS PRESON HERE,
PAYN TO DRIGHE FOR HYS FOLY,
IN yIS LIF ALS HE ES WORTHY.
AND, IF HE IT THOLE NOGHT GROTCHAND,
IN-STEDE OF PENANCE IT SAL HYM STAND,
AND YHIT WILLE GOD HIM MARE DO,
HE WIL GIF HIM MEDE yAR-TO,
yAT HIS IOY IN HEVEN SAL HEKE,
IF HE THOLE ANGWYSE WITH HERT MEKE.
ALS yE GUDE SON THOLES MEKELY
yE FADER, WHEN HE WILLE HYM CHASTY,
SWA SULD ILK MAN THOLE AND LOVE GOD AY,
AND DO ALLE yE GUDE yAT HE MAY,
AND SPECIALY ALMUSDEDE,
yE NAKED TO CLATHE, AND HUNGRY TO FEDE,
AND OTHER WERKES OF MERCY WIRKE,
ALS THECHES AND PRECHES HALY KIRKE;
AND KEPE HIM CLENE, TO HIS LYFES ENDE,
FRA SYN, yAN SAL HIS SAUL WENDE
TIL BLIS, AND LYGHTLY PAS ALLE PAYNE
OF PURGATORI; yIS ES CERTAYNE.
HERE HAF I SHEWED YHOW, ON INGLYS,
SOM SYNS yAT SAYNT AUSTYN SPECIFYS.
NOW WIL I SHEW WHAT HELP ES CERTAYNE
FOR yAM yAT IN PURGATORY HAS PAYNE,
AND WHAT MAY MAK yAIR PAYN CEES
AND yAM OF yAIR PAYN TO HAF RELEES.
yE SAULES, yAT TIL PURGATORY WENDES,
MAY BE HELPED THURGH HELP OF FRENDES,
yAT ALMUS FOR yAM DUS, AND PRAYS,
FOR yE HALY MAN, SAYNT AUSTYN SAYS:
NON EST NEGANDUM SPIRITUS DEFUNCTORUM, PIETATE
SUORUM VIVENTIUM, POSSE RELEVARI.
HE SAYS "MEN SHULD NOT DENYE ON NA MANERE,
yAT yE SAULES OF yAM yAT ER DEDE HERE,
098
OF PAYN MAY RELESED BE
THURGH FRENDES LYFAND yAT HAS PYTE."
FOR ALS yAS yAT PASSED, ALS I SAYD ARE,
TIL PURGATORY ER PYNED yARE
FOR WENIEL SYNS, MARE AND LESSE,
APARTY, THURGH GODDES RIGHTWISNESSE,
RIGHT SWA THURGH HELP yAI MAY APARTY,
BE RELESED yAR, THURGH GODDES MERCY.
ALLE yAT MEN DUS HERE, BATHE LES AND MARE,
FOR yE SAULES yAT DUELLES yARE
AVAYLES yAM NOGHT ALS TO HEVEN MEDE,
BOT FOR yAIR DELIVERANCE FRA PAYN TO SPEDE.
FOUR MANERS OF HELPES ER GENERAL,
yAT IN PURGATORY AVAILES yAM AL,
yAT ES TO SAY, PRAYER AND FASTYNG,
AND ALMUS DEDE AND MESSYNG.
ON TWA MANERS, ALS CLERKES CAN SE,
yE SAULE FRA PAYN DELIVERD MAY BE;
yE TANE BY WAY OF GRACE ES,
AND yE TOTHER BY WAY OF RIGHTWISNES,
BY WAY OF GRACE ON TWYN MANERE
ALS ES WRITEN IN yIS BOKE HERE.
FIRST THURGH PRAYER OF CRIST yAT ES HEDE,
WHEN HE ES OFFERD IN FOURME OF BREDE,
THURGH PRESTES HANDE HERE AT yE MES,
WHEN yE SACRAMENT SWA MADE ES.
ALSWA THURGH PRAYER OF HIS LYMS,
yAT ES, OF GUDE MEN yAT TOWARD HEVEN CLYMS.
yAN MAY yE SAULES IN PURGATORY,
BY WAY OF GRACE SPECIALY,
BE DELIVERED OF PYN yAT DERS,
THURGH MESSES AND RIGHTWIS MEN PRAYERS.
BY WAY OF RIGHTWYSNES HELP MAY BE
ON TWYN MANERS, ALS YHE MAY SE.
FIRST, THROUGH BYHYNG OF PAYNES yAT GREVES,
WITH ALMUS, yAT MEN TO THE PURE GYVES.
ANOTHER ES HERE THURGH ASSETHE MAKYNG,
ALS THURGH PENANCE OF FREUNeDES AND FASTYNG.
099
yUS MAY SAULES, ALS yE BUKE BERES WYTNES,
BY HELPYD BY WAY OF RIGHTWYSNES,
yAT ES TO SAY, yAI MAY IN yAT NEDE
BE BOGHT FRA PAYN THURGH ALMUSDEDE;
AND THURGH PENANCE FOR yAM HERE DON,
yE DETTE OF PAYN MAY BE QWITTE SON,
RIGHT ALS A MAN, yAT DUELLES IN PRISON
TIL HE HAF PAYED A CERTAYN RAUNSON,
MAY BE DELYVERD AND BROGHT AWAY
THURGH A FRENDE, yAT WILLE IT FOR HYM PAY.
ON yIS WYSE MAY yE SAULES yAT WENDES
TIL PURGATORY, BE HELPED THURGH FREUNeDES.
BOT SUM FRENDE MAY HELP, AND SOM NOGHT,
yE SAULES yAT TIL PURGATORY ER BROGHT.
THURGH yAS FRENDES MAY yAI HELPED BE
yAT HERE LYVES THURGH RYGHT CHARITE.
BOT yE HELP OF yAM, yAT CHARITE FAILLES
TIL yE SAULES yAT ER yAR NOGHT AVAILLES,
FOR ALLE ER ALS LYMES OF A BODY,
yAT HERE ER, AND IN PURGATORY;
AND ALS WE MAY SE PROPERLY HERE
A BODY HAFE MANY LYMMES SERE,
AND ILKAN OF yAM, BATHE LES AND MARE,
MAY HELP OTHER yAT FELES SARE;
BOT IF A LYM DIGHE, AND yE MYGHT FAILE,
yAT LYM MAY NOGHT TIL yE OTHERS AVAILE.
RIGHT SWA IT FARS ON yE SAME WYSE,
BY yAM UyATe IN PURGATORY LYESE,
AND yAT ER HERE; FOR MEN MAY yAM CALLE
ALS LYMS OF A BODY ALLE.
WHA-SWA IN DEDLY SYN ES BROGHT
AND CHARITE IN HIS HERT HAS NOGHT,
HE ES ALS DEDE IN SAUL WITH-IN;
AY, WHILES HE ES IN DEDLY SYN,
HIS HELP VAILLES NOGHT, BOT ES IN VAYNE
ALS TO yE SAULES yAT ER IN PAYNE.
HIS HELP THURGH HYM-SELFE STANDES IN NA STEDE,
FOR HE ES ALS A LYM yAT ES DEDE;
100
BOT NEVER-yE-LATTER, ALLE-IF HE SWA BE
IN SYN AND OUT OF CHARITE,
YHIT MAY HE HELPE yE SAALES yUS,
IF HE TIL PURE MEN GYF ALMUS,
yAT yAI FOR yE SAULES PRAY SPECIALY
AND HELPES yE SAULES IN PURGATORY.
YHIT MAY yE HELP AND yE TRAVAILE
OF SUM SYNFUL MEN yE SAULES AVAYLE,
IF IT THURGH BIDDYNG DONE BE
OF A FRENDE yAT ES IN CHARITE;
OR OF yE DEDE SELF yAT HAS MAST NEDE
OF HELP OF PRAYER AND ALMUSDEDE;
yAT HELP MAY AVAYLE yE SAULES SON
FOR HIS SAKE, yAT BIDDES IT BE DON,
yAT CHARITY IN HERT HAS KNYTT
AND NOGHT FOR HIS SAKE yAT DOS IT,
FOR-WHY GOD WILLE NOGHT DO FOR HIS SAKE
yAT CHARITE WILLE NOGHT IN HERT TAKE.
yIS CASE OFTE FALLES, ALS I UNDERSTANDE,
BYTWEN A LOVERD AND HIS SERVANDE,
WHARE yE LOVERD ES GUDE AND RIGHTWYS,
AND yE SERVAND ILLE AND USES FOLYS.
IF yE SERVAND DO ANYTHYNG
yAT ES GUDE AT HIS LOVERDYS BYDYNG,
YHIT MAY IT AVAILLE TO A GUDE USE,
ALLE-IF HE BE ILLE yAT IT DUSE;
AND yAT BY RESON OF yE GUDENES
OF HYM OF WHAM yE BYGYNNYNG ES.
FOR ALLE BE IT ONENCE yE DOER DEDE,
ONENCE yE BIDDER IT STANDES IN STEDE;
BOT IF yAI BATHE IN CHARITE WARE
yE HELPE TIL yE DEDE WAR WELE yE MARE.
ALSWA A PREST ALLE-IF HE BE
SYNFUL AND OUT OF CHARITE,
HE ES GODDES MINISTER AND HALY KIRKES,
yAT yE SACRAMENT OF yE AUTER WIRKES;
101
yE WILK ES NEVER-yE-LES OF MYGHT,
ALLE-IF yE PREST HERE LYF NOGHT RIGHT.
FOR IF A PREST yAT SYNGES MES
BE NEVER SWA FUL OF WYKEDNES,
yE SACRAMENT, yAT ES SWA HALY,
MAY NOGHT APAYRED BE THURGH HIS FOLY.
yAN MAY MES SAULES FRA PAYN BRING,
ALLE-IF A SYNFUL PREST IT SYNG.
FOR IN GODDES NAME HE SYNGES yE MES,
UNDER WHAM IN ORDER HE ES.
BOT SPECIEL PRAYERS WITH GUDE ENTENTE,
yAT ES MADE BESYDE yE SACRAMENTE,
OF A GUDE PREST ER WELE BETTER
yAN OF AN ILLE, AND TO GOD SWETTER;
BOT yE OFFERYNG OF GODDIS BODY
HELPES yE SAULES PRINCIPALY;
WHARFOR IT SEMES yAT MES SYNGYNG
MAY TITEST yE SAUL OUT OF PAYN BRYNG,
yAT PASSES HETHEN IN CHARITE,
AND IN PURGATORY CLENSED SULD BE.
BOT TIL yAM yAT ER DAMPNED FOR AY
NA GUDE DEDE AVAYLE NE HELP MAY,
NOUTHER ALMUS DEDE, PRAYER, NE MESSE,
FOR yAI ER, ALS yE BUKE BERS WITNESSE,
DEPARTED HALELY FRA yE BODY OF CRISTE,
AND yE SAULES FOR EVER ER PERISTE,
FOR ALS LYMMES, yAT ER DEDE, ER yAI
yAT ER HEWED FRA yE BODY OWAY.
AND ALS NATHYNG MAY HELP KYNDELY
yE LYMES yAT ER CUTTED FRA yE BODY,
RIGHT SWA ALLE HELPES yAT MEN CAN TELLE,
AVAILLES yAM NOGHT yAT ER IN HELLE.
YHIT HELP OF FRENDES HERE ON SUM WYSE,
AVAILLES yAM yAT ER IN PARADISE,
AND ALSWA yAM yAT IN HELLE DUELLES,
ALS A GRETE CLERK IN BOKE TELLES.
yAN AVAILLES ALMUS, MESSE, AND BEDES,
TO yE SAULES yAT ER IN ALLE yRE STEDES;
102
yAI AVAILE yE SAULES IN PURGATORY
TO SPEDE yAM OUT MARE HASTILY.
yAI VAILE yAM yAT IN HEVEN ER;
FOR yAI MULTIPLIE yAR yE TITTER,
AND yE MA yAT GADERS TO yAT PLACE,
yE MARE yAIR IOY ES, AND SOLACE.
yAI AVAIL TIL yAM yAT ER IN HELLE,
FOR yE FONER SHULD COM yIDER TO DUELLE,
AND yE FONER yAT yIDER COMMES FOR SYN,
yE LES PAYN yAI HAVE yAT DUELLES yAR-IN;
AND AY yE MA SAULES yAT yIDER WENDES,
yE MARE yAIR PAYNE ES, yAT NEVER ENDES.
yUS MAY HELP HERE AND AVAILE BE SKILLE
TIL yE SAULES yAT DUELLES AY IN HELLE STILLE;
AND TIL yE SAULES yAT ER IN HEVEN NAMLY,
AND TIL yAM yAT ER IN PURGATORY.
BOT HELP MAY NA SAULES OUT OF PAYN SPEDE,
BOT yAM yAT HAS CHARITE AND NEDE.
FOR IN HELLE ES NA CHARITE,
AND IN HEVEN NA NED MAY BE.
BOT BATHE yA TWA yE SAULES HAS
yAT FRA HETHEN TIL PURGATORY GAS.
AND ALS A MAN MAY HERE WITH HIS HANDE,
MAKE ASETHE FOR ANOTHER LYFANDE,
yE WHILK ES NOGHT OF POWER yAR-TO,
RIGHT SWA MAY A MAN FOR yE DED DO.
yE SAULES yAT TIL PARADISE ER GANE
NEDE OF HELP HERE HAF yAI NANE;
BOT IF FOR yAM WAR DON ANY GUDE DEDE,
IT MAY AVAILE yAM, yAT OF HELP HAS NEDE.
yE HELP yAT ES DON HERE SPECIALY
AVAILLES TIL yE SAULES IN PURGATORY,
BOT TO SOM MARE AND TIL SOM LES,
AFTIR yAI ER OF WORTHYNES;
AND AFTIR yE CHARITE ES CLERE
OF yAM yAT ER LYFFAND HERE,
yAT MAST ER BYSY, AND DUS MARE
FOR SUM yAN FOR OTHER yAT ER yARE.
103
BOT WHEN A MAN FRA yIS WORLD SAL FLITTE
NA MAN FOR CERTAYN HERE MAY WYTTE
WHETHER HE SAL yAN TIL PURGATORY WENDE,
OR TO BLISSE OR TO PAYN WITH-OUTEN ENDE.
FOR SOM SEMES GUDE HERE AND PARFITE,
yAT, AFTER yE DEDE, ER DAMPNED ALS-TITE;
FOR PARCHAUNCE yAI ER ILLE WITH-IN,
AND PASSES AWAY IN DEDELY SYN.
SOME SEMES SYNFUL, ALS yAI LYFED MYS,
yAT ER SAVE AND ER IN yE WAY TIL BLISSE,
FOR PARCHAUNCE BYFOR yAIR ENDYNG,
yAI ER AMENDED OF yAIR MYSLYVYNG.
OF yIS MAY NA MAN CERTAYN BE,
FOR IT ES GODDES PRYVETE.
BOT WE SHULD TROW, AND SUPPOSE AY
yAT ALLE ER SAVE AND IN GUDE WAY,
yAT WE SE HERE GUDE WERKES WIRK,
AND HAS yE SACRAMENTES OF HALIKYRK.
BOT WHETHER IT BE OR NOGHT yUS,
WE SULD DO yAT ES IN US;
WE SULD PRAY, BATHE LOUD AND STILLE,
FOR AL CRISTEN SAULES; yUS CHARITE WILLE.
NOW SUM MAY ASKE WHY SYNGES MEN MES
FOR A YHONG CHILD WHEN IT DEDE ES,
yAT OF PRAYER, NE MES HAS NA NEDE,
FOR IT COUTH NEVER DO SYNFUL DEDE.
yIS MAY BE yE RIGHT SKILLE WHY,
FOR yE LOVYNG OF GOD PRINCIPALY
AND FOR USAGE OF HALY KYRK,
AND FOR yE DEDES USE yAT OFFICE TO WIRK.
AND YHIT MAY yE MES IN SUM CASE
HELP yAM IN PURGATORY yAT NED HASE.
HERE HAF YHE HERDE, ALS yE BUKE BERS WITNES,
HOW ALMUS, PENANCE, PRAIER AND MES,
yAT ER DONE THURGH FREUNeDES CERTAYNE,
MAY HELP yE SAULES yAT ER IN PAYNE.
NOW WILLE I SHEW YHOW YHIT MARE yARTO,
WHAT PARDON MAY TO yE SAULES DO,
104
yE WHILK yAI PURCHACED, ON RIGHT MANERE
IN CLENE LIF WHILLES yAI LIFFED HERE.
PARDON HELPES yAM, ALS CLERKES SAYS,
yAT IT HAS PURCHASED IN yAIR LIF DAYS;
FOR PARDON OF PAPES AND BISSCHOPES,
yAT ES GRANTED HERE ALS MEN HOPES,
MAY AVAILE yAIR SAULES IN PURGATORY,
yAT HAS PURCHACED IT HERE WORTHYLY,
IF yAI OF yAIR SYN HAD CONTRICION
AND WAR SHRIFEN BYFOR yAT PARDON,
yAN MAY PARDON AFTER yAIR DEDE
IN PURGATORY yAM STAND IN STEDE.
FOR PARDON HERE, yAT ES CERTAYN,
MAY yAM RELESE OF yE DEDE OF PAYN,
ALS FER-FORTHE ALS PARDON MAY RECHE,
yUS HAF I HERD GRETE CLERKES PRECHE.
PARDON PROPERLY NOGHT ELLES ES
BOT OF PAYNE, yAT ES DETTE, FORGYFNES.
PARDON MAY NANE HAFE BOT HE WIL WIRKE,
FOR IT ES OF yE TRESUR OF HALY KIRKE,
yAT ES GADIRDE FOR NEDE OF PARDON,
OF yE VERTU OF CRESTES PASSION,
AND OF yE WORTHINES OF yE DEDYS
OF HIS HALOWES AND OF yAIR MEDYS;
AND UITe ES GADERD ON MANY MANERS;
FIRST ALS OF MARTERDOM OF MARTIRES;
OF PENANCE AND TRAVAIL OF CONFESSOURS,
AND OF yE THECHYNG OF DOCTURS;
AND OF CHASTITE OF VIRGYNS CLENE,
yAT CHAST AND HALY AY HAS BENE;
OF yE FRUYT OF HALY KIRK WERKES,
AND OF yE PRAYERS OF GUDE PRESTES AND CLERKES;
OF ALLE yIS, ALS I SHEWED BYFOR,
ES GADIRD HALY KIRKES TRESOR,
OF WILK yE PAPE yE KAYS BERS,
WHAR-WITH HE BATHE OPENS AND SPERS.
105
yAT FALLES HYM OF OFFICE TO HALDE,
FOR HE ES IN ERTHE, GODES VICAR CALDE.
yA CAYS ER NOGHT ELLES TO SE
BOT PLAYN POWER OF HIS DIGNITE,
THURGH WHILK HE MAY, BE LAW AND SKILLE,
LOUSE AND BYNDE AT HIS WILLE.
FOR yE SAM POWER HYM FALLES TO HAVE,
yAT CRIST TIL PETER IN ERTHE GAVE.
FOR CRIST GAVE TO PETER PLAYN POWERE,
AND SAYS TO HYM ON yIS MANERE.
QUODCUNQUE LIGAVERIS SUPER TERRAM
ERIT LIGATUM ET IN CELIS, ET QUODCUNQUE
SOLVERIS SUPER TERRAM, ERIT SOLUTUM
ET IN CELIS.
"ALLE yAT yOU BYNDES IN ERTHE," SAYS HE,
"SAL IN HEVEN BUNDEN BE
AND ALLE yAT yOU LOWSES IN ERTHE RIGHT
SAL BE LOUSED IN HEVEN BRIGHT."
yIS POWER TIL ALLE PAPES GAF HE,
yAT AFTIR PETRE IN ERTHE SHULD BE,
ALS SHEWES AN EXPOSICION
OF yE HALY GODSPELLE IN A LESSON.
yAN SEMES IT WELE BY yIS SKILLE HERE,
yAT yE PAPE HAS SWA LARGE POWERE
TO ASSOYLE A MAN, AND HYM FORGYFE,
ALLE yE DETTE OF PAYN yAT MAY GREVE,
SWA yAT HE, yAT yE PAPE ASSOYLES, FULFILLE
yAT, yAT yE LAGHE OF yE GOSPELLE WILLE,
AND YHELD AGAYN, IF HE BE MYGHTY,
ALLE yAT HE TAS WRANGWYSLY;
FOR WHEN yE PAPE, yAT GRACE WIL DO,
HE BYNDES HYM AND ALLE HALY KIRK yARTO
FOR HYM TIL WHAM yAT GRACE AVAYLES
TO FULFILLE ALLE yAT IN HYM FAILLES,
BOT BISCHOPES HERE OF LAGHER STATE,
AND HAS LES POWER, ALS CLERKES WATE,
106
FOR-WHY yAIR DIGNITE HERE ES LES
AND yARFOR yAIR POWERE RESTREYNED ES;
BOT IF IT BE NOGHT SWA SUFFISHAUNT
ALS yE PAPES ES, YHIT MAY yAI GRAUNT
OF yAIR POWER PARDON APARTY
TIL yAIR HAWEN UNDERLOUTES ANLY;
AND YHIT MOST yAT, ALS I SAYD BEFOR,
BE GYFEN OF HALY KIRKES TRESOR.
BOT NA MAN MAY HERE PARDON WYN,
BOT HE BE OUT OF DEDLY SYN;
FOR HE, yAT KEPYNG OF yAT FAIR TRESOUR HAS,
MAY NOGHT IT DELE TIL HALY KYRK FAS;
AND SWILK ER yAI AND NAN ELLES
yAT HERE IN DEDLY SYN DUELLES;
FOR OUT OF HALY KIRK ER yAI,
yARFOR NA PARDON WHYN yAI MAY.
BOT yE FRENDES OF HALY KIRK MAY WYN
PARDON, FOR yAI ER WITH-IN;
AND SWILK ER yAS yAT HERE ER FRE
OF DEDLY SYNS AND ER IN CHARITE;
TIL WHAM PARDON SAL NOGHT FAIL,
BOT IN PURGATORY IT SAL yAM AVAIL,
TO ALLEGE yAIR SAULES OF PAYNE,
ALS FER ALS IT RECHES OF CERTAYNE,
yE WHILK, ALS SUM SAYS, FALLES TO BE SETT
FOR yE UReEMENAND OF PAYNS, yAT ES, DETT
yAT PARCHAUNCE ES LEFTE UNDON HERE;
AND yAT MAY FALLE ON SERE MANERE.
APARTY FOR PENANCE yAT ES UENeIOYNT,
yAT ES NOGHT DONE AT yE DEDES POYNT;
APARTY FOR VENIEL SYNS SERE;
APARTY FOR SYNS yAT ER FORGETEN HERE;
APARTY FOR OVER LITELLE PENANCE,
AND FOR OVER LITTELLE REPENTANCE;
APARTY, FOR PENANCE ENIOINT, AND DONE
PARCHAUNCE OVER REKLESLY AND OVER SONE;
APARTY, FOR PENANCE yAT ENIOYNT ES,
AND ES FORGETEN THURGH REKLESNES.
107
ALLE yIS MAY BE CALD yE REMENAND,
OF yE DETTE OF PAYN, ALS I UNDERSTAND
yE WHILK FELLE TO BE FULFYLLED HALY,
OUTHER HERE OR IN PURGATORY,
BOT ALLE yIS DETT MAY yAR BE QWYTT
THURGH LARGE PARDON, WHA-SWA HAS ITT,
IN FORGYVENES OF ALLE PENANCE SOGHT,
WHETHIR IT BE HERE ENIOYNT OR NOGHT.
FOR SWA MYKEL PARDOUN MAY A MAN
PURCHES HERE, yAT HE MAY yAN
IN PURGATORY QWYTE ALLE yE DETT,
yAT HYM FRA BLIS MAY TARY OR LETT;
FOR SWA LARGE ES HALY KIRKES TRESOR,
yAT IT ES YNOGH TO PAY yARFOR,
AND FOR ALLE yE PAYNES yAT DETT MAY BE
OF ALLE yE MEN OF CRISTANTE.
yUS PARDON IN PURGATORY AVAILLES,
ALS I TALD; BOT SOM CLERKES COUNSAILLES
yAT WE IT SPARE AND RESERVE HALELY,
UNTIL WE COM TIL PURGATORY,
AND DO HERE PENANCE WHILLES WE LYF MAY,
FOR A MAN SAL THYNK yARE A DAY
LENGER yAN HEVER THOGHUTe HIM HERE,
yE SPACE OF ALLE ANE HALE YHERE;
yAN ES A DAY OF PARDON TO GESCE
MARE WORTHY yAN ALLE yIS WORLDIS RICHES,
FOR yE SAULE HAD LEVER, yAT IN PAYN DUELES,
A DAY OF PARDON yAN ANYTHYNG ELLES;
FOR ALLE yE WERLD, UIFe IT HIS WARE,
HE WALD GYF FOR REST A DAY yARE.
OF yIS MATERS, yAT yUS MAS MENCION
OF HELP OF FRENDES AND OF PARDON
yAT VAILLES yAM yAT ER IN PURGATORY,
ALS I SHEWED BYFOR OPENLY,
SPEKES INNOCENT AND AUSTYN
IN BUKES, WHAR yAIR MATERS ER SEN;
AND RAYMUUNeD SPEKES OF yE SAME
IN A BOKE, yAT ES CALLED HIS NAME;
108
AND THOMAS ALQWYN SPEKES ALSWA
OF yIS MATER, AND OF OTHER MA
IN A BOKE, yE WHILK MADE HE,
yAT HAT VERITAS THEOLOGIE.
HERE I HAVE MANY MATERS REDDE,
AND yE FERTHE PARTE OF yIS BOKE SPEDE,
IN yE QWILK YHE HAFE HERD ME SPECIFY
yE CONDICIONS OF PURGATORY.
FIRST WHAT IT ES TO FELE AND SE,
AND WHAR GOD HAS ORDAYND IT TO BE;
AND WHAT PAYNES FALLES yAR-TO, LES AND MARE,
AND WHILK SAULES BYHOVES BE PYNED yARE;
AND ALSWA FOR WHAT MANERE OF SYN,
AND WHAT MAY yAM HELP yAT ER yAR-IN.
OF AL yIS HAF I SPOKEN TIL yE ENDE,
AND NOW WILLE I TIL yE FIFTE PART WENDE,
yAT SPEKES OF yE DAY OF DOME,
AND OF TAKENS yAT BYFOR SAL COME.

[PART V: yE DAY OF DOME]/[CONTENTS]

HERE BYGYNS yE FIFTE PART yAT ES OF
yE DAY OF DOME AND OF TAKENS yAT SAL CUM BYFOR.
IN yIS PART MEN MAY OF TEN yINGES REDE,
yAT TOUCHES yE GRETE DAY OF DREDE,
OF WHILK SUM BYFOR yAT DAY SAL BE,
AND AT yE DAY, ALS MEN SAL SE.
yE FIRST ES OF THE WONDERFUL TAKENS SERE,
yAT BYFOR yAT DAY SAL BE SHEWED HERE.
yE SECUNDE ES OF yE FIRE yAT SAL BRYN
yE WORLD AND AL yAT ES yAR-IN.
yE THRED ES OF yE RYSYNG GENERALE
OF ALLE MEN, BATHE GRETE AND SMALE.
yE FERTHE ES OF CRYSTES COMMYNG DON
TIL yE DOME, IN PROPER PARSON.
yE FIFTHE ES yE CERTAYN STEDE
WHAR CRIST SAL DEME BATHE QWIK AND DEDE.
yE SEXTE ES OF yE FOURME OF MAN,
IN WHILK CRIST SAL SHEW HYM yAN.
109
yE SEVEND, OF yE ACCUSERS MANY,
yAT yE SYNFUL SAUL SAL ACCUSE yAR OPENLY.
yE AGHTYND, OF yE ACUNT AND yE REKENNYNG,
yAT yAI SAL YHELD OF ALLE yAIR LYFYNG.
yE NEGHEND, OF AL MEN AFTIR yAI HAF WROGHT,
OF WILK SOM SAL BE DEMED, AND SOM NOGHT,
yE TEND ES OF yE GRETE DOME FINAL,
yAT CRIST SAL GYF AND MAK ENDE OF AL.
OF yIR SAL SOM FALLE, ALS YHE HERD ME SAY,
BYFOR yAT DAY AND SUM AT yE DAY.
BYFOR yE DAY SERE TAKENS SAL COM,
OF WHILK MEN MAY HERE FYND WRETEN SOME,
ALS OF ANCRIST COMMYNG, AND HIS POUSTE,
AND OF OTHER MA yAT BYFOR yAT DAY SAL BE,
yE WHILK TAKENS MEN SAL THYNK FUL HARDE,
ALS YHE MAY SE AND HERE AFTERWARDE.
AND WHA-SWA WILLE AVISE HYM WELE,
HE MAY ILK DAY HERE, SE, AND FELE
TAKENS, WAR-THURGH HE MAY UNDERSTANDE,
yAT yE DAY OF DOME ES FAST COMANDE.
FOR WONDERS yAT SHULD FALLE, ALS I TROW,
AGAYN yE WORLDES HENDE ER SENE NOW,
THURGH WHILK WONDRES GRETE CLERKES KNAWES
yAT yE WORLDE FAST TO yE ENDEWARD DRAWES.
WHARFOR WE SHULD MAKE US REDY HERE,
ALS yE DAY OF DOME WAR COMMAND NERE.
CRIST DISCIPLES, yAT YHERNED HAF KNAWYNG,
OF SUM TAKENS AGAYNS HIS LAST COMMYNG,
SPAK TO CRIST, ALS YHE MAY HERE,
IN yE GODSPELLE ON yIS MANERE:
DIC NOBIS SIGNUM ADVENTUS TUI ET
CONSUMMACIONEM SECULI; ET RESPONDENS,
IHESUS CHRISTUS DIXIT EIS, VIDETE NE QUIS VOS SEDU-
CAT; MULTI ENIM VENIENT IN NOMINE
MEO DICENTES, EGO SUM CRISTUS, ET MULTOS
SEDUCENT {!}C. CONSURGET ENIM GENS
110
CONTRA GENTEM ET REGNUM IN REGNUM,
ET ERUNT PESTULENCIE ET FAMES, ET TERRE
MOTUS PER LOCA. HEC AUTEM OMNIA
INICIA SUNT DOLORUM, ET HABUNDABIT
INIQUITAS, ET REFRIGESCET CARITAS MULTORUM.
"SAYS US", CRYED yAI, "OF yI COMMYNG
SOM TAKEN AND OF yE WORLD ENDYNG.
CRIST ALS TITE ANSWERD yAM yAN,
AND SAYD LUKES yAT YHOW DESAYVE NA MAN,
FOR MANY SAL COM IN MY NAME,
yAT SAL SAY yUS, 'CRIST I AM,'
AND MANY A MAN yAI SAL BYGILE
BOT yAI SAL REGNE HERE BOT A WHILE;
AND REWME OGAYNE REWME, ON yE SAME WYSE
MEN OGAYNE MEN, THURGH STRENGTH, SAL RYSE;
PESTILENCES AND HUNGERS SAL BE,
AND ERTHEDYNS IN MANY CONTRE.
AND AL yIS SAL BE BYGYNNYNG HARD
OF yE SOROWS yAT SAL COM AFTIRWARD;
WYKKEDNESSE SAL WAX MANY FALDE,
AND CHARITE OF MANY SAL WAX CALDE."
yIR TAKENS TIL HIS DISCIPLES TALD HE
yAT OGAYN yE WORLDES ENDE SHULD BE.
BOT SUM OF yIR TAKENS HAS BENE,
AND SUM OF yAM SAL YHIT BE SENE.
AND OF TAKENS yAT YHIT SAL COM,
IF YHE WILLE, I SAL TEL YHOW SOM.
AND FIRST OF ANCRIST WILLE I SAY
yAT SAL COM BEFOR DOMESDAY,
AFTIR yE DESTRUCCION SAL BE
OF yE EMPYRE OF ROME, yAT ES YHIT FRE.
SOM TYME AL LANDES OF yE WORLD OBOUT
WAS SUGETTE TIL ROME AND UNDERLOUT,
yAT AT CERTAYN TEREMES GAF IT TROWAGE,
ALS yE CUSTOM yAN WAS AND yE USAGE;
yAT CUSTOM ALLE LANDES yAN BYHOVED DO,
BOT SAYNT PAULE SAYS yUS yARTO:
111
QUONIAM NISI VENERIT DISSENCIO PRIMUM ETC.,
ID EST, NISI PRIUS DISSENSERINT OMNIA REGNA
A ROMANO IMPERIO, QUE PRIUS ERANT SUB-
DITA, NON ANTEA VENIET ANTICHRISTUS.
HE SAYS "BOT IF DISSENCION COME,
yAT ES, BOT-IF ALLE LANDES HALD AGAYN ROME,
SWA yAT IT BE PUT TIL DESTRUCCION
THURGH yAM yAT FIRST WAS IN SUBIECCION,
ANTICRIST AR yAT TYME SAL NOGHT COM
yAT SAL COM BYFOR yE DAY OF DOM.
yAT DESTRUCION, ALS SAYS HALY WRITT,
SAL BE, BOT yAT TYME COM NOGHT YHITT.
FRA yAT TYME SAL NA LAND NE CONTRE
IN SUBIECCION OF ROME LANGER BE;
NE FRA yAN SAL NA MAN BE BUGHSOME,
NE OBEDIENT TO yE KIRK OF ROME.
MEN SESE yAT yE EMPIRE, yAT WAS SWA MYGHTY,
ES NOW DESTROYED A GRETE PARTY;
BOT AT yE LAST, ALS I SAYD ARE,
IT SAL BE DESTRUYED WELE MARE,
BOT yE DIGNITE yAT TIL IT SAL FALLE,
SAL NOGHT IN yAT TYME PERYSSHE ALLE.
IT SAL STAND AND DUELLE WITH-OUTEN DOUT
IN ALLE HIS REGYONS OBOUT.
yOS SAL yE FIRST TAKEN BYGYN AT ROME;
FOR IT ES HEVED OF AL CRISTENDOME;
FOR WHEN IT ES PUT TIL DESTRUCION
ALLE HALY KYRK SAL BE PUT DON.
SOME CLERKES SAYS yAT AN SAL COME
yAT SAL HALD yE EMPIRE OF ROME
ALLE HALELY AND HIS CROUN BERE
WELE, AND IN PEES WITH-OUTEN WERE.
HE SAL BE LAST EMPAROUR yAT yARE SAL BE,
AND MAST OF ALLE KYNGES OF POUSTE;
yE WHILK SAL WELE MAYNTEN HIS STATE
AND yE EMPIRE, WITH-OUTEN DEBATE,
AND IT GOVERNE THURGH LAGHE AND WITTE,
ALS LANG ALS HE SAL HALD ITTE.
112
BOT AFTERWARDE AT yE LAST ENDE
UNTIL IERUSALEM HE SAL WENDE;
AND ON yE MOUNT OF OLYVETTE
HE SAL yE SEPTRE OF ROME SETTE,
AND HIS CORON HE SAL LAY DON ALSWA,
AND LEF yAM yAR AND FRA yAM GA.
yUS SAL ENDE yE DIGNITE OF ROME;
AND ALS SONE AFTIR SAL ANTICRIST COME,
ALS CLERKES SAYS, yAT HAS UNDERSTANDYNG
OF DANIEL AND OF SAYNT PAUL SAYING;
yAN SAL ANTICRIST yAT TYME BYGYN,
yAT SAYNT PAUL CALLES yE MAN OF SYN.
FOR ALLE-IF HE BE MAN, NEVER-yE-LES,
HE SAL BE WELLE OF ALLE WYKKEDNES.
yE DEVELS SON HE SAL BE CALD;
BOT THURGH KYND MEN SHULD HIM NOGHT SWA HALD,
BOT THURGH HIS TURNYNG FRA GODE TIL ILLE;
FOR HE SAL yE DEVELS WILLE FULFILLE.
ALLE yE POWER OF yE DEVEL OF HELLE
AND ALLE HIS WITTE IN HYM SAL DUELLE;
IN WHAM AL yE TRESOR OF MALICE
SAL BE HIDDE WITH ALLE MANER OF VICE.
HE SAL TIL CRISTE CONTRARIUS BE
AND TIL ALLE HIS LYMS yAT HE SAL SE;
AND HEGHEN HYM THURGH PRIDE, yAT HE SAL HALDE,
ABOVEN AL yAT ER PAENS GODDES CALDE.
yAT ES TO SAY, IUBITER AND MERCURY,
AND APPOLYN AND HERCULY;
AND NOGHT ANLY OBOVEN yA GODDES ALLE,
yAT yE PAENS yAIR GODDES SAL CALLE,
BOT HE SAL HEGHE HIMSELF TO BE
ABOVEN yE HALY TRINITE;
AND ALLE yE CREATOURS, BATH MARE AND LES,
SHULD HONOURE OVER ALLE THYNG yAT ES,
FUL SYNFUL SAL BE HIS BYGYNNYNG,
AND WONDERFUL SAL BE HIS LYVYNG.
AND HIS ENDYNG SAL BE SODAYN;
FOR THURGH MYGHT OF GOD HEUSALe BE SLAYN,
113
IN HIS TYME SAL BE SWYLK TRIBULACION
AND SWA MYKEL PARSECUCION,
yAT UNNETHES ANY SAL DUR GRAUNT
yAT HE ES CRISTEN, AND GOD SERVANT.
FOR MARE PARSECUCION SAL BE yAN,
yAN EVER WAS SYTHEN yE WORLD BYGAN.
ANTICRIST ES, yOS MYKEL AT SAY,
ALS HE yAT ES OGAYN CRIST AY.
yAN MAY ILK MAN BE CALD BY SKILLE
ANTICRIST yAT DOS OGAYN GODDES WILLE.
yAN MAY ALLE yAS ANTICRISTES BE CALDE,
yAT OGAYNES GODDES LAGHE WILL HALDE.
BOT MAUNeY SWILK MEN MAY WELE KNAWE
yAT MYKEL DUS OGAYNS GODDES LAWE.
BOT ANTICRIST, ALS SAYS HALY WRIT,
SAL COM AT yE LAST, yAT COM NOGHT YHITT,
ALS MAST TYRAUNT WITH-OUTEN PYTE,
yAT EVER WAS OR EVER SAL BE.
WHARFOR I HALD yIR GRET MYSDOERS
ALS ANTICRIST LYMS AND HIS FORGANGERS.
NOW WHA-SWA WILLE A WHYLE DUELLE
APARTY HERE I WILLE HYM TELLE
OF yE MANER OF ANTICRIST BYGYNNYNG,
AND OF HIS LIF AND OF HYS ENDYNG.
HE SAL BE GETEN, ALS CLERKES SHEW CAN,
BYTWEN A SYNFUL MAN AND A WOMAN,
AND AFTIR yAT HE CONSAYVED SAL BE
yE FENDE SAL ENTRE, THURGH HIS POUSTE,
WITH-IN HIS MODER WAMBE SONE;
yUS, SAIS A GRETE CLERKE, SAL BE DONE
THURGH WAS MYGHT HE SAL BE FORTH-BROGHT;
AND WONDERS THURGH HYM SAL BE WROGHT.
HE SAL BE CALD yE CHILD yAT ES LORN;
AND IN COROZAYM HE SAL BE BORN
OF A WOMAN OF yE KYNRED OF SAN;
BOT CRISTENDOME SAL HE HAVE NAN.
114
HE SAL BE MALICIOUSE AND FUL OF ENVY,
ALS OF HYM yUS SPEKES yE PROPHECY:
FIAT DAN COLUBER IN VIA, CERASTES
IN SEMITA, MORDENS UNGULAS EQUI,
UT CADAT ASCENSOR EIUS RETRO, HOC EST UANTICRISTUSe SICUT
SERPENS, IN VIA SEDEBIT, ET IN SEMITA ERIT,
UT EOS, QUI PER SEMITAM IUSTICIE AMBU-
LANT, FERIAT ET VENENO SUE MALICIE OCCIDAT.
"yE DAN" HE SAYS "SAL yE NEDDER BE
SITAND IN yE WAY ALS MEN SAL SE;
AND SAL BYTE yE HORS BY yE HUFE HARDE,
AND MAK yE UPSTEGHER FAL BAKWARDE:
AND yAT ES yUS MYKEL AT SAY,
ALS ANTICRIST, ALS NEDDER, SAL SIT IN yE WAY,
AND SMYTE yAM ALLE, BATHE MARE AND LES,
yAT WALKES IN yE WAY OF RIGHTWYSNES,
AND SLA yAM THURGH yE VENYM
OF yE MALICE yAT SAL CUM OF HYM."
YHIT SAL HE BE CIRCUMCID
AND THURGH yAT HIS MALICE A WHYLE SAL HID.
ALSWA TIL HYM SAL ASSYGNED BE
A GUDE ANGELLE, yAT HE SAL NOGHT SE,
AFTIR HIS BIRTHE IN HIS BYGYNNYNG,
yAT OF HIM SAL HAF yE KEPYNG,
BOT FOR HE AGAYN yE TROUTHE yAT ES,
SAL BE HARDEND IN WIKKEDNES
HIS GUDE ANGELLE SAL FRA HYM WENDE,
AND LEVE HYM IN yE KEPYNG OF yE FENDE.
HE SAL BE LERED, ALS I UNDERSTAND,
AND NURIST AND MAST CONVERSAND
IN yE CITE OF BETHSAYDA;
IN CAPHARNAUM HE SAL REGNE ALSWA
yE WHILK BETHSAYDA, AND CAPHARNAUM,
AND COROZAYM GOD WERIED WHILOM;
FOR GOD SPAK TIL yAS THRE CITES yOS,
ALS yE GODSPELLE HERE SHEWES US:
115
VE TIBI COROZAYIN] VE TIBI BETHSAYDA]
VE TIBI CAPHARNAUM]
HE SAYS, "WA TIL yE COROZAYM MOT CUM
AND TIL yE BETHSAYDA AND CAPHARNAUM."
FOR yUS IN yE FIRST HE SAL BE BORN AND BREDDE,
AND IN yE SECUNDE BE NURYST, AND REGNE IN yE THREDDE.
HE SAL GADER FAST TIL HYM yAN
ALLE yAT OF yE DEVELS CRAFTE CAN,
ALS NEGREMANCIENS AND TREGETTOURS,
WICHES AND FALSE ENCHAUNTOURS,
yAT yE DEVELS CRAFTE SAL HYM KEN
WHAR-THURGH HE SAL DECAYVE yE MEN.
AFTERWARDE THURGH LEDYNG OF yE FENDE
HE SAL EVEN TO IERUSALEM WENDE;
AND yAR SAL HE DUELLE IN yAT CITE
AND IN MYDDES yE TEMPLE MAKE HIS SE,
AND SAY TIL ALLE yAT yAR SAL WON,
yAT HE ES CRIST, GODDES SON,
AND MAK yE FOLK HYM TO HONOUR;
AND SAL SAY yAT HE ES yAIR SAVEOUR.
HE SAL SAY yAT NA RIGHT CRISTEN MAN
WAS NEVER BYFOR HIS TYM BYGAN,
BOT FALS ANTICRISTES HE SAL yAM CALLE;
AND SAY yAI LYVED IN FALS TROWTHE ALLE
yAT HAS BENE FRA yE WORLDES BYGYNNYNG
UNTIL yE TYME OF HIS COMMYNG.
HE SAL BE LUSTY AND LYCHEROUS,
AND DESAYVABEL AND TRECHEROUS;
HE SAL HYM FEYN FIRST ALS HALY,
AND SHEW yAN APPERT YPOCRUISeY,
TO DESAYVE CRISTEN MEN AND LELE
ALS SAYS yE PROPHET DANIELLE:
IN APERTO TUM PER YPOCRISYM SIMULABIT
SANCTITATEM, UT FACILIUS DECIPERE POSSIT.
"FIRST" HE SAYS "HE SAL APERTELY
FEYN HALYNES THURGH YPOCRISY,
yAT HE MUGHT LIGHTLYER MEN BYGILE."
BOT yAT TIME SAL LAST BOT A WHILE,
116
HE SAL AL KYNGES AND PRINCES TIL HYM DRAWE
AND TURNE yAM ALLE TIL HIS LAWE;
AND THURGH yAM yE POPLES SAL TURNED BE
OF ILKA LAND AND ILKA CUNTRE.
IN ALLE STEDES HE SAL WALK AND PAS,
yAR CRIST WELK WHEN HE IN ERTHE WAS.
IN SWYLK A PRESUMPCION HE SAL FALLE
yAT HE SAL THYNK HYM LOVERD OF ALLE.
THURGH PRIDE HE SAL OGAYN GOD RYSE
AND HYM SCLAUNDER AND HIS LAW DISPISE,
AND AFFORCE HYM AND BE BYSY,
HIS LAGHE TO CHAUNGE AND FORDO HALY;
HE SAL TURNE AL POPLES TO HIS LAWE,
AND TIL HIM ON FOUR MANERS yAM DRAWE.
A MANERE SAL BE, THURGH FALS PRECHYNG
ANOTHER THURGH FALS MIRACLES SHEWYNG,
yE THRED THURGH LARGE GYFTES TO GYFE,
AND yE FERTHE THURGH DREDE OF TURMENTIS GRIEFE.
THURGH FALS PRECHYNG IN ILK CUNTRE
MANY TIL HYM SAL TURNED BE.
FOR HE SAL SEND THURGH ALLE yE WORLD WYDE
HIS PRECHOURS TO PRECHE ON ILKA SIDE,
yE QWILK SAL PRECHE UNDIR FALS COLOUR,
AND SAY CRISTES LAWE ES NOT BOT ERROUR;
AND ANTICRISTES LAWE yAI SAL COMEND
AND AGAYN SUTHFASTNES IT DEFEND,
AND FORBEDE ILK MAN yAT yAI NOGHT HALDE
yE NEW LAWE, yAT ES CRISTES LAWE CALDE,
AND HIS MINISTRES SAL SWA LETTE YHIT
yAT NA MAN SAL EXPOUND HALY WRIT,
yAT ES TO SAY, TO RIGHT UNDIRSTANDYNG.
FOR yAI SAL SAY IT ES BOT LESYNG,
AND MAKE yE POPLE TO TROW HALY
yAT yAI SAL NOGHT BE SAVED yARBY.
yUS SAL yAI BRING yE FOLK IN ERROUR
THURGH yAIR PRECHYNG WITH FALSE COLOUR,
SWA HIS LAWES SAL PAS AND HIS POWERE
FRA yE EST SYDE TIL yE WEST, THURGH yE WORLD HERE;
117
AND FRA yE SOUTHE TIL yE NORTH, ALSWA
HIS LAWES AND HIS POWER SAL GA.
HE SAL TURNE MEN ON ANOTHER MANERE
THURGH FALS MIRACLES AND WONDERS SERE;
FOR HE SAL yAN SHEW WONDERS MANY
THURGH ENCHAUNTEMENTES AND NYGROMAUNeCY.
SWA GRETELY, yAT yE POPLE SAL SE,
AND yAT THURGH MYGHT OF yE DEVEL SAL BE,
OF WHILK WONDIRS I SAL TEL YHOU SUM,
HE SAL DO FIRE FRA yE HEVEN DON COM,
AND yAT SAL BE NOGHT BOT AN ILLE SPIRIT,
yAT OUT OF yE AYRE SAL COM DOUN TITE,
AND OMANG HIS DISCIPLES DON LIGHT,
AND WITH SERE TUNGES TIL yAM SPEK RYGHT,
ALS DYD TIL yE APOSTELS yE HALY GAST
AND yAT SAL BE IN MENS SIGHT MAST,
FOR yA yAT HIS DISCIPLES SAL BE CALD
SAL yAM AVANT, AND yAM SELF HALD
BETTER OF LIF AND TO GOD MARE DERE,
yAN EVER WAR CRISTES APPOSTELS HERE.
ALSWA THURGH yE DEVELS CRAFTE AND MYGHT,
HE SAL FEYN HIM DED TIL MENS SYGHT,
AND ON yE THRED DAY THURGH yE DEVELS REDE
HE SAL FEYN HYM TO RYSE FRA DEDE,
AND DEVELS AFTIR SAL BERE HYM UP EVEN
IN-TIL yE AYRE ALS HE SULD STEY TO HEVEN;
AND ALS HE BYFOR SAL BE SENE,
ALS HE FRA DEDE RASE, MEN SAL WENE
yAT HE ES TIL HEVEN RAVYST,
AND TROW yAN yAT HE ES VERRAY CRIST.
yUS SAL ANTICRIST yAN COUNTREFETTE
yE WONDIRS OF GOD IN ERTHE SWA GRETE;
MA WONDIRS YHIT WIRK SAL HE
yAT yE POPLE SAL OPENLY SE.
HE SAL DO TRESE GROWE AND FLORISSHE FAYRE
AND CHACE yE WYNDES ABOUT AND yE AYRE.
FRA HEVEN HE SAL DO FALLE RAYNE-SHOURS
AND MAK WATERS TO RYN OGAYN yAIR COURS.
118
HE SAL TROBEL yE SE WHEN HE WILLE,
AND PEES IT AND MAKE IT BE STILLE.
HE SAL CHAUNG ON WONDER MANERE
DIVERS KYNDES IN FIGURES SERE.
HE SAL DO DEDE YMAGES AND DOME
SPEKE OF THYNGES yAT ER TO COME.
HE SAL ALSWA DEDE MEN UPRAYS,
yAT SAL GANG OBOUT, ALS yE BOKE SAYS,
AND yAT SAL BE THURGH yE DEVELS QUAYNTIS,
FOR DEVELS SAL ENTRE IN-TIL yE DEDE BODYS
AND BERE yA DEDE BODYS OBOUT,
SWA yAT PARFIT MEN SAL BE IN DOUT
WHETHER HE ES VERRAY CRIST OR NOGHT,
AND yUS SAL MEN BE IN ERROUR BROGHT.
ON yE THRED MANER HE SAL BYGILLE
MANY THURGH GYFTES WITHIN SHORT WHYLE,
AND TURNE yAM TIL A FALS BELYEFE
THURGH LARGE GYFTES yAT HE yAM SAL GYFE.
FOR HE SAL FYNDE ALLE yE TRESOUR
yAT ES, OR WAS EVER HIDDE BYFOR
UNDER ERTHE, OR OURWAR ELLES
yAT MAY NOGHT BE GESCED; FOR SUM TELLES
yAT MAR TRESOR UNDER ERTHE ES HIDDE
yAN OBOVEN ES KNAWEN OR KYDDE;
OF WHILK HE SAL yAM ALLE RYCHE MAKE,
yAT yE LAWE OF CRISTE HERE WILLE FORSAKE.
yOS SAL HE SHEW MEN WELTH WORLDLY
FOR TO DESAYVE yAM yAN yARBY.
OF yE FERTHE MANER AFTIR yAN
HE SAL TURNE TIL HYM MANY A MAN;
AND DO yAM HALY FOLOWE HIS TRACE
THUUReGH GRETE TOURMENTES AND MANACE,
AND THURGH DREDE OF DEDE yAT MAST MAY GREFE,
FOR ELLES HE SAL NOGHT THOLE yAM LYEFE.
FUL GRETE TRIBULACIONS HE SAL yAM SHEWE,
ALS GOD IN yE GODSPELLE SAY IS THURGH MATHEWE:
TANTA ERIT TRIBULACIO, UT IN ERROREM
INDUCANTUR, SI FIERI POTEST, ECIAM ELECTI.
119
HE SAYS "MIKEL TRIBULACION
SAL BE yAN TIL ILKA NACION,"
THURGH OUT yE WORLD, FERRE AND NERE,
"yAT yAS yAT GOD HAS CHOSEN HERE
SULD BE BROGHT IN ERROR SONE
IF GOD WILD SUFFRE yAT IT WARRE DONE."
BOT IN yE APPOCALIPSE APPARTY
ES SAYD yUS FUL MISTYLY,
PEDES EIUS SUNT SIMULES AURICALCO,
SICUT IN CAMINO ARDENTE.
HE SAYS "HIS FETE ER LIKE LATOUN BRIGHT
ALS IN A CHYMNE BRYNNAND LIGHT."
AND yIS WAS yAT IOHAN SAW IN A VISION
OF HYM yAT SEMED yE VIRGYN SON.
BY HIS FETE yAT ALS LATOUN WAS SEMAND
CRIST LAST LYMS MEN MAY UNDIRSTAND,
yE WHILK SAL BE PARFITE MEN IN CHARITE
yAT AGAYNE yE WORLDES ENDE MARTIRD SAL BE,
yAT ES TO SAY, IN TYM OF ANTICRIST,
THURGH WHAM MANY SAULES SAL BE PERIST.
yE CHIMNE, BRINAND WITH yE HET,
BYTAKENS yE TRIBULACION GRET.
yAT SAL BE WHEN ANTICRIST SAL COME,
THURGH WHAM MANY SAL THOLE GRETE MARTERDOME.
ANTICRIST SAL BE yE MAST TYRAUNT
yAT EVER WAS; FOR HE SAL HAUNT
ALLE yE MANERS OF TURMENTES KENE
IN WHILK ANY MARTIRS BYFOR HAS BENE;
FOR ON SERE MANERS HE SAL yAM TURMENT
yAT WILLE NOGHT TIL HIS LAW ASSENT;
AND PUT ALLE yA TO yE DEDE AT yE LAST
yAT AY DUELS IN yE TROUTHE STEDFAST.
BOT ALLE CRISTEN MEN IN yAT CUNTRE
yAR CRIST WELK, MAST TOURMENTED SAL BE.
AND HAYMO SAYS, yAT A GRETE CLERK WAS,
HYS TYRAUNTRY THURGH yE WORLD SAL PAS.
yE DEVELS yAT ER NOW BUNDEN SWA,
yAT yAI MAY NOGHT ABOUT FLEGH NE GA,
120
NE NUYE ALS MYKEL ALS yAI WALDE,
SAL yAN BE LOUSE AND NATHYNG yAM HALDE.
yAT TYME SAL PRECHE NA CRESTEN MAN,
FOR yAI SAL BE HALDEN ALS CURSED yAN;
NE NAN SAL BYE WITH yAM NE SELLE,
NE FELAGHSHEPE HALD WITH yAM NE DUELLE,
BOT WITH yAS yAT HAD CRISTE FORSAKEN
AND yE MERK OF ANTICRIST HAD TAKEN,
yAT MEN MUGHT KNAWE AND UNDERSTAND
yAT yAI TIL ANTICRIST WAR ASSENTAND.
FOR AL yAS MEN SAL BERE HIS MERK,
yAT SAL FORSAKE TO WIRK CRISTES WERK,
AND SAL FOLOWE ANTICRISTES LAWE,
BY HIS MERK MEN SAL yAM KNAWE,
yE WHILK yAI SAL BER, ALS I UNDERSTANDE,
OUTHER IN yE FROUNT OR IN yE RYGHT HANDE.
BOT OTHER yAT WILLE NOGHT DO HIS REDE
SAL BE DONE TO VILANS DEDE.
ON yIS FOUR MANERS, ALS I HAF SHEWED,
HE SAL DRAWE TIL HYM BATHE LERED AND LEWED,
AND CRYSTEN LAW SAL BE DOUN LAYDE,
yARFOR yUS IN APPOCALIPS ES SAYDE:
CAUDA EIUS TERTIAM PARTEM STELLARUM
CELI TRAHEBAT, ET MISIT EAS IN TERRA.
HE SAYS, "WITH HIS TAYLE HE DROGHE DON EVEN
yE THRED PART OF yE STERNES OF HEVEN,
AND INTO yE ERTHE SENT yAM RYGHT,"
yAR yAI MUGHT NOGHT SHYNE NE GYF LYGHT.
yIS WAS yE TAILLE OF yE DRAGON
yAT SAYNT JOHAN SAW IN A VISION.
yE DRAGON ES UNDERSTANDEN yE FENDE
AND HIS TAILLE ANTICRIST yAT FOLOWED AT yE ENDE
AND yE THRED PART OF yE STERNES BRIGHT
ER CRISTEN MEN UNDIRSTANDEN RIGHT,
yE WHILK HE SAL FRA RIGHT TROWTHE DRAW,
AND DO yAM IN ERTHE TO HALD HIS LAW.
yE MEN OF yE WORLDE yAT ER COVAYTOUS
HE SAL TURNE THURGH GYFTES PRECIOUS,
121
FOR HE SAL GYF yAM, yAT TURNED WIL BE,
OF GOLD AND SILVER GRETE PLENTE.
ALSWA MEN OF SYMPLE CONNYNG
HE SAL TURNE THURGH MIRACLES AND PRECHYNG.
GUDE MEN, yAT HALDES GODDES COMMANDMENTES,
HE SAL TURNE THURGH MANACE AND TURMENTES.
MANY yAT SEMES GUDE AND RIGHTWYSE
SAL TROW IN HYM, AND CRYSTES TROUTH DESPYSE.
FIRST SAL ANTICRIST COM IN MYLDNES
AND PRECH OGAYN yE RIGHT TROUTH yAT ES,
AND MYRACLES SAL THURGH HYM BE DONE;
yAN SAL yE IEWES RESAYVE HYM SONE
AND BE TURNED TIL HYM AL HALY.
AND yAT TYME SAL COM ENNOC AND ELY
OGAYN ANTICRIST TO PRECHE FUL HARDE,
ALS YHE MAY SE AND HERE AFTERWARDE.
yAN SAL ANTICRIST BYGYN FELLY
TO PURSUE MEN THURGH TYRAUNTRY,
GRET PARSECUCION yAN SAL HE WYRK
AGAYN CRISTEN MEN AND HALY KIRK,
yAN SAL HE DESTROYE CRISTEN LAWE,
AND GOG AND MAGOG TIL HYM DRAWE,
yE WHILK ER HALDEN, ALS MEN TELLES,
yE WERST FOLK yAT IN yE WORLD DUELS.
SOM SAYS yAT yAI ER CLOSED HALY
BY-YHONDE yE MOUNTES OF CASPY;
BOT yAI ER NOGHT SWA CLOSED OBOUT
yAT yAI NE MUGHT LIGHTLY COM OUT,
YIF A QWENE NE WAR, yAT HALDES yAM IN,
THURGH STREUNeGTHE, yAT yAI MAY NOGHT OUT WYN,
yAT ES CALD yE QWENE OF AMAZONS,
UNDER WHAS POWERE yAT FOLK WONS,
BOT AT yE LAST yAI SAL BREKE OUT
AND DESTROY MANY LANDES OBOUT.
FOR yE IEWES HAS SWYLK A PROPHECY
AND SAYS yUS OMANG yAM COMMONLY,
yAT yIS FOLK OGAYNE yE WORLDES ENDE
SAL COM OUT, AND TIL IERUSALEM WENDE
122
WITH yAIR CRIST, yAT WONDERS SAL WIRKE,
AND yAN SAL yAI DISTROIE HALY KYRKE.
SOME CLERKES SAYS, ALS yE GLOSE TELLES,
yAT GOG AND MAGOG ES NOGHT ELLES
BOT yE HOST OF ONTICRIST UyATe SAL COME
SODANLY OGAYN yE DAY OF DOME,
AND OGAYNE HALY KYRK WERRAY
FOR TO DISTROYE IT IF yAI MAY.
yE GLOSE OF yE BUKE SAYS ALSWA
yAT BY GOG ER UNDERSTANDEN ALLE yA
THURGH WHILK yE DEVEL, OUR MAST ENEMY,
SAL CRISTEN MEN PURSUE PRIVELY.
BY MAGOG MAY yAS UNDERSTANDEN BE
THURGH WHAM OPENLY PURSUE SAL HE,
OR yAS ER UNDERSTANDEN yAR-BY,
yAT IN ANTICRIST TYME FIRST PRYVELY
AND AFTIRWARD OPENLY, SAL WYRK
WYKKEDNESS OGAYNE HALY KYRK.
GOG ES ALS MYKEL AT SAY, ALS COVERT,
AND MAGOG ES NOGHT ELLES BOT ALS APERT.
yIR TWA PROPHETES, ALS SAYS SOM,
ENNOK AND HELY BYFOR SAL COM,
BYTWENE yE TYME OF yE COMMYNG PRIVE
OF ANTICRIST, WHEN HE SAL BORN BE,
AND yE TYME OF HIS OPPEN COMMYNG,
yAT SAL BE THURGH OPEN PRECHYNG
AND THURGH OPEN PARSECUCION,
yAT HE SAL DO TIL DIVERSE NACION.
BYTWEN yA TYMES yA PROPHETES TWA
ON SERE PARTES SAL PRECHE SWA,
yAT THURGH yAIR PRECHYNG yAI SAL DRAWE
AND CONVERT yE IEWES TIL CRISTEN LAWE,
FOR yUS SPEKES yE PROPHETE MALACHY,
IN A BOKE OF yE PROPHECY:
CONVERTENT CORDA PATRUM
IN FILIOS.
HE SAYS "yAI SAL TURNE THURGH GODDES MYGHT
yE FADIRS HERTES INTIL yE SONS RIGHT."
123
yAT ES, yAI SAL TURNE yE IEWERY
UNTIL RIGHT CRISTENDOM HALELY.
yAN SAL IEWES yE SAM LAWE HALDE,
yAT yAI HAF, yAT ER CRISTEN MEN CALDE
AND ALS CRISTEN MEN DUS SWA SAL yAI DO,
ALS yE GLOSE SAYS yAT ACORDES yAR-TO:
PERCIPIENT FIDEM QUAM
IPSI HABUERUNT.
"yE IEWES SAL TAK yAN WITH HERT GLADE
yE TROUTH yAT CRISTEN MEN BYFOR HADDE."
WHARFOR yE IEWES AND CRISTEN MEN,
ALS yA TWA PROPHETES SAL yAM KEN,
SAL yAN THURGH EVEN ENTENCION
ASSENT IN CRIST ALS A RELIGION.
yAI SAL PRECHE ALS yE APPOCALIPS SAYS,
A THOUSAND AND TWA HUNDRETH DAYS
AND SEXTI, ALS MEN SAL SE AND HERE.
AND ALS yE GLOSE SAYS; yAT ES, THRE YHERE,
ALS CRIST HIM-SELF DID yAT VOCHED SAFE
TO PRECHE yE SAM LAW yAT WE HAFE.
yAI SAL BE ALS yE APPOCALIPS SPEKES,
IN HARDE HAYRES CLENDE AND IN SEKKES;
yAT ES yAI SAL yAN PENANCE PRECHE
AND THURGH ENSAUMPLE OF PENANCE TECHE,
BOT ALS TITE ALS ANTICRIST SAL KNAWE
yAT yAI TURNE IEWES TIL CRISTEN LAWE
THURGH ENSAUMPLE yAT yAI SHEW, AND SARMON,
yAN SAL HE SHEW GRETE PARSECUCION
AND GREVUSLY yAM TOURMENT,
yAT TIL HIS LAW WILLE NOGHT ASSENT,
AND DO yAM TO HARD DEDE AT yE LAST,
YF yAI IN yE TROUTHE BE STEDFAST.
ANTICRIST SAL BE yAN FUL WRATHE,
HE SAL DO TAK yA PROPHETES BATHE
AND IN IERUSALEM, THURGH yE DEVELS REDE,
HASTYLY DO yAM BATHE TO DEDE.
124
yAN SAL yAIR BODYS, ALS yE BUKE SAYS,
IN yE STRETES LIGG STILLE THRE DAYS
AND AN HALF, OBOVEN ERTHE NAMLY,
FOR NA MAN SAL yAM DUR BIRY,
FOR DREDE yAT yAI SAL HAF yAN
OF ANTICRIST, yAT WIKKED MAN.
yAIR ENEMYS WHEN yAI ER SLAYN
OF yAIR DEDE yAI SAL BE FAYN.
WHEN yAI HAF LIGGEN DEDE ON yIS WYSE
THRE DAYS AND AN HALF, yAI SAL RYSE,
AND yAN yAIR ENMYS A VOCE SAL HERE
UNTIL yAM SPEK, ON yIS MANERE:
'ELY AND ENNOK STEYES UP BATHE,
FOR YHE ER PASSED AL MANER OF WATHE.'
AND ALS TYTE, WHEN yAI HAF HERD yIS STEVEN,
IN A CLOUDE yAI SAL STEY UP TIL HEVEN,
yAT ALLE yE POPLE yAN SAL SE.
A GRETE WONDRE TYL yAM yAT SAL BE.
AFTIR yAIR DEDE, ALS yE BUKE SAYS,
ANTICRIST SAL REGNE, YHIT FIFTEN DAYS,
yAN SAL HE TURNE ALLE TIL HYM HALY
yAT WAR TURNED TIL ENNOK AND HELY;
AND ALLE, yAT TIL HYM WILLE NOGHT TROW yAN,
SAL yAN BE DON TIL yE DEDE, ILK MAN.
ANTICRIST, IN HIS GRETE TYRANTRY,
SAL REGNE THRE YHERE AND AN HALF FULLY;
yAN SAL GOD ABREGE HIS DAYS,
ALS MATHEW IN yE GODSPEL SAYS:
NISI BREVIATI FINISSENT DIES, NON
ERIT SALVA OMNIS CARO.
"BOT HIS DAYS WAR ABREGED," SAYS HE,
"FONE MEN FRA yAN SAL SAVE BE."
BOT HIS TYME GOD ABREGE SAL yAN.
TIL yIS, SAYS SAYNT GREGORE yE HALY MA
QUIA NOS INFIRMOS ASPICIT DEUS, DIES
MALOS QUOS SINGULARITER INTULIT, MISERICORDITER BREVIABIT.
HE SAYS "FOR-yI, yAT GOD SESE RIGHT
yAT WE ER FREYLE AND FEBLE OF MYGHT,
125
yE DAYS yAT ER ILLE AND HEVY,
yAT ER PUTTED TIL SERE MEN SINGULERLY,
YHIT, AT yE LAST, ABREGE SAL HE,
THURGH HIS GUDENES AND HIS PYTE."
ANTICRIST SAL BE WITH-OUTEN PERE,
AND HE SAL LYF TWA AND THRETTY YHERE
AND AN HALF, ALS SOM CLERKES SAYS yAI SE;
OF SWA MANY YHERE HIS ELD SAL BE
FRA yE TYME OF HIS FIRST BYGYNNYNG,
UNTIL yE TYME OF HIS LAST ENDYNG.
FOR SUM SAYS HE SAL LYF ALS MANY YHERE
ALS CRIST LIFED, IN MANSKYND HERE,
AND WHEN HE HAS yUS LANG LYFED,
yAN SAL NA MA THURGH HIM BY GREVED.
HE SAL yAN SON FELE GODDES VENGEANCE
AND WITH-OUTEN ANY REPENTANCE,
HE SAL BE SLAYN, FUL SODANLY,
THURGH yE MYGHT OF GOD ALMYGHTY,
OPON yE MOUNTE OF OLYVETT,
IN yE STEDE WHAR CRIST HIS FETE SETT,
WHEN HE STEY UP TIL HEVEN BRIGHT,
AND SWA SAL HE ENDE THURGH GODDES MIGHT.
SOM CLERKES YHIT SAYS ALSWA,
yAT SAYNT MICHAEL SAL HYM SLA,
THURGH GODDES BYDDYNG IN yE SAME STEDE,
IN yE WHILK HE SAL BE FUNDEN DEDE.
AND yE BOKE SAYS, ALSWA, yAT HE,
THURGH yE GAST OF GODDES MOUTHE SLAYN SAL BE.
BOT HOW SWA IT BE yIS ES CERTAYN,
THURGH GODDES MYGHT yAR SAL HE BE SLAYN.
ANTICRIST MYNISTERS, WHEN HE ES DEDE,
SAL MAK IOY yAN IN ILKA STEDE,
AND HAF yAIR DELICES NYGHT AND DAY,
AND WEDDEN WYFES, AND yUS SAY:
'ALLE-IF OUR PRINCE BE DEDE yUS
WE HAF PEES AND WELTHE PLENTEUUS,'
AND RIGHT ALS yAI SAL SAY yUS ALLE
SODANLY DED yAI SAL DOUN FALLE,
126
THURGH yE MYGHT OF GOD ALMYGHTY,
yUS SAL yAI ENDEN SODANLY.
BOT YHIT WHEN yAI ALLE ER yUS FORDONE,
yE GRETE DOME SAL NOGHT BE AFTIR ALSONE.
FOR yE GLOSE OF DANYEL yUS SAYS:
"GOD SAL GRAUNT FYVE AND FOURTY DAYS
TIL ALLE yAS yAT DESAYVED SAL BE,
THURGH ANTICRIST AND HIS MEYNE,"
yAT yAI MAY AMENDE yAM OF yAIR SYN,
AND DO PENANCE, AR yE DOME BYGYN."
yE IEWES SAL yAN AL TURNED BE
TIL yAT RIGHT TROUTHE, yE WHILK HAF WE
yAN SAL GOD FULFILLE IN yE LAST DAYS,
yIS WORDE yAT HE IN yE GODSPEL SAYS,
ET FIET UNUM OVILE
ET UNUS PASTOR.
HE SAIS "ALLE FOLKES TO FALD SAL FALLE,
AND A HIRDE SAL BE TO KEPE yAM ALLE."
yAT FOLK IEWES AND CRISTEN MEN SAL BE TALDE
UNDER A TROUTHE IN HALY KIRKES FALDE;
FRA yAT TYME FORTHE SAL HALI KIRKE BE
IN PEES AND REST WITH-OUTEN ADVERSITE.
FOR yAN SAL FAILE ALLE POWER OF yE FENDE,
FRA yAT TYME UNTO yE WORLDES ENDE,
SWA yAT HE SAL NOTHER TEMPTE NE GRYEFE
HALY KIRK, NE MAN yAT yAN SAL LYEFE.
BOT HOW MIKEL SPACE SAL BE FRA yAN
TIL yE DAY OF DOME, WATE NA MAN;
FOR OF AL yE PROPHETES, yAT MEN MAY NEVEN,
AND ALLE yE HALGHES, AND ANGELS IN HEVEN,
MUGHT NEVER NANE WITT yAT PRIVITE,
WHAT TYME yE DAY OF DOME SAL BE;
FOR GOD WILLE yAT NANE IT BYFOR WYTTE,
BOT HIM-SELF yAT HAS ORDAYNT ITTE;
yARFOR CRIST TIL HIS DISCIPLES SAYDE yUS,
ALS yE BOKE OF APOSTELS WERKES SHEWES US:
NON EST VESTRUM NOSSE TEMPORA VEL MOMENTA
QUE PATER POSSUIT IN SUA POTESTATE.
127
"IT FALLES NOGHT YHOW KNAW yE TIME PRIVE
yAT yE FADIR HAS SETTE IN HIS AWEN POUSTE,"
yARFOR NA MAN SULD ASKE, NE SAY
HOW MYKEL WE HAFE TIL DOMES DAY;
NE WE SULD NOGHT YHERNE IT TO LERE,
NE WITTE WETHER IT BE FERRE OR NERE.
BOT WE SULD MAK US REDY ALLE,
ALS yE DAY OF DOME TO MORN SULD FALLE,
AND THYNK AY ON yAT DREDE-FUL DOME,
ALS yE HALY MAN DYD, SAYNT IEROME.
yAT AY yAR-ON THOGHT, BATHE NYGHT AND DAYS,
AND yARFOR yUS IN A BOKE HE SAYS:
SINE COMEDAM, SINE BIBAM, SINE ALIQUID
ALIUD FACIAM, SEMPER MICHI VIDETUR ILLA
TUBA RESONARE IN AURIBUS MEIS, 'SUR-
GITE MORTUI, VENITE AD IUDICIUM.'
HE SAYS "WHETHER I ETTE OR I DRYNK,
OR OGHT ELLES DO, AY ME THYNK
yAT yE BEME yAT BLAW SAL ON DOMSDAY,
SOUNES IN MYN ERES, yAT yUS SAYS AY:
'RYSE YHE yAT ER DEDE, AND COME
UN-TO yE GRETE DREDFUL DOME'."
NOW HAF YHE HERD OF yE BYGYNNYNG
OF ANTICRIST, AND OF HIS LIF AND HIS ENDYNG,
yAT MEN MAY A WERRAY TAKEN CALLE,
yAT AGAYNE yE DAY OF DOME SAL FALLE.
MANY MA TAKENS YHIT MEN SAL SE,
BYFOR AR yAT DREFUL DAY SAL BE,
BATHE IN ERTHE AND YHIT IN HEVEN,
ALS WE HERE CRIST IN yE GOSPELLE NEVEN,
WHARE HE SPEKES OF TAKENS SERE
yAT SAL FALLE, AND SAYS ON yIS MANERE:
ERUNT SIGNA IN SOLE, ET LUNA, ET STELLIS;
ET IN TERRIS PRESSURA GENCIUM PRE CONFUSI-
IONE SONITUS MARIS ET FLUCTUUM, ARESCEN-
TIBUS HOMINIBUS PRE TIMORE ET EXPECTACIONE, QUE
SUPERVENIENT UNIVERSO ORBI. NAM VIRTUTES
128
CELORUM MOVEBUNTUR, ET TUNC VIDEBUNT
FILIUM HOMINIS VENIENTEM IN NUBIBUS,
CUM POTESTATE MAGNA ET MAIESTATE {!}C.
yIR ER yE WORDES OF yE GOSPELLE,
yAT CRIST TIL HIS DISCIPLES GUN TELLE.
HE SAYS yUS ALS HE ORDAYND BE DONE:
"TAKENS SAL BE IN yE SON AND IN yE MONE,
AND IN yE STERNES yAT IN HEVEN MEN MAY KEN,
AND IN ERTHE SAL BE GRETE THRANG OF MEN,
FOR yE MENGYNG OF yE NOYS OF yE SE
OF yE FLODES, yAT yAN SAL BE;
AND MEN SAL WAX DRY IN yAT DYN
FOR DREDE AND FOR LANG BYDYNG yAR-IN,
yAT TIL AL yE WORLD SAL COM" SAYS HE,
FOR yE MYGHTES OF HEVEN SAL yAN STYRD BE,
AND yAI SAL SE yE SON OF MAN
COMAND DOUN IN CLOUDES yAN,
WITH HIS GRETE MYGHT AND MAGESTE,"
AND yAT TYME SAL yE GRETE DOME BE.
yIR TAKENS ER TALD AFTIR yE LETTRE HERE,
BOT yE EXPOSICION MAY BE ON OTHIR MANERE.
ALSWA GOD, yAT ALLE THYNGES KNAWES WELE,
HE SAYS yUS THURGH yE PROPHETE IOELE:
ET DABO PRODIGIA IN CELO SURSUM, ET SIGNA
IN TERRA DEORSUM, SANGUINEM ET IGNEM ET
VAPOREM FUMI; SOL CONVERTETUR IN TENEBRAS ETLU-
NA IN SANGUINEM, ANTEQUAM VENIAT DIES DOMINI
MAGNUS ET MANIFESTUS.
HE SAYS "I SAL GYFE WONDERS SERE
UP IN HEVEN, ALS MEN SAL HERE;
AND TAKENS DOUN IN ERTHE ERE-ON TO LUKE,
yAT ES BLODE AND FIRE AND BRETHE OF SMOKE;
yE SON SAL BE TURNED IN-TIL MIRKNES,
AND yE MONE IN-TIL BLODE, AND BE LYGHTLES,
BYFOR OR yE DAY OF OUR LORD SAL FALLE,
yAT SAL BE GRETE AND OPENLY SHEWED TIL ALLE.
yAT GRETE DAY IS yE GRETE DAY OF DOME,
AGAYN WHILK ALLE yIR TAKENS SAL COME;
129
yAN MAY MEN BY SWILK TAKENS WYTTE
yAT IT ES yE MAST DAY yAT EVER WAS YHITTE,
AND yE STRAYTEST AND yE MAST HARDE,
ALS MEN MAY SE AND HERE AFTIRWARDE.
YHIT SPEKES yE HALY MAN SAYNT IEROME
OF FIFTEN TAKENS yAT SAL COME
BYFOR CRISTES COMMYNG, ALS HE SAYS,
yE WHILK SAL FALLE IN XV DAYS;
BOT WHETHER ANY OTHER DAYS SAL FALLE
BYTWEN yA DAYS, OR yAI SAL ALLE
CONTINUELY FALLE, DAY AFTIR DAY,
SAYNT IEROM SAYS, HE CAN NOGHT SAY;
AND YHIT FOR CERTAYN APPROVES NOGHT HE
yAT yA FIFTEN DAYS OF TAKENS SAL BE,
BOT HE REHERCES yA TAKENS FIFTENE
ALS HE yAM FAND, AND WRITEN HAD SENE
IN SOM BOKES OF yE EBRIENS,
yAT yA XV DAYS CONTENS.
BOT SAYNT IEROME SHEWES NOGHT NE TELLES,
yAT HE yAM FAND WRITEN OURWHAR ELLES,
BOT IN yE HEBRIENS BOKES HE yAM FANDE
AND REHERCES yAM, ALS HE SAW yAM STANDE,
ILKA DAY AFTIR OTHER EVEN,
ALS YHE MAY HERE ME NOW NEVEN.
yE FIRST DAY OF yAS FIFTEN DAYS,
yE SE SAL RYSE, ALS yE BUKES SAYS,
ABOWEN yE HEGHT OF ILKA MOUNTAYNE,
FULLY FOURTY CUBYTTES CERTAYNE,
AND IN HIS STEDE EVEN UPSTANDE,
ALS AN HEGHE HILLE DUS ON yE LANDE.
yE SECUNDE DAY, yE SE SAL BE SWA LAW
yAT UNNETHES MEN SAL IT KNAW.
yE THRED DAY, yE SE SAL SEME PLAYN
AND STAND EVEN IN HIS COURS AGAYUNe,
ALS IT STODE FIRST AT yE BYGYNNYNG,
WITH-OUTEN MARE RYSYNG OR FALLYNG.
yE FIERTH DAY, SAL SWILK A WONDER BE,
yE MAST WONDREFUL FISSHES OF yE SE
130
SAL COM TO-GYDER AND MAK SWILK ROMYNG
yAT IT SAL BE HYDUS TIL MANS HERYNG.
BOT WHAT yAT ROMIYNG SAL SIGNIFY,
NA MAN MAY WHIT, BOT GOD ALMYGHTY.
yE FIFT DAY, yE SE SAL BRYNNE
AND ALLE WATTERS ALS yAI SAL RYNNE;
AND yAT SAL LAST FRA yE SON RYSYNG
TIL yE TYME OF yE SON DOUN GANGYNG.
yE SEXT DAY, SAL SPRYNG A BLODY DEWE
ON GRISSE AND TRES, ALS IT SAL SHEWE.
yE SEVEND DAY BYGGYNS DOUN SAL FALLE
AND GRETE CASTELS, AND TOURS WITH-ALLE.
yE EGHT DAY, HARD ROCHES AND STANES
SAL STRIK TOGYDER, ALLE ATTANES.
AN ILKAN OF yAM SAL OTHER DOUN CAST,
AND ILKAN AGAYN OTHER HORTEL FAST,
SWA yAT ILKA STAN, ON DIVERS WYSE,
SAL SONDER OTHER IN THRE PARTYSE.
yE NEGHEND DAY, GRET ERTHEDYN SAL BE,
GENERALY IN ILKA CONTRE;
AND SWA GRET ERTHDYN ALS SAL BE yAN
WAS NEVER HARD, SYTHEN yE WORLD BYGAN.
yE TEND DAY yAR-AFTIR TO NEVEN,
yE ERTHE SAL BE MADE PLAYN AND EVEN,
FOR HILLES AND VALEIS SAL TURNED BE
IN-TIL PLAYN, AND MADE EVEN TO SE.
yE ELLEVEND DAY MEN SAL COM OUT
OF CAVES, AND HOLES AND WEND ABOUT,
ALS WODE MEN, yAT NA WITT CAN;
AND NANE SAL SPEK TIL OTHER yAN.
yE TWELFTE DAY AFTIR, yE STERNES ALLE
AND yE SIGNES FRA yE HEVEN SAL FALLE.
yE THREDEND DAY SAL DEDE MEN BANES
BE SETT TO-GYDER, AND RYSE AL ATTANES,
AND ABOVEN ON yAIR GRAVES STAND;
yIS SAL BYFALLE IN ILKA LAND.
131
yE FOURTEND DAY, AL yAT LYVES yAN
SAL DIGHE, CHILDE, MAN AND WOMAN;
FOR yAI SHALLE WITH yAM RYS OGAYN
yAT BYFOR WAR DEDE, OUTHER TIL IOY OR PAYN.
yE FIFTEND DAY, yOS SAL BETYDE,
ALLE yE WORLD SAL BRYN ON ILK SYDE,
AND yE ERTHE WHAR WE NOW DUELLE,
UNTIL yE UTTER END OF ALLE HELLE.
yUS TELS IEROM yER TAKENS FIFTENE,
ALS HE IN yE BOKES OF EBRIENS HAD SENE.
BOT FOR ALLE yA TAKENS yAT MEN SAL SE,
YHIT SAL NA MAN CERTAYN BE
WHAT TYME CRIST SAL COME TIL yE DOME,
SWA SODANLY HE SAL DOUN COME;
FOR ALS BYFEL IN NOE AND LOTH DAYS,
SWA SAL HE COM, FOR LUKE IN yE GODSPEL SAYS:
ET SICUT FACTUM EST IN DIEBUS NOE, ITA
ERIT ADVENTUS FILII HOMINIS: EDEBANT
ET BIBEBANT, UXORES DUCEBANT ET
DABANTUR AD NUPCIAS, USQUE AD DIEM,
QUA INTRAVIT NOE IN ARCHAM; ET
VENIT DILUVIUM ET PERDIDIT OMNES: SI-
MILITER FACTUM EST IN DIEBUS LOTH, EDE-
BANT ET BIBEBANT, EMEBANT ET VENDEBANT,
PLANTABANT ET EDIFICABANT,
QUA DIE AUTEM EXIIT LOTH A SODOMIS, ET SUBITO
PLUIT IGNEM ET SULPHUR DE CELO, ET PERDIDIT
OMNES; SECUNDUM AUTEM HOC ERIT
QUA DIE FILIUS HOMINIS REVELABITUR.
yIR ER yE WORDES OF yE GODSPELLE,
yAT ES ON INGLISSCHE yUS TO TELLE:
"ALS WAS DONE IN yE DAYS OF NOE,
RIGHT SWA MANS SON SAL COM" SAYS HE,
"MEN ETE AND DRANK yAN AND WAR GLADE,
AND WEDDED WYFES, AND BRIDALLES MADE
UNTIL yE DAY, NAMLY, yAT NOE
WENT IN-TO yE SHIPPE yAT MADE HE,
132
AND SODANLY COME yE FLODE yAT TYDE
AND FORDID ALLE yE WORLD SWA WYDE.
ALSWA IN yE DAYS OF LOTH BYFELLE,
MEN ETE AND DRANK, SHORTLY TO TELLE,
ILKAN WITH OTHER, AND SALDE AND BOGHT,
AND PLANTED, AND BYGGED, AND HOUSES WROGHT,
AND yAT DAY, yAT LOTH YHED OUT OF SODOME,
SODANLY GODDES VENGEANCE COME;
IT RAYNED FIRE FRA HEVEN AND BRUNSTANE,
AND TYNT AL yAT yARE WAS, AND SPARD NANE,
RIGHT yUS SAL FALLE, ALS MEN SAL SE,
yE DAY MAN SON SAL SHEWED BE."
IN yE ENDE OF yE WORLD, BYFOR yE DOME,
AN HYDUS FIRE SAL SODANLY COME,
yAT ALLE yE WORLD SAL HALY BRYN,
AND NATHYNG SPARE yAT ES yAR-IN,
FOR ALLE yE ERTHE SAL BRYN WITH-OUTE
AND yE ELEMENTES, AND ALLE yE AYRE OBOUTE,
AND ALLE yAT GOD IN yE WORLD HAS WROGHT,
SAL yAN BE BRYNNED AND WASTED TO NOGHT.
yIS FIRE yAT THURGH yE WORLD SAL RYSE,
SAL COM yAN FRA SERE PARTYSE;
FOR ALLE yE FIRE yAT ES IN yE SPERE,
AND UNDER ERTHE, AND ABOVEN ERTHE HERE,
SAL METE TOGYDER ATTANS yAN,
AND BRYN ALLE yAT LYVES, BEST AND MAN,
AND ALLE yAT GROWES IN ERTHE AND AYRE,
TILLE ALLE BE CLENSED, AND MADE FAYRE
OF ALLE yE CORRUPCIONS yAT MEN MAY SE,
yE WHILK IN yE AYRE OR IN yE ERTHE MAY BE;
yIS FIRE, ALS yE BUK SAYS ALS LERS,
SAL BRIN AND WIRK ON FOUR MANERES.
IT SAL WIRK ALS yE FIR OF HELLE
TO PUNYSSCHE yE SYNFUL yAT yAR SAL DUELLE
IT SAL WIRK ALS FIRE OF PURGATORY
TO CLENSE MEN OF VENIEL SYN FULLY.
133
IT SAL WIRK ALS FIRE OF HERTH HERE,
yAT OVER ALLE SAL BRYN FAR AND NERE,
TO WAST ALLE yAT ON ERTHE SPRINGES
ALS GRESSE, AND TRES, AND ALLE OTHER THYNGES,
AND ALSWA yE BODYS OF ILK MAN
TO BRIN HALY IN-TO ASKES yAN;
IT SAL WIRK ALS yE FIRE OF yE SPERE,
TO MAKE yE ELEMENTES CLENE AND CLERE
AND ALLE yE AYRE BRIGHT OF HEW,
AND yE HEVENS, FOR TO SERVE ALS NEW.
THURGH yIS FIRE yAT yUS SAL RAYKE OBOUT,
yE FACE OF yE ERTH SAL BRIN WITH-OUT,
AND yE SHAPPE OF yE WORLD SAL FOR-DONE BE
ALS IT WAS FIRST THURGH yE FLODE OF NOE;
AND ALS yAT FLODE PASSED CUBITES FIFTEN
OVER yE HEYGHEST MOUNT, yAT EVER WAS SEN,
RIGHT SWA yE FIRE ALS HEYGHE SAL PAS
TO FORDO yE WORLD ALS IT yAN WAS;
AND ALS GOD BYFOR HIS FIRST COMMYNG
WALD HERE FORDO, WITH-OUTEN LETTYNG,
ALLE yE WORLD THURGH WATER ANLY
AGAYN yE FIRE OF LYCHERY,
RIGHT SWA, BYFOR HIS LAST COMMYNG,
HE SAL OF yE WORLD MAK ENDYNG,
THURGH FIRE yAT SAL SWA BRINNAND BE,
AGAYN yE DASEDNES OF CHARITE.
yE WIRKYNG OF yE FIRE SWA BRINNAND
SAL CONTEND yIR THRE SHORT TYMES PASSAND,
yAT ES BYGYNNYNG, MYDWARD, AND ENDE,
ALS IN yIS BOK ES HERE CONTENDE.
FIRST yE FIRE, AT yE BYGYNNYNG,
SAL CUM BYFOR CRISTES COMMYNG,
yAT yE GUDE MEN SAL yAN CLENSEN AND FINE,
AND yE WIKKED MEN HARD PUNNYS AND PYNE,
yAT HERE LUFFED SYN AND THOGHT IT SWETE,
AND yARFOR SAYS yUS DAVID yE PROPHETE:
IGNIS ANTE IPSUM PRECEDET, ET INFLAMMABIT
INCIRCUITU INIMICOS EIUS.
134
"yE FIR BYFOR HYM, ON SERE PARTYS,
SAL GA AND ABOUT BRINE HIS ENEMYS;"
yAT FIRE MENS BODYS TO ASKES SAL BRIN,
AND yE WORLD AND ALLE yAT ES yAR-INE;
yUS SAL yE FIRE FIRST BYFOR COME,
AR CRIST COM DOUN TIL yE DOME.
AND WHEN yE FIRE HAS WASTED, ALS I TALDE,
yAN SAL AL MEN RYSE, BATHE YHONG AND ALDE,
OUT OF yAIR GRAVES WITH SAUL AND BODY,
AND COME TIL yE DOME yAN ALLE HALELY
AND OUR LOVERD CRIST SAL COM DOUN yAN,
AND SIT IN DOME, ALS DOMES MAN,
AND DEME yAN, BATHE GUDE AND ILLE,
ALS YHE MAY AFTIR-WARD HERE, IF YHE WILLE;
AND YHIT yE FIRE ALLE yAT TYDE
SAL BRIN OBOUT HYM, ON ILKA SYDE,
ALS yE PROPHETE DAVID BERS WYTNES
IN yE PSAUTER, yAR yUS WRITEN ES:
"IGNIS, IN CONSPECTU EIUS, EXARDESCET,
ET INCIRCUITU EIUS TEMPESTAS VALIDA."
"yE FYRE SAL BRIN IN HIS SIGHT," SAYS HE,
AND OBOUT HYM GRETE TEMPEST SAL BE."
AND ALS LANG ALS yAT DOME SAL LAST
yE FIRE SAL BRIN, ON ILK SYDE FAST;
AND WHEN yE DOME ES BROGHT TIL ENDE,
yA yAT SAL BE DAMPNED SAL WENDE,
WITH ALLE yE FIRE yAT SWA SAL BRIN,
TIL HELLE PYTT, AND DUELLE AY yAR-IN.
yAN SAL ALLE yE FIRE BE SWEPED DOUNE
IN-TIL HELLE, WITH ALKYN CORRUPCIOUNE,
AND ALLE yE FILTH OF yE WORLD, NESHE AND HARD,
ALS IN yIS BOK ES WRITEN AFTIRWARD.
yUS THURGH ALLE yE WORLD yE FIRE SAL BRIN,
AND CLENSE IT OF AL MANERE OF SYN,
AND OF ALLE CORRUPCIONS, BATH HEGH AND, LAW
yAT MEN MAY NOW SE, HERE, AND KNAW;
AND WHEN yE FIRE HAS WASTED AL ERDLY THYNG,
yAN SAL yE HEVENS SEES OF MOVYNG.
135
OUR LORD YHIT yAN, OR HE COM DOUN,
FOR TO SYTTE IN DOME IN PROPER PARSOUN,
SAL SEND BYFOR, ALS yE BUKE TELS,
IN FOUR PARTYS HIS ANGELS,
WITH yAIR BEMES yAT yAI SAL BLAW,
yAT ALLE yE WORLD SAL HERE AND KNAW;
ALLE MEN yAI SAL yAN UPCALLE
AND BYD yAM CUM TIL yE DOME ALLE.
ALLE MEN SAL RYSE yAN yAT EVER HAD LIFE,
MAN AND WOMAN, MAYDEN AND WYFE,
GUDE AND ILLE, WITH FLESHE AND FELLE,
IN BODY AND SAUL, ALS CLERKES CAN TELLE;
AND yAT IN ALS SHORT WHYLE ALS HERT MAY THYNK,
OR MANS EGHE MAY OPEN OR WYNK,
FRA yE TYME yAT yAI yE SON SAL HERE,
FOR yE APOSTEL SAYS ON yIS MANERE:
"OMNES RESURGENT IN MOMENTO, IN
ICTU OCULI, IN NOVISSIMA TUBA."
HE SAYS "ALLE SAL RYSE IN A TYM MOVYNG,
ALS IN yE SPACE OF AN EGHE TWYNKLYNG,
WHEN yAI HERE yE DREDEFUL BLAST
OF yE BEME, yAT yAN SAL BLAW LAST."
ALLE MEN SAL yAN TITE UP-RYSE
IN yE SAME STATURE AND yE SAME BODYSE,
yAT yAI HAD HERE IN yAIR LIFEDAYS,
AND IN NON OTHER, ALS yE BUK SAYS.
yAN SAL ALLE RYSE IN yE SAME ELD yAN,
yAT GOD HAD FULLY HERE ALS MAN,
NAMLY, WHEN HE UPRAYSE THURGH MYGHT
FRA DEDE, ALS SAYS SAYNT AUSTYN RYGHT;
yAN WAS HE OF THRETY YHERE ELDE AND TWA,
AND OF THRE MONETHES yAR-WITH ALSWA;
IN yAT ELDE ALLE SAL RYSE AT yE LAST,
WHEN yAI HERE yE GRETE BEMES BLAST,
WITH yAIR AWEN BODYS ALLE HALE
AND WITH ALLE yAIR LYMES, GRETE AND SMALE.
FOR ALLE-IF yE BODYS OF ILK MAN
SHULDE ALLE BE BRYNNED TIL ASKES yAN,
136
AND YHIT yOGH ALLE yE ASKES OF yAIR BODYS
WAR STREWUDe AND SKATERD IN SERE PARTYS,
THURGH ILKA LAND AND ILKA CUNTRE,
yAI SAL yAN TOGYDER ALLE GADERUDe BE.
AND ILKA BODY SAL RISE yAN HALELY,
WITH ALLE yE LYMS, yAT FALLES TIL yE BODY,
AND WITH ALLE yE HARE OF BODY AND HEDE
SWA yAT NA HARE SAL WANT IN NA STEDE;
FOR yARE SAL NA HARE BE PERYSTE,
ALS SAYNT LUK SAYS yE EVAUNGELIUSeTTE:
CAPILLUS DE CAPITE,
VESTRO NON PERIBIT.
"NA HARE SAL PERISHE, NE FAILE", SAYS HE,
"yAT FALLES ON yE HEVED FOR TO BE."
AND IF ANY LYMS BE HERE UNSEMELY,
THURGH OUTRAGIOUSTE OF KYND NAMELY,
GOD SAL ABATE yAT OUTRAGE, THURGH MYGHT,
AND MAKE yA LYMS SEMELY TO SIGHT;
AND IF ANY LYM WANTED, yAT SHULD FALLE
TIL yE BODY, OR ANY WAR OVER SMALLE,
THURGH yE DEFAUT HERE OF KYND GOD yAN WILLE
ALLE yE DEFAUTES OF yE LYMS FULFILLE,
AND yUS SAL HE DO NAMLY, TO AL yA
yAT SAL BE SAVE AND TIL BLIS GA.
FOR yAIR BODYS SAL BE SEMELY AND BRIGHT
WITH AVENAND LYMES TIL ALLE MENS SIGHT.
BOT GOD SAL AMEND ON NANE WISE
DEFAUTES OF yE LYMS OF SYNFUL BODYS,
FOR yAIR BODYS SAL ALLE UNSEMELY BE,
AND FOUL, AND UGLY, OPON TO SE.
ALLE yAT ER GUDE yAN AND RIGHTWYSE,
yAT SAL BE SAVE, SAL FIRST UPRYSE,
AND UP IN-TO yE AYRE BE RAVYSTE,
AGAINE yE COMYNG OF IHESU CRISTE,
TO KEPE HIM WHEN HE DOUN SAL COME,
ALS DOMESMAN FOR TO SITTE IN DOME.
yE MAST PARFITE MEN SAL CRISTE FIRST KEPE
AND ALLE CUM WITH HYM IN HIS FELAWSHEPE,
137
AND WITH HIM AY BE IN BODY AND SAULE,
ALS yE APOSTEL SAYS, SAYNT PAULE:
QUONIAM CHRISTUS DOMINUS IN IUSSA ET VOCE ARCANGELI,
ET IN TUBA DEI, DESCENDET DE CELO, ET MORTUI
QUI IN CHRISTO MORTUI SUNT RESURGENT PRIMI.
DEINDE NOS QUI VIVIMUS, QUI RELINQUIMUR, SIMUL
RAPIEMUR CUM ILLIS IN NUBIBUS
OBVIAM CHRISTO IN AERE, SIC SEMPER
CUM DOMINO ERIMUS.
HE SAYS "OUR LORD SAL COME DOUN FRA HEVEN,
IN GODDIS BYDDYNG, AND ARCHAUNGEL STEVEN,
AND IN yE SON OF GODDES AWEN BEME,
ALLE yE WORLD yAN FOR TO DEME.
AND yAI yAT ER DEDE IN CRIST yAN,
SAL FIRST UPRISE, ILKA MAN;
AND SYTHEN WE, ON yE SAM MANERE,
yAT NOW LYVES AND ER LEFT HERE,
SAL yAN WITH yAM IN CLOUDES BE RAVYSTE
UP IN-TO yE AYRE FOR TO METE CRISTE,
AND SWA WITH OUR LORDE AY SAL BE,
FRA yAT TYME FORWARD," yUS SAYS HE.
BOT WE SYNFUL yAT SAL RISE yAT TYDE
BYNETHE ON yE ERTHE SAL CRIST ABYDE
IN DREDE AND SOROW CHARGED WITH SYNNE,
FOR yAI MAY NOUR-WHARE AWAY WYNNE.
yAM WAR LEVER BE DEPE IN HELLE yAN,
yAN COM BYFOR yAT DOMESMAN.
yAI WALD FAYNE FLE, IF yAI MYGHT,
OR HIDE yAM FRA yAT DOMESMAN SIGHT
UNDER ERTHE, OR OURWHAR ELLES,
ALS SAYNT JOHAN, IN yE APOCALIPS, TELLES:
REGES TERRE ET PRINCIPES, ET TRIBUNI, ET
DIVITES ET FORTES, ET OMNIS
SERVUS ET LIBER, ABSCONDERUNT SE IN
SPELUNCIS ET IN PETRIS MONCIUM, ET
DICENT MONTIBUS ET PETRIS, 'CADITE
SUPER NOS', ET COLLIBUS 'ABSCONDITE
NOS, A FACIE SEDENTIS SUPER TRONUM
ET AB IRA AGNI.'
138
HE SAYS "KYNGES OF yE LANDE AND PRINCES SERE,
AND CHEFTAYNS yAT ER UNDER yAM HERE,
AND RICHE MEN OF DIVERS CUNTRE,
AND STRENTHY MEN, AND BOND AND FRE,
IN CAVES yAI WALD yAN HYDE ILKAN
AND IN CRAGGES, AND IN ROCHE OF STAN;
AND SAL SAY TIL MONTAYNS AND ROCHES yUS,
'FAL OPON US NOW AND HYDE US,
FRA yE FACE OF HYM yAT SYTTES IN THRONE
AND FRA yE WRETHE OF yE LAMB', yUS TELS SAYNT IOHAN.
MANY MANER OF MEN SAL HAF DRED yAN,
TO COM BYFOR yAT DREFUL DOMESMAN,
NAMELY, SYNFUL MEN WITH-OUTEN HOPE,
AND YHIT SAYS yUS yE HALY MAN, IOPE:
DOMINE QUANDO VENERIS IUDICARE TERRAM,
UBI ME ABSCONDAM A VULTU IRE TUE, QUIA
PECCAVI NIMIS UIN VITA MEAe?
"LOVERD", HE SAYS, "WHEN yOU SAL COME
TO DEME yE ERTHE AND SYTTE IN DOME,
WHAR SAL I FRA yI WRETH HYD ME
FOR-WHY I HAF SYND OGAYNES yE
FUL GRETELY IN MY LIFE HERE?"
AND YHIT SAYS IOB ON yIS MANERE:
QUIS MICHI HOC TRIBUAT
UT IN INFERNO PROTEGAS ME,
ET ABSCONDAS ME DONEC
PERTRANSEAT FUROR TUUS?
"LOVERD, WHA MAY GYF TO ME", SAYS HE,
"yAT yOU IN HELLE MAY HYD ME
AND COVER ME AT yE DREDFUL DAY,
UNTO yI WRETHE BE PASSED OWAY,"
yAN ES IT NA WONDRE, ALS I SAYDE ARE,
IF yE SYNFUL MEN HAF DREDE AND CARE,
yAT SAL DAMPNED BE AND PERYST
FOR TO CUM IN yE SYGHT OF IHESU CRIST,
yAT TIL yAM SWA WRETHFUL SAL SEME yAN,
WHEN JOB yUS SAYS yE HALYMAN.
139
OUR LORD CRIST, THURGH HIS GRETE MYGHT,
SAL yAN COM DOUN FRA HEVEN BRIGHT,

ALS DOMESMAN TO SIT IN DOME,
AND WITH HIM GRETE MULTITUDE SAL COME
OF ANGELS, AND OF ARCHANGELS,
AND OF AL OTHER HALGHES, ALS yE BUK TELES:
ECCE DOMINUS VENIET ET
OMNES SANCTI EIUS CUM EO.
"LO] OUR LORD SAL COM TIL yE DOME
AND ALLE HIS HALGHES SAL WITH HIM COME."
AND SODANLY HE SAL HYM yAN SHEWE,
ALS SAYS yE GODSPELLER SAYNT MATHEWE:
"SICUT FULGUR EXIIT AB ORIENTE,
ET PARET IN OCCIDENTE, ITA ERIT
ADVENTUS FILII HOMINIS, SUBITUS,
CHORUSCHANS, ET TERRIBILIS."
"ALS yE LEVENYNG OUT GAS IN SHORT TYDE
FRA yE EST, AND SHEWES IT IN yE WEST SYDE,
RIGHT SWA yE COMMYNG OF MAN SON SAL BE,
SODAYNE AND BRIGHT AND DREFUL TO SE.
HE SAL COM DOUN, NATHYNG SAL HIM LETT,
EVEN ONENCE yE MOUNT OF OLYVET,
WHAR HE, IN MANHED, STEY UP EVEN
FRA HIS DISCIPLES, TIL yE FADER IN HEVEN;
AND IN SWILK FOURME ALS HE STEY UP yAN,
HE SAL COM DOUN TO DEME ILK MAN,
GUDE AND ILLE, BATHE YONG AND ALDE,
ALS yE ANGELS TIL HIS DISCIPLES TALDE:
HIC IHESUS QUI ASSUMPTUS EST A NOBIS
IN CELUM, SIC VENIET ET QUEMADMODUM
VIDISTIS EUM EUNTEM
IN CELUM.
yAI SAYD "IHESU CRIST yAT HERE ES UPTANE
FRA YHOW, TIL HEVEN, WITH FLESSCH AND BANE,
SWA SAL HE COM AT yE WORLD ENDE,
ALS YHE SAW HYM UP IN-TIL HEVEN WENDE;
IN yAT FOURME OF MAN HE SAL CUM yAN,
AND SITTE IN DOME ALS DOMESMAN.
140
WHEN CRISTE ES COMMON DOUN TO DEME,
IN FOURME OF MAN, ALS HE SAL SEME,
#5148 IN A PLACE HE SAL HIS DOME HALDE,
yAT yE VALE OF IOSAPHAT ES CALDE,
WHARE ALLE MEN SAL TO-GYDER METE,
ALS CRIST SAYS, THURGH IOEL yE PROPHETE:
CONGREGABO OMNES GENTES, ET
ADDUCAM EAS IN VALLE IOSAPHAT.
HE SAYS "ALLE MEN I SAL TO-GYDER CALLE,
AND IN VALE OF IOSAPHAT LEDE yAM ALLE,"
AND YHIT MARE TO yAT HE SAYS yUS,
ALS HE THURGH yE PROPHETE SHEWES US:
CONSURGENT ET ASCENDENT
OMNES GENTES IN VALLE
IOSEPHAT, QUIA IBI SEDEBO
UT IUDICEM OMNES GENTES.
HE SAYS "AL MEN SAL RYSE TO yE DOME,
AND IN yE VALE OF IOSAPHAT COME;"
"FOR yAR," HE SAYS, "I SAL SITTE NAMLY,
TO DEME ALLE MEN ALS yAI ER WORTHY."
yAT VALE, yE VALE OF yE ERTHE MEN CALLES,
FOR IMYD yE ERTHE, WITH-OUTEN, IT FALLES;
IOSAPHAT ES yUS MYKEL AT SAY,
ALS STEDE OF DOME, AT yE LAST DAY.
CRIST SAL NOGHT FULLY yAN DOUN COME
ON yE ERTHE FOR TO SITTE IN DOME,
BOT UP IN yE AYRE HE SAL SITTE,
ON A WHYTE CLOUDE, ALS SAYS HALY WRYTTE:
ECCE APPAREBIT DOMINUS SUPER
NUBEM CANDIDAM]
"LO] OUR LORDE SAL SHEW HYM yAN
ON A WHYTE CLOUDE, AND SITTE ALS DOMESMAN."
EVEN ABOVEN yAT VALE NAMLY,
WHARE AL MEN SAL SE HIS BODY.
BOT yE SKILLES WHY HE SAL yARE SITTE
MEN MAY FYNDE HERE yAT WILLE yAM WITTE;
FOR yE VALE OF IOSAPHAT ES SETTE
BYTWENE yE MOUNT OF OLYVET
141
AND IERUSALEM, ON yE OTHER SYDE,
yAT STANDES IMYDDES yE WORLD SO WYDE;
AND yAR ES yE MOUNT OF CALVERY,
AND yE SEPULCRE OF CRIST FAST yARBY.
AND IN yAT CUNTRE STANDES BETHLEEM,
NOGHT FUL FERRE FRA IERUSALEM;
yAR-FOR CRIST SAL SYTTE yAR yAT DAY,
ONENCE yE MYDDES OF ERTH yUS FOR TO SAY.
"LO] HERE ALS YHE MAY ALLE NOW SE
yE VALE OF IOSAPHAT UNDER ME
WHARE BYRED WAS MY MODER MARY
OF WHAM FLESSHE AND BLODE FOR YHOW TOK I."
HE MAY SAY "LO] HERE, ALS YHE SE NOW,
BETHLEEM WHARE I WAS BORN FOR YHOW,
AND IN CLOTES LAPPED AND LAYD WAS
IN A CRIBBE, BYTWEN AN OX AND AN ASSE."
HE MAY SAY "LO HERE YHE MAY SE STANDE
IERUSALEM, yAT ES NERE HANDE
WHARE I HAD FOR YHOW MANY BUFFET,
AND WITH SHARP SKOURGES SARE WAS BETTE,
AND FRA WHETHEN yE CROSSE FOR YHOW I BARE,
yAT ON MY SHULDER WAS LAYD yARE."
HE MAY SAY ALSO "LO] HERE yARBY,
ALS YHE MAY SE, yE MOUNT OF CALVERY
WHAR I WAS HANGED UPON yE RODE,
BYTWEN TWA THEFES FOR YHOUR GODE;
WHARE MY PAYN FOR YHOW WAS MAST
AND WHARE I SWELT AND YHELDED yE GAST."
HE MAY SAY YHIT yUS ALSWA;
"LO] HERE yE SEPULCRE A LYTIL yAR-FRA,
WHAR I WAS LAYDE FOR YHOW ALS DEDE,
WHEN I WAS BERYD IN yAT STEDE."
HE MAY SAY ALSWA, ALS HERE ES SETT,
"LO] HERE yE MOUNT OF OLIVETT,
WHAR AUNGELS APPERED IN MENS LYKENES,
WHEN I STEY TIL UHeEVEN yAR BLIS AY ES,
AND TALD YHOW HOW MY COMMYNG SHULD BE
TYL yE DOME, ALS YHE MAY NOW SE."
142
NOW HAF YHE HERD yE SKYLLES WHY,
HE SAL SIT OBOVEN yAT VALE NAMLY,
yAT MEN yE VALE OF IOSAPHAT CALLES
yE WHILK IMYNDES yE WORLD FALLES.
ALSWA ANOTHER SKILLE MAY yIS BE
WHY HE SAL DOUN COM IN yAT COUNTRE
FOR yAR WAS HIS FIRST COMMYNG DOUN,
ANLY FOR MANS SALVACIOUN,
WHEN HE FIRST FLESSCH AND BLOD TOK
OF yE MAYDEN MARI, ALS SAYS UyEe BOK.
yUS SAL HE COM DOUN AT SITTE yARE,
TO DEME AL yE WORLD, ALS I SAIDE ARE,
CRIST FUL AWSTERNE yAN SAL BE
AGAYN SYNFUL MEUNe yAT HIM SAL SE;
AND DREDFUL AND HYDUS, ALS SAYS yE BOKE,
HE SAL BE TO yAM, WHEN yAI ON HYM LOKE,
AND FUL DELITABLE UNTO yE SIGHT
OF RYGHTWYSE MEN yAT LYFFED HERE RYGHT.
BOT ALLE yE PARSONS OF yE TRINITE
AND yE GODHED SAL NOGHT yAN SHEWED BE
TO ILLE AND GUDE, yAT SAL APPERE yAN,
BOT CRIST ALLANE IN FOURME OF MAN,
GODDES SON yAT yAN SAL DEME US
AND yARFOR SAYNT JOHAN SAYS US:
"OMNE IUDICIUM DEDIT FILIO, UT HONORIFI-
CENT FILIUM, SICUT HONORIFICANT PATREM."
"GOD HAS GYFEN TIL HIS SON," SAYS HE,
"ALLE yE DOME yAT GYVEN SAL BE,
yAT MEN HONOUR yE SON RYGHT,
ALS yAI HONOUR yE FADIR FUL OF MYGHT."
yE GUDE MEN SAL SE HYM IN MANHED yAN,
WITH yE GODHED, ALS GOD AND MAN,
yE WHILK HE SAL NOGHT FRA yAM HYDE;
FOR yAI SAL SE HYM yAN GLORIFIDE,
AND yAT SAL BE A BLISFUL SYGHT,
SWA FAIR HE SAL SEME TIL yAM, AND BRIGHT.
143
yE ILLE MEN IN MANHED SAL HYM SE.
ANLY ALS HE HENGED ON yE RODE TRE,
ALLE BLA AND BLODY ALS HE yAN WAS,
WHEN HE DEYHED FOR MANS TRESPAS.
yAT SIGHT TIL yAM SAL BE PAYNE AND DREDE,
FOR yAI SAL NOGHT SE OF HIS GODHEDE;
AND FOR yE GODHEDE ES FUL OF BLISSE,
yARFOR yE SIGHT OF IT yAI SAL MISSE.
BOT IN HIS MANHED ANLY, ALS I SAY,
HE SAL SHEW HYM TIL yAM yAT DAY,
FOR IN FOURME OF MAN HE SAL yAN SEME
AND IN HIS MANHEDE HE SAL yAM DEME.
HE SAL yAN AT HIS DOUN COMMYNG,
yE TAKEN OF yE CROYS WYTH HYM BRING,
ON WHILK HE BOGHT US FRA ELLE PYN;
FOR HE WALD NOGHT MAN SAUL TYN;
yAT TAKEN OF yE CROSE ALLE MEN SAL SE,
BOT FUL DILITABLE IT SAL BE
TIL RIGHTWYS MEN, AND SEME FULE BRIGHT;
AND DREDFUL TIL SYNFUL MANS SYGHT.
yIS TAKEN OF yE CROS SAL BE SHEWED yAN,
ALS yE BUK SAYS, AND BE HYD FRA NA MAN:
HOC SIGNUM CRUCIS ERIT IN CELO, CUM
DOMINUS AD IUDICANDUM VENERIT.
"yIS TAKEN OF yE CROS IN HEVEN SAL SEME
WHEN OUR LOVERD SAL COM TO DEME."
yAT ES AT SAY ABOVEN IN yE AYRE,
yAT TIL GUDE MEN SA SEM BRIGHT AND FAYRE.
yIS TAKEN, ALS I TROWE, SAL NOGHT BE
yE SAM CROS, NE yE SAM TRE,
ON WHILK GOD WAS NAYLED FOT AND HANDE.
BOT A TAKEN OF yAT CROS SEMANDE.
YHIT SOM TROWES, AND SWA MAY WEL BE,
yAT yE TAKEN OF yE SPERE MEN SAL yAN SE
yAT STAYNGED CRIST UNTIL yE HERT ROTE,
AND OF yE NAYLES yAT HYM THURGH HAND AND FOTE
144
TIL yE HARD RODE TRE FAST FESTED;
AND OF yE CROUN OF THORNES yAT WAS THRESTED
ON HIS HEVED FAST, yAT yE BLODE OUT RANE,
WHEN yE THORNES HYM PRIKKED TIL yE HARNPANE
AND OF yE SCOURGES ALSWA yAT BRAST HIS HYDE,
yAT yE BLODE RAN DOUN, ON ILK SYDE.
ALLE yER TAKENS SAL yAN BE SHEWED
BYFOR ALLE MEN, BATHE LERD AND LEWED;
BOT yE SYNFUL, yAT DAMPNED SAL-BE,
TO yAIR SHENSHEPE yAN SAL yAM SE.
CRIST SAL SHEW yAN HIS WOUNDES WYDE,
IN HEVED, AND FOTE AND IN HIS SYDE,
yAT FRESSCHE SAL SEM AND ALLE BLEDAND
TIL yE SYNFUL, yAT BIFOR HYM SAL STAND.
HE SAL SHEW, TO yAIR CONFUSIOUN,
ALLE yE SIGNES OF HIS PASSIOUN,
AND yE ENCHESOUN AND yE MANERE
OF HIS DED yAT HE THOLED HERE,
AND ALLE yIS SAL HE DO yOS OPENLY,
TO REPROVE yE SYNFUL MEN yAR-BY
AND yAT SAL BE yAIR SHENSCHIP yAN,
FOR SAYNT AUSTYN SAYS yUS, yE HALYMAN:
FORTASSE, IN CORPORE SUO, DOMINUS CICATRICES SERVA-
VIT UT IN IUDICO HOSTIBUS EXPROBARET,
UT CONVINCENS EOS DICAT: ECCE HOMO
QUEM CRUCIFIXISTIS; ECCE DEUS ET HOMO
QUEM CREDERE NOLUISTIS: VIDETE VULNERA
QUE INFIXISTIS; AGNOSCITE LATUS
QUOD PUPIGISTIS PROPTER VOS
APERTUM EST ET INTRARE NOLUISTIS.
HE SAYS, "OUR LORD GODDES SON ALMYGHTY
PARANTERE HAS KEPED, IN HIS BODY,
yE ERRES OF HIS WONDES SERE,
yAT HE THOLED FOR MANS SYN HERE,
FOR TO SHEW yAM TIL HIS ENMYS,
WHAN HE SAL SYTTE IN DOME ALS IUSTYS
145
TO REPROVE yAM AT yE LAST DAY,
AND TO ATTEYN yAM, AND yOS SAY;
"LO] HERE, yE MAN IN FLESSHE AND BLODE
yE WHILK YHE HYNGED ON yE RODE;
LO] HER GOD AND MAN, yAT MAN WROGHT,
IN WHAM TROW WALD YHE NOGHT;
BYHALDE yE WONDES yAT YHE STYKED,
SESE HERE yE SYD yAT YHE PRIKED,
yE WHILK FOR YHOW WAS OPEN AY,
AND YHE WALD ENTRE BE NE WAY."
A HOW MIKEL SHENSHEP SAL BE
TO yE SYNFUL yAT ALLE yIS SAL HERE AND SE]
yE WHILK TIL HYM DOS HERE NA GUDE AGAYNE,
yAT FOR yAM THOLED SWA MYKEL PAYNE;
AND YHIT NOGHT yAS yAT DUS NA GUD ANLY,
BUT OTHER yAT ER SWA FUL OF FELONY,
yAT AY DOS YVEL OGAYN GUDE,
AND OFTE DOS GODES SON ON RODE
IN yAT, yAT IN yAM ES THURGH SYN,
OF WHILK yAI WILLE NEVER HERE BLYN.
WHAT MAY yAI ANSWER yAN AND SAY,
HOW MAY yAI yAM EXCUSE yAT DAY?
IN NATHYNG MAY yAI BE EXCUSED yAN,
SWA RIGHTWYS SAL BE yE DOMESMAN;
FOR yAT DAY, ALS yE BUKE WYTHENES,
SAL NOGHT BE SHEWED BUT RYGHTWYSNES,
WYTH GRET REDDOUR TIL SYNFUL NAMLY,
yAT SAL BE DEMED, ALS yA HER WORTHY.
yAI MAY DEFENDE yAM BE NA WAYS
FOR JOHAN, WYTH yE GILDEN MOUTH, yOS SAYS:
NON ERIT TUNC LOCUS DEFENSIONIS,
UBI VIDEBUNT CHRISTUM EXHIBENTEM,
TESTIMONIA INSIGNIAQUE SUE PASSIONIS.
HE SAIS "NA STED OF DEFENS yAR SAL BE
WAR yAI SAL CRIST yAN OPENLY SE
GYFHAND WYTNES, AND TAKENS CERTAYN,
OF HIS PASSIOUN AND OF HIS PAYN.
146
ALLE SAL HAF GRET DREDE yAT DAY,
BATH GUDE AND ILLE, ALS WE HERE CLERKS SAY.
yAR SAL BE NOUTHER AUNGEL NA MAN
yAT yAI NE SAL TREMBLE FOR DREDE yAN;
ALLE-IF yAI WAT yAT yAI SAL BE SAFE,
YHIT SAL yAI yAT DAY DRE HAFE
NOGHT FOR yAM-SELF, FOR yAI ER GILTLES,
BOT FOR yE GRET REDDURE OF RYGHTWISNES,
AND FOR yE GRET AUSTERITE,
yAT CRIST SAL SHEW yAT DAY TO SE,
AGAYN yE SYNFUL MEN NAMLY,
yAT SAL BE DAMPNED, WYTH-OUTEN MERCY.
WHEN RIGHTWYS MEN yAT SAL BE SAF,
AND AUNGELS SWA MYKEL DRED HAF
WHAT DRED AND DOLE AGHT SYNFUL HAF yAN?
yARFOR yOS SAYS yE HALYMAN:
SI COLUMPNE CELI CONTREMISCENT ET
PAVENT ADVENTUM CHRISTI,
ET ANGELI PACIS AMARE FLEBUNT,
PECCATORES AUTEM QUID FACIENT]
HE SAYS "IF yE PYLERS OF HEVEN BRIGHT,
yAT ER HALY MEN yAT HAS LIFFED RIGHT,
SAL DRED CRISTES COMMYNG AND MANHEDE,
AND yE AUNGELS ALSWA SAL yAN HAF DREDE,
AND YHIT GRET FUL BITTERLY yAR-TO,
WHAT SAL yE SYNFUL MEN yAN DO,
yAT SAL BE DAMPNED, ALS I SAYD ARE?"
AND SAYS yE HALY MAN yUS MARE:
SI IUSTUS VIX SALVABITUR, IMPIUS
ET PECCATOR UBI PAREBUNT?
"IF yE RIGHTWYS MAN" YHIT SAYS HE,
"SAL UNNETHES yAN SAVED BE,
yE SYNFUL AND yE WYKKED MAN
WHYDERWARD SAL yAI WEND yAN?"
RYGHTWYSMEN, ALS yE BUK TELLES,
SAL BE SAF yAN AND NAN ELLES.
OUR LOVERD IN MANHED SAL yAN SITT
OBOUNE yE SYNFUL, ALS SAYS HALY WRIT,
147
AUSTERNE AND WRAHTE WYTH A FEL CHERE,
WYTH yAM TO THREP yAT HAS LYFED ILLE HERE.
HELLE BYNETHEN yAT ES WYDE AND DEPE,
SAL yAN BE OPEN yAM TO KEPE,
yE ERTHE yAT yAI SAL ON STAND SAL SCAKE,
THURGH yAIR SYN, AND TREMBLE AND WHAKE,
SWA yAT UNNETHES IT SAL yAM BERE,
SWA MYKEL yAIR SYN yE ERTH SAL DERE.
yE WORLD OBOUT yAM SAL BE BRINNANDE,
yE DEVELS ON ILK SYDE yAM SAL STANDE.
GRET SOROW SAL BE OMANG yAM yAR;
yE HEVEN OBOVEN SAL STRIKE yAM SAR,
WITH THUNDIRS DYNTES AND LEVENYNGS TOGYDER;
yAI WALD yAN FLE AND WATE NEVER WHIDER;
yAI SAL BE UMSET SWA ON ILKA SIDE,
yAT yAI MAY NOUTHIR FLE NE yAM HIDE.
MANY ACCUSERS yAR SAL BE yAN,
TO ACCUSE yAM BYFOR yAT DOMESMAN;
FOR I FYND WRITTEN, ALS YHE SAL HERE,
FIFTEN MANERES OF ACCUSOURS SERE,
yAT SAL ACCUSE IN yAT DREDEFUL DAY
yE SYNFUL MEN, yAT ES TO SAY,
CONSCIENCE yAT ES CALLED YNWITT,
AND yAIR AWEN SYNS, AND HALI WRITT,
GODS CREATURES yAT WE KEN,
DEVELS AND AUNGELS AND HAYTHEN MEN,
AND MARTIRS yAT HAS FELED TOURMENTS SERE,
AND OTHIR yAT WRANGES HAS THOLED HERE.
MENS SONS AND DOGHTERS UNCHASTYEDE,
POVER MEN yAT yAIR NEDE MYGHT NOGHT HYDE,
SUGGETTES, AND BENEFICES RECEYVED HERE.
yE TOURMENTES OF CRISTES PASSIOUN SERE;
AND GOD HYM-SELF AND ALLE yE TRINITE,
ALLE yERE OGAYNE yE SYNFUL SAL BE.
FIRST SAL yAIR AWEN CONSCIENCE,
ACCUSE yAM yAN IN CRISTES PRESENCE,
148
OPENLY AND NOGHT IN PRIVETE;
FOR NA THYNG yAN SAL HIDDE BE,
ALLE THYNG SAL BE SHEWED yAR OPPENLY;
FOR DANYEL SAYS yUS IN HIS PROPHECY:
"SEDIT IUDICIUM ET LIBRI APERTI SUNT."
"yEDOME SATT AND yE BOKES ER OPPEN WYDE";
AND yUS SAL BE SENE yAT TYDE.
yE BOKES ER CONSCIENCE AND NOGHT ELLES,
ALS yE GLOSE yAR-ON yUS TELLES:
CONSCIENCIE OMNIBUS REVELABUNTUR.
"CONSCIENCE", IT SAYS, "OF ILKA THYNG
SAL BE SHEWED TIL ALLE MENS KNAWYNG."
yAIR SYNS ALSWA, BATHE MARE AND LES,
SAL yAM ACCUSE, ALS yE BOKE BERS WITTNES.
FOR yAIR SYNS SAL AY WITTH yAM LAST,
ALS yAI WAR BUNDEN OBOUT yAIR NEKES FAST,
yE WHILK yAM SAL ACCUSE yAT DAY;
AGAYN WHAM yAI SAL NOGHT KUN SAY;
AND ALS STOLNE THYNG WREGHES A THEFE FUNDEN,
WHEN IT ES OBOUT HIS NEKE FAST BOUNDEN,
RIGHT SWA yAIR SYNS SAL WREGHE yAM yAR,
ALS yAI BUNDEN OBOUT yAIR NEKES WAR,
AND yAN SAL yAIR SYNS SAY yUS;
TIL ILKA SYNFUL MAN "yOU WROGHT US,
AND WE ER yIN WITH-OUTEN DOUT,
AND yOU HAS LANG BORNE US OBOUT."
ALSWA ACCUSE SAL HALY WRITT,
NAMLY yAS MEN yAT KNAWES IT,
OR yE POYNTES HAS HERDE yAT FALLS yAR-TO,
AND WALD NOGHT AFTIR HALY WRITT DO.
YHIT SAL GODES CREATURES SERE,
ACCUSE yAM ON DIVERSE MANERE,
ALS yE SON AND yE MONE AND yE STERNS,
AND yE ELEMENTES yAUTe US GOVERNS;
AND ALLE yE WERLD SAL BE yAN REDY,
TO ACCUSE yE SYNFUL MEN OPPENLY;
FOR ALLE CREATOURES HATE yAM SAL,
WHEN HE ES WRATHE yAT ES MAKER OF ALLE.
149
ALSWA DEVELS SAL ACCUSE yAM yAR
OF ALLE yAIR SYNS, BATHE LES AND MAR.
AND OF yA SYNS yAT yAI SAL OUT-SAY,
TIL WHILK yAI EGGED yAM, BATHE NYGHT AND DAY,
AND OF yAS yAI SAL yAM yAR ACCUSE,
ALS A THEFE HIS FELAGHE OF THEFT DUSE,
yAT HYM ACCUSES OF yE SAME THYNG
yAT HE WITH HYM DID THURGH HIS EGGYNG;
yE DEVELS AT yE DOME SAL BE REDY,
yAT TO TEMPTE MEN HERE AY ER BYSY;
AND yAI WRITE ALLE SYNS, BATHE LES AND MAR,
OF WHYLK yAI MAY ACCUSE yAM yAR,
AND ALLE SYNS yAI SAL REHERCE yAN,
AND yAR-FOR yUS SAYS IOB, yE HALYMAN:
SCRIBIS DOMINE CONTRA ME AMARITUDINES,
ID EST, PERMITTIS SCRIBI CONTRA ME PECCATA AMARA.
"LOVERD, yOU SUFFERS HERE", SAYS HE,
"BE WRITEN BITTER SYNS OGAYNES ME."
AUNGELES ALSWA, ALS WE HERE CLERKES SAY,
SAL ACCUSE yE SYNFUL MEN AT yAT DAY,
FOR GOD yAT TIL yAM yAIR SAULS TOUKE,
FOR TO KEPE HERE ALS SAYS yE BUKE,
SAL ASKE OF yAM, AT HIS COMYNG,
ACOUNT TO YHELDE OF yAIR KEPYNG;
yAN SAL yE AUNGELS ANSWERE yAR-TO,
AND SAY yUS, "OUR REDE yAI WALD NOGHT DO
BOT AGAYNE OUR WILLE FOLY yAI WALD USE",
yUS SAL AUNGELS yE SYNFUL ACCUSE.
ALSWA HAYTHEN MEN, ALS SAYS yE BUKE,
yAT NEVER BAPTEM NE RIGHT TROUTHE TUKE,
ALS IEWES AND SARZYNS AND PAENS,
yAT WATE NOGHT WHAT CRIESTES LAW BYMENS,
SAL yAN ACCUSE ALS MEN SAL SE,
yE FALS CRISTEN yAT DAMPNED SAL BE,
FOR yE HAYTHEN MEN AT yAT GRETE ASSYS
SAL yAN BE HALDEN ALS MEN RIGHTWYS,
TO REGARD OF yE FALS CRISTEN MEN
yAT WALD NOGHT KEPE yE COMANDMENTES TEN.
150
BOT SPENDES yAIR FYVE WITTES IN VAYNE,
yARFOR yAI SAL HAVE MYKEL MARE PAYNE,
IN yE PITTE OF HELLE yAT yAM SAL MAR GRIEFE
yAN yE HAITHEN MEN OF MYSBYLYEFE,
yE HALGHES ALSWA SAL ACCUSE ALLE yA,
yAT SAL BE DAMPNED AND TO HELLE GA;
AND NAMLY MARTIRS, GODES AWEN KNYGHTES,
yAI SAL ACCUSE yE SYNFUL WYGHTES,
ALS yE TIRAUNTES yAT yAM PYNED AND SLOGHE,
AND OTHIR yAT yAM TIL TOURMENTES DROGHE,
OF WHAM VENGEANCE TIL GOD yAI CRY,
ALS yE APPOCALIPS yUS SHEWES yAR-BY:
USQUEQUO DOMINE SANCTUS ET VERUS, NON VINDICAS
SANGUINEM NOSTRUM DE HIIS QUI HABITANT IN TERRA.
yAT ES "HALY LOVERD, SOTHEFAST AND GUDE,
HOW LANGE SAL BE AR yOW VENGE OUR BLUDE
OF OUR ENEMYS yAT IN ERTHE DUELLES."
ON yIS MANERE yE APPOCALIPS TELLES;
SEN yAI TO GOD AY VENGANCE CRY,
OF yAM yAT OF yAIR BLUDE ER GILTY,
HOWE SULD yAI yAN IN yE TYME OF WREKE
BE STILLE AND NOGHT OGAYNE yAM SPEKE?
ALSWA ALLE yAS yAT HAS THOLED HERE
FALSUHeEDES AND WRANGS ON SERE MANERE,
SAL yAT DAY ACCUSE yAM SONE,
yAT yAM HAS HERE GRET WRANGES DONE.
YHIT SONS AND DOGHTERS yAT UNCHASTYD WAR
SAL ACCUSE yAUIeR FADIRS AND MODIRS yAR,
FOR-yI yAT yAI WAR REKLES AND SLAWE
TO CHASTY yAM AND HALD yAM IN AWE,
AND TO TECHE yAM GUDE THEWES,
AND yARFOR yE WYS MAN yUS IN BUKE SHEWES
DE PATRE IMPIO CONQUERENTUR FILII, QUONIAM
PROPTER IPSUM SUNT IN OPPROBRIUM.
"yE SONS SAL PLEYNE yAM yAN", SAYS HE,
"OF yE ILLE FADER AND AGAYN HYM BE,
FOR THURGH DEFAUTE OF HYM ER yAI
IN GRETE REPROVE", yAT ES TO SAY,
151
IN DEFAUT OF HIS DISCIPLYNE,
PARCHAUNCE, BE DAMPNED TIL HELLE PYNE,
AND yE FADER ALSWA BE WITH yAM SPILTE,
FOR HE ES yE CAUSE OF yAIR GILTE.
YHIT yE POVER SAL yAM PLEUYeNE THURGH RIGHT,
OF yE RICHE MEN IN GODES SYGHT,
AND ACCUSE yAM yAN FUL GREVOSLY,
FOR yAI HAD OF yAM NA MERCY,
FOR TO HELPE yAM HERE IN yAIR NEDE,
NOUTHIR TO CLATHE yAM NE TO FEDE,
BOT LETE SILVER AND GOLD ON yAM RUST,
yE WHILK yAI HAD IN HURDE UPTRUST;
AND yAR-OF TIL PURE WALD NOGHT GYVE,
WHEN yAI SAWE yAM AT MESCHYVE,
yAR-FOR yE RUSTE OF yAT MOWELD MONE
AGAYNE yAM yAN SAL WITTNES BE,
AND WORMES AND MOGHES ON yE SAME MANERE,
yAT IN yAIR CLATHES HAS BRED HERE,
yE WHILK yAI HAD HERE OVER MESUR,
AND OF yAM WALD NOGHT PARTE TIL yE PUR,
SAL yAT DAY BE IN WITTENES BROGHT,
FOR yE PURE yAT yAI HELPED NOGHT.
ALSWA yA yAT SUGETTES WAR TIL MAN,
SAL ACCUSE yAIR SOVERAYNES yAN,
AND yAM HAS GREVED THURGH MAYSTRE AND MYGHT
AND OF OTHER WALD DO yAM NA RIGHT.
yE BENEFICES yAT GOD DID yAM HERE,
SAL yAM ACCUSE ON SERE MANERE,
FOR AGAYNE yAM SAL CRIST ALLEGE SONE,
AND SHEWE yAM WHAT HE HAD yAM DONE,
AND REHERCE HIS BENEFICES, MARE AND LES,
TO REPROVE yAM OF yAIR UNKYNDENES.
YHIT yE TOURMENTES OF CRISTES PASSIOUN,
yAT HE THOLED FOR MANS SALVACIOUN,
SAL yAM ACCUSE AT yAT GRET DOME,
FOR-WHY yUS SAYS SAYNT IEROME:
CRUX CONTRA TE PERORABIT, CHRISTUS
PER VULNERA SUA, CONTRA TE ALLEGABIT,
152
CICATRICES CONTRA TE LOQUENTUR,
CLAVI DE TE CONQUERENTUR.
HE SAYS "yE CROYCE ON WHILK HE DIEGHED FOR MAN
SAL STRATLY PRAY OGAYNE yE yAN,
AND CRIST, THURGH HIS WONDES WIDE,
OGAYNE yE SAL ALLEGE yAT TYDE;
yE ERRES OF HIS WONDES SAL SPEKE
OGUAeYNE yE AND OF yE ASKE WREKE;
yE NAYLES yAT IN HIS HEND AND FETE STAK,
ON yE SAL PLEYNE AND GRET PLAYNT MAK."
AT yE LAST, GOD HYM-SELF, MAST OF MYGHT,
AND yE TRINITE SAL ACCUSE yAM RIGHT,
FOR yAI WRETHED GOD IN yAIR LEGGE POUSTE,
AND ALLE yE PARSONS OF yE TRINITE,
BATHE yE FADIR AND yE SON AND yE HALY GAST.
yAR-FOR yAT ACCUSYNG SAL BE MAST,
BOT yE SECUNDE PARSON yAN ALLE SALE DEME,
yATES CRIST GODES SON, yAT yAN MAN SAL SEME.
ALLE yAT SAL COM BYFOR CRIST yAT DAY,
SAL STRAYT ACOUNTE YHELDE, AR yAI PASSE AWAY,
OF ALLE yAIR LIF HOWE yAI HERE LYVED,
yAN SAL BE SENE WHAT yAI GOD GRYEVED
AND BYFOR ALLE yE WERLD SHEWED SAL BE,
OPPENLY AND NOGHT IN PRIVITE;
AND BYFOR HALGHES AND AUNGELS BRIGHT,
AND BYFOR DEVELS HORRIBEL TIL MANS SIGHT,
AND BYFOR ALLE WYKKED MEN ALSWA,
yAT SAL BE DAMPNED TIL ENDLES WA.
FOR ALLE SAL BE yAN yARE, GUDE AND ILLE,
TO DEME AND BE DEMED ALS RIGHTWYSNES WILLE;
FOR CRIST, yAT RIGHTWYSE DOMESMAN,
SAL CALLE ALLE MEN BYFOR HYM yAN,
ALS yE PROPHET DAVID BERS WITNES,
IN PSAUTER WHARE yUS WRITEN ES:
ADVOCAVIT CELUM DESURSUM ET TERRAM,
DISCERNERE POPULUM SUUM.
HE SAYS "HE SAL BIFOR HYM CALLE
yE HEVEN FRA ABOVEN AND yE ERTHE ALLE,
153
FOR TO DEME RIGHT HIS FOLK yAT DAY."
AND yIS VERS ES yUS MYKEL AT SAY,
HE SAL CALLE yAN HEVEN BYFOR HYM TIT,
yAT ES TO SAY, HALY MEN AND PARFIT,
yAT WITH HYM IN DOME yAN SAL SITT,
AND WYTH HYM DEME, ALS SAYS HALY WRITT;
BOT yE ERTHE ES NOGHT ELLES TO TELLE,
BOT WYKKED MEN AND DEVELS OF HELLE,
yE WHILK HE SAL CALLE AT HIS WILLE,
FOR TO CHEDE OUT yE GUDE FRA yE ILLE.
yAN SAL ILKA MAN yAROF yAIR LYFYNG
BE SETTE UNTIL AND HARD REKKENYNG,
FOR MEN SAL yAN STRAYTE ACOUNT YHELDE
OF ALLE yAIR TYME OF YHOUTHE AND ELDE;
NOGHT ANLY OF ANE OR TWA YHERE,
BOT ALLE yE TYME yAT yAI LYFED HERE,
AND SPECYALY OF ILKA MOMENT,
OF ALLE yE TYME yAT GOD yAM LENT.
A MOMENT OF TYME ES NAN OTHIR THYNG,
BOT A SHORT SPACE ALS OF A EGHE TWYNKLYNG.
NA MOMENT SAL BE UNREKEND yAN,
ALS SAYNT BERNARD SAYS, yE HALYMAN:
SICUT NON PERIBIT CAPILLUS DE CAPITE,
ITA NON ERIT MOMENTUM DE TOTO
TEMPORE DE QUO SANE
NON CONQUERATUR.
HE SAYS "ALS NAN HARE OF ALLE yE HED
SAL PERISSE yAT TYME IN NA STED,
RIGHT SWA SAL BE NA MOMENT,
OF ALLE yE TYME yAT GOD HAD SENT,
OF WHILK SAL BE MADE NA PLEYNYNG."
IN yE TYME OF yAT LAST REKKENYNG,
ALSWA yAI SAL YHELDE ACOUNT CERTAYNE,
OF ILK IDEL WORDE, SPOKEN IN VAYNE,
yAT ES TO SAY, yAT WAR FRUYTLES,
ALS HALY WRITT BERS WITTNES:
154
DE OMNI VERBO OCIOSI IN DIE IUDICII
REDDENDA EST RACIO.
yE BUKE SAYS SHORTLY ON yIS MANERE:
"OF ILKAN IDEL WORD AND VAYNE HERE,
RESON SAL BE YHOLDEN RIGHT
AT yE DAY OF DOME, IN GODDES SIGHT;"
AND NOGHT ANELY OF IDEL WORDES SAYD,
BOT OF ILK IDEL THOGHT yAT GOD NOGHT PAYD,
FOR EXCUSE yAM MAY yAI NOGHT
NOUTHER OF IDEL WORDE NE OF THOGHT,
yAT yAI SPAK OR THOGHT AFTIR yAI HAD WITT,
OF WHILK yAI WAR NEVER HERE QWITT;
WHARFOR OUR LOVERD GOD ALLE-MYGHTY,
SPEKES yUS THURGH yE PROPHET YSAY:
EGO COGITACIONES EORUM VENIO UT CONGREGEM
CUM GENTIBUS AD IUDICANDUM SICUT IUDICO GENTES.
HE SAYS "I COM TO GADIR WITH MEN
yE THOGHTES OF yAM yAT I KEN,
FOR TO DEME yAM ALLE, MAR AND LES,
ALS I SAL MEN DEME, THURGH RIGHTWYSNES."
MANY AGHT BE DREDAND yAR-FOR,
AND YHIT SAIS yUS SAYNT GREGOR:
ERGO SIC DEUS VIAS CUIUSCUNQUE CONSIDERAT
UT NEC MINUTISSIME COGITACIONES, QUE
APUD VOS USU VALUERUNT, IN IUDICIO
INDISCUSSE REMANEANT.
HE SAYS "GOD", yAT ALLE WYSDOM KAN,
"SWA BYHALDES yE WAYES OF ILK MAN
yAT yE LEST THOGHTES yAT THURGH USE HAD YHE
IN yE DOME SAL NOGHT UNDISCUSSED BE."
AND NOGHT ANELY OF IDEL WORD AND THOGHT,
BOT OF ALLE IDEL WERK yAI EVER MEN WROGHT;
yAI SAL ALSWA YHIT ACOUNT YHELDE
NOGHT ANLY OF GRET DEDES OF ELDE,
BOT OF SMALE DEDES OF yAIR YHOUTHE,
FRA yE TYME yAT yAI ANY WITT COUTHE,
yAT yAI HAD WROGHT, BATHE NYGHTES AND DAYS,
AND yARFOR SALAMON yUS SAYS:
155
LETARE IUVENIS IN ADOLESCENCIA TUA, ET IN
BONO SIT COR TUUM IN DIEBUS IUVENTUTIS TUE,
ET AMBULA IN VIIS CORDIS TUI ET IN TUITU
OCULORUM TUORUM; ET SCITO QUOD PRO
OMNIBUS HIIS TE ADDUCET
DOMINUS IN IUDICIUM.
HE SAYS "yOU YHUNG MAN BE GLAD AND BLITHE,
IN yI YHOUTHEDE yAT PASSES SWITHE,
AND yAT yI HERT IN GUDE BE STEDFAST,
WHILLES yE DAYS OF yI YOUTHE SAL LAST
AND IN yE WAYS OF yE HERHT GA
AND IN yE SYGHT OF yIN EGHEN TWA;
AND WYTT yOU FOR ALLE yIS OF YHOUTHEDE,
OUR LOVERD SAL yE INTO yE DOME LEDE;"
WHAR RESONS SAL BE YHOLDEN SERE;
AND yARFOR SAYS IOB ON yIS MANERE:
ET CONSUMERE NE VIS PECCATIS ADOLESCENCIE MEE.
"LOVERD WIL yOU WASTE ME TO NOGHT
THURGH yE SYNS yAT I HAF WROGHT,"
ALSWA MEN SAL yAN YHELDE ACOUNT SONE,
NOGHT ANLY OF yAT yAT yAI WRANG HAD DONE
WITANDLY THURGH yAIR KNAWYNG,
BOT ALSWA OF yAT yAT yAI DID THURGH ERRYNG,
OF WHILK yAI SAL NOGHT BE EXCUSED yAN,
ALS IN BUK yUS SAYS yE WYSE MAN:
PRO OMNI ERRATO, SINE BONUM SINE MALUM
SIT, ADDUCETUR HOMO IN IUDICIO.
HE SAYS "FOR ILKA THYNG yAT ERRED ES
BE IT GUDE OR ILLE, MAR OR LES,
MAN, AT yE LAST DAY, SAL BE LEDDE
TO yE DOME yAT ES MAST DREDDE;"
AND yARFOR DAVID, ALS yE PSAUTER SHEWES US,
WAS FUL DREDAND, yAT SAYS yUS:
ET IGNORANCIAS MEAS ME MEMINERIS.
"LOVERD" HE SAYS, "NE MENE yOU NOGHT
OF MY FREYLE UNKNAWYNGES OF THOGHT."
YHIT SAL yAI YHELDE ACUNT WITHDREDE,
NOGHT ANLY OF ILK APERT ILLE DEDE,
156
BOT ALSWA OF ILKAN ILLE DEDE PRIVE,
yAT SEMED BY SYGHT yAT GUDE SULD BE;
FOR SOME DEDE yAT ILLE ES, SEMS GUD HERE,
FOR SAYNT GREGOR SAYS ON yIS MANERE:
INTERDUM SORDET IN OCULIS IUDICIS QUOD
FULGET IN OCULIS AUDITORIS.
HE SAYS "SOME TYME ES FOULE IN yE DOMES MAN SIGHT
yAT IN EGHE OF yE HERER SHYNES BRIGHT."
BOT AT yE DOME SAL yAT DISCUSED BE,
ALS IN yE PSALME MEN MAY WRITTEN SE:
CUM ACCIPERO TEMPUS,
EGO IUSTICIAS IUDICABO.
GOD SAYS yIS WORDES THURGH yE PROPHET DAVID
AND MANY OTHIR yAT ACCORDES yAR-WITH,
HE SAYS "WHEN I HAF TYME RECEYVED RIGHT
I SAL DEME RIGHTWYSNES, THURGH MYGHT."
ALSWA YHIT MEN BYHOVES NEDLY yAN,
YHELDE ACOUNT BYFOR yE DOMES MAN,
NOGHT ANELY OF WERKES yAT yAI HAD WROGHT,
BOT ALSWA OF DEDES yAT yAI DID NOGHT,
AND OF WERKES OF MERCY AND OF ALMUS
yAT yAI NOGHT DID, FOR yE GODSPELLE SHEWES yUS:
ESURIVI ET NON DEDISTIS MICHI MANDUCARE,
SITIVI ET NON DEDIDISTIS MICHI BIBERE.
yIS ES, ALS YHE SAL AFTIRWARD HERE,
HOW GOD SAL SAY ON yIS MANERE:
"I HUNGERD, AND YHE ME NOGHT FEDDE,
I THRESTED, AND YHE ME NA DRYNK BEDDE."
FOR yIS yAI SAL BE ARESONED STRAYTLY,
AND FOR OTHER WERKES NOGHT DONE OF MERCY.
AND NOGHT ANELY FOR yA WERKES NOGHT DON,
BOT FOR yE GUDE yAT yAR-OF MYGHT HAF COMMEN SON.
MEN BYHOVES ALSWA ACOUNT YHELDE
OF yAIR SAULES, yAT yAM BYHOVED WELDE,
AND HAF IN KEPYNG WHILLE yAI MYGHT LIF,
OF WHILK yAI SAL yAN ANSWER GYF.
NOW IF A KYNG OF A RICHE KYNGRYKE
yAT HAD A DOGHTER, yAT WAR HYM LIKE
157
OF BEWTE AND OF FACE AND BODY,
yE WHILK HE LUVED SPECIALY
AND EGHTILD TO MAK HIR QWENE OF WORSHEPE,
AND BYTAGHT HIR TIL HIS RYFE TO KEPE,
IF HE yAR AFTIR KEPED HIR MYS,
ME THYNK IT WAR NA DOUT OF yIS
yAT NE yE KYNG WALD HAF REKKENYNG,
AND ACOUNT AND ANSWER OF yAT KEPYNG.
FOR IT SEMES yAT yE KYNG HAD GRETE ENCHESON
TO SETTE HYM FOR yAT KEPYNG TO RESON,
AND yE MARE REKKESLY yAT HE HIR YHEMED
yE MARE GREVOSLY HYM AGHT BE DEMED.
WHAT SULD yE KYNG OF HEVEN DO yAN,
OF A MAN OR OF A WOMAN,
TIL WHAM HE HAS BYTAGHT TO KEPE HERE,
HIS DOGHTIR yAT ES HYM LEVE AND DERE,
yAT ES MAN SAUL HIS AWEN LIKNES,
WHILLES IT FRA DEDLY SYN KEPED ES,
yE WHILK HE EGHTELD TO COROUN QWENE
IN HEVEN yAR IOY SAL AY BE SENE?
WHASWA ES REKLES AND KEPES IT ILLE,
HE SAL BE ARESONED, AND yAT ES SKILLE,
OF yE KEPYNG OF IT yAT HE TUKE;
yARFOR yE WYSE MAN SAYS yUS IN HIS BUKE:
CUSTODI SOLICITE
ANIMAM TUAM.
yAT ES ON YNGLIS IN yIS MANERE,
HE SAYS "KEPE yI SAUL BYSILY HERE".
BOT HE ES SELY yAT MAY SIKERLY SAY
IN yE TYME OF yE DEDE AT HIS LAST DAY
'I YHELDE MY SAUL IN yIS DEDE STOUR
TIL yE LOVERD yAT ES MY SAVEOUR.'
MEN SAL YHIT YHELDE ACOUNT STRAYUTeLY
NOGHT OF yAIR SAULES WITH-IN ANELY
BOT ALSWA OF yAIR BODYS WITH-OUTE
yAT yAI HAD TO KEPE, AND BARE ABOUTE
OF WHILK yAI SAL YHELDE REKKENYNG,
SEN yAI HAD yAR-OF yE KEPYNG.
158
ILKA MANS BODY MAY BE CALD,
ALS A CASTELLE HERE FOR TO HALD,
yAT TIL MAN ES GYFEN OF GOD TO KEPE
FOR HIS PROFIT AND GODDES WORSHEPE.
yE ENEMYS OFTE ASSALES IT HARD
AND yARFOR SAYS SAYNT BERNARD:
BONUM CASTRUM CUSTODIT
QUI CORPUS SUUM CUSTODIT.
"A GUDE CASTELLE" HE SAYS, "KEPES HE
"yAT HIS BODY KEPES IN HONESTE."
MAN SAL YHELDE ACOUNT ALSWA,
AT yE DOME, AR yAI yEyEN GA,
yAT STRATLY OF yAM SAL BE TANE;
NOGHT ANELY OF yE SAULES BY yAM ANE,
NE ANELY OF yAIR BODYS yAR-BY,
BOT OF BATHE TOGIDIR IOYNTLY,
yAT ES TO SAY, ILKAN SAL yAN
YHELDE ACOUNT OF ALLE HALE A MAN,
FOR A MAN PROPERLY MAY NOGHT BE CALD,
BOT-IF yE BODY AND SAUL TOGIDIR HALD
yE SAULE BE ITSELF MAN ES NANE,
NE yE BODY WITH-OUT SAULE BY IT ANE.
BOT MAN MAY BE CALLED ON TWYN MANERE,
WHILLES yAI BATHE ER KNYT TOGYDER HERE.
FOR yES CLERKES yAT GRET CLERGY CAN
CALLES MAN BATHE INNER MAN AND UTTER MAN.
INNER MAN ONENCE yE SAULE ANELY
AND UTTER MAN ONENCE yE BODY.
BOT yE BODY AND SAULE BYTWENE yAM TWA,
MAKES BOT A MAN AND NA MA,
yARFOR MEN SAL YHELDE ACOUNT IOYNTLY
OF BATHE TOGYDER, yE SAULE AND yE BODY;
AND FORyI yAT GOD, AFTIR HIS STATURE,
MADE MAN MAST DIGNE AND NOBLE CREATURE
yARFOR IF MAN BE TIL GOD FRAWARDE
AND UNKYNDE AND OF HYM TAK NA REWARDE,
yAT ILK DIGNITE OF MAN NAMELY,
SAL, AT yE DOME, YHELDE HYM GYLTY.
159
YHIT SAL MEN YHELDE ACOUNT UNOGHTe ANELY
OF yAIR SELF, BOT OF OTHER MANY,
yAT ES TO SAY, OF ILKA NEGHEBUR,
yAT MEN FALS TO HELP AND TO SOCUR.
FOR GOD TIL ILK MAN COMMANDES RIGHT
TO HELPE HIS NEGHEBUR AFTER HIS MYGHT.
AND yAS, yAT MAY HELPE AND WILLE NOGHT,
SAL yAN TIL FUL STRAYT ACOUNT BE BROGHT.
ALSWA FADIRS AND MODIRS, AT yAT DAY,
SAL YHELDE ACOUNT, yAT ES TO SAY,
OF SONS AND DOGHTIRS yAT yAI FORTHE BROGHT,
yE WHILK yAI HERE CHASTIED NOGHT.
AND LOVERDS ALSWA OF yAIR MEIGNE
yE WHILK yAI LETE UNIUSTIFYED BE
AND MAYSTERS OF yAIR DISCIPLES ALSWA,
yAT yAI LETE BE UNTHEWED, AND UNTAGHT GA,
AND CHASTID yAM NOGHT, NE yAM WALD LERE,
FORyI SAYS SALAMON ON yIS MANERE:
VIRGA DISCIPLINE FUGABIT STULTICIAM
IN CORDE PUERI COLLIGATAM.
"yE WANDE", HE SAYS, "OF DISCIPLYNE SMERT,
SAL CHACE FOLY OUT OF yE CHILDES HERT."
yARFOR MAYSTERS SOM TYME USES yE WAND
yAT HAS CHILDER TO LERE UNDIR yAIR HAND.
PRELATS OF ORDIR AND OF DIGNYTE
SAL ACOUNT YHELDE IN SERE DEGRE
OF yAIR SUGGETS UNDIR yAIR POWERE,
HOW yAI yAM REWELD IN yIS LYF HERE,
AND ANSWER OF yAM yAT LYFED NOGHT WELE,
FOR yUS SAYS yE PROPHET EZECHIELE:
ECCE] EGO REQUIRAM GREGEM
MEAM DE MANU PASTORIS.
GOD SAYS yUS THURGH yE PROPHETE:
"LO] I SAL ASKE MY FLOK OF SHEPE
OF yE HIRD yAT HAD yAM UNDIR HIS HAND;"
OF yIS WORD AGHT PRELATES BE DREDAND.
MEN SAL ALSWA YHELDE REKKENYNGES SERE
OF AL GUDES yAT GOD HAS GEFEN yAM HERE,
160
ALS OF GUDES OF KYNDE AND GUDES OF GRACES,
AND GUDES OF HAP yAT MEN PURCHASES.
yE GUDES OF KYND ER BODILY STRENTHE,
AND SEMELY SHAPPE OF BREDE AND LENTHE
AND DELYVERNES AND BEWTE OF BODY;
SWILK GUDES OF KYND HERE HAS MANY.
GUDES OF GRACE MAY yIR BE,
MYNDE, AND WITTE, AND SUTILTE,
AND FAIR SHEWYNG OF SPECHE SUTILLE,
AND KNAWYNG BATHE OF GUDE AND ILLE,
VERTUS OF GRETE DEVOCIOUN
AND LUF OF LYF OF CONTEMPLACIOUN.
GUDES OF HAP ER yIR TO GESCE,
ALS HONOURS, POWER, AND RYCHEUSe.
OF ALLE yIR GUDES MEN BYHOVES
YHELDE ACOUNTE, ALS yE BUKE PRUVES,
AND ANSWER STRAYTLY OF yAM ALLE.
I DREDE MANY IN ARRIRAGE MON FALLE,
AND TIL PERPETUELE PRISON GANG,
FOR yAI DESPENDED yA GUDES WRANG,
FOR-WHI GOD HAS GYFEN HERE NATHYNG,
OF WHILK HE WILLE NOGHT HAF REKKENNYNG.
SOM SAL YHIT, ALS I SAYD AR,
YHELDE ACOUNT FUL STRAYTLY yAR
OF yE GUDES yAT yAI WALD NOGHT BEDE
TIL OTHER yAT OF yAM HAD NEDE,
FOR ALLE ER WE ALS A BODY HERE,
FOR yE APOSTEL SAYS ON yIS MANERE:
OMNES ENIM UNUM
CORPUS SUMUS.
HE SAYS "WE ER ALLE ALS A BODY",
yAT HAS DIVERSE LYMS MANY.
AND ALS A LYM OF A BODY HERE
ES REDY, AFTIR IT HAS POWERE,
TO SERVE ALLE yE OTHER, MAR AND LES,
OF yAT OFFICE yAT GYVEN IT ES,
161
RIGHT SWA ILK MAN yAT HERE LYFES,
OF ALLE yAT GOD THURGH GRACE HIM GYFES,
SULD OTHER SERVE, yAT yAR-OF HAS NEDE,
ALS HE WILLE ANSWERE AT yE DAY OF DREDE.
FUL MANY MEN LYFES HERE OF yA
yAT ER HALDEN FOR TO DO SWA,
ALS HE yAT GRET AND MYGHTY ES,
ES HALDEN TO DEFENDE yAM yAT ER LES;
AND yE RYCHE yAT MYKEL RYCHESCES HAS,
TO GYF yAM yAT HERE IN POVERT GAS;
AND MEN OF LAGHE ALSWA TRAVAYLE
AND TO COUNSAILE yAM yAT ASKES COUNSAYLE;
AND LECHES ALSWA, IF yAI WYSE WARE,
TO HELE yAM yAT ER SEKE AND SARE;
AND MAYSTERS OF yAIR SCIENCE TO KEN,
NAMLY, yAM yAT ER UNLERED MEN;
AND PRECHEOURS GODDES WORDE TO PRECHE,
AND yE WAY OF LYF OTHER TO TECHE.
yUS ES ILK MAN HALDEN WITH GUDE ENTENT,
TO HELP OTHER OF yAT GOD HAS yAM LENT
FRELY FOR GODDES LUF, AND FOR NOGHT ELLES,
WHARFOR SAYNT PETRE yE APOSTEL yUS TELLES:
UNUSQUISQUE, SICUT ACCIPIT GRACIAM, IN ALTE-
RUTRUM ILLAM ADMINISTRARE DEBET.
HE SAYS "ILK MAN yAT GRACE HAS HERE
ALS HE RESAYVES GRACE, ON yE SAME MANERE
SULD HE IT MINISTRE AND FRELY BEDE
TIL ILKAN OTHER yAT yAI OF HAS NEDE"
AND yUS ES ILK MAN HALDEN TO DO,
FOR IN yE GODSPELLE YHIT SAYS GOD MAR yARTO:
QUOD GRATIS ACCEPISTIS,
GRATIS DATE.
HE SAYS "yAT yAT YHE HAF OF GRACE FRE
AND FRELY RESAYVED, FRELY GYF YHE."
yUS SAL MEN yAN YHELDE RESONS SERE
OF ALLE yAIR LYF, ALS WRITEN ES HERE,
yAT ES OF ALLE TYMES SPENDED IN VAYNE,
AND OF ILKA MOMENT OF TYME CERTAYNE;
162
AND OF ILKAN IDEL WORD AND THOGHT,
AND OF ILKAN YDEL DEDE yAT yAI WROGHT,
OUTHER IN ELDE OR IN yAIR YHOUTHE,
AFTIR yE TYME yAT yAI WITT FIRST COUTHE,
AND OF DEDES yAT yAI THURGH ERRYNG DID;
AND NOGHT ANELY OF OPEN WERKES BOT OF HID,
AND NOGHT ANELY OF WERKES WROGHT, BOT UNWROGHT
ALS OF WERKES OF MERCY yAT DONE WAR NOGHT;
AND OF yAIR AWEN SAULES yAI SAL REKEN yAR,
AND OF yAIR BODYS yAT yAM OBOUT BAR;
AND NOGHT ANLY OF AYTHER BY yAM-SELF yAN,
BOT OF BATHE TOGYDER ALS OF A MAN;
AND YHIT NOGHT ANELY OF yAM-SELF ALLE,
BOT OF yAIR NEGHBURS ANSWER yAI SALLE;
AND FADIRS AND MODIRS SAL REKKEN yAT TYDE,
OF yAIR SONS AND yAIR DOGHTIRS UNCHASTIDE;
AND LOVERDES ALSWA OF yAIR MEN NAMLY,
yE WHILK yAI WALD NOGHT IUSTIFY;
AND MAYSTERS OF yAIR DISCIPLES ALSWA,
yE WHILK yAI LETE UNTAGHT IN FOLIS GA;
AND PRELATES AND PRESTES OF ILKA SUGGETTE,
yAT yAI WALD NOGHT IN RIGHT REWEL SETTE;
AND ALLE OTHER yAT WRANG AND IN ILLE ENTENT
yE GUDES SPENDED yAT GOD HAD yAM LENT,
AND OF ALLE WRANG HALDYNGS OF GUDES SERE,
OF WHILK yAI PARTED NOGHT TIL OTHER HERE
yAT OF yAM HAD NEDE, ALS yAI MYGHT SE;
OF ALLE yIR THYNGES MEN SAL ARESONED BE.
AT yE DAY OF DOME, ALS GOD HAS ORDAYND,
WHAR NATHYNG SAL BE HID NE LAYND,
OF ALLE yIR, MEN SAL YHELDE ACOUNT STRAYT,
SAL NATHYNG yAN BE yAR TO LAYT.
FUL SELY ES yAT MAN OR WOMMAN,
yAT A GUDE REKKENYNG MAY YHELDE yAN,
SWA yAT HE MAY PAS QWYTE AND FRE
OF ALLE THYNG, yAT MAY REKEND BE.
AND SWA SELY MAY BE ALLE yAS,
yAT FRA HETHEN IN CHARITE GAS;
163
FOR HE yAT HAS HERE GUDE ENDYNG,
SAL PAS WELE yAR, WITH LIGHT REKKENYNG.
AT yE DAY OF DOME, ALS BYFOR ES TALDE,
ALLE MEN SAL BE BATHE YHUNG AND ALDE,
AND GUDE AND ILLE, ALLE SAL COM yIDER.
SWA MYKEL FOLK COM NEVER TOGYDER.
NE NEVER WAS SENE SYTHEN yE WERLD BYGAN,
ALS SAL BE SENE BYFOR CRIST yAN,
yAT SAL BE DEMED AFTIR yAI HAF WROGHT.
BOT SOM SAL DEME AND SUM NOGHT,
FOR SOM SAL DEME WITH yE DOMES-MAN,
yAT THURGH DOME SAL NOGHT BE DEMED yAN.
SOM SAL BE DEMED yAN RYGHTWYSLY,
yAT SAL DEME ON NA PARTY;
BOT MANY OTHER yAR SAL SEME,
yAT SAL NOUTHER BE DEMED NE DEME.
yA yAT SAL DEME AND NOGHT DEMED BE,
SAL BE PARFIT MEN WITH GOD PRIVE.
OF yA yAT DEMED SAL BE AND DEM SAL NOGHT,
SAL SOME TIL BLISSE BE DEMED AND BROGHT;
AND SUM SAL BE DEMED TO HELLE TO WENDE,
WHAR PYN SAL BE WITH-OUTEN ENDE.
BOT ALLE yAT TROWED NOGHT ALS TROW WE,
SAL NOUTHER DEME NE DEMED BE;
BOT FOR yAI WALD NOGHT TIL OUR TROUTHE COME,
yA SAL WENDE TIL HELLE WITH-OUTEN DOME.
FIRST yAS yAT WITH CRIST SAL DEME yAT DAY
AND NOGHT BE DEMED, ER NAMLY yAI
yAT HERE FORSUKE yE WERLDES SOLACE,
AND FOLOWED RIGHTLY CRISTES TRACE,
ALS HIS APOSTELS AND OTHER MA,
yAT FOR HIS LUF THOLED ANGRE AND WA;
yA SAL DEME WITH CRIST AND NAN ELLES,
FOR-WHI IN yE GODSPELLE yUS HE TELLES:
VOS, QUI SECUTI ESTIS ME, SEDEBITIS
SUPER SEDES DUODECIM, IUDICANTES DUODECIM
TRIBUS ISRAEL.
HE SAYS "YHE yAT FOLOWES ME HERE LYFAND,
164
SAL SITT OPON TWELF SETES DEMAND
yE TWELF NACIONS OF ISRAEL,"
yAT ES, yAS yAT GOD SESE HERE ALS LELE.
SOM SAL NOGHT DEME, BOT DEMED BE
TIL BLIS, ALS MEN OF GRETE CHARITE
yAT BLETHELY WIRK WALD yE WERKES OF MERCY,
AND KEPED yAM HERE FRA SYN DEDLY.
SOM SAL NOGHT DEME, BOT BE DEMED
TIL HELLE, AND FRA GOD BE FLEMED,
ALS yAS yAT ER FALS CRISTEN MEN,
yAT KEPED NOGHT yE COMANDMENTES TEN,
AND WALD NOGHT HERE FORSAKE yAIR SYN,
BOT WHILS yAI LYFYED AY DWELLE yAR-IN.
SOM SAL NOGHT BE DEMED yAT DAY




yAT SAL WENDE TO HELLE AND DWELLE yAR AY,
ALS PAENS AND SARAZYNS yAT HAD NA LAW,
AND IEWES yAT NEVER WALD CRIST KNAW,
yARFOR yAI SAL GA TIL PAYNE ENDELES,
WITH-OUTEN DOME, FOR yUS WRITEN ES:
QUI SINE LEGE PECCANT,
ABSQUE LEGE PERIBUNT.
"yAS yAT WITH-OUTEN LAWE USES SYN
WITH-OUTEN LAW SAL PERYSSHE yAR-IN."
AND yAR-FOR AT yE DAY OF DOME NAMLY,
ILK MAN SAL HAF AS HE ES WORHTY.
A FUL HARD DAY MEN SAL yAT DAY SE,
WHEN ALLE THYNG SAL yUS DISCUSSED BE.
yAT DAY, SAL NA MAN BE EXCUSED
OF NATHYNG yAT HE WRANG HERE USED,
yAT SOUNES IN ILLE ON ANY MANERE,
OF WHILK HE WAS NEVER DELYVERD HERE.
yE SYNFUL SAL yARE NA MERCY HAVE,
FOR NATHYNG MAY yAM yAN SAVE;
FOR-WHY yAI SAL yAN NA HELP GETT
OF SERGEAUNT, NE AUTURNE, NE AVOKET,
NE OF NAN OTHER FOR yAM TO PLEDE,
NE yAM TO COUNSAYLE NE TO REDE,
165
NE NA HALGHE SAL FOR yAM PRAY.
yIS MAY BE CALD A FUL HARDE DAY,
FORWHI yAN, ALS yE BUKE BERS WITNES,
SAL NOGHT BE SHEWED BOT RIGHTWYSNES,
AND GRETE REDDURE, WITH-OUTEN MERCY,
UNTIL ALLE SYNFUL MEN NAMELY.
yA yAT OF yAIR SYN HERE WALD NOGHT STYNT;
yAI SAL yAT DAY FOR EVER BE TYNT
FRA GOD, WITH-OUTEN ANY RECOVERERE,
AND DELYVERD BE UNTIL yE DEVELS POWERE.
FUL WA SAL SYNFUL MEN BE yAT DAY,
AND TIL HELLE PYNE BE PUT FOR AY,
[Z Triplet instead of couplet] AND yARFOR MEN MAY CALLE yAT DAY,
yE GRETE DAY OF DELYVERAUNCE,
yE DAY OF WREKE AND OF VENGEAUNCE,
yE DAY OF WRETHE AND OF WRECHEDNES,
yE DAY OF BALE AND OF BITTERNES,
yE DAY OF PLEYNYNG AND ACCUSYNG,
yE DAY OF ANSWER AND OF STRAIT REKKENYNG,
yE DAY OF IUGEMENTS AND OF INWYS,
yE DAY OF ANGRE AND OF ANGWYS,
yE DAY OF DREDE AND OF TREMBLYNG,
yE DAY OF GRETYNG AND GOULYNG,
yE DAY OF CRYING AND OF DULEFUL DYN,
yE DAY OF SOROW yAT NEVER SAL BLYN,
yE DAY OF FLAYING AND OF AFUReAY,
yE DAY OF DEPARTYNG FRA GOD AWAY,
yE DAY OF MERRYNG AND OF MYRKUNeES,
yE DAY yAT ES LAST AND yAT MAST ES,
yE DAI WHEN CRIST SAL MAKE ENDE OF ALLE;
yUS MAY NAN DISCRYVE yAT DAY AND CALLE.
OUR LOVERD yAT ALLE THYNG CAN SE AND WITT
AT yE DREDEFUL DAY OF DOME SAL SITT,
ALS KYNG AND RIGHTWYSE DOMESMAN,
IN DOME TO DEME ALLE yE WERLD yAN,
OPON yE SETIL OF HIS MAGESTE.
yAT DAY SAL ALLE MEN BYFOR HYM BE,
166
BATHE GUDE AND ILLE, MARE AND LES;
yAN SAL NOGHT BE DONE BOT RIGHTWYSNES.
HE SAL DEME AL MEN OF ILKA DEGRE,
TIL IOY OR PAYNE yAT DEMED SAL BE,
AND RIGHTWYSE DOMES-MAN AND SUTHEFAST
AND GYF A FYNAL DOME AT yE LAST.
BOT HOW HE SAL DEME I SAL SHEWE,
ALS TELLES yE GODSPELLE OF MATHEWE;
HYS ANGELS yAN, AFTIR HIS WILLE,
SAL FIRST DEPARTE yE GUDE FRA yE ILLE,
ALS yE HIRD yE SHEPE DUS FRA yE GAYTE,
yAT FALLES TO BE PUTT TIL PASTUR STRAYT.
BY yE SHEPE UNDERSTAND WE MAY
yE GUDE MEN yAT SAL BE SAVED yAT DAY.
BY yE GAYTE UNDERSTAND WE MAY
yE ILLE MEN, yAT yAN DAMPNED SAL BE.
yE GUDE SAL BE SETTE ON HIS RIGHT HAND,
AND yE ILLE ON HIS LEFTE SYDE SAL STAND;
yAN SAL OUR LOVERD SAY yUS yAT TYDE
TIL yAM yAT STANDES ON HIS RIGHT SYDE:
VENITE, BENEDICTI PATRIS MEI,
POSSIDETE PARATUM NOBIS REGNUM
A CONSTITUCIONE MUNDI.
HE SAL SAY yAN, "COMMES NOW TIL ME,
MY FADIR BLISSED CHILDER FRE,
AND WELDES yE KYNGDOM yAT TIL YHOW ES DIGHT
FRA FIRST yAT yE WERLD WAS ORDAYND RIGHT."
FOR I HUNGERD AND YHE ME FEDDE,
I THRESTED AND AT DRYNK YHE ME BEDDE;
OF HERBER GRETE NEDE I HAD,
YHE HERBERD ME WITH HERT GLAD,
NAKED I WAS, ALS YHE MYGHT SE,
YHE GAF ME CLATHES AND CLAD ME;
SEKE I WAS AND IN FUL WAYKE STATE,
YHE WISIT ME, BATHE ARLY AND LATE;
IN PRISOUN WHEN I WAS HALDEN STILLE,
TIL ME YHE COME WITH FUL GUDE WILLE.
167
yAN SAL yE RIGHTWYS MEN yAT DAY,
TIL OUR LOVERD ANSWER yUS AND SAY;
'LOVERD WHEN SAW WE yE HUNGRY,
AND TO GYF yE METE WAR WE REDY;
AND WHEN MYGHT WE yE THRESTY SE,
AND GAF yE DRYNK WITH HERT FRE;
WHEN SAW WE yE NEDE OF HERBER HAVE,
AND TO HERBER yE VOUCHED SAVE;
WHEN SAW WE yE NAKED AND WE yE CLED,
AND WHEN SAW WE yE SEKE AND IN PRISON STED,
AND VISITED yE WITH GUDE WILLE,
AND COMFORTED yE, ALS WAS SKILLE?'
OUR LOVERD SAL yAN yAM ANSWER yUS,
AND SAY, ALS yE GODSPELLE SHEWES US:
'SUTHLY I SAY YHOU, SWA YHE WROGHT,
yAT ILKA TYME WHEN YHE DID OGHT
UNTIL ANE OF yE LEST yAT YHE MYGHT SE
OF MY BRETHER, YHE DID TIL ME.'
yAN SAL OUR LOVERD TIL ALLE yAS SAY,
yAT yAN ON HIS LEFTE SYDE SAL STAND yAT DAY,
AND SPEK TIL yAM WITH AN AUSTERNE CHERE,
yIR WORDES yAT ER HYDUS TO HERE:
DISCEDITE A ME MALEDICTI, IN IGNEM
ETERNUM, QUI PREPARATUS EST DIABOLO
ET ANGELIS EIUS.
"YHE WERYED WYGHTES WENDE FRA MY SIGHT,
UNTIL yE ENDELES FIRE yAT ES DIGHT
TIL yE DEVEL AND TIL HIS AUNGELS."
AND yAN SAL HE SAY yUS, ALS yE BUKE TELS,
'I HUNGRED AND HAD DEFAUTE OF METE,
AND YHE WALD NOGHT GYFE ME AT ETE;
I THRESTED, AND OF DRYNK HAD NEDE,
AND YHE WALD NA DRYNK ME BEDE;
I WANTED HERBER, yAT I OFT SOGHT,
AND ALLE yAT TYME YHE HERBERD ME NOGHT;
NAKED WITH-OUTEN CLATHES I WAS,
AND WITH-OUTEN CLATHES YHE LET ME PAS;
168
SEKE I WAS, AND BEDRED LAY,
AND YHE VISITE ME NOUTHER NYGHT NE DAY;
IN PRISON I WAS, ALS WELE WYST YHE,
AND YHE WALD NA TYME COM TIL ME.'
yAN SAL yAI ANSWERE, ALS MEN SAL HERE,
TIL OUR LOVERD, AND SAY ON yIS MANERE:
'LOVERD WHEN SAW WE yE HAF HUNGER OR THRIST
OR OF ANY HERBER HAF GRETE BRIST;
OR NAKED, OR SEKE, OR IN PRISON BE,
AND WE NA THYNG DID NE MYNSTRED TO yE?'
yAN SAL OUR LOVERD ANSWER OGAYNE
AND SAY TIL yAM yIR WORDES CERTAYNE:
'SUTHLY I SAY YHOU, ALS FALLES yAR-TO,
ALLE TYME yAT YHE WALD NOGHT DO
TIL ANE OF LEST yAT MYNE ER KYDDE,
ALS LANG TIL ME YHE NOGHT DIDDE.'
yUS SAL OUR LOVERD REHERCE OPENLY
TIL RIGHTWYS MEN, yE WERKES OF MERCY,
FOR TO MAKE yAM OPENLY KYD,
TIL GRETE WORSHEPE OF yAM yAT yAM DYD;
AND SHEW TIL yE SYNFUL, ALS FALLES yAR-TO,
yAIR UNKYNDENES, yAT WYLD NOGHT DO
yE WERKES OF MERCY FOR HIS LUF,
TIL yAIR GRETE SHENSHEPE AND REPRUVE.
WHEN HE HAS yUS SAYDE AND MADE ENDE,
yE SYNFUL WITH yE DEVELS SAL WENDE
UNTIL HELLE FIRE, yAT NEVER SAL SLAKE.
A FUL HIDUS CRY yAN SAL yAI MAKE,
AND SAY 'ALLAS] yAT WE EVER WAR WROGHT.
IN MANSKYND; WHYNE WAR WE NOGHT]
WHYNE HAD GOD MADE US SWA,
yAT US THURT NEVER HAF FELED WELE NE WA]
NOW SAL WE BRYN IN yE FIRE OF HELLE,
AND WITH-OUTEN ENDE yAR-IN DUELLE.'
HELLE yAN yAM SAL SWELGHE ALS-TITE
WITH-OUTEN ANY LENGER RESPYTE;
AND ALLE yE FIRE yAT yAN SAL BE SENE,
AND ALLE yE CORRUPCIONS yAT EVER HAS BENE,
169
AND yE FILTHE AND ALLE yE STYNK
OF ALLE yE WERLD yAN SAL SYNK
DOUN WITH yAM IN-TIL yE PITTE OF HELLE,
TO EKE yAIR SOROW yAT yAR SAL DUELLE.
BOT yE RYGHTWYS MEN, ALS yE BUKE BERS WYTNES
SAL WENDE TIL BLISSE, WHAR LYFE ES ENDELES,
WITH OUR LOVERD AND HYS AUNGELS ILKANE
SHYNAND BRIGHTER yAN EVER SON SHANE.
NOW HAVE YHE HERD, ALS ES CONTENDE
IN yIS FIFT PART, HOW yE WERLD SAL ENDE,
AND HOW CRIST, AT HIS LAST COMMYNG,
SAL IN DOME SITTE AND DISCUSSE ALLE THYNG.
HERE MAY A MAN READ yAT HAS TOME,
A LARGE PROCES OF yE DAY OF DOME,
yAT A LANG TYME AFTIR I HAF REDDE
SULD CONTENE BY SKILLE, AR ALLE WAR SPEDDE;
BOT YE SAL UNDERSTAND AND WITTE,
ALS MEN MAY SE IN HALY WRITTE,
yAT THURGH yE WYSEDOM AND yE VERTU,
AND yE MYGHT OF OUR LORD IHESU,
ALLE yE PROCESSE yAT SAL BE yAT DAY,
OF WHILK ANY CLERK CAN SPEKE OR SAY,
SAL yAN SWA SHORTELY BE SPED AND SONE,
yAT ALLE SAL BE IN A MOMENT DONE.
A MOMENT ES ALS OF A TYME BYGYNNYNG,
ALS SHORT ALS AN EGHE TWYNKELYNG.
A GRETE WONDIR MAY yIS BE KYD,
OMANG ALLE WONDIRS yAT EVER GOD DYD,
yAT IN SWA SHORT TYME AT HIS COMMYNG,
HE MUGHT DEME AND DISCUSSE AL THYNG;
BOT OF yIS SULD NANE MUSE, LERED NE LEWED,
FOR ALS GRETE WORDIRS HAS GOD SHEWED;
ALS GRETE A WONDER ES WHEN HE WROGHT,
WITH A SHORT WORDE, ALLE yE WORLD OF NOGHT,
AND OF yIS yE PROPHETE BERS WITTNES,
yAT SAYS yUS, ALS IT WRYTEN ES:
170
QUIA IPSE DIXIT ET FACTA SUNT,
IPSE MANDAVIT ET CREATA SUNT.
"GOD SAYDE," SAYS HE, "AND ALLE WAS DONE
HE BAD AND ALLE WAS MADE SONE."
yUS IN A SHORT TYME ALLE THYNG MADE HE,
MARE WONDIR yAN yIS MUGHT NEVER BE,
yAN MAY HE ALS SHORTLY MAKE ENDYNG
OF ALLE THYNG, ALS HE MADE BYGYNNYNG.
FOR SWA WITTY AND MYGHTY ES HE
yAT NA-THYNG TIL HYM IMPOSSIBEL MAY BE.
yE PROCESSE OF yAT DAY yAT I HAF TALDE,
AL yE MEN OF yE WORLD, BATHE YHUNG AND ALDE,
SAL SE AND UNDIRSTAND IT ALLE,
IN ALS SHORT TYME ALS IT SAL FALLE.
NOW HAF YHE HERD ME SPEKE AND REDE
OF yE WONDIR yAT yAN SAL BE AND DREDE.
BOT ALLE yOGH YHE HAF HERD ME REDE AND SAY
OF yE REDDURE, yAT SAL BE DONE yAT DAY
UNTILLE ALLE SYNFUL MEN NAMELY,
yAT SAL BE DAMPNED WITH-OUTEN MERCY,
ALS MEN MAY IN yIS PART WRYTEN SE,
NA MAN yARFOR SULD IN DISPAYRE BE;
FOR ALLE yAT HAS MERCY HERE SAL BE SAVE,
AND ALLE yAT HERE ASKES MERCY SAL IT HAVE,
YF yAI IT SEKES WHILLES yAI LYF BODILY,
AND TREWELY TRAYSTE IN GODDYS MERCY,
AND AMENDE yAM AND yAIR SYN FORSAKE,
BYFOR yE TYME AR yE DEDE yAM TAKE,
AND DO MERCY HERE AND CHARITE,
yAN GETTE yAI MERCY AND SAVED SAL BE.
BOT IF yE DEDE BYFOR HAF yAM TANE,
AR yAI HAF MERCY, yAN GETTE yAI NANE,
BOT REDDURE OF RIGHTWYSNES ANELY,
FOR yAN SAL BE SHEWED NA MERCY.
HERE MAY ILK MAN, IF HE WILLE,
HAF MERCY yAT DUS yAT FALLES yAR-TILLE;
yOGHE HE HAD DONE NEVER SWA MYKEL SYN,
IF HE AMENDED HYM, HE MYGHT IT WYN;
171
FOR yE MERCY OF GOD ES SWA MYKEL HERE,
AND RECHES OVER ALLE, BATHE FER AND NERE,
yAT ALLE yE SYN yAT A MAN MAY DO,
IT MYGHT SLEKEN, AND MARE yAR-TO,
AND yAR-FOR SAYS SAYNT AUSTYN yUS,
A GUDE WORDE yAT MAY COMFORT US:
SICUT SCINTILLA IGNIS IN MEDIO MARIS,
ITA OMNIS IMPIETAS VIRI AD MISERIAM DEI.
"ALS A LITEL SPARK OF FIRE," SAYS HE,
"IN MYDWARD yE MYKEL SE,
RIGHT SWA ALLE A MANS WYKKEDNES
UN-TO yE MERCY OF GOD ES."
HERE MAY MEN SE HOW MYKEL ES MERCY,
TO FORDO ALLE SYN AND FOLY.
FOR-WHY IF A MAN HAD DONE HERE
ALS MYKEL AND ALS MANY SYNS SERE,
ALS AL yE MEN OF yE WERLD HAS DONE,
ALLE MYGHT HIS MERCY FORDO SONE;
AND IF POSSIBEL WHARE, ALS ES NOGHT,
yAT ILK MAN ALS MYKEL SYN HAD WROGHT,
ALS ALLE yE MEN yAT IN yE WERLD EVER WAS,
YHIT MUGHT HIS MERCY ALLE yAIR SYN PAS.
yAN SEMES IT WELE, ALS MEN MAY SE,
yAT OF HIS MERCY HERE UTeHEUREe IS GRETE PLENTE,
FOR HIS MERCY SPREDES ON ILKA SYDE
THURGH ALLE yE WERLD, yATES BRADE AND WYDE,
AND SHEUES IT BE MANY WAYS,
AND yARFOR yE PROPHETE DAVID SAYS:
MISERICORDIA DOMINI PLENA
EST TERRA.
"yE ERTHE", HE SAYS, "ES FUL OF MERCY."
yAN MAY MEN IT FYNDE HERE PLENTEUOUSLY;
AND HE yAT HAS MERCY, AR HE HETHEN WENDE,
AT yE GRETE DOME SAL FYNDE CRISTE HIS FRENDE,
WHAR RIGHTWYSNES ANELY SAL BE HAUNTED,
AND NA MERCY yAN BE GRAUNTED.
AFTER yE GRETE DOME ALLE yE WERLD BRADE
SAL SEME yAN ALS IT WAR NEW MADE.
172
yE ERTHE SAL BE yAN EVEN AND HALE,
AND SMETHE AND CLERE ALS CRISTALE;
yE AYRE OBOUT SAL SHYNE FUL BRIGHT,
yAN SAL AY BE DAY AND NEVER NYGHT,
FOR yE ELEMENTES ALLE SAL yAN CLENE BE
OF ALLE CORRUMPCIOUNS yAT WE HERE SE;
yAN SAL ALLE yE WERLD, IN ALLE PARTYS,
SEME ALS IT WAR A PARADYS,
yE PLANETES AND yE STERNES ILKANE,
SAL SHYNE BRIGHTER yAN EVER yAI SHANE.
yE SON SAL BE, ALS SOM CLERKES DEMES,
SEVEN SYTHE BRIGHTER yAN IT NOW SEMES;
FOR IT SAL BE ALS BRIGHT ALS IT FIRST WAS,
BYFOR AR ADAM DID TRESPAS.
yE MONE SAL BE ALS BRIGHT AND CLERE,
ALS yE SON ES NOW yAT SHYNES HERE;
yE SON SAL yAN IN yE ESTE STANDE,
WITH-OUTEN REMOVYNG, AY SHYNANDE,
AND yE MONE OGAYNE IT IN yE WESTE,
AND NA MARE SAL TRAVAYLE BOT AY RESTE,
ALS yAI WAR SETTE AT yE BIGYNNYNG,
WHEN GOD MADE yAM AND ALLE THYNG;
yAI WAR yAN, ALS MEN MAY TROW,
MYKEL BRIGHTER yAN yAI ER NOW.
yE MOVAND HEVEUNeS WITH-OUTEN DOUT,
SAL yAN CEESE O TURNYNG OBOUT,
AND NA MARE OBOUT IN COURSE WENDE,
FOR OF ALLE THYNG yAN SAL BE MADE ENDE.
yE MOVAND HEVENS NOW OBOUT GAS,
AND yE SON AND yE MONE yAIR COURSE MAS;
AND yE OTHIR PLANETES ILKANE,
MOVES ALS yAI yAIR COURSE HAF TANE;
AND ALLE yE ELEMENTES KYNDELY DUSE
yAT yAT ES NEDEFUL TIL MAN USE.
yUS ORDAYND GOD yAM TO SERVE MAN,
BOT OF ALLE SWYLK SERVISE yAI SAL CEESE yAN.
FOR ALLE MEN AFTIR DOMESDAY
SAL BE WAR yAI SAL DUELLE FOR AY,
173
yE GUDE IN BLIS, IN REST AND PEESE,
yE ILLE IN PAYNE yAT NEVER SAL CEESE.
WHAT NEDE WAR yAT yA CREATURES yAN,
SHEWED SWILK SERVYSE MARE FOR MAN.
NA QWIK CREATURE SAL yAN BE LYFAND,
THURGH OUT yE WERLD IN NA LAND,
NE NATHYNG SAL GROWE yAN, GRESSE NE TRE,
NE CRAGGES NE ROCHES SAL NAN yAN BE,
NE DALE, NE HILLE, NE MOUNTAYNE;
BOT ALLE ERTHE SAL BE yAN EVEN AND PLAYNE,
AND BE MADE ALS CLERE AND FAYRE AND CLENE,
ALS ANY CRISTAL yAT HERE ES SENE;
FOR IT SAL BE PURGED AND FYNED WITH-OUTE,
ALS ALLE OTHER ELEMENTES SAL BE OBOUTE,
AND NA MARE BE TRAVAYLED O NA SIDE,
NE WITH NA CHARGE MARE OCCUPIDE.
NOW HAF YHE HERD ME BYFOR REDE
OF yE DAY OF DOME yAT MANY MAY DREDE,
AND OF yE WONDIRFUL TAKENS MANY,
yAT SALLE FALLE BYFOR yAT DAY NAMLY,
AND HOW yE WERLD yAT WE NOW SE,
AFTIR yE DOME ALS NEW MADE SAL BE,
ALS HERE ES CONTENED, WHA-SWA WILLE LUKE,
IN yE FIFTE PART OF yIS BUKE;
HERE ON NOW WILLE I NA LANGER STANDE,
BOT GA TIL yE SEXT PART NEGHEST FOLOWANDE,
yAT SPECIALY SPEKES, ALS WRITEN ES,
OF yE PAYNES OF HELLE yAT ER ENDELES,
yAT ALLE MEN, yAT HERE LYFE BYHOVES LEDE,
AGHT SPECIALY MAST TO DREDE;
FOR yA PAYNES ER SWA FEL AND HARD,
ALS YHE SAL HERE BE RED AFTIRWARD,
yAT ILK MAN MAY UGGE, BATHE YHUNGE AND ALDE,

yAT HERES yAM BE REHERCED AND TALDE.

[PART VI: yE PAYNES OF HELLE]/[CONTENTS]

HER BEGYNNES yE SEXT PARTY OF yIS BOKE
yAT SPEKES OF yE PAYNES OF HELLE.
174
MANY MEN HERE SPEKES OF HELLE,
BOT OF yE PAYNES yAR FUNE CAN TELLE,
BOT WHA-SWA HERE MUGHT WIT AND KUNeAW WELE
WHAT PAYNES yE SYNFUL yAR SAL FELE,
yAI SULD IN GRETE FERDLAYK BE BROGHT,
AY WHEN yAI ON yA PAYNES THOGHT;
FOR yE MYNDE OF yAM MYGHT MEN FEER,
SWA BITTER AND SWA HORRIBEL yAI ER;
BOT FORyI yAT MANY KNAWES NOGHT RIGHT,
WHATKYN PAYNES IN HELLE ER DIGHT,
WITH-OUTEN ENDE FOR SYNFUL MEN,
yARFOR I SAL SHEWE YHOW, ALS I CAN,
APARTY OF yA PAYNES SERE,
ALS YHE MAY SONE AFTIRWARD HERE.
BOT FIRST I WILLE SHEW WHARE ES HELLE,
ALS I HAF HERD SOM GRETE CLERKES TELLE,
AND SYTHEN WILLE I SHEW YHOW MARE,
AND SPEKE OF yE PAYNES yAT ER yARE.
SOM CLERKES SAYS, ALS yE BUKE BERS WITNES,
yAT HELLE EVEN IN MYDDES yE ERTHE ES;
FOR ALLE ERTHE BY SKILLE MAY LIKEND BE
TIL A ROUNDE APPEL OF A TRE,
yAT EVEN IN MYDDES HAS A COLKE,
AND SWA IT MAY BE TILLE AN EGGE YHOLKE;
FOR ALS A DALK ES EVEN IMYDWARD
yE YHOLKE OF yE EGGE, WHEN IT ES HARD,
RYGHT SWA ES HELLE PITTE, ALS CLERKES TELLES,
YMYDDES yE ERTHE AND NOURWHAR ELLES.
AND ALS yE YHOLK YMYDDES yE EGGE LYS,
AND yE WHITE OBOUT ON yE SAME WYS,
RIGHT SWA ES yE ERTHE, WITH-OUTEN DOUT.
YMYDDES yE HEVENS yAT GAS OBOUT.
yUS MAY MEN SE BY AN EGGE HARD DIGHT,
HOW HEVEN AND ERTHE AND HELLE STANDES RIGHT.
FUL HYDUS AND MYRKE HELLE ES KYD,
FOR-WHY IT ES WITH-IN yE ERTHE HYD,
yIDER yE SYNFUL SAL BE DRYVEN,
ALS TYTE ALS yE LAST DOME ES GYVEN.
175
WITH ALLE yE DEVELS AY yAR TO DUELLE,
yAT NOW ER IN yE AYRE AND IN HELLE,
yAR SAL yAI ALLE BE STOPED TOGIDER;
WA SAL yAM BE yAT SAL WENDE yIDER,
FOR yAR ES SWA MYKEL SOROW AND BALE,
AND SWA MANY PAYNES WITH-OUTEN TALE,
yAT ALLE yE CLERKES yAT EVER HAD WYTT,
yAT EVER WAS, OR yAT LYFES YHITT,
COUTH NOGHT TELLE NE SHEW THURGH LARE,
HOW MYKEL SOROW AND PAYNE ER yARE.
AND IF IT THURGH KYND MYGHT BE SWA,
yAT AN HUNDRETH THOUSAND MEN OR MA,
HAD AN HUNDRETH THOUSAND TUNGES OF STELE,
AND ILK TUNG MUGHT SPEKE WYSELY AND WELE
AND ILKA TUNG OF ILKA MAN,
HAD BYGUNNEN WHEN yE WERLD BYGAN,
TO SPEK OF HELLE, AND SWA SULD SPEKE AY
WHILS yE WERLD SULD LAST TIL DOMES DAY,
YHIT MUGHT yAI NOGHT yE SOROW TELLE,
yAT TO SYNFUL ES ORDAYND IN HELLE;
FOR-WHY NA WITT OF MAN MAY YMAGYN
WHAT PAYNES yAR ER ORDAYND FOR SYN.
BOT MEN MAY FYND, WHA-SWA WIL LOKE,
SOM MANER OF PAYNES WRYTEN IN BOKE,
OMANG ALL OTHER PAYNES yAT ER IN HELLE,
ALS MEN HAS HERD WYSE CLERKES TELLE;
BOT WHAT MAN ES SWA WYSE AND WYTTY
yAT COUTHE TELLE yA PAYNES PROPRELY,
BOT IT WAR HE yAT HAD BENE yARE,
AND SENE yA PAYNES BATH LES AND MARE?
BOT HE yAT yAR COMMES FOR CERTAYNE,
MAY NOGHT LIGHTLY TURNE AGAYNE;
HE MOST DUELLE yAR AND NEVER OWAY COM,
FOR PE BUKE SAYS yUS OF WYSDOM:
NON EST AGNITUS, QUI REVERSUS
EST AB INFERIS.
yAT ES ON YNGLISSE "MEN KNAWES NANE,
yAT TURNED FRA HELLE yAT yIDER WAS GANE."
176
FOR ALLE yAT ER yAR MOST DUELLE FOR AY,
yAI MAY NEVER BE BROGHT OWAY,
BOT-IF WAR THURGH MIRACLE ANELY,
AND THURGH SPECYAL GRACE OF GOD ALMYGHTY,
THURGH WHILK SOM, yAT IN HELLE HAS BENE,
AND HORRIBLE PAYNES yAR HAS SENE
HAS BENE BROGHT OWAY FRA ALLE yAT STRYF,
AND BENE TURNED OGAYNE FRA DED TIL LYF;
ALS LAZAR WAS MARY BROTHER MAUDALAYNE,
yAT SAW AND HERD yARE MANY A PAYNE,
yAT TYME NAMELY WHEN HE WAS DED,
FOR HIS SAUL yAN WAS AT yAT STED,
FOUR DAYES, ALS GOD VOUCHED SAVE,
AND SWA LANG HIS BODY LAY HERE IN GRAVE;
AND AT yE LAST GOD RAYSED HYM RYGHT
FRA DED TIL LYF THURGH HIS MYGHT;
BOT yAT yAT HE SAW HE NOGHT FORGATT,
AND SONE yARE-AFTER ALS HE SATT
WITH CRIST AT yE MEETE IN MARTHA HOWS,
HE TALDE A PARTY OF yA PAYNES HYDUS;
BOT YHIT DURST HE NOGHT AL TELLE,
FOR DREDE OF CRIST, yAT HE SAW IN HELLE,
YHIT LYFED HE AFTER FYFTEN YHERE,
BOT HE LUGHE NEVER, NE MADE BLYTHE CHERE,
FOR DREDE OF DEDE yAT HE MOST EFTE DREGHE,
AND OF yE PAYNES yAT HE SAW WITH EGHE.
FOR HOW BITTER yE DEDE ES NAN MAY WITT,
BOT HE ANELY yAT HAS FELED ITT,
AND WHAT PAYNES IN HELLE ER, NANE WIL WENE
BOT HE ANELY yAT HAS yAM SENE.
ALSWA TWA OF SYMEON SONS RYGHT,
yE WHILK CARYN AND LENTYN HIGHT,
WHEN yA FIRST WAR DEDE AND HETHEN WENT,
yAI SAW IN HELLE MANY A TOURMENT,
AND SITHEN WHEN CRIST DIGHED ON yE RODE,
yAI RASE FRA DED AND OBOUT YHODE,
AND TALD HOW CRIST, BYFOR yAT HE RAS,
TIL HELLE COME AND TUKE OUT yAT HIS WAS,
177
AND MYKEL COUTHE yAI yAN TELLE
OF yE PAYNES yAT yAI SAW IN HELLE.
BOT yAI HAD NO LEVE ALS I WENE
TO TELLE ALLE yAT yAI yAR HAD SENE;
WHARFOR yAI LYFED HERE AY IN PENAUNCE,
AND NEVER AFTIR MADE BLITHE COUNTINANCE,
OF WHAM ES WRITEN IN A PISTEL yUS,
yAT PILAT SENT TIL TYBERIUS,
yAT yAN EMPAROUR OF ROME WAS,
FOR TO CERTIFIE HYM OF yIS CAS.
AND YHIT MANY OTHER yAT WAR DEDE.
HAS BENE SUMTYME AT yAT STEDE,
AND SENE yAR MANY HYDUS PAYNE,
AND THURGH MIRACLE TURNED TIL LYF AGAYNE;
BOT OMANG ALLE yAT yAR HAS BENE SENE,
I FYNDE WRYTEN PAYNES FOURTENE,
THURGH WHILK yE SYNFUL SAL BE PYNED AY,
IN BODY AND SAUL AFTIR DOMESDAY;
yE WHILK ER ALS GENERAL PAYNES OF HELLE,
AND WHILK yAS ER I SAL YHOW TELLE.
yE FIRST ES FIRE SWA HATE TO REKEN,
yAT NA MANER OF THYNG MAY IT SLEKEN.
yE SECUNDE ES CALDE ALS SAYS SOM,
yAT NA HETE OF FIRE MAY OVERCOM.
yE THRED ALSWA ES FILTHE AND STYNK
yAT ES STRANGER yAN ANY HERT MAY THYNK.
yE FERTHE ES HUNGER SHARPE AND STRANG.
yE FIFT ES BRYNNAND THREST OMANG.
yE SEXT ES SWA MYKEL MYRKNES,
yAT IT MAY BE GRAPED, SWA THIK IT ES.
yE SEVEUNeD ES yE HORRIBEL SIGHT
OF yE DEVELS yAT yAR ER HYDUSLY DIGHT.
yE EGHTEND PAYNE ES VERMYN GRETE,
yAT yE SYNFUL MEN SAL GNAW AND FRETE.
yE NEGHEND ES DYNGYNG OF DEVELS HAND,
WITH MELLES OF YREN HATE GLOWAND.
yE TEND PAYNE ES GNAWYNG WITH-IN
OF CONSCIENCE yAT BITES ALS VERMYN.
178
yE ELLEVEND ES HATE TERES OF GRETYNG,
yAT yE SYNFUL SAL SCALDEN IN yE DOUNFALLYNG.
yE TWELFTE ES SHAME AND SHENSHEPE OF SYN
yAT yAI SAL HAF yAT NEVER SAL BLYN.
yE THRETTEND ES BANDES OF FIRE BRINNAND,
yAT yAI SAL BE BUNDEN WITH FOTE AND HAND.
yE FOURTEND PAYNE DESPAYRE ES CALD,
yAT yE SYNFUL SAL AY IN HERT HALD.
ALLE yIR ER GENERALE PAYNES IN HELLE;
BOT yAR ER OTHER MA yAN TUNG MAY TELLE,
OR HERT MAY THYNK OR EER MAY HERE,
OF SPECIAL PAYNES yAT ER SERE,
yE WHILK MANY, AFTIR yAI ER WORTHY,
SAL THOLE EVER-MARE IN SAULE AND BODY;
BOT OF ALLE yA PAYNES CAN I NOGHT SAY,
FOR NA MAN yAM REKEN NE SPECYFY MAY,
BOT YHIT WILLE I SPEKE SOM-WHAT MARE
OF yE GENERAL PAYNES yAT I SHEWED ARE,
AND WITH SOM AUTORITIES yAM BYND,
ALS MEN MAY IN SERE BUKES WRITEN FYND.
yE FIRST ALS I TALD ES yE FIRE HATE,
yAT NA THYNG MAY SLEKEN NE ABATE;
WHARE yE SYNFUL MEN SAL BRYN THURGH HETE
OF WHILK GOD SPEKES yUS THURGH yE PROPHETE:
IGNIS SUCCENSUS EST IN FURORE
MEO, ET ARDEBIT USQUE AD IN-
FERNI NOVISSIMA, ID EST, USQUE
IN ETERNUM.
"FYRE ES KYNDELD IN MY WRETH", SAYS HE,
"AND SAL BRYN UNTIL ENDE OF HELLE SAL BE,
yAT ES EVER-MARE, ALS GOD VOUCHES SAVE,
FOR HELLE SAL NEVER-MARE ENDE HAVE."
yAT FIRE ES SWA HATE, AND AY BRYNNES,
yAT IF ALLE yE WATERS yAT STANDES OR RYNNES
ON ERTHE, AND ALLE yE SESE WITH-OUTE,
yAT ENCLOSES ALLE yE ERTHE OBOUTE,
SULD RYN IN-TIL yAT FIRE SWA HATE,
YHIT MYGHT IT NOGHT IT SLEKEN NE ABATE,
179
NA MARE yAN A DROPE OF WATER SHIRE
IF ALLE ROME BREND, MUGHT SLEKEN yAT FIRE.
FOR yE FIRE OF HELLE yAT ES ENDELES,
ES HATTER yAN FIRE HERE ES,
RIGHT ALS yE FIRE yAT ES BRINNAND HERE,
ES HATTER AND OF MARE POWERE,
yAN A PURTRAYD FIRE ON A WAGHE,
yAT ES PAYNTED OUTHER HEGHE OR LAGHE,
WITH A REDE COLOURE TIL MENS SIGHT,
yAT NOUTHER BRYNNES NE GYFES LIGHT,
NE ON OTHIR MANERE AVALES NE DERS.
OF yIR TWA FIRES I FYNDE WRITEN TWA VERS.
QUAM FOCUS EST MUNDI PICTO FERVENCIOR IGNE,
TAM FOCUS INFERNI SUPERAT FERVENICIA MUNDI.
"ALS yE FIRE OF yE WERLD HATTER ES
yAN A FIRE PAYNTED, BE IT MARE OR LES,
RIGHTSWA yE FIRE OF HELLE PASSES THURGH HETE,
ALLE yE FIRES OF yE WERLD, SMALE AND GRETE,
AND FOR-yI yAT yE SYNFUL BRYNNED AY HERE,
IN yE FIRE OF FOLE YHERNYNGS SERE,
IT ES RIGHT yAT yAI BRYNNE yARE
IN yAT HATE FIRE FOR EVER-MARE.
"EST LOCUS INDIGNIS UBI NON EXTINGUITUR IGNIS,
NON QUI TORQUETUR, NEC QUI TORQUET, MORIETUR."
yE SECUNDE PAYNE ES GRETE CALDE,
yAT yE SYNFUL SAL FELE, ALS I AR TALDE;
yAT CALD SAL BE SWA STRANG AND KENE,
yAT IF yE MAST ROCHE yAT MAN HAS SENE,
OF yE MAST MOUNTAYNE IN ANY LAND,
WAR AL ATTANES IN FIRE BRYNNAND,
AND EVEN IMYDDES yAT CALD WAR,
IT SULD FRESE AND TURNE AL IN-TIL YSE yAR;
AND FOR-yI yAT yAI, OMANG OTHER VICE,
BRYNNED AY HERE IN yE CALDE OF MALICE,
AND AY WAS DASED IN CHARITE,
yARFOR IT ES RIGHT yAT yAI BE
IN yAT STRANG CALDE EVER-MARE LASTAND,
WHAR yAI SAL FRESE, BATHE FOTE AND HAND.
180
yE DEVELS SAL TAK yAM FRA yAT FIRE,
AND CAST yAM, WITH FUL GRETE IRE,
IN-TIL yAT CALD TO EKE yAIR PAYNE,
AND EFTE yAM CAST IN yE FIRE OGAYNE;
yUS SAL yAI EAST yAM TO AND FRA,
AND EVER-MARE yAI SAL FARE SWA.
OF yIS yE HALY MAN BERS WITTENES
IOB yAT SAYS yUS, ALS WRITEN ES:
AB AQUIS NIVIUM TRANSIBUNT
AD CALOREM NIMIUM.
"FRA WATERS OF SNAWES yE SYNFUL SAL WENDE
TIL yE OVER MYKEL HETE yAT HAS NAN ENDE."
AND SAYNT AUSTYN SAYS ON yIS MANERE,
IN A BUKE, ALS ES WRITEN HERE.
DICUNTUR NAMQUE, MALI CANDERE
EXTERIUS CALORE UT FERUM IN FOR-
NACE, ET INTERIUS FRIGORE UT
GLACIES IN YEME.
"yE WIKKED SAL OUTWITH BE GLOWAND
THURGH HETE, ALS MEN IN FIRE BRYNNAND,
AND WITH-IN THURGH CALDE SHARPE AND KENE,
ALS YSE yAT ES IN WYNTER SENE,"
yUS SAL yAI AY BE IN CALDE AND HETE;
yIS TOURMENT ES FUL STRANG AND GRETE.
yE THRED PAYNE ES, ALS MEN HERES CLERKES TELLE,
yE GRETE STYNK AND FILTHE yAT ES IN HELLE;
OF yIS SAYNT IEROM, yE HALY MAN,
SAYS yUS, ALS I HERE SHEWE YHOW CAN:
IBI EST IGNIS INEXTINGUIBILIS,
ET FETOR INTOLLERABILIS.
"yE FIRE ES yAR OF SWA GRETE POUSTE,
yAT IT MAY NEVER MAR SLEKEND BE,
AND SWYLK FILTHE AND STYNK ES IN yAT UGLY HOLE,
yAT NAN ERTHELY MAN MUGHT IT THOLE;"
FOR NA MAN IN ERTHE MAY YMAGYN
SWA MYKEL FILTHE, ALS SAL BE yAR-IN,
WHAR-FOR yAR SAL BE MARE STYNK
yAN TUNG MAY TELLE OR HERT THYNK.
181
yE WHILK STYNK, WITH FILTHE AND FEN,
SAL BE STRANG PAYNE TIL SYNFUL MEN,
AND YHIT yE FIRE yAT BRYN yAM SAL,
SAL GYFE A STUReANG STYNK WITH-ALLE,
FOR IT SAL BE FULLE OF BRUNSTANE AND PYK,
AND OF OTHER THYNG yAT ES WYK;
AND FOR yE SYNFUL DELYTED yAM HERE NAMLY,
IN yE FILTHE AND STYNK OF LECHERY,
IT ES RIGHT yAT yAI BE AY OMANG
yE STYNK AND FILTHE IN HELLE SWA STRANG.
yE FERTHE PAYNE ES, ALS I HAF HERD SAY,
yE STRANG HUNGER yAT yAR SAL LAST AY,
yE WHIULeK yE SYNFUL IN HELLE SAL FELE,
EVER-MARE ALS yIR CLERKES KNAWES WELE.
yE STRENTHE OF HUNGRE SAL yAM SWA CHACE
yAT yAIR AWEN FLESSHE yAI SAL OF-RACE;
AND FOR HUNGRE yAI SAL YHERNE IT ETE,
FOR yAI SAL GETT NAN OTHER MEETE;
FOR HUNGRE yAI SAL BE ALS BRAYNE-WODE,
BOT yE DEDE yAR SAL BE yAIR FODE,
ALS SAYS yE PROPHET IN A STEDE:
'yAI SAL BE FEDDE WITH yE DEDE:'
MORS DEPASCET
EOS.
yIS ES ON INGLYS yUS TO REDE:
"yE DEDE yAM SAL DOLEFULY FEDE."
FOR ALS HE yAT HAS HERE HUNGRE GRETE,
THURGH KYNDE LANGES MAST AFTIR METE,
RIGHT SWA yE SYNFUL yAT SAL DUELLE yARE,
YHIT SAL LANGE AFTIR yE DED WEL MARE
yAT yAI MAST HATED AND DREDE HERE,
BOT DIGHE MAY yAI NOGHT ON NA MANERE,
OF yIS SAYNT ION BERS WITTNES,
ALS IN yE APOCALIPSE WRITEN ES:
DISIDERABUNT MORI, ET MORS
FUGIET AB EIS.
"YHERNE yAI SAL TO DIGHE FRA yAIR WA,
AND yE DED SAL AY FLE yAM FRA;"
182
AND FORyY yAT yAI WALD GYF NA METE
TIL yE POER, yAT HERE HUNGER HAD GRETE,
NE OF yAM HAD NOUTHER REUTHE NE MERCY,
BOT USED AY OUTRAGE AND GLOTONY,
IT ES RIGHT yAT yAI HAF yIS PAYNE
GRETE HUNGRE IN HELLE AY yAR OGAYNE.
yE FIFTE PAYNE ES, ALS SAL BEFALLE,
GRETE THREST yAT yAI SAL HAF WITH-ALLE.
SWA MYKEL IN HELLE SAL BE yAIR THREST,
yAT yAIR HERTES SAL NERE CLEWE AND BREST;
BOT yE FLAUME OF FIRE yAI SAL DRYNK,
MENGED WITH BRUNSTAN yAT FOUL SAL STYNK,
AND WITH SMOKE OF FYRE AND WYNDES BLAST,
AND WITH OTHER STORMES yAT AY SAL LAST,
yAT ALLE TOGIDER yAN SAL METE;
AND yARFOR SAYS DAVID yE PROPHETE:
IGNIS ET SULPHUR ET SPIRITUS
PROCELLARUM PARS CALICIS EORUM.
HE SAYS yUS, ALS WE WRITEN FYNDE,
"FIRE AND BRUNSTAN AND STORMES WITH WYNDE,
A PART SAL BE yAR OF yAIR DRYNK,"
AND yAT SAL BE MENGED WITH SMOKE AND STYNK;
YHIT SAL yAI DRYNK, OGAYNE yAIR WILLE,
ANOTHER MANERE OF DRYNK yAT ES ILLE,
yAT SAL BE BITTER AND VENEMUS,
AND BE CALD yAIR WYNE, FOR yE PROPHET SAYS yUS:
FEL DRACONUM VINUM EORUM, ET VENENUM
ASPIDUM INSANABILE.
"GALLE OF DRAGUNS yAIR WYNE SAL BE,
AND WENYM OF SNAKES yAR-WITH," SAYS HE,
"yAT MAY NOGHT BE HELED WELE,"
SWA VIOLENT IT ES TO FELE.
yIR WORDES, AFTIR yE LETTRE, ER HARD TO HERE,
BOT MEN MAY yAM TAKE ON OTHIR MANERE.
yAI SAL SWA BRYNNAND THREST THOLE,
yAT yAIR HERTES SAL BRYN WITH-IN ALS A COLE,
183
FOR NA LICOUR SAL yAI FYND TO FELE,
yAT yAIR THREST MUGHT SLEKE AND yAIR HERTES KELE;
#6764 yAI SAL FOR THREST yE HEVEDES SOUKE
OF yE NEDDERS-yAT ON yAM SAL ROUKE,
ALS A CHILDE yAT SITTES IN yE MODER LAPPE,
AND WHEN IT LIST, SOUKES HIR PAPPE;
FOR I FYND yIS WORD IN HALY WRITT,
ALS IOB SAYS yAT WITNESSES IT:
CAPUT ASPIDUM
SUGENT.
"yE HEVED OF NEDDERS yAT ON yAM SAL FEST"
HE SAYS, "yAI SAL SOUKE yAN FOR THREST."
STRANG PAYNE OF THREST yAN HAF yAI
WHEN yAI SAL SOUKE FOR THERST SWILK VENYM AY.
AND FOR-yI yAT yAI WALD NEVER BLETHELY
GYF TIL POER AT DRYNK yAT WAR THRESTY,
TO SLEKEN yAIR THREST, NE ON yAM THYNK,
NE NOUTHER GYF yAM METE NE DRYNK,
AND ON yAIR-SELVEN NA DRYNK WALD SPARE
NA DAY, TIL yAI DRUNKEN WARE,
IT ES yAN RIGHT yAT yAT yAI IN HELLE FELE
BRYNNAND THREST yAT NEVER SAL KELE;
yAT SAL yAI HAF WHEN yAI COM yIDER,
AND SHARP HUNGRE ALSWA BATH TO-GYDRE,
yAT NEVER SAL CESSE, ALS I SAYDE AR;
FOR yIR TWA PAYNES WITH OTHIR ER ENDELUEeS yAR,
OF yIS SAYNT IEROM BERS WITTNES,
yAT SAYS yUS, ALS WRITEN ES:
IN INFERNO ERIT FAMES INFINITA,
ET SITIS INFINITA.
"IN HELLE SAL BE WHAR NEVER ES REST
ENDELUEeS HUNGRE AND ENDELES THREST."
INFERNI PENE SUNT HEC, VERMES, TENEBREQUE
FLAMMA, CHORUS DEMONUM, FETOR, FRIGUSQUE FAMES, SITIS, HORROR.
yE SEXT PAYNE ES OVER MYKEL MYRKNES,
yAT IN HELLE SAL BE AY ENDELES;
184

yAT SWA THIK ES yAT MEN MUGHT IT GRAPE,
FRA WHILK yE SYNFUL SAL NEVER ESCHAPE.
FOR NA HERT MAY THYNK NE TUNG TELLE,
SWA MYKEL MIRKENES ALS ES IN HELLE,
OF WHILK IOB SPEKES, ALS yE BUK SHEWES WELE,
AND SAYS, yE SYNFUL SAL GRAPE AND FELE
MYRKENES, ALS MYKEL AT MYDDAY
ALS AT MYDNYGHT, yAT SAL LAST AY:
PALPABUNT TENEBRAS IN MERIDIE,
SICUT IN MEDIA NOCTE.
"IN HELLE ES NEVER DAY BOT EVER NYGHT;
yAR BRYNNES AY FIRE, BOT IT GYFUESe NA LIGHT."
BOT YHIT yE SYNFUL SAL AY SE
ALLE yE SOROWE yAT yAR SAL BE,
AND ILKA PAYNE AND ILKA TOURMENT,
THURGH SPARKES OF FIRE yAT OBOUT SAL SPRENT.
BOT yAT SIGHT SAL BE TIL yAM yARE,
NA CONFORT, BOT SOROWE AND KARE.
yUS TO EKE yAIR PAYNES, yAI SAL HAF SIGHT,
WITH-OUTEN ANY COMFORT yAR OF LIGHT;
AND FOR-yI yAT HELLE ES AY LIGHTLES,
IT ES CALD yE LAND OF MYRKENES,
yAT ES DEPE AND MYRKE AND HYDUS,
yARFOR SAYS IOB, yE HALY MAN, yUS:
UT NON REVERTAR AD TERRAM
TENEBROSAM.
HE SAYS; "LOVERD yAT I NOGHT TURNE AWAY
TIL yE MYRKE LAND", WHARE SOROW ES AY,
WHARE WONYNG ES AY HYDUS AND ILLE,
ALS IOB SAYS yAT yUS SPEKES MAR yAR-TILLE:
UBI NULLUS ORDO, SED SEMPITERNUS
HORROR INHABITANS.
"yAR NAN ORDRE WONAND ES," SAYS HE,
"BOT UGLYNES yAT EVER MARE SAL BE."
AND FORyI yAT yE SYNFUL IN yAIR LYF HERE,
LUFED AY MYRKNES OF SYNS SERE,
AND WALD NOGHT TURNE yAM WHEN yAI MYGHT,
FRA yAT MYRKNES TIL GODDES LIGHT,
185
IT ES RIGHT yAT yAI DUELLE yARE,
IN yAT HIDUS MYRKNES EVER-MARE,
AND NEVER-MARE AFTIR LIGHT SE;
A STRANG PAYNE TIL yAM yAT SAL BE.
yE SEVEND PAYNE ES OF yE FOURTENE
yE SIGHT OF DEVELS yAT SAL BE SENE
OMANG yE SYNFUL yAT SAL BE IN HELLE,
IN WHAS COMPANY yAI SAL AY DUELLE.
yAT SIGHT SAL BE SWA HIDUS TO SE,
yAT ALLE yE MEN OF CRISTIANTE
COUTHE NOGHT, THURGH WITT, YMAGYN RIGHT,
NE DESCRYVE SWA HYDUS A SIGHT,
ALS yAI yAN SAL SE IN HELLE EVER-MARE,
OF UGLY DEVELS yAT SAL BE yARE,
FOR yAN SAL BE MA DEVELS IN HELLE,
yAN ANY TUNG CAN REKEN OR TELLE;
AND ILKAN SAL MARE GRYSELY SEME
yAN ANY MAN CAN YMAGYN AND DEME:
FOR SWA HARDY ES NA MAN, NE SWA BALDE
IN yIS WERLD, NOUTHER YHUNG NE ALDE,
IF HE MYGHT RIGHT CONSAYVE IN MYNDE,
HOW GRYSELY A DEVEL ES IN HIS KYNDE,
yAT DURST FOR ALLE GUDE OF MYDLERDE
A DEVEL SE HERE, SWA SULD HE BE AFERDE;
FOR yE HARDYEST MAN IN FLESSHE AND BANE
yAT HERE LYFES, YF HE SAWE ANE
OF yA DEVELS IN yAIR AWEN LYKNES,
SULD WAX WODE FOR FERDE AND BE WITTLES.
FOR-WHY NA WITT OF MAN MAY ENDURE
TO SE A DEVEL IN HIS PROPRE FIGURE.
HOW SAL yAI FARE yAN yAT AY SAL yAM SE,
AND AY IN COMPANY WITH PAM BE?
yE SYNFUL SAL EVER-MARE ON yAM LUKE
FOR yUS WE FYNDE WRYTEN IN BOKE:
IN INFERNO VIDEBUNT EOS, FACIE AD FACIEM,
QUORUM OPERA IN TERRIS DILEXERUNT.
"IN HELLE yAI SAL yAM SE, FACE TO FACE,
WHAS WERKES yAI LUFED AND FOLOWED yE TRACE,
186
WHILLES yAI WAR HERE IN ERTHE LYFAND;"
AND WITH yAT SYGHT, ALS I UNDERSTAND,
yAI SAL DULEFUL CRYING AND SOROW HERE,
FOR SAYNT AUSTYN SAYS ON yIS MANERE:
DEMONES IGNE SCINTILLANTE
VIDEBUNT, ET MISERABILEM
CLAMOREM FLENCIUM ET LA-
MENTANCIUM AUDIENT.
"yAI SAL SE yAR DEVELS WITH EGHE,
THURGH SPARKES yAT OF yE FIRE SAL FLEGHE,
AND HERE yAR-WITH ON ILKA PARTY,
yE WRECHED SYNFUL GRETE AND CRY."
AND yE SOROW AND DULE yAT yAI SAL MAKE,
SAL NEVER-MAR yAR CEES NE SLAKE;
AND FORyI yAT yAT HERE HATED TO SE,
AND TO HERE yAT yAT GUDE SULD BE,
AND yARFOR IT ES RESON AND RYGHT,
yAT yAI AY SE yAT GRYSELY SYGHT,
AND yAT yAT HERYNG HAF OF DULEFUL DYN,
TO EKE yAIR PAYN FOR yAIR SIN.
yE AGHTEND PAYNE, ALS yE BUKE SAYS US,
ES yE HORRIBEL VERMYN VENEMUS.
yE WHILK SAL ON yE SYNFUL ROUKE,
AND EVER-MARE yAM GNAW AND SOUKE,
ALS UGLY DRAGUNS, AND NEDDERS KENE;
AND TADES SWA HYDUS WAS NEVER HERE SENE
AND OTHIR VERMYN FUL OF VENYM,
AND WODE BESTES GRYSELY AND GRYM,
yAT WITH TETHE SAL WITH yAM AY GNAW AND BYTE,
ON ALLE yAIR LYMS, WHAR yAI HAD DELITE
SYNFUL WERKES HERE FOR TO WIRK,
AGAYNE yE LAW OF GOD AND OF HALY KYRK.
yUS FOR yAI DID AY OGAYNS GODDES LAWE,
VERMYN AND WODE BESTES SAL yAM AY GNAWE,
FOR yAIR SYN yAT yAM THOGHT HERE SWETE,
yARFOR GOD SAYS yUS THURGH yE PROPHETE:
DENTES BESTIARUM IMMITTAM IN EOS, CUM FURO-
RE TRAHENCIUM IN TERRA ATQUE SERPENCIUM.
187
"I SAL SEND IN yE SYNFUL", SAYS HE,
"yE TETHE OF BESTES yAT FELLE SAL BE
WITH WODENES OF yAM IN-TIL ERTHE DRAWAND,
AND OF NEDDERS yAM FAST GNAWAND."
yUS SAL WODE BESTES AND VERMYN GNAW yAM AY
AND NEVER-MARE PAS FRA yAM OWAY;
AND yAT PAYNE yE SYNFUL BYHOVES AY DREGHE,
FOR-WHY yAIR VERMYN SAL NEVER DIEGHE,
BOT EVER-MARE LYFAND WITH yAM DUELLE,
yARFOR GOD SAYS yUS IN yE GODSPELLE:
VERMIS EORUM NON MORIETUR,
ET IGNIS EORUM NON EXTINGUETUR.
"yAIR VERMYN SALLE NEVER DEGHE," SAYS HE,
"NE yAIR FYRE SALLE NEVER SLEKEND BE;"
AND TO yAT SAYS yUS SAYNT AUSTYNE,
yAT SPEKES HERE OF yAT VERMYNE:
VERMES INFERNALES SUNT IMMORTALES QUI, UT PIS-
CES IN AQUA, ITA VIVUNT IN FLAMMA.
HE SAYS, "VERMYN OF HELLE SALLE AY LYFE,
AND NEVER DEGHE yE SYNFULLE TO GRYEFE,
THE WHILK SALLE LYFE IN yE FLAWME OF FYRE,
ALS FYSSCHES LYFES IN WATER SCHYRE."
yAT VERMYN ON yAM SALLE AY CREPE,
IN yAM FEST yAIR CLOKES FULL DEPE;
yAI SALLE UMLAPP yAM ALLE OBOUTE,
AND GNAW ON ILKA LYM AND SOUKE;
WITH VERMYN yAI SALLE ALLE COVERD BE,
SWA yAT NA LYM OF yAM SALLE BE FRE,
AND SWA yAI SALLE BE AY GNAWAND
ON yAIR LYMS, WHETHER yAI LYG OR STAND;
VERMYN IN HELLE SALLE BE yAIR CLETHYNG
AND VERMYN SALLE yARE BE yAIR BEDDYNG.
NA CLATHES yAI SALLE HAVE TO GANG IN,
NE NA BEDDES TO LYG IN BOT VERMYN,
WHARFOR I FYND WRYTEN yARE I HAVE RED,
HOW yE PROPHETE DISCRYVED SWILK A BED
TO yE KYNG NABOGODONOSOR,
AND SAYD yUS TO MAK HIM FERD yARFOR:
188
SUBTER TE STERNETUR TINEA, ET
OPERIMENTUM TUUM VERMES.
HE SAYS "OF WORMES yI BED SALLE BE
yAT SALLE BE STREWED THYK UNDER yE,
AND yI COVERTOURE ON yE SENE
SALLE BE VERMYN FULLE FELLE AND KENE."
SWILK BEDDES ER ORDAYND IN HELLE
FFOR SYNFULLE MEN yAT yAR SALLE DWELLE.
yUS SALLE yAI BE PYNED FOR yAIR SYN,
EVER-MARE WITH FYRE AND VERMYN,
AND WITH MANY OTHER PAYNS MA;
FFOR GOD VOUCHES SAFE yAT IT BE SWA,
FFOR yUS FYND WE WRYTEN IN HALY WRYTT,
IN A BOKE OF yE BIBELLE yAT HATE IUDYTH:
DABIT DOMINUS IGNEM ET VERMES
IN CARNES EORUM, UT URANTUR
ET SENCIANT, USQUE IN SEM-
PITERNUM.
IT SAYS "FYRE AND VERMYN yAT AY SALLE LYFE,
OUR LORD TYLLE yE FLESCH OF SYNFULLE SALLE GYFE,
SWA yAT yAI SALLE BRYN EVER-MARE,
AND AY FELE OF VERMYN BYTYNG SARE."
yIS PAYNE ES MARE TO FELE AND SE,
yAN ALLE yE PAYNES yAT MAY BE
IN yIS WERLD HERE, MARE AND LES,
ALS yE BOKE OPENLY BERS WITNES,
yUS SALLE VERMYN IN HELLE BE GRET PAYNE,
BOT YHIT MAY MEN SAY HERE OGAYNE,
FFOR MEN MAY IN SOM BOKE WRYTEN SE
yAT AFTER yE GRET DOME yAT LAST SALLE BE,
NA QUYK CREATURE SALLE LYF yAN,
BOT ANELY AUNGELLE, DEVELLE AND MAN,
'HOW SULD IN HELLE yAN OR OURWHARE ELLES,
ANY VERMYN LYF ALS MEN TELLES,
OR ANY OTHER BEST yAT MOGHT DERE?'
TO yIS MAY MEN GYF ANSWERE
ON yIS MANERE, WHA-SWA KAN;
yE VERMYN yAT SALLE BE yAN,
189
ALS I UNDERSTAND, NOGHT ELLES ES
BOT DEVELS IN VERMYN LYKNES,
yAT SALLE BYTE AND KNAW yE SYNFULLE yARE,
TO EKE yAIR PAYNE AND MAK IT MARE.
yUS SALLE yE DEVELS GNAW yAM WITH-OUT,
IN LYKNES OF VERMYN ALLE OBOUT.
AND yAIR CONSCIENCE ALS VERMYN,
SALLE GNAW yAM OVER-ALLE WITH-IN,
AND yAT GNAWYNG SALLE BE FULLE HARD,
OF WHILK I SALLE SPEKE SONE AFTERWARD.
yAT VERMYN IN HELLE SALLE BE MARE GRYSELY
yAN VERMYN HERE ES, AND MARE MYGHTY.
BY VERMYN HERE yAN yAT GREVES SARE,
MEN AGHT TO DREDE yE VERMYN yARE;
AND FORyI yAT yE SYNFULLE WAS HERE NAMELY,
AY FULLE OF HATEREDYN AND OF ENVY,
AND WALD NOGHT AMEND yAM OF yAT SYN,
BOT LETE IT GNAW yAM AY WITH-IN,
IT ES RYGHT AND SKYLLE THURGH GODES LAWE,
yAT yE VERMYN IN HELLE AY yAM GNAWE.
yE NEGHEND PAYNE ES TO UNDERSTAND,
DYNGYNG OF DEVELS WITH HAMERS GLOWAND;
FFOR yE DEVELS yE SYNFULLE SALLE AY BETE
WITH GLOWAND HAMERS HUGE AND GRETE
AND ALS SMYTHS STRYKES ON yE YREN FAST,
SWA yAT IT BREKES AND BRESTES AT yE LAST,
RIGHT SWA yE DEVELS SALLE AY DYNG
ON yE SYNFULLE, WITH-OUTEN STYNTYNG;
AND WITH HAMERS GYF SWA GRET DYNTES,
yAT ALLE TO POWDRE MOGHT STRYKE HARD FLYNTES;
FFOR HARDER DYNTES GAF NEVER ENGYNE,
yAN yAI SALLE GYF, ALS SAYS SAINT AUSTYNE:
SICUT MACHINA BELLITA PERCUTIT
MUROS OPIDI, ITA DEMONES YM-
MO ASPERIUS ET CRUDELIUS, CORPORA MALORUM
ET ANIMAS FLAGELLABUNT, POST IUDICIUM.
HE SAYS "ALS MEN MAY SE ANE ENGYNE CAST,
AND AT yE WALLES OF A CASTELLE STRYKE FAST
190
WITH A STANE yAT ES HUGE AND HEVY,
SWA SALLE DEVELS STRYKE yASE MARE FELLY
yE ILLE BODYSE AND SAULES yAT SALLE DWELLE,
AFTER yE LAST GRET DOME IN HELLE."
yUS SALLE yAI DYNG ON yAM EVER-MARE,
WITH GRET GLOW AND HAMERS, AND NANE SPARE.
AND yIS PAYNE TYLLE yAM SALLE BE ENDLES,
ALS yE BOK HERE-OL BERS WITNES;
FFOR yAI SALLE HAVE POWER AY AND LEVE,
yE SYNFULL MEN TO DYNG AND GREVE,
ALS IN A BOKE ES SCHEWED TYLLE US,
yAT SAYNT AUSTYNE MADE, yARE HE SAYS yUS:
PARATA IUDICIA BLASPHEMTORIBUS, ET PERCU-
CIENTIBUS MALLEIS STULTORUM CORPORA.
"yE DOMES SALLE yAN BE REDY
TILLE yE SKLAUNDERERS OF GOD ALLE MYGHTY,
AND TYLLE yASE yAT SALLE BE AY SMYTAND
yE BODYSE OF SYNFULLE WITH MELLES IN HAND."
AND FORyI yAT yAI WALD NOGHT TAKE
HALY DISCIPLYNE HERE, FOR GODES SAKE,
yARFOR yE DEVELS SALLE STRYK yAM yARE,
WITH HEVY MELLES AY, AND NANE SPARE.
yE TEND PAYNE ES yE GNAWYNG WITH-IN
OF yAIR CONSCIENCE yAT NEVER SALLE BLYN;
FFOR WITH-IN yAM SALLE yE WORME OF CONSCIENCE FRETE
ALS WITH-OUTEN SALLE DO VERMYN GRETE,
AND SWA SALLE yAI EVER-MARE, WITH-OUTEN DOUT,
BE GNAWEN AND BYTEN WITH-IN AND WITH-OUT.
FFULLE MYKELLE SOROW SALLE yAN BE IN HELLE
OMANG yE SYNFULLE yAT yARE SALLE DWELLE;
FFOR yAI SALLE EVER yUS CRY AND SAY,
'ALLAS] ALLAS] AND WALAWAY]
WHI NE WALD WE NEVER ARE TROW,
WHAT PAYNE AND SOROW HERE ES NOW.'
yAN SALLE yAI PLEYNE yAM OF yAIR WICKEDNES,
AND SAY yUS, ALS IN BOKE WRYTEN ES:
QUID NOBIS PROFUIT SUPERBIA, QUID DIVICIA-
RUM IACTANCIA, OMNIA TRANSIERUNT VELUD UM-
191
BRA, ET TANQUAM NUNCIUS PERCURRENS, ET TANQUAM
NA VIS PROCEDENS IN FLUCTUANTEM AQUAM, ET TAN-
QUAM AVIS TRANSVOLANS IN AERE, CUIUS ITINERIS NON
EST INVENIRE VESTIGIUM.
"WHAT AVAYLD US PRYDE", yAI SALLE SAY,
"WHAT ROSYNG OF RYCHES OR OF RYCHE ARAY?
ALLE yAT POMP ALS WE SE NOW,
ES PASSED OWAY ALS A SCHADOW,
AND ALS MESSANGER BIFORE RYNAND,
AND ALS SCHYPP yAT GASE IN WATER FLOWAND,
AND ALS FOGHEL FLEGHAND IN yE AYRE ALS WYND,
OF WHASE GATE MEN MAY NA TRACE FYND."
yUS SALLE ALLE yAIR POMP OWAY PAS,
AND BE ALS THYNG yAT NEVER WAS,
yAN SALLE yAM THYNK WHEN ALLE ES OWAY,
ALLE yAIR LYFE HERE BOT ALS ANE HOWR OF A DAY,
yOF yAI NEVER SO LANG HAD LYFED HERE,
yAI MAY SAY ON yIS MANERE:
'RIGHT NOW BORN WE WAR IN yE WORLD TO BE,
RYGHT NOW IN ALLE OUR DELYTES LYFED WE,
RYGHT NOW WE DEGHED AND PASSED OWAY
NOW ER WE IN HELLE AND SWA SALLE BE AY,'
yAN SALLE yAI KNAW HOW ILLE yAI HAF LYFED,
WHEN yE WORME OF CONSCIENCE yAM HAS GREVED,
yAT WITH-IN SALLE yAM AY GNAW AND BYTE
FFOR yAI IN VANYTE HAD HERE DELYTE,
AND FOR-yI yAT CONSCIENCE STYRD yAM NOGHT,
TO FORSAKE yAIR FOLYES yAT yAI WROGHT,
BOT FOLOWED AY HERE yAIR FLESSCHLY WILLE;
yARFOR IT ES GUD, RYGHT, AND SKYLLE,
yAT yE WORME OF CONSCIENCE WITH-IN,
EVER-MARE IN HELLE yAM GNAW FOR yAIR SYN.
yE ELLEVEND PAYNE ES TERES OF GRETYNG
OF yE SYNFULLE yAT, WITH-OUTEN STYNTYNG,
SAL GRETE EVER-MARE, ALS SAYS yE BOKE;
FFOR-WHI WHAT FOR SOROW, AND WHAT THURGH SMOKE
AND WHAT THURGH CALD, AND WHAT THURGH HETE
yAT yAI SALLE THOLE, yAI SALLE AY GRETE,
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AND yUS TERES FRA yAIR EGHEN SALLE RYN
EVER-MARE AND NEVER SALLE BLYN.
SWA MYKELLE WATER ALS SALLE FALLE yAN,
FFRA A MANS EGHE MAY GESCE NA MAN;
FFOR-WHI yAI SALLE AY BE GRETAND,
AND yAIR TERES SALLE BE AY FLOWAND,
AND FRA yAIR EGHEN RYN SWA FAST,
AND yAIR GRETYNG SWA LANG SALLE LAST,
yAT IN ALLE yE WORLD HERE, ALS I WENE,
ES NOGHT SWA MYKELLE WATER SENE,
ALS FRA yAIR EGHEN SALLE FALLE yARE;
FFOR yAI SALLE BE GRETAND EVER-MARE.
WHARFOR SAINT AUSTYN SAYS yUS,
WHASE WORDES ER AUCTENTYKE TYLLE US:
IN INFERNO PLURES EFFUNDENTUR LACRIME
QUAM SUNT IN MARI GUTTE.
"IN HELLE," HE SAYS, "OUT-YHETTED SALLE BE,
MA TERES yAN DROPES ER IN yE SE,"
yE SYNFULLE SALLE yARE yUS EVER-MARE GRETE,
AND yAIR UTERESe SALLE BE OF SWA GRET HETE,
yAT yE WATER yAT yAN SALLE DOUN-RYN,
FFRA yAIR EGHEN, SALLE yAM SCHALD AND BRYN,
FFOR IT SALLE BE HATTER yAN EVER WAS
MOLTEN LED OR WELLAND BRAS,
ALS I HAVE HERD GRET CLERKES TELLE,
yAT HAS DESCRYVED yE PAYNS OF HELLE;
AND FOR-yI yAT yAI HAD HERE AY LYKYNG
IN yAIR SYN AND NEVER FORTHYNKYNG,
NE SOROW yARFORE, FOR yAM THOGHT IT SWETE,
yARFOR yAI SALLE IN HELLE AY GRETE,
AND WITH yAIR TERES BE SCHALDED SARE,
TO EKE yAIR PAYNES, ALS I SAYD ARE.
yE TWELFTE PAYNE ES SCHAME AND SCHENSHEPE,
yAT yE SYNFULLE SALLE HAVE IN HELLE SWA DEPE,
OF ILKA SYN yAT EVER yAI DYD;
FFOR-WHI yARE SALLE BE KNAWEN AND KYD
ALLE yAIR SYNS OF THOGHT, OR WORD AND WERK,
ALS SAYS SAINT AUSTYNE yE GRET CLERK:
193
OMNIA IN OMNIBUS PATEBUNT, ET SE AB-
SCONDERE NON VALEBUNT.
"ALLE yAIR SYNS IN yAM SALLE SHEWED BE
AND yAI MAY NOUTHER yAN yAM HYDE NE FLE."
yAI SALLE HAVE MARE SCHAME OF yAIR SYN yARE,
AND yAIR SCHENDSCHEPE SALLE BE MARE,
yAN EVER HAD ANY MAN HERE IN THOGHT
FFOR ANY VELANY yAT EVER HE WROGHT,
AND yAT SCHAME WITH yAM SALLE LAST AY,
AND NEVER SALLE PAS FRA yAM OWAY;
yAI MAY SAY yUS yAT yARE yAN DWELLES,
ALS yE PROPHETE IN yE PSAUTER TELLES;
TOTA DIE VERECUNDIA MEA CONTRA ME EST, ET
CONFUSIO FACIEI MEE COOPERUIT ME.
yAT ES, "MY SCHAMEFULNES," SAYS HE,
ALLE DAY ES OGAYNS ME,
AND yE SCHENSCHEPE OF MY FACE
SALLE COVER ME, IN ILKA PLACE."
yAI SALLE SWA SCHAME AY OF yAIR SYN,
yAT yAM SALLE THYNK ALS yAI SULD BRYN,
FFOR yE GRET SCHAME yAT yAI SALLE HAVE yARE,
yAT NEVER SALLE CESE, BOT LAST EVER-MARE;
WHARFOR IF NA PAYNE WAR IN HELLE,
BOT yAT SCHAME ANELY, yAT I OF TELLE,
IT SULD BE TYLLE yAM yARE MARE PAYNE,
yAN ANY MAN COUTH HERE ORDAYNE;
AND FORyI yAT yAI HERE IN yAIR LYFE,
DURST NEVER FOR SCHAME OF SYN yAM SCHRYVE,
BOT WITH-OUTEN SCHAME TO SYN WAS BALD,
IT ES RYGHT yAT yAI HAVE, ALS I TALD,
SCHAME IN HELLE FOR yAIR SYN,
OF WHILK yAI WALD HERE NEVER BLYN.
yE THRETTENDE PAYNE ES, ALS CLERKES WATE,
yE BANDES OF FYRE BRYNAND FULLE HATE,
WITH WHILK yE SYNFULLE SALLE BE BONDEN,
ALS IN SOM BOKE WRYTEN ES FONDEN;
AND yA BANDES OF FYRE SALLE NEVER SLAKE.
FFOR yAI WALD NEVER yAIR SYN FORSAKE,
194
yAI SALLE BE WITH yA BANDES BRYNAND,
IN HELLE HARD BONDEN, BOTH FOTE AND HAND,
AND STRAYTELY STREYNED ILKA LYM,
THURGH yE DEVELS yAT ER UGLY AND GRYM.
yAIR WONYNG IN HELLE SALLE BE ENDELES,
OMANG STYNK AND FYLTH IN GRET MYRKNES,
WHARE EVER ES NYGHT AND NEVER DAY,
ALS MEN MAY HERE GRET CLERKES SAY.
yAN SALLE yAI FELE, WHEN yAI yARE COME,
GODES VENGEANCE THURGH RYGHTWISE DOME,
FFOR yAIR SYN yAT HIM HERE MYSPAYS,
WHARFOR GOD yUS IN yE GOSSPELLE SAYS:
LIGATIS MANIBUS ET PEDIBUS, MITTITE
IN TENEBRAS EXERIORES.
"LAT BYND yAIR HEND AND yAIR FETE FAST,
AND IN-TO yE UTTER MYRKNES yAM CAST,"
yAT ES IN yE DEPPEST PYTT OF HELLE,
WHARE MARE SOROW ES yAN TONG MAY TELLE.
yARE SALLE yAIR HEVEDES BE TURNED DOUNWARD,
AND yAIR FETE UPWARD BONDEN HARD,
AND yAIR BODYSE BE STREYNED BI FETE AND HED,
WITH BRYNAND BANDES GLOWAND RED;
yAI SALLE BE PYNED ON yIS MANERE,
WITH OTHER PAYNES MANY AND SERE,
ALS A GRET CLERK SAYS OPENLY,
IN A BOKE yAT HE MADE THURGH STUDY,
OF SERE QUESTYONS OF DIVINITE,
yAT ES CALD 'FLOS SCIENCIE'
yAT ES ON YNGLYS 'yE FLOUR OF KONYNG'
WHARE WRYTEN ES MANY PRIVE THYNG;
IN yAT BOKE yUS HE TELLES,
HOW yAI SALLE HYNG yAT yAR yAN DWELLES:
CAPITA, INQUIT, EORUM ERUNT AD-INVICEM DEORSUM VERSA,
PEDES SURSUM ERECTI, ET UNDIQUE PENIS DISTENTI.
HE SAYS "IN yE GROND OF HELLE DONGEOUNE
"yE HEVEDES OF SYNFULLE SALLE BE TURNED DOUNE,
AND yE FETE UPWARD FAST KNYTTED
AND IN STRANG PAYNS BE STREYNED AND TYTTED."
195
AND FOR-yI, yAT yAI WAR HERE AY REDY
TO SYN, WITH SERE LYMS OF yAIR BODY,
yARFOR yAI SALLE BE BONDEN yARE
BE DIVERS LYMS, ALS I SAYD ARE,
WITH BRYNAND BANDES HATE GLOWAND,
yAT EVER MARE SALLE BE LASTAND;
AND FOR-yI yAT yAI WALD NOGHT GOD KNAW,
NA KEPE yE ORDRE HERE OF HIS LAW,
BOT TURNED yAM AY FRO GOD-WARD,
AND ON yE WORLD yAIR HERTES SETT HARD,
AND SWA MYSTURNED HERE yAIR LYFYNG
IN-TYLLE VANYTE AND FLESSCHLY LYKYNG,
yARFOR IT ES RYGHT AND RESOUNE,
yAT yAI BE TURNED UP-SWA-DOUNE,
AND STREYNED IN HELLE AND BONDEN FAST,
WITH BANDES OF FIRE yAT AY SALLE LAST.
yE FOURTENDE PAYNE ES DESPAYRE TO TELLE,
IN WHILK yE SYNFULLE SALLE AY DWELLE,
WITH-OUTEN HOPE OF MERCY yAN,
FFOR SALAMON SAYS yUS, yE WISE MAN:
OMNES QUI INGREDIUNTUR AD INFERNUM NON REVER-
TENTUR, NEC APPREHENDENT SEMITAS VITE.
HE SAYS "ALLE yASE yAT TYLLE HELLE WENDES,
AND IN DESPAYRE SALLE BE OMANG FENDES,
SALLE NEVER AFTER TURNE OGAYNE,
NE TAK yE WAYS OF LYFE CERTAYNE."
FOR WHEN yAI ER DAMPNED THURGH IUGEMENT,
AND WITH BODY AND SAULE TILLE HELLE ER SENT,
yAI SALLE NEVER AFTER, WITH-OUTEN DOUT,
HAVE HOPE, NE THYNK TO COM OUT,
BOT EVER-MARE DWELLE WITH-OUTEN HOPE,
FFOR yUS SAYS yE HALY MAN JOB:
QUIA IN INFERNO NULLA EST
REDEMPCIO.
"FFOR IN HELL", HE SAYS, "ES NA REDEMPCYOUNE"
THURGH NA HELP OF FRENDE; FOR NA DEVOCYONE
OF PRAYER, NE ALMUSDEDE, NE MESSE,
MAY yAM HELP, NE yAIR PAYN MAK LES.
196
A STRANG PAYN SALLE yIS BE IN HELLE,
EVER-MARE yUS IN DESPAYRE TO DWELLE,
WITH-OUTEN HOPE OF RECOUVERERE.
yIS PASSES ALLE yE PAYNS OF yIS LYFE HERE,
FFOR HERE HAS NA MAN PAYN SWA STRANG,
yAT HE NE HAS SOM TYME HOPE OMANG,
OUTHER OF REMEDY yAT MEN MAY KAST,
OR yAT IT SALLE END AND NOGHT AY LAST;
ELLES SULD yE HERT, THURGH SOROW AND CARE,
OVER-TYTE FAYLE, WARN SOM HOPE WARE;
FFOR IN SOROW HERE HOPE COMFORTES BEST.
AND MEN SAYS, WARN HOPE WARE IT SULD BREST.
BOT IN HELLE NA HOPE MAY FALLE IN THOGHT,
AND yAIR HERTES BREST MAY NOGHT;
FFOR yAI ER ORDAYND TO LYF AY yARE,
SWA yAT yAI MAY BE PYNED EVER-MARE.
BOT yE LYFE OF yAM IN yAT STEDE
ES WERS AND BYTTERER yAN yE DEDE.
BOT BETTER IT WAR TO BE FULLY SLAYNE,
yAN OVER-LANG LYFE IN STRANG PAYNE;
BOT yE SYNFULLE SALLE AY yARE IN PAYNE BE,
AND NA DED MAY yAM SLA BOT AY yAM FLE,
ALS yE BOKE OPENLY SCHEWES US,
WHARE WE MAY FYND WRYTEN yUS:
MORS FUGIET AB EIS.
"yE DED", yAT HERE ES STRANG AND HARD
"SALLE AY yAN FLE FRA yAM-WARD,"
yE PAYNS OF yE DED yAI SALLE AY DREGHE,
BOT yAI SALLE NEVER-MARE FULLY DEGHE;
yAI SALLE AY LYF IN SOROW AND STRYFE,
BOT yAIR LYF SALLE SEME MARE DED yAN LYFE;
yAIR LYFE IN MYDWARD yE DED SALLE STAND,
FFOR yAI SALLE LYFE EVER-MARE DEGHAND,
AND DEGHE EVER-MARE LYFAND WITH-ALLE,
ALS MEN DOSE yAT WE SE IN SWOWNE FALLE;
AND FOR-yI, yAT yAI HERE MYKELLE LUFED SYN,
AND THURGH OVER-MYKELLE HOPE AY LYFED yAR-IN,
197
AND TO LEVE yAIR SYN HAD NEVER WILLE,
yARFOR IT ES GUD, RYGHT AND SKYLLE,
yAT yAI BE AY FOR yAIR FOLY,
IN HELLE WITH-OUTEN HOPE OF MERCY.
NOW HAVE I SCHEWED YHOW, ALS I COUTH TELLE,
yE FOURTENE GENERALLE PAYNS IN HELLE;
BOT YHIT ES OVER yASE A PAYNE GENERALLE,
yAT OF ALLE OTHER ES MAST PRINCIPALLE,
yAT ES THARNYNG FOR EVER OF THE SYGHT NAMLY,
OF OUR LORD GOD ALLE-MYGHTY.
FFOR WHILK SYGHT yAT yAI FOR EVER HAVE TYNT,
yAI SALLE HAVE SOROW yAT NEVER SALLE STYNT;
AND yE SOROW yAT yARFOR SALLE FALLE
SALLE BE MAST PAYNE TO yAM OF ALLE,
FOR ALS yE SYGHT OF GOD IN HEVEN, ES
MAST IOY OF ALLE OTHER, MARE AND LES,
RIGHT SWA yE THARNYNG FOR EVER OF yAT SYGHT,
ES yE MAST PAYNE IN HELLE DYGHT;
FFOR ALLE yE PAYNS yAT IN HELLE MAY BE,
SULD NOGHT yAM DERE IF yAI MOGHT HIM SE.
YHIT SALLE yARE BE SERE PAYNS MANY MA
ALS yE BOKE SAYS, AND MARE SOROW AND WA
yAN ALLE yE MEN OF ERTH, ALD AND YHONG,
MOGHT THYNK WITH HERT OR TELLE WITH TONG,
yAT yE SYNFUL MEN yAT SALLE WENDE
TILLE HELLE SALLE HAVE WITH-OUTEN ENDE,
yE WHILK PAYNS AND SOROW SALLE NEVER CEES;
FFOR yARE SALLE NEVER BE REST NE PEES,
BOT TRAVAIL AND STRYFE WITH SOROW AND CARE,
FULLE WA SALLE yAM BE yAT SALLE DWELLE yARE;
yAI SALL THYNK ON NATHYNG ELLES,
BOT ON yAIR PAYNS, ALS SOM CLERKES TELLES,
AND ON yAIR SYN yAT yAI HERE WROGHT,
SWA SALLE PAYNS AND SOROW TROBLE yAIR THOGHT;
FFOR yARE SALLE BE yAN HERD AND SENE,
ALKYN SOROW AND TREY AND TENE.
yARE SALLE BE WANTYNG OF ALKYN THYNG,
IN WHILK MOGHT BE ANY LYKYNG,
198
AND DEFAUT OF ALLE THYNG yAT GUD MOGHT BE,
AND OF ALLE yAT ILLE ES GRET PLENTE.
IN HELLE SALLE BE yAN FULLE DOLEFULLE DYN,
OMANG yE SYNFULLE yAT SALLE DWELLE yAR-IN,
yAT EVER-MARE SALLE yUS CRY AND SAY:
"ALLAS, ALLAS AND WALAWAY]
yAT EVER WE WAR OF WEMMEN BORNE,
FFOR WE ER FRA GOD FOR EVER LORNE?"
yAN SALLE yAI GRETE AND GOULE AND WITH TETH GNAYSTE
FFOR OF HELP NE MERCY yAR yAM NOGHT TRAYSTE.
yE DEVELS OBOUT yAM yAN IN HELLE,
ON yAM SALLE EVER-MARE RARE AND YHELLE;
SWA HYDUS NOYSE yAI SALLE yAN MAKE,
yAT ALLE yE WORLD IT MOGHT DO QWAKE,
AND ALLE yE MEN LYFAND yAT HERD IT,
TO GA WODE FOR FERD AND TYNE yAIR WITT.
yE DEVILS AY OMANG ON yAM SALLE STRYKE,
AND yE SYNFULLE yARE-WITH AY CRY AND SKRYKE;
yARE SALLE BE yAN MARE NOYSE AND DYN,
yAN ALLE yE MEN OF ERTH COUTH YMAGYN;
FFOR yARE SALLE BE SWILK RAREYNG AND RUSCHYNG
AND RAUMPYNG OF DEVELS AND DYNGYNG AND DUSCHING
AND SKRYKYNG OF SYNFULLE, ALS I SAID ARE,
yAT yE NOYSE SALLE BE SWA HYDUS yARE,
OMANG DEVELS AND yASE yAT SALLE COM yIDER,
RYGHT ALS HEVEN AND ERTH STRAKE TOGYDER.
ANE HYDUS THING ES IT TO TELLE
OF yE NOYSE yAT SALLE yAN BE IN HELLE;
yE DEVELS, yAT AY SALLE BE FULLE OF IRE,
SALLE STOPP yE SYNFULLE AY IN yE FYRE,
SWA yAT yAI SALLE GLOWE AY ALS FYRE BRANDES
AND AY WHEN yAI MAY WELD yAIR HANDS,
FFOR SOROW yAI SALLE yAM HARD WRYNG;
AND WALAWAY yAI SALLE AY SYNG.
IN HELLE SALLE BE yAN SWA GRET THRANG,
yAT NANE MAY REMOW FOR OTHER NE GANG.
199
ON NA SYDE, BACKWARD NE FORWARD
FFOR yAI SALLE BE PRESSED TOGYDER SWA HARDE,
ALS yAI WAR STOPPED TOGYDER IN ANE OVEN,
FFULLE OF FYRE BINETH AND OBOVEN;
BOT NEVER-yE-LES HELLE YHIT ES SWA DEPE,
AND SWA WYDE AND LARGE, yAT IT MOGHT KEPE
ALLE yE CREATURES, LES AND MARE,
OF ALLE yE WORLD IF MYSTER WARE.
ILKA SYNFULLE SALLE yARE ON OTHER PRESE,
AND NANE OF yAM SALLE OTHER EESE,
BOT EVER FYGHT TOGYDER AND STRYFE,
ALS yAI WAR WODE MEN OF yIS LYFE,
AND ILK ANE SCRATTE OTHER IN yE FACE,
AND yAIR AWEN FLESSCH OF-RYVE AND RACE,
SWA yAT ILK ANE WALD HIM SELF FAYN SLA,
IF HE MOGHT, SWA SALLE HIM BE WA,
BOT yARE-TO SALLE yAI HAF NA MYGHT,
FFOR yE DED SALLE NEVER MAR ON yAM LYGHT.
FFULLE FAYN yAI WALD yAN DED BE,
BOT yE DED SALLE AY FRA yAM FLE;
AFTER yE DED yAI SALLE YHERNE ILK ANE,
ALS IN yE APOCALYPSE SCHEWES SAINT IOHAN:
DESIDERABUNT MORI, ET
MORS FUGIT AB EIS.
"yAI SALL YHERNE", HE SAYS, "TO DEGHE AY,
AND yE DED SALLE FLE FRA yAM OWAY;"
OMANG yAM SALLE AY BE DEBATE,
ILK ANE OF yAM SALLE OTHER HATE.
yAI SALLE BE FULLE OF HATEREDYN yAN;
ILK ANE SALLE OTHER WERY AND BAN,
AND SAY "CURSED KAYTIF AND WA WORTH yE,
AND WERYED MOT yOU EVER BE,
AND WERYED MOT yAI BE EVER-MARE,
yAT yE GAT AND yAT yE BARE,
AND yE TYME yAT yOU WAS BORN ALSWA,
FFOR yI PAYNE ES TYLLE ME SOROW AND WA;
IT PYNES ME AND GREVES ME SARE,
ALS MYKELLE ALS MYNE AWEN PAYN OR MARE,
200
FFOR MY PAYNE IT EKES, AND MASE MARE GREVUS."
ILK ANE TYLLE OTHER yAN SALLE SAY yUS.
yUS ILK MANS PAYNE SALLE OTHER DERE,
AND NANE OF yAM SALLE OTHER FORBERE;
NOUTHER SON, NE DOGHTER, NE SYSTER, NE BROTHER
FFADER NE MODER, NE YHIT NANE OTHER;
FFOR ILK ANE SALLE OTHER HATE DEDLY,
AND ILK ANE GRYN ON OTHER AND CRY.
ILK ANE SALLE GNAW yAIR AWEN TONGES IN SONDER,
AND ILK ANE SALLE yARE ON OTHER WONDER.
yUS IN HELLE SALLE yAI FAR AY,
AND yAR-WITH SKLAUNDRE GOD AND SAY:
"WHAR-TO MADE GOD US TYLLE HIS LYKNES,
AND LATES US NOW DWELL yARE SOROW AY ES;
BOT IT SEMES yAT GOD MADE US IN VAYNE,
WHEN WE ER yUS PUTTED TILLE ENDLES PAYNE,
OR HE US MADE FOR NOGHT ELS TO DWELLE
IN ERTH, BOT TO BE FYRE BRANDES IN HELLE."
yAI SALLE WERY yE TYME yAT yAI WAR WROGHT,
AND SAY "ALLAS WHINE WAR WE NOGHT."
yUS SALLE yAI SKLAUNDRE GOD OMANG,
SWA HARD yAIR PAYNS SALLE BE, AND SWA STRANG;
yAI SALLE ILK ANE ON OTHER STARE AND GRYN,
ALS WODE MEN DOSE HERE, AND MAKES GRET DYN;
AN HYDUS THING TO HERE IT WARE,
WHA-SWA COUTH TELLE yE PAYNS yARE,
ALS PROPERLY ALS yAI SALLE yARE BE.
BOT yAT COUTH NOGHT ALLE yE MEN OF CRISTIANTE.
NE ALLE yE CLERKES yAT EVER HAD WITT,
SEN yE WORLD BIGAN, NE yAT LYFES YHIT
COUTH NEVER TELLE, BI CLERGY, NE ARTE
OF yA PAYNS OF HELLE yE THOWSAND PARTE.
FFOR yE NOUMBRE OF PAYNS yAT yARE GRIEFES
PASSES yE MENS WITT yAT HERE LIEFES,
OR yAT EVER LYFED IN ANY DEGRE,
AND yAT MAY MEN BI SKYLLE yUS SE;
FFOR ILKA SYN yAT yE SYNFULLE HAS WROGHT,
WHAR IT NEVER SWA LYTELLE VENYALLE THOGHT,
201
yAI SALLE HAVE CERTAYNE PAYNE yARE,
AFTER yAT yE SYN ES LES OR MARE.
WHA COUTH yAN TELLE, WAR HE NEVER SWA WYSE,
ALLE yE SYNS AND ALLE yE FOLYSE,
BOTH DEDLY AND ALSWA VENYALE,
AND LEVE NANE UNTALD, GRET NE SMALE,
yE WHILK A MAN HAS HERE FALLEN IN,
FFRA yE TYME yAT HE FIRST BIGAN TO SYN,
BOTH IN THOGHT, IN WORD AND DEDE?
ALSWA SAY NANE ES yAT TYME COUTH REDE.
AND FOR ILKA THING DONE HERE IN VAYNE,
IN HELLE ES ORDAYND CERTAYNE PAYNE
TILLE SYNFULLE MEN yAT SALLE DWELLE yARE.
yAN BIHOVES yAM, ALS I SAYD ARE,
FFOR ILKA SYN yAT yAI DYD HERE,
HAVE CERTAYNE PAYNE SINGULERE;
AND FOR ILKA MANERE OF SYN AND FOLY,
BE PYNED IN HELLE SPECYALY.
AND ALS OFT-SYTHE ALS yAI HERE NEWED yAIR SYN
ALS OFT-SYTH yAIR PAYN SALLE NEW yARE BIGYN;
yARFOR SWA MANY PAYNS TYLLE yAM SALLE FALLE,
yAT NA WITT MAY COMPREHENDE yAM ALLE;
FFOR NA SYN yAT yAI EVER HERE DYD,
DEDLY NE VENIELE, SALLE BE HYD,
BOT ALLE OPENLY SENE AND NAN BE LAYND,
FFOR WHILK SALLE BE yARE SERE PAYNS ORDAYND;
WHA MOGHT yAN ALLE yE PAYNS TELLE,
yAT yE SYNFULLE MEN SALLE HAVE IN HELLE?
FFOR-WHI IF A MAN FRA HETHEN PASS OWAY
IN A DEDLY SYN, AT HIS LAST DAY,
FFOR ILKA VENYEL SYN, yAT EVER DYD HE,
HE SALLE yAN DIVERSLY PYNED BE;
AND ALS OFT RENOUELD SALLE BE ILK PAYNE,
ALS HE TURNED NEW TYLLE ILK SYN OGAYNE.
AND yE LEST PAYNE yARE ES MARE TO SE,
yAN ALLE yE PAYNS OF yIS WORLD MAY BE,
202
FFOR ALLE yE PAYNS OF yIS WORLD HERE,
yAT EVER WAS SENE FER OR NERE,
ALS TO yE LEST PAYNE yARE MOGHT NOGHT BE TALD,
BOT ALS A BATHE OF WATER, NOUTHER HATE NE CALD
FFOR ALLE yE SOROW OF yIS WORLD, ILKA DELE,
WAR NOGHT BOT ALS SOLACE AND IOY TO FELE,
ALS TO REGARD OF yE LEST PAYNE,
yAT ES IN HELLE; yIS ES CERTAYNE,
ILK SYNFULLE SALLE HAF SYGHT yARE
OF ALLE yE PAYNS, BOTH LES AND MARE,
yAT ALLE yE SYNFULLE MEN SALLE DREGHE.
yAN SALLE ILK ANE SE yARE WITH EGHE
MEN AND WYMMEN, MANY A THOUSAND,
ON ILK SYDE OBOUT, IN SERE PAYNS DWELLAND;
AND yAT SYGHT, yAT ILK ANE SALLE yARE SE
OF ILKA PAYNE, TYLLE yAM PAYNE SALLE BE;
FFOR ALLE yE PAYNS yAT SALLE FALLE TYLLE ILK MAN
SALLE BE SOROW TYLLE ALLE yAT SESE yAM yAN.
yUS SALLE ILK ANE DREGHE MARE PAYN IN HELLE,
yAN HERT MOGHT EVER THINK OR TONG TELLE;
WHAT OF PAYNS yAT TO yAM-SELF SALLE BE DYGHT,
AND WHAT OF PAYNS yAT yAI SALLE HAVE OF SYGHT.
FFOR ALLE yE PAYNS, yAT yARE SALLE BE KNAWEN,
SALLE GREVE ILK MAN ALS MYKELLE ALS HIS AWEN;
SWILK PAYNS TO HERE, ALS MEN MAY HERE REDE,
AGHT TO MAK ILK MAN OF HELLE HAVE DREDE;
FOR I TROW yAT HERE ES NO MAN LYFAND,
SWA HARD-HERTED, yAT WALD UNDERSTAND
AND TROW WHAT PAYNS IN HELLE ER WROGHT,
yAT HE NE SULD HAVE GRET DRED IN THOGHT,
yE WHILK SULD MAK HIM HATE ALLE FOLY,
WHARFOR HE WAR SWYLK PAYNS WORTHY.
BOT ALLE yASE yAT WILLE yAIR SYN FORSAKE,
WHILS yAI LYFE HERE, AR yE DED yAM TAKE,
AND OF ALLE THING HAVE FORTHYNKYNG
yAT yAI HAVE DONE OGAYNS GODES BYDYNG,
203
AND TURN yAM TYLLE GOD FRA yAIR SYN,
AND ASK HIS MERCY AND TRAYST yAR-IN,
AND BE LUFAND UN-TYLLE HIM AND BOWSOM,
IN yA PAYNS OF HELLE SALLE NEVER COM,
BOT TYLLE yE BLYS OF HEVEN MON yAI WENDE,
AND HAVE yARE yAIR LYKYNG WITH-OUTEN ENDE.
HERE HAVE I SPOKEN OF yE PAYNS OF HELLE,
ALS YHE HAVE HERD ME OPENLY TELLE,
AND OF yE SEXT PART OF yIS BOKE MADE ENDE.
NOW WILLE I TYLLE yE SEVEND PART WENDE,
yAT ES yE LAST PART OF ALLE;
yE WHILK SPEKES ALS I SHEW YHOW SALLE,
SPECIALY OF yE IOYES IN HEVEN,
yAT ER MARE yAN ANY TONG MAY NEVEN.
BOT FYRST I WILLE SCHEW YHOW WHARE HEVEN ES,
ALS CLERKES SAYS AND yE BOKE BERS WITNES;
AND EFTER yAT I SALLE SCHEW YHOW MARE,
AND TELLE YHOW OF SERE IOYES yAT ER yARE.

[PART VII: yE IOYES OF HEVEN]/[CONTENTS]

HERE BYGYNS yE SEVEND PART OF yIS BOKE
yAT ES OF yE IOYES OF HEVEN.
MANY yE BLYS OF HEVEN COVAYTES,
BOT FONE yE RYGHT WAY yIDER LAYTES;
AND SOM THURGH SYN ER MADE SO BLYND,
#7536 yAT yE RIGHT WAY yIDER yAI KAN NOGHT FYND,
SOM WALD BE yARE, WITH-OUTEN DOUT,
BOT yAI WILLE NOGHT TRAVAILLE yARE OBOUT;
BOT WHASA WILLE TAK yE WAY yIDER-WARD,
BEHOVES IN GUD WERKES TRAVAILLE HARD;
FFOR TYLLE yE KYNGDOM OF HEVEN MAY NO MAN COM
BOT HE GA BI yE WAY OF WISDOM;
yE WAY OF WYSDOM ES MEKENES
AND OTHER VIRTUSE, MARE AND LES.
AND yAT WAY ES CALD A GASTLY WAY,
BI WHILK MEN SULD HERE TRAVAILLE AY,
yAT ES yE WAY yAT LEDES MEN EVEN
UNTYLLE yE HEGH KYNGDOM OF HEVEN.
BI OTHER WAY MAY NANE, BOT HE FLEGHE,
204
PASS UP TYLLE HEVEN IT ES SWA HEGHE;
FFOR IT ES yE HEGHEST PLACE yAT GOD WROGHT,
AND yE FIRST, WHEN HE MADE ALLE THING OF NOGHT.
NA MAN MAY GESCE SWA LANG SPACE,
ALS ES FRO HETHEN UNTYLLE yAT HEGH PLACE;
FFOR BITWENE US AND yAT HEGHE HEVEN
ES ALLE yE FIRMAMENT TO NEVEN,
yE CLERKES BI SKYLLE HEVENS CALLES,
yE WHILK ER AY MOVEAND ALS FALLES.
yUS ER OBOVEN US HEVENS SERE,
BOT ALLE ER yA NOGHT OLYKE CLERE;
FFOR yE HEGHEST HEVEN ES WELE BRYGHTER
yAN yE OTHER HEVENS yAT ER LAGHER;
FFOR yE HEGHEST HAS SWA MYKELLE BRYGHTNES,
AND SWA FAYRE AND SWA DELYTABLE ES,
yAT ALLE yE MEN OF ERTH COUTH NOGHT
SWA MYKELLE YMAGYN, NE THINK IN THOGHT.
SERE HEVENS GOD ORDAYND FOR SERE THYNG,
BOT yE HEGHEST GOD MADE FOR OUR WONYNG.
yESE HEVENS ER OBOVEN US HEGHE,
ALS CLERKES SAYS, yAT ER WISE AND SLEGHE;
ANE ES, yAT WE yE STERNED HEVEN CALLE,
yARE yE PLANETES AND yE STERNES ER ALLE,
yAT MEN MAY SE HERE, ON NYGHT, SCHYNE;
ANE OTHER ES, yAT CLERKES CALLES CRISTALLYNE,
yAT NEXT OBOVEN yE STERNED HEVEN ES,
AND ES MARE yAN yAT OF WYDENES;
SOM CLERKES IT CALLES ON yIS MANERE;
yE WATER HEVEN, yAT ES ALS CLERE
ALS CRISTALLE, yAT HOVES OBOVEN yARE,
RYGHT ALS WATER yAT FROSEN WARE;
yUS TELLES BERTHELEMEWE IN yE BOKE
OF PROPERTES OF SERE THINGES TO LOKE:
yIR TWA HEVENS AY OBOUT-RYNNES,
BOTH DAY AND NYGHT, AND NEVER BLYNNES;
yE ERTH, yAT yA HEVENS OBOUT-GASE,
ES BOT ALS A POYNT IMYDDES A COMPASE;
205
SWA LYTELLE IT ES SEMAND WITH-OUT
TO REGARD OF yA HEVENS OBOUT;
AND IMYDDES yE ERTH ES ORDAYND HELLE,
yARE yE SYNFULLE, yAT SALLE BE DAMPNED SALLE DWELLE
ALS MEN MAY BEFORE REDE AND SE,
AND LAWER yAN HELLE MAY NA PLACE BE;
yUS BOTH yE HEVENS OBOUT-GASE AY
AND NEVER SALLE CEESE UNTYLLE DOMESDAY;
FFOR CLERKES SAYS yAT KNAWES AND SESE,
OF yIR TWA HEVENS yE PROPERTESE,
yAT IF yAI MOVED NOGHT, ALLE SULD PERYSSCH,
BOTH MAN AND BESTE, FOGHEL AND FYSSCH
AND ALLE yAT UNDER yAM MAY BE,
yAT LYVES AND GROWES, BOTH GRESSE AND TRE,
ALL SULD BE SMORED WITH-OUTEN DOUT,
WARNE yA HEVENS AY MOVED OBOUT;
FFOR IF yAI STODE NEVER SWA SCHORT WHILE STYLLE,
ALLE yAT ON ERTH ES SULD PERYSCH AND SPYLLE;
yUS TELLES GRET CLERKES OF CLERGY,
yAT HAS BENE LERED IN ASTRONEMY
AND KNAWES yE CONSTELLACYOUNS
AND yE HEVEN yAT yE ERTH ENVIROUNS.
OF yAIR MOVEYNG yAN HAVE YHE NO WONDER,
FFOR IT NORYSSCHUESe ALLE yAT ES yARE-UNDER,
IN WATE AND DRYE, IN HATE AND CALD,
AY WHILS yAI MOVE, ALS I BIFORE TALD,
yIR HEVENS OBOUT-GASE ALLE ERTHLY THYNGES
AND yAM NORYSCHES AND FORTH-BRYNGES,
FFOR ALS CLERKES SAYS yAT TO yAM TENTES
yAI TEMPRE yE STRENGUTeHE OF ALLE yE ELEMENTES
AY ALS yAI MOVE WHILS yAI OBOUT-GA.
BOT yE THRED HEVEN ES OBOVEN yA TWA,
SWA WONDERLY HEGHE AND SWA FERRE
yAT NATHYNG MAY BE HEGHERE;
YHIT SOM CLERKES MA HEVENS NEVENS,
AND SAYS yAT yARE ER OTHER SEVEN HEVENS,
206
yAT SEMES LAWER, ALS MEN MAY SE,
yAN yE TWA HEVENS FALLES TO BE,
FFOR-WHI yE CLERKES yE PLANETES ALLE
BI CERTAYNE SKYLLE HEVENS yAI CALLE.
AND SEVEN PLANETES ER OBOVEN US;
FFYRST yE MONE AND MERCURY AND VENUS,
SYTHEN yE SON AND yAN MARS AND IUBITER,
AND SATURNUS OBOVEN yAN yAT ES HEGHER.
ILK ANE yAIR COURSE OBOUT AY MASE
IN yAIR CERCLES, ALS GOD ORDAYND HASE;
yAI STYK NOGHT FAST, ALS SMALE STERNES DOSE,
ILK ANE HIS COURSE MASE THURGH USE;
ILKA PLANETE FALLES FOR TO BE
HEGHER yAN OTHER IN ORDRE AND DEGRE;
yE MONE, yE FYRST AND LAWEST, ES SENE,
AND SATURNUS yE HEGHEST ES, ALS I WENE;
OBOVEN US ER ALLE yE PLANETES SEVEN,
AND yE CERCLE OF ILK ANE ES CALLED ANE HEVEN
yAT ER WONDERLY BRYGHT AND FAYRE;
YHIT ANE OTHER HEVEN ES CALLED yE AYRE
yAT ES LAGHER, yAR yE FOGHLES HAS FLYGHT,
AND yAT HEVEN ES MAST NERE OUR SYGHT
BOT IT ES NOGHT SWA CLERE NE CLENE
ALS yE OTHER HEVENS OBOVEN ER SENE:
ALLE yE CERCLES OF yE PLANETES ALLE
yAT WE HERE CLERKES yUS HEVENS CALLE,
ER BRYGHT AND CLERE, ALS yE BOKES SCHEWES US
AND ILK PLANETE ES FERRER yAN OTHER FRA US;
FFRA yE ERTH UNTYLLE yE CERCLE OF yE MONE, ES
yE WAY OF FYVE HUNDRETH WYNTER, AND NA LES,
yAT ES ALS MYKELLE SPACE AT SAY,
ALS A MAN MOGHT GA, IN PLAYNE WAY,
IN FYVE HUNDRETH YHERE FULLY,
IF HE MOGHT LYFE SWA LANG IN BODY,
ALS A GRET PHILOSIPHIR yAT HYGHT
RABBY MOYSES TELLES RYGHT
yAT THURGH WITT MYKELLE COUTH SE;
AND OVER yAT ALLE, SWA SAYS HE,
207
yAT ILKA CERCLE yAT ES SENE
OF ILKA PLANETE, MAY CONTENE,
ALS MEN MAY FYND WRYTEN HERE,
yE WAY OF FYVE HUNDRETH YHERE
ALS ES GESCED IN BREDE AND THYKNES,
SWA MYKELLE AND THYK ILK ANE ES,
yAT ES AT SAY, ALS MYKELLE SPACE HERE
ALS A MAN MOGHT GA IN FYVE HUNDRETH YHERE.
yOF yAT TRAVAILLE HIM SULD NOGHT GRYFE
IF HE HERE SWA LANG MOGHT LYFE;
AND FRA yE POYNT OF yE ERTHE TILLE SATURNUS
yE HEGHEST PLANETE MAY BE GESCED yUS,
yE WAY OF SEVEN THOWSAND YHERE
AND THRE HUNDRETH, ALS ES WRYTEN HERE,
yAT ES AT SAY, ALS ES HERE CONTENDE,
ALS MYKELLE SPACE ALS A MAN MOGHT WENDE
IN SEVEN THOWSAND YHERE, AND PLAYN WAY GANG
AND THUReE HUNDRETH, IF HE SULD LYF SWA LANG;
SWA yAT ILK YHERE BE ACOUNTED HALELY
OF THRE HUNDRETH DAYS AND FOURTY,
AND yAT yE WAY OF ILKA DAY
BE FULLY OF FOURTY MYLE OF WAY,
AND yAT ILKA MYLE FULLY CONTENE
A THOWSAND PASES OR CUBITES SENE.
RABY MOYSES SAYS ALLE yIS,
yAT ER NOGHT ALLE MY WORDES BOT HIS;
BOT WHETHER ALLE yIS BE SOTH OR NOGHT,
GOD WATE, yAT ALLE THYNG HAS WROGHT,
FFOR HE MADE ALLE THYNG THURGH MYGHT AND SLEGHT
IN CERTAIN NOUMBRE AND MESURE AND WEGHT;
BOT SWA SUTELLE AND WISE MAY NA MAN BE,
yAT yAT MESURYNG KNAWES SWA WELE ALS HE;
FFOR NA THYNG yAT MAY BE, MARE OR LES,
OR yAT EVER WAS, TYLLE HIM UNKNAWEN ES;
HIMSELF FRA ERTH, UPWARD MET yAT WAY,
WHEN HE STEY TYLLE HEVEN ON HALGHE THURSDAY,
yAT WATE HE BEST THURGH WYTT AND SLEGHT,
WHAT SPACE yAT WAY CONTENED OF HEGHT.
208
BI ALLE yE HEVENS HAD HE GANE,
AND PASSED ALLE yE STERNES ILK ANE,
AND UP TYLLE yE HEGHEST HEVEN HE WENT,
AND ALLE yIS WAY HE PASSED IN A MOMENT,
IN yE HEGHEST PART OF yE STERNED HEVEN.
OBOVEN ALLE yE PLANETES SEVEN,
STANDES SWA MANY STERNES SMALE,
yAT NA MAN MAY yAM TELLE BI TALE,
yAT STANDES FAST yARE, ALS yE BUKE PRUVES,
AND ER LED OBOUT WITH yE HEVEN yAT MOVES,
ALS NAYLES ER IN A WHELE WITH-OUT,
yAT WITH yE WHELE ER TURNED OBOUT;
BOT yE PLANETES ER NOGHT LED SWA,
FFOR IN yAIR CERCLES OBOUT yAI GA.
yE STERNES SEMES SMALE, ALS WE DEME,
BOT SWA SMALE ER yAI NOGHT ALS yAI SEME,
FFOR yAI ER SCHEWED FRA US SWA FER,
yAT WE MAY NOGHT SE HOW MYKELLE yAI ER;
BOT yE LEST STERNE yARE yAT WE ON-LUKE.
ES MARE yAN ERTH, ALS SAYS yE BOKE;
FFOR CLERKES SAYS, IF ALLE ERTH IN FYRE WARE,
AND POSSIBEL WAR yAT A MAN WAR yARE,
HIM SULD THYNK, yOF IT BRYNED BRYGHT,
LES yAN yE LEST STERNE yAT SCHYNES ON NYGHT,
yAN AGHT yAT HEVEN GRET SPACE CONTENE,
yARE SWA MANY STERNES MAY BE SENE.
ALLE yIR HEVENS HERE SENE MAY BE,
BOT yE ALTHER-HEGHEST HEVEN MAY NA MAN SE.
TILLE yAT HEVEN COUTH CLERK THURGH ARTE,
yE SPACE GESCE BI ANE HUNDRETH THOWSAND PART
FFOR IT ES SWA HEGHE, ALS SYDRAK SAYS,
yAT IF A STANE yAT WAR OF PAYS,
OF ANE HUNDRETH MENS LYFTYNG,
MIGHT FALLE FRO yEyEN, IT SULD BE IN FALLYNG
A THOWSAND YHERE AND NA LES,
AR IT COME AT yE ERTH, SWA HEGHE IT ES;
BOT AUNGELS yAT FRO HEVEN ER SENT,
MAY COM DOUNE TYLLE ERTH IN A MOMENT,
209
AND UP OGAYNE TYLLE HEVEN MAY FLEGH,
IN yE SPACE OF A TWYNKELLYNG OF ANE EGHE.
AND SWA MAY A SAULE yAT ES CLENE AND LYGHT,
COM yIDER FRO HETHEN IN ALS SCHORT A FLYGHT,
THURGH yE MYGHT OF GOD AND THURGH NOGHT ELLES
AND SWA HAS DONE MANY yAT yARE DWELLES;
yIS MAY BE HALDEN A GRET FERLY,
OMANG ALLE yE WONDERS OF GOD ALLE-MYGHTY,
yAT ANE AUNGELLE MAY PASS SWA MANY MYLE,
FFRA HEVEN TYLLE HYDER, IN SWA SCHORT A WHYLE.
AND A SAULE THURGH GODES MYGHT AND GRACE,
MAY FRO HETHEN COM yIDER IN SWA SHORT SPACE.
THIS HEVEN ES yE ALTHER-HEGHEST PLACE OF ALLE,
HEGHER ES NA THYNG yAT MAY BIFALLE,
yE WHILK ALLE THYNG CONTENES OF DIGNYTE,
AND IN NATHYNG CONTENDE MAY BE,
IT CONTENES OVER-ALLE, ON ILK PARTY,
BATH BODILY THYNG AND GASTLY,
AND ALS HELLE ES LAWEST PLACE yAT MAY FALLE,
SWA ES yIS HEVEN ALTHER-HEGHEST PLACE OF ALLE;
AND ALS SOROW ES AY IN yE LAWEST PLACE,
SWA ES AY IN yE HEGHEST, IOY AND SOLACE.
AND ALS TYLLE yE LAWEST PLACE, DRAWES US SYN,
SWA TYLLE yE HEGHEST MAY VERTUES US WYN.
yIS HEVEN ES CALD HEVEN EMPIRY
yAT ES AT SAY HEVEN yAT ES FYRY,
FFOR IT SEMES ALLE ALS FYRE OF GRET MYGHT,
yAT BRYNNES NOGHT BOT SCHYNES BRYGHT.
yIS HEVEN FALLES NOGHT OBOUT TO GA,
NE MOVES NOGHT ALS DOSE yE OTHER TWA,
BOT STANDES AY STYLLE, FOR IT ES yE BEST,
AND yE MOST WORTHI PLACE OF PEES AND REST
yAT GOD HAS ORDAYND FOR yAIR WONYNG,
yAT GYFES yAM HERE TYLLE RYGHTWISE LYFYNG.
yIS HEVEN ES CALD GODES AWEN SE,
FFOR yAR SYTTES yE HALY TRINITE,
AND ALLE yE ORDERS OF AUNGELS,
AND ALLE yE BLYSSFULLE SPIRITES yAT IN HEVEN DWELS,
210
AND yE SAULES OF GUD MEN AND CLENE,
yAT IN yIS WORLD RYGHTWYSE HAS BENE.
AND AT yE DREDFULLE DAY OF DOME,
WHEN ALLE MEN SALLE BIFOR GOD COME,
yAN SALLE ALLE THE RYGHTWYSE MEN WEND yIDER,
IN BODY AND SAULE BOTH TOGYDER,
yE WHILK ANELY yAN SALLE BE SAVE,
AND FULLE BLYS IN BODY AND SAULE HAVE.
yAN SALLE MARE IOY BE IN HEVEN,
yAN HERT MAY THYNK OR TONG KAN NEVEN,
OR ERE MAY HERE OR ANY EGHE SE,
yE WHILK yAI SALLE HAVE, yAT SAVE SALLE BE;
yAN PASSES yAT IOY ALLE MENS WITT,
ALS ES FONDEN WRYTEN IN HALY WRYTT.
QUOD OCULUS NON VIDIT, NEC
AURIS AUDIVIT, NEC IN COR HO-
MINIS ASCENDIT, QUOD PREPARAVIT
DEUS DILIGENTIBUS SE.
"EGHE MOGHT NEVER SE, NE ERE HERE,
NE IN-TYLLE MANS HERT COM yE IOYES SERE
yAT GOD HAS ORDAYND yARE AND DYGHT,
TYLLE ALLE yAT HERE LUFES HIM RIGHT."
FFOR SWA MYKELLE IOY yARE SALLE BE,
yAT ALLE yE MEN OF CRISTIANTE,
IF ILK ANE WAR PARFYTE IN CLERGY
IN DIVINITE AND IN ASTRONOMY,
IN GEMETTRY AND GRAMER, AND ARTE,
COUTH NOGHT GESE BI yE THOWSAND PARTE,
NE THINK IN HERT NE WITH TONG NEVEN,
yE IOYES yAT yAN SALLE BE IN HEVEN.
FFOR SWA WYSE HERE WAS NEVER MAN YHIT,
NE SWA SLEGHE, NE SWA SOTELLE OF WYTT,
HAD HE NEVER SWA MYKELLE UNDERSTANDYNG,
BOT GOD ANELY yAT KNAWES ALLE THYNG,
yAT COUTH TELLE A POYNT OR YMAGYN
OF yE IOYES IN HEVEN yAT NEVER SALLE BLYN,
ALS PROPRELY ALS yAI ER yARE TO SAY,
BOT ALS yE BOKE yAM SCHEWES, SWA WE MAY.
211
ALLE MANERE OF IOYES ER IN yAT STEDE.
yARE ES AY LYFE WITH-OUTEN DEDE;
yARE ES YHOWTHE AY WITH-OUTEN ELDE,
yARE ES ALKYN WELTH AY TO WELDE.
yARE ES REST AY, WITH-OUTEN TRAVAYLE;
yARE ES ALLE GUDES yAT NEVER SAL FAYLE;
yARE ES PESE AY, WITH-OUTEN STRYFE;
yARE ES ALLE MANERE OF LYKYNG OF LYFE;
yARE ES, WITH-OUTEN MYRKNES, LYGHT;
yARE ES AY DAY AND NEVER NYGHT;
yARE ES AY SOMER FULLE BRYGHT TO SE,
AND NEVER MARE WYNTER IN yAT CONTRE:
yARE ES ALKYN DRURYES AND RYCHESCE,
AND MARE NOBILLAY yAN ANY MAN MAY GESCE;
yARE ES MARE WORSCHEUPEe AND HONOURE,
yAN EVER HAD KYNG HERE OR EMPAROURE;
yARE ES ALKYN POWER AND MYGHT
AND ENDELES WONYNG SYKERLY DYGHT;
yARE ES ALKYN DELYCES AND EESE,
AND SYKER PEYSILBILNES AND PESE;
yARE ES PEYSEBELLE IOY AY LASTAND,
AND IOYFULLE SELYNES AY LYKAND;
yARE ES SELY ENDELES BEYNG,
AND ENDELES BLYSFULHEDE IN ALLE THYNG;
yARE ES AY BLYSFULLE CERTAYNTE,
AND CERTAYNE DWELLYNG AY FRE;
yARE ES LAYKYNG AND MYRTHES SERE;
yARE ES LAGHYNG AND LUFLY CHERE;
yARE ES MELODY AND AUNGELS SANG;
AND LOVYNG AND THANKYNG AY OMANG;
yARE ES ALLE FRENDSCHEPE yAT MAY BE,
AND PARFYTE LUF AND CHARYTE;
yARE ES ACORDE AY AND ANEHEDE,
AND YHELDYNG OF MEDE FOR ILK GUD DEDE;
yARE ES LOWTYNG AND REVERENCE,
AND BOGHSOMNES AND OBEDIECE;
yARE ES ALLE VERTUSE WITH-OUTEN VYCE,
212
yARE ES PLENTE OF DAYNTES AND DELICE;
yARE ES ALLE yAT LYKES AND MAY AVAYLE,
AND NATHYNG yAT GREVES OR MAY FAYLE;
yARE ES ALLE yAT GUD ES AT WILLE,
AND NA THYNG yAT MAY BE ILLE.
yARE ES ALLE WISDOM WITH-OUTEN FOLY,
AND HONESTE WITH-OUTEN VILANY;
yARE ES BRYGHTNES AND BEWTE
OF ALLE THING yAT MEN SALLE yARE SE.
ALLE yIR IOYES ER yARE GENERALLE,
BOT yE MAST SOVERAYNE IOY OF ALLE
ES yE SYGHT OF GODES BRYGHT FACE,
yAT PASSES ALLE OTHER IOYES AND SOLACE;
FFOR SWA MYKELLE MAY NA IOY BE,
ALS ES yE SYGHT OF yE TRINITE,
yAT ES yE FADER, AND SON, AND HALY GASTE.
yE SYGHT OF WHILK SALLE BE IOY MASTE;
FFOR-WHI SWA MYKELLE IOY AND BLYS
NA IOY MAY BE ALS ES yIS.
FFOR ALLE yAT yAN SALLE SE HIM RYGHT,
MAY KNAW ALLE THING THURGH yAT SYGHT,
yAT EVER WAS, AND ES, AND SALLE BE,
ALS MEN MAY AFTERWARD REDE AND SE.
HERE HAVE I SHEWED ON A GENERAL MANERE
yE IOYES OF HEVEN, MANY AND SERE.
BOT NOW WILL I SPECIALY SHEW YHOW MARE
OF SEVEN MANERS OF BLYSSES yARE,
AND OF SEVEN SCHENSCHEPES IN HELLE ALLE-SWA,
yAT ER EVEN CONTRARY TYLLE yA,
AND WHILK BLYSSES FALLES SPECYALY
TYLLE yE SAULE, AND WHILK TYLLE yE BODY,
OF yAS yAT GOD IN HEVEN SALLE SE;
AND WHILK SCHENDSCHEPES SALLE APPROPRIED BE
TYLLE yE BODYSE OF yASE, yAT SALLE GA
TYLLE HELLE, AND WHILK TILLE yE SAULES ALLE-SWA.
I SPAK BIFORE OF SERE IOYES GENERALY,
BOT NOW WILL I HERE SERE BLYSSES SPECIFY,
213
AND yAIR CONTRARYES yAT ER HARD,
ALS YHE SALLE HERE BE RED AFTERWARD.
SAINT ANSELME SAYS, yE HALY MAN,
ALS I HERE SCHEW YHOW KAN,
yAT OMANG ALLE yE IOYES OF HEVEN,
SALLE BE SENE SPECIALLE BLYSSES SEVEN,
yAT yE BODYSE SALLE HAVE yAT SALLE BE SAVE,
AND OTHER SEVEN yAT yE SAULES SALLE HAVE
IN yE KYNGDOME OF HEVEN ALLE TO-GYDER,
AFTER yE DOME, WHEN yAI COM yIDER;
BOT TYLLE yE SYNFULLE BODYSE yARE OGAYNE
yAT SALLE BE DAMPNED TYLLE HELLE PAYNE,
SEVEN SPECIALLE SCHENDSCHEPES SALLE FALLE
AND OTHER SEVEN TYLLE yE SAULES WITH-ALLE
IN HELLE TO-GYDER LASTAND EVER-MARE,
WA ES yAM yAT SALLE DWELLE yARE.
HERES NOW, AR I PASS FERRER,
WHILK yA SPECYALLE BLYSSES ER,
yAT ER APPROPRIED TYLLE yA BODYSE
AND TYLLE yE SAULES OF MEN RYGHTWYSE,
AND yAIR CONTRARYES, yAT I SCHENDSCHEPES CALLE
yAT TYLLE yE SYNFULLE BODYSE AND SAULES SALLE FALLE.
yE FYRST BLYS ES BRYGHTNES CALD
yAT yE SAVED BODYSE SALLE AY HALD;
FFOR BE yAIR BODYSE NEVER SWA DYM HERE,
IN HEVEN yAI SALLE BE FAYRE AND CLERE
AND MARE SCHYNEAND AND MARE BRYGHT,
yAN EVER yE SON WAS TYLLE MANS SYGHT;
SWA FAYRE A SYGHT BIFORE WAS NEVER SENE,
ALS SALLE BE yAN, NE SWA CLENE,
WHEN ILKA BODY yAT SALLE BE SAVE,
SWA MYKELLE BRYGHTNES yARE SALLE HAVE;
FFOR IF A MAN HAD EGHEN SWA BRYGHT,
AND IF SWA MOGHT BE, SWA MYKELLE SYGHT,
ALS HAD ALLE yE CREATURES LYFAND,
YHIT MOGHT HE NOGHT, ALS I UNDERSTAND,
OGAYNE SWA MYKELLE BRYGHTNES LOKE,
ALS A BODY SALLE HAVE, yUS SAYS yE BOKE.
214
BOT yE DAMPNED BODYSE yARE OGAYNE
SALLE BE FOULE AND STYNKAND ALS CARAYNE;
AND FULLE MYRK AND DYM SALLE yAI BE
AND FULLE HYDUS AND WLATSOM TO SE;
FFOR SWA FOUL A SYGHT SAW NEVER MAN
ALS yE DAMPNED BODYSE SALLE BE yAN,
yAT WITH yE SAULES SALLE DWELLE IN HELLE DEPE,
yIS SALLE TO yAM BE PAYNE AND SCHENDSCHEPE.
yE SECUNDE BLYS AFTER ES SWYFTNES,
yAT ILK BODY SALLE HAVE yAT RYGHTWISE ES;
FFOR IN LES WHILE yAN A MAN MAY WYNKE,
yAI SALLE MOW FLEGHE WHIDER yAI WILLE THYNKE
WITH BODY AND SAULE TOGYDER THURGH FLYGHT,
FFRA HEVEN TYLLE ERTH AND OGAYNE RYGHT,
AND FRA yE TA SYDE OF yE WORLD WYDE,
IF yAI WYLD, TYLLE yE TOTHER SYDE;
AND WHIDER-SWA yAI yAIR THOGHT WILLE SETT
NATHYNG yAM SALLE OGAYNE-STAND NE LETT.
yIS MAY yAI DO WITH-OUTEN TRAVAYLE,
AND yIS SWYFTNES SALLE NEVER FAYLE;
FFOR ALS yE LYGHT OF yE SON, THURGH STRENTHE,
MAY FLEGHE FRA yE EST TYLLE yE WEST ON LENTHE,
RYGHT SWA yAI MAY WHYDER yAI WILLE, FLEGHE
IN A SCHORT TWYNKELLYNG OF ANE EGHE.
FFOR yAI SALLE BE ALS SWIFT yAN
ALS ANY THOGHT ES HERE OF MAN.
BOT yE SYNFULLE BODYSE SALLE EVER-MARE
ON A CONTRARY MANERE FARE;
yAI SALLE BE SWA HEVY CHARGES WITH SYN,
BOTH WITH-OUTEN AND WITH-IN,
yAT yAI SALLE HAVE NO MYGHT TO STAND,
NE UNNETHES TO STYR FOTE NE HAND,
NE YHIT NANE OTHER LYM OF BODY,
yAIR SYN SALLE WEGHE ON yAM SWA HEVY.
yE THRED BLYS ES STRENTHE AND MYGHT
yAT yE RYGHTWISE BODYSE SALLE HAVE THURGH RYGHT,
FFOR THOF yAI FEBLE HERE AND WAYKE WARE,
SWA MYKELLE MYGHT yAI SALLE HAVE yARE,
215
AND SWA MYKELLE STRENTHE AY LASTAND,
yAT NA THYNG SALLE MOW OGAYNE yAM STAND;
SWA yAT yAI SALLE MOW REMOWE AT yAIR WILLE,
ILKA MOUNTAYNE AND ILKA HILLE,
yAT EVER WAS IN yE WORLD SENE;
AND IF yAI WILD, ALLE yE ERTH BIDENE,
WITH-OUTEN ANY OGAYNE-STANDYNG,
OR ANY LETTYNG OF ANY-THYNG;
AND IN yAT DEDE HAVE NO MARE SWYNK,
yAN A MAN HAS HERE TO LOKE OR WYNK.
BOT yE SYNFULLE BODYSE, yAT DAMPNED SALLE BE,
SALLE BE SWA WAYKE AND SWA FEBLE TO SE,
yAT yAI SALLE UNNETHES MOW STAND,
NE MYGHT HAVE ANES TO LYFT yAIR HAND
TO WYPE yE TERES FRA yAIR EGHEN OWAY,
AND yAT WAYKENES SALLE LAST WITH yAM AY.
yE FERTH BLYS ALLE-SWA ES FREDOME
yAT yE SAVED BODYSE SALLE HAVE yAT SALLE COME
TYLLE HEVEN, WHARE ALKYN IOYES ER,
TO DO WHAT yAI WILLE WITH-OUTEN DAUNGER;
FFOR-WHI yAI SALLE NEVER FELE NA THYNG
BOT yAT AT SALLE BE AT yAIR LYKYNG;
AND NA THING SALLE yAM WARN NE LETT,
TO DO yAIR WILLE WHARE-SWA IT ES SETT;
FFOR ALLE THING TYLLE yAM SALLE BE BOGHAND,
AND NA THING SALLE OGAYNE yAM STAND,
NE OGAYNS yAM NA THING BE SETT,
yAIR WILLE NE yAIR PURPOSE TO LETT,
NOWTHER MEN, NE STELE, NE STANE, NE TRE,
NE NOGHT ELLES, SWA FRE SALLE yAI BE;
yAI SALLE MOW PASSE AY WHARE yAI WILLE
AND ALLE yAIR LYKYNG yAN FUL-FYLLE.
yIS FREDOM AND yIS FRAUNCHES
SALLE BE APPROPRIED TYLLE yE SAVED BODYSE
WITH yE SAULES OF yAM yAT GOD SALLE CHESE,
AND yIS FREDOM yAI SALLE NEVER LESE.
BOT ON CONTRARY MANERE OGAYNE yAT BLYS,
yE DAMPNED BODYSE SALLE FREDOM MYS;
216
FFOR yAI SALLE BE STRESCED IN HELLE ALS THRALLE,
AND ALLE yAT MAY GREVE THOLE WITH-ALLE;
yAI SALLE BE CHACED OGAYNE yAIR WILLE
TYLLE ALLE MANERE OF THING yAT ES ILLE;
yUS SALLE yAI IN HELLE IN THRALDOM BE,
FFRA WHILK yAI MAY NEVER MARE FLE.
yE FYFT BLYS, ALS CLERKES WATE WELE,
ES HELE yAT yE SAVED BODYSE SALLE FELE,
WITH-OUTEN SEKNES OR GREVAUNCE,
OR ANGRE, OR PAYNE, OR PENAUNCE;
FFOR IVEL NE PAYNE SALLE NEVER yAM GREVE,
BOT IN HELE AND LYKYNG yAI SALLE AY LEVE,
IN HEVEN WITH IOY ON ILKA SYDE,
FFOR yARE SALLE yAI BE GLORIFYDE.
BOT yE DAMPNED BODYSE, ON OTHER-WYSE,
SALLE HAVE STRANG YVELS AND ANGWYSE,
ALS SAULES HAS yAT IN PURGATORY DWELS
FFOR CERTAYNE TYME, ALS yE BOKE TELS.
BOT SWA LANG LASTES NO SEKENES yARE.
ALS IN HELLE, FOR yAT LASTES EVER-MARE;
FFOR PURGATORY, ALS WRYTEN ES,
HAS ENDE, AND HELLE ES ENDELES.
yE SEXT BLYS ES yE GRET DELYTE,
yAT yE SAVED BODYSE SALLE HAVE SWA PARFYTE
yAT NO MAN LYFAND KAN NE MAY,
SWA MYKELLE YHERN HERE, NYGHT NE DAY;
FFOR HERE MOGHT NEVER MAN FAR SWA WELE,
WITH SWA MYKELLE DELYTE ALS yAI SALLE FELE
IN ALLE yAIR WITTES, NE SWA MYKELLE IOY HAVE,
ALS GOD ON yAM SALLE yAN VOUCHE SAVE.
yAI SALLE HAVE SWA MYKELLE IOY yARE,
yAT NANE OF yAM SALLE DESYRE MARE;
FFOR ALS yE IREN yAT ES GLOWAND,
THURGH STRENTHE AND HETE BRYNAND,
SEMES BETTER TO BE FYRE-BRYGHT,
yAN IREN, ALS TYLLE ANY MANS SYGHT,
RIGHT SWA yA yAT IN HEVEN SALLE WON
SALLE SEME BRYGHTER yAN FYRE, AND SCHYNE ALS SON
217
AND BE FULLE-FYLD AY IN yAT PLACE
OF yE LUF OF GOD AND OF HIS GRACE,
AND OF ALLE DELYCES AND IOY AND BLYS,
yE WHILK yAI SALLE NEVER-MARE MYS;
AND ALS MEN HERE OFT HAS SENE
yAT A VESSELLE DYPPED ALLE BIDENE
IN WATER, OR IN OTHER LYCOUR THYN,
BE yE VESSELLE NEVER SWA WYDE WYTH-IN,
HAS WATER BATH WITH-IN AND WITH-OUT,
BINETHEN, OBOVEN, AND ALLE ABOUT,
AND NA MARE WATER WITH-IN MAY HALD,
NE NANE OTHER THING yAT LYCOURE ES CALD,
RIGHT SWA yE RYGHTWISE SALLE HAVE IOY, MARE
yAN yAI MAY THINK OR YHERN yARE;
BOT yE DAMPNED BODYSE OGAYN-WARD
SALLE IN HELLE FELE PAYNS STRANG AND HARD;
FFOR yAI SALLE BRYN IN FYRE, ILK ANE,
yAT SALLE BE MENGED WITH BRONSTANE
FFULLE HATE BRYNAND, AND WITH PYK,
AND WITH OTHER THING yAT ES WYK,
OMANG VERMYN yAT SALLE yAM BYTE,
AND DEVELS yAT AY SALLE yAM SMYTE,
WITH OTHER PAYNS STRANG AND FELLE,
MA yAN HERT MAY THYNK OR TONG TELLE.
yE SEVEND BLYS ES ENDELES LYFE,
yAT yE SAVED SALLE HAVE, WITH-OUTEN STRYFE,
EVER-MARE IN HEVEN SWA HEGHE;
FFOR yAI SALLE AY LYF AND NEVER DEGHE,
AND WITH GOD ALLE-MYGHTY yARE AY WON,
yAT ES SOTHFAST FADER, AND SOTHFAST SON,
AND yE HALY GAST IN TRINITE;
AND IN yAT LYFE HIS FACE yAI SALLE AY SE.
NOW IF A MAN MOGHT LYF HERE,
IN yIS WORLD A THOWSAND YHERE,
YHIT SULD HIS LYFE BE BROGHT TYLLE ENDE,
AND FRA yIS WORLD BIHOVED HIM WENDE.
YHIT SULD HIM THYNK, AND HE TOKE KEPE,
HIS LYFE NOGHT BOT ALS A DREME IN SLEPE,
218
yAN SULD yE LENTHE OF ALLE HIS LYFEDAYS,
SEME BOT ALS A DAY, ALS yE PROPHET SAYS:
QUONIAM MILLE ANNI ANTE OCULOS TUOS, TANQUUM
DIES HESTERNA QUE PRETERIIT.
HE SAYS yUS: "LORD] A THOWSAND YHERE
BI-FOR yINE EGHEN, yAT ALLE THYNG SESE HERE,
AT yE LAST, ES NOGHT BOT ALS YHISTER-DAY,
yAT WAS AWHILE AND ES PASSED OWAY."
yUS WHEN yIS LYFE TYLLE ENDE ES BROGHT,
ALLE yE TYME OF IT SEMES ALS NOGHT;
yAN ES A DAY MARE IN HEVEN SWA CLERE,
yAN HERE ER MANY THOWSAND YHERE;
AND MANY THOWSAND YHERES HERE ES LES,
yAN yARE A DAY, ALS yE BOKE BERS WITNES.
yAN SALLE yE LYF BE ALS LANG yARE,
ALS yAT DAY LASTES, AND yAT ES EVER-MARE;
FFOR yARE ES AY DAY AND NEVER NYGHT,
yARFOR yE PROPHET SAYS yUS RYGHT:
MELIOR EST DIES UNA IN ATRIIS
TUIS SUPER MILIA.
HE SAYS: "LOVERD] BETTER ES A DAY LASTAND
IN yI HALLES yAN A THOWSAND;"
yAT ES, BETTER ES IN HEVEN A DAY,
yAN A THOWSAND HERE yAT PASSES OWAY;
FFOR ALLE yE DAYS yAT HERE MAY FALLE,
PASSES OWAY, AND yIS LYF WITH-ALLE,
AND IN A DAY IN HEVEN SALLE BE CONTENDE
yE TYME yAT NEVER SALLE HAVE ENDE;
yAN SALLE yAT DAY, ALS yE BOKE US LERES,
PASS MANY HUNDRETH THOWSAND YHERES.
AND ALS IN HELLE SALLE BE NYGHT,
ALS DAY SALLE BE IN HEVEN BRYGHT;
FFOR ALS MEN IN HEVEN SALLE AY DAY SE,
RYGHT SWA SALLE NYGHT AY IN HELLE BE.
yUS SALLE DAY IN HEVEN BE CONTENDE,
AND NYGHT IN HELLE, WITH-OUTEN ENDE;
BOT SE WE NOGHT HOW SCHORT A DAY ES HERE
TO REGARD OF A HUNDRETH YHERE?
219
YHIT ES A HUNDRETH YHERE LES
TO REGARD OF yE TYME yAT ES ENDELES;
FFOR SAINT AUSTYN TELLES IN A SARMON,
yAT A DAY HERE MAY BE A PORCYON,
OF ANE HUNDRETH YHERE, ALS MEN MAY SE,
ALLE-IF yAT PORCYON FULLE LYTYLLE BE,
BOT yE SPACE OF ANE HUNDRETH YHERE ES
NA PORCYON OF ENDELESNES;
FFOR IF A THOWSAND YHERE yAT ES MARE
OF ENDLESNES A PORCYON WARE,
AFTER A THOWSAND THOWSAND YHERES TO KAST,
ENDLESNES SULD SESE yAN AT yE LAST,
AND yAT WILLE NOGHT yE RESON OF ENDELESNES
SUFFER yAT IT BE SCHORTER yAN IT ES;
FFOR IF ENDLESNES ANY END MOGHT HALD,
yAN WAR IT ENDLESNES UNPROPERLY CALD.
BOT IN yAT ENDLESNES ES CONTENDE
ALLE yE TYME yAT MAY HAVE NANE ENDE;
AND LYFE IN HEVEN SALLE ALS LANG BE
ALS MEN SALLE TYME yARE WITH-OUTEN ENDE SE,
yAN SEMES IT WELE, ALS I SAYD ARE,
yAT LYFE SALLE BE yARE EVER-MARE
WHARFOR ILK MAN WITH HERT STEDFAST,
SULD SEKE yAT LYFE yAT AY SALLE LAST,
yE WHILK ILK MAN MAY LYGHTLY WYN,
yAT HERE LYFES WELE AND WILLE FLE SYN,
AND LEVE NOGHT yAT LYF yAT LASTES AY
FFOR yIS LYFE HERE yAT PASSES OWAY;
FFOR yAT LYFE ES SYKER, AND SWA ES NOGHT yIS.
yAT LYFE ES SWA FULLE OF IOY AND BLYS
yAT A MAN SALLE THYNK yARE A HUNDRETH YHERE,
IN yAT LYFE, SCHORTER yAN A DAY HERE.
TYLLE yAT IOYFULLE LYF MAY ALLE MEN COM
yAT MEKE OF HERT ER HERE, AND BOWSOM.
yUS SALLE ENDLES LYFE APPROPRYED BE,
TYLLE yE SAVED BODYSE yAT AY GOD SALLE SE.
BOT yE DAMPNED yAT TYLLE HELLE SALLE WENDE,
SALLE HAVE DED yARE WITH-OUTEN ENDE,
220
AND yAT DED SALLE AY NEW yAM GRYEFE.
IN yAT DED yAI SALLE AY LYEFE,
AND SWA BE PYNED, IN yAIR WYTTES FYVE,
yAT yAIR LYFE SALLE SEME MARE DED yAN LYVE.
yAI SALLE SEME, WHETHER yAI LYG OR STAND,
ALS MEN IN TRANSYNG, AY DEGHAND;
yAI SALLE AY DEGHAND LYF, AND LYFAND DYGHE,
AND EVER-MARE PAYNS OF DED yUS DRYGHE,
AND yARE-WITH BE TOURMENTED, AY OMANG,
WITH OTHER BYTTER PAYNS AND STRANG;
yAR-FOR yE LYFE IN HELLE MAY BE CALD
yE SECUND DED, AND SWA MAY WE IT HALD.
yAN MAY yAI SAY, yAT SALLE LYF yARE,
ALLAS] yAT EVER MODER yAM BARE.
HERE HAVE I TALD, ALS YHE MOGHT HERE,
OF SEVEN MANERE OF BLYSSES SERE,
yAT yE SAVED BODYSE SALLE HAVE THURGH RYGHT
WITH yE SAULES IN HEVEN BRYGHT,
AND OF yE SEVEN SCHENDSCHEPES ALLE-SWA
yAT ES EVEN CONTRARY TYLLE yA,
yE WHILK yE BODYSE IN HELLE SALLE HAVE AY,
yAT SALLE BE DAMPNED AT DOMESDAY.
BOT I WILLE SCHEW YHOW YHIT WITH-ALLE,
SEVEN MANERE OF BLYSSES, yAT SALLE FALLE
TYLLE yE SAULES NAMELY WITH yE BODYSE,
OF ALLE yE MEN yAT ER GUDE AND RYGHTWISE,
yAT SALLE BE SAVED AT yAT TYDE,
AND IN HEVEN BE GLORYFYDE;
AND YHIT SEVEN SCHENDSCHEPES WILLE I NEVEN,
yAT ER EVEN CONTRARY TYLLE yA SEVEN,
yE WHILK SALLE FALLE, WITH-OUTEN ENDE,
TYLLE yA SAULES OF yE SYNFULLE yAT SALLE WENDE,
WITH yE BODYSE, UNTYLLE HELLE PYTT,
ALS ES FONDEN IN HALY WRYTT.
yE FYRST BLYS yAT yE SAULES SALLE HAVE
OF RYGHTWISE MEN, yAT SALLE BE SAVE
ES WISDOM; FOR yAI SALLE KNAW AND SE
ALLE yAT WAS, AND ES, AND YHIT SALLE BE.
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yAI SALLE HAVE KNAWYNG OF GOD FULLY,
AND OF yE MYGHT OF yE FADER ALLE-MYGHTY,
yAI SALLE KNAW yE WYTT OF yE SON AND TASTE,
AND yE GUDENES OF yE HALY-GASTE:
yUS SALLE yAIR KNAWYNG PARFYTE BE,
IN ALLE yE HALY TRINITE.
yAI SALLE KNAW ALLE THING AND WYTT,
yAT GOD HAS DONE AND SALLE DO YHIT,
IN HEVEN, IN HELLE AND IN ERTH AYWHARE,
yUS WISE yAI SALLE BE EVER-MARE.
FFOR yAI SALLE HAVE SWA MYKELLE GRACE,
WHEN yAI SE GOD, FACE TO FACE,
yAT NATHYNG, yAT GOD EVER DYD,
SALLE BE LAYNED FRA yAM NE HYD,
yAT ES TO SAY, OF yAT GOD VOUCHES SAVE,
yAT ANY CREATURE KNAWYNG MAY HAVE;
FFOR SAINT AUSTYN yAT MYKELLE COUTH OF CLERGY,
SAYS IN A SARMON yAT HE MADE OPENLY,
yAT, IN yE SYGHT OF GOD yAT yAI SALLE SE,
THRE MANERE OF KNAWYNG TYLLE yAM SALLE BE.
FFOR yAI SALLE SE HIM yARE BOTH GOD AND MAN,
AND yAM-SELF yAI SALLE SE IN HIM yAN,
AND ALLE MEN AND ALLE THING, LES AND MARE.
yAI SALLE SE, AND KNAW IN yAT SYGHT yARE,
ALS WE MAY THRE THYNGES SE HERE
IN A MYROURE OF GLAS, yAT ES CLERE;
ANE ES yE MYROUR yAT BYFOR US ES,
ANE OTHER ES OUR AWENE FACE AND LYKNES,
AND yE THRED WE MAY yAR-IN SE YHIT,
yAT ES ALLE THYNG yAT ES ONENCE IT;
RIGHT SWA MEN SALLE SE GOD ALS HE ES,
IN yE MYROURE OF HIS BRYGHTNES,
ALS PROPERLY ALS POSSIBLE MAY BE,
TYLLE ANY CREATURE HIM TO SE.
yAI SALLE SE yAM-SELF IN HIM SO BRYGHT,
AND ALLE MEN TO-GYDER, AT A SYGHT,
AND ALLE OTHER THYNG yAI SALLE KNAWE,
AND SE OVER-ALLE, BOTH HEGH AND LAWE.
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ALLE MEN yAN SALLE SE yAT yARE SALLE DWELLE,
ALLE yE CREATURES IN HEVEN AND HELLE.
yARE SALLE BE SCHEWED yAN TYLLE yAM, APERTLY,
SERE PRIVETESE OF GOD ALLE-MYGHTY,
yAT NA MAN HERE MOGHT KNAW NE WYTT
THURGH CLERGY, NE THURGH HALY-WRYTT;
yAT ES, HOW GOD INVYSIBLE ES,
AND UNCHAUNGEABLE, AND ENDLES;
AND HOW HE WAS BIFOR ALLE THING,
AND WITH-OUTEN ANY BYGYNNYNG;
AND HOW, AND WHI, HE SALLE BE
WITH-OUTEN ENDE, yAI SALLE yAN SE;
ALLE THYNG yAT NOW ES FRA yAM HYD,
SALLE yAN TYLLE yAM BE KNAWEN AND KYD.
yAI SALLE yAN SE yARE, OPENLY,
OF ALLE THYNGES yE SKYLLE AND yE CAUSE WHI;
ALS WHI ANE ES CHOSEN HERE AND TAKEN,
AND ANE OTHER LEFT AND FORSAKEN;
WHI ANE ES UPTANE TYLLE A KYNGDOM,
AND ANE OTHER ES PUTTED IN-TYLLE THRALDOM;
AND WHI SOM CHILDER ER DED AND LORN
IN yAIR MODER WAMBE, AR yAI BE BORN;
yAI SALLE KNAW, WITH-OUTEN DREDE,
SKYLLE WHI SOM DEGHES IN yAIR BARNHEDE,
AND SOM AFTER WHEN yAI MAST STRENTHE WELD;
AND WHI SOM LYFES TYLLE yAIR MAST ELD;
yAI SALLE YHIT SERTAINE SKYLLE SE yAN
WHI SOM ER BORN IN FAYRE SCHAP OF MAN,
AND SOM IN UNCOMLY STATURE,
AND WHI SOM ER RYCHE HERE, AND SOM PORE,
AND WHI SOM CHILDER GETEN IN HORDOM,
ER BAPTIZED, AND HAS CRISTENDOM,
AND SOM yAT ER IN LELE WEDLAYK BORN,
AR yAI BE CRISTENED, ER DED AND LORN;
AND WHI SOM BIUGeYNNES TO BE STEDFAST
TO LYFE WELE, AND ENDES ILLE AT yE LAST;
AND WHI SOM HAS HERE ILLE BIGYNNYNG,
AND, AT yE LAST, MASE A GUD ENDYNG.
223
OF yIR THYNGES, AND OF OTHER MANY,
yE SKYLLES SALLE BE KNAWEN yAN OPENLY,
IN yE BOKE OF LYFE yAT OPEN SALLE BE,
yE WHILK ES yE SYGHT OF yE TRINITE.
yUS SALLE ALLE MEN, yAT IN HEVEN yAN DWELLES,
KNAW AND WITT, ALS SAINT AUSTYN TELLES,
AND IN yE BRYGHTNES OF GOD OPENLY SE
ALLE THING yAT EVER WAS, OR YHIT SALLE BE,
AND ALLE yE SOTH OF ILK THYNG, AND SKYLLE,
ALS FER-FORTH ALS GOD VOUCHES SAFE, AND WILLE.
yARE SALLE ILK MAN ALS WELE KNAW OTHER,
ALS A MAN HERE KNAWES HYS SYSTER OR BROTHER,
AND WYT OF WHAT CONTRE yAI WARE,
AND WHA yAM GATT, AND WHA yAM BARE.
ILK ANE SALLE KNAW yAN OTHER THOGHT
AND ALLE yE DEDES yAT yAI EVER WROGHT;
yUS WYSE SALLE yAI BE yAT SALLE COME
TYLLE yE KYNGDOM OF HEVEN, AFTER yE DOME.
yAI SALLE BE GODES SONS, AND TILLE HIM LYKE,
AND BE MADE HIS HEYRES OF HEVENRYKE,
AND BE ALLE ALS GODES OF GRET MYGHT,
ALS yE PROPHET, IN yE PSAUTER, SAYS RYGHT:
EGO DIXI: 'DII ESTIS ET
FILII EXCELSI OMNES.'
HE SAYS: "I SAYD, 'YHE ER GODES ALLE
AND GODES SONS MEN SALLE YHOW CALLE'."
WHARFOR IT SEMES, yAT WHEN yAI COM
TYLLE HEVEN, yAI SALLE BE FULLE OF WYSDOM
AND FULLE OF MYGHT, LASTAND EVER-MARE,
WHEN yAI SALLE ALLE BE ALS GODES yARE.
BOT NOW MAY yOU ASK ME AND LERE
A QUESTYON, AND SAY ON yIS MANERE:
'SALLE yAI OGHT THINK yAT SALLE BE SAFE,
ON yE SYNS OF WHILK yAI yAM SCHRAFE
HERE IN yAIR LYFE, AND MADE yAM CLENE,
AND OF yAM ASSOYLED HAS BENE?'
SAINT ANSELME ANSWERS TO yIS,
AND SAYS yAT yOU yAT SALLE HAVE HEVEN BLYS,
224
SALLE LOVE GOD AND THANK HIM yARE
OF ALLE GUDES, BOTH LES AND MARE,
yAT HE HAS DONE TYLLE yE HERE,
AND TYLLE ALLE OTHER, ON yE SAME MANERE,
yE WHILK AT yE DAY OF DOME, SALLE BE SAFE,
AND WITH yE ENDLES BLYS SALLE HAVE.
GRET GUD HE DOSE yE, WHILS yOU LYFES,
WHEN HE yI SYNS yE HERE FORGYVES;
HOW MOGHT yOU yAN, WITH HERT FRE,
THANK GOD OF yAT yAT HE HAS FORGYVEN yE,
ALLE yE SYNS yAT yOU HAS WROGHT,
IF yOU MOGHT THYNK ON NANE IN THOGHT?
BOT yOU SALLE yIS UNDERSTAND WELE,
yAT NA MARE GREVANCE SALLE yOU FELE,
NE NA MARE PAYNE HAVE, NE MYSLYKYNG,
WHEN yOU HAS OF yI SYNS MENEYNG,
yAN HE HAS, yAT SOM TYME HAD IN STRYFE
A SARE WOUND, WITH SWERD OR KNYFE,
yAT PARFYTELY ES HALED AND WELE,
OF WHILK HE MAY NA MARE SARE FELE;
AND ALS yOU NOW HAS NA SCHAME OF yE DEDE
yAT yOU DYD IN yI BARNHEDE,
OR yAT yOU DYD IN yI DRONKENNES,
OF WHILK TYLLE yE NOW NA SCHAME ES.
NA MARE SCHAME SALLE yOU yAN HAVE IN THOGHT,
OF yE SYNS yAT yOU HERE HAS WROGHT,
OF WHILK yOU ERT HERE SCHRYVEN PARFYTELY,
AND yAT GOD HAS FORGYFEN HERE, THURGH MERCY
AND NA MARE yAN PETRE NOW HAS SCHAME
OF yAT, yAT HE FORSOKE OUR LORD BI NAME;
OR MARY MAUDELAYNE NOW HAS OF HIR SYN
yAT SCHO SOM TYME DELYTED HIR IN.
NA MARE SCHAME SALLE MEN yAN HAVE
OF yAIR SYN HERE DONE, yAT SALLE BE SAVE.
BOT FOR-yI yAT GOD yAT BOGHT US FRE,
WYLD THURGH HIS MERCY AND HIS PETE,
225
AND COUTH, THURGH HIS AWEN WYTT CLERE,
AND MYGHT WELE, THURGH HIS AWEN POWERE,
SWA GRET SYNS yAM FRELY FORGYVE
AND yE WOUNDES HALE, yAT WAR GRYFE,
WHARE-THURGH yAI HAD DESERVED WELE
yE PYNE OF HELLE EVER-MARE TO FELE,
yARFOR yAI SALLE LUF HIM yE MARE,
AND yE MARE HIM LOVE AND THANK yARE,
AND ALS WELE FOR OTHER MENS TRISPAS
AND OTHER MENS SYN yAT HE HELED HAS,
ALS FOR yAIR AWEN yAT yAI WROGHT HERE,
yARFOR SAYS DAVID, ON yIS MANERE:
MISERICORDIAS DOMINI
INETERNUM CANTABO.
HE SAYS: "I SALLE yE MERCYES SYNG
OF OUR LOVERD, AY WITH-OUTEN CESYNG."
AND SWA SALLE ALLE SYNG, WITH-OUTEN ENDE,
yAT TYLLE yE BLYS OF HEVEN SALLE WENDE;
AND SWA MOGHT yAI ON NANE WISE SYNG,
WARN yAI HAD OF yAIR SYNS MENEYNG,
yAT yAI HAD DONE HERE BODILY
AND GOD FORGAF THURGH HIS MERCY;
yUS SALLE yE SAULE BE FULLE OF WYSDOM yARE,
AND ALLE THING KNAW AND SE, ALS I SAYD ARE.
BOT yE SAULES yAT WITH yE BODYSE SALLE SYNK
IN-TYLLE HELLE, SALLE ON NA GUD THYNK,
NE HAVE WITT, NE KNAW, NE FELE
NA DEDE yAT EVER WAS DONE WELE,
BOT ON yAIR PAYNS SALLE BE ALLE yAIR THOGHT
AND ON yAIR SYNS yAT yAI HAD WROGHT;
FFOR yAI SALLE ON NATHYNG HAVE MENEYNG,
BOT ANELY ON yAIR AWEN WICKED LYFYNG,
AND ON yAIR SOROW, WITH-OUTEN ENDE,
AND ON yAIR WRECHEDNES yAT SALLE yAM SCHENDE
yE WHILK yAI SALLE, AY, BIFOR yAM SE,
AND yAT SYGHT TYLLE yAM SCHENDSCHEPE SALLE BE.
226
yE SECUND BLYS yAT yE SAULE SALLE FELE,
WITH yE BODYSE, ALS yIR CLERKES WATE WELE,
SALLE BE FRENDSCHEPE AND PARFYTE LOVE,
yAT ES MARE yAN EVER MAN MOGHT HERE PROVE;
FFOR ILK ANE SALLE MARE LUF OTHER yAN,
yAN EVER LUFED HERE ANY MAN,
AND ALS PARFYTELY AND ALS LANG
ALS HE SALLE LUF HIM-SELF OMANG.
AND yAT LUF SALLE BE FESTED SWA FAST,
yAT IT SALLE NEVER FAYLE, BOT AY LAST;
FFOR ALS ILKA LYM OF A BODY
LUFES ALLE yE OTHER LYMS KYNDELY,
AND YHERNES, AY, GRETLY yAIR HELE,
SWA PARFYTE yAT LUF SALLE BE AND LELE;
FFOR yAI SALLE ALLE BE OF ANE ASSENT
AND OF A WILLE AND OF ANE ENTENT;
FFOR yAI SALLE BE yAN ALLE ALS A BODY
IN SERE LYMS, AND ALS A SAULE ANELY;
AND GOD yAIR HEVED SALLE BE yARE,
yAT SALLE yAM LUF ALS MYKELLE OR MARE,
ALS DOSE yE HEVED OF yE BODY yAT LOVES
yE LYMS KYNDELY yAT ON IT MOVES.
yAT CLERE LUF AND yAT ALLIANCE
SALLE NEVER-MARE FAYLE, THURGH NA DISTANCE,
NE THURGH STRYFE, yAT MAN MAY MAKE;
yAT BAND OF LUFF SALLE NEVER SLAKE.
BOT EVEN yE CONTRARY SALLE MEN SE,
OMANG yE SAULES yAT DAMPNED SALLE BE;
FFOR yAI SALLE BE FULLE OF FELONY,
OF HATRED, OF WRETH AND OF ENVY;
SWA yAT ILK ANE WALD WITH OTHER FYGHT,
AND STRANGELLE OTHER, IF yAI MYGHT.
yUS SALLE yAI HATE AND STRYFE ILK ANE,
FFOR PEESE SALLE BE OMANG yAM NANE,
NE REST, NE EESE, NE WORSCHEPE,
BOT TRAVAYLE, AND PYNE, AND SCHENDSCHEPE.
BOT GOD ALLE-MYGHTY, AND ALLE-SWA ALLE HIS
yAT WITH HIM SALLE DWELLE IN HEVEN BLIS,
227
SALLE yAM IN SOROW AND PYNE SE
AND OF yAM yAI SALLE HAVE NA PETE,
BOT HATE yAM ALS GODES ENMYSE.
AND yAT HATREDYN SALLE yAN BE RYGHTWYSE;
FFOR yE FADER, yAT yAN SALLE BE SAVE,
NA PETE OF yE SON yARE SALLE HAVE,
yAT SALLE BE DAMPNED TYLLE HELLE PAYNE;
NE yE SON, yAT SALLE BE SAVED yARE OGAYNE,
SALLE HAVE NA REUTHE, NE NA PYTE,
OF yE FADER yAT DAMPNED SALLE BE;
NE yE MODER, ON yE SAME MANERE,
OF yE DOGHTER yAT SCHO LUFED HERE;
NE yE DOGHTER OF yE MODER NA MARE;
NE yE BROTHER OF yE SYSTER yARE;
NE yE SYSTER OF yE BROTHER.
NANE OF yAM SALLE HAVE REUTHE OF OTHER;
NE NANE OTHER, yAT SALLE BE SAVED yAN,
SALLE HAVE REUTHE NE PETE OF DAMPNED MAN.
BOT WHEN yE RYGHTWYSE yE SYNFULLE SALLE SE
PYNED IN HELLE, GLAD yAI SALLE BE,
FFOR TWA SKYLS, AND IOYFULLE AND FAYNE;
ANE ES, FOR-yI yAT yAI ER SKAPED yAT PAYNE,
ANE OTHER ES FOR-yI yAT GODES VENGEANCE
ES RYGHTWISE, AND HIS ORDINANCE.
yIS PROVES yE PROPHETE, ALS yE BOKE SCHEWES US,
yARE HE SAYS IN yE PSAUTER yUS:
LETABITUR IUSTUS, CUM
VIDERIT VINDICTAM.
HE SAYS yAT "ILKA RYGHTWYSE MAN
FULLE GLAD AND BLYTH SALLE BE yAN,
WHEN yAI GODES VENGEANCE SE
ON yE SYNFULLE, yAT yAN DAMPNED SALLE BE.
yE THRED BLYS, ALS MEN MAY IN BOKE REDE,
ES VERAY ACORD AND ANEHEDE,
yAT yE SAULES SALLE HAVE IN HEVEN TO-GYDER,
WITH yE BODYSE, WHEN yAI COM yIDER;
FFOR ILK ANE SALLE FOLOW OTHERS WILLE,
AND ILK ANE OTHEUReS LYKYNG FULLFYLLE;
228
AND ALS yINE ANE EGHE FOLOWS RYGHT.
yE TOTHER, yARE IT SETTES yE SYGHT,
AND NOUTHER MAY TURNE, HYDER NE yIDER,
BOT yAI BOTH AY TURNE TO-GYDER,
RIGHT SWA SALLE GOD ACORD WITH ALLE HIS,
AND ILK ANE WITH OTHER IN THAT BLYS;
AND TO WHAT THYNG yE SAULE HAS TALENT,
TO yAT yE BODY SALLE, AY, ASSENT;
AND WHAT-SWA GOD yAN WILLE BE DONE
TO yAT yAI SALLE ASSENT ALLE-SONE;
AND WHAT THYNG SWA yAI yAN WILLE,
yAT SALLE GOD ALS-TYTE FULLE-FYLLE.
yIS ACORDE AND ANEHEDE SALL NEVER CEESE,
BOT EVER-MARE LAST WITH REST AND PEESE.
ALLE SALLE yAI BE ALLE ANE IN COMPANY,
AND ALS A SAULE AND A BODY.
BOT yE DAMPNED yARE OGAYNE SALLE STRYVE,
ILKANE WITH OTHER, FOR yAIR WICKED LYVE;
FFOR ILK ANE SALLE HATE OTHER yAN,
AND ILK ANE SALLE WERY OTHER AND BAN;
ILK ANE SALLE YHERNE WITH OTHER TO FYGHT,
AND ILK ANE WALD SLA OTHER IF yAI MYGHT;
yE BODY SALLE HATE yE SAULE BI SKYLLE,
FFOR yE SAULE HERE THOGHT AY yE ILLE;
yE SAULE SALLE AY HATE yE BODY,
FFOR yE BODY WROGHT yE FOLY;
AND FOR-yI yAT yE SAULE FYRST SYN THOGHT
AND yE BODY IT AFTERWARD WROGHT,
AND WYLD NOGHT LEVE, NE STAND yARE OGAYNE,
UNTYLLE yE DED yE BODY HAD SLAYNE.
yAR-FORE BATH TO-GYDER SALLE DWELLE,
WITH-OUTEN ENDE, IN yE PYNE OF HELLE.
yE FERTH BLYS, OMANG yE TOTHER ALLE,
yAT TO yE SAULES, WITH yE BODYSE, SALLE FALLE,
yE WHILK SALLE BE SAVED, ES POWERE;
FFOR yAI SALLE yARE HAVE BOTH FER AND NERE,
SWA MYKELLE POWER AND MAISTRY
AND LORDSCHIP, AND BE SWA MYGHTY
229
yAT ALLE THYNG yAN SALLE BE DONE
AT yAIR WILLE, HASTILY AND SONE;
AND WHAT-SWA yAI WILLE THINK IN THOGHT,
ALLE SALLE BE AT yAIR WILLE yARE WROGHT;
FFOR ALLE THING SALLE BE TYLLE UyAMe BOGHAND,
AND NATHYNG SALLE OGAYNE yAM STAND;
FFOR GOD SALLE FULLE-FYLLE ALLE yAIR LYKYNG,
AND FOLOW yAIR WILLE IN ALLE THING.
yUS SALLE yAI HAF yARE GRET POWERE,
AND HEGHNES, FOR yAIR AWEN GRET LAWNES HERE,
yAT yAI HAD IN yAIR LYFE DAYS,
AND yARFOR GOD, IN yE GOSSPELLE SAYS:
QUI SE HUMILIAT
EXALTABITUR.
HE SAYS: "WHA-SWA HERE LAWES HIM RYGHT
HE SALLE BE HEGHED, IN HEVEN BRYGHT."
BOT yE DAMPNED yARE OGAYNE HALELY,
SALLE WANT ALKYN POWER AND MAISTRY,
AND yARE-WITH yAT SALLE THARNE ALLE THING,
OF WHILK MEN MOGHT HAVE LYKYNG.
yAI SALLE AY BE IN GRET DRED AND AWE,
AND UNDER FOTE AY BE HALDEN LAWE.
yAI SALLE HAVE NATHYNG AT yAIR WILLE,
BOT ALLE THING yAT SALLE LYKE yAM ILLE.
MYKELLE SOROW yAM SALLE yAN BITYDE,
FFOR yAIR HEGHENES HERE, AND yAIR PRYDE,
ALS yE BOK SAYS yAT BERES WYTNES,
AND ALS IN yE SAME GOSSPELLE WRYTEN ES:
QUI SE EXALTAT HU-
MILIABITUR.
yAT ES, "WHA-SWA HEGHE HERE WILLE HIM BERE
HE SALLE BE LAWED" AND PUTTED IN DAUNGERE,
yAT ES IN GRET DAUNGER OF FENDES,
IN PYNE OF HELLE, yAT NEVER ENDES.
yE FYFT BLYS yAT SALLE FALLE ALSWA,
TO yE SAULES, yAT WITH yE BODYSE SALLE GA
TYLLE HEVEN-RYKE, ES HONOURE AND WORSCHEPE,
OF WHILK GOD HIM-SELF SALLE TAK KEPE;
230
FFOR yAI SALLE HAVE yARE SERE HONOURS,
AND BE COROUNED, ALS KYNGES AND EMPAROURS.
AND SYTT IN SETYLS SCHYNAND BRYGHT,
WITH ALKYN NOBELAY, RYCHELY DYGHT;
WITH BRYGHTNES OF LYGHT yAI SALLE BE CLED,
AND GRET REVERENCE yAM SALLE BE BED,
AND BE HONOURD ALS GODES FRENDES DERE,
FFOR yE WORSCHEPE yAT yAI DYD HIM HERE,
IN GUD WERKES, yAT TYLLE HIM WAR SWETE,
yARFOR yUS SAYS DAVID, yE PROPHETE:
OMNIS HONORATI SUNT
AMICI TUI DEUS.
"yI FRENDES, LOVERD, yAT HONOURD yE
ES MYKELLE HONOURD, AND SWA AY SALLE BE."
BOT yE DAMPNED, yAT WITH SYN ER FYLED,
yARE OGAYNE SALLE BE REVYLED,
AND DESPYSED, AND AY SCHENT WITH-ALLE,
AND STRESCED OGAYNE yAIR WILLE ALS THRALLE,
AND PYNED WITH GRETTER PAYNES SERE,
yAN EVER WAS SENE IN yIS WORLD HERE;
yAI SALLE UTHOLEe ALLE THYNG yAT SCHENDSCHEPE ES
WITH PAYN AND SOROW yAT ES ENDLES,
OMANG HETE AND CALD, VERMYN AND STYNK,
AND ALKYN FYLTH yAT HERT MAY THINK;
AND ALLE yE SOROW yAI yAT SALLE FELE,
SALLE BE ENDLES, ALS yAI SALLE KNAW WELE.
yE SEXT BLYS yAT TO THE SAULES OF RYGHTWISE
SALLE BE APPROPRYED yAN WITH yE BODYSE,
IN yE KYNGDOM OF HEVEN, ES SYKERNES,
TO DWELLE AY yARE WHARE ALKYN IOY ES,
FFOR yAI SALLE BE yARE SYKER AND CERTAYNE
TO HAVE ENDELES IOY, AND NEVER-MARE PAYNE,
AND TO WON AY yARE, WITH-OUTEN DOUT,
AND WITH-OUTEN LETTYNG, AND PUTTING OUT,
AND WITH-OUTEN ALLE MANERE OF DREDE;
FFOR OF NATHYNG yARE yAI SALLE HAVE NEDE,
yAI SALLE NOGHT FAR, ALS MEN FARES HERE
yAT LYFES AY IN DRED AND WERE;
231
FFOR HERE, BOTH KYNG AND EMPAROURE
HAS DRED TO TYNE yAIR HONOURE;
AND ILKA RYCHE MAN HAS DRED ALLE-SWA
HIS GUDES AND RYCHES TO FOR-GA;
AND ILK MAN, yAT HERE FARES WELE,
HAS AY DRED ANGERS TO FELE.
BOT yAI yAT SALLE COM TYLLE HEVEN BLYS,
SALLE NEVER HAVE DRED yAT IOY TO MYS;
FFOR yAI SALLE BE SYKER INOGHE yARE,
yAT yAIR IOY SALLE LAST EVER-MARE.
BOT yE DAMPNED MEN yARE OGAYNE,
SALLE AY BE DREDAND IN yAIR PAYNE,
yAT yAIR PAYNS SULD EKED BE,
AND BE MADE MARE GREVOUS TO SE,
FFOR yE DEVELS SAL, AY, ON yAM GANG
TO AND FRA, OVER-THEWRT AND ENDLANG;
AND OMANG yAM AY YMAGYNE,
HOW yAI MAY EKE yAIR SOROW AND PYNE;
AND yE MARE PAYNE yAT yAI TILLE SYNFULLE SALLE SEKE
yE MARE yAI yAIR AWEN PAYNE SALLE EKE.
AND, IF yAI DO SWA, IT ES NA FERLY,
FFOR yAI ER AY FULLE OF IRE AND ENVY.
yE DEVELS SALLE AY OPON yAM GANG,
AND AY ON yAM STAMP WITH yAIR FETH OMANG
AND THREST yAM DOUNE, IN FYRE AND SMOKE,
AND yARFOR SAYS IOB yUS IN A BOKE:
VADENT ET VENIENT SUPER
EOS DEMONES HORRIBILES.
HE SAYS, "GRYSELY DEVELS SALLE GANG AND COM
ON yE SYNFULLE yAT TYLLE GOD WAR UNBOWSOM."
yUS DREDAND SALLE yAI AY BE yARE,
yAT yAIR PAYNE SULD BE AY MARE AND MARE;
FFOR yAI SALLE BE CERTAYNE yARE yAI DWELLE,
yAT yAI SALLE NEVER COM OUT OF HELLE.
yE SEVEND BLYS ES IOY PARFYTE,
yAT yE SAULES SALLE HAVE, WITH GRET DELYTE,
WITH yE BODYSE yAT SAVED SALLE BE,
232
AND WON IN HEVEN, WHARE yAI SALLE AY GOD SE
FFOR-WHI ILK ANE yARE SALLE yAT TYDE,
IN BODY AND SAULE BE GLORYFYDE,
AND FULLE IOY AND BLYS HAVE WITH-ALLE,
WITH ALLE MANERE OF DELYCES yAT MAY FALLE.
ILK ANE WITH OTHER SALLE BE KNAWEN,
AND FELE OTHER MENS IOY ALS yAIR AWEN;
AND MARE IOY AND BLYS MOGHT NEVER BE,
yAN ILK ANE SALLE yARE-ON OTHER SE.
yAI SALLE SE, IN HEVEN-RYKE SWA WYDE,
MANY SERE IOYES, ON ILKA SYDE;
FFOR yARE SALLE BE MARE SERE IOYES yAN,
yAN EVER COUTH NOUMBRE ERTHLY MAN;
OF WHILK SYGHT yAI SALLE MARE IOY HAVE,
yAN ANY MAN MOGHT YHERN OR CRAVE.
ILK ANE SALLE BE PAYED SWA WELE
OF HIS PART OF IOY yAT HE SALLE FELE,
yE WHILK HE SALLE PARFYTELY HAVE yARE,
yAT HE SALLE WILLEN YHERN NO MARE;
yARE SALLE ILK ANE MANY THOWSANDES SE
IN SERE IOYES, ALS HIM-SELF SALLE BE.
AND yE SYGHT OF ILKA IOY yAN,
SALLE BE SWA DELYTABLE TILLE ILKA MAN,
yAT yE IOY OF A SYGHT yARE SALLE PAS
ALLE yE IOYES yAT EVER IN ERTH WAS;
AND ALLE yAT TYLLE HEVEN SALLE BE TANE
SALLE yARE yAN SE yA IOYES ILK ANE.
AND yE SYGHT OF ILKA IOY yARE, SALLE BE
IOY TYLLE ILKA MAN yAT IT SALLE SE,
yAN SALLE ILK MAN HAVE MA IOYES IN HEVEN,
yAN HERT MAY THYNK, OR TONG KAN NEVEN;
yAI SALLE HAVE IOY, WITH-IN AND WITH-OUT,
OBOVEN, BENETHE, AND ALLE OBOUT.
OBOVEN yAM, yAI SALLE HAVE IOYFULLY
OF yE SYGHT OF GOD ALLE-MYGHTY,
BINETHE yAM, OF yE STERNES AND PLANETES SERE,
AND yE WORLD yAT yAN SALLE BE BRYGHT AND CLERE;
233
OBOVEN yAM, OF HEVEN yAT yAI BRYGHT SALLE SE,
AND OF OTHER CREATURES yAT FAIR SALLE BE,
WITH-IN yAM, OF yE GLORIFYING OF MAN,
OF yE BODY AND SAULE TO-GYDER yAN;
WITH-OUTEN yAM, OF yE BLYSFULLE COMPANYSE
OF AUNGELS, AND OF MEN RYGHTWISE.
yAI SALLE HAVE IOY IN ALLE yAIR WITTES,
IN HEVEN WITH GOD yARE HE SYTTES;
FFIRST yAI SALLE SE WITH yAIR EGHEN BRYGHT
MANY A FAYRE BLYSSFULLE SYGHT;
yAI SALLE yAIR GOD APERTLY SE,
AND ALLE yE THRE PARSONS IN TRINITE,
yE FADER, AND SON, AND HALY-GASTE,
yAT SIGHT SALLE BE yAIR IOY MASTE.
FFOR ALS HE ES, yAI SALLE HIM SE yAN,
SOTHFAST GOD, AND SOTHFAST MAN;
THURGH WHILK SYGHT yAI SALLE KNAW,
AND SE ALLE THING BOTH HEGHE AND LAW
AND SE ALLE yE WERKES yAT EVER GOD WROGHT;
AND ILK MANS DEDE, AND ILK MANS THOGHT,
AND ALLE yAT SALLE IN HELLE BE yAN,
ILKA DEVELLE AND ILKA MAN,
AND ALLE PAYNS yAT SALLE BE yARE,
yAI SALLE SE, BOTH LES AND MARE;
AND ALLE ERTH, AND yE HEVENS OBOUT,
AND ALLE yAT ES, WITH-IN AND WITH-OUT;
ALLE SALLE yAI SE, THURGH MYGHT AND GRACE,
IN yE BRYGHTNES OF GODES FACE,
OF WHILK yAI SALLE EVER-MARE HAVE SYGHT,
yAT yE MAST IOY ES IN HEVEN BRYGHT.
AND FOR yAI SALLE AY yUS GOD BIHALD,
yAI SALLE KNAW ALLE THYNG, yAT yAI KNAW WALD.
IN yIS LYFE HERE MEN SESE HIM NOGHT,
BOT ANELY THURGH RYGHT TROWTH IN THOGHT,
ALS THURGH A MYROURE BE LYKNES,
BOT yARE SALLE MEN SE HIM ALS HE ES.
HERE MEN HIM SESE GASTLY, THURGH GRACE,
BOT yARE SALLE MEN SE HIM, FACE TYLLE FACE.
234
AND yAT SYGHT yARE SALLE ALLE MEN HAVE,
WITH-OUTEN ENDE, yAT SALLE BE SAVE.
yAI SALLE ALLE-SWA SE yARE, APERTLY,
HIS BLYSFULLE MODER SAINT MARY
yAT NEST SYTTES GOD IN HEVEN BRYGHT,
OBOVEN ALLE AUNGELS, ALS ES RYGHT;
FFOR HE CHESE HIR TYLLE HIS MODER DERE,
AND OF HIR TOKE FLESSCH AND BLODE HERE,
AND VOUCHED SAFE TO SOUKE HIR BREST,
yARFOR IT ES RYGHT SCHO SYTT HIM NEST.
SCHO ES SWA FAYRE yARE SCHO SYTTES,
yAT HIR FAYRNES PASSES ALL MENS WITTES;
A GRET IOY yAT MAY BE CALD,
HIR FAIRNES ANELY TO BEHALD.
yAI SALLE SE yARE, ALS yE BOKE TELLES,
ALLE yE NEGHEN ORDERS OF AUNGELS,
yAT ER SWA FAYRE ON TO LOKE,
AND SWA BRYGHT, ALS SAYS yE BOKE,
yAT ALLE FAYRNES OF yIS LYFE HERE,
yAT EVER WAS SENE, FER OR NERE,
yAT ANY MAN MYGHT ORDAYNE DEFAUTLES,
WAR NOGHT A POYNT TO yAT FAIRNES,
yAT yAI SALLE SE yAR OF yAT SYGHT
OF yE ORDRES OF yE AUNGELS BRYGHT.
yAI SALLE SE yAM FULLE PLEYSAND yAN,
AND SERVISABYLLE TYLLE GOD AND MAN;
AND ILK ANE ORDRE, IN yAIR DEGRE
SALLE DO yAT yAT MAST LYKAND SALLE BE,
BATH TYLLE GOD AND TYLLE MAN RYGHT;
A GRET IOY SALLE BE yARE OF yAT SYGHT,
FFOR ILK ANE AUNGELLE BI HIM-ANE
SALLE CLERER SCHYNE yAN EVER SON SCHANE;
yAT SYGHT MEN MAY A GRET IOY CALLE,
TO SE yE AUNGELS SWA BRYGHT ALLE,
yAT IN HEVEN SALLE BE SENE TO-GYDER;
yAT SYGHT SALLE ALLE SE yAT SALLE COM yIDER.
SWA FAYRE A SYGHT, ALS yAT SALLE SEME,
COUTH NEVER NA WYTT HERE YMAGYN NE DEME.
235
yAI SALLE SE IN HEVEN ALLE-SWA
PATRIARCHES, AND PROPHETS AND OTHER MA,
AND APOSTELS AND EVANGELISTES,
yAT FOLOWD NANE OTHER LYF BOT CRISTES.
yAI SALLE SE INNOCENTES MANY ANE,
OF WHILK SOM WAS, IN GODDES NAME SLANE,
AND OTHER MARTYRS AND CONFESSOURS,
AND HALY HEREMYTES AND DOCTOURS,
yAT HALY WRYT WALD TECHE AND KEN;
AND MANY OTHER HALY MEN,
LERED AND LEWED, yAT LYFED WELE HERE,
BOTH RELIGIOUSE AND SECULERE.
yAI SALLE SE HALY VIRGYNS yARE
yAT HERE LUFED GOD, AY MARE AND MARE,
AND KEPED yAM CHAST, FOR GODES SAKE,
OF WHILK SOM WALD yE DED FOR HIS LUF TAKE.
yAI SALLE SE yARE IN IOY AND BLYS,
OTHER yAT GOD SALLE CHESE FOR HIS,
ALS WEDDED MEN yAT LYFED WELE HERE,
AND OTHER MANY OF STATES SERE.
A FAYR SYGHT SALLE BE yAN TO SE,
OF ALLE yE FAYR FOLK yAT yARE SALLE BE,
yAT BRYGHTER SALLE SCHYNE yAN EVER SCHANE SON,
yIS SYGHT SALLE ALLE SE yAT yARE SALLE WON.
yAI SALLE ALLE-SWA APERTLY SE
ILK ANE BE WORSCHEPED IN HIS DEGRE,
WITH GRET NOBELAY, AND HAVE SERE HONOURS,
AND ALLE BE ALS KYNGES AND EMPAROURS,
COROUND WITH RYCHE COROUNS OF BLYS,
A FULLE DELYTABELLE SYGHT SALLE BE yIS.
yAI SALLE SE yARE yE GRET MEDES,
yAT MEN SALLE HAVE yARE, FOR yAIR GUD DEDES,
AFTER ILK ANE OF yAM HAS LYFED HERE;
AND yAS ER SWA MYKELLE, AND MANY, AND SERE,
yAT NEVER ENDE SALLE yAI HAVE BOT LAST AY,
yAT NA MAN, THURGH WYTT, MESURE MAY,
NE yAM REKEN, NE TELLE yAM KAN,
SWA MANY MEDES yAI SALLE HAVE yAN.
236
yAIR MEDES SALLE BE SWA PRECYOUSE,
AND SWA DELITABLE, AND PLENTEUOUSE,
yAT NA MAN LYFAND, ALS yE BOKE SAYS,
COUTH NE MYGHT yAM GESCE NE PRAYS.
BOT yA MEDES SALLE LYKE yAM ALS WELE,
yAT yAM SECSE, ALS yAM yAT SALLE yAM FELE.
yAI SALLE SE HEVEN FULLE LARGE AND WYDE,
AND ROUND AND EVEN, ON ILKA SYDE,
AND BRYGHTER SCHYNAND yAN EVER SCHANE SON;
WELE SALLE yAM BE yAT yARE SALLE WON.
A DELITABLE SYGHT yAT SALLE BE
TYLLE yAM yAT SALLE DWELLE IN yAT CONTRE.
yAT CONTRE SWA FAYRE ES ON TO LOKE,
AND SWA BRYGHT AND BRADE, ALS SAYS yE BOKE,
yAT ALLE yIS WORLD, yARE WE WON YHIT
WAR NOGHT BOT ALS A MYDDYNG-PYTT
TO REGARD OF yAT CONTRE SWA BRADE,
yAT GOD SWA MYKELLE AND FAYR HAS MADE.
yAT CONTRE ES HALDEN SWA LARGE A LAND,
yAT WITH-IN yE SPACE OF yAT MYGHT STAND
MANY A THOWSAND OF WERLDES SERE,
yOF ILK WORLD WAR ALS LARGE ALS yIS HERE;
AND yAT LAND ES CALD SOVERAYNLY
yE KYNGDOM OF GOD ALLE-MYGHTY,
yE WHILK ES MADE ALS A CETE,
WHARE MEN SALLE MANY WONYNGE-STEDES SE,
yARE ALLE yE HALY MEN SALLE DWELLE,
yARFOR SAYS CRIST yUS IN yE GOSPELLE:
MULTI MANSIONES SUNT,
IN DOMO PATRIS MEI.
HE SAYS "WONYNG-STEDES ER MANY
IN yE HOWS OF MY FADER GOD ALLE-MYGHTY."
OUR LOVERD, HIS FADER HOUS CALLES
HIS KYNGDOM, yAT TILLE ALLE HIS FALLES,
yE WHILK ES AS A CITE BRYGHT,
WITH ALKYN RYCHES DUBBED AND DYGHT,
ALS SAYS SAINT IOHAN, GODES DERLYNG DERE,
IN yE APOCALYPS, ON yIS MANERE:
237
VIDI SANCTAM CIVITATEM IERUSALEM NOVAM DESCENDENTEM
DE CELO, PARATAM SICUT SPONSAM VIRO SUO ORNATAM.
"I SAW," HE SAYS, "yE HALY CETE
OF IERUSALEM, ALLE NEW TO SE,
COMAND DOUN FRA HEVEN BRYGHT,
OF GOD ALLE-MYGHTY RYCHELY DYGHT,
ALS BRYDE, MADE FAYRE TYLLE HIR BRYDEGOME;"
yUS SAYS SAINT IOHAN HE SAW COME.
yIS CETE ES FOR TO UNDERSTAND,
HALY KYRK yAT HERE ES FYGHTAND
OGAYNE yE DEVELLE AND HIS MYGHT,
yAT IT ASSAYLES, BOTH DAY AND NYGHT;
BOT yAT FYGHT SALLE NOGHT LAST AY,
IT SALLE LAST NO LANGER yAN TYLLE DOMESDAY.
yAN SALLE HALY KYRK, OF FYGHTYNG CEES,
AND BE WITH GOD, IN REST AND PEES;
FFOR IT ES BRYDE, AND GOD ES BRYDEGOME;
yAN SALLE yAI BOTH TO-GYDER COME,
AND IN HEVEN WON AY TO-GYDER;
AND ALLE yAIR CHILDER SALLE yAN COM yIDER.
yAT TO yAM HAS BENE BOWSOM AND TREWE;
AND yAT BI-TAKENS yE CETE NEWE;
FFOR yAN SALLE HALY KYRK yAT TYDE,
IN HEVEN BE NEW GLORYFYDE,
AND WON AY yARE WITH GOD ALLE-MYGHTY,
IN IOY, AND MYRTHE, AND MELODY.
BOT YHIT HALY KYRK, yAT ES GODES BRYDE,
BIHOVES BE FYGHTAND, YHIT HERE TO ABYDE
yE COMYNG OF CRIST yAT ES HIR BRYDEGOME,
yAT AY ES MYGHTY FOR TO OVER-COME,
FFOR HALY KYRK FYGHTES FOR GODES RYGHT;
AND GOD OVERCOMES THURGH HIS MYGHT.
ON TWA-WISE MAY HALY KYRK BE TANE,
AND, AT yE LAST, SALLE BATH BE IN ANE;
ON A MANERE ES CALD HALY KYRK FYGHTAND,
ON ANE OTHER ES HALY KYRK OVER-COMAND.
yIR CLERKES SAYS ALS yE BOKE BERES WITNES,
yAT HALY KYRK, yAT HERE FYGHTAND ES,
238
ES NOGHT ELS, BOT A GADERYNG
OF ALLE CRISTEN MEN OF LELE LYFYNG.
HALY KYRK OVER-COMAND ES ALLE-SWA
GOD WITH ALLE yE COMPANY OF yA
yAT DWELLES WITH HIM, IN HIS BLYS,
yE WHILK HE HAS HYGHT TYLLE ALLE HIS.
UNDER HALY KYRK, yAT HERE FYGHTAND ES,
ER ALLE GUD CRISTEN MEN, MARE AND LES.
UNDER HALY KYRK yAT ES OVER-COMAND,
ER ALLE HALY MEN IN HEVEN WONAND.
BOT HALY KYRK yAT HERE FYGHTES FAST,
AFTER yE DAY OF DOME AT yE LAST,
IN yE BRYGHT CETE IN HEVEN SALLE WON
EVER-MARE, WITH HIR SPOWSE GODES SON;
FFOR yAN SALLE yE NOUMBRE FULLE-FYLD BE
OF ALLE HALY MEN IN yAT CETE,
THURGH HALY KYRK yAT ES GODES SPOWSE;
AND yAT CETE CRIST CALLES HIS FADERS HOWSE,
FFOR yARE SALLE ALLE MEN yAT ER RYGHTWISE AND HALY,
EVER-MARE DWELLE IN AUNGELS COMPANY;
AND ILK ANE SALLE HAVE A BLYSFULLE WONYNG,
AND IOY PARFYTE, WITH-OUTEN ENDYNG.
yIS CETE OF HEVEN yAT ES WYDE AND BRADE,
NA MAN WATE PROPERLY HOW IT ES MADE,
NE CAN, THURGH WRYTT, YMAGYN IN THOGHT,
OF WHATKYN MATERE IT ES WROGHT,
IT ES NOGHT MADE OF LYME NE STANE,
NE OF TRE; FOR OF SWILK MATERE HAS IT NANE,
ALS yIR ERTHLY CETESE ER MADE OF HERE,
yAT ER MADE OF CORRUPTYBELLE MATERE;
FFOR NA THYNG FALLES TO BE IN yAT CETE,
yAT CORRUPTYBELLE OR FAYLAND MAY BE.
BOT yE MATERE yARE-OF, ALS I TROW,
ES OF ALLE THING yAT ES OF GRET VERTOW.
yIS CETE WAS NEVER MADE WITH HAND,
BOT THURGH yE MYGHT AND WITT OF GOD ALLE-WELDAND
yIS CETE CONTENES ALLE HEVEN-RYKE
BOT NANE WATE PROPERLY TO WHAT IT ES LYKE;
239
WE FYND WRYTEN, yAT IT ES FAYRE AND BRYGHT,
BOT NA MAN KAN DESCRYVE IT RYGHT;
FFOR SWA WYSE CLERK WAS NEVER OF LYVE,
yAT yE FAIRNES OF IT COUTH PROPERLY DESCRYVE,
BOT ALLE-IF I KAN NOGHT DESCRYVE yAT STEDE,
YHIT WILLE I YMAGYN, ON MYNE AWEN HEDE,
FFOR TO GYF IT A DESCRIPCION;
FFOR I HAVE yARE-TO, GRET AFFECCYON;
AND GRET COMFORTH AND SOLACE IT ES TO ME
TO THYNK AND SPEK OF yAT FAYR CETE;
yAT TRAVAILLE MAY GREVE ME NATHYNG,
FFOR yARE-IN HAVE I GRET LYKYNG.
OGAYNE RYGHT TROWTH NATHING I DO,
IF I LYKEN yE CETE yAT ME LANGES TO,
yE WHILK MEN MAY LYKEN ON SOM PARTY,
BATH TO BODILY THING AND GASTLY.
AND FOR-yI yAT ALLE THING yAT ES CLERE AND BRYGHT
ES MAST LYKAND HERE TYLLE BODILY SYGHT,
yARFOR I WILLE IT LYKEN TILLE BODILY THING.
yAT ES FAYRE TO SYGHT WITH GASTLY UNDERSTANDYNG.
yE BRYGHT CETE OF HEVEN ES LARGE AND BRADE,
OF WHILK MAY NA COMPARYSON BE MADE
TILLE NA CETE yAT ON ERTH MAY STAND,
FFOR IT WAS NEVER MADE WITH MANS HAND.
BOT YHIT, ALS I YMAGYN IN MY THOGHT,
I LYKEN IT TYLLE A CETE yAT WAR WROGHT
OF GOLD, OF PRECYOUSE STANES SERE,
OPON A MOTE, SETT OF BERYLLE CLERE,
WITH WALLES, AND WARDES, AND TURRETTES,
AND ENTRE, AND YHATES, AND GARETTES;
AND ALLE yE WALLES WAR MADE, OF yAT CETE,
OF PRECEYOUSE STANES AND RYCHE PERRE;
AND ALLE yE TURRETTES, OF CRISTALLE SCHENE,
AND yE WARDES ENAMYLD, AND OVERGYLT CLENE,
AND yE YHATES OF CHARBUCLES SULD FALLE,
AND yE GARETTES ABOVEN OF RUBYS AND CURALLE;
240
AND AT yAT CETE HAD LANES AND STRETES WYDE,
AND FAYR BYGYNGS ON ILKA SYDE,
ALLE SCHYNAND ALS GOLD BRYGHT BURNYST
AND WITH ALKYN RYCHES REPLENYST;
AND yAT ALLE yE STRETES OF yE CETE AND yE LANES
WAR EVEN PAVED WITH PRECYOUSE STANES;
AND yAT yE BREDE AND LENTHE OF yAT CETE
WAR MARE yAN HERE ES OF ANY CUNTRE;
AND yAT ALLE MANERE OF MELODY
OF MUSYK AND OF MYNSTRALSY,
yAT MOGHT BE SCHEWED WITH MOWTHE OR HAND,
WAR CONTINUELY yARE-IN SOWNAND,
AND yAT ILK DAY, ON SERE MANERE SULD FALLE,
SWA yAT NA MAN MOGHT IRK WITH-ALLE.
AND yAT ILKA LANE AND ILKA STRETE,
OF yIS CETE WAR FULLE OF SAVOURS SWETE,
OF SPYCERY AND OF ALLE OTHER THYNG,
OF WHILK ANY SWETE SAVOURE MOGHT SPRYNG;
AND yAT yAR WAR PLENTE OF METE AND DRYNK,
AND OF ALLE OTHER DELYCES yAT MAN MAY THYNK;
AND yAT ILKA CITESAYNE yAT WONNED yARE,
HAD ALS MYKELLE BEWTE OR MARE,
ALS ABSOLON, yAT SWA FAYRE WAS,
WHASE BEWTE MOGHT BI SKYLLE PAS
yE BEWTE OF ALLE MANERE OF MEN ERTHLY,
SWA CLENE HE WAS IN LYM AND BODY;
AND yARE-WITH ALS MYKELLE STRENTHE HAD OMANG
ALS SAMPSON HAD, yAT WAS SO STRANG,
yAT A THOWSAND MEN ARMED CLENE
HE OVER-COME AND FELLED DOUNE ALLE BI-DENE;
AND yAT ILKANE WAR ALS SWYFT TO PAS
AND TO RYN, ALS ASSAHELLE OF FOTE WAS,
AND SWA SWYFT WAS TO RYN AND GA,
yAT THURGH RASE WALD TURNE BATH BUK AND RA;
AND yAT ILKANE HAD yARE-WITH ALS MYKELLE LYKYNG
AND ALS MYKELLE yAIR WILLE IN ALLE THING,
ALS SALAMON HAD, yAT ALS GOD VOWCHED SAVE
yAT HAD ALLE THYNG yAT HE WALD HAVE;
241
AND yAT ILKANE yAR-WITH, HAD ALS MYKELLE FREDOME
ALS AUGUST HAD yAT WAS EMPAROUR OF ROME,
TYLLE WHAME ALLE LANDES OF yE WORLD OBOUT
SERVED, AND TILLE HIM WAR UNDERLOUT;
AND yAT ILKANE HAD WITH-ALLE ALS CONTINUELE HELE
ALS MOYSES HAD yAT WAS SWA LELE,
yAT GOD WALD NEVER WITH YVELLE DERE HIM,
BOT ANELY yAT HE MADE HIS EGHEN DYM;
AND yAT yARE-WITH, IF POSSIBLE WARE,
ILKANE MOGHT ALS LANG BE LYFAND yARE,
ALS MATUSSALE NAMELY DYD HERE,
yAT LYFED NERE A THOWSAND YHERE;
AND yAT ILK ANE MOGHT ALS MYKELLE WISDOM WELD,
ALS SALAMON HAD, yAT MEN SWA WISE HELD,
yAT THURGH HIS WISDOM HAD KNAWYNG
OF ALLE THING AND UNDERSTANDING;
AND yAT ILK ANE yARE-WITH LUFED ALS WELE OR MARE,
AND ALS GUD FRENDE AY TYLLE OTHER WARE,
ALS DAVID TYLLE IONATHAS WAS KYD,
WHAM HE LUFED ALS HE HIS AWEN SAULE DYD;
AND yAT ILK ANE WITH yAT HONOURD WARE
OF ALLE yE OTHER yAT WOND yARE,
ALS IOSEPH WAS OF yE EGYPCIENS RYGHT,
WHAM yAI LOWTED ALS LOVERD OF GRET MYGHT;
AND yARE-WITH yAT ILK ANE WAR IN ALLE THING
ALS MYKELLE ALS WAS ALEXANDER THE GRET KYNG
yAT CONQUERD AFFRYK, EUROPE AND ASY,
yAT CONTENED ALLE yE WORLD HALELY;
AND yAT ILKANE ACORDED WITH OTHER IN ANEHEDE,
ALS LISYAS WITH SAMPSON DYD IN DEDE,
OF WHILK NOUTHER WALD NATHING DO,
BOT ALS AYTHER OF yAM ASSENTED yARE-TO;
AND WITH ALLE yIS, yAT ILKANE ALS SYKER WARE
OF yAIR DWELLYNG, TO WON LANG yARE,
ALS ENNOC AND HELY, ON yE SAME WYSE,
yAT ER SYKER OF yAIR DWELLYNG IN PARADYSE,
FFRA yE TYME yAT yAI WAR yIDER RAVYST,
AND SALLE BE UNTYLLE yE COMYNG OF ANTICRIST;
242
AND OVER ALLE yIS, yAT ILKANE ALS MYKELLE JOY HAD
ALS HE SULD HAVE yAT WAR LAD
TYLLE yE GALOWS, AND SODAINLY IN yE GATE
WAR TANE AND PUTTED TILLE A KYNGES STATE;
AND, yARE-WITH, yAN TYLLE ILK ANE SULD FALLE
ALLE yE IOYES yAI MOGHT HAVE ALLE.
HE yAT ALLE yES HAD, ALS BIFORE WRYTEN ES,
SULD PASS ALLE yE WORLD IN WORTHINES:
WHAT MAN, THURGH WITT, COUTH TELLE IOY MARE
IN yIS WORLD TO WELD, yAN ALLE yIS WARE?
FFOR WHA-SWA HAD ALLE yESE, WITHOUTEN DOUT,
HAD HERE IOY INOGHE, BOTH WITH-IN AND WITHOUT
WITH ALKYN DELYCES yAT HE MOGHT HAVE HERE,
SPECIALY IN ALLE HIS WITTES SERE,
yAT ES TO SAY, IN SYGHT AND HEREYNG,
AND IN SMELLYNG, TASTYNG AND FELEYNG;
BOT YHIT ALLE yIR BLYSSES yAT YHE HERD ME NEVEN
WAR ALS NOGHT, ALS TO REGARD TO yE BLYS OF HEVEN;
FFOR ALS MYKELLE DIFFERENCE, OR MARE, SULD BE
BITWENE HEVEN AND SWILK A CETE,
ALS ES BITWENE A KYNGES PALAYS
AND A SWYNSTY yAT ES LYTELLE TO PRAYS,
AND NA MARE COMPARYSON MAY BE MADE
BITWENE yE CITE OF HEVEN, WYDE AND BRADE,
AND SWILK A CETE MADE OF GOLD AND PERRE,
yAN BITWENE ALLE yE WORLD AND A FAULDE MAY BE;
ALLE-SWA ALLE RYCHES yAT MAY HERE BE SENE
WAR NOGHT BOT ALS MUK yAT ES UNCLENE,
TO REGARD OF yE PRECYOUSE RYCHESCE
OF yE CETE OF HEVEN yAT NA MAN MAY GESCE.
AND ALLE yE MELODYSE OF yE WORLD SERE,
WAR NOGHT BOT ALS SOROW TO HERE,
TO REGARD OF yE BLYSSFULLE MELODY
yAT IN yE CETE OF HEVEN ES AY REDY.
AND ALLE SWETE SAVOURS yAT MEN MAY FELE,
OF ALKYN THING yAT HERE SAVOURS WELE,
WAR NOGHT BOT ALS STYNK TO REGARD OF yAT FLAYRE
yAT ES IN yE CETE OF HEVEN SWA FAYRE;
243
AND ALLE yE WORSCHEPE yAT HERE MAY BE,
WAR NOGHT BOT ALS SCHENDSCHEPE TO SE,
TO REGARD OF yE GRET WORSCHEPE
OF WHILK MEN SALLE IN HEVEN TAK KEPE.
ALLE yE FAIRNES yAT ABSOLON HAD IN SYGHT,
WAR NOGHT BOT LAYTHEDE IN HEVEN BRYGHT.
ALLE yE STRENTHE OF SAMPSON yAT WAS PERELES,
WAR NOGHT TALD yARE BOT WAYKNES.
ALLE yE DELYCES yAT HAD SALOMON yE KYNG,
WAR NOGHT IN HEVEN BOT MYSLYKYNG.
ALLE yE SWYFTNES OF ASSAHEL yAT HAD HE,
WAR NOGHT yARE BOT SLAWNES TO SE.
ALLE yE FREDOM yAT AUGUST HAD WHILOM,
WAR NOGHT TALD yARE BOT THRALDOM.
ALLE yE HELE yAT HERE HAD MOYSES
WAR NOGHT TALD yARE BOT ALS SEKNES.
ALLE yE ELD yAT MATUSSALE HAD HERE,
WAR LES yARE yAN yE LEST DAY OF yE YHERE.
ALLE yE WISDOM yAT SALOMON HAD REDY
WAR NOGHT TALD yARE BOT ALS FOLY.
ALLE yE LUF yAT DAVID IONATHAS LUFED,
WAR NOGHT yARE BOT ALS HATEREDEN PROVED.
ALLE yE HONOURE yAT yE EGYPCIENS IOSEPH DYD,
WAR NOGHT IN HEVEN BOT SCHENDSCHIP KYD.
ALLE yE MYGHT yAT ALEXANDER HAD AYWHARE,
WAR NOGHT TALD BOT WAYKNES yARE.
ALLE yE ACORD yAT LISYAS HAD IN HIS LYFE
WITH SAMPSON, WAR yAR BOT ALS STRIFE.
ALLE yE SYKERNES yAT HAD ENNOC AND ELY
OF yAIR DWELLYNG IN PARADYSE, NAMLY,
WAR NOGHT BOT ALS UNSYKERNES
OF WONYNG IN HEVEN yAT ES ENDLES.
yUS MAY I LYKEN, ALS I YMAGYN,
yE CETE OF HEVEN AND yE BLYS yARE-IN,
TYLLE A CETE OF GOLD AND OF PRECYOUSE STANES SERE
BOT yE CETE OF HEVEN ES MARE BRYGHT AND CLERE,
244
AND ES SETT ON SWA HEGHE A HYLLE,
yAT NA SYNFULLE MAN MAY WYN yAR-TYLLE;
yE WHILK HYLLE I LYKEN TYLLE BERYLLE CLENE,
yAT ES CLERER yAN ANY yAT HERE ES SENE;
yAT HILLE ES NOGHT ELS BI UNDERSTANDYNG,
BOT HALY THOGHT AND BRYNAND YHERNYNG,
yAT HALY MEN HAD HERE TO yAT STEDE,
WHILS yAI LYFED, BI-FOR yAIR DEDE;
FFOR GOD WILLE yAT yAI ALS HEGHE UP-PAS,
ALS yAIR THOGHT AND YHERNYNG UPWARD WAS.
YHIT I LYKEN, ALS I YMAGYN IN THOGHT,
yE WALLES OF HEVEN TYLLE WALLES yAT WAR WROGHT
OF ALLE MANERE OF PRECYOUSE STANES SERE,
CYMENTED WITH GOLD FULLE BRYGHT AND CLERE;
AND SWA BRYGHT GOLD NE SWA CLENE,
WAS NEVER NAME IN yIS WORLD SENE,
NE SWA RYCHE STANES, NE SWA PRECYOUSE,
ALS OBOUT HEVEN ER, NE SWA VERTUOUSE.
yE PRECYOUSE STANES, GASTLY MAY BE
GUD WERKES, AND yE GOLD CHARYTE,
yAT OBOUT yASE IN HEVEN SALLE SCHINE CLERE,
yAT DOSE GUD WERKES IN CHARYTE HERE.
yE TURRETTES OF HEVEN, GRET AND SMALLE,
I LYKEN TYLLE TURRETTES OF CLERE CRYSTALLE;
BOT yE TURRETTES OF HEVEN ER MARE CLERE SHYNAND
yAN EVER WAS CRISTALLE IN ANY LAND.
yA TURRETTES, GASTLY, SERE HONOURS MAY BE,
yAT GUD MEN, IN HEVEN, SALLE FELE AND SE.
yE WARDES OF yE CETE OF HEVEN BRYGHT
I LYKEN TYLLE WARDES yAT WAR STALWORTHLY DYGHT
AND CLENLY WROGHT AND CRAFTILY TAYLED
OF CLENE SYLVER AND GOLD AND ENAMAYLD.
BOT yA WARDES OF yE CETE OF HEVEN,
ER MARE CRAFTY AND STRANG yAM ANY KAN NEVEN,
BOT GASTLY TO SPEKE, yA WARDES SWA DYGHT,
MAY BE TALD STRENTHE, AND POWER, AND MYGHT,
yAT yAS SALLE HAVE yAT IN HEVEN SALLE DWELLE,
ALS YHE MOGHT HERE ME BIFORE TELLE.
245
yE YHATES I LYKEN OF HEVEN SWA BRADE,
TYLLE HATES yAT WAR OF CHARBUKELLE STANES MADE
BOT SWA CLERE CHARBUKELLE WAS NEVER SENE,
ALS yA YHATES OF HEVEN ER NE SWA CLENE;
BOT yA YHATES, GASTLY TO SPEKE, ER MEKENES
AND FREDOM OF RYGHT FAYTH AND BOWSOMNES,
yAT GYFES WAY AND ENTRE TYLLE MEN BOGHSOM,
INTYLLE yE CETE OF HEVEN FOR TO COM.
yE GARETTES OBOVEN yE YHATES BRYGHT
OF yE CETE OF HEVEN, I LYKEN yUS RYGHT,
TYLLE yE GARETTES OF A CETE OF GOLD,
yAT WROGHT WAR, ALS I BEFORE TOLD,
OF FYNE CURALLE AND RYCH RUBYS,
AND OF OTHER STANES OF GRET PRYS,
WITH FYNE GOLD WYRE ALLE OBOUT FRETT,
AND BRYGHT BESANDES BURNYST OMANG SETT.
yE GARETTES OF HEVEN, GASTLY, MAY BE
HEGHE STATE, AND LORDSCHIP, AND DIGNITE;
FFOR ALLE yAT SALLE WON IN yAT CETE yARE,
SALLE BERE HEGHE STATE yARE-IN EVER-MARE.
yE LANES ALLE-SWA AND yE STRETES ALLE,
yAT IN yE CETE OF HEVEN MAY FALLE,
AND yE WONYNG-STEDES yAT ER yAR-IN,
I LYKEN HERE, AFTER I YMAGYN,
TYLLE yE LANES AND STRETES, LESS AND MARE,
OF yE CETE OF GOLD yAT I SPAK OF ARE,
WITH yE BYGYNGES ON ILK SYDE STANDAND,
yAT OF FYNE GOLD WAR MADE, BRYGHT SCHYNAND;
BOT IN NA CETE yAT MEN MAY NEVEN,
ER STEDES AND LANES SWA BRYGHT ALS IN HEVEN;
NE SWA BRYGHT WONYNG-STEDES ALS ER yAR-IN,
CAN NA MAN, THURGH WYTT, YMAGYN,
yE WHILK SALLE SCHYNE, WITH-IN AND WITH-OUT,
AND ON ILKA SYDE ALLE OBOUT,
WHARE ALLE RYGHTWYSE MEN SALLE WON AT EES,
IN IOYFULLE QUYETE, AND REST, AND PESE;
AND yARFOR HALY KYRK, yAT OFT PRAYS
FFOR yE SAULES IN PURGATORY, yUS SAYS:
246
TUAM DEUS DEPOSCIMUS PIETATEM, UT EIS TRIBUE-
RE DIGNERIS LUCIDAS ET QUIETAS MANSIONES.
"LOVERD GOD, WE ASK yI PETE,
yAT yOU VOUCHE SAFE, ALS WE PRAY yE,
TO GYF yAM WONYNG STEDES BRYGHT
AND RESTFULLE", yAT NEDE HAS OF REST AND LYGHT.
NA BODILY EGHE MOGHT NEVER HERE SE
A POYNT OF SWILK BRYGHTNES, ALS IN HEVEN SALLE BE.
ILKA LANE IN HEVEN AND ILKA STRETE
MOST SCHYNE BRYGHT, BISKYLLE, FOR yAR SALLE METE
AUNGELS AND MEN BRYGHTER SCHYNAND,
yAN EVER SCHANE yE SON IN ANY LAND;
FFOR yE BODY OF ILK MAN SALLE SCHYNE SO BRYGHT
yAT TYLLE ALLE A CONTRE, ANE MOGHT GYF LYGHT;
AND ILKA HARE yARE, ON yAIR HEDE,
AND ON yAIR BODY, ON ILKA STEDE,
SALLE BE ALS BRYGHT ALS ES yE SON,
yAT WE MAY SE HERE WHARE WE WON,
FULLE BRYGHT SCHYNAND OBOVEN US,
AND yARFOR SAYS yE BOKE yUS:
FULGEBUNT IUSTI SICUT SOL.
"yE RYGHTWIS MEN SALLE SCHYNE ALS yE SON,"
IN HEVEN WHARE yAI SALLE EVER-MARE WON.
NOW SEN A RYGHTWIS MAN SALLE SCHYNE ALS BRIGHT
ALS yE SON DOSE, yAN MON HE GYF LYGHT
ALS FER ALS yE SON DOSE AND FERRER,
FFORWHI HE SALLE yAN BE WELE BRYGHTER.
AND YHIT SALLE ALLE yAT GRET BRYGHTNES,
yAT RYGHTWIS MEN SALLE HAVE yARE BE LES
yAN yE BRYGHTNES OF GOD ALLE-MYGHTY,
ALS SALLE BE KNAWEN yARE OPENLY,
RYGHT ALS yE STERNES HERE, WHARE WE WON,
SEMES ALS TO yE BRYGHTNES OF yE SON;
FFOR WE SALLE BE yARE ALS STERNES IN BRYGHTNES,
AND GOD BRYGHTEST ALS SON OF RYGHTWISNES.
ILKA LANE AND STRETE yAT IN HEVEN MAY BE,
ES LENGER yAN HERE ES ANY CONTRE,
247
FFOR yE ROUME AND yE SPACE yAT ES CONTENDE
IN yE CETE OF HEVEN HAS NANE ENDE.
yA STRETES AND LANES, GASTLY TO TELLE,
ER ALLE HALY MEN yAT yARE SALLE DWELLE;
AND yAIR WONYNGSTEDES MAY BE yE MEDES,
yAT yAI SALLE HAVE FOR yAIR GUD DEDES.
IN yAT CETE SALLE BE MARE RYCHESCE
yAN ALLE yE MEN OF yE WORLD MAY GESCE;
BOT yASE RYCHES GASTLY TO UNDERSTAND,
ER SERE BLYSSES AND DELYCES AY LASTAND,
yE WHILK ALLE yAS, yAT TYLLE HEVEN SALLE WENDE,
SALLE FELE AND SE yARE WITH-OUTEN ENDE.
yE PAMENT OF HEVEN MAY LYKENED BE,
TILLE A PAMENT OF PRECYOUSE STANES AND PERRE;
BOT yE PAMENT OF HEVEN SALLE SCHYNE MAR CLERE
yAN EVER SCHANE GOLD OR PRECYOUSE STANES HERE;
AND yAT PAMENT ES SETT SWA FAST,
yAT IT SALLE NEVER FAYLE BOT AY LAST,
IN WHILK MAY NA CREVYCE BE SENE,
IT ES SWA HALE, AND EVEN, AND CLENE.
yIS PAMENT OF HEVEN ALS OF PERRE,
GASTLY TO UNDERSTAND MAY BE
PARFYTE LUF AND LYFE ENDELES,
WITH PESE, AND REST AND SYKERNES,
yAT ALLE SALLE HAVE yAT SALLE WON yARE,
AND yIS PAMENT SALLE LAST EVER-MARE.
yUS MAY A MAN yAT KAN AND WILLE,
ALLE yE CETE OF HEVEN LYKEN BI SKYLLE,
TYLLE BODILY THING yAT ES FAYRE AND BRYGHT,
AND MAST DELYTABELLE HERE TO SYGHT,
AND TO PRECYOUSE STANES OF VERTOW,
AND TO SYLVER AND GOLD AND THING OF VALOW,
yAT MEN MAY HERE BODILY SE,
BOT SWILK THINGES MAY NANE IN HEVEN BE.
OF VERRAY RYCHES, GRET PLENTE ES yARE,
yAT ER A HUNDRETH THOWSAND-FALD MARE
yAN ALLE yE RYCHES OF yE WORLD HERE,
yAT EVER WAS SENE, FER OR NERE,
248
yAT FAYLES AND PASSES OWAY;
BOT yE RYCHESCE OF HEVEN SALLE LAST AY,
yAT ER ALLE THING, ALS GOD VOUCHES SAVE,
yAT MEN IN HEVEN YHERNES TO HAVE.
OBOVEN yE CETE OF HEVEN SALLE NOGHT BE SENE,
BOT BRIGHT BEMES ANLY, ALS I WENE,
yAT SAL SCHYNE FRA GODDES AWEN FACE,
AND SPREDE OBOUT AND OVER yAT PLACE.
HIS BRIGHT FACE SAL ALLE yAS SE,
yAT SAL DUELLE IN yAT BLISFUL CITE;
AND yAT SYGHT ES yE MAST IOY OF HEVEN,
ALS MEN MUGHT HERE ME BYFOR NEVEN.
AND ALLE-IF yAT CITE BE LARGE AND WYDE,
MEN SALLE HYM SE, UNTIL yE FERREST SYDE,
AND ALS WELE yAS yAT SAL BE FRA HYM FER,
ALS yAS yAT SAL yAR TIL HYM BE NERRER;
FOR ALS MEN OF FER LANDES MAY HAF SIGHT
OF yE SON, yAT WE SE HERE SCHYNE BRIGHT,
AND ALS yE SAME SON yAT SHYNES BYYHOND yE SE
SHEWES IT HERE, AND IN ILKA CUNTRE
ALLE yE DAY, AFTIR yE RYGHT COURSE ES,
BOT WHEN CLOUDES FRA US HYDES HIR BRIGHTNES;
RIGHT SWA yE FACE OF GOD ALLE-MYGHTY,
SAL BE SHEWED IN HEVEN APPERTELY,
TILLE ALLE yE MEN yAT yIDER SAL WENDE,
yOGH SOM SULD DUELLE AT yE FERREST ENDE.
BOT ILK MAN, ALS HE LUFES GOD HERE,
SAL WON yAR, SOM FER AND SOM NERE,
FOR SOM LUFES GOD HERE MAR yAN SUM,
AND SOM LUFES HYM LES yAT TIL HEVEN SAL COM
ALLE yAS yAT GOD HERE LUFES BEST,
WHEN yAI COM yAR SAL BE HYM NERREST,
AND yE NERRER yAT yAI SAL HYM BE,
yE VERREYLYER yAI SAL HYM SE;
AND yE MARE VERRALY yAI SE HIS FACE,
yE MARE SAL BE yAIR IOY AND SOLACE.
249
BOT yA yAT HERE LUFS HYM LES,
yAI SAL WON yAR, AFTIR yAIR LUF ES;
BOT ILK MAN SAL SE HYM IN HIS DEGRE,
IN WHAT SYDE OF HEVEN SWA HE SAL BE.
HERE HAF YHE HERD OF MANY FAYRE SIGHT,
yAT AY SALLE BE SENE IN HEVEN BRIGHT;
FUL GLADE AND IOYFUL ALLE yAS MAY BE,
yAT SWILK FAYRE SIGHTES, AY, yAR SAL SE,
AND OF MYKEL IOY MAY yAI AY TELLE
yAT IN yAT CITE OF HEVEN SAL AY DUELLE.
ALSWA ILKAN SAL HAF IN yAIR HERYNG,
GRETE IOY IN HEVEN AND GRETE LYKYNG,
FOR yAI SAL HERE yAR AUNGEL SANG,
AND yE HALY MEN SAL AY SYNG OMANG,
WITH DELITABEL VOYCES AND CLERE;
AND, WITH yAT, yAI SAL AY HERE
ALLE OTHER MANERE OF MELODY,
OF yE DELYTABLE NOYS OF MYNSTRALSY,
AND OF ALKYN SWET TONES OF MUSYKE,
yAT TIL ANY MANS HERT MUGHT LIKE;
AND OF ALKYN NOYSE yAT SWETE MUGHT BE,
ILKAN SAL HERE IN yAT CITE,
WITH-OUTEN INSTRUMENTES RYNGAND,
AND WITH-OUTEN MOVYNG OF MOUTH OR HAND,
AND WITH-OUTEN ANY TRAVAYLE,
AND yAT SAL NEVER MAR CESE NE FAYLE.
SWILK MELODY, ALS yAR SAL BE yAN,
IN yIS WERLD HERD NEVER NAN ERTHELY MAN,
FOR SWA SWETE SAL BE yAT NOYSE AND SHILLE
AND SWA DELITABEL AND SWA SUTILLE,
yAT ALLE yE MELODY OF yIS WERLD HERE,
yAT EVER HAS BENE HERD, FER AND NERE,
WAR NOGHT BOT ALS SOROWE AND CARE
ALS TO yE LEST POYNT OF MELODY yARE.
OMANG yAM ALSWA SAL BE SWETE SAVOUR,
SWA SWETE COM NEVER OF HERBE NE FLOUR,
WHEN yAI WAR IN SESON MAST,
OR WAR MAST OF VERTU FOR TO TAST;
250
NE OF SPICERY MUGHT NEVER SPRYNG,
NE YHIT OF NAN OTHIR THYNG,
yAT THURGH VERTU OF KYNDE SULD SAVOUR WELE
SWA SWETE SAVOUR ALS yAI SAL FELE;
FOR NA HERT MAY THYNK, NE TUNG TELLE,
HOW SWETE SAL ILKAN TIL OTHER SMELLE;
yAT SAVOUR SAL BE FUL PLENTEUOUSE,
AND SWA SWETE AND SWA DELICIOUS,
yAT ALKYN SPICERY yAT MEN MAY FELE,
AND OF ALLE OTHIR THYNG yAT HERE SAVOURS WELE,
WAR NOGHT BOT ALS THYNG yAT STYNKED SOUR,
ALS TO REGARDE OF yAT DELYCIOUS SAVOUR.
yAN SAL yAT SAVOUR yAT ES SWA SWETE,
BE IOY TIL yAM, AY WHEN yAI SAMEN METE,
ALSWA ILKAN yAT SAL WON yAR,
SAL SYNG WITH ANGELS, ALS I SAYD AR,
IN SWILK TONES yAT SAL BE SWETE TO HERE,
WITH FUL DELITABEL VOYCES AND CLERE;
BOT yAI SAL LOVE GOD AY IN yAIR SANG,
AND THANK HYM OF HIS MERCY AY OMANG;
AND ILKAN OF yAT BLISFUL COMPANY
SAL SPEKE WITH OTHIR yAR FUL SWETELY,
WITH LAGHYNG AND WITH LUFLY SEMBLAND,
AND SAY "WELES US yAT HERE ER WONNAND",
AND THANK GOD OMANG yAT yAM GUN WYSSE
TIL MEKENES, yAT yAM LED TIL yAT BLYSSE
WITH ANGER yAT yAI HAD IN yAIR LYF DAYS,
yAN MAY yAI SAY yUS ALS DAVID SAYS:
LETATI SUMUS PRO DIEBUS QUIBUS
NOS HUMILIASTI, ANNIS QUIBUS
VIDIMUS MALA.
"LOVERD FUL GLAD FOR yE DAYS ER WE,
IN WHILK yOU MADE US LAWE TO BE,
IN yE YHERES IN WHILK WE SAW ILLES."
yUS MAY yAI SYNG AND SAY FOR SERE SKILLES.
yAN SAL yAIR SANG AND yAIR SPEKYNG,
BE TIL yAM GRET IOY AND LYKYNG;
251
ALSWA yAI SAL FELE WORSHEPES GRETE,
FOR ILKAN SAL BE SETTE IN A RYCHE SETE,
AND, ALS KYNGES AND QWENES COROUNED BE
WITH COROUNS DIGHT WITH RYCHE PERRE,
AND WITH STANES OF VERTU, PRECYOUSE TO PRAYS,
ALS DAVID TIL GOD THUS SPEKES AND SAYS:
POSUISTI DOMINE SUPER CAPUT EIUS
CORONAM DE LAPIDE PRECIOSO.
"LOVERD ON HYS HEVED yOU SETTE RYGHT,
A COROUNE OF PRECIOUSE STANES DIGHT;"
BOT SWA FAYRE COROUNE WAS NEVER SENE
IN yIS WORLD, ON KYNGES HEVED NE QWENE.
yIS COROUNE ES yE COROUNE OF BLYS,
AND yE STANE ES IOY yAT yAI SAL NEVER MYS.
yIS WORSHEPE yAT yAI SAL FELE, SAL PAS
ALLE yE WORSHEPES yAT EVER HERE WAS,
OF WHILK yAI SAL yAR MAR IOY HAVE,
yAN ANY MAN CAN YHERNE OR CRAVE.
yUS SAL yAI HAVE IN yAIR WITTES FYFE
PARFITE IOY WITH ENDELES LYFE,
IN yE HEGHE BLISFUL CITE OF HEVEN,
WHAR SERE IOYES ER MA yAN TUNG CAN NEVEN;
FOR yAI SAL MANY HUNDRETH THOWSAND SE
OF MEN AND WEMEN IN yAT CITE,
yAT MANY SERE IOYES yAR SAL HAF,
ALS yAI ER WORTHY AND GOD VOUCHES SAF.
AND ALLE yE IOYES yAT yAI ALLE SAL SE,
SAL BE IOYES TIL ILKA MAN yAT yAR SAL BE,
WITH-OUTEN HIS AWEN IOYES, LES AND MARE,
yAT TIL HYM-SELF SAL BE APPROPRIED yARE;
FOR yE SIGHT OF ILK IOY yAT yAI SAL SE yAN,
SAL BE IOY yAR TIL ILKA MAN;
FOR OTHER MENS IOYES THAM SAL LIKE ALS WELE,
ALS yAI SAL yAIR AWEN yAT yAI SAL FELE;
yAN SAL A MAN HAF MA IOYES IN HEVEN
yAN ANY TUNG COUTHE TELLE OR NEVEN;
FOR ILK MAN SAL HAF SPECIAL IOY AND MEDE,
FOR ILK GUDE THOGHT AND ILK GUDE DEDE,
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yAT HE EVER THOGHT OR WROGHT OPEN OR PRIVE.
yAN MAY NEVER yAIR IOYS NOUMBRED BE,
yAT ILK MAN IN HEVEN WHEN yAI COM yIDER
SAL IN BODY AND SAULE HAF ALLE TOGIDER,
AND NEVER MARE OF NA IOY FELE IRKYNG,
FOR yAI SAL AY BE NEW ALS AT yE BIGYNNING,
OF WHILK yE LESTE IOY yAR TO FELE AND SE,
SAL BE MAR yAN ALLE yE IOYES OF THE WERLD MAY BE
yAI SAL BE FED yAR AND CLED WELE,
WITH IOY OF SIGHT yAT yAI SAL FELE,
yAI SAL WIRK yAR NAN OTHIR THYNG,
BOT LOVE AY GOD WITH-OUTEN IRKYNG,
ALS A VERSIFIOUR SAYS IN A VERSE yARBY,
yE WHILK ES MADE IN METRE yUS SCHORTLY:
VISIO SIT VICTUS, OPUS EST
LAUS, LUMEN AMICTUS.
"WITH yE SIGHT OF GOD yAI SAL BE FED,
AND WITH BRIGHTNES OF LIGHT yAI SAL BE CLED,
AND yAIR WERK SAL BE AY LOVYNG,"
IN WHILK yAI SAL HAF GRET LIKYNG.
BOT yAIR MAST IOY IN HEVEN SAL BE
yE BLISFUL SIGHT OF yE TRINITE,
yE WHILK yAI SAL SE EVER-MAR;
AND yAT IOY SAL PAS ALLE OTHIR yAR,
FOR AY WHILLES yAI yAT SIGHT SAL SE,
OF ALLE IOYES yAI SAL FULFILLED BE;
AND IF yAI SULD yAT SYGHT MYSSE,
yAI MYGHT NOGHT yAN HAF PARFITE BLIS.
FOR IF A MAN WAR PYNED IN HELLE,
WITH MA PAYNS yAN TUNG MAY TELLE,
AND HE OF GODDES FACE MUGHT SE OGHT,
ALLE HIS PAYNS SULD yAN GRYEFE HYM NOGHT.
NOW HAF I REDDE HERE HOW MEN SAL HAFE
PARFITE IOY IN HEVEN yAT SAL BE SAFE;
BOT yE DAMPNED MEN yAR OGAYNE
SAL HAF FUL SOROWE AND PARFITE PAYNE,
WITH-OUTEN ENDE FOR yAIR WIKKED LYFE,
FOR yAI SAL IN ALLE yAIR WITTES FYVE,
253
BE TURMENTED ON SERE MANERE,
WITH GRYSELY PAYNS, MANY AND SERE,
yAT ES TO SAY, IN SYGHT AND HERYNG,
IN SMELLYNG, TASTYNG, AND FELYNG.
FIRST yAI SAL IN HELLE ABOUT yAM SE
MARE SOROW yAN EVER IN yIS WERLD MUGHT BE,
AND yE SOROW yAT yAI SAL SE yAR,
SAL BE STRANG PAYNE TIL yAM EVER-MARE.
yAIR WONYNG IN HELLE, ALS SAYS yE BUKE,
yAI SAL SE FUL OF FIRE AND OF SMOKE,
AND FUL GRYSELY, AND MYRK, AND DYM,
AND ABOUT yAM DEVELS FUL GRYM,
yAT WITH SERE PAYNS SAL PAYNE yAM AY,
ALS MEN MUGHT HERE ME BYFOR SAY:
AND ALLE-yOGH yAI IN HELLE WANT LIGHT,
YHIT SAL yAI OF ALLE PAYNS HAF SIGHT,
THURGH yE SPARKES OF FYR yAR, ALS SAYS SAYNT AUSTYN
NOGHT TIL yAIR COMFORT BOT TIL yAIR PYNE;
YHIT MARE SOROW yAM SAL BYTYDE,
yAI SAL HERE IN HELLE, ON ILKA SYDE,
FUL HYDUS NOYSE AND DULEFUL DYN
OF DEVELS AND OF SYNFUL MEN yAR-YN:
yAI SAL HERE DEVELS yAR, RARE FUL HYDUSLY,
AND yE SYNFUL MEN GOULE AND CRY;
yAI SAL yAR, IN SMELLYNG, FELE MARE STYNK,
yAN HERT MAY HERE YMAGYN OR THYNK,
OF BRYNNAND BRUNSTAN AND OF PYK,
AND OF ALKYN OTHIR THYNG yAT ES WYK.
yAT STYNK, ALS YHE SAL UNDERSTAND WELE,
SAL BE STRANG PAYNE TIL yAM TO FELE;
AL-SWA yAI SAL ILKAN OTHER WERY,
AND MYSSAY AND SCLAUNDRE GOD ALLE MYGHTY,
yAI SAL AY STRYFE AND BE AT DEBATE,
AND ILKAN OTHER SAL DESPICE AND HATE.
OMANG yAM SAL NEVER BE PEES,
BOT HATREDEN AND STRYFE yAT NEVER SAL CEES.
yAIR THROTES SAL AY BE FILLED OMANG,
OF ALLE THYNG yAT ES BITTER AND STRANG,
254
OF LOWE AND REKE WITH STORMES MELLED,
OF PYK AND BRUNSTANE TOGYDER WELLED,
OF MOLTEN BRAS AND LEDE WITH-ALLE,
AND OF OTHER WELLAND METALLE;
yIS SAL BE STRANG PAYNE TIL yAM TO LAST,
OMANG ALLE OTHIR PAYNES, LEST AND MAST,
WITH STRYF yAT SAL BE OMANG yAM yAN,
WHEN ILKAN SAL OTHER WERY AND BAN;
AL-SWA yAI SAL FELE, ALS I BYFOR TALDE,
OUTRAGEUS HETE AND OUTRAGEOUSE CALDE,
FOR NOW yAI SAL FRESE IN YSE, AND NOW IN FIRE BRYN
AND BE GNAWEN WITH-OUTEN AND WITH-IN;
WITHIN, ALS YHE SAL UNDERSTAND,
WITH WORMES OF CONSCIENCE AY BYTAND;
WITH-OUTEN, WITH DRAGONS FELLE AND KENE,
SWA HIDUS WAS NEVER HERE NANE SENE,
WITH NEDDIRS AND TADES AND OTHIR VERMYN,
AND WITH MANY HYDUS BESTES OF RAVYN,
ALS WODE WOLFES, LYONS AND BERES FELLE,
yAT SAL NOGHT BE ELLES, BOT DEVELS OF HELLE,
IN LIKNES OF HYDUS BESTES AND VERMYNE,
yAT SAL yAM GNAW WITHOUT, TO EKE yAIR PYNE,
ALS IN yE SEXT PART OF yIS BOKE ES WRYTEN.
yUS SAL yE SYNFUL BE GNAWEN AND BYTEN
WITH OUTEN, THURGH HYDUS BESTES AND VERMYN,
AND THURGH yE WORME OF CONSCIENCE WITH-IN.
yE DEVELS ALSWA SAL STRYKE yAM FELLY,
WITH GLOWAND HAMERS, FUL HUGE AND HEVY,
yAT SAL SEME OF IREN AND STELE;
yIR PAYNS yAI SAL WITH ALLE OTHER FELE.
yUS SAL yAI EVER-MARE BE PYNED yAR,
IN ALLE yAIR FIFE WITTES, ALS I SAID AR,
WITH SERE PAYNS ALS ES GODE SKILLE,
FOR yAI HERE USED yAIR WITTES ILLE.
ALLE yIR PAYNS yAT YHE HERD ME TELLE,
AND MANY MA yAT SALLE BE IN HELLE,
yAI SAL THOLE AY yAR yAT SAL WENDE yIDER,
IN BODY AND SAULE ALLE TO-GIDER.
255
yUS SAL yAI EVER MAR CONTYNUELY
HAF PARFITE PAYNE yAR, WITH-OUTEN MERCY,
FRA WHILK PAYNE AND SOROW GOD US SHILDE,
THURGH PRAYER OF HYS MODER MYLDE,
AND yE RIGHT WAY OF LYF US WYSSE,
WHAR-THURGH WE MAY COM TIL HEVEN BLYSSE. AMEN.
NOW ES yE LAST PART OF yIS BUKE SPED,
AND ALLE yE MATERS yAR-IN HAF I RED,
yAT CONTENES, ALS YHE MUGHT HERE,
BATHE GENERAL AND SPECIAL IOYES SERE,
yAT ALLE yAS yAT TIL HEVEN SAL COME,
SAL HAF AFTIR yE DAY OF DOME;
AND SERE SCHENDSHEPES OF HELLE ALSWA,
yAT ER EVEN CONTRARY TIL yA,
yE WHILK, yAS yAT SAL TIL HELLE WENDE,
SAL HAF yAR, WITH-OUTEN ENDE.
WHAR-FOR WHA-SWA OF yIS WIL TAKE HEDE,
MAY BE STIRD TIL LUF AND DREDE;
TIL DREDE, THURGH MYNDE OF yE HYDUSNES
OF PAYNE AND SOROW yAT IN HELLE ES;
TIL LUF, THURGH MYND OF IOYES AND BLISSE SERE
yAT GOD HETES TIL ALLE yAT LUFES HYM HERE.
BOT yE DREDE ES NOGHT MEDEFUL TO PRUFE,
yAT ACCORDES NOGHT HALELY WITH yAT LUFE;
FOR IF DREDE STAND BY ITSELF ANELY,
NA MEDE OF GOD IT ES WORTHY,
yARFOR DREDE SULD BE LUFES BROTHER,
AND AYTHER OF yAM STAND WITH OTHER,
FOR WHA-SWA LUFES GOD ON RYGHT MANERE
HE HAS GRETE DREDE TO WRETHE HYM HERE;
yAN LUFES HE HIS BYDYNGES TO FULFILLE,
AND DREDES TO DO OGHT OGAYNE HIS WILLE,
DELITES TO BE WITH GOD AY,
AND DREDES TO BE PUT FRA HYM OWAY.
FOR MEN SULD NOGHT DREDE GOD ANLY FOR PAYNE
BOT MEN SULD DREDE TO TYN yE IOY SOVERAYNE,
yAT ES, yE SYGHT OF GOD OF HEVEN,
yE WHILK YHE HERD ME BYFOR NEVEN;
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yAT ES PAT LUF AY WITH yAT DREDE,
AND yAT DRED OF GOD ES WORTHY MEDE,
FOR yOGH WE SULD NEVER HELLE SE,
NE UFORe SYN SULD NEVER PUNYST BE,
IN PURGATORY NE IN HELLE,
NE IN yIS WERLD WHAR WE DUELLE,
YHIT SULD WE LUF GOD FOR HYM-SELF RYGHT,
AND DREDE TO TYNE HYS LUF AND OF HIM yE SYGHT,
FOR, SIKERLY I DAR WELE SAY yIS,
yAT WHA-SWA WYST WHAT IOY AND BLYS
OF yE SYGHT OF GOD IN HEVEN WAR,
AND ALS PROPRELY HAD SENE IT ALS ES yAR,
HE HAD LEVER THOLE HERE yIS PAYNE,
ILK DAY ANES, ALLE QWIK TO BE FLAYNE,
AR HE yE SYGHT OF HIS FACE SULD TYNE,
yAT IN HEVEN SO BRIGHT SAL SHYNE.
MANY SERE IOYS MA yAR SAL FALLE,
BOT yAT SIGHT ES MAST PRINCIPALLE IOY OF ALLE;
FOR yAT IOYFUL SIGHT SAL CONTENE
ALLE OTHER IOYES yAT SAL yAR BE SENE,
OF WHILK IOYS, yE LEST SAL PAS
ALLE yE IOY yAT EVER HERE WAS.
FOR IOY HERE ES NOGHT BOT PASSAND VANITE,
BOT yE IOYES yAT ER yAR EVER-MAR SAL BE,
TIL WHILK IOYES yAT HAS NAN ENDE,
GOD US BRING WHEN WE HETHEN WENDE. AMEN.

[EPILOGUE]/[CONTENTS]

NOW HAF I HERE ALS I FIRST UNDIR-TOKE,
FULFILLED yE SEVEN PARTES OF yIS BOKE,
yAT ER TITELD BYFOR TO HAVE IN MYNDE.
yE FIRST ES OF yE WRECHEDNES OF MANS KYNDE;
yE SECUNDE ES OF yE WERLDES CONDICIONS SERE,
AND OF yE UNSTABELNES OF yE WERLD HERE;
yE THRED ES OF yE DED yAT ES BODILY;
yE FERTHE ALSWA ES OF PURGATORY;
yE FIFT ES OF DOMESDAY, yE LAST DAY OF ALLE,
AND OF yE TAKENS yAT BYFOR SAL FALLE;
257
yE SEXT ES OF yE PAYNES OF HELLE TO NEVEN;
AND yE SEVEND PART ES OF yE IOYES OF HEVEN.
IN yIR SEVEN ER SERE MATERES DRAWEN
OF SERE BUKES, OF WHILK SOM ER UNKNAWEN,
NAMLY TIL LEWED MEN OF ENGLAND,
yAT CAN NOGHT BOT INGLISE UNDIRSTAND;
yARFOR yIS TRETICE DRAWE I WALD
IN INGLISE TUNG yAT MAY BE CALD
PRIK OF CONSCIENCE ALS MEN MAY FELE,
FOR IF A MAN IT REDE AND UNDERSTANDE WELE,
AND yE MATERES yAR-IN TIL HERT WIL TAKE,
IT MAY HIS CONSCIENCE TENDRE MAKE,
AND TIL RIGHT WAY OF REWEL BRYNG IT BILYFE,
AND HIS HERT TIL DREDE AND MEKENES DRYFE,
AND TIL LUF AND YHERNYNG OF HEVEN BLIS,
AND TO AMENDE ALLE yAT HE HAS DONE MYS.
FOR yE UNDIRSTANDYNG OF yIR MATERS SEVEN,
yAT MEN MAY IN yIS BUKE SE AND NEVEN,
MAY MAKE A MAN KNAWE AND HALDE IN MYNDE,
WHAT HE ES HERE OF HIS AWEN KYNDE,
AND WHAT HE SAL BE, IF HE AVYSE HYM WELE,
AND WHAR HE ES, FOR TO KNAW AND FELE.
YHIT MAY HE SE WHEN HE IT REDES
WHAT HE ES WORTHY FOR HIS DEDES,
WHETHER HE ES WORTHY IOY OR PAYNE
yIS TRETICE MAY MAKE HYM BE CERTAYNE,
FOR yAR-IN MAY HE MANY THYNGES SE,
yAT HAS BENE, AND ES, AND yAT SAL BE;
yUS MAY yIS TRETICE, WITH yE SENTENCE,
PRYK AND STIRRE A MANS CONSCIENCE,
AND TIL MEKENES AND LUF AND DREDE IT DRYFE,
FOR TO BRING HYM TIL RYGHT WAY OF LYFE.
OF ALLE yEIS I HAF SERE MATERS SOGHT,
AND IN SEVEN PARTES I HAF yAM BROGHT,
ALS ES CONTENDE IN yIS TRETICE HERE,
yAT I HAF DRAWEN OUT OF BUKES SERE,
AFTIR I HAD IN yAM UNDERSTANDYNG,
ALLE-IF I BE OF SYMPLE KUNNYNG.
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BOT I PRAY YHOU ALLE, PAR CHARITE,
yAT yIS TRETICE WIL HERE OR SE
YHE HAF ME EXCUSED AT yIS TYME,
IF YHE FYNDE DEFAUT IN yE RYME,
FOR I REK NOGHT, yOGH yE RYME BE RUDE,
IF yE MATERS yAR-OF BE GUDE.
AND IF ANY MAN yAT ES CLERK,
CAN FYNDE ANY ERROUR IN yIS WERK,
I PRAY HYM HE DO ME yAT FAVOUR,
yAT HE WILLE AMENDE yAT ERROUR;
FOR IF MEN MAY HERE ANY ERROUR SE,
OR IF ANY DEFAUT IN yIS TRETICE BE,
I MAKE HERE A PROTESTACION,
yAT I WIL STAND TIL yE CORRECCION
OF ILKA RIGHTWYSE LERED MAN,
yAT MY DEFAUT HERE CORRECTE CAN.
yIS TRETICE SPECIALY DRAWEN ES
FOR TO STIRRE LEWED MEN TIL MEKENES,
AND TO MAKE yAM LUF GOD AND DREDE;
FFOR WHA-SWA WIL IT HERE OR REDE,
I HOPE HE SAL BE STIRRED yAR-BY.
YF HE TROW yAT GOD ES ALLE-MYGHTY,
AND HE SAL IT HERE OR SE,
AND MAY NOGHT yAR-BY STIRRED BE,
IT SEMES yAT HE ES WITTLES,
OR OVER MYKEL HARDEND IN WIKKEDNES.
BOT ALLE yAS yAT REDES IT, LOUD OR STILLE,
OR HERES IT BE RED WITH GODE WILLE,
GOD GRAUNT yAM GRACE yAT yAI MAY
BE STIRD yAR-BY TIL RYGHTWYSE WAY,
yAT ES, TILLE yE WAY OF GUDE LYFYNG,
AND AT yE LAST BE BROGHT TIL GUDE ENDYNG.
AND YHE yAT HAS HERD yIS TRETICE RED
yAT NOW ES BROGHT TIL ENDE AND SPED,
FOR yE LUF OF OUR LOVERD IHESU,
PRAY FOR HYM SPECIALY yAT IT DRU,
yAT IF HE LYF, GOD SAFE HYM HARMLES,
AND MAYNTENE HYS LYF IN ALLE GUDENES,
259
AND IF HE BE DED, ALS FALLES KYNDELY,
GOD OF HIS SAULE HAF MERCY,
AND BRYNG IT TIL yAT BLISFUL PLACE
WHAR ENDELES IOY ES AND SOLACE,
TIL WHILK PLACE HE US ALLE BRYNG,
yAT FOR US VOUCHED SAFE ON RODE TO HYNG. AMEN.

[CONTENTS] [RESOURCES PAGE] rev. 11/2014