book called Genesis,

written by

Moses, through

God's counsel.

An her endede to ful, in wiſ,

ðe boc ðe iſ hoten geneſis,

ðe moyſes, ðurg godes red,

Wrot for lefful ſoules ned. 2524

[Fol. 49b.]

God shield his

soul from hell-bale,

who translated

it into

English!

God ſchilde hiſe ſowle fro helle bale,

ðe made it ðus on engel tale!

And he ðat ðiſe lettres wrot,

May God help

and protect him

from hell-pain,

cold and hot!

God him helpe weli mot, 2528

And berge iſ ſowle fro ſorge & grot

Of helle pine, cold & hot!

And alle men, ðe it heren wilen,[236]

And all men who

will hear it, God

grant that they

may dwell in bliss

among angels for

ever!

God leue hem i_n_ hiſ bliſſe ſpilen 2532

Among engeles & ſeli men,

Wiðuten ende in reſte ben,

And luue & pais uſ bi-twen,

And god ſo graunte, amen, ameN! 2536

[236] MS. welin.

THE OPPRESSION OF THE ISRAELITES.

GOdes bliſcing be wið vs,

Here beginneth

Exodus.

Her nu bi-ginned[237] exodus.

Under Pharaoh,

and the seven

kings who succeeded

him,

Pharao kinges rigte name

Vephres, be dede ðe ebriſ frame; 2540

And bi oðere ſeuene kinges ſel,

the Israelites increased

and prospered.

Wexen he ðore & ðogen wel.

The eighth king

treated them

harshly,

ðe egtenede king amonaphis,

Agenes ðis folc hatel is; 2544

and the Egyptians

became jealous

of them.

And egipte folc adden nið,

for ebriſ adden ſeli ſið.

Q_u_uað ðis ging[238] wið hem ſtille i_n_ red,

"ðis ebris waxen michil ſped, 2548

[Fol. 50.]

Bute if we eraflike[239] hem for-don,

Ne ſulen he non eige ſen uſ on."

They made slaves

of them, and set

them to build

walls.

Ðo ſette ſundri hem to waken

His tigel and lim, and walles maken, 2552

burges feten; a_n_d rameſen

ðurge here ſwinc it walled ben;

Some they made

to do foul work,

Su_m_me he deden in vn-ðewed ſwinc,

for it was fugel and ful o ſtinc, 2556

to carry "muck

and fen out of

the city,"

Muc and fen ut of burgeſ beren,

ðuſ bitterlike he gun he_m_ deren;

ðe ðridde ſwinc was eui and ſtron[g],

and to creep

along dikes.

He deden hem crepen dikes long, 2560

And wide a-buten burges gon,

The comb of the

dike serves them

as protection

against their

enemies.

And cumen ðer ear waſ non;

And if ðat folc hem wulde deren,

ðe dikeſ comb he_m_ ſulde weren. 2564

for al ðat ſwinc heui & ſor,

For all that labour,

the folk

increased and

spread.

Ay wex ðat kinde, mor & mor,

And ðhogen, & ſpredden i_n_ londe ðor,

ðat made ðe kinges herte ful ſor. 2568

Then bad Pharaoh,

Ðo bad monophis pharaun

wimmen ben ſet i_n_ eu_er_ilc tun,

that every Hebrew

male child

should be put to

death as soon as

it was born.

And ðat he weren redi bi-foren,

Q_u_an ebru child ſuld be boren, 2572

[237] bi-ginneð?

[238] king?

[239] craftlike?

THE BIRTH AND PRESERVATION OF MOSES.

And ðe knapes to deade giuen,

And leten ðe mayden childre liuen.

[Fol. 50b.]

The midwives

saved the children's

lives,

Oc he it leten fro godeſ dred;

Get ðo childre wexen in ſped, 2576

And q_u_ane he komen to ðe king,

and lied to the

king, saying,

He wereden hem wið leſing;

He ſeiden ðe childre weren boren

that the children

were born ere

they arrived.

Or he migten ben hem bi-foren. 2580

God it geald ðeſe wifes wel,

On hom, on hagte, eddi ſel!

Pharaoh then

bad that every

"knave child"

should be drowned.

Ðo bad ðis king al opelike,

In alle burges modilike, 2584

Eu_er_ilc knape child of ðat kin

ben a-non don ðe flod wið-in.

By that time was

Moses born.

BI ðat time waſ moyſes boren,

So het abrah_a_m dor[240] bi-foren; 2588

And his moder het Iacabeð,

Ghe was for him dreful and bleð,

His mother hid

him for three

months.

wel is hire of bird[241] bi-tid.

ðre moneð haueð ghe him hid, 2592

durſte ghe non lengere him for-helen,

Ne ghe ne cuðe ðe wateres ſtelen;

Then she made

an ark,

In an fetles, of rigeſſes wrogt,

Terred, ðat water dered it nogt, 2596

placed the child

in it,

ðiſ child wunden ghe wulde don,

and set it on the

water.

And ſetten it ſo ðe water on;

Miriam was sent

to watch what

became of it.

Ghe adde or hire dowter ſent,

[Fol. 51.]

To loken q_u_ider it ſulde ben went; 2600

Maria dowter ful feren ſtod,

And ghe nam kep to-ward ðiſ flod.

The king's

daughter came

and saw the child

on the water.

Teremuth kinkes[242] dowter ðor cam,

ðor ðis child on ðe water nam; 2604

Ghe bad it ben to hire brogt,

And ſag ðis child wol fair[e] wrogt,

She wist it was of

Hebrew kin,

Ghe wiſte it was of ebrius kin,

And ðog cam hire rewde[243] wið-in; 2608

[240] ðor?

[241] birð?

[242] kinges?

[243] rewðe?

TEREMUTH ADOPTS HIM AS HER SON.

God haued[244] ſwilc fair-hed hi_m_ geuen,

but let it live for

its beauty.

ðat ſelf ðe fon it leten liuen.

Egyptians

wanted her to

destroy the

child.

Egipte wimmen comen ner,

And boden ðe childe letten ðer, 2612

Oc he wente it awei wið rem,

Of here bode nam he no gem.

Miriam, at Teremuth's

bidding,

ÐO q_u_ad maria to teremuth,

"wilt ðu, leuedi, ic go fear out, 2616

And take ſu_m_ wimman of ðat kin

ðor he waſ bi-gote & foſtred in?"

fetches a "foster

woman" for the

child.

Teremuth ſo bad, & ſche forð-ran,

And brogt hire a foſtre wimman, 2620

On waſ tette he ſone aueð lagt,

Teremuth consigned

Moses to

Jochabed, who

returned home

blithely.

And teremuth haueð hire hi_m_ bi-tagt.

Iakabeð wente bliðe agen,

ðat ghe ðe gildesſ[245] foſtre muſte ben; 2624

Ghe kepte it wel i_n_ foſtre wune,

Ghe knew it for hire owen ſune;

[Fol. 51b.]

When old

enough, the child

was adopted by

Teremuth, who

called it Moses.

And q_u_ane it ſulde ſundred ben,

Ghe bar it teremuth for to ſen; 2628

Teremuth toc it on ſunes ſtede,

And fedde it wel and cloðen dede;

And ghe it clepit moyſen,

Ghe wiſte of water it boren ben. 2632

She brought him

before Pharaoh,

who placed the

royal crown on

his head.

An time after ðat ðiſ was don,

Ghe brogte him bi-foren pharaon,

And ðiſ king wurð hi_m_ in herte mild,

So ſwide[246] faiger was ðiſ child; 2636

And he toc him on ſunes ſtede,

And hiſ corune on his heued he dede,

And let it ſtonden ayne ſtund;

The child soon

threw it to the

ground.

ðe child it warp dun to de grund. 2640

Hamon's likeness

was thereon.

Hamonel[247] likeneſ was ðor-on;

ðis crune is broken, ðiſ iſ miſdon.

The Bishop of

Heliopolis saw

this, and said,

Biſſop Eliopoleos

ſag ðiſ timing, & up he roſ; 2644

[244] haueð?

[245] cildeſ?

[246] ſwiðe?

[247] Hamoneſ?

THE ETHIOPIANS INVADE EGYPT,

"If this child be

allowed to thrive,

he shall become

Egypt's bale."

"If ðiſ child," q_u_ad he, "mote ðen,

He ſal egyptes bale ben."

If ðor ne wore helpe twen lopen,

ðiſ child adde ðan ſone be dropen; 2648

ðe king wið-ſtod & an wiſ man,

He ſeide, "ðe child doð alſ he can;

We ſulen nu witen for it dede

ðiſ witterlike, or in child-hede;" 2652

[Fol. 52.]

The king offered

the child two

burning coals (to

eat), and he put

them in his

mouth, and burnt

the end of his

tongue therewith,

and spake

indistinctly.

He bad ðis child brennen to colen

And he toc is hu migt he it ðolen,

And in hiſe muth ſo depe he iſ dede

Hiſe tunges ende iſ brent ðor-mide; 2656

ðor-fore ſeide de[248] ebru witt_er_like,

ðat he ſpac ſiðen miſerlike;

So fair was he to

look upon, that

none might be

angry with him.

Oc ſo faiger he waſ on to ſen,

ðat migte no_n_ man modi ben. 2660

ðor q_u_iles he ſeweden him up-on,

Mani dede b[i]leph un-don

In ðat burg folc bi-twen,

So waſ hem lef on hi_m_ to ſen. 2664

By the time that

he became renowned

for

beauty and

strength, the

Ethiopians invaded

Egypt, and

burnt and slew

as far as the Red

Sea.

Bi dat[249] time ðat he was guð,

Wið faigered and ſtrengthe kuð,

folc ethiopienes on egipte cam,

And brende, & ſlug, & wreche nam, 2668

Al to memphin dat[250] riche cite,

And a-non to ðe reade ſe;

The Egyptians

ask counsel of

their gods, who

tell them that a

Hebrew shall deliver

them.

ðo was egipte folc in dred,

And aſkeden here godes red; 2672

And hem ſeiden wið anſweren,

ðat on ebru cude he_m_ wel weren;

Teremuth un-eðes migte timen

Moses is permitted

by Teremuth

ðat moyſes ſal wið hire forð-nimen, 2676

Or haue he hire pligt & ſworen,

ðat him ſal feið wurðful ben boren.

[Fol. 52b.]

Moyſes was lou_er_ed of ðat here,

ðor he wurð ðane egyptes were; 2680

[248] ðe?

[249] ðat?

[250] ðat?

AND ARE DEFEATED BY MOSES.

to lead the Egyptians

against

their enemies.

Bi a lond weige he wente rigt,

And brogte vn-warnede on he_m_ figt;

He hadden don egipte wrong,

He smote and

slew them.

He bi-loc hem & ſmette a-mong, 2684

Many fled to

Sheba.

And ſlug ðor manige; oc ſu_m_me flen,

Into ſaba to borgen ben.

Moyſes bi-ſette al ðat burg,

Oc it was riche & ſtrong ut-ðhurg; 2688

The king of Ethiopia's

daughter,

for love,

Ethiopienes kinges dowt_er_ tarbis,

Riche maiden of michel priſ,

gave this rich city

to Moses,

Gaf ðiſ riche burg moyſi;

Luue-bonde hire ghe it dede for-ði. 2692

ðor iſe fon he leide i_n_ bonde,

who waxed

mighty in the

land.

And he wurð al-migt-ful in ðat lond;

He bi-lef ðor(.) tarbis him ſcroð,

His sojourn there

was distasteful to

him,

ðog was him ðat ſurgerun ful loð; 2696

Mai he no leue at hire taken

but by craft he

brought it to an

end.

but-if he it mai wið crafte maken:

He waſ of an ſtrong migt wiſ,

He carved upon

two gems two

likenesses;

He carf i_n_ two gummes of priſ 2700

Two likeneſſes, ſo grauen & meten,

the one caused

remembrance,

the other forgetfulness.

ðiſ doð ðenken, & ðoð[251] forgeten;

He feſt is i_n_ two ringes of gold,

Moses gave her

the one which

caused her to forget

her love,

Gaf hire ðe ton, he was hire hold; 2704

[Fol. 53.]

Ghe it bered[252] and ðiſ luue iſ for-geten,

Moyſes ðus haued[253] him leue bi-geten;

Sone it migte wið leue ben,

and so he came

again to Egypt.

Into egypte e[254] wente a-gen. 2708

On a time he

went to Goshen,

and found a

"moody steward"

beating a

Hebrew.

AN time he for to lond gerſen,

to ſpeken wið hiſe kinnes men;

And ſone he cam in-to ðat lond,

A modi ſtiward he ðor fond, 2712

Betende a man wid[255] hiſe wond;

ðat ðhugte moyſes michel ſond,

He seized the

churl, slew him,

and buried him

in the sand.

And hente ðe cherl wið hiſe wond,

And he fel dun in dedes bond; 2716

[251] ðoðer?

[252] bereð?

[253] haueð?

[254] MS. ewente.

[255] wið?

MOSES SLAYS AN EGYPTIAN,

And moyſes drug him to ðe ſtrond,

And ſtille[256] he dalf hi_m_ [in] ðe ſond;

He thought that

none had wist it.

wende he ðat non egipcien

ðat hadde it wiſt, ne ſulde a ſen; 2720

On the second

day he saw two

men chiding,

and reproved

them.

Til after ðiſ on oðer day,

He ſag chiden in ðe wey

two egypcienis, modi & ſtrong,

ðiſ on wulde don ðe toðer wrong; 2724

And moyſes nam ðer-of kep,

And to hemward ſwide[257] he lep,

And vndernam hi_m_ ðat it agte awold.

The wrong-doer

thus answered

him,

And he him anſwerede modi & bold; 2728

"Moses, who

made thee master?

"Meiſter(.) moyſes, q_u_o haueð ðe mad?

ðu art of dede and o word to rad.

[Fol. 53b.]

We know well

how yesterday

one was slain and

hid.

we witen wel q_u_at iſ bi-tid,

Q_u_uow giſter-dai waſ ſlagen and hid; 2732

ðe bode iſ cumen to pharaun,[258]

Soon shall thy

pride fall down."

Get ſal ðin pride fallen dun."

Then Moses fled

Ðo bi-thowte him moyſes,

And his weige ðeðen ches; 2736

ðurg ðe deſerd a-wei he nam,

and came to

Midian,

And to burge madian he cam,

And ſette hi[m] ðor vten ðe town,

where dwelt

Jethro,

Bi a welle ðo ſprong ðor dun. 2740

Raguel Ietro ðat riche man,

Was wuniende in madian,

who had seven

daughters.

He hadde ſeuene dowtreſ bi-geten;

ðor he comen water to feten, 2744

These maidens

took care of

cattle.

And for to wattren here ſep;

(Wimmen ðo nomen of here erf kep,

Pride was not so

great then as

now.

Pride ne cuðe bi ðat dai

Nogt ſo michel ſo it nu mai). 2748

Hirdes wulden ðe maidenes deren,

Moses helped the

maidens to water

the flocks.

Oc moyſes ðor hem gan weren,

And wattrede here erue eu_er_ilc on,

And dede hem tidelike to tune gon; 2752

[256] MS. ſtalle, _corrected to_ ſtille.

[257] ſwiðe?

[258] MS. pharaum.

AND FLEES INTO MIDIAN.

And ben ſone hom numen;

They told their

father

And b[i]foren here fader cumen,

And gunen him ðore tellen,

[Fol. 54.]

how a young man

at the well had

protected them.

Hu a gunge man, at te welle[n], 2756

ðewe and wurſipe hem dede;

Jethro sent after

him and kept him

in his house,

And ietro geld it him i_n_ eſtdede,

Sente after him, freinede hiſ kin,

Helde him wurðelike iſ huſ wið-in; 2760

Of ali kinde he wiſte him boren,

And bad him ðor wunen him bi-foren,

and gave him his

daughter to wife,

who bore him

two sons.

Gaf him iſ dowter ſephoram;

To wife in lage he hire nam, 2764

And bi-gat two ſunes on hire ðer,

firſt gerlon, ſiðen eliezer.

Egipte king to late waſ dead,

ðe ðe childre ſo drinkelen bead. 2768

On a time Moses

went into the

desert with his

flocks, for rich

men then kept

such ware.

And moyſes waſ numen an ſel

In ðe deſerd depe ſumdel,

for te loken hirdneſſe fare;

Riche men ðo kepten ſwilc ware. 2772

By Mount Sinai

he sees a wondrous

sight,

ðo ſag moyſes, at munt ſynay,

An ſwiðe ferli ſigt ðor-bi,

fier brennen on ðe grene leaf,

a bush burning,

and nevertheless

green and whole.

And ðog grene and hol bi-leaf; 2776

forð he nam to ſen witterlike,

Hu ðat fier brende milde-like;

Out of that bush

God's voice was

heard, clear and

high,

Vt of ðat buſk, ðe brende and ðheg,

God ſente an ſteuene, brigt and heg; 2780

'Moses, Moses,

take off thy

shoes, for thou

standest on holy

ground.

"Moyſes, moyſes, do of ðin ſon,

ðu ſtondes ſeli ſtede up-on;

[Fol. 54b.]

I am the God of

Jacob, Isaac, and

Abraham.

Hic am god ðe in min gemi_n_g nam

Iacob, yſaac, and abraham; 2784

I have seen the

affliction of my

people,

ic haue min folkes pine ſogen,

ðat he nu longe hauen drogen;

and have come

down to deliver

them,

Nu am ic ligt to fren hem ðeðen,

And milche and hunige lond he_m_ q_ue_ðen; 2788

GOD APPEARS TO MOSES AT SINAI.

and to bring them

into the land of

seven kingdoms.

An .vii. kinge-riches lond

Ic ſal hem bringen al on hond.

Come, thou shalt

be my messenger,

Cum, ðu ſalt ben min ſondere man,

Ic ſal ðe techen wel to ðan; 2792

and bid Pharaoh

release my people.

ðu ſalt min folc bringen a-gen,

And her ðu ſalt min migte ſen;

And ðu ſalt ſeien to faraon,

ðat he lete min folc ut-gon; 2796

If he refuse, I

shall work great

marvels,

If he it werne and be ðor-gen,

Ic ſal ðe techen hu it ſal ben;

for ic ſal werken ferlike ſtrong,

and cause my

people to go out

freely.

And maken min folc frelike ut-gong; 2800

Ge ſulen cumen wið feteles & ſrud,

As a sign, throw

down thy wand."

The wand then

became an ugly

snake.

And reuen egipte ðat iſ nu prud.

Werp nu to token dun ðat wond."

And it warp vt of hiſe hond, 2804

And wurð ſone an uglike ſnake,

And moyſes fleg for dredes ſake;

God bade Moses

take it by the

tail, and anon it

became a wand.

God him bad, bi ðe tail he it nam,

And it a-non a wond it bi-cam, 2808

[Fol. 55.]

He put his hand

into his bosom

and it became

leprous.

And in hiſe boſum he dede his hond,

Q_u_it and al unfer he it fond;

He put it in again

and it became

whole and sound.

And ſone he dede it eft agen,

Al hol and fer he wiſte it ſen. 2812

"If they believe

not these tokens,

pour out the

water of the flood

on the earth, and

it shall become

blood."

"If he for ðiſe tokenes two

Ne liſteðe ne troweð to,

Go, get ðe water of de[259] flod

On ðe erðe, and it ſal wurðen blod." 2816

"Lord! I am not

eloquent, and

cannot speak

well," said Moses.

"Lou_er_d, ic am wanmol, vn-reken

Of wurdes, and may ic Iuel ſpeken.

Nu iſ forð gon ðe ðridde dai,

Sende an oðer; bettre he mai." 2820

Quoth God, "Who

made the dumb,

the speaking, the

blind, and the

seeing?"

"Q_u_o made do_m_me, and q_u_o ſpecande?

Q_u_o made bisne, and q_u_o lockende?

Q_u_o but ic, ðat haue al wrogt?

Of me ſal fultu_m_ ben ðe brogt." 2824

[259] ðe?

MOSES AND AARON ARE SENT TO EGYPT.

"Lou_er_d, ſent him ðat iſ to cumen,

Vgging and dred me haueð[260] numen."

"Aaron, thy brother

can speak

well, thou shalt

meet him, and

make known to

him my words."

"Aaron ðin broðer can wel ſpeken,

ðu ſalt him meten and vnſteken 2828

Him bodeword min, and ic ſal red

Gunc boðen bringen read and ſped."

Moses asks leave

of Jethro to visit

his brethren.

Moyſes, frigti, ðo funden gan

to ſpeken wið ietro ðat riche man, 2832

And aſkede him leue to faren and ſen,

If hiſe breðere of liues ben;

[Fol. 55b.]

Moses delayed

until God's message

again came

to him.

ðog drechede he til god ef[t] bad,

And brogte him bode ðe made him glad, 2836

ðat pharaun, ðe wulde him ſ[l]en,

Waſ dead and hadde iſ werkes len.

Then he departed

with his wife and

children.

MOyſes and hiſe wif ſephoram,

And hiſe childre wið him nam; 2840

And ðat on waſ vncircu_m_ciſ.

One child was

uncircumcised,

and the angel in

the way sought

to slay him.

He nam ſo forð, ſoð it is;

An angel, wið an dragen ſwerd,

In ðe weie made him offerd, 2844

for ðat he ledden feren ſwike,

ðe ſulden him deren witt_er_like;

Zipporah circumcised

her son.

Sephora toc ðiſ gunge knaue,

And dede circu_m_ciſe haue, 2848

And gret, and wente frigti a-gen,

Moses pursued

his way alone.

And let moyſes forð one ten.

He bar hiſe gerde forð in iſ hond,

And nam a weie[261] bi deſerd lond; 2852

At Mount Sinai

he meets with

Aaron.

To mount ſynai forð he nam,

Aaron hiſe broðer a-gen him cam;

Eyðer [h]ere was of oðer fagen;

Moyſes him haueð iſ herte[262] vt-dragen, 2856

They come into

Egypt.

And he ben in-to egypte numen,

And a-mong folc ebriſſe ben cumen;

Moyſes tolde hem ðat bliðe bode,

The people believe

them.

And let hem ſen tockenes fro gode; 2860

[260] MS. haued.

[261] MS. aweie.

[262] MS. herðe.

GREATER LABOURS ARE LAID UPON THE ISRAELITES.

[Fol. 56.]

He redden ſamen he ſulden gon

wið[263] wiſe men to pharaon.

Moses and Aaron

come before Pharaoh,

"God," he ſeiden, "of iſr_ae_l

ðe bode ſente, and greteð wel, 2864

and deliver their

message.

ðat, bi ði leue, hiſe folc vt-fare,

ðre daiges gon and ben ðor gare,

In ðe deſerd an ſtede up-on,

Hiſ leue ſacrifiſe to don." 2868

Q_u_ad pharaun, "knowe ic[264] hi_m_ nogt,

Bi q_u_aſe read haue ge ðiſ ſowt?"

Moses says that

he is well known

to the Egyptians,

Seide moyſes, "ic am ſonder man,

Egipte folc me knowen can, 2872

for ic am ðat ilc moyſes,

having delivered

them from the

Ethiopians,

ðe egypte folc of ſorge les,

ðan ethiops woren her cumen;

ic warc al ðat ðu was binumen, 2876

And ſwanc and michel ſorwe dreg,

and that he

brings God's

message from

Mount Sinai.

Get iſt vnſene hu ic it bi-teg?

Ic haue ben ſiðen at munt ſyna,

Godes bode-wurd bringe ic ðor-fra." 2880

Pharaoh chides

Moses,

Qvað pharaun, "ðu art min ðral,

ðat hidel-like min lond vt-ſtal;

Sum ſwike-dom doð it nu ben,

ðat ðu beſt cumen nu eft agen; 2884

and declares that

the Israelites

shall suffer still

greater woe.

ðiſ folc, ðat ðu wilt me leden fro,

ſal ben luken i_n_ more wo."

[Fol. 56b.]

Ðe king it bad, and [it] wurð don;

More labour is

laid upon the Israelites.

More ſwinc ðo was hem leid on. 2888

Hem-ſeluen he fetchden ðe chaf

ðe men ðor hem to gode gaf,

And ðog holden ðe tigeles tale,

And elten and eilden,[265] grete & ſmale. 2892

Moses complains

to God.

Ðo fleg ðiſ folc wið moyſen,

And [he] to god made hiſe bimen.

"Lou_er_ed, q_u_i waſ ic hider ſent?

ðin folc iſ more in ſorwe went." 2896

[263] MS. wid.

[264] MS. ic hic.

[265] ? eldren and children?

MOSES AND AARON PERFORM MIRACLES BEFORE PHARAOH.

God renews his

promise by his

name Adonai,

God q_u_að, "ic ſal hem leſen fro,

And here fon weren wið wo;

Abraham, yſac, and hiſe ſunen

Woren to min ðhun_er_g wunen, 2900

ðog ne tagte ic hem nogt for-ði

Min mig[t]ful name adonay;

which was unknown

to Abraham,

Isaac, and

Jacob.

Min milche witt_er_ name eley

He knewen wel, and ely; 2904

ðat ic ðe haue hoten wel,

Ic it ſal leſten eu_er_ilc del."

Moses told the

Hebrews these

tidings, and yet

were they in

great anguish.

Moyſes told hem ðiſ tidding;

ðog woren he get in ſtrong murni[n]g. 2908

Siðen ſpac god to moyſen,

and tagte him hu it ſulde ben.

Moses was now

fourscore years

old.

fowre ſcore ger he waſ hold,

And aaron ðre more told,[266] 2912

[Fol. 57.]

Q_u_anne he ðat[267] bodewurd ſpoken,

And deden ðe firme token.

Aaron cast down

his rod before

Pharaoh.

AAron ðor warp vt of hiſ hond

Moyſeses migtful wond, 2916

And it wurð bi-foren pharaon

It became an

ugly snake.

An Iglic ſnake ſone on-on;

ðe king ſente after wiches kire,

The sorcerers, by

the devil's help,

did the like.

Wapmen ðe weren in ſowles lire, 2920

ðe ferden al bi fendes red,

fendeſ hem gouen ſinful ſped;

And worpen he ðor wondes dun,

Each of their rods

became a dragon.

fro euerilc ðor crep a dragun; 2924

Oc moyſes wirm hem alle ſmot,

Moses's serpent

bit off their

heads.

And here aldre heuedes he of bot;

ðog deden wicheſ ðo men to ſen

On oðere wiſe or ſoðe ben; 2928

for ðo fendes or he[m] bi-foren

Hadden ðo neddres ðider boren;

[266] At the bottom of this page is the catchword—"Qua_n_ne he ðat

bodewurd."

[267] MS. dat; see the catchword.

THE WATERS ARE TURNED INTO BLOOD.

Pharaoh would

not let the Israelites

go.

And pharaon ſtirte up a-non,

And for-bed ðiſ folc to gon. 2932

ÐO ſeide moyſes to araon,

"Q_u_at redeſ tu, broder, ſule wit don?

ðiſ king him his[268] wel wiðer-ward

Agen ðis folc, and herte hard; 2936

Moses and Aaron

again came before

Pharaoh.

Go we and ſpeken wið hem get,

And fonden wið ðiſ token bet."

[Fol. 57b.]

And ſo deden [he] ſone a-non,

And comen bi-foren pharaon, 2940

Quad aaron, "nu ſaltu ſen

Q_u_ilc godes migtful ſtrengðes ben."

Aaron smote on

the flood with his

wand;

He ſmot on ðat flod wið ðat wond,

soon anon it became

blood,

Sone anon blod men al it fond; 2944

and the fish in it

died.

And ðe fiſſes, in al ðat blod read,

floten a-buuen and wurðeden dead;

In every well and

pool blood was

found,

In eu_er_ilc welle, in eu_er_ilc trike,

men funden blod al witterlike, 2948

except in Goshen.

But-if it were in ðe lond gerſen,

ðor-inne woree[269] ðe ebriſſe men.

ðis wreche, in al egypte rigt,

This plague lasted

seven nights.

Leſtede fulle ſeuene nigt; 2952

ðo waſ ðiſ king ſumdel for-dred,

Pharaoh then

promised that

the Hebrews

should depart.

And het he_m_ he ſulden vt ben led;

And moyſes ðiſ pine vn-dede,

And water wurð on blodeſ ſtede. 2956

When the plague

was removed he

would not release

them.

ðan pharaon wurð war ðis bot,

ðiſ folc of londe funde_n_ ne mot;

Iannes and mambres, wicheſ wod,

Him ðhugte he maden water blod; 2960

Mad sorcerers

misled the king.

It waſ on fendes wiſe wrogt,

for to bi-tou_r_nen[270] ðe kingeſ ðogt.

Moyſes lerede god, ſpac hi_m_ mide,

Al ðat iſ broðer aaron dede. 2964

[Fol. 58.]

Eft he comen to pharaon,

And he wernede ðiſ folc ut-gon.

[268] _read_ is.

[269] woren?

[270] MS. bitou_er_en.

THE PLAGUES OF FROGS AND GNATS.

Aaron held up

his hand towards

the water, and

up came a host

of frogs.

And aaron held up his hond,

to ðe water and ðe more lond; 2968

ðo cam ðor up ſwilc froſkes here

ðe dede[271] al folc egipte dere;

Some were wild

and some tame.

Su_m_me woren wilde, and ſu_m_me tame,

And ðo hem deden ðe[272] moſte ſame; 2972

Some crept into

houses, drink,

meat, and bed.

In huſe, in drinc, in metes, in bed,

It cropen and maden hem for-dred;

Some died and

stank.

Su_m_me ſtoruen and gouen ſtinc,

And vn-hileden mete and drinc; 2976

Tadpoles, frogs,

and toads afflicted

Egypt's folk.

Polheuedes, and froſkes, & podes ſpile

Bond harde egipte folc [273]in ſile.

ðiſ king bad moyſes and aaron,

ðat he ſulden god bone don; 2980

The frogs died,

And ſone ſo moyſes bad iſ bede,

ðiſ wirmes ſtoruen in ðe ſtede;

but the king forbad

the departure

of the Hebrews.

And q_u_ane ðe king wurð war ðis dead,

Anon ðis folc fore he for-bead. 2984

Ðe ðridde wreche dede aaron

Bi-foren ðe king pharaon;

The third plague

of gnats, small

to look at, but

sharp in biting.

He ſmot wið ðat gerde on ðe lond,

And gnattes hird ðor ðicke up-wond, 2988

ſmale to ſen, and ſarp on bite,

In al egypte fleg ðiſ ſmite.

[Fol. 58b.]

And ðo dede men and herf wo,

Anger and tene, ſorge and wo. 2992

The sorcerers said,

"This is token

of God's ghost,"

Q_u_oðen ðo wiches clerkes(.) "ðiſ

fortoken godeſ gaſtes is."

for they lacked

might to do this.

Her hem wantede migt and ſped,

to ſwilc ðing cuðen he non red; 2996

ðiſ toknes dede aaron.

Pharaoh remained

obstinate,

God ſente ſiðen hem oðere on,

for euere eld ðiſ king on-on,

And wernede ðiſ folc vt to gon. 3000

Ðo ſeide god to moyſen,

"Go ðu gund pharaon agen;

[271] MS. ðede.

[272] MS. de.

[273] ? un-sile.

PLAGUES OF FLIES, BOILS, AND BLAINS,

Sei him, if min folc ne mote gon,

and was punished

by a plague of

flies.

fleges kin ſal hin ou_er_-gon, 3004

And al hiſ lond to ſorge ten;

Oc lond gerſen ne ſal non ben."

Then gave he

them leave to

depart,

And ðuſ[274] it was, and al ðiſ ſor

Sag pharaun, and dredde hi_m_ ðor. 3008

He gaf hem leue ðo vt to faren

wið-ðanne-ðat he to londe ef[t] charen;

And moyſes bad meðe here on,

and the flight of

flies was removed.

And ðiſ fleges fligt vt iſ don; 3012

And pharaon wroð[275] herte on hard,

And vn-dede hem ðat[276] forward.

Moyſes ſpac ſiðen wið gode,

Message comes to

Pharaoh of a

great plague.

And he brogte pharaun ðiſ bode; 3016

[Fol. 59.]

"To-morgen, bute he mugen vt-pharen,

Egyptes erf ſal al for-faren."

The murrain

among the cattle.

He wið-held[277] hem and, al-ſo he it b[e]ad,

Al ðe erf of egipt wurð dead; 3020

And get ne migte ðiſ folc vt-gon,

ſwilc har[d]neſſe iſ on pharaon.

After ðiſ time, it ſo bi-cam,

ðat moyſes aſkes up-nam, 3024

The plague of

boils and blains.

And warpes vt til heuene-ward;

ðo wex vn-ſelðe on hem wel hard,

dolc, ſor, and blein on erue and man;

The sorcerers hid

themselves, and

would not come

before Pharaoh,

ðe wicches hidden hem for-ðan, 3028

Bi-foren pharaun nolden he ben,

so loathsome

were they to look

upon.

So woren he lodelike on to ſen;

At laſt, q_u_an it waſ ou_er_-gon,

Hadde moyſes ðo leue non. 3032

Siðen ſente ðe lou_er_d gode,

God's message to

Pharaoh.

bi moyſes, to ðiſ king bode;

"for-ði lete ic ðe king her ben,

Men ſal, ðurg ðe, mi_n_ migte ſen, 3036

And knowen ſal ben, ðe to un-frame,

In eu_er_ilc lond min migte name.

[274] MS. duſ.

[275] worð?

[276] MS. dat.

[277] MS. wid-held.

HAIL-STORM, AND GRASSHOPPERS.

He threatens

the king with

hail-storm.

ſwilc hail was her or neuere nomen

So ſal ðiſ ſel to-morgen cumen; 3040

Do men and erue in huſe ben,

If ðu wilt more hem liues ſen."

[Fol. 59b.]

ðo men, ðe weren in eige and dred,

ben borwen, and erue, ðurg ðiſ red. 3044

On the morrow

came thunder,

hail, and lightning.

O morgen, al ſwilc time al ſir,

ðhunder, and hail, and leuenes fir,

Cam wel vnghere; al ðat it fond

It slew many

men, broke down

trees, grass, and

corn.

Bergles, it ſloge i_n_ ðat lond; 3048

Treeſ it for-brac, and greſ, and corn,

ðat waſ up-ſprungen ðor bi-foren;

Oc ðe ebrius in lond gerſen

ne derede it, coren, ne erf, ne men; 3052

ðo ſeide ðe folc to pharaon,

The Egyptians

beseech Moses to

remove this

plague.

"Nu ic wot we haue miſ-don;

Moyſes, do ðiſ weder charen,

And gu ſal [ic] leten ut-faren." 3056

Moyſes gede vt, helde up iſ hond,

And al ðiſ vnweder ðor atwond,

The storm

ceased,

And wurð ðiſ weder ſone al ſtille,

And al after ðe kinges wille. 3060

but though the

weather was soft,

the king's heart

was hard.

ðiſ weder iſ ſofte, And ðiſ king hard,

And brekeð hi_m_ eft ðat forward.

MOyſes ſiðen, and aaron,

Then said Moses,

Seiden bi-foren pharaon, 3064

"To-morrow shall

the grasshoppers

come into the

land."

"To-morgen ſulen greſſeoppes cumen,

And ðat ail ða bileaf ſal al ben numen;

So ſal ðin hardneſſe ben wreken,

ðat men ſulen longe ðor-after ſpeken." 3068

[Fol. 60.]

"Goð vt," q_u_að he, "red ic ſal taken,

And gu ſiðen i ſal anſwer maken."

The Egyptians

advise the king

to let the Israelites

go.

Qvað ðiſ folc, "bet_er_ iſt laten he_m_ vt-pharen,

Al ſal egipte elles for-faren." 3072

Pharaoh is at

first inclined to

let them go,

He calde hem in; q_u_ad pharaon,

"Q_u_ilc ben ðo ðe ſulen vt-gon?"

PLAGUES OF LOCUSTS AND DARKNESS.

Q_u_að moyſes, "but alle wapmen,

wið erf, and childre, and wimmen." 3076

but would only

grant permission

to the men.

"Hu! haue ge wrong," q_u_ad pharaon,

"Gu wapmen giue Ic leue to gon;

Of erf and wimmen leue ic nogt,

Ear one of wapmen waſ bi-ſogt." 3080

Ef[t] ðiſ andſwere, ben vt-gon

moyſes forð and aaron;

Moses held up

his hand, and a

southern wind

uprose,

MOyſes held up hiſ hond,

A ſuðen wind iſ flig[t] up-wond, 3084

And blew ðat day and al ðat nigt

And brogte egipte an newe figt;

which brought

the locusts.

ðiſ wind hem brogte ðe ſkipperes,

He deden on greſ and coren deres. 3088

Then was the

king full of woe,

ðat lond was ful, and ðiſ king wo,

He ſente after ðe breðere ðo.

Q_u_ad pharaon, "ic haue miſ-numen,

and besought

Moses to turn

from them the

evil.

Wreche iſ on vs wið rigte cumen; 3092

Bi-ſek get god, ðis one ſiðe,

ðat he vs of ðiſ pine friðe."

[Fol. 60b.]

A western wind

took away the

locusts.

And ſo [he] dede, and on wind cam

fro weſten, and ðo opperes nam, 3096

And warpes ou_er_ in-to ðe ſe;

ðo pharaun ſag iſ lond al fre,

Pharaoh broke

his covenant.

Hiſ herte ðo wurð ðwert and hard,

And al he brac hem [ðat] forward. 3100

MOyſes ſiðen held up iſ hond,

The plague of

thick darkness.

And ðhikke ðherkneſſe ca_m_ on ðat lond,

ðat migte non egipcien

Abuten hi_m_ for mirkneſſe ſen; 3104

Manige ðor ſorge on liue bead,

Many died from

fear.

And manige weren rewlike dead;

Q_u_or-ſo ðe folc waſ of yſrael,

The Israelites

had light.

He adden ligt and ſowen wel. 3108

ðo q_u_ad pharaon to moyſen,

The king tells

them to go, and

"Led vt al ðat iſ boren of man,

THE INSTITUTION OF THE PASSOVER.

to leave their

flocks and herds

behind.

And let her hen boden er[f] & ſep,

ic wile ðor-on[278] nimen kep." 3112

Q_u_ad moyſes, "la! god it wot,

Moses will not

consent to this

arrangement.

ſal ðe[r]-of bi-leuen non fot,

Al we ſulen iſ wið vs hauen;

'Wold,' q_u_ad god, 'wile ðor-of crauen.'" 3116

Q_u_að pharaon to moyſen,

Moses and Aaron

are driven out

from the presence

of Pharaoh.

"Nu ic rede ðat ge flen;

for ſe ic gu more-ou_er_ nu,

dead ſal be[279] wreken ou_er_ gu." 3120

[Fol. 61.]

MOyſes fleg to lond gerſen,

ðor wuneden hiſ kinnes men.

God tells Moses

of his final vengeance

upon the

Egyptians.

Quað god, "get ic ſal pharaon,

Or ge gon vt, don an wreche on, 3124

(Nu ſal ic in-to egipte gon,)

Swilc wreche waſ ear neu_er_e non;

Each first-born

shall be destroyed.

Deigen ðor ſal ilc firme bigeten

Of men and erf, non forgeten; 3128

Oc among gu, dredeð gu nogt,

to gu ne ſal non iuel ben ſogt,

Ne ſal ic gu nog[t] loten

Of ðat ic haue gu bi-hoten." 3132

The year shall

begin,

Siðen q_u_að god to moyſen,

"ðiſ ſal gure firmeſt moneð[280] ben,

ðoo gune men ðe mone ſen

when in April the

new moon is

seen.

In april Reke-fille ben." 3136

ðanne he lereden he_m_ newe wunen;

The institution

of the Passover.

"Eu_er_ilc ger, more to munen,

Eu_er_ilc huſ-folc ðe mai it ðauen

A lamb or kid of

the first year is

to be taken and

slain by each

household on the

fourteenth day of

the month,

On ger ſep oðer on kide hauen; 3140

ðe tende dai it ſulde ben lagt,

And ho[l]den in ðe tende nagt,

And [slagen] on ðe fowrtende dai;

So mikil hird ſo it noten mai, 3144

Ben at euen folc ſum to ſamen,

and to be roasted

whole.

And ilc folc iſ to fode framen,

[278] MS. dor-on.

[279] MS. me.

[280] MS. moned.

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FIRST-BORN.

[Fol. 61b.]

And eten it bred, and non bon breken,

None of it is to

be taken out of

the house.

And nogt ðor-of vt huſe wreken, 3148

Oc ſod and girt, ſtondende, and ſtaf on hond,

It is to be roasted

whole,

Ilc man after his owen fond,

and eaten with

bitter herbs,

and unleavened

bread.

Heued and fet, and in rew mete[n],

leſen fro ðe bones and eten, 3152

Wið[281] wriðel and vn-lif bread;"

The remainder is

to be burnt, and

the blood is to be

sprinkled upon

the door-posts.

ðe bi-leuen brennen he bead.

"ðe dure-tren and ðe uu_er_ſlagen,

wið yſope ðe blod ben dragen; 3156

ðat nigt ſal ben feſt paſche,"

forð-for, on engle tunge, it be.

Vengeance came

upon the Egyptians.

ON midel ſel, ðat[282] ilc nigt,

So cam wreche on egipte rigt; 3160

The first-born of

man and beast

were slain.

Ilc firme bigeten, of erf and man,

was ſtoruen on morwen and dead forðan;

ðo waſ non biging of al egipte

lich-leſ, ſo manige dead ðor kipte.[283] 3164

Pharaoh consented

to let

Israel go.

ðo wurð phara[o]n nede driuen

And haueð[284] hem ðane leue giuen;

And egipte folc bad hem faren,

And ſwiðe a-weiward hem garen. 3168

The Egyptians

gave the Hebrews

whatever

they asked.

Q_u_at-ſo he boden, ſrud[285] or ſat,

Egipte folc hem lenen ðat;

Waſ hem nogt werned ðat he crauen,

for here ſwinc-hire he nu hauen; 3172

[Fol. 62.]

Gold and ſilu_er_ he hauen vt-brogt,

The Israelites

numbered

600,000 men.

ðe tabernacle ðor[286]-wið wurð[287] wrogt;

He woren ſexe hundred ðhuſent men,

wið-vten childre and wimmen; 3176

Al erf-kin hauen he ut-led,

Egipte folc hem hauen ut-ſped.

Moses thought of

the oath sworn to

Joseph.

Almost redi waſ here fare,

moyſes bi-ðogt him ful gare 3180

Of ðat ðe iſ kin haueð ſworen,

Joseph's grave

could not be

found.

Ioſepes bones ſulen ben boren;

[281] MS. wid.

[282] MS. dat.

[283] caught.

[284] MS. haued.

[285] MS. ſruð.

[286] MS. dor.

[287] MS. wurd.

THE ISRAELITES LEAVE EGYPT.

Oc ðe ail haueð[288] ſo wide ſpiled,

ðat hiſ graue iſ ðor vnder hiled, 3184

A golden rod

with the name

of God upon it

was laid upon

the flood.

On an gold gad ðe name god

Iſ grauen, and leid up-on ðe flod;

Moses followed

its course, and

thus discovered

the grave.

Moyſes it folwede ðider it flet,

And ſtod ðor ðe graue under let; 3188

ðor he doluen, and hauen ſogt,

And funden, and hauen up-brogt

ðe bones ut of ðe erðe wroken,

Some of the bones

were whole and

some broken.

Su_m_me hole, & ſu_m_me broken; 3192

He dede iſ binden & faire loken

Alle ðe bones ðe he ðor token.

When Israel left

Egypt there was

an earthquake.

Q_u_ane he geden egipte fro,

It wurð erðe-dine, and fellen ðo 3196

Many temples

fell down.

fele chirches and ideles mide,

Miracle it was ðat god ðor dede.

[Fol. 62b.]

Seven score years

were gone since

Joseph was

buried.

Gon woren .vii. ſcore ger

Siðen[289] ioſep waſ doluen ðer;[290] 3200

And .xxiii. ſcore fro ðan

ðat god it ſpac wið[291] abrah_ra_m.

The Israelites

journey from Rameses

to Succoth.

fro Rameſe to ſokoht ſtede

Non man on hem letting dede, 3204

For ſwinc and m_ur_ning hem was on,

fro ðe liches in-to ðe erðe don;

And manige of ðo grete_n_ forði

ðat he adden ben hard hem bi. 3208

From Succoth

they go to Etham,

and thence to Pihahiroth.

To burg ethan fer fro ſokoth,

And ðeðen he ten to pharaoth;[292]

ðor he ſtunden for to ſen

q_u_ilc pharaon wið he_m_ ſal ben. 3212

Pharaoh called

out his army.

Pharaon bannede vt hiſ here,

Iſrael he ðhogte to don dere;

Six hundred chariots

he brought

out of Egypt,

fifty thousand

horsemen, and

ten score thousand

men of foot.

Sex hundred carte-hird i-wrogt[293]

vt of egipte he haueð[294] brogt; 3216

On horſe fifiti ðhusent men,

x ſcore ðhusent of fote ren;

[288] MS. haued.

[289] MS. Siden.

[290] MS. der.

[291] MS. wid.

[292] MS. pharaofh.

[293] MS. hirdi wrogt.

[294] MS. haued.

THE ISRAELITES CROSS THE RED SEA.

Alle he ledde hem vt forði

ðat folc ebru to werchen wi. 3220

When the Israelites

saw the

Egyptian host

they became sore

afraid.

Ðiſ godes folc waſ und_er_-numen,

Q_ua_n he ſegen ðiſ hird al cumen,

Sore he gunen for-dredde ben,

for ne cuðen ne[295] gate flen, 3224

[Fol. 63.]

And if he ðore ben bi-ſet,

for they were

without

weapons.

Ille he ſulen ben hung_er_ gret;

He ne mogen figten a-gen,

They chided

Moses.

for [he] wið-vten wopen ben; 3228

ðanne he ðuſ woren alle in dred,

On moyſen he ſetten a gred.

"Beð nu ſtille," q_u_að moyſes,

Moses promises

them God's

assistance.

"ðor god wile(.) iſ non helpeles; 3232

Ge ſulen ſen ðiſ ilke dai

Q_u_at godes migt for gu mai."

He bad ðiſ folc dregen wið ſkil,

And he bi-ſogte godes wil. 3236

God instructs

Moses to stretch

out his rod over

the sea.

Qvað god, "q_u_or-at calles ðu me?

Hold up ðin gerde to ðe ſe

And del it ſo on ſundri del,

ðat gu ben garknede weigeſ wel." 3240

Moses did so.

ðo moyſes helde up hiſ hond,

A wind blew the

sea from the sand,

A wind blew ðe ſe fro ðe ſond;

On twel[fe] doles delt iſt ðe ſe,

and twelve

thoroughfares

were made for

the people.

xii. weiges ðer-in ben faiger and fre, 3244

ðat eu_er_ilc kinde of iſrael

Mai ðor hiſ weige finden wel.

The water stood

up as a wall on

both sides.

ðe water up-ſtod, ðurg godes migt,

On twinne half, alſo a wal up-rigt; 3248

Moyſes bad hem, alſo he ben boren,

ðe eldeſt kindes gon bi-foren;

[Fol. 63b.]

Moses went first,

and then the men

of Judah.

Oc moyſes gede in bi-foren,

And ðo ðe kinde of iuda boren; 3252

On and on kin, alſ herte he_m_ cam,

ðat folc ilc in his weige nam;

[295] ? he no-gate

THE EGYPTIAN HOSTS ARE DROWNED.

A cloud went before

them.

Bi-foren he_m_ fleg an ſkige brigt

ðat nigt he_m_ made ðe weige ligt; 3256

Egiptes folc gunnen ðiſ ſen,

Pharaoh pursued

the Israelites,

And wenden ðat he wode ben.

Ðis bode herde king pharaon

And him ðuhte ſellic ðer-on, 3260

Garkede his hird & after nam,

and to the Red

Sea he came.

And to ðe ſe bi nigte he cam;

In went this host

after the king.

In ferde ðiſ hird after ðiſ king,

And ðo ſprong ðe daieni_n_g. 3264

ðhunder, and leuene, and rein ðor-mong

God ſente on ðat hird, ſtið and ſtrong;

Some were for

going back.

ðo quoðen he, "wende we a-gen,

An[d] iſrael folc lete we ben." 3268

ðor-q_u_iles ben ðo kinges[296] cumen

The Israelites

reached the land,

Ou_er_, and hauen ðe londes numen;

Egipcienes woren i_n_ twired wen

q_u_eðer he ſulden folgen or flen; 3272

And moyſes ſtod up-on ðe ſond,

and God bade

Moses stretch his

rod over the sea.

God him bad helden up hiſ hond

to-ward ðiſ water, in a morgen q_u_ile

ðe ſe luked, ſo god it wile,[297] 3276

[Fol. 64.]

The sea covered

the Egyptians,

And on and on, ſwiðe litel ſtund,

Egypcienes fellen to ðe grund;[298]

and not one

remained undrowned

in that

salt spot.

Of hem alle bi-leaf non fot

Vn-drincled i_n_ ðat ſalte ſpot.[299] 3280

Ðvs iſ iſrael of hem wreken,

And here welðe iſ to londe weken,

Wepen, and ſrud, ſiluer, and gold;

wel hem mai ben ðe god beð hold! 3284

Moses made a

new song, and

taught it to the

people.

Moyſes ðor made a newe ſong,

And tag[t]e it al ðat folc a-mong;

Each day for a

week it was sung

over.

And ilke dai ðat ſeuen nigt,

Ones he ðor it ſungen rigt; 3288

[296] kindes?

[297] At the bottom of this page is the catchword—"And on and on."

[298] MS. grunð.

[299] MS. ſwot.

THE SOJOURN AT SHUR, ELIM, AND SIN.

In memory of

which are we

wont to come

seven times to the

font at Eastertide.

ðor-of in eſterne be we wunen

Seuene ſiðes to funt cumen.

Ðor q_u_iles he weren in ðe deſert,

God tagte hem weie, wis and pert; 3292

A fair piler ſon hem on o nigt,

And a ſkie[300] eu_er_e on daiges ligt.

The fifth sojourn

was in the wilderness

of Shur;

Ðe fifte ſuriuren ðat he deden,

In ðe deſert ſur, on drie ſtede; 3296

three days the

people were without

water.

ðre dages weren he ðider gon,

ðat he ne funden water non;

At Marah the

waters were

bitter, but

A welle he funde at marath,[301]

ðe water was bit_er_ and al wlath;[302] 3300

A funden trew ðor-inne dede

a tree rendered

them sweet.

Moyſes, and it wurð ſwet on ðe ſtede.

[Fol. 64b.]

The sixth sojourn

was at Elim,

Ðe ſexte ſuriuren at elim,

xij welle-ſpringes weren on him, 3304

An[d] then[303] and ſexti palme tren

bi ðo welles men migte ſen;

He maden ſiðen, fro elim,

and from thence

to Sin.

Mani ſuriuren in ðe deſert ſin. 3308

Bi-twen elim and ſinay,

Bread fails

them.

bred wantede, hem was wo forði;

ðat was on ðe ðrittiðe[304] dai,

ðat here wei fro egypte lay, 3312

ðor he woren hungur for-dred;

They murmur

against Moses.

"Ille," he ſeiden, "haue we ſped,

Bet uſ were in egipte ben,

Bred and fles ðer[305] we muwen ſen." 3316

Moyſes wurð war ðe folc was wroð,

And here gruching ðo god was loð.

"ſtille," q_u_að he, "and on-dreg,

Godeſ fulſum-hed iſ gu ful neg." 3320

God sends them

a flight of fowls,

At euen cam a fugel-fligt,

fro-ward arabie to hem rigt;

ðor migte eu_er_ilc man fugeles taken,

So fele so he wulden raken; 3324

[300] MS. aſkie.

[301] _read_ marach.

[302] _read_ wlach.

[303] ten?

[304] MS. ðrittide.

[305] MS. der.

THE MIRACULOUS FALL OF MANNA.

and on the morrow

a dew,

On morgen fel hem a dew a-gein.

firſt he wenden it were a rein,

knewen he nogt ðiſ dewes coſt;

like rime frost;

It lai ðor, q_u_it als a rim[306] froſt, 3328

"Man-hu," said

they, wherefore

they called it

Manna.

He ðe it ſogen,[307] ſeiden, "man hu,"

Manna for-ði men clepeð it nu.

[Fol. 65.]

Q_u_ad moyſes, "loc! her nu [iſ] bread,

Ille gruching iſ[308] gu for-bead." 3332

A met ðor was, it het Gomor,

Each man gathered

an omer of it

before the sun

shone,

Ilc man iſ he bead, and nu_n_mor,

Hi_m_ gaderen or ðe ſunne-ſine,

Elles he ſulden miſſen hine. 3336

for it melted at

the sunshine.

for it malt at ðe ſunne-ſine,

Oc oðer fir for-hadede hine.

When ground

and made into

bread, it tasted

like wafers made

with honey.

To duſt he it grunden and maden bread,

ðat huni and olies ðef he bead; 3340

Q_u_o-ſo nome up forbone mor,

it wirmede, bredde, and rotede ðor.

Moses filled an

omer of the

manna,

Moyſen dede ful ðe gomor,

In a gold pot, for muning ðor. 3344

Held it ſundri in clene ſtede,

and placed it in

the tabernacle.

And in ðe tabernacle he it dede.

Wið ðiſ mete weren he fed,

fowerti winter vten leð,[309] 3348

Til he to lond canaan

Comen(.) ðat god hem giuen gan.

Forth came this

folk, and came to

Rephidim,

Forð nam ðiſ folc, ſo god tagte him,

to ðe deſert of rafadim;[310] 3352

where they murmured

for thirst,

and did chide

with Moses.

Tidlike hem waſ ðat wat_er_ wane,

ðor he grucheden for ðriſt hane;[311]

[Fol. 65b.]

Harde he bi-haluen ðer moyſes,

And to god he made is bi-men. 3356

"Lou_er_ed," q_u_ad he, "q_u_at ſal ic don?

He ſulen me werpen ſtones on."

God sent him for

water to a rock

in Horeb.

Q_u_að god, "go ðu to erebiſ ſton,

And ſmit wið ðin gerde ðor-on." 3360

[306] MS. rin.

[307] MS. logen.

[308] ? ic.

[309] led?

[310] MS. rafaclim.

[311] MS. haue.

THE ISRAELITES OVERCOME THE AMALEKITES.

It was a ſtede henden ðor-bi,

Moses smote the

rock,

On a ſyde of munt ſynay;

And he ſmot wið his wond ðor-on,

And water gan ðor-vten gon; 3364

and the people

had enough to

drink without

toiling for it.

Anog adden he ðanne drinc,

Redi funden wið litel ſwinc;

This place was

called Temptation.

ðat ſtede waſ cald temptatio,

for he ðo god fondeden so. 3368

Amalek comes to

war against Israel.

Amalec, yſmaeles ſune,

Was ðor hende rafadim[312] wune,

He welte ðor ſtone and iaboch,

ðat herdes folc him lou_er_d toch; 3372

Wopened he ben a-gen iſrael.

Moses sends

Joshua with the

army to fight

with Amalek.

Moyſes ear it wiſte wel,

And ſente agen hem king ih_esu_m,

w_i_ð folc iſrael wopened ſum; 3376

He let bi-aften ðe[313] more del,

Moses, accompanied

by Aaron

and Hur, goes up

to the top of a

hill, and prays

for the folk of

Israel.

To kepen here ðing al wel.

He, and aaron, and hur ben gon,

Heg up to a dune ſone o-non; 3380

[Fol. 66.]

Moyſes bad [for] folc yſrael,

And hiſe benes hem holpen wel;

Ai q_u_iles he up iſ hondes bead,

Amalek is overcome

by the holding

up of Moses'

hands.

Amalechkes folc fledde for agte of dead, 3384

And q_u_ane he let[314] iſ hondes niðer,

Amalech folc fagt hard and wiðer;

Q_u_ane it wurð war, vr[315] and aaron

He iſ under-leiden wið an ſton, 3388

Til ſunne him ſeilede in ðe weſt;

Thus Moses

fought best of all.

ðus fagt Moyſes ðor alðer-beſt.

Amalech fleg, and iſrael

Hadde hegere hond, and timede wel. 3392

ðo ſente god to moyſen,

wið ðis timing to muning ben,

The future destruction

of

Amalek.

"Get ſal ðe kinde of amalech

Ben al fled dun in deades wrech." 3396

[312] MS. rafaclim.

[313] MS. de.

[314] MS. leth.

[315] MS. ut.

JETHRO VISITS MOSES.

Moses raises an

altar.

Moyſes made ðor alter on,

"Min bliſ" iſ name ðor-one don.

Jethro visits

Moses,

ÐO cam ietro to moysen,

To ſpeken him and ðo kinnes-men, 3400

bringing with

him Zipporah and

her two sons.

And ſephora, moyſes wif,

And hire two ſunes of faiger lif;

Ietro liſtnede moyſes tale,

Moses relates to

him the destruction

of Pharaoh.

Of him and pharaon ðe dwale, 3404

And ðhankede[316] it almigten wel,

ðat waſ bi-tid for iſrael;

[Fol. 66b.]

And at wið moyſen feſtelike,

Jethro counsels

Moses to appoint

rulers of the

people,

And tagte him ſiðen witt_er_like 3408

Vnder him helpes oðere don,

ðat folc ſtering to ſtreng[t]hen on.

rulers of thousands,

Al bi ðhuſenz ðiſ folc was told,

Ilc ðhuſent adde a meiſter wold; 3412

And vnder ðiſ tgen[317] ſteres ben,

rulers of hundreds,

Ilc here on hundred to bi-ſen;

Vnder ðis ilc two ſteres wunen,

rulers of fifties,

And vnder hem fif oðere numen; 3416

and rulers of

tens.

Ilc of ðe .v. ſteres-men

Vnder hem welden in ſtere tgen.[317]

An appeal to be

made from the

ruler of ten,

If ymong .x. wurð ogt miſ-don,

Here ſtere rigten [ſulde] ðor-on, 3420

And if he ne mai it rigten wel,

to the ruler of

hundreds,

Taunet iſ meiſter eu_er_ilc del;

And if he rigten it ne can,

and thence to the

superior ruler.

He taune it al hiſ ouer-man, 3424

Ai ſo forð fro man to man,

Til he it here, ðe rigten can;

The final appeal

to be made to

Moses.

If it ne mai or rigted ben,

ſo ſal it cumen to moysen. 3428

These rulers were

to be able men,

god-fearing,

lovers of truth,

and haters of

covetousness.

He bad him cheſen ſtereſ-men

Migti, ðe gode-frigti ben,

ðe ſoð-faſtneſſe lef ben,

And ðe niðing [and] giſcing flen. 3432

[316] MS. ðahankede.

[317] ten?

THE PEOPLE COME TO SINAI.

[Fol. 67.]

Moses accepts the

counsel.

ðiſ red ðhugte moyſes ful god,

And leuelike it under-ſtod.

Ietro wente in-to his lond a-gen;

Al[ſ] he redde, al-ſo gan it ben. 3436

In the third

month of the year

Exodus, and in

the forty-seventh

day after they

left Egypt,

Ðe ðridde moneð in iſ cumen,

To ſynay ðiſ folc iſ numen;

ðe ſeuene and forwerti dai

ðat he nomen fro egipte awei, 3440

the people come

to the desert of

Sinai.

Vnder ðiſ munt he funden ſteden,

And here teldes ðor he deden.

On oðer daiges morgen q_u_ile,

God tauned[318] moyſi q_u_at he wile. 3444

"Sei ðiſ folc ðat nu ðolen,

God's message by

Moses unto the

people out of the

mount.

for iſ here ðhogt nogt me for-holen;

'If ye liſten lefful to me,

Ic wile min folc owen be.'" 3448

And moyſes tolde ðiſ iſrael,

And him heten eu_er_ilc del,

ðat hem bideð, ſulen he don.

God dede moyſes ðiſ bodeword on, 3452

The people are to

be prepared

against the third

day.

"Clenſe ðiſ folc wel ðiſ to daiges,

And bidde hem leden clene la[i]ges;

Abute ðiſ munt ðu merke make,[319]

If erf or man ðor-one take, 3456

The mountain

must not be

touched.

It dead ðolen, wið ſtones ſlagen,

Or to dead wið goren dragen;

[Fol. 67b.]

ðiſ frig[t]ful [folc] ðus a-biden,

Q_u_iles ðiſ daiges for[ð] ben gliden." 3460

On the third day

there were thunders

and lightning

and a thick

cloud upon the

mount.

Ðe ðridde daiges morge q_u_ile,

ðunder and leuene made ſpile,

On ðiſ munt ſtod, and ſkies caſt,

And dinede an migtful hornes blast; 3464

Smoke up reeked

and the mount

quaked.

Smoke up-rekeð and munt q_u_akeð,

Slep ðor non ðe[320] ðane up-wakeð;

Ai was moſes one in ðis dine,

ðiſ folc wende haue_n_ for-loren hine;[321] 3468

[318] ? tauneð.

[319] MS. made.

[320] MS. de.

[321] MS. hi_m_ine.

MOSES RECEIVES THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

Oc he cam faiger and fer him to,

Moses addresses

the people.

And gan wið hem ſpeken ſo;

"Ilc gure wel in herte mune,

Ne iſt nogt moyſes, amrame ſune, 3472

He reminds them

of their deliverance

from the

Egyptians,

ðe ge ſulen to dai here ſpeken;

Oc he ðe ſlog, gu for to wreken,

Egypte, an weige made in ðe se,

And let adam fonden ðe tre 3476

ðe noe barg, and abraham

and of God's

kindness to their

ancestors, to

Abraham, to

Isaac, and Joseph.

Ledde vt in-to lond canaan;

Of olde abraham and of ſarra bigeten

Dede yſaac, of olde teten; 3480

ðe gaf yſaac so manige ſunen,

ðe Ioſep dede ſo riche wunen;

His word gu wurðe digere[322] al-ſo lif,

Digere[322] or eiðer child or wif. 3484

[Fol. 68.]

Cumeð her forð, and beð alle reken,

And lereð wel q_u_at he ſal ſpeken."

Moses leadeth

the people to the

foot of the

mount.

He ledde hem to ðe muntes fot,

Non but non[323] forðere ne mot, 3488

And on iſ broðer aaron;

God bad hem ðat merke ou_er_-gon;

ðo ſo ſpac god ſo brigt-like,

ðat alle he it herden witt_er_like. 3492

The Ten Commandments.

First Commandment.

LOke ðat ð_u_ god oðer ne make,

Ne oðer ðan me ðat ðu ne take.

for ic am god, gelus and ſtrong,

Min wreche iſ hard, min ðole iſ long. 3496

Third Commandment.

Tac ðu nogt i_n_ idel min name[n],

Ne ſwer it les to fele in gamen,

Ne let ðu nogt min wurðfulhed

for-faren in ðe fendes red. 3500

Fourth Commandment.

Min hali dai ðu halge wel,

An do ðin dede on oðer ſel.

Fifth Commandment.

Wurð ðin fader and moder ſo,

ðat ðu hem drede and helpe do. 3504

[322] = dgere = diere = dere.

[323] ? Nun.

THE PEOPLE ARE AFRAID.

Sixth Commandment.

Ne ſlo ðu nogt wið hond ne wil,

Ne rend, ne beat nogt wið vn-ſkil;

Help de nedful, ðat he ne be dead

for truke of ðin helpe an[d] read. 3508

Seventh Commandment.

Oc horedom ðat ðu ne do,

Ne wend no lecherie to.

[Fol. 68b.]

Eighth Commandment.

Loke ðe wel ðat ðu ne ſtele,

Ne reflac, ne ðefte, for-hele.[324] 3512

Ninth Commandment.

Falſe witneſſe ðat[325] ðu ne bere,

Ne wið ðe leſe non ma[_n_][326] ne dere.

Tenth Commandment.

Ne giſce ðu nog[t] ðin neſtes ðing,

Huſ, ne agte, ne wif, in ðin giſcing; 3516

For if ðu it gernes and giſſe,

ðu tines vn-ended bliſce."

The Israelites at

the foot of the

mount are in

great dread and

fear.

Ðiſ for-frigted folc figeren ſtod,

dredful, and bleð, and ſori mod; 3520

Herden ðat dredful beames blaſt,

Sogen ðat figer, dred held he_m_ faſt.

ðo ſeiden he to moyſen,

They intreat

Moses to stand

between them

and God.

"Be ðu nu god and us bi-twen, 3524

Her nu q_u_at god ſal more q_ue_ðen,

And tellet uſ ſiðen her bi-neðen."

And moyſes ſteg up a-non,

God gave to

Moses many commandments

and

laws,

God hem bad bodes manige on 3528

And lages; and hu he ſulen maken

ðe tabernacle, and wor-of taken

instructed him

concerning the

making of the

Tabernacle,

ðe gold, and ſilu_er_, and ðe bras,

ðe ſyðen don ðor-on[327] was, 3532

And nemeld it beſeel,

and gave him

two tables of

stone upon

which were

written the Ten

Commandments.

And two oðere to maken it wel;

And gaf to[328] tabeles of ſton,

And .x. bodeword writen ðor-on. 3536

[Fol. 69.]

Ðor q_u_iles moyſes was up wið gode,

And liſtenede al ðat leue bode,

[324] MS. for for hele.

[325] MS. dat.

[326] MS. ma.

[327] MS. dor-on.

[328] two?

THEY WORSHIP A GOLDEN CALF.

The people, in

the absence of

Moses, said unto

Aaron,

Swilc wod-hed ðiſ folc[329] cam on,

ðat he ſeiden to aaraon, 3540

"Make us gods

to go before us,"

"Mac vs godes foren us to gon,

of moyſes haue we helpe non."

Aaron and vr ſtoden a-gen,

And boden hem ſwilc ðhowtes leten; 3544

ðat wod folc ðor ur of dage

and compelled

him to make a

molten calf,

Brogten, and deden aaron i_n_ age;

Here faigere ringes he boden taken,

And don in fier, and geten, and maken 3548

An calf of gold, and [an] alter

Made ðat folc, and lutten it ðer,

which they worshipped.

And ðat calf ofrendes deden,

And made gret feſt in ðat ſtede[n]. 3552

Ðo ſeide god to moyſen,

God is angered

thereby.

"Go ðu nu dun ðin folc to ſen,

He hauen ſineged and miſdon,

Let me taken wreche ðer-on." 3556

Moses intreateth

for them.

"LOru_er_d,[330] merci!" q_u_ad moyſes,

"get ne let hem nogt helpe-les;

If he nu her w_u_rðen ſlagen,

Egipte folc ſal ðor-of ben fagen, 3560

And ſeyen ðat he ben bi-ſwiken,

In ðe deſert wel liðerlike;[331]

[Fol. 69b.]

And ðenk, lou_er_d,[330] q_u_at ben bi-foren

Abram, and yſaac, and iacob ſworen." 3564

God listeneth to

Moses, and is

appeased.

God liſtnede wel[332] al ðis anſwere;

ðat he ðis folc al ðer[333] ne dere.

And moyſes gan neðer-ten,

Moses came down

with the tables,

And Ioſu cam him a-gen, 3568

Alſ he was ilc dai wune to don,

q_u_il moyſes ðat munt was on.

Q_u_at Ioſue to moyſi,

"Ic wene he figten dun her-bi," 3572

[329] MS. has "ðiſ folc" twice over.

[330] MS. lou_er_ð.

[331] MS. liderlike.

[332] MS. wel and wel.

[333] MS. alðer.

THE IDOLATERS ARE SLAIN.

"Nai, for gode," q_u_ad moyſes,

"It iſ a ſong wikke and redles."

and seeing the

idolatry of the

people, he brake

them in pieces.

Moyſes cam ner and ſag ðiſ plages,[334]

And ðiſ calf, and ðiſ ille lages; 3576

So wurð he wroð, o mode ſarp,

Hiſ tables broken dun he iſ warp,

The calf he burnt

and ground to

powder, and mixed

it with the

water they drank.

And dede ðat calf melten i_n_ fir,

And ſtired it al to duſt ſir, 3580

And mengde in wat_er_ and forð it of,

And gaf ðat folc drinken ðat drof.

ðo wiſte he wel q_u_ilc hauen it don,

Sene it was here berdes on. 3584

ðo gredde he lude, "goð me to,

Alle ðe god luuen so."

Moses caused the

idolaters to be

put to death.

Frend ne broðer ne ſpared he nogt

On of hem ðat haued ðiſ wunder wrogt; 3588

[Fol. 70.]

Of ðo ðe weren to ðiſ red,

The number slain

were about 3000.

.xxx. hundred to ðe dead

woren ðane don ſone a-non,

ðurg ſtrengðe of moyſes and aaron; 3592

On oðer ſtede men writen ſen,

xxiii. ðhusent ðat ðor ben;

On the morrow,

Moses reminded

the people of

their sin.

Ðo woren on liue ſumdel les.

On oðer dai q_u_ad moyſes, 3596

"Michel ſinne haue ðe[335] don,[336]

Ic ſal gon ſeken bote her on."

He returned to

Mount Sinai to

seek God's

mercy.

Eft he ſteg up to munt ſynay,

for to bi-ſeken god merci. 3600

"Lou_er_d," q_u_ad he, "ðin meðe iſ god,

Merci get for ðin milde mod![337]

Or ðu ðiſ folc wið milche mod,[338]

Or do min name ut of ðin boc." 3604

God promises to

send his angel

before the people.

God anſwerede, "of ſal ic don

Hem, ðe arn nogt to ben ðor-on;

Go, led ðiſ folc, min engel on

[334] MS. wlages.

[335] ge?

[336] MS. Michel ſinne q_u_að haue ðe don.

[337] ? milde-hod.

[338] MS. moð.

THE TABLES ARE RENEWED.

Sal ic don ðe bi-foren gon." 3608

Ebrus ſeigen it waſ michael

Engel ðe ſiðen ledde hem wel.

Moyſes faſtede ſiðen to pligt

xl. daiges and xl. nigt; 3612

Moses received

other tables.

Oðere tables he brogte eft(.) writen,

And ſunne-bem brigt ſon iſ wliten

[Fol. 70b.]

ðat folc on him ne migte ſen

But a veil wore hem bi-twen. 3616

The Israelites

offer Moses gold

and silver for the

tabernacle.

Ðo waſ ðiſ folc frigti and rad

To don al ðat moyſes he_m_ bad;

Offreden him ſiluer and golde,

And oðer metal ſwilc he wolde; 3620

Bezaleel and

Aholiab are appointed

for the

work of the

tabernacle.

He it bi-tagte beſſeleel,

And eliab, he maden wel

ðe tabernacle alſ he_m_ was tagt,

Goten and grauen wið witt_er_ dragt; 3624

Seven months

they were about

it.

.vii. moneð ðor-buten he ben,

And here ſwinc wel he bi-ten;

for ſwilc huſ was ear neu_er_e wrogt,

Ne ſwilc ſafte her on werlde brogt; 3628

God taught Moses

the fashion of it.

God it tagte al ear moyſen

Wiſlike hu it wrogt ſulde ben,

Q_u_ilc ſrud, q_u_at offrende, q_u_ilc[339] lage,

And q_u_at for luue, and q_u_at for age. 3632

Aaron and others

of his kin were

appointed to

serve in the

tabernacle.

Aaron biſſop, oðere of ðat kin,

Sette he he_m_ for to ſeruen ðor-in.

Bokes he wrot of lore wal,

Hu ðiſ folc hem rigt leden ſal, 3636

Bette_n_ miſ-dedes, and clene lif

Leden, wið-uten [h]ate and ſtrif.

Twelve months

passed ere the

people departed

from Sinai.

Twelf moneð forð ben alle cumen,

Or he fro ſynay ben forð numen; 3640

[Fol. 71.]

On the twentieth

day of the second

month (in the

second year),

On ðat oðer twentiðe[340] dai,

of ðe oðe[r] moneð[341] tagte he wei;

ðat brigte ſkie bi-foren hem fleg,[342]

[339] MS. q_u_il.

[340] MS. twentide.

[341] MS. moned.

[342] MS. flegt.

THE BURNING AT TABERAH.

the Israelites departed

from Sinai,

And ðiſ folc ðor after teg. 3644

ðre dages and nigtes faren it gan

and came into the

wilderness of

Paran.

And wið-ſtod i_n_ ðe deſerd pharan;

ðiſ folc iſ after ſofte togen,

For their complaining,

And hauen ſwinc in weige drogen; 3648

for ðat ſwinc he grucheden ðor,

ðor-fore hem cam on more ſor.

the fire of the

Lord consumed

them,

fier iſ on hem bi-ſiden ligt,

fele it brende and made o-frigt, 3652

but is quenched

by the prayers of

Moses.

Moyſes it bleſſ[ed]e wið his bede,

And brenni_n_ge he calde ðat ſtede.

Here hine-folc ðe waſ hem mide,

And ſu_m_me of hem ðor ille dede, 3656

The people lust

for flesh and

loathe manna.

He gerneden after oðer mete[n],

Of manna he ben for-hirked to eten;

He greten up-on moyſen,

And he to god made his bi-men. 3660

Moses complains

of his charge.

"Loru_er_d!" q_u_ad he, "ðiſ folc iſ ðin,

And al ðis ſorge nu iſ min;

But ic haue an oðer[343] read,

Ðu ſalt me raðe don[344] ðolen dead." 3664

God commands

him to choose

seventy wise

men to help him

in the government

of the

people.

Q_u_að god, "ches ðe nu her ſeuenti

Wiſe men to ſtonden ðe bi,

[Fol. 71b.]

And ic ſal hem geuen witt_er_-hed,

And he ðe ſulen don helpe at ned; 3668

And ðin folc ſal to-morgen bi-geten

ynog fles(.) into a moneð[345] for to eten."

Moyſes was bliðe an glad[346] of ðis,

The appointment

of seventy elders.

And ches ðo men [ðe] god made wiſ; 3672

waſ here non of herte dim,

p_ro_phetis he weren and holpen him.

Fro lond ortigie cam a wind,

Quails are sent in

wrath at Kibroth-Hattaavah.

And brogte turles michel mind; 3676

It flogen longe, and ðikke, and wel

Abuten ðe folc of yſrael;

For two days the

fowls came.

Two daiges hem ben fugeles cumen,

[343] MS. oder.

[344] MS. ðon.

[345] MS. moned.

[346] MS. glað.

MIRIAM IS SMITTEN WITH LEPROSY.

So fele he wilen, he [h]auen numen, 3680

And dried and holden to eten;

Oc god ne wile[347] it nogt for-geten;

The Lord smote

the people with a

plague because of

their murmuring.

ðat gruching hauen he der_re_ bogt,

fier haueð[348] on hem ðe wreche wrogt, 3684

Brend and doluen waſ ðat folc ſoth;

ðat ſtede beð cald ðor-fore cabroth.

The people come

to Hazaroth.

FOrð he nomen to aſſaroth,

Miriam speaks

against Moses,

ðor wurð maria ſumdel ſoth,[349] 3688

for ſche ðor haueð wið moyſes fliten;

and is smitten

with leprosy.

ðor wurð ghe ðanne wið lepre ſmiten,

And vten ſundred .vii. nigt,

In grot and i_n_ ſrifte, ſore offrigt;[350] 3692

[Fol. 72.]

Moyſes bi-ſogte, and ſche wurð fer

And frend, and cam ðat[351] broðer ner.

The people remove

from

Hazaroth and

come to Paran.

FOrð nam ðiſ folc ſiðen fro ðan

fele iurnes in-to pharan; 3696

Forð waſ gon al ðeſe oðer ger,

ðo he woren at ſyon-gaber;

Men are sent to

search the Land

of Promise.

Fro ðeðen[352] he ſente forð to ſen,

Q_u_ilc ðo riche londes ben, 3700

ðat god hem ſulde bringen in;

One is sent from

each tribe.

On man he ſente of ilc kin.

xii. ſondere men ðor vte faren,

ðiſ hoten lond ðurg-vt he charen, 3704

The spies having

been away forty

days,

xl. daigeſ faren ben;

Bi ðanne q_u_anne he wenten a-gen,

In-to cades ðe folc was ſogt.

ðeſ .xii. ðider hem hauen brogt 3708

return bringing

with them of the

plenty of the

land.

Of ðe plenteð ðe god ðor gaf,

An win-grape on an cuuel-ſtaf,

And tolden hem ðe lond iſ god,

ful of erf and of netes brod; 3712

In Hebron they

found walled

cities, stalworth

men, and giants.

Oc burges ſtronge and folc v[n-]frigt,

ſtalwurði to weren here rigt;

[347] MS. wile he.

[348] MS. haued.

[349] ? sot.

[350] At the bottom of the page is the catchword—"Moyſes bi-ſogte, &."

[351] MS. dat.

[352] MS. ðeden.

THE REPORT OF THE SPIES.

And geteniſſe men ben i_n_ ebron,

Q_u_ilc men mai get wundren on. 3716

The Israelites

murmur at the

news.

ðiſ folc ðo ſette up grot and gred,

And ſeiden he folwen iuel red;

[Fol. 72b.]

"Betre iſ vs get we wenden agen

And i_n_ egipte ðralles ben, 3720

ðan we wurðen her ſwerdeſ ſlagen,

"A captain,"

said they, "we

will make, and

return into

Egypt."

And ure kin to ſorge dragen;[353]

An loder-man we wilen us ſen,

And wenden i_n_-to egipte agen; 3724

Joshua and Caleb

endeavour to

still them.

Ðo quad Ioſue and calef,

"Leateð ben ſwilc wurdes ref,

And doð nogt god almigten wrong,

Iſ milce iſ mikel, iſ ſtrenge iſ ſtrong." 3728

God threatens

them.

ðor ðrette god hem alle to ſlen,

If moyſes ne wore ðor agen;

For Moses' sake

he spareth them.

Oc for iſ benes and for iſ ſake[n],

get he ſal wið hem milche maken, 3732

The murmurers

are deprived of

entering the land.

Oc alle he ſulen wenden a-gen,

And in ðe deſert longe ben;

And on ðe .xx. winter hold

or mor ut of egipte told, 3736

ðat hauen ðuſ often fand,

Ne ſulden welden ðat leue land,

Joshua and Caleb

are excepted.

Wið-vten Ioſue & calef,

Here rigt-wiſed waſ gode lef. 3740

Much sorrow

came upon the

people.

Moyſes told hem al ðis anſwere,

And he ben ſmiten i_n_ ſorweſ dere;

Yet thirty-seven

years shall they

be in the desert.

Get he ſulen .xxx.vii. ger

In ðe deſert ben vten her. 3744

[Fol. 73.]

Agen he maden here dragt,

Al-ſo ðat ſkie haueð[354] tagt.

Oſwas was moyſes eam,[355]

And chore was iſ bernteam; 3748

Korah, with two

hundred and fifty

princes, rebel

against Moses.

Ille nið iſ herte wexe on

A-gen moyſen and aaron,

[353] MS. ðragen.

[354] MS. haued.

[355] MS. cam.

THE REBELLION OF KORAH AND ABIRAM.

Hem two .ii. hundred men,

And two[356] ðo .xl. and ten; 3752

They said they

were more worthy

to perform the

services of the

Tabernacle.

He ſeiden he weren wurði bet

to ðat ſeruiſe to ben ſet;

And two migtful he hauen taken,

Meiſtres princes he wolden he_m_ make_n_, 3756

Dathan and

Abiram were

joined to Korah.

On dathan(.) an oðer Abiron.

Moyſes it herde and ſeide a-non,

"To-morwen beð her alle redi,

Moses' directions

to the company of

Korah.

And ilc gure oðer ſtonde bi; 3760

And ilc gure hiſe reklefat,

And fier ðor-inne and timi_n_ge on ðat,

And ðan ſulde we brigte ſen,

Q_u_ilc gure ſal god q_u_emest ben." 3764

And ðuſ it waſ on morgen don,

Dathan and

Abiram would not

obey the command

of Moses.

Ne wulde he, dathan(.) ne abiron,

For orgel p_ri_de forð ðor cumen;

Moyſes wið[357] folc iſ to hem numen, 3768

In here teld he ſtonden a-gen

Moyſes and vr, [&] ne wulde gon;

[Fol. 73b.]

Moyſes ðor gret and bad iſ bede,

The earth swallowed

up Korah.

And erðe denede[358] ſone i_n_ ðat ſtede, 3772

And opnede vnder [h]ere fet;

Held up neiðer ſton ne gret,

Alle he ſunken ðe erðe wið-in,

Wið wifes, and childre, and hines-kin, 3776

Swilc endeſið vn-bi-wen hauen;

None had need to

toil in burying

them.

darð[359] noman ſwinken hem to g_ra_uen,

ðiſ erðe iſ to-gidere luken,

Als it ne were neu_er_e or to-broken. 3780

FOr chore wel wiſte ðat

A fire came from

God,

Gret fier wond vt of is reclefat,

And of iſ fere on and on,

and burnt the two

hundred and fifty

men.

And for-brende hem ðor eu_er_ilck on; 3784

Oc aaron al hol and fer,

Cam hi_m_ no fieres ſwaðe ner;

[356] to?

[357] MS. wid.

[358] MS. deuede.

[359] MS. ðarð.

A PLAGUE SLAYS FOURTEEN THOUSAND PEOPLE.

Of the censers

were made crowns

for the altar of

brass.

Of ðo Reklefates for wurðing,

Woren mad, and for muning, 3788

Corunes at ðe alter of bras,

ðe at here tabernacle was.

On the morrow

the people murmured

against

Moses and Aaron,

who fled to the

Tabernacle.

For al ðiſ, oðer day ðor waſ neſt,

Agenes moyſes and iſ prest 3792

Gan al ðiſ folc wið wreðe gon,

And wulden hem werpen ſtones on;

To ðe tabernacle he ben flogen,

ðor [h]aueth a ſkie he_m_ wel bi-togen; 3796

[Fol. 74.]

A fire slew many

of the people.

A fier magti ðat folc feſt on,

And haueð manige ðor for-don.

ðan bad moyſes aaron,

wið hiſe Rekelefat, to ðat fir gon; 3800

And he it dede[360] alſ he hi_m_ b[e]ad,

Aaron stays the

plague.

Ran and ſtod tuen[361] liues and dead,

And ðiſ fier bleſſede and wið-drog,

It [h]adde or ſlagen manige ynog; 3804

Fourteen thousand

and eighty

were thus slain.

.xiiii. ðhusent it haueð ſlagen,

And .iiii. ſcore of liue dragen.

Ðog ðiſ folc miðe a ſtund for-dred,

The Israelites do

not recognise

Aaron's authority,

ðog he ben get i_n_ ſunder red, 3808

Get he aglen on here red(.) and wen

ðat it mai loked betre ben;

ðog ðiſe brende ben for-ſaken,

ðog he wenen ðat god ſal taken 3812

but think that

others are fitted

for the service of

God.

Of ðo .xii. tribuz ſu_m_me mo,

To ben ðor he for-hu-gede ðo,

Or ynog raðe of eu_er_ilc kin,

He wile ðat ſu_m_me ſerue ðor-in. 3816

"Childre," q_u_at moyſes, "gure ſtrif

Moses addresses

the people,

dereð ðe ſowle and greueð ðe lif;

Do we uſ alle in godes red,

and directs each

prince of the

tribes to take a

rod, and to write

every man his

name upon it.

Vs ſal timen ðe betre ſped; 3820

Ilc prince me take hiſe wond,

And do we us here i_n_ godes hond;

[360] MS. ðede.

[361] MS. tiren.

THE PRIESTHOOD OF AARON CONFIRMED.

[Fol. 74b.]

And on [ilc] wond writen ſal ben

ðe kindes name ðe ðor to tgen; 3824

God ſal to-morgen token don,

Q_u_ilc kinde he wile ðiſ meſt_er_ on.

The rods were

written upon,

ðuſ it was don, and on a wond

Wið-uten[362] ðo wrot he wið hond 3828

ðe twelfte names of ðat kin;

and laid before

the Lord in the

Tabernacle.

ðe tabernacle he dedis in,

And ðor he iſ haued god bi-tagt,

And let iſ ben ðor al ðat nagt. 3832

On the morrow

the rods were

examined,

O morgen q_u_an he com a-gen,

Q_u_at was bitid he let hem ſen;

Ilc wond he fond of eu_er_ilc kin

Alſ ſwilc alſ he iſ dede ðor-in; 3836

and Aaron's rod,

of the house of

Levi, had budded,

blossomed, and

brought forth

almonds,

Oc on, ðe was of aaron,

(Writen was name leui ðor-on),

It was grene and leaued bi-cumen,

And nutes amigdeles ðor-onne numen; 3840

ðo wiſten he ðat[363] aaron

so it was seen

that God had

appointed Aaron

as bishop.

Was hem biſſop ðurg god don;

To ſen gode witneſſe ðor-on,

ðat wond was in ðat arche don. 3844

[I]N ðe deſert he wuneden ðor

Thirty-seven

years and more

the people abode

in the desert,

.xxx.vii. winter and mor;

Longe abuten munt ſeyr,

folgede hem ðat ſkie ſcir, 3848

[Fol. 75.]

wandering about

from place to

place,

And often to ðe ſe ðor-bi,

And often to ðe munt ſynay;

Her and gund ðor he biried lin,

and all the old

ones died.

Alle he[364] olde deden ðor fin. 3852

And at ðe laſte ne-ðe-les,

Eft he come ſone to cades,

At Kadesh

Miriam died,

ðor was moyſes ſiſter dead;

ðat folc ðor .xxx. daiges a-bead, 3856

And after wune faire hire bi-stod,

wið teres, rem, and frigti mod;

[362] MS. wid-uten.

[363] MS. dat.

[364] ðhe?

THE DEATH OF AARON AT HOR.

and her body was

buried in Mount

Zin.

Hire lich iſ biried in munt ſin,

Hire ſowle iſ reſted ſtede wið-in. 3860

It bi-tidde after hire dead

The people

murmur for

water.

ðat ðis folc ſorge i_n_ ðriſte abead.

And ðer roſ wreððe and ſtrif a-non

Agen moyſen and aaron; 3864

Moses is commanded

to gather

the people before

the rock at

Meribah.

God [bad] ſemelen folc and gon,

And foren he_m_ ſmiten on ðe ſton

And ſeide, ut of ðe ſmiten ſton

Ynog hem ſulde wat_er_ gon; 3868

He and hiſ folc comen ðer-to,

Ic wene frigtlike ðat he do;

Ones he ſmot ðor on ðe ſton,

Moses smote the

rock twice, and

the water flowed

forth,

And miſte, and ſag ðe water gon; 3872

An oðer ſiðe he went iſ ðogt

Betre and ſoftere, and ne miſte nogt,

[Fol. 75b.]

and the folk and

cattle had

enough.

ðo flew ðor[365] water michil and ſtrong,

Al folc and erue a-nog a-mong. 3876

The people are

denied a passage

through Edom.

Ðvrg lond edom ne migte_n_ he faren,

ðor-fore he ſulen a-buten charen

Bi ðe deſert of arabie lond;

Long weige and coſtful he ðor fond, 3880

forð bi archim ðat meiſt_er_ burg;

ðe deſert aren he walkeden ðurg,

They come to

Mount Hor,

Til ðat[366] he comen to munt hor;

Aaron ðo wente of liwe ðor, 3884

where Aaron dies.

Eleazar, iſ ſune, him neſt

Was mad biſſop and meiſt_er_ p_re_ſt.

Thirty days the

folk mourned for

him.

xxx. daiges ðat folc in wep

Wið bedes, and gret, and teres wep; 3888

Get iſt ſene, on ðe mu_n_t on ðat ſtede,

Q_u_or men aaron i_n_ birieles dede;

The age of Aaron.

vii. ſcore ger and .iii. told,

ðor he lið doluen on ðat wold. 3892

Forð ðeðen he comen to ſalmona,

The people

murmur,

for-weried grucheden he ðoa,

[365] MS. dor.

[366] MS. dat.

SIHON AND OG ARE OVERCOME.

ðor-fore hem cam wrim-kin among,

and are plagued

with serpents.

ðat hem wel bitterlike ſtong; 3896

Non oðer red ðor don ne waſ,

They, repenting,

are healed by a

serpent of brass,

Moyſes ðor made a wirme of bras,

And henget hege up-on a ſaft,

ðurg godes bode and godes craf[t]; 3900

[Fol. 76.]

Q_u_at ſtungen man so ſag ðor-on,

ðat werk him ſone al was vn-don;

which long afterwards

was worshipped

in Jerusalem.

Digere it was al ðat berem-tem,[367]

figer ſiðen in-to ierusalem; 3904

oc ſiðen it waſ to duſte don,

for ðat folc miſleuede ðor-on.[368]

The people come

to Zered.

Frigti nam forð ðis folc and bleð,

Til he comen to flum iareth; 3908

ðiſ water him on-ſunder drog,

And let hem ouer, drige ynog;

Sihon, king of the

Amorites, comes

out against Israel

and is overcome.

King ouer(.) amor(.) reos(.) ſeon,

for to figten cam he_m_ ageon; 3912

ðiſ folc him ſlog and hiſ lond tok,

Suð fro arnon, norð to iabok,

And weſten al to flu_m_ iordan;

The king of Bashan

is slain.

Oc he ſlugen king of baſaan. 3916

To lond moab drugen he ſo,

ðor nu iſ a burg, ierico.

Balaac king was for-dred for-ðan,

And ſente in to lond madian, 3920

To hiſe frend ðe ben hi_m_ neſt;

Balak sends after

Balaam,

And ſente after balaam ðe preſt,

Wið riche men an[d] giftes oc,

for to ſtillen hiſe [vn-]eðe mod, 3924

And bad him cumen for to don

to curse the folk

of Israel.

fol[c] of yſrael hiſ curſing on.

[Fol. 76b.]

Balaam wið-[h]eld him ðor ðat nagt

The failure of the

first message.

To witen q_u_at him ſal wurðen tagt; 3928

Al waſ iſ fultu_m_ and hiſ ſped

[367] beren-tem?

[368] For this see 2 Kings, xviii. 4.

BALAAM SETS OUT TO CURSE ISRAEL.

Bi-luken ille, in fendes red.

On nigt hi_m_ cam ſonde fro gode,

Agen ðiſ kinges[369] red for-bode, 3932

God forbids

Balaam to curse

the Israelites.

And ðat he ne curſe non del

ðiſ folc ðat god bliſcede wel.

O morgen ſeide he, "fare ic nogt,

for bode iſ me fro gode brogt." 3936

Balak's second

message to the

prophet.

Balaac ſente richere an[d] mo

Medes, and oðer men to ðo.

"Sondes, ſondes," q_u_að balaam,

Or he ðeſe oðere medes nam, 3940

Balaam's answer

to the messengers.

"Ðog balaac king me goue hold,

Hiſ huſ ful of ſiluer and of gold,

Ne mai ic wenden her bi-neðen;"

Godes wurd iſ cumen alſ it iſ q_ue_ðen;[370] 3944

Oc or or ge wenden agen,

ðiſ nigt ic ſal fonden and ſen."

Q_u_at tiding so it cam on ðe nigt,

On morgen, at ðe daiges ligt, 3948

He consents to go

with the princes

of Moab,

Vp-on hiſe aſſe hiſ ſadel he dede,

To madian lond wente he hiſ ride,

And wente iſ herte on werre ðhogt;

Wicke giſcing it haueð[371] al wrogt. 3952

being influenced

by covetousness.

ðuſ rideð forð ðiſ man for-loren,

[Fol. 77.]

An angel meets

him in the way.

The ass is frightened,

An angel drog an ſwerd him bi-foren,

ðiſ aſſe wurð ſo ſore of-dred,

Vt of ðe weige it haueð him led. 3956

Sellic ðogte balaam for-ði,

And bet and wente it to ðe ſti

Bi-twen two walles of ſton;

and turns aside

to the wall,

Eft ſtod ðiſ angel him a-gon,[372] 3960

ðiſ aſſe iſ eft of weige ſtired,[373]

So ðat balames fot iſ hird;[374]

so that Balaam's

foot is crushed.

And he wurð ðo for anger wroð,

And ðiſ prikeð and negt ſloð; 3964

[369] MS. ginges.

[370] MS. queden.

[371] MS. haued.

[372] ? agen.

[373] ? stirt.

[374] ? hirt.

BALAAM'S ASS SPEAKS.

The angel went

further, and

stood in a narrow

place,

forð and narwere ðiſ aſſe hi_m_ bar,

And ðe ðridde ſiðe wurð ðe angel war.

ðo ne migte ðes aſſe flen,

and the ass fell

down under

Balaam,

Ne he ne durſte forðere ten, 3968

Oc fel ðor dun(.) ðan ðis was don,

who smote her

with his staff.

Balaam it ſpureð and ſmit ðor-on;

And god vndede ðiſ aſſes muð,

God opened the

mouth of the ass,

and she spoke to

her master.

So ſoð it iſ(.) ſo it is ſelcuð. 3972

Q_u_uað ðiſ aſſe ðus wið vn-miðe,

"Qui betes ðu me ðis ðridde ſiðe?"

Q_u_að balaam, "for ðu tregeſt me;

Had ic an ſwerd, ic ſluge ðe." 3976

Nevertheless this

infatuated man

was not frightened.

So was ðis were to wunder brogt,

ðhog ðe aſſe ſpac, frigtede he nogt;

[Fol. 77b.]

ðe let god[375] him ðat angel ſen,

The angel tells

Balaam,

wið ðe ſwerd dragen him agen. 3980

Q_u_að ðe angel, "ðin weige iſ me loð,

that but for the

ass he would have

slain him.

ðor-fore am ic wið ðe ðuſ loð;[376]

If ðin aſſe ne were wið-dragen,

Her ſuldes ðu nu wurðen ſlagen." 3984

The prophet

offers to return.

Q_u_að balaam, "q_u_ane ic haue miſ-faren,

If ðu wilt, ic agen ſal charen."

He is cautioned

by the angel.

"far forð," q_u_að ðe angel, "oc loc ðe wel,

for-bi min red, q_u_að ðu non del." 3988

Balak entertains

Balaam.

forð-na_m_ balaa_m_, and balaac king

Cam him a-gen for wurðing,

Gaf him giftes of mikil priſ;

And balaam ſeide him to wiſ, 3992

"Sal ic non wurd[377] mugen forð-don,

Vten ðat god me leið on."

Balak causes

seven altars to be

built.

Balaac him leddede[378] heg on an hil,

And .vii. alteres wrogte in his wil, 3996

On ilc alter fier alðerneðer,

On each altar

was offered a

bullock and a

wether.

And ðor-on an calf and a weðer,

And he bad balaac ſtonden ðor-bi,

And gede on-rum q_u_i[379] bute for-ði, 4000

[375] MS. goð.

[376] wroð?

[377] MS. wurð.

[378] ledde?

[379] q_u_ile?

BALAAM BLESSES ISRAEL.

fro abuuen cam to him bi-neðen,

Word in herte ðat[380] he ſal queðen;

God's word

comes to Balaam,

Q_u_an he cam to balaac a-gen,

Swilc wurdes he let vt-ten. 4004

[Fol. 78.]

"Hu mai ic ðat folc curſen on,

and he blesses

Israel.

ðor lou_er_d haueð[381] bliſcing don?

ðiſ folk ſal waxen wel and ðen,

And ou_er_ al oðer migtful ben, 4008

Hiſ lif beð bliðe, hiſ ending ſal,

ðe timeð al-ſo ðiſ time_n_ ſal."

Balak is greatly

displeased.

Balaac miſliked al ðiſ q_ue_ðe,[382]

And ledde he_m_ ðeðen on oðer ſtede, 4012

To munt faga, for to ſen wel

Of folc iſrael ðe oðer del.

He brings the

prophet to another

place.

He wente on oðer ſtund or ſtede,

Betre timi_n_g ðor-fore he it dede, 4016

And wende wenden godes ðogt,

Oc al he ſwinked him for nogt.

Again seven

altars were

raised, and offerings

made.

Hef[t] haueð he mad her .vii. alter,

And on ilc brend eft twin der. 4020

Gede eft balaam up on-rum,

ðo ſeide ðuſ q_u_anne hem ca_m_ dun,

The parable of

Balaam.

"ðis folc, ſprungen of iſrael,

Iſ vnder god timed wel; 4024

Al-ſo leun iſ migtful der,

Israel is compared

to a lion.

So ſal ðiſ folc ben migtful her;

ðiſ leun ſal oðer folc freten,

Lond canaan al preige bi-geten." 4028

Balak was ill

pleased with the

priest's words.

Ille liked ðanne balaac

Eu_er_ilc word ðe p_re_ſt balaam ſpac.

[Fol. 78b.]

Balak brings

Balaam to Mount

Peor.

Get he ledde him to munt fegor,

And efte he ſacrede deres mor; 4032

ðor[383] ſpac balaam mikel mor

Of ðiſ folckes migt, or he dede or.

"folc ebru," q_u_að he, "ðat ic ſe,

Again he blesses

the Israelites,

Bliſced ſal ben ðe bliſcede ðe; 4036

[380] MS. dat.

[381] MS. haued.

[382] quede?

[383] MS. dor.

BALAAM'S ADVICE TO BALAK.

And q_u_uo-ſo wile curſing maken,

Ille curſing ſal him taken;

and prophesies

their future happiness

and greatness.

Of ðe ſal riſen ſterre brigt,

And a wond ðe ſal ſmiten rigt 4040

Moab kinges, and under-don

Al ſedes-kin ðiſ werld up-on."

Such tidings

made Balak's

heart sore.

Manie tiding q_u_ad balaam ðor,

ðe made balakes herte ſor; 4044

Oc ðan balaam wente a-gen,

Balaam teaches

Balak how to

injure the Israelites,

Tagte he balaam q_u_at migte ben

ðiſ folc to dere, and gaf him red

ðat brogt iſr_ae_l iwel ſped. 4048

by sending out

young women

fair of face and

soft of speech,

"ðe ginge wi_m_men of ðin lond,

faiger on ſigte an[d] ſofte on hond,

And brigte on hewe, on ſpeche glad,

Wið ðgere[384] ſal ic ſondes ſad, 4052

ðe ðu ten vt gen ðiſ men,

who should

"brew heart-burning

and

love,"

ðe cunen[385] brewen herte-bren,

wið win, and wlite, & bodi, & dwale,

Luue[li]ke and wið ſpeche ſmale, 4056

[Fol. 79.]

and so turn the

people from God.

To wenden hem fro godes age

To ði londe godes and vre lage;

Bute-if ðu migt forðen ðiſ red,

And hem fro godes luue led, 4060

For war nor

weapon had no

power to harm

them.

And fonde to wenden ðuſ here ðhogt,

for wi ne wopen ne helpeð[386] nogt."

forð-nam balaam, ðat ille q_u_[e]ad

ðe gaf ðiſ read of ſoules dead. 4064

This counsel was

followed,

ðuſ it was don, and bi ðat ſel

and thus it fell

that Israel sinned

in Shittim,

In ſichin ſingede iſrael,

And for luue of ðiſ hore-plage

Manie for-leten godes lage, 4068

And wrogten ðor ſwilc ſoules for

and worshipped

Baal-peor.

ðat he ðor lutten belphegor.

Ðo ſeide god to moyſen,

"ðe me[i]ſtres of ðiſe hore-men, 4072

[384] gere?

[385] MS. cumen.

[386] MS. helped.

WHOREDOM AND IDOLATRY PUNISHED.

God commands

the chief men to

be hanged.

ðe fendes folgen and me flen,

ðe bidde ic hangen ðat he ben;

Ben ðeſe hangen ðe ſunne agen,

ðise oðer[387] folc ſal meðe ſen." 4076

Twenty-three

thousand were

slain.

Godes wreche ðor haueð of-ſlagen

xx.iii. ðuſent of dagen.[388]

Phinehas kills

Zimri and Cozbi

finees waſ a ſeli man,

ðe godes wreche forðen gan; 4080

He ſlug Zabri for godeſ luuen,

Hiſe hore bi-neðe and hi_m_ abuuen;

[Fol. 79b.]

with his long and

sharp pike.

ðurg and ðurg boðen he ſtong

wið hiſe giſarme ſarp & long. 4084

God moysen nemnen bead

God commands

Moses to take the

sum of the people

above twenty.

Hiſ folc ðe was firmeſt fro dead,

Or .xx. winter or more hold,

ðe in egypte or ne weren told; 4088

It was found to

be 601,720.

On and .vi. hundred ðuſent ðor,

And .vii. hundred and .xx. mor

Moyſes fond and eliazar;

Was non of he_m_ told in tale or, 4092

Of those who

were numbered

at Sinai, all died

except Joshua

and Caleb.

ðo moyſes tolde he_m_ and aaron,

ðan [h]e gunnen fro egipte gon.

Vten ioſue and caleph,

Alle elles he driuen i_n_ deades weph; 4096

Alle ðiſe wapmen ðor[389] god let liwen,

ðe lond hoten ſal hem ben giuen.

God moyſes clepede and q_u_ad to him,

Moses being told

of his death,

"ſtig hege up to munt Abarim, 4100

And ic ſal don ðe ðeðen[390] ſen

ðe lond ðe ſal ðiſ folc[e]s ben;

ðer ðu ſalt ben of werlde numen.

In to ðat lond ſalt ðu nogt cumen." 4104

"Lou_er_d, m_er_ci!" q_u_ad moyſes,

intreats God not

to let the people

be "helpless."

"Let ðu ðin folc nogt helpe-les,

And good let oc ðu he_m_ bi-ſe,

Alſwilc alſ hem bi-hu[f]lik bee." 4108

[387] MS. oder.

[388] MS. ðagen.

[389] MS. dor.

[390] MS. ðeden.

MOSES DIES IN MOAB.

[Fol. 80.]

Joshua is appointed

to succeed

him.

God hem andſwerede, "ioſue

Ic wile ben loder-man aft_er_ ðe;

Tac him bi-foren eleazar,

ðat al ðin folc wurð war, 4112

And ðine hondes ley him on,

Sey him on ðin ſtede to gon."

Alſ it is boden, alſo he dede,

Ioſue wurð ſet on hiſe ſtede. 4116

When Moses was

on Abarim, God

showed him the

promised land.

Ðo moyſes was on abarim,

ðat lond hoten god tawned him.

ðor q_u_iles him leſten liue dages,

Hiſ he tagte leue lages, 4120

Moses' song, setting

forth God's

vengeance

And writen hem, haueð[391] iſ hem bitagt,

Bute-if he iſ loken he_m_ beð agt,[392]

Erðe and heuene he wittneſſe tooc,

And wrot an canticle on ðat booc, 4124

upon those who

would not serve

Him truly.

ðat ðreated ðo men bitter-like

ðe god ne ſeruen luue-like.

ðo .xii. twelue kinderedes, on and on,

The blessings of

the twelve tribes.

He gaf bliſcing bi-leue gon; 4128

At munt nemboc on ðat knol faſga,

Wane he was ſtigen ðeðen ðoa,

Sag ðe lond of p_ro_miſſion,

ðurg god[393] hi_m_ was ſiðen ðat on. 4132

Moses dies in

Moab, and is

buried by angels'

hands.

ðer he ſtarf i_n_ne. ðe moab lond,

His bodi was biried wið angeles hond,

[Fol. 80b.]

No man ever

found his body.

ðer non man ſiðen it ne fond,

In to lef reſte hiſ ſowle wond. 4136

Ebrius ſeigen, ðuſ waſ bi-tid,

It was thus hid,

ðat moyſes waſ hem ðuſ hid,

for, migten he finden ðe ſtede,

that the people

might not afterwards

worship it.

Q_u_or engel-wird hiſ liche dede, 4140

fele ſulden him leuen on,

And leten god; ðat were miſ-don.

[391] MS. haued.

[392] MS. beð beð agt.

[393] MS. goð.

MAY GOD SHIELD US FROM HELL'S NIGHT!

Ydolatrie, ðat waſ hem lef,

ofte vt-wrogte he_m_ ſorges dref. 4144

Although Moses

was 120 years old,

MOyſes iſ faren, on elde told

fulle ſex ſcore winter old;

yet his eyesight

remained bright,

and every tooth

was "by tale

right."

And ðog hi_m_ leſtede hiſe ſigte brigt,

And eu_er_ilc toð bi tale rigt. 4148

.xxx. daiges wep iſrael

for hiſ dead(.) and bi-ment it wel.

Such a prophet

in Israel rose

none.

Swilc p_ro_phete i_n_ folc of iſrael

Roſ non, ne ſpac wið god ſo wel; 4152

Eſdras iſ witneſſe of [hiſ] ſage,

He was wel wiſ of ðe olde lage.

Beseech we now

God's might,

Bi-ſeke we nu godes migt,

ðat he make ure ſowles brigt, 4156

that he shield

us from Hell's

night,

And ſhilde us fro elles nigt,

And lede us to bliſſe and i_n_-to ligt;

In ſwilc ðewes lene[394] us to cumen,[395]

ðurg q_u_at we ben to liue numen, 4160

[Fol. 81.]

and bring us all

into bliss. Amen!

And in-to bliſſe wið ſeli men;

Wið muð and herte ſey we, Amen!

EXPLICIT LIBer EXOD_US_.

[394] ? leue.

[395] MS. cunen.

NOTES.

P. 1. ll. 1-2

_Man og to luuen ðat rimes ren,

ðe Wisseð wel ðe logede men._

_og_, another form of _agh_, = _ow_ = ought. _ren_ = _run_ = _rune_, song,

story.

"Nalde ha nane _runes_

Ne nane luue _runes_

leornen ne lustnen."—(St. Kath. 108.)

_logede_ = lay. It is not necessarily unlearned, ignorant, etc., for O.E.

writers frequently use the term in contradistinction to clergy. See

Ayenbite, p. 197. "Vor all manere of volk studieþ in avarice, and (both)

great and smale, kinges, prelates, clerkes, an _lewede_ and

religious."—(Ayenbite, p. 34.)

"And bathe klerk and _laued_ man

Englis understand kan,

That was born in Ingeland."—(Met. Hom. p. 4.)

3 _loken_, to take care of oneself, to direct one's course of life, keep

from sin. See Ayenbite of Inwyt, pp. 1, 197, 199, 201.

"Ac alneway hit is nyed to leawede men

that hi ham _loki_ vram þise zenne (avarice)."—Ayenbite, p. 31.

10 _ðund_ is evidently an error for _gund_ = yond, yonder, over. Cp. gu for

ðu, ll. 365, 366.

"& _þeond_ þat lond he heom to-draf (B. & ouer al þat lond he drof

heom)."—(Laȝ. i. 68.)

12 _earuermor_ = _eauermor_ = evermore. 14 _soðe-sagen_ = _soðe-sage_ =

_sooth-saw_ = sooth-saying, true saying.

15-16

_Cristene men ogen ben so fagen,

so fueles arn quan he it sen dagen._

Christian men ought to be as fain (glad)

As fowls (birds) are when they see it dawn.

17 _telled_ = _telleð_ = telleth. 20 _devil-dwale_ = devil-deceiver,

devil-heretic = arch-deceiver, arch-heretic. See l. 67. Cf. _maȝȝstredwale_

= master heretic = arch-heretic, in the following passage:—

"Off all þis laþe læredd follc

Þat we nu mælenn ummbe

Wass _maȝȝstredwale_, an defless þeww,

Þat Arrius was nemmnedd."

Of all this loathsome learned folk

That we now talk about

Was an arch-heretic, a devil's serf

That Arius was named.

—(Orm. i. p. 258, l. 7454.)

23

_til god srid him in manliched_,

till god shrouded (clothed) himself in manhood.

_srid_ = _sridde_.

24 _bote and red_, salvation and counsel. 25 _And unspered al ðe fendes

sped_ = undid all the fiend's successful work (luck). 26 _halp_ = Old and

Middle Eng. _holp_ = helped, assisted.

P. 2. l. 27 _Biddi_, an error for _bidde_?

31-34

_ðu giue me seli timinge,

To thaunen ðis wer[l]des biginninge,

ðe, leuerd god, to wurðinge,

Queðer so hic rede or singe!_

Give Thou me a propitious opportunity

To show (declare) this world's beginning,

Thee, Lord God, for honour,

Whether-so-ever I read or sing!

_thaunen_ = _taunen_, show, exhibit.

"Ful wel he [Crist] _taunede_ his luue to man,

Wan he ðurg holi spel him wan."

—Bestiary (O.E. Miscell. p. 24, l. 767.)

The word is very uncommon in O.E. writers. Cp. O.Du. _tônen_, to show. See

ll. 1022, 2034. _wurðinge_ = for worship, honour. _wurðinge_ is a noun, not

a participle or gerund. See l. 133. 38 _Ear ðanne_ = ere that.

41

_ðo bad god wurðen stund and stede,_

When God bad exist time and space.

43 _ðrosing_ seems to be an error for _ðrosim_ or _ðrosem_ = fog, mist,

chaos. Cf. _waspene_ in l. 1440, p. 41, where the correct form is

_wasteme_. _aðrusemen_, to suffocate, occurs in Ancren Riwle, p. 40.

wíte þoliað

hátne heaðo-welm

helle to-middes

brand & bráde lígas

swilce eác þa biteran récas,

_þrosm_ and þystro,

torment they suffer

burning heat intense

amidst hell,

fire, and broad flames;

so also the bitter reeks

smoke and darkness.

(Caedmon, p. 21, 18.)

45 _ðu wislike mune_ = do thou wisely bear in mind. 47 _hin_ = _hine_ =

him. 48 _or_, another form of _ar_, = ere, before. 49-56 The meaning of

these lines may be expressed as follows:—"And of them two [God the Father

and God the Son] that dearly love, who wield all here and above, _proceeds_

that holy love, that wise will [the Holy Ghost], that wieldeth all things

with right and skill [reason]. Might bad with word light exist; also that

might [the Holy Ghost] wieldeth _holy consolation_, for there are three

persons and one counsel, one might, and one godhead." 54 _Hali froure_ =

holy comfort, an allusion to the office of Holy Ghost as the comforter.

"Hire uoster moder wes an þe _frourede_ hire."

= Her foster mother was one who comforted her.—(St. Marherete, p. 8.) 58 _o

sunde[r] sad_ = _on sunder shad_, i. e. a-sunder shed = divided apart,

separated. It still exists in _water-shed_, Ger. _wasser-scheide_. Cf. l.

116. See Hampole's Pricke of Conscience, p. 271, l. 32. Cp. "the

_schedynge_ of tonges." (Trevisa's Translation of Higden's Polychron., p.

251.) "The longages & tonges were _ischad_ & to-schift."—Ib. p. 251.

P. 3. l. 63 _ðis walkenes turn_ = this welkin's course. See l. 79. 64

_quuad_ = _biquuad_ = bequeathed, ordained. See l. 117.

69

_And euerilc wunder, and euerilc wo._

And every evil and every woe.

_Wunder_ = misfortune, evil. S.Saxon _wundre_, mischief, hurt.

"hare lust leadeð ham to wurchen to _wundre_."

= their lust leadeth them to work to mischief.—(St. Marh. p. 14.)

(See Sir Gawaine and the Green Knyght. Ed. Morris, l. 16.)

71-72 Our ancestors had some strange chronological theories. In the Cursor

Mundi we read that Adam was made at _undern-tide_, at _mid-day_ Eve was

drawn from his side, and at _noon_ they both ate the apple, and were thus

only three _tides_ in bliss.[396]

73

_ðis ik_ (ilk?) _wort in ebrisse wen._

This same word is in Hebrew opinion (tradition). The true form is _wene_,

"_a wene_" = in supposition. See Laȝ. l. 18752; Orm. l. 4326; Owl and

Nightingale, l. 237.

77 _a-gon_ = _agen_ = again. 78 _a-gon_ = gone. It is our word _ago_.

Grammarians, therefore, altogether err in making the _a_ in _ago_ = the

prefixal element _ge_ (y) as in yclept. _agon_ and _ago_ = the A.Saxon

_agán_ = _af-gán_, gone by, past. We have abundant examples in O.E. writers

of the verb _agon_ (ago) = to go. The past participle is _agon_ or _ago_,

in conformity to the rule that the past participles of verbs with this

prefix do _not_ take the initial _y_. 81 _o france moal_; in French speech;

_moal_ = _mel_ = speech. S.Saxon _mælenn_, to speak. See Orm. vol. i. l.

99, 253. _mol_ also signifies tribute. See O.E. Hom. 2 S. p. 179; O.E.

Miscell. p. 151, l. 161. 87 _tellen_ = reckon. 88 _or_ = _ar_ = first.

P. 4. l. 102

_It hiled_ [= hileð] _al ðis werldes drof._

= It surrounds (encloses) all this world's drove (assemblage).

_drof_ = A.S. _dráf_, company.

105

_Til domes-dai ne sal it troken._

Till doomsday it shall not fail.

_troken_ = S.Saxon _truken_, O.E. _trokie_.

"Ah for nauer nare teonen

Nulle we þe _trukien_."

But never for no injury

Will we fail thee.

—(Laȝ. i. p. 186.)

"Ah nauest þu neuere nenne mon.

. . . . . .

Þe cunne wærc makien.

Þe nauere nulle _trukien_."

But thou hast never no [any] man

. . . . . .

Who can make a work,

That never will fail.

The later copy reads "þat neuere nolle _trokie_." See St. Kath. 1814.

107 _suuen_ = _shoven_, i. e. thrust, prest, driven.

111 _oo_ = O.E. _aa_ = _ai_ = ever.

119 _birðheltre_, fruit tree, from _birðel_, fruitbearing. Adjectives in

_-el_, _-ol_, are not uncommon in O.E. See O.E. Hom. 2 S. p. 131.

Cp. "ðare bwys bowys all for _byrtht_."

Their boughs bend all for fruit.—(Wyntown, i. p. 14.)

124-5 _fodme_. When we find, as on p. 2, l. 43, _ðrosing_ for _ðrosim_, we

must not be surprised at learning that _fodme_ is an error for _fodinge_,

production; A.S. _fadung_, dispensation, order, production, from _fadian_,

_gefadian_, to dispose, order, produce. "Hwæt is se Sunu? He is þæs Fæder

Wisdom, and his Word, and his Miht, þurh þone se Fæder gesceop ealle þing

and _gefadode_."—(Ælfric—"De Fide Catholica"—Thorpe's Analecta, p. 65.) "An

Scyppend is ealra þinga, gesewenlicra and ungesewenlicra; and we sceolon on

hine gelyfan, forþon þe hé is soð God and ána Aelmihtig, seðe næfre ne

ongann ne anginn næfde, ac hé sylf is anginn, and hé eallum gesceaftum

anginn and ordfruman forgeaf, þaet hí beon mihton, and þæt hí hæfdon agen

gecynd, swa swa hit þære godcundlican _fadunge_ gelicode."—(Ibid, p. 63.)

125 _quuemeðen_ = _quemeden_, pleased. See l. 86.

P. 5. l. 133

_walknes wurðinge, and erdes [erðes?] frame._

welkin's glory and earth's advantage.

_frame_ = advantage, gain, profit. See Handlyng Synne, ll. 5, 4249.

"Twifold forbisne in ðis der [the fox]

To _frame_ we mugen finden her."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 14, l. 425.)

"Summwhatt icc habbe shæwedd ȝuw

till ȝure sawle nede,

ȝiff þat ȝe willenn follȝenn itt

& ȝuw till _frame_ turrnenn."—(Orm. vol. i. p. 31.)

"_Manne frame_ = men's advantage."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 2, l. 39.)

"Jhesu, do me that for thi name

Me liketh to dreȝe pyne ant shame

That is thy (the?) soule note ant _frame_,

Ant make myn herte milde ant tame."—(Lyric Poetry, p. 71.)

134

_He knowned (= knoweð) one ilc sterre name._

He alone knoweth each star's name.

135 _He settes_ = He set (placed) _them_. Cf. l. 156, where _wroutis_ =

wrought _them_. The pronoun _is_ or _es_ = them. See Prefaces to Ayenbite

of Inwyt, O.E. Hom. 1st and 2nd SS. 136 _ðis walkne went_ = this welkin's

course. See l. 63. 141 _bi mannes tale_ = by man's reckoning. 143 _egest_ =

_hegest_ = highest. _ðe sunnes brigt_ = the sun's brightness. 145 _moneð

met_, measure of a month. Cp. O.E. _metwand_. 148 _Reke-fille_ (see l.

3136) = _reke-filleð_ (cp. O.E. _winter-fylleð_ = October. See Menologium,

p. 62, ed. Fox), April (the vapoury or watery month).

155

_wel wurðe his migt lefful ay._

Well worth his might ever holy!

Cf. "_wo worth_ the day!" etc. _lefful_ = O.E. _geleáfful_, faithful, holy.

O.E. Miscell. p. 23, l. 713. 160 _eruerilc_ = _eauerilc_ = every. 162 _his

flotes migt_ = his floating (swimming) power. Cp. "_a flote_," _a float_,

Rob. of Brunne, p. 169, l. 13. 163 _ðen_ = to prosper, be successful. Cf.

the O.E. phrase, "so mot I _the_." 164 _tuderande_ = propagating, fruitful.

"Þa gyt drihten cwæð

. . . . .

wórd to Noe

tymað nu & _tiedrað_."

Again the Lord spake

. . . . .

words to Noah:—

Teem now and propagate.

—(Cæd. p. 91.)

"I was borenn her

Off faderr & off moder.

. . . . .

Þa þeȝȝre time wass all gan

To _tiddrenn_ & to tæmenn."

I was born here

Of father and mother.

. . . . .

When their time was all gone

To propagate and to teem.

—(Orm. ii. p. 284.)

See O.E. Hom. 2nd S. p. 177, where _tuder_ = offspring.

168 _So_, an error for _ðo_?

P. 6. l. 169 _wrim_ = _wirm_ = reptiles. 170 _Qwel_ = _qwelc_; _quilc_ =

which.

172 _singen_, to sin. It is not an error for _sinnen_, but a genuine form

(contracted from _sinigen_), and not uncommon in O.E. writers. See

_sineged_ in l. 3555, p. 101.

"He _su[n]ggeden_ and sorgeden and weren in ðogt."

They sinned and sorrowed and were in thought.

(O.E. Miscell. p. 22, l. 682.)

"Þe verþe manere to _zeneȝi_ in chapare is to zelle to tyme."

—(Ayenbite, p. 33.)

"Alsuo may he mid his oȝene wyue _zeneȝi_ dyadliche.—(Ibid. p. 36.)

_Sunegi_ = to sin, occurs in the "Owl and Nightingale," 926.

See _Sunegie_, _sunehi_, in O.E. Miscell. pp. 67, 68, 78, 79, 193.

173

_to fremen and do frame_,

to serve and do good.—(See l. 133.)

"Heo scullen me mon-radene mid mo[n]scipe _fremmen_."

They shall me homage with honour perform.—(Laȝ. ii. 586.)

See St. Kath. 288; Anc. Riwle, p. 284.

_Freme_ and _frame_ are radically the same words, the former being of

A.Saxon and the latter of Norse origin. In the Ayenbite, p. 91, _vreme_ =

_freme_ = _frame_ is used exactly in the sense of _frame_: "We wylleþ wel

þet we be yvonded (tempted) vor hit is oure _vreme_ ine vele maneres, vor

we byeþ þe more ymylded and þe dredvoller and þe more wys ine alle þinges

and þe more worþ and þe more asayd." 197 _oc_ = _og_ = _ow_, ought.

P. 7. ll. 204-6

Whilst it (the soul) followed holy will,

God's self the while is pleased,

And displeased when it loves sin.

_un-lif_ is evidently an error for _un-lief_ = displeased = O.E. _unleôf_.

In the MS. the _f_ has a long tail, and might almost stand for an

incomplete _k_. 217 _kiegt_ = _hight_ = threatened, literally promised.

222 _ilc here_ = each of them. Cf. the expressions _her non_, _non her_ =

none of them. 228 _sib_ = akin, related; still preserved in _gossip_,

originally _godsib_. See Ayenbite, p. 36. 230 _wrocte_ = _wrogte_ = pret.

of _worken_, to _ache_, _pain_, _hurt_. Cf. A.S. _rop-weorc_ =

stomach-ache; _weorcsum_, irksome. In the Reliq. Antiq., p. 51, a receipt

is given "for evel and _werke_ in þe bledder." On p. 54 of the same work we

have a receipt for the "seke man" whose "heved _werkes_." 234 _ðurte_, an

abbreviated form of _ðurfte_ = behoved. This verb is used with the _dative_

of the pronoun. (See Handlynge Synne, l. 5826.)

"Whyne had God made us swa

Þat us _thurt_ never haf feled wele ne wa."

—(Hampole's P. of C. 6229.)

P. 8. l. 240 _seli sped_ may be regarded as a compound, and printed

_seli-sped_ = good speed, prosperity. Cf. l. 310, where _iwel sped_ =

_iwel-sped_ = misfortune. Cf. O.E. _gode-happe_, prosperity, and

_ille-happe_, mishap. 247 _seuendai_ = _seuend dai_ = seventh day. 250

_newes_ = _a-new_, a genitival adjective used adverbially. Cf. our modern

adverb _needs_, O.E. _nedes_, of necessity; _lives_, alive. (R. of

Gloucester, 301, 376. Owl and Nightingale, 1632.) _deathes_ = dead. (R. of

Gl., 375, 382. Owl and Nightingale, 1630.) 255 _rode-wold_ = rode tree. I

have printed _rode-wold_ and not _rode wold_, because the two expressions

are widely different in meaning. In the latter phrase the word _wold_ = put

to death, slain; in the former it is a suffix = -tree, -beam; so that

_rode-wold_ corresponds exactly to the O.E. _rode-tre_ = _rood-tre_ = the

cross.

"Þe ille men in manhed sal hym [Christ] se,

Anly als he henged on þe _rode-tre_," etc.

—(Hampole's P. of C., l. 5260.)

Cf. _dore-tree_, Piers Pl. 833, and the phrases "hanged on a _tree_," "the

gallows _tree_," etc. O.E. _Tre_ = _tree_ = wood, beam (and _treen_ =

wooden), still existing in _axle-tree_, _saddle-tree_, etc. The _-wold_ in

_rode-wold_ must therefore = _-tre_ = wood, beam, which we still preserve

in _threshold_. O.E. _threshwald_, _threshwold_ (A.S. _thersc-wald_,

_thyrscwold_). The affix _-wold_ fortunately occurs again in lines 576 and

614 in the word _arche-wold_ = ark-board.

Sexe hundred ger noe was hold,

Quan he dede him in ðe _arche-wold_.—(l. 576.)

Sex hundred ger and on dan olde

Noe ſag ut of ðe _arche-wolde_.—(l. 614.)

A passage in Cædmon's poems furnishes us with the very term _ark-board_ by

which we have rendered _arche-wold_.

"Læd swa ic ðe hate

under _earce-bord_

eaforan þine."

Lead so I thee hete (command)

under the ark-board

thy progeny.

—(l. 23, p. 80.)

"Him þa Noe gewat

swa hine nergand het

under _earce-bord_."

Noah then departed

as him the preserver bad,

under the ark board.

—(l. 4, p. 82.)

259

_Siðen for-les ðat dai is pris_

Afterwards lost that day its honour.

266

_And seli sad fro ðe forwrogt._

And _the_ righteous separated from the wicked (accursed).

_Seli_ constantly occurs in O.E. writers in the sense of _good_, and

_unseli_, with the opposite meaning of _bad_, _wicked_. At first sight it

would appear that the _for_ in _forwrogt_ is the same prefix which we have

in _forbid_, _forsake_, O.E. _for-worth_, "good for nothing;" but

_forwrogt_ in O.E. = overworked, and, hence, fatigued. _Forwrogt_ seems to

be connected with the O.H.Ger. _foruuerget_, cursed; O.E. _weried_, cursed.

The first interpretation, however, is supported by the Goth. verb

_fra-vaurkjan_; Ger. _verwirken_, sündigen.

271

_Ligber he sridde a dere srud._

Lucifer he shrouded (clothed) in dear (precious) shrouds (vestments).

_Ligber_ is evidently _Ligtber_ = Lucifer. It occurs in the Ayenbite, p.

10:—"And verst we willeþ zigge of þe zenne of prede, vor þet wes þe verste

zenne and þe aginninge of alle kueade, for prede brek verst velaȝrede and

ordre, huanne _Liȝtbere_ the angel for his greate vayrhede and his greate

wyt wolde by above þe oþre angeles and him wolde emni to God þet hine zo

vayr an zuo guod hedde ymad."

272-276

And he became in himself proud,

And with that pride upon him waxed envy

That evilly influenced all his conduct;

Then might he no lord tolerate,

That should in any wise control him.

P. 9. l. 275 _ðhauen_ = suffer, endure, tolerate. S.Saxon _ðafen_,

_iðeuen_; O.E. _thave_.

"Þe sexte bede þatt mann bitt

Uppo þe Paterr Nossterr

Þatt iss, þatt Godd ne þole nohht

Ne _þafe_ laþe gastess.

To winnenn oferrhand off uss

Þurrh heore laþe wiless."

The sixth petition that one prayeth

in the Pater Noster is that God should

not suffer nor permit loathsome spirits

to gain the upperhand of us

through their loathsome wiles.

—(Orm. i. p. 188.)

"& Hengest hine gon werien.

& nalde it noht _iþeuen_ [þolie]."

And Hengest gan him defend

And would not suffer it.

—(Laȝ. vol. ii. p. 215.)

276 _ðhinge_ = place, office, duty; it seems to be here used adverbially in

the sense of "any wise," "at all." 276 _grauen_ is perhaps an error for

_þrauen_, to compel, control. Cf. _gu_ for _ðu_, p. 11, ll. 365, 366, and

_ðund_ for _gund_. If _grauen_ be the original reading then it is

equivalent to _greven_. O.F. _grever_, Lat. _gravare_, to injure, grieve.

278

_Min sete norð on heuene maken._

"Sette," he (Lucifer) said, "mi sete I sal

Gain him þat heist es of alle;

In þe _north_ side it sal be sette,

O me seruis sal he non gette."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 4b.)

282 _geuelic_ = _geuenlic_ = like. Cf. the A.S. _ge-efenlæcan_, to be

like, to imitate. O.E. _euening_ = equal.

"And ðeðen he sal cumen eft,

and thence he shall come again,

. . . . . .

for to demen alle men,

for to judge all men,

oc nout _on-geuelike_.

but not a-like."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 23.)

"It (the law) fet ðe licham and te gost oc nowt o _geuelike_."

It feedeth the body and the spirit but not alike.

—(Ibid. p. 10.)

295 _ðis quead_ = this wicked one. In Early English writers we meet with

several derivatives of this word, as _kueadliche_, wickedly, _kueadvol_,

sinful. (See Ayenbite of Inwyt, p. 4, and extract in Note to l. 271, p.

125.)

301

_Euerilc ðhing haued [haueð] he geue name_,

To everything hath he given name.

309-310 Yet I ween I know of a device, that shall bring them misfortune.

P. 10. l. 314 _ðor buten hunte_, there without search, or hunting, without

delay; _or_ thereabout to _hunt_ or search. 316 _bilirten_, to deprive of

by treachery, to cheat a person out of a thing.

"ða herodes gesægh for-ðon bisuicen

[& _bilyrtet_] wæs from dryum, [& tungul

cræftgum] urað wæs suiðe."

(Matthew ii. 16, Northumbrian version.)

"Listneð nu a wunder,

ðat tis der doð for hunger:

goð o felde to a furg,

and falleð ðar-inne,

in eried lond er in erð-chine,

forto _bilirten_ fugeles."

Listeneth now to a wonder,

That this deer (fox) doth for hunger:

Goeth a-field to a furrow,

And falleth therein,

In eared land or in earth-chink,

For to deceive fowls.

—(O.E. Miscell. p. 13, l. 403.)

318 _dreue_ = trouble, disturb. Cf. O.E. _drove_, to trouble, _droving_,

tribulation. "Þa Herodes þæt gehyrde, þa wearð he _gedrefed_,[397] & eal

Hierosolim-waru mid him."—Matt. ii. 3.

"& for-þi þatt he sahh þatt ȝho

Was _dræfedd_ of his spæche

He toc to froffrenn hire anann."—(Orm. i. p. 74.)

"And because that he saw that she was troubled at his word, he took to

comfort her anon." Southern writers, by metathesis, formed from _dreuen_

(_dreue_) the vb. _deruen_ (_derue_), thereby confounding it with another

vb. _deruen_ or _derue_, pret. _dorue_, p.p. _doruen_ (A.Sax. _deorfan_,

pret. _dearf_, p.p. _dorfen_), to labour, perish, be in trouble. _Dreue_ is

a transitive vb. of the weak conjugation, while _derue_ is intransitive and

of the strong conjugation, nevertheless we find _derue_ (pret. _dorue_),

taking the signification of _dreue_. "Stute nu earme steorue ant swic nuðe

lanhure swikele swarte deouel, þ_a_t tu ne _derue_ me na mare."—(Seinte

Marherete, p. 12.) "Stop now, poor stern one, and cease now at once,

deceitful swart devil, that thou harm me no more." In Laȝamon we find not

only pret. _drof_ = distressed, but _derfde_, and the p.p. _iderued_. In

the Owl and Nightingale (ed. Wright), p. 40, we find the p.p. _idorve_ =

troubled, injured.

"Other thou bodest cualm of oreve (orve),

Other that lond-folc wurth _i-dorve_."

322

_And senkede hire hure aldre bale_

= And poured out to her the bale of us all,

_i. e._ gave her the cup of sorrow, of which we all drink; _senkede_ =

_schenkede_, to pour out, to give to drink, to _skink_. See Orm. ii. 181.

Laȝ. ii. 202, 431; Alys. 7581; Owl and Nightingale, p. 70.

324

_Quat oget nu ðat for-bode o-wold_

= What does now that prohibition signify?

_i. e._ What is the meaning of the prohibition; _oget_ = has, possesses _o

wold_ = _a wold_ = in force, in signification. Cp.

_Quat-so his dremes owen a wold_

= What-soever his dreams do mean.

In ll. 1671, 2122 _wold_ occurs as a noun = interpretation, meaning. The

connection between the idea of _power_, and _meaning_, _interpretation_, is

not, after all, so very remote. Do we not speak of the _force_ of a word,

its _power_, _use_, etc., in an expression? See Ormulum, p. 56, l. 11815.

327

_for is fruit sired [sireð?] mannes mood_,

= for its fruit enlighteneth (cleareth) man's mind.

330 _witent_ for _witen it_ = know it. 333 _on hire mod_ = in her mind.

339 _scroðt_ = _scroð_ = solicited; the pret. of _scriðe_. The original

meaning of the verb is, (1) to go; (2) to cause to go, to urge; (3) to

solicit.

341

_for to forðen is fendes wil_,

for to further (do) his foe's will.

"For up he rigteð him

redi to deren,

to deren er to ded maken

if he it muge forðen."—(O.E. Miscell. pp. 5, 6.)

342

_At he ðat fruit, and dede unskil_,

Ate he that fruit and committed sin.

_unskil_, literally, signifies indiscretion, folly, and by an easy

transition, sin, crime. (See Ormulum, vol. i. p. 12. Cf. O.E. _unskilwis_ =

irrational.)

P. 11. l. 345 _Vn-buxumhed_ = disobedience; but in line 346 it signifies

weakness, _un-lithesomeness_.

347-8

_Vn-welde woren and in win

Here owen limes hem wið-in._

Their own limbs within them

Were powerless and in strife.

_vnwelde_ = unwieldy = the S. Saxon _vniwælde_, heavy.—(Gower i. 312.)

"——hise limes arn _unwelde_."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 3.)

(_i. e._ weak with age); _in win_, in strife, conflict.

"and wið al mankin

he (the devil) haueð nið and _win_" (envy and strife).

(O.E. Miscell. p. 8.)

"ðis fis wuneð wið ðe se grund,

and liueð ðer eure heil and sund,

til it cumeð ðe time

ðat storm stireð al ðe se,

ðanne sumer and winter _winnen_ (strive)."

(O.E. Miscell. pp. 16, 17.)

"Þar aros wale and _win_."

There arose slaughter and strife.—(Laȝ. i. 18.)

349

_flesses fremeðe and safte same

boðen he felten on here lichame._

Lust of flesh, and shame of form

both they felt in their bodies.

_fremeðe_ seems connected with _fremen_ and _frame_. In the translation I

have connected _fremeðe_ with O.E. _frim_, vigorous; but it may be another

form of O.E. _frumðe_, beginning. Then the translation of l. 349 would be

'the beginning of flesh and shame of form.'

360

_ðu haues ðe sorges sigðhe waked._

Thou hast for thyself a sight of sorrow roused.

_sigðhe_ = sight, but if it be an error for _siðhe_ it will signify

adversity, mishap. 362 _ut luken_ = shut out. 363 _tilen ði mete[n]_ = earn

thy food. _tilen_ (till), earn, procure.

"Ne maig he _tilen_ him non fode."

He is not able to procure food for himself.

(O.E. Miscell. p. 3.)

364 _wid_ = _wið_, with. _swotes teres_ = tears of sweat, _i. e._ drops of

sweat. We may, however, by spoiling the metre, read _swotes & teres_, for

in O.E. writers _swot_ is frequently used in the singular and makes the

plural _swotes_.

365, 366

_Til gu beas eft into erðe cumen_,

Till thou art again into earth come.

_beas_ = _be'st_ = art. The present has also a future signification.

369 _niðful_ = envious.

"O _nyth_ þare springes mani bogh,

Þat ledes man to mikel wogh,

for _nithful_ man he luuves lest,

Þe quilk he wat es dughtiest."

—(Cursor Mundi, MS. Cott. Vesp. A iii. fol. 153b.)

_loð an liðer_, loathsome and vile.

372

_And atter on is tunge cliuen_,

And poison on his tongue shall cleave.

373 _san_ = _schand_, disgrace, shame. Did the scribe originally write

_sam_ = shame? 377 _pilches_. This word answers to the "coats of skin" in

our English version of the Scriptures. In modern English _pilch_ is merely

the flannel swathe of an infant, but it formerly signified a fur garment.

Cf. Ital. _pellicia_, _pelizza_, any kind of fur; also Fr. _pelisse_

(pelice), a furred garment.

"Here kirtle, here _pilche_ of ermine,

Here keuerchefs of silk, here smok o line,

Al-togidere, with both fest,

Sche to-rent binethen here brest."—(Seven Sages, 473.)

P. 12. l. 384.

_Cherubin hauet [haueð] ðe gates sperd_,

Cherubim have the gates bolted (barred, fastened).

391 _swem_ = sorrow, grief. See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v. _swemande_.

Legends of Holy Rood, pp. 135, 201.

392

_Of iwel and dead hem stondeð greim_

Of evil and death they stand in awe.

A similar phrase occurs in l. 432, p. 13. The phrase _stande awe_ is not

uncommon in O.E. writers.

"Than sal be herd the blast of bem,

The demster sal com to dem,

That al thing of _standes awe_."

(_i. e._ stands _in_ awe of.)

—(Met. Hom. p. xii.)

"For Crist com sal be sa bright

Þat thoru þat mikel lauerd might

Him sal of _stand sa mikel au_,

Þat alle þe filthes of his maugh

Sal brist ute at his hindwin,

For dred he sal haf of drightin."

—(Antichrist and the Signs of the Doom,

in _Jahrbuch für Romanische und Englische Literatur_,

1863, p. 203, l. 408.)

"Thereof ne _stod him non owe_."—(Seven Sages, 1887.)

See Havelok the Dane, p. 9, l. 277.

393 _on sundri_ = _asunder_ = apart, separate.

398

_And leded_ (ledeð) _samen gunker lif_.

And lead (pass) together your (two) lives.

_leded_ = _ledeð_, is a verb in the imperative mood; _gunker_, the A.S.

_incer_ (_dual_) = your two, of you two. Cf. _ȝunkerr baþre_ = of you

both.—(Orm. i. 214.)

408

_And sumdel quemeð it his seri mood_

And somewhat it cheereth his sorry mood.

411

_More for erneste dan [ðan] for gamen_,

More for necessity than for pleasure.

P. 13. l. 417 _al swilc sel_ = all such time.

420

_ðan he was of is broðer wold_,

When he was by his brother killed.

421, 422

_An hundred ger after is dead,

Adam fro eue in srifte abead._

A hundred years after his death,

Adam from Eve in shrift (penance) abode.

(_i. e._ on account of the death of Abel.)

"A hundred winter of his liue

fra þan forbar Adam his wiue,

for soru of Abel þat was slayn."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 8.)

See Legends of the Holy Rood, pp. 20, 21.

431 _and wurð ut-lage_ = and became an outlaw.

432

_wið dead him stood hinke and age._

Of death he stood _in_ dread and fear.

_hinke_ = _inke_, doubt, dread. See note on l. 392.

436

_ðeft and reflac ðhugte him no same_,

theft and robbery appeared to him no shame.

_Reflac_ = robbery with violence, rapine. (See Laȝ. i. 172, 272, 424; ii.

526.)

"Þe first sin is o covatise

Þat revis mani man þair praise,

O þis cumes blindnes and tresun,

_Reuelaic_, theft, extorsiun."

—(The Seven Deadly Sins: _Cursor Mundi_, _Cott. MS. Vesp. A_ iii.)

438 _stonden agon_ = withstand, oppose. Cf. O.E. _again-stande_, to oppose.

439

_Met of corn, and wigte of fe_,

Measure of corn, and weight of goods.

The only objection against explaining _fe_ by goods or money is that in the

poem it signifies cattle, the proper term for goods, etc., being _agte_. In

Laȝamon _fe_, however, has the meaning of goods, money.

440

_And merke of felde, first fond he_,

And he first devised division (boundary) of fields (lands).

444 _at ðe sexte kne_ = at the sixth degree. _Kne_ in this sense is used

by Robert of Gloucester, p. 228:—"He come of Woden þe olde louerd, as in

teþe kne" (_i. e._ tenth generation). 450 _On engleis tale_ = in English

speech.

P. 14. l. 451 _kire_, modesty, purity. See Laȝ. l. 8077. K. Horn, l. 1446.

456

_He was hirde wittere and wal._

He was herdsman wise and experienced (skilful).

See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v. _wale_.

457-8

_Of merke, and kinde, and helde, & ble,

sundring and sameni[n]g tagte he._

He taught of (concerning) the character, breed, age, colour [of cattle],

the keeping them asunder, and the matching them together. _merke_ refers,

perhaps, to the _form_, _shape_, etc., of the cattle, and _kinde_ to their

_pedigree_. 459 _glew_, music, still exists in glee, _gleeman_, etc., O.E.

_gleowinge_ = singing. _gleu_, to amuse by singing.

"Bi a piler was he þar sett

To _gleu_ þaa gomes at þair mete."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 40b.)

Cf. _gleo_, music.—(Laȝ. i. 298.) _gleo-cræften_ = glee-crafts, arts of

music.—(Ibid. i. 299.) _gleo-dreme_ = glee-sound.—(Ibid. i. 77.) _gleowen_,

_gleowien_, to chant, play.—(Ibid. ii. 382, 429.) 466 _a sellic smið_, a

wonderful (rare) smith. 468 _To sundren and mengen_ = to separate (the ore

from the dross) and to mix (alloy).

469

_Wopen of wigte and tol of grið_

= weapon of war and tool of peace.

_wigte_ = _wig_ = war. _Wigte_ may signify sharpness; it usually = strong,

brave.

470

_wel cuðe egte and safgte wið._

This line seems to be very corrupt and to stand in need of some emendation.

I would propose to read as follows:—

_wel cuðe he fegte and sagte wið_

= well could he _fight_ [_i. e._ with the _wopen_ of _wigte_] and _heal_

with [the _tol_ of _grið_]. If this interpretation be right _tol of grið_

would refer to some curative agents. 472 _wurð bisne_, became blind.

"Þis Lamech was called Lamech þe blind,

Caym he slogh wit chaunce we find."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 10.)

475

_Al-so he mistagte, also he schet,_

As he mistaught, so he shot.

477 _wende_ = _weened_, thought. 480-481 Cain unwarned, received it (the

arrow), groaned, and stretched (fell prostrate), and died with that

(immediately). _unwarde_ may be an error for _unwarnde_ = unwarned, or for

_unwared_ = A.S. _unwered_ = unprotected. 484 _dedes swog_ = death's swoon.

_Swog_ = O.E. _swowe_, _swoughe_.

"_Aswogh_ (in swoon) he fell adoun

An his hynder arsoun (rise of the saddle),

As man that was mate."—(Lybeaus Disconus, 1171.)

The verb to _swoon_ occurs often in English under the form _swoghen_ (p.p.

_yswowe_),

"The king _swoghened_ for that wounde."—(Kyng Alys., 5857.)

Cf. Laȝ. 130, "_he fel iswowen_;" i. 192, _stille he was iswoȝen_ (the

later copy reads _iswoȝe_).

486

_Of his soule beð mikel hagt._

On his soul is much sorrow.—(See l. 2044, p. 59.)

The literal signification seems to be thought, care. (See _Agte_ in l.

3384.)

P. 15. l. 490 _or or_, etc. = first ere, etc. = first before, etc. _fen_ =

mud, dirt.

"Man here is nathyng elles

Bot a foule slyme, wlatsom til men,

And a sekful of stynkand _fen_."

—(Hampole's P. of C., l. 566.)

See R. of Gloucester, 6; Ps. (in Surtees' Psalter) xvii. 43. 492

_drinkilden_ = were drowned; _drinkil_ is a derivative of O.E. _drinke_, to

drown, a softer form of which is _drenche_, which often signifies in O.E. a

drink, potion (R. of Gl., p. 151; Ayenbite, p. 151, _deaþes drenche_), as

well as to drink and to drown. See Laȝ. i. 64.

"& att te lattste _drunncnenn_ þeȝȝ

þa wrecchess, þat hemm trowwenn.

And at the last drown they

The wretches who them trow (believe)."—(Orm. ii. 181.)

"The see him gon _adrynke_

That Rymenil may of-thinke."—(Kyng Horn, 978.)

494

he began holy custom

Of prayers, and of god-fearing-ness,

for life's help and soul's comfort (counsel).

500 _alied_ = _halihed_ = holiness; _toch_ = _toc_ = took. 501 _fro mannes

mene_, from man's fellowship, society. The usual form of _mene_ in O.E. is

_ymene_, _ymone_ = common, general. 503-510 From Hampole's Pricke of

Conscience, pp. 122-126, we learn that both Enoch and Hely (Elijah) shall

come before doomsday to turn the Jews from following Antichrist to the

Christian law:—"For 1260 days, or three years, shall they continue to

preach. Antichrist, in great wrath, shall put the two prophets to death in

Jerusalem, where their bodies shall lie in the streets for three days and a

half, after which they shall ascend to heaven in a cloud. After their death

Antichrist shall only reign fifteen days, at the end of which time he shall

be slain before the Mount of Olivet." Some "clerks" affirm that he shall be

slain by St Michael in Babylon, "that great hill." (See "_Antichrist and

the Signs before the Doom_," in Jahrbuch für Romanische und Englische

Literatur, 1863.) 517 _Metodius_. In the "Polychronicon Ranulphi Higdeni,"

p. 23, ed. by Churchill Babington, 1865, amongst the "auctores names" we

find mention made of "Methodius etiam martyr et episcopus, cui incarcerato

revelavit angelus de mundi statu principio et fine." 518 _sighe sir_ =

_sigðhe sir_ = _sheer insight_, clear fore-knowledge.

P. 16. l. 525 _quat agte awold_ = what should happen. 526 _water wold_,

destroyed by water. _wold_ may = _walled_, flooded, from _wallen_. 530

_hore-plage_, whore-play, whoredom. Cf. O.Sax. _hor-uuilo_; O.H.G.

_huorgilust_. In O.E. _hore_ (not _w_hore) was an epithet applicable to men

as well as women. It occasionally signifies adultery. It is found in

combination as a qualifying term in _hore-cop_, _horesone_, a bastard;

_hore-hous_, a brothel. The O.E. _horwed_, defiled, unclean; _horowe_, foul

(Chaucer); _hori_, _ouri_, dirty; Provincial E. _horry_ (Devonshire), seem

to belong to another family of words.

532

_Wimmen welten weres mester_

Women wielded a man's art.—(See Rom. i. 26.)

See Allit. Poems, p. 46, ll. 269-272.

533

_And swilc woded wenten on_,

And such madness (folly) went on.

_woded_ = _wodhed_. Cf. _alied_ = _alihed_ = holiness (l. 500, p. 15). "Þe

oþer ontreuþe þet comþ of prede is _wodhede_, me halt ane man _wod_ þet is

out of his wytte, in huam skele is miswent."—(Ayenbite, p. 12.)

534

_Golhed hunkinde he gunnen don_,

Unnatural lust they did commit.

_Golnes_ = lust, lasciviousness, occurs in the Owl and Nightingale, l. 492.

Ancren Riwle, p. 198. Ps. lxvii. 14.

"Non lest (listen) on man do amys

Thorȝ hys oȝene _gale_ (lust)."—(Shoreham, p. 107.)

_hunkinde_ = _unkinde_, unlawful, unnatural. 536 _quad mester_, wicked

craft (practices). See Allit. Poems, p. 46, ll. 265-268. _Quad_ takes

several forms and meanings in O.E.; as _qued_, wicked (Kyng Alys., 5619;

evil, 4237); the devil (R. of Gl., 314); _quead_, wickedness (Ayenbite, p.

4); _quathe_, _wothe_, _wathe_, evil, harm (Hampole's P. of C., 2102, 4558;

Allit. Poems, B. 885).

"De _quât_ deit, de schuwet gêrn dat licht."—(Reynard the Fox.)

537 _hun-wreste plage_, wicked lust; _hun-wreste_ = _unwreste_, weak,

frail, and hence wicked.

"Mærling _vnwærste_ [_onwreste_] man

Whu hæuest þu me þus idon."—(Laȝ. ii. 228.)

"Þenne þat hæfd (leader) is _unwræst_ [_onwrest_]

Þe hæp (host) is þæ wurse."—(_Ibid._ vol. ii. 259.)

"Thanne aȝte men here wyves love,

Ase God doth holy cherche;

And wyves nauȝt aȝens men

Non _onwrestnesse_ werche,

Ac tholye,

And nauȝt _onwrest_ opsechen hy

Ne tounge of hefede holye."—(Shoreham, p. 57.)

See Orm. i. 168-9. A.Sax. Chron., 1052. Wright's Lyric Poems, 37. Kyng

Alys., 878. Owl and Night., 178. 538 _A ðefis kinde_ = in thief's kind, in

sodomy. _thief_ in O.E. was a general term of reproach. Perhaps in _ðefis_

we have an allusion to _Cain_.

542

_And leten godes frigti-hed_

And forsook the fear of God.

544

_And mengten wið waried kin_

And intermixed with accursed kin.

545

_Of hem woren ðe getenes boren_

Of them were the giants born.

—(See Genesis vi. 4.)

546

_Migti men, and figti, for-loren_

= _Migti men, figti and forloren_,

Mighty men, warlike and forlorn (doomed).

548 _litel tale_, little account (worth). 553 _blissen_ = _lessen_ =

_be-lessen_ (?) or _bi_ + _leschen_, to soften. Cf. _blinnen_ and

_linnen_ = to cease. See ll. 3653, 3803.

554

_ðat it ne wexe at more hun-frame_

lest it should grow to greater evil.

_hun-frame_ = _unframe_, loss, disadvantage. 556 _deres kin_ = animals.

P. 17. l. 560 _grið_, protection, safety.

"he wuneden (dwelt) seoððen (afterwards) here

inne _griðe_ and inne friðe (peace)."—(Laȝ. ii. 50.)

"Lauerd, lauerd, ȝef (give) me _grið_."—(Ibid. iii. 35.)

Cf. _greth_, quarter (Sir Cleges, 292). _grith-bruch_, breach of the peace

(Owl and Nightingale, 1043). _grith-sergeant_ (Havelok, 267). 561

_feteles_, a vessel, a _fat_ or _vat_.

"þe firrste _fetless_ wass

Brerdfull off waterr filledd."—(Orm. ii. 148.)

"Sex _feteles_ of stan war thar stan[d]and,

Als than was cumand in the land

And Crist bad thaim thir _feteles_ fille

Wit water, and thai did son his wille."

—(Met. Hom. p. 120.)

562 _set_, made, formed. _limed_, daubed, pitched. 564 _sperd_, _sparred_,

barred. See Orm. D. 261; H. i. 142, ii. 68; Havelok, 448. _spere_ or

_sparre_ signifies also to lock, shut up. _Chaucer_, Troilus and Creseide,

v. 455; _Bone Florence_, 1774. _ðig_ = _ðic_, thick.

566

_ðor buten noe(.) long swing he dreg._

Thereabout Noah endured long toil.

_swing_ = _swinc_, toil, labour. 568 _welken_, pass away, literally to

fade, wither; and usually applied to plants and flowers.

"It wites als gresse areli at dai,

Areli blomes and fares awai;

At euen doun es it brogt,

Un-lastes, and _welkes_, and gas to noght."—(Ps. lxxxix. 6.)

See Hampole's P. of C. l. 707. 576 _arche-wold_. See note to l. 255. 582

_gette_ or _get_, poured down. _gette_ is the preterite of _geten_ or

_gete_. See l. 585. Cf. O.E. _yhete_ (_ȝete_); pret. _yhet_; p.p. _yhoten_

(_iȝote_).

"_Yhet_ over þam þi wreth."—(Ps. lxviii. 25.)

See Ps. xli. 5, lxxiii. 21. Percy's Reliq. vol. ii. 81. Cf. "a metal

_geoter_," a metal caster, Kyng Alys. 6725. _out-yhetted_, poured out,

Hampole's P. of C. 7119. See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v. _Gote_. 592

_moned_ = _moneð_ = month.

P. 18. l. 598 _dragen_ by metrical license for _wið-dragen_, withdrawn. _ðe

watres win_ = the water's force (strife). _Winne_ in O.E. has the

signification of to fight, contend with, strive, and hence to get. Cf. O.E.

_wunne_, victory; _wan_, contrivance, remedy. See l. 347.

"Alle we atter dragen off ure eldere,

ðe broken drigtinnes word ðurg ðe neddre;

ðer-ðurg haueð mankin

boðen nið and _win_."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 11.)

607 _est_ = east. Probably only an error for _eft_ = again. 614

_arche-wolde_. See note to l. 255. 617 _Rad_ = hasty, rash. Literally it

signifies ready, and frequently occurs in O.E. writers with this meaning.

Cf. O.E. _gerâd_, _rædlîce_, _rædliche_, _radely_, _radly_, promptly,

quickly, suddenly. See l. 2481, and Owl and Nightingale, ll. 423, 1041,

1279; Laȝ. 25603; St Marh. p. 10; Avow. Arth. xix. 6.

P. 19. l. 630 _tudered_ (see note to l. 164).

631-637

Often he prayed with timid prayer,

That such vengeance as God then did

Should no more on the world come,

What vengeance so _ever_ there should be taken.

God granted it in token of love,

Showed him in the welkin above

A rainbow, they call it, red and blue.

_so_ after _swiulc_ is a true relative, as in the oldest period.

635 _gat_ = granted. It is the preterite of a verb _gate_, to grant.

"Fourti dais he sal [tham] _yate_

Þat fallen ar ute o þair state

Þoru foluing o þat fals prophet,

Þat þai mai þam wit penance bete."

—(_Antichrist_, in Jahrbuch für Romanische und Englische Literatur,

1863, p. 204, l. 428.)

_gate_ or _yate_, pret. _yatte_, is the Northern form of the word, the

corresponding southern term is _ȝete_, pret. _ȝette_.

"& ȝho ne wass nohht tær onnȝæn,

Acc _ȝatte_ hemm hĕre wille

& _ȝatte_ þatt ȝho wollde ben

Rihht laȝhelike fesstnedd

Wiþþ macche, swa summ i þat ald

Wass laȝhe to ben fesstnedd."—(Orm. i. 80.)

"& þe king him _ȝette_

swa Hengist hit wolde."—(Laȝ. ii. 172.)

"& þe king him _ȝette_

al þat he ȝirnde."—(Laȝ. i. 189.)

See Seinte Marherete, p. 18. Allit. Poems, p. 17, l. 557. _a_ = _an_ = in.

637 _men cleped_ = one calleth it; _cleped_ = _clepet_ = _clepe_ + _et_;

_et_ = it. We have a similar construction in l. 1082:

"for al ðat nigt he sogten ðor

ðe dure, and _fundend_ neuere mor."

_fundend_ = _funden_ + _ed_ = _founden_ + _et_ = found it. The author of

the poem constantly joins the pronoun _et_ = _it_ to the preterite of weak

verbs. See line 479, where _letet_ = let it. 590 _stodet_ = _stod it_ = it

stood. 1654 _kiddit_ = _kidd it_ = showed it. As the plurals of the present

indicative do not end in _-eþ_ or _-et_ in the poem, but in _-en_ (_-n_),

_cleped_ may be an error for _clepeð_ or _clepeth_ = calls, and _men_ =

O.E. _me_ = one. See line 750.

643-644

And as high the flame shall go,

As the flood flowed on the downs (hill).

_lowe_, a northern term (of Norse origin) for flame, the southern form (of

A.Sax. origin) is _leie_. Religious Songs in Old Eng. Miscell., pp. 67,

182.

"Of his neose-þurles

cumeð þe rede _leie_."

See also Legend of St Brandan, 512.

"Þair throtes sal ay be filled omang

Of alle thyng þat es bitter and strang,

Of _lowe_ and reke with stormes melled,

Of pyk and brunstane togyder welled."

—(Hampole's P. of. C., l. 9431.)

653 _vten_ = _wið-vten_, without, besides. See l. 656. Cf. l. 596, with l.

598. 655 _bi tale_, in number.

P. 20. l. 676 _gan ille wune_, began wicked practices. 678 _muni[gin]g_ =

remembrance. 692 _fendes fleiðing_, fiends' strife. Probably _fleiðing_ =

_flitting_, contention, strife. The phrase _fendes fleathe_ = ? _fendes

fleiðing_, occurs in Shoreham's poems, p. 97.

"ȝyf thou rewardest thyne eldrynges nauȝt

A-lyve and eke a-dethe,

That were wel besy to brynge the forthe,

. . . . . . . .

ȝyf thou hy gnaȝst and flagȝst eke,

Ryȝt hys that _fendes fleathe_."

P. 21. l. 713 _hicte_ = _higte_, was called, named. 724 _wol wel_ = _wel

wel_ = very well, extremely well. Cf. the O.E. expressions _wel ald_, _wel

lang_, etc., very old, very long, etc.; _wol wel_ corresponds exactly to

the O.H.G. and M.H.G. _vil wol_; Mod. Ger. _sehr wohl_. See Erec. (ed.

Haupt. 1839), 2017.

725

_Thare let hur, and ðeðen he nam_,

Terah left Ur, and thence he went.

_let_ (pret. of _lete_) = left; _nam_, literally took, and hence took the

way, departed, went. See ll. 744, 745. 727 _burgt_, an error for _burg_.

P. 22. l. 743 _for_, went. See l. 763.

748

_Of weledes fulsum and of blis_ Rich of (in) wealth and of (in) bliss.

_weledes_ is an error for _welðes_; it may = _werldes_ = world's; _fulsum_

= rich, plenteous, bountiful, occurs in O.E. _fulsumhed_ (see l. 1548),

_fulsumly_.

749 _ist_ = _is it_, is there.

751

Each thing dieth that therein is cast.

753 _ðus it is went_ = thus is it turned _or_ changed. 754 _brimfir_, if

not an error for _brin-fire_ (burning fire; see l. 1164), signifies

wild-fire, _i.e._ brimstone. Cf. A.Sax. _cwic-fyr_ = fire of brimstone. 763

_hunger bond_. We ought, perhaps, to read _hunger-bond_, corresponding to

the German _hungersnoth_, famine, dearth. Cf. luue-bond, l. 2692, force of

love. 764 _feger_ = _feyer_, far. 767 _to leten_ = to lose.

P. 23. l. 787 _erdne_ = _ernde_, errand, prayer, petition, message.

"Ih scal iu sagen imbot,

gibot ther himilisgo Got,

Ouh nist ther er gihorti

so fronsig _arunti_."—(Otfried's Evangelienbuch.)

_to god erdne beren_ = to intercede with God. _Ernde_ occurs in Lyric

Poetry, p. 62, in the sense of to intercede. 792 _arsmetike_ =

_arsmet[r]ike_ = arithmetic.

793

_He was hem lef, he woren him hold_,

He was dear to them, they were true to him.

795 _sat_ = _schat_, treasure, still existing in _scot_, _shot_. 796

_vn-achteled_, unestimated, immense; from _achtel_, to estimate, reckon.

See Stratmann, s.v. _ahtlien_.

801

_ðor he quilum her wisten wunen_,

Where they formerly wished to dwell.

P. 24. l. 813 _atteð_ = _hatteð_, is called.

827

_ðer het god abre ðat tagte lond_, etc.

There God promised Abraham that promised land, etc.

_tagte_ = _bitagte_, literally, assigned, appointed. 832 _giscinge of

louerd-hed_ = desire of lordship, greed of dominion. _Giscinge_ =

covetousness; the correct form is _gitsing_ (_ȝitsung_, _ȝittsung_), but

_ȝissinge_ is found in Laȝ. ii. 227. Cp. _yssing_, O.E. Miscell. p. 38.

_icinge_, Ayenbite, p. 16, and see Orm. i. 157.

"Al his motinge (talk)

was ful of _ȝitsinge_."—(Laȝ. i. 280.)

833

_Neg ilc burge hadde ise louereding_,

Nigh each borough (city) had its lord.

834 _kumeling_ is literally a stranger, foreigner, but here signifies a

king or ruler not of native blood, one of foreign extraction. See

_Comeling_ in Prompt. Parv. p. 89.

"For I am a _commelyng_ toward þe

And pilgrym, als alle my faders was."

—(Hampole's P. of C., 1385.)

"Wande ein _chomelinch_ ih bin mit dir unde ellente also alle uatere

mine."—(Wendb. Ps. xxxviii. 22.)

P. 25. l. 842 _ferding stor_, a great army. See O.E. Hom. 2nd S. p. 189.

844 _gouel_, tribute, tax. Later writers use the word _gauel_ or _gouel_ in

the sense of usury. See Ayenbite, p. 35; O.E. Miscell. p. 46. Cf.

_gaueler_, usurer. Ayenbite, p. 35; Ps. cviii. 11. 847 _haued_ = _haueð_,

hath. 848 _here-gonge_, invasion.

"For ich am witi ful iwis,

And wot (knoweth) al that to cumen is:

Ich wot of hunger [and] of _hergonge_."

—(Owl and Nightingale, l. 1189.)

851 _fowre on-seken and fifue weren_ = four attack and five defend.

_on-seken_ = attack.

"heo wenden to beon sikere. They weened to be secure

þeo Belin heom _on-sohte_." when Belin attacked them.

—(Laȝ. i. 241.)

864 _witter of figt_ = skilled in fighting. See Gloss. to Allit. Poems,

s.v. _wyter_, and Laȝ. i. 260, 409; ii. 247.

866

_Abram let him tunde wel_,

Abram caused himself to be well surrounded (well guarded).

869 _wenden_, thought.

875

_wið-ðuten [= wiðð-uten] ðo ðe cuden flen_

= except those who could flee.

P. 26. l. 882 _bat_ = _bad_ = _bead_ = literally offered, and hence

restored. _bat_ = _bette_ occurs in Legends of Holy Rood for _amended_,

restored, p. 210, l. 6. 886 _Borwen_, delivered, rescued, the p.p. of

_bergen_ (O.E. _berȝe_, _berwen_).

"Þis boc is ymad vor lewede men

vor vader and vor moder and vor oþer ken

Ham vor to _berȝe_ vram alle manyere zen

þet in hare inwytte ne bleve no voul wen."

—(Ayenbite, p. 211.)

"And huo þat agelt ine enie of þe ilke hestes him ssel þer-of vor-þench,

and him ssrive, and bidde God merci yef he wyle by _yborȝe_."—(Ibid. p. 1.)

Orm uses _berrȝhenn_, to save, preserve, from which he forms the derivative

_berrhless_, salvation. 888 _feres wale_, brave companions (allies). _Wale_

signifies select, choice, worthy, and hence brave. See Gloss. to Allit.

Poems, s.v. _Wale_.

893

_He froðer[ed]e him after is swinc._

He comforted him after his toil.

Herbert Coleridge (Gloss. Index, p. 33) connects _froðere_ with the A.Sax.

_frofrian_, to comfort. Of course there is nothing to be said against the

interchange of _f_ and _th_ (cf. _afurst_, thirsty; _afyngred_, hungry,

etc.); but the A.S. _freoðian_, to protect, render secure, is nearer in

form, and there is the O.E. _vreþie_ (Ayenbite) to prove that this verb had

not gone out of use. 895 _ðe tigðe del_ = the tenth part. _tigðe_ = _tithe_

= tenth. 898 _bargt_ = _barg_ (the pret. of _bergen_) preserved. 910

_wið-uten man_ = except the men. The rhyme seems to require us to read

_nam_; the meaning would then be "without exception _or_ reserve."

911

_Alle hes hadde wið migte bi-geten._

He had them all with might begotten (obtained).

_hes_ = _he_ + _es_ = he + them. The combination _hes_ occurs again in l.

943. _es_ or _is_ = them, as in l. 949. See Note to l. 135, and Preface to

O.E. Miscell. p. xv, and O.E. Hom. 2nd S. p. xii.

P. 27. l. 913 _meðelike wel_, with great moderation, very meetly. Cf.

_unmeaðeliche_ in Seinte Marherete, p. 10. _meðeliche_ in O.E. Hom. 2nd S.

p. 7. _meðleas_, Ancren Riwle, p. 96. 918 _algen_ = _halgen_ = hallow. 920

_bi-told_ (rescued) should be the pret. of a vb. _bitellen_, but no such

word occurs in the poem. See O.E. Hom. 1st S. p. 205. Owl and Night. l.

263. Laȝamon uses _bi-tellen_, to win.

"Ac wih him we scullen ure freoscipe (freedom)

mid fehte _bitellen_."—(Vol. i. p. 328.)

"Bi-ðencheð eow ohte (bold) cnihtes

to _bi-tellen_ eoweore rihtes."—(i. 337.)

The editor explains _bitellen_ by to _win_, but _regain_ would suit the

context.

"Nu þu hauest Brutlond,

Al _bi-tald_ to þire hond."—(Vol. ii. p. 335.)

"Nu ich mi lond habben _bi-tald_."—(Vol. iii. p. 258.)

924

_Quo-so his alt him bi-agt_

= Whoso them (goods) holdeth, him it behoveth (yield as tithes).

_His_ = _is_ = _es_, them. 927 _gulden wel_, requited well.

934

_Of ðe-self sal ðin erward ten_,

Of thyself shall thine heir come.

_erward_ = _eruweard_, heir. 939 _nam god kep_ = took good heed to,

attended carefully to. _kep_ = care. See R. of Gl. 177, 191. Owl and Night.

l. 1226. Hampole's P. of C. ll. 381, 597. 941 _Euerilc_, each, every one.

_euerilc_ is the same as the O.E. _euerich_, Mod. Eng. _every_.

943

_Vndelt hes leide quor-so hes tok_,

Undivided he laid them where-so he took (brought) them.

This line refers to the "_duue and a turtul_," in the following line. See

Genesis xv. 10. 945 _on-rum_ the same as _a-rum_, apart, aside.

"Tho Alisaundre sygh this,

_Aroum_ anon he drow, ywis,

And suththe he renneth to his muthe (army)."

—(Kyng Alys., 1637.)

946

_And of ðo doles kep he nam._

And of the pieces care he took.

P. 28. l. 949 _kagte is wei_, drove them away. _kagte_ is the pret. of

_kache_, to drive.

"And he ansuered als he war medde,

And said, Allas and wailewaye.

That ever I com at yon abbaye,

For in na chaffar may I winne

Of tha lurdanes that won tharinne

For likes nan of thaim my play,

Bot alle thar _kache_ me away."—(Met. Hom. p. 151.)

953-954 God said to him in true dream, the _future_ condition of his seed.

_beren-tem_ = _barn-teem_, offspring, descendants.

"We are alle a (one) man _barn-teme_."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 27b.)

956

_And uten erdes sorge sen._

And in foreign lands sorrow see (experience).

Cp.

"_Outen_ sones to me lighed þai,

_Outen_ sones elded er þai."—(Ps. xvii. 46.)

"Filii alieni mentiti sunt mihi, filii alieni inveteraverunt."

Cf. _uten stede_, l. 1741. O.E. _utenlande_, a foreigner. Havelok, l. 2153.

958 _Hor_ = _or_, before. 960 _ðat hotene lond_, that promised land. 964

_untuderi_, barren. The usual O.E. term is _unberand_, unbearing. See O.E.

Hom. 2nd S. p. 177. 965 _abre_ = to Abram. 969-971 And Sarai would not

suffer it, that Hagar were thus swollen (with pride). She held her hard in

thrall's wise (treated her as a slave). 974 _one and sori_, solitary and

sad. 975 _wil and weri_, lonely and weary. _Wil_ literally signifies

astray, _wild_, from the verb _wille_, to go astray. See Gloss. to Allit.

Poems, s.v. _Wyl_.

"He is hirde, we ben sep;

Silden he us wille,

If we heren to his word

ðat we ne gon nowor _wille_."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 2.)

"And child Jesus _willed_ them fra."—(Met. Hom. p. 108.)

977

_wiste hire drogen sori for ðrist._

Knew her to be suffering sorely for thirst.

_drogen_ may be an error for _drogende_ = suffering. _sori_ as an adjective

is not sorrowful, as most editors interpret the word, but heavy, painful,

and hence anxious, etc. See l. 974.

"Quen thai him (Jesus) missed, thai him soht

Imang thair kith and fand him noht,

And forthi Joseph and Mari

War for him sorful and _sari_."—(Met. Hom. 108.)

978 _quemede hire list_, satisfied her desire.

P. 29. l. 984 _folc frigti_, formidable folk, _frigti_ does not here

signify, as in other parts of the poem, _afraid_, but _to be feared_. 991

_in sunder run_, secret speech or secret communing, private conversation.

See O.E. Hom. 2nd S. p. 29. 1010 _ðe ton_ = the one. _ton_ = that one the

first; _toðer_ = that other, the second.

P. 30. l. 1019 _quamede_ = _quemede_, pleased.

1021-1024

Quoth this one, "this time next year,

Shall I appear to thee here;

By that time shall bliss befall Sarah,

That she shall of a son conceive."

1026

_And it hire ðogte a selli ðhing_,

And it appeared to her a marvellous thing.

1028 _on wane_, wanting one, _i.e._ one less. "In þis burh was wuniende a

meiden swiðe ȝung of ȝeres, _two wone_ of twenti."—(St. Kath. 69.)

1032

_And it wurð soð binnen swilc sel_,

And it became so (came to pass) within such time.

1035 _stelen_ = go away stealthily or secretly.

1036

_Ne min dede abraham helen_, Nor my deed from Abraham hide.

1037 _sinne dwale_ = complaint of sin (see l. 1220); _dwale_ may be taken

as an adj. = grievous, mischievous. 1038 _miries dale_, an error for _mirie

dale_ = pleasant dale. See l. 1121.

1039-40

_ðo adde abram-is herte sor,

for loth his newe wunede ðor_,

Then had Abraham's heart grief,

For Lot, his nephew, dwelt there.

1041-4 "Lord," quoth he, "how shalt thou do (this), if thou shalt take

vengeance thereon; shalt thou not the righteous protect (spare), or for

them (for their sake) to the others mercy bear (show)?" _með beren_ = to

bear mercy, to show mercy to. See ll. 1046, 1242.

1046

_Ic sal meðen ðe stede for ðo_,

I shall have mercy upon the place for those (for their sake).

_Meðen_ signifies to use gently, act with moderation towards any one, to

compassionate, to show mercy to. (See Allit. Poems, p. 45, l. 247; p. 51,

l. 436; p. 54, l. 565; O.E. Hom. 2nd S. p. 153.) 1049 _at-wot_, departed.

There is no such verb as _æt-wítan_, to depart, in Bosworth's A.Sax. Dict.

The only meaning given to _atwiten_ by Stratmann is to reproach, twit.

_At-wot_ may be a blunder for _at-wond_, departed. See l. 3058. Laȝ. l. 87.

We have the O.E. _at-flegen_, _at-gon_, _at-scape_, etc. The simple verb

_wite_ is not uncommon in Early English authors.

"The first dai sal al the se

Boln and ris, and heyer be

Than ani fel of al the land,

. . . . . . . . .

And als mikel the tother day

Sal it sattel and _wit_ away."—(Met. Hom., p. 25.)

"When this was sayd, scho _wyte_ away."—(_Ibid._, p. 169.)

1054 _quake_ is evidently an error for _quate_ = _wait_, look for.

P. 31. l. 1055

_He ros, and lutte, and scroð him_ [hem?] _wel._

He rose, and bowed, and urged (invited) them well.

1060

_He wisten him bergen fro ðe dead._

They wished to preserve him from death.

_bergen_ is literally to preserve, but it may be here used passively, as

the infinitive often is by O.E. writers, and we must then render the line

as follows:—"They wished him to be preserved from death."

1062

_And he him gulden it euerilc del._

And they him requited it every whit.

1063

_Oc al ðat burgt folc ðat helde was on._

But all that townsfolk that were old enough.

1073

_ðat folc vn-seli, sinne wod._

That wretched folk, mad with sin.

1076 _wreche and letting_ = vengeance and failure.

1079

_Wil siðen cam on euerilc on._

Blindness _or_ bewilderment afterwards came on every one.

1082 _fundend_ = _funden_ + _id_ = _funden_ + _it_ = found it. 1084 _don

red_ = do (obey) counsel, i.e. take advice.

P. 32. l. 1095 _in sel_ = in time, timely, opportunely.

1097

_ðat here non wente agen._

That none of them should turn back.

1101 _gunde under dun_, under yond hill. 1103 _sren_, if correct, might

signify _screen_, but it seems to be an error for _fren_, to set free, and

hence to save.

1105

_Ai was borgen bala-segor._

Aye was saved Bela Zoar (little Bela).

See Gen. xiv. 2; xix. 20, 22. 1107 _hine_ = him, the name of the town being

regarded as of the masculine gender. 1108 _erðe-dine_ = earthquake.

"Á hundyr á thowsand and seẅyntene yhere

Frá þe byrth of our Lord dere,

_Erddyn_ gret in Ytaly

And hugsum fell all suddanly,

And fourty dayis frá þine lestand."—(Wyntown, p. i. 289.)

The verb _dinne_ in O.E. has not only the sense of to _din_, but to shake,

quake. See Seinte Marherete, p. 20.

"Þe erth quok and _dind_ again."

—(Cursor Mundi; Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii. fol. 11b.)

1109 _Sone so_, as soon as. 1110 _brend-fier-rein_, rain of burning fire.

1116

_Ne mai non dain wassen ðor-on_,

None may dare to wash therein.

_dain_, if not an error for _darin_ = _daren_, dare, venture, may = _ðain_,

a man, a servant, or = _duen_, avail. 1119 _wente hire a-gon_, turned her

aback. See l. 1097. 1120 _wente in to a ston_, turned into a stone.

1121

_So ist nu forwent mirie dale_,

So is there now changed merry (pleasant) dale.

_ist_ = _is_ + _it_, _is it_, there is. 1125 _deades driuen_, held

(influenced) of (by) death.

P. 33. l. 1127 They say the trees that are near it, come to maturity in

time, and bring forth fruit and thrive, but when their apples are ripe,

fire-ashes one may see therein. _fier-isles_, fire-ashes. For the meaning

of _isle_, see Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v. _Vsle_. 1131-2 That land is

called dale of salt, many a one taketh thereof little heed (account).

"Of thair schepe thai gif na _tale_,

Whether thai be seke or hale."—(MS. Harl. 4196, fol. 92.)

1137 _biggede_, dwelt. It signifies more properly to _build_. 1139-40 Here

is an allusion to the destruction of the world by fire mentioned in lines

640-644, p. 19. Those maidens erewhile heard some say that fire should all

this world consume. 1140 _forsweðen_, to burn up entirely, from the O.E.

_swethe_ or _swithe_, to burn, scorch. See Ancren Riwle, p. 306 (footnote).

Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v. _swythe_. 1142 _fieres wreche_, vengeance

(plague) of fire. 1143-4 The Cursor Mundi says that Lot's daughters seeing

only their father, thought that all men had perished.

"Bot Loth him held þat cave wit-in,

He and his doghtres tuin;

For þai nan bot þair fadre sau,

Þai wend alle men war don odau,

Thoru þat ilk waful wrak;

Þe elder to þe yonger spak:

'Sister to þe in dern I sai,

Þou seis þe folk er alle awai;

Bot Loth our fader es carman (male) nan,

Bot we twa left es na womman;

I think mankind sal perist be,

Bot it be stord wit me and þe.'"—(fol. 18.)

1147 _vnder-gon_, (1) to go under, (2) to cheat, deceive. In line 1160

_under-gon_ = to undertake, take up again.

Cp.

"ȝet our by-leave wole _onder-gon_,

That thyse thre (Persons of the Trinity) beth ryȝt al on."

—(Shoreham, p. 142.)

"Ope the heȝe eȝtynde day

He _onder-ȝede_ the Gywen lay."—(Ibid. p. 122.)

"And tus adam he [Christ] _under-gede_,

reisede him up, and al mankin,

ðat was fallen to helle dim."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 22.)

1151 _eiðer here_, each of them. Cf. O.E. _eiðer eȝe_, each eye, both eyes.

1159-60 Now behoveth us to turn back and take up _the_ song concerning

Abraham.

1162

_Wið reuli lote and frigti mod._

With mournful cheer and frightened mood (mind).

_reuli_ = sad, rueful, from the verb _rue_, to pity, compassionate, grieve

for. Cf. O.E. _rueness_, compassion; _Ruer_, a merciful person; _reuthe_,

pity.

"He saith 'we ben ybore euerichone

Making sorwe and _reuly_ mone.'"—(MS. Addit. 11305.)

_lote_, fare, cheer.

"Þis isah þe leodking

grimme heore _lates_."

The king saw this,

their grim gestures.

—(Laȝ. ii., 245.)

"Þat freond sæiðe to freonde,

mid fæire _loten_ hende,

'Leofue freond, wæs hail!'"

That friend saieth to his friend

With fair comely looks,

"Dear friend, wassail!"

—(_Ibid._ ii., 175.)

P. 34. l. 1163 _Roke_, East Anglian for _reke_, smoke. See Prompt. Parv. p.

436; Beve's, l. 2471.

1164

_And ðe brinfires stinken smoke_,

And the sulphur's stinking smoke.

_stinken_ = _stinkende_, stinking. 1166 _him reu_. The verb _rewe_ is used

impersonally in O.E. 1167 _suðen_ = southwards. (See Gen. xx. 1.) 1171-2

Erewhile as first Pharaoh her took, now taketh Abimelech her also. 1177

_wif-kinnes_, womankind. 1178 _wið-helð_ = _wið-held_. 1179-80 In dream to

him came tidings why he suffered and underwent that misfortune. 1180

_untiming_ is literally that which is unseasonable. We have the same notion

expressed in O.E. _unhap_ (mishap), misfortune; E. _happen_, happy, and E.

_hap_, _happen_, etc. Cp. _untime_, in Ancren Riwle, p. 344. 1184 _ðat il

sel_, that same time, immediately.

1186

_And his yuel sort was ouer-gon_,

And his evil lot was passed.

1188

_ða ðe swinacie gan him nunmor deren_,

When the quinsy did him no more vex (annoy).

Our author or his transcriber is certainly wrong about the "_swinacie_;"

for the punishment of "_lecher-craft_" was _meselry_ (leprosy), the quinsy

being the penalty for _gluttony_. The seven deadly sins were thus to be

punished in Purgatory:—

1. Pride, by a daily fever.

2. Covetousness, " the dropsy.

3. Sloth, " the gout.

4. Envy, " boils, ulcers, and blains.

5. Wrath, " the palsy.

6. Gluttony, " the quinsy.

7. Lechery, " meselry or leprosy.

1192 _ðat faire blod_, that fair woman. _blod_ in O.E. was used as a term

of the common gender, as also were such words as _girl_, _maid_, etc. See

Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v. _blod_.

1193

_Bad hire ðor hir wið heuod ben hid_

= _Bad hire ðor-wið hir heuod ben hid_?

Bad her there-with her head to be hid,

(That is, she was to buy a veil for her head).

1194 _timing_, good-fortune, happiness. See note to line 1180. 1195

_bi-sewen_, be seen. _so_ in this line seems an unnecessary addition of the

scribe's. 1197 _wurd_ = _wurð_, became; _on elde wac_, in age weak

(feeble). _Woc_ = weak; the older form is _wac_. See Laȝ. ii. 24, 195, 411.

"Forr icc amm i me sellfenn _wac_,

& full off unntrummnesse."—(Orm. ii. 285.)

"Vor nout makeð hire _woc_ but sunne one."

For nought maketh hir weak but sin only.

—(Ancren Riwle, p. 4.)

See O.E. Miscell. p. 135; ll. 581, 595.

1198 _trimede_ is, perhaps, for _timede_ = _teemed_ = brought forth; if not

it must be referred to O.E. _trumen_. See _trimen_ in l. 1024.

P. 35. l. 1200 _a-buten schoren_ = about shorn, is merely the explanation

of circumcized.

"O thritte yeir fra he was born,

was ysmael wen he was _schorn_."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 16b.)

1201 _lay_ is another form of _law_. Cf. O.E. _daye_ and _dawe_. 1204 _al

swilk sel_, even at such time. 1206 _is told_, is reckoned. 1208 _fro

teding don_, removed from his mother's care (?). _teding_ = _tending_ (?),

nursing, care, not _teðing_ = _teething_. "_fro teding don_" in the Cursor

Mundi is expressed by the phrase _spaned fra the pap_ = weaned from the

breast.

1209

_Michel gestninge made abraham_,

great feasting _or_ entertainment made Abraham.

_gestninge_ (feasting) seems to be the same as the S.Saxon _gistninge_, a

banquet. The original meaning is hospitality; O.E. _gesten_, to entertain a

guest; S.Sax. _gistnen_, to lodge. See Ancren Riwle, p. 288_a_, 414. Laȝ.

ii. 172.

1212

_And ysmael was him vn-swac_,

And Ishmael was to him (Isaac) disagreeable.

_vn-swac_, displeasing, distasteful. There is no such word as _un-swæc_ to

be found in the A.Sax. glossaries, but we have _swæc_, savour, taste, from

which I have deduced the meaning here given to _un-swac_. See Ancren Riwle,

p. 48, where _spekung_ = _swekung_, and cp. _swæc_, stenc, and hrepung, in

Ælfric's Hom. i. 138.

1213 _un-framen_, to annoy, from O.E. _frame_, to benefit, to profit.

1216 _Hir was ysmaeles anger loð_, To her was Ishmael's anger displeasing.

1217 _Ghe bi-mente hire to abraham_, She bemoaned her to Abraham. _bimente_

= pret. of _bimene_, to complain, lament.

"_bimene_ we us, we hauen don wrong."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 25; see R. of

Gloucester, p. 490.)

1220 _dwale_, complaint, grief. See l. 1037.

"Be þu neuere to bold, to chiden agen oni scold,

ne mid mani tales to chiden agen alle _dwales_."

(O.E. Miscell., p. 127. See p. 126, l. 414.)

1221 _rapede_, hastened, hurried away. See Rich. Cœur de Lion, 2206.

"The wretche stiward ne might nowt slape;

Ac in the morewing he gan up _rape_."—(Seven Sages, l. 1620.)

"The king saide, 'I ne have no _rape_ (I am in no hurry)

For me lest yit ful wel slape.'"—(Ibid. l. 1631.)

1224

_In sumertid, In egest sel_,

In summer time, in the highest time (the hottest season) of the year.

Cp. 'in a _hyȝ_ seysoun.'—Allit. Poems, p. 2, l. 39. 1228 _hete gram_,

fierce heat. 1229 _wexon ðrist_. The sense requires us to read _wex on

ðrist_, with fatigue and heat thirst waxed on them.

1231

_Tid-like hem gan ðat water laken_,

Soon did that water fail them.

P. 36. l. 1238

_Bi al-so fer so a boge mai ten_,

By as far as a bow may reach.

1239 _sik and sor_, sighing and sadness. 1241 _dede hire reed_, brought her

help.

1242

_An angel meðede hire ðat ned_,

An angel alleviated her distress.

_hire_ is the dative of the personal pronoun. 1244 _seli timing_, a

fortunate occurrence. See note to l. 1180. 1247 _nam fro ðan_, went from

that place. _fro ðan_ = Sc. _fra thine_, from thence. 1252 _mikil and rif_,

great (powerful) and wide-spread. 1254 In Arabia his kin dwell. 1258

_kungriche_ = _kineriche_, kingdom. Cf. _kungdom_ = _kunedon_ = kingdom, l.

1260. _kunglond_, _kunelond_ = _kinglond_, kingdom, l. 1262. _guglond_ =

_kunglond_, kingdom, l. 1264.

1261-2

His ninth son was Tema,

Wherefore is there a kingdom called Teman.

1264

_Het a guglond esten_ (eften ?) _fro ða_,

Was called a kingdom afterwards from that time.

_esten fro ða_ = eastwards from those _other kingdoms_. 1269 _siker pligt_,

firm, sure pledge.

P. 37. l. 1275 _feren pligt_, pledged fellows.

1279

_ðog [it] was nogt is kinde lond_,

Nevertheless it was not his native land.

1280

_Richere he it leet ðan he it fond_,

richer he left it than he found it.

1290

_On an hil ðor ic sal taunen ðe_,

on a hill where I shall show thee.

1292 _ðat he bed him two_ [to ?], that he commanded him to go to. _two_, an

error for _to_. See l. 3752. 1295-6 They say on that hill's side was made

the temple of Solomon. 1295 _dune-is siðen_ = _dune-is siden_, down's

(hill's) sides. 1299 _buxum o rigt_, rightly obedient. 1301 _sagt_, an

error for _sag_ (saw). See l. 1334.

P. 38. l. 1308

_ðo wurð ðe child witter and war_,

Then became the child wise and wary.

1315-20

Wonderfully art thou in the world come,

Wonderfully shalt thou be hence taken;

Without long suffering and fight (struggle)

God will thee take from world's night,

And of thyself holocaust have,

Thank Him that He would it crave (demand).

1317 _ðhrowing_ = _throe_, suffering, agony.

"_ðrowwinge_ and pine."—(Orm. ii. 174.)

"Vor soð wisdom is don euere soule-hele biuoren flesches hele: and hwon me

ne mei nout boðe holden somed, cheosen er licomes hurt þen þuruh to stronge

vondunges, soule _þrowunge_."—(Ancren Riwle, p. 372.) For true wisdom is

ever to put soul-health before flesh-health, and when one may not hold both

together, to choose rather bodily hurt than, through too strong trials,

soul-agony (death). 1323 Supply _don_ after _wulde_. 1328 _nuge_ = _nog_,

now. 1331 _frigti fagen_ may be either _frigti and fagen_, timid _and_

glad, or else _frigti-fagen_, timidly glad.

1332 _for ysaac bi-leaf un-slagen_, for Isaac remained unslain.

1333 _Bi-aften_, behind, abaft.

"Tacc þær an shep _bafftenn_ þin bacc

and offre itt forr þe wennchell."—(Orm. ii. 156.)

1336 _on ysaac stede_, instead of Isaac.

P. 39. l. 1345

_Sarra was fagen in kindes wune_, Sarah was naturally glad.

_in kindes wune_ = after the manner of kinde (nature); _kindes wune_ =

kind-wise, kin-wise. 1365 _semeð_ is an error for _semes_, burdens, loads,

or for _semed_, burdened, loaded. See l. 1368. _seme_ is properly a load

for a pack-horse.

"An hors is strengur than a mon,

Ac for hit non i-wit ne kon,

Hit berth on rugge grete _semes_,

And draȝth bi-vore grete temes."

—(Owl and Nightingale, ed. Wright, p. 27.)

1372 _min erdne ðu forðe selðhelike_, mine errand do thou perform,

accomplish successfully. _forðe_ = _forðen_. See Orm. l. 1834; Ancren

Riwle, p. 408; Laȝ. l. 31561. 1373 _lene_, grant, still exists in _lend_,

_loan_, etc.

1375

_He bad hise bede on good sel_,

He offered his prayer (in good time) opportunely.

P. 40. l. 1379 _ilc on_ = each one.

1382

_Ne wor nogt so forð ðeuwe numen_,

The custom had not been so forth (up to that time) practised.

1388 _bofte_ = _bi-ofte_, behoof; cf. O.E. _byefþe_, _bi-ofþe_. See l.

1408. 1390 _beges_ = bracelets, armlets, probably from A.Sax. _bugan_ (=

_beogan_), to bow, to bend. The original meaning of _beg_ is crown. In

Piers Ploughman 346, _beighe_ signifies a collar. In the Middle High German

version of the Book of Genesis (ed. Diemer) it is stated that Eliezer, for

love, gave Rebekah

"Zwêne ôringe

und zuêne arm-_pouge_

ûz alrôteme golde."

1391 _ghe_ seems to be an error for _he_. 1394 _kiddit_ = made it known,

showed it. 1397 _good grið_ = good entertainment. 1398 _Him_ (the dative of

the personal pronoun), for him.

1404

_Quilc selðe and welðhe him wel bi-cam_,

What prosperity and wealth had well befallen him.

1409 _wið-ðan_, with-that, thereupon.

1410

_fagneden wel ðis sondere man_,

welcomed well this messenger.

_fagnen_ is literally to make _fain_ or glad, to welcome, entertain;

_sondere man_. The proper form is _sondes-man_. Ancren Riwle, p. 190.

Cf. _loder-man_ for _lodes-man_, l. 4110, p. 117; and _sander-bodes_, O.E.

Hom. 2nd S. p. 89.

P. 41. ll. 1411-12

When God hath it so ordained,

As he sendeth so it shall be.

1417 _garen_, to prepare (to set out), to make _yare_, to get ready.

1419-20

For entreaty nor meed not would he there.

Over one night delay no (any) more.

_drechen_ is (1) to trouble, annoy, (2) to hinder, delay.

(1) "Sir Pilates wife dame Porcula

Tille hir Lord thus gan say—

'Deme ȝe noght Ihesus tille ne fra,

Bot menske him that ȝe may

I have bene _drechid_ with dremes swa,

This ilk night als I lay.'"

—(Gospel of Nichodemus, Harl. MS. 4196.)

(2) "Quhen Claudius þe manhed kend

Of þe Brettownys, he message send

Tyl Arẅyragus, þan þe kyng

Þat Brettayne had in governyng,

For til amese all were and stryfe,

And tak his dochtyr til his wyfe,

And to Rowme þat Tribwte pay

Wycht-owtyn _drychyng_ or delay."—(Wyntown, vol. i. p. 92.)

In the Cursor Mundi we are told that _wanhope_ (despair) causes

"Lathnes to kirc at sermon here

_Dreching_ o scrift (delay of shrift)," etc.—(Cott. MS. Vesp. A. iii.)

1427 _Or or_ first ere, i.e. before. 1428 _morgen-giwe_ = _morgen-giue_,

nuptial gift, the morning gift, the gift of the husband presented to the

wife on the morning after marriage. See Ancren Riwle, p. 94. Hali Meid. p.

39. 1430 _godun dai_, good day. _godun_ = _godne_, the accusative of the

adjective.

"He let clipie þe saterday:

Þe freres bifore him alle

And bed alle _godne_ day."—(St Dunstan, l. 200.)

1434 _sondes fare_, the journey of the messenger (Eliezer). 1437 _on

felde_ = the O.E. _afelde_. 1439 _Eððede_ = _eðede_, alleviated, is

connected with the O.E. _eþe_ (_eað_), easy, and literally signifies

softened. 1440 _Of faiger waspene_, of fair form; _waspene_ is evidently an

error for _wasteme_ or _wastene_. "He seh þeos seli meiden marherete ... þe

schimede ant schan al of wlite (face) ant of _wastum_ (form)."—(Seinte

Marherete, p. 2.) "In þis burh was wuniende a meiden swiðe ȝung of ȝeres,

two wone of twenti, feir ant freolich o wlite & o _westum_."—(St Kath. p.

69.) 1442 _Here samening_, their union, intercourse.

1444

_And sge ne bi-spac him neuere a del._

And she contradicted him never a whit.

_bispeke_ in O.E. also signifies to threaten. See Castle of Love, l. 221.

P. 42. l. 1448

_Abraham dede hem siðen sundri wunen_,

Abraham assigned them afterwards sundry abodes.

1456

_Him bi-stoden wurlike and wel_,

Mourned for (bewailed) him worthily and well.

See ll. 716, 3857. _wurlike_ = _wurðlike_, worthily. 1461-4 Long it was ere

she him child bare, And he entreated God, when he became aware of it

(_i.e._ that Rebekah was barren), That he should fulfil that promise, That

he to Abraham erewhile made. 1463 _fillen_, to fulfil, accomplish. See Orm.

i. 91. _quede_, promise, saying, is the same as the O.E. _quede_, a

bequest, _quide_, a saying, from _queðe_, to say, still existing in

_quoth_. See Laȝ. i. 38, 43; ii. 151, 197, 613 ; iii. 3; Orm. ii. 321.

1467-8

At one burden she bore

Two, who were to her akin of blood.

_sibbe blod_ = O.H.G. _sippe-bluot_, blood relatives. Perhaps this line was

inserted by the author on account of the popular belief at this time, that

the birth of twins was an indication of unfaithfulness on the part of the

woman to her husband. 1469-71 Also it seemed to her day and night, As

(though) they wrought in fight (struggling, conflict), Which of them should

first be born. 1470 "And the children struggled together within her."—(Gen.

xxv. 22.) The following curious paraphrase of this passage occurs in the

Cursor Mundi, fol. 20b:—

"His wiif (Rebekah) þat lang had child forgane,

Now sco bredes tua for ane,

Tuinlinges þat hir thoght na gamen,

Þat in hir womb oft faght samen.

Swa hard wit-in hir wamb þai faght,

Þat sco ne might rest dai ne naght;

At pray to Godd ai was sco prest,

To rede hir quat þat hir was best;

Þat hir war best he wald hir rede.

Hir liif was likest to þe ded (death).

Strang weird was giuen to þam o were,

Þat þai moght noght þair strif forbere

Til þai had o þaim-seluen might

To se quarfor þat þai suld fight.

Fra biginning o þe werld

O suilk a wer was never herd,

Ne suilk a striif o childer tuin

Þat lai þer moder wamb wit-in.

Þair strut it was vn-stern stith,

Wit wrathli wrestes aiþer writh.

Bituix unborn a batel blind,

Suilk an was ferli to find.

He þat on þe right side lai

Þe tother him wraisted oft awai;

And he þat lay upon þe left,

Þe tother oft his sted him reft."

1470 _and_ = _an_ = in; or else _figt_ must be an error for _fagt_ =

fought; and _nigt_ = _nagt_. 1477 _Ghe_ is evidently an error for _ghet_ or

_get_, yet. _liues_ = alive. Cf. _newes_, anew, etc.

P. 43. l. 1484 _swete mel_, sweet meal (food), not sweet speech. "And Isaac

loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison."—(Gen. xxv. 28.) 1487 _seð a

mete_, sod a meat. "sod pottage."—(Gen. xxv. 29.) 1493 _mattilike weri_ =

_mattilike and weri_, overcome (faint) and weary. _Mattilike_ is connected

with the O.E. _mat_, _mote_, faint, half dead. See Allit. Poems, p. 12, l.

386.

1494

_Iacob wurð war he was gredi_,

Jacob became aware that he (Esau) was hungry.

—(See Gloss. s.v. _Gredi_.)

1495-6 "Brother," quoth he, "sell me those privileges Which are said to be

the first (eldest) son's." 1499 _bliðelike_, quickly; _blithelike_ has

often this sense in O.E. writers. 1501 _wurði wune_, a worthy (high, great)

privilege. 1503 _offrende sel_, offering time.

1504

_Was wune ben scrid semelike and wel_,

Was wont to be clothed seemly and well.

1506 _dede his ending_, came to his end (died). 1507 _heg tide_, hey (high)

days. 1510 _twinne del_, two-fold. 1511-12 And when the father were (should

be) buried, to have two portions of hereditary property. _ereward_ =

_erfeward_, is properly the guardian, keeper of the _erfe_ or inheritance,

and hence the heir, so that instead of _ereward riche_ we ought to read

_ereward-riche_, corresponding to the A.Sax. _yrfe-land_, hereditary land.

The _-riche_ is the affix found in O.E. _heven-riche_, heaven kingdom;

_kine-riche_, a kingdom; E. _bishoprick_. The _-ward_ (in _ereward_) =

_warder_, keeper, is found in O.E. _gate-ward_, _dore-ward_ (door-keeper),

_bat-ward_ (boat-keeper); _hey-ward_ (farm-yard keeper); _sti-ward_

(steward, the officer who originally had care of the highways or _sties_?).

P. 44. l. 1514 _then_, an error for _ten_, to go. 1515 _in wis_, in wise,

so that; but may we not read _in-wis_ = _i-wis_, indeed, truly? See l.

2521. 1518 _Holden wurðelike_, esteemed honourably, held in honour,

respect; _a_ may be for _and_, or for _aa_ = _aye_, ever.

1519-20

A hundred times as much waxed his honour,

So may God prosper where he will.

1521

_Niðede ðat folk_ [ðat] _him fel wel_,

That folk envied him because he prospered.

1522 And made him change his abode; _flitten_ is to remove, to _flit_.

"O land he (Noe) had ful grette plenté,

For him and for his sons thre;

Mast to tilth he gave him þan,

To _flitt_ þe breres he bigan;

Sua lang wit _flitting_ he þam sloght,

Þat wine-treis he þam wroght."

—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 13.)

1524 _trewðe fest_, _troth-fast_, pledged by troth or plighted faith;

_fest_ has usually the sense of confirming, pledging, in O.E.

"Þis neu forward (covenant) was _festened_ þan."

—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 23.)

1527-28

And age came upon Isaac,

_He_ became sightless and weak of (with) age.

_elde swac_ = _eldes wac_, weak of (with) age. 1531 _ðat_, what. 1535

_brogtes_, brought them. 1536 And she well knew the father's choice; _kire_

answers exactly to the later gloss, _wune_ = what is chosen, selected; S.

Sax. _cure_, choice.

"Þer stoden in þere temple

ten þusend monnen

þet wes þe bezste _cure_

Of al Brut-londe."—Laȝ. i. 345.

1537 And made exceedingly good, or very opportunely, that meat; _on sele_ =

_on-sele_, good, literally timely, opportunely; S.Sax. _on sele_, safely.

See note on l. 1542.

"Cnihtes fuseð me mid

leteð slæpen þene king

And fare we _on sele_."—Laȝ. i. 32.

sæ-men æfter

fóron flód-wége

folc wæs _on salum_.

_The_ sea men after

marched the flood way

_the_ folk prospered (was in prosperity).

—(Cædmon, 184, 13.)

1539 Clothed she Jacob and made him rough. 1542 _seles mel_, an error for

_selie mel_, good (timely) meal? Cf. _miries dale_ for _mirie dale_, l.

1038, p. 30. See Laȝ. i. 75; ii. 173.

"And þas word saide

Brutus þe _sele_ (the good)."—Laȝ. i. 30.

"haueð mi fader bi þære sæ

Castel swiðe _sæle_."—(_Ibid._ ii. 14.)

1544 For he handled him and found him rough. 1545 When he knew him,

opportunely he blessed him, faithfully and well. _on gode sel_, in good

time, opportunely. See note to l. 1542.

P. 45. ll. 1547-8

Heaven's dew and earth's fatness,

Abundance of wine and oil.

1550 Supply _and_ after _migt_.

1565-6

Quoth Esau, "right is his name

Called Jacob, to my disadvantage."

1569-70

Nevertheless, dear father, intreat I thee

That thou give me some blessing.

1573 _erðes smere_, earth's fatness; _smere_ is properly _fat_, grease,

butter. In the Orm. ii. 106 it is used in the sense of ointment. 1574

granted him blessing that was precious to him; _gere_ is evidently an error

for _dere_, beloved, dear, precious.

1575-6

For Idumea, that rich land,

Of pasture good, was in his hand.

_lewse_, cf. O.E. _leswen_, to pasture; _lezzer_[398] (Shropshire), a

pasture-land. (Wicliffe, 1 Kings xvi. 11; 1 Cor. ix. 7; Luke viii. 34.) "If

ony man schal entre by me, he schal be saved; and he schal go yn, and schal

go out, and he schal fynde _lesewis_." (Wicliffe, St John x. 9.) "Egipte

aȝenst kynde of oþer londes haþ plenté of corn; he is bareyne of _lesue_,

and whan he haþ plenté of _lesue_ it is bareyne of corn." (Trevisa's

translation of Higden's Polychronicon, vol. 1, p. 131.)

1577-8

Quoth Esau, "_The time of_ mourning shall pass away,

And _I_ shall take vengeance of (on) Jacob."

1577 _grot_ is a noun formed from the vb. to _grete_ (to weep, mourn), just

as _wop_ is from _wepe_ (weep). It is the same as the O.E. _gret_, _grete_,

cry, outcry.

P. 46. ll. 1583-4

"Be thou there," quoth she, "till Esau

Appeased be, who rages now."

_Eðe-moðed_ (= _eðe-moded_) is literally easy-minded, humble, mild, and

hence soft-mooded, appeased. S.Sax. _edmod_, _eadmodied_, _edmodie_. See

Laȝ. ii. 554; Ancren Riwle, 246, 278. The insertion of _be_ is necessary to

the metre as well as to the sense.

1588-9

Esau married _in order_ to annoy us

When he allied (himself to kin of Canaan) and is so foolish.

1591-2

Wherefore he maketh him stubborn and strong,

For he is mixed amongst that kin.

1594

_Ne bode ic no lengere werldes lif_,

I could endure (abide) no longer world's life.

1605 _an soðe drem_, in true dream. 1606 _heuene bem_ = heaven-beam (?),

the sun (?). 1610 _Lened_ = leaned; but the MS. also sanctions _leued_ =

remained; _and [Jacob] wurð ut-suuen_, and Jacob became cast out of

(aroused from) _his sleep_. 1615 _i_ = _ic_, I. It is common to find _i_

before _sal_, instead of the fuller _ic_.

P. 47. l. 1620 _amongus_ = _amonges_ = amongst. 1621 _a-gen cumen_ =

_agen-cumen_, return. 1623 _for muniging_ = for _a_ memorial. 1624 _And get

on olige_ = and poured on oil; _olige_ = the O.E. _olie_, _elye_ = oil;

_anelye_, to anoint. 1636 A well well-covered under a stone. 1638 _abiden_

(= abode) is the pret. pl. of _abide_. 1641 _sulden samen_ = should

assemble.

1649

_Iacob wið hire wente ðat ston_,

Jacob for her removed that stone.

_wið_ in O.E. signifies in, for, against, etc.

1651-2

And he made known he was her aunt's son,

And kissed her after kins-wise (as a relative).

_mouies_ is properly a female relative; S.Sax. _mawe_, _moȝe_, _mowe_, and

must be distinguished from _mæi_, _mey_, _may_, etc., a male relative. "Þis

ȝet þuncheð me wurst þæt tu þe ane hauest ouergan þi feder ant ti moder,

_meies_ ba ant _mehen_." (St Marherete, p. 16.)

"Nu is afered of þe

þi _mei_ and þi _mowe_;

Alle heo wereð þe weden

þat er weren þin owe."—(O.E. Miscell. p. 178.)

We occasionally, as in this instance, meet with the word in a more limited

sense.

"Annd hire _meȝhe_ Elysabaeþ

Wass gladd inoh & bliþe

Off hire dere child Iohan,

And lefliȝ ȝho himm fedd."—(Orm. i. 109.)

"Has þou her," þai said, "ani man,

Sun or dogter, mik or _mau_

To þe langand, or hei or lau."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 17.)

We even find a confusion between the two terms, as in l. 1761, p. 51, and

in the following passage:

"Loth went and til his _maues_ (sons-in-law) spak."

—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 17.)

P. 48. ll. 1655-6 Laban welcomed him (Isaac's son travelled from afar) in

friend's wise (friendly); _feren_ = S.Sax. _feorren_, afar, far, from a

distance. (See Ancren Riwle, p. 70, l. 3888.)

"The sonne, and monne, and many sterren

By easte aryseth swythe _ferren_."—(Shoreham, p. 137.)

1658 _and laban herte ranc_ = and Laban's heart was wrung (with pity)? for

_ranc_ read _wranc_ = _wrang_. 1666 _wað_ = _quað_, quoth, spoke. 1668 _wið

skil_, in reason, reasonably.

1671

_Luue wel michil it agte a-wold_

Love so great it ought prevail.

_agte awold_, have in power, prevail, avail. Cp. "Þerfore everyche Romayn

overcomeþ oþer is overcome wiþ flaterynge and wiþ faire wordes; and ȝif

wordes failleþ, ȝiftes schal hym _awelde_." (Trevisa's translation of

Higden's Polychronicum, vol. i. p. 253.) 1676 _tog_ = _toc_ = took.

1681

_long wune is her driuen_,

long custom is here held (practised).

P. 49. l. 1693 _londes kire_, custom of the land (country). 1700 _caldes_,

called them. Cf. _calde is_ in l. 1702. 1706 _ille bi-nam_, foully

ravished. 1712 _charen_, to depart, literally to turn. 1713 _ðelde_ an

error for _gelde_ = should requite.

1713-14

Unless Laban should reward better

His service, and withhold (retain) him yet.

1715 _serue he scriðed_ = he entreated _him_ to serve.

1719-26

Covenant is made of all sheep,

Jacob should take charge _of those_ of one colour,

And if of those, spotted _ones_ came,

Those should be taken for hire (wages).

Sheep or goat, speckled, streaked, or gray,

Are placed from Jacob far away;

Nevertheless those of one colour

Bore many unlike and dissimilar.

P. 50. l. 1723 _haswed_ = _haswe_, "livid, a sad colour mixed with blue."

It also signifies rugged, shaggy. 1726 _vn-like_ = unlike in colour. It may

be, however, an error for _on-like_ = alike; _likeles_, unlike, dissimilar

in form. 1729 _ðe sunder bles_, the diverse coloured ones. 1736 To be under

him longer is displeasing to him. 1740 _clipping time_, shearing time. See

Allit. Poems, A. 802. 1747 _for-olen_ = _for-holen_, secreted.

P. 51. l. 1758

_ðus meðelike spac ðis em_,

thus kindly (mildly) spake this uncle.

1761-2

My relative, my nephew, my fellow (companion)

Thou oughtest not to do me such unlawfulness (wrong).

_mog._ See note to l. 1651.

1763-4

I was afraid it might occur to thee

To take thy daughters from me.

1765 _fro_ an error for _for_ (?).

1767

Theft I deny, that is my advice,

That he be dead (put to death) with whom thou findest them (thy gods).

1768-9 _is_ = them. 1771 _yuel ist bi-togen_, evil is there accused =

wrongfully has accusation been made, i. e. I am accused of a crime.

_bitogen_, the p.p. of _biteon_, signifies also _befallen_. _bitogen_ may

be an error for _bilogen_. 1772 My labour about thy property is drawn

(taken up), i. e. I am troubled about thy property. 1774 And to me was

thine honour dear; _wurðing_ = honour, respect, good opinion. 1775 _fend

sule wit ben_, friends shall _we two be_. 1776 And troth plight (pledge)

now _us two_ between. 1779 _glað_ = glad. 1782 Turned backward ere it was

light. 1783 _of weie rad_, quickly away. _of liues_ = alive; _of kin_ =

akin. 1784 Soon was he far from Laban separated. 1786 _Engel-wirð_ =

_engel-wird_, a troop, multitude of angels.

"Þer wes Bruttene _weored_

baldeliche isomned."—(Laȝ. ii. 412.)

1787 _wopnede here_, a weaponed (armed) host.

"_iwepned_ wel alle

heo wenden to þan walle."—(Laȝ. i. 401.)

"& sone anan se þiss wass seȝȝd

Þurrh an off Godess enngless,

A mikell _here_ off enngleþeod

Wass cumenn ut of heoffne,

& all þatt hirdeflocc hemm sahh

& herrde whatt teȝȝ sungenn."—(Orm. i. 115.)

"He comuth with so gret _here_

Wondur is the ground may heom beore."—(Kyng Alys., p. 91, l. 2101.)

P. 52. l. 1797-8

And Jacob sent far before

Him rich gifts, and sundry bearers.

1798 _loac_ = _lac_, _loc_, a gift, present.

"ðe riche reoðeren

& scheop & bule,

hwa se mihte

brohten to _lake_."—(St. Kath. 63.)

"And bi þatt allterr wass þe _lac_

O fele wise ȝarkedd."—(Orm. i. 34.)

"Alle hii nemen þat _lock_."—(Laȝ., later copy, ii. 320.)

_boren_ = bearers. A.S. _bora_. 1804 The sinews sprang from the limb. _lið_

= member, limb. See Hampole's P. of C. 1917.

1805-6

Would they (Jacob's kin) no sinews thenceforth eat,

His own kin will not forget that usage.

1808 Till the dawning up from the east burst. 1811 _leate_ = _lete_,

relinquish. 1818 How shall any man be able to hurt thee? 1826 And honoured

him as the first-born; _wurðe_ should be _wurð[ed]e_. 1828 _ðo rew him so_,

then had he such compassion upon Jacob.

P. 53. l. 1829 _trume_, host. (See Guy of Warwick, p. 291; Laȝ. iii. 73,

107.)

"And he arayeth hare _trome_

As me (one) areyt men in fyȝt."—(Shoreham, p. 108.)

Cp. _shel-ter_ = or _scheltron_ = _schild-trume_. 1833 Jacob was sorrowful

that he forsook (refused) them (the presents). 1835 _hol and schir_ = whole

and sound; _schir_ = sheer, pure, undefiled. 1837 _him to frame_ = for his

own use. 1840 _tgelt_ = _tyelt_ = encamped. Cf. Ger. _zelt_; Eng. _tilt_.

1843 There King Emor sold him a _piece of_ ground. 1848 She departed

leave-less (without permission) from that place. 1851 Her own counsel

misled (ruined) her. We might read

_for hire listede hire owen red_,

for her own counsel pleased her.

1854

_And his burge-folc fellen in wi_,

And his people (borough-folk) fell in war.

_wi_ = _wig_ = war. Cf. Semi-Sax. _wiȝe_, battle, conflict. (Laȝ. i. 201;

ii. 260; iii. 5.) _wi-ax_, _wi-eax_, a battle-axe. (Laȝ. i. 67, 96, 166,

286.) 1855 _bi-speken_, blamed. Cf. _bi-spac_, l. 1444, p. 41.

P. 54. l. 1872 _Gol prenes_ = _golde prenes_ = gold brooches. _Prene_ is

connected with O.E. _preonne_, to sew up. (See O.E. Miscell, p. 172, l.

68.) Sc. _prin_, a pin.

1873-4

Deep he them buried under an oak,

No covetousness made him weak (disobedient) in heart.

1877-8

For Solomon shall find them,

And his temple deck withal.

1887 _merke dede_, set up a mark (monument).

P. 55. ll. 1901-2

Of Edom so it was named then,

For it was before called Bozra.

1906 _deden un-red_ = committed sin; _unred_, want of wisdom, miscounsel,

folly, wickedness. (See Owl and Nightingale, 161.)

"For _unræd_ is swiðe ræh (rash)."—(Laȝ. i. 278.)

1910 _Brictest of waspene_ (_wasteme_), brightest of form; _witter wune_ =

skillwise, skilful, of good abilities. 1912 _vn-hillen & baren_, discover

and lay bare (disclose); _vnhillen_ = O.E. _unhelen_. (See Surtees, Ps.

xxviii. 9.)

1914 _wel-ðewed_, well conducted, well behaved.

1915

_for-ði wexem wið gret nið_;

unless _wexem_ = _wex hem_, we should perhaps read,

_for-ði he wexen wið gret nið_,

Wherefore they increased in great envy (jealousy).

_wið_ = in. 1919 _soren_ = _shorn_ = reaped. _Shear_ is still an E.Anglian

term for to reap.

"And I sal say til men _scherande_,

Gaderes the darnel first in bande,

And brennes it opon the land,

And _scheres_ sithen the corn rathe,

And bringes it unto my lathe."

—(Met. Hom. p. 146.)

1920 _here_ = theirs. Cf. _ure_ = ours. 1923 _hu mai ðis sen_, how may this

appear (be seen). 1928 _siðe_ = _siðen_ = afterwards. 1934 In Dothan he

found them come. _sogt_ = sought = come, arrived? 1935 _fro feren_ = from

afar.

P. 56. l. 1942 _ðisternesse_ = _cisternesse_ = cistern. (See l. 1960.)

Cistern occurs in the Middle High German Book of Genesis and Exodus, ed.

Diemer, p. 75.

"Nu sehet ze dem trômære, er bringet nivmare

Slahen wir den selben hunt,

Werfen in in der _zisterne_ grunt."

1942-4

In this pit, old and deep,

Yet shall he be cast, naked and cold,

What-so(ever) his dreams may signify.

1943 _wurðe_ = _wurð e_ = _wurð he_ (?) = he shall be. 1950 _derne sped_ =

secret haste. I should prefer _derue sped_ = _derfe sped_, bold (wicked)

haste. 1952 _spices ware_ = _spices-ware_ = spicery. 1958 Than he should

there die in their power. 1961 _ðhogte swem_ = appeared grieved = was

sorrowful.

1962-3

Believed him to be slain, set up a cry

He will not cease, such sorrow he endured.

1962 _rem_, cry, outcry.

"ðanne _remen_ he alle a _rem_,

so hornes blast oðer belles drem (noise)."

—(O.E. Miscell., p. 21.)

1967-8

In kid's blood they turned it,

Then was there-on a piteous stain.

1968 _lit_ = stain.

"Ah wið se swiðe lufsume leores

Ha leien, se rudie

& se reade _i-litet_ (coloured)

eauereach leor

as lilie i-leid to rose,

Þæt nawhit ne þuhte hit

Þæt ha weren deade."—(St. Kath. l. 1432.)

"Saide Laverd of Basan torne, torne sal I,

In depnesse of þe se for-þi;

Þat þi fote be _lited_ in blode o lim,

Þe tunge of þi hundes fra faas of him."—(Ps. lxvii. 24.)

P. 57. ll. 1975-8

He wept, and said that "wild beasts

Have my son swallowed here."

His clothes rent, in hair (cloth) shrouded,

Long mourning and sorrow is him befallen.

1977 _haigre_.

"Þai sal be, als þe appocalips spekes,

In harde _hayres_ clende and in sekkes."

—(Hampole's P. of C., 4530.)

1980 _hertedin_, consoled; literally encouraged him (to hope that his son

was still alive). 1982 _herting_ = consolation. 1989 _skiuden_ for

_skinden_ = went. 1992 They made quickly a gainful covenant. 1995 _wol_ =

_wel_ = very.

1999, 2000

But he became then so naturally cold,

To do such deed had he no power.

2004 The author of the poem seems to have confounded Potiphar with

Poti-pherah, the priest of On. (See Gen. xli. 45.)

P. 58. l. 2011 _an heg_ for _and heg_ = and high. 2015 _One and stille_,

alone and secretly. 2019 Provided that he would with her wanton; _wile_

seems to be the same as _wigele_, to play, sport. May we not supply

_plaige_, play, before _wile_? 2020 But what she desired was displeasing to

him. 2024 But it was to him all alike displeasing. 2025 _tgeld_ = _tyeld_ =

tent. Cf. _tilt_ (of a cart). 2030 _god_ = _goð_ = goes.

2031-2

And saith Joseph would do to her,

What she might not prove (or bring) against him.

2031 _seið_, says.

2035-6

The blame is his, the right is hers,

May God almighty discern the truth.

_wite_, blame, still exists in _twit_; O.E. _at-wite_.

P. 59. l. 2043 _chartre_ for _cwartre_ = prison.

"Forr nass nohht Sannt Johan ȝët ta

Intill _cwarrterrne_ worrpenn."—(Orm. ii. 270.)

2044 _in hagt_, in sorrow. We might translate ll. 2042-4 as follows:—"The

gaoler did love him, and hath entrusted him the prison to live in care with

the prisoners." 2045 _on-sagen_ = _un-sagen_ = O.E. _mis-saw_, opprobrious

language. 2047 One that the king's cup presented (the butler). 2049-50

_onigt_ = _anigt_, by night; _o-frigt_ = _afrigt_, in fright, affrighted.

2054 Hard (troublesome) dreams would cause that (_i. e._ cause them to

mourn). 2057 _softe or strong_ = pleasant or unpleasant. 2058 The

interpretation will on (to) God belong. 2059 _win-tre_, a vine.

"Me thoght I sagh a _win-tre_,

A bogh þar was wit branches thre;

O þis tre apon ilk bogh,

Me thoght hang _winberis_ inogh."—(Cursor Mundi, fol. 26.)

2060 That had full grown boughs three; _waxen_ = full grown, explains

Shakespear's _man of wax_. 2061 First it bloomed, and afterwards bore. 2062

Of the berries ripe became I aware. 2073 Present my petition (intercede for

me) to Pharaoh; _herdne_ = _ernde_. Cf. O.E. _wordle_ = world.

"Bute heore almesdede

heore _ernde_ schal bere."

But their alms-deed

Shall intercede for them.

—(O.E. Miscell. p. 164.)

2075 _kinde lond_, native land. 2076 And here wrongfully held in bond;

_wrigteleslike_ = _wrigte-les-like_, fault-less-ly; _wrigte_ = _wrihhte_, a

fault, crime.

"For niss nohht Godess griþþ wiþþ þa

Þatt wiþþrenn Godd onnȝæness,

Acc helle-wawenn iss till þa

All affterr þeȝȝre _wrihhte_."—(Orm. i. 136.)

P. 60. l. 2077 _liðeð nu me_, listen now to me. 2078 _bread-lepes_ =

bread-baskets. Cf. O.E. _bar-lepe_, a basket for keeping barley in. See

Townley Myst., p. 329; Wicliffe, Exod. ii. 3. _Leep_, or baskett (lepp. K).

Sporta, calathus, corbis.—(Prompt. Parv.)

2085-6

It were preferable to me (I had rather) quoth Joseph,

Tell the meaning of pleasant dreams.

2086 _rechen_ = _recken_ = to tell, explain; _swep_ = force, stroke. Cf.

the use of _bond_, _wold_, ll. 2114, 2122. 2088 _ben do[n] on rode_, be put

on the cross (be crucified).

2089-90

And fowls shall tear away thy flesh,

That no wealth shall be able to save thee.

2094 _wið-uten erd_, in _a_ foreign land. 2105 On a bush full grown and

very beautiful (seasonable? well-seasoned, prime?). 2107 _welkede_ =

withered. _drugte numen_, seized with drought (dryness).

P. 61. l. 2114 Who could explain the meaning of these dreams. 2119 _ðo

hogt_. Is _hogt_ an error for _logt_ = _lagt_, taken, or for _sogt_ =

sought? 2122 _ðis dremes wold_ = this dream's meaning. _Wold_ signifies (1)

power, (2) force, (3) meaning. 2130 _nedful_ = grievous; the O.E. _ned_

often signifies grief, trouble. 2132 _rospen and raken_, rasp and rake,

diminish and scatter. The Swedish _raka_ signifies to clip, shave, shear.

2134 _laðes_, barns. (See note to l. 1919.) Chaucer uses the word in the

Reve's Tale. "Berne or _lathe_, Horreum."—(Prompt. Parv.) 2136 _hungri

gere_, famine years. 2146 _so to-bar_, so _falsely_ accused him. (See

_baren_ in l. 1912.) In the Castle of Love _to-beren_ = disagree;

_to-boren_, at enmity, l. 49.

P. 62. l. 2153

The seven years of plenty pass away.

Joseph himself knew how to provide beforehand.

2161 _for nede sogt_, _sought_, come by compulsion. (See l. 2165.) 2163 _he

lutten him_, they did obeisance to him.

2167-8

Joseph knew them all in his thought (mind),

He made as _if_ he knew them not.

2176 For hunger doth (causes) them (Jacob's sons) hither to come.

2178 _bi gure bering_, by your behaviour. 2181 For seldom betideth even any

king.

P. 63. l. 2190 _ða_ = _ðat_; _pore_ is evidently an error for _gure_ =

your.

2191-2

For then was Joseph sore afraid

That he were also through them deceived.

2196 _ðe ton_ = the one. 2198 _to wedde_ = in pledge, as hostage.

"He said, 'Forsothe, a tokyne _to wedde_

Salle thou lefe with me.'"—(Sir Perceval of Galles, p. 19.)

2204 _Wrigtful_ = sinful. (See note to l. 2076.) 2209 For we denied him

mercy; _werneden_ = denied, refused.

"God schewes in his godspelle

Of þe riche man and laȝarus,

How þat he _warned_ him almus,

Þarfor God _warned_ him agayne

A drope of water, to sloken his payne

In þe fire of helle when he was þan."

—(Cott. MS. Tib. E. vii., fol. 37.)

2214 _pilt_ = O.E. _pult_, thrown, placed (R. of Gloucester, 3376, 459; Lay

le Freine, 136).

P. 64. l. 2219 _ouer-ðogt_, over-anxious. 2224 _ðo agtes_ = the monies.

2232 Death and sorrow come on me; _segeð_ = _sigeð_, cometh, alighteth,

falleth.

"& þi wracche (wretched) saule

[Scal] _siȝen_ to helle."—(Laȝ. ii. 186.)

2233 _bi-lewen_ = _bi-liuen_ = remain.

2235-8

Then quoth Judah, "It will go hard with us,

If we do not keep our agreement with him."

Famine increased, this corn is gone,

Jacob again biddeth them go again (to Egypt).

2241-2

Then quoth he, "When (since) it is necessary,

And _I_ know no better plan."

2249 God grant that he may be kindly disposed (towards you); _eði-modes_ =

_eðe-moded_ (see note to l. 1584). 2252 _ligt_ = soon; literally easily,

without difficulty. 2254 Kind thought (natural affection) was in his heart

then; _ðag_ = _ða_ = _ðo_ = then, is necessary for the sense and the rhyme.

P. 65. l. 2255 _gerken_ = O.E. _ȝarke_, Mod. Eng. _yark_, prepare, get

ready.

"He lætte bi sæ flode

_ȝearkien_ scipen gode."—(Laȝ. i. 111.)

2258 None of them had then merry cheers (countenances). 2262 _ur non_, none

of us; _ur_ should be properly _ure_. Cf. l. 2260, where we have _gur_ for

_gure_.

2267-8

Very glad (fain) he was of their coming,

For he was held there as a prisoner.

_to nome_ may have the same signification as the phrase _to wedde_ = as

hostage, as security; _nome_ (_nom_?), derived from _nimen_, to take,

capture, signifies seizure. Cf. _wop_ from _wepe_ (weep), _grot_ from

_grete_ (lament, cry), _lop_ (flee) from _lepe_ (leap, run), etc. 2269

_vndren time_ = A.Sax. _undern-tid_; _vndren_ is the Prov. _aandorn_,

_oandurth_, _orndorn_. It literally denotes "the intervening period, which

accounts for its sometimes denoting a part of the forenoon, or a meal taken

at that time, and sometimes a period between noon and sunset."—(Garnett.)

2275 And he willingly accepted it. 2279 Know I that none of them but what

trembles.

2287-9

Soon he went out, and secretly he wept,

That all his face became wet with tears.

After that weeping, he washed his face.

P. 66. l. 2295 _of euerilc sonde_, of every dish, of every mess; _sond_

signifies a dish, mess, meal. S.Sax. _sonden_, _sunde_, viands.

"wanliche (bad) weoren þa _sonden_."—(Laȝ. iii. 32.)

"þas beorn þa _sunde_

(þes beare þe _sondes_)

from kuchene to þan kinge."—(Laȝ. ii. 611.)

"Hwer beoð þine disches

midd þine swete _sonde_?"—(O.E. Miscell., p. 174.)

2297 In abundance they became glad. 2302 _ðeden_ = peoples. 2311 _weren ...

went_ = had gone. 2316 _vn-selðehe_ = _vnselðe_, misfortune, evil.

"Her waas _unnseollþe_ unnride inoh

Till an mann forr to dreȝhenn."—(Orm. i. 165.)

"Ah ich heom singe, for ich wolde

That hi wel understonde schulde

That sum _unselthe_ heom is i-hende (near)."

—(Owl and Nightingale, p. 43.)

Later writers use the word in the sense of wickedness. (See Shoreham's

Poems, p. 43.) 2314 _bi-calleð_, accuses. See Ywain and Gawin, p. 21, l.

491. 2318 _gure on_ = one of you. 2320 _vp_ = _vpe_ = _upon_.

"Moni of þisse riche

þat wereden foh and grei,

An rideþ _uppe_ stede

and uppen palefrai,

Heo schulen atte dome,

suggen weilawei."—(O.E. Miscell., p. 164.)

P. 67. l. 2335 Provided that thou spare Benjamin. 2341 _so e gret_ = _so he

gret_, so he wept. 2342 That all his face became wet of (with) tears. See

l. 2356. 2354 _sundri_ = _on-sundri_, apart. 2356 _Ilc here_, each of them.

P. 68. l. 2367 _twinne srud_, two _changes of_ raiment. 2369 _fif weden_,

five garments. 2373 _wið semes fest_, with burdens loaded. 2380 He knew not

who they were (on account of their princely garments). 2384 All Egypt in

his power is placed (fixed). 2390 _or ic of werlde chare_, ere I from the

world go (turn) = ere I die.

P. 69. l. 2399 _derer_, an error for _derë_ = beloved. 2400 How many years

are on thee. 2403 _fo_ = few; O.E. _fowe_. Cp. Northern _fon_, few, in

Hampole's P. of C. 2404 Although I have passed (suffered) them in woe. 2406

_her vten erd_ = here in foreign lands. See l. 2410. 2412 _seli mel_, good

sustenance (food). Cf. l. 1542. 2416 _y-oten_ = _y-hoten_, called.

2427-31

So was it pleasing to him to be laid,

Where the Holy Ghost secretly had said

To him and his elders, far ere before,

Where Jesus Christ would be born,

And where be dead, and where be buried.

P. 70. l. 2435 _Or ðan_ = ere that.

2441-3

Joseph caused his body to be honourably prepared (for burial),

To be washed, richly anointed,

And with spices to be scented.

_Smaken_ usually signifies to taste, savour, but here means to scent, to be

scented. _Smac_ in the Owl and Night., 821, is used for scent, while in the

Ayenbite of Inwyt it has the sense of flavour.

"Zalt yefþ _smac_ to þe mete."

See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s. v. _Smach_.

2444-9

And Egypt's folk him bewaked,

Forty nights and forty days,

Such were Egypt's laws;

_The_ first nine nights the bodies they bathe,

And anoint, and shroud, and bewail

And watch them afterwards forty nights.

2451-5

And Hebrew folk had a custom,

Not immediately to bury it with iron,

But to wash it (the corpse) and keep it right,

Without anointing, seven nights,

And afterwards (keep it) anointed thirty days.

2452 _yre_ = iron; O.E. _ire_, _iren_ (Owl and Night. 1028). The form

_ize_, iron, is also met with in O.E. writers. (See Ayenbite, pp. 110,

133.) 2454 _smerles_, ointment, belongs to the same class of words as

_feteles_, a vessel, _reckeles_, incense, etc. "þe _smeryels_ ne is naȝt

worþ to hele þe wonde ne non oþer þing þer huile þet þet yzen is

þerinne."—(Ayenbite, p. 174.)

2459-60

For truth and with good deeds,

Done is then all that watch-deed.

2460 _wech-dede_, vigils. 2463 And some every year as it happens or comes

round. 2465 Do for the dead church-going; _chirche-gong_ = church-going.

"Þe gret cyte of Medes suþþe afure he (William) sette,

Vor me (one) ne myȝte non _chyrche gong_ wyþ out lyȝte do."

—(R. of Gloucester, p. 380.)

2467 And that is instead of the vigils.

P. 71. l. 2472 _daiges_ is evidently an error for _laiges_, laws. See l.

2456. 2479 _wis of here[n]_, skilful in arms. 2487 _ouer-pharan_ =

_ouer-faren_, pass over _or_ beyond Pharan. 2488 _in biriele don_, put into

the tomb. "And whanne Jhesus hadde comen over the water at the cuntre of

men of Genazereth, twey men havynge develis runnen to him, goynge out fro

_birielis_ (tombs), ful feerse, _or wickid_, so that no man miȝte passe by

that way."—(Wicliffe, St. Matt. viii. 28.) 2498 _To beðen meðe_, to

supplicate for mercy; _beðen_ may be an error for _beden_, to entreat,

_bedden oc_ = _beoden oth_ = to offer oath [of obedience].

P. 72. l. 2505-12

"It shall," quoth he, "be fulfilled

What God before hath to our elders sworn;

He shall lead you in his hand

Hence to that promised land;

For God's love I yet entreat you;

Perform it (my prayer) then, promise it now

That my petition shall not be lost (sight of);

With you let my bones be borne.

2510 _Lested_ = _lesteð_, perform. 2514 God bring the soul into bliss. 2516

_egipte-like_, after the custom of the Egyptians. 2521 _to ful in wis_ =

_to ful-iwis_, very full (completely), indeed. See l. 109. Orm uses the

word _fuliwis_, _ful iwiss_, _fuliȝwiss_, in the sense of certainly, truly.

See Gloss. to Orm, s. v. _fuliwis_. 2524 _for lefful soules ned_, for the

need of faithful souls. 2528 May God help him kindly (joyfully). For the

meaning of _weli_ see Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s. v. _wely_. 2529 And

preserve his soul from sorrow and tears. 2532 God grant them in his bliss

to have pleasure; _spilen_ signifies to sport, live pleasantly.

"Þan was Uortigerne þa king

in Cantuarie-buri.

Þer he mid his hirede,

hæhliche _spilede_ (nobly diverted themselves)."

—(Laȝ. ii. 153.)

"dâ was _spil_ unde wunne

under wîben unde manne.

vone benche ze benche

hiez man allûteren wîn scenchen:

Si _spilten_ unde trunchan

unz in iz der slâf binam."

—(M.H.G. version of Genesis and Exodus, ed. Deimer.)

P. 73. l. 2544 _hatel_, severe, cruel. See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s. v.

_Hatel_. 2546 _seli sið_, prosperity. 2547 Quoth (spoke) this king with

them, secretly, in council. 2548 _michil sped_ = great speed, rapidly. 2553

_feten_ seems to be an error for _seten_, made. 2555 _vn-ðewed swinc_,

unaccustomed (extraordinary) labour; _vn-ðewed_ also signifies immoral,

wicked. See Orm. i. 74, Allit. Poems, B, l. 190. 2556 _fugel_ = _ful_,

foul, loathsome. 2560 They caused them to creep along (or through) dikes;

_dikes_ = O.E. _diches_, may here signify subterraneous passages, burrows;

or perhaps _dikes_ = sewers, from the allusion to _muc_ and _fen_. "And

Jhesus said to him, Foxes han _dichis_, or _borowis_, and briddis of the

eir han nestis, but mannes sone hath not where he reste his

heued."-(Wicliffe, St. Matt. viii. 20.)

2561-2

And wide about (through) the cities to go,

And come where none had been before.

2564 _comb_, crest or top (?). 2567 _ðhogen_ = _ðogen_, throve. See l.

2542.

P. 74. l. 2575 But they disobeyed from fear of God. 2578 They defended

themselves with lies.

2581-2

God requited it these women well,

On _their_ homes, _their_ wealth, _a_ happy time.

_eddi sel_ is, literally, pleasant time, but may here denote prosperity,

success, etc. 2583 _opelike_ = openlike, openly. 2588 _Abraham_ is an error

for _Amram_, _i.e._ Amram was Moses' first name. 2590 _dreful and bleð_,

sorrowful and afraid; _bleð_. In A.Sax. _bleað_ = gentle, slow; _blæt_ =

miserable; the S.Sax. _blæð_ = destitute, poor; _bliðere_, cowardlier. 2594

Nor could she take him stealthily (secretly) of (from) the water; or

_stelen_ may signify to still, to quiet. 2595 _rigesses_ = rushes. Cf. Sc.

_reesk_, _reyss_. 2596 _terred_ = _tarred_, pitched.

P. 75. l. 2609-10

God had such beauty him given,

That the very foes let him live.

2611-5

Egypt's women came near,

And bad _her_ leave the child there,

But she took it away with a cry (scream);

Of their command took she no heed.

2613-4 _he_ = _ghe_ = she. It cannot be the plural _he_ = they, for this

would require _namen_ instead of _nam_. 2621 On whose _teat_ (paps) he soon

hath seized. 2629 _on sunes stede_, instead of a son. See l. 2637. 2639

_ayne_ [= _ane_] _stund_, one minute. 2644 _ðis timing_ = this occurrence,

this timely assistance.

P. 76. l. 2647-8

If help had not run between

This child had then soon been killed.

2650-8 He said, "The child doth as he knows (_i. e._ acts according to the

extent of his knowledge); we shall now learn whether it did this wittingly,

or in childishness." He offered this child two burning coals, and he took

them; how was he able to bear it? and in his mouth so deep he placed them,

that his tongue's end is burnt therewith; therefore said the Hebrews truly

that he afterwards spake indistinctly. This legend is thus given in Lady

Eastlake's Life of Our Lord:—"Therefore when he (Moses) was three years of

age she (Thermutis) brought him to Pharaoh, who caressed him, and in sport,

put the crown on his head, when the child eagerly pulled it off, and dashed

it to the ground; for it is said that the crown was engraved within with

figures of idols, which Moses instinctively abominated.... Those around

Pharaoh looked upon it as a bad omen, and they counselled the king that he

should be slain; but another counsellor said that he should be pardoned,

because he was too young to know right from wrong; and a third counsellor

said, 'There is in this child something miraculous and uncommon. Cause,

therefore, a burning coal and a ruby ring to be set before him; and if he

take the ring it will show that he knows right from wrong, and then let him

be destroyed, lest he spoil the kingdom of Egypt. But if he take up the

burning coal, it will show that he is too young to know right from wrong,

and then let his life be spared.' Then the king said, 'Let the hot burning

coal and the king's signet ring (which was a large shining ruby) be placed

side by side, and we shall see what he will do.' And immediately the child

stretched out his hand to take the signet ring; but the angel Gabriel (who

instantly took the form of one of the attendants) turned his hand aside,

and the child Moses took up the burning coal, and put it to his mouth, and

his tongue was burnt therewith, so that he was unable afterwards to speak

distinctly, even to the end of his days." 2652 _childhede_; "ac zeþþe ich

com to elde of vol man, ich vorlet alle mine _childhedes_."—(Ayenbite, p.

208.) 2653 _brennen_ = _brennende_, burning; _to_ = _two_. 2654-5 _is_ =

them. 2658 _miserlike_ = S.Sax. _misliche_, variously, differently; and,

hence, thickly, indistinctly. The form _miser-like_ may be a corruption of

the A.Sax. _missen-lic_, dissimilar. _Misliche_ in Owl and Nightingale, l.

1771, signifies erroneously. 2662 _b[i]leph_ = _bi-lef_, remained.

2665-8

By that time that he was a youth (young man)

With (for) beauty and strength renowned,

The Ethiopian folk on Egypt came,

And burnt, and slew, and vengeance took.

2675-8

Teremuth scarcely might bring it about (prevail)

That Moses shall with them forth-go,

Ere she have her pledged and sworn,

That to him shall be borne (kept) honourable faith.

2676 _hire_, an error for _hem_, them. 2677 _he_ = _ghe_ = she. 2680 _were_

(a substantive from _weren_, to defend), a defender, protector. Cf. _dere_,

harm, from _deren_, to hurt.

P. 77. l. 2682 _vn-warnede_, unexpected. This enables us to correct the

reading _unwarde_ in l. 480. 2688 _ut-ðhurg_ = out-through, throughout. Cf.

O.E. _ut-with_, without, _in-with_, within, etc. 2696 Nevertheless that

sojourn was very distasteful to him. 2701 _meten_ is the p.p. of _mete_, to

measure. 2702 _This_ causes remembrance, _the other_ causes forgetfulness.

2703 _He fest is_ = he fixed them. 2704 Gave her the first _gem_; he was

kind to her. Two lines seem missing after this line. We might supply the

following:—

And quan awei nimen [faren] he wolde

Gaf hire ðe toðer, he was hire colde.

And when he would go away, he gave her the other gem, and was distasteful

to her. 2708 _e_ = he. 2712 _a modi stiward_, a moody (proud) steward. 2714

That seemed to Moses _a_ great shame.

P. 78. ll. 2718-20

And secretly he buried him in the sand,

He weened that no Egyptian

Had known it, or should have seen it.

2720 _a sen_ may signify 'have seen.' Northumbrian _ha_, to have; but more

probably we should read _a-sen_, to see, the infinitive being required

after _sulde_, so that _sulde a-sen_ = should see. In the Romans of King

Alysaundre _asen_ occurs as the p.p. of _a-see_, to see. Cf. our modern

words _wake_ and _awake_, _rise_ and _arise_, etc. These double forms were

far more common in O.E. writers than in the modern stage of our language.

2727 And enquired _of_ him what it should mean. 2730 _to rad_, too hasty.

2736 _his weige ðeðen ches_ = chose (took) his way thence.

P. 79. l. 2757 _ðewe and wursipe_, courtesy and honour. 2758 _estdede_,

kindly deed (actions). (See Owl and Nightingale, l. 997.) _Esste mete_

occurs in the Ormulum for delicate meat (food), etc.

"Ac thar lond is bothe _este_ and god."

—(Owl and Nightingale, p. 36, l. 1029.)

2764 To wife in law he her took; _in lage_ = in law, in marriage, is an

early use of a common phrase. 2769 And Moses had gone on a time. 2771 To

look after the condition of the herds. 2775 _brennen_ = _brennende_. See l.

2653. 2776 And nevertheless green and whole remained. 2783 _in min geming_,

under my care (protection). 2788 _milche_, milk; _queðen_, to promise.

P. 80. l. 2789 _an_ = _in_. 2790 _on hond_ = _on-hond_, soon, speedily.

Ger. _in die hand_. (See Laȝ. vol. ii. pp. 96, 106, 251, 264.) 2792 _to

ðan_, to that = for that purpose. 2797 If he refuse it and be there-_to_

contrary. 2803 _to token_, for a token (sign). Cf. _to wedde_, for a

pledge, etc. 2812 _fer_, sound, and hence _unfer_ (l. 2810), diseased. (See

Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, l. 103; Ormulum, i. 41, 153, 212.) 2815

_get_ = pour (see l. 582). 2817 _wanmol_ = un-eloquent; _wan_ occurs in

O.E. _wan-hope_, despair; _wan-trauthe_, disbelief; _mol_ is the same as

_moal_ (speech) in l. 81, p. 3; _vn-reken_ = un-ready, slow. (See Gloss. to

Allit. Poems, s. v. _reken_.) 2822 Who made the blind, and who the looking

(seeing)? 2824 _fultum_, aid, assistance.

Þa cristine liðen after,

and heom on læide_n_,

& cleopeden Crist, godes sune,

beo_n_ heom a _fultume_.

The Christians pursued after,

and laid on them,

and called Christ, God's Son,

To be to them in aid (to help them).

—(Laȝ. ii. 264.)

P. 81. l. 2828 _vnsteken_, disclose. See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s. v.

_Steke_. 2830 _Gunc_ = you two. See Orm. i. 301; ii. 98. 2831 _funden_;

O.E. _founde_, to go, occurs in Allit. Poems, p. 63, l. 903. 2834 _of

liues_ = alive. 2838 _is werkes len_, reward of his works. 2845 _feren

swike_, unfaithful companions, that is, his two sons who were

uncircumcised. _he_ = they, refers to Moses and his wife. 2847-50 Zipporah

took this young lad, and made him to have circumcision, and wept, and

turned back frightened, and let Moses forth alone proceed. 2855 _Eyðer

[h]ere_ = each of them. 2856 _haueð is herte vt-dragen_ = hath his heart

out-drawn. Cf. our expression, to unbosom oneself, with the Ger. _sein herz

anschütten_.

P. 82. l. 2876-78

I defended so that thou wast rescued,

And laboured, and great sorrow endured,

Yet is it unseen (is it a secret) how I accomplished it?

2882 _hidel-like_ (= hidingly), secretly. Cf. O.E. _hidel_, a hiding place

(Ps. xxvi. 5). 2890 _to gode_, for good, gratuitously. 2891-2 And yet they

hold (keep up) the number of the tiles (bricks), and knead and bake (them),

great and small. 2894 And to God he made his complaint (bemoaning).

P. 83. l. 2900 _ðhunerg_ = _ðuner_; O.E. _thoner_, thunder. 2903 _Min

milche witter name_ may signify (1) my great wise name, or (2) my merciful

wise name. In (1) _milche_ = _michel_ = _mikel_, great; but in (2) it =

_milce_, mild, merciful. See l. 3603. 2918 _Iglic_ = _uglic_, ugly,

horrible. 2919 _wiches kire_, select (choice) witches. 2920 _in sowles

lire_, in soul's loss. 2926 And the heads of them all he bit off.

P. 84. l. 2934 _wit_ = we two. See Orm. vii. 73, H. i. 4, 300. 2935-6 This

king himself is very bitter against this folk, and of heart hard. 2938 And

try better with this token. 2947 _trike_, a rivulet, small stream,

evidently connected with the verb _trick-le_. 2951 _wreche_ = _wreke_,

vengeance, plague. Cf. _michel_ and _mikel_, _dike_ and _diche_, etc. 2957

_bot_ = _boot_, release, deliverance, is connected with O.E. _bete_, to

amend, to alleviate. 2962 _bi-tournen_ = _biturnen_, turn, change.

P. 85. l. 2969 _froskes here_ = host of frogs.

2977-8

Pole-heads (tadpoles) and frogs, and sport of podes (toads),

Bound hard Egypt's wretched folk.

_in sile_ = _vn-sile_ = _vn-sele_, miserable, wretched. Stratmann says that

_sile_ = _sele_, epirhedium. _Polheuedes_ (Provincial Eng. _pole-head_), a

tadpole. Palsgrave has _polet_. _Polly-wigs_, tadpoles. "Tadpoles,

_pole-wigges_, young frogs." (Florio, p. 212.) _Pol-wygle_, wyrme, occurs

in the Prompt. Parv. (Hall.); _pode_ = Prov. E. _pode_, _paddock_, a toad

(Shakespeare); W. Prov. E. _padstool_ = toadstool. (See King Alis. 6124.)

"ðare nakyn best of wenym may

Lywe, or lest atoure a day;

As ask, or eddyre, táde or _pade_,

Suppos þat þai be þiddyr hade."—(Wyntown, i. p. 15.)

2988 _up-wond_ = up-went, but literally up-wound. 2989 _on bite_, in

_their_ bite. 2990 _smite_, a blight, plague.

P. 86. l. 3011 _bad meðe_, entreated for mercy. 3013 _wroð_ = _worð_ =

_wurð_, became. 3014 And broke them that promise (see l. 3062). 3027 _dolc_

= O.E. _dolg_, wound, ulcer. O.E. _dolc_ = pin, tongue. 3037 _ðe to

un-frame_, to thy sorrow.

P. 87. l. 3045 _al sir_ = _all sheer_, clearly, openly. 3047 _vnghere_ may

be an error for _undere_ = badly, or, what is more probable, for _vngere_ =

unready, unexpectedly, _gere_ being the same as _gare_, _yare_, ready,

prepared. 3048 _bergles_ = unprotected, shelterless, from _bergen_, to

protect.

3055-6

Moses, cause this weather to turn,

And I shall let you out fare (go).

3058 _vnweder_, storm. See ll. 3059, 3061. _Weder_ in O.E. is often used

for a tempest, storm. See Ywaine and Gawin, 411; Wyntown, i. 387; Romaunt

of the Rose, 72, 4302. _atwond_, departed = away-wound, or away winded. Cf.

_at_ in _at-wot_, departed, p. 30, l. 1049. 3065 _gresseopp-e_,

grasshopp-e-r, locust. Cf. O.E. _hunt-e_, a hunt-e-r, etc.

"And to lefe-worm þar fruit gaf he,

And þar swynkes (labours) to _gress-hope_ to be."

—(Ps. lxxvii. 46.)

3066 And what the hail then left (untouched) shall all be consumed.

P. 88. l. 3075 _but_, without exception (?). 3077 _Hu_ = how? 3080 Erewhile

alone of men was _leave_ besought. 3086 _an newe figt_, in _a_ new

conflict. 3087 _skipperes_, the grasshoppers. See l. 3096, where _opperes_

is similarly used. 3088 They did on grass and corn injuries. 3102

_ðherknesse_ = _derknesse_, darkness, is a genuine form, and occurs in the

Coventry Mysteries:—"_Therknesse_, or derknesse, tenebre, caligo."—(Prompt.

Parv.) 3105 Many there suffered sorrow in life; _bead_ = _abead_, suffered.

3108 _sowen_ = _sogen_, saw. See l. 3329.

P. 89. l. 3111 _boden_ = both. See _bothen_ in Glossary to Morte Arthure,

ed. E. Brock. 3120 Death shall be avenged over you.

3123-6

Said God, "Yet I shall on Pharaoh,

Ere ye go out, put a plague

(Now I shall into Egypt go)—

Such a plague was never any before."

3131-2

I shall not fail you

Of what I have promised you.

3139 Every house-folk (family) that may permit of it.

3141-3

The tenth day it should be taken,

And kept on the tenth night,

And slain on the fourteenth day.

3144 _so it noten mai_, as may partake of it; _noten_ = O.E. _note_,

_naite_, to make use of, enjoy, eat.

P. 90. l. 3147 _bred_ = O.E. _brad_, roasted. (See Sir Gawayne and the

Green Knight, l. 891.) 3148 _wreken_, taken, thrown out. "God nele naȝt þet

me make, his hous marcat ne boþe, huerout he _wrek_ þo þet zyalde and boȝte

in þe temple."—(Ayenbite, p. 172.) 3150 _his owen fond_, his own wants

(need). 3153 _wriðel_; can it mean _haste_? (see Ex. xii. 11.) At first

sight it seems to be a derivative of _wirt_ (by metathesis _writ_), an

herb; but the mention of _rew mete[n]_ in l. 3151 renders this rather

doubtful. 3154 _bi-leuen_, the remainder. O.E. _lave_, _leve_, the

remainder. 3155 _dure-tren_ = door-trees, posts.

"For James the gentile

Jugged in hise bokes

That feith withouten the feet

Is right nothyng worthi

And as ded as a _dore-tre_

But if the dedes folwe."

—(Piers Ploughman, 833.)

_uuerslagen_ = _overslagen_, _ouerslage_, over-piece, lintel. "_Ovyrslay_

of a doore. superliminare."—(Prompt. Parv.) 3172 For their toil they now

have hire.

P. 91. l. 3206 _fro_ = _for_, on account of. 3211 _stunden_ does not mean

stood, but is a vb. (formed from the sb. _stund_, a stound, a short space

of time) signifying to delay awhile, to wait. 3212 How Pharaoh should act

toward them. 3213 Pharaoh summoned (assembled) out his army; _bannen_ = to

call to arms.

"Þa bleou Brutus

& _bonnede_ [_bannede_] his ferde."

Then blew Brutus his horn

And assembled his forces.

—(Laȝ. i. 75.)

3218 _of fote ren_ = swift of foot.

P. 92. l. 3220 _to werchen wi_, to work war, to make war upon. 3224 _ne

gate_ = _no gate_, no ways; _gate_ is often used by Northern writers as an

affix = -wise or -ways; as _al-gate_, _thus-gate_, etc. 3230 On (against)

Moses they set _up_ a cry. 3234 Supply _don_ after _gu_. 3235 _dregen wið

skil_, endure with patience. 3240 That for you ways (paths) may be well

prepared.

P. 93. l. 3255 _an skige_, a cloud. Cf. Milton's '_sky-tinctured_'

(Paradise Lost, Book V.).

"..... it ne left not a _skie_

In al the welkin long and brode."

—(House of Fame, iii. 508-511.)

3264 _daiening_ = _daigening_, dawning. 3271 _in twired wen_, in perplexing

doubt; _twired_ signifies two-fold (doubtful) counsel.

"and [Bruttes] dude_n_ swiðe vnwraste

...... alle his haste,

and weoren alle _twiræde_."

And Brutus did very evilly

all his behests,

and all were of two counsels.

—(Laȝ. ii. 392.)

3274 _helden_, an error for _holden_. 3275 _a morgen quile_, a morrow

while, a minute. 3282 _weken_ seems to be an error for _wreken_, taken (see

l. 3148.)

P. 94. l. 3292 _pert_ = _apert_, open, clear. 3300 _wlath_, the reading of

the MS., = _lað_, loathsome. But _wlach_ = brackish, properly _warm_; cp.

_luke_-warm. 3301 _a funden_ (discovered) _trew_ = a tree _which he_ found.

3310 _bred wantede_, bread failed.

3315

_Bet us were in egipte ben_,

It were better for us in Egypt to be.

3319 _on-dreg_ = 'bear up,' endure patiently. 3324 _so fele so_, as many

as.

P. 95. l. 3327 _ðis dewes cost_, the nature of this dew. For the meaning of

_cost_ see O.E. Miscell., pp. 12, 25; Allit. Poems, p. 66; Chaucer's

Knight's Tale. 3328 _rim frost_ = _rime frost_, hoar frost. 3338

_for-hadede_. Read ? _for-hardede_, hardened. 3340 That it gave a flavour

of honey and oil. 3341 _forbone mor_, more _than_ was bidden; _forbone_ may

be an error for _forbode_, prohibition, command; or we may read (and the

MS. will admit of it) _forboue_, above. Cf. _bi_ and _for-bi_, etc. 3345

Kept it apart in _a_ clean place. 3348 _vten leð_ = in a foreign land;

_withouten let_ = without cessation. 3353 Soon was that water wanting to

them. 3354 MS. _haue_; the rhyme requires _hane_; _ðrist hane_ signifies

torment of thirst.

P. 96. l. 3378 _here ðing_, their affairs. 3381 Moses prayed for the folk

_of_ Israel. 3385 For _leth is_ read _let his_. 3388 They supported them

with a stone. 3393 _bode_ seems wanting after _sente_. 3394 Of this

occurrence to have a memorial.

P. 97. l. 3398 _min blis_. Jehovah-nissi is generally explained as "The

Lord is my banner." 3410 _stering_, government, rule; _stere_ in ll. 3418,

3420, rule; _steres_, rulers, ll. 3413, 3415; _steres-men_, rulers, ll.

3417, 3429. 3412 _a meister wold_, a master (head) ruler, the same as

_ouer-man_, l. 3424. 3413 _tgen_ = _tyen_, ten. See l. 3418. 3414 _Ilc

here_, each of them. 3429-32 He bad them choose rulers, mighty, who are

God-fearing, truth-loving, and who strife and covetousness forsake. 3432

_niðing_ signifies not only strife, but niggardliness, wickedness,

slaughter, etc. O.E. writers usually employ the word in the sense of a

coward, villain, miser, etc.

P. 98. l. 3434 And willingly (gladly) _he_ received (accepted) it. 3438 _is

numen_, has gone. 3448 May we not read _Ic wile min folc cnowen be_ = I

will be known to my people?

3449-51

And Moses told this to Israel,

And they promised him every whit

What he biddeth them they will do.

3453 _ðis to daiges_ = these two days. 3458 _wið goren dragen_ = pierced

with darts.

"heo beoren on heore honde

_gares_ [speres], swiðe stronge."

—(Laȝ. iii. 44.)

3459-60

These _people_ fearful thus abode,

While these days forth have passed.

3462 _Spile_, ravage, destruction (see l. 2977). 3463 On this mount stood a

cloud's shadow; _and_ = _an_ = _a_ (see l. 3475).

P. 99. l. 3471-84 Each of you bear in mind, that it is not Moses, Amram's

son, whom ye shall to-day hear speak, but He who slew Egypt (you for to

avenge), and a path made in the sea; and who let Adam discover the tree

which preserved Noah, and led Abraham out into the land of Canaan; who

caused Isaac to be begotten of old Abraham and of Sarah (of old teats); who

gave Isaac (Jacob?) so many sons, and who gave Joseph such rich gifts

(abilities); let His word be to you as precious as life, dearer than either

child or wife.

3488-9

None might go further except Nun,

And also his brother Aaron.

3489 _on_ = _one_. It may be an error for _oc_ = also. 3496 My vengeance is

severe, my forbearance is long. 3497 _in idel_, in vain; _idel_ in O.E.

signifies _empty_, _void_. 3498-3500 Nor swear it lyingly to defile in

sport, Nor let thou my honour be lost in the fiend's tempting (_i. e._ in

yielding to the devil's advice).

P. 100. l. 3508 _for truke of_ = for failure of, for want of. 3515 Covet

not thy neighbour's thing. 3518 Thou losest everlasting bliss. 3519

_figeren_ = _fiyeren_ = _feren_, afar. 3533 _nemeld_ = _nemend_ = _nemned_,

named, appointed (?).

P. 101. l. 3545-6 That mad folk there of day brought Hur (_i. e._ put Hur

to death) and put Aaron in fear; 'to don of dawe' = to bringen of dage =

put to death. (See Legend of St. Beket, l. 622; Allit. Poems, p. 9, l.

282.)

"For quen the childe es born, sal I

_Do it of daw_ sa priuely,

That na wiht sal the squeling here,

And delf it sithen in our herbere."—(Met. Hom. p. 167.)

P. 102. l. 3573 _for gode_ is frequently employed by Chaucer. 3574 It is a

song wicked and foolish.

3581-2

And mixed _it_ in _the_ water and poured it off,

And gave that folk that draff (dregs) to drink.

Cf. O.E. _draff_, chaff. "_Draffe_ or drosse, or mater stampyd, pilumen."

(Prompt. Parv.) Cf. "_draf-sak_." (Chaucer.)

3583-4

Then wist he well who had done it (committed idolatry),

Seen it (the dregs) was on their beards.

3603 _milche moð_ = _milce mod_, mild (merciful) mood.

3605-6

God answered, "Off shall I take them,

Who are not _worthy_ to be placed thereon."

3607 _min engel on_, my angel alone.

P. 103. l. 3611 _to pligt_, for _their_ sin. 3614 And as sun-beam bright

shone his features. 3624 _wið witter dragt_, with skilful device. 3626 And

their labour they well apply. 3635 _of lore wal_, of choice lore. 3637

_betten_ = _beten_, amend, from _bet_, better. 3640 Ere they from Sinai

forth have passed. 3642 _ðe oðer_, the second.

P. 104. l. 3647 This folk has after pleasure gone. 3653 Moses caused it to

cease with his prayer. See note on _blissen_, p. 182. 3658 _for-hirked_ =

_for-irked_, tired. 3661 _Loruerd_ = _louerd_, lord. 3664 Thou shalt cause

me quickly to suffer death. 3676 And brought a great mint of quails; but

_turles_ = _turtles_, doves. See Ayenbite of Inwyt, p. 181.

P. 105. l. 3688 There became Miriam somewhat foolish; _soth_ = _sott_, a

fool (see l. 3685). 3710 A bunch of grapes on a long pole; O.E. _cowele_,

_cowle_, a coop, tub, etc.; Prov. E. _cowl_; _cuuel-staf_ signifies the

staff or pole upon which the people carried their kneading troughs. This

interpretation is supported by the form _cowle-tre_ or _soo-tree_. Falanga,

vectatorium. (Prompt. Parv.) "Phalanga est hasta, vel quidam baculus ad

portandas cupas, Anglice a stang, or a _culstaffe_."—(Ortus.) "_Courge_, a

stang, pale-staffe, or _cole-staffe_, carried on the shoulder, and notched

for the hanging of a pale at both ends."—(Cotgrave.) In Caxton's Mirrour of

the World, c. 10, A.D. 1481, it is related that in Ynde "the clusters of

grapes ben so grete and so fulle of muste, that two men ben gretly charged

to bere one of them only upon a _cole-staff_." In Hoole's translation of

the Orbis sensualium, by Comenius, 1658, is given a representation of the

_cole-staff_ (_ærumna_), used for bearing a burden between two persons, p.

135; and again, at p. 113, where it appears as used by brewers to carry to

the cellar the new-made beer in "soes," or tubs with two handles (_labra_),

called also _cowls_. In Brand's "Popular Antiquities," ii. 107, will be

found an account of the local custom of riding the _cowl-staff_ or _stang_

(Way in Prompt. Parv.)

P. 106. l. 3721 _swerdes slagen_, slain of (with) sword. 3723 _loder-man_ =

_lodesman_, leader. A leader we will choose (take); _sen_ = _bi-sen_. 3730

If Moses were not opposed there-_to_. 3732 _milche_ = _milce_, mercy, pity.

See l. 3728, where the correct form occurs. 3740 Their righteousness was

pleasing to God. 3742 _sorwes dere_ = sorrow's hurt.

3745-6

Again (backwards) they made their course,

As that cloud had taught.

P. 107. l. 3755 _migtful_ qualifies _meistres_ in l. 3756. 3760-61 _ilc

gure_, each of you. Cf. _quilc gure_, which of you, l. 3764. 3761

_reklefat_, incense vat, the vessel holding the incense, censer. See Orm.

i. 2, 35, 58. 3762 _timinge_ seems to be an error for _time ge_, wait ye.

3767 _orgel pride_, arrogant pride. Cf. _orrȝhellmod_, pride (Orm. i. 216).

"Ichabbe isehen his ouergart, ant his egede _orhel_ ferliche afallet."—(St.

Marh. p. 11.) I have seen his presumption and his arrogance fearfully

felled. 3770 Instead of the reading in the text substitute the following:

_Moyses, and vt ne wulde gon_; _vr_ seems to be an error for _vt_ = out.

See Numbers xvi. 12. 3774 Held up neither stone nor grit. I do not think

_ston ne gret_ = _strong ne gret_ = strong nor great.

3777-80

Such destruction they have unexpectedly

No man need labour to bury them

This earth is together closed

As it were never ere broken up.

3786 _fieres swaðe_, flame (burning) of fire.

P. 108. l. 3796 There hath a cloud them well girded. 3802 Ran and stood

_between_ the living and the dead; _tiren_ seems, from the way it is

written in the MS., to be an error for _tuen_ = _twen_, between. 3807-14

Though this folk, much frightened, remained quiet for a time, nevertheless

they are yet in diverse counsels (_i. e._ of conflicting opinions).

Moreover, they vacillate in purpose, and think that it may be decided

better. Though these burnt (_i. e._ those destroyed by fire) are refused,

yet they ween that God shall take of the twelve tribes some more to be in

the place of those whom he had despised (rejected). _miðe_ is the pret.

subj. of _miðen_ = A.S. _míðan_ (pret. _mád_, pl. _midon_; pret. subj.

_mide_), to lie hid, to avoid, omit, hide, dissemble. 3809 _aglen_ =

_aylen_ = _ail_, become weak or foolish. 3814 _for-hugede_, despised,

rejected.

"Ah Gurmu_n_d hit _for-hoȝede_

And habbe he heo nolde."—(Laȝ. iii. 156.)

"For niss nan mann þatt uss birrþ att

_Forrhoȝhenn_ god to lernenn."—(Orm. ii. 107.)

P. 109. l. 3824. The name of the tribe which _shall_ thereto belong. 3826

Which tribe he desires this service _to be_ on.

3851-2

Here and there (yonder) there they buried lie,

All the old (ones) did there end (i. e. died).

P. 110. l. 3865-6

God bad assemble the folk and go,

And before them smite on the stone.

3880 _costful_, dangerous. See Met. Hom. p. xix, where _far-cost_ = a

dangerous voyage. 3884 _wente of liwe_ = turned from life = died. 3887 _in_

= _hin_ = _hine_, him.

P. 111. l. 3924 The sense requires us to read, _for to stillen his vn-eðe

mod_, for to quiet his uneasy (disturbed) mind.

P. 112. ll. 3931-2

In the night a message came to him from God,

And a prohibition against this king's counsel.

3941 _me goue hold_ = should give me faithfully; _hold_ = _holde_ =

faithfully, truly. 3945 _Oc or or_ = but first ere. 3951 And turned his

heart on worse thought. 3958 And beat and turned it to the path; _sti_,

path, way. "ðes is forðon ðeðe gecuoeden wæs ðerh esaias ðone witgo

cuoeðende: stefn cliopende in woestern gearuas woeg drihtnes, ræhta doeð

[wyrcas] _stiga_ his." (Matt. iii. 3. Northumbrian Version.) 3964 _negt_ =

_neg_ + _it_ = nigh it.

P. 113. ll. 3972-3

It is as true as it is marvellous.

Said this ass thus with anger.

3976-7

Had I a sword, I would slay thee.

So was this man to mischief (grief) brought.

3985-6

Quoth Balaam, "since I have mis-fared,

If thou wilt, I will turn back."

3988

Against my counsel speak thou nought.

3993-4

Shall I no word be able to forth-do (utter),

Except what God layeth on me.

4000-1 And went apart; why? but because from above, etc.

P. 114. ll. 4009-10

His life is blithe (joyful), so shall be his ending (death),

Who prospereth as this (one) shall prosper.

4015 For _or_ read _and_ (?). 4016 He did it for better success. 4022

_hem_, if not an error for _he_, stands for _he_ + _hem_.

P. 115. l. 4049 "The young women of thy land, fair of sight, and soft of

hand, and bright of hue (complexion), of speech glad (joyous), in haste

shall I set apart _as_ messengers; do thou send out against these men those

who can brew (produce) heart-burning with joy, with features, and with body

and sin, pleasantly, with speech small (flattery), to turn them from God's

fear to thy land gods and our laws; unless thou canst follow this advice

and lead them from God's love, and seek to turn thus their thought, for war

nor weapon helpeth not. 4052 _ðgere_ = _gere_ = haste. At first I was

inclined to take _ðgere_ for _dere_, so that _wið ðgere_ = for harm. 4053

_ten_ = _te_ (?). Or should we read, _ðe do ten vt_ = cause those to go

out. 4056 _Luueke_ may be an error for _luue-like_ = pleasantly; or it may

= _luue-leke_ = love; _-lec_ being a not uncommon ending of abstract nouns,

as in O.E. _feirlec_, fairness, beauty. 4063 _quad_. The rhyme seems to

require _quead_; _ðat ille quad_ = that wickedly spoke (advised); _ðat ille

quead_ = that wicked wretch.

P. 116. ll. 4086-88

God bad Moses number

His folk who were first preserved from death

Either twenty winters or more old,

Who in Egypt were not before numbered.

4096 All others were driven in death's web. 4106-8 Leave thou not thy folk

helpless, and do thou, O God, cause them to be governed just as it may be

advantageous for them.

P. 117. l. 4110 _loder-man_. See note on l. 3723.

4119-22

Whilst to him lasted life-days,

Them he taught precious laws,

And written hath committed them to them,

Unless they them keep, on them shall be sorrow (misfortune shall befall

them).

In line 4121 the first _hem_ should be omitted.

P. 118. l. 4143-4 Idolatry, that was pleasing to them, oft out-wrought

(effected) for them sorrow's trouble, i. e. brought sorrow and trouble upon

them.

4159-60

In such virtues grant us to come;

Through which we shall be to _everlasting_ life taken.

[396] See "The History of Our Lord," vol. i. p. 53.

[397] The Northumbrian version reads _gedroefed_, from which the O.E. vb.

_drove_.

[398] Written _leasowe_.

GLOSSARIAL INDEX.

A, in, 271, 538, 635, 953.

A, have, 2720.

Abead = abad, abode, 422, 3856, 3862.

A.S. _abídan_, pret. _abád_, p.p. _abiden_.

Abiden, (_pl. pret._) abode, 1638, 2483, 3459.

Abiden, (_p.p._) abided, remained, 2388.

Abraid, awoke, arose, started up, 231, 1617, 2111, 2385.

A.S. _abredan_ (pret. _abræd_).

Abute, about, 3455.

Abuten, about, 94, 1772, 2482.

A.S. _abútan_.

Abuten-schoren, circumcised, 1200.

See _Schoren_.

Abuuen, above, 10, 108, 332, 636, 1518.

A.S. _abufan_.

Adde = hadde, had (3 _pers. sing._), 240, 518, 519, 600, 1039, 1693,

1747, 2274.

Adden = hadden, had (3 _pers. pl._), 239, 1480, 2451, 2545, 2546.

Aftre, after, 1652.

Age, awe, 432, 3546, 3632.

A.S. _ege_, fear, terror, dread. Dan. _ave_, O.E. _age_, _awe_, is a

northern form corresponding to the southern _eige_ or _eie_.

Agen, awe, (_acc._) 192.

Agen, (_a_) again, 405, 604, 606, 979, 985;

(_b_) against, 562, 3373, 3375;

(_c_) adverse, opposed to, 3730;

(_d_) backwards, back, 1097, 3267;

(_e_) towards, 1786, 1796, 1823, 1824;

(_f_) for, 562.

A.S. _ongean_, _agen_.

See _Agon_.

Agenes, against, 538, 541.

Agenward, back, 1782.

Ageon, against, 3912.

A.S. _agean_.

Aglen, to become weak, foolish, 3809.

A.S. _eglian_, to ail, _egle_, troublesome; Goth. _aglo_, affliction,

_aglus_, difficult.

Agon, gone, 78.

A.S. _agán_.

Agon, again, 77, 958;

against, 438;

backwards, 1119;

towards, 1009, 1438.

Agrisen, terrified, alarmed, 667.

A.S. _agrýsan_.

Agt, Agte, property, possession, wealth, 742, 783, 857, 910, 924, 1858,

1867, 2017, 2090.

A.S. _ágan_, (pret. _ahte_, _áhte_) to own, possess. A.S. _æht_,

property.

Agte, owned, 2309.

Agte, ought, should, 525, 1671, 2727.

Agte, fear, 3384. It literally signifies thought, anxiety, sorrow.

A.S. _eaht_, estimation, _eahtian_, to meditate, devise. Ger. _acht_,

care, attention, _achten_, to mind, regard.

See _Hagt_.

Agtes, oughtest, 1762.

Agtes, moneys, 2224.

Ai, ever, aye, 451, 1105.

Ail, hail, 3066, 3183.

Al, all, 36, 37;

entirely, quite, 3059, 3098.

Al abuten, all about, 96, 136.

Aldre, of all;

'hure _aldre_ bale,' the bale of us all, 322;

'here _aldre_ heuedes,' the heads of them all, 2926.

Algen = halgen, to hallow, keep holy, 918.

A.S. _halgian_.

Alle, all, 874, 896.

Al-migt-ful, powerful, 2694.

Almigten, Almigtin, almighty, (_sb._) 9, 3405, (_adj._) 30, 572, 3727.

Als, Alse, also, 867;

as, 1773, 1785, 1787, 2650;

so, 1412.

Also, as, 475, 643, 1238, 2212;

so, 3436.

A.S. _alswá_.

Alswilc, Alsswilc, even as, 4108.

A.S. _alswilc_ = _eallswilc_, even as, likewise.

Alt = halt, holdeth (?), 924.

Alter, altar, 758.

Alðer-best, the best of all, 3390.

Alðerneðer, beneath all, 3997.

Amigdeles, almonds, 3840.

Gr. αμυγδαλη; Lat. _amygdala_.

Amonge, among, 700.

Amongus, amonges, amongst, 1620.

An (before a cons.), a, 680, 938, 951;

'_an_ time,' 1435, 1487;

'_an_ busk,' 2105;

'_an_ kire,' 2451;

'_an_ wis man,' 2649;

'_an_ sel,' 2769;

'_an_ steuene,' 2780;

'_an_ dragen swerd,' 2843.

An, in, 1605, 2789, 3086.

A.S. and O.S. _an_; South Prov. E. _an_.

An, and, 206, 221, 647.

And = an, a, 3463.

And = an, in, 1470.

Andswere, answer, 3081.

Andswerede, answered, 4109.

A.S. _andswerian_, to answer.

Anger, grief, 972.

Ani, any, 48, 2181.

Anog, enough, 600, 3365, 3876.

Answerede, answered, 2728, 3605.

Answeren, (_sb._) answer, 2673.

Ant, and, 485.

Apples, 1129.

Arche, ark, 560, 561, 580.

Arche-wold, ark-board, 576, 614.

Arches, ark's, 602.

Ard, hard, 1228.

Arled, ring-streaked, 1723.

A.S. _orl_, rim, welt, border.

Arn, Aren, are, (_pl._) 16, 815, 3606, 3882.

Arsmetike = arsmetrike, arithmetic, 792.

Arwe, arrow, 478.

As, hast, 1760.

Aske, ask, 1668.

Askede, asked, 1391.

Askeden, (_pl._) asked, 2672.

Askes, ashes, 3024.

Astronomige, astronomy, 792.

At, to, 554;

of, 2697;

in, 3790.

At, ate, did eat, 337, 342, 3407.

Ate, hate, 373, 3638.

Atter, poison, venom, 372.

A.S. _áter_, _atter_.

Atteð = hatteð, is called, 813.

At-wond, ceased, 3058.

A.S. _ætwíndan_, to wind off, escape, flee away (pret. _ætwánd_, p.p.

_ætwunden_).

At-wot, disappeared, departed, 1049.

A.S. _wítan_, to depart; _at_ = A.S. _æt_, as in _at-wond_, etc.

Aucter, altar, 612, 625.

Auter, altar, 1297, 1325.

Aue, have, 2388.

Auede = hauede, had, 1251.

Auen = hauen, have (_inf._), 1505, 1512;

(_pl._) 3680.

Aueð = haueð, hath, 2425, 2469.

Awai, Awei, away, 616, 810, 858, 860, 861.

Aweiward, away, 3168.

Awold, avail, be successful, 1671;

signify, 1944, 2727;

cause, 2054.

A.S. _walden_, to rule, _wealdan_, to govern (p. _weold_, p.p.

_wealden_).

Ay, ever, always, 5, 87, 155.

Ayne = ane, one, a, 2639.

Bad, commanded, 41, 57, 441, 572, 618;

prayed, 1462;

'_bad_ meðe,' besought mercy, 3011.

A.S. _biddan_ (pret. _bæd_, p.p. _beden_), to ask, pray, command.

Bad, offered, gave, 2653;

'_bad_ bede,' offered prayer, 1375, 2981.

A.S. _beódan_ (pret. _beád_, p.p. _boden_).

Bade, bad, 2436.

Bak, back, 1333.

Bale, sorrow, misery, calamity, destruction, 68, 322, 850, 1122, 1166;

death, 1984.

A.S. _bealu_.

Bannede, summoned, assembled, 3213.

A.S. _bannan_, _bonnan_, to proclaim.

Bar, bore, took, 209, 338;

gave birth to, 418, 428, 722;

carried, 2078.

Baren, to disclose, 1912.

Barg, (pret. of _bergen_) preserved, 1330, 3477.

Bargt = barg, preserved, 898.

Bat, bad, 53;

restored, 882;

offered, gave, 1015.

See _Bad_.

Be, shall be, 784.

Bead, bad, 1059, 2494, 2768;

invited, 1056;

offered, 1069;

presented, 3340.

Bead = abead, endured, suffered, 3105.

Beames, trumpet's, 3521.

A.S. _byme_, a trumpet.

Beas = beast = beëst, art, 365, 366.

Bed, (pret. of _bidden_) commanded, bad, 258, 1292.

See _Bad_.

Bed, (pret. of _beden_) offered, gave, presented, 909, 1014, 2017, 2047;

(_imp._) present, 2073.

Bedden, (_pl. pret._) offered, 2273;

prayed to, 2498.

Bede, prayer, 631, 1375, 2981.

A.S. _béd_.

Beden, (_p.p._) commanded, 2212.

Bedes, prayers, 495, 3888.

Bege, ring, 2140.

A.S. _beah_, _béh_, _beág_ (g. _beáges_), a crown, bracelet, ring.

Beges, bracelets, 1390.

A.S. _beágas_.

Bem, beam, 'heuene-_bem_' = the sun (?), 1606.

Ben, to be, 15, 101, 164;

are, 107, 139, 630.

Bene, prayer, petition, 2511.

A.S. _bén_.

Ber, bore, 1701.

Berdes, beards, 3584.

Bere, bier, 2481.

Bere, (_inf._) bear, 1465;

(_subj._) 3513.

Bered = bereð, beareth, 326, 2705.

Berem-tem = bern-tem, family, race, 3903.

Beren, (_inf._) bear, carry, 8, 118, 120, 787, 2084;

(_pl. pret._) 1187, 2557;

to show, 1044.

Beren-tem, family, descendants, 954.

Beres, (_sb._) bears, 191.

Bereð, bear, (_imp._) 2243, 2248.

Berg, (_sb._) defence, protector, 926.

A.S. _beorh_.

Berge, Bergen, to protect, 1060;

(_opt._) 2529.

A.S. _beorgan_ (pret. _bearh_, p.p. _borgen_).

Bergles, shelterless, unprotected, 3048.

Beries, berries, 2062, 2064.

Bering, bearing, behaviour, 2178.

Bernteam, descendant, 3748.

A.S. _bearn-team_, posterity, from _bearn_, a child, and _teamian_, to

generate.

Best, art, 2884.

Beste, beast, 194.

Bet, beat, (_pret._) 483, 3958.

A.S. _beót_.

Bet, better, 1713, 2366, 2938, 3753.

A.S.

Betende, beating, 2713.

Betes, beatest, 3974.

Betre, Bettre, better, 1585, 1957, 2820.

Betten = beten, amend, 3637.

A.S. _bétan_.

Beð, is, 182, 1156, 1589;

shall be, 386, 4122;

(_imp._) 2263, 3231.

Beðen, bathe, 2447.

A.S. _beþian_.

Beðen, pray, entreat, 2498.

O.N. _beiða_, to pray.

Bi, by, 141, 1586.

Bi-aften, behind, 1333, 3377.

A.S. _be-æftan_.

Bi-agt, ought, should, 924.

Bicalleð, calls after, accuses, 2314.

Bicam, became, befell, happened, 996, 1404, 2007, 2148;

went, 1744.

Bicrauen, (_inf._) ask, crave, 1388.

Bicumen, (_inf._) become, pass, come into, 960, 1577;

(_p.p._) befallen, 2227;

become, 3839.

Bid, intreat, pray, 2509.

Bidde, intreat, 1569;

command, 3454.

Bidden, (_inf._) pray, beseech, 1802.

Biddi = bidde, offer, 27.

Bideð, biddeth, 3451.

Bifel, befell, 963.

Biforen, Biforn, before, 47, 219, 253, 451, 665, 905, 907, 2272.

Bigan, began, 188, 236, 448, 921.

Bigamie, 448, 449.

Bigat, begot, 708, 709, 711, 1590;

obtained, 796.

Bigen, to buy, 2166, 2246.

A.S. _bygan_, _bycgan_.

Bigete, winnings, spoil, 896.

Bigetel, advantageous, 1992.

Bigeten, (_inf._) obtain, 1532;

beget, 2180;

require, 1666;

prevail, 2021;

(_p.p._) begotten, 906, 1151, 1376, 1377, 2006;

acquired, obtained, 911, 2706.

Biggede, dwelt, 1137.

A.S. _byggan_, to build; Icel. _byggia_; O.Sw. _bygga_, to build,

inhabit.

Bigging, Bigginge, Biging, sojourn, abode, dwelling, 718, 762, 807;

house, 3163.

Biginned = biginneð, beginneth, 2538.

Biginning, Biginninge, beginning, 32, 39, 521.

Bigote, begotten, 2618.

Bigunnen, (_pl. pret._) began, 536.

Bihaluen = surround, 3355.

See Havelok, l. 1834.

Bihet, (pret. of _bihete_) promised.

A.S. _beǽtan_, (pret. _behét_; p.p. _beháten_) to promise.

Bihoten, promised, 3132.

Bi-hu[f]lik (?), needful, necessary, 4108.

A.S. _behóflíc_.

Bilagt, taken away, 773.

A.S. _ge-læccan_ (pret. _gelæhte_), take, catch, seize.

Bileaf, remained, 1332, 2776;

left, 3066.

Bilef, remained, 671, 1346, 1516, 1791, 1801.

A.S. _belífan_ (pret. _belaf_).

Bileften, (_pl. pret._) dwelt, abode, 800.

Bileph = bilef, remained, 2662.

Bileue, should remain, 1716.

Bileue, quickly, 4128.

Bileuen, to remain, stay, 1766, 3114.

Bileuen, remainder, 3154.

Bilewen, to remain, 2233.

Bilirten, deprive of by fraud, 316.

Biloc, surrounded, 2684.

See _Biluken_.

Bilong, along of, _not_ belong, 2058.

Biluken, enclosed, shut up, 104.

A.S. _belúcan_ (pret. _beleác_; p.p. _belocen_).

Bimen, complaint, cry, 2894.

Bimeneð, bemoaneth, 2226.

Bimening, mourning, bemoaning, 2484.

Biment, Bimente, complained, 1217;

bewailed, bemoaned, 2202, 4150.

A.S. _bemǽnan_ (pret. _bimǽnde_).

Binam, used, 1706.

See _Binimen_.

Binden, to bind, 2193, 3193.

Bineðe, Bineðen, beneath, below, 10, 66, 126, 3526, 4082.

A.S. _benyðan_.

Binimen, to take away, 1764.

A.S. _beniman_ (pret. _benám_, p.p. _benumen_).

Binnen, within, 1032, 1731.

A.S. _binnan_.

Binumen = be taken, 1578.

Binumen, bereft, taken away, 198, 772;

rescued, 2876;

placed, 376.

Biofte, behoof, 1408.

A.S. _behofian_, to behove.

Bioueð, behoveth, 1159.

Biquuad, ordered, appointed, 117.

See _Quuad_.

Biqueðen, bewail, 2448.

See _Queðe_.

Bird, birth, 2591.

Biri, city, 2257.

A.S. _burh_ (pl. _byrig_).

Biried, buried, 256, 735, 2517, 3851.

Biriele, tomb, sepulchre, 2488.

A.S. _byrgels_.

Birien, to bury, 2424.

Birigeles, burial, interment, 2474.

Birðe, Birðehe, birth, 441, 1177, 1187, 1484, 1497.

Birðen, to be born, 1471.

Birðehe, birth, 368.

Birðheltre, fruit-bearing tree, 119.

Bise, rule, govern, 4107.

Bisek, (_imp._) beseech, 3093.

Biseke, (_imp._) beseech, 4155.

Biseken, to beseech, 2492, 3600.

Bisen, to provide, 1313;

ordained, 1411;

govern, direct, 2141, 3414.

A.S. _beseon_.

Biset, (_p.p._) beset, surrounded, 3225.

Bisette, (_pret._) beset, compassed, 2687.

Bisetten, surrounded, encompassed, 1066.

Bisne, blind, 472, 2822.

A.S. _bisen_.

Bisogt, (_p.p._) besought, asked, 3080.

Bisogte, (_pret._) besought, 3236;

interceded, 3693.

Bispac (= bespoke), gain-said, contradicted, 1444.

Bispeken, to blame, condemn, 1855.

A.S. _besprécan_, to accuse, blame.

Bistod, lamented, 3857.

Bistoden, (_pl._) bewailed, wept for, 716, 1456.

A.S. _bestanden_, to stand by.

Biswiken, betrayed, deceived, 3561.

A.S. _beswícan_.

Bit, biddeth, 2238.

Bitagt, (_p.p._) delivered, given over, assigned, 774, 1677.

Bitagte, (pret. of _bitaken_ or _bitechen_) gave, 212, 782, 1185;

appointed, assigned, 923, 965, 1663, 2622, 3621.

A.S. _betǽcan_ (pret. _betǽhte_).

Bitagten, (_pl._) delivered, consigned, 1424.

Biteg, accomplished, 2878.

See _Ten_.

Biten, (_pl._) accomplish, 3626.

See _Ten_.

Biter, bitter, 3300.

Bithowte, bethought, 2735.

Bitid, befallen, 357, 1194, 1876, 1978, 2358, 3406.

Bitidde, befell, 3861.

Bitime, betimes, 1088.

Bitogen, bestowed, applied, 1771;

guided, directed, 3796.

See _Ten_.

Bitold, rescued, 920;

from _bitellan_, to defend, rescue. See Orm. l. 2045, and O.E. Hom. 1st

S. p. 205.

Bitterlike, bitterly, 1115;

angrily, 2030;

severely, sharply, 3896.

Biðhogte, Biðogt, Biðohte, bethought, devised, 36, 37, 1183.

A.S. _beþencan_, to consider, bethink.

Bitwen, between, 8, 251, 760, 1168, 1601, 2406.

Biueð, trembleth, 2280.

A.S. _bifian_, _beofian_.

Biwaken, (_pl._) keep a wake (or vigil) for the dead, 2444.

A.S. _wæcan_, to watch, wake.

Blast; (_ph._) 'liues _blast_,' 201;

'hornes _blast_,' 3464.

Ble, colour, hue, 457;

appearance, 749.

A.S. _bleo_.

Blein, blain, 3027.

Bles, (g. sing. of _ble_) of colour, hue, 1725.

Blessede, turned aside, ceased, 3653, 3803.

See _Blissen_.

Bleð, timid, fearful, 2590, 3520, 3907.

A.S. _bleáð_, gentle, timid. O.N. _blauðr_.

Blinne, Blinnen, to cease, 289, 1963.

A.S. _blinnan_.

Blis, Blisce, bliss, 382, 748, 3518.

Blisced, (_p.p._) blessed, 1552, 1616.

Bliscede, (_pret._) blessed, 163, 897, 1546.

Bliscing, blessing, 1508, 1532, 1556, 1563, 1568, 2398.

Blisse, bliss, 11, 241, 2068.

Blissen, to lessen, 553.

Du. _bleschen_, to quench.

Blisses, (_g. sing._) of bliss, 19, 383;

_pl._ happiness, joys, 2350.

Bliðe, blithe, joyful, 1343, 1653.

Bliðelike, blithely, joyfully, 1424, 1499.

Blo, blue, 637, 638.

A.S. _bleo_; O.Du. _bla_.

Blod, blood, 1074, 1452, 1661, 2816.

Blod, woman, 1192.

See Gloss. to Allit. Poems, s.v. _Blod_.

Blodes, of blood, 2956.

Blomede, bloomed, flowered, 2061.

Boc, book, 523, 2522.

Bode, (_subj._) should tolerate, endure, 1594.

Bode, word, message, command, 395, 621, 939, 991, 1008, 1286, 1973, 2383,

2859.

A.S. _bod_, _gebod_, a command, message; _beódan_, to command, order,

bid.

Boden, (_pl. pret._) bad, commanded, 1067, 1096, 1971, 3544;

asked for, 3169;

_p.p._ bidden, 1430, 3111, 4115.

Bodes, commands, rules, 3528.

Bodeword, Bodewurd, commandment, prohibition, 213, 218, 361, 2282;

message, 396, 2494, 2880, 2913.

See _Bode_.

Bofte = Bihofte, behoof, 1388.

A.S. _be-hófian_, to behove.

Bog, bough, 608.

Boge, bow, 483, 1238.

Bogt, (_p.p._) bought, 1994, 3683.

Bogte, (_pret._) bought, 1996.

Boken, book;

_ph._ 'on no _boken_,' 4.

Bokes, books, 3635.

Bold, bad, 323;

stubborn, 1917;

boldly, 2728.

Bolen. See _To-bollen_.

Bond, Bonde, bond, prison, 2076, 2693;

force, power, 763, 2114, 2716.

Bondes, bonds, 344, 2230.

Bone, prayer, petition, _boon_, 2980.

O.N. _bón_; A.S. _bén_.

Booc, book, 4124.

Bor, (pret. of _beren_) bore, 425.

Borde, table, _board_, 1210.

Boren, _s. pl._ bearers, 1798.

Boren, (pl. pret. of _beren_, to bear) bore, 684, 1725, 1730;

_p.p._ born, 84, 220, 648, 655, 666, 1144;

borne, 2512, 2518.

Borgen, (p.p. of _bergen_) protected, saved, 1102, 1105, 2686.

See _Bergen_.

Borwen, (p.p. of _berge_) preserved, saved, 886, 3044.

Bosum, bosom, 2809.

Bot, (pret. of _biten_) bit, 2926.

Bot, Bote, salvation, deliverance from evil, forgiveness, atonement, 24,

2957, 3598.

A.S. _bót_, _bótu_; _bétan_, to amend.

Boðen, both, 328, 350, 899, 1275, 1390.

Brac, broke, 3100.

Bras, brass, 467.

Brast, (pret. of _bresten_) burst, 1808.

Bread-lepes, bread-baskets, 2078.

A.S. _leap_, a basket, hamper.

Bred, Bread, bread, 364, 1013, 1225, 2079.

Bred, (_p.p._) roasted, 1013, 3147.

A.S. _brǽdan_, (p. _brǽdde_; p.p. _gebrǽd_) to melt, roast.

Bredde, (_pret._) melted, 3342.

Bredes, of bread, 894, 1246.

Bred-wrigte, baker, 2077.

Breken, break, 3147.

Brekeð, breaketh, 3062.

Brend, (_p.p._) burnt, 3685.

Brende, (_pret._) burnt, 1108, 2668, 2778, 2779.

Brend-fier-rein, rain of burning fire, 1110.

Brennen, to burn, 1087, 2775, 3154.

Brennen = brennende, burning, 2653.

Brenninge, (_sb._) burning, 3654.

Brent, Brente, burnt, 754, 1114, 1336, 2656.

Brest, breast, 343, 370.

Brewen, to brew, produce, 4054.

Breðere, brethren, 823, 1911, 2217;

brothers', 530, 2213.

Brictest, brightest, 1910.

Bridale, wedding, 1674.

Brigt, (_adj._) bright, 132, 951;

beautiful, 1058;

clear, 2780;

(_sb._) brightness, 143.

Brigte, (_adv._) clearly, 3763.

Brigtlike, clearly, brightly, 3491.

Brimen, to become fertile, teem, 118;

bear fruit, 1128.

A.S. _breman_, to have in honour.

Brimfir, burning-fire, brimstone, 754.

Brinfires, burning-fires, brimstones, 1164.

Bringen, to bring, 312, 738, 1067;

'bringen on' = to bring against, 2032.

Briðere = breðere, brethren, 2271.

Brocte, brought, 237.

Brod, brood, 3712.

A.S. _bród_.

Brogt, (_p.p._) Brogte, (_pret._) brought, 62, 124, 219, 608, 847, 870,

874, 882, 2634.

Brogten, (_pl. pret._) brought, 3546.

Broðer, brother, 420, 1394.

Bruc, (_imp._) enjoy, 1831.

A.S. _brúcan_, (p. _bréac_; p.p. _gebrocen_) use, enjoy, eat.

Buges, boughs, 2060.

Bunden, (_p.p._) bound, 2216.

Burdene, burden, birth, 1467.

Burg, Burge, city, 812, 833, 1110, 1837.

A.S. _burh_, _burg_.

Burge-folc, townsfolk, 1854.

Burges, cities, 746, 840.

Burges, (_g. sing._) of the city, 1053, 1086.

Burgt = burg, city, 727, 744, 879.

Burgt-folk = burg-folc, towns-folc, people, 1063.

Busk, bush, 2779.

But, send out (?), 3075.

It may represent the A.S. _búte_, _bútu_, both.

But, Bute, unless, 3017, 3616;

only, 4000.

A.S. _búte_.

Bute if, unless, 4059.

Buteler, butler, 2092, 2115.

Buten, about, 566.

A.S. _bútan_.

But-if, unless, 1713, 2698, 2949.

Buttere, butter, 1014.

Buxum, obedient, 980, 1299.

A.S. _bocsum_, from _búgan_, to bend.

Cald, (_p.p._) called, 3367, 3686.

Calde, (_pret._) called, 1446, 1631, 1702.

Calden, (_pl. pret._) called, 685.

Calles, callest, 3237.

Cam, came, 114, 158, 416.

Can, know, 309;

did, 2872.

Canticle, 4124.

Care, sorrow, 775.

A.S. _cáru_.

Carf, cut, carved, 2700.

A.S. _ceorfan_, (pret. _cearf_; p.p. _corfen_) to cut, engrave.

Carte-hird, collection of carts (chariots), 3215.

Cartes, carts, 2362.

Cast, a shadow (?), 3463.

Caue[n], a cave, 1137.

Chaf, chaff, 2889.

Chafare, chaffer, 1951.

Chare, turn, go, 2390.

Charen, to turn, depart, journey, 1712, 2436, 3010, 3055, 3704, 3986.

A.S. _cérran_, _círran_, to turn, pass over or by.

Charite, charity, 1016.

Chartre, prison, 2043.

A.S. _cwartern_, a prison.

Chasthed, chastity, 2022.

Che, she, 1227.

Cherl, churl, man, fellow, 2715.

Ches, (pret. of _chesen_) chose, selected, 433, 805, 807, 1250, 2736,

3672;

(_imp._) 3665.

Chesen, to choose, 3429.

A.S. _ceósan_, (pret. _ceás_, p.p. _córen_) to choose, select.

Chidden, (_pret. pl._) chided, rebuked, 1927.

Chiden, to chide, 2722.

Childe, child, 966, 974.

Childes, child's, 1965, 1972.

Childhede, childishness, 2652.

Childles, childless, 930.

Childre, children, 656, 715, 722.

Chirche-gong, church-going, 2465.

Chirches, churches, 511, 3197.

Chosen, (_pl._) chose, 543.

Circumcicioun, circumcision, 992.

Circumcis, circumcised, 999, 1002.

Circumcise, circumcision, 2848.

Circumcised, circumcised, 1200, 1202.

Cisternesse, pit, cistern, 1960.

Clene, clean, pure, 605, 611, 627, 777, 3454, 3637.

Clense, cleanse, 3453.

Cleped, Clepede, Clepit, called, 1198, 1274, 2631, 4099.

A.S. _cleopian_, to cry, call.

Clepeð, calleth, 3330.

Clerkes, clerks, learned men, 2993.

Clipping-time, shearing time, 1740.

Cliued, 'he _cliued_' = _him cliueð_ = cleaves to him, 1963.

Cliuen, to stick, fasten, 372.

A.S. _clifian_.

Cliueð, adheres, remains, 2384.

Cloðen, to clothe, 2630.

Colen, coals, 2653.

Comb, top, crest, 2564.

Du. _kam_.

Come, coming, arrival, 2267.

Come, should come, 464.

Comen, (_p.p._) come, 344.

Comen, (_pret. pl._) came, 1979, 2611, 2940.

Coren, corn, 2104, 2237.

Corune, crown, 2638.

Corunes, crowns, 3789.

Cost, nature, kind, 3327.

A.S. _cost_. Icel. _kostr_, habits, character.

Costful, trying, dangerous, 3880.

A.S. _costian_, to try.

Craflik, craftily.

Crauede, craved, asked, 1418.

Crauen, to crave, ask, demand, 1320, 1408, 1667, 1718, 2366, 3171.

Crep, (pret. of _crepen_) crept, 2924.

A.S. _creópan_, to creep (pret. _creáp_, p.p. _cropen_).

Crepen, to creep, 610, 2560.

Crisme, chrisom, the anointing oil, 2458.

O.Fr. _cresme_, from χρισμα.

Cristene, Cristenei, Christian, 7, 15.

Cropen, crept, 2974.

Crune, crown, 2642.

Cude = cuðe, could, knew how to, 878, 2674.

Cuden = cuðen, (_pl._) could, 875.

A.S. _cunnan_, to ken, know (pret. _cúðe_, p.p. _cúð_).

Cum, (_imp._) come, 2791.

Cume, (_1st pers. sing._) come, 1037.

Cume, (_p.p._) come, 1432.

Cume, (_pl._) come, 2171.

Cumen, (_inf._) come, 305, 505, 2337.

Cumen, (_pl. pret._) came, 1065.

Cumen, (_p.p._) come, 365, 410, 570, 1141, 2316.

Cumeð, (_imp. pl._) come, 3485.

Cunen, (_pl._) can, are able, 4054.

Cuppe, cup, 2310, 2318.

Cursen, to curse, 4005.

Cursing, (_sb._) curse, 3926, 4037, 4038.

Cuðe, could, 470, 2594, 2747;

showed, 1659.

Cuðen, could, 3224;

knew, 2996.

Cuuel-staf, a cowl-staff, a pole for carrying two-handled vessels, 3710.

A.S. _ceofl_, _cawel_, a basket.

Dage, days, 'of _dage_ brogten,' put to death, 3545.

Dagen, to dawn, 16, 91.

A.S. _dæg_, a day; _dægian_, to shine; _dagian_, to dawn; _dagung_, a

dawning, daybreak.

Dages, days, 3297.

Dai, day, 83, 88, 93.

Daiening, Daigening, Daning, dawn, 77, 1808, 3264.

Daiges, day's, 3294.

Daiges, days, 2455, 2471.

Dain = ðain (?), a man, 1116.

Dais, day's, 113, 114, 157, 158.

Dais, days, 590.

Dale, dale, vale, 'sorwes _dale_,' 19;

'werldes _dale_,' 142.

Dalen, dale, 1931.

Dalf, buried, 2718.

See _Deluen_.

Dan = ðan, then, 411, 613, _et passim_.

Daning, dawn, 1808.

See _Daiening_ and _Dagen_.

Dat = ðat, 224, 232, 342.

Dead, Deade, death, 312, 392, 402, 421, 2573, 3120.

Dead, deed, 2983.

Deades, death's, 268, 714, 3396.

Deai, day, 862.

Ded, Dede, death, 214, 257, 261, 265.

Ded, Dede, dead, 217, 750, 2465.

Dede, deed, 355, 502, 1150, 2662.

Dede, did, 24, 118, 224;

put, placed, 42, 576;

made, 762, 2291;

showed, 2757.

Deden, (_pl. pret._) did, 1059, 1153;

made, caused, 1522, 2100, 2560;

put, 2555;

fixed, 3442;

gave, 3551.

Dedes, death's, 344, 484, 2716.

Dedes, deeds, 2459.

Dedes, deeds', 551.

Dedis = put them, 3830.

Dei, day, 78.

Deieð, dieth, 751.

Deigen, to die, 3127.

Del, a part, a whit, bit, 230, 1092, 567, 1062;

-what, -thing, 353;

parts, 3239.

A.S. _dǽl_, a part.

Del, (_imp._) divide, 3239.

A.S. _dǽlan_, to divide, distribute.

Delen, (_pl. pres._) divide, 151.

Delt, divided, scattered, 670, 3243.

Delte, (_pret._) divided, 941.

Deluen, to bury, 2452.

A.S. _delfan_, to dig, delve (pret. _dealf_, p.p. _dolfen_).

Dempt, doomed, condemned, 2038.

A.S. _déman_, to deem, doom.

Denede = dinede, shook, quaked, 3772.

A.S. _dynian_, to din.

Dep, deep, 1942.

Depe, Diep, deeply, 1873, 2655, 2770.

Der, _deer_, animal, 169, 178, 187, 299, 4020, 4025.

Dere, noble, precious, 271, 2247;

dear, beloved, 403, 1569.

Dere, to harm, annoy, 1588, 3514;

to injure, 4047;

destroy, 3566.

A.S. _derian_.

Dere, (_sb._) harm, hurt, 2970, 3214, 3742.

A.S. _dere_, _dar_, _daru_, hurt, damage.

Dered, Derede, harmed, hurt, 242, 2596, 3052.

Deren, to hurt, annoy, 788, 1188, 1271, 2348.

Deren, (_pl. pres._) hurt, annoy, 187, 852.

Derer = dere, dear, beloved, 2399.

Deres, injuries, 3088.

Deres, animals, 4032.

Deres-kin, animals, 556.

Dereð, harms, hurts, 3818.

Derke = derðe, dearth, famine, 2237, 2345.

Derne, secret, 1950.

A.S. _dearn_.

Derre = dearly, 3683.

Deserd, Desert, desert, 1227, 2737, 2770.

Dew, 3325.

Dhogt = ðhogt, thought, care, 1153.

Dewes, dew's, 3327.

Digere = diyere, dear, precious, 3483, 3484;

dearer, 3903.

Dik, dike, ditch, pit, 281.

Dikes, ditches, 2560.

Dim, dull, 286;

ignorant, 3673.

Dine, din, noise, 3467.

Dinede, sounded, 3464.

Dis = ðis, 63.

Diserd, desert, 975.

Do, take, put, 2781, 3604, 3819, 3822.

Dogtres, daughters, 1090, 1094.

Dole, part, 152.

Doles, parts, 151, 3243;

pieces, 952;

shares, 1512.

See _Del_.

Doluen, (_p.p._) buried, 1895, 3200, 3685.

Doluen, (_pret. pl._) dug, 3189.

Domesdai, Domesday, doomsday, 105, 505, 645.

Domme, dumb, 2821.

Don, (_inf._) to do, cause, 194, 534, 1146, 3608.

Don, (_pl. pres._) do, 311;

cause, 180.

Don, (_p.p._) done, 345, 3012;

placed, put, 267, 381, 383, 2586, 3206.

Dor = ðor, there, 668, 897.

Dor-bi = ðor-bi, thereby, 1637.

Doð, (_imp._) cause, 2351;

do, 3727.

Doð, doth, causes, 2702, 2883.

Dowter, daughter, 1847, 2147, 2599, 2601, 2603.

Dowtres, daughters, 2743.

Dragen, (_p.p._) drawn, 3980;

compiled, 13;

'to dead ... _dragen_,' put to death, 3458;

'of liue _dragen_,' slain, 3806;

withdrawn, 598;

led, drawn, 2046;

sprinkled, 3156.

Dragen, (_inf._) to draw near to, 2360, 2378.

Dragen, (_adj._) drawn, 2843.

Dragt, plan, 3624;

way, course, 3745.

Dragun, dragon, serpent, 2924.

Drake, dragon, 283.

Dranc, drank, 1660.

Drechede, delayed, 2835.

Drechen, delay, 1420, 1946.

A.S. _drécan_, to trouble, oppress.

Dred, dread, fear, 179, 660, 694, 698.

Dredde, dreaded, feared, 767, 1868, 3008.

Dredes, dread's, 2806.

Dredeð, (_imp._) dread, 2343, 3129.

Dredful, fearful, 3520;

dreadful, 3521.

Dredi, afraid, 872.

Dref, trouble, 4144.

See _Dreue_.

Dreful, sorrowful, 2590.

See _Dregen_.

Dreg, suffered, endured, 429, 566, 2877.

Drege, Dregen, (_pl._) endure, suffer, bear, 512, 2208.

Dregen, (_inf._) to suffer, 3235.

A.S. _dreógan_ (pret. _dreag_, p.p. _drogen_), to suffer, bear.

Drem, Dreme, dream, 953, 2095;

'on _dreme_,' in dream, 1179.

Dremen, to dream, 2067.

Drempte, (_vb. impers._) dreamt, 1941, 2049, 2059, 2078, 2095.

Dremes, (_pl._) dreams, 1918, 2086;

(_gen._) 2112, 2114.

Dreue, to trouble, 318.

A.S. _dréfan_, to trouble, disturb.

Drie, dry, 616.

Dried, 3681.

Drige, dry, 3910.

Drinc, drink, 1149, 1246.

Drinkelen, to drown, 2768.

Drinken, to drink, 2065, 3582.

Drinkilden, (_pl._) drowned, 492.

Dririhed, dreariness, 1122.

Driuen, (_pres. pl._) drive, 1647;

(_pret. pl._) drove, fell, 4096;

(_p.p._) driuen, 307, 574, 1125;

practised, 1681.

Drof, draff, dregs, 3582.

O.Du. _draf_. Dan. _drav_; Icel. _draf_, dregs.

"_Draffe_ or drosse, or matter stamped, pilumen."—(Prompt. Parv.)

Drof, assemblage, 102.

A.S. _dráf_.

Drog, Droge, drew, 478, 1746, 1844, 3909.

Drogen, (_pl._) drew, 1077.

Drogen = ? drogende, suffering, 977.

Drogen, (_p.p._) suffered, 1772, 2402, 2404, 2786, 3648.

See _Dregen_.

Drope, drop, 1018.

Dropen, killed, 2648.

A.S. _drepan_ (pret. _dræp_, p.p. _drepen_), to strike, wound.

Drug, drew, 2717.

Drugen, (_pl._) drew.

Drugte, drought, dryness, 2107, 2348.

A.S. _drugoð_.

Drunken, drunk, 871, 1154.

Dun, down, 484, 714, 1303.

Dun, Dune, hill, 19, 587, 1101, 1295, 3380.

A.S. _dún_.

Dun-cumen, to descend, 1608.

Dunes, hills, 599, 644, 855, 1100.

Dune-is, down's, hill's, 1295.

Dure, door, 1082.

Duren, dare, 2239.

Dure-pin, door pin, bolt of the door, 1078.

Dure-tren, door-posts, 3155.

Durste, durst, 2593, 3968.

Dursten, (_pl._) durst, 1863.

Duue, dove, 605, 944.

Dwale, heretic, apostate, 20, 67;

deceit, fraud, 4055.

A.S. _dwala_, an error; _dwelian_, to deceive.

Dwale, grief, complaint, 1037, 1220;

strife, contest, 3404.

O.E. _dule_, _dole_. Sc. _dool_.

Dwelledde, dwelt, 1106.

E = he, 2341, 2708.

E = _he_, they, 4094.

Ear, ere, before, formerly, 36, 47, 250, 284, 1089, 1757, 2562, 3080;

'_ear_ ðanne,' ere that.

A.S. _ear_, _ǽr_.

Eares, ears (of corn), 2104.

Earuermor = eauermor, evermore, 12.

Ebrisse, Hebrew, 73.

Eddi, pleasant, good, 2086.

A.S. _eadig_.

Eddi-sel = happy (pleasant) time, prosperity, 2582.

A.S. _eádig_, happy, blessed; _sǽl_, time.

Ef = eft, again, 2337.

Eft, Efte, again, 77, 365, 1169, 4032.

Egest = hegest, highest, 143, 1224.

Egte, probably miswritten for _fegte_, 470.

Egte, eight, 1349.

Egtende, Egtenede, eighth, 1199, 1202, 2543.

Eige, awe, fear, 2550, 3043.

A.S. _ége_, fear, terror.

Eilden, ? bake, 2892.

Stratmann proposes to derive it from O.N. _elda_, to make a fire.

Eld, Elde, age, 579, 705, 707, 740, 900, 1283;

_on elde_, in age, 1197.

A.S. _eld_, _yld_, age.

Eldes, of age, 1528.

Eld = held, 2999.

Elles, Hell's, 4157.

Elles, else, 3072;

besides, 4096.

Elmesse-gifte, alms-gift, 2466.

Elne, ells, 563, 565, 586.

Elten, knead, 2892.

O.N. _elta_. (Stratmann.)

Em, uncle, 1758.

A.S. _eám_.

Endede, ended, 166.

Endesið, destruction, death, 3777.

A.S. _ende_, end, _sið_, adversity.

_Endesið_ may be an error for _unsið_, from A.S. _unsið_, mishap.

Ending, Endinge, death, 487, 1506, 2420, 2439.

Engle, Engleis, English, 14, 450, 814.

Erd, Erde, land, abode, 210, 383,1131, 2094, 2406.

A.S. _eard_, province, country.

Erdes, abodes, lands, 956.

Erdfolc, people, 1880.

Erdne, Erdene, = _ernde_, errand, petition, 787, 1372, 1400, 1402.

A.S. _ærend_, _ærende_, message, news.

Ere = here, of them, 2855, 3773.

Ereward-riche, inheritance, 1512.

Du. _erfrijk_.

See _Erward_.

Erf, cattle, 183, 195, 910, 2746, 3018.

A.S. _ærfe_, _erfe_, _orfe_, _yrfe_.

Erf-kin, cattle, 3177.

Ermor = eauermor, evermore, 306.

Erneste, necessity, 411.

Erðe, earth, 40, 116, 118, 122.

Erðe-dine, earthquake, 1108, 3196.

A.S. _eorð-dýne_.

Erðes, earth's, 124, 1547, 1573.

Erue, cattle, 169, 174, 803, 1948, 2751.

See _Erf_.

Eruerilc = _euerilc_, every, 160.

Erward = erf-ward, heir, 934.

A.S. _yrfe-weard_, an heir.

Es = _is_, them, 135, 1535, 1700, 2176, 3025, 3097.

Est, an error for _eft_, 607.

Est, east, 829, 1449.

Estdede, kindness, 2758.

A.S. _este_, mild, favouring.

Esterne, Easter, 3289.

Et, it, 590, 3899.

Eten, (_p.p._) eaten, 329;

(_inf._) to eat, 364, 1531, 1538;

(_pl. pres._) eat, 1779.

Eðe-moðed = _eðe-moded_, appeased, 1584.

Eðen = _heðen_, hence, 2188.

Eði-modes = _eðe-moded_ (easy minded), kind, gentle, 2249.

A.S. _eáð_, easy, gentle, mild; _eáð-mód_, easy-minded, humble.

Eððede, softened, alleviated, 1439.

Euen, evening, 1675.

Euene, even, equally, 331.

Eui, heavy, 2559.

Euerilc, every, 68, 69, 121, 2407;

each, every one, 2214, 2355.

Euerilc del, every whit, 567.

Euerilc on, every one, 185, 609.

Euerilk, every, 582.

Fader, father, 29, 1148.

Faderes, father's, 1536, 1586, 1748, 2293.

Fagen, glad, joyful, 15, 510, 854, 1331, 1343, 1551.

A.S. _fægn_, _fægen_, glad; _fægnian_, to rejoice, be delighted with.

Fagnede, welcomed, 1441, 1655.

Fagneden, (_pl._) welcomed, 1410.

Fagt, fought, 3386, 3390.

Faier, Fair, Faire, (_adj._) fair, beautiful, 126, 127, 769, 1058, 1192;

(_adv._) 1061.

Faiernesse, fairness, colour, 1233.

Faiger, (_adj._) fair, beautiful, 1440, 2636, 2659;

good, 3244;

(_adv._) 1396.

A.S. _fæger_.

Faigere, (_pl._) fair, 3547.

Faigered, _fairhood_, beauty, 2666.

Faire, (_adv._) decently, honourably, 2393, 3193.

Faire-hed, Fair-hed, beauty, 1998, 2609.

Fallen, to fall, 2734.

Fand, temptation, strife, 3737.

See _Fonden_.

Far, Fare, (_imp._) fare, go, 737, 1288.

Fare, course, journey, 1434, 1989;

departure, 3179;

welfare, 2771.

A.S. _fær_, _faru_.

Fare, (_inf._) to go, 2389.

Fare, (_1st pers. sing._) go, 930.

Faren, (_inf._) to go, 137, 1418, 1596, 2238;

(_pl. pres._) pass away, 2153;

(_p.p._) gone, 3705, 4145.

A.S. _faran_, to go (pret. _fór_, p.p. _gefaren_).

Fastede, fasted, 3611.

Fe, goods, 439;

cattle, 783.

A.S. _feoh_, cattle, money, goods.

Fear, far, 253, 2616.

Feble, weak, bad, 1072.

Fechen, Fechin, (_inf._) to fetch, 1363, 1530, 2363.

Fedde, fed, 2630.

Feið, faith, 2187, 2678.

Feger, far, 764.

Fel, fell, 72, 484;

'_fel_ wel,' prospered, 1521.

Felage, fellow, companion, 1761.

Felde, field, 440, 1437.

Fele, many, 2371, 2400, 3197.

Fele, defile, dishonour, A.S. _fǽlan_, to defile; ? or 'to fele' = too

much, 3498.

Fellen, (_pl._) fell, 65, 287, 1854, 2272.

Felte, felt, 1466.

Felten, (_pl._) felt, 350.

Fen, mud, dirt, 490, 2557.

Fendes, fiend's, devil's, 25, 401.

Fendes, devils, 512, 2922, 2929.

Fendes wise, devil wise, 2961.

Fer, far, 36, 47, 1238, 1256.

Fer, sound, whole, 2812, 3469.

Dan. _fór_; O.N. _foerr_.

See Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight, l. 103.

Ferde, went, 810, 1598, 1739, 3263.

Ferden, (_pl._) went, 2306;

acted, 2921.

A.S. _féran_, to go.

Ferding, army, 842.

A.S. _ferd_, army; _fyrding_, an army, expedition.

Fere, companion, 338;

companions, 3783.

A.S. _fera_, _gefera_, a companion.

Feren, companions, fellows, 1275, 2845.

Feren, afar, 2601.

A.S. _feorran_, far from.

Feres, companions, 659, 888, 2478.

Ferli, wondrous, 2774.

A.S. _fǽrlíc_, sudden; _fǽrlíce_, suddenly, from _fǽr_, sudden,

fearful, strange.

Ferlike, marvellously, 2799.

Ferðe, fourth, 130, 131, 156, 157.

Fest, fastened, 2703, 3797.

Fest, Feste, feast, 1689, 2470, 3552.

Festelike, convivially, 3407.

Fet, feet, 3151.

Fet, (_sing._) Fette, (_pl._) fat, 2098, 2100, 2101, 2104, 2110.

Fetchden, (_pl._) fetched, 2889.

Feteles, Fetles, vessel, 561, 1225, 1247, 2595, 2801.

A.S. _fetels_.

Feten, an error for _ſeten_, set, built, 2553 (?). It may = _fettle_.

O.Fris. _fitia_; Goth. _fetjan_, to adorn.

Feten, fetch, 2744.

A.S. _fettan_.

Fette, fetched, 1535.

Fetthed, fatness, abundance, 1547.

Fier, fire, 103, 464, 1140.

Fier-isles, fire ashes, 1130.

A.S. _ysla_, ashes.

Fieres, fire's, 1142, 3786.

Fif, five, 527, 746.

Fifte, fifth, 158, 159, 165, 166.

Fiftene, fifteen, 415, 417.

Fifti, fifty, 578, 657.

Fifue, Fifwe, Fiue, five, 731, 852, 854, 855.

Figer, fire, 3522.

Figer, Figeren, far, 3519, 3904.

Figt, fight, 870, 886;

struggle, 1317, 1470.

Figten, (_inf._) fight, 3227;

(_pl._) 3572.

Figti, warlike, 546.

Figures, forms, 1006.

Fild, filled, 1225.

Fillen, fulfil, perform, 1463.

Filt, filled, 1247, 2213, 2307.

Fin, ending, death, 3852.

Finden, Findin, to find, 1877, 3246.

Findes, findest, 1768.

Fir, fire, 99, 3338.

Firmament, 95, 135.

Firme, first, 39, 43, 59, 75, 76, 78, 172.

Firmest, first, 1472, 1682, 1826, 4086.

Fis, fish, 162, 221, 299, 752.

Fisses, fishes, 2945.

Fled, put to flight, subdued, 3396.

Fledde, fled, 3384.

Fleg, fled, 430, 1136, 1745, 2806.

Flegen, to fly, 479, 610.

Fleges, flies, 192.

Fleges, flies', 3012.

Fleges-kin, flies, 3004.

Flegt = fleg, fled, 3643.

Fleis, flesh, 591, 1013, 2089.

Fleiðing, instigation, 692.

A.S. _flít_, strife, offence.

Flemd, banished, 1265.

Flemede, banished, 1223.

A.S. _flyman_, to banish.

Flen, (_inf._) to flee, 1086, 1513, (_pl._) 2685.

Fles, flesh, 3316.

Flesses, flesh's, 349.

Flet, flowed, 644;

floated, 3187.

A.S. _fleótan_, to flow.

Fligt, Fligte, flight, 137, 161, 277, 3012.

Fliten, striven, 3689.

A.S. _flítan_, to strive (pret. _flát_, p.p. _gefliten_).

Flitten, to remove, 1522.

Dan. _flytte_, to remove.

Flod, Flode, flood, 596, 644, 1112, 3186.

Flodes, flood's, 2096.

Flogen, (_pl._) flew, 861, 3677;

(_p.p._) fled, flown, 1750, 3795.

Flotes, swimming's, floating's, 162.

A.S. _flótan_, to swim, float; _flót_, a float, raft. Stratmann

compares _flote_ with O.H.Germ. _floza_ pinna.

Floten, (_pl._) floated, 2946.

Flum, flood, 490;

river, 806, 2486;

sea, 1123.

Flures, flour's, 1013.

Fo, few, 2403.

A.S. _feáw_, _feá_.

Fode, food, 176, 894, 3146.

Fodme, productions, 124, 125.

A.S. _fadung_, setting in order, disposition.

Fol, full, 211.

Folc, folk, people, 697, 770, 894.

Folckes, folk's, 4034.

Folged, (_p.p._) followed, 239.

Folgede, (_pret._) followed, 204, 1866.

Folgen, to follow, 28, 3272.

Folkes, folk's, people's, 2785.

Folkes-kin, people, 1864.

Folwede, followed, pursued, 880, 3187.

Folwede on, pursued, 1751.

Folwen, to follow, 401.

Fon, foes, 2610, 2693.

Fond, trial, 336;

need, want, 3150.

Cf. Du. _vond_, scheme, device.

See _Fonden_.

Fond, Fonde, found, 440, 1280, 1397, 1933, 2324.

Fondeden, (_pl._) tempted, 3368.

Fonden, to try, 2938;

to seek, 3476, 3946.

A.S. _fandian_, to try, tempt, seek, search out.

For, (_pret._ of _fare_) went, 743, 763, 1337, 2709.

For, whether, 2651.

Forbead, Forbed, forbad, 213, 311, 1329, 2932, 2984.

Forbi, against, 3988.

Forbode, prohibition, 324.

Forboden, forbidden, 325.

A.S. _forbeódan_, to forbid, prohibit.

Forbone, an error for _forbode_, command, law, 3341.

Forbrac, broke down, 3049.

A.S. _for-brecan_, to break in two.

Forbrende, burnt up, consumed, 3784.

Fordede, killed, 426.

A.S. _for-dón_, to destroy.

Fordred, afraid, 1557, 1763, 2191.

Fore, departure, 2984.

A.S. _fór_, _fóru_, _faru_, a way, journey.

Foren, before, 3541, 3866.

A.S. _fóran_, before.

Foren, (_pl._) went, 2482.

See _Fare_.

For-fare, For-faren, to perish, 1087, 1134, 3018.

A.S. _for-faran_.

Forfrigted, afraid, frightened, 3519.

Forgaf, forgave, 2499.

Forgat, forgot, 2092.

Forgeten, (_inf._) to forget, 912, 1400, 1806;

(_p.p._) forgotten, 1152, 2179, 3128.

For-hadede, consecrated (by burning), 3338.

A.S. _hadian_, to consecrate.

? for-ha[r]dede, hardened.

For-held, withheld, 2026.

For-hele, (_subj._) hide, 3512.

For-helen, (_inf._) to hide, 2593.

A.S. _for-hélan_, to hide, conceal.

For-hid, hidden, concealed, 1875.

For-hirked, tired of, 3658.

A.S. _earg_, slothful, dull, timid;

_yrhð_, sloth, fear.

For-holen, For-olen, (_p.p._) concealed, hidden, 1747, 1759, 1870, 2317,

2331, 3446.

For-hugede, rejected, 3814.

A.S. _for-hugian_, to despise.

Forles, lost, 189, 259, 502, 808.

A.S. _for-leósan_, to lose.

For-leten, (_pl._) forsook, 4068.

For-listede, from _forlisten_, to desire greatly, yearn for (see Orm. l.

11475);

or does forlistede = deceived (?), 1851.

Cf. Ger. _list_, craft, deceit.

For-loren, (_pret. pl._) lost, 241;

(_p.p._) 1886, 2511, 3468;

accursed, reprobate, 546;

destroyed, 1143.

For-numen, taken away, 2228.

See _Nimen_.

For-quat, wherefore, 1657, 2053.

For-red, deceived, 2192.

A.S. _forrǽdan_, to mislead, deceive.

For-sake, deny, 1767.

For-saken, refused, 3811.

For-sanc, sank entirely, 1114, 1117.

For-soc, refused, 1833.

For-sweðen, burn up, consume, 1140.

O.N. _sviða_, to burn, consume.

Forð, forth, away, forward, 249, 262, 578.

For-ðan, therefore, 1190, 1261;

because, 1996;

thereupon, 3162.

Forð-do, utter, 3993.

Forðe, perform, 1372.

Forðen, to promote, further, accomplish, 341, 4080;

follow, 4059.

A.S. _fyrðrian_, to further, support.

Forðere, further, 1304, 3488.

Forð-for, departure, exodus, 3158.

A.S. _forð-faru_.

Forð-geden, (_pl._) passed, 1755.

See _Gede_.

Forð-glod, passed away, 113, 129, 157.

See _Glod_.

Forð-gon, extended, 835;

pass, 845;

gone, 2819.

Forði, therefore, wherefore, 1581, 1591.

A.S. _forði_.

Forð-nam, forth went, 3351.

See _Nimen_.

Forð-nimen, proceed, 2676.

Forð-numen, passed, 3640.

Forð-wexen, (_pl._) passed, 1211.

For-token, token, sign, 2994.

Forward, covenant, agreement, 1719, 1992, 3014.

A.S. _for-weard_.

Forwerti, _fowertieðe_, fortieth, 3439.

For-went, changed, 1121.

See _Wente_.

For-weried, fatigued, 3894.

For-wrogt, accursed, 266.

Fostre, foster, nurse, 2620, 2624, 2625.

Fostred, fostered, brought up, 2618.

Fot, Fote, foot, 376, 1303, 1474;

'_to fot_,' at the feet, 2497.

Foueles, fowls, birds, 570, 947.

Foure, Fowre, four, 559, 814, 816, 852.

Fowerti, fourty, 583, 589, 601, 3348.

Fowrtende, fourteenth, 3143.

Frame, profit, advantage, 133, 173, 626, 1837;

benefit, 2540.

Framen, to profit, serve, 1642;

use, 3146.

A.S. _framian_, to avail; _freme_, profit, gain.

Fre, free, 623, 3244.

Freinen, to question, 1047;

inquire, ask, 1426, 1643, 1792.

A.S. _fregnan_, to inquire, interrogate.

Freinede, inquired, 2759.

Frelike, freely, 2800.

Fremen, to strengthen, aid, comfort, 173, 1245.

A.S. _fremian_, to profit, prosper, do well.

Fremeðe, force, lust, 349.

A.S. _freom_, strong.

Fren, to deliver, rescue, 2787.

A.S. _freón_, to set free.

Frend, friend, 1084, 3587.

Frend, friends, 1775.

Frendes, friend's, 1270; friends', 1392, 1597.

Frenkis, French, 81.

Freten, to eat, devour, 371, 4027;

(_p.p._) devoured, 2101.

A.S. _fretan_, to eat, _fret_ (pret. _fræt_, p.p. _freten_).

Frigt, fright, fear, 1234.

Frigted, Frigtede, feared, 1861, 3978;

frightened, 1757.

Frigtful, timid, 3459.

Frigti, timid, frightened, afraid, 667, 1162, 1331, 2849;

formidable, 984.

Frigtihed, fear, awe, 542, 2222.

Frigtilike, Frigtlike, timidly, 1617, 2163, 3870.

Frið, protection, safety, 681, 683, 789.

Friðe, Friðen, preserve, protect, 786, 1070, 2335;

deliver, 3094;

prosper, 1520.

A.S. _frið_, peace; _friðian_, to make peace, protect, defend, keep,

free.

Fro, from, 89, 261;

from the time that, 3206;

ph. _fro ðan_, from that time, 188;

from that place, 1247;

_fro ða_ = _fro ðan_, 1264.

O.N. _frá_.

Froren, frozen, 97.

Cf. _frore_ (Milton); and _forloren_ from _forleosan_.

Froskes, frogs, 2977;

frogs', 2969.

A.S. _frosc_.

Froðer[ed]e, comforted, 893.

A.S. _freoðian_, to protect, give peace to.

Froward, from, 3322.

Froure, comfort, consolation, 54.

A.S. _frofer_, comfort; _frofrian_, to comfort.

Fruit, 216.

Fuel, fowl, 160, 161, 1124.

Fueles, fowls, 16.

Fugel, foul, 2556.

Fugel, fowl, bird, 221, 299.

A.S. _fugel_.

Fugeles, fowls, 2081, 2089, 3323, 3679.

Fugel-fligt, fowl-flight, 3321.

Ful, full, 109, 110, 111.

Fulfillen, perform, 1222.

Fulfilt, accomplished, 1950.

Fulsum, rich, plenteous, abundant, 748, 2153.

Fulsum-hed, abundance, 1548, 2128, 2297, 3320.

Fultum, aid, help, 2824, 3929.

A.S. _fultum_, help.

Funde, Funden, (_pl._) found, 1973, 2948, 3298, 3299.

Funden, (_p.p._) found, 3190, 3366;

discovered, 3301.

Funden, to go, 2831, 2958.

A.S. _fundian_, to go forward.

Fundend = _funden et_, found it, 1082.

Funt, font, 3290.

Gad, a rod, 3185.

A.S. _gád_, goad.

Gaderen, gather, 2134, 3335.

Gaf, Gafe, gave, 232, 238, 681, 1500.

Gamen, pleasure, 411, 2015;

sport, 3498;

tricks, 1214.

A.S. _gamen_.

Gan, did, 91, 1417, 1421.

Gare = _yare_, soon, quickly, 390, 2866, 3180.

A.S. _gare_, _gearo_.

Garen, prepare, get ready for a journey, 1417, 1595;

exhibit, show, 138;

to hasten, 3168.

A.S. _gearwan_, _gyrwan_, to make ready, prepare.

Garkede, arrayed, 3261.

Garknede, prepared, 3240.

O.E. _yark_; A.S. _gearcian_, to prepare, make ready.

Gast, ghost, 202, 2428.

A.S. _gást_.

Gastes, ghost's, 1486, 2994.

Gat, Gatte, Gatten, granted, 635, 1574, 2477, 2513;

gave, 659.

A.S. _geatan_, to grant. O.N. _geta_.

Ge = ghe, she, 1024.

Ge, ye, 329, 330.

Geald, requited, 2581.

See _Gelden_.

Gede, went, 618, 1236, 1947, 3057.

Geden, (_pl._) went, 1034, 3195;

passed away, 1673.

Gef, if, 311.

Geld, (_pret._) performed, 1884;

requited, 2758;

(_imp._) requite, 2152.

Gelden, to requite, reward, 6;

pay, 1628.

A.S. _geldan_, to pay, yield, restore (pret. _geald_, p.p. _golden_).

Gelus, jealous, 3495.

Gem, heed, 2614.

A.S. _geame_, _gyme_, care.

Geming, care, protection, 2783.

A.S. _gýman_, to take care of, preserve.

Ger, year, 150, 152.

Ger, years, 415, 419.

Gerde = _yard_, rod, 2851, 2987.

A.S. _geard_.

Gere, an error for _dere_, precious, 1574.

Geren, set in order (for burial,) 2441.

See _Garen_.

Geres, years, 2153.

Gerken, prepare, 2255.

See _Garknede_.

Gerneden, (_pl._) yearned, 3657.

Geste, guest, 1054;

guests, 1070.

Gestning, feast, festival, 1507.

A.S. _gyst_, a guest; _gystenlíc_, hospitable.

Get, (_pret._) poured, flowed, 585;

(_imp._) pour, 2815.

A.S. _geótan_, to pour, pour out, shed (pret. _geát_, p.p. _gegoten_).

Get, Gete, yet, 313, 375, 503, 1488.

Gete, obtain, get, 1497.

Geten, melt, cast, 3548.

See _Get_.

Getenes = _yetenes_, giants, 545.

A.S. _eóten_, a giant.

Getenisse, gigantic, 3715.

Gette, poured, 582.

Geue, given, 301.

Geuelic, like, 282.

A.S. _ge-efenlǽcan_, to be like.

Geuelengðhe (even length), equinox, 147, 149.

Geuen, to give, 1508, 2398;

given, 2458.

Ghe = she, 237, 337, 339.

Ghe = _ghet_, yet, 1477.

Gif, (_imp._) give, 1492.

Giftes, gifts, 1416.

Gildes = _cildes_, child's, 2624.

Gilt, Gilte, guilt, 2262, 2409.

Ging, king, 2547.

Ginge, young, 4049.

A.S. _ging_.

Ginges, king's, 3932.

Girt, girded, 3149.

Gisarme, pike, axe, 4084.

Gisce, covet, 3515.

Giscing, covetousness, 1874, 3432, 3516.

A.S. _gítsung_, desire.

Gisse, covetest, 3517.

A.S. _gítsian_, to desire.

Gister-dai, yesterday, 2732.

Giuen, to give, 11, 1613.

Glað, Glaðe, = _glade_; glad, 1779; 2297, 3671.

Glente, looked affrighted, stared in astonishment, 1029.

It signifies originally merely to shine, look.

"Þys persone lay and lokede furth

Vntyl a cofre yn þe florthe;

Þar-to þe frere gaf gode tente

Whyderwarde hys eyȝen _glente_."

—(Robt. of Brunne's Handlying Synne.)

Glew, music, 459.

A.S. _gleó_.

Gliden, (_inf._) to glide, go, 370, 952;

flowed, (_pret pl._) 733;

(_p.p._) passed, 3460.

Glod, glided, passed, 76, 113, 129.

Gnattes, gnats', 2988.

God, Gode, good, 1191, 1545, 1576.

God, goeth, 2030.

Gode, '_to gode_,' gratuitously, 2890.

Gode-frigtihed, Godes-frigtihed, god-fearingness, the fear of God, 495,

542.

Godfulhed, godhead, 56.

Gol = gold, 1872.

Godun, (_acc._) good, 1430.

Golhed, lust, 534.

A.S. _gál_, wanton; _gálnes_, lust.

Gon, (_inf._) to go, 643, 845, 2561;

(_pl._) go, 3124;

(_p.p._) gone, 639, 835;

departed, 4128.

Goren, darts, 3458.

A.S. _gár_, a dart, javelin.

Got, goat, 940.

Goð, (_imp._) come, 3585.

Goð, God, 4132.

Goue, should give, 3941.

Gouel, tax, tribute, 844, 846, 848.

A.S. _gafel_, _gafol_, tax, tribute.

Gouen, (_pl._) gave, 844, 2922, 2975.

Grantede, consented, 1423.

Grapte, felt, grasped, 1544.

A.S. _grápian_, to feel, grope.

Gram, fierce, 1228.

A.S. _gram_, furious, fierce.

Grauen, (_inf._) to bury, 3778;

(_p.p._) dug, 1138;

buried, 2431;

carved, 2701, 3186, 3624.

Grauen, an error for _þrauen_, control, 276.

A.S. _þrafian_, to urge, compel.

Graunte, grant, 2536.

Gred, (_sb._) cry, clamour, 3230, 3717.

Gredde, cried, 3585.

A.S. _grædan_, to cry, call.

Gredi, hungry, 1494.

A.S. _grǽdig_, greedy, from _grædan_, to cry, call for. Goth.

_gredags_, hungry.

Grei, grey, 1723.

Greim, grievous, hard, 392.

A.S. _gremian_, to make severe or cruel; _grim_, rage; _grim_, sharp,

bitter.

Greiðet, hastens, 1738.

O.N. _greiða_, to make ready.

Grene, green, 608, 2775, 2776.

Gres, grass, 3049, 3088.

Gresseoppes, grasshoppers, locusts, 3065.

A.S. _gærshoppa_, grasshopper.

Gret, great, 2098, 3226.

Gret, grit, earth, 3774.

A.S. _greót_, dust, earth.

Gret, (_sb._) weeping, 3888.

Gret, wept, 1975, 2287, 2341.

A.S. _grǽtan_, to weep (pret. _grét_; p.p. _grǽten_).

Grete, (_pl._) great, 2892.

Greten, (_pl._) wept, cried, 3207, 3659.

Greteð, greeteth, 2382, 2864.

Greueð, grieveth, 3818.

Grið, protection, safety, security, 469, 560, 682, 1397.

A.S. _grið_, peace, protection; _griðian_, to protect, defend.

Grot, weeping, mourning, lamentation, 1577, 1978, 2289, 3717.

See _Gret_.

Groten, to bewail, 1984.

Grucheden, murmured, 3354.

Gruching, murmuring, 3318.

Grund, Grunð, ground, 2110, 2640, 3278.

Grunden, (_pret. pl._) ground, 3339.

Grusnede, groaned, 481.

O.N. _grijsen_, _grijnsen_, to snarl, grin. Ger. _grausen_, to shudder,

_grunzen_, to grunt.

Gu, you, 325, 399, 2260.

Guglond, kingdom, 1264.

Gulden, (_pl._) requited, 1062;

(_p.p._) requited, 927.

Gummes = _gimmes_, gems, 2700.

A.S. _gimm_.

Gunc, you two, 2830.

A.S. _inc_.

Gund, Gunde, yonder, 1101;

there, 3851.

A.S. _geond_.

Gune, (_pl._) did, 3135.

Gunen. See _Gunne_.

Gunge, young, 2281, 2756.

Gungere, younger, 1508, 1510.

Gungest, Gunkeste, youngest, 1909, 2160, 2190.

Gunker, of you two, both your, 398.

A.S. _incer_.

Gunne, Gunnen, Gunen, (_pl._) did, 218, 534, 540, 592, 1344, 1953, 2378,

2492, 2755.

Gur, Gure, your, 404, 2178, 2260;

of you, 2318, 3471.

Guð, youth, 2665.

A.S. _gugoð_, youth.

Hadde, (_pret._) had, 193, 3392.

Hadden, (_pret. pl._) had, 413, 2930.

Hagte = _agte_, possession, wealth, 431, 2582.

See _Agte_.

Hagt = _agt_, sorrow, grief, care, 486, 2044, 2082.

See _Agte_.

Haigre, hair cloth, 1977.

See Allit. Poems, C. 373.

A.S. _hæra_, sackcloth.

Halge, hallow, 3501.

Halle, all, 2340.

Hali, holy, 54;

'_hali_ day,' 3501;

'_hali_ gast,' 202, 2438.

Halp, helped, succoured, 26.

Ham, am, 926.

Hane, torment, oppression, 3354.

A.S. _hýnan_, to hurt, vex; _hean_, poor; _hænð_, want.

Hangen, hanged, 4075.

Hard, obstinate, 3061;

(_adv._) hard, 3386.

Harde, troublesome, difficult, 2054;

severely, 3355.

Hardi, fearless, 2121.

Hardnesse, obstinacy, 3022, 3067.

Haswed, spotted, variegated, 1723.

A.S. _haso_, livid, dusky, dark, rugged, _haswig_, variegated.

Hatte, called.

See _Het_.

Hatel, severe, cruel, 2544.

A.S. _hétol_; S.Sax. _hatel_.

Heg, Hege, high, 2011;

loud, 2780, 3380, 4100.

A.S. _heg_, _heh_.

Hegere, higher, upper, 3392.

Hegest, highest, 30, 2142.

Heilnesse, health, 2068.

A.S. _hǽlnes_, wholeness, health.

Helde = _eld_, age, 457, 1527.

Heled, healed, 229.

Helden, (_pl._) held, 285.

Helden, to hold, 3274.

Held forð, took, 165.

Heli, holy, 51, 204.

Helid, covered, 1636.

A.S. _hélan_, to cover, conceal. Prov. E. _hele_, _hile_.

Helle, hell;

'_helle_-dik,' 281;

'_helle_-bale,' 2525;

'_helle_-dale,' 1983;

'_helle_-pine,' 2530.

Helles, hell's, 22.

Helpe, (_vb._) help, 2528;

(_sb._) help, assistance, 496, 1802, 2647.

Helped, helpeth, 4062.

Helpeles, helpless, 3558.

Helpen, to help, 176, 1272.

Helpes, helpers, 3409.

Helðe, health, safety, 2344.

Hem, an error for _him_, 180.

Hem, them, 392, _et passim_.

Hem-seluen, themselves, 537, 2889.

Hemward; _to h._, to them, 2726.

Hende, Henden, near, 3361, 3370.

O.E. _i-hende_; A.S. _ge-hende_, _hende_.

Heug, hung, 3899.

Hente, seized, caught, struck, 2715.

A.S. _hentan_, to seize.

Her, here, 170, 175, 177, 184.

Her = _here_, of them, 2258.

Her, hear, 3525.

Her = _er_, before, 801.

Her-after, here-after, 243.

Herberge, lodging, 1392.

Herberged, lodged, 1602.

A.S. _here-bergan_, to lodge, harbour, from _here_, an army.

Herbergen, to lodge, 1057.

Her-bi, hereby, 3572.

Herdes, (_gen._); uten herdes = out of (his) own country, 2410.

Herdes-folc = _erdes-folc_, land-folk, people, 3372.

Herde, heard, 1285, 1611.

Herden, (_pl._) heard, 1139, 3492, 3521.

Here, theirs, 1920.

Here, army, host, 1787, 2679.

A.S. _here_.

Here, hear, 3426, 3473.

Here-gonge, invasion, 848.

Here[n], expedition, 2479.

See _Here_.

Heren, to hear, 1370, 2531.

Herf = _erf_, cattle, 2991.

Herte, heart, 518, 520, 1302;

_g.s._ of heart, 2936;

courage, 3253.

Herte-bren, heart-burning, lust, 4054.

Hertedin, encouraged, consoled, 1980.

Hertes, hearts, 1917.

Herting, consolation, 1982.

Herðe, an error for _herte_, heart, 2856.

Herðe = _herde_ = _erde_, land, 806.

Het, promised, 2365, 2954;

was called, 2588, 2589, 3333.

A.S. _hátan_, to command, promise (pret. _hét_, p.p. _háten_); _hátan_,

to call (pret. _hátte_).

Hete, heat, 1228, 1229.

Heten, (_pl._) promised, 3450.

Heðen, hence, 1644, 2508.

O.N. _hëðan_.

Heued, Heuod, head, 376, 1193, 1604.

Heuedes, heads, 2926.

Heued-welle, spring, 868.

Heuene, Heuone, heaven, 40, 270;

'_heuene_ bem' (the sun?), 1606;

'_heuene_ dew,' 1547, 1573;

'_heuene_ gate,' 1620;

'_heuone_ hil,' 281;

'_heuene_ rof' (heaven-roof, firmament), 101.

Heuene-ward, heaven-ward, 3025.

Heuerilc, every, 368.

Heui, heavy, 2565.

Heuones, heavens, 287.

Hewe, form, 4051,

Hic = _ic_, I, 34, 2783.

Hicte = _higte_, was called, 713.

See _Hiegt_.

Hidden, (_pl._) hid, 3028.

Hidel-like, secretly, 2882.

Hiden, to hide, 352.

Hider, hither, 2344, 2895.

Hiegt, threatened, 217.

A.S. _héht_, pret. of _hátan_, to promise.

Higte, was called, 747.

Hil, hill, 1290, 1293.

Hiled = _hileð_, covers, encloses, 102;

(_p.p._) hidden, concealed, 3184.

See _Helid_.

Himseluen, himself, 1338.

Hin, Hine, him, 47, 3004, 3468.

Hine-folc, servants, 3655.

A.S. _hína_, _híne_, a domestic.

Hines-kin, servants, 3776.

Hinke = _inke_, fear, dread, 432.

A.S. _inca_, doubt.

Hird, flock, 2988;

host, 3222, 3261, 3263, 3266;

household, 1001.

A.S. _heord_, _herd_.

Hird, hurt, 3962.

Hirde, shepherd, 456.

A.S. _hirde_.

Hirde-men, shepherds, 2395.

Hirdenesse, Hirdnesse, herds, flocks, 1664, 1732, 1930, 2771.

Hirdes, shepherds, 1643.

Hire, wages, 1718, 1722.

Hire, her, 238, 322;

hers, 2035.

His = is, 2935.

His, Hise, his, 44, 45, 46;

its, 125.

Hogt, called (?), 2119.

See _Higte_.

Hol, whole, 1835, 2776, 2812.

A.S. _hál_.

Hold, old, 419, 424, 1453.

Hold, kind, attentive, 1389;

true, faithful, 2704, 3284.

A.S. _hold_, faithful, friendly, true.

Hold, (_adv._) truly, 3941.

Holden, (_pl._) hold, 1201, 2236;

(_p.p._) held, 1425, 2040;

esteemed, 1518.

Holdet, holdeth, 1132.

Holdelike, faithfully, truly, 1546.

A.S. _holdlíce_.

Holocaust, Holocaustum, 1319, 1326.

Holpen, (_pl_.) helped, 3382, 3674.

Holðe, possession, property, 1772.

Hom, home, 1711.

Homward, homeward, 1431, 2376.

Hond, hand, 104, 959.

Hondes, hands, 3383, 3385.

Hor = or = before, 958.

See _Or_.

Hore, whore, 4082.

Horedom, whoredom, adultery, 3509.

Hore-men, adulterers, 4072.

Hore-plage, adultery, 530, 4067.

Hornes, horn's, 3464.

Hostel, lodging, 1397.

O.Fr. _hostel_, _hosteil_.

Hot, promise, 935.

Hoten, Hotene, (_p.p._) called, 101, 1566, 2522;

promised, 2508, 3704, 4098, 4118.

See _Het_.

Hoteð, (_imp._) promise, 2510.

Hu, how! 3077.

Hu, how, 244, 295.

Hun-frame, disadvantage, evil, 554.

A.S. _unfreme_.

Hunger, famine, 1513, 2150.

Hunger-bond, force of hunger, famine, 763.

Hungri gere, famine years, 2136.

Huni, Hunige, honey, 2788, 3340.

Hunkinde, unnatural, 534.

Hunne, grant, 2249.

A.S. _unnan_, to grant.

Hunte, delay, 314.

Huntere, hunter, 1481.

Hun-wreste, wicked, 537.

A.S. _wræst_, good; _unwræst_, base.

Hure, our, 322, 2206.

Hus, house, 1619, 2010.

Huses, houses, 1602.

Hus-folc, household, 3139.

I, Ic, I, 309, 314, 315, 317.

Idel, 'in _idel_,' in vain, 3497.

Ideles, idols, 3197.

Idelhed, vanity, 28.

Iglic, ugly, 2918.

See _Uglike_.

Ik = ilk, same, 73.

Ilc, Ilk, each, 68, 119, 134.

A.S. _ælc_.

Ilc, Ilke, same, 258, 313, 1184.

Ilc-kinnes, of each kind, 220.

Ilc-on, each one, every, 1379.

Ille, ill, wicked, 1916, 4038, 4063;

badly, wickedly, 1706, 4029.

In = hin = him, 3887.

In-gon, entered, 1068.

In-wis = iwis, truly, indeed, 1515, 2521.

A.S. _gewís_.

Irin, iron, 467.

Is, his, 482, 483, 1737.

Is = his, its, 327.

Is, them, 1702, 1768, 1769, 1770, 1833, 1873, 1877, 2654, 2655, 3115,

3831, 3832.

Ist = is it, is there, 1121.

It, they, 298, 1920.

It, there, 2808.

Iurnes, days' journeys, 1291, 3696.

Iusted, allied, intermarried, 1589.

Iuel, Iwel, (_sb._) evil, 328;

(_adj._) bad, evil, 310, 502, 3718;

(_adv._) wickedly.

I-wis, I-wisse, truly, indeed, 91, 109.

I-wreken, avenged, 1856.

I-wrogt, wrought, 3215.

Kagte, pret. of _catch_, drove, 949.

Kalues, calf's, 1013.

Kamel, camel, 1398.

Kameles, camels, 1365.

Kenned, taught, 216.

A.S. _cennan_, to adduce, to vouch the truth.

Kep, care, heed, 939, 946, 1333, 2602.

A.S. _cépan_, to _keep_, heed.

Kepen, to keep, look to, 2453, 3378.

Kepte, kept, 2625.

Kepten, (_pl._) kept, 2772.

Kid, made known, 2357.

Kidde, made known, 1651.

Kiddit, showed it, made it known, 1394, 1654.

Kides, kids, 1535;

kid's, 1967.

Kin, family, kin, 652.

Kinnes, kin's, 756, 828.

Kinde, natural, 78;

native, 1279.

Kinde, kind, nature, 185, 250, 457.

Kinde, kin, family, 488, 650.

Kindelike, _kindly_, with natural affection, 2500.

Kinderedes, kindreds, 4127.

Kindes, kinsmen, 1549;

'in _kindes_ wune,' kin-wise, naturally, 1345;

'aftre _kindes_ wune,' after the manner of relatives, 1652;

family's, tribe's, 1389, 3824.

Kinge-riches, kingdoms', 2789.

Kipte, seized, 3164.

O.N. _kippa_.

See Allit Poems, B. 1510, and Gloss., s.v. _Kyppe_.

Kire, purity, 451;

choice, 1536;

custom, 1693, 2451.

A.S. _cýre_, choice; Ger. _küren_, to choose.

Kiste, kissed, 1652, 2355.

Knape, man-servant, 477, 482;

male, 2585.

A.S. _cnápa_, a man.

Knapes, boys, 2573.

Knaue, male child, 1151.

Kne, degree, 444.

A.S. _cneo_.

Knewen, (_pl._) knew, 2904.

Knigt, knight, 283.

Knol, knoll, top, 4129.

A.S. _cnoll_.

Knowen, know, 2872;

known, 3037.

Komen, (_pl._) came, 2577.

Kude = _cuðe_, could, 2114, 2366.

Ku[n]glond, kingdom, 1262.

Kumeling, stranger, 834.

O.H.Ger. _chomeling_. O.E. _comeling_.

Kumen, to come, 399, 984, 1007.

Kumen, (_p.p._) come, 902, 1556.

Kuppe, cup, 2047.

Kuð, renowned, 2666.

A.S. _cúð_, known.

Kuðe, could, 289.

La, lo! 3113.

Lage, marriage, 538;

'in _lage_,' in marriage, 2764.

Cf. Goth. _liugan_, to marry, _liuga_, wedlock.

Lages, Laiges, laws, 2446, 2456.

Lagt, seized, 2081, 2621;

caught, 3141.

A.S. _læhte_, pret. of _læccan_, to seize.

Laken, to fail, lack, 1231.

O.E. _lac_, _lak_, fault. Du. _lack_, want, fault; _laecken_, to

decrease.

Laten = _leten_, to let, 3071.

Laðes, barns, 2134.

Dan. _lade_.

Lay, law, 1201.

Leate, (_imp._) leave, 1811.

Leateð, (_imp._) let, 3726.

Leaued, leafy, 3839.

Lecher-crafte, lechery, 1064.

Lecher-fare, lechery, 776.

Lecherlike, lecherously, 770.

Lecherie, lechery, 3510.

Lechur-hed, lechery, 1997.

Led, song, 27.

A.S. _leoð_. Ger. _lied_.

Led, (_p.p._) brought, 649;

(_imp._) lead, 3607.

Ledde, (_pret._) led, 89, 92.

Leddede = _ledde_, led, 3995.

Ledden = _ledde_, led, 2845.

Ledden, (_pl._) led, 858, 1990.

Leded = _ledeð_, (_imp._) lead, pass, 398.

Leden, to lead, 2193;

pass, 304;

take up, 699;

act, 2301, 2304.

Leddre, ladder, 1607.

Leet, left, 1280.

A.S. _lǽtan_, to leave (pret. _lét_, p.p. _lǽten_).

Lef, agreeable, pleasant, 340, 2664;

dear, precious, 793, 1774, 3431;

joyful, 4136.

A.S. _leóf_.

Lefful, dear, precious, 155, 2524;

faithful, 3447.

Legeð, lies, speaks falsely, 1281.

Leid, (_p.p._) laid, 817, 2426, 2427.

Leide, (_pret._) laid, 943, 2693.

Leiden, (_pl._) laid, 1969.

Leigen, (_pl._) lay, 1920.

Leiste, least, 198.

Leið, layeth, 3994.

Leman, wife, 782.

A.S. _leof-man_.

Len, reward, 2838.

Lene, lean, 2099, 2101, 2106.

Lene, grant, 4159.

Lened, leaned, 1610.

Lenen, lend, grant, 3170.

A.S. _lǽnan_.

Leng, Lengere, longer, 1594, 1736.

Lentil, 1488.

Lep, leapt, 2726.

Lepre, leprosy, 3690.

Lered, learned, 4.

Lerede, taught, instructed, 791, 2300, 2963;

learnt, 1383.

Lereden, (_pl._) learned, 3137.

Leren, to learn, 354.